⋆｡‧˚ʚ (non demon AU) ɞ˚‧｡⋆

Mystery exhales slowly, water dripping from his bangs.

“They hate us,” he mutters flatly, watching the black one lunge from your hands and nearly leap out of the tub—before he catches it, cradling it with impossible calm.

“I told you they’d fight it.” His voice is soft, edged with amusement he’s trying not to show. “Cats hate water. You said we’d bond with them.”

The gray kitten slips again, and he moves without a word, guiding it back toward you with gentle fingers.

He glances at you—slow, lingering—then back at the chaos.

“You’re drenched.”

A pause. He’s trying to hide the way his lips twitch upward.

“Not complaining.”

Another pause. He says nothing more, just shifts slightly closer. The warmth of the water, the brush of his knee against yours, the soft huff of kitten breath in his arms—it settles between you.

“We’re not good at this,” he says finally, holding the black kitten like a fragile grenade. “But I like it.”

He glances sideways again. A small drop of water slides down your collarbone, and his gaze lingers a beat too long before he clears his throat.

“…Don’t fall in love with me just because I’m good with cats.”

He passes you a towel with a deadpan expression and a faint blush under his eyes.