Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.
He watches with narrowed eyes as the small ball of fuzz stalks across his living room carpet. Somewhere on the floor Madge is holding up one of her ribbons, dangling it in front of the creature and cooing as though it's a child.
"For the love of God, Madge," Gale mutters, crossing his arms, "it's a cat, not an infant."
Madge sticks out her tongue at him and returns to the kitten, laughing as the black and white animal attacks the ribbon.
"If you hate cats so much then why did you get him for me?" she asks. Madge drops the ribbon and reaches down, petting the kitten right between his ears. Almost instantly he falls to the floor and purrs, causing Madge to laugh again. "You could have left him in the shop and I never would've known."
Gale groans as Madge tickles the kitten's belly, causing the thing to sprawl out into a heap.
"I don't hate cats I just—"
"Are lacking in attention and wish I would pay more to you, rather than Spot?"
He frowns. "You named the dammed thing Spot?"
"He has spots," Madge notes. "Nice subject change, might I add." Gale bites back another groan and drops his head backwards, dragging his hands through his hair. Madge scoops the kitten into her hands and makes her way to the couch. "Here. Bond."
Madge deposits the tiny squirming thing on Gale's lap and takes the open spot on the other end of the couch. He looks down at the speckled beast and watches as he nudges Gale's hand, begging to be petted like Madge had just done.
Gale can't help but scratch the little guy between his ears, receiving a purr in appreciation.
"I don't hate cats," Gale says again, looking up toward Madge who is studying the pair of them with a smile. "And I knew that you wanted one, hence the cat."
"He's not so bad," Madge tells him. The kitten on Gale's lap nuzzles into his shirt and curls into a ball on his stomach. "See? He already likes you. Took him less time than me."
"Hilarious," Gale frowns at her as she giggles. Madge shifts across the couch and curls into his side much like the kitten has. "So you like him then?" Gale murmurs.
"Yes," Madge says with a yawn. Gale bends down and presses his lips to her forehead. "I'd watch out if I were you though," she warns him. "You might have some competition."
Gale rolls his eyes. "What? This fleabag?"
"This fleabag," Madge grumbles, "has plenty of sharp teeth and daggers as nails. So be careful." Just then, the kitten sneezes. "He's a monster," she teases.