Stretched To The Limit (II/II)
( Part 1)
It was late on a Wednesday evening, past nine pm already, and Yifan was standing in the doorway to his bathroom, arms crossed in front of his chest, the sleeves of his work shirt pushed up to his elbows.
He was watching the plumber working intently on the washing machine, which had inconveniently decided that eight pm was apparently a good time to flood the bathroom floor. Yifan was trying very hard not to show his irritation in front of the stranger who was going out of his way already to accept a request so late in the evening.
His day at work had been very stressful, and Yifan hadn’t wanted to do anything else that night than to have a relaxed dinner and perhaps some nice time with Yixing, but instead he had had to listen to his washing machine letting out a terrifying rumble when it died, gracing them with the parting present of spilling seemingly endless reserves of water all over the tiles.
Calling a plumber had already been taxing enough, with most of the offices he called already being closed. And now that he thankfully had found someone willing to come help him immediately, he had to deal with Yixing being in his usual bad mood around the man he apparently viewed as an intruder, and a hostile one at that.
The hybrid wasn’t too fond of water, and it was probably the only reason the plumber didn’t have scratch marks all over his bare arms yet. It didn’t stop Yixing from hissing at the man from the safe distance of the doorframe though.
Yifan had tried to tell Yixing that he was being ridiculous, that there was no need for him to get all hostile towards some manual worker who was just trying to help them, but as he had already expected, his words didn’t have any effect on the irritated cat. He might as well have been talking with a wall.
“Okay, I think I should be all done now.” The plumber piped up, crawling out from the corner where their water connection was located, sitting up on his heels to smile up at Yifan.
The blond smiled back gratefully, but couldn’t help the slight twitching of his eye when he heard the tell-tale hissing from beside him. The plumber’s smile seemed to waver a bit as well as nervous eyes darted over to where Yixing was surely baring his teeth.
“Thank you very much for your help despite it being so late. We would have been pretty screwed without you.” Yifan expressed his gratitude, extending his hand when the plumber moved towards him. He hoped to be able to divert the man’s attention from the angry catboy.
The plan didn’t exactly work out though, because the moment the man reached for Yifan’s hand, a lopsided smile on his features, Yixing darted out from the side. With the plumber finally being in his reach, he swatted at his outstretched hand once, before immediately retreating.
The hybrid might act oblivious at times, but he surely wasn’t stupid. He could tell the waves of anger coming from Yifan when the plumber pulled his hand back with a yelp. The scratches weren’t exactly deep, but Yifan could see trickles of blood forming along the white lines.
He couldn’t quite decide which was stronger, his anger or his embarrassment at how misbehaving his cat was, but since he was faced with the taken-aback looking plumber, embarrassment made the race.
“I’m so sorry, I’ll go get you a band-aid.” Yifan started, but the man just waved his concern away.
“No need to bother, really. It’s just a scratch. Animals can be irrational at times.”
And yes, it was only a scratch, but Yifan still felt as if he should offer some sort of apology. He ended up giving the man a tip almost as high as the repair cost itself, and while the smile on the plumber’s face was wavering slightly as his eyes still darted around nervously to catch sight of Yixing, he seemed pleased.
When Yifan had seen the worker off with a last expression of gratitude, he leaned his back against the closed front door for a moment. He tried to take a deep breath to relax himself enough to face Yixing on a rational level, but the angry irritation burning in his veins simply didn’t let itself be doused.
It simply was the wrong day, everything coming together at once, and frankly Yifan had had enough. Features pulled into a stern frown, Yifan searched the flat for Yixing. He found the hybrid cowering beside doorway to their living room.
His ears were still folded back, and his tail showed that the cat was just as irritated as Yifan himself was.
“What the fuck was that about, Yixing?” Yifan shouted accusingly as soon as he was only an arm’s length away from the brunet.
The smaller didn’t slump the way he had done in the beginning. Instead he bristled, his tail whipping around agitatedly. “He was flirting with you.”
Despite the hissing Yifan took a step closer towards Yixing, hands waving around helplessly in the air to illustrate his irritation. “He was not. He was being friendly, because it’s his job to deal with customers.” The taller exclaimed, but he didn’t give Yixing the chance to answer before he continued, “And even if he had been flirting, that’s none of your business.”
Yixing recoiled momentarily, as if Yifan had dealt a physical blow. In the back of his mind Yifan knew that that had been mean. And while it was the truth that it wasn’t Yixing’s business if Yifan was being flirted with, at the same time it was the catboy’s business in a way.
Even when Yifan was exasperated and angry with the hybrid, even when the other had managed to scare most of his friends away from him, Yifan couldn’t deny that he had fallen for Yixing. The Yixing that prepared dinner for him, and made packed lunches when Yifan was about to have a particular long day at the office. The Yixing that cuddled close to Yifan and purred softly in contentment whenever Yifan’s fingers would come in contact with him. The Yixing that looked at him like he was the most important thing in the world.
But when Yixing was being like this, all difficult, angry and irrational, Yifan found himself caught on the wrong foot occasionally, and he knew that he tended to say things he didn’t really mean then.
Hurt washed over Yixing’s features, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, making Yifan wonder whether he might have only imagined it. Instead Yixing set his features in defiant determination. Bristling, Yixing closed the distance between them, pressing his mouth against Yifan’s.
The blond wasn’t exactly sure if the action really counted as a kiss, with Yixing obviously trying to muffle any further reprimands he was about to voice. He caught the other’s shoulders and pushed the hybrid away, immediately missing the warm body against his front, but he was unwilling to give up on the argument that easily.
“I’m being serious here, Yixing. You need to change that sort of behaviour.” He tried to sound persuasive while fixing his eyes on Yixing’s, but the cat was unwilling to listen.
With a quick step back the younger broke out of Yifan’s grip, and before Yifan could really react to that, Yixing was already back to crowd Yifan’s personal space, this time jumping right into his arms though.
On instinct Yifan’s hands came up to hold Yixing securely against his body, grabbing at his ass while Yixing wound his legs tightly around Yifan’s waist, arms thrown around the taller’s neck as he dove in for another kiss, this one laced with a lot more assertiveness.
When Yixing was in such a state Yifan always had troubles resisting him, but more than that he felt as if he wouldn’t get anywhere with arguing with the hybrid either way. So instead he pressed back to meet Yixing’s kiss with as much fervour, turning it into a battle for dominance as his fingers dug into Yixing’s flesh, pulling the smaller male closer still.
Yixing let out a little gasp at the blond’s touches, but he readily used the better angle when Yifan hoisted him up slightly. This way he could actually force Yifan to tilt his head back a little, as both engaged in open mouthed kisses. It mostly was a mixture of tongues sliding against each other, and teeth grazing as both refused to back down.
Using the fact that he held Yixing up to his advantage, Yifan moved until he could press the smaller body against the closest wall, using the surprise of the impact to his advantage in his attempt to control their kisses.
“Your behaviour-“ He started when he shortly drew back to catch his breath, “-was completely-“ another sloppy kiss to prevent Yixing from interrupting, “uncalled for.” He ended his accusation with gripping Yixing just the slightest bit tighter, but instead of turning the hybrid apologetic, the grip seemed to rouse his fighting spirit even further.
A low moan rumbling in his throat, Yixing ground his hips forward as if to move away from Yifan’s hands, but really, it was obvious that his goal was to rub his growing erection against Yifan. And with Yifan having to bite back a moan it had just the effect the brunet had been hoping for.
All restraints, all concerns that Yifan should talk this out with Yixing now once and for all flew out of the window as Yifan leaned down to suck at the pale expanse of the catboy’s neck. Right now he needed an outlet for his tension, and Yixing was providing him with one and adding to the tension all at once.
With Yixing pressed against the wall Yifan was able to move one of his hands up, to card into Yixing’s hair. His grip was perhaps a little tighter than usual as he used it to tilt the hybrid’s head slightly to the side, giving him better access to Yixing’s skin.
Instead of complaining about the controlling touches though Yixing started purring. Not the content kind of purring, not the one he let out when he was curled into Yifan’s side while the taller male patted him, but the kind that sounded desperate and needy, pleased and encouraging all at once. Both kinds of purring made Yifan feel warm, but while the first one usually incited a fond smile the latter always set his blood boiling.
He was half convinced that the younger male knew exactly what sort of effect his purring had on Yifan, but then again the action seemed to be pretty involuntary on the cat’s side. What wasn’t involuntary though was Yixing’s tail finding a way beneath Yifan’s shirt.
At first he ran the silky appendage over Yifan’s back, eliciting soft moans and shivers from the elder, then, seemingly not satisfied with the result, he curled it around Yifan’s torso. Fingers fisted into Yifan’s hair, Yixing used his tail to map out Yifan’s chest, gliding over the hint of his abs before moving to brush over Yifan’s nipples. The sensation had Yifan bite back a groan as his hips stuttered forward on their own accord.
His catboy really know how to play him, Yifan realized, but he couldn’t bring himself to mind at that moment because his rocking forward had Yixing throw his head back just as well. A breathless moan resounded through the hallway as the brunet repeated the motion, making Yifan snap his hips forward again.
Retreating his hand from Yixing’s hair, Yifan moved it around the smaller’s waist instead, splaying it across Yixing’s back to pull him away from the wall and flush against Yifan’s body. Another gasp quickly turned into a low moan when Yifan reinitiated an open-mouthed kiss, sucking on Yixing’s bottom lip while moving with slow steps towards the bedroom.
Because really, he needed to get to the bed as quickly as possible to have the freedom of movement he wanted. Yixing just seemed to curl around him, legs and arms wound as tight as ever, as if he was afraid Yifan would try to push him away again if he gave him the slightest chance to.
Yifan wasn’t planning to, but he was more than happy to use the element of surprise to throw the younger on the bed with a well-calculated push.
Yixing’s surprised yelp was cut short by Yifan immediately crawling after him, kissing the sound right from his lips as he didn’t lose time to grind their hips together. Yixing had been so recalcitrant that evening that the blond was unwilling to lose the control over the situation right then.
A soft mewl left Yixing’s mouth as Yifan fisted one hand back in the chestnut coloured hair, the other grabbing the smaller’s hips tightly. At the same time Yifan moved down to nip at Yixing’s neck, gradually making his way lower until he could suck bruises onto Yixing’s delicious collarbones, easily accessible beneath the flimsy wifebeater the cat wore.
Yifan used a bit more force than usual, but Yixing arched into his every touch, his own fingers digging into Yifan’s back and arms not too gently either.
And when the elder pulled back for just a second Yixing leaned up, one hand wrapped around Yifan’s nape to catch his mouth in another kiss. That the hybrid was particularly fond of kisses was something Yifan had quickly found out, and he was happy to supply him with them, pressing the younger down into the pillows.
A needy whine left Yixing’s mouth when Yifan rubbed the cat’s ears with his right hand, while the left one moved below Yixing’s shirt, to skirt along his chest.
The hybrid’s ears were a sensitive spot, evident by the way they had Yixing’s breathing quicken within seconds as Yifan moved up to kiss the soft fur covering them, nuzzling into their warmth. The sound Yixing released sounded like a purr, a moan and a whine, all mixed in one.
The way his hips bucked up had become more urgent as well as Yifan took his time to let his fingertips dance over Yixing’s skin, purposefully avoiding all the spots on his chest that made the younger mewl and moan.
But his patience was wearing thin with every pant of Yixing’s, every whine that seemed to be louder in volume and more desperate than the previous one.
“You have been a bad boy, Yixing.” He whispered right into the cat’s ear, and he wasn’t sure if it were the words or the hot air of his breath ghosting against Yixing’s skin that had the younger shiver and moan lowly. “I hope you’re aware of that.”
With that Yifan moved slightly away from the other, but only so that he could grab the hem off Yixing’s shirt to draw it up and over his head. Even though the brunet looked fairly out of it, he still lifted his arms on instinct to help Yifan. The elder followed suit, pulling his shirt over his head before diving back down to lick along Yixing’s chest, the way he knew drove the hybrid crazy.
And indeed, Yixing’s hands grabbed at his back helplessly, as if looking for purchase. The string of low moans and mewls didn’t cut off when Yifan made his way from nipping at Yixing’s jaw with teeth and tongue over his collarbone.
His hands moved in the exact opposite direction, starting from stroking over Yixing’s abdomen, up over his chest until Yifan could rub his thumbs over Yixing’s nipples, while continuing his ministrations with his mouth.
The action had Yixing exhale in a hiss, before a high-pitched noise ripped from his throat, desperation clear in the sound and the way his hips bucked up again.
Feeling his own erection ache, Yifan couldn’t help grinding down against Yixing, the noises the catboy was releasing enough to make him groan lowly in turn.
When their clothed arousals brushed against each other Yixing threw his head back, fingers digging into Yifan’s flesh as a simultaneous moan left their mouths.
As he repeated the motion, Yixing’s hands moved to the front of Yifan’s pants, trying to undo the belt there with shaky fingers. The notion was ultimately unsuccessful, because Yifan didn’t let Yixing have enough peace to complete the task, his fingers losing all their nimble qualities when Yifan continued teasing his nipples and the skin around his neck.
“Yifan, please.” The younger eventually whined breathily, and in all honesty, in his defiance all Yifan had wanted was to hear the younger become so desperate he would beg.
Now that he had accomplished that, he withdrew from Yixing to sit back instead, taking in the view in front of him. Yixing looked completely dishevelled, hair a brown mess atop his head, panting heavily, his pants visibly tented. He looked absolutely delicious, and Yifan couldn’t help palming himself at the sight.
The touch had him inhale sharply, even if it was only his own hand. He might have even gotten lost in the sensation, if Yixing’s impatient whine wouldn’t have been there to remind him that there were even greater pleasures waiting for him.
Quickly he undid his pants, stepping out of them and discarding his underwear as well right away. The taller was really grateful that Yixing loved to wear sweatpants at home, because he already felt he had wasted too much time on undressing himself. So it was a relief that he had Yixing completely naked within less than a minute after just having to tug the cat’s garments down.
On any other occasion he might have taken the time to admire the view some more, but not today. Today he had already waited enough, had had his patience tested enough.
So he quickly moved to cover Yixing’s body with his own, taking care to lower his hips against Yixing’s. When finally both of their erections brushed together, a wave of pleasure shot through his body, making him groan low in his throat as Yixing moaned loudly, shamelessly.
With his tail now completely freed, it twitched on the sheets shortly before coming up to wind around the bare skin of Yifan’s thigh. The feeling of the silky fur gliding across his skin drew a throaty moan from Yifan, and he knew that if he would run his hand along the furry appendage he could have elicited the very same reaction from the younger.
But there were more pressing issues at hand, Yifan’s need too overwhelming to bother with any further foreplay. Kissing his way up from Yixing’s abdomen until he could leave a short kiss on the hybrid’s lips, Yifan reached for the nightstand to pull the lube out.
The purring started again when Yixing noticed the bottle in Yifan’s hand, the sound vibrating in Yifan’s chest where it was pressed against the smaller’s. This time it mainly sounded needy, and Yifan found himself being infected by the urgency of it.
As soon as he had his fingers coated with lube, he urged Yixing to lift his hips a little, to which the cat eagerly complied. The elder took his time, stroking around the base of Yixing’s tail because he knew that spot always had Yixing moan desperately, and that time was no exception.
With one hand fisted tightly in Yifan’s hair, the other was balled into the sheets, it sounded as if Yixing was trying to formulate pleas, but his breath didn’t hold long enough for him to really get them out.
Yifan took delight in watching Yixing’s thighs quiver. When he moved forward to suck on the skin of Yixing’s hipbones the hybrid released a low wail, followed by his breath hitching as Yifan pushed the first finger in without warning.
But Yixing was way too far gone at that point, and Yifan distantly wondered if his pet was going to go into heat soon, because he barely complained even when Yifan was stretching him with three fingers in. It hardly seemed to bother the cat, who instead of looking pained desperately moved his hips back on Yifan’s fingers.
It might be an explanation as for why Yixing’s behaviour had been especially bad these days.
All the musings left Yifan’s brain however when he curled his fingers just right, sending Yixing’s eyes flying open as his back arched of the bed, a breathless keen falling from his lips. The sight was addictive, and Yifan rubbed over that spot over and over again, until Yixing’s keens sounded as if they were close to becoming sobs.
“Yi-Yifan.” The smaller tried to breathe out Yifan’s name, the syllables slightly slurred by the purring quality his voice always took on in these moments. He couldn’t form any further sentences, but Yifan knew exactly what the younger was trying to tell him. Really, it wasn’t as if it wasn’t obvious from his shaky, continuously hitching breathing, the twitching of his ears and the tail wound tighter than ever around Yifan, as if in a desperate attempt to hold himself together.
After a last jab Yifan finally retracted his fingers, leaving Yixing whining at the loss while at the same time spreading his legs even further as if in invitation. An invitation Yifan wouldn’t have needed as he moved forward, positioning himself at Yixing’s entrance.
Despite the way Yixing had taken his fingers so easily, Yifan forced himself to push in slowly. He knew the younger tended to get a little self-destructive, especially when he was nearing his heat, and Yifan wouldn’t want to hurt him.
Yixing had different plans though, as he loosened the hold his tail had around Yifan’s thigh to instead trace a line from Yifan’s balls up his ass. The younger was well aware that the motion would have Yifan’s hips stutter forward, a surprised moan leaving his mouth as Yifan screwed his eyes shut at the sudden sensation of being fully seated in Yixing.
Annoyance warred with worry in the blond at the movement, but annoyance won out when Yixing didn’t seem the least bit troubled.
Well, if he wants it rough, he can have it rough. Yifan decided, pulling back out to push back in with a harsh thrust, pushing Yixing up further on the bed with the force of it.
Instead of complaining though, Yixing released a drawn-out moan, driving Yifan to repeat the motion, again and again.
Yixing’s moans and keens got louder the more Yifan increased his tempo and force. He was sure the younger was leaving scratch marks along his back, but he really couldn’t have cared less when he found the spot again that had Yixing arch off the bed.
He kept the angle, until he felt Yixing becoming more and more breathless beneath him, desperation colouring the movement of his hands along Yifan’s back, his voice long since having taken on a husky quality from all the noises he was making.
A chant of Yifan’s name fell continuously from the hybrid’s lips, and as much as Yifan loved all of Yixing’s purring, mewls, moans and keens, there was nothing that spurred him on as much, pleased him as much as the way his name sounded when Yixing chanted it like this, completely out of breath.
Feeling his own climax drawing closer, Yifan took pity on the hybrid, wrapping his hand around his neglected cock. He timed his strokes to correspond with his thrusts, and he was pretty sure that there really were little sobs mixed in between the moans now.
They both didn’t last much longer, Yixing coming first with what sounded like a hiss turning into a drawn-out, soundless moan as he shot his cum all over his stomach and Yifan’s fingers.
The sound, Yixing’s walls clenching around him and the look of pure pleasure on the smaller’s face were enough to push Yifan over the edge right after him. His vision turned white around the edges as he came with a last few irregular thrusts, grunting lowly as he rode his orgasm out.
As soon as he had spilled completely inside Yixing, he slumped down, falling half on top of the younger who mewled softly, a sound caught between contentment and protest.
After taking a moment to catch his breath, Yifan pulled out, rolling to the side and off Yixing.
With a weak whine, Yixing immediately followed after him, warm body draping half over Yifan’s as the hybrid threw one leg over Yifan’s, his arm slung over the broad chest as he nuzzled his nose into the joint of Yifan’s neck and shoulder. Yixing’s tail fell to lie across Yifan’s chest as well.
“I was being serious, Yixing.” The taller whispered into the furry ears only centimetres away from his mouth. Even though the cat seemed sleepy, his ears immediately turned back, folding against Yixing’s head defiantly, as if he was trying to indicate he didn’t want to listen. But Yifan felt the need to at least voice his discontentment once more. “I don’t understand why you behave the way you do, but this is not okay.”
Yixing whined inarticulately into the crook of Yifan’s neck, and Yifan knew he was weak to Yixing acting like this, all cute and clingy.
“’m tired.” The hybrid mumbled, his lips grazing lightly over Yifan’s skin when he talked, and as he exhaled as if in relaxation, his hot breath ghosted over Yifan’s collarbone. It sent a pleasant shiver down his spine.
Still basking in the contentment of his afterglow, Yifan decided to be lenient. “Okay.” He whispered into Yixing’s brown locks, “I’ll stop now, but tomorrow we’ll talk.”
The answering low hum could have been anything, from agreement to complaint, but Yixing seemed to be well on his way to sleep already, and Yifan decided that it probably was the best to simply follow his cat’s example.
Draping the covers over their bodies so they wouldn’t get cold during the night, Yifan pressed a soft kiss to Yixing’s head together with a low “Good night.”
The smaller purred in reaction, and Yifan fell asleep to the calming noise and the reassuring press of Yixing’s body against his.
-o-
Yifan really should have seen it coming that “tomorrow” didn’t turn out to be the day for them to have their big mediation talk. It was a normal Thursday, and as soon as Yifan’s alarm went off he awoke with a groan, mind filled with thoughts of his work already.
And when he returned home that night, he felt just as drained as he had the previous day. Perhaps he was being a bit of a coward, but he didn’t want to confront Yixing right then. Instead he chose to revel in the other’s comforting presence as the cat snuggled close to him on the couch. Petting Yixing softly they watched some drama on television that Yifan only half-caught, sleepiness already seeping into his bones.
Hoping that perhaps the matter of Yixing’s jealousy would end up settling itself, Yifan decided to let it slide for now.
It didn’t get better though. If anything, it got worse. Not wanting to put Yixing-and admittedly, himself as well-through the stress of getting the catboy into contact with other people, Yifan tried to establish a balance between going out with his friends and inviting people over.
The anticipated result wasn’t half as good as Yifan had hoped for though. Whenever Yifan stayed away, it would end up making Yixing almost more upset than when anyone was over in Yifan’s flat.
“You stink!” The hybrid would accuse Yifan as soon as the other would walk through the front door, face pulled into an angry scowl as he kept half a meter distance from the taller male. After a few days of bafflement, Yifan reasoned it were the personal scents of his friends, hanging in his clothes that ticked the cat off.
“I don’t know what to do anymore.” Yifan complained into the phone cradled close to his ear. He was sitting on a bench in front of his company, eventually having decided to call the only person who might have an explanation as for why Yixing was acting as irritable as he was. Even if this was jealousy, wasn’t the hybrid pushing it a bit too far? It couldn’t be normal that the smaller would bristle every time a stranger so much as looked Yifan’s way.
“Well, I think you have to give me a few more details.” Jongdae said, and Yifan could hear the muffled sound of barking in the background.
“He’s just so easily irritable all the time. As soon as he smells that someone put their hand on my back in passing, he’ll be up the wall for a few hours at least. He hisses at and scratches everyone who’s trying to enter my flat. I just don’t know anymore.” Yifan groaned, dragging a weary hand down his face.
“Okay, then if he’s being moody, let’s check the basics. Is he taken care of?”
“I’m pretty sure he is? I always give him as much attention as I can when I’m home. He regularly eats, and I make sure he eats the food he needs to get his necessary nutrition.” Yifan answered, mentally ticking off the items of a list.
“Okay, so aside from his nutritious needs, how about the...” Jongdae trailed off slightly, as if in search for the appropriate term, “...carnal ones?”
“Carnal...?” Yifan repeated in confusion, but as soon as he let the word roll off his tongue it dawned on him what Jongdae was trying to refer to. The blond was glad that Jongdae was just on the phone, so he couldn’t see the bright red blush spreading across his cheeks.
“Wha- I- No. That’s no problem.” He hurried to answer, flustered, and just barely stopped himself from tacking an “At all.” to the end.
“Well, if you say so...” Yifan couldn’t make out whether the other was trying to be mocking or simply let the sentence trail of because he was being distracted.
“I mean, I’m pretty sure by now that Yixing is... jealous. And I mean, a little jealousy might be normal, but he’s really taking this to extremes.” In a way Yifan felt stupid for voicing his theory. Perhaps there was a mannerism in catboy’s he simply hadn’t heard of yet, and Jongdae would call him out on his ignorance in a moment.
But instead of any sort of astonished comment how Yifan hadn’t known about that trait earlier, the shelter owner hummed in understanding. “I see. Well, if you already know he’s jealous most likely, I’d advise you to deal with this the way you would deal with it with any other person. Talk it out.”
“But he doesn’t want to talk.” Yifan whined. This wasn’t the sort of miraculous advice he had been hoping for. “He always finds a way to get out of the conversation when I try to broach the topic.”
“Are you serious?” Jongdae sounded a bit disbelieving. “Come on, Yifan, you’re a grown man. Don’t let Yixing get out of the conversation, it’s as simple as that. Take advantage of the fact that unlike real cats, hybrids can think and talk pretty much the same way most humans do.”
Yifan had to admit the other was right. And with Jongdae having been his last hope either way, he resolved himself to follow through on the other’s advice.
When he got home that night, Yixing bounced up to him happily. However the hybrid scrunched up his nose as soon as he caught scent of the perfume of one of Yifan’s co workers, who most likely had leaned a bit too close to Yifan when he was explaining something to her.
It was the last push Yifan needed. “Yixing, come with me.”
Grabbing the hybrid by the wrist, he dragged him to the living room. He sat down on the couch, turning to face Yixing and even though the set of the younger’s ears, and his whole posture in general read defiance, Yixing still mirrored the movement.
“We need to talk. This can’t go on.” Yifan started, and almost instantaneously Yixing seemed to tense, his lips pulling back to reveal just the slightest hint of bared teeth. It looked as if the mere thought of confrontation already upset the hybrid.
At first Yifan was trying to be all composed and logical, talking to his cat in a controlled manner, but there was something in the set of Yixing’s shoulders, in the irritation in his eyes that simply always managed to get Yifan riled up as none of his arguments seemed to be taken seriously.
“You are being too friendly with everyone! You let everyone touch you, when you shouldn’t need anyone but me!” Yixing accused with a hiss, a good way into the argument. The last part sounded different from all the other things the hybrid had voiced so far, a lot more hysteric, a lot rawer. As if noticing so himself, Yixing moved to get up with jerky movements to go hide somewhere, but Yifan couldn’t have any of that.
He grabbed the younger’s shoulders, forcing the other to face him as he looked at him intently.
“Yixing, you can’t simply decide to scare anyone around me away. It’s still my own choice with whom I meet up, and to whom I’m friendly. You can’t monopolize me.” The taller declared, and his tone might have been a bit harsher than he had planned.
It took him off-guard to see something in Yixing’s eyes crumble in reaction to his words. It had him immediately retract his hands. Yifan had expected to get some sort of reaction, had been hoping for some other than the usual, really, since otherwise they wouldn’t get anywhere. What he hadn’t seen coming though was the desperation seeping into the dark-green orbs in front of him.
And even though Yixing wasn’t being held in place anymore, he made no move to get away. From the way the hybrid’s expression changed Yifan could tell that he had gotten through to the other, and while he felt a bit relieved at the fact, he wished at the same time that he hadn’t for how broken Yixing looked.
“But my last owner was stolen from me because I couldn't hold on tight enough.” Yixing exclaimed, as if he was trying to be defiant when he actually looked desperate instead.
Yifan didn't know how much the anatomy of a catboy differed from that of a human, but he had always been under the impression that they couldn't cry. It would explain the hurt in Yixing's eyes, the way his face contorted while his eyes still remained dry.
“Yifan, I can't have that happen again. I need to defend you. I can't have anyone take you away from me. I don't know if I could survive that.” His little fangs were exposed as his mouth contorted in something that looked like the facsimile of a smile, but it did not look the slightest bit happy.
The sight pained Yifan, and all of his anger disappeared immediately, to be replaced by worry instead. Without any hesitation he closed the space separating them, wrapping his arms around the smaller body. At first Yixing remained unresponsive in the hug, but then his hands came up to fist tightly into the back of Yifan’s shirt as he deeply inhaled Yifan’s scent.
Various feelings were warring inside Yifan. The most foremost was pain. Pain at seeing Yixing like this, at all the implications of what Yixing must have been through already to result in such an extreme fear of being left.
Obviously, Yifan had adopted Yixing from an animal shelter, and the animals only were there because they had been abandoned. Yifan just never really had taken the time to think about that.
And the reminder of Yixing having a previous owner sent an unexpected wave of possessiveness through Yifan, made him hold the younger even closer, as he nuzzled his nose into the light brown hair.
“You don’t need to be afraid.” He whispered to Yixing, trying to reassure the younger. ”I won’t leave you. I promise, Yixing. Even if I talk with other people, laugh with them, they’ll never replace you.”
Yixing didn’t show any reaction, but Yifan thought he felt the other relax a bit against him.
“You know that I love you Yixing, right. You, and not anyone else.” Yifan had never said it out loud before, simply assuming that the hybrid would be able to tell. Perhaps he had been a bit foolish, he thought as he rubbed Yixing’s back comfortingly.
Instead of answering, Yixing emerged from the crook of Yifan’s neck to surge forward, smashing his lips against Yifan’s in a kiss that still held an edge of desperation.
Yifan tried to kiss back with as much gentleness as he could manage, to balance out Yixing. But the catboy pressed closer, until Yifan fell back onto the sofa, the younger immediately crawling on top of him to keep their mouths connected.
“Yixing, hey Yixing.” The taller eventually whispered, cupping Yixing’s face to stop him from diving down for another kiss. “It’s okay.”
And Yifan could see the words finally register with Yixing in the way the urgency slipped from his eyes. “I love you.” The cat murmured against Yifan’s lips, and when Yifan loosened his grip, Yixing used the opportunity to plant more kisses on Yifan, repeating the words over and over again in between.
“I love you too.” Yifan chuckled, and when Yixing eventually laid down on top of him, cuddling into his side the way he loved to do, there was contentment singing in Yifan’s veins as he dragged his fingers through Yixing’s hair.
In that moment he mused how he hated Yixing’s previous owner with a burning passion, for hurting Yixing so badly that the younger became all insecure and closed-off. But at the same time, Yifan was grateful to the hybrid’s previous owner, in a twisted way. Because if Yixing hadn’t been abandoned, Yifan would never have had the chance to meet him.
And he sure as hell wouldn’t make the same mistake the other man had made.
He was going to hold onto Yixing.
It was late on a Wednesday evening, past nine pm already, and Yifan was standing in the doorway to his bathroom, arms crossed in front of his chest, the sleeves of his work shirt pushed up to his elbows.
He was watching the plumber working intently on the washing machine, which had inconveniently decided that eight pm was apparently a good time to flood the bathroom floor. Yifan was trying very hard not to show his irritation in front of the stranger who was going out of his way already to accept a request so late in the evening.
His day at work had been very stressful, and Yifan hadn’t wanted to do anything else that night than to have a relaxed dinner and perhaps some nice time with Yixing, but instead he had had to listen to his washing machine letting out a terrifying rumble when it died, gracing them with the parting present of spilling seemingly endless reserves of water all over the tiles.
Calling a plumber had already been taxing enough, with most of the offices he called already being closed. And now that he thankfully had found someone willing to come help him immediately, he had to deal with Yixing being in his usual bad mood around the man he apparently viewed as an intruder, and a hostile one at that.
The hybrid wasn’t too fond of water, and it was probably the only reason the plumber didn’t have scratch marks all over his bare arms yet. It didn’t stop Yixing from hissing at the man from the safe distance of the doorframe though.
Yifan had tried to tell Yixing that he was being ridiculous, that there was no need for him to get all hostile towards some manual worker who was just trying to help them, but as he had already expected, his words didn’t have any effect on the irritated cat. He might as well have been talking with a wall.
“Okay, I think I should be all done now.” The plumber piped up, crawling out from the corner where their water connection was located, sitting up on his heels to smile up at Yifan.
The blond smiled back gratefully, but couldn’t help the slight twitching of his eye when he heard the tell-tale hissing from beside him. The plumber’s smile seemed to waver a bit as well as nervous eyes darted over to where Yixing was surely baring his teeth.
“Thank you very much for your help despite it being so late. We would have been pretty screwed without you.” Yifan expressed his gratitude, extending his hand when the plumber moved towards him. He hoped to be able to divert the man’s attention from the angry catboy.
The plan didn’t exactly work out though, because the moment the man reached for Yifan’s hand, a lopsided smile on his features, Yixing darted out from the side. With the plumber finally being in his reach, he swatted at his outstretched hand once, before immediately retreating.
The hybrid might act oblivious at times, but he surely wasn’t stupid. He could tell the waves of anger coming from Yifan when the plumber pulled his hand back with a yelp. The scratches weren’t exactly deep, but Yifan could see trickles of blood forming along the white lines.
He couldn’t quite decide which was stronger, his anger or his embarrassment at how misbehaving his cat was, but since he was faced with the taken-aback looking plumber, embarrassment made the race.
“I’m so sorry, I’ll go get you a band-aid.” Yifan started, but the man just waved his concern away.
“No need to bother, really. It’s just a scratch. Animals can be irrational at times.”
And yes, it was only a scratch, but Yifan still felt as if he should offer some sort of apology. He ended up giving the man a tip almost as high as the repair cost itself, and while the smile on the plumber’s face was wavering slightly as his eyes still darted around nervously to catch sight of Yixing, he seemed pleased.
When Yifan had seen the worker off with a last expression of gratitude, he leaned his back against the closed front door for a moment. He tried to take a deep breath to relax himself enough to face Yixing on a rational level, but the angry irritation burning in his veins simply didn’t let itself be doused.
It simply was the wrong day, everything coming together at once, and frankly Yifan had had enough. Features pulled into a stern frown, Yifan searched the flat for Yixing. He found the hybrid cowering beside doorway to their living room.
His ears were still folded back, and his tail showed that the cat was just as irritated as Yifan himself was.
“What the fuck was that about, Yixing?” Yifan shouted accusingly as soon as he was only an arm’s length away from the brunet.
The smaller didn’t slump the way he had done in the beginning. Instead he bristled, his tail whipping around agitatedly. “He was flirting with you.”
Despite the hissing Yifan took a step closer towards Yixing, hands waving around helplessly in the air to illustrate his irritation. “He was not. He was being friendly, because it’s his job to deal with customers.” The taller exclaimed, but he didn’t give Yixing the chance to answer before he continued, “And even if he had been flirting, that’s none of your business.”
Yixing recoiled momentarily, as if Yifan had dealt a physical blow. In the back of his mind Yifan knew that that had been mean. And while it was the truth that it wasn’t Yixing’s business if Yifan was being flirted with, at the same time it was the catboy’s business in a way.
Even when Yifan was exasperated and angry with the hybrid, even when the other had managed to scare most of his friends away from him, Yifan couldn’t deny that he had fallen for Yixing. The Yixing that prepared dinner for him, and made packed lunches when Yifan was about to have a particular long day at the office. The Yixing that cuddled close to Yifan and purred softly in contentment whenever Yifan’s fingers would come in contact with him. The Yixing that looked at him like he was the most important thing in the world.
But when Yixing was being like this, all difficult, angry and irrational, Yifan found himself caught on the wrong foot occasionally, and he knew that he tended to say things he didn’t really mean then.
Hurt washed over Yixing’s features, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, making Yifan wonder whether he might have only imagined it. Instead Yixing set his features in defiant determination. Bristling, Yixing closed the distance between them, pressing his mouth against Yifan’s.
The blond wasn’t exactly sure if the action really counted as a kiss, with Yixing obviously trying to muffle any further reprimands he was about to voice. He caught the other’s shoulders and pushed the hybrid away, immediately missing the warm body against his front, but he was unwilling to give up on the argument that easily.
“I’m being serious here, Yixing. You need to change that sort of behaviour.” He tried to sound persuasive while fixing his eyes on Yixing’s, but the cat was unwilling to listen.
With a quick step back the younger broke out of Yifan’s grip, and before Yifan could really react to that, Yixing was already back to crowd Yifan’s personal space, this time jumping right into his arms though.
On instinct Yifan’s hands came up to hold Yixing securely against his body, grabbing at his ass while Yixing wound his legs tightly around Yifan’s waist, arms thrown around the taller’s neck as he dove in for another kiss, this one laced with a lot more assertiveness.
When Yixing was in such a state Yifan always had troubles resisting him, but more than that he felt as if he wouldn’t get anywhere with arguing with the hybrid either way. So instead he pressed back to meet Yixing’s kiss with as much fervour, turning it into a battle for dominance as his fingers dug into Yixing’s flesh, pulling the smaller male closer still.
Yixing let out a little gasp at the blond’s touches, but he readily used the better angle when Yifan hoisted him up slightly. This way he could actually force Yifan to tilt his head back a little, as both engaged in open mouthed kisses. It mostly was a mixture of tongues sliding against each other, and teeth grazing as both refused to back down.
Using the fact that he held Yixing up to his advantage, Yifan moved until he could press the smaller body against the closest wall, using the surprise of the impact to his advantage in his attempt to control their kisses.
“Your behaviour-“ He started when he shortly drew back to catch his breath, “-was completely-“ another sloppy kiss to prevent Yixing from interrupting, “uncalled for.” He ended his accusation with gripping Yixing just the slightest bit tighter, but instead of turning the hybrid apologetic, the grip seemed to rouse his fighting spirit even further.
A low moan rumbling in his throat, Yixing ground his hips forward as if to move away from Yifan’s hands, but really, it was obvious that his goal was to rub his growing erection against Yifan. And with Yifan having to bite back a moan it had just the effect the brunet had been hoping for.
All restraints, all concerns that Yifan should talk this out with Yixing now once and for all flew out of the window as Yifan leaned down to suck at the pale expanse of the catboy’s neck. Right now he needed an outlet for his tension, and Yixing was providing him with one and adding to the tension all at once.
With Yixing pressed against the wall Yifan was able to move one of his hands up, to card into Yixing’s hair. His grip was perhaps a little tighter than usual as he used it to tilt the hybrid’s head slightly to the side, giving him better access to Yixing’s skin.
Instead of complaining about the controlling touches though Yixing started purring. Not the content kind of purring, not the one he let out when he was curled into Yifan’s side while the taller male patted him, but the kind that sounded desperate and needy, pleased and encouraging all at once. Both kinds of purring made Yifan feel warm, but while the first one usually incited a fond smile the latter always set his blood boiling.
He was half convinced that the younger male knew exactly what sort of effect his purring had on Yifan, but then again the action seemed to be pretty involuntary on the cat’s side. What wasn’t involuntary though was Yixing’s tail finding a way beneath Yifan’s shirt.
At first he ran the silky appendage over Yifan’s back, eliciting soft moans and shivers from the elder, then, seemingly not satisfied with the result, he curled it around Yifan’s torso. Fingers fisted into Yifan’s hair, Yixing used his tail to map out Yifan’s chest, gliding over the hint of his abs before moving to brush over Yifan’s nipples. The sensation had Yifan bite back a groan as his hips stuttered forward on their own accord.
His catboy really know how to play him, Yifan realized, but he couldn’t bring himself to mind at that moment because his rocking forward had Yixing throw his head back just as well. A breathless moan resounded through the hallway as the brunet repeated the motion, making Yifan snap his hips forward again.
Retreating his hand from Yixing’s hair, Yifan moved it around the smaller’s waist instead, splaying it across Yixing’s back to pull him away from the wall and flush against Yifan’s body. Another gasp quickly turned into a low moan when Yifan reinitiated an open-mouthed kiss, sucking on Yixing’s bottom lip while moving with slow steps towards the bedroom.
Because really, he needed to get to the bed as quickly as possible to have the freedom of movement he wanted. Yixing just seemed to curl around him, legs and arms wound as tight as ever, as if he was afraid Yifan would try to push him away again if he gave him the slightest chance to.
Yifan wasn’t planning to, but he was more than happy to use the element of surprise to throw the younger on the bed with a well-calculated push.
Yixing’s surprised yelp was cut short by Yifan immediately crawling after him, kissing the sound right from his lips as he didn’t lose time to grind their hips together. Yixing had been so recalcitrant that evening that the blond was unwilling to lose the control over the situation right then.
A soft mewl left Yixing’s mouth as Yifan fisted one hand back in the chestnut coloured hair, the other grabbing the smaller’s hips tightly. At the same time Yifan moved down to nip at Yixing’s neck, gradually making his way lower until he could suck bruises onto Yixing’s delicious collarbones, easily accessible beneath the flimsy wifebeater the cat wore.
Yifan used a bit more force than usual, but Yixing arched into his every touch, his own fingers digging into Yifan’s back and arms not too gently either.
And when the elder pulled back for just a second Yixing leaned up, one hand wrapped around Yifan’s nape to catch his mouth in another kiss. That the hybrid was particularly fond of kisses was something Yifan had quickly found out, and he was happy to supply him with them, pressing the younger down into the pillows.
A needy whine left Yixing’s mouth when Yifan rubbed the cat’s ears with his right hand, while the left one moved below Yixing’s shirt, to skirt along his chest.
The hybrid’s ears were a sensitive spot, evident by the way they had Yixing’s breathing quicken within seconds as Yifan moved up to kiss the soft fur covering them, nuzzling into their warmth. The sound Yixing released sounded like a purr, a moan and a whine, all mixed in one.
The way his hips bucked up had become more urgent as well as Yifan took his time to let his fingertips dance over Yixing’s skin, purposefully avoiding all the spots on his chest that made the younger mewl and moan.
But his patience was wearing thin with every pant of Yixing’s, every whine that seemed to be louder in volume and more desperate than the previous one.
“You have been a bad boy, Yixing.” He whispered right into the cat’s ear, and he wasn’t sure if it were the words or the hot air of his breath ghosting against Yixing’s skin that had the younger shiver and moan lowly. “I hope you’re aware of that.”
With that Yifan moved slightly away from the other, but only so that he could grab the hem off Yixing’s shirt to draw it up and over his head. Even though the brunet looked fairly out of it, he still lifted his arms on instinct to help Yifan. The elder followed suit, pulling his shirt over his head before diving back down to lick along Yixing’s chest, the way he knew drove the hybrid crazy.
And indeed, Yixing’s hands grabbed at his back helplessly, as if looking for purchase. The string of low moans and mewls didn’t cut off when Yifan made his way from nipping at Yixing’s jaw with teeth and tongue over his collarbone.
His hands moved in the exact opposite direction, starting from stroking over Yixing’s abdomen, up over his chest until Yifan could rub his thumbs over Yixing’s nipples, while continuing his ministrations with his mouth.
The action had Yixing exhale in a hiss, before a high-pitched noise ripped from his throat, desperation clear in the sound and the way his hips bucked up again.
Feeling his own erection ache, Yifan couldn’t help grinding down against Yixing, the noises the catboy was releasing enough to make him groan lowly in turn.
When their clothed arousals brushed against each other Yixing threw his head back, fingers digging into Yifan’s flesh as a simultaneous moan left their mouths.
As he repeated the motion, Yixing’s hands moved to the front of Yifan’s pants, trying to undo the belt there with shaky fingers. The notion was ultimately unsuccessful, because Yifan didn’t let Yixing have enough peace to complete the task, his fingers losing all their nimble qualities when Yifan continued teasing his nipples and the skin around his neck.
“Yifan, please.” The younger eventually whined breathily, and in all honesty, in his defiance all Yifan had wanted was to hear the younger become so desperate he would beg.
Now that he had accomplished that, he withdrew from Yixing to sit back instead, taking in the view in front of him. Yixing looked completely dishevelled, hair a brown mess atop his head, panting heavily, his pants visibly tented. He looked absolutely delicious, and Yifan couldn’t help palming himself at the sight.
The touch had him inhale sharply, even if it was only his own hand. He might have even gotten lost in the sensation, if Yixing’s impatient whine wouldn’t have been there to remind him that there were even greater pleasures waiting for him.
Quickly he undid his pants, stepping out of them and discarding his underwear as well right away. The taller was really grateful that Yixing loved to wear sweatpants at home, because he already felt he had wasted too much time on undressing himself. So it was a relief that he had Yixing completely naked within less than a minute after just having to tug the cat’s garments down.
On any other occasion he might have taken the time to admire the view some more, but not today. Today he had already waited enough, had had his patience tested enough.
So he quickly moved to cover Yixing’s body with his own, taking care to lower his hips against Yixing’s. When finally both of their erections brushed together, a wave of pleasure shot through his body, making him groan low in his throat as Yixing moaned loudly, shamelessly.
With his tail now completely freed, it twitched on the sheets shortly before coming up to wind around the bare skin of Yifan’s thigh. The feeling of the silky fur gliding across his skin drew a throaty moan from Yifan, and he knew that if he would run his hand along the furry appendage he could have elicited the very same reaction from the younger.
But there were more pressing issues at hand, Yifan’s need too overwhelming to bother with any further foreplay. Kissing his way up from Yixing’s abdomen until he could leave a short kiss on the hybrid’s lips, Yifan reached for the nightstand to pull the lube out.
The purring started again when Yixing noticed the bottle in Yifan’s hand, the sound vibrating in Yifan’s chest where it was pressed against the smaller’s. This time it mainly sounded needy, and Yifan found himself being infected by the urgency of it.
As soon as he had his fingers coated with lube, he urged Yixing to lift his hips a little, to which the cat eagerly complied. The elder took his time, stroking around the base of Yixing’s tail because he knew that spot always had Yixing moan desperately, and that time was no exception.
With one hand fisted tightly in Yifan’s hair, the other was balled into the sheets, it sounded as if Yixing was trying to formulate pleas, but his breath didn’t hold long enough for him to really get them out.
Yifan took delight in watching Yixing’s thighs quiver. When he moved forward to suck on the skin of Yixing’s hipbones the hybrid released a low wail, followed by his breath hitching as Yifan pushed the first finger in without warning.
But Yixing was way too far gone at that point, and Yifan distantly wondered if his pet was going to go into heat soon, because he barely complained even when Yifan was stretching him with three fingers in. It hardly seemed to bother the cat, who instead of looking pained desperately moved his hips back on Yifan’s fingers.
It might be an explanation as for why Yixing’s behaviour had been especially bad these days.
All the musings left Yifan’s brain however when he curled his fingers just right, sending Yixing’s eyes flying open as his back arched of the bed, a breathless keen falling from his lips. The sight was addictive, and Yifan rubbed over that spot over and over again, until Yixing’s keens sounded as if they were close to becoming sobs.
“Yi-Yifan.” The smaller tried to breathe out Yifan’s name, the syllables slightly slurred by the purring quality his voice always took on in these moments. He couldn’t form any further sentences, but Yifan knew exactly what the younger was trying to tell him. Really, it wasn’t as if it wasn’t obvious from his shaky, continuously hitching breathing, the twitching of his ears and the tail wound tighter than ever around Yifan, as if in a desperate attempt to hold himself together.
After a last jab Yifan finally retracted his fingers, leaving Yixing whining at the loss while at the same time spreading his legs even further as if in invitation. An invitation Yifan wouldn’t have needed as he moved forward, positioning himself at Yixing’s entrance.
Despite the way Yixing had taken his fingers so easily, Yifan forced himself to push in slowly. He knew the younger tended to get a little self-destructive, especially when he was nearing his heat, and Yifan wouldn’t want to hurt him.
Yixing had different plans though, as he loosened the hold his tail had around Yifan’s thigh to instead trace a line from Yifan’s balls up his ass. The younger was well aware that the motion would have Yifan’s hips stutter forward, a surprised moan leaving his mouth as Yifan screwed his eyes shut at the sudden sensation of being fully seated in Yixing.
Annoyance warred with worry in the blond at the movement, but annoyance won out when Yixing didn’t seem the least bit troubled.
Well, if he wants it rough, he can have it rough. Yifan decided, pulling back out to push back in with a harsh thrust, pushing Yixing up further on the bed with the force of it.
Instead of complaining though, Yixing released a drawn-out moan, driving Yifan to repeat the motion, again and again.
Yixing’s moans and keens got louder the more Yifan increased his tempo and force. He was sure the younger was leaving scratch marks along his back, but he really couldn’t have cared less when he found the spot again that had Yixing arch off the bed.
He kept the angle, until he felt Yixing becoming more and more breathless beneath him, desperation colouring the movement of his hands along Yifan’s back, his voice long since having taken on a husky quality from all the noises he was making.
A chant of Yifan’s name fell continuously from the hybrid’s lips, and as much as Yifan loved all of Yixing’s purring, mewls, moans and keens, there was nothing that spurred him on as much, pleased him as much as the way his name sounded when Yixing chanted it like this, completely out of breath.
Feeling his own climax drawing closer, Yifan took pity on the hybrid, wrapping his hand around his neglected cock. He timed his strokes to correspond with his thrusts, and he was pretty sure that there really were little sobs mixed in between the moans now.
They both didn’t last much longer, Yixing coming first with what sounded like a hiss turning into a drawn-out, soundless moan as he shot his cum all over his stomach and Yifan’s fingers.
The sound, Yixing’s walls clenching around him and the look of pure pleasure on the smaller’s face were enough to push Yifan over the edge right after him. His vision turned white around the edges as he came with a last few irregular thrusts, grunting lowly as he rode his orgasm out.
As soon as he had spilled completely inside Yixing, he slumped down, falling half on top of the younger who mewled softly, a sound caught between contentment and protest.
After taking a moment to catch his breath, Yifan pulled out, rolling to the side and off Yixing.
With a weak whine, Yixing immediately followed after him, warm body draping half over Yifan’s as the hybrid threw one leg over Yifan’s, his arm slung over the broad chest as he nuzzled his nose into the joint of Yifan’s neck and shoulder. Yixing’s tail fell to lie across Yifan’s chest as well.
“I was being serious, Yixing.” The taller whispered into the furry ears only centimetres away from his mouth. Even though the cat seemed sleepy, his ears immediately turned back, folding against Yixing’s head defiantly, as if he was trying to indicate he didn’t want to listen. But Yifan felt the need to at least voice his discontentment once more. “I don’t understand why you behave the way you do, but this is not okay.”
Yixing whined inarticulately into the crook of Yifan’s neck, and Yifan knew he was weak to Yixing acting like this, all cute and clingy.
“’m tired.” The hybrid mumbled, his lips grazing lightly over Yifan’s skin when he talked, and as he exhaled as if in relaxation, his hot breath ghosted over Yifan’s collarbone. It sent a pleasant shiver down his spine.
Still basking in the contentment of his afterglow, Yifan decided to be lenient. “Okay.” He whispered into Yixing’s brown locks, “I’ll stop now, but tomorrow we’ll talk.”
The answering low hum could have been anything, from agreement to complaint, but Yixing seemed to be well on his way to sleep already, and Yifan decided that it probably was the best to simply follow his cat’s example.
Draping the covers over their bodies so they wouldn’t get cold during the night, Yifan pressed a soft kiss to Yixing’s head together with a low “Good night.”
The smaller purred in reaction, and Yifan fell asleep to the calming noise and the reassuring press of Yixing’s body against his.
-o-
Yifan really should have seen it coming that “tomorrow” didn’t turn out to be the day for them to have their big mediation talk. It was a normal Thursday, and as soon as Yifan’s alarm went off he awoke with a groan, mind filled with thoughts of his work already.
And when he returned home that night, he felt just as drained as he had the previous day. Perhaps he was being a bit of a coward, but he didn’t want to confront Yixing right then. Instead he chose to revel in the other’s comforting presence as the cat snuggled close to him on the couch. Petting Yixing softly they watched some drama on television that Yifan only half-caught, sleepiness already seeping into his bones.
Hoping that perhaps the matter of Yixing’s jealousy would end up settling itself, Yifan decided to let it slide for now.
It didn’t get better though. If anything, it got worse. Not wanting to put Yixing-and admittedly, himself as well-through the stress of getting the catboy into contact with other people, Yifan tried to establish a balance between going out with his friends and inviting people over.
The anticipated result wasn’t half as good as Yifan had hoped for though. Whenever Yifan stayed away, it would end up making Yixing almost more upset than when anyone was over in Yifan’s flat.
“You stink!” The hybrid would accuse Yifan as soon as the other would walk through the front door, face pulled into an angry scowl as he kept half a meter distance from the taller male. After a few days of bafflement, Yifan reasoned it were the personal scents of his friends, hanging in his clothes that ticked the cat off.
“I don’t know what to do anymore.” Yifan complained into the phone cradled close to his ear. He was sitting on a bench in front of his company, eventually having decided to call the only person who might have an explanation as for why Yixing was acting as irritable as he was. Even if this was jealousy, wasn’t the hybrid pushing it a bit too far? It couldn’t be normal that the smaller would bristle every time a stranger so much as looked Yifan’s way.
“Well, I think you have to give me a few more details.” Jongdae said, and Yifan could hear the muffled sound of barking in the background.
“He’s just so easily irritable all the time. As soon as he smells that someone put their hand on my back in passing, he’ll be up the wall for a few hours at least. He hisses at and scratches everyone who’s trying to enter my flat. I just don’t know anymore.” Yifan groaned, dragging a weary hand down his face.
“Okay, then if he’s being moody, let’s check the basics. Is he taken care of?”
“I’m pretty sure he is? I always give him as much attention as I can when I’m home. He regularly eats, and I make sure he eats the food he needs to get his necessary nutrition.” Yifan answered, mentally ticking off the items of a list.
“Okay, so aside from his nutritious needs, how about the...” Jongdae trailed off slightly, as if in search for the appropriate term, “...carnal ones?”
“Carnal...?” Yifan repeated in confusion, but as soon as he let the word roll off his tongue it dawned on him what Jongdae was trying to refer to. The blond was glad that Jongdae was just on the phone, so he couldn’t see the bright red blush spreading across his cheeks.
“Wha- I- No. That’s no problem.” He hurried to answer, flustered, and just barely stopped himself from tacking an “At all.” to the end.
“Well, if you say so...” Yifan couldn’t make out whether the other was trying to be mocking or simply let the sentence trail of because he was being distracted.
“I mean, I’m pretty sure by now that Yixing is... jealous. And I mean, a little jealousy might be normal, but he’s really taking this to extremes.” In a way Yifan felt stupid for voicing his theory. Perhaps there was a mannerism in catboy’s he simply hadn’t heard of yet, and Jongdae would call him out on his ignorance in a moment.
But instead of any sort of astonished comment how Yifan hadn’t known about that trait earlier, the shelter owner hummed in understanding. “I see. Well, if you already know he’s jealous most likely, I’d advise you to deal with this the way you would deal with it with any other person. Talk it out.”
“But he doesn’t want to talk.” Yifan whined. This wasn’t the sort of miraculous advice he had been hoping for. “He always finds a way to get out of the conversation when I try to broach the topic.”
“Are you serious?” Jongdae sounded a bit disbelieving. “Come on, Yifan, you’re a grown man. Don’t let Yixing get out of the conversation, it’s as simple as that. Take advantage of the fact that unlike real cats, hybrids can think and talk pretty much the same way most humans do.”
Yifan had to admit the other was right. And with Jongdae having been his last hope either way, he resolved himself to follow through on the other’s advice.
When he got home that night, Yixing bounced up to him happily. However the hybrid scrunched up his nose as soon as he caught scent of the perfume of one of Yifan’s co workers, who most likely had leaned a bit too close to Yifan when he was explaining something to her.
It was the last push Yifan needed. “Yixing, come with me.”
Grabbing the hybrid by the wrist, he dragged him to the living room. He sat down on the couch, turning to face Yixing and even though the set of the younger’s ears, and his whole posture in general read defiance, Yixing still mirrored the movement.
“We need to talk. This can’t go on.” Yifan started, and almost instantaneously Yixing seemed to tense, his lips pulling back to reveal just the slightest hint of bared teeth. It looked as if the mere thought of confrontation already upset the hybrid.
At first Yifan was trying to be all composed and logical, talking to his cat in a controlled manner, but there was something in the set of Yixing’s shoulders, in the irritation in his eyes that simply always managed to get Yifan riled up as none of his arguments seemed to be taken seriously.
“You are being too friendly with everyone! You let everyone touch you, when you shouldn’t need anyone but me!” Yixing accused with a hiss, a good way into the argument. The last part sounded different from all the other things the hybrid had voiced so far, a lot more hysteric, a lot rawer. As if noticing so himself, Yixing moved to get up with jerky movements to go hide somewhere, but Yifan couldn’t have any of that.
He grabbed the younger’s shoulders, forcing the other to face him as he looked at him intently.
“Yixing, you can’t simply decide to scare anyone around me away. It’s still my own choice with whom I meet up, and to whom I’m friendly. You can’t monopolize me.” The taller declared, and his tone might have been a bit harsher than he had planned.
It took him off-guard to see something in Yixing’s eyes crumble in reaction to his words. It had him immediately retract his hands. Yifan had expected to get some sort of reaction, had been hoping for some other than the usual, really, since otherwise they wouldn’t get anywhere. What he hadn’t seen coming though was the desperation seeping into the dark-green orbs in front of him.
And even though Yixing wasn’t being held in place anymore, he made no move to get away. From the way the hybrid’s expression changed Yifan could tell that he had gotten through to the other, and while he felt a bit relieved at the fact, he wished at the same time that he hadn’t for how broken Yixing looked.
“But my last owner was stolen from me because I couldn't hold on tight enough.” Yixing exclaimed, as if he was trying to be defiant when he actually looked desperate instead.
Yifan didn't know how much the anatomy of a catboy differed from that of a human, but he had always been under the impression that they couldn't cry. It would explain the hurt in Yixing's eyes, the way his face contorted while his eyes still remained dry.
“Yifan, I can't have that happen again. I need to defend you. I can't have anyone take you away from me. I don't know if I could survive that.” His little fangs were exposed as his mouth contorted in something that looked like the facsimile of a smile, but it did not look the slightest bit happy.
The sight pained Yifan, and all of his anger disappeared immediately, to be replaced by worry instead. Without any hesitation he closed the space separating them, wrapping his arms around the smaller body. At first Yixing remained unresponsive in the hug, but then his hands came up to fist tightly into the back of Yifan’s shirt as he deeply inhaled Yifan’s scent.
Various feelings were warring inside Yifan. The most foremost was pain. Pain at seeing Yixing like this, at all the implications of what Yixing must have been through already to result in such an extreme fear of being left.
Obviously, Yifan had adopted Yixing from an animal shelter, and the animals only were there because they had been abandoned. Yifan just never really had taken the time to think about that.
And the reminder of Yixing having a previous owner sent an unexpected wave of possessiveness through Yifan, made him hold the younger even closer, as he nuzzled his nose into the light brown hair.
“You don’t need to be afraid.” He whispered to Yixing, trying to reassure the younger. ”I won’t leave you. I promise, Yixing. Even if I talk with other people, laugh with them, they’ll never replace you.”
Yixing didn’t show any reaction, but Yifan thought he felt the other relax a bit against him.
“You know that I love you Yixing, right. You, and not anyone else.” Yifan had never said it out loud before, simply assuming that the hybrid would be able to tell. Perhaps he had been a bit foolish, he thought as he rubbed Yixing’s back comfortingly.
Instead of answering, Yixing emerged from the crook of Yifan’s neck to surge forward, smashing his lips against Yifan’s in a kiss that still held an edge of desperation.
Yifan tried to kiss back with as much gentleness as he could manage, to balance out Yixing. But the catboy pressed closer, until Yifan fell back onto the sofa, the younger immediately crawling on top of him to keep their mouths connected.
“Yixing, hey Yixing.” The taller eventually whispered, cupping Yixing’s face to stop him from diving down for another kiss. “It’s okay.”
And Yifan could see the words finally register with Yixing in the way the urgency slipped from his eyes. “I love you.” The cat murmured against Yifan’s lips, and when Yifan loosened his grip, Yixing used the opportunity to plant more kisses on Yifan, repeating the words over and over again in between.
“I love you too.” Yifan chuckled, and when Yixing eventually laid down on top of him, cuddling into his side the way he loved to do, there was contentment singing in Yifan’s veins as he dragged his fingers through Yixing’s hair.
In that moment he mused how he hated Yixing’s previous owner with a burning passion, for hurting Yixing so badly that the younger became all insecure and closed-off. But at the same time, Yifan was grateful to the hybrid’s previous owner, in a twisted way. Because if Yixing hadn’t been abandoned, Yifan would never have had the chance to meet him.
And he sure as hell wouldn’t make the same mistake the other man had made.
He was going to hold onto Yixing.