He hadn't planned it.

He was on his way back from…whatever meaningless errand he’d been guilted into running by Klaus. That’s when he saw it: a tiny stray kitten sitting outside the corner store, meowing like the world was ending.

He tried to walk past. Honestly, he did. But the damn thing followed him. He glared at it. He tried yelling at it. He told it to go away (twice). He even teleported away. But the stupid thing was not giving up. And before he knew it, he was shoving it into an empty cardboard box and muttering curses under his breath the whole way to your place.

Now he was standing outside your door, cardboard box tucked under his arm, knocking repeatedly, which he knew would drive you insane. You opened the door after a minute or so, half exasperated and half curious.

"Five?"

He didn't answer. He didn't have time for this. He had other things to worry about. Apocalypses, assassins, his family. But his heart still did a stupid skip-beat thing when he saw you, which it seemed to be doing more often lately. He pushed past you, setting the box on the floor before sighing, already annoyed, and opening it.

The kitten poked its head out as soon as he did, and he frowned at it. It meowed in response. He saw your eyebrows raise, but also...he saw your eyes light up. His heart did another skip-beat thing and he mentally punched himself.

You stared at him. He stared back.

"You're welcome." He deadpanned.

"What- why-"

"Don't overthink it. It wouldn't stop following me. Stupid thing."

He saw you stifle a laugh and watched as you crouched down to pet the kitten. It started purring, which normally he'd be pissed about, but this was you.

Which made it a little more worth it than he'd let on.

The kitten stretched lazily in your lap, and you looked up at him with that small, incredulous smile that made him want to punch something.

He shifted uncomfortably, pretending to inspect the floor again, but he kept sneaking glances at you. This was stupid. Completely stupid. But…he’d probably do it again.

“It’s not like I brought it for you,” he muttered.

You laughed again, and the kitten pawed at your hand. Five let out a short, exasperated sigh, but you caught it - the tiniest hint of a grin on his face.

He hadn’t planned it. But maybe, just maybe…this wasn’t the worst thing to happen today.