I apologise for the delay of five months in updating this but .. yeah, no, I'll spare you my excuses. Thing is, I'm back and I'm working on the next chapters already, having enough ideas for 3-5, so updates for these will follow more closely than.. this. Huge thanks to Donna for the ideas and for getting me back to this.
When Kate got back from the meeting with her brother, she was glad not to run into anyone. It was early afternoon by now and the meeting had been hell. There had been bad news over bad news and she was more upset than anything else.
She made her way through the corridors, debating where she should go to. Her options were quickly limited to her room and the gym and both sounded more than tempting. Kate sighed before settling on both, going to her room first to grab a few things and collect herself a little, being certain she'd have more peace here than the gym, should anyone come by. She flopped down on her bed for a while, loosing track of time. Everything was messed up again. Thad had gotten into troubles again and she had agreed on helping him out of his misery once more. And on top of everything, their grandmother had gotten pretty sick too but there wasn't much she could do about it. She hadn't seen her in years, not necessarily on best terms with her but she worried anyway. This was just great.
Next time she was checking her clock, something over an hour had passed and she sighed again quietly, getting up and changing into more comfortable clothes for a proper work-out. She left in hopes of not seeing anyone. Kate didn't want to have to explain her mood or how that meeting had gone.
Barely having made it out of her room and into the hallway, she heard a small meow behind her and turned around, crusing under her breath when she saw the small kitten, its head tilted aside and looking up at her.
"Hey. Whatcha doing out here?" She asked, smiling a little.
Niko just kept looking at her like that until she shook her head and shrugged.
"Whatever. Doesn't matter anyway. I gotta go. See you later, maybe." Kate waved at him before resuming her way.
He stared after her for a bit, deciding to follow her when she was a couple of feet away. It was obvious to him that she was in distress and he didn't like it. She had been nothing but nice to him, even offering to take him to the vet when he had gotten himself drunk and perhaps he could repay the favour now. He would certainly try. At least cheering up he should manage.
Niko tip toe'd after her, annoyed when he nearly missed the lift she took as if she had tried on purpose. He looked up at her, walking between her feet when she ignored him, purring loudly and poking his head against her leg.
"You're not gonna leave me alone, are you?" Kate sighed after a while, gazing down at him and picking him up once the lift reached the upper level, "Fine. As long as you don't expect me to tell you what happened because I won't."
The young woman smiled a little anyway. It was rather sweet, actually.
She put Niko back down when she entered the gym and he looked after her, hopping onto the bench and lying down there, his head on his paws and eyes on her. She obviously wanted to be alone so he appreciated being ... tolerated, for a lack of a better word. But that was just it after all. And he knew he only was because of his current self.
He liked Kate. His kitten self even more so and he would neither make a secret out of it, nor display it openly for everyone to see. For now, he just wanted to keep an eye on her. He nearly dozed off a couple of times, far from willing to. Maybe Kate would leave him behind if he did and hide somewhere and he wouldn't let her do that. If she wouldn't talk, fine, but he'd keep her company for sure. Cheering up had worked on Helen before after all so perhaps his presence would help Kate as well.
The young woman worked out quietly for some time, punching the bag until she stopped suddenly, biting her lip and letting her forehead drop against it. She wasn't one to cry easily but the feeling grew overwhelming and soon she wouldn't be able to keep it in any more. Niko sensed it and got off of his spot, quickly making his way to her. She turned around, sliding down to the ground and patting her lap for him to climb on to. And he did, settling there and purring quietly, his eyes on her. She smiled sadly, her fingers running through his fur. It was nice.
"Why are you trying to cheer me up? I didn't know you to care so much."
Niko meowed at her and she smiled again. It was really sweet and she appreciated it.
"Are you gonna tell anyone? No, wait, nevermind, you can't talk. I really don't get why you care but ... thanks."
He meowed again, curling up into a small ball on her lap, always purring. It got louder when she scratched his head and she had to chuckle a little.
"It's funny. You don't let anyone but Magnus touch you and stuff but here you are all cute and cuddling just to cheer me up." Kate mused.
Niko looked up at her, his head tilted to the side and she could swear there was a smile on his face.
"The secret's safe with me, Tesla."
There was something about his presence that helped her calm down and she relaxed visibly. She kept the caresses up, was it taking her mind off and she nearly dozed off after a while.
Kate only noticed the newcomer when Niko meowed happily and she heard the clicking of heels behind her. She had been really out just now not to realize sooner. She blinked a couple of times and looked up at Magnus, smiling sheepishly but much to her surprise, the kitten remained right where it was.
"Hey, doc."
"Kate. Are you alright?" Helen asked softly, kneeling down next to her friend and running her fingers through Niko's fur.
"I.. Yeah. Just some family stuff. Don't worry about it. What are you doing here though?"
"I was looking for Niko. He walked off a while ago and didn't come back for some time. I just wanted to make sure he wasn't making troubles. He seems worried though." She smiled a little, Niko looking at her and half pouting.
"Yeah. It's okay, really."
"Do you want to talk? I have time."
Kate shook her head, slowing down her movements on Niko's head who looked at her quizzically. She did appreciate the offer though. The small kitten nudged her hand with his head, demanding more attention. Kate grinned at him, surprised, but did as requested, scratching him again.
"He's been following me around ever since he ran into me."
"To make sure you'll be fine, it seems. If you change your mind, you can come and see me any time."
"I know, thanks." Kate smiled, picking up Niko before standing up again.
Helen got up too, taking a good look at Kate. She hadn't been crying and she didn't look too upset either. Good. Niko seemed to have been successful. Kate smiled at Niko gratefully before handing him to Helen, having him climb up her shoulders and licking her cheek happily. The younger one scratched him again briefly and thanked the both of them before grabbing her things and leaving again, clearly feeling better.
Helen remained in the gym for a couple of more minutes, reaching up for Niko before she headed back to her room.
"Looking after Kate, hm? That's sweet." She said and Niko meowed, protesting a little.
He didn't want his reputation to go to waste completely because of this incident. He'd already never hear the end of it as it was and no one needed to know he had done that for Kate. He cuddled into Helen further, poking her cheek with his head and she dropped the matter for now, smiling and entering her room a couple of minutes later.
She dropped onto the bed once Niko had jumped on it and he climbed back onto her, resting on her chest and purring contently, face hidden in his paws as she let her fingers run through his fur once more. She would ask Kate again tomorrow, checking up on her. Although she was hoping the young woman would come talk to her on her own. Helen fell asleep like that, Niko continuing his purrs until he, too, fel asleep.
Kate was a bit more restless, watching some TV, the thought of Niko from before helping her relax and keeping her mind off and she fell asleep about an hour later.
