For the prompt: "Where did that cat come from?"
It was Sunday afternoon, and they were all in the office.
On the bright side, the floor was completely empty save for the five of them, which meant it was peaceful and calm and... actually kind of nice. They all started out the day working in their individual offices. Eventually, Nadine moved her things into Conference Room East for a change of scenery.
Blake joined her a little while later for the company. He set his bag down gently on the table, and then there was a sudden rustle, a tiny movement that caught Nadine's attention.
She looked over and nearly jumped out of her skin.
Blake stared at her like she was a crazy person. "Are you okay?"
"Where... where did that cat come from?"
The tiny kitten padded across the table cautiously, sniffing at all of the different papers and binders that were strewn across the surface. It was just a jet black ball of fluff, and Blake scooped it up with one hand. His hand was almost as large as it was. "This is Elphie," he said, nearly cooing as he held up the kitten against the side of his face and smiled. "I found her last week. Isn't she adorable?"
"...Uh-huh," Nadine said, sounding strained.
Blake's smile vanished. "Sorry, are you allergic to cats? I didn't even think to ask—"
"No, I'm not."
"It's just, she's still so little and I didn't want to leave her at home by herself all day if I didn't have to... and I knew the office was going to be empty so I thought it would be okay..."
"Yeah, it... it's fine."
"Are you sure?"
Nadine had scooted all the way to the farthest corner of the table as they spoke, dragging her work along with her. "Yeah. Yup."
"You're sure you're not allergic?" He was giving her a funny look.
"I'm not allergic to cats, Blake. I'm not allergic to anything."
"Oo-kay..." He racked his brain. "Then are you- are you afraid of cats?"
She scoffed, still eyeing Elphie warily. "Don't be ridiculous."
He carried the kitten toward Nadine who, in turn, stood up and moved away more swiftly than he'd ever seen her move. Before he could blink she was standing at the complete other side of the room, an entire conference table now between them lengthwise. "Nadine, she won't hurt you."
"I know that," she said. "I like cats," she added unconvincingly.
"You can see how it would be hard to believe you."
"I do like cats."
"Then..."
"That one's bad luck," she blurted.
Blake stopped in his tracks. Elphie mewled softly and then licked at his hand with a tiny pink tongue. "Oh come on," he said, laughing. When Nadine didn't laugh with him, when her dead-serious expression didn't change at all, he stopped abruptly. "You're serious?"
"Don't look at me like that, Blake!"
He fought to keep a straight face. "I didn't realize you were superstitious."
"When I was living in Kyiv," she began tersely, "one of the other girls in my company took in a stray black cat off the street. The next day, her dance partner dropped her in rehearsal and she broke five bones in her foot and couldn't dance for six months."
"Uh-huh," he said dryly. "And that was definitely the cat's fault."
"Well, she refused to get rid of it and then her flat got robbed while she was still in it!" She huffed. "She didn't die or anything. All they wanted was some cash and her cheap jewelry, but all of it could have been avoided if—"
"—if she'd gotten rid of the cat," Blake finished.
Nadine pressed on. "I took the cat off her hands and it was the worst idea I ever had."
"Let me guess. You started missing all the trains? Getting caught in rainstorms without an umbrella? Stepping in dog poo?"
"I got pregnant," she deadpanned.
"...Right."
"You have to get rid of that thing, Blake."
"Well," he said. He reached over to grab his bag off the table. "I don't think I'm at risk of being dropped on my foot, robbed of my jewelry, or knocked up by a male dancer, so... I think I'm gonna keep her, Nadine." He kissed the top of Elphie's head as he headed for the conference room doors. "We're just gonna go back to my desk so we don't disturb you."