CH 9.2

Bai Yao has two bedrooms in his living area, and he sleeps in the master bedroom. The guest bedroom was once used by someone else, but he has been gone from Bai Yao’s life after leaving behind some extremely unpleasant memories.

In fact, he was so angry then he kicked the bed inside right out onto the first floor. Now, it has mostly become an unused storeroom. He hasn’t opened it in quite a while.

He hasn’t extra rooms, and the living room is ill-equipped for someone to sleep. Bai Yao thus tidies up a little corner in the guest bedroom, and lays some mattress down for a little cozy corner.

After that, Bai Yao falls into thought for a moment.

Do sea otters need pillows?

Oh well, he doesn’t have spares either.

After tidying up everything, he shuts the lights and lets the sea otter in, “make do with this today. We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”

The little sea otter is waiting right behind him, and first takes a tentative step, smelling the air carefully, and pats his paws on the ground, before running for the mattress Bai Yao laid, his hind webbed feet making ‘plop’ ‘plop’ noises along the way.

Bai Yao watches it roll around in the blankets, stretching and lying down comfortably, and can’t help but wonder again.

He… he really behaves quite like a wild animal.

“Listen up, no sneaking downstairs to eat. No turning into a human when I can’t see. I see a naked stranger wandering around my house, I’ll kick him flying off into the sky. Don’t make any noise, because I’m going to sleep. You’ll leave tomorrow,” Bai Yao pauses, “got it?”

The little sea otter is still lying there, looking at him, with the blanket hanging on his head, motionless.

What, too many words and his brain’s crashed?

“Nod if you understand.”

A few seconds later, the little sea otter quickly moves his head up and down, his whiskers twitching in turn.

Bai Yao, satisfied, closes the door and yawns as he returns to his own room. He left quite quickly, preoccupied with going to bed and sleep, and does not see the little sea otter looking lost and frightened when he is gone.

Having finally settled the sea otter in bed, Bai Yao quickly showers and goes into bed. As he does, he recalls how strange this day have been.

He shuts the lights, exhausted, and almost falls asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

A few hours later, he mumbles and half wakes up. Glancing around, the sky is still dark outside. The clock on his bedside reads 2:30 in the morning.

There is something warm in his hand. Bai Yao moves a little, and is certain there is something heavy and soft on his blanket.

He looks, and finds the little sea otter there. His little paws are stuffed into Bai Yao’s hand on the blanket. The entire sea otter has rolled up into a ball, and the paw that isn’t holding Bai Yao’s hand is covering his own eyes. He’s sound asleep.

Bai Yao, in contrast, goes almost wide awake, and starts retracting his hand. The little sea otter seems to feel it, though, whimpering in his sleep, desperately tugging at the hand, ensuring his paw is within Bai Yao’s palm at all times.

Bai Yao finds himself really displeased to have something foreign on his bed, which is probably due to the territorial instincts of snow leopards. His bed is his, and no one else, not even pets, should be on there. He feels like kicking the otter right off his bed.

He ‘tch’s, and thinks about waking the sea otter up, but after watching for half a quiet minute, he decides against it.

Since the little dumb otter is sound asleep, Bai Yao can rub his face all he wants. Finally, he did what he couldn’t do during the day.

It’s softer than he thought it would be. He has cleaned his fur thoroughly, so it’s smooth and comfortable to touch. The little sea otter’s eyelids are moving a little, but he doesn’t wake up. Instead, he curls himself up a little tighter, while brushing his head against Bai Yao’s fingers.

Bai Yao’s mouth turns to a smile. He only lets go after rubbing it some more.

Sure is looking cute over here.

After the face, Bai Yao then runs his hand across the little buttocks. They feel bouncy, and even better to touch than his face.

In case one hasn’t noticed yet, Bai Yao has quite the cheeky side to him.

It’d be weirder if the sea otter doesn’t wake up by this point; his paw moves away from his eyes, as he blinks awake. His face is still resting by Bai Yao’s palm, and Bai Yao squeezes him on the head a little. The sea otter brushes him while still drowsy.

Bai Yao chuckles, and waits for him to wake up completely.

Finally, the little sea otter makes a squeak, and rolls around. He turns his head about, seemingly unsure of where he is.

Then he finally locks eyes with Bai Yao, and blanks out for a moment. Then, looking a little frightened – of being chased away, he nudges closer towards him, nestling his face right on Bai Yao’s chest.

“Oh? I thought you were a tough little guy that didn’t like petting?” Bai Yao speaks, his voice a little more gravelly as drowsiness hits him once more, “so I can touchy now?”