Aventurine stood at the entrance, arms crossed, looking a bit skeptical. "You really want to take in this stray?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. The small, scruffy cat looked up at him with big, innocent eyes.

Aventurine sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Alright, alright, you win," he said, trying to sound nonchalant. "But if it makes me start sneezing, it's on you."

He picked up the cat gingerly and carried it inside. Almost immediately, he felt a tickle in his nose. "Oh no," he muttered, trying to fight it off.

"AE'KSHI!" he sneezed loudly, startling the cat, which jumped from his arms and ran to hide under the couch. Aventurine sniffled, wiping his nose with the back of his hand. "See? This is what I'm talking about," he said, though there was a hint of a smile on his face.