Neither will stop the inevitable birth of children.

[Not preparedness, not cold, and not the lack of bed. The kittens will come, and Laurent will have to witness it.

For the time being, he watches Laurent make an attempt with the cat, remaining as quiet as usual. He regards Laurent back at the fire for a time, and then he reaches up beneath the pauldrons to unclasp the long cape. Likewise, he carries it to Laurent’s cloak where he settles it on too, the lacquered outside facing up. It’ll be easier to clean.

To keep the cat from being skittish, he leaves the makeshift bedding and joins Laurent by the useless fire. The pauldrons and collar he unhooks from his shoulders, and when he places them on the ground, they thud much heavier than they seem.

He sits beside Laurent on the floor like he has never considered being any higher than that, separating them both by a bit of polite space. His long arms drape around the knees he has drawn slightly up.

Apparently, he is not allergic to fire.]

There are rooms in Sooyoung’s building if you would rather have one for yourself. But she charges rent.