"That's your kitty?"
"Yeah! Isn't she adorable?!"
Huan lifted the small kitten off his arms and Irina made a high pitched squeal.
The Russians had just arrived at Yao's house, but before they could all settle down at the kitchen table, a small black and white kitten walked into the room.
"We found her a few days ago when we had something to do at the countryside," Huan explained. "Their old owners didn't care whether it was there or not, so I asked if we could take it home. I always wanted a pet."
"I didn't want the cat," Shu said. "I don't like it." She earnt a surprised look by Irina; Ivan and Viktoriya shot her a confused one as well.
"Why not?" Viktoriya asked.
"Indeed! Look at her, Shu! She's so sweet!" Irina said to Shu who didn't move a single muscle. Irina looked at Huan, who had watched his sister's statement with a kind of embarrassed smile. "What's her name?"
"We named her Bo. I thought Lilly would be a cute name, too, but Yao and Shu said they liked Bo better."
"I don't know why you should give an English name to a Chinese cat," Shu said. "And Bo has a nicer meaning, anyways." She turned to Viktoriya. "Nevertheless, I don't see why we would need a cat at all. They're useful animals, but we have no use for them. We're living in a city in well cleaned houses, we don't need a mouse catcher. I thought of getting a bird."
"We used to have two cats in the old stable where I learnt horseback riding," Viktoriya said. "Two big round fluffy things. But Cats don't have to be useful. They're already useful when they're being adorable little fluffballs."
"And birds are old people animals," Yao said
"Are you getting one then?" Ivan said and looked at him with an excited smile.
Viktoriya bit her lip and had to hold back a laugh when Yao shot Ivan a disgruntled look
"You watch your mouth, boy" Yao said but Ivan kept smiling. Yao boxed him into the side with his elbows and Ivan laughed about it.
While the two men across them were busy bickering, Shu told Viktoriya: "Birds are peaceful animals. And intelligent. I like that."
"Cats are smart, too!" Huan said. He had handed the kitten to Irina by now, who was pressing her to her chest and cooed at her in Russian.
Vicki's eyes widened and she pressed her hands in front of her mouth, yet could not keep a small squeal from escaping.
"Viktoriya?" Shu asked and Irina lifted her head to look at her.
"Look at my Lapotschka and her kiska," Viktoriya said, her voice merely a whisper. "I cannot take this, they are too adorable," she said and alongside with a smile, a blush began to spread across Irina's face. Bo used that chance and began to climb onto Irina's shoulder.
"I think the weather is getting better," Huan said after he had taken a look outside. "Maybe we should take her outside." He looked at Yao. "May we? I'm sure she'll love to be outside again like she was at the farm! I'll promise I make sure she'll behave well!"
"Of course," Yao said. "Sitting in the Garden and drinking tea sounds better, anyways. I'll be making some right away!"
"I can make Tea, Yao," Shu said and stood up. With quick and determined steps she strode faster around the table than Yao could stand up.
Shu already reached for the teakettle when Yao put a hand on her shoulder.
"So do I," he said. "Go outside with the others, will you? It's my house, after all!"
She stared at him and he gave her a smile and a pat on the shoulder.
"Come with us, Shu," Irina said. Bo was climbing around on her shoulders with wonky steps.
"Yeah, let's get you a little closer to the little critter," Viktoriya said and grabbed her arm. Shu sighed almost unnoticeably, but let herself being taken outside without any protest.
"You can go, too, Ivan," Yao said as he saw him still sitting at the table.
"I'll wait for you," Ivan said and stood up. "Do you need help?"
"No, thank you," Yao said and closed the kettle after filling it up with water.
Ivan looked around while Yao put the kettle on the stove and searched for a tablet he could put the cups on.
"If you're not getting a bird, is there any other kind of pet you would like to have, Yao?"
"Well ..." Yao said. He cleaned the tablet of the imprints the tea cups had left the last time he had used it. "I've actually been thinking about getting myself a dog. I only haven't done it yet because a dog requires so much attention and exercise and I am not sure if I can really take care of one, though." He sighed and put the rag away. "They're so cute though! If I will get one, it's going to be either a Chow-Chow or a Pomeranian! The most important thing is that it's fluffy and cute!"
Ivan laughed. "You like cute and fluffy things, don't you?"
"A lot," Yao replied truthfully. When Ivan didn't answer, he looked over his shoulder.
Ivan leant against the table, his arms propped up on it, and a touched smile on his face and a slight dreamy look in his eyes as he looked at Yao.
Yao put the cup he was holding down and snorted. "I see."
"Do you think I'm fluffy and cute, too?" Ivan asked and dried the tablet with a kitchen cloth.
"I thought that was why you gave me that face. "Well, would I keep you around if it wasn't for you being fluffy and cute?"
"Well," Yao heard his table creak and threw an alarmed look over his shoulder. Ivan was now sitting on it, his hands on his knees. "I'm fine if that's the only reason you keep me around."
Yao sighed and the smile on his face slowly lost its intensity. Thinking about why he actually stayed with Ivan only made him weary.
"It's one of the reasons. What about you?" he asked to change the topic. "What kind of pet do you want?"
"I would love to have a bear." Yao chuckled, but frowned when he looked back at Ivan who sat there with an honest smile and not a sign of mischief in his face.
"And what if you had to chose a pet you could actually have?" he asked, confusion still written into his face.
"There are people in Russia who work with bears," Ivan said. "Sure, they're no pets but you'd still be able to care for them as one while not forcing them to be something that they aren't."
Yao thought about it. "I think you could see it like that. Maybe when we're retired, we will just start to breed bears with our dog and live in a hut somewhere in the nowhere.
Ivan's face lit up. "That sounds absolutely wonderful! Let's really do this one day, yes Yao?"
Yao chuckled and turned around again to pour the hot water into the cups. He was startled and a few drops hit the tablet when Ivan hugged him from behind.
"We could live somewhere in Russia. You could cuddle with the dog or the bears to keep you warm. Or with me, of course." Ivan pressed his face into Yaos hair and gently rubbed against it.
"Don't mess up my hair," Yao said. He managed to not spill any more water and put the kettle away.
Ivan chuckled but stopped rubbing. Instead, he pressed a kiss to the top of it.
"That'd be a peaceful life," he said. "And Vicki and Irina and Shu and Huan could visit us for tea and to play with our pets
"How peaceful a life with a bear can get. Not to mention one with a bear and you," Yao said and looked up at Ivan. He smiled, eyes half lidded. "My teddy bear," Yao quietly added. Ivan chuckled and hugged him a little tighter. "And now let go of me and grab the tablet, the others are waiting. I also don't want to leave Shu and Huan together out of sight."