Dens

Stuffed happily inside the cupboard, Tay purred away as he curled up face towards the back of the wall. When not scared and running from a strange young kid that wanted to touch him it was a nice cupboard. Dark, warm, and deep enough where Eirwen could fit in it if she flattened herself out a little. She was currently serving as a pillow while Cypress snoozed in front of his face, enjoying the warm breaths from the rider as Tay’s ears twitched.

He was thankful the shelves were very sturdy stone, it made them colder but that meant he had little worries about the shelf collapsing, a good thing as there was a smaller shelf under them where pots and pans were kept. A long with a few metal lids and utensils that weren’t used as much and as such weren’t dangling from where most of the important utensils were kept.

“Tay, it’s getting early. We should probably head off before they get up.” Drake told the strange abyss creature, tugging at his body as Tay just rolled over so now his back was up against the wall and his face towards the door.

“Just a few more minutes, I’m tired.” He mumbled, having a longer night last night where he stayed with Jhin and let the dragons play. A long enough night that got a few gay comments from Drake who loved to see tha tligh tblush that crept across the rider’s face.

“No, the sun is starting to rise. That’s usually when they get up.”

“Eh, I think it’s fine.” Tay told the cloak sleepily, using his hands to cover his eyes as the bird dragons continued to snooze away. His ears twitching as some of the griffins were starting to wake, but thought nothing of it at all.

Hearing those tired waking calls from the griffons outside, Jhin tended to rise up with them when the sun decided it was time to wake. Neither birds nor vampires were used to sleeping during the daylight hours. Early to bed, early to rise the monks had taught, breaking more of those stereotypical habits out of the child halfling. Yawning, he slowly stretched as he sat up, those awake switches flipping on one at a time. It never took him long to become fully awake, shaking his light head of hair into a slightly more organized mess with a little finger combing.

Zelos prefered roll around in his own, nicer bed than the mat Jhin slept on on the floor for an extra ten minutes. Easily giving in to his dragon, they had their own room that was off to the side with a full king size all to themselves. A little spoiled, but as long as they were comfortable.

Getting up to wrap himself in a towel, Jhin liked to start off the mornings with a hot bath like in the monastery. Walking down the bare halls that were kept modest in nature. It was a fairly empty home despite how large it was, but he had cleaned it up nicely. Brushed out the rubble, repaired the roof, stabilized the terrace, and dusted... pretty much everything.

After doing his rolling and grumbling into the world of the living, Zelos's day started off by going straight to the kitchen instead. His rider didn't technically need to eat, but they always gave off that happy vibe eating his food so he figured it was worth it. Little did he know, there was a surprising waiting for him in that kitchen today. Looking around for a little used utensil, he thought he'd make something special considering how late Jhin had stayed up the other night with his friend. Then. Pulling open the cupboard door, he found himself face to face with a lot of fluff and feathers. "What the hell are you doing??"

Snoozing even as Drake tried to tug on him, the cloak huffed and laid back down. Accepting he couldn’t get the other to move even if people were obviously waking up if he was too tired. This wasn’t usually a issue as they slept in a cave but noooooo, the gay Tay wanted to sleep sort of near Jhin. Cause he miiiiiiiiissed him.

Starting to wake up a little, Cypress blinked open his eyes as he looked at Eirwen, who he tugged on until she managed to make a full turn around to rub her beak against the very small male who woke up first. She was a bit more tired, so she closed her eyes again to rest with her rider who was still using her feather fluff as a pillow.

“No, not yet you two. Still tired.” He mumbled, clinging more to the dam who was more than happy to give into his request of sleep.

“Tay, Jhin is up. Come ooooon.” Drake protested but nope, it was sleep time.

As the door was suddenly flung open, Eirwen suddenly started screeching as did Cypress. Waking Tay right up who stared as Zelos with big eyes as he curled up against the back.

“S-sleeping?”

Jumping at the sudden screeching cupboard residents, Zelos felt his heart skip more than just one beat. Geezus those birds were loud. Tay seemed just as surprised to see him there, which this was sort of their house, why wouldn't he be expected? Pausing for a moment, he got his composure back while slowly drawing in a breath. "Uh huh. In our cupboards?"

Not use to much morning excitement, especially so far out of society's way, Jhin dropped his sudden task of washing. Leaving the steamy water behind, he hurried to his dragon's side, taking the shortcut through the living room in all his glory to nearly lip on the freshly cleaned panels when he entered the kitchen. "Zelos what happ-!?" Blinking at the dragon kneeling next to the cupboards, he looked perfectly fine... while chatting with a certain abyss friend? "Tay! I didn't know you were coming to visit again so early! Zelos didn't stuff you in the cupboard did he??"

While Jhin was perfectly comfortable standing there in his birthday suit, the wind dragon was more concerned with them dripping all over the place. "Did you run all the way here from the bath!? You're getting water everywhere! You better plan on cleaning all that up!" Flinching, the monk looked down to see the steadily growing pool of water, chuckling nervously. "Uuuh, I'll come greet you properly soon..!" Scurrying off, Zelos shook his head at the other with a sigh before staring back at Tay and the scrunched up horde. Moving aside, he waved to them, "Just get outta there already. You can sleep more in the guest room if you want."

Nodding at Zelos as he questioned him, his eyes drew away from the one in front of him and to the one that slid to a stop in the kitchen in all his glory. Sure, he used to bathe with Jhin often when he lived with the monks as well. They didn’t exactly bath along and it was fun splashing around a little with his friend. Now it was different though, now he could feel those tingly feelings as his face reddened. Covering his face with his hands he rolled over, the birds calming as Tay flustered.

“That’s pretty--”

“Shut up Drake.” Tay mumbled, waiting until Jhin had left before uncovering his face. “I, uh, am good in here. Thanks.” Not wanting to come out now, he wanted to stay in the safety of the cupboard, it hid him well and no one knew they were all there. It was perfect.

“You can’t hide in here forever~” Drake told him as he wiggled out, flailing himself around to the birds would follow him outside to play with the waking griffins.

“I can try....”

Letting the mini group come out one at a time, Zelos waited a few minutes more for Tay. "You can try, but if you don't move from there, Jhin's gonna come in looking for you here first." It was too much trouble to try and get them out, plus the dragon didn't actually care all that much if Tay wanted to spend the whole day in the cupboard. That did remind him though of the utensil he needed. Reaching in, he spotted the thing he needed, slowly closing the door on the other. Before it shut all the way though, he stuck his head in that little leftover crack of light, "By the way. That blush is gay." And casually shut that door.

He'd at least finish up the cooking before going out to feed the birds breakfast as well with everyone.

Thinking it over, Tay was debating over what was the lesser of the two evils. On one hand, he had to come out and sit in the open and debate over the naked Jhin. On the other, he wasn’t sure if he wanted Jhin trying to climb in the cupboard with him. He didn’t have much time to think about it, as the door was closing. Just before it fully closed, he huffed at the dragon, calling him a but from the closed door but accepted his life.