I'm Not a Catnip Kind of Girl

Chapter 3

The next few days are the happiest of my life. I've never been accepted by anyone, but Matthew has changed all of that. He's willing to be my friend, and more. I've never felt this way before. I debate whether I should say anything to him or not. Then something happens that helps me make my choice.

I'm sitting on the couch in a patch of sunlight coming in from the window. I swish my tail back and forth happily. I'm the only one in the room at the moment. Matthew has stepped out to run some errands, so only Alfred and Tony are home. I haven't seen much of Tony since I got here though.

Alfred walks into the room. "Hey (y/n)," he says and sits down next to me. "Look, there's something I need to talk to you about."

I ignore him and continue to swish my tail. I'm still trying my best to act like a normal cat around Alfred, so he'll forget about me transforming. I guess his memory is better than I hoped it would be.

"You can drop the act. I know you can understand me. I saw you and Matthew in the kitchen that morning."

My tail freezes. So he did see me. I turn to look at him. "I'm listening."

His eyes widen. "Woah! You can talk as a cat? Sweet!" His face turns serious again. "Could you maybe transform into a person? It's weird talking to a cat."

I shift in front of him, and settle back into the couch. "So what is it you want?" I ask a little miffed. I thought I kept my secret so well.

"Well, I thought I should tell you why I brought you here," Alfred says.

"Wait, what?" I say surprised.

"I should explain from the beginning," he says in deep thought. "I noticed you while walking down the street. I was going to talk to you, but then you suddenly turned down an alleyway. I was like, 'Dude, what?', and I followed you."

I do my best to ignore the extra things he adds in the story. This may take a while.

"So I turned into the alley, and BAM! You turned into a cat! And I was thinking that that makes you perfect!"

"Huh?" I ask. Alfred isn't making this easy to follow. "Why does me turning into a cat make me perfect?"

Alfred's gaze lowers in intensity. "I knew you'd be perfect for Matthew."

At that moment, Matthew walks into the penthouse. Alfred doesn't notice at all. I motion for Matthew to sit and listen.

"Matthew's always been lonely since people can't see him that well. Even I can't," he says with a laugh. It's without humor. "I feel really bad about it, but I can't help it!" Alfred looks pretty guilty. "I know I'm not the best brother. But when I saw you, I recognized something in you that reminded me of Matthew. So I thought I'd ask you to meet him, but then you turned into a cat, so I just grabbed you before you could run." He scratched the back of his head. "Sorry about that."

"So you did all of this for Matthew?"

"Yeah," he says softly. "I thought if I couldn't be there for him, then someone else should."

"Did you ever think that maybe I wouldn't be able to see him?" I'm curious to see what he says.

"Actually, I never thought about that." He lets out a laugh. He's starting to sound more like himself.

"What do you think about all of this, Matthew?" I ask, addressing him for the first time. He's been sitting quietly across from us since he walked in.

"Matthew?" Alfred blurts out surprised. It would seem he didn't notice the quiet blonde walk in.

I facepalm. "Seriously Alfred? You didn't see him?" After that whole heartwarming spiel, it turns out he's still as much of an airhead as I thought.

"I-it's okay (y/n)," Matthew says. He looks like he's close to tears. "You really did that for me?" he asks Alfred.

"Yeah bro," Alfred says with a smile. "I'm the hero after all!"

"Thank you, Al." Matthew gives him a hug, which takes Alfred by surprise. A few tears slip out of Matthew's eyes, and he laughs happily.

"Don't mention it Mattie," Alfred says, hugging him back. "I'm sorry I don't notice you more."

Matthew breaks the hug and turns to me. He walks over to me and kisses me without hesitation. "I'm glad you're here (y/n)," he says after pulling away.

"Me too," I say with my heart starting to speed up. "You're my family now."

Alfred starts to walk away to give us privacy. Before he can leave, I call out to him.

"Alfred!" He turns. "Thank you," I smile, "for giving me a chance."

"No problem (y/n). All in a day's work for a hero." He continues walking down the hall.

I motion for Matthew to join me on the couch. He sits down, and I cuddle up against him. He puts an arm around me in response.

"I guess I don't have to pretend to be a cat anymore," I tell him.

"I guess not," he says with a smile. He places a small kiss on my forehead. "I like you as a human best anyway."

"Well, I like that I can be both around you." I turn into my cat form and hop into his lap. "I can finally be me." I hop on his shoulder and balance there. It's lucky that I'm small for my age, even as a cat. I lick his cheek gently.

"Why don't you change back for a sec?" he asks with mischief in his quiet voice.

I jump onto his lap and shift back. "Why?"

"I can't do this when you're a cat," Matthew says. He leans in and kisses me again. It's a hungry kiss, and his arms hold me to him tightly.

We break for air, but we don't stop. I open my lips to him when his tongue gently asks for permission. He doesn't fight my tongue. He simply explores gently, but he gives my lip a bite as he exits. I growl and bite back. He runs his hand up my back, and it comes to rest on my neck. Matthew tilts my head back to deepen the kiss.

I break the kiss first, and stare deep into his light blue eyes.

"I think I love you," we both say at the same time.

I suddenly shift into my cat form without meaning to. It happens to me when I'm physically weak, or in emotional distress. I'd say I'm feeling a bit of both right now at Matthew's confession.

"(Y/n)?" Matthew asks worried. "Oh my gosh! Did I do something wrong?" He's blushing furiously, and becoming more and more flustered.

"I-I'm okay," I manage to get out. "This just, uh...happens sometimes."

"Why?" he asks still worried.

"When I get weak," I explain. "Or emotionally overwhelmed," I add quieter.

"Oh," he replies when he realizes what I'm getting at. "But I mean what I said," he says after a pause.

"I do too," I whisper.

Matthew picks me up and cradles my small form in his arms. He bends his head so that his cheek is resting on my furry head. "Stay with me forever."

"Okay."