Oops. i forgot to post this

Also reminder that I have no idea how law in the real world works and I am making things up

"You know, I used to only have to shop once or twice a month."

"It was your decision to take in a teenage boy, Steven." Brine reminded him, a reusable grocery bag slung over each shoulder as he ambled along the sidewalk beside him.

"I didn't expect him to eat the same amount as three grown men!" Steven threw his hands up in the air. "I've never taken care of a kid before."

"You've been a teenage boy, haven't you?" Brine pointed out. "Surely you didn't come out of the womb a fully-grown doormat of a man." Steven barked a laugh.

"You're so rude."

"I prefer 'witty'."

It had been almost three weeks since Caden had introduced himself to their rapidly growing household, and the boy was slowly starting to come out of his shell. It took a little while, but he seemed to have figured out by now that he was safe there. Since he was eating regularly now, he was starting to put on a bit more weight, and no longer looked like the starving urchin that had broken into Steven's house and threatened him with a knife.

Steven had allowed him to entertain himself using his computer, under the condition that he spent a certain amount of his day doing something educational to make up for the time he was missing at school. So, Caden was teaching himself JavaScript. Anything computer-related seemed to come naturally to him, and it kept him entertained while his hosts were out of the house.

"To answer your question, I did not, in fact, eat a lot as a teen." Steven shifted his grip on the grocery bag in his hand, rolling his shoulder to alleviate the growing ache. "That's when I started donating blood, so I wasn't very active."

Brine hiked up a brow. "And you didn't… eat more to make up for the blood you were losing?"

Steven shrugged. "I had a lot of protein shakes."

"That isn't food."

"It's nutrients, and hydration."

"Still not food!" Brine pointed an accusing finger at him. "And… you started as a teenager? What did your parents think about all this?"

"They encouraged it." Steven's face colored slightly. "They were getting all the money from my donations, after all." Brine didn't respond for a moment.

"…they sold your blood to make themselves rich."

"Pretty much." Steven shrugged. "When I was seventeen, I contacted a lawyer, and moved out a few months later."

"Well, good on you." Brine patted his shoulder. "Perhaps you're not a doormat after all."

"That's the nicest thing you've said about me all day."

The pair turned onto Steven's street, Brine continuing to poke fun at his rich roommate as they approached his apartment. When they reached it, Steven unlocked the door, calling as he stepped into the front hall,

"Caden, we're home!"

There was a brief pause before he got a response, coming from behind his closed door. "Hi guys."

"Didn't get up to too much trouble while we were gone, did you?" Herobrine called as he passed the door on his way to the kitchen. There was no response, but neither man gave it much thought, continuing their conversation as they put away the fresh groceries.

"I've been in contact with a few of my local allies," Brine told his roommate as he slid a jar of dill weed into a cupboard. "About getting the kid some help. He clearly can't go back with his father, but my research has shown that he may have influence over local protective services,"

"What kind of influence?" Steven was leaning against a kitchen chair, catching his breath. Regularly walking to the store instead of taking the bus was helping his stamina, but he still needed a bit to recover.

"He has friends in high places." Herobrine made a face. "Government friends. It's unlikely a report to CPS will do anything, not unless there's evidence they can't brush off. It might be wiser to just get Caden out of the area."

"Would that work?" Steven sounds doubtful. "Surely he's been reported missing by the school, right? If he pops up, even in another state, they'll track him down."

"I use fake IDs from time to time. Short of being recognized by facial recognition, or taking fingerprints or a DNA test, he should be alright."

Steven looked at him for a few, long moments. "Sometimes you scare me."

"I'm a serial killer, that's the point."

"I thought you were a vigilante."

"I'm whatever's funnier in the current context."

Steven scoffed quietly, releasing the chair to put a gallon of milk in the fridge. He closed the door, then leaned against it, quiet for a moment.

"Suppose he… Caden's dad… needs him for something?" He catches Brine's eyes. "Like my parents did with me?"

"Could be." Brine shrugged. "Though I would guess otherwise. Eli's father just liked the control he had over him, the abuse he knew he could get away with." The vigilante stretched, sighing. "Italian or Mexican for dinner?" Steven blinked at the abrupt change of subject.

"Uh…"

"You're right, we had Mexican the other day." Herobrine pulls a package of pasta from one of the bags, setting it by the stove. "I-" He cut off, going silent.

"What?" Steven asked after a pause.

"Shh." Brine hushed him. "Did you hear that?" Steve gave him a quizzical look, but stayed quiet.

A faint, high-pitched sound came from his bedroom door.

The men exchanged glances, and Brine immediately headed for the door, knocking sharply before Steven could stop him.

"Caden, what are you doing in there?"

"Uh…" the young man's voice seemed on the edge of panic, and Brine reached for the knob, but Steven grabbed his wrist before he could open it.

"Caden?" He made an effort to soften his voice. "Everything alright?" There was a long, tense moment of silence.

Finally, the knob turned, and the door opened just enough to reveal half of Caden's anxious face. "…sorry."

His hosts exchanged a glance. "For?" Brine prompted. In response, Caden opened the door further, revealing the tiny, grey kitten tucked into the crook of his arm.

"It was crying at the front door." Caden looked thoroughly chastised, though his hosts had yet to react either way. "I thought… it's probably cold." He rubbed the kitten's head, causing it to squeak. "So I brought it in. Um… I'm not gonna keep it, I just… I thought maybe it would… maybe we could bring it to a shelter instead. So it wouldn't freeze." His gaze was at his feet now. "Sorry." The kitten squeaked again, clinging to the arm of Caden's hoodie, and Steven looked at Herobrine.

Brine cleared his throat. "Let me see." Caden's worried gaze flickered up, but he reluctantly unhooked the kitten from his arm, offering it to him. Brine took the kitten in both hands, scrutinizing it as it mewed and flailed for a claw-hold.

"It's a girl." Brine reported after a moment. "And too little to be away from its mother." He settled it in his arm, letting it sink its claws into his sleeve. "You said it was crying at the door?" Caden nodded, not meeting his eyes.

"I didn't see anyone else. No other cats, that is. Or people."

"Hm." Brine stroked the kitten's head as she looked around curiously. "Did she run away when you opened the door?"

"No," Caden shook his head. "She came right to me."

"Unlikely to be a stray, then." Brine heaved a sigh. "And she's well-fed. Add that to the fact that it isn't kitten season, and she was most likely dumped by those who didn't want to take care of a kitten." He nodded to Steven. "That said, do you remember when I suggested you get a cat?" Caden immediately perked up.

"Uh." Steven searched his memory. "Yes?" Brine held up the kitten, giving him a quizzical look. "Are you asking if we can keep it?"

"Why not?" Brine continued petting the cat. "She's friendly. And she's a very pretty little cat."

"What if she belongs to my neighbors?" Steven protested. "She could have just slipped away." Herobrine considered this for a moment.

"It's possible." He admitted. "In the meantime, she's here, and she's most likely hungry." Brine turned away, heading back towards the kitchen with the kitten tucked into his arms. "Caden, have you considered any names for her yet?"

"Um," Caden trailed after him, a little grin on his face. "'Byte'- B-Y-T-E, because she kept nibbling on my fingers."

"Really? Hm. I'm less creative. I was thinking of 'Ash', or 'Smoke', or-" Brine snapped his fingers. "You know what would be cute? 'Cinderella'. Because she was nicknamed such for sleeping in the fireplace for warmth."

"Oh. I like Cinderella."

"Was asking for my permission for show only?" Steven complained, following them into the kitchen and watching as Brine retrieved a can of tuna from a cabinet. Caden turned an imploring look on him, and Steven sighed, looking away. "…not that I was going to say no." Caden's face lit up, and Steven knew he'd made the right choice.

Brine scrutinized the cabinet, then turned his gaze on the kitten again with a sigh. "Suppose we'll need to go back to the store again."