Finally, an update! Sorry for the long wait, but I just had to get school out of the way, and then I didn't feel like writing for the longest time. I'm really not sure where the idea for this story came from, but I'm glad I ran with it. I made sure it was a bit longer than the previous two, and, of course, it's sweet. Er, at least I think/hope so. Also, for the record, there's enough depressing GilxRaam fics out there already that I don't feel the need to add to them, so no worries there. Thanks for reading and for the comments! Enjoy!
An Arch Nemesis
There was something utterly wrong with the whole situation. And I knew exactly what that something was. It was a bit silly on my part. And it was my fault entirely.
You lie on the opposite side of the bed, curled up, facing away from me, and snuggling up to a cat I had bought for you on my last trip into town. What exactly was the problem with this? That animal had taken my place, and it damned well knew it. I swear, as I studied its face in the dark, it grinned back at me as if to say, "Gil's cuddling me and oh if it doesn't feel wonderful!" I could have ripped out that vile creature's stuffing had it not been clutched to you so tightly.
But that thing could snuggle you all it wanted for now. You would soon be all mine once again.
-/-
I stuck my tongue out at it because I simply could not resist. I refused to let myself feel ridiculous for the action. The animal currently in my hands clearly despised me as much as I did him.
I opened the top, right drawer of my dresser and unceremoniously dropped it inside. I closed the drawer, confident you would never look there. There were hundreds of places I could have hid the creature, short of tossing it out, but something convinced me that its current hiding spot was enough.
-/-
I could not help but glare at you. Actually, I was not glaring at you, but at that thing in your arms. How had you found that cat? Granted, I had hidden it in a rather childish spot, but I had never seen you even interested in what was in my dresser drawers.
Perhaps your curiosity had coincidentally gotten the best of you. Or maybe the thing had decided to make noise. A possibility I had failed to think of beforehand. Now I wished I had decided to retire as early as you had, convinced I could have prevented your discovery of the cat.
I silently cursed the cat repeatedly in my head, for I refused to blame you, as I quietly got into bed. It had somehow managed to find itself curled up in your arms once again, those cold, beady eyes teasing me like they had done the night before. But no worries, I was already formulating a new plan, and this time I would come out the victor.
-/-
The next day, I once again hid that infuriating cat you had taken such a liking to. And this time I would surely get the last laugh.
-/-
You did not speak, for despite that day I had overheard you saying my name, you had yet to actually use your voice in front of me voluntarily. But words were not needed for me to understand what you were trying to convey.
Your lips trembling, you looked around the room for your beloved pet, lifting up the sheets, looking under the bed and opening the drawers of my dresser. I could now confidently guess how the cat had been discovered the night before.
Seeing the distressed state you were in, although I could not even comprehend it, I just could not provoke it any further. I immediately crumbled, and found myself walking towards the linen closet as you dejectedly climbed into bed. After grabbing the object of my frustrations, I joined you, plopping the cat onto your head.
You probably would have squealed in delight, had you been more vocal at the time, judging by the look on your face. Instead you hurriedly gathered the cat in your arms and surprised me as you turned over and gave me a generous hug, being mindful of the creature also in your arms. I simply chose to ignore the fact that the cat was also involved in this intimate moment, and it made the gesture all that much sweeter.
Later that night, I felt no remorse in glaring harshly at the animal in your arms. I was right back at square one. I was not jealous. This was just unfair. And I was still going to get the last laugh. As soon as that creepy cat quit staring at me long enough for me to get to sleep.
-/-
I scowled at the cat for the fourth night in a row. My plan had been ingenious; clearly working up until that damned animal had interfered yet again.
I had purposefully lit the fireplace less during the day, making sure the house was chillier than usual. I had even stolen your socks before bed, swiping them from your feet as you took a moment to yawn on the couch, in the hopes that at least your cold feet would lead you to snuggle up to me.
And just as I had hoped, as we went to bed, you had curled up to me. Sure you were sort of using me to get to my body heat, but the positives certainly outweighed any of the negatives.
But it was all short lived when, as soon as you had warmed up, you scooted back to your side of the bed and pulled my arch nemesis into your embrace. I was whole-heartedly convinced that thing had purposefully not joined us under the covers, whimpering to you of how cold it was, appealing to your kind soul, and of course you had given in.
That cat would surely be the death of me. And it would enjoy every minute of it.
-/-
It finally dawned on me; the perfect thing to do. I truly was an idiot.
-/-
If it was to be a compromise, then who was I to stop it? When we had gotten into bed earlier, I had waited until you were comfortable and situated, then gently shifted behind you and slid my arm over you. To my delight, you wriggled closer to me and soon fell into a relaxed sleep, a sweet smile every-so-slightly gracing your lips.
Sure the cat was still protectively held in your arms, but you were protectively held in my arms and that's all that mattered to me.
-/-
Of course, I had to feel as if I had won, even I had truly not. As I was making up the bed the next morning, I picked up the stuffed cat, holding it so we could stare at each other. I laughed in its face, a laugh that seemed to say, "Ha! Who gets the last laugh now?"
Pray that I update faster this time. Sorry! But I must say reviews really do make my day, and encouraged me to continue… even if it did take me a while. 3