#catzayn

[eyann1524]

Cat Zayn

[rightnexttoyou-liam]

Furry Tails and Twitchy Ears - Part 2/? A kitty!zayn/Liam thing

Zayn's not Entirely normal. In fact, Zayn's part cat. 

Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four A B

Zayn breathes a sigh of relief when he sees it’s only Niall in the room. Niall’s staring at the place above Zayn, Zayn reaches up and yep, his ears are uncovered too. Beautiful.

To Zayn’s immense relief, Niall speaks first. “Are those real?”  His voice is shaking. Zayn clears his throat and nods.

“Um, yeah.”

“Can I touch them?”  Niall’s hand is already half reached out, suspended there.

“If you want.” Niall’s hand pushes them forward a little as he plays with the soft fur. Zayn resists the urge to nuzzle into Niall’s hand but can’t stop the soft purr, because he forgot how nice it was to have someone pet at them. Not that he’d ever admit that. Suddenly, Niall gives a sharp tug and Zayn pulls back, clutching at his sore ear and scowling. “Ow! What was that for?”

“Just checking they’re attached. So you’re really one of . . .them aren’t ya?” Niall’s voice is quiet, he hesitates before ‘them’ and Zayn knows why. There’s no official name for what Zayn is. They used to be called the ‘Anastatic Generation’ but as they bleed into more generations, it didn’t quite work. There were other names though,  some as simple as ‘mutants’ or the ever present ‘freak’.  Some people shortened it into ‘Nastic’ and then ‘stic’ which quickly became a derogatory term.

“Go on, you can say it, I’m a stic. Second class, not even human.”  The words are harsh and Niall flinches back.

“You’re not second class.” Niall says loudly, scratching at Zayn’s ears again. “Why didn’t you tell us?”  Zayn pushes Niall’s hand away before he does something really embarrassing and officially gets out of bed, using the excuse of getting ready to avoid Niall’s eye.

“I didn’t think you’d accept me.” He settles for.

“Of course we’ll accept you.” Zayn pins his ears down with a bit more force than usual. He still doesn’t turn to face Niall.

“Look, I’ve told people before and it didn’t quite work out okay?” Because Zayn’s feel extra self conscious now, he pulls a beanie on too. Niall’s quiet then and Zayn feels bad for snapping. He’s about to apologize when he’s being pulled into a hug, Niall burying his head into Zayn’s shoulder from behind.

“Sorry.” Niall murmurs and Zayn twists around, hugging Niall back.

“Just don’t tell anyone yet, please.”

“Alright,”

~*~

Over the next couple of days Zayn can feel Niall watching him. Niall would snigger slightly when Zayn put extra milk on his cereal, or curl up on the couch. Zayn would often glare at him after.  He’s extra careful from then on, double checking locks and adding at least two extra pins.

The double checking locks came after Thursday night, when he’s turning the water off in the shower when the bathroom door opens. Zayn hurriedly pulls the frosted glass door shut and calls out

“Hello?”Zayn calls out.

“It’s just me.” Harry calls back, but Zayn can’t quite relax.

“Do you mind going away?” Zayn calls back.

“Relax. I’ve seen it before.” Harry pauses before he adds “Actually, I haven’t. Too insecure eh? Got a pinner?” Zayn groans.

For a minute, Zayn entertains the idea of how easy it would be, to open up the door and take in Harry’s shocked expression. Instead, he takes a deep breath and replies “Just go away Harry. I’ll be five minutes, than the bathrooms yours.”  Zayn can’t make out what Harry says next, and he’s glad for it. When Zayn hears the door slam shut he steps out, drying off and getting changed as quickly as possible. Harry is waiting in the hall.

“Took you long enough. I just wanted to brush my teeth.” He complains. Zayn gives him a half smile and messes up his curls.  

“Sorry Haz.” 

*

It’s snowing outside, early Monday morning. Zayn’s sitting with Louis and Liam outside the studio in the snow. As soon as Harry walks out Louis is pelting snow balls at him. Zayn laughs when Harry pulls Niall in front of himself but Louis’ already run out of snowballs. Then Zayn thinks Harry has tackled Louis, forced snow under his beanie and  down his pants, but Zayn’s more distracted by the falling snow that’s picking up pace. He holds his gloved hand out to catch a snowflake, but misses slightly and swipes at it instead. One lands on the small stripe of skin between his glove and jacket. He brings it up to his eye to study it probably, taking in the shape of the small snowflake. Without thinking he licks it, not in one long swipe but two small kitten licks.

“Zayn?” Zayn pulls away abruptly, a blush colouring his cheeks. He forgot he had company. Louis looks bemused from where he’s holding the door open, an adorable grin decorates Liam’s face, who’s standing just inside the doorway. Niall and Harry are nowhere to be seen.

“If you’ve finished eating snow we have to get back to work now.”  Louis voice is amused too.

“Yeah, right.” Zayn adds, ducking his head as he moves past the duo. Liam rubs his hair through his beanie as he passes, and that doesn’t do anything but intensify his blush.

~*~

Wednesday night is a late one, and it’s half nine before the one direction boys are climbing into their cars back to the x factor house. The competition is getting stiffer, there’s only Wagner, Mary, Cher, Mat, Rebecca and them left which means tougher songs and harder practises. Liam, Louis and Harry climb into the first car, Zayn and Niall the second. When Niall shuts the door, Zayn stretches, flicking his tail out from under his jacket. Niall’s eyes were transfixed on the rain scurrying down the window, so Zayn flicks his cheek with his tail, grinning cheekily.

Niall startles slightly before pinching Zayn back. Zayn retails by kicking him and Niall kicks him back. After a few more rounds Zayn gives in and apologizes by cuddling him.  Niall pulls the beanie off and carefully pulls the pins out, ruffling Zayn’s ears. Zayn sighs contently, closing his eyes and missing the smirk Niall is sporting.  He takes all Zayn’s willpower to bat Niall’s hand away.

“I’m gonna fall asleep if you keep doing that.” Zayn puts the pins in his pocket and shoves his beanie back on.  Niall scratches him under the chin, so now Zayn does push him away, scowling. Because he is not an actual cat and that doesn’t feel nice. 

“You’re adorable.” Niall coos, tugging on the hair peeping out from Zayn’s beanie.

“Fuck off.” Zayn replies, making a face when he very carefully shoves his tail back down. It’s uncomfortable, his tail stiffening, the base aching. 

Niall pinches his cheek before climbing out, Zayn following.

The other three are at the table, Harry is half asleep on the table and Liam’s making tea.

“I’m just going straight to bed.” Niall announces. 

“Here.” Liam hands him the cup, “I’ll meet you up there in a second.”

Louis takes his mug and grabs Harry’s, “I think you should head to bed too.” Louis nudges Harry’s cheek with the mug as he says that, and Harry lolls his head to looks at him.

“Alright Dad.” He mumbles, Louis rolls his eyes and pulls on a curl.

“Lets go sleepyhead.” With a quick wave to Liam and Zayn Louis nudges Harry away, with one hand under his shoulders. Then it’s just Liam and Zayn.

“Extra milk.” Is all Liam says when he places the mug down. Zayn takes a big sip, relishes in the warmth.

They’re quiet, Liam seeming to know that’s exactly what Zayn needs, quiet until Zayn speaks.

“You were really good today. We’re gonna rock Saturday.”

“Thanks.” Liam looks bashful as he takes another sip of tea. “But if we rock it’s going to be because of everyone, not just me.” Internally, Zayn groans because that’s such a Liam answer. Liam’s always polite and affectionate, funny and just the smallest amount of awkward. Zayn sort of hates it except he doesn’t. He sort of loves it. He sort of loves Liam.

~*~

Zayn can’t sleep that night, even though he’s dead tired. His mind keeps on flirting back to the boy in the bunk on top. He can’t love Liam, it’s not, he’s not, he just can’t. Liam is his friend, his friend who likes girls. Maybe. They’ve never actually talked about it after the fifth night in the bungalow, when Louis had admitted he once kissed a boy after a few pints and didn’t mind it. Harry had just hugged him tightly and said he didn’t care, glared at the others until they said it as well. Liam hadn’t said anything then, and neither did Zayn. Before Zayn was a very quiet boy, who’d rather play video games with his mates then sneak out to a party. He didn’t really have girlfriends, too scared that they’d discover his secret. The only person he really got with was another half-cat girl like him and that was awkward and messy.

Giving up, Zayn throws his covers off and grabs his jacket off the floor, searching for his (forbidden) pack of cigarettes and sneaking out to the backyard. It’s cold, much too cold so he grabs an afghan from the couch and takes it with him, curling up on a deck chair. It’s still cold but it’s a nice cold, stinging his eyes and making his nose twitch. It feels good.

His worries seem to disappear with the smoke, twirling in the air above him. He takes another drag and holds it in as long as possible before letting it out.  

Liam wouldn’t even like him, what’s to like? Zayn’s just a stupid fucking stic. Zayn’s not quite sure how long he sits out in the cold, wrapped up in in the warm blanket. Sometime he falls asleep in that uncomfortable position, his cigarette out and cold. The sun wakes him up and Zayn shuffles inside and rests on the kitchen table, pouring a bowl of cornflakes and just looking at it.  Mary is up next,  whistling as she walks into the kitchen. She stops when she sees Zayn.

“You’re up early.”  She comments.

“Couldn’t sleep.” Zayn replies. “Just nerves, I think.” Mary nods and goes about making her breakfast, Zayn pushes his spoon throw his cereal once more before giving up.  “I’m going to take a shower.”

“Okay.” Mary says before Zayn takes off, locking the bathroom door and waiting till the water was extra hot before getting in.

~*~

Zayn could kick himself for not noticing it earlier. It wasn’t like this was normal. The little butterflies that nest every time Liam hugs him, the faint blush every time a compliment, from Liam, greets him. The slow, burning when Liam isn’t around and holy fuck, how is Zayn so co-dependant when they’re not even dating?

He wants to kick himself now for letting it happen. He couldn’t love (or at least majorly like) Liam because they are in the same band and Zayn is a stupid stic.

Zayn’s not himself for the next couple of days, until Saturday morning and Louis is ambushing him as he leaves the bathroom.

People can say what they want about Louis, how he’s immature and childish. They named Louis the leader ‘because it’s the only one left’ but really he’s one of the first to notice when something is wrong and does something about it.

Anyway, Zayn is just walking out of the bathroom when there’s a hand on his elbow and someone’s dragging him to one of the empty bedrooms.

“Hey!” Zayn cries out, but Louis just fixes him with a look.

“What’s up with you?” Louis asks, crossing his arms. Louis doesn’t beat around the bush.

“Nothing.” Zayn slumps his shoulders and takes a seat on the striped bed. Louis is still standing.

“Bullshit.” Zayn looks up at Louis. Louis sighs and drops down on the bed next to Zayn. “We’re not leaving till you tell me because you’ve been all down and moody and out of it in practises.” The water starts to drops off Zayn’s hair and uncomfortably down into his collar, he can feel it matting over his ears.

Zayn fiddles with his fingers and Louis’ gaze doesn’t leave him, daring him to do something other than tell him what’s wrong.

“I think I like Liam.” He finally murmurs, voice low and quiet. Louis visibly relaxes.

“That’s it? I thought there was something really bad going on. You got me worried.” Louis tone rises, now it’s more relaxed than tense.

“It is bad.”

“Why?”

“Because he won’t like me back and it’ll ruin the whole band and it’ll be mine and my stupid feelings fault.”

“Why won’t he like you?”

“Because I’m stupid and annoying and a fucking faggoty stic.”

“Don’t you dare say that. You’re sexuality doesn’t define who you are, and you are not a stic.” Louis’ voice is firm and Zayn swallows hard. C’mon Zayn, now or never.

“Yeah, I-I am.” Louis looks like he’s about to launch into another rant before Zayn pushes his hair back, revealing the little ears, he pulls his (still wet, slightly matted) tail out too, not daring to look at Louis.

“Oh.” Is all Louis says Zayn sneaks a look at him, he looks more surprised than anything else. He feels a hand in his tail, and out of instinct he flicks it away.

“I just washed that, I don’t want you to dirty it all.” Louis smirks at him and reaches for it again, threading his fingers through the soft, black fur till it reached the lighter tip. It felt really nice. Suddenly, Louis gives it a sharp tug. “Ow!”

“Why didn’t you tell us, you twat!” He almost shouts, Zayn has to remind him to be quiet. “Does anyone else know?”

“Only Niall, and that’s because he walked in on me.”

“And this is why you don’t think Liam will like you?”

“Among other things.” Louis sighs and pulls Zayn down into a hug.

“I had a friend who had wings. The stuff people said about her was disgusting, but I thought they were amazing. I was always jealous of her, and you now.”

“Why be jealous of us? We’re unnatural, freaks.”

“But you’re just so cute, Kitten.”  Zayn groans.

“Please.” Louis still hasn’t let go, Zayn doesn’t really want him to.

“You are, you and your little ears.” Louis scratches them and Zayn whines low in his throat.

“That feels nice.”

“You really are cute, Kitten.”

“Is that going to be a thing?”

“Yes.”

“Please don’t.” Louis is still scratching at his ears. 

“Too bad. Kitten.”

“I haven’t told Harry or Liam yet.”

“I think you should.”

 “I-I can’t.” Louis doesn’t respond, just keeps scratching until Zayn’s in real danger of falling asleep.