Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The rain was cold and soaked him to the bone.

The day had already been rough and he was exhausted. He didn’t even remember why he was doing what he was doing anymore.

Everything felt dull, boring.

All he wanted was peace, for a long, long time.

His house would be cold and empty, as usual.

The thought made him sigh.

No friends, no boyfriend—nothing was waiting for him. The sudden realization made him want to give everything up.

He was lost in his self-pity when a weak sound reached his ears, “meow…”

He stopped in his tracks, listening carefully, “meow!”

It was stronger this time. That was when he saw it: a little ball of dirty fur, too thin, drenched, and shivering.

He crouched down carefully.

The kitten’s eyes were still blue. It had been alone for too long, yet the rage for living was still there—as she climbed his coat, clinging with tiny claws.

Wriggling, nuzzling, she settled against his neck, purring loudly.

He felt like the Chosen One.

Just like that, his exhaustion and bad thoughts melted away as a new sense of purpose warmed him from within.

Somehow, in one small, purring heartbeat, he had fallen completely, hopelessly in love.

Chapter Text

The pet shop bag sat heavy on the table, full of everything his hands could grab: blankets, hot water bottles, wipes, kitten formula, bottles so small they looked like toys—literally everything the internet told him.

He wasn’t going to take chances.

The kitten stared up from its box, squeaking as though it already had complaints about his efficiency.

Gaara sat cross-legged on the floor, the kitten cradled awkwardly in one hand like it was made of glass.

Its blue eyes blinked up at him. Then it wriggled and let out a squeaky, impatient “mrrp!”

“Come on, you need to drink this. Every two hours. Drink.”

It did not.

It batted the bottle away with a paw, rolled onto its back, and wriggled until it slipped halfway out of his grip.

Gaara frowned, rescuing the kitten before it tumbled onto the floor. “You’re not cooperative.”

Another squeak, louder this time. Its mouth opened, closed, then—finally—the kitten latched onto the rubber teat and began to suckle with fierce determination.

The sound was soft, rhythmic. Its tiny body vibrated with a faint purr as it fed, paws kneading the air, mouth dripping with milk. Gaara’s shoulders loosened without him noticing.

“See? It’s better like this. Good job.”

It finished with a hiccup, milk dribbling down its chin. Gaara wiped it gently with his sleeve, watching the kitten curl into a small ball against his palm.

He put the kitten in the smallest box he had been able to find, lined with blankets, warmth from the water bottle enveloping it. Within seconds, the tiny kitten was asleep.

Gaara smiled, feeling warm for the first time in ages.

Chapter Text

“It’s a she.”

The gentle voice of the vet anchored him in reality.

Gaara was exhausted. He hadn’t even needed the alarm he had set—the kitten had cried with all her might the moment she was hungry. Efficient, but exhausting.

“I see you had a long night,” the vet chuckled. “They’re tiny menaces at this age. From what I can tell, she was abandoned, that’s why she was so dirty and hungry. She’s too thin for her age, but nothing alarming. Keep feeding her, and she should be fine.”

Gaara nodded, his attention drifting back to the kitten.

She was stressed, but very docile. No crying, no hissing. Just wide, unblinking blue eyes as she let herself be examined.

“I’ll be right back,” the vet said. “Stay cute.” He scratched her tiny head gently before stepping out.

“So, you are a tiny menace,” Gaara said softly, leaning toward her.

She meowed in return and quickly jumped onto his shoulder, nesting in his neck, purring and yawning.

He gently adjusted her on his shoulder, feeling for the first time in ages that he wasn’t alone—and that maybe, just maybe, he never had to be.

Chapter Text

The kitten fell on her bum, “meow!”

It had been two days since he had found her and still…

He couldn’t find a name.

He watched her as she tried to climb his leg, her tiny claw tearing his pants apart as if he was the top of a big mountain.

“Meow!” she said again, wobbling and falling.

He couldn’t stay with “The Cat”. It wasn’t good enough.

“Purrincess"

“MEOW!”

“MeowKenzie”

“Meow.”

"Meowgaret”

“Meow…”

“Puurl”

She just looked at him, her blue eyes blinking, without a word.

“You don’t seem convinced.”

“Mrrrp.”

“That’s what I thought.”