Alte Liebe Rostet Nicht

Big Brothnya

Things have been going better and better between the two, Izumi was really feeling as if he got to know Nyeli again. He no longer seemed like a helpless, wet cat he found over a decade ago but rather a naive, adventure loving cat who got himself out there, a side he never really got to see. He had never given himself the chance to but it was endearing. All the things Nyeli had to tell him... Or rather draw, it was fun in some way. First starting several stories involving his big sister: About the games the two have played together, how Nyeli would panic whenever his sister fell sick and him trying his best to take care of them. Then there were stories of him and 'gramps', the family pet cat he often stuck around with at home. At first this old timer had been skeptical of the young blood but warmed up eventually, a story surprisingly heart warming. And lastly, the most recent events, mostly stories with Kuma–Kun. Though Izumi also got to see the sketches of how Nyeli grew closer to Leo and now always begs to play with him. Or him and Arashi being surprisingly close, her always dressing the cat up in different costumes. Even some times where he plays with Kasa–Kun or both tasting sweets together (though Nyeli made it clear that he prefers meat, fish in particular). Overall, he was having fun.

It was all bittersweet to listen to, it made Izumi somewhat envious. Though it had slowly grown into a good feeling, oddly enough. Sure, he wanted to be there, but seeing in what good care he had been across the time the young man had been absent... It was a relief He couldn't ask for more if he were completely honest.

And yet, even with all of that, things were not as simple still. Because whenever Izumi was about to leave, having his job to attend to, Nyeli would look at him, as if expecting something out of his previous owner. It was a little confusing the first few times though he got used to it. His first guess? A pet, plain and simple. He did so, though at first hesitant as he wasn't sure how Nyeli would react to all of this. Luckily, the cat liked it and purred and it had become a routine to say bye for now, similar to what he had done when he was still a kid and Nyeli lived together with him. However, even when leaving the room Izumi could feel Nyeli's gaze on him, as if not having met expectations. It irked him because he was only one step away from the perfect outcome... One little step. But what was he missing? The question plagued him for a good few days.

This time it was no different, because just when the duo was about to wrap it all up for the day yet again Nyeli met him with the same expecting gaze, as if waiting for something. And it was not the pets, that's for sure, yet he wanted some of course. Izumi had not hesitated to give him said pets, being surprisingly soft about it. Of course this was met with some purring. However, instead of leaving the gaze uncommented, this time Izumi would strike up another conversation. "You know... I don't get you sometimes." He said, being surprisingly honest about this. This made Nyeli look up with his wide, brown eyes, blinking confused, as if asking ' Am I that hard to understand? '

"Sort of. I know you want something but... I don't even know what else you want."

Izumi decided to just come out with it, as much as he hated to admit to it. He just wanted to have closure already, but he cannot exactly have it like this. There was something else Nyeli desired and he wanted to know what. If it were simple he would ask but it wasn't that simple. The cat knew only a few words which was honestly expected. And even then he was not sure if there was enough trust between them to open up about everything, every single trouble. After all, it doesn't happen within a day... Or so a certain someone had to remind him. They were right though, these things don't happen just like that, so he had to be careful. Still, he wanted to know. If there was something he could do, he would do it at this point. They were over the hostility after all.

He sighed in the end, his hand removing itself from the cat's head. "Nevermind that, guess I just have to get to know you all over again Patch."

He had not paid attention to the kitty's reaction nor did he know what he had said, or rather not realized at that point. He had to leave and he wanted to make that clear. However, he was not given a chance. Instead he suddenly felt his shirt being tugged on tightly, as if trying to make him stay a bit longer. It wasn't a strong tug and it couldn't really have been anyone else than Nyeli.

"Wha– Hey! Let go! I have to go!" He protested, trying to move himself off the spot. "Plus, I can't show up with a torn up shirt you—"

"Nye!" The protest, there it was. Out of nowhere it seemed that Nyeli did not want him to leave, at all. He wanted the man to stay, no matter what, even if he had to cling onto the shirt. Ugh, no choice but to forcefully remove him it seems.

With that in mind Izumi turned back around, about to lift the cat off his shirt but froze in place the moment he spotted the expression.

Nye– No, Patch was looking up at him, suddenly teary eyed, a contrast to what he had looked like earlier. An expression now brimming with life, literally, shining with it despite the tears rolling down. It was very sudden and had the man speechless from one moment to the next before asking: "Wh... What? Did I say something—"

"Nye!" The kitty shook his head before deciding to suddenly pounce on Izumi, holding tightly onto him with his nubs. He buried his own face in the taller male's chest, nuzzling into it for some time while crying from one moment to the next, sniffling and sobbing. Though it was not out of sadness he had soon realized. It was because he was... Happy? Happy about wha— Wait a minute...

"P... Patch?" He repeated, though seeming to be a bit more soft in his tone as he did. Izumi wasn't sure, he was just trying his luck. It was the only thing which made sense to him, to say the least.

And he was right at that very moment, the sniffling becoming louder as he seemed to refuse to let go. He was happy, over the moon perhaps, and nuzzled tighter. "Uhh... Brothnya! Brothnya!" He suddenly exclaimed, having even caught Izumi off guard at that moment... Brothnya? It had been a good while for that, a long time. So wait, he was actually waiting for him using that name again? But—

"Huh!? Isn't your name now—"

But Nyeli refused to respond properly, only continuing to nuzzle. He was happy, a very happy kitty. Actually, was the name 'Nyeli' even appropriate then? Because it seems that he wants to be called differently, at least by Izumi. Ah, he wasn't sure what to think. This was all so sudden, so overwhelming. It was too much at once. Maybe... Just maybe, he should just accept it. Yeah, for once... He should just go with it. If that's what Patch wants, he could hardly say no.

"Hah, I get it I get it I'll keep calling you that then." He sighed with a light chuckle following right after, a soft pet on the cat's head as he was still clinging and happily sulking.

Actually, it felt... Different. But also nice. As if he just had a big relief at this very moment. He didn't really mind, not one bit. Maybe it was a mistake to just push him away... Push anyone away even. After all, given the results now... Maybe his judgment was wrong. Because this was—

Yet Izumi came to a halt in his own thoughts for a second... Hold on, this feels... Good? This feels actually... Relieving? To... Actually... It was the first time this shot through his mind honestly. He had not considered that this would work... That they were right and—

Agh, just when he thought this was over, why do things suddenly have to become even more confusing now!? What's going on at this point!?