Cats and Cuddles don't mix
A pick-me-up fic for my dear friend Gali who is having a bad day
Atobe Keigo would never regret bringing Echizen Ryouma into his and Tezuka Kunimitsuâs relationship. The bratty prince captivated him just as much as the boyâs stoic captain. Atobe had known since his very first match with the boy, when those golden cat eyes burned with passion from across the net, that he had to see that fiery passion burn for him. When he guiltily shared his fantasy of Ryouma with Tezuka he was surprised that it was met with a relieved sigh and a slightly stuttered reciprocation instead of hostility but he couldnât have been more pleased. Yes he and Tezuka were happy but it always felt like a little something was missing, Ryouma was that little something.
So Atobe would never regret falling for their little prince and bringing him into their love life but there was one little problem, on pet peeve, that came Ryouma and that was Ryoumaâs beloved and infuriating pet cat Karupin. Now donât get him wrong, Atobe loves animals but this cat was too much of an evil genius for Atobe to tolerate. Karupin had Ryouma wrapped around his little paw and he knew it. Every time Atobe got close to Ryouma, Karupin would find some way to interrupt them and lure his boy away. When Ryouma would sit and watch his older lovers have a match, the cat would distract him from watching Atobeâs amazing skills. When Atobe would try and cuddle with his prince on the couch, karupin would jump in the boyâs lap and wave his tail in Atobeâs making him sneeze and keeping him from stealing kisses from Ryouma. When they lay in bed together the dratted cat would squeeze in between them and make sure he was the only thing Ryouma would hug in the night. Atobe couldnât believe he was continuously being usurped by a common cat! He had brought his problem to Tezuka, who for some reason Karupin approved of touching his precious master, but his stoic lover told him he was simply being too dramatic about the whole thing.
âKarupin is a cat, Keigo. A. Cat. He doesnât have the proper cognizance to be malicious. Heâs just a little protective of Ryouma like all pets are.â Tezuka had sighed at him, âYou just need to let him warm up to you.â
Atobe had huffed at that, Tezuka had obviously not grasped the the cat was a dastardly villain keeping him from fully enjoying his cute, snarky little lover. So Atobe decided it was time for him to fight back. He was a King! He would not lose to some common house pet! He vowed  that he would get to cuddle with both his lovers  that night with no furry interloper getting in the way.
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Atobe relaxed back into the pillows of his and his loverâs large plush bed. There would be no fluffy intruders getting between he and his prince tonight.
âWhatâs with that stupid smile on your face?â mumbled a sleepy voice next to his ear. Atobe turned his head and found hazy golden eyes shaded by silky dark emerald locks. The smile on Atobeâs face soften at the sight of Ryouma so calm and vulnerable beside him. Sure the boy was arrogant and snarky in public and an absolute monster on a tennis court, but here with his lovers he showed off a softer side. Atobe and Tezuka counted themselves blessed to bare witness to Ryoumaâs sensitivities. How their little one could be so sweet under all that sass was really a mystery.
âIts nothing really,â Atobe grinned, finally responding to Ryoumaâs question, âIâm just happen the Tezuka and I wonât have to fight for your affections tonightâ
âWhat?â Ryouma asked, raising his head from the pillow and leaning on his elbow so he could look Atobe in the face.
Tezuka looked up from where he was jostled from Ryoumaâs shoulder. The stoic boy had been lightly dozing while spooning Ryouma.
âKeigo has gotten it into his head that Karupin is trying to keep you from him,â Tezuka groaned, moving his hand to push up his glasses only to remember he had already taken them off, âHeâs probably gone and done something to fix this perceived problem of hisâ
âWHAT DID YOU DO TO MY CAT STUPID MONKEY?!â Ryouma yelled thumping Atobe on the stomach with his fist, knocking the wind out of the older boy. Atobe rolled onto his side, coughing and wheezing, while Tezuka tiredly held back an angrily flailing Ryouma.
âRelax!â Atobe said, holding his hands up placatingly, âYour cat is fine. I didnât do anything to hurt him, heâs just going to be a bitâŚ.preoccupied for awhileâ
âOh Keigo what did you do?â Tezuka asked with a put-upon sigh.
âNothing permanent,â Atobe grinned, flicking his hair out of his face, âKarupin will just find himself a little high on catnip for the next couple hoursâ
âYou drugged my cat,â Ryouma said bluntly, âAm I supposed to be impressed? Really? Whatâs wrong with you? You should have just told me you wanted some extra attention or something stupid monkey king. Poor Karupinâ
âNot poor Karupin! Poor ME!â Atobe exclaimed, furious with the injustice of it all, âThat cat has been out to get me since the two of you moved in! He never lets us have a moment alone!â
âSo you drug him?â Ryouma hissed, sounding very much like his offended pet, âHeâs a Cat Keigo! A cat that loves me! Of course he wants to cuddle all the time! Why didnât you just say something to me? We could have locked him out of the bedroom or somethingâ
âDonât be too hard on him Ryouma,â Tezuka said blandly, curling himself around Ryoumaâs back and nuzzling into the smallerâs neck, âHe was blinded by love after all. You know he has to give 110% of his stupidity to these thingsâ
Atobe scoffed indignantly at the jab at his intelligent, but noticed that Tezukaâs words had somehow calmed the feisty prince down.
âI guess youâre right Kunimitsu,â Ryouma sighed as Tezukaâs attentions moved from his neck to behind his ear, âbut he has to deal with Karupin when he comes down off the kitty high, and let me tell you he wonât be pleased, but for now lets go to sleep. Keigo, no more shitty plans til the morning okay?â
With no more warning than that Ryouma proceeded to drop back down on the pillow and begin to snore. Atobe was a bit miffed at the second shot at his intelligence that night but he let it go with one look at Ryoumaâs cherubic sleeping face. He really was too cute when he wasnât being a total brat. He heard a chuckle and met Tezukaâs knowing gaze over the sleeping boyâs shoulder.
âOh shut up,â Atobe huffed and he too settled down to sleep. He wrapped his arms around his two lovers and pulled them into a hug. He felt Ryoumaâs lips smile against his chest as his prince snuggled closer and the steady rise and fall of Tezukaâs breaths beneath his hands. Atobe couldnât help the smile that spread across his face. This is what he had wanted. His lovers were truly perfection and nothing could make him happier than having them close like this. They were truly a treasure fit for a king.
He tried to remember that at 3am when Karupin decided to make himself known by hissing, spitting, and scratching against their bedroom door while his lovers pushed him out of bed saying âYou did it, your problemâ