SHAPESHIFTED (✓)

35. What's a Katasu?

Alec's long legs strode towards his boyfriend's apartment as he tried to keep his nervousness at bay. It had been a week since they were back together, and he was more than happy that Magnus was putting efforts into fixing their broken trust. Be it opening up about the smallest things about him or his past, he was proving to him that he had changed. There was something about him now that wasn't there in those six months, a spark, an essence of calmness. Alec liked this side of his boyfriend. He wasn't that Magnus anymore who shielded his heart and put up upfront of a strong demeanor. He showed his vulnerable side, maybe just to him, but he did.

He halted to a stop and found himself standing in front of Magnus' apartment door, then took a deep breath and took out the key to the loft. Yes, Magnus had given him the key to his apartment, and that was also the gesture he liked. But right now, he was nervous. Magnus had called earlier that day and asked him to make time in the evening and come to his place, they needed to talk and it was important. So yes, he was nervous as to what Magnus wanted to talk about. He just hoped that Magnus wasn't desperate to make him forgive him, because even though they were working on their relationship, he still needed his time to forgive him completely.

With a deep breath, he opened the door and walked inside the apartment, but to his surprise, Magnus wasn't in sight. He frowned. "Magnus!? I'm here, where are you?"

In answer, he heard something he least expected.

"Meaaaw!"

'Weird!' he thought, Magnus didn't have a pet cat. As if realising, he mentally facepalmed, Magnus was one.

"Magnus!?" He called again, as he kept walking in.

"Meaaw!" The soft voice again.

As he reached the living room, he froze as flashes of some unpleasant memories came in front of his eyes. Magnus was sitting on the couch in his shapeshifted form waiting for him, holding a piece of paper in his mouth, looking at him expectantly. He gulped. He didn't know if he was ready to forgive him completely, coz' it definitely seemed like that's what the warlock wanted.

He went towards the couch and sat on it, as Magnus kept looking at him with his innocent-looking golden eyes.

"What is this, Magnus?" He asked in a flat tone.

Magnus tilted his head forward, indicating him to take the note from his mouth, wagging his tail slowly in nervousness.

Alec sighed and took the note from his mouth. He was scared. What was he up to? He slowly opened the note as Magnus kept looking at him expectantly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm sorry, Alexander. I know seeing me in this form would have brought back unpleasant memories for you. Memories of my betrayal, memories of your heartbreak, memories of how I broke your trust. But... this is important. I can't keep living in my warlock form, and keep ignoring a basic part of me. I could've done it behind your back, like always, but since you know about it, I don't want that. To hide from you, lie to you. Not anymore. Knowing you're my true soulmate, I have a sense of trust in you that you'll keep my secret.

Being a Katasu, shifting isn't a want, it's a need. I need to shift once in a while otherwise my body starts aching, not just any normal ache, it's mixed with a burn, which you can't even imagine how badly it hurts. This is a basic part of me, my second nature, and I need it as much as I need air.

I know I wronged you when I stayed with you in this form, but while doing so, I realized something. Because it's who I am, my most comfortable part apart from being in my own skin, the time I spend with you felt like coming back home. You were my home. I felt complete. Something I never felt before, even with Math.