Chapter Text
But as Narinder stared down at the sheep under him, something shifted in his expression. It’d been thoughtful yet otherwise unreadable, a bubble of worry rearing its ugly head as Lamb desperately wondered if they’d said something wrong.
If, perhaps, Narinder had come to his senses. Noticed the one beneath him was nothing more than-
All of those thoughts shattered simultaneously as Narinder shifted his weight. The former Bishop gently cupped Lamb’s face with clawed fingers, his grasp protective and kind. He’d leaned in soon after, movements slow as to allow the ram plenty of time to protest. To change their mind.
Desperately instead, Lamb met their God in the middle, clashing their lips a smidge too harshly. They’d been about to pull away as to apologise, but Narinder’s warm, delicate lips hadn’t seemed discouraged by the rash action. Near immediately, Lamb positively melted at the attention. He’d felt tension leave his shoulders, a tension they’d been utterly unaware of, before sighing into the welcomed contact.
There’d been no rush in the black cat’s actions, his movements deliberate as he’d pushed the sheep slowly down to the bed. Lamb’s heart had long been lodged in their throat, desperate, disbelieving moans escaping between wary breaths.
It’d only been when Narinder pulled away, caressing their partner’s cheek, did Lamb notice they’d began to cry. Quick to panic at the realisation, desperately trying to discern the way Narinder had currently been staring at them, the sheep attempted to explain,
“I’m sorry-“, they’d stumbled over themselves, wiping at their eyes desperately, trying to banish the traitorous liquid, “-I promise these are happy tears, I’m just-“, they’d rambled, stopping only briefly as Narinder grasped their hands, prying them away from the smaller God’s eyes.
Suddenly the younger of the two felt so… exposed. He’d been distressed, too, seeing as he’d likely utterly ruined the mood. He’d ruined his chances and Narinder would see him as the mess he’d truly been.
Narinder deserved so much better.
What were they thinking?
“I’ve just- I’ve wanted this for so long and I really don’t want to disappoint you, Nari.”, they’d began to explain needlessly, finding it impossibly hard to look up at the cat in fear of seeing just that. Disappointment.
Before more could be said, or before Lamb’s thoughts could spiral further, a firm, unapologetic pressure rubbed against the sheep’s face.
Narinder had began to nuzzle into the red God’s face, taking turns as to wipe the smaller being’s tears.
“I-“, Lamb spluttered, attempting to wriggle out of the sudden attention, “what are you doing?”, they’d questioned, feeling the cat’s whiskers tickling their nose.
“Drying your face.”, Narinder deadpanned in turn, face utterly serious.
“… with your face?”
“Mm,”, the cat hummed noncommittally in turn, expression turning amused at the ordeal, “so unless you wish for the both of us to be soaked, I suggest you consider the option that I, too, wanted to be here, with you, for a long time.”
Lamb’s eyes widened at the admission, mouth opening and closing dumbly as a deep flush overtook their features. Narinder wasted little time in getting back to work at what he’d started, nuzzling into the God once more.
“You’re overconfident and rash,”, he’d began to speak, an evident smile etched onto his sharp features, “surprisingly crude for such a sweet appearance,”, Narinder pulled away, looking down at Lamb with nothing short of absolute adoration, “but you’ve a heart worth ten of mine, at the very least,”, he’d leaned in slowly, kissing the tip of the sheep’s nose, feeling them ease at the reassuring contact, “between the two of us, I think I’m the one most nervous to do right by you.”
“But-“
“-you’re my God now, Lamb,”, Narinder explained with full seriousness, “and your happiness is my own. So I assure you, with upmost honesty, that I love you. That you’ll never disappoint me. Alright?”
Lamb swallowed thickly, looking at Narinder’s stern, serious expression as he’d looked down at the sheep expectantly. It’d been as though the world stilled. As though they could no longer breathe.
After a short moment that felt like an eternity, Lamb eventually nodded, whispering out,
“Alright.”
——
“Hm,”, the cat hummed thoughtfully, smile ghosting his lips, “perhaps we ought to implement restraints, then.”
“As if,”, Lamb scoffed in turn, watching Narinder nuzzle himself playfully into the palm of the leader’s hand, “you’d never let me tie you up.”, they’d stated matter-of-factly, rolling their pretty eyes in the process.
“I wasn’t speaking of myself, Lamb,”, the cat purred dangerously, leaning down as to kiss the top of the ram’s soft, silky nose, “I’d rather think you deserve a taste at helplessness, being as capable as you are.”
Lamb’s breath hitched in their throat, their breath leaving their lips more akin to a shudder.
“Is that your attempt at a compliment?”, they’d stubbornly countered, feeling the way in which their body reacted to Narinder’s touches all over again. Ready to please their God without question. Desperately.
——
Leshy stretched with a content sigh, feeling the gentle rays of the sun shining down on him. The day had been pleasant, and the former God found farming to be particularly nice.
He’d always enjoyed the activity, and now that it’d been assigned to him officially, he hadn’t the need to worry that everyone would eat burnt meat for supper with his short attention span. It’d been a month or so since Lamb and Narinder switched their places back, yet the small changes in how the sheep would do things proved they’d taken the experience to heart.
There’d been a much more smooth, in-depth process to indoctrination now. The whole ordeal felt official, with the community the Lamb built being more connected than ever.
Narinder had been no social butterfly, but he’d now be approached whenever Lamb left for a prolonged time. The sheep had also announced their upcoming wedding, with preparations of the ceremony picking up as the days went.
And yet still, despite the changes, Leshy hadn’t expected Naridner would approach him.
“What are you planting?”, the cat asked his younger brother, stopping just short of the fields. The worm straightened out from where he’d been bent over, tilting his head towards the cat, head twitching at the voice.
“Lamb wanted cauliflower,”, Leshy answered somewhat robotically, his words plain. There’d been innate awkwardness in them. “Though I’d added a few beets, also. I’ve noticed we’d been running low.”
Leshy heard Narinder begin to move again, very clearly walking towards the farmer’s hut.
“What needs doing, then?”, Narinder asked, the shuffling of tools ringing in Leshy’s ears as his brother grasped them.
“I’ve done this portion,”, the worm gestured vaguely to a part of the field, “hadn’t a chance to do the rest, yet.”
“Alright,”, Narinder hummed unnecessarily, walking up to one of the untouched parts of it. “I’ll start here, then.”, he’d explained, tapping the earth beneath his feet as to direct his brother’s ears to his actions.
Only bringing himself capable of nodding, Leshy took a moment to listen to Narinder as the cat got to work. He’d listen to the way metal tools hit the earth, digging into the soil in preparation of planting.
Perhaps he’d taken a moment too long thinking of the gesture. Of the meaning of them actually working together on something, even if they hadn’t interacted much during it.
Somehow, Leshy couldn’t help but wear a ghost of a smile for the rest of the day. Thankful to the Lamb for giving him a chance to be better.
Thankful to Narinder, also.