Excuse him while he tries to get this cat off his pants, but all it resulted in is the kitten crawling into his hands. When he stood up, it took that as a cue to clutch onto his chest tightly.

"Yeah, sure... if I get to eat at all." He walked over and sat down at the table, which was reason enough for the kitten to settle in his lap. "I'm so glad I have a dog instead," he mumbled while scanning the food and sniffing as surreptitiously as possible.

That alone might be pique Zexion's interest as a conversation opener, saving Caden the question directly.