The Stray |BnHA|

Chapter Three

Shouta smiled into his scarf, careful not to let his hand twitch.

It had been another rough night at patrol - not as bad as when he'd found the Stray two weeks prior - and had simply dropped by his wall as he got home. He hadn't been sat for long before the Kitten made himself seen, green eyes curious.

Now, he stood only an inch or two from Shouta's outstretched hand, looking less nervous and skittish as he had. He was fuller now, looking more like a kitten and less like a bag of bones. His fur was bushier now, only slightly, and wasn't greasy as it had been.

Green eyes full of love and hope.

A few seconds of sniffing later, and the Stray nudged the hand with his nose, pulling his body across it. Shouta moved slowly, stroking between his ears and grinning at the purr he got.

"Did you miss me?"

He got a small mew in response, the Stray standing on Shouta's leg with his front two, head tilted. Shouta scratched his ear.

"If this is your attempt to sweet me into letting you out, it isn't going to happen." He mused, rolling his eyes when he got a louder mew.

Another thing about this kitten was that as soon as he perked up, he suddenly got hyper and mischievous. He'd try and escape out the door when Shouta came and left, and the windows were now securely sealed - Shouta had walked in one day to see him pawing the handle.

"Until we go to the vet, you're strictly a house cat, so get over it." That seemed to make the Stray a little sad, as he sat down and refused to look at Shouta. He'd began to speculate whether Stray had an intelligence Quirk.

"Sorry Stray." The cat stalked into his lap, and Shouta crossed his legs, cradling the Kitten as he suddenly flopped onto his back. Shouta couldn't help but laugh as his eyes zoned in on a lower hanging hoop of his capture weapon,top two paws reaching up to swipe at it. 

The tension and ruggedness of the patrol eased off him, a happiness filling the hollowness.

Because now when he left, or when he returned, he wasn't looking into an empty apartment.

_____________________

"You've got a kitten?!"

 Shouta looked up quickly, colour draining from his face as he realised Hizashi had swiped his phone as he slept, Stray taking up the wallpaper of his screen.

"No."

The blonde went boggle-eyed, shoving the phone in his face. The few teachers in the lounge were watching with slight intrigue. They wanted to know if Shouta had a cat.

"I can see him right there! Why do you lie to me Sho!?"

Snatching his phone back, Shouta let his eyes linger on the photo. Two days had passed since Stray had sat on his lap, and now the kitten wouldn't leave him alone. Shouta would wake to him by his side, make his meals with him on the counter, sat and read with him on his lap, and fell to sleep with him on his chest.

Not that he minded.

The photo was taken that morning in fact, when Stray had discovered his knew favourite toy; the laser pointer. The little guy had his paws successfully where the red dot had been, opening in the middle and green eyes peering down, tail high in the air and body relaxed. 

Shouta didn't think he had ever been happier. Besides this moment.

"I'm not. I don't own a cat. This is my foster-brothers."

Hizashi whined, flopping onto the sofa besides him. "You're a liar! I can see your living room! Can I come pet him?! He's so cute!"

Shouta sighed. "No."

"Huh?! Why?!" 

Shouta rubbed the gap between his eyes. 

"Because he's feral."

Hizashi frowned. "He looks pretty docile there." Shouta shrugged.

"I found him being thrown by teens a few weeks ago. The shelter couldn't re-home him and if I didn't take him, they'd put him down. It's taken up to a few days ago for him to sit on me and what not." 

Shouta frowned slightly.

"Still has funny turns though. I'll wake up to his yowling or he'll occasionally scratch me and fight me if I don't let him out."

The blonde raised an eyebrow. "Why don't you let him out?"

"Akira told me that until I took him to the vets to keep him inside at all times. I haven't opened my windows in weeks."

The blonde suddenly stood, pointing in accusation. "You've gone soft!"

Shouta activated his Quirk.

"Take it back."

There was a laugh. "Nope! Everyone! Shouta's gone soft!"

And that was how the whole school watched as Hizashi screeched, hanging from the tree by his feet and Shouta's capture weapon, the attacker crouching on the branch above.

"I take it back! You;re just as mean!"

Shouta shrugged, grinning under the remaining of his scarf. "Shut it."