Embarrassment burns clearly across Firo’s face at the mention of Algernon’s name, and he glances away briefly, pursing his lips to try and compose himself. It’s true that he’s been fond of the silver tabby since they met— since he accidentally startled the other right into the lake. And even after that, when he had helped the healer gather herbs and then taught him to hunt, there had been affection in everything he said and did. The thought that someone else had noticed his feelings was almost too humiliating to bear, though, and not because he was ashamed: no, rather, he didn’t want Mouse to find out. Or, rather, he didn’t want Mouse to find out from anyone else. For weeks, months even, he’s been biding his time, procrastinating, putting it off, talking himself out of it… but with the war looming ever closer and the risk of losing his life— or worse, Mouse losing his— there was a sense of being rushed, of running out of time. The question surprises him, though, and all thoughts of the silver tabby fade from his mind. “A she-cat?” And then, with greater embarrassment; “Babies..?” True, he’s known that if he ever wound up with a tom-cat, he would be giving up the opportunity to have children. He had never expected to be so flippant about making that kind of sacrifice; if he loved someone enough to never become a father, than that would be worth it, wouldn’t it? Being with someone he cared about that much?Not to mention…"What makes me— what makes my pelt so attractive is a mutation." Letting out a long breath, he smiles sadly. The conversation is long in his past, but it still makes his chest ache to think about it. "Most likely," he murmurs, "I can’t have children anyway. So, even if I fell in love with a she-cat, I’m not sure I could take away the chance of a family from her. If I fell in love with a she-cat, I would want her to be happy, right? And if she wanted kittens, then she couldn’t be be happy with me."Ever been into a she-cat?Brushing his paws through the grass, Firo remains silent for several moments, before saying, “Maybe.” Then, laughing, he sighs, “I’m not sure. I’m fond of her. I’ve seen the good and the bad. I want to be there to support her, and I want her to think of me if she ever needs help. I don’t know if I’m in love with her— it doesn’t feel quite right to call it that.”Shrugging, the tortoiseshell meows, “I don’t feel specifically inclined towards tom-cats or she-cats. I just haven’t met a she-cat that I wanted to settle down with."And, yes. I do realize that if I give my heart to a tom-cat, that I won’t be able to have kittens. But I think that being with the cat I love is more importan than something like ~making such pretty babies~, ne?" The final sentence ends with a trace of scorn as he turns a wearily irritated glance on the anonycat.
