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Scaramouche has started to notice the resemblance between Kazuha and their cat, Maple, very gradually.
It started with something small, barely noticeable unless he pays close attention, but the way they sleep is similar. Maple has the extraordinary talent for finding the warmest place in any room she's in, be it a patch of sunlight on the floor, a blanket fresh from the laundry, or even Scaramouche himself.
And Kazuha? He's no different. He always gravitates toward sunlight whenever he gets the chance, settling on the floor or by the window with a book until he inevitably falls asleep, or he ends up curled in a pile of fluffy blankets on their couch. He even has a habit of sneaking closer to Scaramouche whenever he wants warmth, cuddling against him without a word.
The first time Scaramouche finds both of them sleeping on a rock beneath the afternoon sun in their garden, he simply stops and stares.
Kazuha is curled into a loose ball, his hair spilling messily around his face, and right beside him, Maple is tucked into his side almost the exact same position. They're even facing the same direction, their breaths slow as they nap together.
Scaramouche blinks a few times before sighing. "Unbelievable."
Kazuha stirs at the sound of his voice, opening an eye sleepily. "Hmm? What is?"
As if on cue, Maple yawns and stretches before immediately snuggling closer to Kazuha's side. Kazuha does the exact same thing a few seconds later, letting out a quiet yawn and stretching his arms above his head. He even shifts into a more comfortable position on the rock before closing his eyes again.
Scaramouche is in disbelief at what he's seeing, trying to decipher if this is some kind of elaborate joke.
Judging by the way Kazuha falls asleep again before he can even respond, he realizes it's real.
He pinches the bridge of his nose, but there's no point disturbing them now. He leaves them to their nap, pretending he doesn't find the sight strangely endearing.
—
Another similarity that Scaramouche notices is the way they ask for attention. Which is to say, they demand it.
Maple will sit nearby and watch Scaramouche, studying what he's doing before she eventually approaches him. If she's ignored, she'll move closer and sit on top of whatever Scaramouche is paying attention to and meow loudly until she's given pets and cuddles.
Kazuha, unfortunately, has developed a similar strategy.
He'll watch Scaramouche from across the room in silence with a hopeful expression, waiting patiently for his attention. When that doesn't work, he'll move closer. Then closer still.
Eventually, he'll linger beside him and let out an exaggerated sigh until Scaramouche finally looks up from whatever he's doing.
"What?"
"Nothing," Kazuha says, giving him his best neglected puppy eyes, looking too innocent for someone who is very obviously trying to get something from him.
Scaramouche narrows his eyes at him. "You want something."
Kazuha purses his lips, still giving him those sweet eyes. "No."
"Then why are you staring at me?"
All he gets in response is a shrug.
Scaramouche huffs out, knowing exactly what's happening.
He also knows that if he doesn't give Kazuha what he wants, he'll probably continue hovering nearby until he does.
He breathes out and opens his arms in a silent invitation, which Kazuha immediately accepts by closing the rest of the short distance in a few quick steps before settling against Scaramouche's chest with a quiet, contented sound.
Scaramouche rolls his eyes, but his arms come around him anyway.
It becomes routine after that due to how often Kazuha demands cuddles. Scaramouche has even stopped waiting for him to ask.
One afternoon, he spots Kazuha standing in the doorway with that same expectant expression, so he opens his arms in invitation before Kazuha can say anything.
Kazuha's face immediately brightens up. "I didn't even ask yet."
"You don't have to," Scaramouche pointedly looks away so Kazuha won't notice the faint blush on his cheeks. "You just stand there giving me that look until I offer."
"I simply trust you to understand." Kazuha almost runs towards him, nuzzling into Scaramouche's chest.
Scaramouche exhales through his nose, hiding the laugh threatening to escape him. He lets his arms wrap around Kazuha's body anyway.
Maple lifts her head from her place on the windowsill to see what they're doing. She seems to feel like she's being excluded because she abandons her place to claim a spot between them despite getting squished in the process by their bodies.
Scaramouche looks down at her, a small smile tugging at his lips because she really resembles how cuddly Kazuha gets.
"You couldn't wait to join, huh," he tells her softly.
Maple just blinks at him and starts to purr loudly.
—
Then there's the matter of affection.
Maple loves being petted, and, as Scaramouche soon learns, so does Kazuha. He discovers this one afternoon while they're cuddled together on the couch watching a movie. Without thinking, he reaches over and brushes his fingers gently through Kazuha's hair.
Kazuha relaxes instantly against him, tilting his head into the touch with a quiet sound.
Scaramouche lets out a small laugh, moving his fingers more firmly along his scalp and massaging it gently, the same way he would with Maple without even thinking about it. It's only when he watches Kazuha melt into the touch in almost the exact same way that he realizes just how alike they look when they're content.
Kazuha even makes little sounds that are almost suspiciously close to purring.
"You're doing the cat thing again," Scaramouche says quietly.
"I don't know what that means," Kazuha murmurs, nuzzling further into his touch.
"You act like Maple," Scaramouche explains, his fingers still moving through his hair. "You're like an overgrown cat."
Kazuha smiles without opening his eyes. "Do I? I don't mind the comparison."
"All she does is eat, sleep, and demand cuddles from me."
"Sounds like a good life to me." Kazuha shifts closer, tucking himself more comfortably against Scaramouche's side.
Scaramouche stays quiet because he doesn't have much of a response to that, especially when Kazuha seems to be getting sleepier by the second. He keeps stroking his hair, enjoying the softness of his strands between his fingers, until he feels a pair of eyes watching him.
Maple is sitting on the arm of the couch, observing them with curious eyes, her tail curled neatly around her body.
"What?" Scaramouche asks, raising an eyebrow at her.
She meows in response before jumping down onto the couch with a sleepy yawn. She kneads at the cushion beside Scaramouche, then promptly curls up on his lap as though she has decided that she's waited long enough for her turn.
"You're both needy," Scaramouche mutters under his breath, but there's no real annoyance in his voice.
He uses his free hand to scratch between Maple's ears, which she immediately leans into, purring loud enough that he can feel the vibrations against his thigh.
For a long moment, Scaramouche simply sits there, caught between Kazuha's warm body pressed against his side and Maple's smaller one curled up on his lap. Despite himself, he thinks there's nowhere else he'd rather be.
Kazuha's breathing has evened out against his shoulder, his body comfortably nestled against Scaramouche's side. His mouth is slightly parted as a soft snore escapes him every now and then. Maple isn't far behind.
Her purring gradually fades into a softer vibration as she settles into a deeper sleep, her tiny body rising and falling steadily under Scaramouche's hand.
Scaramouche exhales, something between a laugh and a sigh, and lets his head fall back against the couch.
The movie continues playing in the background, completely forgotten by them now. He doesn't bother reaching for the remote to turn it off since he doesn't want to risk disturbing either of them.
"This is ridiculous," he murmurs again, so quietly that the words barely sound like anything at all.
Kazuha's fingers twitch where his hand rests against Scaramouche's chest, while Maple's whiskers tremble with whatever she's dreaming about.
Scaramouche carefully reaches for the blanket draped over the back of the couch and pulls it over both of them, making sure to tuck it around Kazuha's side and Maple's small body so they can stay warm.
He settles back into the cushions, adjusting his body into what he hopes will be a comfortable position since he knows he's going to be here for a while.
Kazuha shifts closer in his sleep, unconsciously chasing more of Scaramouche's warmth, and Maple does the same thing, nuzzling closer against him as she lets out a tiny, sleepy "brr."
Scaramouche smiles at their movements, shaking his head slowly. He lets his eyes close, one hand resting gently in Kazuha's hair while the other remains on Maple's back.
"Two cats," he whispers into the quiet room, unable to hide the fondness in his voice.