Neko!2P!Canada X Reader: Flawed Final

       Flicking my tail, I stare up at the calendar. Has it really been one week already? It feels more like a month to me.
       My nose twitches as something warm and salty teases my senses. Glancing over my shoulder, I stare with perked interest at the steaming fish sitting upon a plate.
       Licking my lips hungrily, I trot over into the kitchen.
       _______ grabs some spices from a cupboard and walks over to season the fish.
       The scent becomes even more glorious and I can feel my ears heat up, when my stomach growls loudly.
       “Hungry? Good because I’ve whipped up quite the treat for you.” My eyes widen as she sets the plate down on the floor by my paws.
       My violet eyes stare into hers as I tilt my head to the side as if asking, ”for me? Really?”
       “Go ahead, eat up! It won’t stay warm forever!” points out ______, her eyes bright with anticipation.
       Flicking my tail as a minor gesture of thanks, I set to work consuming the tasty morsel. Flavors collide in a tangy eruption in my mouth after the first bite. Is that a hint of lemon? The pepper and parsley adds a nice touch. Without realizing it, I’ve eaten the entire fish, so I sit back with a pleasantly full belly. I lick my lips as my tail waves back and forth in merriment.
       “Did my little lion enjoy his meal?” asks _______ as she crouches down to my level, peering at me curiously.
       I meow in answer and start licking the plate clean.
       She laughs at me, but I don’t mind. It means she’s happy and I’m happy because of it. Whenever I ponder it, I’m not sure why she affects me in such a way. Maybe it’s because she’s the first person to ever show me the kind side of humanity. Maybe it’s because she’s different. Maybe it’s because I…I like her.
       I shake my head and repeat my mantra: ”She’s a human and I’m a cat.”
       But did it have to be that way? The world of cats isn’t one without faults and I sure am tired of belonging to it. Perhaps I could join ______ in the world of humans…
       I growl as I glare at nothing in particular, for ______ has walked off somewhere. Now I’m thinking nonsense: a cat can’t turn into a human; it’s just not possible. Besides, ______ only likes the fluffy, kitty me, not some male human with hair. Still, I can’t help but wonder…
       “Hey, fluff-butt! Come join me! Our favorite show is oooon~” calls _____ from the couch.
       Grumbling about the name she just called me, I pad over and leap onto the couch. I curl up in her lap as a cheesy, romantic show swings into life on the TV. I swivel my head to look back at her, shooting her an annoyed look.
       “Oh, don’t give me that look! You like this show too,” she protests.
       I growl: ”I’m not into cheesy chick shows!”
       Ignoring me, she has her attention drawn to the screen. Sighing, I decide to follow her lead and watch the stupid show.
       Some girl lives on a farm. The girl meets a wealthy city boy. Girl falls in love with city boy. City boy dates girl. City boy dumps farm girl for hot, successful city girl. Farm girl is heartbroken and cries. Homeless city boy asks farm girl if she’s alright. New city boy helps comfort the girl. The girl and homeless boy fall in love. They get married and move back to the farm. The end.
       Wetness coats my fur and I twitch my ears in irritation. Hearing a sniffle, I look up at ______ to see she’s crying. She cries like this every time we watch this show, but I can never get used to seeing her cheeks stained with tears.
       Letting out a mew of concern, I stand up and rub against her. I slid my tail along the underside of her chin and she giggles. Reaching up, I lick her cheek and she smiles. I paw her shoulder and her eyes dance merrily.
       Extending her arms, she pulls me into a tight hug.
       “Thank you.” Her voice comes out barely above a whisper.
       She doesn’t have to say anything more for me to sense the full weight behind those words. I know she is thanking me for more than the lick to the cheek.
       Briefly, I wonder why she watches sad, romance programs if they upset her.
       As if she read my mind she explains, “I like watching those girls find their match. It helps me believe I still have a chance. That these…flaws…I carry don’t have to hold me back. That money, society, or status doesn’t have to define you.”
       I meow in agreement. I’m not perfect, but I feel I don’t have to be because ______ cares for me all the same. Yet, she still seems lonely. I try to combat this loneliness by letting her pet me, behaving in the bath, and even rolling over once to expose my silky-smooth belly. Despite my efforts, the lonely glint in those (e/c) eyes doesn’t fade.
       Is she that desperate for love? Is mine not sufficient?
       I blink slowly. I rewind my thoughts. Did I just confess to myself that I love ______? Something must be wrong with me.
       She’s a human and I’m a cat.
       Yet…can I change that?
       Pulling me into her chest, my thoughts dissipate as I nearly suffocate with how tight she’s holding me. Flailing paws and a tail whipping from side-to-side alerts ______ to this revelation.
       “Oops! Sorry,” apologizes ______ sheepishly as she loosens her grip and I gasp.
       I pull my lips back in a snarl and glare at her: ”Are you trying to kill me?!”
       “I said I was sorry! You don’t have to be a sourpuss!” she protests defensively.
       Lips receding, my snarl switches to a scowl. I snort and turn my muzzle away….only to have her lips press against my cheek.
       My ears heat up as she kisses me gently on the tip of my nose.
       “Forgive me now?” she questions with a hopeful smile.
       I dip my head in embarrassment and I give a small nod. Living with ______ must have made me soft; her affection pleases me too much. And makes my heart skip a beat.

       Waiting at the door, I’m there to greet ______, when she arrives home from work the following day. Instantly, I know something is wrong because her eyes are red and puffy as she slowly enters the apartment.
       Walking over to the couch, she sighs heavily and she sits down.
       Quickly, I trot over and sit at her feet.
       “Fired….again. Why does this keep happening to me? What am I doing wrong?” wonders _____ out loud as she leans back into the couch.
       Reassuring her with a mew that there’s nothing, she gives me a weak smile.
       “I appreciate the optimism but this is the fourth time this month I’ve been fired. If I can’t hold down a job, we’ll both be back out on the streets,” she points out in despair.
       Groaning, she plops down on her side.
       Her flowing (h/c) locks hide her face and her long, slender fingers curl tightly into her palms.
       “I wish I was different,” she begins.
       ”But you are different,” I think.
       “I wish someone cared.”
       ”I care.”
       “I want my imperfections to just disappear.”
       ”So do I, but I can’t change who I am.”
       ______ blinks carefully as if she’s holding back tears and an uncontrollable flood of emotions.
       “I just want someone to tell me I’m doing something right…”
       Rolling to face away from me, she can’t seem to bring herself to meet my gaze.
       Her quiet words pierce my heart like a dagger. Sympathy turns to frustration as I wonder why she keeps doing this to herself. Why does she keep putting herself down? Doesn’t she see how beautiful she really is?!
       Growling, I scold myself for not trying harder to make ______ realize this. I curse the stupidity of her former bosses. I despise the cheesy romance show for making her cry. I nearly yowl at the unfairness of it all!
       I couldn’t take it anymore! My emotions bubble up as my thoughts fume. Finally, I erupt.
       “WHY CAN’T YOU SEE I LOVE YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE?!!”
       _______’s head whips around and her luminescent, (e/c) eyes widen. She sits up and her jaw hangs loose on its hinges. Her gaze is focused on me with an uncomfortable intensity and I shift nervously.
       “Why the h*** are you staring at me like that?” I demand, confused.
       “B-because you can talk….and you’ve grown…and uh, lost fur,” she answers, still strangely dazed by my form.
       Thinking the stress has corrupted her mind, I look down to examine myself.
       “What the h***?!” I yelp as I flop backwards.
       Muscles that once rippled beneath my long fur are now exposed across my pink, naked form. My front toes have elongated into thick, flexible fingers. I’m virtually hairless except for my head, which sprouts lightly, wavy hair of a golden hue. My curl bobs high upon my head as my violet eyes stretch wide.
       “I’m…I’m human!” I gasp in disbelief.
       Looking up, I notice _____ is looking away with a rosy-pink blush dusting her cheeks. Realizing it’s not okay to be naked in human form, I scan the room for something to cover myself with. Snatching up a blanket, I wrap it around my waist to hide my vital regions. My movements are awkward and shaky, for I’m not used to this body.
       Noticing she’s still not looking at me, I crawl over and onto the couch. With a tentative hand, I cup her chin and guide her to look at me. Our eyes connect and I can see all the emotions swirling in those twin pools of (e/c): shock, confusion, joy, uncertainty. A single tear escapes her eye and instinctively I move to lick it away. Both our faces blush deeply as I remember I’m no longer a cat.
       I look away for a moment before meeting her gaze again.
       “I don’t want to see you cry anymore; it hurts me. I’m tired of watching you drown yourself in self-pity. I hate seeing you put yourself down,” I admit softly.
       Her gaze doesn’t leave mine; it’s like she’s hypnotized. I can’t help but find her eyes mesmerizing too.
       “I…I love you. Not because you’re the best of the best. Not because you’re the prettiest,” I continue.
       Her lower lip quivers and she takes a deep breath. Rising emotions are threatening to overwhelm her, I can tell.
       “I love you because…”
       _______ holds her breath.
       “…you’re perfect because you’re flawed.”
       Tears fall down her face, yet her lips are curved upwards into a beaming grin. ______ makes a sound somewhere between a sob and a laugh.
       “I should have said it sooner, but I love you too,” she sniffles, her tone light.
       Wrapping her arms around me, she pulls me into her embrace. Mimicking her actions, I hug her close to my bare chest. We hold each other like that for a long time.
       By accepting her flaws, I find I’ve accepted my own.
       I realize that _______ has accepted me for who I am from the start….and I love her more for that.
       She certainly is different from the rest.

       ”You’re perfect because you’re flawed…and I couldn’t love you more.”