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As long as Gavin can remember, he is on his own. He knows he probably has brothers and sisters, but he can't really remember them either. He also knows no other home than the junkyard where he grew up.

But he won't bitch and moan! Hell no! Life as a stray is hard sometimes, but he's a survivor and the junkyard in west Detroit is his kingdom. He is comfortable here, warm and dry, and so far he hasn't starved to death.

Together with his best friend Tina, a black beauty, and Chris, a good-natured dark brown tomcat, they form their own little family.

It is a hard life. An exciting life. It's Gavin's life.

However, the life of the little stray cat named Gavin changes from the day the new caretaker of the junkyard shows up.

Previously, a very old man lived in the little house on the site. Kind-hearted as this human being had been, he fed the cats that had settled on the wide-open area with the leftovers of his meals. He often sat on the bench in front of the cottage and told the animals about his day.

Gavin didn't give a shit, but of course he gladly took the food. Lazily filling his belly? He's always up for that.

This old man was harmless. Until one day he disappeared.

Instead, another now took his place. A tall, loud, grey-haired man. Hank Anderson.

Hank Anderson and his partner. Connor.

Gavin doesn't like Connor from the first second. It's not just that he's taller than him. Connor is a real pain in the ass, sticks his nose everywhere and makes life more miserable for Gavin.

Connor, the great junkyard-hunter! An annoying hound dog who has already scared some of the junkyard's animal population away from here. 

A proper asshole. Acts like he owns everything, but as soon as his human shows up, the hunter turns into a little lap dog. Gavin is pissed off by this. When he sees the dog rolling in the dirt and begging for attention, Gavin is about to throw up a huge fur ball.

What a prick, he hisses, as he once again enjoys the show.

The day is warm and sunny. The little cat stretches lazily, then wrinkles his nose as Connor begins to lick Anderson's face. From his place, atop the junk mountains, he has a good view. The hunter may be fast, but not nearly as skilled as he is.

Tina jumps to his side. Purring, the black cat snuggles up to him, rubbing her head against the tabby cat's.

Jealous? she asks and licks once over Gavin's right ear. A small nick can be seen in it. Just one of his trophies. There is also a scar on his nose. Gavin is particularly proud of that one.

He rolls his green eyes. Oh, yes. Of course. Kissing a human ass, that's what I've always dreamed of.

Tina falls smoothly down next to him. The roof of the old car is nice and warm. 

Curious, the black lady tilts her head. He looks happy, she meows. 

Pha!, Gavin grumbles. Pissed off, he lets his claws fly out. I'd be even happier if they'd piss off. Fucking lapdog! 

The striped tabby hisses angrily. He twirls his paws in the air in an attacking manner. His tail bobs excitedly. Tina purrs in amusement. Her best friend's big mouth is known all over the junkyard. 

Not everyone is a true rebel like you, Tina meows and stretches. Her black fur shines in the sun as she sits up. 

Gavin raises his chin. Meow! That's it, that's it! 

The little cat's ego immediately gets a huge boost. 

Cheekily, Tina wiggles her head. So? Maybe next time you should challenge Connor to a fight and not run away like a kitten.

I didn't run away!? Gavin sputters upsetly. In a rush, he jumps to his four paws. 

You didn't?, Tina snarls. 

No, damn it! That was a strategic retreat!, replies Gavin. 

Tina's dark eyes sparkle. Sure~ And I'm the Lion King! 

She playfully nudges Gavin's nose, biting one of his ears. Needless to say, her little friend is on fire. The two furry lions have fun running around on the roofs of the old cars. They pay no attention to what is happening around them. 

But suddenly Gavin's little paws step into nothing, the little body loses its balance and then the striped kitten tumbles down the mountain of junk. 

Until he reaches the bottom. Right at Hank Anderson's feet. And Connors.

Oh fuck...

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A shadow falls on Gavin.

The little cat feels his heart slip from his chest straight into his non-existent pants. With huge green eyes, the stray stares up at the human, the hissing stuck in his throat as the tall figure of Anderson rises in front of him.

Heart pounding, Gavin looks up at the human.
And the human looks down at him.

Fuuuck! Up close, Anderson seems even taller than he already is.

Even Connor, the great junkyard hunter, is too surprised to act for a single moment. Blinking, the hound tilts his head and a goofy expression spreads across his face.

"Jesus," Anderson catches himself first. "Where the fuck did you come from?"

When the human takes a step towards him, Gavin can feel a quake under his paws. A giant hand reaches out for the kitten and that's when Gavin finally comes to his senses. Hissing, he jerks up and gives Anderson a good slap with his claws.

Immediately he jumps back. "Shit!" the human swears now. "Fucking hell!"

Something red shines on his fingers. Gavin's little heart skips a beat in excitement. The hair on the back of his neck stands up. Satisfaction makes the kitten brave, by hissing loudly once more.

Take that, you old fart!

It sounds like a mighty roar in Gavin's fluffy ears.
Hank Anderson, on the other hand, hears only a trembling meow.

The real roar, after all, comes not from Gavin but from Connor. The protective instinct of man's best friend strikes full force in view of the violent injury Hank has to endure. Because suddenly everything stupid vanishes from the hound's brown eyes, and instead an almost murderous sparkle enters Connor's gaze.

A deep growl escapes the dog's lips, his slender body tenses.

That is the moment when Gavin decides to get out of there. Just in time. As soon as the stray whirls around and makes to start moving his furry ass, Connor immediately takes up the chase. Dust swirls into the air. In a flash, the junkyard hunter sprints off.

"Fuck!? Connor!? Get back here," Hank is still yelling after them. "Goddammit!"

Gavin doesn't catch what else the human has to say. Quickly, as fast as his four paws can carry him, the small striped cat speeds along the narrow path between the huge mountains of scrap metal.

Running away? Fuck it! Strategic retreat! Tina has no fucking idea.

His lead isn't much, behind him he picks up Connor's growl and the stomp of his feet on the ground. Gavin's heart flips, so hard that the furball almost trips over his front paws.

At the last second, however, he jumps slightly to the side as Connor's huge teeth snap at his tail. Caught off guard, the dog stumbles a little further, having to be careful not to fall into the hole with the junked androids. Gavin takes the chance to hop over an old fridge and then climbs further up the mountain of junk.

He is small and agile. In no time at all, he finds himself several metres up in the air. Today Connor is really stubborn. There is a crashing and clattering in Gavin's back.

He rolls his eyes in annoyance. This dumb lapdog is indeed still following him.

Fuck off!, the kitten hisses and gives Connor a kick with his right foot.

The hunter yelps as the kick hits his nose. Connor loses his footing a little, rolls downwards. At a lofty height, Gavin bounces onto a pile of old tyres, looks around. Here he provocatively sticks out his pink tongue at the hound. But then Connor is already on his heels again!

A wild chase begins on the roofs of old cars and other machines. Among them, Anderson calls for his little lap dog.

Connor doesn't care. The big junkyard hunter is completely focused on his mission. Twice he almost manages to catch Gavin. He escapes, hissing and meowing, until his green eyes spot something.

An old car. A 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham. With the left back door open a little. Perfect to slip into. Perfect for him.

Got you! A huge paw finally catches Gavin's tail.

It hurts. Growling, the kitten makes a belly landing, once again a shadow rises above him.

I always accomplish my mission, it rumbles atop the kitten's fluffy ears.

But he wouldn't be Gavin if he gave up so easily. So he attacks and sinks his sharp teeth cheekily into Connor's leg.

Right away Connor lets go and Gavin literally flies away. Straight towards the car. He barely fits into the gap in the car door.

Where he gets stuck. With his ass. Fuck.

Gavin's heart beats hard in panic. Upset, he kicks his hind legs and tries to squeeze into the inside of the car. He succeeds, but in a different way than expected. Suddenly there is a huge crash and something pushes him right in.

Gavin meows pitifully as his left hind leg is painfully bruised. Then he made it and the rusty door bangs loudly shut behind him.

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Gavin is in trouble. In some big, serious trouble.

Actually, being in trouble is nothing unusual for him, but this time he's really fucked. Or to be more precise, he's double fucked.

Stubborn as Connor is, it feels like an eternity until this annoying little lapdog finally realises that his stupid mission has failed, for today. From his safe hiding place, Gavin keeps a watchful eye on the hunter. Connor cannot find a way inside the old car, no matter how many times he goes around it. In the end, it is Anderson who saves the kitten from the hunter's presence.

"Connor! Son of a bitch! Get the fuck over here, now!"

The human's voice is very loud, and highly commanding. Anger, but also deep concern, echoes in Hank's harsh words. Gavin spots a twitch in his stalker's furry ears at every single sound Anderson lets out. Caught between accomplishing his mission and the impulse to obey his human, Connor growls in frustration.

After all, Anderson is so close that the hunter can no longer ignore him. And before the grey-haired man is able to climb his way up to them, Connor lets go of Gavin's hiding place and disappears from the little cat's view.

Probably to kiss his human's ass again.

Gavin waits a moment or two then crawls out from under the shabby back seat. He listens with attention, green eyes carefully checking out the area nearby. Well, at least there's no sign or sound of the stupid lap dog any more.

Gavin releases a soft meow of relief. Immediately, however, this meow turns into a painful whine as his injured leg starts to hurt again.

It hurts like hell!

The cat's slender body flinches. Snarling, Gavin tries to move the leg, but it stings too much. With care, he plops down on his furry butt. Where his left hind leg had been crushed, the skin is ripped open in a nasty scrape. Blood drips from the cut and his leg feels numb.

Pissed off, Gavin looks at the injury and wishes Connor, that stupid idiot, a bad flea invasion.

Fuck! Fuck!, the striped kitten hisses heartily. Fuuuck!

As best he can, he begins to clean the wound. Afterwards it still hurts like a bitch, but fortunately it stops bleeding. The next problem comes soon after. Because much worse than his fucked up leg is the fact that he's stuck here.

He's fucking stuck in this wretched piece of shit. And whose fault is that? Definitely not him! Shit!

Somehow he manages to hop onto the back seat to take a look outside. Of course, not the slightest trace of Tina or Chris. Awesome friends. On top of that, all four doors of the wreck are firmly locked and, for once, all the windows are intact.

He is so fucked!

It is slowly getting dark outside. All the meowing and swearing doesn't help Gavin much. In anger, he uses his claws to immortalise himself on the padding, but his leg quickly reports back. It burns and every movement is painful. Besides, running away from Connor has really strained him and tiredness wells up in the cat's body. To calm himself down, Gavin purrs softly to himself.

When the sun disappears behind the horizon, he has already curled up in the back seat. From exhaustion, the cat finally falls asleep and dreams of him kicking the great junkyard hunter's ass.

A sweet, sweet dream.

Waking up the next morning, instead, isn't sweet at all. 

Loud clanging, crashing and rumbling brutally pull Gavin out of his sleep. Despite his injured leg, he is immediately on his feet. Green eyes grow huge. Alarmed, he whirls around, looking in all directions. 

What the hell?

A colossal monster towers in front of him. He knows this thing, has seen it running around the junkyard many times. A long neck, a small body and a huge mouth. From the eyes of a cat, a very fitting description for a crane, isn't it? 

Gavin hisses. Makes himself small at the same time. Adrenalin sends tremors up his spine. There is another crash. The long neck of the monster comes closer, the big mouth opens and then there is such a strong thrust through the car that it knocks Gavin off the back seat. 

With a scared snarl, he tumbles down. Holy shit!

An ugly creak sounds above him as the crane's teeth sink into the roof of the car. At the last second Gavin claws his way into the dirty surface of the floor, because straight away his hiding place begins to vibrate and shake heavily. 

The car takes off. Literally. 
Including a small, furry blind passenger. 

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Oh shit! Oh shit! Oh shit! Ooooh shit!

As deep and hard as he can, Gavin slams his claws into the stained flooring of the car. Like this, every inch of his body is strained to the absolute maximum. For the moment, even his injured leg is forgotten. Adrenaline rushes through him, sharpening his senses and giving him a surprising burst of strength.

Above him, the monster's huge teeth sink deeper into the roof of his hiding place. Below him, on the other hand, it swings and rocks back and forth in a frightening way. Together with loud cracking noises, the world around Gavin begins to spin around him more and more.

The familiar towers of scrap metal, trash and other car wrecks soon disappear from his field of vision. The neck of the monster grows higher and longer until only the grey morning sky is left to be seen.

Gavin's heart jumps in horror. Fast and irregular, as if it could burst from his small chest at almost every second, he can feel it pounding in his ears.

It's so loud that he doesn't even hear the hissing he makes. It is a mixture of anger and fear. The stray's green eyes sparkle as he throws all the swear words he has picked up from the humans at the stupid thing with the long fucking neck.

Unfortunately, this doesn't help him at all. Quite the opposite, because suddenly a sharp jerk goes through the wrecked car.

Goddamn it, Gavin hisses as he loses his grip and is tossed right across the space inside the car.

Pain flares up in his leg. He falls hard against the driver's seat. Instinctively he moves to take cover under the back seat once more. But before he is able to do so, there is another ear-splitting crash. Suddenly it's going all the way down to the ground again and for a moment Gavin's paws seem to be floating in the air caused by gravity.

After that, nothing happens for a while. At least for the next ten seconds.

Shortly as Gavin is getting hopeful that he has survived the worst of it, the goddamn monster speaks up once more. Its teeth release from the roof over Gavin's head with a loud scream. The little cat's hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Pissed off, Gavin slaps his paws in the direction of the monster, but is then secretly glad when it finally turns back.

The crane rolls heavily away.

Right! Fuck you! Don't mess with me!, he roars bravely towards the machine.

All four legs of the cat are shaking like leaves. Just slowly, Gavin's heartbeat calms down. The open sky flashes through the holes the teeth have made in the metal. With luck, he might be able to squeeze through.

Cautiously, Gavin hops onto the back seat. His leg is bleeding again. Purring, he licks the wound with his tongue. It hurts, but he has survived worse.

A noise above him makes him look up.

Immediately, the stray's face brightens as he recognises the figure of his friend Tina.

Gavin meows in delight. Holy fuck! Tina! It's you!

Gavin! One of Tina's pitch black paws pushes through one of the holes. Hurry! You've gotta get out of there! Come on, hurry!

Excitedly, Tina wiggles her paw. Immediately afterwards, her worried eyes appear in the opening. What Gavin sees in them is anything but comforting. What the heck!?

What the hell is going on?! What's happening out there!?

Gavin, please! There's no time! Hurry up!, Tina meows impatiently.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Okay, shut up! On my way!

Gavin grits his teeth. There is a tough burning sensation in his left hind leg. As he puts weight on it, he winces hissingly. Nonetheless, he fixes on one of the larger holes in the ceiling of the wreck. His body tenses, he goes into a jumping position. With his paws he steps on the seat cushions until the right moment comes.

He doesn't make it.

Instead of escaping outside into freedom, he lets out a pain-filled whimper. Still in flight, he runs out of strength. The little cat writhes and falls roughly to the ground.

Tina calls for him. Gavin! Are you okay!? What's happening!? 

Concern and panic resonate in her words. 

Gavin takes a moment to reply. He is trembling and his leg is throbbing. To come to his senses, he shakes himself violently.

Fucking hell! My leg...my leg is fucked, he moans. 

Please try again! Gavin, you have to- 

Whatever Tina tries to tell him is drowned out in a loud, unfriendly roar. 

"Fuck off, you fucking beast" a human voice echoes across the junkyard. "Get down there!" 

Tina winces. 

Immediately Gavin notices a shadow, something hard hits the car. Tina hisses and jumps to the side. Another shadow, then a rumble, even closer, and this time the cat lady has no choice but to flee. 

Gavin blinks. Tina?! What… 

"Shit, Anderson! Is your dog too stupid to take care of those damn things?! They better not fuck up my truck!"

"You know what, Perkins?" Hank's voice somewhere nearby. "Bite me!" 

There is no sign of Tina any more. Gavin calls out to her, but the people are too loud. Cursing, he makes it back to his paws. The stray hisses in pain as he climbs awkwardly onto the back seat to take a look outside.

Just in time to see the human named Perkins pull in the loading dock of his truck. 

The truck with the old 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham on the back of it. The one Gavin is trapped in.

No! No! No! No! No! Gavin's eyes get huge. You can't do this! Son of a bitch! I'm in here! Hello?!

Meowing and hissing, the little cat drums against the window. No one hears or notices him.

Then the truck starts moving.

And drives towards the gate, out onto the road.

Fuuuuuck! He's so fucked.

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Gavin cannot believe what is happening.

Heavily and at first at walking pace, the huge truck drives through the gate of the junkyard and out onto the road. Gavin, who has to watch in shock as he moves metre by metre further away from his home, is shaken to the core. Pain, fear and absolute powerlessness literally cause the little stray's heart to explode.

Outside the grounds of the junkyard, the truck picks up speed quite quickly.

No! Stop the truck! Let me out! Damn it!

As hard as he can, Gavin bangs on the windows of his prison with his paws. Of course, they don't give an inch. Helplessly, he continues to drum against them anyway, looking around in panic for another way to escape.

There is no alternative. The only way out is over the roof. Above him, the grey morning sky flashes into the inside of the car. He could make it. He could manage to squeeze himself through one of the cracks. If he were in top form. But he isn't.

Gavin's leg hurts like hell. Even worse than before.

Still, he tries to step up again, to put his weight on it. Instead of risking the jump, however, the injured leg immediately collapses out from under him. Whining, Gavin lets out a loud hiss.

Fucking hell!

Restlessly, his small chest rises and falls. Under his four feet he feels the vibration of the truck, around him the grey of the outside world rushes past him. Gavin's mind is working at full speed. At the same time he releases a soothing purr to lower the stress.

Come on! Think! Think! It can't be that hard...

The truck slows down suddenly, then stops without warning. The impact almost sweeps Gavin off the back seat. Hissing, he shakes himself once to collect himself. Flustered, he whirls around immediately afterwards. Indeed, they are no longer moving. Maybe...

Gavin!, he suddenly hears his name. Gavin!

His heart does an excited loop. Hope spreads through him as he recognises the voice as Tina. Gavin's senses instantly focus on it and in fact a dark spot jumps into his eye some distance away. No, two dark spots.

The relief that wells up inside him is hard to describe. Gavin meows this out loud.

Tina! Chris! Hell yes, he calls out. Unsteadily he hobbles around on the back of the seat. Here! Over here!

The two of them come closer and closer. Smoothly, his friends hurry along the road. Soon they are so close that Gavin can see the panic in Tina's dark eyes. Chris is no less worried. The expression on his good-natured face is tense.

Even though Gavin still has no idea how to get out of here, he feels a lot better. Now that his two best friends are at his side again in a moment. Together...

The roar of the engine interrupts Gavin's thoughts. And destroys his hopes. Tina and Chris have almost reached him when another jolt goes through the wrecked car. To Gavin's horror, it begins to move again. The silhouettes of his friends become smaller and smaller.

Then they are finally out of sight as the truck turns sharply left and heads for the city centre.

Detroit city centre. The outside world is big, loud, colourful and full of people.

It doesn't take long before Gavin is literally surrounded by all of this. The smell that hits his sensitive nose is strange and different from anything he knows. There is activity everywhere, huge buildings rise up around him and humans flow out of every corner. The city is alive. In his whole life, Gavin has seen maybe a handful of humans. Now they seem to be everywhere.

Knocked out by all the new impressions, the stray is literally frozen.

Instinctively, he hides under the back seat. Pain lingers in his left hind leg. The little cat clenches his teeth, tries to calm down and keep a clear head. Also, when he secretly feels like crying. 

How did he get into this shit!? 

To distract himself, he mentally kicks Connor, the stupid lapdog, in the ass over and over again. He doesn't know how long the journey will take. The truck slows down, then speeds up. Outside are crashes and rumbles. The sounds of traffic are unpleasant and Gavin's body is tense to the extreme.

The city is alive and dirty. It stinks.

At some point they stop moving. Gavin listens, waits to see what happens. There are voices outside. Footsteps too. In the end, curiosity is a little stronger than fear. Cautiously, he pokes his head out from his hiding place. Just at the wrong moment, because a shadow suddenly appears at the window.

"Of course, officer. I'll take care of it right away," he human named Perkins says. "I'll just be a second."

Gavin sees the man roll his eyes as he speaks. There is a dull crack as Perkins struggles with the old 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham. Fresh air blows inside as one of the back doors is opened a crack. The chance Gavin has been waiting for.

Adrenalin makes his body act on its own. Despite the injury, the little stray darts out from under the back seat in a flash and hurries towards freedom. This time he doesn't get squeezed in. He makes it outside.

Outside, and right into Perkin's arms.

A hand snatches at him and grabs Gavin roughly by the neck.

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The hand on his neck is really huge. Anything but gentle, rough fingers wrap around the little cat's throat and before he can do anything to fight it, he already loses his grip under his paws.

Gavin lets out a loud, scared squeak. Shit!

The next thing he sees are Perkin's evil burning eyes.

"Fucking bastard!? What the hell you doing here?!" he snaps, obviously pissed off.

With ease, he holds the struggling stray tightly in his claws. If looks could kill, by now at the latest it would be all over for Gavin. But instead of taking his last breath, he in return begins to attack Perkins with murderous eyes.

In addition, he swears at the top of his lungs.

Let go of me! Let go, you scumbag! Get your hands off me! Get your filthy hands off me!

Of course, the stupid humans don't understand any of this.

Everything Perkins manages to hear is a pitiful Meoooooow!

But that alone is already enough to drive him up the wall even more. The human's right eyelid twitches with rage, he clenches his teeth hard. Suddenly the pressure around Gavin's neck becomes achingly tight.

"Is something wrong up there, Sir?" another human voice sounds from somewhere behind them.

An irritated smile spreads on Perkin's thin lips. "Not at all, officer. Everything's fine!" he calls with a quick glance over his shoulder. "I'll be right back at-"

Without warning, the truck driver's voice turns into a deafening roar. He almost loses his balance in the process. A stinging pain flare up on his face. Groaning, he presses a hand to his nose and cheeks. In the same breath he tosses the goddamn beast away from him, avoiding another attack by the cat's sharp claws.

While the cops draw their weapons in shock, Gavin manages to land more or less safely on his four paws, despite his bruised hind leg. However, he owes this success more to his animal instincts than to true skill.

In any case, they have saved his furry ass many, many times.

Although the world spins before his eyes, Gavin doesn't hesitate. Disoriented, he dashes off. Heart pounding, he leaves Perkins and the old car, his last connection to home, behind.

His feet move on their own. Adrenalin shoots through his small body as he runs blindly across the road. The ground under his paws is unusually hard. Irritated, curious or surprised looks follow the little cat on its way to the other side. The drivers, on the other hand, shout angrily at the four-legged friend because they have to slam on the brakes.

One car misses Gavin by a narrow margin.

Keep going. But where?

Gavin's heart is pounding in his ears. He doesn't know where to go. In panic, the stray's senses take in the chaos of sounds and smells. Humans, there are humans everywhere. Everything around him is big, new, unknown. After a while he calms down a little. But the pain in his leg also returns.

The buildings around him are immense. Fortunately, they also offer him protection in this way. Exhausted, he seeks shelter in an alley. He hides under an old dumpster. His leg hurts like hell. It bleeds and throbs uncomfortably.

Dark clouds are gathering over the Detroit sky. Soon it would start to rain.

Gavin rests. Curled up, he draws new strength and can even sleep a little. Badly, his stomach soon makes itself known in the form of a loud growl. Finally, it is hunger that drives him out of his hiding place. With an empty stomach, he risks stepping out again. Limping, the little cat wanders through the alleys of Detroit.

A delicious smell finally leads him back to the open street. At the sight of the simple food stall at the side of the road, but especially the burgers which are available there, Gavin's mouth immediately waters.

Hunger makes him forget all caution. Like magically attracted, the stray sneaks up on his prey. He carefully circles the stall, sniffs and gets ready to strike at any moment.

I can do it! Just one little bite! Shit, I'm so fucking hungry...

In his mind, Gavin is already seeing himself eat enthusiastically.

As said, hunger makes him forget all caution. Lost in thought, he suddenly bumps his nose against another nose. Another, much bigger nose.

Confused, Gavin jumps to his feet, blinks. The hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Almost simultaneously, the dog in front of him wakes up from its nap. The giant Rottweiler stares at him with big, pitch-black eyes.

Not again, Gavin thinks, before the dog's teeth flash and an all but inviting growl is heard. The monster's collar has "Gary" written on it.

Gary? Are you serious? Despite everything, Gavin has to grin cheekily. What a stupid name, he slips out impulsively.

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He really should have kept his big mouth shut.

Unfortunately for Gavin, Gary turns out to be pretty damn scary, as well as extremely persistent. Despite his handicap, the huge Rottweiler doesn't even think about letting him go. With a dark growl on his lips, Gary nevertheless makes his way through the neighbourhood, leaving a trail of burgers behind him.

Only once does Gavin dare to look behind him. At the sight of the razor-sharp teeth and glowing eyes that literally seem to eat him alive, his little heart beats twice as fast in his chest. But it's not just his heart that's racing, his four wobbly little legs also pick up speed.

Behind him he hears screams, loud crashes and always the dog's angry barking.

Unfortunately, Gary is not his only problem, because suddenly humans are everywhere. Once or twice he almost collides with one of the bipeds, saving himself at the last second by slipping quickly between the human's legs. After a special loud crash, which seems like an explosion to Gavin's sensitive ears, he nearly feels the stinky breath of the stupid dog on the back of his neck.

Man's best friend, my ass. Gary at least is giving a big shit about his human right now.

In hopes of being able to outrun his pursuer somehow, Gavin suddenly takes a sharp right, then another left, crosses a narrow alley and finally dashes across a well-travelled street. The metallic monsters on it, big and small, do their best to make life hard for a poor little stray.

Fuck off!, he hisses, as two vehicles are forced to slam on their brakes because of him.

As a reflex, he bends over and slaps at the monsters with his paws. But an angry honking at his back helps him to forget his bravery. Shocked, Gavin jumps up and in the next moment he is completely on the other side.

Breathless, he rushes into a nearby bush, makes himself small and starts listening.

All around him are noises, smells and other things he doesn't know. But at least he can't spot Gary anywhere anymore. Still, Gavin remains on guard. After he rests a bit, he is back on his feet. The best thing is to bring as much distance between himself and the murderous teeth as possible.

Without the adrenaline, however, his injured leg begins to kick in again.

Now it hurts even more. Gavin tries to step up carefully. Not a good idea, because he immediately winces in pain. A whining meow escapes him. Fresh blood stains his fur. Although it hurts, he licks the wound a few times.

He wishes Tina were here now.

Even though he is unwilling to admit it, he is always glad to have Tina look after him when he is sick or injured.

He misses her. He misses his friends. And his home.

Shit, right now he even misses Connor, that idiot.

Another meow rises up him. Then the first raindrop touches down on his nose.

Gavin blinks. What the...!?

More raindrops join in. Before he can glance up at the sky, the ground around him is already dark from incoming rain.

Oh, Com on! That too!? Bloody hell!

Like all cats, he is not a fan of water. Far from happy, the little stray shakes himself. Much too slowly for his taste, he hobbles on. Maybe it would be wiser to hide, to wait. But in the meantime, the hunger is immense. Gavin longs for a dry place, something to eat and a bit of rest.

On three legs he hops on through this great unknown world of the city. Thanks to his recent runaway, he has completely lost his orientation. Where is he? No fucking idea. Gavin is too tired to think about it. His instincts just take over. And so he just keeps going. Drags himself along, step by step.

The further he leaves the street and with it downtown behind him, the quieter it becomes. At first he doesn't even notice that soon he won't meet any more people.

After a while, a huge iron gate blocks his way. He easily squeezes through the bars.

Behind it, it is quiet. Suspiciously quiet. Carefully, step by step, he hobbles through the area. He sees no people. Neither does he see any vehicles, only wide streets with high walls or hedges.

Behind these it is surprisingly green. A piece of nature in the grey city.

Slowly it is getting dark. The rain becomes heavier. Soaked, Gavin sinks to the ground. His stomach growls loudly and tiredness and exhaustion spread through the little ball of fur. He purrs softly to calm himself.

He closes his eyes. Just a short rest...

The echo of a bark jolts him out of his doze. It's far away, but it doesn't matter at this point. Immediately Gavin is up and running again, actually thinking Gary has chased him this far.

Half running, half hopping, he dashes through the rain, falling down twice.

He doesn't know where to go. Where!? Where!?

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! In panic, he looks around. He's too young to end up as dog food.

In the glow of a flickering streetlight, a vehicle is just leaving a yard. Slowly, another gate closes behind the limousine. Gavin recognises a chance when he sees one. Squeezed tightly against a brick wall, he leaps through the gate at the last instant.

The limousine drives away. The gate closes and Gavin is safe.

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Silently and like magic, the gate closes behind him.

As soon as this happens, Gavin's final power reserves are almost completely gone. However, the little stray's instincts and especially his will to survive are incredibly strong. Exhausted, he manages to drag himself forward a few steps, but then stops for a moment to recover at least a small sense of orientation.

In the meantime, the sun turns down, but there are no stars to be seen tonight. Thick clouds cover the sky. The rain is getting heavier and heavier. Without mercy, heavy raindrops drip onto Gavin's unprotected body. Beneath his paws he feels hard concrete. The rain gives it a wet glow.

Fortunately, his eyes have no problem with the darkness. Under the cover of night, the high wall rises on both sides of the gate. In front of him, a wide driveway cuts through an avenue of trees, whose leaves rustle in a cold breeze. At first he mistakes it for fireflies, only on second glance Gavin recognises the lights in the tree branches. Beyond the way, it is dark as hell.

His leg is burning hot and starts to feel painfully numb. Everything inside him is screaming to curl up and sleep. To sleep for a long, very long time. At the same time, he realises that he cannot stay here. Soaked, tired and unable to defend himself if necessary.

Come on, get your ass up. You can do it!

In the manner of a pissed-off hiss, Gavin cheers himself up. On wobbly legs, he finally pushes his body close to the wall, hobbling very slowly along it. Out of the light, into the dark. His ears, on the other hand, don't stand still, turning to all directions, listening for any kind of noise. Distracted by this, he almost flinches in horror when he suddenly steps on something soft and flexible instead of concrete.

The hairs on the back of his neck stand up in surprise. His nudging front paws jerk back.

Gavin sniffs, blinks. It takes him a while to figure out what it is under his feet he's walking on right now.

And then he can smell it. Grass. Earth. Nature.

Born in nowhere, raised in a fucking junkyard, Gavin has never been this near to these things, even as a proud stray. Under other circumstances he would be quite fascinated and of course he would immediately check everything out in detail. His condition, however, doesn't allow this kind of luxury. So, gingerly, he shuffles onto the wet grass and moves deeper into the undergrowth. Little by little he leaves the wall behind him.

His legs are trembling now. Gavin's heart beats lazily, pumping the blood through his circulation far too slowly. He makes soft whimpering sounds in pain. Just with huge struggle he manages to fight his way through these goddamn jungle. After what feels like an eternity, he arrives at a kind of open space. The rain seems to fade a little.

The moon flashes in parts between the clouds. The little cat narrows his eyes. He thinks he sees water sparkling in the moonlight. Everything around him becomes blurred, spinning. Like a drunk, Gavin toddles back. He barely keeps himself to his feet. Panting for breath, he drags his injured leg behind him. Always moving on.

Until he finally finds shelter. Or should he say, the shelter finds him?

Bright stars explode before Gavin's eyes as he unexpectedly crashes ungently into something fucking hard. Whining, it knocks the cat off his paws. It takes him a couple of minutes to come halfway back to his senses. The outline of a building flickers out of focus in front of him. It's not big, the white paint stands out clearly in the darkness. The door is open.

Later, Gavin doesn't remember how he got his furry ass in there. In any case, inside it is wonderfully warm, dry, quiet and dark. With his last drops of strength, he finds a more or less cosy place.

He no longer thinks, but only reacts.

Full of pain, he curls up, makes himself as small as possible. Automatically, he begins to purr again. It helps at first, but the pain in his leg is strong. He is also cold, so cold. Shivering, he pulls all four legs against his small body, trying to keep himself warm.

Outside it is raining again. Dawn is rising. A new night begins.

Gavin doesn't notice. He is in energy-saving mode. He sleeps all the time. Sleeping, collecting enerigy as his weakened organism fights the fever that rages inside him. He is alone. And totally helpless. No one is there to help him.

At the beginning.

Somewhere on the edge of his limited perception, he notices a shadow at some point. A big shadow that is watching him. And although that's pretty damn stupid of him, he doesn't feel so lonely anymore.

There is something comforting about the idea. Oh man, he's really fucked, isn't he?

The shadow doesn't come closer. The shadow waits and observes. But the situation changes. The shadow is suddenly with him. Gavin can feel it, smell it. His eyelids are terribly heavy. He blinks. Tall, no, fucking huge and unexpectedly fluffy, a figure rises before him. The shadow turns into a someone. A someone whose fur blocks his vision and tickles his nose.

Despite everything, he rebels. After all, he is Gavin.

A faint hiss rises in his throat. Go...go...awa...awa...

Another giant paw reaches between his ears. Gently but firmly, it gives him a slap.

Behave!, he hears a voice say. Calm and smooth. Be good, little one!

The paw is heavy and warm. Gavin wants to hiss, but whines miserably before he trembles again. The paw moves away from his head. Instead, there is now a large, warm body wrapped around him, covering him like a soft blanket. A comforting dark purr in his ears and a rough tongue that licks gently over his bruised leg.

It hurts, It feels so good.

For the first time since he left home, Gavin feels absolutely safe.

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The first thing in his mind after finding the little one is that he doesn't belong here.

The first thing he is doing next of all is observing, analysing and determining the best course of action.

For the first time, he meets someone who is actually like him.

With attention, Nines scans his blue eyes over the body of the small, tabby feline. Curled up, he crouches there, well hidden under the old garden furniture stored away here in the back part of the garden. The smaller cat's fur is tabby brown, probably a light hazel, but mud and rain turned it into an unattractive shade of grey by now.

Thoughtfully, Nines lays his head a little to one side. His big ears twitch uneasily as he checks for any kind of noise. Outside, the new day has already begun. The sun shines gently through the clouds, sporadic raindrops still fall from the sky. Inside the shed it is dark and the air is filled with soft, frantic purrs.

Nines blinks slowly, listening and watching. He doesn't move from the spot, but stays where he is. His entire focus, however, is on the small bundle of fur in front of him. His blue eyes notice every movement, every sound. In addition, the smell of earth, rain and blood gradually rises to his nose.

Nines’ fluffy tail thumps in a rhythmic way on the dusty floor of the shed. The little one's body trembles. Much too fast, the narrow chest sinks and rises, the breath is heavy.

The big white cat's eyes narrow. A blue glow flickers in the darkness, slipping briefly into yellow before glowing blue again.

The little one's body temperature is far too high, the stress level enormous. Nines detects an injury on one of the hind limbs. The smell of blood is getting stronger.

He doesn't belong here. Why is he here? What has happened?

Perplexed, Nines puts his head to the other side.

This situation is new, something special. So much that Nines doesn't know what the best way to deal with it is.

Yellow glow again, this time a little longer.

Nines realises that he doesn't belong here in the same way as the other one. He shouldn't be here, technically. His master doesn't like him roaming around outside. But his master isn't here. She left the property last night.

Hesitantly, he stares at the small, injured feline. He is like him, yet completely different. Nines is fascinated. In a sense he doesn't understand, he is fascinated by this weak creature.

Should he obey? Should he stay? What happens if he stays? What if it just leaves?

In the end, he stays. Nines stays and observes.

Again and again, a violent tremor runs through the injured body. Exhausted, the little one's head lifts a few times. Just a bit, as if he senses someone is with him. For once, a pair of dull green eyes actually blinks wearily at Nines. Their eyes meet for a split second.

Then the strength drains from the other and he crouches down again, making himself as small as possible. A trembling, helpless ball of fur. More dead than alive.

Nines’ tail freezes. He makes a throaty growl like a question, waits. But there is no answer.

Nines stands up lithely. Silently he moves towards the hiding place, slips easily between two old outdoor chairs until he fills the tiny room almost completely with his big, puffy shape.

Up close, the tabby is even shorter. Almost tiny compared to him. Tiny, wet and dirty. In a testing manner, Nines nudges him with one of his large front paws. The little one indeed reacts, his ears twitch with a soft whimper and, spending the last of his energy reserves, he manages to open his heavy eyelids once more for a brief moment.

His eyes are pretty. Green with little hazel flecks in them.

Go...go...awa...awa....

To Nines’ surprise, a low hiss rises from the little one's throat. Faint and rough, but a hiss after all. Nines has to confess that this fighting spirit and will to survive impresses him.

A little rebel, then. Interesting.

Nines doesn't hesitate. Gently but firmly, he places the huge white paw on the little fighter's head.

Behave!, he says calmly. Carefully he gives the striped one a little slap. Be good, little one!

It works. Gently, Nines strokes the warm spot between his ears, watching the little guy leaning against the touch unconsciously. A pitiful whine escapes him, his eyes fall shut again. Trembling, he sinks back to the floor where he collapses, whimpering helplessly.

Under his paw, Nines feels the heat spreading from the other. At the same time he is shaking like a leaf. Concentrating, the big white cat looks at the suffering feline and starts to purr himself. Loud and comforting, the dark growl fills the tight, sheltering space.

Although he has never shown such behaviour before, Nines knows what to do. Gingerly, he drops down to the floor to snuggle his large frame against the little one. His light, fluffy fur wraps around him like a soft blanket.

Giving warmth, he cuddles up to the little rebel, continues to purr softly and soon notices how he relaxes a little and the trembling actually fades away.

A variety of smells gradually flood Nines’ senses. One of them is particularly strong.

Very clearly now he perceives the fresh aroma of blood.

The injury is on the left hind leg. Dirt and wet grass stick to the wound. Nines sniffs. A yellow flicker, then he gently licks the area with his large, rough tongue. In this way he disinfects and cleans the nasty scratch which is still bleeding.

Under his treatment, the smaller cat groans and winces painfully. It hurts, but it has to be done.

Step by step, the stress level drops, the striped kitten's breathing calms down.

Nines purrs, licks and gives warmth. A blue glow sparkles in the twilight as he closes his eyes for a while to rest and process.

He is truly fascinated by this weak creature. And of himself.

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Wrapped in a fluffy cloud of warmth and softness, it doesn't take long for Gavin's maltreated organism to finally switch into a kind of natural recovery mode. Everything around him suddenly seems fuzzy, his memories fade into a chaotic mishmash of dreams and reality. Soon a wonderful, bright lightness dominates his overstimulated mind. And at least for a little while, there's no more fear, no more pain.

Nothing else except a feeling of deep security and safety.

Besides, he's not alone. Someone is at his side, watching over his sleep. Repeatedly, a gentle purring melody is dancing through his exhausted little body. It's like a lullaby that helps him feel safe and rocks him gently back to the recovery sleep he needs so badly.

This protective presence is stabilising, warm and comforting.

And Gavin is so damn needy for all of that. He desperately accepts even the smallest form of care, every cuddling session or anything else he can get. He literally melts into this big fluffy shadow that cocoons him like a shell and stays with him the whole time.

Light as a feather, he drifts away into a healing cozy coma. Curled up tightly into a buzzing ball of fur, he gradually recharges his reserves of energy, rests and without really realising it, produces soft sounds of pure happiness.

However, somewhere on the edge of his consciousness, he is still fully aware of his helplessness. Even if he would like to, he wouldn't be able to defend himself or run away. He never felt so weak, groggy and, above all, so vulnerable. Yet Gavin can't remember the last time he was feeling this comfortable. Maybe back there, when he was a dorky little kitten? When he was still naive, innocent and without any understanding of that big wide world he was born into.

To be honest, he doesn't care. While the awful burning in his musculature slowly dulls to a numb throb, the little striped stray actually just wants to keep that warm fuzzy sensation around. As he finally comes back to reality, his sense of time is completely fucked. And he's all alone.

Alone, hopelessly lost. And freaking hungry!

For a lazy heartbeat or two, Gavin really doesn't know where the hell he is. In a state of confusion, he blinks into the twilight around him. He doesn't dare move, at this point. He still feels pleasantly lightheaded and right here, curled up as he is, it's perfectly cosy.

Just a dream. Right! Just a dream...

With a big yawn, Gavin squeezes his eyes shut tightly. As soon as he opens his eyelids, he's back home. Back at the junkyard. With his friends. It was all just a crazy dream. But this small spark of hope dies at the sound of a loud grumbling echoing in Gavin's ears. Instantly, he remembers how hungry he is. And what a shitty situation he's in.

His stomach growls again. This time it even hurts. Alarmed, the little stray lets out a soft whimper. Gavin opens his eyes unwillingly and his senses slowly begin to focus. The place where he is hiding lies in darkness. However, a bright strip of light shines through the door of his shelter. Dust particles are whirled in the air by a light breeze. Outside, birds are chirping and the gentle rustling of leaves on the trees can be heard.

Despite his hunger, thirst and also curiosity, Gavin keeps listening attentively, scanning his surroundings with his green eyes. Very carefully, he struggles to his feet, stretches his limbs and hisses with a sharp wince aqs he tries to put weight on his injured leg.

To his surprise, however, it doesn't hurt as much as he expected.

Gavin frowns. Huh!?

He immediately plops back down on his butt to check the wound. The cut is throbbing and still burns a little. But it is no longer bleeding, there are no signs of any significant swelling. Gavin delicately licks it with his tongue, purring softly. In the process, a strange smell reaches his nose.

Mildly at first, then more and more intense. Gavin's ears twitch nervously, the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Heart pounding, he sniffs and inhales deeply. In a flash, he realises that this smell is all over him.

He's never smelled such a strange smell before. Weird, but at the same time somehow… intimate.

Gavin's legs are terribly wobbly. Nose in the air, he stumbles a couple of steps forwards, then turns round on his own axis. It's everywhere, that damn smell. Even the blanket he was lying on stinks to high heaven.

Relax. Everything is fine. Whoever was here is gone. Everything is fine.

The shadow. For a fraction of a second, a memory flashes in his mind. Huge, very fluffy. A protective bear hug. A gentle purring murmur in his ears.

Gavin's heart skips a beat. With embarrassment. With frustration. With uncertainty. He is alive. Slightly fucked up, but alive. Starving, but alive. But the most important question is; why!?!

Should he stay to find out!? Absolutely not!

Nevertheless, he is almost a little sad to leave this cozy place behind. Which isn't the easiest thing to do with only three legs. On shaky, aching limbs he tiptoes out of the darkness. Unfortunately, his stomach is growling so loudly that Gavin is afraid he can be heard all over town. The little cat's green eyes are constantly scanning the inside of his shelter. Again and again he checks and rotates in all possible directions.

Step by step. One paw after another and his furry ass first, he finally makes it into the saving patch of light. And the sun feels so fucking good. Now all he needs to do is turn round and…

He doesn't make it. Because out of nowhere, and still ass first, Gavin bumps into something. Or more accurately, into somebody.

A huge, puffy shadow blocks out the sun.

You shouldn't do that, little one. 

Behind him, the sound of a soothing hum fills the air.

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Without any kind of warning, Gavin's shaky little heart suddenly skips a giant beat.

Performing a risky hop, he quickly brings some distance between himself and the potential threat. Needless to say, the landing is a real disaster. Which is hardly surprising considering the fact that he has only three healthy legs to use. And yet, every inch of his bruised organism goes on edge in a matter of seconds as the stray's instincts are activated to take control straight away.

As soon as his paws hit the ground again, Gavin rolls around. Despite the pain and exhaustion, he doesn't hesitate to bounce back on his feet, puffing himself up to look as big and dangerous as possible.

A tense squeak of defence climbs up his throat.

Ready for a fight or whatever is about to happen, Gavin ends up facing that big mysterious shadow. Although "big" may be an absolute understatement. Instead, the one sitting perfectly still between Gavin and the only way out is indeed some kind of giant.

A colossal, pretty fluffy giant!

The hostile growling at the back of Gavin's throat hitches. In return, his empty stomach lets out a loud, protesting growl. And as if that isn't bad enough, the rest of his insides are contracting achingly.

In shock, he barely manages a breathy, stifled hiss. Ou-outta here!

That's it, right? He's fucked. There's no chance against this killing machine. Not in his current condition. Running away is also pointless, he can't even make it to the door. He's an idiot, but at least he's realistic.

The little cat swallows hard. Tense from tip to toe, he stares up at this big guy. A pair of bright blue eyes are staring straight back. He holds himself upright, relaxed, almost in a proud manner. Tilting his head slightly to one side, the other feline keeps sitting on his ass and does ... absolutely nothing?

What the...! Is he trying to bullshit him? Or is he just waiting for him, Gavin, to make the first move? Oh shit! Oh shit! Oh shit!

Paralysed by those deep blue eyes and a soft purring sound lulling him back to sleep, Gavin is frozen for a moment. However, another growl from his tummy snaps him out of his daze. Feeling frustrated and angry at the same time, he finally finds the breath to produce a proper hiss.

C'mon! he growls with a snarl. Give it to me!

Furious, he swings his paw wildly at the other one, but doesn't even come close to reaching him. The only thing he actually does is kick up a little dust in the air as he bounces up and down like a little spring. It hurts like hell, but fuck it. He wouldn't give up without a fight.

Unimpressed, the other cat watches the dancing dust particles before tilting his head thoughtfully to the other side in order to turn his full attention back to Gavin. Wide ears are twitching attentively at every sound he makes. Immediately a tremor runs through the little rebel's spine. The hairs around his neck bristle and then...

You're done? If not, you should stop whatever you're trying to do.

Then there's that soothing hum again. Soft and strong, kind of mellow. Now a slightly confused, almost curious expression shimmers in these intense blue eyes. His tail, shamelessly floofy like the rest of him, is closely curled against his frame. The tip of it wags gently.

What am I trying to...? Are you dumb or something!? Gavin can't believe his ears. Boosted by adrenalin, he lifts his chin in a challenging gesture. What are you waiting for?! I'll kick your ass!

He ignores the fact that he is shaking like a leaf. To Gavin's immense relief, nothing like this happens.

It's not my intention to fight or hurt you physically. The fluffy monster shakes his head. You've lost a lot of blood, little one. You'd better get some rest until your vital statistics reach a stable level.

Gavin doesn't understand a lot of what's being said, but it's enough for his heart to finally return to its original place. At least he's still alive. That's a good sign. Isn't it? Still sceptical, he slumps down into a more comfortable position.

Sooo...that means...we're not fighting.

Fluffy cat nods. Correct.

And you're not here to beat me up.

Another hum. I'm not. Otherwise treating your wound would have been a waste of time.

Oh. Ohh. Ohhhhhhhhhh! Gavins flinches, caught off guard. Thankfully, the tension and tightness inside him fades, but in return a warm embarrassment creeps up inside him. On the spot, flashbacks of a shadow come to life before his inner eye. Memories of being warm, of feeling safe and secure.

And that smell. Gavin blinks, sniffs. Of course, it's him. It has to be him. That smell is still all around him. Damn, he's bathed in it. And the source of it is sitting right in front of him.

Underneath his shaggy, dirty fur, Gavin blushes.

Oh, that was you. Uhhm, I was pretty much fucked... I guess. Th-thanks for looking after me...and all that stuff...

The little cat's shoulders drop. Suddenly his leg starts to hurt again. Without the adrenaline, everything is hurting. Not as bad as before, but Gavin is still feeling awful. A little blood trickles out of the wound. Gavin carefully tries to put weight on his leg.

Does it hurt?

The soothing purr is suddenly very close. When Gavin looks up, his nose almost melts into a cloud of soft fur. It tickles, the familiar and yet so exotic smell fills his nostrils.

Embarrassed, Gavin jerks back and plops on the ground in a clumsy heap.

Don't do that, idiot! he snarls, his heart pounding.

Stunned, he wobbles and struggles to his feet. Sneakily, he observes the other from a close distance. And he's really freaking huge! Everything about him is huge. Gavin doesn't even reach his shoulders, his paws - huge claws.

Paws to gently nudge the smaller cat.

I won't hurt you, his new friend promises. What happened?

Gavin sighs. He allows the contact for a moment. Grumbling, he pushes the big paw aside.

It's a long story. Tell me first, why are you doing this? Helping me...?

Fluffy cat blinks slowly. I don't know exactly. Maybe because I've never seen anyone like you before.

Like me?

From outside. Beyond the garden and the wall.

The big cat waves out of the door. A small gesture, but Gavin understands. Against his will, a grin spreads across his face. Now he's the one to offer a nudge. Of course Fluffy doesn't bat an eyelid.

Ah, so you're a little lap kitten. I see. That's why you have that horrible thing around your neck. How pathetic.

Significantly, the stray stares at the collar. Hidden under the thick fur, it's almost invisible. It shimmers in a blue shade, then turns to yellow. Strange thing.

Whatever. Do you have a name? Uh, don't tell me your name is Fluffy or some shit.

A thought that is indeed amusing. Gavin laughs under his breath.

No! It isn't. Fluffy wrinkles his nose. My name is RK900 #313 248 317 - 8.

What the hell? What? Gavin grimaces. What kind of shitty name is that?

The name my master gave me. But everyone calls me Nines though.

That's better, much better, Gavin thinks. He nods with satisfaction. Maybe this guy isn't so bad. A bit creepy, but not bad.

Nines, then. I'm Gavin! A real stray! Hah!

He proudly pushes out his chest. His damn belly is growling again.

Nines tilts his head from side to side. He purrs loudly.

Catvin? he coos teasingly. I like it. Nice to meet you, Catvin.

What the fuck? I said Gavin, not Catvin! GAVIN! Hey, I'm talking to you!

But Nines ignores his protest cold as ice. Great, Cat.. Gavin already knows that he's going to be a real pain in his ass.

Another problem he needs to deal with. FUCK.

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Looks like there's indeed nothing more than a teeny-tiny brain hidden inside Nines' enormous head. That's pretty much the way it seems to be. Cos what else is so hard to understand about the simple fact that his friggin' name is Gavin!?

GAVIN and definitely not CATVIN?!

Is this fuzzy bastard trying to piss him off? Or is he really that dumb?

So now, with the sound of Nines' rasping purr in his ears, Gavin can't believe he seriously thought he was about to kick the bucket just a few minutes ago. Within a short space of time, the so-called killing machine turned into a colossal, ultra-fluffy feather duster.

At least that's a big welcome improvement. Gavin's poor, over-stressed heart desperately needs a little break. And even if it's absolutely ridiculous and, most of all, incredibly naive of him, Gavin feels safe in Nines' presence.

However, that doesn't change anything about the truth that this walking marshmallow on four legs is already driving him nuts.

Annoyed and struggling to keep his temper, the stray rubs his nose and mouth roughly with his paw. He shoots a sharp look at Nines, his green eyes full of fire. Plus a touch of frustration.

Okay, one more time. Ga-vin. My name is Ga-vin. Is that clear now?

Gavin's tail taps on the ground with impatience. Nines, for his part, doesn't care about that. He simply continues to observe him with those shimmering blue eyes. Attentive, curious, a little confused. Kind of fascinated. Like Gavin were something extraordinary and not a dirty, fucked-up stray.

The small striped feline shudders again. Once more, it feels a bit like the other one is staring straight into him.

Finally, Nines bows his head in agreement. Barely noticeable, the colour of his collar changes to yellow.

I hear you. But unfortunately, the name Catvin is already registered.

To underline his point, Nines hums in a low, satisfied rumble. His tail wags happily back and forth. Always straight into Gavin's face.

Furious, the smaller one attacks that nerve-wracking cloud of fur. Nines agilely drags it out of his reach.

Gavin snarls angrily. Registered? What are you talking about? Just cut that shit.

Another yellow colouring of the collar.

Nines blinks. Should I overwrite the registration? Is that your preference?

Gavin has no idea what Nines is trying to say. Oh man, co-existence with humans clearly transformed the poor guy's little brain into porridge. Shit, he certainly can't be angry with him anymore. After all, Gavin knows all too wisely how cruel humans are.

Remembering the last few days - the wrecked car, the human who grabbed him, his journey and the constant pain - all these memories suddenly cast a shadow across Gavin's thoughts. And this shadow is so dark and cold, totally in contrast to...

Your heartbeat is arrhythmic. It wasn't my intention to distress you, little one.

A huge paw is placed on Gavin's head, heavy and warm. He immediately feels a little better. Deeply, he inhales the soothing smell of the other. Gavin's whiskers bristle slightly as he sucks in a deep breath.

I'm not distressed, idiot, he mews. Just don't call me by that shitty name and the sun shines straight out of my ass. Got it?

I see. I could do that. Cheering him up, Nines' paw gives the stray a gentle nudge between the ears. But I prefer my first choice, I think. It suits you so perfectly, Gat-vin~

His own long whiskers bob up and down as he growls softly.

The big cat dodges Gavin's claws without any problems. Even the little one's sulky snarling doesn't bother him at all. His collar glows in a relaxed blue colour in the twilight of the shed. He patiently allows the small tiger to play around, although Gavin's attacks are more half-hearted than dangerous.

Come here! I'll destroy you, squawks the striped ball of fur, nearly joyfully, as he repeatedly tries to catch Nines.

The terrible memories are forgotten and his injured leg doesn't hurt so much any more either. Unfortunately, Gavin's self-care skills aren't the best. Eager to strike at least one punch at Nines, he doesn't realise how exhausted he suddenly is.

Gavin finally comes to his senses when he finds himself with his nose in the dust and Nines' heavy frame on top of him. Breathing hard and exhausted, he is literally buried beneath a cloud of furry fur.

Let me go, he moans, wriggling wildly. Nines!

Enough, you're hurt. Your vital statistics are far from stable. Little kittens like you should rest.

I'm not a fucking kitten, Gavin grumbles. I'm a grown ass cat!

Is that so? You don't behave like one. And you're... smoll.

Smoll!!? Gavin struggles to fight his way out from underneath Nines. Eyes sparkling, he hisses at the giant. I'm not smoll! You... you are smoll!

Obviously not. Nines frowns in confusion. This conversation makes no sense.

Fuck, I know! With his three healthy legs, Gavin pedals frantically on the ground. Look, there's nothing wrong with me, You're way too fucking huge! That's it. Hah!

Proud of this clever answer, Gavin raises his chin elegantly. A pleased purr that rises at the back of his throat immediately settles his pounding heart. Nines joins in and their shared purr fills the room. A gentle expression appears in the giant's blue eyes.

His collar jumps between blue and yellow.

I agree with that. There's nothing wrong with you, he coos. You truly are a fascinating creature.

A weird praise, but hey, Gavin's heard worse. A broad grin spreads across Gavin's face. But then a powerful growl echoes through the air, coming straight from Gavin's empty stomach. Ahh right, he's almost starving. Shit, he really managed to ignore that successfully.

Whining, he plops down on the ground.

Nines, I uhhm... Legs huddled close to his body, ears drooping, he blinks up at the other. I...I'm really friggin' hungry...

Nines doesn't react immediately. For a few long seconds, his gaze focusses intensely on the little stray's body. The collar stays solid yellow. Then the big cat blinks several times, shakes himself as if awakening from a trance.

Cautiously, he steps closer.

What do you need?

Using his soft nose, he delicately bumps against Gavin's dark brown little nose.

Gavin sniffs. Dunno.. food...

Understood. The hunting and self-preservation protocol is successfully activated. Wait here for me, I'll get you something.

Their noses brush against each other one more time, which Gavin finds very embarrassing, but it also feels incredibly comfortable. Once again, he has no idea what Nines is talking about, but he trusts him. That's all he can do at the moment.

Nines says goodbye with a deep meow. Gavin, alias Catvin, follows him with his eyes until the big, fluffy giant jumps out into the sunshine and and fades fully from his field of vision.

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Feeling exhausted, tired and most importantly still hungry as a goddamn lion, there's unfortunately no other alternative option available to Gavin right now, except this - sitting on his shaggy ass and taking a fucking break.

To be honest, something like patience isn't exactly one of his greatest talents. He's truly a cat of a wide range of outstanding skills and great qualities. A real all-rounder, a master of survival, a tough guy ready to face hell and high water! Gavin knows all the tricks he needs, hell yeah.

But being forced to wait?! Yuck! That's actually pretty awful for an energetic bundle like him.

Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't even think twice about doing that. Why should he? He prefers to handle things on his own. But normally he wouldn't be here either, far away from home. Ah damn, the situation he's stuck in is anything but ordinary and at this point he's just too wrecked to make a scene over this shit.

And besides, Nines told him to wait here.

Gavin doesn't like it, not a bit, but for now he needs to play it cool, be patient as hell and pray to the wind that this walking marshmallow will come back soon.

Speaking of the devil, how long is Nines already gone? To Gavin, at least, it seems like an eternity. In any case, his belly hurts a lot. He's still sitting on the spot where Nines left him. Shit, he's really pathetic. The little cat wrinkles his nose grumpily, his ears wiggle and keep listening to every sound the wind sweeps into the nest from outside.

Slowly, a big yawn creeps up his throat. Being patient is really challenging.

Holding his chin up with caution, Gavin sniffs and squeaks. But Nines is nowhere to be seen or heard. Unable to decide, the little one's tail taps on the ground. Finally, trying his best to look less pitiful, Gavin gets back to his feet.

If he has to wait, he is going to make himself comfortable. Tired, on wobbly legs, he tiptoes back to the warmth of his shelter. There, the smell of the giant feline is still wonderfully intense. Gavin sniffs around for a while, stamps his paws and collapses onto the blanket he was lying on the night before.

Much better. Wrapped in warmth and Nines’ soothing scent, his aching muscles relax. His injured hind leg stings and throbs, but it's tolerable. Thanks to the care of his new friend, the swelling is already fading. The fur around the cut is, however, nasty and sticky. Brightly, his naked skin peeks out.

And he stinks. Which isn't a surprise after everything he's been through. Lazily, Gavin licks the wound a few times, rubs his nose and ears with his paw. Not an optimal solution, but screw it. For everything else, he doesn't have the power.

Another heavy yawn slips out of his mouth.

Accepting his fate, the stray curls himself up and snuggles his way into the blanket, building himself a cosy resting place. In the process, he purrs softly under his breath.

Dizzy, Gavin blinks into the twilight. Come back sooon…

Slowly, in a sleepy state, his head sinks back onto his folded paws. His stomach, on the other hand, is wide awake. It growls loudly, almost on command. He really hopes Nines is back soon. And bring something to eat. Wait a minute...

Does this dummy actually have any idea how this works? Hunting? After all, he's a lap cat who's treated with all kinds of treats! Did his mum teach him how to handle that before they were separated?

Suddenly Gavin's chest tightens. He knows only too well what it's like to be small and on his own.

And what happens if he doesn't come back? Or if he gets injured? Nines is big, just a little bigger than Gavin, strong and fluffy. But he doesn't seem to be the smartest.

The little one's head snaps up with a jerk. A soft, raspy meow rings through the air.

No Nines. Just some dust dancing up and down.

He is alone and feels more vulnerable than ever. It would be better if Tina and Chris were here. He wonders if his friends are alright. Are they looking for him? Have Connor and the old geezer noticed that he's gone?

Exhausted, Gavin sinks back. Goddamit! Shit! Fuck! Waiting sucks so badly. With his eyes squeezed shut sulkily, he finally decides to doze a little and ignore his annoying hunger.

And then Nines is back. Out of nowhere.

The tall one's blue eyes are shining like stars in the twilight around them. Confused, Gavin blinks up at him, still a little groggy. But it's definitely the fluffy giant.

And he doesn't come with empty paws.

The little guy's heart jumps happily. He shakily crawls out of his nest.

Nines, you're back, he purrs wildly, before clearing his throat a little. I mean.. about time, idiot...

Nines steps elegantly closer. The fluffy giant growls loudly. His enormous tail wags from right to left. Back at Gavin's side, he gracefully lowers his head and places the prey he is carrying in his muzzle down on the ground.

He then offers the little guy a proper greeting by nudging their noses together. He immediately starts sniffing him eagerly. Gavin blushes tenderly, his nose feels warm. Once again, the giant's fuzzy, plush fur is all over him, pushing into his chubby face in a ticklish embrace, teasing Gavin so hard he sneezes.

With a tiny snarl, the stray frees himself from the invasion of the living marshmallow. Nines, in contrast, stares at him with his blue eyes without any sense of shame.

I'm back, he clarifies an obvious fact. I've brought you something. It should be in line with your food preferences.

With an inviting huff, he shoves the hunted food in Gavin's direction. Seeing this, the little one's mouth starts to water in an instant. Hungry as he is, he attacks the fresh meat without any extra motivation.

In a flash, he jams his sharp teeth into it, tearing and swallowing almost without chewing. Gavin closes his eyes in delight over his meal, smacking his lips in a loud squeak. To the sound of Nines’ purring, he enjoys his delicious food until there's not a single crumb left. Except the tail, which he doesn't like.

Mouse tail...ewww...

His friend watches him the whole time, that fascinated look in his eyes. The collar around his neck glows yellow. Relaxed, Nines is lying down on the floor. His tail is bobbing in a cosy rhythm.

Full, at least for the moment, Gavin can't resist the urge to stretch out. With a full belly, free and clear of the nagging hunger, the world suddenly looks very much better. His leg doesn't seem to hurt at all any more, and the feeling of sleepiness is also gone.

In high spirits, the little rebel slumps down on the floor next to Nines and rolls around on his back. His whiskers are wiggling in excitement as he yawns like a lion. Sassy, he slaps Nines with his paw, but he doesn't mind.

Do you feel better now? he asks, poking at the tiny creature's ears with his own much bigger paw.

Gavin smiles brightly. Hell yes! That's what I needed!

Purring, he tries to grab Nines’ paw in a tight grip to nibble on it. Along the way, he rubs his nose against his soft fur.

Nines meows softly. That's nice to hear. Your condition should improve soon, your basic vital signs are already stabilising.

Oh boy. Not again... Gavin rolls his eyes. Goddamn humans seriously fucked your brains out, my friend. You're talking crazy shit, pheww...

Gavin pats Nines’ leg encouragingly. It's hard not to feel sorry for the poor thing. He gives him a sympathetic nudge.

Nines’ ears twitch. A small wrinkle appears between his eyes. A gingerly coo rises from his chest.

We are... friends...? He tilts his head in a questioning manner. Catvin is my friend...?

Uhnm, sure...sure we are. Embarrassed, Gavin tucks himself halfway under Nines’ fluffy tail. You brought me food and saved my ass... Uhm, th-thank you. But my name ist still not Cat-

His little heart suddenly jumps inside him. Nines’ loud purring echoes in his ears the moment this big dork licks his face with his tongue without any forewarning.

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If being friends constantly goes paw in paw with the risk of losing your dignity and reputation at any time, out of the fucking blue and before you even know what's going on, then maybe he really should think twice about calling himself Nines' goddamn friend!

However, there is one thing Gavin knows for sure. His time will come, sooner or later, and his revenge will be an epic showdown, leaving no doubt who is in charge. Then it's this huge hulk of a cat lying on the ground in front of him, begging for mercy! At least that's exactly the vision Gavin is creating in his evil little mind right now.

Unfortunately, that's all he can do: fantasise about it. After all, he is still the one down on the ground, trying his best to fight his way out of the other's gigantic fangs. Screw that fuzzy piece of fluff! Nines is definitely brain dead. There is absolutely no doubt about it. Otherwise he wouldn't be so fuckin' stupid as to believe someone like Gavin would ever accept being tortured like this. Never ever! No way in hell! He won't submit to this shit of humiliation without a fight!

He doesn't need that! He's fine! He's a bit shabby, that's all! He definitely doesn't need this unnecessary and, above all, highly embarrassing treatment. A Bath.

His only problem is, Nines doesn't give a shit about what he wants. Embarrassed, his nose burning, Gavin squeaks once more, protesting loudly as the larger cat's big, rough tongue wipes delicately across his cheek.

The little stray shudders, from tip to toe. Needless to say, this part of his new friend is also enormous.

Stop it, damn it! Lemme go! Gavin yells wildly. Trapped between Nines' mighty paws, he wriggles and kicks as hard as he can. Lemme go! Lemme go! Lemmeee gooo!

Twisting and turning, he tries to attack Nines from a new angle, but that son of a devil couldn't care less. Unimpressed, Nines just tugs him closer, so that Gavin finds himself drowning in a puffy cloud of white fluff.

Catvin. Would you please hold still, he hears the bastard purring in his ear, almost happily. The level of your contamination is much higher than my original prognosis. I am very busy here.

Another intense, soaking swipe across the little one's chubby cheek. Gavin's tummy is full of cosy warmth. Yuck! Feeling embarrassed, he growls into the softness of Nines’ body as his teeth carefully begin to tease the base of his right ear.

A fresh wave of shudders, this one stronger than the first. Gavin's heart flutters up and down in his chest. The little guy winces, caught off guard. Blindly, he swings his paw at Nines and actually lands a lucky strike, allowing him to clear a bit of space around him.

With flashing emerald green eyes, he gives Nines an aggressive, grumpy look.

Are you fucking kidding me!? he snaps at him, rapidly rubbing his warm ears. Don't...Don't do that!

He's not a damn kitten anymore! All of this is just incredibly embarrassing! And degrading! And embarrassing. And besides... he doesn't need all this cooing and coddling bullshit! After all, he, Catvin, is a tough guy who has his pride and … 

I don't understand. What shouldn't I do?

A pair of bright blue eyes stares back at him with a hint of confusion. The collar turns yellow for a second. Frustrated, Gavin's tail hits the ground. Brain dead. Definitely. A condition that he will be in in a moment, once Nines finally drives him crazy. Oh for fuck's sake.

Are you serious?! This whole fucking bullshit, obviously! Nines, I swear...

This? You mean taking care of you?, Nines interrupts him in a cooing voice.

Gavin blushes. On the back of his neck, thousands of tiny hairs pop up.

Shit up, buddy! I am perfectly fine to take care of myself!

Hissing, his legs a bit wobbly, Gavin bounces back to his feet, but one of Nines' oversized paws is enough to keep him in line. Screaming in frustration, Gavin snaps at him. Nines doesn't seem to be bothered by this. He happily waves his tail around. Instead, the whiskers of the big cat twitch up and down. Curious, Nines tilts his fuzzy head slightly to the side. Then, in one smooth movement, the big cat dips his head so close that their noses almost nudge each other.

Nines sniffs. Gavin keeps growling.

You stink and you're unbelievably filthy, Nines hums with his mellow voice, straight to Gavin's face. Besides, you're still injured. Given the circumstances, I'm sure that my technique is much more efficient for cleaning you properly.

Screw you, Nines! I'm not a goddamn kitten anymore! Lemme go! And don't you call me stinky! Nines!

But Nines shows no mercy. Wet, rough and determined, he attacks Gavin with his tongue and teeth. Like a baby, Gavin is licked and bathed. And the worst thing is, in the end it's not that bad. Still incredibly embarrassing, and his dignity is fucked, but better than expected.

Against his will, a tiny whirring sound slips out of Gavin's throat with increasing frequency. As before, Nines’ big, soft nose and muzzle come into direct contact with all those sensitive spots behind his twitching ears. Gently but firmly, the rough tongue wipes over the muddy fur to remove dust and dirt.

The loud purring of the white giant instantly follows, echoing through the whole space. With Nines rubbing against him, Gavin instinctively does the same. Side by side. Cheek to cheek.

Oh, shit. That feels pretty good.

Pinned down and cuddling with his new friend, Gavin is relaxing more and more. It's not really great for his ego, but this dumbass literally manages to give him a full physical and mental massage. Once again, he is surrounded by this soothing scent, and to be honest, it's been a long time since someone else has treated him this way.

He can't remember anything about his mum. And apart from Tina, who he practically grew up with, no one has ever got this close to him. It feels wonderful. But suddenly Gavin misses his friends and his home very badly.

After a while, Nines' huge, soft body hugs him like a cocoon. The little one's paws slowly start to trample, just out of reflex, of course. Or maybe... Or maybe because it's just nice. To be here with Nines. This walking, talking and goofy marshmallow. His friend. 

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All right, then. All right, for fuck's sake. He's obviously out of options now. Crap.

In the end, Gavin doesn't have any other alternative left, so he accepts the awkwardness of the stupid, simple fact that he might be a bit more of a softie than he originally thought. Possibly. Somewhere, deep down inside. And just a tiny little touch. Not really worth mentioning. Not a big deal. He can live with that. Right. Right?! He's still a brave, tough and, needless to say, extremely attractive guy. That's clearly what he is!

But maybe... maybe the softie side of him isn't so deeply hidden anymore.

Because on top of everything else, he also comes face to face with the pain-in-the-ass truth that this whole smoochy, overprotecting pampering shit and, hell yeah even that fucking bath, is exactly what he needs right now to get back on his feet.

Life is so much better with a proper snack in ya belly, feeling neat and refreshed - thanks to Nines' gigantic tongue. Speak of the devil. The moment he feels a soft nibble under his chin, his favourite spot, another lovely shiver flows down the little one's spine. Immediately, his fuzzy ears are filled with the sweet purr of Nines' voice, and without realising it, Gavin is joining in with his own soft tones of comfort.

Damn, it should be illegal to feel this good. In any case, he should put an end to this ridiculous situation soon. Enough is enough, right? How much more time does this walking pile of fluff plan to waste? He's not that messy after all.

But maybe, just a few more minutes. A teeny tiny bit. So that Nines has nothing to bitch about. Fuck, that's it! Nines, he's only doing this for Nines. Hah! Delighted with this magnificent explanation, Gavin leans back happily, buries his trampling paws in the other's fuzzy fur and…

…then he falls asleep. Just like that. Like a fucking baby.

When Gavin comes back to life from his catnap, he finds himself buried alive. Buried alive under a giant sized body and loads of fluff. Warm and soft, it cocoons him like an oversized puff of pure white, tickling his nose and cheeks. Still pretty drowsy, Gavin gives himself a full head-to-tail stretch.

Holy cow, that feels good! Nothing beats a decent stretching. For a lazy heartbeat or two, the little sleepyhead tucks his face closer to this wonderful plush softness. And for an extra, innocent flutter of his heart, Gavin truly believes he's huddling with the cosiest and fluffiest pillow out there in the universe.

Then the sensation of a powerful sneeze rocks all over him. In a bang and with a lot of fur in his mouth and nose, Gavin is wide awake. Unlike Nines, who still seems to be dozing peacefully. At his side, or, to say it directly, on top of him? With him? A cosy mess might be a better description.

Yikes! Yikes! Yikes!

Trying to escape the annoying tickling, the fur ball starts pedalling his paws wildly, wriggling around and when he finally finds a way to the surface, he is still sandwiched halfway under his mate's solid body. And almost nose to nose with Nines.

Gavin hates it, but his heart immediately skips a beat. However, the next second he blinks. Perplexed, because Nines doesn't move, not even a tiny inch. He's actually asleep. He's dozing.

Gavin frowns, he carefully mumbles a soft meow.

Ni-Nines? Being a little more determined, he sniffs and nudges the big, puffy nose with his own smaller nose. Nines, wake up. Don't sleep, silly.

No reaction. Huh. Huh?

But Nines doesn't make a peep, apart from a constant purring coming from the depths of his chest. Blue and yellow are the colours of the collar around his neck. His bushy tail is close wrapped around his body. Gavin nudges his friend once more, he also has the nerve to lick him gently on the tip of his nose. But as soon as he does, he blushes brightly.

Uhhuuuuuh. Luckily this chubby marshmallow is asleep. Gavin sighs and wrinkles his nose. Frustrated and also curious, he checks out Nines. Making a small squeak, he tips his head to the side.

Wooow. He really does have huge ears. Now that he is so shamelessly close to him, Gavin notices that the fur on his ears and paws is a faint shade darker. And how long his whiskers are.

Perfect for playing. Puuuurfect!

A small chuckle bubbles in the stray's belly. Sassy, he snatches at the big one's whiskers, teases them with his paws and tugs on them.

Nines couldn't care less. That idiot still doesn't show any reaction.

Damn, that's a real pain in the ass. And Gavin is starting to get a little worried.

It's the first time he's seen Nines like this. Maybe... he's just exhausted? And need a little break? By sleeping like a rock? Sure, why the hell not. After all, he's with him all the time, looking after him. Of course Gavin can take care of himself. There's no doubt about that.

Oh, shit. He misses that idiot, even though he's right next to him. God, damn it. He's such fucking pussy. He's so screwed. Definitely.

Suddenly even a giant like Nines looks vulnerable. Vulnerable, fluffy as fuck, much too big and... huggable!

A soft coo joins in with the purring of the white furry tiger. Little by little, Gavin snuggles up to the big guy, rubbing his head gently against his face, purring softly and giving his forehead some comforting bites and licks.

By now, the collar glows in a more yellow shade than blue.

And Gavin has a little problem. He needs to...

An uncomfortable pressure spreads in his belly. Embarrassed, he stamps his paws, unsure what to do next. Basically, he has no choice.

Jeeez, he really needs to…

Don't do anything stupid, he meows to Nines, nudging him once more. I'll be right back. Uh-uhhh…

As fast as he can, Gavin hops back on his feet. Then he hurries outside, a little shaky at first. Because he really fucking needs to... pee!

He doesn't know that a pair of blue eyes is following him as he storms out of the door.

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A long, good pee – who would have thought that something so basic and simple could actually be such an effective stress reliever and, more importantly, a real fuckin‘ life saver?

After being stuck indoors for so long, it's an absolute delight to be back outside. Gavin doesn't know exactly how much time it has taken to bring him back to life in such a glorious way, but as soon as a whiff of fresh air hits his sniffing nose and a soft breeze whistles around his twitching ears, he realises how much he's missed all this.

And God knows, right now, there's nothing better than having a nice, chilled-out pee without giving a flying fuck about anything else. Facing the sun directly with a swipe of his vibrating whiskers, Gavin feels an electrifying shudder rips down his entire spine, almost knocking him off his wobbly feet.

The grass beneath his paws is warm and cushy. And while he's crouching there now, elegant and graceful as hell, a final contraction sends a delicious spark through even the smallest muscle in his body.

And then, finally, it happens. He hears a soft splashing noise on the ground just behind him and, all of a sudden, the uncomfortable pressure deep inside him slowly starts to fade.

Fuuuuuuuuck…

Gavin sighs with relief, a loud, relieved purr rising from the little cat's throat. For a heartbeat or two, he simply stays as he is. Eyes closed, enjoying the calm after the storm. The warmth of the sun on his fur feels just freaking wonderful, like a cosy hug. Coupled with the peaceful rustling of the leaves and the birds' sassy chirping, the little stray's heart skips a lazy beat.

After a few more seconds, when the last golden drop is gone, Gavin hops back to his feet, full of optimism. But first things first, he allows himself a good long wake-up stretch. With his fluffy ass up in the air and his nose happily buried in grass and mud, the little cat eagerly inhales the earthy aroma swirling around him.

And under the sun's bright light his body and soul, still a little squishy from his little catnap, finally snap back into action.

Into overdrive.

Processing takes place in 3... 2... 1...

BOOM! BOOM! BOOOOOM! BOOOOOOOM!

From one second to the next, two blinking hazel green eyes widen in wonder and surprise, becoming as round as the goddamn moon.

Suddenly the little guy feels a bit dizzy. Holy shit!

From tip to toe, another tingling sensation runs all the way through the wondering bundle of fluff. Eyes still wide open, heart pounding wildly inside his small chest, Gavin whirls around. Once to the right, then to the left, round his own axis and all the way back again.

Now that he's back in the game, more or less, he just doesn't know where to focus his attention first. What the fuuuuck!? There's so much out here just waiting to be explored! He's literally blindsided by a unique mix of sensations he's never smelled, heard or felt before.

The world around him is bursting with new and exciting things!

All those strange smells and sounds. Real grass and earth under his bare paws. Nines sitting in a bush and staring at him. The endless variety of trees and flowers growing around him.

Honestly, his fluffy, stupid brain is just too overwhelmed to deal with all the new and exciting stuff crashing down on him from fuckin' everywhere. And for the first time since he woke up, Gavin wonders...

Where the hell on earth is…

Wait... Wait… Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait!

Nines, sitting in a goddamn bush, staring at... him...? No frigging way!

Gavin freezes in mid-spin. His ears suddenly become pretty warm. In a slow turn, he looks around, his eyes searching for the mysterious figure that is definitely, and hopefully not Nines.

Of course it's Nines. Yieks!

Immediately, the fuzzy hairs on the back of Gavin's neck begin to quiver, bristling with embarrassment as their eyes bump into each other. Nines doesn't move. A bright blue stares back at Gavin from somewhere in the undergrowth, relaxed and even a bit curious.

Hissing under his breath, Gavin arches his back. His nose is on fire.

Nines, you son of a bitch! he snaps, his whiskers vibrating with shame and indignation. What the hell are you doing?

The little stray's tail twitches furiously. Oh shit! Oh shit! It was bad enough that Nines had caught him fussing around like a baby kitten having its first look at the world. No! That damn stalker probably even saw him while he was… peeing!!!

First the bath, now this. Gavin really wants to dig himself a hole to hide.

The collar around Nines' neck jumps from blue to yellow.

It wasn't my intention to disturb you, the marshmallow hums, his voice soft and sombre. Please continue with your marking ritual. It is, I must say, a fascinating phenomenon.

There's a soft rustle as Nines' bushy tail hits the ground. He doesn't seem bothered at all by his little friend's reaction. He's relaxed, too relaxed for someone who's been caught spying on another cat in a very private moment.

Marking?! No!? That was just... I just had to... Flustered, Gavin taps his paws. He was just taking a fucking piss, for fuck's sake! Ooooh, shut up, Nines! Forget it. Never heard anything of privacy before, you big dummy!?

This huge hunk of furry mountain is a real pain in his arse. A low chuckle bubbles in Gavin's chest. Quickly he wrinkles his nose, trying to look as scary as possible, which isn't so easy anymore.

Nines blinks, followed by a hushed throaty noise. Those sharp, watchful eyes never leaving Gavin for a second.

You're upset with me, the taller one realises, his collar glowing bright yellow.

Gavin rolls his eyes. His own tail is swaying, almost amused.

You're a real genius, Nines.

But… you were gone, Nines declares tentatively in a low growl, his big ears slightly tucked aside. When I recovered from stasis, Catvin wasn't there anymore. As previously stated, I didn't plan to disturb you. I just came to check up on you. That you didn't leave me behind.

Now, Nines is the one who looks like a kicked kitten. Gavin, whether he likes it or not, is getting his ass kicked by his soft side. Damn. How on earth does this idiot manage to say such embarrassing things?!

Nines, don't. Stop it. Huffing, he rubs his heated nose. I'm not really upset with you, got it? Just don't do that again. That's damn rude! Or I'll take a closer look next time you take a shit.

Nines' face brightens, his big ears swing upwards.

The giant lets out a deep, knowing chuckle.

Unfortunately, these functions aren't part of my configuration.

Sure thing, princess. Probably Mr Cottontail is shitting and pissing rainbows. Gavin sighs softly. Whatever. Are you gonna come out of that stupid bush or do I need to get you?

Stubbornly, the smaller fur ball lifts his chin. He's already stamping impatiently from one paw to the other. His sensitive pads are pleasantly tickled by the grass. Nines, for his part, finally moves his sassy ass.

Smooth and agile, his massive body breaks through the thick growth of leaves.

Almost without a sound, he joins his little friend.

Gavin blushes slightly. Naturally, he leans in closer to Nines so that their noses brush against each other in a tender way before Gavin ends up drowning all over again in a white cloud of fur.

Straight away, their shared purring fills the morning air.

Fuuuuucking instincts.

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Being a slave to your own instincts sucks, holy shit, it sucks so fucking hard. Before Gavin knows it, he's dipping his nose into a soft, woozy mess of bright white, purring at the top of his godsdamn lungs. For the love of fuck, why does that big fat bastard always have to push his buttons like that?! It should be a crime to be so incredibly fluffy and puffy and snuggly and… y'know, just to be the way Nines is all the friggin' time!

Gavin snorts softly, enjoying the protective embrace of Nines' presence around him. Hell yeah, of course he's perfectly capable of handling things on his own. After all, he's a real master of disaster, and he's always managed to keep his head above water. Still, it's a pretty nice feeling to have someone else watching his stupid little ass, someone who really cares about him.

Gently teasing and nibbling the curve of Gavin's neck, Nines growls happily, his wide chest vibrating close to Gavin's flank. Straight away, a low humming noise bubbles up from the little one's throat.

Eager for more and unable to control himself, Gavin snuggles as close as he can into the softness of Nines' fluffy fuzzy fur. Rubbing up against him, he returns his tender gestures of affection with a series of sassy little bites and bumps.

Gavin's tail swings back and forth to the beat of Nines', their bodies huddled together in cosy, peaceful harmony. His friend's lovely scent, soothing like a warm breeze, wafts into his nose, finally breaking the tension in his muscles.

The little stray closes his eyes, purring under his breath, and for a moment, it seems like the overwhelming newness of the world outside their personal comfort zone fades completely out of focus.

Oh shit. Ohhhhhhh shit. Here it comes. He just can't ignore it any longer - having Nines around, so steady and warm, makes everything feel… easier. Damn instincts. One minute he's pissed, the next he's melting like ice in the sun. Fucking crazy, if you ask him.

Gavin wrinkles his nose, followed by a low grumble. But it's more habit than anything else. His chubby cheeks are flushed and the fur all over his head is frizzy from all that smooching. He's also still ashamed as hell about the whole peeing incident. Just thinking about it…

He blinks shyly up at the gentle giant. Apparently Nines doesn't give a damn about the whole thing. Must be nice to have nothing but fluff in your head.

Uhm, just so you know, the little one then hears himself mumble. I won't leave you behind and… Embarrassed, he scrapes a paw across the grass. Uhm…whatever, just... no more spying. I'm serious, dummy!

With a pout, Gavin gives this big cotton ball a proper nudge. Nines snorts in amusement. His incredibly long whiskers twitch gently, his pretty blue eyes are sparkling brightly.

Understood, Nines purrs, brushing his head against the little one's. No spying. But I'll always check on Catvin. I promise.

Like a natural thing, Gavin meets Nines halfway. His ears are burning as he feels the weight of those awkward words in the air between them. Catvin has never been good at accepting any kind of help or affection. Okay, he's not exactly a social butterly, but even with Tina and Chris, he prefers to keep his vulnerable self hidden behind a tough, badass shell.

What the hell. What's wrong with him?

Gavin huffs, shaking his head. A tiny, goofy smile at the corners of his mouth.

Ah, shit. That's fucking cheesy, Nines. In an act of rebellion, the little fellow stomps his feet. A half-hearted protest, but at least it breaks the magic spell of this pink cheesy bubble they're in. C'mon, enough lovey-dovey shit! Spit it out! Where the hell are we?!

With a cute hiss, to Gavin's ears it sounds more like a mighty roar, he avoids another smooch by smacking Nines' fuzzy head. So fucking touch starved. Jezzzzz!

For a second, the collar around Nine's neck shifts from blue to yellow, and with a determined flash of his eyes, he straightens up, his big ears wiggling in the wind. Sitting there, he's almost twice as tall as Gavin - what a poser!

Our current location is Detroit, Michigan, at 8961 Lafayette Avenue, to be precise, the furball clarifies in detail, straight as ever.

Satisfied with his statement, Nines tilts his big head. His tail wags relaxed from side to side over the grass, just in sync with the buzzing sound he produces. Attentively, he observes his little friend's reaction.

Thoughtfully, Gavin utters a mumbling meow. Detroit, huh?

His heart leaps a tiny step, his own tail, curled around his body, flicks nervously. So this strange place, where fate has brought him, finally has a name. Detroit.

Catvin seems confused. Is everything all right?

Nines’ voice rips him out of his thoughts.

Nah. Cavin is just thinking, damn it! Okay, ooookay, so we're in… Detroit, meows Gavin, rubbing his paw over the aromatic grass to test it. Just, you sure about this? The Detroit I remember is… I mean, what is this exactly? It's so… natural!?

Speaking, Gavin takes a look around. Maybe he's ended up in some kind of parallel world or, oh holy shit, he's kicked the bucket and ended up in heaven. Which would mean, however, that Nines must be a shitty angel. Or the devil, Gavin still isn't sure which version fits better. Probably both…

Gosh, he's too young and too handsome to die so soon.

I'm positive, Nines insists. Right now we're located outside, more specifically in the outer area that belongs to my master's property.

Huh? Outer area? And you live here, Nines?

Considering how Nines looks, so neat and clean without a scar or other wounds, it's hard to imagine that this pussycat can survive out here.

Nines shakes his head. My regular workspace is located in my master's mansion. 

The stray clicks his tongue eagerly. A… mansion? The house you found me in?

An amused smirk comes from Nines throat. Gavin's face immediately blushes.

Actually, it's just a shed. My master's mansion can't be seen from here. It's behind the Zen garden, in that direction.

Using one of his paws, the white cat points to a path that leads through the trees and away from the shed. Gavin, a daredevil to the core, is instantly hooked. High time to scop this place out.

The striped bundle of fur jumps up to his feet with a burst of fresh energy.

Nines, let's go! Time to get a move on!

What about your wound? Nines narrows his blue eyes. Your vital signs are stable, but it's still advisable at this stage to…

Oh, screw it! I'm fucking fine! Don't be such a pussy!

Gavin teases, sticking out his pink tongue. He doesn't wait for an answer before swinging round and stomping along the path, tail wagging in excitement. He wasn't lying, he really is feeling much better. His sore leg still aches from time to time when he moves, but it's nothing worth staying indoors for.

As he'd hoped, Nines stays with him and together they stroll along the path that winds its way through the dense undergrowth and thick trees. The air is filled with the scents of pine and fresh earth. Gavin sniffs eagerly, inhaling this wonderful smell.

So you've lived here for a while, then? he asks, curiously, as he walks up close to Nines.

Since the day I was activated, the white colossus purrs back. I've always been here.

Gavin rolls his eyes. You mean since you were born.

Here we go again with this bizarre nonsense. Kind of funny, but very strange. Nines definitely spends too much time with the fuckin‘ humans.

An insecure expression creeps over the big cat's fluffy face. The collar is flickering uncomfortably.

I suppose you could call it that, yes.

His steady walk is slightly out of sync. Gavin frowns, biting the inside of his cheek. In the end, his curiosity wins.

And... what about your family? Your...mum? Siblings?

I don't have anything like that. I was always here and always alone. Nines' whiskers twitch, thinking carefully. Catvin is the first individual I've ever met who's like me. In a certain way.

Gavin almost trips over his own feet. Ashamed because he can't keep his big mouth shut, he tucks his head between his shoulders. Suddenly Gavin feels really bad. So Nines is all alone too... like him...

Ohhh. I'm… I'm sorry, the little stray mutters, falling back a few steps. I'm sorry, Ni...

Nines walks a little further, then stops until Gavin catches up.

Why are you apologising? he asks.

Gavin blushes. For being an arsehole, that's why.

Mhm, Nines adds in a pensive voice. That's nothing you need to apologise for. It's an active part of your personality.

What now? Gavin grimaces, snorting. Being an asshole?

Nines coos in agreement. Correct. Apart from that, an apology under these circumstances isn't appropriate. The concept of my design...

Nines?

Yes, Catvin?

Just shut up and accept my fucking apology. God damn it!

To prevent further discussion, Catvin trips closer, rubbing his head apologetically against Nines' puffy, fluffy chest. Hungry for physical contact, Nines is only too happy to accept it.

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Chapter Text

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A little special chapter for Valentine's Day 2025!

Created as part of the D:BH KissCam prompt challenge by connor-sent-by-cyberlife ♡

It was a lot of fun to take part >/////< Hope you like Catvin and Mr Fluff as much as I do ♡

Chapter Text

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Praise the holy fuckin' Lord! Turns out there's probably a small but realistic chance that Nines, this giant little furbaby, might be a bit more adaptable than Gavin thought.

At least it's not totally hopeless. In the end, Mr. Cotton Candy is actually following Gavin's highly valuable advice and, for a change, doing exactly what he's been asked to do. After all, his heart is a little lighter now. The way this lovable dummy just accepts his apology willy-nilly, without any of his cute-but-still-ridiculous nonsense he usually loves to talk about, really helps Gavin stop feeling like an insensitive jerk.

Instead, he enjoys another extensive bonding session. And of course, having gotten used to this constant lovey-dovey shit by now, Gavin doesn't really mind doing Nines a favor and spending a few extra quality minutes with him. Whatever it takes to keep things smooth and easy between them. And to save Nines from ever looking at him with those heart-wrenching, sad puppy eyes again.

Purring loudly, they share one last head-to-tail rub, with Gavin's lightweight melting almost completely into Nines' super fluffy fur. After that, the fuzzy teddy's level of bliss and coziness seems to be at a brand new high. Happily, Nines' long whiskers are swaying in the soft breeze that tickles their noses, perfectly in time with his enthusiastic cooing as his bushy tail sweeps across the ground.

Now his massive body is back to its usual relaxed state, his blue eyes half-closed but always focused like a laser on Gavin. The collar around his neck has also been changed back to a bright, soothing blue colour.

Looks like someone's doing a pretty good job at the whole 'not being a total asshole' thing. Damn it, he's just too fuckin' good, too handsome, and too clever for this world. Right. Right?! Anyway, his karma score is definitely something to be proud of.

Highly satisfied with his performance, the little stray puffs himself up a little.

C'mon, big guy. Drop that emo batshit, he huffs, a smirk on his face. We're on a mission, remember?

Ears wiggling and his heart fluttering in newfound excitement, the little one turns around and leads the way, nose first. Finally back on track, Gavin is eager to push the whole story to the next chapter.

Full of bouncy energ, the furball hops quickly down the path. However, he stops after a couple of steps. Looking back, he sees what he has already noticed.

Nines hasn't moved.

Impatiently, the little one wrinkles his nose.

Earth to Nines? Are you coming or what?!

Nines, in turn, doesn't change his position to follow him - not right away, though. He just keeps sitting on the soft grass, his blue eyes looking tenderly at the little striped cat, but somehow there's also a kind of sadness in them.

Gavin meows nervously. Nines...?

Shit, this staring habit is really starting to get on his nerves. Not cool, nope. Gavin doesn't like it, and he doesn't like how strange Nines is suddenly acting. Okay, that weirdo always acts kinda goofy, but come on! Well, before he has time to get too worried about it, Nines just snaps out of it by…

…bowing his furry head to him. In a gesture of devotion, Nines lowers his thick torso to the ground. Just like that, without a second thought. Not for long, but long enough to be more than a casual gesture.

I really appreciate your emotional support, he purrs softly, his voice full of affection. Catvin is very kind to me. It makes me... happy.

The giant straightens elegantly. Gavin blinks at him with big green eyes. Embarrassment spreads through him. Beneath his shaggy fur, he is blushing like crazy. WTF!

Um, yeah. Happy Nines, happy life, eh? Fuck, I mean... He clears his throat, muttering. Ya know, I'm not usually the type to do that. Today I was just in the mood, ‘kay?!

Nines chuckles under his breath. If you say so.

Yeah, I do, I do! So don't get cocky about it! Determined, Gavin raises his chin, trying to look imposing. A-anyway, get a move on, or are you out of batteries?! Let's fuckin' go!

Gavin spins around and dashes down the path. This time, Nines follows immediately.

Together, they pick up the pace and continue their little journey of discovery. Rustling leaves, chirping birds, and the whistling wind keep them company. Every few yards, the little cat stops to sniff a flower, shoo a grasshopper, or sharpen his claws on trees and bushes.

Nines stays by his side, patiently giving his friend space to enjoy the experience. Watching Catvin, he is overcome with a feeling of pure happiness.

After a while, the trees finally part. Gavin's nose twitches in alarm as the natural smell of trees and earth is gradually replaced by something else. Something fresh and artificial. The air around them is getting lighter, too. Just to be on the safe side, the little one moves closer to Nines.

We're here, purrs the big white cat gently.

The sun is shining down on them, warm and bright, as they break through the undergrowth, still side by side.

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Chapter Text

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What the hell?! Holy moly!

So this is a fucking Zen garden?!

A moment ago they were strolling through a wild jungle; now they are standing at the edge of a clearing and a bizarre space full of exotic plants, shiny white sand and mysterious stone formations opens up before them.

And water, so much water. The surface is as smooth as glass, reflecting the clear blue sky above.

The little one's eyes widen. Wooha! Nines!? L-look!

It's just a pond. A pond with a friggin' island in it, but to him, who has never seen so much water before, it's a real damn ocean.

Gavin blinks, overwhelmed by the unexpected view. Suddenly he realises how thirsty he is. Urgs...

You're a bit dehydrated. Of course, Nines, that goddamn smart ass, also realises. You should drink something.

Nines goes first. He gently nudges the little one with his nose, then walks gracefully up to the pond. Gavin hesitates, wriggles with his paws. The cultivated pathways winding through the garden seem far too clean and clinical to him.

Besides, his paws must be terribly dirty… Fuck!

Sceptical and perhaps in an act of rebellion, he simply chooses the direct route across the grass. And even that is unnaturally green. Under a tree with pink leaves and with Nines nearby, Gavin finds a good place to drink. The cold, clear water feels damn good. Nevertheless, he grimaces at his reflection.

Ewwww… He is still pretty shaggy and ...

Oh. Ohhh. Hello! Who do we have here?!

As his instincts kick in, Catvin doesn't care anymore about how he looks. The fish, twice his size and popping up from under one of the huge water lilies, instantly becomes much more interesting. The fish performs a wide loop under the water, then repeats the maneuver twice more. Gavin doesn't miss a beat, leaning out over the water's surface, his muscles tensing with focused concentration as he searches for a solid foothold and the best position for a counterattack

Today, fresh sushi is on the menu!

His nose is already touching the water when someone, obviously Nines, grabs him by the neck like a kitten and carries him back onto the grass. Needless to say, he doesn't like it at all. The little fur ball hisses in protest. Plopping down on his ass, he swings a paw at the big white cat.

What the fuck, Nines? I almost caught it!, he snaps at Nines, his temper boiling over.

Nines easily dodges the attack.

You didn't, he says simply. Besides, those aren't designed for consumption. This is a place of meditation.

Gavin rolls his eyes. Meditation, my ass. Hah, I get it. You're just pissed because you didn't make it!

Playfully, the little one wiggles his head. He grins at Nines in a cheeky attitude.

The fluffy colossus frowns slightly. I'm not.

You are!

One of Nines' ears twitches, mildly annoyed.

Like I said, these aren't designed for…

A playful nudge from a small striped paw interrupts his explanation. Catch me!

Perplexed, Nines tilts his head. The collar turns yellow for a moment. Gavin doesn't mind. Once again, he gives the big one a nudge.

C'mon, catch me if you can! Let's see what you've got!

Now, on fire, Gavin shoots up, his tail wagging back and forth, excited. His little body is tensed like a spring. Challengingly, he leaps to the right, then to the left. Nines watches him intently, and then his little brain finally seems to have figured out what he wants from him.

Incredibly fast for such a fuzzy monster, Nines also jumps up. His huge paws hit the ground exactly where Gavin was standing a moment ago. Cackling with laughter, the little one rolls to the side, bouncing through the soft, sweet-smelling grass, whirling up the light sand, and actually managing to tease Nines a little.

When Nines catches him, they drop to the ground in a tangled mass of light and dark. Happy with his catch, Nines starts to nibble at his cheeky friend's neck. In return, Gavin tries to get one of the big fluffy ears between his teeth.

It's fun just to be silly. They playfully wrestle with each other, giving each other little bites and nibbles. And just as Gavin almost succeeds in freeing himself from Nines' paws to start a new game, a shadow falls over them.

A human shadow.

"Ralph found you! Ralph found RK900!" A loud voice echoes through the air. "Ralph did it!"

Gavin didn't hear him coming. He didn't fucking hear him coming. He didn't hear the human coming! The little stray freezes, wants to flee. His stupid legs don't move a bit though. Instead, he hears himself hissing in a loud and furious roar.

In the same breath, he hides under Nine's massive body.

Fuck off! Gavin growls, aggressively addressing whoever is speaking. O-Or I'll fuckin’ kill you!

And to his surprise, the shadow jerks back.

"P-please, don't bite Ralph!! Ralph is friendly!"

Ralph!? What a stupid name?! Friendly? Right. Gavin doesn't believe a word of it. Fuck, he'd love to get out of here and back into the undergrowth, but he's shaking too much to risk it. And then there's Nines. He can't leave him behind. Who knows what this guy will do to him!?

Nines is big but soft as butter.

Ahhhh, screw it. He'll have to fight then! Shivering, he squeezes closer to his big friend's side, snapping his claws out. One suspicious move and…

Nines' voice, showing not the slightest sign of alarm, pulls him out of his murderous fantasies.

Don't worry, it's not a threat, he purrs softly into his ear. It's not going to hurt you.

And then this idiot just gets up and walks over to this strange guy called fucking Ralph!?

Nines?! What are you doing? Are you nuts?

The stray's heart skips a beat, shocked. Without hesitation, Nines walks up to the human and stretches his head up to him. The human doesn't hesitate either. Before Gavin can do anything, he reaches out to touch the big cat.

Then something strange happens. The hand, resting gently on Nines' fluffy forehead, changes color within seconds, becoming as bright as the cat's fur. A broad smile spreads across the human's lips.

"A new friend!"

He pulls back, his hand doing that weird thing, going back to normal.

"RK900 is right. Ralph won't hurt you, little cat. Ralph likes small furry animals!"

Now he's laughing like a child. Turning his attention back to the smaller cat, Gavin notices the small light on the human's temple - and the scars running down the left side of his face. No, not scars. Rather, a network of deep, shimmering blue cracks. It looks painful.

Gavin's thinking hard. Wait, you know this guy?

Nines nods. It's a WR600 model. But everyone calls it Ralph. It takes care of the garden.

Back at Gavin's, Nines rubs his big nose softly against the stray's cheek. Gavin, feeling a bit more relaxed, is fine with that, but he's still keeping an eye on Ralph. Although there's no need to be so careful anymore, the blonde is now sitting cross-legged in the grass, picking flowers - goddamn flowers!

Fuck, another one with nothing but fluff in his head.

No way? This dude? He can do that?

Nines hesitates a bit before answering.

For the most part, yes. 

Uhmm, he looks pretty fucked up. What...happened to him?

Nines' collar flickers yellow. Humans. They've attacked it, the big white cat explains.

"But Ralph was able to escape!" the blond man interjects cheerfully. "Ralph's head hurts sometimes, though, and sometimes Ralph still finds it hard to control himself. Sometimes his fear makes him do things he regrets..."

Ralph's left eye flutters with a twitch. The white in it is stained blue. The smile on his face slips. For a fleeting moment, he is trapped in his memories. Then the brightness comes back to his face.

"Little Cat must be hungry! Oh, Ralph knows exactly what little furry animals like!"

Ralph jumps up. The flowers he has picked so carefully fall to the ground. Delighted, he looks at the two cats and hops from one foot to the other.

"Don't go away! Ralph will be back soon!"

With this promise, Ralph turns round and dives into the undergrowth, head first.

○-●○to be continued●○-●