Chapter 6: Kitten Whisperer
A/N: Apologies for the wait, had a minor case of writer's block that extended for months. This is a little short but I'll make up for it in the next chapter. Oh and that Homelander fic is still in the works, once the release date for The Boys Season 3 is announced that's when I'm planning on releasing it.
On the ride home, Parker found herself wondering what could've possessed her to take in a rescue and bring it home. Truthfully, she's not even sure if her apartment allows pets though to her, it doesn't really matter. She could not in good conscience leave the kitten out there by itself to battle the elements. A kitten left without its mother will either starve, get sick or freeze to death. She refused to let that happen - not if she could prevent it. Her job now was to provide a safe environment for him until other accommodations could be made. Leaving him was never an option as far as she was concerned.
When Parker arrives home with her new houseguest a package is waiting on the welcome mat. It's a little weird that she's still receiving random packages. Most surprising, all of them were addressed to her, so that completely ruled out that the packages were getting sent to the wrong address. This is the seventh one in five days and she doesn't think they'll stop coming anytime soon. It's not like she was any better especially with the invention of Amazon Prime but this was getting ridiculous. There's not telling how long it'll last. Who the hell was sending these?
It makes zero sense.
She came through the door as carefully as she could manage with a hurt kitten wrapped in a blanket.
Parker immediately started checking the kitten over for any visible ticks or fleas as those can be detrimental to a baby should any manage to latch on. After rifling through his fur and examining his belly, she placed him back on his paws. He seems alert and curious for the most part, it's walk is wobbly and uncoordinated across the carpet possible from age or injury. She can't really tell which it might be. He needed to be given a thorough examination.
For him to be an outside cat, his coat looked pretty clean. It's probably best to hold off on the bath until she can get him properly checked out for any unseen injuries. Potential injuries aside, kittens are known to be extremely fragile. She just wanted it to be okay.
Bringing a seemingly abandoned cat into her home was the last thing she expected, now she's getting attached to a random stray kitten. Worse still, she didn't have a litter box or any cat food. She's severely underprepared for this and it's mother would be better suited to care for it but that didn't mean Parker couldn't aim to do her best in her absence. Curse her compassionate heart.
She knows just how easy it is to become attached to small, cute things especially if those things happened to be animals but...
Cats...why is it always cats?
There's a mewing orphan in her living room. She probably shouldn't assume it's an orphan just because she didn't see it's mother in sight. Regardless, the little guy depended primarily on her, at least for a small duration period. Hopefully, caring for it wouldn't turn out to be that much of a laborious ordeal but it doesn't help that Parker's already emotionally sensitive to things like this already. At the risk of tainting her soft heart, the kitten can take advantage of that glaring aspect about her. On top of that, she decides against naming him, as it's better if there's no attachment. Not since she already made the decision to return him to the place where she scooped him up.
She's at a loss of what to do next now that the cat is familiarizing itself in her humble abode. By sheer chance, there was a lone can of cat food in one of the cabinets in the kitchen. For a moment, Parker was worried that it wouldn't eat the food but scooping the food onto the tiny saucer plate and sliding it within distance of the fur ball, it wasted no time pouncing on the food like a starving man who hadn't seen food in weeks.
"You probably miss your family by now. After I get you checked, I'll bring you back to them."
"I miss my family too."
Emptying a box, Parker started to place soft towels and cushions into it to make it more comfortable. Even a thin blanket could keep him warm throughout the night. The box would provide a suitable place to sleep and keep the kitten from being mobile. She didn't want him wandering and peeing over the apartment while she slept. It would also be very easy for him to get lost or trapped somewhere given how tiny he was. The small bundle of fur just wobbled across the carpet.
"I've never had a cat in my place before."
The only essential she doesn't have on hand at the moment is a proper litter box. It's universally known that cat urine remains one of the strangest smells in existence and Parker would rather not have it in random, unreachable spots within her apartment.
"As long as you don't pee on my carpet, me and you are gonna get along just fine."
Now that the cat is in her humble abode, Parker doesn't really know if she's allowed to have pets in her apartment, so she makes a mental note to check the lease agreement later on. As laid back as the landlord seems, she doesn't think he'll make any special exceptions for her if it turns out that she can't have the feline. Unlike dogs, cats don't possess the ability to bark or make particularly loud vocalizations that might alert someone, a landlord per say, to their presence.
Confusion pretty much guides his movements. He's realized that he's not outside anymore, but rather in a confined space. An apartment like hers is very much a conducive environment for him to be in. She doesn't want it to be stressed.
"Morning Parker, you're in early."
"Save the funny little compliments, it's only because I brought you a patient." Parker replied, gently sitting the small bundled up feline on the exam bed.
"Who's this?"
"A stray. I'm supposed to return."
The examination takes all of fifteen minutes before the vet doctor comes up with her diagnosis.
"A little underweight but the proper food can fix that right up." The older woman nodded while settling her stethoscope back into place around her neck. "She also had some minor scratches but she'll be alright."
Parker brows come together. "She?"
"She." The woman repeats. "It's a female kitten."
"Huh. All this time she was a boy." The younger remarks.
"Have you thought of a name for her?
Parker crossed her arms. "Nope, naming her would mean that I plan on keeping her."
"Well, are you going to keep her?"
The question throws her off guard since Parker has always made it known that she is by no means a cat person."I didn't plan on it. She probably wants to go back with her mother but when I found her she was completely alone."
"Well, if you ask me, I think it was meant for you to find her." Ms. Donna explained, watching as Parker stared down intently at the feline.
"You can keep her in the office while you work so long as someone keeps a close eye on her. Don't want anyone to step on her mistake." The doctor noted with a smile before she walked out of the room.
Her mother and siblings could be anywhere by now. Every time she thought about leaving her, an ache appeared in her chest. She'd be all alone again. With a pet, it'll be nice to have some companionship and dial down the lingering feelings of loneliness.
For years now, Parker had been living by herself with no issue. Having a companion or roommate in the apartment hadn't appealed to her until now. Some companionship might do her some good. One tiny creature couldn't possibly do her any harm. From what she's gathered from cat owners, cats seem to offer some emotional benefits and end up making wonderful pets. She's not ready for the fur ball to be bolting through her apartment and hanging from curtains like a kitty Spiderman.
Though she found it hard to believe, she could go out on a limb at one time. If she were honest with herself, she would say that it's hard to get past the stigma of them being minions for the devil then the transition wouldn't be so hard. She always thought that feline owners had a few screws loose that made them want to have cats for pets anyways. Why else would they show such inclination, love, and devotion to an animal that quite literally goes out of its way to be an asshole to its owner. An animal that likes to rip through furniture and stands a good chance of putting your house on the market the day after you die.
No, Parker couldn't understand it at all yet here she is ready to make the proper accommodations for her to live comfortably in her home. It's a part of the unpredictability of life that people just have to accept. Life is made easier that way though some predictability is nice.
Plus, the idea of a tiny housemate sounded cute.
"Never thought I'd be a cat mom but I guess there's a first time for everything."
A new pet requires the utmost patience. All of it is just so sudden, her becoming the owner of an abandoned kitten. Maybe there's a cat deity looking down on her, pathing the way for her to constantly have altercations with cats. And there's a lot the two of them have to learn about each other. They might have more in common than she thinks. Cats are known to be solitary creatures and Parker just so happens to value being alone at certain junctures.
Parker picks up the mewling kitten and studies her for a second. "You look like a...Quinn."
A random playpen is brought from the back and played behind the front desk in the lobby. Quinn is played there along with a cat toy that she takes to fairly quickly, swiping at it with her small paw and chasing it when it moves. Her balance is still a little off but Parker guesses that's expected since she's so young. With Parker's work schedule, it's good that the tiny kitten already weaned off its mother's milk. That way she doesn't have to concern herself with being around all the time to supervise her. Though she'll probably still go home to check on her during her lunch break around one.
To her knowledge, there might be a pet daycare center in the city where she can go during the day to socialize with other cats while Parker works. A cat this small needs to be supervised.
Getting her some toys would give her something to do other than explore. She'd rather the kitten channel her energy on a toy than her couch or curtains. She needs the stimulation. Coming home to find the furniture torn apart is not the ideal situation so she'll probably end up cat proofing the apartment as a precaution.
Parker smiled down at the playful kitten with boundless energy - she's so small and uncoordinated that she almost looks battery powered. Most of her personality seemed to shone through now that she's been properly treated.
"After my shift let's go buy you a bunch of cat toys you'll never play with."
Parker tried to purchase toys that were big enough that they couldn't be swallowed like fleece toys and balls of yarn. In the end, the basket winds up being filled with items ranging from cat food, treats, toys, kitty litter, and a small bed. Not only that but she was eye-balling a cute mouse toy as well. She avoided products with supes on them for obvious reasons. She even considered buying a good scratching post from Amazon when she's a little bigger. Truthfully, Parker can get that from any pet store in New York but she just needs the satisfaction of purchasing it online. It's not like Jeff Bezos needs the money anyway.
Suddenly, Parker's hand on the basket handle has become the most interesting thing in the world for Quinn. Luckily she can't feel any claws digging into her hand.
Just about every person they came across fawned on the small kitten nestled on blankets while being pushed around the store in a basket. At the register, the cashier gushed over Quinn so much that she'd even decided to give Parker a store discount on half of the merchandise in the basket. She can't believe her entire life is now in the hands of a cat she just rescued the day before. The whole thing was just very sudden and bizarre - not that she was complaining. The price tags on some of the items are downright ridiculous.
Oh if Cass could see her now. Her friend would surely lose her shit if she found out.
She tilted her head in question.
It takes a full hour of shopping before Parker finally leaves the store with a basket full of items and not one of them is for her. Now the lonely thing she had to worry about it getting all the stuff in her car.
Her train of thought was quickly interrupted by the sound of a familiar male voice calling out to her. "Is it really a good time to be out and about sunshine?"
She recognizes him instantly as the man she bumped into the day she went to the convenience store. Strangely enough, she wasn't as alarmed as she thought she would normally be in this situation. Which was...peculiar given that he was literally sitting outside the store in his car like a weirdo would do.
"Are you following me or something?" She questioned.
"That's the same question I could ask you."
With an accent as thick as his beard - it more or less gives away where he might be from. Britain, if her summation was correct. She doesn't exactly have a good ear for accents.
She supposes that she should be alarmed by having run into him again but she just can't bring herself to do it. No...it's not healthy to do that. She can't project her suspicion and paranoia onto a man she's only met twice. Sure he's unusual but her stranger danger meter isn't exactly activated. First off, who wears a Hawaiian shirt with a dark trench coat?
"We didn't meet properly the first time...the name's Billy. Billy Butcher."
That nearly got a giggle out of her. Billy? She never would've guessed. He looks nothing like a Billy.
"Parker Patterson."
In the basket, Quinn was getting restless, wiggling in the blankets used to keep her body warm. The kitten practically demanded that all the attention be placed back unto her. Just the idea of raising a spoiled kitten is a little too much pressure for Parker to handle.
"What you got there?"
Parker gave a half shrug. "I found her near my grandma's house...couldn't leave her."
"Hmm. You name her yet? You look like a 'mittens' kind of woman." He commented.
"Not sure what kind of woman that is because I'm firmly decided on Quinn."
The man snorted. "You remind me of someone I once knew."
"Do I?"
A lapse of silence fell between them for a while before Parker decided to break it before it got too awkward.
"I guess I'll see you around." She lamented awkwardly.
He gave a smile nod. "Likewise sunshine."
The little nickname he'd suddenly bestowed on her makes a flush appearance over her cheeks, and she quickly turns away to prevent him from seeing it.
The scheduled support meeting went on as planned, the non-threatening, non-judgmental environment is one that Parker had gradually learned to thrive in. At the start, she wasn't really looking for any sort of altruism, only advice on how to sustain her mental health and cope with what happened to her. It provided her a chance to learn from the other's own experiences and open up to the possibility of socializing to the best of her ability. Conversations ranged from the traumatic experiences like being raped to more light-hearted topics like individual hobbies and interests. Regardless, she feels as though she's made real progress over the past few weeks and it's important to note that. Group therapy is something she should've sought out years after her parents death.
Before him - before Black Noir even happened.
Frankly, Parker could hardly believe she'd gotten to the point where she's capable of thinking of him without turning into a paranoid, panicky mess of nerves. Parker's patience was always low, her anxiety even more so.
Through this, she's found that everyone goes through things and she can't be left alone with her own fears and anxieties any longer. Excessive isolation feels like her own personal hell and she can't stand to be there a second longer.
For the first few meetings, Parker absolutely dreaded having to sit in a circle of chairs and continuously reliving her rape experience. During that time, all she wanted to do was draw as little attention to herself as possible or withdraw into herself like a turtle in its shell. Naturally, she understood the need for it, as acknowledging what happened it is often the first step to recovery. She had to face it head on - that's what these meetings essentially had done. Before she even stepped foot into the building, she always took the time to mentally prepare beforehand.
That is until the facilitator asked to speak with her in private after the meeting concluded.
The woman started by brushing her palms together. "You're the only one in the group that hasn't at least alluded to the identity of their attacker or given any details."
Parker had the distinct feeling that something wasn't right. The statement itself appeared sketchy from the jump.
Parker's lips pressed together in what could be interpreted as a frown. "Excuse me. I just don't see why that's important." She tried to reason.
"Usually, in the midst of recovery survivors are more open to speak about their attacker after having avoided doing so for the sake of their trauma. You're the first in the program who's done the opposite. Not that it's a bad thing. Your recovery is moving along smoothly and benefactors are still pleased with the results."
As the woman spoke, Parker couldn't help but make the distinction that the 'group therapy' was shadowing something else. The way the woman was explaining it, it was almost as if the recovery was not the important part but rather the positive results from its participants.
Parker took in a sharp breath, every muscle in her body grew tense. "Benefactors?"
"Yeah. Vought International. Right now, they're our main benefactor." She noted as she picked up a bender with the corporation's logo presented on the front. The stylized V on the front of the binder left her stricken with emotion.
Parker truly felt ill at that moment and she didn't realize that she had begun to mentally block out the woman's choice of words. A strong sense of dread rose in her, the likes of which she hadn't felt in a while.
In addition to that, there were just too many questions without answers. Why in the hell would Vought International be a benefactor to a small group therapy program?
"I don't understand." She whispered.
"Vought has been one of our benefactors since the start of the program, they provide all the funding. I guess the city didn't have a haven for many survivors a few years back and they decided to change that. I only wish they gave us more funding to expand. I want the program to have more resources for sexual assault survivors. Unfortunately, no matter how much I insist, Vought itself makes that call." She mentioned with a dismissive wave of her hand as she rounded the desk.
The woman continued speaking as if all was well - maybe with her but Parker was another story altogether. By this point, the curled hairs on the back of her neck were standing on end. She can't bring herself to ignore the slight overtaking of paranoia that the realization has brought her.
Was someone watching her at this very moment? Did Vought know? Were they keeping tabs on her on her every move to ensure she didn't go public about her ordeal with one of their supes?
In the beginning, she didn't have much reason to believe that the corporation is into more shady dealings but a circumstance such as this can't be overlooked. It was only recently that she'd unlawfully entered Vought's headquarters and barely managed to escape. Her exploits were no doubt caught on the hundred surveillance cameras in the massive building. A company that immense would do anything to protect its heroes and reputation.
She had to leave. She couldn't stay here.
"I have to go…"
"Wait! Parker I didn't mean to-"
The frazzled woman wouldn't hear a word of it, she was out the door faster than her legs could carry her.
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