#asparamulorum

When Alonzo brought Tumblebrutus and Pouncival to the Junkyard, Tantomile wasn't sure what to think.

She was happy for Alonzo, of course, as she had overheard his heartbroken, quiet conversation with Cassandra and Amunet in the evenings, talking about his brothers. With her magic beginning to manifest more and more, Tantomile could feel the emotional turmoil that filled the harlequin tom, and she wanted nothing more than for his family to be complete once more

Coricopat was excited about having two brothers, especially when he realized that Pouncival thought their magic was the coolest thing in the entire world.

Tumblebrutus was quiet, rarely leaving his oldest brother’s side, or remaining inside the den. Tantomile never saw him speaking with anyone who wasn’t his brothers, Jellylorum, Asparagus, or Amunet, and Tantomile personally made it her mission to get her new brother out of his shell.

It was easy for Tantomile to spend time around Tumblebrutus. His quiet, somber demeanor was calming to her, especially as she and Coricopat grew into their abilities.

While Pouncival and Coricopat got along like a house on fire, Tantomile and Tumblebrutus’ relationship grew slowly, but there was no doubt in their parents’ mind that they were becoming as thick as thieves as time went on. The growing relationship was made even more obvious as Tumblebrutus began to acknowledge Tantomile’s comforting presence with a small, shy smile every time she stood or sat by his side.

Tumblebrutus’ favorite spot in the main stage area was against the oven, as the spot was hidden enough that he could tuck himself into the shadows, but he could also look out and observe everything.

Tantomile joined him one afternoon, curling up against an old ladder.

"Hello." She said softly.

Tumblebrutus’ eyes brightened upon seeing her. “Hi.”

Tantomile felt the shift in emotion, and gave him a look. “Good day?”

The patched tom’s small nod made Tantomile’s heart soar. A few days after meeting, Tantomile had begun asking if Tumblebrutus was having a “good day” or a “bad day”, meaning if he was feeling relaxed, or as though he was back on the streets. She would adjust her interactions with him accordingly, and a good day always made her happy.

The kittens sat in content silence for a few minutes, watching the Jellicles around them.

“I think Alonzo is getting up the courage to as Auntie Cass to be his mate.” Tantomile commented softly, making Tumblebrutus’ head whip towards her.

“You think?”

Tantomile nodded with a secret smile. “Have you seen him around her?”

The young tom looked across the main stage area, where he saw his older brother chatting animatedly with Munkustrap, and he bit back an amused sound. “Everlasting, you’re right.” Tumblebrutus paused for a moment before lowering his voice and flopping down dramatically. “Oh Cassandra, you’re so beautiful and talented.”

Tantomile giggled, stretching out to imitate her aloof auntie. “Alonzo, darling, you are too kind to me.”

“It is nothing you do not deserve!” Tumblebrutus crowed, pressing a paw to his heart and batting his eyes.

“What are you two doing?”

Alonzo’s voice made the two kittens immediately sit up straight, looking at the older tom with nothing but innocence in their eyes.

“Nothing!” Tumblebrutus said, which Alonzo responded to with a Look that informed the two that he did not, in fact, believe that they were innocent little kittens.

Cassandra approached the trio, pecking Alonzo’s cheek softly. The tom beamed at her appearance, and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Afternoon, my love.”

“Alonzo, darling.” The Abyssinian greeted. Her partner whispered something in the queen’s ear, making her huff softly with an adoring smile and bat his shoulder. “You’re too kind.”

Tumblebrutus and Tantomile glanced at one another at their relatives’ words, and promptly burst into laughter, Tumblebrutus falling to his side to lean into Tantomile as they both clutched their stomachs.

Cassandra raised an eyebrow at the two kittens. “What are you menaces laughing at?”

Every time their laughter began to dwindle, Tumblebrutus and Tantomile would meet each other’s eyes, and fall apart giggling again.

Alonzo didn’t say anything, simply gripped Cassandra’s paw tightly as he stared at his younger brother. Cassandra glanced back at him, and saw his eyes shining with unshed tears, and the largest, happiest smile on his face.

“He’s laughing.” The harlequin tom whispered. Cassandra’s heart warmed, and she stepped closer to Alonzo, wrapping her arm around his as they watched the kittens continue to laugh.

After that day, Tumblebrutus began to express himself more. He played pranks on Alonzo with Pouncival, he and Coricopat talked animatedly about anything and everything, and he adored cuddling up with any three of his parents near the end of the day.

But Tantomile was the only cat who could make him laugh so hard he fell over, she was one of the only ones who understood his Bad Days, who understood that sometimes he just needed quiet.