Work Text:
A late Autumn evening,
Kim Jiwoong was hurrying home after escorting his younger brother to the railway station. He had a black umbrella in his hand as it was drizzling, making the slight cold weather colder. Burying his left hand in his coat pocket he walked as fast as he could.
Just as he was passing by an Alley he heard a cry, it sounded as if a baby was crying. Jiwoong stopped in his track at once. He stood at the entrance of the alley, waiting to hear the sound once again, or preferably to confirm that he had heard wrong in the first place.
But he heard it again, more clearly than the last time and recognized it as the sound of a cat's wimpher. Jiwoong wondered if the cat was severely hurt to cry so badly. And without thinking much he entered the deserted alley.
He saw a grey cat shivering violently and supposedly trying to hide itself behind the dumpster. The little one was so backed up against it as if wanting to become one with it. Jiwoong looked at it with his round conflicted eyes, deciding whether he should take it in. The little being was so small, it most probably was a few months old or so.If he leaves it here, it might…no, no.
"Kitty, come here. I won't harm you." Jiwoong extended his unoccupied hand forward and called for the feline in a soft voice, not wanting to scare it even more. Surprisingly it stopped backing up. Jiwoong racked his brain if he had something on himself to eat but realised he had nothing. Still he tried again in hopes of convincing it.
"Kitty, come with me. I'll give you food". He faintly wondered whether he sounded like a kidnapper, but the cat started stepping towards him so it might have worked.
It came closer and sniffed his extended hand before rubbing its head in his palm. He thought it might be safe to carry it now. Jiwoong picked it up and walked out, holding the cat closer to his chest. He headed towards the nearest medical store and bought all the necessary items he needed to clean it.
-
Upon reaching his apartment, he walked straight to his bathroom and placed it near the sink. He filled the sink with slightly warm water and soap. And as if the cat had sensed already, it tried to flee.
"No dirty kitty is allowed in this house. It's bath time." Lifting it from the floor, Jiwoong slowly lowered it into the sink. The cat flailed around trying to get out of his grip but Jiwoong was not having any of it.
"Oh you're a boy? Be a good boy. I'll give you a treat after." Jiwoong had a smile in his voice. He never knew having a pet could be so fun and it had not even been an hour since he brought him in.
After an intense hour of cleaning and clipping, Jiwoong placed the towled burrito on the couch, took out the first aid kit and began applying ointment on the scratches the little devil had made on his skin while bathing. He looked over to see the cat watching its paw longingly after he had clipped its nails.
"Look kitty I'm hurt too" He showed his arm to the cat, making its ears perk up. Jiwoong's arms had long bloody lines which the cat had made just a few minutes ago. The cat walked out of his towel and started licking his hand, as if trying to apologise.
"Don't lick, I've already put the ointment" Jiwoong placed it on his lap and caressed it's head.
"What should we name you?" Jiwoong looked at it in concentration, as if staring any more harder could help him come up with a name.
Jiwoong noticed how its grey fur, now cleaned, shined in the light 'so bling bling' he thought.
"Ok, your name is Ricky now." (Don't ask me, only this Jiwoong knows how something shiny can be named Ricky)
" My baby, My Ricky you're so cute." Jiwoong cooed.
"Now time for your dinner." Jiwoong got up and rummaged through his bag of fresh purchase, and found that he had forgotten the main thing. The cat food. Wow. Just wow.
He looked back at the cat, who was looking expectantly at him and pretended as if he was not trying to find something in the bag just now. He opened the fridge to look for some milk. And he couldn't believe it, he didn't even have a pack of plain milk!! He checked thoroughly and found a packet of strawberry milk which was likely left by his younger brother.
Jiwoong contemplated going out to buy the supplies but it was already ten.
'Convenience store by the main road must be open' Jiwoong thought to himself and was about to grab his coat again when a brilliant idea struck him. He took his phone out and searched whether it was healthy to give strawberry milk to a cat. And yup, it was, but not in large quantities. A cat can be fed strawberries and strawberry milk won't harm unless given in large quality.
'This should do' Jiwoong poured some milk in a bowl and placed it on the coffee table.
"I promise, I'll buy your food tomorrow. Drink this for now' Jiwoong coaxed the cat as if talking to a toddler. He put Ricky on the table and watched expectantly for his reaction. And to his relief, Ricky seemed to love it. Jiwoong could tell by the way he cleaned the bowl in less than five minutes.
Jiwoong placed him on his lap again. "I think you love it. But kitty can't drink this every day." Jiwoong giggled like a kid who had found his favourite toy.
Jiwoong had already had dinner with his brother so all that was left to do was to sleep. He found a cardboard box lying in his store room and cleaned it, placed several cushions so it would be comfortable for the cat and placed it near the sofa in his bedroom.
"Ricky now it's time to sleep" Jiwoong placed the cat in its box and climbed under his sheets.
4 Months later~
Jiwoong felt like he was being crushed under a rock. He tried to move a little, but something was preventing him. He felt a particular weight around his waist and thighs.
'Ah, so heavy. When did Ricky get so heavy? I'll have to cut his churu consumption,' Jiwoong's sleep-induced mind thought.
When he had brought him home all those months ago, the kitty was so obedient, but just for two days. Then he started climbing on his bed every night. Jiwoong would often wake up with Ricky's tail looped around his arms, while the cat slept peacefully on his chest. And no matter how many times Jiwoong would try to place him back in his litter box, afraid of hurting him in his sleep, the cat would climb back up again. At this point both of them had developed a habit of sleeping together. So once again Jiwoong thought it was his cat. Well he was not totally wrong,no; just partially correct.
"Ricky, get off now or no dinner for five days" He tried to grab the cat blindly but what came into his hand was anything but that. Instead of the furry body of his feline friend, what he gripped was a muscled arm. He released it at once and tried again, a bit more awake than before, but still refusing to open his eyes. And once again what came into his hand was not a furry body but a smooth, muscular arm, which was very human. He let his hand run along the smooth surface thoughtlessly and realised the arm was totally unclothed when he reached the shoulder.
An unclothed arm?! Around his waist?!
Jiwoong's eyes opened at once and he sadly found out that it was not a dream. He was really pinned to the bed with a human body. It was a man, with his arms around his waist and one of his legs under him while another one was on top of his thighs, basically using him as a human pillow. And most importantly, the guy was buck naked.
Jiwoong screamed at once, hastily removing the person's body from top of him and scrambling as far away as he could on his full sized bed.
The commotion probably startled the man because he sat up at once. He looked around confused before halting his gaze at Jiwoong with a worried face "what's wrong?"
"Y-you! Who are you?" Jiwoong asked, pointing a finger at the man.
"Me? Ricky?!" The man asked back, totally puzzled.
"What is this bullshit? Ricky is my cat and first of all can you please cover yourself?" Jiwoong looked away, flustered. You can't blame him, he is not so used to seeing a stranger's dick first thing in the morning.
Ricky looked down curiously, he tried moving his finger slowly, in wonder and when he realised he was making Jiwoong uncomfortable, he quickly covered his manhood with sheets.
"I'm not lying. I'm your cat." Ricky looked straight in his eyes.
Jiwoong looked back with the same intensity, trying to read the stranger's face. He did have cat-like eyes. His hair was grey too. He had two cat ears on his head- Wait Cat Ear?! And was that a tail behind his back?! Oh my god save him.
"Are you really Ricky?" Jiwoong started slowly, unsure.
"Yeah. What must I do to prove it?"
"So are you human or… cat?"
-
It was a chaotic sunday morning. Jiwoong couldn't bring himself to talk properly when he knew the guy in front of him was naked.
He stood up from the bed and made his way to the closet. He took out a new pair of boxers, a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt for 'Ricky' to wear and went out to make breakfast.
Jiwoong was confused, now that Ricky had turned into a human, would he eat normal food like he did or would prefer his old cat food? Thinking that it might be weird he decided to make extra for just in case.
He was just getting finished up when Ricky walked out. And he was… just in sweatpants… which were somewhat short for him, reaching a bit above his ankle.
How the hell did his baby kitty turn into a giant?!!
Jiwoong removed his eyes from his body and turned back to his stove, having a breakdown.
To his absolute horror he felt arms sneaking up to his waist and a body pressing against his back.
'What The Fuck is happening ?! ' Jiwoong was so absolutely shocked he couldn't even react.
He felt Ricky softly press his nose in the crook of his neck. He rubbed the skin slightly, before nipping into the flesh and licked. Jiwoong jumped and pushed him away.
"What are you doing?!" Jiwoong asked with horror filled in his round eyes.
"I was playing" Ricky looked hurt; " You never pushed me before" It looked like was on the verge of tears.
Jiwoong furiously rubbed the spot that was just licked and crocked out "That was before. You can't do things like that now."
"Why?"
He looked so innocent. Jiwoong didn't know how in the world he could explain to him that it was inappropriate for two humans to do that type of thing if they're not in a relationship of that kind. So he didn't. Wrong move though. Watch it make a comeback to bite in his ass.
"I gave you a T-shirt.. Why aren't you wearing it?"
"It's too tight. I couldn't move my hands properly" Ricky calmly answered, sitting on the dining table quietly.
Jiwoong placed the dishes on the table and sat himself down " Can you eat this? Or do you want your usual meal?"
Ricky thought for a bit and took a spoonful of broth in his mouth and spat out instantly " Too spicy! I don't like it".
"What will you eat then?" Jiwoong asked, taking a bite of his own food.
Ricky stood up and went straight to the refrigerator. Jiwoong looked curiously as he took out a pack of strawberry milk and drank it all in one gulp.
"Now you can't stop me from drinking this" Ricky smiled smugly.
"You can't live off of it though," Jiwoong pointed out, having finished his breakfast.
Ricky's victorious smile dropped at once, Jiwoong felt it was evil to laugh at him because of how cute he looked with that pout but couldn't stop himself.
-
Jiwoong took out his laptop and started his research. He found out that, indeed, hybrids exist of both cats and dogs, who change their forms after reaching a certain height in their lives.
"Ricky come here, look at this." Ricky, who was so engrossed in television, stood at once and plopped himself beside Jiwoong on the couch.
"Look, it says here that there are hybrids who can change their forms after reaching a certain age. By the way, how old are you?"
"My human age is nineteen years."
"Wait, I thought you were only a few months old. How can you be so old in human age?" Jiwoong asked surprised.
"I'm already more than a year old though."
We're witnessing Jiwoong and his crap sense of age. He thought the cat was 5 months old when he had found him back then.
"So what will you do now?"
Ricky, whose eyes were fixed at the screen, turned his head to look at him, confused "What will I do?"
"I mean where will you live and all that." When Ricky continued to look at him blank faced, Jiwoong asked in a pitch higher than intended
"You're not planning to live here forever. Are you?"
"Of course. I belong to you. Did you forget your promise of staying forever with me, that night?"
Jiwoong tried to look carefully to find even a hint of mirth in his tone but found none. He can't be serious right? Right?!
And how is it possible that it is just now that he had noticed the proximity between them? Ricky's face was so close that his warm breath was fanning over Jiwoong's lips. He hadn't realised when Ricky placed a palm on his lower back and on top of everything, he was still shirtless!
With a funny feeling in his chest Jiwoong slammed his laptop shut.
"Ok we'll talk about these things later. Let's go shopping, you can't walk around shirtless all day." Seriously he can't be falling for his cat right now.
"But I like it. I like my new body."
"That doesn't mean you'll keep looking at it all day" Jiwoong deadpanned " Anyways, civilised humans wear clothes. Now that you're one and can't turn back, start acting like one."
Before Ricky could protest Jiwoong stood and left for his room. He searched for the largest size he had and found his oversized hoodie, which was so big that he had only worn it a few times while feeling down.
He came out with an intention of giving it to Ricky, who was now lying on the couch, or probably had tried to do that. His legs were slightly dangling off the edge. Well it was given, as it was just big enough for Jiwoong.
On the other hand he found it adorable, how Ricky thought he could still fit in it. It used to be his Kitty's favourite spot, it can't be anymore though, as it looked highly uncomfortable.
Jiwoong cleared his throat to gain his attention.
"Here, wear this. Let's go, I bet you'll love shopping."
Ricky sat up and quickly tried on the hoodie. Jiwoong just looked at him,amazed. It looked better on him as if it were just made for him. Its black colour complemented his pale skin well. It fit him perfectly too, a bit too perfect for his broad shoulders, which seemed to be wider than pacif- what the fuck no, what is he even thinking?
"Let's go"
"Shoes?"
"Here, wear mine" Jiwoong took out an extra pair and handed it to him.
"Uh.."
One look at his predicament and Jiwoong wanted to cry. Ricky's toes were so huge, he couldn't even fit half of his fingers inside.
'Good lord' Jiwoong stared at his feet for so long that one could mistake him for a statue.
"Hyung?"
Jiwoong was snapped out of his train of thoughts. 'Ricky called me hyung?' He felt so touched but it was not the time.
He rummaged through his footwear cabinet and took out his older brother's shoes hesitantly. He was not sure if they would fit him but his brother's feet were larger than his, and it didn't hurt to at least try. Right?
And thankfully it fit him. "Is it comfortable?" Jiwoong asked.
"No."
"Ok, let's go" Jiwoong ignored his response and was about to unlock the door but suddenly remembered something and turned back all of a sudden, causing Ricky, who was closely following behind him, to collide with his chest.
"What's wrong?"
"Your ears and tail. You can't go showing them around like that" Saying that Jiwoong motioned him to lower his head before putting his hoodies on and covering his pretty grey ears.
"About your tail..?"
"I'll hide it in my hoodie too" Jiwoong wondered how he would do it but the closeness between their bodies was getting too much for him to handle. He didn't ask anymore questions and turned back, getting out of his apartment with Ricky closely following behind.
-
After they were done shopping and Ricky had changed into a pair of comfortable shoes, they decided to eat something. As they were waiting for their order to arrive, two familiar faces(to Jiwoong) greeted them.
"Hyung!" They said in unison.
Jiwoong who was initially looking at his phone got startled. He looked up to find Gyuvin and Matthew laughing at him. And beside him Ricky was staring at them suspiciously.
"Hey! Are you two shopping here as well?"
"No, we were finishing up some work around here and decided to grab lunch together," Matthew said, taking a seat beside him.
Jiwoong just nodded.
"Who is this?" Gyuvin asked, taking a seat beside Ricky.
"Ah, I forgot to introduce you guys. This is Ricky, my-" but before he could finish Ricky interrupted him "Boyfriend."
What the hell?! Where did he even learn that?
"Ohhh" Both of the boys were surprised.
Matthew spoke first, "ah that explains the hickey?"
'What a hickey?!' "Where?"
Laughing Matthew pointed out, "here" Jiwoong covered the spot with his palm hastily. Wow, how did he forget to check the bite mark in the mirror earlier? Jiwoong glared at Ricky, who just stared back unapologetically.
Jiwoong was about to give an explanation but was interrupted again, this time by Gyuvin, who was not smiling anymore.
"When did you get him anyway? Didn't you say you won't date anyone at the moment when I asked you the last time."
"No one lets a good opportunity slide. Hyung is a very smart person." Ricky said, leaning into the table and stealing a peck from Jiwoong.
Jiwoong gulped. It looked like he was about to witness a war.
…
"How old are you? You don't even know how to mask your pheromones '' Ricky tensed at Gyuvin's words.
"What-" Ricky was about to ask what he meant but automatically stopped when he got a whiff of Gyuvin's scent.
"A Dog" Ricky snarled.
"Woah… woah, I'm not an enemy. Not until you hurt him". Gyuvin motioned to Jiwoong who was paying at the counter while chatting happily with Matthew, at the moment.
"Learn to control your scent. It's reeking here." Gyuvin patted his shoulder and walked away.
…
It's been a month since they were living together. Jiwoong didn't have the heart to kick Ricky out. And he was so busy most of the time that he didn't have any time left to bother with him. He also tried to purposely stay as far away from him as possible. He would leave early and come back in the middle of the night to avoid bumping into him.
Jiwoong was an actor, no matter how much Ricky wanted to spend time with him, he had to understand, and he did. He really did but it was getting too much. It was hard to even get a glimpse of him now.
It was one of those days Ricky had decided to catch him. He was munching on ice cubes in order to not fall victim to sleep again and ruin his plan.
Jiwoong came back a little tipsy. He saw Ricky on the couch and joined him thoughtlessly.
"My kitty, why did you have to turn into a giant? Ah, I love you so much." Jiwoong slurred, hugging Ricky from the side.
Ricky's breathing hitched, he moved closer to hug him back but quickly covered his nose,
"You smell like that dog." Jiwoong really smelled as if the dog had rubbed his whole body on him.
"What dog?" Jiwoong asked, confused, his nose and cheeks were tinted pink. If he wasn't stinking of that dog, Ricky would've kissed him then and there.
"Gyuvin is a dog. Didn't you know?"
"Ah Gyubinnie is a puppy? He never told me." Jiwoong was pouting like a kid.
"Go. Take a bath now." Only god knows why Ricky thought that Jiwoong would listen to him obediently.
"No, I'm tireddd I'm going to sleep" Jiwoong stood and bolted to his bedroom, tripping here and there on his way. He plopped on his bed and hid himself under the covers. He expected Ricky to follow him, but the hybrid did not. Jiwoong felt miserable " Ha why am I disappointed? It must be soju's fault."
…
He didn't know how much time had passed before the bed dipped and suddenly he was being lifted in someone's arms.
" Ah what are you doing? " Jiwoong asked, voice slurry.
"Let's go take a bath."
"No, let me go. I don't wanna." Jiwoong whined kicking his feet in the air in an attempt to get out of Ricky's embrace.
"You can't smell like anyone but me. Especially not that dog."
And with that Jiwoong was deposited in the bathtub which was filled with warm water.
"At least should've let me take my clothes off" Jiwoong continued to whine, wiping at his face.
Suddenly there was a pair of palm, swiftly undoing his buttons down.
"Aah! I didn't ask you to do it. Get out! I'll bathe myself" Jiwoong was fully awake now.
"Ok" Ricky stood up and left.
-
When Jiwoong came out of the bathroom, he saw Ricky still sitting at the same spot. Jiwoong thought it would be better to talk to him tomorrow and walked towards his bedroom once again.
When he was passing by, Ricky grabbed his wrist and pulled, making Jiwoong sit on his lap.
Ricky looked deeply into his round eyes as if in search of something. Jiwoong just looked back, unable to say anything.
Then he heard something which he was not expecting, but something he definitely had wished to hear while hiding under his sheets late at nights and at waking hours of the day while being thankful no could read his mind to know the little secret he was hiding in his heart.
" I love you hyung."
Jiwoong tried to compose himself, " Of course you do. Every pet loves their owner. I love you too."
"I'm not your pet anymore. I love you as a person."
"What are you talking about Ricky? It can be your dependance on me which is compelling you to say such things."
"No it's not. I'm sure of it. I have loved you since the day you hugged me on that cold autumn evening. It might be weird for you. I'm still partially an animal after all. You don't have to love me back. I'm not asking for it. But please don't ignore me. It hurts me so much. I feel like I die every moment I don't see you."
Jiwoong was too stunned to speak so Ricky continued," The day you told me that these paintings in this home were of butterflies. I wanted to call you by that name. You're my own little butterfly. So pretty, so free. You made me dream. I won't burden you anymore."
Jiwoong was crying at this point, he could not understand anything Ricky said at the end.
"Don't cry. You look irresistible right now" Ricky tried to joke, wiping away his tears tenderly with his thumb.
"I'm sorry Ricky." Jiwoong said when he calmed down a little.
"What are you sorry for?"
"I've liked you for a long time too, but I ignored it thinking it was physical but I can't anymore. I don't think it's physical because you make me feel complete. I didn't even know I was alone before you came into my life." And It was all that was needed.
They can't tell who moved first but they were kissing each other like there was no tomorrow. Jiwoong moved his hand from Ricky's shoulder to his hair and tugged softly around his ears. He didn't expect to receive such an intense reaction from Ricky, who gripped his waist tightly. So hard that it was sure to leave bruises tomorrow.
"Ha, my ears are sensitive," Ricky hissed, pulling away.
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*