Not Him

"Where do you keep your cat toys?" - 9/12

September 12th, 2022
3:32pm
"I'm gonna go-- but-- uh-- are you... free on Friday?"

Jaden wasn't normally this awkward. He spoke without eye-contact as he herded Pants into a cat carrier. This was... rather obviously Jaden's way of asking Ranboo on a date.

"Oh- yeah- yeah, I'm free! It's the day after Freddie moves in, but I'm sure I'll be fine." Ranboo would probably do anything to make time for whatever Jaden was thinking of.

"Cool. Come to my flat."

"...Okay, that works."

"Cool. Okay, I'm gonna go."

"Bye, Jaden."

Jaden sat down Pants' carrier and pulled Ranboo into a hug. "Bye, tall guy. See you Friday."

Oh, this was hard. This was impossibly hard. Letting go of Jaden, even to know that they'd see each other in four days. Ranboo was way too in love. They didn't like that word; love. They knew Jaden wouldn't, so they didn't.

He didn't want to make Jaden uncomfortable. Feeling true and honest love felt like it'd make Jaden uncomfortable. Maybe he was just being dramatic- he probably was. Whatever!

Ranboo @RanbooSaysStuff
cat

|
jaden @jaysiden
cat!!

aimee!
RANBOO

ranboo!
AIMEE?

aimee!
WHY DIDNTYOU TELL ME THAT YOU GOT A CAT

ranboo!
I GOT HIM TODAY

aimee!
IM COMING OVER RIGHT NOW

Well, that was happening. Ranboo didn't quite expect that to happen, although maybe they should've, because of course Aimee would want to meet the new cat. This was entirely in character for the person who made him go all the way to xeir house to show xem his new haircut.

"Where is your cat?" demanded Aimee, not even bothering to greet Ranboo as she walked into the house. "Where? I need to see him."

"He's shy," warned Ranboo. "I think he's in his cat bed in my room."

Aimee rushed past Ranboo, who sighed, following along. He's gonna scare my cat. Aimee is going to terrify my cat. He swung open the bedroom door, but quickly calmed the second the cat came into view. Ranboo let out a breath they didn't know they were holding in.

"Aw, Ranboo, he's adorable." They cautiously walked up to the cat bed. Luckily, Scrabble was half asleep and unbothered, sniffing Aimee's hand before laying his head back down and allowing Aimee to pet him.

"I know. Did you see Jaden's cat? That cat is... something."

"Oh, did Jaden just get a cat, too?"

Oh. Yeah, Ranboo hadn't explained that to Aimee yet. Star was definitely going to make fun of him.

"...We got cats... together."

"...What?"

"We got cats that get along so we can have an excuse to meet up more, and we named the cats together based on things we've named in the past, and Scrabble is a plushie Jaden named, and Jaden named his cat Pants after the cat from my Stray playthrough," rambled Ranboo.

Aimee could not contain her laughter. "You what? And you two aren't even... like... official?"

"Nope," muttered Ranboo, sitting down on his bed, Aimee still crouched in front of the cat bed. "Not official."

"That's sad. Have you considered... asking him out, like, officially?"

"I sorta did. We went on an official... an official date, I guess, but like- I can tell that he doesn't want to label this. Every time I bring it up he just changes the subject."

Aimee hummed, petting Scrabble. Scrabble was now purring. "That sounds rather... immature?"

"Aimee."

"Sorry- sorry- I just- if he's avoiding the subject so much- I mean, how do you feel about it?"

Ranboo took a second to think. Scrabble sprung up from his bed onto the cat tree that Ranboo had placed nearby, and Aimee followed, petting the cat on his new perch. "I wish we could talk about it, but I don't want to pressure him."

"Then tell him that. Just say- say something about how you want to be more clear about labels and stuff."

"I don't- well, that's not- I mean more like... I don't need to label it. I just want to know that... this is something."

"Then tell him that," encouraged Aimee. "You'll never get anywhere if you don't tell him shit." Aimee finally turned away from the cat, their hands perched on their sides as they stared at Ranboo.

"Okay, okay, I get it." Tell him that.

"Now, where do you keep your cat toys?"

Ranboo sighed. "He likes the one on the nightstand."

Aimee grabbed it. "So. What else is going on with you two? Anything fun?"

"What, is this middle school sleepover gossip time?"

"Yes. Now tell me."

Ranboo chuckled. "Not much. Just Jaden extremely awkwardly asking me on a date."

"Awww. That's adorable."

"Yeah." Ranboo sighed. "Yeah, it- I'm really glad he... did that. I was worried he was just going along with what I said or something."

"Well, it's good you cleared that up at least." Scrabble, who was still somewhat sleepy, was vaguely reacting to the mouse on a stick Aimee was waving at him. "I think you guys need to get better at communicating."

"You're... probably right."

"See? I'm always right. Next time you need advice, just ask."

Ranboo rolled their eyes. They hated to admit it, but Aimee was right.