Kris mentally slapped himself hard at the realisation of what he had just done and quickly pulled his hand back. 'Oh my god you are such an idiot!' The black tail had been swaying back and forth softly the whole time they were talking and Kris couldn't help but want to touch it. It looked so soft and silky and he had wondered if it really felt that way, for a long time actually. Before he knew it he had held the end of the tail gently in his hand until it slipped through his fingers at the speed of light a second later and he looked at Tao who was watching him with fear and shock in his eyes and the tail tightly tucked in between his long legs, away from his fingers and close to himself, probably an instinct to protect the sensitive appendage. He immediately regretted his action.

"I am so sorry Tao", he said, brows furrowed and feeling more than a bit flustered. "I don't know why I did that!"

Tao's ears were pressed flat on his head and he held the tray in front of him like a shield, clutching it so tightly his knuckles were white. Kris started to feel really bad at the obvious indisposition showing in Tao's whole posture and face.

"Why did you-", he started but quickly stopped again and Kris noticed the hybrid eyeing him carefully as he started chewing on his bottom lip nervously and Kris' eyes twitched downwards, noticing the movement. He couldn't help but think that the cat's lips really looked delicious, despite the akward situation. He lifted his hands in front of him in an apology.

"I am so, so sorry. I just- it was just swaying back and forth and-", he stuttered and Tao started grinning a little bit and his ears slowly lifted themselves up again, twitching gently. "I wanted to touch it..."

'Great Kris, just great. Now he's gonna think your some kind of sick freak that goes around touching random hybrids. Idiot!' He tried to show the other how sorry he was and put as much emotion in his facial expression as he thought would be reasonable. Tao slowly freed his tail from it's position and lifted it in front of him and Kris' eyes fell on the other's hand. Tao gently held the tail in his hands and moved forward, the fluffy, white tip moving a little bit. He was surprised, to say the least, as Tao took the hand he had touched his tail with in his and Kris felt a tingle shoot through his fingers and up his arm. He shot an unsure glance in Tao's direction, not sure how to react as he lay his hand on his, the tail trapped in-between.

"It's okay... you- you can touch it. If you want to...", Tao mumbled, cheeks blushed and his eyes averted Kris'.

He blinked a few times before he understood and his fingers prickled.

"Are you sure? I don't want to force you to do anything you don't like! I just wondered how it felt like... because it looked so nice and soft."

Kris mumbled his last words, a bit embarrassed but he thought it would be best to be honest with the young hybrid and he really didn't want to make the other feel uncomfortable. He spotted the other blushing lightly and the tail twitched ever so slightly.

"You're not, it's okay. I- I was just a bit surprised... well, a lot but don't worry about it, please."

Kris smiled lightly and nodded.

"Yeah I... can imagine."

Tao grinned and gently squeezed his hand, encouraging him to touch the tail. Kris shot a second, unsure glance at Tao before he lifted his hand slightly and let his fingers graze over the soft fur, gently caressing it. He felt the tail press into his hand ever so slightly and as he looked up he saw Tao smiling at him, his eyes half lidded and looking kind of dazed. He started petting the tail with soft of his hand and he grinned as a soft purring sound reached his ears. Tao stood there, eyes closed and a blissful expression on his face. He shuffled a tiny bit closer to Kris. A bit surprised, Kris felt the tip of Tao's tail slide over his hand until it wrapped itself around Kris' wrist like a bracelet, holding Kris' hand gently and the fluffy tip swayed over the sensitive skin on the inside of Kris' wrist, making the man shudder slightly at the touch.

"You like it?"

Tao froze immediately and the purring stopped abruptly. His eyes wide he pulled his tail away quickly and hid it behind his back. A dark red coated his cheeks and Tao started chewing on his lip again.

"Wh- why do you say that?"

Kris grinned at the flustered expression. 'Cute.'

"You started purring... and you held my wrist with your tail."

Tao's eyes grew wide and his ears started twitching like mad, the red on his cheeks grew even darker and he looked so embarrassed Kris couldn't help but want to squeeze Tao tightly because he looked so adorable.

"I- I did?", he mumbled before raising his hands in defense. "No I didn't!"

Before Kris could even think about responding, Tao turned around and speedwalked past the tables and behind the counter, disappearing in the room he had come out of before bringing Kris his order. 'He's running away... so cute!' Kris chuckled and took a sip of his ,suprisingly still warm, coffee before he finished his cake. He started watching the people outside the window rushing up and down the street and before he knew it an hour had long passed and his coffee cup was empty. Just as he decided to leave his phone vibrated.

From: Jongdumb
To: Kris

Hi Krisus! <(o.o)> how's it going with your kitten? Did u finally manage 2 calm ur passionate heart enough so you could leave him ur number?? Please tell me u did, or I'll reconsider my friendship with u! I don't want 2 be friends with an idiot-hyung and embarrass myself because I have a friend who can't even pick up some cute cat guy from a café and ask him out on a date! (/0.0\)
Love u but do it!
Chenchen
 

From: Kris
To: Jongdumb

Yah Jongdumb! Is that how u text-talk to ur respected and beloved hyung!? Watch ur mouth/fingers! Remember who asked Lay out 2 set him up with u cause u almost ur pants, 2 afraid 2 ask him? And look where u 2 r now! U should be on ur knees thanking me 4 finding u a husband who puts up with ur !
Love u but u!
Kris

Kris stood up and grabbed his coat. He put it on quickly and let the phone slide back into the pocket. He placed the coffee and the empty plate with the fork on the tray Tao had forgotten to take with him and carried it to the counter, where Xiumin and Luhan were chatting and laughing. They looked up and Xiumin rushed to the cash register to print out Kris' receipt and hand it to him after Kris paid.

"You could have just left it there you know", Luhan said, popping up behind Xiumin and blinking at Kris with his huge eyes, balancing the tray on one hand while the other s around Xiumin and held on to the man. Kris grinned and winked at Luhan making Xiumin pull a face and shoot him a warning glance as he noticed his boyfriends giggle.

"I know."

They both lifted a brow simultaneously, as if knowing that there was more to it.

"Could I perhaps borrow a pen and a small piece of paper from you guys?"

Xiumin nodded and ducked to pull out said items from underneath the countertop.

"Sure, no problem." He placed the items in front of Kris and left him and Luhan to go and tend to another cusomer but not without sliding his fingers over the skin on the inside of Luhan's wrist and giving him a small smile.

Kris took the pen and the little paper with the same logo on the bottom right corner as on the welcome sign outside and on the wall over the coffee machines and quickly wrote down his number and a short message. He folded the paper once and handed the pen back to Luhan who was looking at him with a curious expression in his eyes and a light blush on his cheeks. Kris grinned at him, knowing very well that the man was dying to know what he wrote on the paper.

"Is Tao still here?"

Luhan nodded and suddendly started grinning. With a suggestive look he pointed to the door next to him, on the right side, and motioned to Kris to walk around the barista bar and go inside the room behind it. Kris smiled at him thankfully and Luhan grinned before he shot off to clean the dishes and talk to Xiumin excitedly.

Kris walked around the counter and opened the door, to what he assumed was the breakroom, and stepped inside, making sure he closed the door again. He saw Tao sitting on a chair with his back to the door, the black tail swaying from side to side softly as he hummed a sweet melody. As Kris moved closer to the hybrid he thought about what to say, he was quite nervous, when an idea popped to his mind. 'I'm gonna drive you crazy...'

"What is it?", Tao asked without turning around and Kris assumed that he thought he was somone else. He tiptoed towards the man sitting on the chair and stopped behind him. He bowed down a bit.

"Hey Tao", he wispered, voice deep and sounding a bit sultry. He took a few quick steps back before Tao shot up from his chair and turned around quickly, his hands clasped over his heart and his eyes wide, startled.

"Kris! What are you doing here? God, you scared me!"

Kris chuckled at the other's dramatic facial expression and stepped forward until Tao was pressed against the table, trying to avoid him.

"Kris?", he asked, voice trembling a bit and a slight blush on his cheeks because of the close contact, Kris standing only a foot away from him. His eyes followed Kris' hand as he lifted it in front of Tao's face and showed him the folded paper.

"Take it."

Tao nodded confused and took the paper with his hands, holding it in front of him and looking at it curiously. Kris grinned and leaned forward, sneaking an arm around Tao and catching his tail in a soft hold at the base. He let his hand slide along the whole length of the tail and gave the fluffy, white tip a quick squeeze.

"Call me", he wispered into Tao's ear and it twitched once, twice, three times.

He stepped away and turned, not looking back once and leaving a frozen Tao behind, too overwhelmed to move, eyes and mouth wide open, cheeks tinted in a deep red and the hair on his tail standing on end, the sensitive appendage trembling violently, sticking straight into the air like a stick.