Voss looked at the two living cartoon characters standing before him, emotions swirling inside him. Tom and Jerry stared back with wide, pleading eyes, as if silently asking, "Big brother, what's going on here?"
"Uh… can you guys actually understand me?" Voss asked cautiously.
Tom and Jerry glanced at each other, then nodded together.
"No way! You really can understand me!" Voss nearly jumped with excitement. "That's a relief—at least we can communicate. I was worried there'd be a language barrier, and then we'd really be screwed."
Tom raised a paw, pointed around the rundown room, then back at Voss, his eyes full of questions. He was clearly asking the big three: Where are we? Who are you? And how did we get here?
Voss drew a deep breath, trying to collect his thoughts. "Well… it's like this. I just woke up in this world—I guess you could say I transmigrated. And somehow I ended up with a summoning system that brought you two here."
Jerry scratched his little head, looking completely lost.
"I know it sounds insane, but it's the truth," Voss said with a bitter smile. "I can't send you back, and honestly…" He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, "System! Hey, System! Get out here and explain this mess!"
Silence. No response.
"See?" Voss sighed, shrugging. "This busted system dragged you here, then ghosted us like some scam company with no customer service."
He looked at them apologetically. "I'm sorry, really. I'm a victim too."
Tom walked over and gently patted Voss's leg in comfort. Jerry hopped down to his feet, giving him an encouraging look.
The simple gesture warmed Voss's heart. "You two… you're amazing. It's enough that you don't blame me. Looks like from now on, the three of us can only rely on each other in this world."
Tom and Jerry shared a smile and nodded. They might be in a strange new world, but having a human friend was better than facing it alone.
"I swear to God!" Voss suddenly raised his right hand, his expression solemn. "From now on, if I have a bite of food, I'll never let you go hungry. We're partners, not master and pets. You're not my animals—you're my friends."
Tom's eyes misted over, and he quickly wiped at the corners. Jerry puffed up his little chest, deeply moved.
Grrr~
Suddenly, Tom's stomach let out a loud growl.
Grrr~
Jerry's belly rumbled right after, refusing to be outdone.
Both of them turned bright red. Tom rubbed his stomach awkwardly, while Jerry looked like he wanted to crawl into a hole and hide.
"Hahaha! Hungry, huh?" Voss chuckled, patting his pockets. "Hang on, let me check how much cash I've got left…"
Left pocket—empty. Right pocket—also empty. Shirt pocket—nothing.
Voss's face turned pale.
"…No way. Was the last guy who owned this body really this broke?" He even pulled off his socks to check, but still nothing.
Finally, in the small back pocket of his jeans, he found a crumpled bill.
"Jackpot!" Voss pulled it out like treasure. It was a fifty. His one and only bill in this world.
"Alright, it's not much, but it'll get us a good meal," Voss said, carefully tucking it away. "You two hang tight. I'll shower, change into something clean, then we'll go eat."
Tom and Jerry nodded eagerly, their eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Inside the dingy bathroom, Voss stared at the stranger in the mirror: a young white guy with blonde hair and blue eyes, not bad-looking, but at the moment spattered with blood, like something out of a crime scene.
He turned on the faucet—thankfully, there was hot water.
"The last guy took a bullet to the head, but somehow I survived. This system really is something," Voss thought as he scrubbed himself clean.
"But since I'm here, I'll live. Sure, the Marvel world is dangerous, but it's full of opportunities too. And hey—I've got Tom and Jerry at my side now."
After showering, he slipped into a faded black T-shirt and blue jeans, the cleanest outfit left in the apartment. He finally looked halfway normal.
"Let's roll, partners!" Voss stepped out of the bathroom, energized. "First priority: food, then we figure out this world."
Tom and Jerry trotted at his sides as the three headed out.
The hallway was dim, the paint peeling, the air heavy with mold and god-knows-what else. The whole building reeked of poverty and decay.
"Hell's Kitchen lives up to its name," Voss muttered.
On the first floor, they passed the landlord—a bald, pot-bellied man lounging on the couch with a beer in one hand and the TV remote in the other.
The landlord glared at him. "Kid, remember—three days!"
"I know, I know. Don't worry," Voss said quickly, bowing his head before hustling out the door.
The streets outside were crowded, but most people rushed about without lingering. Old buildings covered in graffiti lined the sidewalks, while shady figures loitered in the alleys.
Tom and Jerry stuck close, wide-eyed as they took in the strange new world.
"Alright, first things first—let's find food," Voss said. "There should be some decent hole-in-the-wall places around here."
After a few blocks, they found a modest little diner called Mom's Kitchen. Through the window, Voss could see the cozy, simple interior.
"This'll do." He pushed the door open, a bell jingling overhead.
Inside, only a few customers were scattered at tables. A kind-looking woman, maybe in her forties, approached with a professional smile.
"Welcome! How many in your party?"
"One," Voss said.
She blinked at Tom and Jerry. "Are you sure it's just one? The cat and mouse behind you… are they your pets?"
"Uh… they're my companions," Voss replied carefully. "Is it okay if they're inside?"
"As long as they don't run wild, we don't mind. We've had worse in here," she joked, and led them to a small corner table.
Voss sat down, and Tom and Jerry hopped into chairs of their own, making the waitress do a double take. Still, she handed Voss a menu.
"What can I get you?"
He scanned the prices. Not bad. "One signature burger combo, two kid-size burgers, and three colas."
"Coming right up." She jotted it down and left.
Voss leaned across the table. "How about it, excited?"
Tom and Jerry nodded, practically bouncing with anticipation. In their world, animals never got to sit down and enjoy a proper meal like this.
Fortunately, this was Hell's Kitchen. Compared to gang shootouts and drug deals, a talking cat and mouse in a diner barely registered.
Soon, steaming burgers, golden fries, and ice-cold colas arrived at the table.
"Dig in!" Voss pushed the small burgers toward them.
Tom sniffed his first, then took a cautious bite. His eyes lit up, and he dove in with gusto.
Jerry gnawed at his burger like it was the greatest thing he'd ever tasted, cheeks bulging with food.
Watching them eat so happily, Voss felt a quiet warmth. Life might be tough right now, but at least they had each other.
"Easy there," he chuckled. "Don't choke."