Chapter Text
Carlos was almost as wet as TK was after the bath, though he wasn’t as disgruntled as the small kitten currently hiding in a fluffy towel in his lap. He’d borrowed one of TK’s hoodies since his own sweater had been soaked.
It’s a bit tight on you, TK remarked when he pushed his nose out of the nest he’d built in the towel.
Carlos smiled down at TK. “Are you complaining?”
Only about the fact that I can’t do anything about it. Carlos… what if… if…
“No. We’re not playing the what if game. You will change back and everything will be fine, TK,” Carlos assured him.
I’m scared. TK pulled his head back under a fold of the towel. And hungry.
On cue Owen walked up to them, holding out the bottle to Carlos. “There you go.”
Slowly, TK’s nose appeared again from the towel. When he caught sight of the bottle, he hurried out of his nest and pushed himself on his hind paws, stretching up as far as he could.
“Whoa, someone’s hungry,” Paul commented from the kitchen island. “And since the kitchen’s now clean again, how about I make some breakfast?”
A chorus of pleased approving noises followed Paul’s statement. Carlos picked up TK and cradled him into a comfortable position to suckle on the bottle. As soon as the nipple was within reach, TK snatched it and started drinking.
TK was half-asleep when Michelle came up to him and Carlos. An unknown woman stood next to her.
“TK, this is the curandera Marta I told you about. I left a voice message and she was nice enough to drop by,” Michelle said softly. She pointed at TK and added for Marta, “This is TK. He’d really like to be back in human form.”
The whole team clustered around TK and Carlos, an expectant tension surrounding all of them. Buttercup leaned against Carlos, seemingly intent on keeping an eye on the kitten.
“Does he now?” the curandera asked.
Owen crossed his arms above his chest. “Does he what?”
“Want to change back into his human form,” she answered.
Yes, I do! TK piped up. He rolled from his secure position in Carlos’ arms so he was sitting in Carlos’ lap and eyed the strange woman. Tell her!
“They don’t need to tell me, gatito. I can hear you just fine,” Marta said.
“You can hear him?” Carlos stared at the unknown woman, clearly unsure how trustworthy she was.
She sent him a soft smile. “Yes, I can. And no, you don’t need to worry about me. I’m not here to harm your… partner, I guess?”
Taken by surprise, Carlos stuttered, “Um, yes. Well, I think so. It’s new.”
We haven’t labeled it, TK chimed in. But yeah, he’s my boyfriend. You are, right?
A beatific smile spread out on Carlos’ face. “I am.”
“Good,” Marta said before she transferred her gaze from Carlos to Owen. “And you’re okay with the relationship?”
“Um, yeah, of course I am. Now that I know of it anyway.” Owen winked at TK. “Shouldn’t we talk about the elephant in the room? Like how does TK change back?”
And how did this happen to me in the first place? I’d like to avoid it ever happening again, TK said.
“Really, gatito? You don’t like being a kitten at all? Being taken care of by the people you love most? Feeling secure and protected?” Marta pulled a chair up next to Carlos and TK.
That’s a trick question, isn’t it? TK shifted his weight uncomfortably from one paw to the other. Can you help me or not?
“You can only help yourself. TK, right?” Marta kept gazing at TK, a soft smile lingering. “As to how this happened… I have a hunch. Michelle?”
“Yes?” Michelle answered. “Don’t tell me I’m the reason TK is a kitten.”
“I believe it is. When you took the bath, did you think about anyone else other than Iris?” Marta held out her hands for TK to take a sniff.
Owen shook his head. “Why would Michelle think about TK while she’s taking a bath? That’s what you’re implying, right?”
Marta nodded while she held out a furry key chain to TK. Instantly, the kitten attacked the toy and almost tumbled from Carlos’ lap.
“Careful, tiger,” Carlos admonished.
TK watched Marta swing the toy from one side to the other then batted at it with a joyful chirp. Carlos sighed as he kept TK steady, though he couldn’t help the upcurving of his lips.
“I… might have thought about different people. I mean it’s a bath, a time to let your mind drift off.” Michelle tugged at her collar before she went on. “And mainly I thought that TK should lighten up a bit and that I think it’s nice to see such a strong father-son relationship and how lucky he is to have Carlos at his side.”
“There you go.” Marta pointed at TK.
There you go? All it takes is for Michelle bathing and thinking about me, my dad, and Carlos? TK lunged at the toy and punched his teeth into it. Pulling, he groused, That’s such bullshit!
Marta pushed a finger against TK’s mouth. With a grumble, he let go of the toy. “No, that’s not all it takes. See it this way: Michelle taking the bath with that specific setting was the catalyst. She merely amplified what several people must believe.”
Wait, several people thought I should be a kitten?
“No, several people were of the opinion that you needed to let go of… stress perhaps?” Marta pulled lightly at one of TK’s ears. “And most importantly, you must be receptive to those thoughts. For you to change your whole body, you must be in dire need of letting go and accepting care and help from the people closest to you.”
I’m a competent adult. I’m totally capable of running my own life! I don’t need help!
Marta shook her head. “As long as you’re dishonest with yourself, you will be stuck in your current form. Only when you accept why the powers gave you this gift of introspection will you be able to change back into your human form.”
TK’s mouth stood open as he stared at that… curandera person. How dare she tell him that he needed to be coddled and… and… Huffing, he whirled around and wiggled into the pouch of Carlos’ hoodie.
Marta put the keychain into her purse and took out a business card. With a smile, she said, “I’ll take my leave. If any of you is in need of my help, don’t hesitate to call this number.”
“Wait, you’re leaving?” Owen watched the curandera walk toward the exit. “He’s still a kitten!”
“Yes, he is. And he will stay a kitten as long as he can’t be honest with himself. Have a good day.”
“Have a good day? Have a good day she says!” Owen turned back to his team, still gathered around Carlos and TK, all of them at a loss for words.