Chapter Text
Katsuki Bakugou was quite sure this week would be uneventful. He’s been on top of all his university courses, Mina and Camie promised they wouldn’t contact him while they desperately studied for their exams, and his parents were vacationing in Croatia.
Life was sure sweet when he didn’t have people nagging him to hang out.
He closed his eyes as he sat on one of the university’s benches, soaking in the spring sun that he had rightfully earned. He mildly wondered if he would get in trouble sleeping here and whether he should risk a sunburn. Unfortunately, people were loud, and the noise was only getting louder.
“Bakugou Katsuki! Bakugou Katsuki! BAKUGOU KATSUKI! BAKUGOU KATSUKI!”
He frowned, at the loud voice that was breaking his considered nap, as he saw a small brunette barrelling into people. He watched her with annoyance as she didn’t keep her volume down as she marched up to anyone with blond hair and shook them, shouting “Bakugou Katsuki?”
Her victim shook their head timidly, and she went looking for the next one.
Annoyed, and a little curious about why this girl was searching for him, he yelled out, “What the fuck do you want!?”
Her eyes locked into his and she marched towards him, the embodiment of fury in her soft round cheeks.
Standing upright, either to make her look taller or more intimidating, she crossed her arms in front of him.
“Are you Bakugou Katsuki?”
“What’s it to you?” Katsuki narrowed his eyes.
She puffed out her cheeks, but side glanced at the crowd, “I want you to come with me.”
“Hah?”
“You heard me! Come with me right now!”
“You expect me to follow you without you telling me what you want?” Katsuki asked with an arched brow.
“That’s right! It’s important!”
Fuck off, I’m not following some strange noisy woman,” Katsuki got up from the bench and began to walk away.
“Wait!” The girl cried, following after him desperately. Katsuki didn’t break his stride as they entered a small park that was quite vacant.
The dumb broad didn’t get the gist that he wanted to be left alone as she matched his pace, “My name is Uraraka Ochako! You know my friend, Asui.”
“Nope,” Katsuki said, popping his ‘p’.
“You… you are Bakugou Katsuki, right?”
“Yeah, but I don’t know who the fuck you’re talking about.”
He heard her stall for a second beside him, before resuming her steps, “She has long dark hair, super shy, cute. She’s quiet, but she’s pretty sensitive to what others think of her.”
“She doesn’t sound familiar at all.”
The girls face turned dark and she powered walk to cut him across.
“I’m really going to need you to remember her, or what’s going to happen to you won’t be pretty,” she spat out darkly.
“I don’t know her, and I don’t care,” he rolled his eyes.
“You-you. Man whore! You said you would date her, but you just wanted to sleep with her! And then you called her ugly, you fucking asshole!”
What?
Alright, now he’s starting to think someone’s pulling his leg because anyone that knows him knows he’s gay. He came out when he was like 10. He’s never even entertained the idea of fucking a girl.
Katsuki raised a brow, “I think your friend is confused.”
Round cheeks eyes went dark… literally. Her brown eyes casted a dark shadow. Katsuki could swear the sky darkened a bit around her.
“What the-“
“You stupid man! You were her first time! You couldn’t even think to be fucking considerate, because you’re so…so pig headed! You had the audacity to lie and say you wanted to be her boyfriend, but then told her you just needed her virginity to win a contest! She’s not even the first girl you did that to!”
“What the fuck are you talking about!? Look, Round Cheeks, I really don’t know your friend. Did you ever think your friend could have lied to you!? Maybe she was desperate to say she’s slept with someone and just chose my name or some-“
Katsuki was suddenly slammed into a tree. He didn’t know how. It didn’t look like anything touched him. He groaned, but there was a force that kept him pinned to the tree.
“You! Are going to live the rest of your life as a pig! No! A toad! A slug! Anything! But you’ll never touch another human being again with those filthy hands of yours!”
What?
But his mouth didn’t feel quite right, his line of sight seemed to be shrinking. He felt his bones shrink and his hair thicken on his body.
What the fuck.
It took him a few seconds to realize he was looking up at the rambunctious girl.
What the fuck did you do!? He tried yelling, but instead his voice produced a soft, “Mreow?”
What the fuck! He went to cover his mouth, but a soft paw covered it instead of a hand.
What the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck!
He looked down at his hands, but they were missing! Or more accurately, they were now little paws with soft pink toe pads.
My hands! “Mreow!”
Horrified he backed away only to struggle with a pile of fabric around him… no, that was his fucking clothes! He had shrunken out of them!
He circled around it, realizing he was on all fours, feeing his tail bone long and stretched, and fuck, he had a tail! A long bushy tail!
No, no, no, no.
A cat! She had somehow turned him into a fucking cat!
He heard the girl sigh as she knelt beside him, “You were supposed to be something ugly, but I guess you can learn your lesson in this form too. You better take the time to think about what you did, Katsuki Bakugou.”
Di-did she do this? How? Fuck, he was going to murder the stupid broad!
“Meow! Meow!” Katsuki yelled, but his voice was so tiny, and so little of consequence as she got up and turned to leave.
He tried to follow her, but realized, shit, all his stuff was in the middle of a public park. His clothes. His backpack. His wallet!
Fuck, she needed to turn him back! But she was already walking away!
Come back here! He tried screaming only for it to come out a high yowl.
Maybe he should bite her ankles.
But he turned back and saw some punk had walked by and was looking at his clothes with interest.
Katsuki realized he was going to have to defend his belongings or hide them.
Fuck off! He hissed and charged at the man, who at least looked spooked at the hissing cat, but not before grabbing his backpack.
Fucking goddammit! He chased after the man, but the man was sprinting.
Fuck! He turned to see other people start to fill the park and felt desperation.
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!
What the fuck was this nightmare!?
He snatched his wallet and looked for a spot to hide it. There was a hole in a tree that worked to stash it. He dragged the rest of his clothes under a bush, pissed that some fucktard just stole his backpack. He only had two items in there, but the textbook was expensive, and the notes had covered every class.
Goddammit.
Mildly satisfied with his hiding places, he went to look for the witch bitch… but she was nowhere to be found.
Fuck, where do I even look? Back at campus? Did she even go to this school?
It was worth a shot. She knew him, or rather his name.
As he circled back, he started to feel nervous when it seemed to take longer than usual.
It’s just because I’m small.
But he felt more antsy, because finding his own goddamn campus shouldn’t be this hard. He’s been in this park before, but everything looked different.
Wrong.
He was constantly looking up for signs on where he was, and his vision was blocked by giants who were giving him worrying pitying looks. He finally managed to find his way out of the park, only to come to a crowded street. He nervously dodged feet, but his presence among the business people was garnering heavy attention.
Shit.
He didn’t know how long he walked for until he found a street that looked familiar, only to realize that, no, he was completely fucking lost. Other people weren’t being very helpful as they snapped photos of him and some made movements to grab him. He hissed, dodging hands and trying to find a more private street to hide. He did not want to be considered one of Tokyo’s strays. Not with the probability that they might euthanize him.
His situation looked bleak as dusk was approaching.
How many hours had he been wandering?
He was fucking tired. He didn’t even know if he could trust to find the park where he hid his clothes.
Damn that witch.
He was absurdly hungry now. He regretted skipping breakfast. He hadn’t eaten all day. He lowered himself for looking for scraps in garbage bin, but had too much dignity to take a bite out of moldy bread. His stomach fought with him, but he was not eating that shit until he was starving.
His stomach howled, telling him he made the wrong choice as he moved to another street.
When he thought it couldn’t get much worse, it started to fucking rain.
Of course it fucking would.
Where am I going to sleep?
In a dumpster?
Fuck me.
Cold, wet, and tired, he wondered if he had done something to actually deserve this. His fur felt matted and gross and he wished the witch had at least turned him into a hairless cat, because he felt like all the muck was soaking up into his fur. It was like the feeling of wet socks in shoes, but plastered all over his body.
“Look, it’s a stray!”
Katsuki’s round amber eyes pinpointed the noise as he saw two people in uniforms come at him with nets.
Of course.
He fled. The streets slick with rain.
He didn’t have to guess who those people were. His mind shut down as instinct drove him to run as fast as his tiny legs could carry him, not caring if he was diving into dirty puddles.
He wasn’t really paying attention to where he was running, until bright lights were suddenly all around him.
Oh shit.
Fear took over, as he locked himself into place. Blaring horns and bright light blinding him making it impossible to move. He curled up, frozen in what looked like the middle of an intersection.
He was going to die.
He was going to get hit by a car, and no one will ever find the body of ‘Katsuki Bakugou’.
He squeezed his eyes when he heard a voice call.
“Hey, wait! I said wait! There’s a cat!”
He didn’t open his eyes. Not even when he felt large hands pick him up.
“Hey, get off the road!” Anothr man yelled, followed by the blare of a horn.
“In two seconds, sir!!” Katsuki heard his saviour call out as he was tucked into thick arms.
He was shaking, he realized, but he felt a slight relief when the noise of the traffic died away as his rescuer took him somewhere more secluded.
“Hey, you okay little fella?” The man passed a finger softly over his cheek. Katsuki still felt shaken up, and he shivered in the warm hands.
“Hey buddy, you’re okay,” and Katsuki wanted to believe him, just from how good it felt with the fingers brushing against his cheek. Feeling more secure, Katsuki forced himself to open his eyes only to be greeted with the most sweetest, kindest smile that had ever blessed the earth.
Okay, hello.
Katsuki was not expecting that his saviour was going to be some chiselled gym god.
“Oh you’re super cute!” The man chuckled, the laughter coming from deep within the man’s chest.
The man had bright red hair that looked like it had been spiked, but was going limp from the rain. He wore a red hoodie that matched his hair, but his tanned forearms were exposed. His fucking shoulders looked like they could perch a small child on each. Fuck, he was massive. Or maybe Katsuki was a really tiny cat.
The man began to flip Katsuki upside down, and Katsuki instinctively moved to protest, not liking being suspended in the air.
“Shoot, you don’t have a collar on you. No tattoos either.”
Katsuki couldn’t help feeling a little violated as the man checked his stomach and his ears, but, mm, his hands were nice.
“Shh, hey buddy I’m not trying to hurt you, I’m just trying to get some info out of you,” and the man brushed his hands against Katsuki’s cheek again and he fucking melted because that felt sooo good.
“Did that feel good? You’re such a sweetheart,” the man guessed with a small laugh and continued to brush his fingers through Katsuki’s gross fur, causing what Katsuki thought was going to be a moan but was coming out in loud purrs.
“Your fur’s all dirty though. It’s a shame I can’t tell what colour you are,” the man continued and Katsuki was putty in this man’s arms.
“Come on,” and the man actually tucked him onto his hoodie, so Katsuki was pressed against the man’s solid pecs.
Holy shit.
The man began a light jog in the rain, and Katsuki was jostled between heaps of muscles.
It was warm here.
Katsuki was tired and the steady walking pace was making him feel drowsy.
I should try to leave, but the man’s heat and scent was so alluring.
He nodded in and out, opening his eyes to see a small house the man approached.
Shit, where am I?
The man must have lived close by because he jogged the whole way, but it was frightening that Katsuki had very little reference to where he was.
“Okay. Here we are! Home sweet home!” The red head hummed. He untucked Katsuki and Katsuki peered at the small home. He dropped Katsuki in the foyer, and Katsuki felt dread as the door to the outside closed.
Fuck.
He was going to have to find a way out quick so he wasn’t stuck here. At least the house was warm and dry.
The man stripped out of his soaked hoodie and Katsuki tried not to stare, feeling a bit like a creepy opportunitist, but really, the man was built like a powerhouse. He was just solid muscle and goddman, this man was exactly his type.
This was really not fair.
The man didn’t bother putting on a shirt and Katsuki was oddly okay with that, and allowed the man to pick him up again, furred cheeks flush against meaty pecs.
“Let’s get you into a bath, yeah?” The man brilliantly smiled at him, and Katsuki felt his stomach drop a little.
Katsuki couldn’t help but feel apprehensive, which didn’t make much sense because he loved baths. Maybe because he was a cat the word ‘bath’ sounded horrifying.
He trusted the man though. Didn’t know why, but he just felt like he could trust him. If the man was willing to jump out in the middle of traffic for a stupid cat, he couldn’t be all that bad.
The man slowly filled the tub, clutching Katsuki with one hand.
When the man was satisfied, he slowly lowered Katsuki into lukewarm water. Katsuki tried to be good. He was stock still as the man poured water over his head.
“Shh, shh, you’re doing so good, sweetheart.”
Oh. Fuck.
That hit different.
Completely inappropriate too, because here was a sweet man taking time out of his day to fucking save a cat and bathe it, and Katsuki was perving out. But could anyone blame him? He hadn’t been in a relationship in fucking years! Not that he wasn’t a catch, he was just fucking picky with his partners and there were few that could tolerate him.
He shuddered as the man gently scrubbed his body from top to bottom. Damn, he had really been touched starved though.
“Mm, you’re so good. You’re handling this very well. Maybe I’ll keep you for myself.”
And well, maybe Katsuki would take him up on that offer, as he kicked his voice of reason away.
Did he really need to be a human again?
“We would have to get you neutered though.”
Oh shit. Yup. No. He definitely had to find a way back to getting normal.
The man seemed pleased with Katsuki’s cleansing as he pulled Katsuki out of the tub and began to towel him off.
“Ooh, you have such a pretty colour. It’s like cream,” the man brightly said as he stroked his fur and Katsuki responded with a soft purr.
“You like that, don’t you? You want to be my new pet, pretty kitty?”
Yes, god yes.
Katsuki purred as the man kept up his ministrations.
“I’ve been looking to get a cat for some time. Didn’t think such a perfect thing like you would fall into my lap.”
Katsuki could say the same thing.
“Come on, let’s get you fed you little guy,” the man stretched and Katsuki followed him obediently into the kitchen.
The red head grumbled as he searched the fridge.
“I don’t have any cat food, but maybe I have something you can snack on for tonight,” he went to dig around his pantries and pulled out a couple of cans with a bright smile.
“This looks better.”
Katsuki watched him pull it open as he laid one on the ground.
Katsuki was starving, so he really wasn’t going to protest eating on the floor. He gave it a tentative sniff and was pleased to find it was just tuna.
He dug in, and somehow the taste was amazing, or maybe he was just desperately hungry.
The man chuckled and stroked Katsuki along his back, and Katsuki could honestly die like this.
The man grabbed a mammoth sized sandwich and sat on the floor with him as he inhaled his own food.
Katsuki watched him eat, and the man grinned back. Katsuki suddenly felt guilty, like he was purposefully being deceitful. He wished he could explain to the man he wasn’t really a cat. He wondered if the man would treat him this kindly if Katsuki was human.
Katsuki licked the can clean, hopefully showing the man that he appreciated the meal and Katsuki was rewarded with scritches behind the ear. He nearly fell over with how wobbly his legs became.
It was hella addicting.
He scooped Katsuki easily up to have him rest on the man’s lap, and Katsuki realized the man was big in other areas too.
Uhh…
The man showed no signs of shame as he dug his fingers through Katsuki’s fur on his stomach, and Katsuki practically flopped over and stretched to allow the man more access.
“I’m so glad we got you all cleaned up. Your fur is so fluffy. You’re a real pretty one,” and yes, Katsuki was purring to that. He couldn’t help it…. Even though the guy was technically complimenting him as a cat, praises were his biggest kink.
“…it’s been lonely,” the man muttered absent mindedly and Kastuki froze his purr.
The man looked sad and Katsuki hated to see that expression on such a sunlit face.
“Break ups suck, don’t they?” The man chuckled, but his eyes were glossy.
Who the fuck would break up with you!?
But it only came out as a desperate cry from a cat.
“I didn’t think getting over him would be this hard… it really fucking sucks,” the man kept stroking Katsuki’s belly and while it felt amazing, Katsuki wondered if he could murder the person that broke this man’s heart with his kitty claws. He felt a little tinge of hope to hear that his former partner had been a guy though.
“It’s been hard living on my own. I didn’t think it would be so hard. Guess I really can’t live without company. I’m really glad that you came home with me, kitty.”
Damn, Katsuki was smitten with this man. How could anyone break up with a big buff ‘hot as fuck’ dude, with a smile that was sweeter than sugar? A madman! If Katsuki had a man like this, he would never let him go! He rolled over, pressing his paws to the man’s chest.
You fucking deserve better.
But again, it came out as a soft trill.
God fucking dammit!
The man’s face broke into another brilliant smile that could honestly light up an entire room.
“Awe, you trying to console me? What do you think little fella? Want to live with me?”
Yes, yes, and yes.
But not in this way.
The man pressed Katsuki against his chest again and lifted him up.
“I’ll give you the tour.”
It was small for a house, but with decent space. 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, a kitchen, another room that had workout equipment (would explain the muscles), that looked like it had been a bedroom before and the backroom that had a washing machine.
Katsuki struggled in the red head’s arms when he saw a window that looked like he could open, but the man just casually flipped Katsuki onto his back as he cradled him in his arms.
“Ah, ah, ah. I haven’t kitty proofed the house yet.”
Great. This was turning into another problem.
I need to go, Katsuki softly mewled in the man’s arms, but the man just grinned, not understanding.
Katsuki frowned. He tried to struggle again, but the man ignored him as he made his way to his bedroom.
He relaxed his grip and Katsuki jumped to the floor, surprised with how elegantly he landed. He made a beeline for the door, but the man closed it quick.
“Mrew?”
“Sorry buddy, but I don’t know what you can reach. I have a friend that can help make it more livable for you, but for now, you’re stuck with me.”
That’s not the problem! “Mreowr!” He cried.
The man ignored Katsuki’s distress as he stripped out of his sweats and Katsuki had the decency to look away. The boxers he was wearing were waaaay too tight.
The man grabbed a shirt, with some ridiculous ‘gymbro’ logo, and he yawned as he crawled underneath the single futon in the room.
He looked at Katsuki sheepishly, “Sorry I don’t have a bed for you, I can give you a piece of my futon, though,” he patted the covers.
Katsuki hesitated, relinquishing that he was stuck for now and padded softly towards the heartbroken man. He allowed the man to snuggle close to his fur. It’s the least the man deserved.
“I’m glad I found you,” the man said softly into Katsuki’s fur and Katsuki felt guilty that he would be abandoning this man. But he couldn’t stay as this man’s pet forever… no matter how much he really liked those hands on him.
The man yawned and tucked Katsuki close. Katsuki hadn’t been cuddled with in years and he felt his chest ache. Mina and Camie would give him hugs, but he hadn’t been held like this and he wanted it. Wanted someone close to him that he could hold.
Fuck, he really had to leave before he got too attached. This wasn’t good for him or red head if he started to fall for… no, no, he wasn’t falling for anyone. He just met the guy. Katsuki was probably just feeling lonely.
Waiting for the man’s breathing to enter a lullabied state. Katsuki wiggled out of the man’s hold, scanning the room for a way out. He felt awful for leaving the man behind.
This cheerful man had sounded so lonely and so excited to have a companion, but realistically, Katsuki couldn’t be his.
He had to find the witch.
He stared at the man’s sleeping face, deep in sleep with a rhythmic soft snores that was kind of soothing to listen to.
Sorry. You’ll find a better cat.
Shyly, he pressed his mouth to the man’s lips, who mumbled in response.
Bye, Red.
Suddenly Katsuki felt wrong.
He leapt away from the man, as he felt his limbs stretch, his surroundings shrinking as he grew.
Oh shit.
He was human again.
Well, sort of.
He felt his tail stiffen and he reached up to find his ears were still pointed cat ears.
Fuck.
The man mumbled again, and Katsuki froze.
Shit, now he really had to leave before this guy woke up to find a naked stranger with a fucking tail and cat ears like some goddamn cosplayer.
Shamefully, he looked through the man’s hamper and stole a worn out hoodie and shorts. They were huge on Katsuki, and Katsuki tried not to guess their size difference.
I promise I’ll return this.
Before he left, he saw a student card on the man’s drawer. It was bright enough that Katsuki could see the man’s picture.
‘Kirishima Ejirou.’
Katsuki couldn’t help but feel butterflies in his stomach knowing the man’s name.
He stole a last glance at ‘Kirishima’, before he covered his cat ears with the hood and fled into the night.