My Pet Cat Turned Into A Boy!

I spent the next few days in a haze of happiness. Even though Jongin was still very busy he spent all his free time with me.
We were currently lazing outside in the sun deep within Junmyeon’s property. Jongin had found the perfect spot for a picnic a couple of days ago. It was on a grassy bank that overlooked a waterfall and ended in a sparkling little pool - we were at the bottom by the natural pool.
I was lying with my head resting on Jongin’s chest and letting the sound of the falling water lull me half to sleep. Jongin had his arms wrapped around me, and one of his hands was stroking my hair. I smiled contently feeling completely at peace.
‘What are your friends like?’ I asked him timidly.
He went still for a moment, but almost as quickly he went back to stroking my back with a soft sigh.
‘They’re like brothers to me. Minseok is incredibly smart, and strong, but…’ he let out a small laugh.
‘What? But what?’ I asked curiously.
‘He’s obsessed with food. He’ll do almost anything for some steak and fries,’ he said with a smile. ‘And if we don’t feed him enough, he turns into an ogre. It’s quite funny. Actually, now that I think about it, that’s sort of like you.’
‘Hey! I’m a joy to be around,’ I said in mock outrage.
‘Yeah, sure. Let’s go with that,’ he said teasingly.
He settled back and stroked my hair in silence, and only after a few minutes did he carry on talking.
‘Luhan is very kind. He always looked out for everyone, and took care of us like we were of his own blood. And he was always optimistic, no matter what, I don’t know how he did it,’ said Jongin with a faraway look in his eyes, and then his face hardened. ‘No matter how bad it got, he would always just laugh it off. Yifan always had it out for Luhan. He always punished him harder and longer than the rest of us. Every time he made an example out of someone, it was almost always Luhan. I think it’s because he didn’t consider Luhan’s form valuable enough, but then again he didn’t know the full extent of Luhan’s powers.’
‘What do you mean?’ I asked.
‘You see, Luhan only had one form. It was a beautiful stag the size of a horse. His antlers and his coat were the colour of snow. This didn’t seem to be good enough for Yifan though. But what he didn’t know was that Luhan had another ability - telekinesis.’
‘That’s amazing,’ I said in wonder.
‘Yeah, Luhan hid it from him because he knew Yifan would only want to use his abilities for bad things. Unfortunately, Yifan knows about it now,’ he said softly.
‘What happened?’ I asked in a whisper, afraid he would stop talking.
He sighed and looked away.
‘I was adopted by Yifan when I was eleven, you know? Before that I had been in and out of foster homes since I can remember, so at first I was just really grateful. I had good food, a warm bed and, most importantly of all, I had brothers that cared for me. Minseok and Luhan had already been living there for a couple of years, and Sehun was brought in a few days before I was adopted. In the beginning I was suspicious and unfriendly - I think Sehun was even worse than me. He’s got a very stony expression when he’s serious, and for a long time I thought he hated everyone – turns out he was just shy,’ Jongin let out a low laugh at the memory. ‘He’s fiercely loyal and incredibly protective of anyone he loves. The first couple of years weren’t too bad, even though we were never allowed outside, and we were put through a strict training regime. They also performed all sorts of experiments on us, I found out later that Yifan was trying to find a way of making more people with our abilities.
And then one day…I walked in on five guys beating up Luhan. He was curled up on the floor, and they just kept punching and kicking. Yifan was there, sitting on a chair like it was a throne - just watching,’ he clenched his jaw, and I saw his hand tighten into a fist. ‘At first I was so shocked I could only stare, but then I started screaming for Yifan to stop them. He had the strangest look in his eyes, it was almost like he was excited and he…he smiled at me and said, “Disobedient children must be punished, Jongin”. After that I just remember jumping at the nearest guy and throwing him off Luhan. I still managed to land in a couple of punches before I was kicked down next to Luhan. When he realised I was also getting beat up, he went mental, and turned. He skewered one of the men against the wall, and knocked out the rest. Now the thing is, we are completely forbidden from using our abilities inside the facility - unless it’s during training or when Yifan gives us permission.’
He paused and looked up at the sky, his throat bobbing up and down. I stared at him in horror, my heart feeling like someone had clenched a fist around it.
‘Luhan was forced back into human form, and Yifan dragged him by his hair to the training room. Minseok and Sehun were in there…they had to be restrained by the guards. He clapped a pair of iron cuffs on Luhan’s wrists and strapped them up to a post,’ Jongin stopped, and clenched his jaw.
I couldn’t even breathe.
‘Yifan had one of the men bring him a whip and then he…he dragged me forward, and forced the whip into my hands. He wanted me to whip him. To whip someone I had come to consider my family. I remember him saying, “You will whip him until I am satisfied or suffer the punishment yourself at my hands. And may this be a lesson to all of you”…Luhan was telling me to do it. That he was going to be fine. That I had to do as Yifan said. I could hear Sehun and Minseok screaming and begging Yifan for mercy. I still remember how hard my knees were shaking at the time. How…how terrified of Yifan I was.’
I could feel my eyes starting to sting with tears, as this horrific scene played out in my head.
‘So, before my courage failed me, I did the only thing that I could live with afterwards. I threw the whip back at Yifan and spat on his face,’ he said with a satisfied look on his face.
‘You did what!?’ I exclaimed in horror.
Jongin’s eyes softened and he let out a low laugh as he ruffled my hair.
‘Don’t look so scared, Cas. It’s not like he killed me. I’m here, aren’t I? And even though I was about ready to faint, I have never felt so proud of myself.’
‘Did you have to spit on his face though? Why make things harder on yourself,’ I groaned. ‘Wouldn’t a simple “No, I won’t do it” have worked just as well.’
‘You sound just like Minseok,’ said Jongin with a faint smile. ‘At the time, I thought that since I was done for anyway, I might as well go out with a bang.’
He looked away, and stared at the falling water with a distant look in his eyes. I placed my hand on his cheek gently and turned his face towards me.
‘What did he do to you?’
‘At first he was too shocked to move, but then this look of satisfaction creeped over his face, and in that moment I knew. I knew the twisted bastard had been hoping I would defy him all along. One thing I learned about Yifan pretty early on, was that he loves to play with his food.
Anyway, he backhanded me so hard I fell on the floor – to be fair, I was only thirteen at the time and still pretty short. I felt him reach down and grab the neck of my shirt, ripping it apart so that it split in half down my back. I could hear Luhan shouting in the background, saying that he would do anything Yifan wanted, that I was just a kid, to punish him instead.
Yifan had picked up the whip and was testing it with his fingers, but when Luhan said that, he looked up with a smile and said, “But, my dear Luhan, I am punishing you”’
Pause.
‘He whipped me within an inch of my life. I think I passed out at a certain point. It was pure agony. I had dragged myself into a corner and curled up into a ball, but he just carried on whipping me.
When he finally stopped, he made some sort of speech - I didn’t hear any of it. I could feel the blood running down my back, and there was a sticky puddle of it under my cheek. The last thing I remember seeing was Sehun passed out on the floor, I think they must have had to knock him out, and Minseok pinned down by four guards with an iron collar around his neck – iron makes it almost impossible for us to turn. I passed out after that.’
He looked at me and his eyes widened. ‘Cas, don’t. Please, don’t cry.’
He wrapped his arms around me comfortingly and I buried my face in his shirt – at the same time, thinking how pathetic it was that he was comforting me when it should be the other way round.
‘Don’t be sad…I shouldn’t have told you that story,’ he sighed regretfully.
‘No, I’m glad you told me. And I’m not sad,’ my voice wobbled slightly as I pulled away to stare up at him, ‘I’m just really angry because I want to knock his teeth out right now, and I can’t.’
He laughed and hugged me tightly once again.
‘I expected nothing less from the gal who threw a stapler at my head the first time we met.’
‘Which you totally deserved, mister birthday suit,’ I said loftily.
He laughed again, and tipped my chin up, pressing his lips to mine gently. He leaned back with a shy smile. ‘Better?’
I wrinkled my nose pretending to think it over. ‘I think you should try again.’
Jongin grinned and obliged me. ‘What about now?’
I looked at him from under my lashes. ‘Better but not quite there yet.’
He growled and pounced on me with a mischievous look on his face. I squealed and giggled uncontrollably as he tickled my sides.
‘Stop – stop that!’ I laughed trying to get away from his hands. ‘Unhand me, you fiend!’
He stopped tickling me, and bent down to whisper in my ear, making me shiver, ‘Fiend? That’s not very nice, is it?’
He stood up lifting me in his arms effortlessly. He walked to the edge of the pool and I started struggling as I realised his intent. I shrieked as I went flying through the air and landed in the water.
I came up sputtering.
‘Kim Jongin, you are so dead!’
He laughed and peeled his t-shirt up over his head. I stared stupidly at how insanely hot he was before he dived in next to me.
I looked around waiting for him to surface, and then I felt a hand grab my ankle and pull me under.
Once again I came up sputtering.
‘This is war!’ I declared before jumping on top of his shoulders and dunking his head under the water.
He came back up, and wrapped his arms around me, hugging me against his chest as he kissed the side of my neck.
Suddenly something occurred to me.
‘Jongin?’
‘Hmm,’ he murmured, nibbling my earlobe in a very distracting way.
‘I’ve just realised…you never told me what your other form was,’ I asked curiously.
He rested his chin on my shoulder and smiled at me.
‘Would you like me to show you instead?’
I nodded my head eagerly.
He wadded out of the water, and started unbuttoning his trousers.
‘W-what are you doing?’ I asked staring at him in shock.
‘If I turn with these still on, I’m pretty sure, everyone is going to see a lot more of me then they’re comfortable with when we get back to the house,’ said Jongin matter-of-factly.
‘Oh, right,’ I said.
‘You going to watch?’ he asked cocking an eyebrow at me.
I realised I was still staring at him, and quickly turned around, my face burning in embarrassment.
‘Not that I mind,’ he said teasingly from behind me.
After a few seconds I felt it was safe to turn but just in case I called out Jongin’s name. Nothing.
I turned around and gasped. An enormous Jaguar was standing majestically next to a small pile of discarded clothes. It opened its mouth and let out a low growl, and even though I knew it was Jongin - I full on flinched.
He lowered his head and pawed the ground looking contrite for having scared me.
I laughed and said, ‘It’s fine. I was just surprised. Come here.’
He dived gracefully into the water and swam towards me. When he reached me he nudged my arm with his nose. I patted his head gently, feeling completely awed – he looked like he could rip someone’s head off in one bite.
He licked my hand and then dove under my arm, and I immediately understood he wanted me to hold on to him. I put my arms around his muscular neck and he glided through the water taking me with him.
He was taking me towards the waterfall. He passed under it and I let go of him, as I stared around me in wonder. We were inside a cave and it was absolutely magical.
‘It’s beautiful, isn’t it?’
I turned around in surprise to see that Jongin had turned back, the water cascaded down like a veil behind him. I looked away trying not to dwell on how very naked he was, and nodded feeling my cheeks redden despite myself. He seemed to notice my discomfiture, and went to retrieve his jeans.
I surveyed the cave in fascination. The water’s reflection sparkled off the walls giving everything an almost magical glow.
Later when we were getting ready to go back to the house, he took one look at me in my wet clothes and made me wear his dry t-shirt. I muttered something about “double standards” but ended up donning the t-shirt nonetheless.
We walked back together, our hands brushing against each other. His hand caught mine and he interlaced his fingers through mine. It was such a simple gesture but for some reason it felt incredibly intimate. We walked in silence for a bit, I glanced at him and caught him smiling goofily.
‘What are you grinning at?’ I asked him with a matching look on my face, no doubt.
His smile widened and he looked at me.
‘I’m happy,’ he said simply.
I looked away and smiled.
‘Me too.’
We were almost reaching the end of the trail when Jongin stopped and frowned.
‘What is it?’ I asked him worriedly.
‘I’m not sure,’ he murmured looking behind him and to the sides. He grabbed my hand and urged me to walk faster. I felt my breath catch in my throat as I imagined us being set upon by Yifan’s thugs and quickened my step. I thought of Jongin being taken and I felt sick.
As we were reaching the edge of the forest, I heard a rustling noise behind us. Jongin stopped and thrust me behind him, as he turned to face whatever was coming.
‘If I tell you to run, you run, okay?’ he told me quietly.
Like hell I would!
I decided to keep that to myself, and remained silent.
Someone stepped into view. He was wearing a black hoodie pulled up so most of his face was covered but I could tell it was a guy. Jongin went very still, then his mouth fell open in surprise.
The guy raised a hand and pulled his hood back, and I was surprised to see an incredibly cute face smiling at Jongin. I had sort of been expecting to be confronted by a scary looking gangster type, but instead it was only an incredibly cute boy.
‘M-Minseok?’ stuttered Jongin.
Now it was my turn to look surprised as I surveyed the boy. He was totally not what I was expecting. I thought Minseok was supposed to be older then Jongin but this dude looked like a total kid, he had one of those baby faces.
‘Jonginnie,’ he said with a smirk.
Jongin snapped out of it, and strode towards the boy. The other did the same, and they ended up meeting in the middle, and embracing tightly.
‘How did you find us? Did you find the breadcrumbs I left for you then?’ asked Jongin excitedly.
Minseok snorted. ‘That was hardly a crumb, more like a whole bloody loaf, idiot. Just be happy I caught on to it before Yifan.’
Jongin grinned. ‘You’re the smartest person I know, you old fox. I knew you’d catch on way before Yifan even got a whiff.’
I stood there awkwardly feeling like I was intruding on their moment of reunion. Jongin glanced at me and turned Minseok around so he was facing me.
‘Casey this is Minseok. Minseok this is Casey. She took me in, and looked after me after I escaped, and I in turn have caused her nothing but trouble.’
‘That is not true,’ I protested.
Jongin cocked an eyebrow.
‘Okay, fine. But at least it’s never boring.’
Minseok laughed lightly. ‘I bet. Jongin has always had a bit of a penchant for finding trouble in the most innocuous of situations.’
‘Since when?’ exclaimed Jongin indignantly.
‘Since you set my best frying pan on fire, and don’t even get me started on my drapes,’ I retorted dryly.
Jongin gave me a long suffering look. ‘You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?’
‘Not a chance,’ I said sweetly.
Minseok laughed merrily. Jongin tried to glare at him but instead just ended up smiling sheepishly.
He slung an arm over Minseok’s shoulders. ‘Let’s get inside. We’ve got a lot to plan.’
‘That we do,’ agreed Minseok then after a slight pause, ‘But more importantly - is there any food? I’m bloody starving.’
Jongin laughed loudly. ‘Good to know your priorities haven’t changed.’
‘It’s not a priority, it’s true love,’ said Minseok wistfully.

It was only a lot later that I realised that Kai had still not told me how Yifan had found out about Luhan’s powers, or how he and Minseok had escaped. I guess that story would have to wait until another time.

Notes

Hope you enjoyed this new chapter!
Sorry for the wait but I was really unhappy with my first draft for this chapter, so I rewrote the whole thing.
If you liked it please comment and/or subscribe!
Lots of love,
Ange