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The nights at Sinostra were always chilly, almost freezing in the residents' rooms. Dampness crept into the ancient walls, and despite the thick blankets, there was always that unpleasant feeling of cold.
But that wasn't really the problem. The real problem was Taiga's habit.
When your bedroom door opened without warning, you didn't even flinch. It had become a routine: a sharp noise, a draught and a pale-skinned man with crimson hair inviting himself in as if it were his own room.
- "I don't like the cold..." he let out with a dramatic sigh as he approached without restraint. His tone trailed off, falsely plaintive, as if he were waiting for an answer. You didn't give one. He didn't need one.
You didn't even bother to look up from your phone. On the screen, a dark grey cat with impeccable hair and a distinguished attitude was meticulously smoothing its fur before sitting down with almost aristocratic elegance. One eyebrow raised imperceptibly; you couldn't help thinking that he bore an uncanny resemblance to Romeo. The king of skincare and fashion in Sinostra. If that cat could talk, he'd probably demand weekly beauty treatments and silk bed linen.
The door slammed shut, shattering the moment.
- "Have you ever tried a blanket?" you blurted out casually, without taking your eyes off the screen.
A shiver ran down his spine as he walked towards you. His hair, messier than usual, fell back in front of his yellow eyes, which shone in the subdued light of the bedside lamp. His ever-present white shirt was crumpled, the first buttons undone, and his red braces hung carelessly over his shoulders. He shuffled over to your bed with his nonchalant gait, but his gaze was already fixed on his goal: you. You knew they were already staring at you with that wild, heat-hungry glare.
- "Not the same thing."
A vague answer, thrown out without thinking. As if it stood on its own.
- "Come on, be my heater, Kittycat..."
Without waiting for an answer, he collapsed on your bed with all his weight, a satisfied sigh on his lips. The springs groaned under the impact. His rings tinkled slightly as he reached out to grab your wrist, pulling you against him with exasperating casualness.
-" You're pushing it, Tai..." you sighed.
You let out a sigh, somewhere between exasperation and resignation, but without making the slightest effort to get out of the way. He wasn't even waiting for you to agree. He never had. By now, you knew that resisting was pointless.
- "...You could at least ask before you invade my bed like that..."
Taiga responded with an amused sniff, his warm breath brushing the back of your neck. He pressed himself closer to you, his cold body immediately finding refuge in your warmth. Just a firmer pressure of his arm on your waist, a lazy movement but one that spoke volumes. He didn't respond to this kind of thing. He didn't even see the point in responding.
- "Warm..." he mumbled, almost satisfied.
- "Good for you," you sighed, rolling your eyes.
He moved slightly, rubbing against you momentarily like an animal, looking for the perfect position. His fingers played absentmindedly with the fabric of your top, and one of his fingernails brushed against your skin, tracing a ghostly line down your arm. You shivered despite yourself.
He grunted slightly, tightening his grip, his leg sliding carelessly over yours.
- "You're more comfortable..."
- "That's crazy, I don't remember signing up to be your heating pad. Y/N the heater. So you can fall asleep less alone! Do you think this could be a money-making business?"
He didn't reply. Instead, he stretched slightly before burying his face against your shoulder, his breathing gradually calming. The familiar scent of his perfume mingled with that of the casino and a hint of alcohol wafted through the air.
You let him do it, knowing that fighting him was a lost cause anyway. And then, after a while, you got used to his nocturnal intrusions. Taiga, with his need for warmth, his refusal to admit that he could simply ask for a cuddle other than by invading your personal space.
His breathing became slower, his body heavier against you. You were pretty sure it wouldn't be long before he fell asleep.
Your gaze returned for a moment to your phone, where the distinguished cat from the video had just sat down with the grace of a king on his throne.
- "Fuck..." you muttered half-heartedly. Romeo as a cat.
A smile grazed your lips.
Taiga finally fell asleep, clinging to you like a wild animal finally finding a warm spot.
In a few minutes, his breathing would slow. His muscles would relax.
And tomorrow morning, he would leave as if nothing had happened. Perhaps without a word. Maybe without remembering the night.
But that too, was a habit.
He might as well make the most of the only time he was calm.
"Good night, idiot..."