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Kim is tossing a tennis ball for Chay in the Theerapanyakul gardens, and Chay is breathless with laughter. Chay has been stuck in the house studying for his midterms, and was about to vibrate out of his skin by the time exam season was over. Chay had timidly presented Kim with the tennis ball this morning and begged for a game of fetch, and Kim was happy to oblige. Kim throws the ball over and over, and Chay chases after it every time, barking happily when he finds the ball. Kinn and Porsche walk up to him in the backyard just as he throws the ball, and Porsche barks madly, chasing after Chay. Porsche bowls Chay over in his race for the ball, and Chay drags his brother down with him, snapping in Porsche's face. Porsche puts Chay in a headlock, and Kim and Kinn watch fondly as their boyfriends wrestle in the grass.
"Porsche has been working too hard. It's good for him to let go a little." Kinn comments.
"Yeah, Chay just got done with midterms," Kim agrees.
"I want to ask Porsche to marry me."
"I'm going to marry Chay."
"No, I mean soon. Like this month."
"What about Pa?" Kim asks.
Just then Porsche runs up to them with Chay thrown over his shoulder, as Chay barks excitedly, tennis ball in his hands. Kim takes the ball from Chay, turns towards the forest behind the house, and mimes throwing the ball, discretely tucking the ball behind his back. Porsche and Chay take off towards the woods, and Kim turns to Kinn, tossing the ball in the air.
"You have about ten minutes before they figure it out," Kim warns.
"I want to ask Porsche this month, but you know how Pa is with interspecies relationships. He's not going to be happy."
"Fuck Pa."
Kinn winces and Kim puts a hand on his shoulder.
"Pa does not get to decide who you love or who you marry. We're already gay. We don't have to worry about the long unbroken line of kittens being spoiled by a puppy."
"Pa will insist we adopt a cat, but Porsche has only raised a puppy."
"Again, fuck Pa. It's our lives. Not his." Kim insists.
"I'm not really in a position to tell Pa to fuck off," Kinn sighs.
"Why not? You're the heir."
"At his pleasure."
"Who's he going to give it to, if not you? Khun and I don't want it, and Vegas and Macau are foxes. Pa would never let the Theerapanyakul family go to a non-feline."
"Pa and Uncle Gun's whole feud was about Uncle marrying outside the species. If I marry a dog, Pa will never forgive me."
"Is that why you only dated cats before Porsche?"
"Yeah."
"Again, and I can't stress this enough, fuck Pa. He has no other heir. Follow your heart. Marry Porsche."
Chay runs up to Kim, ears pinned back in distress with a pitiful whine coming from his throat. Kim reaches out to pull his boyfriend in his arms when Chay spots the tennis ball in his hand.
"P'Kim!" Chay shouts.
"What's wrong, angel?"
"Did you pretend to throw the ball?"
Kim's ears lay back and his black tail twitches in guilt.
"That is such a violation of trust!" Chay yells.
"I'm so sorry, angel. Here!"
Kim throws the ball as hard as he can into the woods and Chay gives him a look of utter betrayal before shooting off after it. Porsche races after Chay, barking joyously at his brother.
"Look. Porsche isn't a girl. He can't have puppies to stain the family lineage. Pa's prejudices don't hold any weight. Do what you want. Marry Porsche." Kim advises.
"You make it sound so easy." Kinn sighs.
"It's pretty easy. Don't think about Pa. Think about Porsche."
"I've been thinking about Pa my whole life."
"Then it's time you concentrated on other things."
A laughing Chay brings the ball back to Kim, Porsche hot on his heels, and Kim launches the ball towards the koi pond. Chay and Porsche run after it, and Kim turns back to Kinn.
"There's nothing Pa can do to you except be nasty. Pa is already nasty to you, so nothing much will change. Be happy for once." Kim says.
"Fuck Pa, huh?"
"Fuck Pa."
Kim hears a splash and looks up to see a spluttering Porsche rising from the koi pond, Chay giggling from the lawn. A very wet Porsche launches himself at Chay, and Chay takes off running, the tennis ball forgotten.
"We could have this every day, Kinn. Why would you let Pa take that away?"
"You're right. Fuck Pa."
"I'm glad you see my vision, Kinn." Kim laughs.
"Chay told me that you're actually a Siamese?" Kinn asks.
"Chay thinks so. I don't care."
"You would be Pa's favorite if you were a Siamese. There hasn't been a Siamese in the family since the first Theerapanyakul."
"If Pa couldn't love me as a black cat, he doesn't deserve me as a Siamese," Kim states.
"Is there any way to know for sure?" Kinn asks.
"A DNA test. I'm not interested."
Chay skids in front of Kim, tennis ball in hand and Porsche follows, shaking water off his body. Kim yowls when water droplets hit his silky ears, and he recoils from Porsche, hissing.
"Sorry, Kim. I forgot the whole cats and water thing," Porsche apologizes.
Kim lays his ears flat back, and Chay wrestles a wet Porsche away from Kim.
"One more time, P'Kim?" Chay begs.
Kim takes the ball from Chay's hand and throws it into the woods, and Porsche takes off after it. Chay plants a quick kiss on Kim's lips and tears after his brother.
"You think I should get Porsche a tennis ball?" Kinn asks.
"He seems to enjoy it, but Chay is a golden retriever. Tennis balls are in his blood." Kim states proudly.
"A year ago, if someone had told me we would be out here playing fetch with our boyfriends, I would have thought they were crazy," Kinn says fondly.
"It's been quite the year," Kim agrees.
“We just need to get Khun a dogboy.” Kinn laughs.
“Don’t say ‘dogboy’. That’s a slur,” Kim snaps.
“Porsche calls himself a dogboy.”
“Most dog hybrids find that very offensive. And you’re not a dog hybrid, so you especially can’t say it.” Kim warns.
“I didn’t know,” Kinn apologizes.
“Well, now you do.”
“Sorry.”
“Think how you would feel being called a catboy.”
Kinn yowls and lets out several sneezes of disgust.
“Not so cute now, is it?” Kim asks.
“Gross. Okay. I won’t say it again.” Kinn promises.
“That’s some human anti-hybrid bullshit, and I won’t tolerate it,” Kim warns.
“Is it?”
“It’s from when hybrids were first developed as sex pets for humans.”
Kinn shudders in disgust and his ears lie flat to his skull.
“I won’t say it again.”
“See that you don’t.”
A laughing Chay pelts up to Kim, hands him the tennis ball, and drops to the grass at Kim’s feet, panting heavily. Kim strokes Chay’s long golden ears, and Chay’s tail thumps on the ground in joy.
“Feel better, angel?”
“Yes, P’Kim. Loads.”
Porsche comes jogging up and throws himself on the ground, red tail wagging merrily.
“I didn’t even get the ball once!” Porsche complains.
“Do you want your own ball, love?” Kinn asks.
“I’m a Rhodesian ridgeback, not a retriever. I don’t need a ball. Not like Chay does.”
“If you enjoy the ball, you should have a ball.” Kinn insists.
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Then yes, I would like a ball.” Porsche requests shyly.
“Then, let’s get you a ball!”
Porsche hops up and licks Kinn’s nose, yipping in glee. Kinn grooms Porsche’s red floppy ear, and purrs in contentment.
“Thanks for playing with me, Hia.” Chay chirps.
“Anytime, Chay.”
Porsche tousles Chay’s golden ears and walks with Kinn back toward the house. Kim sinks down next to Chay and wraps an arm around his boyfriend.
“Hey Kinn?” Kim yells.
“Yeah?”
“Fuck Pa.”
“You’re right, Kim. Fuck Pa. See you later.” Kinn waves and disappears with Porsche.
“What was that about?” Chay asks.
“If I tell you, you have to promise not to tell Porsche.”
Chay whines in distress, and Kim rubs his cheeks on Chay’s nose.
“Alright. I won’t tell Hia.” Chay sighs.
“Kinn wants to propose.”
Chay starts barking madly in excitement and Kim hurries to shush his boyfriend.
“Quiet, angel! It’s a surprise!” Kim scolds.
Chay silences his barks, but his tail is beating against Kim with bruising intensity.
“When?” Chay asks.
“This month.”
“And your Pa won’t like it?”
“Pa doesn’t believe in interspecies relationships.”
Chay snorts out a giggle, then breaks into loud guffaws.
“What’s so funny, angel?”
“Every member of his family is in an interspecies relationship. You and P’Kinn are with dogs, P’Khun is with a rabbit, P’Vegas is with a squirrel, and Macau just got together with a chinchilla.”
“Khun is with a rabbit? Who? Arm?” Kim asks, dumbfounded.
“P’Pol.”
“Khun and Pol are together?”
“You didn’t know?”
“No, I didn’t know. Kinn doesn’t either.”
Chay rumbles in distress.
“I probably shouldn’t have said anything,” Chay frets.
“No, it’s okay. I’m not mad. I just thought Khun was closer to Arm.”
“P’Arm is straight.”
“We have straight guards?”
“At least one.”
"Why wouldn't Khun tell us?" Kim complains.
"He didn't tell me either. I caught him grooming P'Pol's ears." Chay confesses.
"It's okay. He can have his secrets."
"You won't tell P'Kinn?"
"No, angel. It's not my place."
Chay licks Kim's nose and Kim purrs in bliss.
"Ready to go home, baby?" Kim asks.
"Yes, P'Kim!"
Kim stands up and hauls Chay upright. To their left, Korn comes out on his terrace, tabby tail lashing in upset. Kim growls low in his throat, and Chay echoes him with a growl of his own.
"Come on, angel. Let's get out of here."
Kim grabs Chay's hand and twines his tail around Chay's waist. Chay lets out a happy rumble, and Kim purrs up a storm. Kim hears a discontented yowl from his father, but Kim ignores him and walks out with the love of his life.
Fuck Pa.