Luke's, Thursday Afternoon

[age_of_the_geek]

Hardison hadn't wanted to leave Eliot's today. Between his face still hurting and the massive changes that happened to the house (and the world outside of it), he'd given serious thought to grabbing his partners and having a grand tour of the safe room that Eliot was building and just not coming out until whatever this was was over. That thought

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[zmeya_zilant]

"Hmmmmmmmm," hummed a voice through the ceiling. It sounded like the kind of voice a self-satisfied cat would have: smug and curious, mean and happy. "There's a mouse. In my house. Hello, mouse! Did you come to play?"

There was a sound like sharpening blades, or maybe curving talons digging into roof slates.

[zmeya_zilant]

"Mrrrt?" Yes, that was a very surprised sounding sphinx noise. "That's me!"

She'd remember that for an hour, maybe. Not why it was important or anything else. Just that it was another thing that was hers, to be hoarded with all her other shiny things.

"I'm Kenzi the monster, Kenzi the massacrer, Kenzi Sphinx, Kenzi-Killer, Kenzi Kenzi Kenzi!" She beamed and wriggled, tail thumping faster. "GOOD MOUSIE. You gave me my name!"

You might get to live another hour or two at this rate, Hardison.

[vdistinctive]

Eliot trusted Hardison to handle himself in a normal crisis. But normal crises didn't involve murder hobos, and it didn't take very long after Hardison left for Eliot to become anxious about his safety. So he grabbed his sword -- no way did Nate have any idea this thing would be getting such a regular work out when he gave it to him -- and headed over to check things out.

Only to stop about half a block away and stare up at the sphinx on the roof of his restaurant.

"Dammit, Hardison," he muttered. "When there's a monster on the roof don't go in."

[whoisalicewhite]

"That," Parker said in a deadpan tone, "is a very. Big. Cat."

She had her climbing rig with her, although she wasn't sure how much help it would be. Also her taser. "I'm gonna need a minute. I don't already have plans for giant kittens. I should've had one ready."

[zmeya_zilant]

"More little mice," Kenzi said, delighted. "Did you come to play, little mice? The one inside brought me a present. What did you bring me?"

[vdistinctive]

Oh hey! Maybe Eliot would get to stab something.

"How 'bout a needle?" he asked. "I hear cats hate those in their paws."

[whoisalicewhite]

"I have some climbing spikes, and a grappling hook," Parker whispered, glad that maybe they had something specific. "...also, a whole lot of bungee cord."

So see, they *had* brought Kenzi some string.

[zmeya_zilant]

"What are you whispering, little mice?" Kenzi called down. The sound of rolling skulls and sharpening talons drifted down to them. "Why are you here?" She hung her head over the edge of the roof, peering at them closely. "C'mere, mousie, mousie, mousie...."

[vdistinctive]

That was a very distinctive sound. Eliot unsheathed his sword. "Lookin' for a friend. Don't need to have any quarrel with you."

[whoisalicewhite]

Parker was standing at Eliot's shoulder, and trying not to shudder. "Cats. Should not tallllk." Ugh ugh wrong. Then, lower, "She has a human face." WRONG. SO WRONG. "You seen a guy come here? He better be okay, cat!"

[zmeya_zilant]

"He's fiiiiine," Kenzi purred, then squinted at Eliot. "What's that shiny? I want it." To Parker she added, "You can go inside and see!"

Not really a good plan, no.

[vdistinctive]

"Sure thing. Come on down and get it."

Eliot, no.

[age_of_the_geek]

Hardison closed his good eye in frustration, the other one still mostly swollen shut, and stalked to the doorway. "Eliot, are you outta your damn mind?! Maybe don't aggravate the evil Kenzi monster?"

[whoisalicewhite]

"That's Kenzi?!" Parker looked upward, fascinated. "She makes a really evil cat." Then to Hardison, much more anxiously, "Are you okay?"

[zmeya_zilant]

A large paw swiped at the top of the doorway, interrupting whatever Hardison had been about to say. "He's fine. I'm fine. We're all fine," Kenzi said, smirking, her tail thrashing faster. Another swipe towards Hardison, almost hitting him. "See? Fine!"

[age_of_the_geek]

Hardison was dodging back into the diner again, that giant paw coming way too close for his comfort. "Yeah!" he called, moving over to the window instead. It was filthy, but they could still at least see his blurry shape behind it. "Totally fine, alla us!"

He was not fine. But he wanted Kenzi not thinking about him for a bit while he plotted his escape.