Kitten

Chapter 6

Murdoc felt himself freeze almost instantly under the kitten, his eyes blinking quickly in response as a million questions ran through his head. Had he heard the boy right? Was he really telling him his name right now when for all he knew no one had been able to get it out of him before now? Why was it so easy this time around, without him even having to ask for it? He assumed he'd get all the answers he wanted in time though they certainly were swarming around his brain for the moment.

"Your name is Stuart." Murdoc felt himself cringe inwardly from just how dumbstruck he'd sounded.

"That's what I just said." The kitten huffed, a soft blush on his cheeks. "If you like 2D more though that's okay..."

"No, no, that's not what I meant at all I'm just... surprised you'd tell me so soon."

"Ahh...Well... I trust you."

"So, Stuart huh?" Murdoc smiled, trying to ease a bit of the tension. "What a lovely name."

He couldn't keep back his laugh when he felt Stuart nuzzle back against him, his hand reaching to run back through the boys hair in response. They went quiet after that, their attention both back on the movie though Murdocs was mostly on the younger boy. He was a strange one really, almost nothing about him reflected on what Serri had said to him when she first told him about Stuart. Sure he was nervous, almost painfully so, but he wasn't bad when it came to talking. He'd never actually scratched him before, he could recall the boy using his nails once but only out of fear if Murdoc was remembering correctly.

She said he'd been unresponsive, that they'd been unable to get almost anything out of him though it seemed in just a few days Murdoc had gotten the whole story. The small, grimy looking cage popped back into mind for just a moment before he pushed it back out. The kitten was probably the one who made the mess after all, he figured his disheveled hair was one example of his lack of cleanliness. He gave a slight shake of his head soon after, deciding he shouldn't be worrying about it right now, not with all the progress he'd made with Stuart.

The rest of their little movie night ended in peace with Stuart springing up every so often to pick out a new movie for them. It wasn't until the next morning that Murdoc had realized he'd fallen asleep on the couch, the kitten still on top of him from the night before. He didn't have the heart to wake him up right away, instead he shifted around to carefully lift him, taking him back to the now shared bedroom so he could sleep since Murdoc wasn't exactly sure what time the boy had actually went to bed last night. He stepped back out of the room quietly before making his way back to the kitchen to get a cup of tea, not in the mood to make breakfast this early, especially when the only other person here was fast asleep.

He was deep in thought when he heard the doorbell ring, a soft sigh slipping out as he stood to answer it wondering just who had the nerve to show up at his house uninvited so early in the morning. He checked the time, Noon. So early in the afternoon he'd corrected as he walked back to the front door, opening it with a slight scowl. A girl stood on the other side, her eyes covered by her sunglasses though Murdoc could still spot a bitch when he saw one, and that hair cut with those glasses was a definite ringer in his books.

"Uh can I help you? Pretty sure I didn't call for a home visit." He hummed, an eyebrow raised.

"I'm looking for Murdoc Niccals." Her tone was flat, barely giving his tone a second thought.

"Well, ya found him. Who are you exactly?"

"My name is Paula, do you mind if I come in for a minute? I don't think this is something to talk about on a doorstep."

"Hah wanna give me a clue what it's about then?"

"Your hybrid."

Murdoc let out a gruff sound at the mention of Stuart, his eyes squinting slightly as he gave the girl a once over before stepping out of the way to let her in. The fact that she even knew about Stuart already gave him a bad vibe, not to mention the fact that she seemed to find him in only a few days depending on how long she'd been looking that is. He gave a quick nod of his head towards the dining room, letting her take a seat as he took his own, taking another sip of his tea.