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Chapter Text

Small droplets of water fell from the roof onto Tommy's madden fur. It was the night after a bad storm. Storms mean that there was a possibility of someone's trash can falling over giving him easy access to any old leftover or expired food

Tommy stood up and let out a big yearn and he was ready for the day

He walked his way out of the alley that he had stayed in for the night and towards the “good” part of town. They always had the best food and they were more likely to throw things out.

When Tommy arrived he looked down the street until he saw a house with a tipped over trash can. He hurried over and stuck his head in and sniffed around until he found something. He pulled out a chicken leg and chowed down.

Being a stray kitten Tommy didn't get food too often. And up until now it had been quite a while since his last meal that wasn't bugs.

After eating his food he was still hungry, so he went back in to try and find something more.

While he was inside the trash can, he felt something jump up onto the trash can.

He backed up out and looked up

Standing on top of the trash can looked to be a brown forest cat. Around the cat's neck was a collar. That meant one of two things.

One, It was a house pet, or Two,

It was a Shifter

Tommy didn't like house pets OR shifters

The brown cat jumped down and Tommy was able to get a good look at the tag on the collar

It said two things,

Wilbur and Shifter

Who names their child, Wilbur.

Tommy backed up and hissed when the cat tried to sniff him. The Brown cat meowed and sat down. Tommy tried to swat at the cat but he missed. The brown cat was not fazed and tried to softly head butt the side of Tommy. Tommy decided he had enough and started to walk away but the brown cat ran in front of him then tried to push him back.  Tommy angrily hissed at him and swat again.

The brown cat quickly dodged Tommy's swipe and then sat down in front of him, looking up with curious eyes. Tommy huffed in annoyance and tried to walk around the cat, but the brown cat kept blocking his path.

Tommy growled, his tail lashing back and forth.

The brown cat simply blinked at him, and then meowed softly.

Tommy grumbled. He meowed again, telling the cat he could follow along with him.

The brown cat let out a happy purr and trotted alongside Tommy as he continued his search for food. Somehow, Tommy found himself enjoying the company of the other cat, but Tommy wouldn't let anyone know that.

As they searched through the trash cans, Tommy started to feel more and more grateful for the brown cat's company. He had never had anyone to be with before, but now he had a companion.

Eventually, he found a discarded bag of cat food, and Tommy started to eat the food. He realized that he had been so focused on his own hunger that he had forgotten about the cat.

He meowed, pushing the bag towards the brown cat.

The brown cat sniffed the food and pushed it back. Tommy shrugged, more food for him.

As he finished his meal, Tommy looked over at the brown cat and then back at the tag on his collar. Again who names their child Wilbur?

Tommy started to walk away when the brown cat ,Wilbur, picked him out and started to trott back to where they first meet. Tommy didn't take too kindly to this and tried to wiggle around to get away and surprisingly it worked. When he was on the ground he swatted at Wilbur and then ran off.

Tommy continued down the street, his fur bristling with anger. He was pissed. He couldn't believe that stupid brown cat had tried to pick him up and take him home like some kitten! Tommy was starting to think that the brown cat wasn't so bad,he even offered them some of his food, but then he does this?

He didn't care if it was a house pet or a shifter, he wasn't going to let anyone treat him like a small scared kitten.

As he walked, he began to calm down. He took deep breaths and tried to let go of his anger. After all, he was a lone cat, and he needed to be able to control his emotions if he was going to survive.

He glanced back over his shoulder, but the brown cat was nowhere to be seen. Tommy sighed and continued on his way. He knew he needed to find a warm, dry place to sleep tonight, or else he'd be miserable in the rain.

As he walked, he saw a few other cats out and about. They all looked like they had a place to call home, and Tommy felt a pang of jealousy. He wished he had a warm bed to sleep in and someone to cuddle up with.

But he quickly pushed those thoughts aside. He didn't need anyone else. He was a strong, independent cat, and he didn't need anyone else to take care of him.

With that thought in mind, he turned down a quiet side street and began to look for a place to sleep. Eventually, he found an old abandoned house with a broken window.

He squeezed through the opening and made his way inside. The house was musty and damp, but it was dry and sheltered from the rain.

Tommy curled up in a corner and closed his eyes, feeling grateful for the safety of the abandoned house. As he drifted off to sleep, he began to dream of a warm, soft bed and a loving owner who would pet him and feed him. He dreamed of chasing after toys and playing with other cats.

Tommy's dream felt so real that he almost forgot he was a stray cat, alone in an abandoned house. But as he stirred from his slumber, reality hit him once again. He let out a soft sigh and opened his eyes, staring into the darkness of the old house.

Just for a moment, he felt a pang of sadness, wishing he had a real home and a loving family. But then he reminded himself that he was strong and capable of taking care of himself, and he didn't need anyone else to survive.

For now, he was content with the warmth and shelter the abandoned house provided.

Tommy closed his eyes once more and drifted off back to sleep

Chapter Text

Wilbur walked slowly back to his house, lost in thought. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness in his heart for the small, scruffy kitten he had seen earlier. Its matted fur and malnourished appearance said that it was a stray, wandering the streets without a home or family. Wilbur wanted to talk him to his home with his family but obviously just picking him up and taking him with didn't work.

As he walked, Wilbur wondered where the kitten had come from and where it was headed. He knew that there were plenty of feral cats in the area, but this one seemed different somehow. It had a certain look in its eyes, as if there wasn't just the mind of a cat behind it.

Wilbur walked up the porch of his house and up to the door. He stood up his back  legs and pushed the customly installed door bell he, and his family installed.  He backed up and sat in front of the door.

About 15 seconds later the door opened and there stood his father, Phil.

"Hey there mate, where have you been?" Phil asked Wilbur as he trotted through the door and onto the couch.

Wilbur hopped up on the couch and shifted.

"Hi dad, wait, you won't believe what I saw today!" Wilbur said watching his father walk back into the kitchen before getting up and following him in.

"Really" Phil responded

"Yea, yea there was a stray in our trash can so I followed him around and tried to bring them home, but they ran off." Wilbur told his father

"Wilbur, There are lots of strays outside." Phil said not looking up from where he was cooking.

"No, no dad, they weren't just a stray,  they were a stray kitten. It looked so sad and small." Wilbur said, as a way to get his father to show any signs of concern for the kitten.

"Are you sure that its mother wasn't there?" Phil asked, with just a small amount of concern.

"I'm sure, its fur was matted and it looked small, definitely too small for a kitten." Wilbur said.

"Hmm, okay, where did you see it?" Phil asked.

"Just outside."

"Allright, I'll leave some food out and see if it comes back."Phil started

"And if it comes back can we keep it?" Wilbur asked with a hint of excitement in his voice.

"Well see, if it was really a stray kitten then maybe." Phil said, and pulled out 2 bowls, and poured mac and cheese into each of them.

"What about Techno?" Wilbur asked, gesturing to the bowls.

"He said he would be home late, I'll put some in the fridge for him when he gets back."

"Oh, Alright"

As Wilbur and Phil finished their dinner, they discussed what they could do to help the stray kitten. Wilbur was hopeful that they could keep the kitten as a pet, but Phil reminded him that they needed to make sure the kitten didn't belong to someone else first.

Wilbur didn't think that it did, if they did they were obviously not taking very good care of him.

"Maybe we could put up some posters around the neighborhood to see if anyone is missing a kitten?" Phil suggested.

"But what if no one claims it? Can we keep it then?" Wilbur asked, eager to have a new furry friend. He was already thinking of names.

"We'll see, Wilbur. We have to make sure it's safe and healthy before we can take it in," Phil replied.

Wilbur nodded, he understood that his father was right. They didn't want to put themselves or the kitten in danger by taking it in without being sure it wasn't sick.

After dinner, Wilbur went to his room and took out his sketchbook. He started drawing the stray kitten, trying to capture its scruffy appearance and sad expression. As he drew, he thought about how he could help the kitten if it did come back.

He decided to do some research online. Being a cat shifter himself, he didn't need to know how to take care of a kitten since he was one before, and his father know everything about it, but he wanted to try and figure out what breed it was, from the what Wilbur found he guessed the kitten was a either of the Somali breed or a Maine Coon, but Wilbur thought the kitten was to small be be a Maine Coon, so Somali it was.

As Wilbur closed his laptop and set it aside, he heard a faint scratching sound coming from outside his window. He walked over to investigate with hope the kitten had come back, he peered out into the darkness. But instead of the scruffy little kitten, he saw his brother Techno perched on the windowsill.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Wilbur asked, surprised to see his brother.

Techno jumped up into Wilburs room and shifted.

"It's getting late, I didn't want to use the doorbell." Techno responded, standing up to stretch.

"Oh, okay.' Wilbur said,'Dad put food in the fridge."

"Cool" Techno said and started to walk about the door.

"Wait,' Wilbur said, Techno stopped and turned his head to face Wilbur, 'Have you seen a kitten outside?" He said, with a small amount of hope.

"No." Techno said, and then walked out the door.

"Oh, okay" Wilbur said quietly, with disappointment, just to himself.

Wilbur then moved his laptop off his bed, and changed into more comfortable clothes. He heard Techno and his dad talking out in the kitchen, though it was nothing that interested him.

Wilbur checked his phone and responded to a few messages from his friends before he put his phone on the charger and sat it down on his night stand, Wilbur then laid down in his bed and pulled the covers up.

For the short time he was awake he thought about the kitten, school, and work.

wasn't long before Wilbur drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

Chapter Text

Tommy woke up feeling very cold. He was curled up in a corner of the old house where he had sleep. As fall was turning into winter he was finding it increasingly difficult to stay warm. He knew he needed to find a warmer place to sleep if he didn't wanted to freeze.

He started to explore the house, looking for a warmer spot. He found an old cardboard box and some old towels. He took the old box and dragged it to a spot in the room where there was sunlight shining.Tommy then went back to the towels and placed them inside the box. He spent a while scratching and kneading the towels, making it comfortable for himself. He then curled up in the box, feeling much warmer already.

After a while, Tommy's stomach started to rumble. He realized he hadn't eaten anything since the day before. He decided to venture out into the town to look for something to eat.

Tommy walked out of the old house and into the street. He could tell that it was going to be a bad winter just from the wind. He started to walk down the street and crossed the road to main street, hoping to find a store or something where he could find some thrown out food.

Tommy trotted on the sidewalk tell he dipped into an alleyway ,between a grocery store and a pet shop, where there was a dumpster. He hopped up onto the side and dug his head in. He pulled out 2 unopened chicken legs and jumped down to the concrete. He used his teeth to rip open the paper.

As he was eating Tommy heard two people talking.

"It's so cold out, dad, they're probably freezing."

"Wilbur, I'm sure the kitten is just fine."

Wilbur…. There was only one person Tommy knew that had such a stupid name.

The brown cat.

Tommy froze, holding onto the chicken leg in his mouth. He peered around the corner and saw the two men walking out of the pet shop carrying bags of cat food, toys, and a bed.Tommy assumed that the one with brown hair was Wilbur, considering the brown coat of fur the cat had, and the other man was Wilbur's owner, or dad,

Tommy realized they were talking about him, unless Wilbur had run into another stray kitten they were talking about him. He finished the leg he was eating and picked up the other before hurrying off.

Tommy exited the alley back onto the sidewalk. He was behind Wilbur and his owner. He quietly followed behind them. He crossed the street on to the road going to the old house.

Once he arrived back at the old  He knew he had to be careful now Wilbur and his owner knew about him. He curled up inside his box and nibbled on the remaining chicken leg as he thought about his situation.

He wondered why they were talking about him and what they wanted with him. Maybe they were just concerned about a stray kitten out in the cold and wanted to give it a home, but Tommy had a feeling that there was something more to it. He couldn't shake off the sense of danger that hung in the air.

Tommy spent the rest of the day in the safety of his cardboard box, watching the world outside through a small gap. As the sun started to set, he knew he needed to find a more permanent hiding spot. He couldn't stay in the old house forever, especially now that Wilbur and his owner knew he was around.

Tommy yawned and stretched, his tiny paws extending as far as they could. He purred softly, enjoying the warmth of the sun on his fur. But he knew he couldn't stay there forever. He needed to find a new place to hide before it got too dark.

Slowly, he climbed out of the cardboard box and pulled the smallest towel he had and made his way over to the door. He peered outside, scanning the street for any sign of danger. It seemed quiet for now, but he couldn't be too careful.

With a deep breath, he took his first steps out of the house and onto the sidewalk. His heart raced as he scurried along, his eyes darting back and forth in search of a safe place to hide.

As he made his way through the town, he saw other cats out and about, but he kept his distance. He knew that they could be just as dangerous as humans, and he didn't want to risk getting caught.

Finally, after what felt like hours of searching, Tommy found what he was looking for, a small opening under a nearby shed. He pushed the towel into the hole before squeezing his tiny body through the gap and curled up in the darkness, feeling safer than he had in a long time.

As he drifted off to sleep, he couldn't help but wonder what the future held for him. Would he ever find a loving home? Or would he spend the rest of his days hiding in the shadows, constantly on the run?

Chapter Text

Wilbur woke up to the sound of his dad's footsteps in the hallway. He groggily rubbed his eyes and stumbled into the kitchen. His dad was already there, pouring a cup of coffee.

"Hey kiddo, you wanna come into town with me? We need to get some food, and some things for that kitten," his dad said, sipping on his coffee.

Wilbur perked up at the mention of the kitten. "Yeah, sure. Let me get ready."

Wilbur quickly went back to his room to get dressed. He decided to wear his favorite yellow sweater. He grabbed his phone and headed back to the kitchen, where his dad was waiting.

"I already ate. Do you want to eat here or stop somewhere?" His dad said.

"Can we stop at Nikkis?" Wilbur asked.

"Sure"

They hopped into the car and drove into town, pulling up to a local pet store.

"Wil, will you run in by yourself, I have to go and run some errands."

"Yea, ok"

Phil gave Wilbur some money and told him to meet him outside the store.

Wilbur nodded and hopped out of the car.

Wilbur stepped into the pet store, the warm air hitting him as he looked around at the shelves stacked with bags of cat and dog food, toys, and other supplies. The store was busy, with several other customers browsing the aisles. He took a deep breath, determined to find the best supplies for the kitten.

He headed over to the cat food section, scanning the different brands and types available.

He only wanted the best for the kitten, so he read online that kittens needed a certain type of food depending on their age. He estimated the kitten's age and picked up the bag with the recommended ingredients and read the label carefully. Satisfied that it was a good choice, he placed it into his basket.

Next, he moved on to the bedding section, picking out a soft, cozy bed that he hoped the kitten would love. He added a few toys and a scratching post, knowing how important it was for kittens to have things to play with and scratch on.

As he made his way to the checkout, he spotted a display of cat treats and couldn't resist picking up a bag.

As he stood in line, he noticed a woman holding a small dog in her arms. The dog was trembling, and the woman looked worried.

"Is everything okay?" Wilbur asked, concerned.

"Oh, yes, he's just a little scared of the other dogs in the store," the woman replied with a smile.

Wilbur nodded and paid for his purchases. As he walked out of the store, he saw his dad waiting for him outside.

"Did you get everything?" Phil asked.

"Yeah, I got food and bed, some toys, and treats," Wilbur replied, holding up the bags.

"Great, let's head to Nikki's and grab you some lunch," Phil said,

They walked down tell they reached Nikki's Cafe, Wilbur's heart raced with excitement. Nikki owned a small Cafe with her pet cat, Ranboo. He couldn't wait to see the large Tuxedo cat that lays on the windowsill, always greeting everyone who enters the cafe.

"Hey, Nikki," Wilbur said as they entered, and sat their bags down at a table. " Busy today?"

"Er, not too bad, can I ask what you'd like to order?"

"I'll just get my regular."

"Of course! How's it doing for you?" Nikki asked, setting aside a freshly cleaned up.

"Good, I saw this kitten the other day and we were just getting them somethings." Wilbur replied with a grin.

"Aw, that's sweet. Here, let me get your food for you guys," Nikki said with a smile.

As they waited for their food, Wilbur made his way over to Ranboo. He stroked the cat's soft fur, and Ranboo purred in response.

"I wish I could take you home, Ranboo ," Wilbur said, sighing.

"I know, he's a charmer," Nikki chuckled from the back of the Cafe. She walked out with their food and set it down.

As they finished their food, Nikki came over to clear their table. "So, have you decided on a name for your kitten yet?" she asked with a smile.

"Not yet," Wilbur said, shaking his head. "I want to wait until we get to know them a little better first."

"That's a good idea," Nikki replied, nodding in agreement. "It's important to find the right name that matches there personally."

Wilbur agreed.

Wilbur and his father said their goodbyes to Nikki and made their way out of the café, feeling satisfied and happy after their meal. The cold air hit them as they stepped outside

They walked down the street talking about the kitten,

"It's so cold out, dad, it's probably freezing."

"Wilbur, I'm sure the kitten is just fine." His dad reassured trying to put Wilbur to ease.

It didn't help much, Wilbur had been a kitten and he knew how cold the winter months could get.

Conversation ended as they made their way over to the car to continue on their way home.

When they got home, Wilbur insisted on putting everything together for the kitten by himself. He spent the rest of the afternoon setting up the bed and arranging the food and water dishes on the porch. Once he was finished, he filled each of the bowls full. He went back to his room and fired up his computer, settling in for a few hours of gaming.

He was deep in concentration when Techno popped his head in the door. "Hey, wanna watch a movie with Dad and I?"

Wilbur hesitated, torn between his game and spending time with his family. In the end, he shut down his computer and followed Techno into the living room.

They all sprawled out on the couch, blankets draped over their legs as they settled in for a movie. Wilbur felt the warmth of his family next to him, As the movie played in the background, Wilbur's mind wandered to the little kitten they had just gotten supplies for. He wondered if it was scared, cold, or hungry. He couldn't wait to bring it home and take care of it.

Hopefully this would be the last family night without the kitten with them. He had already come up with some names, but he wanted to wait until he got to know the kitten a little more before making a final decision.

That night he drifted off to sleep with a contented smile on his face.

Chapter Text

Tommy lay shivering in his hole, listening to the sound of voices outside. He couldn't make out what they were saying, but he could tell they were getting closer. Suddenly, he heard someone peering into his hole.

"Hey, I think there's someone down here," a voice said.

Tommy's heart raced as he tried to hide in the shadows. But then, the person outside started poking the end of a broom into the hole, trying to prod him out.

"Come on out, little guy," the voice said. "We won't hurt you."

Tommy knew better than to trust strangers. He scrambled out of the hole and bolted down the alley, hoping to outrun his pursuers.

"Hey, where'd he go?" the voice called out. "He was just here a second ago."

Tommy kept running, not daring to look back. He didn't know who those people were or what they wanted from him, but he knew he couldn't afford to stick around and find out.

Tommy had been wandering aimlessly for hours,he had no idea where he was or how to get back.

He stumbled down a street, feeling more and more hopeless with each gray cloud that passed overhead. Hunger sat in his stomach, and he was shivering from the cold. He couldn't go on like this much longer.

He was about to give up hope, he realized something that made his heart skip a beat. It was Wilbur's street.

Maybe he could knock down a trash can to eat from, or hide in for the night.

He smelled food and he decided to follow its scent. He chased after it tell it lead him up to the same spot he met Wilbur. Tommy looked around to find where the food was and he spotted a porch right up the driveway of the trash can he and Wilbur had met.

Tommy's stomach growled at the sight of the food. He knew it was wrong to steal, but he was so hungry... He hesitated for a moment, did he really want to take handouts? He then decided to take a chance, just one nibble wouldn't hurt his pride. He crept onto the porch and started eating the food, trying to be as quiet as possible. Besides the food there was water and a bed.

But just as he was finishing up, the door to the house creaked open. Tommy froze, his heart racing as he heard footsteps approaching. Tommy jumped off the porch and quickly looked around, he spotted a reasonable sized hole under the porch that he could squeeze under.

There was a small amount of space under the porch, the ground was dirt, but the walls blocked the wind and the small sprinklers of rain that had started to fall. He didn't hear any footsteps following instead he heard the door close.

Tommy backed up to the corner and laid on the dirt floor and closed his eyes. He fell asleep tell he heard the door open again and two pairs or footsteps came down the porch. He heard muffled talking tell the steps stopped in front of the hole.

Someone got down on their hands and knees. Tommy didn't know who it was tell he saw brown curly hair. It was Wilbur.

Wilbur gasped at the sight of the Tommy "Hey there little guy, What you doing under there‽"

Tommy didn't respond and only looked at Wilbur while trying to back himself against the wall.

"Here" The other man said

"Thanks Tech" Wilbur said and took whatever "Tech" was handing him.

Wilbur folded the cat Bed into a U shape and pushed it into the hole and laid it down.

"Here you go little buddy" Wilbur said as he smiled.

Tommy was too tired to resist. He crawled onto the bed and curled up into a ball, feeling the softness and warmth of the fluffy bed wrap around him.

"Aren't you just the cutest?" Wilbur asked, his voice soft and gentle.

"We should let him rest," Tech said to Wilbur.

Tommy watched as Wilbur got up on his knees and Tech pulled him up. They both walked away. He was left alone, in a warm and safe place for the first time in what felt like forever.

He closed his eyes and let himself drift off to sleep, the sound of rain tapping against the wooden planks of the porch lulling him into a peaceful slumber.

When he woke up, the rain had stopped and the sun was shining bright. He felt well-rested but his stomach still growled with hunger. He looked around the small space, taking in the details he had missed in the darkness.

The wooden planks looked like they had been there for years. There was a small crack on the side facing the road where he could see the grass outside.

He heard footsteps approaching and quickly sat up, his heart racing. But it was only Wilbur again, holding a bowl of what smelled like tuna.

"Good morning, sweetheart," Wilbur said, smiling warmly. "I brought you breakfast."

Tommy's stomach rumbled at the smell, Wilbur set the bowl down inside and Tommy started to eat. He nipped it slowly, enjoying the warmth and the taste.

Wilbur sat down outside the hole and smiled at Tommy. "You know, little guy, I've been thinking about what to call you," he said.

Tommy looked up from is food

"I was thinking something like Mittens or Fluffy, because you're such a cute little kitten," Wilbur continued.

Tommy narrowed his eyes at Wilbur, feeling a little insulted. He wasn't a kitten, he was a shifter after all. But he decided not to say anything and just listened to Wilbur's suggestions.

"Or maybe something more badass, like Shadow or Blade, Techno would like that, maybe." Wilbur mused, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "What do you think?"

Tommy tilted his head. He didn't really care what Wilbur called him, As of now he didn't plan on staying long But he decided to humor Wilbur and meows softly.

"Ah, I see," Wilbur said, nodding as if he understood. "Well, we'll have to think about it some more. Maybe we can come up with a name together." Wilbur smiled

After a while, Wilbur stood up from the porch and stretched his arms. "Well, little guy, I have to go inside now," he said with a yawn. "But don't worry, I'll check on you later."

Tommy watched as Wilbur walked away.

Did he really want to leave this place behind? He had been on his own for so long, but now he had finally found somewhere he felt safe. Maybe he could stay here for just a little bit longer.

He thought back to his conversation with Wilbur about names. Wilbur had seemed so kind and understanding, even though he had mistaken Tommy for a kitten. Tommy had never met someone like Wilbur before, and he didn't want to lose that feeling of safety.

Tommy laid back down and closed his eyes and tried to push away his conflicting thoughts. For once, he just wanted to enjoy the feeling of safety and comfort that he had found under this porch. He snuggled deeper into the bed and let out a contented meow.

Maybe, just maybe, he could stay here for a little bit longer.

Chapter Text

Wilbur woke up in his bed and sat up, stretching before getting up and walking to the kitchen. As he walked out, he noticed that his dad wasn't there, but a box of donuts and a note were on the counter. He walked up to read the note which read, “Had to run into work early. Got these for you. Save some for your brother.”

Wilbur opened the box and noticed that two of the donuts were gone. Techno must have taken the good ones. He reached down and took the chocolate-covered one and walked back to his room.

After an hour of scrolling through different social media apps, Wilbur walked back out into the main room, phone in hand.

“Morning,” Wilbur heard someone say from the living room. He glanced over and saw his brother.

“Oh, hey,” Wilbur responded, staring down at his phone.

“Sleep well?” Techno asked.

“Yeah, slept fine.”

Wilbur walked into the kitchen, filled a glass of water, and returned to the living room.

“Have you seen the kitten yet?” Wilbur asked.

“Nope.”

Wilbur walked to the front door and opened it. Nothing had changed. The bed hadn't been slept in, and the food bowl was still full.

Wilbur frowned and closed the door. “Anything?”

“No.”

Wilbur sat down on the couch and pulled a blanket up. “Do you want to watch something?” Techno asked, reaching for the remote.

“Yeah, sure.”

Techno went onto HBO and turned on the series they had been watching together. After an episode and a half, Techno paused it.

“I have to go into work. I'll be back later tonight.”

“Okay, that's fine. Do you mind if I finish this?” Wilbur asked.

“Yeah, I'll watch it when I'm working,” Techno said as he put on his coat.

“Okay, bye,” Wilbur said as Techno closed the door.

Techno worked at a small library just off of Main Street. It was just him, a girl, and the owner. Wilbur had only been there a few times, but from what he saw, there were lots of books about mythology, sprites, witchcraft, and more.

Wilbur walked back into his room and sat down at his desk. He put on HBO on his phone and opened his computer. Wilbur was a senior in high school, so for the rest of the night, it was time for school work.

After about 2 hours of working WIlbur heard Techno coming home, opening the door then closed it, after a few minutes he heard him open the door again. Thinking nothing of it he went back to work, Not even a minute later there was knocking at his door.

“Wilbur, you kittens outside.”

His Kitten!

Wilbut quickly stood up and rushed to his door. Techno was standing outside. He ran to the front door and pulled it open.

Nothing

Techno said HIS kitten was here.

“Techno, where is he?”

“He ran from me, went under the porch.”

Wilbur ran under the steps and look for where the kitten could be.

“Right here,” Tecno said, Walking over to a hole in the wood.

Wilbur got down on his hands and peered into the hole.

Wilbur gasped "Hey there little guy, What you doing under there‽" Wilbur looked at the kitten.

“Here,” Techno said handing Wilbur the cat bed

Wilbur turned around and took it.

“Thanks, Tech.”

He folded the bed so it would fit in the hole.

"Here you go little buddy"

He smiled when the kitten crawled into it.

"Aren't you just the cutest?" Wilbur said as soft as possible.

"We should let him rest," Techno said to Wilbur.

Wilbur got up on his knees, techno pulled him up and they both walked inside.

“Have you eaten yet?” Techno asked

“Are you offering to make something?” Wilbur questioned, smiling

“Sure, Just for you.” Techno responds. Opening the fridge to grab some nuggets.

Wilbur grabbed some blankets and sat down on the couch. After a few minutes techno came back, Chicken nuggets in hand, and sat down next to his brother. Wilbur and Techno watched 2 episodes and then they both went to bed.

Wilbur woke up to the sound of his brother's alarm. Instead of going back to bed he walked out into the main room, just as he had yesterday. As he walked past the front window he saw the things he had set out for the Kitten.

Then he remembered, His Kitten was here.

Wilbur patiently ran to the fridge to get out a pack of tuna and a bowl from the cupboard. He poured the tune inside and walked outside

"Good morning, sweetheart," Wilbur said. "I brought you breakfast."

He got down on his knees and set the bowl inside the hole.

Wilbur got up and sat down outside the hole and smiled.

"You know, little guy, I've been thinking about what to call you," he said.

The Kitten looked up at him.

"I was thinking something like Mittens or Fluffy, because you're such a cute little kitten," Wilbur continued.

Wilbur smiled again, coming up with a name was hard, This was a big commitment for him.

"Or maybe something more badass, like Shadow or Blade, Techno would like that, maybe." Wilbur said

"What do you think?" Wilbur asked the kitten.

The kitten continued to look at Wilbur and softly mowed.

"Ah, I see," Wilbur said, nodding.

"Well, we'll have to think about it some more. Maybe we can come up with a name together." Wilbur smiled

After some time of sitting in the presents of the kitten, Wilbur stood up.

"Well, little guy, I have to go inside now," he said, yawning. "But don't worry, I'll check on you later."

And he walked away.

Wilbur walked back inside and finally got the breakfast he came out to get.

Wilbur went back to his room, sat down at his desk, and started up his computer.
He hoped that the hole under the porch was warm. The kitten was so small and so cute. He wanted it to be his, living in his room with him, cuddling together, and most of all

just being together

Chapter Text

Tommy woke up to thuds hitting the wood, it was raining again.

Tommy sat up and stretched. He was hungry again, but he still had tuna left, for the first time in a long time, food wasn't his first problem, but the water was.

But it wasn't a true problem, there was food and water waiting for him on the porch, all he had to do was get it. So that's what he did.

Tommy exited the hole and stayed by the wall, trying to block as much rain as possible.

He hopped up the stairs, the best he could for his size

The rain was hard and he didn't like being wet, so he would try to make this fast.

He walked over to the water and lapped it up, clean water was hard to come by living on the streets. He would usually just drink from a puddle or pond or really anything he could find.

Tommy didn't realize just how thirsty he was tell he started drinking.

After drinking his fill, Tommy made his way back under the porch. Small droplets of water were seeping through the wooden roof, it was nothing he haven't been through, and if anything this was some of the best treatment he has had, a bed, food, water, and a roof over his head.

Tommy was bored, during his time on the streets he would occupy himself with surviving, but now that that was taken care of, he didn't have anything to do.

Just then he heard the sound of a car pulling in, turning off and the door opening.

Tommy poked his head outside to see who had returned home. Wilbur stepped out of the car and shut the door. He had a bag hanging off his shoulder.

As Wilbur was walking he spotted Tommy's head sticking out.

"Hi baby! Give me one minute and I'll be back." Wilbur said smiling, he then ran inside.
Tommy dipped back into his hole

Was Wilbur really going to sit in the rain with him? He would get sick, and wet. He didn't need to do that for him.
Tommy hears small patterns coming down the stairs that transfer on to the grass quickly coming closer to him tell he saw a brown cat peering inside his hole.

It was Wilbur, standing in the cold rain.

Tommy padded the ground telling Wilbur to come in.

Wilbur trotted over and laid down next to Tommy.

They sat there in silence for a while, watching the rain pour down around them. Tommy looked up at Wilbur, Wilbur fell over on to his side and meowed.

Tommy looked at him, Wilbur put his paw behind Tommy and pulled him into his stomach and laid his paw on him.

If it was any other time with any other cat, Tommy would have resisted, but the warmth and safety was enough to make him stay.

He could still hear, and was starting to feel, the water falling from the sky. It seemed Wilbur also could feel the rain.

Wilbur pushed Tommy away from him and stood up, Tommy watched Wilbur walk over to the hole. Wilbur motioned his head telling Tommy to follow him.

Could Tommy trust him? As of now Wilbur had only been kind to him and it seemed there were no strings attached. He had no reason not to follow him, So Tommy got up and followed him.

Wilbur walked, following the side of the house. They traveled to the back of the house, and up to a window.

Wilbur hopped up onto the window sill, and turned to face him. Wilbur moved and turned his head.
Tommy tried to jump up, but his small body couldn't make the jump up.

Wilbur jumped down and hooked Tommy scuff. He then jumped back up, the window was up to a room, There were music posters and guitars hung up on the wall. Under the window was the end of a bed and the door was in the right corner.

Wilbur jumped down on the end, and dropped Tommy down.

Wilbur jumped down to the ground, and then shifted.

“Hi Baby!”

Wilbur stuck his hand out, trying to pet him. Tommy pulled his head back.

“Its okay Sunshine, you'll warm up to me.’ Wilbur said, smiling at him, ‘I bet your just so hungry, i'll be right back!”

With that Wilbur walked out of the room.

Tommy was now alone, The room was warm, probably because of the small heater running. The room was reasonably sized. It wasn't too small where it was crowded, but it wasn't too big where it was bare. The walls were covered in posters and pictures. The floor was wooden and there was a small pile of clothes against the wall. In Between to closistes was a desk, there was no computer, but there was a mouse pad and mouse. He must have a laptop.

Tommy jumped down from the bed, from his spot on the floor the room seemed huge. He walked over to the desk and hopped up on the char then up to the desk. It was a much simpler jump than the window.

Tommy heard the door open

“Sweetheart? Where'd you go?” Wilbur said

Tommy moved his head so Wilbur could see him behind the closite.

Wilbur slightly gasped “There you are buttercup!”

Wilbur reached out and offered Tommy his hand. Tommy sniffed Wilbur, He smelt like vanilla.

“Is it okay if I pick you up baby?” WIlbur questions “ If not you can just eat up here.”

Tommy nuzzled Wilburs hand.

Wilbur picked Tommy up with one hand and set him on the ground with the bowl.

“Let me go get you some water.”

Wilbur left, Tommy started nibbling on the cat food that sat in the bowl.

Not even a moment later, Wilbur returns, holding a bowl, he sat it down and plopped himself down with it.
Tommy ate his food tell he was full. He looked up to Wilbur, who was doing something on his phone.

"You done baby?" He questioned. "I'm going to pick you up again. Is that okay sweetie?"

Tommy meowed, Wilbur reached down and picked Tommy up. He sets Tommy down on the bed and sat down with him.

“We're just going to have some nice relaxing time, yeah?”

Wilbur laid down and moved Tommy onto his chest. He resisted his hand on Tommy's back. Wilbur took out his phone, he moved his head so he was looking just past Tommy at his phone

Tommy laid down on Wilbur's chest, he followed Wilbur's eyes go up, and down, following what he was scrolling through.

It was much warmer inside than under the porch. Between the heater runnin through the room, Wilburs sweeter under him, and his hand resting on his back, the room was very warm. Tommy closed his eyes, he would just take a little rest then, when the rain ended he would return outside, the cold outside.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tommy didn't realize he fell asleep until Wilbur was holding him.

There was Knocking at his bedroom door.

“One Second!” Wilbur said. “I'm uh, I'm getting dressed!”

Wilbur bent down and opened a drawer from his bedside table.

“Stay quiet Sunshine, It will only be a minute,” Wilbur whispered. “I Promise”

Wilbur gently sat Tommy down in the drawer and closed it to where there was only a small sliver of light peeking through.

The knocking continued, “Wilbur” The person on the other side of the door said, stretching out the R, “Are you done yet?”

“Yeah, Yeah, come in”

“Wil, you've been in your room for hours, it's not good for your health.” The man said, “Come watch something with me or something.”

“No, no, I'm, ah, I'm just really tired, you know,” he heard Wilbur say.

“Wilbur, I can tell when you're hiding something.”

Tommy stood on his hind legs with his paws on the little opening of the drawer, He peeked out. Tommy could see anything except Wilbur, He was standing in front of the drawer.

“I'm not hiding anything!” Wilbur said as if he had just been accused of murder.

“Your ears turn red, and you can't make eye contact, Its pretty easy to tell.”

Wilbur looked around, just a little, “ You promise you won't tell dad?”

“Whatever it is, it's safe with me.”

Wilbur turned around and kneeled down to the drawer

Tommy was picked up and was held against Wiburs chest. Wilbur his thumb against Tommys head. WIlbur turned around, The man behind them had long pink hair, glasses, and was wearing pajamas.

Tommy looked out the window, he must have been out for a while.

“Dont tell dad Tech, please. It was raining out and he was cold.” Wilbur Expand “I had to bring him in, he would have frozen out there!”

“Na Na don't worry, i won't.” Tech said “ Can i pet him?”

Tommy had heard that name before. It was the person Wilbur was with when they were outside. Tech had to be his brother or something, was he a shifter too?

“Uh, yea, sure.”

Wilbur moved closer to Tech, He reached his hand out and stroked Tommy's back. He could hold back the quiet purr from throat.

“Do you know his age, breed or anything.?” Tech asked

“Yeah, I'm not sure, but from what I got offline I think he's a Somali.” Wilbur said “And somewhere from five to seven weeks.”

Tech removed his hand, and Wilburs took its place.

“Dad won't be back till tomorrow, There's a new horror movie on Netflix, I've heard it's pretty good.” Tech started walking to the door.

“Can little Sunshine come with?” Wilbur said, Holding Tommy with both his hands and lifting him up.

“That's not its name is it?” Tech asked looking at Wilbur

“It's cute!”

“It's not.”

“But yeah he can come.” Tech said leaving the room.

Wilbur moved Tommy onto his arm again then graded a blanket off his bed and threw it over his shoulder.

In the living room, Wilbur dropped the blanket on the sofa and Tommy was plopped down on the floor. Wilbur took the blanket and made it into a small nest, He picked Tommy up and put him inside. Tommy tried to walk over the soft walls but Wilbur picked him up and set him back inside.

“I’ll be back, give me one minute.” Wilbur walked off

Tommy laid down in the nest, It was warm.

Wilbur and Tech came back, Tech was carrying a small bowl of water, and Wilbur was holding a stuffed cow, He set it down in the back of the nest.

“Here you go baby, he's almost as cute as you are.” Wilbur said smiling.

Tommy turned his head to look at the cow, it was white with blue spots instead of black, It was quite cute.

When Tommy turned back, Wilbur was gone and Tech was putting on the movie.

Tommy jumped when a brown cat, Wilbur, hopped up inside the nest. A few seconds later The pick haired man was gone, and another cat had joined them, Maine Coon probably.

Wilbur laid down, Tech graded Tommy's nape and plumed him down on Wilburs stomach. Techno sat down next to them.

Tommy closed his eyes, he felt safe, and warm, and he felt at home, it was nice.

Chapter Text

Wilbur ran to his car from the school. He was just getting done with his debate class. It was Sunday. The morning was so nice, the rain was a pleasant change though.

Wilbur started his car and sat there, letting it warm up. He threw his bag in the back and pulled out of the parking lot.

He could have just gone home but he wanted to get something for his special little kitten

Wilbur started his car and sat there, letting it warm up. He threw his bag in the back and pulled out of the parking lot.

He could have just gone home but he wanted to get something for his special kitten.

Wilbur drove to the closet's supermarket, He parked his car and ran inside from the rain.

It was as busy as you would expect.

Wilbur walked his way to the back of the store where the toys were.

When He was younger His dad got him and his brother little push animals, He got a fish and Techno got a pig, and they both still had them.

There were lots of choices, goats, rabbits, snakes dogs but right in the back, there was a cow. It was different. It wasn't black and white but blue and white. It was perfect for his kitten because he was different from everyone else.

Wilbur graded the cow and held it in his arms, perfect. While he was here, Wilbur got toys, food, and a small little cowboy hat.

Wilbur paid at self-checkout and ran back into the rain

Wilbur pulled into the driveway and turned off his car. He reached back and grabbed his school bag and the bag from the store. He stepped out of the car and started walking inside.

Wilbur was in thought when he saw a head of fluff peaking over the side of the porch.

"Hi baby! Give me one minute and I'll be back." Wilbur said.

Wilbur ran inside, he set both bags down on the kitchen island.

Did he really want to sit out there in the rain? No, he didn't.  But he still wanted to go see him.

Wilbur got an idea, he would shift. The kitten would remember him, maybe even let him inside.

Wilbur opened the door and then shifted, he squeezed through the door and pushed it shut. He trotted down the steps onto the grass. Wilbur peeked his head into the hole, the kitten was laying there.

The kitten and himself stared at each other,  the kitten then patted the ground.

Wilbur took it as an invasion to enter.

He walked in and laid down, he would have to clean himself from the dirt on his fur.

The kitten was laid down away from him, Wilbur pulled him in with his paw against his stomach. This was perfect, he remembered when he, his dad, and his brother would cuddle up on the couch or bed together.

The kitten was tense at first but relaxed.

Wilbur would have stayed right here all night, but water was dripping down, landing on his fur.

Wilbur lightly pushed the kitten off of him and stood up. He walked over to the hole and motioned the kitten to follow him.

They followed the line of the house into the backyard, to Wilbur's window.  He hopped up, expecting the kitten to follow,  but when he turned back,  the kitten tried but was unsuccessful in his jump.

Wilbur jumped down and grasped the kitten's scruff. He got back up and walked into his room.

He landed on his bed, dropped the kitten and jumped on the floor, and shifted.

"HI baby"

Wilbur reached out to pet him but the kitten moved out of the way.

"It's okay Sunshine,  you'll warm up to me" Wilbur smiled at him "I bet you're just so hungry, I'll be right back!"

Wilbur walked to his door, opened it, and closed it behind him.

He walked into the kitchen and pulled out a bowl. He walked to their store closet,  where they kept everything like cat food and toys.  He would have to go through here to set up the kitten's space.

Wilbur took the bowl and dipped it in the bag of food. He pulled it back up and walked back to his room.

His empty room.

“Sweetheart? Where'd you go?” Wilbur said

Holding the bowl Wilbur looked around, he saw The kitten's head peek over his closet.

“There you are buttercup!” Wilbur said, walking towards the kitten.

Wilbur reached for the kitten, and this time the kitten let him. The kitten sniffed him, then nuzzled against him.

“Let me go get you some water.” Wilbur walked out, grabbed a bowl, filled it up, and walked back in.

He was happy to see the kitten eating his kibble. He sat down in front of the kitten and set the bowl down. While the kitten ate, Wilbur chatted with his friend over Discord.  He stopped when the kitten looked up at him.

"You done baby?" Wilbur asked. "I'm going to pick you up again. Is that okay sweetie?"

The kitten mowed, He reached down and picked him up, dropping himself and the kitten on the bed.

“We're just going to have some nice relaxing time, yeah?”

He laid down and moved the kitten on his chest, lightly resting his hand on its back. He pulled out his phone, sculling on Twitter. The kitten watched him for a while, untell he dozed off.

Wilbur turned off his phone, he could use the rest as well. He turned on his phone to check the time, 3:24. He pulled his blanket up to the kitten's neck, closed his eyes, and was off.

Wilbur was awoken by knocking at his door. He opened his eyes to see the door starting to open.

“One Second! I'm uh, I'm getting dressed!” Wilbur yelled, He couldn't let anyone see his kitten, they might try to take him.

Wilbur sat up, still holding the kitten to his chest, he moved over to his drawer.

“Stay quiet Sunshine, It will only be a minute,’ He set him down ‘I Promise.”

He shut the drawer, a little bit open.

“Wilbur,” His brother said, “Are you done yet?”

“Yeah, Yeah, come in '' Wilbur stood up, purposely standing in front of the drawer.

“Wil, you've been in your room for hours, it's not good for your health.” Techno said,  leaning on the door frame, “Come watch something with me or something.”

“No, no, I'm, ah, I'm just really tired, you know,” Wilbur says, looking everywhere except for his brother's eyes.

“Wilbur, I can tell your hiding something,”  Techno said.

“I'm not hiding anything!” Wilbur said

“Your ears turn red, and you can't make eye contact, It's pretty easy to tell.”

Wilbur looked at the floor.  “You promise you won't tell Dad?”

“Whatever it is, it's safe with me.” Techno pushed himself off the door.

Wilbur turned and bent down to the drawer, picking up the kitten. He rested against it, his chest supporting him with his hand.

“Don't tell Dad Tech, please. It was raining out and he was cold.” Wilbur said, “I had to bring him in, he would have frozen out there!”

It's true, maybe not tonight, but any day now, the rain would turn to snow. A kitten this size wouldn't stand a chance.

“Na Na don't worry, I won't, can I pet him?”  Techno asked.

“Uh, yeah, sure.”

Wilbur Took a step forward to his brother who reached his hand out, gently stroking the kitten's back, happy to hear the small purr.

“Do you know his age, breed, or anything?” Techno asked

Looking down at the kitten, he answered “Yeah, I'm not sure, but from what I got offline I think he's a Somali, and somewhere from five to seven weeks.”

When Techno moved his hand off, Wilbur took his place but just rested it on his back.

Techno walked back, leaning on the door again he said, “Dad won't be back till tomorrow, There's a new horror movie on Netflix, I've heard it's pretty good.”

“Can little Sunshine come with?” Wilbur said, He moved his hands under the kitten, Sunshine, front legs and lifted him above his head.

“That's not its name is it?” Techno asked

Wilbur bright the kitten back against his chest, “It's Cute!”

“It's not, but yeah, he can come.

Wilbur moved the kitten, onto one arm and grabbed the blanket of his bed. He walked out into the living room and dropped the blanket on the sofa and the kitten on the floor. Wilbur moved the blanket to make a cat-sized nest. He picked up the kitten and put him inside. The kitten tried to walk over and out of the nest, but he picked him up and plopped him down.

“I'll be back, give me one minute,” he told the kitten and walked over to the kitchen.

In the kitchen was his brother, filling up a bowl of water.

“What's the water for?” Wilbur asked Walking over to the bag he left on the counter earlier that day.

“I'm not going to clean myself with spit,” Techno answered

Wilbur took out the cow, and they both walked back into the living room.

He was happy to see the kitten laying down, he set the cow behind the slappy kitten.

“Here you go baby, he's almost as cute as you are.” He smiled.

Wilbur Siftend, and jumped onto the nest, spooking the kitten.  Techno put on the movie, set his bowl of water down in the nest, and shited as well.

Wilbur laid down on his side, Techno picked the kitten by the nape and sat him down on Wilbur's stomach, then sat down himself.

Wilbur felt the kitten fall asleep on him, which was very cute in his opinion. The two brothers sat in silence for a while, Wilbur, watching the movie and trying not to wake his kitten and Tech, Dipping his paw in the water, grooming himself.

Wilbur thought about how, when they were younger, their father would groom them. As they got older, he stopped.

Wilbur was knocked out of thought when a cold wet paw made contact right between his eyes. Wilbur hissed in his annoyance.

The Maine Coon next to him mowed back and fell onto its stomach. Techno rested his head on Wilbur, still watching the movie. It wasn't that scary, few jumpscares here or there.

Wilbur closed his eyes. He missed nights when his family would all cuddle up on the couch and watch a movie or a show, but now everyone was so busy with work or school they didn't have time for it.

But with the presence of the new kitten, that problem was solved.