Ava wasn't prepared for visitors.
She never was, really but especially not on a Sunday morning when her apartment looked like a battlefield between laundry and empty coffee mugs.
She had just finished brushing her teeth when her phone buzzed.
Dad: "Good morning, sunshine! Guess who's in the city?"
Ava: "...You?"
Dad: "Correct! And guess who's downstairs with a bag of pastries?"
Ava: "Dad wait, now?!"
Dad: "You sound thrilled. Should I bring the pastries up or eat them myself?"
Ava's blood ran cold. "Give me ten minutes!"
She hung up and sprinted to the living room. Noir was sprawled upside down on the couch, paws in the air, tail flicking lazily.
"Noir, emergency!" she hissed.
He cracked one golden eye open. "Did civilization finally collapse?"
"Worse. My dad's here!"
He blinked. "Ah. The human who gave you life."
"Yes! And you cannot, under any circumstances, talk."
Noir stretched. "That depends on his conversational skills."
"I'm serious! You have to act like a normal cat."
"I am a normal cat."
"You're a talking, judgmental, existential nightmare!"
"Semantics," Noir said, grooming his paw.
Ava groaned, dragging a blanket from the couch and tossing it over him. "Hide. Please."
"Dramatic as always," he muttered, muffled under the blanket.
A knock sounded.
Ava swung the door open to see her father, Mr. Kim, beaming like sunshine in human form.
He was holding a paper bag that smelled of fresh croissants and trouble.
"Morning, kiddo!" he said, stepping inside before she could protest. "You look… half alive."
"Thanks, Dad. You always know how to flatter."
He laughed, setting the pastries on the counter. "Still the same sarcasm. You get that from your mother, you know."
Ava smiled softly. "Yeah."
He looked around the apartment with approval. "Nice place. Cozy. A little messy, but"
"I was going to clean!"
"it's got personality," he finished, grinning.
Ava sighed in relief. So far, so good. No suspicious cats.
Then he noticed the blanket on the couch. "What's that lump?"
"Nothing!" Ava said too quickly. "Just… a pillow. A big one."
Her father squinted. "Why is it purring?"
Ava froze. "...Because it's a massage pillow?"
He raised a brow. "Since when do pillows have tails?"
The blanket shifted. A paw emerged. Then a head.
Noir blinked up at him.
"...You got a cat?" her dad said in awe.
Ava exhaled in relief. "Yes! A cat. Totally normal cat."
Mr. Kim bent down, smiling. "Well, hello there, little guy!"
Noir stared back silently thank god then let out a single, perfectly innocent meow.
Her father's face melted. "He's adorable! What's his name?"
Ava hesitated. "Uh… N...Nick. His name's Nick."
Noir's tail flicked once, clearly offended.
"Nick the cat," her dad said proudly. "A fine gentleman!"
Ava forced a laugh. "Yep! Very gentle. And quiet."
"Good! Maybe you'll finally have company in this big city."
"Yeah," Ava muttered, side-eyeing Noir. "Company."
For a few blissful minutes, things went smoothly.
Her dad sipped coffee, telling bad jokes. Noir lounged gracefully, pretending to nap.
Then Mr. Kim said, "I'll heat up those pastries," and stood.
Ava froze. "No, I'll do it!"
He waved her off. "Relax, I know how to use a microwave."
He opened the cabinet
and three empty tuna cans tumbled out, clattering loudly onto the counter.
Her dad turned. "Tuna? You eat tuna now?"
Ava's face went red. "I....uh....Nick likes it!"
Mr. Kim squinted. "That's… a lot of tuna."
Noir yawned from the couch. "She hoards them like a dragon."
Ava nearly choked on air. "Mmph! MROW!" she blurted suddenly, trying to cover the sound. "Heh, see? He's, uh, talkative today!"
Her father blinked. "Did that cat just… sound like he said something?"
"Nope! Just funny coincidence! He meows weird!"
Noir tilted his head, clearly amused. "You're not very good at lying."
Ava dropped a spoon in panic to cover his voice. "Oops! So clumsy! Ha ha ha!"
Mr. Kim frowned. "...Are you feeling okay, sweetheart?"
"Peachy!"
"Maybe you should get more sleep."
"Working on it!"
They sat again, awkwardly. Noir's tail flicked like a metronome of doom.
Finally, her dad leaned closer, lowering his voice. "You know, I'm really proud of you, Ava. Living on your own, handling a job in the city. Your mom would've been proud too."
Ava's heart softened instantly. "Thanks, Dad."
He smiled. "But maybe next time, call before adopting a cat. I'd have helped you pick one that doesn't look like it's plotting my death."
Noir slowly blinked. "He's not wrong."
Ava kicked him gently under the blanket.
Mr. Kim narrowed his eyes. "Did you just?"
"Stretching!" Ava said quickly. "Yoga! Cat yoga."
Her father sighed, clearly confused but unwilling to question further.
When he finally left armed with leftover croissants and suspicions Ava collapsed onto the couch.
Noir watched her, tail curling smugly. "You lied admirably."
"You talked," she snapped. "Twice!"
"I said very little."
"You said too much! He almost heard you!"
"Almost isn't hearing," Noir said simply.
Ava groaned, grabbing a pillow and smacking him lightly with it. "You're impossible."
"I'm ancient," he corrected. "Different category."
"Ancient and annoying."
"Annoyingly charming."
"Keep talking and I'll rename you Nick permanently."
That got his attention. "You wouldn't dare."
Ava smirked. "Try me."
Noir narrowed his eyes. "You're cruel."
"You deserve it."
And just like that, the tension melted into laughter.
Later that evening, Ava found herself scrolling through her messages. Her dad had texted a photo of himself on the train, captioned:
Dad: "Tell Nick he's got a great poker face. See you soon!"
She smiled, setting her phone aside.
Noir was curled up near the window, tail tucked neatly around him.
"You know," she said softly, "you could've really scared him if you wanted."
"I don't scare kind men," Noir murmured, not opening his eyes. "Only the foolish ones."
She raised an eyebrow. "So… me?"
He smirked. "I said foolish, not reckless."
She laughed quietly. "Thanks… I think."
For a moment, they simply sat there two souls who shouldn't have belonged in the same world, sharing the same quiet night.
And even though Ava didn't understand the how or why of it all, she knew one thing for certain:
Life was a lot less lonely with a cursed, sarcastic cat around.
Ava should have known her father's "quick visit" was never just that.
The next morning, she was halfway through her cereal when her phone rang again.
Dad: "Morning, sweetheart! You busy?"
Ava: "...Define busy."
Dad: "Good! I'm stopping by again but this time, I'm not alone!"
Her spoon froze midair. "Wait, what?"
The line went silent for exactly two seconds the kind of silence that meant something terrible was coming.
Then his cheerful voice: "Your Aunt Clara's in town!"
Ava nearly dropped the phone. "Aunt Clara?!"
"The one and only. She insisted on seeing you. We'll be there in fifteen minutes!"
The line went dead.
Ava groaned and buried her face in her hands. "Of course."
From the couch, Noir lifted his head. "Another visitor?"
"Yes," Ava said miserably. "And not just any visitor. My aunt. She notices everything. She once figured out Mom's birthday surprise just by looking at the wrapping paper."
"Impressive."
"Horrifying."
Noir stretched lazily. "Then perhaps you should hide me."
"Oh, you think?" Ava said sarcastically, already scanning the room. "I can't go through yesterday again. She's going to interrogate you if she even senses you're smarter than average."
"Then I'll be the picture of stupidity," Noir said with mock dignity.
"You don't know how to pretend to be stupid."
"I've observed humans long enough," he said, his tail flicking. "I can manage."
Ten minutes later, the dreaded knock came.
Ava plastered on a smile and opened the door to find her father, as chipper as ever, and beside him the legend herself.
Aunt Clara was in her early fifties, sharp-eyed, perfectly styled, and armed with the kind of warm-but-terrifying smile that could make politicians confess.
"There's my favorite niece!" she declared, sweeping Ava into a hug that smelled like expensive perfume and subtle judgment.
"Hi, Aunt Clara," Ava said, muffled into her coat.
Clara pulled back, inspecting her. "You look tired. Working too much again?"
"Always," Ava said weakly.
Clara turned to her father. "I told you she overworks herself. She's exactly like her mother."
Mr. Kim sighed. "Here we go."
Clara ignored him and stepped inside, scanning the apartment like a detective entering a crime scene.
Ava could feel Noir's eyes watching from under the armchair.
Please, please stay quiet, she thought.
Clara sat down gracefully, setting her purse on the coffee table. "Nice place, Ava. Smaller than I imagined, but very… cozy."
Ava smiled nervously. "Thanks. I try to keep it tidy."
"Mm," Clara hummed, eyeing a stray sock near the corner. "Of course."
Ava quickly kicked it under the couch.
Her dad laughed, trying to lighten the mood. "I brought coffee and those muffins you like!"
"Ah, bribery," Clara said, amused. "Still your parenting strategy, I see."
"It works," he replied.
Ava sat across from them, trying to appear normal. The conversation flowed talk of family, work, the weather until Noir, who had been uncharacteristically silent, made a fatal mistake.
He sneezed.
A small, delicate achoo, but in the silence, it sounded like a gunshot.
Clara's sharp gaze snapped toward the sound. "Was that a cat?"
Ava froze. "Um....yes! My cat. Nick."
Clara's eyes narrowed. "You didn't tell me you had a cat."
"It was… recent," Ava said, forcing a smile.
"Let me see him."
"Oh, he's shy," Ava said quickly.
Clara arched an eyebrow. "Nonsense. Animals love me."
Noir, under the armchair, looked directly at Ava as if to say good luck with that.
Ava's heart raced. "Maybe next time"
But Clara was already leaning down, peeking under the chair.
"Oh, you're beautiful!" she cooed. "Such a shiny coat! And those eyes my, they're almost human."
Noir blinked slowly, completely still.
Ava held her breath.
Clara reached out a hand. "Come here, sweetheart."
Noir did the unthinkable.
He stood up, walked forward, and with all the grace of an ancient noble brushed against Clara's leg before settling on the rug.
"Well," Clara said, delighted. "He's quite the gentleman."
Ava exhaled in relief. Maybe they'd actually survive this.
Then Noir opened his mouth.
"Mrrrow… pleasure… to… meet… you," he drawled.
Ava nearly screamed.
Her father blinked. "Did he just?"
"Nope!" Ava said instantly. "Just… random noises! He, uh, mimics sounds sometimes!"
Clara tilted her head, suspicious. "That didn't sound random."
"He's a weird cat!" Ava insisted. "Right, Dad? Weird cat!"
Her dad nodded uncertainly. "Weird cat."
Clara studied Noir, who sat calmly, tail curled perfectly. "Hmm."
Finally, she smiled that terrifying, knowing smile. "You know, Ava, your mother used to say cats can sense souls. They're drawn to certain people for a reason."
Ava swallowed hard. "R-right."
Clara looked at Noir again. "He's watching you very closely. Like he understands everything you say."
Ava forced a laugh. "That's… cats for you."
"Maybe," Clara said softly. "Or maybe he's not the only one pretending."
Ava blinked. "What do you mean?"
Clara's smile returned, lighter this time. "You've always been different, Ava. You see things others miss. It's a gift your mother had it too."
The words hit deeper than Ava expected. "I don't think I have any gift, Aunt Clara."
Clara looked unconvinced. "You will. One day."
After they left, Ava slumped onto the couch like a deflated balloon.
Noir emerged, tail flicking. "She's sharp."
"Sharp? She's a bloodhound in heels," Ava groaned.
"She sensed something," he said thoughtfully.
"She senses everything! You could hide in another dimension and she'd still find you."
Noir smirked. "Charming woman. I like her."
"Of course you do. She nearly exposed you."
He stretched lazily. "You worry too much."
"Because you're supposed to be a secret, Noir!"
"Secrets make life interesting."
Ava grabbed a cushion and tossed it at him. "You're going to give me an ulcer."
"Then we'll share it," he said calmly, curling back up.
As evening fell, Ava found herself thinking about what Clara had said.
You see things others miss.
Her mother used to say similar things that Ava had a "quiet magic" in how she noticed people, how she felt things deeply.
But lately, that "magic" felt more like a curse.
She glanced at Noir, now asleep, his breathing steady.
Maybe Aunt Clara wasn't wrong. Maybe her mother had seen something long before Ava ever realized there was anything to see.
It was almost nine in the evening when Ava finally allowed herself to breathe again.
The apartment was quiet, save for the gentle hum of the refrigerator and the occasional rustle of Noir stretching lazily on the armchair.
"Well," Ava muttered, "we survived."
Noir yawned. "Barely. Your aunt has the observational power of a hawk."
"She's worse than a hawk. Hawks don't ask about your life choices while complimenting your hair."
"Ah," Noir said dryly. "The deadliest kind of interrogation."
Ava chuckled and leaned back, rubbing her temples. "I think I aged ten years today."
"You look the same," Noir said. "Tired, mildly anxious, charmingly chaotic."
"Wow. Thanks."
"I meant it as a compliment."
"Uh-huh. Sure."
Noir stretched again, curling into a perfect circle. "You should rest. Humans require at least six hours of"
A sudden knock on the door interrupted him.
Ava froze. "You have got to be kidding me."
Noir's ears twitched. "Expecting someone?"
"No," Ava hissed, tiptoeing toward the peephole.
Her stomach dropped.
Outside stood Aunt Clara again holding her purse and wearing an expression of mild panic.
Ava cracked the door open just enough. "Aunt Clara? Everything okay?"
"Oh, thank heavens," Clara said, exhaling. "I think I left my bracelet here earlier. It's the silver one with the blue stone."
"Oh! Uh, right, sure! Come in, I'll help you look."
Ava forced a smile, her mind screaming. Of all the things she could've forgotten…
Noir, of course, had other ideas.
As Clara stepped in, he hopped off the chair, tail high like a proud flag.
"Oh, hello again," Clara said kindly. "Still awake, I see."
"Meow," Noir said smoothly.
Ava smiled too wide. "Yup! Just a normal meow! Nothing weird!"
Clara crouched down, scanning the floor for her bracelet. "It must've rolled somewhere… maybe under the couch."
Ava joined her, trying to keep Noir out of view. "I'll check"
But Noir, perhaps feeling ignored, strolled right up to Clara and began rubbing against her arm.
Clara laughed. "Friendly little thing."
"Yes! Friendly! Quiet, friendly"
"and opinionated," Noir murmured.
Ava's soul left her body.
Clara blinked. "Did you did he just?"
Ava clapped loudly. "Haha! Did I what?!"
Clara frowned. "I could've sworn that cat just said something."
"Nope! Nope, totally didn't! Just… vocal mimicry! Very advanced breed."
Clara stared at Noir. He stared back, perfectly calm.
Then, just to ruin Ava's life completely, Noir said, "Bless you."
Clara gasped. "He...he spoke again!"
Ava's brain short-circuited. "You sneezed!" she lied desperately. "He mimicked it! Like parrots! You know parrots?"
"I didn't sneeze!" Clara said, eyes wide.
Ava laughed nervously. "Well, maybe you thought about sneezing!"
Clara turned slowly to Ava. "Sweetheart, are you feeling alright?"
"I'm fine! Totally fine! Great, actually!"
Noir was obviously enjoying this. His tail flicked rhythmically, a wicked gleam in his eyes.
Clara knelt closer, staring right at him. "Say something again."
"No!" Ava blurted. "Don't encourage him!"
"He definitely said words," Clara whispered.
Ava grabbed the nearest distraction a decorative pillow. "You're just tired! Long day, lots of caffeine! Classic auditory hallucination!"
Clara stood, visibly rattled but trying to regain composure. "Auditory hallucination, my foot. That cat spoke."
"Nope! Definitely didn't! He's just… very expressive with his meows!"
Noir meowed innocently.
"See?" Ava said, forcing a smile that looked painful.
Clara's eyes narrowed, but after a long pause, she sighed. "Maybe I do need sleep. I've had too much coffee today."
"Yes! That's it! Coffee hallucinations!" Ava said quickly. "Totally common!"
Clara smiled thinly. "You always were the rational one."
"Rational to a fault," Ava said weakly.
They eventually found the bracelet wedged between the couch cushions.
As Clara put it back on, she gave Ava a long, thoughtful look. "You know, I still think there's more to that cat than meets the eye."
Ava forced a laugh. "Yeah, he's, uh, full of surprises."
Clara's tone softened. "Be careful, Ava. Some surprises aren't meant for everyone."
Ava blinked. "What do you mean?"
Clara hesitated. "Your mother… she used to say the same thing, when we were kids. That the world hides more than it reveals."
Ava felt a familiar chill crawl up her spine. "Mom said that?"
Clara nodded slowly. "She had… dreams, too. Strange ones. Always about a man with golden eyes."
Ava's breath caught. "Golden… eyes?"
Clara smiled sadly. "I never understood it. But she always said those eyes were both a blessing and a curse."
For a moment, the room felt too still. Noir's tail froze mid-flick.
Clara looked between them Ava's pale face, the cat's unblinking gaze and smiled faintly.
"Well," she said, breaking the tension. "Maybe I'm just getting sentimental."
Ava tried to laugh. "Maybe."
Clara moved toward the door. "Take care of yourself, Ava. And of him, too."
The way she said him sent a shiver down Ava's spine.
When the door closed, Ava turned to Noir, who was still sitting there, tail curled neatly around his paws.
"What was that?" she whispered. "Did she does she know?"
Noir's voice was low. "Your aunt is many things. A fool is not one of them."
Ava sank onto the couch. "Great. So my entire family's going to think I'm living with a demon cat."
"Better a demon than a bore," Noir said lightly.
She glared. "Not helping."
He jumped up beside her, curling into a ball. "You should rest. Tomorrow will be heavier."
"Why?" she asked quietly.
"Because the past doesn't stay buried," Noir murmured. "Especially when the living start digging."
Ava frowned. "You mean Clara?"
He didn't answer.
Outside, thunder rumbled faintly soft, distant, but growing closer.
Ava stared out the window, watching the city lights shimmer against the coming storm.
"Golden eyes," she whispered to herself.
Behind her, Noir's tail twitched once. "Dreams don't lie, Ava," he said softly. "Not when they're memories."