Azure [MxM]

Chapter 2

THIRD PERSON ▪︎ POV

After that evening, Kade tried to work with Azure much more closely in an attempt to settle the shifter's nerves and impulsive behaviours at home. Azure seemed to want to be a good cat, but only because Kade refused to be his boyfriend until he learned how to control himself. Kade had to call on a lot of patience with Azure, but he really was trying... sometimes.

Like promised, Kade spent less time at work and more time at home. The disasters he often returned to were a lot less like explosions and more like small mishaps. Kade learned that Azure was more responsive to praise and reward rather than anger and shouting. However Kade still gave him a good spanking every now and then when he crossed a firm line.

For example, after returning from town one day with a bag of grocery shopping, Kade hadn't been able to set the bags down before a speedy, black house cat attacked him in the entry away. Azure had gone straight for the bag with the box of cereal, a treat he had always been obsessed with. Azure tore into it, ignoring Kade's panicked commands that he should stop. His claws destroyed the fresh vegetables also suffering within the bag and Azure made off with the broken box of cereal, spilling multi-grain shapes everywhere. Kade had run after him like a mad man, but Azure had quickly climbed the counters and leapt on top of the cabinets where Kade couldn't reach him as he munched hungrily on the cereal like a starved, feral alley cat.

Kade had been fuming as he silently salvaged what was left of his damaged groceries and put them away in the kitchen, jotting down what had to be thrown away so he could buy it again. He swept up the spilled cereal, contemplating just shoving them in a bag, knowing that either way Azure would eat them even after they'd been on the floor, but he decided to chuck it all in the bin. There was still dust left over from having to replace the countertops and he wouldn't want Azure to get sick. Not that Azure deserved to eat anymore cereal in the first place.

Kade didn't speak to Azure for the rest of the day and by the time Azure had realised that he was in serious trouble, Kade had called him into the living room, explained why he was pissed off, why Azure needed to learn patience, boundaries and self control, and then bent the cat shifter over his knees. Azure bit him, snarling in protest, but it didn't deter Kade at all. Kade spanked him until he cried and apologised and then Kade didn't buy cereal for another two weeks. When he could finally see that Azure really was regretful, Kade had bought a box of cereal.

He wasn't attacked this time, no, Azure eagerly waited for him in the kitchen, in human form, squirming silently with a pained look on his face as he practised self control. Kade smiled, proud and relieved, and then he rewarded Azure by fixing him a bowl of dry cereal to eat with a glass of milk, giving him purr worthy head pats and whispered words of praise. Azure had beamed up at him, obviously happy he'd done something right. Needless to say, Azure hadn't attacked him over cereal again and his groceries were safe.

Other times, Azure was a good kitty all on his own, without having to take a punishment or a scolding from Kade. After being convinced by Kade that using the toilet was perfectly safe and that he really shouldn't be shifting into his cat form to do his business anywhere else around the house, Azure had been brave and used the bathroom for the first time in his human form. The big bowl of water was intimidating to say the least but... he didn't die. He did jump when he flushed it and it made a scary noise, but he survived unscathed and proudly marched out to tell Kade after licking his hands clean.

Kade had rewarded him with a treat and a good scratch behind the ears but this led them onto their next hurdle. Getting Azure actually clean... with water. Kade had been pretty lenient with him, knowing that Azure spent hours grooming in his cat form, his pink tongue lapping away at his fur. But Azure had to learn to wash his hands in the sink after using the toilet and he had to bathe once in a while with water and soap especially now he was spending more time in his human form.