"I am too," he protests, even as his eyelids start to feel exceptionally heavy. The warmth of Rat and Polyphemus, as well as the blankets surrounding him, only further lull him into a contentment he barely knew in his own childhood.

Defiantly, Marius pushes himself up more to watch Rat as he reads, trying to hang on to ever y word. He smiles as he catches sight of the other man's hand on the cat's head.