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Saitama rubbed tiny paws with red gloved hands, a warm smile on his face as soft, black fur tickled his chin. “Genos,” he whispered. “This one likes me!” Brown eyes widened as they met gold.
“Amazing. At first, none of the cats we encountered would accept your affections. But of course, no species could ever fully reject Saitama-sensei.” Genos answered him, reaching out to pet the stray in Saitama’s strong arms only to be ignored by both.
“You’re not allergic, are you?” Saitama’s eyebrows creased upwards. “I’d really like to take this one home with us. If it was left in a box like this, I doubt someone’s going to ask for it back.”
Genos grinned. “That would not bother me at all, sensei! However, we do not have the correct supplies to care for the feline. Would you like me to visit the pet store? I’m sure the staff there will inform me of the best equipment and food to purchase.” he spoke over the sound of the cat’s purr and Saitama’s sweet cooing.
“Yeah man, pretty sure the main things you’ll need are like, a litter box, a flea collar and food. Oh! And maybe some toys too...” Saitama paused for a beat and grimaced. “Here, I’ll uh, give you the money-”
Kissing him on the cheek, Genos prevented Saitama from reaching his wallet. “No need for you to pay, sensei. It makes me very happy to see you finally getting along with a small animal. Consider this a gift.”
“A gift? Aw, you really don’t have to...” A cold breeze blew the unpleasant smell of urine down the alleyway they stood within. “I’d best get this little miss out the cold. I’ll see you at home, Genos!” A white cape swished in the wind; with a flash of bright yellow Saitama jogged away.
A little while later, Genos returned to the house, and closed the front door behind him. “I’m back!” He called out. Plastic bags settled on the floor as Genos replaced his shoes with slippers. At the lack of reply, Genos frowned. “Saitama-sensei are you home?” Bags in hand, he walked down the short hallway into the living room. Each footstep clinked under the weight of his metal cyborg body. He stopped in the doorway.
Laying on the futon, Saitama stroked the black cat purring happily away on his stomach. “Aren’t you just the cutest thing?” Saitama said to the cat quietly. Fondness laced his words. “So soft and small and warm...” Genos glanced at his own large metal arms.
“I’m back.” Genos repeated. He wandered into the living room and placed the bags on the table. Saitama waved, now dressed in striped pyjamas that matched his underwear.
“Welcome back! Did you get everything? Poor Kohaku-chan must be so hungry after being in the cold for so long. She’s stopped shivering though, so that’s good.”
“Ah I see, that is good.” Genos sat in seiza, watching as his partner contentedly dozed with the sleeping cat. “You decided to call her Kohaku? That’s a nice name.”
“Her eyes are amber, and I guess it just sounded right.”
Genos nodded silently and continued to observe. It wasn’t rare of his teacher to relax, but he looked much more peaceful than usual. According to the monitors on his internal screen, Saitama’s oxytocin levels were the same as when he and Genos were cuddling. He recorded the discovery in his notebook, writing slowly so that his pen sounds wouldn’t disturb the two on the futon.
“Sensei, would you like to watch a movie with me? We could move the futon a little closer...” Genos trailed off in the hopes that Saitama would agree. Saitama’s chest gently rose and fell in the dim light of the T.V.
“Nah man, I’m fine just chilling with Kohaku-chan. Yeah, we’re fine aren’t we Kohaku~?” Kohaku’s purring obnoxiously filled the room, battling the sound of Genos’ fans.
Saitama was in the exact same place, no less than three entire days later, with that damn cat! Not that the cat was unlikeable, in fact Genos found her antics to be very entertaining and cute (she ran to the door when sensing danger, much like Genos did), and she passively allowed him to pet her. But at this rate, sensei would wind up taking Kohaku as his disciple! Genos shuffled carefully in their direction, pursing his lips as he pried Kohaku from Saitama’s lap.
Upon feeling the sudden cold spot, his partner merely blinked up at Genos. “You’re breaking the law, y’know.”
Kohaku tiptoed away into the kitchen (thank goodness) and Genos frowned. “What law?”
“It’s a rule that you can’t move a cat when it’s on your lap.” Saitama’s mouth curled up at one end before he yawned. “Everyone knows that.”
Genos’ scanners buzzed as he searched his database. “Saitama-sensei I am afraid I cannot find a record of such law. Perhaps it is newly passed and-”
“Oh come here, you big jelly baby!” Saitama leapt up to pull Genos down and they fell onto the futon. “Mmm, you’re so cosy.” he hummed.
Genos flushed under the shorter man. “Jelly baby?”
“Yeah, because you’re jealous and acting like a baby since I’m giving Kohaku-chan cuddles and not you.” Saitama kissed Genos’ cheek and huffed a breath of laughter.
Genos, ever the guilty one of being a bit clingy, simply shrugged and nuzzled his face against Saitama’s neck. “Just a bit. I am not entirely sure what your relationship is with that cat, given that you have taken to kissing her on the head as you do with me, but please remember that I am your partner. You have to cuddle me too. Sometimes.” Genos grumbled. “A lot of sometimes.”
“Don’t you like Kohaku?”
“I quite like Kohaku-chan, sensei. On the other hand, she seems rather indifferent to me, and is very attached to you.” Fingers caressed Genos’ arm, and he reacquainted with the loving gesture Kohaku had stolen over the last few days.
“Really? I’d say she likes you a lot. She always climbs up your pants when you try to feed her and loves that laser thing you do with your fingers.” Saitama tutted teasingly. “Maybe if you teamed up with her you could both get a fair amount of my attention.”
As if on cue, Kohaku padded into the living room. She stopped to sniff Genos’ chest as she walked over it as if agreeing with the bald man’s suggestion, then proceeded to nestle in the small gap between the two men.
“If it is a rule that we must not move when a cat had made its bed upon someone, then we are going to be stuck this way for a while.” Genos mused aloud and traced over Saitama’s facial features with a steady hand. He circled Saitama’s lips with his eyes and index finger.
Saitama pulled him in for a long, gentle kiss. “Sounds perfect.”