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Minho’s routine for the better part of the last year remained consistent. Go to work, come home and do what needs to be done to survive and really nothing more. He had fallen into a funk. He wasn’t particularly depressed, but there comes a season in life where these things just happen. All of his friends were busy office workers, parents or still in college. No one ever had time to get together because what precious time they did have was spent recovering from the daily grind.
There was one bright spot in his life, however. A stray cat, if he could even be called that anymore, that always stuck around him. The little black and white tuxedo cat followed him just about everywhere. The grocery store and his work were within walking distance and the little cat always trailed behind. He was also always waiting for him every day as he left the building. It was cute. Even when Minho would sit on the porch at night, the cat would join him. It was nice having company every night. A relief from the drawn-out days spent staring at a computer screen long enough to where the numbers and words eventually lost all their meaning. The cat may have also continued to come back time and time again because from day one Minho fed him, the thing they always warn you to never do with strays. Most nights it was scraps for dinner and sometimes when he had the extra money he’d spring for a can of shredded chicken.
Tonight was different, his favorite companion wasn’t around. Even with the food set out, he didn’t come. It was strange not seeing his cute face. So strange it became almost weirdly painful. Most people would find it silly that Minho was upset over a stray cat not visiting his porch. He worried something may have happened. It became a debate with himself of whether he should go looking or not. It had started to storm as well. Minho hoped the sweet kitty was somewhere safe.
As Minho went to walk inside, he saw two little white paws peeking out from beneath the bush on the side of the house. It was a relief to know the cat was still around. Minho walked through the rain and pushed aside the branches to check on the little guy. His furry friend looked up with his perfectly round yellow eyes as if he were pleading for help. The pitiful mewl confirmed it. Minho looked the cat over, careful not to touch it in any way that could anger it. It was a stray after all. As he got closer, Minho noticed the tips of his ears had flattened, he was not happy.
“Can I pick you up?” Minho asked, bringing his hand closer again. When it wasn’t swatted away Minho carefully put his arms around the cat and lifted it to his chest. The cat cried out in pain but didn’t attack. Minho took this as a sign to get out of the rain and into the house as quickly as possible.
Minho set up a pillow as a makeshift cat bed and even grabbed him a towel as a blanket. After setting a dish of water by the cat's head Minho got on his phone to search for 24-hour vet services. It looked as if it may have had a broken leg by the way he was guarding it. The cat may not have been his but he felt responsible for him. He knew Minho’s house was a safe place to be obviously if that’s where he came after being injured. What kind of horrible person would do absolutely nothing with that information?
After finding a place that would take them, Minho picked up the entire pillow and put it in the passenger seat of his car, “We are going to get you taken care of, ok?” As if he understood the cat meowed back.
As suspected the cat had broken a few bones in the front right leg. Nothing major, it was really just hairline fractures but the soft tissue damage from whatever impact caused this was probably more painful than the fractures themselves. The vet tech fixed a splint on the cat's leg and gave Minho a lecture about keeping pets, especially cats outside. He nodded and agreed with her even though this wasn’t his pet but that didn't matter now. After spending a ridiculous amount of money at the vet and caring for this cat for over a year, it was his now. If he wanted to stay inside he could, Minho would encourage it but he wouldn’t fight if he wanted to be outside. Minho would just have to get a good fence to keep him safe.
Back at home, Minho gave the cat a bath and some flea medicine he picked up while he was there. If he was going to be an inside cat Minho was going to be sure he was properly taken care of. However, for being a stray, he was extremely docile. He seemed to be almost enjoying the bath, it was strange but Minho just figured it was the drugs the vet gave him. Even after the bath he curled right up on the pillow beside Minho and went off to sleep.
The next morning Minho was awoken to a shock. There was a human hand on his hip. It was also attached to a very naked human body. It might have almost been less shocking if it wasn’t attached. He rolled out of bed clumsily, surprised that the man didn’t wake up. His bedroom door was thankfully open so he ran to the kitchen to grab one of his cast iron pans. He had no idea how someone could’ve gotten in his house but he was going to get them out. It was probably some drunk roaming the streets that just entered the wrong house. But you would think they wouldn’t just cozy up in a stranger's bed the way he had.
When he re-entered the room he grabbed the blankets and yanked them firmly off the bed and held the cast iron pan up, ready to swing, “Get out of my bed!”
The man stirred just barely, reaching his arms up to stretch, eyes still closed and his mouth opened wide with a yawn. Through the yawn, he heard what he thought was the word what so Minho responded, “You know what you fucking drunk, you wandered naked into a stranger's house and made yourself at home now get out before I call the cops.”
He tried to get up, bracing himself on his hands but yelped in pain as he crashed back into the bed, “You put me here why are you—” The man opened his soft yellow-amber eyes, tears breaching the water line from whatever pain he was in, “Oh no… Oh shit, I am so sorry Minho.”
Minho was confused… the man knew his name? He lowered the pan out of shock and just stared back waiting for an answer.
“The cat, I am the cat! My arm fucking hurts and I am naked and humiliated can you please put the covers back on me and I swear I will explain,” He tried to cover himself with his one functional arm the best that he could under the circumstances.
Minho just stared back in awe. Black fluffy hair, with white tips, bubbly amber eyes, feline facial features, a broken arm… It made sense but it didn’t. Minho wasn’t oblivious to the existence of hybrids, most people weren’t unless they were born under a rock. But rarely, if ever, were they strays on the street, they tended to live relatively normal lives. They looked a bit different and could shift between either form but otherwise, they were just a part of everyday life. It was definitely a possibility though, the math was mathing. Minho did as he was asked and gingerly covered the man back up and sat on a chair across from the bed and waited for an explanation.
“Where do you want me to start?” The man asked as he struggled to pull himself into a sitting position.
“Your name would be a good start, and then I dunno… everything. How are you a stray, why me? What in the hell happened to your arm, leg, arm, right…? I don't know I am just sooooo confused…”
“Jisung,” he answered with a groan, “Speaking of my arm please, they gave you medicine for me right? Please get me some. It really hurts.”
“Oh right!” Minho was quick, he had some water on his bedside table and he left the medicine there as well in case the cat, Jisung, woke up in the middle of the night in pain. “Wait! What about the splint?!” Minho put it back on after the bath he was sure about it. Although in human form, that dinky splint would do absolutely nothing.
“Worry about it later please!!” Jisung whined, reaching out for the pain medicine and water with his good hand. After swallowing it down he continued answering Minho’s questions, “I was hit by an electric scooter, some kid was chasing me and I tripped. I came here and stayed in the bushes till you found me, I was in too much pain to move or change forms, I was stuck.” Jisung pulled his right arm from under the blanket and surveyed it closely. Minho did as well. Deep purple, almost black blotches covered from the top of his hand up to the middle of his forearm. It looked incredibly painful.
“Oh my god, do you think you can recognize him!?”
“Maybe I wasn’t really looking back, doesn’t really matter much.”
“Yes, it does!” Minho protested, angry for Jisung, “They purposely attacked you for their own sick enjoyment!”
“I don’t have the energy to deal with that right now Minho, please,” Minho dropped it the moment he saw Jisung curl into himself, he was clearly uncomfortable for more reasons than just the pain. “As for why I am a stray… that's a long story. To sum it up, my lovely ex-boyfriend with a hybrid fetish got tired of me when I wouldn't play into it. Douchebag continued on with his fantasy and dumped me off like an unwanted kitten in an unknown city with none of my things. Clothes and phone include. Just tossed me in my cat carrier on the side of the road while I was sleeping.”
“Why haven’t you tried to get back, don’t you have family? Someone would’ve helped you I’m sure. How long have you been trapped here?” Minho was in shock… if he had any idea he would’ve helped him out hybrid or not he would’ve let him borrow his phone and some clothes at least.
“Long-standing member of the Dead Dad and Mom club! Woohoo,” Jisung joked and unfortunately, Minho didn’t exactly find it funny. He sighed and cleared his throat awkwardly before he spoke again “I was between jobs when it happened and even if I could’ve gotten help I had nothing it was easier to live as a stray. Especially, when a handsome man feeds you every day and keeps you company. I actually ran into you the next day. You fed me and well that was it. Life has actually been pretty easy and peaceful till now. Pets, cuddles, food and you let me sleep on your porch without asking questions. It was actually quite nice after a while. Please don’t pity me. I actually have been enjoying life again! Well,” Jisung lifted his injured arm with a pained groan, “Until now that is.”
“So why are you suddenly naked in my bed if you were content being a stray? I mean, I don’t mind, I just am curious. I was a little shocked to wake up and see a man next to me,” Minho realized that sounded accusatory right off the bat and that wasn’t his intention.
“Pain medicine, I think. Usually, hybrids have a really good control between forms but drunk or high and well that goes out the window. It's also the first time I’ve slept in a bed in over a year. I was very comfy. I am sorry if that made you uncomfortable…”
“I mean it did at first obviously,” Minho chuckled nervously, “But now that I know it’s less weird still weird though but not in a bad way. I just didn’t expect this… So what now?”
“I’ll just go back to being on the street I guess. If you could just put my medicine in my food at night I’d appreciate that,” Jisung shrugged, “I don’t really have another option.”
“When I thought you were just a cat I was going to just keep you here, you know to keep you safe. I said that in the car but you may have been asleep but anyways the offer is still open. If you want.” Minho hasn’t had a roommate since his junior year of college but those were fun times and this one was a cute cat. Not a bad deal. And as a human, he was pretty cute too. Not that it made any difference.
“I wouldn’t want to impose, and I certainly wouldn’t want you to do it out of pity either,” Jisung huffed. He really was part cat, stubborn as hell, “I’ll probably try to find my way out to a farm or something when I’m all healed so I can just eat barn mice or something and hang around with the cows.”
“It’s not out of pity and you wouldn’t be imposing either,” Minho felt a pain in his chest at the thought of his furry/fleshy friend just disappearing, “I actually was really sad when you didn’t show up last night. I like hanging out with you. Honestly, I have been lonely so it was nice to have a friend.”
“You liked me as a cat,” Jisung rolled his eyes, “Human me well I’m not much different, but I’m not good with people as a human.”
“Fine, I'll make a deal with you then. Stay here until you heal up and then you can decide if you want to stay or go. All I ask is that you please put on some clothes if you are walking around on two feet or sleeping in my bed.”
“Would if I had some!” Jisung scoffed, throwing his arms in the air forgetting one of them was in excruciating pain.
“Oh shit, right,” Minho rushed to his clothes basket and fished out an outfit for him and tossed it on the bed, “I’ll be back in a minute here, you can share my clothes for now just don't rip them please.”
Minho left the room quickly to give Jisung some space. He waited outside the door and after what seemed like an eternity re-entered. He figured Jisung would've had enough time to get dressed but he was still shirtless, “I’ll just go without it for now,” He laughed shyly.
“Want some help?” Minho offered. He knew it was a stupid question anyways of course Jisung would decline he has, for the most part, declined any sort of help Minho offered. Instead he walked over, grabbed the shirt and reframed his question, “Can I?”
Jisung nodded begrudgingly but a sigh of relief escaped once the shirt fell into place, “It’s been so long since I’ve been in clean clothes. Thank you.”
“It’s no problem, why don’t I go make breakfast and get you an ice pack?”
“That sounds great.”
The day had finally come, Jisung’s check-up at the vet for his broken leg. For obvious reasons, he couldn’t be in his human form so he rode in a pillow-lined basket in Minho’s car. Jisung swore a cat carrier would be fine but after what Jisung had been through Minho refused that idea. Over the last six weeks, he had grown quite fond of Jisung. Even more so than he was before. He was just as wonderful as a human. He was funny and charming, Minho couldn’t see how anyone would hurt such an innocent soul. He was endearingly weird as well. He would spout random useless facts out of nowhere about the strangest subjects but Minho loved it. He hadn’t laughed like this in ages. His house was now feeling more like a home with Jisung’s presence. He’d come home from a hard day and as it was every day for the last year Jisung was there. But now he could have a two-sided conversation with him. They could watch movies and escape this world together. Or even just being side by side in silence brought Minho the comfortable peace he had been missing. The thought this might be their last day together dawned on him as the vet tech brought him back from x-ray.
“Your boy is all good now!” She said with a bright and bubbly smile, “Everything is healing as it should, but still try to keep the little guy inside so this doesn't happen again.”
“Really?” He hoped that sounded more optimistic than his heart made it feel.
“Yup! Stop by the desk to check out and you're free to go.”
“Thank you,” Minho forced a smile as he grabbed the basket with Jisung in it and headed for the door.
Back at home, Minho waited on the couch for Jisung to transform back and get dressed. Minho asked him what he wanted to do now in the car before realizing Jisung couldn’t exactly answer him at the moment. The conversation unfortunately had to happen, Minho was too anxious to go another day not knowing. Jisung seemed a bit more carefree than he was. They cuddled, talked, stayed up on the weekends watching stupid reality shows and romcoms and even fell asleep side by side a few times. Minho usually wasn't a fan of other humans, but he was of Jisung and even if it had only been six weeks, in all technicality they had been friends for over a year and he couldn’t imagine life without him. It sounded dramatic even to himself but it was the truth.
“So that talk,” Jisung said as he plopped on the couch right beside Minho, “I really like it here but I can’t keep living here—”
“You can if you want, you don't have to leave,” Minho interrupted anxiously, “I mean I won’t stop you, but you are always welcome here.”
Jisung slapped Minho’s thigh with a laugh and left his hand there to rest as he spoke, “If you would let me finish!!! I can’t live here like this, I feel like I am just a no-good freeloader. I want to stay but I need to get a job and some of my own clothes. The job market sucks right now though but I swear I am gonna try. I also have to get my ID and stuff fixed so it may take some time. I was going to ask if you were ok with that but I guess that’s my answer.”
“Of course, I am ok with that Sungie!” Minho couldn’t contain his smile as he wrapped his arms around Jisung. He was probably being a bit too forward but he didn’t care, “There’s a few job openings in my building so once you have your ID straight I can put in a good word for you.”
“That would be amazing! But,” Jisung paused and laid his head on Minho’s shoulder, still wrapped tight in his embrace, “Why did you think I was going to leave?”
“I mean, I hoped you wouldn’t. I was just scared that it was a possibility, you know this has been really fun actually, having you around all the time,” Minho tried to make it sound casual and not like he was harboring the world's biggest crush on the man in his arms.
“I like you, a lot. I don’t know how much more obvious I could make that. Of course, I want to stay. I just wanted you to know I wasn’t going to take your kindness for granted. I appreciate it a lot you know. After everything I have been through I was starting to think nice humans didn’t exist.”
Minho sat back against the couch, his brain pretty much skipped over all of that information. Jisung liked him, how? A friend, a brother, a person, a lover, there were a lot of ways you could like someone.
With Minho still in stunned silence, Jisung continued, “I like you Minho. Get out of that big dumb head of yours for a second and tell me you like me too.”
“How do you know that I like you like that!?” Minho protested playfully, a rosy blush spreading across his cheeks.
“You forget cat ears are sensitive, and you talk in your sleep a lot.”
“I take it back. I hate you,” Minho crossed his arms in faux defiance.
“Sure and my fur is orange,” Jisung quipped as he planted a chaste kiss on Minho’s cheek before hopping off the couch and heading towards the kitchen, “I’m hungry, what are we making for dinner?”
“Leftovers I think,” Minho’s voice was flat as he sat there in shock.
“Gonna feed your boyfriend scraps, how rude!” Jisung grumbled in jest as he rummaged through the refrigerator.
Boyfriend, wow. Jisung really did like him. Minho rushed off the couch to meet his boyfriend in the kitchen. The tension in the air lifted as they played around in the kitchen both in a lovesick stupor. Cracking jokes, kissing cheeks, and basking in the glow of the cheap incandescent lighting. This was a moment Minho wanted to hold onto forever.