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The alleyways of Boon county were quite lively this evening. Radical rat wandered the streets filled with embers and smoke of his doing. He prided himself in the ambient cracks of the fire, relishing at the sight of his work. A few moments earlier, some pesky stray cats were stalking him through the shadows of the streets looking for a free meal. And not long after, the strays brave enough to stand their ground were reduced to cremated ash. Destruction was basically his day job but the sun was setting and the few streetlights that were left finally flicked on to signal the end of the day.
Radical rat figured he could scare off any cat that dare approach him with a few firecrackers. Besides, they look best at night!
He looked to find himself completely out of explosives. Weird… he never thought it was possible for him to run out of pyrotechnics. It has been a few days since he restocked his stash since he'd been parading through the county. He quickly recalls his stash of back up bombs he had back at his territory but took a look at his surroundings. He was definitely a while away from home. If he were to wander the night empty handed, it would practically be the equivalent of wearing a shirt that says “EAT ME.”
Something in Radical rat’s head sparked as he did a quick take back at the alley. He knew he’d seen this place before. His friend liked to hang around these parts of Boon county. It was near her place—or at least a place she’d settle. Let’s hope Guillotina was actually there to let him in.
A sharp yowl echoed through the dark making the rat jump a little. The longer he was out here the more likely he’d be some random Tom Tom’s dinner. Radical rat scurried to the nearest corner and began to recall directions to the best of his ability.
It’s been a while since he visited… Now's a better time than ever.
~~~
“Guillotina? Hello you there?” His voice echoed the empty streets. He could've sworn that this is where she'd be wandering around. Radical rat looked around to see the familiar area. He remembered when Guillotina first showed him this place, an all out brawl broke out between her and a couple of tough Tom toms and a few Mangy's because of the good grub that was in some of the trash cans at the curb, with her absolutely coming out victorious of course. He recalled watching her lick her fur clean of meaty chunks and fresh blood.
A single street lamp lit his view as. He could barely see in the dark, maybe it would have helped if he removed his vintage glasses as they only made the shadows harsher, but he’d rather see nothing than take them off. So he stayed blissfully oblivious to what was peering from the shadows.
He could have sworn they hung out around here. Radical rat was starting to doubt himself but noticed the lack of stray cats in the area. At night is when the cat population of Boon county is most alive, but tonight it’s as dead as a boneyard.
Radical rat wanders out in the open street. He fails to notice the large shadow that had been tailing him since he arrived. It slowly approached him extremely quietly for its size. The rat was too preoccupied to notice until he heard the thumps of its footsteps.
“Hey.” A very large and intimidating cat loomed over the rodent, its eyes glowing from reflecting the light that beamed from the light above, covering the rodent in a blanket of shadow.
“Tina!” Radical rat let out a small chatter before greeting his friend with a big hug. Well, big for him, Guillotina simply leaned down and patted him on the head with her large paw.
“What are you doing here?” Guillotina asked. “Aren’t you a little far from home?”
“I’m on a bender! But with bombs!” He exclaimed excitedly as he let go of the fat cat to readjust his shades.
“I can tell.” She monotonously stated as she leaned down to brush the soot off her leg.
Huh, had he always been that dirty? He looked down at his paws to see they were practically pitch black covered in soot. He attempted to shake off the black dust to no avail.
He turned back to the large cat towering over him. “Uh- well since you’re here, I was wondering if I could sleep over tonight. I ran out of explosives if you can believe that.” Radical rat let out a little chuckle as he scratched the back of his head.
“Hm.” Guillotina looked like she was contemplating for a moment before her paw left her chin and reached straight for the rat before her.
He let out a little squeak as her paw firmly gripped him and lifted him off the ground. She brought him up to her face level and opened her gaping maw.
Radical rat was then shoved into her mouth as the smell of blood and wet tuna filled his senses. He could’ve guessed that she had dinner recently–her mouth smelled like metallic blood and maybe some findings from a garbage bin for dessert? He wasn’t afraid, however. This was just an affectionate gesture she would do when she wanted to bring him places—at least he thinks it is… Besides that, she’d always end up spitting him out and in a way it was kinda endearing.
Radical rat hit the roof of Guillotina’s mouth, startling him for a minute, her tongue twitched before it swiftly pushed him out of her mouth. She spat him out onto the floor and proceeded to stick her tongue out in disgust.
“Aw- gross!” She gagged as the stunned rodent sat on the ground drenched in slobber. She had never spat him out in disgust before. “You taste like burnt tar.”
It’s weird to see Tina actually repulsed. All she ever does is eat and she isn’t picky. Radical rat lifted his paw to his nose and sniffed. Under the faint smell of Guillotina’s spit, the smell of smoke and soot hit him like a truck. He physically pulled his arm away instinctively.
“When’s the last time you cleaned yourself…?” Guillotina leaned down, sniffing him with a wrinkled nose.
“Huh… good question. I guess I never shook off the smoke smell from the past couple days.” He readjusted his glasses again. Mostly to fidget out of embarrassment.
"Jeeze, at least I clean up a little after a meal." Guillotina poked fun at the rat. She started to contemplate under the streetlight for a moment before picking the rodent up like a dirty rag. She proceeded to carry him into the shadows, walking towards a dimly lit alleyway. “You can’t stay if you smell like shit.” she blunty told Radical rat.
“Hey!” He didn’t appreciate the jab but it was kinda true. He looked like a piece of charcoal from a bonfire. Radical rat figured he’d be combing through his own fur all night, completely defeating the whole point of coming to Guillotina and sleeping the night away without worrying about hungry strays.
That was until he felt her claw let go of the scruff on his back. He was dropped to the ground, butt first onto the cold asphalt with Guillotina sitting herself with a thud right next to him. Before he could process what was happening, he turned his head to see the fat cat’s face leaning down towards him. He couldn't understand the reason to why she'd put him in her mouth again. Maybe she was upset that he had left a foul taste in her mouth and she was going to make him pay by seriously eating him this time. He saw her lips part and prepared to meet her large maw once again.
Radical rat blinked his eyes open as instead of a slimy mouth, he was met with a huge tongue pressing against the side of his body.
“What are you?!-“ the rodent scurried away from her flustered.
“Cleaning you.” She simply stated like it was fact. “Hey, this is considered something ‘nice’ and I don’t usually do nice. Just come here.” She sat up to look at Radical rat who was stepping away from their resting spot.
“I-I don’t need you to groom me! I can do it myself…” Radical rat insisted. He stepped back as his very large friend stood up and towered over him. He couldn’t believe the nerve of the woman until it dawned on him.
He recalled that cats groomed each other as a means of cleaning–he wouldn’t be in this situation otherwise. But, for rats it has a completely different meaning.
As she took a step forward, the rodent darted in the other direction. Radical rat’s pride couldn’t let her clean him. Guillotina just doesn’t know the implications behind what she was going to do.
Before the two knew it, a cat and mouse chase had broken out. Radical rat swerved his path through alleyways and tight corners to avoid his bath. This was humiliating to the point his face was red. His will to avoid her grasp only showed Tina's towering display of dominance over him without her ever knowing.
As the chase continued, he figured that Guillotina would have been winded down by now. She was quite the big cat, that was sure to weigh her down. As his pace slowed he checked over his shoulder. She was in the air. Her trajectory was headed straight toward him.
“EEP!!-“ Radical rat let out a high pitched squeak as two paws grabbed him and gripped him firmly.
The two roll through the alleyway from the momentum of the pounce. Once they slowed to a halt, Tina held him firmly between her two paws watching him struggle to escape from her grasp.
“Best not run from me… I’m faster than I look.” Guillotina huffed as she looked down to Radical rat like he was prey that had been captured.
It’s not everyday you see Guillotina off the ground. Radical rat was surprised she could even jump. But that wasn’t his concern at the moment.
“Now, to clean your smelly ass…–” Guillotina’s tongue stuck out of her lips and approached the poor rodent in slow motion.
“Wait wait wait wait!!-“ His pleas fell on deaf ears as he tried his best to worm himself out of her firm grasp.
Unfortunately this would only dig his own grave as the big cat was on her last straw. She dropped Radical rat on the ground giving him a hint of hope before ripping it away, slamming her paw on the floor with him in between. He finds himself pinned, stomach up, down on the cold concrete. It almost felt scandalous.
Radical rat could feel his dignity slipping away from his body as he squirmed in her grasp. He seemed to finally realise that he wasn’t going anywhere and looked right back at the very big cat who was inches away from his face. Her expression was deflated, as if she was finally getting tired of his games.
“Quit it. Seriously.” Guillotina grumbled. Her threat only drilled the fact that he was going to get a bath from her whether he likes it or not. He reluctantly let out little squeaks of submission.
This is it. He raised the metaphorical white flag of shame. His pride, his dignity, all of it. Straight down the drain. He wouldn’t look at himself the same anymore. Well, maybe that’s a little dramatic but being dominated by someone who doesn’t even know they’re overpowering you is pretty damn embarrassing.
He let flustered squeaks out as her tongue hit his fur. It was rough and spiny like sand paper as it displaced his glasses along with his fur. This is what cats use to brush their fur? He’d be lying if he said that it wasn’t sufficient at its job. As the tongue retreated Tina’s nose wrinkled once again.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this.” The taste made her spit her words out. “You better be grateful or I’m eating you as a midnight snack.” Guillotina chuckled but Radical rat could barely focus.
Ok, this is pretty embarrassing but it really shouldn’t make him this red and sweaty. Suddenly, Guillotina’s paws began to move again. She gently flipped the rat over like a burger patty with little to no effort. The small rodent could only be subjected to the large feline's bathing session as he was questioning things about himself.
To Guillotina, the bath lasted only a few moments—mostly because her tongue was basically half the size of Radical rat’s body. But for him, it felt like time had slowed down. Once she licked away the last few spots covered in soot she loosened her grip and fully expected Radical rat to scurry away in fear. She wasn’t dumb. Guillotina caught on that she may have overstepped on boundaries a little too late in the bath. She was just never one to pay attention to emotions.
However, Radical rat stayed put. His face was covered by his little paws. Guillotina looked down in worry now. She’s never seen an expression like that from her little companion. Her paw came back to his side to nudge the rodent. “Hey… My teeth didn’t catch on anything, did it…?”
He jumped at her touch revealing his flushed face under his glasses. “N-no, uh. It’s just that uhm.” It’s only fair she knew too.
“When rats groom each other, it asserts dominance… SOCIALLY o-of course…" It felt humiliating explaining what should be common sense like this. But it wasn’t common sense for her and he wasn’t about to blame her for that.
A moment of silence sliced through the two.
“Huh? I thought that was obvious.” Guillotina deadpanned.
“Wait what?”
“I mean- look at you. You're a tiny little rat. Of course I’d dominate you.” Guillotina smiled, showing all her teeth teasingly.
“I hope you know I’m pretty big compared to other rats! Besides, it's a societal thing.” He bantered back. “I'm just not used to being on the other side, I guess.” Radical rat admitted while he nervously fidgeted with his glasses, re-adjusting them after being displaced by Tina’s tongue.
“Sure, whatever you say, big guy.” Sarcasm seeped out of her remark. “But just sayin: no harm in submitting every now and then, especially to me.” Guillotina let out a hearty laugh before sighing and wiping a tear away with her claw.
Guillotina would be lying if she said she didn't enjoy watching him squirm under her. His helplessness was quite amusing, like playing with a cute little squeaker toy.
But for Radical rat, it was odd. Looking back at the moment, Radical rat didn't find anything remotely wrong with anything. He’d just known that the strongest and biggest rat in the room was best for survival. But now that he didn't really have to worry about feline adversaries around Guillotina, it was like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. In fact, he actually realised he enjoyed being pampered for once.
“Ohh that's hilarious… but let's get some rest now.” she was still coming down from her laughing fit, letting out a giggle every now and then. “You’ve worked big mama out enough.” She rubbed her stomach before scooting to a nearby corner next to a dumpster.
She settled herself against the corner, opening her mouth to let out a big yawn. She closes her eyes but peaks them open once she realizes her little friend is still standing in the open alley. “You coming or what?”
“Oh-“ Radical rat perks up, the blush returning to his cheeks for a moment. He makes his way to the large sleeping cat and curls his body next to hers.
“You owe me tomorrow's breakfast.” Guillotina mumbles as she nudges the little rodent's small frame with her body.
Radical rat leans his head into her, pressing against her warmth. “Isn’t that obvious?” he chattered back all snarky despite truly being grateful. Guillotina re-adjusts herself into a loaf with her face coming near to where Radical rat was laying. Her eyes were closed, face was content. Radical rat tucked himself next to her and snuggled up to her cheek.
While he waits for the drowsiness to kick in, his paw wanders towards his fur, it glides over his now silky and neatly groomed fluff. He brings his paw towards his nose. Surprisingly, it doesn’t smell like anything too strong, definitely better than before though. Despite how much he loves the smell of smoke and gunpowder, he wouldn't mind being groomed by Guillotina every once in a while… well at least when he gets dirty again.
The sound of Purring began to come from Guillotina’s chest, interrupting the small rodent's train of thought. He looked up at Tina’s face. Her peaceful slumber began to make his eyelids heavy.
Boon county’s alleyways settled into the quiet as the two companions slept away the night.