Page 73 of The Cat's Mausy

Thomas

Snake brought the photo album the next day, a fairly simple black book with space for three hundred photos, according to the plastic wrapping. “You owe me a hundred dollars,” he told Felinus as he handed Issac the book, unhooking his mask.

“That cost a hundred dollars,” Felinus asked, lifting an eyebrow at him.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I used the credit card to buy that and it was only, like, forty dollars.” Snake dropped into the chair next to Issac’s bed and tossed a leg over the arm, chains on his tight pants jangling. “The hundred dollars is for the fact that I got so overwhelmed looking at all the books they had at the store that I called my mom to walk me through it, and now I have to have dinner with her tonight. You’re buying since, I have to go field all of her prying questions about what I’m doing and why I haven’t given her grandkids, or at least brought someone home for her to meet.”

“You know Zeno is always ready to fake-date if it means he gets a meal out of it,” Felinus pointed out, taking the book from Issac and unwrapping the plastic for him.

Seong made a face. “That doesn’t work. She doesn’t like him as a potential son-in-law.”

“It’s hardly my fault that you and Mama Snake have high standards.”

“Says the king of high standards,” Seong said, grinning over at Issac. “Tell him that not all of us find the perfect guy breaking and entering.”

Issac lifted an eyebrow at him as the book was set on the table next to the envelope of photos, but before he could answer, there was a knock on the door.

Felinus and Snake were both on their feet- Snake’s mask back on in one motion- as the door opened slowly and a mop of fiery red hair in a blue hoodie walked inside.

Thomas started when he saw the two men, but Issac noticed that while he gave Felinus an anxious, nervous glance, his eyes went wide and his face flushed as he focused on Snake.

“Thomas,” Issac said, leaning forward to look at him with a raised eyebrow. “Come on in.” He pointed a thumb towards Felinus. “You’ve met Cat already.”

“Y-yeah,” Thomas stammered, glancing at Felinus. “Hello, sir.”

“Hey, kid,” Felinus said, glancing at his watch. “We weren’t expecting you for another twenty minutes.”

“O-oh, sorry,” he said, pulling a phone out of his pocket. “My aunt got home a bit earlier than usual so we beat the traffic.”

“Where is your aunt,” Felinus asked, tilting his head slightly to look past Thomas to the still-open door.

“D-downstairs,” Thomas said, his eyes darting back to Seong. “She said she- um. Well, she doesn’t like gangsters very much.”

“Considering where we found you, I can’t blame her,” Seong said, laughing and Thomas’s eyes somehow went wider as he took a step forward.

“You’re Snake! Through the speakers. That was- I liked the music you used.”

Felinus sighed as Seong grinned behind his mask.

“At least someone appreciates my music tastes,” he said, mockingly as he glanced at Felinus.

“I appreciate it just fine, Snake,” Felinus said sounding bored. “I just don’t like you blasting it while I’m trying to talk to you.”

“I don’t know how you think while your eardrums are vibrating,” Issac said making a face.

“I am so misunderstood,” he sighed, pouting towards Thomas.

“Don’t you have a dinner to get ready for,” Felinus asked pointedly.

“Why, yes, I do,” Snake said with a sigh and started towards the door.

“W-wait,” Thomas said suddenly, stepping into Snake’s path as his hands twitched at his sides. “Um- someone- someone said you’re the best hacker there is. Is that true?”

Snake tilted his head at Thomas then glanced back at the other two.

Issac and Felinus both shook their heads.

“Why do you ask,” Snake asked, leaning slowly over the slightly shorter teenager. “Thinking of becoming one?”

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