Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Scrolling on his phone, Jackson looked with a grumpy face. He had lost another race. Another after a month. He ha been coming in second and even third once. Never 1st. He didn't ask himself why he lost. He asked himself why he let them win. He was stupid. He was pathetic. He deserved nothing. 

He sighed and threw his phone to the other side of the couch. He held in a sob as he scrunched his hair in his hands. It had been a few days since he had last brushed it. He had bags under his eyes and obvious crying marks on his cheeks. How pathetic. He let out a tear.

How stupid of him, he was crying. Maybe if he didn't cry he'd feel better. 

Maybe if he didn't talk or think.

Maybe if he didn't breathe. 

He let his eyes open and close slowly. That was it. 

That's what he would do.

The rope, the bed, his phone. That was the end. Tears filled his grey eyes as he wmwas ready. This was it. He didn't want to live this life anymore. 

One step off the bed.

Rain.

Rain was pouring down from the sky in a dark alleyway full of trash and treasures.

There lay an asleep cat, a very asleep cat.

"Awww, What's this little fella doing here?" A voice rang through his ears like a drum. It sounded familiar. It sounded like Gale. "C'mon buddy, wake up." She said, nudging him. "5 more minutes." He said grumpily. She only chuckled. "A small little kitten like you shouldn't be all alone in the rain!" She slowly turned him over. The thing was, He felt tiny under her hands.

Sure, she did have rather large hands but these felt too big. He opened his eyes to see she was huge.

Or rather he was small.

His eyes widened as he jumped back. 

Gale was HUGE. She was a very tall woman in general but this was insane. He was the size of a kitten compared to her. She smiled. "C'mere lil' fella, Do you have a home?" She held out her hand. "Gale?! Gake why are you so tall?!and why am I tiny?!" He asked. All she did was chuckle. "You're quite the talker ain't ya?" She said as she picked him up. He was easily lifted off the ground and when he looked down at his hands. He saw something else.

Paws.

He stared in shock before meowing profusely. Gale looked concern. "No need to be scared, I'm just here to help you! Now let's see that collar..." she searched around hi snack but found nothing. "Huh... don't have a home?" She looked at him. "Well, we'll take you to the shelter and ask everyone if you have a home." She smiled. She pet him carefully, which he did like. As she walked away from the alley, Jackson saw she was walking torwards a familiar truck. It was Ray's truck. Jackson's ears perked up. 

As Gale opened the truck, Jackson jumped from her hands and into the passenger seat. Ray looked at him with surprise. He chuckled and then pet between his ears. "Looks like someone likes my truck. Did you find him in the alley?" He asked. Gale picked him up and sat down. "Yep, He was all screams and cries and meows when I picked him up." She replied. "Does he have a collar?" "I didn't see one." 

Jackson took no time listening and layed down in Gale's lap. "it's all just a bad dream. Go to sleep." 

He layed down and closer his eyes, falling asleep almost immediately.

Chapter Text

Jackson slowly woke up. His eyes lifted like bricks as he opened them. He thought it was all a dream and that he'd be back the next day.

He was wrong.

His eyes shot open when he realized he was still in fact, a cat. He lowered his ears and groaned. (however cats groan ig). He was very pissed. He did not want to be a cat any longer. 

As he opened his eyes, around him was a cage. There was a blanket in the floor with a few pillows, a small toy and food and water bowls. It was quite comfortable. He lifted his head. Around him were a few other cats. They too were sleeping or walking. A few playing. They were kittens like him. He huffed and got up, slowly trying to get used to his new legs. "so now I have 4 legs? Weird..." he meowed. He shook his tail and moved his ears. The other cats seemed to notice this and almost trampled him. "BITCH WHAT THE FUCK?!" He screamed. His fur was now all disheveled and messy. 

Gale seemed to notice this. Oh right, Gale. She volunteered at the pet shelter nearby. That's why she was there. 

She let out a hardy laugh and walked over to the cage. As she opened it he felt relieved. "Oh my god, GALE! How could you do this to me?" He meowed, trotting forwards her. "Guess you got a lot to say huh? Don't worry, I'll get you you're own cage if that's what you want." She held out her hands and he gladly jumped into them. This is the moment when he realized he was small, very small. He fit perfectly in her palms. "Alright, let's see... what cage do you like little guy?" She asked as she held him out in front of many cages. (Btw their not cages their like crates but comfier so ye.) 

They all looked very nice but Jackson ultimately ended up picking the one with the biggest bed. (Duh).

As Gale set him down, be bolted to the bed. Gale chuckled. "You remind me of my bud, Jackson," her face dimmed. "Oh, Jackson... I gotta call him, He seemed pretty bummed out after yesterday's loss."

That's when it all came back to him. 

He suddenly remembered what he had done.

Was he dead?!

He stood there in shock. Suddenly feeling as if the cage walls had closed in. This couldn't be happening. He wasn't dead right?

He was snapped from his thoughts when Gale's phone rang. It didn't stop until a voicemail. 

"Huh," Gale said, comfused. "He usually answers... I'll call him later and see how he's doing then."

He stood there, horrified. He had just became a cat because of his own pain. 

At about 7am the next morning, the door bell rang and someone stepped inside. "Hello, how can I help you today?" The cashier asked. Damn, Jackson didn't even hear them walk in. "I'm looking for a cat." The person said, their voice sounded familiar but Jackson couldn't put a finger on it. (Paw???) 

"Alright, any type of cat specifically? We have many kinds who need a home." The cashier stood up, pointing at the large cages. 

"None in particular, just some cat for company." The person said, walking forward. 

Tim.

It was Tim.

Jackson looked in shock, damn it.

He walked back slightly, not wanted to look at him.

Tim was so damn annoying, he would never shut up and always got people with that dumb smile. 

"Okay so these are our kittens and these are our elderly cats." The cashier said. Tim stayed silent and looked at the cats. As much as Jackson tried to hide, it was impossible when Tim saw tint black paws. 

"Who's that one?" He asked, walking torwards the cage. The cashier looked over. "Oh that's one we rescued last night." He got closer to the cage. "Here kitty kitty." The cashier said, moving his finger. Now Jackson knew how street cats felt when he tried to pet them.

"C'mon little guy." The cashier continued. Jackson hissed. 

The cashier sighed. "I'm sorry, he seems to be very anti social. Are there any other cats you'd like?" Tim shook his head. Jackson hissed as Tim kneeled down to the cage. 

"Pspspsps." Tim made the noise. Now Jackson was basically suffering as he Oh so desperately wanted to come to that noise. He tried to back up but his tail hit the back and he jumped forward. Tim held in a chuckle. 

"You remind me of someone I know." He commented, smiling. Jackson slowly walked forward, maybe he could use some attention.

Tim smiled and slowly reached his finger in the cage, allowing Jackson to sniff it and rub against it. 

"I hate you." Jackson meowed. Tim smiled.

"I'll have him please."

Tim opened the door to his house, at was a bit small but nicely kept. No mess or clutter. It had many warm colours and a lot of pictures on the wall. There was a carpet in front of a couch with a TV and a coffee table. The curtains were a rustic blue and the windows were shut. 

Tim set down the crate and slowly opened the door. "You can come out." He said. Jackson did not come out.

Tim sighed and put his face close to the door of the cage and gave the cat a look. Jackson only hissed and looked back. 

"Come on." Tim reaches his hand a bit closer. "I will bite you." Jackson hissed. Tim frowned and pulled away his hand. "I don't wanna hurt you, I just want some company." 

While Jackson hated him, seeing such a defeated frown on his face made him feel strange. As if he felt bad. 

"Fuck you. >:("

Jackson meowed as he slowly moved torwards the slightly outstretched hand. Tim's expression softened and a small smile appeared as Jackson rubbed against his hand. 

Maybe this wasnt so bad after all.