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"I can't take you..."
Fu murmured, looking at the small tabby cat at his feet. After a confused examination, it was determined to be a fluffy little male.
He petted it, feeling his heart melt at the feline's purrs and neediness. Fu held it in his hands as if it were the most fragile thing on the planet.
"What are you doing?"
Orostor's shout would have completely startled the cat if it hadn't been held back, its claws digging into the boy's skin as he suddenly stood up, his back to Zanka, who stared at him with a mixture of shock and suspicion.
The two went out to fetch some supplies and other things that the others had asked them to bring from the street. Zanka had some bags in his hand, and others were in Fu's arms, who suspiciously hadn't turned around yet.
"I-I was waiting for you, just like you asked."
Nijiku thought they had overcome their stuttering lately. Without much patience, he simply placed his less occupied hand on Fu's arm and gently rotated it so he could finally look at the boy's face.
The cleaner was surprised to find the kitten in the other's hands. Was that what he had been hiding? A sigh escaped his lips, already knowing he would have to be the annoying one and tell him to leave the animal behind.
"He was alone in that alley and came to ask for caress..."
Despite what he said and the pleading look on his face, Fu didn't ask to take the cat, reminding Zanka once again of how the boy dislikes making decisions on his own and even less self-confidence.
"We can't take him, probably no one would have time to look after him or keep an eye on him, and the children wouldn't leave him alone."
And of course he was referring to Guita and Remlin.
Fu was beginning to get used to Zanka's brutal honesty, but his heart still ached at the reality of things, looking with pity at the little ball of fur clinging to his arms.
Unexpectedly, a larger hand stroked the kitten. Zanka didn't want to be misinterpreted; he just didn't think it would be good to take a little animal only to leave it without attention. All that Sphere stuff and the guardian's series was taking up a lot of their time. Maybe in the future it would be possible.
"He'll be fine, he couldn't have gone far from his mother. Cats are smart and quite independent little creatures; he'll manage soon."
Even though he wanted to console the ex raider apparent sadness, Zanka couldn't deny that the boy looked adorable with his drooping eyes and lips in a small, disheartened pout. Fu was terrible at trying to hide his own emotions.
The two left the kitten where it had been when it found Orostor, and as Zanka said, the feline returned to what was surely its mother.
Although it had had a happier ending, Fu still seemed downcast, bothering the cleaner more than he imagined, an impulsive idea crossing his mind before they reached Gris, who was waiting in the car.
"Damn it, wait here, I'll be right back."
That was all Fu heard before Zanka entered one of the nearby shops with determined steps and a grumpy expression.
"He must have gotten tired of your silly, upset face, pathetic drama over a cat."
Hii said on the boy's mind, haunting Fu with the possibility that this was indeed the case. Damn it, that's why he had to learn to hide the things he insisted on wanting for himself.
Or rather, stop wanting things for himself.
Before he could sink any deeper into that hole, Zanka reappeared with a new bag and said nothing about it. Fu didn't ask either, still haunted by the possibilities that were being created.
In a silent walk they arrived at Gris, and in a short time they were at the base. They left everything they had brought, except for the last bag that Zanka picked up. Before Fu could go to the training yard as usual, Zanka grabbed his wrist and stopped him from continuing on his way.
"Let's go to your room, I have something for you."
Even after trying to keep his face expressionless and disinterested, Orostor noticed the slight coloration at the tips of the cleaner's ears.
"O-okay?"
Zanka was walking quickly, but his hand adjusted to hold Fu's; his touch where warm e delicate, Fu feared his face was now as red as the red part of his own hair.
They stopped in front of the ex-raider room door. The taller, bicolor-haired boy pulled a plush toy from his bag—it was a cat!
"There wasn't one like the one we saw on the street, so I got this one. I hope it's good enough."
The kitten had cream-colored fur, dark brown ears, paws, nose, and tail, and blue eyes.
It was soft in his hands, and Fu couldn't even think about hiding the smile on his face; it was more than enough.
"It's very cute, it looks a bit like you, Zanka."
The boy said without thinking, a result of sudden happiness, the weight of the words only coming later.
Zanka felt his cheeks warm up; suddenly he felt like teasing the boy's nervousness.
"If we look alike, then you think I'm cute too?"
Fu seemed about to lose his mind for a moment, terrible agitated, hugging the plush cat in one arm and nervously running his hands through his hair and the hem of his sweatshirt with the other, his face red and his mouth in an incurable stutter. Zanka couldn't help but laugh; the smaller one seemed to have no idea that in the other Giver's mind, he was the most adorable person here.
"Be content with this little guy for now, don't get so down about that little brother we left there, he's surely in a better situation by now."
The taller one reaffirmed, leaving the bag on the doorknob, getting closer to Orostor.
One of his hands found its way to Fu's two-toned hair, gently arranging the previously messy strands. This time, he couldn't resist his desires; with a delicate touch, he held Fu's chin and lifted his face so they could look at each other without the ex-raider avoiding eye contact.
"You look better like this, with your usual silly smile."
The stupid, silly smile that filled Zanka's head most days lately.
Fu could hear fireworks in the back of his mind; he took a deep breath, seeking solace for his pounding heart and weak knees.
Zanka soon released him, with a small, sideways smile, satisfied with the result of his comforting plan.
"Don't be late for practice."
With the order given, he retreated to the courtyard, his fingers still feeling the burning heat radiating from Fu's face and the sensation of the strands of hair between his fingers.
Meanwhile, Fu was still in front of his own room door, looking at the plush cat in his arms with a smile on his face, rubbing his cheek against the softness of the fluffy fabric, still not believing what had just happened.
"I can't stand seeing you guys being pathetic anymore."
"He gave me a kitten, Master Hii!"
Apparently, not even Hii's sharp tongue could take away Fu's happiness at the moment.