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Hole in the Wall: The little things

Chapter Two

By Roofles

It was the middle of the night when Anthony and Theodore Ratholomew made their way back through the tunnels within the dorm, spiraling ever downwards towards Rathole, their home. The tunnels were a maze that only the rats could memorize and know how to transverse through creating a natural protection for their Small society.

Over the past several years, there had been countless tunnels that had caved in or been sealed off by the tunnel crews that were sent out to hide their existence. If found, tunnels would be marked for sealing. A crew would come in and cave the tunnel in or use a cement mixture to fill the tunnels to hide their presence.

They were particularly skilled at recreating the walls and textures they burrowed through. Within a couple of hours they could remove an entire section within their maze like tunnels. Keeping notes on everything, they would then work around creating even more winding spiral mazes.

Anthony had managed to convince Theo that, together, in the morning, the two of them would go to the leaders of Rathole to discuss what to do about being spotted by a Big. Usually, it meant the two would be punished and all tunnels leading to that entrance would be sealed off. A common occurrence.

It was an unspoken agreement that the Smalls would keep to themselves and the Bigs would leave them alone. Otherwise, it could lead to another war where every species, big or small, aquatic, or avian would have to take sides on. Something no one wanted to go through again.

Despite their miniature size, rats, with their advantage navigation skills and numbers, had turned several wars in favor of one side over the other. Their small stature made them expendable, but where there was one rat a hundred more were to follow and, if you pick on one, the hundred will come back biting.

"We'll just forget this ever happened. Don't worry about it." Theo kept trying to reassure his brother, promising him that it wasn't a big deal he had lost his satchel. "I'm just glad your okay." And he meant it.

It didn't make the guilt any easier to bare. Anthony needed to make it right.

He knew that this would be his only chance to make right the wrongs he had committed. The two splitting ways as they reached Rathole, Theo giving his brother a big hug and trying to assure him again that it was fine.

"I'll just... make another one. It's what we do, right? We lose something to the Bigs and we just pretend it never happen, making new homes... new things... new memories." Theo sighed, feeling tired from it all. "I just want to wrap tonight up and go to bed."

Anthony just nodded along without a word as he felt the weight sink in his stomach. If he hadn't insisted on going to a Bigs home Theo wouldn't have lost such a precious thing.

Unlike the other rats of Rathole, Theo was very found of what they had. Anthony knew this. He was the only one who knew that Theo liked the place they lived. That he didn't want to be forced to move again and wasn't preparing for it like everyone else did. That he wanted to set roots, help build lasting structures instead of the makeshift ones they did.

Theo was a visionary and all those ideas had been kept in his notebooks he carried with him. Tucked away securely inside the satchel he was never far apart from. Ideas that weren't about running away and hiding. Ideas about building, growing, and making a home...

And Anthony had made Theo lose a piece of that dream with his own selfishness and gluttony.

"I'll see you at home, okay?" Theo patted his brother on the head. "I love ya', bro."

"Yeah... see you at home." Anthony just nodded as he watched the albino rat go. Theo stood out like a sore thumb in the crowd of rats scurrying through the streets.

His white fur was a sharp contrast to the dark and gritty world they lived in. Most rats had black or brown fur, but Theo's was pure white, and his meticulous grooming regimen left his fur sparkling clean. The pink showed through in his ears and on his cheeks whenever he got embarrassed, matching his furless tail, hands, and feet.

A rat that carried his heart on his sleeve and Anthony could see just how heartbroken his brother had become after losing his belongings. Just another cruel reminder to the world they lived in and the place they belonged in it.

Small. Insignificant. Forced to give to those larger, stronger than them. No agency in the world, unable to change anything...

Theo gave Anthony one last final wave before heading towards the shipping section of the city, going to check on a shipment for the family as Anthony lied about heading home for the night. He'd drop in to leave a small note, just in case, for Theo to find if he didn't return...

Anthony resolve wouldn't let him back down as he made his way back to the dormitory the two had broken into that morning.

It didn't take long for the fat rat to make his way back to that place. His fears were telling him to throw away his pride and high tail it out of there, run for safety and the security of home. Anthony refused as he let out a breath, standing there next to the entrance they had escaped from only a couple of hours ago.

The hole hadn't been covered up and, as Anthony moved the piece of the wall to the side, saw that the room was empty. The lights were off and there wasn't anyone on the far bed. Poking his head out, the rat quickly looked around for the bag in question.

It would take him all night, Anthony was sure, to find the bag. He'd look through every drawer, trash can, every crevasse he had to though to find it. He wouldn't return until he did. Anthony was the only one who knew how much it meant to Theo. Rats weren't allowed much in personal items, the entire colony being a community that shared everything with each other.

It was how they got by.

If someone discovered them or if there was a disaster, which happened far more often than anyone wanted to admit, it would be easier to abandon their home and help the other rats escape to find somewhere else to live when you didn't hold onto valuables. It wasn't good to form connections with possessions you would end up having to leave behind.

Theo had though.

It was the bag their grandmother had sewn for him. It had his personal effects in, from his notebooks and journal to the small figurine their youngest sister had hand carved for his last birthday. Little things that meant nothing to anyone else and meant the world to his older brother.

Their parents hadn't been accepting of Anthony's ideas, never agreeing with their uncle about joining the scavengers guild. It was how their uncle had lost his life. Out on one of their expeditions when something went wrong. Only half the team had come back, and their mother had been devastated at the loss.

Worrying for her child, she had flatly refused to let Anthony join the explorers league, the scavengers guild or any of the military sects responsible for their safety. She had wanted him to be a cook or a crafter, someone who lived and worked in Rathole and would always be close.

"A seamstress was an honest days work!" She would say to the two brothers, threatening them with a wooden spoon if they talked back. "What about the aviary? Working at the mail tower would be great use of your time."

She was desperate, even letting the two brothers work with the sparrows and crows that would fly in with mail and packages from around the large city of the Bigs. The smaller birds were friendly with the Small folk and, through their connections, had even agreed to build an outdoor aviary for them to come in to.

The rats would supply them with the things they found, while the birds would keep them inform on what was going on. Packages were far easier to exchange when you didn't have to rely on the limited waterways within the tunnels.

A trio of otters had helped the rats with the waterworks, redirecting the nasty sewage through other routes and tapping into the clean water supply of those up above creating an artificial river for them to use. Boats could only safely go one way and would have to be deconstructed, recycled and rebuilt before being able to reuse them.

Thus, their ever-budding friendship with those who could fly allowed the exchange of goods to be far easier. Let alone the traveling salesman that passed through from other underground cities and dwellings.

The two rat brothers had been born here, growing up here underground and knew very little outside what the internet and their uncle could tell them. Being small, limited ones access to safely travel and any source of new information was entertaining.

Theo had been the only one to understand, going with Anthony to their uncle when he was still with them to listen to his stories. Theo was the smart one. Capable and smart, unlike Anthony who struggled to keep up with things as Theo asked one question after another. Always curious, trying to figure out ways to better their lives instead of accepting how things were.

Theo could solve problems; Anthony could only make them. This time, he would be the one to do something right!

Anthony had to slap his cheeks several times to work up the courage to go back out there, into the open, to search for Theo's belongings.

"I can do this. I can do this!" Anthony said, shaking from his whiskers to the tip of his tail as he robotically walked out from safety to search.

It didn't take long to find the bag. The last scuffle with the Big must've been when Theo had lost the bag as, right there out in the open, on the desk, was the satchel his brother liked to carry along with him. Able to collect and store things when they went exploring, keeping a journal and notes on their adventurers throughout the underground.

Any good scavenger knew that ones equipment could mean the difference between life and death.

"Just grab and go. Grab and go." Anthony repeated the mantra of the scavengers guild as he crept closer. Slowly, carefully, he reached a handout as he kept his eyes up and eyes open scanning the room again for any signs of the tiger.

There wasn't any movement. There weren't any signs of the feline. Maybe he had changed rooms, getting creeped out by the Smalls? It didn't matter. All Anthony had to do was grab the satchel and go!

His small furless hand grabbed the bag and picked it up. It seemed stuck as if something sticky was holding it down to the desk and he gave another strong tug on it, putting his weight behind it. The satchel pulled, a string went taut and there was a snap as Anthony's eyes widened as he saw the contraption go off as a mouse trap trigger. An overly complex contraption that would put Rube Goldberg to shame.

The string was pulled, a lever sprung, a ball was tipped over, it went down a ladder that landed on a switch that set off a light that began to spin upwards to knock over a block that flipped a board that knocked over several dominos that...

Landed on a switch that launched a weight that hit a spring that pushed a block that moved a ball that...

Anthony had lost count of everything that was going off. The sound and noises and lights flashing had made the rat freeze on the spot as he watched in, an impressed horror, as the trap was sprung and a cage fell from above, trapping Anthony on the desk underneath it.

"The fuck just happened..." Anthony jaw hung open as his brain worked to catch up to what had just occurred. He remember grabbing the satchel then everything. The rat shook his head, slapping his cheeks before running to the side of the cage.

Grabbing the bars, Anthony shook the cage.

"Despite all my rage..." He slumped against the bars, unable to lift it up or push through the thin bars around him. "I'm just a rat in a cage..." Theo might've been able to escape. To think of something. The fat rat on the other hand stood no chance against the contraption known as steel bars as there was movement from the corner of his eyes.

There was a loud thud underneath the desk, shaking the cage before a pair of pale orange ears poked up from the corner of the desk. They twitched before lifting up to reveal a pair of bright blue eyes staring at the rat.

"Can't believe that worked." Pedro rubbed the top of his head, wincing from where he had banged it on the desk. He got up carefully before taking a seat at the desk, peering down at the rat in the cage. Using an arm, he rested his head on the desk staring at the small little guy inside with a Cheshire cat-like smile on his face. "Hello, little intruso. I wasn't expecting to see you back so soon."

Anthony just whimpered pitifully, curling up and covering his ears as the tiger began to dismantle the overly complicated rat trap, he had created for their return and started on the second step to the overly complicated, elaborate plan he had concocted after the two rats broke into his room.

....

Back in Rathole, Theo was pissed.

He had looked everywhere for Anthony and hadn't found his brother anywhere. He was NOT going to tell the mayor about their mistake alone the follow morning. He didn't care if he had to drag Anthony by his whiskers in, Theo was not about to get punished alone, again, for his brothers cowardice.

"Okay, okay. Just think, Theo." He tapped a foot on the ground, trying to think. The noise around him was always so distracting and he ended up retreating into their shared bedroom to get some peace from it all.

The cloth door provided little privacy for their house, but it was better than nothing. It created a nice airflow and with so many rats living in one area, things got warm fast. Climbing the spiral staircase made from acorn shells, crude rope and a weed stem, Theo got to the second floor of their home and ducked into their room.

Even if Anthony had a place of his own, his brother would come in often enough that Theo had just built him a bed to sleep on. The two would stay up late talking, hanging out and discussing things they knew their parents would never approve of.

"Hey, hey, hey now!" His mother caught his tail, easily pulling Theo out of the room before he could hide within it. Theo had built a wooden door and lock to give them some semblance of privacy, something his mother had never approved of. "None of that." She warned threateningly, narrowing her eyes at him.

"Sorry mama," Theo sighed before kissing her cheek. "I'm just looking for Andy."

"Anthony." She corrected and Theo rolled his eyes. She was a round fat rat looking like a plum in the dress she had squeezed into. While Theo inherited his father's look, Anthony followed after their mother. Weight and all. "I haven't seen that boy since the two of you came back from one of your little... trips." Her voice gave her distaste away.

Their mother, Margo, was a rather robust rodent with a thick body and a nasty attitude. She had raised eleven children with two more on the way single handedly while their father worked at the bakery on weekdays and paper mill on weekends. While he was thin and sweet, she was fat and usually angry. The two couldn't be more opposite from each other and still, somehow, deeply in love.

Opposites attract, Theo could only reason. Anthony might have gotten a lot of his looks from his mother side but thankfully none of her attitude.

"Sorry, mama. We were just having some fun." Theo apologized, ears folding back as his whiskers twitched giving the equivalent to puppy dog eyes by a rat. His bright red eyes and white fur made him look pitiful and his mother eased up, if only a little bit.

"Where is your purse?" Margo asked, eyes narrowing. "You never go without it!" She warned. "I am not buying you another. We have to many mouths to feed to go out getting you purses! If only your grand ma ma saw, you now."

"Satchel, mother." Theo said, annoyed. "It's a satchel. Grandmama made it. She would've loved to seen me using it."

"Purse, yes yes. That is what I said." She waved off his words. "Dinner will be ready soon. I slave over a hot stove all day to feed you kids and you don't even have the curtesy to kiss your dear old mama on the cheek!" She dramatically droned on. "The least you can do is show up for dinner!"

"I'll get Andy, I promise, mama." Theo kissed her cheek before ducking into his room to look for clues at to the whereabouts of his brother.

Anthony had several spots around the city he liked to go when feeling down. It was just a process of elimination.

The city was divided in two by the waterway running through it. On one side was the rat living quarters, the largest part of the city for the numerous rats that lived there. The buildings were crudely stacked looking like cardboard skyscrapers, creating countless apartments and houses for them to live in.

On the other side of the so-called river was the market district where the aviary tower was, and the central tunnels used by travelers to come through. It was far more open than the living quarters were and allowed for the larger species, such as ground squirrels and rabbits, to come on through.

"First thing first." Theo nodded as he began to collect things off the walls. From old fishhooks and fishing line to his back up bag. He stuffed it full of things before placing pieces of cork on the fishing hook end to keep it from catching on anything until he needed it. "A prepared rat, is an alive rat!" He said aloud, laughing after from his time in rat scouts.

It was a miracle that Anthony had gotten as far as he had, failing the subject. He wanted to be a scavenger and yet never thought to bring anything with him. Whenever you went on an expedition, be it solo or in a team, you always made sure to bring rations, at the very least!

Their room was small and the thimble chair in front of the cardboard desk took up most the space. Their beds were on either side. Just strands of sewn cloth connected from one wall to the other creating hammocks for the two brothers to use. They weren't comfortable but got the job done as Theo walked over to his bed.

On top of the ratty looking pillow was a single note with a piece of cheese holding it down.

"In apology." The note read. "I'll get it back." It finished with.

"Get it back...?" Theo ate the cheese without a second thought, licking his fingers off before the light bulb went off overhead and he squeaked. "The satchel!"

There was only one place he could've lost it and Theo was climbing out the small window in the room to go unnoticed. His mother was going to kill him if he skipped dinner, but she'd make him suffer if he didn't bring Anthony. Hoping to find his brother in time, Theo began scaling the side of their house upwards. He got to the tin roof and made his way across the recycled piece of metal. It clanged loudly under his feet, but he wasn't bothered.

There was always so much noise and sounds in Rathole that those who lived here were able to ignore half of it. His mother was an expert on this, and Theo knew that as long as she didn't see him, he wouldn't be caught.

Pulling out a thin metal pipe with a wheel attached to it, he connected it to one of the many clotheslines connecting the buildings together. Ziplining across, Theo made his way towards the nearby building of their neighbor.

"Hello Marty, Miss Cici." Theo greeted his neighbor as he slid in through the window, waving to the old mouse and his pet cockroach. The thing hissed in greeting as he pet its head. Marty was sound asleep, in his chair facing towards the small box of a radio pumping out some oldies.

Despite what many of the Bigs had written about them, the Smalls made do just fine. Sure, they didn't build things to last, even if they could. It just wasn't in their nature. They built things sturdy, quickly to house their numerous population before expanding outwards or moving altogether to a new location. It didn't mean they didn't have technology.

Gadget was one of the smartest mice Theo had ever met and some of her inventions were out of this world. She had helped set up power lines throughout Rathole and allowed them to have electricity by tapping into one of the Bigs powerlines underground. Even supplying their tunnels with light creating makeshift mines shafts for them to use.

There was a science to it all. In order to keep the world from, literally, caving in on them the rats had engineered support beams throughout not only their tunnels, houses but also the very den they had carved out within the tunnel. Massive metal poles and wooden beams supported the ceiling above.

It was one of the few things they spent a great deal of time and effort with. A house falling over? Could be replaced and those inside relocated after. If the ceiling caved in? It would be game over.

Theo was sure there was a pact made with those up above because of it all. The rats, and several other subterranean animals kept things up to date and repaired underneath the earth's surface. A lot of them, like moles, preferred the damp darkness to the bustling cities and towns up above in broad daylight. In return for their efforts, those above left them alone to live their lives beneath their feet.

"Thankfully not literally." Theo chuckled as he slid down a power pole like a firehouse firepole. His feet hit the dirty road and he made his way over the wooden pathways within the city. It created some much-needed stability for the houses built everywhere.

They rose around Theo in misshapen forms of blocks stacked on top of each other like a Bigs child's play toy. There was always houses that had been built slightly to far to the left or right that would eventually come tumbling down. Within the day, it would be torn down and rebuilt using the parts. Disassemble, recycle, and rebuild. That was their way. Each house was built from the ground up. One room at a time with no structural design to them.

It drove Theo insane.

How could they just build things without blueprints or an idea beforehand. Some of these houses had bathrooms next to bathrooms next to bedrooms next to storage rooms with a kitchen beneath a boiler room. It was insane! There was no art to them, no nuance to them and Theo hoped to one day rectify this problem as he reached back to touch his satchel.

That wasn't there...

Theo felt his heart sink at that. It had all his sketches and ideas in it. The things he had planned to design for their city. To create homes made of motor and brick and cement instead of cardboard and paper...

Anthony knew how much that bag had meant to him. Theo would often go around the city, sketching things out from what he saw. He didn't do it because he wanted to be an artist, no. He wanted to build. He wanted to create a stable foundation for the rats to live on! To make their own cities instead of these tear me downs.

"We're not nomads..." Theo shook his head, trying to focus on the task at hand. Save his brother first from his own stupidity. Then he'd just have to... sew a new satchel and start over in his sketchbooks. All that work, lost.

Years of effort just gone... It was very rat-like.

Before he was born their previous home of Ratdom had collapsed due to a landslide after a terrible storm. All the rats had picked up and moved without looking back, finding a new location to build their home at. Just another notch in their history that would be forgotten.

"That's just how life is, son. Can't fight it. We just go along with it. We're still here today because of our tenacity and comradery. Family is more important than a home." His dad had said to Theo growing up.

"Yeah... but what's life without a place to call home...?" Theo had asked and his father hadn't been able to answer.

"You'll understand someday." Was all he had gotten in return. All the older rats didn't seem to want to understand or care for Theo's feelings.

It was hard enough to get a chance to see the mayor and to propose new ideas to this community. At times, Theo wondered if he should move to Mouse Haven or Badger Den. Squirrel Hovel this time of year was supposed to be very nice... Maybe he'd have a better chance there? Meet a cute badger guy or a strong mouse? That would be something to tell his parents.

"Oh yeah, this is Franky. He's a badger. How do we do it? Don't ask." Theo chuckled as he jumped up and grabbed the rail line.

Throughout the city were small rail tracks with carts going throughout them. Unmanned trains that, when they fell off, the rats would just gather around quickly to fix the issue and go back to it. There wasn't order here, just blissful chaos that they all had learned to live with and accept.

It was a marvel, in a way. When something happened? A single rat would panic but a colony would quickly band together and take care of the problem or threat. One rat was insignificant, but a colony could change the very land and make it work for their benefit.

Catching the rail line all the way to the end, Theo jumped off in the market district. The cart fell over and two rats quickly came over to pick it up, moving it out of the way for someone else to use as needed. The market square was as busy as ever and Theo took the long way around, ignoring the countless stalls yelling and shouting out their goods, trying to get noticed in the swarm.

"Hey Theo." Someone said.

"Always good to see you Theo."

"How's your mother?"

"Where's your brother? The two of you are never far apart." Another, older, rat laughed.

One after another, Theo was greeted by someone, and he tried his hardest to remember each and every one of their names. The rat colony was truly a thriving community, and everyone knew everyone. And if you didn't? They'd be more than happy to introduce themselves.

"Karla. With a K." A random rat said to Theo, unsure why she was. "I'm your aunt's stepsisters next door neighbor. We'll hold a gather. Be wonderful." She waved him off.

"We're holding a funeral service for tunnel 77. Ya' know. The one that collapsed. Water damage. Never saw the leaking pipe until BOOM, flooded. Drowned rats. What a way to go." A worker spat to the side, droning on to anyone who listened.

"CiCi birthday is next week."

"Donny? No, no. The OTHER Donny. The one with the missing ear? Kind of cute in that rugged way," a woman on the other side went on. "Told me that a fox was prowling around. Some punk kid thought he could mess with us. US! Can you imagine? Well the guards took care of him reaaaal quick like. We have fox pelt on sale now," she laughed and it was hard to tell if she was joking or not.

"Theo!" A deeper voice called and he was, once, happy to see the man waving towards him.

The large badger was sitting off to the side of the market, his cart set up on his right side with a massive hand resting on top of it.

"Ollie," Theodore waved at Oliver as he came over. "What are you doing here? I thought your next shipment wasn't until next month."

"The harvest was better than we thought this time around." The badger just chuckled, bending down to look inside the small cart he had brought along with him. In several glass jars were various assortments of jams and jellies.

Theo walked over, nose twitching. It was hard to smell anything within the crowd and he picked up the earthy tones and wet grass smell coming from the badger looking down on him.

Oliver lived in Badger Den and would come by thanks to his families custard business. Not wanting to follow, directly, in his father's footsteps Oliver had begun making jams and jellies to sell. They were a big hit. Though his stand was open, you would have to place an order for the next time he showed up to get anything.

A squirrel came up behind Theo, who stepped aside and bumped into the sitting badger's leg. Oliver spoke over him, talking to the squirrel nearly twice Theo's height.

"Ms. Nutter, good to see you." Oliver had that charming smile on his face and his voice was as deep as ever as he took the small note from her. Putting on his wire rimmed glasses, the badger looked down his long snout to read the tiny piece of paper.

Theo chuckled at that, offering a hand up and Oliver handed it over.

"Ms. Nutter. Two blueberry jams and a jelly." Theo read the note over before handing it to Oliver who took off his glasses.

"This is why I need to keep you around," the badger sighed heavily, shaking his head. He carefully, using long clawed fingers, took the jars down from the cart and handed them over to the squirrel who just nodded in thanks before adding to her ever-growing bag of groceries.

"It's not so bad. Those glasses are helping right?" Theo asked and the striped faced badger gave him a frown.

"They help, sure. Not exactly easy dealing with all this tiny print." The badger squinted at the writing on the paper. "I mean no offense!" He jumped suddenly, realizing what he had said. "I mean you are very tiny but not like, it's not a bad thing, I just, I mean there is always good... work... done." The badger groaned, sitting back down and shaking the stalls nearby.

Theo just chuckled, patting Oliver's leg with a tiny pink pawed hand.

"I get it. It's all good. After the day I've had," Theo rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "It's a welcome change, let's just say. Have you seen Anthony, by chance?"

The badger thought that over before bending down to Theo's level, the rat taking a step back, so he didn't accidentally push his snout against his body.

"Your brother? The fat one?" Oliver asked and Theo laughed, nodding. "I saw him come back with you..."

"You keeping an eye out for me?" Theo winked and the badger pulled back, the white stripes on his face reddening with a blush.

"N-no, it's just you are very easy to notice. Because of your albinism.... In a good way!" Oliver jumped again before landing heavily on the ground, making the two nearby stalls curse at the badger who didn't even appear to realize what he had done.

"Relax, Ollie. I'm used to it." Theo rolled his eyes. "You know once I tried to dye my fur? Man, that was horrible. You should've seen the look on my ma's face!" He squeaked recalling it.

"When can I meet this infamous mother of yours?" Oliver chuckled, scratching a long-clawed finger over his exposed chest. He was wearing a pair of blue overalls and little else letting his black and white marked fur breathe.

"She stays over in the living quarters," Theo motioned across the river to the other side. "You know you bigger guys aren't allowed over there."

The badger snorted, chuckling about it. "Last time I tried to, the guards swarmed me! That's, uh, not offensive, is it? Rat swarm...?"

"You're fine. We've been called a lot worse than that, Ollie." Theo chuckled before patting his leg once more. "I need to get. My brother went MIA and I need to drag his fat ass home before my mother catches wind."

"Oh! You're already heading out...?" Oliver button black eyes became glossy, sticking out his lower lip as he whined.

"I'll visit, I'll visit again! Put that away," Theo smacked the badger's large paw before turning around. "Make sure you have ma's jams ready. Maybe she'll let you sneak over sometime."

The badger just smiled at that, waving him off. "Looking forward to it!"

As was common, outsiders of any city were kept to the outskirts due to the differences in size. While the bridge could handle someone like Oliver's weight, the clumsy badger might end up knocking into someone or stepping on someone's tail. Thus, it was forbidden for anyone outside of a rat to visit the living quarters or other side of the river.

Theo had a mind to join Oliver one of these days on heading back towards the fields he worked on. Visiting the badger at Badger Den and seeing the differences between the two cities. Theo had heard several stories from Oliver.

Badgers and the other burrowing animals created large mounds within their fields where they lived in. It kept them close to their fields and a place to rest if the weather got to hot. While far more open than a condensed city like Rathole was, Theo didn't mind. He would keep Oliver company and could always ride the badger if it came to much work to keep up with his longer steps.

"Maybe after I bring Andy back, I'll visit Oliver again..." Theo liked the idea of that. Seeing and meeting new people was such a refreshing change from... more rats. He had seen and lived with rats long enough to need a break from it all.

Theo gave a nod towards the two guards standing by the tunnel entrance before slipping out the open gate and into the tunnel network beyond.

"Be careful Theo." One of the guards called.

"We won't mention to your ma' that you skipped out, again." The other teased and Theo waved at the two before crawling up the ladder before reaching the first of many branches paths.

The tunnels were a, well, rat maze. There was no way else to describe them. There were ladders leading to nothing. Tunnels that curved and circle and dug straight down, a big no no that one of the newbies had tried to prove it was possible to do. Those guys never lasted long. Everyone knew never to dig straight down. Some did though and were never heard from again.

Rats came and went through the tunnel, heading in for the night. Theo passed them by. Some waved at him, even giving him nods or smiles and a few occasional hugs. It was a strong community with everyone watching for each other back.

But also accepting when someone didn't come home.

Such as life being so small, and numerous. A life of a rat.

And an occasional mole, from the looks of it.

"Teddy, my man. You digging some more tunnels?" Theo walked up to pat the mole on the back. The man turned to face him and was staring at the wall to Theo's left. His star shaped nose wiggled, and Theo tried not to gag at the appearance.

"It's what I do." The mole just said before going back at it.

"Don't mind me," Theo said as he hopped over the mole's back and headed up a slanted tunnel system.

"You going back to the dorms?" The mole asked without looking at him. Theo paused.

"Uh, yeah. Why?"

"Say hi to your brother for me." The mole just gave him a clawed covered hand wave before going back at the precise digging he needed to do to not collapse any of the tunnels.

"Sure thing, Ted." Theo just laughed before grimacing at the news. He hoped this wouldn't be the case but now was certain where his brother had gone. "Anthony, you idiot..."

It didn't take long to reach the makeshift elevator to get to the surface. With a simple kick of the bucket full of sand off the platform, the rickety wooden elevator began to rise. The pully system was new, thankfully, and Theo held one of the rope straps for support as it careened upwards. There wasn't a good way to manage the speed, you just kind of dealt with it.

Thankfully Theo, like many of the rats, were used to such crudely made devices. While inventive, there preferences were on speed over quality and such a thing as safety weren't usually taken into mind.

With a bounce, the elevator came to a stop and Theo stepped off as if it were the most normal of things to experience.

"What's the plan, Theo." The rat muttered as he headed left down one of the four tunnels before him and began heading towards the place Anthony had led him that morning. A rat's built in GPS allowing him to navigate in the lit tunnels. "Wait until the Big is gone would be the safest bet..."

Theo came to the carved panel within the wall and began fiddling with it, hoping his luck would hold out for him. They had gotten away once; he was sure he'd be able to manage again. He even brought a safety pin with him this time. Stab the cat in the toe if he had to.

The shifting panel of the wall pushed outwards and slid to the side like a secret passageway. It wasn't anything fancy, but the rats were very skilled at hiding their entrances. Having it blend perfectly into the wall. Unfortunately, the tiger that lived in the dorm room knew exactly where to look for the panel after seeing the two escape through it.

The wall moved and a string pulled, a bell ringing above Theo's head as the rat froze.

Lights turned on in the room, several lamps faced towards the hole where Theo shielded his eyes from. The rat stayed within the safety of the wall as he waited for his eyes to adjust to the bright lights.

"SO, you finally arrived, rata." A voice boomed out as Theo felt his fur and whiskers stand on end. "We've been waiting for you. Like, for a really long time actually. I was beginning to get bored."

"I..." Theo swallowed, building up his courage as he glared at the blinding lights towards the towering shadow behind them. "Where's my brother!" He shouted, his voice in angry squeaks.

"Ah, the little fat rata." Pedro voice purred the words out as he pet something on his lap. "He is right here."

"....where?" Theo squinted his eyes, trying to make heads, whiskers, or tails of the situation. "I literally can't see anything."

"Oh, sorry. Un Segundo, un Segundo." Pedro fumbled around with the switches before turning several of the lamps off he'd gotten out for the situation off. He kept one on, turning it to the side away from the hole. "Is that better?"

"Uh... sure." Theo blinked several times getting rid of the white dots that had appeared after being blinded. "What exactly am I looking at...?"

Past the desk was the tiger, sitting there in the chair with a rather large cage on his lap. Pedro began petting the top of it again menacingly before glancing down at it.

"Your little amigo has been telling me all about you, Theodore Ratholomew." Pedro purred the words out as his claws sprung from his fingers, holding the top of the cage. He lifted it up to eye level, glancing inside. "Little Antonio here,"

"Anthony." Theodore corrected making the tiger pause.

"Yes, little Anthony, as I said." The tiger's ears wiggled, and his tail swayed with embarrassment. "Has told me all about his big hermano that will come and save him from my cruel clutches." The tiger bared his fangs.

"Okay, the fuck is happening here?" Theo looked down at the cage. "Anthony! Are you alright?"

"Yes, yes. He is fine." Pedro waved his concerns away. "I have given him cheese."

"Cheese? Dude, offensive." Theo frowned at the tiger before glancing back at the cage.

"Little rata said that's what he wanted!" Pedro's ears splayed out as his pale orange cheeks burned with a red tint. "He said that was what you would want." The tiger gave a pitiful "mrow" as his shoulders fell.

"It's really good to, Theo!" Anthony said from within the cage.

Pedro gently placed it down on the desk, turning it so Anthony was facing towards his brother. The fat rat sat there on the floor covered in aspen shavings that looked fresh and recently purchased. Even the cage looked new as if it had been bought that very day. Theo was at a loss for words as he watched his brother pick up another cheeseball and shove it into his face.

"Anthony! The hell are you doing!" Theo squeaked angrily at his brother, brandishing the safety pin like a sword.

"Dude, bro, it's like mozzarella! This shit is amazing." Anthony just licked his fingers before picking up another one. "I told you they're hoarding the best cheeses for themselves."

"Well, what else are we going to make tacos with?" Pedro chuckled above them, watching the two as Theo dared to step out of the hole to get on his brother. The tiger's bright blue eyes watched with a keen fascination as the two rats began to argue.

"Do you even know how worried I've been! And here you are, eating cheese!" Theo squeaked angrily through the bars at his brother who was still stuffing his face. "Oh, also, Oliver says hi and ma' is looking for you."

"You want some?" Anthony offered and, though Theo's stomach grumbled hungrily from the rich smell, he refused.

"Who knows what he put on it!" Theo pointed up at the tiger who was still just watching them.

"More cheese!" Anthony was the one to squeak as he munched away.

"What?" Theo asked.

"OH, si, I found some of that fake cheese stuff. I wasn't sure if it was any good." Pedro placed a plastic bottle on the desk, turning the label towards Theo who glanced at it. The rat quickly read it, mouthing the words before looking back at his brother.

"He bought your submission with cheese?" Theo was going to strangle his younger brother.

"They have spray cheese, Theo. Spray. Cheese! It comes in a can, and you like... spray it!" Anthony just licked his fingers again. "Deliciouso." He tried to mimic the tiger's accent who just chuckled, leaning down to get a closer look.

Theo jumped at the movement and quickly skittered back to the hole, ducking inside before poking his whiskered muzzle out. With a shaking hand, he pointed at the tiger accusingly, glaring with his beady red eyes.

"I-I'm onto your tricks!" Theo ducked back inside when the tiger looked at him.

"He's a jumpy little rata, eh?" Pedro chuckled softly.

"Oh, he's always been skittish. Don't mind him." Anthony just waved it off as he asked for more cheese puffs. The tiger reached down into the grocery bag before pulling out another green bag and ripped the top open, sprinkling the cheese puff balls through the top of the cage as if he were feeding a fish.

"D-don't just accept that!" Theo angrily squeaked at his brother who was dancing around the falling cheese puffs.

"They're messy but sooooo good, Theo!" Anthony came over to the cage entrance and held one up. "Join us. Give into your hunger."

"That's not the point, Andy!" Theo stomped his foot. "You are siding with the enemy?"

"Enemigo?" Pedro glanced down at Anthony who was the one to wave it off.

"He's just being dramatic. You can't be a bad guy if you give me cheese poofs." Anthony said as he nibbled on another one.

"Anthony, your tearing me apart!" Theo began wiping his whiskers off with both hands trying to calm down. It took several seconds, and he was uncomfortably aware the tiger was watching him the entire time. "You!" He jumped out, pointing at the tiger who pulled back as if afraid Theo was about to strike him with the safety pin. Admittedly, it would hurt. "Y-you let my brother go right now!"

"Never." Pedro pulled back as he covered his mouth with a hand. "Not unless... you can beat me at a game!"

"Why you- wait, what?" Theo stumbled at that. "What do you mean game?"

"I game of cunning and wits!" The tiger went on dramatically as he carefully pushed Anthony's cage to the side. Quickly, Pedro ducked back down underneath the desk and begin fiddling with something out of sight. He cursed several times, and a string of harsh Espanol came out as the tiger dropped whatever he had been trying to get several times in his haste. "Here!" He sat back up abruptly making Theo jump from the sudden movements.

The tiger, panting, set the board game down gently on the desk and began setting it up. It took a second, with the pieces being so large, for Theo to figure it out.

"Wait, chess?" Theo didn't know what to say as the tiger carefully placed each piece down. They were about the size of Theo and the rat was already having issues with the fairness of this so-called game.

"Antonio said you liked chess." Pedro shrugged.

"Anthony did?" Theo glared at his brother who just shrugged in return. "Traitor. What other secrets have you gave the enemy?"

"Just your favorite color, food, that you want to be an architect if your family lets you and that you don't like to sleep alone." Pedro just said as he continued to set up the board.

Theo's face turned a bright shade of red and he quickly began grooming himself, wiping over his whiskers and ears with his tiny hands several time in embarrassment.

"Ah, little rata is shy." Pedro chuckled as he smiled down at the small rat on his desk. "Cute little guy, isn't he?" He teased and Anthony just chuckled.

"Ma' always says he's the cutest of the bunch."

"Such an interesting shade of fur color." Pedro nodded along.

"He's, like, the only one back home." Anthony just shrugged. "Our little freak."

"Anthony!" Theo cursed at his brother.

"Oh, sorry." Anthony licked his fingers clean. "Our cute little freak of nature."

"Anthony!" Theo begged, about to fall over and curl up in a ball. "Killing me slowly here, bro."

"Okay, game board set up. I gave you white, because..." Pedro chuckled. "You know," and he offered a hand for Theo to go first. Theo just stood there. "Uh... why isn't the little rata taking his turn."

"He's just nervous. Or scared. Or anxious... Maybe a mix of all three?" Anthony shrugged. "He's a quirky little guy."

"Ah," the tiger just nodded as if understand, rubbing his chin. "My brother was very quirky as well."

"Stop. Talking!" Theo covered his face.

"Then go." Pedro offered.

"Oh, yeah, the second I try and move a piece you are going to snatch me up and toss me in that cage to!" Theo glared and Pedro's ears fell.

"You said he would be cool with this." Pedro whispered, loudly, towards Anthony.

"He's just dramatic." Anthony continued to eat.

"I am not dramatic!" Theo squeaked angrily at his brother. "You're the one in the cage here, why aren't you more concerned?"

"Dude, the door is unlocked." Pedro was the one to point out, lifting it up with a clawed finger. The metal door easily lifted as Anthony sat there, eating. "He's the one who won't leave."

"Then... then why do you have a cage for him!" Theo squeaked, gesturing at it wildly.

"I don't want the little amigo getting hurt." Pedro just shrugged his massive shoulders, offering up both hands as if it were the most reasonable thing. "I didn't have time to make a nicer home for the fat rata."

"Not fat. Just big..." Anthony swallowed loudly and patted his stomach. "Boned."

"Whatever you say." Pedro chuckled before glancing back at Theo. The rat stiffened, angling back towards the hole. "Here." The tiger said, carefully reaching over to take hold of a pawn. He moved the black pawn two steps forward. "There. It's unconventional, but, well, all of this kind of is? Heh, your turn..."

Theo frowned at that, watching the tiger carefully before slowly making his way across the desk. Wrapping is tail around the corner piece pawn; he moved it forward. The tiger whistled softly as Theo picked up the piece and carefully set it back down after.

"Strong little guy, aye?" Pedro grinned toothily.

"Most of us little guys are." Theo huffed out, keeping his distance as Pedro reached over to move the knight forward.

Theo glanced down at the board before up at the tiger then once more at the board. He put his back to the rook and move it behind the pawn as the game continued.

Whenever Pedro moved, Theo would keep a clear distance from the tiger, surveying the board, before going back at it. It took him five times the effort it did the tiger, but the rat did his best to keep up.

"My padra and I used to play all the time." Pedro said only after the two had taken several turns in silence. "He was sick by the end and couldn't do much. He still loved his chess games." He chuckled softly. "Ah, if he could see me now." The tiger placed a finger on his last bishop, taking a moment to look things over.

He noticed how Theo was focusing more on the board, now, than him and smiled at that before purposefully doing a bad play allowing the rat to take the bishop followed by his knights.

"Ah, I was never good." The tiger's tail swayed as he chuckled, resting against the corner of the desk to give Theo as much space as possible.

"Easy for you to say." Theo said, pushing another piece diagonally across the board to check Pedro's king. "Your hand is bigger than the pieces are," the rat hopped backwards as he looked at his move to make sure it was in the right place. "I have a bit of height disadvantage here. Got to change up my plays."

"Will that be your excuse when I win?" Pedro teased as he gently pushed another piece forward, protecting his king.

"Hah, you assume you can win?" Theo laughed, unaware of what was happening.

Every move the tiger made was with great care and forethought. It wasn't the board he was playing, but the rat who carefully watched every time the tiger drew to close. Realizing this, Pedro changed up his tactic. He never moved fast, every time he took hold of a chess piece, he did it with great care and a gentleness that showed just how mindful he was of its miniature size.

The chess pieces even looked like carvings of various animals instead of the usual set. The tiger's hands with skilled with grasping, holding, and moving them without any jerking motion. Slow, fluid movements that showed Pedro was mindful of his touch and strength.

Theo never caught on as the tiger's digits curled safely around the bishop and lifted it up off the table, moving it three spaces before setting it back down slowly, as if waiting for the bird shaped bishop to be ready to be placed down.

"Check." Pedro said in a low, soft voice that was easier on the two rats ears. "Looks like it's a draw." The tiger shrugged as if it hadn't been exactly what he'd been going for.

"Draw?" Theo jumped at that, running around the board to look at it from every angle. "That can't be..." He paused before turning suddenly and ran towards the cage. Pedro watched as Theo easily scaled the side of it, getting on top to look at the board from a better view. "I can't believe it." The rat sighed, sitting down, tail falling between the bars as he rested his face in both hands. "I thought I had that."

"As you said, it's a little difficult to see the entire board." Pedro carefully said, not making any sudden moves as he watched the rat focusing on the game. Anthony had mentioned how into games Theo got. The albino rat's face intently staring at the board as if replaying every move in his head, his bright red eyes looking things over to make sure he hadn't missed something.

He was actually, sort of... cute. Theo's face was all scrunched up, whiskers twitching as his nose never stopped moving. Theo was taller than his brother was but had that "rat build" as Pedro had seen in textbooks. He was pleasantly plump, as the tiger liked to put it. He looked so soft... and pudgy... Pedro wanted to just reach out and feel him in his hand, wondering if Theo's fur would be as soft as it looked.

"I can't believe I lost!" Theo suddenly said, jumping up, making the tiger tense from his thoughts. Pedro blushed as Theo continued to complain over it. "I was sure I had it. I was thinking three, no, four moves ahead! How did he... he couldn't have cheated..."

"You didn't lose, bro. It was a draw." Anthony said from below, inside the cage.

"Oh, what would you know!" Theo poked his head through the bars to glare down at his brother, sticking his ass up in the air as his tail curled to keep his balance. "You don't even like chess!"

"It's just so boring." Anthony groaned. "That's an old person game."

"Came out here and say that!" Theo jumped up, about to fight his own brother when the tiger cleared his throat behind the two. With a squeak, Theo scampered over the cage and slid down the other side, using it to separate himself from the tiger in the room.

"Let's not fight now." Pedro chuckled as he reached down to pick up the cheese poofs bag again. "How about something to eat, Theo?" He offered it carefully to the rat. "This time, I promise not to almost eat you." He grinned, showing off his impressively intimidating fangs.

"Like I'd trust that." Theo glared, yet his nose twitched as he sniffed at the air. "No matter how tantalizing good it smells..." The scent of cheese poofs wafted towards the rat's nose and Theo was tempted to risk everything for a nibble.

"Bro, he opened the bag in front of us." Anthony pointed out.

Pedro even offered to eat a few in front of them to show that they were harmless.

"See. Perfectly fine. And tasty." The tiger licked his fingers off, offering the bag to Theo who didn't dare get closer. With a roll of his eyes, Pedro shook several of the orange coated cheese poofs out onto the desk before pulling the bag way. "There."

"Don't think bribing me with food will change my mind!" Theo warned, eyes focused on the tantalizing treats.

"Theo, you aren't yourself when your hungry. Just eat." Anthony rolled his eyes, walking over to lift up the cage and grab one of the cheese poofs for himself. "Free food, bro."

Theo nose twitched as he smelled the artificial, yet delicious, scent of cheese in the air. He had come here hoping to get Anthony back in time for dinner and hadn't eaten since breakfast. Stomach grumbling, Theo took a careful step forward. Then another. Then another before snatching a cheese poof up and running for the hole in the wall.

"Dude." Anthony groaned watching as his brother ducked inside to taste the delicious, if artificial, cheesy delight.

Pedro just chuckled, setting up the board again.

"How about another game." Pedro offered as he carefully shook out several more cheese poofs by the hole. "Winner gets to eat the rest in the bag." He added on this time.

"Oh, do it, do it, do it!" Anthony jumped up and ran to the bars of the cage and shook them violently. "I need more cheese!"

Be it the over-top antics of his brother or the delicious taste of the new snack, Theo reluctantly agreed and, as the hour ticked by, the rat began to forget his fear for the massive feline in the room as they switched over to checkers. And from there, backgammon, which was extremely tricking for the mouse to do what with shaking the dice.

Whenever the food had been devoured, Pedro would pull something out of the grocery bag tucked safely underneath the desk. Introducing new treats for the two rats to try with him, the two ending up keeping the tiger company late into the evening as they switched over from the board games to whatever was on TV.

Pedro stayed in the chair, resting and arm on the desk as he watched the TV, the two brothers sitting nearby but at a comfortable distance from their new, if much larger, friend.

"We should be heading back soon," Theo reluctantly told his brother. It was hard to admit that he had fun out here. Something about the open space, with just the three of them, was nice for a change. No one was bumping into him and Pedro, to give the tiger credit, was extremely mindful of his boundaries.

Never once did the tiger try to intrude on the two rodents and at times, even seemed to forget the two were even there only to bring out another piece of chocolate for them to try. The spicy chocolate was strange and different from anything Theo had ever tasted in his life. Every new experience was a new delight for the rat.

It was the little things that mattered, and Theo was thankful for them.

"Hey, you, big lug!" Theo cupped his tiny hands around his muzzle before calling up to the tiger, hoping his voice would be heard over the TV.

Pedro's round ear flicked before his blue eyes turned to look down at the small rodent on his desk. The tiger took a slow, deep breath as he waited for Theo to continue. The rat pausing, just watching as the giant looked at him like that as his chest rose and fell with the simple motion. It was somehow terrifying to watch and Theo, unconsciously, took a step away.

"Um... we need to get going." He thumbed over his shoulder, towards the wall. "Nothing personal. Just our ma' is going to kill us if we stay out any longer." Theo said, helping Anthony up. The full, fat rat just rubbed his belly trying not to throw up.

"I ate to much bro..." Anthony hiccup.

"You always eat to much." Theo glared at him before tensing as he heard the deep sound of the tiger's voice.

"Oh, of course. I kept you both a bit longer than I meant. Can't keep familia waiting." Pedro paused to cover his mouth with a large, wide palm as he yawned show casing his mighty fangs. "It is getting late, little rata." He brought his hand down on the desk, finger tapping the top of it as he looked away as if unsure what to say or do. "Adios."

Theo pushed his brother towards the exit and helped Anthony through before poking his head back out. The tiger was watching them go. Pedro ear flicked, seeing the rat's face pop back out.

"You gonna be alright...?" Theo paused after asking, watching the tigers face carefully.

Pedro's whiskers twitched, his eyes staring at the small rat before he shook his large head. "It's all good, little chico."

Theo turned to go before hearing the heavy sigh escape the tiger and, reluctantly, stepped back out onto the desk.

"It was a lot of fun, admittedly. Hanging out here... with you." Theo was so uncomfortable about this he kept grooming over his whiskers. "I never thought that someone like you..." He winced at his words.

"It's alright, little rata. I'm used to it." Pedro chuckled but the look on his face showed the pain in his eyes lingering as they fell, downcast, to the floor.

"It's not your fault your so big!" Theo said and mentally slapped himself for the insensitive comment. He sounded like Oliver. "I mean, like, if you were the same size..." He struggled to come up with what he wanted to say. "You're a very smart, handsome tiger and I can honestly say, I was not expecting any of this." Theo blushed as those blue eyes turned to look at him. "It. Was... Fun?"

Slowly, Pedro turned to face the rat. Setting his large arms down on the desk, he leaned forward carefully to get on a better view with Theo who just froze, watching the tiger loom over him like this. He felt Pedro's breath against his face as the tiger opened his muzzle, just enough to speak. His tongue flicking with the motion.

"You think I'm handsome?" Pedro smirked, teasing the rat whose whole body turned red, blushing as he covered his face.

"That's not what I meant!" Theo complained loudly, tail curling around him. "I just meant... your cool, okay? Sheesh, don't make this awkward or weird."

Pedro huffed a laugh at that, turning his muzzle to the side so he wasn't directly breathing on Theo.

"Cool... huh?" Pedro took a second at that before glancing at Theo. "Is it alright... if I hold you?"

Theo jumped at that, tail sticking out as he stared at the tiger who was watching him closely.

"H-hold?" Theo wasn't sure what this was all about.

"I'll be gentle. Promise." Pedro smiled softly. "You are also, a, handsome rata." The tiger pulled back his muzzle before turning one of his hands over and glancing down at it. "If you let me." He added on. "Or..." The tiger's tail flicked. "Would you prefer if I reach over and nabbed you...? Let you scurry around on the table as I try and snatch you up?"

Theo blush wouldn't subside as he covered his face, neither say no or yes as the tiger watched him.

Carefully, slowly, and with great care Pedro reached over and, with a single finger, pet the top of Theo's head. The paw pad was softer than Theo thought it would be and despite the tiger's size and strength, Pedro was extremely gentle. It was warm to the touch and Theo shivered from the simple gesture that put his fur and whiskers on end.

Easing up, Theo looked up at the pale orange tiger watched him, relaxing his body as that pink paw padded hand dipped down around him. With open fingers, the tiger's palm pressed against Theo's back and his massive digits curled, one by one, around the rat's body before cautiously lifting Theo off the ground.

The grip was secure, and Theo felt his body squeezed, ever so slightly, as his feet lifted off the desk and he was brought towards the tiger who was still just watching him with bright, soft blue eyes. His pink nose bumped into Theo's face and the rat felt the air around him rush as Pedro sniffed him, nuzzling the side of his muzzle against Theo's body after.

"You are very sweet, to check in on this big ol' tigre." Pedro voice was no more than a whisper, but Theo shuddered, feeling it against his body as the feline purred. "It is nice, that you chose to stick around today."

"Yeah..." Theo could only say, swallowing as his face burned brighter as he felt Pedro's thumb rub up over his stomach and chest, lifting his shirt in the process and exposing his white furred belly. Theo ended up resting his chin on that finger as he watched the tiger with a mixed fear and excitement over this.

"My last roommate, si?" Pedro said softly, turning so the two could see the top bunk within the room. "He moved out, once he found out I was a tigre." The tiger's ear flicked, and his nose twitched but his eyes were empty as Theo watched him stare at the empty top bunk in the room. "I thought, college would be different, ya? Like people would get over the fact that I'm, you know, a tigre. But." And Pedro turned to set Theo back down at the desk carefully.

Theo stood where he'd been placed looking up at the tiger who just sighed, shaking his large head.

"The only guys that wanted to hang out with this tigre were," the tiger chuckled, glancing down at the rat. "Tricked into it. Supposed to meet new people, eh? That's what my madre always said. Just wait 'til college! They won't treat you bad. Be able to get to know you and just..."

Theo's ears splayed out as he bowed his head guilty of judging a book by its cover as well on the tiger.

"Ah, none of that." Pedro turned one finger around and with the tip of his nail, gently pushed Theo's chin back up so they were looking at each other. "It was nice. To hang out in college. Everyone always talked about it. My parents? They assure me, ya? That once I get to college things will be different. People won't care that I'm a tigre. That I can bench press their body with one hand," Pedro flexed and looked at his bulging bicep. "They won't mind that I have fangs or claws or..." He paused. "But it's always the same. No matter where I go..."

"Sorry." Theo felt terrible over it, having a similar reaction. Pedro glanced at the rat, finger tapping on the desk twice before he shook his head.

"No, it's not your issue little amigo. You are... you were very sweet to keep this tigre company." Pedro chuckled, forcing a smile back on his face. "It just. Gets lonely, ya? Being here at night. Alone. I miss my familia. They were the only ones who got me."

"Yeah... I'm lucky to have mine with me." Theo squeaked at that, jumping before covering his mouth as the tiger looked at him. "Sorry. Sorry, that's just... unheard of with us rats." He blushed. Pedro chuckled at that. "We are very close. To not be around them?" He shook his head.

"Yes. I could tell," Pedro turned to rest against the desk, placing his muzzle down on his arm looking at the small rat in front of him. "You and your brother are very close. I was jealous to see that kind of bond... other than my padres, I don't got any other familia here."

"It's the little things, huh, in life?" Theo spoke up and got a soft smile from the tiger as the rat scratched the back of his white furred neck. "I mean... I guess, at times, I take it for granted? Back home? It's so... crowded. So busy! All the time. I can't get a moment to think!" Theo said, getting worked up before sighing and deflating on the spot. "It was nice. To just, like, chill here for a while. With uh... good company...?"

Pedro tail swayed behind him as he watched the rat.

"I mean, like, if it's cool with you. We could, like, I don't know, maybe... come visit? Chill. Hang out here. I saw you have a lot of console!" Theo said, desperately trying to grasp at anything they could relate to. "I'm sure if I get used to it, I might be able to use one of the controllers... With Anthony's help."

Pedro chuckled at that.

"Or you could just sit on my lap and watch me?" Pedro offered and Theo's face blushed at that.

"Well. I mean. Sure. Maybe. Sometime..." The rat began grooming his whiskers again.

"Heh, I suppose you sitting on me is a little much." Pedro stuck the very tip of his tongue out at Theo. "You are so easy to tease. It's cute."

"You... were very soft." Theo started up. Pedro quirked an eyebrow at that. "When you. When you picked me up... I always heard, and was told, and even read! Read that Bigs, like you, aren't... with us. But you were. It was very... nice?" Theo wasn't sure what he was saying as he twiddled his fingers in front of the tiger cheeks burning red.

"Oh?" Pedro smirked but didn't say more.

"Your paws were very. And I mean you were so close. But like..." Theo couldn't even finish his sentence as he covered his face, tail curling around him as he turned away from the tiger whose eyes roamed down the rats body before going back to his face.

"Theo?" A voice called behind the two and the tiger sighed, looking up towards the entrance where Anthony was calling for him with annoyance. He knew he should've blocked the entrance after they had come in. Just as the conversation seemed to be going somewhere, it ended.

"Looks like your being summoned." Pedro sat back up, tapping a clawed finger on the desk.

"We did skip dinner to hang out." Theo just chuckled, grooming his cheeks until the rosy glow underneath was gone. "I got to get going." He turned and jogged towards the hole. He paused at the entrance, holding the side as he turned back towards Pedro. "I'll see you tomorrow, then?"

Pedro eyes widened at that, his nails digging into the desk before he forced himself to relax.

"Sure, little chico. I'll be here." The tiger lifted a hand in a wave.

Theo waved back before sliding the panel into the wall and pulling it until it clicked, locking it in place. With the entrance sealed off, Theo turned and jogged to meet his brother in the tunnel. The two talking about how mad their parents were going to be.

"At least you got your satchel back." Anthony patted Theo on the back before walking into the house.

"My satchel!" Theo jumped on the spot, forgetting all about it. "Now I have to go back!"