Work Text:
Shit-! I'm running so late-!
Sai keeps glancing nervously at his phone, screen splattered by raindrops despite trying to hold his hand over it to shield from this torrential downpour. Time ticks by quickly as he rushes to reach his and Gen's meeting spot. His shoes land in puddle after puddle, splashing all over his pants legs, but he doesn't have time to think about wet socks or ruined slacks right now - no matter how gross it feels at the moment.
Normally he would go by car, but a series of unfortunate events with his workload, his favorite watch breaking and falling into his udon, Ryusui clowning around causing a ruckus as always, then not being able to hail a damn cab - It's too much to think about right now, but the whole day had him in a bad mood and set him way behind schedule. He double-checks the address as he rounds a corner, dodging other people on the sidewalk who were smart enough to remember their umbrellas, when he nearly trips on-
"Mew!"
It's a small sound, anyone else on this busy sidewalk would have missed it. But it stops him dead in his tracks, all thoughts gone from Sai's mind as he looks down to see a- " OH-UM-! "
A tiny little black kitten, the smallest thing he's ever seen, fur soaking wet and hiding within a discarded take-out container, stares up at him with sad pleading eyes. Against better judgment - he's so late! - Sai kneels down in the murky puddles, worry growing within him that the poor thing might be sick or injured. And in this rain- A thousand awful scenarios run through his mind of what could happen to this poor helpless thing-
Sai snatches up the container without another thought, tucking the meowing little creature close to his body. He takes off in a full sprint towards the hotel, rain be damned. Sneaking the poor thing past the person at the front desk is a bit tricky once he lands in the lobby - juggling the kitten who wants out of the box, his sopping wet shoes slipping and sliding along the tile - but somehow Sai gets his key and makes it into the elevator without trouble.
I hope Gen won't be upset with me–!
____
Gen reclines on the edge of the bed, head against the headboard messing around on his phone while he waits for Sai. Scrolling through socials, for once avoiding his text notifications piling up from a certain someone for now - which he'll have to make up for later, no doubt. The location he picked this time is set a little more out of the way than usual, not wanting to repeat love hotels too often just to be on the safe side. It never hurts to be cautious with these kinds of things, especially in their line of work.
Is he doing okay? Did something happen at work? On the way here? Did he....back out....?
It wouldn't surprise him at all, things have been testy with a certain someone, but-
The click of the door opening interrupts his thoughts, sitting up a bit too eagerly. "Oh, Sai! You're finally here! I was wondering when you'd arri-!"
He pauses, noticing how frazzled Sai looks - more so than usual - as he closes the door behind him. He's dripping wet, wavy strands of hair plastered to his face, which admittedly isn't a bad look. But it's strange that he walked here-
" Meww…. "
Gen pauses, spotting something wiggling beneath his suit jacket, more little meows coming from within. "Well! Guess that answers my question!"
"Sorry! I didn't m-mean to be so late!" Sai quickly apologizes with a small bow, making sure the door is totally shut and locked behind him as he hastily removes his shoes. Out of his jacket comes a takeout container holding a little kitty within.
Gen stands to meet him, reaching out to grab the box. He pulls the tiny kitten out, holding them gently, close to his body as if he's holding a newborn baby. "Oh the poor thing, they're shivering!"
"I- I uh, forgot my umbrella at home so....And some stuff happened at work so I had to walk…." Sai mutters with a hint of irritation, stripping off his coat and tie and hanging them on a hook. "And I couldn't just leave them...."
"It's alright, Sai, I'll run a warm bath for them," Gen replies in understanding, sparing a chuckle at how....handsomely disheveled Sai looks. Especially when he pops open the top four buttons of his shirt, exposing his collarbone.
"Good idea-"
"You should join," he smiles, petting the kitten softly while eyeing Sai up and down. No use hiding his interest, not when they're alone with no one to judge or criticize them - with no one to question what they have together.
" Huh-?! "
"You're soaking wet too, so," Gen winks at him, gesturing towards the bathroom. "We'll just kill two birds with one stone.~"
"W-Well...I guess..." Sai mumbles, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck, making to follow with a bright blush peppering his cheeks.
He's too cute for his own good....
___
Gen wastes no time running the hot water, wrapping the kitten up in a hand towel and plopping it in Sai's arms. He watches Gen, surprised he's so eager but mostly glad he isn't upset. In the meantime he tries to dry the kitten off a little bit of the cold, hoping the bath will work out well.
What he doesn't expect as he takes a quick shower while the tub finishes filling is for Gen to plop the kitten in the sink and strip quickly to join him. Next thing he knows Sai is sitting with his back against the tub- and Gen between my legs-!
It's not the heat of the water that has his skin flushed a rosy tint.
It makes Sai's heart flutter in his chest erratically. I didn't think Gen would join me - !
The kitten meanwhile sits atop Gen's knees, the mentalist ever so carefully scooping water to pour over the little complaining thing and scrubbing grime off of them using the pads of his fingers with the utmost care. He's especially careful not to let the kitten submerge fully in the water - a kind of gentleness Sai knew the other had within him but he only gets brief glimpses of from time to time.
He is kinder than he realizes….
"They seem to be improving under the warm water," Gen says after a while of silence as he glances over his shoulder at Sai. "Look, they've even stopped shivering."
Gen angles himself a bit so that Sai can get a better look at the little thing, its complaints slowly dying down. He has to smile, enchanted by how tender and gentle of a person Gen could be when given the opportunity. "That's a huge releif," he sighs dreamily.
"So…what are you going to do?" Gen asks after a while of savoring the warm water, head resting against Sai's chest. "Are you going to keep them?"
"Sadly, I….I don't have the time to take care of a pet," he mumbles, scratching his cheek awkwardly. It would be nice to have companionship, but he would feel guilty for leaving a pet home alone all day - especially on nights when he's so swamped with work that he doesn't even make it out of the office until early the next morning.
"That's too bad...." Gen sighs, as if somehow disappointed.
"I guess I'll have to hand them over to a shelter," he replies with a tinge of regret, not wanting to upset Gen.
Then out of nowhere; " Can I keep them? "
"Y-You want them?" Sai asks with surprise, perking up at the idea, both relieved and shocked. How would it even work out-?
"Sure!" Gen beams up at him, radiant and more lively than usual. It makes Sai's chest feel warm with the love he still hopes will be reciprocated one day. "I always wanted a cat - and was even looking to adopt one, actually! I visited a few shelters, so! This is perfect!"
" Meww! "
"See? Even they wanna come home with me!~"
A pause - one where Gen is distracted giving the kitten scritches behind the ears as the little fella relaxes at his touch - whilst Sai frets on how to word himself without sounding like an ass. He clears his throat hesitantly; "I-I don't mean to sound rude but, um, do you even have the time for a pet right now?"
Gen just chuckles jovially, easing his worries with merely a sound. "Not everyone is a workaholic like you, Sai.~"
He smiles at Sai over his shoulder, wet bangs sticking to his cheek, with an expression that looks almost...if he's willing to imagine it.... lovingly , making his chest flutter pleasantly. "Well, then I'm glad they have a loving home already."
___
After their bath, Sai has toweled off and changed, laying in bed with the kitten pawing and cuddling against his chest. It brings a unique kind of peace to Gen's own heart, seeing such a tender moment. An expression of how caring and loving Sai is. It's not like he hides it, but Gen gets to keep this specific one to himself - as if it's a precious treasure to keep forever.
"They seem to really like you," Gen says as he blow dries his hair, with the lowest setting possible so as to not disturb his companions.
"You think so?" Sai giggles as the kitten begins to knead on him. "I do feel a bit bad not taking them in....they're quite the cutie."
"You know..." Gen looks away, blushing softly as he tries to get the words out calmly. "You can always just visit my place and see them whenever you'd like.~"
"Eh-? Won't I be intruding?"
"Not at all, Sai," he smiles, sparing him a long look. "Besides I-, um, I mean....I'm sure they'd love to see you every now and then."
"O-okay!" Sai perks up, the tips of his ears turning red in that way that makes Gen want to nip at them in any other scenario. "Okay! Y-Yeah! That sounds great! I'll be sure to do that....!"
"Great!~"
"So....do you have any ideas about what you're gonna name them?" Sai asks as the kitten begins to curl up on his chest, finally relaxed and settled after the long day they must have had.
"Hmmm....how about...." Gen comes to sit on the bed beside Sai. His eyes dance between the two together and realization dawns on him - now that the kitten is dry, it's clear they have messy curly black hair just like a certain someone. This time he doesn't hesitate to voice his idea, if only to see the reaction it'll get. " Sai Jr.~ "
" Huh-?! "
Gen giggles at the reaction, failing to hide his glee behind his hand. "I mean, they're the spitting image of you! They're basically your child! "
"But y-you're the one that's going to t-take care of them," Sai stammers nervously.
"A child can have two parents, you know," Gen puffs out his cheeks, arms crossed and rolling his eyes.
"P-parents!?!?" Sai exclaims low under his breath, quiet enough that Gen almost misses it. Though he doesn't miss how it makes his own heart skip a beat.
" Mewww~ "
Gen picks up the kitten from Sai's chest, snuggling them close before any objections can be voiced. "Aww you like that name lil fella?"
"Gen…."
" Meaww~"
"Sai Jr it is then~" he coos, holding the kitten up and rubbing his nose on theirs with affection.
He doesn't miss how Sai hides most of his face behind the comforter, his warmth besides Gen giving everything away anyways. It's far too adorable to handle. This wasn't how he expected their meeting would go, but…. You're good at picking up strays, dear Sai - maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to care for this little one as well as you have me....
As well as you have my heart....