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Pretty Cute for a Ruthless Predator
When Erwin Smith entered the cat café that afternoon, he had no intention of asking out a practical stranger.
He usually only visited places like this with his friend Hange. They insisted Erwin was over-worked, and needed to get out of the office more. So it became their Friday ritual to meet for lunch in a new café or restaurant.
Only today, Erwin was alone. And even worse – it was his birthday.
Hange had booked tickets for them to see a new West End play after work. But their boyfriend Moblit went into hospital this morning, and Hange had to cancel. They insisted Erwin should still go, and bring someone else with the spare ticket.
There was just one problem - Erwin had no one else to ask.
Today was another hectic day in the office. He was stuck here slaving away on a student contract, and studying accountancy by night, until he passed his exams and could secure a better position.
When lunch came, he resigned himself to staying at his desk. Until he got a message from Hange:
Ervy, I’m sorry again! Please don’t spend your birthday alone. Your horoscope agrees with me: ‘Now is the time for adventure, not caution. So dedicate your heart, and get out there!’❤️
Erwin was 99% sure Hange had made that horoscope up just to prove their point. But his temples throbbed with the start of a headache. Maybe, for once, he would do something spontaneous.
And that’s how he ended up at the cat café down the street – The Cat Shack.
Erwin didn’t even like cats. But he was determined to try something new today. The worst that could happen is he’d have a funny story to tell Hange later.
The woman behind the counter had a ginger bob, a cat-eared headband, and the biggest smile on her face. After Erwin ordered, she kindly explained there was a small fee to be allowed downstairs to where the cats were.
Wait, he had to pay extra to be surrounded by fluffy murderous devils?!
But he paid the fee, collected his food, and headed downstairs. It must have been nap-time, because the cats were asleep in an assortment of cat trees and baskets. Erwin took a seat by the window, where a sleek black cat was curled up on the chair opposite him.
For a few minutes, Erwin focussed on eating and checking his emails. Then it struck him he could have done the same thing back in the office.
The black cat yawned, stretching out on the chair.
Erwin glanced around self-consciously. Then, moving his hand closer, he made insistent pssst pssst noises until he finally caught the cat’s attention. It shot him an incredulous look, and began grooming itself.
“You’re not used to cats, are you?”
Erwin jumped, mortified that someone had seen his pathetic display.
And then his face burned even hotter at the sight of the man who’d spoken.
He was one of the café workers - wearing a green apron, a cat-eared headband, and a badge with the name, ‘Levi’.
He was also incredibly attractive. Despite his short stature, he carried himself confidently. His tight t-shirt indicated a surprising amount of muscle under the fabric. And his dark hair fell in a spiky fringe above steel-grey eyes. But unlike his cheerful colleague upstairs, Levi wore the world’s most glaring ‘fuck off’ expression.
“Um… no,” Erwin admitted.
Levi continued his task of filling the food bowls. When he reached the black cat’s bowl by the window, he glanced back at Erwin.
“You want to feed Corpy? He’ll let you pet him then.”
At first, Erwin just gawped back. The man still had that blank scowl on his face.
But today he was ‘dedicating his heart’ to something new. So he accepted the bag of cat biscuits and poured some into the bowl. Corpy immediately stood, stretched, and jumped down from the chair to eat.
“He’s purring!” Erwin exclaimed, marvelling at the loud rumbles.
Levi’s lips quirked, but his indifferent posture remained the same. “Try petting him now.”
Erwin reached out tentatively to rub the cat’s head. Encouraged by the fact he didn’t get his fingers bitten off, he ran a hand along his soft back. Corpy continued eating, but arched his back and purred louder, his tail sticking straight up into the air.
“He’s pretty cute for a ruthless predator,” Erwin admitted.
“Corpy’s anti-social, but he’s your best friend once you feed him.” Levi leant down to scratch him too, his hand brushing Erwin’s own.
A shiver rippled through Erwin. The other man smelt like citrus. He couldn’t tell if it was laundry detergent or soap - only that it was divine. At the corner of his eye, he also noticed the man wore a silver earring of a pair of wings.
“So… what brings you here? You trying to get over your fear of cats?” Levi asked bluntly.
“Oh no, I’m not afraid of them!” Erwin clarified quickly. (It was only a small lie.) “I’m here because of my friend. We usually try out new food places together, but they couldn’t make it today. We’re supposed to be seeing a play later for my birthday too. But now I’m going alone.” Why the hell did he have to mention that?!
“Happy Birthday.” Levi’s lips lifted in amusement.
“Oh, thanks,” Erwin mumbled. “And thanks for the cat advice. Now I know the secret to creating my own cat army.” Oh god, he needed to stop talking.
Erwin’s legs were stiff from crouching, so he gave Corpy one last scratch behind the ear, and returned to his seat.
He expected Levi to leave. But instead the man posed another question.
“Can’t you bring another friend to the play? Don’t those tickets cost a fucking fortune?”
Erwin winced. For some reason he found himself spilling the truth. “Hange’s my only close friend. And my Dad’s on holiday in Germany. That’s the extent of my social circle.” He laughed self-consciously.
Levi snorted and crossed his arms. “I’m even worse. Petra - that chatty ginger biscuit upstairs - is the closest person I have to a friend. And I broke up with my boyfriend last month. So I’m practically a recluse these days.”
Boyfriend?!
“Oh I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Zeke was a selfish asshole. I should have broken up with him sooner.”
Corpy, now finished his food, began winding around Levi’s legs. His sullen façade cracked again, as he gave the cat a final rub.
“I better finish feeding the rest of these brats,” Levi said. “Enjoy your play later. It sounds better than what I’ve got planned – another night of binging Netflix alone.”
He began walking away. And for some insane, inexplicable reason, that stupid horoscope forced its way back into Erwin’s mind.
Dedicate your heart…
“Do-you-want-to-come-with-me?” Erwin asked, garbling the words together and pitching his voice too loudly.
Levi froze. When he finally turned around, his brow was furrowed. “What? Go with you to the play?”
Too late to back out. It was now or never. “Um… yeah? I mean, only if you want to.” At Levi’s blank expression, Erwin hastily added, “Nevermind, it was just an idea-“
“Yes.”
Erwin’s heart stopped. And then galloped in his chest like a charging horse.
“Yes?” he asked tentatively.
“Yes,” Levi confirmed; that beautiful, amused smile lighting up his sharp features.
As they exchanged numbers, Erwin said a silent prayer of thanks to the horoscope gods (whether they be Hange or otherwise).