Story, 5th part

[frogs_of_war]

 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.