Chapter Text
The second time Shōta wakes up he is still wrapped around his husband. Hizashi is snoring softly, mouth open, his glasses askew on his face. They have shifted in their sleep, Hizashi is sprawled out on his back, limbs spread except for the arm that still holds Shōta close. Shōta reaches up and plucks the glasses off Hizashi’s face, twisting to drop them on the nightstand behind him.
Hizashi stirs at the movement but doesn’t wake fully. He mumbles something in his sleep and turns his head away. Shōta considers removing his hearing aids, but fears waking him, Hizashi sleeps much lighter than Shōta does and he’s not ready for this lazy morning to end just yet. He slips out from Hizashi’s arms as quietly as he can, the call of nature just a bit too much to ignore.
One of their cats, a long-hair mix named Moka, jumps down from the couch to follow him into the bathroom. Chirruping at him the entire way.
“Hush.” He whispers, having to shoo her out of the bathroom once he’s finished. He glances towards the kitchen and sees a full dish of food. “You’ve been fed already, you dirty liar.”
As if reminded of this she turns and trots over to the bowl, crunching away happily, soon joined by her sister who was drawn in by the sound. Shōta slips back into the bedroom, pulling the door nearly shut before crawling back in with his husband. Shōta tugs the covers out from beneath Hizashi as gently as he can. The movement wakes Hizashi who blinks at him blearily.
Before Hizashi can do something stupid, like wake up fully or insist that they start their day, Shōta flops down into bed and pulls the covers up over them both.
Hizashi laughs, a slight scratch in his voice from sleep. “Did I see you out of bed, Shōcchan?”
“Nope. You’re hallucinating.” Shōta scoots back into his spot beside Hizashi, tilting his head up for a kiss. Hizashi makes a pleased noise in his throat, one just outside of regular human tones, and obliges happily. He breaks the kiss when Shōta attempts to deepen it though. “Zashi.” Shōta whines.
“What time is it, babe?” Hizashi pets his cheek apologetically.
Shōta rolls over to glance at the clock with a groan. “It’s almost noon.”
“Urgh, c’mon baby. We got to get up.” Hizashi climbs out of bed, nearly tripping over Moka as he does so. “Woah, look out, princess!”
“What have you got planned?”
Hizashi puts on his glasses and huffs. His lips quirking up, even though he tries to look stern. “Well, as you know, someone’s birthday is coming up. I didn’t want to spoil the surprise, but Fukui’s cat had kittens, and he wants you to have first dibs.”
“Really?” They had talked briefly about getting another cat, but the timing just hadn’t been right to go to the shelter. “Who is Fukui?”
“Ah, Pitch Harmonic? He used to be my sidekick a few years back – we did a radio show together too. You’ve met his cat at his birthday last year – the tortoiseshell mix who kept bringing you her toys?” Shōta’s face lights up in recognition.
“Yeah. She was cute.”
“Well, we gotta get up to go see her, honey.” Hizashi tosses Shōta a change of clothes.
This time Shōta gets up with no complaints.
“Which one, Shōta?” Hizashi smiles and squats down next to Shōta, reaching out to pet one of the kittens curled up on Shōta’s lap.
“All of them.”
“Shōtaaaa,” Hizashi laughs, and the sound is echoed by Fukui over on the couch. “No! Think of poor Moka and Walnut! Just one kitten.”
“Fine.” Shōta huffs, but his request hadn’t been fully serious in the first place. “This one.” He picks up one kitten, gently turning her so her can show his husband her paws. “She’s got one pink toe.” He presses his thumb to her paw so Hizashi can see the one pink toe bean, standing out against her dark fur and other black toes.
“Aaaa, that’s so cute!” Hizashi leans forward. “Oh my god, that’s adorable.”
“Yeah.” The kitten squeaks and Shōta brings her up to nuzzle his cheek against her soft fur. “I like this one.”
“Here, you can pick a collar for her.” Fukui kneels beside them, offering a handful of kitten collars. He explains that until the kittens could be taken to their new homes, he’d put collars on the ones that were spoken for. Hizashi pulls out a yellow one and buckles it around her neck.
The kittens would have to stay with their mother for another week or so, so they bid a reluctant goodbye to the kittens and Fukui promises that the moment the vet said they can leave their mother he will bring their kitten over.
(And he also promises to text them pictures until then.)
As they make their way to find lunch and maybe track down some good coffee, Shōta reaches over and intertwines their fingers. Hizashi grins, squeezing back and pulling their hands up to drop a few kisses across Shōta’s knuckles.
“Thank you, Zashi.”
“You are welcome, my honey. Fukui came to me and it was like - wow - perfect timing! A kitten for my sweet kitten.”
“Mm.” Shōta burrows a bit deeper into his scarf, Hizashi’s eager affection not unwelcome, just too energetic. They walk a few moments in silence. “Can we take a nap when we get home?”