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Apollo liked evenings after work. Especially ones where the sun set in bands of brilliant gold mingled with strawberry pink. Usually when he was alone it was a 15-minute bike ride home to his solitary nest. He reveled in the feel of the fresh air against his cheeks and bare arms as he pedaled.
He had managed to secure a small apartment in the top floor of a five floor walkup. It was tucked away in a suburb of Los Angeles that was working class. Affordable but not so small that he couldn’t at least breathe. The cost was offset a bit by Clay sometimes coming over on leave from his astronaut training and splitting the rent so Apollo could have his own place.
For the past six months he and Klavier had been seeing one another in either of their places. The silver G keychain attached to his ring corresponded to a small TARDIS keychain on the ring of his boyfriend. Both had exchanged apartment keys as a sign of a deepening relationship. Neither however had discussed moving in because each valued their privacy. Which meant either could drop by the other’s place whenever they wanted.
Apollo saw a text on his phone that said, “Coming over tonight. Will cook dinner, Schatz…”
A small warm smile crept over Apollo’s face reading this. He chuckled, texting back, “I’ll be waiting, Euro Rocker. Make sure you bring your appetite because I’ll make the salad.”
As soon as he unlocked the door he heard a protracted “Meeeooowww!”
It was all he could do to keep Callie from darting out the apartment door at times. So he settled for nudged her back with his foot. “Hi Callie… sorry… yes I know…”
Her tail swished back and forth. “Mrroow! Meooooo!”
“I know I'm late… sheesh, it was a doozy of a day…”
Against his ankles she rubbed once he nudged the door shut with one foot. In his hands he juggled a precarious stack of bags and groceries. Rather than take multiple trips he lugged them all up in one go.
“Brrrt… mrrow…” she replied as her tail straightened up to a vertical position. Down clattered the bags by the door.
“I missed you too, Callie,” Apollo soothed in a higher pitched voice reserved for only Callie. He squatted down to rub her cheek against his knuckle.
“Prrrt. Brrrrrt,” she half purred, half meowed. He heard the rumble that soothed his nerves at the end of a hectic day. Instead of picking her up he continued stroking her under her chin she stuck up. The tip of her tail curled the slightest bit.
Callie was his number one priority next to groceries. Remembering he yelped, “Urk! C’mon, let’s put these away before the ice cream melts…”
“Brrrrt…” Callie agreed, watching him pick up two bags. She batted a few of the plastic sacks still left behind.
“Callie, c’mon, don't chew on that… we talked about this!” Apollo groaned. He snatched up the other bags into an awkward arm full. His mewing retinue followed his every step, sometimes walking in front of him.
Apollo perfected the art of dodging around her movements. Once he reached the kitchen he plunked the bags on the counter. She leapt up next to the stack of refrigerated items he extracted first. Ice cream, milk, cheese, and lettuce each disappeared. She licked the condensation on the iced tea bottle.
Amused, Apollo flipped on the kitchen tap for her. She turned towards it before she leapt into the sink and positioned her head to the side. At just the right angle to lap at each drop. Next came the peanut butter crackers and packages of granola bars he ate routinely as snacks.
He heard the telltale rustling of plastic then groaned, “Callie… really!”
Proudly Callie slipped her head through the handle of an empty plastic sack. She paraded around the kitchen floor proudly. Behind her the white sack poofed out like a cape. She swished her tail to that vertical position he loved seeing it at.
“Ok, now you're Streaky the Supercat,” Apollo chuckled. “Just don't chew…”
Callie ignored him on the way to the front door. She meowed loudly at it. Apollo frowned before he followed her. “What the…”
Faint but distinct he heard a jingling sound and a voice. The sound of neighbor’s doors closing echoed. Callie pressed her paws up one moment, and let out a low yowl. Apollo saw her crouched on the ground with flattened ears. Which could mean a few things.
He peered through the peephole to see the source of the jingling. A familiar face rendered in convex beamed at him in its rock star glory. Down to the right a panting, gold fur canine sat at his black booted feet.
“Vongole…” groaned Apollo. “He brought… a dog…”
Callie hissed and backed away as soon as Apollo opened the door. He watched her calico streak towards the bathroom. Immediately two paws braced on his chest, while Vongole slobbered on him.
“Vongole! Setz dich!” Klavier snapped. She dropped down, whining. Instead she nosed against Apollo’s knees.
“Apollo, turn around. Cross your arms and don't look at her,” Klavier urged. Frowning, Apollo did just that. Vongole continued to whine but Klavier managed to get control of her.
“Why did you bring her?” Apollo grumbled.
“Es tut mir leid, Schatz…” Klavier said with an awkward smile.
“You know I have a cat! She isn't used to dogs!!!” Apollo snapped.
“I brought her crate…” Klavier said weakly.
“I can't have her around Callie!” Apollo almost shouted. “What the hell were you thinking Klavier!!!”
“That I could introduce her?” Klavier asked nervously.
“You can't just introduce a cat to a dog!”
“But you can introduce dogs to dogs…” Klavier began.
Vongole whimpered, laying down on the floor. She regarded Apollo with sad hurt eyes. Apollo suddenly realized how loud he was shouting, and his heart softened. Klavier slowly turned away, murmuring, “I'll just go. I should have told you but I thought you would be glad to see her…”
“Klavier wait!” Apollo called out, grabbing his arm. “Look I'm sorry I yelled. I just would have liked to have some notice to prepare Callie. You’ve never had a cat have you?”
“Nein,” Klavier admitted. He still bore the same expression Vongole wore now. Just like that of a hurt dog.
“I'm sorry Vongole. You didn't deserve me yelling at you,” Apollo said gently as he ran a hand over her muzzle. “But your pet parent is an idiot.”
“Ach!” Klavier exclaimed, frowning.
“He doesn't know about cats and dogs? How they need time to get to know one another. He's just like you, lovable and outgoing… but cats need time to warm up… you see? They need planning and…”
“Vongole didn't go after her. I had her on a leash,” Klavier said quietly. Petting her Apollo sighed deeply.
“She can stay. I'm sorry I yelled Klav… I just had a lousy day,” Apollo sighed.
“Es tut mir leid Schatz… I should have called. But I couldn't get a dog sitter for Vongole and I didn't want to leave her alone…” Klavier explained. “Is Callie…”
“Callie’s hiding in the bathtub. She’s fine. Look I know now you were just being a good pet parent,” Apollo relented.
“Ja. I won't leave her alone for longer than a few hours.”
Apollo held out both arms. “Look… I accept your apology. Hugs?”
“Hugs,” Klavier replied, holding his arm out. Apollo walked into his outstretched arms and held him tightly. He patted the prosecutor’s back at the same time Klavier rubbed his.
Vongole nosed in, her tail wagging fiercely enough to knock something over. Apollo petted her as well. The defense attorney caught Klavier’s lips in a quick kiss he hoped would show his boyfriend that he understood. Klavier let out a hum of surprise yet learned into it. His tongue teased at the furrow of Apollo’s lips until the other allowed him access.
“I brought some of her toys. Her crate is right here… outside in the hall,” Klavier said. Apollo saw the large pet carrier, surprised. This must mean Klavier wanted to spend the night at his place…
“Did you bring a bag?” Apollo asked.
“Stowed inside her crate with some toys and dog food,” Klavier chuckled, nuzzling his cheek.
“On the back of your motorcycle?” Apollo asked, eyes wide.
“I purchased a sidecar,” Klavier admitted. “Normally I’d have her ride on the back, but it's hard to lug such things around… with a dog to ride safely.”
Apollo’s heart melted to gooey mush. He seized Klavier’s lapels and kissed him hard. Klavier responded by pressing him to the wall for a bit. That is till Vongole whined.
“Ach, it's her feeding time,” Klavier explained, pulling back. “Is it still ok with… Callie…”
“Well, I think for the time being I'll check on her. You can put Vongole’s crate in the living room… there is a corner free… and put your things in the bedroom…”
“Naturlich,” Klavier agreed, nodding. He carried the crate into the living room by the sofa. It was in a nice quiet corner once Klavier draped a blanket over it.
**
Two wide green eyes peered at Apollo from the brim of the bathtub. Callie’s vertical pupils were dilated to near round. Apollo checked to see if she had done anything and saw the toilet paper had been sliced to ribbons. She still had her ears partly flattened.
“Callie, I'm so sorry Kitty. Look, we will find a way to work this out…” Apollo promised. “It's just one night…”
Callie let out a low mew that sounded like a whimper. Apollo’s heart twisted a bit at the sound. Sighing Apollo ran a hand over her head, between both ears.
A minute later he heard a knock at the bathroom door. After Callie let out another pitiful mew Apollo called out, “What is it?”
“Just me, Schatz. Would Fraulein Callie like some delicious nom-noms?” Klavier asked from behind the door. Apollo slowly opened it to see his boyfriend holding a bag of treats.
“Well…” Apollo began, touched that Klavier was making an attempt to reconcile with his feline family member. “You could slowly feed them to her to get her used to you…”
Klavier hunched down on the floor after Apollo motioned him to join him on Callie’s level. Taking a treat in his hand, Klavier handed the bag to Apollo. He then murmured, “Sweet Kitty, good kitty, nice kitty…”
Raising a forked eyebrow Apollo muttered, “Klav?”
“That’s it Fraulein,” Klavier said in the same high pitched voice he reserved for Vongole. He held out the treat in his hand. Callie retreated behind the shower curtain.
“Put it in front of her, and see if she comes out for it,” Apollo whispered in his ear. “Whatever you do, don’t look her directly in the eyes.”
Klavier nodded, pushing hair out of his face. Giving Apollo a nervous smile he placed one treat near Callie in the bottom of the green porcelain tub. Callie’s wide eyes watched his every move. Humming under his breath Klavier sing-songed, “Sweet kitty, Fraulein Callie… kommen Sie hier bitte…”
That care that Klavier suddenly put into crouching lower than him, and quieting his body language stunned Apollo. He was trying so hard to make up for his blunder that it melted the gooey mush to soft butter in Apollo’s heart. It didn’t even matter if it was German, Apollo realized, seeing Callie slowly creep out and nibble the treat. Klavier took another from the bag and set it by Callie once she’d finished the first. His soft blue eyes watched the characteristic way she chewed straight up and down.
“Ach, your kleine Katschen chews much differently than Vongole,” Klavier whispered, keeping both hands on his knees. Apollo rested a hand on Klavier’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze.
“Yeah, cats are obligate carnivores. They can’t even taste sweets,” Apollo murmured into his ear, fanning it with his hot breath.
“But like dogs, they cannot eat onions or chocolate, ja?” Klavier asked. Apollo nodded, arm wrapping around his boyfriend’s shoulders.
Both heard a whine from nearby. Apollo mumbled, “Maybe I could take Vongole for a walk? While you bond with Callie here?”
“Danke Schoen, Schatz,” Klavier purred, kissing him gently.
“Fair’s fair,” Apollo agreed with a nod, after he returned the kiss. Leaving Callie alone with his boyfriend he walked out to find the leash.
Vongole pawed at the door, clutching the leash in her mouth. She dropped it at his feet, tail wagging vigorously. Soft brown eyes glanced up into his and he couldn’t resist a fond smile. He bent over and rubbed her behind the ears. “Time for a walk, girl?”
She sat down, waiting for him. He easily clipped the leash to her chain collar, then took the leash in his hand. Vongole gave his hand a kiss, standing up and pacing around eagerly. Apollo then opened the door for her. Both walked out into the hall, then into the cool evening beyond the building.
**
By the time he returned with Vongole, he heard the stereo playing with a soft guitar song he had only just heard Klavier strumming on his guitar two weeks ago. Far gentler than his usual Gavinner’s fair, it echoed in the small apartment giving it a warmth it hadn’t had in a few days when he had been there alone.
Vongole continued to pace around, before she pawed at the bathroom door. Apollo muttered, “No girl, leave it!”
Klavier’s head and shoulders popped out of the door. He then said, “Try filling her kong with peanut butter. She loves that…”
“Kong?” Apollo asked.
“The little red thing in the toy bag. She likes chunky. I brought some with me in with her food… just put it in the middle with a knife and toss it on the kitchen floor… ja?”
“Okay, but I’ve not heard of dogs eating peanut butter,” Apollo grumbled, shaking his head.
“It’s safe for them. They can even eat blueberries, Herr Forehead,” Klavier informed him.
Shrugging Apollo went to carry out Klavier’s instructions. Vongole paced around excitedly seeing him opening the jar of peanut butter. Apollo glanced at the pear shaped object with the holes at either end, confused. “How do I… wait… he said in the middle…”
It suddenly clicked when he saw the small plastic bottle with holes in it that he hid Callie’s treats in sometimes. A foraging toy! Of course!!! Wanting to smack his head at such an obvious thing Apollo hastily smeared the chunky peanut butter into the middle with a knife.
“Vongole, here girl… here girl…” he said in a high pitched voice he usually used for Callie. Vongole panted, waving her tail enough to knock a few things off the counter. Apollo threw the kong into the back bedroom through the partly open door. Like a shot Vongole barked and rushed after it.
Seizing the opportunity to sneak back to the bathroom, he slowly entered without the door creaking. Klavier knelt by the bathtub on the green tile. He hummed softly as he reached behind the shower curtain with one hand. Once more Apollo crouched down by his boyfriend as he whispered, “How’s it going?”
“See for yourself,” Klavier murmured back, nodding towards Callie. To Apollo’s surprise the cat rubbed her cheeks against Klavier’s fingers while he rubbed under her chin. The telltale rumble of her purr echoed in the bathtub.
Apollo covered Klavier’s lips with his. He wrapped both arms around his wonderful boyfriend whom Callie marked with her unique scent. She glanced up at the two, unimpressed. Caught off guard, Klavier almost fell back onto the bathroom floor with his arms full of Apollo. Luckily he arrested his fall by grabbing the edge of the sink.
“Whoops,” Apollo chuckled, face flushed bright red.
“So, am I forgiven, by your kleine Katschen?” Klavier asked Apollo who helped pull him to sit up.
“Ask a stupid question, Euro Rocker,” Apollo quipped, rolling his eyes playfully. He stood up, extending his hand to help Klavier to his feet.
There was a great deal of strength in Apollo’s hand, Klavier realized. Because it took little effort for Apollo to pull him to a standing position by just leaning backwards a bit with his body. Apollo tugged Klavier into the hallway that led to the living room. To his delight Klavier saw a bottle of wine and two glasses. Sure they were not matched like those in his apartment, but they were perfect.
Both sat down on the comfortable sofa and leaned against the crocheted blanket spread over the back. Apollo unscrewed the wine bottle and poured two glasses of the California wine from nearby. It wasn’t the expensive brand that Klavier would have bought but it was a nice dry red that he savored. Clinking glasses, the couple settled in to watch something from Apollo’s vast library of DVDs painstakingly piled beside the TV.
The promise of many more evenings to come occurred to Apollo as he leaned into Klavier. Callie and Vongole would take time to warm up to one another, but as long as Klavier was open to loving his pet, he could make room for Vongole’s eccentricities. After all he had made room for Klavier’s.