and in nonsense fluffland...

[theboywhodied]

When Howard left the flat he shared with Cedric that morning, there were two resident cats. Sushi and Emergency Rations, prowling their castle and living a comfortable cat life.

When he returns that afternoon, he'll find three. Sushi is still curled around his base at the new cat post, content to tug on a mouse ear. Emergency Rations paces around the room, attention turned to the third cat. What is this third cat?

A tiny little thing with golden-brown fur, looking rather terrified. Its tail flicks back and forth, back arched. It's as if this cat is guilty and knows it.

The tipped over bag of (thankfully clean) litter might have something to do with that.

Comments

[theboywhodied]

Cedric sighs. He's alive, he's well...he's just a little worried about what will happen next. Casting that spell really was stupid, and it could have ended disastrously.

Once he stretches each limb and feels comfortable in his human form, he shuffles to the side slightly and begins the awkward task of getting dressed. He does a lot of twisting and writhing, and the blanket slips, but he's intact and decent in a few minutes and not too much worse at moving about than before. At least that bit of exercise has proven he hasn't lost control of his limbs.

He settles and bumps his knee against Howard's again. "Spot thought so," Cedric grumbles fondly, reaching to rub her head. "It was a cute kitten, from what I saw in my one trip to the mirror. Though that wasn't really what I was thinking about."

His gaze drops to his knees. A half hour ago, he would've been looking at paws.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Howard politely doesn't look. Doesn't matter that they're dating. There are times for being salacious and after a scare like that is not them. He pets Sushi instead.

Once Cedric's dressed, Howard raises his gaze and stares at Cedric. "Don't ever do that to me again. The disappearing thing." His voice is cold and steady, but his face betrays a certain amount of shame that Cedric saw him panic that quickly over it. Shame and a bit of anger.

He drops his stare back down to the cats, although he finds he no longer wishes to pet them.

[theboywhodied]

Cedric withdraws automatically, curled into a little ball of shame. He'd known this was coming, but Howard's anger always scares him.

But he deserves it. Cedric's spent all this time trying to convince Howard that it's okay to trust, that people don't always disappear on you, and now he's gone and caused this. Accident or not.

Accident that shouldn't have happened.

"I didn't want to. I'll be more careful, I swear it."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"I know you didn't mean to, just..." Howard squints his eyes and takes a shaky breath. "I get so scared, okay? I thought for sure you had...I don't want to lose you like I did my parents. So don't do that. Try real hard not to do that to me."

He finishes the bowl of potion, licks the inside and sets it aside. He blinks a few times and then leans forward, resting his head on Cedric's lap. He doesn't want to scare Cedric; he doesn't even think of himself as that intimidating a person, and he'd never hurt Cedric, not on purpose, not physically, nothing like that.

"I just don't want to lose you."

[theboywhodied]

"I promise. No more magic with my mouth full.."

Cedric's voice is heavy with regret and conviction. He feels the weight of what he did and accepts it, desperately wants to atone for it.

With that thought in mind, he lowers his legs to fit Howard's head there comfortably. His hand tentatively brushes Howard's short hair, then curves to rest lightly but protectively.

"I don't want to lose you either. You three are all that I have," he admits, briefly glancing at the two cats. They seem content to stay curled up with them. "I'd never be able to say that if it hadn't worked. So...thanks for saving my life."

Howard's hand gets a warm squeeze for that.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Oh, that's what it was? I'm going to ban you from doing it if you ever get a tongue piercing, too."

Howard closes his eyes for a moment, then opens them. It doesn't matter that he can feel Cedric's still here and alive and well, he wants to see it. He shifts a bit so he's staring up at Cedric, rather than out. As sad as Cedric looks, he also doesn't look hunched over in pain or fear right now, so Howard guesses that's an improvement.

"And that's not true. You have your team, you have the house, you have your health and all. You'd be okay without us." But he squeezes Ced's hand back. "But you're welcome. I'd always save your life. It's kind of what I get paid to do."

[theboywhodied]

"A tongue piercing?" Cedric makes an interesting face. His mouth is open just enough for Howard to see his tongue curling in revulsion. "Why on earth would anyone want to do that? I've seen people in the shops with them, but it seems like a lot of unpleasantness for not very much reward. I heard I wouldn't be able to kiss you for a month."

And that, surprisingly, is more objectionable than being unable to do magic. The revelation catches Cedric off guard.

Cedric smiles, though it's sadder than before. He knows what Howard's saying: there's always a small chance this won't last, and if they have to go on without each other, they'd better be able to. It's true, but it's the last thing he wants to think about at the moment.

"Then you want me to pay you now?" Cedric asks lightly. "What do I owe?"

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Well, that's just unacceptable." He stretches up and gives Cedric a kiss on the side of his mouth. Personally, he wouldn't be a huge fan of a tongue piercing on Cedric either; there's something about Cedric's wholesome boy-next-door look that would run at odds to piercings or tattoos or whatever.

There's always the haunting sensation that this is temporary. It's faded the longer they've been together, but the undercurrent of fear is still there. Howard thinks - hopes - that a few years longer and it'll be gone. Bumps like this make it temporarily worse, though. The way he's squeezing Ced's hand is more like a cling than anything.

"I don't know. I could use some comfort-snuggling. Since I didn't get to snuggle you much as a cat."

[theboywhodied]

A smile stretches across Cedric's face, noticeably more pronounced on that side of his mouth. Oh, Howard. Cedric loves when you're closeby.

Cedric tightens his grip for a moment, almost to the point of hurting, before he loosens it and rubs Howard's knuckles. "Sorry. But you've got two more," he points out, opening his arms to let Howard in anyway.

"Is it the fuzzy ears? Or that you're the bigger one?"

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

If the grip's tight, Howard doesn't really notice. He rolls over to his hip so he can fully embrace Ced and rest his face against Cedric's neck.

"Honestly? Probably the second. Do you know how often I get to lord my height over other people? It's precisely never." It would be at little kids' birthday parties if Howard would ever be caught dead within half a block of small children.

[theboywhodied]

Cedric lets out a little hum of contentment. He enjoys these quiet moments with Howard so close. He can be almost as cuddly as a kitten if he tries.

"You're cute as you are, though," Cedric protests. "Though I have to admit it is fun to carry you sometimes."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"I'm better for you than weight-lifting." Howard kisses Ced's neck and nuzzles there. Cedric's still here. Things are, for all intents and purposes, as they were last night, before transformations into kittens happened. "Want to carry me to bed, oh strong man?"

[theboywhodied]

Cedric laughs. "What, do you want to be a kitten next? Not that I would, of course---too risky, and I like being able to talk to you."

As requested, he bends and sweeps Howard into his arms, like he's going to carry him over the threshold. "Yeah, you're right. I could use some more weight training."

He kisses Howard's temple, and off they go. It's strangely peaceful for once in their lives.