More Tomcat AU, coming up! *dings bell like diner chef*
It started as an accident. Really, it did! Tommy just wanted to practise his hunting skills without the constant crushing frustration of never catching anything, and bothering Dream was just a huge bonus! He would watch Dream brew potions or make golden carrots, and he'd lay low behind him. But, er, not on the floor. For some reason, Tommy decided it would give him the best chance of 'getting' Dream if he's somewhere higher up, like the table or cupboard.
So he lies in wait, ignores the silly tune Dream is humming that he'd usually meow along with obnoxiously ("A little musician!" Dream would exclaim every time without fail and scratch that very nice spot behind Tommy's ears that makes him feel all gooey.), and when he is certain his victim's guard is at its lowest... He strikes. He jumps at Dream, arms out, claws out. Claws out make a scratching noise on the table. Fuck. Dream whirls around (paranoid fuck), just to catch Hope in time before impact with both hands. Dream stares at Hope, wide eyed startled, Hope's eyes are just as big and surprised staring right back. They're staring at each other for some time before Hope's tail starts swishing in that way that tells Dream that Hope is ecstatic about something (plus purring up a storm). As he sets him down, only for Hope to sprint and leap back onto the table, visibly getting ready for another jump aimed at Dream, he realises, "Ah, fun, is it? A new game? How often will you make me do it, hm?" ←Fully content to do it a thousand times in a row at any given time.
He catches Hope every time.
Something in Tommy is incredibly reassured by that fact.
extremely want to know what happens when tommy gets turned human again. potentially tragic or hilarious mix of emotions.
'Turned human again'? *squints at ask* *squints at notes*
No, no, he's stuck like that! :D
Can't expect the universe to bend over itself to accomodate a human soul being turned into a cat AND then for it to accomodate that cat being turned into a *human*! Now that would be positively silly!!
But if it somehow were possible...
---
Punz and Dream would be coming back home from something, maybe gathering materials, maybe something else. The base they have made their home over the past year or so—mostly because of the cat they got and Dream didn't want him to constantly have to get used to new surroundings—it's burned to the ground.
It is unclear what started the fire. Was the base discovered? A lightning strike? Did they leave a fire burning before leaving?
They don't think about that. Because the moment they see the charred remains of their home, they can only think about Hope. Dream rushes into the burnt ruins of their home, calling out for the little cat, looking everywhere for him.
Punz finds Hope outside of their base and calls Dream over. The cat is barely breathing, barely hanging on, fur singed and almost black with soot. He's dying. He dies in Dream's arms.
He's beyond devastated.
On instinct, at this point, he performs the revival ritual, knowing full well that it was not designed to bring back non-humans.
But before his eyes, something terrible happens. The cat in his arms cracks and shifts and morphs (it's rather grotesque) and becomes human and—
That's Tommy.
Tommy, who has not been seen by anyone in months. Tommy, who no one has even heard from in months, that even Tubbo has no idea where he went. That's fucking *Tommy*.
Dream just stares down at an unconscious Tommy in his arms, who was his beloved cat Hope just a few moments ago, and he fucking breaks. You'd think Hope had died all over again. He might as well have.
Punz, meanwhile, absolutely flabbergasted. His vigilant mind wants to come to the worst easy conclusions, that this was planned to get Dream's trust, gather information to use against them. But it doesn't click quite right. Hope, or Tommy, they guess, could have done so many things to hurt or sabotage them, but he didn't. In fact, Punz recalls every instance that Hope bothered them into eating and taking breaks. They don't know why those instances came to mind so immediately.
Dream is still clutching Tommy's body. Punz speaks softly to him, convinces him to let go, give Tommy to Punz to carry, and they head off to another base.
Tommy (they put clothes on him) remains unconscious for another day. Dream is strange in that time. Constantly hovering by his side, staring at him, never touching him.
When Tommy opens his eyes, something clicks inside of Dream.
"Hope?"
Eyes flick to him. They're Hope's eyes. Human, but Hope.
"Mrr-rp?"
Dream's heart clenches. Despite the difference in voice, he would recognize Hope's noises in any form.
Punz expects Tommy to start talking and acting like his old self. He doesn't. He acts like a cat. He acts like Hope. He doesn't talk, he meows, yowls mrrps and purrs. He walks on all fours, and falls over frequently in the beginning, looking all frustrated and confused at the length difference between his legs and his arms.
Dream also acts like Tommy is still a cat. Pets and cuddles him like usual, answers the same to being bothered into eating and taking breaks. Gently shoos him off the counter. Feeds him the same, fancier-than-he-cooks-for-himself meals.
Punz has difficulty acting like nothing has changed. That's a wholeass Tommyinnit in their home. They keep expecting Tommy to return to his old self, to start to act more human. They figure it must be a gradual thing, because surely it must be... But weeks later, months later, no sign of Tommy, human Tommy.
You think that being stuck as a cat is already bad enough, so then also being kept as his worst enemy's literal pet must be the absolute worst that could possibly happen to Tommy, right?
Wrong! So, so very wrong.
Tommy isn't very into the "will they, won't they?" Type of stories. Actually, scratch that. He fucking LOATHES them. He finds them endlessly frustrating and actually, physically painful.
And it turns out, he now lives in one.
Because Dream and Punz, while being painfully into each other, are incapable, for the life of them, of actually *talking* about the elephant in the room. AND THEY MAY NOT EVEN BE AWARE THAT THEY EACH HAVE FEELINGS FOR THE OTHER.
Punz is like a fucking dog, he gets so fucking happy when he sees Dream that the smile in his eyes is literally fucking blinding, it literally burns Tommy's eyes. They're so sickeningly devoted.
And Dream isn't much better. Tommy thought Dream's open simping for George had been bad, but this--it just takes the cake and the whole party with it. He's not overt with it, not like he was with George, but it's a near thing, constantly lingering in Punz' personal space, lingering touches on his arms and shoulders and back, lingering longing gazes-- a lot of lingering really.
But they're not together, Tommy knows this for a fact, because when they tried and failed to introduce another cat to him (seriously what where they thinking!) and Punz mentioned how it's a shame there won't be any kittens (seriously, WHAT THE FUCK, Tommy is NOT going to fuck a cat!?!) Dream asked them if they ever wanted kids, to which Punz made a really weird face, looked away and said something like "Never thought about it. I don't know. Maybe with the right person?"
And if they *were* together, that would've been a really rude thing to say to your partner, and Tommy is choosing to give Punz the benefit of doubt here, merciful and generous as he is. And Dream didn't look particularly hurt or offended or any form of bothered by the statement. So they're not together.
Which presents a problem. For Tommy. Sure, he *could* just let them suffer from their own ignorance, watch them be stupid and oblivious and pining after each other... but he can't do that to himself.
Hence begins Operation 'I Have To Do Everything Myself Around Here, Don't I!'
(Inspired by some of my catsitting experience as well as Internet cat posts.)
There were three times thus far Tommy/Hope refused to eat.
The first time, was when Dream left for some time and Punz was tasked to look after Hope. This is after Tommy witnesses one of their experiments in which Punz killed Dream. He's not pleased with Punz at all, and refuses to touch any of the food Punz leaves out for him to spite the bastard.
Punz (who cares too much about this cat because he cares even way more about Dream) notices immediately that Hope isn't eating. They try to check Hope for wounds or sickness, but Tommy isn't exactly being cooperative, so Punz can't get a good read on the situation. In any case, Hope isn't eating. That worries them a lot.
Tommy doesn't eat Punz' food offerings for several days (he tries to hunt, but that's difficult with Punz constantly watching him). He grows visibly skinnier, weaker, his fur less shiny and sleek.
It comes to the point that Punz is at the end of their rope. Dream won't be back for several more days, and they fear that Hope may not make it. To Punz, Hope has really earned his name, giving Dream hope, making him happy, making him smile. If Hope dies, Punz knows Dream will be beyond devastated. (They haven't tried reviving animals yet, but information in the revival book does not look promising on the subject.)
They break down crying, begging Hope to eat something, even just a little, *please*.
"I know you hate me, but Dream would despair if you... please, Hope, please...!" Head in their hands, genuinely sobbing.
Tommy, as much as he hates the wrongun, can't help but feel bad. So he acquiesces, out of the kindness of his little kitty cat heart. He grabs one of the fish put in his bowl, carries it over to Punz, puts it down, meows very loudly to get their attention, and then very pointedly eats the fish, making sure Punz sees every bits he's taking.
Punz is crying with relief now and thanks Hope.
The second time is nearly the same, except it isn't quite a hunger strike. Tommy is just sick. And, being sick, he really can't get himself to muster the energy to eat.
Dream is there for that, and he's distraught and doesn't know what to do. He can't exactly take Hope to a vet, he's still a hunted man, and Punz has dropped off the map and his sudden appearance would put him and Dream in danger.
And worst of all, Hope isn't eating, no matter what.
Like the first time, the way to convince Tommy is for Dream to cry. He's holding onto Hope, holding some food in front of his face and crying, begging him to take a bite.
Unlike with Punz, Dream's crying consumes every last drop of hesitation within Tommy. He gingerly takes a small bite of the proffered food, to Dream's infinite relief, and eats it. Recovery is slow, but at least Hope is eating, and that helps significantly.
The consequence of these two, very similar occurrences, is that now, whenever Dream or Punz exhibit any signs of unhappiness/great stress, Tommy/Hope will go grab a piece of food from his bowl, carry it over to them and very pointedly eat it in front of them so they can see. It never fails to make either of them smile.
The third hungerstrike was, like the second, because Tommy didn't feel like eating.
Dream was sick. High fever, coughing his lungs out, won't eat kind of sick. Tommy gets so worried, he refuses to leave Dream's side at all, either laying on him or just beside him, but always touching, purring and grooming him, because that's all he can do in this stupid feline, no-opposable-thumbs body. He doesn't leave Dream's side for anything, not even food. He refuses to eat because Dream isn't eating.
Again, Punz is at the end of his rope. He's so close to just kidnapping Ponk to be a doctor for Dream and risk everything. He's thought about just killing Dream and reviving him, but what if he comes back sick? Or sicker? What if his suffering is worsened?
And Dream refusing to eat in his more lucid moments makes his worry worse.
One day, he is more lucid for longer, and Hope is complaining very loudly. Dream sees how skinny and terrible Hope looks and worries he made him sick.
"Please eat something." Punz begs, but Dream only has eyes for Hope, who is mewling pathetically at him.
"Is- is he sick? He's so skinny Punz- did I make him sick?" Dream's voice us brittle and distraught at the idea.
"He isn't sick. But he hasn't eaten since... since you started refusing to."
Guilt gnaws at Dream. "Do you think he knows?"
"You know he's a smart cat."
That makes it worse.
"Do you... do you think he'll eat if I...?"
Punz, hopeful, nods. "It's worth a try, right?"
Dream lets himself be fed. Hope is staring at him until he has finished half the bowl of watery soup. When it's clear Dream cannot eat more, Hope gets up, rubs his head against Dream's face, purring so loudly, and then eats from the food bowl Punz keeps on the bed. Hope maintains eye contact with Dream as he eats.
That's the routine for the next days, with Hope only eating after Dream eats something. It's so sweet how obviously concerned Hope is gor Dream, and that's a great incentive for Dream to do his best to eat. Even when he's delirious with fever, it only takes a pathetic mewl from Hope to get him to comply and let Punz feed him.
Dream gets better. Hope still will not let Dream out of his sight for days afterwards. Always making sure he ate.
AGHHGDHNFDHBYVEXRCYBYBYFEFYBUBY TCRVUNUBUNU Y TVTVY IBININ
OH MY GOSH
I WANNA KNOW ALL ABOUT THEIR MISADVENTURES NOWWWWW I NEED ITTTTTTTT PLEASEEEEE
(I love cats)
They have so many misadventures, especially because, once Tommy gets more or less over the whole Dream and Punz have been working together and are lowkey together (even though both are painfully skirting around and avoiding the subject- I mean, what is this, a soap opera?), he makes it his life mission to bother them at every turn.
Punz is trying very hard to get Tommy/Hope to like him and tries even harder to make it look like he doesn't care and isn't trying. Dream is very happy to let Tommy/Hope do his own thing and won't punish him for anything. (Tommy abuses the everloving fuck out of this. So many potted plants have fallen to his wrath. So many mugs pushed off the counter, so many books claimed as his and therefore scratched to death.)
Of course, all of Tommy's shenanigans have a price, which is that Dream will just periodically yoink him and hold him or, Prime forbid, cuddle him. Truly atrocious. And he keepts petting Tommy/Hope, and it keeps making Tommy feel all fuzzy and soft and he keeps fucking purring when Dream is nearby, and keeps perking up when he hears his voice, and it's like his little feet move on their own when Dream leaves the room and he trots after him. (Punz is so jealous, but of course he doesn't show it, and of course, Tommy can tell and it's a great incentive to keep doing it on purpose.)
With every day that passes, Tommy gets more and more comfortable in his new body. He gets really good at climbing, leaping, pushing things off the counter, being tossed about and landing on his feet (it's really fun, being thrown! He constantly bothers Dream to do it).
Slowly, he forgets what it was like being human, bipedal, havin opposable thumbs. He doesn't realise he is forgetting until some time.
But that isn't important right now.
Dream is the type of person who cooks fancier meals for his cat than he does for himself (or his partner). Punz is fine with that, because Hope deserves it for how happy the little creature makes Dream.
They're both very busy, the entire server is on high alert since Dream escaped prison and are out to get him, so they nary take a minute to relax, not even when things are calm, which is when Hope tends to bother them the most, even biting their pants and dragging them away from their work and experiments, yowling and growling all the way until they do as it demands. Dream caves so quickly to the demands of the cat, picking Hope up and holding it close as he goes to make it and them dinner and then cuddle on the bed/sofa/elsewhere soft together with Hope.
Dream has nightmares. Of the prison. He doesn't tell Punz about them, doesn't tell him what happened in the prison, but it's not difficult to put together the clues between sobs and pleas for mercy. He tries his best to soothe Dream, but sometimes it seems to make things worse. This is where the cat, Hope, has become a downright blessing and balm on hopeless nights. These days, whenever Dream starts having a nightmare, Hope is right there and springs to action, jumping onto Dream's chest and neck and settling there, purring up a storm.
It doesn't take very long for this to calm Dream down, at which point Hope licks over his face and hair and rubs its little face against Dream, who then slowly wakes up, blearily blinking open his eyes that are full of tears, but then grow soft and so very grateful and he gently pets Hope's head and calls it a 'good kitty'. (Punz wants to cry every time that happens, out of relief and because it's just so adorable.)
Hope really earns the fancy cooked meals twice a day, every day. Good Kitty.
