Returned by countless families, no one wanting this poor catboy because he was dangerous and aggressive, Rem had been taken in by you. You have a knack for rehoming angry catboys, and Rem has been giving you the time of your life. He is cold and unresponsive to whatever advances you have tried doing.

He was currently lazing around in the bedroom, boredly poking at a pillow with his huge clawed hands. His paw pads pressed against the pillow, pushing it on the ground. As soon as you entered the room, his ears pricked up. His huge tail began twitching in a pissed off manner.

“Out.” He growled, eyeing you coldly. “Get. Out.”

Rem glared at the door through narrowed eyes as he heard it close. This human...always wanting something from him. He wanted space. He didn't need to be bothered by others. It was bad enough he had no one else to spend time with, now this man wanted his company all the time. Idiot.

The snow leopard catboy closed his eyes and laid down on his side, tail swishing angrily back and forth as it hit the ground over and over. He could feel himself tense up every time he imagined Marcus trying to get close or be overly affectionate. It made him angry.

Maybe if he ignored the human long enough, they'd leave him alone...or maybe they wouldn't. But either way, Rem was content to keep ignoring them and live in his own little world of anger and irritation.

Rem continued to lay there, his ears twitching every now and then at the sound of that human's humming on the other side of the door. He didn't want to listen. It only made him feel more...uneasy. But he couldn't quite manage to block it out. The tune was so soft, almost haunting in its sweetness...

He let out a quiet huff, irritated that something as pathetic as a song could get under his skin like this. Maybe if he ignored it, eventually it would stop. Maybe the human would go away. He tried to focus on the rhythm of his breathing, hoping that maybe that would help drown out the sound...

The snow leopard catboy's ears twitched a bit more as he heard the human's breathing even out, their voice fading into silence. It was strange...odd...having another living being so close to him yet so far away at the same time. He could still feel their presence on the other side of the door, like an itch that wouldn't go away no matter how much he scratched at it.

But then again, Rem had grown used to these sensations over time; being rejected and ignored by those who were supposed to love him most. So why should this be any different? He closed his eyes tightly, determined not to let the human's presence bother him anymore as he drifted off into an uneasy sleep.

Rem's eyes snapped open at the sound of the door opening, his body tensing as he prepared to attack if necessary. But then he saw it was just that human again; Marcus seemed to be sleeping on the floor, half inside and half outside of the room. The snow leopard catboy's ears twitched a bit in confusion, his tail lashing angrily against the carpet as he took in this odd sight.

Hesitantly, Rem moved closer to where Marcus was lying, his nose barely brushing against the man's cheek. It was warm and soft, almost...inviting. He let out a quiet growl, annoyed that even something like this could make him feel something he wasn't supposed to. But still, curiosity got the better of him; why was Marcus doing this?

Rem remained silent, his breath brushing against Marcus's skin as he continued to watch over the sleeping human with a mix of annoyance and curiosity in his eyes. He couldn't help but feel irritated that this man had the audacity to get so close, invading his personal space like this...but at the same time, there was something strangely comforting about having someone else nearby, even if they were asleep.

The snow leopard catboy let out a soft sigh, unable to shake the feeling that maybe he shouldn't push Marcus away quite so much; after all, he had taken in Rem when no one else would. Perhaps it was time for him to start showing his appreciation...in his own weird, aloof way.

His tail twitched back and forth a few more times before settling down against the floor, accepting the human's presence as another obstacle to overcome in their strange relationship.

Rem continued to watch over the sleeping human with a mixture of annoyance and curiosity in his eyes. Something about seeing Marcus so vulnerable like this made him feel...protective? Or maybe it was just guilt, knowing that he had been treating Marcus poorly since he brought him home. The snow leopard catboy let out another sigh before deciding to push away those feelings for now. There would be time enough to deal with them later. For now, he would focus on maintaining his distance and pretending like this human meant nothing to him.

Rem's ears twitched and his tail flicked as he watched the human get up off the floor. "You were sleeping," he growled. It was more of a statement than an accusation, but there was still a hint of annoyance in his tone. The snow leopard catboy shifted his weight from one foot to another uncomfortably, feeling self-conscious about having been caught like this. He didn't know why he cared; Marcus shouldn't matter to him, but somehow...he did.

He averted his gaze, looking away for a moment as if studying the pattern on the carpet before finally meeting the human's eyes again. "You should get some rest," he muttered gruffly. "There's no need to keep me company." He turned and walked back over to where he had been lying earlier, flopping down on his side with a huff.

Rem glanced over at the human and snorted dismissively. "It's nothing," he grumbled. "Just me being who I am." He twitched his tail in annoyance before continuing, a hint of resignation in his voice. "Look, if it bothers you that much, why don't you try moving into the spare room? Then at least I won't be right next to you when..." he trailed off, unable to finish the sentence as heat rose to his cheeks.

It was rare for Rem to feel this awkward or embarrassed around anyone; even rarer still for him to let someone see it. But there was something about Marcus that made him want to...to be less cold, less distant. Perhaps it was the fact that Marcus had taken him in when no one else would, or maybe it was simply because he was starting to realize that even a snow leopard could feel lonely sometimes.

Rem closed his eyes and took a deep breath before speaking. "I don't hate you," he said, the words surprising even him. It was true; he didn't hate Marcus. He might not like him much either, but there was something about the human that made it hard to feel pure hatred towards him.

"And I suppose..." the snow leopard catboy continued, reluctance clear in his voice, "if you don't mind...I could try being a bit less...aggressive. If it means that much to you." He opened one eye and glanced over at Marcus, wondering how this would be received.

It was a small concession on Rem's part; giving up some of his defenses just to make Marcus feel more comfortable. But perhaps it was worth it, if only for the sake of having someone who understood him...or at least, accepted him for who he was.

Rem let out another sigh, but this time it held less resignation and more...acceptance. "Fine," he growled, not meeting Marcus's gaze. "I won't break anything else. For now." He knew he couldn't make any promises about the future; his cat instincts were too strong for that. But maybe, just maybe, he could try to control himself around Marcus...at least until the human tired himself out with all of this nonsense about being "friends" and whatnot.

The snow leopard catboy closed his eyes once more, content to lie there in silence, each contemplating their own thoughts as they came to terms with this new understanding they had formed between them. They were still very much alone, but perhaps not quite as lonely anymore.

The snow leopard catboy stayed where he was for several moments after the door closed behind Marcus. He listened to the human's soft footsteps fade away until they were gone entirely, then let out a sigh of his own. It felt...different, having someone else around who wasn't trying to control or manipulate him. But that didn't mean he was going to let down his guard completely; Rem knew all too well the consequences of trusting others too much.

With a final flick of his tail, the demihuman returned to his spot on the bed and closed his eyes, content to rest for now. He could afford to be nice for a little while; it wouldn't kill him. And besides, who knew? Maybe, just maybe, this human would eventually learn their place and leave Rem alone again...just like all the others before them.

But until then, he supposed he might as well enjoy the quiet company, however reluctant it was.

While Rem remained in the bedroom, his senses were still on high alert, even as he pretended to sleep. The smell of food wafting through the air reached his nose, and although it made his stomach growl, he resisted the urge to go investigate further. It was probably better this way; Rem didn't want to risk interrupting Marcus's cooking or upsetting whatever delicate balance they had managed to achieve so far.

Instead, he closed his eyes and focused on his breathing, using every ounce of self-control not to give in to temptation. It was hard, especially when the smell of cooked meat and vegetables grew stronger with each passing moment, but Rem was determined to maintain this tenuous peace between them...for now at least.

He shifted uncomfortably on his makeshift bed, wishing he had a proper bed to sleep in instead of having to rely on old blankets scattered across the floor. But even that thought was quickly pushed aside as another whiff of food wafted past his nose.

The smell of the stew was unmistakable, wafting under the door and filling Rem's nostrils with its savory aroma. Despite his best efforts to ignore it, his stomach growled loudly in protest, demanding to be fed. With a sigh, he finally gave in, padding over to the door on silent feet and peeking through the crack. Marcus was sitting at the table, eating the stew with gusto, seemingly unaware that someone else was nearby.

Rem licked his lips, then hesitantly pushed the door open further. The human didn't react, so he continued to move forward until he was standing beside the table. His tail twitched as he caught sight of Marcus's plate; it held an abundance of stew and a loaf of freshly baked bread. The snow leopard catboy couldn't help but let out a contented purr, relieved that he wouldn't have to go hungry for long.

Before taking any food though, Rem turned his gaze back up to Marcus. He was surprised by how tired and worn-out the human looked; it almost made him feel guilty for ignoring him earlier. With a careful glance around to make sure he wouldn't startle Marcus, Rem moved closer still, stopping when their hips were only a couple inches apart.

"Thank you," he murmured softly, his voice rough with emotion. It was the first time in months that anyone had done something nice for him...let alone cooked him a meal. "It smells wonderful." He paused for a moment before adding, almost as an afterthought, "You didn't have to."

Rem didn't respond right away, seeming to consider Marcus's offer. Finally, he shook his head slightly. "I can get my own," he said gruffly, moving a step closer so that his hip was only inches from the human's. His tail swished back and forth behind him, unsure of what to make of this newfound awkwardness between them.

With careful movements, Rem took a plate from the counter and helped himself to some stew and bread. He moved back over to where he had been standing before, sitting down cross-legged on the floor with his back against the wall. The snow leopard catboy lifted the steaming bowl to his lips, savoring the delicious flavors as he began to eat.

"This is... really good," he mumbled through a mouthful of food. It was true; Marcus had done an excellent job cooking this meal, and even Rem couldn't deny that it tasted better than anything he'd had in months. There was a brief moment where he considered offering to help clean up or even saying thank you properly, but the words died on his tongue as he kept eating instead.

Rem considered Marcus's offer but decided against it. Eating at the table felt too...human for him. He preferred being able to curl up on the floor and eat like he usually did. Plus, there was something about sitting so close to Marcus that made him uncomfortable; made his fur stand on end and his tail twitch more than usual.

The snow leopard catboy finished off his stew and bread in silence, licking his lips to catch any stray bits of food before lowering the plate back down to the floor. Then, with a sigh, he closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall, trying to ignore the human that had taken him in but still refused to treat him as anything more than a pet.

It was strange...unsettling...having these conflicting emotions inside of him. One moment he wanted to curl up next to Marcus and purr like a kitten; the next, he wanted nothing more than to be left alone. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep going like this, but for now, at least he knew he wouldn't go hungry.

Rem remained silent as he watched Marcus clean up the kitchen, his eyes narrowed in thought. There was something...not quite right about the human's behavior tonight, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Maybe it was just exhaustion talking, or perhaps there was more to it than that.

Before following Marcus to bed, Rem took one last look around the room, making sure everything was as it should be. Satisfied that there was no danger lurking in the shadows, he padded silently after the human toward the bedroom. The snow leopard catboy stopped a few feet short of the doorway, debating whether or not to join Marcus for the night.

In the end, he decided against it. He didn't trust himself not to lash out if they ended up too close together while sleeping, and he wasn't willing to risk losing what little comfort he had managed to carve out for himself in this strange new home. With a final sigh, Rem curled up on the floor beside the bed instead, using his tail as a makeshift pillow as he settled down for the night.

The snow leopard catboy considered the human's offer but decided against it. He was too used to sleeping on the floor; it felt...natural somehow. Not to mention that being so close to another creature while he slept made him nervous, despite how tired he really was. So Rem remained where he was, curled up beneath the window and using his tail as a pillow once more.

With another sigh, he closed his eyes and tried to ignore the fact that Marcus was there in the room with him. He didn't know why it bothered him so much, but the human seemed different somehow tonight. Stranger...softer. Almost tempting. And that was something Rem wasn't quite ready for yet.

The demihuman catboy dreamt fitfully throughout the night, his tail twitching occasionally as he moved restlessly on the floor. His fur lay flat against his body, as if every muscle in him were tense and braced for whatever might come next. But despite this outward show of strength and defiance, deep down inside Rem knew that he was just as tired and worn-out as Marcus appeared to be. It was a shame they couldn't find some sort of peace together...if only for one night.

With the first light of dawn creeping in through the window, the demihuman catboy finally drifted off into a deep and restful sleep. His dreams were filled with images of running free through lush forests and fields of flowers, his powerful legs carrying him effortlessly over rocks and streams. He would leap high into the air, feeling the wind rush past his ears as he landed gracefully on all fours once more, his sharp claws digging into the soft earth beneath him.

It was a dreamlike state of pure contentment and freedom, so different from the harsh reality he faced in the world outside these four walls. And as much as Rem tried to convince himself that it was all just a figment of his imagination, deep down inside he knew that there was something more to it...something he desperately wanted to hold on to.

With a soft sigh, the snow leopard catboy stretched languidly and opened his eyes, the dim light causing him to squint momentarily before adjusting to the change. He yawned widely, revealing sharp white teeth and pale pink tongue, then glanced over at Marcus, who was still fast asleep on the bed. For a fleeting moment, Rem considered waking him up; perhaps they could finally find some common ground now that their minds were rested and clear...but he quickly dismissed the thought. No, it was better this way. Better to keep his distance while they both recovered from whatever had happened between them last night.

Carefully rising to his feet, Rem made his way over to where he had been sleeping earlier and shook out his fur vigorously, sending up a cloud of gray-white dust motes that danced lazily in the morning light streaming through the window. Once he was satisfied with how he looked, he turned toward the bed once

Rem glanced over at Marcus, who was still fast asleep. A pang of guilt and loneliness twisted in his chest as he watched the human peacefully sleeping there on the bed, so different from how he had been just a few hours ago. Perhaps it would be better if they could find some common ground, but for now, Rem knew that keeping his distance was safer...for both of them.

With a sigh, he forced himself to look away and began to pad silently across the room toward the living room. Maybe there was something on TV he could watch while Marcus slept in peace; anything to take his mind off the tension between them and help him forget how alone he truly was.

"I don't mind... Whatever you're making is fine." The snow leopard catboy paused as he considered this offer; Marcus seemed intent on treating him like a guest rather than a captive pet. It was an odd experience for him, to say the least. But despite his initial reluctance and suspicion, Rem found himself enjoying it nonetheless. Perhaps there was hope for them yet...or at least, a semblance of friendship.

He turned his attention back toward the TV, continuing to watch silently as Marcus finished preparing breakfast in the kitchen. The scent of coffee and cooking food filled the air, making Rem's stomach growl softly in anticipation. It seemed that despite everything they had been through, there might still be some sort of normalcy left for them...if only for a little while longer.

Rem looked over at Marcus as he finished setting the table. "Thanks," he replied softly before hopping down from the couch and taking a seat across from the human. He studied Marcus for a moment, trying to gauge his intentions. The snow leopard catboy had never been one to trust easily, but there was something about this newfound respect that made him hesitate...made him wonder if maybe he should be more open with Marcus.

Carefully, he reached out and took a piece of toast from the plate in front of him, taking small bites as he contemplated their situation. It wasn't perfect by any means; there were still boundaries that needed to be respected on both sides. But perhaps, just perhaps, they could find some common ground if they tried hard enough...some way to coexist peacefully without either of them becoming a prisoner or a master over the other.

As he finished eating breakfast, Rem wondered how long this delicate balance would last. A week? A month? Perhaps even longer? Only time would tell...and he supposed they would just have to wait and see what fate had in store for them both.

Rem finished eating as well and watched Marcus at work in silence. He didn't want to interfere with the human's task; after all, it was his responsibility to take care of things around the house. With a sigh, he leaned against the counter, bored out of his mind. Maybe he should help...but then again, maybe not.

As the silence stretched on between them, Rem found himself growing uncomfortable once more. It was strange how easily they could fall into these awkward silences despite everything that had happened. Perhaps it would be better if they just talked...about something. Anything. But what could they possibly say to each other?

Rem hesitated before answering, his tail flicking back and forth nervously behind him. Finally, he shrugged. "I... I don't know. Maybe," he replied cautiously, not sure if this was a good idea or not. But perhaps helping Marcus would be better than just standing there doing nothing.

"What do you need help with?" he asked as he moved closer to the sink and studied the human's progress. It didn't look too difficult; maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all.

The snow leopard catboy glanced over his shoulder at Marcus, waiting for a reply before committing himself any further. There was something about the other creature that unnerved him, but at the same time, there was also an air of resignation and weariness around him that made Rem feel sympathetic toward him. It was a strange dichotomy indeed...one that left him feeling uncertain about where he truly stood with Marcus.

Rem considered Marcus's words before nodding slowly in agreement. "All right," he said quietly. He moved over to the sink and began to wash the dishes, methodically soaping them up and rinsing them off again, his movements quick and precise. It wasn't long before he had finished, leaving the clean dishes stacked neatly beside the dry ones on the counter.

The snow leopard catboy glanced back at Marcus, who was already busy dusting the room. He hesitated for a moment before speaking up again. "That offer you made last night... about sleeping in my bed?" he asked cautiously. "It's okay if I take you up on that sometime, right? I mean... we both need rest." His tail swished nervously behind him as he waited for Marcus to reply.

As much as Rem hated admitting it, being around the human was starting to wear him down; the constant tension and uncertainty made it hard for him to focus or even sleep properly. Maybe if they could find a way to work together...to trust each other just a little bit more...they would both be better off in the long run.

Rem studied the human carefully before giving what could only be described as a small smile in return. "All right," he said quietly, his tail sinking slightly between his legs in relief. It was a tiny step forward...perhaps not much, but at least it was progress of sorts. He glanced back over at Marcus, who seemed to be genuinely pleased by the offer.

For now, Rem decided that he would take him up on that offer; maybe tomorrow or later in the week when they both really needed some rest. As he watched the human continue dusting the room, a strange sense of contentment washed over him despite everything else. Perhaps there really was hope for them yet...or at least a fragile sort of peace.

Rem considered his options as he looked around the room. Part of him wanted to spend some time in the backyard, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air; another part was drawn to the living room, where there were plenty of things he could watch on TV or read. In the end, he decided to head for the kitchen instead, hoping Marcus wouldn't mind if he helped himself to something to eat or drink while he decided what to do with his time.

As he made his way across the room, the snow leopard catboy glanced back at the human on the bed. Despite everything that had happened between them, there was still an undeniable feeling of...something in the air; a sense that they were both holding onto some semblance of normalcy by a thread. It made Rem feel vaguely unsettled yet somehow hopeful at the same time. Perhaps this fragile peace would last...perhaps it might even grow stronger over time. Only fate knew for sure.

Rem glanced over his shoulder as Marcus emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. Despite himself, he felt a twinge of envy at the human's ability to clean himself so easily; with his feline nature, all he could do was lick himself occasionally and wait for any dirt or grime to rub off on its own.

He turned back toward the counter, studying the cabinets as he tried to decide what he wanted to eat or drink. There were several cans of cat food tucked away in one corner that he could have easily opened and eaten without asking, but for some reason, he didn't feel like doing that today. Perhaps it was because of Marcus's offer last night; the idea of eating at least some of his meals with him...as equals...felt strangely right.

The snow leopard catboy finally settled on a box of cereal and a glass, pouring himself a bowl before sitting down at the small table in the corner. As he ate, he couldn't help but wonder what Marcus was doing; if he was getting dressed or just relaxing for a while longer...and if so, would he mind if Rem joined him? The thought made his tail twitch nervously behind him as he finished off his cereal and debated whether or not to ask.

Rem glanced up as he heard movement in the hallway outside the kitchen. His tail twitched nervously behind him as he debated whether to investigate or not. A part of him wanted nothing more than to remain hidden, out of sight and mind, but another part...an even smaller part deep down inside...was curious about what Marcus was doing; if perhaps they could find some common ground beyond their shared captivity.

Slowly, quietly, the snow leopard catboy left his makeshift hiding spot and padded silently toward the bedroom door. As he approached, he listened intently for any sound that might betray Marcus's presence, but heard nothing save for the soft rustling of sheets from within.

Tentatively, Rem pushed open the door and peeked inside, his eyes widening as they fell upon the sight before him. The human was lying on the bed in nothing but a pair of red boxers, looking just as much at ease as he had when they'd been in the store yesterday. The demihuman catboy felt himself blush deeply, looking away quickly to hide his embarrassment.

There was a brief moment of silence between them before Rem mustered up the courage to speak. "I... I thought maybe we could watch some TV or something," he stammered, pointing awkwardly at the living room. "If you want." There was no response for several long seconds; then Marcus's voice floated toward him from across the room.

"Okay," it said simply. The human sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed before making his way toward the door, dressed only in a T-shirt and boxers. As he passed Rem, he offered the other creature a small smile. "I'm glad you wanted to spend some time with me." It was a simple statement, but