My Darling Feline (Bill X Fem! Reader)

Chapter Four: The Great Prince's Dilemma

Entering the air-conditioned auditorium, I observed Ellen rehearsing her lines with the rest of the cast. There was a radiant energy about her as she immersed herself in the role, her dedication evident in every word she spoke. I felt almost jealous that someone was able to play someone else so effortlessly.

As I approached the backstage area, I anticipated it to be deserted, given the darkness and the fact that everyone else was focused on the rehearsal under the stage lights. However, my expectations were quickly shattered as I heard a low, grunting noise emanating from behind one of the pillars. A chill ran down my spine at the sound, unsure of what it could be. The noise was unsettling. The uncertainty only heightened my unease, especially in the wake of the recent devouring that had taken place in this very auditorium. Dread crept over me as I hesitated, unsure whether to investigate further or to retreat and seek help.

Come on y/n, tits up. you're scared over nothing. Just go check it out.

I had convinced myself to suck it up and check it out. I tiptoed closer to the pillar, my heart pounding in my chest with each move. Peering around the corner, relief flooded over me as I realized the source of the noise was coming from Louis.

"Oh. It's just you." My sudden words startled Louis, causing him to jump up in surprise. As he regained his composure, his expression shifted into a piercing glare, his eyes narrowing as he watched me closely.

"It's rude to sneak up on someone, human." He seethed.

"Calm down Rudolph, I was just going to grab something until I heard your weird noises. Is everything alright?" I tried to soften my tone. 

Louis didn't seem to appreciate the nickname I gifted him within the first thirty seconds of our meeting. His eye twitched, just slightly, but I caught it. A subtle crack in the polished marble.

Then he shifted, stepping away from the wall he'd clearly been leaning on, and that's when I noticed it. A slight limp. A falter in his usually perfect gait. My eyes dropped to his ankle, and there it was. A nasty, swollen bruise blooming beneath the edge of his sweats, an ugly purple trying its best to hide beneath soft fabric.

"It's nothing," he snapped, already defensive.

"Yeah, and I'm the tooth fairy," I muttered. "That doesn't look like 'nothing,' Louis. That's a solid sprain. You really shouldn't be walking on it, let alone performing."

He crossed his arms like a moody Greek statue and glared at me with those sharp light-brown eyes. "What, are you a doctor now? I said I'm fine. Leave me be."

I exhaled slowly and slid my backpack off my shoulders. My fingers dove into the abyss inside; gum wrappers, pens, maybe the existential weight of my poor life choices, and finally wrapped around the roll of salvation.

"Aha!" I pulled out the roll of sports tape like I was unveiling the holy grail. Louis blinked.

"What... is that?"

"What does it look like?" I said, tossing it from hand to hand. "Sit. I'll tape it up for you."

He looked at me like I'd just asked him to recite Shakespeare in a clown suit. "Didn't I just tell you to leave me alone?"

I narrowed my eyes. "And yet here I am. Still talking. Weird how that works."

He didn't move. Still as stone, probably trying to mentally will me out of existence.

I stepped forward, not backing down. "Listen, your highness. do you want to keep running around on stage, or do you want to fall flat on your ass mid-monologue? Because the only thing more dramatic than your performance is that ankle."