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SUNDAY EVENING
4:33 PM
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"meddy!! i'm home!!" subspace yells into their (now) shared home after unlocking the door.
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he slams it shut behind him with his tail. it curls around the lock and clicks it in place. he walks further into the home and dumps the contents of supposed groceries from the cloth bags he had been carrying on the kitchen counter. subspace's eye scans around the house for any dash of movement, half–expecting medkit to be like one of those cats that rush to greet their owners.
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of course, unfortunately, there is no medkit cat meowing by his feet.
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what subspace does notice is a set of flame–pointed cat ears peeking out from behind the seat of the couch. they had been twitching after hearing the series of noises from the scientist's demanding entrance. subspace stares at it, blinking a few times. did medkitty think he couldn't see him? his ears had stood up to attention immediately. it was incredibly obvious.
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from the absurdity of it all, subspace has to press a claw hard against his mask to stop himself from snickering. perhaps he'll be the one humouring medkit this time!
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so he pretends to not notice. "meddyy! little kitty, where are youuu?"
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the set of ears flinch, dipping in and out of subspace's view a few times. he tries to imagine medkitty sinking further into the couch pillows to avoid being caught, for whatever reason. hm.
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that won't do at all. subspace had come home and medkit thinks he can hide himself? big fucking mistake!
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the scientist leans back to rake his claws along the countertop, the rough scratching echoing in the living room. it doesn't bother him in the slightest, but he knows with medkitty's sensitive hearing, it must be bordering on painful. he grins wickedly.
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subspace hears a faint thump and a few decibels of a whimper. no doubt medkitty had been pressing himself so hard into the seat's surface he was about to phase through it. the demon briefly wonders why he's so scared, but it flies out of his mind as soon as it appears. there's nothing at all to be scared of! he's been nothing but caring and affectionate with the cat. is medkit seriously that averse to being petted all over? it's his fault for being so fluffy, then.
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or maybe his sensitivity to touch has heightened along with all of his other senses? maybe medkit's just flustered from the attention? the suggestion sounds a little cute. of course subspace would be obsessed.
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subspace unclasps his gas mask off and sets it on the counter. he rummages through the items he had bought, and although somewhat clueless on animal enrichment, he has an inkling of what each item does. the scientist had purchased everything based on what he'd play with as a cat, and he's sure medkitty's not so different. cats are cats. right?
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subspace sighs, feigning distress. "auughh.. medkit.. you fucking idiot.."
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he walks in the opposite direction of the cat clearly on the couch, trying to be as loud as possible. his tail scrapes against the floor. medkit will surely scold him for ruining the wood, but he doesn't care. at least not yet.
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"come out, come out, wherever you are!!"
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the way subspace searches is random. he opens and closes curtains, checks under potted plants, moves around the little reading chair medkit never uses. he even shuffles through books on a shelf.
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subspace enters the dining area and peeks under the glass table. he feels something watching him, and from his peripheral he can see medkitty had moved to spy on his movements, only his eye and ears peeking out from the back of the couch's frame. fuck. it looks so cute that subspace momentarily freezes.
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one of medkitty's ears flicks. it is taking everything in him not to laugh, and also not to strike at the kitty due to his own hunting instincts.
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"med?! did you fucking die from starvation or something?" the scientist grumbles out.
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subspace knows medkit couldn't be anywhere else in the house, or rather, there are no other hiding spaces for the cat, he had locked all other doors for a reason. medkit had transformed into a cat again after all, there's no need for him to use his office!
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subspace's tail moves to shift the chairs in the dining area out of place, the legs dragging against the floor. obviously, there is no cat under them. he growls in annoyance. it must have sounded authentic, because he stills when he sees medkitty quickly duck his head. oh?
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subspace grabs one of the items on the counter. he causes more random ruckus with his tail, staring at the ears medkit still couldn't hide. his eye narrows, stalking his prey.
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"ueugh.. i guess med did escape.. i thought i locked up the rest of the house well…" subspace trails off dramatically, and the cat relaxes by a fraction.
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he fixates on medkit's ears, flexes his claws, and lunges.
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“found you!!!”
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medkit startles so much that he goes boneless for a second. subspace is giggling in front of him now, a little hysterical, and medkitty can only look up in fear. one of subspace's claws pins him down, but he's still careful not to pierce his skin. the other claw hides behind his back.
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subspace's long tongue slowly protrudes out of his maw like it's an alien. it slides out from between his teeth and past rotted flesh, extending and extending.
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the scientist watches in glee as he licks medkit's cheek, saliva sticking to the fur and causing it to stand up. medkitty squeaks, and it sounds so adorable, so subspace just has to lick him again, on the other cheek. and then another time on his forehead, as if grooming him.
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medkitty is trembling now. the scientist's tail sneaks up to wrap around his pouch and secures him, making sure the cat is completely still. subspace's tongue retreats back into his maw, yet medkit can still see the poisonous pink peeking out between his teeth. it doesn't make him feel any more safer.
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"look at you, meddy!! you thought you could hide from me, huh??" subspace's claw moves to pinch his cheek. he laughs then, barely able to contain his deranged exhilaration.
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medkit squirms, trying to kick his little kitty feet. subspace just laughs harder. “what’s wrong, darling? can’t hold your bladder anymore? you need me to get you a litter box?”
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the cat gives a scowl as best as it can hold and screeches in the hopes that subspace would release him. it doesn’t work, and it only spurs the other on. freak.
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he giggles airily. “oh, you know i’m just joking!!”
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subspace blinks a few times, processing what he had just said. “you do know what jokes are, right?”
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medkitty gives him a very disgusted look, his tail puffing up. subspace unwinds the coil of his own tail and manoeuvres medkit to sit on his lap.
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“i also got you something, because i’m so nice!! many things, actually! where’s my thank you?” medkit ignores him and tries to peek at whatever was on the counter behind the pink demon's shoulder, but subspace’s hold prevents him from doing so. his fluffy tail flicks in nervous anticipation.
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"ta–da!!!" subspace's eye shines as he pulls out his other claw from behind his back.
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medkit immediately focuses on the object.. and he's not pleased. it's a colourful toy snake made from cloth and felt, not scientifically accurate at all. none of them say a word, or rather make any noise, as medkitty stares at the snake. he's in shock, subspace supposes, as he watches medkit's chest rise and fall heavily. oh. he might be a little mad.
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subspace rattles it around like a maraca anyway. "look!! the package even said it has catnip inside!! and if you must know, meddy, this drug won't hurt you!! so i don't understand why you're so scared!"
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medkit's head snaps up to look at subspace's enthusiastic face, eye sharp. he makes a noise of disapproval and slams a paw down on the other's sternum, hard.
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the scientist winces, straining the remaining connective tissue of his maw from the expression, and lifts up the cat with one claw by grabbing its stomach. "what was that for??! do you not like it?? but it's so cute like you!"
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to emphasise his point, subspace squishes the snake against the side of medkitty's head, flattening his ear. he has both arms stretched out now, still maintaining distance between himself and medkitty. the cat's paws can only wiggle midair from being properly imbalanced.
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medkit's nose twitches. subspace hesitantly lets him down on his lap again, but his claw is still gripping its sides. "no hitting!!"
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he starts dragging and rubbing the stupid toy snake all over medkitty's body.
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"hissss.. look!! meddy, there's a snake slithering all over you! aren't you going to do something about it? hiisss..!!" medkit whines, high–pitched and uncomfortable. he does not want to play with a fucking cat toy, for sfoth's sake, especially a snake. he'd understand if subspace had gotten a yarn ball or a toy mouse or something, but this was ridiculous.
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"if you think this is hell, medkitty," subspace boops the snake on his nose and medkit's pupil dilates considerably, "then you shouldn't have hidden from me!! besides, i'm sure you've treated animals before? like emergency ones on the street? so you must know what catnip does, right??"
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a mix of a growl and a purr erupts from medkit's throat. he's stunned that subspace can equate treating broken legs on animals to giving recreational drugs to a pet. did he fucking think they used catnip like anesthesia? either the scientist was just saying nonsense to get on his nerves, or he really had no clue about anything relating to basic biology and petcare. medkit assumes it's the latter. tragic. he feels like whacking subspace in the head with his gear.
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although, sadly, whatever subspace is doing is working, because the smell of catnip binds to the little happy receptors in medkit's brain. his tail starts to wag. if he was still a demon, or even half, he'd surely be blushing.
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subspace tilts his head at the reaction. he places the snake on the other seat of the couch. medkitty glances at the snake, then to the scientist, and then pounces on the snake. oh.
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medkitty lays on his side and clutches the snake close, rubbing his head and the sides of his neck on it. aggressively. so aggressive in fact subspace has to place his arm at the edge to prevent medkit from falling off because he was rotating that roughly.
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it would be cute, subspace thinks, if it was towards him only. he doesn't know how catnip is supposed to look like, but one quick search on the internet earlier had told him it was a herb.
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so maybe subspace should just tear open the snake in front of medkitty, see his crestfallen expression and slather whatever dried up herbs were on the inside on himself. medkitty would surely divert his attention to him then, something organic and visible and always there, full of love for him.
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subspace stares at medkitty rolling around the toy and bunny–kicking it with his rear feet for a few minutes.
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the thread of his patience snaps. the scientist yanks the snake away and picks medkitty up, giving him a wet kiss on his forehead, "you should know who really loves you, meddy! not some stupid snake! i'm much bigger than it so you can rub yourself all over me instead!!"
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you're the one who gave me the fucking snake, medkit wants to scream, but he can't. all that comes out from him is a throaty meow. he wiggles in subspace's grasp to try and free himself. he wants the snake back. now.
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subspace frowns. he spins medkitty in his hold and throws the snake at the screen of medkit's television, and it drops to the floor with a soft thump. medkit could only watch in horror, and doesn't realise he's being spun around again, back to facing his lover.
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"i'm not going to give you back the snake! you have other toys i bought for you! don't be ungrateful, meddy!!"
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the scientist finally lets him down when he starts twisting violently in his hold. so dramatic! amused, he peers down at medkitty glaring up at him. the cat digs a paw into the exposed bone on his right arm and flicks his tail in indignation. then medkitty buries his face into the other's thigh. subspace's breath catches in his throat.
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aww, medkitty's sulking now.. and subspace is also more than a little grateful all his nerves in his rotten limb are damaged, otherwise he'd be screaming in pain.
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subspace sighs and scratches behind the cat's ears. medkitty still doesn't move, practically limp.
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"you're such a baby, aren't you, meddy?" the scientist teases. medkitty gives a muffled noise as if saying 'don't talk to me. i'm mad at you'.
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medkit knows subspace is taking advantage of this curse, knows that he is weak to the instincts and hormones of a kitten, not at all like his usual deadpan and snappy self. he knows subspace gets such a thrill from puppeteering medkitty like a marionette held up by strings. all he can do is sigh and grumble internally.
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subspace is lucky medkit loves him as much as he does, any less and the scientist would be going to sleep with the feeling that he may not wake up one day. not to say he doesn't already feel like it now.
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medkit can't help that it's so jarring whenever he transforms. for a good hour or so, his reality becomes distorted and blurry and threatens to tip on its axis, pulling him with it after. the whole world around him grows so much larger that it messes up his depth perception, and all of a sudden his senses especially his hearing enhances tenfold. it always leaves him in a daze, sending his mind reeling. sometimes medkit can hear what subspace does in their shared bedroom, and he doesn't like it.
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"i'd play with you more, but.." subspace leans his head back against the couch. "i'm so tired from the grocery run!! carrying them was hard even with an assisting biograft!"
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he doesn't receive a response from medkitty. the demon blinks in confusion, and quickly wonders if the latter stopped breathing. oh. shit.
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"hey…" subspace starts. hey, what? what is he supposed to say? it feels strange when there isn't a full demon medkit to shoot back his own retort or make him feel lovesick just by glaring.
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"meddy..?" the scientist tries. medkit gives him a soft and faint mew.
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subspace's eye lights up, and he runs a claw up and down the cat's body, stroking his fur. ah, meddy could never be mad at him for so long in this state!
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medkitty turns his head until he lays on his side, facing subspace. his cheek is still squished against his bony thigh.
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subspace stares down at him with a pout. "forgive me, pleaseee?" he begs. he even has the audacity to shoot medkit a puppy–dog eye.
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medkitty growls at the display, but shifts up on subspace's lap to drape his body on it anyway. "medkitty!! forgive me!!" he whines.
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subspace scratches the base of the cat's tail, observing how medkit's lower back twitches. he eyes multiple emotions flitting across medkit's face. then, the kitty finally relents, keening.
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subspace grins. "can't help yourself, can you? the thought of being touched that enticing?" he props medkit up to sit upright on his lap, making him lean sideways on his chest.
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medkitty groans in his head. why did he have to put it like that?
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the cat twists his body to face subspace. both of his claws press against his shirt. he flexes them, knowing the scientist is entranced, and begins to knead the shirt. medkit can feel subspace trembling from excitement. subspace doesn't even care that the claws prick him through the thin fabric, he coos at the kitty as if medkit is the cutest thing in the world. subspace would say that in fact, yes, he is.
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however, as soon as medkit starts to purr, subspace sees white, as if someone had set off a smoke bomb. a cloud of the white smoke billows from out of nowhere and blocks subspace's entire vision. he instantly enters panic mode, his stinger brandishing on instinct. and maybe he did try striking the air a few times, unsuccessfully, but he'd never tell medkit that.
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alarmed, subspace needs to stand up, grab medkitty and high–tail it outside to activate the biograft parked (hidden) in medkit's front lawn, in the case someone had already found out about their secret.. affair. he tries to push the suddenly heavy weight off of him, but it doesn't budge.
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wait, heavy?!
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the scientist's arms thrash at his sides as he attempts to scramble off the couch. the weight pins him down and the smoke makes his eye water.
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when subspace finally realises he isn't being attacked, he fans the smoke away as much as possible. he has to hold his breath so he doesn't inhale the smoke and cough blood all over medkit's couch. although with all of the stress medkit's putting him through lately, maybe he will.
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subspace shakes his head to dissipate the thought. the smoke clears a little, then completely, and his eye narrows at the sight. medkit had reverted back to his half–demon form, his cat ears twitching and everything. he's still kneading subspace's shirt, except it fucking hurts now, because his claws are twice as big and twice as sharp.
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ah. so that's what happened when he fell asleep last time.
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subspace takes a moment to examine medkit closer. his flame–pointed ears are the same, still droopy, but just bigger. the set of ears aren't technically nestled in between his horns, they're positioned in front of them, although not directly. it gives the illusion that medkit's cat ears are stuck between his antlers. there's even a teal colouration dusting the tips of his ears now.
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subspace hears and feels medkit purr against his chest. he hesitates. he should just enjoy the moment, right? he can scream at medkit later for almost giving him a heart attack.
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subspace forces his initial shock away by blinking and sneaks a claw up to wrap around medkit, holding him close on his lap. his scorpion tail intertwines with the doctor's wagging one. subspace is unable to stop himself from melting into the embrace, starting to purr himself. medkit is still really soft..
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medkit looks up at him with the most innocent face he can muster. it's almost amusing, because half–demon medkit still has horrible eyebags and a dreary look gracing his features. his ears bend forward in some sort of submission, and he continues to make biscuits on subspace's chest, but even harder, as if trying to steal all of subspace's attention. he looks adorable and it's fucking working.
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"...can i have the snake back?"
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subspace goes quiet. they stare at each other in silence.
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he really, really, wants to bite medkit's cat ears right fucking off.
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