On the Naming of Cats (Ben)

[Benjamin Rhodes]

There was no denying that Ben would feel something if Cobalt died and bad was a little of an understatement. It wasn't fair. Why was he even feeling things for the man? Just because he was nice and loved kids and kittens? Hardly enough of a reason to start feeling things for him. So Ben just laughed, awkwardly at that, and shrugged. "If you say so."

"Man, so much love. Seriously." Ben shook his head in amusement at Cobalt's gentle tease. "You know I've got proper justification, you just don't want to accept it." He rolled his eyes, mostly to himself because he knew when to cut his losses. He knew he was going to have to do a lot of it around Cobalt and strangely enough, it didn't sound like a hassle.

"Baffling? You think I'm baffling? You with the shadows and the snark. And then turning a one eighty on me by loving kids and keeping kittens you don't even want? And I'm the baffling one. Go figure." Was what Ben wanted to say but he kept his tongue. There were a lot of things that could go wrong if he did say that so he kept quiet, smiled and nudged his shoulder against Cobalt's. It was a safer bet than yelling out those thoughts.

The face made Ben grin. "What's with the face?" he asked with a chuckle. "You don't like dogs or something?" Ben asked. "That could be a good idea. But you have to potty train the heck outta this one." Ben cuddled the kitten like the little girl he apparently was.

It didn't occur to him that he was staring too long at his friend until Cobalt looked away to find the distraction. Almost instantly things went back to the way it was before. Albeit with a tinge of awkward. On Ben's part anyway. He was now well aware how close they were but he didn't miss it when Cobalt spoke of his favourite writer who was apparently Cobalt however many million years ago. And of course, the grin on Cobalt's face made Ben dare to comment.

"He sounds so familiar." Ben raised an eyebrow. "Jules Verne." Another surprise. But not too big. Ben liked Jules Verne too. Probably not to the extent that Cobalt did but he enjoyed reading Verne's writing. He had Twenty Thousand Leagues up in his office library. He smiled when Cobalt named him the books. "Jules..." Ben rolled the name around in his mouth and smiled. "I kinda like it." He nodded. "I guess it IS better than Basher." He rolled his eyes in mock exasperation.

"Well there we go. Your kitten is named. Hi Jules, I'm Ben. Nice to meet you!" Ben shook Jules' paw and grinned, quite aware that he was being dorky. "So...now that the naming ceremony is done, with no human sacrifices made, thank goodness for small miracles, what else is there to do around here?" Ben asked just as his stomach rumbled. Are you kidding me? "Yeah...I haven't eaten my lunch yet..." he grinned sheepishly.

[Cobalt Weaver]

“So much love. You’re just drowning in it.” Cobalt rolled his eyes amiably, “And you do not. And the sooner you realize you’re ludicrous, the better.” He kept the grin on his face in an attempt to keep the mood light, but there was some truth to what he was saying. It bothered him more than he cared to admit that Ben was still so disturbed by his abilities. It was like the other man was afraid of him, of everything he was. And that was stupid, but it was how it felt. Cobalt absently fiddled with the hem of his worn jacket, his angular face pensive.

Not wanting to once again be responsible for killing the mood, Cobalt smiled and nudged Ben’s shoulder back, shifting to sit with his legs bent up on the couch, revealing mismatched socks. It was more casual and relaxed than he’d been with another person since he’d met Elaine, and it would alarm him, were he paying attention. As it was, Cobalt was content to tuck a knee under his chin and idly stroked the kitten’s white fur.

“Ugh, no.” Cobalt shook his head vehemently, “Hate dogs. Always have. Especially German Shepherds. They’re way too smart for their own good, and they can kill you.” Cobalt severely doubted he was in any danger with Leila’s chubby corgi, but he was certainly wary of larger dogs. “I had a bigger problem with ‘em when I was younger. Now, I don’t much care.”

“Oh, har har.” Cobalt elbowed Ben a little harder as the younger man teased him about Cicero. “Look who thinks he’s so funny.” He watched Ben play with the kitten with a grin on his face. “Such a gentleman,” Cobalt snickered.

Ben’s stomach rumbled audibly and Cobalt cracked another grin. “I can tell. Well, you’re welcome to anything in the kitchen. Contrary to what Leila might tell you, I do go grocery shopping every once and a while. There’s sandwich stuff, and if you’re lucky, I might still even have chips. But I might have eaten them. Anyways, whatever. My house is your house and all that.” He gestured vaguely to the kitchen, content to not move. “Lemme know if you want anything in particular.”

[Benjamin Rhodes]

And to an extent, Ben knew Cobalt was right. He was forty years old, his fear of moving shadows had no justification whatsoever. Suck it up, old man. He grimaced inwardly. Cobalt's expression made Ben's eyebrows meet in the middle but he didn't comment on it. He didn't want to offend the man anymore than he probably already had.

A smile spread across the younger man's face at the nudge and he did the same. Much like the juvenile he apparently was. So long as it didn't escalate into a scuffle on the couch with the kitten splat in the middle, Ben was fine with it. He grinned at the mismatched socks and wondered if the older man went around like this all the time. He didn't seem like the kind though. He was probably the straightlaced, business-y type when it came to work. Ben had yet to see him in that environment.

Ben held back a laughter, forcing him to strain his cheek muscles. He looked constipated as a result but he really didn't want to laugh at Cobalt's hatred towards dogs. Ben loved dogs. Big dogs. Like Alsatians and Huskies and Dobermans. He never had the time to care for them but he loved looking at them. But he also loved cats. The furrier the better. And Jules was as furry as they got.

Shrugging with a grin, Ben raised an eyebrow before replying. "Yeah well, I try so hard to please you. I'm glad it's working." He grinned wider. "Hey, you wanna grab lunch outside? I mean I don't mind cooking for you but I know my kitchen better and don't really feel comfortable ransacking yours." He gave a short laugh. We can bring Jules along. Maybe get something to go and eat at the park or something? If you wanted that is." Ben gave an open-ended suggestion.