Can't hug every cat.

[no_voice]

Jason has just punched out of his shift and is walking towards the exit to head home when he catches sight of the newest addition to the adoption center. His heart pounds in his chest, which feels like it might sink from the weight of how helpless the kitten looks.

The kitten mews.

The next thing Jason knows, he's filling out paperwork and handing over a portion of the paycheck he just recently cashed; he's receiving one of their special discount booklets for customers adopting new pets, and he's holding a carrier with the most precious cargo inside.

He makes his way back through the store, his managers and coworkers trying hard not to laugh at him and failing. He grabs everything he thinks he needs, making a mental note to make an appointment with the vet as soon as possible. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he thinks he should call or text Peter. But he isn't exactly thinking rationally at the moment; the cat, a female without a name yet, is mewing at him from the carrier and his other arm aches carrying the rest of what he needs.

He checks out and makes it home without any complications, other than several people asking to see his new kitten, which he happily obliges.

He pauses in front of his own door, the reality of what he's just done hitting him at last.

"Shit," he tells his new companion, as he turns the door and nudges his way inside.

Comments

[paper_courage]

It's not unusual that Jason's stayed a bit past his shift. The buses aren't always perfectly reliable and Peter knows how susceptible Jason is to being asked for favors. Any day someone could ask him to stay late and -- regardless of whether it was a good idea for Jason to do so or not -- he would oblige because Jason is that kind and self-sacrificing and that much of a perfectionist. It's infuriatingly adorable.

Lunch is in the fridge. Through a miscommunication in shopping, they had way too many eggs and Peter had made what he thought was a pretty passable egg salad. Now, Peter sits with his notes spread out on the table, decoding Latin homework slowly and with much effort. Time is crawling by and the work never ends. Peter is excited for Jason to come home so he has an excuse to take a break.

No sooner has he thought it than he can hear the door opening. He finishes the sentence he's working on and straightens to see that Jason... is not technically alone.

"....is that for Magnus?" Peter asks, pointing to the crate.

[no_voice]

"Um."

Jason bites his lip, desperate to stall for time even as he knows there's no point. He's made a rash decision without asking for Peter's input; he'll have to face the consequences.

Still, he doesn't know what entirely to say. He couldn't help himself? The cat meowed and stole his heart in one fell swoop, just as Peter had done before her?

"Not exactly," he says, shoulders sagging as he decides to just fess up. "I saw her coming in and I somehow lost all sense of reason."

On cue, the kitten glances up at Peter from within the kennel, letting out a tiny mewl and tilting her head.

"I thought we could call her Nadia," Jason says, a pleading look to his eyes.

[paper_courage]

Peter watches Jason with the most rapt attention, his brows up at attention. A flusteredd Jason is a compelling one and he can't help himself as he sees hesitation shift to doubt and then to Jason's patented self-flagellation. He fesses up like he's stolen the thing and Peter's lips finally break into an amused little smile.

This cat shares a talent of Jason's, it seems, or Jason has spent the entire ride from work to here teaching her how to be adorable on cue. If Jason's nervous dance hadn't been enough, that little mewl would have done the trick. Peter's sure his heart has completely melted.

Until, of course, he sees that plea, hears Jason's plan for a name. This cat isn't a cat at all, this is Jason building his family. Jason taking control of his own life. Jason's heart fit to burst.

Slowly so as not to spook his anxious, desperate love, he closes the space between them and presses a gentle kiss against Jason's lips. It's "welcome home," "it's alright," and "I love you."

"Can I pick her up?" Peter asks, already unlatching the crate. He's never had a pet before and his little half-smile tells of the excitement he's feeling.

[no_voice]

Peter smiles, and Jason visibly relaxes, the tension seeping from his shoulders. His embarrassed smile remains, however, self-deprecating and aiding in the flush in his cheeks. He is so grateful for that one look - a gesture of open expression he could scarcely have hoped for from anyone else.

Jason sighs into that kiss; the warmth eases into his bones like a warm, bubbling magic, assuring him. He reads all that he's meant to read from that kiss and smiles wider, this time.

"Of course you can," he tells him, holding the crate steady as Peter works to unlatch it. "She's very friendly and outgoing. I'm sure she'll love you as much as I do."

[paper_courage]

Though he has to move his fingertips from the adorable flush at Jason's cheek to do it, he finishes unlatching the little gate and closes his hands very tentatively around the kitten. She seems pliant in his hands, though maybe terrified. Peter handles her gently, like she's glass and not a ball of fluff.

"Hi, Nadia," Peter coos quietly, bringing the creature up to eye-level. Holy crap, she's cute, all white fur except for that tiny bit of brown at her whiskers. And big, blue eyes. Eyes not entirely unlike Jason's, which were completely like Nadia's. This cat belonged there. Maybe she'd needed a home as much as Peter's heart had. He brings his eyes up to Jason and smiles hugely.