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Your fingers trace lines against the soft fur of your boyfriend's cat. Low purrs escape her mouth as you run them up and down her back. In the quiet morning living room, the sun shines from the patio doors on the moment of domestic peace between the two of you where you're both curled up on the couch.
"Y/N...are you even listening to me?"
Too caught up in the marvelous sensation of cuteness overload, you continue to relish in Kiri's presence. This time, you nuzzle your nose into her neck, feeling the vibrations from her sounds against the skin on your face. It leaves a warmth in your heart too complex to fully comprehend. You can only hope she is as content as you showering her with such love and affection.
"Hey..." A finger pokes your side as a deep voice sounds closer into your ear. "I'm right here, y'know."
Deciding to be a little playful, you continue to ignore Altus, hiding your mischievous smile in the cat's fur. With how often he's been teasing you lately, you relish in him receiving a taste of his own medicine for once. If he wants to call you tiny and jab at your obedience, then you'll just find another place to channel your love—his cat.
“Oi.”
You disguise a chuckle with a loud cough. Once you’ve finally stopped giving her so much attention, you look at the time on the clock and realize that it’s around her breakfast time.
She begrudgingly leaves the place where she’s curled up next to you on the sofa and gets led away to her food bowl in the kitchen. As the two of you watch her nibble at her catnip with meat chunks laced in between, Altus gently pokes your forehead.
"Ow!"
"That was on purpose, wasn't it? Talking to our cat instead of me?"
You stifle a laugh and turn so that he isn't able to see the blooming smile on your face.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Silence settles for a moment. When you turn around, you see Altus looking at you with a pout. It's quite an uncharacteristic sight for the man, so the sight slightly takes you aback. For a second, the two of you lock eyes in a heated showdown. You notice the slight furrow of his eyebrows and how he seems to be analyzing your every move and word. It takes all the energy in you not to break character on the spot.
"Uh-huh. Whatever you say."
He shakes his head endearingly and shifts his attention back to Kiri, making sure she's eating the whole of her breakfast without issue. With his eyes no longer on you, that hidden grin finally appears. You had no idea pampering the cat more than him would elicit such a reaction. You also had no idea that seeing your boyfriend pout would feel so satisfyingly charming. When the urge to suddenly call him cute rises up, you realize just how much of an impact this whole situation is about to have.
He's always the one teasing you and making you blush.
It’s always him being the one who gets to call you cute.
And now it's about time you do the same to him back.
*****
Throughout the rest of the day, you continue upholding the charade of spoiling Kiri more than Altus. While he's working at his desk, instead of chatting with him during his off-time as you typically do, you make sure he sees it when you cuddle with Kiri on the floor of his office instead. Out of the corner of your eye, you see the quick glances he sends your way, his face scrunched up when he thinks you aren't looking. Anytime you whisper sweet nothings into her ear, you can hear the sigh from across the room.
How cute.
You know through the many years of dating when not to take it too far. You understand deep down Altus's personality and that he'd communicate his frustrations with you if he genuinely felt uncomfortable with your actions. This sudden little dispute between the two of you is nothing more than a lighthearted bit meant to stir up reactions from one another. You want to see him pout and he wants to see you come back to him.
But you're competitive and don't plan on letting up so easily.
"Oh, come on, Y/N....at least try not to make it so obvious?"
After his work for the day ends, he tries to join you and the cat on the floor. The attempt is futile upon you immediately picking Kiri up and walking out of his office toward the living room once more and moving to sit on the couch with her in your arms. You watch Altus follow your movements with his eyes through the large gap in the wall from where the rooms are connected, completely dumbfounded at the action. With your free hand, you nonchalantly turn on the TV and begin to browse the different streaming services as if nothing ever happened.
It takes a few minutes of awkward silence to finally look down on the floor where he kneels and catch his gaze. That same pout from earlier presents itself with an even deeper frown. The way his eyes plead up at you stirs your insides in a way that completely takes over your desire to ignore him. Every behavior from the man is a purposeful attempt to get you to finally notice him.
And it works. You feel that competitive side of you fizzle out the longer you stare at him pitifully yearning for your attention. Like a flame in the rain, it washes away until you accept defeat and let the love inside your heart that you've been pushing down so deep finally resurface.
"Alright, come here you."
A victorious grin replaces the pout and he swiftly makes his way onto the couch where he sits pressed up beside you. His arm wraps around your shoulder and he places a swift peck to your temples, nearly squishing you against his side.
"I knew you loved me, little one."
A laugh escapes you and Kiri finally jumps out of your hold. You turn around so that you're facing Altus and pinch his cheeks endearingly.
"Of course I do, silly. Were you really that jealous of Kiri?"
Instead of answering, he places another kiss on your forehead and snuggles in close so that you can both watch whatever's playing on the TV. Despite no words being said, you understand through his actions and personality exactly what he meant. For a man so stoic and patient all the time, you've wondered what it takes to make him snap or lose a bit of his composure.
Not once did you think it was going to be his cat.