Disclaimer: I lay claim only to my family, cat, house and car.
Rascal was inspired by my wonderful psycho kitty Baxter. He's part Maine Coon, affectionate, and is completely bonkers. I love the big fur ball. And I may not literally understand what he "says", but I have a good sense and I swear he sasses me. I swear. I'm not a crazy cat lady, promise. I'm a crazy manga girl. I have people who will testify on my behalf. Anyway…
I'm glad you guys are diggin' the story and look forward to hearing your opinions in later chapters. Enjoy!
Rascal
Chapter 8
Heero's eyes shot open suddenly and he remained very still, knowing he was in unfamiliar surroundings. Quickly, he recounted his most recent memories and cringed. I got…drunk. Horribly drunk. And Milliardo….this is his place. And this is…..
Heero wiggled his fingers in the soft, warm fur ball resting on his chest.
….his cat.
The warm feline on his chest stirred, making a squeaking noise as it stretched its body and stood up, looking down at Heero with its green eyes.
Meow.
"I wouldn't call it good."
Heero sat up, heedless of Rascal and the feline just jumped down onto the floor and headed back down the hallway. Heero sat there and looked around the dim room.
Must still be early. Maybe I should just get my clothes and---
"Good morning. Sleep well?"
Heero looked up and saw a sleepy Milliardo rubbing an eye, a sleepy smile on his face. Heero could only stare at the uncharacteristic look for the aristocratic blonde. He was only wearing pajama pants which were rumpled and his hair had a few frizzy spots from moving around in his sleep. And for some reason Heero couldn't seem to get his eyes off the broad, bare chest. But thankfully Milliardo helped him out by pulling a t-shirt on after nursing his sleep-hazy eyes.
"Y..eah."
"Good. The bathroom is down the hall. I thought I'd start breakfast. Any requests?"
Heero could only shake his head back and forth and Milliardo just chuckled as he shuffled into the kitchen, amused at the sight of a disoriented Heero sitting on his sofa wearing slightly oversized pajamas. My pajamas. Heero Yuy slept on my sofa last night, wearing my pajamas.
Milliardo padded up to the refrigerator and opened the door and stopped, staring blankly into the lit shelves of food. Heero Yuy is wearing my pajamas. Suddenly, Milliardo burst out laughing, not caring if Heero could hear him or not.
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"Hey!"
Heero looked under the table and found Rascal licking the top of his bare foot.
"Stop that."
Meow.
Heero and Rascal stared at each other and Milliardo quietly observed the comical situation as he made breakfast. Eventually it was Heero who backed down and sat back up straight with a defeated sigh.
"Fine. Do whatever you want, freak."
Heero took a tentative sip of his fresh cup of coffee and turned his attention to Milliardo, trying to ignore Rascal's ticklish ministrations but his toes still wiggled every now and again.
"How did you end up with such a creature?"
Milliardo chuckled and continued to cook.
"Relena of course. Rascal followed her all over town one day on a shopping trip. He waited outside the stores and just followed her everywhere so she took him home. But lo and behold she's allergic."
"So…..big brother to the rescue?"
Milliardo turned enough for Heero to see pale blue eyes roll in exasperation and he couldn't help but chuckle. It was the second time that morning that Heero had seen Milliardo look so….normal.
"She just kept hounding me and when she threatened to send that crazed Catalonia girl to my apartment I happily took Racal."
Heero nodded, knowing Milliardo's decision was the correct one. Without noticing, both men shivered in unison at their own recalled memories of one Dorothy Catalonia.
"Breakfast is served."
Milliardo placed a plate of fluffy eggs and sizzling bacon before Heero, then proceeded to fix his own plate.
"This is good. Thank you."
"No problem. I'm shocked you can even eat after all the alcohol you consumed yesterday. And I'm more than a little bitter over your lack of a hangover."
Heero merely chuckled as he continued to eat breakfast. Milliardo smiled at the deep sound. It had become one of his favorite sounds since joining Heero at Rufus's.
"So. Do you think you'll ever tell me the reason behind your personal little bacchanal yesterday?"
Clear blue eyes fixed on him and Milliardo held his smile in place even as his stomach twisted. The pair remained staring at each other until Heero finally looked away, reaching for his coffee, mumbling.
"Just a moment of weakness."
Milliardo's smile faltered and he nodded slightly as he turned his attention to his own plate of food.
"So where do you live?"
Heero's head shot up and he put the coffee cup down harder than he intended as he stared wide-eyed at Milliardo who could only scoff.
"What? I'm not just going to leave you to find your own way home. I'll give you a ride."
Heero blinked a few times and studied the man across from him. Doesn't he ever learn? I told him my life was none of his business. Although….he did look after me last night and made me breakfast. I suppose I owe him one.
"Three blocks from Rufus's on Chatterly."
Milliardo looked down at his plate as he chewed and then finally nodded his head.
"I know where that is. There's a fantastic pizzeria on that street."
"Stromboli's."
"Yeah."
Milliardo watched as Heero kept his head down and just ate his food. Jeez, like pulling teeth.
Suddenly Heero looked up and reached for his coffee mug but he stopped with the mug midway to his mouth when he found piercing pale blue eyes aimed at him.
"What?"
Milliardo just shrugged and offered a lopsided grin even though he'd been caught blatantly staring at Heero.
"Nothing."
Cerulean eyes narrowed and Milliardo could only imagine the thoughts going through the former teenaged terrorist's mind. He probably thinks I'm spying for some radical faction of freedom fighters and I'm trying to recruit him. Milliardo chuckled and stood up grabbing a small plate from the cabinet and scraping some eggs from his plate onto it along with some pieces of bacon. Then he placed it on the floor and continued eating his own breakfast, completely ignoring Heero who was watching his every move.
"There, that should save you for a few hours. Once he's done eating he'll go sit in the window for a few hours."
Milliardo smiled at Heero who could only stare in wonder at the man who seemed perfectly at ease with the unconventional situation. Maybe this isn't as big a deal as I'm making it out to be.
"Do you always feed him whatever you're eating?"
Milliardo just shrugged and continued eating.
"He refuses to eat cat food."
"Big surprise."
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"Just drop me off at the shop."
"Heero, I'll take you home."
"No, it's ok. I have a change of clothes at the shop and I'm already running late."
Milliardo sighed and threw up his hands in defeat, making his next right, heading towards the body shop. I honestly want to believe him, but he's so guarded, I can't help but think he doesn't want me knowing exactly where he lives.
Five minutes later they were stopped in front of Heero's shop with the brunette practically leaping from Milliardo's car, making a beeline for the door.
"Hey, Heero."
The brunette turned around, hand still on the door to the customer entrance.
"Next time you decide to do some heavy duty drinking, give me a call."
"Why?"
"I'll take care of you again."
Heero's hand fell from the knob and he took a few steps towards the car, face showing his disbelief.
"Why would I--"
"Hey, if nothing else you know you'll get a nice breakfast, right? See ya!"
Before Heero could say anything further Milliardo drove off. Heero just stood there, astounded at the blonde's audacity.
And right in front of the shop too! I hope Jeremy didn't hear him. I'm pretty sure that nosy old man was the one who told Milliardo about Rufus' to begin with.
Heero sighed and turned back, entering the shop and preparing to fix anyone with a glare of death who dared ask why he was wearing the same clothes as yesterday.
"Good morning, boss man!"
Heero just grumbled and glared as he made his way to the garage door, wanting nothing more than to escape to the back locker-room and get a shower and clean clothes.
"Say….isn't that the same shirt you were wearing yesterday? Yeah, it is. That was the shirt Billy liked so much, right?"
Heero cringed as the old man continued to shout after him even after the door to the garage opened and shut. He didn't make eye contact with anyone and heard a few greetings thrown his way. Heero just raised a hand in greeting and quickly retreated to the back room. After the door shut behind him he sighed in relief until he heard some laughter erupt from the mechanics. Damn Milliardo, the old man, the freakish cat, Wufei, and damn me for allowing all of them to get to me!
To be continued….