๐๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ โ ๐๐ โ
๐ฑ๐พ๐๐๐พ๐ ๐ป๐ถ๐ธ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐ถ๐น๐๐
Vinnie warned you about Hera before you even met her.
โSheโs a princess. Just so you know.โ
Youโd laughed at the time, thinking he meant it in a cute way.
He didnโt.
He meant it in the โthis cat thinks she owns my soul and will actively try to ruin your lifeโ kind of way.
And he was right.
The first time you came over and sat on his couch, Hera jumped up behind you, stared at your head for a solid five seconds, and smacked your ponytail.
No hesitation. No fear.
Like, how dare you breathe near her couch and her man?
You turned around, blinking. โDid she justโฆ?โ
โSheโs just saying hi,โ Vinnie said casually, sitting beside you like this was normal.
Then Hera slinked across the back of the couch and sat behind Vinnieโs head, tail flicking, staring down at you like a queen assessing a peasant.
You tried to ignore it.
Until she started slowly pawing at his hoodie string. Then his hair. Then his shoulder.
You reached out to pet her.
She hissed.
At you.
Vinnie just smiled and said, โThatโs her love language.โ
It wasnโt.
After that, things got worse.
You werenโt allowed to cuddle him on the couch without Hera inserting herself literally, climbing onto Vinnieโs chest and wedging between your faces.
Youโd be mid-conversation, knees pulled up on his lap, and Hera would leap into the space, plop down, and curl up like you were the third wheel.
Sheโd purr only when you werenโt touching her.
Rub her face against Vinnieโs hand, then swipe at yours when you reached over.
Once, she pushed your phone off the coffee table while staring you dead in the eyes.
Another time, you woke up to her sitting on your stomach in the dark like a shadow demon. Just staring. No purrs. No blinking.
Vinnie, of course, didnโt believe the full extent of it.
โSheโs a sweetheart.โ
โShe clawed my sock off my foot.โ
โSheโs just playing.โ
โShe growled.โ
โSheโs expressive.โ
You narrowed your eyes. โYou raised a little villain.โ
โSheโs perfect.โ
He said it while petting her like the most precious being in the world. Hera purred and gave you a smug look like she knew sheโd won.
But then there were the cracks.
One night, you were half asleep on Vinnieโs chest while the two of you watched some late night anime rerun. Hera was curled up in her usual corner of the couch, giving you both the silent treatment.
You shifted, pulling the blanket up. Vinnie rubbed your back. You yawned, and his hand moved to your hair.
And Hera meowed.
Once.
Then again. Louder.
Vinnie looked over. โWhat?โ
She meowed a third time, then stood, stomped across the cushions, and planted herself directly between the two of you, purring aggressively while staring at him.
He blinked. โYouโre not serious.โ
She pushed her head into his chin.
You stared. โIs she trying toโฆ?โ
โShh. Sheโs asserting dominance.โ
You rolled your eyes. โOver me?โ
โShe says youโve gotten too comfortable.โ
Eventually, a truce formed.
You brought her a treat once those freeze dried chicken ones she apparently considered worthy of her time.
She ate it, then sat on your thigh for exactly six seconds.
That was the day she allowed you into the kingdom. Kind of.
Now, sheโll sometimes curl up at the foot of the bed when youโre over.
But only if she gets there first.
She still gives you side eye when you kiss Vinnie in the kitchen.
Still knocks your things off the counter occasionally.
Still positions herself directly in the middle of the bed like a fluffy little wall.
But now?
If you stretch out your hand slowlyโฆ she doesnโt hiss.
She might even brush her cheek against your knuckle.
And sometimes only when she thinks no oneโs watching she curls up near your hip and pretends sheโs just trying to get warm.
But Vinnie knows.
And he grins every time.
Because Hera might still act like youโre stealing her manโฆ
But even she canโt pretend you donโt belong here anymore.