Chapter Text
Something is off in the archives, but not in the usual kind of off that emanates from the more visceral statements. Jon had noticed a few oddities that had slowly been adding up. On their own they weren’t unusual, but all together it attracted his attention.
The first odd thing Jon noticed was an unusual amount of canned tuna in the cabinet and fridge. It wouldn’t be odd for someone to eat canned tuna for lunch but he found at least 6 cans of tuna that had almost depleted after 2 days. He would've remembered if someone was eating canned tuna, especially that frequently. He doesn’t even remember smelling someone eating fish at all, to be quite frank.
The second odd thing Jon noticed was Martin not being at his desk during the times he normally is there. When Jon asked Tim about Martin’s absence he just shrugged it off, mumbling some excuse about being in the bathroom or fetching something from upstairs. He believed this the first few times but it got old quickly. Martin being a slacker wouldn’t surprise Jon, but it just seemed odd considering nothing seemed different and he was still getting work done at his regular pace.
The third odd thing Jon noticed was white fuzz on Martin’s clothes. He assumed Martin maybe got a new pet, but he hadn’t mentioned it to him or tried to show him any photos. He feels like Martin would be the type to shove cat or dog photos in his face instead of focusing on work and therefore interrupting his work, as well. Another suspicious thing was, after Jon initially noticed the fur, he noted at the beginning on the next day Martin had no white fur on him. He didn’t think anything of it until there was definitely white fur on him after lunch time.
Jon knew something was up.
Jon wasn’t actively trying to spy on Martin but he took note when he saw him go into a storage room normally no one ever enters. The only task he should’ve been working on was the Farloe statement. Jon did need that statement to be worked on ASAP, so he would follow Martin just to see what he was doing and remind him of what he should be doing instead.
As Jon walked closer to the storage room door he heard Martin giggling? No, that can’t be right. He also heard Martin talking to what he assumed to be himself but couldn’t quite make out what he was saying.
When he opened the door he paused at the scene in front of him. Martin was sitting on the floor smiling and giggling at a small white creature in front of him.
That small creature was a cat.
It wasn’t the smallest kitten but it clearly wasn’t a full grown cat. It was probably 3 months old at first glance. It was covered in short white fur and had bright yellow eyes.
The smiling and giggling Martin didn't last very long.
As soon as Martin heard the door open and he looked up to see Jon he froze. They both just stood and stared at each other and didn't say anything for a few seconds. Jon was the first to speak.
“Care to explain why there is a cat in the archives, Martin.”
Martin looked back down at the cat and back up at Jon. “Is it too late to say what cat..?”
Jon didn’t look impressed at Martin’s joke. He instead raised his eyebrow and silently reminded Martin he needed to explain himself right now.
Martin started, “Okay look- I’m super sorry. I wasn’t planning on keeping the cat here very long but–”
Jon cut him off. “You planning to keep the cat here at all is absurd. You do realize that right?”
“I-I know it was a bad idea in the first place but it was raining when I saw the little guy–”
“Jesus Christ Martin the last time it rained was a week ago–” Jon was coming to terms with the fact that a literal cat had been living in the archives for at least a week, god forbid more.
Martin’s voice grew a little more strained. “Okay yeah I might’ve gotten a little carried away, b-but I was looking for places to rehome the little guy and I didn’t really know who to ask and I know my mom would’ve said no s-so…” He paused for a moment to take a breath. The next phrase he said very quickly and all in one breath. “Yeah I’ve been taking care of a cat in the archives for a little over a week now.”
There was another awkward pause of silence. Martin was desperately trying to ignore the adorable cat rubbing against his hand.
Jon let out a very tired sigh as he pinched the skin between his eyebrows. “And were you even planning on telling me about the cat living in the archives?”
Martin looked off to the side, guiltily. “Yes?”
Jon didn’t look convinced.
Martin let out his own sigh. “Alright- no, I wasn’t planning on telling you. I knew what your response would be and I couldn’t bear the thought of this little guy starving on the streets again! I was just planning on keeping him here until I could find a new home for him. Tim told me he might know someone.”
Jon’s eyebrows raised. “Oh so Tim knew about this?”
Martin let his eyes drift off to the side, guiltily, again.
Jon scoffed. “What, are you going to tell me Sasha knew too?”
No response.
“Oh for fuck’s sake-” Jon couldn’t believe what he was hearing right now.
Martin’s eyes went back to Jon as he started to make his plea. “Look I’m really, really, really sorry Jon for not telling you. However, please don’t make me get rid of this little guy.”
Jon didn’t seem entirely convinced. “Martin this is an archive not a zoo. We can’t just have animals running around and getting fur all over the statements. Not only is it messy, but it’s a fire hazard too”
“But he hasn’t been running around! I’ve made sure he’s got everything he needs here in the storage closet, which might I add, that we rarely use. I even made sure to move the few statements that somehow migrated in here.” Martin seemed oddly proud with what he deemed as proactivity.
Jon makes a mental note of how the seemingly random statements that appeared a week ago in a cardboard box on the ground got to where they were; he was not as impressed with Martin’s “solution.”
Jon took a deep breath. “Martin, I sympathize with your want to care for this cat, but need I remind you we are at work. Can’t you just take it too the pound or–”
“NO!” Martin cut in very quickly. He cleared his throat trying to reel it in a little bit. “Ah- no. I can’t in good faith allow him to go to such a horrible place. What if he doesn’t get adopted and, you know, gets euthanized o-or something.” He picks off the cat from the ground and holds it protectively. “The only way to guarantee he stays off the streets, or worse, is to find him a more permanent home.”
Jon seems to falter in his strict stance momentarily. “Martin, we really can’t-”
Martin looks up at Jon desperately. “3 more days. I just need 3 more days, Jon. After that I’ll uh- I’ll figure it out.”
Jon looked like he was going to speak unfavorably again but Martin cut him off before he could do so.
“Please, Jon. I’m begging you. I mean look at him!” He holds the cat out and points it at Jon so it’s cute beady eyes can look directly into Jon’s soul. “Could you really put this little guy back out on the streets?”
Jon stared back into the little black orbs. The cat was incredibly cute with its short white fur and bright pink paws. Jon opened his mouth to speak a few times but couldn’t quite bring himself to push the words out.
After a few moments of this silent back and forth between Jon and the cat Jon finally spoke sternly. “3 days. You have 3 days. After that you have to find a new home for the cat. You hear me?”
Martin’s eyes lit up. “Yes! Of course!”
“And the cat must stay in this room. I don’t want to deal with white fur everywhere. Also, if I start to smell cat piss radiating from this room either he has to go or you have to fix it immediately. Understood?” Jon raised an eyebrow.
Martin laughed a little at that. ‘Yes, yes. I’ll keep everything tidy.”
Jon took a moment to think more but when he couldn’t think of any more conditions he just gave a little nod.
The both of them then heard a small adorable meow come from the cat. Martin had forgotten he was holding it out towards Jon and laughed a little as it pawed at his hands. “Alright little guy. Let me set you down.”
The cat leapt out of his hands and sat down to lick its paws. Martin looked back up at Jon now smiling. “Would you like to pet him? He’s very friendly and very adorable.”
Jon tried to look disinterested but the meow that had just left that tiny creature was so cute. However, he fought against his urges. “As much as I would love to spend my day petting small cats, some of us have work to do. And speaking of work, I would like to see some progress on the Farloe statement by the end of the day. It’s connected to a series of other statements I’m looking into and your lack of progress is hindering me.”
Martin tensed slightly again. “Ah, yes. I’ll get that to you as soon as I’m done with it. Sorry about that.” He cleared his throat.
Jon sighed. “Just finish whatever you need to do with the cat then get back to work.” And with that Jon had left the storage closet, leaving the cat and Martin alone. On his way back to his office he saw the random box of statements Martin mentioned earlier in the corner. He made a mental note to make Martin actually refile them correctly later.
Martin, now alone in the storage closet, let out a small sigh of relief. He looked down at the cat and smiled as he reached out to pet it.
“Don’t worry little guy. I’ve got your back. I won’t let the grumpy man dump you back on the streets.”
The cat seemed to meow in response to that statement and Martin quietly chuckled at that.