Once the momentary shock had passed, Mick moved to close the door to his apartment. He tossed his keys onto the kitchen table with a loud clink before coming closer towards Len and the tiny kitten. His kitten, Len quickly informed him. Mick’s brows shooting up at the statement, not quite sure what to make of the situation. They’d joke about it sure, but he hadn’t expected to actually get one. It had seriously been years since he’d owned a pet, much less one so tiny. Mick briefly worried for the kitten’s safety, seeing as he was a rather large guy who wasn’t practically light on his feet. Already making a mental note to move about the house a little slower.
“I already have a Snowball.” Mick quipped back at Len’s comment, giving him a pointed look. Though he did smile at the notion that the cat looked like ashes and soot. He took the seat that was being offered next to Len, his body leaning back into the cushions, tired from work. There was a hint of a smile left on his lips as he watched the little kitten try to climb up Len like a tree. Mick reaching over to wiggle one of his fingers in front of the kitten’s face, gaining its full attention. He then moved his finger to the space between them, rubbing the fabric back and forth, making a scratching sound that had the kitten instinctively going into pounce mode. Attacking Mick’s hand moments later, only to fumble onto its side when it’s pray (ie Mick’s hand) lifted up and attacked the kitten’s belly; chuckling as the kitten fought back with playful nips and tiny claws.
“Feisty little thing.” Mick rumbled, picking the kitten up with one hand and holding it up to look at it a little closer. Okay, so maybe it was kind of adorable. His eyes catching Len’s when he told him it needed a name. Mick, would have most likely just called the thing ‘Cat’ or ‘Pip Squeak’ if it were just up to him. But he could already tell Len wasn’t going to settle for letting him call it something so obvious. Setting the kitten down on his chest, petting it till it stopped fighting and began to purr. “Well, I think you already came up with a fitting name for him.” Mick said after a moment. “Ashes.” Liking the way it rolled off his tongue.
Suddenly Mick’s face dropped a little as something occurred to him. “Doesn’t it need, like stuff?” He asked, knowing it would at least need food for the night and a box to shit in. He could figure out what other things cat’s needed later. Already making plans to spoil the thing with toys and treats. Though he wasn’t going to forwardly admit that. “Thanks, Len.” Mick added after a pause, watching as the kitten had began to shut its eyes for a quick little cat nap, having found a warm spot on Mick’s chest to sleep.