Sneaky (Oriel)

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This wasn't a bad idea. Nope, it couldn't be, Phen refused to think of it. What would the Hammel staff do if they found out, take it away? Phoenix desperately hoped not. They weren't that cruel, were they?

He had gotten far too attached to his little Boo to leave the store without him, no matter the repercussions that might come with it. The tiny black kitten had completely melted his heart, with his sweet mewling and adorable little claws and bright, curious blue eyes. He hadn't known Oriel would actually agree to his crazy plan, but with the help of his friendmoney donor Junpei, they had managed to purchase the little ball of fluff, get a largish box to contain him in, and were currently in the process of taking it up to Phen's dorm.

Junpei could pay for food and other necessities, they had determined. The boy was incredibly giving and probably had no idea about what could actually happen if the staff found out he was involved, too. But then again, Phen didn't know nor pretended to care about what might happen if they did.

"Shhhh," he hushed the mewling little ball of fluff as they approached the dorms. It was curled up against his chest inside his jacket, literally warming his heart with its body heat. He held Oriel's hand with one of his own as he pressed the other against the small lump under his jacket, peeking inside the dorm building before sneaking inside and determining no one was paying them any attention.

He was jittery with nerves and excitement. Phen could take care of another living thing! He could be capable! Right? "C'mon, let's get upstairs before anyone sees 'im," he murmured, heading for the stairs.

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This was definitely a bad idea. No two ways about it. But....he was just so cute and adorable, just begging for it...Phoenix was.

And Oriel was getting weaker and weaker against Phoenix's pleading puppy eyes attack, which just tore at his heart-strings until he was already saying yes and helping Phen out with this crazy plan. This could not end well.

Still, Phoenix was happy and that made Oriel smile with all the fuzzies in his tummy that he was desperately and daily trying to ignore. Speaking of fuzzies, Oriel would never admit that he too had fallen for the little black ball of fluff with the cerulean blue eyes. Which why was he would never admit how happy(albeit conflicted) to find out that Phoenix had a friend(?) from whom he could borrow(extort) money. The poor little exchange student with the accent probably had no idea he was doing anything wrong....and Oriel briefly wondered just how rich this sucker was?

Oriel wiggled his hand away from Phen's. "Can't draw attention. Just...act like you always do. Nobody will notice." He managed a small, warm smile, clearly doing a bad job of how amused/giddy/happy he was over this whole endeavor, and kissed Phoenix on the forehead.

Led the way, walking slightly ahead of Phoenix, and doing his best to act "natural"....whatever that was, until they reached the stairs and quickly stomped up to the second floor. The hallway looked mostly clear, nobody seemed to be paying attention. So, down the hall they went and into room 210, shutting the door fast behind them. Oriel made sure it was locked and hoped that none of Phen's roommates were around. "How is he?" he asked.

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If Phoenix ever understood just how much his begging and pleading tugged at Oriel's heart, he would do it more often. He wasn't above asking on his knees, but fortunately it hadn't taken that much to get his lover to agree with this idiotic plan.

But he could see that the little fuzzball had won Oriel's heart too, and he could already imagine them playing with it in his room, letting it sleep on his bed when they were cuddling... Hmm, he didn't know how he felt about it being in the room when he and Oriel got at it, though. Maybe he'd have to ask Junpei if he could babysit sometimes. He had been nervous to tell Oriel about his rich friend(?), but apparently the boy was okay with sort of using the guy too. Phen was determined to pay him back someday - somehow.

He pouted as Oriel drew his hand away, and brought the now freed one up to his chest along with the other, wondering how suspicious he looked. Anyone who looked close enough would be able to tell they were obviously sneaking in something, which was why they had to be quick. "Yeah, yeah," he replied, smiling at the soft gesture as they went inside. Normal. Yes. How did he normally act?

Whatever, they made it to the stairs without a hitch, and he followed behind Oriel as he tried to hush the mewing creature. Fortunately it was quiet, and they got to Phen's room without so much as a glance.

Phoenix let out a relieved breath, unzipping his jacket to let the little bundle of fur out. It stopped mewing quite so much as it was let out, and Phoenix took it in his hands, eyes shining with clear adoration. "I think he's okay," he replied, nuzzling it quickly against his face before going and flopping down on the bed, being careful to keep the creature safe and secure in his slim hands. "Little Boo," he giggled. Yeah, he was still acting like a kid, but so what? He had a kitten!

"Do you think he's hungry?" he asked, scratching carefully under Boo's chin. They needed to go pick up some kibbles... Sometime... What to feed him now? Phoenix's legs bounced slightly as he gave a giddy giggle. He just couldn't contain himself.

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Oriel didn't realize just how much he was holding his breath until after they got into the room, locked the door, and had safely released "Little Boo" onto the bed. The thing had been noise as hell, but it's little cries were oh so adorable, but how the hell did nobody notice the noise??

At least it had calmed down now that it was no longer confined to the inside of Phen's jacket(not that that was a bad place to be, mind you).

Damn….Phen was acting cuter than the kitten the way he was cooing at it like a special needs kid. Oriel felt like giving him a good pettin'…..maybe later.

"Um…" Hungry? Right, cats were alive, even kitten, so they had to eat. And they didn't get any kibble from that dude at the pet store, why didn't he at least try to sell these stupid kids some or at least some instructions on how to care for a kitten, or did that Junie guy take it? "Milk!" Oriel declared. "Right, they feed cat's milk all the time right?" That made sense. "….I'll go get some. You…stay right there," he directed the duo on the bed with his hands sprawled out tentatively.

Nervous much? Nawwwww!

After yet another pause, Oriel darted out of the room to fetch a bowl of milk. In what seemed like only a few moments, Oriel had returned with the smallest bowl he could find filled to the brim with milk. "Got it!" Now what?

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Phen was aware of how ridiculous he probably looked, cooing at the little fluffy creature like it could understand him, but he was just so fucking happy to own such a precious little spark of life that he couldn't contain himself. He looked up at Oriel as he let the kitten clamber all over him, stepping unceremoniously over his face and down his hair as it stumbled to the mattress. "Boo," he laughed, rolling over onto his stomach and watching it patter around.

He let his chin droop onto his arm as he watched, wiggling his fingers around for the kitten to bite at with his tiny teeth. Phoenix drew his attention back to Oriel as he pondered the food question, realizing how idiotic they were for not getting Boo anything while they were there. But - yes, milk! Oriel announced it before he could suggest it. "Yeah yeah, I think they love it," he agreed, ticking the black fuzzball's tummy. "Okay!" He beamed up at his lover as he offered to go get some, before being captivated by his new little pet once again.

He felt so carefree and happy right now, like... The kitten was another drug along with happy Oriel to keep his needs satiated. It was... A relief, for the moment.

Once Oriel returned with the bowl, he propped himself on his elbows and picked up the mewing baby, shifting down to the floor so hopefully the liquid wouldn't spill. "Let's put it down here an' see if he's interested," he suggested. Once the offering was settled, Phen placed Boo right beside it, shuffling over to sit next to Oriel and lean against him as they watched. The curious creature sniffed around the bowl for a moment before seeming to go into a sporadic happy fit, lapping energetically at the milk until his entire front half was in the bowl and he was squirming around it, spilling white fluid all over the place. After a few moments the bowl practically fell sideways onto him, and Phen squealed and pulled him back as he tried to clean the mewling kitten's drenched face. "I think... He likes it," he determined, giggling and nuzzling his nose against Boo's.

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How the hell was this thing so cute and hypnotizing? It was like..like…like Boo was doing it on purpose, trying to seduce the two boys. Like there was some sort of energy field surrounding them that made them completely lose themselves and degenerate into "Dawww, kitty" stupid the closer they got to the little black fluff-ball. It was a conspiracy, it was magic! What a terrifying little beast it was, this kitten.

Oriel was completely mesmerized by the sight of it until the question of food came up and he proceeded to obtain a bowl of milk.

With the little bowl on the floor, Phen let the kitten loose to hopefully feed itself, but Boo was quickly defeated by the serving dish that was clearly too big for him. It was worth it, however, as Oriel struggled(and failed) to keep himself from giggling in perverse amusement. "I think you're right." But that simply wouldn't do. Oriel would look for something smaller next time, maybe just a small plate or something.

"I also think," he started, leaning in closer to to Phen, "that you're completely infatuated with that thing….kitten." Not that Oriel wasn't either, but… Oriel slipped his hand around Phoenix and rested his chin on his shoulder. "Ignoring me like that to play with a little baby animal." Albeit a cute one. Oriel could barely keep himself from watching it himself. "I'm going to start getting jealous soon," he warned, giving Phoenix a kiss on the neck.

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Phoenix smiled giddly over at Oriel as his lover giggled, getting a little jolt of happiness from the rare sound. "I wish you'd laugh like that more often," he murmured, nudging the boy's shoulder with his forehead. Granted, he didn't laugh all that much either, but he was slowly becoming a little tiny bit happier with his life in general the more time he spent around his... Whatever Oriel was.

Yes, he knew he was falling for him. No, he had no idea how or when he was going to tell Oriel, or how the other boy would react.

But he wouldn't worry about that now. Because Boo was mewing and pawing at his face, and Phen chuckled as he placed the kitten back on the floor, letting it wander around and explore Phoenix's room as he grabbed a towel to mop up the mess.

He watched the fuzzy creature with adoring eyes until Oriel's words drew his attention back to him, feeling his cheeks flush. "I can't help it," he mumbled. "Never had a pet before." Which should have been enough for him to know he wasn't at all prepared to take care of one, but oh well! His focus was successfully taken away from the clambering ball of fluff as Oriel's arm slipped around him, letting himself be pulled in close. "Sorry," he murmured, brows furrowing a bit worriedly. "Y'know you-" His words were cut off as Oriel mouthed against his neck, and he sighed as his head arched back, fumbling with his hand to latch with Oriel's free one. "I-I think we... Should let Junpei babysit the kitten... When we, y'know..." He trailed off, motioning vaguely to his bed.

Boo pattered over and pounced on his waving hand, bringing another laugh out of Phen's mouth. He gave Oriel a short, albeit passionate, kiss on the lips before being drawn back to the kitten's magic.

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Become aware of himself at Phoenix's comment, Oriel suddenly went silent, forcing his scowl to replace the smile of mirth that had sneaked onto his lips when he wasn't looking. It was stupid, really, but Oriel had an image to keep up….not that it should matter around Phoenix, this guy had seen so many sides of Oriel already, what was one more?

Oriel really had been too happy recently as well….in Oriel's mind that was a bad omen. Along with these stupid confusing feeling he had no name for for Phoenix. By now, Oriel would have started distancing himself from the other boy but…Shit, Oriel was getting too close again wasn't he? Though he was already closer than Mads ever let him……

He needed to stop thinking about this or he was going to drive himself crazy.

Oriel was too busy watching Phoenix watching the kitten to watch the kitten himself. It was cute, yeah, and Oriel would probably like to let it's tiny little form sprawl over his chest as it squirmed about in it's sleep….but Oriel was…

"That's probably a good idea," Oriel agreed as he continued to nuzzle and nip jealously at Phoenix's neck and then up to his ear. "Wouldn't want to corrupt the little thing." Though Oriel was sure the kitten wouldn't really care one way or another…however it still would be annoying if it got in the way of their romping.

The fluff-ball came back over, there was a quick kiss from Phoenix, and again his attention was stolen away by something that weighed less than a pound and was smaller than his hand. Oriel knew he shouldn't let it bother him, it was completely stupid and irrational, to be jealous over a kitten, but still he was. His lips turned down into a pouting scowl and he moved away from Phen, climbing onto the bed and flopping down, his back to his lover and his kitten. No, he was not pouting! He would not be so stupid. Oriel huffed out a short grunt of discontent and closed his eyes.

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Phoenix pouted as Oriel purposefully put his scowl back in place, giving him a few pecks on the corner of his mouth and cheek, wishing his smile would come back. But he, too, knew what it was like to put up a front; and as much as he wanted Oriel to be as open around him as Phen was starting to become around him, he didn't want to push his luck.

Because Oriel couldn't feel the same, right? Phen couldn't be that lucky, but....

Mehhhh. Feelings. He needed to stop thinking about it.

He could feel Oriel's eyes on him as he played with the kitten, and spared him a couple glances, still letting out sporadic giggles at the kitten's behavior until Oriel pined for his attention. He let out a couple of soft sounds of content at the caresses, tilting his head a bit in agreement as his eyelids fluttered. "Boo doesn't need t'see... That..." he murmured. And there was also the fact that yes, it was possible the unpredictable little creature would get in the middle of their rather active foreplay, and Phen would never forgive himself if the kitten got hurt.

But the kitten was just too fucking adorable, and Phen was lost in a trance as he toyed with Boo, eyes wide as he felt the tiny claws stick into his skin and those little needle-like teeth gently chew into his hand. He continued to play with it until Oriel began to move, and Phoenix watched him sulk over to the bed and purposefully lay away from him and Boo. He frowned, guilt hitting him with a wave, and picked up the little kitten to put in his box at the side of the room before going over and laying his thin weight over Oriel's, looping his arms around and underneath his lover's chest as his legs tangled with his, pressing several kisses against the side of his neck. "Y'know," - kiss - ,"you're," - another one - ,"the best thing that's happened t'me in a long time, right?" he whispered, nestling his face into Oriel's thick mane of hair.

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Oriel hated this. The more happy he was, the closer someone got to him, the more scared, the more paranoid he became about their true intentions. What did Phen really think of Oriel? Was he just sticking around because he felt sorry for him, because he saw him cry and in such distress that he felt reluctantly compelled to pity him? Oriel just couldn't shake the feeling that the moment he allowed himself to be happy and let someone get that close to him, they'd realize he really was as worthless as he seemed. Maybe Phoenix already realized that and was…?

Stop it. Stopitstopitstopitstopitstopitstopitstopitstopit!!

Oriel was just crazy. Insane. A fucking psycho. That's why he could get so jealous over a stupid little kitten.

Stupid cat.

And Oriel just couldn't be a human being and join in on the mirth and play with the kitty like he wouldn't admit he wanted to instead of sulking like a five-year-old child.

Oriel didn't respond when he felt Phoenix's weight on him, instead burying his head even further into the pillow. He curled him his legs up, not letting them be tangled with Phen's for long. "Nnnnnnnnng…" he groaned out into the pillow. He had no idea what Phoenix had been through during that "long time", but now Oriel just felt worse after hearing that. He should say something, do something to let Phen know that he wasn't just ignoring him…

Slowly, and not without some effort, Oriel's hand crawled out from underneath the pillow and, like a baby, grasped onto his lover's finger tightly as he tried to draw some amount of strength from that small amount of contact. "Boo…." he mumbled, his voice muffled by the pillow, "…..I….I want to hold Boo too but…." And here was the dumb part. "But he only wants to play with yoouuuu…." Oriel sounded like such a whiner, and it sounded so idiotic that he couldn't help but laugh at himself, sniggering into the pillow with shakes and giggles that could easily be mistaken as sobs.

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If only one of them was a telepath. Then they wouldn't have to deal with all of this unknowing stuff, holding back the words they wanted to say in fear that it would be the straw that broke them apart. Phen was terrified at this point to think about what might happen if Oriel decided he had had enough of him and moved on to someone else. Unlike with Rue, they hadn't even determined what boundaries they had, the rules of the relationship that they had together. Phen didn't know what he should expect or what Oriel expected of him.

He wanted to talk to Oriel about it, but he didn't know how. Communication had never been his strong suit. And what if his lover just thought he was being clingy? Life was so hard...

Phen went limp as the boy disentangled himself from him, his chest aching at Oriel's lack of a real response. Stupid, stupid, stupid. He shouldn't have said anything. Still, he continued to let himself rest on Oriel's solid form, taking deep breaths of the boy's scent as he nuzzled the back of his head. He was being clingy, but... Wehhhh. He didn't want to let go.

Thankfully, he felt the tiny grasp of Oriel's hand around his finger, lifting his head at Oriel's muffled voice. He blinked, surprised by the announcement, and let out a short, quiet laugh despite the whining. "I don't think that's true," he mumbled, tiredly pulling his lanky form off of the bed so he could go over and pick up the kitten, who had begun to doze in a corner of the box on one of the towels Phen had put in. Gently taking Boo into his hands, he went back over to the bed and sat back against the headboard, motioning Oriel to lay on his back. Once he did, he carefully deposited the sleepy kitten onto Oriel's chest, giving it a few pets as it mewed and relaxed against the warm, solid surface. "See?" Phen nestled down against him again. "I'm not the only one that likes t' cuddle with ya."

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Clearly, Oriel wasn't much better at words than Phoenix was, or at least not words that actually meant anything. And it didn't help that Oriel often didn't know how to put his honest thoughts into words, and therefore, just covered it up with rhetorical nonsense or hostility or manipulative remarks or straight up selfish declarations.

Fuck, if Phoenix thought he was clingy, he should take a good long look inside Oriel's head.

He was glad that Phoenix didn't give up and just leave him on the bed to mope. But that also made Oriel feel just a little bit(or a lotta bit) worse because…what the fuck was he doing? Was this supposed to be some sort of test, to see how hard Phoenix would chase after him once Oriel started to pull away? Would he think the effort was worth it? If Oriel hadn't reached back back, would have given up on Oriel and left him behind like everyone else did?

Why did Oriel have to be so fucking manipulative like that?

Though now…with that small declaration, Oriel felt like his heart had lifted, if only a little bit. He was still giggling, burying his face even further into the pillow because his face was no doubt red from expressing such a ridiculous want, especially since Phoenix seemed to be so eager to be accommodating to his silliness and had just bounded off to go retrieve the little Boo. When Phen urged Oriel to turn over, he did so with little resistance, finally revealing the remnants of a once terribly flushed face. With the kitten pitting it's tiny little paws on Oriel's chest, the normally scowly boy couldn't help but finally put on a smile, albeit one that he was still trying to reign in, the snicker and sniggers being enough to scrunch his face and dimple his cheeks.

And then Boo rested his little paws on Oriel's chin…and started climbing over his face. Oriel's face started to burn red again from all the cute because there was a cat on his face. His lips cracked open and the uncontrollable giggling commenced.

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At this point, Oriel was pretty much stuck with Phoenix until he forced him to leave. Phen was way too dependent on him and the progress he had helped him make in his addiction to leave voluntarily; even though he still was far from being out of the dusty haze, he was healthier now than he had been in years. His ribs didn't stick out quite so painfully, the bags under his eyes were less dark, and his even his hair was less dull and flat than it had been several months back. Oriel was good for him, even if it wasn't always necessarily easy.

But now he was giggling as Boo took a liking to Oriel's face (which Phen did not blame him the kitten for at all), linking their hands together and giving an affectionate squeeze as he nestled his cheek against Oriel's shoulder and watched the little fuzzball clamber over him. And then there was that laughter, so genuine and perfect, that Phen's giggles fell silent and he just let himself bask in the glow of his lover enjoying himself with such an innocent little life.

When was the last time he had taken a hit? He couldn't recall, but right now, he didn't think he would need another for quite some time.

"Told ya," he yawned, letting his eyelids drift down as he began to feel drowsy. He trusted Oriel to take care of little Boo if he fell asleep, and so let himself be lulled into a semi-conscious state with Oriel's warmth and laughter working like the best sleeping meds in the world on his tired body.