Without a little lift, the ballerina falls

“My sister’s the youngest by a year. My brother’s older than me by a year. I s’pose my parents were quite busy back then,” he murmured dryly, and chuckled. “They’re good people, but I haven’t gotten to see them much.” He smiled, and nodded. “My flat is a very lonely place, it’d be nice to see something other than me living there.” Once they’d gotten their adoption paperwork settled and paid the fees, they were instructed to come back and pick up their kittens the next day once they’d been appropriately vaccinated and chipped. “That was a success, I reckon.” He offered her his hand again, grinning smugly. “Up for a bit of dinner, then? I’m still happy to cook for you if so.”

“I’m sure my family would’ve been the same if my parents hadn’t gotten a two for one deal their first go around, you know what I mean. Probably was fun growing up with them though.” Isabelle picked up the little kitten and it curled into her while the other just kept walking over her lap. “Well these are going to brighten up your whole place you won’t even recognize it anymore.” She nodded and got up to follow Ares so that they could get all the paperwork and such settled. She knew she wasn’t coming up with the cats and that was okay, she wanted to tell Colt first so it wasn’t overwhelming. “I would think so.” Isabelle took his hand as they walked out into the city together. “I’d love food. If I’m not taking up your entire day of course.”

“Being ditched by your mother will make you into a tough cookie,” Asher said, his eyes narrowing a little. It was a touchy subject still, even six years later. He was glad the other woman was out of their lives, she’d never been a pleasant person anyway, let alone mother. “I’m going,” he said, childishly sticking his tongue out at her. “You don’t think I should let it simmer on the metaphorical crock pot for six more months?” At that point he was teasing just to driver her a little crazy.

“But she’s okay.” Isabelle reminded Asher for probably the hundredth time. Isabelle was very glad that Sophia’s mother wasn’t around. She had never been a fan and Isabelle could be a better mother figure to her niece than anyone else. “If you do that I’m going to end up telling her because I can’t handle that.”

“As long as Soph keeps her newfound sass to herself, that is,” he said, and raised a pointed eyebrow at his sister. “I do wonder where she got that from.” He rolled his eyes, nodding. “We should probably have that talk. I’ve been dancing around it for a while because I didn’t want to push her, but I ended up being the one who needed it instead. Go figure.”

“She seems like the type that can hold her own though. I don’t think anyone goes through what she has and can’t. Especially against a little kid.” Isabelle laughed. “Just have it. You’re ready, you need to see if she is and then go from there. You aren’t doing any favors by keeping quiet and honestly it’s driving me crazy.”

“I’d always been told you should adopt cats in pairs. They’re not like dogs that can be content with just you, apparently they go crazy when there’s two and they can teach each other and shite,” he said and chuckled. “Wish that worked a wee bit better with humans, maybe my brother an’ sister would’ve gotten along a bit better. She once chased him through a graveyard and he fuckin’ proper fell into an old hole. Hopefully yours and your brother’s kids don’t do that.” He scooped up the kittens in his arms who were now playfully wrestling each other and nodded. “We should go an’ see about getting them, then.” It was shaping up to be a decent date after all, he thought.

Isabelle didn’t know how you were supposed to adopt cats. She just knew that she wanted one and that it would fit well into her little family and that’s pretty much the entire reason they were there now. “Is your sister older or younger than your brother?” She was sure that Ares had told her but she’d learned a lot in the last couple days about him and she had forgotten certain points. “They won’t. Not any time soon anyway.” She laughed a little with a nod. “Yeah probably. I can’t believe you’re getting some too.” Isabelle was starting to think that accidental dates were her new favorite sorts of dates.”

“It’s good to be back in New York….” he said slowly, sighing and taking a sip of his drink. He glanced over at the person beside him. “How have you been?”

“How long has it been since you left again? It feels like its been such a long time since I saw you.” Isabelle looked out the window and sighed. “I’ve been good, which is a nice change of pace. What about you?”

“I mentioned it to her, and I think she seems okay with it.” He shrugged, and chuckled a little. “It’s confusing, I think she knows I care, I’m just not very good at being blunt about how I feel, you know? I don’t want to rush her into anything neither of us are actually ready for. I just need that happy medium.”

“Well that’s good then! And Noelle is so sweet with kids, Soph will love her.” Isabelle sighed. “It’s all about communication. You just need to be honest with her about where you’re at and where you want to go at some point and figure out where she is too. That’s all you can do.”

Ares smiled at the kittens running and tumbling over them both, unable to hold back a soft chuckle at Isabelle’s enthusiasm. It was nice to see her smile, at least. “I think these two have just gone and chosen me, then,” he glanced down at them, and shook his head. “S’pose I’ve got to take them home then, haven’t I?” He looked at the other kitten approaching her with a sweet smile. “Think you’ve got another friend.”

Isabelle picked uptake little kitten and watched Ares play with the two babies that had seemed to fall in love with him. “I think it would be incredibly rude if you didn’t take them with you they’d probably be sad for the rest of their lives.” Isabelle looked down at the new animal and made room for it. “Aw.. I think these are going to be the new little additions to the family. I think they fit in perfectly.” 

“I have faith in your little big man.” He nodded with a seed of warmth behind it. “How old is he, again?”

Don’t get me wrong, Colt was a real cutie, but he was just at that age that made Evan feel, awkward. He couldn’t quite explain why but, children just made him feel uneasy. Maybe it was their brutal honesty? Their innocent minds? He forced a small smile as he watched and listened to Colt’s answer, before averting his full attention back towards his friend. “Umm.. I-I don’t know.” Evan laughed, nervously. “I just feel.. awkward.”

“I get that.. if you’re not used to them I mean. But Colt’s just a little love bug. He just wants to cuddle and play he’s really the best little guy that you could ask for.” Isabelle handed Colt his Buzz toy, “Go show Mr. Evan how Buzz flys.” She told the little boy who ran over to Evan flying Buss all around. “HE FIGHTS BA GUYS!” Colt explained.

“Me too, because I get too confused with the many lovers she had over the years, and all I want is her to be happy.”

“Well your sister sounds like me so I can’t really judge any of that.”

“Oh my god, can we never say that phrase again?” Asher wrinkeld his nose up in disgust, chuckling. “I know, friends are a thing, and technically it is the truth. I should probably get to formally asking her sooner or later but I didn’t want to rush, you know?” He sighed, reaching a hand up to scrub at his face. “I hope not either. You deserve to be happy, you know. Between all the teasing and misery, that much is still true.”

“Yeah it’s not on my to do list, I hate that phrase more than almost anything.” Isabelle nodded, thinking about how Ares had met Colton when she met him. Not rushing things was not in Isabelle’s vocabulary. “You don’t want to wait too long and accidentally make her think that you don’t care.” She smiled at her brother, “I know.. thanks. You do too.”

“That does sound like it was a lot of fun, I mean the dancing intensives. I love dancing, even if it’s just me and my cat.”

“It was but it definitely felt like career prep not really a fun time away with friends, you know what I mean? See you’re doing it like normal people. That’s just as fun.”

Ares smiled brightly and nodded. “It’s a good plan, I’ve heard. They tend to go a bit bonkers as kittens and expect you to entertain them if they haven’t got a little mate to play with.” He’d only had experience with his mother’s cats, but it sounded about right. He followed her into the meet and greet room, smiling at the other cats tumbling about on the far wall with their toys. “Animals are a big commitment,” he said sagely, shrugging once. “’m nervous too and I haven’t even decided if I’m joining the cat dad society yet.” He chuckled, and found the worker to let them know which kittens they wanted to see. When their chosen kittens were set down in the room, Ares couldn’t help but chuckle when all of them came bounding over. “I think we’ve just made a massive mistake, we may need to take the whole place home.” He scooped up the tiny black kitten he’d been eyeing, jumping a little when a small brown tabby also scaled his leg. “What d’you think?”

“Yeah and I don’t have time to entertain a toddler and a kitten that is just a recipe for disaster, you know what I mean?” She laughed and got ready for the kittens to come in, “Well I guess you’ll know soon enough then. This could be a huge day for you you could become a parent.” Isabelle scooped up the first can that ran over to her and cuddled it, “Aw.. I’ll take the whole place I don’ need any room in my apartment.” She looked over at Ares’ kitten, I think that it absolutely loves you.”

“Yeah I - That works too.” Evan nodded in approval. His orbs followed Colt as he ran around the room for a moment, feeling his body tense, before glancing back over towards Isabelle. “I don’t know..” He laughed, nervously. “You know what I’m like I - Always overthinking. I guess Kit sounds a lot like cat so.. It sounds like you’ve chosen a name?” Evan offered, avoiding any conversation about his overthinking mind.

“I don’t know, I should just put both names in a hat and pull one out at this point it would probably be easier.” Isabelle watched Colt run around, “Colton which name do you like Kit or Blaze?” Colton actually stopped playing for a few moments to think. “Baze.” He answered, very definitively before going back to playing. She couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright then.” Isabelle looked over at Even who did look more nervous than normal, “You aren’t one for kids are you?”

“Fair enough.” He agreed with an amused grin. “Alright, so what I’m hearing is that you’re on board with the Blaze thing. It’s hot. It’s happening. It’s not the little dude’s name.”

“Misty is a weird name as well,” Adam says with a small shrug, “I don’t know what to tell you, if a theme isn’t important than you could go with a composer or whatever you want, a cat certainly doesn’t give a fuck what it’s called,” he says, shrugging a shoulder vaguely, “Uh, Cassiopeia and Desdemona, constellations have plenty of interesting names.”

“It is but I like it..That’s a good point I guess they don’t know one way or another. I don’t know, it was easier to name my kid than animals which makes no sense.” Isabelle nodded, “Those are actually really cool names for pets, I like it.”