Chapter Text
Meow.
A cat had suddenly shown up at the doorsteps of Jay’s secluded security office one day.
Its fur is an abyssal shade of darkness that entraps light itself, eyes that contain a singular clot of sanguine pupils, and most importantly…
….it’s the fluffiest creature Jay has ever touched.
When he opened the door into the office, it also casually walked in with graceful steps.
When he sat down on the office chair, it also jumped onto the counter, then onto him, then lay itself on his lap, as if that was the most natural thing to do.
“...zero survival instincts…” Jay muttered to himself, hesitantly lifting a pale hand to touch that cloud-like fur.
And just as he thought, it really didn’t have any instincts.
It leaned into his hand, snuggling deeper into his lap, and began purring.
As if it was the most natural thing to do for a cat.
Boldly directing affection at a being like himself, one that can hardly be referred to as “human” by any regular standards.
Just like a particularly endearing employee…
“...Soleum?”
At that, the cat perked up, as if recognizing that name, or rather, its own name.
“Kim… Soleum?” Jay called again.
And once more, the cat’s ears straighten in the direction of his voice, staring at him with that dark gaze…
Meow.
…and it gives him a slow blink.
“...”
“...”
“...Are you contaminated…again?”
Soleum, however, did not reply, not in any meaningful way at least.
It, no, he returned to snuggling into Jay’s lap, purring quietly.
Jay himself didn’t bother asking anymore. He’d leave it for later. Because, for now, that quiet purring was able to replace the constant white noise of the office.
Maybe having a distraction in his boring, monotonous, repetitive work may not be too bad.
.
Knock Knock.
“Um… Jay-ssi?”
The knocking stirs Jay awake from a daze. That voice belonged to Park Minseong, one of Soleum’s friends that became a member of the Security Team and is now currently under his supervision.
Since, well, Jay is the Head of the Security Team.
He doesn't bother to give a verbal reply, instead opting to open the tightly locked door himself.
Until he notices Soleum, probably human-turned-cat, still sleeping on his lap.
He looks so…peaceful.
Standing up is no longer an option, Jay decides with finality.
It’ll be bothersome doing this, but it’ll be even more bothersome to Soleum, who appears to be well-rested for the first time since Jay has come to know him.
The door opens without a sound, and the figure of Park Minseong comes into view.
His abnormally lengthened wolf-like arm slowly retracts, returning to rest on the black cat’s sleeping form.
As the figure of his friend’s former co-worker enters the room, Jay silently motions to his lips, a sign to be silent.
Obediently, Minseong carefully tip-toes towards the desk, reaching for a piece of paper and pen.
He writes down with crooked hand-writing.
team leader of squad D wants to see you
As in… Lee Jaheon?
Jay’s only impression of him is that he’s someone Kim Soleum respects…
The agent with an albino lizard mask…
Meow.
Ah.
Jay must’ve woken him up by accident…
The cat jumps onto the desk… away from his lap. He doesn’t feel anything particularly negative about it, but it definitely doesn’t feel like anything good either.
Though, when Soleum was in his lap, it definitely felt nicer than usual.
Park Minseong, who had been staring at Jay for a reply since he finished writing the note, finally notices the black cat.
In return, Soleum notices him as well.
The two continue to stare at each other, one with curiosity and one with recognition.
“He reminds me of Kim Soleum…” Minseong speaks somberly, as if mourning a friend he’d lost.
“...”
Jay decides to not comment on it, instead, letting the silence between the two stretches, broken up only when Minseong got the courage to carefully pet the cat.
And once again, soft purrs flow out like a melody when Soleum jumps into unprepared arms.
“So…“
…
“That is Kim Soleum.”
“Ah!”
“...”
“MEOW!”
The firm, emotionless voice came from the doorway. There stood the aforementioned Lee Jaheon who appeared to have just returned from an expedition.
At the same time, a sharp pain causes Park Minseong to loosen his hold on the cat.
Hiss.
Instantly, Soleum bounces from Minseong’s arms, leaving behind little claw marks that digs lightly into the skin and begins trailing little red lines.
Jay reactively tries to catch him, contamination spreading through his forearms and hands held out to act as a safety net, but what he couldn’t expect was for Soleum to entirely phase through them.
Naturally, he lands on all fours, as though it was the most natural thing for a cat.
And again, into the hold of Lee Jaheon, as if it was the most natural thing for Kim Soleum.