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By all means, Fu Yao lived a comfortable and happy life as a pampered house cat. He was the star of both his owner’s eyes – Feng Xin and Mu Qing, a happily married pair. Mu Qing, who’s been with him since he was a kitten, and Feng Xin, who’s strong arms are what Fu Yao longed to cuddle in every day when he came home from work.
Fu Yao had been with Mu Qing ever since Mu Qing rescued him from his asshole of a previous owner. Back then, Mu Qing was a struggling teen, and Fu Yao was accustomed to being his crying ball and cuddly ball of fur – not that he minded that, since Mu Qing treated him way better than his previous owner, and he was content.
But then, Feng Xin appeared. Fights, bickering, and romantically charged tension slowly eased into light teasing, blushing, and a very odd way of flirting. Fu Yao silently cheered them on, knowing how much Mu Qing had gone through. Really, Fu Yao had already approved of this guy, but heavens above had cursed animals not have a voice, so he couldn't really provide any helpful input.
Fu Yao wasn't surprised when Feng Xin awkwardly blurted out his confession and shoved a bouqet of flowers into Mu Qing's face.
Even if he did feel like gouging his eyes out when they made out, Mu Qing was happy. And Fu Yao was too! Feng Xin, by human standards, was attractive, and his muscly arms and broad chest made for the perfect pillow. They didn't make those anywhere else.
They weren't rich - Feng Xin worked for a bodyguard agency, and Mu Qing owned a small boutique with his friend, Shi Qingxuan. However, Fu Yao recieved double love, double treats. Everything multiplied by two, something that his first owner only gave in the form of hurt and pain.
No, everything was perfect.
Keyword: was. Was perfect, until the storm named Nan Feng decided to wreck it.
Feng Xin's bodyguard position allowed him to work with many trained animals. On one fateful day, as he explained to Mu Qing, one of the dogs had been severely injured in a shootout. Feng Xin, who was particularly fond of the dog, decided that he'd take care of him.
Nan Feng, he was a German Shepherd, strong, tall, and obedient. A bit of an opposite to Fu Yao, who was really a small cat, pristine, elegant, and pompous.
Okay, he didn’t hate Nan Feng the moment he came in. Of course, new pets were always the centre of attention for the first few days, so he didn’t mind being shadowed. If anything, Fu Yao was shyer in nature, which made reaching out to the other difficult. So while he did want to interact with Nan Feng, he felt intimidated by his size. He could easily be drowning in Nan Feng’s embrace (if the dog in question ever decided to hug him.) Thus, he kept his distance, trying to gather the courage to talk to him and secretly hoping that Nan Feng would initiate.
Yet, Fu Yao felt as if he were being forgotten. All of a sudden, Feng Xin reached for Nan Feng, only giving him a slight pet on the head. Mu Qing would always coo and pamper the latter, and only give Fu Yao a few kisses (reduced from his average of 20 per day! Yes, Fu Yao keeps count.) Fu Yao was sure they still loved him, but why this sudden distancing? Why this sudden lack of love?
Heck, even E’ming and Ruoye, Hua Cheng (bastard) and Xie Lian’s (bastard's defence attorney, apparently) dogs, who always bullied him, got along with Nan Feng! They all bullied Fu Yao together! (Okay, Nan Feng didn’t but he still hung out with them. Isn't that being a bystander?). Still, Nan Feng would have the audacity to ask him what was wrong. Fu Yao, like any sensible cat, would hiss at him, which led to fights! Guess who got blamed? That’s right, Fu Yao! Not Nan Feng, who had pounced first. Fu Yao got blamed and scolded, as they fretted over Nan Feng's leg.
Feng Xin barely cuddled with him nowadays, but always made time for Nan Feng.
When was the last time Mu Qing knitted him something nice to wear? He had knitted Nan Feng 3 scarves! It wasn't even winter!
Sure, he was injured, and strong, and had many medals, but was that really a reason for this bias? Fu Yao hated to make this comparison, but he felt ignored, Like how his old owner ignored him. He felt lonely, and unwelcome in a house that used to feel like the warmest place on the planet. At least they weren’t starving him… but he still felt sad. Hua cheng and Xie lian were regular guests, so he was also teased regularly by the two dogs ft. Nan Feng. That bastard Hua Cheng would always blame Fu Yao for his pet’s mistakes, and not his own pets. Sure, his owners stood up for him then, but Fu Yao still felt insecure.
Had Fu Yao become so unlovable? He pondered on the thought one rainy afternoon, as he watched the droplets skid down the window. Did they finally tire of his attitude? Would they ever notice if he left?
Fu Yao eyed the cat door, and then looked back in the living room, where the three were watching a movie, Nan Feng seated between them.
A flash of thunder, the skittering sound of tiny paws, and-
Fu Yao ran to the door, pushed it open and left without a single look behind him.
༼⁰o⁰；༽
As the movie ended, Feng Xin stretched with a yawn as he fondly watched Mu Qing, his husband, asleep with Nan Feng. He stroked both of their heads as he stood, covering them with a blanket.
But as he stood to go grab a glass of water, his eyes caught something.
Fu Yao's bed was devoid of said cat.
He frowned. Feng Xin had been taught to notice the small things; it came with his line of work.
"Fu Yao! Here, baby..." He called for the cat, feet moving as he scanned the apartment. "Fu Yao! Fu Yao! I miss you, let me give you a hug..."
No response. Weird. Fu Yao always came by at the prospect of hugs.
Feng Xin was worried now, as he scanned the house, not a sign of Fu Yao in the enclosed walls. He hurried to the couch, shaking mu qing awake.
“Mu Qing...Fu Yao's not here...” Feng xin frantically shook him awake. His husband blinked groggily.
“What do you mean, he’s not here? Silly, he won’t just leave…” He mumbled. But as Feng Xin explained to him how he had checked every nook and cranny of the apartment and there was still no sign of Fu Yao, Mu Qing stood up, alert.
Nan Feng also stood, barking. Mu Qing called out for the feline, his voice bordering onto panic. "Fu Yao! Baby, please come out! We're worried!"
No response. Mu Qing bit his lip, a habit Feng Xin knew was powered by his anxiety.
Nan Feng barked, as they stared at him, perplexed. He sniffed the ground, and nudged his head to the cat door with a bark.
"Oh god, he's trained! He can follow his scent!" Mu Qing said, as they grabbed their umbrellas and followed the dog. The rain would wash away most of the scent, but Nan Feng, again, was trained to have been able to pick up even the slightest trail of scent. He led them through alleys, all while Mu Qing and Feng Xin called out for their cat.
"I noticed a shift in his behaviour. Gods, have we been ignoring him..?" Mu Qing whispered as tears clouded his eyes. “Fu Yao’s been with me through everything… I really, really can't afford to lose him…”
Feng Xin shook his head. “Not just you… we’ll find him, don’t worry.”
Mu Qing was about to say something else, when Nan Feng abruptly stops in front of an alley. Feng Xin's scrunched up his nose, the pungent and sharp scent of garbage and alcohol hitting their nostrils.
Mu Qing lets out a quiet gasp. "Fu Yao...in there?" He asks the dog, who sniffs and nudges towards the alley. Without waiting for them, Nan Feng limps off, Feng Xin calling for him.
༼⁰o⁰；༽
“Fu Yao..?” Nan Feng called out for the cat. He was so stupid, worrying Mu Qing and Feng Xin. Why did he even run away? Nan Feng shook his head and followed the faint trail; his ears perked up as he heard something: a soft, barely audible whine. But Nan Feng was trained to pick up noises akin to this, so he limped towards the source: a small cardboard box. He peeked in, his eyes widening in surprise as he saw the cat – Fu Yao, curled up like a ball. His white fur was soaking, clinging to his skin as the cardboard box beneath him barely holding on thanks to the water.
"Hey, Fu Yao?" he questioned again, using his paw to softly nudge the cat. He looked up, and Nan Feng blinked as he saw something else: a huge gash, staining the underside of his belly red. Fu Yao hissed at him weakly.
“Go away.” he mumbled. Nan Feng growled, bending down so that they were snout to snout.
“No.”
Fu Yao hissed again. Nan Feng scowled. “Feng Xin and Mu Qing are worried sick, come out so they can take you to the vet.”
“...They were worried?” Fu Yao asked softly. Nan Feng frowned, confused.
“What do you mean? You’re their pet, of course they remember you. Stop spouting nonsense and let’s get out of here. I thought you were all prim and pretty, how can you survive here for even a minute?” Nan Feng snorted, and nudged him again.
But Fu Yao didn’t budge. Instead, he looked up at Nan Feng with a look he couldn’t quite decipher. “I know they told you to find me. You don’t have to pretend; I know you don’t like me. Please, leave…”
Nan Feng gaped at him. “W-when did I ever say that…?” he questioned.
Fu Yao shook his head. “Y-you don’t have to say anything… actions speak louder than words, and you always avoid me…” he mumbled, scratching at the base of the cardboard.
“I-i don’t… okay, look, you might think I hate you, but what about Feng Xin and Mu Qing? You don’t hate them and they definitely don’t hate you!” Nan Feng tried to coerce Fu Yao out of the box.
“They probably do… after all, it seems like the only person important to them is you, and I am just non-existent…” Fu Yao spoke softly, his eyes not quite making contact with Nan Feng's. The latter was only more dumbfounded by Fu Yao's words, wondering why he didn't just speak upfront.
“If you weren’t significant, would they have come looking for you in this shitty weather? I think not.” Nan Feng argued back, feeling his patience wear thin.
Fu Yao couldn’t argue with that, but it’s not like Nan Feng ever had to go through what Fu Yao went through.
“Obligation, maybe… they probably felt like I was a responsibility, an unwanted one at that, because they never have time for me, but can always make some for you!” Fu Yao hissed.
Nan Feng snapped, barking louder. “Shut up and get to the point! Why won’t you come back?!”
“I'm just not good enough for them! You're the best dog, the strongest, fearless, hero, and I'm the bratty, pompous, annoying, Fu Yao!" He spit, his voice shrill as he continued. “Feng Xin and Mu Qing always do anything for you. Suddenly, I'm forgotten, recieveing next to no cuddles, less kisses, and less attention! Call me a brat, tell me that I am selfish and egoistical, but you can’t deny it!” His voice was shaky.
Nan Feng took a deep breath as a sudden thought registered in his brain.
was Fu Yao…
…Insecure?
He crouched down, and touched his paw to Fu Yao's own. “I’m…sorry…”
Nan Feng sighed and continued. “My intention was never to make you feel this way. I really didn’t know that the way they were treating me made you feel insecure." He frowned, “I'm still positive Feng Xin and Mu Qing don't hate you, but get this: I don’t hate you, either. You were just so closed-off and distant, that even when I wanted to talk, I couldn’t. When I asked if you were okay, you hissed at me… and my anger got the better of me…” Nan Feng mumbled.
Fu Yao looked away. “What about E'ming and Ruoye? They taunt me, but you kept hanging out with them…” His voice was shaky, still. Nan Feng rubbed his paw soothingly over Fu Yao's.
“I asked them, but they changed the topic…” he said.
Fu Yao sighed. He crawled forward, wincing, as Nan Feng watched. “I’m sorry for shouting at you..” He apologized to the dog.
Nan Feng shook his head. “Don’t. just come out, so that we can take you to the vet.”
Fu Yao froze. “B-but what if they both h-hate me…?” He choked out. Nan Feng reassured him,
“They surely wouldn’t harbour such a strong sentiment towards you. Don’t fret, okay?”
Together, they walked/limped out.
༼⁰o⁰；༽
Mu Qing waited anxiously as he heard some barks in the alley. Feng Xin had told him to hold back, but he couldn’t help it. He also felt like an asshole to Fu Yao, as he recalled the way he had treated him after nan feng’s arrival. Mu Qing had been so preoccupied with Nan Feng; settling him in, making him comfortable, that Fu Yao… had been ignored. There was no excuse; he was truly at fault.
He gasped as Nan Feng appeared out of the shadows, with a snow-white cat in tow. Mu Qing rushed towards Fu Yao, picking him up and snuggling with him.
“Oh, my baby…” he sniffled. “Please, forgive me for not paying attention to you… Never again, okay?”
However, another thing caught his…nose. The stench of…rot and blood. He gasped as he saw a large gash on Fu Yao’s underbelly. “God...”
Feng Xin took him from Mu Qing's arms, examining the injury. He winced audibly, carressing Fu Yao's fur. “Oh baby, after we get you checked, I'm giving you a thousand cuddles…”
Fu Yao nuzzled against him, and when he was taken back by Mu Qing, he cuddled against him, too. He looked down at Nan Feng, as the German Shepherd's tail wagged.
Did cats have the ability to blush?
He hoped not.
Regardless, he was happy and relieved that Mu Qing and Feng Xin didn’t hate him. It was obviously wrong of him to think this way about them, but still.
He smiled back at Nan Feng.
༼⁰o⁰；༽
A few months later, Feng Xin and Mu Qing smiled as they watched their two pets, Nan Feng and Fu Yao, curled up together. Fu Yao being protected by the former's larger size, Nan Feng's tail acting as a blanket as it still wagged softly.
Mu Qing raised his phone and snapped a memory for them to remember.