"It's all right, little darlings," Zev coos to them. "I know all about being threatened in the wild."

'Chelle grins a little at him. "You could get a domestic cat. They're not too dissimilar."

Zev blanches at that a little. "Oh, I...well. That would require me having-" 

He stops himself before he says 'a home.'

"Think about it. You don't need a decision now. I'm just pointing out options."

"Options. Huh." 

He goes back to staring at the margays. 

'Chelle nudges their shoulders together and lets him stare for a while. "Hey, we were heading towards the tigers, right?"

"Little cats to big cats. I am being spoiled."

"There are many good cats in this zoo. And you can totally see them all."

"I won't say no to a cat."

Ant leads the way. "There's two breeds of tiger here. Amur tigers and Sumatran. This is the amur enclosure, they're the largest of the species."

Zev nods along to eir explanation, smiling at the larger tigers.

Well, between Ant and 'Chelle, they are well supplied with tiger facts.

"I suppose you're going to tell me these aren't suitable pets?" Zev says, as one tiger leaps a clear six feet across a pond. 

"I don't think we have space for one."

"I would ride one like a horse."

"I think you might still be a little too tall. How is everyone taller than me?"

Zev looks at em with a grin. "Well, someone named you Ant."

"That would be because it's less...ick than the name I was given. Ira started calling me it and it fitted."

"Oh." Zev's entire body slumps, and he unconsciously tucks himself closer to Nova. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to- I'm sorry."

"Hey, you didn't know, it's not your fault my parents were jackasses. Besides. We've got Steve now."

"Steve seems alright. For an older man," Zev half-jokes. 

"I think the fact that Ira could break him if she needed to contributed to her feeling safe with him."

"Serious question." Zev leans into Ant's ear. "Is there anyone Ira couldn't break in half?"

"...Drex, maybe?"

"Yes, that checks out. Luckily it's the only man I think she would never have to."