Chapter Text
Stretched across the pavement, enjoying the afternoon sun, laid an orange tabby.
From above Tommy heard groans of complaint as pedestrians were forced to sidestep his resting form. Once and a while, a foot would try to gently nudge him, but this only resulted in a swiping paw. He just continued to stretch out and enjoy the warmth of the sun taking up as much space as he could in his fur covered form.
Every so often, a soft ding would play, signaling someone had entered the cat café beside him. Each time the noise rang out, Tommy was pulled from his half-sleep.
Growling to himself in annoyance, he shoved his paws over his ears, hoping to fix the problem. Though it did little to muffle the noise, he was once again pulled from his slumber as a family entered the café with yet another ding.
It was then that the young cat made the decision to declare the doorbell his number one enemy.
Becoming more and more annoyed by each disturbance, he got in one last good stretch before slipping through the crowd. Looking around, he could pinpoint the source of the noise and sauntered over. Once he reached the closed café doors, he plopped down. The cool glass panes offered a bit of relief from the hot afternoon sun.
Finally, the noise was gone, and Tommy could nap in peace. A few patrons tried carefully nudging their way through the barrier but were quickly shut down by claws. This continued for about an hour until a soft voice broke through his slumber.
“Aww, look at you,” The stranger, a brown-haired man wearing round glasses, cooed. “How’d you get out here?”
Tommy stretched a bit at the voice, trying to wake his sleep-riddled brain. He felt a hand reach out and give his head a couple scritches, and he nestled into the warmth.
“Ooh, big stretch!” the man exclaimed.
Before he could react, hands were suddenly pulling him into an soft embrace. Pausing only a second in surprise, he hissed and twisted, trying to escape the stranger’s hold. The man only tsked, pulling him closer to the yellow sweater he wore.
“I know, I know. I’m so rude for disturbing your little nap, aren’t I?” the stranger hummed, and a familiar ding played out, signaling they had entered the café.
Tommy stopped fighting the man the moment he realized that he had accidentally just infiltrated his greatest enemy. His first plan to rid the café doors of the doorbell from outside had ultimately failed, but maybe he could find a better solution from the inside.
In the café, he was greeted by cool air and the aroma of baked croissants and freshly brewed coffee. At some booths, a couple of patrons sat snacking on their chosen pastries. As the man walked closer to the till Tommy was met with the sight of a pink-haired employee. Hung from her shirt was a tag with the name ‘Niki’ in bold letters.
“Niki! How’s my favorite employee doing?” the man asked, grinning so wide Tommy feared the smile may get stuck.
“I’m your only employee.” Niki deadpanned, giving the man a look as she eyed the furry bundle in his arms. “I thought you said no more strays?”
“What? He’s one of mine!” the stranger claimed, startling Tommy. “I’m sure of it. This is uh-I swear I know his name- Sunshine! Yes, that’s it! This is Sunshine!”
Whoever this mysterious Sunshine fuck was, it was certainly not Tommy.
“Wilbur, Sunshine got adopted last week,” Niki replied as the man, Wilbur, picked a treat from a nearby tray.
“Are you sure, though? I found him laying right outside the door.” He said, and Niki just sighed. “Okay, okay! But look at this face. You can’t really expect me to shove him back outside, can you?”
“Whatever, but when this place is overrun with 50 cats, don’t come complaining to me.” She relented as Tommy was shoved in her face.
“Fuck yeah!” He yelled startling a few patrons, and then turned Tommy around to face him. “Well, I guess you need a name then. How about Sunshine the second?”
Tommy hissed, he was not sure who Sunshine the first was, but no chance was he being named after this Tommy wannabe without a fight.
“I’m guessing that’s a no. How about Orange?” He laughed, and Tommy huffed out a snarl. “I guess you don’t like that one either.”
Tommy glared at the man as best a cat could. He had a name, and it was a great one too, in his opinion the best. He had no need for a new one.
“I got it! Look at that thoughtless stare,” he laughed, “Just like a Goldfish. Nothing going on inside there!”
To say Tommy was downright offended would be an understatement. This man was really one to talk, calling him thoughtless while having a full-on conversation with a cat.
“It’s perfect!” Wilbur exclaimed, and before Tommy could react, the treat he had picked out was being shoved in his face.
At the first bite, Tommy decided that he no longer had any qualms with the man currently holding him prisoner. Wilbur could call him Goldfish all he wanted if these treats were a part of the deal. He could definitely get used to this!
As someone exited the café, Tommy was reminded of his greatest foe, the doorbell. If he stayed in the café for a couple of days, he would be able to snag some more treats and find a way to disable the noise.
Sure, Tubbo and Ranboo would definitely get pissed at him for not showing up at home tonight, but it would not be the first time. Tommy honestly had a problem with running off and getting lost. He liked to call himself a free spirit.
As long as he returned within a couple of days, everything should be fine.