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Frankly, Chell didn’t know where the idea came from. She’d been exhausted to the bone after her job, so while aimlessly scrolling through random social media apps and wasting her time before bed, she noticed a pattern in her recommendations.
Cats. Lots of cat videos. Cat pictures. Ads for cat adoption centres. Cats.
She suddenly and a weird realisation she was very alone. She hadn’t had a pet since she was in high-school with her father…she didn’t like putting down Cubey. Poor thing.
After a few days of debating back and forth, wondering if she had the capacity to deal with a pet, she came home one day with a small cat.
Mainly white, with grey spots of fur in areas, and large bright blue eyes.
The original owners named him ‘Wheatley’ and she stuck with it.
He was certainly a handful. He was always accidentally knocking things off of counters with his tail, giving her that look. Always needing attention or he’d meow her ears off.
Thankfully, he did get used to her being gone for long hours of the day, so usually when she got home she could easily find him.
Then one day, a knock at the door came along.
“Hello, Chell.” Her landlord reported. “I see you’ve brought home company.” The older lady referred to Wheatley.
Chell leaned against the doorway, paying enough attention to tell Gladys to keep talking.
“Well, I do believe in our agreement, pets weren’t allowed. Yet, once again you’ve decided to go against the rules in order to have your way.” A single clap came from her. “I’m impressed I still haven’t kicked you out. You know I could.”
“Then do it.”
“What?”
“It always goes like this. I have yet to see you kick me out.” Chell picks up Wheatley, gently scratching the top of his head between the ears.
“Well. Consider this a final warning. Only because I do need the money and not for any other possible reason I keep you around. You’re a valuable asset. However, if that…thing causes any property damage or causes disturbances down the line, I will take action. Are we clear?”
A firm nod from Chell.
“Good. Now, take you and it out of my sight.”
Chell shuts the door in Gladys’ face.
Wheatley leaps out of her arms to go chase after something at disturbingly fast speeds, it echoes throughout the house noisily.
Chell was happy with her decision.
When she decided to get an apple from the fridge, she noticed Wheatley at her feet.
“Not for you. Human food. I just refilled your bowl this morning.”
“...Wheatley. I’ll get you some treats later when I go shopping.” At the mention of that, Wheatley got excited.
“Later. Not now.”
She went back to bed, Wheatley standing on her nightstand looking over her, like a non intimidating guard.
Chell could settle with that.