Flufftober

Kittens - still afraid

Hawks sat in the passenger seat of Dabi's car; arms crossed tightly against his chest. The scenery blurred by, but his gaze remained fixed on the passing trees, ignoring the playful banter between Dabi and the radio. He could hear the catchy pop song in the background, but his mind was too occupied with thoughts of the feline-filled café they were about to visit.

"Are you ready for this, Birdie?" Dabi's voice dripped with playful mockery as he shot a glance at Hawks, his lips curled in that signature smirk. "You know, they say cats can sense fear."

Hawks shot him a glare, his heart racing at the thought. "I'm not afraid of cats!" he protested, but even to his own ears, it sounded less convincing.

As they pulled up to the café, a small building adorned with colourful cat-themed decorations, Hawks felt his stomach churn. The sign out front read "Purrfect Paradise," and beneath it, a cute kitten logo peeked out. Dabi parked, his smirk widening.

"Okay, we're going in. Just try to relax, alright? They're just cute little furballs." Dabi chuckled as he opened his door, leaving Hawks to wrestle with his anxiety.

Hawks reluctantly followed; his feet heavy as they approached the entrance. The moment they stepped inside, a cacophony of meows and purrs surrounded them. Hawks flinched, instinctively stepping closer to Dabi, who seemed unfazed by the flurry of tiny paws and twitching tails.

"See? Aren't they adorable?" Dabi gestured towards a group of kittens playing in a large, colourful pen.

Hawks's eyes widened, and he shook his head vigorously. "No, they're not! They're terrifying little monsters! What if they jump on me?"

Dabi rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his amusement. "You'll be fine. Just try to pet one. It might help with the whole 'terrified of cats' thing."

With a resigned sigh, Hawks followed Dabi to a cozy corner of the café where a fluffy tabby kitten was sprawled lazily on a cushion. "This one looks harmless," Dabi encouraged, gently picking up the kitten and handing it to Hawks.

As the tiny creature was placed in his hands, Hawks's heart raced. The kitten squirmed, its tiny claws grazing his shirt as it nuzzled against his palm. A whimper escaped Hawks's lips as he fought the overwhelming urge to drop it.

"See? It likes you!" Dabi said, watching with amusement.

"I can't do this!" Hawks cried, his voice rising as the kitten squirmed again. "If it stays on me for too long, I swear I will cry!"

"Then put it down, you big baby," Dabi teased, but there was a hint of warmth in his tone. He stepped closer, resting a hand on Hawks's shoulder.

With a shaky breath, Hawks carefully placed the kitten back on the cushion. "I don't understand how anyone can love these things," he muttered, rubbing his palms together as if to erase the sensation of the soft fur.

Dabi chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "You just need to give them a chance. They're really not that scary, I promise. Here, why don't you try again?"

Before Hawks could protest, Dabi had picked up a slightly larger kitten, a mischievous little calico with bright green eyes. "Just hold it like this," he said, demonstrating how to cradle the kitten in his arms.

With a hesitant look, Hawks took the calico from Dabi's hands. The kitten immediately began to knead its paws on his chest, and Hawks's breath hitched in his throat.

"See? Just relax," Dabi murmured, his voice soothing. "Just let it do its thing."

But Hawks couldn't relax; the sensation of tiny claws digging into his shirt felt like a nightmare. He swallowed hard, panic bubbling just beneath the surface. "Dabi, it's gonna attack me! I can feel it!"