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He was being followed.
Spock stopped in the middle of the bustling marketplace, ignoring the annoyed mutterings of the other patrons, and concentrated. His ears didn't pick up anything unusual, nor did he spot a likely stalker but that didn't mean he was wrong. Grabbing the bag with the groceries in one hand, Spock chose the fastest route to leave the marketplace, turning into a side street with few pedestrians and stopping in the middle of the pavement. Decades ago, when Spock had first come to Earth, a casually dressed Vulcan would have drawn many stares but ever since more species had decided to visit the home of the Federation, the novelty of seeing an alien in trousers and a sweatshirt had worn off. No one bothered him as he waited motionless for a sign of his stalker. Minutes passed, and Spock was almost ready to believe he had been wrong when he picked up a faint noise he had unconsciously registered before. While he couldn't place it, Spock was certain he had previously heard it somewhere else. Shifting the grocery bag to his left hand, Spock entered the alleyway between two houses, moving as quietly as possible so as not to alert whoever had been following him.
"Don't do anything foolish while I'm away, sweetheart." Jim's parting words echoed through Spock's mind, reminding him of the recklessness of his actions. An enamored cadet could just as easily hide behind the bins as an assassin, but it was too late to turn back now. Bracing himself for a possible assault, Spock stepped around the bins… and came face to face with a dirty wall.
Frowning, he turned in a slow circle, wondering if someone had managed to build a portable cloaking device when a high-pitched but quiet scream got his attention. A tiny ball of black fur emerged from between the bins, green eyes looking up at him expectantly as it meowed again. Warmth rushed to Spock's face upon realizing the identity of his mysterious stalker even as he crouched down in front of the cat.
He waited patiently, keeping his posture relaxed and non-threatening, waiting for the animal to make the next move. For some reason, Earth cats took to him easily - much to his husband's chagrin as they usually ignored him - and this one wasn't an exception. After a few seconds of careful consideration, the cat walked over to Spock, rubbing its head against his hand. No, her head, Spock corrected himself, focusing on the impressions he was receiving from the cat. As far as he could tell she was all by herself with no idea how she had ended up in San Francisco. Spock frowned, wondering if someone had abandoned her. It wouldn't be the first time a cadet left their pets behind to go on their first space mission. The surge of anger at such irresponsible behavior vanished at an insistent meow, large eyes looking expectantly at the bag of groceries and then at Spock.
"I am sorry, I do not think anything in there would be to your taste." Spock's lips twitched minutely at the twitching of pointed ears, accompanied by an asking meow.
"I am sure we will find you something edible." Spock scooped up the small cat, unsurprised when she jumped the short distance to settle on his shoulder, tiny claws digging into the fabric of the jumper.
"I wonder if you will be as compliant when I take you to the veterinarian." The cat cocked her head, blinking slowly up at him in reply. "I guess, I will find out soon enough," Spock amended, moving back out of the alleyway, one hand placed on the cat's back.
Spock wasn't surprised at the curious stares he received upon re-entering the marketplace with his new companion, but the delighted squeals of some passersby made his eyebrows twitch. They became even louder and more numerous when Spock allowed the butcher to feed his cat while he selected a small variety of meat for her. If she didn't like it - or the veterinarian suggested replicated food - Spock would just leave it for his husband to eat.
"We are done here," Spock said as much to the cat as to the butcher, closing the cool bag with his purchases and turning in the direction of the main road.
"Do not run away!" Spock warned his cat when she shifted on his shoulder, grabbing the gruff at her nape and holding her to his chest, raising the hand holding the bags to hail a cab.
The cab driver did a double take at his passengers but promptly focused back on the road after Spock had stated their destination. "I hope you've got something to bribe her in that bag of yours, my daughter's kittens are always in a huff after a visit to the doctor."
"I am sure she will understand the necessity of a thorough examination." Spock gently carded his fingers through the matted fur, making a mental note to insist on a cleaning session at the veterinarian's.
The amused eyes of the cab driver met his in the rear mirror. "First-time cat owner, huh?"
Spock opened his mouth to inform her that the cat wasn't his, but then decided against it, making a vague motion with his head instead, leaving it to the driver to interpret it as she liked.
"You're in for some surprises." The driver winked at him, but then thankfully focused back on the road, leaving Spock to focus on the dozing cat in his lap. He could only hope she would be as tranquil during her appointment.
OOO
The hissing and loud voices raised Spock from his contemplations of what a cat would need to be comfortable in their apartment. He confirmed his last purchase on his PADD, rising to his feet just as the door to the doctor's office opened. A stressed-looking assistant carried a transport box, containing a decidedly unhappy cat.
"She is healthy, she can't have lived in the streets for long. We gave her all the necessary shots, cleaned her and checked for an identity chip but we couldn't find any." The assistant flinched at an angry hiss from within the transport box. "I urge you to be cautious when you let her back out, she might scratch you. That is if you want to take her home, you can also leave her with us, and we will arrange for her to be brought to a shelter for adoption."
"Thank you, but that will not be necessary." Spock took the box from the assistant, ignoring the sharp intake of breath when he opened the door. Whatever he had feared though didn't come to pass, the cat hissed one more time before stepping out of the box and jumping up on Spock's shoulder.
"How…?"
"No one likes to be confined to a small space," Spock explained, scratching the cat behind her ears, her fur much softer after a thorough cleaning. "If there is nothing else…"
"No, it's all taken care of," the assistant hurried to assure him.
"Then we will be on our way." Spock inclined his head, leaving the transport box behind as he left the doctor's office.
"If all goes according to plan, you will find a few surprises waiting for you at home," Spock informed his cat, receiving a lazy blink and a yawn in return. "I think you will appreciate the bed I got for you." Spock had given it much thought, and finally decided on a rather simple but comfortable looking model; he couldn't wait for his cat to curl up in it.
OOO
"Really?" Spock raised an eyebrow at the cat, happily sitting in a cardboard box. "It is highly illogical to choose such an inadequate place to rest when I bought you a very comfortable bed, Zerin." Small ears twitched at the name, and Spock paused momentarily. He hadn't actively thought about a name for the cat, it had simply slipped out, and now he couldn't think of a more fitting one. "Zerin means onyx dream in Vulcan," Spock explained to the cat, carding his fingers through the soft, black fur. "It suits you very well."
Zerin purred, turning onto her back, radiating pure contentment when Spock stroked her belly. "I take that as your approval." With a last pet, Spock turned back to all the delivery boxes he had yet to open. "I hope you might still reconsider your choice of a sleeping space."
Zerin meowed noncommittally in reply.
OOO
"Finally!"
Kirk pushed the door to the apartment open with his shoulder, dragging the suitcase behind him. Interplanetary travel wasn't as much fun when you had to go through the official traffic channels. He could have been home hours ago if he had been allowed to beam directly down instead of getting re-routed through New Zealand and having to take a shuttle to San Francisco. But now, he was home, and judging by the feelings he received from the bond, Spock was as well.
Pocking at his side of the bond, Kirk got a sense of deep, warm contentment that he had come to associate with Spock sleeping. A soft smile pulled at Kirk's lips, imagining his husband had fallen asleep on the couch again after working through the night. He placed his suitcase quietly against the wall, tiptoeing into the living-room. Or at least that had been his plan until he stepped onto something squishy that made a loud squeaky sound.
"What the hell?" Kirk cursed, staring at the red plush fish on the floor.
"Ashayam?" The sleep-heavy voice of his husband called out to him, and Kirk decided to leave the mystery of the toy for another time.
"Hello, sweetheart," Kirk skipped into the living room and to the couch, "did you miss… me?" Kirk gaped, staring at his husband, clad in his comfortable meditation robes, lying on the couch… and stroking a cat. "Since when do we have a cat?" Kirk stared at the animal slumbering peacefully on Spock's chest.
"Since Zerin followed me at the marketplace and jumped onto my shoulder," Spock informed him, his fingers never stopping in their petting.
"Right, of course." Kirk nodded slowly, perching on the edge of the couch to peer more closely at the cat. "So, you logically decided to adopt her." He was still a bit thrown by the development but he could already see why Spock had taken a liking to Zerin - she was as cute as a cat could be. Kirk just hoped she would allow him to pet her, too.
"I think it would be more accurate to say that Zerin adopted me," Spock said, a private little smile on his lips when the cat lifted her head, looking up at Kirk with curious green eyes.
"I see," Kirk slowly moved his hand, placing it on top of Spock's and stroking a finger through the soft fur. "She's got excellent taste, then."
Zerin meowed in agreement.