Chapter 12: Cleaning Up the Joint

Loxus PoV

Loxus grumbled as Wilt walked off. Why did he kept running into that guy while feeding the cats? It was annoying.

He sighed and petted the black and white cat licking his hand.

"Hey, Loxus, wanna help us steal a car?" Rubber asked, walking over.

He sighed. "Rubber, I told you already. I'm putting a pause on that life. If I get caught, then I won't be able to play basketball at Kallen."

Rubber frowned. "But you were so good at it. We could use your skills."

Loxus shook his head and petted the pure black kitten inside his hoodie. "Sorry, but I'm done with that stuff. For now, I'm focusing on basketball."

Rubber sighed and patted him on the shoulder. "If you say so, boss."

Loxus shrugged.

Rubber smiled slightly as he followed him. "So, have you named the kitten yet?"

"I... no."

"I have an idea!" Sand said as he rushed over. He and the other guys surrounded him, looking down at the bundle of fur in his arms.

"What is it?" Loxus asked.

Sand grinned. "What about Trash Bag? Ya know, because we found him in the trash."

Loxus narrowed his eyes at his underling, unamused by his sorry excuse for a joke. "No."

"How about Fluffy?"

"Too plain."

"Meiko?"

"Isn't that a type of cat?"

"Oh, you're right," Sand said, scratching his head.

The exchange continued, each of his underlings taking turns offering names for the kitten snuggled in Loxus's hoodie.

"How about Whiskers?" Concrete suggested, grinning widely.

Loxus raised an eyebrow. "Really? That's the best you can come up with?"

Concrete shrugged, unperturbed. "What? It's a classic cat name."

"What about Shadow?" Steel offered, scratching his chin thoughtfully.

"Too cliche," Loxus dismissed with a shake of his head.

"What about Smoky?"

He shook his head.

The group fell silent for a moment, each young man deep in thought. Then, Brick cleared his throat.

"What about Dusk?" he suggested. Despite being a big guy, his voice was rather melodic and soft.

Everyone turned to look at Brick, who was usually the silent one in the group. Loxus looked down at the kitten, its black fur making its blue-grey eyes stand out even more. Dusk... The name had a nice ring to it.

"Dusk," he repeated, testing the name. The kitten mewed softly, as if in approval. Loxus allowed a small smile to grace his lips. "Yeah, Dusk. I like it."

The group erupted into cheers and laughter, each man patting Loxus on the back and congratulating him on his new pet. Loxus just shook his head, a small chuckle escaping him. For a group of tough guys, they sure had a soft spot for a tiny kitten.

Loxus and his crew made their way back to their hideout, an old, run-down house that was as mismatched and rough around the edges as they were. As they made their way through the creaky front door, Loxus felt Dusk shift in his hoodie, the kitten's curious eyes taking in his surroundings.

"Alright, you guys go do whatever it is you do," Loxus said, shrugging off his underlings. "I've got to feed Dusk."

Sand, Concrete, and Steel immediately scurried off, eager to avoid any potential chores. Brick, however, lingered behind, eyeing the small bundle in Loxus's arms.

"You need help?" he asked.

Loxus shook his head. "Nah, I got it. Thanks, though."

With a nod, Brick turned to leave, but not before casting one last glance at the kitten. Once they were alone, Loxus carried Dusk into the kitchen and began rummaging around the cupboards for a small saucer and a the kitten milk formula he had bought the other day.

The kitchen was a mess, but Loxus eventually found what he needed. He filled the saucer with the milk, making sure it was just the right temperature before placing it on the floor. He gently lifted Dusk from his hoodie and set him next to the saucer.

"There you go, Dusk," he said, watching as the kitten sniffed at the milk before starting to lap it up.

Satisfied that Dusk was eating, Loxus leaned back against the counter, watching the kitten with a softness in his eyes that he seldom showed. For a moment, the rough exterior of the tough gang member faded away, replaced by a gentleness that was reserved only for the small, black kitten named Dusk.

Loxus watched as Dusk greedily lapped up the milk, his small body hunched over the saucer. The sight of the tiny kitten enjoying his meal brought a faint smile to the gang leader's face.

Once he was sure that Dusk was settled, he turned his attention to the state of the kitchen. Dirty dishes were piled high in the sink, the countertops were stained and sticky with old food and drink spills, and the garbage was overflowing.

With a hefty sigh, he rolled up his sleeves and got to work. He started with the dishes, scrubbing away at the crusty food remnants and rinsing them clean. He stacked them neatly on the drying rack, their surfaces now gleaming from his efforts.

Once the dishes were done, he moved on to the sink. Using a sponge and some dish soap, he scrubbed at the grime and food particles until the sink shone. The transformation was immediate, the once grimy sink now sparkling clean.

Next, he tackled the countertops, wiping them down with a damp cloth until they were free of spills and stains. Finally, he took out the garbage, tying up the bag and hauling it outside to the bins. 

The kitchen looked considerably better once he was done. 

He huffed. Now if only his lazy goons helped more around the place, making their leader do all the hard work around here. 

With the kitchen now clean, Loxus turned his attention to the next task at hand - preparing dinner. He wasn't much of a cook, but he knew how to make a few simple dishes.

He glanced over at Dusk, who was now curled up on the kitchen floor, fast asleep with his blanket around him. A sense of warmth filled his chest. For the first time in a long time, Loxus felt at home.