Chapter Text
“How incredibly not suspicious of you, Chlo.” Red hummed in amusement as she watched her roommate creep into the room, hunched over and clearly trying to hide something against her shirt.
Chloe’s head shot up with an incredibly guilty expression, unusual for her, and Red noticed a large, angry red scratch cutting across her cheek, unfortunately usual for her. Chloe’s love of waving around sharp objects for a hobby and penchant for playing hero almost guaranteed she would end up injured at least once a week. Red sighed and put down her sketchbook, attempting an air of indifference as she went to check on (fret over) her dumbass best friend. Red brushed some of Chloe’s curls away from her face to get a better look at the mark and noticed that there didn’t appear to be any other marks, just some minor bleeding.
“You know the deal; you come back with an injury and if you don’t have a good explanation, I get to pick the dumbest band aid possible to put over it. I bought a pack that just say ‘dumbass’ on them ready to go, Chlo.”
“This is rigged and you know it, you always just decide my reasoning is bad and give me something stupid regardless.” Chloe huffed with a roll of her eyes.
“What can I say? I’m particular.” Red teased. She went to grab her friend’s arm, intending to guide her to the bed to sit, when a fluffy paw batted at her.
“Chloe.”
“Hi.”
“Chloe,” Red repeated in exasperation.
“Red.” Chloe gave her a sheepish smile.
“Please tell me that is not what I think it is,” Red pleaded, pinching her nose as she prepared herself for what would probably be a long night.
“She was surrounded by a pack of coyotes! I couldn’t just leave her there! Come on, Red, look at how cute she is.” Chloe held the baby kitten up near her face, somehow managing to make the same, stupid, pathetic big-wet eyed expression as the little orange fluffball.
“You know we can’t have pets in the dorm, right? Now put that thing down and stop looking at me like that.”
“Literally when have rules ever stopped you. I once watched you remove a ‘no parking’ sign just to park your car so you wouldn’t have to walk like, 10 feet. I’ve seen you skateboard through the hallways. They’ve literally had to change official rules in the school handbook because you’ve found dumb loopholes,” Chloe argued, cradling the kitten and rocking it back and forth in her arms.
Red laughed lightly to herself, “Yeah I’m so fucking good at what I do,” but then sobered up as she remembered the topic at hand, “Those were all just some light fun, though. Not taking in a living creature. Also, seriously, Chloe you know that’s not a baby, right? I don’t think you need to rock it.”
“First of all, her not it. Second of all, Charlie has been through a traumatic experience and deserves to be soothed. Third, I thought you’ve always wanted me to live it up a little or whatever. I’m doing that! I’m breaking rules!”
“You’ve named it? Obviously you named it, of course you did, look at who I’m talking to,” Red muttered, waving a hand in Chloe’s general direction as if there was an audience present, but she couldn’t help the affection that slipped into her tone.
“Do you like it? I was thinking of Charlamagne cause that’s the king of hearts and she’s sort of got your hair color. Like you two were destined to be family.” Chloe held the kitten closer to Red, who begrudgingly let her.
“You’re telling me I look like a stray? Harsh!” Red pretended to pout as Chloe playfully shoved her shoulder.
“I’m saying you’re both cute and know how to stick to a color scheme,” Chloe teased.
Red fought to keep color from rising to her cheeks. Chloe complimented her all the time, but it never failed to make her feel flustered. Chloe knelt down and gently set the kitten on the dorm floor, letting it explore a bit, and then stood back up to face Red.
“If you’re seriously not down for it, we don’t have to keep her. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.” Chloe placed a gentle hand on Red’s shoulder as she spoke, the sincerity in her eyes softening Red.
Red watched the kitten stumble around the room, simply observing the small creature that she may end up sharing a room with. It was, admittedly, kind of cute. And Red had never had a pet before since Wonderland creatures had a little too much metacognition for it to feel ethical. She couldn’t help the small burst of laughter as she watched the kitten knock into Chloe’s guitar and fall backwards.
“Fuck it. Let’s harbor a stowaway,” Red sighed but couldn’t help the small smile that broke through at hearing Chloe borderline squeal in happiness.
“Yes! I knew you’d cave, you big softy!” Chloe wrapped her arms around Red in a quick hug. Red returned it, melting slightly into the feeling of Chloe’s strong, muscled arms cocooning her like a living weighted blanket. Chloe eventually broke from the hug and ran to scoop up Charlie, cooing over her and speaking to her in quiet whispers. Red could catch bits and pieces of Chloe explaining Charlie’s new living situation to her.
“And that’s Red, she looks tough but trust your new mother is weak, you just gotta learn to play it up a little,” Chloe whispered conspiratorially to the kitten as she sat down on her bed, holding Charlie gently against her chest.
“Woah, woah, woah. You’re teaching her how to emotionally manipulate me already? I figured I’d at least have until she met Pink,” Red whined, causing Chloe to laugh at her.
Looking back and forth between the ridiculous but cute creature that wormed its way into her heart and Charlie, Red grinned and walked over to sit beside Chloe. She rested her head on Chloe’s shoulder and reached out to tussle the soft fur of the cat.
“You’re going to be the most spoiled creature on Earth, aren’t you?” Red asked Charlie.
“Already am.” Chloe grinned cheekily.