Chapter Text
Izuku had witnessed some truly bizarre things in his twenty-four years, but this? This was beyond abnormal. His boss had asked if he could cover the graveyard shift on his day off, and Izuku, the quintessential people-pleaser he was, had, of course, said yes.
Now, stepping into the staff break room, he wasn't so sure that had been the right answer. Because there, perched calmly on the worn laminate table, sat a sleek white and black Tonkinese cat. Its eyes, a chilling, molten scarlet, were fixed on him. Coiled elegantly at its feet, mirroring its unnerving gaze, lay a black sable-shaded python, its scales gleaming under the harsh fluorescent lights.
Both creatures fixed their crimson eyes on Izuku, an unblinking, soulful stare that somehow lacked menace. Despite the bizarre, almost supernatural sight, a strange calmness settled over him. There was no racing heart, no urge to bolt, just an odd, almost serene acceptance, as if a two-toned cat and a sabled python with glowing red eyes were perfectly normal breakroom décor.
✰Two Hours and Fifteen Minutes Before... (8:45 PM)
The blaring shriek of his alarm ripped Izuku from sleep. That, and the cold, unyielding press of moonlight spilling through his window. He groaned, mushing his face deeper into the pillow, a pathetic attempt to burrow back into unconsciousness. God, he didn't want to get up. Not for this damn graveyard shift. But money was money, and overtime was overtime.
He was tired, drained down to his very bones, but a promise echoed in his mind: 'I’ve made it this far; can't give up now.' With a heavy sigh, he peeled himself from the mattress, turning to face the insulting blue glow of the numbers on his alarm clock: 8:45 PM.
Izuku stretched until a satisfying pop echoed from his lower back. His 'T-SHIRT' kanji tee slipped precariously off his left freckled shoulder, basketball shorts now resembling glorified briefs. He didn't care. Not really. "Ah, shit… where are they?" He blindly fumbled on his bedside table, fingers searching until they closed around the familiar frame of his thick-rimmed black glasses.
He settled them on his button nose, a small, proud smile touching his lips in the dark room. It had taken months to save for them, and even longer to secure an eye doctor's appointment. He’d taken immense pride in not breaking them yet. Grabbing his uniform from the doorknob, he padded into the bathroom, setting the clothes on the sink before twisting the hot water tap.
He was grateful for this apartment, secured with what little money he'd saved from multiple teen jobs. The elderly couple who owned the complex, Chiyo and her gruff-but-kind husband Torino, were good landlords. Izuku shook his head, amused by his own ability to get lost in thought.
✰
The night sky was a vast canvas, spattered with countless stars, and Izuku took his time walking to work, soaking it in. The moment shattered when a strong gust of wind tousled his already unruly hair and ruffled his uniform jacket. "Christ, that came out of nowhere."
It was early July, a particularly warm night, so the sudden chill was surprising. Izuku paid it no mind and continued his walk. But the closer he got to the store, the more he couldn't shake the prickling sensation of being watched. He didn't notice the lone figure melting deeper into the shadows behind him.
✰Present Time... (11:00 PM)
Izuku slowly moved further into the break room, his brown satchel thudding softly onto the table. "Hey, guys..." People often called him reckless, a little stupid even, and Izuku was beginning to agree. Why, in God's name, was he doing this?
He tentatively approached the two creatures—animals? (He truly didn't know!)—who simply blinked their red eyes at him."Meow!" The sharp sound froze him mid-step. 'Okay, maybe I should just stay right here.' The python began to slither. Towards him.
‘Oh my god, don't move! Don't move!’ Izuku's arms plastered to his sides, his body rigid. He squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for... what? A bite? A squeeze?
Instead, a cool, scaly sensation moved up his right leg, circling his waist, his chest, until a surprising weight settled on his shoulders. Then, a gentle boop on his cheek.
"Wha—" The python's tongue flicked out, a soft, dry tap against his skin.
"Huh?" Izuku slowly relaxed, a tiny breath escaping him. "You're kinda chill." The python then nuzzled its scaled head into his cheek, and a small giggle bubbled up from Izuku's chest. "And cute!"
"Meow!"
The cat wound between Izuku's legs, brushing against him before settling gracefully by his feet. "Aww, no way! You guys are so cute!" He hummed, then mumbled, almost to himself, "But where'd you guys even come from?" His thoughts were cut short by the cheerful ping of the store's entrance bell.
"Welp, to work I go." Completely forgetting the substantial python draped over his shoulders and the cat trotting diligently at his heels, Izuku made his way to the front counter. When Izuku reached the front, no one was to be seen in the small convenience store. With a sigh, he leaned against the counter as the cat, with surprising agility, jumped onto the surface beside him. "Hmm, do you guys have names?" Izuku reached out to stroke under the cat's chin.
"Hello." A deep voice, raspy and dry like old parchment, startled Izuku.
He looked up to see a man with livid, gray-light blue hair, skin that looked dry and pale, and eyes of deep, unsettling blood red. Izuku gulped. He hadn't even heard the man approach. "H-hello sir! Good evening, how are you tonight?"
The man's gaze lingered on Izuku for an excruciating amount of time before his icy, blood-red eyes slid to the python draped over Izuku's shoulders and the cat curled on the far right of the counter, now glaring intently at the newcomer.
If Izuku hadn't been paying such close attention, he would have missed the subtle malice that flared in the man's eyes, the faint flare of his nostrils.
With a single blink, it all faded. Izuku, however, was now thoroughly on edge. The man cleared his throat. "Your pets? They seem very... unique." Izuku panicked a little. No, they were not his, and yes, they were definitely unique. "U-uh, yeah," Izuku stammered, forcing a nervous chuckle. "My boss actually... he let me bring them in. My sitter kind of bailed on me last minute." The man nodded, his gloved hand placing a bottle of cheap wine and a lighter on the counter.
"Cute. They have names? Could I get a pack of Mild Seven?" Izuku nodded quickly, turning to grab the box. ‘Shit.’ The cat kind of looks like a cute, burnt marshmallow, and the snake looks like he could rule a kingdom, so…As best as he could, he plastered a bright smile on his face. "Marsh and Majesty." He pointed to the cat, then the snake.
"Mm, right."
Izuku nervously fidgeted with the hem of his uniform jacket as the man began to stare again. Then, the man chuckled, a low, unnerving sound, before a gloved hand cupped Izuku's chin, gently lifting his head to meet the man's gaze. The sn—Majesty let out a low, guttural hiss. Marsh groaned, a low, dangerous rumble, dropping into a defensive crouch.
"No need to be nervous, doll." The man smirked, his thumb tracing a light path across Izuku's freckled cheek. Marsh hissed, loud and sharp. The man then let go. "See you around, doll..." he purred, the word lingering in the air before he turned and walked out the door. Izuku let out a shaky breath, dropping his head, finally able to breathe normally.
"Damn, he didn't even pay..." When he looked up, Majesty was in his face. "What, cutie? Oh, uh..." Majesty started rubbing his head on the same spot the man had touched Izuku's chin. "What the... hey! That tickles—!" Izuku giggled until the python stopped, slithering the upper half of his body into Izuku's fluffy, curly shoulder-length green hair.
Majesty's lower body stayed draped on his left shoulder. Marsh settled back into her spot, eyes still watching the door. Izuku lifted his glasses, propping them up on his head, and rubbed his hands down his face. "This is going to be a long night."
✰
Nothing else eventful happened that night, no more weird customers. "Come on, Marsh, you can't stay in the store." Marsh stretched luxuriously, then padded out the door as Izuku held it open.Majesty had not moved from his place; half in Izuku's hair, half on his left shoulder. Locking the store door, Izuku began walking back to his apartment, half surprised the animals were still with him.
At this point, he just accepted it. He'd somehow adopted two incredibly unique-looking animals. "Alright, guys, here's the thing: just don't mess up my apartment. I'll go out and get you guys some food and things tomorrow? Today? Doesn't matter! I'll get what you guys need."
Izuku continued to ramble to the animals, and they seemed to be genuinely listening, perhaps even understanding what he was saying. By the time Izuku was done with his mumbling, they'd made it to his apartment. Once he'd opened the door, Marsh walked in as if she owned the place. Izuku shook his head in amusement before closing and locking the door.
"Alright, buddy, as warm as you are, you're pretty damn heavy." Majesty made a noise that sounded distinctly like offense. Izuku carefully lifted him off, setting him gently on the couch. "Okay, I'm going to bed. You two can explore. BUT again, don't make a mess. Goodnight, cuties!"
Izuku made his way to his bedroom, too tired to really do anything else. He stripped out of his uniform, now only in his boxers, took off his glasses, grabbed the t-shirt he wore the night before, and plopped face-first onto his bed. His eyes grew heavy as he stared at the soft pink and orange hues of the coming dawn. Soon, the sweet relief of sleep fell over him like a comforting blanket.