storypaint | Bathed in Loss (gen)

Title: Bathed in Loss
Rating/Warnings: PG, death themes
Disclaimer: "Outlaw Star" is not my property. This fanfic is a derivative of canon material that is not my property. I do not profit from these writings. The opinions and actions expressed in these stories are not necessarily the views and beliefs of the original author or me.

Excerpt: "Lost a girl, eh?" Aisha said, batting sympathetically at his shoulder. "I understand."

"Who was she?" Aisha asked curiously as she sat down beside him. He looked away.

"Nobody," he said, his hair in his eyes.

"Lost a girl, eh?" Aisha said, batting sympathetically at his shoulder. "I understand."

"No, you don't," Jim said, feeling sorry for himself and irritated that the catgirl was butting into his private grief.

"Yes, I do," she said, nodding. "Lost a kitten once. As young as you, but prettier." She had a far- away look in her eyes.

He looked into her eyes, surprised.

"I know how to comfort you," she said. She patted his head, then leaned over and began to lick his hair. He purred a little and for a moment it was almost comforting, but then he pulled away.

"I'm not a Ctarl-Ctarl! I bathe in water!" He sniffled a little, but felt better.

"No problem!" Aisha said cheerfully. She picked him up and tucked him under an arm, then headed for the bathroom.

Jim's shouts of protest overcame finally Gene's determined concentration. He looked up from his newspaper and listened for a moment to Jim's screams of protest..

"Courageous outlaw or not, little brother or not, I'm not going there..." he muttered, his voice drowned out by Jim's yells. He returned to reading.

"No claws, no claws! I can bathe myself! Aren't cats supposed to hate water?! AAAHHH!!"