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Chapter Text

Cheng Xiaoshi yawned as he climbed the stairs towards the bedroom, steps creaking underneath every movement. He rubbed at his eyes as he pushed the door open, sighing as he saw Lu Guang sitting at the desk in front of his open laptop, the bright screen the only light in the entire room.

“Dude, you can’t stay up this late. And you’re gonna strain your eyes,” he said softly as he made his way over to Lu Guang.

He was met with a tired blink before Lu Guang turned back to the laptop. “Says you,” he hummed. “You’re still up.”

“Yeah, so I know that it’s not good for you. And you know that your eyes are gonna feel like crap in the morning.” He rested a hand against Lu Guang’s shoulder.

Lu Guang glanced at his watch before his lips pulled up in a smirk that held no humor. “It’s already morning.”

Cheng Xiaoshi sighed, his hand migrating up to tangle in Lu Guang’s fluffy hair. Normally, Lu Guang would bat his hand away, but he really must have been tired because he relaxed under Cheng Xiaoshi’s touch.

In fact, Lu Guang was actually leaning into his hand, pressing back against Cheng Xiaoshi’s palm as his eyelashes fluttered shut. Cheng Xiaoshi dared not speak, for fear that words would break the spell. Instead, he slowly curled his fingers, scratching lightly against Lu Guang’s scalp.

And then Lu Guang hummed, sounding altogether different than he usually did.

This hum was lower, throatier… almost like a purr.

Cheng Xiaoshi couldn’t help the lopsided grin that stretched across his face. “Awww, is my little kitty tired?”

For a moment, there and gone so fast that Cheng Xiaoshi almost missed it, that hum pitched up until it nearly sounded like a whine.

But then Lu Guang’s eyes popped open, a scowl twisting his expression as he recoiled. “Don’t push it,” he muttered, rubbing his eyes with one hand while the other reached forward to close the laptop. “Fine. I’ll go to bed.”

He studiously avoided Cheng Xiaoshi’s gaze as he stretched, standing and climbing up to the top bunk. “Goodnight, Cheng Xiaoshi.”

Cheng Xiaoshi shook his head to clear it. He was probably just hearing things. “Yeah. Goodnight, Lu Guang.”

But even as he settled down to sleep in his own bunk, Cheng Xiaoshi still couldn’t get the sound of Lu Guang’s purr out of his mind.

How his body had relaxed under Cheng Xiaoshi’s touch, eyelids drifting closed as his face grew slack.

Was Lu Guang always so tense that it became his normal? When had Cheng Xiaoshi last seen him truly relax?

And then, an idea began to form in Cheng Xiaoshi’s mind to try to persuade Lu Guang to relax some more.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The very next night, despite the bags under Lu Guang’s eyes and how he’d needed drops to hydrate them throughout the day - he’d tried to hide it, but Cheng Xiaoshi had still noticed - he was back at the desk in the dark room, staring at the bright laptop screen.

“Hey,” Cheng Xiaoshi softly called as he closed the door behind him. “Why are you still up?”

Lu Guang’s shoulders flexed as he adjusted, subtly trying to stretch. “Bills,” came his response.

At first he sounded curt, or even irritated, but Cheng Xiaoshi suspected it was just because he was tired.

And Cheng Xiaoshi had an idea for how to get his roommate to relax. Or, at least, ease the tension with a laugh.

He walked forward nonchalantly, trying to sound casual as he approached with his hands behind his back. He didn’t miss how Lu Guang tensed even more the closer he got.

As soon as he got close enough, Cheng Xiaoshi grinned and pulled out what he had hidden behind his back and placed it on Lu Guang’s head.

It was a simple cat ear headband, white fur silky to the touch and blending into the white of its new surroundings. “Now you’re definitely a cat, Lu Guang!” he chuckled.

Lu Guang bristled, immediately reaching up and yanking the headband off. He stared at it before his gaze lifted to glare at Cheng Xiaoshi. “Idiot,” he gritted out. “Don’t pull this crap again.”

And with a flick of his wrist, the headband went flying towards the far wall, falling to the floor with a soft thump.

Cheng Xiaoshi could only raise his hands in surrender. “Ahaha, sorry, Lu Guang.”

With one final glare, Lu Guang stood and, pausing for a moment to close the laptop and plunge the room into darkness, climbed up the ladder and pulled the blanket on top of him.

Cheng Xiaoshi spared a glance at the headband, wishing that it had helped in the way he’d intended it to, then turned to head to his own bed. “I’m sorry, Lu Guang,” he murmured. “Goodnight.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Very soon after Lu Guang’s answering ‘Night’, Cheng Xiaoshi’s breaths deepened into quiet, rumbling snores, joining the ticking of the clock in filling the silence of the bedroom.

But Lu Guang could only stare at the ceiling, unable to relax.

He idly wondered if he’d forgotten how to.

He shivered slightly as the memory of fingers scratching behind his ear arose in his mind.

He’d just been tired, Lu Guang reasoned. He’d let his guard down and it wouldn’t happen again.

And yet…

He turned his head until he caught that flash of white on the floor against the far wall.

The fur had felt so nice against his fingers.

Cheng Xiaoshi’s light scratches against his scalp had eased his anxiety into white noise, something that Lu Guang had missed the instant that the spell had broken.

And the way he’d said “My little kitty” had sent a shiver down Lu Guang’s spine.

Almost before he could process what he was doing, Lu Guang sat up, quietly clambering down the ladder and padding across the floor until he reached the headband.

I’m just putting it away, he told himself as he bent down and picked it up, trying to ignore how soft the fur was between his fingers. No sense having it clutter our bedroom.

And yet, instead of placing it away in their closet (or in the trash like he wanted), his hands lifted, gently placing the accessory on his head.

It fit against his scalp snugly, but not enough to pinch. The tips brushed the tops of his ears, tickling them with the faux fur.

Lu Guang had never placed much stock in his reflection before. He’d glance at it if he was brushing his teeth or washing his hands, but he never lingered.

And yet, when he looked up at the small desk mirror, his breath caught and he couldn’t look away.

The little ears pointed up above his head, the soft white fur blending into his hair until he could almost believe that it had always been that way.

Before he could even process what was happening, his hand shifted, moving behind his head and scratching lightly against the base of his scalp. Even with his own fingers, that wonderful fuzzy fog began to seep into his mind, calming his thoughts and soothing his anxiety.

A shiver thrummed through his body at that, eyes closing as his throat began to rumble with a low hum.

He could almost imagine a tail, fur as silky as the ears, swishing through the air behind him.

“My little kitty,” murmured Cheng Xiaoshi from the recesses of his mind.

But Lu Guang recoiled just as much as he had before, ripping the headband from his head and remorselessly dropping it in the trashcan.

It was wrong and illogical and would just distract him from his mission.

He resolutely ignored the slight twist in his gut that made itself known as he returned to his bed, rolling over and facing away from the trashcan and its condemned contents.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Until the next night.

Cheng Xiaoshi had glanced forlornly at the trashcan before heading to bed, and Lu Guang tried to pretend that he didn’t do the same. Instead, he said his ‘goodnight’ to Cheng Xiaoshi, climbed into bed, and waited (hoped) for sleep to claim him.

And yet, he couldn’t relax, couldn’t stop his mind from whirring even as the minutes stretched into hours.

The headband called to him from its place among crumpled notebook paper.

And Lu Guang couldn’t resist its siren call.

It was easier this time, to imagine that he’d always had ears like these, fur soft against the skin of his human ears and fingers as he reached up to play with them.

He wanted someone else to play with them.

Lu Guang’s imaginary tail lashed at that intrusive thought, eyebrows tensing together. There was no way he could ever let anyone - least of all, Cheng Xiaoshi - see him like this.

It was stupid, illogical, downright insane…

“My little kitty…”

But, as his nails began to lightly scratch against the base of his scalp, Lu Guang let out a small content sigh followed by a low purr. His thoughts fizzled out slowly as his fingers gently curled through the soft hair fur and scritching at the sensitive skin beneath.

He barely registered walking back to the bunk bed, imaginary tail swishing from side to side as he climbed the ladder and crawled on his hands and knees up towards his pillow.

Laying down among the blanket, Lu Guang couldn’t help the urge to nuzzle into his pillow, trying to emulate someone petting his head. He told himself he only indulged because no one else was around.

Because Cheng Xiaoshi wasn’t here to witness this.

Tomorrow, he dimly felt himself think as he curled up, facing away from the rest of the room, nearly instantly feeling himself begin to drift off to sleep. Tomorrow, I’ll throw it away. Can’t have… distractions…

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

When Lu Guang awoke, he opened his eyes to a bright room. He yawned as he levered himself up to his hands and knees, blearily blinking at the rest of the room.

He hadn’t slept that deeply in a long time, he realized, thoughts still soft around the edges with sleep.

Lowering his chest down to the mattress, Lu Guang stretched his arms out as far as they could before him, humming lowly as some of the tension in his back and shoulders lessened at the movement.

It was only when he felt his still-aloft hips begin to sway from side to side that his eyes popped open, fully awake.

He was still wearing the cat ears.

He was stretching like a cat.

This could not be happening.

Lu Guang immediately sat up on his heels, pulling the headband off of his head and stashing it beneath his pillow.

I’ll throw it away later, he promised himself as he descended the ladder, glancing back at Cheng Xiaoshi’s slumbering form to confirm he hadn’t seen anything before stalking to the bathroom to wash up.

To do his best to wash the shame and weirdness of the whole situation off.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

He hated that damned headband, Lu Guang decided.

And yet, he was kneeling on his mattress, sitting back on his heels in front of his pillow.

Underneath which rested the object of his loathing.

He stared at it through the gloom of nighttime, could feel the urge to put it on stronger now.

Looking down, Lu Guang gritted his teeth in annoyance.

For his knees were open, paws hands bracing his weight against the mattress between them.

Just like a cat.

Why did it feel so good?

Why couldn’t he get the phantom sensation of nails scratching his scalp out of his head?

Why had Cheng Xiaoshi’s scratches felt better than his own?

He hated the thing, but…

Even as his hands paws hands reached forward, he could feel something in chest begin to uncurl, something deep inside him already relaxing as he took the headband in his hands paws and slowly lifted it above his head.

It trembled in midair as those walls he had built up over the years attempted to rise once again, attempted to make a last-ditch effort to protect him.

But once the headband was placed on his head, Lu Guang exhaled deeply, turning to look at the small desk mirror that he’d brought up to his bed.

He let his eyes drift over the soft ears, their white color blending in seamlessly with his own hair.

“My little kitty…”

And, for the first time since hearing those words, Lu Guang didn’t cower from them.

He preened.

He placed his paws almost daintily between his knees, imagining his tail curling around and resting just before them.

Lu Guang wondered if Cheng Xiaoshi would call him a pretty kitty if he saw him.

That thought made him flinch, immediately rejecting the idea of his roommate ever seeing him in such a state.

But just as quickly as he’d bristled, that calm settled over him once more, a light fog softening his thoughts. He sighed almost dreamily as he ‘stood’ on his hands and knees before lowering his chest to the mattress and reaching as far as he could before him.

Stretching like a cat now felt like the most natural thing in the world. Lu Guang could practically feel hands scratching against the base of his skull, petting down his spine as he purred.

His hips swayed from side to side, tail swishing through the air as he relished in the feeling of his spine arching and shoulders untensing.

It was so simple, he realized as he let himself tip to the side, curling up against his pillow, feeling that hand scritch lightly against his belly.

Being a cat felt good. That’s all there was to it.

Lu Guang sighed again as his eyelids drooped, blinking long and slow before sliding shut completely, breaths slowing as he easily slipped into a light, fuzzy, almost dreamlike state. He drifted, feeling oh so good, the line between drifting and sleeping growing more and more blurred until he couldn’t tell which was which.

When he awoke, Cheng Xiaoshi was already stirring, mumbling sleepily as he rolled out of bed.

Lu Guang wanted nothing more than to roll over and continue to sleep, spending the entire day in bed.

And yet, adrenaline shot through his body as he heard Cheng Xiaoshi stand up.

He tore the headband from his head and stuffed it beneath his pillow, hiding it from view before Cheng Xiaoshi could turn around and see it.

“Mornin’,” he yawned, then paused, eyes narrowing as his gaze became more appraising. “What’s up? Have a bad dream?”

Lu Guang pressed his lips together, unwilling to say that he hadn’t, that he’d been sleeping deeply because of that stupid headband.

It shouldn’t mean anything to him.

It shouldn’t do anything to him.

So, he lied. “Yeah. Just a bad dream.”

Cheng Xiaoshi offered him an easy smile, accepting the lie without question and making guilt pool in Lu Guang’s gut. “If you wanna talk about it, I’m all ears. Maybe over breakfast?”

“We can’t take too much time,” Lu Guang muttered, trying to compose himself as he descended the ladder. He’d forgotten how easily Cheng Xiaoshi could read him if he wasn’t careful. “Remember, we need to open the store today.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Cheng Xiaoshi waved him off with a chuckle. “Do you ever not think about work?”

Lu Guang froze, unwillingly recalling how nice it was to be a cat, to not have to worry about such things, to not have to think at all. “Idiot, I don’t think about work when I’m asleep,” he forced out.

Cheng Xiaoshi laughed heartily at that, slinging an arm around Lu Guang’s shoulders in a way that made Lu Guang almost whine with pathetic want.

His hand had been so close to Lu Guang’s hair.

Panic lanced through his chest as he wondered if Cheng Xiaoshi had heard it anyway.

But instead Cheng Xiaoshi only laughed, oblivious to his roommate’s internal struggle. “Nah, if anyone would dream about work and bills, it’d be you! You’re such a workaholic.”

As they began their morning routine, Lu Guang couldn’t help cursing the headband and the apparent power it held over him.

He couldn’t keep it; he had to throw it away before he got even worse.

After all, what on earth had he been thinking, continuing to put it on? That a simple cat ear headband could make him relax? As if.

He was done with it.

He couldn’t keep wearing it.

He couldn’t.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Lu Guang tilted his head as he regarded himself in the little desk mirror that was still in his bed, the words “my little kitty” playing on loop in his head as he lightly scritched at that sensitive spot at the base of his skull.

It was so easy to believe that his hair was soft white fur, glowing faintly in the dim light of a streetlamp seeping in from outside.

His throat rumbled as he purred, vision unfocusing and eyelids drooping.

“Yours,” he hummed almost unconsciously.

It was so incredibly easy to believe that someone else’s hands were in his fur, scratching lightly at the skin underneath.

Someone else’s hands petting down his torso.

Lu Guang felt the mattress against his back as he lay down, felt himself sink into its warm embrace, felt someone else’s hands begin to pet his belly. He purred, arching his spine at the sensation, tail curling lazily against the blanket.

Those hands drifted lower. “My little kitty,” echoed in his mind as deft fingers dipped beneath the waistband of his pajama pants.

“Yours,” Lu Guang whimpered as a hand palmed his hard length, hips bucking up into the grasp.

It felt so good to let go, to not have to worry about the outside world.

He mewled as a thumb stroked his tip, smearing precum as the hand pumped down his shaft, groaning at the feeling of warmth flooding his abdomen.

It felt so good, so right to turn his head, to nuzzle into the soft pillow beneath his head. He could hear the rustle of his fur against the fabric, barely audible over the rumbling purr that he couldn’t seem to stop. It flowed out of his throat, up from his chest, a low hum that filled the silence of the bedroom, seconded only by the ticking of the clock.

Lu Guang’s spine arched as he mewled again, so, so, so close to climaxing. He could feel that heat in his gut swirling, getting hotter and hotter, coiling tighter and tighter as every muscle in his body seemed to tense in preparation. His impending orgasm felt feral, like it was threatening to claw its way through his body and leave him ragged in its wake.

His eyebrows knit together in concentration, tail lashing and breaths coming in quick gasps as he neared the edge, so close to being able to tip over.

“My little kitty…”

“Yours,” Lu Guang whined, hips bucking up as he chased his release. “Ohhhh, yours, Cheng Xiaoshi…”

It was so easy to believe that the hand stroking him, the one that had scratched his head and petted his body, the one who whispered “my little kitty” into Lu Guang’s mind… so easy to believe that it was all Cheng Xiaoshi.

And then…

“Lu Guang?”

Chapter Text

When Cheng Xiaoshi drifted into wakefulness, the room was dark, and he got the sense that it was still the middle of the night.

He sighed deeply, eyelids drooping as he moved to roll over, about to fall back asleep when a strange sound caught his attention.

It sounded like Lu Guang, but so different. He vaguely wondered if he was dreaming, because he had no idea that Lu Guang could sound like that.

“Yours…” he whispered, voice high and lilting and sounding oh so soft.

There was another small sound that emanated from the top bunk, and Cheng Xiaoshi couldn’t help but sit up upon hearing it.

Was that… a meow?

It hadn’t been a full ‘meow’, but it had been close. Was Lu Guang watching a video on his phone?

But, despite his attempts to rationalize the sound that he heard, he knew that it had been Lu Guang’s voice that had made it.

And then, he heard a sound that he never expected to hear again.

He could hear Lu Guang’s purr, a low, rumbling hum that prompted Cheng Xiaoshi to swing his legs over the side of his bed and rest them on the floor as quietly as possible.

When he stood up and peered into Lu Guang’s bunk, his heart stopped.

Laying down in bed, wearing those same cat ears that he’d thrown away, was Lu Guang. His face was flushed, eyebrows knit together. His spine arched as one of his hands moved rhythmically beneath the waistband of his pajama pants, purrs never stopping.

Cheng Xiaoshi gulped, unable to look away. Lu Guang’s mewl echoed in his ears, expression more open and vulnerable than he’d ever seen it before.

He looked beautiful.

Lu Guang’s breaths were much faster now, hissed out from between gritted teeth as his entire body began to tense, legs visibly trembling.

And then he said it again.

“Yours,” Lu Guang whined, hips bucking up into his hand as he chased his release.

And Cheng Xiaoshi’s breath hitched before stopping completely at the rest of Lu Guang’s words:

“Ohhhh, yours, Cheng Xiaoshi…”

A shiver snaked its way down Cheng Xiaoshi’s spine as he drank in the beautiful sight before him. Before he could even fully realize what he was doing, his own hand had migrated down to his own length, unsurprised to find himself already hard at the sight. “Lu Guang,” he whispered, the name leaving his mouth completely unbidden.

It hung in the air, both of them freezing at the words that sounded much too loud in the quiet of the room.

Lu Guang’s body shuddered as his eyes opened, slowly drifting to the side until they met Cheng Xiaoshi’s gaze.

They stayed like that for an eternity until Lu Guang’s hand wrenched the headband off of his head in one, swift movement, twisting away from Cheng Xiaoshi’s sight and hiding himself under the blanket.

But Cheng Xiaoshi couldn’t just forget what he’d seen, what he’d heard. “Lu Guang,” he whispered again, clambering up the ladder until he was crawling towards Lu Guang on his hands and knees. “Uhhh, what are you doing?”

Even though his voice was muffled, Lu Guang’s answer was undeniable: “Dying.”

“Please don’t,” Cheng Xiaoshi said as he reached forward and gently peeled the blanket back, revealing a very red-faced Lu Guang. “How about this: what were you doing?”

And even behind the hands that Lu Guang had pressed against his face, he could tell that he flushed an even brighter crimson.

Even his ears were red.

He wasn’t going to answer, that much was obvious. So, Cheng Xiaoshi took it upon himself to answer his own question: “Because it looked like you were enjoying yourself.”

The groan that emanated from Lu Guang’s very being made Cheng Xiaoshi almost feel bad for continuing to talk about it.

Almost.

But how could he just forget that his roommate had been wearing those cat ears, masturbating, and saying his name?

“Where’s the headband?” Cheng Xiaoshi tried shifting subjects in the hopes that it would put Lu Guang more at ease.

But then Lu Guang answered, a petulant mutter: “…broke ‘em.”

And yet, Cheng Xiaoshi could see the tip of faux white fur peeking out from beneath Lu Guang’s pillow. He reached forward, ignoring Lu Guang’s frankly adorable squeak as he pulled out the very intact cat ear headband.

He could feel a sad smile cross his face as he looked down at them, thumb running across the fur. “You can keep them, Lu Guang; I won’t judge. I never meant to make you feel bad or tease you.” He reached forward, placing the headband gently on Lu Guang’s head. “They suit you.”

Lu Guang swallowed audibly, eyes never leaving Cheng Xiaoshi’s. He opened his mouth, but closed it without saying anything. His gaze fell, purposefully looking away as his hand raised and he pulled the headband off.

“How about this,” Cheng Xiaoshi began. “I still wanna talk about… that. But how about we wait until the morning? Will that help you not feel so pressured? I don’t wanna put you on the spot.”

There was a soft, unmistakable sigh that left Lu Guang’s mouth as his eyes closed briefly. Relief. It was all but plastered across his face. “…Thank you,” he whispered, and Cheng Xiaoshi knew that he meant it.

He hesitated, hand hovering in midair as he wondered if he could pat Lu Guang on the head without it seeming weird, but ultimately decided against it. “Goodnight, Lu Guang. See you in the morning.”

“See you in the morning, Cheng Xiaoshi.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The faux fur felt soft against Lu Guang’s fingertips as he ran them across its length. His eyes were trained on the headband, much too ashamed to try to go back to sleep.

He knew he should’ve nipped this in the bud before it got out of hand. How did it get this bad?

And why did he still want to do it?

He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to forget the look of confusion in Cheng Xiaoshi’s eyes.

Trying to forget that he’d seen him.

He’d heard him.

He was grateful that Cheng Xiaoshi had given him time, but now it just felt like a sword of Damocles hanging over his head, each tick of the clock signifying another step towards a discussion they were bound to have, one that he absolutely did not want to have.

With a quiet sigh, Lu Guang pocketed the headband and climbed down the ladder, padding through the dark studio until he reached the kitchen.

The water in their kettle boiled quickly, and soon Lu Guang was sitting on the couch holding a steaming mug in both hands, relishing in the way the heat leached out from the drink and into his hands.

He tilted his head back, allowing a faint smile to cross his face as he gazed up through their skylight at the glittering stars above.

It was calm, still.

And yet…

He still wasn’t as calm as when…

The lump in his pocket, somehow much heavier than it should be, made itself known to him.

Why?

Why was he like this?

Why couldn’t he turn his brain off without it?

Lu Guang took a deep, grounding sip of his drink, the prickly sensation of guilt clawing at his gut as he recalled how he’d lost himself in the feeling.

It had just felt so good.

But if Cheng Xiaoshi thought it was weird, then maybe it was for the best if he actually threw the headband away.

For real this time.

Just pretend that it never happened.

But then Lu Guang couldn’t help but remember the soft smile on Cheng Xiaoshi’s face as he’d placed the cat ears on his head, not a single trace of teasing or judgment.

Maybe, he dared to hope, things would work out alright?

Almost against his will, Lu Guang pulled the headband out of his pocket, eyes trailing over the soft fur that shone even in the dim twilight of midnight, tracing the edges, the tips of the cat ears.

But instead of putting it on, he set it on the table and let himself drift in the not-quite-encompassing calm of the late hour.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

By the time Cheng Xiaoshi descended the stairs in the morning, Lu Guang was already pouring himself a mug of coffee. He was somewhat proud that he hadn’t touched the cat ears at all since placing them on the table, but knew that he eventually would have to address them.

Frankly, it scared him. He was so used to keeping his walls high, to never being vulnerable, to never letting anyone in… so the thought of opening up to anyone was terrifying.

Even if it was Cheng Xiaoshi.

“You sleep okay?” Cheng Xiaoshi’s voice was quiet as he opened the fridge and pulled out cream for himself.

Lu Guang sighed. “Yes.” A lie.

As soon as he had settled down in bed, his thoughts were too loud. Lu Guang had nearly gone back downstairs just to retrieve the headband, just so it would help him sleep.

He hadn’t.

He tried to ignore Cheng Xiaoshi’s evaluating gaze, as if he could already see straight through him, as if the walls he surrounded himself with, the walls he used to protect and hide himself were only made of glass.

Transparent.

Hiding nothing.

Cheng Xiaoshi exited the kitchen first, leaving to head into the sunroom, but Lu Guang couldn’t bring himself to follow.

Instead, he braced his arms on the counter, knowing that Cheng Xiaoshi would wait for him, knowing that Lu Guang didn’t deserve that patience.

He knew that he couldn’t hide in the kitchen all day. And yet, he knew that Cheng Xiaoshi wouldn’t push him to leave, wouldn’t push him to go into the sunroom where everything felt so transparent.

Lu Guang stared into his mug of coffee, stared at his reflection in the rippling liquid.

He imagined he could see cat ears resting on the top of his head.

Summoning his courage, he grasped the mug, savoring the heat that he could feel in his fingertips, and gulped it down.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Cheng Xiaoshi eyed the cat-eared headband as he sipped at his coffee, so many questions swirling inside his mind but unable to voice them.

He’d never seen Lu Guang so anxious before.

Well, never so outwardly anxious.

And even though he had so many questions for Lu Guang, he got the sense that he should wait until Lu Guang was ready to tell him.

He didn’t want to push him and cause him to close himself off even more.

His drink had been emptied - but Cheng Xiaoshi had decidedly not moved to return it to the kitchen - when Lu Guang appeared. He avoided Cheng Xiaoshi’s gaze, but walked forward, sinking into the cushion on the opposite side of the couch from Cheng Xiaoshi.

He couldn’t help but notice the gap, the distance between them, as if Lu Guang was still insistent on keeping every boundary that he could, even now.

“I suppose you have questions,” he began in a low voice.

And wasn’t that the understatement of the century. “A few,” Cheng Xiaoshi replied.

“What do you wanna know?”

Deep breath, Xiaoshi. It’s just a question. “Why act so secretive?”

There was a deep inhale, as if Lu Guang was preparing to give a long answer, but then he exhaled. “It’s embarrassing,” he said simply.

It was true; they hadn’t even fully delved into the subject and already Lu Guang’s face was a few shades more red than before.

And that’s when the other questions that Cheng Xiaoshi had prepared dissolved.

Because, when he looked at Lu Guang, all he could see was the tension radiating off of him in waves, could see how uncomfortable he was.

“Next question,” he said, his words as stiff as his body.

Cheng Xiaoshi couldn’t do this. He couldn’t subject his roommate, best friend, his something to an interrogation.

So, instead, a completely different question lifted into the air: “Do you trust me?”

Lu Guang’s gaze flew to meet his, shock and surprise making his eyes wide and his jaw drop. “D-do I…?”

“…trust me?” Cheng Xiaoshi finished. He reached forward and grasped Lu Guang’s hand - and tried to ignore how he flinched at the contact.

There was silence as his question hung overhead. The seconds ticked by, each one feeling like an eternity.

A shuddering exhale and then… “Yes.” Lu Guang’s answer was as quiet as it was simple. He closed his eyes as if avoiding Cheng Xiaoshi’s gaze at the same time that his thumb rhythmically swiped across Cheng Xiaoshi’s knuckles.

“Then can you tell me what’s going on?” prompted Cheng Xiaoshi.

They both knew that Lu Guang could say ‘no’, probably wanted to say ‘no’.

And yet, he didn’t.

“I don’t know why,” he began, turning his head and looking at the headband before them. “But it feels good. Pretending to be a cat. There’s a…” he trailed off as if searching for the right word. “…stillness, where I can just be. Without thinking about the past or the future, without worries…”

“It sounds peaceful,” Cheng Xiaoshi murmured.

“It is.”

Silence reigned once again, this time much less oppressive, to Cheng Xiaoshi’s great relief.

But then, Cheng Xiaoshi’s cheeks flushed as he remembered that other bit. “What about the part that,” he coughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck, “isn’t peaceful?”

Lu Guang went very, very still, and Cheng Xiaoshi got the impression that he’d been hoping to just skirt that part.

But before he could answer, Cheng Xiaoshi rushed to explain, pulling his hands back and waving them through the air: “Not that I didn’t like it, but I was just wondering? I-I mean, you’re beautiful and anyone would be lucky to have you, and-” He’s rambling, he needs to stop rambling, but he can’t stop, “-and it just caught me off guard and-!”

“Cheng Xiaoshi.” Lu Guang’s sharp tone immediately prompted him to shut his mouth, effectively shutting him up. “What are you saying.”

His tone was too even to be a question, but Cheng Xiaoshi knew he was still expected to answer.

Now it was Cheng Xiaoshi’s turn to take a deep breath. “I’ve liked you for a long time, Lu Guang,” he said quietly. He hadn’t planned on confessing now, but it might help Lu Guang feel better about the whole situation.

And, he dared to hope, maybe his odds of Lu Guang reciprocating his feelings were actually a little bit higher than he’d originally thought?

He coughed lightly. “I mean… I didn’t hate it? In fact I…” Oh boy, you can do this, Xiaoshi. Deep breaths. “I actually liked it. And if you liked it too, then…”

He didn’t trust himself to continue.

More silence.

Until Lu Guang broke it: “So, now what?”

Cheng Xiaoshi blinked at him. “Well…” he trailed off. “If you want, I can try to help with the whole…” He didn’t quite know how to continue, but he glanced meaningfully at the cat ears resting before them.

He could see the conflict warring in Lu Guang’s eyes, could practically hear the gears turning in his mind as he considered every option.

The silence stretched between them, but Cheng Xiaoshi let it, knowing that when Lu Guang was ready, he’d break it.

Slowly reaching forward, Cheng Xiaoshi lightly rested his hand on Lu Guang’s hair.

Lu Guang’s breath hitched, eyes growing wide, but he didn’t duck away from the contact.

That was a good sign… right? Cheng Xiaoshi threaded his fingers through soft white locks, lightly scratching at Lu Guang’s scalp underneath.

And the way that Lu Guang’s eyes fluttered at that… it made something stir in Cheng Xiaoshi’s chest. He shifted his hand, almost in awe at how Lu Guang subtly leaned into the touch, how the barest hint of a whine was only just audible as he scratched behind Lu Guang’s ear.

It felt so natural for Cheng Xiaoshi to say those next words:

“Such a pretty kitty.”

Lu Guang’s eyes popped wide open just like last time, shivering as he tried to duck away from Cheng Xiaoshi’s hand, as if he was already missing the contact even as he shrank from it.

And all Cheng Xiaoshi could think was to not let Lu Guang slip away and distance himself again.

His hand migrated further, fingernails scratching against the base of Lu Guang’s skull.

Lu Guang froze, eyelids drooping as a low purr began to emanate from his chest, seemingly against his will. “I don’t…” he murmured, almost dreamily even as his eyebrows tried to twitch together. “I’m…”

“You’re what?” Cheng Xiaoshi asked gently, more breath than voice. He curled his fingers more, watching as Lu Guang shivered.

“I’m…” Lu Guang sighed, eyes growing more and more distant. He hesitated once more, but his entire body was growing more and more relaxed and, with that, more honest.

“…scared.”

Cheng Xiaoshi stilled, a pang in his chest as the magnitude of this vulnerability hit him.

He was asking Lu Guang to open up so much.

He began to pull his hand away. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” he whispered.

Lu Guang swallowed thickly. He opened his mouth, closed it, then squeezed his eyes shut. “…wanna try.”

And the sheer trust that filled those words nearly brought tears to Cheng Xiaoshi’s eyes. He shakily inhaled as he continued to scritch the base of Lu Guang’s skull, reaching forward with his other hand, fingertips brushing against soft fur.

“Are you sure?” he ventured, holding it up so that Lu Guang could see it.

Another shiver ran through Lu Guang’s body. The only word he could say in response was whispered, but it held so much emotion that it might as well have been screamed:

“Please.”

Carefully, almost reverently grasping it with both hands, Cheng Xiaoshi placed the cat ear headband on Lu Guang, marveling as the white fur seamlessly blended into his hair until it was difficult to tell where one ended and the other began.

As his scratching resumed, he watched as Lu Guang shuddered through another sigh, leaning much more fully into the touch.

He watched, fascinated as Lu Guang’s hands settled on the couch cushion beneath him, planted firmly between his now-open knees as if it was the most natural thing in the world for him.

That purr lifted into the air once more.

And Cheng Xiaoshi couldn’t help but smile fondly.

“There you are. My pretty kitty.”

Chapter Text

Lu Guang opened glazed eyes, pupils dilated as he dazedly stared at Cheng Xiaoshi. The adoration in his chest was nearly palpable and Lu Guang couldn’t help feeling in awe of it, of Cheng Xiaoshi before him.

“My pretty kitty,” he whispered again, cupping Lu Guang’s face and using his thumbs to stroke his cheekbones.

Lu Guang purred as he blinked slowly, leaning into Cheng Xiaoshi’s touch. It felt like he was floating, so blissed out as he drifted and relished in the feeling of hands stroking his fur.

Cheng Xiaoshi pulled him forward, wrapping him in his arms and pressing kisses against the top of his head.

The sound of purring filled his ears as Lu Guang nuzzled into Cheng Xiaoshi’s chest, spine arching in response to the soft scritches trailing down his back.

A new sound reached his ears, and he shivered as he pressed closer, pulling himself flush against Cheng Xiaoshi’s chest until he reached the sound.

It was Cheng Xiaoshi’s heartbeat.

It thumped, strong and steady beneath his ear, wordlessly reassuring Lu Guang as he nuzzled closer. The words “My pretty kitty” swirled in his mind, and he sighed happily as he climbed into Cheng Xiaoshi’s lap.

His eyebrows twitched together slightly, somehow recalling that he’d been so scared about this, but unable to remember why.

It made no sense. Everything felt so good.

Cheng Xiaoshi was taking care of him.

He felt a drunken smile cross his lips as he raised his head and began nosing against Cheng Xiaoshi’s throat, purrs filling the ever-shrinking space between them. His tongue flicked forward, lapping at Cheng Xiaoshi’s skin and making him gasp, making that heartbeat skip.

A hand migrated up to the back of his head, scratching at the soft fur at the base of his skull, and Lu Guang whined at how good it felt, wanting more, needing more.

“Does that feel good?” Cheng Xiaoshi murmured, deft fingers slipping underneath Lu Guang’s shirt and scratching lightly down his spine.

Lu Guang arched into the touch, jaw dropping and mouth hanging open at the sensations. His hips shifted from side to side, his tail curling through the air as his paws clutched onto Cheng Xiaoshi for stability.

But then the sound of Cheng Xiaoshi’s soft shushes reached his ears. “You don’t need to look so tense, kitten. I’ve got you. Just lay down and I’ll make you feel good.”

Before Lu Guang could fully understand those words, his body was already obeying, blinking slowly up at Cheng Xiaoshi as his head and upper back rested on his lap. His paws hovered in midair, curled in, as Cheng Xiaoshi’s warm hand ran lightly over his chest while the other cradled his head.

“Would you like more?”

The question caught Lu Guang off guard, but he pressed his head further into Cheng Xiaoshi’s stomach, mewling as he wordlessly pleaded for more.

It trembled with Cheng Xiaoshi’s chuckles as his hand drifted lower and lower, Lu Guang’s legs instinctively parting as he whined.

His cock was standing at attention and leaking, had been for a while, and now it demanded attention, twitching as Cheng Xiaoshi’s digits approached. His touch was feather-light, leaving trails of heat in its wake, and Lu Guang’s hips bucked up, needing that hot touch enveloping his length.

Soft lips pressed against his forehead. “Shhh, have some patience, kitten. We’ll get there. I just wanna make you feel so good.”

Those fingers trailed lower and lower until…

They wrapped around his cock for a moment, moistening the fingertips with his precum, and continued trailing lower.

Lu Guang’s eyes shot open at the first hesitant touch to his entrance, gaze snapping to Cheng Xiaoshi, both questioning and searching for reassurance.

Cheng Xiaoshi smiled down at him, leaning forward and pressing his lips against Lu Guang’s as his finger dipped inside up to the first knuckle. “Tell me if this is too much, ‘kay?”

The touch was slow and gentle, and he took his time allowing Lu Guang to adjust, swallowing his squeals and being oh so careful.

Lu Guang writhed in Cheng Xiaoshi’s hold as he slowly scissored him open, mewling at every pass of his fingers against his walls.

It hurt, but it felt so good, and Lu Guang couldn’t do anything but lay there in Cheng Xiaoshi’s arms and feel.

And then Cheng Xiaoshi’s fingers curled up, pressing against a spot that made Lu Guang’s eyes cross, another mewling cry coaxed from his throat almost without his knowledge. He shuddered, legs trembling as Cheng Xiaoshi continued, smiling ever so sweetly down at him as his fingers pet his prostate. “Such a good boy for me,” he whispered. “How’d I get so lucky to have such a good kitty?”

The words swirled in his mind, blotting everything else out as Lu Guang preened. He was good. He was a good kitty. His legs opened wider, hips trying to coax Cheng Xiaoshi’s fingers farther in as his tail curled against the couch cushion.

The hand cradling the back of his head moved slowly, drifting lower and lower until there was the sensation of fingernails running deliciously through his fur and scratching his scalp right at the place that made Lu Guang feel more like a puddle than a cat. He cried out again as his eyes rolled. “Close!” he gasped, everything making his body and mind feel good, so good that it was difficult to even speak. “Please!”

“Such a good kitty,” Cheng Xiaoshi praised again, pressing his lips against Lu Guang’s forehead. “You can cum, my sweet kitty.”

Given permission, Lu Guang’s spine arched, crying out as white-hot pleasure lanced through his body. Everything tingled, growing warm as his hips bucked. Unashamed, he moaned as he stared sightlessly up at Cheng Xiaoshi, feeling himself pulse and twitch as he shot ropes of white.

The feeling thrummed through his body, simmering into a warm, gooey afterglow that made him purr and his eyelids droop.

“Beautiful,” Cheng Xiaoshi murmured, leaning down to capture Lu Guang’s lips in a languid kiss. “All mine,” he whispered.

“Yours,” Lu Guang purred back.

They stayed like that, unmoving, just basking in the sensations. The morning sun drifted in through the window behind Cheng Xiaoshi, warming Lu Guang and only helping him drift. His mind was pleasantly blank, a light, fuzzy fog softening his thoughts and easing his worries until nothing could bother him.

How could it? He was curled up in a warm sunbeam, safe in the arms of his Guardian Angel.

There was a soft chuckle and then warm breath on Lu Guang’s ear made him shiver slightly. “Are you done or would you like more?”

As he asked, Cheng Xiaoshi moved his fingers slightly, poking Lu Guang’s prostate and making his body twitch. A high gasping moan rose from between his parted lips. “More…” he whispered. “Please.”

With another press of his lips against Lu Guang’s own, Cheng Xiaoshi withdrew his fingers. He slowly eased Lu Guang’s pajama pants and boxers off, freeing his cock that was now standing at half-mast, somewhat spent but unwilling to stop so soon.

His other hand lifted, raising Lu Guang up so that Cheng Xiaoshi could slip out from underneath him. Lu Guang whined at the loss of contact, but fingers threading through his fur eased the sting of separation. “Stay there for me, pretty kitty,” he whispered as he stood, hooking his thumbs into his waistband and pulling his pants and boxers down until they pooled around his ankles.

Before he could do anything more, Lu Guang was leaning forward, mouthing against Cheng Xiaoshi’s stiff length, whining.

“Aww, do you want to please me that much,” Cheng Xiaoshi murmured, lightly scritching behind his ear.

“Please,” Lu Guang rasped. “Want you…” His tongue flicked forward, licking up Cheng Xiaoshi’s cock, relishing in the warm saltiness that filled his mouth.

His ears filled with Cheng Xiaoshi’s groan as he crawled off of the couch, kneeling and sitting back on his haunches as he lapped at Cheng Xiaoshi. The hand in his fur directed him forward even more until his mouth was full with Cheng Xiaoshi.

His eyes rolled back as he felt Cheng Xiaoshi’s hips twitch forward, precum already coating Lu Guang’s tongue as he began to thrust in and out. Lu Guang groaned around the cock filling his mouth, already feeling his own begin to fill out once more.

“Haaahhh,” Cheng Xiaoshi gasped as Lu Guang closed his lips even more, dragging them down his cock as his tongue laved across the skin. His legs began to shake and a strangled groan lifted from his mouth before he threaded fingers through Lu Guang’s fur and pulled him away.

Lu Guang coughed and sputtered as Cheng Xiaoshi’s cock slid out of his mouth, gossamer strands of saliva glistening in the light before snapping. He whined wordlessly up at Cheng Xiaoshi, trying to convey how empty he felt.

But the look in Cheng Xiaoshi’s eyes told him their fun was far from over. “Back on the couch,” he ordered, and Lu Guang scrambled to obey. He climbed up, sitting on his haunches with his paws bracing his weight between his open knees, tail curled around his body as he sat obediently for his Guardian Angel.

A hand cupped his jaw, tilting his head up until he was gazing up at Cheng Xiaoshi.

And then he was being pushed backwards until his back hit the cushions, Cheng Xiaoshi looming over him as he straddled him.

Lu Guang mewled at the feeling of soft lips capturing his own, the feeling of warm hands caressing his body, of a hot, wet length dragging between his thighs.

“Are you okay with this?” Cheng Xiaoshi whispered, his breath hot against Lu Guang’s face.

And Lu Guang couldn’t nod fast enough.

Hands spread his legs, Cheng Xiaoshi lining himself up, and then he was sinking inside and all thoughts were gone from Lu Guang’s mind.

All he knew, all he could focus on, was the delicious stretch, the feeling of Cheng Xiaoshi’s cock dragging along his walls as he pushed in slowly, inch by agonizing inch.

He stopped when he had no more left to give, when Lu Guang could feel Cheng Xiaoshi’s pelvis flush against his ass.

It was a glorious moment, where they were one and the same, Lu Guang’s Guardian Angel filling him up completely.

He could feel Cheng Xiaoshi’s pulse in his very core.

That steady heartbeat was all around him, filling his mind and body with the unwavering reassurance of life.

Tears prickled the backs of Lu Guang’s eyes, but he couldn’t for the life of him understand why.

He was surrounded by his Guardian Angel.

What more could he want?

He should be happy, shouldn’t want for anything.

Cheng Xiaoshi’s heartbeat filled him, thrumming through his core.

The light fog began to recede slightly as he began to remember.

He didn’t want to remember.

He mewled, clutching at Cheng Xiaoshi’s shirt, digging his claws in in the hopes of keeping him here, close, safe.

Cheng Xiaoshi’s hands migrated upwards, gently clasping Lu Guang’s face, his thumbs swiping against his cheeks. “I’m here,” he whispered, pace slowing until he was thrusting lazily in and out. “You’re okay. You’re safe.”

“What about you?” Lu Guang breathed, voice hitching.

He received a soft smile in return. “I’m okay too. Look, I’m perfectly fine. I’m having fun with my kitty.” Cheng Xiaoshi pecked him on the lips. “How could I not be?”

One of his hands reached around Lu Guang’s head, easily finding that perfect spot. The light scratch of fingernails through his fur and against his scalp made Lu Guang instinctively begin to purr again, the fog thickening once more. His mind became its perfect victim, sinking in until it was difficult to think, impossible to remember.

Tension slowly seeped out of Lu Guang, losing himself completely in the feeling of his Guardian Angel’s lips against his own, fingers in his fur, cock deep in his body.

He began to float, drifting happily and purring all the while.

Cheng Xiaoshi began breathing heavier, gasping at every deep thrust that made Lu Guang squeal and mewl his name. He groaned as he rolled his hips, grinding against Lu Guang’s prostate until he was howling as he came between their bodies, legs tensing and locking around Cheng Xiaoshi’s waist.

He pulled him closer, wordlessly urging him in, in, in, and it didn’t take long for Cheng Xiaoshi to thrust in as far as he could reach, groaning in Lu Guang’s ear as his cock pulsed, shooting ropes upon ropes of cum deep into Lu Guang’s very core and filling him completely.

The sound, the sensation, everything about it lanced through Lu Guang, and then he was coming, coming, coming again, hard and fast and wishing this moment between the two of them would never end.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Cheng Xiaoshi groaned as he stood up from the couch, stretching his sore body and gazing lovingly down at Lu Guang.

He was still wearing the headband, curled up with the barest hint of a smile on his face, snoozing as he basked in the warmth of a sunbeam.

It had been entirely impromptu, but Cheng Xiaoshi had adored every second of it.

He’d loved seeing that glassy, dazed look in Lu Guang’s eyes, loved hearing his purrs and moans.

For the longest time, he thought he’d never be able to see Lu Guang in such a state, outside of his dreams.

And yet, today, it seemed like his dreams had come true.

Although, he thought as he recalled, he hadn’t enjoyed every second.

As soon as he’d bottomed out inside Lu Guang, he’d stilled, trying to help him adjust to the length. And Cheng Xiaoshi had been shocked to see tears in Lu Guang’s eyes, streaking down his cheeks.

Even when he was so far removed, so deep in this kitten mindset, he still worried for Cheng Xiaoshi’s safety?

He couldn’t help but recall Lu Guang’s words when he’d tried to explain how it felt.

“I don’t know why, but it feels good. Pretending to be a cat. There’s a…” he trailed off as if searching for the right word. “stillness, where I can just be. Without thinking about the past or the future, without worries…”

And he couldn’t help but worry that he hadn’t done it right, that he’d let Lu Guang’s real worries seep in and rob him of the stillness and peace that he loved about being a kitten.

Cheng Xiaoshi leaned forward, pressing his lips against Lu Guang’s cheek, smiling at his faint hum.

He’d try to do better, Cheng Xiaoshi vowed.

As long as Lu Guang would let him, Cheng Xiaoshi swore that he’d never let those fears hurt him.

An idea sparked in his mind, and Cheng Xiaoshi took out his phone, scrolling through pages of products as he walked to the kitchen to start making tea. Lu Guang was probably going to be thirsty when he woke up.

And what sort of person didn’t provide for his pet?

Chapter Text

When Lu Guang drifted back to wakefulness, it was to a pleasantly-warm, tingling sensation running throughout his body, both inside and out. He hummed lowly, stretching without opening his eyes as he basked in the feeling.

He felt like he’d just slept for ages, feeling so safe and warm.

No nightmares.

That was a first.

Ever since that day, the day that he hated more than anything else, Lu Guang had had to deal with nightmares.

Nightmares of cold steel and hot blood, of an empty heart and too-full soul.

But, somehow, not now.

When his eyes slowly drifted open, Lu Guang was surprised to see the sunroom rather than his own bed. What was he…?

“You’re awake,” came a voice from the direction of the kitchen.

Lu Guang looked up to see Cheng Xiaoshi leaning against the doorway to their kitchen, a soft smile on his face. He levered himself up to a sitting position, yawning as he rubbed at his eyes. “What time is it?” he mumbled.

Cheng Xiaoshi approached, perching on one of the arm rests beside Lu Guang. “Well, the shop’s been open for about an hour, but I figured you needed the sleep, so I just pulled the curtain.”

An hour? “I slept for that long?”

With a small laugh, Cheng Xiaoshi amended his statement: “Well, I opened the shop a little late today, because we were a big busy this morning…” he trailed off with a light cough before resuming, “So more like an hour and a half? Maybe two? You really just conked out!”

“This… morning…?” The words left Lu Guang’s mouth as he went to scratch an itch on the side of his head, his fingers knocking against something soft and furry.

He went still, memories flashing through his mind as he finally remembered.

As he finally, with a clear mind, realized just how pathetic and clingy he’d been acting.

He cleared his throat before standing abruptly, yanking the cat ear headband off. He walked past, ignoring Cheng Xiaoshi’s sputtering as he made his way towards the foyer.

As he opened the curtain, he dropped the headband into the trashcan.

Lu Guang couldn’t afford to let his guard down again. Not when he’d already worked so hard to try to ensure Cheng Xiaoshi’s survival.

This headband, this cat… thing… It was only going to distract him from his goal.

“Wh- You can’t just do that! Lu Guaaaang!” Cheng Xiaoshi had finally registered what had happened and had followed him, picking the headband out from among the crumpled notebook paper. “I actually really liked it. You were so cute! Is it so bad I wanna make my kitten feel good?”

Lu Guang bristled at the title, irritated as how a part of him deep down actually responded to it. “Idiot,” he managed to grit out. “Get to work.”

And yet, almost against his will, his eyes slid down to the headband in Cheng Xiaoshi’s hands, already wishing he could feel that soft, soothing fur once more.

He shook his head, grimacing. He’d just been tired from having too little sleep last night, and wasn’t thinking rationally, that’s all.

It wouldn’t happen again.

It wouldn’t.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Lu Guang sat on his haunches, tail swishing through the air as he eagerly looked up at his Guardian Angel.

Cheng Xiaoshi was cooing down at him, scratching under his chin, on top of his head.

At the base of his skull.

Lu Guang shamelessly purred at the feeling, his spine arching as he leaned into those wonderful hands that could coax such amazing sensations from him.

He lifted a paw when Cheng Xiaoshi extended his hand, placing it daintily in his palm and allowing Cheng Xiaoshi to place a kiss against it. He leaned forward and nosed at his Guardian Angel’s throat, purrs somehow growing louder as he was enveloped by Cheng Xiaoshi’s arms.

“Mine,” he whispered in Lu Guang’s ear, and it twitched at the sensation of hot breath. “My kitten.”

Lu Guang’s whole body shivered, hips rutting against Cheng Xiaoshi through his clothes.

No, that wasn’t right, he was naked, his stiff cock dribbling precum.

He gazed up into Cheng Xiaoshi’s beautiful eyes.

“Yours,” was on his tongue, but what came out was:

“Mrow.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Mrow…”

The sound broke the silence of the bedroom, jolted Cheng Xiaoshi from his thoughts. He tore his gaze away from the underside of the upper bunk, mind whirring as he wondered if he’d heard what he thought he heard.

After Lu Guang had acted so frosty all day - it was so, painfully obvious he was trying to build his walls back up as soon as possible - Cheng Xiaoshi hadn’t expected him to pretend to be a cat again so soon.

But, that didn’t make sense. Cheng Xiaoshi was holding the cat headband.

Tightening his grip on it, he swung his legs out and stood, stretching up to his tiptoes to see inside Lu Guang’s bunk.

Lu Guang’s eyes were closed like before, but his hands were still, his hips twitching forward only slightly.

He was dreaming.

Cheng Xiaoshi almost went back to bed, almost left Lu Guang to his dream, but another needy mewl rose from Lu Guang’s mouth, all but pulling him towards the ladder until he was crawling across the mattress towards him.

It felt so natural for his free hand to reach forward and cup Lu Guang’s cheek, almost immediately feeling him lean into the touch, chasing the love and security Cheng Xiaoshi wanted to give him even in sleep.

He was such a pretty kitty. Cheng Xiaoshi couldn’t help but marvel at every dip in his skin, every subtle change in expression, just drinking Lu Guang in in a way he never could when he was awake.

Or rather, that is, fully awake.

As a kitten, Lu Guang seemed to drink up the attention just as much, leaning into Cheng Xiaoshi’s slightest touch.

“I can’t let you have all the fun,” he whispered, gently shaking Lu Guang’s head until dark eyes blinked open, glassy with sleep and something else. “Hey there, kitten,” he chuckled, gently sliding the headband on Lu Guang’s head.

There was a moment where Lu Guang shivered, as if his fully-conscious mind was struggling to surface before being smothered beneath his inner kitten personality. But, ultimately, he couldn’t resist the call of the cat inside him. He began to purr, leaning into Cheng Xiaoshi’s hand and gazing lovingly up at him.

“Pretty kitty,” Cheng Xiaoshi sang softly as he peppered kisses along Lu Guang’s hair and cheeks, slowing down once he reached his lips.

Lu Guang sighed into the languid kiss, relaxing and melting against Cheng Xiaoshi’s touch. His hips bucked up, trying to grind against Cheng Xiaoshi as he straddled Lu Guang. Cheng Xiaoshi’s lips migrated down to press open-mouthed kisses against Lu Guang’s throat, making him keen and groan softly.

When Cheng Xiaoshi pulled away, Lu Guang whined for more, trying to follow Cheng Xiaoshi until a hand against his chest pinned him to the mattress. “You’re my pretty kitty,” Cheng Xiaoshi let his voice lower into a growl without any heat, delighting in the shiver that he could feel running through Lu Guang’s body. “And pretty kittens deserve pretty collars, don’t you think?”

Lu Guang shuddered as he nodded, trembling with excitement.

“That’s good,” Cheng Xiaoshi hummed, looming over his kitten. “Because I want to give you a nice, pretty collar all for you. One that reminds you that you’re mine. Would you like that?”

“Please!” Lu Guang choked out, all but writhing beneath Cheng Xiaoshi. His hips kept trying to buck up, but he just couldn’t reach Cheng Xiaoshi to grind against him.

“Patience, kitty,” he breathed into Lu Guang’s ear. “The fun’s just getting started.”

And then one of his hands migrated up to the base of Lu Guang’s throat. “Imagine there’s a collar right here, around your neck. I’d caress the sides, hook my finger through it and pull you up towards me.”

He had no idea where the words came from, but they kept flowing, and Lu Guang actually followed. He moaned and purred as his head and shoulders lifted off of the pillow as if yanked upwards, crashing into Cheng Xiaoshi’s lips with a wanton groan.

Cheng Xiaoshi could hear Lu Guang’s desperate moans and mewls, could feel how his heartbeat quickened like a fluttering butterfly’s wing under his hand.

Lu Guang’s hips rolled, thrusting against nothing but desperately seeking friction, needing it.

It was beautiful.

He was beautiful.

And then, he said something completely unprompted that made Cheng Xiaoshi pause and stare.

“Angel…”

“Wha… buh… me?!” Cheng Xiaoshi could feel his face burning as he stared down at Lu Guang, looked deep into his glazed, adoring eyes.

“Please, Angel!” he sobbed, back arching.

And Cheng Xiaoshi couldn’t refuse him, not after hearing that. He pressed his lips against Lu Guang’s cheek. “Do you want me inside you or just help you cum?”

There were tears leaking out of the corners of his eyes, a noticeable wet patch in his pajama pants. He nodded desperately, needy.

That was all that Cheng Xiaoshi needed. He planted another kiss against Lu Guang’s lips before crawling backwards, easily sliding his pajama pants down and exposing his raging length.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered as he took in the flushed, whimpering mess that his kitten was, his shirt hiked up enough to reveal his heaving chest. “I’ll be right back, kitten. You can wait for me, can’t you?”

After receiving a teary nod in response, Cheng Xiaoshi all but fell down the ladder, shedding his own pajama pants as he dug around the desk for lube.

A moment later, he was flying back up to Lu Guang, giving him a breathless, reassuring smile as he uncapped the bottle and squeezed some out on his fingers.

Lu Guang was too worked up for any real teasing, Cheng Xiaoshi decided, focused solely on stretching him rather than exploring his insides. Maybe some other time he could take his time.

He wondered how many orgasms it would take to make him cry tears of pure pleasure.

But now was not the time for experimenting, not when he had a very needy kitten whining for his cock right in front of him.

He withdrew his fingers, smiling fondly down at Lu Guang as he whimpered at the emptiness. “Almost there, kitty,” Cheng Xiaoshi whispered as he grabbed hold of Lu Guang’s ankles and lifted them, placing the legs on his shoulders. “It’ll feel so good for you, I promise.”

As he lined himself up and began to sink inside, Cheng Xiaoshi let himself drink in all of Lu Guang, from the high-pitched mewl that curled out of his throat to the way his eyes began to roll.

Cheng Xiaoshi pressed in deeper and deeper until he had no more left to give, gasping for breath as he stilled, allowing Lu Guang to adjust to his length.

But Lu Guang apparently had other plans. He rocked his hips from side to side, the most delicious sounds rising from his mouth as Cheng Xiaoshi’s cock pressed against his walls.

If he hadn’t just called Cheng Xiaoshi Angel, he might’ve called him a bad boy for being impatient. But, still riding the high of the new title, Cheng Xiaoshi let it slide.

He pulled out almost all the way, eyes fixed on Lu Guang’s face as he thrust back in, all the way into his tight heat as he began to find a good rhythm.

Those expressions were truly beautiful.

Before too long, Lu Guang’s eyebrows furrowed together, his eyes squeezed tightly as his breath was hissed between his clenched jaw. His whole body tensed, winding tighter and tighter like a coil about to snap.

Cheng Xiaoshi knew what he wanted even without him asking. So he pressed forward all the way again, grinding against Lu Guang’s prostate, leaning down close until he could whisper in his ear: “Cum for me.”

The change was immediate. Lu Guang’s eyes flew open, his body convulsing and twitching like a live wire as lustful moans filled the air. His cock pulsed, shooting spurts of white across both of their chests as his walls clenched, seeming to milk Cheng Xiaoshi’s cock.

Cheng Xiaoshi doubled over, a low groan wrenched from his mouth. He was so close, just from that.

Oh, what Lu Guang did to him.

Lu Guang twitched, mewling for an entirely different reason now, hands bunching the sheets into balls as he gripped them for stability as Cheng Xiaoshi snapped his hips forward again and again. Those tears were back, making his slate gray eyes sparkle silver.

“Say it again,” Cheng Xiaoshi found himself asking, pleading.

There was no hesitation: “Angel!” Lu Guang screamed it as if the title was torn from his throat as his spine arched, coming again with a violent spasm.

Cheng Xiaoshi’s hips stuttered as he drilled in faster, harder, deeper. Until, finally, he thrust in all the way, groaning long and low as his whole body began thrumming, his cock shooting ropes upon ropes of white and painting Lu Guang’s insides.

They stayed frozen for what felt like an eternity as their breaths slowed. Cheng Xiaoshi began to pull out, every slight drag making Lu Guang twitch and mewl until he was finally able to collapse on the bed next to him.

Lu Guang nearly immediately curled in close, purring as he pressed himself against Cheng Xiaoshi, eyelashes fluttering and then closing as sleep claimed him once more.

With one final press of his lips against Lu Guang’s temple, Cheng Xiaoshi surrendered to the pull of sleep dragging him down.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

He awoke to the sight of sunlight streaming in through the window and of Lu Guang - noticeably lacking his headband - descending the ladder. They stared at each other for a moment before Lu Guang continued, hiding his face from view as he reached the floor and exited the room, escaping.

Cheng Xiaoshi resisted the urge to sigh as he ran a hand down his face. Another day of acting like nothing had happened, like nothing was happening between them.

To try to distract himself, Cheng Xiaoshi pulled out his phone. He’d been thinking about getting a collar for Lu Guang ever since that first time, when Lu Guang had been so open and vulnerable. And now, seeing how eager his kitten had been at the idea, he knew he definitely needed to find one for him.

The collar was going to be a gesture of good faith, of his thanks for Lu Guang’s trust.

Hopefully.

If he even let him.

With how Lu Guang had been acting… Cheng Xiaoshi couldn’t help wondering if his gift would even be received well.

As he scrolled through pages of collars, Cheng Xiaoshi just couldn’t find one that he or Lu Guang would want.

He did make a decently-sized list of what he did not want.

Nothing made entirely of metal that could scrape painfully against Lu Guang’s throat, nothing with spikes, nothing too gothic…

Groaning, he fell back against the mattress in frustration, not finding what he was looking for even after five entire pages of collars, finding nothing this site had to his liking.

Finally mustering the strength, Cheng Xiaoshi peeled himself off of the bed and descended the stairs.

He found himself watching Lu Guang as he prepared coffee. “Morning,” he said curtly, and Cheng Xiaoshi couldn’t help but notice that his voice was rough and scratchy.

Almost as if its owner had spent a good portion of the night before screaming.

He very consciously kept a smug grin from crossing his face - but couldn’t suppress the surge of pride in his chest - instead digging around in the fridge for cream as he responded with a very even, “Morning.”

With a deep inhale, Cheng Xiaoshi tried to steady his thoughts as he continued, “So, about last night…”

There was sputtering as Lu Guang choked on his coffee. Cheng Xiaoshi pulled his head out of the fridge just in time to hear him cough to clear his throat. “Nothing happened last night,” he growled.

But Cheng Xiaoshi could only smile fondly. “Alright, if you say so. But I just wanna ask one thing.”

Lu Guang shot him a warning look, but Cheng Xiaoshi continued regardless: “You called me ‘Angel’. I love it, but why?”

In an instant, Lu Guang’s face flushed crimson. “I… I didn’t…” he stuttered, something akin to panic crossing his face.

Cheng Xiaoshi tried not to let his disappointment show too much, tacking on a smile that felt like it was cracking at the edges. “It’s okay, I was just wondering. I thought it was sweet, so I wanted to ask, that’s all.” His tone was carefully even as he turned away from Lu Guang to continue doctoring his coffee to his tastes.

He didn’t want to let on how he truly felt, how hurt blossomed in his chest like a flower as he saw, plastered across Lu Guang’s face, ‘I didn’t mean it.’

“It’s ‘cause…” Lu Guang’s tentative voice lifted into the air behind him. He cleared his throat and tried again, “It’s because you’re my Guardian Angel. Keeping me safe,” he whispered, sounding as if the words were carving their way out of him against his will.

Cheng Xiaoshi felt his breath catch in his lungs as he turned around, not missing a beat as he swept Lu Guang into his arms. “I’ll always protect you,” he whispered, holding him tightly.

And, after a moment, Lu Guang purred, sinking deeper into Cheng Xiaoshi’s embrace.

The moment didn’t last, though.

Lu Guang pushed away from Cheng Xiaoshi, studiously avoiding his gaze as he cleared his throat, turned on his heel, and left to go to the sunroom.

But Cheng Xiaoshi couldn’t hold it against him. He needed his own space, and Cheng Xiaoshi was more than happy to oblige.

He’d come back to Cheng Xiaoshi when he was ready.

He leaned against the counter, sipping his coffee as he continued to browse for collars.

Nope… nope… definitely not…

Until Cheng Xiaoshi came across one that made him freeze and stare at the screen.

This was, without a doubt, Lu Guang’s collar.