Pest Control
Title: Pest Control
Fandom: The Dresden Files ~ TV verse/pre-canon
Characters: Winifred and Hrothbert (and guest)
Prompt: 46. Care
Rating: G
Words: 370
Summary: Hrothbert makes a friend.
Notes: For kiffie, in response to the "keyoot" bunny she nudged this way.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Dresden Files.
***
"Well, now your reputation is assured, my lord," Winifred commented dryly.
"How so, my heart?" Hrothbert stood in the doorway, carefully removing his cloak with one hand, re-capturing a squirming, scrabbling bit of black fuzz with the other. "It is but a small thing."
"That 'small thing' will have you suspected of sorcery and the practicing of perverse and strange rituals."
He winced as tiny claws scratched in an attempt at freedom. "'Practicing'? I have nearly perfected a few of them."
She watched as the kitten extricated itself at last, climbing to Hrothbert's shoulder, tiny tail stiff and back arched in annoyance. "Where did you find it?"
"Quite a ways down the path by the sea, and no mother cat near. I believe it to be lost and could not leave it to its own resources." He kept his voice even and expression neutral. "It is cold and raining."
Winifred stepped close and ran gentle fingers over the damp black fur, smiling slightly at the mewing protest and hiss of warning as she finished her examination. "He seems to be no worse for the wear."
"I bundled him deep in my cloak and came directly here, of course. No... ah... further damage to my reputation was done." A spark of humor gleamed in his pale blue eyes.
"Hmm...." She turned to the hearth while Hrothbert sat at the table, steadying his now purring little burden carefully. "I have a bit of milk here. I'll warm it." After steaming the milk, she poured it into a wooden bowl, dipping the tip of her finger in to check the temperature.
"Winifred, may I--" He stopped and cleared his throat at the betraying hint of wistfulness in his tone.
She faced him once more, bowl of milk in hand. "I have had a terrible time with pests lately."
Now he allowed a smile. "Thank you, my lady."
Winifred hid a grin as she placed the bowl on the floor; then, taking the kitten up from where he had been nuzzling and kneading, and setting him down next to it, she added, "Providing he and I come to an understanding."
"What is that?" Hrothbert's brows rose.
"Your earlobes are mine."
Fandom: The Dresden Files ~ TV verse/pre-canon
Characters: Winifred and Hrothbert (and guest)
Prompt: 46. Care
Rating: G
Words: 370
Summary: Hrothbert makes a friend.
Notes: For kiffie, in response to the "keyoot" bunny she nudged this way.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Dresden Files.
***
"Well, now your reputation is assured, my lord," Winifred commented dryly.
"How so, my heart?" Hrothbert stood in the doorway, carefully removing his cloak with one hand, re-capturing a squirming, scrabbling bit of black fuzz with the other. "It is but a small thing."
"That 'small thing' will have you suspected of sorcery and the practicing of perverse and strange rituals."
He winced as tiny claws scratched in an attempt at freedom. "'Practicing'? I have nearly perfected a few of them."
She watched as the kitten extricated itself at last, climbing to Hrothbert's shoulder, tiny tail stiff and back arched in annoyance. "Where did you find it?"
"Quite a ways down the path by the sea, and no mother cat near. I believe it to be lost and could not leave it to its own resources." He kept his voice even and expression neutral. "It is cold and raining."
Winifred stepped close and ran gentle fingers over the damp black fur, smiling slightly at the mewing protest and hiss of warning as she finished her examination. "He seems to be no worse for the wear."
"I bundled him deep in my cloak and came directly here, of course. No... ah... further damage to my reputation was done." A spark of humor gleamed in his pale blue eyes.
"Hmm...." She turned to the hearth while Hrothbert sat at the table, steadying his now purring little burden carefully. "I have a bit of milk here. I'll warm it." After steaming the milk, she poured it into a wooden bowl, dipping the tip of her finger in to check the temperature.
"Winifred, may I--" He stopped and cleared his throat at the betraying hint of wistfulness in his tone.
She faced him once more, bowl of milk in hand. "I have had a terrible time with pests lately."
Now he allowed a smile. "Thank you, my lady."
Winifred hid a grin as she placed the bowl on the floor; then, taking the kitten up from where he had been nuzzling and kneading, and setting him down next to it, she added, "Providing he and I come to an understanding."
"What is that?" Hrothbert's brows rose.
"Your earlobes are mine."