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“My tail!” Raora squealed as Gigi chased her around, hands outstretched to grab a fistful of that fluffy pink tail that she so loved. She was smiling too, dangling it just out of her reach, but close enough to tease the young girl.
Gigi yelled as she lunged forwards, landing on all fours on the ground, moments after Raora swished her tail away. The little girl screamed as she began to sprint at her again, punctuated by her laughter. In all the times they had played this game, Gigi had never caught her.
She curled her tail swiftly to the right as Gigi stumbled blindly forwards, causing her to overshoot.
Gigi screamed as she crashed into the couch, pouting as she tried to reorient herself, “Meanie!”
Raora chuckled as she stepped close, leaning in to poke the still disorientated and pouting girl on the nose.
“Careful Gigi! Don’t want you to get MER—” She screamed as Gigi lunged forwards with an energy from god knows well, closing the gap between her and Raora’s tail in moments and plunging her tiny little hands into her fur. The jolt that shot up Raora’s caused her to bite back a swear, she’d never hear the end of it if the child Liz had just brought home from somewhere began to swear in her language.
“Got your tail!” Gigi called out as her hands ruffled Raora’s fur in all the wrong ways, undoing the hard work she had put into it that morning. She groaned as Gigi’s hand dug too deep, pushing past all the fur into the sensitive skin below. Every nerve in her body screamed at her to pull away, to groom it back into shape and push that little mess-maker off.
“Mama Raora?” Gigi asked, her hands stopping their play.
Raora sighed, and tried her best to ignore her instincts, instead curling her tail to bring Gigi close, wrapping the delighted child in her fur.
“Yes, Gigi. You got me!” She cooed, patting the girl’s head as she pulled her closer to her body. The way the gremlin beamed up at her with that wide, toothy grin of hers melted any resistance she had left. She pulled back, enduring her instincts screaming at her, if it meant Gigi could play for five more minutes.
~~*Years later*~~
It all started with a mission gone wrong. Not because the bad guys were tough or strong or anything, but because Raora tripped and fell down the stairs and now both of her arms were stuck in this stupid cast. She whined, sitting at the dinner chair while watching Cece cook for her across the room in the kitchen. Liz and Gigi are out to report to the headquarters, she’d guessed.
Her mind’s been itching at her, grinding uncomfortably against her consciousness with one very simple fact.
“Soup’s done!” Cece called out, carrying a bowlful of minestrone in her hands.
It wasn’t long before the automaton was feeding her. As delicious as her soup was, Cece did a great job following her recipe, she could’ve done with a little less teasing.
“Open wide~ Here comes the airplane~” Cece said, swooshing the spoonful of soup towards her face as if she was a baby.
“Cece…” Raora complained, before opening her mouth and letting the rich, savory soup into her mouth. She remembered doing this to an especially fussy Gigi years ago, but never did she imagine she’d be on the other end.
As Cecilia prepared another spoonful of soup, that itch in Raora’s mind demanded release. She whimpered, hoping it was quiet enough for Cece to not notice. It failed, as the automaton immediately perked up.
“What’s wrong Raora? Is it your arm? Is there something wrong with it?” Cecilia’s usual teasing lilt was replaced by genuine concern.
“No no. It’s stupid…” Raora muttered, her face drooping.
“Come on, is it my teasing? I’ll stop if—”
“No, Cece…” She sighed, “It’s my tail.”
Cecilia looked over Raora’s shoulder. Her tail, usually so neat and tidy, was indeed a mess— tangled, matted in some spots, and going in all the wrong directions, a product of being unable to properly care for it for days.
“My mind really doesn’t like it if I don’t groom it for too long…”
Cecilia was silent for a moment, her brow furrowed in deep focus.
“...Do you want me to help?” She asked tentatively, looking up at her as if being able to help Raora, even a little bit, would be the most precious thing in the world.
‘No’ was already on the tip of her tongue, and in any other circumstance she wouldn’t have hesitated to say it. But, the thought of enduring another day with this itch in her mind caused it to get stuck in her throat.
“Yes.”
Cecilia’s gasp was adorable. Her entire body stiffened as she registered exactly what Raora had just said. What she had just given Cecilia permission to do.
“I can,” she coughed, “I can touch your tail?”
“”Yes, Cece,” Raora smiled, “But you better be careful.”
“Yes ma’am,” She giggled.
~~*An Undetermined Amount of Time Later*~~
Liz was warm, well people were always warm, but Liz was warmer. It made Raora want to do nothing else but curl up on her, to envelop herself in nothing more than that intoxicating heat that only Elizabeth could produce. She leaned back against Elizabeth, earning a giggle from the taller woman.
“Aren’t you needy today?” She teased, wrapping her arms around Raora and resting her chin on the panther’s head.
“Because you’re warm Liz,” Raora pouted, earning another giggle from Elizabeth.
Raora yelped as Liz’s breath traced her ear, “Pretty kitty can’t resist me can she?”
“Liz!” She complained, her face burning up.
Elizabeth chortled at that, throwing her head back as Raora continued to pout in her lap.
They settled into a comfortable silence as Raora leaned back on Liz, resting her head on her shoulder. It’s been a while since they had time to just settle in like this. Nothing to worry about, no one to bother them, just them and the bed.
Raora wanted to complain as Liz’s right hand left her waist, but shut up as soon as it glanced across her tail’s fur. Elizabeth’s touch was light, not pressing in too deep, but just enough for her to feel the pressure. Raora stiffened as Liz stopped her hand, looking at her for permission.
Raora nodded.
Elizabeth’s hands were sure, trained from repetition. One stroke, two strokes, three strokes. All in a rhythmic pattern, going the same direction each time. It felt good, almost calming. She snuggled deeper into Liz’s embrace as she continued her ministrations.
Raora could feel her eyes drooping. The combined comfort of Liz’s warmth and her gentle stroking was simply too much for her poor mind to handle. She yawned, allowing Liz to move them from a seated to a cuddling position on the bed. She whined as she nuzzled against Liz’s shoulder, wanting nothing more but to be closer.
She felt Elizabeth kiss her on her forehead.
“Sleep well Amore mio.”