Still fighting that damned writer's block. Expect these stupid little stand alone until it clears.

The phone rings.

Chester puts his beer down and reaches for the phone. His hand already on the receiver when he changes his mind. Picks the bottle up and sits back. Waits. The phone stops ringing and he hears the familiar click of the answering machine.

His own voice fills the room.

You've reached Mike and Chester. We're not available right now. Please leave a message.

He smiles, remembering how he actually included the reasons why they weren't available in the first recording of their message. Mike didn't notice it, until his mother called, that is. She wasn't amused, to say the very least.

But listening to it, it does have a nice ring to it. Mike and Chester. Not available.

The machine beeps.

Mike's voice. The soft drawl that now fills the room causing Chester's smile to widen, his fingers tightening around the bottle.

"Chester, you gotta stop listening to that message and answer the damn phone, man."

As he reaches for the phone, he grins, thinking that Mike should've done the message instead of him. But if he had, Chester would probably never answer the phone again.

"But I like the message, Mike. It sounds nice. And the only way I can hear it is if I don't answer the phone."

"You're impossible." Mike's laugh fills Chester's ear, making the singer smile. "But I love you for it."

"Why, Mr. Shinoda, I love you, too. Anyway, the reason for your call?"

"I have something for you, meet me outside."

"A present? For me?"

"No, it's for Brad, I just want your opinion on it."

"You're...kidding, right?"

"Of course I am. C'mon, come outside."

Chester hangs the phone up, feeling giddy and lighthearted, and gets up from his seat.

~*~

When he gets outside he sees Mike standing in the driveway, his face taken over by that infectious Shinoda smile. Although, he looks ridiculous, because his arms are pulled out of the sleeves of his hoodie and are craddled inside.

Chester quirks his eyebrow in question as he approaches the smiley emcee. "You realize how stupid you look, yeah?"

"Yes, but it's worth it." He leans forward and cathces Chester in an automatic kiss. "Unzip my hoodie."

"Do what?" Chester asks, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Unzip it, I can't very well do it myself, can I?"

"Right," Chester takes the zipper in his hand and toys with it. Mike looks at him expectantly, grin growing impossibly wider.

Chester slowly pulls the zipper down and jumps back in surprise when a tiny, gray fluffy head pokes out at him. The kitten lets out a high pitched 'MROW' at being disturbed and looks around at the new surroundings.

Mike lifts his hands and offers Chester the cat, who took it graciously. "Awh, it's so cute!!"

"It's a he." Mike smiles and slides his hoodie off, letting it drop to the ground.

Chester cuddles the little kitten and let it curl into his neck. "What's his name?"

"He doesn't have one. I thought you'd want to name him."

Chester lifts the kitten up to look into his eyes. The kitten has deep, expressive eyes that reminds Chester of someone he loves so much. "I know the perfect name." He smiles over the kitten at Mike.

"Care to let me in on it?"

Chester answers him with a kiss and then pulls the kitten away from his chest, turning him so Mike can see his face. "Mike, I would like you to meet Kenji."

~*~

The phone rings.

Mike, Chester, and Kenji the kitten are curled up in front of the fire place. Neither Mike nor Chester move to answer it, opting instead to stay embraced in each other's warmth. Chester smiles as he hears the click of the answering machine. His own voice fills the room.

You've reached Mike, Chester, and Kenji. We're not available right now. Please leave a message.

Review? :)