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esp_dragonv2Fandom: Noblesse
Summary: There was a cat in M’s living room. It was mostly black with a white patch over its right ear. It had curled up on one of his chairs and looked like it had fallen asleep. It was also completely drenched.
M didn’t have a cat.
Notes: AHAHAHA, this ended up SO MUCH longer than expected. 8′D
Rating: G
Genre: General
Word count: 2,913
Status: Complete
There was a cat in M’s living room. It was mostly black with a white patch over its right ear. It had curled up on one of his chairs and looked like it had fallen asleep. It was also completely drenched.
M didn’t have a cat.
He sighed, walking over.
“What’re you doing here?” Had he left a window open somewhere?
The cat perked up, tail swishing. “Mrow?”
M eyed it, crossing his arms. “Cut the crap, nekomata. What’re you doing here?” Their kind didn’t mesh well.
The nekomata gave a sheepish laugh as it stretched, the twin tips of its tail revealing themselves. “It was pouring outside so I looked for some shelter!”
“Into a werewolf’s house.” That wasn’t something that happened by accident. Not with them.
“I needed someone to talk to!” the nekomata said. “It gets boring if I can only meow in a human’s house.”
M snorted. “That’s why you pretended to be a normal cat just now.”
“Well.” The nekomata’s tail flicked. “If you like me first, you’re less likely to - hey! Hey hey leggo!”
M grabbed the nekomata by the scruff, the nekomata tucking its legs in instinctively. “Nooo, it’s cold and wet outside!”
“So go find a human to take you in. There’s lots of them.” It was a quick trip to the front door and M dropped the nekomata there, closing his door before it could squeeze its way back in.
Now to find where it had gotten in in the first place.
* * *
All M’s doors and windows had been shut, but he double-checked, and one window had been unlatched. He made sure to lock that one and then started cooking dinner, listening to the rain pelting his windows.
* * *
M lifted his head, turning towards his kitchen. That…had sounded like something was rummaging around in there. Too big to be a mouse or rat. And there was purring as well.
Lips pursed, he went over.
He huffed, seeing the nekomata crouched over his bunch of grapes, tugging one off and swallowing it after one bite.
The nekomata’s ears didn’t even swivel to him, it was that distracted. It was soaked through, looking even smaller than the last time he’d seen it.
Hm… He walked in, the nekomata still not noticing him and went for his fridge.
The nekomata froze when he opened the fridge, but he kept going, grabbing what he needed and a plate.
“Sooo, it’s still storming outside and - huh?”
M set the plate with meat next to the nekomata. “I don’t know much about your kind, but I didn’t think you favoured fruit.”
The nekomata pounced on the plate, paws on the meat as it tore a piece off, its purring even louder. “They were the easiest things to eat that I could reach!”
M eyed the nekomate again. “You couldn’t open the fridge?” Something was off… They had a human form they could change between with just a thought.
The nekomata paused, then shook his head. “Not right now. I just stopped being able to do it — dunno why.”
M raised an eyebrow. “And you’re not worried.” It would have been shit if he’d been stuck in his wolf form.
The nekomata shrugged. “Not much I can do about it, ya know? It’ll probably fix itself eventually.”
“Optimistic.”
“Heh, what can I say? Better to focus on other things, like food and shelter!”
Lightning flashed outside, thunder rolling following it soon after and M sighed.
“Fine,” M said, watching the nekomata polish off the rest of the meat. “You can stay until the storm passes, since you’re refusing to go to humans.” For whatever reason. But he knew what it was like to be alone in a storm.
“Thanks! You’re way more interesting than humans.”
He snorted. “Doubt it.”
The nekomata’s eyes were already drooping and it curled up against the plate.
Huh. It really had needed the food.
M took the plate away to wash before it slept on top of it.
* * *
M was warm. Not alone, feeling someone else breathe with a weight on his chest.
What… It had been so long since… There was a high pitched growl as well, one he didn’t recognise.
He opened his eyes.
The nekomata had curled up on his chest, purring away.
…Fuck.
“Oi, nekomata.”
An ear twitch but nothing else.
“Nekomata.”
“…Tao…”
For fuck’s - how deeply did it sleep? “Nekomata.”
“M'name’s Tao.” The nekomata - Tao stretched, fangs flashing as it yawned. “Whaaat? I was dreami-”
“Why are you on me?” There were so many other places Tao could have slept.
“You’re the warmest thing here! Not the softest,” Tao added, kneading M’s chest, “but definitely the warmest.”
M snorted, flicking his fingers at the nekomata to make it stop. “I could get you a hot water bottle instead.”
“But that’d go cooold eventually,” Tao said, rolling over and wriggling.
“Oi.” M tried to grab the nekomata, but Tao ducked away from his hands, still staying on top of him. “Don’t get your scent all over me; I’m not ‘yours’ to mark.”
“But ya just offered me a hot water bottle!” Tao said with a laugh, pouncing over to M’s knees. “You’re totally mine.”
“Fucking nekomata-” He lunged, Tao still out of arm’s reach.
Still laughing, Tao dashed out the room.
“Get back here, asshole!” M chased after him and found the nekomata on top of the fridge, leaning over and patting the door like it would open from being pressed. “That won’t work.”
“I know, but I’m huuungry.” Tao lifted his head to look at him. “Pleeease?”
M snorted. “Fine, just don’t mark me again.” But nekomata were notorious for marking people as soon as they met, so M wasn’t that trustful it wouldn’t do it again.
“Okay, okay, I won’t!”
Tao jumped to M’s shoulder when he neared the fridge and he sighed. There were worse things that could happen than a nekomata deciding to move into his house.
“So what’s your name?” Tao asked, watching him take out the meat.
He squashed the pain of old memories with practiced ease. “…M.”
“Huh, doesn’t really sound like a werewolf name.” The nekomata padded to M’s other shoulder, following the meat. “They’re more harsh sounding, with growl-like sounds, ya know?”
“Yeah.”
Tao turned his head and studied him for a few seconds.
M glowered back. “What?”
“Don’t wanna talk about it?”
He snorted. “No.” It was in the past and he’d rather not think about it again.
Tao nodded and then jumped off his shoulder when M set the plate down. “Thanks!”
Tao ate slower this time, but he still purred as he ate.
While Tao was busy, M started on his own breakfast.
Something thumped against his shoulder. “What’re you doin’?”
M looked at Tao, who had jumped to his shoulder, carrying what was left of the meat, eating the rest of it there. “You can finish that on the plate.”
“But I wanna see what yer doin’!”
“I could have moved the plate.”
Tao laughed again. “You said you’re not mine?”
He rolled his eyes. “I don’t want meat on my clothes.”
“But it smells nice!”
With a sigh, M picked Tao and the plate up, putting both on the counter next to the cooker.
Tao leaped for him again, but M caught him in mid-air. “Only if you’re not carrying food.”
“But I wanna seeee!”
“At the rate you’re eating, I won’t be done anyway.”
“Hnnng.”
When M-21 put Tao down again, the nekomata devoured the meat. As soon as it was done, it jumped to M’s elbow and climbed up.
“You’ve never been in a house before?” M asked as Tao started cleaning himself.
“I have! But I still wanna see what you’re doing!”
M rolled his eyes. “What, you think we eat raw meat all the time?” Was that what nekomata said about his kind?
Tao swatted his ear with a paw. "'Course not. But everyone makes things differently.“
"Don’t think I make things that differently,” M grumbled.
“Can I have a taste?”
“It’s not finished yet.”
“But can I?” Tao leaned over, like that would help the food reach his mouth faster.
M moved his shoulder away. “You’ve already eaten.”
“Exactly! So just a taste is all I need.” Tao pawed towards the pan.
“No.”
“Awww, but M~!”
M sighed. This was probably going to be what his days were going to be like from now on.
* * *
M ended up sharing a quarter of his breakfast with Tao, the nekomata also playing with the tap spray as he washed the dishes.
“What’re you doin’?”
“Getting ready for work,” M said, pulling his shirt on.
Tao perked up. “Can I-”
“No. You’re not coming with me.”
Tao’s ears flattened. “Why not!”
“Because people’ll ask why a cat’s following me and it’ll be a pain if they catch me talking to you.”
“I wouldn’t…”
M just looked at the nekomata.
“Not…much. Really.” Tao coughed, his tail flicking.
“You can stay in or go out until I come back,” M said, and Tao glanced out the window, where it was still raining.
“I’ll stay where it’s nice and warm, heh.”
M nodded and then paused, musing. “I’ll keep some food out for you as well. Just don’t eat it all-”
Tao jumped onto him, rubbing against M’s face. “Thank you!”
“Stop marking me!”
* * *
M sighed as he came home, massaging his neck. Work had been fine but it had still been a long day. He adjusted his grip on his bag, hoping he hadn’t dreamed Tao. He could still smell Tao’s mark on him, even after the entire day, but… There was a chance the nekomata had gotten bored and left. They were fickle like that.
There was no sound as he approached his door, but as he opened it, something launched itself at him as soon as there was enough space.
“M! M! You finally came back!” Tao pounced up M’s arms, claws scratching through to M’s skin.
“I had wo — hey!” M’s arms were busy, unable to stop the little bastard from marking him again.
“I said-” M closed the door with his heel, leaning away from Tao, but that didn’t deter him at all.
“But I missed you!” Tao had all but curled around M’s neck, his purrs vibrating directly into his ears.
“Still doesn’t mean you have to mark me,” M grumbled, putting the bag down on the table.
“Yeah it does!” Tao said, moving onto M’s other side and marking him there. “You’re mine, so I wanna make sure others know in case they try ta bother you.”
M snorted. “I can handle myself.” And someone the size of his forearm wasn’t a threat.
“The extra warning is good.” That done, Tao turned his attention to M’s bag. “What did ya get?”
M didn’t say anything, unsure. Yes, he’d bought them, but he hadn’t been sure if Tao would still be there when he returned and maybe Tao wouldn’t like them, being offended instead.
Tao hopped to the table and stuck his head into the bag before M could say anything or stop him.
A loud gasp came from the bag, Tao’s tail vibrating. Ah, shit. “Sorry, I thought you’d be bored-”
Tao jerked away from the bag so hard he tumbled off the table with a yelp. He leapt back up with the long rod still clasped in his jaws as he tried to climb M. “Play wif meee!”
M picked Tao up to save him the journey, taking the rod. “You…don’t mind? Wasn’t sure if you thought I was just treating you like a cat.”
“You got me toys!” Tao said with a laugh, already batting at the stringed fish on the other end of the rod. “And I am a cat.”
M let out a relieved sigh, a smile curling the corners of his mouth. That was good. “All right.”
* * *
Tao had dozed off on M’s lap, his purrs vibrating up M’s lap. It had been a long time since someone else had slept on him. That morning didn’t count — he hadn’t been aware of it at the time.
He’d…missed it. He couldn’t deny that. The warmth of other people, the background clatter of daily life around him.
There was nothing he could do about it now. He sighed, burying a hand in Tao’s fur. Tao made a soft chirping sound, pushing up against his touch, but didn’t wake up.
He didn’t have anything else to do, so when M’s eyes drifted shut, he didn’t try to stop them.
* * *
‘-don’t belong here, weakling.’
No. He did. He did. They were his-
“M?”
‘-our pack. If we hear you still using our name, we’ll do worse than cast you o-”
“M!”
M gasped, pinpricks of pain on his neck as his eyes snapped open.
“Hey!” Tao was rumbling, licking M’s temple, pressed up as much as he could against M’s neck. “How you doing?”
Oh. M let out a shuddering breath. Just a dream. A memory. He squeezed his eyes shut. “Fine.”
“Yer a terrible liar, you know that?” Tao didn’t stop licking him though.
“M’not lying,” he mumbled. “I’ll be fine.” Couldn’t be anything else, and he couldn’t change the past.
“Liar,” Tao repeated. “Hmm, think it’s time for dinner?”
“Yeah…” M said, standing up. It’d give him something else to think about.
* * *
Dinner had been quieter compared to the previous night, but Tao seemed glued to M’s shoulder, never leaving it, licking him and rubbing against him every so often.
Even if Tao was getting his scent all over him, M appreciated it. It kept him grounded, stopped his mind from wandering too far.
“This is nice!” Tao said, opening his mouth for M to put more food there.
“You’ve got your own plate,” M said, rolling his eyes, bringing more food to Tao’s mouth anyway.
“But that’d mean leaving yer shoulder and nah. I live here now.” Tao wriggled, settling even further.
M snorted. “You’d better move when I’ve got work tomorrow.”
“Fiiine,” Tao said with a sigh, “but your shoulder is mine when you get back.”
“I don’t doubt it.” And…he didn’t mind. Not when it was a constant reminder that Tao was there. That he wasn’t alone anymore. “Thanks.”
“Huh?”
“For earlier,” M said, giving Tao more food. “Waking me up and distracting me. Thanks.”
“No prob!” Tao leaned against M’s head for a second before accepting the food. “You’d do the same for me.”
He would now, wouldn’t he?
* * *
Waking up to purring was becoming a regular occurrence but…M was too warm. The weight on his chest was a lot heavier than Tao.
When his eyes fluttered open, there was someone draped over him. Someone with black hair and one white stripe. The person’s breathing was in time with the purring as well.
“Hey…” M said, watching the person shift. “Tao?”
“Mmm… Yeah?” Tao wriggled, turning his head to rest his chin on M’s chest. He had dark eyes, but M could see his slitted pupils. “Mornin’!”
M waited to see how long it would take Tao to realise.
“What? You keep staring at me like…” Tao’s eyes widened and he rolled onto his back, holding his limbs up into the air. “Hey, I’m humanoid again!”
M huffed, smiling. “Took you long enough.”
“Oi, you,” Tao said, rolling over again, “you get used to a form, ya know? Oooh, wow, I get to feel tall again! This is great!”
Before M could respond, Tao wrapped his arms around M’s shoulders, purring as he rubbed his face against M’s. Still the same scent. Still the same Tao. But of course, why would Tao change because his form did?
M exhaled, returning Tao’s hug.
“Ehehe,” Tao chuckled, still nuzzling him. “Definitely mine.”
“And you’re mine as well,” M said. He wasn’t denying it now, since he’d let Tao into his house and fed him.
“Well, duh,” Tao said. “What do ya think happens when I mark you?”
M blinked, not understanding what Tao was getting at.
Tao lifted his head and peered at M. “You get your scent on me too when I mark you.”
“…Oh.” Fuck. That made sense — werewolves didn’t mark each other, so he’d never had to think about it like that.
Tao burst out laughing, laying his head on M’s chest, his shoulders shaking. “Now who’s bein’ the slow one, huh?”
“Shut up.” But there was no heat behind his words and Tao knew that with how much harder he laughed.
“Anyway,” Tao said once his laughter died down, “time ta celebrate with breakfast! I’ll cook this time.” Tao grinned at him, hopping off the bed. He wobbled for a second, arms out for balance, and then dashed for the kitchen.
M continued to lay there, hearing Tao move around. Tao seemed to know where everything was, since he’d watched M cook.
It was…nice. Not as silent as it used to be.
He rubbed his cheek where Tao had marked him. It wouldn’t make much difference if he removed Tao’s scent doing that — Tao would mark him again soon enough. And he didn’t mind that.
“Heeey, M, did ya fall back asleep?”
“No,” M called out, getting out of bed, a small smile on his face. Maybe this time he’d mark Tao. It would be a change.
Much thanks to @madameazzure for all the support while I was writing this. :D
So had been thinking that Tao reverted to nekomata form because he felt in danger so needed a small, quick form that could help him escape if something bad happened. As soon as he felt safe and accepted he could turn back into his humanoid form. :D
Summary: There was a cat in M’s living room. It was mostly black with a white patch over its right ear. It had curled up on one of his chairs and looked like it had fallen asleep. It was also completely drenched.
M didn’t have a cat.
Notes: AHAHAHA, this ended up SO MUCH longer than expected. 8′D
Rating: G
Genre: General
Word count: 2,913
Status: Complete
There was a cat in M’s living room. It was mostly black with a white patch over its right ear. It had curled up on one of his chairs and looked like it had fallen asleep. It was also completely drenched.
M didn’t have a cat.
He sighed, walking over.
“What’re you doing here?” Had he left a window open somewhere?
The cat perked up, tail swishing. “Mrow?”
M eyed it, crossing his arms. “Cut the crap, nekomata. What’re you doing here?” Their kind didn’t mesh well.
The nekomata gave a sheepish laugh as it stretched, the twin tips of its tail revealing themselves. “It was pouring outside so I looked for some shelter!”
“Into a werewolf’s house.” That wasn’t something that happened by accident. Not with them.
“I needed someone to talk to!” the nekomata said. “It gets boring if I can only meow in a human’s house.”
M snorted. “That’s why you pretended to be a normal cat just now.”
“Well.” The nekomata’s tail flicked. “If you like me first, you’re less likely to - hey! Hey hey leggo!”
M grabbed the nekomata by the scruff, the nekomata tucking its legs in instinctively. “Nooo, it’s cold and wet outside!”
“So go find a human to take you in. There’s lots of them.” It was a quick trip to the front door and M dropped the nekomata there, closing his door before it could squeeze its way back in.
Now to find where it had gotten in in the first place.
All M’s doors and windows had been shut, but he double-checked, and one window had been unlatched. He made sure to lock that one and then started cooking dinner, listening to the rain pelting his windows.
M lifted his head, turning towards his kitchen. That…had sounded like something was rummaging around in there. Too big to be a mouse or rat. And there was purring as well.
Lips pursed, he went over.
He huffed, seeing the nekomata crouched over his bunch of grapes, tugging one off and swallowing it after one bite.
The nekomata’s ears didn’t even swivel to him, it was that distracted. It was soaked through, looking even smaller than the last time he’d seen it.
Hm… He walked in, the nekomata still not noticing him and went for his fridge.
The nekomata froze when he opened the fridge, but he kept going, grabbing what he needed and a plate.
“Sooo, it’s still storming outside and - huh?”
M set the plate with meat next to the nekomata. “I don’t know much about your kind, but I didn’t think you favoured fruit.”
The nekomata pounced on the plate, paws on the meat as it tore a piece off, its purring even louder. “They were the easiest things to eat that I could reach!”
M eyed the nekomate again. “You couldn’t open the fridge?” Something was off… They had a human form they could change between with just a thought.
The nekomata paused, then shook his head. “Not right now. I just stopped being able to do it — dunno why.”
M raised an eyebrow. “And you’re not worried.” It would have been shit if he’d been stuck in his wolf form.
The nekomata shrugged. “Not much I can do about it, ya know? It’ll probably fix itself eventually.”
“Optimistic.”
“Heh, what can I say? Better to focus on other things, like food and shelter!”
Lightning flashed outside, thunder rolling following it soon after and M sighed.
“Fine,” M said, watching the nekomata polish off the rest of the meat. “You can stay until the storm passes, since you’re refusing to go to humans.” For whatever reason. But he knew what it was like to be alone in a storm.
“Thanks! You’re way more interesting than humans.”
He snorted. “Doubt it.”
The nekomata’s eyes were already drooping and it curled up against the plate.
Huh. It really had needed the food.
M took the plate away to wash before it slept on top of it.
M was warm. Not alone, feeling someone else breathe with a weight on his chest.
What… It had been so long since… There was a high pitched growl as well, one he didn’t recognise.
He opened his eyes.
The nekomata had curled up on his chest, purring away.
…Fuck.
“Oi, nekomata.”
An ear twitch but nothing else.
“Nekomata.”
“…Tao…”
For fuck’s - how deeply did it sleep? “Nekomata.”
“M'name’s Tao.” The nekomata - Tao stretched, fangs flashing as it yawned. “Whaaat? I was dreami-”
“Why are you on me?” There were so many other places Tao could have slept.
“You’re the warmest thing here! Not the softest,” Tao added, kneading M’s chest, “but definitely the warmest.”
M snorted, flicking his fingers at the nekomata to make it stop. “I could get you a hot water bottle instead.”
“But that’d go cooold eventually,” Tao said, rolling over and wriggling.
“Oi.” M tried to grab the nekomata, but Tao ducked away from his hands, still staying on top of him. “Don’t get your scent all over me; I’m not ‘yours’ to mark.”
“But ya just offered me a hot water bottle!” Tao said with a laugh, pouncing over to M’s knees. “You’re totally mine.”
“Fucking nekomata-” He lunged, Tao still out of arm’s reach.
Still laughing, Tao dashed out the room.
“Get back here, asshole!” M chased after him and found the nekomata on top of the fridge, leaning over and patting the door like it would open from being pressed. “That won’t work.”
“I know, but I’m huuungry.” Tao lifted his head to look at him. “Pleeease?”
M snorted. “Fine, just don’t mark me again.” But nekomata were notorious for marking people as soon as they met, so M wasn’t that trustful it wouldn’t do it again.
“Okay, okay, I won’t!”
Tao jumped to M’s shoulder when he neared the fridge and he sighed. There were worse things that could happen than a nekomata deciding to move into his house.
“So what’s your name?” Tao asked, watching him take out the meat.
He squashed the pain of old memories with practiced ease. “…M.”
“Huh, doesn’t really sound like a werewolf name.” The nekomata padded to M’s other shoulder, following the meat. “They’re more harsh sounding, with growl-like sounds, ya know?”
“Yeah.”
Tao turned his head and studied him for a few seconds.
M glowered back. “What?”
“Don’t wanna talk about it?”
He snorted. “No.” It was in the past and he’d rather not think about it again.
Tao nodded and then jumped off his shoulder when M set the plate down. “Thanks!”
Tao ate slower this time, but he still purred as he ate.
While Tao was busy, M started on his own breakfast.
Something thumped against his shoulder. “What’re you doin’?”
M looked at Tao, who had jumped to his shoulder, carrying what was left of the meat, eating the rest of it there. “You can finish that on the plate.”
“But I wanna see what yer doin’!”
“I could have moved the plate.”
Tao laughed again. “You said you’re not mine?”
He rolled his eyes. “I don’t want meat on my clothes.”
“But it smells nice!”
With a sigh, M picked Tao and the plate up, putting both on the counter next to the cooker.
Tao leaped for him again, but M caught him in mid-air. “Only if you’re not carrying food.”
“But I wanna seeee!”
“At the rate you’re eating, I won’t be done anyway.”
“Hnnng.”
When M-21 put Tao down again, the nekomata devoured the meat. As soon as it was done, it jumped to M’s elbow and climbed up.
“You’ve never been in a house before?” M asked as Tao started cleaning himself.
“I have! But I still wanna see what you’re doing!”
M rolled his eyes. “What, you think we eat raw meat all the time?” Was that what nekomata said about his kind?
Tao swatted his ear with a paw. "'Course not. But everyone makes things differently.“
"Don’t think I make things that differently,” M grumbled.
“Can I have a taste?”
“It’s not finished yet.”
“But can I?” Tao leaned over, like that would help the food reach his mouth faster.
M moved his shoulder away. “You’ve already eaten.”
“Exactly! So just a taste is all I need.” Tao pawed towards the pan.
“No.”
“Awww, but M~!”
M sighed. This was probably going to be what his days were going to be like from now on.
M ended up sharing a quarter of his breakfast with Tao, the nekomata also playing with the tap spray as he washed the dishes.
“What’re you doin’?”
“Getting ready for work,” M said, pulling his shirt on.
Tao perked up. “Can I-”
“No. You’re not coming with me.”
Tao’s ears flattened. “Why not!”
“Because people’ll ask why a cat’s following me and it’ll be a pain if they catch me talking to you.”
“I wouldn’t…”
M just looked at the nekomata.
“Not…much. Really.” Tao coughed, his tail flicking.
“You can stay in or go out until I come back,” M said, and Tao glanced out the window, where it was still raining.
“I’ll stay where it’s nice and warm, heh.”
M nodded and then paused, musing. “I’ll keep some food out for you as well. Just don’t eat it all-”
Tao jumped onto him, rubbing against M’s face. “Thank you!”
“Stop marking me!”
M sighed as he came home, massaging his neck. Work had been fine but it had still been a long day. He adjusted his grip on his bag, hoping he hadn’t dreamed Tao. He could still smell Tao’s mark on him, even after the entire day, but… There was a chance the nekomata had gotten bored and left. They were fickle like that.
There was no sound as he approached his door, but as he opened it, something launched itself at him as soon as there was enough space.
“M! M! You finally came back!” Tao pounced up M’s arms, claws scratching through to M’s skin.
“I had wo — hey!” M’s arms were busy, unable to stop the little bastard from marking him again.
“I said-” M closed the door with his heel, leaning away from Tao, but that didn’t deter him at all.
“But I missed you!” Tao had all but curled around M’s neck, his purrs vibrating directly into his ears.
“Still doesn’t mean you have to mark me,” M grumbled, putting the bag down on the table.
“Yeah it does!” Tao said, moving onto M’s other side and marking him there. “You’re mine, so I wanna make sure others know in case they try ta bother you.”
M snorted. “I can handle myself.” And someone the size of his forearm wasn’t a threat.
“The extra warning is good.” That done, Tao turned his attention to M’s bag. “What did ya get?”
M didn’t say anything, unsure. Yes, he’d bought them, but he hadn’t been sure if Tao would still be there when he returned and maybe Tao wouldn’t like them, being offended instead.
Tao hopped to the table and stuck his head into the bag before M could say anything or stop him.
A loud gasp came from the bag, Tao’s tail vibrating. Ah, shit. “Sorry, I thought you’d be bored-”
Tao jerked away from the bag so hard he tumbled off the table with a yelp. He leapt back up with the long rod still clasped in his jaws as he tried to climb M. “Play wif meee!”
M picked Tao up to save him the journey, taking the rod. “You…don’t mind? Wasn’t sure if you thought I was just treating you like a cat.”
“You got me toys!” Tao said with a laugh, already batting at the stringed fish on the other end of the rod. “And I am a cat.”
M let out a relieved sigh, a smile curling the corners of his mouth. That was good. “All right.”
Tao had dozed off on M’s lap, his purrs vibrating up M’s lap. It had been a long time since someone else had slept on him. That morning didn’t count — he hadn’t been aware of it at the time.
He’d…missed it. He couldn’t deny that. The warmth of other people, the background clatter of daily life around him.
There was nothing he could do about it now. He sighed, burying a hand in Tao’s fur. Tao made a soft chirping sound, pushing up against his touch, but didn’t wake up.
He didn’t have anything else to do, so when M’s eyes drifted shut, he didn’t try to stop them.
‘-don’t belong here, weakling.’
No. He did. He did. They were his-
“M?”
‘-our pack. If we hear you still using our name, we’ll do worse than cast you o-”
“M!”
M gasped, pinpricks of pain on his neck as his eyes snapped open.
“Hey!” Tao was rumbling, licking M’s temple, pressed up as much as he could against M’s neck. “How you doing?”
Oh. M let out a shuddering breath. Just a dream. A memory. He squeezed his eyes shut. “Fine.”
“Yer a terrible liar, you know that?” Tao didn’t stop licking him though.
“M’not lying,” he mumbled. “I’ll be fine.” Couldn’t be anything else, and he couldn’t change the past.
“Liar,” Tao repeated. “Hmm, think it’s time for dinner?”
“Yeah…” M said, standing up. It’d give him something else to think about.
Dinner had been quieter compared to the previous night, but Tao seemed glued to M’s shoulder, never leaving it, licking him and rubbing against him every so often.
Even if Tao was getting his scent all over him, M appreciated it. It kept him grounded, stopped his mind from wandering too far.
“This is nice!” Tao said, opening his mouth for M to put more food there.
“You’ve got your own plate,” M said, rolling his eyes, bringing more food to Tao’s mouth anyway.
“But that’d mean leaving yer shoulder and nah. I live here now.” Tao wriggled, settling even further.
M snorted. “You’d better move when I’ve got work tomorrow.”
“Fiiine,” Tao said with a sigh, “but your shoulder is mine when you get back.”
“I don’t doubt it.” And…he didn’t mind. Not when it was a constant reminder that Tao was there. That he wasn’t alone anymore. “Thanks.”
“Huh?”
“For earlier,” M said, giving Tao more food. “Waking me up and distracting me. Thanks.”
“No prob!” Tao leaned against M’s head for a second before accepting the food. “You’d do the same for me.”
He would now, wouldn’t he?
Waking up to purring was becoming a regular occurrence but…M was too warm. The weight on his chest was a lot heavier than Tao.
When his eyes fluttered open, there was someone draped over him. Someone with black hair and one white stripe. The person’s breathing was in time with the purring as well.
“Hey…” M said, watching the person shift. “Tao?”
“Mmm… Yeah?” Tao wriggled, turning his head to rest his chin on M’s chest. He had dark eyes, but M could see his slitted pupils. “Mornin’!”
M waited to see how long it would take Tao to realise.
“What? You keep staring at me like…” Tao’s eyes widened and he rolled onto his back, holding his limbs up into the air. “Hey, I’m humanoid again!”
M huffed, smiling. “Took you long enough.”
“Oi, you,” Tao said, rolling over again, “you get used to a form, ya know? Oooh, wow, I get to feel tall again! This is great!”
Before M could respond, Tao wrapped his arms around M’s shoulders, purring as he rubbed his face against M’s. Still the same scent. Still the same Tao. But of course, why would Tao change because his form did?
M exhaled, returning Tao’s hug.
“Ehehe,” Tao chuckled, still nuzzling him. “Definitely mine.”
“And you’re mine as well,” M said. He wasn’t denying it now, since he’d let Tao into his house and fed him.
“Well, duh,” Tao said. “What do ya think happens when I mark you?”
M blinked, not understanding what Tao was getting at.
Tao lifted his head and peered at M. “You get your scent on me too when I mark you.”
“…Oh.” Fuck. That made sense — werewolves didn’t mark each other, so he’d never had to think about it like that.
Tao burst out laughing, laying his head on M’s chest, his shoulders shaking. “Now who’s bein’ the slow one, huh?”
“Shut up.” But there was no heat behind his words and Tao knew that with how much harder he laughed.
“Anyway,” Tao said once his laughter died down, “time ta celebrate with breakfast! I’ll cook this time.” Tao grinned at him, hopping off the bed. He wobbled for a second, arms out for balance, and then dashed for the kitchen.
M continued to lay there, hearing Tao move around. Tao seemed to know where everything was, since he’d watched M cook.
It was…nice. Not as silent as it used to be.
He rubbed his cheek where Tao had marked him. It wouldn’t make much difference if he removed Tao’s scent doing that — Tao would mark him again soon enough. And he didn’t mind that.
“Heeey, M, did ya fall back asleep?”
“No,” M called out, getting out of bed, a small smile on his face. Maybe this time he’d mark Tao. It would be a change.
Much thanks to @madameazzure for all the support while I was writing this. :D
So had been thinking that Tao reverted to nekomata form because he felt in danger so needed a small, quick form that could help him escape if something bad happened. As soon as he felt safe and accepted he could turn back into his humanoid form. :D