A/N: Rewrote this chapter from scratch because I couldn't get it to cooperate and it wound up almost 2,000 words. Anyway, I hope y'all enjoy!
11
Magnus doesn't say anything when we go in the grocery store.
"It's the last stop before we get a hotel. I promise. We're gonna need food in case she stays a while," I explain.
He nods quietly. He looks really tense for some reason.
An employee stomps up to us, scowling.
"That needs to be on a leash and clipped to the cart. Now," he tells me, glaring at Magnus.
"Um, it's normal for all grocery stores to do this," Magnus mumbles uncomfortably.
"Do you want me to take you to a hotel? Or do you wanna stay here?"
"With you."
Sighing, I do as the employee asked. I hate tying Magnus up like this.
"You've done this before, haven't you?" I ask.
"Yeah. It never ended well," Magnus replies.
He looks distressed. I don't like seeing him upset, especially over something like this.
"Hey. If you want me to take you to a hotel, I will, okay? I love you, and I want you to be happy," I tell him quietly.
The look on his face when I tell him I love him is priceless. I've never seen someone so happy. Along with the joy, there's also gratitude.
"I'm happy with you. I'm learning to love you," he replies softly.
His answer doesn't surprise me much or hurt my feelings, considering his past. I'm glad he was honest with me instead of telling me he loves me if he doesn't.
"Ready?" I ask, placing my hand gently over his.
"Ready as I'll ever be," he replies.
I can tell he's not really enjoying the shopping trip. I wanna get him something to make up for it. He's definitely bored out of his skull, no matter what I do.
I jerk when I hear someone talking about a pretty neko. I almost drop the packages of tuna in my hand. The last thing I need or want is someone hurting Magnus.
"Excuse me. Is that neko yours?" a male voice asks behind me.
"Yeah, he is. Why?" I reply, turning to face him.
The guy doesn't look familiar in the least.
"He's gorgeous. And he looks so happy," he explains, smiling warmly.
"He's my baby. I wanna make sure he's as happy as possible," I tell him.
Magnus doesn't look particularly happy. I don't know if he's jealous or if he knows the guy and was hurt by him.
"Anyway, I'll let you go back to shopping," the guy says, walking off.
Magnus relaxes a little when the guy leaves.
"Did you know him? How much tuna will you eat?" I ask.
"Not really. He sounds vaguely familiar, but that's it. I think maybe he was at the pound once. I don't know," he replies.
"Good. I was afraid he might've been one of Ragnor's friends. You didn't look happy."
"He touched me. Like everyone else did."
"Ohh. I'm sorry."
"I told him you were my owner and that you don't like people touching me without your say-so."
"I'm proud of you for standing up for yourself."
He seems really happy to be given praise and a little surprised. I know praise is still new to him.
I'm the one who's surprised, though, when he kisses me softly. After everything he's been through, I'm amazed he's okay with being affectionate like this. I have no idea if he knows how happy his affection makes me, but I hope it shows when I kiss him back eagerly.
He seems genuinely relieved when we get out of the store. I hate that he was bored and that someone groped him. It also opened my eyes more to how regular people see nekos. I bought enough to feed us for three weeks.
I pay for a taxi to take us to the Holiday Inn where we get a one-bedroom suite. Magnus looks like he's about to sleep on his feet. I understand him being tired; he's still healing inside from Jace's attack and he was on his feet more today than he's been since I adopted him.
"Baby, go lay down. I'll be in there in a minute," I tell him, setting the groceries on the kitchen counter.
"I'll be fine. Did you just call me 'baby'?" he replies, coming to help me.
"You're still injured. I did, didn't I? You don't like it?"
"It's fine. No one ever called me that unless I was crying."
He doesn't lay down until I'm done putting groceries up. And then he lays on the couch. He scoots so he can rest his head in my lap.
"Wouldn't the bed be more comfortable?" I suggest, rubbing his back gently.
"I guess," he mumbles sleepily.
"We can watch a movie in there if you want. I was gonna get you something to make up for the grocery store."
"Whatever you want. You're the boss."
He's starting to slur his words.
"Magnus, come on. I don't know if the couch makes into a bed, and we'll both be sore if it doesn't," I tell him.
No response other than a soft snore. I can't believe he's already asleep, but he's never faked it before. Or offered any resistance to my requests, other than asking why I wanted to take his collar off.
"Honestly," I mumble, jiggling him gently.
He finally blinks up at me tiredly.
"I'm gonna see if the couch lays out, sleepyhead. Get up," I tell him.
He stumbles to his feet.
"Thank you," I say, scooting the coffee table over.
The couch makes into a bed. Which Magnus promptly flops onto.
"I'll be right back, okay?" I say.
He curls up against me the minute I lay down. He's incredibly warm for such a skinny person.
"I didn't wanna sleep without you," he mumbles.
"I know. I'm right here. I love you," I whisper, pressing him closer.
Magnus is sprawled on top of me when I wake up. He honestly can't get much cuter than this. Or warmer. If I was hot last night with him beside me, I'm roasting now with him on top of me. He jerks awake when my phone rings.
"You're okay. It's just Izzy," I soothe.
He still looks really tired.
"If you wanna lay back down, you can. She wants to know if you want any clothes brought over," I tell him.
"Um, my leggings or skinny jeans. And my shirts. I don't care which shirts as long as they sorta match," he replies.
"Okay. You know you slept in your clothes, right?"
"I'm sorry. I-I can take them off."
Great. I just wanted him to be comfortable. And he thinks he's in trouble, I think angrily, taking his hand gently.
"I didn't know if you were too hot. That's why I was asking," I explain gently.
I notice when he nods I forgot to take his collar off last night. I've never made him sleep in it or wear it once we're at home. It makes me feel terrible, especially when I see where he's bled from it reopening his old injuries.
"I'm sorry. I can't believe I forgot," I tell him, undoing it carefully.
He winces in pain when I peel it off the raw skin.
"Are you okay? Are you mad at me? In pain?" I ask worriedly.
He's being much quieter than usual.
"Nightmare. I really just want you to hold me," he admits quietly.
"I can do that," I reply.
He rests his head on my chest the moment I lay down. I can feel him trembling.
"Anything I can do to make you feel better?" I offer.
"Can you tell me a story? Or read to me? I'm probably being a needy brat. I'm sorry," he murmurs.
"You're not needy. Or a brat. Do you wanna hear how we got our cat?"
"You have a cat?"
"Had. He ran away."
"Oh. I'd like to hear it."
He snuggles closer, one hand coming to rest over my heart. He's so loveable.
"It was right after Jace moved in. It was pouring down rain. I had the chickenpox so Mom was letting me stay home from school. She and Dad had just lucked out of not going to prison with Valentine, and she was trying to buy my forgiveness over the whole thing. Not that it really worked.
"I was dozing off when Izzy came in. She was drenched. And there was a little bulge in one pocket of her raincoat. I thought it was candy or cookies or something. And then a little gray head poked out. The poor kitten was just as soaked as Izzy. She made me swear not to tell Mom about the cat. I have no idea how she planned on hiding him. Or feeding him. But I kept my promise.
"It was three days before Izzy's eleventh birthday when Mom finally found out about the kitten. Izzy had kept the little guy hid for almost a month. Izzy came downstairs, carrying the little blue-gray puffball, and asked Mom if she could keep him. She'd put a little blue bow on his head and everything. And Mom said yes. We named him Church, and we had him almost six years. Izzy turned him into a garbage disposal with fur. I think that might've been why he ran off," I murmur, rubbing his back in slow circles.
He's smiling in his sleep. He looks so peaceful and relaxed. He can't get any cuter. I can't get any luckier.
He's only been sleeping a half-hour when Izzy gets here. Somehow, I manage to worm out from under him without waking him up so I can let Izzy in,
"Magnus is still sleeping," I whisper, placing the bags inside the hotel room as she hands them to me.
"Aww! How was the date?" she grins.
"Good. I'm hoping we can go out again. Which duffel is whose? How long's she gonna be here?"
"The pink one is for Magnus. There's some surprises in there for him too. We have no idea. She and I have already gotten into it."
"Over? You didn't try to make breakfast, did you?"
"You and Magnus. And the crap with Valentine. Um, the gist of it is you guys can't come home while she's there."
"I wasn't trying to make things worse on you guys."
"I know. And you didn't. If you need me to watch Magnus for you, just say the word. I can take him shopping or something."
"I will. Don't be late for school."
"I won't."
She hugs me tight before leaving. Out of everything from home I'll miss, I'll miss her the most.
Sighing, I rake a hand through my black hair as I go to make breakfast. I'm not really sure how we're gonna do this. I want everything to work out, but I don't know if it will.