Haughty and Disaffected Like All of Its Kin

Disclaimer:  I don't own these characters, even Malky…though I do own 3 Malky study specimens. 

Chapter 4

I stood silently on the top stair, hunched back on my hind legs.  My tail swished in anticipation.  My prey scurried along the side of the counter, towards me.  It turned the corner, and BAM!  I jumped on top of it, pouncing with all claws outstretched.  It had no chance, really.  They never do.  The charcoal grey mouse lay limp on the floor.  I batted it around a bit, but as usual, its novelty wore off quickly.  I picked it up between my teeth, and trotted over to show Elphaba and Fiyero. 

They were lying in bed, asleep.  This was becoming a frequent activity.  There were many times in the last month where I had to make myself busy on the stairs, to avoid becoming an accidental observer.  But she was becoming friendlier.  Sure, she still went off to cavort with whatever she always had, and read excessively, but when Fiyero was coming, or was here, she was much different.  He brought out the good side of her. 

I walked up beside Elphaba, and nuzzled my head against her back.  She shivered and scooted closer to Fiyero.  I did it again. 

"Go away, Malky."

I nuzzled again.  She slowly turned over to face me.

"What?"  she growled at me.

I held up my chin, displaying the prize dangling from my mouth.

"Malky!"

Fiyero awoke with a start.

"What's wrong?"

"Look at the present Malky brought us."

Fiyero sat up, the blanket falling from his bare chest.  I could see why Elphaba liked to continue this activity with him.  The blue diamonds swirled around his chest, and he was quite muscular.  His skin was a darker shade than most people's but it offset the blue diamonds nicely. 

He laughed when he saw my mouse. 

"She's just showing off her accomplishment."

Exactly.

"Give it here."  She reached toward my mouth, and extracted the mouse.  "Poor little thing."

She grabbed a shirt from the floor and put it on.  It was Fiyero's.  When she stood up, it fell to just below where it needed to.  She tiptoed across the cold wooden floor, and threw the dead mouse down the stairs.  I decided I'd retrieve it later.    That being done, she crawled back into the bed roll with Fiyero. 

"No special burial for the poor dead mouse?"

"Funny."

He laughed and pulled her closer.

"Not again."

"Come on."  He pulled the shirt back over her head.  "Please…"

She curled back against him, and he leaned down and kissed her.

Okay, time to make myself busy on the stairs, again.