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The door slammed open, then shut, making the small apartment shudder.
Near frowned, brushing invisible dust off of himself. He gave his card house a onceover to check that it hadn't shifted, and only stood once he was certain the foundation hadn't collapsed in any areas.
Near made his way to the living room. It was more like a TV area, since it was just the open area with the couch and television.
Mello stood at the door, chin up and defiant like he was about to be scolded. More importantly, though, he was carrying a large crate with his hip cocked and hand on his waist, like the crate was a purse and he was a confident young lady. The open space on the front tilted the other way as Mello turned the crate away from Near's searching gaze. In his other hand, he held a white rose.
"Interesting.." Near murmured.
“What?” Mello snarled, his yellow hair swaying with the forward movement of his neck. Near sighed inwardly, not bothering to turn and peek inside the box; he already knew what was in it. Near's lips were twitching into a smile. At the same time, he felt a bit stunned. He wouldn’t have predicted something like this. Fantasized about, perhaps, yes.. Predicted, no.
“Thank you,” Near said quietly. At that, Mello softened a bit, looking over at him almost fondly. Then the look was gone, and he stiffened again, a little wary.
“Do you-” his voice was softer than his expression. “Do you like it?”
“Well, let me see him, and I can assess that.”
“Her,” Mello said, beginning to smile. “It’s a girl. Or, a woman, I guess. Is it sexist to call a grown cat a girl?”
Near frowned, motioning him forward subtly, and settling to the living room carpet. Mello joined him after toeing off his boots, bringing the crate with him. Something scuffled around inside, and Near finally peered inside, saying, “I don’t understand.”
“It’s a cat.”
“I understand that,” on the edge of exasperation, but more towards amusement, “I meant, how is it sexist to call a cat a girl?”
“Well, you wouldn’t want to be called a boy, would you? You’re a man.” Mello undid the lock and a wet little pink nose poked out. "And this is a.. Woman cat.”
A small-ish pure white cat padded out of the dark crate. She sniffed the carpet, and appraised first Mello, then Near. Her eyes were light yellow-green, and the pupils were little diamond slits. Near was immediately enamored by her. She was fluffy, yet sleek, with long white fur that didn't quite drag on the floor, but close to it. She purred, though her eyes were wide and she looked alarmed. Perhaps she was conflicted.
Near held a delicate hand in front of her, fanning his fingers out for her to smell. She pulled back at first, then sniffed them, bobbing and weaving her head around the tips of his fingers, then his wrist and forearm. Then she abruptly turned away and sneezed, and went to do the same to a grinning Mello.
"She's allergic to you." Mello scratched under her chin. She pushed her head into his welcoming scritches, and Near felt himself melt when Mello's face lit up.
"Hopefully not." Near answered, and reached out to her tail and pushed a few fingers through the thick fur. It was soft, but there was so much of it that it took some effort to get his hand through the fur. Near scratched her lower back at the base of her tail. Her butt lifted. Near raised his eyebrows.
“It seems that our cat is a boy cat after all,” he mused.
Mello hummed, busy scratching at the thick fur at her neck and behind her ears. “I don’t know. I guess. She seems more like a girl. Feminine energy.”
Near paused. “Are you insinuating that this cat is transgender?”
“Wha- that’s not what I said at all, actually-”
Near smiled to show him it was a joke, and reached forward for the cat, on impulse, pulling her into his lap.
“We can call her whichever pronouns we like. I don’t think she’ll protest.”
The cat was purring, and he could feel the rumble of it through her warm body. It was incredible that she was so friendly, but especially that she was like this on her first day in a new home. She wasn’t completely relaxed, was definitely alert in his lap, but she was just.. resting.
Occasionally, as Near’s fingers ran through her fur, she would give a delicate sniff of his fingers. Near simply admired her, her thick white coat and bright, unblinking eyes. They were yellow-green and round.
Near smiled.
“Thank you,” he said softly.
"Of course."
And Mello leaned in to give him a small kiss to the corner of his mouth. Near turned his head to his left, so that their mouths met straight on, and Mello made a small noise of pleasure, an "mm.." into Near's mouth. When their mouths opened, almost automatically, Near could taste bittersweet chocolate, and shuddered all over with the sensation of Mello's slick tongue meeting Near's own.
This seemed to alarm the cat, who made a sudden, loud meow.
They broke apart, reluctantly, and yet, they were both giggling.