(A/N)- This one, like the previous chapter, is inspired in part by Teen Titans Go!#17, in which Hot Spot's temper can be managed by cute animals. That was just too adorable not to incorporate into this collection somehow.

Also sometimes I just like to shake up the status quo. Things can stagnate if you keep them static too long and I thought giving Argent and Hot Spot a pet to take care of would open up some new ideas and little plot bunnies and things like that.

Disclaimer: I own a cat but I don't own Teen Titans. Well, actually she's my sister's cat but I get cuddling privileges. Though she doesn't really like to cuddle.

Pets

"Let's drop in at the mall, she said," grumbled Hot Spot. "I'll be quick, she said. I won't even buy anything, she said."

He adjusted the armful of bags and packages his girlfriend had him toting around for her.

"I really shoulda known better," he sighed to himself.

Oblivious to his muttering, Argent shifted through the rack of cardigans as she chatted amiably with the store clerk. She pulled out one or two and held them up to her body before deciding against, finally turning to the clerk and thanking her for her time and then coming to join Hot Spot near the door.

"Can we go yet?" the pyro whined.

She sent him a cheeky smirk. "Why love, it almost seems like you're bored or something."

"On a scale of grass-growing to paint-drying? Yeah. Pretty darn," he told her.

Argent took about half of the bags from him, practically skipping as she made her way out of the store. "Well I'm having a blast," she said. "Pity you don't like shopping as much as I do."

Hot Spot rolled his eyes. "Yeah, it's a real shame isn't it?" he snarked.

"Need I remind you, you were the one that asked me out," Argent reminded gently. "And you knew I enjoyed shopping long before you did. You've got no room t' complain."

"Doesn't mean I can't though."

She shrugged. "If it makes you feel better, go ahead. Hope ya don't mind if I tune you out." She paused briefly to scan the directory. "There's one more place I want to check," she said, searching the list with her eyes.

"Of course there is," sighed Hot Spot.

"Sorry, did you say something?"

Hot Spot forced a polite smile for her. "Nothing, dear," he told her. "I'll be right behind you."

She beamed. "That's what I like to hear." She found her destination on the map and jabbed a finger to it, then looked up and scanned the area to see which way she should go, heading off confidently when she found it.

Hot Spot paid only half-attention as she rambled at him about designer trends and the fashions that were in this season. He didn't understand her at all sometimes. Most of these outfits she would probably never get a chance to wear, given their line of work, and she had too much in her closet to begin with. So apparently the point of these trips was the fun of it. Or perhaps enjoying his company. He could live with that one.

Though… he wasn't exactly being very pleasant company right now.

His mind wandered. He wondered when they'd finally be out of here and if they could make a stop in arcade so he could get something out of this whole…

The thought stalled in his head as they passed by the pet store. Argent continued on, still talking, but Hot Spot paused, torn. He really shouldn't go in but irritation had been roiling around inside him all day and he didn't want to just snap and bite Argent's head off and make her all upset and they were holding an adoption day and he really only needed two minutes, five at the most.

When Argent stopped talking for a minute and noticed the odd silence behind her she turned around, only to find that her boyfriend was gone, no longer following her.

She glanced around, puzzled. "Now where has he gone off to?" she wondered.

She retraced her steps, almost making it back to the directory before she noticed the pet store.

"Huh. That figures."

Argent stepped in, spotting her boyfriend almost at once, near the cat section. He had his back to her and had set her things down by his feet. She came up to him, ready with a quip and a teasing smile but the words faded from her mouth and her steps slowed as her coming closer revealed that Hot Spot was holding up a small, soft white kitten, barely a few weeks old, and looking intently into her large green eyes with longing.

"Oh no…" she groaned, already feeling herself falling in love with the small white face and fluffy short fur. "No no no no, we shouldn't. Herald has allergies."

Hot Spot turned towards her, puppy-dog eyes at full begging power as he showed her the kitten. "Can we? Please?" he pleaded. "I really want this one. She likes me."

Indeed, the little kitten seemed very nonchalant about the fact that Hot Spot was holding her, though she squirmed a little and gave soft, whiney mewls on occasion, like she was asking politely to be put back down.

Argent almost reached out a hand to pet her, but drew her arm back and resisted the temptation. "We… she might…" she stammered. "What would we do with her when we're gone? She can't just wander the Tower unsupervised!"

"We can lock her in the linens room," Hot Spot suggested. "It's nice and safe and warm in there and there's not a whole lot for her to chew on."

"And-and what if we get captured or we're gone for a while in space?" Argent protested, floundering for excuses so she wouldn't get too attached to the kitten. The impulse buying center of her brain was clamoring at her and she tried desperately to shut it up with practicality.

Hot Spot shrugged and adjusted his hold on the kitten, letting her sit comfortably in his arms like a baby for a while. "Maybe we can rig up the Tower's security to call a cat-sitter in case of extended absence."

"But-"

"Come on, Argent. Please? She can be our baby. Practice for when we have kids," Hot Spot argued, absent-mindedly stroking the kitten's head.

Argent dropped her bags on the floor and clenched her fists. "Nngh… don't tempt me like that!" she wailed. "You know we can't just bring home a pet!"

"But look at her widdle face. How could you say no to this face?" Hot Spot cooed, tickling the kitten under the chin.

Against her better judgment Argent looked. The kitten blinked sleepily, her whiskers quivering, then her eyes squeezed shut and she opened her tiny mouth wide for a yawn like a miniature lion roar.

Argent squealed, putting her hands up to her mouth as her coherent thought dissolved into an endless mobius loop of wordless gushing and inner flailing. Observing her, Hot Spot could practically see the exact moment her brain switched off. She gawped at the kitten with wide, adoring eyes, clearly barely holding in the long, "Awwwwwwww!" she wanted to say.

He smirked.

And… she's a goner.

-TT-

Herald sat at the kitchen table, reading the sports section of the newspaper. He noticed when Hot Spot and Argent entered, newly returned from their date, he expected. Both of them carried an armful of bags and packages. Herald didn't look too closely at them. If he had, he might have noticed the pains that the two were taking in surreptitiously hiding a certain set of bundles from his line of vision.

He could hear the two whispering to each other behind him. They seemed uneager to disturb him; Hot Spot was edging around the perimeter of the room on his way to the kitchen, Argent trailing after him softly. Herald felt vaguely suspicious, but kept his eyes on his paper, reading the week's stats and game scores.

Abruptly, he sneezed.

Hot Spot and Argent flinched at that, freezing in place a moment.

All of sudden, their cautious behavior and desire to avoid him made a disturbing perfect sense.

"Alright," he said, standing up from his seat and turning towards them with a glare as he dropped his paper. "Now, I could be imagining things here," he allowed, sarcasm dripping heavily from his voice, "but I also could have just had an allergic reaction to something." He crossed his arms sternly at them. "Care to explain what ya'll might've bought that's causing that reaction?" he demanded.

The two looked very sheepish and guilty at having been caught and found out. Hot Spot held something hidden behind his back and Argent pressed the tips of her index fingers together, tapping them bashfully.

"We… erm…" she began. Her cheeks were slightly pink as she explained, "We may have… brought home a cat."

Herald stared at them a moment.

Glancing to Hot Spot, Argent nodded and the pyro guiltily brought his hands out from behind his back to reveal the cat carrier, which he unzipped and dug around in to show Herald their tiny new friend. The kitten's head lolled around, very confused by her surroundings, as Hot Spot lifted her up from the carrier and displayed her proudly.

Herald gave the little ball of fur a resentful glare.

"Mew!"

"I hate you both," he told them.

(A/N)- Suggestions for what to name the kitten anyone? I haven't decided yet.