Chapter Text
Their heads collide against the cold graffitied wall with a loud and sturdy thump and the soft sound of their bodies smoothly sliding down into a pile with their other compadres. A shadow looms over the unconscious bodies as the victor pants heavily, tail waving about energetically, furred ears twitching and paws still clenched and trembling. A sigh quietly escapes his chest as he breathes out the anxiety and adrenaline rushing through him, dissipating into frigid mist. Up into the air as he stands to his normal towering height and his head raises and meets the night sky above as he looks up inviting the snow to fall on his face and land gently on his brown and blue patched fur.
What a great way to end a beautiful Friday's snowy night.
Finally calming down, his line of sight returns to the alley, glossing over the aftermath of his little scrimmage. He never did like to fight but it was a must if he were to survive his daily life. Regardless, maybe they'll learn not to be picking fights with whoever they see fit... or at the very least learn to pick fights they know they'll win, this just felt unfair. He looks down at his paws, scruffed up, cut up from their knives, and looks back to the men that he had taken down, throws the hood of his coat over his head, and stuffs his battle-scarred paws into his pockets. Never a dull moment in the back alleys of the city, and unfortunately, never a moment of peace either.
Winters have gotten harsher with each coming year and this one was no different being the coldest it's ever been in years dropping to double digits below freezing. He walks down and toward the open streets shivering, he needed to find shelter and soon because he would not sleep near the dumpster again. The sidewalks were crowded, humans talking on the phone, chatting amongst their friends, or standing waiting for the bus to go back to the warmth and safety of their homes. He kept his head down and focused on his feet as they took him to who knows where next.
There aren't many places where he could lay his head. He's slept outside of shops but eventually was driven off by the shop owners. The alleys are never the safest places to rest unless you were really desperate and willing to risk being attacked in your sleep. Parks have security that regularly patrols for anyone who could be sleeping on their benches or camping in tents. The whole time while brainstorming he hadn't noticed he walked into a neighborhood. A gust of wind picks up heavy and freezing, he felt his whiskers practically curl from the constant decrease in temperature. The need to find shelter grew more urgent by the minute and at this point now he's more willing to take anything if it can stave off the cold just enough to allow him to sleep into tomorrow.
There was one house near the end of the street that looked like it could serve a good purpose for him. A lovely blue home, a wide porch with a swing bench and some pillows, and a warm porch light overhead. The lights in the windows of the home are off so whoever lives here is either asleep or out, either way, he should have enough time to get some sleep in before he's caught and run off of the property. Down the pavement and up the stairs he cautiously makes his way to the bench and wipes the snow that piled onto the bench and takes a seat.
He reached into his coat and pulls out a candy bar that he paid with the change he found scouring the streets, unwraps it, and takes a bite, sighing softly and shivering.
With his last bite of the candy, he puts the wrapper in his pocket and yawns, a soft mewl sounding out and his fangs bared for a moment and lays down on the bench on his side facing the back of the bench, his feet sticking over the edge. Another cold gust of winds brushes his back and shivers.
"Damn..." He mumbles to himself, closing his eyes and resorting to sleeping at last.
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They swore just one more episode of their favorite show hours ago but here they lay, in their bed, at two in the morning, in their boxers, and now in the fifth season at a climactic moment in the show that will change the fate of the world for decades to come, despite having work later today. And their stomach just had to ruin it for them.
"Yeah, yeah, hold your damn horses, I'll find us something to eat, just quit it." They groan, gripping their stomach and reluctantly dragging themselves out of bed. "Stupid bodily functions, interrupting my show..."
They trudge out of their room and to their kitchen as their stomach continued to nag them all the while during the short trip. Walking in they open the fridge to survey the food they currently have. Leftover stuffing, fried fish, yogurt, and milk. Not much for them to want there; they check the cabinets. Apple pies, chips, toaster pastries-- target acquired. They chuckle as they go to reach for the pastries so they can finally go back to their show
"Alert. Motion detected outside." The alarm system warns. They groan again.
"Alright... Though it's likely just a raccoon or something. They walk to the front and check the camera feed showing the sides, back, and front of the house with the lawn and porch in view. Nothing in the back or the sides of the house. But there is something on their bench on the porch.
"What the f-..." They try to get the camera to zoom in as close as possible. "Is that... A body? Oh my god, is there a dead body on my porch?" They rush to their room and put on sweatpants, a robe, and slippers and run back to the door and open it, cold air bursting inside.
"Oh god, oh god, oh god, please don't tell me someone dumped a dead body onto my porch. I might have to call the police..." They step out onto the porch and look to the right and there it was, the body, unmoving. They approach slowly while also trying to check for any signs of life.
"Um.. Hello?..." They call out to the body. No response. They grab its shoulder and gently shake it.
"E-excuse me?? Are... you alive?" No response. Oh god... Are they really?...
They were about to pull out their phone to report a dead body until they listened more closely.
Very faint breathing...
"Oh thank god..." They breathe a sigh of relief and hang their head back.
'Should I still wake them? I don't wanna be rude, this is probably the only night they've been able to sleep soundly in a while...' They pondered as the person resting shifts and groans. More wind blowing freezing on both of them and they can see them shivering in their sleep and just about hear their chattering teeth. 'They'll freeze to death at this point...'
A decision was made so they shook them gently again, "Excuse me! Please wake up."
The person groans and turns to face whoever it was that woke them, it was a man. A... cat man?... With twisted whiskers and matted fur and pink button nose now red-ish from the cold. He was wearing a green heavy-duty winter coat and baggy cargo pants. He looks all kinds of banged up, like he just recently came from a fight. Whoever this man is, he's gone through the rough of it, they felt bad.
The man, groggy, looks up and down at them before then realizing, "Is this your house?" He sits up and stands, stretching, "I'm sorry, I'll leave now..." He walks past the house owner and makes his way down the stairs.
They look down, they'd feel awful to let him go out there and brave the elements again. "Wait!"
The man stops at the last step, looking to his feet.
They didn't know what to say. How does one invite a stranger into their home? What do they say?
"You.. Don't have to go." They turn to the man, "I'm not making you leave."
He takes a deep breath, "I should go, I'll be fine. I would hate to be a bother."
"What I mean is... I don't want you to freeze out there." They walk to their door and open it for him. "So, please... Come inside. You can get warm in here. I promise it's no trouble for me."
He turns around, looking through the door. Most of the lights were off but he could still feel a warm glow seeping from the doorway. From where he stood he could see a red sofa and dining table behind it. He really shouldn't, but no one has ever offered to allow him in their home before.
"Are you sure?" He asks, uncertain.
"One hundred percent. Please." They nod their head towards the door.
He walks back up the stairs and to the front door and ducks his head to enter. It was indeed very warm. So much so that the instant temperature change sent chills throughout his body. He got a look at the floorplan. To the right of him was an arched doorway leading to the kitchen with a half wall allowing him to see more into the living room where he saw a tv, he didn't know what the first two doors to his left were but the third door he could see into a guest bedroom, he could also see another across from it.
"Mi casa es Tu casa as they say. Feel free to look around." The house owner closes the door and locks it, "Are you hungry? I can find you something to eat." They walk into the kitchen.
"Uh.. I suppose..." He walks further in and peeks into the guest bedroom, there's a king-sized bed tucked in the corner of the room to his right, a tv mounted to the wall and a drawer beneath it. Looking in more, to his far left was a bathroom. This was a very nice home. This was all very strange, being in a home after many years of being on his own on the streets.
They prepared something quick for him. Looking in the pantry they find two jars of peanut butter and jelly and crack them open and make a sandwich for him.
After getting a good look at everything, he sits down on the couch and holds his tail, tense yet waiting patiently.
They walk out of the kitchen and set the sandwich on the coffee table along with a glass of milk. "Sorry, I don't have much right now, I plan on going shopping later today."
"Oh, um... Thank you." He mumbles and takes a bite out of the sandwich.
"I know this is probably rudely worded but um.. What are you?" They ask, walking to the lamp in the corner of the living room beside the tv and turning it on.
He stares at his hands, mouth full, and swallows before answering, "Neko."
"Neko?" They parrot his response, shocked.
"Yes. Do you not know what they are?" He looks up at them and tilts his head.
"No, no, I know what they are, I've seen Neko before but..." They scratch their neck.
"You haven't seen my kind of Neko before." He finishes their statement.
"...Yeah." They say.
"That's understandable. Most people have never seen us because we choose not to be seen. We often hide in back alleys and hideouts and the like, so most humans don't even know we exist." He explains and takes another bite out of his sandwich, "Humans who do know about us though, they call us Feral Neko."
"I see.." They nod their head.
He continues eating and takes a sip of his milk and hums softly.
"Whenever I see Neko, they're usually accompanied by their master. Do Feral Neko have their masters too?" They ask.
"Rarely. Very rarely. And never for a good reason." He answers.
"Oh... Have you had a master?" They lean forward.
He sets down the sandwich, finding himself hesitant to answer. "One."
"Were they any good?" They ask.
"Not exactly." He answers softly, not giving any further information.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that..." They take a deep breath, feeling like they've reopened an internal wound, "Sorry for asking."
They sit there in silence, tension now wafting through the air.
"Right, I realized I went to ask questions without introducing myself. My name is Y/n, it's nice to meet you, however the circumstances." Y/n smiles, "And yours is?"
"I... don't have one." He answers.
"Well, I've gotta call you something while you're here."
He ponders, "Cat."
"Cat? Are you sure?" Y/n asks.
"Yes." He replies.
"Alright... Well, Cat, the room behind you is yours for now." They gesture to the room he had looked into, "Feel free to freshen up, use the tv. There is food in the fridge but like I said I plan to go shopping so there isn't much." Y/n stands up. "If you need me, I'm across from you so just knock."
He nods. Y/n makes their way back to their room.
"Why did do you do this?" Cat questions.
"Hm?" They hum.
"Why did you help me? No one just lets a stray Feral Neko into their home like that. I don't understand." He breathes out.
Y/n smiles, their aura soft and warm. "You were suffering, and I wanted to help so I did. It doesn't matter what you are, I would have done the same for anyone else. I know that not everyone is as kind to offer a hand and I know that must be rough for you, but you can stay here as long as you'd like and as long you're safe."
Cat looks down and nods.
"I'll let you finish your sandwich. I'll be in my room. Goodnight." Y/n heads into their room to finish off their episode and likely dose off until daybreak.
"Goodnight..." He takes another bite of his sandwich, processing what they said. "As long as I'd like?" He was bewildered. What kind of human extends a helping hand for a Feral Neko? What if he was dangerous or bared ill will? Surely they must be out of their mind.
He finishes his sandwich and walks to put the plate in the sink, eyes glossed over in pure confusion, and heads to the guest and sits on the bed.
"I'm safe..." Thinking about it is only making his head hurt so he just decides to shower and sleep.
'I'm safe...