Story

 This is, as yet, untitled. I've got more of it, but I'm not finished. The prompt is that video Chris posted yesterday.

Kin backed up another step. He wasn’t interested. Why couldn’t she leave him alone?

 

“Cináed,” Rayn leaned forward showing off what was inside her low-cut tank top. “I know you want me.”

 

This is what he got from being nice to a fellow freshman. They had three classes together, but just because they were working on the same project together in History of Western Magic didn’t mean he wanted to be more than friends. Why didn’t she go after one of the other people in the group? 

 

Heck, she even pronounced his name right. She must be a stalker.

 

“I want you to leave me alone.”

 

She pouted with her finger in her mouth. “Don’t be like that.”

 

She was drunk. That must be what it was. “Rayn, go home.”

 

She ran her finger between her breasts. “Come with me.”

 

Kin had already told her he was gay. And interested in someone else. But she didn’t seem to understand what ‘no’ meant. Dad says that college is the time to learn boundaries and self and all the other things that people who grew up in big families might not have a chance to learn before, but Kin didn’t think this counted. He’d learned what ‘no’ meant before his younger siblings were born.

 

A strong arm wrapped around him and Ved kissed his neck. “Hello, handsome. I’ve been looking for you.”

 

This was where Kin wanted to be. Rayn narrowed her eyes but didn’t say anything as Kin was led away.

Story, 2nd part

 Normally by this point, I've come up with a title. Sigh.

The problem with having a crush on a guy with so many friends was that Kin didn’t get his full attention. Not that he’s expected it. It was a miracle Ved remembered him at all, let alone recognized him. But Kin didn’t stop touching him: a hand on his arm or shoulder, an arm across his back, snuggles like when they were kittens. It was enough to make all the names of all the people Ved introduced just wash away like the tide. 

 

Ved was raised at the university. Two of his fathers and three of his grandparents were in research. Then he’d graduated and spent a year in the field and opted to go through their finding this year rather than go out again. Which meant he was here for Kin’s freshman year. 

 

“How are you setting in?” asked the hundredth person.

 

“Pretty good,” seemed to be the right answer. 

 

“Like your classes?” That was also a popular question, but he’s only been here a week, so how could he know for sure. He mentioned Professor Dev and like always, the inquisitor smiled and reminisced about being his student the same way Dadaidh and Ayr always did. 

 

Then Kin could turn the conversation to what the other person thought he shouldn’t miss: their favorite teachers, classes, cafes, clubs, parks… and that would keep the conversation going until Ved finished the one he was having and moved Kin along to introduce him to new friends. 

 

Kin wouldn’t be able to remember any of them. 

 

He covered a yawn. Had Ved seen? Kin wasn’t ready to give up the little bit of attention Ved had given him.

 

“Time to get you home.” Ved grinned.

 

Kin bit his lip to keep from retorting that he wasn’t a kitten anymore. He probably still was to Ved.

 

The walk back to Kin’s dorm was nice in the crisp night air. Ved rubbed his face against Kin’s neck and riled up right outside Kin’s door, but he wouldn’t come in. He gave Kin a soft kiss on the lips and walked away.

 

Kin crawled into the bed too tired to jerk himself off to the smell of Ved on him. He cried a little, quietly in case his dorm mate returned. Ved would never love him the way he wanted to be loved.

Story, 3rd part

 It just occurred to me that the university would not have a pigeon problem. Maybe not crows either. And moles and mice probably wouldn't be an issue.

“Cináed, I know Javed isn’t you boyfriend.” Rayn’s even tone hammered nails into Kin’s heart. Ved would never be his.

 

“I can see why you’d want him. So strong and tall. His cat form is enormous.”

 

Kin bit his lip rather than tell her Ved was a Maine Coon. And perfect in every way.

 

Rayn giggled. “He’s probably big all over.”

 

Kin shut his eyes. He didn’t want her talking about his Ved. If she put as much attention in the project as in Kin, they’d be done by now.

 

“He’s a wizard, sure, but then so am I. What does he have that I don’t?” She ran her hands down her curvy flesh.

 

Kin sighed. “I’m gay.”

 

She sidled closer. “But isn’t everyone a little bit. We can all appreciate the same sex. And the opposite sex.”

 

Kin rubbed his hands through his curls. “That’s bi or pan or whatever.”

 

“You could be bi or pan or whatever too.”

 

“That’s not the way it works.”

 

“Sure it is. Now me for instance.”

 

Would she ever stop talking about herself? Kin glued the last picture to the poster-board and started the notations beside it.

 

“I’m mostly interested in men.” She pulled on one of Kin’s curls. He yanked his head away. She laughed. “But Javed’s girlfriend is so beautiful. Gorgeous. I wanted to fall on my knees at her feet and beg to lick her. Not normally my thing.”

 

Ved had a girlfriend? “Javed’s gay.”

 

“Keep telling yourself that.” She patted his cheek.

 

But Ved had told him that, back when they were boys, back when they were talking about starting families and Kin had understood that they meant just one. Had he been fooling himself this whole time?

 

“You can see her for yourself. They should be picking up their kittens in,” She checked her phone, “twenty minutes.”

 

Kin’s heart shattered and the chunks fell piece by piece to the floor.

Story, 4th part

I realized while writing this that I got the birth times wrong in New Kittens for Vahid and Javed. Vahid was born the night before and Javed was born the same time as Shiva.



 Kin felt awkward leaning again the wall across the courtyard from the creche, like some crazy stalker or something. He should have stayed at the library and finished the project. Only a few more hours and it would be done.

 

“They’re in there.” Rayn pointed. “They’ll come out with three kittens a piece. Quite the handful.”

 

“Was this what you were doing yesterday instead of helping with the project?”

 

She swished her hair. “I have priorities.”

 

Not the right ones.

 

The door to the creche opened and out came the most beautiful woman Kin had ever seen. Her hair was long and so dark it sucked in all the light around it. Her skin was dusky pale and she was both lean and round. Her skirts swished as she walked into the courtyard. She carried a basket, like all smart parents. It wasn’t until kittens got older that  keeping them in a basket was more work than carrying them separately. 

 

Three small kittens and one bigger one followed her out. Then came Ved. He had to duck to get through the doorway. He had a black kitten sprawled on his shoulder. It wasn’t a Maine Coon, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t his. 

 

“I wonder where the other one is?”

 

In the basket?

 

Ved looked their way and gestured to the woman. They all turned toward Kin. He moved closer to the corner but in less than a moment he was fenced in by kittens, included the one who had been on Ved’s shoulder. He gave Kin a sniff. “Who is this, Uncle Ved?”

 

Ved grinned. “Shiva, do you remember Kin?”

 

She passed the basket to Ved. “Who could forget everyone’s favorite ginger?”

 

She gave him a familiar hug, even though it had more curves.

 

“Shiva? You’ve grown.”

 

She laughed. “So have you.” She hugged him again. “I’ve missed you, but not as much a Ved has.”

 

“Sheev!”

 

Shiva laughed again. Then she introduced her nephews. The smaller kittens, including the four in the basket, were their older brothers’. The bigger one belonged to their litter-mates. “Vahid and Del were both pregnant at graduation. These two are Vahid’s. He and his husband had kittens at the same time. Del’s little one didn’t sleep well last night, so Del kept her home. But he’ll want to see you. Ved, bring him by sometime.”

 

Ved blushed. Shiva turned to Rayn. “And who is this?”

 

“You’re beautiful.”

 

“I know, sweetheart. Baba says I’m their only girl because why mess with perfection. But I’m pretty sure it’s because when I was this age,” she rubbed her black furred nephew under the chin, “I made a whole bunch of money appear. Hekte, daric, drachma, talent, stater: all really old coins. They never did figure out where it came from. It’s in the university museum.”

 

“Money? Why?”

 

Shiva turned to Ved. “Do you remember?”

 

They bickered lightly for a while. Rayn managed to stop drolling and stand up straight. “But who are you?”

 

Shiva grinned.  “Shiva, darling. Just ask anyone. They all know me. This is my little brother.”

 

“By less than a minute.”

 

She blinked at him. He sighed.

 

“But you look nothing alike.”

 

Shiva blinked at her. Rayn pressed her lips together.

 

“Kin, grab a kitten. We’re the family daycare delivery service. All right, boys, off we go.”

 

The three smaller kittens claimed Kin. One perched on each shoulder and one on his head. Ved grinned and took his hand. Today wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Story, 5th part

 They “stepped” to the front walk of each building, but dropping off the kids still took a lot of time. Ved’s siblings all seemed to remember Kin better than he remembered them. The three older brothers all reminded him of the time he ran away from home and was found in Ved’s favorite napping place inside their house and no one, even Kin, had any idea how he got there. He’d run away after Ayr gave up an attempt to comb Kin’s curls when he could no longer stand Kin’s tears and threatened to just cut them off.

 

Ved’s Baba had taken Ayr and Dad aside and then ran his fingers through Kin’s hair. All the tangles fell away. Kin had gotten to see Ved at least every other week until Ayr got the hang of the spell. Kin now did it every morning without thinking about it.

 

When the last of the kittens was home, Shiva “stepped” them into the quad. “Ved still lives at home and you’re in a dorm. You poor boys.”

 

She “stepped” away.

 

“I’m trying to get my own place,” Ved ran his hand through his hair. “Anything would be fine. It just needs a bed. And you.”

 

Had Ved said what Kin had heard? Kin stepped closer. Ved pulled Kin against his chest. He leaned his head down to Kin’s shoulder. “I really like you.”

 

“I like you too.”

 

“And I want to be more than friends.”

 

“Aren’t we already?”

 

Ved made the funny growl purr he did when frustrated. “I don’t want to go too fast for you. I’ve waited as long as I can. But I’ll wait longer if you’re still not ready.”

 

Kin stepped back to get a better look at Ved’s face. “You thought you were waiting for me?”

 

Ved stood up. “What did you think?”

 

“That you’d changed your mind.”

 

“Never.” Ved rubbed his nose against Kin’s neck. “I really want to spend some time alone with you.”

 

“My roommate might not be back.”

 

They hurried to Kin’s dorm. His roommate was home, but he was in cat form, sitting in the window. 

 

“Great idea,” said Ved. He pulled his clothes off, changed form, and jumped onto Kin’s bed. Kin joined him. Grooming him was even better than it had been when they were young. Then Kin cuddled against his neck and closed his eyes.