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Inky sat by the ball and gave him a lofty look as his two tails flicked with impatience.
Felix got up from the floor and jumped a little as Rainier stepped in.
“I see you've met Inky.”
“Oh, yeah. He’s really cute.”
Inky had a bounce in his step as he hurried to his favorite fairy, and Rainier picked him up.
“Are you still hungry?” Inky purred in his arms.
“No, I had enough.” Felix stood there awkwardly like he didn’t know what to do since their agreement had been changed and disrupted thanks to this morning.
“Come out in the sitting room,” said Rainier. “Everyone else is occupied, and nobody bothers me in my rooms, so you’ll always be safe in here. The only one who comes in some mornings is a servant, but she’s quick with cleaning and isn’t the sort to talk.”
“Do I have to stay in here for six whole months?” asked Felix.
“No, of course not. Remember I said you’d have more freedom at the house? You can’t look at the same walls all day. That’s not healthy. I want us to go out and do things together.”
“But your Mother…” Felix trailed off as he paused by the couch.
Rainier handed him the cat to hold. “Support his back legs.” Inky continued purring as he accepted the human’s affection, and he squinted his orange eyes. “Mum is…prudish, but she can’t really stop me from doing what I want. I’m twenty-five, and if I want a Kitten, I’ll have one. She won’t come in here or say anything to you, and it’s not like you have any reason to see her. Don’t worry about it.”
“Okay. What’s that giant cushion for? Am I supposed to sleep on that?”
“You’ll sleep in the bed with me and Inky.”
Rainier put a hand on the small of his back to lead him to the enormous cushion in the corner. Mum thought the thing was stupid, but he liked it. A bed was comfortable, and so was an armchair, but the cushion seemed to caress every part of his body. He flopped on it and made it sink under his weight in the center before he gestured to Felix.
Felix’s blue eyes lit up as he set down the cat and crawled on it. “It’s much bigger than the other one at the house. It makes me want to jump up and down on it.”
Rainier pulled him in so their bodies were together, and Felix tensed slightly.
“We can’t jump on it, but it’s good for cuddling. Try to relax if you can, okay? You’re here to be treated like a spoiled Kitten. No one's going to hurt you again.”
He stroked his Kitten’s brown hair, and a little sliver of elation went through him as Felix’s body relaxed against him. Not all of his trust had been destroyed.
“I’m sorry about what he did,” said Rainier. “Nobody should be yanked around and mistreated like that.”
“I’m not mad at you,” said Felix.
“I just want you to know you’re safe here.”
“He’s never been like that before?”
“No, and I don’t know what changed.” Rainier sighed and cast for something to distract him. “What are you going to do with the money? Save up? Is there something you want?”
Felix hesitated. “I want to save it for my Mother and Grandma.”
Rainier rubbed his shoulder. “If they need it, I could send them money right now.”
“They’re not struggling,” said Felix. “I want it just in case something happens. Grandma can’t work now, and Mother’s getting older too so I'm going to make sure everything is set.”
“Where’s your Father? If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine.”
“He died when I was five.”
“I’m sorry.”
