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

Rascal

Chapter 16

Milliardo gazed out the window at the never-ending blackness, speckled with pinpoints of light. He had only arrived a day ago, and already his mind was occupied with matters outside his mission statement.

Figures as soon as I make progress with Heero I get shipped out to space.

Milliardo had been surprised at how easily Heero agreed to take care of Rascal while he was gone. He wasn't sure how much of Heero's annoyance with the overzealous feline was honest and how much was just bravado.

A smirk curved Milliardo's lips.

Rascal's obsession with him really came in handy. Although….

Milliardo's brows furrowed, then he scoffed, and finally he chuckled and shook his head a few times.

How very pathetic. I needed the help of a cat to lure in a boyfriend.

At the thought of Heero becoming his boyfriend, Milliardo's stomach flipped and he took a deep breath. Things are definitely headed that way. Heero isn't the type to just kiss somebody unless there's something behind it.

"Peacecraft."

Milliardo blinked out of his daze to see one of the men assigned to the space station they currently occupied approaching.

"The Commander is requesting the presence of your team."

"Thank you."

Milliardo began to follow the younger man to whatever meeting room their meeting would be held, his mind slowly coming into mission mode. But one last thought lingered in his mind to make him smile.

I hope Heero doesn't kill Rascal.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Heero sat on the sofa and absently scratched Rascal's head as he listened to the news. He'd been coming over for the past three days, showing up after work and only staying long enough to put the mail on the kitchen counter and feed and water Rascal. But upon his arrival today he realized he would not being coming and going as quickly as the past few nights.

He had barely stepped into the living room when he stopped dead in his tracks and gazed in horror at the floor that was littered with pieces of multicolored paper, making the place look like the scene of a parade. As he slowly made his way into the apartment to put the day's mail on the counter, he found the source of the paper. The mail which had been neatly piled on the breakfast bar was gone.

Meow.

Heero turned wide eyes towards the sound to see Rascal sitting about three feet away, tail swishing lazily to and fro.

"Did you---?"

Meow.

Somehow, Heero swore he sensed a twinge of sarcasm in the animal's voice and his shock turned into anger.

"You furhole!"

Heero reached out for the cat but it quickly darted away from him and ran down the hallway. Heero followed, grumbling curses under his breath as he entered Milliardo's bedroom and fell to his knees and lifted the bed skirt to see glittering eyes peering at him from the darkness.

"If you don't come out by the time I'm done cleaning up your mess, I'm not going to feed you for two days."

And with that, Heero stood up and went back out to the living room to start cleaning. It took Rascal about five minutes to reappear. And when he did, he peeked around the corner of the breakfast bar and just watched Heero as he squatted down to sweep the pile of confetti into a dustpan. Heero didn't look away from his task, but he did acknowledge the feline's presence.

"Well? Have you come to apologize?"

Rrreow.

"Thank you."

After Heero finished cleaning up the paper mess, he made Rascal and himself some dinner and the pair sat down to eat and watch TV.

"You're lucky that the only things in the mail were junk."

Meow.

Heero reached out and scratched behind the cat's ear without even taking his eyes from the TV.

"No, I won't tell him."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Heero yawned and when he looked at the clock he groaned. Realizing the reason for Rascal's little paper escapade, he stayed and kept the lonely feline company. But now it was almost 1am and he needed to get some sleep.

I don't feel like driving back home. I guess I'll just sleep here tonight.

Heero stood up and made his way back to Milliardo's bedroom, Rascal at his heels. He didn't even turn on the light, just used the hallway light as a guide as he reached out and yanked the blanket along with a pillow.

Meow.

Heero stopped and saw Rascal kneading the blanket he was trying to pull off the bed.

"Stop. If you want the blanket it will be with me in the living room.

Meow.

Heero sighed and his shoulders slumped.

"Because it's his bed."

Meow.

"I don't care."

Heero tugged halfheartedly on the blanket once again but Rascal had already curled into himself, nestled among the soft comforter's folds.

Heero found himself jealous of the cat that seemed comfortable, content and warm. I guess one night won't matter.

After Heero had turned off the living room lights and closed the bedroom door behind him, he made his way towards the bed in the dark, shedding his clothes in the process. He let his head sink into the deep feather pillows with a grateful sigh, even as his body shivered upon contact with the cool sheets.

This is nice. I didn't know a bed could be this comfortable.

Heero was vaguely aware of a soft, warm presence on his chest and he brought his hand up to keep Rascal in place. The deep, soothing sound of purring was making quick work of what little consciousness he had left.

Meow.

"Yeah…..I miss him too."

To be continued….

Note: I would like to publicly thank my cousin Bonnie for coining the phrase 'furhole'. I'm considering petitioning the OED for acceptance.