Chapter Text
“C’mon Marco! You’ll love it! It’s your future! No harm in getting to know it!”
The blond who had been forcefully kidnapped out of his house and was being pulled along the streets by his brother gave an unimpressed look, “why is it my future-yoi?”
“You’re almost 40, Marco. You’re going to be a cat-lady... man. Cat-man.” Thatch stopped to think for a moment before stopping before a glass door, “Here we are!!”
“Not even 35 yet.” Marco murmured but followed the other inside. No use in trying to run away, the chef would just run after him. “So what is this exactly-“
Meeeooowwwwww!
He almost jumped out of his skin as something soft phantomed over his calf and he looked behind him to see a rather decently sized cat rubbing against his legs.
“What the-“
“It’s a cat-café!”
“Excuse me-yoi?” Marco blinked, looking stunned to his brother, but he had no time to ask questions as a waiter came over and showed them to a table. Telling them the few rules they had.
After they put their order in, Thatch smiled at the other. “Isn’t this nice! You can eat small desserts here, drink a coffee, and pet cats!!! They seem to love you!” The chef smiled as three cats were around Marco. One at his feet, and one at each of his sides, sitting on the bench next to the blond and obviously asking for pats.
“Oh and look, another one!”
The big cat from before was on Marco’s lap before he knew it. Marco was perplexed. He had nothing against cats, but he never had a cat. He never had any animal besides Stefan, but that was their Pop’s dog. He also never particularly got along with animals, no hate relationship or anything. He just left them alone, and they let him alone. So… it was weird he was getting swamped.
Still, he couldn’t help but let his hands wander to scratch the soft heads of the cats around him, the purring growing around him and even making his brother smile.
When the waiter returned even they blinked as now there were 5 cats with Marco!
“Wow, Never seen them flock to one person this quickly! You must have some cat-charms.” He laughed as he put their food and drinks down. “Be careful with Misty.” One gray cat was pointed too, “she liked to try and steal the cake. It’s not toxic, but do let us know if she snatches a piece, then we know how much kibble to still feed her tonight.”
“Oh okay-yoi. Ehm Thank you.”
A giggle pulled Marco’s attention to the other side of the table, not even having realized he had been entranced by the cats around him.
“See! I told you you would love this! They’re open every day. Only on Sunday it’s only half a day.”
Marco just hummed, not really replying, he didn’t need this to go to his brother’s head. Even if it seems like it already did.
In the end he had enjoyed the afternoon at the café a lot. Even if Thatch had let it slip that he had sprayed catnip onto him and that’s why he was so popular.
When he went back again a few days later, which he didn’t tell the Chef that he did, he noticed it that less cats came to him instantly. Though, he seemed to have befriended a few of the ones that had come to him the first time and a lot of them had waltzed over at some point to get some head scratches.
Days passed and soon he was here almost every day. Taking his laptop with him to work for his job while he was sipping on coffee, having cake, and petting cats. Of course he asked for permission and the owner had told him it was fine as long as he ordered something every now and then.
So he did and spend his days in the peace of some company.
“My brother!”
Oh no. Marco froze behind his laptop, knowing the voice. He’s busted.
“Hello Thatch. Haruta. Izou.”
“No need to be so stiff! I see you like this place!”
“… It’s nice, yes-yoi.”
The chef looked immensely proud and while he had expected more teasing, they just sat with him, Chatting a bit and playing with the cats that came to them. Also giving him time to continue his work and talking amongst themselves.
“So, Marco.”
He looked up to see Izou look to him, “Yes?”
“Any plans to adopt?”
“Adopt?”
“Yea… wait…” the geisha raised a brow, “don’t tell me that you haven’t seen a single sign?”
“Sign?” at the question, the other pointed to a few spots on the walls, and even to one of the flyers on the table. Looking it over he blinked, “huh, I never noticed.” Everything gave some information about adopting cats. Not all cats were up for adoption, but the ones wearing a green collar were up for adoption, while the red collars were the once still getting more used to lots of people but would be up for adoption soon. The ones with black collars were cats that were not up for adoption. He guessed you can’t put up every cat for adoption when you do have a cat café to run.
“Oh my god, this man.”
All three his brothers shook their heads at him, but hey, they can’t blame him. He’s focused on his work and his coffee and the cats around him. Not all the different signs hanging up.
“So? Adoption?”
“No-yoi. This is good. I can pet cats and not need to have the responsibility to take care of one.”
“Huh, guess that’s true.”
The conversation went back to who knows what while he lost focus on his work and petted the cat that had been sleeping on his lap. An red collar around its neck. Adoption huh?
Here he was…. A month after having said he wasn’t going to adopt. Looking so intensely at the signs for adoption that one of the employees even came up to him.
“Are you interested in adopting, sir Marco?”
Marco almost jumped out of his skin, but remained calm on the outside. The employees almost all knew him by name by how often he came around. He looked to the woman, “I ehm, was just looking.”
She nodded, “I can give you more information if you want. Are you looking to get a special case one or not?”
“A special case one?”
She nodded again and pointed to a door that he never noticed. How much did he never notice!!!!!
They walked over together and he peered through the small window next to the door, sighing a more sterile looking playground for cats, but… no cats.
“The special cases are kept over here. It can range from cats with missing legs, to missing ears or having an illness or disability. Temporary or forever. They’re kept over here so we can keep a closer eye on them and make sure they’re strong enough to get adopted.”
“Oh that nice. I don’t see any cats thought.”
She blinked and looked inside herself before taking a chart next to the door, “Oh, it seems captain Jack got adopted just under an hour ago. My colleague handled it as I only just started. That one had lost an eye due to a crow attack.”
“So there’s no special cases now then-yoi?” It was good these cats got a good home too. So he wasn’t sad there were no special cases, though he wouldn’t have minded to help a cat like that to a home.
“There is still one special case. He’s been here for forever. We don’t know how long we can keep him anymore either.” She sighed looking into the room where Marco had presumed were no more cats.
“Aren’t they available for adoption?”
“They are, they are.” She nodded, “but no one wants this one. He’s even free. For the other cats we ask a small fee, just to get all the paper work in order and such. But we’ve left that out for him for a long time in the hopes that he gets adopted. But nothing.”
“I’ll take him-yoi.”
“Sir, this isn’t a normal cat. There’s a reason he hadn’t been adopted…. You should see him first.”
Even if he was already sure he would take him, he nodded and followed when the door was opened. He was already set on taking this cat. He knew what it was like to be an outcast. And unlike humans were that was it, if the café couldn’t keep the cat, and it didn’t find a home, he knew they were put down. He wouldn’t let that happen to an innocent… an innocent….
“That’s a hybrid.” He was able to say the words stuck in his mind as he had stepped into the room and saw the cat. “They’re… aren’t they usually… popular?”
He knew a lot of rich people had hybrids. This was for multiple reasons. One ofcourse was that a hybrid in its own was expensive, then the costs of care was a lot, practically the same as raising a child. And the other very important reason… one he hated… hybrids were often used as maids, servers, butlers, anything of the like. While very human, the animal parts were distinctive in as well physical appearance as well as instincts. So they couldn’t live alone in this society and sadly most family’s only saw them as real pets and useful for chores. So even if he didn’t like it, he was surprised that this hybrid wasn’t snatched up yet, he was even free!
“Yes. They are but… He’s” she seemed to make an ugly face, “he’s not really good. He never learned to be human. He was in the streets before he got here and he acts fully like a cat. So people don’t want him as he’s just a cost without use. He even uses a litterbox like normal cats and people don’t like that either as it looks like.... Ya know... human feces.”
Marco frowned through her explanation. Seeming to be blaming the poor being on everything and not this society. “I’ll still take him.”
She blinked confused, “Sir, reconsider please. We will have some other special cases to adopt soon. One with a missing leg or a missing tail comes in like every other week if you want to help a cat in need. Even a hybrid, while not as often, we can call you when we get a good hybrid in.”
“I don’t need a good hybrid-yoi.” Marco said sternly to the women. How could she even say it like that! Acting as if this one wasn’t a good hybrid because he was more cat then human. They were in the end always more animal then human. It was them that made them behave more unlike their origine so they could do chores. He wanted to scoff, like someone would call a real cat a bad cat if they couldn’t fold their clothes. Yet here they are, calling this small beings existence bad for simply living to the best of his abilities.
Even under the watchful gaze of the employee, did Marco walk closer to the small hybrid that was sitting in the corner of a room on a flowers-shaped cushion. “Hi little one. Can I pet you?”
He asked softly. If the hybrid would stand, he guessed he would come to just above his knees maybe. So he was still a child.
No vocal reply came, which he should have expected since the woman told him that he wasn’t human. But he didn’t let it deter him and held out his hand, holding it still as the cat came forward and sniffed his fingers.
Very tentatively the boy moved his head and started rubbing his cheek to the hand. Seeing it as permission, Marco slowly moved his hand, rubbing the cheek before going up to raven hairs. Petting the locks gently before scratching behind his black fluffy ear.
Prrrrrr
“Oh you like that?” Marco couldn’t keep a small smile from forming on his lips, enjoying himself as he petted the small being. “You’re a cute one, aren’t you? Aren’t you?” He would forever deny that his voice went high as he spoke to the hybrid. He barely knew the boy, didn’t even know his name yet, yet he already felt them bond. Atleast in his eyes. In the back of his mind, it was a bit weird to be petting this being, a hybrid, they looked very human, so he may as well be petting a human child dressed as a cat. Yet, it didn’t seem to bother him as much as he had believed it would and he could see beyond it.
“Such a good behaved kitty-yoi.”
He kept scratching, moving to scratch the chin and back to the head, enjoying the little purrs the cat let out. It all went well, right until he changed to the ear he hadn’t touched before yet, and before he knew it, the cat had lashed out and he had a teeth marks in his hand.
“Ace!! Bad!!!”
Before he knew what was happening, the woman was before him and had a spray bottle in her hand. Spritzing the cat with whatever was inside the bottle.
The cat instantly hissed, but it was obvious that he was more scared then anything else and tried to look to escape, but being in the corner he was trapped which made his situation worse.
Marco couldn’t see this anymore and hurried to before the cat, kneeling down while he yelled for the woman to stop and picked up the trembling kitten in his arms. Shielding him from the spray. “What are you doing????”
“He always does this!” She shrieked, “We’re trying to teach him this behavior is not okay!”
“Well this isn’t the way to do that! And besides, all was fine until I touched his right ear. He probably just doesn’t like that.”
“Doesn’t give him permission to bite like an animal! This is why no one wants the thing!”
Marco gritted his teeth, “He has no other way to communicate that he doesn’t want to be touched there, now does he?” And carefully scratched the hybrids left ear, seeing slowly how Ace relaxed again and leaned into the touch even if eyes were still looking fearful to the lady and nails were digging into him to hold on. “See-yoi. He’s a good kitty. Yes, you are. You just wanted to let me know not to touch your right ear. I’m sorry, Ace. You’re a good kitty. No need to get sprayed like that.”
“He’s making you bleed. That’s not good and not how a hybrid should act.” The woman kept up the act as if all of this was the boy’s fault.
“It’s not on purpose. We don’t spray little kids either if they accidently hurt you, right? Or do you? The ones that step on a cat’s tail in the café, do you spray them too?”
“...”
Finally the woman was quiet and he asked for the papers to sign.
“You sure?.... Okay... Follow me.”
Nodding Marco crouched, turning the sunflower pillow around to the dry side before putting Ace back on it, chuckling when he didn’t let go. “It’s okay. I’ll be back. I promise.”
Eventually Ace released him and he gave a few more scratches to his head before leaving to follow the woman.
When he returned, he saw Ace sitting next to the glass-panel, looking into the café. Seeing they were returning, he hurried back to the sunflower bed, acting like he didn’t see them come in.
He had to hold back a chuckle at that as he walked up to him, crouching before him and letting him sniff his hand again before petting him, “Hey Ace, want to go home with me-yoi?”
“...”
Only a cock of the head was the reply, no matter.
“Sir. We will mail his vet info to you soon. And here is his leash.”
“I’m not putting a leash on him.”
“He needs to wear a collar at the very least when going outside. It’s the law. He’s not allowed outside without one.”
“Fine.” Even if he wasn’t happy, he accepted the collar, frowning at how hard and uncomfortable it was, but still held it out for the boy to sniff at. After he seemed done he carefully put it around the small neck, not snapping it too tight, yet still saw the uneasy look in the gray slitted eyes. “It's okay, Ace, I'll get you a more comfy one soon. And at home you won't need to wear it at all.” he spoke while gently patting the raven.
Even if he didn’t want it, he accepted the leash. But since he didn't want Ace to need to wear it, he picked the boy up in his arms and said his goodbye before carrying him out the café.
As he was walking down the road, the cat was looking around curiously at everything and everyone. To Marco’s confusion, hissing at people that walked close. It was a bit weird to him as Ace hadn’t really hissed at him when first meeting him. Anyway, it was a good thing that it was hot outside since the boy only wore a tank top and small shorts. A triangle cut out of the back at the top to let the tail rest in. Ace apparently did not want to wear anything more.
Just before reaching the place he was going to, his phone buzzed in his pocket and he took it out with one hand. Seeing it was an e-mail with Ace’s name.
“Let’s see what they have to say about you-yoi.”
He scrolled through the information, basic information of taking care of cats, the foods to eat and more. And then came the health information, “Portgas D. Ace. 10 years old. Cat-hybrid. Breed unknown. Health issues, let's see…. Bounds of sleepiness? Don't all cats sleep a lot?” He glanced at the cat in his arms, blinking when he saw the other was asleep. He was sure the boy was awake like 5 seconds ago. Huh, he would ask the vet when he visited.
He read over a few more things listed before he pocketed his phone as he had reached his destination and looking up was greeted by the big sign of the pet shop. He had a lot to get with his impromptu adoption. He would probably get Ace used to more human food soon, but he didn't want to rush the other and make him sick the first day by doing that. Besides, he had to be careful as not all hybrids could handle all human food.
Going in he greeted the employee kindly and was pointed to the hybrid section. In there he searched out the cats and stopped at the food. Looking between the kibble and meats. He wondered what Ace liked. But no matter what he needed a cart as he was definitely getting at least one big bag, maybe even two.
So he went to the entrance of the store again and grabbed a cart, wheeling it back to the food. The quicky wheels must have woken the small boy as a patted hand went up to rub into half closed eyes.
Before he could even greet the boy, a meow was there and the same hand reached towards the shelves, trying to grab some food.
“No no, Ace, we need to pay first.”
Mrrreowwww
“Not yet-”
Growllll
“... Are you that hungry-yoi?...” He did take Ace right before lunchtime. “What do you usually have Ace?” he questioned the boy, but ofcourse there was no answer. As he was looking, he had to constantly stop a small hand from grabbing things. This wouldn’t do.
After a minute of thought he had a little eureka moment and went into the bed section, much to Ace’s annoyance of leaving the food-section. But soon he was back to his cart and had a fluffy pillow to put inside of it.
“There we go.” He spoke while placing Ace onto the orange cushion. Ruffling his hairs as the cat looked confused at him. “Isn’t that nice and soft?”
Mrew?
Marco chuckled and looked back to the food. While one arm gently kept Ace from jumping out, with the other he picked out a few meat packets and read it over. When he found one that sounded good, he showed it to Ace who’s eyes instantly focused on it.
“Do you want this one?”
Meeeooww!!
“Okay okay haha” he pulled open the tab and was glad it didn't have sharp edges and was more like a yogurt container. “Here you go-yoi.” And handed it over to the eager hands, “Let me fold a spoon from the lid…. And never mind.” He added slowly as Ace had his head already buried into the container.
With Ace busy eating, Marco continued his shopping, already knowing he would need to buy the cushion now too as Ace was spilling onto it. But it was okay, Ace seemed to like it anyway. In the end he bought lots of different things: food, another basket, toys, litterbox and everything else that’s needed. When he could grab Ace’s attention, he even let him choose his own toy.
When he reached the registers, he tried to take the container that Ace still had in his hands, albeit crumbled from the pressure between he palms. He tried to reach for it, but was instantly hissed at.
“Ace, you'll get it back…” he tried, “It's empty-yoi.”
Hisssssss
“Please, Ace. I need to pay for it.”
“It's okay, sir.” The cashier came to his rescue with a chuckle, “Which brand was it?”
“Oh, it was ehm- oh! I do have the iron lid!” he hurried to pull the item out of his pocket and held it out.
“That’s perfect, thank you very much. He only ate one?”
“Yes, just that one, but I do have another 13 full ones in the cart.”
“Alright, 14 in total then.”
After paying and scheduling a delivery for later that day, Marco thanked the cashier and picked Ace out of the cart. The boy hissing and holding the food close until he realized it wasn’t being taken from him.
“I’ll already take this pillow with me.” Marco said as he picked up the pillow, nodding to the employee and walking out where he shook off the crumbs from the pillow and tugged it under his arm.
Back outside the boy was looking around eagerly again, even dropping the empty container in his little hands as he was seemingly in awe.
As soon as the container had lefts his hands, Ace had cried out and struggled to get out of the arms to get it back. So even if it was obviously trash, Marco awkwardly bend down low to grab it with Ace and the basket in his arms.
“Hold on tightly to it, Ace.” Marco said to him and the boy looked to him before squeezing to him, nails digging into his flesh. It made him wonder if Ace understood him. Maybe not completely, but he had understand some part of holding tightly. Or it was coincidence….
Anyway, it could be possible that he understood a little. Maybe if it was somehow like how you could learn animals commands. They recognize words like food and know that it means that there’s something yummy coming, even if they don't understand the word itself.
“We'll work on getting you speaking, won't we, Ace?”
Mrrreow?
Ace definitely knew his name though, he reacted to it often. “It will be nice if you can tell me what you want or need. Though I'll do my best to figure it out until you can.” Marco smiled at the kid, chuckling as he started biting in the container. What a hungry kitten. He can't believe people would sent a cute hybrid like this back just because he doesn't act human and uses a litterbox. And on that last part, cats even cover their poo with the litter, dogs won’t, so wouldn’t those looks worse to clean up??? Anyway, he didn’t mind, it was a normal being’s need to relieve themselves, babies didn’t clean after themselves either an no one complained. He may try to teach Ace how to use a toilet, but even if that didn’t work out, cleaning up after him isn’t the worst of his worries.
While lost in thoughts, he already arrived home and unlocked the door, stepping inside he made for the living room and put the fluffy pillow down on the couch and placed Ace on it.
“Here we are, Ace-yoi. This is your new home for the next… hopefully atleast 60 years... Let’s just call it your forever home.” he chuckled a bit, hybrids did after all often reach human old age, “Everything mine is yours. Except my milk…, and chocolate… just… everything that's not dangerous for you is yours too.”
Marco laughed at the cocked head and easily reached out to scratch the left ear. Smiling softly as the boy leaned in. “You'll be some good company. I just know it. It seems that after all…. Thatch knew my future plans very well.”