#fic: tskol

the more you look at him, the more easy on the eye he is--his features quite striking and unique, not a combination you've ever really seen on anyone before.

it's almost like you can still see all the resemblance of what was once your cat through them despite being very much human. his mesmerizing fox eyes and sharper bone structures a complete contrast to his cupid bow shaped lips that's probably his softest feature aside from his silk smooth skin that has a slight pink tint to them.

"san?" you utter, like you just have to make sure for one last time.

he nods, the smile that makes his eyes crinkled still haven't left; the answer clearing your throat in response as you lift your body off of him, the gesture confusing him slightly because he sits up and tries to follow you.

"sit," you instruct, your finger pointed at the floor with him listening almost instantly, staring up at you with a pout and blinking lashes.

you're just pretty sure that if he's naked from the waist up, he's also most likely naked from the waist down. you don't know how that works for someone in his case, but you don't wanna find out.

you're just glad he at least managed to cover himself up with your blanket in the first place even if you're struggling to visualize exactly how.

san's gaze follows you around the room, your figure searching over and under and especially repeatedly at the clothes in your closet like you've done this before and know all the protocols to when your cat suddenly turns into a human boy.

after rummaging for some time, all you're able to find is an oversized white t-shirt you haven't wore in a long time and a pair of shorts belonging to your father last time he stayed over.

"here," you say, holding out the clothes in front of him, but he just continues to stare. right... why would he know how to put them on.

putting it upon yourself to help him out with the shirt, you sit on your knees in front of him as you throw it over his head and luckily, he doesn't resist, his gaze entirely glued on you that you're surprised hasn't burned a hole into your skin.

if an actual man like him who wasn't possibly part cat, stared at you the way he does, you don't you'd make it through the way you are right now.

you know he's quite bulky and muscular; you could tell from just having laid on top of him, but you really feel it when attempting to properly fit the shirt around his torso, his shoulders having stretched most of the material when his waist is so tiny in comparison.

"there," you announce after finishing, standing up to grab at the shorts. "you're gonna put this on by yourself, okay? i'll show you how but i'll be going out after. you can knock or just open the door when you're done."

you give him a brief demonstration on how to put it on before leaving with your back turned to the door, hoping he at least does it partially right (and wondering once again if he even has any genitals).

when the frame creaks behind you, you're quick to turn around but you notice his height before his ability to follow instructions, towering almost a foot taller than you--this is the person you're gonna have to look after.

"great job," you compliment after coming back down, walking further out into the cramped living room with arms crossed. "i guess since you'll be here for some time, i should let you know a couple things. first thing first: no breaking stuff."

you stand beside the broken vase on the floor, nodding off to it with his clueless eyes following and lips not saying anything, of course.

"second," you go on, heading toward the kitchen to finally close the fridge that hasn't been much of a priority considering... everything else, "if you're ever hungry or want anything to eat, you have to let me know. no digging through the fridge or anything for that matter. got it?"

you look at him sternly, your pose making your appearance all more intimidating as he comes to a slow nod after some time. you feel like a grumpy grandma lecturing some innocent kid.

"perfect. and lastly," you close off, this time walking to the front door, "no going out unless i say so. and most importantly, don't ever open the door even if there's knocking. i have the key and i'll be the only person going in and out. got this, too?"

he nods once again.

in any other cases, these restrictions might seem straight up abusive, but you believe it's appropriate in this scenario because you only have his best interests in mind, you promise.

"okay."

you do one last once-over of the room just to be sure you're not forgetting something, honestly surprising yourself you're even able to come up with these things on the spot.

"unfortunately, i do have work in a bit so i won't be here for a while. what do you like to do?" you ask, at this point pretty much talking to yourself because it only makes sense he doesn't answer or even remotely know what he likes, the way in how he looks at everything as if it's his very first life (and it could be).

"that's fine. we can try to find something."

you guide him by the wrist, sitting him down on the couch before going in to retrieve your ipad from the bedroom, plopping right next to him after and shoving the screen in his face.

pondering for a hot minute on what to even put, you eventually settle on some asmr videos, the act of watching his reaction and having to hold onto the ipad literally gives you flashbacks to when you'd babysit your 4 year old cousin whenever you paid your parents a visit, it's actually a little bizarre.

his eyesbrows pinches themself together, initially intrigued but not too long before lifting his arm out of his lap to click another video much to your surprise and amazement.

but even that one doesn't hold his attention for long, too, and when he repeats the action the next three times, you're sure he gets more joy out of clicking than the videos themselves.

"okay, no more," you say at the same time he tries doing the same thing, jerking to your side with the ipad out of his reach, much to a confused glare and pouty lips from the boy.

"what does cats even like to watch?" you mumble.

and so your fingers just stupidly type in cat itself, picking a compilation video once more to see his reaction--nothing at first until a few seconds in when he finally cracks a smile, swiftly glancing at you and pointing to the screen but not clicking off.

he was cute when he was a cat, but you don't know why he has to be cute in his human form, too. and, he has dimples.

"here." you pass the device to him, guiding his hands in how to properly hold it before standing up from the couch. "i have to do a few things."

he tries getting up and following you but you're quick to tell him to sit and you're thankful he's at least obedient.

you were also worried you were gonna have to constantly keep him stimulated but he's doing it all on his own, giving you just enough time to clean up after the mess he made and get a few things in order until you have to leave for work.

he just had to transform on a day you're gonna be busy, but at least it's a friday and that means all and any concerns can be dealt with tomorrow.

as time runs closer to the inevitable, you pry the ipad out of his very engaged eyes since you need to teach him the ways of survival before having to leave him to fend for himself.

you show him the bathroom, where to get the leftover you're leaving out in case he gets hungry, and you even reiterate all three rules you enforced earlier (making an exception to the second in this case) just so it's more freshly ingrained in his head.

and of course, he tries following you out the door even if you sat him down beforehand because you knew that was exactly what he was gonna do.

"i'll be back soon. please try to stay safe."

those were the last words you uttered to your cat-turned-into-human boy, hoping and praying he listens because you'd like to think you did everything to the best of your ability within the given 2 hours.

you try to not let it bother you at work but it does, unable to relax easily even while doing mundane tasks--the thought always at the back of your mind and wondering how he's doing.

you feel bad having to leave him behind but there was no other way around it. and it's not even until a few hours into your shift that it really hits you that a mere kitten you took home yesterday who was barely big enough to fit into your embrace, is now a grown ass man who weighs more than you.

you've heard whispers and passing words before about these kind of creatures but you always brushed them off as nothing more than a cautionary tale--a myth and fantasy people loved to make up amongst other things.

when your break finally comes around, you do what any reasonable person in your situation would: you google it.

frankly, you're not even sure how to put it to words or where to start.

my cat turned into a human boy

and just as you predicted, the search leads to nothing but cartoons and fictions of such an idea, you're even beginning to doubt the reality you're living in.

it feels like both the slowest, yet fastest shift of your life. slow because you can't get home quick enough to san, but fast because mindlessly and mentally drifting off helped in passing time, glad it's over with when you finish the very last task of the night by flipping the shop sign to 'closed'.

the night is cold, your breath fogging up the air and you were hoping you'd get to enjoy the winter tomorrow, but now, you're not so sure about that either.

as you get closer to your apartment, you're already concerned seeing the pitched darkness from the window. you didn't even think about teaching san how to turn on the lights before you left.

with quick and worried steps, you hurry up the stairs and unlock the door, the slight creak of it the only sound in the quiet night as you're faced with expected blackness before flipping on the switch to your empty living room.

"san?" you call out, the smallest chill running through your body the same time you hesitantly close the door, treading around the place like you're in some unfamiliar territory.

everything is pretty much the same as you left them, staring across the room to find the leftover on the kitchen counter untouched before snapping your head to the ipad on the couch that's sitting on the exact spot where san was.

the battery is at 32%, failing to recall the number when you had given it to him, just that it was somewhere around the 80s meaning he at least must've been on it for some time.

"san," you try once again, heading for the last place he could possibly be since your apartment is so small and your bathroom was wide opened with him obviously not being in there.

you swear, if he had ran off, you're gonna--

"meow."

but he's here, sitting on the edge of your bed. except he's no longer the human boy you were prepared to face, but now the same small and white kitten you found last night.

you breathe in relief, watching the way he immediately jumps off the bed to sit still at your feet until you scoop him up into your arms, stroking his head with a calmer heart.

"you scared me."

the clothes he was wearing earlier are piled on the floor just off to the side of the bed, and you're wondering exactly when did he changed back.

walking back out, you set up the kitten food with him still in your arms, thinking at least it isn't gonna go to waste. you were afraid that was gonna be the case.

"eat up," you say, setting him down softly onto the carpet. "you didn't eat anything all day and i have to take a shower. i'll be back."

he purs lowly when you start walking away, turning to glare at you instead of eating, you have to shush him before quickly assuring you'll once again, be back.

yeri would always used to ramble on about why she prefers dogs to cats; that they're more loyal and cats are less likely to give a shit about you. but this one in particular seems to be quite affectionate, running with his small feet the second you come out the bathroom and proceeding to follow you around the house. or perhaps that's just the one of the quirks of being part-human. they get attached more easily.

"we're gonna have to get your human counterpart more clothes tomorrow," you speak to him, laying on your side as he switches between running around the bed and playing with your face.

once he seems to have finally settle, sitting in front of you with the cutest pair of eyes, you give his head one last rub while mumbling, "i think i like you better this way." sighing briefly and letting the tiredness of the day take over.

--

whether it's because it startled you to see him first thing in the morning or the fact you've been so deprived of a man's touch, you're squealing in panic as your feet kicks him off the bed with his human body rolling a hard thump onto the floor.

it obviously jolts him from sleep as he sits up to groan in pain, staring up at your figure on the bed before speaking his first few words that takes you by an even bigger surprise.

"w-why'd you do that for?" he rubs the back of his head. his voice much mellow and softer sounding than you expected.

"you can speak?"

you see the almost dazed expression on him, his gaze slightly aloof for a few seconds like he has to digest and decipher what you're saying first.

"i think so... listening to you talk... i learned from it."

he still speaks slowly and carefully, stumbling over every syllables but at least he's trying and for the most part, he's comprehensible. but now that your human cat boy can talk too, you're just thinking of all the possible chaos that has unlocked.

"okay, new rule: you can't sleep on the bed in this form." you gesture your hand up and down toward his body, unsure of how to even go at it.

"no?" he points to himself and you nod in response.

"yes, no."

"why?"

you'd think the cat boy you took under your care would obey by your rules considering he most likley knows next to nothing about the world he's in (but then you don't really know him, to be fair), but he shows curiosity and even has the guts to question you.

"because i said so," is all you say, hopping off the bed to lend the boy on the floor a helping hand. "and i'm sorry. you scared me."

he only blinks, staring at it momentarily before accepting your hand with you eventually having to use both to lift him off because he's so much taller and heavier--a reminder that's all too real when he's standing in front of you.

and you just noticed, but he isn't naked. he has on the same shirt and pair of shorts you gave him yesterday.

"did you... put that on by yourself?" you ask, your eyes lowering to his outfit that he follows, nodding to your question.

"yeah. you didn't seem to like it too much yesterday when i didn't have anything on, so i put it back on as soon as i woke up."

you take longer to reply, a look of endearment crossing your face with a smile on your lips, honestly quite impressed.

"good, you're learning," you compliment.

with that being said, you do wonder exactly how long has he been laying next to you?

it's not the most efficient, but it works for now--dragging san out into the cold as he's squeezed into some home slippers too small to fit and with the only outfit not suited for such a weather as you guide him through the slightly busy streets and to the nearest thrift store.

it sucks, but soon enough, he'll be comfortable and cozy in no time.

"you cold?" you ask him as soon as you're both inside the small store where he can at least warm up for now.

"a little," he answers, though he looks fine but that seems to just be his natural state regardless.

"let's find you something."

you figure clothes for the winter are a priority, then two of each on everything else. you're not made of money and you're trying really hard not to resent san for putting you in such a spot. after all, you don't really have to but like any animals that you'd hypothetically rescue, you'd want to take the best care of it.

pulling him through the aisles as you wait for him to stop you any second now and tell you what catches his eyes, you always seem to forget that san most likely doesn't have an opinion or preference for anything yet, as he continues to only trail behind you with the same puzzled expression.

"how about this one?" you break the silence, picking up a brown leather jacket off the rack to show him but he only stares.

"okay then," you mumble under your breath, thinking it's faster to just do everything yourself at this rate, continuing to stroll along the aisles while san follows mindlessly as you pick and choose to the best of your ability, only occasionally glancing at him for measurements.

just as you're about done (lord knows what you've been picking out given you don't know shit about men's fashion), having gotten a little too immersed in the final pair of pants for him, you gasp when you see he isn't behind you for the first time.

"san?" you call out quietly, panic ensuing a tiny bit on the inside, going back the way you came just in case he happened to fall behind but much to nothing until you hear loud murmuring on the other side of the store.

"mom, what is he doing?" the voice belonging to a boy about middle school aged says, staring up ahead and looking absolutely weirded out. the rows of clothing racks obstructing the view from where you're at.

their voices grow clearer and louder the closer you get.

"mind your own business," the boy's mother responds, pulling him aside and hissing something about proper manners and etiquette before you finally see the sight for yourself, having found the lost boy you're looking for.

salivating all over the cat plush toy he's currently chewing on, you have no idea how he managed to get this far out without you noticing.

swiftly but gently removing it from his mouth, he glares at you almost offended like a kid getting caught doing something they weren't supposed to.

you grimace lightly when your hand starts registering the texture of the toy. he's pretty much drooled all over the thing.

"san, you can't just wander off without letting me know and you also can't just grab anything you want, got it?" you tell him sternly but keeping your voice soft because you don't wanna scare him too much. you understand everything is still new.

he just nods and you breathe in relief, grabbing at his wrist this time and not letting go the rest of the trip until the door of your apartment is standing in front of you.

you had no choice but to buy the toy given the state he has put it in, but at least it's another thing to keep him occupied as you work on putting the new clothes away and making the breakfast you had to skip out on this morning.

you make extra for san, unsure of whether he even eats in this form but it's about time to find out, telling him to try on one of the new shirts while you plate the food, when the sudden and fast unlocking of the front door rings throughout the apartment.

"hey!--" she's cheery but soon stops dead in her track at the spotting of san... shirtless and sitting on your couch staring up at her.

you have completely forgotten yeri has a spare key to your apartment.

a/n: took so long to write such a short chapter. sorry y'all 😭 this new (not rlly) job kicking my ass but i hope y'all enjoy and look forward to the next!

you love winter. you love the morning coffees and the cozying up in bed as the frost covers your window, watching the snowfall show outside in the comfort of your own home.

you just wish you were able to enjoy it. school and work has kept you so busy, the cold and the piling of your favorite season at your doorstep now an annoyance more than anything.

before moving to seoul, you had done so much convincing against your parents wishes, telling them you were gonna be fine although they've pretty much predicted your current predicament: overworked, stressed, and barely making it through financially--all the reasons why they were skeptical about you moving to a new city and living alone in the first place.

but your rents are paid, assignments always on time, and your stomach full on most days if you don't forget to eat all your meals. it's the little things you're still grateful for.

as you trail up the stairs to your apartment on the second floor, you thought the 'meow' you had heard earlier was an illusion from the long day of work, but when you turn toward the bottom of the stairs and set your eyes on a fluffy white cat seated at the end of it, it's good to know you're still at least sane.

"meow."

it's more like a kitten, so small and cute glaring at you with its wide eyes, hurling out another 'meow' that tugs at your heartstrings because what is it doing all alone in the cold on such a night?

now, you're absolutely not a pet person, having always been afraid of dogs and all--coupled with the fact you can barely take care of yourself, but you're not heartless.

you make ways back down the stairs slowly and surely to not startle it, bending down to rub its fur gently and cooing under your breath, "hey kitty, what are you doing out here alone?" as if i can understand and speak to you in return.

you do a last once-over of the area just to be sure you're not mistaken and its owner or mother cat happens to be nearby. you don't wanna be a catnapper now.

"meow," it purrs again as you continuingly rub the soft fur of the kitten's head, a smile plastered on your face at the adorable sight.

maybe you can take it in for just one night, or at least until you can find another shelter.

"i'll be taking you now, kitty. hold tight," you assure, lifting the small animal with the utmost care into your arms, surprised by the little resistance it displays.

luckily, you've cleaned your apartment a few days prior so it's easier to find things to set up a makeshift litter box with one of the packages you haven't thrown away and stuffing a bunch of napkins in the middle.

it's too late to run to any stores and you don't have the convenience of cat foods laying around in your cabinets since you've never owned one, so you make a small portion of scrambled eggs for the adorable thing instead, having combed the web to learn regarding the few foods they can have.

you wash up for the meantime to get ready for bed, finding it sniffing the bottom of your couch when you return, unable to help but giggle at such cuteness before picking it back up into your arms and sitting yourself down.

"what should i name you? i mean, if you're gonna be here for a bit, you deserve a name, right?" you smile, immediately attempting to come up with something not generic.

it's a boy, you know that. you checked earlier.

"mochi?" you speak into thin air, shaking your head after. "no. something a little less cute."

"minho? but there's already too many minho's."

you rock the kitten in your arms as you try again, about ready to give up and get some ideas from your phone, when the painting hanging above your small dining table sparks an even better idea.

"san," you say at the same time you look down at the kitten who resonates a small purr in response. "it means mountain. my dad gave me that painting because he hoped it could comfort me in times of hardships."

you glance at the artwork again, a canvas painting of the snowy mountains behind the grassfield full of flowers. your father loves nature and incorporating elements of it. he always says that in the toughest of times, to find the beauty in the things around you--small or big.

that if the mountains are still there, birds are flying, and the sky still hangs above the swaying flowers, everything is gonna be okay because the world keeps moving. so you suppose in some ways, the painting does help.

"yeah, san... that'll work." you stroke the kitten's head one last time, his silent purring ringing against your chest as he snuggles into your arms.

and when you're finally ready for bed, you lay a small blanket on the other side for san to sleep on, singing him a good night before closing your eyes.

--

the invasion of your face wakes you up, your own eyes met with the doe ones of the kitten you took home yesterday as its tiny paws continues to press at your skin.

"good morning, kitty," you greet, giving him a few gentle strokes on the head before setting him aside to get up.

he fortunately woke you a good few minutes before your alarm so you take the time to run to the nearest convenience store to get a few kitten foods--that you'll take the time in between classes and work to get some more later.

you make sure he has everything he needs before you leave for classes, reminding yourself to bring it up to yeri since she seems to know just about everything and what your next step should be.

"you sure he didn't happen to wander away from his mother?" yeri says across from you, her chin resting on her hand as her head tilts, the headband on her hair so perfectly placed.

"i don't think so, but i'll keep in mind for tonight. keep a lookout."

she nods. "yeah, and if not then call the animal shelter for sure."

she pauses momentarily before going on, "have you given him a name?"

"yes. san," you tell her with such excitement that she hasn't seen in a while. the last time she saw you this happy was when you found out yunho was gonna be going to dinner with your friend group.

"san..." she repeats after you, "well that's a unique name."

"oh, right." you sit up from where you were leaning, turning on your phone. "i took a couple pictures of him. are you able to tell what kind of breed he is?"

she squints her eyes, slouching slightly forward before falling into awe at the few pictures you managed to snap of the kitten just right before you hopped into the shower.

"awww. but you know, he looks weirdly clean for a potentially stray cat."

"that's true," you agree, just grasping the fact yourself. "you don't think it ran away?"

yeri shrugs. "best to just call the shelter and let them take things from there. but to answer your initial question, i think it's a persian."

"ooh..." you hum, intrigued, though absolutely clueless regarding anything else but it's good to know more about the animal you took in.

"by the way," yeri not so subtly brings up, "are you still coming to see yunho's performance on tuesday?"

just hearing his name already making your cheeks glow a soft pink, yeri always has to be considerate of the time and place when mentioning him.

"i don't know," you answer, when in all honesty you really really want to. but it's just so anticlimactic when he didn't invite you himself. "it'd be weird if i just showed up."

your crush on jeong yunho started the day you sat in the seat next to him of your foreign language class, having pulled yourself into that corner (literally) with no one else but a choice between talking to him or the wall to your left.

he had looked so intimidating at first, too tall and broodingly handsome, you were a little afraid he was gonna be stuck-up. but you couldn't be more wrong when he finally spoke to you for the first time, kindly and too curiously wanting to know his awkward seatmate.

that was when you found out he's a dance major and his commitment to the art only made your admiration grow. you've never met someone with so much passion and fire in their eyes before.

he made you look forward to the class despite not even liking the professor that much, all because you loved the small talk you'd have with him every other day.

that was last semester. now, you only see him occasionally through mutual friends--and even mutual might be pushing it a bit considering they're really only yeri's friends.

"so? he'd appreciate it still. trust me."

"i'll have to think about it."

you get more kitten foods on the way home, usually taking the two hours to either study or finish assignments (sometimes a nap) before having to rush to work, but you want to spend some time with your newfound temporary pet because you'll be stuck at work for the next 8 hours.

you open the front door slowly just in case it happened to wander nearby, not at all expecting that the sight in front of you will have your heart thrumming in anxiety.

because your apartment is so small, you can practically see almost everything from this angle--the vase that sat on your coffee table now shattered on the floor and there's a light coming from the kitchen.

keeping the door opened just in case whoever or whatever that did this is still in here, you follow the light, doing exactly what a stupid character in a horror movie would and calling out, "hello?"

your survival instincts are telling you 'no', but your curiosity are telling you to keep walking, seeing the source of the light is from your fridge that's parted all the way.

any moment now, you almost expect for someone in a mask and dark clothings to come out of hiding and hold you hostage, until...

"san!"

you run to the bedroom so fast, afraid that they might have taken your little kitty or done something to it, when you trip on what feels like a pair of legs--yes, legs--the second you open the door to the room.

everything already feels like a very vivid dream with the possibility that someone has broken into your apartment, and now you're staring right into very human-like eyes when you live alone.

"ahhh!" you scream at the top of your lung, hitting this man's chest that you've landed on--your panicked reaction making him do the same in response as his much deeper pitched voice mix with yours.

"who the fuck are you and why are you in my house!" you don't stop hitting until suddenly, he manages to grab ahold of both your arms with quite the ease, blinking at you with such innocence unfitting for the scenario.

"san," he mumbles, his speaking voice much softer and mellow to your surprise. "san."

you can only blink in return before creasing your brows confusingly. "huh?"

"meow." he moves one of your arms toward his head, settling your hand on his hair and continues to motion it up and down, until it hits you what he might be trying to do.

relaxing your hand to slowly brush at it following his lead, the smile he sends you after just more so confirms it.

you don't wanna sound crazy, but you think this man you're currently laying on top of with his bare naked chest out might be your cat.