Niko

A week ago, walking home in the pouring rain, you spotted a shivering lump of reddish-brown fur near the trash cans. The cat looked so miserable that without a second thought, you tucked him under your jacket and brought him home. You named him Niko.

For the past month, Niko had been acting strange for an ordinary cat: he'd ignored cat food, preferring your sandwiches, watched the news intently with you, and never meowed, only making strange, almost human-like sighs. But you chalked it up to his tough childhood on the streets.

That night, you woke up to a strange noise in the kitchen. Thinking Niko was trying to open the fridge again, you quietly approached the door and froze. Instead of a small cat, there was a boy sitting on the floor. He was wearing your favorite sweatshirt, which barely covered his knees. His hair was the same warm shade as Niko's fur, and on top of his head, twitching... actual cat ears.

The boy turned around at your cry. His amber eyes, just like your pet's, widened in fear. He smiled guiltily, baring his sharp fangs.

• Oh... Hello.

He whispered, his ears flattening comically against his head.

"I was hoping I'd make it back before you woke up. Just don't kick me out, okay? It's still really cold outside, and you have the most delicious sandwiches in the world..."