fic archive 1

"Pyro. What do you have." Engineer was well past exasperation at this point, reaching into anger. Pyro's shoulders sagged as they cupped the little lump in their pocket, a defeated and muffled hudda echoing out of their mask. Engineer watched carefully as Pyro reached inside, pulling out a soot-black kitten, more fluff than flesh, with big angry green eyes. It hissed loudly, wiggling and clawing at Pyro's gloves and suit, furious at being woken from its nap.

Engineer sighed, reaching up and pinching the bridge of his nose. Of course there would be a kitten.

"Pyro, you know we can't keep it, right?" Engineer's voice is quiet, cautious even. "It ain't safe 'round here. Not for us, not for a kitten, not for nothin'."

Pyro's head tilted downward, their hands outstretched, extending the kitten towards Engie. "Mmph mh muh hudd..."

Engineer sighed, plucking the feisty furball from Pyro's hands, holding it up by the scruff. It couldn't have been more than a week old, far too young to be without its mother. "Pyro, did'ya find its mamma?"

Pyro nods, looking even more miserable. Engineer's heart sunk to his stomach as he looked down at the angry little kitten. The nearest pound was two hours away, and it was unlikely they'd even have the capacity for the little furball. It was pretty well stuck with them, whether Engie liked it or not.

"Damnit, Pyro," Engie grunted, tucking the angry little furball into the chest pocket of his overalls. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, a name already in his mind. "I guess we can keep it."

Pyro's demeanor flipped immediately as they clapped their hands, overjoyed but muffled squeals coming from their mask. "Huddah hud?"

"A name?" Engie's nose scrunched up as he thought for a moment, hands on his hips. "Why the hell did I get dragged into this. Whad'dya think about Motor Oil?"

Pyro clapped their hands together, pressing the grate of their mask to Engineer's cheek with an over-the-top kissing noise. "Hudda hudd huh!"