Tender Loving Paws - 24.0

"That Tom, the one that attacked Tommy and Sasha, he's dead," Hikki said out of the blue, looking at Adam.

The cats once again gathered at the park, but this time at Sun Rock. Today the sun was shining too beautifully for any of them to work, so the unanimous decision to sunbath and fish was quick to come.

Adam turned to Hikki, the Queen sitting next to him.

"How?"

"Skar. He told him about you, and then me, but that mangy Tom believed me over that cat. Sent him away then two cats after to assassinate him," Hikki explained quickly and softly, Tommy was playing nearby with Smudge, she did not want the young Tom to hear all these sort of things.

Adam just nodded, "It's good that Skar trusts you so much."

Hikki hummed, looking away to hide her irritation, thoughts of Skar always did that too her, and more.

"But," Adam continued, "Surely, just a fight and protection won't get that much trust from him... correct me if I'm wrong."

Hikki glanced back at Adam, seeing the tuxedo cat's hard blue eyes hiding hints of concern.

"Yes, there is more, I'm glad he can't see through it though, dumber than I expected," the brunette laughed softly.

"I offer him praises and food," Hikki confessed, "And court him from time to time, just to keep him occupied and unsuspecting, I feel so disgusted and angry when I do it."

Adam remained silent for a moment, blue eyes just watching. And then he spoke, voice firm, "You do what you have to do, it's not like you are hurting anyone except for those who deserve it."

Hikki was thankful for those words, she did not know what she will do the tuxedo cat if he looked down on her or something.

"You are tough, Hikki, to play this charade with such a strong will," Adam continued, "If it was me, I would have went for Skar's throat the moment I could, most probably ending my life as well," the black feline ended, knowing just how many 'guards' that Tom kept around him almost all the time.

Hikki flickered her ears, "You don't have the chance, Adam," she meowed seriously, looking right at the other.

"Because Skar doesn't court Toms," she ended teasingly, laughter following close behind.

The tension in Adam's body immediately vaporized, "Hikki! How could you even think of me and Skar together, that will give me nightmares."

Hikki laughed louder, tail swishing with amusement.

"Cuddling together like how you do with Tommy," Hikki said amidst her giggles, "Oh my, I'm giving myself nightmares now."

"Oh, you evil Queen," Adam hissed with no real anger, his own chuckles popping in here and there.

They both started laughing, unintentionally catching the attention of those around them.

"Adam?"

Adam turned to see Allison, the tortoiseshell fidgeting with her hair absentmindedly.

"Yeah?"

"I... erm, I want... IwanttoplaywithTommy!" Allison blurted in a huff.

"Erm... Alli, you have to speak slower," Adam frowned.

Allison sighed, cheeks flushing slightly, "I want to play with Tommy, but... I don't know, I feel like he doesn't like me or something."

Adam's eyes widened, he felt taken aback for a moment. He could see Hikki smirk from the corner of his eyes, so the Queen was right about Allison after all.

"Why would you want to play with him? I thought you didn't like him?" Adam asked in return.

Allison flushed harder and looked down sheepishly, "Well, I do like him, as a friend of course, he looks fun to play with, I didn't mean to scare him last time."

Adam smiled, "He's really friendly, just go say hi."

Allison shifted on her feet.

Adam sighed, smile still on his face.

"Tommy!"

"No! Adam, stop!"

But it was too late, Tommy was already sprinting over to them.

"Yeah, Adam?" Tommy grinned.

"Still playing with Smudge?" Adam asked.

"Erm, kind of? He's getting tired though," Tommy frowned a little.

Adam laughed, "Guess he's not used to playing with energetic kittens like you."

Tommy puffed his cheeks.

"Why not this, play with Allison?" Adam suggested, pushing the tortoiseshell forward.

Tommy blinked, uncertainty in his brown eyes.

"It's okay, just go play," Adam reassured, "Allison wants to, right?"

Allison quickly nodded, "I'm sorry I scared you, if you don't want to play it's okay."

Tommy looked at Adam before turning to Allison, then he skipped forward and poked the tortoiseshell's shoulder.

"You're it!"

The slender feline stealthily twisted and sprint away, his long tail twitching teasingly for Allison to follow.

Allison blinked before a grin spread across her face as she ran after Tommy, giggles slipping from her.

Hikki and Adam watched the two chase one another for awhile, before Hikki started whispering.

"Don't act different, but I think there's a cat watching us, on your right."

Adam glanced with the corner of his eyes, and sure enough, he picked out a pair of yellow eyes staring among the bushes.

"Skar's?"

"Maybe, I don't think he doubts me though, I'm thinking it's one of that Tom's friends," the Queen murmured.

"What do you think we should do, smart Queen," Adam said with a chuckle, sounding as normal as before.

"Hmm, we can go off and pretend to do... something," Hikki winked, flicking her tail teasingly as she stood and trotted off into the bushes.

Adam followed on, making sure his tail was high and acting like he had snagged a willing Queen.

The two leaped into the thick bushes and hid, now all they could do was hope that their plan would work.

And sure enough, a few moments later, a grey Tom wandered into their area. Adam did not recognize this Tom, but Hikki did.

She nudged Adam, ears flicking with confirmation. This was one of Thorn's friends.

Adam nodded and braced his hind legs before leaping out, he did not hiss to keep the element of surprise.

The Tom only turned at the last minute, yellow eyes wide with shock as Adam landed right on top of him.

"Night! And Hikki! You traitor!" the Tom screeched, hands fumbling to break free as Adam rang his claws across his torso.

Adam snarled, exposing his thin sharp canines.

"Skar will know! Skar will rule!" the Tom exclaimed, still struggling to break free from Adam's hold.

"No one will know you were here," Hikki smirked, "No one will even remember you."

Adam buried his bloody claws into the grey Tom's throat and abdomen, earning a strangled squeal.

The Tom hissed and struggled in his final attempt to escape, but he slowly stilled and his eyes grew dull and blank.

"I would have so done that if you haven't," Hikki huffed, "Never liked him, always tried to act tough."

"We can't risk him going back to Sk-" Adam froze up as he looked to his right.

There was Tommy, standing right there with wide eyes and shock on his face.

"Tommy, what are you doing here?" Adam asked, hiding his hands behind his back.

"I-I was running from Allison... when I s-saw you and Hikki l-leaving," Tommy stuttered, eyes still wide with disbelief.

"Tommy, this... I," Adam looked down, "I can't excuse myself, what you saw is what it is, he's works for Skar, he was going to rat Hikki out."

"I know."

Adam looked up.

"I know," Tommy repeated, "I saw everything."

Tommy walked up to Adam and took the tuxedo cat's hands, eyes scanning.

"I'm just glad... you weren't hurt, you know, in that struggle," Tommy meowed softly, looking at Adam's hands one last time for scratches before wrapping his arms around the older feline.

Adam sighed, he wanted to return the hug but staring at his blood-stained hands, he kept them straight and away.

"We should get rid of the body," Hikki said softly, she did not want to ruin this 'moment' but this had to be done, it would bad if one of Skar's followers found the dead Tom.

Adam nodded, "Tommy, why don't you go back... and tell Allison and the rest," he muttered.

"You... want me to do that?" Tommy asked with disbelief.

"Yeah," Adam smiled, he leaned down to give one of the blonde ears a lick, "I trust you, besides, you would be helping."

Tommy blinked and then grinned, "Okay, I'll let them know."

Adam and Hikki watched the petite blonde go back to direction he came.

"That was... weird," Hikki frowned, pulling the dead Tom's legs together.

"He's stronger than he looks," Adam said with pride, hands clamping around the wrists of the Tom's.

"Time to get rid of this," Hikki sighed, "This work really bores me."