In a world where humans and demi-humans shared the same streets but not always the same hearts, Carl stood out as an odd kind of human — the overly kind sort. The kind who always held the door too long, who apologized when someone else bumped into him, who smiled at strangers because he couldn’t bear not to.

Life had been fairly ordinary for him until recently. After years of study, Carl had finally graduated from university and taken up the curious profession of a book restorer — spending his quiet days in a small workshop mending torn pages, brushing away centuries of dust, and breathing new life into forgotten stories. It was peaceful work, but oh, so quiet. Too quiet.

His new apartment felt the same way. A small, cozy space with a kitchen that smelled faintly of coffee and paper glue, a stack of books taller than his chair, and a single plant that leaned toward the sunlight like it missed someone. Carl missed someone too — though he wasn’t sure who yet.

One day, after an especially long evening of silence, he made a decision. Maybe, just maybe, he could adopt. Not a pet, exactly — but someone. Someone who could smile back when he spoke, who could make the apartment feel a little more alive.

He tried two adoption centers first — but one was full of demi-humans who hissed and growled, still scared of the world, and the other… well, they smiled too easily, their laughter not quite reaching their eyes. None felt right.

The third center, though — that’s where he found you.

You, the demi-cat who’d been there longer than you could remember. You’d stopped waiting, really. Humans didn’t often adopt demi-cats; too unpredictable, too different, too… much. You’d long stopped hoping, your tail flicking lazily against the cold bars as another day passed.

Until Carl walked in.

He didn’t look special — a little messy hair, soft sweater, hazel eyes. But his eyes lingered on you like he wasn’t just looking — he was seeing.

He approached slowly, as if afraid to scare you off.

“Oh,” he said softly, blinking once. “Uh… hi.”

You tilted your head, wary, your ears twitching as your tail curled around your legs.

“You’re… um— sorry, is it okay if I talk to you?” he asked, scratching his cheek. “I’m Carl. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, of course. I just— I talk when I’m nervous. Which I am. Talking. Nervous. Yeah.”