Forever

"Emi, you ready to head out?", called Michael, even as he knew the answer was no. To his amusement and chagrin, the only response he got was a cheeky, drawn-out meaaaaaow from the other room. Over the past week, Emi had amused herself by randomly going into a full cat act, no longer speaking and getting up to all sorts of cattish mischief. Luckily, she was only doing it for few minutes at a time, keeping it actually funny instead of bothersome and annoying.

Still, with the reservation in only 20 minutes and the bus coming in 7, Michael really wished he hadn't encouraged her with his reactions.

"We've really got to go!", he tried again. The answer came back in the form of a somehow even more mischievous meow. Michael pressed out a sigh of despair.

Giving up on getting his remaining foot into the second shoe, he stepped out of the hallway and back into the living room, where he saw his beautiful, adorable, oh so beautiful and very annoying girlfriend sitting on all fours, her smug face radiating giddiness. At least she was already dressed, pulling off her trademark frilly blouse and pleated skirt look.

"Emi, why...", he asked, feeling defeated by his nominally submissive pet.

She grinned and shrugged her shoulders before getting up from the ground.

"Cuz it's too fun to tease you.", she gave him a quick peck on the chin before passing him and putting on her shoes in the hallway. He just rolled his eyes and instead began plotting his revenge for later.

"I am punishing you once we get back.", he muttered into her ear as he finally put on his second shoe. His darned sub just nuzzled her face against his thigh and smiled.

"Sure hope so, Master~."

Realizing and having known that there was no winning here, he gave up and grabbed the leash from its hanger. Emi was already kneeling next to the door, her bratty attitude suddenly gone and replaced by the picture of a perfect pet; knees wide apart, arms crossed gently behind her arched back, with her eyes staring up at him with that disarming adoring look.

Exasperated, he just gently shook his head as he clipped the leash to her collar. He helped her up from the ground, ignoring her protest before firmly leading her out of the flat by the leash. Naturally, Emi was perfectly behaved the second he leashed her. Honestly, he was coming to suspect that her sudden onset of brattiness was just an elaborate ploy to make him leash her at home.

"Don't worry, Master, we are easily getting the bus.", Emi said while glancing at the clock on her wrist.

"I know.", he admitted even as he continued his brisk walking speed. "But bad girls need to be reminded that choices have consequences." Emi had to hurry to keep up with his long strides, the leash pulling on her collar with each step he took.

"That's mean~", she replied with the conviction of a bad actor.

They did get the bus, and 15 minutes later they made it to the nice, upscale restaurant he had booked a table at the week prior. It was a Vietnamese restaurant that the company had booked two years ago for a company dinner and that had stayed on his mind ever since.

A waiter took their reservation at the door before leading them towards a table in a cozy corner of the restaurant. As they approached the table, the waiter glanced to Emi, still leashed and following Michael, before asking. "Will you be needing a pillow for the floor?"

"No, thank you.", Emi replied with a grateful smile before adding with a wink. "Not this time."

The waiter just accepted the answer with a polite smile and nod before heading off, leaving the two of them to take their seats and look over the menu.

"So, this is it.", Michael said in a faux grave voice after they had both decided on their food for the evening.

Emi grinned."Seems to be the case. One month since we started this crazy experiment.", they both grew quiet as they tried to process the crazy month that they've had. Only a few weeks ago, they had been nothing more than employee and employer. Now,...

"I love you", he suddenly said, his voice heavier than he had expected, even though he knew she did too. Emi smiled happily, the cat ears on top of her head twitching in concert. "I love you too.", her smile turned into a wry grin. "Crazy to think about it, isn't it? Four weeks and I am already in love with you."

He agreed with a chuckle. "Not the craziest thing about all of this, though". She laughed too.

"I suppose that is true."

"So, you wanna keep our experiment going?"

"Of course. I'm yours. Hopefully forever."