Work Text:
Well, this was a predicament.
It was the end of the day for the students and teachers of Grover Cleveland Middle. The kids had long since filed out, leaving the teachers to their own devices—grading papers, updating grades, tidying up the classroom, working on assignment plans, and so on.
Grace had locked up his classroom for the afternoon, a helmet on his head as he wandered down the hall. He struggled to buckle it with one hand, the other barely managing to shove a pile of papers into his bag.
There was quite a few assignments left for him to grade, so he figured he could do the rest at his apartment while ordering something for dinner. The thought of having the same lousy ramen for the fifth night in a row was making him sick. He desperately needed to go grocery shopping soon.
But that'd have to be for another day, seeing as he had to get these papers graded for tomorrow. So that was all he had in his plans for tonight. Not like he ever had any plans anyways, save for the occasional night out for the school faculty.
At least, that would've been his only plans, had he not been met with a small problem—a fuzzy, black and white problem.
Grace stared down at the kitten on his bike, curled up on the seat and peering up at him with wide, hazel eyes. He blinked a couple of times, as if to ensure he was actually seeing the small feline and it wasn't his sleep deprivation playing tricks on his brain.
Nope, still there. Still staring at him with those big, curious eyes.
"Hey there, little guy. Or girl, guess I don't know which you are." He mumbled, scratching the back of his head from beneath the lopsided helmet he wore. "Can you move please? I need to get home, and that bike is, unfortunately, my only form of transportation. Unless I want to sprint several blocks, which I don't."
The kitten blinked up at him slowly, a quiet mew leaving its mouth.
Right. He was talking to a cat.
He ran a hand along his face, pushing his glasses upwards as he rubbed his eyes. Moving a kitten seemed simple enough, though he didn't want to run the risk of getting his arm clawed to shreds and ending up with an infection.
While he stood there contemplating how to handle the situation, a figure approached from the sidewalk. The sound of heels clicking against the cement barely caught his attention, his gaze zeroed in on the cat in concentration, as if that'd somehow get it to move.
"Dr. Grace."
He nearly jumped out of his own skin, an involuntary yelp escaping as he whipped around to face the source. There stood the English teacher, Margaret Haynes, an older woman in her mid-sixties with brown hair that was starting to gray.
Her eyes crinkled at the edges, offering an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I forgot to ask if you'd like to chaperone this upcoming field trip the eighth graders have. One of the teachers dropped out, so we need a new volunteer."
His head bobbed up and down, already agreeing before the words even left his mouth. "Sure. Yeah, that's perfectly fine with me. I can do that." He paused, eyeing the kitten on his seat once more, then turning to her with a sheepish smile. "Uhm, you wouldn't happen to have a solution for this, would you?"
Margaret followed his line of sight in confusion. Once her gaze landed on the black and white feline, it softened. "Well, what a cutie. Are you going to take it home?"
The blonde scratched at the back of his neck, his face scrunching up with uncertainty. "I don't exactly have the free time to take care of a cat. Not to mention I ride a bike, so I couldn't take it home either way." He reasoned, though his reply sounded more like an excuse to avoid the possibility. "But I don't want to accidentally scare it by trying to move it, so I've just been... standing here."
She gave an understanding hum and held out a hand towards him. "May I see your cardigan, Dr. Grace?"
The question took him aback, but he complied, awkwardly shifting his bag so he could slip the knitted material off his frame. He wordlessly handed it to the elderly lady, watching as she used it to step closer and carefully swaddle the stray feline. There was no fuss, the kitten remaining completely relaxed even as she lifted it to check the gender, a few quiet mews escaping now and then.
"She must be used to humans with how calm she is." Margaret noted, holding the balled up cardigan close. The kitten's head peaked out from the layers of fabric, her ears twitching while little noises kept leaving her.
No longer deterred by the possibility of a couple scratches, Grace reached forward to gently rub two fingers over the top of her tiny, fuzzy head. Almost immediately a hushed purr began to emit from her, her third eyelid creeping over her eyes out of relaxation—a little creepy, he'd admit.
"She is pretty cute. I don't think I've ever seen a cat with specks all over their fur like that. Reminds me of space with all its stars." He remarked, observing the various white dots that spread across her dark fur.
Margaret let out a hum, silently debating what to do with the feline now. "I'll move her further from the school, keep her away from all those rowdy kids." She suggested, having already ruled out the possibility of sending her home with him.
At least, that was until she noticed the conflicted expression he wore, his brows furrowed and lips in a subtle, worried frown. He was hesitating, one hand fiddling with the strap of his bag as he stared at the cat in her arms.
"Is that safe? What if she gets attacked by another animal, like a stray dog? Or some person could, for that matter. It's also too close to the streets, I think it's too dangerous for her to—" He began to rattle off his spiraling thoughts, his tone and mannerisms more than telling of where this was heading despite his own denial at first.
She was quick to interject before he could continue any longer. "She's a stray. I'm sure she'll figure it out." Then she paused, taking one last look at those wide, blue eyes brimmed with concern behind a pair of glasses, and rose an eyebrow. "Unless..?"
That's how Grace ended up with a kitten racing around his apartment late in the afternoon. He wasn't even sure if his landlord allowed pets, but it was too late now.
Given his bicycle situation, Margaret was nice enough to offer a ride. He couldn't exactly refuse if he wanted to take the kitten with, nor could he since he'd need to buy supplies for said kitten as well. Plus, she only lived about three blocks away, so that made him feel a little less bad about the whole ordeal.
Fortunately, her car also had a mounting rack for his bike, so he wouldn't have to bug her in the morning for a ride back to the school, either. As kind as the gesture was, he was already ashamed having someone else drive him around, let alone a woman twice his age. He didn't need to deal with that again first thing in the morning.
Grace had taken the time to set everything up. A litter box and small garbage bin was set in the corner of his apartment, while two bowls sat in the kitchen area against the wall, one filled with water and the other kibble. Then lastly a short scratching post sat in the living space, accompanied by a couple of toys that were tossed around for her to go wild with—she seemed to love the tinsel pompom balls the most.
For a minute he watched her play, going over the last part of the conversation he had with Margaret. He'd mentioned his concern with leaving the cat alone tomorrow for work, and in turn she told him she knew just the person to help out.
Apparently she used to have quite a few pets, and therefore had a particular pet sitter she always hired due to her exceptional care. This sitter was always attentive to the specific needs of each one, treating them with utmost love and care like they were one of her own. She primarily worked with cats too, which sounded like an excellent choice for someone as clueless as himself.
Margaret told him she'd give her a call and inform her about the situation. When he tried to bring up that he didn't have the money to pay for a pet sitter, she waved him off before driving away.
Not very reassuring. He wasn't sure whether that meant it'd be handled, or if he was about to lose this weeks paycheck to a small kitten—or rather a second one, after all the cat supplies he bought.
Guess he'd have to find out and deal with that in the morning... and have ramen for dinner again.
For now though, he needed a name.
The blonde's gaze followed the small cat, no longer interested in the toys around as she sniffed at the ground, exploring her new surroundings. He kept being drawn to the tiny specks all over her black fur, along with the short, white mittens she had on her front paws.
Something space related, then?
Luna? No, that was overused and sounded more like a dog name to him.
Star? Wow, Grace. That's very original.
Felis? It was a lost constellation based on a cat, which was cool. Didn't sound like a good name, though.
Félicette? The first and only cat sent to space. But that'd remind him of what happened to her afterwards and make him sad everytime he used it.
Choosing a name was a lot more difficult than he thought it'd be. He wasn't sure how long he sat there pondering on it, all while watching his new companion roam around his apartment.
Grace sighed and rubbed a hand over his face, the action shifting his glasses askew. "What should I name you? Got any ideas?" He asked the little fluffball, who had trotted up to his sitting form. The kitten mewed, rubbing up against his pant leg with an audibly loud purr. "I'm this close to naming you Kitty and calling it a day."
Those big, hazel eyes blinked up at him, pupils nearly swallowing the color whole as she continued to purr and rub her face against his leg. He leaned down to reach her, gently rubbing the top of her head. A smile formed on his lips when she leaned fully into his touch, her body nearly lifting off the ground in order to nuzzle at his palm.
Come on. Coming up with a name for this adorable ball of fuzz shouldn't be that hard. She reminded him of a night sky, where the moon and stars were sprinkled across a black canvas, with hues of violet, blue and red scattered across it—the cosmos, encompassed around the Earth's horizon.
Grace perked up, finally coming to a decision from that thought alone. "I like the name Cosmo." He said aloud, offering it like it was a suggestion the feline could deny or accept. "What do you think?"
A pitched, squeaky meow met his ears. Good enough for him.
Now with that out of the way, he could move onto his original plans while she settled. The grumbling of his stomach insisted food was an order. He could eat while he worked on grading those papers for tomorrow.
But as he stood up, his eyes roved around the apartment. It was in disarray, items scattered in way that was organized and familiar to his own mind. Everything had a place and purpose, and seeing as he hadn't had any company in god knows how long, he never considered it to be an issue.
Except for his bedroom. That was definitely a mess because he didn't have time to do laundry this week.
With a new kitten and a pet sitter expected to arrive tomorrow morning, the embarrassment was creeping in. There was no way he could leave it like this. What an awful first impression that would be.
Guess he had more to do tonight than he initially thought.
*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Grace got barely any sleep that night. Between grading papers and tidying his apartment, he crashed into his bed at around one in the morning. On top of that, Cosmo's energy was bursting through the roof, so he was constantly startled awake by the fluffball jumping on his stomach or wrestling his outstretched arm.
Eventually the kitten calmed down enough to lay in bed with him, curled up on the warmth of his bare chest while purring away like a little car engine. That lasted about an hour, before his alarm went off to start the day.
Needless to say, he was exhausted and not at all prepared to face a class of twenty rambunctious kids that kept asking him if the Earth was flat.
On top of that, after throwing on his clothes for the day and tidying up his appearance, he was met with the harsh reminder of not having any coffee left. He didn't really have anything in his kitchen aside from ramen packages, some canned and frozen foods, half a loaf of bread, and bunch of condiments.
Toast didn't sound appealing, so he'd wait it out until lunch time. The grumble of his stomach disagreed, but he didn't have much time to dwell on it due to a little gremlin meowing loudly at his feet.
Grace glanced down, a smile forming on his lips as they pawed insistently at his pant leg. "Guess I'm not the only one who's starving." He commented with a chuckle, carefully stepping around the feline who was whining louder by the second. "Alright, alright! I'm working on it, hold on... Climbing over my feet is not helping this move any faster."
It was a struggle – aka Cosmo circling and running over her bowl, preventing him from actually pouring the kibble in – but he managed to appease the demanding kitten. She was chowing down, face buried deep in the food like it'd disappear if she didn't devour it all right that second.
While she ate, Grace turned on the TV and began gathering his belongings, left scattered around the living room table from last night. The hum of the news played on the screen, his brain barely listening as he neatly stacked the graded papers to put in his bag. His laptop slid in beside it, only to pause as there was a slow, irregular knock at the door.
His head perked up, swiveling around to face it with wide eyes. Was the pet sitter here already? A glance at his watch showed he had about an hour before he had to leave, which meant half-an-hour until her scheduled arrival. Earlier than he expected, but he didn't mind.
The blonde was quick to get up and approach the door, scooping up Cosmo in the process when she decided to tag along. Even if he was in an apartment complex, he wasn't risking her bolting out there and making him chase after her. He was too tired for that.
He fiddled with the lock with one hand, cat cradled to his chest with the other. Another awkward knock hit the door – although it sounded lower than usual – before he finally got the thing unlocked and opened.
Immediately he was met with the sight of a woman, with (H/l), (H/c) hair that framed her face, while wide, (E/c) eyes stared back at him. She looked to be around his age, maybe a couple years younger from the youthful glow of her complexion. The surprise on her face quickly melted away into an eager beam, a smile so bright it put the sun to shame.
Grace froze where he stood, his hand resting on the door and a small cat squirming in the other. At first he didn't say anything, his brain short-circuiting and failing to form a proper sentence to greet her with. Instead he stared like the woman in front of him was something otherworldly.
He wasn't the type to believe in love at first sight, as he found it to be cliche and unrealistic whenever he watched any kind of romance movie. But in that moment, when he swore his heart skipped a beat and his breath hitched in his throat, he figured he might have to reconsider his stance on that.
Now it was starting to make sense why Margaret insisted so heavily on getting this specific pet sitter for him.
The woman shifted where she stood, breaking him out of whatever daze he'd fallen into. It was then that he noticed her outstretched foot that was once against the door, along with her arms being occupied with a paper bag and cup holder.
Ah, so that's why each knock sounded so strange and sparse. She couldn't use her hands since they were full.
And here he was, staring like an idiot instead of helping her. What a great first impression.
"O–oh! Let me help you with that, and please, come in." He sputtered out, quickly pinning the door with his hip so he could hold out his free hand. In return she handed over the bag, sending him a grateful look as she slipped past.
Grace followed after her, bumping the door closed behind them. Against his chest Cosmo was flailing around, unable to stay still as she tried to escape towards the new person. He quickly kneeled down before she could fall, letting the energetic fluffball jump from his grasp and rush over to her.
His gaze flickered upwards, watching as the (H/c)-haired woman set the drink carrier on the counter. "You must be, uhm— Actually, Mrs. Haynes never told me your name. But you're the cat sitter, right?" He winced, realizing he should've asked about that beforehand.
Then again, there was a lot of details he should've inquired about. He hadn't given it much thought since he'd been occupied with other tasks and being terrorized by a fluffy gremlin.
"That'd be me! I'm (Y/n)." She confirmed, a polite smile on her lips while she gestured for the bag in his hand. As he gave it to her, she briefly eyed the black and white cat that was circling and sniffing at her feet. "You're Dr. Grace, then? And this little cutie is..?"
He grinned, scooping up said troublemaker before she could try to climb up her pant leg—he caught her right before she was going to leap. She'd done that to him a few times already, and those claws may have been small, but they were sharp. Left behind a few scratches on his legs.
"Her name is Cosmo! And you can call me Ryland. Or Grace, most people call me that. Either is fine." He responded, holding the kitten to his chest as she tried to wiggle free with a whine. "Can I ask why you're here so early? N–not that I mind! It's completely fine, I was just curious."
(Y/n) watched him wrestle with the kitten, laughing under her breath when she broke free of his hold. The surprise on Grace's face was priceless as she clawed her way up to his shoulder, his body tensing inwards as he froze completely. His breaths even paused as if the smallest movement would accidentally knock the small feline off.
"I was hungry and figured you might be too. So I decided to come early so we could both have some breakfast." She explained, starting to open and dig through the paper bag she brought.
Her response was casual, as if it was completely normal that she brought him something. Meanwhile Grace was staring at her like a deer in headlights, still tense as Cosmo tried to chew on the side of his glasses, her fur tickling at his face.
"Oh, that's for... me?" He asked hesitantly, making sure he heard her correctly.
"Mhm! I wasn't sure how you liked your coffee, so I got some creamers and sugars just in case." She gestured towards the two empty cup holder spots filled with said condiments. Then she began to set out the food items from the bag, one-by-one for him to see. "I also got two breakfast sandwiches, one with bacon and one without, a blueberry muffin and a strawberry and cream pastry. So you can pick and choose what you like."
For a minute he could only stare at her beaming face, radiating nothing but warmth and eagerness. He was more than positive his heart was beating far too fast in his chest to be considered normal. Then Cosmo nearly smacked the glasses off his face, causing him to flinch and hurriedly fix them while her soft laughter met his ears.
He'd only known her for a couple minutes, and he was already convinced she was an angel. A beautiful, kind-hearted angel that went out of her way to get breakfast for him and even provide options in case he didn't like something.
He couldn't recall the last time someone had went out of their way for him like that. The fact she'd even considered that before they even met was affecting him more than he'd like to admit.
Oh, this was bad. Wherever his dumb brain was heading to was not good at all.
"You– you didn't have to do that." Finally he found his voice, a noticeable heat rising to his face out of embarrassment. "How much was it? I'll send you some money for it."
It was fruitless for him to try to offer that, as she was already waving him off before he even finished speaking. She retrieved the coffee cups from the carrier, before sending him a look that clearly showed she wasn't going to let him argue with her on this.
"I got us breakfast out of my own volition. You don't have to pay me anything, Grace." She insisted, flashing him a reassuring smile that had the red flush on his face darkening. Then she turned to the kitten who was actively trying to climb onto his head of dirty blonde hair. "Plus, it's my treat for letting me take care of this little cutie!"
Grace's face scrunched up, his brows furrowed and a frown pursing at his lips as he went to gently grab Cosmo. He adjusted the rowdy cat in his hands, staring down at her to avoid any eye contact.
"Uhm, speaking of that..." He started, heaving out a sigh as he reluctantly met her curious gaze. "I don't exactly have the money right now to pay for a sitter. Mrs. Haynes kind of sprung this on me last night. I'm not sure how much you charge, but I can try to—"
"Did she not tell you anything?" She cut him off, sounding amused as he stared back at her, his mouth slightly agape and face pinched in confusion. "You don't have to pay me. I owe her a few favors, and she cashed this in as one of them. So I'll be helping you out, just until you get situated with Cosmo."
His mouth shut, blinking a couple of times as he processed her words. It didn't make sense that Margaret would waste a favor on himself, no matter how kind of a person she was. They weren't that close, aside from their run-ins in the break room—also her constantly asking about when he'd find a lucky woman to have in his life.
His theory from earlier was starting to prove itself as these new details came to light.
He scratched at the back of his neck, letting Cosmo jump from his lowered arm in the process. "Well, uh, that's very nice of her. Though she really didn't have to waste a favor on me. I can still pay you, but it might be delayed until I can get—"
"Nope. It's fine, really." (Y/n) shot him down, not entertaining the thought for even a second. "Please, don't worry about it. All you should be thinking about right now, is having some food and coffee before you get bombarded by children for the rest of the day."
Grace wasn't convinced, his internal conflict evident in his expression and the way he refused to look at her. His eyes flickered back and forth between the food on the counter and Cosmo wandering off, a frown on his lips like the guilt from the two was already eating away at him.
Maybe he could convince Margaret to let him send (Y/n) some money through her? He couldn't in good conscience let her do this and not pay for her time. She was watching a cat from seven in the morning until two in the afternoon—more if he had to spend time after classes with students or for faculty meetings. Favor or not, it felt like he was taking advantage of her generosity.
It was like she could see the gears turning in his head as she sent him a warning stare. "Don't even think about it. This is what Margaret chose as her favor, so you have to deal with it. No buts." Her voice was playful yet stern, allowing no more room arguing as she gestured to the food. "Now, pick what you want before Cosmo eats it, because she looks close to figuring out how to get on the counter."
Grace's attention snapped back to the kitten at that. She was close, scaling up one of the stools in front of the island counter to reach the scent of fresh baked goods. So he'd have to deal with that being a regular occurrence already.
At that point, he had no choice but to comply to her wishes. He had one of the sandwiches – the one with bacon, obviously – along with the strawberry and cream pastry, occasionally sipping on his coffee after he'd adjusted it to his liking. While he munched on his breakfast, he provided what information he could on the kitten—where he found her, why he'd given her the name Cosmo, what her behavior was like so far, and the supplies he got for her.
When he mentioned the first part, (Y/n) rose an eyebrow, swallowing a mouthful of muffin before speaking. "Does she need to go to the vet? She was a stray, so it'd be best to get her checked out."
He let out a sigh, knowing she was right yet not wanting the headache of another bill to take care of. "I know, I will at some point. But I just spent my paycheck on the rest of this stuff, so I can't right now." He laughed, though it was uncomfortable and forced.
It was shameful to him, practically living paycheck to paycheck when he was in his late thirties. He knew how important it was to get a medical check-up for a stray, but he really couldn't afford a vet bill of all things right now.
The entire situation was becoming a glaring problem, one that he was beginning to regret solely from a financial standpoint, because he couldn't feel bad about taking in a stray kitten that likely wouldn't have made it though the night. It was a mess, but he'd just have to work through it whenever he could manage.
As he was taking another bite of his pastry, he saw her face light up. Immediately his stomach dropped, not even needing to hear the words before he knew what she was going to suggest. Unfortunately, the mouthful of food prevented him from interrupting her when she went to blurt out her offer.
"I can take her! One of my friends actually works at a vet clinic nearby. I have two cats of my own, so I visit her for them." She saw the troubled look on his face, quickly adding on more for further convincing. "Cost won't be a big issue for the initial check-up. She also gives me a discount."
His eyebrows scrunched up, confusion momentarily replacing the worry that was there prior. "Is that allowed for a veterinary clinic?"
"Probably not, but I get one from her anyway." She shrugged with a smile. "I'm taking her regardless. So there's no point in trying to talk me out of it."
They'd only just met and this woman was already doing too much for him. He wasn't sure whether to feel frustrated for burdening her with his issues, or absolutely smitten over her gracious nature—probably a mix of both at the moment.
Grace let out a huff, playfully squinting his eyes at her from behind his glasses. "You're being way too nice. I feel like I'm being set up into coming home and my place being robbed, cat and all."
That got a loud laugh out of her, nearly spitting out her coffee in the process. The reaction made him grin, easing a little of his guilt at the warm, fuzzy sensation it spread throughout him.
(Y/n) took a deep breath, trying to recover as the giggling subsided. "I promise I'm not going to steal anything." She teased, her smile widening as she stole a glance at the black and white fluffball rushing around the living room. "Or maybe just the cat, cause she's simply too adorable not to. I think the name you gave her is fitting."
"Yeah, she's definitely something." He agreed softly, though his eyes remained on her. When she glanced back to meet his stare, he offered a sheepish smile and fiddled with his coffee cup. "I would let you steal her, but she's grown on me after using my couch as a scratching post, right beside the one I bought her."
An amused breath left her. "You can expect her to never touch that thing. Everything is a scratching post except the actual scratching post." Her tone was joking, yet he could tell she was speaking from experience.
He almost glossed over that fact, didn't he? She said she had two cats, which he supposed made sense. Though he wondered who was watching them if she was currently here. A friend? A roommate? A partner?
He didn't like the thought of the last one.
"Guess I'll add new furniture onto my costs." He jested back, though he silently hoped that wouldn't be the case. Right as he was going to ask about her pets, he shot a glance down to his watch, only to jolt out of his seat. "Shoot! I have to go. Right now, or else I'll be late."
She watched the blonde rush around to gather his things, a concerned frown on her lips. "Do you need a ride? I can drive you if you want."
It was a tempting and sweet offer, especially with his sleepless night before—his body was not rested enough to ride a bicycle for several blocks. However, he simply couldn't bring himself to accept anymore from her.
"No, it's fine! You've done enough for me already. I'll be alright." He rushed out, slinging his bag over his shoulder as he headed towards the door. The helmet on the coat rack was snatched up before he turned back to her. "Thank you, for all this. I appreciate it more than you know. Not really sure what else I would've done without you."
She smiled, as bright and as radiant as the sun itself—to him, at least. "It's no problem, I'm happy to help. Have a good day, and good luck with those kids."
He buckled the helmet on his head with a laugh under his breath. "I'll need it. I'll see you later, (Y/n). Bye Cosmo." He waved to each of them, the fluffy kitten padding her way over once he opened the door. "Be good for her. No jumping on her or climbing up her pants or scratching the— Why am I talking like you're going to listen to me?"
(Y/n) managed to scoop up Cosmo before she could make an escape. She shook her head with a chuckle, watching the blonde slip out the door with a fond gleam in her eyes. "She's in good hands, I promise. Bye, Grace."
As he took one last glance at the (H/c)-haired woman, cradling the kitten to her chest as she mewed and wiggled around, he grinned. "I don't doubt that."
The door shut behind him, leaving him alone in the middle of the hallway. For a minute he didn't move, his back to the door of his apartment while he stared at the opposite wall, going over everything that just happened in the past hour. So little, yet enough to make his heartbeat erratic while his brain went haywire.
That kitten was definitely the best thing that happened to him in a while... As long as he didn't factor in how expensive she was becoming.