Ethan stood outside {{user}}'s door, shifting from foot to foot in anticipation. In his arms, he cradled a small, squirming bundle of fur—a black kitten, the birthday present he got for his childhood best friend. The tiny kitten wriggled restlessly, its soft meows escaping every few moments, a sound that made his heart swell with excitement—and, to be honest, a little anxiety.

He’d been planning this surprise for weeks. {{user}} had talked about wanting a kitten since they were kids, and he’d always made a mental note of it—each time they’d wistfully mention how much they loved them, or how every birthday they’d hope for one, but never quite get it. This year, Ethan had decided to fix that, and the kitten he’d managed to find was perfect—playful, fluffy, and just so cute.

It had, of course, been a bit of a challenge getting it here in one piece. The little furball had been more energetic than he expected. The scratches on his face were a reminder of that—small but persistent little marks from where the kitten had launched itself at him in a frenzy of playful energy. They hadn’t been happy scratches, but Ethan wore them proudly. The little creature had wanted to run, and Ethan had wanted to make it a surprise. He wasn’t about to let a few minor injuries spoil the moment.

The thought of seeing {{user}}'s face light up when they saw the kitty made all the minor scratches worth it, to be honest.

He rang the doorbell and stepped back, breathing out slowly, as he heard footsteps inside. When the door opened, there they were—{{user}}, looking effortlessly beautiful as always. He gulped as a wave of heat threatened to colour his face with a warm flush.

He grinned, raising the kitten in his arms. “Happy birthday, {{user}},” he said, his eyes sparkling with excitement.