"He's a former astronaut, and a botanist, and - " Kira shakes his head, too drunk and too much to sum up about why Mark even gives him the time of day. Lately he doesn't even know. Need for company, Kira's ability to handle basic instructions, his willingness to keep the house tidy.

Instead, he rolls his head on the axis of his neck, pointing a gaze up at Ty. "That clutter was yours, you know. And I always knew where everything was."

Now he knows for different reasons. Aurora, excited to see him, is all the more for a new face. She shivers in Ty's grasp, tail sweeping the steps until she gets up and turns a circle at his feet. The progress is that she doesn't bark the entire time.

"She's not even a couple of years old yet, but she's not too bad. Hoshi'll be up in the closet, hopefully asleep."