#like humans who volunteer at a cat shelter. we love the kittens not because we identify with them.

[feluka]

if good omens ends with aziraphale & crowley becoming mortal i am going to switch myself to a diet of arsenic and fiberglass exclusively

#yes the entire point of their characters is that their love for humanity overpowers their allegiances to heaven and hell #and they ally themselves with humanity even as frail and temporary as humanity seems in face of literal eternity #HOWEVER. in my opinion it is made more profound by the fact that they don't fit in with humanity either #that they are genuinely bemused but sympathetic to the awkward fumbling clumsy humans who try their best #like humans who volunteer at a cat shelter. we love the kittens not because we identify with them. #we are endeared to these curious creatures and want to oversee and protect them #that's how i think of how aziraphale and crowley see humanity #not as 'they're just like us' but as 'we could learn so much from them' #i would find it more beautiful if they got to watch over and protect humanity forever #through all its different phases and ups and downs. to enjoy the endless adventure. #than to die as mortals #but that's just my opinion ig #(and i'm saying this as an angst lover. the growing old and dying thing would be the gut punch to end all gut punches) #(but i wouldn't find it as satisfying)

[winterhawksamplers]

Pet Fic: Lucky, Alpine, and More

It's dogs. And cats. And the occasional ferret. Come on, of course we love them! This sampler offers a variety of animal-centric fics: in some, pets and animals are what bring Clint and Bucky together; in others, they serve as key components to helping Clint and Bucky figure things out; in one, we get some of Lucky's actual POV. Animals act as therapists, as cockblocks, as the absolute best pillows. This is a (literal) fluff, humor, and pizza dog filled theme, but don't be too surprised when some of these furry facades are actually vehicles for processing complex winterhawk themes like trauma, PTSD, and figuring out how to be human.

Space to Run, Space to Hide by: @ialwayscomewhenyoucall length: 1.1k | rating: T | tags: free verse poetry, barton farm, fluff, avoidance, podfic available, shifting POVs summary excerpt: Clint is spending some time at his farm. Not because he's running away. Nope. Not at all. He just missed the farm. Why this one? In this incredibly beautiful, sweet, and lyrical fic, the author utilizes Lucky's POV to help capture a classic example of Clint's emotional avoidance. bonus: podfic by @flowerparrish

Rescue Me by: NotEvenCloseToStraight length: 25k | rating: M | tags: PTSD, depression, service animals, misunderstandings, amputee!Bucky, Deaf!Clint, h/c, no powers au summary excerpt: Still struggling with PTSD and nightmares a year after leaving the Army, Bucky goes to a shelter to find a therapy dog. He finds companionship in Beef the Pitbull, a purpose in volunteering on weekends, and when the dog trainer starts smiling his way, Bucky finds something else that feels a little like love. Why this one? This heart-wrenching fic situates a post-military service Bucky struggling to find a new normal alongside a disaster human/pet-trainer Clint. C&B's journey to recovery in this fic is realistic, rife with struggles and mistakes, and filled with enough feels to make you want to rush to hug the nearest animal you can find.

Through the Streets of Long Gone Dreams by: Rivulet027 length: 11k | rating: T | tags: canon-adjacent, Bucky Barnes recovering, mutual pining, bed sharing, Lucky as the best bed buddy summary: Bucky’s having trouble sleeping until Lucky decides to adopt him. Now Bucky isn’t sure if he’s sleeping better because of a dog or the archer that comes with the dog. Why this one? This one feels like a more classic Bucky recovery story, in that the setting is the tower, and there are PTSD and nightmare themes throughout. Lucky here helps push Clint and Bucky together and helps Bucky ground and find himself. bonus: art by prompt_fills

A Christmas Miracle: Getting Lucky by: Lissadiane length: 11k | rating: T | tags: veterinarian!Bucky, performer!Clint, temporary animal injury, fluff, holidays, no powers au summary excerpt: Clint Barton’s absolute worst nightmare comes true on a snowy highway in the middle of Colorado on a cross country drive — he hits a dog. It’s just his luck that the only vet he can find hates people — especially those who hurt dogs — and happens to look amazing in a pair of kitten scrubs. Why this one? A sheepishly adorable Clint, an adorably grouchy Bucky, and the cutest Lucky in a pair of reindeer antlers to ever attend a holiday festival make for the most fluff-and-feels-filled fic, possibly ever. A dash of misunderstanding, a sprinkle of enemies-to-lovers, and you're in for a fic streaming from the hallmark channel straight to your ao3 account.

Lucky in Love by: @drgrlfriend length: 59k | rating: E | tags: no powers au, mutual recovery, PTSD, depression, veteran!Bucky, h/c, roommates, pining, touch-starved, canon disabilities summary excerpt: Clint is only a couple of sips into his cardboard cup of coffee, his brain barely out of neutral, which is probably why it takes him so long to realize that some damn psycho is trying to kidnap his dog. Why this one? This classic au blends a variety of canon and fandom favorite tropes in a beautiful story of mutual recovery. Lucky brings Clint and Bucky together in a disaster of a meet-cute, and is there to support them through every nightmare, every flashback, and every shaky and sweet step towards trust and healing. bonus: art by @drizzledrawings

The next nine fluff-filled fics are sorted in descending order by length.

Look What The Cat Dragged In by: @flawedamythyst length: 22k | rating: G | tags: Bucky Barnes Recovering, Lucky, Alpine, co-raising a cat with the Winter Soldier

Making Me a Habit by: @kangofu-cb length: 20k | rating: T | tags: war vet! Bucky, Clint owns an animal shelter, no powers au, PTSD, kittens, + 1 ferret, bonus: art by @soapyquartz and art by CountessofLovelace and art by noxnthea

Barking Mad by: @xria-rose length: 4k | rating: T | tags: magic, pre-relationship, established stony, Steve and Tony are turned into a dog and cat

Ready to Hear it by: @noxnthea length: 3.7k | rating: T | tags: feelings realization, love confessions, Clint treating Lucky like his therapist

How to Prevent Sugar Bloom by: @tawryn length: 3.7k | rating: E | tags: flipped A/B/O, humor, dog park meet cute/disaster, STEVE IS A LITERAL DOG

Winter Puppy by: @pherryt length: 3.5k | rating: G | tags: werewolves, towerfic, Clint wants a dog so bad he's willing to believe the random wolf in the tower is one

Modern Drift by: @claraxbarton length: 2k | rating: T | tags: alpine, no powers au, Nurse!Bucky, pre-relationship, covid, best cat dad Bucky

Five Facts You Need to Know About Clint and Bucky by: @skylarkevanson length: 1.8k | rating: G | tags: domestic fluff, one fact is=Clint is the type of man who stops in the street to pet every dog

it's got to be you(r cat) by: atheoryon length: 1k | rating: G | tags: no powers au, firefighter! Bucky, meet-cute, alpine is not stuck on a fire escape

What other animal or pet related fics would you include? reblog or add in the comments for your fellow readers!

Find other themed winterhawk samplers here. Suggest fics for us to include on future lists here!

#winterhawk samplers #winterhawk #clint/bucky #clint x bucky #clintucky #winterhawk fanfiction #fic list #pet fic #lucky the pizza dog #alpine barnes #bucky barnes #clint barton #fluff fic #avengers fanfiction #no powers au #it wasn't until we had this list ready that we realized all the featured fics featured lucky #unintentional dog over cat preferences oops

[boxwinebaddie]

-insert xennys very sweet ask about my cat here that for some reason i lost lmao?-

hi head chef xenny! so i am not sure what happened, but i lost your lovely ask message in which you asked about my cat!! so everyone please pretend like it's up there and know it was incredibly lovely! <3

but yay! she is my favorite subject, style falls directly afterwards, and speaking of the later, while nothing thrills me more than doing my lovely rm/pep asks, i do think it's really sweet when you guys ask me personal questions ( and i have said all but fuck it to my digital footprint, so like, really the sky is the limit at this point. )

below the cut is probably going to be a lot of rambling about my cat, some pet stuff, backstory, uncle nina lore!!! ( if you like that ), happy things, sad things, a small tw for pet death ( not her, i swear! ) <3

but everyone, meet the little lady that has sat curled up at the foot of my bed, lain on my lap and threatened to delete nearly every single one of my peppermint/rm updates by stepping on my keyboard.

meet lily :) <3

everyone this is lily, lily this is everyone!~

-- also yes she's very pretty, yes i know, yes it runs in my family ;)

she is my second kid, and, yes i am one of those cringey people that calls my pets my kids. however, as i have no desire to have any human children in my life time, my cats really are...daughters to me.

but any who, before she was That Lily she was This Lily.

( ALSO YES I KNOW!!!! I KNOOOW!!! MAAM SPARE PRETTY? PLS! )

i had weird cat baby fever ( i really love kittens, specifically very, very fluffy ones -- i volunteer at a cat shelter and i love the kitten room ) and i tracked this weird ad a woman put up about having kittens.

it was...very sketchy. that lady was the craziest tweaker lady in the world ( bless her, but oh my god ), she was living in this trashed motel room had like 6 other animals, didn't know what day it was...she was basically like yOu gOt fIFty DoLlArs oR WhaT??? and i was like ah jeez...Yes M...aam? and she just straight up held these two little cats up by the scruff wavin' em around and was like sO WHICH ONE U WANT??? sadhsadksdlks

and i ended up with lily! who at the time they were calling freckles because she had a little freckle on her nose...which i think is very cute she is a kyle pile kitty <3

but ohhhh my god she was COVERED in fleas, she was HAGGARD bless her, a trailer park princess, and the lady told me she was litter box trained....SHE WAS NOT! and i spent all day having to try and teach her how to use the litter box it had been several hours an she had not gone to the bathroom, i was having a panic attack, no vet would see me...MISS THING WOULD NOT USE THE RESTROOM!!!!

but then i noticed she liked to chill behind a tv i had set in the cover of my room so i...put my thinking cap on and put the litter box behind the tv where she liked to sit aND SHE WENT!!!! AND SHE TOOK THE NASTIEST MOST FOUL MEGA SHIT IN THE WORLD AND I CRIED ON SNAPCHAT AT 12AM I WAS SO HAPPY SKHDKS.

( also this is how she looked after that shit...like GOOFY!!!! maam dont stick ur tongue out with me I!!! WAS!!! CRYING!!!! STOP! IT!!! )

now...is lily smart?

no. absolutely not. she has never had a thought in her life.

( not a thought behind those eyes...wow )

but she is VERY NICE!

shes a sweet lovely girl. i can carry her anywhere with no complaints. she is so fluffy and pretty and kind. she licked all the tears off my face once and whether she was thirsty or not...i thought it was nice.

AND THATS WHAT MATTERS! I DONT CARE IF UR DUMB, BABY!

we stan bimbo cat lily, the official mascot of the ncu, tyvm! <3

but yes here are some pictures of her ( please don't clown blonde/peach nina in my egirl phase...let me live sjdksajd ) and yes she really is gods angel like what the hell she is my BEST FRIEND!~

but like i said she is my second daughter. my first daughter's name

....was rose <3

also yes...she is also...gorgina...i know...my genes

( and i can't talk too much about her bc i will start crying rip )

now both my cats i got from weird suss situations, i got rose because my first exboyfriends best friend got her off craigs list and didnt want her which???? EXCUSE ME LOOK HOW CUTE SHE WAS SHUT UP

and this was all new to me, my mom was very very allergic to cats, i had never really had a pet other than our family dog who was kind of a motherfucker ( sorry king ), and i...did not know how to own a cat.

but she taught me very quickly!

because unlike lily, rose was fucking smarter than god, like oh my god bitch, she was mean as FUCK and crazy and quiet and calculating and she was smarter than most human beings.

she was very salty when i first adopted lily ( like when ur mom has a baby and ur like what the fuck brother!!! ) but as u can see lilys dumb idiot ass personality charmed roses insane criminal mastermind personality and they became like sisters to eachother...aw <3 :')

i also won both of them in the first exboyfriend divorce ( i wasnt married i promise i was in like my second year of college i just call all my breakups divorces to be funny ) and luckily i did not have to fight for them bc exboyfriend numero uno was...batshit insane. die pls.

and they were also the two main things that kept me going when i was in the sike!ward after how badly that breakup affected me...yes i am jersey!kyle i am insane...cats out of the bag. mentally ill queenina!

but anyways, rose was staying down at my parents for a little bit while i was at school because lily was just more portable...

and while i was down there, i got a very awful and hysterical phone call from my mom saying that she passed away and ...that she didnt know what happened she just found her...etc. :((((((

and obviously my mom was very traumatized, so i could not have her you know, investigate the causes, so i talked her through...all of the horrible bits...it was so fucking horrible.

so i to this day, do not know how she passed....she was four :(

and i think she was just too smart? too fabulous? too evil? but also very kind and sweet in a lowkey way? like kyle? which is SOOO funny because she has BIG OLE STANLEY MARSH EYEBALLS.

like guys she looks like an owl like please her eyes are comically large she is so pretty i love u rose!!!! stunna!!!

but...yeah :/ she passed from unknown causes, i unfortunately think it was a heart condition or something internal that never got diagnosed...cats are very good at keeping secrets and rose was the best. my sweet, sweet girl. </3

so as we may know, i student taught all of last year ( hi teacher nina! ) and i ran a lesson that went...extremely well. i had part two scheduled for monday...and it was the monday after rose passed.

and iiiii was :( catatonic. i was so miserable i was suffering it was so terrible. that whole lesson went horribly and i cried in front of literally everyone...a very bad day for me.

i wallowed in that grief for a long time. i remember getting really angry? about why they'd just take her suddenly like that?

and i guess i'm a fate and destiny girlie even in my hater girlie arc

( i really am in my jersey kyle arc w/ chaotic kenny level disasters )

because i found this wine glass ( yes in uncle nina boxwinebaddie fashion i do collect vintage handpainted wine glasses ) and it just felt like a sign...so i made her a little corner in my room with pictures and stuff she liked and...

i started writing her letters. <3

i started doing this because a boy in one of my courses told me that when his grandfather passed, he...talked to him? by that he meant that he just spoke to him sometimes when he missed him, recorded him messages, wrote him letters, etc. to keep his spirit alive

so actually...that's why rm!jersey kyle writes stan letters...

because i write letters to rose :')

( WOOOOAH UNCLE NINA RM LORE!!! ahhsdhksd )

and everyday is hard and horrible, but i got lily in my lap, i put rose's picture in a locket, i take her on hikes and walks ( i'm trying to teach lily how to go on walks but bless her...her lil brain...its not working ) and she's with me all the time.

i hope that was a thrilling journey for you! thank you for letting me talk about my kids and i hope that wasn't too long or overshare-y or weird? i will go back to style shitposting now, i swear!

-nina, your favorite single cat mom wine aunt fanfiction uncle <3

#HLKDSHSLKHDS #i wrote too much of this ask meme to toss it im so sorry #BUT YES UNCLE NINA LORE AND MEET LILY AND ROSE #MY GALS #but yes lily is my little lady and she does almost delete my fanfictions every damn day and thats ok #because she is pretty and soft and so nice and im not mad at her ever like look at her shes forgiven #pardoned for all her crimes she has pretty privilege #also WHEW not me crying oh my god #NO ONE MAKE FUN OF ME IM PRETTY I PROMISE THOSE PICTURES WERE OUT OF CONTEXT

[gravelgirty]

When you give a cat a home...

Please remember what it means.  In the USA if you want to do the right thing, most vet offices won’t simply spay/neuter a cat or dog off the street without putting them through tests (bloodwork, scanning, labs) because that’s how they screen for diseases.  And it is expensive.

We took in this little fellow, starving and rail-thin during a rotten winter storm.  He had been living on his own for quite a while, but we can’t keep him. We were saving his life. 

Fine, we thought...We’ll apply to the local shelter and pay the sliding scale fee to get him spayed and surely he will be far more adoptable that way (oh, yeah). My sister’s porch is overrun by all these cats the Crazy Cat Lady had on her porch and then she died...they all have diseases and keep breeding faster than she can keep up, and she actually found volunteers who do TNR for free.

But my application was processed at the same time the county seized multiple hoarding households and first one, then another, then another house made the news for SO MANY CATS brought to the shelter, all in physically poor condition and in need of their own neutering.  Let’s not mention names; Tacoma is a big place but not big enough to protect privacies.

The weeks ticked by with no end and sight.  We live sparingly; I have three jobs to keep up with rent and utilities and food.  My kids work too but we don’t have a car and public transportation is a minimum $62 a month for each adult. My son’s cat is diabetic and needs $160 a month in insulin and syringes; that doesn’t even cover the diabetic cat food (pro tip: FELINE FANCY FEAST CLASSIC PATE any flavor is ok for diabetic cats!).  But at $1 for a tiny little can...it adds up.  For all the household cats we pay half and that means a minimum of $150 for food and litter).  Those medical credit cards, like Kare Kredit, are great in emergencies but your ability to make payments on time is soon gobbled up by cascading recurring purchases.

This is not a bad cat.  But he was in a bad situation.

Someone must have loved him.  He was litter trained and let us clip his claws(!) But he rarely purrs, and is nervous at being brushed. Being an intact male 'Orca’ wants to spray and our cats are harassed at his high energy and desire to play. Perhaps someone just couldn’t take care of him when he stopped being an adorable and physically immature kitten. We don’t know.  We were $900 in debt taking care of our cat before he came to us, and things are getting worse.  The stool sample test for parasites costs as much as month’s supply of veterinarian insulin syringes.  The pre-op health exam cost us $268.82.  Tomorrow’s blood work will be another $50-60 and the neutering surgery alone?  I don’t even want to know and that doesn’t cover using LYFT to get him to the vet--$30 in each direction, totaling to $120.  

Surely there are cheaper vet offices?  I have no doubt.  But so many offices are full to bursting and not taking new clients.

We don’t regret bringing him in, because damn it, fair is fair.  He doesn’t deserve being cold and hungry in a place where coyotes are feeding pretty well on cats their foolish owners let loose to ‘be free’.  He came right up to us.  No one posted a LOST sign; there was no proof he had been in a home for a long time.

I don’t know about other countries, but if medical debt isn’t taken seriously for humans if you are trying to apply for food stamps and other emergency resources, they sure as hell care less about pets needing care.  System = Broken over here. We already live out of the food bank (that’s its own struggle, trust me).

If you want to take up someone’s offer for a needy pet, please don’t be nervous about offering to give a few bucks toward set pet’s care with them.  Yes, many people are proud.  But the phrase ‘pay it forward’ is pretty damn hard to argue with.  Use it.  Also, when people are stressed and wondering if this little animal is really going to a good home, offering them some money is a reassurance that you can afford to care for them.

We are humans.  Part of our responsibility is stepping up to the plate when another human fails in their obligations.  And sometimes, it really costs.  

If anyone is looking for a pretty little cat in the Tacoma area and they know they can care for him, PM me. He’s coming chipped, vaxxed, tested, spayed--all the trimmings.  Except for those pesky reproductive organs.  Those are getting trimmed off on Tuesday.

#cats in need #adopt #Tacoma rescue cats

[healspets]

How To Help Feline Friends And Improve Their Lives

Animal welfare societies, shelters, and rescues do great work by helping animals and their owners at desperate times. With limited resources and publicity, they assist a large number of animals and people who own one or more pets. Just like dogs, cats make great fun-loving pets. They are always there to cheer you up when you need delightful company. However, many things can go wrong in the lives of these charming animals. No matter if it is a feral cat, wild cat, or a stray cat, there is one thing common among them. And that is short and difficult lives.

So, today, we will help you learn how you can help these cute feline friends. But before that, let’s take a look at what feral cats are because many people are unfamiliar with the term.

A feral cat is a cat who cannot socialize properly and that is not safe to be handled in a typical pet home. In the United States, the number of feral cats ranges between 60 million and 100 million. These cats are usually the offspring of cats who were lost or abandoned irresponsibly by their owners, and thus they are not used to socialize with humans. They often live in vacant plots and trash cars. They eat from garbage and therefore, are more vulnerable to suffer from infections and diseases. Besides, they often face an endless cycle of pregnancy and struggle during extreme weather.

Now, let’s take a look at how you can help a cat welfare society.

Donate

Every cat welfare society needs funds to pay bills, take care of the rescued cats, and help families whose pet cats need emergency veterinary care. Thus, your generous cat welfare society donation is gracefully accepted and appreciated. Even small amounts mean a lot because, when these small amounts are used collectively, they can help organizations cover the costs of daily operations, supplies, staff training, animal housing renovation, community outreach programs, animal life enrichment, and more.

Volunteer

You can also volunteer and help make cats’ lives better in your community and local animal welfare society. To your surprise, even if you are a carpenter, electrician, accountant, or marketer, you can become a valuable resource as all such skills are valuable and required in animal shelters and welfare societies too. For those who are open to learning and have compassion for animals, non-profit organizations for animal welfare make the right choice.

Become a foster

Foster families for cats play a great role in improving the lives of cats. Their importance can’t be emphasized enough as they can be the lifesavers for cats who can’t adapt to shelter life, who need to be nursed and taken care of, and orphaned kittens who need someone to play the role of their mom. In fact, foster homes can greatly help rescue groups because, without the support of foster providers, rescue groups can’t take in as many cats. If you already have cats, fostering for cats will come easy to you.

While you always have the option of volunteering and becoming a foster, making little (or big as your budget allows) donations once in a while can greatly help in fueling the operations of a cat welfare society and providing emergency vet-care.

#Cat Welfare Society Donation

[twofrontteethstillcrooked]

2 Nov. Destiel Month: Pets

Cas mused, "We should get a cat."

au in the Sam Is An idiot About Destiel fanon subgenre 

Dean hadn't known his boiling point would be the local farmers' market at 9:27 a.m. on a frosty October Saturday; nevertheless, before he could stop himself, he blurted, "So are you two dating now or what?"

Whereupon his best friend gave him a look of profound confusion and his brother, kneeling beside said best friend, literally dropped a beagle puppy onto the ground. 

Thankfully, the puppy only had a foot to fall, back into the blankets in the big fenced area where the no-kill shelter was letting a variety of puppies and kittens bounce around and be cute enough to tempt customers to adopt. The sound the puppy made, though, was a series of adorably sad squeaks that made its beleaguered momma wander over and nose at it until it calmed down.

Neither Sam nor Cas were making any noises while staring at Dean like he'd grown an extra head. 

A random human kid who seemed to belong to one of the shelter volunteers wandered into the scene to tell Sam, "Puppies don't bounce."

Sam said, "I know, I'm so sorry," and stood up. 

Cas stood up as well. Dean took in the sight of the two of them side by side, Sam in a gray hoodie and jeans and Cas in one of Sam's old navy blue hoodies and jeans. Their expressions were similarly dismayed. Except for the height difference, they looked like a matched set, the way they'd looked for a week of meals, movie marathons, and the road trip for a bust of a case. Thick as thieves. 

It made Dean's chest hurt.

"We should talk," Sam said though clenched teeth.

Cas's eyebrows rose, but he followed Dean and Sam towards the picnic table area of the park. 

Sam waited until a family of five and a couple with a baby stroller passed by the area before asking Dean, in an even and polite voice, "What the fuck is your problem?"

Cas cocked his head like he had not expected this question either but was willing to let whatever was happening play out.

Dean hunched into his jacket. He wasn't cold, exactly; just his nose, hands, and mind were numb. "Could I speak to you privately?" he managed to ask Sam.

Sam's eyes flashed and it was a moment before he was able to say, "Fine."

He stalked over to the picnic area and Dean followed him, too cowardly to even glance in Cas's direction.

Sam wheeled around on him at the swingsets. "Were you making some of gay joke? Are you being possessed by John Winchester right now?" he hissed. "And if you say, 'Not that there's anything wrong with being gay,' I will kick your ass."

"Now who's acting like Dad," Dean said, on instinct and with immediate regret.

Sam almost growled at him. "You've been in a bad mood all week and I am tired of it, Dean. What the hell, man? Cas doesn't deserve this either."

"Okay," Dean said. "I know." He watched a cloud inch its way over the sun and felt nothing.

"Cas having a crush on me -- look, I know it isn't ideal," Sam said. "It doesn't bother me at all, but I also don't want to hurt him. You get that, right? He's my best friend. I like spending time with him. I'm glad he lives with us. I cannot imagine he believes I return his...infatuation."

Dean stared at a nearby maple tree whose leaves were turning red and falling away from the top down, like someone had dropped a lit match on it. 

Cas loved Sam. Cas loved Sam, and Sam didn't love him back, and both of those things made Dean want to lie down in the dirt beneath the swingset until the heat death of the universe.

"I'm trying to be kind, okay?" Sam said. "Can you keep the snide comments to a minimum?"

"Yeah, Sammy," Dean said quietly. 

"I'm gonna go--" Sam made some fluttery hand gesture. "That one shelter lady thought I was gonna adopt a puppy but probably now thinks I'm a serial puppy abuser, so I should go apologize formally."

"You're adopting a puppy?" Dean asked, because nothing about this morning had made a goddamn lick of sense.

"I told Eileen I would look at the puppies. Her niece is angling for one for Christmas."

"Godspeed," Dean said.

Sam stalked away. In Dean's peripheral vision he could see him pat Cas on the shoulder on his way back to the shelter set-up. Cas was coming towards Dean. In the absence of having the energy to flee the scene, Dean sat in the closest swing and took a couple of breaths that didn't help a bit.

Cas sat in the swing next to him.

No-one spoke. The market patrons' talking combined with birdsong and car traffic to create an almost peaceful white noise. A dog in the shelter pen barked and a dog on the leash of a man holding a huge pumpkin answered with its own series of barks. The volunteer lady laughed loudly at something Sam presumably said and Dean experienced a surge of sympathy for Cas, who probably also heard. 

Dean decided then and there to be a good friend. He could do that. Sam was right: Cas deserved kindness. 

He opened his mouth to say something encouraging, and never got out a word before Cas said, "Of late your brother seems to have developed a theory that I am interested in him romantically." He looked over at Dean. "Am I wrong, or was that the nature of your discussion with him a minute ago?"

"Uh," Dean said. He gripped the swing's chains and was gratified to have sensation again in the palms of his hands. 

"Well, I'm not. Interested in him romantically, that is." Cas drew an arc in the dirt with his heel. "I do greatly value Sam as a friend, of course."

"Oh," Dean said. "Sure." There were things he should be saying; he knew this. Not a single coherent sentence would arrange itself in his brain.

"And of course you didn't think I was romantically interested in Sam, did you?" Cas's tone was...peculiar. 

Dean looked over at him, at the guileless little smile on his mouth and the craftiness in his eyes. 

Comprehension bashed Dean in the chest like someone had turned a firehose on him full blast.

"No, of course I didn't think you were," he lied, lighting up at the sight of Cas's smile turning a little shy.

"Good," Cas said. "Sam is a truly good person, which you know."

"Yes," Dean said, nodding vigorously. 

"But I am already very fond of someone else. Who is also a truly good person," Cas concluded. He gazed at the sky, seeming to be at peace with this confession.

Dean prayed a quick prayer for his own sanity. "That's." He cleared his throat. "That's good to know. I bet. Um. Someone? Is very fond of you as well."

Cas's cheeks turned a delicate shade of pink.

He and Dean sat rocking in their respective swings for a companionable few minutes. 

Dean had almost gathered up enough courage for another comment. 

Cas mused, "We should get a cat."

"Maybe we should go on at least one date first," Dean said, because suffering from brain-mouth disconnect was a lifelong affliction, apparently.

"We could do that too," Cas said.

Dean thought about what he wanted to say next. He settled on, "I'm so happy Sam is just as dumb as I am," because, god, he was.

"Yes," Cas said, looking at him with such resignation and such acute affection Dean stopped breathing for a second. "I thought you would be." 

#destielmonth #spn #deancas #fic #destiel

[asmo-ds]

(1) satan has been feeling a bit down lately because he really wants a cat but he knows that lucifer won't allow the cat inside. mc knows how satan feels about cats so as a christmas present they take him to volunteer in an animal shelter and more specifically one that's for cats.

The Purrfect Gift *HOLIDAY SPECIAL*

Satan x gn!MC Fluff

Word Count: 1517~

Summary: Knowing Lucifer would never allow them to bring a cat into the house, MC decides to bring Satan to an animal rescue shelter to keep the kittens’ company on the cold winter holiday, and despite entering the shelter with only two House of Lamentation residents, they leave with three.

“Please, Lucifer! I just know he’d love it and he’s a grown-up he’s responsible enough to have at LEAST one-”

“MC, for the last time, the way Satan’s mind works is if he is allowed to have one cat he’s allowed to have twelve more. It happens every time I’ve ever said yes to giving him a cat.” The first-born shakes his head and MC can see the vein on his forehead popping out from frustration. 

“Well, what the hell else could I get him?! He’s got every book anybody could ever want, he has all the detective movies and games I’ve ever seen, he just doesn’t exactly give me very many options…” MC rants, muttering towards the end. 

“Just take him to a cat café or animal shelter or something. I really couldn’t care less, MC,” Lucifer growls, a dark aura of frustration and annoyance surrounding him as he scribbles his signature onto papers with more and more aggression by the second.

“AN ANIMAL SHELTER! THAT’S PERFECT!” MC jumps and gives Lucifer a hug, making his annoyance only grow as he yells not to touch him while they skip off into the hallway. 

- 

“C’mon! C’mon! You walk so slow, Satan,” MC tugs his sleeve like a child, making him sigh loudly.

“MC, not to be rude, but as much as I’d like to get there quickly, you have me blindfolded and walking down an icy sidewalk, if I move any faster I have no doubt I will fa-ALL” Satan explains, slipping on a patch of ice at the end of his sentence. 

“Woah, careful, Satan, you have to watch your step,” MC snickers, watching his eyebrow twitch, indicating his eye had twitched along with it in annoyance. MC raises their head and looks up at the sign of the small building.

“We’re here!” MC sings letting go of their boyfriend’s hand and walking behind him to untie the blindfold. “Ta-da! We get to keep the kitties company on Christmas!”

Satan’s initial annoyance of the blindfold removal exposing him to the bright sun was quickly wiped away by the scene before him. MC opens the front door, the bell jingling above them as they step inside. 

MC takes the blond’s hand and rushes to the room of cats.

“Hey kitties!” MC falls to their knees almost instantly, petting the cats that had come to see them. They look up at Satan and see his eyes sparkling as Cats pour out of cages and small hiding spots, making their way towards the pair.

“Hey Satan, they seem like they like you,” MC points out, giggling as Satan crouches next to them and lets cats crawl all over him.

“I’ve never known why, but all felines have always been so drawn to me, which is lucky considering I like them so much,” Satan softly smiles. “And I mean felines both big and small. One time Mammon won a tiger while gambling, and when he brought it in the house it tackled me and purred while nuzzling me. It was the best moment of my life.”

MC and Satan play with the cats for hours, both feeling a bit guilty that these cats had no home for the cold holiday. 

While he was playing with an older cat, he heard a soft and broken meow accompanied by some soft thumping and dragging sounds. He turns around and sees a small, white kitten with only three legs attempting to reach him, but being pushed over by the numerous other cats trying to capture the demon’s attention.

Satan reaches over and picks her up, holding her and bringing her to an area of the room further from MC and the other cats.

“Hey there little girlie,” he says softly, petting the kitten gently and enjoying the vibrations of its purr. Satan plays around with the kitten and feeds it some treats before he hears the soft voice of a human, “we should probably, head home now,” MC comes towards him, only to be met with a big pout and puppy dog eyes. “No no no no NO! Lucifer made it very clear! I am not to bring home any furry friends, no matter how cute and fuzzy and lonely, and FUCK IT LETS BRING HER HOME,” MC gives into his pouting and watches it turn into a big smile. 

The Avatar of wrath picks up the amputated kitten, baby talking to it the entire way to the front desk.

After some paperwork and purchasing of some essential cat stuff, MC and Satan head back to the House of Lamentation, stopping outside the front gate to make their game plan.

“So, put all of this stuff into your bag, and I’ll hold the kitten under my coat.”

MC stuffs the cat food into their backpack, alongside a few small toys they had bought. Satan unzips his coat and places the cat underneath the clothing, holding it tightly to his chest by crossing his arms underneath it to keep it up. “Be quiet kitty, okay?” He presses a finger to his lips and smiles down at the kitty.

They quickly walk towards the front door, opening it quietly and closing it softly behind them. Footsteps come down the hall, both MC and Satan giving each other a worried glance, knowing exactly who was approaching.

“MC, Satan. How was the animal shelter?” Lucifer asks with no sign of emotion. 

“It was nice! I had no idea felines would be as attracted to him as he is to them.” MC giggles. Wow, they’re good at hiding things. I wonder what kind of things they did in the human world to get so good at this, Satan thinks to himself, a bit concerned about their lying skills.

“Yes. It was like a dream, having so many cats around on such a nice holiday,” Satan adds on with a mischievous smirk, “much better than any present you’ve gotten me in the past.”

“Good. Be sure to wash those clothes and shower off all the cat hair. You reek of felines,” Lucifer snarls as he walks away, obviously suspicious of the intense cat smell that his demon nose could easily pick up.

MC and Satan quickly rush to his room, going to the furthest corner to set up their new daughter and her toys. 

They both watch the cat hobble around, sniffing the room and exploring as they whisper to each other. “She needs a name.” 

“How about, MC JR.,” MC says confidently.

“No, she doesn’t seem like an MC, if she were an MC she’d be getting nearly killed every five minutes, yet so far there have been no fatal incidents,” Satan states, earning a big punch to the shoulder from the human.

“Okay fine, you come up with one, then!” MC looks at Satan with a playful glare.

“Fine. How about Icy, y’know since it was so icy today,” Satan suggests, earning a loud purr from the kitten in question.

“I think she likes it. Do you like being called Icy?” MC coos at Icy, receiving another purr followed by a happy meow.

“Who likes being called Icy?” a chilling voice says from behind the couple. 

“Our daughter,” MC smiles, holding the kitten up to Lucifer, showing its cuteness to the annoyed man looming above them. 

“I specifically told you that-” Seeing Satan’s disappointed face for even half a second gave MC the balls to stand up against Lucifer.

“NO! Satan is a grown man, and even if you’re the oldest brother and choose to look down on everyone I will NOT let you ruin this Christmas for him! I got him a cat! You will allow him to keep this cat unless you want me to give a bad essay on my time in the Devildom and go to Lord Diavolo about all of this and your stuck up attitude and pride that have no place interfering with the happiness of your brothers!” As MC finishes they notice Lucifer is in demon form, seconds away from attacking them, they flinch before their lover appears before them, gripping Lucifer’s wrist and preventing him from getting to them. 

MC hears hissing from the ground and sees that even Icy is trying to stand up for her new parents. 

MC takes to caring for the distressed kitten as the two men argued. They hear Lucifer give in and storm out before Satan dives down to where MC and the kitten lay, squeezing both of them tightly and lovingly.

“Fuck Lucifer,” MC grumbles making Satan laugh. 

“Not literally, but yes fuck Lucifer.”

The rest of the night is spent petting and holding both MC and Icy as he truly feels serenity for the first time in centuries. 

“I love you, both,” Satan mumbles, falling asleep and kissing both MC and Icy on the forehead.

“I wuv u too!” MC fakes a voice for Icy making Satan sleepily laugh before he dozes off.

“But I love you the most, Merry Christmas, Satan.” MC places a soft kiss on his cheek before falling asleep holding one tiny kitten and Satan one very large kitten.

#obey me #obey me shall we date #obey me luficer #obey me satan #satan obey me #satan om #obey me imagines #satan obey me imagine #obey me satan imagine #obey me hc #obey me hcs #obey me fluff hc #obey me angst hc #obey me fluff #obey me x reader fluff #satan obey me fluff #obey me: one master to rule them all

[shinymooncolor]

Thank you all so much for your likes, reblogs and comments. I am so grateful and you are all beautiful! Thank you 🙏🏻

These chats are now my official love letters to @lumosinlove’s amazing sweater weather characters. I love these people.

To my favorite support people: @wxlfstxrx and @siriuslyqueer - thank you! These are for you.

To clear up any confusion; RussianGod is Kuny. Because that’s what the ladies call him. His words, not mine.

So - the first official sweater weather chat!

Sweater weather chat #1

This week on sweater weather chats

Kuny falls in love. Nado pretends he has allergies. Natalie wants to adopt. Kasey is the best. Logan should really sleep. Sunny takes one for the team. There’s a bra in the ceiling fan. Also, who is maurice?

————-

Monday, 4.56 am.

LoganTremblayzzz changed Sunnyswede to Sunnysideup.

Logantremblayzzz changed OlliDefense to Ollibear

Sunnysideup: why are you awake Logan? It’s the ass crack of fucking dawn. Also stop changing our names. But I like it.

LoganTremblayzzz: why’re u up? I can’t sleep. Got dentist early and my teeth hurt.

Sunnysideup: I got a kid projectile vomiting skittles. Wife got an early start tomorrow so I’m on kid night patrol. Parent life is hard. I have to clean up rainbow colored vomit.

LoganTremblayzzz: 🤢🤢

————

Wednesday, 7.39 am.

Kase ❤️: morning my love. Left early and couldn’t bear to wake you. Have a lovely day. I love you.

Wednesday, 8.42 am.

Natty <3: hey babe. Hope training is going well. Pls be honest with remmy ok? I saw you favor your good thigh last night. I’m bringing Kuny to the shelter today. Nado messaged me this morning. Apparently Remmy suggested he not come to the rink cause he seemed depressed. Do you know if he’s seen heather? Ps I’ll get home in time to cook. Love you. Pps you hockey boys are such babies. He’s out for one weeks practice.

—————

Wednesday 7.45 am.

Nadeau: morning Nat, hope it’s okey I got your number from Kris. Kuny is sad and mopey cause he’s banned from practice and yesterday he moped for 6(?!) hours in the lounge and scared the crap out of a cleaning lady. I know you volunteer at the shelter and I thought puppies might cheer him up

Natalie: hi Nado :) fine. Of course but how am I supposed to get him with me if he’s upset? I’m strong and all but Kuny is a brick wall

Nadeau: Don’t take no for an answer and if he says no just tell him “Maurice”. He’ll know what it means. Don’t ask him. Just. Please and thank you. Also he’s ticklish on his ribs

Natalie: who’s Maurice? I’m intrigued

Nadeau; that’s irrelevant. Please tho. Send me pics I need blackmail material

Natalie: fine. I’ll find out who Maurice is.

Wednesday 9.01 am.

Natalie: why is there a bra in your ceiling fan?

Nadeau; that’s personal. And epic.

Natalie: 🤨 Kuny says we’re fine to take your Porsche

———

Wednesday 9.01 am.

Nado: DONT TOUXH MY BABY

Kuny: you wanted me happy. I’m happy in Porsche

Nado: Kuny I swear. I will show everyone the Hawaii photos and I mean it

Kuny: sorry *pic of dashboard in natalie’s car*

——-

Wednesday 1.46 pm.

Natty <3: can we adopt him? 😍 *photo of kuny in a pile of puppies, sitting cross legged on the floor and lifting one up to kiss*

Wednesday 2.02 pm.

Kase ❤️: I don’t know if a Russian enforcer is the best pet also not sure Maggie is happy to share her humans? But that’s adorable. I’m gonna print it and frame it he’ll never be able to scare any opponent ever again

——

Wednesday 2.03 pm.

Kuny: we get cat?

Nado: no. Kuny no cats. I have allergies

Kuny: but. Baby cat in shelter? 😭 we take selfie he he

(Sends pic massive hunky Russian holding tiny fluffy kitten)

Kuny added Natalie to the chat.

Natalie: don’t be a baby. You don’t have allergies, I asked Remus. And kuny is in love and the kitten imprinted. You asked me to entertain him while he recovers from this injury. He’s taking her home. It was either the kitty or a baby alpaca - I thought you’d appreciate the cat. He named her Aya.

Nado: I’m not taking care of it also that’s confidential 😫 my allergies are real. Also wtf is an alpaca? Is that some kind of goat?

Kuny: she is my cat. I take care of her.

—-

3 days later

RussianGod instagram:

@nadotheman “I don’t want cat”

Picture of nado asleep on the couch with tiny fluffy kitty Aya.

——

What is an alpaca? Is it a kind of goat? Stay tuned for the next sweater weather chat.

#lumosinlove #sweaterweather #sweaterweatherchats #sweaterweatherchatsnr1

[webdesign-webdevelopmentcompany]

Why Do We Celebrate National Kitten Day July 10, 2021?

National Kitten Day Activities

Adopt a kitten! (or foster if you can't adopt)

If you cant adopt a kitten and commit to being a kitty parent for a furry pal you can also foster kittens. Feral kittens need human socialization to be adopted out, and staying with a cuddly human is much more fun than staying at a pound before they find their 'forever home'. So if you can't adopt fully, help out in the adoption process, and maybe a kitten will end up staying with you in the process ;-)

Volunteer to help kittens at the ASPCA

The ASPCA always needs help socializing feral kittens! Human contact is great for the kittens and makes them adoptable, since they wont be afraid of humans. Besides the benefit to the kitten, playing with kittens is also fun and good for you too, and besides, you'll feel great volunteering too!

Make plans to host an Uber kitten delivery if available in your area

Make sure your boss/significant other is ok with kittens arriving right to your doorstep, because Uber delivers adoptable kittens once a year. Not only will you have a blast, but one might just end up staying with you. Plus the $30 1Csnuggle fee 1D actually goes to local shelters, doing good, while feeling good, thats the best way to do it!

Why We Love National Kitten Day

Checking out kitten photos is actually good for your mental health

If you love kittens as much as the next person, chances are you 19ve snuck in a few peeks at kitten photos throughout your day. Research shows that people who take short breaks to look at cute animals are more productive throughout the day. So go ahead look at those photos of kittens today!

Adopting a cat or kitten is good for your health

Besides looking at photos of kittens, having kittens and cats around is good for your health! Having a cat around can risk of cardiovascular disease, reduced risk of heart attack, reduced blood pressure, lower cholesterol, reduces stress, improved mood 26 need we go on?

Kittens are great for children!

Having children grow up with cats can reduce the risk of developing allergies and asthma later in life. Besides teaching them how to care for another creature, it encourages empathy, and can aide in learning and the development of a socially rounded and well adjusted person.

Kittens! Who doesn 19t love tiny, adorable kittens? 26their big heads, giant eyes, tiny pink paws and noses, and the adorable mews they make 26. We can 19t resist their cute and furry charms. Surprisingly Americans seem to like cats and kittens best: According to the American Humane Society, 95.6 million cats were owned, while 83.3 million households owned a dog. There is certainly nothing wrong with dogs, but a tiny kitten is irresistible! So join us on July 10, as we celebrate National Kitten Day!

Special offers for National Kitten Day celebration!

Shopping Coupon Codes: Get $10 Off on 22 in Fire Pit Bowl w/ Mesh Cover at Best Choice Products -

Auto Replacement Parts Coupons: Save 10% Off on All Orders at FindItParts -

Photo Printing Services Promotions: Get 8x8 Photo Tile for $1.99 Only at SnapFish -

Ecommerce Stores Offers: Get $5 Flat Rate Shipping on Purchase Over $60 at LTD Commodities -

Women's Jewelry Coupons: Free Shipping on Sterling Silver Fashion Necklaces at Jewelry Affairs -

Beauty & Personal Care Discounts: Buy 1 & Get 1 Free on 'Filorga Time Filler Absolute Wrinkle Correction Cream (50ml)' at Unineed -

Contact Lenses Coupon Codes: Save $5 Off on All Purchase Over $199 at Lens.com -

#NationalKittenDay #Animal #Cat #GivingBack #MentalHealth #Pet #PetAdoption #PetHealth

[theres-no-protocol-for-this]

Dinner and a Cat

The cat was nowhere to be seen when I got home that afternoon, and the back door was slightly ajar. I turned off the TV, put away groceries, and made myself a giant mug of hot chocolate.

Honestly, because I could.

A couple of friends had texted me while I’d been out, and I invited them over for dinner. Still, there was time to enjoy some delicious beverage in silence before I needed to start cooking. I wanted to savor the silence.

I work in the retail industry, and some people really have a thing about their morning drink. It’s scary, actually. It’s a coffee, lady. So, when I don’t have to work, I like spending my time with people and things that don’t turn into “Karen” at the slightest provocation.

A cool autumn breeze swept down the street as I stood on my front porch, cradling my mug like it was my first-born child. The forecast for the evening promised rain, which would quickly turn to snow — first of the season — so my mind wandered toward the cat. Would it end up spending the night outdoors? Worry settled in the pit of my stomach.

“If you’re out there, kitty, you’re welcome back anytime,” I said to no one in particular.

I mean, I talk to things. OK?

And a few minutes later, it hopped onto the porch as if summoned and sat on the welcome mat. In the daytime, it still looked like it could use about a month’s worth of decent meals, but when the black furball wasn’t shivering, it looked a lot more alive.

“Hey, buddy,” I said.

It hissed at me.

“Not a fan of ‘buddy,’ huh? Yeah, me neither. It doesn’t suit you.”

“Meow.”

“How about Kai? That was the name of my favorite cartoon character when I was a kid.”

“Meow.”

I nodded to myself. “For a cat, you’re basically a genius, so if you’re cool with it, I’m cool with it. I got some real chicken. I mean… I got cat food, obviously, but also actual chicken. I’ll make you some. It’ll probably taste better than kibble anyway.”

The cat got up from my welcome mat and walked into the house, at which point it walked around both floors once. I’d never seen a cat patrol its territory before; Tasha had been an entirely indoor cat. The idea of sharing with anyone had never crossed that kitten’s mind. Kai, on the other hand, took its sweet time and then settled down on the couch.

“Meow.”

Ah, right, the cat wants to watch Netflix. Good thing it doesn’t cost any extra to just have it going in the background all day. I restarted whatever drama was on — in Korean at that — and then headed to the kitchen.

***

Nat and Em came over around seven. By then, I’d cooked up a bit of a storm. I love cooking; it’s what I do when I need to relax. I am not much of an eater, though, so it was nice to have company over.

Nat’s a software engineer for a large aerospace company, and Emily basically performs magic with clay and her hands. We’ve known each other since we were in middle school, although we’d drifted apart when we all headed off to different colleges. It was sheer luck that all three of us now lived in the state and had time to see each other occasionally.

The doorbell rang, and Kai sat up like it was expecting trouble.

“It’s my friends,” I told it — like it was important for the weird furball to know who was at the door.

I wiped my hands clean on an apron and sprinted to let whoever it was in. Natalie Gomez stood on the other side, stunning as always. It doesn’t matter what the woman wears; she always looks like she’s got her shit together. That evening, Nat was wearing a fancy turtleneck sweater and hip-hugging jeans. And she has a lot of beautiful hips in need of hugging.

“Love the sweater,” I said as I gestured for her to come inside. We hugged because she’s a hugger, and there’s no escape. “How’s it going?”

“Eh, you know. Same shit, different day. Oh my god, your place smells amazing.”

I let go, and she bounced inside. Shrugging, I muttered, “You know me. Stress cooking.”

“Yeah, but you’re talented. And I’m not just saying that, either. Hey, looks like you got a new cat.”

I closed the door and followed Nat into the living room. “More like, it adopted me last night. I don’t think it’s dangerous, but maybe give it some space.”

“Does he bite?”

“I don’t even know that it’s a ‘he,’ honestly.” I grabbed a bottle of wine out of the fridge. “Want a glass of um… something red?”

The brown-eyed engineer came over and leaned against the cabinets. “Shit, yes, please. Sorry, it’s been a week. We’re releasing a new product, and that’s always stressful.”

“Well, take a seat, drink some wine, and food should be done in minutes.”

Nat accepted the offered glass and took a gulp. “What about you? How’s Iris doing?”

“Uh, just doing… I guess.” Mom had been on my mind all day, but I wasn’t going to ruin the evening talking about stuff I couldn’t change. “Work’s been busy, and I think I need to make time to go see my family this holiday season.” I tried a smile on for size. “But you know, good stuff, too. I got the library internship, and that starts in a week.”

“Good for you! I remember you gushing about that. I’m so glad everything worked out. Are you still going to work at the cafe?”

I frowned. “I’m not sure, to be honest. The money’s better at the cafe, but I can’t work eighty hours a week, either.”

“No, you can’t. And you have got to take care of you.” Nat smiled. “Look, even Mr. or Mrs. Kitty thinks so.”

Kai had gotten up from its comfy perch on the couch and came over to sit by my feet. I looked down at the curious furball and said, “I bet you’re hungry. How about some seared chicken?”

I’d always cooked for Tasha because I like cooking, and my princess of a cat had enjoyed eating the food I made. I remember spending hours on Google, looking at cat-friendly recipes. After I’d first adopted Tasha, Dr. Hopkins spent a week straight reassuring me that cats were carnivores and could survive on a steady supply of live mice.

So, cooking for Kai was pretty much a matter of pulling out the old recipe book, picking something that sounded interesting, and then making it happen. I arranged the food on a long, narrow plate and set it down on the floor in a kitchen corner, away from us humans. The furball sniffed at the food and then went for it.

“You said it adopted you?” Nat gestured at the cat with her wine glass.

“Something like that. I mean, it was out on my porch last night, and it’s come back into the house a couple of times now.”

“I think you should go back to the shelter and get yourself another pet.”

“I keep thinking about it, and I don’t know, I’m just not home enough to really give a pet the love it deserves.”

“I thought cats were independent,” said the human who never actually had any pets and didn’t want them. Nat had her husband and her girlfriend, and that was enough for her.

I shrugged. “I mean, this sweetheart, maybe. Most cats need at least some attention.”

From the corner, the cat hissed at me like it knew I’d called it a sweetheart. The doorbell rang again, and Nat waved at me to stay put. “I’ll get it. It’s probably Emily.”

A few moments later, a familiar wan face appeared in the kitchen doorframe. Sammy, age three, followed by his mother, Emily, who looked absolutely beat. I knew she worked crazy hours during the fall semester — she taught at a local art college, made pottery, and volunteered for a local nonprofit. And she had a little boy she was raising by herself.

“Hey, Sammy!”

“Good evening, Miss Iris,” said the polite, dark-eyed kiddo. “Ooh, kitty.”

“Can you do me a huge favor?” I asked the little boy.

“Yeah!”

“Can you give kitty a little space tonight? It’s shy.”

Kai hissed at me again but didn’t budge from its food. The boy looked at the cat, all wide-eyed and interested, but his mom put a hand on his shoulder. I handed Emily a glass of wine and gave her a mercifully brief hug. I hadn’t seen Em for the better part of two months, and I suspected she needed a girls’ night out.

“Thanks,” the redhead whispered.

I gave her a thumbs up and checked on the oven. “Well, dinner is basically done. Why don’t you three get comfortable on the couch, and I’ll bring over the tasty, tasty food.”

“Let me give you a hand,” Nat offered. “Meanwhile, Em can tell us all about her students this semester.”

From the living room, Emily groaned. “Don’t get me started. I swear college students nowadays can’t get their noses out of their cellphones long enough to look at fine art.”

I dished up some steamed and seasoned vegetables onto individual plates. I also decorated Sam’s plate while his mother regaled us with her horror stories. Kai finished its dinner but hung around the kitchen, not quite underfoot. I wondered if it didn’t like all the extra company. Tasha had been the star of the show, but I’d met shy cats before; not every animal liked being around humans it didn’t know.

We sat on the floor around the coffee table in the living room and had dinner. Nat shared with us some of her latest hiking adventures. Sammy demonstrated his ability to count to ten. Emily cheered him on. The cat settled down on the floor beside me, close enough that I could feel its warm presence, and stayed there for the duration of the evening.

For a brief moment, I could forget the troubles that haunted my waking hours and just enjoy some pleasant conversation.

And then, life went to hell, starting with the burglar-wanna-be.

#fiction #maybe its fanfiction #kitties afoot

[littlemissnellie]

and finally for the ea townies in brindleton bay, we have catarina lynx and her beloved feline friends! as always, if you’d like to have them in your game then check out the download link below, and if not then i hope that you enjoy reading their fact files!

download: simfileshare

catarina lynx:

in case you couldn’t tell, maybe just a tiny bit obsessed with cats - her mom is allergic so she could never have one of her own growing up, but her aunt had the most gorgeous siamese cat that catarina would fawn over every time she visited, so as soon as she moved out and got a place of her own, the first thing she did was start looking for local shelters to volunteer at and, well, i think you can imagine what happened next...

loves thunderstorms; they’re the perfect excuse for snuggling up on the sofa in front of the fireplace with a big blanket, a mug of tea, a cat on her lap and a great book to read - her bookshelves are all stuffed with books she’s picked up over the year from yard sales and although some are total duds, she still loves working her way through them and imagining the reasons why they were ever bought in the first place

has always had a knack for cooking, but actually likes cooking up treats for her cats instead of cooking for herself - making human food is too much like her job for her to ever get really excited about (although she does find it very therapeutic), but figuring out new recipes she can prepare for her pets (and any strays that decide to wander by for a meal) is ridiculously fun

doc: 

the first cat catarina adopted - as soon as she first set foot in brindleton bay’s animal shelter and spotted him (and realised how much he reminded her of her aunt’s beloved cat), he was destined to be hers

being the original and oldest cat in the household, he has a real superiority complex and often feels he can boss the other cats around - but most of the time this manifests as him being grumpy and hogging the sofa 

too much of a snob to care about the cat food catarina gets from the store, but will happily eat his fill of anything catarina makes from scratch for him

josie:

very protective of her son - will hiss at any cat that dares push him around and often scratches up the furniture if she catches catarina scolding him

the bad bitch of the cat world and knows it - walks around like she owns the place and pretty much does tbh; if any other cats in the neighbourhood come into contact with her and look at her the wrong way then she’s not afraid to go back to her alley cat street fighting ways

scared the life out of catarina when she wandered off for the first time and didn’t return for a couple of days, but has since made quite the habit of it - always somewhow knows to come back before catarina gets too worried though 

cleo:

looks super funky with her spaced out eyes and lack of hair, but when catarina found her at the shelter she fell in love with her - quirks and all! 

broke catarina’s heart at the shelter because she was always so eager to meet the families that would visit but would almost always get rejected because she wasn’t the ‘cute, fluffy kitty’ they were expecting to see

super intelligent, especially when it comes to figuring out when food is about to be served or bath time is about to be announced - she claimed the top spot of the cat tower very quickly and has used it as her look-out tower ever since

bartholomew a. bittlebun, jr:

gave catarina the fright of her life when she discovered him and his siblings with their mom, josie, in the back corner of her closet - although his brothers and sisters went on to other loving homes, he was always the little runt of the litter and neither catarina or josie could bear letting him go, and he hasn’t left catscratch cottage since

was named after his assumed father, bartholomew a. bittlebun, sr. - the only reason catarina caught wind of who his father may be was when the delgato family’s cat wandered over to her side of town and wouldn’t leave josie alone the entire time he was there - she thought their name for him was so brilliant that his son should have an equally distinguished title

spoilt to no end by catarina - she never thought that she’d have a kitten because she was so eager to help out the cats that had been left at the shelter and had passed their ‘cuteness’ adoption window, so getting to keep bartholomew jr to shower with little toys and lots of cuddles has been amazing for both of them

#sims 4 #sims 4 townie makeover #ts4 #ts4 townie makeover #brindleton bay residents #the lynx household #catarina lynx #doc lynx #josie lynx #cleo lynx #bartholomew a. bittlebun jr. lynx #townie makeover

[thiswasinevitableid]

Hey, my 20 year old cat is getting kind sick with his age. Could you maybe write a little something about Duck and his cat to cheer me up? I adore your writing

Of course!

Which means we interrupt our current schedule of superhero AUs to bring you: KITTY!

Duck’s been in the apartment a little over a year. As childish as it may sound, he takes pride in the fact it’s a place he can afford to pay for himself, and that he gets to furnish and decorate in whatever way he chooses (minus things that would lose him his deposit). 

There’s still something missing, however, and that something is why he’s currently standing in the cat room of the Kepler animal shelter.

“Anyone catchin your eye, hon?” The volunteer asks a she gathers stray, jingling toys from the floor. 

“Just kinda gettin a feel for all of ‘em.” He scritches a white and black kitten through the slats in the cage, gives the white fluffy one that hisses at him a wide berth (he doesn’t take it personally). 

When he gets to the cage at the end of one wall, he finds a medium sized, scruddy tabby cat watching him carefully. Her left ear is missing a chunk, and she has the bearing of someone who can’t figure out why existence is a thing she has to deal with.

But when Duck steps closer, she stands, stretching like a black cat halloween decoration, and bumps her head into the bars. He does his best to pet her through them, and when he stops she levels him with a glare. 

“Mrow.” 

Duck had been expecting a charming “mew” not a deep, twenty-year smoker rasp, and doubles over with a surprised laugh. 

“I see you’ve met Winnifred.” The volunteer smiles at him, “she’s quite the little warrior. She was part of a feral litter that was found without a mother last year. They were found because someones dog saw them, started investigating, and Winnifred launched herself at him. His owner was more than a little amused to find his dog running back with his tail between his legs and a cat latched on his muzzle”

“That why she’s missin part of her ear?”

“Yep. Rest of the litter got adopted easily, as kittens do, but she never seemed to find the right person.”

Duck hunches down, finds yellow eyes watching him and gets an emphatic “mrow” when he scratches her behind her wounded ear.

“Hey there, Winnie. How do you feel about comin home with me?”

---------------------------------------------------------

“Okay, gonna put your bed right here, that way you won’t get too nervous at night by bein too far away from me, got you this real fluffy blanket too, aw, hey, it’s okay, no need to be scared by a blank-”

“DUCK NEWTON!”

“JEsus Minerva, you just scared her under the bed.”

“Who is this her of which you speak?”

“Mrow?”

“Ah, you have acquired an animal companion. She appears to have the makings of a mighty huntress.”

“Yeah, sure, now do you mind? I’m tryin to get her settled in.”

“Apologies Duck Newton, I was merely checking to see if you’d given more thought to-”

“No.”

“Very well. I shall leave you to your furry companion. Perhaps she can convince you of the importance of destiny.”

Minerva disappears, and Winnie blinks at Duck.

“Mrow.”

“Yeah, that’s about how I feel.”

--------------------------------------------------------

It’s the first serious raise he’s gotten since joining the forestry service. Bills are all paid, food and everything else is budgeted for the month with cash to spare. 

So he’s currently got his computer and LAN cable out to do some very important shopping. 

“What do you think? Three story cat condo?”

Winnie hops up on the table, chasing his hand as he moves it on the trackpad.

“You could use some new catnip toys too. Heh, these ones are shaped like little ducks. Hmmm, no these mice ones are bigger, better bargain. Two packs enough?”

“Mrow.” A sandpapery tongue licks his hand.

“You’re right, I’ll get four just to be safe.”

---------------------------------------------------

“I dunno Juno, things have just gone kinda south with him lately but, I just-”

“Duck, you know I feel about him.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know, I oughta dump him. But I can’t help feelin, I dunno, like I ain’t givin him a chance.”

“....this is gonna sound weird, but how does Winnie get along with him?”

“She don’t, really. She was okay with him at first, kinda shy like she gets sometimes. Now if he’s over she won’t come anywhere near us.”

“Do I really gotta say that ain’t like her? That cat’d play with a bear if she thought that’d get you to pay attention to her.”

“Shit, you’re right. Okay, I’ll call him now and tell him it’s over.”

----------------------------------------------------------

“I gotta ask” Leo sips his beer as the two of them sit at the kitchen table, “you had any problems with mice this spring? I keep havin to set traps in my cabinet.”

“Nope, ain’t had any issues.”

“Mrow.”

“Hey there kitty-cat, how’s it--uh, think I know why you ain’t had any mice.”

“Huh? Aw, jeez, Winnie, don’t drop that on the table! At least you didn’t leave it in my shoe or somethin. Thanks for keepin our groceries safe.”

“Mrow.” Winnie trots off, head held high.

------------------------------------------------

“Well Winnie, that’s that. Your human’s just a regular dipshit now.”

The orange loaf on his chest purrs soothingly as he pets her, focusing on her fur as he lays on his bed in the darkened bedroom.

“Guess I oughta write out a plan or somethin, in case you outlive me. How you feel about livin with Leo, wait, shit, he’s lost his too. Hmm, maybe it oughta be Juno.”

Prickly, padded paws knead at his chest as the purring continues.

“Takin that as a sign you like that plan. Then again….wonder if Indrid would want company. If he ever comes back, I mean. Juno’s got kids, and you’re gettin up in years and don’t much like bein mandhandled. Plus, that trailer’s real fuckin warm. You’d never get chilly. And maybe you’d force him to clean up all those mugs of stale nog”

“Mrowrrrrrr.”

“Don’t gimme that look, the guy’s just a friend, and I feel kinda bad that he’s alone.”

-------------------------------------------

Duck clicks the heater up a few more notches as Indrid slips off his Uggs. The Sylph came back in late February, and has finally allowed Duck the chance to buy him dinner as an apology for the punching. 

“Really, you don’t need to go to any trouble, I’ve dealt with worse, oh, hello there.” He chirps delightedly when Winnie bumps against his shin. She follows him to the couch as Duck searches for his wallet, which has chosen now of all times to stray from it’s normal spot on his nightstand.

“Care to join me, tiny predator?”

“She’s havin trouble gettin up on the couch lately.”

“May I lift her?”

“Uh, sure. She’ll let you know if she ain’t in the mood.”

“Alright, come along fuzzy one, ah, there we go. My, you are a dignified, silver-haired grande dame aren’t you.” 

Duck glances up to find Indrid cuddling Winnie, cooing over her as he pets her forehead. The Sylph is right; the once cheddar colored fur on her head is almost entirely gray.

By the time he finds his wallet (in a random boot), Winnie is sound asleep in Indrid’s lap. 

“We cannot leave. I have been chosen.”

Duck laughs, and goes to start some popcorn. No reason they can’t have dinner and movie at home, after all.

---------------------------------------

Duck is exhausted; the apartment is at capacity, the FBI is nosing around town, and he’s been training daily to prepare for the next abomination. 

So he’s more than a little annoyed when a familiar paw bats his nose, waking him up.

“Not even close to breakfast time.”

“Mrow.”

“Get.”

“MROW.” She hops off the bed, meowing louder and louder until he gets up, at which point she scurries into the living room. He follows, intending to bundle her into her bed so she can’t escape until morning. 

But she’s not near her food bowl. She’s on the couch. Or, more accurately, on Indrid, who is curled up on the couch, frightened. 

“‘Drid?”

“It’s all going to end.”

“Bad futures?”

“That’s putting it exceedingly mildly. I wish I could sleep, I’m so very tired.” He pets Winnie, manages a weak smile when she kneads at his thick sweater.  

“Could read to you from one of my tree guides. Might knock you out.”

“...Yes, that actually might work. Thank you, Duck.”

“You’re welcome, be right back with that book. Winnie, you’re in charge until then.”

-----------------------------------------------------

“I have one final thing to move in. Ta dah!” Indrid presents a flat, rectangular basket, filled with thick, fluffy pillow. It’s late November, and while the world was saved, Indrid’s Winnebago got crushed by a Quell monster during the battle. Not that Duck’s complaining about an excuse to move his boyfriend in.

“Great, what it is?”

“It’s a special catbed. I know Winnie is on the upper limit of her years, and that the cold is rough on her joints. I found an old electric blanket in the Winnebago and stuck it under the pillow, so she can have extra warmth without leaving her favorite spot.”

“Thanks, darlin. Sure she’ll love it.” He kisses Indrid’s cheek.

“It’s the least I could do. After all, she was here first.” Indrid kisses his nose, pats Winnie on the head as she pads, slowly, over to investigate the offering. Duck sets it down in her corner, plugging in the blanket. She sniffs it, then settles into her favorite shape, the one Aubrey calls “catloaf.”

“Well, old girl, what do you think? This all gonna be okay?”

Winnie bumps her head against his hand, “Mrow.”

“Yeah, I think so too.” 

#duck newton #reader requests #indruck

[shari-berri]

Let’s have a talk about human decency, respect of other people, respecting disabilities, disorders, illnesses, and overall not being a dick. Oh! And wanting answers as this person was not helpful, PLEASE ANSWER ITS URGENT!

I made a post on Yahoo Answers for an issue I have been having.

This is what my question/information was:

Our kitten who is relatively new, 1 year, keep going to the bathroom outside of the litter box. My mom keeps moving it to where she has used it but she suddenly moved it upstairs. Now, she said that there needs to be on on every level of the house, but there are a few things wrong with that. First off, our house has a half level. The only thing “upstairs” on a “second floor” is the kids rooms and a bathroom. Otherwise it is open space for the living room. Besides that, it said that a litter box shoulder be anywhere near loud areas, like children’s bedrooms. Now, I am right across from it and I already have insomnia. I’m extremely sensitive to smell, sound, all senses, probably my ADHD, and this wouldn’t help. There is also one in the bathroom. I gag/puke at anything. Every smell is amplified by 100 due to my adhd sensitivity. I know what something tastes like from smelling it. I puke almost every single time I clean the litter boxes and the smell drifts right into my room, not to mention my allergies to cats and asthma. Our cats that do this don’t even relieve themselves upstairs and I feel like this would just make them since it happened before in the bathroom but it stopped after putting the litter box downstairs. I fear for my health and that it would cause the kitten to defecate on the rugs again.

This was a person’s reply:

Let’s debunk this, shall we?

-I was accused of, lemme check, faking my MENTAL ILLNESS due to “incorrect symptoms” and such. Apparently, hypersensitivity to surroundings isn’t a symptom of ADHD, only OCD.

This person stated that ADHD only “has trouble focusing and relaxing”

If you were to look at it on the most basic and uneducated level then sure, that’s entirely what the whole fucking disorder is!

Lesser known symptoms of ADHD that as someone WITH this mental illness would know:

-(MOSTLY) transient tics

-difficulty controlling emotions

-anger

-impulsiveness

-OH WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT?! HYPERSENSITIVITY!!!

-Next: “You’re either making this shit up or you’re just a REALLY stupid complaining child” “trolling”

Social rules and norms, yeah?

Apparently they’re nonexistent to this person

Right, so NEVER, and I speak for everyone with a disorder, disability, whatever, NEVER EVER accuse them of ‘faking it’!

Oh, yes, I love pretending like I have (blank), I love the ostracization it gets me, the harassment, the bullying, it’s my FAVORITE part!

Assuming they’re talking about the topic of the question: ummmm...pets 101?

Yes, my cat has never shit on the floor, Princess ALWAYS uses her litter box.

Where the fuck did this happen?! Animals do this for different reasons, why the hell would I “make this shit up?”

You know me, joking about stepping in my cat’s shit, hilarious!

-“I bet you whined and whined for a kitten but now that you realize it includes work you don’t want it!”

At the time we got Fufu, we were in no position to adopt another cat. We already had 3 and were living in a rental house after my house had a fire. We were lucky that our three cars were ALIVE AND BREATHING, having been rescued and given tiny oxygen masks and kept in the vet’s breathing chamber. My sister’s friend had kittens and my mom brought it home to “babysit” for the day. Of course, she ended up keeping it. I was AGAINST the idea, ya hear that?! We were in no way able to take care of another creature, we were settling legalities and such. Did I mention that my mom had done the same thing with the third cat? Just showed up from work one day with a cat carrier and cat. I did NOT at all whine, I had no idea we were adopting our last 2 cats.

About work being involved and me backing out because of it:

For YEARS since I was 4 I have been going to a horse riding summer camp where in order to ride, we had to clean. I’m pretty sure that if I’m able to:

-muck out 20+ stalls

-change all of the hay

-Carry tons of hay bales

-Lead horses time pasture etc

-pick horses hooves

And all that? You think a fucking LITTER BOX is “too much work” and that I’m gonna leave because, “Oh no! Now that I know there’s work, I no longer want to do it!”

-Allergies: Again, I didn’t have a say in whether or not I got this cat

-“Tell your family you don’t deserve this kitten.”

And that helps my cats shitting on the ground, my inability to breathe from asthma, especially from the litter in my room how? Cool, I told my parents I don’t deserve Fufu, problem solved, well done Governer!

-“You’re an immature child making shit up just to shirk the responsibilities of caring for it.”

Again, seeing all of the work I did just for a summer camp, where I shouldn’t have been working in the first place in order to ride horses like I was paying to do, I don’t find this statement accurate, like at all. Not including all of the other things I do:

-Pack Away Hunger

-Summer camp counselor

-Volunteering at animal shelters

Sure dude, sure.

Again with the making shit up?! Are people not aware that animals have accidents? I had to put diapers on my elderly Yorkie! And making shit up, ah yes, I forgot nobody has ever witnessed someone with a strong gag reflex. Yeah, peacefully relaxing, something that I apparently can’t do because I have ADHD, but make me gag randomly.

Let’s also remember that due to my hypersensitivity, I know what something tastes like from smelling it. Taking “eat shit” to a whole new level!

How relaxing is it to fall asleep to the soothing sounds of cats scratching around and throwing litter everywhere, the sweet scent of cat shit lulling you to sleep.

Mmmmm peaceful!

Now: analyzing what I said

It did say that cats should have a litter box on ever floor, but what if it was a half floor? Yeah, the only second floor we have is a slight jutting platform that is enough to hold children bedrooms and a bathroom.

Again, only move the litter box if absolutely necessary

Fufu used to relieve herself on the upstairs bathroom rugs but since we put a litter box in the porch, she stopped doing that. Oh, and the porch is connected to the kitchen, no doors. It’s great trying to eat while smelling cat business wafting through the air like Eddie’s breath going back into his face, big fan!

She started recently peeing outside of the litter box in the kitchen, if we put litter boxes somewhere, wouldn’t she just shit in that area?? (Answer in comments)

Litter boxes should not be by loud areas, specifically, children’s bedrooms. And, there should be a clear escape route.

Being directly in between my youngest sisters’ room who scream loudly when watching anime and my older sister’s room who squeals, not at ALL quiet.

And escape routes??? Our cats could get stuck in so many places, that’s a no!

So, please let me know in the comments what I should do! I REALLY need answers!

#animals #cat #cats #litter box #help me #animal help #pets #pet advice #pet help #pls help #yahoo answers #answers #mental illness #disorder #adhd post #attention #call out post #advice #respect #human decency #be nice #shaming

[maiaisbia]

I'm sorry you are having a bad time I hope this ask will distract you pleaae take care, Can we talk about Raphael's love for volunteering at shelters and cooking for them at any place he voltunteers because he loves doing it he just loves helping and caring for other people. -luxxmagnus

Thank you so so much @luxxmagnus So, Raphael, before he was turned, would help families that lived around him and his own family. His mom taught him how to cook from a young age, as a way of keeping family traditions alive now that they lived in the US and also to spend time together. His little sister to be there too, first just watching and then slowly helping as she got older.

These are some of the memories he holds dearest, and all are tied to helping others. His mom would send him with food to an elderly neighbor who couldn’t cook as much herself or to a new mother down the street, along with some of Rosa’s old clothes. Raphael would bring home those classmates of his he knew wouldn’t have food at home, because his mother told him there was always room at her table for those in need.

When he was turned, he feels monstrous and horrible and nothing but something who causes death and pain. It takes a long time to find the good in this new life, but Magnus helps and Raphael also learns new ways to build a family.

He also finds he can still help. While he can’t eat anymore, he can still cook. He works in soup kitchens at night, in homeless shelters and halfway houses. He makes food and lends an ear to anyone who needs to talk. Over the years, he has worked in a rotating selection of such places, moving on when he has worked at a place long enough that his lack of aging could be suspicious.

He also uses the Dumort’s big hotel kitchen to make meals that he can give out to the homeless. None of the other vampires would go in there because why would they need to? After Camille is gone, slowly vampires come to help him, to make meals and connect closer as a clan/family. Talking and making food, like Raphael used to do with his mother and sister. The whole clan knows it is the best place to find Raphael if they need to talk with him.

In the “non-canon” future I have where the heavenly fire made Raphael a daylighter instead of mortal… Raphael can work during the day! This expands what he can do to help! He works at more shelters because he can make breakfast and lunch, he picks up some meals on wheels routs (”Magnus I need you to teach me to drive.”), and he also works at a couple of humane societies. 

Those are kind of his relaxing days where he can recharge from the heavy amount of socializing he does between being clan leader and helping at shelters. He can just hang out under a pile of kittens. This is one of the ways the Dumort gets some rotating shelter kittens that need socialization. (The Dumort already had some feral cats that Raphael has been feeding. They will often have kittens in the safety of closets near the kitchen and Raphael will bring the kittens to the shelter when they are old enough).

LONG STORY SHORT Raphael is just the most good and wonderful I LOVE HIM SO MUCH. He helps make a home for his clan, he does what he can to make NYC a better place, and he finds in this the ways to help himself heal.

#raphael santiago #he is the best i love him so much ;-; #thank you may #<3 <3 <3 #sh meta #a talks #luxxmagnus

[robertdowneyjjr]

there's been a lot of ironhusband love on my dash today so,, cute lil headcanon to brighten your day: Rhodey is Mochi's favourite person for cuddles and games and Tony is a bit sad about it, so Rhodey takes him to the shelter and they pick up two adorable kitties as playmates for Mochi. The fluffballs and Tony are so inseparable, they even sit in the sink when he showers

(Mochi the kitty from here)

To be honest, Tony was pretty upset that Mochi started following Rhodey around and cuddling up to him after her leg was all healed. It was a complete 180 from how she acted when they first brought her home, and Tony’s willing to admit that he’s super jealous of all the kitty cuddles Rhodey’s getting now. Tony was the one who found her and stayed with her while the vet fixed her up. Sure, Rhodey named her and went out into the oncoming blizzard to get all the new pet supplies they needed, but Tony was the one who bathed her in love and affection the minute he laid eyes on her. He was the one who carried her to the vet, who held her in his arms and kept her warm during the car ride home. He practically slept on the floor next to her, that first night, although “sleep” was more of a concept and less of an actual function at that point.

Mochi loves Tony, he knows. While her leg was still healing, she was always gently headbutting him and nuzzling into him when he was on the couch watching a movie or tapping away on his tablet. She’d fallen asleep on his chest more times than he could count, and he has the selfies to prove it.

So he just doesn’t understand why she doesn’t seem to like hanging out with him anymore.

Because Rhodey is attentive and caring as hell, he notices pretty quickly how Tony’s smile starts to falter whenever Mochi picks herself up from where she was originally sitting with him to go plop into Rhodey’s lap instead. So one morning, after breakfast, he suggests going to the local shelter.

“I just figured maybe we can adopt another cat, so Mochi can have a playmate when we’re not around,” Rhodey tells Tony. He doesn’t want to make it obvious that he’s doing this more for Tony’s sake than Mochi’s.

At the shelter, Tony immediately falls in love with every single cat he meets. It’s hard for him to choose which one to bring home with them because they’re all just perfect.

The volunteer at the shelter brings Tony and Rhodey around, introducing them to all the animals in their care. They come across a pile of black kittens that have fallen asleep together, and she tells them, “We get a lot of black cats. A lot of people tend to care more about their superstitions than their pets...so here they are.”

As Tony crouches down to get a better look at them, one pair of eyes in a sea of black blinks open and stares right at him. The kitten wriggles its way out of the pile and pads up to Tony, meowing softly.

“This one. I’ll take this little cutie right here,” Tony tells the volunteer.

Tony follows the volunteer to the office so she can get the adoption forms ready for them, and right before she closes the door, another, slightly older, grey tabby cat slips in with them.

“He’s been following us around since we got here,” Rhodey says, amused. He glances at Tony, who already has all his attention focused on the cat. “I think he likes you.”

“Let’s take him home with us too. Is that okay?” Tony asks.

“Of course.”

This time, Tony’s the one to come up with their names. The tiny black cat is Susu (short for Susuwatari because she looks like a giant ball of soot and Tony is forever a Ghibli nerd) and the tabby, Jonathan (because human names for animals are fucking hilarious). Rhodey and Tony get their name tags engraved immediately.

The new kittens love Tony. They definitely love him more than they love Rhodey. They follow Tony around, climb up to the counter while he makes his coffee, sit in the sink when he takes a shower, and curl up next to him when he lounges on the couch.

And if this prompts Mochi to leave her post next to Rhodey and join her new friends and climb onto Tony’s lap with them? Well. Rhodey can’t bring himself to mind when it gets Tony to smile so much.

#this made me SOFT thank you for always giving me the best prompts #tonyrhodey #ironhusbands #tony stark #james rhodes #kay writes things #bonernas #ask

[vagrantblvrd]

Catspaw (1/1)

Summary: Michael grew up knowing about shifters.

Notes: Another entry in the Werecat AUs series. Because reasons.

(Read on AO3)

Michael grew up knowing about shifters.

Relatives and neighborhood kids. Family friends and all that bullshit, so it’s just like anything else to him.

Learned early on that were some who never seemed to notice when the moon waxed or waned, and some whose lives were tied to the phases of the moon.

Ones born with a touch of magic to them, comfortable in their own skin no matter what form they were in. Ones who’d gotten a rude awakening, worlds turned upside down and scrambling to find their footing in the aftermath thanks to a chance encounter or bad decision.

Ones who took what life had given them and used it to the fullest, for better or worse. Ones who fought who they were tooth and nail (fang and claw), all their lives because they didn’t know any other way. (Put their trust in the wrong people and paid for it.)

“All kinds,” his grandmother used to tell him, this look on her face that always seemed sad to him. “And every single one of them a goddamned idiot.”

Which, yeah.

Goes a hell of a long way to explain Gavin, because he’s just too much of an idiot to be normal.

========

“Something wrong?”

Michael looks up from his phone to see Jeremy giving him an odd look.

Tonight was supposed to be all fun and games and celebrating another successful heist, and odds are good it’ll get real interesting before long.

Geoff’s goading Jack into another round of darts because he claims the first Jack’s win the first one was a fluke, “c’mon, asshole, you gotta” and Jack’s exasperation as he gives in. The Twins and Fiona are pulling some kind of hustle with some rough looking bikers, and God only know what Matt and Lindsay are up to.

Colluding,  and God help them all when they put whatever plan they have in action.

Michael and Jeremy are working through a couple beers while they wait to see how things unfold, fair bit of money riding on things. (Should have known that Gavin would be the winner even though he’s not even here.)

“Gavin’s Cat got got,” he says, and tosses money on the table to cover as he gets up to cover the next round of drinks he promised Jeremy. “I need to spring the idiot from animal jail before the shelter closes.”

Jeremy gets up too because he’s the good kind of idiot. Would go along with Michael to watch his back just in case, but it’s unneccessary.

Kind of for the best if he doesn’t come along.

“I’ve got it. You stay here and make sure those assholes don’t get in too much trouble.”

Jeremy snorts, mouth twitching up little grin because they both know that’s asking for the impossible.

========

Michael’s been to this shelter before in the past, so the woman behind the counter is a familiar face.

“Hey, Sally.”

It’s a bad sign that he’s on a first-name basis with half the staff here, but Gavin’s Cat is a dumbass and they love him. He brings them all kinds of trouble in the form of strays and half-starved kittens too skittish to let the volunteers working here close enough to help.

Sally eyes Michael, the scrapes and bruises he picked up during the heist earlier, but chooses not to comment on them. (Los Santos is a rough city, and there are all kinds of reasons for Michael to look like shit.)

“We might have to charge rent, the amount of times he ends up here,” she says with a tired smile.

Michael doesn’t sigh, no, but she must see it on his face because she laughs as she gestures for him to follow her to the back. She stops in front of a cage and casts him an odd look.

“He picked up a friend,” Sally says, just as a low, angry growl comes from said cage.

Hits that pitch that has the hairs on the back of Michael’s neck lifting, ends a chill down his spine.

Low and angry. Furious.

Michael moves closer and sees a big black-furred bastard that looks like it hasn't had the easiest life pressing Gavin’s Cat against the back of the cage in a protective gesture. Looks like it would just love to go for Michael’s throat the moment he gives it a chance despite the cast on one of its forelegs.

“The fuck.”

Sally clears her throat and Michael looks at her. Sees this flicker of anger in her eyes before she tucks it away again all nice and neat. (Special place in hell for people who hurt animals and all, and it looks like someone’s had a go at the black cat in the cage, so there’s that.)

“The two of them showed up a few hours ago,” she says. “His friend wasn’t chipped, but under the circumstances we felt it was safer to leave them together.”

Yeah, Michael can see that.

Usually the strays Gavin’s Cat brings to the shelter aren’t quite so protective. Tend to look to him for protection. Let the volunteers get a better look at them while he reassures them everything’s going to be just fine.

This, though.

New.

Interesting as hell too.

The black-furred tomcat is a mean looking bastard, and the noises it’s making backs that up.  Ready to throw down to protect Gavin’s Cat and eyeing them like it’s trying to decide who the bigger threat is. (The kind of intelligence in its eyes that speak to other, because of fucking course.)

Michael looks back at the little bastards. Sees Gavin’s Cat poke its head over the black tomcat’s shoulder to look at him and give a soft little meow.

Plaintive as fuck like he’s had a long night and just wants to go the hell home already. The sound of it  startles the black tomcat into silence, has it twisting around to look at Gavin’s Cat with its head tilted.

Another soft little meow, a quiet trill, and the black cat’s ear flick back and forth for a moment before it stands up. Makes this worried little noise even as it lets the smaller cat move to the front of the cage to look out at Michael and Sally.

All big eyes and sad little face, this poor, pitiful me act Michael’s see a million times by now.

Knows without looking Sally’s falling for it hook, line, and sinker even though the woman deals with cuter cats than this miserable fuzzball far too often.

“How much for the bodyguard?” Michael asks, and Sally flashes him a grin because she knows Michael’s his own brand of stupid.

“For you, honey, a discount,” she says, and goes to get a cat carrier. “And I’ll loan you a carrier since it looks like you forgot yours.”

========

Michael shells out the money for the black-furred bastard's medical costs. Tacks on a bit of a bonus over that because the shelter runs on donations and they do good work.  They make an appointment to bring the black tomcat back in a few weeks to get the cast off and then they’re ready to leave.

Sally offers to get help getting the bastard in the carrier, but he tells her it won’t be necessary. Both of them watching as Gavin’s Cat gently bullies his new bodyguard into the carrier. Careful nips and shoulder nudges, encouraging little chirps and trills.

It’s a bit of a production, the black cat eyeing Michael and Sally the whole while.

The drive back to the apartment is an absolute delight, what with two pairs of beady little eyes on him the whole time. A low, steady growl that starts up half a block away from the shelter and doesn’t let up until Michael pulls into the parking garage of their building.

It’s late enough by then their neighbors are all asleep, so they don’t run into anyone on the way up to the apartment.

Michael sets the carrier down in Gavin’s “office” which is more of a lair for the little troll he is and leaves the cats alone to sort themselves out as he goes to take a shower and changed for bed.

By the time he walks into the living room feeling a little more human, Gavin’s Cat is sitting on the back  of the couch, tail wrapped primly around his feet as he watches Michael.

There’s this patch of darkness in the corner of the room, just a touch darker than the shadows it’s hiding in. (Unsettling)

“You better know what you’re doing, asshole,” Michael says as he takes a seat on the couch, watches Gavin’s Cat stroll over to him all casual-like, as if this doesn’t have the potential to blow up in their faces.

He gets a chiding little chirrup, the damn thing stopping to bump his head against Michael’s jaw before deciding his lap is the most comfortable spot in the whole damn apartment. Slight pinprick of claws as the stupid bastard makes himself comfortable, low purr counterpoint to the news story Michael’s watching on the television.

========

Michael wakes up in the middle of the night to fingers on his face, brushing over the scrapes and bruises from the day before, and this soft worry he can feel.

“Fuck off,” he mutters, lips turning up at the soft laughter it earns him.

Opens his eyes to see Gavin watching him, frowning down at him so much Michael can see it without his glasses.

“Michael,” Gavin says, pout to it as he tips his head to the side. “You look awful, Michael.”

Michael snorts, because pot meet kettle much? Like, goddamn, just get a look at that dumb face in a mirror sometime.

“Nice,” Michael says, because really. Nice. “Where’s your new buddy?”

No point in asking what the fuck Gavin got up to out there on his own. Asshole will just give him the runaround, find something to get him riled up about and derail the whole conversation with a shit-eating grin on his face.

He’s extra squirrely about shit when the full moon rolls around, insists it doesn’t have hold on him the way it does with shifters who don't have a drop of magic in them. (Not like Gavin has anyway. Preternatural luck and a knack for knowing things that’s stood the crew in good stead since Geoff brought him on board.)

Which, you know.

Bullshit.

Idiot gets antsy around the full moon. Begs off crew get-togethers with the flimsiest excuses that have Michael certain he’s waiting on the others to figure shit out when it comes to him. Michael doesn’t play along so much as marvel at how fucking oblivious the others are.

Gavin shrugs, this fluid little movement as he – super subtly – angles for room next to Michael. Lays down on the narrow space beside him and pushes and nudges, makes dissatisfied noises until Michael sighs and moves over to give him room.

“No idea,” he says, when he’s done fussing. “He’s shy.”

Shy.

The same demon cat that looked like he would have loved to gut Michael if he so much as breathed wrong in his or Gavin’s direction.

He's fucking shy.

Still, there’s something in the line of Gavin’s shoulders, this note to his voice that is too goddamned defensive for a simple enough question.

So.

“Alright,” Michael says. “But if he kills me in my sleep, I’m haunting your ass.”

Gavin laughs at him like ghosts aren’t a real thing in their world. Like Michael won’t do it.

“Go to sleep, asshole,” he mutters, and wonder of wonders, Gavin does.

Leans in to give Michael a quick little kiss on the cheek, eyes glinting with amusement before he reaches for the blankets and curls up against him.

========

Michael wakes up first the next morning, no real surprise there.

Gavin’s reverted to his four-footed form, which is a sign that whatever he got up last night took it out of him. He heals faster when he’s small and furry, doesn’t have to expend as much energy keeping his dumb human body chugging along.

So.

Michael goes to the kitchen, knocks about making breakfast for them both. He catches sight of Gavin’s buddy eyeing him from the top of the fridge and puts together a plate for him too.

“Hey,” Michael says, watching him carefully. “You want any eggs?”

He should feel stupid, talking to a cat like it can understand him. There’s always the chance it’s just a run of the mill cat, some stray that took a liking too, but with the way it’s watching him – yeah.

He’s almost certain it’s someone’s Cat. Shifted form that comes with new instincts and behaviors that according to Gavin can be hard to reconcile with their human ones sometimes. Makes things harder than they need to be no matter what form they’re in.

“Alright,” Michael says, when the damn thing doesn’t give a sign either way. “Hope you like scrambled.”

No response from the peanut gallery, so Michael gets out a small bowl to keep the eggs separate from the rest of the food in case the asshole’s allergic and sets it out for him.

Michael leaves Gavin’s food in the microwave and takes his own over to the table and sits down to check his messages while he eats.

There are some texts from the others, normal crew business. Reminders about planning meeting for their next heist, smaller jobs Geoff wants him on. Annoying shit Trevor wants him to look into – go with Gavin to smooth over some small misunderstanding with one of their allies. Partner up with Jeremy to remind some assholes who they’re working for, that kind of thing.

Jeremy’s also sent him some pictures he took from the previous night and the shit the others got up to. His personal favorite, though, has to be of the selfie Jeremy took after what looks like one hell of a fight.

Barroom brawl, more like.

Just a big, stupid grin on his face and this fucking black eye, guys twice his size face down on the floor behind him.

“Fucking moron,” Michael mutters, because of course Jeremy would take a selfie like that.

There’s a ruckus behind him, this clatterscrabblethump, and Michael doesn’t dare turn to see what caused it because he doesn’t want to spook the dumb cat. (Cat? Fuck if Michael knows.)

He keeps an ear out for sounds of distress, but when all he hears are the sound of the cat (Cat?) eating, he answers his messages.

========

Jeremy drops by a few hours later to pick Michael for a crew-sanctioned play date with some idiots.

He also has a package for Gavin from Matt. Hacker shit, or some tech he wants the idiot to look over for him, something like that anyway.

“Uh,” Jeremy says, sounding mildly concerned. “Did you know - “

Michael follows Jeremy’s gaze to where Gavin’s new bodyguard is eyeing them from his perch on top of a bookshelf. (Michael’s impressed he can climb up to those spots with a cast on one his legs.)

“Yeah,” he says, shooting the cream tabby that sprawled all over Jeremy the moment he sat down a look. “Gavin’s dumb Cat picked up a bodyguard last night.”

The fact that he didn’t try to claw Jeremy’s face off when Gavin’s Cat cozied up to Jeremy all friendly-like is a little surprising.

“Michael,” Jeremy says, disapproving tone in his voice as he scritches the tabby's chin. “Gavin said you were getting along better with his cat.”

And, see.

The annoying thing about Gavin’s Cat is that everyone else in the crew is so damn oblivious.

They’re just.

Real fucking dumb.

They know as well as Michael does that shit like magic and whatever else exist.

That there are werewolves roaming the streets of Los Santos aching for the full moon, vampires loitering behind skeevy clubs and back alleys looking for an easy target.

Assholes like Gavin and more out there, and still somehow haven’t realized there’s anything more to Gavin’s incredible luck than the ordinary despite all the proof to the contrary. That it’s just a finely tuned sense of intuition – human intuition – that allows him to just know the things he does.

(Who can be trusted, who can’t. Other things that can’t quit be put into words but aren’t normal the way most people define things.)

Think Michael let Gavin talk him into getting a cat when they found out about Gavin’s Cat because they all know he can’t say no to Gavin and have it stick. Don’t stop to wonder why the damn thing and Gavin are never in the room at the same time because Gavin insists his Cat’s shy, which is the biggest crock of shit Michael's ever heard, but whatever.

(Makes Michael wonder if there’s some low-level glamour involved in it, something Gavin isn’t even conscious of to explain it.)

Point is, Jeremy loves cats almost as much as Gavin and Lindsay, and he adores Gavin’s Cat. Doesn’t understand why Michael never uses the name Gavin came up with for it way back when. Something unbelievably British and dumb and so very Gavin. Thinks Michael still doesn’t like the damn thing given the times he’s voiced his dislike for cats.

“I mean,” Michael says, Gavin’s Cat watching him through slitted eyes so goddamned smug about Jeremy defending his honor. “I’m fine with tolerating the little fucker.”

Gavin’s Cat makes a pitiful little noise and paws at Jeremy’s leg. All sadness and sorrow on the inside or whatever, and Jeremy falls for the act the way everyone else does.

“Aww, it’s okay, buddy,” Jeremy says, slipping into the baby-talk voice he uses with anything cute and adorable. “Gavin loves you and so do I. Michael's just a grump.”

Michael rolls his eyes as Gavin’s Cat shamelessly snuggles the hell out of Jeremy, and shares a look with the black tomcat, because wow, yeah.

Bit much.

“Fun as this is,” Michael says, because hey. “Didn’t Geoff want us to deal with those idiots in Cypress Flats?”

Jeremy blinks, flush creeping along his cheeks as he looks up at Michael, still snuggling Gavin’s Cat like a moron.

“Uh, yeah,” he says, coughing to clear his throat. “That. We should go?”

Michael snorts.

“Probably a good idea, yeah.”

========

Michael likes Jeremy.

Thinks he’s a good fit for the crew, brought life to it they were missing in the wake or Ray’s departure and then some. (Kicked their asses into gear, showed them just how complacent they’d gotten over the years.)

He’s good for the crew, yeah, but goddamn is he trouble sometimes.

The assholes Trevor wanted them to deal with aren’t the intellectually gifted sort. No creative thinkers there, and Jeremy -

“You kiss your mother with that mouth, asshole?”

Michael sighs as he yanks Jeremy back behind cover and hands him a spare magazine.

“Could you maybe not?” Michael asks, because antagonizing the assholes into trying to kill them harder isn’t a great idea. “Just this once. Don’t?”

And Jeremy, because he’s just that kind of stupid, looks at Michael like he doesn’t understand what he’s talking about.

“What?”

========

Somehow, they don’t die horribly.

Luck or whatever you want to call it and an abundance of ammunition see the two of them through the goddamned shootout Jeremy got them into with only minor injuries.

“Didn’t even need that many stitches,” Michael says, watching the way Gavin’s Cat is sniffing at the fresh bandages he’s sporting. “But you know how Jack gets.”

Petty.

Vindictive.

Enjoys the suffering of others while making it sound like a valid concern or some bullshit.

The wound on Michael’s arm would have been fine with a few butterfly bandages, not the bulky, awkward thing Jack insisted on, but it’s not like Michael was going to be the one to point that out to him.

No.

He left that to Jeremy who came out of things with a busted lip and bruised ribs. This gash on his leg and looking like a fucking mummy by the time Jack was through with him.

So.

“I’m fine,” Michael says, gently flicking the damn tabby on the nose to get him to stop fussing. Glances to where the black tomcat is watching from the top of the bookshelf. “Seriously, everything’s great.”

He hurts like fuck and Geoff kicked him and Jeremy out of the penthouse. Banned them for at least a week, and now Michael’s got a pair of idiot Cats to deal with.

Gavin’s Cat trills, and Michael feels himself smile as the damn thing snuggles up next to him as some crappy movie plays on the television, sound of its purring chasing any lingering tension away.

========

The next week isn’t very exciting, what with Michael healing up from the shitshow of a job.

Gavin sticks to his furry form for most of it, flitting between annoying Michael and his new BFF.

The tomcat prefers to stay out of sight when he can, or on a perch as high as he can get with his bum leg. Keeps his distance from Michael, but as the days go by and he realizes Michael's more bark than bite that gets shorter and shorter.

Has Gavin smug as fuck when the tomcat curls up on the end of the couch one night while some terrible action movie plays on the television.

“Shut your mouth,” Michael says, and tweaks the tabby’s tail when Gavin’s Cat gives him this look.

The tomcat flicks an ear in their direction, but doesn’t seem to care about what either of them are doing.

Halfway through the movie he moves to the end of the couch under the safety of darkness and starts purring when Gavin sidles over to him.

It’s a nice thing to hear, this deep rumbling purr that has Michael drifting off before he knows it.

========

Geoff needs Gavin for a job, quick little meet and greet with potential allies and he’s sending him out with the Twins.

“Oh, Jesus Christ,” Michael says when Gavin tells him all about that. “Just when the city was recovering too.”

Latest heist behind them and rebuilding efforts just about finished, and now this.

Gavin’s rushing around getting ready before the Trevor and Alfred pick him up, but he still has time to stick his head into the living room and scowl at Michael.

“Michael,” he whines, accent mangling Michael's name in the most atrocious way. “That’s not fair, Michael.”

Gavin drums his spindly little fingers on the door frame, eyes doing this shifty back and forth as he avoids meeting Michael's gaze.

Michael, for his part, just waits. Knows Gavin can’t stand the pressure of it, and true to form he breaks a little while later.

“...Jeremy dared me,” he says quietly, like that’s any kind of excuse because Jeremy is a disaster of a human being masquerading as a responsible adult.

Trevor and Alfredo are much the same, even though they hide it better. (On their own, those two aren’t too bad. Pair them up, and you’re looking at an Incident. Toss Gavin into the mix and it’s a catastrophe.)

The black tomcat sneezes, drawing a pout out of Gavin that Michael is hard-pressed not to laugh at.

“You weren’t even there,” Gavin says, acting all indignant even though Michael can see the laughter in his eyes when he glances at Michael, mouth twitching. “You don’t get to judge.”

The tomcat yawns, showing off an impressive array of teeth and heavy judgment that sends Gavin back out of the room and down the hall in a huff.

Michael looks at the tomcat, slitted eyes and twitching tail. Seems all calm and unbothered, but Michael’s sure he isn’t.

“Don’t worry,” he says. “The city’s survived worse.”

Not...not all that reassuring, but if Los Santos is still standing after everything that’s been thrown at it over the years it can survive those idiots.

========

Los Santos at large survives Gavin and the Twins.

(A certain area in La Mesa, however, does not.)

========

Gavin’s out of town when the appointment to get the tomcat’s cast off rolls around.

The tomcat is restless, antsy and Michael is not looking forward to carting him back to the shelter.

“Okay, look,” Michael says as he sets the carrier they use for Gavin’s Cat on the kitchen table.

It makes Michael feel a little weird sometimes, but the two of them have used it on jobs before. People not realizing the sweet-faced tabby is a horrible little bastard they don’t want anywhere near their sensitive information.

“You get two choices here, buddy.” The tomcat is watching him from his favorite perch on top of the refrigerator. Not so much wary of Michael anymore as it seems to be habit. When it doubt go for height or some shit, Michael doesn’t know. “Hop in here, or if you’re going to be reasonable about things, you can have the passenger seat.”

The tomcat’s been good about things when they go the penthouse or anywhere else, but people get weird when you show up to a place like the shelter without carting your animal around in a carrier.

Weird, and super judgmental, which is annoying as fuck and Michael and Gavin don’t have the patience to deal with it anymore.

The tomcat climbs down from his perch and makes his way across the counter and the short jump to the table. Michael watches as he sniffs at the carrier, and then meows.

This affronted little thing as the tomcat looks at Michael, pointedly turning his back on the carrier.

“Yeah, okay,” Michael says. “Figured that’s what you’d pick.”

========

On the way back home, Michael glances over at the tomcat when they’re at a red light.

The tomcat’s got his front feet braced on the dash as he looks out through the windshield, watching the city around them and anxious to get back out there.

No wonder, because the poor bastard’s been stuck with Gavin and Michael while he heals up and it’s sure to driving him crazy by now. (Couple of assholes like them? Oh hell yeah.)

“Hey,” Michael says. “I know you’ve had enough of us assholes and want to get back to your life, but if you could wait until Gavin gets back to run off that would be awesome.”

Michael knows Gavin could track the fucker down again if he wanted to, but it’d save everyone’s time if he didn’t have to. (That, and Gavin’s pretty attached to the bastard.)

“I mean, hey,” Michael says, taking his foot off the brake when the light turns green. “Not like I personally give a shit, but Gavin would be annoying as fuck if you didn’t at least say goodbye.”

The tomcat flicks an ear and turns his head to look at Michael. Drops back down into the passenger seat when Michael sets his foot on the gas.

Watches Michael with those pale blue eyes and this sense of amusement Michael doesn’t appreciate one goddamned bit.

“...Fuck off, asshole.”

========

The tomcat doesn’t make a run for it the moment he can, no.

He just goes around investigating Michael and Gavin’s apartment like he hasn’t been living with them for weeks now, have the layout memorized by now. Explores every nook and cranny and gets a little daring when it comes to being in the same room with Michael.

Settles in now that he has use of all his limbs again like he’s not planning on going anywhere just yet.

“Whoa,” Michael says, when he finds it sitting just a seat cushion away from him on the couch. “How forward of you.”

The tomcat spares him a look, mild annoyance that is miles from the baleful look Michael would have gotten at the beginning of this little mess.

It’s clear the tomcat is more comfortable with Gavin, allowing the little shit to snuggle up to him in either form, but still keeps his distance with Michael.

Which, fair.

Michael chuckles and puts on another shitty movie for them to heckle the fuck out of.

========

If Gavin’s surprised the tomcat's still there when he gets back to Los Santos, he doesn’t show it.

No.

The little fucker just smiles, all soft and quietly pleased and Michael has a hard time giving him shit for it, so he keeps his trap shut.

Watches out of the corner of his eye as the tomcat goes up to him to welcome him home, deep rumbling purr filling the air and this tightness in Michael's chest.

========

When the next full moon rolls around the tomcat gets restless, antsy. Growls at Michael when he makes the mistake of getting too close. Thought the progress they’ve made towards one another would hold in the face of the way the full moon is affecting him and miscalculated.

The tomcat growls, takes a swipe at Michael with his claws out and ears flat against his head as he struggles against base instincts.

Michael apologizes as he moves back, but Gavin’s had enough.

Shifts into his Cat form and pounces on the tomcat, wrestles him down.

For a moment Michael's worried he’s being a reckless idiot again. Thinks the tomcat isn’t struggling with his instincts going a little haywire on him with the full moon affecting him the way it is – but in that weird, infuriating way of his, Gavin is right again.

The tomcat snarls and growls, lets out these noises that get at Michael's hind brain, but he doesn’t hurt Gavin’s Cat.

Bigger and stronger, more muscle to him against the tabby’s agility and nimbleness, and yet Gavin’s Cat wins. Pins the tomcat under him and this smugness to him as he looks over at Michael, purring away like an idiot.

“Fucking Christ, Gav,” Michael mutters, because he’s an idiot.

Throws himself headfirst into the worst situations and somehow comes out on top.

And sure, Michael knows the tomcat wouldn’t hurt Gavin or his Cat, but the full moon plays merry hell with shifters of all kinds. Pure animal instinct against puny human brains and everything they fuck themselves up over the years to fit in with non-shifters.

Gavin’s Cat chirrups, and gets to his feet. Backs up a little and peers down at the sullen looking tomcat. Cocks his head and – like the idiot he is – bats at the tomcat’s face before hopping backwards.

Light, playful. Silent dare in it as he back up a little more, tail up and ears forward.

The tomcat watches him for a long moment, gaze flicking to Michael and back. Unsure of what the right response is after the little scuffle, and full of restless energy he needs to work off somehow.

So.

Gavin trills, and bounces forward to bat the tomcat’s face again, and that’s what does it. Has the tomcat up on his feet and chasing Gavin around the room until they both zip through the window they always leave open just enough for a Cat to slip through and out into the city.

Michael sighs, and sets to cleaning up the mess they made of things during their brief game of tag. Shit knocked over everywhere and a goddamned disaster, but that’s nothing new with Gavin, so there’s that.

========

Michael’s chasing after another perfect game when the two idiots get back. Morning not too far away and Gavin is very much a smug asshole.

Chirps at Michael as he walks across the couch to him, head held high along with his tail and looking far too pleased with himself. The tomcat is a bit more reluctant, seems to be dragging his feet as he jumps up to the couch. Keeps more distance from Michael than he has been, like he’s concerned about Michael’s reaction to him.

Looks at him, pale blue eyes and this thing that reeks of guilt.

Nervous, almost, and then Gavin’s there.

Little noises and shoulder nudges, pushing the tomcat closer to Michael just the tiniest bit and settles himself between them, a living breathing barrier that starts purring when the tomcat butts his head against the tabby’s.

Michael watches the two of them from the corner of his eye and bites back a sigh because these assholes, okay. These fucking assholes.

========

To no one’s surprise, the tomcat disappears a few days later.

Just up and vanishes on them, not so much as a goodbye.

“Rude, innit,” Gavin says, but he doesn’t sound too broken-hearted over it, has that look to him that says he knows a secret Michael doesn’t, so Michael doesn’t worry.

========

“And then,” Geoff says, voice carrying over the muffled groans from the others, “and then Jack comes in with the Cargobob and we fly away into the sunset like assholes.”

Michael glances at Gavin, sees the smile pulling at his mouth he isn’t letting free quite yet, and knows the fucker had something to do with their latest heist. (Always does, somehow. Pieces of him all over the fucking place,  and more he left behind with the Roosters.)

“Just had to stop for Starbucks, didn’t you?” Michael mutters, because they missed the best part of the briefing, didn’t get to see the new hired muscle’s reactions to it when Geoff unveiled the miniatures Geoff had mocked up for these things.

Gavin shrugs and takes a noisy sip of his drink – something stupid complicated because he knows the assholes in line behind him will equate it to Sophistication and be impressed with him or some shit.

Michael watches him as he shoves his gaudy as hell sunglasses into his hair, glint of amusement in his eye and the living embodiment of trouble.

“It’s been a  long week, Michael,” he says, going hard on his accent to mangle Michael’s name. “Needed the caffeine.”

Michael shakes his head and – because manners – knocks on the conference door before shoving it open.

Takes a quick glance around to see the rest of the crew in their usual seats and Geoff standing by the whiteboard at the head of the table, pointer in hand.

The hired muscle is leaning up against the far wall, little patch of shadows cast by the fuckoff huge potted palm in the corner.

Big guy.

Distinctive leather jacket, but it’s the dumb mask that draws the eye.

Some Halloween store bullshit, edgelord supreme with the black skull and way over the top, so naturally Los Santos loves the drama of it all. People coming up with all kinds of stories about the asshole to terrify the newbies with, idiots new to town who don’t know anything about the shitshow they walked into.

The Vagabond looks over at them, gaze moving past Michael’s shoulder to land on Gavin for a moment before it settles on Michael.

Anyone else, and it would be a challenge. This fucker though?

It feels like a question.

Michael rolls his eyes and looks at the miniatures set up on the conference table, all customized and shit for each of them. (Even the Vagabond has one.)

What look like generic little toy cars for the heist vehicles, except of course for Jack’s Cargobob, because they’re all idiots.

By the looks of things the briefing has already broken down into confusion and chaos, the others poking holes into his “brilliant plan” while it’s still in the early stages. Ripe for mocking and more than ready for things like common sense and all that boring shit to be brought into the picture.

“You figure out what we’re going to do with the tank?” Michael asks, because last he heard that was a complication, ugly little snag in the heist plans no one had figured out yet and it would nice to know before they finalize anything.

Geoff clears his throat and someone has a coughing fit.

“I’ve always wanted one for myself,” the Vagabond pipes up, like that’s not a crazy thing to say. “If I take it out of the equation, do I get to keep it?”

That should really be a no, or even a hell no, based on the more reliable stories about the guy, but since this is them?

“Sure,” Geoff says, and throws his hands in the air in defeat. “Why the fuck not. Surely nothing could go wrong there.”

========

The next few weeks are taken up with heist planning. Fine-tuning Geoff’s initial plans until they’re less likely to result in the crew’s demise (fiery or otherwise) in horrible ways.

“Nice,” Michael says, when he hears their estimated odds of survival, hovering somewhere just above fifty-fifty. “I’m filled with confidence.”

Gavin rolls his eyes because he’s a rude fucker, but the Vagabond over in the corner sharpening his knives snorts.

Gavin shoots him a betrayed look the guy ignores, and Michael -

Well.

He knows why Geoff wants him around when everyone else is out doing their bit for the sake of the heist. Knows he has enough trust in the Vagabond being a professional to bring him in on the heist, and just enough paranoia that he doesn’t want to leave him alone with Gavin. (God knows Gavin could drive anyone to murder without even trying.)

Still.

The Vagabond’s a weird asshole to be sure.

Quiet and watchful and all that shit. Keeps to himself and doesn’t talk much, but he’s not what the stories make him out to be from what Michael’s seen.

Doesn’t try to intimidate any of them. Even the thing where he likes to sharpen his knives or clean his weapons isn’t...whatever the hell they should be. Feels more like a comfort thing to him, something familiar to take the edge off being in a new place surrounded by people he doesn’t know.

(The fact he seems more at ease around Gavin and Michael isn’t lost on him, though.)

“Michael, you’re such a pessimist, Michael,” Gavin mutters, like Michael should be thrilled at the fact they all stand a chance of maybe dying horribly in Geoff’s dumb heist. “Things will be fine.”

========

“Okay, look,” Michael says, only bleeding a little bit. “So you go get the car, I’ll hold them off.”

He gets a look from the Vagabond, disbelief and incredulousness and this very clear sense of no and are you crazy? and Jesus fucking Christ and the asshole hasn’t even said anything.

Michael sighs, because there are sirens in the distance getting closer and a few dead bodies scattered around them in the alley.

Also, one of the reasons he’s bleeding is gnawing on his shoelaces.

A tiny, adorable ball full of fluff of sharp little claws and teeth. Fierce protector of its siblings and ailing mother and no, those are not his heartstrings being tugged. Indigestion, maybe, because fast food plus a shootout in a gross alley don’t go well together.

“Look asshole,” Michael says, unamused by this whole...situation. “You’re the one who started fussing with the damn strays, you go get the fucking car.”

Michael will stay behind to make sure they don’t follow the idiot and (hopefully) they all get out of this before the cops show up because it would just destroy the image the Fakes have built up for themselves as badass mofos. (Like anyone ever believed that, but he knows the kinds of headlines this would get for them with fucking Risinger out there.)

The Vagabond gives Michael another look, and then sighs in much the same way Geoff does when he realized the horrible mistake he made recruiting them for his crew.

“...Fine,” the big baby huffs, and trots off to bring the car around.

Michael has to hold a kitten back when it tries to follow him. Sets the foot not being viciously attacked in front of it and gently push it back into the pile of kittens huddled around their mother who’s watching Michael.

Too sick to get up and defend her little brood, but the little calico shredding the fuck out of Michael’s shoelace is doing a damn fine job of things herself.

“Fucking hell,” Michael mutters, because this is his life now, isn’t it.

Strays all over the place and all of them a pain in his neck and Jesus Christ, if he’d known this would happen when Geoff first approached him about a job he’d have said no. (Would have been smarter, to begin with. Save himself a whole hell of a lot of heartache with the trouble the assholes in his life get into all the damn time.)

========

Sally totally doesn’t laugh at Michael when he brings mama cat and her balls of fluff in to get checked over, goodness no.

Doesn’t even bat an eye at the Vagabond standing behind Michael with his dumb mask or the lame excuse that he’s just a friend who’s going to auditions for a show later and is one of those pretentious method actor types. (Would the real Vagabond give a shit about a cardboard box of strays? Fuck no. It’s just a loser theater nerd with a soft heart.)

“Either of you get scratched or bitten?” she asks, handing the box over to a volunteer who coos at the kittens even though the calico is trying to tear through the box powered by her own righteous fury and indignation.

Michael holds up his hand to show off the scratches the calico gifted him with, and sighs as Sally continues to totally not laugh at him.

“Well,” she says, like a consummate professional. “At least you’re up to date on your rabies shots.”

That -

Yeah.

Silver lining and all that shit.

“Put it on Gavin’s tab,” Michael says, waving his uninjured hand to where the volunteer took the box of strays. “Idiot owes me after last time.”

Sally nods, likely expecting that, and leaves Michael and the Vagabond in the shelter’s waiting area until they’re done with the strays.

They could leave, sure. Trust Sally and the others here to handle the damn things, but Michael’s certain he’d have a fight on his hands if he tried that. The Vagabond’s turning out to be a stubborn bastard and after dealing with Gavin and the others as long as he has, Michael’s learned to pick his fights.

The Vagabond stays silent while they wait. Seems tense and uncomfortable here, and Michael has the feeling it’s not just due to the stares he gets.

“Hey,” Michael says, and snaps a picture of the asshole when he looks because Geoff has been texting him like crazy since Michael told him their part of this prep phase didn't go well and is concerned they’re dead in a ditch somewhere. “Geoff wants proof of life.”

The Vagabond has this – okay, Michael can’t see his face with the dumb mask in the way, so it’s more like body posture and shit – but he’s wondering why the hell he agreed to whatever job offer Geoff gave him.

Which, you know. Too damn late for that now.

========

Gavin and Jeremy make the most ungodly noises Michael’s ever heard when he and the Vagabond go back to the penthouse with a box of strays.

Mama cat’s on antibiotics for the next few weeks and her and her kittens have been cleared to go, although they’ll need to be get their shots soon.

The kittens burst out of the box the moment Michael sets it in his and Gavin’s room to give mama cat somewhere quiet to recover and a safe spot for the kittens to retreat to.

Or would, but the little brats tumble head over paw after Michael when he heads to the living room. Most of them make a beeline for the Vagabond, but a few of the stragglers go over to investigate the mystery that is Jeremy’s fashion sense and Gavin is going to run out of room on his phone with all the filming he’s doing.

Michael rolls his eyes at the idiots as he goes to tell Geoff about the bizarre day he and the Vagabond had.

“Think she’s trustworthy?” Geoff asks him, once the door shuts behind him, hint of a smile on his face.

Michael glances down to where the calico is exploring the conference room, all fluffed up like she’s expecting an enemy to pop up out of nowhere.

“Better than those assholes out there,” Michael says, because God knows they’d sell each other out for shits and giggles. Or maybe just a bag of chips.

Geoff gives Michael a look because he knows, okay, he fucking well knows.

========

They can’t have a bunch of cats at the penthouse, too much dangerous shit around and Geoff’s peace of mind at stake, but.

By the end of the first week the kittens are all claimed. Little collars on them with the name of whoever is bringing them home with them when they’re old enough written on them. (Jeremy, the absolute madman is taking three of them, because he’s trying to out crazy-cat person Lindsay.)

Gavin keeps laughing at Michael because the calico won’t fucking leave him alone, and the Vagabond?

He’s got this soft spot for mama cat, and Michael doesn’t blame him.

She was too sick at the time to scare them off from her kittens, but stubborn enough to put herself between them and the stupid humans who stumbled over them. Watched them from her hiding spot like she’d like nothing better than to tear into them if they made a wrong move, and watchful the whole time Michael and the Vagabond toted the lot of them around.

Pretty little tuxedo cat, bright green eyes and this soft meow, sweet as anything.

“My building doesn’t take pets,” the Vagabond says late one night.

Everyone’s gone home and Geoff and Jack are out schmoozing with allies, and it’s just the three of them. (Five, if you count the calico and mama cat.)

Gavin’s passed out after one too many all-nighters working on the heist, and drooling like fuck all over Michael’s shoulder. There’s a shitty made for television movie about the dangers of something or other on and the Vagabond’s brooding.

Michael glances over, sees sad panda Vagabond with mama cat on his lap, and sighs.

The Vagabond’s one of theirs now, in too deep with the crew to back out and all that shit. Made the mistake of getting attached and now he’s trapped here same as Michael, poor bastard.

The calico’s asleep next to him, sharp little claws digging into his leg every so often as she dreams or whatever it is cats do when they sleep.

“Don’t look at me,” he says, because he knows where this is headed. “I can’t stand cats.”

========

The next full moon is a little hectic, what with a heist in the works and Gavin being the general sort of lunatic he always is.

And, you know, a pair of normal cats thrown into the mix because Michael's a soft touch and the worst kind of sucker there is.

The calico’s not so quick to want a fight these days, but she’s not thrilled when the tomcat shows up out of nowhere.

Hisses and snarls and flashes her claws at him when he slips through the open window because hey, no, this is her little kingdom asshole, get the fuck out -

And then she must catch her scent because she freezes. Goes stock still for a long moment before he breaks and dashes over to where Gavin’s Cat is lounging on the back of the couch next to mama cat.

Confused as hell and seeking comfort and Michael -

“Hey, asshole,” Michael says, watching the tomcat as he ventures over. “Been a while.”

Michael gets one of those looks, and he cracks a grin as the tomcat touches noses with mama cat before greeting Gavin’s Cat.

All nice and polite and Gavin’s Cat chirps, delighted to see the tomcat show up here again after staying away for so long.

There’s this little pause, and then Gavin’s Cat reaches out to bat the tomcat on the nose, head cocked just so.

It’s been a long week for all of them, but the full moon’s got Gavin’s Cat itching to get out in the city to run amok for hours now. Restless and antsy waiting to see if the tomcat would show up for another round of wacky antics and other shenanigans.

The tomcat glances to Michael for a moment, like he’s asking permission as if that’s ever meant a damn thing when it comes to Gavin or his Cat.

Nice of him, though. Polite, unlike others Michael could name.

He looks at the tomcat, and can’t help but smile at the way the fucker holds his gaze, doesn’t look away.

Trust or something like it, and it’s worth everything in the world.

Gavin’s cat makes an impatient noise and rises to his feet, giving the tomcat a little nudge with his shoulder to get him moving towards the window.

The tomcat’s bigger and stronger than Gavin’s Cat. All these scars and marks of honor from past fights and scuffles, and he still lets the little bastard push him around, all amused about it.

Michael snorts because they make quite the pair, and shares a look with mama cat and the calico. They might just be normal cats, but they know idiots when they see them.

“Just try not to set anything on fire,” Michael calls after them, and listens to the pitter-patter of little feet out to wreak havoc in the city as they make their way up the fire escape.

========

Michael wakes up to the smell of cooking bacon, and is instantly suspicious.

Gavin knows the basics off cooking, can (mostly) boil water without burning it, but generally speaking he’s not an early riser. Sure as fuck wouldn’t bother cooking breakfast when he can grab some at the place down the street or cajole (annoy) Michael into cooking for him.

And, like he knew he would, he passes Gavin sacked out on the living room couch with mama cat curled up against his side and the calico on his chest.

Curiosity piqued, Michael pokes his head into the kitchen to see some asshole standing over their stove  frowning at the pan of bacon he’s cooking.

Michael should be concerned about some stranger breaking into their place to...cook bacon, but whatever.

It's too early for the dramatics and the guy has a decent enough face.

Nothing to write home about, but it’s not horrendous or anything.

The guy doesn’t seem to have noticed Michael’s presence, so it gives him a chance to take in the finer details or some bullshit like that.

Decent face, and the guy’s hair is pulled back into a messy ponytail. He’s clutching a can of diet soda in one hand like it’s a lifeline.

“Hey,” Michael says, because the only reason they have that shit on hand is for when the Vagabond comes over to visit mama cat. “You look like hell.”

The guy blinks, and frowns harder at the bacon sizzling away like he thinks it’s talking to him, and then he seems to realize what an absurd thing that would be and looks over at Michael.

Has this moment where it’s obvious there’s nothing going on upstairs, and then -

“Well that’s just rude,” the guy says, familiar voice and the lightest dash of sarcasm ever. “Good morning to you too.”

Michael hmms, and decides someone needs to start the coffee since this idiot doesn’t touch the stuff unless it’s a last resort.

“You idiots have fun last night?” he asks as he measures out the grounds and fills the coffee maker reservoir, something comforting to the routine of it all. “Or should I just watch the news?”

The guy mumbles something too low for Michael to make out, and going by the blush that hits his cheeks, Michael’s betting he doesn’t want to turn the news on just yet. Might want to wait on that, or until one of the others calls to see if he knows anything about whatever happened.

So.

“You have a name?”

Oh, Michael knows who the asshole is, but seeing as he’s not wearing the stupid mask right now it feels wrong to call him the Vagabond.

Michael gets an exasperated sigh, but hey, not his fault the asshole keeps coming back for more, now is it?

“...Ryan,” he says after a long moment, another show of trust Michael hasn’t done a damn thing to earn. “It’s Ryan.”

Not the kind of name you’d expect for someone with a reputation like the Vagabond, but this sleepy looking asshole? Yeah, Michael can see it.

“Bacon’s starting to burn,” Michael says, because Ryan’s got this wary look to him now. Expecting God knows what now that he’s given up another piece of himself like this.

Ryan swears under his breath as he takes the pan off the burner and salvages what he can.

Michael pulls up a chair to enjoy his coffee and listen to Ryan muttering to himself as he finishes making breakfast. He’s got a few missed calls and messages to go over, and it’s a rare moment of quiet before the others come looking for food, so he’ll make the most of it while he can.

========

“For a guy who hates cats as much as you do, you’ve got quite the collection,” Jeremy says, teasing the calico with a piece of string.

Michael grunts, because the tomcat is heavy as fuck and kneading the hell out of Michael’s legs as he settles in for the long haul.

Gavin’s Cat is sprawled over Jeremy’s legs and mama cat is curled up in the bed someone got her a while back. The calico is being what can only be described as rambunctious because Jeremy loves to rile her up when he comes over for shitty movie night.

“Yeah, well,” Michael shrugs because Jeremy and the others are still idiots who have no damn clue about anything and Michael’s just as dumb in his own way because this isn’t completely terrible. “Life’s a bitch like that.”

#mavin #mavinwood #(they're getting there) #ragehappy #touch not the cat #vagrant fic #omg i'm finally done with this #idek what it is anymore? but yes #i know you've done it before #\o/ #werecat aus