Work Text:
Jake struts across the kitchen table in such a ‘Jake’ type fashion that Steven laughs so much he forgets to care that cat hair is now in his cereal bowl. And that cat Jake’s little muzzle is dripping with milk.
“ Oi, you little cunt. Get off.” Steven drops the black cat off the table and giggles when Jake bounces when meeting the floor.” Milks no good for cats your age. Go eat the slop we bought you, least that’s recommended by professionals.”
Jake meows quietly. Since they all learned that turning Jake back would take longer then needed- courtesy of their run in with a rouge avatar of Heka’s- Jake hasn’t spoken much. Of course he can’t speak at all, but all noises that cats could make have been limited to only squeaks and rare meows. Something that makes it hard for Marc or Steven to understand their thirds emotions.
Which, to be fair, they never really did in the first place. This situation isn’t that much of a kink in their lives, the only thing that’s changed is that Jake sleeps more than he usually does and drinks a lot more milk.
And he’s hairier.
Not that different…but enough for Steven to be uncomfortable by the change in routine.
“ Does that mean you’re not hungry?” Steven checks to make sure Jake isn’t in the way before pushing back his chair. He dumps out the cereal bowl and watches the milk and cat hair swirl down the drain in a little daze. “ Or are you just restless?”
Jake squeaks. The little cat sits by his alters feet and waits patiently for the human to stop swaying, a small fog disappearing from their brown eyes.
Marc blinks and looks down at Jake.” Well good morning.”
Jake meows back and tilts his head, questioning Marc without actually saying anything.
“ Don’t know. Probably just tired…” Marc rubs his eyes as if he just woke up- he definitely did- and picks up a clean bowl in their sink.” He stayed up late last night talking with Khonshu…Think it wasn’t the best decision, fucking with his sleep schedule.”
Marc smiles as Jake follows him around the kitchen. He prepares a bowl of cereal- smart enough to keep it nearby so that Jake doesn’t ruin it- and turns on the coffee maker.
“ What are we doing today?” Marc sighs. He takes a bite of cereal while studying their outdated calander.” No day off?”
Marc huffs. He looks down at Jake and shrugs his shoulders.” Guess our fall break days are over.”
Jake doesn’t make a sound. He rubs his little head against Marc’s leg and then scampers off into the apartment, hiding somewhere Marc or Steven will likely never find him.
Marc watches him go, the coffee machine beeping behind him.
“ That’s tough.” Marc doesn’t wait for the coffee to cool before taking a sip, actually enjoying the scalding heat that warms his mouth. The London weather hasn’t been too kind to him lately, and the air has started to thin and turn cold. The dreaded first signs of winter.
“ Hope you washed my jacket last, Steven. Need something warm to wear to work today.” Marc brings his coffee with him on the hunt for his clothes. Steven stirs a bit to nudge him but sinks back into their mind to sleep without a word.
Marc takes a big sip and sets aside his drink.” So is that a no, or…?”
Steven doesn’t reply, and Marc grumbles when he finds his jacket wrinkled and stiff at the bottom of the laundry basket. No doubt a result of Jake’s poor clothes washing skills and his tendency to wait long enough until Marc or Steven fold the clothes for him. Gods know how long the laundry would sit there to stew before Jake finally decided to fold it all.
Which would be never.
“ Lucky you’re cute and that I don’t kick cats.” Marc shoves one arm into the jacket, cringing when the sleeves crinkle around him.” Otherwise I’d punt you over the moon, Lockley.”
A small squeak under the bed is the only reply Marc gets, and he laughs at it.
“ Whatever. Don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone, Layla said she’d get here around twelve.” Marc looks at his wrist watch.” Which is in about two hours. You have food and water and I’ll turn the tv on. If you get really bored- I’m sure Khonshu will pop in at some point.”
Jake’s sleek body sides out from under the bed. Marc can hear his claws ‘tip-tapping’ across the wooden floor and turns around to squat before the cat.
“ We’ll see you after work. Won’t be long.” Marc scratches under Jake’s chin and then quickly runs a hand down the others back before springing up. He swipes the remote off their kitchen table and turns the tv onto whatever channel. The remote is left behind on the couch on Marc’s walk to the door, convenient enough for Jake to change the channel if he wanted to.
With his nose? Or paws? Or something…Marc didn’t have time to figure that out.
“ Gotta go or else Steven will get fired…again?” He slings their bag over his shoulder and salutes Jake on his journey out the door.
“ Until laters-“
Jake meows.