Bonding and Bite Marks

Sebastian

John's throat felt dry as he opened his tired eyes. He was surprised to find himself in his bedroom, lying in bed with the duvet tucked up to his chin. A dull ache settled in his stomach as he found himself alone, but then he smelled it. Lin's scent lingered in the apartment, and he could hear movement further down the hall. He could also smell cooking. The last thing he noticed was the familiar weight on his stomach. Looking down, he found the ebony cat from the park sleeping peacefully, curled in a ball, tail flicking lazily from side to side.

"You're awake," Lin greeted softly as he appeared in the open doorway. His shirt sleeves were rolled up and his tie was noticeably absent, leaving the dip in his collarbone on display. John gave a small nod, but didn't move. He felt too worn, and the weight of the cat on his stomach was nice. If he moved, the cat would move. Lin padded over and stroked his forehead soothingly, combing through his fluffy hair. "I was worried," he confessed as he knelt beside the bed.

"It...it was Gene..." Lin's eyes widened in surprise. As far as he knew, John wasn't a medium. It was extremely rare for normal people to communicate with the dead in such a manner. "...Spoke to him. I'm going to help..." Lin wondered if it was the remnants of drowsiness speaking as John's blue eyes fluttered, long eyelashes caressing his plump cheeks. He decided to remain silent. Much as he wanted to find Gene, he was far more concerned with John's state of health. His skin wasn't so pale now, and he seemed much calmer.

"Take care of yourself for now...You scared me," he replied gently as he caressed his cheek, watching him smile softly as he looked up. Lin softened in return, rubbing his thumb in small circles on his cheek. His skin was soft, though slightly clammy from the humid heat outside. He'd turned on the air conditioner upon arriving. Getting the door open while carrying John and his shopping had been a slight challenge, and he'd foregone polite tradition and kept his shoes on to carry him through to the bed. He'd been sleeping for over an hour by that point. The black cat had followed them back, and Lin hadn't seen the need to chase him off. He meant no harm, and even seemed genuinely concerned for John's welfare. He'd padded anxiously at his side, looking up the whole time. As soon as he'd set John on the bed, the cat had hopped up to claim the space on his stomach, gentle purrs humming through his small body.

"I scared myself too," John confessed as he leaned into the gentle touch. He'd never felt anything like it and hoped he never would again. He couldn't help shivering at the memory of the cold and absolute terror. "Thank you for the Shiki...It kept me safe." He could still feel the warmth floating close by. Usually he didn't notice Lin's Shiki at all, but now that one had been assigned to him, he was aware of it circling the bed. It was like a warm, static presence that occasionally brushed his skin as if checking on him. Lin's expression softened as he leaned down, pressing their lips in a chaste kiss. He was surprised as John parted his lips in invitation, a small sound escaping as Lin gave in and deepened the kiss to something more sensual. They were interrupted by a small meow and parted with an amused huff.

"Alright, I haven't forgotten," Lin replied as he drew back to find two big yellow eyes staring up at them. The cat continued to stare until Lin sat up and gave him attention. John watched, feeling content, as Lin stroked a hand down the black cat's small spine, feeling ribs and bones all the way down. The small cat got to his feet to arch into the touch before padding up a little higher to John's chest, where he could easily reach up to stroke him. "I think I saw a tin of tuna in the cupboard," Lin mused as he padded into the kitchen.

"Do you think anyone will miss him?" John asked as he scratched the cat's chin. He smiled as the cat's pointed ears lowered and his eyes thinned, pushing down on his fingers in a silent request to scratch harder. He was purring like a motor, which did a lot for John's shot nerves. It felt like his body would take a while to recover from the experience. He didn't know how Mai and Masako managed. He was exhausted.