Chapter 2: Cat Defense

The cops did not believe the cat story but they also didn’t care enough to argue.

After ten minutes of flashlight beams, half-hearted questions, and one officer muttering "scooter guys, man," they took statements, checked for concussion, and told both of them to get checked at a hospital if they started vomiting or seeing double.

Kai, still wearing Ethan’s face, gave a charming little smile and said they’d be fine. Ethan, trapped in the leather jacket and the wrong voice, mostly nodded and tried not to look like a man having a spiritual crisis in public.

The officers left.

The street went quiet again except for the ticking of the scooter’s cooling engine.

Kai clapped Ethan’s hands together. "See? Easy. I am an excellent liar in any body."

Ethan stared at him. "You told them we hit a cat."

"An aggressive cat. Details matter." Kai bent down, righted the scooter with a grunt, and winced. "Okay, your core strength is tragic. We’re fixing that, eventually, or not. I might just keep the soft life."

Ethan rubbed his new face. Stubble scraped his palms. "We need to fix this, tonight, right now."

Kai swung a leg over the scooter and patted the seat behind him like he was offering a ride to a date. "Buddy. We just body-swapped in the middle of the street. I don’t think there’s a customer service number for that. Best we can do is not freeze to death and compare notes somewhere with walls."

He held up Ethan’s phone.

"I already texted myself from your number so we can talk. You’re Kai now, by the way. Temporary branding, try to keep up."

Ethan’s new phone buzzed in the jacket pocket. He pulled it out and saw a message from his own number:

Unknown (Ethan): home addresses swapped. mine’s closer. don’t touch my toys without asking.

Ethan looked up, horrified. "Toys?"

Kai grinned with Ethan’s mouth. "You’ll see. Or you’ll hear. They’re not quiet."

Kai’s apartment was exactly what Ethan expected and somehow worse.

Third floor of a walk-up that smelled like takeout and poor decisions. The key was under a fake rock that wasn’t even trying. Inside: one open room, mattress on the floor, blackout curtains, a wardrobe that was 90% black and 10% leather, and a nightstand drawer that Ethan opened out of pure terrified curiosity.

He closed it again immediately.

"Jesus Christ."

His new phone buzzed.

Ethan (Kai): found the drawer already huh

Ethan (Kai): don’t be shy. they’re cleaned. mostly.

Ethan typed back with clumsy thumbs:

Kai (Ethan): we are switching back. tomorrow. first thing.

Ethan (Kai): sure. add it to the list. right under "teach spreadsheet boy how to take a dick."

Ethan sat on the edge of the mattress and put his head in his hands. The body around him felt too warm, too aware, too ready.

Every small movement reminded him that nothing was where it should be. The cock between his legs had finally calmed down, but it felt heavy and foreign, like it was waiting for an excuse.

He texted again.

Kai (Ethan): how do you live like this

Ethan (Kai): poorly and often. you’ll get used to it. or you’ll cry. either way is fine entertainment for me.

Kai stood in the middle of Ethan’s studio apartment and turned in a slow circle.

Neat bed, neat desk, neat little plant that was clearly watered on a schedule. A closet full of identical button-downs. A fridge containing yogurt, oat milk, and one sad apple.

Kai opened the laptop on the desk. Password was the birthday again. He scrolled through the work calendar, the color-coded to-do lists, the folder labeled "Performance Reviews (Scary)."

He sent a photo of the fridge to Ethan.

Ethan (Kai): this is a cry for help

Kai (Ethan): it’s called being an adult

Ethan (Kai): it’s called being one missed orgasm away from a nervous breakdown. lucky for you I just moved in.

Kai stripped out of the borrowed work clothes, stood in front of the bathroom mirror, and studied Ethan’s face like he was test-driving a car.

"Not bad," he told the reflection. "A little soft, alittle scared. We can work with scared."

He took a shower in water that was too hot, used shampoo that smelled like nothing, and spent a long time getting familiar with the new body. When he finally climbed into the too-neat bed, he sent one last message.

Ethan (Kai): alarm’s set for 6:30. you’re going to work as me tomorrow. try not to get me fired. or do. I’m flexible.

Kai (Ethan): I hate you

Ethan (Kai): you don’t know me well enough to hate me yet. give it a week.