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"Where did that idiot cat go this time?"
Greg muttered to himself as he looked around the yard. Their elderly neighbor had come knocking on their door, which happened at least once a week, because her cat had run off into their yard.
The little ball of fur was hiding somewhere in a bush or worse, in one of the trees in the garden.
After circling the yard without a sign of the four-legged monster, Greg was about to go inside when he heard a faint meow that sounded like it was coming from above.
"Kitty, kitty..." called Greg.
He heard another meow that allowed him to locate it. Of course it had to be the highest tree of the yard.
"Damn." Greg sighed, rubbing his face with his hand. "You got up there and you can't come down?"
"Stay there, I'll get a ladder."
He returned a few minutes later, unfolded the ladder and placed it against the tree. He swallowed hard, his throat dry. He was going to have to overcome his fear of heights to be able to save that stupid cat.
A fear that he had managed to hide until now.
He began to climb. Once he reached the branch where the cat was clinging, he swallowed again, trying not to look down. It wasn't very high, but it was still a lot for him.
"Kitty, kitty." Greg said as softly as he could, reaching for the cat. But of course, the dumb cat backed away even more. Greg had reached the end of the ladder, he began to climb up the branch, reaching out to grab the cat, his feet no longer touching the ladder.
"Kitty..."
Greg gritted his teeth and muttered, "If I die, I'm never speaking to you and your mistress again."
The cat shyly approached, but just as Greg was about to close his hands on him, he climbed on top of him, walked along his back and jumped on the ladder.
"No! You stupid cat!"
The cat ignored him and leapt down the ladder in three bounds, tipping it over once he reached the bottom.
With the ladder in the grass, Greg found himself stuck in the tree, unable to climb down.
He didn't dare move, afraid of falling out of the tree.
He muttered, "Mycroft, you better not work overtime tonight."
Mycroft was about to put the keys in the lock when he was accosted by their elderly neighbor, "My dear Mycroft, I'm a little worried, it's been two hours since I asked Gregory to retrieve my cat, but he still hasn't brought him back."
Mycroft, slightly worried, opened the door and let their neighbor in.
"Take a seat in the living room Mrs. Arden, I'm going to check the garden for you."
He opened the door to the kitchen which went into the garden and called, "Greg!"
Greg's voice answered him at once, "Over here Mycroft, up the walnut tree! I need help!"
Mycroft rushed to the tree in question, saw the ladder on the ground, and looked up to see that Greg was hanging from one of the higher branches.
"Gregory! What are you doing here??" he said, not knowing whether to laugh or worry.
"Ask your dear neighbor's idiot cat!" Greg spat angrily.
"Calm down." replied Mycroft gently as he placed the ladder back against the tree. "There, you can come down."
Silence answered him.
Mycroft replied, "Greg, you can come down I said."
Greg's voice came to him, much quieter, "Mycroft, please don't laugh, I... I can't move, I'm scared..."
"Are you serious?"
Greg replied, "Do you really think I would joke about something like that?"
Mycroft could tell by his attitude that Greg was terrified.
"I'm sorry love, I didn't mean to doubt your word. Don't move an inch and let me come to you."
"Okay." said Greg weakly.
When he had reached Greg's height, he reached out to him, his long arms reaching for Greg's hips.
"I've got you Greg. Now try to slide back a tiny bit. There you go. That's it, follow the movement of my arms. I've got you."
Greg had his eyes closed and obediently complied with Mycroft's instructions until he reached the first step of the ladder. They continued like this, going down the steps, one by one. Mycroft arrived at the bottom and waited for Greg to descend the last three steps.
Suddenly, Greg slipped, missing the last step.
Mycroft reached out to catch him but not fast enough, and they both fell, Mycroft on his back and Greg on top of him.
They stood still for a few minutes, their hearts pounding in their chests and still in shock at what had just happened.
Once he was sure Mycroft was okay, Greg exclaimed, "My savior!" before wrapping his arms around his lover's neck and kissing him deeply.
They lay there in the grass, kissing and hugging, when Miss Arden's voice was heard from the kitchen, making them freeze.
"Murray is back, I'm leaving!"
They looked up at the skies and replied in chorus, "All right Miss Arden. Good evening!"
Greg let his forehead fall back against Mycroft's chest, exhausted from all the emotions.
Mycroft gently ran his hand through his hair and asked gently, "Are you okay?"
Greg nodded against him and Mycroft continued, "I didn't know you were afraid of heights."
Greg lifted his head, resting his chin on Mycroft's chest, "It's not something I relish talking about."
Mycroft looked at him with a fond smile and replied, "I understand, but I want you to know that I don't think less of you for it, my brave love."
He gently stroked Greg's cheek and Greg saw in Mycroft's eyes that he really meant what he said.
So he allowed the slight feeling of shame that still lingered in him to slip away. He leaned in to kiss Mycroft, and thanks to his lover's comforting embrace, he let go of the last remnants of fear he had in him.
He was safe in the arms of the one he loved.