Sophie couldn't utter a word, but her big, round peepers said it all. Her fluffy lil' head was nuzzlin' up against Leon's palm real affectionate - like.
Leon's lips curled up into a smile, and he reached out to scoop her up, sayin' in a soft voice, "Then come on home with me, little fella."
Sophie wriggled deeper into his arms, lookin' all laid - back and well - behaved.
Benny, standin' off to the side, furrowed his brows, lookin' all worried. "Yo, is this a stray cat?"
Leon replied, "Seems like it."
"We gotta take it to the pet hospital for a check - up and some shots. You just gonna bring the cat home like this?" Benny's worries were totally legit.
Leon thought for a sec and said, "Tomorrow. It's way too late today." He cut Benny off right there.
Benny's brows knitted tight, and he kept quiet for a long time.
Sophie looked up at Benny with those big, pleading eyes. Benny's heart melted, and he said, all defeated - like, "Alright, keep it in the livin' room tonight. I'll go to the hospital with you tomorrow."
"Okay," Leon agreed.
The two hopped in the car. Benny was drivin', and Leon was sittin' in the backseat, holdin' the cat. He kept runnin' his hand over Sophie's head, and she was so cozy, she dozed off real quick.
"Don't forget your task," the system's voice piped up outta nowhere.
Sophie jolted awake and locked eyes with Leon's surprised look.
She was thinkin', if she acts all cute first and then takes a lil' nibble, Leon ain't gonna toss her outta the car, right? She peeked out the window. The car was real high, one of them fancy nanny vans. Would she get chucked out if she bites Leon? She thought back to all the stuff she'd heard about Leon. He seemed like a stand - up guy. He probably wouldn't go all crazy just 'cause she bites him. After all, a celeb's rep is super important. Thinkin' like that, she felt a bit more at ease.
She looked up at Leon. Just as she was about to scooch away, Leon's hand shot out in front of her, and he asked, all low - key, "You tryna leave?"
Sophie's legs gave out, and she plopped right down on Leon's lap.
Leon cracked up. His laugh was deep and smooth, like honey. Sophie's fur stood on end, and she was thinkin', "How in the world can my idol be so darn charming?"
The Short - Legged Cat System butted in at the wrong time, "Yo, if you don't get that task done soon, I'm gonna lose my mind."
Sophie snapped back, "Shut your trap."
"I'll zip it. You just finish that task pronto."
"Why? It ain't even midnight yet."
"I'm about to give you a new task. You wanna turn back into a human or what?"
Sophie quickly said, "Hell yeah, I do." Even though bein' a cat was kinda fun, she still wanted to be human. Bein' a cat was just a short - term thing, but bein' human was a whole lifetime deal.
The system just said, "Oh."
Sophie was fumin'. "I really wanna sock this lousy system in the jaw!"
"Don't think I don't know you're dissin' me."
"I ain't," Sophie denied it flat out.
"I know what's goin' on in that little head of yours."
Sophie was like, "Oh, really?" She played it cool and kept sittin' on Leon's lap, thinkin', "How can I bring myself to bite my idol?"
After a whole lot of psychin' herself up, Sophie stared at Leon's fingers and thought, "A little nibble won't hurt, right?" And before she knew it, she took a little bite.
"Ow?" Leon felt a little sting in his finger and looked down at the kitten with a surprised look.
"What's up?" Benny turned around.
Sophie let go and looked at the two little tooth marks, feelin' so helpless.
Leon stared at her for a bit and then said to Benny, "Pull over at the closest pet hospital."
"What happened?"
"The kitten bit me."
Benny got all worked up. He almost lost control of the steering wheel, and the tires skidded.
"Steady," Leon frowned. "Let's hit the pet hospital first."
Benny shook his head. "Let's check your hand first. How deep is that bite? You probably need a vaccine, right?" Leon's hands were super valuable in the entertainment world. There were probably a million people who'd insured them.
Leon looked at the tooth marks. They weren't that deep. "It's okay. Let's check on the cat first."
"Let's go to the hospital first," Benny insisted.
Leon looked at Benny, then down at the kitten, who was lookin' all mopey. He said, real firm, "Let's go to the pet hospital first. We can still get the vaccine later." Benny didn't have a leg to stand on, so he just started lookin' for the nearest hospital.
Sophie was feelin' real sorry for herself, talkin' to the system.
"Leon's gonna be okay, right?"
"You're the one who bit him. You don't know?"
"I finished the task, right?"
"Yeah."
"How many points did I get this time?"
"One point."
Sophie was like, "What? That was so hard, and I only get one point?"
The system snorted. "What'd you expect?"
"Do I get as many points as I want?"
"Not a chance."
Sophie was mad. "Then why'd you even ask?"
The system laughed mean - like. "Just messin' with you."
Sophie was so mad, she tried to scratch her head, but all she could reach was her belly.
"Leon's really okay, right?" She still wasn't sure.
The system said, all annoyed, "Yeah, he's fine. Quit worryin'."
"Okay." Sophie finally relaxed. But when she looked up and saw Leon starin' at her, her legs gave out, and she fell right on the floor.
Lucky for her, there was a rug, so she didn't get hurt.
Leon laughed and picked her up. "How can you be so darn cute?"
Benny, up in the front seat, was mutterin' to himself, "How come I never knew he was such a cat person? I'm not doin' a good job as his manager."
*
Benny was on it. He found a pet hospital real fast. After checkin' Sophie over, they found out her temperature was normal, and there weren't any big problems. The fancy pet hospital was real efficient. They got a full check - up done in no time. But some of the results wouldn't be ready till the next day.
"The kitten's okay. It bit you just now?" the doctor asked Leon.
Leon nodded. "Just a little nip."
"Just to be safe, you should still get a vaccine."
Leon asked, "For a cat without rabies, can I go to a regular hospital for the vaccine?"
The doctor said, "Sure can. You don't have to go to the CDC."
"Thanks."
"Anytime."
Benny paid the bill, bought some stuff for the cat, and then they headed to the hospital next door.
"The doctor said we should spay the cat. Why didn't you agree?" Benny was curious.
Leon thought for a bit and said, all soft - like, "Let's wait a while. The cat's still young."
Benny didn't know what to say to that.
By the time they got out of the hospital after the vaccine, it was past twelve. Leon and Benny were both beat.
"Go home and get some rest. No work tomorrow," Leon said.
"Okay," Benny agreed. Then he said, "You want me to take care of the cat for a day?"
"Nah, I got it," Leon said, turnin' him down.
"What about your finger?"
"It's nothing'. The kitten was just bein' playful."
Sophie heard that and felt so guilty. She felt like she'd let her idol down big - time.
When they got home, Leon settled the cat and then went to his room to wash up. He looked at the tooth marks on his finger and smiled a little. It was like he was rememberin' somethin' from a long time ago.
*
The next morning, the sun peeked through the window.
Sophie woke up slow, stretchin' her little paws. The little nest Leon made for her last night was simple, but it felt like heaven to her after days of bein' on the streets.
As soon as she woke up, the system piped up.
"Today's task."
"Ah, what's the task?"