A Cozy New Home: Part 2

After the delicious meal, Axel lay in the small bed, tucked under the soft blankets. The room was lit with the moonlight shining in through the window. He was in his underwear, as he didn't really have any pajamas that fit him. He found himself staring at the ceiling, his mind racing with thoughts of everything that had happened so far. He tried to push it all away, to just focus on getting some sleep. But as usual, sleep didn't come so easily.

The door creaked open softly, and he turned his head just in time to see Meira stepping into the room. She had just finished with the dishes and cleaned up after her cooking. His eyes widened as she quietly made her way over to the bed, the gentle glow from the light outside illuminating her features.

"What are you doing?" Axel blurted out, sitting up slightly. Seeing her in this kind of setting just felt off to him. Meira didn't answer right away. Instead, she just smiled softly, walking over and sitting on the edge of the bed. The mattress dipped slightly under her weight.

"There's only one bed here." she said, her voice calm, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "Meira needs some sleep too~."

"Why the hell is she referring to herself in the 3rd person?!" Axel thought. "Is she drunk?!" Axel's face immediately flushed, turning away towards the window to not face her. "G-go sleep on the floor or something. There's no room."

Meira chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Don't worry, it's just me."

"That doesn't change anything!" 

Meira did not say anything as she pulled back the blankets and slid in beside him, her long blonde hair brushing against his arm as she settled down. The bed wasn't exactly big, so the space between them felt almost nonexistent. She lay down beside him, her presence warm and calming. As she made herself comfortable, she moved her arm above Axel's head to the point where Meira was essentially surrounding him. "See, that wasn't too bad."

His face burned bright red, and he quickly turned away, pulling the blankets up to his chin. He couldn't think straight, especially with her large chest close to his face ."F-Fine…I guess" he muttered, his voice cracking. "Just... don't get too close, okay?"

Meira's laughter was soft and soothing, and she adjusted the blankets around herself. With this and the events at the dungeon, Meira might have just found a way to essentially destroy Axel's stubborness. "Don't worry," she said, teasingly, "I won't bite." 

Fifteen minutes later, Axel lay stiffly in the bed, his body tense and rigid as he tried, and failed, to relax. Meira's presence right beside him made it nearly impossible. Every time he shifted, he hit the warmth of her body. He had concluded that this must be due to the fact that this was the first time (literally) sleeping with a woman. "This is supposed to be easy!" He thought, "Why am I struggling?!"

Meira must have sensed his unease because after a long, quiet moment, she spoke softly. "Axel," she murmured, her voice a gentle whisper in the dark. "A growing boy like you needs to sleep. Just relax."

"I-I'm fine," Axel said, obviously lying. "Also, don't call me 'growing boy'!"

Meira let out a soft, amused hum, her hand gently resting on his head. She began to pat his hair, the rhythmic motion surprisingly soothing. "Shh," she cooed softly, her voice like velvet. "There's no need to be nervous. Just breathe." Her touch, along with the calming sound of her voice, slowly started to have an effect. The tension in Axel's muscles began to melt away, bit by bit. As she continued to pat his head, she started humming a soft lullaby—the same tune she had sung when cooking.

Axel's eyelids fluttered, the melody working its way into his mind, pushing away the anxiety. He could feel his breathing slow, his heartbeat steadying. At the same time, he was trying his hardest not to fall for it. "Fuck! This is humiliating!" He thought, "I need a lullaby to sleep? Really?"

Despite that, there was something so calming about the sound, about the way her hand gently stroked his hair. And then, there was the scent, a sweet, floral smell, that seemed to surround him, drawing him closer to her.

Before he realized what he was doing, Axel shifted. His small body, almost instinctively, snuggled closer to Meira. He hesitated for just a second before he nestled into her chest, feeling the warmth of her against him. He could feel her breathing, and her heartbeat was a steady rhythm. It was almost tranquilizing.

Meira didn't say a word, just continued to hum, her hand still stroking his hair with tender care. Axel's breathing slowed even more, and for the first time that night, he felt a wave of calm wash over him as he drifted off to sleep. Seeing this, Meira wrapped her arm around him, clutching him closer to her body.

***

The next morning, Axel groggily opened his eyes, blinking against the sunlight streaming through the small window. His mind was still foggy from sleep, but the absence of warmth beside him was noticeable. Meira was gone.

For a moment, he just lay there, staring at the ceiling as the events of the previous night slowly came back to him. His face flushed as he recalled how he'd snuggled into her. "AHH I'm so fucking dumb!" He yelled in his head. He quickly shook the memory away, deciding not to dwell on it. 

Dragging himself out of bed, Axel rubbed his eyes and stretched, still half-asleep as he stumbled toward the door. His feet carried him downstairs, the faint smell of something cooking pulling him toward the kitchen. As he reached the bottom step, he could hear the gentle clattering of dishes and Meira humming softly again. He turned the corner, and there she was—standing by the stove, gracefully preparing breakfast. Her long hair was tied back, revealing her nape. She looked peaceful, as if the night before hadn't fazed her in the slightest. 

But before he could say anything, something else caught his attention. There, sitting proudly on the dining table, was a sleek black cat, its purple eyes fixed on him with a look that could only be described as judgmental.

Axel frowned. He had definitely seen this cat before. "Isn't that—"

Before he could finish, the cat leapt off the table with surprising speed, hissing as it launched itself at him. Claws extended, it swiped at Axel's legs, and he stumbled back in surprise, barely managing to avoid getting scratched. "WHAT THE FUCK—ACK!!" Axel yelped, as the collar from the spell immediately shocked him from cursing. He hopped back a few steps as the cat continued to puff up, ready to strike again.

Meira turned from the stove, a small smile on her lips as she watched the scene unfold. "Oh, good morning Clive," she said casually, as if the attack were a normal morning routine. "Did you sleep well?"

"T-This cat is trying to kill me!" he yelled, "Meira, do something about it!" 

"YOU should do something about that mouth of yours," said the cat.

Axel froze. "Did the cat just talk?" 

"Ah! I forgot to introduce her." Meira smiled, "Axel, this is Sofia." 

"What."

The cat was now standing on her hind legs, inspecting her claws as if they were freshly manicured. "Surely you didn't forget me already?" the cat said. "I cannot be recognized in town, so this is my little disguise!"

"Why are you even here?" Axel said, his tone more stern.

"Just a normal checkup. I need to see how my cuties are doing~" Sofia then dropped down to her fours and walked around Axel. "It seems she has started taming you. Good job, Meira."

"TAMED?" Axel glared at the cat, narrowing his eyes in frustration. "I'm not playing your stupid game, demon!" He leaned forward, arms outstretched, ready to grab the cat, thinking it wouldn't be able to dodge. But as soon as his hands got close, Sofia darted to the side, leaping effortlessly away with a flick of its tail. Axel groaned in frustration, spinning around and trying again.

"Too slow!" Sofia laughed.

"You little bitch—ACK" he lunged, shaking off the shock, but the cat was already several steps ahead, darting between the chairs and zipping around the room with ease. Every time Axel thought he had her cornered, she slipped away like smoke, darting under the table, hopping onto a chair, then up onto the windowsill with a smug swish of her tail. "I shall make my leave now. Don't forget Axel, if you ever try to leave…you will die. Also, you better thank me for your breakfast today! Those ingredients are mine!" she said, promptly leaving the house.

Meira couldn't help but giggle at the sight. On the dining table, she placed a plate with freshly made eggs and sausages. Beside that, was a steaming cup of tea. "Eat, now." she said softly, "Let's go shopping today~"