Chapter Text
Everything sparkled, even the night sky, bathed in fireworks, bright lights, and laughter. The Golden Saucer was alive with joy, a place where vacations and happy memories began. But for me, it had become the backdrop of my worst moment.
I sighed into my hands, staring up at the tiny patch of sky untouched by the neon glow. I had just been dumped. And what a wonderful place to do it—right in the middle of the most extravagant amusement park in the world. I had yelled, begged, sobbed. And now, I was left with nothing.
Abandoned.
My return ticket wasn’t for another week, and I had nowhere to stay. Everything—our hotel, our plans—had been in his name. No way to go home. No way to wallow in pity. And no place to sleep.
At least my tears had dried up. I wiped at my face, sniffling.
First things first... I needed to find a place to stay.
Just as I pushed myself up from the bench, something small and fast bolted toward me. A blur of black and white fur.
Startled, I yelped, stumbling back as the odd little creature stopped in front of me. It was a cat—sort of. It stood on two legs, its slit eyes fixed on me in an almost knowing way.
It was adorable. And, for just a second, it made me forget that I’d been dumped.
The cat tilted its head, seemingly inspecting me. That was when I noticed the far too fluid movements. A robot? It really was an amazing toy.
I reached down, hesitantly brushing my fingers against its cheek. It felt smooth, cool—definitely not alive.
“Well,” I sighed, giving a wry smile, “this is a pretty awful place to get dumped, huh, kitty? I don’t even have a room to stay in.”
“I shall help you, lassie.”
I screamed and dropped the cat to the ground.
It had just talked.
The cat—if it even was a cat—raised its tiny paws in an almost human-like gesture. I could only stare, stumbling over my words as I pointed at the strange creature.
“Y-you can talk?”
“I can do more than that, lass!” he said brightly, his voice carrying a thick, cheerful accent. It was almost infectious, cutting through the lingering ache in my chest despite my miserable mood.
He stood proudly before me, red cape fluttering behind him, brown boots clicking against the ground as he pointed a stubby paw in my direction. He barely reached my knees.
“I can even tell yer fortune!” he declared.
I blinked, still processing how energetic he was. His tail swished side to side, his slitted eyes gleaming with excitement.
So cute…
“No thanks,” I muttered, shaking my head.
His ears drooped slightly. Was that disappointment? For a robot, he sure played his part well.
I cleared my throat. “But… you mentioned something about a room?”
“Aye! That I did!” He perked up instantly. “I can take ye there now if ye like?”
I hesitated, weighing my options. Trusting a talking robot cat… or sleeping on a bench with no blankets, no security, and no dignity left.
“…Alright,” I sighed.
He lifted his tiny hand, and I reached down, grasping it carefully.
It was cold. Mechanical.
I wished, just for a second, that it was warm. That the hand I was holding belonged to someone real.
He led me to a hotel, though… well, it looked haunted. The eerie décor, dim lighting, and unsettling paintings gave me pause, but I guessed it was part of the theme. I just hoped it wasn’t too expensive. Staying inside the Golden Saucer was pricey—I knew that much.
Still, I stepped inside, making my way through the lobby to the front desk. I hit the little bell once. Then twice.
A bloodcurdling scream rang out.
I barely had time to react before a man dressed as a zombie came swinging down from the ceiling.
I shrieked, nearly jumping out of my skin as I grabbed onto the cat—Cait Sith—holding him like a lifeline.
The zombie man chuckled from where he dangled. “Pardon me, ma’am. Just part of the experience.”
I gasped for breath, my heart racing. “Giving me a heart attack is part of the experience?”
He only smiled. “May I help you, ma’am?”
“A—A room, please,” I stammered, still recovering.
The receptionist hummed as he scrolled through an iPad, still hanging upside down. After a moment, he sighed. “Looks like we’re fully booked.”
Of course they were. I exhaled sharply, trying not to let disappointment sink in.
Meanwhile, Cait Sith was purring in my arms, his small, mechanical head nestled against my palm. At some point, I had started petting him without even realizing it, and to my surprise, it was actually… calming.
Then he spoke up. “Try again, good sir.”
Strangely enough, the man didn’t ignore him. He tapped at his screen once more, and his eyes widened.
“Oh! It seems a room has just opened up. If you’d still like it. And—it’s already been paid for.”
I blinked. “Paid for?”
That didn’t make sense. My ex wouldn’t have done that—not in a million years.
Cait Sith straightened up proudly in my arms. “Aye, paid by me, lassie! Cait Sith.”
I stared at him. “How…? You’re a robot.”
The receptionist handed me a key before I could question it further. “Your room is the Chocobo Room. Please enjoy your stay.”
Still baffled, I nodded, taking the key as I glanced down at Cait Sith.
Just who—or what—was he?
Once I reached my door, I set Cait Sith down and hesitated, glancing into the room. Uncertainty lingered, but it was paid for, and I was grateful.
Kneeling down, I ran my fingers through the soft fur on his head, brushing against the tiny crown that—somehow—never seemed to fall.
“Thank you, Cait Sith. I have no idea how, but… you’ve truly made my day.”
He puffed out his chest proudly. “Ach, not a problem, lass! Enjoy yer stay here at the Golden Saucer. Though, might I say—” he crossed his arms, tail flicking “—that man o’ yers was a right fool to abandon ye.”
I smiled. Whoever programmed him must have been a real sweetheart.
“My name’s Y/N,” I said softly. “I hope to see you around… I’ll be here for the week, anyway.”
Cait Sith grinned wide, his little ears twitching. “Then I’ll be seein’ ye, lass!”
On impulse, I leaned down and pressed a light kiss to his forehead.
His tail shot straight up, and I laughed at his flustered reaction before stepping into my room.
As I shut the door, I caught one last glimpse of him—waving wildly, his usual energy as infectious as ever.
I doubt I would see the cat again but as I turned in for the night I did hope.
The moment I woke up, I wasn’t sure what to do.
Should I explore the park… and risk running into my ex? The thought made my stomach twist. Staying holed up in my room felt like a waste, but wandering through a place built for happiness while I was nothing but a storm cloud didn’t seem much better.
A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. Room service, probably. They had kindly delivered dinner last night and breakfast this morning, ensuring I was at least well-fed.
I pulled the door open—only to find Cait Sith standing there. Surprise flickered through me, followed quickly by something softer. A tiny flutter in my chest. He wasn’t a person, but he was a familiar face, and that was enough.
Kneeling down, I ran my fingers through his fur, smiling. “Hello, Cait Sith.”
“Good evenin’, lassie,” he greeted, voice bright as ever.
For a moment, he hesitated. Then, to my complete delight, he kicked one foot bashfully against the ground, avoiding my gaze.
“It seems a shame, spendin’ all yer time alone,” he said. “So I thought—maybe ye wouldn’t mind if I kept ye company?”
I blinked. Again, I found myself impressed by this little robot’s empathy.
“Um, are you even allowed to just… focus on me?” I asked.
“’Course I am!” He threw his paws up in the air before pretending to casually lick at them, his tail flicking playfully.
It was too cute. I couldn’t help but smile.
“Then I’d love to join you.”
Cait Sith gave me his own personal tour, marching ahead proudly as he showed me all there was to see.
Granted, he did get distracted—wandering off to entertain kids, striking exaggerated poses, and even stopping to accept a treat from a passing vendor. But no matter how many times he strayed, he always managed to run back to me, his enthusiasm never wavering.
I smiled at him as he trotted at my side, his little tail flicking happily. “It feels a bit selfish, keeping you all to myself,” I admitted, voice barely above a mumble.
“Why’s that? Am I annoyin’ ye?” he asked, peering up at me.
“No!” I said quickly, shaking my head. “Nothing like that. It’s just… you bring me so much joy. I hope I’m not stealing that away from someone else who might need it.”
Cait Sith let out a hearty chuckle. “Ach, yer a kind one, lass. But dunnae worry—I've got plenty of joy tae share.” Then, perking up, he clapped his paws together. “Now, how ‘bout a play? My treat! I know a fine one everyone should see at least once.”
His tail swished excitedly, and I couldn’t say no to that kind of enthusiasm.
The play was beautiful. Cait Sith sat curled up on my lap, completely unbothered by the arrangement. He watched intently at first, his little ears twitching at the music and dialogue, but at some point, his tiny body stilled.
I glanced down to find him fast asleep, his breaths slow and steady.
Smiling softly, I continued stroking his head as I watched the performance.
It was a shame Loveless didn’t have an ending. But even so, it was beautiful nonetheless.
Cait Sith joined me every day.
Whenever I was feeling down, he’d somehow sense it and rush off, only to return moments later with a stick of cotton candy—shaped like a tiny Cactuar, no less. I couldn’t help but laugh every time, the absurdity of it breaking through my sadness.
He stuck by my side through every game, standing right beside me as we played. Whether it was an arcade shooter, a claw machine, or something as simple as tossing rings onto bottles, he was there—cheering, celebrating, and sometimes even pouting when he lost. His energy was infectious, and I had never had so much fun before.
At some point, he started treating our outings like dates. He’d gift me little trinkets he found or won, presenting them with an exaggerated flourish. Once, he even surprised me with a single, perfect flower—held delicately between his tiny paws as he offered it up with a proud grin.
It was sweet.
So sweet, in fact, that it became harder and harder to remind myself that he was just a robot.
But the week was coming to an end.
Soon, I would have to say goodbye. And Cait Sith… he would move on, crossing paths with someone else in need of a pick-me-up, cheering up another lonely soul.
That was what he was made for, after all.
Still, I was grateful.
Even if I was just another passerby in his journey, he had made me feel special. And for that, I would always remember him.
Cait Sith knocked at my door, and I could feel the excitement bubbling up in my chest. It was my second-to-last day at the Golden Saucer, and I wanted to make the most of it.
I opened the door and smiled as I saw him standing there. "Hello, Cait Sith," I greeted sweetly.
"Evenin', lassie," he replied, tipping his little crown with a flourish. "Would ye like to join me?"
"Of course," I answered with a smile, tapping his nose lightly.
"I'm just gettin' dressed," I added, stepping back into the room.
This seemed to alarm Cait Sith. His tail stood straight up in shock, his eyes wide as if he'd done something wrong. "I’m sorry, lass! I didn’t mean to—it's so rude o' me—"
I chuckled at his reaction, still not fully understanding why he was so bashful. "It's fine, kitty. I'll be just a moment," I reassured him, tossing a dress onto the bed. I glanced at Cait Sith, who was awkwardly fidgeting, unsure what to do with himself.
I couldn’t help but laugh at how much like a real person he seemed. "It's just a robot," I muttered to myself, but even so, I decided to change.
"Wait!" Cait Sith's voice piped up in a near-panic. "Dinnae undress in front of me!" His face was hidden behind his white-gloved paws, as if trying to shield his eyes, even though I knew he didn't truly see the way humans did.
I couldn’t hold back a grin at his adorable flustered display. "It's alright," I said, shaking my head as I stepped behind the screen to change.
Once I was dressed, I stepped out and sat beside Cait Sith, who had still been covering his face as if trying to give me privacy.
"Ready?" I asked, my voice soft but playful.
Cait Sith finally lowered his paws, eyes wide but filled with that same playful energy he always had. “Aye,” he said, his tail swishing behind him in embarrassment?
I munched on my popcorn as Cait Sith pretended to lick his paws, sitting beside me on the bench. He was so intent on his little act that I couldn't help but smile.
"Are ye finally ready to have yer fortune told?" he asked, his voice practically bubbling with excitement.
I recalled how I’d been too downhearted to accept his offer the first time.
"Sure," I said, curious despite myself.
With a little hop, Cait Sith summoned a white creature, bigger than him, from thin air. He tapped its head with his paw, and a piece of paper appeared, which he read with an exaggerated flourish.
Coughing into his hands, he cleared his throat dramatically. "Yer lucky color is black!"
I couldn’t help but laugh. It was a little anticlimactic, but I was still impressed. The creature's sudden appearance was pretty impressive, even if the fortune sounded like something you could find in a fortune cookie.
Cait Sith blinked, clearly flabbergasted, and waved his paws as if trying to get his act together. "Wait a moment, lass." Another paper appeared, and he read it with even more intensity than the last. "Love shall be... findin’ ye... before ye know it!"
I glanced down at the ground, sighing softly. "Thank you... but I highly doubt I’ll find another person."
"Why's that, lass?"
I smiled a little, not wanting to get too serious. "Because my standards recently got raised," I teased, ruffling his fur gently.
His tail twitched curiously. "That’s good! Because ye deserve only the best."
I couldn't help but smile at his words, petting his head. "If only you were real," I said, a bit embarrassed.
Cait Sith froze for a moment, clearly flustered. I chuckled, realizing my words had made him stammer.
"I’m joking, kitty. I know you’re just a toy... Sorry if I confused you."
He waved his paw in the air, still a little unsure. "No harm done, lass."
Then, as if switching gears entirely, Cait Sith perked up. "The Ferris wheel!"
"Huh?" I asked, confused by the sudden shift in topic.
"Let’s go on the Ferris wheel together, Y/N!" His eyes gleamed with excitement, his tail swishing energetically behind him.
I hesitated, glancing at him before shaking my head. "Sorry, Cait Sith."
He blinked, his face falling slightly. "Why’s that, lass?"
"You're only supposed to go on the Ferris wheel with someone special." I gave him a soft smile, but the words felt heavier than I meant them to. "Sorry, kitty."
His expression seemed to soften, and I could hear the hurt in his voice as he nodded. "Yer right, lass. I understand."
But it was just a robot. Just a toy. Still, the small pang of guilt hit me in the chest. I didn’t like seeing his feelings hurt, even if he wasn’t truly capable of feeling them.
Back at the hotel, Cait Sith was quieter than usual. The usual chatter, the playful remarks—none of it came. Instead, he sat still as I ran a brush through his fur, the soft strokes smoothing out any tangles. Maybe he was still thinking of what to say.
I finished the last brush stroke and turned him to face me. His little black eyes gleamed under the room’s dim light, unreadable yet oddly expressive.
"If it means that much to you, we can go on the Ferris wheel tomorrow," I said softly. "It’s my last day, and—"
I hesitated. And then we won’t meet again.
The words caught in my throat. I forced a smile instead, trying not to think about how hollow tomorrow would feel.
Cait Sith tilted his head as if weighing my offer.
"Then let us meet at the Ferris wheel, lassie," he finally said. His voice lacked its usual cheer—it was steadier, more solemn.
Still, I smiled, even if the lump in my throat grew heavier.
Setting the brush aside, I lay down and pulled the little cat close, curling up beside him. His tiny frame was soft against me, familiar and warm despite the fact that he wasn’t real. I held him close like the treasure he was, as if, by morning, he might vanish like a dream.
When I woke up, Cait Sith was still asleep .
That was odd. He was usually up before me, chattering away about the day’s plans or nudging me awake with his tiny paws. But now, he lay completely still on the bed.
I got dressed, brushed my hair, even tidied up the room—but the little cat didn’t stir.
“Cait Sith?” I called gently, reaching out to pet his head. Nothing.
I gave him a few more pats, then gently shook him. “Kitty? Wake up.”
Still nothing.
A cold knot formed in my stomach. I picked him up carefully, cradling him close. His fur was still soft beneath my fingers, his tiny crown still perfectly in place—but he didn’t move. Didn’t react.
“Cait Sith?” My voice wavered. “Come on, wake up… please?”
My heart clenched. He was just a robot, I knew that. But that didn’t stop the fear from sinking in, making my chest feel tight. What if he was broken? What if yesterday had been our last day together?
I didn't even get to say goodbye.
Clutching him tightly to my chest, I ran out of the hotel, desperately searching for an employee— someone who could fix him. His tiny body felt heavier in my arms, like a lifeless doll instead of the playful companion who had made this past week so special.
The Ferris wheel loomed ahead when suddenly—
Cait Sith moved.
“Cait Sith?” I gasped in surprise.
But he didn’t answer. Instead, without a word, he squirmed free from my hold, dropped to all fours, and ran.
“Cait Sith, wait!” I called, my legs burning as I tried to keep up. He was fast, weaving through the golden halls and across the moving platforms of the park, his red cape fluttering behind him like a streak of color in the neon lights.
I chased after him, breathless and panicked, only to watch him leap—
Right into the arms of a man.
The stranger caught him with ease, his movements practiced, almost instinctive. Cait Sith immediately went slack in his grasp, the same way he had in my arms just moments ago.
I skidded to a stop, my chest heaving, my heart pounding. The man looked… oddly familiar, though I was certain we had never met before.
He was impeccably dressed—black suit perfectly tailored, a red tie neatly knotted against a crisp white collar. But despite his polished appearance, a few stray strands of jet-black hair had slipped free from where it had been carefully slicked back. A neatly trimmed beard framed his sharp jawline, and his deep-set eyes flickered with something unreadable as he gazed down at me.
I swallowed hard.
I swallowed hard as the handsome man stepped toward me, his polished shoes clicking lightly against the golden floor.
"Is this yours?" he asked, his deep voice smooth yet unreadable.
I instinctively reached for Cait Sith, my arms tightening protectively around the limp little body. "Kitty..." I murmured, before shaking my head. "No, he’s an AI for the park. But he's been acting strange, and I want to bring him to the staff." Worry crept into my voice as I looked up at the man.
His sharp gaze flickered between me and the cat. "Cait Sith is in working order."
I stilled. I hadn't told him the cat’s name.
He coughed lightly into his hand before continuing, his tone matter-of-fact.
"That robot is mine."
I blinked in surprise. He was the creator?
I studied him again—He looked too refined, too serious. Could someone so... stoic really be responsible for the most expressive, compassionate little robot I had ever met?
I hesitated. "Is that so? Then... What's wrong with Cait Sith?"
"Nothing," he said simply. "He just has no one controlling him at the moment."
Controlling...?
My brain pieced it together a second too late. My face went up in flames as realization struck me like a thunderbolt.
"You—You saw me undress?"
Reeve visibly stiffened. A blush—faint, but unmistakable—crept up his face as he turned slightly away. "I—I closed my eyes," he said, his voice quieter than before.
I gasped, mortified, burying my burning face into Cait Sith’s fur. My mind raced through every interaction, every moment I had spent with the cat this week. That was him this whole time?
An awkward silence stretched between us.
Then, unexpectedly, he extended his hand toward me.
"My name is Reeve," he said, voice composed once more. "I would like to invite you on the Ferris wheel with me."
I knew I shouldn't. He was a stranger—a stranger who had been secretly watching over me through the eyes of the robot I had grown so fond of. And yet… not once had he treated me badly. If anything, through Cait Sith, he had comforted me, made me smile when I thought I couldn’t.
He could have taken advantage of that hidden role. But he hadn't.
I stared at his hand, my heart beating a little faster.
Then, slowly, I reached out and took it.
"Alright," I said.
And for the first time, I saw Reeve truly smile.