Chapter Text
Soobin doesn't know what he's doing.
Actually, scratch that—Soobin really doesn’t know what he’s doing.
He’s just a regular college student juggling morning classes, a part-time barista at a cafe, and the occasional existential crisis. His life is a predictable loop: wake up, survive lectures, endure work, go home, doomscroll on TikTok until sleep claims him on his secondhand couch. Boring? Yes. Stable enough to function? Also yes.
So why is he currently standing outside a pet clinic, holding a noisy, squirming gray kitten in his arms like it’s a live grenade?
Yeah. He has no idea.
The clinic door jingles as Soobin pushes it open, awkwardly cradling the hissing furball. As he enters the pet clinic, he sees a young man with fluffy golden hair. “Hello, please check on this little kitty! I haven't seen its mother and he was about to meet some strange scary men!” Soobin says in worry.
Kai, Soobin saw on his name tag, recognized the kitty before schooling on an expression like he doesn't. He tries not to smile as he picks up the gray kitty. The gray kitty just… stops hissing after seeing the vet. Which is weird because it was so loud when Soobin was holding it.
“Please have a seat. I’ll check him out,” Kai says cheerfully, effortlessly scooping the kitten by the scruff and disappearing behind a door.
Soobin slumps into the nearest chair, exhaustion crashing over him. Between his dinner shift, the spontaneous kitten rescue, and now the suspense of waiting, his brain feels like mashed potatoes. His eyelids droop as muffled voices drift from the back room. Is Kai talking to someone? Another vet, maybe?
When Kai returns, Soobin shoots to his feet like he’s been electrocuted. “How is it? Is it okay?”
Kai beams, the kitten perched calmly in his arms like royalty. “Good news! He’s completely healthy.” Soobin expects another vet to follow, but no one does. Weird.
Kai gently pets the kitten’s head with his finger, earning a loud purr. “He’s about ten weeks old. Doesn’t need his mother’s milk anymore.”
He? Soobin’s brows rise. “Wait… he’s a boy?”
“Yep. He's a healthy little baby boy.” Soobin smiles at the new information of the kitten's gender. “So, have you given it a name yet?”
Soobin tilts his head in confusion until he understands what the vet is asking. “Oh. Uh no. I'm not taking care of this kitten. I just found it on a dangerous alleyway. I was hoping maybe you could, you know… take him?”
“Unfortunately, we can't take any more animals.” Kai gestures at his surroundings that are filled with pets. “You seem like a good person though, seeing that you rescued a kitten from a dangerous situation. There's no collar on its neck that leads to its owner. I think you should adopt it.”
As if on cue, the kitten meows repeatedly at Kai, like he’s part of this manipulative scheme. Soobin finds it weird how the kitten is suddenly responsive.
Soobin laughs nervously. “Oh no, no. I’m not a cat person. I mean, look at me.” He gestures to himself dramatically, as if his oversized hoodie and tired eyes are irrefutable proof. “I can barely keep a cactus alive. And I once overwatered a cactus.”
Kai chuckles. “But you’ve kept yourself alive, haven’t you? That’s harder than taking care of a cat.”
Debatable, Soobin thinks.
Soobin thinks about his almost empty cupboard and refrigerator. How he's barely hanging on his one man salary.
He temporarily breaks his eye contact with the vet and stares at the gray kitten who is already staring up at him. He thinks about this poor kitten going back to such a dirty, wet, dangerous alleyway. Its tiny black orbs staring at him as if saying choose me, love me, ruin your budget for me.
Soobin lost the game before even thinking about it.
“Alright… I'll take him.” Soobin says in defeat.
“Great!” Kai picks up a collar with the widest smile in his face. “Now may I suggest the name ‘Juni’ for the kitten?”
“‘Juni’? Why?”
“Cause uhhh…” He looks at a nearby calendar. “Because you adopted him at the beginning of June!”
Soobin glances at the calendar. Huh. He was too focused on his job and classes he didn't know the first half of the year is almost ending. Soobin is too stunned to think of a response and nods slowly.
“Now you seem to be a new cat owner so I'll give you a list of do's and don'ts. Oh! I'll give you some kitten supplies and toys that Yeo- I mean Juni loves! This one too, kittens love this meal.” Kai stops his rambling seeing as the new owner is still in shock mixed with hesitation. “Oh, don't worry it's on the house! Now, where was I… Oh! Kittens like to…”
The vet’s enthusiasm is throwing him off, and apparently he's a cat owner now. Which… is slowly sinking in for Soobin.
Oh. Cat owner. He owns a cat now. He adopted and is now responsible for taking care of a ten week kitten.
Which Soobin has absolutely no idea.
Aa soon as he arrives at his apartment, Soobin sets down the carrier and opens the door, giving Juni his first look at his new home. The kitten stares suspiciously, clearly unimpressed.
After ten minutes of coaxing—and five snacks later—Juni finally steps out, only to dart under the couch like Soobin’s apartment is haunted.
Soobin sighs. “Same, dude.”
He spends the next hour setting up a cozy corner with the supplies Kai gave him, complete with a tiny bed and toys that crinkle, jingle, or squeak. Juni doesn’t care. Juni is busy being a shadow under the couch.
Which Soobin understands. Entering a new environment can be pretty stressful. “That’s fine,” Soobin mutters. “Adjust at your own pace. No pressure. I totally get it.” He nods like they’re having an emotional heart-to-heart, but Juni’s response is a faint sneeze.
Later, after a much-needed shower, Soobin towel-dries his hair, glancing at the empty kitten bed. He knows Juni’s still under the couch, plotting world domination or whatever kittens do when they’re not visible.
“Goodnight, Juni,” he whispers, even though the kitten probably doesn’t understand.
≽^• ˕ • ྀི≼
Being a cat owner is definitely not for the weak.
It’s been days since he adopted Juni, and he thought—naively—that he’d slowly win over the kitten’s trust with patience, love, and maybe some treats. Turns out, Juni has other plans. Evil plans. Possibly world domination.
At first, it was midly tame. Soobin arrived home one night with his vase, which has flowers that are already dead, knocked down. Along with pictures and frame. What's funnier is how Juni was sitting on a nearby pens holder, sitting with poise as if he was waiting for his owner to come back to witness.
Soobin watches in suspense as Juni locks eyes with him, slowly nudging a cup toward the edge. Nudge. Nudge. Crash.
To which Soobin just giggles. His little kitten is so funny and cute!
Instead of getting angry, he baby-talks Juni while cleaning. “It’s okay, princess. The cup didn’t deserve you anyway.” He later replaced fragile ones with plastic alternatives that didn't break. Ones that are Juni-proven!
And as if that wasn't enough to make him suffer, Juni strikes the next day. Soobin comes home from class, exhausted, ready to crash. He opens the door to a crime scene. Tissues. Everywhere.
Juni sits proudly in the middle of the chaos like he’s presenting his masterpiece. Shredded tissue bits cover the floor like confetti. Juni even has a piece stuck to his face like a battle scar.
Soobin drops his bag, takes one look, and sighs dramatically. “I see you’ve redecorated.”
Instead of yelling, he grabs the broom. Juni “helps” by attacking the broom like it’s an enemy combatant.
Soobin ends up laughing more than cleaning.
One night, Soobin is sitting on the floor, scrolling through his phone, snacks beside him. Without thinking, he casually slides a snack toward Juni’s hiding spot.
Juni hesitates… then creeps forward, snatching it like a raccoon stealing garbage.
Soobin freezes. Progress.
The next day, Juni sits slightly closer. Like… a foot away. Not for affection. Just coincidence. Totally.
“Hey, you’re not hiding today.”
The kitten glares. Pretending to clean his paw aggressively.
Suppose he is expecting his kitten to slowly adjust to a human taking care of it. He likes the attention from the kitten, he does! But it's like the kitten is on a mission to make his life harder. Like that one time Soobin’s trying to finish an assignment. He’s in the zone. Fingers flying over the keyboard. Brain working overtime.
Enter Juni. The kitten struts across the desk with all the grace of royalty, directly over the keyboard, turning his important essay about his concept of free will to a mess of “sdlkfjsdlj2344.” Then Juni sits right on the backspace key, tail flicking like he pays rent.
Soobin watches in horror as his words slowly disappears but he sighs, gently lifts Juni, and places him beside the laptop. “You can sit here, okay?”
Ten seconds later, Juni is back, now aggressively headbutting the screen.
Soobin chuckles. “You might be onto something. I actually don't want to do this essay! This is like Dr. Lee's fifth essay for the month. But alas, I need to keep my grades high.” He grabs a towel, folds it like a tiny throne, and places it next to his laptop. “There. Your royal seat.”
Juni was hesitating for a while. Debating if he loves the warmth cloth or not, but ended up accepting it.
So far, Soobin is happy to report that he is upholding his promise to build trust with his kitten.
ᓚ₍⑅^..^₎♡
“Okay, so I might be a little late tonight.” Soobin announced, pacing around his small apartment. “I've left you some dry food and filled up the water bowl. Your favorite toys are here so it won't make a mess. What else… Oh! I’ve also cleaned your litter box. So it's all set!” He clapped his hands as if sealing the deal, then chuckled softly. “It’s not like you’re listening anyway, I'm just talking to myself.”
Soobin places his head on the floor to meet Juni's gaze who seems to love the under of fhe couch so much. “Will you be a good kitty, Juni?”
The kitten meowed so small, you wouldn't even hear it if you didn't pay attention.
“Okay, I'll take it.”
After locking the door carefully behind him, Soobin took the stairs down, his heart still lingering in the apartment above. As he stepped outside, his gaze fell on a man standing near the building, holding grocery bags. The guy was around 177 cm, dressed casually but with an aura that made him seem… intimidating. His sharp, cat-like eyes could cut glass, yet for some reason, Soobin thought he looked—cute?
What the hell? Soobin quickly shook the thought away, resisting the absurd urge to ruffle the guy’s hair like a stray cat’s, and hurried off toward campus.
Once Soobin was out of sight, Taehyun entered the building, his footsteps silent despite the weight of the grocery bags in his hand. He climbed to the third floor with ease, stopping in front of a specific door. Balancing the bags in one hand, he pulled out a small tool with the other and picked the lock effortlessly.
He was greeted with the sight of a 181cm man sprawled lazily on the couch.
“So, did you do a background check on him?” The man asks.
Taehyun enters the apartment and locks the door behind him. He gracefully hands the man on the couch a folder he's been holding on.
“Choi Soobin. Twenty-four years old. Philosophy major at Yonsei University, scholarship student with two years left. Works part-time as a barista at a cafe nearby. One brother, one sister. Both parents are alive. No connections to any rival groups.”
The man hummed, flipping through the neatly organized documents. A recent photo of Soobin stared back at him—bright bunny eyes, soft cupid’s bow lips, and that awkward, endearing smile.
“Huh.” Yeonjun’s fingers lingered on the photo longer than necessary.
“Yeonjun hyung, what are you doing out here? You know you can just leave this apartment and the guy will think the kitten escaped or something.” Taehyun finally lets down the bag of groceries to the floor. “And we're all just waiting for your orders back in the camp.”
“Did you remember why I'm here at the first place? Your boyfriend Kai basically wrapped me in a box and gave all my rights to this boy. I basically got kidnapped! He was supposed to leave me on that pet store! You're lucky I'm not taking it out on him.”
To that, Taehyun just sheepishly smiled and even let a little hehe at his boyfriend's actions, “You can't even get mad at him.”
“You're right.” Yeonjun sighs. “I can't get mad at Kai.” He can never get mad at that angel with golden locks.
Yeonjun, the guy in the couch, finally lets down the folder on a nearby table and sinks comfortably on the shredded couch. “I've been trying to piss the guy off in various ways so he can leave me back in the streets, but he's not breaking! He even talks to me like I'm going to answer back. I only have meow and meow in my vocabulary. Clearly, he doesn't have any experience with raising cats!”
“And yet, you’re still here,” Taehyun deadpanned, crossing his arms.
Yeonjun shots him a look. “One time, I tried to murder him with my paws for his loud alarm clock at 7AM, guess what, the guy just laughed, picked me up and filled my bowl with my favorite treats while yawning. To which I loved by the way. But I even tried to piss him off by pooping beside the litter box. How did I not break him on that!”
“Ugh, I have to make the guy suffer more. I need to break him. He's so patient and kind and loving to me. He's… interesting to say the least.” He stood, stretching lazily before walking over to the kitchen. Spotting a crumpled receipt in the trash, he picked it up absentmindedly.
Just from the look of Soobin's shabby apartment, it's obvious how Soobin has been living with a tight budget. But Soobin spoils the kitten so much. He bought discounted bread for himself, but when it comes to cat food, they were premium, expensive—the kind Yeonjun actually liked. Yeonjun remembers refusing to eat the one dollar cat food and eats the expensive one to piss Soobin off. It seems like Soobin pays attention to the kitty.
Despite living on a tight budget, Soobin splurged on him.
Yeonjun’s heart squeezed unexpectedly. This guy… he’s not so bad.
Taehyun watched him with narrowed eyes. “Oh yeah. Totally here to make him suffer. Definitely not getting attached or anything.”
“Hush!” Yeonjun refuses to look at Taehyun as his cheeks warms up. “The guy treats me like the princess that I am, okay? It feels good to be loved and not chained by responsibilities for once.”
Taehyun’s expression softened slightly, the sarcasm fading from his voice. He’d been with Yeonjun through every high and low, ever since the weight of leadership had been forced on him.
“I’ll let this slide,” Taehyun muttered, “since this is basically a vacation for you. Also Kai ranted about you being alone forever and needing some companion. And you know I can't say no to him on a middle of a makeout session.
Yeonjun gagged. “Gros-”
“But the second you’re in danger, cat form or not, I’m dragging you out of here. No arguments.”
Yeonjun turned, grinning. “That’s why you’re my favorite dongsaeng.” He pulled Taehyun into a sudden, tight hug, which the latter tried to squirm out of.
“Ugh, stop—”
“Shhh, let me have this moment!” Yeonjun tightened his grip dramatically. Then, with a playful smirk, he added, “Now put the groceries away and get that cat toy. I need to see how Soobinie does that little jiggly dance thing again when he’s trying to make me chase it.”
Taehyun groaned, dragging the bags toward the kitchen. “I can’t believe I’m doing this for the most feared mafia boss in Seoul.”
Yeonjun flopped back onto the couch, smiling to himself. “Correction: the most pampered mafia boss.”
ฅ^>⩊<^ ฅ
Juni continued being a menace. While the human isn't harmful, Juni is set to make things difficult just to see how long Soobin's patience lasts. But he has to pay Soobin’s kindness somehow. He did “save” Juni after all.
So when Soobin came home to his apartment that night, he was shocked to see his kitchen pantry filled with groceries he can't remember buying.
He blinked. Then blinked again. The fluorescent light flickered dramatically, like it was trying to add to the suspense. But it stayed there. It wasn’t just his imagination.
His shelves, once sad, dusty, and as empty as his savings account, were now fully stocked. Noodles. Canned goods. Snacks. Even the fancy ramen he never bought because it was “too luxurious” for his budget.
“Did I… win the lottery in my sleep?” he whispered. “Did Past Me suddenly develop responsible adult habits? Is this a prank? Am I on a hidden camera show?”
The confusion spun in his brain like a buffering video. But then… he saw it.
The cat food section.
Rows and rows of neatly stacked, premium kitten food. Fancy brands he’d only glanced at wistfully in the pet store before reaching for the budget bag. There were even little treats with cute names like “Tuna Temptations” and “Chicken Bliss.”
“Oh my gosh, Juni!” Soobin gasped, spinning around, his exhaustion now replaced with pure excitement. “Look! You’re stocked for months, princess!”
His face lit up like he’d just found treasure. He crouched down, grinning ear to ear, clutching a bag of treats as if it were solid gold.
Juni, sitting regally on the counter, was… flustered.
Not because of the food, no. Because his human was happier about his food than the glorious human food stocked behind him. The audacity. The disrespect. Juni’s eyes narrowed slightly. How dare Soobin prioritize cat food joy over the wonder of his own survival snacks? Clearly, Soobin needed to be humbled.
And how does one humble a human? By asserting dominance, obviously.
Juni hopped down gracefully, his little paws pat-pat-patting on the floor. His target? The knife section. The shiny, dangerous knife section Soobin always left out because, well, he lived alone and convenience mattered.
Soobin was mid-celebration, still shaking the treat bag like a maraca, when he noticed Juni’s trajectory.
At first, it was slow-motion.
Juni sauntered casually, tail flicking like he was just stretching his legs, no big deal. Then, he reached the knives, paw raised, eyes glinting with mischief.
Tap. A knife wobbled slightly.
Soobin’s soul left his body.
“NOOOOOO!” he screeched, launching himself across the room with the speed of an Olympic sprinter.
Juni paused, startled, his paw still hovering mid-air.
Soobin scooped him up like a fumbled football, clutching him to his chest. “Princess, no! That’s not a toy! That’s not a scratching post! That’s metal danger!”
Juni blinked, clearly unfazed. Soobin’s heart was racing. He set Juni down gently, giving him a stern (but affectionate) look. Then he turned to the knives.
“Okay. That’s it.”
Five minutes later, every single knife was safely tucked inside a cabinet, childproof lock included. Soobin dusted off his hands, satisfied, then turned to Juni, who was sitting like the smug little prince he was, gave a slow, satisfied blink.
Soobin, now emotionally drained and physically tired, slumped onto the couch. He glanced at the stocked shelves, then at Juni.
“Well, I still don’t know how the food got here,” he mumbled, “but at least you’re safe, and that’s what matters.”
Juni flicked his tail, secretly pleased. His human may be clueless, but at least he was well-trained. That was how Soobin was. He learns from his mistakes and corrects himself. Even when Juni tries to be a chaotic kitten.
Soobin was patient. Even when the tiny menace tries to cause a lot of chaos. During his breaks at work, he’d dive into books about kitten care at the library, and before bed, he’d scroll through endless articles and forums, learning the art of surviving an overly active feline.
He couldn’t bring himself to be mad at Juni, no matter how many times his socks mysteriously vanished or how often he found his cereal box suspiciously tipped over.
And then, one night, his efforts finally paid off. Something happened that finally broke the ice.
There was a loud thunderstorm that night. Juni, usually a little menace, hides under the couch, trembling.
Soobin finds him, lying flat on the floor, reaching under with a soft voice. “Hey, Juni. It’s okay, I’m here.”
He stays there for hours, hand stretched under the couch, just letting Juni feel his presence. Eventually, Juni crawls out, shaking. Soobin gently scoops him up, wraps him in a blanket burrito, and holds him close.
“See? Nothing’s gonna hurt you while I’m here.”
That night was the first time Soobin felt Juni purr softly. That was the first night Juni fell asleep in Soobin’s arms, purring softly against his chest.
From there on, there was visible progress that the kitten is slowly trusting Soobin. Like maybe he's finally understanding that Soobin isn't trying to hurt him. Hey, he's getting the hang of being a cat dad!
When Soobin leaves for work, Juni doesn’t react. Cool. Whatever. Who cares?
But when Soobin comes back—exhausted, slumping onto the couch—Juni is mysteriously always nearby. Not close enough to cuddle. Oh no. Just… lurking in the same room. Pretending to be uninterested.
They even had a little dinner routine now—not exactly the picture of cozy companionship, but it worked for them. Soobin sat at his small, wobbly table, eating whatever quick meal he managed to throw together, while Juni dined regally on the floor, savoring his gourmet wet cat food.
Soobin was fine with the arrangement. They had their space, their rhythm, existing comfortably in the same room, aware of each other’s presence without making a big deal out of it.
But one evening, right in the middle of their usual dinner, Soobin got up to grab a spoon he forgot in the kitchen. No big deal—just a quick trip. But as he reached for the drawer, he heard the faintest sound of silence behind him. He turned around to find Juni sitting completely still, its head tilting while staring at him with an expression that could only be described as offended.
The little prince had paused his meal.
As if Soobin’s absence was a personal insult.
Soobin blinked, then burst out laughing. “Okay, okay. I’m here now. You can continue eating.”
Juni, as if thoroughly pleased with this acknowledgment, flicked his tail with royal satisfaction before gracefully returning to his feast.
Of course, there's still problems he didn't anticipate such as making the mistake of charging his phone near the kitten. He was met with the fate of having his one and only charger getting chewed on. Soobin had no choice but to buy a new charger. Rest in peace.
But the highlight, the breakthrough that Soobin will forever cherish, was when Juni finally let Soobin pet him. Not the accidental brushes or sneaky boops. A real, intentional pet.
With millions of cat videos and a three hour call with his sister, he finally knew how to properly pet the kitten. He starts by lightly scratching the chin, then up to the gentle strokes on the top of the head, then the soothing spot behind the ears. The kitten releases loud purrs in that specific order.
Soobin’s heart did that soft, squishy thing. Maybe I’m not so bad at this after all.
Now, every time Juni looks up and slow-blinks—the universal sign of cat affection—Soobin feels like he’s won the lottery.
“I love you, my little Juni,” Soobin whispers one evening, gently scratching behind his ears. Juni purrs louder, leaning into the touch.
And in that simple, quiet moment, Soobin knows—he’s been accepted. And nothing feels better than that.
₍^. .^₎⟆
Soobin's nightmare arrived in the worst way possible. Just when he successfully built a relationship and trust with the feline! He couldn’t stop his heart beating loudly and anxiety increasing as he arrived to his apartment with his door open.
Did I forgot to lock the door? Did I think it was closed when it wasn't? Did Juni escape? What if he doesn't know his way back? Thoughts filled Soobin's mind by minute, and it didn't help his worries.
He tries to recall what happened earlier before leaving for school.
Soobin crouched down to gently scoop the kitten into his arms like he was made of glass. He pressed a kiss on the top of Juni’s soft head. “I know I’ve barely gone out since I adopted you, but Beomgyu asked me for another favor. I can’t say no to him again.”
The kitten responded with a soft meow, making Soobin’s heart squeeze. “I swear, sometimes it feels like you understand me.” He laughed quietly, though the weight of guilt lingered in his chest. “Be a good boy, okay? Can hyung trust you?”
Juni tilts its head before letting out another meow. Soobin smiled, though it was tinged with sadness. Leaving felt harder than it should.
And maybe he should've listened to his instincts. Maybe he should've at least turned around to double check if his door was thoroughly locked. He was such a bad owner. Bad owner.
He called his best friend Beomgyu for help, who immediately printed missing cat posters.
Soobin immediately sprang into action. Panic surged through him like caffeine on an empty stomach. Juni was missing. Missing.
He tore through his apartment first, checking every possible hiding spot. He dropped to his knees, peering under the couch. No Juni. He opened cabinets, shook boxes, even checked the washing machine—because what if Juni had somehow decided that was the perfect nap spot? But nothing.
“Juni?” he called softly, voice wobbling. His apartment echoed back nothing but silence.
Desperation kicked in. Soobin combed through every floor of his apartment building, knocking on doors of neighbors he’d only ever waved at awkwardly in the hallway.
“Hi, um—sorry to bother you—have you seen a small gray kitten? About this big,” he gestured wildly, “with the aura of someone who thinks they own the world?”
Most neighbors shook their heads with polite sympathy, while one old lady tried to give him cookies instead of answers. (He took the cookies. He was stressed.)
Still, no Juni.
Next stop: the alley. The place where it all began. Soobin’s heart clenched as he scanned the familiar shadows, hoping, praying he’d see those tiny black orbs glaring at him. But the alley was just…empty.
He retraced every usual route—his path to class, the shortcut to the convenience store, even the park where he sometimes sat after a long shift. Nothing.
In a last-ditch effort, Soobin rushed to the pet clinic, his chest tight with dread. The bell above the door jingled weakly as he stumbled inside.
Kai looked up from the counter, immediately catching the panic etched on Soobin’s face.
“Juni’s missing,” Soobin blurted out, breath ragged.
Kai’s cheerful demeanor faded, replaced by a soft, sympathetic expression. He shook his head gently, lips pressed in a thin line. “I haven’t seen him, Soobin. I'm sorry. But he’ll come back to you. I'm sure of that.”
Soobin’s heart felt heavier than ever.
After hours of searching, Soobin finally gave up. He’d checked every possible spot near his apartment where the kitten might’ve wandered. Exhaustion weighed heavily on him, both mentally and physically. He thanked Beomgyu for helping him put the missing posters all over town, who just gave him a pity look that Soobin decided to ignore.
The whole time he’d been putting up those posters, a nagging thought clung to him: What a terrible owner I am. I don't deserve him. I'm a bad owner. He cried for hours and hours. He hadn’t realized just how much the little gray kitten had changed his life, filling it with warmth and happiness he never knew he needed—until now.
When he finally reached his apartment, he unlocked the door with shaky hands and flicked on the lights out of habit. And there, on its small cat bed, curled up as if nothing had happened, was his tiny gray kitten, sleeping soundly.
“Juni!” Soobin’s bag and the remaining posters slipped from his hands, forgotten, as he rushed to the bed. He scooped up the kitten with trembling arms, holding him as if he were made of glass. “I can’t believe it. It’s you! My little Juni… Oh, my little Juni…”
Soobin couldn’t stop the tears from his eyes. He clutched the kitten to his chest, his heart swelling with relief and guilt. He never felt such pain and relief in his life. The sudden movement woke Juni, who blinked sleepily before letting out a loud, content purr.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” Soobin whispered, his voice cracking. “I’ll be a better owner. I promise.”
The kitten tilted its head on its owner's emotions before responding by nuzzling his head against Soobin’s chest. Sometimes, Soobin thinks about how the kitten might understand him and the situation they're in. Nevertheless, he feels grateful when the kitten rubs its head to Soobin's chest. And just like that, the exhaustion and anxiety he felt melted away.
“It must’ve been so scary for you. I don’t even know where you went. If you're okay or not. I wish you could talk to me, so I know if you're hurting or not, the places you’ve reached. I can't even,” Soobin sniffed, “can't even afford a tracking collar for you.”
Soobin sat on the floor, Juni cradled in his arms, absentmindedly stroking the kitten’s soft fur with his thumb. His face was streaked with tears, his words slurred with exhaustion and emotion. “I’ll be better next time. I promise. I love you, my Juni. I love you.”
Once Soobin was completely out, the kitten stirred—and in the blink of an eye, where the tiny gray cat had been, stood Yeonjun in his human form. He gazed down at Soobin, his heart tight with emotions he couldn’t quite name. Gently, he brushed a tear-streaked strand of hair from Soobin’s face.
“I didn’t know I meant this much to you,” Yeonjun murmured softly, his chest aching with something unfamiliar.
His eyes drifted to the scattered bag and the crumpled missing posters on the floor. Soobin must’ve searched every corner of the city, never giving up, even when he was clearly exhausted. Yeonjun sighed, his gaze softening. He didn’t even lock his apartment…
Carefully, as if afraid to disturb the peaceful look on Soobin’s face, Yeonjun lifted the taller man and carried him to the bed. Once Soobin was tucked under the covers, Yeonjun sat beside him for a moment, simply watching. There was something endearing about the way Soobin’s face relaxed in sleep, free from worry.
What am I going to do with you, Soobin?
/ᐠ - ˕ -マ
The next morning, Soobin woke up with a pounding headache. Disoriented, he blinked at the ceiling, confusion swirling in his foggy mind. Wait… why am I in my bed?
The last thing he remembered was crying on the floor, holding Juni close, too tired to even stand. He was sure he’d fallen asleep right there. How did he end up in bed?
His spiraling thoughts were interrupted by a familiar warmth pressing against his side. Turning his head, he found Juni snuggled beside him, purring softly, his tiny head nudging Soobin’s arm.
A smile crept onto Soobin’s face, his confusion momentarily forgotten. “Good morning to you too, Juni,” he whispered, lifting the kitten gently and placing him on his chest.
The kitten purred louder, nestling into Soobin’s warmth like he belonged there.
And maybe he did.
>^•-•^<
“Look! This is you with a rainbow coming out your mouth. Oh, this one makes your eyes huge! And, wait, wait, this is you with a dog filter.” Soobin giggles at his kitten on his phone screen with Snapchat filters. “You look so silly this is so ridi- oh… this is you with a flower crown.”
As if he couldn't let his kitten go after the incident, Juni was upgraded from its own cat bed to Soobin's bed. The kitten didn't even resist, as if it also wanted to spend more time with its owner.
They became inseparable. They ate dinner together at the same wobbly table—Soobin with his instant ramen, Juni with his fancy wet cat food that, ironically, cost more than Soobin’s meal. They had movie nights where Soobin was wrapped in a blanket burrito, and Juni was tucked beside him, judging whatever rom-com Netflix served up. Their bond grew with every lazy day and every midnight cuddle.
They were lounging on Soobin’s bed. The sunset painting soft streaks across the room, and Soobin had the rare luxury of no classes—just time to laze around before covering Beomgyu’s night shift.
“Oh, would you look at that,” Soobin mumbled, checking his phone. “It’s time already. I need to get going.”
Juni let out the saddest little meow and rubbed his head against Soobin’s hand, like a tiny guilt trip wrapped in fur..
“Aww, baby,” Soobin cooed, heart already melting. “I don’t wanna leave you either, but I promised Beomgyu I’d cover for him. He did help me find you, remember?” He booped Juni’s tiny nose, earning a dramatic flick of the tail in response.
This time, Soobin triple-checked the door lock before leaving—literally. He locked it, walked away, came back, jiggled the handle, walked away again, then returned for one final check. Satisfied (sort of), he finally left.
His feet carried him down his usual route, mind drifting into that soft, fuzzy daydream space. He thought about what fun things he could do with Juni after work. Maybe buy a new toy—if it fit his tight budget—or some catnip. Wait… are kittens even allowed catnip? He mentally bookmarked that for later research.
Soobin was so lost in thought he didn’t even notice the shadow creeping closer until—bam—rough hands yanked him into a dark alley.
Panic slammed into him like a freight train. Three men towered over him, big and broad, their faces twisted with malicious intent. They grabbed his bag, dumping its contents onto the grimy ground—wallet, phone, crumpled receipts, and an emergency bag of cat treats (because you never know when your feline overlord demands snacks).
Soobin’s heart raced. His brain screamed. His legs felt like jelly.
He was scared for his life.
“Where is he? Where did you hide him?” one of the three men growled, his voice so deep it felt like it rumbled in Soobin’s chest.
Soobin’s brain short-circuited. He was too terrified to even process the question properly.
“Wh-Wh-Who?” he stammered, his heart pounding like it was trying to escape his ribcage.
“You know who! Don’t even try to play dumb.”
“I—I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Soobin squeaked, his voice trembling as much as his hands. “I’m not hiding anyone!”
One of the men scoffed, the sound dripping with disbelief. “He’s lying. Look at him. He’s not scared enough.”
The man in the middle stepped forward, his presence heavier than the others. He pulled out a knife—its blade catching the faintest glint from a distant streetlight—and Soobin swore his heart plummeted straight to his stomach.
“I—I’m so sorry if I did anything wrong,” Soobin blurted, his knees threatening to give out. His voice cracked with desperation. “P-Please spare me. I—I’ll pay! Any amount, any debt—I’ll figure it out, just please let me go.”
The man with the knife leaned closer, the tip of the blade hovering dangerously near Soobin’s chest. “We don’t need your money. We need him.”
Soobin’s mind raced, his thoughts a jumbled mess. Who? Who could they possibly mean?
“Who?” he croaked, voice barely a whisper.
“Stop playing, kid,” the man hissed. “We want Cho—”
But before he could finish, a voice cut through the alley like a sharp blade, loud and clear, dripping with authority.
“I heard you’re looking for me.”
The words echoed off the cold brick walls, freezing everyone in place.
Soobin’s head snapped toward the source of the voice. Standing at the other side of the alley was a tall figure, his silhouette sharp and imposing under the faint glow of a flickering streetlamp. A fedora sat low on his head, casting a shadow over his face, but even in the dim light, his presence was undeniable—commanding, dangerous.
The three men shifted their attention from Soobin to the tall man at the end of the alley, but their grip on Soobin remained iron-tight.
“Let him go,” the man said coolly, voice sharp like a blade in the dark. “And the three of you can walk out in one piece.”
One of the thugs scoffed. “Still arrogant as ever. You really think you can take on all three of us?”
The tall man chuckled softly, the sound low and dangerous. “I’m being considerate right now.”
With a smooth motion, he removed his fedora and set it aside, revealing piercing eyes that seemed to cut straight through the darkness. His expression hardened. Even at the dark, Soobin can see the tall man's red hair.
“Offer’s gone,” he said, rolling his sleeves up with eerie calm. “Now, none of you are getting out alive.”
And just like that, chaos erupted.
The first thug lunged forward, swinging his fist with reckless force. The tall man sidestepped with ease, grabbing the thug’s wrist mid-swing and twisting it sharply—crack—sending him crashing to the ground, writhing in pain.
The second man charged with a metal pipe, roaring like it would make him faster. The tall man ducked under the swing, his movements fluid like water, then drove his elbow into the thug’s ribs. Thud. A wheeze escaped the man’s lips before he was swept off his feet with a swift kick to the back of his knee, slamming face-first into the pavement.
But the third man, still holding Soobin, wasn’t so foolish. He pulled Soobin tighter, pressing the cold blade of a knife against his neck. Soobin’s breath hitched, fear rooting him in place. His instincts screamed run, but his legs wouldn’t listen.
The tall man froze, his jaw tightening. His eyes, sharp and unreadable just moments ago, darkened with something far more dangerous—rage.
“Let. Him. Go,” he growled, his voice low and seething.
The thug smirked, thinking he had the upper hand. “What are you gonna do now, huh?” He pressed the knife just enough for Soobin to feel the sting of the blade.
That was the thug’s first mistake.
The tall man moved like lightning. One second he was standing still, the next he was right there—too fast, too close. He grabbed the thug’s wrist, twisting it so hard the knife clattered to the ground. With his other hand, he landed a brutal punch straight to the man’s face, sending him sprawling backward.
Soobin stumbled out of the way, collapsing to his knees, his heart racing as he watched.
The fight wasn’t over. The first two thugs scrambled back up, bloodied but furious. They rushed the tall man together. Big mistake.
He met them head-on. A knee to the gut sent one gasping for air. A spinning elbow caught the other square on the jaw, knocking him out cold. The last thug, the one who’d held Soobin, tried to crawl away, but the tall man grabbed him by the collar and slammed him into the wall.
The alley was silent except for the thugs’ groans.
The tall man stood over them, breathing evenly, unbothered by the chaos he’d just unleashed. His sharp gaze swept over the crumpled figures, then he spoke quietly, almost bored.
“Go.”
The three of them scrambled like cockroaches, tripping over themselves to escape down the alley, leaving Soobin trembling on the ground.
The tall man finally turned to face him.
Their eyes met.
And for the first time, Soobin got a clear look at his savior’s face.
The alley felt eerily quiet, the tension lingering in the cold night air. Soobin’s heart was still racing, not from the sprint of adrenaline but from the aftermath.
As the dust settled, Soobin realized something ridiculous. He was taller. Standing face-to-face, Soobin had a good inch over him. But somehow, the man still felt taller. Maybe it was the way he carried himself—an effortless confidence stitched into every movement, like he owned the night.
The dim glow from a flickering street lamp caught the man’s red hair, slightly tousled but striking against the dark. His sharp, foxy eyes gleamed with something unreadable. His dress shirt clung perfectly to his frame, tucked neatly into black slacks, cinching at his slim waist
Why am I noticing that right now? Soobin thought, blinking hard. His life was in danger minutes ago, and here he was… staring.
Even with the clear height difference, the man still has this cool savior aura. Even when he just witnessed the man taking down three men to save his life, he didn't feel threatened.
Despite everything—the fight, the danger—Soobin didn’t feel threatened. No, oddly enough, he felt… safe.
The man bent down casually, picking up Soobin’s scattered belongings with a grace that didn’t match someone who just fought like a one-man army. Soobin wanted to move, to help, but his legs were still rooted in place.
The man straightened up and handed Soobin his bag, their fingers brushing for the briefest second. It was nothing, really. But Soobin’s breath hitched like it wasn’t.
“T-thanks,” Soobin muttered, voice small, throat dry.
The man’s lips curled into a smirk, taking a step forward. Instinctively, Soobin stepped back.
“Thank you for saving my life, um… what’s your name—” Soobin stammered as his back hit the cold brick wall.
The man didn’t stop. He closed the space between them effortlessly, placing one hand on the wall beside Soobin’s head, leaning in—not enough to be overwhelming, but just enough to steal the air between them. Despite Soobin’s taller frame, the man tilted his chin slightly, looking up with eyes that held galaxies of trouble and charm.
“Choi Yeonjun.”
Yeonjun answered with a small smile, eyes never leaving Soobin. His voice was velvet-smooth, low, with a hint of playful danger. Soobin couldn't take his eyes off the man with foxy eyes.
Yeonjun tilted his head slightly, his smile softening just a fraction, eyes narrowing like he was studying Soobin’s face. His hand stayed on the wall, fingers relaxed, not trapping but anchoring.
Then he spoke again, his voice dropping to a whisper that felt like it was meant for Soobin alone.
“Are you lost, darling?”