Disclaimer: I lay claim only to my family, cat, house and car.

I am stupid silly in love with this chapter. Enter the Rascal!

Rascal

Chapter 7

The two men didn't speak again until Milliardo pulled into the parking garage and they were exiting the car.

"Are you sure this is ok?"

"Is what ok?"

"Your roommate. You sure he won't mind?"

Oh, that's right, I never clarified my living situation with him. So he assumed a male roommate instead of a girlfriend. Interesting.

"Honestly, I don't know. He's a bit finicky when it comes to guests."

"Great."

Milliardo threw his arm around the unsteady man's shoulders as they entered the elevator. An authoritative push of the four button and they were on their way, Milliardo grinning like a Cheshire Cat and Heero sulking.

"Relax, Heero, he won't scratch your eyes out or anything. Although he is a bit of a biter."

"What?!"

Heero tried to push out of Milliardo's grasp but the blonde just chuckled and held firm. The elevator announced their arrival with an off tune ding and Milliardo let go of Heero and let him follow down the hallway to his apartment. He put the key in the lock and just before opening the door he stopped and turned to Heero, whispering conspiratorially.

"One other thing about my roommate: he's…..well to be honest he's a bit hairy so don't stare, ok?"

Milliardo was amazed he managed to keep himself looking so calm and casual about everything while Heero looked like he had entered an episode of The Twilight Zone, his face a mixture of fear and wonder.

"Welcome to my home, Heero."

Milliardo opened the door and turned on the lights illuminating Heero's cautious entranceMilliardo tossed his keys into a glass dish on the foyer table and disappeared back into the dark hallways opposite the front door on the other side of the living room. If the place is dark I guess his roommate is asleep. That's a relief.

"Just make yourself at home, Heero! I'll be right out to make you some coffee!"

Heero winced at the loud voice echoing from the hallway. Damn it! He's going to wake up his roommate and I don't feel like dealing with this freak.

Meow.

Heero looked down at see a black cat with white socks and big green eyes staring up at him expectantly. Milliardo has a cat? I guess that makes sense. It's the only type of animal I could picture him with. Or maybe it belongs to his roommate.

Milliardo came back out and went straight into the kitchen area. The floor plan was completely open with the eat-in kitchen overlooking the expansive living room. There was a wall of curtains to his left which Heero assumed hid a balcony while the kitchen was on his right. The living room had a leather sofa, a couple leather chairs and a large rustic looking square coffee table in the middle of them with a small matching end table on one end of the sofa. The TV was huge but it sat on a very simple stand that housed various electronics. The walls were surprisingly bare with the exception of a clock that hung on the wall opposite the foyer. There was a hallway that presumably led back to the bathroom and bedrooms.

"Would you like regular or decaf?"

"Decaf."

Heero looked back down at the cat who was still sitting at his feet, just staring.

"Don't worry about him, Heero, take a seat. If he hasn't bitten you yet you should be safe."

"He bites?"

"I already told you Rascal was a biter. Now go sit down."

Realization dawned on Heero and he knew he'd been played. That bastard! All those warnings about some freak roommate. He was talking about a stupid cat?!

"Your roommate……" Heero looked over in the direction of the platinum blonde who was rummaging through the kitchen cabinets as if nothing were peculiar about the situation. Then he looked back down at the big green eyes that seemed to be studying him. Judging him. "….is you?"

Meow.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Heero."

Meow.

"Yeah, Milliardo told me. Hope you don't mind my coming over so late."

Heero kept gazing into the green feline eyes, as if waiting for a response. I hope I don't remember this in the morning. I'm not sure I could live with the knowledge that I'm standing in Peacecraft's apartment having a conversation with a cat. I wonder if this is what Trowa experiences when he 'speaks' to the animals? Maybe he's not as crazy as I thought. That or he's always drunk.

The black cat with white socks known as Rascal regarded Heero for a few more seconds before moving in and rubbing his cheek against Heero's ankle.

"He likes you."

Heero finally tore his attention from the friendly feline and looked up to see a smiling Milliardo offering him a steaming cup of coffee.

"He's a cat."

Heero accepted the warm mug of brew and made his way over to a very comfortable looking dark brown leather chair.

"I'm not so sure about that."

A raised eyebrow questioned the Preventor's statement but suddenly Heero found a soft, warm presence at the side of his head. Rascal had jumped up onto the back of the chair and proceeded to make himself at home at the base of Heero's neck, legs draped around him as if in a fireman's carry, tail lazily swaying.

Milliardo stifled his chuckle as he watched the stunned brunette struggle to come to grips with his new friend. Apparently deciding the effort wasn't worth it, Heero sighed and just sipped at his coffee.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

The pair sat in silence for a few moments until Heero could be heard growling in response to a very rough pink tongue licking his cheek. This time Milliardo did not hold back his laughter.

"I've never seen Rascal take to somebody like he has you, Heero."

"I'm leaving."

Heero put his half empty coffee cup on the table and stood up, causing Rascal to slip down into the seat cushion.

"You can't."

"Watch me."

"You're drunk, Heero and I'm not going to drive you home. You had your chance and you refused to tell me where you lived. So come back here and finish your coffee while I go get you some blankets and a pillow."

Milliardo put his cup down and disappeared once again back into the dark hallway. Heero just stared after him, his mind not working fast enough to reply to Milliardo's statements. He offered to take me home? And when did I agree to come here anyway? And why is that damn cat still staring at me?!

Heero growled and stomped back over to the chair and picked up Rascal, tossing him onto the sofa.

"I'm never drinking again."

Meow.

"Shut up."

Meow.

"None of your business."

Meow.

"Look you----"

"Heero? Are you arguing with my cat?"

Milliardo stood there, arms stretched around blankets and pillows chuckling at the scene. He saw Heero's cheeks turn a deep rose and then he scowled.

"That…" He pointed at the mostly black feline. "….is not a cat."

"I told you. But if you two can't play nice I'll just have to separate you."

Milliardo ignored the seething man in his chair and dumped the bedding on the sofa, right on top of Rascal. The cat quickly made its way out from underneath and proceeded to follow Milliardo around meowing at the top of his lungs as if yelling at his owner while Milliardo disappeared back down the hallway.

Heero sat there, bewildered. This is not happening. I'm passed out drunk in some alley. That must be it.

When Milliardo returned he held out a pair of pajamas for Heero.

"They'll be a little big, but I guarantee they're comfortable."

Heero looked from the offered powder blue clothes to Milliardo and back again. He reluctantly took them with a sigh and slumped back in the chair defeated. Milliardo just stooped down to pick up Rascal, cradling him against his chest and scratching behind his ears.

"You look tired, Heero. We'll leave you in peace. Goodnight."

"'Night."

Heero waited until he heard Milliardo's bedroom door firmly shut before he even moved. He quickly changed into the pajamas and nestled down into the comfortable leather sofa and pillow, pulling the blanket up to his chin. He lay there in the dark trying to put the whole miserable and bizarre day behind him by letting his mind wander. He inhaled deeply and held it for a few seconds before releasing it, letting his whole body relax. What's that smell? Heero inhaled again and he became aware of the rich smell of sandalwood with a hint of flowers. Milliardo. It's his smell. Heero turned his head and smelled the pillow, the scent very powerful. He must have taken this right off his own bed. Heero inhaled once again and with one last thought he fell into a deep sleep. He smells really nice.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Milliardo had gotten up to use the bathroom and noticed Rascal was not curled up at the foot of his bed and his bedroom door was ajar. That is one scary cat. I hope he's not out there bothering Heero. Deciding the bathroom could wait he went out into the living room to check on Heero and find out what happened to Rascal. It's not like him to sleep anywhere other than in my bed. He padded out to the dark living room and shivered, the sleepy heat finally leaving his body. A few more steps found Heero laying on his back with Rascal tucked up under his chin, a hand draped possessively on the cat's back.

He stared in wonder at the two creatures lying on his sofa and he couldn't squash the jealousy. So these two are curled up together while I'm alone in bed. Perfect.

"Hmph." Milliardo smiled as he ran a gentle hand over Rascal and the hand resting on the cat. "Sleep well you two."

To be continued….