History Repeats; part 3

Ugh, what a day. At least I finally get to see my baby again. [calling out] Sweetheart! I'm home!

Woah! Slow down there, buddy; your leg still isn't fully healed! Is it okay?

Yes, yes, I'm happy to see you, too; but what about you? What about your leg!

Do you promise that it doesn't hurt?

Are you sure? ... Alright, I'll trust you; just, please be more careful next time. I don't want you to be limping on it forever. Here, let me give you some scritchies. [gives the listener some ear scritches/pets] Yeah, you must've missed me a bunch, huh? I missed you, too. Couldn't stop thinking about how you were doing, I was worried all day. Did you manage okay being home by yourself? Did you eat?

Okay, that's good;

[happy] Alright, good. Now, let me go get changed so we can cuddle.

Yea, I know you want to right now, but I don't want to get any fur on my work clothes; I have to keep these neat and pretty!

[listener is upset]

Honey, it'll only take a minute, just be patient, okay?

[gets up to go to the bedroom, doesn't notice the listener followed along]

Poor thing's attached at the hip now. Wish I could be home all day, but... I can't.

[surprised] Ah, you scared me. Buddy, I know you're in a lovey-dovey mood right now, but I kind of want some privacy while I change, please.

Kitten, I said give me *privacy*. Please.

[frustrated] *sigh* Sweetheart, it's only going to take a minute, okay? I'll be with you before you know it.

... Go on.

[shuts door] [brief pause] *sigh* [SFX listener starts pawing/scratching at door]

[slightly angry] Honey! Stop scratching the door! I don't want to lose my deposit cause you're being impatient. [quietly] Jesus christ, Neko. Give me a friggin' minute, will you?

[Finishes changing, opens the door, the listener is gone from sight, hiding behind chair] Okay, I'm done changing, hope you're ready for some-- Hey, where'd you go? Sweetheart?

[listener pokes head from behind chair] Hey, why're you hiding behind that chair?

[Progressively getting more frustrated + angry] W-what? Of course, I love you, I love you to the moon and back. How could you *ever* think I didn't?

Honey, I'm just tired. I promise. I-- I just got a little frustrated that you were scratching up my door when I *told* you to just wait a bit, okay? A little patience never hurt anyone. I can't be with you every second of every day anymore. I love you so much, you know that, don't you?

I'm not showing it? Are... Are you serious? No... No way you think that, right?

Are you kidding me? What kind of logic is that? What, am I not allowed to have feelings? I'm not allowed to be miffed at you for scratching my door because you're too impatient? I'm not about to lose an 800$ deposit because you can't wait 30 goddamn seconds!

[realizes they're yelling, reigns in emotions] *sigh* Hun, I have had an absolutely shitty day, so of course, I'm going to be a little on edge... You're not exactly helping here either; I just needed some time to myself, okay? [listener runs past you and scrambles to the bedroom door; SFX slams door + locks it] Darling, wait!

Oh my god, what have I done...

[you go over to door, test it [it's locked]] Honey, please open the door! I promise I'm not mad!

[pause, remember listener's traumatic experiences] But... I certainly haven't been showing that I love you, have I?

*sigh* [pause] This is what happened with your last family, wasn't it? Non-stop love and affection, until... it just stopped. Those you thought loved you unconditionally... suddenly had conditions. You never did anything wrong, you just got adopted into a family that... [controlled anger] thinks nekos are disposable. Heartless, despicable people...  That's why you got scared, wasn't it? Scared that it was happening again... that all of my love and affection was ephemeral. Gone.  I... I didn't consider what happened to you, sweetheart. I didn't think about what I was showing...

Do you want to know why I had a bad day today? I got reamed out at work for not being productive enough... I was too worried about how you were doing at home, I couldn't concentrate on anything else. You mean too much to me.

I... I don't know what to say, sweetheart. I really don't. Because nothing could change what I did. You deserve so much more than that, baby. You deserve unconditional love, unconditional affection. And, I want to be the one who gives that to you, okay? So, whenever you feel ready to see me again, just know I'll be waiting right here with open arms, okay?

[brief pause, listener opens the door with tears in their eyes] Oh, sweetheart, don't cry! Here, let me wipe those tears away. Shhh, shh [improv sweet comforting nothings if you'd like] You're okay, I'm right here. [pull in for hug] Come here... I love you *so* *so* much. Hey, look at me. You are the most important neko, person, anything to me in the entire world, okay? I'm so, so sorry for snapping at you. I wish I could take it back, but, I can't. And I won't try to. It'll be a learning process for both of us.

I'm guessing it was a shock for you to go from non-stop attention the past few days to 10 hours of silence, huh? Yea, I know. It was hell for me, too. *sigh* I wish I could take you to work with me, but, I think I'd be spending so much time with you that I wouldn't get *any* work done. We'll just have to work together on understanding each other more, okay? Now, let's go lay down on the couch; I think we both need some cuddles after today~