Chapter Text
“Easy there,” Hange softly called out to the feisty ball of fur kicking up a storm in her hands.
Tonight was supposed to be like any other night: bust her ass at the clinic for thirteen hours straight, take the regular route home past the parkette to her ratty apartment building, heat up her frozen chicken parm, and pass out on her sofa bed with trashy reality TV playing in the background. The city was quieter at this hour, the hustle and bustle of the day replaced by a serene stillness. The gentle patter of rain on her umbrella was the only sound accompanying her footsteps until a series of yowls from the parkette interrupted her routine.
After carefully pushing aside branches, her phone’s flashlight cutting through the darkness, she spotted a small, black kitten trapped in one of her traps. Damn. She’d been so busy at the clinic that she’d forgotten to monitor the traps, so who knows how long the little guy had been locked inside. She really should’ve gotten Nifa to look over TNR today.
“Shh, it’ll be alright.” Hange winced as a particularly sharp claw raked her hand, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she used her free hand to gently grasp the scruff of the kitten's neck, immobilizing it just enough to get a closer look, ignoring his continued protests. The poor thing’s shiny black coat was covered in multiple scratches and barely healed wounds. One of which on his leg wasn’t completely healed yet and was covered in patches of matted fur.
The rain had picked up slightly, the gentle patter turning into a steady drizzle, but Hange paid it no mind, her focus entirely on the tiny, fragile creature in her arms. Its fur bristled, its little body shivering with fight and gray-blue eyes locked onto hers, dilating with fear. She leaned closer, trying to gauge its age and whether it was weaned or still needing a mother cat's care. As she did, she let out an involuntary squeal.
"I've been looking for you since forever! You really thought you could get away from me, huh?" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. The kitten froze, its tiny chest heaving with rapid breaths.
Hange chuckled. "You and I are gonna have so much fun."
-
“Welcome to Casa Zoe, we hope you enjoy your stay here!” Hange announced to her new furry roommate, currently wrapped in her knit scarf, its growls and swipes muffled by the thick yarn. “¡Mi casa es su casa!”
Hange had been setting up traps for a couple of years now, with her apartment located in a convenient hotspot for kitten season. She was familiar with the regulars that roamed the park but still liked to keep a few traps around just in case any new members joined the pack or for the occasional indoor cat that snuck out and needed help getting home.
Speaking of which, this little fella must be the new kid on the block. She’d spotted him on CCTV, brawling with the adults of the pack. Despite his small size, he could hold his own against opponents twice his size. He also seemed a lot smarter than the typical kitten, always avoiding her traps and opting to fight other cats for their share of the food instead of stepping one paw inside the cage, no matter how many times Hange had stocked up with the tastiest wet food money could get.
But it was just her luck that today’s bad weather had driven him to seek extra sustenance. Scratch that—it was also the kitty’s luck. Instead of scrounging on the streets and fighting for a morsel of food, a beautiful life now awaited him in her apartment.
“Well, kitty, I hope you’re ready for a life of luxury because you just struck gold crashing into my apartment!” Just like in The Lion King, she held up the scarf-clad kitten to take in the sights of his new foster home. However, instead of Simba's wide-eyed look of wonder at his new kingdom, the kitten fell silent and stopped resisting. As Hange glanced at him, she could almost see the judgment in his eyes as he surveyed the apartment.
The kitten’s gaze swept over the four square walls that made up Hange’s living space. Piles of papers and books covered the coffee table, an assortment of mismatched shoes lay scattered near the door, and laundry, dirty and clean, overflowed from a basket on the sofa bed or piles on the floor. The kitchen sink was stacked with dishes, and various office supplies were strewn about. Hange swore she could have seen the little guy tilting his head at the state of her apartment, almost in disbelief that somebody could live like this.
Alright. Her job doesn’t exactly allow for a great work-life balance, and there are times when she slacks off on chores and cooking, but the place was still livable and there were no roaches or rodents partying around. And she certainly didn’t need a friggin' cat to judge her living conditions.
“Don’t look at me like that,” she said, giving the kitten a wry smile. “I know it’s a mess, but we’ll make it work.”
The kitten's eyes narrowed, almost making Hange laugh at his audacity. "I know, it may seem like a lot to take in right now," she said, addressing the unspoken skepticism in the kitten's eyes. "But trust me, it’s not safe for you to be outside now. I just wanna make sure you’re okay."
First order of business was to get him cleaned up but as soon as she put the feline down, he made a beeline for her sofa bed and hid under it. “Nice hiding spot you got here, little buddy. But I’m just gonna need you…” She gently reached in and managed to scruff him, pulling him out carefully. “Gotcha!” He wriggled and hissed, but she held him securely, continuing to murmur soothing words.
“Hold on, I’m just trying to get you clean.” Upon hearing those words, the kitten stopped resisting, almost like it understood what she just said. See, one of the things Hange loved most about cats was their uncanny ability to understand their humans. All the scratches, all the hissing, all the allergy reactions, and property destruction from them made her job worth it.
With a basin of warm water and the bottle of Dawn at the ready, she placed the slightly trembling but no longer resistant kitten on the towel-covered counter.
“It’s bath time, big boy,” she said, dipping the soft brush in soapy water. She carefully worked the brush into his fur, starting at his back and moving gently to his tiny paws. The kitten initially flinched at the touch, but the warmth and Hange’s experienced hands gradually soothed him. She rinsed the soap away with clean water, making sure to avoid his face and ears.
“You’re doing great,” Hange murmured, smiling as she continued to wash away the grime.
Now it was time to clean the wound on his leg. The kitten hissed and scrambled to get away, but she kept a gentle yet firm hold on him, her hands steady and practiced. “Shh, it’s okay,” she whispered. “I know it hurts, but we need to clean it so it can heal properly.”
Once the wound was clean, she applied the antiseptic spray. The kitten flinched and yowled, but Hange quickly followed up with a gentle pat, trying to soothe him. “There, all done,” she said, wrapping the kitten in a warm, dry towel. “You’re a brave little guy.”
With the kitten now clean and somewhat calmed, Hange began to massage his back and shoulders with her fingers, using slow, circular motions. His tiny body gradually relaxed under her touch, his eyes drooping as the tension melted away.
“Just a little more,” she said softly, continuing the massage while she prepared to bandage his leg. She placed a piece of sterile gauze over the wound, making sure it was positioned correctly to protect the area.
“There we go,” she said, finishing the bandage with a gentle pat. “All done. You’ve been such a brave little boy.”
She carried him to a cozy corner of the living room, where she had set up a small, warm bed with a soft blanket. As she placed him down, he looked up at her with wide eyes, the skepticism slowly giving way to a tentative trust.
“You’re going to be just fine. Welcome to your new home.”
–
“Oh my god, he’s so CUTE!” Nifa squealed as she zipped open the bright yellow carrier holding the clinic’s latest prisoner. “I just wanna kiss that button nose of his!”
“He’s a tough little guy,” Hange grinned. “Had a rough night, but he’s doing better.”
The tough little guy in question had pressed himself against the gauzy walls of his prison, hissing at Nifa’s wandering hands.
“Be careful Nifa, he’s still quite feral.”
Nifa playfully scoffed. “You don’t need to tell me, Hans. Your hands look like you got into a fight with a butcher knife.”
Hange glanced down at the multitude of scratches criss crossing her hands. The morning was off to a bad start when she woke up to her roommate shrieking in her ear and slapping her face, demanding to be fed. But as soon as she prepared his breakfast, the little guy refused to take a single bite. She tried to put a bit on her finger to entice him but he plopped himself at the front door and began scratching at it. That’s when Hange decided a visit to her clinic was needed. Don’t even get her started on trying to stuff him in the carrier.
“He’s not food motivated,” she explained. “And I’ve even tried Churus as well. He’ll be our hardest resident yet.” The kitten screeched louder this time. “Guess he heard that, didn’t ya?”
“Ooh, a spicy cat? You know what that means right?” Nifa snapped on her mitts and prepared a large blanket. “Gabapentin?”
Hange nodded. “Yep. Give him to Moblit ’cause I have a surgery booked in fifteen. I’ll take a look after that.” As she turned to leave, the kitten howled out for her, a heartbreaking sound that made her stop in her tracks.
“Aww, my sweet baby boy!” Hange spun around, rushing back to the carrier. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon. You’re in good hands with Uncle Moblit!” She gave the kitten a dramatic, reassuring pat, her voice dripping with exaggerated affection. “Be brave, my little warrior!”
Nifa rolled her eyes. “Seriously, Hans?”
Hange winked. “Just making sure he knows he’s loved.”
–
While the Gabapentin did help in culling her roommate’s temper, that didn’t stop him from nipping at Moblit’s hands. Still, Moblit got off unscathed compared to the hell he put Hange through as retribution for abandoning him. Perhaps she should follow in Nifa’s footsteps and always carry mitts when dealing with ferals. But that was worth it considering Moblit declared him with a clean bill of health despite his numerous battle scars from being a stray. Moblit’s findings also revealed a lot of other things too.
“Our little fella wasn’t so little after all,” Hange smiled at the angry burrito in her arms. Deeming him to be a flight risk, Hange swiftly wrapped him in a cotton towel, the kitty’s grumpy battered face being the only thing peeking out from the cloth. “You’ve been a grown man this whole time!” His eyes glared out, clearly wanting to attack her but the burrito wrap effectively immobilized him.
“He’s small for his age but is about three to five years old,” (“Practically, a grown man!”) “So I’m not sure if socialization can be done,” Moblit said. “But we can schedule a neuter surgery and then release him.”
Hange felt the cat tense up in her arms and a low growl emerged from his throat.
Moblit chuckled, not intimidated by the cat's fierce reaction. “Easy, little man. It’s for your own good, I promise.” He patted his head but the cat was having none of it. Despite being snugly wrapped in the towel, he fussed and wriggled, his little head darting forward in an attempt to bite at Moblit's hand. His tiny, sharp teeth clicked together just inches away from Moblit’s fingers.
“Looks like you’ve made an enemy here,” Hange giggled and shook her head. “But I say we delay all invasive procedures until his leg heals up. Plus, with how he reacted to Gab, we need to test out which sedation will work well for him. I have a feeling this guy’s not the type to give up so easily.” Upon hearing those words, his wide glaring eyes slowly returned to normal size and his little body relaxed more into the wrap.
“Guess he likes you now, Hange. Even if he’s too proud to admit it,” Moblit noted. “And that’s good because all our kennels are at maximum capacity so he’ll be your roommate for a lot longer.”
The cat had no idea what was in store for him.
–
“There we go, that’s my good boy!” Tonight was so much better; he only hissed at her twice and scratched her once when she re-bandaged his leg. Progress was progress, she thought with a satisfied smile. As soon as Hange finished taping over the cat’s leg, he wriggled with nervous energy and was about to jump off her counter. She deftly got a hold of him just in time. He fussed again, a series of growls escaping his tiny mouth, but this time, he didn’t try to bite her.
“I know, I know. I’m a horrible foster mommy,” Hange chuckled, holding him securely. “But your leg hasn’t healed enough for you to be jumping off the walls yet.”
He squirmed a little, his gaze darting around the room as if seeking an escape route, but her hands remained gentle yet firm, fingers stroking his sleek black fur to calm him. His struggles gradually lessened, and he let out a tiny, defeated sigh, resting his head against her shoulder.
“There we go, that’s better,” she murmured, planting a light kiss on the top of his head. “You need to take it easy, okay? Just for a little while longer.”
She set him down on the padded area she had prepared in a corner, making sure he was comfortable before stepping back. The cat gave her a reproachful look but settled down, clearly understanding that he wasn’t going to win this battle.
“Alright, now that’s settled,” Hange rubbed her hands. “Now we give you a name because I can’t keep calling you little guy, buddy, or kitty, anymore. I’m a master at cat names so how about… Sir Hiss-a-Lot? No? Not a fan, huh? Then maybe Grumplestiltskin? Get it? ’Cause you’re so grumpy? Okay fine, not that either.”
The cat narrowed his eyes, clearly unimpressed with her suggestions. "Alright, how about Captain Crankypants?" She grinned, watching for any sign of approval. The cat turned his head away, flicking his tail in disdain.
She sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "You're a tough one to please, you know that?" The cat simply blinked at her, unimpressed.
Just then, he got up and strutted over to her overflowing laundry basket, climbing up to perch on the edge. He pawed at a pair of jeans on top, his tiny claws snagging the fabric. Hange raised an eyebrow, watching him curiously.
"You want me to call you Jean?" It looked like he rolled his eyes at her before jabbing at the jean’s waistband with a determined paw.
When Hange walked over to take a closer look. The kitten was pointing directly at the tag on the jeans. She squinted, then her eyes widened as she read the label. "Levi's," a knowing smile spread across her face. "You want to be called Levi?"
The kitten meowed, a sound that almost resembled a sigh of relief. Hange chuckled, reaching out to scratch him behind the ears. "Alright then, Levi it is. It suits you. A grumpy old name for a grumpy old cat."
–
The chances for Levi to be socialized enough to be adopted were slim at his age but Hange liked a challenge. He had already proven himself with how placid he was during bath time and he had the capacity to communicate with humans so she knew it was possible. That led to her gathering all her toys and preparing for a fun-filled evening, eager to see which ones Levi would take to. Unfortunately for her, Levi seemed unimpressed by all her efforts.
First, she brought out a feather wand, waving it enticingly in front of him. "Come on, Levi! Look at the pretty feathers!" she coaxed, flicking the wand back and forth. Levi glanced at the feathers with mild interest, then turned away, settling down on his blanket.
Next, Hange tried a small ball with a bell inside, rolling it across the floor. "How about this one? It's got a bell!" she exclaimed, giving it an extra nudge. The jingling sound filled the room, but Levi simply watched it roll by without making a move, his expression one of sheer indifference.
Undeterred, Hange pulled out a laser pointer. "Alright, this one's a classic. No cat can resist the red dot!" She aimed the laser at the floor, moving it in erratic patterns. Levi's eyes followed the dot for a moment, but then he yawned and stretched, clearly uninterested in the chase.
She then tried a crinkly tunnel, shaking it to create enticing noises. "Levi, check this out! It's fun and makes cool sounds!" She placed the tunnel in the middle of the room, but Levi just sniffed it once before walking around it, as if the tunnel didn’t even exist.
Hange even attempted to engage him with a catnip-filled mouse toy. "This one’s got catnip! You have to like this, right?" She tossed the toy near him, expecting an excited reaction. Instead, Levi sniffed the mouse, sneezed, and then walked away, leaving the toy untouched.
Finally, she sat down on the floor with a cardboard box, cutting holes in the sides and dangling strings through them. "How about a good old-fashioned box fort? Everyone loves a box fort!" She peeked through one of the holes, wiggling a string enticingly. Levi peeked inside, seemingly intrigued for a brief second, but then he sauntered off, more interested in finding a cozy spot to curl up.
Exasperated, Hange flopped down on the floor, watching as Levi found a sunbeam streaming through the window and settled into it for a nap. She sighed, shaking her head. "Well, Levi, it seems like you're not a fan of any of these games. What do you like, huh?"
Levi lifted his head slightly, giving her a languid look before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep. Hange softly laughed, realizing that her new companion had his own agenda. "Alright, I get it. We'll play by your rules. Nap time it is."
She made a mental note to add “Likes napping over playing” to his adoption bio.