Paws and Claws pt. 16

Thomas stayed in the shadows. He didn't trust this 'Raylan' guy and he was going to get to the bottom his gut-feeling. He watched as Mike let Raylan blindfold her, then help her into the truck. He watched as Mike scooted closer to his side when he got in.
Thomas was Mike's most trusted kizekh, but she hadn't listened to him about this guy.
They began to drive.

Yeah, I knew Thomas was there. I've spent so much time with him that I'd probably know his scent in my sleep. I didn't order him away- I thought it'd be better if he found out himself. Now, of course, if certain things happened, I would tell him to get lost, but until then, he was okay.
"It's beautiful. It's. . . wow." Raylan had actually done something that most people wouldn't think of. I was standing in a plant sanctuary, with a rose bush in front of me. A plack beside the bush said 'Mikas Rosaldo.' I looked up at him and grinned wide. "You didn't."
"Yeah, I did." He shrugged.
I stood on my tip-toes to hug him around the neck. "Thank you!"

Thomas didn't understand why she was so happy. It was a bush. It was a bush named after her. Does that mean Raylan saw the bush and it reminded him of her? Thomas didn't understand at all.

When he took Mike home, Raylan said goodbye like usual and began to drive away. He saw something that wasn't seat-colored out of the corner of his eye and looked over to realized Mike had left her purse. (The one time she brings one, and she forgets it. But hey, it's another reason to see her.)
He drove back up to Firebird to find a very interesting situation. Mike was sliding through the gate. Thomas met her on the other side. He backed her up into the gate and kissed her. Mike put her hand on his chest and pushed him back, shaking her head and walking past him.
Raylan beeped the horn. Mike and Thomas both looked at him. Yes, Raylan was angry. Yes, Raylan thought about getting in a fight. But it was ovbious that Mike had said no- which meant Thomas was no threat. Raylan didn't need to fight him. But he still felt the need to go show that guy that Mike was his. He got out of the truck as Mike slipped back through the gate. "Hey, you forgot this." He glanced over at Thomas.
Mike looked up at Raylan with a worried expression. "Are you okay?"
"Ah, no worries." He tried to smile at her.
"Well, you should come inside."
"He should not," Thomas hissed.
Mike turned towards Thomas- that's all she did- but Raylan watched as Thomas shrank back and bacame silent.
"Come on." She smiled up at him again.

I watched as Raylan took in the inside of Firebird. "So you like it?"
"It's really fancy," hr replied, unsmiling. "I feel like I should have a suit on just to walk through the door."
"No worries. It's okay. C'mon." I pulled him up the staircase and into the hallway leading to my room. Then I realized that this is the first guy in my room- other than Zavier. I stopped in front of my door. "Uhm, hold on." I hurried inside to clean it up- a stray bra on the chair, a pair of shoes on the rug. . . "Okay, c'mon."
"Wow, nice." He looked around then plopped down on the bed, waiting for me to say something.
I took a deep breath- this place reminded me of Zavier. It felt kinda weird to be in here with Raylan. Then walked over to sit in Raylan's lap. "Now you see why I wanted my own place."
"Then stay with me."
I froze and looked at him for a moment. Then smiled. "Okay."