I am rather apprehensive about publishing this chapter. NOTHING HAPPENS. Next chapter is going to be more interesting I promise. But we do get to see Quaxo being overpretective about his Tugger. Tugger also does some more cooking. That Maine Coon has a definite feminine streak which I intend to exploit. Mwahahaha!
In the deserted building
Doing his best to keep his face straight, Quaxo opened the door and let himself into the room. Munkustrap was pinned to the ceiling with the magic bonds that Quaxo had created. It was a standard booby trap that most magicians used. But for a bit of flai,r Quaxo had also designed the trap so that a bag of flour got dumped on the victim as well. Munkustrap now looked like furry meringue that was seriously pissed off.
Said tom, catching sight of Quaxo, proceeded to make his views of his current situation known.
"Quaxo! What the Dickens have you done! Get me down now!" Quaxo grinned up at him sheepishly.
"Sorry Munk, I thought you were someone else." Studying the silver tabby he admired his handiwork. "Well the bonds seem to be holding well, but I could cut down on the flour a little."
"Quaxo"
"But how do I get the flour to stay on? Maybe I should use glue next time."
"Quaxo!"
"And I might try using corn flour next time. Corn flour stands out better than regular flour."
"QUAXO!"
"Yes Munk?"
"Get me down!"
"Alright, alright" replied Quaxo "be patient." Kneeling down on the carpet he blew on it once more. Munk landed on his feet with a loud thump causing the excess flour to be scattered around the room. Quite a bit of it landed in Quaxo's fur and he sneezed when a few grains flew up his nose.
"Why are you doing here Munk?" he asked. Munk brushed some of the flour off his arms and replied
"Looking for trespassers" the neighbors have been calling saying that they've heard noises coming from the apartments. There have also been some sightings of a cat wondering round here. I've come to turn them out." Quaxo's thoughts immediately went out to Admetus.
"Actually that was me Munk." He lied. Munk looked at him in confusion.
"You Quaxo? What are doing wondering round here?" Quaxo thought quickly.
"I'm umm, I've been practicing my magic here. You know, so I don't damage anything at home. I thought this place would be good because it's deserted and falling apart already" Munk raised his eyebrows in suspicion. "I've been working on some tracking spells so I can find Macavity."
Munk was silent while he processed this information. Quaxo held his breath.
At last Munk sighed "alright Quaxo, I won't turn you out, but you have to be quieter from now on okay?"
Quaxo promised him that he'd be as quiet as a mouse with laryngitis, before walking outside and teleporting.
'I'd better get home quickly before Munk changes his mind. Hang on, did I just say home?'
"So you think that this Admetus guy used to work for Macavity?" asked Tugger
"Yes, and I think that's what caused him to lose his mind" replied Quaxo. He had just appeared back in their flat and was telling Tugger about the strange tom he had met.
"So why didn't you tell Mouse trap about him?" continued Tugger. Quaxo shrugged as he searched round the kitchen.
"You know Munk's like he'd only insist that we send him to a care home" said Quaxo, opening cupboards and drawers as he searched "where all the nut jobs and psycho cases go."
"Those places are crawling with creeps" agreed Tugger
"And the food there is terrible." continued Quaxo. At the same time he found what he was looking for underneath the sink "here it is! I knew it was around somewhere." Tugger raised an eyebrow.
"Quaxo, what is your fur brush doing under the sink?" He asked
"You don't want to know." The magician replied dryly
Quaxo began attacking his fur with vigorous brush strokes, determined to get every last grain of flower out of his fur.
"Steady on Quaxo!" Tugger called out "you don't want to pull all your fur out! Here let me help you." Taking the brush out of Quaxo' hand, he waited for the tux to turn round and began working on the fur on his back. "How much flour did you use on Mouse trap anyway?"
"A fair bit" admitted Quaxo. He bit his lip as Tugger gently trailed the brush down the length of his spine.
"Huh, Quaxo, why are you trembling?" asked Tugger.
Quaxo mentally cursed himself before replying "It…it tickles." Tugger snorted and started brushing flour out of his friend's head fur.
"Do you want to help me make dinner tonight?" the Coon asked. Quaxo rolled eyes.
"No"
"I'll wash the dishes."
"No"
"We'll make Italian food"
"No"
"And have rice pudding for dessert."
"No"
"WHY!"
"N–because you know what happens when I cook Tug. We will be having dinner with the fire department before you know it."
Tugger however was not going to be reasoned with.
"But Quaxo look. I've found this new recipe see" Tugger showed him a picture that he'd taped to the fridge "it's got chicken in it, fresh pasta as well. And I know you love rice pudding, you start drooling whenever someone mentions it."
Tugger was right, Quaxo loved rice pudding. It was a taste that he'd picked up from his uncle. And yes, his mouth was watering now at the very thought of it. He really liked Italian to. When was the last time that he'd had fresh pasta? The picture on the fridge showed a bowl of spaghetti with a creamy looking sauce that had slices of chicken and peperoni in it. The whole thing sounded absolutely delicious.
So was he going to give in and help Tugger make dinner?
Absolutely not.
"Okay, make sure you chop the peperoni thinly." Cautioned Tugger. Quaxo frowned in concentration and tried to slice the peperoni using the technique that Tugger had shown him. It seemed to work well if you were used to it but if you were just learning, you ran the risk of chopping your finger off. Tugger meanwhile was doing the tasks that required actual skill on the kitchen front, like timing when to add the cream to the sauce and estimating how many raisins the rice pudding required.
"Is that enough?" asked Quaxo, displaying the pile of meat that he'd chopped. Tugger nodded approvingly.
"That looks great! Now we'll add it to the sauce along with the chicken." Tugger smiled at Quaxo. Quaxo smiled back and even managed to pass the peperoni over without dropping it all over the floor. He then turned round to wash his hands in the sink. Peperoni tasted great, but handling it felt gross.
Once the food was done and Quaxo had set the table, Tugger brought fourth two plates pile high with pasta and they tucked in. At first they didn't say much because they were too busy chewing slurping up what may have been Quaxo's first edible dish. Actually it was more than edible, it was delicious.
"So why was Mouse trap looking through the old block of flats anyway?" Asked Tugger. Quaxo whipped his mouth with a napkin before replying.
"I think he's been taken off the Macavity case. You know, because his wife was assaulted."
"Poor Mouse trap" said Tugger, whilst poking his fork at a piece of chicken "I feel sorry for his daughters too.
"They must be going through hell right now." Agreed Quaxo.
Both of the toms were silent for a while.
"Actually Quaxo, I have a confession to make." Said Tugger." Quaxo raised his head to look at the Maine Coon.
"Oh?"
"I didn't ask you to help me make dinner because I felt like it. I asked you to help because I was worried."
For the third time that day Quaxo was surprised.
"Worried, about me?"
"Yes" said Tugger "I saw that you'd only eaten a piece of toast, all day. No one can run on that for a day, not even you Quaxo." Tugger grinned "and you're already overly skinny."
"I am not!"
"Am too!"
"Am not!"
"Am too!" Both toms were laughing now.
'Tugger looks so damn gorgeous when he's laughing... Quaxo control yourself!'
"You're worse than my mother, you know that" said Quaxo. "I should buy you a little frilly apron. Or a feather duster that matches your mane."
"Don't forget the fur brush to brush out ickle Quaxie's fur out." said Tugger. Quaxo snorted and nearly choked on his pasta.
The rest of dinner was fairly quiet. Quaxo didn't mind. The silence was pleasant and he didn't feel the need to fill it. In fact it wasn't until desert that Quaxo spoke again.
"Tugger, do you mind if I take some of the leftovers to Addie tomorrow?"
"No problem tux, make sure you heat it up first though."
"I'll remember, don't worry Tug. I'm sure Addie will love it, and I can help him eat it?"
A thought suddenly occurred to Tugger "hey Quaxo, why don't you ever create your own food? With your magic I mean." Quaxo shrugged.
"I can make food for other people. But it never works when I try to make food for myself. I guess my lack of cooking skills extends into my magic." He answered.
Tugger laughed and would have said something smart back but the phone rang before he could come up with anything. Instead he got up and picked up the receiver. "Hey it's Tugger. Umm, nice to meet you too."
Quaxo watched as Tugger's expression went from puzzled, to alarmed, then to worried.
"Is he okay? Sure I'll be there ASAP, thanks for calling me." He hung up and hurried upstairs.
"Hey Quaxo, do you know how to get from the train station from here?" Quaxo shook his head.
"No idea Tug. Why do you want know?"
"Dad's fallen ill. He wants to see me. And Percy recommended that I get a train."
"Who's Percy?" Tugger paused, halfway up the staircase."
"I don't know. He said he worked for my dad."
"How did Deuteronomy become sick?" Tugger shrugged.
"Percy said it all came really suddenly. One minute he was fine, next he was bedridden and groaning over a basin."
"Didn't Percy know that you have car. Can't you just drive up in that?"
"Maybe it's faster on a train. Any more questions?" Quaxo suddenly realized that his questions were starting to verge on weird and quickly backtracked a few steps.
"No that's it. I'm just curious that's all. Will you catch the train tonight or tomorrow?"
"That's another question Quaxo."
"Sorry"
When Tugger had climbed the stairs Quaxo stood up and began washing the dishes, frowning all the while. He still had many questions left unanswered. Why didn't Tugger know Percy? Why had Deuteronomy fallen ill so suddenly? Why didn't Tugger's parents just call him themselves? These points meant nothing by themselves but when Quaxo put them together, it all seemed rather dubious. He turned around to follow Tugger up the stairs, to warn him, to tell him about his suspicions.
He must have bumped the table whilst washing up because a fork dropped down onto the floor with a clatter and brought him back to reality. He was being stupid, paranoid even. There were plenty of explanations for the doubts that were buzzing around his head.
Percy could be new staff working for Deuteronomy. That would explain why Tugger didn't know him.
Deuteronomy was quite old. It was normal for older cats to get sick quickly, wasn't it?
Tugger's mum, Grizabella, might be too busy to call Tugger herself. So she had asked Percy to call.
Oh yes. There were plenty of reasons for his questions. But then again… the call had come so soon after, what had happened to Demeter, after stealing the notebooks. But that was just coincidence, wasn't it?
"It does not mean anything!" he said to the fork as he picked it up. "I'm just being selfish and want to keep Tugger for myself."
But still, he wondered.
R and R if you feel so disposed. All flames will be used to roast marshmallows.