#catdogcafe

Tommy opened the door to his room, noticing immediately the folded piece of paper on the floor. He picked it up, opening it while wondering who would be leaving him something under the door.

'Meet me at the CatDog Café tonight, 8 pm.'

He crumpled the paper, tossing it in the trash, before rooting around in his dresser for some civilian clothing, tossing a pair of jeans and a short-sleeved shirt on the bed. He had just enough time for a quick shower before he sneaked out and met the mystery note writer.

Serpentor, sans his normal yellow snake-themed costume, waited impatiently, tapping his foot and checking his watch several times. Storm Shadow was late. He glowered, staring holes into the booth across the table from him. The waitress hesitantly came up, silently offering him a refill on his water. He waved her off, watching as she scampered away.

"You know, you'd blend in a lot better if you didn't act like you were lord of the café, Serpentor," Tommy said, sliding into the empty seat.

Serpentor's head snapped around and he glared at Storm Shadow. "You're late!"

"You didn't expect me to walk in here without first checking out the place, did you? I'm not one of your incompetent minions," Tommy said, browsing the menu. He didn't spot what he was looking for and set the menu down, sighing. "I'd suggest you tell me why I shouldn't kill you, and quickly."

"I need some advice."

"I already gave you some free advice. Go bother your snake buddies," Tommy said, sliding out of the booth.

"Wait! I can't exactly ask any of them. Mindbender wants me to get rid of him and no one else will give me any useful advice."

"Not my problem, besides, why don't you just 'This, I command!' them?"

"Shhh! Don't blow my cover!" Serpentor whispered, glancing around frantically. "Just... sit down and listen. This is something only someone with your magnitude of charm could possibly help with."

Tommy sat back down, curious as to what would drive Serpentor to seek him for advice. "Fine, but I'm not doing it for free. How did you get that note to me?"

"Please, I have many spies-"

"Not anymore, I want a list of the names they go by in the Joes."

Serpentor sighed. "Fine."

"Good." The waitress came back, setting a glass of water down for Tommy. "Thank you. Do you have any blueberry bagels?"

"I'm sorry sir, we're out. We have some blueberry muffins and I think a piece or two of blueberry cheesecake left, if you'd like either of those?"

He shook his head. "No, but thanks anyways." She nodded and left. "So what is your big problem?" Tommy asked, leaning back.

"Mindbender experimented with the high command and somehow I ended up chasing Cobra Commander through the Drome all night. I don't remember any of it and wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't watched the security tapes. Now he won't talk to me, whenever I sit down next to him he gets up and sits as far away as he can, and he gets nervous when I'm anywhere near him alone."

"I'd be nervous too if I were him and you were trying to kill me."

"I wasn't trying to kill him! I was trying to get him to stop being such a stick in the mud and join me, preferably in my room, but I almost dragged him into a closet, according to the tapes."

Tommy blinked a few times. "I thought you were just messing with him with all that boyfriend stuff."

"I am! Mostly. It's entertaining watching him insist to everyone that he's not and then watch him scream and rage when no one listens to him."

Tommy nodded. "You like the challenge of the chase, but you scared the rabbit and now he won't come out of the rabbit hole."

"Exactly!"

"You need to back off."

"What? The best strategy would be to attack!"

"But it's not working, is it? So you need to back off, give him time to calm down, and once he gets used to you again, gradually start back up."

"That's ridiculous!"