@Fraust
Cas eventually ended up just fully sitting in Zachary's lap, seeming content and comfortable. Nix tried his best to ignore them.
Cas eventually ended up just fully sitting in Zachary's lap, seeming content and comfortable. Nix tried his best to ignore them.
(let's push Nix so much he snaps at Zachary, what do you say?)
Zachary repositioned his arms when Cas crawled onto his lap. He smiled softly, keeping him close. Halm wrapped his arms entirely around Nix, sighing softly.
(Oooo yes)
Nix glanced over at Cas and Zachary, his tail puffing up. He was clearly growing more agitated as Cas drew closer to Zachary, but he kept quiet for now.
Halm looked down at Nix, growing sightly worried. He put his hand on Nix's head, a little concerned. Zachary wasn't paying attention to Nix anymore, too focused on Cas as they snuggled closer.
Cas seemed pleased with the attention and tucked his head under Zachary's chin, smiling softly. Nix's ears twitched as he watched.
Zachary smiled, rubbing Cas's back and holding him close. Halm looked over, frowning just slightly. He looked to Nix, speaking very lowly.
"Nix…"
Nix was glaring at Cas and Zachary, growling lowly. He seemed very pissed off at the moment and was gripping Halm's hand tightly.
Zachary looked up when he heard Nix growl, but it only made him hold Cas closer. He was being protective. Halm wrapped his hand around Nix's, wondering if he would have to hold Nix back.
"Stop touching him." Nix growled, his ears flattened back on his head. He hated seeing Zachary hold Cas like this. It reminded him of Cas's shitty ex boyfriends. Cas looked up, confused as he clung to Zachary.
"Nix," Halm said as gently as he could, looking up at Cas. He wrapped one arm around Nix's waist. Zachary drew back from Nix, not letting go of Cas.
Cas cowered a bit, huddling closer to Zachary. "You're going to hurt him! Let go!" Nix struggled against Halm's hold.
Halm pulled Nix away from Zachary and Cas.
"That's enough, Nix," he said, "Zachary isn't going to hurt Cas." Zachary wrapped his arms tightly around Cas, turning slightly to shield him. It looked like Nix was going crazy.
"That's what I thought about his boyfriends! I always thought 'oh, maybe this one will be better', but they never were! Everyone he's had has hurt him! I won't let him get hurt anymore!" Nix was very fluffed up and prickly by now, quivering with anger. Cas looked terrified and had gone pale, clinging tighter to Zachary.
Halm wrapped both his arms around Nix, pinning him in place.
"Nix, you're scaring Cas," he said sternly into Nix's ear. "You need to stop this. Zachary isn't going to hurt Cas now, and he's not going to ever." Zachary put himself completely between Nix and Cas, holding Cas close.
"It's alright," he said softly, more concerned for Cas than himself. "He just wants to protect you, even if he doesn't need to."
Nix exhaled shakily, his hands still closed into fists. He hissed quietly, but desisted. He fell silent and glared at Zachary as he huddled up against Halm again. Cad whimpered almost inaudibly, gripping Zachary tightly.
Halm held Nix close with both arms still, wary of any attempts to get at Zachary. One wrong word from Zachary could send Nix off the edge again.
"It's okay," Zachary said soothingly into Cas's ear, voice soft and quiet. "It's okay, Cas. We'll be alright."
Nix dug his fingernails into Halm's arms as he narrowed his eyes at Zachary, clearly still very pissed off. Cas was a bit shaky and very nervous, but he's managed to keep himself from crying for the time being. He fidgeted with the rubber band on his wrist, hesitating to use it in favor of not making Nix feel guilty.
Halm was unaffected, physically, by Nix digging his fingernails into his arm, but Halm still winced at the action itself. He pulled Nix closer, speaking quietly into his ear.
"Nix, stop. Right now Zachary is the only one Cas wants to be around like this, and we can't stop him. We'll watch to make sure he's safe, but Zachary is taking care of Cas, and he's doing everything right so far. That's more than we can say." Zachary gently rubbed Cas's back, holding him close. He looked down when he saw Cas fidgeting with the rubber band.
"You should use it if you need to," he said gently. "It won't do anyone any good for you to internalize this. It's alright, Cas."
Nix huffed and clung to Halm more tightly. His eyes stung with tears and he looked away guiltily when he noticed Cas fidgeting, and winced when Cas snapped it against himself. Cas was hurting himself, or at least doing his current equivalent, and it was entirely his fault. Cas buried his face in Zachary's chest, trembling as he pulled the band far back and snapped it against his wrist again.
Halm pulled Nix close, one hand going up t to hold his head and wipe away any tears that might fall. Zachary rubbed Cas's back as he snapped the rubber band, mumbling soft words in his ear to help him calm down.
Nix turned his ears back again and closed his eyes, curling his tail around himself. Cas hiccuped weakly as he continued, feeling horrible for upsetting Nix, but knowing he needed to do this so he wouldn't actually badly hurt himself.
Halm pulled Nix completely onto his lap, wrapping up around him and rubbing his back softly. He didn't say anything. What could he? This was Nix's fault…
Zachary patted Cas's back lightly when he hiccuped.
"You're okay. You haven't done anything wrong," he said gently.
Cas nodded shakily, drawing in a wavering breath as he snapped the band against himself again. "I'm s-sorry…" He whispered, burying his face in Zachary's shoulder. He still seemed tense and antsy.
"You don't need to be sorry," Zachary said gently. He held Cas close, rubbing his back and head. "You didn't do anything wrong. It's okay."
Nix flattened his ears back more, burying his face in Halm's chest. Cas continued with the band for a couple minutes until he slowed down and eventually stopped. He was quiet after that and kept his face hidden.
Halm held Nix close, petting him gently to try to help him. Zachary held Cas gently, rocking him a little. The television played in the background, ignored by all.
Cas wrapped his arms around Zachary's neck and sighed shakily, huddling close. He was still a bit antsy, but he seemed to have mostly recovered by now.
Zachary wrapped his arms more around Cas, holding him close. He gently put his head against Cas's, so very tempted to kiss him. He turned his face against Cas's head, giving him a tiny, secret one. Cas might not have even felt it.
Nix glared at him, the fur on his tail bristling again. He gritted his teeth, trying to hold himself back for Cas's sake. Cas's didn't seem to notice the kiss at all, as expected.
Zachary was slightly relieved Cas hadn't felt it. But Nix had definitely seen it. He held Cas close, avoiding Nix's glare. Halm had seen it too, and he was furious now too. He let his grip on Nix loosen, more intent on keeping himself controlled.
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