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Don’t let his appearance fool you. Tommy Kinard is a full-blown cat person. Don’t get him wrong, he loves dogs too, almost all animals, actually… but if he had to choose one over the rest, it would be cats. He’s loved cats for as long as he can remember. If you gave Tommy a room full of kittens and a room full of puppies and told him to choose one, he’d say that he already has a giant puppy at home (his boyfriend Evan, who is like a puppy in the body of a beautiful, blonde, 6’2” man). Then he’d lay on the floor of the kitten room and let them crawl all over him.
The first time Tommy had a cat, he was ten and begged his parents for months until his mom finally got him one to shut him up. He was over the moon when she brought him home a little white kitten one day. He named her Marshmallow. Even just being a kid, Tommy took the responsibility very seriously. He even went as far as doing odd jobs for his neighbors, like mowing the lawn or raking leaves, to make a little extra cash to buy some toys for his kitten.
Tommy loved this cat with his whole heart. His dad may have complained about him being soft for it, but he didn’t care. Marshmallow was his only constant source of comfort in his tumultuous home life. He knew he’d come home, and his cat would greet him with more enthusiasm than his parents most of the time. By the time he was 18, he needed out, but Tommy knew he couldn’t leave Marshmallow with his father. He couldn’t trust him to take care of her.
So, he left her in the care of the sweet older couple across the street who would always take him in on the days when his parents didn’t get home until late. The last thing Tommy wanted to do was leave Marshmallow behind. If he could have taken her with him, he would have, but basic training for the army was no place for a cat like Marshmallow.
Tommy was heartbroken to hear that his beloved cat had gone missing one day only a few months later and never returned. Of course, then Tommy started training to become a helicopter pilot in the army, so he could not have another pet even if his heart ached for another furry friend.
After returning to the States and settling into a new home, Tommy considered possibly adopting another cat. He liked the idea. Having a pet to come home to and cuddle with made him feel warm inside. Only after passing the fire academy and getting a job at the 118 firehouse did he allow himself to adopt a cat. On the afternoon after his fire academy graduation, Tommy found himself at an animal shelter looking at all the cats and kittens available for adoption.
One stood out from the rest. He was a white and orange tabby cat named Cheddar. Cheddar was about two years old, and when Tommy picked him up, he knew this cat was supposed to come home with him. It just felt right. Cheddar may not have been a kitten, but the way he nuzzled his face into Tommy’s neck made him go all soft. And look, Tommy may look like a big, tough guy, and he definitely puts off that energy, but put a cat in front of him, and you’ll see his soft side really quickly if he doesn’t keep his heart in check.
Over the years, Tommy had learned to control his emotional reactions, putting them in little boxes until he was alone—for the most part, at least…
~~~~~
There was this one time the 118 was called to a small neighborhood to help get a kitten out of a tree after it escaped through an accidentally left-open door. It’s stereotypical, Tommy knows, but honestly, people should call them for help rather than getting stuck in a tree along with the cat or falling off an unsecured ladder while trying to get the cat out of a tree.
Anyway, Tommy tried hard not to show the team how happy he was to be going up the ladder to extricate the kitten from the tree. The poor little gray tabby kitten was scared by all the commotion and the noise but soon calmed down in Tommy’s arms, purring as he stroked its soft fur.
As he came down the ladder, Chimney gave him a weird look. “Well, it looks like we don’t all have bad luck when saving cats from trees,” He said, referring to a conversation they had on the way over about everyone on the team getting scratched whenever saving a cat.
“Maybe cats are just scared of you, Chim.” He smirked, walking toward the little girl who looked like she was one of the cat’s owners.
Tommy kneeled in front of the girl, still holding the kitten. "Does this little one belong to you?” He asked.
The little girl beamed, the biggest smile he’d ever seen, “Yes! His name is Storm! Thank you for saving him!” She said, unexpectedly wrapping her small arms around Tommy.
And no… Tommy’s heart did not melt a little bit as the girl hugged him. Thank you very much.
“Storm, that’s a perfect name,” Tommy said softly.
“Yeah! He’s fluffy and gray like storm clouds!” the little girl answered happily.
Tommy returned Storm to the girl, and the kitten cuddled into her arms. “It looks like he missed you. Just be careful about leaving the door open next time; you don’t want him getting out again,” He said gently.
“I’ll be extra careful!” She responded before thanking Tommy again and running back to her mom.
He stood up, smiling softly to himself as he turned around. Hen and Chim caught him before he could put his walls back up, though, surprised that Tommy had been hiding this soft side from them all along. They also mercilessly teased him for it, but Tommy didn’t care.
He just went home after his shift and cuddled with Cheddar all night because this cat was his everything.
~~~~~
Tommy had Cheddar almost the whole time he was in the 118. That cat was his closest companion and his greatest source of comfort. Cheddar was a good cat, but near the end, he got sick, and Tommy couldn’t bear to see him suffer, so he made the hard decision to let Cheddar go.
He had the vet come to his home because that was an option they offered. He wanted Cheddar to be in a familiar environment, figuring that would be more peaceful for him. Tommy lay on the floor with Cheddar on his favorite blanket, stroking him gently, looking into his cat’s eyes until they closed for the last time. He was thankful that the vet had given him privacy because he had fully broken down.
This was one of the hardest things Tommy had to go through. He was heartbroken, but it was better this way. Cheddar didn’t have to suffer, and Tommy could be with him at the end. He didn’t have to sit and wait for a vet to tell him that his cat was gone. It would be an understatement to say that Tommy was a wreck for the next three days he had off, and he knew he looked like one when he returned to work, too, because everyone was tiptoeing around him like he was made of glass.
He was grateful that everyone let him be; he needed time. After about a month, he felt like he was returning to normal. He could joke with Chimney and Hen and look at the screen saver on his phone that he didn’t have the heart to change without wanting to burst into tears.
That was until he got home one day from a tough shift and called for Cheddar. A pang of sadness ripped through his chest when he remembered that his furry friend was no longer with him. Tommy may or may not have curled up that night on the couch, clutching Cheddar’s favorite blanket to his chest, imagining that his beloved cat was still there to cuddle with him.
After that night, Tommy barely let himself think about getting another cat for years. During that time, he got to know himself more and started accepting himself more as he got farther and farther away from Gerrard's tyrannical rule over the 118 and his well-being. Eventually, Tommy left the 118 and his friends. Of course, he kept in contact as much as he could, but he felt like he needed a fresh start to allow himself to grow.
~~~ Present Day~~~
If you had told Tommy a few years ago that he’d be this happy, he wouldn’t have believed it. He was so grateful to have Evan and the rest of the 118 in his life. He would say that he didn’t need any more to make him happier, but then Eddie got a kitten, and now he wanted one, too.
On this particular afternoon, Tommy was catching up on some sleep before meeting Eddie and Evan for their weekly hang-out after their shift. As he was about to doze off again, he heard his phone buzz on his coffee table. Tommy groaned and grabbed it. ‘Eddie,’ he read on the screen. He supposed it must be important, as he was still on shift.
~~~~~
He tried to clear some of the sleep from his voice as he answered the phone, “Hey man, what’s up? Is everything okay?”
“Hey, Tommy,” Eddie greeted, “Did I wake you? Sorry…” He sounded a little guilty.
“No, no, it’s okay. What’s up?” Tommy answered, hoping to sound more awake.
“Umm… well, I was wondering if you could go to my place early and check on Shadow for me? This last call we got is taking longer than we expected, so Buck and I will probably be a little late. I just worry about her being alone for so long. Of course, she’ll probably be fine, so if you don’t want to, it’s totally okay,” Eddie rambled.
Tommy listened to Eddie ramble over the phone, smiling. He’s used to Evan rambling, and he found it adorable when he did so. His tired brain was wandering a bit, so Tommy had to get it back on track.
Of course, anything involving Eddie’s adorable new kitten was an automatic yes, even if he really wanted to sleep on his couch for a few hours. He got distracted because he wasn’t used to hearing Eddie ramble about anything, maybe other than Chris, which he’d been trying to avoid lately for obvious reasons.
He hadn’t realized he’d gone quiet until he heard Eddie ask, “Hey man, Tommy, are you still there?”
Tommy blinked himself more awake. “Yeah, I'm still here. Sorry. I can go over and hang out with Shadow for a bit. I can’t promise that you and Evan won’t find me asleep on your couch when you return.”
“Thanks, Tommy. I really appreciate you doing this for me,” Eddie said happily.
“Of course, Eddie. Tell Evan I said hello. See you guys soon, and stay safe out there.”
“Sure thing, man, see ya soon,” Eddie said before hanging up.
~~~~~
Tommy put down the phone and sat up, groaning as he stretched. He stood and tried to shake the tiredness from his bones. He got himself ready to go and set off as soon as he felt awake enough to drive.
Eddie’s house wasn’t too far of a drive, maybe 20 minutes. It almost always took longer than that, though, because of LA traffic. Tommy just had the radio on low volume and hummed along to the songs he knew. It was peaceful. Although he had to admit as much as he enjoyed the quiet, he did miss having Evan’s hand in his and the quiet conversation.
Anyway, Tommy made it safely to Eddie’s house, finding the key under the mat and letting himself in. He entered the house, closing the door behind him. It felt weird being in Eddie’s house by himself; he felt like he shouldn’t be there even though Eddie asked him to. Regardless, Tommy went down the hall to Eddie’s room to let Shadow out to roam.
When he opened the door, Shadow was sitting behind it, clearly expecting Eddie. She cocked her head to the side adorably and looked at Tommy before walking to him and rubbing up against his legs in greeting. He smiled, squatting down to offer a hand for Shadow to sniff. She seemed to recognize Tommy without it, though, pressing her tiny head into Tommy’s hand.
“Ah, so you do remember me,” Tommy said as he gently scratched Shadow’s head; the kitten purred, seeming happy with the attention.
Tommy stood up from his crouched position, and Shadow meowed at him as if to say, “Did I say you should stop petting me?” she then stood on her hind legs, her front paws reaching up his calf.
“Aww, sweet girl,” Tommy cooed at Shadow. "Do you want me to pick you up?” He asked as he bent down to pick up the kitten.
Shadow, the sweet, cuddly cat she was, immediately cuddled into Tommy, nuzzling into his chest. This made him beyond happy. God, he loved cats so damn much. The best part was that no one was there to watch, as his heart actively melted because of how Shadow cuddled into him.
“Every time I see you, you make me want to steal you,” Tommy whispered to Shadow as he sat on the couch with her still in his arms. “Eddie wouldn’t be too happy about that, would he? He loves you so much; I hope you know that.” He continued after setting the kitten on his lap.
Tommy booped the little cat’s nose, and she pawed at his finger. He laughed lightly, “God, you’re too cute for your own good Shadow.”
Yes, Tommy was having a conversation with a kitten. He honestly couldn’t help it. He always did this with his previous cats; he could swear that sometimes they actually understood him. Shadow was just staring up at him with a face that oddly reminded him of Evan’s face when the man intently listened to Tommy's stories.
Okay, maybe he really needed some sleep because now he’s comparing his boyfriend’s face to a kitten's. While they’re both very adorable, Evan is adorable in a much different way to Shadow. Tommy figured he probably shouldn’t get worked up about his boyfriend while sitting on Eddie’s couch. The man probably wouldn’t appreciate that very much.
Shadow had made herself comfortable, curling up on Tommy’s lap as he pondered about Evan. He looked down and smiled at Shadow, gently stroking her back, causing her to purr. The longer he sat there with the little cat on his lap, the more tired he felt. Eventually, he let himself fall asleep sitting on the couch even though he knew he’d likely regret it later.
A couple of hours later, Tommy was awoken by Shadow jumping off his lap and the sound of the door opening, followed by the happy chatter of Eddie and Evan. He kept his eyes closed because he wasn’t ready to be fully awake yet.
Then he heard Shadow meow at Eddie, and Eddie greeted the kitten: “Aww, hi Shadow. Did you miss me?”
Tommy heard Evan snicker at Eddie, then felt a familiar pair of lips on his forehead and hummed, “Hmm.”
“Hi, Tommy,” Evan sweetly said as he caressed Tommy’s cheek.
“Hi, Evan,” Tommy smiled.
He watched as Evan looked over to Eddie, who was still distracted by Shadow, and looked back at him with a small smile before briefly connecting their lips. Tommy hummed quietly as his boyfriend pulled away.
“What a nice way to wake up,” Tommy whispered just loud enough for Evan to hear as he finally got off the couch and slowly stretched.
Evan snickered at that as Tommy rounded the couch and hugged him, arms wrapping around Evan’s waist as he rested his forehead on the younger’s shoulder. Evan, of course, wrapped his arms around the older man, rubbing a hand up and down his back. Tommy felt his boyfriend kiss his temple lightly, and he smiled.
“You tired, baby?” Evan lightly laughed as he leaned his cheek against his hair.
“Mhm, it’s no joke that Eddie’s couch isn’t great for sleeping on,” He mumbled into his boyfriend’s shoulder.
Evan laughed a little louder this time, getting Eddie’s attention.
“What’s so funny over there, lovebirds,” Tommy heard Eddie teasing.
“Nothing,” Evan answered, “Tommy just finally realized how horribly uncomfortable your couch really is.”
“It’s good to sit on, but not the best to sleep on.” Eddie said, patting Tommy's back. “Thank you again for coming early and giving Shadow some love.”
Tommy stood up fully, stretching his back, “Yeah, of course, man. It’s no problem,” He paused. “But if you want me to do it again, you might have to get a more comfortable couch.” He joked.
“I’ll have to keep that in mind; you both are around enough; you guys should just come with me to buy a new one.” The brunette laughed.
“Yeah, but don’t you think Chris might like to have input on that?” Evan questioned.
“Hmm, I suppose you’ve got a point there. Gotta make sure it’s not too hard for him to get on and off of.” Eddie said thoughtfully.
“So I guess that means the couch discussion is tabled for now…” Tommy said.
“Seems like it, for now at least. Sorry, man.” Eddie answered, patting Tommy’s shoulder.
“Sooo, you guys brought food? I don’t think I even remember the last time I ate.” Tommy said, starting to feel a little more awake and more ravenous by the second.
“Yup! Right over there,” Evan said, pointing at the coffee table.
“Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s eat before it gets cold.” Eddie said. “You two go ahead and get everything unpacked. Do either of you guys want a beer?”
“A beer sounds great, Eddie; thanks,” Evan answered with a smile.
“Yeah, I’ll take one, maybe a water too, if you wouldn’t mind.” Tommy requested.
“Got it. I’ll be right back, guys,” Eddie said, walking through the dining area into the kitchen.
Now that they were alone in the room, Tommy and Evan sat on the couch together and began unpacking the food from the takeout bags. Once they were finished, both men leaned back onto the couch, Tommy throwing his arm around his boyfriend and pulling him closer. While he enjoyed their weekly hangouts and the show they watched together, Tommy also wouldn’t have minded being able to cuddle with Evan all evening, either.
Tommy smiled at the younger man, the smile that was only for him, and reached out to turn his face towards him. He caressed Evan’s cheek gently and gave him a soft kiss on the lips.
Evan smiled into the short kiss, “What was that for?” He asked.
“Hmmm, just because,” Tommy said, also smiling.
“Alrighty then,” the blonde hummed, placing another light kiss on Tommy’s lips.
Tommy then heard a fake gagging noise from the doorway. “You know I’m happy for you guys and all,” Eddie said, passing him and Evan their drinks. “But you’ve got to stop being so disgustingly cute around me, or I might actually throw up,” He finished as he sat down next to them on the couch.
Tommy watched as Evan laughed and shoved his best friend, “Come on, shut up, man,” he said, his burning with a bit of a blush.
“Okay, okay, I’ll leave you two alone,” Eddie paused. " For now…” He finished teasingly. “How about we eat then?”
“Sounds good to me,” Tommy said, reaching for his desired food.
Overall, they had a good night together, enjoying dinner from their favorite Chinese restaurant. Tommy listened as Evan and Eddie recounted the call that had made them late. Then he told them about his last shift. It was rather boring, but some pranks pulled at the station had everyone in stitches.
After they finished eating, they watched an episode of their show. It was a good one, for sure. Tommy enjoyed it, but not as much as Evan and Eddie. He thought, ‘If Eddie ever heard him say this, he probably wouldn’t be happy,’ but whatever…
Tommy thought it was cute that the two men were so into this show. Then they started another episode, and halfway through, Shadow was on his lap again, dozing off. He had no idea how these two weren’t utterly exhausted after their 24-hour shift, especially because it ran long. He guessed that they must have managed to get some sleep, unlike he did.
Tommy must have dozed off at some point because when his eyes opened again, his head leaned against Evan’s shoulder, and he heard his boyfriend quietly say, “Oh my god, that’s adorable! Eddie, you have to send that to me.”
“What does Eddie have to send you, baby?” Tommy grumbled, half asleep.
“He took a picture of us for me; I wanted him to send it to me.” Evan paused, then whispered only loud enough for Tommy to hear, “I thought you looked cute sleeping on me.” He smiled.
“I’m not cute; you’re cute,” Tommy yawned, nuzzling his face into his boyfriend’s shoulder.
Tommy heard Evan chuckle, “Alright, Eds. It looks like it’s about time I got this one home.” He said, patting Tommy’s knee.
Tommy felt the couch shift and opened his eyes to Eddie standing in front of him, lifting Shadow off his lap. He saw his boyfriend’s hand outstretched in front of his face, the man still sitting beside him.
“Hand over the keys, Tommy. There’s no way I’m letting you drive when you’re this tired.”
Tommy didn’t have the energy to fight Evan on this, so he just tiredly dug his hand into his front pocket, retrieving the car keys and handing them to his boyfriend. Then Tommy stood up, a little too quickly, apparently, because he swayed slightly upon reaching his feet.
“Woah there,” the blonde warned, quickly standing from the couch to steady Tommy. I’ve got you, baby, " He continued, letting Tommy lean on him for a minute.
Okay, so clearly, Tommy was more tired than his sleep-addled brain could currently comprehend. It was definitely a good call to have Evan drive him home.
“It’s okay, Ev. I’m not gonna fall over.” Tommy mumbled, blinking slowly.
“You sure about that, Tommy?” Evan questioned, lightening his grip around his waist.
“Mhm,” Tommy hummed as he adjusted himself so he’d no longer be leaning on his boyfriend’s body for support.
Evan rubbed his back and turned towards Eddie as he said, “See ya later, Buck.” Before pulling him into a hug.
Tommy watched them pull out of the hug, his tired eyes and brain focusing on the hand lingering on Evan’s shoulder. He always wondered why Eddie would rest his hand on Evan’s shoulder like that, with his thumb on his pulse point. He’d have to ask someday, but not today because all he could think about now was crawling into bed and sleeping for possibly an eternity.
Tommy was jolted from his thoughts by a firm yet friendly slap on the shoulder, “Hey man, thanks again for coming early to check on Shadow for me.” Eddie smiled.
Tommy smiled tiredly, “No problem, Eddie,” He yawned, “See you soon, man.”
Eddie looked between him and Evan, still smiling, “Alright, you two better get outta here before Tommy passes out in the driveway.” He teased.
Tommy huffed as his boyfriend smiled at Eddie and walked them to the door, “Oh, he’ll be out before we make it to the main road.”
Tommy was, in fact, out before they made it to the main road because he didn’t remember anything after pulling out of Eddie’s driveway. He was dead to the world until the car came to a stop in his driveway. He blinked rapidly as he heard the driver’s side door slam shut.
Tommy didn’t register that Evan had opened his door to help him out until he heard his boyfriend gently coax, “Come on, babe, let’s get you inside.”
He didn’t answer verbally. Tommy nodded and slowly exited the car, leaning heavily into the younger man’s arms. He leaned against his boyfriend as they walked to the front door together, and once it was unlocked, he was gingerly guided to bed.
Tommy was very grateful for Evan's help with this. It felt good to know that he could always count on his boyfriend to be there for him. Of course, this should be a baseline for any relationship: being there for your partner when they’re in need. Unfortunately, he’s had one too many relationships where that baseline of caring for the person you’re in the relationship with wasn’t met, leaving Tommy feeling like he wasn’t worth it.
Luckily for him, Evan was much better to him than some of his previous partners. One of the many great things about the younger man was that he was as much of a cuddler as Tommy was. Tommy knew he didn’t come off as a cuddly person, but that quickly changed when he was tired. He either needed to hold his boyfriend or be held by him. The physical contact was almost always what he needed to wind down after a long shift.
So, when Tommy finally sunk into his mattress tonight, he hummed in satisfaction, eyes closing almost immediately as his head hit the pillow. The only thing missing was the weight of Evan lying on top of or next to him.
He reached out, opening his eyes slightly to see his boyfriend smiling at him. “Evan, come lay with me.” Tommy huffed.
Evan chuckled, his face lighting up cutely in a way that Tommy loved, “I’m coming, baby, don’t worry.”
Tommy watched as his boyfriend stripped down to his boxers and walked to him. Evan leaned over him and caressed his face gently.
“You know what, Tommy? You’re adorable when you’re all soft and sleepy like this.” He admitted before nuzzling his nose with Tommy’s.
It was Tommy’s turn to smile warmly as he asked, “Gimme a little kiss, Ev, please?”
Evan obliged, closing the small distance between his and Tommy’s lips, bringing them into a soft, slow kiss. Tommy heard and felt his boyfriend hum against his lips, his face still gently held by Evan’s hands. What he didn’t know was that he had fallen for Tommy’s trap. Despite his tiredness, Tommy knew that his boyfriend liked to be a little tease sometimes when he wanted cuddles.
The kiss was a lure for Tommy to get his boyfriend close enough to him so that he could pull him to his chest and not let go for the foreseeable future. Tommy snuck his arms around Evan’s body, pulling him down as he began to pull away.
“Woah!” He gasped as he crashed into Tommy’s chest.
Tommy breathed out a laugh and sleepily teased, “You fell for my trap. Now you’re all mine!”
Evan giggled as he readjusted to a more comfortable position on Tommy’s chest.
“I’m already yours, babe.” He said, nuzzling his face into Tommy’s neck and leaving a little kiss on his jaw.
Tommy’s smile grew a little, and he sighed contentedly as he felt Evan kiss his jaw and make himself comfortable. As Evan nuzzled his face into his neck, Tommy buried his nose into his boyfriend’s hair, breathing in the younger’s scent and allowing himself to relax further now that they were holding each other.
“Goodnight, Evan,” Tommy whispered, lightly combing his fingers through his boyfriend’s curls.
“Mmmm… Goodnight, Tommy,” Evan hummed.
~~~Time Skip~~~
With Christopher coming home, Evan spent more time with Eddie and his son, leaving Tommy alone with his thoughts more often. He knew how important Chris and Eddie were to Evan, so he understood why he wanted to spend more time with them before school started for the teen. Tommy was beginning to miss his boyfriend, though, and without the younger man distracting him, he thought more and more seriously about adopting a cat.
He even went to the shelter, where Eddie said he had adopted Shadow. He had no luck, though, as Tommy wanted to feel the same spark he felt with Cheddar like it was meant to be. So, Tommy waited.
He was just starting to think that maybe he should just settle for the first cat that walked up to him the next time he went to the shelter when the universe gave him a sign…
Tommy was on an evening run, which was unusual anyway. He usually liked to run in the morning, but Evan slept over, and when he slept over, he allowed himself to relax. Tommy would let himself break his normally very rigid morning routine in favor of staying in bed and cuddling up with Evan until they absolutely could not stay in bed any longer.
Today was one of those days, the first time Evan had stayed the night since Christopher came home. They lay around together for a while and got a bit distracted by each other’s lips while making breakfast. Then again, when Evan was leaving to go to work, he was almost late. But hey, it’s not Tommy’s fault that his boyfriend’s lips are so damn kissable.
So, he had a late start to the day, resulting in an evening run, but his sign from the universe was that he had seen a cat on his route that he didn’t usually see. The cat was calico, a little dirty and skinny-looking, probably a stray, but still cute enough that Tommy couldn’t resist trying to pet it. The key word here was, of course, trying because although the cat seemed friendly and came up to Tommy and sniffed his hand, it shrunk back when he went to pet it.
Of course, the first cat other than Eddie’s that he felt a real connection with in years was a scraggly street cat that was at least mildly afraid of humans… Tommy decided not to push it, although he really wanted to pet it. Instead, he got up from his crouching position and continued his run. What he hadn’t realized, though, was that the cat followed him home until the next morning, when he saw the cat sitting on his porch.
“Okay, this must be a sign,” Tommy said to himself as he went to his kitchen to see if he had anything to feed the poor animal.
Tommy ended up finding a can of tuna. He poured part of it onto a plate and walked towards the back door. He moved slowly to avoid spooking the cat, then opened the door and crouched down.
“Hey you,” He said in a soft voice. “I guess you like me, huh?” Tommy asked when the cat meowed and walked towards him.
“I hope you like tuna because that’s all I’ve got for you, kitty.” He said, putting the small plate down on the floor. The cat sniffed Tommy’s hand again, then the small plate of tuna before digging in.
He’d figured the cat would like it, “Yeah, you must be starving, huh? I’m gonna go get you something to drink.” Tommy said before going back inside to get a little bowl of water.
The cat looked up at Tommy as he exited the house with a bowl of water in hand. He squatted down to put it on the floor, and it promptly turned back to the plate of tuna. Tommy readjusted so he could sit on the ground and watch the cat eat. The poor thing was scarfing down the tuna like it hadn’t eaten in days, which broke Tommy’s heart and made him decide to stop at the store after his shift and buy some cat food, hoping the cat would return for more.
Over the next couple of weeks, this cat showed up on Tommy’s porch every morning, and he happily provided food for the animal. He would give the cat wet food whenever he was home, but he left out a little automatic feeder with some dry food and water for when he was on shift.
He also figured out, after a research spiral, that would have made his boyfriend proud that the cat was a female. He learned that it was very rare for male cats to have three fur colors. In addition, if the cat had been a stray its whole life, or most of it at least, it was very likely that it never got fixed. All that to say… if this cat were male, it would be pretty obvious, so Tommy was pretty sure that the cat was a female.
Over these weeks, he'd established a relationship and a new routine with this cat. At this point, Tommy was used to making little to no physical contact with her, but today, he walked out on his porch with a little plate of wet cat food, and she rubbed up against his legs. Tommy certainly wasn’t expecting that, but it made him happy.
Although sitting on the floor wasn’t ideal for him, Tommy still sat on the deck, taking in the morning sun and the fresh air as the cat ate. When she was done eating, she walked back to Tommy and sat in front of him, just staring at him with her head cocked to the side. He stuck his hand out to her slowly, letting the cat sniff him, as he’d been doing every morning, and this time she rubbed her head against his hand. ‘This is promising,’ Tommy thought momentarily as he moved his hand to try to pet the cat, and surprisingly, she let him scratch her head, which quite possibly made Tommy’s day even though it barely had begun.
“Well, it looks like I’d better come up with a name for you now that you’re actually letting me pet you, huh?” He asked the cat, and in response, she began purring.
“Well, I guess that’s my answer,” Tommy said, smiling at the animal as he petted her head.
Later that day at work, Tommy mulled over what to name this cat. After much thought throughout the day and night (it was a slow shift), he decided on a name he liked, but before getting his heart set on it, he wanted to see her in person again to make sure it fit right.
The following day, Tommy was sitting on the back porch with the cat as per his new usual. She’d just finished eating and demanded his attention, rubbing against his legs.
“Oh, I see, so you want some attention, do you?” He chuckled as he reached out a hand to pet the cat. Tommy scratched behind her ear and under her chin, causing the cat to purr loudly. It was ridiculous how happy this cat made Tommy. She’d been a great companion while Evan had been off with Eddie and Chris.
He nearly gasped when the cat climbed into his lap. He was surprised, but this only made it clearer that this was meant to be. This cat picked him. He looked at the cat sitting in his lap, looking up at him with big blue eyes. Tommy pet the cat again, “What do you think of the name Pepper?” He asked, waiting for a response as if the cat could understand him.
She just laid down in his lap and continued purring, and that was all the answer he needed. The next day, Tommy went to the store and got Pepper a collar, a cozy little cat house for his porch, and a pet carrier. He also made vet and grooming appointments to ensure she had a clean bill of health and a clean coat.
He was pleasantly surprised that when he put the pink and green camo collar on Pepper, she didn’t fight it. She seemed to be okay with it. The tricky thing was getting the cat into the carrier a few days later for her vet appointment. Tommy felt bad forcing her in there, but he had to get her checked out because he was already getting emotionally attached and couldn’t bear the thought of losing her to something that could be easily prevented.
Tommy had to admit he was nervous because the last time he went to the vet with a pet, it was his beloved boy Cheddar, and that… Well, that didn’t end well. Pepper was great with the vets, which slightly quieted his nerves. They almost didn’t believe that she was a stray only a month and a half ago because she was so good about being handled.
By the end of the visit, Pepper was given a clean bill of health. She got caught up on vaccines, and much to Tommy’s surprise, she had actually been spayed already, so he thankfully didn’t have to worry about her having kittens at any point. The vet also gave him some topical flea medication for Pepper.
Next, they were off to the groomers. He knew this would be a lot for the cat, a big day of new, scary things, but he figured it would be better to get it all done in one day. He was scared of how she’d react to being bathed and groomed, and as to be expected, the bath was difficult, but the groomers let Tommy know, as he’d assumed, that most cats are difficult when it comes to bathing. Nonetheless, they could give her a good flea bath and make her look like she’d never lived outside.
When they got home, Tommy finally let her out of the carrier, and he could admire her beauty. He already knew she was a beautiful cat, but she almost looked like a different cat without the dirt matting her fur; she was vibrant. After letting Pepper out of the carrier, he had expected more of a cold shoulder, like maybe she’d leave for a little while and return later. Instead, she did the unexpected…
Tommy went inside to give the cat some space, but he soon heard scratching at his back door, which meant Pepper was demanding his attention. When he opened the door, the cat carefully stepped into the house for the first time, looking around curiously. He sat on the couch quietly, watching the cat explore his living area.
Eventually, she returned to Tommy, sniffing him before jumping on his lap and making herself comfortable. “Oh, so you still like me… well, that’s good to know.” He smiled down at Pepper, curled up on his lap as he stroked her back and scratched behind her ears. He was happy that she finally felt comfortable coming inside the house. That was until someone knocked at the door, spooking the cat and causing her to run outside again.
Tommy hadn’t been expecting anyone. Or at least he was pretty sure he hadn’t made plans because he was out all day with Pepper. When he opened the door, he was pleasantly surprised to see Evan and Eddie, both men being a sight for sore eyes. They stood at the door with matching smiles, brandishing a 6-pack of his favorite beer and takeout.
“What are you two doing here?” He asked with a smile, inviting the men in.
“Surprising you, obviously!” Evan answered, letting Eddie enter first to put the takeout bags down.
The brunette turned and clapped Tommy on the shoulder in greeting. “Hey Tommy, long time no see. I'm sorry I’ve been commandeering your boyfriend for the last month and a half.” He apologized.
“Hey now, no apologies needed. I know he was in good company with you and Chris.” Tommy said.
Then he felt arms sliding around his torso, hugging him from behind, and a nose nuzzled against his neck before familiar lips landed on his jaw. Oh… he missed that.
Eddie must have seen the slight change in his facial expression because the man grabbed a beer and said, “I, uh… I’m gonna give you two a few minutes.” gesturing towards the back door.
“ Thank you, ” Tommy mouthed as his friend gave a little salute and left the room. He was thankful that Eddie could tell that he needed a few minutes alone with Evan and didn’t mind giving it to them. Once the brunette left the room, he turned in his boyfriend’s arms to hug him back. The older man sighed in relief, relaxing in the younger man’s hold and resting his chin on his shoulder. When Tommy felt Evan’s fingers run through his short hair, he turned his head, buried his face in the blonde’s neck, and breathed the man in.
Evan kissed his temple and softly asked, “You okay, baby?”
“Mhm,” Tommy hummed, “Just missed you, needed a minute to hold you.” He mumbled into Evan’s neck.
He could feel the other man’s lips turn down slightly. “I’m sorry I haven’t been around, Tommy. Now that Chris is back in school, I promise I’ll have more time for us.” Evan sighed, sounding guilty.
And that wouldn’t do. Tommy wouldn’t let Evan feel guilty about this. Did he miss his boyfriend and wish they had the chance to spend more time together in roughly the last month? Yeah, he did, but he also understood that the blonde needed this time with Chris and Eddie. They are his family, and Tommy would never stop his boyfriend from spending time with them.
He’d seen how much Christoper's leaving affected Evan and Eddie and how they leaned on each other during that time. Tommy couldn’t let his boyfriend feel guilty about wanting to make up for lost time with the kid.
He pulled away from Evan’s shoulder to look at the man. “Evan, you really don’t need to apologize. Eddie and Chris are your family; don’t ever apologize for spending time with them.” Tommy said sternly.
Evan pulled a pout that made him want to melt into a puddle, then whispered, “ But you’re my boyfriend. You’re also becoming part of this family, which means you deserve just as much of my time as they do.”
By the end of his whispered response, the younger man was looking down at the ground shyly, and Tommy’s body felt like it was full of butterflies trying desperately to free themselves. He also felt like he wanted to cry and kiss the man in front of him simultaneously because Evan had just told him that he was becoming his family. God, this relationship was the best thing that had ever happened to him . This man was the best thing that ever happened to him.
“Evan, look at me, baby,” Tommy paused and gently lifted his boyfriend’s chin, “I’m happy with any amount of time I get with you. So, I mean it when I say you absolutely have no reason to apologize to me.”
He then kissed Evan softly, the blonde humming into his lips. “But weren’t you lonely without me?”
“Well, yeah… but I made a new little friend, so I haven’t been completely alone,” Tommy admitted.
The blonde raised an eyebrow and cocked his head to the side in confusion, which in Tommy’s humble opinion was super adorable . He was about to ask a question when Eddie peeked his head through the back door.
“Hey guys, sorry to interrupt,” He paused and looked at Tommy before asking, “Uh, did you get a cat?”
Evan, looking between the two of them, seemed slightly bewildered as he asked, “What’s up with you two and getting cats without telling me?”
“Well, I didn’t actually adopt her, is the thing. I guess she kinda… found me.” Tommy said, taking a moment to find the right words.
“Found you?” Eddie asked.
“Yeah, I was on a run when I first saw her. I stopped to try and pet her, but she shied away. I didn’t want to stress her out, so I just continued my run. I didn’t realize until the next morning, when I saw her sitting on my deck, that she had followed me home. I fed her, and she stuck around and started warming up to me. And today, I had her groomed, and she got a clean bill of health from the vet.” Tommy explained.
Eddie smiled, “It kind of sounds like she chose you, like this Cat Distribution System thing that Chris told me about when I told him how I decided to adopt Shadow.”
“What’s that?” Tommy asked.
“You’ve never heard of the Cat Distribution System?” Evan questioned, sounding surprised, “It’s all over the internet.”
“Well, I’m really not on the internet all that much, baby,” Tommy responded. “I guess you two will have to explain it to me over dinner.” He continued, gesturing to the quickly cooling takeout that was sitting on the table.
He and Evan got to work unpacking the food and didn’t notice that Eddie hadn’t joined them. They turned to see Eddie sitting on the ground outside with Pepper sitting in his lap, demanding attention. Tommy was happy to see the progress she’d made from the first day he started feeding her to today. A few weeks ago, he never would have imagined his cat warming up to a new person this quickly.
Tommy watched Evan fondly smile at Eddie as he cuddled with Pepper, “Okay, Eds, put the cat down so we can eat.”
“Okay, okay, I’ll put her down.” Eddie said, placing the cat on the ground, turning towards Tommy, and saying, “You didn’t tell us her name.”
“It’s Pepper,” Tommy answered, “I felt like it suited her. It just felt right.” He finished.
The brunette looked at the cat, “Yeah, that’s a good name.” Eddie agreed. As he walked into the house, he continued, “I didn’t have to come up with a name for Shadow. The shelter named her, and it fit so well, I didn’t want to change it.”
The three men sat down together and started serving themselves as they continued their conversation.
“I mean, the name definitely fits. She used to follow you around like a shadow.” Evan added, bumping Eddie’s shoulder with his own.
“Used to?” Tommy questioned.
He watched Eddie look down at his food and furrow his eyebrows, the man’s face almost contorting into a pout. This was not a face Tommy had ever thought he’d see on the man. It was interesting.
“Yeah, she used to because now she constantly follows Chris around instead,” Evan explained.
“She only cuddles with me when Chris isn’t home or if the door to his room is closed,” Eddie said sadly as he continued eating.
Tommy chuckled at Eddie’s pouting. He couldn’t help it.
“Hey! Come on, man… Don’t laugh at me.” Eddie groaned, feigning annoyance as Evan patted his back.
“Aww, don’t worry, Eddie, I’ll come cuddle with you, buddy.” The blonde joked, wrapping his arms around his friend.
“Thanks, but no thanks. There’s a big difference between Shadow sleeping on me and you clinging to me like an octopus, Buck.” Eddie laughed, trying to push Evan away playfully.
It was Tommy’s turn to raise his eyebrows in surprise. How did Eddie know about Evan’s cuddling tendencies? Because it was true, his boyfriend did cling, but he liked to qualify it as more koala-like.
Before he could ask, Evan chimed in, “For context, we had to share a bed for a few months during the pandemic. So this ‘clinging like an octopus’ was neither recent nor purposeful.”
Tommy laughed at his boyfriend’s response, “Thank you, Evan. I appreciate the context.” He paused and then changed the subject, “So, you two were going to explain this Cat Distribution System thing to me? " He prompted.
The rest of their dinner had been filled with conversation about the Cat Distribution System and how it worked. Evan and Eddie showed him videos of cats choosing their humans left and right, and the more he saw, the more he felt like it applied to him and Pepper.
Tommy wasn’t usually a man who believed in signs from the universe, but later that night, sitting on his couch with his cat in his lap and Evan cuddled against his side, he couldn’t help but feel that it was all meant to be.