NCT Oneshots {ot23} | open

Subtle: Ten

▹prompt: subtle
▹word count: 1898
▹genre: humour, crack
▹warnings: n/a

ˑ༄ؘ ۪۪۫۫ ▹❀◃ ۪۪۫۫ ༄ؘ ˑ

Ten raised a hand to check his mask and hat were still in place while he hurried along the street. The lingering stares of fellow pedestrians unnerved him. He needed to get back to the dorm as quickly as possible, so he had no time to be stopped by paparazzi or fans. He was on a mission. A serious one. One that would affect his well-being, his future and his career as an idol. All of their futures.

The kitten concealed under his jacket began to struggle again when Ten pulled his keys from his pocket, jostling the poor animal in the process. He sighed, looking down. Two glistening eyes stared back at him from. The cat must have been uncomfortable, but this mission had to be completed alone if it were to be successful. Meaning he couldn't get Kun or a manager to drive him to the animal shelter.

Surprisingly, a calm silence met him in the hallway of the dorm. He quietly locked the door and tiptoed towards his and Hendery's shared room. Luck was on his (or rather, their) side because his roommate was nowhere to be seen. Ten guessed he was with Yangyang, scheming up some sort of chaotic plan. Those two could be so irresponsible sometimes. At least I have some more sense, Ten grinned to himself.

Once he'd removed his shoes and sat on the bed, he let the kitten wriggle out from his hiding place. The cat placed a paw on the duvet, tentative but curious all the same. Then another. It took a few careful steps away from Ten, then tumbled onto his side, so Ten giggled and reached to hold the Siamese. The kitten curled up on his lap and he scratched the top of its head.

"Aren't you a clumsy baby, hm?" As Ten spoke, his voice raised a few pitches as though talking to a baby. But he was talking to his baby. This little Siamese kitten was now his very own son, and he was going to care for it as such.

"AAAHHHH!"

Ten whipped his head up at the piercing scream. And chaos ensued.

The kitten leapt from Ten's lap and disappeared in a blur into an open drawer on the other side of the room. Ten was too shocked to move. So was Hendery, seemingly. He had frozen on the spot, his hand still poised on the door handle, face contorted with fear and confusion. Had he been hallucinating? Or was there really a cat sat on his friend's lap?

Within a few seconds, the other five members had all crowded in the doorway to peer at Ten and ask Hendery what the commotion was about.

"Would one of you two please care to explain to me what is going on in here?" The authoritative tone in Kun's voice snapped Ten out of his daze.

"There was a cat on his lap."
"I promise I do not have a cat in here."

Both Ten and Hendery spoke over one another which only resulted in raised eyebrows and grunts of confusion from everyone else.

"Sorry, what?" Xiaojun asked first.

"I swear on mine and Louis' lives that I did not bring a cat home. Why would I do that? I'm responsible, unlike Yangyang and Hendery."

"Who's Louis?" Winwin frowned harder at the statement. Ten racked his brain for an excuse and an answer. He was about to explain to everyone that Louis was his best friend from back in Thailand (believable, right?) when Kun opened his mouth again.

"Please, Ten. Please do not tell me that the pair of ears in your socks draw belongs to this... Louis." The leader rubbed his forehead, as though the whole situation was giving him a massive headache. It was.