Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

After the experiment, as Rocky called it, Freckle felt that he had been used and discarded like trash. Rocky acted way too nonchalant about their little secret, even though the carnal act only happened once. It was enough for Freckle to feel many things yet empty all at once. Rocky brushed it off as an accident, a mistake.

He had been affectionate with Freckle before the act but when he tried to teach his cousin how to use a condom just in case. It was natural for Freckle to act on the defensive—well, that was how he had always been—cautious.

Rocky didn't expect Freckle to toss the condom away without even trying it. There was nothing wrong with playing it safe, Rocky might've been spontaneous himself but this time he knew how to take precautions by showing him how he learned how to use the condom.

A little demonstration, nothing malicious. Freckle reacted because he wasn't prepared to put it to practice yet, he only started dating Ivy for a couple of weeks and they only kissed once or twice. Perhaps a few times if necking counted as far as he knew which wasn't much. Rocky only wanted to prepare him for the next step if the two lovebirds wanted to take a step further from the usual necking.

Rocky wasn't prepared for his first time when he used to travel from one place to the next during his adolescence. When he got shivved and robbed on his way out of the Mo-Pacific, he got stripped of the few rags he had on his back and was thrown to the dirt. Only one of his assailants would return one of his possessions in exchange for a favor. 

Rocky gave in because he was desperate, destitute and unable to find a place to stay so he had no other option than to lay with the blackguard that defiled him and got one of his possessions back, including some spare change for the road.

Before he got a job as a roustabout at the circus he had sold his body in order to survive. One of his former clients was genuinely kind enough to teach him how to use a condom to avoid contracting an infection. Rocky didn't want for his cousin to risk himself of getting infected like he did.

Rocky wasn't the type of guy that liked to be pitied, but beggars couldn't be choosers. So he concealed his sorrows with a smile.

When Freckle had torn Rocky's underwear from his rear end, he thought that he was going to get assaulted again. The fear of getting raped again, it was a fight or flight response, he couldn't push Freckle away because the wee lad was on top of him and was physically stronger than Rocky.

Bargaining was a better option given to the fact that the long drive to a distant location was Rocky's idea. Neither of them knew what the other was thinking and Freckle yelled at him for provoking him, for confusing him, from cornering him despite that Rocky was the one who was pinned on the backseat of the Struggle Buggy.

They were in a cramped space, not to mention that Freckle was completely naked while the orange striped tail bristled against Rocky's lower region. More specifically, the latex that laid limp beneath Freckle's tail. Rocky had perceived a fragrance that came from his cousin, a mildly citric scent mixed with a vaguely musky odor that he couldn't quite place where it was coming from. As Rocky looked down, he could see his cousin's hard on, threatening to drip some of that musk onto Rocky's chest fur.

Having him so close like this. Just because everyone called him Rocky didn't mean that he was made of stone. Freckle was glaring at him, flustered before he felt something protruding next to his tail.

Rocky let out a groan when Freckle slid his rump down as the latex bristled against his cousin's bottom and scrotum as the hardened flesh was flattened to test if it was as safe to use as Rocky claimed. Freckle then slowly slid his pelvis forward while his scrotum rubbed against the latex.

Rocky's member throbbed from the friction while Freckle moved to and fro, trying to find out what was so great about it before Rocky had slipped an arm free and grabbed his cousin's hardened cock.

The gray tabby had a pleading look in his blue eyes as he squeezed Freckle's dick. A stroke from the base to the glans as the orange tabby shuddered.

“Ride me.” Rocky whispered, then stroked him again as he thumbed the head. Freckle succumbed to having intercourse with him against his better judgement and got into position for Rocky to introduce the tip of the latex into the anus, followed by the head of the member.

As Rocky felt the tightness of Freckle's virgin walls closing in, he couldn't believe that his cousin was consenting to this. Slowly and gently, he managed to get Freckle vulnerable as he opened himself up as he took in Rocky's length and width inside him.

Seeing him like this made Rocky want him more. The fact that it was Freckle's first time and Rocky to be the first to have him. The first despite everything. Despite how bad his luck had been, despite how he had to fight to keep his place in Lackadaisy, despite how superfluous he was to the band or how he viewed himself as such. Unwarranted. Unwanted. Undesirable. Disposable. Ridiculous.

Yet there was at least one person that cared about him, the only one who loved him. The only one who he had taken the fall for, the one who he confided in about his travels when he was wandering aimlessly via correspondence letters, the one who had dispatched three of the pig farmers during the raid.

Even though what they were doing was wrong, it wasn't supposed to happen, but a selfish part of Rocky enjoyed taking him. They shared the same blood, the same bond, the same laugh, the same insanity and the same sex. They were one in the same—of one flesh.

The chassis of the vehicle rocked to and fro as the windows get fogged, concealing the carnal act of the occupants from the outside world. It was just the two of them as they copulated on the leather seats and the latex that penetrated further into Freckle while Rocky shamelessly sodomized him, taking him as if he was his maiden.

He had sex before with women and other men alike but this time Rocky was euphoric as he wantonly grappled his cousin and coiled his noodly arms around him like a kraken. The way his baby-faced cousin looked pleadingly with his amber eyes and supplicated with his Irish brogue added with the whimpering drove Rocky wild. As he began thrusting at a slightly faster pace, he knew that Freckle had some muscle and a pretty face but he had no idea that the wee lad was so irresistible.

When Rocky kissed him, he forgot for an instant that Freckle already had his first kiss with Ivy, that Freckle was still his cousin, that they grew up together like siblings. Freckle had his first kiss with Ivy and it was sweet, chaste, precious; because it was mutual. Though this one took Freckle by surprise as he couldn't fathom that Rocky could kiss him with such fervor that even the Hollywood-style kissing that Ivy had shown him didn't come close to making him feel breathless. That what they were doing was called an abomination, taboo, forbidden. 

Forbidden!

A forbidden taste that Rocky wanted to savor, the forbidden fruit he wanted to devour knowing that it would be the only chance he had. A fleeting moment that he wouldn't have again.

Freckle bucked his hips in sync with Rocky's thrusts, but the orange tabby was on the verge of cumming as he tried to warn him but he was overwhelmed with how his cousin took his breath away. The tip of Rocky's tongue reached Freckle's throat while penetrating him deeper, the asphyxiation made Freckle cum involuntarily as the thick globs of semen sprinkled to Rocky's chest fur and neck before the orange tabby gasped for air.

Freckle orgasmed while Rocky kept going as he plowed him despite the mess, digging his claws to Freckle's waist as he reached the climax. Freckle hitched right before Rocky moaned loudly, bouncing him violently, the latex threatening to lacerate from the inside at the speed Rocky was going.

Freckle's agitated breathing mixed with Rocky's moaning made him want to scream before he collapsed on top of him, dampening his chest fur with his own spunk before Rocky came. Rocky's seed jetted out and flooded the condom, Freckle was exhausted, not to mention that his rectum felt sore.

Freckle had no idea that the experiment would turn out like this, neither did Rocky. Their bodies were coated with sweat while the older tabby cradled his younger cousin in his arms. They laid there in post-coital bliss for a while.

Freckle fell head over heels for his own cousin and when that realization finally set in, he wanted to cry. Rocky began to feel the same way and the best course of action he could come up with at the time was to keep Freckle away under the guise of settling unfinished business.

He had prompted Freckle to keep this affair a secret, to brush it off as an accident, that what happened was a mistake and nothing more even though deep down it made him mad. Mad with jealousy that he wouldn't want anyone else to have him but alas, he had an image to keep. The bootlegging business was brutal and even a homeless rum-runner like him wasn't exempt from getting intercepted by his enemies. Despite how efficient Freckle was in using a gun, he wouldn't be able to come out unscathed when it came down to negotiations.

Negotiating wasn't Freckle's forte, he didn't have the malice to see the snares hidden in plain sight because he had a pure heart. Business tycoons and gangsters alike don't play fair, they play for keeps.

Rocky on the other hand knew how to play his cards right when he knew who he was dealing with. The problem was that Rocky still had feelings for the wee lad and living under the same roof would make things much more difficult. At least when he was being exploited, he was solely focused on keeping Miss M., Zib and the others safe despite the fact that he couldn’t protect himself, but now? 

How was he going to resist the temptation when it was standing right in front of him?

He kept avoiding having eye contact with his own cousin while Freckle tried to do the same. Especially when he was staying when aunt Nina was present.

The matriarch of the household was observant, the only exception would be that she lost her eyewear temporarily but even Rocky knew that one slip-up was enough to get kicked out again despite that he was recovering albeit at a ridiculously slow rate. He had only been staying for two days and Rocky has the unmistakable sensation that he overstayed his welcome.

It would be way too easy to get thrown out like garbage. Hell! It would be easy to exhale and a pin could drop. The main reason that he stayed at the McMurray house was for Miss M’s sake. 

Rocky admitted to reaching the vehicle upon impulse but didn’t intend on stealing the flivver. He just wanted to know if Freckle had packed all of his belongings while he had been unconscious during the ride. But for some reason, Freckle had been acting hostile, forcefully pinning him to the vehicle to confiscate the Lackadaisy pin from him. The next day after the doctor’s appointment, Freckle had brought most of Rocky’s possessions but hadn't returned his clover-shaped pin and when he visited Freckle’s room to ask him. The wee lad hadn’t given him an answer, he just stared at Rocky with his citrine orbs.

It had only been day 2, and Freckle began to give Rocky the silent treatment. The wee lad was the silent type but this situation was becoming irksome. 

“What’s wrong?” Freckle didn’t answer him, he tried to avoid his gaze. “Let me guess? You already miss your snuggle bunny. Don’t worry, we’ll go see her tomorrow. Trust me.” Rocky suggested as he reached for Freckle’s shoulder.

“No!” Freckle grabbed Rocky’s wrist as he began squeezing it with anger. “How can I trust you when the first thing you do is use me?”

“What are you talking about?” Rocky felt his cousin’s grip tightened around his wrist. Rocky bobbed his Adam’s apple and tried to stay calm. “Freckle, you’re hurting me.” 

“I’m hurting you now?” Freckle questioned sardonically. As if the problem Freckle wanted to confront wasn’t important. He wasn’t going to let Rocky escape from this. “When I’m trying to keep you out of danger.”

“Freckle, is there something you’re not telling me?” Rocky asked him, now more curious than anything. He could tell by the look in his cousin’s eyes, when Rocky wants something, he would do anything to get it. “Freckle.” 

“No! I don’t trust you.” Freckle glared at him, “I won’t let you fool me again.”

“Calvin!” Nina called, which brought Freckle back to his senses and released Rocky’s wrist from his vice grip and rushed out of the bedroom. Rocky peeked out of the bedroom and tiptoed near the stairs. It was time for dinner and it didn't take long for aunt Nina to call him as well. “Roark!” His plan to search for the lapel pin went awry. 

As he descended the stairs and arrived at the dinner table, Freckle had his paws clasped together and his eyes closed while aunt Nina simply eyed him, the meals were already served. It was a tradition in the household for the whole family to gather in prayer to thank God for the food before eating dinner.

Rocky took his seat, closed his eyes and clasped his hands in prayer. Nina initiated the prayer by giving thanks to God Almighty for the food and the blessings. When Rocky used to trot across the states, there were some days that he missed moments like this: a family coming together to bond and to give thanks, he hadn’t realized when he had stopped practicing some of the family traditions that were ingrained into him as a child.

And then he remembered why, when he had been living as a gadabout, getting shivved, robbed, and assaulted. He adopted a Darwinistic mindset in order to survive in a harsh reality when keeping a job became much more difficult to sustain.

Survival of the fittest. 

On that same night, Freckle woke up from a nightmare. He was on the road chasing Rocky when a truck came out of nowhere and ran him over. In the nightmare, he began to blame himself for the accident. The problems in his waking life began to infiltrate through his dreams and he had no idea how long he could hold it in. The fear of Rocky running away and running to his demise made Freckle cry. He didn’t want Rocky to die. 

Freckle entered his cousin’s room, hesitant in waking him up after the nightmare he had. After knowing that he had to keep Rocky away to prevent him from finding out about his boss’ current conundrum and the prospect of losing him. “Rocky…” Freckle whispered as he watched his cousin sleep, as one of his nostrils made a faint whistling sound while he snored soundly. As he kept staring at him for a while longer, he whispered. “Rocky… wake up.” 

Freckle flitted his gaze to look at the windowsill, he saw Cactus Friend staring at him, one eye on Freckle and the other one on the sleeping tabby. As he stared at the desert plant, he wondered how Rocky was able to sleep at night with that thing watching him. 

“Rocky…” Freckle called him as he prodded him on the shoulder. 

“What?... Freckle?” Rocky spoke groggily before he yawned. 

“I had a nightmare.” 

Rocky recognized the guilty look in his cousin’s eyes and asked him. “What was it about?” 

“A truck ran you over and it was all my fault.” 

“Were you the one driving?”

“No.”

“Then you don’t have anything to feel sorry for.” Rocky said.

“But you ran away from me.”

Rocky sat up on the bed. “I didn’t run away from you.” 

“But you did.”

“In the dream?”

“Yes.”

“C’mere…” Rocky beckoned as he moved the blanket to make room for Freckle to crawl into the twin-sized bed. When Freckle was scared, he would hide himself within the blanket while Rocky tried to calm him. Though this time, Rocky tucked Freckle inside the blanket with him, covering his red-orange head while Rocky’s pointy ears popped out of the blanket and wrapped his noodly arms around the wee lad in a chokehold which was more of a passive-aggressive spooning on Rocky’s part. “I’m not letting you go until you tell me everything I need to know, Freckle-lad.”

Freckle was quiet for a few seconds, thinking whether or not it was a good idea for Rocky to find out exactly what he knew. “Uh, um… are you sure?”

Rocky hooked his leg around Freckle’s waist. “I mean it, Freckle. You're my little prisoner now.”

“You do know that I’m stronger than you, right?”

“I’m well aware of your strengths,” Rocky whispered as he lowered to breath down Freckle’s neck, making the orange tabby shudder, “and your weaknesses.” Rocky pinned the wee lad down as he was on top of him, while Freckle’s head was buried in the pillow, even though they weren’t doing anything indecent, the temptation lingered. “I know one of your weak spots is somewhere below the solar plexus.”

“The wha—?” Freckle mumbled as one of Rocky’s paws roamed down the hem of Freckle’s undershirt. Freckle hummed as he felt relaxed while Rocky rubbed the area as he wanted Freckle to give in, confess. 

“You’re mine now, Torpedo Boy.” Rocky said jokingly, though there was some possessiveness in his demeanor. Freckle was his cousin, his gunkid, his confidant, his accomplice– his repressed little criminal.

Chapter Text

Changes were made in a blink of an eye as far as Ivy could see. In the last seven years her godfather’s estate was one of the best establishments in St. Louis. Despite how her godfather was mysteriously murdered, Ivy had a sliver of hope that his empire would thrive in a different light, but not like this. 

Not even Mitzi in her grief would’ve dared to toss out the portrait of her deceased husband. Everything that had belonged to Atlas had been removed. The photographs that had been displayed around the cafe got taken down, the old phonograph that played music from the 1910s had been disposed of as if it was nothing but garbage. 

Mitzi was nowhere in sight.

The office in which she sat was refurbished and redecorated, the empty space behind the desk chair which was the wall that held the portrait of Atlas May was replaced with a painting of the new owner of the establishment. 

A Persian tom with gray fur in a sepia toned portrait. Not even in his finest apparel could hold a candle to what Atlas’ image represented to the Little Daisy. 

As Ivy barged in, demanding an explanation, Mr. Abbott rose from his new seat, facing the young lady as if looking down on a yapping canine that needed to be disciplined. His shadow loomed over her and casted an icy glare as he raised his cane and quickly hit the wooden desk about a meter away from her, enough to startle her. Ivy, for once in quite a long time, was speechless.

“As you can see, young lady. I am now the new owner of this fine establishment.” He said matter-of-fact.

Ivy was trying to understand how it happened. They managed to acquire plenty of booze last night, Mitzi wouldn’t have sold the cafe willingly. She would’ve fought tooth and nail to keep Lackadaisy and the Little Daisy afloat. Ivy stared at the tom in disbelief. “How?” 

“Simple.” He grinned, “Mrs. May and I made a compromise. She agreed to sell the cafe under one condition. You, Miss Pepper, would have full ownership of Lackadaisy.” 

“What?” Ivy asked, her eyebrows furrowed, she didn’t believe a single word that spewed out of his mouth. “Where’s Mitzi?” 

“As far as I know, she left with the paycheck I signed. Rest assured, she sought out for your best interest considering the current circumstances.” He mentioned before he turned away to open a bottle of bourbon whiskey in lieu of the watered down whiskey he found at the cellar as he poured a glass. “Mrs. May would have benefitted in selling the property but since she wanted to ensure that you had your inheritance before she left. We made an arrangement,” he then poured another glass for his new associate, “I would own the cafe while you kept your little speakeasy. As above, so below.” Ivy could see the ambitious glint in his heterochromatic eyes as he offered a glass to the young lady. “If I may ask, are you willing to take a shot?”

This wasn't a partnership, it was a challenge.

Despite how every part of her screamed to not go through with it, she held the glass of bourbon and eyed the golden liquid sloshing to and fro before raising the glass and drank it down to the last drop. 

As she wiped the alcohol from her lips with the back of her paw, she glared at the new owner.

“Does this answer your question?”

 He however, gave a satisfied grin. “That’s the spirit.” 

Chapter Text

There was a part of Freckle that wanted to stay with Rocky like this, in each other’s arms, but he knew that it wouldn’t last. He knew deep down that there would be consequences, if he chose to pursue Rocky onward it would lead to a dead end. 

Regardless if it revolved about the life-threatening occupation in transporting illicit spirits or opting to seek a decent job to leave that lifestyle behind. There would still be opposition regarding what they have done was still a sin. 

“You’re mine now–”

Rocky might’ve said those words as a joke, but there was some truth in it. Freckle was bound to Rocky and a foolish part of him hoped that Rocky felt the same way. Freckle still had a feeling that if he confessed everything to Rocky, his cousin would discard him like a tool again and leave him in the dust. 

“I don’t want you to leave again.” Freckle confessed, “I know I shouldn't dwell on those things, but I can’t help it. I don’t want to feel like this.” To feel like a lovesick puppy despite being in a relationship with someone else. 

“It’s alright, just let it all out.” Rocky said, comforting him as he gave a few gentle strokes on his red-orange head as he held his cousin in an embrace. “I know your heart is in the right place.”

Nina was somewhat glad that the two boys weren’t acting distant, but not too close. It was almost like old times, the only differences would be that Rocky had resumed to play his instrument much more frequently and she hated to admit that he was getting better at using a fiddle. A calming melody that made Nina nostalgic when she and Sophie used to play the violin together.

It had been many many years since Nina had played the violin, back then, she used to hear Sophie practice playing an Irish folk song long before migrating to the United States when Sophie was a child and Nina would help her. Back in Cork, the only worries they had at the time was to receive a good education and attend church. It was a simpler time which had its challenges. 

Both sisters used to perform together in a choir, only playing their violins, sometimes Nina would play the piano back when she and Sophie had migrated to America despite the racism and sexist remarks among some churchgoers back when they only had each other to lean on. 

Those days were long gone.

Even though there wasn’t a thing she would change about her past self, there was a part of her that missed the family she used to have. It would never be the same. Time slowly but surely takes its toll and before you know it, life goes on without you as if you have never existed. Life is nothing but a vapor that vanishes in an exhale. 

As she looked at her son and nephew intently, it hadn’t been that long ago that she had watched over them and raised them as if it were yesterday. Now they were already grown men. No matter how many times she looked at her son, he still looked like a wee baby. 

Roark on the other hand, was a different case entirely – he had Sophie’s optimism and vernacular, but had Ransom’s impulsiveness and penchant for mischief.

It seemed that aunt Nina was awfully complacent this morning, she made pancakes and scrambled eggs with a glass of chocolate milk for both of them. “Roark, aren’t ye going to eat?”

Either aunt Nina was testing him or he was dreaming because there was no way that his aunt would risk giving his nephew pancakes unless it was a trap. Nonetheless, he wasn’t going to complain. Seeing the delicious breakfast right in front of him. “One bite wouldn’t hurt.” Rocky hummed happily as he grabbed a fork and a knife to dig in. 

As he took a bite of the pancake, he tasted that sweet piece of heavenly delight. Rocky’s sugar rush went into overdrive and was ready to take on the world. It only took one minute for Rocky to finish devouring the stack of pancakes, the scrambled eggs, drink the chocolate milk through a straw, climb the stairs to grab the violin case and loudly descend the stairs while blowing the kazoo at an energetic tune then playing the military march as he stood by the parlor while Freckle only ate a third portion of his breakfast by the time Rocky waited for him at the porch, still playing the kazoo. 

Nina regretted the decision as she heard Rocky play the violin and the kazoo at the same time from outside as if he was a one man marching band. Freckle swallowed his food and explained; “He received his paycheck.” Then took a sip of his chocolate milk before his creamy fur and part of his whiskers were damp with chocolate milk.

“No wonder.” Aunt Nina commented before she heard one of the neighbors holler from across the street, complaining about the noise. 

Rocky’s sugar rush died down a few minutes later after cranking the engine of the flivver by the time his cousin stepped out of the porch. 

Rocky laid his head on the hood of the vehicle, recovering from the sugar high while Freckle shoved the key to unlock the door, then pulled the door handle to open the vehicle. As the orange tabby climbed to the passenger seat to unlock it, Rocky’s asymmetric ears perked at the clicking sound before picking up the violin case, shoving it to the backseat.

Freckle turned the clutch to drive before stepping on the gas pedal. As the flivver took off, Rocky began to tell Freckle about his plan while they were heading to the cafe. 

“I want you to be my little courier in this endeavor and Miss Pepper would be of useful assistance for our cause. She would do it gratuitously if you asked. All we need now is an informant. Virgil is an ideal candidate; a good listener, can blend in quite nicely, knows his way around the sewers and can be easily bribed with some watered down hooch.” Freckle kept his eyes on the road as they made it to town while Rocky resumed with his monologue. “How about Horatio? He’s a good listener, discreet and has a horde of mice under his beck and call.” 

Freckle stopped the car as they were stuck in traffic, there were other vehicles waiting for the stoplight to turn green. “The last option would be the drummer. What was his name again? Waldo? Wallace? Warner?” 

“Walter?” Freckle guessed.

“Oh yeah, that guy!” Rocky snapped his fingers in recognition. “How about we surprise him and bring him on a little joyride, give him a lesson he won’t forget.” 

At this rate, Freckle wasn’t surprised by his harebrained schemes anymore. He already recognized the devious grin spread on his cousin’s face. Rocky already had a plan mapped in his head. The stop light turned green as he let out a light chuckle as honking could be heard as they made it to St. Louis. 

The mischievous grin from Rocky’s face faded when they arrived at their destination. “This is not a good sign.” A bell chimed as a customer walked out of the cafe satisfied while Freckle parked the vehicle. Rocky looked through the glass window as his ears flattened as he stared in disbelief. 

What happened to Little Daisy? 

The sign of the establishment had been replaced by a new one under a different name: L’Aster Cafe . 

“This can’t be happening.” Rocky got out of the vehicle and bolted to the cafe as he looked through the glass window of the establishment and froze when he saw the interior had been changed as well. New employees, different décor, and no sign of Miss M. or Miss Pepper anywhere. 

Rocky’s tail flopped right before Freckle stood next to his cousin. “Those blackguards.” 

Chapter Text

Inside the cafe, one of the aforementioned blackguards was eating breakfast at a table; three fried eggs, six sausages and french toast as an appetizer. Munchkin stabbed the last fried egg with a fork while another tom sat down next to him.

A tortoiseshell tom named Tobias who had puffy cheeks and a resting grouch face, he was just an acquaintance and only spotted the short Munchkin tom by mere coincidence so he brought the tray down to the table and greeted dryly.

“Good morning, Malcolm.” Munchkin lacked etiquette, but showed enough manners to greet him with a hand gesture. “I didn't expect to see you here, but then again. I wouldn't be surprised if you showed up out of nowhere like a damn locust.” Tobias remarked as he picked up his spoon to eat some grit.

Munchkin swallowed, and stabbed two sausages.

“So what? I'm a glutton! What's your excuse?” Munchkin then scarfed down the first serving as he eyed the grit Tobias as the tortoiseshell tom took a spoonful. Luckily for him, he hadn't tried the grit little Miss Pepper made. Munchkin chewed, then talked with his mouth full. “At leath therth mo' vawaidee on da menu now.” Tobias faced scrunched, pulling his plate away.

While the two ate, the tortoiseshell tom noticed that there was a gray tabby glaring through the glass window while he took the fifth spoonful. Tobias's eyes darted from the small bowl, to Munchkin and to the manic looking tabby simultaneously. At the rate Munchkin was half-eating and rambling, Tobias decided to leave the table.

“Are you gonna eat that?” Munchkin asked, pointedly looking at the grit. The tortoiseshell tom left the grit for the Munchkin tom to consume.

“I already lost my appetite.” Tobias left the cafe with a glass bottle of Coca-Cola in hand. As Munchkin extented his paw to pull the bowl of grit in his direction, Rocky entered the establishment and zipped past the counter and ran up to the third floor to check on Miss M. He rapidly knocked on the door, calling her. “Miss M.! Miss M.! Miss M.!”

The loud knocking reached up to Persian tom's ears before he stood from his desk chair and stepped out the office and went to find the source of the noise.

“What's with all the commotion?!”

Rocky stopped knocking and turned to look at the new owner of the establishment with a glare. Arnold caught a glimpse of Rocky and it was the first time he had seen the scrawny tabby look feral, like a cornered animal ready to pounce.

“Oh, back so soon?” Arnold queried; Rocky turned his heel to face the entrepeneur. “I lament to inform you that Mrs. May moved her hindquarters to take a well deserved vacation.” Rocky heard him but couldn't believe a single word. “It may seem sudden, considering the recent changes but I can assure you that you won't lose your post. In fact, I want you to come into my office to collect your paycheck.”

Rocky's thick eyebrows rose from his head, eyes widened like saucers, bewildered by the news. As he followed Mr. Abbott to the office, he began to elaborate on certain subjects (to which he didn't buy in the slightest). Despite this, Rocky went along with it as he made it to the office which was located on the second floor. Once he stepped inside and took a once over at the new dècor, it dawned on him that there wasn't a single trace of his employer.

Despite the haunting image of Atlas' portrait hanging on the office wall, it was warm and welcoming when Miss M was there. Now that someone else had taken control to change everything, it didn't sit right with Rocky.

The gaudy silvery tapestry, new lamplight and fanciful furniture wouldn't be enough to replace the warmth, kindness and patience Mitzi had shown towards Rocky.

“As you can see, Mr. Rickaby. There was no ill will against your former employer.” The Persian tom unlocked one of the desk drawers to collect the checkbook and a pen. “There might have been some differences but that's just business, nothing personal.” Rocky saw him write the check and passed the pen for the tabby to sign and eyed the number. “Consider it as returning the favor for your services. If it not have been for your cooperation this establishment wouldn't be standing as we speak.” Arnold mentioned as he gave a sadistic smirk, heterochromatic eyes glinting at Rocky's face.

Rocky swallowed hard as he stared at the paycheck.

Freckle had only looked away for just a second. Just one second when Ivy had called him. “Hi, Calvin!” The orange tabby looked to his left when he saw his girlfriend wave at him at the garage when she ran up to him.

“Hi,” Freckle gave a nervous smile, his voice almost inaudible. “how have you been?”

“I'm fine,” Ivy replied, though her tail slowly descended indocating otherwise. “I have something to tell you.” She wrapped around Freckle's left bicep and widened her smile before she nudged him yo follow her. Freckle followed her before snagging a glance at the rebranded café, then flinched when she laid her head at the crook of his neck. His heart was beating rapidly as they walked into the garage.

“I'm the new owner of Lackadaisy now.” Ivy said before the garage door is closing behind them. “And as my first order, you'll be my number one gunman.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“What do you want me to do?” Freckle asked before Ivy wrapped her arms around his neck.

“First,” Ivy batted her eyelashes, “I want you to kiss me.” Freckle blushed as he looked at her pretty soulful eyes before he leaned in to kiss her. When he closed his eyes, he felt her lips pressed against his.

Just a peck. Even though Ivy resumed to pepper him with kisses. “Second,” Ivy paused to get a good look at her boyfriend, “I want you to look dapper for this special job.”

“What's it about?” Freckle asked her before she leaned to whisper to his ear as if it were a dirty little secret.

“It's going to be a surprise.” Freckle looked at Ivy while she had a flirtatious countenance with a hint of mischief before she remembered something. “Oh, and there is one other third thing I forgot to mention. We're gonna need Rocky to come collect the check. Did he come with you?”

Freckle nodded.

“Oh good, we better get him outta there before he does something, and by something I mean arson.”

Chapter Text

Despite the fact that Ivy became the owner of Lackadaisy it would become much harder to maintain the speakeasy by herself. Some of her savings came from working at Little Daisy, but now that the businessman had bought the establishment, she was left at a disadvantage.

Rum running wouldn't be enough to maintain the speakeasy, even if she managed to obtain enough liquor to sell. Mr. Abbott would undoubtedly hinder Ivy from receiving customers. There were only two ways to enter Lackadaisy; one of them was a hidden entrance behind a shelf that was located next to the kitchen, and the other one  was hidden behind the garage. 

Ivy only had access to the garage, and since Abbott now owned the café, she had no choice but to play nice if she wanted to have both entrances at her disposal. Right now, she needed Rocky to collect his salary and she would let him in on her plan. 

The gray and beige tabby exited the office and pocketed his paycheck. Rocky wanted to know about Miss M.'s whereabouts, but he also needed to cash in on his salary to cover up his necessities. The last thing he needed was Hotsy-Totsy getting hoity-toity with his paycheck. Ivy was capable of grifting her way out of a pinch if she really wanted to. Rocky literally couldn't afford to lose what he just gained.

“There you are!”

“Ah—!” He nearly tripped when Ivy's head popped out of the corner. “Hello, Miss Pepper.” Rocky regained his footing before the charcoal furred feline grabbed Rocky by the arm in a swift motion.

“Oh woe is me! I, the Sheik of Arabe, must live miserly for my darling daisy!” Rocky raised his voice in the role of a tragic poet while Ivy pulled him out of enemy territory, Freckle followed both of them out of the café.

“Rocky.” Freckle said in an irked tone. Rocky put the back of his paw against his forehead, leaning dramatically next to Ivy while Freckle swatted Rocky's tail aside.

“Beware, oh Mississippi! She wants to bamboozle me out of meh hard earned money! Guard your earnings, hide your stash! Hotsy-Totsy will grift ye off for petty cash!” One passerby saw the scene from the corner of his eye. It would've been akin to watching a silent film unfold if not for Rocky bemoaning in an Irish accent.

Ivy huffed and smacked his shoulder. “Are you done?”

“Perhaps.” The gray tabby gave a sheepish grin; Ivy burrowed her eyebrows. “Of course.” Ivy flared her nostrils. “Though it would depend on what you ask of me, Miss Pepper.”

After Rocky had entered he bank to get his earnings in cash a few minutes ago while Ivy and Freckle waited for him inside the car, listening to blues being played on the radio.

Freckle turned off the engine, silencing the music.

He needed to clear his thoughts first before breaking the news to her. Ivy, I have something to tell you. Please don't be mad at me. Freckle breathed in and out before Ivy broke the silence.

“Are you feeling ok?”

“Not really.” Freckle admitted before Ivy put the back on her palm on her boyfriend's forehead.

“You're not sick are you?”

Freckle couldn't find a clear answer to that question. He shook his head, trying to ward off the thoughts that were popping into his mind.

“Then what's troubling you?”

“Rocky.”

“Rocky?”

“Yeah.” Freckle averted her gaze while Ivy eyed him. “I don't know how to explain it. I love him but he drives me crazy sometimes.”

“I know.” Ivy said, Freckle's eyes widened like saucers as he looked at her. “Rocky can be a handful but he can be really sweet guy. Y'know, despite the little mishaps here and there. He's fun to be around.”

“Rocky has done so much for me. I mean, he took the blame for something bad I've done and got kicked out of the house.” Freckle confessed. It reminded Ivy of the incident that had occured when she and Rocky went to Defiance, and Rocky nearly died from getting his head split open by a hearse. It was the first time she saw Rocky in such a vulnerable state, deeply wounded and depressed. “I was twelve when my dad—.”

Freckle's confession was interrupted when Rocky made it back to the car, singing So I Took The Fifty Thousand Dollars before opening the backdoor of the flivver and climbed to the backseat of the car. After closing the door, the gray tabby pulled out a wad of cash out of his front pocket.

Fifty thousand dollars surely is quite a lot

Tho you’ve got it or not, Still it is a whole lot

I told my rich uncle I could use it some day

So just to be a pal to me, he went and passed away

Freckle's creased his forehead, brows furrowed and lowered his ears, nostrils flaring. “I'll go crank the engine.” He exited the vehicle to blow off some steam while Rocky began counting the money.

Ivy eyed the money through the rearview mirror and she could estimate with the speed how Rocky was counting, that he had taken out of the bank at least 50 dollars. It would depend on how far Rocky was going to stretch the dollar. Ivy deviated her gaze out the window. She propped her elbow and hoped that her plan didn't get thrown out the window either.