Far Too Familiar

Hisoka was in no position to refuse another visit from Canarian. His nephew needed to confer with him on several points, ostensibly because he was filling in as acting Spokesperson while Hisoka was on sabbatical. His text had mentioned a summit, several constitutional amendments, and upcoming Dichotomy Day appearances. He hadn’t mentioned bringing along Catalan. The snoop.

Cat was barely through the door when he spied Rhomiko. “So it’s true? Our perpetually solitary uncle is a bachelor no longer? But look at you! What is this luster? Canary spoke of shine, but … ah, you are exquisite!”

Hisoka shot a look at Canarian.

His nephew shrugged. “I can understand wanting to keep them to yourself, but that isn’t our way. Rhomiko is yours, and that makes us kin.”

“Yes, let us dote.” And showing his hands to Rhomiko, Cat begged, “May I touch?”

Rhomiko stepped lightly into the jaguar clansman’s embrace, expression going blissful the moment Cat began to purr.

“I think you’re misunderstanding …!” Hisoka protested.

Cat went right on, speaking to Rhomiko. “You are his, yes? And he is yours? What could be simpler?”

“Hisoka has not decided what he wants.” And a softer confession. “My kisses fade.”

“Say it isn’t so! What kind of fool flees from an imp’s regard?”

Canarian mildly posed, “Someone who doesn’t value himself enough? Really, uncle, when did you last sleep? You’re woefully depleted.”

He may have hissed. A little. But Cat was being far too familiar, and Rhomiko had no context for feline courtesies. Perhaps worse, Rhomiko was being entirely too candid.

They said, “Once he decides, I will know.”

Catalan’s next glance cut. “Leaving your partner in suspense of your intentions? That is easily as despicable as leaving such lovely hair in this state. For shame. I need scissors!” And to Rhomiko, “Have you not yet seen the inside of a bathtub? Terrible manners. You must forgive Uncle’s rudeness. Here, now. Trust us. Cat and Canary will make things right.”

Hisoka knew he’d been remiss and slouched into an apologetic posture.

Canarian did give a mild warning to his partner. “Curiosity is natural, but don’t impose.”

“Where is the imposition?” Cat countered, nuzzling a glittering cheek. “We’re kindred, and with cats that means closeness. Come, Rho-Rho. I must even out your hair before Canarian washes it.”

Rho-Rho? Hisoka hissed anew at his nephew’s presumption, casually claiming an imp by bestowing a nickname.

Yet Rhomiko let it pass, seemingly more interested in something else. “Kindred …?”

“It’s true,” Cat assured. “If you are Uncle’s, then you are ours.”

“Close, but not closest,” interjected Canarian. “Stop trying to rile Uncle.”

Cat simply laughed, wholly unrepentant.

Canarian left Hisoka’s side to offer his own embrace. “I don’t show it as much as some of my brothers, but I also have an impish legacy. If the gossip is true, my father’s mother had a daring streak. She chased storms until she caught one, and so Petros was born. My father is very beautiful.”

Hisoka had known, of course. Himeko had chosen Petros for the unique coloring that was a quirk of his heritage. But Hisoka hadn’t thought to mention it to Rhomiko. Perhaps because he didn’t want to contemplate impish flings just now.

Cat came to Hisoka then, expression suddenly serious. He softly asked, “Why are you being shy about this? Rhomiko is an innocent, and you are a teacher at heart. Or do you need a go-between? Will I do?”

“This isn’t that kind of arrangement.”

“I can see that. Be plain. Are you struggling to adjust to this bond? Or are you truly rejecting it?”

Hisoka whispered, “I don’t know what to do.”

“You’re here, where no lady mistress can meddle, so you’re free to choose for yourself.” Cat pulled him into a loose embrace. “Is it not best to give Rhomiko that same freedom? Let me take them around, introduce them to those who consider this their home. There are other crossers. Other imps. You need not be Rhomiko’s whole world.”

“I wasn’t trying to impose restrictions.”

“Yet I don’t think they’ll leave your side unless you encourage it. Let them go, and they can come back to you with news of how their world is growing wider. Distance is the beginning of closeness.”

Felines loved paradoxes.

A push to pull.

A snub to snare.

A lie to trust.

Cat promised, “I’ll speak with Deece and his boys. They’ll keep watch for your sake. But for now, let us give proper welcome. Your charming imp should be pampered and purred over.”

Hisoka threw a rebellious thought at his nephews. “Why does everyone insist Rhomiko is mine?”

Canarian’s answering thought lilted with amusement. “Because they are not feline?”

That surprised Hisoka. And worried him enough to silently demand, “Why would that matter?”

Cat’s eyes sparkled. “Because you’re a tom. Rhomiko is the one who will rule over you.”

Hisoka protested aloud. “Rhomiko isn’t a lady mistress.”

“Neither is Canarian, and yet …!” Cat winked broadly. “What you see from the house rarely betrays what’s happening backstage. Spokesperson is a role you took on for all our sakes. A leader in the limelight. But the tom beneath the trappings? Ah, I can see it already. Our uncle will tremble in starlight, with living stone for his hearth.”