Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Caitlyn had never been much of a cat person, but that didn’t stop the universe from throwing a kitten at her. 

When she saw the little thing in the road, she hit the brakes hard enough that her tires started to swerve. She clenched her hands tight around the steering wheel as the car jerked to a stop. Her heart thudded in her throat as she tried to catch her breath.

She’d managed to stop before hitting whatever was in front of her without driving off the road into the bordering forest, but adrenaline was still thrumming through her veins.

The thing was still in the road, a small shape obscured by the rain of a storm that had been forecast to arrive hours later. 

She really hoped she hadn’t almost wrecked her car for a mouse.

With shaking hands, Caitlyn hit the hazard lights and put the car in park before stepping out into the rain.

Her hair and clothes quickly grew damp, sticking heavily to her as the cold burrowed into her bone. What she wouldn’t give to be in bed with a thick blanket wrapped around her right now.

Caitlyn knelt in front of the wet bundle of fur with one hand raised to shield her eyes from the rain. Not a mouse, but roughly the same size as one. It was the tiniest kitten Caitlyn had ever seen. She’d been lucky she’d managed to spot it.

The kitten let out a weak meow, but Caitlyn didn’t know enough about cats to know what that meant. 

“I’m going to pick you up now,” she said, more to herself than the kitten. 

She was surprised just how light the kitten was as she scooped it into her palm. As soon as she had it, the kitten meowed and leapt from her hand, stumbling when it hit the pavement. Caitlyn winced and inhaled through her teeth. The kitten was limping as it tried to escape her, making it easy for Caitlyn to pick it up again.

Though it tried to fight for freedom, the kitten’s paws were small and soft, slipping harmlessly against Caitlyn’s skin. It was more ticklish than anything.  

“I’m trying to help you,” Caitlyn muttered through chattering teeth. 

A honk cut through the air, drawing Caitlyn’s gaze up. A car had pulled up behind her own. It swerved across the solid white line in the middle of the road, splashing a wave of water over Caitlyn as it sped past.

“Oh, that’s just perfect.” Caitlyn stood, cradling the kitten to her chest. “Now, in addition to being cold, we’re soaked in road water.” 

She got a sad meow in response, but the kitten had given up fighting. She rushed back to her car, shutting the door as soon as she was behind the wheel. The heaters weren’t much help with the wet clothes clinging to her, but at least she was out of the rain.

The kitten in her hands looked up at her with wide eyes that looked absolutely terrified as she set it gently in the passenger seat.

It leaned heavily on its left side, carefully avoiding putting weight on its front right paw. Caitlyn bit back a frustrated sigh as she shifted her car into drive and turned off the hazard lights. Of course the kitten was injured.

It looked like sinking into a hot bath with a mug of steaming tea and a good book would have to wait a little longer.

When Caitlyn pulled into the parking lot of the nearest pet hospital fifteen minutes later, she was still shivering. A glance in her visor mirror confirmed that she looked as pitiful as the kitten. 

Her makeup was ruined, smeared eyeliner making her look like a sad racoon. So much for water proof. 

In a desperate attempt to look a little less pathetic, Caitlyn pulled her wet hair into a tight ponytail and rummaged through her purse until she found makeup wipes. When she finished clearing away the mess her face had turned into, she looked pale and tired, the zit on her cheek on full display. 

If her mother could see her now, Caitlyn was sure she would be subjected to an hour-long lecture on the importance of always carrying backup makeup.

She shrugged off her soaked jacket and turned to check the back seats for anything that might help the situation. They were, of course, empty. No spare jackets, no hastily discarded towels, just pristine car seats. Perhaps, she ought to be less concerned with keeping her car clean.

It’s just a vet, Caitlyn thought, hoping she wouldn’t be judged too harshly for showing up waterlogged and barefaced. 

At least, the kitten had calmed down a bit on the drive over. It lay curled in a tiny ball, fast asleep. Caitlyn carefully scooped the damp ball into her hand, trying and failing not to wake it. 

The kitten blinked up at her with big, confused eyes, letting out another sad meow .

She held it close to her chest as she pulled her purse over her shoulder and dashed to the covered entrance of the pet hospital. Not as if it mattered when she was still dripping from earlier.

The inside of the practice was similar enough to the clinic Caitlyn’s family had always taken their dogs to. The familiarity was comforting, even as she shivered and attempted to dry her shoes a bit on the welcome mat. 

“Wowie, what happened to you?”

The raspy voice came from a girl who was practically reclining in an office chair, boots crossed at the ankle on the reception desk in front of her. Her dyed blue hair was piled in two messy buns on top of her head, and her eyes glinted with amusement as she took in Caitlyn’s sorry state. 

Very professional.

Caitlyn stopped worrying about dripping rain water and walked further into the practice to show the employee the kitten. “I got caught in the rain when I—”

“Oh, what a cutie!” The girl jumped out of her chair to take the kitten and nuzzle its nose with her own. “You’re just a precious little baby, aren’t you? Yes, you are.”

Caitlyn cleared her throat, interrupting the employee's cooing to say, “I called about twenty minutes ago to make an appointment?”

The girl glanced at her. “Yeah, yeah, Caitlyn, right? And this little sweetheart is a stray?”

“Yes, that’s me, and yes, I found her on the road.” Caitlyn plucked out a few tissues from the box on the reception desk, but attempting to clean the wet fur from her hands only succeeded in adding little clumps of tissue to the mess. 

The girl nodded, still cuddling the kitten. “I’ll let Vi know you’re here. Mind if I take this sweetheart with me?”

“Please.” 

Whistling a soft tune, the employee disappeared into a back hallway, leaving Caitlyn to her useless attempts at drying herself. 

“Powder, you really didn’t offer her a towel?”

Caitlyn looked up at the sound of a new voice and found herself face-to-face with the most attractive woman she’d ever seen. Her light blue eyes were the color of the sky on a warm summer day, her adorably round cheeks dusted with freckles. The asymmetrical cut of her red hair showed off an array of piercings on her left ear, and even with her unflattering lab coat, it was clear she was built like a house.

The cold that had clung to Caitlyn since leaving work suddenly evaporated as her body flooded with warmth.

“What?” Powder asked, clearly distracted. She’d wrapped a small towel around the kitten so only the head was poking out, the fur ruffled, but dryer. “Of course I got her a towel.”

Vi rolled her eyes and gave Caitlyn an apologetic, “Sorry, just, hang on,” before disappearing again. 

When she reappeared seconds later, it was with a large towel slung over her arm. “It’s really coming down out there, huh? Sucks that you got caught in it.”

Caitlyn managed to find her voice enough to thank her as she accepted the towel, her fingers tingling where they brushed Vi’s. She truly had the worst luck, meeting the hottest vet alive when she herself looked like a pathetic wet cat. She wrung some of the water from her hair and patted her face dry as Powder filled Vi in about the stray kitten. 

“Alright, let’s get her checked out,” Vi said, taking the bundled kitten from Powder. Even her voice was hot. “We’ll be back here, you can follow me.”

The exam room had a bench where Caitlyn was able to set down her purse and jacket as she continued rubbing water from her skin. There wasn’t much she could do about her clothes, but it was progress. 

“You found her on your way home from work?” Vi asked as she set the towel and kitten on the exam table. She looked even tinier on the large table. 

“Yes, she walked in front of my car. I think her paw is injured.”

“We’ll get her fixed up,” Vi said with a charming little smile that almost made Caitlyn’s heart stop. “It was sweet of you to bring her here, most people would’ve ditched her at a shelter, or left her in the rain.”

Caitlyn’s gaze travelled to the cinnamon-colored kitten that kept nuzzling into Vi’s hands. Hands that absolutely dwarfed the kitten. Hands that were clearly gentle despite their size and strength. Hands that made Caitlyn’s thoughts rapidly spiral into dangerous territories. 

She blinked, realizing from the expectant arch of Vi’s scarred eyebrow that she was waiting for a response.

Hoping it was a simple yes or no question that she’d missed, Caitlyn offered a hesitant, “Yes?” 

Vi grinned—success . “That’s great! Do you have a name in mind already?”

“Um, not yet.” Had she just told Vi she was keeping the kitten? Caitlyn had no idea what to do with a cat—she’d only ever had dogs at least five times the size of this creature. 

“I’m sure you’ll figure something out. She’s a cute cat.”

“She is.” 

 “So, good news, I don’t think her paw is broken, but you’ll want to try to keep her off it so it can heal. I’m guessing she’s about 5 weeks old from the size of her teeth, so vaccines, blood tests, and chipping will have to wait, but we can schedule another appointment before you leave.” 

Another appointment meant another chance to see Vi. Hopefully, an opportunity to prove she didn't always look like something her apparent new cat might drag in. 

“That would be great.” Caitlyn glanced at the kitten. Was she really about to adopt a cat just for the chance to see a hot woman again? This had to be a new low. “I’ve only ever had dogs before. Is there anything unique to kitten ownership that I should know?”

Vi leaned against the exam table, one hand still gently petting the kitten. “We’ve got some brochures at the front desk with advice and resources. You’ll just want to be sure you’re feeding her right and making sure she’s not bored. Cats can get neglected because people think they don’t need as much love or exercise as dogs, but under stimulation can cause depression. There are a lot of good cat toys that help cats stay healthy, I can recommend a few to try out, and you’ll definitely want a scratching post.”

Caitlyn nodded along, fingers itching to reach for her phone and take notes, but she didn’t want Vi to think she was ignoring her to text. Surely, most of this could be found on the internet later. 

“We sell a lot of stuff here, but you can get it cheaper at a pet store—”

“I’ll buy it here.” Exhaustion had settled heavily in Caitlyn’s shoulders, and the last thing she wanted was to further delay getting home. “This seems like a great organization I’d be happy to support, and money isn’t really an issue.”

Vi picked up the kitten, holding it to face level. “Looks like you’re gonna be well taken care of, little bean. Be good and stay off that paw, alright?”

The kitten meowed and pawed at Vi’s nose with her good paw. Vi laughed, and the sound was like sunshine breaking through clouds. It was the best sound Caitlyn had heard all week—maybe ever. Being soggy and cold was a small price to pay if it meant seeing Vi smiling like that.

She’d always been a sucker for handsome mascs, and Vi’s lip scar was utterly unfair. 

When Vi returned the kitten, the brush of strong fingers against hers sent a jolt of heat down Caitlyn’s spine. It made her want to curl into Vi and soak up all the warmth she had to offer.

Vi sat behind the computer at the far end of the room while Caitlyn tried to hold the kitten in a way that would make her stop meowing. She had seemed so much happier being held by Vi, not that Caitlyn could really blame her. She’d be happier there too.

“Alright, should we say… four weeks out? We can see her again sooner if something happens that you’re worried about, but that should be long enough for her to put on some weight and get big enough for our usual exams.”

Caitlyn shifted the kitten to one arm so she could pull out her phone and open her calendar. “That would be great.”

“Sweet, I’ll add you to the schedule, and I can give you my number in case you have any questions before then.”

Caitlyn’s breath caught. If she hadn’t shown up looking the worst she’d ever looked, she would’ve thought Vi was flirting, and she wouldn’t have hesitated to return it. As it was, she couldn’t help but second guess herself. The clinic seemed pretty unprofessional, so maybe Vi really did just want to help? Maybe she gave her number to all her clients.

The thought sank like a rock into Caitlyn’s stomach. She forced the best smile she could imagine, hoping she looked grateful. She was grateful. 

“That would honestly be a life saver. Thank you, Vi.”

“All I ask in return is a constant stream of kitten pics.” Vi punctuated her words with a little wink after Caitlyn had tapped her number into her phone. 

The rock in Caitlyn’s stomach fractured into a sun, bright and warm, as she realized Vi was, in fact, flirting. Despite everything, Vi at least thought Caitlyn was worth flirting with.

“That’s quite the ask,” Caitlyn said, unable to fight the smile that spread over her lips, “But I shall do my best to provide.”

After scheduling the next appointment for a few weeks out, Caitlyn bought enough cat supplies that both Vi and Powder had to help her carry them all out to her car. Soon, Caitlyn was returning home several hundred dollars poorer and one cat richer.

Chapter Text

“Please stop distracting me,” Caitlyn said, voice bordering on a pathetic whine as Bean once again hopped onto her desk to meow at her. “I just need to finish this case—”

Meow.

Caitlyn dropped her head into her hands. Three weeks had passed since she found Bean, and they’d been some of the hardest of her life. She hadn’t been this stressed since she’d had to defend her choice of college major to her mother. In theory, a pet cat shouldn’t have been that different from a pet dog, but Bean lived to spite her. 

She chewed holes in every wire and piece of clothing she could find. She tried to dart outside everytime Caitlyn dared to open the front door, once making Caitlyn chase her all the way down the street barefoot. She ignored her scratching post in favor of scratching the hell out of all of Caitlyn’s belongings. She waited until the middle of the night to play with her loudest toys and run around the house like she was possessed. 

As if all of that wasn’t enough, Bean loved distracting Caitlyn from work by swatting at her face and insistently meowing, only to turn up her nose at anything she was offered.

It was a nightmare.

“What do you want?” Caitlyn whined as Bean swiped at her face. She jerked back, narrowly avoiding gaining new cuts along her cheek. 

Bean meowed unhelpfully.

With a tired sigh, Caitlyn reached for her phone and snapped a picture. She may as well make the best of this.

The photo she’d taken showed Bean, already subsequently larger than when Caitlyn had found her, mid-meow and staring daggers at the camera. Caitlyn sent it to Vi with a desperate, I don’t know what she wants, but she’s very insistent.

Though there were only a few days until Bean’s next vet appointment, and Caitlyn had been counting them down for weeks, she would gladly take any opportunity she got to message Vi.

Their texts had started when Caitlyn had been struggling to keep Bean off her injured paw, but it had since delved into chaos. She did her best to make good on her promise of constant cat photos, to which Vi always responded with an influx of emojis, but that was only a portion of their conversations. 

They’d begun to text about anything and everything, and sometimes their conversations lasted deep into the night, keeping Caitlyn up past the time when she usually went to sleep. It was impossible to put down her phone when Vi was on the other end of it, teasing her about the rainbow socks in the background of a Bean pic or telling her about the bunny she’d seen that day. 

Caitlyn really hoped she wasn’t misreading the flirtatious edge to some of their messages; she wanted it to mean something. Despite being the catalyst of the entire ordeal, Vi had also been its only bright spot. 

And, though it was awful, she was the only reason Caitlyn hadn’t already rehomed Bean. She didn’t want to make it look like she’d lied or like she was the kind of person to abandon something as soon as it got difficult. But she was sleep-deprived, covered in shallow cuts, and rendered entirely unproductive. To top it all off, now she was getting a headache because Bean wouldn’t stop meowing.

Bean’s paw lifted from the desk, and Caitlyn lunged forward with a desperate, “No!” 

Bean was faster. Her paw connected with Caitlyn’s full mug of tea, sending it plummeting toward the ground.

As Bean raced from the room, Caitlyn’s hand shot out. Her fingers brushed the edge of the falling mug, but the glass was hot, and she instinctively yanked her hand back. Her favorite mug shattered against the hardwood floor.

A frustrated curse ripped from Caitlyn’s mouth.

She reached for her phone, needing a distraction before she screamed. It came in the form of a text from Vi: 

:( she’s cute tho

Caitlyn snorted and snapped a picture of her tea-stained floor, ridden with shards of broken glass. She’d be a lot cuter if she didn’t just break my favorite mug.

Feeling a little better after texting Vi, Caitlyn managed to pull herself together enough to clean up the mess and start water boiling for a replacement tea.

She leaned against the counter beside the stove and checked her phone, pulse racing when she found two texts waiting.

Oh no! I’m sorry, Cait :( 

When we were kids, Powder ripped the head off my favorite stuffed animal and I didn’t talk to her for a week. The cold shoulder worked on her but miiiight not work on a cat. They’re like hardwired to love knocking shit over

The second text included a link to a video which, when clicked, appeared to be a compilation of cats pushing things over. 

Caitlyn’s lips twitched with a smile. Talking to Vi always seemed to draw her out of her negative spirals, usually brought on by Bean.

It’s the third mug she’s broken this month. I think she has a vendetta.

Though, whether Bean hated mugs or just Caitlyn, she couldn’t be sure.

Tell me more about this favorite stuffed animal of yours? Was it a cat plush?

Only three more days, she told herself, until she saw Vi again. She could make it three days. She could learn to cohabitate with Bean, and she could prove to Vi that she was a capable cat-owner who could look half-decent when she put her mind to it. 

She just needed to figure out how to keep Bean happy so she stopped destroying everything Caitlyn owned. She wasn’t sure how to do that yet, but she’d figure it out. She had to.

When Caitlyn arrived at Bean’s second vet appointment, it was in an uber, with an eyepatch over her left eye and Bean howling from her traveling crate. So much for looking her best.

Powder and Vi were both at the reception desk, Powder lounging much like she had before. She let out a low whistle as Caitlyn walked in, knuckles tight where she was grasping Bean’s crate. “The fuck happened to your eye?”

Vi smacked her shoulder. “Customer service, Pow, ever heard of it?”

Powder rolled her eyes, but dropped her feet to the ground. “Fine, fine, I’ll rephrase, what happened to your eye? You get stabbed or something?”

“Ignore her,” Vi said, walking around the desk as Caitlyn set the still-crying Bean on top of it. “Are you alright?”

Caitlyn was very much not alright. So much so, in fact, that the mere question was almost enough to make her cry. She swallowed the lump in her throat. “The damage isn’t permanent, but I have to wear this while my eye heals.” 

The way Vi leaned in, eyebrows furrowed with worry, made Caitlyn’s stomach swoop. “What happened?”

“She happened,” Caitlyn said, nodding to where Powder was cuddling Bean, holding the cat to her chest and scratching under her chin. If Caitlyn tried a move like that, she’d certainly pay for it with a few new scratches.

Powder gaped. “Bean did that!? She seems so sweet.”

“Oh, yes, she’s extremely sweet,” Caitlyn said with no small amount of bitterness, “to everyone but me.”

As if proving her point, Bean nuzzled contentedly against Powder’s cheek.

“Shit, and she went for your eye?” Vi’s voice was thick with a concern that warmed Caitlyn’s stomach, but even her presence wasn’t enough to dissolve the heavy despair that filled her lungs like smoke.

“It was how she chose to wake me up.” Caitlyn reached to touch the edge of her eyepatch. The worst of the pain had subsided, but she was still adjusting to wearing it, the loss of depth perception, the stares from strangers, the strain it put on her right eye. She wasn’t even allowed to drive; she was forced to rely on ride share services and friends’ hospitality. 

“What a menace,” Powder said as she weighed Bean. Caitlyn really hoped she was wrong about the awe she heard in her voice. “The pirate look is kind of working for you though.”

“Powder!”

“What? I was just—”

“Just give me the cat.”

Powder pouted as she stood and handed Bean to Vi. Bean settled in as easily with her as she had with Powder, purring happily and nuzzling at Vi’s hand. She was like that with everyone except Caitlyn. She had hoped they just needed time to bond, but the longer they spent together, the worse things got.

“Come on,” Vi nodded toward the hall as she picked up Bean’s empty crate with her free hand. 

Caitlyn followed her back into the same exam room they’d been in last time, all but collapsing into one of the seats. She was so tired. Sleep hadn’t come easy since Bean mauled her two days ago, even with a closed door between them. And Bean’s constant meowing and running around the house at night didn’t help either.

She sat quietly, watching Vi work, jealousy festering under her skin. Bean looked so happy nudging her head against Vi’s palm. The vaccines caused her to meow a complaint, but even then, her claws didn’t come out. It was so unfair. 

“You doing okay?” Vi asked, startling Caitlyn with the sudden change of topic. She’d just been going over Bean’s weight gain and improved health, but now she said, “Seems like you’ve had a pretty rough adjustment period.”

Caitlyn laughed, but there was no amusement in it. “I really thought owning a cat wouldn’t be very different from owning a dog, but it’s like she’s determined to make me miserable. I don’t…I don’t know how much longer I can deal with this.”

To her utter humiliation, she felt tears pricking at her eyes again. She swallowed hard, turning her gaze to the ceiling as she did her best to not cry. 

“Cait…”

“I apologize,” Caitlyn said, her voice cracking as she dabbed at her good eye.

Distracted by her attempts to come off a little less pathetic, Caitlyn didn’t notice Vi moving until their arms brushed as Vi sat down beside her. 

“Hey, it’s okay. Have you thought about rehoming her?”

Caitlyn sniffed, gaze going to the cat. She looked so cute and innocent curled up on Vi’s lap. “I’ve considered it, but it feels like giving up.”

“If you’re struggling this much, it’s okay to give up. She’s still a kitten, she’d be easy to rehome if you do it soon. Find somewhere she’s more comfortable so you can keep your pretty eyes intact.”

The flirty edge that had existed in their texts sounded different— better —in Vi’s soft, lyrical voice. For the first time in days, Caitlyn almost smiled. She took a breath, glancing between Vi and Bean, considering the words. 

“I do think she would be happier with, well, anyone else really. She’s never like this with me. Perhaps, I’m just not a cat person.”

“That’s okay, you don’t have to be.” Vi said, lightly nudging her. The gesture was casual, but it was so playful and charming that Caitlyn almost blushed.

Caitlyn nodded, pulling her bag over her arm as they stood. “Thank you, Vi. You give wonderful advice.”

Vi grinned, leading her out of the exam room. “I’ve got four younger siblings, it’s a requirement of the job.”

“Four?” 

Though Vi had mentioned other younger siblings in their text conversations, she mostly talked about Powder. Caitlyn couldn’t imagine what it must have been like growing up in such a large family. 

She thought back to their texts, trying to remember the names Vi had mentioned. “There’s Powder, and Mylo, and—”

“Claggor and Ekko—not officially, but he counts,” Vi finished, dumping Bean into Powder’s waiting arms as they reached her. “Pow’s the baby of the family.”

Powder’s glare was made significantly less intimidating by the way she was coddling Bean. “Better than being the grandma, fat hands.”

Vi reached over to tug one of Powder’s braids. “Caitlyn’s thinking about rehoming Bean—”

“Seriously!?” Powder held the cat closer. Bean blinked and craned her neck to lick Powder’s cheek. “I’ll take her. Give her to me. She’s my baby now. I’ll give her a better name—”

“What’s wrong with Bean?” Caitlyn had chosen it after hearing how cute it was when Vi called her little bean.

“She’s not a soup ingredient,” Powder scoffed. “I’m thinking… Mini Pow-Pow. Mini for short.”

Vi snorted. “That’s far worse.”

“You’re just biased. So, can I keep her or do I hafta kidnap her?”

Caitlyn felt something in her chest loosen, a weight lifting from her shoulders as she thought about returning home alone. Powder was brash and unprofessional, but Caitlyn doubted she could find a better owner than someone who worked at an animal hospital and had a veterinarian sister.

“If you truly want her, you’re welcome to keep her.”

Powder picked up the cat so they were face-to-face. “Hear that, Mini Me? You’re comin’ home with me!”

“You can visit whenever you want,” Vi said. “Maybe some distance will help.”

“Don’t invite people to my house.”

Vi rolled her eyes. “Fine, she can come to my place and you can bring Bean over.”

“Don’t use my cat to pick up girls.”

“I don’t need to; I’ve got my own for that, and it’s—”

“Ew, Vi! Stop!” Powder squealed, slapping her hands over her ears.

Caitlyn bit back her smile. She felt so much lighter knowing she wouldn’t have to worry about trying to win the affection of an animal that despised her.

And, just as amazing, she had confirmation that Vi had been flirting. She hadn’t misread anything. Even showing up drenched and then looking like a depressed pirate, somehow Vi was interested in her. Caitlyn didn’t understand it, but she wasn’t going to waste the opportunity. 

“I can bring her stuff here or to your place if that’s easier.”

“Take it to Vi’s,” Powder said, nudging her sister. “You can drop it off when you pick her up for your date.”

“Are you asking her out for me?”

“Someone has to do it, and I’m done watching you two make gooey eyes at each other.”

Caitlyn cleared her throat to get their attention back. “Are you free tonight, Vi?”

The blush that spread over Vi’s cheeks was so adorable it made Caitlyn want to melt into the floor.

“That is, if you don’t mind going on a date with a pirate. This should come off in a few days if—”

“I can be free tonight. Powder was right before, you make it look good.”

Powder groaned. “Stop flirting in front of me. Vi, your next client is ready and waiting.”

Vi glanced across the room, and Caitlyn followed her gaze. She hadn’t even noticed the man and his large dog waiting there. 

“Right, yes, work. I gotta go.” Vi’s cheeks were an adorable shade of pink, her smile a little sheepish. “Text me your address?”

Caitlyn was already pulling out her phone. “I’ll see you tonight.”

Chapter Text

Caitlyn was amazed by just how perfect Vi was. She had flaws, of course; she was stubborn, reckless, and had a bad habit of getting lost in her workouts until her knuckles bled. She was a messy eater, her sleep schedule was practically non-existent, and she sometimes left work smelling of animal urine. 

But all of that was easily overlooked by how incredible Vi was. She was kinder than anyone Caitlyn had ever met and so intelligent it was a little intimidating at times. It was a new feeling for Caitlyn, who’d always been near the top of her class and was now excelling at her legal career. Vi, though, was an expert on everything animal-related, while also being witty and clever. She could read people like books—something Caitlyn had always struggled with.

Sitting with her legs over Vi’s lap, curled in to rest her head against Vi’s shoulder, Caitlyn was so comfortable she never wanted to move again. The only concession she was willing to make was shifting her arm to drag Bean’s toy across the floor. 

Bean sat crouched, watching the toy with large eyes, tension in every line of her body. When she lunged, it was sudden and quick. She caught the toy between her teeth and yanked. Caitlyn released the handle, letting Bean pull the toy away to her cat bed. 

“She likes you,” Vi said, drawing Caitlyn’s attention to her. One of her hands was on Caitlyn’s knee, big and warm even through the fabric of her leggings.

“She tolerates me.”

Even after months of dating, Caitlyn still lost her breath whenever Vi laughed. Her smiles always reached her sky-colored eyes, lighting her whole face with joy. “Don’t be modest.”

“I’m being realistic.” 

“She was sleeping on your stomach this morning,” Vi reminds her, shifting to get her arm around Caitlyn, setting her hand on her waist. “That means she loves you.”

“It’s a vast improvement from trying to take my eye,” Caitlyn admitted. Her eye had healed, but there was a lasting scar through her eyebrow where Bean’s claws had dug in the most. 

“Exactly,” Vi squeezed her knee. 

Caitlyn's eyes drifted to Bean. She was still munching on her toy. She’d gotten over whatever issue she had with Caitlyn since Powder took her in, but she still seemed to prefer anyone else to her. Caitlyn had stopped taking offense to it—especially after she adopted the hunting dog currently curled up by her feet.

Vi had been with her then too, an arm loosely draped around Caitlyn’s shoulders as they waited for the shelter employee to scan their adoption papers. She nudged Caitlyn and murmured, “Bean is going to smell him on you and be jealous.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Bean is only ever jealous of me.” The cat loved sneaking into bed to wedge herself between them and rest her head possessively on Vi. It was preferable to waking up blinded, but Caitlyn was still bitter about a cat stealing her girlfriend. Those were her cuddles. 

Before Vi could attempt to defend Bean, the employee was returning with a folder of paperwork in one hand and a leash in the other. 

Caitlyn moved to kneel in front of her new dog as he blinked up at her with big brown eyes. 

“What are you gonna name him?” Vi asked, reaching over to scratch between his floppy ears. 

“I haven’t decided yet,” Caitlyn said as she stood, taking the folder and leash from the employee. “Do you have any suggestions?”

“So, so many.”

“Such as?”

“Hunter.”

Caitlyn felt her nose scrunch. “Absolutely not.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got more where that came from.”

Resisting the temptation to roll her eyes, Caitlyn thanked the employee. The dog, temporarily named Saint Nick by the shelter, was a few years old and already well trained. He heeled perfectly as they left the building and headed for Caitlyn’s car. “Alright, let’s hear it.”

Caitlyn had been nervous about introducing Bean and Remington, but Vi had insisted.

“Pow is always leaving Bean with me, I don’t want you and Remi to not come over any time that happens,” Vi said as they walked to her door, Remington curiously sniffing the air.

“I know.” They had spent the last two weeks doing exactly that, ensuring the two never met, and already, Caitlyn was irritated by how much less time she’d been able to spend with Vi as a result. “But Bean can be…aggressive.”

Vi’s eyebrows shot up. “You’re worried about Remi? He’s like. Five times her size, and a hunting dog.”

Caitlyn leaned to scratch behind Remington’s ears. “Yes, but he’s well trained and incredibly sweet. He’s done well with every cat and dog I’ve introduced him to. Bean may be small, but she’s fierce.”

Vi unlocked her door with a resigned sigh. “You’re not wrong about that. She takes after Powder. But they’ll get along, I can feel it.”

Though she was less sure, it was hard to argue with Vi’s confidence. “I hope so.”

The moment Remington was off his leash, he looked at Caitlyn with big eyes, whining lowly under his breath, tail wagging an impatient rhythm that kept knocking her leg. It wasn’t his first time at Vi’s place, but clearly, he could smell Bean in the apartment.

Caitlyn nodded. “Release.”

Remington took off, beelining for Vi’s bedroom door to sniff under it. 

“See?” Vi said as she kicked off her shoes in the entryway. “He wants to meet her.”

Caitlyn set her own boots against the wall before reaching for Vi’s hand to thread their fingers together. “He also wants to eat chocolate.”

“Don’t we all?”

Caitlyn glanced toward the kitchen. “Do you—”

“ Of course I have chocolate; I knew you were coming over.”

For all of Caitlyn’s worries, Remington and Bean did get along well. The introduction had been slow and careful, but in the end, Bean had settled for smacking Remington’s head whenever he got too close, quickly teaching him the importance of personal space. 

A month after Vi moved in, as she and Caitlyn lay in their bed one morning, Remington curled up at their feet, Bean purring in Caitlyn’s lap, Vi suddenly asked, “Do you regret it?”

Caitlyn set down her book, turning her attention to her girlfriend. Vi was sitting beside her, close enough their arms brushed every time either of them took a breath. She’d been playing some game on her phone, but it was now sitting face down in her lap as she reached over to stroke Bean’s head.

“You’ll have to be more specific,” Caitlyn said, leaning more heavily against her. “Do I regret what?”

Vi hesitated, her muscles tense against Caitlyn’s side. For a moment, Caitlyn feared the worst. What regrets did Vi have? Meeting her? Agreeing to a date? Moving in together? Was she already getting cold feet—

“Giving Bean to Powder.”

Caitlyn exhaled as her stress evaporated. She chuckled and slumped toward Vi, resting her cheek against the warm skin of Vi’s shoulder, left bare by her tank top. “Absolutely not. She tried to blind me.”

“Been a long time since then. Look at her now.”

Caitlyn reached out to pet Bean, her fingers brushing Vi’s in her thick dark fur. “We never would have reached this point if she’d stayed with me. She was unhappy, I was unhappy. It’s better she’s with Powder.”

Vi nodded. “Powder adores her.”

“She always has, and Bean clearly loves her and Isha.”

Even Caitlyn had slowly managed to buy Bean’s affection with cat treats over the course of many, many pet-sitting gigs. In turn, Bean had begun seeking her out to nuzzle into her and purr. Her newfound sweetness helped Caitlyn to forgive her for all of the misery she’d inflicted in their first few weeks together. 

“You’re set on no cats, then?” Vi asked, prompting Caitlyn to sit up and face her. There was a small crease between Vi’s eyebrows, like she was deep in thought or trying not to look upset, and her free hand was clenching their comforter.

Caitlyn reached out to gently turn Vi’s chin until they made eye contact before softening her palm to rest against Vi’s cheek. “Is this you asking for a cat?”

The tips of Vi’s ears were flushed. Caitlyn had learned Vi rarely asked for what she wanted, especially if it was something she wasn’t sure she could have. Caitlyn, however, was determined to give Vi the world. 

“Not if you’re gonna be miserable. I mean we have Rem, and—”

Caitlyn leaned forward to press their lips together in a chaste kiss. “I’m not opposed to a cat.”

“You’re not?”

“Provided it doesn’t despise me the way Bean used to.”

A smile stretched across Vi’s lips, tugging at her scar. “We’ll get whatever cat likes you the most.”

Caitlyn bit back her giggles in favor of kissing Vi again. She had never been a cat person, but she could surely change that—for Vi.

Powder and Isha started visiting a lot more after Caitlyn and Vi adopted Ziggy. At almost two, he was older than Bean, but he had a kitten’s energy and loved cuddles. 

He was currently napping in Isha’s arms where she was sprawled out on Caitlyn and Vi’s couch, petting Ziggy’s black and white head. Powder pet down his back from where she sat perpendicular to them, Isha’s legs draped over her own. 

“At least act like you come over to visit me,” Vi complained from where she was sitting beside Caitlyn on the love seat, one arm thrown over her shoulders so Caitlyn could press in close against her. Remington lay at their feet, watching Powder and Isha, while Bean was sleeping in a spot of sunlight near the window.

Powder rolled her eyes. “Ziggy’s cuter.”

Vi scoffed, but there was a smile on her face she couldn’t quite hide. 

Caitlyn bit back her own smile. Having such a full house was a welcome change from the days when it had been just her, but it was also a big adjustment. Just when she’d finally grown comfortable with Vi and Remington, they’d adopted Ziggy, prompting more frequent visits from both her friends and Vi’s. Caitlyn’s house had never felt quite so warm.

“Isha’s cuter than you, but you don’t see me coming over to ignore you.”

Isha glanced up, eyes narrowing. Powder tapped her and signed something to which Isha lifted her hand from Ziggy’s head to respond. Caitlyn carefully watched their hands move, hoping to see a word she recognized. She’d never expected to be learning sign language in her twenties and it was a slow process, but she was determined to communicate with Vi’s family and ensure Isha felt welcome. 

“Isha said she isn’t cute,” Vi translated, using the hand not wrapped around Caitlyn to sign as she spoke. “But we all know that’s a lie.”

Isha stuck out her tongue. 

“Has this one tried to finish what Bean started? You’ve still got both your eyes,” Powder mused. 

Caitlyn pursed her lips, unamused. “Ziggy is a delight, unlike Bean in her early days.”

“She’s probably just biding her time.”

“No way. Caitlyn’s her favorite person ever, now,” Vi said, ever her knight in shining armor.

“Thank you, darling.” Caitlyn turned to press a lingering kiss to Vi’s freckled cheek, making Powder fake gag. 

“Not in front of the kid, come on!”

Vi’s body shook with laughter as she pressed their lips together in a kiss clearly motivated by spite. It quickly fell apart as they failed to contain their laughter while Powder loudly complained from across the room.

Though Caitlyn wasn’t used to such lively afternoons, there was nowhere else in the world she’d rather be. She snuggled closer to Vi, basking in the moment and imagining all the ways their patchwork family might grow.