Kali:Sleep was beginning to edge away, and yellow gold eyes fluttered open slowly. She stretched out her body, from toe to fingertip, before relaxing back into the couch, and turning to see Gabe.
Her smile dropped when he wasn't there.
She sat up quickly, and tucked a lock of hair behind her ears.
"Loki?" Her voice echoed through the place, and she frowned when there was no response. She stood, smoothing out the silk of her dress. Then she frowned again. She didn't think he was the type to cuddle and leave.. But she could have been wrong.
She straightened the gold hoops around her wrists, and called once more.
"..Loki?"
Gabriel / Loki:
"Morning, sunshine," Gabe's voice came from somewhere in the piles of old junk. His head and shoulders popped out from behind a large trunk and he smiled at her. "Be right there."
And then he disappeared again.
A moment later, he returned, brushing dust from his hair.
"Sorry, I was looking for something. Ready to learn some of my tricks?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. He wouldn't blame her if she wanted a day to rest before she started learning about living on the street. She'd have to eventually, but a day to recover from the one before wouldn't surprise him. He could go get more food without trouble, he wouldn't need her help.
Kali:
When he answered, she let go of the breath she didn't realize she had been holding. She looked over at him, a disapproving look on her face from him having left her alone. Why was he so quick to be up from their cozy little spot?
"Yes, I suppose I am." She said, looking over her arms at the brusies that thankfully...weren't as angry as they had been last night.
"What were you looking for?" She asked looking at him to see if he had brought anything back. Surely it would have had to have been special..
Gabriel / Loki:
"Nothing really," he replied, his tone waving off her question. He'd been looking for a band he'd seen once in his explorations. He'd thought he'd put it with the rest of his things tucked between a rolled up rug and the trunk, but hadn't been able to find it. If he could, Gabe had thought it would be a nice addition to the rest of Kali's jewelry. So he wasn't going to tell her what he'd been looking for. If he found it, he wanted to surprise her with it.
"Figured I'd show you how to get food." He climbed up to the ground-level window as he spoke and glanced expectantly over his shoulder at her, placing one hand on the glass.
Kali:
She frowned when he blew her off, but she didn't care enough to press on. So for now, she'd let it go.
"Oh. I suppose that's a must." Truth be told the idea of killing things didn't bother her in the slightest. But the work that was going to go into the job was something she wasn't entirely sure she was looking to do when she was as sore as she was.
Subconsciously rubbing her arm, she nodded.
"Yes. She padded closer to the window, climbing onto the sill herself to look outside. The sun was out, but the window was cold to the touch. She'd be thankful w hen the weather warmed a bit..
Gabriel / Loki:
Gabriel couldn't resist the urge when she joined him and tipped his head toward her, brushing his ear against hers and briefly touching their temples together before he pulled away and opened the window.
He shoved his hands into his pockets and his bottle-brush tail fluffed a little.
"Hunting's not hard, it's just figuring out where to look. Mice and rats will be in places with trash, birds and fish in the parks. Mice are probably the easiest, unless you don't mind getting wet. It's pretty instinctual," Gabe explained as they walked. Despite what he was saying about places to hunt, he was heading towards a residential area. Birds and maybe fish in ponds, but that didn't add up much.
He glanced up at the sky and pointed at the sun. "Now's a good time to hunt easier prey, humans are not at home."
He turned a corner and looked down an alley of fences and driveways. He climbed onto a trashcan and looked down.
"Cans are a lot of work, but tend to pay off. Stores are also good places." He glanced over his shoulder before continuing. "There's a little old lady that leaves out food for cats and birds. Good for easy pickings or an easy hunting ground. You just have to be careful of others."
Kali:
She followed him, not questioning him and trusting he would show her what seh needed to know. She thought about the idea of hunting in trash cans, and she grimaced. It was clear she was going to have to get used to not being a housepet anymore.. She couldn't go hungry like she had there..
"I'll keep that in mind.." She said, her eyes looking over the cans, but her paws continued to take her where it was he needed to show.
"I don't think being careful of others will be too much of a problem. I'm not terribly social." She chuckled, but then let out a little purr.
Gabriel / Loki:
He hopped down off the can and tilted his head as he approached her, his tail waving back and forth.
"That isn't what I meant, Kali," he replied and reached out, gently cupping her chin. "Can you fight other cats off?"
He balked at the idea of her being hurt again. It was a harsh world he lived in, he almost thought it would be better if she got adopted by another human. Some puttering little old lady with no one but cats to lavish her affection on. A place where Kali would be pampered and cared for, without having to scrounge and fight to get through the day.
He must be insane.
Gabe let his hand fall and turned away, closing his eyes and taking a long breath through his nose. "I don't think anyone's around yet. Should be okay if you want to see the house."
Kali:
When he asked her the question he did, she arched an eyebrow. A bemused expression on her face, she purred. Her eyes held what had been described as fire swirling and taking life within them.
"Wanna find out?" She asked, a knowing grin escaping her face. She had been in a few fights with other cats before, mostly when she had been left outside too long. But she wasn't against tearing anyone into pieces.. Even him if he gave her reason.
"Yeah. Let's go in." She grinned.
Gabriel / Loki:
"No," he replied quickly, a chuckle in his tone. He was a smart male, he wasn't about to fight her. It probably didn't help that he was a coward and did everything he could to avoid fights in general.
Gabe led her through a gap in one of the fences, one that really should have been mended but the owner of the house really didn't care to. There was a small garden to one side of the tiny yard and several bowls of food one a little stone patio near the center. A few birds were there, pecking away at the kibbles.
"Always look for that. Birds are stupid, they'll eat anything that looks like food. See food and no birds? Could be dangerous." He gestured a hand at the food and more possible food. "Try catching one if you want."
Kali:
At his response she purred again, and then walked behind him, her hand trailing his shoulder as they did. The yard was well kept, but it was totally square. She wasn't sure how much she liked it. But she didn't have to live there, so there was that..
"That's good to know." But her eyes were trained on the birds that were pecking about the ground. She lowered her body, black fur gleaming in the sunshine. She snuck closer, one step.. Two steps.. Then she released her hold, and took off towards the bird in her sights. It went to take flight, it's little legs lifting from the floor. But her paw came, and smacked it to the ground. She lunged onto the small creature, biting down in one harsh bite. Dispatching the creature, and leaving it limp.
She released her hold, and turned to look at Loki with an amused expression.
"Sure. Lunch is on me." She winked, before moving away to show the spoils.
Gabriel / Loki:
Gabriel sat back and watched her as she hunted, knowing better than to interfere. Damn, for a pet she was good. She moved with speed and quiet grace, better than he ever hoped to achieve. But then, that made sense. The moment she entered a space, she commanded it. Everything was at her beck and call.
And a part of him was more than willing to bow down and submit to her control. At least a bit, anyway.
He clapped slowly, but with obvious approval as he approached, his eyebrows raised.
"You've done this before." There was no other way she could be so good. He sat down next to one of the dishes and popped a piece of catfood into his mouth, his gaze never leaving hers.
Kali:
He looked impressed, and that made her stand with pride. She knew she was a goddess, but she always liked to have her talents appreciated.
She smiled, taking a seat on the cement where the kibble had been scattered, crossing her long dark legs.
"Of course I have. If I hadn't been able to catch anything I'd probably have starved before you found me." She was teasing, but it was pretty close to home.
She watched as he ate the piece of kibble, a smile growing on her face before she looked back at him.
"What is it about you, Loki?" She asked. She didn't add on what it was she wanted to know.. She wasn't offering up that much. But she found herself unable to pull her eyes away from him.
Gabriel / Loki:
His smile slipped a little when she so casually admitted that her human had stopped feeding her. And here he'd thought she needed help figuring out how to survive out here, when she'd already had to make half the jump. He would never understand her devotion to her human. Even though her tone teased him, he could hear the truth in the words. A liar could always find a kindred spirit, and all he heard was truth.
But her question drew him back and the hair at the back of his neck stood on end. He could ask her the same question. She didn't affect him like females had in the past. Oh, she affected him, there was no denying that. But there was something more. He wanted to stay, he wanted to protect her.
But he wasn't going to say any of that. He didn't even pause before something stupid came out of his mouth.
"It's my irresistible charm. Can't do a thing about it," Gabe replied with that lopsided smile and playful mockery of bedroom eyes.
Kali:
She smiled at his response, shaking her head before looking at her hands. She wished he would say something else.. Something deeper. But then again, perhaps she had read into all of it wrong. She hoped she hadn't.. But.. It was nice having him here. She didn't feel alone. For the first time in her entire life.
She picked up a piece of the kibble and tossed it to him, before standing. She was feeling kind of sore, and she wasn't sure she wanted to be out in the open.
Holding out her hand, she waited to pull him to his feet.
"If I follow what you told me, it's probably time to get out of the open." That was bittersweet though.. She was enjoying her time out here with him.
Gabriel / Loki:
He threw up his hands to ward off her attack, batting the kibble away. She was right, it was time for them to start heading back towards... home. It had never really felt like a place for him to call that, but somehow her presence suddenly made it so.
"You're right. Don't want to have to chase some poor hungry kitten away," Gabe replied and gathered up a few pieces of the catfood to take home.
They were back in little time at all. He paused at the window, an idea coming to him.
"You go ahead and go inside. I'll be right back," he said, risking life and limb to give her a kiss on the cheek. He took a step away, putting a teasing amount of distance between them and waiting, watching to make sure she went inside.
Kali:
When they got back to the window, she purred when he kissed her cheek. Had she been any other cat, she might have blushed. Instead, she gave him a knowing low growl before jumping in through the window.
Once she was inside, she was reminded about what a treasure trove this place really was.. She hadn't had any time to go through anything before. But now, she had a moment. She walked over to the table, where a lone picture stood. She frowned when she realized it was an old photo, the owners of said photo probably long dead. Placing the photo back down, her fingers trailed down over the antique table, hesitating at the tarnished drawer knob. She wasn't sure why she had opened it.. But she did, and inside made her frown deepen.
Her hand pulled out a dark green collar.. A ribbon tagged onto it, and a golden tag dangling from its fabric. It was weathered, but only in age. The tag gave her a familiar little jingle, and she smiled before touching it. It was cold in her fingers, and her heart felt like fire when she read the inscription.
Who was Gabriel??
Gabriel / Loki:
Gabriel slipped back into the basement, holding a small bag of sweets he'd stolen from a nearby candy store. It was his favorite vice and he wanted to share it with Kali. Had she ever had candy before? She was a show pet, he didn't think that her owner would have allowed her to have anything that would risk her form.
He didn't see her at first, maybe she was exploring a little. He'd done it once or twice.
"Kali? Ka-" The bag fell from his grasp as he moved around a dresser and found her standing at a low table. A table with an open drawer. A collar in her hand. His collar.
In an instant, his ears were pressed flat against his skull, but he could seem to make his feet move.
"Put that away," he hissed. No one, no one was supposed to see that. It was his burden, his reminder of why he would never take from a hand, why he should never trust a human. Before he could stop it, he was thrown back into a drug-induced haze of bright lights, loud human voices, and the smells of a hundred cats, all magnified and dulled at the same time. He had to forcibly pull himself away from the past he hated and yet couldn't let go of.
Kali:
Who was Gabriel? Why was this collar in Loki's possession? She found herself confused, and Kali hated to be confused. That's when a voice hissed behind her, and the collar dropped from her hands. She closed the drawer, but turned around slowly.
"Loki..." She started. She wanted to outright call him Gabriel, but she wanted to know his reason. She wanted to know why he had lied to her. Why he had made her trust him, and then show her why it was she shouldn't trust anyone.
"What is that?" She asked. Her voice was strong, showing no sign of the feeling that was welling in her chest. She saw he looked hurt, conflicted, and his tone had been one she would have smacked him for had she not been so nosey.
Gabriel / Loki:
His pupils had contracted as he stood there, waiting for her to turn on him. A mild panic-attack had washed over him, just for thinking about what had been done to him to "earn" that stupid pin. The human b***h had put it there, he had been her little trophy. Gabriel had to physically shake himself out of the lake he was drowning in, his gaze growing focused, back on Kali. She looked fine but he knew better.
It took a great amount of effort to relax, even just a little bit. His ears slowly rose a bit and he was able to uncurl his hands from their fists. His tail couldn't be saved from the agitated brush it had fluffed into and his back was still stiff with anxiety.
"Candy. I assumed you'd never had it before." His words were whisper-soft, just loud enough for her to hear. He should go. Just take his things and leave.
But she would, could chase him.
Kali:
She watched anger rush over him, and then he smoothed. Only slightly, but smoothed nonetheless. She felt anger in her heart, but it wasn't truly anger. If it was, it was at herself for being so trusting. But she was more hurt. She had allowed him to get close to her, and he hid his name? Maybe it was a dead sibling.. Perhaps he just couldn't let go.. But no, that just didn't seem right.
She didn't answer about the candy. Instead her eyes burned like fire and she just stared at him. Her eyes directly into his, her face unreadable.
"Don't play games with me. Loki." She said his name, as if she questioned it's validity.
Gabriel / Loki:
He was a coward. He was a fool, a trickster, a worthless little b*****d.
But he had his moments.
Gabriel took a step towards her, but only one. His own heart was haphazardly sewn upon his sleeve, a battered, bleeding mess. He was angry, hurt, and sick with it. Why did it hurt so much that she had found it? He shouldn't have cared, not this much.
"Believe me, if I were playing games with you, we wouldn't be having this conversation. Don't push me, Kali."
Kali:
In her head, she wanted to smite him for having told her not to push him. Don't push him? All she was doing was pushing herself, but he didn't want her to push? If it weren't for the sincere fear in his voice, she probably would have argued. Instead she stepped away, breaking the gaze they held by walking past him. She sat on the couch, crossing her legs, and staring at her toes. She was trying hard to reign in her temper.
"Fine." She responded. Though she trusted he had a reason for everything.. she was having a hard time figuring out why she could trust him at all.
Because I'm not dead.... But still her heart felt betrayed. But why? A name was a name. Her logic and her anger were making her confused again and she was not appreciating it.
Gabriel / Loki:
He stiffened even more when he walked past him, expecting her to lash out at him. But she didn't, she just walked away and sat on the couch. His eyes closed in pain for a moment, knowing whatever he'd had with her had been broken and wouldn't be coming back.
Gabriel finally turned and walked over to her. There was nothing he could say, nothing to fix this. He couldn't say anything, couldn't share this deeply. He was damaged, shattered, and he hated to have anyone see that.
Without asking, without waiting for her to push him away, he knelt at her feet, put one hand on her knee and pressed his forehead down upon her lap.
Kali:
She looked at the cat at her feet, and her heart softened. Normally the response would have been different.. But like this entire time, she had a soft spot for him it seemed.
Her long fingers began trailing through his hair. Tracing along his neck, and her eyes looking forgiving. Her mouth was still a tight line, but only for a moment before it softened.
"You don't have to tell me." She said softly. He owed her nothing. It was she who owed him. She couldn't expect him to divulge everything to her. Some things just weren't ready to be shared..
Gabriel / Loki:
He flinched when she touched him, ran her hand through his hair. Not because he'd expected her to hurt him, but that despite her best efforts it still had. Bittersweet pain shot through him like ice in his blood.
Because he knew he was leaving.
After a moment, Gabriel glanced up searching her eyes for something he couldn't figure out. If this was all he was going to have... He reached up, slipping his hand into her hair, and drew her down to touch his lips to hers, consequences be damned.
Kali:
He looked up at her, and her heart melted. She allowed him to pull her closer, and when he kissed her, she kissed back. She didn't know he would be leaving, but even if she knew.. She wouldn't have been thinking on it. All she wanted was to feel him.
"Stay with me." She said, meaning the night, however. She didn't think to think further than the night.
She pulled him towards her when their lips parted once more. Pulling him to the couch.
She looked him in his eyes once more, before bringing their lips together once more.
