Archive of Our Own

Drops ran down the glass, the rain from outside splattering against it.

The mug in your hands got cradled a little closer as thunder rolled in the distance.

Almost a week since the sun had graced you last, and almost a week since the ritual, too.

You swallowed down a sigh.

'The familiar will show themselves to you when they feel like it, any time after you initially summon them. It may take time.', that's what your professor had said, and now you repeated it like a mantra.

They'd show up eventually. They would. No witch was without a familiar, sooner or later everyone got theirs. You wouldn't be an exception, you kept repeating, but the glum feeling that had been shifting around the flat for days and was now hanging threateningly low over your head, didn't ease.

Might as well get back to your assignments, you figured, after taking another sip.

The workflow in the quiet air of your tiny flat got broken only after you finished a particularly tricky chapter in your assignment and allowed yourself a breather, as a reward.

At once your thoughts strayed back to the familiar that was most notable due to their absence.

What might they be like?

Fortune-telling wasn’t one of your classes, but you were still curious enough to hope for a glimpse, a hint, to what your familiar would manifest as.

At the same time, as much as you’d have liked to know, you tried not to imagine what you’d want them to be.

It wouldn't be fair to the other, especially if they showed up and were completely different than expected.

But maybe that was what it was, familiars seemingly being one thing but then turning up and being, not what you had wanted, but what you'd needed.

Some bullshit text-book crap, you dimly noted in seeing where your thoughts took you.

And so you went back, only leaving the flat once to make your grocery run for the week before you settled in, with the storm winning in intensity outside and the small lamp on your desk shining valiantly against the darkness that lurked outside after five.

Class on friday was more buzzing than usual.

Everyone that had summoned and united with their familiar had been invited, strongly suggested even, to bring them to lecture with them.

The room was a mess with the many, many bodies shimmying around, countless voices calling through each other, and the rain still hailing down outside.

It smelled strongly like wet fur.

Yoongi was trying to get his familiar to settle down, but the bunny wouldn't stay on his lap no matter what. Its agile, small body wound and slipped through his fingers, and it was all he managed when he grabbed one of the hind legs to keep the frantic familiar from taking a tumble between his worn out sneakers.

"When's he gonna change?" You asked, curious eyes focused on the soft brown furry friend of your study-mate.

Yoongi sighed and watched with resignation how the bunny's nose twitched at your hand. With one hop you had a fuzzy herbivore on your legs, nuzzling into the palm of your hand.

"Dunno. It's been like a whole week, I think if the bond's really good they start to transition around then. Don't quote me on that though."

"I heard someone's familiar started switching after only two days!" Someone in the row behind you spoke, rather loudly.

Yoongi scoffed, but still carefully took his bun back.

It was strange and wonderful to see the soft look on Yoongi's face as he lifted the small creature and held it up, inspecting the leg he'd had to pull on earlier.

It quickly morphed into an icy frown as a big, dark, wet nose appeared between his knees, out from under the desk.

"Shoo." He told the shaggy dog, but his bunny lifted his ears.

"Insufferable brat." He mumbled as the bunny picked its way down to the middle of his crotch, where the fabric span tight between his spread legs, to make first contact with the huge other familiar.

"That's what this is about, though, isn't it?" You mused, grinning at the exasperated look on your friend's face. The bunny had been with him for six days now and the older absolutely adored his new companion, but it was still incredibly entertaining to see how fed up he got.

"Letting them meet, and socialize."

"I suppose."

None of those familiars that had come in with their witches had begun to switch between forms already.

You stared at the notes you had taken during earlier classes and tried to dig up information concerning this.

As far as you knew there was no case recorded in which the familiar had been born human - they’d all been animals before meeting those who had summoned them.

There was generally little information about that in the books you hd read for this class, and you looked around the room - No unknown faces. Answers from the source would have to wait a while longer, still, it seemed.

You could only hope your own companion would show up soon. They usually tended to live around the greater area of their witch, your professor had said, so finding them after the summoning usually didn’t take too long.

Yoongi’s bun - he’d taken to calling him Kookie -  had simply hopped out of the wilder part of the community garden Yoongi went to on the weekends, had curled up in the other's herb basket and slept in there until your friend had found him there.

During the class - which was more like a big get together - some people shared their stories about encountering their other halves. Some older students came by, all of them accompanied by human familiars, and gave tips to build a healthy, communicative relationship with them, how to care for them and, the thing that mostly stuck with you, was that they told you to take it slow - getting to know each other was important, and that it might happen, albeit rare cases only, that a familiar would move on, past you, to find someone else they clicked more with.

The guy who'd said that, when greeted with stunned, almost panicked silence of the entire lecture, hurried to backpedal.

"What I meant to say is, don't force anything. If it should happen, it'll happen, but don't force yourself or your new familiar into something you're not comfortable with. Things will work out, if you stay together or nah."

The monday after, the older student's voice still echoed around your head as you stared at a passage in one of the books in the library.

"The longest ever, under witnesses testified, time a familiar needed to find their witch lies at nine months and six days*. Although there are tales passed through oral stories and traditions that speak of much longer times between a union. A notable remark can be found in one of the stories of a united clan of warlocks and witches, the Greater Silvern Eras, which mention one witch suffering through seven years of solitude before happening upon their familiar."

The footnote for the asterisk read: “See page 203 for details”.

Your focus drifted.

Seven years. That was a long time.

In seven years you'd hopefully graduated, maybe found a job or even started practicing your magic somewhere. Maybe you'd have a flat that was a little nicer, where the floorboards didn't creak and the front door didn't get stuck every other day, forcing you to ram your shoulder into it with full force.

Seven years.

You tried to not let it get to you, how almost everyone from your class in ‘Witchcraft and Wizardry; Magical Animals and Companions - an ongoing Introduction’, had met their familiar already.

Some had even brought theirs to class in human form by now. It was so fascinating to hear them talk, listen to their stories.

What a luxus, Yoongi had groaned as Jimin had introduced you to Taehyung over the weekend.

The familiar had fit next to the soft blond haired witch as if they'd been born together; going so far as to steal Jimin's hat and looking decidedly too fashionable in it.

What a luxus to speak to them, to be able to talk.

You'd given him a sideways glance, asking if he was so sure about how nice it that would actually be - if Kookie's behavior was anything to go by, the boy would have a mouth running faster than you'd seen him race across the green space just outside campus, playing with the shaggy dog from the lecture.

At that Yoongi had lost the wistful look on his face and swallowed thickly.

The air was still heavy with moisture when you reached your apartment complex.

The enchanted vines opened for you, pulling the heavy-set metal gate open just wide enough you were able to slip through.

One foot on the first set of stairs that would lead you up all the way to the fourth floor when a door little down the first hallway opened. Golden light flooded over the wet floor of the dark, open hallway.

"_______? Is that you?"

You pinched your eyes shut and took a deep breath. Spirits know how she’d known you were coming.

"Yes, Mrs. Ellis?"

The elderly lady peeked out her door and then came towards you.

She walked hunched over so anyone usually towered a head taller than her.

In her arms she held a bundle of checkered fabric.

"See, you take animal classes, no?" She looked up, waiting for you to agree.

"Well- Er, not, not really, but-"

"Won't you look, I found this poor thing on the stairs up. Eldest knows what's it want there, but it was all wet and miserable and it still is, thing is, Mr. Mark doesn't like 'em and I can't keep 'em both so won't you…?"

You sighed and held out your hands.

Chuu was in the campus' local shelter group that took in animals - magical or not - that had lost their homes; fostered them and cared for them until they found a new home to stay in. You could shoot her a message once you got to your flat and had put on some dry clothes, she'd know what to do.

"Alright Mrs. Ellis, but just this once. I'm just a student, too, I can't help every animal you come across?"

"Of course, of course." She waved a hand. "My heart's all heavy, wish I could've kept 'em. You take good care of 'em, yeah?"

"Yes Mrs. Ellis."

And then she was retreating again, back into her own flat, and the bundle in your hands got a little heavier.

You weren't even sure what you'd agreed to take in when you'd accepted the dish towels.

Careful, you placed it on the sofa. One by one you lifted the corners of the various towels, until a dark grey mess of matted fur became visible. The animal, whatever it was - it had about the size of a cat or a small dog - shivered.

Even so, it didn't seem conscious. A click of your tongue went ignored, as did snapping your fingers twice.

You almost forgot about your soaked sneakers and the way the socks stuck to your feet as you lifted the ball of fur and felt its shivers through your hands.

This poor thing.

You didn't have a large enough bowl and so the bathroom sink had to do it, but you drew a mini bath for what you assumed was a cat, if the pointy ears were anything to go by.

With unscented soap you tried to get the dirt and grime out of the in the water slowly drifting fur. It proved difficult since you could only use one hand, the other holding the round head, and you had to alternate between working soap into the hairs and then washing it out.

After body, legs and tail had been cleansed - you were pretty sure it was a cat by now - you moved on to the head.

With a fresh rag you brushed the fur away from the closed eyes, avoided nose and mouth in fear of a sudden attack, and afterwards rinsed it.

The shivers had calmed down in the warm water, but after towelling off most of the wetness, a small tremor remained.

You were aware it was dangerous to have a strange animal this close to you but against better judgement, you picked the cat up, wrapped him in a dry towel and held him against your chest.

You'd managed to switch into sweats somewhere in between, and then all but collapsed in front of the TV.

Right before you fell asleep, eyes narrowed and having long lost any semblance of understanding what was happening in the series currently playing, the cat on your chest started to purr quietly.

You hadn't set an alarm prior to retreating to the couch, and the events of the day must have drained you so badly that you slept right through three calls from Yoongi, several messages from him and Jimin as well and more than half of your classes for the day.

Deciding you might as well just do a home-office kinda day (a fancy term to describe a stay-at-home/bed-all-day), you messaged the other witches back, telling them you were alright and that you'd just overslept.

One hand had immediately came up to hold the big warm bump over your heart as you had sat up, and now, after going through the most important notifications on your phone, you looked down on the by now dry again towel.

The grey fur was still matted, but you could make out a shift in colour around the back.

In the light of the new day it was also now plain to see you held a cat, even if the tufts of hair curving out of the ears were unusual.

It was still sleeping.

You messaged Chuu about it while getting started for the day, checked up on the cat once more, found it sleeping and then decided to cook some unseasoned chicken in case your temporary flatmate decided to wake up and have a snack.

You brought a plate full of small pieces back into the living room and crouched in front of the couch.

The warm chicken spread its scent.

Two slits opened in the small face, and then you were staring into amber eyes.

"Hello." You mumbled.

The cat stared, unblinking.

"My neighbour found you on your way upstairs, what were you looking for, tiny friend?"

It was unmoving.

"I hope you don't mind, I gave you a warm bath yesterday, you were shivering so badly and there was dirt all over your fur, too. I made some chicken, if you fancy?"

And you placed the plate down, next to the cat, before sitting back and giving it some space.

The meat didn't last long.

A pink tongue appeared, cleaning away the last taste of it, and then those amber eyes narrowed at you and the cat extended its face towards you.

Careful, and fearing for your hand, you held it out slowly.

It only took one sniff before closing its eyes fully and punching its head into the palm of your hand.

"He, hey, careful." You smiled, and tentatively rubbed two fingertips behind the ears.

The purring from last evening returned, deep and rumbling.

Eating seemed to have exhausted the still not fully recovered cat, and even though the purring continued, the small head began to droop.

"Wonder what to call you, hm?" You whispered, as the purring had grown small.

"Mrouwn." The cat meowed, and you had to laugh.

"Okay. That sounded almost like Moon. I think I'll stick with that."

"Mrroom."

"Moon."

"Mrow."

The cat placed its head back down, but the eyes continued to watch you.

You brought the empty plate away and returned with some water in a shallow bowl, which Moon lapped it up out of, and then sleep won over the still exhausted thing and you let them be.

Work for Uni was calling but you hardly got anything done, getting up to check on the grey cat still resting in the towel on your couch.

Moon continued to regain their strength over the next days.

By the third they were exploring the flat, sniffing pointy ends and staring at everything with those amber eyes.

Chuu texted you back one evening, apologizing how she'd been busy as a bee, and agreeing to take a look at your cat, see if someone had reported them missing.

"Hey Moon, wanna go for a little adventure tomorrow?"

Moon lifted their head and meowed, but overall looked so unenthusiastic that you had to laugh.

"Don't worry, you won't have to walk much, I promise. And you'll be dry, too."

That posed another problem, though. Where could you get a carrier before tomorrow evening?

Not 24 hours later and you were sitting in the train heading city inwards once more, on edge yet tired from the day already.

The transport box on your lap was suspiciously quiet.

Moon had let themselves be placed inside while you had explained to them where you'd be going and that Chuu really was one of the best for animals of all kinds, but you'd felt the amber eyes glaring at you every time you'd looked at the carrier, as if it was something above their dignity, to be inside that.

It was drizzling by the time you had returned from your lectures and so you'd thrown a blanket over the box that shielded its occupant from both wetness and people's stares.

Every now and then you peered up and down the train car.

Familiars didn't need their own tickets as they were practically one with their witch, but all other animals did. In your haste to make it you'd forgotten about getting another slip of paper, of course, of course you had forgotten, and now your mind ran a mile a minute with the possibilities of getting caught.

You had already settled on saying your familiar had showed up to your door very ill from their journey to find you, and you wanted to prevent any others of catching the same sickness on your way to the vet, when your station was announced.

Relief spread through you.

The short bus ride back to Uni was much the same; you worrying too much, Moon staying quiet.

One time you lifted the blanket a bit, just to see if the cat was alright.

Two eyes blinked up at you sleepily, and a soft "Mrow?" sounded.

"We'll be there soon, Moon, don't worry."

"Meown."

You put the blanket back and met a young man's gaze over the aisle. He seemed not much older than you.

A fond, sympathetic look crossed his face as his eyes dipped to the carrier and then back up to your face.

"It's the worst when they get sick, huh?" He said.

"I'm always glad when I don't have to be in one of those." The raven on the man's shoulder croaked, closing its eyes in sympathy.

"You taking them to the vet on campus?" The man asked.

You nodded. "Yeah, I know someone in the animal- Uh, that works with them. Just hope it's nothing serious."

"We're crossing fingers for you, right, Jungwoo?"

"Of course." Jungwoo fluttered his wings indignantly, nipping at the other's ear. "What kinda question is that?!"

"Sorry, sorry. Ouch! Stop it! I told you not to peck my ear!"

Jungwoo opened his beak, and even though he couldn't laugh in this form, he keckered.

"Featherbrain." You heard the man mumble as his raven dodged a hand that would have ruffled his head, and jumped to the other's knee.

A pitiful meow could be heard from your own lap, and the student and his familiar paused.

"Your familiar doesn't speak? Also, sorry, my name's Johnny-" "He's got a talent to miss the right time to introduce himself!"

Jungwoo interrupted his witch from where he was perched on the knee.

"Will you shut up?" Johnny asked, staring at the winged creature.

You chuckled.

"It's no problem, I have the same talent. I'm _______, and I think this is Moon. They've been reacting to that, so I figured I'd call them that. When did you start speaking, Jungwoo?"

The raven blinked at you out of beaded eyes.

"I think it was two weeks after I first hopped into Johnny's flowerpots and cawed at him through the window to open up because it was really fucking cold."

"Pretty much." Johnny confirmed, petting the backside of his familiar. "You also really took your time with your human form. Four months! Everyone else thought I was making it up whenever you spoke, to mask you being a regular bird!"

Jungwoo keckered again, and all four of you got off the bus.

You felt pretty safe now that you'd dodged the talk-question. It didn't feel right to lie to the friendly student, but you also didn't know him well enough to know if he'd have snitched on you not having a ticket for the cat that was definitely not your familiar. Probably not, if he was just a student, too. You never knew.

"Alright, I'll head down here." You announced after a short walk spent in silence that took you from bus stop to campus.

"Isn't the animal rescue down there? Is the vet somewhere there, too?"

"I'm meeting a friend there, we'll go together." 

You were quick to explain; Naturally you'd never needed to actually go to the Vet, didn't even know where they were, but damn if you lied about it now and only dug your own whole deeper.

There were enough of those stories on TV or in the books you'd read in your teenage years.

"Ah, alright. Well, then;" He reached into the backpocket of his pants. "You wanna exchange numbers in case you have more questions?"

"Wow casanova, real smooth." Jungwoo commented and then was quick to fly up and settle on a nearby tree to avoid the shove the witch most likely would have delivered otherwise.

Johnny's face was apologetic.

"Enjoy the time Moon doesn't talk yet, you'll miss it sooner than later."

"Hey!" Came it from Jungwoo in his tree.

You grinned.

"You’re in the year above me, right? And don’t worry, will do. Thanks a bunch." 

Johnny nodded at your question, holding up his phone so you could see the number that was calling him.

“Yup, that me.”

He thanked you as well, grinning and then both of you bid each other farewell.

"Oof, that was a close one." You mumbled to yourself, finally on the way to Chuu and her friends. "Jeez, what if my familiar turns up next week and is something much larger and much else than a cat? I can never talk to either of them again."

Moon meowed.

"I'm not hating on you, I'm sure you'd be a great familiar if you were one, it's just. Ugh. People. I shouldn't have talked to them. Even though they were so nice."

The lampposts lining the walkway were lit already and it made it easier to avoid the uneven patches.

Chuu opened the door and welcomed you into the golden warmth of the association, helping you to a drink and taking the carrier from your hands all while chatting enthusiastically.

She cooed at lifting the blanket and being greeted with a lot of grey fur and yellow eyes.

"Oh, poor, poor cat… What have you been calling them?"

"Moon." You replied. The cat meowed. Chuu gasped.

"Aww, you recognize your name! That's so sweet. Can I take you out of your box now, hm? Promise I won't hurt you!"

Moon had been decidedly un-scratchy in their week of being with you, and so you simply stood back and watched the bubbly woman do her thing.

She took the cat out of her carrier - you'd picked it up here before heading home - and held him up, inspecting his ears, eyes, teeth, paws.

Between running her hands over its body and mumbling encouraging words to keep it calm, she asked you how your classes were going, how everyone’s friends were behaving and if you’d been attending any parties recently.

You begrudgingly had to say no to the latter, and she gasped again and promptly invited you over for the next Hello-Weekend party they’d throw in the student accomodations.

It was so easy to talk to her, and you relaxed more the longer you were there.

The fur covering him - she'd told you it was a male cat - was too matted to salvage and so she took shearing scissors and simply cut it off.

Moon suffered through the whole ordeal silently, but you met his eyes once and had to bite on your lip not to laugh.

He looked so miserable.

After Chuu was done he looked like a completely different cat. Half his legs and his head had been spared by the impromptu haircut, but everywhere else his fur was now choppy and very short.

As soon it was clear that there'd be no more cutting, Moon jumped off the wooden table and over to where you were sat sipping from your mug, meowing loudly at your feet until you freed up your lap so he could climb into it and then settled down, staring angrily at nothing in particular.

Chuu laughed.

"Looks like he's got a favourite."

You grinned, rubbing a spot behind his ears.

"He's looking good though. A bit skinny maybe, make sure to feed him well, but otherwise… No fleas or so, no injuries. I checked earlier while waiting for you guys, nobody's been missing him, so I guess you have a cat now!" She smiled.

You furrowed your brows, looking down on the purring pillow Moon had morphed into.

"I don't know, Chuu. I completed the summoning of my familiar recently, what if they show up and don't like a cat? Or get jealous or something? Besides, my flat is too small for a pet and I'm definitely not used to caring for one, I really don't know about keeping him."

Moon lifted his head and looked up at you, meowing once or twice.

"He disagrees, don't you see?" Then her tone got a little more serious. "But if you're sure about not keeping him, I'll make a paper asking if anyone wants to adopt him. Where did you find him again?"

"I didn't, one of my neighbours on ground level did. Apparently he was lying unconscious on the stairs up."

"So maybe someone from your block's been missing him. You could start by asking around?" She crossed her arms and lifted her eyebrows in an encouraging way.

You nodded, eyes unfocused on the cat under your hands.

"Yeah. I could do that. Thank you so much for your help, though." You looked at Chuu again, trying to implement as much sincerity into your words as you could.

"No problem." She smiled. "If you need anything, I'll be here okay?"

With gentle movements you put Moon back into the box. His body was stiff to the touch which you blamed on the carrier not being very much to his liking.

"Yeah, okay. Is it okay if I bring this back tomorrow? Will someone be here to take it?"

She waved a hand.

"If not, just leave it next to the door. Someone will bring it inside sooner or later. Make sure to spray it down with disinfectant before that though! Wanna keep everyone healthy."

"Of course."

Life with a cat was much more easy than you'd thought.

A litter box had been the first thing you'd bought, the second day after Moon had been entrusted to you. It wasn’t much, just a flat thing with some ground up stones or whatever that was in it, but it served its purpose.

Over the days following his examination by Chuu you went out and picked up some more useful things, something to play with and a small pole to scratch or relax on.

You refrained from cat bowls for water or food; you had small plates at home and you'd seen Moon drink out of mugs and deeper plates, too, so you could save some money there. You were aware that whisker-burn was a thing and made a mental note to remember to put his water in a flat bowl, and to not let him sip out of your mugs anymore.

When it came to food, he was a divo.

He'd sat half an hour before the plate with kibbel, and the canned food you'd opened for him he hadn't even looked at for longer.

"Moon," You said, crouching next to him in defeat, and watching the way he was avoiding to look at his food and your face. He meowed upon hearing his name, but it sounded sad. You cupped your hand over his head and he bumped into your palm, closing his eyes and purring quietly.

"You have to eat something. What's the matter? Did Chuu miss something? Do we have to go to a real vet?"

Moon sniffed.

The chicken he ate just fine, you thought to yourself while getting up. You had to leave for Uni soon, and could only hope he would get some food into himself while you were gone.

Class was a bit of a bother.

Everyone else was always accompanied by their familiars now, and the lectures with only witches became almost unbearingly.

You were sad that your familiar hadn't shown themselves to you yet, and jealous of everyone else, and angry at yourself for being jealous.

After five weeks had passed after the ritual - a little less since Moon was living with you - your professor took you aside and asked to have a chat after class was dismissed.

Not really knowing what to expect you stayed put afterwards, daring to stuff your unused writing-paper and -utensil of choice back into your bag. After the last paw had left the hall and the last caw fell silent, you approached the desk at the front.

"You probably guessed it already, but I wanted to have a talk concerning the outcome of your summoning ritual."

Glasses got taken off their spot on your professor's nose, and put down on the desk.

You stayed silent.

"I'm not doubting your ability to perform witchcraft - that has always proved very good, so this isn't a question whether your ritual was done properly or misfired, but how long your familiar will take until you unite. It typically takes two, maybe three weeks at most, but as we can see in your case, that doesn't seem to apply to you. Which is fine, of course, but it makes your attendance in my lecture a little…"

"Obsolete." You finished, staring at your shoes.

"That's a bit of a harsh way of putting it, but ultimately, yes. Of course it is your decision whether to keep attending or not, but without a present familiar I fear you'll miss out on more than you might gain from the material. I do know you're also quite busy with other classes, so I suggest, for the time being, that you focus all your energy on them while preparing for the time your familiar will present themselves."

"Of course. Does that mean you'll void my attendance?"

Your professor tilted their head.

"Well, you did score high in the tests and lectures so far, so I'll keep that in mind, but for now I will put in an official notice relieving you of this class. I have it somewhere, here-" Hands rifled through a stack of paper. "Here!" A slip of yellow paper got pulled out of its hiding spot. "You'll just have to keep that, and I'll submit a copy to the school board on your behalf."

"Thank you. Anything else?"

The room was suddenly very quiet, as was the hallway in front of the still open door, and you wanted nothing more than be done for this day, be at home already, and order take out and hug Moon with some TV on on your couch.

"No, I think that's all. Oh, but should you do come into contact with your familiar before the end of the semester, please let me know! We'll find a way to arrange something concerning your class, then."

"Alright. Thank you professor. Have a nice day."

"Thank you, you too-!"

And then you could finally leave.

Not only that it got shoved into your face every day now that you were missing out, it crossed your mind on your way back; Now your professor had made it official.

This sucked.

Apart from everything else; getting home after Uni or your part time job was much more pleasant than before.

If Moon wasn't sitting by the door when you opened, he came running for it as soon as you stepped inside, meowing loudly, purring and leaning into your legs.

During your work time at home he was always somewhere around you, either on your lap or off to the side, dozing.

When he thought you'd been working too long without a break he jumped up on the table, meowing, or stood on his hind legs with his paws on your thigh, staring at you until you let him outside on the small balcony or on the hallway, where you then sat and watched him jog up and down along the handrail, watching the yard below.

Johnny messaged you one evening, as you'd already finished everything you'd set out to do for the day.

Having a couple of free blocks more really made a difference, you realized, and so did coming home straight after Uni instead of idling around. The most you did these days was running for groceries, but otherwise the free time proved useful to advance your studies and get ahead of your essays.

So much so that you even could go out a little more with friends, to the movies or even grab a drink or two, even though it had always been something out of reach with the pressure of homework and other assignments needing to be submitted by a certain time.

Your phone's display lit up at the incoming text and you picked it up, eyes straying from the bowl of chips and to the message, and Moon promptly reached his paw into the bowl and stole one.

You were half up and out of the blanket bundle you'd reclined in before you already heard him escape into the next room and decided he'd be fine. His fault, you thought; these were definitely not flavoured to suit the taste buds of cats, and you'd told him as much.

The older witch from the bus wanted to know if your familiar had gotten better yet, and you were strangely touched he remembered and actually bothered enough to ask about it.

You'd only seen the pair on campus once, and on the other side of the crowded cafeteria, too, so there hadn't been an opportunity to go talk to them in person.

Completely caught in the spur of the moment, you clicked on the small phone next to Johnny's name.

"Hi!" You beamed after he picked up.

"Hi," He answered, a little less enthusiastic but pleased. "What's up, didn't think you'd call? Guess your familiar's not dead, judging from the cheer in your voice."

"Is that _______?" Came another voice from the back.

"Yeah it is." Johnny said. "Okay, you're on speaker. Say hi, Jungwoo."

"Hi Jungwoo." Came it from the familiar.

You laughed. "Hi, Jungwoo. Everything's good?"

"Yes," Came the excited answer, and it sounded a lot less croaky than the last time you'd heard him. "I'm actually human for once," He continued, confirming your thought. "And we're about to go out for some ice cream and coffee, I haven't had some in ages, I'm very excited."

"That's so nice to hear." You smiled.

Moon, in the adjacent room, coughed loudly.

"Is that your familiar in the back?" Johnny asked, and his voice swayed between concerned and amused.

"...Yeah." You said, stretching your back to try and see the cat. "Hold up, I'll have a look at him. He stole a spicy paprika chip after you texted me, guess he's not taking it well."

"Are you sure he's not just a regular cat?" Johnny laughed, and you probably would have as well, had it not been so true.

"I have no idea." You deadpanned. "There you are."

Moon was the epitome of pity.

Ears hanging, tongue out, the crumpled and partially wet lumps of the half-eaten chip in front of him.

"Bro, why." You gathered the remains with a paper towel and refilled the water bowl.

Moon began to drink.

"Anyways," Returning to your call at hand you heard the two on the other end snicker. "Okay, problems were encountered, recognized as such and dealt with. Do you maybe wanna go for some more coffee and ice cream sometime later this month?"

There was a gasp over the line, and then Johnny's voice.

"Yeah, I'd be up for it. Chill your butt, Jungwoo - you only get to come if you're human. I don't need to deal with your featherbrain on caffeine."

Indignant protest from the other party.

"Alright, we're at the cafe. Text you later? I'm sure we'll find a day."

"Alright Johnny, have fun! Eat a lot, Jungwoo!"

A mash-up of Thank you, Will do, and Enjoy your evening greeted your ears before the line went silent and you took your phone off your ear, smiling at the display.

Moon came back into the living room, tongue still out and still miserable.

"I hope you'll never steal chips from me again, fur ball." He rolled in on a spot far away from the chips bowl, and stewed in his own misery for the rest of the evening.

A while ago you'd taken two afternoons to ask around if anyone was missing him, to which everyone who'd answered their door had shaken their head no. On that occasion you had returned the dish towels to Mrs. Ellis, washed and neatly folded.

Chuu had yet to call for your Okay on the adoption sheet as well, confirming with you once more you were ready to give him away, and now, as you sat in a patch of rare late autumn sunlight, watching the way it caught on the still short, but definitely more fluffy again, fur on Moon, it hurt a bit to think of letting him go.

He must have picked up on your drooping thoughts because he came trotting over, in the way only cats could, looking both like they were hobbling and gracefully moving at the same time.

He turned on the spot next to you and sat down, wrapped his tail around his paws and then you felt his small body leaning against yours.

You looked down and found his eyes already looking up at you.

For a breathless moment long you felt weightless.

Eventually Moon blinked.

"Ah, Moon." You sighed, he made a tiny meow, and you put a hand around his small shoulders. "How will I ever be able to let you move in with someone else, huh? I'm not even good at taking much care of myself, and now, with you…"

He rubbed his head against your thigh, purring.

You watched him, still enjoying the warm glow of sunshine, and thought to yourself how cat-unlikely he could be sometimes.

But then again, all cats were little individuals with their own heads, so it shouldn't surprise you.

You were forced to retreat back inside after the freezing breeze picked up and chilled you to the bone, especially since Moon still hadn't gotten the full extent of his own coat back.

A general weather warning was given out an hour later, about a heavy storm heading in, and even though the view from your window didn't make it seem like that you knew better than to mistrust.

You fell asleep that saturday evening, on the couch with a movie you plugged your laptop into the TV for still running; With Moon on your belly and a comfortable blanket draped over you.

When you woke on sunday morning, it was to light being reflected onto the ceiling of your living room.

There was a pleasant heaviness weighing you down, making your limbs sluggish and increasing the feeling of comfort.

That feeling of lazy ease vanished as soon as you were coherent enough to remember that this was your couch and very much not your bed, and even if it had been your bed, your weighted blanket was still folded on the bottom of your closet, and the tousled brownish-grey hair you could see when looking down yourself was very much not belonging to anyone you knew.

In a moment of plain panic you stayed completely still, only breathing flat, and trying to come up with a plan of attack.

Then the guy shifted in his sleep, mumbled something incoherent, and adjusted his position. You felt hands clenching the fabric of the blanket, and his knee painfully bumped yours at he hiked it up.

Oh fuck, you mouthed as you realized he was completely naked.

At that realization a sudden jolt of adrenaline fired through you, charging your muscles enough that, with great effort, you were able to roll him off you.

Before he could hit the ground and vanish under the blanket that you'd gotten rid off along with him you vaulted over the back of your couch and crouched behind it, ears open towards what was happening on the other side.

There was a dull bang, a groan of pain and then something clanged.

Another groan, and some shuffling.

You looked around.

There was nothing in your immediate surrounding you could have utilized as a weapon. Sadly. You should have bought a baseball bat and stashed it under the couch, just in case, you thought; but then there was more shuffling from the other side of the couch and everything that wasn't busy with the current situation at hand fled your mind.

You crept forward to where your feet had been lying and reached around the armrest, taking hold of a cushion.

While you peeked around the furniture you could see the still very clothing-lacking-chest of the guy, who was rubbing his head where it probably bumped into the coffee table. You didn't feel an ounce of remorse.

You were still breathless but figured if you were, he would be, too, and so you took the chance to attack him with the pillow.

"What-" Whack. "-the fuck-" Whack. "-do you think-" Whack. "-you're doing here?" Whack. "Who are you!"

After two slaps he let out muffled sounds, first of surprise, then of protest.

Had you not been so busy smacking him had you realized he wasn't fighting back, only shielding his face with his lower arms and bending his head away.

"I'm friendly, I'm not here to harm you, please, please stop hitting me I can explain I swear please stop it with the pillow, it's me, don't you recognize m-" He leaned back to look you in the eyes while keeping you at distance.

He was still lying next to the couch, with the crumpled blanket somewhat haphazardly draped over him, while you perched on the piece of furniture, with one leg stabilizing yourself on the ground while raining down blows on the intruder.

At his words you halted in your administrations.

"Recog-? You? Wait."

He peered up at you out of narrowed eyes, face still halfway turned away in case you resumed your attack. His chest was heaving and his overall presence was still very unsettling, but now that you paused, took a longer look at him… The way he looked up at you was somehow familiar.

"Moon." He said before you could voice the conclusion you'd come to, yourself. "Well, technically my name's Namjoon, but you didn't hear that correctly and then I tried to correct you every time you said 'Moon' but I guess you never understood but it's me, see?"

Your eyes were still squinting at him in suspicion, even though what he'd said, what you'd figured out, made sense. Somewhere.

The guy relaxed a bit after it became clear you wouldn't continue your onslaught all too soon, but he was still tense and stumbling over his words.

"I, I, I, we- We slept in last night, you were super busy with your essay all week, yesterday we sat outside in the sunlight, out in the hallway, you put your arm around me- O- And, o-on the first evening you had me, you, you gave me a bath and fed me chicken, I'm so sorry I was such a picky eater but I've never been able to get actual cat food down, and especially not canned, oh please don't hate me for it I just couldn't and I'm sorry I walked into the paint the week before and I'm sorry I pushed down your fruit basket and made a huge dent in it I'm a terrible familiar, please don't-"

You sighed and sat down on the couch, placing your arms on the cushion in your lap and rubbing your face in your hands.

"It's… It's alright, don't- You can stop apologizing now, just, let me breathe for a moment, okay?"

He fell quiet.

After some more minutes of absolute silence in which you'd hoped to let things roll through your head and maybe get a better grasp on them but ultimately ended up not able to focus on any of those topics, much less on anything else for that matter, either; You looked at him again.

He still sat on the ground, arms crossed over his chest and his shoulders hunched forward. You noticed the blanket now reached a bit higher up; he must have tugged it around himself a little more, but a slight shiver had befallen his broad shoulders.

He met your eyes with an openness, a sort of vulnerability, that made you regret being so harsh to him at first.

If it hadn't been him, though, it could have ended badly, you thought, chin in hand.

"I think I have some clothes large enough to fit you." You said instead of an apology. The guy nodded.

To find something for his upper half wasn't too difficult; his lower half was what made you worry.

He came after you as you moved towards your drawer and you made the mistake of looking back over your shoulder.

In your tiny flat he looked gigantic.

The blanket didn't cover him completely, it was too short for that, and so the better parts of his shins were exposed, as well as his shoulders and arms.

He didn't look shredded, but definitely not skinny either, something in between, on the lanky side.

He'd gained weight, as a cat, you remembered, and apparently that transferred to his human form as well.

"So, Namjoon, hm." You stuck your nose into your clothes and began digging for something he'd be able to wear.

"Tha- That's me." He let out a breathy chuckle, sounding embarrassed.

"And you're my familiar." You continued, holding up a t shirt before handing it to him.

"Yeah. I mean, I guess so. I mean, I was on my way up this building when I passed out, I was following this kind of… urge to move you know, and that's not been there since you took me in, so I guess…" He paused, but you refrained from looking back. He had one of your hoodies now, too  the black one with the reflective NASA logo at the front. "You did summon me, right? I didn't just…"

But he didn't finish that sentence.

"Yeah, no, I did. I just didn't expect…" You trailed off as well, staring into the drawer with pants before realizing you had some boxer shorts somewhere that had been too loose to wear.

"Something like me?" Namjoon finished your sentence, and there was something in his voice that made you angry and sad at the same time. Something self-deprecating.

"No. I mean, I tried not to expect anything, but I always thought familiars met their witches directly, and wouldn't be handed to them from the well-meaning-but-slightly-overbearing-cat-lady downstairs."

A half-suppressed giggle could be heard from behind your back.

Without looking back you gave him the boxershorts and then some sweatpants that would probably be too short for his long legs but that were the only thing he could put on, besides the blanket.

"Here." You added, unnecessarily. You felt the fabric being taken from your grasp, and then spent some more moments staring at the ceiling, waiting for the signal Namjoon had finished.

"Done." It came, soft, and a lot closer than expected. You turned.

The sweatpants definitely were too short, reaching around the middle of his shins, but everything else seemed to be okay.

It was strange to see your clothes on someone else; he didn't look bad wearing them and maybe that played part in everything.

"Don't you have… Your own clothes? Somewhere?"

You had taken several lectures and seminars about familiars, but in this moment couldn't remember anything.

Namjoon shrugged, and you saw how his fingers curled tightly around the end of the sleeves.

"My mother was a cat. My father too, I suppose. There was only me in the litter, and at some point my mother left me. I wandered around a lot and mostly looked after myself, before I heard your call."

You had to sit down at that, and, looking incredibly uncomfortable at the sudden difference in who was looking at who from which position, Namjoon followed.

"You didn't mind? Living as a cat?"

"I didn't really…" He scratched the back of his head. "I mean, I saw humans everywhere and how they behaved and I even lived with a family at one point but I never… I didn't think of myself as one of them. I was just a cat."

"So this is your first time in a human body?"

He nodded, hugging his knees to his chest.

"You're pretty good at talking and stuff."

"After I'd heard your call it was like… Like I realized I wasn't a cat. That I was someone else. It was like a voice was calling me to go, and the closer I got, the more human I felt. I mean I guess, I don't really know how you feel when you're born as a human."

"Did you always think? Like, oh, the sunset is nice today, or, I want to eat mice for dinner?"

Namjoon tilted his head and needed a few tries before he could put his answer into words.

"It's different. Before the call I didn't really… Occasionally I'd notice things, but it's like I was dreaming and seeing life roll by without knowing I could take action and do… stuff… myself?"

You nodded, even though you couldn't fully understand everything he was saying; not yet, anyways. It was all a bit much.

"Okay."

"So, you're saying the cat that you had with you on the bus and pretended to me and Jungwoo to be your familiar, that you thought was a regular cat, and that has been living with you for- For almost four months now, is actually your familiar after all?"

You pursed your lips and stared into the swirling, faintly glowing liquid in the cup in front of you.

Outside blew an unforgiving, icy wind, and the snow-mash still dripped from your coat that hung over a nearby chair.

The weather had switched from mellow late autumn to almost full blown deep winter and snow overnight, and everyone, the cafè included, hadn't prepared for that.

The cozy spot Johnny and you and some other friends had met up a couple of times was pretty empty right now.

You nodded.

"...That's… Well." He stared into empty space before taking a sip out of his mug.

To your relief Johnny didn't laugh. He looked taken aback, but ultimately more collected than you could have hoped for.

To fill the silence he took another sip of his coffee.

"And he changed in his sleep? Right on top of you?"

"Yeah," You repeated, throat coated so you had to clear it before continuing. "That was a shock, finding a tall naked man on top of me upon waking up."

"I bet…" He said, and his voice was full of empathy. "You need a hug?"

"That'd be nice."

He came around the table and sat down, pulling and holding you in the hug for a good moment.

"Thanks for meeting me, alone."

You mumbled into his sweater.

"No problem." He said back.

As you parted you sighed, and it felt like a lot of energy escaped your body along with it.

"It's just so… Weird. I was fully prepared to just live with him as a cat, and without a familiar or just always anticipating but never meeting them, and now, there he is, and that's just a whole bunch of other problems, right there."

"You're not happy you know who your familiar is?"

"No, the problem is I never thought of him as anything else than what he was, a cat, and now it turns out he's a person after all! I'm just glad I never told him anything too personal, like… what I think of during sex or whatever."

Johnny's eyes crinkled at the corner and you groaned at the smile blooming on his face.

"Well, what do you like to think of during sex?"

"Shut the fuck up, Seo and please focus on the more pressing matter at hand."

He bit on his lip and took another sip, after which he grew serious again.

"But, that aside, what's the problem? You like him, don't you?"

"I mean, yeah I guess, but… I fear I'll need more time to adjust to this than I should, for him, you know? What if he ends up not liking me because I take too long."

Johnny put his cup down.

"He's your familiar. He'll adore you either way, every familiar I've met was like that, they don't really tend to hold grudges against you and you can, and should, always talk to them. This isn't a one time thing, he'll stay with you for a long time, you know that, right?"

You crumbled.

"Yeah, that's the thing."

You returned from your meet-up exhausted, feeling unworthy and ready to crawl under the covers and sleep in.

Before you put the key into your door you paused for a moment, mentally readying yourself for Namjoon, who'd probably be waiting behind it already.

He wasn't.

You stared at the empty space around the entrance, and even after you'd taken off your shoes he didn't show himself.

Worry gnawed through your middle, and some guilt, too, because of the whole situation.

It had been two days with Namjoon switching between human and animal at still random intervals.

You found him in the living room, sitting in front of the door to the balcony, in one of his shirts and sweats he owned now.

"Hey." You called out to him quietly, but he only turned his head to glance at you before looking back outside.

"What's up?"

He didn't react at first.

"Hm?" You nudged his arm with your elbow, crouching behind slash next to him.

He dropped his head.

"I. I think the bond is forming." He said, but it sounded more like a punishment for himself than delivering a fact.

"And?" You prodded carefully.

"And- I think… I think I felt what you felt when you met your friend. It's not-" He hurried to continue after a small pause. "-It's not that I'm judging you, or anything, really, I just-"

His shoulders sagged forward.

A moment of silence stretched between you, in which you looked at him, and he stubbornly kept his head face down.

“Would you like a hug?” You echoed Johnny’s words, even though your voice was paper-thin.

He took a long breath while staring at the ceiling, face tense from what you could see, before he lowered it again and breathed out.

“Yes.” Came his quiet answer.

Then, only then, you began to move slowly.

First behind him, and then forward.

His back was so much broader than yours; he always appeared so tall whenever he stood somewhere, but here and now he was very, very small.

With your hands you reached around his middle.

A horrible moment long he stiffened, and you feared he might reject your contact after all, but then his hands slid over yours, pulled your arms tighter, and he fully gave into the contact as he leaned back.

With your head on his shoulder he turned his own face towards you as much as he could, before the first sob broke free of his throat and he dropped his head.

His palms left your wrists and came up to cover his face, as more and more tears started to flow, and you felt the worry like a blade twisting in your gut because you didn't know what had your familiar so worked up, but then maybe you did, but also maybe not, and there was just so much you didn't understand.

Words lay heavy on your tongue but you were frozen in place, unable to speak.

"I'm so sorry." He brought out after two heaving breaths.

There is nothing you should be sorry for, you wanted to reply, You are not at fault, and, I wish we could start again, but nothing made it past your throat.

Instead you hugged him tighter, at war with yourself.

"I'm so sorry I didn't find you myself. I'm so sorry you thought I was a cat, and that I never managed to convince you otherwise. I'm sorry I'm such a horrible familiar, and, and, and, and I wish you didn't have to have me as your familiar. You deserve someone better, someone who's like you, someone-"

"No." You interrupted him, and your own voice was thick. "No, stop."

A moment long it was silent.

In the darkened glass of the door, the reflection of your familiar- he was your familiar, yours, yours!- carried a grotesque attempt at his usually so radiant smile, while you felt the salt water droplets fall on your wrists.

"Stop, please." You repeated, softer, swallowing a lump.

He breathed in and it rattled like an empty tin can rolling on asphalt.

"I wish you wouldn't feel like that." You started, stumbling over the words and unknowing of what to say next. "I, I really- I wish I'd known you were my familiar sooner. I wish I'd known so much sooner, I would have- But- But we can't go back, and I'm sorry, no, I am, because I can't give you the closeness you obviously want, not yet, not like- I thought you were a cat, a normal, a bit skinny, stray, and to have you here, like this, I could never have imagined-"

You pulled back and he turned halfway, already cradling his arms to his chest in a lack of your contact, but you tugged until he fully turned and faced you, and you could take both his hands in yours.

"I couldn't have wished for anyone else but you." You continued, and now your voice was a little steadier, your words a little more well rounded.

"You're my familiar. We belong to each other now. And I know, if the way you behaved when you first got to me, or just now the last days, if that's any way to go by, we'll work beautifully together. You're like a best friend I- I just. There's a lot of, of things that I- I imagined having a familiar be like, and it'll take me some time to really realize, and believe, that it's you, it's you who'll be all of that and none and more, and I. I don't know. All I can ask, hope, for is that you'll give me that time. Or not. If you want to go, if you want to try and maybe find another witch- I won't stop you. Least I want is to make you feel like you're stuck with me."

His bottom lip trembled, and there was still excess wetness in his eyes, but he wiped at it furiously.

"No. No I don't want anyone else, I have you, and I want to stay because I l-"

He cut himself off, drew a deep breath.

"Can you please just hug me again? I want to forget this afternoon happened. I want to forget these feelings. I want to sleep and wait for tomorrow."

"Can we go to the couch for the hug?"

"Yes."

It was somewhat awkward to fit both you and him on the plush thing, with limbs tangling and a bit of shuffling until he settled down with his head on your shoulder and his arms around your middle.

You woke later that night, to a much smaller head against your thigh.

There were no clouds in front of the moon and so the room was filled with grey light.

The silence and warmth of the moment had you watching the soft rise and fall of your familiar's stomach for an indefinite amount of time.

Eventually you took his head in your hand, carefully stood up and placed it back down, gently, trying not to wake him.

A tiny mewl escaped him, and you had to smile.

Instead of saying anything you touched your lips to the top of his head, between his ears, and then slinked away towards your own bed and a few more hours of rest.

Uni had been put on hold for the morning. At least for you.

It was one of the last days before winter break, and there was a certain, festive air about campus.

You gave the cat that Namjoon had stayed after changing last night a side-eye.

He sat with a rigid back and only the tip of his tail flicked now and then.

He must have noticed your stare for he turned his head and blinked up at you.

To keep busy you looked into your bag again - The emergency-clothes you'd put neatly folded inside were still there.

The clock above the office of your tutor crept forward the fraction of an hour.

Finally, after five more agonizingly long minutes, the door opened, one of your classmates you vaguely recognized came out, a stack of papers under one arm. Briefly you saw the naked tail of a rat swinging from the other arm, before a voice called out and you rose from the cheap plastic chair.

Half turned back to Namjoon you wanted to see if he was coming and found amber eyes looking back at you, standing ready to waltz inside.

You held the door open for him and closed it after the two of you, but Namjoon waited for you to greet your tutor first before he jumped up on the second chair and sat down again.

"Um, we emailed, so, this- This is Namjoon. Namjoon, this is my tutor for the class in which I learned the summoning spell."

Namjoon's ears quickly turned and he regarded the person on the other side of the table with an interested look.

He was greeted as well, which seemed to fluster him a bit.

"He's still switching uncontrollably?" Your tutor commented, clicking on something on his desktop before looking at you again.

You nodded.

Namjoon climbed on your lap and leaned back against your belly, looking up once until you started to card your nails through his fur absentmindedly.

"Yeah, it’s only been three days. And also, I didn't mention it in the email, but… We've been together for months now, I just never. I never knew he wasn't an actual cat. I also can't hear him talk in this form."

"Fascinating. Namjoon, if I may, could you say 'Abra kadabra' for me, please?"

Namjoon meowed. At the lack of reaction he got, his ears drooped.

"I used to call him Moon, because that's the only thing I could make out."

Namjoon looked up at you and meowed again, and this time it had the distinct 'moon' sound to it that you'd mistaken for his name.

"Are you attempting to say your name, Namjoon?"

On your lap, Namjoon nodded fiercely.

"How do we proceed from here? I understand I can't possibly catch up to what the class has been doing, but retaking the course would-"

"Don't worry," Your tutor interrupted you. "We'll do everything step by step. I know I said it in my email already, but let me congratulate you on successfully summoning your familiar. That's the first step. Second, I'll get into contact with the counsellor; We need to get you two talking, separately and together, to prevent any tension from forming. Not yet anyways, you're still in your early bonding time- Or maybe not, if you've been living- This is confusing."

You exchanged a look with Namjoon. He butted his head into your shirt, as if hiding it in shame.

"We kind of had that already, yesterday. Tension, I mean." You pressed out, hand around the back of Namjoon's head, resuming your pets.

"I went out to meet a friend, and we talked about the whole thing happening to me, and I guess I got a bit overwhelmed and Namjoon- When I came home I found him suffering. He said the bond was already forming?"

Your tutor kept eye contact, momentarily unmoving from behind the desk. 

You shifted in your seat, clutching Namjoon on your lap tighter as the anxiety welled up inside you.

The cat was staring at your tutor too, motionless, even the tail.

Finally your tutor sighed and rubbed a hand over their face.

"Okay. Okay, fine. I’ll have to- This isn’t bad, please don’t think that. The bond forming isn’t bad, but it is generally believed negative feelings are felt more intensely and thus transfer through that bond more easily, at least in the first time. It sucks, I know, but- That’s normal, you two. This whole situation is a lot messier than I thought. Ah, and then it’s winter break soon, too… Okay, just- Just head to class for now, I'll see to get it sorted as quickly as I can, and then I'll email you, okay? We need to get you into training, if the bond-"

They went on rambling, waving a hand to dismiss you somewhere along the line.

You rose, hoisting Namjoon higher up on your chest and keeping him there with your left curled around his bottom.

He didn't twitch or wind out of your hold, and so you carried him across campus and to where your next lesson would be starting in the quarter of an hour.

Your new, furry companion didn't get unnoticed.

Every now and then a witch, older or from the same class as you, would catch the cat trailing after you or hanging over your shoulder, staring at everyone as they passed, and then they'd stop and exchange a few words.

After the first three times it began to trouble you.

Five people had said something so far, and none had had ill intentions - hell some had congratulated you, only wishing you well for the future, but it was still bothering you.

So much so, that you sat in the next lecture, hand clenched around your pencil you were supposed to take notes with, and with a similarly tight wound coil in your stomach.

Already having forgotten about Namjoon curled almost as tightly as your insides, but on your lap, you startled when he let out the smallest 'mew' and stared up at you.

"What?" You mouthed at him, not wanting to disrupt the tutor up front.

He put his small paws on the bit of your belly, above the area where your pants ended, and looked up out of wide blown eyes, with ears tilted backwards.

You sighed.

He must have felt the ache settling within you resulting of the stress lately.

You pressed a kiss between his ears again and whispered to him how it would be alright, to not worry too much.

He settled down again but you felt his watchful gaze on you for the rest of the class.

You'd caught glimpses of the bond between you and your familiar before; fleeting emotions or impulses that weren't your own. It wasn't until you went to bed one evening and only had a couple hours of restless sleep that you experienced the extent to which that connection went.

The pointers of your alarm said it was somewhere between one and four. It might as well have been only an hour after you went to sleep, but nothing changed the fact that your body was screaming in exhaustion while simultaneously being too awake to go back to dreaming.

No position you rolled into helped, no matter how hard you hugged your pillows or punched them to make them more comfortable aided the much needed result.

After another eternity spend staring at various walls and squinting at shapes through the darkness, you begrudgingly got up to use the bathroom.

Might as well get the most of it, you thought dimly, and picked up your water bottle to give that one a refill along the way.

On your return you stopped in the kitchen, waiting for the water to reach the top of your bottle.

Your ears perked up at nothing in particular.

After screwing the lid back on you stayed silent, watchful if there really hadn't been a noise or if you-

A sniffle.

Namjoon?

Your thoughts zeroed in on your flatmate.

A couple of steps and you were next to the plush cat tree he'd taken to sleeping on when in his animal form.

"Namjoon." You quietly called out.

His little body was heaving with breaths, his paws and tail twitched, but in the low light there wasn't much else to see.

But Namjoon was in pain.

Without thinking you reached out and grabbed him around the middle.

Your lower arms erupted into burning hot flames and you pulled back at the sensation.

In the moment after there was nothing but agony.

Then warmth, mellow and almost comforting after the sting enveloped the skin running down to your hand.

"I'm sorry Namjoon!" You whispered, blinking against the dull grey that filled the room and the water in your eyes while biting down hard to not hiss at the eight long scratches resulting from your familiar's claws.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, are you okay?"

A pitiful mewl answered you, and then another, until he was chattering, almost like a songbird.

He shied back from your outstretched hands, ears flat against his scalp, and had he been an actual cat you would not have bothered further.

But he wasn't, he was Namjoon and he was yours and he was in distress, now greater than before, and all you wanted to do was comfort him.

And so, even under his protest, you grabbed him a second time, much more careful now, and cradled him to your chest.

With a hand over his back you first got to feel how his heart was thrumming against his ribs, how much he was shaking in your hold.

You tucked him under your chin, as close as possible.

"It's okay, it's okay Namjoon, don't worry.” You whispered to him, eyes staring at the empty wall and feeling him shake. “You're safe here, whatever it is, I'm gonna keep you safe, you're here, we're together, nothing else matters, you're here with me, you're safe, don't worry Namjoon, don't worry, don't worry, don't worry I love you so much nothing will hurt you now, don't worry, you're safe.."

You kept on rambling, spewing more mindless words, telling him of this and that and even started to walk around the flat, softly stroking him and slightly bouncing with every move, as if he was a baby and not a fully grown familiar.

The clock on the microwave read half past three when you sat down at the small desk and leaned back, a much calmer cat in your arms.

You couldn't remember when he'd started, but somewhere between your own and the bathroom he'd started purring.

It wasn't the deep, rumbling diesel engine purr he usually did, but he was still purring, and you could've cried in relief.

"You're okay now, Namjoon." You whispered into the soft fur between his ears, and he made a tiny sound through the purr.

The streetlights outside gave off an orange glow.

It bathed everything in an otherworldly glow, and the snow that had started to fall covered every surface.

Namjoon freed his head from your hand and blinked up at you out of wide blown eyes before mushing his face into your cheek.

Giggling, you sniffed once, chuckling intensifying the longer he did it.

He began to move more until he'd fully freed himself from your arms - would have, if he didn't put almost his entire weight on one of his back paws, supported by your lower arm.

Not fast enough for his good hearing, you couldn't bite back the sound of pain as one of the scratches cracked open again.

Namjoon's ears went back down on his head but the rest of him stayed much calmer than before. He sat down on the kitchen table, shifting from paw to paw and kept looking between you and your arms that you now partially hid beneath the surface of said desk.

"Meow"

"No, don't worry about it. It was my mistake, I shouldn't have grabbed you while you were sleeping."

"Mow!"

"No, it's not your fault! I promise. It almost doesn't-"

You didn't know how but he glared at you.

"-Okay, yeah it hurts pretty bad." You admitted, and your familiar huffed while his tail twitched.

Gaze straying out the window, it took an energetic meow for you to focus your attention on your familiar once more - stood in the doorframe and clearly wanting you to follow.

He lead the way to the bathroom, jumped on the sink and then put both his paws up against the small cabinet above the sink, on the side where you kept band aids, creme and more stuff.

"I'm fine, really. I'll just-"

"Maw!"

"Okay fine, I'll do it now. Close your eyes, I'm turning the light on."

He did what you told him, and the bright overhead lamp flickered to life.

You regretted flicking it on the moment you looked down on your arms.

The scratches weren't deep but you still wondered if they'd scar, and there was more blood, dried and fresh, than you'd thought.

Apparently it was more than Namjoon had expected as well; His eyes were fixed to the skin and the welts that had formed around the injuries.

"I don't-!" You held up a finger into his face as soon as he tore his eyes away from the damage and to search for your gaze, interrupting him mid-opening his mouth. "-Wanna hear any comment about these. That was my fault, and it is perfectly fine of a punishment to now deal with this. No protest, Mister."

He sat back and let you do your work.

The disinfection spray stung and you stared at the ceiling through narrowed eyes until you could breathe again.

Wrapped up in bandages and with creme dabbed around the sore skin you plucked Namjoon from where he'd sat and watched you, slowly submerging himself in self-loathing, and headed back to bed.

He didn't need it but you tucked your blanket around him anyways.

"If you wanna talk about what had you so worked up earlier, we can do that in the morning maybe. Or whenever you shift next. Okay? But only if you want."

You curled a finger around his small cheek and rubbed the base of his ear.

The purr returned, still hesitant, but deeper already.

"There we go. Much better."

Finally feeling the haze of sleep beginning to weave its magic around your bed, you allowed yourself to slip away into it, a hand on your familiar's back.

You couldn't have slept much when you awoke some time later, but the steel grey light now coming from outside was a tell-tale sign of dawn.

A warm, large body was nestled into your front.

Suddenly very mindful you peeled your palm off the chest of your familiar and slipped your own arm out from under his.

It was one thing to take him to bed as a cat, but another to wake and find yourself spooning him as a human.

He was too large in the bed with you, and no matter how you tried to position yourself, it didn't work out.

Eventually you stole away and onto the couch, pausing to look back at his peaceful face on your pillow.

He pulled the blanket closer to his nose in his sleep.

Something tugged on your heart.

The thought that he was the one you'd summoned, he was your familiar, wasn't new but it was still strange.

In a moment of weakness you tiptoed back to bend over him and run your hand through his strands.

To your surprise and fascination he immediately relaxed upon your contact, burying deeper into the mattress and exhaling long.

Then the dizziness of being tired caught up to you and you went to cuddle up on the couch, unaware of the head that lifted from between the sheets as your own hit the cushion on the sofa a room over.

Once your tutor for Witchcraft and Familiars emailed you, something was set into motion that only picked up pace the longer it went on, it seemed.

There were a lot of people you were supposed to talk to, starting with the counsellor, who thankfully helped schedule everything else.

A potion master, a therapist, several members of the school board to name a few - over the course of the next weeks, there were too many to keep track of.

Besides the ones necessary there were also just interested folks who'd gotten wind of this or that and were now looking to poke their nose in the whole ordeal.

Winter break was so cancelled for you.

After Namjoon had lapped up a brew designated to change him into his human form and keep him as such for the duration of around four hours, your tutor began to speed through a list of questions and other things that needed to be discussed.

After getting his okay, you settled for reviewing what the others had gone through during their classes, staying on campus longer in the afternoons to try and get up to date with them. It'd require a whole lot of cooperation from Namjoon's side, and so you made sure he was absolutely on board with it before agreeing to anything.

Next came the therapy sessions, funds being granted to you - something about unexpected circumstances and special occasions and how you needed furniture to room Namjoon when he wasn't a cat. Then it was a whole lot of paperwork to fill out, both for the university itself and then classes, attendance sheets, more and more, until your head was swimming even when you rested it in the palm of your propped up arm.

At some point Namjoon's hand found your shoulder, prompted you to raise your bleary eyes from the surface of the desk in front of you.

"I think we're done for today." He said quietly but surely, leaving no room for discussion.

The beginnings, after you had initially spoken to your tutor were hell. It needed at least three more before you had fully adapted and successfully settled into the new rhythm.

Snow outside the windows still piled up knee high when you came back from a single therapy session, exhausted and with bones aching.

You stepped out of the wet boots, hung your coat to dry and ruffled the melting flakes out of your hair before moving on into the living room, but the chill in the tip of your nose, your fingers, persisted.

Without saying anything you slumped down on the couch face first, not heading a concerned Namjoon who'd stuck his head out the bathroom any attention.

He came after you, knelt down in front of your spot and began to rub your back gently.

He didn't say anything either; The bond between you was enough to let him know you were too tired to converse. And also he wasn't an idiot.

Both of your days stretched long. If there weren't classes to attend to, you spend the time learning what you'd been missing out on earlier this year - Sometimes physical exercises that included Namjoon, other times it was just reading and memorizing stuff.

There were the therapy sessions you had, single and together, and all the other stuff prescribed to you to strengthen the bond, make you more accustomed to the other, etcetera, etcetera.

It was tiresome.

You felt how he put his head on your back, hands ceasing their administrations.

"I drew a bath for you." He mumbled into the silence.

"Thank you." You whispered back.

He remained in his position a while longer, and when he left you stayed put for another few heartbeats as well.

After you came out of the water, sweating and even more tired but also a little more relaxed, you found him in almost the same position as you had been in before, just on his back, with the TV playing.

He met your eyes across the room.

You poked his side with your foot, and got your ankle trapped in the warm palm of his hand.

The corners of your lips tugged down over-dramatically.

"Make some room for me, fur ball." You pouted down on him, slinging your arms around yourself to trap some of the bath’s heat in your shirt and shorts. The exposed skin was cooling down now though, and it took a toll on your overall body temperature.

Instead of sitting up and making space, Namjoon hesitantly opened his arms.

You stared a moment longer, head void of any thoughts - before you sighed and sat down on his lap before spreading out on top of him.

He spend a good few minutes tugging the blanket around the both of you in which you listened to his heartbeat under your cheek, and tentatively explored the thoughts of how it felt to be this close to him.

Eventually his fidgeting ceased and his hands settled on your lower back, adjusting your position until he, too, was as comfortable as could be.

"I've been waiting so long for this," He mumbled into your hair, and your sluggish brain needed a moment to figure out his words.

"Hm?"

"I've been meaning to do this since I woke up freshly bathed on this couch."

“What, hug me?”

He hummed in agreement, and you placed your chin on the middle of his chest. He peered down on you, his eyes only slits.

“Doesn’t really feel like a hug though, does it?” You grinned. His eyebrows twitched together and he glowered.

“Want me to make it feel more like a hug?” His voice gave him away; It wasn’t as forceful or energetic as his expression might’ve made him seem.

“Sure.” You answered through a smile, in a disgusting i-don’t-believe-you tone. He rolled his eyes but the smile on his face was the same giddy one as before.

Now he pulled up his legs until they pushed you a little further up his torso and made like a backrest should you have decided to sit up. One arm fully wrapped around the small of your back, while the other snaked around your shoulders, tucking your head under his chin and holding you close.

He used all his considerable strength when he squeezee, but instead of unable to breathe, you only felt happiness.

Belated you realized it was probably an echo of his feelings, ringing through the bond, but at that you were already smiling into his chest and hugging him back and then he inexplicably tightened his hold for a moment before easing back down.

"I'm so happy I  met you." He whispered at the ceiling, hands placed flat against your back.

And maybe that wasn't just his overflowing emotions now, maybe you were feeling just as happy and content and good as he was.

"I'm so happy I met you, too."

You rubbed your cheek over his shirt.

It was still difficult, sometimes.

When he grew upset the emotion ricocheted through the bond and, especially when you were apart, it wasn't easy to immediately identify why you suddenly felt awful had you been fine before.

As the days passed Namjoon's clinginess grew weaker, and he was able to spend time away from you for longer periods, more and more.

He still didn't talk in his animal form, but by now you'd grown more sensitive to him and the feelings you shared through the bond.

Winter was well after its peak when Yoongi and Jungkook came over.

Namjoon had been human all day, helping you prep the food you wanted to complete with the others, and also reviewing the latest essay for spelling mistakes.

He was busy doing just that when the doorbell rang.

With a shout you informed your familiar you would go and pick up your friends, only getting an “Okay!” similarly loud shouted, back.

There was a surprise waiting for you when you pulled the iron gate open and told the vines to shoo and make the way free.

Four heads turned to meet yours, three human, one animal.

“Johnny! And Jungwoo! What are you guys doing here?”

Jungwoo said hello in his croaky voice, and Yoongi wrinkled his nose at you.

“So I’m not even worthy of a greeting anymore, huh?”

“Oh shut up.”

After a hug for every human present and a fistbump for Jungwoo’s balled up claw, you turned your attention back to the unannounced guest.

“We met Yoongi and Jungkook on their way here. There’s not really much to be done this afternoon so we figured we might come along? If you don’t want us to or whatever, it’s fine, we were on our way home from a trip to the herb-shop, so…”

Johnny lifted the shoulder that had a canvas tote over it.

You shook your head.

“No, no it’s fine. I’m sure Namjoon will appreciate the company! Come in. Food might be a little tight this way but I’m sure we’ll figure it out.”

You felt like you ought to ask Namjoon before letting them in, but that would’ve meant another three full stairs, and the familiar had been nagging your ears off to go to a familiar-cafè or some other recess area for the past days.

“Namjoon!” You wrenched open the front door. “I’ve got a surprise for you!”

Johnny made a few turns and twitches with his hands, until they formed a circle.

Without him needing to ask, you separated his hands with the palm of your own, and thus invited him into your home.

It was an old ritual and not necessarily used much these days, but Johnny had told you that was his major, old curses, rituals and hexes.

Namjoon came around the corner, a smile spreading on his face at the sight of the many people.

To your relief he didn’t mind the extra two.

The food was all gone after the sun set, and you spend the hours after dusk sitting on your couch and cushions around the floor, watching the familiars interact and just talking with the other witches.

Jungkook had shifted earlier, and it must have flicked a switch in Namjoon, seeing Jungwoo and the younger play in their animal form, and soon after there had been a cat throwing itself into the mix as well.

By now they were all human again, lying across various furniture or the ground.

Namjoon was resting his back against your legs, and you could barely reach his hair without moving, and played with the tips of his strands.

“You never told me,” You began, yawning. “-You never told me, Yoongi, how you knew Jungkook’s name. Or part of it, I guess.”

To your side, he shrugged. “I guess I was really tuned into him already. Bit like you almost got Namjoon’s name right, just… A little more adjusted already.”

You hummed.

Jungwoo, from spread out over the floor, spoke up and shared his first experiences with Johnny, which thankfully sounded a lot more similar to your own.

After everyone had had a good laugh about the way Jungwoo had illustrated a scene where Johnny, sleep deprived and in a horribly dishevelled state, had taken the raven, put him on the kitchen table, and then sat in front of him for hours on end, trying to get him to talk or understand what the other was cawing at him for, Namjoon at your feet perked up.

He glanced at you, and there was a weird feeling in your gut, like he was up to something.

“Oh, I remember, he first months I lived here, _______ thought I was just a cat, right? But this one-”

“No.” Your eyes widened, and you tried to stop him. If he was aiming for what you thought he was-

But Namjoon didn’t let himself be interrupted, and you covered your face with your hands.

“-So I’m standing there between their feet, meowing because I just really, you know, I wanted The Pets tm, but of course my lovely witch doesn’t understand a lick of what I’m telling at them, and so they go: ‘You know what? I finally know what’s up with you.’ and, naturally, I go silent because oh? Have I finally been heard? -And then _______ goes and says ‘I diagnose you with baby!’”

Peering through your fingers you could see the grin on Jungkook’s face widening, while Jungwoo intenly looked up at a sitting Namjoon.

Your familiar caught your gaze through your hands and smiled even wider, and you quickly went back to covering your face.

“And I’m like, what?? And then they just nod, and go: ‘Oh it’s true! You’re just baby!’ And I’m like, protesting now because no I’m not but then they pick me up and hold me over their head and say ‘It’s true, the Doctor said said so! Terminal baby.’ And now I really am disagreeing but all I get is being held closer and put against the shoulder, but I kinda wanted that all along so I just. I kind of settle down there. But it was still hilarious, considering I was well aware of what was being said to me.”

You could hear the self-assurance drip from his voice and risked another peek through your fingers.

Namjoon was sitting back, a little away from the couch now, holding his glass of fanta and taking a sip with raised eyebrows, gaze fixed to yours and that stupid, stupid dimpled grin on his face.

Jungkook was rolling on the floor with laughter, Jungwoo seemed at least a bit like he was considering your point in this and tried to stifle his laughter. Yoongi was hiding his own amusement behind his drink and Johnny was giggling like a madman.

Apparently satisfied with the mischief he’d accomplished, your familiar leaned back on his hand.

“You’re unbelievable.” You mumbled, feeling too warm and finally re emerging from your exile behind your palms to reach for your own glass.

“Oh you know you love me.” He beamed at you, and at this you could no longer keep the smile from your own face.

“Shut up.”

But he still crawled on the armrest besides you, hugged his arms around your shoulders and mushing his cheek into your hair, and you let him; hugged him back and settled against his side.

Eventually the others took their leave and bid farewell.

Namjoon accompanied you down to the gate.

Jungwoo took Johnny’s hand before they headed down to the busstop, while Yoongi hoisted the bundle of clothes higher up under his arm while his bunny was making himself comfortable in the hood of his coat.

Before long the cold air caused shivers to shake your body and so you cross your arms and head back up, Namjoon on your heels. In front of the door he caught the hem of your top, tugged you back a bit.

“Hm?”

Shyly, he held out his hand. You needed a moment of looking down on his palm before you got the hint and took it.

Together you entered your tiny flat.

He tugged you back once more after you shut the door, fell with his back against it while pulling you into a hug. The flat was warm after the chill of the night outside. The scent of food and of your visitors still hung in the air as well, and only now, after a few heartbeats longer, did you realize how tired you were.

Namjoon’s chest offered a safe space, a comfortable place, to rest and be held. You felt him pressing a ginger kiss into the hair above your ear.

He breathed in as if to say something but no words came out.

Instead you felt a wave of happiness, but slower, of adoration and content, and… love. Namjoon loved you, so purely, so wholeheartedly that it radiated through the bond.

You didn’t even realize you were crying when you lifted your head to look at him, to see the tears pooling in his eyes.

“I love you too!” You choked through a sob, cupping his cheek. “I love you so much.”

And he just nodded, eyes never leaving yours, touched his lips to the side of your wrist. He smiled through the wetness running down both your cheeks, pulled you in for another hug.

“I love you.” He whispered, even though the bond between you screamed it out loud. “I love you.”