First Aid, task 2: Write about an allergy
Word Count: 513
"You got a cat," Dean says, brows raising curiously.
"Kitten," Piers corrects, as though it is enough to make a real difference.
Dean resists the urge to roll his eyes, shrugging. The kitten is cute enough with its orange and white stripes and tiny pink nose. It mews, poking its head up and squirming in Piers' hand, trying to explore its surroundings.
"Roguish little girl," Piers chuckles, tucking a slender finger under her fuzzy chin and scratching gently.
There's just one small problem. Dean can already feel his throat growing scratchy. He takes a step back, tucking his face into elbow as he sneezes.
"You're allergic," Piers says.
There's no denying the disappointment in his voice. It's nothing that either of them can help, but Dean can't help but feel guilty over it. Piers' dark eyes had lit up so brightly as he showed the kitten to Dean. The happiness on his face had been so beautiful. Can Dean really take that away from him?
It isn't the end of the world, of course. There had been cats galore at Hogwarts. Hermione's shaggy, ginger cat had possibly been the worst. The cat had been irritable enough, but it also had the bad habit of shedding all over the place. Dean can feel his arms breaking out just thinking about it.
With a shudder, he rubs his palms over his skin, trying to ease the itching. He can't quite tell what is the result of a current allergy and what is memory that is just a bit too vivid.
"Where did you find her?" Dean asks, sniffling.
"Outside the bakery, in the alley," his boyfriend answers. "I was taking the trash to the bins for Max. Poor girl was starving."
Dean nods. He can see her ribs pressing against her skin. Every little movement and sound makes her tense. Still, she is so calm and loving, and Dean can't help but assume that she had been thrown out.
He tries to be an optimist and have a little faith in the world, but humans never fail to disappoint him.
"We can keep her," Dean says.
"But your allergies…"
Dean offers him a grin, stepping closer. He pets the kitten gently, laughing as she affectionately rubs her head against his palm. "Being a wizard has its perks, you know."
Hogwarts had been home to countless cats, and Dean hadn't been the only one with an allergy. Once a week, he and a few others would sit in the hospital wing, waiting for Madam Pomfrey to hand out vials of pale pink. Dean has never attempted to brew an allergy potion, but he thinks it will be easy enough.
Piers looks so happy with the kitten, and Dean refuses to let his allergies interfere with his boyfriend's joy. Besides, the kitten has already grown on him.
"Does she have a name yet?" Dean wonders.
"Not yet." Piers lifts her up, studying her. "Ginger?"
It's a ridiculous name. Too plain, too simple, too Muggle. Somehow, that makes it perfect.
"Ginger," Dean agrees.
And so their family grows.