@Fraust
Nix hesitated before starting to wander again, each step just as high as it had been earlier. He flicked his paws occasionally and gnawed at the socks, but Cas always stopped him from taking them off.
Nix hesitated before starting to wander again, each step just as high as it had been earlier. He flicked his paws occasionally and gnawed at the socks, but Cas always stopped him from taking them off.
Halm watched Nix the entire time, biting his lip again. Oh, goodness… Zachary didn't hold back any laughter, keeping by Cas's side. He nuzzled Cas's cheek a little, almost rubbing it in for Nix.
Cas laughed as well, feeling a little bad for how upset Nix was, but the cat deserved it after what he'd done to Zachary. Nix eventually forced himself under the couch to hide, whining quietly and hiding his face in his paws.
Zachary watched Nix go under the couch, holding Cas close. It was hilarious, to be sure. Halm made his way over to the couch to Nix, kneeling down.
"Can this be over now?" He asked, looking from the distressed Nix to Cas.
"But it hasn't been an hour yet…" Nix retreated further, whimpering a bit under the couch. He curled up and hid his face in his fluffed up tail.
"I'm not sure he'll be able to make it an hour like this," Halm said. Halm turned to Nix again, holding his hands out carefully.
"Nix," he said softly, trying to coax him out.
Nix hesitated before trying to get to Halm. He was struggling immensely due to not being able to get traction with the socks on. His paws slipped on the hardwood and he mewled helplessly.
Halm carefully maneuvered his hands under the couch, the fit tight. He helped Nix out, careful not to hurt him. He set Nix down on his lap, gently rubbing the side of his head. Halm looked up at Cas.
"Please," he said, begging at this point.
Cas looked over at Zachary. "Do you think he's learned his lesson?" He asked. Nix huddled up in Halm's lap, noticeably trembling.
Zachary looked at Nix a moment, then conceded.
"I think so." Halm sighed in relief, quickly and carefully pulling the socks off. Halm held Nix close, seeing how upset he was.
Nix huddled closer to Halm, burying his face in the other's neck while he trembled. Cas hesitated before taking Zachary's hand and leading him away into the bedroom.
Halm looked down at Nix, figuring he would want to say something. He gently reached up to Nix's cheek, getting him back to his human form.
"I've got you," he said gently. He wrapped both arms tightly around Nix. "It's over now."
Zachary came with Cas to the bedroom, still smiling a little.
"Nix looked quite funny," he remarked.
Nix drew in a wavering breath, struggling to bite back tears. He kept his face hidden, curling his tail around himself.
"Yeah, he did… we didn't take it too far, did we?" Cas asked, sighing a bit. "He seemed really upset…"
Halm held Nix close, rubbing his back a little. He gently kissed Nix's head.
"It's all over now."
"I don't think so," Zachary said. "It was supposed to be a punishment, remember?" He spoke softly, seeing that Cas didn't really like upsetting Nix.
Nix hiccuped a bit, a couple tears rolling down his cheeks. "I feel so humiliated…" He whispered almost inaudibly.
"I know, and what he did to you was horrible, but I just… I dunno… I feel bad." Cas sighed, hugging Zachary tightly.
Halm gently reached up to wipe the tears away.
"I know," he said quietly, "and I'm so, so sorry I didn't see it sooner."
Zachary hugged Cas back, gently patting his back.
"I see," he said after a moment. "And I know Nix means a lot to you."
"B-But I deserve to be humiliated…" Nix replied, burying his face in Halm's chest. "I did something bad…"
Cas nodded with another soft sigh. "He's my emotional support cat. He's gotten me through so many hard times, and now I'm tormenting him for my own amusement…"
"We… We did do something bad," Halm said, "but this still hurt you, Nix. Just because you were punished doesn't mean you deserve to be hurt." He kissed the top of Nix's head, holding him close.
"It was a punishment," Zachary said. "We did it to make sure he knows what he did was wrong, Cas." Zachary gave a soft sigh as well.
Nix hiccuped a bit, huddling closer. "I was bad… I deserve punishment…" He tucked his head under Halm's chin.
"I know, I know… but I still feel bad purposefully hurting anybody…" Cas murmured.
Halm wrapped himself around Nix, shaking his head a little.
"Not like this," he said gently. "This was cruel, Nix." He held Nix a bit tighter.
Zachary looked down at Cas, sighing softly.
"Do you want to apologize to him?" He finally asked. "Do you think it will help you?"
Nix cried into Halm's shoulder, his ears turned back. He was still shaking and clearly upset. "I-I just… I dunno…"
"Maybe…" Cas sighed. "I'm… I'm not a malicious person. I don't like hurting people, Zachary."
Halm rubbed Nix's head as the other cried, doing his best to help normally. He kissed Nix's head, holding him so very close.
"Alright then." Zachary gave Cas another hug, looking down at him. "It might be best to make sure he knows that…"
Nix hiccuped again and huddled close, his ears flattened back against his head. "They just wanted me to look stupid…"
"Yeah… m-maybe once he's calmed down a bit. I think I can hear them…" Cas exhaled shakily.
"They wanted you to know we can't hurt Zachary," Halm mumbled softly. "But they were so mean about it. I'm so sorry, Nix…"
Zachary listened for a moment, pulling Cas closer when he heard the shaking in his voice.
"Alright then. I'll be right here with you the entire time, okay?"
Nix huddled up in Halm's lap, curling in on himself a bit. He was clearly embarrassed and upset and just really needed to be held.
Cas nodded a bit and tucked his head under Zachary's chin. "Okay… thanks, Zachary."
Halm fell silent, just holding Nix close. He rubbed Nix's head a little.
"You're welcome," Zachary said gently. He held Cas close, patting his back again.
"Can we sit down?" Cas asked quietly, looking up at Zachary. "I kinda just wanna cuddle right now…"
Zachary nodded. He picked Cas up completely, carrying him over to the bed and sitting down with him.
"I love you," he said softly.
"I love you too…" Cas huddled close to Zachary, resisting the urge to kiss him. He tucked his head under the other's chin.
Zachary smiled softly. He nuzzled Cas's head lightly when Cas tucked his head under his jaw, rubbing his back. Oh, Zachary wished he wasn't terrified of kissing Cas. He wanted to be able to give that to Cas.
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