Chapter Text
Hamcat is the most charming angel Nunucat has ever known. Even with her then-matted fur and open wounds from catfights, she was beauty and grace herself. His feelings came like a striking lightning - unpredictable, strong, and quick.
It budded the day he left the house once his owner went to work. Like a typical, unneutered cat itching for entertainment, he strolled around the neighbourhood picking on small birds and even mice.
On that day, Nunucat felt the overflowing urge to go on an adventure.
Which ultimately led to him foolishly going way beyond familiar territory and getting lost.
"Damn, I can't smell anything that can lead me back home," Nunucat whimpered. Sure, he had a collar but with his current appearance, a passerby could simply mistake him for a local domestic cat strolling around.
Didn't help that humans seemingly think he's only asking for pets or treats when he was actually meowing at them for help.
Okay, he had a full belly, but still.
In his distress, Nunucat searched the area for familiar scents to lead the way home. Alas, everything was strange and unknown. Unfamiliar human faces, unfamiliar cars, shops and signboards he has never seen. Not even on his owner's Instagram or Twitter when he wanted to be a nuisance.
Okay, think, Nunucat. You've watched those survival shows with your butler. What did they do? The cat tried to recall. They looked for food. That's easy for me. Sticks and large leaves… for shelter!
With the Eureka moment, he frantically ran around the place for a safe spot for the night.
Some areas were already marked by other cats unwilling to share their territory with a foreign cat. Other areas had menacing dogs he didn't want to deal with. Most were uncomfortable spaces that had no roof over his head or simply too filthy. No way would he waste all the money his butler spent on him to get infected by some infection or injury.
Nunucat was about to lose all hope until he heard a faint meow calling for him.
A smaller cat with matted orange fur sat under an abandoned car, the space beneath just enough to probably fit him with ease. Despite the dirt it was covered in, the cat was undeniably pretty and cute. By the scent, Nunucat could tell the other was a female and invited him.
Waringly, he walked to the car bumper, just a few inches shy from the female. At his behaviour, the other cat perked her ears, seemingly questioning his refusal to hide under the car.
"This place is big enough for you, are you worried about that?" she frowned. Up close, Nunucat could finally see her bushy tail.
He shook his head, "No. I didn't know if you would actually want someone else in your space."
"Do I smell aggressive to you?" the other cat didn't mind at all. "Your coat is all clean and neat. You're not used to the streets and I have no reason to chase you away," she replies while licking her paw. For an unknown reason, Nunucat was transfixed by her actions.
She was right. All his life, he was a domestic cat who could only rely on his natural feline instincts if he had to survive outside the butler's home. He lacked the experience a street cat would have, so there's no guarantee on his survival either.
Not having any reason to refute the offer, Nunucat gave in and crawled under the space right next to the smaller cat. Thanks to his feline frame, he was comfortably snug under the car.
The other cat smiled and purred before returning to clean her fur with licks. "I'm Hamcat. What's your story, big guy?"
"My name's Nunucat. I got too bored at home, now I'm lost." He eyed the place, noted a few sturdy boxes next to the car and cleaned fish bones. It was a far cry from his comfier home with air conditioning for hot days and heater to hog. He couldn't be picky, though.
Hamcat realised Nunucat had been looking around the place. His tail was wagging in a timely pace and his scent was neither alarmed nor relaxed. "Relax, I'm just lonely."
Not knowing what to say, all Nunucat could do was utter a soft "Thank you."
The other cat huffed, content with Nunucat giving in to relax in her presence. It was not every day another cat was willing to be near her. She wasn't hated per say, nor was she the only cat in the area. Rather, the other stray cats found her to be excessively naggy when it came to order of things. Domestic cats on the other hand would sometimes say hi or play with her, but always had a home to go to so there she never had someone to share or even fight for territory with. Nunucat was a cat perfectly in between.
While looking at the night sky from under the bumper, Nunucat wondered if he'll ever find his way home. Maybe his butler was searching for him. He had seen other butlers do it when the cats went missing.
Then there was a problem with making it out of the problem alive .
Sure, he had gone outdoors before but that was around his neighbourhood. Any further was with his butler. Nunucat never went out to hunt for food or to win cat fights. He chased mice and birds within the house compounds where he knew everything was. Where everything was familiar and to his advantage.
But as a lost cat not knowing where they were? Everything was unfamiliar and unpredictable. For all he knew, he could've gotten injured and infected and possibly die. Then, he'll never be able to finally capture the glaring red dot he sometimes found invading the walls and floors of his home.
"You're stressed. Wanna talk about it?" Hamcat's meows snapped him out from spiralling into dooming thoughts. The smaller cat looked at him expectantly with curiousity but a hint of letting him do whatever he wanted if the problem was too much to talk about.
He heard from his butler that sometimes talking things out can help relieve stress. That was the advice he gave to one of his friends but maybe it could work for cats, too?
There wasn't any harm in trying.
Nunucat scooted away from the smaller cat, a bit embarrassed at what he was about to admit. He talked about how he was ashamed that he doesn't know how to hunt, how he only has his primal instincts but neither skills nor the experience, how he probably won't find his way home.
All the while, Hamcat didn't laugh. Though, she did remark on how domestic cats nowadays were so reliant on their butlers, they were so out of tune with their feline instincts or gave up on it.
"But with practice, you'll definitely get better," Hamcat exclaimed encouragingly. Her tail swished upright, her head nodding as she imagined the larger cat becoming an apex hunter their feline ancestors can be proud of. "While you're looking for your way back home, how about I help you practise?"
"You would?"
"Yeah! Honestly, all I do is hunt birds and mice for fun. The neighbourhood folks are the ones giving me food, they're nice people. So, we can spend all the time we want without worry!"
Amazed with her willingness and enthusiasm, Nunucat didn't hesitate to take on her offer. "I'll do my best to catch up."
And that was the beginning of the couple's story.
In return for teaching him the world of a stray cat, Nunucat gave her a comfortable companionship. They did banter when things didn't make sense or went awry, but never bad enough that they forgo their deal.
Nunucat even showed her the things he learnt from watching TV with his butler. Who knew his butlers' addiction to watching cat videos on YouTube would be helpful in these times?
He even found out he was naturally good at everything. Nunucat never had the need to hunt to eat so he never did it seriously. Yet, when Hamcat showed him the ropes and took a long time, Nunucat caught his right away. Since then, he had been the main hunter of the pair.
When they weren't hunting, they were playing. Sometimes, they licked each other's fur clean or scold if a wound got dirty.
There were even times when Nunucat learnt how cat fights were done and dealt with the stray way (not that it was different) but it was an amazing sight to see watching a few cats admitting defeat to a single tiny cat. Hamcat knew how to win fights and showed them who was the boss.
Whenever Hamcat was injured and didn't have the energy to fight, Nunucat picked up the role and hissed at every other cat who dared to come close to the female cat. Where he lacked in skills and experience, Nunucat made up with his brute strength and size.
Days became weeks, and weeks became months. Without realising it, the two cats fell into a comfortable routine and stuck with it. Eventually, the budding feelings blossomed into caring love.
They were absolutely in love with each other even if they didn't say it yet. The intimacy, the scents, the coziness of their now home were enough to say it even to a passerby.
"Nunu," Hamcat purred, her snout burrowed in dark grey fur, "will you mate me?"
Their tails wrapped around each other in a loving embrace. It was a chilly night but the warmth from their cuddling was enough to keep the cold away. Nunucat had found abandoned rags and torn blankets while roaming around, now used as soft beddings. The beddings were strong with their scents, reeking of the two. But more so Hamcat as her heat neared.
The male cat was around long enough to have seen her gone through heat alone. She was adamant on not mating yet, refusing to get knocked up by the neighbourhood cats. During these times, Nunucat willed himself and left her alone while she handled it. He brought the foods he found or given by the neighbourhood folks and threatened every male cat attracted by her scent. Whatever she needed, he did his best to find and provide.
"Of course, I will," he licked her face. Hamcat purred even louder, happy and content with having Nunucat as her mate. "I love you, I'll do anything for you."
Their small home was overflowing with the scent of happiness. Hamcat incessantly purred, nuzzling and cuddling with Nunucat whenever she could. Even when they were out and about, going on a stroll or annoying small birds, she never stopped with the physical intimacy.
Sometimes, it was Nunucat who was clingy. He would paw and sulk if Hamcat didn't pay him any attention. He'd give her trinkets, peel off shells from prawns, and shred chicken meat for her to eat.
When the time came, Nunucat gave her all of his attention. Even aftercare was on his to-do list. It probably was strange for a cat to do so, but sometimes, he saw his butler do it with his partner.
(Accidentally, of course. It may have traumatised him but there was that silver lining!)
It didn't matter if Hamcat couldn't move from their makeshift home for days, Nunucat would take care of everything.
By the time her heat was done, the female cat was bedridden with exhaustion yet satisfaction. Nunucat, on the other hand, felt pride from being able to care for the both of them and satiate Hamcat.
Over the course of a few weeks, Hamcat became even more affectionate. Acting cutely to Nunucat, rubbing all over him, even patting him. From his time with his butler, Nubucat recognised the change.
"How many kittens do you we'll have?" Hamcat stretched. The bedding was soft and new. A human probably saw her with her pregnant belly and took pity. Some neighbourhood children would come by and give food.
"8?" Nunucat hummed, taking in Hamcat's scent and marking her with his. "That's too many!" the other whined. "But I wouldn't mind though."
The male cat licked behind her ears, so content with their present together. It was amazing how she chose him of all the other cats to be with. He, a former domestic cat who didn't even know how to fish until he had a taste of the stray life. "Hammie, I don't know a lot but I will do my best to be a good father to our kittens."
Hearing that made her heart flutter. Nunucat was so attentive and selfless, she could do nothing but fall for him even more. "You'll be the best dad, I just know it."
And Hamcat's words were proven true the day the kittens came.
The five tiny kittens were doted on by Nunucat from the very moment they were born. Bebecat and Honeycat took after him the most while Mincat, Zizicat, and Danycat were more to Hamcat.
Despite being newborn kittens, they were energetic and playful except for Zizigom who preferred to sleep the day away in Hamcat's hold.
Their family was complete. Nunucat never imagined a day like this would come. A beautiful, amazing wife and a cute litter of kittens who adore each other. His butler would've been proud of him!
"Wait a minute," Nunucat paused. Worried, Hamcat rubbed on him as comfort. "What is it, Nunu?"
"I completely forgot about getting back."
Sewoon spent the past few months agonising over the loss of his cat.
Nunucat never got lost before even when he let him out alone. The cat knew his way around the neighbourhood, Seungwoo knew, because the aunties and uncles at the small shops would often tell him what they saw Nunucat do while he was out.
But this time, Nunucat never came back.
He posted on every SNS he had, put up posters and even asked around if anyone saw the cat. Sewoon was sure he annoyed the receptionist at the vet with his calls every two days for information.
The lack of information drove him to think Nunucat had gotten hit by a car or possibly a victim of some psychos. Maybe, Nunucat had gotten injured while chasing a butterfly like a fool, and eventually die.
His thoughts rapidly spiralled into pessimism with no good news to break it.
Except for the faint meow at the door that he was overly familiar with.
Sewoon dashed to open the door with tears in his eyes and a racing heart. There was no way he could mistake that meow! Surely his cat came home -
with a family?!
"Goddamn, you little bastard."