|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2020 8:48 pm
Sterling had fully intended to talk to Yu about adopting a cat before he got one. He had not gone to the animal shelter today for himself at all but…
But when Priam dropped him off at home, he came inside with a cat carrier, a bag full of toys and supplies, and a medium sized cat condo that his heart told him he just had to have.
He gave a sigh and locked the door behind him, looking around the house and quickly moving the cat condo and supplies into his room, hoping to get the cat safely hidden in there before Yu came and saw it.
…If he could at least…have the conversation…today. Then…he could introduce him to Oreo tomorrow. Was Oreo even a good name? It was what the shelter had been calling the beautiful black and white cat…but he didn’t think…
She didn’t seem like an Oreo to him…but…Yu would know good names.
Yu always had good ideas.
Quickly, Sterling made his way back to pick up the cat carrier, looking around for any sign of his housemate.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2020 8:58 pm
He didn’t seem to be in the house, but you could vaguely hear things in the back yard, Last time he’d done a project out there it had been to help restore an old outdoor cooking set up that gave you pizza. But he had said he wanted to clean out more just to make sure it wasn’t such a fire hazard. If Sterling moved to peer out back, Yu was working, shirtless, and chopping down the worst of the scrub, a pile of branches and torn up roots and dirt was stacked by one side of the fence. Yu stood back and stretched out kinks from having been bent over a very dead bush that he was currently trying to dislodge so that the hints of an old path to the oven would be clear. He seemed to realize he was being watched and turned blinking, brushing sweat out of his eyes. You could half see the red in his face from where you stood as he gave a sheepish wave and staggered over to grab his shirt.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2020 9:07 pm
Oh…oh no. Sterling gave a halfhearted wave to the male his eyes widening as he realized that his housemate wasn’t wearing a shirt, his face growing pink as he took in the bare expanse of chest and skin and…
What had he been doing? What…
Sterling felt more than a little dazed and blinked slowly, mouth gaping open a little before he realized that Yu was coming inside. And he hadn’t hidden the cat yet…
Was Yu going to come in without a shirt? Oh…he truly wasn’t sure that he could handle that. Not and keep a straight face pretending he hadn’t brought an animal into their shared home. Without permission.
Quickly, Sterling scooped up the cat carrier, and held it close to his own chest, moving as quickly and silently as he could to his room, peering over his shoulder every few steps to see if Yu was inside yet. If he could make it. That would be good. It would be safe. Oreo or whatever her name was going to be would get to explore his room…and…
And…
Oh but…
Keeping secrets was hard.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2020 9:17 pm
As a small plus at least, Yu had more or less gotten his shirt back on, despite the sweat that was turning it into a sort of glue as far as he was concerned. The door opened, and he called out in search of Sterling. “Sorry! I didn’t… I’ll clean up before I cook anything I promise!” He offered awkwardly. “….Sterling?” He blinked, having lost track of his housemate since he came in through the back door. There was a touch of worry in his voice, normally they greeted each other when they came into the house unless they were…well, neck deep in a project. But he’d just…seen him. Right?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2020 9:30 pm
Sterling had made it inside of his room and had just managed to get the door closed when he heard Yu’s voice and with a sigh he put the cat carrier on his bed.
Quietly he moved and opened it a crack. “I’m…I’m here…you…ah. I’m home.” He gave a smile and then wrinkled his nose, half disappointed that the male was wearing a shirt again.
“…What were you doing out there? Ah…you’re fully clothed again, I see. I got a cat. What’s for dinner?”
There. That was smooth. Going right over the awkward stuff…and the heavy stuff, going to a conversation that they both could appreciate and deal with together, just like they did every night.
Dinner.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2020 9:43 pm
“I just…figured I’d take my day off and clear some scrub out, with your ribs I…figured it was one less temptation for you to think about.” He tugged absently at his shirt, which was already soaked. He should have left it off but, he just… “I uh…” He paused and processed. “… Cat?” He blinked. “I mean, not for dinner!!” He added hastily. “Did, you say you got a cat? Is it ok? was it outside?” He Moved to get some water from the sink and swigged some of the tap water, resisting, if barely the temptation to lean against the counter. He should have paused and just, soaked himself with the hose. He tried to peel the shirt away from his chest and flap it to fan himself, which made it, tent in odd ways which was just, irritating. "Uh.... I could, I could probably make...fish...something, for the...for the cat?" He offered trying to be helpful or...something.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2020 9:57 pm
Temptation? Was Yu talking about seeing him without a shirt? Or cleaning something. Because. He found the thought of a shirtless Yu the biggest temptation he had ever seen and…
Oh…so he had heard the part about the cat…and…
And his first words were concern for it. For Oreo. For…whatever her name was.
Sterling could have kissed him.
Sterling wanted to kiss him. But, for the moment, he resisted and shook his head, holding up a hand. “One second…let me go and get her…she’s very sweet…ah…I’m glad you’re not angry or upset…that…
That made things so much easier.
He hurried back to his room and got the cat carrier, bringing it to the living room and setting it on the couch, opening it and beckoning Yu over.
“…I went with Priam to the shelter, to get him a dog, like I told you about? And…well. He ended up getting two, but he didn’t adopt them all, so it went better than I had imagined…and I was just going to look at the cats…but…she kind of just…just called to me, Yu…look at her face. The shelter was calling her Oreo…but that…it doesn’t fit to me…do you have any ideas?”
Sterling was absolutely gushing now, his cheeks pink, and a bright smile on his face.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2020 10:06 pm
“I… mean, I’m probably not that great at names, I… probably would have said Oreo too or like, Klondike.” .” He said blinking and carefully reaching out a hand towards the carrier, not exactly what he hoped within ‘hook’ distance if he turned out to be less than popular with the cat. He hesitated and then added. “I… kinda probably stink. Should I shower first?” He looked cautiously at Sterling like maybe he knew more about cats. “Is she… is she hungry? Do we need food?” He sank to the floor to sit, half because he was tired and half to let the cat investigate.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2020 10:14 pm
“Oh, and here I thought you’d have a good name picked out! Guess even I have to be wrong sometimes.” Sterling watched the cat for a moment and sat on the couch, reaching out and beginning to play with Yu’s hair. It was almost becoming a habit now, and he didn’t seem to mind the fact that the male was sweaty, or the fact that he had just proclaimed that he stank.
Which, he didn’t.
“I don’t think she’s hungry, but I have some things for her in my room…I…I was going to try and hide her…I didn’t…I truly didn’t mean to bring home a cat without talking to you first but…she just looked me in the eyes, and I was utterly and completely lost. Kind of like when you asked if she was okay…”
His voice fell to a quiet murmur and he gave a sigh, holding his hand out to the cat, giving a smile as she sniffed it, then began lightly headbutting him, beginning to purr.
“…I think she might like it here. She was purring so loudly at me once we made eye contact…That was what did it for me. Utterly did me in.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2020 10:25 pm
“I… think she knows good people when she sees them.” He said with a soft laugh. “If I could have purred when I first met you, I probably would have too. He reached out gently to tap the tip of the cat’s tail, watching it twitch away from him and swing in a sinuous arc. “I… didn’t really do the whole pet thing.” He admitted. “So I never really thought of names for anything. I mean, once I had someone pushing to change mine, make it more American you know? But I kept mine in the end.” He murmured letting the cat turn to sniff at his own hand, eyes narrowing slightly at the strange mix of smells like plants and earth under his nails. She didn’t scratch at least, he thought that was a VERY good start.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 11:11 am
Sterling nodded, watching the two of them with a small, fond smile. “I didn’t have any either…unless you count fish. But…they were the outside pets at my Grandmother’s house. She had a pond with Koi in in and sometimes they were my best friends.” He trailed off and shrugged, this wasn’t any time for thoughts of the past. Wasn’t the time for sadness.
“I like your name, a lot. I think it’s beautiful and I don’t understand why people think anyone should want to…change their identity just to…to fit in. But.” He made a vague gesture. “…That’s where we live, I guess. Land of opportunity if you’re willing to give up whatever makes you…you.”
He gave a soft chuckle and reached his hand out again, going to play with Yu’s hair, and not pet the cat. His expression was warm and he felt so happy to be here with the two of them. And to see Yu being so cute. “…I’m really glad that you like her and she seems to like you…I…I think this will work out nicely.”
It was going far better than he had ever hoped anyway.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 11:58 am
“Koi, the…the BIG ones?” He looked fascinated. “That’s kinda… that’s cool.” He nodded. “Uh… we could, we could just keep trying names till something fits?” He offered, which wasn’t the most stellar of suggestions but, there it was. “… all I can think of is desert names, and… I don’t think ‘Baked Alaska’ is a really good name for a cat.” He glanced up with a sheepish chuckle. He slid as neatly as he can around any further talk on why they wanted to change his name, or how he’d avoided it. It was in the past, and with a little luck would stay there. He leaned back into the gentle brushing fingers through his hair, content to let it happen. “… Shoot, I should still…” He started realizing he was still sweaty from outdoors, which also made the cat divert form its investigation and crouch to squint at him suspicious of further sudden movements. “I’m all funk and dirt and im leaning on things.” He flustered. It was such a nice house, and a nice clean cat and… ugh….
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 2:28 pm
“We can think of a good name for her. And yeah, they were pretty big. Maybe one day you can come visit my Grandmother’s house. I bet she’d like you. And you can go take a look at the Koi.” Sterling continued playing with his hair, pausing when he gave a start. “So? This is your home. If you want to be dirty and smelly, so be it.”
He didn’t mind. He wasn’t sure that there was much he would mind, honestly.
“I mean…if you want to get a shower, I won’t stop you…but I like playing with your hair no matter what, Yu. And I know Oreo likes you…”
Sterling let his nails lightly scrape against the male’s scalp and he gave a sigh. “But, if you want to shower, I’ll get her all set up, and we can have dinner after? It’s all up to you.” He didn’t want Yu to go though. This felt right. It felt perfect. Wonderful.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 2:36 pm
He made a hummmm sound, sagging a little with pleasure against the scrape of nails, like a weird tingly massage of wonderful before he remembered how gross he was right now/ “I… yeah, I’ll feel less, gross or something.” He murmured. “I’ll um, I’ll be right back and the cat can get used to the house? Uh, is Oreo an indoor-outdoor cat or just indoor?” he added uncertainly. “I’ve mostly met like, barn cats.” He admitted. “And some of those just hate people, and uh…yes.” He said awkwardly standing up and trying to peel his shirt away from his back again, which to his mind sounded disgusting but from a more favorable viewpoint, the well worn material clung very nicely, emphasizing a rather nice shape. “At least, uh… next time you see me out back you know it’s …probably me at war trying to shape some of those brambles? I…think part of it might have once been … blackberry or raspberry. But if they were the birds have long since picked them clean.” He rambled taking a sweeping if cautious stroke down the cat’s tail. “I uh… glad you found Oreo.” He added. Nope, totally not a hot and flustered mess.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 4:05 pm
“I’m glad that I found her too…and I’m glad that you seem to like her…and that she seems to like you…” Sterling kept his eyes on Yu, feeling more warmth bubbling up in his chest. “I’ll see you after your shower. I think she’s going to be an indoor cat, I…that could change but, I’m thinking indoor.”
His eyes flickered for a moment to the male’s shirt and he gave a wistful sigh. “…Yeah. I’ll see you after your shower but…”
Sterling hesitated for a moment and stood up, looking at Yu for a long moment before leaning forward and pressing a kiss to his cheek. “I’m making something special for dessert. I hope you look forward to it.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
