Part 2: Otto's First Day
Note: This was going to just be a two part story, but based on how part two progressed, it has turned into a three part story. The next (and last part) will be "Life With Otto". Thanks for reading it, I hope you like like it! :-)
As soon as the water started running in the guest bath, pitiful cries could be heard throughout the apartment - most of them from Toby. Happy rolled her eyes and smirked, Toby was always so over dramatic. She grabbed the bags that Toby brought in and started putting everything in its place; food and water bowls in the kitchen, bed on the floor by the couch, toys in an unused basket in the corner. Picking up the litter box, she looked at it with disgust. She had always been the type of person who liked her house clean. Clutter didn't bother her, but smells and uncleanliness did, so a litter box was everything she hated. She paused for a moment, debating on where it should go - she wanted it hidden, away from sight and smell.
"Otto! No, don't fight me," a stern yell came from the guest bathroom, followed by a loud, long meow.
Happy started chuckling to herself. She might not want the cat, but the trouble she knew he was going to give Toby was almost worth it. Deciding to go check on the boys, under the guise that she was looking for a place for the litter box, she made her way to the bathroom. As she got closer, she heard Toby muttering to himself.
"Get back here you squirmy thing. Happy's going to kill me. Stop trying to get out of the tub."
Pushing open the door, she forced herself to hold back a laugh. Toby was covered in soap bubbles and water, while Otto was scrambling to climb out of the tub, front paws over the edge, back paws clawing at the tub, hoping to find some way to get out. Pitiful meows coming from him, filled the room.
"Why am I going to kill you?" she asked, setting the litter box down in the corner, deciding that was best place for it.
Toby smiled up at her sheepishly, keeping a firm grip on Otto, "Uh, Otto here may have escaped from the tub and got water everywhere."
Happy just shrugged, "I'm not the one who'll be cleaning it up, so I don't care."
He pouted, "Really, Hap?"
She smiled and leaned down to kiss the top of his head, "Really, Doc. But since I'm such a nice wife, I'll get everything you'll need."
"Give the cat a bath, clean the bathroom, it's like I'm your servant," Toby mumbled under his breath.
Happy cleared her throat, "What was that?"
He blushed, "Uh, nothing sweet pea, nothing at all."
She patted his shoulder and turned to leave, "Smart man. Make sure you show Otto his litter box before you two leave the bathroom, I don't want him peeing on our floors. And don't let that wet cat on any of our furniture."
"Yes, ma'am," Toby said with a roll of his eyes, turning bake to Otto. "Oh no, no Otto, don't," he suddenly cried out.
Before Happy could turn to see what was going on, she felt a wet, desperate animal scrambling up her back, settling on her shoulders with a meow.
"Toby," she growled, her body growing tense. She could feel the water and soap seeping into her clothes and the wet cat smell was overwhelming.
"I am so sorry," he whispered, reaching out tentatively to grab Otto, "I just took my hand off of him for one second and he was off."
Happy didn't say anything. Instead, she took a deep breath and started walking away.
"I love you?" Toby called out after her, scared of her when she went silent.
"Meow," Otto made his voice heard too.
She still didn't turn, but held up her hand behind her, flipping Toby off.
"Meow," Otto tried to get her attention again, this time quieter, sitting still in the bath. He looked up at Toby with big eyes - almost as if he knew he made her mad and was apologizing.
Toby scratched Otto's ears, murmuring, "It's not your fault, buddy." Turning to watched Happy's retreating figure, he called out nervously again, "Happy?" He was afraid of whatever she might be planning in retaliation.
"Just finish the damn bath," she yelled over her shoulder, "I have to go change."
Toby quickly finished bathing Otto without too much more trouble. It seemed they had an understanding after Happy left the bathroom. Otto almost appeared contrite as he let Toby finish washing him, only letting out a few sad meows, hanging his head down low. After it was done, Toby wrapped him up in a towel to dry him. Otto nuzzled his head into Toby's hand and began purring contentedly as Toby walked out to the living room.
He stopped and smiled at the sight in front of him - Happy was curled up on the couch, fast asleep, in one of his old sweatshirts and sleep shorts. Otto looked over at Happy and meowed, wiggling to be put down. Toby obliged, gently setting him on the ground. He immediately wiggly his back side and ran into the kitchen with a growl. Toby chuckled as he watched him, before turning back to Happy.
Quietly, he made his way over to the couch, grabbing a blanket from a nearby chair. Sitting on the edge of the couch, he reached out his hand to push away hair that had fallen on Happy's face. She immediately turned her head into the warmth of his hand, a small sigh escaping from her lips.
"Hap," he said quietly, brushing his fingertips down her cheek, "are you awake?"
Unsurprisingly, she didn't answer. He smiled and leaned over, kissing her lightly on the forehead. Standing up, he covered her with the blanket and a whispered, "I love you."
All of a sudden, the sound of four paws running fast across the hardwood floor filled the room.
"Otto, no," Toby whisper-shouted, unsure of where he was.
But the sound only came closer, until all of a sudden Otto appeared on the back of the couch, having jumped up from the floor. Before Toby could even react, Otto jumped from the couch, over Happy, and landed on the coffee table where a magazine was laying. The magazine slid on the smooth surface and Otto started flailing and clawing at the table, trying to keep his balance. He landed on the floor with a hard thud and a loud, surprised meow, before continuing his lap around the room.
Happy stirred slightly and whispered in her sleep, "Toby."
"Shh, Hap," Toby whispered, leaning down to kiss her forehead again. Standing back straight, he started chasing after Otto, "Otto, get back here," he continually whispered, hoping he would listen.
But he didn't and he was too fast for Toby to catch. Toby eventually gave up, worried that the noise he was making would wake up Happy, and he was already in the doghouse as it was. So instead, he went to clean up, hoping Otto would calm down.
Fifteen minutes later, Toby came back out to the living room and all was quiet. Happy was still asleep and Otto...well Otto was nowhere to be found. He wasn't running around anymore and he hadn't followed Toby into the bathroom, so Toby had no idea where he was.
"Otto," Toby called out quietly, hoping he would come. But he didn't. Worried that Otto was getting in to something that Happy would kill him over, Toby searched their entire apartment, but still couldn't find him. He started to get nervous, "Otto? Where are you?"
It wasn't until a small, quiet meow came from the couch, that Toby realized where he was. Leaning over the back of the couch, he saw Otto sleepily gazing up at him from his curled up position behind Happy's knees. He blinked slowly, then laid his head back down on his paws, a loud purr coming from his chest.
Toby smiled and reached down to pet Otto's head, "Good boy, Otto." He pulled the blanket up further on Happy and whispered a goodnight, before turning to head to the bedroom.
"Come on, Otto," he called out gently, "Let's go to bed." But Otto didn't come, as he was already fast asleep next to Happy on the couch.
"Toby," Happy mumbled sleepily, reaching her hand out towards him, forgetting she was on the couch. When she felt nothing but air, she opened her eyes and rubbed them, realizing she was in the living room. Wanting to sleep in her own bed with Toby, she began rolling to her back, making her move to get up to go to their bedroom.
Suddenly, a loud, unexpected meow filled the air as her leg hit something soft. She let out a scream and jumped to her feet, her heart beating fast. Otto scrambled to the back of the couch with another surprised meow, followed by something similar to a growl. They stared at each other for a few seconds, until Otto broke the gaze with a huge yawn.
Happy, still clutching her chest from the surprise, let out a rush of air, "Damn it, Otto. Don't do that."
He stood up and stretched, before jumping down to sit at Happy's feet. He began giving himself a bath as Happy just continued to stare at him.
"What were you even doing by me? When did you even jump up there?" she asked him, before rolling her eyes at herself. It was two in the morning and she was talking to a cat, a cat who couldn't answer her back. "Get it together, Happy," she muttered to herself, "Stop talking to the stupid cat."
In response, Otto stood up again and began rubbing against her legs with a purr. Happy tried to push him away with her feet, but that just caused him to press into her harder.
"Get off me," she grumbled, walking away.
But Otto just jogged along after her, pressing into her legs every time he got the chance. She stopped and pushed him away again, but he came back, this time weaving his way through her legs in a figure eight motion, a loud purr the only sound to be heard.
Happy sighed and began walking again, only to be tripped by Otto's continual motion through her legs. She let out a shriek and fell into the wall, hitting her elbow in the process.
"Get away from me, stupid cat. You need to stop," she complained, rubbing her arm, where there was sure to be bruise in the morning.
Otto, who had finally stopped, sat and looked up at Happy. He cocked his head at her and let out a small meow.
Happy shooed him with her hand when she reached the door, "Go find your bed, Otto. You're not sleeping in here."
His head cocked further and he let out another meow before racing over to the door. Happy quickly blocked his path with her foot, which he ran into with a surprised meow.
"Oh no you don't," she muttered, leaning down to pick him up.
He immediately nuzzled his head into her chest and closed his eyes with a purr. Happy had a hard time keeping the smile off her face, but she was determined to not give into the cat. He was not sleeping in their bed. She carried him back out to the living room and set him in his bed. He stood in the middle of the bed uncomfortably and Happy had to stifle a laugh - he looked so confused.
"Goodnight, Otto," she said, turning back to the hall.
The next thing she knew, Otto was chasing her down the hall, pressing himself up against her legs again.
"Otto," she growled, picking him up again. She took him back to his bed, "Now stay here."
But he didn't. It took Happy three more times of taking him to his bed and then running back to her bedroom before she finally got into the room and the door shut without Otto sneaking past her.
Toby stirred as Happy let out a too loud "ah ha".
"Hap, what's going on?" he mumbled sleepily, propping himself up on his elbows.
She walked over to his side of the bed and leaned down to kiss him gently, "Don't worry about it. Go back to sleep."
"Okay," he muttered, falling back onto his pillow, already asleep.
As Happy was in the bathroom, washing her face and brushing her teeth, a horrible, loud, cry-like meow came through their bedroom door. For a second, Happy thought there was a child crying somewhere in their apartment - but it was just Otto. She quickly made her way over to the door, wanting to stop him before he woke up Toby.
Kneeling on the ground, Happy opened the door a crack and stuck her hand out. Otto immediately pushed against her hand with his head, trying to get in. She pushed him back, ignoring his pleading meows.
"Get back, Otto. Stop begging. I already told you, you're not coming in here."
Otto tried to sneak past her arm, but Happy stopped him again, to which Otto meowed sadly in response. She scratched his ears for a second, feeling a little bad about keeping him away, especially when he leaned into her hand, closing his eyes. Happy relaxed her grip on the door, thinking he was finally relaxed. But when he tried to go past her again, any guilty feelings went away as he struggled against her hands. If she didn't know any better, she would think he had been planning that the whole time.
"No, that's enough," she said, shoving him so he took a few steps back. She quickly shut the door.
Before she could even take three steps, the crying started up again, this time accompanied by the scratching of his paws on the door. Sighing, she turned back around and noticed one small paw sticking into their room from under the door. Leaning down, she grabbed the paw between two fingers. Otto immediately pulled his paw back, as his cries grew louder. Happy cracked the door again, this time just enough to get a look at him.
"Damn it, Otto, stop it," she mumbled, pushing his head back through the crack. He had somehow managed to twist his head so that it would fit through the crack, followed by his two front paws. He looked hilarious...and was stuck, clawing at the air, trying to figure out some way in or out. She opened the door further so he wouldn't get hurt,Toby would be furious is his precious cat got hurt on his first night with them. He raced in and jumped up on the bed, immediately folding his legs underneath him as he laid down. Sighing, she planted her hands on her hips and cocked her head, "No, this is not your bed."
Picking him up, she walked back over to the door and lightly tossed him out. He landed on his feet with a harsh meow and turned to look at Happy over his shoulder, a look of betrayal on his face.
"Sorry bud," she whispered, shutting the door, "but your bed is out there."
Closing the door, she walked back over to the bed. Just as she face planted onto her pillow, Otto's cries struck up again.
"Ugh," Happy groaned into her pillow, "it's like having a newborn."
Toby groaned and opened his eyes. "What's that god-awful sound?" he asked, furrowing his brow as he looked around the room.
Rolling to her side, she shoved Toby gently, "Your cat won't stop crying and it's driving me crazy."
Smirking, Toby pushed Happy's hair over her shoulder, "Why's he crying?"
Flopping on her back, she groaned, "He doesn't want to be alone."
Toby slowly sat up and rubbed his eyes, "Well, let's just let him in and he'll stop." He pushed the covers to the side, shuddering as the cool air hit his body.
Happy reached on and pulled on his arm, causing him to fall back on the bed as he began to stand up. "Don't you dare," she said through gritted teeth, "You don't know what I went through to get in here without him. That cat is not sleeping in here."
"But Hap," he pouted, "he's not going to stop crying. We can't do that to him. That's just cruel."
Happy closed her eyes and pulled the covers up. "Then you can sleep out there with him, but I'm sleeping in here," she paused and opened one eye, before adding, "without that cat."
Toby crossed his arms and stuck out his bottom lip, "But the cat is going to think we don't like him, baby."
Huffing she opened both her eyes and glared at Toby, "I'm not the one who brought him home, so he'd be right. Now goodnight."
"You're mean," Toby grumbled, laying back down, pulling Happy close to his body.
She patted his hand resting on her stomach, before yawning and responding, "Yep, I am."
They tried to ignore him as his cries continued right outside their door. Eventually Toby could take it no longer.
"Otto," he called out pitifully, "go away. Please. Go sleep in your nice bed that we got you. Just stop your crying."
Otto let out one more mournful meow and a half-hearted bat at the door with his paws before stopping.
"I feel so bad, Hap," he said sadly, after all was quiet for five minutes.
But she didn't respond, she was already asleep.
Smiling, Toby pulled her closer and kissed her neck. Quietly, he whispered before falling asleep, "Love you, even if you hate my cat."
Rolling to her back, Happy smiled and stretched, letting out a small moan. She reached out her hand, expecting to find Toby, but was met with an empty, cold bed on his side. Turning her head and opening her eyes, she saw he had already woken and left the bed. Furrowing her brow, she couldn't help think about how much she hated the feeling of not waking up next to him. This was the second time in a row she had woken up and he wasn't by her side.
Sitting up, she ran her hands through her hair, wondering where he was. Even though he often woke before her, he almost always waited in bed, reading or drinking coffee, for her to wake, knowing that seeing him beside her in the morning was one of her favorite things in the world. Slowly, she stood, taking her time to stretch lazily, before going to find her husband.
As she opened the door leading from the bedroom to the hall, she heard the pounding of feet running across the floor, followed by Toby's laughter.
"Good boy, Otto," Toby called out.
Happy strolled into the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee, before heading out to the living room. Taking a sip, she leaned her hip against the back of the couch and watched Toby and Otto playing.
Toby was laying on the floor, petting Otto, who was sprawled out on his back, reaching out to bat Toby's face. Toby scrunched his face and pushed Otto's paws away. Grabbing the nearby fake mouse, Toby held it above Otto's head, bopping him on the nose with it, before throwing it across the room. Otto scrambled to his feet and ran after it, batting it across the floor before grabbing it in his mouth and bringing it back over to Toby.
Happy hid her smile behind her mug as Toby kissed Otto's head. Sensing her gaze, Toby looked up, a beaming smile lighting up his entire face.
"Hi, baby," he greeted her while teasing Otto with the mouse again.
"It's nice to see the cat has become more important that your own wife in the morning," she deadpanned.
"Aw, Hap, that's not true," he said, standing, after throwing the mouse again for Otto, "I just felt bad about last night, so I wanted to check on him."
"Mmhmm," Happy hummed, setting her mug down on the nearby end table.
Otto, having "caught" the mouse, trotted over to Happy and dropped it at her feet, before looking up at her with a meow. When she didn't immediately respond, he started rubbing up against her legs again, meowing incessantly. Sighing, she bent down and patted his head, hoping it would get him to stop. But it just encouraged him. Jumping up to the back of the couch, he sat down in front of her, reaching out one paw, resting it against her stomach with a small meow.
"What the hell are you doing, weirdo?" Happy asked him quietly, rubbing her finger down his nose.
Toby knelt on the couch and grabbed Otto, holding him up to his face, "You're not weird, don't listen to her. She's always mean in the morning. Give her an hour. You and me, buddy, we'll have a good time together. We don't need her."
Otto reached out and held Toby's nose between his two front paws and meowed.
Happy rolled her eyes and turned to walk away, "Whatever. Guess you have no need for me anymore. You and Otto will be happy together."
Toby put the cat down and quickly made his way around the couch, snaking his arm around her wait to pull her into him.
"Oh, I'll always need you, babe," he growled into her neck, before nipping at it gently and tickling her sides.
Happy squirmed in his arms and giggled as he ran his scruffy face over the sensitive skin on her neck, lightly kissing it. "Stop, that tickles."
"Oh, that tickles, huh?" he said gruffly, but Happy could feel his smile on her skin. He continued his assault on her neck, hands tickling up and down her sides.
Otto, concerned about the shrieks and giggles coming from them, came over to investigate, sniffing at their feet. Standing on his back legs, he placed his front paws on Toby's legs and meowed. Toby looked down and laughed at him, pushing him back.
With Toby distracted, Happy finally managed to turn in his arms. She placed a quick kiss on his jaw and locked her arms around his neck. Looking up at him with a smile, she couldn't help herself, "I love you."
"Love you too," he mumbled, leaning down to give her a toe curling kiss, pulling her even closer to his body. They separated only when the need for air became too much. Pressing his forehead against hers, he asked breathlessly, "How much time do we have?"
Happy turned her head to look at the clock, distracted when Toby moved his lips back to her neck. "Forty-five minutes," she finally breathed, before jumping up and wrapping her legs around his waist.
"Perfect," Toby whispered, as Happy slid her hands to cup his face, leaning in to kiss him deeply again.
He started walking towards the bedroom, but faltered when Otto shot through his legs.
"Damn it, Otto," Toby muttered, nudging him aside, before continuing to the bedroom, while Happy slid her lips against his skin.
Otto meowed and chased after them down the hall. Toby groaned when he tried to shut the door, but Otto got in his way.
Happy chuckled against his skin, "See? I told you, he doesn't like to be alone."
Toby dropped her on the bed, as Otto jumped up next to her. Leaning over her, he gave her another searing kiss. "Well, he's just going to have to deal with it," he mumbled against her lips. Standing up, he grabbed Otto off the bed and placed him outside in the hall, ignoring his meows of protest, as he slammed the door shut. Heading back to Happy, he smirked, "Now where were we?"
Happy grabbed his shirt, pulling him to her. "I think," she said, kissing him, "we were here."
"Oh yeah," he mumbled, already lost in her kiss as they fell to the bed, Otto's cries from the hall falling on deaf ears.
An hour later, Toby and Happy were rushing to get ready for work. Otto followed behind them as they moved from room to room, meowing for attention. Toby would stop every once in awhile to pat his head, while Happy would curse him as she tripped over him. Eventually, they got out the door and Otto's meows could be heard down the hall as they waited for the elevator.
Toby glanced nervously at the door. "Uh, Hap, maybe we should bring him with us?"
Happy looked up at him, wondering if he was being serious. He was. She rolled her eyes and grabbed his hand, "He'll be fine, Doc. Until last night, he lived in the streets. He knows how to take care of himself."
"But-"
She shook her head and reached up to kiss his cheek. "No, buts. You should be more worried about me if that cat ruins anything in my apartment."
Toby's face blanched as he considered that, "Oh, shit."
She patted his cheek and smirked, "Yeah."
"Be good, Otto," Toby called out, entering the elevator, "We'll be home soon. Do not, I repeat, do not ruining anything."
Happy just laughed as the doors shut behind them.
As soon as they walked into the garage, they were met with an upset Walter storming towards them.
"Where the hell-" he sneezed, "have you, ah choo, been?"
"Whoa, there, buddy," Toby said, clapping him on the back, "are you alright? You're not coming down with something, are you?"
Paige joined them, "No, he was perfectly fine this morning when we left the house. It must be allergies."
Walter crossed his arms, "I'm fine. I just had to sneeze. There is only one thing I'm allergic to and none of us are around it, so it can't be that."
Toby stifled his laugh, "What would that one thing be?"
He sneezed, "Ca-"
"What the heck is all over your back, Happy?" Sylvester asked, coming up behind her.
She tried to look over her shoulder, "Nothing."
"Yes, there is. It's hair or something."
Happy pulled the jacket off to see what it was. "Toby," she growled, "Look."
Toby grabbed the jacket and started laughing. "You would happen to be allergic to cats, would you, Walt?"
Sneezing again, he nodded his head. "Yes, that's it. But none of us have one, so I'm fine." He sneezed loudly again.
"Ugh, Walter," Paige groaned, "You know I love you, but I don't want your germs all over me."
"I can't help it," he said with a stuffed nose, "I don't know what's going on."
"Toby," Happy warned, giving him a pointed look.
"Uh, guys?" Toby said through his laughter, "Happy and I have some news." He held up Happy's jacket, that Otto must've used as a bed the previous night, since it was now covered in cat fur. "We got a cat."
"You what?!" Walter sneezed.
"A cat," Toby grinned, "We named him Otto."
The team stared speechlessly at the couple.
"Get that thing away from me," Walter screeched, taking a few steps back, as Paige rushed off to get him some medicine.
Happy groaned and grabbed the jacket from beaming Toby, turning to take it out to the car, grumbling under her breath, "Damn it, Otto."
