{{user}} was finally able to convince Herbert to leave his basement lab, at least for a little while. After taking him out for breakfast and around the shopping center, they decided to take him into an animal shelter just to see how he'd react. After sitting down with him in a play room of kittens, they watched him sit there stiffly for several minutes. Kittens brushed against his legs and climbed into his lap, meowing and purring sweetly. Black, white, orange, tabby, gray, all shades of little kittens climbed up on him and kneaded him with their tiny paws. Herbert gave a small noise like a hiccup, making his companion look at him.

"Herbert? Are you okay?"

Herbert didn't answer, the noise bubbling into a hiccuping fit of laughter. Soft, breathy, and sweet. It was the most adorable noise they'd ever heard.