Chapter Text
/ᐠ｡‸｡ᐟ\
Marcin is dashing towards the bunch of alleys the two girls have directioned him to. He is elegantly jumping from side to side, focused on his purpose.
His gut is telling him something bad is happening to Rekkles.
You can call it a sixth sense or just an attachment to his teammates, but Jankos is sure.
His speedrun, however, ends at a crossroads.
No, fuck, I don’t have time for this…
But this time, there it is: Martin’s caramel woody scent.
Yes!
Even if he is panting, the jungler starts to run again, but this time even faster since he could detect a hint of terror in Martin’s scent.
Go, go, go, go, go, go!
He turns into a dark and gloomy alley.
A Siamese cat is crouched on the ground.
Rekkles!
You’re here fuck I am so happ-
A mastiff is towering over his ADC, his fangs ready to tear him in two.
Not today, bitch.
Back off my Rekkles!
Jankos hisses warningly but the hound ignores him. He leaps into an attack, claws extended.
(^._.^) ﾉ
The hound comes closer.
What can I do?
I am going to die, and without having achieved anything in my career!
I don’t wanna die like this...
The ADC closes his eyes, paralized by his dread.
He can feel the mastiff’s paw pressing his body down and the hot breath of the monster hitting his neck, its owner ready to bite him.
Not today, bitch.
Back off my Rekkles!
The Swede’s heart skips a beat: those thoughts weren’t his.
Is it possible?
Am I dreaming?
An aggressive hiss cleaves the air. From under the mastiff, Martin difficulty squirms to turn to the source of the sound.
Jankos.
Jankos is flying through the air, the mastiff transfixed by the vision of a ball of fluff leaping towards him. The Siberian cat tries to swipe at the mastiff’s snout with his claws, but the latter dodges it, stepping back a little without losing his firm grip on the Siamese cat.
Martin meows at his jungler, relieved.
You’ve come… The marksman sends to the other cat, a lump stuck in his throat once again. But this time, it’s due to the fact that he is moved.
Then the hound growls at Jankos, instructing him to stay away from his dinner and pressing Martin even more into the ground, making him let out a desperate meow.
Of course I’ve come, Martin! The Pole sends back. He hisses at the mastiff, determined to make it step back.
In response, the hound bites Martin’s scruff and raises him from the ground, intending to run away with his prey.
Oh no, you don’t want to do that, stupid dog. Jankos hisses again, before attacking once more. This time, he shows no mercy: it’s Jankos vs Doggo 2k21.
Martin only has a few seconds to spend thinking about the fact that he is, in fact, telepathically speaking with his teammate, before he gets back to the dangerous situation he is in.
The jungler aims at the dog’s neck, making him let out a pained howl when the cat’s claws sink into his flesh. The mastiff jerks his head, throwing Martin’s helpless body into the air. Martin crashes into a pile of cardboard boxes and tumbles to the ground, helpless.
Ouch . Martin cries in pain, with no air left in his lungs after the brutal impact.
The fuck did you just do to my ADC, stupid underdeveloped canine? Jankos is mad.
Are you ok, Martin? The Pole glances at him briefly.
More or less… Rekkles stands up, shaking on his limbs. He collapses down a few moments later, too scared to do anything else than watch.
I am so useless...
Shut up, you’re not, cutie. Martin gasps, realizing every inch of his thoughts is now shared with Jankos.
But the ADC can’t fully process it, since the Siberian cat jumps, determined to gain revenge: he grasps the mastiff’s neck with both his clawed paws, climbing over the back of the giant doggo.
The hound howls, and tries to reach the cat with his jaw, starting to squirm as well.
Martin can’t help but hide his face under his paws, meowing worriedly.
Marcin, be careful!
Jankos, despite the Swede’s worries, keeps his balance, adding fuel to the brawl, biting the mastiff’s ear. The latter cries in pain.
Then, the Siberian cat jumps from his unstable position on the hound’s back to the ground, elegantly landing on his four paws, between the animal and his ADC, who raises his head in surprise.
Ah! Take that, you stupid beast! Jankos proudly screams inside Martin’s brain.
You can scream in your thoughts too. Why am I not surprised? Rekkles can feel a pinch of jealousy, thinking about how effortlessly Jankos moves in his cat body. He knows that if he was a human, his cheeks would be red from embarrassment at his memories of the evening's failures.
The Siamese doesn’t have the time to zone out, though, since the wounded dog starts to growl at them again.
Jankos, we have to run!
Nah, I can beat him! Jankos waves his tail, focused on the mastiff.
I don’t want you to be hurt, please… I am not worth it… A wave of pure sadness overwhelms the marksman, leaving his body in a sad meow.
The Pole turns to him. His eyes are lighting up the dark, and Rekkles can’t help but think how big and beautiful they are. Jankos’s eyes conserve their color during the turning. They still shine bright green and blue, a mixture of colors that goes straight to the heart.
...fine. Don’t worry. I have an ace up my sleeve, anyway.
That said, the wholesome Siberian cat in front of him disappears, turning into a human and making the other two dumbfounded: Martin because he forgot Jankos could do that, and the dog as well, because what the actual fuck, since when their mortal enemies could turn into humans?
Jankos looks at the confused dog, still angry. Then, the jungler inhales sharply, and by all the G2 videos the ADC has watched since he joined them, Martin knows it is about to come, so he covers his ears with his paws just an instant before Marcin screams so loudly that all the birds from this part of the city fly away panicked.
“KURWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”
The dog, understandably, turned tail and ran.
“So,” The Pole clears his voice and then turns and stares at him, smiling fondly, his hands on his hips, “What was that about you running through the city (with no sense of orientation, by the way) and thinking you’re not worth it?”
Oh.
Yeah.
That...
Martin meows, ashamed.
I am sorry, I didn’t want to I, I -
Jankos steps closer to him, and with that all the demons that have been chasing Martin for the whole evening come back, hitting him even more forcefully.
But his jungler does not try to touch him, no. Instead he sits down on the ground a few steps from him.
And there is nothing that Martin wants to do more than run to him, rub against him, purr at him.
As if he wants me to…
Rekkles restrains himself, swallowing hard, still having not answered his teammate’s questions.
“Oh, and you will have to pick up the trash for a month. A girl whacked me with her bag while I was searching for you. It hurts!” The Pole continues.
Jankos, I am so sorry, really I - The Siamese stands, meowing loudly, worried about Jankos. Now that he’s looking closely, he can see that Jankos has a cut on his eyebrow.
Was it the girl’s bag or the mastiff? Are you ok? Oh, no, this is all my fault, I am a disaster I -
“Martin, Martin, Martin. Calm down.” His jungler hums, “I am not mad at you. No one is. More worried, concerned, scared to death…” He teases.
The Swede stares down, sitting on the rugged asphalt.
I am sorry…
“I am as well.” Jankos murmurs, and Rekkles glances at him, in disbelief. “Martin… I am sorry too. You must have been so scared…” Jankos tilts his head, looking at the Siamese as if he is the most fragile creature in the universe.
Yeah… But only because I am a weak, stupid and naive idiot who -
“Enough. You’re not allowed to speak about yourself in that way in my presence, dear.” The jungler smiles sadly.
You don’t know my demons.
“You’re right, I don’t. I will be glad to, though. Whenever you’re ready.” After that, a comforting silence follows, and Martin finds himself full of… hope.
“Do you want to try to come over?” Jankos proposes, stretching a hand towards him.
And Martin wants. So much.
But as soon as he stands and steps in the Pole’s direction, it is like he has fallen into a trap.
“Martin? It is ok, you’ll be dreaming soon. The anesthesia is beginning to work.”
“Watch out, Martin! He is coming your way! MARTIN!”
“I am done. You broke my heart one time too many times.”
I can’t Jankos, I can’t! Why, I am so dumb, it’s such an easy thing I - Martin vents in his mind, meowing in frustration.
“Hey, hey, hey! It’s ok. Take your time!” Jankos gives him the best smile.
No Marcin, I… I really can’t. Every time I try to let myself touch humans… I get overwhelmed by… Well... By not so good memories. Why?
The ADC looks at his jungler, devastated.
I want to touch you, Jankos. I swear. This thought, though, is for himself only. Martin now has understood how to manage his thoughts to not flow in the Pole’s mind if he does not want to.
It’s... awkward. But he has learnt how to do it with no effort.
“I have no idea, sweetie.” The Pole rubs his neck, “But maybe we can talk about it tomorrow. I mean it can be - No, nevermind. What do you think, should we go home?”
Martin has no energy left to worry about Jankos’ stuttered words. He trusts him, anyway.
Yeah… Please.
They stare at each other for a while.
“Uhm… I can pick you up and walk, but I don’t think it’s what you want.” The jungler gestures, embarrassed.
Oh! Yeah… No. Better this way! Martin begins to walk, still a little shaky on his paws. But, after a few steps, he stumbles, almost falling down.
Dammit!
“Aww. Don’t worry!” Jankos coos, “It’s hard the first few days. Learning how to be a cat, I mean!” After that, the Pole turns into a cat once again.
But I can walk side by side with you, if you allow me too! Marcin stops to lick his back fur a little.
I am so envious, you’re so classy in your cat form… Martin pouts.
Thank you! I’m telling Wunder you said that.
The marksman can hear Marcin’s chuckle in his mind and practically see the grin on his smug cat face as well.
Grinning as well, at least in his thoughts, Rekkles begins to search for G2’s house one more time.
His limbs are still trembling regardless of the amount of effort the ADC is putting into staying still, trying to avoid making a pitiful scene in front of Jankos.
Naturally, it lasts only until the alley entrance. Turning right is the most difficult action Martin has ever had to do, and in the end he fails, sliding over the slippery ground and falling down.
Ouch.
He has lost the count of how many times that evening he has let the exclamation express his mood.
Uhm… Rekkles? That’s the wrong direction. And Martin really wants to ignore the chuckle hidden in Jankos’s words.
The Swede tries to regain his balance quickly, so that he can pretend that nothing has happened.
He is so flustered, though, that he can’t maintain his posture for more than three seconds, falling again.
I wanna die. Martin tells himself. He knows Jankos is watching. He is so ashamed.
The Siamese uses his front paws to push himself up again, mortified by the pathetic scene Jankos has to witness. This time, however, Rekkles manages to stand firmly.
He is so relieved. Then he turns to his left and notices that his jungler is pressing his snout against Martin’s flank, and his heart is the one which misses a step instead of his limbs.
I’ve got you! The Siberian cat doesn’t give him enough time to react, rubbing his snout all the way from the Rekkles’s hip to his own snout, elegant and smooth in his movements. In the end, he licks Martin’s cheek as well.
An inebriating heat starts to spread towards Martin’s whole body.
Oh. If human, he would have been blushing furiously, that’s for sure.
Let’s do this, ok? Jankos stops brushing himself against the Siamese, mostly for his dislike, and positions himself next to him. This way, the Swede can lean against the Pole, gaining balance.
Marcin begins to move, making sure that Martin can follow him. For a while, they proceed like this, the jungler supporting the ADC.
His fur is so soft… Rekkles tells himself.
But when the Siamese realizes he is being touched, he freezes. Apparently, he has a serious overthinking issue to overcome.
Uhm… Marcin? The marksman asks, politely.
Yeah? The Siberian turns, rubbing his head against Martin’s again.
Can - Can you move away? The ADC feels ridiculous. Not being able to let his teammate touch him.
Oh, kurwa! Sorry! The other cat steps back, causing the Swede to tremble on his paws once again.
They continue walking in silence. Jankos gracefully, Rekkles shakily.
But as they try to cross the road, Martin stumbles over a little rock, tumbling down the little incline onto the edge of the road.
That’s enough, I will stay here and die here! The Siamese cries in pain, desolated and shameful.
“Oh, kochanie …” Jankos murmurs, joining him, transformed back into a human, “You have another hour to spend like this…”
An hour?! The marksman is so helpless he crouches on himself, hiding his snout behind his tail.
“I am so sorry sweetie…” Marcin confirms, “Can I… Perhaps?” For the second time that evening, the jungler is stretching a hand towards him.
Martin raises his head.
Fuck, I want it.
Y-Yes. Please. He sends Jankos, even if still a little unsure.
Delicately, the Pole grabs him under his front legs. The ADC, concerned, widens his eyes and meows pitifully.
No, no, no, this won’t do!
“Shh… You’re so brave!” Jankos shushes him. Very slowly, to let Rekkles process the whole thing, he then pulls the Siamese in his arms.
Surprisingly, no traumatic thoughts come to the Siamese, as if Marcin is a giant barrier against the evil demons Martin has stuck in his head, and he can chase them away with his touch.
Marcin proceeds to tug the kitten into his jacket. “It’s cold. You’re shaking.” The Pole murmurs quietly, in disbelief that his ADC has let him touch him. “I’ve got you,” Jankos repeats, adjusting him in his hug and petting him slowly. He is staring at Martin fondly, a smile betraying how glad he is to have Martin in his arms.
And Martin has never felt more protected as in Marcin’s arms.
He is warm.
And soft.
And he smells like pizza.
Italian pizza. The one they served in my favorite restaurant...
₍⸍⸌̣ʷ̣̫⸍̣⸌₎
Jankos opens the thankfully unlocked door of G2’s house, tired and still concerned about his ADC’s health.
He walks towards the living room, where he knows his teammates are waiting for them. He can sense Wunder’s messy thoughts, confirming to him that the toplaner is in his cat shape.
As soon as he steps into the room, three heads turn to him.
“Jankos? Have you…” Caps gulps, pure terror in his eyes, “Have you found him?”
At that, the jungler realizes he has the kitty hidden in his jacket, so he uncovers him a little, making his cute snout pop up.
“Oh, Martin!” Rasmus cries, running to them, the Maine Coon snuggled on his lap jumping towards the duo as well. Miky straightens his back, tilting his body to them to see better.
“Easy.” Jankos hums, contemporaneously with Martin murmuring in their heads: “Jankos, please.”
Everyone stops for a moment.
Then, the Pole sighs, walking towards the couch and letting Martin land on it, finally safe.
“Martin… Don’t like to be touched in his cat form. He only let me because he was worn out. He doesn’t know why he is having such a hard time with people touching him, but he also had enough strong emotions for today.” Jankos pauses, massaging his still aching temple and sitting on the couch as well, near Miky, so he can give Rekkles the largest amount of space.
Fuck, that girl was strong.
“Anyway,” He continues, “Let’s give him enough time to process all of that.” The jungler smiles at the kitten softly.
Silence falls on them, embracing them and haunting them.
“Jankos, your eyebrow…” Rekkles whispers in their minds, snuggled against the corner of the couch, “Is still bleeding...” The worryness in his words almost made Marcin cry.
Poor creature…
“Ah, it’s nothing!” He assures, but Miky is already leading over the kitchen to grab the disinfectant and a gauze.
“What happened?” Wunder turns into a human again, replacing Miky on the sofa.
Caps sits on the floor, glancing at his ADC so worriedly and wholesomely Jankos has to look away.
Have they loved each other in the past?
“Nothing important. A girl defended her girlfriend from my assault when I was gathering information about Martin! Or… maybe it’s from the hound that bit me?” Marcin frowns. Wunder grins at his words. “Shut up, it hurts!” Jankos barks, only to be invested with a wave of guilt coming from their marksman’s thoughts. Caps huffs in concern as well.
But before he can do something to make amends, Miky returns and gently pushes an icepack against his eyebrow.
Marcin can’t help it. He loses himself in Miky’s hazel eyes. Even if he only sees them for a split second, the image of them remains impressed on his retina, bright and vivid.
Fuck. Why must he be so charming?
“I will disinfect it.” The Pole realizes the support has prepared a gauze and a patch already. Carefully, the Slovenian cleans his wound and applies the patch.
“Don’t I deserve a kiss over it as well?” Marcin jokes before thinking. But surprisingly, Miky is smiling at him, shaking his head. Ignoring his words, he only presses a soft caress over his hair.
“However,” The support then starts, “The craving for touches, pets and caresses cats have will be a problem for you Martin!”
Oh no, Miky.
Come on, I’ve avoided saying it to him!
Well, he might have noticed, but still…
“How do you know, Miky?” Wunder grumbles, “Since you’ve let only Luka touch you all these years? Or is it only a soulmate thing?”
Wunder, why.
Everyone looks at their support, shocked. Wunder included.
Miky gasps for air, opening and closing his mouth repeatedly, his face so pale Jankos is actually scared he may faint between moments.
In the end, at the verge of tears, he runs away, slamming the door of his room.
Silence. Again.
Marcin closes his eyes, sighing.
“I… Will go to bed.” The toplaner runs to his room as well, guilt in his eyes and pain in his heart.
Marcin knows it. Marcin knows how hard it is to love Miky.
“I am glad you’re safe, Rekkles.” The bigger Dane murmurs only a moment before disappearing.
For the third time that evening, there is silence.
Caps crawls to the couch, climbing it and leaning on Jankos, eyes filled with tears as well.
“I don’t like it…” He whines, starting to sob. The jungler sighs, and wraps an arm around the midlainer’s shoulders.
“It’s all my fault. I am so sorry… I am a disaster.” Martin’s voice, even if only in their minds, is wrecked.
“No, it’s not.” Jankos states, “There were issues before you joined. Please, don’t be too harsh with yourself.”
“Ok, I guess?” Rekkles says, leaning his snout on his paws, still sad.
The Pole starts cradling Caps, shushing him sweetly. The little Dane almost falls asleep.
“Do you want me to carry you to your room, Capsie?” Jankos hums softly, caressing Caps’s hair.
“No…” Caps murmurs, his face hidden in Jankos’s sweater, “I want to be sure Martin is ok!”
The jungler chuckles, shaking his head and glancing at the clock on the wall: thirty minutes to midnight.
“Martin… Do you want to go to your bedroom?” Marcin proposes, still laughing a little by the stubbornness of his midlaner, “You can try to relax. And tomorrow you will wake up as a human. The first transformation only lasts two hours!”
The Siamese raises his head.
“Can you… Carry me?” At that, both Jankos can’t help but burst into laughter.
“Yeah, but I mean…” Marcin begins, gasping for air.
“...you’re the Carry, here!” Caps ends the bad joke.
Martin sits up, glancing at them with all the royaliness a feline can put in a glance, making them only laugh more.
“Have you two finished?” Martin snaps haughtily.
“I am sorry but this is hilarious!” Jankos smiles.
“Aww, Martin, don’t look at us like that, you’re such a beautiful Siamese, it doesn’t suit you!” Caps coos.
Martin seems to doubt himself: “Am I?”
“Yes!” The others assure simultaneously.
“Now…” The midlaner proposes, “I know you’ve asked Jankos but… Can I…?”
Martin looks up at him, terrified.
“Y-Yes but… Please don’t be mad at me if I try to run?” He asks shyly.
“Promise!” With that, Caps leans over to pick up the Siamese and cradles him in his arms.
“Oh my gosh, your fur! It’s so soft!” The Dane lets out in amazement.
“I know, right?” Jankos agrees, standing up to follow the two of them.
Caps hurries up to not make Rekkles uncomfortable, reaching his room in no time.
“Here we are!” He murmurs, leaning the ADC on his bed. Then, Rasmus softly caresses Martin’s head, only to realize what he is doing and stop. “Shit, I am sorry, Martin, it was spontaneous I -”
“Actually,” Martin interrupts him, surprised as well, “It was… fine. Don’t worry.”
Both Rasmus and Marcin are now smiling at their marksman.
“Great! Well… Goodnight?” The midlaner visibly has to force himself to head for the door.
“I -” Martin seems to struggle, and Jankos instinctively knows why.
“Do you want us to stay here? Maybe in our cat shapes, so that we will seem less threatening to you?” The Pole whispers, sitting on the bed near Martin.
“...Yes. Please. If you want to.”
He hasn’t even finished speaking in their minds when Caps shifts and reaches him on the bed, snuggling in a ball of white and red fur just a few inches far from their ADC.
Jankos giggles. “Yeah, we are absolutely against the idea, as you can see….” Caps hisses at him, not scaring him at all.
The jungler turns as well, snuggling against his midlaner.
“Let us know if you want us to leave…”
“Yeah, or if we are too close to you!”
“Caps, you’re basically touching him!”
“Shut up Jankos, I wasn’t asking you!”
Martin’s heart is lighter.
Not empty from pain, no.
But lighter.
Little steps.
Yeah, little steps.
He starts snoring in about half a second, exhausted.
≧◠ᴥ◠≦
Well, apparently, I don’t like people when I am a cat.
But I like Caps and Jankos?
I don’t know?
And why am I so horrified by all of this, actually?
And, above all, why have these memories been taunting me so much today?
Was it the magic?
My knee surgery.
My football trauma.
Rasmus…
And yet, me and him are ok now. And my knee is fine. And I am ok about not being a football player anymore.
So why…?
Are these unspoken worries?
Are these things I need to discuss out loud?
Oh, and even more important, why a Siamese? I wanted to be a tricolor cat!
But maybe it’s possible only with females?
Is Grabbz really a tiger?
Carlos is an asshole, anyway.
But Jankos punished him, defending me.
As he did with the mastiff…
Jankos…
Caps…
And Miky and Wunder? I don’t think they like me...
And what is that soulmate thing now?
Fuck, I need to sleep.
I am a part of the supernatural world now. And I am a very tiny part of it, it is not as if a whole new fantasy trilogy is starting right now...
Everything will be fine.
Bye bye world.
See you in human semblances!
(∩ ｀ -´) ⊃ ━☆ﾟ .* ･｡ﾟ
But Martin couldn’t know that his role in this world full of magic would soon grow much bigger.
Somewhere else, far far away from the three snuggled up kitties (if you are asking: yes. Martin has snuggled against them as well) a mysterious man with his face covered by a mask is creating a curse.
Oh, another magicat? No.
Something more powerful, more intended, more filled with ingredients.
Mixing his cauldron, the mysterious man is checking those ingredients: hordes of anger, a splash of frustration, a broken heart.
“May the one that has regained the opportunity to love be enchanted; may he be permanently an animal unless he fulfills his task; may his task be able to speak his love out loud. This is my punishment!”
A red gleam with rose gold sparks departs from the cauldron.
Like a comet, it crosses the World, reaching Berlin.
Like the curse it is, it hits his sleeping target.
Magic is done.
The mysterious man is now silent.
He made it.
Then, a happy bark crashes the contemplative silence.
The mysterious man turns in the direction of the noise, smiling softly behind his mask.
“Yes, I’m done. Sorry for the wait, Kuriboh. Let’s go.”
End of Part One