For Soon, We'll Be Free [Xephna] [5/?]
Title: For Soon, We’ll Be Free Pairing: Eventual Xephna [Xephos/Lalna] Rating: T Genre: Fluff/Slight Angst Words: On mobile. Sorry! Warnings: Possible TW for bullying, cursing Prompt/Summary: Orphanage/Kittyphos AU. Lalna had been stuck in Sunny Sunshine Rainbows Orphanage for as long as he could remember. His life had been stuck in the same cycle; adoption, retaliation, replacement. Lalna was sure nothing would change. Then again, he wasn’t expecting the new kid, and all the baggage that came with him… A/N: Chapter 5 already? Holy crap. It’s all thanks to you guys, and Yogships, that we got this far! We’re having so much fun writing this, so we hope you’re actually enjoying it! I had to use apostrophes for thoughts and italics, since I’m trapped on mobile, but I hope it’s not too confusing. Enjoy! ~Xyrnys (Hazel) — “Lalna… Lalna, time to get up!”
The small blonde grunted as he opened his eyes, his brain foggy. He didn’t remember falling asleep at all. And he definitely didn’t remember Xephos bouncing on his chest. “Oi, litter box breath!” He snapped. “What are you doing?”
"Waking you up!" The brunette purred, happiness shining in his bright blue eyes. The smaller child’s hair was messy, and his ears were flat to his head, so he couldn’t have been awake for long.
"Well get off me!" Lalna shoved the boy off, though it was gentle, and he earned a giggle from Xephos. At the innocent laughter, Lalna couldn’t help but smile. "Why don’t you go play with Honeydork or Nanosounds? I’m sure they’d love to play with you."
Xephos shook his head. “They’re too busy holding hands and being gross. Besides, you’re nice to me!”
"So are they!" Lalna grunted and walked out of the room, knowing Xephos was following him without even looking.
"Look at who finally woke up!" Lomadia cooed. "Have a nice nap, boys?"
Lalna rolled his eyes. “Stop it, Lom.”
"Yes, Miss Lomadia!" Xephos chirped.
"Good!" The female seemed satisfied with the answer. "Why don’t you guys go outside to play? Don’t worry about Ridge; he’s still in time-out."
Lalna stomped his foot in protest. “I don’t want to-“
"Yay! Come on Lalna!" Without waiting for Lalna’s consent, Xephos grabbed a hold of his sleeve, all but dragging him along and practically flinging him out the door.
Lomadia just laughed, impressed with the smaller child’s strength and determination. “Yeah, I think you’re exactly what Lalna needed…”
~.~.~
Xephos hadn’t really spent any time outside since he got to the orphanage, and the sun put a bright light on his already-brightened spirits. He still wasn’t aware of all the creatures had to offer, but they all fascinated him.
So far, the butterflies were his favorite, and the different colors of their wings as they flew around made him smile. He still had yet to catch one; he was fast, but they were faster. Still, he was more than happy to chase them.
"Hey Xeph!" Honeydew called from the garden. "Wanna see the birds?"
"Birds?" That was a creature he was familiar with, but as he drew closer, the garden birds weren’t nearly as big as the birds back home. Still, they were fascinating because he had never seen them like this before. "Pretty!"
"They don’t stick around for long, though." Honeydew laughed. "Lalna usually scared them away."
"Hey!" The blonde stormed up to the two. "I do not!"
If just to contradict the blonde, the bird fluttered away. “See? I told you he does.”
"Come back birdie!" Xephos fell to all fours and chased after the bird, which was flying up to a tall tree. Not wanting to give up his prey, Xephos sank his sharp claws into the bark of the tree, quickly scaling it to reach the next the bird landed in.
"Xephos!" Lalna shouted. "Get down here before I tell Lomadia!"
Xephos ignored him, all of his instincts telling him to get the bird in the tree. So far, it still sat on the branch, not noticing the cat boy downwind of it. At the last second, Xephos swiped out, catching the bird in his claws and howling victory, putting it between his teeth before leaping down.
"Xephos!" Lalna worried, but no sooner had he said that, the boy landed on all fours without even shaking. "How did you do that?"
"Oh no!" Nanosounds cried. "He killed the birdie!"
Xephos spat the still creature out at Lalna’s feet and purred, rubbing his head against Lalna’s legs.
"Eww! Xephos!" Lalna took the bird in his hands. "Why did you give me this?"
"It’s a present!" Xephos exclaimed happily. "Do you like it?"
Lalna sighed. “You can’t do that, Xephos. You made Nano sad.” He put the bird in a trash bin close to the garden.
Xephos flattened his ears to his head, watching Lalna dispose of his gift. “You could have just said no!” Hissing at the blonde, he swiped the dead bird back from the trash bin before running off, leaping over the short fence that surrounded the orphanage, and heading out into the unknown world.
"Oh no!" Lalna knew he’d done it now. What would he tell Lomadia?
~.~.~
"He WHAT?!"
"I’m sorry Lom! I didn’t think he’d run away!" Lalna felt tears coming on, but he blinked them back. He wouldn’t cry in front of Lomadia. "I mean it! I wasn’t trying to be mean this time!"
Lomadia could see the sincerity in Lalna’s eyes, so she nodded briskly. “We still need to get him back, Lalna. What do you want to do about this?”
"I don’t know! I mean, I know my old hiding spots, but not his!"
"Let me gather the other kids and we’ll go and help you search for him." Lomadia smiled at him. "Even if he isn’t your friend, he thinks very highly of you. That’s why he left you the bird."
Lalna nodded. “Okay…”
Lomadia put a hand on his shoulder. “I’m not mad at you, okay? I was just worried about Xephos. Come on, help me gather the others.”
~.~.~
The hunt had proven unsuccessful so far, Lalna didn’t even know where to start looking. Lomadia and the others had gone to search the park, but he’d opted to search by himself, knowing the streets around here better than the rest of them.
He was ready to give up; Xephos did not want to be found. But quiet mewing, one meow he recognized as Xephos’ own, could be heard, and Lalna ran as fast as his little legs would carry him. He stopped as he reached an alleyway, and poked his face around the corner to see.
Xephos was surrounded by kittens, mewing hungrily at the male. The bird that Xephos had killed before lay before them, and when Xephos nudged it, the kittens dug into the carcass.
Lalna thought about just leaving him, because he looked so peaceful, but he knew he just couldn’t. So, being quiet, he stalked into the alleyway. “Xephos?”
From the brunette came a long, winded hiss. “Go away, Lalbutt.”
"Look, I’m sorry I didn’t accept your gift." Lalna shuffled his feet. "I just didn’t know what it was for."
Xephos’ hostile demeanor quickly changed, and be purred a bit. “I guess it’s okay. I mean, you’re not a kitty anyway…”
Lalna smiled. “Will you come home then, Xephy? Lomadia and the others are still looking for you, and they miss you.”
Xeph looked from the cats to Lalna for a second, and then nodded. “Okay. Let’s go home.” After meowing something to the kittens, he lept up and chased after Lalna, who was already racing him home.
