ONCE SETHleft for work, Leaf surrendered the kitten to Dev’s care for a while and went to shower and get ready for the day.
He didn’t feel afraid because of the therapy that awaited him. After some soul-searching, he decided it was more like apprehension still. While he got dressed and made sure his beard didn’t make him look too homeless, he found himself humming some song he didn’t remember listening to consciously. It started to bother him, until he remembered where he’d heard it. Grinning, he combed back his hair and looked at the toiletry kit on the edge of the counter and the extra shampoo and shower gel inside the shower cubicle.
Dev had invaded their lives in subtle ways, including his taste in music.
“What are you smirking at?” Dev asked when Leaf went downstairs.
Dev sat on the couch with the now wide-awake kitten toddling around on the cushion next to him. Grace had relocated with them and slept next to Dev’s feet on the floor.
“I was just humming a song I didn’t recognize, and it started to bother me,” Leaf said and sat carefully on the other side of the tiny little beastie.
“Oh?”
“Yeah, then I remember you dancing along with it while burping this little guy yesterday.” He stroked the cat’s fur with his fingers, smiling at him when he tried to wobble toward the edge of the cushion.
Dev moved the baby and suddenly said, “Weasley.”
“What?”
“His name is Weasley, obviously.”
For a moment Leaf didn’t make the connection, but then he remembered where he’d heard the name in a concept that made sense. “Harry Potter?”
“Yes! There are so many of them and they’re all ginger, so there’s probably room for one more,” Dev explained, his eyes bright and gestures a bit wild like they were whenever he got passionate about something. He picked up the kitten and looked at it from every angle, then nodded solemnly. “You shall be called Weasley, and you will go do magical things!”
Leaf was choked up as Dev, whom he’d come to love so quickly, showed just how amazing he could be by just being himself.
“What?” Dev asked, turning his hand so Weasley also faced Leaf.
“I’m so grateful that we met you. I love you.” Leaf gave Dev a wobbly smile.
“Aww, babe,” Dev cooed and leaned in to give him a kiss, mindful of little Weasley.
“I’m going to go walk the dogs, and then I’ll have to leave for the appointment,” Leaf said, sighing as they pulled apart again.
“Yeah, I’d come with you for support, but….” Dev lifted the cat and Leaf nodded.
“It’s the same with Grace. I’d take her, but she’d be distracted. She wants to stick by you two.”
“Take Husky?” Dev suggested, looking at where the other dogs were lying on the floor.
“Nah, I think I’ll handle this one alone. It shouldn’t be too heavy—it’s the introductory session. I’ll take Grace next time, though, if it seems like she doesn’t mind leaving Weasley behind.”
“Okay,” Dev said, getting to his feet. “I’m going to go work for a while. I’ll go get the heating pad from the bedroom, though, since you’re going out.”
“Or you could just slip him inside your sweater while we’re out and Grace will warm him once we’re back?”
“That’ll work. Unless he gets very clawy, but at least his claws are baby-size.”
“Yeah, I think it’ll be fine.” Leaf got up and went to pull on his sneakers. “Come on kids!”
THEY WENTaround their usual morning route, but Leaf didn’t stop to talk to the neighbors and other dog walkers they met like he usually might’ve. He told everyone he was in a bit of a rush, and the dogs followed him like always.
When they got back home, he made sure the dogs were dry and clean, and checked the dog bed in the study for any sand or other nasties that might hurt the kitten.
“It’s fine. I shook it out last night before bed,” Dev told him, smiling, at what Leaf was doing.
“Oh, okay,” Leaf said, feeling bashful under Dev’s fond gaze.
