Growing Tensions

Vinnie sat down and he watched him and the cards. When the seraph explained the game, it seemed simple enough. Gaspar at least didnt think it sounded too complicated. But the fact that he couldnt read or really understand letters and numbers would probably get in the way once they really began. He nodded as Vinnie showed the cards, though there was no way that he would remember all of them. But he remained positive and curious. “Fish.” He said, smiling a little as he said the word. He grabbed one of the cards and looked at it. He didnt remember what it was supposed to be. He however didnt want to seem dumb so he nodded.

They tried a couple of practice rounds but Gaspar couldnt remember what number was what. He ended up saying the wrong thing over and over until he showed the card, a little frustrated with himself. He definitely didnt enjoy go fish at all. His cheeks were burning as he felt warm with frustration as Vinnie called it quits. He didnt want to act out too much but he was quite clearly agitated. Vinnie apologized and he looked down at the cards in his hands. Was he just too stupid to understand? Did Vinnie like him less for this?
He felt the hand on his cheek and sniffled softly. He missed Hunter. But he was also so worried that Vinnie disliked him. The suggestion made him frown a little and he pulled from Vinnie’s hand, turning away from him, hugging his own legs a little as he scowled. It was a great suggestion but Gaspar was maybe a littoe too overwhelmed to look ahead than simply stay in this moment of dismay.

Gaspar remained as Vinnie got up. He just kept looking away, hugging his legs close. The card game had really reminded him that he wasnt good enough. He was a stupid cat that knew nothing. And he wanted to go back to being a cat again. He hadnt felt that feeling in a while. Vinnie’s mutter made him look at him. Just for a few seconds and then he looked away again. He didnt say anything but just sat there. Even as Vinnie pointed out how him and possibly Hunter might be feeling about all this as well. He felt something in his stomach. A bad feeling that really hurt. Sniffling he kept sitting there. Because it didnt occur to him that he could say something back or remove himself from the situation when it made him feel this way. No, he would just sit there and take it. Look miserable in the meantime as well. He was quiet for a while, before he finally said something. “Go out… I stay.” - because there was no way that he felt like going now. No, he felt like he wanted to hide away, forever if he could.

He heard the seraph close the window and move, but he hadnt expected to be confronted like Vinnie was when he grabbed his chin and forced his face upwards. The cat looked up at him with tears having built up in his eyes. He reached up to grab at his arms, lightly pulling at them. He wanted most of all to the comforted now, to not feel the gnawing feeling in his stomach that made his chest tense up. He didnt even know what he needed help with. Probably to not feel so stupid and useless.

He leaned towards the kiss, shivering a little from the feeling inside of him. The soothing mutter was nice and even better was the way Vinnie wrapped his arms around him and held him tight. It really did ground him as he found so much comfort in feeling closeness like that. His hands latched onto the seraph’s shirt. “Love…. Vinnie.” He whispered, hiding his face away in his chest. It took him a bit before he seemingly calmed down again and was ready to sit up. He looked up at Vinnie. “Still… g..o… out?”

“No… we- go.” He argued. He would just be mopey cat if they stuck around so it was better to go out. Who knew? Maybe he’d find some place that he liked. Or at least learn the area better. He got up and undid the sweatpants that he had stolen from the bedroom floor. He couldnt walk around outside in those. They were far too long. He instead went to go and find his own pants. Which essentially was some long denim shorts that Vinnie had given him. The legs felt a little loose but Gaspar didnt like constricting clothing anyway. Underwear was the hardest, especially the tags. Once he was dressed, he went ahead to also grab a hoodie from the closet, just in case it was cold.

Once Vinnie was ready they moved outside. Gaspar had forgotten how loud the streets could be with turmoil and the mixtures of everyone’s daily life. He was happy that Vinnie took his hand, looking at him with soft eyes. Then they moved down the street and Gaspar looked up into the sky, frowning and squinting his eyes at the sun. But he didnt stare for too long, because that hurt. Instead he looked around, at the things they were passing. He was especially interested in the most peculiar things like a paper fan with a bird on top on a spring that waved around in the light wind. Or someone who had a cage with birds hanging out their window. It was weird to see birds in a cage when he had seen so many be free.

Eventually they got away from the resident area and he looked ahead to see a playground and what seemed to be some big holes in the ground that people used with a skateboard like Vinnie had but others had cool shoes with wheels! Gaspar looked curiously at one girl that had some really bright all around blue ones! She caught his stare and chuckled lightly as she waved at them. Gaspar shyly looked away, towards the playground where kids were on swings and other odd things. There was a lot of information for the cat to process here.

Vinnie spoke to his friends and Gaspar just minded his own business, though it did feel a little weird to notice how Vinnie was just completely absorbed by talking to his friends that he didnt pay attention to him any longer. Though instead of being upset, he just went around and looked, taking in the world at his own pace. That was until he saw a face he recognized. Narrowing his eyes, he moved closer, a little carefully. She was reading a book. He couldnt believe that it was her. Once he got out on the grass not long from her, he just sat down and looked at her with his yellow eyes, looking at the book too but he couldnt read so he quickly turned his eyes back up to look at her. She at least didnt have any bruises, it seemed.