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 Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 6:38 pm
"Toby said he'd make lunch," Dari said. He wouldn't mind if Cody would rather eat something take-out, but who would? "You can meet us there and eat with us? We can wait for you.
"I think we're just going to play video games and sit around. You know, like we used to."
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Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 6:45 pm
"Oh, no, you don't have to wait for me," Cody assured him. He reached and squeezed Dari's shoulder gently. "Go spend time with your brother, love," he said.
He felt bad. He'd kept Dari to himself for the most part, trying to shake that feeling. "I'll see you in a few hours," he promised.
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Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 6:49 pm
"Alright," Dari said. He could see something strange about Cody in the fourth dimension, but didn't feel the need to ask. Maybe he was nervous about banking or something. He trusted his fiancee completely. Rather than wonder, he leaned over to kiss Cody softly and smiled. "I'll see you later, Love. I'll have my phone."
He did feel the need to say that again with how Cody had been acting lately. It wasn't a bad thing. It was totally understandable considering what had happened. Cody was afraid he would disappear again, or maybe that he wasn't real at all and some time apart would cause reality to tip back into the picture. Either way, he wanted Cody to know that he could be in contact whenever he needed.
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Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 7:07 pm
Cody returned the kiss and smiled. He couldn't wait to see how Dari reacted to the surprise! Toby had seemed sure that Dari would like it. At least, he hadn't suggested something else. "I'll text you," he promised.
He had to get whatever kittens needed, too. Toys, dishes, a litter box, an appointment with the vet... Or could Lori help with that? Maia had said Lori helped keep her fish healthy. He paused and gave Dari another quick kiss before heading out.
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Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 7:14 pm
Dari and Toby were sitting on the couch beside one another, leaning into some action-packed RPG. It wasn't particularly gory so that Maia could watch, but something new seemed to be happening every moment. Dari was none the wiser, and even Toby had partially forgotten about his duties here. He was having fun with his best friend. What more could he ask for?
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Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 7:20 pm
There was a knock at the door. Maia went to answer it, and it took a while (and some squeeing) before she allowed Cody to come inside. "Dari, Cody's here," she said.
Cody was holding a small pink cat carrier, where a kitten was staring out. The kitten was at least nine weeks old, the new-blue eyes had faded into a bright yellow green. It mewed and stuck its paw out between the bars.
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Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 7:23 pm
Toby remembered just then. He smiled and paused the game. Dari perked and listened to Maia churr over something, and then stood and approached Cody. He looked concerned at first, but that was his usual expression when he was observing something; it was quiet contemplation on an inhuman facial structure, not negative emotion. He saw the carrier, then the kitten. A smile crossed his face and he crouched to the height of the carrier, reaching out to touch a furry paw.
"Who's this?" Dari asked. Were they going to be cat-sitting?
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Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 7:29 pm
Cody offered Dari the cat carrier without pause. He was smiling brightly. "I don't know yet," he said. "You haven't named her." He kissed Dari's cheek and smiled. "I saw her at the shelter and I must have met dozens of kittens, but she's the one I thought you'd love best."
The kitten stuck out an almost all white paw and mewed again.
"She really resented the car," Cody said. "Cried the whole way here."
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Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 7:34 pm
Toby stood back, smiling, his hands on his hips.
Dari took the carrier and then went back to the couch with it. His smile had brightened, and he opened the door to pull out the kitten with one hand. It was older than the one the clerk had had, but it was still damn cute. A calico. It must be a female. He booped her on the nose and rubbed behind her left ear. "I'm naming her?" He didn't dare hope that she was his.
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Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 7:42 pm
"Of course you are," Cody said, and followed Dari to the couch. "She's yours." He smiled. Dari seemed happy! "Toby helped me keep her a secret while I went to get her," he said.
The kitten pawed at Dari's hand, claws sheathed, then purred loudly as he petted her.
"She really likes you," Cody observed.
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Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 8:22 pm
Toby laughed. "Not that I didn't want to spend time with you anyway."
Dari smiled first to Cody and then to Toby, and then back at the kitten. He leaned in to kiss her head and kept petting her back. A kitten! His own tiny little life to nurture. He loved Peaches, but this little girl was his. She was so little. She was so pretty. "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm ignoring all of you--"
Toby waved a hand dismissively. "Please. We have the rest of eternity."
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Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 8:31 pm
"You're supposed to," Cody assured Dari, smiling. "It's called bonding." He looked to Toby, then. "The shelter lady told me not to worry about getting everything right away. But I don't really know what all a kitten needs."
The kitten arched her back into the pets, purring. She squinted happily at Dari.
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Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 8:48 pm
"She doesn't have everything?" Dari asked, "What food does she eat? Should we go?" He looked to Toby then.
"Well as long as she's here she can piggyback on Peaches' things," Toby said with a shrug.
Dari wasn't sure why, but he was imagining pink bowls for her. Maybe with silver accents, or fake rhinestones! Oh lord, he was going goofy in the head and he didn't even care. He squinted back at the cat.
Peaches arrived then, still half-asleep and taking his time to come over and sniff the baby.
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2017 12:09 pm
"I thought you might like to help me pick out beds and toys and stuff," Cody said, almost apologetically. He'd worried about getting the kitten everything she needed! "The shelter said she's had her first shots and everything, and they gave me a card for a free vet visit." He offered it to Dari.
"Do you have a name for her, Dari?" Maia asked. She bent and petted Peaches. "Look, you have a cousin now!"
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2017 12:34 pm
"I would," Dari said, and he took the card only for a moment before setting it on the coffee table to pay more attention to his new kitten. He smiled when Peaches appeared, and then peered up to Maia as she spoke. "I don't know yet. I'll have to do some research."
Peaches hopped up on the couch to sniff more closely, and then sat down and began squinting at the kitten.
"I think he approves," Toby said.
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