Chapter Text
Another one.
Another envelope taped to your front door, pastel pink this time. You haven’t opened them. You’ve been too weary to deal with deceitful marketing ploys or pranks. You work six days a week normally but lately for the last three weeks someone's been calling out on your day off. Which means you go in, well not this time. It’s nine pm; when you normally leave and you have already decided you are not going in this next time.
You unlock your apartment door and go in quickly making sure to lock the door behind you. You sigh, the relief of being home is amazing. You start your kettle on the stove, drop the letter on the table with the others and start taking off your uniform so you can settle in.
But what should you have this time? You shuffle through your collection. Jasmine, Oolong, Calendula, English breakfast, Irish breakfast, Chai? You stumble across a Lavender Earl Grey that’s new but you haven’t been able to try. You don’t want it by itself however. Shirtless you look in your fridge, Oat or Almond? Whatever isn’t expired. You check the dates and pull out both, pouring the last bit of almond milk into the sink before throwing the container into the bin.
London fog it is then.
You hum happily as you have decided your drink for tonight. Now to take a very quick shower, make your drink and hit the hay. You’ll worry about eating tomorrow, you just want something warm before bed.
With fresh pajamas and the sound of the kettle going off you get out your milk frother. You get out your cat mug, put some of your vanilla syrup you made in, ready your teabags and pour in that steaming water. You wait around 7 minutes before starting your oatmilk in the steamer. While you wait, your mind starts to wander to the letters. The envelope colors make a rainbow. In your opinion they sent it backwards but nevertheless this is an odd marketing strategy.
You pick up the purple one, or rather lavender. They are all pastels, with a little red heart sticker for a seal. What is this a valentine card from a kid?
You might have thought too soon as you start to read the note.
Dear my lemondrop,
You haven’t been eating much, and you are making me worried.
I know this isn’t the best reintroduction, but please eat.
Love,
your one and only admirer.
That was sent three weeks ago. Monday. You had worked four days straight, and skipped eating one night, or was it the whole day that time?
But what’s more important right now is the fact that you have “an admirer.” Bleh. A stalker is what it more so sounds like. You already have so much on your plate. Your stress is also really high. Maybe it’s time to move away.
Actually that's a great idea.
No more shitty coworkers, no more piles of stress, for a bit. Maybe you can get a cat! You’ve always wanted one.
“I think I'll get a cat!” You exclaim to yourself as you suddenly remember your frother finished a bit ago. You pour the lukewarm milk into your tea and stir a few times with the teabag before taking a sip. It may be colder than it should have been but it still tastes amazing!
Tomorrow, you hit the sweet shop for some stress relief and go start making plans on how you are going to move.
Tomorrow comes and your eyes open lazily.
Looking at the clock you find that it’s eleven am on the dot. That’s later than you normally wake up. That doesn’t matter though, it’s your day off for once.
You get up, look out the window, and see snow. You knew winter just started but you weren’t expecting actual snow for two more weeks. You get yourself ready and dressed for the weather then head to the door.
mew
You haven’t stepped one foot out the door.
mew mew
You look down at the shivering kitten.
A small white and brown color-pointed kitten in a dark brown sweater sitting outside your apartment door.
“Look. At. You!” You say warmly lifting the tiny baby to your chest. You cannot just leave it there, it’s cold, it’s probably hungry and it’s just a baby!
Then you remember, you said you wanted a cat out loud. Which means your stalker heard you. This kitten is most likely from them.
You should find it another home. You think, trying not to get attached. But, it’s not the kitten’s fault.
You look at them. Their large blue eyes looking back at you and a small purr coming from the small form. “I shouldn’t keep you for many reasons but where else would you go?” You take a deep breath, “Let’s go grab you some supplies.”
mew?
You lock your door and get to your car.
Pet store, home, set everything up for the kitten, grocery shopping, sweet shop, home.
As you buckle in and put the kitten in your lap, “What’s your name gonna be little one?”
mew
“You are a vocal one, that’s for certain. You know what? How did you even get into the complex anyway?” You think aloud as you drive.
Huh. Maybe your neighbor had spare kittens? Or worse, your neighbor is your stalker.
You don’t talk to your neighbors so you wouldn’t know. This is an issue.
Or you’re very paranoid and should calm down before making assumptions.
You hum a bit as you pull into the parking lot of the pet store. Once parked you pick up the kitten gently, bring it to your chest again and walk into the pet store.
“Hii, Welcome in!” The clerk says perking up a bit as you seem to have been the first person who brought an animal in with them.
“Who do you have with you?” They ask enthusiastically.
“Oh, um. They were left on my doorstep, but I've decided to take them in.” You start.
“The distribution system wins again!” The pet store clerk cheers.
“Distribution system?” You question gently petting the ball of fluff in your hands.
“Yeah, let’s see. Normally somebody who wants a cat or let’s be honest here, people who don’t want a cat. Have a cat cross their path that they cannot seem to get rid of. They end up having a friend for life.” The clerk says with a small chuckle at the end.
“Really, that’s interesting. I was wondering if you can help me get this little one supplies? It’s my first time with a kitten.” You ask looking around at the neat but overwhelming amount of pet stuff.
The clerk nods, jumping up from behind the counter to help you around the place.
After shopping you had decided on the name Biscotti for the kitten.
You had put them down for a second in the store, a mistake. During that fiasco they grabbed a shiny cookie shaped toy that was slightly too big and refused to let go of it. So you bought the toy.
You set up their new carrier and put them inside. Despite their protesting you find that it will be safer for them this way.
You get home and quickly set up all of their stuff in a little corner. Using a gate to keep them contained just so you can do the rest of your shopping, then you’ll spend the rest of your time with Biscotti.
You feel bad leaving them alone like this but you need food in the house and you really want a bucket of sweets to get you through the next week. You take a quick picture of them, so you can remember to hurry up
You quickly head out again. Doing a smaller food shopping before going to the sweet shop.
You sigh before heading inside, pulling the door open and being smacked with the scent of chocolate and sassafras.
They must be making root beer barrels! Too bad that’s not what I am here for.
“Welcome to Sweet Dreams! Oh (Y/n), haven’t seen you in a bit. What trouble have you been getting up to?”
That’s Orion, he normally fills out your order.
“Hello Orion, unfortunately no troublemaking for me, just work. Oh and I guess I finally got that kitten I have been wanting.” You reply, stepping further inside.
“You’ve committed to the idea? I am surprised!” Orion says while putting gloves on so he can sort out your order.
“It’s more like the idea committed to me. They were just outside my door.”
“The usual bucket?”
You nod, “anything new?”
“Just the candy canes; Raspberry, Peppermint, Chocolate, Vanilla and…Cherry.”
“What’s wrong with the cherry ones?” You ask out of curiosity, he said it with such vitriol that it almost surprised you.
“Nothing really, I just can’t have any. Such a cruel fate to have allergies to the one flavor that gets edible glitter.” He shares dramatically, a fake swoon as he drops the shark gummies into your bucket.
You can’t help but laugh at the ridiculous sight of it. “What a cruel fate indeed.” You manage to blurt out through your sudden bout of joy.
“There’s your bucket of whimsy.” Orion says placing it on the counter besides the register.
“You always call it something different, why?” You ask following him to the register.
“Everytime you come in you always need something different. Anyway, will you please let me see your new kitten?” He asks, typing in the weight of your bucket into the register.
“This is Biscotti.” You say showing them the picture of the fluffy color point masterpiece of a kitten. “Speaking of Biscotti, I should be getting back to them.”
“Did you name them Biscotti because you’re a barista, Seriously?” He jokes, as he watches you put your card in the card reader.
“$24. 91? This is cheap, almost more than half off, did you ring it up wrong?” You ask, hesitant to confirm your order. You had completely ignored the joke this time.
“You’re a regular for the most part, and you’ve spent $50 every single time. I say, let's cut you some slack.” Orion says with a shrug. A smile grows on his face, and he pushes up his circle frame glasses.
Hazel eyes? I thought they were brown.
“Won’t you get in trouble? I know I would if I were to try that.” You ask, quite concerned about their job.
“Nah, my father co-owns Sweet Dreams. I’ve already talked to him about giving certain customers discounts and he doesn’t care.” Orion says casually shrugging again. “My coworkers and I like seeing you around so why not treat you. Hell we’d give you a gold card but those are employees only.”
That peaks your interest but you really gotta get going so you pay for the bucket. “I really gotta go, but thank you again Orion. I really mean it. I hope to see you soon!” You say, a smile properly fixed upon your face as you leave.
You quickly put the bucket in the back seat of your car and shut it before getting in and finally getting back home, your groceries and bucket of sweets in your arms.
You put your bags down locking the door behind you and go check on Biscotti who is sitting in a mess of spilt food and water playing with one of the feathers hanging off their cat tree. “I knew I spent too much time away.” You groan softly before chuckling gently.
You put your stuff away, and quickly kitten proof what you have. But now you have the mess and how do you bathe a kitten? Surely you don’t soak them.
So, you look it up, you read and you read.
That’s what you got the bucket for.
You were trying to follow everything the clerk was saying at the time, but they were waayyy too fast.
You just ended up buying everything they mentioned, luckily you could afford to. Your bills were paid and you’ve been working like a madperson.
But you were supposed to be moving, and you wanna have a safety net. You’ll figure it out. You always do.
You are snapped out of your thoughts by more mewing and quickly start running a bath for Biscotti.
Once done cleaning up everything you sit on your couch sighing as a now dry, and less grumpy Biscotti crawls on your lap from the other side of the couch.
You can’t help but smile as they start to cautiously settle.
You have been chosen. You are also starting to feel tired as well.
Maybe just a nap and you can meal prep when you wake up.