Kitten

Chapter 7

Murdoc sighed softly as he looked back over at Stuart on the couch, a small frown on his face as he thought over what he could do at the moment. Sure he could sit down and ask who exactly the woman was, and sure Stuart would probably tell him everything, but was it really worth it at the moment? He thought about how the boy might not be ready for that part yet, he'd talked about his past before, but never in the detail he would have to for something like this.

He groaned more so to himself as he stepped over to the couch, slumping back against it. His head pulled back to the side, only for him to jump slightly in his spot as he noticed the kitten looking back over at him a worried expression on his face though he didn't make a move to say anything at the moment. They sat there staring at each other before Stuart finally spoke up, Murdoc was tired of the silence anyway.

"Mudz...who exactly was here earlier?" He tilted his head, his voice somewhat hesitant. "You don't have to tell me but I've never seen you get so worked up."

"It was a woman, I don't know her personally but...she seemed to know you."

"Me?"

"Yeah said she came with you in mind."

"Who was she..?"

"Her name was Paula."

"Oh. Yeah. I knew her." Stuart shrugged.

"Do you mind telling me about it?" Murdoc hummed, his tone soft despite the question.

"I um... I don't know it was weird with her..." He shrugged again, giving a little shake of his head. "I mean I guess she was the first person I was with. She was um..okay, at first. She adopted me from she shelter after all but you know most places do routine check ups when they sell kittens so young?"

"Right I know about that."

"Yeah, so, one day they came in for a check up and..." He trailed off, giving a slight wave of his hand over his face.

"They thought she did that?"

"She did do it. Not.... Not on purpose the first time. But, black was her favorite color after all."

"Oh christ.."

"I forgave her for it. She needed help a-and I thought you know maybe seeing me like that made her happy and I was helping, but when I got taken away... I heard she had like died or something I don't know."

"You forgave her for doing that to you?"

"Like I said the first time was an accident, and the second... She wasn't in the right mind. She was like me, she had problems." Stuart gave another sigh. "If she's back though.... I...I don't think I could go back with her."

"You don't have to go back with her, ever. Not after that." Murdoc shook his head, opening his arms slightly when he heard the boys soft sniffles. "Come here kitten no need to cry."

He relaxed slowly against the couch as the boy slipped over onto his lap from his spot, practically curled back around Murdoc in an instant as his head nuzzled into the crook of his neck, soft hiccups slipping out here and there. Murdoc let his hand thread through the boys hair to ease him down as he tried to sooth him, his free hand rubbing along his back as he felt Stuart grip against his shirt tightly.

Murdoc felt a sudden wave of relief wash over him when the other kept close, the thought that he wasn't planning on leaving even if Paula came back made him happy even if he knew he'd probably never admit that part out loud. They stayed like that for a while longer, Murdocs hand working gently against the boys scalp as he felt him slowly start to go limp in his arms. With a slight hum he shifted him off of himself, laying Stuart down on the bed before standing back up. He figured he should get things sorted out.