Before Inv could even attempt to say anything else to understand why Joey said this. Joey looked back at Inv.
"I know it's confusing Inv, and I will explain to you what I mean. Just… let's lay down first, ok?"
…
Inv was getting tired of standing… The shelter floor seemed nice at the moment…
"O-ok…" Inv muttered, while emotionally drained and somehow the most fatigued he's ever been in his life. Inv slowly collapsed onto the shelter floor. For once appreciating the coolness emanating from the metal surface.
…
Laying on his stomach, Inv just layed there. Not sure what to think at the current moment.
Next to him, Joey layed down on his left side. Slightly pushing himself into Inv's fur.
Inv felt a bit more calmer, feeling Joey next to him. The warmth from his partner…
Even after what he just did… Joey was still comforting Inv…
…
Over time… Inv was able to calm down. The purr's coming from Joey somehow actually helping as well.
Purrrrrrrrr~
Inv feeling the comfort also let back his own purr's.
Burrrrrrr~
…
…
…
"You ok now Inv?" Breaking the peaceful silence, Inv heard Joey ask him.
"Ye… i fel betr noaw… im sory Joey…" Inv answered back, feeling much better compared to earlier but still feeling guilty.
He truly appreciated Joey comforting him when he didn't have to…
"It's ok Inv… I can tell whatever you wanted to say has been… heavily weighing you down? Would that be the right way to say it?"
"Mhm… i jus… don kno hoaw tu tel u…" Inv said. What he wanted to tell Joey has been affecting his emotions since the beginning of the cycle. He was just too scared to say it…
"Well… you don't have to say it if you don't want to. I'm not forcing you. I would never want you to force yourself to say something you don't want to say" Inv felt guilty hearing Joey say this. He wanted to tell Joey obviously… but he also appreciated Joey not getting mad at him.
"Tank u…"
"Yup…" Joey slowly stood back up from his laying position.
Looking up, Inv wondered what Joey was doing?
"Ok Inv, roll over onto your back"
…
???
"O-ok?" Although confused why Joey wanted Inv to roll onto his back, he still did it without questioning Joey. He trusted Joey.
Rolling onto his back, Inv felt Joey climb onto his chest. Barely feeling any pressure from Joey's weight. So he didn't feel any discomfort at all.
Looking slightly up, Inv could see Joey's head move up to his.
Before Inv could get any thoughts of what Joey was doing…
"Don't worry Inv, I'm not doing anything. Just wanna clean up your face" Joey sincerely said to Inv. no traces of flirtation in Joey's voice.
…
Inv's face was a mess right now… wasn't it? With the lizards he ate earlier combined with his tears… it wasn't a pretty sight… the red blood mixing with the blue dye from his tears…
Completely relaxing himself, Inv closed his eyes. Remembering what Joey did last cycle with cleaning his face. Inv felt a little guilty with how much of a mess his face was but Joey seemed so insistent about cleaning him…
Inv also secretly liked the feeling that Joey's tongue had on his skin and fur… But he would never tell Joey that! This was strictly cleaning time!
Relaxing himself, Inv felt Joey's tongue cleaning the area around his face. Feeling the gentleness from Joey's actions…
…
To Inv, this was pure bliss… but this also reminded him how he didn't have a tongue like Joey's. Not like a slugcats. It just made him confused on why Joey would say he isn't a slugcat…
This time however… Inv didn't let this bother him. More focused on relaxing from the cleaning Joey was giving him…
…
…
…
Finishing his face, Inv felt Joey slowly travel down his neck. Cleaning the specks of blood from the lizards Inv ate earlier that trailed all the way down to Inv's chest.
Inv would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy this. In fact, he REALLY enjoyed this. This kind of physical interaction with Joey was… definitely a nice change.
…
Feeling the licks from Joey stop, Inv slowly opened his eyes.
"Alright, I'm done Inv. how'd that feel?"
…
"Weally gud…" Inv quietly said, slightly embarrassed.
"Haha… well, that's good. Wouldn't want you feeling uncomfortable from that anyways" Inv heard Joey say, feeling him slowly move himself back up to Inv's face.
Slightly looking up, Inv could see Joey looking down at him.
"You uncomfortable Inv? We can get in a different position if you want"
"Nu, I'm fin…" Inv said back, not feeling uncomfortable. For some reason he just really liked it when Joey was on top of him like this…
"Alright…" Responding back to Inv, Joey got comfortable on Inv. Just like earlier, Joey went into the strange laying position where both his arms and legs disappeared underneath his body. Only leaving his body, tail and head visible.
But Inv could still feel Joey's limbs against his fur and skin. Inv was truly curious on how Joey was doing this…
"You sure you're ok Inv?"
"Mhm! Me fin Joey" Inv said, sure he had to slightly raise his head off the ground to see Joey but that was fine! This was nothing to Inv!
…
"I gotta get you a pillow…" Inv heard Joey mumble out.
'What's a pillow?' Inv thought to himself. Hearing Joey say another word he didn't understand.
"You can use your paws to rest your head Inv"
"Wut u meen?"
"Like… uhh… raise your arms like this" Inv saw Joey pull his arms out of the invisible space it was in. raising his arms above his head.
"And go like this" Joey bent his arms to where his paws cupped the back of his own head.
"Hmmm… ok" Copying what Joey showed Inv, Inv pulled his stick like arms above his head and cupped his paws behind his head. Letting his head down, Inv didn't have to put any more effort into looking at Joey with raising his head!