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Chapter Text

- Chop

- Thud

- Chop Chop

- Thud

The rhythm of a knife on a cutting board echoed through the kitchen, a steady 'chop, chop, thud' that had become as familiar as breathing for them in the last few months.

Yoo Joonghyuk’s hands, which moved with an almost surgical precision, stilled.

…

The idea was insane.

It was a complete violation of trust, and yet… it was the only option he had.

If Kim Dokja were to find out Yoo Joonghyuk would even engage in such absurd schemes, provided by the scheming gremlin of their company, Yoo Joonghyuk feared his boyfriend of only two weeks would never look the same at him again.

He reached into his coats pocket, feeling a little bottle in it.

His wary gaze wandered to the living room, where he saw Kim Dokja lazily scrolling on his phone, face lit up the the screen´s light and unaware of the battle his mind fought at this moment.

But it wasn´t that he had another choice …

alright he had

… but the idea Han Sooyoung planted in his head was so notoriously ridiculous that Yoo Joonghyuk think it might even work.

Yoo Joonghyuk gripped the bottle even harder, then placed two identical dishes of omurice, a meal he knew Kim Dokja wouldn´t say no to.

Their relationship felt like a beautiful, fragile thing that was slowly stalling.

Kim Dokja's awkwardness with physical intimacy was obvious, and every small attempt he made—reaching for a hand, a gentle touch on the shoulder—was met with a subtle withdrawal, an internal panic Yoo Joonghyuk could practically feel.

He was afraid that if Kim Dokja, being a paranoid fool, ever started second-guessing their love, their relationship would be far more harmed than it would be by this "little thing" right now.

Yoo Joonghyuk ironically chuckled to himself.

It was strange what Kim Dokja made his thoughts spiral about. He had never been the type of person to be concerned with such things in the first place.

As he placed the plates on the table, Kim Dokja was already sitting there, looking at him with shining eyes.

"Thanks, Joonghyuk-ah!" he said in that sweet voice.

Yoo Joonghyuk stared at his star.

“Something wrong?” Kim Dokja asked, eyes narrowing at the way Yoo Joonghyuk intensily stared at the other´s plate.

“…” Yoo Joonghyuk didn´t answer, just grapped the bottle he was gripping so hard and sprinkled the powder in it over Kim Dokja´s meal.

Kim Dokja just looked at him strangely in confusion.

“Special ingredient.” He answered shortly.

In response to which Kim Dokja immediately switched to his teasing mode “Aw and is this a special ingredient just for me?”

Joonghyuk wondered how this fool could be so averted to physical touch and have a mouth even more shameless than Han Sooyoung at the same time.

Nevertheless he couldn´t help the red dusting his ears, because it was his star that said it. “Eat Kim Dokja.”

“Yes yes, of course.” He noticed how Kim Dokja´s face lit up even more, the moment a piece entered his mouth. “Delicious as always!” He heard him mumble and no Yoo Joonghyuk did not think it sounded like a moan.

“Something you´re happy about?” Kim Dokja questioned him.

“…No nothing.” Yoo Joonghyuk never had problem with controlling his expression, before this dating dilemma.

What had been done had been done. No way back now. But he couldn't help it. The thought of how adorable Kim Dokja would look when the status effect took hold was almost enough to make him forget the sheer ridiculousness of the situation.

Shortly after they finished their meal the door already burst open and the woman, who began this whole plan promptly sprinted through the room, her voice booming. "Hey! My dear, dear friend, you look—..."

She stared at Kim Dokja then Yoo Joonghyuk with a questioning look. “ - …. Normal?”

Kim Dokja who currently helped bring the dishes to the kitchen looked at her, confusion evident in his entire body. “Thanks?”

When she didn´t say anything else, Kim Dokja decided to continue his task.

´What is going on?´ Her thoughts were storming around. ´Did this bastard regressor trash my beautifully thought-out plan?!´

She looked to Yoo Joonghyuk for an answer, but he refused to even meet her gaze.

Change of tactics then.

“So, how´s it going?” she asked, her tone unexpectedly sweet.

Kim Dokja was once again just confused as he put away the washed dishes Yoo Joonghyuk handed him. They were standing so close that Han Sooyoung started to doubt her plan was even needed.

“I mean your relationship,” she stated, and if Kim Dokja had any water in his mouth, that water would have been sprayed all over the room at this exact moment.

“Han Sooyoung!”

"What?! Just admit it already. You can't make it anymore obvious!"

She then specifically spoke to Yoo Joonghyuk pointing a finger at him.

"And you! Don't think I don't know you enjoy how he practically leans against you right now."

At that, Kim Dokja realized his situation and quickly leaned away with a light blush dusting his face. Alright, this reaction proves her plan was still needed.

Point for her.

A silent glare from Yoo Joonghyuk was shot her way.

"Serves you right." Han Sooyoung glared back, sticking her tongue out at him.

She then turned her attention to Kim Dokja, who let out a wide yawn. The other two first looked at him, then shot each other a short, panicked glance, thinking the exact same thing.

'That's definitely a sign.'

"Kim Dokja, it's late. Go sleep in your room."

Kim Dokja agreed with nearly closed eyes and another yawn.

"Yeah fine. But Joonghyuk did you put anything weird in the food? I wasn't sleepy before but I feel like falling asleep now would be a pretty good idea," Kim Dokja only half mumbles that to himself, already leaving the room and not noticing how both Han Sooyoung and Yoo Joonghyuk stiffened at his words.

Only when they heard the soft click of his door closing did they finally let out the breath they'd been holding.

"Hey, he didn't notice anything, did he?"

"I said it was a special ingredient."

Han Sooyoung stared at him, a silent question in her eyes that said, 'How the hell did you manage to get that result when I told you to just...' she stopped herself. 'No, let's just be happy he did it at all.'

"Well the sleepyness is a sign it works." instead she gave an annoying grin to Yoo Joonghyuk, when leaving the room as well. "Cats sleep a lot as you know. I wish you luck with him. Have fun!"

She came back to quickly add, suddenly dead serious.

"I said before that you take responsibility. Whatever happens, I have nothing to do with it."

In his room, Kim Dokja lazily let himself fall onto the bed. He was too tired to do more than take off his clothes and pull on a white, oversized button-up shirt he found lying nearby.

The soft pillow welcomed his head, and he wrapped himself in a thick blanket, the weight of it feeling strangely comforting.

Seriously, he knew it wasn't normal to feel this sleepy.

A part of him vaguely questioned the sudden drowsiness, but the urge to close his eyes was overwhelming. He brushed it off as just being tired from doing too many scenarios lately.

Soon, his consciousness faded, and he slipped into a deep, wonderful dream.

Sometime later that night Kim Dokja didn't realize he unconsciously stood up from his bed, sleep wandered around the house to a certain someone’s room, where he planted himself in the unfamiliar bed.

Kim Dokja's whole body soon slipped under the cover.

He nuzzled his face into this warmth, whole body lying on top of something that Kim Dokja's subconsciousness seemed to interpret as a big warmed pillow. And surprisingly the warm pillow engulfed him back.

He slept peacefully, a small smile gracing his face until the morning sun shined directly onto his face together with an uncharacteristically warm voice sweetly calling his name.

“Dokja-ya?”

When he slowly opened his eyes, the sudden realization hit Kim Dokja like a cold shower.

The warm pillow he was grabbing? More like a chest of the person he was in a relationship with.

The protagonist's face was staring back at him, right in front of his, a little bit too calm for Kim Dokja's liking. When he himself was questioning reality right now.

Great start for a supposedly relaxing day.

The damn bastard looked handsome as hell even with a morninghead though, a sight he wouldn’t have seen if he didn’t do what he did? And…

…oh…

his hands were on the naked skin and his whole body is touching- he needed to stop his thoughts, stop his face from becoming one tomato that he seriously hates.

He was shaken out of his thoughts by a low voice with surprisingly no anger in it.

"Kim Dokja."

Kim Dokja heard and felt the body under him say.

“Yes, Yoo Joonghyuk.” He answered not knowing how to explain this predicament to either of them. His heart that didn´t want to calm down wasn´t helping either.

Two arms on either of his side began lifting themselves up from his waist - he didn't notice they were there the whole time - and slowly, hesitantly reached towards his head.

'Oh god, I'm going to die. Please don´t move, I´m having a heart attack!'

The hands placed themselves on both sides of his head and just stayed in place. Kim Dokja carefully opened one eye to check why nothing was happening. He saw Yoo Joonghyuk, whose gaze was focused not on him, but on his head.

“What is…?”

The ´that´ in his question was left unspoken.

There was a sudden feeling where the hands were … like carefully… touching?

…

The next second, he felt Yoo Joonghyuk's hand moving or something like massaging?

.... Massaging??? on something that definitely shouldn't be there!

Subconsciously a rumbling, pleased sound made its way out of his throat. ´And for fucks sake he didn't know why it felt so fucking good?!´

Despite the shock Kim Dokja´s own hand began making its way up.

What he felt on his head wasn't normal. It was furry and soft and.... warm????

He shot out of the bed and into the nearest bathroom.

'Haha'

He didn't feel like laughing.

'Just what in the world.'

Carefully he touched the two big cat ears that were on top of his head. He pulled and turned them in every direction. They were fluffy and surprisingly calming to touch.

In that moment a new notification caught his eyes.

[Status effect ´ Feline Metamorphosis´ is in effect]

[Remaining time: 7 days]

So that explains it a bit at least, right? …

No, it didn´t. How did he activate this, he didn't fail any type of scenario did he?!

Just as he was spiraling, another feeling got his attention. The back of his knees were tickled by something just as fluffy as the ears.

Kim Dokjs quickly looked down, greeted by a cat tail that swung impatiently from under his shirt.

He continued staring at himself for some time. The tail swished around a few more times and he couldn´t do anything but stare.

... 

It must be a dream, right? Yeah, no way in the world were these things real.

After a moment of trying to calm himself, another terrifying thought hit him.

'Wait.... did Yoo Joonghyuk just...PET MY EARS?!'

A fact as shocking for Kim Dokja as seeing the ears and tail in the mirror.

'Oh God.... I EVEN PURRED!'

Chapter Text

There are three things to take caution about with cats. Though Yoo Joonghyuk may have forgotten them by now.

He couldn't help it. This situation was more than just unexpected.

That fateful morning Yoo Joonghyuk woke up with the sun shining through the window and birds happily chirping outside. He wanted to stand up, when he noticed a weight on him under the blanket.

More than just confused, he lifted it up and was greeted with a very welcome sight. A crown of hair of he knew exactly who it belonged to.

' I'm dreaming again.'  Yoo Joonghyuk reached out to pet the hair like every other time, because in his dreams Yoo Joonghyuk never moved away.

It felt so real…

…that…

Oh.

Then it hit him.

On his nearly naked body - once again NEARLY NAKED - body a very, very real Kim Dokja appeared to be enjoying his sleep.

Kim Dokja was lying on him!

One half of his chubby face directly on Yoo Joonghyuk´s chest, eyes closed and long lashes were never so evident and close to him. Yoo Joonghyuk could feel the others hot breath on his skin. A full on shudder rushed through his body.

´Stay calm.´  The petting of Kim Dokja´s head helped him calm down.

Then he glanced down again and there was something he really couldn´t help but smile at.

Yoo Joonghyuk saw two cat ears the color of Kim Dokja's hair. As his fingers slowly glided over them he felt a soft vibration from the others body, no shrieking no flinching just pure comfort.

Something that until now was only possible in his dreams. But this is definitely reality.

Never had Yoo Joonghyuk felt the need to scream out of adoration. But, … 

Who wouldn't think of this as wildly endearing? (I tagged that Yjh is whipped, don't forget)

His arms carefully wrapped around the reader, as to not to make any sudden movements and wake him up. He let his hands wander further down Kim Dokja's spine in search of that.

'Found it.'

A smooth transition between skin and a fur cladded tail. 

It slapped Yoo Joonghyuk´s hand with little force, seemingly annoyed at being touched. He tried again, until the furry ears layed back against Kim Dokja´s head as well.

He had to be sure to not get a cute overload. Seriously. 

Yoo Joonghyuk gave trying to touch the tail and set his hands back down on Kim Dokja´s waist.

His ears turned normal again, but Yoo Joonghyuk couldn't see the cute sleeping face, he tried scratching the others chin; a purr came out Kim Dokja´s body. Yoo Joonghyuk didn´t smile often, but it seemed like today would be the day he´ll exceed his monthly limit.

"...Dokja-ya?"

Yoo Joonghyuk thought it was a miracle that the person in front of him didn't wake up already.

But on the other hand, what would the fool do if he does wake up? Well, he didn't have more time to think as the head in front of him lifted itself up, presenting a tired face merely a hands width away from his own. Yoo Joonghyuk noticed how under the sunlight, Kim Dokja´s eyes appeared like slits.

´Act casual. Don´t scare him. Act casual. Don´t scare him. Don´t move!-´

Then the tired face turned into a shocked one, mouth nearly gaping open and ears laid back as far as they could. Although he expected the reaction, it still was a big backflash in his daily efforts.

"Kim Dokja. " Yoo Joonghyuk interrupted, when he saw the gears turn in Kim Dokja´s head.

He started massaging the ears again, hoping to calm Kim Dokja down somehow, like before, but the later only seemed to fall into a panic the more the situation dawned on him. His own purring only made him feel unsettling.

In the end Kim Dokja swiftly jumped out of the bed, out of Yoo Joonghyuk's hold and barricaded himself in the bathroom. 

Yoo Joonghyuk quickly followed, on the way putting on some more clothes. It was at the time he heard an "ouch" coming from the person in the bathroom, when he arrived. This fool must be tucking at these ears to see if they were real. 

"Kim Dokja?" Yoo Joonghyuk was knocking on the door, only to be met with a following silence. 

"Are you alright, Kim Dokja?" 

An unsure "mhm" came as an answer as if Kim Dokja was trying to find out if this was a dream. 

It wasn't, Yoo Joonghyuk throughoutly tested.

"You fool; it's not a dream."

Another ´mhm´. 

Alright, Kim Dokja wasn´t listening. It seemed the ears and tail were too much for him to handle. 

"If you don't open the door I'm breaking it down." That caught the others' attention. Kim Dokja knew he wasn't kidding.

The door opened, although only a crack. First a hand and then half of a body was revealed to Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes; the other half hiding behind the door.

Kim Dokja was standing in front of him with laid back ears. Yoo Joonghyuk could imagine the tail flicking around. On Kim Dokja´s face a light flush settled down and his head turned away from him as if he was too embarrassed. One hand was nervously tucking down the shirt as far as he could. 

Yoo Joonghyuk savored every bit of it, devouring the rare sight. 

"Uhm..." Kim Dokja began hesitantly, eyes never meeting his gaze. "Can you bring me my clothes?" 

Yoo Joonghyuk only wanted to make a picture right now.

"Sure." Still, he controlled himself, quickly went to Kim Dokja's room that was just next to his own and took the clothes he usually wears and gave them to him.

Minutes later a fully clothed Kim Dokja came out, his head and consequently also these fluffy ears wrapped up in a …

… a what…?

"Do you plan to walk around with a towel on your head?" Yoo Joonghyuk asked, feeling regretful of not taking a picture before, if the fool planned to solve it that way. 

It can´t be that he wants to walk around like this for a whole week?

Kim Dokja ignored him and wanted to walk past, when Yoo Joonghyuk blocked his path.

"Dokja."

"Yes, Joonghyuk-ah?" Kim Dokja´s expression was neutrally schooled. His determination with the towel was clear.

Yoo Joonghyuk didn't want to fall back on this. 

He pulled out a manual titled “Decoding Your Cat” (that´s an actual book btw; have not read it) that he bought from the star stream. He held it right in front of Kim Dokja's face.

"This says you need to see a doctor."

Kim Dokja looked at him, then at the paragraph his finger was pointing at, then at him again. He appeared to want to hiss at Yoo Joonghyuk really bad. 

"I am not a cat. I don't."

. . .

It wasn't a great situation, but not like it isn't manageable. A towel for a week and it´ll be over. Kim Dokja had survived worse. Not being able to touch his boyfriend for example. 

Anyway.

"I am not a cat. I don't need a doctor."

"A vet then."

Kim Dokja swallowed the growl that wanted to escape his throat.

'Shut it.'  He told himself. 'You are not a cat.'

"Yoo Joonghyuk move out of the way. " 

As Yoo Joonghyuk definitely didn't move, Kim Dokja simply passed by his side. A hand grabbed his arm. 

This time Kim Dokja did growl, loudly at that. "Hey!- "

Kim Dokja was swiftly albeit more than just a bit struggling (he was literally being dragged on the ground) towed around through the house.

He held onto the edge of a wall, but was then hauled up like a hissing recorder and very much growling potato sack.

Kim Dokja felt the need to scratch Yoo Joonghyuk. But damn how could he ever ruin this face. 

Instead, he bit the protagonist’s hand. There was no reaction though.

Hand still in his mouth, a thought popped up. 

Now that he thinks about it … how come they are able to be this close together without any abnormal reaction??? 

But he didn't have time to think.

Kim Dokja was thrown into the bed. 

Yoo Jonghyuk's bed. 

Over him a face surprisingly intense and unimaginably beautiful (let him admire his boyfriend for a second) was staring at him. 

It seemed like Yoo Joonghyuk contemplated saying something with a sorry expression. Deciding against it he reached his hand out and slowly ran his fingers through Kim Dokja's hair, as if soothing him.

An unfamiliar action. … Wait, was he petting him?

Stupefied, Kim Dokja couldn't even refute.

But he noticed it happening again. His body didn't react to their close proximity. Had he ever looked Yoo Joonghyuk that long in the eyes since they got together?

It was strange how his heart didn't´t immediately bump in his ears and mind didn´t start racing with thoughts but it was mildly clear.

Kim Dokja was still in a daze, not noticing how Yoo Joonghyuk had slowly distanced himself from the bed.

He heard a click.

Yoo Joonghyuk locked the door.

…

"Shit." His ears fell flat again. "He´s getting Lee Seolhwa isn't he?"

He doesn't have time to think about this now.

. . .

Yoo Joonghyuk came back first.

"Kim Dokja. Come out."

"No." Kim Dokja thought being under Yoo Joonghyuk's bed to be very comfortable right now. Especially with a blanket covering his entire body, including certain features he doesn´t want to think about.

Then another creak and the door opened again. Lee Seolhwa walked in followed by another person.

With a shocked expression, he accused the said person. "Hey what the hell are you doing here, Han Sooyoung!"

The complaining was quickly ended with him realizing something crucial. He quickly hid his head under the blanket for especially his ears to be hidden.

"Oh? don't tell me you're embarrassed?"

She already grabbed a handful of blanket and pulled.

"Come on, let me have a look! Just once-"

Kim Dokja defended himself. 

"Ouch!" A foot was thrown at her face. (Ever tried getting your cat out from under the bed? It's … funny)

"Screw you Han Sooyoung!" An angry, embarrassed voice came muffled from under the blanket.

She didn't let that sit on herself. 

"You bastard!"

With an agitated and determined look she packed the foot, dragging it into the light together with the body it belonged to. Kim Dokja was desperately holding onto the sheets around his head.

He didn't have any time to relax; the meddling continued. 

After doing it for some more minutes, and him being near losing, the pulling suddenly stopped.

Kim Dokja carefully opened one eye and was greeted with a struggling Han Sooyoung being lifted in the air by the back of her hoodie.

"Hey! You damn bastard! let me down or I'll break your arm!" She of course was cursing the person responsible for her misery. "Damn you! Let me see the ears! The ears!!!"

Yoo Joonghyuk ignored her threats and dragged her away from him like that, while casually coming to a halt before Lee Seolhwa and saying, "You can start now."

Kim Dokja also very clearly heard the gasping breaths of a person suffocating next to the regressor, but his eyes were too occupied with the person who was walking in his direction. 

Lee Seolhwa, a (not veterinary) doctor.

He gulped down once he let that sink into his mind once again.

"Dokja-ssi would you allow me to take a look at you. I won't hurt you." She stopped before him, flashing a bright smile at his hurled-up form laying on the ground. He had the urge to hide further, maybe crawl under the bed again.

Why did he feel like Lee Seolhwa was acting like he´s a cat? 

Because he definitely wasn't one!

´This is only to prove her wrong.´

"Yes, no problem." Slowly but surely he let the blanket slide down his head, revealing the ears that twitched when coming out from under it.

He felt the dying Han Sooyoung's eyes staring at him and giving her snarky remark.

"Well, aren't cha a cutie?"

With that the tight hold on her hoodie increased twofold and she continued giving her attention to the bastard again, attention filled with curses of course.

In the meantime, Kim Dokja seated himself on the edge of the bed and let Lee Seolhwa examine him.

Well, the best he could. (She is not a vet, Kim Dokja!)

"It´ll just be a quick check up." A flashlight was shining into his eyes. "Could you please look up here."

Kim Dokja leaned back the further she came in.

He wanted to run away; his body was screaming with all nerves. The only thing that prevented that from happening right now was Yoo Joonghyuk, who was not batting an eye to the dying Han Sooyoung, but instead only him.

Kim Dokja was sure the moment, he lifted himself off the bed, Yoo Joonghyuk would come and pin him down on it. (not that he wasn't into it)

"Please lean forward a bit." Kim Dokja was practically lying back down now.

´Calm down, Kim Dokja. She is a doctor not a vet!´

Luckily Lee Seolhwa had experience with unwilling patients, stayed professional and leaned down too.

"Slits." She stated as explanation. 

No the way she leaned over him wasn´t intimidating him at all.

When she backed up, Kim Dokja sat properly again.

Next Lee Seolhwa reached out and touched the ears that were flattened to his head in response. "Do you feel it when I touch your cat ears?" 

"Yes." Kim Dokja replied, looking away out of shame.

Kill him please.

His vision once again wandered to the two people beside them and especially on Yoo Joonghyuk, who for whatever reason let the hoddie slip out of his hand and held a staring contest with him.

'Am I crazy or does he look even angrier than usual?'

Finally, the touching on his ears stopped. Kim Dokja could feel his ears flap up again. 

'No wait it's only a normal frown now, must've been my imagination then.'

Returning to look at Lee Seolhwa, she held out her hand next. 

"Paw?" 

Kim Dokja listened and laid his hand on hers obediently.

"Kim Dokja, you sure you're not a dog?" Han Sooyoung commented, rolling over the floor from laughing.

Lee Seolhwa, examining his condition, stayed professional once again. Although he could hear the laugh that she stifled.

"Shut up Han Sooyoung." Kim Dokja grumbled back as answer. The other ignored his threat and continued wheezing all the oxygen out her lungs.

"Open your mouth please." Kim Dokja listened again.

When she packed her flashlight away, the examination seemed to be finished. Yoo Joonghyuk hurried to his side and sat down.

´Why did he do that?'

‘Oh!'

'Is this emotional support?'

Though it felt more like a couple receiving a bad diagnosis.

"Your cuspid teeth are a bit pointier than they should be. Ears, tail and eyes seem responsive enough." She turned to Yoo Joonghyuk. "The guide you showed me will be enough, just be careful for as long as the status effect remains."

Yoo Joonghyuk nodded, eyes intense and why did he pull out this stupid book again?!

No she wasn't talking about that, right?

But something even more important needed to be addressed. "Wait, can you tell me why this even happened?"

Lee Seolhwa seemed confused, glancing at Yoo Joonghyuk. Though only for a second, then something seemed to click.

Kim Dokja saw an oddly supportive shine in her eyes. Why?

"Dokja-ssi you seem to have come in contact with a certain substance that is used for... " she awkwardly cleared her throat. "It is normally used by lovers to make them more appealing to the other, through giving them cat features." 

‘It's impressive how she managed that with a straight face.'

At the same time Kim Dokja wanted to growl at Yoo Joonghyuk.

His lover.

'At least tell me!'  Before he could though, Lee Seolhwa continued.

"But it could have also been that you breathed a very powdery form of the substance in, when you were walking by a couple that was currently using it."

"I mean I don´t really remember, but damn just a whiff and now this?"

Yoo Joonghyuk was patting his back in consolation.

He accepted the situation surprisingly quickly. Just as quick as a hand found its way to begin tugging at his ears.

Kim Dokja tried to ignore it. "So, it's something like a ... kink?"

Han Sooyoung pfft-ed at him from the ground, barely recovering.

"Yes, it is in some way."

'Great. Just Wonderful.'

To make this situation even better Yoo Joonghyuk decided to lean really, really close to him. The hand sneaked itself around his waist.

´Focus, Kim Dokja. ´ 

He did not start purring.

The dead person on the ground could only wheeze out "Oh god, it´s really working! This is great." to herself before she began struggling to catch her breath again.

Kim Dokja did not want to hear this for a week. "The antidote! Is there an antidote?"

At that Lee Seolhwa seemed a little apologetic. "There is, but it´s very hard to find and expensive. I recommend to hold out for the week."

Kim Dokja´s dropping ears must´ve told her he wasn't happy. "Dokja-ssi the effects aren't that bad. It prompts others to think of you as more like a cat, but shouldn´t be anything major.” 

She tried distracting him. 

“On that note, Yoo Joonghyuk, you said he crawled in your bed, right?"

Kim Dokja looked at Yoo Joonghyk with betrayed eyes saying ´You told her that?´

Distraction successful.

"…Yes, he did." Yoo Joonghyuk couldn´t even glance at him.

"It´s probably because he searched for something familiar, a safe space."

´That´s not that bad.' Kim Dokja looked at Yoo Joonghyuk, who now seemed to be a little more upright. 

Was he proud of himself? 

How cute.

"It could also be because Dokja-ssi thinks of Joonghyuk-ssi as his owner." 

´Not cute, you cat effect!´ 

"That´s only a possibility though. On that note, just be careful to read the manual and you´ll be safe then."

With that her assessment was finished. Together with Kim Dokja being unaware that Yoo Joonghyuk was sneakily beginning to touch his ears again, he swiftly stood up.

´I´m searching for that damn super rare antidote. The dokkeabbi shop has it for sure. I just need to find Bihyung! ´

With that Kim Dokja left, Yoo Joonghyuk followed closely after giving his curt, single word of gratitude. 

"Thanks."

Han Sooyoung, who finally calmed down, stood up, staring regretfully at the door. "...Were they fluffy?"

Lee Seolhwa answered immediately, no doubt in her voice. "Yes, very much." She could still feel the tickling feeling of the fur on her skin.

'Damn it I should have just thrown myself at him', she thought, regretting not having simply done that. 

The effects of the status effects were in full swing and she was affected as fuck. She didn't expect the effect of the powder to be that strong to even make her out of all people want to touch these fluffy cat ears.

But she nor anyone else will get the chance to, if Kim Dokja got his hands on one of the antidotes. 

It really was a pity.

Kim Dokja will surely take the antidote the moment he gets his hand on it.

…

At that moment a blue screen lit up in front of Han Sooyoung, causing her mood to immediately change and a devilish smile to spread on her face.

'Well, we'll see about that.'

[Constellation 'Demon-like judge of fire' is squealing and screeching from delight, regretting she came so late to the party.]

She and the others seemed to have gotten another chance.

[Constellation 'Demon-like judge of fire' is suggesting a deal while stopping her nosebleed.]

Because an angel decided to help them in their time of need.

Chapter Text

"Ah that? Was all bought not too long ago. Sorry." Bihyung said unapologetically, counting the coins that he received from a certain bulk purchase. 

Kim Dokja openly growled at him. "Who. bought. it." 

"Eh? what?" Bihyung looked more than just a little distressed at his untypical behavior, the presence before him oddly intimidating, even with that on his head. "How would I know?!"

Kim Dokja's growl subsided, being reeled in with nothing but sheer will. "Look at the records."

"Trade secret." 

And there the gutteral noise was again. Together with some movement under the towelthing. 

"Why are you wearing that?" Finally, his curiosity got the better of him.

"No reason." Kim Dokja wasn't fawning his face from the heat that was building up (from the towel of course, never embarrassment), while trying to keep his face neutral. "Just changing styles from time to time."

Bihyung wasn't having it. "Can you take it off? I'm getting a lot of complaints for ´Too Less Nudity´ whatever that means."

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' glares at the constellations in channel #BI-90594]

"I will not take it off." He declared to the stars.

[Constellations of Channel #BI-90594 say it wasn't them.]

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' says to not even try to deny it.]

[Constellations of Channel #BI-90594 are looking away in silence.]

'Knew it.'

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' glares at the constellations in channel #BI-90594 even more intensely.]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is offering 10000 coins for you to remove the towel.]

'Change of tactics, I see.'

Uriel probably made up at least 50% of the complaints if not more. 

Of course, she would like this effect. But Kim Dokja had enough pride and self-control to not immediately click accept. 

Instead, he began walking back to where he and Yoo Joonghyuk split up in the Industrial complex to search for the antidote. Kim Dokja ignored the tens of people, staring because a weirdo was walking around with a towel on his head in bright daylight. Said weirdo was him of course.

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire is offering 25000 coins for you to remove the towel.]

Nice try, Uriel. He made a turn around the corner of a street.

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire is offering 51000 coins for you to remove the towel, please.]

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire is screaming PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE in capital letters.]

[Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon says this is getting ridiculous.]

Agreed.

[Constellation Secretive Plotter tells Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon to not interrupt the negotiation.]

Great, now the 25 other percent decided to tune in.

[Constellation Secretive Plotter says he offers an additional 49000 coins.]

Kim Dokja stopped in his tracks.

'… why are you doing this to me!'

He wasn´t thinking about it. But as much as Kim Dokja wanted to keep his pride, he also really wanted those coins.

'Shame is temporary, Coins are for life.'  

He arrived at the meeting point shortly after.

"You´re not hiding them anymore." Yoo Joonghyuk, who arrived at the same time, stated.

"Please, be quiet." Because his confidence is about to take a great hit. Oppositely from before this time Yoo Joonghyuk didn´t even try to pet the flattened ears to calm Kim Dokja down. Looks like he´s learning what makes Kim Dokja growl at him. (good boy)

"Were there any antidotes left in the other shops?" Kim Dokja asked.

"No."

"You searched everywhere?"

"Yes."

"Hah damn it." Kim Dokja would have to walk around in his cat form for a little longer. And like that, with 100000 coins richer, they walked back together. On the way Kim Dokja was not actively hiding behind Yoo Joonghyuk, because of the passerby’s stares directed at him. 

. . .

"Han Sooyoung." Kim Dokja's eyes, slits very thin now, were fixated on her. "Put that down."

"Where?"

"No, I mean put it away." Kim Dokja motioned to what she was currently holding.

A litter box.

Cat toys, the fluffy ones.

And god knows what else he didn't know about yet.

Also, there was the damn cat manual, which she got god knows where as well. Han Sooyoung was obviously messing with him.

"Why would I put that away?" She dramatically flattered her eyelashes at him. "Where will you go to do your deed?"

A growl began to etch itself into the room. "On the toilet like every other normal human being!"

"Let me at least put up a cat tree!"

"For what exactly! I can just sleep on – " "– Me." Yoo Joonghyuk finished Kim Dokja's sentence.

That earned him a hit on the head. And hysterical laughter in the background.

After that Yoo Joonghyuk decided to cook for only two people. He didn't give Han Sooyoung the privilege today, while the company was still doing a scenario for a few hours.

So, Kim Dokja could be in the living room for a few more hours before he had to be stuck in his room for the rest of the week. Yoo Joonghyuk could practically hear these thoughts oozing out of the head that leaned against his shoulder.

Kim Dokja was scrolling on his phone, a giggle humming into Yoo Joonghyuk’s ear from time to time. He couldn't read what, because then his head would have to move, but it was most likely a webnovel if he knew anything about his other half. Yoo Joonghyuk had to be very still right now, not a single fiber in his body was allowed to move even an inch.

Instead, he softly inquired a question, hoping Kim Dokja would stay leaned on. "You're not mad anymore?"

Kim Dokja murmured back. "Who could even be mad, when you get to eat something so delicious for dinner every day." 

The arm wrapped in a fluffy tail was flexing proudly.

"Are you sure? That hit did hurt." It didn't, the only thing that was a little hurt were his feelings by being hit by his lover.  

At that Kim Dokja's head leaned slightly back, staring directly into his eyes, faces incredibly close. 

After approximately a minute(3 seconds) he looked down again, closing his eyes. 

This time he consciously chose to lean against him. "I wasn´t that mad." 

Yoo Joonghyuk felt the other's body’s muscles relax against his own, few strands of hair tickling his chin and a soft exhale of breath brushing against his neck. 

Yoo Joonghyuk's heart skipped a beat.

Kim Dokja's heart probably too, but his own heartbeat pulsing through their ears made it unidentifiable whose was louder. 

Kim Dokja asked, his purring dimming down and one cat ear repeatedly flicking against Yoo Joonghyuk's chin. "Aren't you gonna do anything?" 

Yoo Joonghyuk stayed silent. 

"Damn it, Yoo Joonghyuk." Kim Dokja took the other’s hand and laid it onto his head. 

"Pet me already."

And Yoo Joonghyuk knew no better than to start stroking through strands of hair and caress the big cat ears. 

"A little lower."

He felt the purring against his shoulder become louder once again. As if to say 'yes right there'.

"Stop smiling."

[Constellation Demon-like judge of Fire is having a nosebleed again.]

[Constellation Demon-like judge of Fire whispers to Incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk that he should pet Kim Dokja more.]

. . .

An hour or so later, a lone figure trotted down her room, very hungry and grumbling. "Fuck I'm exhausted."

She slumped down on the sofa chair opposite of Yoo Joonghyuk, shooting him a scowl that could never rival his, but she tried her best to. "Hey do you even know how much work it was to buy all those antidotes in the shops? And now I´m not even getting any food, you heartless bastard."

Kim Dokja snuggled closer at the louder voice Han Sooyoung chose to use, a slight furrow in his brows.

"Quiet, Han Sooyoung." Yoo Joonghyuk whisper-warned back, tapping the brows for the furrow to disappear again. He didn't like that expression on Kim Dokja.

"Huh what d'ya mean?! Who had the brilliant idea to basically drug him? Damn we could have just asked him to eat it, why make it so difficult and sprinkle it on his food right before his face?" She commented on her concerns, eyes keenly watching the interaction between the two. 

Yoo Joonghyuk mirroring her scowling back, sent her a message via midday tryst. [You think he would've eaten it without suspicion?]

She whispered back. "Well, if you had asked him while making a face like this." She made the face reminiscent of a puppy that got abandoned by his owner. Yoo Joonghyuk just frowned at the facials.

[But yeah, no way he would.] She saw Yoo Joonghyuk pet Kim Dokja and Kim Dokja in return nuzzling his neck.

A smirk dawned on her face; phone already focused on shooting a picture. [Quite the needy cat, isn't he? You even had to be hit.]

[If it makes him less angry, he can hit me all he wants, it doesn't hurt.] Han Sooyoung saw Yoo Joonghyuk show a rare smile, while scratching one spot on the cat ear Kim Dokja seemed to especially like in his sleep.

[Urgh, can you leave the flirting inside the bedroom please.]

. . .

That's exactly where Yoo Joonghyuk decided to carry Kim Dokja afterwards, the bedroom.

Yoo Joonghyuk's bedroom obviously.

He set Kim Dokja's sleeping body down on his bed, taking Kim Dokja's and his own coat off. When Yoo Joonghyuk turned around to change into comfortable sleeping shorts, he heard a soft mumbling just behind him.

He swiftly turned around, only to find a head with closed eyes bumping against his chest.

His mind stilled.

The next thing he registered was how Kim Dokja now only wore a shirt as well. 

'Again?'  Yoo Joonghyuk thought, reminded how he woke up to Kim Dokja lying on him this morning. It seemed the reader was developing some bad habits while the effect was mushing his mind. (Yoo Joonghyuk obviously doesn't mind.)

Yoo Joonghyuk lifted the reader up by his knees and back, his mind trying to brush off how soft the skin was.

Yoo Joonghyuk laid him down, slipping under the covers next to him. It was probably the first time he saw Kim Dokja sleeping so peacefully, without a care in the world. The face nuzzled pleasingly against his hand, almost like a good night kiss. 

His mind began drifting off shortly after, his last thought being, 'If this is a dream, don't wake me up.'

[Remaining Penalty Time: 6 days]

. . .

Morning came after the night and Yoo Joonghyuk woke up. Once again with a weight laying on his body.

He pulled the blanket up and a sleeping Kim Dokja appeared. 

"Dokja-ya." Yoo Joonghyuk softly tried waking him up.

"Kim Dokja." Kim Dokja only purred in reaction to his name. cute.

Yoo Joonghyuk tried some more after his first attempt until he gave up. He gently slid the sleeping body off his own, quickly threw on a shirt and then ran into yet another dilemma.

He can't carry Kim Dokja down for breakfast in only a shirt. 

He reached for spare pants – Kim Dokja´s not his – and fiddled the ticklish feet into them.

When he arrived at the base of boxer shorts, he stopped looking (not yet Yoo Joonghyuk) and drew them all the way up, hands resting against the other’s waist for a second too long.

…

Yoo Joonghyuk made the mistake of a single glance, feeling the soft skin just over the waistband breathe in and out. 

Before he could stop to think about the feeling of his hands on both sides of Kim Dokja's waist, the way his fingers could barely touch each other if he wanted to and how it absolutely wasn't yet the time to be thinking this when they hadn't even kissed! – 

Yoo Joonghyuk threw his arms off, blocking the sight with his hands. He silently stood there for a whole minute, calming his muscles down.

When his thoughts settled, he swiftly and as quickly as he could lifted Kim Dokja up and slipped him into the living room onto the sofa, where he laid him down to cook breakfast. 

. . .

The still tired, but hungry members of Kim Dokja's company were trudging into the living room, following the sweet smell of breakfast already served on the table.

They came home late because the group scenario took them longer than expected. Their still tired minds didn't even notice the sight of two people seated in one chair.

Jung Heewon, yawning, was the first to sit down, other members still walking down the stairs.

Her eyes weren't possible to open yet.

Only when a low purring emerged and Jung Heewon's question of "when did we get a cat?" went unanswered did she decide to glance in the noise causing direction, namely the protagonist. 

Eyes now blown wide open, she spewed out her morning water. Holding back from loudly chocking she blankly stared at the unimaginable spectacle before her eyes. And the messages that periodically appeared with even the slightest movement.

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire sponsors 100 coins to incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk]

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire sponsors 150 coins to incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk]

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire sponsors 200 coins to incarnation Kim Dokja]

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire sponsors 100 coins to incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk]

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire sponsors 100 coins to incarnation Kim Dokja]

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire sponsors 100 coins to incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk]

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire sponsors 100 coins to incarnation Kim Dokja]

´Uriel???? Are you okay?´

Jung Heewon glanced up, seriously worried her sponsor passed out and accidently hit the spam button.

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire sponsors 490 coins to incarnation Jung Heewon saying she is in heaven.]

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire sponsors 551 coins to incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk]

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire sponsors 235 coins to incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk]

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire sponsors 124 coins to incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk]

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire sponsors 262 coins to incarnation Kim Dokja]

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire sponsors 173 coins to incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk]

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire sponsors 136 coins to incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk]

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire sponsors 300 coins to incarnation Kim Dokja]

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire sponsors 200 coins to incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk]

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire sponsors 110 coins to incarnation Kim Dokja]

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire sponsors 110 coins to incarnation Kim Dokja]

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire sponsors 200 coins to incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk]

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire sponsors 210 coins to incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk]

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire sponsors 151 coins to incarnation Kim Dokja]

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire sponsors 210 coins to incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk]

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire sponsors 478 coins to incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk]

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire sponsors 174 coins to incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk]

Won't her sponsor be broke soon?

[Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire sponsors 500 coins to incarnation Jung Heewon, saying she can't stop it!!!]

'Poor Uriel.' Her instincts have taken over.

One after another, the tired members gathered in the living room, staring at the pair of Cat Kim Dokja straddling Yoo Joonghyuk's lap for breakfast.

They exchanged a look with each other, then again at Yoo Joonghyuk, who was continuing eating breakfast and feeding Kim Dokja at the same time.

They remained silent, not much later they all nodded and collectively decided on three facts. 

'He's here. He's safe. He has discovered a new preference.' 

Just like that they began eating like their two lovey-dovey leaders.

Not for long though.

"You're all so boring, you know." Han Sooyoung broke the silence, when she arrived. "At least a little gasp. Do me the honor, please."

"Sooyoung, we just have an open mind." Yoo Sangah said, while the others with stuffed mouths were nodding in agreement to her answer. "Everyone has their own taste."

"As long as he is here and not anywhere dying off it's fine." Jung Heewon agreed, notifications slowly becoming a headache.

"Urgh so boring." Han Sooyoung complained, but still decided to explain the status effect with Lee Seolhwa's help in a matter of minutes.

It was then that a quiet shout made her stutter.

"Shut up, Sooyoung-unnie said I can touch them first!"

Han Sooyoung's blood froze in her veins, the piece of food falling out of her mouth right after being stuffed in. 

She vividly remembered the kids walking in on her and Yoo Joonghyuk after she pitched her idea to him the first time. Back then the only way she could bribe them with was a little offer…

"What are you saying?! When she said she would drug hyung, she promised me I could touch them first!"

Shin Yoosung gritted out. "Get out of the way, you bug boy."

'… kids, … please be quiet, you're digging my grave!!!'

Yoo Sangah quickly intervened before the said kids began pulling each other's hair out. "What did Sooyoung promise you both?" Her smile carried an undertone understandable only for the other adults. Han Sooyoung knew how this was going to end and it was not a happy ending for her.

Sacrifices needed to be chosen. 

"It was this bastard! I only helped with information!" She quickly threw him into the fire.

Said bastard only countered with a glare that said 'You're being too loud.'

"Sooyoung what did you do?" Yoo Sangah looked at her with a seemingly angelic smile that wasn't angelic in the least.

'Why only me and not him!'

Under the stare of all the members she answered, "uhmm well, you know things happened… and … and " and explained everything she didn't want to. 

Yoo Joonghyuk wasn't spared from the accusing stares, though he got less, because he glared back.

At the end Lee Seolhwa noted, "so that's really how he consumed it. Still, you should have asked me first, if it entered through other ways there might have been some really bad effects." (What other ways is she talking about??? That relationship was nowhere near other ways!)

So, she had her suspicions from the beginning and knew that he ate it, Han Sooyoung belatedly realized. 

Damn they both would be dead if she told Kim Dokja that day. The only food he consumes, is after all the bastards.

What was even more surprising though were the bland reactions to her scheme, although at least this time she got her gasp. (Small victories!)

They were all understanding that the – not very secret, neither back then and especially not now – relationship was having troubles and the way to solve this was what they were currently sitting in front of. The accusing stares still continued.

Though they were concerned and a little disappointed in Yoo Joonghyuk, he'll pay them back for keeping this a secret anyway is what he grudgingly promised after some probbing. 

"Well at least it worked, I guess." Jung Heewon apathetically commented, motioning to the pair. "They went from the pining stage straight to newlyweds."

Lee Hyungsung, scratching his temple, answered, "Yes, it seems that way."

With that began their breakfast routine again. A few conversations, and just when they all finished Han Sooyoung stood up, drawing everyone’s eyes on her. 

The maniacal glint paired with a gaze meaning nothing good made all actions stop. "Oh, and just so that we are all clear."

She cleared her throat, standing as if she would say a great, outstanding, world changing message and looked each of them deeply in the eyes.

"You are all accomplices now!"

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' welcomes you all to the team!]

Chapter Text

Kim Dokja woke up at noon, realizing the time from the way an orange sunset grazed the windowsill and the light chirping of birds being absent. He estimated it to be around dinner time, which meant he slept around 15 hours.

‘Well it is what it is.’ He’s been reading up on cat habits and according to the manual that he did not read, cat's really do sleep a lot. Like a lot a lot. Just like he did and when he thought about it he wanted to fall asleep again.

Snuggling deeper into the bed and blanket, Kim Dokja’s eyes sluggishly wandered through the room.

Definitely Yoo Joonghyuk’s.

Again. But Kim Dokja couldn’t even be surprised anymore at this point.

Against his will, he sat up, lifting the blanket off, when a shiver rushed down his back all the way down his tail. For a moment Kim Dokja forgot that the heater in this room was never on, thanks to Yoo Joonghyuk's regular body heat. 

That was enough for him to finally notice.

Yeah, no wonder he's freezing his tail off right now.

Something else was missing too.

Yoo Joonghyuk, who had served as his warming pillow for the last two nights. 

It was almost shocking how the other was not in his bed – correction it was Yoo Joonghyuk’s bed too, although Kim Dokja again had no memory of why he was here. Maybe he crawled in, maybe Yoo Joonghyuk laid him down, maybe he even got carried up by him…

… he will not think about this first thing in the morning. Well no, right it’s evening right now. 

Maybe this was the final sign to accept these circumstances. And wholeheartedly embrace them. 

He should move into Yoo Joonghyuk’s room or Yoo Joonghyuk into his. Kim Dokja felt his body purring, satisfied with his own reasoning.

‘Seems that’s one thing we can agree on.’ His tail flicked against his calf in agreement.

Anyway, not his clothes either was what the closet whispered back, when Kim Dokja stood up and peeked inside.  An instinct now fully waking up in his mind continued how comforting they smelled.

‘Reel yourself in will you.’ But he agreed.

Although, 'Are we at the stage where I can just casually steal his clothes?'

. . .

He sluggishly stepped down towards the living room, not believing how he could still be tired. Fifteen hours should be more than enough even with the way Kim Dokja overworked himself before this whole penalty started.

“Morning.” He quietly said on the last step, trying not to seem too suspicious. Although the clothes he was wearing, Yoo Joonghyuk’s shirt that his instinct chose and sweatpants that barely managed to not fall down, were saying otherwise.

Yes. Kim Dokja decided to wear them. It was on impulse. Just a spontaneous decision, but also a wish for him and Yoo Joonghyuk to be closer. And what better way could there be than being stuck in each other’s shoes - well clothes. 

Yeah, fuck stages.

What’s Yoo Joonghyuk’s is his as well: That's the stage Kim Dokja and the cat decided on. They are partners now. 

Meanwhile the members of KimCom dazedly greeted back one after another. So tired they didn't realize morning happened 8 hours ago. 

“... Morning.” Some were even yawning waiting for dinner and then to fall asleep again. That was especially true for the kids, who were so troubled keeping their eyes open, they didn’t even notice him coming down. 

It was then that Kim Dokja stepped on a loud screeching wood plank.

Frozen in his tracks, he could practically feel the dozens of eyes, awakening from their daze, staring at his figure. Kim Dokja held his breath. 

Did they notice the clothes?

In a moment of bravery, he looked towards the middle of the room. 

…

They did.

Feigning ignorance, Kim Dokja’s head slowly turned back ahead again.

Head facing the wall, Kim Dokja dodged the gazes the best he could, moving swiftly and goal driven. His two feet carried him along the edges of the room towards a certain place, from where a charming sizzling chimed across the room.

The eyes moved with him. 

Damn, he knew wearing another person’s clothes wasn’t something he usually did, so he will excuse these judgmental “glimpses”– no quite honestly, they looked more like entranced people caught under a magical spell. A tracking spell. 

Was it that obvious whose clothes he wore? No considering the company didn’t know about their relationship it might seem a little strange to them.

'Is this the big announcement?' He imagined it to be more flowery and not so suddenly. 

But seriously why were they doing that? He quickly moved to the kitchen, where coincidentally Yoo Joonghyuk stood upright, arms flexing with every chop of his knife.

It was the perfect height for a shield. Kim Dokja deemed that place to be the safest right now in this room. 

So he stood behind him.

Really Really Close, Kim Dokja needed to; his figure was barely smaller than Yoo Joonghyuk's well if you count out the soft muscles that were appetizingly smiling at Kim Dokja. 

In a moment of pure distraction, he felt the desire to bump his head against the broad back. 

Yoo Joonghyuk sharply inhaled, the knife falling to the ground. "Kim Dokja."

"Don't mind me." Kim Dokja whispered distracted, drawing his hand along the dent of Yoo Joonghyuk's spine, who froze in place. Kim Dokja could feel the tension through the thin fabric. His lips tugged upward against his will. "Joonghyuk-ah, why don't you continue cooking?"

Yoo Joonghyuk grumbled, cutely, hands now stemmed against the countertop, gaze cast down. He bit his lip, as if the thrilling sensation would stop because of that. 

Oh, he was struggling. 

Seems Kim Dokja wasn't the only one with personal space problematics. Or maybe Kim Dokja took this too far? 

Suddenly someone cleared their throat.

Kim Dokja flinched. Right, they weren't alone in this room. 

Kim Dokja slid his hand away from the heat, his head then peeking out from the body-shield, curiously. 

'As expected.' Still about six pair of eyes, that were strangely focused on Yoo Joonghyuk now, and the one behind him.

Kim Dokja leaned against the back, hiding behind him, hindering their view. 

"Ah, I forgot about them." He whispered in Yoo Joonghyuk's ear, who replied with an amused huff. 

"This isn't funny." Kim Dokja muttered, grumbling in response. 

Yoo Joonghyuk looked over his shoulder and their eyes met. Kim Dokja could see the amused crinkles under the other's eyes. He let out a warning, growling.

Someone cleared their throat, again. This time it was clearly Han Sooyoung. How surprising she hadn't said anything yet. 'Wait is that Sangah's hand on her mouth?... That explains it.'

Yoo Joonghyuk glanced over his shoulder, voice calm now. "They already know."

'About the clothes, about our relationship.' Kim Dokja's mind finished the sentence. 

"You really think so?" Kim Dokja pressed his body even closer against the back; Yoo Joonghyuk had troubles because of that and finally decided to turn around, facing him.

"But our clothes are kind of similar, right?" Kim Dokja continued. 

The man before him tilted his head, replying shortly, "I don't mean the clothes." 

Now Kim Dokja titled his head in the same direction, expression muddled with questions. "Then what . . . "

Oh.

Of course.

A simple something existed that he quite obviously shouldn't have missed.

But he still did. 

Kim Dokja's mind occupied with worrying about the clothes forgot about this very, no really extremely simple fact. 

The cat effect. 

Kim Dokja quickly clinged to Yoo Joonghyuk. As if he could hide the flattened ears and puffed-up tail from the company’s eyes. "Don't move."

Yoo Joonghyuk first tried to wriggle free only for the arms to clamp down even harder. "Yoo Joonghuyk."

"Kim Dokja." The body beneath Kim Dokja's cheek vibrated, its hands wrapping around him with soothing motions.

"They already know." he repeated. 

Kim Dokja sighed. "Hah, yeah now they do."

He really wanted to avoid them finding out.

Though it wasn't because he thought they'd ridicule him. It was more so because he wanted to avoid giving them any more blackmail material they had on him. And he was sure a few photos of cat ears were just right for that. 

Unwrapping his arms from the other, Kim Dokja asked into the room with a controlled voice, "so, how come there is no reaction? "

"I explained it to them" Han Sooyoung took the liberty to reply, finally freed from her prison called Yoo Sangah. "Because your tired self wasn't capable of anything."

"...Breakfast." His hollow voice echoed. 

"Sure looked comfortable."

'Oh my god, ... that really happened.' Kim Dokja thought it was just a beautiful dream. 

 Han Sooyoung professionally mimicked Lee Seolhwa. "I recommend sleeping more."

"Sooyoung, I slept as much as I normally do."

"You are a cat now. Sleep more." She said while walking past him to the only free place left on the table. Conveniently everyone from the company was already seated, ready for dinner, while they were bickering around. 

There were only two seats left. He looked how Han Sooyoung currently occupied one of them, while Yoo Joonghyuk was cooking in the kitchen preparing dinner for .... wait since when did he make so much food for only the two of them.

By how much he's making right now, Kim Dokja would think that it was enough for at least 8 people, what was about the number currently...

"Today isn't a dinner gathering?" Yoo Joonghyuk cooked breakfast and lunch for all of them, but dinner only every third day... which wasn't today but tomorrow.

"That bastard," Kim Dokja heard a slight hostility in her voice, "he got blackmailed."

"You're kidding, right?" How would someone even blackmail Yoo Joonghyuk. Wasn't like he suddenly grew cat ears like Kim Dokja.

She only sent a smirk his way. "By the way the only seat left is said bastard's lap."

"…"

"Don't be shy now. You were eating breakfast on his L-A-P as well. " She spelled it out as if Kim Dokja didn't know what Yoo Joonghyuk’s L-A-P meant. 

In the end Kim Dokja really did eat, sitting on Yoo Joonghyuk's L-A-P.

Can't he just fall asleep again? This wasn't meant ironically, he really could fall back asleep again.

The lap was very comfortable. 

'Quiet you little shit.' Kim Dokja felt like he gained a second fourth wall. 

"You've gotten used to this quicker than I expected." Han Sooyoung commented.

"Please be quiet." He would have said, if another piece of meat wasn't stuffed in his mouth. His body was also betraying him in strange ways, his tail comfortably wrapping around Yoo Joonghyuk’s waist. 

He tried correcting it a few times, but soon gave up. The delicious cooking was very distracting, and Kim Dokja never even noticed the way Yoo Joonghyuk's expression became more gentle when he saw the tail's preferred spot. 

[ Remaining time: 5 days ]

. . .

The night went by surprisingly quick. Probably because Kim Dokja fell asleep. again. But the positive side was that he was now very well rested and able to go do some sub scenarios again. What he didn't expect was a shadow to follow him.

Yoo Joonghyuk decided to accompany Kim Dokja to his scenario in the name of protection. "There might be an unexpected effect from the penalty."

Kim Dokja doubted it. Clearly an excuse. 

Kim Dokja didn't know why Yoo Joonghyuk was afraid. Sure, he had a record of doing things that ended in rather unfortunate circumstances like death, but it's not like he'll run away. He isn't some stray cat -

- hm.

"Alright." 

. . .

They solved the scenario just fine, slaying monsters wasn't really something his acquired characteristics would affect, as expected. What they did indeed affect though was how every time Kim Dokja come even a little closer to Yoo Joonghyuk, his tail would affectionately wrap itself around anything in reach – be that a leg, coat, arm or even hand.

Yoo Joonghyuk reacted unexpectedly neutral, if even a little happy. Kim Dokja saw his sword scrape along the floor, when they weren't fighting.

Anyway, all went well, they got back safe and healthy, except …

"Get out, Yoo Joonghyuk."

Yoo Joonghyuk was standing by the door. The bathroom door to be exact.

"I can help. Cats are afraid of water." Kim Dokja was sure that wasn't printed in the damn cat manual book. 

"Glad I'm not a cat." He pointed at the bathroom door. "Get out, I need to shower."

Yoo Joonghyuk didn't trust his words and very stubbornly also didn't want to get out either. So he resorted to dirty tactics. "Dokja, isn't this the stage we are in?"

"You're using my words against me, I see." Kim Dokja mentioned his thoughts about the previous clothing incident, when they had a talk during the scenario and this is the result. 

"I'll turn around."

"Won't matter, if there's a mirror. " He waved at the turned around Yoo Joonghyuk. "Now get out."

Yoo Joonghyuk met his eyes defiantly through the reflection. 

'Who's the cat with separation anxiety, again?'

Above that, why can't he do it outside the door. But Kim Dokja accepted the stage that he summoned himself. 

He sighed, dramatically, taking his coat off. "Come here for a second."

Kim Dokja then threw the coat over the regressors face, who stood with his arms hovering in the air. Small revenge.

"Perfect."

Muffling came from under the fabric. "Is this necessary?"

"No."

Yoo Joonghyuk grumbled.

"Close your eyes as well." His fault for staying inside. "Face towards the door."

"Even more perfect." Kim Dokja admired his handicraft and began undressing, stepping in the shower with surprising ease. The absurdity of this situation was distracting enough for him to be as unaware of himself as possible. It was only when water ran down his skin that his head became a little clearer again.

"Don't you dare turn around."

In Yoo Joonghyuk's head a thing from his checklist was marked as done. 'Shower together.' (technically and with extra steps).

. . .

When Kim Dokja pulled the rag off the protagonist's head, the other's cheeks were tinted red. Must have been hot under it. But neither Kim Dokja nor Yoo Joonghyuk could complain.

'What a nice view.'

Their thoughts aligned, discretely observing the other. Kim Dokja in his sleeping clothes (shirt from Yoo Joonghyuk- yes and Kim Dokja didn't know- and short sleeping pants). A great sight indeed.

"I'll dry your hair." He patted to the space between his legs, after sitting down on his bed. "Sit down." It looked like he was expecting Kim Dokja to argue.

"Sure, why not." Kim Dokja said surprising even himself.

Well, it's not like he'll draw the line here.

. . .

It looked like Yoo Joonghyuk was in serious mental pain. "Kim Dokja, don't move."

Kim Dokja only made even more of an effort to not stop these strange instincts to rub his head against Yoo Joonghyuk's thighs. Can't blame him, they were so soft and hard at the same time. The perfect pillow. Even warmed. 

Yoo Joonghyuk once again groaned, then acceptingly sighed. 

Yes, he gave up. Even more when he noticed how Kim Dokja fell asleep, looking unbearably comfortable and purring in response to him caressing the ears.

. . .

The next hour followed the simple routine from the morning; just that it was evening. This time no one even batted an eye, when Yoo Joonghyuk fed the asleep Kim Dokja his dinner and carried him up afterwards. 

Lying down, he gently held Kim Dokja, who was sleeping through all this in his arms, making sure his warmth reached him. Then he felt something.

... A hand on his chest. It suddenly clamped down. Yoo Joonghyuk didn't yelp through sheer self-control. 

The hand was ... feeling up his chest… no that's not it… Yoo Joonghyuk felt a hand kneading his chest. 

Another harsh squeeze with the other hand that joined. 

 'agh… damn he's kneading too damn thoroughly.' Yoo Joonghyuk suppressed a groan, that sounded awfully similar to a moan. But Kim Dokja's face looked so peaceful and content. It must be because he feels safe, Yoo Joonghyuk thought with mixed feelings, because the next press landed directly on his nerves.

'Ah. Dear god.'

It seems he won't be sleeping much tonight.

. . .

At that time Yoo Joonghyuk didn't know just how many hours of sleep this way of thinking would cost him the following day. Namely every single one. 

"Damn, first time I've seen you look so dead outside and inside at the same time." Han Sooyoung commented, sucking on her lemon lollipop.

"By the way, why are you holding your shirt so weirdly?" She pointed out. Yoo Joonghyuk who normally walks around in a turtle neck, stood before her in a loose black shirt. It was very noticeable how Yoo Joonghyuk lifted the piece of clothing away from his chest.

"You don’t have to know." He turned away in defiance, even more darkly than he would have with enough sleep. 

Yes, but Han Sooyoung wanted to know. And what Han Sooyoung wants to know, Han Sooyoung will find a way to know. 

'Better to ask for forgiveness, than permission.' (my philosophy)

Without warning she flashed herself by ripping the shirt off. An action that for once even shocked Yoo Joonghyuk enough for his face to not even automatically switch to a scowl, just mouth gaping open. (like a sunfish)

She analyzed the view in silence. 'Nice abs. And red, swollen chest.'

It took Han Sooyoung nothing more than a second to piece things together.

"Biscuits, isn't it."

Yoo Joonghyuk only wore a pained expression of admission.

Han Sooyoung cackled at his absolute silence.