Kadir's apartment felt eerily quiet without him. Normally, the space was alive with his soft hums or the rhythmic tapping of his keyboard. Now, it was a void, a silence filled only by the faint hum of the heater and the occasional creak of the floorboards.

The little black cat sat on the edge of Kadir's unmade bed, curled up with a plushie of Kadir's likeness clutched tightly in its paws. The novelty gift from one of Kadir's fans still carried the faintest trace of Kadir's cologne, a scent that was both comforting and infuriating. Its ears flattened against its head as its tail curled tightly around its waist, sharp teeth grazing the edge of the plushie's ear in a nervous habit.

From the living room, Kadir stepped inside with a heavy sigh. His long fingers raked through his blonde hair, tousling it further as he set his sleek leather bag onto the desk near the door. The day had been grueling, demanding more than he felt he had to give. Yet, despite the fatigue weighing on his shoulders, his thoughts immediately went to his cat.

"Where are you, mon chaton?" Kadir called softly, his French accent thickening as the words left his lips. His voice carried the faintest edge of concern, though he masked it well behind a tired smile.

He shrugged off his jacket and carefully unbuttoned his white shirt, swapping it for the soft black undershirt he kept draped over the back of a chair. The fabric clung to his lean frame as he stretched, rolling his shoulders to ease the tension gathered there. The apartment felt empty, and that didn't sit right with him. His cat was always the first to greet him, usually winding between his legs with a mix of affection and demand for attention.