Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Pussy Problems

For Julian and Elise. Enjoy this strange Adhark (?) fic.
•••

Mark despised cats.

Ok, well, that wasn't exactly true. He just didn't love cats. Especially not as much as Adhara did, anyway. Skip forward 40 years and Mark was sure he'd be living with a crazy old cat lady.

Mark had learned of Adhara's strange affinity for all things feline about a year and a half ago. Mark's adventure through her abode had been quite a journey, but her kitty problems were another story altogether.

Mark brushed aside the beaded curtains as he headed into his girlfriend's living room for the first time. To say that he was nervous was the understatement of the year. There had to be a first time for everything, he supposed, sighing a little. So far, he'd had a lot of fun. Watching Adhara trapeze around her home, excitedly pointing out her little knickknacks and favorite random souvenirs, he couldn't help but grin. Every day he was around her, it seemed, he always found himself wondering how he was so lucky.

Now, however, Adhara seemed particularly enthused about getting him into the living room. Apparently not going fast enough, she grabbed his hand and nearly toppled him over as she pulled him into the room. Trying to grip his feet onto the carpet, he had a second of regret for not wearing his shoes inside before he stumbled onto the couch. He was about to give Adhara a (probably half-hearted) stern look when he heard a low heaving sound. Raising his eyebrows in confusion, he scanned the couch for the source.

That's when he felt the pillow under him start to move.

Making an extremely manly screeching noise, Mark leapt from the couch, falling on his butt on the carpet below. And blinking at Mark from above, the sun behind him creating an almost heavenly halo, was none other than a...cat? His golden eyes were half-open, brown fur disheveled from Mark's intrusion. He was unnaturally large, reminding Mark of a pancake as he reclined on the couch. He seemed rather annoyed, to say the least.

"Gods, what the fuck is that?!" Mark gaped, scooting away from the cat hurriedly. He turned to ask Adhara again to find her doubled over, shaking with mirth.

Mark scowled. "Oh, so you think this is funny, huh?"

"Are you- oh my god- k-kidding? Your face was p-priceless!" She glanced at him, eyes twinkling.

"What kind of beast is that, Addie." He pointed at the cat, grimacing.

After the laughter died down somewhat, Adhara sighed and sat cross-legged on the carpet in front of him. A big grin never left her face, however.

"That, Mark Akagi, is what we earthlings call a cat."

Mark shuddered. "But it's so large."

"That's because he's chubby."

"Monsters."

Adhara rolled her eyes. "Cats are adorable. Besides, Twix won't hurt you- he's too lazy."

Mark narrowed his eyes at Twix, skeptical. "I'm watching you," he murmured, eyes locking with the cat's.

Adhara giggled and was about to remark on Mark threatening cats when a yowl from the other room caught their attention.

"What the fu-"

"Oh, that's just Lux."

Mark raised a brow. "You have a sibling?"

"No, oh my gods. That's another-"

And then he stepped in, standing pointedly in the light shining through the window. His black fur gleamed with an almost iridescent glow, slick and soft.