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“Can we keep her?”
Al-Haitham crossed his arms as he looked down at the brown furry creature cradled in Kaveh’s arms. “It’s not unusual for you to come back later in the evening, but to think it was because of this.”
“She kept following me around because I had some pita pockets on me! And then I noticed that she was probably a stray. Also, just look at her little face.” Kaveh brought the cat up higher and started babytalking her. “You’re such a sweetheart, aren’t you?”
“So, have you ever owned a pet before?”
“A snake.”
“But what about a cat or dog?”
Kaveh lowered the cat slightly. “What, do you have anything against snakes?”
Al-Haitham gave him a strange look. “That wasn’t what I meant. Cats are much harder and more expensive to take care of.”
“What about you? Have you ever had a pet?” Kaveh accused. “How would you know that?”
“It’s common knowledge.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“You don’t know? Literally just ask a vet, or better yet, look it up.”
“Ugh, fine.” Kaveh pouted as he held the cat a little closer to himself. “But you didn’t answer my question yet.”
“First, I want to know what gave you the idea that you can afford to have a cat right now.”
“Well…”
“Also, if you instead had the idea of making me pay for everything, then my answer is no.”
Kaveh’s jaw dropped. “Really?”
“So that’s how it was.”
Kaveh blushed out of annoyance. “Even if that’s the case, what’s so bad about having a cat in this house? This living room could house several people if you wanted to.”
Al-Haitham frowned slightly. “Did you listen to what I said earlier? It doesn’t just cost a lot, but it also takes up a lot of time and energy. Also, when the cat gets old, we would have to go to the vet constantly. Even if nothing else happens, cat hair will get everywhere no matter what you do.”
Kaveh wondered if the given reasons were just a little too detailed. “How do you know that?”
“It’s common knowledge.”
Suddenly, the cat in his arms meowed and jumped off. Both Kaveh and Al-Haitham stared at the cat as she walked towards Al-Haitham’s legs and started rubbing herself against them. He didn’t seem to mind, which made Kaveh think that maybe there was still a chance to convince him.
“Anyways,” Kaveh said, “I’m willing to take care of the cat, like feeding her and taking care of the litter, so you don’t have to worry about that.”
Al-Haitham looked back up at him. “Time is also mora.”
“It’s not like I work every second of the day!”
“And what if the cat actually wasn’t a stray?”
Kaveh froze. “About that…”
“Then that settles it.” Al-Haitham knelt down and started petting the cat on the head, who leaned into his hand. “I’ll post a notice to see if anyone is missing a cat, and the vet will do a check-up. Until we learn more, she can stay here.”
Kaveh almost didn’t listen as he stood there in awe at both Al-Haitham petting the cat and the cat purring in response. The cat had not been that affectionate with Kaveh before. Kaveh knew that Al-Haitham wasn’t heartless, and that was why he had counted on that when he asked if they could keep the cat, but regardless, seeing him pet a cat just like most other people fond of cats felt somewhat surreal to him.
After a while, Al-Haitham looked up at him. “I thought you’d be happier.”
“Honestly, I thought you were going to say something like, ‘You think you can just pick up and take care of any stray cat in the streets of Sumeru? Do you know how many stray cats there are in Sumeru? You’re just making yourself feel good about taking care of one cat out of all of those cats, and you can’t even afford that one cat.’ Blah, blah, blah, and so on.”
“So you did listen to me.”
“Hey, you-” Kaveh sighed and gave up. “I don’t want to be mad at you this time. I’m glad you decided to let her stay.”
“For now.”
“Okay, fine. For now.”
“I’m glad we’re in agreement. Now then.” Al-Haitham looked back to the cat. “What to get for you first…”
***
The next morning, Kaveh had not expected the living room to feel unfamiliar. In plain view, there was now at least a scratching post, a cat bed, a few toys scattered around, and a new bowl that the cat was now eating out of. Al-Haitham was currently cooking something in the kitchen.
“Haitham,” Kaveh called out as he moved towards the kitchen, “did you go out?”
“Earlier this morning.” He glanced at him, looking a bit more annoyed than usual. “The cat food we got last night wasn’t enough. I forgot that cats like to scratch furniture, so that’s why I bought the scratching pole. Then I figured that since I was already at the store, I might as well buy other things.”
“Oh, I didn’t notice.”
“It was one couch. It could have been worse, so I’m not that upset.”
The resulting glare he gave the dish he was making said otherwise to Kaveh.
“Thanks for going out, though,” Kaveh said. “I woke up a bit later than usual.”
Al-Haitham nodded. “I didn’t expect to shop so early either. But I guess we’ll see if she likes the scratching post. Here, eat something before you go.”
“Are you going to work today?”
“Yes, I need to finish something.”
“I’m not used to you working every day.”
“Me neither. But these days you’re coming home later than me even though I’m doing the work of a Grand Sage. What have you been up to this time?”
“Finishing a project.”
“Another one? No more excursions to the desert?”
“It’s related to that project, so I don’t know if I will.”
Al-Haitham sighed as he turned off the heat. “You don’t know if you’re going to the desert soon, and you still wanted to pick up a cat?”
As if on cue, the cat meowed to the side. It had wandered over to the kitchen after eating.
“Did you need something?” Al-Haitham asked.
The cat meowed again.
“If you wanted more food, my answer is no.”
The cat meowed louder.
“On second thought, I should ask the vet first if I’m giving enough. Fine, I’ll give you some more.”
Kaveh blinked. Did he seriously just talk to a cat?
Al-Haitham peered over at him. “What is it?”
“Oh, nothing,” he said hurriedly. “I’m a bit late, so I’ll head out soon. Thanks for the food.”
***
In the evening, after returning from work, Kaveh had not expected the living room to be almost unrecognizable. Now all furniture except one couch had been covered with some sturdy sheet.
“No matter how much I convince her to scratch on the pole instead,” Al-Haitham explained, “she seems intent on destroying that particular couch.”
Kaveh walked to the uncovered couch, and indeed, there were some noticeable scratches. “Did the cover not work?”
“I didn’t place it on properly. I looked away for an hour, and by then she took off the cover.”
“What about the other couches?”
“At least for now, that is the only couch she’s interested in. If that’s true, I can take off the covers later.”
“So it’s not too bad, right?”
Despite looking a bit disappointed, he shrugged. “Oh well.”
***
The next afternoon, they went to the vet. There, they found out that the cat had been on the streets for a while already, and that the cat was around two to three years old.
As they walked home, Kaveh asked Al-Haitham what his plan was if the cat did not have an owner to go back to. He didn’t answer.
***
It was nice to relax once in a while. One evening, Al-Haitham had brewed tea imported from Liyue. Sitting on a couch, Kaveh sipped from his cup of tea before setting it down on a table next to him and continuing to read from his book. The yet unnamed cat was curled up next to him.
“What are you reading?”
Al-Haitham sat down on the other side of the couch.
“It’s a light novel from Inazuma. Cyno recommended it.”
“Cyno recommended it?”
“It’s the one about the TCG.”
“I heard about it. I also heard a theory that an ancient civilization settled disputes by playing games. And then the loser was subjected to punishment.”
“That sounds ridiculous. Don’t tell me you believe it.”
“It’s possible.”
Exasperated, Kaveh facepalmed. “May the Dendro Archon bless us all!”
The cat stretched and then moved over to Al-Haitham and curled up next to him. Kaveh’s eyes were wide for several seconds. Is it me , Kaveh thought, or does she prefer- No, it can’t be!
But even more surprising to him was how Al-Haitham’s eyes softened and his lips formed a small smile as he petted her. Kaveh wondered why he felt an aching in his chest in the rare moments when he saw that expression. He had seen him like that during quiet moments at night when they weren’t talking much to each other, and he had always wished that they weren’t so fleeting. If only Al-Haitham could look at him like that for just a little longer…
“I didn’t mean that it was likely,” Al-Haitham said softly, still petting her. “And they didn’t have to be childish games. The way that Fontaine handles its legal disputes could be considered a game by some people.”
“Then I don’t think you know what the point of games is,” Kaveh muttered.
Al-Haitham suddenly started laughing softly. What on earth is wrong with him today?! Kaveh wondered. “Maybe,” Al-Haitham said.
The cat left him and sauntered back to Kaveh. “Oh, so now you want pets from me?” Kaveh asked, but smiling.
How could anyone be mad at a cat for long? The cat nudged his outreached hand and purred.
“If we find out that the cat doesn’t have an owner, we’re keeping her.”
Kaveh’s head shot up. “Wait, really?”
He nodded. “There’s only one person with a missing cat that fits the description. I’m bringing her to them a couple of days later to check.”
“I see.”
Kaveh started petting the cat. “What made you decide that?”
“What else is going to sit in a bowl I can’t use for cooking anymore or keep me awake at night meowing loudly in the bathroom? Somehow a cat barged into my life, but now I can’t imagine life without her.”
“Is it me, or did you change a bit?”
He seemed to think about it. “You think so?”
“You don’t like the idea?”
His tone was pensive. “I was just thinking about what would have happened if you hadn’t run into her that time, like what could have happened if I didn’t meet the Traveler and then the rest of the group at the right time, or if I never met you for the first time at the cafe. It would have been so easy to never meet any of you.”
Kaveh didn’t know what to say in response.
“All I can say is that I’m lucky.”
“Lucky, huh?”
“Are you still mad about that?”
“Of course! Actually, the more I think about it, your plan was way too reckless!
He simply gave a smug smile in response before taking out a book and reading. Kaveh went back to petting the cat. “What do you like so much about him, anyways?”
The cat purred.
But Kaveh did agree with him. They never would have experienced sharing their happiness with this tiny life if they had not been lucky enough to meet each other.
***
“What name should we give?” Kaveh asked.
They were walking back from the owner with the missing cat who did not recognize their cat.
“You come up with it. I hate giving names.”
“Then…” Kaveh looked down. “I’m blanking out.”
“Then come up with something simple.”
The one who is most affectionate. “Friya.”
“That was quick.”
“Do you like it?”
“Better than I expected.”
“Hey, listen here-”