Whiskers

A Little Something

(Okay, this is just me having a little fun. Mini chapter)

"What are you doing?" 

Looking up from the book he'd been reading, Jared raised an eyebrow at the guy stretched out like a cat in his previously-made bed. 

"Watching you sleep like the creeper I am." He stated with a bored expression before returning to the page he'd been on. 

He could feel Knight's glare on him but decided to play dumb. Besides, it wasn't his job to entertain the chicken. His brother had gone out with Palace to get stuff to unclog the downstairs bathroom drain, under penalty of death, so that just left him to sit and read while a bloated Knight snored away beneath his blankets. 

"You know, you don't look half as annoying when you're asleep." He said, glancing up at Knight again for a brief second before returning his attention back to his book. 

Knight scoffed and rolled over, hugging one of Jared's thick pillows against his chest as he rested his chin on it, facing him. "You purr in your sleep." 

Jared glared up at Knight. "Lions cannot purr." He stated with a quiet hiss. 

The look he got in return made him bristle, but he forced his animal side back. 

"You know that some cat shifters can, even if their wild counterparts can't. Though it's considered childish and most pretend that they can't... and you totally did purr when I rubbed your belly last night." 

Son of a... He couldn't deny it. Rubbing his belly was the only way to get him to purr, but it really wasn't a purr. He refused to believe it. It was more of a grumble of appreciation. 

"Wait. Why were you rubbing my belly when I was asleep?" He asked, suddenly more than a little bit uncomfortable. The chicken was way too touchy. 

Knight chuckled and stretched again, sighing as his muscles pulled, then relaxed. 

"The same reason you're sitting in that chair reading a book and watching me sleep at the same time." He replied, finally making Jared close his book and toss it onto the nightstand beside him. 

"Those are two completely different situations." He growled, earning a... ruffle from Knight's messy hair. 

"What was that? Did you just flex your hair as if it were feathers?" He asked, slightly impressed but also still frustrated. 

Knight smirked and rolled onto his back, tilting his head so that he could still look at Jared. 

"Yes, daddy. It's something most bird shifters can do." He taunted, making Jared clench his teeth. 

He knew that the guy was just trying to get a rise out of him, per usual, but for some reason, he was getting under his skin much easier this time. 

"Your brother will be back soon with mine, then we'll try to figure out what we're going to do with this situation." He ground out, doing his best to keep his growling out of his words. 

Knight sat up at that comment, scratching at his hair as he yawned. "What about it, kitty? We aren't going back to your little rehab center, and we aren't letting anyone else catch us. So, what is there to discuss?" 

This guy... can he be serious for even a second? As if not going back would solve this situation. 

Annoyed by his other comment, too, Jared let his lion's frustration finally come out as he lunged forward, shoving Knight down into the heavy blankets. 

"Not letting anyone catch you, huh? Looks like you already failed at that." He said with a cocky smirk as he leaned down slightly. 

Knight blinked a little, clearly surprised, but then his lips twisted upward, making Jared hesitate. 

"You really don't have the best hearing, Mr. Kitty. I said anyone else." He paused for a moment, seemingly thinking, then licked his lips before adding. "And by the way..." 

Reaching up abruptly, Knight swung his arm around to Jared's back, slapping it hard before he could even react. The pain that radiated up his spine dropped him like a brick, sending black dots dancing in front of his vision. 

When he felt a weight on each of his shoulders, he fidgeted, his lion just beneath the surface. Knight shifted his weight on him a little, then a soft breath of air brushed against his left ear. 

"I believe the phrase for this situation is pinned ya." He cooed. 

Damn asshole! He cursed in his mind, well aware that Knight could likely hear it. 

"I've been called worse." Knight noted right before Jared swung around, throwing him off his back. 

He tried to catch him off guard, but right after he lunged, Knight shifted and slipped right out from beneath him, leaving Jared to fall onto his clothing and the blankets with a hiss. His eyes darted around the room to try and locate Knight, but the moment he tried to get up, a heavy weight dropped down onto his back, bringing the black dots back in full force as he groaned and dropped down again. 

"I believe the quote continues as... Hah, pinned ya again? Did I get that right, Mr. Kitty?" Knight asked before nuzzling his nose against the crook of Jared's neck, humming with obvious delight. 

Furious, Jared let his lion take over. Or, at least, tried to. When he began shifting, Knight slapped his back hard enough to send waves of pain throughout his body, canceling the shift. 

I hate you so much right now! Jared roared in his mind, unable to even speak as he tried to control his ragged breathing. 

"That's okay, you'll come to love me. Just don't buy me flowers or anything, that shit is worthless. Bring me something like a pet mouse or anything similar. Just don't name it, cause I'm gonna eat it. Rats work, too." Knight said as he crossed his arms over Jared's shoulders and leaned his chin on them. 

"Although, I've always wanted to try a ferret. They're just too expensive. I was actually saving up for one, but then I got captured..." 

His words trailed off toward the end of his sentence, leaving them in an awkward silence that slowly calmed Jared's anger down to a light simmer. He was going to try and attack Knight again, but he could feel the unease in the man's mind about accidentally mentioning his previous trauma. Something like that wasn't simple to get over, if ever possible. 

"Have I mentioned that you're an asshole yet today?" Jared mumbled as he closed his eyes, not bothering to try and throw Knight off his back for the moment. His weight hurt, but thankfully he wasn't too heavy. 

He was just trying to lighten the mood, and it seemed like Knight caught on, because he chuckled and unfolded his arms, resting them on the bed on either side of Jared's head before letting his own settle in the crook of his neck, bringing their cheeks to nearly brush against each other. 

"Yeah, I think I've heard it a few times, but I don't mind hearing it again." 

Grinning slightly, Jared nudged Knight's cheek with his own before sighing and closing his eyes. "You're an asshole, you strange chicken." 

Knight shifted a little and chuckled, then replied in a quiet voice. "I'm lying on you completely naked, Mr. Kitty." 

I'll get you for that later, as well as the hits to my back. Jared thought to him, not wanting to fight anymore... for the moment. 

Knight exhaled, then yawned.

The sound of the door opening downstairs had one of Jared's eyes blinking open a few seconds later, but he decided to just close it again and wait a few more minutes before getting up. Besides, his brother and his pet dog should unclog the drain. It was their fault, anyways. 

Okay. Knight replied to his previous comment, then added before slipping off his back to drop down to the blanket, then snuggle against his side. As long as I get to top.