Kracken
Something Fishy
1x2
The mission had been very hard and long. Duo had made it as far as the couch, dropping his duffel bag along the way, before collapsing there in a sprawl and falling asleep. Tossing and turning, trying in vain to get comfortable, Duo wasn't surprised to wake, hours later, to find the contents of his pockets strewn everywhere, or to feel the kink in his neck and the resulting headache. He was surprised to find his fellow agent/roommate/lover on all fours and playing with his cat.
His cat. 'His' being the operative word. Heero hated the creature. The feeling was mutual. Even now, the black and white tom cat, named 'Patches', was giving Heero a suspicious 'fish eye' as the man tried to tempt him with several toys and an open can of cat food.
"Come here, you damned-" Heero began, but bit down on that quickly.
Duo snickered. "That's no way to talk to him," he said around a yawn as he forced his sore and still exhausted body to sit up. Scratching his scalp, full of dirt and grease, he pointed to the can of cat food as Heero didn't even deign to look at him. "He hates that kind of food. It's been in the pantry since he was a kitten. You need the tuna with the egg bits."
"Duo," Heero growled in warning.
"He doesn't play with that mouse toy either," Duo continued as he checked a rip and some spots of blood on his uniform. "He likes the milk jug rings."
"Get them, then!" Heero snapped.
"You wanna play with the cat, you get 'em," Duo mumbled. "I need a few more hours sleep... in a bed this time. See ya... probably tomorrow..."
Duo started to get up, but Heero hissed at him, "Don't... Duo... Please, get your cat to come to you."
Duo blinked stupidly. "Hey, Heero, I know you hate him, but that's just because you don't give him a chance.I know you want him fixed, and all, but-"
"He sprayed my good uniforms!" Heero snarled, but then clamped down on his temper, eyes never leaving the cat. "Duo, I'm not trying to play with your damned cat, I trying to save your damned life!"
"What?" Duo finally focused on his cat, crouched around a toy. It was wrapped in something crackly and bright, the perfect toy for a cat still mostly a kitten. Duo's breath caught as he finally noticed the warning lettering between sharp claws. It was on of his explosives, a touchy round ball called a red cherry. Inside it's case, it was inert. Exposed to air, and it became unstable. He had planned to lock them up, remembered doing so, only... he must have missed one.
"Shit!" Duo breathed.
"Tell me what to do," Heero demanded urgently.
"Nothing," Duo replied and ignored Heero's panicked look. Instead, he bent over and let his braid wiggle on the floor. Patches meowed and jumped for his favorite toy, Duo's hair.
Heero snagged the 'cherry', examined it closely, and then let out a sigh of relief as he sat on the floor."Safe," he announced
Duo retrieved his braid, much to Patches annoyance, and eyed Heero, expecting the man to explode with temper at his carelessness. Instead, Heero grabbed hold of Duo's shirt and pulled him off the couch. Wrapping Duo in his strong embrace, he simply held on in silence for a long while.
"Sorry," Duo managed at last. "I guess I was... tired and stupid."
Patches rubbed against them, wanting attention. Duo looked down at him and swallowed hard."Maybe," Duo said quietly, "I should get rid of him? I guess I'm trouble enough. You don't need a cat, too."
Heero sighed and glared at the animal. "No, he stays."
Duo frowned, puzzled. "Why? You hate him."
Heero grabbed the top of Duo's braid to make him look him in the eye. "He reminds me that you love bad things with claws. It helps me to remember why you keep me around."
Duo snorted as he leaned in and gave Heero a kiss. "Well," he said, "at least it isn't because you're fluffy."
End