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[dreamer1789.livejournal.com]

Challenge: [129] Waifs and strays
Title: Streetwise 
Word count: 425
Notes: because Oliver & company just begged to be included in this. ^^; Rated PG. (crossposted to my LJ)

“You’re alright now.” Sora reassured the soaked, shivering and utterly terrified kitten with his brightest smile. He’d arrived just in time to save the orange tabby from a dozen of Heartless on the prowl during a nightly shower in the streets of NYC.

The bundle of sodden fur finally dared peek out of one of his previously tightly shut eyes. The little guy regarded the odd trio forlornly, as if he had not a single hope in his heart. Perhaps he didn’t, Sora mused with a barely suppressed grimace. Right, time for plan B.

 

“Want us to walk you home?” He hoped to cheer the kitten up with the promise being safe with his family in a warm and dry place. Maybe they’d let him, Donald and Goofy stay too for the night; the weather was truly abysmal.

 

At last the little guy spoke, with a wavering voice that would have made Kairi grab the half-drowned cat in a rib-breaking hug. “Don’t have a home.”

 

Sora blinked. “Well, err, what about your family?”

 

“Don’t have a family anymore.” Paw-licking and subsequent face-rubbing were a perfectly valid excuse for the devastated kitten to hide his face temporarily. 

 

The whole trio blanched at that piece of information. At least Goofy and Donald had the grace not to shoot the Keyblade wielder accusatory glances. Not that they needed to; Sora realised perfectly well that he’d just stuck his foot in – well, more like high-jump kicked...      

 

With a sheepish smile and a forced light tone, he tried again. “Mind if we keep you company for the night then? We’re kinda lost…”

 

“And tired.” Donald supplied helpfully with a yawn that, knowing him, wasn’t necessarily faked.

 

The look of overwhelming gratitude this earned them from the downcast stray kept them warm through the night spent huddled together in cardboard boxes. 

Not even the pouring rain could be heard over Donald and Goofy’s snores; it was a small miracle the noise didn’t draw whole packs of Heartless and Dusks, though Sora figured it might ward them off too. Still, with the tabby cuddled up next to him, he could feel the little one purring in relieved bliss.

 

* * *

 

“Do you think he’ll be okay?” Donald fretted about their new little friend as the trio boarded the Gummi ship to make for the next world in need.

 

Goofy nodded and laughed his trademark assent. “’Course he will! Dodger and them fellas are lookin’ after him.”

 

“Exactly!” Sora agreed buoyantly with a spring in his step. “So, why should I worry?”