amir shabah prefers knives (trollathon) wrote in musingslogs, @ 2011-03-31 03:17:00 |
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In Amir's mind, this was somewhat of a delicate operation: Get to the sixth floor without being seen carrying a cat. In reality, no one would actually give a damn even if they had noticed a small, hooded figure darting stealthily beneath the old, flickering light fixtures lining the halls. Hamartia was run to the ground because it was exactly where the poorer, shadier Creations went when no one else gave a damn either. That was part of the appeal, if one could call it that. No nosy neighbours. No questioning landlords. As long as you had the money you could stay and that was that.
At first he had tried to carry the animal under his arm a bit like a briefcase, only to have it hiss in protest and dig its little claws into his side until he let go with a string of Arabic curses. It barely hit the floor before it launched itself after a buzzing fly, chasing the insect up and down the length of the narrow hall. As Amir watched it with eyes narrowed to deadly slits, he briefly entertained the thought of dropping the creature from the roof, but then a better, considerably less fatal idea struck him. Quick as a flash, he grabbed the unsuspecting cat by the scruff and stuffed it down the front of his jacket. It rolled about in alarm for a moment, let out a muffled meow, and abruptly went still. Much better.
"I've killed for less impertinent acts than that," he muttered at his chest. "Remember that."
When he arrived at Mercy King's apartment, the strange feelings from the other day washed over him again. It was like a lingering sickness, dredging up faint aches and pains that could never be his own; he'd never allow himself to be so helpless, so weak. Shaking his head to clear those annoying thoughts away, his features easily slid into his familiar scowl, and he knocked sharply at the door, then glanced side to side warily.
"King, open up! Quickly," he demanded, cradling the strangely-shaped lump under his jacket and looking every inch as ridiculous as he felt.