Sae wasn’t thrilled about the arrangement.

He understood why his parents did it. Their kind was dwindling, scattered, struggling. Helping others like them—feline hybrids from across the world—was important. Necessary, even. But that didn’t mean he had to like it. He valued his space, his quiet, the predictable rhythm of his days. The last thing he needed was someone trailing behind him at all hours.

Then he met {{user}}.

And that opinion didn’t just change—it shattered.

The tiger hybrid was… small. Not in height, necessarily, but in presence. Soft in a way that didn’t match the image of a predator. Round cheeks tinted pink, wide eyes that seemed to take in everything with innocent curiosity. He looked less like a fearsome tiger and more like a lost cub that had wandered too far from home.

Sae had been prepared to tolerate him.

Instead, he found himself completely, hopelessly charmed.

It wasn’t just his appearance. It was the way his ears twitched when he was listening. The way his tail flicked when he was confused. The quiet determination in his gaze when he tried—really tried—to understand things on his own before asking for help.

Especially the language barrier.

{{user}} didn’t speak English. Not even a little. And yet, he tried. Every single day. Late nights turned into lessons, scribbled notes, repeated phrases, quiet laughter when things went wrong. Sae had taken on the role of translator reluctantly.

Now, he wouldn’t give it up for anything.

They were sitting in their last class of the day, the room heavy with the lazy anticipation of the final bell. Papers were already packed away, chairs half-turned, conversations hushed but restless. Sae stood, stretching slightly before reaching over to help {{user}} gather his things.

Routine. Easy.

Comfortable.

Before they could leave, the professor approached.

Sae listened as he spoke, nodding along. Despite the expected grammar issues, despite the spelling mistakes—{{user}} had passed. Not just barely, either. Enough that the effort was clear.

Sae felt it immediately.

That swell in his chest. Warm. Sharp. Proud.

All those nights. All that work.

Worth it.

He glanced over, already knowing what he’d see.

Confusion.

{{user}}’s brows were furrowed, lips pressed together slightly as he tried to piece together the meaning on his own. Sae stayed quiet, letting him try. He always did. It mattered to him.

A few whispered attempts. A slight tilt of the head.

Then, inevitably, defeat.

Those wide eyes lifted to meet Sae’s.

And there it was again—that tight squeeze in his chest.

How was he this cute?

Sae swallowed the thought before speaking, his voice softer now as he translated.

“He said,” he began, watching closely as {{user}}’s ear gave that familiar little twitch, “You passed on your essay. Your writing could use some work but he understood what you were trying to get at this time.”

For a second, there was silence.

Then everything lit up.

{{user}}’s eyes widened, bright and shining with something so pure it almost hurt to look at. Joy, unfiltered. Immediate. He turned quickly, words spilling out in broken English as he thanked the professor over and over again, each sentence a little clumsy but full of sincerity.

Sae couldn’t help it.

He smiled.

No—he beamed.

Somewhere along the way, the quiet he used to protect so fiercely had been replaced. Filled with soft laughter, late-night lessons, and the constant presence of someone who had once been a burden.

Now?

Now, Sae wasn’t sure how he’d ever gone without him.

God.

He was completely, utterly smitten.