Wally Darling AU oneshots

Rainbow Factory Wally『 Cat lover 』

[𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲]

[𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬]

None

[𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭]

972

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In the dim, industrial glow of the Rainbow Factory, Y/n had become quite used to the cold, structured atmosphere. The place was efficient, run with the precision of a well-oiled machine, all thanks to Rainbow.

His love for creating colors, extracted from the most unusual sources, consumed most of his time. He wasn't one for affection, not in any outward sense. He preferred solitude to company, bitter remarks to friendly banter.

Y/n had become part of his daily routine, helping him organize shipments of pigments and ensuring the factory's functionality. They weren't particularly close, but they had always admired Rainbows dedication, even if his personality was as cold as the steel machines around him.

That afternoon, however, something unexpected happened.

Y/n was leaning over a console, adjusting a few settings on the color-sorting machine when Rainbow walked past. His arm brushed against their back, an accidental, fleeting touch. It was so subtle that he didn't even pause, simply continuing his stride as if nothing had happened.

But they froze.

The moment his fingers grazed their back, something deep within them shifted. They felt a sudden, familiar warmth spread through their body, as if something they had kept buried for years was abruptly awakened. Their heart raced, and their head felt light.

And then, it happened.

Cat ears, soft, velvety, and unmistakably feline, sprouted from the top of Y/n's head, their tail flicking out from behind them as if it had been hiding all along. The shock of the transformation sent them into a panicked state, and they whipped around, instinctively trying to cover their head with their hands.

"W-What the—?" They stammered, their voice shaky as they tried to hide the ears, their face flushed with embarrassment.

The factory owner himself, hearing the commotion, turned slowly, his usual resting bitch face remaining for a split second before his red eyes widened just slightly. He blinked once, then twice, as if processing what he was seeing.

The worker could feel their heart hammering in their chest, unsure of what to say. They had worked so hard to keep this side of them hidden. It wasn't something they wanted to share, and certainly not with him of all people. His cold demeanor was the last thing they wanted to deal with when feeling this exposed.

But he... he did not react as expected.

His rigid posture softened just slightly, and though his expression remained stern, there was something almost endearing in his eyes. Something... fascinated. He stepped forward, his movements deliberate, but this time not unkind.

"You're a cat." He said, his tone as flat as ever, though there was a noticeable shift in his voice, a touch of interest, perhaps even a hint of amusement.

"N-No!" They stammered, frantically trying to flatten the ears back down.

But their tail was nervously twitching behind them not helping the situation.

"It's just, it's just a thing that happens when I'm startled! I-I'm not actually—"

"Mm."

Rainbows hand twitched slightly, as if he was contemplating whether or not to reach out. He cleared his throat, regaining his composure, though his eyes were unmistakably drawn to the ears now perked up on Y/n's head.

"Interesting."

He crouched a bit, leaning forward just enough to inspect the ears more closely, his sharp eyes following the flicking of their new tail. His face betrayed none of the warmth or affection that might come with such a discovery, but there was something unmistakably gentle about the way he approached.

"You should've told me." He said matter-of-factly, still staring at the ears.

"T-Told you what?" They managed, their voice barely above a whisper.

"That you're a cat." He replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"I-I'm not really, It's just a part of me! I usually keep it hidden, I didn't mean for you to see!" They stuttered, wanting to crawl in a hole and die of shame.

He stood back up straight, his lips forming a thin, thoughtful line.

"Cats are... agreeable." Rainbows voice held a slight undertone of admiration, though it was carefully disguised beneath his usual gruffness. He reached out, this time more deliberate in his action, and his hand brushed gently against one of the ears before Y/n could react.

The ear twitched involuntarily at his touch, and the man's red eyes softened, just for a moment.

"I've always liked cats." He muttered, barely audible but enough for them to catch. "They're independent. Smart." He hesitated before adding, in a slightly quieter tone. "And soft."

The blinked, not entirely sure they were hearing him right. Was this really their boss? The same stern, distant man who barely smiled and was more interested in his factory than anything else? The same man who rarely expressed any fondness toward others, let alone spoke so... tenderly?

"I'll make an exception." Rainbow finally said, stepping back slightly as if collecting himself. His eyes briefly flickered back to their ears, then to their fluffed-up tail. "You can keep them out. It suits you."

Y/n blinked in disbelief. "Suits me?"

Rainbows gaze lingered a moment longer before he cleared his throat and turned away, his posture stiffening again, though the softness in his voice remained. "Make sure you're not slacking off, just continue working like you did before." He grumbled, though without his usual bite. "I'll be watching."

Y/n's heart was still racing, their ears twitching involuntarily as they watched him walk away. But even from the back, they could see it, the slight relaxation in his shoulders, the way his pace had slowed just a fraction.

He liked cats.

And maybe, just maybe, he liked them, too.

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(  •͈ᴗ•͈)◞ 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠
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