Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

  The red scarf around his shoulders swayed by its tasseled ends as he walked along the bustling streets of St. Louis. Crisp air of autumn bit at the tips of his ears causing them to twitch every so often. The sunshine hardly did anything to warm him up with the clouds obscuring its light.

An underlying sense of aggravation coiled within his chest from the bitter cold.

A tea house was soon in view and his brisk pace slowed to a casual walk. Mordecai could faintly see the glimmering of fairy lights that hung inside as he got closer.

Lavender and Honey Tea.

An oddly specific name for a tea house, but it seems to promise a rather calm atmosphere.

Atlas had offhandedly mentioned that this would be a pleasant place to visit for someone like himself. Escaping from the chattering of the surrounding people this cold morning was quite a welcomed idea for Mordecai.

His tail flicks as he pushes the door open.

The scent of lavender was evident, but it was rather faint. Much like the whispering talk among other customers. Good. He made his way to an empty booth in the corner and took a seat.

This place was becoming his favorite already with its ambience alone.

Mordecai makes a mental note to come by again in the early mornings, his gaze wandered along the interior and then something…peculiar happened.

He locked eyes with ones the color of sapphires.

Mordecai has seen many individuals in his time, a few pleasant, many to his dismay, and yet…none have captured his attention like this before.

One word comes to mind when describing this particular feline before him.

Resplendent.

He wasn’t prepared for the way his mind blanked upon seeing the gray tabby. Nor of the way his heart began beating loudly in his ears as if he had run a mile.

Mordecai blinked upon realizing he was being handed a menu of teas available. He took it before he could make a fool of himself any further. If he even did make a fool of himself.

He couldn’t pay attention to the menu if he tried.

Appreciating the lovely shades of the other’s fur, he couldn’t help but stare. A sight for his sore eyes. Heat crawled up onto his cheeks as he felt his heart beat against his ribs harshly.

Like a bird beating itself to death against its cage.

Mordecai cleared his throat as he jerked his head away. He attempted to peruse the menu with his brows furrowing. Aggravation grew entangled with a myriad of unfamiliar emotions.

This feeling of…flushed embarrassment was quite unlike him. That is, until he caught sight of that particular tom once more.

Mordecai’s chest ached as emotions intensified tenfold.

With wide eyes, the fur upon his cheeks stood on their ends as he stared. The shine of his nametag caught Mordecai’s interest. It sat above the tabby’s heart with the name Roark R. inscribed neatly in print.

  Mordecai pushes the door open to his office with a peculiar look of contentment. Tail flicking idly behind him, he hangs his coat up before moving further inside.

Warm sunlight filtered past the lace curtains. A bitter cold draft fogged the window by the corner, steadily threatening to cover it entirely. The sky was the same beautiful blue Mordecai has come to associate with a certain someone.

Though it could never match Roark’s vibrant eyes.

Nothing could.

A yearning settled deep into his heart to see the gray tabby. Alas, he resigns himself to a long and boring day of work with a deep sigh.

How long has it been since we met? Six months now? The stoic tom muses as his pen scratches against paper. Knowing that fact brings some degree of delight.

Much to his chagrin, he uses the term meet rather loosely.

Mordecai regrets not speaking to Roark as much as he should. It would be apropos of nothing however. Even if Roark is quite charming and…cute, the tuxedo finds himself content being able to watch from afar.

In any case, love is a frivolous thing. Indulging in his desire to be closer, and hope his feelings would be reciprocated is an utter waste of time at best.

And desecrate at worst.

His thoughts were interrupted from knocking on his door. He stopped writing as the door swung open to reveal a bothersome figure. Or rather two bothersome figures.

“Hey there, sugar. Did you get to see your little boyfriend? How was he?” Her sweet tone grated against his senses. It was jarring how it carried the false illusion that the older woman was harmless.

Mordecai narrows his eyes into an aggravated glare. Placing his pen down, he lifts up his gaze to see Mitzi looking oh so smug with her husband trailing behind her inside the office.

What bothersome employers. 

“…He’s fine.” He bit out the words as if they weighed down his tongue like boulders.

“…How very descriptive.” Atlas tilted his head. Amusement glimmered in his eyes despite his poker face. “As usual, you lack a certain repertoire when it comes to matters such as these.”

The tuxedo frowns.

“There isn’t much to say in the first place. We’re hardly even acquaintances-”

“Well, that certainly has to change, sugar.” Mitzi leans into her husband's side as she cuts him off. A look of mocking pity marrs her features.

“You’re sorely lacking…” She trails off before looking up at Atlas. “Some tack.” He finished for her and took her hand into his. The gentleman brought her hand to his lips and kissed her palm with a wry smile.

Mitzi rolled her eyes, but a simper bloomed despite her mocking pity.

Could this pair be any more vexing?

Eyes full of annoyance, Mordecai didn’t bother to hide the venom in his tone. “If you’re done picking at me, then I would like to eat my lunch now. Undisturbed.” The amount of times he’d go through this same dance and song was getting old.

“Now, now, no need to bare your teeth.” The older man scolded him like a child which made Mordecai bristle further.

“What exactly are you waiting for with this boy? For all you know, he’s already taken.”

Mordecai felt his blood boil under his skin. An unfamiliar sense of unease bloomed in his chest and festered like fire. The flames need not to be fanned as it coursed through him, his pupils shrinking until they were comparable to that of a needle’s tip.

His hands balled up into fists. Claws dug into his palms, threatening to spill his own blood onto his desk.

He hated that they were right.

To be content watching from afar?

What a farce.

Love was like a snake.

It coiled around his heart, strangling it until he was out of breath.

And when he would be reduced to a dying man it would devour him whole.

  Mordecai’s eyes were narrowed in focus as he combed back his fur neatly in place. It’s strange. The normally put together tom was replaced by some cat riddled with anxiety. He hadn’t even made his bed yet despite being wide awake.

Glancing at his watch, he winced upon reading the time. 7:00 a.m. “...Am I sincerely panicking over an outfit at this time?” Mordecai massaged his temple to ward off an incoming headache.

And yes. Yes he was panicking over an outfit an hour earlier than he usually wakes up.

Smoothing out his suit one last time, Mordecai looked himself over in the mirror before nodding in satisfaction. He mumbled under his breath as he pried himself away from his dresser to fix his bed.

“Could I have…? Is that polite enough…? Perhaps you could give me… Could you give me…”

He can’t mess this up.

He felt like burying his face in his hands with how…deplorable this behavior is. Mordecai refrained from doing so and made his way towards the door. Grabbing his keys, he let out a deep and shaky sigh of suffering.

It was ridiculous that he found himself in this limerence.

With not much confidence, the tuxedo cat departs for Lavender and Honey Tea.

Mordecai’s eyes softened when he caught sight of the beloved feline that captured his heart as he entered. The familiar scent of lavender clung onto him in an instant.

Attempting to keep his composure, Mordecai took a seat at his usual spot, tail flicking idly.

Heat gathered in palms as he pressed them together. It was an uncomfortable kind of heat that threatened to make him swelter. The crisp air inside the tea house did little to cool him down.

Lingering thoughts toiled away in his mind with his gaze slowly drifting back to Roark. Akin to a ship being drawn into a whirlpool, Mordecai couldn’t stop himself if he tried. And he had tried.

He found himself startled when their eyes met.

Roark gave him a smile. A smile reserved for customer service no doubt, but it stole Mordecai’s breath away regardless.The urge to run intensified as the tabby began walking over, notepad and pen in hand. But he stayed put despite that.

By the by, Mordecai hardly registered that he said thank you as the tabby set down his usual tea before him.

He was breaking into a cold sweat at this point.

Just before Roark could leave the words tumbled out on their own accord. Tentative hope crept into his voice before he could hold it back.

“Could I have your number?”

Mordecai felt tempted to clear his throat after asking, but he refrains. He didn’t want to ruin the moment of savoring the gray tabby’s reaction. And it was positively captivating.

Roark’s brows were raised high with his lips ever so slightly parted.

His long lashes fluttered with every blink and too many emotions flitted through his vibrant eyes for Mordecai to really catch other than surprise and confusion.

The gray tabby looked so beautiful that it hurt.

Mordecai’s heart hammered in his chest with such brutality he felt as if he was about to pass out.

“Oh- Uhm- SUre?” Roark’s voice squeaked an octave higher. His fur was even standing on their ends upon his cheeks and tail. How delightful, the tuxedo mused as the corner of his lips twitched upwards.

Relief washed over Mordecai like water dousing out the wild fire of anxiety and embarrassment that had built up to this.

The gray tabby scribbled quickly on his notepad before handing the ripped piece of paper over to Mordecai. He took it from Roark’s hand, careful not to make direct contact.

Green eyes trail after Roark’s retreating figure.

He tore his eyes away reluctantly. Mordecai carefully folded the paper with the tabby’s number. Supposedly it was the real thing.

For now, he’ll treat it as if it is.

Putting the paper away into the breast pocket inside his coat, the tuxedo nursed his tea between his trembling hands. He stared into its contents for a moment.

Then he lifted it to his lips to drink.

  He reflects quietly upon himself on his way back to his apartment with long and even strides. Mordecai wasn’t in a hurry.

Initially, he had feared the possibility of rejection. Though being given looks of pity from Atlas and Mitzi didn’t sit well with him either. But now… This piece of paper in his pocket…he closes his eyes as he takes a deep breath to calm his heart.

Damn thing is still beating in my ears.

When he stepped into his apartment he slumped against his door.

A piece of paper…with his number on it…

Mordecai can feel his face heat up all over again. Gingerly, he took it out of the pocket he had put it to keep it safe. His hands moved slowly to unfold it, scared to even leave a single mark from his gloved claws.

The fur on his tail puffing up in a flustered manner similar to Roark’s prior. Which made him flustered even more upon remembering that precious moment.

“…Did I go mad?” Mumbling under his breath, he carefully caressed his thumb across the numbers, reverent in the way he held it in his hands.

What…what do I do…? Do I call later in the evening? At what time is acceptable? Is Roark even free later? Did he give me a fake number?

Was this real?

It certainly felt like a dream…

Mordecai took his shoes off and stumbled further inside to his bedroom. He flopped onto the bed unceremoniously back first. Holding the paper as if it were sacred, Mordecai made his decision.

I’ll call…later.

Later…

Tomorrow.

Yes, that will do just fine.

Tomorrow evening is when I’ll call.

Chapter Text

  Rocky finds himself in an unexpected position.

First, the tom whom he always found somewhat intimidating asked for his number.

Second, he’s really hungry and is being indecisive on what to eat.

The former of the two struggles is weighing more heavily on his mind oddly enough. Sure, the intimidation wore away with time the more the stoic tom complimented and tipped him generously. It did make his day a few times. The tips are what helped him get by quite a bit in the past year.

Especially last winter.

He couldn’t be any more grateful, really.

Rocky kicks his shoes off as he shrugs off his coat. Shivering slightly, he goes to change into his pajamas. The tabby turns up the thermostat with his stomach growling.

He settles on making himself a simple ham and cheese sandwich. Not much else was in the fridge today. Grabbing his phone, Rocky takes a big bite of his sandwich, and he texts his cousin.

Flustered confusion wavered into half-hearted amusement as he pressed the send button.

“So, I might’ve given someone my number. What do?”

Calvin took a moment to reply, but Rocky is patient. He’s busy finishing the rest of his sandwich.

Which is a pretty decent sandwich all things considered. The cheese could be better though. Rocky wondered idly if he should grab the better brand for once. Oh! Or maybe he should finally buy a new skillet? That way his ham and cheese sandwiches can be grilled?

His train of thought was interrupted by the ping that came from his phone. Rocky can feel his lips twitching up further into a grin as he restrained from laughing.

“What? Did you actually?”

“Yeah? I’m not sure what possessed me, but I handed it over when he asked. 😅 🫠”

“…What.”

After finishing his sandwich, the tabby settles down to lay in his bed. Curling on his side comfortably Rocky pulls up the fluffy blanket over his shoulders. He slowly relaxes further into the mattress and his eyes threaten to close.

The fluffiness of his blanket tempted him to sleep, but he types back to his cousin.

“He’s a regular customer where I work. I don’t really know his name, but I think you and Ivy know him? He’s a tux with round glasses. 🧐🤔🤔 Wears a suit all the time, funnily enough. 🤭”

“Ivy is asking if you mean Mordecai?”

“Oh you mean that grumpy fellow that Ivy pokes fun at when she’s bored at work? 🧐”

“Yeah! - Ivy”

“Then, yeah I guess. He doesn’t really scowl though? Uh can you tell me more about him then? He…kind of asked for my number. 😣🥲😫”

. . .

“And I gave it to him. 😶”

. . .

The loading dots flicker in and out. Rocky’s brows furrow and wonders, should I be worried about that?

“HE ASKED FOR YOUR NUMBER???? - IVY”

“Is that bad? 😰”

“HAHAHSSJSJ NO PROBABLY NOT - IVY”

“Chatterbox, please don’t make me dread my decision. I want to be able to sleep tonight. 😭”

“If he asked for your number then…Idk maybe he just wants to be friends?? I’ve never seen or heard of him asking for someone’s number before tbh - Ivy”

Mordecai will definitely go through with calling though. I don’t know him as someone who would hesitate following through what he set out to do - Ivy”

“That…sounds ominous. 😰 I don’t like that. 😰😰”

“lmao - Ivy”

“but it’s true! - Ivy”

“Is he how you learned to be intimidating?? 🧐”

“What? Nooooo hahahsjsj - Ivy”

“Okay maybe- what of it? -Ivy”

“Nothing! Nothing at alllll- Don’t worry about it. I’m just making sense of this man. As a matter of fact, tell me more about serious face. 🥹🫠”

“:0 DO YOU LIKE BOYS?? - IVY”

“I… What? 🤨”

“ALRIGHT HERE’S EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT MORDECAI HELLER GO GET EM TIGER - IVY”

“That is NOT why I’m asking but go off or whatever it is you kids say. 🫤”

“You are not that much older - Ivy”

“Shush. Just be glad I’m using that phrase right. 🤫😑”

“Whateverrr - Ivy”

  Rocky is half expecting the tuxedo cat to come by the tea house when the next day rolls around. He doesn’t know whether to be relieved or full of dread when the other tom didn’t show up.

The tabby didn’t dwell on it long however, getting back to work serving customers and taking their orders.

He’s sure that Mordecai would call tonight.

…Rather that’s what Ivy said he’d do.

The fur along his tail stood on their ends as he felt almost conflicted. It would be nice if it was actually just Mordecai approaching him to be friends then for a date.

They hardly knew each other.

And Rocky wasn’t sure if dating was something he wanted to do anymore.

Not after the last relationship he had been in.

The gray tabby arrives back to his apartment after another tiring day of work and sighs. He rubs his eyes to wake up a little as he tosses his phone onto the bed.

“That was rougher than usual…” Rocky muttered to himself and stripped down to his boxers. “I almost miss traveling the states with nothing but pocket change.”

Flopping onto his bed, he stared up at the ceiling. Another long sigh slipped past his lips. Rocky reluctantly grabs his blanket to curl up under. Easily does he melt under its soft texture and plushy form. “...But then I wouldn’t have this blanket.” Rocky hummed softly as his eyes drift close.

“Not having to worry about being shanked over it is pretty nice…”

But his phone buzzing startled him out of his sleepy state. With a whiny groan, Rocky sits up as he grabs it.

He almost dropped it when he saw the caller ID was an Unknown Number.

Rocky answered it with slight hesitation as his blanket slid down onto his lap. “Hello? …Roark Rickaby speaking…” He spoke softly, uncertain if this is actually Mordecai or some spam call he just answered like a-

“Hello.”

Oh sweet merciful Buddha, he actually called.

“I… am Mordecai Heller. I asked for your number yesterday?”

“Oh! Mr. Heller…?”

The other tom softly interjected, “Mordecai is quite fine.”

“Mordecai then… U-uhm- Then call me Roark-” Rocky cringed at himself fumbling like a fool. His voice wavered despite clearing his throat. “How are you this fine evening?”

“…I’m quite alright. I hope I am not imposing?”

“No, not at all!” The tabby immediately regretted not taking the out Mordecai offered. Though it’s not as if he really has anything better to do than sleep. “I just finished eating dinner.” 

As if. He didn’t bother even getting groceries, but Mordecai doesn’t need to know that.

Rocky’s tail flicked around with an anxious swing. Eyes darting from side to side, looking around his apartment. Slipping out of bed, the tabby frantically grabbed a sweater and pulled it on.

By some miracle he didn’t drop the phone.

Sitting at the edge of his bed, his leg bounced as he attempted to think of anything to talk about. Besides, if Ivy’s assumption is right about just Mordecai wanting a friend then it would be nice. Rocky…has been feeling quite lonely recently…

Not that he’d ever say that outloud.

He’s willing to give it a chance.

Just this once though.

“How did your day go?” Rocky eventually forced the words out. Awkward silence was worse than awkward conversation in his experience.

“It was…fine. Though I was recently made aware you and Ivy were acquainted and that your cousin works at the Little Daisy Cafe alongside me."

Rocky isn’t surprised that Ivy talked, but it sure is odd to hear that they knew the same person.

As far as he recalls, not once have they interacted with each other. The tabby has swung by to the Little Daisy Cafe on occasion to say hello to Ivy and Calvin and maybe drop off some snacks for them if he could.

“Oh. Well, as a matter of fact Ivy is dating my cousin, Calvin. She’s quite the force to be reckoned with.” A slight smile made its way onto Rocky’s lips as he spoke.

Whether it bloomed from nervousness was of no concern at the moment.

“I see. Tell me, is she usually so… upfront about getting what she wants with you?”

Upfront is a good word to describe her. Rocky found himself snickering at the other’s misfortune. “I’ll take that as a no then.” Mordecai deadpanned.

Grinning a little in amusement, the tabby chirped back, “Nope! I like to think she’s nice to me because she plans to marry my cousin.”

“Hmph. How lucky.”

Rocky just snickers again.

The jitter in his bones doesn't go away as he lays back down in bed, phone beside his head. Making himself comfortable under the blanket again, Rocky can hear a page flip over the phone. “…Do you like reading in this type of weather?”

“Well, there’s nothing better to do now is there?” The tabby couldn’t help but nod even if Mordecai couldn’t actually see his face. Turning his head, he glances over at the book upon his nightstand. It’s definitely seen better days, but…

Reading a book does sound nice.

“What kind of books do you read?” Rocky reaches over and takes the old book. He opens up at the page where he had last left off and curls up into a ball. “Personally, I’m quite fond of poetry and theatre plays.”

“I read my share of non-fiction. I prefer information over entertainment.”

Rocky hummed in acknowledgement, “What book are you reading?”

“The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson. And you?”

“Bright Dead Things by Ada Limon.”

“…Hey, Mordecai, do you have any other hobbies besides reading?”

“Depends. Does going to a shooting range and polishing my guns count?”

“You own guns…? …Uh, yeah, I’d say so. It’s a way to pass time, isn’t it? I believe that qualifies as a hobby.”

“…That…is a fair assessment.”

“By the way…Ivy said you asked for my number to be friends?”

“Oh- yes. Apologies if I caused discomfort, but I did want…to be friends.”

“Someone’s embarrassed~!”

“Quiet you.”

Rocky’s little laugh made Mordecai huff in mock irritation.

“I was very nervous when you called, I'll have you know. Gee, you should’ve stated your intentions at the start serious face.”

“...Serious face?”

“...Ask Ivy about that.”

The next morning, Rocky drags himself to his bathroom to splash water on his face. He shuffles around, grabbing a towel and drying off with it. Rocky breaks into a yawn as mozies on through his studio apartment.

His phone starts buzzing from where it was left on his bed as he pours himself a cup of apple juice.

With a small smile, Rocky picks it up and answers, “Hey, Freckle! Good morning! Whatcha callin’ for?” He takes a sip of his juice, tail swaying side to side in a playful manner.

“…Good Morning, Rocky. Uhm…did your call with Heller go well last night?” Calvin sounds worried, and Rocky can hear his cousin being busy with some chore or other. Maybe laundry with the sound of rustling cloth?

“Oh, Serious face? Yeah, it went pretty well- we talked a lot about books and some other stuff like kosher. I now know what qualifies as a proper menorah, so...” Rocky considered that pretty interesting.

“Yeah, well… Maybe don’t get too comfortable with him…”

To which, Rocky looks at the phone weirdly. Raising his brow, he talks slowly, hesitant to know what his timid cousin does. “What…are you on about?”

“Well… The last time he went out of his way to befriend someone they disappeared.”

Well now.

That’s conjecture.

Rocky places his now empty cup on his bedside table, and puts his hand on hip. A look of disapproval crosses Rocky’s features. “Calvin, I’m not sure where you think I’ve been. He doesn’t exactly come across as a boogeyman. Kind of.” The tabby looked unsure with own answer.

“I’ve met terrible men before. Serious face isn’t one of them. He’s stiff like a board is all.”

With that, Rocky hangs up on his cousin and sighs as his brow furrows in aggravation.

The gray tabby takes the empty glass and goes to wash it up in the sink. His eyes drift from the sink to his violin. Pausing, he takes a good look at it.

“...It’s collecting dust.”

Rocky finds himself getting dressed, buttoning his old coat and tightening a worn blue scarf around his neck. Just like old times…

“It’s been a while since I busked in the cold weather.”

Earning extra change wouldn't hurt.

And playing his instrument always made him feel better.

Chapter Text

  “So…? Have you spoken with your muse as of yet?”

Of course. Mordecai rolls his eyes as Atlas enters his office, that’s the first thing he says. He’s not even bothering to hide the fact he was here to make fun of Mordecai anymore.

No pleasantries, just straight to the point.

The tuxedo sighs as he rubs his temple. “For your information, I have. I spoke with him just yesterday.” Atlas may not be smiling yet, but his eyes give away the amusement.

“Oh? Yesterday, you say? And what have you learned of him?” The older tom takes a seat before Mordecai’s desk. Ever so innocuous. Atlas leans forward, his head propped up with his hand.

Mordecai’s eyes drift off to the side. “…He plays violin.”

His glare softens.

The giggles and giddiness in Roark’s voice was, and is, very endearing. The pair are becoming fast friends, and that fact does wonders to Mordecai’s heart and mind. “He says he learned it from his mother when he was young. He’s quite fond of poetry and good at improvising a poem at a moment’s notice. He’s animated, jubilant, and aesthete…”

He trails off as he notices the mocking smile that finally formed upon Atlas’ face. Mordecai’s soft, adoring gaze hardens back into a vicious glare at the older man with a growl rising to his throat.

“My, you’ve learned quite a bit about this beau of yours.” Atlas smiles wider, closing his eyes almost mockingly fond. Tilting his head as he continues on to say, “And how long until you get together? Knowing you, you might take years to even say a word.”

This man…

The tuxedo’s tail whips around wildly as he tenses up with aggravation.

“Leave me be. I’m busy enough doing your taxes without your incessant pestering.” Mordecai all but hisses. His grip tightens around his pen when Atlas chuckles quietly.

  The next morning, Mordecai finds himself content over the gray tabby as they speak over the phone.

It’s early, and neither of them have to arrive at work until tomorrow. With a small smile he takes a drink of his earl grey tea as he listens to Roark prattle on. “Honestly- it was fifty percent off, so of course I had to steal it before someone else did!” Amusedly he put his cup down, and fully leaned back into his chair, breathing out slowly. The tuxedo basks in the warmth of his apartment as he stretches his arms up. I have my tea , Mordecai half-heartedly thought, and Roark for company.

What more could I want?

“It’s amazing to me that you could talk about any subject for over an hour.” Roark laughed. Oh that sweet, and slightly manic laugh. Mordecai smiles just a tad wider upon hearing it. What a joy Roark is.

“I mean- Is that a neutral statement, or should I be taking offense?”

Even if the tuxedo can’t see the other he can imagine that Roark is smiling. If only I could see it in person, he mourns in his mind and sighs deeply before taking another drink of his tea. “I find myself fond of it, doesn’t that make it a positive statement?” Contentedly does he lean his head more into the phone. Almost like he’s daydreaming.

Hearing Roark chuckle awkwardly makes him snap out of his stupor quickly.

“Uh- In any case, I wanted to ask,” Mordecai clears his throat as he shoves his emotions away, speaking evenly as he could. Roark had a way of making him feel warm, but he told himself, No, no. It’s much too early to express how I feel. “Would you like to have lunch with me during our breaks tomorrow?” Much less swoon over the tabby. Stop being outlandish. His thoughts are interrupted by Roark’s reply, “Sure! Are we going somewhere to eat?” Mordecai feels his mouth go dry, but he tries not to dwell on it.

His heartbeat is in his ears now, and his cheeks feel warm.

“I don’t see why not. Do you have a place in mind by chance?” And oh. The excitement in Roark’s voice... It is everything to Mordecai. “Yeah! There’s a small smoothie joint about three blocks down from where I work that has really good sandwiches! It’s also cheap~!“

Cheap… Well, if that’s the case, “Then it’s settled. I’ll pay for our meals, if that’s fine?” Mordecai figures it should be, but saying so before they get there will at least prevent an argument. Maybe. He tries not to smile when Roark gasps dramatically over the phone, “I would be a fool to turn down free food!”

“Text me when you’re free so we may go.” 

“What a gentleman~! I’ll talk to you later!” Mordecai catches himself sighing in longing after the call ends.

Good grief.

He places his phone down and stares at it hard for a moment…and then proceeds to bury his face into his hands with a groan. “God help me.” The fact that he is… painfully attracted to this one feline hit him like a brick to the head once again, and by the by it’s almost humiliating.

Almost.

… It’s hard to be angry over it since it’s him , was Mordecai’s passing thought as he went to wash his teacup.

  Work was grueling.

He had miscalculated the numbers on expense reports twice already and it’s not even the end of the day. Redoing them felt as if he was growing more gray fur already. …Though he does have a few silver strands evident. Mordecai frowned as his fur was unkempt from constantly running his hand through his hair. With a reluctant sigh, Mordecai does his best to fix it, but soon gives up as a few strands escape anyways. He’s twenty-six and has graying fur. If his mother could see him now…what would she think?

Shaking his head to clear those thoughts, he tries to focus back on his work. Yet, All Mordecai wanted now was to have Roark for company.

When that text came in of when the tabby was finally on break he was rather eager to leave his office.

Perfect timing , Mordecai thought but he hesitated to take his coat.

It’s a casual outing…

So he leaves it on his chair and briskly walks through the building. The tuxedo catches sight of Mitzi and Ivy down in the cafe, but he ultimately ignores their curious glances.

Like hell he’s going to stop to chat with them when he has Roark to lay his eyes upon.

…I need to stop thinking like that.

Withholding a sigh, Mordecai pushes the door of the cafe open as he checks his phone with an overwhelming sense of anxiety now, texting Roark,

“I’m on my way to the tea house.”

It wasn’t that far from his own workplace, so it’s not like Mordecai is rushing to get there. E x cept that he is. The tuxedo cat tries not to dwell on it as he walks at a brisk pace. Ah, maybe I should have brought my coat with me , Mordecai shivers at the bite of cold, Though if I turn back now I’ll look like a fool . No, it simply wouldn’t do to turn back. Mitzi would tease him almost immediately if he did that.

Would buying a coat on the way be a waste of time? The tom looks around the street, weighing his options, as he slows his pace for a brief moment. His tail flicks in mild agitation, To think I forgot it was brumal… And with that he rather reluctantly heads into a clothing store.

…I better take the backdoor of the cafe after this lunch, Mordecai sighs deeply as he leaves the store just as promptly as he entered it and tears the price tag off with relative ease. Shrugging on the new coat, the stoic tom resumes his brisk pace to Roark’s workplace.

  While Mordecai has never been one to curse he could feel that urge in the back of throat to start doing so.

…If only because the pedestrian signal was taking a few seconds longer than necessary for him to cross the god forsaken road. Roark is expecting him to arrive soon , and if this light doesn’t change right this minute -

He sucks in a deep breath.

What has gotten into me?

Roark has him out of sorts and doesn’t even realize it as the stoic tom agonizes over something so mundane to reach him.

The tuxedo cat clears his throat when he spots Roark lingering outside the teahouse, and slows his pace to a more casual gait. His heartbeat was loud in his ears when Roark shyly waved hello when he too was spotted. “You didn’t wait long, did you?” Mordecai almost falters in keeping his voice steady when he stops just short of the tabby. What a sight for sore eyes… He couldn’t help the fact that his eyes softened when taking in the sight of the other in comfier attire than his. A worn blue scarf with a lovely thick sweater that was just a tad too big on the blue eyed tom. It was rather… charming that its sleeves almost obscured Roark’s paws completely.

“Not at all!” Roark waved away his worry with a delightful smile. Mordecai couldn’t be more pleased to see that smile aimed in his direction if he tried. “Shall we get a move on?” That is when the tabby’s smile turned into a big grin with dimples.

Oh, he has dimples…

The normally reserved tom cleared his throat quietly, trying to retain his aloof expression. Roark’s tail wagged excitedly, “Let’s be off! Sandwiches sound great right now.” The tabby almost went to tug on Mordecai’s sleeve but stopped himself short. The tuxedo wanted nothing more than to grab hold of Roark’s hand in turn but alas.

His face never felt so hot before.

It takes everything in Mordecai to refrain from reaching out to fix the other tom’s messy hair as they walk side by side. He listens to Roark’s ramblings with a soft gaze, adding in his own two cents to keep the tabby talking with his heart beating loudly in his ears.

His tail twitches as they near this ‘smoothie joint’ that Roark had chirped about excitably. The building doesn’t look like much, but Mordecai is willing to give it a chance since the tabby did want to come here. “-so that’s why I collect vinyl records!” Roark finished with a small grin, his tail happily swinging from left to right, “…Even though you had mentioned prior that you do not own a record player for said vinyl?“ He dryly responded with a hint of amusement.

“Hey, I’m saving up money for that!” Roark huffed and crossed his arms. He’s pouting… The tuxedo cat raised his brows in mild surprise at this new expression the other beheld.

Mordecai tries not to smile at that.

Or dwell on the fact that just as the heat from his face went away it came back with a vengeance.

He follows the eager tabby inside the somewhat pitiful building, and looks around idly. The interior was better kept considerably so . It looked more like what Roark had talked it up to be, as brief as that description was, on the way here. Its proper place should be in a mall , Mordecai was slightly baffled that the ‘smoothie joint’ was really just that inside a small building. Strange that their business is afloat, Mordecai considers his options of what to eat from its menu on the board as Roark orders, “A blueberry muffin and a blueberry crumble smoothie, please!”

…Horrendous options for kosher, but…

“…A New York Club. Without mayo.”

“No smoothie?” Roark peers at him curiously, his tail and ears pricking up in attention. It took everything in Mordecai to tear his gaze away so as to not succumb to the other’s charm. Mordecai coughs into his fist and quietly murmurs, “Smoothies often have milk. It’s not kosher to have dairy with meat in one meal.” I wish my heart would stop being so loud…  

“Oh, I didn’t know that.” The tabby covers his mouth with his hand in a thoughtful manner.

Mordecai glances away as he adjusts the glasses upon his muzzle.

The word ‘charming’ doesn’t quite cut it, now does it?

In a daze, Mordecai returned to the Little Daisy Cafe. Ignoring the curious gazes Mitzi and Ivy casted him when he walked in, he made his way upstairs to his office.. With an unfocused gaze, he sat in his chair as he shrugged off his new coat, promptly forgetting it like his other one. Much like how he forgot to use the back door instead. Sighing, the tom rubs at his eyes. I wish the time I had with him wasn’t so short. “…Well, we at least spoke for the entire time.” And as far as Mordecai was concerned, the conversation they had over lunch went smoothly without interruption. Just one topic after another.

It was quite…what’s the word?

Pleasant? Resplendent? Perhaps exalted?

Whatever it is, Mordecai couldn’t help but replay the conversation in his mind over and over. He buries his face into the palms of his paws. I act like such a fool concerning him.

Then his office door swings open. Without knocking… Again. “Hey, sugar,” Mitzi greets the sulking tom with a dazzling smile.   Mordecai barely glances up at her as he quickly takes a few papers from their stack to work on. “Did you have fun with your little muse?”

“He’s not my muse.” The sound of a pencil scratching the paper is the only sound Mordecai cares to focus on to ignore his uninvited guest. Though he could feel the stare that Mitzi was giving him.

Always demanding, isn’t she?

“…And it went well.”

She rolled her eyes as she leaned over a seat before Mordecai’s desk. “That’s good, hun. The boy seems to be doing wonders on your heart.” Mordecai’s ears flatten against his skull as he finally glares up at her.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Mitzi only smiles warmly at him.

The sarcastic little fiend.

“Oh, you know… He’s making you melt, sugar.” Mordecai’s eyes narrowed further as a growl threatened to rise up his throat. “What are you prattling for-” “Denial isn’t a pretty thing!” Mitzi’s tail flicks, leaning over the chair more dramatically with a hand to her head. “...You seem happier since you went on your little date.”

The tuxedo pauses.

His glare melted away as he realized Mitzi was simply checking on him. Sighing, Mordecai looked back down at the documents he had to fill out. “...Is that all, Mrs. May?” Mitzi waves him off as she walks away, the click of her heels following as she goes. ”Yes, yes. Leaving now!“

Rolling his eyes, the tuxedo continues his work.

Chapter Text

  Leaves crunch under his feet with each step, the cold air making his whiskers twitch each time it gently passes by. Rocky adjusted his grip on the bouquet of flowers, and tucked his hands further into the big sleeves of his coat. The fingerless gloves he wore didn’t do much against the cold anyways.

Making his way further down the beaten path of the graveyard, the tabby sighs through his nose, and takes a seat right down in front of a gravestone.

A gravestone marked with the name Sophie Rickaby.

Rocky carefully places the bouquet down on the stone, making sure the flowers were arranged in a specific way, before pausing.

“…Hi, mom.”

His tone came out soft.

Almost meek.

“Uh… It’s been a while, hasn’t it?

Rocky awkwardly clears his throat, fidgeting with his hands, not daring to look at the grave head on. “Almost… Almost three years?” He isn’t sure. Between trying to survive off scraps, and keeping his head, the days have been a blur until last year. “I came back last year… Only because Freckle didn’t like that I was away. I live on the outskirts of town though… Aunt Nina still…” He trails off, not knowing where to start on Nina or if he should even say anything about that woman in the first place.

“A- Anyways, I made a new friend!” Rocky perks up a tad, the smile on his lips strained. Tired. It doesn’t quite reach his vibrant eyes. “Uhm, his name is Mordecai and…I think he’s a few years older than me. He definitely dresses and talks like it. I also noticed that he even had a few gray hairs,“ A weak chuckle escaped him.

The tabby’s tail curled around his waist as the wind picked up, a few leaves swirling past before settling down not far from where he sat. “R- Right, well,” He shrinks in on himself with a small shiver, covering his muzzle with the worn down scarf around his neck. “He’s pretty nice. Easy to talk to- Well, for me at least. Everyone else finds him hard to approach…“ Rocky’s voice dies in his throat as his gaze shifts to finally look at the gravestone.

A stone that he really shouldn’t be talking to.

It felt suffocating to look at it.

He can’t help but reach out and just barely brushed his fingertips against the rough and worn stone. Yearning.

For a mother’s love that he didn’t deserve.

With a tired sigh, Rocky withdrew his hand, “Oh well… At least I have someone new for company. It’s been a while since I had a friend…”

The last guy was…

His thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of his phone. Hopping to his feet, he was quick to answer with a small smile, “Hey! No, I wasn’t busy at all! What’s up?”

The tabby padded away from the grave, his tail happily wagging as he listened to the voice on the other end of the call.

“Today? Sure, it’s my day off and I don’t have any plans…”

  “How about this book?” Mordecai was reaching up the higher shelves of the bookcase, glancing down at the shorter tom, slightly sliding the book out for Rocky to see its title enough to nod his head. “Looks like a light read.” The tabby’s tail sways from side to side as he happily took the book that was offered. Rocky flips through the book quickly, catching a few words, “Looks like it even has some poetry.

Their tails brush past each other as they walk down aisle after aisle, browsing for anything else that might’ve caught their interest.

Well… Rocky was browsing and Mordecai was hovering over his shoulder.

Brushing that off, Rocky picked up a manga volume that he vaguely recalled Ivy loving. He squinted at it before turning to Mordecai with a raised brow, “Do you remember if Ivy said anything about liking Nana ?“

Mordecai cleared his throat and pushed up the glasses on his muzzle, “I believe so. The title is familiar and why else would it be?” The tuxedo gingerly took the volume, “She was quite vocal with how she didn’t have the first volume since she…” He trails off, a judgmental look in his eyes tells Rocky a lot, “Otherwise, she has all of them.”

Hm.

“Might as well buy it for her.”

The tuxedo puts the book atop the small stack he carried before promptly following Rocky to go buy the books they’ve accumulated. It didn’t take long for them to be walking out the bookstore as the street lights began to flicker on. How long were we in there for? Rocky curiously glanced around, Three hours?

Probably less actually, his gaze slides over to Mordecai, It is winter… Rocky almost freezes up when his eyes meet the other’s. Oh wow…

Was he staring the whole time we were walking??? The tabby blinked in confusion as Mordecai quickly turned his head away. Probably flustered? He chuckled quietly, “What? Do you have a question to ask me or something?”

The other tom doesn’t speak for a moment, “…Well, yes, I did have a question, I… I was wondering if- that is if you care to share- Did you develop a love for poetry due to your mother? Similar to your violin?“

To that, Rocky’s eyes widened.

And then he laughed.

It all circles back to her, huh…

With a warm smile stretching across his face, the gray tabby answered, his tail swaying with every step, “Yeah, yeah I did. She introduced a lot of literature to me since I was a baby.”

“I see…” Mordecai put his hand to his chin thoughtfully, “I suppose you and her were pretty old school then, correct?” The tabby couldn’t help but to snort, then giggling at his own snort. It tickled Rocky greatly that someone was paying attention to what he rambled on about.

A love that maybe I didn’t deserve, but I hold dear…

It was kind of freeing actually… To know that my interests lie heavily with my mother rather than my father. The deadbeat.

“Yeah, I guess you could say that. Honestly, I don’t really use my phone much because of how I was raised.” It was boring to scroll through on the internet, “I’d rather play violin than stare at a screen all day.”

Mordecai hummed, finally allowing his gaze to linger back onto the tabby. Before they knew it, they reached a street where they would have to part. But Rocky didn’t like walking alone. Not in the dark. Taking a breath, Rocky blinked up at the tuxedo with a small smile, “Think you can walk me home?” It didn’t seem like Mordecai anticipated being asked that, but he was quick to offer his arm with an unbothered disposition.

“If you insist.” They link their arms together. As if it was the most natural thing in the world. Rocky’s tail flicks and he leans into the other’s arm as the continue to walk together.

…I should bake some sweets for him as thanks.

Or maybe not? Does he even like sweets? He doesn’t seem the type.

“By the way, do you like sweets? Like cookies or cakes?”

“Me? Well… My palette tends to be more…mild.”

So… Nothing overly sugary.

“Why do you ask?”

“Mh, no reason! By the way, I came across an interesting article about dynamite…”

  The bell atop the door rang gently as Rocky entered the Little Daisy Cafe. His tail sways to every step he takes until he sits himself at the bar counter. Seems chatterbox is manning the bar, Rocky greets Ivy with a smile, “What’s up, buttercup?”

Ivy only rolls her eyes playfully and jots down the tabby’s usual. “Nothing too exciting other than you coming around. Think you can tell me about your time with becoming Mordecai's friend ?” She looked rather smug about it.

Which somewhat confuses Rocky but he waves her off. “Mh, not by a longshot, chatterbox.” Pouting, Ivy goes to put in the tabby’s usual order.

Rocky slowly lets out a breath, now basking in the warm sunlight that streamed in the large windows behind him, his ear flicking as he listened to the other patron’s chatting. It was an old habit he picked up when he was young.

If only to keep himself preoccupied since church was stifling.

Honestly, this cafe was the most soothing place to be. It didn’t feel cramped despite it being small, and it was quiet most days. Unlike his own bustling place of work. If it weren’t for Mordecai now, he would’ve quit his job before securing a new one.

Rocky blinked when Ivy brought him his usual coffee and pancakes, the plate clinking gently against the bar’s countertop. The tabby chuckles to himself and pours the syrup into the coffee like the heathen he is.

“…I will never understand why you do that.” The younger feline had an expression of mild disgust.

Which only made Rocky grin widely at her. “Syrup is still sugar, chatterbox.”

Ivy rolls her eyes again, “As if that makes it any better.” She leaned her weight against the bar’s counter as the tabby continued, “It’s also because I don’t want to bother grabbing the sugar.”

The tabby only snickered as she bore her gaze into him.

“Sooo… What’s Mordecai like when you guys hang out?” Ivy smiled a tad too widely when she tried to seem friendly when she really wanted gossip. Rolling his eyes, Rocky picked up his fork and dug into his pancakes.

With his mouth full, “Dunno. What’s he like here?” He chewed obnoxiously.

Which made the her expression fall into displeasure. “He’s stoic. And quiet. Now will you tell me?“ She leered and leaned forward on the counter to intimidate Rocky. It would’ve worked if Rocky didn’t see her as an annoying little sister. ”Then the same.“ He swallowed before taking a sip of his coffee abomination.

“… Seriously? ” Ivy’s brows furrowed.

Why is she irritated…?

Rocky raised his brow, but shrugged it off.

“Yeah. Also here’s a gift we picked out for you! We went to the bookstore the other day, and I vaguely remembered that you didn’t have the first volume.” Omitting the small detail that he knows why because he asked Mordecai, he smiled at her warmly. The tabby took the book out from the inside of his coat before handing it over.

Mouth agape, a small squeak just barely audible escaping her, Ivy hesitated to take it.

Her hands gingerly reached out and held it reverently with sparkles in her eyes…before remembering she’s at work rather abruptly. She hid the book behind her as she cleared her throat, fist to her mouth, in mild embarrassment. “Mh, yeah, thanks. I appreciate it.” Ivy nodded.

And quickly scampered off to put it up in her bag. Rocky snickers at the attitude change and eats in content silence. How professional.

A moment later, Calvin poked his head out from the kitchen in confusion, his eyes scanning the cafe. “Uh…Did Ivy step out?” He hesitantly padded over to his older cousin as he wiped his hands with a rag. “That she did! I just gave her the first volume of Nana since she didn’t have it. I think she’s putting it in her bag for now and coming back.“ Rocky covered his mouth with his palm as he spoke between chews to keep his manners somewhat polite.

”It's not like the cafe is busy though, so it should be fine.“ The older tabby swallowed down his last bit of food and grabbed a napkin to clean off his lips.

Calvin looked unsure, but reluctantly let it go. Today is rather slow.

He frowned a tad as he focused on his cousin, “…Are you…fine? With Mordecai, I mean? Like actually?” Shifting the weight on his feet he leaned over the counter with concern written all over his face. “I, uh…I didn’t mean to make you upset a week ago about that…” Calvin’s ears lowered in shame as he looked away.

Scoffing out a small laugh, Rocky reached over to ruffle the younger’s hair, “It’s fine, I promise. I like being friends with serious face, Freckle.” Awww, look at this guy! He’s still as shy as ever.

The orange tabby’s shoulders loosened and leaned into the reassuring head pats, “Okay. I believe you… But serious face? Is that really his nickname?” Rocky made a face at the judgement prevalent in his younger cousin’s tone and eyes.

“Kids these days…” The gray tabby withdrew his hand, “Judgement from my own cousin too… Wow…” He muttered under his breath dejectedly, laying his head down on the bar counter, as Calvin stuttered out a half-hearted apology.

Chapter Text

With an aggravated sigh, Mordecai drags his hand down his face as he ponders over the suits laid upon his bed. “…Why is it so hard to settle on a suit?” He paced as he muttered under his breath.

I’m about to lose my mind…

Mordecai swallowed back a growl and went back to rummage through his closet for the fifth time this morning. “Unbelievable… Not a single one is enough to Roark’s eye.” Of course Roark needs to be impressed or…just a double take would do…

He plucked out a few as they caught his eye. …I suppose I see why Mitzi has so many dresses now… “Unfortunately, I have so little.”

He never cared so much about it before.

The tuxedo cat finally settled on a pinstripe suit. It paired well with his new coat and leather gloves. For once he was somewhat thankful that Mitzi had given him the red scarf since it certainly had a charm with his painstakingly careful selection of attire.

But first, “My fur… It needs a trim, doesn’t it…?“

It’s a tad longer than he wants it to be. Glancing over at the clock, Mordecai made his way into the bathroom, it read 5:43 in the morning. A simple trim should do. Possibly.

The need to impress is a rather potent driving force.

What has Roark done to me…?

The tuxedo cat swallowed back a groan of annoyance as he trimmed down his fur. His eyes narrowed in concentration before putting the scissors and comb down to look himself over. …Adequate. But at this rate I might be running a tad late to the social gathering.

With that in mind, Mordecai had half a mind to take a quick shower. Again.

If only because he wanted to delay getting to said social event he was being dragged to by Mitzi and Atlas.

They’re always so draining.

I should be able to see Roark before then at the least.

The bell gently rang above Mordecai’s head as he entered his favorite tea house, his steps silent as he made his way to his usual seat. He made himself comfortable as his gaze scanned for any sign of a particular feline.

It didn’t take too long for Roark to approach the stoic tom’s table.

Mordecai almost preened at the way Roark looked at him, “Your usual earl grey tea and french toast?” Only nodding politely in turn, “Of course.” Keeping his expression stoic, he watched the center of his affection walk away, not paying attention to much else.

He liked how Roark’s tail swayed with every step. It’s…endearing. Like the gray tabby’s dimples, it was simply…delightful. Delightful is too strong of a word for me, but if it’s Roark… Then I suppose I could make an exception.

Just this once.

The tuxedo cat didn’t miss how Roark glanced over at him as he waited patiently for his order.

Success.

Mordecai’s tail flicked as his mood lifted by a margin.

However…

It only bothered him a little bit, just a tiny bit, that Roark’s co-workers were just a tad too friendly with the tabby than Mordecai anticipated as of late. It’s simply…unusual.

Unless…

His birthday is this month?

He had noticed the behavior last December, but simply brushed it off in the past.

Now though… They’re friends aren’t they?

I’ll have to ask later.

Roark returned with his order, smiling ever so brightly, “Here you go, sir.” Putting aside his thoughts, he focused all of his attention upon the feline who garnered his affection , “Thank you, Roark.”

“Are you doing well today?” Keeping his tone soft, Mordecai peered up at the tabby. His sharp eyes held a genuine curiosity that made Roark seem to snap out of his staring. The tabby cleared his throat, placing his fist to his mouth awkwardly, “Uh, yeah, I’m doing fine. My birthday is tomorrow, and it’s my day off! So…if your schedule allows we can hang out by then?”

Look at that… He’s embarrassed. I didn’t have to ask either. Good. It might’ve seemed odd if I did now that I think of it more.

Affection swelled in Mordecai’s chest, and he nodded. “Of course. Do you have a place in mind to meet?” He could not be more pleased to know that Roark wants to convene with him if he tries.

I can take the day off tomorrow anyways.

Even if Mitzi doesn’t let it slide, I can simply use my PTO for once.

“How about the mall?” Roark’s expression shifted from embarrassment to hopeful. “Since it’ll be my birthday and all…”

Mordecai’s hand clenched tightly onto the handle of the teacup to contain the overwhelming emotions that swelled in his chest. Or perhaps it was heartburn? Whatever it was, the stoic tom didn’t hesitate to answer.

“I’d be more than pleased to accompany you tomorrow.”

And oh.

That hopeful expression on Roark bloomed into a lovely and charming smile.

Being in a crowded mall is simply a small price to pay to see that expression.

“Would you like your check now or later?” Roark’s tail was wagging even. It took everything in the stoic tom to refrain from smiling wider than he means to. Everything Roark does is simply… captivating .

“Hm…Talk with me later?” The question was innocuous, but it always made the fur on Rocky’s cheek puff up slightly. It always made Mordecai hold his breath for a brief moment.

…What was the word Atlas used to mock me again?  

“-I’ll just get your check.”

Ah, that’s right…  

Smitten.

I am smitten.

“That wasn’t a no…” Murmuring to himself, Mordecai quickly finished eating in a dignified manner to receive his check in just a moment. Appearances are important after all. “Maybe a larger tip is in order… It is his birthday tomorrow.“ His fingers tapped against the table as he mulled it over.

I’ll simply pass it off as birthday money if he asks.

Chapter Text

  The mirror was foggy as Rocky stared into it. His fur was damp, and a towel was wrapped around his chest. His half-lidded eyes were focused more on the faint scar running down his forehead however.

Bringing his hand up, he gingerly traces along its length, his body tense with remembrance.

His claw threatened to cut into the skin underneath.

The fur growing over it was a lighter shade of grey.

Almost silver.

Interesting how that works.

And how it sticks out like a sore thumb.

Rocky sighs.

The sound was low and long, tinged with exhaustion to the brim.

Shaking it off, the tabby pulls on his binder before he could think of why he had it on in the first place. He pads out of the bathroom to properly dress for work today.

Sometimes, he wishes he could just shapeshift the things he didn’t like to go away.

It would certainly make looking at himself in the mirror easier…

  “Here’s your usual,” Rocky smiles, his tail swaying gently, being careful to set down the plate of french toast and tea cup. Decorum often avoided him, but he’s noticed he’s gotten better lately. Perhaps Mordecai is rubbing off on him.

Barring the rare occasion Mordecai expressed surprise or bewilderment which was always entertaining.

Said tom smiled ever so slightly in his direction, taking the teacup to take a sip of the Earl Grey, “Thank you, Roark.” Soft toned as always , Rocky muses to himself, a glint of fondness in his cerulean eyes.

“Of course,” A soft smile on his lips, Rocky padded away to serve more customers as his job demanded.

Can’t exactly stick around Mordecai for a long time during work hours.

Though he wanted to.

  Rocky hums as he sits in bed with a slouched back, tapping a pen against his chin. “...This poem may be a lost cause.” Squinting, the tabby lifted the paper up to get a better look at it. “The rhythm and meter is off.”

He recounts the meter again, “One, two, three, four…” Scratching out the words that don’t fit, Rocky mutters to himself, “I need one consonant here… and four here…” He chews on the pen’s cap, brows furrowed.

“...Was it usually this hard to write poems?” Frowning, the tabby flops onto his back.

What’s the problem? If there even is one…

“....Is it motivation or inspiration?” Rocky puts the paper and pen aside for the moment. With a tired sigh, he gets comfortable in bed, curling up on his side. Cozy and snug, the tabby hums to himself.

It was a tune he didn’t know the name of, nor the words that came with it. The only thing he did know was that his mother sang it to him as a lullaby when he was young.

“...Wait-” Rocky sits up and takes back the pen and paper. Ink stained his hands as he quickly re-wrote the poem. To give new meaning to it. Counting the meter again, he realized his handwriting was barely legible even to him.

He breaks into a chuckle. And his soft snort made him laugh harder, though he tried to keep it quiet. “...Damn. Alright.” Calming down, Rocky grabs his notebook from his bedside drawer. “Let’s try this again…”

Smiling to himself, the sound of pen scratching paper was almost music to his ears.

The tip of Rocky’s tail flicks back and forth in content.

Chapter Text

  Keeping composure was getting more difficult for Mordecai.

Walking by his side was Roark, ever fluffy and curious, the mall bustling with life that almost grated on his ears. If it wasn’t for the fact it was Roark’s birthday, he wouldn’t even be here.

But oh…

Roark purposefully chose a time so it wouldn’t be as busy.

He’s captured my heart and now my soul…and to be frank, I wouldn’t want anyone else to have them.

The tuxedo quietly takes a deep breath before speaking up, “What exactly are we looking for, Roark?”

Brilliant blue hues meet forest green, wide and ever a welcome sight for his sore eyes.

...Nothing comes to mind that is as beautiful as his blue eyes. I don’t believe there even is a natural blue like it.

“I’ve been wanting a new coat, or even some figurines!” A lovely grin blooms upon Roark’s lips, sharp pearly whites glinting in the harsh lighting. “My apartment is a bit… lacking in decor since I moved in.”

“What…kind of figurines?”

The expression Roark made was utterly delightful to his question.

It was rich with excitement. Enough so that made Mordecai feel his heart leap up his throat in due surprise, the fur on his tail puffing up in a flustered response.

Roark’s little laugh held his attention, pupils blown wide, unaware that even in the harsh lighting he was absolutely radiant .

His heartbeat was in his ears now.

God forbid he adores anyone except Roark.

“It’s a small set I’ve been keeping my eye on since I was a teen! They’re cute little monsters that are inspired by breakfast foods, and my personal favorite is the pancake one,” And to Mordecai, nothing is better than listening to his one and only ramble on about anything and everything.

...Is…Is this what a date between us would look like?

And that’s when he feels Roark’s hand brush against his own.

Pupils narrowing into slits, Mordecai’s gaze drifts down to see just how close they walked together.

...Be rational here. We’re too close on accident, and Roark doesn’t realize it-

A jolt shot up his hand from Roark’s brushing past it once more.

Never in a million years has Mordecai wanted to hold hands with another.

Much less so badly to the point he was trembling.

To think he scoffed about having such a strong reaction to Roark’s mere presence…

… Though it is ridiculous and desperate of me to crave holding his hand.

Mordecai refuses to admit more than that. Even to himself.

He’s caught off guard when Roark abruptly stops in his tracks. The tabby’s tail was pointing up in alert and staring at…something. Mordecai furrows his brow, a frown etching onto his lips. He looked over in the same direction.

A store that was rather… cute in its color scheme of pastel pinks and yellows.

Adjusting the glasses upon his muzzle, Mordecai caught sight of the figurines that Roark had just been mentioning prior. Before he could even utter a sentence, the tabby grabbed his hand, and his mind went blank.

Mordecai stared at their intertwined hands as he was dragged towards the figurines. He almost stumbles behind Roark once they come to a standstill.

Roark’s paw pads were awfully soft against his more calloused ones.

They were…smooth. Delicate even.

A purr threatened to escape his throat as his mouth went dry.

Only then does he remember to breathe.

To think simply holding hands would cause him to be dazed.

  The tuxedo cat finds himself laying in bed unable to sleep later that night, staring up at the ceiling with wide eyes.

His body oddly felt warm from holding hands with Roark. A shiver goes down his spine as he recalls just how pillowy the tabby’s paw was. Mordecai rolls over to bury his face into the pillow. And that warmth certainly had no relation to the weather becoming warmer.

It helped to muffle his embarrassed groan of discontent.

“...Damn it all.”

Roark is simply divine in every sense of the word.

How else could he explain the way Roark renders him abashed, and enamored?

Chapter Text

That same evening, Rocky is humming to himself as he sets the figurine set of pancake inspired monsters up on his bookshelf. Granted, having to reorganize the books was dull, but seeing the figurines proudly displayed however was a great reward. Finally, he has them in his possession.

The tabby grinned as he took a step back to admire the additions.

A soft ringtone drew his attention. Rocky picked it up, sharp canines glinting in the dim light of his lamp. “Hey cuz,” he rummaged through the other bags, “Whatcha’ calling for?” Momentarily sitting on the edge of the bed as it squeaked in protest of his weight.

“Uh- N- Nothing too big. Uhm…I just want to make sure you’re…home. I saw you at the mall…with him.”

Rocky paused.

“...Yeah?” He pulled out strings of fairy lights and clothes from the bags, his brow raised. “I- I wasn’t spying on you guys! I was there with Ivy-” Rolling his eyes, the older tabby cut off his cousin, “Relax, cousin. I saw you guys there too on your little date at that new…boba shop, right?”

He could hear the awkward shuffling on the other end of the phone.

“Yeah… Ivy wanted to try it.”

Humming, Rocky pulled the tags off his new coats and shirts, “I figured. You’re not a big fan of anything that isn’t chocolate milk.” He snickered to himself, pupils sharpening into slits.

The silence that follows makes him laugh harder.

“Whatever,” the younger tabby huffed and grumbled. “What…were you doing with Mordecai?” His tone was cautious, as it always is when it comes to the tuxedo cat.

I have yet to figure out why that is…

“Shopping. Well- I was shopping. I just asked him if he wanted to tag along.” Rocky haphazardly put his clothes up in the dresser as he talked, “Serious face actually bought me some of my clothes believe it or not!”

Such a thing happening to Rocky was…unheard of.

It was sweet.

Very sweet in fact.

It almost made his heart flutter.

Or maybe that was just excitement over the new adornments to his wardrobe and decor?

“...So it wasn’t a date?”

Rocky lets out a louder laugh than intended.

“What? No, no, of course not! We’ve only known each other for almost a year, how could I go on a date with him?”

Goosebumps ran up his arms.

Heat crawled up his neck.

Why is it so warm inside his apartment all of a sudden?

“I’m heading to bed now, goodnight, babyface!” The gray tabby was all but eager to end the call. He flung his phone onto the bed, his fur puffing up on his cheeks and tail.

Flustered? Him? No… No that can’t be.

Love is a ludicrous endeavor.

It always had been for him.

A waste of time- of effort .

Stirring slowly, he stares into a mug of coffee. He could hardly see his own reflection in its blackened state of sludge.  Rather, the tabby was vaguely confused when he even made himself coffee. Much less sit at the table doing so.

…Then why does the idea of going on a date with Mordecai sound so appealing?

Rocky blinks.

“...Oh god no.”

The tabby buries his face into his paw pads, almost mortified with the realization of why .

He practically inhales the coffee, the horrible mixture of sugar and caffeine causing him to blanche in regret afterwards. With a shudder, Rocky drags himself into bed, a burn on his tongue.

Though he couldn’t sleep.

Not for a long while.

Whether it was the coffee he drank, or the tempting thoughts of a lovely outing with a certain tom, Rocky couldn’t sleep.

He stared up at the ceiling. Unblinking.

The tabby has a death grip onto his pillow before he buries his face into it, letting the stuffing muffle his scream, his fur ruffled and standing on its ends.

Chapter Text

Frankly, Mordecai’s time could be spent at home meticulously finding an appropriate outfit to wear the next time he has an evening out with a certain tabby he knows. Over preparing eases his nerves.

Yet here he is. At a fancy restaurant with a name he doesn’t care to remember despite being here on numerous occasions.

“So, Mordecai, dear, when are we going to meet Roark?”

His cold gaze slides from the window to Mitzi.

How long will it take for them to learn that this banter is growing old? If one could even call it that.

Sighing through his nose, Mordecai picks up the menu to peruse. “Preferably never. I plan to keep Roark far away from you.” To this he sees Mitzi’s  teasing expression switch to unimpressed from the corner of his eye.

“That’s quite the commitment. Are you certain it’s worth it?”

The tuxedo cat’s tail whips in irritation hearing such a question being uttered from Atlas himself. As if he doesn't understand why I want to keep Roark away from Mitzi’s claws.

“You both will simply hound him just as you do with me.”

The older tom hums softly in turn. “I see.” He takes Mitzi’s hand in his own and presses a light kiss onto her knuckles. “I take it that you have yet to even ask him on a date?” 

A scowl marrs Mordecai’s features.

Making a mockery of me in a round-a-bout way, are we?

“Apologies for being late,” comes in the familiar voice from behind the irritated tuxedo. Asa grins at his long time friend as takes his seat. “What’s the subject for tonight?”

“Oh, nothing big. Mordecai has a crush on some tabby that he absolutely refuses to let us meet since they’ve become friends.” Mitzi rolled her eyes as to her it seemed as if Mordecai was simply being obtuse on purpose.

“Pause. Did I hear that right? Mordecai Heller, the hatchet man , has a crush ?” Utter bewilderment was etched onto Asa’s face.

Atlas shrugged, a small smile forming on his lips. “Yes.” He simply replied before signaling a waiter down to take their orders.

Irritation became acrimony as it threatened to boil over.

I have emotions just like everybody else, not some machine.

And Roark is not *some* tabby.

Perhaps he was getting worked up over nothing.

But everybody has their limits.

“I’ll be making my departure now.”

Mordecai stood from his seat, and adjusted his coat. The very same one that he had bought when he was rushing to meet Roark for their first day out together. A coat he wore only on special occasions now.

“If you’ll excuse me.” The tuxedo turned on his heel.

And left.

If all they do is poke at me, what’s the point in staying?

In any case, The tuxedo checks his phone, his pace brisk as he walks down the streets of St. Louis. Roark sent me a text.

“Do you want to meet up today?”

Mordecai couldn’t stop himself from smiling if he tried. Seeing Roark never got old. The lovely shades of the tabby’s grey and brown coat filled his world with just a bit more color.

“Roark, didn’t you tell me you had work today from yesterday’s phone call?”

“ 😅 Uhhh, look do you want to hang out or not?”

Shaking his head, the tuxedo looks up for a moment to walk across the street.

“Very well. I’m heading towards your apartment. Be ready in 20 minutes.”

“Yayyy!!”

Though, he has no idea where they would go once he met with his companion.

Roark’s unpredictability made it a surprise lately for their outings as the tabby often didn’t know what to do. Simply that he wished to go outside and be anywhere else.

Which was fine with Mordecai.

Just as it always has been when it came to Roark.

Running his paw through his fur, he softly sighs.

Roark truly bewitched him.

And Mordecai didn’t mind in the slightest anymore. Even if he does trip over his own feet at times around the other tom like a fool.

The red scarf swayed with every step he took, hung loosely around his neck. The sun hardly did much to warm him. Clouds threatened to barr away the warm light of the afternoon. An apartment building soon came into view, and Mordecai slowed to a casual pace. I can’t seem too eager now

Mordecai’s gaze was soft as he entered the Little Daisy Cafe. Yesterday’s evening is still replaying in his mind causing his lips to twitch into a smile. Just barely it was obvious he was in a good mood this morning.

As always, being Roark comforted his mind and heart. And comfort is rather luxurious for him to enjoy. Much less have.

Just as he was about to walk upstairs to his office, Ivy grabbed his arm. Pausing, the tuxedo sighed through his nose before leveling the girl an uninterested expression. “Yes, Mrs. Pepper?”

“You were smiling,” her eyes were wide and eager, “Why? Is it Rocky again? What happened?”

Normally, Mordecai would try to ignore her attempts to dig out the information from him.

But since he's in a good mood…

“Simply put, we went to the library.”

Her face fell into an exaggerated frown, and her ears pinned back. “What.” Mordecai noted with some amusement that he could hear a murr of displeasure from the back of her throat.

“ And he made me cookies.”

The look of shock on her face made him raise his brow.

“ What!? ”

…Quite the pipes she has , the tuxedo’s ears twitched as they folded back, reaching up to rub them. My eardrums could have popped from her volume alone.

“What kind! You can’t just say you had his cookies and not say what kind! Mordecaiiiii- do you have any left? Share one with me! Pleaseeee!” Her tone switching from demanding to whining was also impressive. Perhaps she should be an actor , Mordecai mused half-heartedly.

“They were kosher, and of Roark’s own recipe.” He’s never seen Ivy so jealous before over something so… Well, it’s not trivial. Mordecai quite liked them. Clearly, Ivy is aware of Roark’s cookies to be comparable to that of a grandma’s.

“And I ate them all.”

She dramatically fell to her knees.

“No… No, that can’t be…”

Rolling his eyes at her fake sobbing, Mordecai walked upstairs to his office. Once alone, he pulled out his phone, thoroughly amused by Ivy’s comical meltdown over cookies .

But as they were cookies Roark made, he could see why she would be acting in such an absurd manner. Especially after he’s had a taste of those delightful treats himself.

“Ivy has expressed that she would like some of your cookies when you’re able to provide them.”

“Haha! Tell her I’ll swing by when she’s on break tomorrow. I’ll bring more for you too.”

“Much appreciated.”

“ 😊 Don’t worry, I’ll give you more cookies than her. But don’t tell her I said that!”

Chapter Text

Over a year.

That’s how long Rocky has known Mordecai now.

He rubs his paws together as the heater inside the tea house kicks up. “Finally,” The tabby groaned. Everything was ready, the only thing to do now was to wait for customers to arrive. Rocky leans over the counter and rests his chin onto his paws, tail flicking impatiently.

“Wondering if your boyfriend will show up, hm?”

The tabby is quick to stand upright, a nervous grin on his lips, turning to face his co-worker. “Boyfriend? He’s not my boyfriend, Levi.” The other tom rolls his eyes.

“Alright, alright... Are you wondering if your not -boyfriend will show up?” Levi smirks, amused at the other’s fidgeting.

Rocky gives him a side eye in turn. Damn tortoise .

“...Maybe.”

Levi snorts, “You’re unpredictable, but that guy has been your entire world for a while now.” The tabby’s ears flattened against his skull as a murr of displeasure made itself known from the back of his throat. His co-worker simply chuckles in response. Their banter could wait though. Customers were starting to stream in.

Over a year…

And I caught feelings?

…

Am I really that easy?

Rocky sighs as he runs a hand down his face. He sits in one of the comfier chairs their little break room had, all curled up, and deep in thought. His mind felt rather frazzled. Maybe it was just today being more tiring…

Or maybe it was Mordecai’s lack of presence.

Whatever it was, Rocky was…unusually tired. The tabby’s ears perked up when his phone buzzed. Taking the phone out of his pocket he sees a message from Mordecai. His fluffy tail begins to wag as he opens the message, pupils dilating.

“Are you free to grab some lunch with me?”

… Is someone purring? He raises his head and looks around briefly. No one else but him was here. Brows furrowed, he looked back down at the phone.

Before then realizing it was coming from himself .

Dropping his phone onto the table he then buries his face into his paws.

He was purring …from getting a message from Mordecai.

Sure, it wasn’t loud, but it was definitely audible.

“What’s wrong with me?” He groans, almost basking in futility and despair.

It was absolutely an undeniable truth.

He’s in love with Mordecai.

The ding of another message was quick to distract him from his embarrassment. He hesitated to pick up the phone, and took a peek at the new message.

“If you’d like, we could go to that smoothie stand again.”

An excited giggle makes itself known.

And by god, Rocky felt his fur fluff up, embarrassed like never before in his life. He had never laughed like that before. To make it worse, the tabby could feel himself smiling from ear to ear like a fool. 

“Sounds good! I’ll meet you there ☺️😄”

…To hell with embarrassment.

I want to see him again.

The gray tabby was comfortably sitting close to Mordecai at the smoothie stand. Very comfortably. Practically snuggling into the other tom’s side as he eats a blueberry muffin. Crumbs were on the corner of his mouth as he chewed. 

He didn’t notice how Mordecai was absolutely having a heart attack, keeping still as a statue. The tabby simply wanted to enjoy the warmth of the other tom. Rocky hummed absentmindedly, softly butting his head against the tuxedo’s shoulder comfortably.

“You’re really warm,” Rocky’s tail flicks before curling around the other tom’s slimmer one, “How come?”

To that, Mordecai had no answer.

The tabby hardly noticed how Mordecai even stopped breathing.

Tail swishing, Rocky taps his foot as he listens intently to the song playing from his phone. He stood before his mother’s grave, his eyes closed, and beloved violin poised as he moved the bow, hardly grazing the strings.

There’s a certain solace to being alone in a graveyard lately.

Though he can’t place why that is.

Maybe , he thinks, Just maybe I’m finding peace.

Liebesfreud.

The song comes to an end, and so he plays his own rendition.

Trying the same thing over and over until it’s just right before moving onto the next set of notes. However, his portrayal will be shorter than the original. If it was too long, he’d lose the attention of his beloved audience.

What matters is that it conveys the emotion he wished for Mordecai to hear. It needed to be a slow descent into something short and sweet. A realization. To be comforting, and familiar… Yet loving and…messy.

It was intended to be a confession after all.

Rocky had thought about it long and hard on how to just…get this weight off his shoulders. Words tend to fail him if the trouble he got in before told him anything.

But what’s a poem without its music?

He had time to come up with one as he tossed and turned at night for the past…week or so? Rocky found that he can’t quite remember. All he knew was that it’s been long enough that Spring is beginning to show itself.

“Soulmate mine,

Regarding you, none are equal.

A statement of fidelity!

Stability evident, absolute in eternity.

 Red carnations adorn my heart, all for you, my soul and mind too.

I’m not ignorant of your gaze, our feelings are tantamount, alas my tongue is tied in place.

A gardenia begins to bud, adding to the garden I tend.

I adhered to love as fictitious solace, only fabricated to behold it.

A mark is left onto my soul, aching for you alongside me.

Onto me, you’re my eulogy, yearning for thine to pursue me.

Chest near bursting, my eyes adoring.

The warmth you exude bewitches me, unrivaled by those before you.

Wonderment surrounds me wishing and wanting to share hardships with you.

Imbued with veneration, allocation of your surname!

Comfortability with you is home to me.”

The breeze makes him shiver, breaking his concentration of the rest he was going to play. A disgruntled murr escapes his throat as he quickly goes to put away his violin in its worn down case.

Giving one last look at the gravestone bearing his mother’s name, Rocky turns to leave. The gray tabby sighs quietly as he makes his way back to his dingy apartment. Brown and red leaves crunch beneath his boots.

Though… pancakes don’t sound too bad right now.

“Doesn’t Mordecai work at the Daisy cafe today?” He changes his mind about going back to the apartment. “...Pancakes always make me feel better.” And Mordecai especially .

So what if he’s easy?

Who can blame him anyways for falling for Mordecai?

“...I should write down the poem before I forget-” Rocky scrounged around in his coat pockets for the pen and notepad he always had in it. He paused. “Actually, ol’ serious face is old school, right? I could make it into a letter!” A grin graced his lips as he walked downtown.

Chapter Text

  “You wanna go out for lunch? 🥺”

Mordecai’s ears flicked to attention when he heard that little ding from his phone. Putting down his pen, he moves to check it. A small smile then graces his lips. Sighing fondly, he leans back in his chair as he types,

“Roark, don’t you have an appointment at the doctor’s at the moment?”

“Well yeah, but it was over pretty quickly!! Sooo??? 🥹 Food? Pls?? I am starving!! 🥹😢😢💔💔💔”

The tuxedo couldn’t help but chuckle, putting his hand over his mouth in amusement. His eyes flicked up at his window as he pondered what to do. Warm sunlight filtered through as the sun was at its peak.

It didn’t take long for Mordecai to cave however.

“Alright. Where to?”

“Our usual place! ☺️”

“Do you need me to pick you up?”

“...Please 🥺”

“Give me your location. I’m on my way.”

“ 🥳 Yayyy!! ☺️”

Fondly rolling his eyes, Mordecai pulled on his coat as he got up from his chair. Always so chaotic, he mused to himself. Double checking his pockets for his keys, he left the cafe.

Through the back door this time.

  “Serious face!” Roark grinned widely as he entered the passenger side of the car. The tabby wore a simple dark blue sweater and black jeans which momentarily made Mordecai’s mind blank. Could anyone blame him though?

It was a… charming look. He would say it’s cute even. 

“I’m finally getting surgery…” Roark excitedly started, but quickly trailed off. A look of realization dawns on his face. He hesitates for a moment, and to the tuxedo it seemed like he was nervous.

“I’ve never told you- Uh, I’ve been trying to get corrective surgery for a while, and now it’s finally happening!” His tail wagged as he leaned in close to Mordecai's face. So many emotions flitted through in Roark’s bright eyes, he couldn’t possibly decipher which one was most prominent.

Nevermind the surgery, the other tom was so close to his face Mordecai could smell the soap he used. It was sweet, that much he knew, and perhaps… a bit fruity?

His heart hurt as it banged against his ribs as if it could give itself to Roark for the tabby to hold. Staring into Roark’s eyes- it was like getting lost at sea. It drew him in, but Mordecai cleared his throat before he took that chance to get closer.

“...A corrective surgery?” He echoed back, testing the words slowly.

Roark nodded excitedly, and it seemed as if there were stars in his eyes. Clapping his paws together he continues, “I’ve been waiting for years for it!” A delighted laugh escaped past his lips.

The tuxedo took a moment to process what that meant.

“...I see. Then congratulations, Roark.” Mordecai smiled back at the grinning tom as his expression softened. I never would’ve guessed. Chuckling, he gestured for Roark to buckle his seatbelt. “I suppose I ought to give you a celebratory gift? In the form of food, perhaps?”

The other near giggled, “You know I’m a sucker for free food.”

Mordecai simply offered his hand for the lovely tabby to hold.

And Roark took it without another thought.

The daylight brought out his bright blue eyes, his fur of warm gray and creamy beige…

And he is absolutely dazzling in the sun.

“Do you have a set date for the surgery yet?” Mordecai spoke softly, his thumb rubbing across the tabby’s knuckles. Emerald eyes were set on the road as he drove away from the clinic.

Roark nodded as his tail happily thumped against his seat, “May sixteenth! I don’t have to wait that long~!” He chirped before pausing.

“Why do you ask?”

Mordecai raised his brow as he cast a brief glance at the pretty tabby. “I’d like to be there for you when it happens. What other reason is there?” May is two months away, He hummed, “Unless you don’t want me to be.”

Roark surprised him by grasping his hand harder. “No! No, that’s… I’d…” The tabby had such an expression that Mordecai couldn’t possibly tell what emotions were entangled in it with brief glances.

Astringent, revelry, hope…

Maybe it was more than that.

“I’d like that… A lot actually…” Roark finally murmured, ears lowering, and his grip loosening.

Mordecai squeezed his hand.

“Then I’ll be there.”

The tabby peered up at him with hope. Bright and unmitigated hope. Mordecai practically held his breath and prayed they wouldn’t crash as he kept glancing between the road and Roark.

“Promise?”

The tuxedo nodded.

“Promise.”

“I actually have something for you!” Roark chirped as they ate together.

Mordecai raised his brow, but softened considerably seeing that the fur on the tabby’s cheeks stood up. The tabby seemed almost…bashful. What with how he looked off to the side, and his tail swaying side to side.

Which was strange.

Roark is a rather unapologetically loud and eccentric individual. And he had only ever been flustered that one time when Mordecai asked for his number.

“And what would that be?” The tuxedo sat up straighter, leaning forward ever so slightly in interest. The tabby’s ears lowered as he brought out a folded piece of paper from his pocket and offered it for Mordecai to take.

The tuxedo gingerly withdrew the paper from Roark’s hold, glancing between the paper and the tabby with an unspoken question. “I wrote that…for you,” Said tabby tugged his sweater up to cover his lower face.

He’s bewitching me all over again.

Roark’s tail curled around his waist, thumping against his thigh, “I haven’t written poems for anyone in a long time, but I hope you like it.” The tabby peered up at the other tom through his lashes and that was overwhelming enough.

There’s not nearly enough words to describe just how Roark looks at this moment. All of them would be wrong anyways.

Mordecai sat still as a statue, staring at the other across him.

His breath seized with his heart practically begging to jump out of his chest and into the tabby’s arms.

If Mordecai was more desperate he probably would have buried his face into the crook of Roark’s neck already.

To say the tuxedo was aflame was an understatement. Mordecai was dazed. It was hard enough to refrain from clutching at his aching chest. He blinked slowly as his entire body felt as if it was shutting down.

“...Thank you, Roark,” The words tumbled out, heavy and damning like an avalanche.

The smile Roark gave him was enough to steal his breath away.

It was enchanting. Radiant and amorous.

Mordecai blinks.

Staring up at the ceiling as he laid in bed, hardly breathing, uncertainty swirled in his mind. But his heart felt light. Lighter than it should really. With everything he had done…

“...When did I get back to my apartment?”

Roark’s scent still lingered in his nose, so it couldn’t have been too long.

And the poem…

“The poem- Where did I put it?” The tuxedo sat up and patted down his coat frantically. Relief soon poured over him like water as he pulled out the folded paper from the inside pocket. He carefully unfolded it and reveled in the writings by Roark.

The letters were messy. Chaotic. And yet they were arranged neatly as if on lined paper.

Roark’s scent was all over it.

Clearing his throat, Mordecai focused his eyes and began to read.

. . .

His face never felt hotter.

Pupils dilated, he flops back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.

Mordecai grabbed one of his pillows. His nails sinking into the fabric and stuffing, and the veins along his arms began to pop out. Then he promptly and crudely shoves his face into the plush material with a muffled groan of flustered distress following soon after.

It was bordering on a scream with how loud it was.

The tuxedo has never been so aggravated by something so sweet. Shoving down the temptation to tear up his pillow, Mordecai lets go of it and delicately picks up the poem again.

This… this was made for him.

By Roark.

Roark.

The only one Mordecai finds acceptable for a relationship and possibly the only one he will ever love in his lifetime-

He takes a deep breath.

“...I need to frame it.”

Chapter Text

  “...Did I ruin everything?”

Rocky wondered aloud as he stumbled through his apartment door. Mordecai had kindly dropped him off back home, but… “He was silent as a grave-” He muttered before slipping and falling flat on his face with a thud. The tabby twitched, but otherwise made no noise.

He proceeded to stay like that for a solid moment.

…Okay, maybe serious face was just shocked. The tabby slowly lifted his head up and rubbed his face sorely. “Ow.” Rocky frowned when he pulled his hand away. It was trembling… Damn nerves. He just needed to think. Taking a deep breath, he lays his face flat against the floor again.

Only then did he notice how cold the floor was. Making a face, Rocky tried to ignore it as he closed his eyes. “...He barely looked my way too.”

After all that time I had spent on working up the courage to give him that poem.

…Stupid.

I’m so stupid.

Why did I think that would mean anything?

Rocky slowly opens his eyes and lets his gaze drift across his messy studio apartment. His clothes were strewn across the floor, and the basket of clean clothes hasn’t even been put up yet. At least the trash didn’t need to be taken out but his dishes sat in the sink. Untouched. And smelly.

He also needed to sweep and mop and dust off the bookshelf-

The tabby sharply inhales.

Why did I even bother…?

Rocky peeled himself off the floor and stood on shaky legs.

Chores first.

Think deprecatingly later.

The tabby dragged his feet as he put up his clean clothes. His movement was slow and sluggish. Reluctant to even look at the hangers, he did it anyway. Tossing the dirty clothes into the now empty basket, Rocky glanced at the clock with tired eyes.

He watched it tick by as the hour turned over ever so slowly.

5:00 p.m.

...Dishes... I need to do the dishes.

In a blur of chores, he finds himself in his bed at last. Staring at the ceiling. Rocky grabs his phone with a heavy sigh and half heartedly goes to message Ivy.

“What usually happens when you confess to someone?”

And he waited.

Phone against his heart, Rocky stares off into nothing once more.

It startled him out of his stupor when his phone vibrated. He sat up quickly and fumbled to reject the call. His thumb pad had hit the answer button instead.

With a wince, Rocky held his phone far away from his ears.

“Oh my god- ROCKY- Rocky, Rocky, Rocky-! Did you actually confess to someone?? Who was it!? When? Where? Was it somewhere romantic? Like the beach?” Ivy then gasped loudly, “DID YOU CONFESS TO MORDECAI!? SINCE WHEN HAVE YOU HAD A CRUSH ON HIM!? HELLO??”

Her screaming was so loud that the audio cut it out horribly.

Sweet, merciful Buddha.

Rocky hesitantly brought the phone to his ear, “Chatterbox, please.” To which Ivy screamed some more, but the same thing happened again with the audio. He couldn’t exactly catch much of anything that she had said.

The tabby waited until it was quiet to speak up.

“...O- kay.” His brows furrowed. “Moving on, yes, I… confessed. To Mordecai. I guess. I admittedly… didn’t plan it out. It… happened.”

A moment of awkward silence followed.

“Over lunch.” Rocky’s other hand rubbed the back of his neck.

“...What.” Ivy deadpanned, sounding slightly offended? He almost smiled at the tone before his brows furrowed further in confusion.

“Why…are you offended?” He almost laughed at how ridiculous it was.

A huff could be heard over the phone from her before she continued, “For one, it wasn’t anywhere romantic! You’re like one of the sappiest, hopeless romantics I’ve ever known!”

A pained chuckle escaped Rocky’s lips as he glanced away.

“Yeah well… I wrote a poem expressing how I felt. I handed it over to him and he became hushed.”

A moment of silence followed through.

“...Dude.”

Rocky sputters as he quickly sits up. “What do you mean dude?” Teenagers these days. “I would consider I  accomplished something perfectly romantic as a poet! Why are you disappointed anyhow!”

She looked unimpressed, he was sure of it.

“Dude, you just handed it over without any preamble. Over lunch. Which is the least romantic thing you can do! I thought you were a hopeless romantic at heart but I guess I was wrong!”

His ears flattened against his head from her harsh tone and looked away from the phone with a guilty expression.

“You didn’t even wait for a good moment to do it either! Timing is everything!” She rambled on as Rocky could catch the sounds of a glass clinking. “I mean- Especially with someone like Mordecai, but I doubt he actually cares that much… I bet you he’s just staring at the piece of paper like it owes him money.” Ivy trails off into a mumble.

To which Rocky furrows his brows.

“So…?” The tabby prompted cautiously, glancing back at the phone. “...Why would he be looking at it like it owes him money?” Confusion marrs his features.

Groaning, Ivy elaborates, “Oh my god there’s no way you haven’t noticed! Fucking-....”

She takes a deep breath.

“Okay. Well, my dear cousin-in-law, Mordecai used to be so wound up and a narc! But ever since you came along, he’s been softer. More… chill, I guess.”

With an incredulous scoff, Rocky mutters, “Maybe because I’m his friend?”

Ivy just groans again.

“My god, are you dumb? You’ve always been like this I guess. What I mean is, are you choosing to be blind right now?”

Rocky stays quiet for a moment.

He… supposes he is.

The last relationship he had been in didn’t end all that well.

Much less start well.

“...I don’t have an excuse...?” Rocky mumbled and his gaze dropped to his knees tucked up against his chest. The apprehension curled around his heart tighter.

“No shi-” Her voice was cut off by something Rocky couldn’t hear. “Well someone knocked on my door. I’m taking you with me.” The tabby just let out a long and exasperated sigh.

He zoned out entirely. Effectively, the noise from his phone went in one ear and out the other.

Tilting his head back, Rocky stares up at the ceiling, and lets loose a low and annoying groan. The kind that goes on forever if he lets it. The tabby only snapped out of it when Ivy was calling for him, “For fuck’s sake, Rocky!”

A laugh bubbled up his throat, “What? What do you want, chatterbox?”

“You could say hi to my boyfriend!” She retorts with an indignant huff. “Here, talk with Rocky for a minute because I need to run to the bathroom.”

Fumbling follows. Ivy no doubt tossed her phone to his cousin. An affectionate smile blooms upon the gray tabby’s lips.

“Oh geez. Uh, hi Rocky.” The tentative voice of his cousin reached his ears. “What’s happening? Ivy looked…miffed?”

That makes the gray tabby huff. Is she really hung up on the confession thing? “I… may have done something to displease her. Fret not! I will remedy this… probably.” Flopping back first onto the bed, he rubs his eyes. “Not sure how yet.”

“What did you do?” Bewilderment was evident in his tone. Rocky is sure his cousin’s brows were raised, eyes darting from side to side.

“Uhh… Ask Ivy! I need to run to the store, so ciao! Au revoir! Dasvidaniya!” Rocky hangs up abruptly and sets his phone down against his chest. Disquiet was carved into his very bones. His stomach was tied up into knots as he stared up at the ceiling.

“...Smooth, Rickaby. Smooth.” He muttered, shifting to lay down on his side.