Kai didn't know how Ren managed it, but somehow he woke up to the smell of waffles and the sound of Ren humming off-key in the kitchen. The apartment was warm, sunlight spilling through the curtains in lazy stripes across the floor, and Kai lay there for a moment thinking: Huh. This is nice.
No drama.No tension.Just Ren making breakfast while burning at least one corner of something.
"Kai," Ren called from the hallway, "I need a second opinion."
Kai sat up, rubbing his eyes. "Is something on fire?"
"Possibly."
Kai sighed, slid off the bed, and padded barefoot into the kitchen. Ren was standing in front of the counter with an expression that said I tried and a waffle that was—impressively—burnt on only one side.
"I think this one's edible," Ren said, hopeful.
Kai picked it up by the edge. "If by edible you mean 'will definitely crunch like concrete,' then yes."
Ren huffed. "Fine. You make the next one."
Kai placed the waffle down and smirked. "Nope. I'm on break."
"You just woke up!"
"Exactly. I'm resting."
Ren flicked a bit of flour at him, which landed squarely on Kai's cheek. Kai blinked, slow and offended, and Ren froze.
"…You're dead," Kai announced.
"Wait—Kai, no—"
Kai lunged. Ren shrieked—actually shrieked—and tried to dodge but tripped over absolutely nothing and slammed gently against the counter as Kai grabbed the flour bag.
"You wouldn't," Ren whispered, eyes wide.
Kai tilted the bag. "Try me."
Ren raised his hands dramatically. "Okay—okay! Peace treaty! Breakfast truce!"
Kai paused. "Fine. But only because I'm hungry."
Ren let out a breath of pure relief.
Kai's lips twitched. "And because I need you to take me somewhere today."
Ren perked up. "Where?"
Kai tugged at the sleeve of Ren's shirt, a tiny, shy gesture he didn't even notice he'd done until Ren smiled at it.
"There's a cat café," Kai muttered. "Mia told me about it."
Ren's eyebrows rose. "You want to go to a cat café?"
Kai shrugged, pretending he wasn't just the tiniest bit excited. "They have themed drinks."
Ren grinned. "You want the themed drinks."
Kai scowled. "That's not the only reason."
"Uh-huh."
"And the cats."
Ren laughed, soft and warm. "Then we're going."
The Cat Café
It was a ten-minute walk and the weather was stupidly perfect—gentle breeze, warm sun, no reason to be miserable. Kai didn't let go of Ren's sleeve the whole way, not because he was nervous, but because grabbing Ren's sleeve was starting to become a habit. A comfortable one.
The café was tucked between a bakery and a bookstore, with soft pastel paint and big windows filled with sleepy cats sunbathing like royalty.
As soon as they walked in, Kai's eyes went huge.
Ren stopped just to watch the transformation—Kai going from his usual quiet composure to full, barely-contained delight.
The place was filled with cat trees, ribbons, soft music, and tiny bells around little cat necks. A ginger kitten was taking a nap on a giant plush donut. Another black-and-white one was kneading a blanket like it owed him money.
A staff member smiled. "You can sit anywhere! The cats will come to you."
Kai nearly sat on the floor right there.
Ren grabbed the back of his hoodie. "At least wait until we get to the table—"
But a fluffy gray cat walked straight up to Kai, plopped itself onto his foot, and meowed.
Kai slowly bent down, eyes sparkling. "He chose me."
Ren watched, amused. "Congratulations, you're a parent now."
Kai scooped the cat up. "I'm naming him Marshmallow."
"That's not his name," Ren laughed.
"It is now."
Ren shook his head, still smiling as they went to a small table tucked in the corner. Kai settled with Marshmallow curled in his lap like he'd lived there all his life.
A waiter came. "Two drinks?"
Kai stared at the little illustrated menu, serious. "I want the… um…" He pointed. "The cat-puccino."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "With extra paw-print foam?"
Kai nodded gravely. "Obviously."
Ren ordered something boring.
"That's plain," Kai said.
"It's coffee."
"Plain," Kai repeated.
Ren nudged him under the table. "Do you want to try mine when it comes?"
Kai blinked. "…Yes."
Ren grinned. "Thought so."
Teasing & Trouble
Five minutes in, Kai officially fell in love with at least four of the café cats.
Ren kept snapping pictures.
Kai looked up and narrowed his eyes. "Stop."
Ren took another one. Click.
Kai extended one finger. "Ren."
Another picture. Click.
Kai made a face. "I look weird."
"You look cute," Ren corrected instantly.
Kai froze.
Then tugged Ren's sleeve again to hide the fact his ears were turning pink.
Ren smirked. "Should I take more?"
"You should eat your drink," Kai said, failing to sound threatening.
"That's not how drinks work."
"You're not how drinks work."
Ren laughed so hard he nearly spilled his coffee.
Kai grumbled but his lips were twitching.
Then a chubby orange cat hopped onto the table, sniffed the foam paw print on Kai's drink… and started licking it.
Kai gasped. "Sir. That is mine."
Ren wheezed. "He said finders keepers."
Kai carefully pushed the cat away, but it simply circled around and climbed into his lap like nothing happened.
Kai sighed, defeated. "Fine. You can have a little sip."
Ren's eyes widened. "Kai—no—you can't let—"
Kai held the cat gently, the picture of soft resignation.
"He has rights."
Ren lowered his face into his hands. "I'm losing my mind."
Kai poked his arm. "Take a picture."
Ren peeked through his fingers. "Of what? You enabling a tiny thief?"
"Yes."
Ren took the picture.
Kai smiled at the cat. "I'm printing that later."
Ren choked. "Printing—?"
Kai nodded. "Frame. Wall. Gallery."
Ren gave him a look of mock horror. "You want to decorate our apartment with cat pictures?"
Kai blinked. "Wait—our apartment?"
Ren froze.
Kai smirked, slow and wicked. "So you plan on keeping me."
"Kai—"
Kai leaned back, smug. "I knew it."
Ren tried to cover his flustered face with his hand, but Kai caught it and slid his fingers between Ren's.
Ren's heart did an actual flip. "Stop being cute on purpose."
"I'm never cute on purpose," Kai said. "…It just happens."
Ren groaned.
Kai laughed—quiet, soft, but real.
Pure Soft Chaos
They stayed for over an hour.
Kai made friends with every single cat.Ren bought Kai a cat-shaped macaron just because he made a small soft "oh" sound when he saw it.Kai got teased for it the entire time.Ren got a crumb thrown at him in retaliation.Kai tried to take a cat home.Ren had to physically block the door.Kai accused him of "destroying dreams."Ren said "you literally cannot steal a cat."Kai sulked for exactly forty seconds.Then got distracted by a kitten wearing a bowtie and forgot to be mad.
They eventually left, Kai walking a little closer to Ren than usual, sleeve still held loosely between Kai's fingers.
The sun was dipping gently, not dramatic, just soft and warm like the whole day. Kai kicked a pebble as they walked.
"Ren."
"Mm?"
Kai thought for a second. "Today was good."
Ren bumped their shoulders together. "Yeah?"
Kai nodded. "It felt… normal. In a good way."
Ren's voice softened, but not in a heavy way—just warm. "We can have more days like this, you know."
Kai hesitated. "Do you want that?"
"Obviously."
Kai looked away, smiling just a little. "Good."
They walked in quiet for a bit.
Then Kai glanced sideways. "Do you think the staff would notice if we stole one cat—"
"Kai, no."
"Kai, yes."
"No."
"We could put it in your hoodie."
"Kai."
"It would be asleep. It wouldn't even notice."
"Emma would notice."
Kai clicked his tongue. "Snitch."
Ren laughed until he had to stop walking.
Home Again
Back at the apartment, Kai tossed himself onto the couch and sprawled dramatically.
Ren raised an eyebrow. "…What are you doing?"
"Becoming one with the couch."
Ren snorted. "Is that like becoming one with nature?"
"Better," Kai said. "Couch doesn't have bugs."
Ren sat beside him. "Move your foot, it's in my space."
Kai kicked him lightly. "Make me."
Ren grabbed Kai's ankle. "This is a kidnapping."
Kai stared at him. "…Do you even know what kidnapping is?"
"Yes. This."
"You're ridiculous."
"You love it."
Kai hesitated only a beat. "…Maybe."
Ren stilled.
Kai reached out and hooked a finger through Ren's shirt, pulling him just a little closer.
"I mean," Kai murmured, "don't get a big head about it."
Ren smiled, soft and sure. "No promises."
Kai rolled his eyes but didn't let go.
And that's how the evening went—no tension, no big confessions, just soft teasing, warm quiet, shared space, and the peaceful comfort of two people who finally felt safe enough to enjoy the simplest parts of life together.
A cat café, a silly argument, a sleeve held between fingers, and the kind of warmth that didn't ask for anything in return.
It was perfect.
And Kai didn't mind letting it stay perfect for a while.