Like Kats and Dogs
Pt Two
AN: I've decided to run with this fic as far as the inspiration takes me, in an attempt to portray a realistic history for the relationship hinted at between Doggie and Kat in SPD, as well a recount the back-story of the current series as seen through their eyes.
Funky In Fishnet: (loving the penname, by the way) Thanks for your comments! If I can make someone smile when I write, I'm happy. (Alright, that's corny, but true! Where would we be without warm fuzzies?) ;p
BrandonB: Squeeeeeeeeeeee! I'm on a favourites list! -bounces- anyway, thank you! I think there aren't many other fics centering around Kat and/or Cruger because people just aren't as interested in the supporting characters on a show like this. Me, I'm always interested in the characters we know least about... more scope for the writing! I hope you enjoy the next chapter!
masterranger3: Wanna know a secret? -peers around checking for shippers- okay, coasts clear. I'm not much of a Kat/Doggie shipper either. However, I am intrigued by these two characters, whatever their relationship is/was. Mostly I like the idea of exploring Kat's attachment toCruger and how that came about, as well as various other emotional traumas that must have gone on in the twenty odd years leading to the start of the series. Still, enjoy the next chapter, and tell me what you think! (I'm deliberately trying not to ship, actually. Just stick true to what might have happened.)
StarTraveler: Thank you! Be forwarned, I probably wont end up getting these two together. My perogative is staying true to the characters, not writing romance. However, if that ends up coming out of my efforts... so be it. ;) The point is, even though I'm not much of a shipper myself, you will probably enjoy this fic simply because I intend to explore Kat and Cruger's relationship as much as possible, and you'll probably like the next chapter, too. Have fun, and tell me what you think!
Right, that being done...
Disclaimer: Don't own it, yadda yadda yadda...
On with the fic!
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"You want me or not, Doggie Cruger?" She stood in his doorway, arms folded, dark clothes shifting in the breeze from the open apartment door, saying she wasn't going to be driven away again.
"Leave it be, cat."
"No."
"Stubborn creature."
"Stubborn old dog, you are. Give me an answer."
"I can't."
"You can. And I'm gonna stand here until you do."
"Kit…"
"They call me Manx," she said it coldly, "down at the academy. A tailless cat."
"Well I'm calling you Kit."
"Why?"
"Why not?"
"You named me in their tongue, Doggie Cruger. Now tell me if you want me."
He growled at her, turning away. She hissed her annoyance and drummed a fingers against his door.
"Tell me before I leave. I'll walk out of your life, Doggie Cruger. I'll walk out of your life, and you'll never see me again if you don't want to. But I know you don't want that, so tell me what you do want."
"I don't know, cat!"
"And that's your problem, Cruger. You don't know the first thing you want and you're too damn scared to go for anything you might have a need for! Scared for a memory, for a threat that doesn't even exist!" She started to whine, high-pitched and ear-splitting, breaking into her own tongue. She wasn't yet proficient enough in English to be able to fully express herself properly in it, particularly when her emotions were running high.
"Stop it!" Cruger barked, pained.
She hissed at him, uttering several expletives in her native language.
"You too!" Cruger retorted, glaring.
The Felina struggled to regain control. She'd been prone to fits of temper since arriving on Earth a few months earlier, something her psychologist had attributed to 'delayed post traumatic stress disorder'. Her highly dysfunctional relationship with Cruger apparently wasn't helping matters, but she had refused to allow herself to be separated from him, and, despite himself, he had wanted her to stay. He hadn't realised how lonely he'd been since his wife had died, until he suddenly had someone waiting at home for him to talk to again. Now, on her way to New Tech Academy to get a degree (something she expected to do within only a few months) that qualified her for a job in physics within the local galaxy, she was moving out, but she wasn't going without getting a few things straight.
"You have an odd idea of betrayal, Cruger," she spoke with only the slightest edge to her voice.
"You don't-"
"Don't tell me I don't understand!" Her frustration was almost tangible.
He winced. He knew well enough that she'd lost as much as he had in Grumm's attack. But that wasn't what he'd meant. "I meant that your people don't partner off, cat."
"You think that makes a difference?" Disgust dripped off her voice, "you think because of something my people do I'm completely incapable? The last time I looked I wasn't my people, I was me, and there are very few of my people left to frown disapprovingly, even if I do start walking on the 'wild side'. It's called being open to new experiences. You should try it sometime."
"Kitten-"
"And don't call me that! I'm not some pet."
"I'm sorry."
"And stop apologising for things! It makes me feel guilty!"
In spite of himself, Cruger began to laugh. She was a contrary, temper-prone little madam at the best of times. But he liked that. And he didn't want to lose her. For all her faults, for all she drove him crazy sometimes… she'd forced him to take an interest in something and someone outside of his own dark little existence once more, and for that he'd always be grateful. "I cannot stand to lose you, Kit."
She bit her lip, "but you cannot stand to have me either." She looked down, "and round and round we go. I can't stand this, Doggie."
"No," he knew she couldn't. Was he being cruel? Was he being selfish? Her health was yet to fully return. The liver spots on her cheeks were still very pale, and the scars, some still only just scabbed over, still littered her face, hands, arms and legs, predominant for all to see. She still tired easily, couldn't walk long spells on her own, passed out easily, had panic attacks. Staying with him was the sensible solution, at least until she could move about relatively independently for longer than fifteen minutes at a time. But the current situation was killing her, more than the radiation poisoning ever would.
She flexed her fingers, unsheathing her claws, then letting them slide away again. He could hear the way her breathing hitched in her chest, waiting for him to make a move they both knew he never would. She turned, abruptly, striding out of the doorway and down the hall. "Goodbye, Doggie Cruger."
He stood, "Cat."
She wouldn't be called back. He let her go, if only so he wouldn't have to witness the sobs he could already hear coming from her halfway down the stairs.