Author's Note: I finally figured out how to make this an AU without stealing an author's idea! And it's so twisted that it barely resembles their lovely idea. So, I hope you enjoy it, because I will enjoy writing it. Oh and that's the other thing, this will be written without a specific plot, so any suggestions are welcome, and tell me if I got something wrong or I need to add something more. I trust you, readers! R&R!

Interesting Thing, Curses

The Midnight Black Cat

I was just walking, simply making my small legs take me somewhere besides this dark alley, where I had changed into what I despise most about myself. But I dealt with it, strolling down the streets and wondering if anyone would actually notice something like me, especially in the dark.

I'm just glad that there aren't many cars or people out tonight. It would make for hustle and bustle and sometimes I get stepped on. Not that Mother would mind me dying… I yawned a bit, walking out from behind the club, only to see this strange man, or boy, looking down on me. He was just as confused as I was at finding each other, and he rose a brow in questioning, as if to ask why I was out here and not somewhere something like me should be.

But, I did get in trouble, and this is what I get as permanent punishment. Though I guess I deserve it, abandoning her like that. But I don't care anyways. I have more of a life now, and she can't control me anymore.

But when he scratched my ears lightly, and then picked me up, I felt the need to just slouch and accept someone's adoration for once. There was just something about this blond boy hugging me between his arms and his chest that made him… trustworthy…

"I don't care if she's a stripper, you don't sexually assault people like that!" I glanced at her slightly insulted but more grateful than anything expression she held and she suddenly stood up straighter with what seemed like confidence building as I looked back to the man towering over me.

"And who are you to say what I am to do, squirt?! You're not my father and you're certainly not hers! Besides, what if she wanted to scream like that?" and he gave her this cocky grin that I wanted to punch from his mouth, but her fist reared and I stared in shock as she did what I had desired herself.

I looked her up and down once more, taking in the at least five inch heels, the fishnets wrapped around her legs and the skimpy shorts covering her bum, but barely so. Then the cropped shirt that didn't hide the fact that her bra was at least one size too small. And I looked again, the cropped shirt being striped, and her long and pale blond hair draping over the small of her back, it was so long, but beautiful. And her face just set me off the most.

She was amazingly pretty, but I could tell that her makeup was fading and she was extremely tired, as well as done with people's shit. Her brown eyes seemed wild when the man had doubled over, gripping the side of the building and his bleeding mouth as she rose her clenched fist and he shivered as well as jolted back from the fear of being hurt by her again. But her knuckles were white from pressure, as her fist was clenched extremely tight and I could easily see the blood trickling from her first and second knuckles.

"Hey, why don't we leave this fuckhead, huh? You need to get cleaned up. Your hand," I took hold of it, glazing over her creamy tanned skin I now had a close up of, and the light from the street lamps a few yards away helped with illuminating it. I wondered how she got this tan, but it was probably from some kind of outside exercise to keep herself fit. Running, maybe?

She suddenly blushed at me, at my eye level when she stared, but I'm sure without the shoes, she'd be a lot shorter. "Yes. Thank you, and I'm sorry you had to see this. Man doesn't know when to fucking quit," she explained and I simply smiled sadly but reassuringly as I lead her back into the blaring music of the club we were behind. The Midnight Black Cat… so stupid yet explains a lot.

"I'm going to have to clean this, do you have anything to help cover it after I'm finished?" I asked and she nodded, her wavy haired bangs flopping over her burning cheeks as I noticed I was still holding her delicate but strong hand in my own.

I don't care about touchy feely things right now though, this woman needs to get this cleaned out before it gets dirt in it or something. Simple cuts like this can lead to a lot worse in a place like this, and I'm sure she has her 'job' to keep up with as well as this and some other obvious personal things. "We have some things behind the stage, bandages and such, just in case, you know?" and I nodded again, taking in her sad smile. It's always the pretty ones.

But we were through the doors and the music pulsed as I tried to listen for if she was to say something to me about something. But there was nothing to be said as I was lead by her backstage and the music wasn't so loud in my ears back here. Although, when we did get back there, I still had trouble hearing, as my ears were ringing but she seemed unaffected.

"Right," I cleared my throat, "first aid kit, I imagine?" as she was digging into some things under honestly skanky costumes. I've never understood the appeal of watching women in them, I always liked what was underneath a lot better than anything. Plus, I'm not really one to fuck and run. Though people expect me to be, since I am only seventeen, and apparently a 'horny idiot'.

I was brought back to reality when she pulled out two folded, but metal chairs and I sat as she did as well, and she pulled the metal box in her hands and now her lap open, revealing a lot of things for many injuries. But I pushed past all that and simply went to the Neosporin and Band Aids. I know it seems foolish for thinking I could protect her from that man, and that I'm wrapping up simple cuts, but I always feel the need to help if I can. And if I don't, I always feel guilty about it.

"By the way, I hope you know, I'm only letting you do this because you're utterly adorable," she said loud enough to be heard over the now subsiding ringing in my ears from the music, I really wasn't used to that. "They also probably wouldn't have let a- Wait, how old are you?" she asked, her neat and obviously plucked brows furrowed in question as she took in my features once more, in the proper lighting.

"I'm seventeen, just turned. But I felt the need to help, you were screaming, and I know what screams of pain or anger sound like. And I know it's foolish messing with big men and these simple cuts, but again, I always feel the need to help people," I admitted and she sighed, ruffling my hair. God, I hate when people do that, but I accepted with a sniff of slight irritation, and she giggled at that.

"Well, they definitely wouldn't have let a teenager in here without me. They're probably thinking the worst of it," she grimaced and pointed out as I nodded in complete understanding, going back to covering the cuts I had cleaned up a bit and put ointment on before while I was speaking. When I let go, her cuts all covered and her hand somewhat of use to her, she flexed her fingers, and thanked me. "Although, I could have done all of that by myself."

But she and I shrugged, "What's your name, kid?" she smiled and her cherry red lips reassured me that I was being questioned by an 'exotic dancer' after all.

"John, yours?" I asked, out of pure habit. Always kind to others, it seems. That's going to get me into trouble someday, I know it will.

She laughed a bit, I guess also contemplating on whether to give me her stage name or her real one. But when she said the name, "Avera," I knew it wasn't just a stage name. It sounded lovely, actually. And I told her so, which initiated more pink to flow to her powdered cheeks.

"Well, I should be getting home, I don't think Mum would appreciate it much if I was later than already am," I smiled, lying a bit, but needing to get out of here, and she just nodded, as if understanding. Actually, she probably did understand.

"Go home, and get some sleep, John." I nodded, patting her unabused hand, and she smiled back. Then I told her to take her own advice, as she looked very tired, mostly of the world's shit, but she still looked like she needed physical rest as well. "Okay, that's enough coddling, now get your ass home before I, or your mum beats it," she shooed and I grinned, but not wanting to go back into the ear splitting music.

"Go on, then," she waved her hand again and I frowned, going back through the music, the people and wondering how the fuck in hell one gets used to that shit. But while I was outside, I saw this interesting shadow and it caught my attention quickly as a small creature emerged, as black as it was dark.

I smiled, and it wandered over to me, although I don't think the cat was paying much attention to me until he almost hit his head on my leg. "Why hello there, little one," I reached down to scratch his surprisingly soft ears and he purred slightly before taking a step back, and looking up to me. His tail twitched up behind himself, as if he was thinking about whether to run off or stick around to see what would happen.

I didn't give him a choice in that, as he wasn't wearing a collar, was covered in adorable midnight black fur, and I haven't seen any posters for a cat that looked anything like this. So I picked him up, slightly squishing him while I snuggled into his soft fur. He meowed and yawned, settling in my arms as I stroked him and walked in the direction of the place I call home.

He actually did fall asleep when I reached my doorstep, but he woke again once I shifted to holding him with one arm and dug the keys Mum had given me to get in. I knew she would have locked the door, thinking I would be out all night, again. But not this time. I was on my way to a party that was going to be a sleepover in turn, but not now.

I don't think I could take that anymore. Alcohol makes me sick, the music would make it worse, and the girls… Jesus they acted like high class whores, running around in the shit they considered clothing. But as I slid the key in and the lock was pushed open, I heard shuffling on the carpet on the other side. Mum…

I opened the door and it swung open, and yup, "Mum," I greeted and the cat huffed, as if annoyed. Intriguing… but Mum heard this and stopped mid happy hug, and stared at the black ball of fluff in my arm.

"Where did you find him?" she asked, not even asking if I was going to not keep him. She knew my thing with animals, and she knew she had officially earned a new house cat.

"Outside a club on my walk home, I'll tell you about it in the morning. Mum, I'm…" and it was cut off by an example yawn of how, "… tired," I was. I had finished complaining, and she smiled, prying the cat from my fingers. He mewled in protest, by that was cut off by her shushing him with one long 'Ssssshhhhhh,' and a finger to his wet and pink nose, and I smiled. I didn't get it from just anywhere.

"Go to bed, dear, you have a test the day after tomorrow," she reminded me, much to my displeasure. I don't understand why she even let me go out in the first place if that was the known case, but it was my mother, and she was sometimes confusing.

"Yes, Mum, but can I feed him first?" I asked, not having a name for him made up yet.

She nodded, "Hurry it up, dear, I'm going to bed," she informed me, closing the front door before leaving upstairs and I smiled at the cat circling my feet at the mentioning of food. So he hadn't had some in a while. I think I still have that unopened can of cat food somewhere…

Ah, in the kitchen, under the sink, where we used to keep them, as we had a cat, but she got curious and wandered off. But the strangest thing, once I pulled it out, he slightly nibbled at my fingers, shaking his small head. "What?" and he shook his head even more, sitting defiantly on the tile of the kitchen floor, and sticking his nose up at the can in my fingers. And I realized what he was doing, but it was strange for a cat to act such a way.

"What, do you want something else?" I asked, truly curious. He eyed me, and also, strangely, I noticed his eyes were blue instead of green or yellow. Usually a cat has one of the two, but his were bright blue, and looking up at me expectantly.

I sighed, dumping the can in the garbage, "Fine, you little brat," as I decided it was plainly no longer needed. I opened the fridge, and pulled out some pasta and meat from earlier's dinner. It was small, but it would fill him for the night. It was still cold when I shoveled some into a bowl, and he refused to eat it! "What you want it warmed, too?!" I'm arguing with a cat… this is weird as fuck.

But he nodded dramatically and once, seeming to understand what I was suggesting, and my eyes almost popped out of my head. I was so shocked that he actually understood me that I simply warmed it up and set it to the floor, and he finally ate something. I also put down cold water, and he happily lapped that up as well.

But was the most weird of all was the next morning afterwards…

I woke, and stretched, only to happily curl up again in these soft sheets, I love them, and was this…? "Ah!" and I flew from the bed, naked as the day I was born, and this boy was sleeping the bed next to where I had been laying. I went through my memories from last night, and calmed, knowing I was safe, but how will he take that I'm not human?

Oh God, oh God, oh God, okay, okay, think! Shit! He's waking up, oh fuck. He mumbled something I didn't quite catch as I stood up and looked around the room I had wandered into last night, looking for a sleeping buddy. I dashed to his closet and quickly came up with PJ pants. I slipped them on over my hips and sighed at the fact that they looked a little big for him so they fit perfectly on me.

He glanced at me, then the sheets where the cat had been, then me. And slowly but surely, he woke up, finding this boy, me, in his bedroom and not, "The cat! Where's-? And who the hell are you?!" he shouted, surely waking his mother.

Oh God, "Stop shouting, it hurts!" …

Just to clear up what could be a misunderstanding, a line means I'm switching perspectives, and the little bubbles mean time has passed. Okay? Okay, I hope you liked it, and I hope you read more later! :-)