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In the quiet evening glow of their apartment, the warm orange sunset poured through the tall glass windows, coating everything in honeyed light. The place smelled faintly of sandalwood and milk, Rui’s favorite scent combination. The gentle hum of a ceiling fan stirred the air just enough to make the white curtains sway like soft waves.
Hyun was sitting on the couch, relaxed in his plain black shirt and gray sweatpants, one hand scrolling lazily through his phone while his sharp eyes occasionally flicked toward the small creature sprawled across the floor.
Rui.
The cat hybrid was lying on his stomach on the cool tile, black-tipped tail swaying side to side in a lazy rhythm. His pink and black mismatched eyes reflected the fading light, glimmering like gems under glass. His pale skin caught the glow beautifully, and his soft black ears, glossy and expressive, twitched at every little sound: the faint buzz of Hyun’s phone, the distant city noise, even the hum of the refrigerator.
He looked almost too pretty to be real.
“Rui,” Hyun’s deep voice called out lazily.
Rui’s ears perked instantly, a soft “mrrp?” escaping his throat as he turned his head. His pink eye was half-hidden by his hair as he blinked up at his tall, tanned human.
“Dinner’s done,” Hyun said, standing and stretching
“You want your milk now or later?”
“Now!” Rui chirped, immediately rolling onto his side and pushing himself up in one fluid, feline motion.
His tail flicked in excitement as he padded over barefoot, soft steps barely making a sound. He clung to Hyun’s arm once he reached him, pressing his cheek against Hyun’s shoulder with a happy hum.
Hyun chuckled under his breath, ruffling the dark hair between Rui’s ears. “Warm milk, right?”
Rui nodded against him, already starting to purr.
The sound made Hyun smile, that deep, vibrating little purr that Rui didn’t even seem aware of when he was happy. He poured the milk into Rui’s favorite glass, a small cup with little paw prints on it, and placed it on the table.
Rui perched on the couch, cross-legged, tail curled neatly around his thigh. He took the cup with both hands and sipped, closing his eyes in pure bliss. The tip of his ear flicked each time the warmth slid down his throat.
But then his gaze wandered.
There, on the table beside the milk, sat a plate of freshly sliced watermelon. Hyun hadn’t even realized Rui had noticed it, but it was already too late.
Rui’s eyes lit up.
“Can I?”
Hyun sighed with a knowing look. “Only if you eat properly this time.”
“I will!” Rui promised with a grin that was far too sweet to be trusted. He reached for a slice with both hands, fangs glinting slightly as he bit in.
The juice instantly ran down his chin.
“Rui,” Hyun muttered, already grabbing a tissue.
Rui blinked innocently, cheeks puffed out and lips stained red from the fruit. “What?” he mumbled around a mouthful, tail flicking playfully.
“Messy,” Hyun said, leaning down to wipe the juice from Rui’s chin.
The hybrid giggled softly, leaning into Hyun’s touch. His mismatched eyes softened, pupils dilating slightly as Hyun’s fingers brushed near the base of his ears. That was when Hyun’s smirk appeared.
“Sensitive, aren’t you?”
Rui’s breath hitched. “Hyun—”
But Hyun’s fingers moved just behind Rui’s ears, stroking the exact spot where his hair met the soft fur. Rui melted instantly, his back arching a little, tail flicking wildly before curling in around his waist. His purrs turned louder, throat vibrating, eyes fluttering shut.
“Mmnh... Hyun, stop, that’s—”
“You always say that,” Hyun teased, voice soft but low, close to Rui’s ear. “And yet you lean closer every time.”
Rui couldn’t argue. His head tilted automatically, chasing the warmth of Hyun’s fingers. His cheeks were flushed pink, his pale skin glowing under the amber light, his black ears trembling with pleasure.
“Hyun,” Rui whined softly, a drawn-out sound that made Hyun chuckle.
Hyun’s hand slid down, fingers tracing the curve of Rui’s jaw before he pulled back, leaving Rui half-lidded and dazed, his tail drooping lazily.
“That’s enough,” Hyun said with a fond sigh, leaning down to press a kiss to Rui’s forehead. “Finish your watermelon before you get sticky everywhere.”
Rui looked up with a small pout. “You’ll clean me if I do.”
Hyun raised an eyebrow, lips twitching into a grin. “You planning that on purpose?”
Rui just smiled, that mischievous, cat-like smile that said everything without words, and took another messy bite of watermelon.
Hyun groaned, laughing under his breath. “You’re impossible.”
But when Rui leaned against him, curling up with his head on Hyun’s thigh and his tail swaying lazily, Hyun couldn’t bring himself to care. The purring filled the room again, soft and constant, and Hyun rested his hand over Rui’s ears, tracing lazy circles just behind them, smiling as Rui melted into him once more.
Warm milk, watermelon, and a soft hybrid purring against his leg, Hyun thought as the last of the sunset faded outside. This was home.
The clock ticked softly as the last traces of light disappeared beyond the windows, leaving the apartment bathed in mellow, golden lamplight.
Outside, the city hummed quietly, but inside, everything was peaceful.
At least, until Hyun called from the bathroom, towel slung over his shoulder and voice firm but amused.
“Rui. Bath time.”
The effect was instant.
From the couch came a sharp flick of a black tail. Rui froze mid-lick, having been grooming his wrist, small tongue delicately cleaning his pale skin. His mismatched eyes darted toward the bathroom door like he’d just been accused of a crime.
“Bath?” Rui repeated suspiciously.
Hyun leaned on the doorframe, arms crossed. His dark hair was pushed back slightly, sleeves rolled up. “Yes, bath. You got watermelon juice on your arms, and you smell like milk again.”
Rui’s ears flattened, tail puffing slightly. “Rui can clean himself!”
Hyun raised an eyebrow. “You said that last time, and I still found sticky paw prints on the couch.”
“That was not Rui’s fault! It was gravity!”
Hyun chuckled, deep and low. “Gravity, huh?” He stepped forward, slow and deliberate, a faint grin tugging at his lips. “Come here, kitten.”
Rui immediately backed up, clutching a throw pillow defensively. “No! Rui doesn’t like water! It’s cold and mean!”
Hyun sighed, though his tone remained soft. “It’s warm water, and it’s not mean. You’re just dramatic.”
“Rui is not dramatic! Rui is sensitive!” Rui protested, tail swishing with indignation.
Hyun took another step forward.
“Rui will think about it anyway,” Rui said defiantly.
Hyun lunged. Rui dodged, but Hyun anticipated it this time. He caught Rui around the waist mid-step, lifting the squirming hybrid easily into his arms.
“Got you,” Hyun said, grinning as Rui kicked gently, his tail wrapping instinctively around Hyun’s wrist.
“Nooo! Hyun, bad! Rui doesn’t want—”
“—to be clean? Too bad,” Hyun finished, carrying him into the bathroom.
Warm steam filled the small room, and the faint scent of chamomile soap drifted in the air. The tub was already half-filled with comfortably warm water.
Hyun set Rui down on the edge, kneeling beside him.
“See? It’s nice and warm,” he said gently.
Rui peeked over the rim, suspicious. He dipped one finger into the water, flinched, and looked up accusingly. “It’s wet!”
Hyun pressed his lips together to stifle a laugh. “It’s supposed to be wet, sweetheart. That’s how water works.”
“Rui hates it.”
“I know.”
“Then why make Rui do it?”
“Because you’ll get itchy if you don’t.”
Rui crossed his arms, muttering something under his breath that sounded a lot like “still mean.”
Hyun sighed fondly and gently reached for Rui’s wrist. “Come on. Let’s make this quick, yeah?”
When the warm water touched his skin, Rui hissed softly and tried to pull away, tail lashing behind him. Hyun caught it mid-flick, holding it steady.
“Easy,” he murmured, voice softer now. “I’ve got you.”
Rui’s breathing slowed as Hyun began to gently pour water down his arms, using his hand instead of the showerhead because he knew Rui hated the sound.
The rhythm of Hyun’s touch, careful and slow, made it easier for Rui to stay still, though his ears twitched in complaint every few seconds.
By the time Hyun had managed to rinse off the soap and get Rui wrapped in a towel, he was the one drenched, shirt clinging to his chest, hair dripping.
Rui, on the other hand, looked smugly cozy, burritoed in a fluffy towel with only his ears and tail poking out.
Hyun exhaled. “You enjoyed that.”
Rui blinked innocently. “No. Rui suffered greatly.”
“You splashed me on purpose.”
Rui tilted his head. “Maybe.”
Hyun rolled his eyes but smiled, pressing a kiss to Rui’s damp hair before carrying him back to the living room. He set Rui down on the couch and handed him his favorite toy, a soft pink ball of yarn tied to a string.
Rui’s eyes lit up instantly, tail curling like a hook
“Yarn!”
“Yeah,” Hyun said, chuckling as he grabbed a clean towel for himself. “Play with that while I take my bath, okay?”
Rui hummed, instantly absorbed, little fingers batting at the yarn as he rolled onto his stomach.
Within seconds, the pink thread had wound around his arms, tail, and even one of his ears, and Hyun couldn’t help laughing quietly before heading back to the bathroom.
As the sound of running water filled the background, Rui’s soft giggles and purring filled the rest of the space. He rolled lazily across the couch, chasing the yarn, occasionally glancing toward the bathroom with that small, fond look that said he was waiting for Hyun to return.
When Hyun finally came out, hair damp and skin glistening, Rui was half-asleep in a nest of pink yarn and blanket. His mismatched eyes fluttered open briefly, and he smiled.
“Hyun,” he murmured, voice heavy with drowsiness.
“All clean now.”
Hyun smiled softly, brushing the dark hair back from Rui’s forehead. “Yeah, you did good, kitten.”
Rui purred again, curling close, tail wrapping loosely around Hyun’s wrist.
And as Hyun sat beside him, towel still around his neck, watching the gentle rise and fall of Rui’s breathing, he couldn’t help but think that even if every bath ended with him soaked and exhausted, it was worth it. Every single time.
Morning came quietly, golden light seeping through the curtains and across the room. The city was already stirring, distant sounds echoing faintly outside, but inside the apartment, everything still felt slow and soft.
Hyun was already awake. He stood in the kitchen, hair still damp from his shower, sleeves rolled up as he brewed coffee. The faint smell of roasted beans filled the air, mixing with something sweeter: warm milk. He always warmed a little for Rui, because if Rui woke up to that smell, there was a chance the sleepy hybrid would move from his cocoon of blankets.
But today, no such luck.
Hyun leaned against the bedroom doorway, coffee mug in hand, watching the small lump under the blankets on the bed. The comforter had been twisted into a soft nest around a single curled-up figure. Only a tuft of black hair and one twitching ear peeked out.
“Rui,” Hyun said gently, voice still low from sleep.
“Morning, kitten.”
No response.
Only the faintest sound, a soft, muffled “mrrp” from under the covers.
Hyun smiled, shaking his head. “Come on. Wake up. You’ve been asleep for twelve hours.”
The blanket shifted slightly. A tail appeared, flicking once, then disappearing again.
“That’s not an answer,” Hyun said, walking closer. He set his mug on the bedside table and knelt beside the bed, pulling back the blanket just enough to see Rui’s face.
There he was, hair messy, lips slightly parted, ears drooping in total relaxation.
“Rui,” Hyun whispered again, brushing his thumb along Rui’s jaw.
Rui stirred, groaned softly, and turned his face deeper into the pillow. His tail thumped lazily against the mattress once in protest.
“No mornings,” Rui mumbled, voice groggy and small. “Rui’s sleeping.”
Hyun bit back a laugh. “You’ve been sleeping all night.”
“Rui’s not done.”
“Yes, you are.”
“Rui says no.”
Hyun sighed, smiling despite himself. “You’re worse than an alarm clock that doesn’t have an off button.”
“Then let Rui sleep,” came the muffled reply, followed by a little yawn that made Rui’s ears twitch.
Hyun watched for a moment, his amusement mixing with affection. He reached out and gently scratched behind one of Rui’s ears, the exact spot that always made Rui melt at night.
In the morning, though, it was like pressing a pause button.
Rui let out the tiniest purr, eyes still shut, pressing his head against Hyun’s hand. His tail began to sway lazily, the sound of that soft vibration filling the quiet air.
“Not helping your case,” Hyun said softly, though he kept scratching anyway because Rui looked too peaceful.
When Hyun finally stopped, Rui’s pink eye cracked open just a little, hazy and unfocused.
“Hyun stopped,” Rui murmured, voice slurred by sleep.
“I stopped because you need to wake up,” Hyun said patiently.
Rui blinked once, then rolled over dramatically, pulling the blanket over his head. “Rui refuses.”
Hyun exhaled through his nose. “Rui—"
“Refuses,” came the muffled voice again. “Rui will not move.”
“Alright,” Hyun said, standing up and pretending to give in. “Then I guess I’ll just have to drink the warm milk myself.”
That got a reaction.
The blanket rustled. Rui’s ears appeared, twitching.
“Milk?”
“Mhm,” Hyun said casually, walking toward the door.
“Nice and warm, just the way you like it. Guess I’ll have to finish it all before it gets cold.”
“Rui wants it!”
The hybrid shot up suddenly, hair sticking out in all directions, eyes half-lidded but alert at the mention of his favorite treat. His tail was puffed and uncoordinated, betraying how sleepy he still was.
Hyun turned, hiding a grin. “Oh? I thought Rui was refusing.”
Rui blinked, as if processing the betrayal. “Rui changed mind,” he said seriously.
“Convenient,” Hyun teased.
Rui ignored him, crawling out from the nest of blankets very slowly, dragging the comforter with him like a cape. His steps were soft and clumsy, tail swaying out of rhythm as he padded toward Hyun.
Halfway across the room, Rui froze mid-step, eyes drooping again.
“Rui,” Hyun said with a warning tone.
Rui wobbled slightly. “Rui’s still sleepy.”
“Don’t you dare fall asleep standing—"
Too late. Rui leaned forward against Hyun’s chest, nuzzling his face into Hyun’s shirt. His tail curled around Hyun’s wrist automatically.
Hyun caught him easily, sighing in defeat but smiling all the same. “You’re unbelievable.”
Rui mumbled something that sounded like “warm” before purring softly again, the vibrations traveling through Hyun’s chest.
“Yeah, yeah. Warm milk coming up,” Hyun murmured, rubbing Rui’s back as he guided the drowsy hybrid toward the couch. “You win, kitten.”
By the time Rui was settled on Hyun’s lap, wrapped in a blanket with the mug of milk in his hands, his eyes were open just enough to sip. The moment that warm sweetness touched his tongue, he hummed in contentment.
“Better?” Hyun asked quietly.
Rui nodded, still half-asleep. “Rui forgives Hyun for waking Rui.”
Hyun chuckled, pressing a kiss to the top of Rui’s head. “You make it sound like a crime.”
“It is,” Rui mumbled, tail flicking. “Waking Rui is illegal.”
Hyun smiled. “Then arrest me later. Right now, drink.”
Rui obeyed, sipping the last of his milk before curling up again on Hyun’s lap, arms tucked close, tail swaying lazily. His mismatched eyes blinked sleepily, but a small smile curved his lips.
Hyun brushed his fingers through Rui’s hair, watching as the sunlight caught the strands and the black ears twitched with every touch. And though mornings were always a battle, full of stubborn pouts and sleepy protests, Hyun wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Because once Rui finally opened those mismatched eyes, tail flicking and purring softly against his chest, the whole world felt just a little warmer.