Hours passed and I slept soundly. Something about that thing I drank before had exhausted me and I was more weary than I had expected to be. However, my sleep was disturbed quite abruptly when I felt a weight on my chest. Blinking my eyes open, I saw Cheshire sitting on my chest in cat form, kneading his clews in and out of my sweatshirt slowly. He chuckled when he saw I was awake. "Not a heavy sleeper?" he asked.
My eyebrows came together in annoyance. "Get off. I was trying to sleep," I said. I pushed him off and rolled so my back was facing him.
He changed his appearance back to his more human form, sitting on the side of my bed. "You really are cute, and I love it when you complain," he said, clearly intrigued by me. He brushed his tail under my chin experimentally.
I shuddered, feeling ticklish, and sat up to batted it away. "Cut it out," I said.
He tilted his head. "Why? I like the feel of your skin. It's soft." His eyes never left mine as his tail wrapped itself around my ankle. Before I realized what he was doing, Cheshire used his tail to yank me to a lying down position, hovering over me with that stupid smug look on his face.
I frowned at him uneasily. "What are you doing?" I asked.
He continued to smirk. "Exactly what it looks like," he replied. Then he bent forward and started to lick kittenishly along my neck. His tongue was surprisingly soft as it moved up the column of my neck. I pushed on his shoulders and gasp that almost escaped. He chuckled into my neck and bit down gently, determined to get a rise out of me. Feeling a stuttered plea bubbling up my throat, I covered my mouth. Cheshire sat up with a slight frown. "But, I want to hear your voice," he told me. I gave him a teary glare and he smiled evilly. He grabbed both my hands and pinned them beside my head. "Now, you can't cover that gorgeous mouth of yours," he said.
"Let go," I demanded.
His lips quirked up. "No."
As he leaned down again, he kissed down my stomach, lifting my hoodie as he went. I kicked out, trying to wriggle out of his grip. "Cheshire!" I gasped. "Stop-"
He ignored me, licking at my bellybutton playfully and tickling my palms with his fingertips. I dropped my head back on my pillow and squeezed my eyes closed, begging for this to end. Just as I was giving in, like an answer from heaven, the sound of a doorbell rang out through the cave, alerting Cheshire and I to visitors. There was silence as Cheshire looked back at the door with a glower. However, he soon smiled at me with false politeness. "I supposed I should get that," he said. He released my hands and got off the bed, brushing himself off. Right before he left the room, he turned back to me. "Also, you might want to clean your face before going out. It's covered in drool."
I wiped at my cheeks vigorously. "Who's fault is that?" I snapped as I threw a pillow at him. He laughed and easily avoided it as he shut the door behind him. I glared at the door, furious, and violated, and wishing I had just woken in my own bed to find I was home again. Not to some cat with an overactive sex drive. With a muttered curse, I went into the bathroom. I cleaned my face up and changed into some clothes Cheshire had left on the bed the evening before.
With an already annoyed mood to start my day, I left my room and entered the living room where Rab was seated on the couch arguing with Cheshire. "It's a simple question," Rab was saying. "Have you or haven't you?"
"Why do you ask? Do you like him or something?" Cheshire replied nonchalantly, picking at a muffin with little interest.
"That's not my point," Rab said. He sighed. "I knew it was a bad idea to have him stay with you. You just can't obey the rules. You're going to get him killed!"
"So, what if I did? It's not like he belongs to you," Cheshire said. He was glaring at Rab now.
Rab snorted, crossing his arms. "Maybe not, but if you get too close-" I entered the room just then and Rab cut himself off when he saw me. He shot Cheshire a look I couldn't read and stood up. "Alice. I didn't know you were awake," he said.
"What are you guys talking about?" I asked.
"Nothing," Rab said, though it was an obvious lie. "Well, nothing that is important to you."
Having already had enough crap from Cheshire, I frowned. "I heard you talking about me. I'm not stupid," I said.
Rab cringed. "It really is nothing," he urged.
"Hearing I'm going to die sure is nothing," I said sarcastically.
Rab looked to Cheshire for help, but the feline just put his hands behind his head and leaned back to watch the show. Whatever it was Rab didn't want to tell me he'd have to do on his own. Sighing, Rab turned back to me hesitantly. "You should sit down," he said.
I obeyed only because of how serious he sounded, and sat on the opposite couch beside Cheshire. Rab sat on the coffee table, putting a few things out of place and earning a growl from Cheshire to which he ignored. Once he was situated, he turned to me. "We had planned not to mention this since it's not all that important," he said, trying one last time to talk me out of hearing what he had to say. When I still seemed determined, he sighed and went on. "There was a rumor going around that if the legendary girl was to fall in love... they would never be able to go home. Once someone is acclimated here, they are a part of Wonderland forever. Apart from myself and her Highness, the White Queen, no one has the ability to travel between this world and yours."
He was completely serious, but I found my head reeling with the sensation to laugh. "That's pretty cliché," I said. "Besides, I have no interest in falling in love."
Cheshire shifted awkwardly, making me glance at him to see he was fiddling with his tail, playing with that fur on the tip like it was the most interesting thing in the world. He didn't return my look.
Rab frowned. "That might be so, but that doesn't mean it can't happen." He shot Cheshire a glare. "Especially when you're living with a certain feline with a bad habit of not listening. Right, Chesh?"
"I'm listening, and it's rude not to use my full name," Cheshire said, giving Rab a mischievous smile.
Rab rolled eyes, tired of fighting with the stubborn cat. "Anyways, if that does happen, you won't ever be able to go home," he said. As I thought about this, he added. "I came here to ask of you would like to stay with me. I think it might be safer than here."
Once again, he glanced at Cheshire whose claws were elongating slightly. His pupils had gone to slits and, though he didn't look mad, he appeared to be warning the opposite party. "Rab, I'm just as capable of keeping him safe," he growled.
Rab looked unaffected by his anger, raising his eyebrow. "It's rude not to use my full name," he taunted.
Cheshire's claws grew longer and began sinking into the fluffy couch like lethal knives. I started to scoot further away from him. He didn't notice this through his anger however, and his eyes went to slits.
Rab noticed though, and he stood up. Pulling me off the couch, Rab started towards the door quickly. "Well, it was nice chatting with you, but we really should go," he said. Something told me he knew what he was doing and I shouldn't argue.
However, before we were able to open the door, Cheshire blocked it with his body. "He never said he wanted to go with you," he said.
Rab pulled me behind him protectively. "Maybe not, but knowing what you probably did already, he probably does," he said.
I gripped Rab's sleeve tightly when I saw how long Cheshire's claws were now. They had grown several inches from their original size and would slice into his own palms if he closed his fists. His teeth had also taken on a more terrifying appearance. They snapped together when he heard Rab's accusation. I let go of Rab to step back.
Seeing my move, Cheshire's eyes darted towards me and he stopped. He must have finally realized how scared I was because he relaxed slightly and his claws began to retract. "Sorry, Alice," he said, ashamed. "I didn't mean to frighten you."
I nodded, but didn't feel any more at ease than before. Cheshire closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again his eyes were back to their usual state and he looked more calm. He walked past us and into the kitchen to give himself some space. Grabbing a teacup, he went about making himself some tea, not meeting my eyes.
I stepped towards him. "Why do you want me here so bad?" I asked.
He stopped moving, but still didn't look at me. He thought for a long while. When he looked up again, he had his normal grin. "Because you're fun. I never get to play with anyone else and it gets boring," he told me. I frowned, slightly disappointed by his answer but not knowing why.
Rab came up behind me and cleared his throat. "This is up to you Alice. Are you going to come with me or stay with Chesh," he asked.
I turned to face him. I don't know why I answered what I did, but I felt it was the right choice. "I'll stay here," I said.
Rab looked concerned, but reluctantly nodded. "If that is your decision. I have some things to do, so I must be on my way. Don't want to be late," he said, checking a golden pocket watch hanging from his hip. He headed to the door. Before he left, he turned back to us. "Bye, Alice." He nodded at Cheshire, "Bye, Chesh."
"What have I told you about using my full name?" Cheshire said with a friendly smile.
Rab chuckled and left the house. It was completely quiet except for the sound of the water being boiled for Cheshire's tea until Cheshire cleared his throat. "What an unplanned visit. Should we continue with were we left off?" he asked.
Scowling, I stormed back to my room. "You're awful," I told him, and I locked the door.
*******
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