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It is not the usual sounds of birds coming in through the window that wakes him, but rather it is a little-too-plump cat diving right into his stomach.
Ashe groans as he sits up, his back protesting and his eyes not cooperating. That is, until a rough tongue starts licking at his cheek.
“Augh, your breath smells like fish!” Ashe laughs, scratching Brawler under his furry little chin.
Next to him, his bed partner stirs, mumbling about how he doesn’t eat fish. Ashe grins, watching Caspar’s nose twitch in his sleep. It is surreal, the pseudo idyllic life they’ve built here the last couple of weeks while helping the knights and rebuilding efforts, but it will be time to say goodbye soon.
It was time to leave Garreg Mach, time to move on from the war and find a new purpose. Still, that didn’t mean Ashe had to leave the bed right this instant. He settles down again, Brawler nestled in his arms and purring softly.
The next time he wakes, the space next to him is empty, but he knows he isn’t alone because he can hear Caspar making his usueal ruckus.
“Hey! Cats can’t have people-food,” Caspar says, voice disgruntled. Brawler only meows in reply. “Or maybe they can, but this is Caspar-food.”
He can’t help it, he really can’t. Ashe covers his mouth, but the laugh has already escaped. He can’t see it, but Ashe can imagine the pout on Caspar’s face by the indignant sound he makes.
“Hey, hey, Ashe, if you’re awake then help me fend off this wild beast!”
“Goodness, Cass,” Ashe says, as he sits up. He stretches his arms upward, relieved that he feels much less sore now. “You’re a war hero, but a cat is too much?”
Ashe pulls up his knees, resting his arms on them, it’s a fairly recent discovery, but he’s found that he enjoys teasing Caspar. A little voice inside him reminds him that he won’t be able to do it for much longer, but he elects to ignore it.
Caspar is sitting at the desk, cradling a bowl in one hand and using the other to try and wave off an insistent Brawler. “Ugh, seriously, I already fed you,” Caspar whines, before turning his attention to Ashe, “stop sitting there all cute and grab him for me.”
“Alright, calm down.” Ashe starts a slow process of pushing off the blankets and finding his pants from the night before. A process that would be easier if his pants were in the spot he left them. Try as he might, the only pair he can find belong to–
“Caspar, are you wearing my pants?”
Across the room, Caspar freezes with a piece of meat hanging half from his mouth. Ashe watches him, his lips twitching in an effort not to smile.
"And you think I'm the cute one," Ashe says, rocking back on his heels. He lets Caspar be, and plucks his pants from the floor.
It's only fair that he wears them, right? Ashe yanks them on and tries not to think about how weird it is that putting on Caspar's pants is making his heart pound a little.
"Uhm, Ashe?" Caspar asks, voice a little unsure.
Ashe tilts his head, unused to Caspar sounding anything less than the most enthusiastic person on the planet. "Yes?"
He looks up from tying the pants, satisfied that they won't fall from his hips. Similar in height as they are, Caspar is a bit bulkier so of course his pants would be a little loose on him.
But he doesn't dislike it.
"What's gonna happen to Brawler when we leave Garreg Mach? I hate to leave the poor little guy, but–I mean you're going to Fhirdiad, right? And I'm–well I don't know where I'm going. Somewhere too dangerous for cats though."
Ashe swallows, not sure he wants to talk about this right now. They both knew it was coming, but it doesn't make it less hard. He walks over and plucks Brawler up in his arms, who wriggles around annoyed until he frees himself from Ashe's grasp.
They both watch him crawl under the bed, having decided neither of them are that interesting at the moment.
"I don't know for sure if I'm going to Fhirdiad," Ashe replies. He leans on the desk, and reaches over Caspar's shoulder to pluck a small piece of meat for himself from the bowl. Caspar doesn't fuss like he did with Brawler.
Ashe can't help but wonder if it's because he isn't a cat, or if it's because he's Ashe and Caspar doesn't mind if it's him.
"I'll go to see my siblings first," he concludes.
Caspar makes a noise that Ashe can't decipher, so he pokes at Caspar's temple until he starts using words again.
"Seriously? Ugh." Caspar grabs his wrist; gentle as he did last night. Ashe curls his toes against the floor.
"They would probably like Brawler, right?" Caspar asks, looking at Ashe with a pout. "Your siblings."
Ashe bites his lip, worried about where this conversation is going. "Probably, kids like animals."
Caspar sets the bowl down and stands then, after a slight hesitation, brackets Ashe in with his arms. Like this, their breaths mingle, and Ashe can see the way the soft morning light catches in Caspar's hair.
He wants to run his hands through it. To lean in and kiss Caspar and forget all about having to leave, if only for a few more hours.
"Do you think your siblings would like me?"
In his short lifetime, Ashe has experienced much, but he doesn't think his heart has ever stopped before. He places his hands on Caspar's shoulders, spreading his fingers out. His skin feels warm, and Ashe can't imagine letting go of this.
"I suppose so," he says, grinning just a little, "I like you."
Caspar flushes and gently knocks his forehead into Ashe's.
"I know you like me, or you wouldn't yell my name like that at nighttime."
Caspar pulls away with a wicked grin on his face, and Ashe pinches his ear.
"Okay! Okay, sorry, gonna be serious Caspar now," he says, grabbing onto Ashe's wrist again.
"I hope so," Ashe says, with a disapproving frown. Though, he can't keep pretending to be upset when Caspar kisses his fingers.
"What if we leave the monastery together?" Caspar asks.
It was the most obvious solution. Instead of going their separate ways they could just… not.
It's not like Ashe didn't think of it himself, but he never truly thought of asking.
Maybe he was afraid.
Looking at Caspar now, he can tell he is a little afraid too.
Ashe surges forward, sealing their lips together and tangling his fingers in Caspar's hair like he's wanted to all morning.
Caspar presses back, kissing Ashe with intensity and pinning him against the desk. Their hips rock together and Ashe shudders and gasps.
"Ashe," Caspar mumbles against his neck between kisses, "I just wanna check but–"
"Yes," Ashe breathes. He kisses Caspar again until they're forced to pull away for air. "Stay with me."
Before their passion can ignite in earnest a sudden crash makes them jump apart. Ashe holds his chest and spots the culprit at the windowsill, looking pleased at knocking over a glass.
"We'll have to bring the cat, too."