A/N: 'Stockholm Syndrome' is a situation where hostages develop an unnatural loyalty to their captors, despite the pain and torture they endure. You can look up more online. Sorry I seem to have abandoned Tinged With Pink. I'll add to it when I'm properly inspired, I promise. For now, enjoy this first chapter~~

"Goodnight, Ritsuka."

"'Night, Soubi."

Soubi turned out the last light near his nightstand and stood there for a few moments while his eyes adjusted to the darkness. Ritsuka had run away from home, once again. He seemed determined to stay away, to make a new life for himself away from all the abuse, from the daily Stockholm Syndrome. However, each and every time, the cat-eared boy would only stay with his fighter for one night before feeling repentant and returning to his mother.

Tired blue eyes watched the small form on the mattress, curled up and helpless under several blankets. Originally, Soubi had offered to share his bed with Ritsuka. The younger furiously blushed and insisted on sleeping on the floor. Soubi yanked out an extra mattress, and fetched as many blankets as Ritsuka wanted – all but two of the blankets Soubi owned. The catboy soon stopped complaining of the cold and fell asleep. Moonlight diffused softly through the apartment window. Soubi reluctantly climbed into his own bed, placing his glasses on the nearby nightstand. The fighter must not have realized his tired state, and all quickly went black.

Purple fields spread out before Soubi's unconscious eyes, and he wandered them aimlessly. He searched and searched. Each night it was the same – Soubi's mind placed him in a different dreamland, and he had to find a small, black kitten in order to wake up. It was an easy task most nights, once he could detect the tiny creature's mewling. Soubi walked around a bit more. Suddenly, he heard the sound of what seemed like hundreds of kittens, all yowling in pain. Soubi whirled around and woke up in shock.

There was Ritsuka on the floor mattress, screaming and crying and trying to kick off the bedsheets and fending off an imaginary attacker, all at once. Soubi pulled the bedsheets clear and pinned Ritsuka to avoid injury.

"Ritsuka. Ritsuka!"

"S-Soubi?" The cat-eared boy blinked hard. His eyes opened wide, then filled with tears. "Soubi, let me go!" Immediately, the fighter obeyed. Concern was carefully etched across Soubi's face as he watched Ritsuka sit up and frantically rub away his tears.

"I must have had a nightmare," Ritsuka breathed in a hollow voice.

"Too many blankets?" Soubi inquired, smiling. The catboy flushed and scowled.

"N-No!" A pause. "Well, I am a little warm." Ritsuka was startled to feel Soubi's cool hand against his cheek.

"Yes, you do feel warm." Ritsuka had no sooner peeled his fighter's hand off his face than the question was asked again.

"Are you sure you don't want to sleep up here with me? There are less blankets." The catboy's ears lowered as he reconsidered. He could just as easily stay on the floor mattress and leave most of the blankets off, or so he thought. Scanning the floor, Ritsuka spied his blankets in a twisted mess piled in a corner.

"Why'd you have to throw mine all the way over there?!" The catboy scowled again. Soubi's expression was rather blank, except for the warm twinkle in his eyes which boasted of victory. Ritsuka quickly dismissed the thought of sleeping with no blankets as he crawled into the elder's bed.

"Fine. Just this once. And you better not try anything!" Ritsuka glared at Soubi then turned over so as not to catch view of that maddening smile.

A/N: I seem to keep returning to 'things falling off beds'. Reviews would be appreciated from you Loveless fans (and casual readers alike).