Chapter Text
It was a cold afternoon, with a strong wind blowing. A man with beautiful mullet hair walks down the street with his hands inside his jacket, listening to music through his earphones.
The man heard a cat meowing for help between the music going quiet and changing to another song. Minghao removed his earphones to confirm what he had just heard—and there it was again, the cat's voice.
The man follows the sound and discovers an orange, short-haired stray cat meowing from inside a box, his head peeking out the window. The cat appears to be shivering in the cold and covered in dirt.
"What are you doing here, little guy?" As he squatted slowly approaching the poor cat, the man said.
The cat appeared friendly and approached the man, purring and leaning on his legs.
"It's freezing outside, and you seem to be hungry. Want to come with me?"
The cat meowed in response as if it understood what the man was saying.
"I'll give you a name later. But I'll tell you my name first, okay? Minghao, or Hao for short, is my name." Minghao said this while taking the cat into his embrace to warm it.
Minghao doesn't have a cat, so he decides to go to the vet because the cat needs to be checked, and he needs to buy cat food.
When they arrived at the vet, the doctor quickly examined the cat. The cat initially refuses to let go of Minghao, but after Minghao provides some comfort, the doctor can finally perform the examination.
"The cat is fine, and it's a male and healthy. He's young, in human age. He's as old as you, probably a year older than you. No wonder he is comfortable around you. You did find him, didn't you?" Minghao nodded in response to the doctor's question.
"I found him shivering from the cold, and he's quite thin, so I was concerned."
"Do you want to take care of him, or do you want us to put him in a shelter?"
The cat suddenly meows to Minghao as if he's asking to take him.
"I guess he already loves me. I'll look after him. But I've never had a cat before, so please explain the basics.”
The doctor then explained what Minghao needed to do with joy. She appears pleased that the man has decided to look after the cat.
Minghao purchased all of the supplies he required while waiting for the cat to be bathed, including food, toys, a bed, and even vitamins.
Minghao then paid the bills and sat amusedly watching the cat get a bath from the waiting room. He realizes the cat is a bright type with beautiful eyes, but the cat isn't as friendly when it's not Minghao touching him. Minghao chuckled at his cat being wary of the person bathing him and ready to attack at any time.
"What a strange day." Minghao groaned.
They eventually return the cat to Minghao after some time. The cat is now clean and looks fresh, not forgetting to smell nice. Minghao's face lit up as he peered at his cat.
"Shall we go home?" Minghao said as the cat meowed in reply.
They walked to Minghao's apartment, carrying everything Minghao had purchased. When they arrived, the man quickly set up the cat's needs, such as water, food, a bed, toys, and so on.
"Welcome home! I know my apartment isn’t the best, just one room and living room next to the kitchen, but the space is pretty big for both of us. Oh, right, I should give you a name."
Minghao sat on the couch while watching his cat eat. He decided to think about it slowly to find a perfect name for him. But for the time being, he wants to rest before dinner. He lay down and slowly fell asleep.
Minghao's sleep was being disrupted by something cold poking his face as the sunset.
"Mmmh— please let me sleep."
Minghao shifted his focus to attempting to sleep again. But the thing keeps poking his face, despite Minghao's pleas for more sleep.
Minghao finally opened his eyes to see a person—a handsome man—in front of him.
"WHO ARE YOU?"
Minghao yelled, backing away in an attempt to defend himself. Is it a thief? However, everything remains in place.
"Minghao, you don't know who I am?" Finally, the man spoke up.
"NO! GET OUT OF MY WAY!"
"This is your cat, Minghao."
"My name is Junhui— Wen Junhui." The man said with a smile.
Minghao's eyes widened. What on earth is this? Is he still dreaming or something? He slaps his cheek to check if he's awake.
"Please don't do that. This is real— I can show you."
The man then slowly transforms back into a cat. The same cat he adopted.
"WHAT THE FUCK?" Minghao yelled.
The cat then transforms into a human form—and he's been naked since the beginning.
Minghao looked away with reddened cheeks.
"Just when I thought nothing weird would happen again today, this happens."
Minghao took a deep breath and calmed his mind. Whatever, this is his cat, and he's curious how this creature can exist.
"So, Wen Junhui? That's a Chinese name. I'm Xu Minghao. Glad I no longer need to think what's a perfect name for you."
Minghao is attempting to make the atmosphere less awkward. But when he realizes the man in front of him is still naked, his face flushes again.
"Are you all right, hao? Why is your face so flushed?" Jun moved his face closer to Hao's face.
"Y—yah! Don't get too close."
Minghao stood up and went to his room, where he grabbed something for Junhui to wear and handed it over to the taller one. Junhui stood behind him, watching as the owner searched for clothes.
"Put this on." Minghao handed it to Junhui while turning his eyes away from the man's body.
"I— I don't know how."
Minghao sighed in frustration. Great, now he has to put it on the man.
"Let me help you."
Minghao then helped the taller put on the clothes. His face and ears are flushed from embarrassment. If it's a kid, Minghao will be calm. But he's a grown-up man at his age too.
"Done."
Junhui smiled brightly and muttered thank you.
"You can understand me, but you can't wear clothes?"
"I am fluent in human language. Cats, on the other hand, aren't used to things like this. So—I'm sorry, I don't understand." The man looked down, feeling ashamed and guilty for bothering the owner.
Minghao's heart softened, and the man in front of him looked like a kid— despite the fully grown body, Junhui's personality was like a small child. Besides, Minghao was always alone, and being accompanied wouldn't hurt.
"It's all right. I'll look after you."
"So you're not going to kick me out?" Junhui questioned, his eyes bright.
“Of course not silly. I adopted you. You now call this place home. My roommate is you."
Junhui jumped up and hugged the shorter man in front of him, then tried to kiss Minghao's lips, but Minghao reacted quickly, holding Jun's face back to prevent the kiss.
“HEY, HEY.” Minghao glared at the taller.
“W-what?” Jun asks, his face as sad as a kicked puppy.
"Oh, Jun, I didn't mean it like that. Just don't kiss my face—especially my lips—when you're in human form like this, okay?"
“But, I learned that that’s how humans show their love, by kisses?”
Minghao blushed madly. Damn this cat. It's like having a curious teenager who requires a lot of explanations.
"It is, but it is usually for lovers. Because you attempted to kiss my lips."
Jun just nodded, still feeling rejected. Minghao smiles warmly as he pats the taller's head.
"How about we have dinner?" Are you starving? Wanna try human’s cook?”
Junhui wasn’t hungry for sure. He ate right before Minghao fell asleep. But he nodded because he was curious. Human food always looks more attractive than cat food.
“Okay! Follow me to the kitchen! I don’t have an appetite right now— so I will make cheese ramyeon with sausages.” Minghao said while starting to prepare the things he needed before cooking.
“Oh, I heard of it before. The smell is nice.”
“Have you tried it? Your tummy will be fine, right? I mean… no matter what, you’re still half cat.”
“It’s fine. I can eat anything. When I’m in human form, I can eat human food.”
Minghao just hums in response while putting the noodle into boiling water.
“How old are you then?” The shorter asked while cutting sausages.
“I was born in 1996.”
“Oh! You use human age, then? I mean.. your life span? I was born in 1997. Just a year after you! Since we're both Chinese, I’m gonna call you gege then.”
The older chuckled and explained that his life span is using human age. Minghao listened to it while plating the ramyeon.
“Go ahead, ge. Try it."
Junhui follows Minghao's movement and grabs a chopstick. Junhui struggled to hold his chopsticks just as Minghao was about to eat the ramyeon with them.
"You sure have a lot to learn, don't you?" Minghao laughed and stood up, taking a fork and spoon and handing them to Jun.
"Try to use this, ge." Jun nodded as Minghao demonstrated how to use it.
Junhui couldn't stop smiling. The younger's cook was excellent. He keeps praising Minghao for it. Minghao only laughed.
"So, Jun, why don't you live as a human if you can turn into one like this?" Hao questions, munching on his food.
"I can't. I need to transform into a cat for a while, and if anyone finds out, I'm doomed. I'm also not used to being a human. My old owner abandoned me because they were aware of my condition. I used to be a pet as well. But because they abandoned me, I became a stray cat. They would torture me. These marks can be seen—" Junhui lifts his shirt to reveal his old marks; some were deep enough to leave large marks, while others appear to be scratched. "This is what they did to me."
Seeing that hurt Minghao's heart. And the fact that his cat trusts him enough to tell him about it on the first day they meet makes him feel very special.
"What makes you believe in me? You're so open to me. Even though we've only been together for a few hours, you've already proven to me that you're a hybrid."
Junhui hums and furrows his brows, considering the appropriate response.
"I'm not sure. The way you approach me, carrying me to the vet in your arms even if I'm stinky, and then deciding to adopt me makes me feel safe. I believe I can put my trust in you." Junhui gives a warm smile.
Minghao was on the verge of bursting. Jun is so precious. How can this cruel world hurt him?
"Hey, you are safe with me. I promise not to hurt you or abandon you as they did. If you need anything, just tell me. I will help."
Junhui nods and finishes his remaining food, as does Minghao.
Minghao cleaned up after they were finished. Junhui keeps tailing him, watching the younger wash the dishes. He wants to help so badly because Minghao has already helped him and wants to repay him.
"All done. Are you tired yet?"
"Hao… I want to help too."
Minghao smiles as he pats the older's head. "You're adorable, ge. I've already finished it; you can learn how to help me with the dishes later, okay? You must be exhausted and have been sleeping in inconvenient places. So, please sleep in my bed. I only have one, but it's more than enough for both of us."
Minghao then led the taller to the bathroom, not forgetting to bring him a brand-new toothbrush.
"Do you know how to brush your teeth?"
Jun's head shook. "Is that what goes into my mouth and scratches my teeth?" Jun's expression changed to one of fear.
Minghao noticed the differences and teased him. "Why? Are you afraid?" He then applied toothpaste to the brush.
Junhui looked at him in horror. He morphed into a cat, fled the bathroom, and hid under the bed.
"GEGE! YA! COMEBACK!" Minghao yelled, widening his eyes in disbelief, and dashed after his cat.
He looked down under the bed and tried unsuccessfully to reach Junhui.
"I'm going to count to three. one... two..." Just when Minghao almost blurted out the last number, Junhui came out in defeat.
"Bad kitty. Come on, let's brush your teeth. I promise to be gentle."
Junhui sighed and reverted to human form. With a disappointed and slightly anxious expression, he follows the younger to the bathroom.
"Sit down, ge."
Minghao shut the toilet seat and told the older to take a seat. The elder groaned but did as the younger told him.
"Open— aaaaaa..."
Junhui looked up and let Minghao brush his teeth, and the younger did not try to trick him. He did it gently and carefully. He can sense how Minghao did it wholeheartedly.
"Not scary, right?"
Junhui smiled and shook his head. Minghao told him to hold the toothbrush, so he grabbed his own and demonstrated how to brush his teeth properly; the older continues to mimic the move.
"Done!" They return to the bed, Minghao hopping on it and asking, "Are you going to turn into cat form when you sleep?"
Junhui stared at the younger. He's in a dilemma. Will Minghao be okay if he stays as a human?
"Don't think about it too much. Simply do whatever you want. Make yourself at home with me. You don't have to worry about whether I'll be angry or not because you're a human or a cat."
Junhui's eyes lid up. Oh, how fortunate he is to have a new owner like Minghao.
Minghao then patted the space next to him, signaling the older to lie down.
The younger tucking his cat to sleep.
"Thank you very much, Minghao. I owe you a lot."
Minghao smiled, and they both drifted to sleep.