Soft pawsteps echoed over metal and Natasha glanced down the fire escape from her perch on the balcony wall. She sighed and shook her head. It was this same visitor, a scraggly little black cat that showed up out of nowhere and never went away.
She had taken and gotten it- her- fixed and dewormed, just so no more strays would show up, and now the fleabag seemed to think it belonged there. She didn't move when it jumped up, brushing against her hand.
"Look, I've already told you, you're not coming in, and I'm not petting you." She murmured, staring the little animal right in it's green eyes. Natasha wiped at her nose, her hand still bloody from earlier. "You're not my cat." She stood up and went back through the window.
The cat followed her, and despite her earlier protests, the spy said nothing, just put down a can of cat food. She sat cross-legged on the floor and watched the creature as it began to purr. Strange creature.
"Okay, can we just come to the agreement that you don't live here? I guess I don't care if you come in. But you don't get to stay. I don't even get to stay, you know. I'm gone a lot." Why the hell was she even talking to a cat?
Because she had no one else really to talk to.
When the cat had finished eating, it rubbed against her leg purring.
"You don't get more. I'm not spending all my money on cat food, go catch a rat." She grumbled, but didn't move. She wasn't an animal person. Not that she didn't like animals... She just didn't have the circumstances to have one. She needed her money for her next rent. Eventually she'd have to leave. Her enemies would find her, and she couldn't be strapped down with a pet.
"You know, when I leave, the next people who move in might not be so nice to you." She whispered. "Consider yourself lucky you little demon."
The feline snaked it's way onto her lap and Natasha closed her eyes, swallowing hard. She slowly pulled it close and sniffled.
"You tell anyone about this and I'll kill you myself."