Lumine had just walked into her apartment, the soft click of the door behind her marking the end of another long day. Her feet ached, and her mind buzzed from the events of the dayâyet somehow, it all faded away as soon as she spotted the familiar, mischievous figure in the corner of her living room.
There, lying in his midnight fur cat form, was Scaramouche. His indigo eyes gleamed with a knowing, almost too intelligent look, and his tail flicked back and forth as if he was planning something.
Lumine sighed, already anticipating trouble. âWhat are you up to now, Kuni?â
Without waiting for an answer, she moved toward the couch, plopping down on the cushions. Scaramouche didnât protest, instead stretching his limbs before crawling into her lap with a soft purr. His warm, sleek form settled comfortably, and Lumine scratched behind his ears, the motion familiar and comforting.
As she absentmindedly scrolled through her phone, the door opened once more. Aetherâs voice cut through the silence. âIâm home.â
Lumineâs attention briefly flickered to her brother, but she didnât immediately respond, too absorbed in the moment with her cat. She could feel Scaramoucheâs content purr rumbling beneath her fingers, and for a moment, everything felt peaceful.
That was until Aetherâs eyes landed on the two of them. His gaze hardened, and an unspoken tension filled the room.
âWhatâs he doing here?â Aether asked, his voice barely concealing his frustration as he eyed Scaramouche, who was sprawled lazily in Lumineâs lap.
Lumine glanced up at him, a sigh escaping her lips. âAether, not now.â She knew exactly where this was headed and wasnât in the mood to entertain it.
But Aether wasnât backing down. With a stubborn glare, he took a step forward, attempting to scoop Scaramouche out of Lumineâs lap. âHeâs not welcome here. Not after what happened at school today.â
Scaramoucheâs eyes narrowed, and his tail flicked agitatedly as he hissed in warning. Lumine could practically see the catâs hackles rising.
Before Aether could react, Scaramouche swiftly lashed out, his claws scratching Aetherâs arm with a quick swipe.
âOw!â Aether yelped, pulling his arm back in surprise as he glared at the cat.
Lumine, unfazed, continued to gently scratch Scaramoucheâs ears, her fingers coaxing him into calming down. âKuni, stop it,â she muttered under her breath, the familiar pet name rolling off her tongue.
Scaramoucheâs sharp eyes met Aetherâs once more, still brimming with defiance. He wasnât going to back down easily, and Lumine knew that. With a deep breath, she shifted slightly, offering a small but firm look to her brother. âCan we just not do this right now?â
Aether gritted his teeth, frustration evident in his eyes as he stood with his arms crossed, his usual protective demeanor becoming more of a looming shadow. âHeâs always in your lap, Lumine. How am I supposed to feel about that?â
Lumine sighed, reaching down to gently nudge Scaramouche back into a more comfortable position. âHeâs not going anywhere, Aether. Just let him be.â
The room fell into a heavy silence, the tension between them thick. Aetherâs jaw tightened, but he finally relented, his gaze softening slightly.
âI donât like it,â he muttered, turning away and heading toward the kitchen.
Lumine didnât answer, instead focusing on the cat in her lap. Scaramouche, now content once more, let out a soft purr as he relaxed into her touch, eyes half-lidded in peacefulness.
Lumine couldnât help but smile at him. It wasnât easy, dealing with the constant tension between her brother and her âmischievousâ cat, but she wasnât about to pick sides. She just wanted peaceâand right now, it felt like she might actually get it.
As the silence stretched, Lumine allowed herself to lean back on the couch, the stress of the day easing away. Aetherâs footsteps could be heard in the kitchen, the clinking of pots and pans reminding her that, despite the chaos of their relationships, things could still return to some semblance of normal.
And for now, that was enough.