Tooned Out

Chapter 6: Not-So-Trusting-Falls

Bright was the yellow sun as usual in this weather, and cheerful was Felix. On one side of the street, the tomcat could be seen strolling by, whistling a tune, and giving fellow Toons who walked by a smile or a pretty cat lady a wink.

Meanwhile, on the contrasting side of the street fidgeted Julius, his usually widened eyes and unease maxed up. He hissed at anyone who touched him – intentionally or not –, and mostly hung his head low, mentally cursing himself for not re-stocking on alcohol. Just being outside was becoming overwhelming.

Both black felines would eventually cross paths in front of Koko's Koffee, their paws almost touching as they land to push the doors open. Julius immediately pulled away, taking some steps back as Felix opened the door, but didn't enter. He studied the younger tom, before smiling charmingly and gesturing for Julius to go in first. The jittery cat warningly showed off his teeth for almost no apparent reason as he padded into the cafe without a word.

Felix's ear twitches, but he enters after a moment of confusion, standing beside the Disney brother in the line. After a few loud moments of silence, the elder tom cleared his throat, tucking his paws behind his back as he side-eyed Julius.

"G'day, Julius. What'cha getting?" Felix questioned as sweetly as he could, unaware of his patronizing tone. Julius's chewed ear twitched, his paw reaching up to tug at the purple armband over his right bicep, a huff escaping him.

"Somethin' sweet. Go away." The younger tom's round eyes narrowed, that irritation beginning to slowly rise. "Aw, don't gotta get all crook on me," Felix smirked teasingly as he elbowed Julius's side. The sudden touch made his hackles raise, a hiss escaping him as he bared his teeth, which weren't so cartoony at the moment.

Though he was caught off guard, Felix's ears twitched and he took a step back, sharply inhaling. "I'm tryna be a cobber to ya', but I can't if ya' keep acting like a mongrel! So tell me, what the hell's the matter with ya'?" Despite his patience running thin, he tried to keep his volume appropriate.

"I don't understand how anyone can understand what you're rambling about!" Julius's paws clenched into fists, the claws that had instinctively protracted beginning to dig into the flesh of his palm. The pain wasn't something he noticed as he tried to piece together whatever it was Felix was yapping about. He was pretty sure he just got told off in Australian.

Felix almost bared his teeth, before something came to mind. He looked the jittery feline folly up and down and that teasing, almost prideful smile returned. He understood. "You're one of 'em copycats, innit? Oh, I reckon I knew why you're knickers always got in a twist around me!" He said a little too excitedly, putting his paws on his hips as he forgot exactly who exactly he was talking to.

"Why I oughta!" Snapped the black and white cat, and like a feline, he pounced at Felix with a hiss.

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One catfight later, and both feline follies would be seen being manhandled by their scruffs, and thrown out of the store by one of the employees, who would murmur something about not being paid enough for this. They closed the door and put up a sign with Julius and Felix's head shapes with a red X over both of them. How did they make such an oddly specific sign so quickly?

Felix sat up, wiping off the blood that fell from one of the cuts over his face as he turned his head to look over at Julius who was sprawled out on the sidewalk. He didn't appear to have any plans to get up at all.

"Why do I feel like this'll become a regular thing...?" He murmured, sighing and rubbing the back of his neck.

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