Chapter Text
ewron knew katie as the eccentric, friendly, but unconventional therapist on the island. they’d spoken briefly a few times in passing, small talk about recent happenings or the weather. besides that, they were pretty much strangers.
it wasn’t until ewron was in desperate need of money that they became closer.
living wasn’t free, everyone knows that. but ewron had spent one too many nights drinking and wasting diamonds on card packs. his friends would only lend him so much, so he decided he’d have to actually get a job. he hated working, he preferred to laze around all day or have reckless fun. but, such is life.
he stood outside katie’s hq, a much too grand and towering pink building. he held the latest issue of q-news is his hand, looking down at it to reread the advertisement he’d seen earlier.
“secretary wanted. above minimum wage. no skills needed.”
below it, a picture of katie smiling brightly in her pink blazer. she seemed like an easygoing boss, and ewron was looking for the easiest work possible.
he composed himself, correcting his posture and walking into the open building, head held high. he walked along the white quartz floor, taking in the decorations. it was… interesting. photos of her lined the pink walls, all different poses and outfits. he blinked a few times at a photo of her seemingly doing some push ups before walking past it and towards the large staircase at the end of the corridor.
he heard a voice in one of the rooms as he reached the top of the stairs. it was a single, raised voice. the words were too muffled for him to hear at first, so he quietly slunk towards the door it seemed to be coming from.
before he could put together any coherent sentences, he heard a slam. he froze, tail straightening like prey. he was close enough to hear a sigh afterwards.
after a few blinks of silence, his tail relaxed and he treaded the last few steps to the door. he took a deep breath, raising his hand to give the wood a few gentle knocks.
surprisingly, he heard a cheerful voice on the other side. “yes? come in!”
he slowly turned the knob, letting the door gently swing open. his confidence from just a moment ago had dissipated, the yelling unnerving him. his mouth felt dry as he saw her sitting behind a messy desk, a warm and inviting smile plastered across her face.
“ewron! what can i do for you?” she spoke with such a different nature than what he’d heard just a minute ago. the stark contrast puzzled him. he stood silently for a moment before shaking his head and snapping back to reality.
he held out the news issue towards her. the advertisement circled in red ink. “i’m looking for a job.” he said, doing his best to put on a strong voice.
she peered over her desk, looking at the paper he’d brought with him. her gaze then moved up to him. for as nervous as he was, he didn’t break eye contact. he wanted to make a good first impression. secretaries needed socialization skills, right?
“really?!” she clasped her hands together excitedly. “i’ve been looking for weeks! no one seems to want such a boring job, it’s just paperwork and typing, and i don’t have a computer so you’d have to use a typewriter- i think that’s what turns most people away. you wouldn’t mind that, right? god i hope so, im so desperate for-“
“i’ll do it. i like boring work.” he interrupted, doing his best to hide the fact that he was thrilled to be doing ‘boring’ work. boring meant easy, or so he thought.
he started work the next day. katie showed him the front desk, where he’d spend most of his time. she pointed out where different things were, showed him each drawer of each cabinet he’d be using, and even demonstrated how to use a stapler. she really meant no skills needed. but she also seemed to expect zero skills. he didn’t mind.
after she’d gone over every little detail, she let out a sigh. she was ready for him to walk out after the next part. she reached under the desk, using both arms to hoist up an ancient looking typewriting. it slammed down in the middle of the desk, a bit of dust puffing off of it.
“so uh.. you’ll have to use this.” she said, pursing her lips. “it’s not ideal but, i’ve been having trouble finding a computer on the island. but it shouldn’t be that hard to work!” her lack of any hopelessness was refreshing to ewron. she was so laid back, go with the flow. he couldn’t decide if her cheeriness made him sick or if it was somehow infectious.
he slid a finger on one of the keys, wiping off a layer of dust. he shrugged. “i can figure it out,” he said certainly. this was an opportunity he needed, so he was willing to learn how to use this dinosaur of a printer to keep the job.
“great!” she held out a file full of documents. “you’ll have to type all these out for me. i’ve been taking notes and filling stuff out by hand since i have no time to type so… im really glad i have someone to do it for me.” she looked so thankful as he took the file from her hands. when it left her grasp, it seemed like a weight was lifted off her shoulders.
he gave a nod in reply, sitting down in the office chair at the desk.
“well, i’ll be upstairs in my office. let me know if you need anything! and that phone probably won’t ring- if it does it’s just me calling from up there.” she pointed to the ceiling as she spoke with a little giggle. she walked off with a pep in her step, almost skipping up the stairs.
he couldn’t help but watch her as she strutted off. the way her suit fit her frame, the pink color just so perfect with her complexion. he had to admit, she was definitely good looking. he turned away, shoving the thoughts out of his brain.
“interesting woman…” he mumbled under his breath as he felt the keys of the typewriter. he fiddled around with it, trying to familiarize himself with the foreign technology.
after a few minutes he figured it out. he sighed in relief, glad that he didn’t fuck up his first task so soon. he grabbed a blank sheet of paper from one of the cabinets, sitting back down to start copying the hefty stack she’d left with him.
when he opened the file, his expression dropped.
holy shit. this is the worst handwriting i’ve ever seen.
his eyes darted across the first page, trying to decipher the chicken scratch. he flipped though the pages with his thumb. each page filled with the same messy writing. he groaned, placing a hand on his forehead in dismay. each page would take an eternity- he’d have to decode every word.
he slumped in the chair, his first day excitement and poise shattered. he closed his eyes, sitting for a moment trying to get his composure back and talk himself down. after a few grounding breaths, he sat back up, opening the file once again.
he took the first note out, placing it next to the typewriter. he mentally prepared himself to try and comprehend it. he aligned the blank sheet of paper, inserting and twisting the big knob on the side to keep it in place.
he began to read the original document, copying it letter by letter. he payed no attention to each word or if they made sense, only copying each character exactly. there was a few seconds between each click of the keys as he leaned over to figure out what the next letter was.
he typed the last letter, his shoulders relaxing as he removed the paper from the cartridge. it had only then occurred to him he could read the document. he was too focused on getting each letter correct.
he held the thin paper. the font was much easier to read than the handwriting he’d just spent half an hour trying to understand. his eyes moved along each line, but his brow furrowed. it didn’t seem like a coherent, professional document. it was more like a rambling of jargon about what he assumed to be a patient of hers.
he looked back to the original paper. did he get the words mixed up? he felt like he was reading a 5th graders attempt at being a psychologist.
he frowned, he didn’t want to disappoint katie. he wanted to do his job right, so he could get back on his feet with the paychecks. he reluctantly got up from his chair, anxiously taking the stairs to the office they met in the previous day.
just like last time, he heard what sounded like arguing as he approached. he didn’t freeze this time, instead, he tried to listen. his panda ears tilting forward to take in as much sound as possible.
“like i said, this is a reputable business. i have certifications, i went to school for this!” he assumed she was on the phone since he never heard another person replying. he kept taking slow strides forward until he was right against the door.
“oh so you’re going to try and shut me down because of a few slip ups? i’m the most qualified woman on this island. i have more connections and allies than you ever could! go ahead, try it. it’s your word against mine.”
there wasn’t anything after that. silence. not even the slam of the phone like yesterday. he waited, holding his breath, hoping for a little more insight. but, there was nothing.
remembering why he came upstairs in the first place, he gave a few knocks to the door. he heard katie clear her throat before giving a warm response.
“come in!”
he opened the door to see her arms folded neatly on the table. she had a soft grin on her face, like nothing had even been going on just heartbeats ago. he knew his place. he wouldn’t mention it.
“hi, miss,” he said, sounding a bit unsure if he was supposed to even call her that. “i just finished writing up the first note and uhm-“ he hesitated, shuffling his feet. she watched, her expression never changing.
he just took a few steps forward and placed it on the desk, pushing it towards her. she looking down at the white paper, the ink of the letters looking faint and old. she looked up.
“and what?” she asked.
“it just, maybe something is wrong with the typewriter…?” he said meekly, fidgeting with his fingers as he stood before her. “the words seem all jumbled and, well, maybe it was my fault, i had some trouble reading your writing-“
she cut him off with a laugh.
“oh ewron, you are too cute,” she said, turning her chair and standing up. it made his heart skip a beat. “so kind of you to phrase it like that as to not wound me. truly so considerate.” she walked around the room, hands folded behind her back as she traced her fingers along a nearby bookshelf.
his gaze followed her long slender legs with each stride. his mouth was slightly parted, and his heart beat fast. he was certain he was about to lose the job. surely he’d offended her somehow. he swallowed, his throat dry.
“you have more to you than i thought,” she said, pausing in front of the floor to ceiling window. she gave a sigh. “okay, if i’m being honest, it was just a test.”
his tail gave a flick. he was confused. god, did he pass? no, he must’ve failed, he totally fucked up. he doubted himself, without even knowing what he’d done wrong.
“a test..?” he repeated, watching her turn on her heel to face him now.
she tilted her head, a small, almost mischievous smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “yeah. a test,” she said softly, stepping closer. her heels clicked once against the polished floor before she stopped just out of arm’s reach. “i know i said no experience was needed, and that’s true, but i just wanted to judge your character.”
he blinked at her, not sure exactly what she was even talking about. he looked like a lost puppy. she studied him, noticing quickly that he was still not catching on. she gave a gentle laugh.
“the notes weren’t real. i wanted to see if you’d just run off, thinking i was a fraud of a businesswoman, or if you’d come talk to me, as you did.” she said, waltzing back over to her desk and picking up the paper he’d brought her. “this is just nonsense. the whole file is fake shit.”
he let out a huff, a mix of relief but also disbelief. she was truly a bizarre person, but there was something about her that he liked.
“you did great though,” she said while she balled up the paper, tossing it behind her and into a nearby waste bin. “so polite, doing your best to take the blame for the mistake instead of pining it on me, even though it was very clearly my fault.” she leaned the back of her hips against the desk now, staring at him.
he was speechless. ewron loved to talk, but just the audacity of it, the way she carried herself, it made him feel like he couldn’t say a thing. he stood awkwardly.
“cat got your tongue, ewron?” she teased, tilting her head. the way she said his name felt deliberate, like she was tasting it. She crossed one ankle over the other, still leaning back against the desk. he couldn’t help but glance at her legs.
he finally found his voice, though it came out rougher than he meant it to. “you’re… a lot,” he managed, ears half-lowered. “i thought i was about to lose my job over fake notes.”
she pushed off the desk, closing the distance between them, just leaving a foot or so of space. “you still want the job?” she asked, looking down at him. he didn’t move away, and didnt say anything right away. he just stared, the way she peered over her shaded glasses, looking down at him with a gaze he couldn’t place. his whole body felt warm.
“yea, i do.”
just when he could feel the warmth of her body, when the tension seemed to get thick, she snapped back into her bubbly persona.
“awesome! i’ll get you the real papers. should be a lot easier to copy those down.” she mumbled the last part under her breath as she practically skipped towards some file cabinets, humming while she sifted through the thick manila folders.
the sudden shift in energy left ewron stun locked. one second she was looking down at him, he could even see a tiny gleam of hunger in her eyes, he swore! and now, she was back to this… interesting character.
his pulse pounded in his ears and his tail gave a frustrated flick as he mourned the loss of the slight closeness he gave her.
“right… the real papers.” he muttered, mostly to himself. she turned around with an innocent smile on her face, holding out a thick file with both her hands.
“back to work, ewron!” she said when he reached for the file, letting it go right as he placed a hand on it, almost dropping it. he stumbled to keep it from falling, but she was too busy circling back around her desk and plopping back into her chair to notice. she crossed her long legs and snapped her fingers.
“ah, almost forget, can you bring me a coffee? extra sugar, please.”
“sure. extra sugar.”
it’d been a few days of his work at the office. so far it was… tolerable. most of the work wasn’t too difficult, just copying things, bringing her what she needed, answering phone calls, booking appointments. it was kinda boring, but it was the exact kind of job he’d hoped for. simple and easy.
the hard part was dealing with katie.
she wore a pretty impressive mask. bubbly and energetic, chatty, too nice almost. it had good integrity for the most part.
til she ordered him around like a maid, giving him almost dehumanizing tasks. nit-picking how he did certain things, criticizing even a small mistake. then, she’d return to ‘normal’. cheery and bright. he felt like he was on the battlefield of psychological warfare. but he seconded guessed himself, too. maybe this was just how bosses are. or maybe he wasn’t as good a worker as he thought, and the scolding was deserved.
after work, he’d come home and her words would echo in his mind. he’d lay awake, looking at the ceiling in his cold and lonely room.
“you missed a spot again. no, to the left- jesus, i’ll do it myself.”
“your shirt is wrinkled. you’re the face of my business now. present yourself better.”
“not enough sugar, ewron. and you didn’t stir it long enough, either.”
“you should be able to do that in half the time it’s taking you. what is your deal?”
he huffed into the silent air. the way she talked to him, then switched it off without a trace was so irritating.
but for some reason, he felt a twisted desire for more of it. something in him enjoyed every syllable of it. he basked in the humiliation, the way it made him feel small. her correction meant he was useful. she cares about the result he produced for her. the thought of it made his head spin.
he wanted to chase the scolding, make mistakes on purpose so he could hear her sharp tone again. following it with the sweet, soft katie. such an addicting contrast.
he didn’t realize it, but listening to her and doing just as she said was somewhat relieving to him. he felt so out of control of his life sometimes. unable to give up the guilty indulgences of drinking and gambling on the weekend. not sure where he was in life, or where he’d be going.
but in her office, that all fades away. his only purpose is to listen and obey. do as she says. no need for any thinking or choices. he’s told exactly what needs to be done, how to do it, when to do it.
he doesn’t need to worry about what is right. katie decides what ‘right’ is, and his job is to fix whatever isn’t. when she commanded him the weight of life didn’t exist, only pleasing her did.
he was so deep in his imagination, thinking of all the moments where she berated him, scoffed at his incompetence. he felt his neck heat up, a blush rising uncontrollably. there was a tingling warmth between his legs, but he shook his head, trying to erase the whole thing from his mind.
he sighed, closing his eyes and feeling a guilt in his stomach. he knew it was messed up to feel that way. it was wrong to enjoy the cruelty, and just as wrong to enjoy it from his employeer
he rolled over into his stomach, cheek sinking into his pillow. he’d try to forget about it all for a few hours, and then he could finally be back where he felt true, unrelenting liberation.