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Today was possibly the worst day of your life.
Rain poured relentlessly onto you, soaking through your clothes and chilling your body relentlessly. The air was rushing with torrents of freezing air, forcing your soaking clothes to cling to your body like a second skin. Frankly, it was disgusting and overwhelming.
Your keys jingled loudly in your hands as you scrambled to unlock your door, fingers slipping repeatedly on the wet metal. After the 6th attempt, a loud, dramatic groan escapes your lips as you slam your head against the door, relishing in the dull, throbbing pain that radiates across your forehead.
Exasperation.
That's the only word that can describe this feeling pulsing through your veins.
You almost just give up and just walk back inside to call Lars when you hear it- the small, panicked screams and yowls of a desperate cat. A small one.
Your head snaps up, flinging droplets of water everywhere. It's hard to pinpoint where the sound is coming from, but you follow the screaming anyway, tsking as you try to draw the poor animal out. The baby is probably half drowned and freezing right now.
Not on your watch.
The nearby alleyway is practically flooded, going up to your ankles in giant puddles of dirty water. The pained, terrified yowling grows louder as you approach, sinking into a crouch to search more efficiently. The water laps at your feet, drenching your already soaked feet in freezing cold. But you can't stop now, even if the shivering of your body escalates painfully.
“Pspspspsp…. It's okay baby! Pppspppppp,” your voice is barely audible over the roaring storm, “come on.. where the heck are you?”
You spot the poor thing then, clawing desperately onto a heaping bag of trash as it tries to pull itself from the waves- shivering and so, so tiny. It's almost as if your heart stops beating, tears brimming in your eyes at their pitiful state. When they see you though, they scream even louder, trying to pull themselves up the bag, panicking as their claws catch on the bag. All of your cares discarded, you sink to your knees reaching your hands out to soothe the kitten.
“Hey, hey. It's okay!” A single tear escapes as you crawl towards them, “poor baby. I bet you're so cold!”
Suddenly, they drop off the bag falling into the freezing water with a sickening, wet plop. You reach forward instantly, hands preparing to pluck the unfortunate soul from the depths before they swim towards you- ears pinned as they scream loudly. Claws dig into your pants, sending sharp, tingling threads of pain up your legs as they crawl onto your chest- far away from the water. It’s heart breaking, how willing they were to run to a stranger for a semblance of warmth and safety.
“Oh, oh sweetie. I know it's so cold. I got you though- ow- don't worry!”
You stand quickly, knees tingling and arms prickling at the cold seeping into your body. There's barely any warmth to spare, but you'd give it all for this tiny soul clinging to you desperately.
“Do you have any more friends over here?”
You pull your jacket over them, tucking their shivering body into your neck as you look around for more kittens- not spotting anything. Someone must have abandoned them here.The run back to your car takes seconds, and your body slips into calm determination as you slip your keys in and begin the trip back home. All while blasting heat and caressing the lump softly whimpering and meowing at your neck.
Maybe not such a bad day.
~
The gravel squishes under your feet as you run inside, holding the kitten tightly to your chest. The door slams open before you can reach for your keys and Lars pops out, holding an umbrella as he gathers you in his arms. Warmth fills you immediately at his contact, sending pleasant shivers down your spine. He steps into the house, pulling you in and rubbing your arms as he coos softly. Soft fingers thread in your hair suddenly, playing with the wet strands at your neck as he speaks.
“You were late…. I got worried..”
At that moment, a loud meow echoes throughout the baby, starling Lars away from you. A sheepish smile makes its way across your face as you chuckle awkwardly. The kitten starts wiggling then, desperate to escape the confines of your chest as it digs its claws into your skin.
“O-ow, ow, ow, OKAY!” You look up at Lars and wince, “okay, promise to not be mad?”
“I-is there a cat under your jacket?”
“Maybe.”
He coos softly and reaches out, fingers ready to hold and pet the kitten. You peel the jacket back, laughing as a small head immediately pokes out, it’s grey fur sopping wet and choppy as they look around. Lars lets out an audible ‘aww’ and holds a hand up tentatively- scared to approach fully.
“It's okay, Lars. You can touch them.”
His hand shakes aggressively as he rubs the kitten's tiny head with two fingers. His body sags as the kitten preens at the contact, purring loudly with contented meows. It’s easy for everyone to love him.
“Awwwww… they're so soft!”
Suddenly the kitten shivers aggressively before pressing its face into your neck again, seeking warmth as the cold seeps back in.
“Oh no!” Lars reaches out and plucks the little thing out of your arms, holding it closely to his neck as he walks away. “They're cold! Don't worry, we'll warm you up.”
He settles down in front of the fireplace, poking at the flames. The cat immediately settles into his arms, fully relaxed as his body heat and flames radiates into them.
Okay. Your boyfriend just got stolen by a cat.
Time passes and you watch them, cold seeping in as your clothes drip onto the floor. You don’t want to feel offended, the cat needs it more than you, but you can’t help as your heart clenches painfully at his actions. Almost as if he hears your thoughts, Lars looks up, beaming as his fingers scratch at the perfect spot behind their ear- eliciting some gentle kneading.
It's easy to smile when watching how gentle he is- how loving and attentive. But despite it being so warm inside, your clothes chill you to the bone- compounding with the loss of attention. A shiver passes down your spine, sending goosebumps careening up your arm. Realization strikes him suddenly and he frowns, jumping to his feet as he approaches you with worry.
“Oh! Oh no! Sweetheart, I'm sorry. Here, let's get you warmed up too!” His free hand guides you to the bedroom, large fingers lovingly stroking your arms in a feeble attempt at warming you.
“Stand right here! Hold.”
He thrusts the cat back out towards you, frowning as they squeal loudly at the loss of warmth. It's hard for him to ignore the yowling, but he powers through- for you. Always for you. Clothes pile up on the floor as he haphazardly tosses them out of the dresser, a far cry from his usual mannerisms.
“Here we go! Now, wait here while I go draw a bath for you!”
Water immediately rushes from the bathroom and steam follows, filling the air with soft warmth. Both you and the kitten relax into each other as you find much needed peace in Lars’ company. Suddenly, Lars walks back in and reaches his hand out for the kitten before wrapping it up in a towel tightly and kissing its head.
“It's a burrito!”
The urge to kiss him is irresistible and you relent, reaching up and pressing a soft, lingering kiss to his damp lips. He sighs into and presses closer, protecting the kitten with a defensive hand as he deepens it. Kissing Lars is like touching the idea of love itself. He never settles for anything less than perfection, pouring all of his love and admiration into every single movement of his lips. He presses a final peck to your lips, lingering as he tries to win back years of lost time.
“Go warm up, sweetheart. I'll keep them warm for now!”
“Okay, okay! Thank you, Lars really…. I love you!”
“I love you too!”
~
The bath had bubbles in- of course it did. It also had beautifully scented bath salts and a single candle lit in the corner, everything you needed to have a comforting night. As you sink into the hot water, you hear a voice filtering out through the room before a soft singing fills the air. Lars is apparently holding the kitten and singing to it like a baby- his baby.
It brings a smile to your face, imagining the way he dotes on the small animal as he would a child. You relax to those thoughts, allowing your eyes to slip close as his singing calms your beating heart. It’s peaceful, a far cry from the stormy hell you just escaped from.
You don't know how long you lay there in the water listening to Lars serenade the kitten, but eventually the smell of food wafts through the air and into your noise. It elicits a growl from your stomach, reminding you of how little you've eaten today. And, as usual, Lars is to the rescue. Even without intending to be, Lars has always been perfect and attentive. Even when you don’t recognize what you need yourself.
“Dinner's ready!”
You perk up immediately, body shifting to a stand as the water cascades down your legs. It takes you only seconds to dry and get dressed before you rush down the hallway, squealing softly as excitement fills you. You spot him then. Lars stands in the kitchen, a makeshift babycarrier wrapped around his chest with a sleeping tabby safely nestled inside.
“Awww, oh my gosh!” You walk up and reach a hand out to pet the cat before Lars reels back, turning them away from you. “What?”
“They're sleeping!”
He places a hand on your arm and leads you towards the table, motioning for you to sit down as he prepares a plate for you.
“You know, Lars…. you're kind of like a housewife,” it escapes from your lips before you can even comprehend your own words and you cringe aggressively anticipating his offense. But he just smiles brightly and chuckles, whispering about how funny you are as he plates the food. “House- husband really.. you have the baby now and everything.”
“W-we're not a married….”
You swear you heard him whisper ‘yet’ at the end of that sentence.
“No…” you trail off and tap on the table, biting your lips as you think of a reply, “we practically a-act like we are already though…”
“Y-yeah.”
Awkwardness fills the room as he sits down, his hand protectively cradling the kitten as if it were a real baby.
“You know you're really good with them.”
“I-I don't know about that,” he pinches his eyes tightly before looking away, “I could hurt them. They're so small.”
His final words are a faint whisper, but they break your heart all the same.
The chair squeaks loudly as you stand up, approaching him with determination. His eyes stay glued to the table as he pushes his food away, refusing to meet your glance. The only reason you know he's still here is due to the way his hand caresses the kitten's head, soothing their duress at the sudden loud movement.
He would be such a good father.
“Look at me Lars” He shakes his head and pouts “look at me.”
He relents and looks up, glassy eyes meeting yours.
“Look at you right now… you're saying you're scared, but look at you. You knew what needed to be done and…. and you did it without hesitation. They adore you already, honey.” His lips form an even deeper pout, quivering as a single tear escapes his eye. “I know you're so scared, but you are the gentlest, kindest man I know. You would never hurt them. Ever.”
It takes a second for him to accept it. Moments of sitting there in silence as he contemplates, eyes pinching and unpinching. But he relents and nods a single time, accepting your words timidly.
“I-I know this is about more than just a kitten Lars…… you'd never hurt anyone. You know this, right?”
“B-but what if I do?”
“You won't."
His hand tightens around the kitten, pulling them into his chest even more as he defends it with his entire being. Heat or cold, Lars would ensure they would be the happiest and safest cat on the planet. That you know for a fact.
“Let's keep them, Lars!”
“What?! No, no, no!” He panics for a moment, shaking his head, “no! We are just going to get them warm and find a nice home. I-I can't be responsible for them. I don't know how!”
“I do. Besides, you love them already. Wouldn't it break your heart to see them go?” His fingers caress the soft, grey head that peaks out and both of you coo at the way they chirp happily at Lars. “And look at how much they love you baby, awwwwwww.”
“Y-yeah… I guess they do like me, huh.”
“That settles it then. We are just going to have to keep them! That's just the way the cookie crumbles!”
“Really?! We can keep them, just like that?” You nod, “... my dad never let me have pets.. I don't know how.”
“We can learn together.”
He stands suddenly and presses his lips to yours, molding your lips together in perfect harmony. After a moment he pulls back and lifts the kitten up, dancing it around the room as he chuckles softly. They meow as he walks around, taking in every sight with bright, green eyes.
“This is the kitchen! We are going to have to get you bowls and food so you can eat with us.” He trails off down the hallway, voice quieting as he disappears, “and this is the bathroom!”
Dinner is going to get cold, but that's okay- you have all the warmth you need with Lars.