Cat hybrid Steve who was returned to the shelter multiple times because he was too high-maintained.
Since he was a rare breed that would get sick easily when upset, most owners deemed him a burden and returned him after just a few days because they didn’t want to get fined for hybrid neglect by PETH—People for the Ethical Treatment of Hybrids.
Their reason was that they couldn’t afford his expensive diet in the long run or play with him all the time.
What they wouldn’t admit was that Steve didn’t need all those pricey food, toys, or clothes. He just simply asked for their affection, which they were always so stingy with.
On the other hand, they kept demanding things from him, rewarding him when he managed to please them and dropping him at the drop of a hat when he failed or refused to satisfy them.
Gradually, he grew bitter about it. He became moody and withdrawn. Every time there were new customers visiting, he would hide in his room and wouldn’t come out until they left.
Thankfully, Joyce and Hopper didn’t seem to be upset with him for it. They just let him be and treated him like any other hybrids at their shelter.
Meanwhile, their kids—Will, Jonathan, and El—kept hanging out with him and treating him like their equal.
Perhaps, that was a major part of why he agreed to meet Eddie Munson at their insistence.
For all he knew, the man was insanely wealthy and famous for being a rockstar. Could provide him with a comfortable life and attention that he had been craving for.
Steve was suspicious but he still gave Eddie a chance, trusting El’s judgment when she said the man was a genuinely good person.
Then, the first thing Eddie had said to him was, “Pretty one, may I take care of you?”
And Steve was sold.
It wasn’t wise to risk his battered heart again when he had ended up abandoned countless times.
But strangely enough, Eddie’s dimpled smiles and kindness made him want to try, to hope, to be brave once more.
So he had stayed, let Eddie get closer to him as days went by. He tried to be cautious, but Eddie was charming and funny and affectionate.
The man lavished him with gifts, cuddles, and kisses all the time. Giving him things he wanted and was afraid to ask for. Allowing him to sleep on the same bed and never pushing him to do anything he didn’t like.
Spoiling him without limitation, to the point that Steve started blushing and feeling warm in his tummy every time the man touched him.
He didn’t think it would be a problem until he was gathered into Eddie’s lap one day and mewled when the man stroked his back.
“Someone’s feeling happy today, hm?” Eddie smiled softly at him, making his heart flutter and his breath hitch.
Steve nodded shyly, his ears flat on his head in embarrassment while the end of his tail curled itself around Eddie’d wrist like usual.
Maybe that was it.
He was just getting too excited with Eddie being home and nothing else.
But then, he outright moaned and arched his back when Eddie’s hand began moving again.
“Sorry,” Steve bit his lip and intended to stand up, not wanting Eddie to think he was weird.
Except the hand on his waist just tightened further and prevented him from leaving.
“I know it’s not your fault, kitten,” Eddie combed through his hair soothingly. “If you want, I can find a partner for you.”
Steve frowned in confusion before meeting Eddie’s eyes, dark and unreadable for the first time since they met each other.
“… Partner?”
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Eddie reassured him with a smile that seemed too forced to be genuine. “You can use the right wing of the house during your heat and I’ll only be a floor away. Your partner will also be hand-picked by me and your doctor so there won’t be any scum– sorry, any troubles that can slip through the crack and cause you harm.”
Steve felt light-headed at the mention of heat. He couldn't believe it would arrive after having been absent for so long.
Why now? Why did it choose to show up now when things were going so well for him? And what did Eddie mean by hand-picking a partner for him?
The mere thought of letting someone who wasn’t Eddie touch him that way was enough to make Steve’s hackles rise.
Then again, he wasn’t human and he knew Eddie wouldn't want him like that despite how affectionate the man was to him.
“What's wrong, baby?” Eddie cradled the side of his face gently when he let out a whine.
“I–” Steve squeezed his eyes shut, feeling his lips start wobbling at the thought of Eddie rejecting him.
It was his fault for forgetting his place and catching feelings for the one man who was out of his reach.
Of course, there was no law against hybrid and human relationships, but they were still frowned upon and their offspring would be listed as hybrids for the rest of their life once they were born.
A disadvantage that most humans would want to avoid. Usually, they used hybrids for their own needs—sex, entertainment, companionship. And rarely would they consider treating their hybrids as the object of their love and bailing their children out of their doomed fate with money.
A lot of money.
Perhaps, Eddie would grant Steve’s wish since the man could afford it. But his hope had been quashed the moment Eddie talked about finding a partner for him.
If that wasn’t a sign for Steve to give up, then he didn’t know what it was.
“It’s nothing,” he smiled and pushed down the urge to cry, he could do that later once Eddie left for work. “Sorry for worrying you, Master. It’s probably an effect of my heat.”
“You sure you don’t have anything to tell me?” Eddie looked into his eyes, searching for something he didn’t know.
Steve took in a deep breath and nodded with as much strength as he could muster up even when it hurt.
“I’m sure.”
Eddie didn’t say anything, the man just grabbed his chin and captured him in a fervent kiss, causing him to gush more slick between his legs.
It wasn’t until he ruined his shorts with how soaked he was did Eddie release him.
“You’re mine, kitten,” Eddie nipped the tip of his ear while cupping him through the damp cotton. “No one’s allowed to touch you like this but me.”
“Only yours, Master,” Steve babbled and undulated his hip to seek more friction from Eddie’s big hand, mewling when Eddie caught his tail and tugged it teasingly. “Only yours.”
“Good boy,” Eddie chuckled before kissing him again and again and again.
In the end, Steve was kept in bed for a whole week even though his heat only lasted three days.
Turned out, Eddie had been the trigger of his heat according to Claudia, much to his embarrassment and Eddie’s amusement.
It wasn’t a surprise when nine months later, Steve gave birth to their twins—Maxine Munson and Joey Munson.
And of course, Eddie had paid a hefty price for their children to not get registered as hybrids.
Not only that, they also ran a lifelong campaign to advocate for hybrids’ rights and betterment, helping them escape from their fate.
It wasn’t always sunshine and rainbow, but with his husband and children by his side, Steve had grown into his own self and achieved as many of his goals as he could until the last day of his life.
And he knew one day, many people like him and Eddie would follow in their footsteps so they could live a life full of love without regrets.
And so he hoped.
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Steves mom gets a cat. He's a chubby boy who hates being picked up, hates getting too much attention and doesn't like playing. He likes to do his own thing and sometimes sit next to someone so they can pet him for maybe ten minutes. Steves mom thinks hes perfect.
But then they leave, just two weeks after getting the cat, leaving Steve to take care of him. Steve is so sure it's going to be miserable. He doesn't need something else to ignore him at home. He'd rather be alone than feel the sting of rejection.
But the cat loves him. Steve starts calling him Baby so much that it sticks- Steve even forgets what his actual name is and Baby won't respond to anything else. He won't respond to anyone else. He's obsessed with Steve.
He always yowls at the doors when Steve tries to close them, scratching at them. He sits and meows when Steve has things on his laps, not shutting up until Steve makes space for him to curl up on him. He's always in Steves room, sleeping on his bed or the pile of old clothes so he's surrounded by Steves scent.
He even lets Steve pick him up. Not for long but, whenever he does, Baby uses the excuse to nuzzle his neck, rub his cheek on Steves, lick behind his ears. He's always purring when Steve is touching him.
One time, when Eddie had been getting a little rough with Steve, Baby had attacked him. Scratching and biting until he bled quite a lot, hissing whenever he tried to go near Steve the rest of the night. He wouldn't even let Eddie give Steve a goodbye kiss.
The dynamic is very clear after that; Steve is Babys human, and as long as that cat is around, no one is allowed to hurt him.
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