chapter 5

Chapter Five: Strays

The rain was coming down in heavy sheets as Alex made his way home, his thin jacket doing little to keep him dry. He had stayed at the café longer than he’d intended, losing track of time as he lingered over a book Viktor had recommended. Viktor always seemed to know exactly what Alex would enjoy, and today’s novel was no exception. But now, with the rain pouring and the sky already dark, Alex wished he had left earlier.

As he hurried down the sidewalk, his shoes splashing in the growing puddles, Alex tried to stay as close to the buildings as possible, using their overhangs for some semblance of shelter. The streets were mostly deserted, the rain driving everyone indoors, but Alex didn’t mind the solitude. It gave him time to think—about Viktor, about the strange, intense feelings that had been growing in him ever since they’d met. Viktor was…different from anyone else Alex had ever known. He was powerful, yes, but also kind in a way that Alex hadn’t expected. And he was always there when Alex needed him, always knowing exactly what to say or do to make everything better.

Alex was so lost in his thoughts that he almost didn’t notice the small, shivering bundle of fur huddled against the base of a lamppost. He stopped in his tracks, blinking through the rain to get a better look. There, half-hidden by the shadow of the post, was a cat—gray and white, its fur matted and soaked from the rain.

Without a second thought, Alex knelt down, his heart aching at the sight. The cat looked up at him with wide, fearful eyes, its small body trembling with cold. Alex reached out slowly, not wanting to scare it away.

“Hey there,” he whispered, his voice gentle as he extended his hand. “It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you.”

The cat hesitated, its ears flattening as it shrank back against the lamppost. But it didn’t run, and after a moment, it let out a pitiful meow, almost as if it was pleading for help. Alex’s heart broke a little more at the sound. He couldn’t just leave it here, not in this weather.

“It’s alright,” Alex soothed, inching closer. “You’re safe now.”

Finally, the cat seemed to decide that Alex was no threat. It took a cautious step forward, sniffing at his outstretched hand before nudging it with its wet nose. Alex smiled, his fingers brushing gently over the cat’s damp fur. It was cold and matted, but beneath the grime, Alex could feel how thin the cat was, its ribs faintly visible beneath its fur.

“You’re just a little thing, aren’t you?” Alex murmured, his heart swelling with a mix of pity and affection. He couldn’t imagine how long the cat had been out here, alone in the rain, with no one to care for it.

Without another thought, Alex shrugged off his jacket and carefully wrapped the cat in it, shielding it from the worst of the rain. The cat didn’t resist, instead curling up against his chest with a weary sigh, as if it had finally found a place to rest. Alex held it close, feeling its small body tremble as it nestled into the warmth of his embrace.

“There we go,” he said softly, cradling the cat in his arms as he stood up. “Let’s get you home and dry.”

Alex quickened his pace, his concern for the cat driving him forward. His apartment wasn’t far, and he knew that once he got the cat inside, he could take care of it properly. The rain was still coming down hard, but Alex barely noticed it now, his thoughts focused entirely on the small life he held in his arms.

By the time Alex reached his building, both he and the cat were thoroughly soaked, but the cat seemed to have calmed down, its eyes half-closed as it rested against his chest. Alex hurried up the stairs, his heart racing with a strange mix of urgency and tenderness. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do with the cat—he hadn’t planned on adopting a pet—but there was no way he could turn it back out into the rain.

Once inside his apartment, Alex quickly set about making the cat comfortable. He dried it off with a towel, rubbing gently at the soaked fur until it was as dry as he could manage. The cat didn’t protest, simply watching him with those wide, curious eyes that seemed to pierce straight through him.

“There you go,” Alex said softly, placing the now-dry cat on a makeshift bed of towels on his couch. “You can rest here for now. I’ll find something for you to eat.”

The cat meowed in response, a soft, grateful sound that made Alex’s heart swell even more. He smiled, reaching out to give it a gentle scratch behind the ears before heading to the kitchen to see what he could scrounge up for it.

As he rummaged through his cupboards, Alex’s thoughts wandered back to Viktor. He wondered what Viktor would think of the cat, whether he’d approve of Alex bringing it home. Viktor had always been so protective of Alex, always worried about his well-being. Would he see the cat as a burden? Alex hoped not. He didn’t want to disappoint Viktor, didn’t want to do anything that might make Viktor think less of him.

But as Alex returned to the living room with a small dish of tuna, he pushed those thoughts aside. For now, all that mattered was taking care of the little creature he’d found in the rain. The cat had curled up on the towels, its eyes drooping as it fought to stay awake. Alex set the dish down beside it, watching as it sniffed the food cautiously before beginning to eat with delicate, hungry bites.

“There you go,” Alex whispered, sitting down beside the cat and watching it eat. “You’re safe now. I’ll take care of you.”

As he sat there, listening to the sound of the rain against the windows and the soft purring of the cat beside him, Alex felt a warmth spread through him, a sense of peace that he hadn’t felt in a long time. It was strange, how something as simple as a stray cat could make him feel so content, so…whole.

But in the back of his mind, a small, nagging voice reminded him that this peace was fleeting. That soon, he would have to face the world outside again, face Viktor and the complex feelings that were beginning to overwhelm him. For now, though, Alex pushed those thoughts aside. He focused on the warmth of the cat beside him, on the simple joy of knowing that he had made a difference in its life.

And as the rain continued to fall outside, Alex allowed himself to believe, if only for a little while, that everything would be okay.