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asphaltcowgrrlTitle: Kitten Confessional
Fandom: White Pine original fiction
Pairing: Travis Murphy/Ethan McDowell
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 579
Summary: Ethan makes the mistake of getting out of bed.
Author’s Note: Written for the weekend challenge at 1_million_words. I had several prompts, but chose the lyrics to “The Air That I Breathe” by the Hollies.
Quiet moments like these were the best.
Travis wasn’t always the easiest person to live with. He was messy, loud, obsessive and, sometimes, downright strange. He had his odd little rituals, bizarre notions on everything from why the sky is actually blue to outright conspiracy theories. And lately, Ethan had begun to believe he was a bit bi-polar as well.
But none of that mattered right then.
Ethan had gotten up to get a drink not five minutes ago. After a quick stop to check his phone for texts and important emails, he returned to the bedroom intent on climbing into bed and cuddling with his insane husband until it was time to get up and face the day. Er, night, since they were both stuck on late shifts these days. Travis was on his side, one arm between his pillows, the other draped around Brennan’s furry body. The calico had claimed Ethan’s coveted spot the second he’d left the room, no doubt. She was a whore for a warm place to sleep.
Shaking his head at the sight, Ethan felt Ryan brush up against his leg. “What’s new, kitty cat?”
Ryan answered with a high pitched meow and a last rub to Ethan’s ankle. Ethan watched the cat jump onto the bed, snuggling into the crook of Travis’ knees. Realizing that he’d lost his place to the cat, Ethan secured what was left of the bed for himself. Reaching out, he touched Travis’ hand, winding his fingers around those of his husband. Travis’ eyes opened and a smile crossed his face.
“Someone stole your spot,” he mumbled.
“I see that,” Ethan chuckled. “But it’s okay. I can still see you, touch you, so it’s okay. Go back to sleep, Murphy.”
“I can do that,” Travis said, sleepy eyes fluttering closed.
He watched Travis fall back into a peaceful slumber. When he was like this – relaxed and unconcerned – Ethan loved him the best. No worries about deadlines, no stress about his insecurities. He simply was. If he could wish for one thing for Travis, it would be the ability to achieve this level of serenity while awake. But if Travis couldn’t have it then, at least he have it while he slept.
It was a start.
Ryan climbed over Travis’ sleeping body, giving his sister a paw to the head on his way down. Nimbly, he crossed the open space between his two humans, ignoring Brennan’s annoyed hiss. Nuzzling against Ethan’s hand, Ryan purred loudly. Turning his wrist, Ethan opened his fingers so he could scratch under Ryan’s chin. The kitten’s motor upped its revs, turning into a happy rumble. Giving in to the pleasant sounds of a contented cat, Ethan allowed Ryan to nestle against his side.
He hadn’t wanted the kittens, had thought Travis crazy for adopting them both. But they were great for Murphy’s emotional stability, giving him the unconditional love that humans weren’t always able to muster. Ethan didn’t need the kittens, all he needed was Travis. But if his husband felt better with the little fur balls in the house, how could he say no? Ryan reached a paw up and rested it against Ethan’s arm. Smiling down at the tiger striped behemoth of a cat, he sighed. Travis had been right. The kittens were a good addition to the family, even if he’d never admit it out loud. Ethan had a reputation to uphold after all.
Fandom: White Pine original fiction
Pairing: Travis Murphy/Ethan McDowell
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 579
Summary: Ethan makes the mistake of getting out of bed.
Author’s Note: Written for the weekend challenge at 1_million_words. I had several prompts, but chose the lyrics to “The Air That I Breathe” by the Hollies.
Quiet moments like these were the best.
Travis wasn’t always the easiest person to live with. He was messy, loud, obsessive and, sometimes, downright strange. He had his odd little rituals, bizarre notions on everything from why the sky is actually blue to outright conspiracy theories. And lately, Ethan had begun to believe he was a bit bi-polar as well.
But none of that mattered right then.
Ethan had gotten up to get a drink not five minutes ago. After a quick stop to check his phone for texts and important emails, he returned to the bedroom intent on climbing into bed and cuddling with his insane husband until it was time to get up and face the day. Er, night, since they were both stuck on late shifts these days. Travis was on his side, one arm between his pillows, the other draped around Brennan’s furry body. The calico had claimed Ethan’s coveted spot the second he’d left the room, no doubt. She was a whore for a warm place to sleep.
Shaking his head at the sight, Ethan felt Ryan brush up against his leg. “What’s new, kitty cat?”
Ryan answered with a high pitched meow and a last rub to Ethan’s ankle. Ethan watched the cat jump onto the bed, snuggling into the crook of Travis’ knees. Realizing that he’d lost his place to the cat, Ethan secured what was left of the bed for himself. Reaching out, he touched Travis’ hand, winding his fingers around those of his husband. Travis’ eyes opened and a smile crossed his face.
“Someone stole your spot,” he mumbled.
“I see that,” Ethan chuckled. “But it’s okay. I can still see you, touch you, so it’s okay. Go back to sleep, Murphy.”
“I can do that,” Travis said, sleepy eyes fluttering closed.
He watched Travis fall back into a peaceful slumber. When he was like this – relaxed and unconcerned – Ethan loved him the best. No worries about deadlines, no stress about his insecurities. He simply was. If he could wish for one thing for Travis, it would be the ability to achieve this level of serenity while awake. But if Travis couldn’t have it then, at least he have it while he slept.
It was a start.
Ryan climbed over Travis’ sleeping body, giving his sister a paw to the head on his way down. Nimbly, he crossed the open space between his two humans, ignoring Brennan’s annoyed hiss. Nuzzling against Ethan’s hand, Ryan purred loudly. Turning his wrist, Ethan opened his fingers so he could scratch under Ryan’s chin. The kitten’s motor upped its revs, turning into a happy rumble. Giving in to the pleasant sounds of a contented cat, Ethan allowed Ryan to nestle against his side.
He hadn’t wanted the kittens, had thought Travis crazy for adopting them both. But they were great for Murphy’s emotional stability, giving him the unconditional love that humans weren’t always able to muster. Ethan didn’t need the kittens, all he needed was Travis. But if his husband felt better with the little fur balls in the house, how could he say no? Ryan reached a paw up and rested it against Ethan’s arm. Smiling down at the tiger striped behemoth of a cat, he sighed. Travis had been right. The kittens were a good addition to the family, even if he’d never admit it out loud. Ethan had a reputation to uphold after all.
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no subject
Date: 2016-12-11 12:27 am (UTC)Very sweet read ... thank you. I like the big shot of introspection on owning our furry children ....
no subject
Date: 2016-12-11 02:22 am (UTC)