Chapter Four
Thomas nervously looked around at the friends he had once had. They were sleeping around him but for Thomas it was strange, he was so much bigger than all of them. He had never wanted to become human, he had been beyond satisfied just being himself but then this happened and he had acted out of heightened emotion. He took a deep breath in and bowed his head feeling a sharp sting of pain. As much as he wanted to go home and be with Duchess and the kittens, they couldn't accept him like this and Duke was there.
Thomas sighed before turning to Scat Cat. "I promise to be back, I'll bring you guys some food and blanket and whatever else I can get my hands on, I promise," he said sounding as if he was rushing. He put a hand to his forehead and then pushed his hand through the strands of hair. "I'm sorry I have to leave but…" he stood and the cats all circled around him.
Scat Cat sighed before mewing up at Thomas and Thomas leaned down, petting his long time friend on the head. He really did feel terrible about leaving them. Before he realized it, Scat Cat had jumped up to his shoulder and wrapped himself around his neck so that he was sitting on him like a scarf. Thomas laughed weakly as he gently pet the cat's cheek and Scat Cat licked him in return.
"You're coming with me?" he asked and only heard a mew in reply. "Thanks, cat," Thomas said with relief and Scat Cat pushed his head against Thomas's cheek and purred. Thomas took another look around the area which had been like another home to him and left with the cat around his shoulders. He would have to think of a plan, some way of getting closer to Duchess. He remembered Edgar had vacated his position and they hadn't hired somebody new, there had to be a way to get that job.
…
…
As he came up to the door of the house, Thomas kept his eyes on the cat flap. He was far too big to be using that entrance into the house but hopefully he could work on his skills as a human before he interviewed. He just needed to see that Duchess was okay. Despite the limits and barriers between him and Scat Cat, Thomas felt that they could already understand the same body language. Hopefully Duchess wouldn't hate him being in this ugly form.
Duchess had been his true home of acceptance, his anchor.
Thomas felt himself grow nervous as Madame Bonfamille came to the door. He didn't know what he could offer her or how he could get the job opportunity. Maybe she would just warm up to him and choose him. Crazier things had happened. A crazier thing was happening as he stood at the door.
"Hello there," the Madame said before reaching out a hand to pet Scat Cat who purred in a melodic manner. "Such a sweet kitten. You're here for the job placement?" she asked and Thomas's mouth opened. She could read that already? What other sources of information did she have? "What did those dogs do to you?" she asked and Thomas paused.
"Those dogs?" he asked before laughing softly, there was no chance of her actually knowing what was happening and how the dogs who had turned into men had ruined his life and the happiness of him and Duchess. No, there was no chance that she knew about that. "I uh…I look unpresentable…"
"Yes, but so do most things on two legs," she told him and Thomas's eyes widened. He knew that she loved cats but to place cats so much higher than everything else. He watched her cautiously. "Come in, come in," she said as she waved him in and Thomas got a little more worried. Was this the way she acted towards any strange man, it was a surprise that he and Duchess were still alive.
Thomas followed her and he could see a pair of eyes watching him. He wanted to interact with Berlioz but he didn't know how to anymore. It was good to see him though. He just hoped that he would be able to see the whole family.
"Tell me why you want this job, it involves taking care of my precious cats," the madame said and Thomas felt himself grow more uncomfortable. He was a fake, trying to be something that he just wasn't. He coughed and looked at Berlioz as the kitten recognized Scat Cat.
"Tell them about me, won't you?" he asked the cat who gave him a nod and went into the other rooms of the house. Thomas tried to keep his calm and looked at the madame, he would have to give the greatest performance of his life because he didn't want to get kicked out of this house. As painful as this was, he wanted to be with Duchess again even if it was in this body.
…
…
Scat Cat nudged Berlioz with his chin as they went into the room where Duke and Duchess were. He looked at them and Berlioz hid halfway behind him. "Who do you think you are?" Duke hissed but Scat Cat knew how to defend himself.
"Thomas!" Duchess said before turning around and blinked. She felt incredibly confused as she saw someone there who wasn't Thomas and didn't live there. Still, if Scat Cat was there it would mean that something bad had happened. "What happened?" Duchess asked.
"Thomas wanted me to be the one to tell you," Scat Cat said and Duke tried to stand in front of Duchess, a fire burning in his eyes.
"Nothing needs to be said. That street cat has abandoned Duchess and her kittens. I hope that someone of your level understands that we are never in need of your service. Go blow your horn little kitten," he said in a snobby way and Scat Cat stared at them before shaking his head and ignoring those words.
"Thomas has been forced to become a human," he told her and Duchess froze. She blinked in shock. She had never expected to hear those words. She looked at him and Berlioz turned confused.
"Nonsense," Duke shook his head and approached Scat Cat making it so that Berlioz darted away again. "It's ridiculous. Changing species just can't be done," he said before eyeing the street cat. "he's just a lousy catnip addict."
"Monsieur Scat Cat is one of our very dear friends," Duchess said before hearing weak laughter from the parlor. "surely there is some kind of a mistake, a misunderstanding," she said and Berlioz watched as his mother peered into where the stranger was with the madame. Duchess paused as she listened to the voice. That sounded like his voice but using human words, his hair was the same color as his fur had been and his mannerisms were the same. She stared at him confused.
She didn't know what they were discussing but she did feel a stab against her heart as the stranger turned to her and she could see the face was the same and those eyes – which still carried so much love for her – were the same. She didn't understand what had happened but she saw him blush and turn from her, he looked down obviously afraid of her reaction.
Duchess didn't know what her reaction should be but she knew that she wanted him to stay so she could find out what had happened to him.
End of Chapter Four
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