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The boathouse was quiet.
Aside from the distant lapping of waves, and and the mews of the gulls outside, Azure found it comfortably muffled and contained inside of his generous host’s home, with a hefty sigh, the lion demon eased himself back into the couch, the bandage gauze wrapped around his chest growing irritating against his fur as the minuted ticked by, his mind could only wander off as he stared at the ceiling nonchalantly.
He shouldn’t even be here, it was a sorry sight, his bitter thoughts continued to reflect his own failures, but there was nothing else to occupy him while he sat by.
“Sorry Mr. Lion!” The door opposite him slammed open, causing a few lounging cats to scatter off in different directions, the blue giant emerging carrying a tea tray and ambling over to the table in front of him, “didn’t mean to keep you waiting, Mo snatched the teabags and ran off, aren’t you a rascal today?” Sandy blinked at the blue cat, who had stalked into the room shortly after, Azure was sure he saw scorn in the small feline’s eyes when he looked at the lion, but he may have been imagining it.
“There is no need for apology.” Azure responded politely, but in a manner that was still reserved, he observed Sandy pouring the tea, noting the unfazed expression on his face, he still had not quite figured out the true nature for the giant’s hospitality and leniency, for it seemed baffling to him that one of his former foes would allow his stay while his wounds healed without a price to pay, Azure had awaited some catch to this unique situation.
But the catch never came, Azure was beginning to realise Sandy was just that genuine and earnest, but Azure still expected some reluctance, some distrust, after all, it hadn’t been that long since their grand fight, since Azure’s takeover of the celestial realm, and eventual downfall, the memory stung, more than his current injuries, more than his wounded pride.
“I hope you like it, it’s my special blend.” Sandy smiled pleasantly, offering Azure a cup, the lion narrowed his eyes at it briefly, dismissing any paranoia that the drink was poisoned, and took a sip.
“It’s… sweet, but earthy,” Azure nodded, savouring the taste, there was a prolonged awkwardness to the silence that followed, Azure didn’t have much to say to the giant, but it would be rude not to at least attempt a conversation, “you are skilled in tea blending, it would seem.”
Sandy’s smile widened, “I’m glad you noticed, you seem like an earthy kinda guy.”
Azure decided to take that as a compliment.
It appeared the conversation had come to an end, but a few moments later, Sandy opened his mouth.
“So… uh, I really don’t mean to pry or anything…” Sandy trailed off, twiddling his large thumbs, “but… why are you still here?”
Azure lowered his cup, blinking in his confusion, Sandy elaborated hastily after.
“N-not that you’re not welcome here!” He added, taking the time to stroke Mo who had jumped up onto his lap, “I love having company, and you’re super polite for a guy who tried to kill us, but I just don’t understand why you haven’t… well, moved on, now that you’re back on your feet.”
Azure could only stare at him, it didn’t help that he had reminded him of his former reputation, but he was still stuck on his question, had he really been staying here longer than necessary? His wounds had been healing well, Sandy had made sure of that, thinking rationally, he was outstaying his welcome, he could move on, like he had said, regroup with his brothers, if they were still out there, but what could they do? Their cause wasn’t just buried, it was below the underworld, how could he face them now after everything he had failed to accomplish as a leader?
He didn’t even give Sandy a verbal response, he merely sunk into the seat of the couch further, frown tightening.
“Ah, my bad, it’s a tough subject, I get it.” Sandy rumbled, looking embarrassed, the comforting quietness soon turned to a strained one, Azure opened his mouth to speak, closing it when he could think of nothing worthwhile to say.
In the minutes that went by, Sandy and Azure drank their tea in difficult silence, a large tabby feline hopped onto the couch in that time, blinking at Azure before walking right over his lap, completely unbothered, Azure found it almost amusing.
“Forgive me for being blunt, but I never asked, why do you own so many cats?” Azure asked, grateful for having a reasonable change of subject, it had been on his mind ever since his stay in the blue man’s boat home, he didn’t read him as the sort of person to be a cat lover, but then again, there was very little he actually knew about him.
Sandy looked delighted by that question, “well Mr. Azure, sometimes you get one therapy cat, but then you don’t want that therapy cat to be lonely while you’re off doing errands, so you invest in another… and then some more and… well!”
Sandy gestured lovingly to the— at least ten— cats currently present in the room, Azure was certain there were more.
“That is… very thoughtful of you.” Azure replied, bemused.
“I guess I just like having something to look after, to care for, y’know?” Sandy grinned, after recalling the lighthearted tale, “it was my therapist’s idea, really got me thinking about myself, what my purpose is, what I want it to be,” he rubbed the back of his neck shyly, “I want to be someone who protects instead of someone who harms.”
Azure would have never expected such a deep understanding with the giant, but it was clearer to him now, much clearer, he let out a quiet, low hum, absorbing all that he had heard.
Sandy was many things, Azure realised in that moment, he was unimaginably strong, passionate, and fiercely loyal, he had known that even before this conversation, but he was also calm, patient, and understood the consequences of his own strength and the weight of his actions, in many ways, he reminded Azure of his fellow brother Yellowtusk, but if there was one distinction he made between the two, it was that Sandy’s ambitions were not to control or to command, he was perfectly content with his life here on this boat, with his cats, making tea and being a protective force to anyone who needed it.
Despite his flaws, he chose to heal, rather than fester in his own bitterness.
Part of Azure greatly admired that. Another part of him greatly envied that life too.
“Aha, got a bit too personal there,” Sandy cleared his throat, patting Azure firmly on his bandaged shoulder, “you don’t want to hear me rambling.”
Azure shook himself out of his distracted trance, his body instinctively stiffening.
“Perhaps I do,” he anwsered abruptly, closing his eyes, “it is relieving to know that someone else shares the same sentiment, caring for others instead of oneself.”
“Oh! Don’t make me blush,” Sandy teased, before he furrowed his brows, looking slightly confused, but still smiling, “it is?”
“I only wish care for others less fortunate, at least… I thought I did,” Azure admitted, slouching his shoulders, as the blue giant stared at him, “I strayed too far from my own mission, I payed the price, as you know.”
“Yeah, that was… something,” Sandy grimaced pitifully, “but on the bright side… you’re alive..?”
Without another word, he awkwardly patted Azure’s mane placidly, in any other instance, Azure would have been offended, but he knew Sandy was only attempting to provide comfort, even if it was a little humiliating.
“I am beginning to think I could learn a thing or two from your optimism, my…” Azure hesitated, a little surprised at the word that slipped out, “friend.”
He was surprised by the look of warm joy on Sandy’s face after he heard that response, Azure himself felt a unexpected smile tugging at his jaw, something inside of him softened, as he let out a muffled chuckle.
“Ooo! I know just what you can do,” Sandy exclaimed with a jolt, Azure watched him scoop up Mo who let out a startled “mrow?” Holding him up in front of Azure confidently.
Mo gave Azure another look of disdain, this time, Azure was sure this cat hated him.
“And… that is?”
“I’m giving you something to look after, here, hold him,” Sandy was still looking expectantly at him, “he doesn’t bite, he’s a sweetheart.”
Azure, completely unconvinced, still tried to reach out to Mo, who in response, hissed, ears drawn back, batting at Azure’s hands with unsheathed claws, the small blue cat wriggled away, clambered up Sandy’s shoulder and escaped onto a nearby cat tower.
“Ah, right, I think he’s still warming up to you,” Sandy mumbled, “new plan…”
Azure rubbed his grazed hands together soothingly, “Sandy… I don’t think…”
“Here we go,” Sandy retrieved another feline, this time, a calico cat with a missing tail, plopping them down onto Azure’s lap immediately, before he could protest, “Mustard’s much more friendlier, she definitively won’t bite.”
Azure stared down at “Mustard”, from the time he had spent recovering on this boat, he had seen many different breeds of cats, most of the time he shooed them off so they wouldn’t sit on him, but this was the first time he had seen the calico, who began sniffing him, it wasn’t long before she was stretching out lazily along his lap.
Sandy peered over Azure’s shoulder, “see?”
Azure wrinkled his snout at the small creature curiously, he found this whole plan Sandy had conjured up hilarious, “she’s certainly friendly, very… fluffy.”
“She certainly is! Poor girl had a pretty big surgery a while back, but she’s recovering,” Sandy explained, scratching Mustard under her chin, Azure found himself stroking her rhythmically, the sunlight pouring in through the open window perfectly spilled out across her body, a rumbling sound began, reverberating around the room.
“Aw, see? Purring means she likes you,” Sandy reacted first, “she’s much louder than usual though— wait— oh, oh.”
Azure was aware of the sheer marvelling look of awe Sandy was giving him, he tried looking away, truly embarrassed, as the rumbling purr in his throat grew in volume.
There went his regal and powerful reputation.
“Odd, that usually never happens, I must have caught something.” Azure muttered, clearing his throat.
“I think I’m going to cherish this moment.” Sandy replied, but not teasingly or mockingly, his eyes were practically sparkling, somehow that made Azure even more flustered.
“I think that’s enough caretaking for today.” Azure huffed, shifting his weight so that Mustard hopped off of him, and onto Sandy’s lap.
He stood up, wincing as his injuries began to flare up again, conflicted, he let out an ashamed noise, as he stepped towards the door.
“I know this isn’t what you’re used to,” Sandy stared at him, “but… I think you like it here.”
Azure halted.
He could leave, he was done here, he could run back to the destroyed ruins of Camel Ridge, he could be alone with his thoughts, alone with his looming failures, in a world that didn’t deem him worthy.
“You’re right,” Azure heaved a heavy sigh, voice so low it was nearly an inaudible vibration, his usual charisma drained from his voice, “I want to stay, at least until…” he cleared his throat again, “it doesn’t matter… I want to, if you’ll allow me.”
“Phew, I really didn’t want to be wrong,” Sandy relaxed his shoulders, Azure hadn’t realised he had been holding them anxiously, he tilted his head back, giving Azure a gentle look, “this isn’t the first time I’ve had a pal crash on my couch.”
Azure was about to say something else, say something that would convey his gratitude, but in his weak, softened state, he couldn’t make himself speak, it seemed he had grown uncommunicative since his losses, and he couldn’t even begin to explain his appreciation, he didn’t think he would be so glad to not have his brothers witness this husk of an emperor.
There was only Sandy.
And luckily, Sandy spoke before he could further embarrass himself.
“Oh yikes, I’ll have to make us some more teas! All this chatting is making me even thirstier,” Sandy laughed, he was staring at the two cups of tea, which had long since gone cold during their conversation, “it’ll take juuuust a minute.”
Azure watched him go with a newfound fondness, maybe he wasn’t who he used to be, but Sandy didn’t seem to care, so for now, the pain was just a little less painful.
“Mrowww…”
Azure pivoted his head to look at the blue and orange cat staring at him with narrowed eyes from the cat tower, sprawled out and yet defensive in his glare, tail lashing with irritation.
“I don’t particularly like you either.” Azure frowned.