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Rays of sunshine streamed in through the break in the window curtains, casting gentle morning light across your bed and urging your consciousness awake. Blinking sleep from your eyelids, you felt a heavy presence against your side, a gentle, rumbling purr stirring against the rhythmic beating of your own heart. Laying against your chest and weighing you down was a head of thick, white hair, a set of pointy white ears sitting atop the fluff, twitching silently admist sleep. After a moment of your hand pressed against his hair, he stirred awake, the soft crystal blue eyes of your catboy, Dante, meeting yours.
“Good morning, Dante,” you murmur, pulling yourself out from underneath his weight against his wishes, casting your eyes around the room to find Dante’s twin, Vergil, who seemingly never chose to sleep in bed with you. He instead chose to favor the various affects around your room - this morning, Vergil sat in your reading chair, piercing cold eyes staring right through both you and Dante, suddenly giving you the urge to look away for fear of embarrassment.
“Alright, let’s get this day started, okay, Dante? Vergil?” You smiled, pulling yourself from the warmth of both your bed and the snuggly catboy.
“Nyooooooo, but it’s warm here, [y/n], stay in bed, pwease…?” Dante purred, stretching to reach your wrist and hold you back. You narrowly escaped his grasp, only to have your attention drawn away by another voice in the room.
“Stop it, Dante. They have things to do.” Vergil huffed, puffing his chest out, hiding his anticipation over his expected reward for being on your side.
“C’mon, you two, it’s too early for bickering,” you sighed, making sure to stroke Vergil’s velvety ears and hair just as he had expected; involuntary bursts of purrs rumbled in his throat until he pulled away from your hand.
“I’ll go shower, get dressed, then we can have breakfast together? How does that sound?”
The two agreed in unison, Dante finally rising to slink out to the living room, while Vergil remained on the chair, watching as you vanished into the bathroom with a fresh set of clothes.
“[y/n]~! Pleaseeee, open the doooor, I miss youuuu,” Dante whined, the sound of dull nails scratching at the door drowned under the weight of the water pouring down your shoulders. You glanced at the door, shaking under the relentless assault, quiet wails reaching your ears from the catboy who waited outside.
“The sooner you shut up the sooner they'll come back out," Vergil hissed, smoothing strands of hair back into place.
"But they stay in there FOREVER without ME," he wailed, returning to casting himself against the door in vain. Seeing that the sobbing catboy outside your door had no plans of ceasing, you rushed to finish your shower, rinsing and drying faster than you've ever done before. As you opened the door and stepped out of the steam into the slight chill of your bedroom, warm hands snaked themselves around your legs and rough, prickly stubble pressed against your delicate flesh.
"I missed you, I thought you left me again!" Dante cried, nuzzling his cheek against you. As you reached to console him, you find something unexpected; standing slightly further behind Dante was the much more unsociable Vergil - you were lucky if he didn't hiss, bite, or claw you when you approached him, nevertheless him approaching you.
"You should be more privy to how carelessly you leave us alone, [y/n]," Vergil spoke, "Dante here nearly tore down the curtains without your presence."
"I did nyat!" he retorted, the feeling of hackles rising pressed against the tips of your fingers.
"Did too." Vergil purred, sneaking his way to your side on the opposite of Dante, tip of his tail inching itself almost unconsciously around your free wrist.
"Come on now, you two, don't bicker," you hoped your words would soothe the two catboys who were inexplicably loyal to you, "It's breakfast, won't you come help me?"
Before the words had entirely escaped your lips, Dante had unhinged himself from your side and ran towards the kitchen, stoked at the prospect of a fresh breakfast; Vergil lingered a bit longer, before wandering over to your empty bed and crawling into the covers.
"You won't eat?"
"No."
"If I make and save you extra will you eat?"
"Maybe."
Although his curt responses left little room for argument, you knew Vergil would be fine without eating this morning. On the other hand, to the tune of pots and pans clashing from the kitchen, you'd likely need to help Dante sooner than later.
In the time it took you to make your own meager breakfast, Dante had scarfed down his meal and headed in for his afternoon sunbathing nap. From your position at the kitchen table, you could see the slender tip of his pure white tail flicking off the edge of the bed, a sign he was about to doze off. Alone, you pulled out your current read to enjoy as you leisurely ate breakfast; it was a weekend and you had no plans. It had been a few days since you rescued the twin catboys Dante and Vergil from the streets; while the beginning was hectic, once the two had become settled and used to their new arrangement, they seemed to relax and let their true personalities out. Dante was the most excitable of the pair, and never missed an opportunity for pets or snuggling; Vergil was more reserved, rarely letting himself be touched and preferring to maintain both a distance from both you and Dante.
Or so you had thought. Until halfway through your meal when you felt a weight in your lap, and the lightweight touch of a catboy on your thigh. You knew Dante was asleep in your bed, so that meant the other one could only be -
“That hog wouldn’t share the bed with me. He wrapped himself in all your blankets.” Vergil huffed, unconsciously rubbing his cheek along your leg, “You need to get me somewhere else to sleep, I can’t sleep anywhere that smells like him.”
“Then where would you like to sleep?” You chuckle, endeared by Vergil's sudden neediness, setting your reading material down to instead delicately stroke Vergil's silky hair.
"Right here is fine, for now."
"Right here…?" you ask, an immediate answer provided as Vergil hastily climbed further into your lap, nearly knocking your dishes over as he bumped the table. You quickly adjusted your position to accommodate the much larger catboy, who proceeded to curl up as much as physically possible in your lap. Within moments, his breathing quieted, replaced with a soft rumble following each breath, a sound you could only consider a purr from what was a rather prickly fellow. Stealing a glance at the languid catboy in your lap, you delicately raised your arms to bridge the gap to the table, gingerly returning to eating breakfast, careful not to disturb the catboy asleep in your lap.
Checking your phone, you find that 30 minutes have passed - the dirty plates still lay in front of you, and butt grown sore from holding your position still for so long; yet, Vergil slept unbothered in your lap, seemingly comfortable despite the awkward position. Desperate to move anywhere, you decide it’s somewhat feasible for you to move Vergil and yourself to a more comfortable spot within the house. With the bed hogged by Dante, you choose your second favorite option; you carefully wrap your arms around the catboy’s torso, slowly removing his body from yours until you could manage to your feet.
“One...two…” you prepare yourself softly as to not wake the slumbering beast in your arms, and with a grunt on three, began dragging Vergil towards the couch a few feet away. Despite how roughly you pulled him along, let alone how unceremoniously he collapsed onto the couch after you set him down, his eyes remained shut and his breathing steady, seemingly still deep asleep. Just as you swindle yourself a spot on the remaining couch not covered in catboy, hands and a sharp feeling glanced against your thighs and lap, revealing Vergil had sleepily dragged himself back into your warmth. Although his chin dug a bit awkwardly into your thigh, he seemed comfortable, a quiet rumble deep in his chest resonating against your skin and tail tip grazing your ankle.
“Well...I guess I can afford a bit more time relaxing,” you sigh, taking out your phone to idle, unsure of how long Vergil planned on using you as a pillow and unsure of the repercussions of waking him up. As time passed, the warmth of the sun encroached on white hair and gently stirred open pale blue eyes, staring through you as you happened to have stolen a glance at the sleeping catboy in your lap. As his eyes focused on your features, irises softening to melt with the white of his eye, Vergil pursed his lips as though about to pierce the silence in your home, until the thunder of footsteps rumbled from the back of the house.
“Vergil! Don’t even think about getting some action without me!” Dante yowled, coming to a rushing halt at the back of the couch, tail fluffed up so tall that it towered over his own head.
“What action? I was only forced to reside with [y/n] because someone chose to be greedy,” Vergil retorted, lifting his head from your lap and releasing you, in turn facing Dante with a smirk, “If you really like [y/n] that bad, you’ll need to try harder.”
"That's it, bro, I've had it up to here with you," Dante gestured quickly before throwing his leg over the couch and climbing into the already tight space. Despite only having the siblings for a few days, they've had their handful of spats - hissing and swatting, nothing you couldn't handle - but Dante's vigor in the heat of the moment was unlike any you had seen, and it didn't seem like this would become a simple spat.
“Hey, let’s all just-” you began, inching backwards as Dante encroached into Vergil’s space, the older twin raising his hackles and baring fangs, just as Vergil always did before he hissed. Without finishing your thought, Dante lunged at Vergil, knocking him back into your lap just as he had laid moments earlier. Unfortunately, this lap-cat-nap came with twice the weight, the younger twin’s hands wrapped around the other’s neck, claws denting tender flesh with the weight to push through; opposing Dante’s ferver, Vergil seemed unalarmed by the present situation, both choosing to ignore your existence as their combined weight trapped you against the plush couch.
“All you have are your poor kitty claws?” Vergil sneered, “Kittens don’t play with lions.”
“I was going easy on you, but if you’re that desperate,” retorting with fangs bared, Dante drew close to his twin’s neck preparing to snap. In the brief moment before Dante could slam his jaws shut, Vergil wound his legs up and kicked against Dante’s stomach, tossing Dante off of both himself and the couch. With Dante’s weight removed from yourself and Vergil, the remaining momentum pulled Vergil into a sitting position, freeing you entirely, but not without some damage. After being used as a playmat for the catboys, you’re positive something bruised, let alone the despair you felt at watching the two fight.
“Are you finished yet? I, for one, would love to resume my nap that was so rudely interrupted.”
“Well maybe you should’ve thought of that before you-”
“...Gh…,” unable to stay silent anymore, a groan slipped out, unintentionally cutting their discussion short as the two catboys paused to look in your direction.
“Wait - are you alr-” Vergil turned to approach you, ears flicked back and eyes narrowed as he looked at your pained expression, only to be shoved aside by Dante a second later.
“Dude, look at what you did! You hurt [y/n] with that bitch-ass kick of yours,” he sat neatly on the couch and pulled you close to him, “Where did the mean kitty hurt you?”
“I did nothing of the sort and you’ll-”
“...here.” You spoke softly, touching your exposed forearm and feeling pain throbbing under the skin. It surely was just a minor bruise from being hit too hard, but it hurt nonetheless; if you ached anywhere else, you’d yet to discover it. Without a word, Dante took your arm in his hands and pressed a soft kiss to the spot you gestured to, before grazing it with the tip of his rough tongue, startling you.
“If I kiss your wounds better, won’t you smile again?” Dante met your eyes with a warm grin, ears flicking to and fro, and attempted to return to licking your arm until lips met a bony hand, covering your bruise. Glancing up, Dante narrowed his eyes to match Vergil’s glare as he filled the space behind you, sheltering you from the warmth of the sun.
“They won’t heal through your tainted words,” Vergil snapped, waiting as you turned towards the direction of his voice, tone softening to a dulcet when he noticed you listening, “Where else does it hurt?”
“Uh, well, it’s only,” you stammered, feeling your face flush from the heat trapping you in on both sides, “I’m really alright, it only hurts a little bit. I’ll just get up and get ready for-”
“Nonsense. If it hurts because of us, then we’ll fix it.”
“Because of you,” Dante corrected with a snicker, “As much as I hate to agree with Vergil of all people, he has a point.”
“...because of me,” Vergil huffed, “Now, it’s just here?” He tapped your forearm where saliva still lathered your bruise, the tip of his claw digging into the skin and making you wince from the shock of pain. The jump lightly startled the pair, but both accepted your jolt in place of a verbal answer. Vergil swiftly reclaimed your arm from Dante’s grasp, resting himself on your shoulder and pressing thin lips against the blossoming bruise on your arm. Tongue warmer than your own skin met flesh, touch rougher than Dante’s lapping rhythmically to soothe you. After just a moment, Vergil pulled away, the tip of his tongue stuck between his lips as the edges curved into a wry smile.
“Feel better?”
“Mhm...a little bit,” you smile, warmed by the pair’s kindness towards you, despite the strange ways they chose to show it; you could see the relief grow on their faces at your answer.
“Now that that’s settled, the next best step for any patient is a hearty rest,” Dante yawned, stretching his arms above his head before taking your hand in his and rising to his feet.
“You just woke up.” Vergil touted, slender fingers grabbing your other wrist to hold you to the couch.
“What, you just want me to leave them to sleep alone? I would never!” Dante snorted, pulling you to your feet from Vergil’s loose grasp, “Your loss.” Without a second glance Dante began to drag you back towards your bedroom, his strength unsurprisingly matching his stature.
The two of you barely made it to the hallway before you felt a second set of hands supporting your journey; Vergil kept your free hand in one and another on your lower back, ushering you along.
“I knew you’d come around, Vergil.”
“It’s not right to leave the injured unattended.”
“Yup. Of course.”
“Mmm-mmhm, home sweet home,” Dante purred, releasing your hand to flop on top of your bed, melting into his usual indent. He tapped the free side of the bed next to him, urging you to lay with him. Obliging, you heaved a sigh as you felt your hectic day come to a close, imagining behind your heavy eyelids all the future ones soon to come; yet before you could fully vanish into the arms of sleep, a weighty presence next to you urged your eyes open, meeting slitted pupils and furrowed brows, a shock compared to Dante’s relaxed composure. One set of arms wrapped around you from the back, hands folded and locked around your torso with a slender tail swatting at your legs, another set wrapped around your front, the feeling of a nervous ear tick tickling your skin, face buried in your stomach. Only a moment wrapped around you and you felt the movement in their chests subside, their breathing slowing as the pair drifted off to sleep with you in their arms, knowing the one thing they could agree on was safe.