A New Home (Kat and Donut)
 

Rissa's cream colored hair hung down wetly so that it clung to her shoulders and bare upper back. The once lovely strapless dress she wore did nothing to protect her from the sudden downpour. Her socks were torn and she had lost one shoe yesterday running from a dog. It seemed not long after that when the rain started. She scooted herself closer to the steps she was sitting up against for some protection, not that it offered much. She felt like she would never be able to unplaster her ears from where they stuck close to her head.

The stray cat wrapped her dingy white tail around her legs and let out a pitiful meow. It didn't reach far over the rain, but she meowed again, louder. Being a stray hadn't seemed so bad until the rainy season started. Now she just wanted someone, anyone, to take her home.

Tony worked all day and didn't have a ride home. He usually didn't mind walking because he didn't have far to go, but the rain gave him a different outlook on the idea today. He sighed and threw his coat over his head and started walking. He lived in a quiet neighborhood, quiet peaceful really, it suited his dull life. Over half way he huffed and just wore the coat, it was drenched and so was his red hair. He heard a cat somewhere. 'Why is there an animal out in this?' He thought to himself, and started walking toward the sound. Tony found a someone pressed close to some steps. " poor thing.." he said softly to himself and he looked over at her. "Are you ok?" he asked softly taking a few steps closer.

Rissa's head shot up, her ears perking slightly as she heard a voice nearby. "Hello?" she called. Out of the rain, a red-haired man appeared and she turned wide blue, hopeful eyes to him. With a sniffle, she reached out and grabbed a fistful of his pant-leg just in case he decided to leave when he saw what a messy state she was in. "Please take me home?" she pleaded. That was the best answer to if she was okay. She would be if someone would take her in.

Not paying attention to much to detail, Tony was threw off guard when the woman grabbed his leg. She looked in bad shape, and it hurt him to see someone like that. "I was looking for a..." Tony started to say and he noticed a tail stick to the sidewalk from the rain. "Cat.. Was that you meowing?" He asked finally finishing his sentence. Her request was a bit forward, but he couldn't just leave her there like that. He slid off his wet coat and placed it around her and got to her level. "I think I got my own answer to that question.. So whats your name?" He asked softly. He had a kind heart, and would help almost anyone.

Rissa really hoped he wouldn't walk away. He looked confused. She realized he must have been looking for a normal cat and he probably didn't want a person like her. Her worries were somewhat quieted when he placed her coat over her. It was wet itself, but she felt infinitely warmer just because of the gesture. It blocked the rain in it's own way. She had let go of his pant-leg at some point. "I'm sorry I'm not what you were expecting," she whispered, biting her lip. She couldn't help the nervous habit now though she'd usually try to stop herself from doing it. "I'm Rissa. Please, I'm a good kitty, really. Even if just for a night?"

"well Rissa, I am Tony. I am not too far from here" He said standing up and offering her his hand for help up. "We better get going before we get too much wetter" Tony added with a warm smile. Finding her wasn't what he was expecting, buy he couldn't leave her there like that. They started walking towards his home, as the rain still kept falling. "What are you doing out here in this weather?" He asked her as he got his keys and unlocked the door. "Go on in" He added with a welcoming gesture.

Hesitantly, Rissa took Tony's hand and let him pull her to her feet. As she unfolded, she revealed a small tiger-shaped bag that she had been protecting with her body. It held what little things she possessed, but they were all she had and she clutched the bag tightly as if she never had intention of letting it go.

She followed the man closely as they walked and she ducked inside quickly when he unlocked the door. She was too cold for her usual shy politeness. When she was finally out of the rain, she answered Tony's question. "I don't have a home anymore. I-" she stopped and ducked her head. She didn't really want to say more on the subject.

"Its alright" Tony said shutting the door. "You don't have to talk about it. Have a seat and I'll get you a blanket" he said and took off down a hallway. The house was quiet small with a living room open to the kitchen, and a hallway leading to a bathroom with bedrooms on either side. He came out of one room with a handful. "Try these cloths, I hope they fit. Here is a towel as well. The bathrooms at the end of the hall." he stated pointing as well. He didn't know what he was going to do, but he was trying his best at it.

Tony was busy in the kitchen cooking some food. He always had a routine when he got home. It was off schedule today, so he would just wing it, besides it was friday, he had no work for a few days anyway.

Though Tony said to take a seat, Rissa wasn't sure where to sit, so she just stood until he came back, still clutching his coat around her shoulders. When he reappeared, she took the clothes graciously. "Thank you," she muttered before moving to the bathroom. She took her time changing and toweling off. She tried to run her hands through her hair to tame it and eventually got herself looking as presentable as she could. She was still a young skinny woman with few curves and long legs despite being short. She never could understand that logic.

Finally she left the bathroom and followed the smell of food to the kitchen. She didn't say it, but she was very hungry.

Tony was too busy cooking, he didn't see her come back. While she was gone he changed his shirt, so it was dry. He was a tall skinny guy, his red hair was short and his small framed glasses up on his head. He was string the pot and he didn't want his glasses to get fogged up. He turned around and smiled at the sights of her. "They fit you well" He said "Those were my sisters" he added his smile fading a little bit. "Oh and you can sleep in the room on the left toward the bathroom." He added placing the food on the table. "Have a seat, eat up" He said before he sat down himself.

Rissa silently watched Tony as he finished cooking. When he commented on the clothes, she looked down at herself and smiled slightly. She had been wondering why he would have girl clothes, though she was very thankful for it. Anything dry would do, but she would be embarrassed if she had to wear a man's things. Because she was looking at the clothes, she missed the look that passed over Tony's face.

"Oh? How old is your sister?" she asked as she sat down at the table. "Even though I'm a cat, I have no litter-mates."

Tony ate few bites, and looked back at her after her question. "I am 20, and she was a year younger than me" He added. He put his silverware down and cupped his hands over his face. "She passed 7 months ago." he muttered. "I have been wishing and hoping she would come back, but I know it won't happen." He added. First he lost his parents and he grew up with his sister in a foster home. When they were able to leave they stayed together, until her accident. "I remember you saying that you wanted to stay just one night.." He stopped and looked at her. "Since Kara's cloths fit you, you may stay in her room if for as long as you like. The closet is full, and every things cleaned and pick up. You are welcome as my guest" He stated and stood up.

After picking up his place that he half ate, Tony went and laid down on his bed. He didn't bother with shutting the door. It was still hard for him to bare the face she was gone. They were inseparable until that day.

"I-I'm sorry," Rissa started to say, but Tony didn't seem to be listening to her. She didn't realize she had stepped into a sore subject and she hung her head to stare at her untouched food. She didn't feel much like eating seeing how she'd upset the man who had been so nice to her, but her growling stomach wouldn't settle for it. She quickly ate the food in silence. She felt really grateful for the offer to stay, but what if she just brought up bad memories by...was it like she was taking his sister's place?

After finishing the food, she made up her mind. She carefully washed the dish and tip-toed to the room that once belonged to Tony's sister. She would spend the night here but she would leave tomorrow.

Tony stayed in his room the rest of the night. He didn't sleep too well, and hoped that he didn't scare her off by walking away like he did. He should have acted better about the situation. He knew the first night with Rissa there didn't end so well, and he would make it up to her. Tony was up early and he was getting breakfast ready. That is a touchy subject still, but he had to move on and accept it as it is. The smell of pancakes filled the house, as he was standing over the stove again. Humming to himself he started placing the hot food on the table. He hoped that she would except his apology. He just missed being around someone, he didn't like being alone all the time.

It had been too long since Rissa slept on a real bed and she found herself falling into a sleep too deep to even dream. She slept hugging her bag and stayed sleeping until late morning when the light was squared on the bed. Slowly, she pulled herself into a sitting position and spent a minute figuring out where she was. When she did figured it out, she remembered how she thought about leaving. She had intended to sneak out before Tony woke up, but her ears and nose told her she was too late for that. Well, perhaps one more day then.

After getting dressed, Rissa made her way out of the room to search for the food she could smell.

Tony spotted Rissa as she walked he smiled and walked over to her. "I wanted to say sorry for last night. Please don't leave because of that. Its still a new wound and it is healing" he said hopping she would understand it. "I made some breakfast to make up for it" he added with a smile. He pulled out a chair for her and went and sat down himself. He didn't have anything planned for the day and he was going to just go with the flow. He was a type of person that didn't plan too much, things just fall into place as he goes.

Rissa was a little taken back by how apologetic Tony sounded when she didn't think he had a right to be. He was just so nice and she was taking advantage of it. "N-no, please don't be sorry," she said hesitantly. "I'm the one that was in the wrong. I should have been more sensitive!" She wrung her hands together, but still sat down at the table. She really did hope he wanted her to stay and maybe she would for a little while, but the idea wasn't totally out of her mind.

"Pancakes?" she asked to change the subject. She knew the smell and sight of them, but she never tasted them herself even when she made them. She was always cooking for someone else.

"yea, You have never had pancakes?" Tony asked as he put some strawberries on his. "They are good" He added and took a bite. "I was thinking as well.." He started to say and took a deep breath. "I didn't want my offer for you to stay here to sound pushy or too forward. I miss the company of my sis, and I feel lost. If you need to stay a few day you can, if you don't want to wait a full day thats fine too. The door is open if you need a place to stay" He said looking over at her with a smile. He didnt want his offer to sound weird or creepy at all. She was welcome anytime at all.

Rissa shook her head at Tony's question. "Nope, but they smell good," she said as she took a tentative bite. The pancakes were fluffy and sweet as she imagined they would be from what she knew of the taste of the batter. She used the time to think while she took a few more bites. "If you really want me to stay, I will," she finally said. He seemed like a nice guy and if she could leave when she wanted, that also made her happy. She wanted to feel safe where she stayed now after her last owner.

"I would like if you stayed. I am leaving it to you if you want to. I won't force you to do anything you don't think is right." Tony said taking a few more bites. He got done with his pancakes and just sat there for a few moments. "I need to work in the backyard a bit, make yourself at home. Come see me if you need anything, alright?" He stated as he had a smile on his face once again. Tony had most his childhood in a dark state and he didn't talk much. Now he was trying to make the best of what he had, no matter what the circumstances. He picked up his things, slid on a sweatshirt and went out the back door.

Walking into the garden, Tony started pulling some weeds out of the moist dirt. The sun was just peaking over the treeline, and the air was still nice and crisp, the way he liked it. He thought about his past, and shook his head clearing it once again. He hopped Rissa would stay, but he couldn't just keep here here if she didn't want to stay.

Rissa nodded to Tony and watched him leave before she finished her pancakes before they got too cold. She wanted to spend her time savoring them though. When she finished eating though, she found she didn't know what to do. 'Make yourself at home' Tony said, but Rissa didn't have a good concept of what that meant. She walked around the house and familiarized herself with things, but she quickly bored of that.

Finally, she went back to her room, that phrase still felt strange to her, and grabbed her bag. She put it on and wandered over to the back door. She stared out it for a few minutes and wondered. She pushed the door open and wandered over to the garden, her eyes wide with wonder.

"Well there you are" Tony said with a smile. "You garden at all?" He asked realizing he didn't know much about her. He had a pile of weeds and he was about half way done. His plants were blooming rather well after all the rain they had the day before. "Sorry if I am all over the place.. I can't stay still half the time so I try and stay busy" he added with a smile. His yard was a good size with a shed in the back corner, and a burn pile beside it. There was a fence surrounding the years as well. His neighbor was outside as well, an older guy, he was prooning the bushes. "That is George over there.. he is nice" Tony stated waving to him and getting a wave in return.

Rissa looked over the garden and the yard, but she quickly turned her attention to the sky and the bright sun. She stretched out her arms and did a spin as she took in the sunlight. When she was facing Tony again, she had a smile on her face even as she shook her head. "I don't know anything about plants. I just I'd come outside because I like the sun," she said. That must have been a cat-like part of her. She just loved sunbeams and dancing and sleeping in them. "I didn't come out to bother you. I just though...I'd like to be out here."

Tony laughed as he watched her. " Rissa.. you are no bother" he said with a smile. "I'm happy you are here" he added and went back to the weeding. He thought she was cute turling around in the sun like that, it was nice to see her smile rather than they way she way the day before. He picked up his pile and moved the back to the burn pile. Walking into the shed he messed with a few things and came back out again. He placed a lawn chair in the yard. " I will be hanging a hammock latter if you would like to lay in that after a while." He added and went back to the shed to grab it.

Rissa wandered around the yard and just took in the sun. Eventually, she sat down in the grass and pulled her bag into her lap. From it she took out a picture book, one of the few prized possessions she owned, and began to look through the pages. It was a cute story of child who didn't want to go to bed, and it didn't have any special meaning to her, but she loved the book none the less.

She looked up when Tony spoke again. "Wow, a hammock?" she asked in an awed voice. "You really are an amazing person!"