Work Text:
Chay opens the apartment door when he gets home and Kim races past him, down the hall, and to the elevator. Kim ricochets off the closed elevator doors, dashes back up the hallway, pelts past a stunned Chay back into the apartment, and runs full speed into the bedroom. Startled, Chay barks and follows Kim into the bedroom, where Kim stands on the bed, tail puffed out, eyes wide, staring at nothing.
"P'Kim?"
Kim leaps off the bed, knocking the covers off, and charges past Chay and out the door. Kim runs through the living room, vaults over the couch, and heads into the kitchen. Kim bounces off the refrigerator, shoots past a panicked Chay, and heads out the open front door, sprinting down the corridor toward the stairs.
"P'Kim!"
Kim throws open the door to the stairwell and darts through, and by the time Chay gets to the doorway, Kim has disappeared. Chay howls in dismay, scrambles for his cell phone, and frantically calls Kinn.
"P'Kinn" Chay cries.
"What's wrong, Chay?"
"P'Kim ran away!"
"What do you mean Kim ran away?"
"I don't know what happened! I opened the door and P'Kim ran out the door. He came back in, spooked, and ran back into the hallway and disappeared down the stairs!"
"Did Kim say anything?"
"No! It's like I wasn't even here!"
"How fast was he running?"
"As fast as he can!"
"Okay, Chay. Calm down. I hate to ask you this, Chay, but is there any way Kim has just taken a dump?"
"What?"
"Did Kim take a shit?"
Chay jogs into the bathroom and takes a careful sniff. Maybe. Chay hears the toilet tank filling up like it's just been flushed, and Chay comes to the conclusion that Kim recently used the bathroom.
"Yes. I think so."
"Okay, Chay. You can relax. Kim just has the zoomies."
"Like when I've been cooped up too long?"
"Just like. It sometimes happens when cats take a dump."
"But P'Kim has never done this before!"
"I'm sure, but you've been working with Kim to embrace his instincts. This is instinct."
"Why?"
"They think it's because cat scat reveals our presence to predators so we need to get as far away as possible." Kinn soothes.
"Will he come back?"
"Of course he'll come back, Chay. Once he's worked the energy out he'll be knocking on the door. Here at the compound we just hop on treadmills. Kim probably ran down to his gym."
"Should I go check on him?"
"Let Kim run. It'll be good for him."
"I'm worried."
"He's fine, Chay. I promise."
"You're sure?"
"I'm sure."
"He scared me. His tail was all puffed up while he stared at nothing!"
"Sound about right. That's why they say cats can see ghosts. Because we do stuff like that."
"Can you see ghosts, P'Kinn?"
"Not to my knowledge."
"Don't tell Hia that. Just in case." Chay warns.
"I won't tell Porsche I can see ghosts."
"Do you know when P'Kim will be back?"
"Half an hour? Depends on how deep in his instincts he is."
"Is there anything I should do?"
"Nope, Kim will handle it."
"Thank you, P'Kinn."
"Thank you, Chay."
"For what?"
"Getting Kim in touch with his instincts again. Kim has been bottled up tight since he was a child. Khun and I worry about him."
"I just want P'Kim to be a healthy cat."
"I appreciate it, Chay. Knowing that Kim plays again is a dream come true for me and Khun."
"Do you play, P'Kinn?"
"Yes. Your brother tosses me crumpled-up pieces of paper to bat around. Khun likes to unwind with a ball of yarn."
"Why didn't P'Kim play?"
"Pa was hardest on him because he's just a black cat. Pa took away all his toys early and forced him into training."
"P'Kim is a Siamese! I can prove it!"
"Pa thinks he's a black cat. So Pa decided that if he weren't useful for his pedigree, he would be useful as an assassin."
"I hate your Pa."
"I know."
"And you're sure P'Kim will be back?"
"I'm sure. He loves you. He wouldn't just run away."
Chay hears a knock at the door, and Chay throws the door open, revealing a blushing Kim.
"P'Kim!"
"Is he back, Chay?" Kinn asks.
"He's back, P'Kinn."
"Okay, Chay. I'll let you go then."
"Thanks for everything, P'Kinn!"
"You're welcome, Chay. See you later."
Chay hangs up the phone and throws himself in Kim's arms, licking his boyfriend's nose.
"You scared me, P'Kim!"
"I'm sorry, angel. I'll try not to let it happen again."
"P’Kinn told me what happened, I'm not scared anymore. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, baby. I promise."
"Did you get your energy out?"
Kim flushes in embarrassment and lays his ears to his skull.
"Don't tease," Kim murmurs.
"I'm not teasing, P'Kim. I know what the zoomies are like. I have them after baths."
"Is that why you don't like taking baths?"
"Yes, P'Kim. The apartment is too small to run in."
"We could always get you on a treadmill, my love."
"That's okay, P'Kim. I like showers. I like to bark under the falling water."
Kim rubs his cheeks on Chay's nose and kisses him on the lips.
"Zoomies over, angel. Do you want to cuddle with me on the couch?"
Chay's golden tail waves in delight.
"Oh, yes P'Kim!"
Kim pushes Chay onto the sofa and curls up in Chay's lap purring. Chay's excited tail thumps on the armrest of the couch, and he buries his hand in Kim's hair, scratching Kim's ears and his scalp.
"Where did you go, P'Kim? The gym?"
"I ran around the block, angel. Unfortunately, I ran past an Australian Cattle Dog hybrid who was nipping at my heels the whole time. Security had to prevent him from herding me to the elevator."
"Maybe next time just go to the gym," Chay suggests.
Kim blushes and starts cleaning Chay's floppy ears with his tongue.
"Did you really not see me, P'Kim?"
"I saw you baby, but I had to run. Had to."
"Then you should run, P'Kim."
"I'm so sorry I scared you angel."
"That's okay, P'Kim. But when you spooked staring at nothing? That creeped me out, P'Kim. I almost howled."
"I'll try not to do it again, baby."
"It's okay, P'Kim. You can't help taking a dump."
Kim yowls in upset and buries his red face in Chay's chest.
"It's normal, P'Kim. Everyone goes to the bathroom."
"Angel! Please!" Kim cries in embarrassment.
"Okay, P'Kim. I won't talk about it anymore."
"Thank you."
"I was so worried, P'Kim. I thought you ran away."
"I would never do that. I love you!"
"I love you too. I couldn't bear it if I lost you!"
Kim runs his rough tongue over Chay's face, trying to soothe his boyfriend.
“You won’t lose me, baby. I’m still mostly human. I’ll always come back to you, Chay. Always.”
Chay lets out a howl and Kim’s ears flick back.
“Baby? Did I say something wrong?” Kim asks.
“No, P’Kim. My heart is too full. I have to howl!”
Chay releases another “Awoo-woo-woo” and Kim purrs in his lap.
“I love you so much, angel.”
“I love you too, P’Kim.”
“I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“I know.”
“Want to take the tennis ball out to the compound tomorrow?”
“Can we, P’Kim?”
“Anything for you, sunshine.”
“Okay, then. It’s a date!”
“It’s a date, angel.”
Kim maneuvers Chay so he’s lying on the couch with Kim sprawled over him, vibrating his body with purrs.
“Let’s nap, baby.”
“Okay. Sweet dreams, P’Kim.”
“Sweet dreams, angel.”