Chapter Text
Louis was possibly the cutest thing you could ever see. He had a brown, fluffy tail with soft ears to match that twitched and perked when he was happy and giggling. His tail swayed hypnotically when he laid down lazily to play with whatever toy was in front of him. His purr was melodic whenever people would pet behind his ears and or rub his tummy, making him oh-so-cuddly. He was an absolute adorable specimen. Everyone who encountered the small creature instantly became one of those cheesy cartoon character's with their eyes filled with hearts and their mouth open in awe. Watching the hybrid play away was like listening to the calmest river lulling you to sleep.
Then there was Harry. The cerebral humored, high class and suavely dressed, billionaire. He could have had anything he wanted! Mansions upon mansions with swimming pools and even his own personal petting zoo with an equestrian center and lavish decorations adorned with satin's and silks and jewels. Yet - it just wasn't enough. The wealthy man craved more than just the comfort of his own bank account, and as all usually people do, he became lonely. He needed more than the extensive house parties with only the few hundreds of his close friends. Having them stay in his various rooms for a week or so just didn't quite cut it for him. He needed someone there continually and he didn't want someone who was there just for the money.
That’s why he was here, at the adoption center looking for something simple. A cat. A dog. He didn't care either way. Something with unconditional love for him.
Harry walked up to the desk and looked around, pursing his lips. His eyes scanning small cages of parrots and hamsters and gerbils. He wrinkled his nose to them. Not what he was looking for. “May I help you?” A woman walked up to the customer with a grin. She seemed overly excited to have someone else in the shop with her. Her teeth were on full display and her eyes were wide and crinkled by the edges making her enthusiasm that much more unappealing. Harry offered a polite smile back and hummed to her. “Yes, actually you can. Have any animals looking for a home?” He asked formally. "I'm here to adopt."
The woman, Janice as her name-tag said, raised her eyebrows. “Are you looking for anything specific?” she asked.
Harry pursed his lips and closed his eyes, running off small, non-descriptive details of what he might find enjoyable in a pet. One that he could get on with (how weird did that sound) and actually enjoy. He didn't want his companion constantly scratching or hissing at him.. He needed something affectionate so he knew he could feel like he had a friend with him at all times. Not too much licking, because who wants to be covered in slobber, but something that can show Harry that they love him just as much as he loves them.
“Well...We have a few selections." Janice answered after listening. "Are you looking for a cuddle buddy?” She chuckled as Harry nodded and smiled. “Well, I think I might have a choice or two you could look at. If you’d like, you can come with me.”
Harry hummed, standing up straight and smirking softly as she tried to sway her hips for him. How ironic?, he thinks to himself, I’m not on your team. Once they were behind the counter doors, Harry looked around to the cages crates holding all the squawking, squealing and squeaking creatures. Until they got to a back door where the lady unlocked it, Harry hadn't seen one feline. All around him were puppies and rabbits, the standards, really. But in this new room kittens were free everywhere playing, napping, stretching, yawning and playing with toys. As well as a man in the center. “You can look around, see which one you’re compatible with or which one you like.” The woman smiled to Harry as she walked to the door again and nodded to him. “Buzz the button if you need anything,” She winked and Harry had to hold back from smirking and laughing right in her face as he gave her a polite 'thank you'.
When the door closed, he couldn't help but notice the main attention of the room. Kittens were mostly everywhere but some clustered around a short man that was laying down on the soft carpet. As Harry watched the kittens, he noticed how they'd crawl over him, nudging against him and nuzzling their faces together in an animistic type way. It was only when he saw a tail and ears on the boy and noticed the strong sound of him purring and he saw he was a hybrid. A Feline Hybrid.
Harry had heard of these before; the outrage buzzing around when he was younger of these new genetically altered creatures. The riots that broke out of the people who questioned them and how they could ever be a whole human if half animal. People protested, hurt them, studied them and discriminated against them. Some people today still do, but humanity has adapted around them, taking them in as some type of persons pet or companion. They went on sale and eve though they aren't given pay or their own will, they aren't slaves. You have to abide by rules when you adopt one. Harry knew all of this because he was so fascinated with them, even from a small age when they were only just new. But now - seeing one so close and natural - Harry was infatuated.
Watching the hybrid, the one with the black shorts on and a comfy looking t-shirt that hung around his small frame, was like watching a movie. Harry's emerald eyes followed with such interest and curiosity, he almost forgot why he was even at the adoption center in the first place. Louis looked up lazily to the new visitor in the room and purred loudly, tail swaying up with ears twitching to attention. He was taking a prying demeanor to the smiling man which didn't happen most often. Louis usually hated the people who came in here who hands wandered on him too often. He usually bit them or yelped and cried out to tell the lady who worked here what they’d done and make her take them away (he knew she had a soft spot for him and he managed to use that at an advantage). Yet with this customer it seemed softer. The room wasn't tense and the air of him slowly wafted over to Louis, making a smile ease on his lips.
Harry walked forwards to Louis, watching him as he rolled on his back and moved his own eyes up to him. The taller man crouched in front of his head and his green eyes peered down to his blue. Usually hybrids had brown eyes and this made Harry even more intrigued. “Hello.” He whispered softly and watched Louis blink. The kitten then turned to his stomach again, sitting up on his knees, watching Harry back. He seemed almost as keen to see him as the billionaire was for the feline.
Louis scooted to him and sniffed. He smelt so very nice up close, so inviting and musky. He crawled forwards and hummed, smelling and inhaling his fragrance. Harry watched the kitten crawl to him and he couldn't take his eyes off him. His sharp cheeks and long thin pink lips, untouched neck and short, curvy body were all so well put together, Harry thought he might be one of Michelangelo's masterpieces come to life.
Purring and crawling close, Louis was just about to press his nose on Harry’s collarbone. The man had to bite his lip to stop purring himself. He leaned into Louis as the smaller body opened his eyes and instantly pressed his face in Harry’s neck, mewling softly to the feel of him. Harry paused momentarily and then moved closer to him, m his arms roaming around him before he was letting Louis throw himself in his lap. A soft warm body was suddenly pressed against his and little huffs of breath were at Harry's neck making him pause for a moment before he slowly wrapped his arms around the boy.
Louis had no problem being like this with someone so comfy and strong and… good smelling. In fact, he absolutely latched around him, a feeling tugging in his chest as he held him and Harry held him back. He began closing his eyes and smiling a little, the feeling of someone wrapped around him making him swell with warmth as he cuddled back. Very seldom did Louis let anyone but his feline friends cuddle up to him considering he didn't like many of the people that came in this room that much. All except Janice - but that's only because she let's Louis watch all of her old Disney movies.
Harry moved his neck down after a while to look at Louis. He was pulling back slightly to make sure his eyes could read the fine print that was embedded in the kitten's collar. It read with the letters, L. O. U. I. S. .
“Louis,” He whispered and the kitten smiled and purred, leaning into him. “Well, Louis. I think we’ve bonded a good bit...And I’m looking for a friend to bring home. To be like this all day with me. Purr on my chest and snuggle,” He smiled, persuading him. “And they’ll have endless warm milk and foods with long back rubs and I’ll itch behind their ears. Would you think anyone of these cats here would like that?”
Louis nodded in his neck, smiling at the words and imagining it all as he almost felt weightless. He wanted the life Harry told him about - it sounded like absolute paradise. Rubs and milk and snuggles? Louis melted at the thoughts. “Mhmm.” He shook his head yes against him.
Harry couldn't have grinned wider. He moved a hand to rub softly on Louis’ back, holding his face to the top of Louis’ head to then pulled him closer. “Would you?” He whispered softly.
Louis opened his baby blues and looked up to Harry, eyes filling with wonder and happiness as he nodded so quickly and frivolously, Harry was afraid his head would bob off. Louis giggled and grinned to him, wide with crinkly eyes. “Thank you.” He whispered happily, kissing along the crown of his head and then his ears.
“I-I’m Harry by the way. Harry or anything you’d like to call me. I see you understand me..Can you talk?” He babbled softly, holding him close.
Louis purred loudly and held to him, little fists clinging the shirt and jacket over Harry’s chest and shoulders. He nodded softly. “Small.” He whispered to tell how much. “Yes.” He nodded again and watched him. “Ha-” He furrowed his eyebrows. “rry.” He tried, tongue fumbling. “A-rry.”
Harry looked down to Louis and his voice was so beautiful; all he hear from him was chiming Christmas bells in his ears as Louis spoke short and clipped and small. And when he tried speaking his name, oh god, Harry wanted to shower him with anything he’d ever want in life. “Harry.” He nodded and chuckled. “Harry.” He repeated and Louis purred, still holding onto him.
Louis moved his tail to rub softly against Harry’s wrist and he grinned on his skin and breathed deeply for what attracted him most in the first place; his mesmerizing scent. He memorized and loved it by now with Harrys long and strong arms around him, Louis was snug in place.
Harry stood slowly and wrapped Louis’ legs around him but Louis whined softly and looked at him and then a black kitten trailing Harry’s feet, standing and clawing at his jeans for Louis as the kitten in his arms wriggled and moved down to nuzzle against the small animal, watching Harry pleadingly. “Friend..” He whimpered and Harry’s eyes softened and he smiled softly, nodding.
“He can come with us. Come here.” He smiled and crouched with him again before the kitten watched with golden wide eyes, sniffling Harry’s hand when he put it out and nudging his nose against it.
Harry smiled and looked up to Louis and watched the cat and then Harry, smile growing.
Harry took the kitten in his arms and held him to his chest as he mewled low to him and nudged against his face with his nose, starting to purr with it’s small fluffy body. He pawed at Harry’s shirt, soft claws digging gently in and then unclenching his little toes.
“What’s your name..?” Harry asked it softly as he looked to the tag and smiled. “Joy. Hmm. I see you’re coming home with me and Louis now, aren’t you?”
Louis looked up and grinned, ears perked and tail swishing happily.
“Come on, little one. Let’s go.” He whispered to Joy and then stood, watching Louis and holding his hand out. “Shall we go home, baby?”