Crepuscular Clocksmith

6. Cat and Snuggle

The man greeting them at the door had ruffled dark hair from his trip on his scooter. He cradled his helmet under his arm and pushed his stubborn locks from his face as he awaited Mingi. Upon making eye contact, a sunny grin broke out on his lips.

"There is my favourite slithering friend. How have you been?" He shook Mingi's two left hands with his left and his two rights with his right, making it look incredibly complicated. Yet, a smile broke out on Mingi's lips that brightened his face.

"Surprisingly well. I made a new friend." With that, he twisted his body with a smooth coil of his tail. When he beckoned at Yunho to step into the light, Yunho complied. He bowed at Wooyoung in greeting.

"I'm Jeong Yunho; nice to meet you."

Wooyoung made a noise that might have been a squeal of delight. When he came closer to shake Yunho's hand, the grip of his warm hand was gentle.

"A new friend, I can't believe it! You didn't scare him off?"

"I did, but he insisted on returning. The watch of his grandfather brought him here." Mingi shrugged all four of his shoulders. The part of his tail closest to Yunho dragged over the floorboards with a dull creak. So much of him had nowhere to go, but Yunho didn't mind the faint touches of his sturdy and heavy tail.

"I'm Wooyoung, I bring Mingi all these toys to keep him busy. Now, where is my favourite cat?" While he tiptoed between Mingi's tail to get further inside the shop, Mingi beckoned at the wooden crates he left by the door.

"Excuse me while I sort these into their spots."

"May I help you?"

For a moment, Mingi hesitated, surprised by the offer. He had double the arm power and his tail could probably crush Yunho's bones like sticks if he were to wrap around him like a boa. Nonetheless, Mingi nodded.

"Do as you please."

Yunho stepped in with a smile. He rolled up his sleeves with no care for wrinkles and grabbed the first crate. It jingled and clanged inside, so he transported the weight carefully. Mingi's tail was in the way back to the counter, but Yunho got used to it.

While the two lugged the crates around, Wooyoung perched at the desk. San lay sprawled across its surface on the single warm spot he had found, looking dead as ever. His nose twitched, and he stirred when Wooyoung tickled under his chin, begging the cat for attention.

"Where did you find these?" Mingi asked him as he shifted through the contents of the crates once all were carried over. All sorts of shiny stones, coins, stamps, buttons and other sundries passed his nimble hands. Now that he had pulled up his sleeves so they wouldn't get caught between the items, Yunho could locate his tattoos again.

No, not tattoos. Scales that climbed down the outside of his arms to blend into the skin from black to beige.

Absorbed, Yunho stared at him, and the shifts of his veins as he worked.

"One of them is Yeosang's monthly collection. The other two are things I found forgotten in public lost-property offices or lying around at random."

Mingi sorted the buttons, the stamps and the rest into a pile each. To keep his hands busy, Yunho did the same.

After a brief pause of petting San, who lolled into his hands with sleepy mewls, Wooyoung continued.

"He said it isn't much this time, so funds will be bad again."

"I'll call him later and see if we can make it work this month," Mingi muttered. He pursed his lips, an upset unbefitting of his fluffy sweater painting his features. He worked double as fast as Yunho, and little heat radiated off him despite standing so close together.