Chapter Text
Cats had sharp fangs and retractable claws. They were fierce predators, prowling during the night, unseen and unheard. The brown tabby crouched in the corner, eyeing his unassuming prey. He was completely still, from his ears to his tail. He blinked, and the left eye was open again before the right even closed.
Maximum efficiency, he thought.
His eyes might not have seen as well in the dark as the average cat. However, they had adjusted by now, and his quizzical expression turned into a grin. He could see the rise and fall of his prey's chest slowing into the rhythm of sleep. It had been near-instant. His prey was unaware, and now it had dropped its guard. The tabby padded forward.
He eyed the brilliant red jutting out from the blankets. His prey had no clue how close it was to the end of its life. He reeled back, and unsheathed his claws. With silent grace, the tabby arced through the air, his aim true. He landed on his target's exposed belly, swiping his claws and biting. That thin layer between him and flesh would not stop him from ripping into his prey.
Without opening its eyes, his prey said, "Hello, Gabriel."
Dante brushed him off with a wave of his hand, and rolled over to make more room in the bed. In a matter of seconds, he was fast asleep again. The blankets followed his shallow breathing, a movement that rocked Gabriel from where he perched in resignation. As prey, Dante proved too cunning for him. However, it wasn't as if cats weren't known for taking long naps throughout the day. Sure, it was late enough that the sun had set, but it wasn't so late that Fëdor was going to go to bed for a couple more hours.
Oh. Fëdor is not going to be happy that we're sleeping in his bed, Gabriel thought, Decisions, decisions.
Gabriel decided that his reaction would be interesting, no matter what it was. He curled up on top of the covers. Next to him, Dante blindly reached out despite appearing dead asleep, and scratched behind his ear. Gabriel spared a moment to look at him, his mouth pulled into that small, quizzical expression once again.
Why did he do that? He wished he could ask aloud, but after several tests, he'd found that very little woke Dante, and nothing could fully make him get up unless he wanted to.
He tucked his head back down and closed his eyes. It would have to be a question for later. Not quite a tabby cat anymore, Gabriel matched the rhythm of Dante's breathing.