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As a fact, primal beasts have no need for sleeping, most of those in the crew use that time for multiple purposes; from investing in a hobby, doing night patrol and the odd ones that do it anyways to fit better in the lifestyle of the skydwellers. Not out of tiredness but rather for cultural reasons.
Among those that want to fit into the sky life and the culture of sleeping is Noa.
And as much as fitting it is part of the reason, the big “because” it has been to spend more time with Rackam. Their differences in race and lifetime were big enough for them to make an active effort to make the most out of the time they had together…
Or how it was supposed to be, at least until that green doormat of a cat invaded Rackam’s quarters.
“Noa…” Rackam groaned his lover’s name as he turned towards the bed after finishing taking his clothes out.
The white-haired primal beast just hummed in acknowledgment, head low as he was concentrated in something else, his back turned to the helmsman. That something else being the newest cat in the crew—and unknown to them, the Emerald of the Six Dragons, the wind dragon Ewiyar.
Rackam crossed his arms across his chest, slightly hunched forward as he looked at that furry invader.
“Are you letting that fur ball sleep again in our room?” He half-asked, half-complained. He didn’t dislike cats and was well aware of Noa’s fondness of them; he wouldn’t complain about free cat labor that helped keep mice away from his beloved Grandcypher, he would hate his girl to be infested by them. It would be better if those cats didn’t scratch all over the ship, but beggars can’t be choosers.
But he would mind for that intruder that kept interrupting their nights! This damned green cat was a mood destroyer! Kitty Soft Paws the cockblocker! And while Rackam didn’t want some animal to look at his balls, it was worse than that, the damned thing didn’t even allow Rackam and Noa to cuddle! She would scratch and bite him if he got too close while she enjoyed Noa’s arms.
“Meow.” Said invader meowed with leisure, their head hanging in the air as their fluffy, feathery like body was being brushed carefully by the primal beast of shipbuilding. Her back laying against his lap as he brushed her tummy, carefully untangling the knots one by one. (Agh, this mortal keeps interrupting my grooming! Has he not been educated to know he should only talk while I’m pampered if it is to praise my sublime beauty!)
“Oh, but it has been a while since this purretty kitty lodged here.” Noa simply answered, his voice serene—he didn’t even raise his eyes form the cat in his lap, caressing her right under her muzzle, prompting a delighted purr. Rackam and Ewiyar decide to simply ignore the cat puns.
(Ahh, just right there! There! I will allow it! This primal beast has such nice hands!) Noa’s fingers were slim and tender when petting her, Ewiyar loved such kind of attention.
To be honest, Ewiyar had already her favorite night spots, sometimes lodging with some of the sky dwellers and other times finding a small spot between the kitchen cabinets. And as the cat population of the Grandcypher grow, the cat beds and soft pillows increased, positioned all around the ship; thought the dragon-cat didn’t like to share her pillow nor her cat toys, keeping those in a corner of one of the sunniest galleries and hissing away the other cats.
(The singularity is an amazing groomer, but they pay too much attention to other cats, even when I’M right there! And the Girl in Blue is so good at petting and chanting my praises!) Ewiyar thought about her other favorite bed warmers, as a cat she had so many rooms to pick from—everywhere in the ship was hers! She simply allowed others to stay in their rooms, and there were plenty mortals and non-mortals that loved to pamper and feed her like the greatest of creatures she was! (That bald mortal is very good at giving me treats though, that buttered salmon the other day was so dreamy! Ahh, I can still feel it melting in my mouth! Such delicate, exquisite flavors were otherworldly.)
Noa was right about the cat non staying for the long while… of two days.
And Rackam had a hard time denying the stay of the cats in their room—previously Rackam’s room—, Noa adored the fur balls, he always carried treats in his pockets and stopped along the ship to pet their heads and tummies.
But Ewiyar refused to stay out of their bed.
“Could it at least sleep in a corner, I would put a nice cushion for her over my desk or something.” Rackam said as he sat by his side of the bed, leaning towards Noa as he started to pick up those feathery pieces of fur that stuck to the brush.
“Mreow.”
(This mortal is so nosy; he should be flattered I picked his smelly room to grace with my presence!) Ewiyar wrinkled her nose as she felt the smell of the same oil Rackam used to keep the Grandcypher’s engine going smooth. (He should be as graceful as his sleeping buddy!)
“Oh, but this kitty is so nice to cuddle at night!” Noa exclaimed cheerfully, putting the brush aside to pick Ewiyar by her armpits and showed her to Rackam, a hand in one of her paws, squeezing it as he moved it like if it was her the one doing the motion, waving Rackam “hello”. “Don’t you think she’s a purrfect cuddle buddy for the night?”
Rackam felt his resolution of kicking the fur ball out waver at the idyllic sight of Noa laying his cheek against the round head of the cat, snuggling with her and moving her paw as if saying please. His beautiful face looked so wonderful when he smiled so widely, his eyelashes fluttering against his rosy cheeks.
With his face turning red, Rackam muttered between his teeth:
“I’m a perfect cuddle buddy.”
“Mew!” Ewiyar yelled, face contorted in fury and throw one punch with her paw, surprising Noa, which allowed her to scratch the tip of Rackam’s nose, making him move backwards with a yelp. (The audacity of this mortal! Thinking he’s better than I! Ewiyar! My long soft body and fluffy fur has no match!)
“Rackam! Are you hurt?” Noa asked worriedly, leaning forward to look at the other’s man face, who simply said it wasn’t a deep wound while mumbling some obscenities under his breath. “Now, kitty, that wasn’t nice.”
“Mrp!” Ewiyar moved her face away from Noa’s serious face and his nagging. She felt so insulted by how daring he was to scold one of the Wedges of the World. (Humph! He should think his words better if he doesn’t want to be punished! And, besides, he got away easily.)
“Damn, this cat freaks me out, as if she understood what I’m saying.” Rackam said under his breath as he leaned closer to Noa, this time wary of the golden eyes that were glaring at him like the barrel gun marking him for a shot. The animosity of that stare wasn’t your normal cat glance.
“Cats are very intelligent, purrfectly capable of understanding you.” Noa answered simply, turning down the oil lamp by the side of his bed.
Carefully, Noa accommodated Ewiyar by his side, her long, fluffy body laying parallel to his, her feathery tail waving aimlessly.
“It’s getting late, we should go to sleep; don’t you think, Rackam?” Noa said, absolutely ignoring all of Rackam complains, his arms around Ewiyar who purred content by his ministrations, the primal beast of shipbuilding had a knack for delicate, chirurgical acute movements that made the dragon-cat feel on the cloud nine. The way he scratched behind her ears and then made circles in her tummy were delightful.
(Finally, he’s finally shutting up. I cannot relax with his constant nagging.) Ewiyar thought as from one of her open eyes peered Rackam’s defeated face; he simply sighed; a tired look of defeat plastered on his face as he looked at Noa. (He makes such silly faces when he’s with this primal beast.) The Emerald of the Six Dragons didn’t quite understand the relationship between the helmsman and the other man besides them sharing a bed, but as long as the silver haired man kept the other in line, she didn’t care. Mortal affairs weren’t of her concern as long as they didn’t interfere with their worship of her. (Kept your mortal in place so I can have my beauty rest.)
“Fine, fine, the cat can stay.” Rackam said in defeat, he simply couldn’t win against that sweet smile of Noa and those dreamy blueish eyes that gave him that begging look that made his knees buckle. Any and all discussions of Rackam not wanting a cat in their bed ended like that, with him giving up because he couldn’t handle the disarming look that his lover sent him. “But at least let me some space too.”
“Hehe, I haven’t seen make you such pouty face since you were a child.” Noa said with a chuckle, pocking some fun at his partner’s childish attitude. Regardless of that, he extended his free arm to caress Rackam’s face, caressing from his cheek down to his chin, his slim fingers leaving a trace that made a quiver run down his back. Noa’s hands were just so nice, he couldn’t blame that cat for wanting to be petted by them.
Rackam was so pathetic, fighting for Noa’s attention with a fleabag.
If he was a cat he was sure he could get all the petting and attention he wished, but alas.
Ewiyar, wise and great as she was, caught in the jealous look that Rackam threw in her direction and smiled smugly. (Heehee, you dimwitted mortal, your ugly mug and stiff body can’t compare with my perfect, gorgeous, soft and fluffy body! No way someone wouldn’t prefer me! Everyone adores cats, especially if they’re precious little me!)
Passing one of his arms over Noa’s lithe body, leaning against him as he laid against the bed, Rackam closed in for a goodnight kiss. But when their lips were just about to converge together, that meddlesome, spoiled rotten cat decided to attack him for no reason, contorting to bite his arm, digging deep his teeth and hitting him with her back paws, hitting him in quick, short motions.
“Agh! What’s her damn problem!” Rackam yelled angrily, moving away from Noa and grabbing his arm—he could tell quite clearly the sting from his flesh wounded by the small beast that hissed at him while Noa tried to keep her down, hugging her body against his.
“Hiss!” Ewiyar moved her arm as if she was seeking a fight. (You nincompoop! You pulled my precious feathers! I will reduce you to shreds! I won’t forgive this impertinence!) She thought to herself, her voice shrill as she screamed in her head, wishing she could release the might of her anger then and there.
“Rackam, you should be more careful, you squished her.” Noa chided Rackam, cuddling Ewiyar against him to console her, his hands carefully petting her back to console her. “This is why the kitty doesn’t like you, you should move away, or you will crush her.”
“You gotta be fucking with me…” Rackam mumbled in flabbergasted ire—he felt like crying, he couldn’t believe he was displaced in his own bed, and even from his own lover; a cat picked over him! Rackam had no choice but stay by his corner, crying himself into sleep and Noa and the cat cuddled on the other side, giving him their back.
(Hum-hum! Nobody can win over Ewiyar!)
If he was a worse person, Rackam would grab that cat by the nape and throw her down the sky.