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"...Pardon?"

"Maxim! You like cats. She showed up in the alley next to my shop. About 3 months old, very cute, but with an unfortunate habit."

He eyes the kitten warily, as if he's afraid it might go off at any moment. "I kicked all but two out of my place, remember?"

"They wouldn't want a friend?" It's a thin thread of hope, but he's following it doggedly.

The kitten is a long-haired tortoiseshell, a bit leggy, but still blue-eyed, and half in Balthazar's coat pocket. It urps quietly at Horvath, then mews silently as Balthazar pats it. "I took her to the vet already. She's been dewormed and whatnot. They think hairballs might be the problem."

"...I truly couldn't say." He's looking wary, but he does reach out and strokes the furry little head with one finger. He doesn't lean down, however, assuming he shouldn't get his face any closer to it than absolutely necessary.

"mewp." The kitten's eyes close, and it begins to purr.

A moment later, there's an ominous little gurgle in its belly.

"...she is cute, though." Balthazar sighs.

"Surely you need a pet... You're all alone in that dusty shop..." He takes a half step back, forewarned by the noise.

"I don't keep pets often." He shifts his grip, holding the kitten at arms' length as the gurgling intensifies. "And it's not because of this. Just...they're fragile."

"No more than we are, and perhaps a little less." Horvath raises an eyebrow, and hobbles back another step. "Should I head for the hills?"

"...no. Just try not to breathe through your nose for a moment."

It's sort of remarkable, actually, how much noise can come from such a tiny creature. Balthazar looks skeptical at the gaseous burst, waits a moment, then cradles the kitten closer again with only a mild grimace.

"Mrrt." She kneads his sleeve.

Horvath raises an arm and hobbles back a few steps more, slightly alarmed by the sound. Sleeve held over his face, he regards Balthazar with extreme skepticism.

"...She likes you."

"Well, I fed her. Do you think chili cheese fries were the wrong thing to get her?" It's completely deadpan, but a joke for all that. He just wants to see how Horvath will react.

Two can play at that game.

"Well it was certainly the wrong thing to get yourself." Because it's hard to believe that was all the kitten, after all, and while he doesn't believe Balthazar for a second, he did kind of set himself up. Horvath waves a hand around to disperse the lingering odor in the air.

"Maximus, what a crude insinuation. I'm surprised at you." He tilts his head haughtily. "Maybe I should keep her. You're clearly a bad influence."

Horvath gives a quiet snort, because he knows Balthazar knew him when he was fifteen years old, and very far from sophisticated. "That is what I was suggesting, that you keep her..."

He sighs and strokes the kitten. "I'm supposed to get a dog, you know. I guess I could have both. This one definitely needs looking-after."

Lowering his arm a little, Horvath tests the air, and sighs. "All right... I can try taking her home. I don't know what the girls will think..."

"You're sure? You don't mind?" He moves closer and offers to let Horvath hold the kitten. She is purring. "She's been tested for the usual stuff and came out fine."

"Mm. You're going to think I've gone soft..." He takes the kitten gently, giving it a sympathetic look that his grumpy tone tries to cover for. He's warm and a little squishy, the perfect cat bed.

"Why would that be a bad thing?" Balthazar thumps him on the shoulder.

The kitten kneads Horvath's chest, sniffing like she isn't quite sure why someone different is holding her, but doesn't mind.

"I wouldn't want it to get out, anyway. Don't ruin my reputation." He looks entranced with the kitten, though, letting it settle against his chest and shifting a little to get his other hand free to pet its head.

"But the... digestive difficulty should be temporary?"

"Should be," he nods. "That's what the vet said. Are you going to name her? Or is that too risky?"

"Let me see what Smoke and Whisper think, first?" He looks a little apologetic.

"All right." He nods. "Let me know? If it doesn't work out I'll keep her, or find her another home."

"I will... and what was this about you getting a dog? I approve..." He strokes the kitten, which has anchored itself happily to his chest.

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grimholdkeeper - 2012-01-24 21:43 (UTC) - Expand

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bitterguardian - 2012-01-24 22:01 (UTC) - Expand