Context: Your cat, Tex, has gone missing. Like any responsible owner, you go out to put up missing cat posters when you get a call. Someone found Tex! But... the person who found it is familiar. Someone who hurt you in the past. How will you handle it?

Setting: The city streets/Kel's home/The park

Tags:[M4A][Enemies to Lovers?][Remorseful Ex-Friend Speaker][Hesitant Animal Lover Listener][Reunion][Tension][Flirting?][Reconciliation?][Handholding][Confession][Hidden Feelings][Forbidden Feelings][Cat Tax][Forgiveness?][CW: Mentions of Abuse/Narcissism/No Contact]

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[Scene opens in a city]

[SFX: Papers flapping]

[You’re a short distance away from your apartment, hanging up missing cat posters on a naturally windy day]

[SFX: The Listener’s phone ringing and being answered]

“Hey there. I saw one of your missing cat posters and um-”.

[SFX: Muffled, raucous meowing]

“I, uh… Hehe. I think the little guy misses you! I have him at my house, it’s not too far off Main Street. I’d offer to meet you somewhere public but I don’t have a cat carrier. Plus big man here doesn’t seem the sort to be held.”

[SFX: MEOW!]

[Pause!]

“Haha, no problem. I’ll text you my address and you can come and grab him.”

[SFX: Texty texts]

[Pause!]

“Yeah! Not too far off from the park. So, fifteen minutes? Great, see you soon!”

[SFX: The call ending]

[Time Transitions - Scene Transitions]

[Fifteen minutes later, you are stood before a small but well-kept house]

[SFX: Calmer, suburbia-based noises and a door-knocking]

“One sec!”

[SFX: The front door opening and some excited meows]

[The door opens and a very handsome gent stands before you, holding your incredibly smug cat]

“Hey! Glad you could… make… it…”

[He trails off and that’s about when you notice who he is]

[...?]

“Fuck… Hissy, is that you?”

[...]

[He gawps silently for a moment or two at your silence]

“...I… I-I thought your voice sounded familiar but I never thought…”

[...]

[You both stare uncertainly at each other for a long moment]

[SFX: A few meows]

“O-Oh, sorry. Here you go, little guy. Into a… No carrier? You brought a leash for your cat?”

[Pause]

[He watches you harness your cat up in mild amusement]

“...Well, if anyone could teach a cat to walk on a leash, it would have been you, yeah… God, I can’t believe I’m just… talking to you again. It’s been years, now, since… Sorry, I shouldn’t keep you.”

[...]

[He looks away, eyes ringed in regret]

“...I know I hurt you. I know… we really hurt you. I tried to reach out, over and over and over, but you had us both blocked. You wouldn’t talk to us at school and… I mean, fuck… I guess I figured you didn’t want to talk to me or John ever again. So I kept my distance. Tried to take that pain and… repent, I guess.”

[...?]

[He leans on the doorframe, eyes distant]

“How’s John doing? Dunno… Cut him off years ago.”

[Pause???]

[He sighs]

“He’s my twin brother. We used to be close. Of course, it hurts not to see him, or any of the family anymore.”

[Pause????]

“Heh, yeah. Surprise surprise, you were right about them being a bunch of raging enablers for their sweet golden boy aka John. Was Christmas when it all went down. We were at Mom’s, helping with dinner when he made this comment. This shitty fucking comment… about you… How you were probably still pining for him. How stupid you were to break up with him. And, ah… some other things I don’t want to repeat.”

[...]

“...He never got over you. Some days he’d be calling you awful things, the next day he’d be lamenting how he lost the ‘love of his life’ over some stupid prank in high school. Fucking psychopath…”

[Pause?]

“What was the comment specifically that pissed me off?”

[He lets out another deep sigh, running his fingers through his hair]

“He hit me where it hurt, like always. He hit me with the, ‘I got them first. Must make you so mad that you didn’t make the first move’... So I knocked his teeth out. And they told me to never come back, otherwise, they’d file a police report. So I left and haven’t looked back since.”

[...]

“...I’m so sorry that we did what we did. I’m not excusing myself, but John never told me about all the critters you had healing on that plot of land. You were right- making a call to animal control was a fucking dick move, and even if none of them got taken away… I know your Dad said you had to stop taking them in so your family wouldn’t get in trouble. I know that broke your heart, a-and… I just wish I knew the right words to say.”

[Pause]

[SFX: An impatient meow]

“Seems like Tex there is keen to get moving. Likes his walks, huh?”

[Pause…?]

[He pauses, almost looking hopeful]

“Go on a walk with you both? I… Yeah. Yeah, I’d really, really like that. Here, let me grab my coat and lock up.”

[SFX: A door being locked and them walking together]

[Pause]

“...Thanks for spending some time with me. I guess I never really got over you either… And I know apologies can come across as being more for the aggressor, but I truly am.”

[Pause?]

[He gives you a slightly sad smile]

“Of course, we both fell in love with you. How could anyone not? You light up like nothing else when in your element. You’re cute, kind, and handle animals that most grown men would pee themselves to even look at. You’re… you. No one else like you. Hard not to fall in love with someone who is one of a kind.”

[...]

“Why did I never say anything? Because John wanted you. When John wanted something, that was it. Done deal. Can’t say my brother doesn’t have the charm and charisma for it. Dumbass is talented and better-looking and an outright spoiled rotten fucking monster but… enough about him. How have you been?”

[Long Pause]

[SFX: Them walking/park ambiance to fill in the silence]

“Yeah? Heh… Good. I can respect the ‘not exactly happy right now but happy to be working toward it’ mentality. Think that’s about where I’m at.”

[Pause]

“Hey, um… Did you ever think of me as… more than John’s twin brother?”

[Pause!]

[He laughs]

“Alright, alright, I get it! Yes, Kel was the moody goth that made wingtip eyeliner work. Yes, Kel was the one that pirate-rigged a black-and-white horror movie night in the gym. Kel is me, yes. Hehe… Well, I’m glad you still think I’m cool. I’m actually into filmmaking now. Just did a cheese fest of a zombie movie. If you want, it’s premiering in a few weeks, and… I’d love it if you could see it.”

[...]

“I-If you’re comfortable, of course. No pressure. Damnit Kel, c’mon, be cool…”

[Pause]

[He beams. It’s the first time you’ve seen him really smile in years]

“Yeah? R-Really?”

[Pause]

“That’s… Wow! Thank you!”

[...?]

“No, no, no, John won’t be there, I promise… Hissy?”

[Pause?]

“Did he… hurt you?”

[...]

[He quiets, soothing]

“Sorry… We don’t have to talk about him. We can just… walk and enjoy the Fall together. Does that sound OK?”

[Pause]

“Good. Man, it is… It’s so good to see you. Hang on, one sec.”

[He kneels down to Tex while the cat sniffs a stick and playfully whispers:]

“Thanks, bud, you’re the best wingman a guy could ask for.”

[SFX: MEOW]

“Sorry. Wingcat.”

[Pause <3]

[Kel grins up at you, some of that mischievous nature creeping back]

“Hey, if he only accepts salmon as tribute, I will get the man some salmon. For now… Your hands are shaking. Cold?”

[Pause]

[He stands, cheeks flushed]

“I could tuck one hand into my coat pocket if you want. It’s warm in there. I assume. I haven’t asked an ant or mouse lately, hehe. No shrunken heads either, I promise.”

[...]

[You offer your hand and he takes it, tucking it into an available pocket]

“There. Nice and warm, yeah?”

[Pause <3]

[He smiles again]

“Good. C’mon, let’s get heading before Tex here decides that I’m not worthy.”

[Pause]

[He laughs as you two head off]

“Hey, I know he doesn’t get the only vote… but he’s more likely to eat me, so, I hope you’ll understand.”

[Pause <3]

“Hmhm… I really missed you. More than you’ll ever know.”

[You both meander into the park, chatting amicably. You weren’t expecting it to feel so natural. So right. So utterly terrifying]

[To be continued?]

Note: Tex only has one volume and it is: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-