KCFC: Bandit

Once home the talking didn't stop, but Bandit was content to sit and snack on his sardines as they conversed. Ruby looked serious, her hands moving all around as she spoke to Rysten. Her pet raccoon wondered if he would need to claw anyone any time soon because he might need to sharpen the razors.

"If you don't want to be alone, Ruby, I will stay with you. Hands to myself the whole time, I swear it."

Bandit rolled his eyes. He could sniff that lie out a hundred miles away. Where there were hands, there was touching. It happened every time these crazies came home with them. It was like Ruby was a magnet for these poor suckers.

Then Bandit would sit to the side, and check on the situation now and then. He hadn't needed to attack any of the guys yet, but he wasn't banking on that forever. As soon as they even looked at her without her permission he was ready to pounce. He had already taken one guy's nose off. Some loser in an alley.

He'd do it again if need be. Though the taste was still lingering in his mouth and he hated it. Tasted like trash, but not the good stuff. The dirty sewage trash.

"Where are the others?"

Ah yes, the three other lugnuts that followed her around. The four of them stole Bandit's much-needed lovings and he couldn't stand for it. With that thought in mind, he scurried across the room and slipped onto Ruby's lap as she sat on the couch.

He watched the eyebrow lift on the blonde man's face as they met gazes. Bandit couldn't help but smile and close his eyes, knowing he had won this match. Ruby ran her hand over his fur without thinking twice, his presence calming her.

Rysten looked a little peeved at the interruption but spoke up nonetheless.

"We're back to one a day, but if you so wish it I can ask them to come over tomorrow night so we can all talk?"

She shook her head, her pets hesitating for a moment. Bandit opened his eyes, peeking up at her. He was just about ready to kick this guy out of his house if he kept interrupting his much-needed massage. Then Ruby started petting him again and his eyes closed, his mind falling onto snacks as he forgot the man's transgressions.

"I don't think I want to have some huge discussion right now. You're right, I think one a day is better. You guys are...a lot to handle."

Bandit sniffed. A lot to handle? They were meddlesome and ever since they showed up life had been sitting on its head. They were like an owl to a baby raccoon, stealing away the life he knew.

Still, it was nice to see Ruby getting out of the house more. Before she would only leave with Moira, the green lady with a short but sweet voice. She fed Bandit snacks too. Ruby would always be his favorite friend, but Moira was a close second. The ladies cared for him like no other, and he swore to protect them in return.

At the moment Rysten reached out a hand to touch Ruby's free hand.

"I know this is hard on you. Please know we are here no matter what you need."

What she needed, Bandit thought, was more of his cuddles. With that he moved closer to her, nudging his head into her chest. She smiled down at him, her hands moving from the man to one of her oldest friends.

"I think your shabby pet here shares my intentions as well."

Bandit looked back and up toward the man, his face dark. If it wouldn't get him scolded he would've turned around and bopped the man's nose. As it was, a glare would have to do. Ruby watched her little raccoon's facial expressions, her laugh full of joy as Rysten backed up a little bit.

The man knew what a warning glare looked like and he wasn't about to get into a fight with a damn trash panda. Especially one that Ruby loved so much.

"Now I see why you like this thing so much. He's as feisty as you are."

She continued to laugh, happy tears welling in her eyes. When she calmed she pulled Bandit into a hug, then reached over and squeezed Rysten's hand.

"Thank you both. I needed that more than you know."

Rysten smiled, thinking just for a moment that the pest wasn't half bad after all. If the little ruffian could make Ruby happy he was all for it. However, he was going to be sleeping with one eye open from now on just in case.