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“He is sad. You do not know Josue like I do. I can tell when he is sad.” Daphne explained. “Do not be so scared of Josue. He cannot harm you. His claws are always kept small and harmless. That was an agreement I had with the school to keep Josue. He is harmless.”

Josue meowed at Chance.

“You have offended Josue now. He is no longer sad.”

She put the cat down, and it trotted back over to Chase, meowing as he rubbed his leg.

“An idiot who cannot remember to lock the door while a fourteen year old female is sleeping in the house, defenseless, is not harmless. You are stronger than I am, yes, but you do not hurt me. I do not fear you. As you should not fear Josue. You were raised not to hurt people, and so was he. You offend him because you call him something to be fearful of. Just like you get offended when I call you baby.”

She kept her eyes locked on Chance. “You are a, how do you say, hypocrite.”

Josue meowed and rubbed against Chase’s skin, staring at Chance. He meowed, tail swishing back and forth behind him.

“Josue is intelligent. Josue will not harm you unless you do harm to him or moi. He is not a wild beast, he is a trained housecat. He has been with me since he was a baby. I will not stand for you to insult my baby.”

Daphne stared Chance down, her expression unfaltering. Josue decided to change his target. He trotted away from Chase, and rubbed himself against Chance’s leg, staring up at him with large, judging eyes.

The cat stared up at Chance, seemingly oblivious. It meowed and rubbed Chance’s leg further, until Chase moved. The cat wasn’t even put out. It just trotted over to Chance and stroked his leg again, meowing a second time.

“What look? That is a stare. Cats stare at others. People stare at others. There is nothing wrong with that look.” Daphne explained. The cat licked his lips, giving Chance a challenging stare this time. Like he was fighting a battle he knew he’d won.

“His name is Josue! And he is not doing anything wrong.” Daphne walked over and lifted Josue up, staring up at Chance. Josue stared as well. “He is looking. He is not… what is creepy about this stare?”

She shoved her cat’s face in Chance’s, the cat’s blinking eyes a few feet away from Chance’s.

Josue meowed, and stayed snuggled in Daphne’s arms. His challenging look didn’t fade.

Daphne blinked at Chance’s face, which he was currently saying didn’t like cats. She brought Josue back to her chest, wrapping her arms around him in a light yet secure hold as the thing nuzzled her neck and ear. Josue looked around, from his position safely nuzzled against his owner’s neck, with that same look.

“That is the same as saying someone is a threat just because of how they look. Josue was born this way. I say this again: Josue only hurts those who hurt him.” Daphne said, stroking her cats white fur. “I suppose I shall just tell Josue not to try to make friends with you. Quel dommage.”

“Then prove it.” Daphne said, running her hands through her cats fur. He said he wasn’t a stereotype, but that was exactly what he was doing.

Josue meowed, and Daphne looked down at him. The cats head was twisted to see his owner. Daphne leaned down and nuzzled his forehead, then placed him back on the floor. He trotted off towards the stairs, ascending them quickly.

When Chance again made a comment about Daphne’s word choice, she gave him a blank stare, and said nothing in response to that.

“Josue is hungry. He has gone upstairs to eat.” She informed the two. “What is it you two want for dinner?”

Daphne gave them both a blank stare when they seemed confused at her inquiry.

“I asked because I was curious. If you want, I could cook you something. I also am sure that you will need to know my allergy. I am allergic to nuts.”

Daphne looked at the two boys, tilting her head to the side. “Is it that odd a question for me to ask?”