"No! Not our goddess!"
"People can't compare to cats, this is unfair!"
"This dog food is too much, I'm suffering and it's not even Monday!"
"Ugh… but it smells so good…"
"I hate this, and I love it."
"If you've got a goddess wife, at least don't show off!"
"Orange cat, you will be punished for your crimes!"
The comment section exploded in another frenzy as Garfield, tail high and proud, let Queenie tie a tablecloth around his neck like a royal bib.
(￣ー￣)
With a giggle, Queenie picked up a knife and fork and gently cut his sausage into bite-sized pieces.
"Presenting dinner for His Majesty Garfield the First."
(￣▽￣)
"Mmm, I see~"
Garfield lowered his head, bit into a small sausage piece, and chewed with regal satisfaction.
As he ate, he glanced back at the camera, smugness practically radiating off his fur.
"He really just ate food cooked by a goddess, and had it pre-cut too!"
"I can't take this anymore!"
"My sweet Queenie, that cat doesn't deserve you. I challenge you, Orange cat!"
"The single dogs are suffering... I haven't even held her hand, and this furball's already dining like royalty."
"I've tasted my goddess's milk tea!"
"Bro above, you're too bold, I only dared think about that."
"Beep beep, student pass swiped."
"Beep beep, monthly card activated."
"Beep beep, lifetime simp ticket accepted."
"What Heavean? Let's drive straight to Bumblebee!"
"Who even is Bumblebee?!"
"For the 18th time, WHERE do I top up money? I'm ready to blow my paycheck on this stream!"
✦••┈┈••✦••┈┈••✦
After finishing dinner with Tina and Queenie, Garfield and Queenie decided to head out for an evening stroll through the streets of New York.
But New York wasn't exactly safe.
The streets still carried an edge of danger, so they kept a low profile, especially once they reached Steve's place in Brooklyn.
Casting a Disillusionment Charm, they turned invisible and perched on a nearby rooftop to check in.
Steve had returned home, still bruised from the bullying he endured daily.
His worried parents fussed over him, gently treating his wounds with the medicines they had ready.
Seeing nothing suspicious, Garfield and Queenie lingered until their dinner had settled, then quietly returned home.
It was getting late.
Queenie carried Garfield in her arms as she walked to the bedroom.
"This isn't fair. Even cats are getting more love than me."
"I refuse to accept this reality. Why am I still single!?"
"Queenie, dump that orange mooch and come home to me!"
"Queenie, my dear… don't do this to us!"
As Queenie opened her bedroom door, Garfield glanced one last time at the stream and with a wicked little smirk, he turned it off.
Black screen.
The chat froze…
"Wait, what? Did the screen go dark?!"
"Bro, I had my pants off and everything!"
"WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THAT FAIRY QUEEN?!"
"Husband, no! I was supposed to bear your kittens!"
"Based on my vast viewing experience… let's just say it escalated."
"Someone call an artist… we need this now."
"God knows what's happening. Let's check the forum in three days."
"Thank God for recordings."
"Link request. Now."
✦••┈┈••✦••┈┈••✦
After everthing…
With Garfield's help, Steve's family opened a small general store, selling essentials like daily goods and cigarettes.
Surprisingly, Steve's parents turned out to be quite sharp when it came to business.
Even in this struggling economy, they understood that demand hadn't disappeared.
The market was still there, just harder to reach.
Business wasn't bad. Despite the lingering effects of the Great Depression, this era was also marked by the rise of American gangs.
People from all walks of life grouped together, forming organizations out of desperation, greed, or the simple hope of surviving in a broken society.
This was the duality of humanity, daylight and darkness coexisting in the same streets.
It was no wonder future generations would come to call New York the capital of sin. That title had its roots right here, a hundred years in the making.
But success inevitably attracted trouble. Steve's family had already faced their fair share of thugs.
While Steve's father had a decent reputation and knew how to deal with small-time troublemakers, it was clear that goodwill and friendships wouldn't hold back every gang.
Eventually, the shop was attacked again.
Broken windows, smashed shelves, the aftermath was a familiar scene.
Steve's mother sighed, looking over the damage. Steve's father placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry, honey."
"No, it's not your fault." She replied softly.
"I wish… we could change this world."
"We will. The future will be better."
The two embraced and quietly began cleaning up the mess together. On the rooftop across the street, Garfield sat silently.
"Pandora?"
"Why do you think people refuse to just work honestly?"
A soft voice answered in his head. "Greed, laziness, and the darkness rooted in human nature."
"That's why the demons of original sin never truly die."
"That's... deep. So where are these demons now? Are they here?"
"Mephisto, Lord of Hell. And the Rock of Eternity."
"Wait, Pandora, how do you know about the Rock of Eternity? That's DC Universe stuff, right? Are you from the dark side of that world?"
"Hmph! I'm not telling you. Figure it out yourself."
With a haughty mental flick, Pandora retreated, leaving Garfield deep in thought.
He knew what he had to do. If he wanted to change anything, he'd need influence.
A foothold in Brooklyn.
Step one: resources.
For funding, he'd have to visit Newt and borrow Niffler for sniffing out treasure.
With it, Garfield could raid the hidden treasury in the Japanese archipelago.
Step two: people.
Queenie was sweet, but not cut out for the kind of work he was planning… not that she couldn't handle it, but she wasn't suited for the early phase of his plans.
As for recruits? He already had two promising candidates.
Baima, and Modesty Barebone… the girl Grindelwald once mistook for an Obscurial.
Of course, Garfield wasn't twisted enough to push them into crime. Instead, he thought they'd make excellent exorcists, cleansing evil, not spreading it.
With his plan forming, Garfield raised a paw and conjured a portal. His destination… foggy London, to track down Newt Scamander's hidden base.
He still remembered its rough location and had learned some basic detection magic from the Ancient One, just in case.
Garfield emerged by the Thames near Big Ben. In the distance, beyond the shifting fog, he found a secluded little cottage.
The British Ministry of Magic had sanctioned it as a magical habitat, a farm of sorts where Newt could safely care for rare and dangerous creatures.
Approaching the front door, Garfield noticed no one was around. Clearly, a Muggle-Repelling Charm was in place.
He raised a paw and knocked.
A pulse of magic pushed back at him.
Locked? After a moment's thought, he raised his paw again and spoke confidently:
"Alohomora!"
To his surprise, the door clicked open without resistance.
"Wait, that actually worked?!"
Either Newt had a generous heart or Garfield's magic was stronger than he thought. Either way, the way was open.
Sensing no magical traps, Garfield entered the house.
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
Phantom your way through a treasure trove of chapters waiting on P@treon!
PhantomDream