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Johnny finally pulled into Kevin’s driveway, his wipers working furiously against the rainstorm. He'd known it was going to rain, but not this hard. Had he known, he would have delayed this a day.
But everything was already set. He had cleaned out his apartment, gotten everything packed and on the U-Haul trailer, and he was on his way. A new life awaited him not quite an hour away, a new life he couldn’t quite bring himself to fully explain to Roy.
Well, it wasn’t as if they were that close anymore, anyway. Ever since Roy had taken that captain’s post, and they had ended up on opposite shifts, it had become a challenge to try and find time to get together.
And of course, all the time Johnny was spending with Kevin ever since they’d met at that convention in San Francisco had cut into that time, too.
Finally, after a couple of years going back and forth between Los Angeles and San Diego, Johnny had decided to make the move to be with Kevin. All the back and forth had been wearing on them, and to be perfectly honest, Johnny would rather be here with Kevin than anywhere else.
So here he was, getting ready to unload an apartment’s worth of stuff into Kevin’s house. If only it would quit raining.
The porch light came on, and Johnny saw Kevin prop the door open and come trotting out, crossing in front of the Rover and coming around to the driver’s side window. Johnny opened his door.
“You picked on hell of a time for this.” Kevin teased him as he leaned in for a quick kiss.
“Hello to you, too.” Johnny responded. “Might as well get on with it.”
He shut off the Rover and climbed down. Soon they had the trailer open and they started hauling items inside. Kevin already had a plan for everything, as usual, and it took surprisingly little time to get everything inside and more or less situated.
“You are a mess.” Kevin scolded him as he handed Johnny a towel.
“Have you looked in a mirror?” Johnny shot back as he dried his hair.
“I try not to.” Kevin answered lightly, drawing in closer and sliding his arms around Johnny’s waist. “Rather look at you.”
Johnny tossed the towel aside and responded in kind, noticing the way Kevin’s thin t-shirt clung to his body. “Hmm. Feeling’s kinda mutual. You should probably, uh, see about getting out of those wet clothes.”
“As should you.” Kevin answered casually, his hands sliding up the back of Johnny’s shirt and spreading out over his back. “Could probably use a shower, hmm?”
“Definitely.” Johnny murmured, capturing Kevin’s mouth with his own as Kevin started guiding him toward the bathroom.
It wasn’t long before they were both stripped down, enveloped in the steam, creating some heat of their own. They had done this many times before, of course, but this time was different, because this time Johnny wouldn’t have to leave.
This time, he was home.
Later, they were sprawled out on the couch, Johnny stretched out along its length with his head in Kevin’s lap.
Kevin threaded his fingers through Johnny’s hair. “Are you really going to cut this?”
“Thinking about it.” Johnny told him. “Besides, the captain’s already ragging on me.”
“Damn shame.” Kevin replied. “It’s one of your best features.”
Johnny closed his eyes, reveling in the sensation when he suddenly remembered something. He sat up and rolled off the couch.
“Where are you going?” Kevin asked with a huff.
“Forgot to lock up.”
“Babe, we’re in the middle of nowhere.” Kevin pointed out. “Don’t worry about it.”
Johnny ignored him, opening the door and heading outside. As soon as he did so, he thought he spotted something dashing into the bushes. It was probably nothing, just a rabbit or some other critter. He paid it no mind as he went out to the Rover to lock it up.
As he started back toward the house, he could have sworn he saw something move near the bushes again. He slowly approached them, not wanting to get too close in case it was something more dangerous than a rabbit. It was only as he got closer that he heard a plaintive mew.
“Aw, man.” Johnny got down on his hands and knees. “Come on out. It’s okay.”
Another mew. There was movement in the branches, but Johnny couldn’t see anything. He clicked his tongue in an attempt to entice the cat out from under the bushes.
“Babe, what are you doing?” Kevin’s voice startled Johnny.
“I heard something.” Johnny told him. “I think you’ve got a stray under there.”
“Oh, let it be and come inside.” Kevin huffed.
Mew! There was that sound again. Johnny peered further, trying to figure out where the sound was coming from. “You got a flashlight?”
Kevin sighed heavily. “I’ll go find one.”
He soon returned, poking Johnny in the rear with it. Johnny took it from him, otherwise ignoring the nudge and shining it under the bushes. Finally, a pair of eyes shone back at him.
“Aw, it’s just a little thing.” Johnny commented. “Come on, sweetheart. Come here.”
Slowly, the cat came closer, close enough that Johnny could finally grab it. Black as the night that surrounded them, utterly drenched and bedraggled. It mewed piteously once again, and Johnny rose to his feet, holding the kitten close to him.
“We’re not keeping it.” Kevin told him firmly.
“Well, we can’t leave it out here.” Johnny responded with equal firmness. “Look, it’s gonna get eaten alive otherwise. No telling what else might be out here.”
Kevin put his hands on his hips, clearly thinking it over before finally nodding. “Fine, we’ll keep it for the night. But first thing in the morning we really should take it to the shelter. And there’s probably more where that one came from.”
“Probably.” Johnny agreed. “I’ll take a look around. If there’s more, they’re probably nearby.”
“And I’ll take this little…guy, girl, whatever.”
Johnny handed the kitten to Kevin and searched around and under the bushes and a little further afield just on the off chance there were more kittens and possibly a mother cat around. As odd as it seemed, it appeared the kitten was alone out here.
When he went back inside, Kevin had found a towel and wrapped up the kitten, only its head sticking out. Johnny briefly scratched the top of the kitten’s head. “Didn’t see any others around. Looks like this little one was on their own.”
“Poor little thing.” Kevin murmured.
“Guess we’d better get some food and a litter box and some litter—”
“Now hold on.” Kevin stopped him. “We’re not keeping it, remember?”
“Well, we can’t let it go without eating.” Johnny pointed out. “I’m sure it’s starving.”
Kevin sighed and shook his head before holding out the kitten toward Johnny. “Okay, I’ll go see what’s open.”
Johnny took the tiny bundle, holding it in close as it vibrated against him. “Aw, listen to you. You’re just happy to be here, huh?”
“Don’t get attached.” Kevin warned him.
“Sure.” Johnny agreed.
In reality, Johnny was finding it hard to resist this little thing. The kitten purred and butted its head against him before snuggling further in the towel. “Don’t you worry, we’ll work on him. He won’t be able to resist you, either.”
Johnny felt a kiss on his forehead and opened his eyes. The kitten was still curled up in the towel on his chest, purring contentedly. Kevin regarded them both with a slight smile, scratching the kitten’s head. “You two look cozy.”
“Fell asleep.” Johnny murmured. “Get everything?”
“Mm-hmm.” Kevin nodded. “Just enough to get through the night. We’ll see how the little squirt does.”
Johnny sat up and unwrapped the kitten, who arched its back and yawned. “Hey there. You hungry? Hmm?”
Kevin had a pair of bowls filled with food and water, and another plate with some wet food. The litter box was set up nearby. Johnny set the kitten down, and it explored the area before sniffing at the plate of wet food. Finding it satisfactory, it started lapping it up noisily.
“Aw, you were hungry.” Kevin kneeled down and lightly stroked the kitten’s back. “Poor baby.”
“Don’t get attached.” Johnny teased him lightly.
“I’m not.” Kevin told him as he eased himself to the floor. “Sure is a cutie, though.”
“Well…why don’t we see how the little thing does tonight?” Johnny suggested. “I mean, maybe there won’t be any room at the shelter.”
Kevin arched an eyebrow at Johnny. “Don’t get your hopes up.”
“I mean…what do you have against having a cat?”
“Nothing.” Kevin answered. “I’ve just never had one. Never had a dog either. I had a goldfish once.”
“Right.” Johnny joined Kevin on the floor. “I wasn’t able to have one at the apartment. Had a couple dogs at the station. Oh yeah, and there was that time a cat gave birth at the station. Would have been on my bed if it weren’t for the box.”
Kevin’s expression turned thoughtful. “Well, we’ll see what the shelter says tomorrow.”
Johnny had a feeling Kevin’s resistance was starting to crumble, just a little. “Yeah, and if we need to hang on to the little guy…girl, whatever for a while until we can find it a good home, suppose that’s not the end of the world.”
“Right.” Kevin’s tone was slightly skeptical.
Finally, the kitten finished eating and drank some water before wandering on to explore the litter box. “You suppose it knows what it’s supposed to do?” Johnny asked.
“I don’t know.” Kevin answered with a shrug.
Johnny moved to pick up the kitten and put it in the litter box, gently moving its paws to dig into the litter. “See? Just like that. You need to go here. Don’t want you leaving little presents everywhere.”
“Ew.” Kevin’s disgusted tone was clear.
The kitten crawled around, sniffing and digging before finding a place to do its business, and Johnny stroked its back gently. “Good job. That’s it. Good kitty.”
Kevin pushed himself off the floor. “I’m going to bed. I’m beat.”
“I’ll be there before long.” Johnny answered.
He gave the kitten a little more time before scooping it up and tucking it under his arm. “Come on, let’s get some sleep, huh?”
Kevin stirred as soon as Johnny came into the bedroom. “You’re kidding, right?”
“What?” Johnny asked. “I can’t just leave it alone all night.”
“Oh my God.” Kevin huffed. “Fine. It’s just one night, right?”
“Right.” Johnny agreed.
Soon Johnny climbed into bed, and the kitten settled in on his chest, once again purring contentedly. Kevin shifted next to him, scratching the kitten before kissing Johnny on the cheek. “I can’t say this is how I expected to spend our first night together.”
“There’ll be plenty of other nights.” Johnny answered with a yawn.
“Hmm, yes.” Kevin’s hand slid across Johnny’s stomach until his arm came to rest across him. “And I am very much looking forward to them.”
At the moment, this felt just fine to Johnny.
The next morning, Johnny held the kitten on his lap while Kevin drove to the county animal shelter. “Now remember, we’re not trying to keep it.” He reminded Johnny.
“I know.” Johnny rubbed the top of the kitten’s head. “But if it needs a temporary home—”
“Temporary being the key word.” Kevin told him firmly.
“Right, yeah.” Johnny nodded.
Johnny held the kitten close as they walked into the shelter. The sounds and the smells immediately set Johnny on edge, and the thought of leaving this little thing here seemed almost cruel.
“Hi, can I help you?” The woman at the desk asked.
Johnny set the kitten on the desk. “We found this little thing last night. It was hiding out in the bushes.”
The woman frowned slightly, inspecting the kitten as she stroked it gently. “All by itself?”
“I looked around, but it looked like this one was all by itself.” Johnny answered. “No sign of a mom or other kittens.”
“Well, they might still show up, so keep an eye out.” The woman told him. “Now, are you looking to have it adopted?”
“Uh…” Johnny glanced over at Kevin, who was shaking his head with a slight smile on his face. “Seems like it’s a little crowded here.”
The woman looked amused, glancing at Kevin before glancing back at Johnny. “Well, we can give your little friend here a quick health check and determine the gender. You guys talk while we’re doing that, and we’ll go from there.”
“Great, thanks.” Johnny nodded. The woman took the kitten and disappeared for a moment, and Johnny turned his attention to Kevin. “Well, what’re you thinking?”
Kevin folded his arms over his chest. “I’m thinking we’re going to have a new friend.”
“I mean…if you don’t object.” Johnny answered carefully.
Kevin huffed quietly, unfolding his arms and looking around for a moment before taking Johnny’s hands in his. “I don’t object. I mean, we already bought everything the little squirt needs.”
“Toys.” Johnny spoke suddenly. “You didn’t get any toys.”
“Oh for the love of…” Kevin sighed in exasperation, letting go of Johnny’s hands. “Fine, we’ll get some toys. And a scratching post. I’m not letting that little thing trash my furniture.”
“Guys?” The woman called. She had returned with the kitten, who was walking back and forth across the desk with its tail in the air. “Your little lady here is pretty healthy, all things considered. She’s about eight weeks old, nearest we can estimate. So, she’ll need to be wormed, and she’ll need her shots. Do you have a vet?”
“Uh, not yet.” Johnny answered.
“Well, we can recommend a couple.” The woman smiled. “She’s a sweet little thing. Enjoy her.”
“We will.” Johnny scooped up the kitten, and Kevin wrote down the names and phone numbers of recommended vets. “Suppose you’ll need a name.”
“I’ll leave that to you.” Kevin told him as he scratched the top of the kitten’s head.
“Hmm.” Johnny held up the kitten, studying her face. “How about Shadow? Yeah, Shadow. What do you think?”
Shadow mewed, and Johnny brought her back in to snuggle against his chest. “Yeah, Shadow’s a good name. We’re gonna give you a good home, you’ll see. Better than out in the rain, huh?”
Kevin merely looked amused as they climbed into the car and started on their way. “Well, Shadow, it seems I’m not the only one who’s stolen this man’s heart.”
“You don’t mind sharing me, do you?” Johnny teased him.
Kevin leaned over and kissed him. “Not one bit.”
Later that evening, after Johnny finished cleaning up after dinner, he went out to the living room to find Shadow curled up on Kevin’s chest, Kevin talking to her in low tones. It seemed to Johnny that Shadow had stolen Kevin’s heart as well.
He plopped down on the couch, and Shadow immediately crawled into his lap, kneading a few times before settling down. Johnny reached for Kevin’s hand while scratching Shadow with the other, resting his head on Kevin’s shoulder.
Johnny found himself experiencing a new, unfamiliar feeling. It was contentment. That he had found it here, with this man, and a kitten that had simply appeared out of nowhere, was baffling, but he didn’t have it in him to question it.
For once, he was just going to enjoy it.