This was my submission for the Fanart contest related to the Catbutler Banner. Unfortunately I wasn't able to claim a prize. But enjoy this fluffy piece regardless <3

You enter your home through the front door, arms packed full of boxes and bags filled to the brim with groceries and stuff for your adorable cat butler.

Yeah, exactly - a cat butler! A gorgeous-looking man with feline-like features such as furry ears and a soft tail.

You don't know exactly how you ended up with such an extraordinary kind of servant. Still, one day you signed a magical contract - by accident you have to admit - and what should have been a time-limited arrangement for a month turned into a permanent one because the assigned butler refused to leave you. And now Rafayel, a Devon Rex breed with beautiful dark brown cat ears amidst wavy purple hair and a slim fluffy patterned tail, refuses to leave you.

And since you fell for his feline charm and clingy behavior you accepted to keep him — even if it meant to be ambushed every day with cuddly tackles and his bratty but very amusing shenanigans. And what is far more important, without ever admitting it — you're not alone anymore in your apartment that has been too silent most of the time you've lived here. But now there is always Rafayel when you enter your home.

Closing the door and calling out for him, you sigh deeply. Hosting a cat-like man presents you with special challenges, so you made an extended shopping trip earlier. You bought all kinds of cat toys to keep him entertained whether you're with him or not, and you were even able to find a huge fluffy cat bed to fit a tall figure like him. It is colored in a dark violet hue, and you're excited to show him your present.

"Rafayel?" calling again you wonder why he didn't answer the first one. Usually, the needy kitty awaits you impatiently at the door, ready to take away your stuff only to embrace you the next second and rub his fluffy head on your cheek. But now the handsome cat-butler is nowhere to be seen.

Worried you place the grocery bags on the bright-colored kitchen counter and with the toy-stuffed ones and the cat bed you go looking for your little kitty.

After searching the whole apartment you finally find the amethyst-haired man in your bedroom. Cuddled in the sheets of your bed he's sleeping soundly, making little meows once in a while and his deep breathing lifts the vest of his maroon-colored butler suit with white slacks, and matching gloves. He insists on wearing it, even if you told him several times that it is unnecessary, and that he can dress with whatever he wants.

Alone the view of him sleeping is adorable and fills you with a fuzzy warmth. Curled up, his hands laid under his chin and his tail looped around his in-drawn legs, Rafayel looks more like a big cat and less like a human being as he sleeps peacefully.

As you watch him for a few minutes you're reminded of the day his contract with you was supposed to end and how he persuaded you to keep him in service forever...

"What do you mean the contract ends today? I'm not a stray! I'm a house cat." he asks worriedly and with utter confusion as you remove the leather collar that marks him as bound to you.

You look at him gently, trying to suppress the tears that are welling up in your eyes. "I'm sure you'll find a new house to stay at" you comfort him, although your heart aches at the thought that another person will have all the things you shared with him and that you cherish so much deep down inside.

Rafayel grabs your wrist that holds the elegant black choker. "But I don't want to!" his perfect plush lips building an adorable pout and his amazing sunset orbs glaring at you. But only briefly until he recognizes the rising tears in your eyes. "Are you crying?" Thumbs covered in white gloves now caressing your cheeks with the most gentle movements and a tender gaze glides all over your tear-stained face.

You can't stand it any longer, not when Rafayel is so affectionate towards you and heavily sobbing you take his hand gently, trying to calm yourself with big inhales. But to no avail, a stream of salty water now flows down your face, leaving you helpless. You didn't know that your cat butler had grown a lot to you, alone the thought of losing him physically aches, and as much as you try to be tough, the grief to let go of him is stronger.

"Cutie!" Rafayel calls out quietly, worried and full of tenderness and adoration. He leans into your puffed cheeks, grabs your chin gently with two fingers, and starts licking up all the falling tears with his hot tongue. "Please, Master..." he begs quietly "If it makes you so sad, just keep me. I'm more than happy to oblige. Just saying."

You sob even more at his offer and push him back in a try to regain your composure. "I can't afford your services, Rafayel. This one month was a wonderful gift, but I'm not able to pay your horrendous salary" You choke out between heavy sobs. "So please don't make this even harder for me."

Your cat butler eases away, puzzled, his brown tail swishing back and forth nervously behind him and his cute little cat ears hanging down as he helplessly observes you. Round bluish-pink eyes never leave their gaze on your face once.

"Then I'll work for free!" he declares a second later with a firm voice, the fluffy ears now piqued up, determination in the unique colors of his eyes. "House cats need to stay close to their master. And with you taking care of me, I don't need that money anyway."

And with that you are suddenly pushed down, your back hitting the wooden floor. His arms are wrapped around your shoulders protecting your head from the impact as Rafayel comes to lay on top of you, cuddling his face into your chest with his furry tail wrapped around your thighs "And you are my master. So I'll stay."

And that brings you back to the present. Carefully you sit beside him on the mattress and gently ruffle his violet hair. "Rafayel, wake up. I bought you a surprise." his brown cat ears wiggle and deep purring starts to fill the air with your caress. Ocean blue and pink eyes glazed over with sleep, open and immediately lock on you.

"You're back." Rafayel nuzzles his head sleepily into your touch. "Did you say, you have a surprise for me, cutie?" Now he is fully awake, his eyes sparkle with curiosity, and he looks around in search of his gift, the furry ears wiggling on his head.

You giggle at his reaction and get the giant fur cushion out of its plastic bag where it inflates to its full size, and you place it beside your bed on the floor where it lands with a muffled sound. "Here, a cozy fluffy bed just for you. Isn't it cute? Go, try it out!" you encourage him, excited to see if he likes it.

But you're only greeted with wide eyes, utter disbelief ruling in them. "You want me to sleep on this thing? Didn't think you are this cruel." "What's wrong with it?" You ask him confused.

Rafayel only throws a deeply offended look at your carefully picked present before he turns away, lips pushed into the mother of pouts and his brown tail stands straight up, the furry ears pressed flat across his wavy hair.

With wide eyes, you look at his sulking figure and back to the purple cat bed. Does he not like it? Hesitant you walk over and sit in it. It really is comfy and soft. Why is he so pouty all of a sudden? "But... It's cozy, Rafayel. Look!" you pat at the fake violet fur, trying to hide your hurt feelings at his neglect.

He must sense your disappointment because he turns around at your words only to frown at the view. "Why are you sitting down there? Get back up here." an irritated Rafayel comes over only to pick you up in his strong arms and lift you to your bed before they wrap around your waist, pressing your chest flushed against his reddened face. "Look, this bed is big enough for the both of us, yeah? There's no need for an extra sleeping place." comes his muffled voice.

"Rafayel!" you squeak embarrassed at his forced proximity and try to wiggle out of his hold. But your cat butler doesn't let you go, his grip unrelenting around your middle.

"You already forgot, huh? All a house cat wants is to stay close to its owner." A smug smile tugs at his pink lips as Rafayels sunset eyes gaze at you from beneath your chest with hidden mirth. "Always." before he nuzzles his face back into the softness of your upper body.

That sends some flashes of heat through your system and with blushed cheeks you sink your hands into the soft waves of his amethyst hair, massaging and caressing the scalp and the fluffy ears of the adorable cat butler.

"Fine, my cute little kitty-cat." you softly smile above his head and your heart beats fast and excited in your chest. The butterflies in your stomach are alive and happily fluttering around. "Stay close to me, then."

If you're honest with yourself, you don't mind sharing the bed with the gorgeous cat butler. Since he's here the nights are no longer your fiercest enemy, his presence right beside you keeps the nightmares at bay. His arms are always wrapped around you when he sleeps, shielding you from the demons you usually fight in the darkest hours of the night. From now on you will never be alone anymore and nothing could make you more happy than this.