Seeing Through the Trauma

Comfort Cats (28)

MK hadn't realized how long it had been since he'd actually seen Sandy until Pigsy had mentioned him and for a moment he felt guilty for forgetting about the guy so easily. Weighed down by feelings of guilt he felt small as they left, the lingering tension from his nightmare leaving him high-strung. 

He tried to shove it down, lowering his raised shoulders and placing a casual grin on his face but it was hard and he could tell based on the frequent glances from Macaque and the more obvious hovering from Wukong that he wasn't doing a very good job convincing either of them he was fine. 

His eye ached with the memories and even though the day had only just started he was already tired. The thought of snuggling among cats was a welcome one, and when they arrived he managed a smile at Sandy's excitement to seeing them all. 

"Guys! You're here, it's good to see you!" Sandy greeted with a wide smile and MK waved back, his tail coiled nervously around his leg. It felt too open being outside, ears flicking nervously for danger that wasn't there as he felt his dad place a hand on his back and carefully nudge him forward toward their friend's boat. 

"Hey, Sandy," MK said a little clumsily and Mei darted forward at the sight of Mo on the boat, quickly squatting down and petting the cat's head. 

"Hey, little Mo-Mo. You been a good boy? I bet you have, you cute little lazy cat." She cooed, and MK giggled at the way the cat leaned away from her touch, seeming unimpressed with her baby voice and cooing. 

"Are you all here to hang out?" Sandy asked, looking over the group and MK nodded, looking up with a hum. 

"If that's okay?" He asked and Sandy's face was bright with a comforting smile. 

"Of course it is! Come on in, little buddy." He turned and MK thanked him quietly as he followed, still anxious from lingering jitters but inside the boat was surprisingly warm, and MK's bones seemed to relax at the feeling of warm air. 

Cats covered every surface of the living area, the animals lounging on the sofa and on every desk and surface they could and Mei rushed past MK before he could blink, grinning widely as she fawned over the many, many cats in the room. 

One got up and walked towards them and Mei went to greet it only for it to ignore her and her cooing noises, walking past MK too, though its tail did brush against his leg as it made its way to the back of the room, where Macaque standing, and MK had to hold in a laugh at the sight of Macaque's surprise when the cat started rubbing itself against his legs and purring.

Not that he needed to because at Macaque's surprised look, Wukong burst out laughing and Sandy grinned widely.

"Looks like Coco likes you! He's pretty introverted, so count yourself lucky." Sandy told them and MK followed Mei over to the couch, sitting down next to her and letting his tail coil around his leg. 

It helped with the anxiety still stuck in his chest that he felt pathetic for still feeling, but it's easier to ignore it when Mei's squishing the cheeks of every cat that doesn't run from her enthusiasm. 

Wukong moves and sits down next to MK, just close enough that they're touching, and then reaches out to the nearest cat, a bigger ginger tabby lazing on the arm of the sofa, and starts petting it.

The cat gives him a look, one eye cracking open, and then it goes right back to napping, the only sign of its pleasure at being pet being the lazy swinging of its tail. 

"Tea, anyone?" Sandy asked and MK jerked his head up, opening his mouth and promptly shutting it. He does, but for some reason, he doesn't want to be the first to say so. 

"Oh! Yes please!" Mei cheered first and it saved MK from needing to. Sandy's eyes go around the room, still smiling happily and MK hears Macaque nod before Baba speaks up.