Flint North is a cat

It was Onyx’s birthday and pretty much everyone had congratulated her. Nova got her a new blanket, Vesper got her a lovely VISA giftcard that Onyx was going to spend the next day on the fanciest sushi she could find, Jorge got her a new yoga mat and a cake that she was going to strategically get rid of during the week so he thought she actually ate it and Tallis brought her a jar full of pretty rocks he’d collected to decorate her room.

Earlier in the day, she’d crossed paths with Shen and while she hadn’t been expecting anything more than a “happy birthday”, she was surprised to see the wizard walk in the opposite direction as soon as he saw her in the hallway and then continue to avoid her gaze every time Onyx caught him looking at her during the day. Weird, Onyx thought they were getting on better these days. Her mistake.

That night after the party her friends organized for her, she ended up going to the terrace with one of the new guys in the Nest. He was a friendly wizard who could talk to animals so they had some things in common. She couldn’t remember his name but they fell into a casual conversation bordering on flirting. He didn’t look half bad and he laughed at everything she said, even if it wasn’t that funny and okay, Onyx had had a couple glasses of Astra and she was laughing more at her own jokes than his.

She closed her eyes for a moment, to enjoy the breeze and listen to the night sounds, when she felt a hand sliding up her thigh. Without opening her eyes she grabbed his hand and put it on his own leg.

And then he did it again.

Onyx opened her eyes and saw the new guy coming closer, intending to kiss her. Onyx pushed him back.

“Come on, don’t play the nun now.” He said. “Everyone knows catgirls are easy.” He tried again and Onyx headbutted him, hitting him hard on the nose. “What’s wrong with you!”

Onyx unsheathed her claws and threatened him. “Try it again and they’re going to need a before and after picture to reconstruct your face.”

“You broke my nose, bitch!”

In that moment the terrace door opened Shen walked out. Great. “Is there a problem?

“This bitch attacked me out of nowhere!” the new guy said. “I need a doctor.”

“I didn’t- well, yes I did but he said-”

“What did he say?” Shen asked her, getting her attention.

Onyx opened her mouth but couldn’t repeat the words, they were humiliating. What if Shen agreed with this asshole? He’d teased her before about being too flirty with people so it wasn’t unthinkable that he’d think she was- easy.

She crossed her arms and looked away. “Doesn’t matter.”

“See, I didn’t do anything! She’s just crazy.” the guy said, holding his scarf to stop the bleeding.

After a couple of seconds to asses the situation Shen turned to the new guy with a murderous stare after seeing the expression on Onyx’s face. If there was something the wizard could do well other than magic it was be a scary motherfucker when he felt like it.

“Go away.”

“What?” the guy said.

“Leave before I decide to teleport you to the nearest desert and leave you there.”

“But- but she-”

Shen gave a step towards the guy and he flinched.

The new guy shrunk and scurried back into the building. As he left he muttered “I didn’t know she was fucking him.”

Shen watched him leave with disgust but his expression softened when he turned to look at Onyx.

“I didn’t ask you to do that.” Onyx said.

“I know.”

“I can handle myself.” Onyx spat.

To her confusion, Shen smirked. “Yes, I noticed,” he said, tapping his nose. “Right hook?”

Onyx shrugged nonchalant. “He ran into my forehead. Hard.”

“Ah.” He nodded.

“Aren’t you going to ask why?” She asked, defensive. It was just weird that he would take her word for it, not that she needed to explain herself.

“I’m sure you had your reasons.”

“I did!”

Onyx thought the conversation was over then. They weren’t the type of friends who did small talk or shared deep conversations under the moonlight. Plus, he hadn’t even said “happy birthday” to her. Onyx didn’t know why he’d take her side without hesitation like that but that didn’t mean they were going to grab lunch together and chat any time soon.

“You don’t have to tell me but you should tell Vesper. I can’t kick people out of the Nest but she can.” He wasn’t looking at her when a smile formed on his lips. “If I could, you’d have left the day you peed on my sleepers on purpose.”

Unexpectedly, Onyx laughed. Oh yeah, she did that. “You ate my last can of tuna and I was pissed.”

“I was hungry.” Shen said, deadpan.

Onyx rolled her eyes. “You HATE canned tuna. You were making faces the whole time but you ate it anyway just to spite me.”

“And why would I do that?”

Onyx stepped closer poking his chest to make a point. “Because you’re a mean and bitter old man who hates cats and happiness.”

“Not because you left fur all over my coat?” Shen raised an eyebrow.

Onyx rolled her eyes. “So what? My fur is black, the coat is black you couldn’t even see it.”

“Clearly I could.” Shen stood in front of Onyx, searching her gaze. “Why was there fur on it anyway, what were you doing with it?”

Onyx was capable of holding his gaze for a grand total of two seconds before she looked down at her nails and felt her face heat up.

“Nothing.”

Shen crossed his arms and stared, raising an eyebrow. Onyx rolled her eyes.

“I took a nap on it…” she mumbled.

Shen frowned. “A nap. On my coat.”

Onyx’s felt her cheeks heat up. There was no explanation that could save her pride. She shrugged. Shen waited.

She sighed. Whatever, she’d blame it on the alcohol. “You were gone on a mission for a couple of weeks and you didn’t come back when said you would and we weren’t sure when you’d get home and I- we were all worried about you.”

The wizard didn’t say anything to Onyx’s veiled confession but when Onyx looked at him he was no less red in the face than her. Huh.

After a moment of uncomfortable silence his expression brightened. “Oh!” Suddenly, he started looking in his pockets for something. He pulled out a tiny black gift box and gave it to her, looking at anywhere but her face. “Here. Happy birthday.”

Onyx stared incredulous at the little box for a moment before grabbing it. “You got me a gift?”

“I saw it on a display and it seemed like something you might like but… I can return it if you don’t.”

Onyx opened the box. It was a silver ring with a little black stone on it carved in the shape of a little cat’s face. Onyx admired the detailed carving for a minute before noticing the wizard fidgeting nervously beside her. She grinned. “Thank you. I love it.”

“Good. I wasn’t sure if it was… I thought it was very… in your style. But when I asked Vesper she said it might be a bit…”

“Romantic?” Onyx teased him.

“Yes.” He chuckled and they just stood there, smiling at each other until Shen continued speaking. “I’m glad you like it because I lied, I can’t return it.” He held the ring, wrapping his hand around Onyx’s and pointed to the object. “See this runes on the inside? They’re a protection spell, like the ones on my wrist. You know, for the next time you think it’s a good idea to jump from a 5th floor just because you will fall on your feet. ”

“I was fine.”

“Yes, but you almost gave me a heart attack.”

Onyx smirked. “You could use a little excitement in your life, old man.”

“I have you in my life. I think I’m good.”

They were both smiling when they looked down at their intertwined hands around the ring. Then, Shen put the it on Onyx’s hand, on her middle finger.

“So the next time you flip me off, your middle finger looks really pretty.”

Onyx chuckled and flipped him off immediately, batting her eyelashes theatrically. “Am I pretty now?”

Shen smiled softly. He was looking directly at her. “Very pretty.”

Onyx bit her lip, feeling a certain curiosity that excited her. “Yeah?” Her voice came out like a whisper.

Shen raised an eyebrow. “For a cat.” He touched the edge of Onyx’s cat ear with the tip of his finger. It sent shivers down her neck.

“You are… passable. For an old man.” She poked him in his, surprisingly muscular, chest.

“I thought I was an ugly old man.”

“You misunderstood me. I was only talking about your ugly old man personality, your looks are fine.” Onyx teased him.

Shen rolled his eyes. “Shouldn’t you go back to your party? I’m sure everyone misses you.”

Onyx looked back at the door leading downstairs, then she looked up at the night sky, felt the fresh breeze on her hair. Then her eyes went back to the man in front of her.

She shrugged. “This is nice too. You’re not the only one who can enjoy some alone time on the side.”

“Should I leave you to it?”

“What? No, don’t be ridiculous. Come here.” Onyx stood next to him and hooked her arm to his. She pulled him towards the swing chair and made him sit.

Onyx didn’t let go of his arm once they were sitting, leg to leg. She rested her head on his shoulder. Shen leaned his head on hers.