Love reBuilt {TMNT 2012}

CH. 4 - 6

CHAPTER FOUR

The thundering knocking at your door pried your eyelids apart. Heart racing, you shot up from your couch, which promptly caused both your textbook and laptop to tumble loudly onto your floor. "Fuck!" you cried, scrambling down towards your laptop, which now had a long, singular crack that ran across the screen. 

Thankfully, after powering it on it still seemed to work. Your breath of relief was quickly interrupted, though, as the banging on your front door continued. A tired and impatient scowl quickly wormed its way onto your face. Glancing at the clock hanging from the wall, your scowl intensified. It's seven in the fucking morning.

Stomping your way to the door, you quickly yanked it open to reveal Craig standing outside your home. He wore a large, happy smile on his face, and was holding a plethora of pet supplies, with a cat carrier down by his feet. "Sorry Squirt, but you were just taking so long to decide and I really need to get this guy adopted. Edmund is threatening divorce." He breathed, pushing past you as he made his way into your apartment. You stood there in shock and confusion for a few moments before your sleep-deprived brain finally caught up to the shit-loaded situation surrounding you. Oh, fuck no, he was not bringing some janky cat into your care.

"Craig! I don't want him. Go find someone else to take him!" You growled, walking after him. But it was too late, he had already pushed an empty litter box into your bathroom and was now opening the carrier's door, cooing for the cat to make its way out.

"He and you will make a great fit, don't worry. You'll barely even know he's here!" He assured, smiling down at the big brown tabby. "Besides, if he stays at my place for much longer, my marriage will fall apart."

You paused your momentary disdain at this, his marriage? Craig talked about his husband quite frequently, but not once had you ever assumed they'd been having problems. Seeing your slightly perplexed expression, he clarified. "Ed is allergic to cats, and Hog here is double coated. He's been living off of Claritin for the past 2 months and has told me if I don't get rid of the cat soon, he's walking out." Rolling his eyes slightly, he adopted a lovingly mocking tone. "I'm too old to live like this, Craig. I've lived through all this buffoonery just to be taken out by a damned cat? Absolutely not."

Why the hell would they foster cats if Ed is allergic? You'd met Ed once before, the burly man standing quite a few inches taller than Craig. His face was warm and wrinkled, smile lines prominent through his ebony skin. He was very clean cut, shirts always buttoned to his neck and his nails manicured. Ed never struck you as someone with a temper, so for him to threaten divorce, even jokingly, over some cat dandruff floating in the air took you by surprise. Maybe Craig was desperate for this cat to find a home and quick.

Bending down slightly, you offered a hand out to Hog. The old cat glanced at you and hobbled his way toward your outstretched palm (he was still in his cast). As he nuzzled our hand, you glanced at Craig. "You really can't find anyone else to take him? He's cute, but I'm... I don't really know if I'm in a place to be a pet owner."

He nodded, looking slightly apologetic. "I really am sorry, but with his age and injuries, all people see one fat, walking vet bill. And you really do seem like a responsible girl, a little rough around the edges, sure, but I just know in my gut you'll take good care of him." You sighed, choosing to ignore the slight insult there.

Admittedly, Hog was pretty cute. He was now flopped onto his back, his three legs stretched out with his stomach exposed as you scratched behind his ears. The purrs emanating from him were loud and relaxed. While you most certainly did not appreciate being woken up with a forced cat adoption and was still a bit worried about sucking as his owner... you gave in.