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Hole in the Wall: The Little Things

Chapter Six

By Roofles

It had to be after eight that afternoon when Pedro and Theo made their way out into the field behind the dormitories.

The spacious field had been fenced off and Pedro had to climb the fence to get inside the plot of land. The feline had no difficulties in doing so and yet still almost fell on his face after. Theo would make sure to tease him about his "cat like reflexes" another time when he wasn't going out of his way to save the rat's home.

There were several buildings the students used behind the hedge leading to the field. From the dorms where Theo had met the tiger to the facility buildings that some of the staffing used for housing. The college was far from the city, and it was a good forty-five-minute drive just to get to the outskirts. Over the years several recreational things had been added to keep the students busy after classes were finished.

The rural area was the perfect place for Smalls city to be in. Able to live off the land and staying out of the main cesspools that were cities, being self-sufficient while still having access to electricity and water. Though Theo had heard there were plenty of Smalls that lived in the city, forming gangs to survive. The New York rats were nothing compared to the field rats like he was. Theo just had never actually met one that lived there and could only go off stories he's heard in passing, letting his imagination fill in the missing pieces.

A raccoon had once passed through Rathole and had spun tales to tell in exchange for food and drink. They had been far-fetched, but fun, stories of the time the striped bandit had stolen from the trashcans of some famous movie star, selling what he found to the paparazzi. Or the time he befriended a rottweiler in a junkyard, who was named Junkyard; the two having zany, wacky adventures together.

Combine these stories and far-fetched tales with his Uncle and Theo was beginning to see the bigger picture. Both between Smalls and Bigs but also with his home. There was so much history here in Rathole that Theo couldn't imagine just up and abandoning it as the mayor's party wanted to.

Riding inside the tiger's front pocket, head pocketing out, Theo directed Pedro where to go.

"Twelve more paces at the length your steps are taking," Theo said as he rode in the Tiger's shirt. He had a small construction helmet on that Pedro had gotten for him. The tiger was wearing a matching uniform, a blue construction uniform, with heavy gloves, helmet, and safety equipment and large pair of workman boots.

Theo hated to admit it, Pedro looked good in uniform.

It had been Theo's idea, a back-up plan in case things went sour. Pedro could pretend to be a construction worker brought down into the tunnels to check out the leaking pipes. It was plausible enough and the tiger knew how to act the part.

Theo just never asked why the tiger had such a handyman outfit ready, figuring it was thanks to his time landscaping or working for his family that owned a large chain of home improvement stores down in Mexico. It was why the tiger seemed so familiar with the equipment they'd be using.

Pedro had already brought out and hidden several tools for him to use to dig the hole with. A pickaxe, a shovel, and a driller if it got to that. The cement surrounding Rathole would be the hardest thing to get through. It was the last thing that he had gotten, only a couple days ago, that was truly the game changer here however and the rest could mostly be ignored.

"It's a water pump." Pedro explained. "Cordless. Cost a hefty penny but it was worth it... on mi padres dime." He blushed a bit. "It is a good thing that I have access to a surplus of cash. Makes things a lot easier to manage for us, eh."

Theo's ears wiggled at the word. Us, we, ours... it had become almost natural for the two to start including things they owned or made as theirs instead of one or the other. It was funny how a crisis could bring others together so quickly.

"Do you think we could have done any of this without your parent's money...?" Theo frowned, thinking it over. Smalls weren't known to be rich, living within a community that shared everything. The concept of money was a bit foreign to the rat. It was more of an exchange of goods and services down in the tunnel.

"Yes." Pedro said without any doubt in his voice. "We would've just had to get a bit more creative, to solve our problems." The tiger gave him a wink. "And you always got this big, strong, handsome tool right here to use!" The tiger flexed for Theo who just giggled at his antics.

Theo knew Pedro was putting on a bit of an act to keep the rat's spirits up, not letting the fear of his home flooding ruin their time together. From anyone else, Theo would've called them callous or cold for making such jokes at this time. With Pedro? It was a welcome light-heartedness Theo needed right now. The tiger always seemed to know what to say and do.

"You really are such a tool!" Theo squeaked.

"I'll take that as a compliment. Now then." Pedro said, pushing Theo back into the pocket with a finger. "This is going to take some time and a lot of work. I need you to stay inside the pocket. Can't have mi rata falling out."

"Yes, for once I will not argue with that." Theo said before pausing, poking his head back up. "Pedro?"

"Si?" Pedro glanced at the rodent poking from his chest pocket. The tiger rested on the shovel he had grabbed, using it to keep himself propped up with.

"Thanks... again. For everything. I know I've said that a lot today but, really, thank you... I didn't know a Big could have such a big heart." The rodent chuckled. "Those back home ignored my warnings and, maybe, I'm building this up more than it is...? At least you listen to me." Theo shook his head, resisting the urge to groom his whiskers. "Just. Thank you, Pedro. For believing in me."

"Aye, you always have mi in your corner." Pedro chuffed. "Even if this big ol' tigre might have trouble fitting into said corner, he's got your back."

"And I got yours." Theo squeaked happily in reply. "We should check out the chute's access pipe first."

"Oh, si, the hatch ya'? The one where you little rata's drop off the things you gather and let it go down to your hogar." The tiger said gesturing the slide out with a paw as Theo laughed at his antics once more, the tiger overcompensating for it to comfort the nervous rodent.

"Something like that, yes. It's a little more complicated than just a slide. The metal slide, as you call it, has several... bumps in it to make sure everything doesn't slide down or get backed up. It has gears that, at a constant but calculated pace, bring everything down so we don't end up getting, well, flooded! Yes, yes. The irony of what is happening isn't lost on me."

"Then how did it get backed up?" Pedro asked as he walked towards the spot Theo told him about.

Reaching past a prickly berry bush, Pedro moved a tarp from off the ground. The tarp was of the same color as the field and blended in perfectly made of a hemp mess that looked like the very dry grass around them. The tiger would've never noticed it if Theo hadn't directly pointed it out. It had been covered with dirt and bits of twigs, rocks, and grass to hide it from anyone walking around the private property of the field.

Pulling the tarp aside, Pedro looked down at the brass ring sticking out of the ground and, wiping his paws off he took hold of it with a gloved hand.

"How do you normally lift this without a Bigs help?" The tiger asked, waiting for Theo before opening the hatch. Theo poked his head back out.

"Oh, we have switches and levers inside for this kind of thing. They were disabled when the chute began acting up, not wanting to clog it with anything else. Once we fix this, I'll show you how it works! It's ingenious if I do say myself. Pedro!" Theo squeaked, unable to hold back his excited. "Do you realize that once we do this? I can show you all of Rathole! It's going to blow your mind! We do things so much different than how you Bigs do it. It's like another world."

"Another tiny world underneath mi paws." The tiger lifted up a boot and chuckled. "I try not to crush any cute rata's while I take the tour."

"Please don't step on anyone when I introduce you, please." Theo pleaded with a squeaky voice. "We want them to like you. Not fear kaiju Pedro stomping through the city," he squeaked several times. "Though it would be fun to watch the show from afar. I just want them to like you."

"Eh, if they don't? I am getting rather famished." The tiger licked his lips, slapping his stomach with a gloved hand. "If they are as plump and cute as you are..." Pedro teased.

"Do not! Eat! Anyone!" Theo was already getting worked up and the tiger chuffed in amusement.

"Fine, fine. I will not. As long as they behave, I will behave." Pedro promised, lifting up a hand like a boy scout. "I swear on mi little rata that I will not eat his familia or friends. Maybe." The tiger smirked. "If they're half as round and plump as you are though..."

"Do not! Eat! Anyone!" Theo repeated, getting red in the face as the tiger just laughed.

"Are you ready?" Pedro asked, letting Theo have a moment. It had only been a day since Theo had been away from home, but it was still difficult.

"Yeah... I'm just worried. What if they don't like you or somehow blame you for this problem to begin with?" Theo shook his head. "No. No, I'll handle it. I'll fix this. I can do this." The rat slapped his cheeks several times trying to work up his confidence and failing.

"Eh," Pedro paused to poke a finger against the pocket and against Theo's stomach. "We can do this. We are in this together, right?"

Theo nodded. "Yeah! Let's do this. We can do this." Pedro reached down, taking hold of the brass ring, before lifting up the metal opening for the seed chute. The ground crumbled around them, slits appearing in the dirt before a metal lid lifted up for the two to peer inside.

The two froze for a second, both not wanting to say it aloud their thoughts as they stared down into the dark, murky depths of the flooded tunnel.

"It's completely flooded..." Theo gasped, taking a moment to think it over. He was sure it was just water damaged, not flooded to this extent! He watched the water carefully and, sure enough, the water was moving faintly. Small ripples forming on the surface before the two. "It's still filling up... the pressure. The water weight alone... We don't have the means to protect against this much water just being dropped on our heads!"

"We can get to pumping?" Pedro crouched down, sticking one tube into the water, and setting the machine it was connected to aside. Another tube was on the other end where it would deposit the water it sucked out.

"No, no. Pedro. That's not what I meant. This is clean running water. This water CAME from Rathole!" Theo said getting even more worked up, trying to stay calm over it.

"Came from?" Pedro was confused. "I'm not a plumber. I'm just a tool for you to use, Theo. Explain so my meat headed brain to understand."

"What I mean is, there is a central pipe within Rathole. This pipe is how we transferred the water TO Rathole! We also used it as a support beam to build the aviary with." Theo began.

"Aviary?" Pedro lifted an eyebrow.

"Oh yes, it's very beautiful." Theo pointed towards the lone tree within the field. "It's connects all the way up there where birds can come and go."

"It seems to be deserted at the moment..." Pedro frowned not seeing any movements within the leaves of the nearby tree.

"That is very worrisome." Theo took a breath and let it out. His hands were shaking as he tried to explain it to Pedro. "The central water pipe is the very reason why we chose to hole up in the tunnels. Rathole was made because of that pipe. We were able to reroute clean water through the pipes and bring it to our home, so we have clean running water to use."

Pedro stopped fiddling with the machine and pulled Theo out of his pocket so he could see him better. The rat had a jumper on with a harness around the front and back. It was connected to the front of Pedro's uniform. In case Theo fell, the rat would swing harmlessly on the strap, clipped on by a colorful spring snap hook.

"Easy, Theo." Pedro said in a soft voice.

"Right. Right. It's just. We can't pump the water out because it's going through the central pipe. It would take forever and by then, it would be far to late. It must've been damaged or leaked into the tunnel the seed chute uses. It's just a symptom of the main problem!" Theo took another breath. "Like internal bleeding. Just because blood is gathering in a spot doesn't mean it's bleeding from there, just pooling. The water is the lifeblood of Rathole. Without it... without it..." He began to get teary eyed.

Before he could continue, he felt the tiger's nose bump against his small body. Theo froze again, tail sticking out as he looked over at the tiger staring at him with those soft bright blue eyes down his muzzle at the rodent in his palm.

"Just tell me what we need to do." Pedro said and Theo nodded several times.

"Right, okay. SO, new plan... New plan..." Theo said as he thought it over, walking in small circles within the tiger's palm. "The flooding must've been caused because of the ever-growing population, and thus demand for more water within Rathole." Theo tilted his head to one side as he stopped. Pedro could practically see the gears in the small rats head turning. "The mayor, wanting to get reelected and win over the new voters, decided to meet these outrageous demands by increasing the flow of water. No rat likes to go without a shower," Theo squeaked at the idea.

"You won't have to worry about that at mi casa." Pedro winked and Theo tried to ignore it. The tiger could see the white rat's fur turn a shade pinker at the teasing.

"It overloaded the system. The pressure grew past the safety levels. To release this pressure, it began to leak from other parts of the pipe within the wall. The water then ended up seeping into the above tunnels, like the seed chute." Theo nodded. "It's just a working theory until I can see it for myself but it's the most logical conclusion to jump to."

"And, what do we do to fix it?" Pedro asked.

"There is a shut off valve on the central pipe. Most of the main-flow pipes down in the tunnel have such safety things. We've never used it before..." Theo paused. "It'll be rusted shut. If we can't even turn the damned thing... I'll have to create some sort of contraption to help us turn it. Maybe get a wheel around it, dozens of rats running or use a sort of tug-of-war rope and get Oliver and company to assist..."

"Or you can use the best tool of them all." Pedro gave a toothy grin and pointed a finger at his derpy face. "Mi."

"Or we can have the giant ass tiger help!" Theo squeaked somehow forgetting the very person who had agreed to help with all this. "I'm just so used to doing this all alone," he chuckled, grooming his whiskers quickly.

"It'd take too long to dig... How will I get into the tunnels?" Pedro asked and Theo didn't need to think about it.

"There is an emergency hatch over by that boulder," Theo pointed towards a cluster of rocks in the field. They looked misplaced, as if they had come from a different area and brought in.

"You mean the rocks...?" Pedro chuffed. "Not exactly the size of a boulder..."

"Not to you!" Theo squeaked angrily. "We used the boulders," he said the word with a glare. "To hide the utility ladder that the Bigs used when they first made the sewer system here. It hasn't been in use for ages, but it should be big enough for your fat ass to get in through."

"My culo isn't that big is it?" Pedro glanced at his rear and ran a large hand over it.

"It's pleasantly plump." Theo giggled before motioning for the tiger. "We need to get going," Theo ended up squeaking as the tiger grabbed the strap connected to the rat's harness and held him before his face.

"Pleasantly plump, huh?" Pedro growled softly.

"It's perfectly... round. Like Bundt cake." Theo shrugged and Pedro let out a heavy snort against his face.

"We will talk about this when we get back." Pedro said, placing Theo back into the safety of the pocket.

It would've taken Theo a couple of minutes to reach the spot, but Pedro easily crossed through the field with his long striding steps, reaching the cluster of rocks that had been brought in to cover the manhole cover. The metal manhole cover was hidden from view and Pedro had to push several of the "boulders" aside. It was surrounded by cement and, lifting the old lid up, Pedro stared down into the dark tunnel.

"Told you you'd need a light." Theo popped his head up to look before getting shoved back inside with a finger.

"Enough out of you," Pedro growled as he fiddled with his helmet until the light turned on. "Just be ready to convince your friends not to hog-tie and string me up over a firepit."

"Grilled tiger is delicious though!" Theo chuckled as he poked his nose out of the top of the pocket, sniffing around. Pedro couldn't push the rat back in when he looked so cute like that.

"You just want a piece of my fat ass." Pedro grumbled.

"I call first dibs!" Theo giggled and the tiger laughed as he began to descend the old rusty ladder to the tunnels below. Pedro was afraid the ladder would break but was glad to see it held up, even if it protested loudly with creaks as the metal squealed at the heavy weight of the tiger climbing down it.

"Maybe I do need to lose a few pounds," Pedro grumbled poking at his stomach.

"Stop that. You're perfect the way you are." Theo shooed the tiger's hand away. "You got a great body, Pedro."

The tiger's ears splayed out at that.

"You think so...? I haven't done sports this semester due to... well, due to my failing grades before you showed up." Pedro said as he looked around the tunnel. Theo pointed the way to go and, keeping his head down, Pedro made his way along the cement floor trying not to smack his head into any of the lower hanging pipes.

"Oh yeah, you might be the first Big I've ever met but I defiantly hit the jackpot with you." Theo just smiled. "Take a left up here and use the stairwell down... You're nice eye candy," the rat winked as the tiger blushed. "And you have such a deep, sensual voice it makes me shiver when you speak to me." He giggled before pointing where to go next. "From there..." Theo guided Pedro through the ever-shrinking tunnels until Pedro was crawling on all fours. " We're almost there."

"Got to crawl around on all fours," Pedro cursed bumping his head into another pipe.

"Now you know what it's like being so small." Theo stuck his tongue out.

"I do not want to get buried underground, rata." The tiger growled.

"The tunnel will open up in a bit and, from there, we can reach the off tunnels used for repairs. They all lead to Rathole, eventually." Theo nodded. "Every tunnel leads home. If you take the right way," he giggled. "It's a rat saying."

"Off tunnels?" Pedro frowned.

"The central tunnel is what travelers use to come to and go from Rathole. The side tunnels are usually used for foraging and scavengers to use to get to the surface and the off tunnels are for utility work Mr. Construction Tiger." Theo just shrugged as if it were all labeled and marked down.

"How do you guys do anything without knowing what tunnel is which?" Pedro shook his head. "I still have trouble remembering all the Pantheon for Greek history class..."

"It's a rat thing." Theo just squeaked. "We have a built in GPS. Okay. Wait here," he said getting Pedro to stop before jumping out of the pocket and sliding down the strap to the ground. Theo unbuckled the hook and let it swing behind him. His tiny paws landed on the cool cement before he took a couple of steps away from the tiger.

A large hand came down in front of him, stopping Theo from proceeding further.

"Pedro." Theo sighed, turning towards the tiger looking down at him. "I got to go make sure no one freaks out when you come through." The rat explained. "I trust you. They don't. I have to make sure they don't do anything stupid while you save the day. We might be small but we still bite." He warned.

"It's not that." Even the tiger's nose could smell the running water ahead and his fears made his fur prickle. "Just, please, be careful. There may be thousands of rata's ahead, in your city? But there is only one rata, to me."

"Pedro..." Theo sighed before turning around and motioning for the tiger to lower his head down. Pedro did, lowering his muzzle down until his furry chin scratches the gritty cement floor. Theo took hold of his muzzle with both hands and nuzzled against the side of it as he hugged his entire body against the tiger's snout. "You are the only Big I would ever trust to show this place to..."

Pedro's eyes met Theo's as the rat went on.

"You think I would tell Riz or anyone else about this place? This is like sacred ground for my people. You are the only one that I want getting his funk everywhere." The rat squeaked.

"My funk?" Pedro chuffed, bumping his snout against Theo.

"Place is going to smell like fat ass tiger for the rest of the month. At least!" Theo just hugged Pedro's muzzle, nuzzling his whiskered face against it. "I'll be careful. After all, I heard you might be getting a devilishly handsome, super big-brained smart roomie here soon." Theo winked. "If everything goes according to plan."

"He's also extremely conceited." The tiger bumped his nose against Theo before flicking his tongue out to lick the side of his face. Theo froze at that, standing perfectly still and tense from the affectionate gesture. "When do you want me to make my grand entrance?"

"Well," Theo began before seeing the tiger look up behind him. Theo turned around to see they weren't the only ones in the tunnel any longer. Another rat had come to investigate the noise. A rat Theo recognized instantly. "Anthony?" Theo jaw dropped seeing his brother standing there. "W-what are you doing here?"

"I thought you might come this way if you... if you thought to bring HIM along." Anthony glared at the tiger before stopping Theo from going any further ahead. "I can't let you do this, bro."

"Anthony, step off." Theo warned marching towards his brother. Anthony skittered backwards, tripping over his own tail and landed on his rear end looking up at the angry white furred rodent. "I know you don't like Pedro, but this isn't the time!"

"I know that! We need you! Not him..." Anthony glared at the tiger once more before Theo grabbed his face and roughly turned him to look at his fellow rodent and away from the giant feline in the room.

"Pedro is going to help. And you're soaking wet!" Theo pointed out, letting go and shaking his paws off. Anthony was tripping wet and smelled like a half-drowned rat. "Has the pipe already burst?"

"It's chaos in there Theo..." Anthony's ears splayed out as he lowered his muzzle down unable to look into his brother's face. "I don't want to see you getting hurt. Everyone is already abandoning Rathole. But that isn't the issue here! We're used to finding a new home. No one will understand if HE shows up!"

"They will. I'm confident in this. This is bigger than us, or Pedro. This is bigger than Rathole! We can't just keep living like this. We can't just keep letting this stuff happen to us." Theo stepped past his brother who grabbed his tail, still trying to stop him. "Anthony, for fuck sake!"

"You can't bring him there!" Anthony begged on his knees before his brother. "They won't understand, Theo. I know you want to. I know he's, like, a cool tiger Big but he still is a Big. There is no way around that. Everyone's already evacuating..."

"Evacuating!" Theo jumped with a squeak as if only hearing the word for the first time. "No, no, no. I don't want to move. People can't... they need help. We have to hurry!" He motioned to Pedro before turning, trying to run. His brother had taken hold of his tail and he dragged Anthony along. "Andy, let go!"

"No! Bro! You don't get it. Rathole is lost. Whatever. We can move on. But if you do this..." Anthony tried to say before Theo roughly pulled his tail free knocking Anthony to the ground.

"Listen here," Theo pointed into Anthony's face. "I know what you're trying to say. I'm far smarter than you are Anthony. I know this is a high risk, but it also means it's a high reward! If we can win them over, Pedro can help the city! We can change things. Our lives won't be from one place to the next every couple of months. We can actually have a home!" Theo tried to express just how much this meant to him. "Please, Andy. Try and understand."

"Theo..." Anthony lowered his head, fiddling with his hands. "You don't get it..." He couldn't look at his brother any longer.

"Come on, Pedro. We have a city to save." Theo didn't look back as Pedro carefully stepped around Anthony and followed after.

"Parden me, little rata." Pedro pulled his helmet down in greeting before following after.

"Pedro... Please keep him safe..." Anthony couldn't say anything else as the two reached the end of the tunnel the next minute.

One of the utility tunnels, that was hardly ever used, overlooked the junction that Rathole had been built in. The two came to a stop, neither able to say a word about what had just happened, as they looked out over it. The city of cardboard and recycled goods, a once thriving market with an aviary tower, a house of commerce and a government building... was now flooded.

The reinforced, sealant cardboard houses couldn't keep up with the flood of water erupting from the central pipe. Massive towering buildings, like skyscrapers to Theo, and Legos to Pedro, were beginning to crumble and melt underneath their own water-soaked weight, like sponges ready to burst, as the rushing water ate away at their base.

The streets were flooded, the central waterway overflowing as the torrent of water swept through the city. The squirrels and badgers were able to keep their feet, helping escort others to safety while the rats struggled against the strong current. Thrashing and flailing wildly as they tried not to drown.

"We're too late," Theo's heart fell seeing the seen. Seeing the library where he had gone to study at deflating like a punctured tire. The building had been made out of a similar material as a rubber tire and now looked as if it had sprung a leak.

"I'm so sorry, Theo." Pedro placed a finger on the rat's back for comfort as he looked out over the mess. It didn't look that bad to the tiger. The water would come up to his ankles at most.

"Everything's... gone. Just like that." Theo had to cover his face, sniffling as he tried to remain strong. It was hard to see everything he had known and loved going down the drain. Again. Losing his home again due to a disaster of their own making.

This was why Theo wanted to build strong, secure structures for them to use as their homes instead of these throwaways that could be easily abandoned when something like this occurred.

"What can we do...?" Pedro asked. "Theo. What do you need me to do?"

"I..." Theo swallowed before shaking his head and slapping his cheeks. "First thing first, you need to help rescue people. I know! I know they'll be afraid but at least they'll have their lives still," he turned around to look at Pedro. "Help everyone you can then meet me at the center pipe!" He pointed towards where the aviary tower was. "There are three dark red metal valves that we can use to stop the flow. It'll slow things down until we can adjust the rest of the piping."

Pedro nodded. "If you are sure this is the smartest choice to make."

"No, but it's the best one we have. To save as many people as we can." Theo hugged the tiger's bent knee. "Pedro...? Toss me."

"What?" The tiger's face fell at that.

"I cannot jump the distance; you have to toss me!" Theo ordered, pointing towards the tower. "Toss me up to the ceiling and I'll scale across using the pipes." Pedro hesitated, before reaching out a hand. Theo stopped him. "Don't tell my brother."

Pedro nodded before carefully taking hold of the rat and, with an underhand throw, tossed Theo up onto the pipes hanging off the ceiling. Theo grabbed hold of the closest one with his arms and legs, clinging to the old water-stained pipe for dear life. He glanced towards the center of the room, where all the pipes led, then back at the tiger. Giving Pedro a thumbs up, Theo made his way, carefully scurrying towards the central tower within the room.

The tiger watched the bright snowy white furred rat make his way towards the middle of the city as he prepped himself for doing, possibly, the foolish things he'd ever done in his life. Exposing himself to a bunch of Smalls, in a non-sexual manner of course.

Pedro gripped the side of the tunnel with both hands before throwing his bulky body out into the domed shaped room. The heavy tiger's boots splashed against the water, shaking everything around him as the tiger stabilized himself on the uneven terrain. He was massive, larger than any of the buildings as he looked around for anyone screaming in need of help.

A new obstacle arose as people easily spotted the massive tiger jumping into the room. Everyone who hadn't been screaming, now were screaming as they pointed and yelled "tiger" as Pedro took a careful step forward, his heavy boot shifting the water out of the way as it rose out of the water, and he took a single step forward into the mess of wet cardboard.

Pedro tried to ignore the screams and threats he was getting from several of the rats around him as he bent down, claws poking through the leather gloves, to shift and move the wet cardboard out of the way. Peeling the top layers off, one by one Pedro released several trapped rodents inside the very building that had fallen on top of them.

The wet cardboard was heavy, for a rat, and Pedro carefully began extracting a half dozen rodents from the building before reaching over the water and setting them down in one of the open tunnels to safety.

"Shoo, shoo. Tengo esto." Pedro motioned for them to run, most did. Others just stayed frozen on the spot, gawking at the massive giant that had saved them unsure what to make of it.

Crouching down now, Pedro was just glad the clothes he had on were waterproof as he began to go through the wet debris of the market to scoop up, pluck and toss rats out of harm's way. Several tried to bite him, and Pedro was glad Theo had suggested he wore gloves during this. There were several floating jars of jams and several metal pieces that Pedro could only assume were supposed to be used as pots and pans floating around him.

The only signs that this place had once been a thriving city.

It was hard to tell what was what as the rushing water around his legs swept everything away and damaged the rest. At least it was clean water, the tiger sighed as he felt like he were back at his uncle's place doing yard work. Broken sewage lines were the worst to deal with and the tiger always hated yard work. It was like plucking weeds out, moving flowers aside and gently placing things down for others to crawl up on and sail away to safety on.

"Las cosas que haces por amor," Pedro sighed as he continued to do the task at hand. To the tiger, this was nothing but some small water damage one might find in their basement after a bad leak. To the rats, it was a life and death struggle as they frantically swam around the tiger, using Pedro as a means to escape from the deadly current washing out the far tunnel.

The tiger plucked a rat off his thigh, one from his back and another from between his legs, glaring at them, before carefully setting them to the side.

"Shoo, shoo. I got to fix the pipe." Pedro said to them over and over as he pointed at the middle pipe leaking from all sides. In his construction outfit, most seemed to think he had been called down here to do just that.

In a way he had, Pedro thought looking up towards the white speck on the ceiling making it to the central tower.

Theo had reached the top of the aviary and had swung his body up and over the safety railing, landing on the spiral stairs wrapping around the structure. He began working his way down the spiral staircase towards the middle where he knew one of the valves were located at. The pipe had been one of the newest structures in the tunnels and had been the perfect support tool to build the tower with. No one had thought that such a sound, secure structure would break.

No one also had suspected that their numbers would grow so quickly, and that the mayor would stress the capacity of the pipe to meet the ever growing demands.

"This is why," Theo huffed as he jogged around and around the pipe, slowly descending towards the middle. "We need to outsource!" He cursed as came to one of the square shaped rooms built around the valve.

The door wasn't locked as Theo made his way inside to find a trio of rats cowering in fear within.

"Do not cower, fight!" Theo egged them on as he motioned towards the red circular valve sticking out of the pipe jutting from the middle of the room. None of the rats had even considered turning the pipe off in their frightened states. "Turn that with me, we can do this. We maybe small but together, we're unstoppable!" Theo marshaled them in, rallying the others rats to join him in grabbed onto the valve. "Righty tighty lefty loosey!"

"The hell does that mean." One asked in confusion.

"Just turn it right!" The female rat hit them over the head with her tail.

"Right!" The trio shouted and Theo rolled his eyes, just glad they were in on it as they all did their job, working together, in order to turn the valve, shut.

It put up quite a fight and Theo was sweating by the end of it, his muscles burning from the exertion he had to use. That, or maybe the water spraying out from around the valve was to blame. He didn't really care as the wet rat pointed towards the exit.

"We need to get the other ones," he said, pointing downwards.

"Screw that. Abandon ship!" One of them said as they ran out the door and jumped over the railing.

"Uh..." Theo face palmed. "Do not jump over the safety railing, please!" He squeaked angrily, just glad the other two were listening to him.

"We need to get out of here, Theo." The female said grabbing his hand. "We slowed it down but it's too late. We need to go. We'll find a new home."

"We can't just abandon our home." Theo pleaded as he pulled his hand free, looking at her in desperation wishing they would understand. "We can't just keep running."

"We're not sticking around," the third rat apologized with a bow of his head. "I'm sorry, Theo." And he turned, running up the stairs planning to exit from the top of the aviary. At least he didn't try to foolishly jump.

"Fine. I'll just do it!" Theo cursed their cowardice and ran out the room, going back down the stairs tears burning in his eyes. If they had all worked together, he was sure they could fix this minor problem. They could drain the water from the area, repair the pipes and then start them back up again... start fresh and new. With Pedro's help, he was sure they could make this place a thriving metropolis for rat kind. A ratropolis!

If only he had some back up on this.

As he suspected, three minutes later, Theo wasn't able to do the job with the second valve by himself. The pipe rattled next to him as the soaking white furred rat tried to turn the device by himself. Even using his full body, it wouldn't budge. He struggled in futility and his muscles protested loudly but it wasn't happening.

Cursing his small, weak body Theo ran out of the room trying to wave Pedro down.

There was so much noise and so many rats about the tiger was far too busy to notice one small minuscule one in the throngs of rodents around him. Pedro was busy saving people and Theo didn't fault him for it as he looked around for someone, anyone else to help him in his time of need.

"Oliver!" Theo yelled, spying the badger down below helping guide people towards the exit. He waved when the badger looked around to see who was calling him. "Oliver, up here!" He shouted and the badger finally noticed him. "Senpai noticed me. Get up here!"

"What?" Oliver cupped his clawed hands around his muzzle, shouting up at him as the water washed over his torso.

"Get. Up. Here!" Theo motioned towards the stairs. It took a second for the hardheaded badger to get what he was getting at.

Awkwardly, the badger climbed up the small stairs to join Theo outside the valve room. Theo went over everything quickly with him before helping pull Oliver through the door a size too small for the badger's rotund frame. The burrowing mammals ended up breaking the door, not that anyone would care, as he stumbled into the room to assist.

"Okay, we need to shut this off." Theo had to shout over the sound of rushing water spraying from the pipe. With one of the valves shut, the pressure was growing, and they were on a strict time constraint. The badger just nodded as he took one side and Theo took the other.

Together the two struggled to turn the valve, trying to shut it off. Theo wasn't much help, spinning around the valve uselessly as Oliver turned it. Theo was just thankful that a badger made up for four, five or even ten rats at least in strength. Slowly, the valve creaked as it began to close. Oliver grunted with each turn and his face scrunched up, arms flexing as he turned it until he couldn't do anymore.

"Fuuuudge, that was," Oliver winced rubbing his arm as he looked over at Theo. "Where have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you! Everyone is evacuating to safety. We need to go." Oliver grabbed Theo's tiny hand. "I couldn't leave you behind Theo."

"You have?" Theo asked, confused. The badger just nodded at him. "Well, I got some help, let's just say." Theo smiled as he motioned. "We have one more valve to close."

"One more?" Oliver asked, confused. "We need to go!"

"Yeah, I know. Valve making three things? Unheard of." Theo squeaked as he made his way down the ladder to the next one, ignoring Oliver's protests. "Once this one is shut, we'll need to rework some of the pipes to redirect the flow above, so the pipe doesn't just burst and kill us all." He laughed.

Oliver didn't find it amusing.

"We should just go." The badger motioned towards the exit as they jogged down the spiral staircase. "This is to dangerous."

"We're almost done!" Theo just grinned though. Despite the stress of the situation, he was glad to see that things hadn't been worse.

Most the rats, sensing danger, had fled to the outer corners of the city before the pipes had burst. While the damage done was severe, the loss of life was kept at a minimum. With Pedro going around helping the last people escape, Theo was sure they could make a full recovery from this. He was just glad a feline's keen sense of hearing could pick up the squeaky cries of a rodent easier than some other animals; even if such senses were used, mostly, in hunting said rats...

Reaching the last room, Theo didn't have time to say anything as, reaching for the door, it burst open throwing the rat over the railing.

"Theo!" Oliver cried, reaching out for him. His clawed fingers only swiped at empty air as the rat went sailing through the air.

"Shiiiiiii," Theo cursed before plummeting below ever rising water's surface below. He struggled to break free as the strong current carried him towards the far tunnel.

The rat's arms flailed uselessly as he tried to grab onto anything as he frantically tried to stop himself from leaving. It could cost him more than just saving the city. The walls were to slick and he had only managed to grab a piece of old wood to stay from being sucked underneath the underflow nipping at his toes.

"Theo! Holy fuck, Theo!" Oliver shouted after him as he jumped up and down trying to get anyone's attention. The rotund, large badger didn't even see the feline walking up until face was in his field of view. Jumping back, Oliver lifted his hands and bared his teeth aggressively.

"Where's Theo? Where!" Pedro shouted when the badger didn't at first answer and Oliver just pointed, dumbfounded over the situation.

"H-he was knocked off the stairs!" Oliver stammered and Pedro didn't wait as he ran after the rat taken by the current.

Pedro's massive steps shook everything around him as he splashed through the water, looking beneath him for any signs of white fur underneath the water's surface. His hand came down in front of the far tunnel, fingers barely open to let the water go through so he could catch any debris that was washed away.

Like a certain white rat. Theo was spinning within the water's surface until he hit a solid mass that stopped him from ending up down the drain. Not sure what it was, Theo grabbed onto it for dear life as the tiger lifted him up out of the water.

Pedro scooped Theo out of the water, lifting him high above it as Theo sputtered and coughed for air.

"I told you!" Pedro ears splayed out; eyes wide as he looked at the half-drowned rodent in his hand. "You need to be careful..."

"No time. Yell later. Valve now." Theo pointed towards the tower with a weak arm as he continued to cough, hitting his chest to force any water he'd swallow out. "I can't... I can't turn the valve, alone." He coughed out.

Pedro stuck Theo into his front pocket on his chest and walked over through the ever-rising tide of water towards the tower. Reaching where the badger had been, Pedro just grabbed the building and ripped it from the tower, throwing it aside without a care. The building sailed through the air as the tiger stuck a hand through the rest, breaking through the wall of what was left around the valve with a hand and blindly searched inside until he found it. He turned it with ease once his fingers were around the valve.

"Show off," Theo coughed, wiping his whiskers off. "We just got to reroute a few of the pipes now," he pointed up towards the ceiling. "Or they'll burst to." He panted heavily, struggling to stand.

"Right." Pedro nodded, pulling out a wrench from his tool belt and followed Theo's instructions as the rat guiding him through everything. The tiger just left Theo on his shoulder, clipping him back to his safety harness. Placing the rat near his ear, as the white rodent squeaked orders at him.

"Tighten that one. Loosen those three. Now. Two pipes down, we'll begin tightening the front and back." Theo just ordered and Pedro just listened the entire time, trusting Theo on this. "I spent far to long looking over the pipe schematics in the maintenance room not to remember these."

Pedro just rolled his eyes, laughing to himself as he didn't point out that Theo might be the only rodent there that could figure this out.

With the pipes done, Theo directed Pedro over towards a large tunnel to the side. Opening the lid to it, the tiger began to drain out the excessive water within the room, placing down the metal grate to prevent any rats from being swept away until things cleared up.

A good half hour later, the ebbing flow of the water began to decrease and drain away. The streets became visible a good ten minutes after that, and the broken-down city laid around the tiger in ruins as, panting, Pedro lowered Theo to the ground in front of a growing crowd of Smalls staring up at the tiger in shock and awe.

"Thanks," Theo patted Pedro's finger who pulled back and stepped away from them all, giving them some much needed space. Pedro watched them carefully, putting the wrench away, pulling off his gloves and shook his sweaty hands dry in the open air.

"Theo!" Someone squeaked and the white furred rodent turned in time to see his mother running towards him from within the crowd. He was scooped up in a large hug and surrounded by his brothers and sister the next second getting a big family group hug. "Ah, my bubala. My smart, little man! I was so worried!" She kissed over his face as Theo blushed.

"I'm fine, mama. I'm fine! We did it." He cheered and several other rodents joined in. "I can't believe that worked. I just wish we had gotten here sooner but it all worked out. I'm so glad. I don't know what we would've done otherwise."

Theo was still breathing heavily, coming down from the rush this left him with as he looked around the crowd watching him.

"Great job Theo!" Someone cheered and several more calls resounded with it.

"Three cheers for Theo!"

"Hip hip, hurray!" Things were thrown up in the air as everyone laughed and cheered.

"Well, I mean, I didn't do it alone." Theo blushed; his face hurt from smiling so much. "We did it!"

"We? You keep saying we... Who are you talking about, sweetheart?" His mother asked, holding his face to look in his red eyes.

Theo turned and gestured towards the tiger who gave a very small, meek wave in greeting. His mother followed his arm upwards and towards the massive feline standing over them all, if at a respectful distance. She squeaked and pulled Theo away as if only now noticing the Big standing there.

Several others reacted, everyone seeming to miss the giant tiger standing nearby. Pedro had pushed himself into the corner, out of the way to make sure he didn't accidentally hurt anyone. Until Theo had acknowledged him, everyone had chosen to forget the Big that had helped save the day.

"Stay behind me." She ordered and Theo laughed.

"No, no. Mama. This is Pedro. He helped save the day!" Theo motioned to the tiger again. Pedro ear's fell back, and tail drooped seeing the crowd stare at him in horror as if he were some kind of monster that had crawled out of the sewers.

His mother just looked at Theo, the same look, a mixture of horror and confusion, on her face.

"What..?" She asked as she let Theo go. "No, no. You are mistaken. He is just some Big that is fixing the water piping. It wouldn't be the first time we've been noticed from excessive use..."

"No, mama. He saved the day! He helped out. I got him to," Theo tried to explain.

"No!" She shouted at him, making his ears fall back. "You did not... you couldn't. He is... and you, the colony..." She became teary eyed.

"Okay, this wasn't exactly how I wanted things to go... but this is Pedro! My friend. The one I've been staying with." Theo motioned towards the tiger, confused as to why she seemed so shocked and disgusted by the news. "I know he's different but," Theo squeaked happily. "He's the best."

"Different?" Someone squeaked angrily to his side and Theo turned to see the guardsman Dallas standing there. "That's where you've been going? All this time? To go see... that?" He pointed his spear at Pedro whose ears splayed out as he held up both hands. "That monster?"

"M-Monster..." Theo eyes widen at such a claim. "Pedro isn't. He's not a bad guy. I know he's a little big..."

"A little?" Someone angrily squeaked at him. "He almost stepped on me!" They yelled, getting the crowd riled up. "Did more harm than good!"

"I come in peace." Pedro said but only got angry squeaks in return for his wasted effort.

"Theo, honey. No. This is, this is wrong..." His mother Margo grabbed Theo's face with both hands turning him to look at her. "Please. Please! Tell me, tell these people, tell everyone that you are joking! This is just some silly prank. My sweet, kind, smart caring bubala would never bring a Big here!"

"Mama!" Theo pulled her hands free, holding them with his in front of the two. "Pedro saved lives. He helped save Rathole! We should be thanking him, not insulting him. He's... He's a hero." Theo eyes begged for her to see things as he did.

She yanked her hands free, taking a step away from her son. Her eyes were wide as she just stared at Theo as if he had spoken in tongues or sprouted a second head. Margo gathered his brothers and sisters around her, keeping their distance now from their brother.

"No," she just said taking another step back. His brothers and sisters surrounded her, and she pulled them close, away from Theo as if he had some kind of disease.

"Mama," Theo reached out, but she flinched as if he were about to strike her. "It isn't... I'm not... Pedro is a great guy, I promise. I swear!"

"No. No this. This is wrong. It's sick, Theo. You are... you are sick... You are not my son." She turned and fled into the crowd with his brothers and sisters.

"Mama..." Theo ears fell as he reached out for her as the crowd began to agree. Soft murmurs and words building up into a chorus of angry voices as the aftermath of the disaster began to die down and their renewed prejudice came back in full force.

"Disgusting."

"I can't believe this."

"Isn't he supposed to be the smart one?"

"Did that Big bastard trick Theo?"

"Why would he think to bring a Big here? Doesn't he know what they're like!" The heckling voices began to grow in dissent as the crowd surrounded Theo, glaring at the white furred rat in their midst. Theo turned trying to have them see reason.

"It's not like that!" Theo begged them. "He's not like that. I'm not..."

"Is he some kind of... pervert?" They whispered.

"Repulsive!" They yelled.

"I can't believe he let that Big touch him!" They shuddered in fear and disgust.

"Maybe he liked it. Gets off on it...." They muttered behind his back.

They glared. They judged. They looked down on Theo in shame as the rat tried to explain himself, to tell them this wasn't what it looked like. Even Oliver. The badger standing off to the side just stared at Theo, slack jaw and at a loss for words at this new development.

"Ollie..." Theo tried to go to him, seeking support in a friend.

"I always knew you were into some... stuff. I didn't mind our size difference. I know I'm bigger than you and I thought it was cute how small you were but..." The badger looked away, turning his body from Theo who tried to get his support once more as he had done with the valve. "But there are limits, Theo. This is just... sick."

"Ollie... please. Don't," Theo felt the ache in his chest. It was worse than nearly drowning. It was worse than anything he'd ever experience as his eyes burned.

"It would've been better if we had lost more people instead of a Big finding out," someone muttered from the mayor's office. "Now we have to move and seal off our retreat tunnels so it doesn't come back to kill us all."

"Alert his friends." Someone agreed.

"He'll eat us!"

"Please, won't someone think of the children?" A woman sobbed to Theo's side. It all sounded like dull white noise as he just froze on the spot, head down. Unsure what to say or do to get them to understand.

"Pedro... Pedro he-," words failed Theo as his pink tail curled around his legs.

"What is wrong with you!"

"You some kind of freak?"

"Wha-what? N-no, I just wanted to help!" Theo choked up, covering his ears now with both hands as he crouched down in the crowd surrounding and heckling him.

"Is this some kind of kink thing? Sicko."

"Pervert."

"Freak!"

"No! Pedro helped saved everyone. He's a hero." Theo sobbed.

"You sold us out to a big!"

"I always knew you were strange but Theo... Theo this is to much." The badger turned away as everyone began to leave Theo behind. Leaving the rat curled up in the center of them all, everyone keeping their distance from him as if afraid they'd catch his strange perversion as well.

A fat graying furred rat came up and decreed before everyone there, "You, Theo Ratholomew, are hereby banished from the colony!" Everyone cheered at the news, just as they had cheered in the beginning for Theo saving them.

Theo could only hearing ringing in his ears as he choked on his own tears, gasping for air as if he were drowning. Drowning in the sea of their hate and disgust.

Someone threw something at the rodent. Then another person did. The crowd banding together, silencing any words from those trying to defend Theo. Outcasting the rodent that had brought harm to their colony by bringing a Big here. The whole group throwing things at the rat who just huddled up on himself, crying as he tried to shield his face from harm.

An ear-splitting roar echoed through the room as the tiger couldn't hold back any longer. Pedro's massive steps made those around Theo panic and flee as they ran towards the escape tunnels, leaving Theo behind to his fate.

Theo didn't care. It hurt, crying this hard hurt. He didn't care as the ground shook around him, he didn't care if Pedro were to just step on him and end his misery. Theo didn't care as the tiger reached out a hand and gently scooped him off the ground and put him back in the front pocket of the blue construction suit Pedro had on.

Theo couldn't care as Pedro made his way out the tunnels and back to the surface, heading for the dorms together. Everything just hurt to much to care about anything happening any longer in his life and the rat cried until he had become severely dehydrated from it all a good hour later.

"I just thought," Theo said from Pedro's desk in the room, still curled up on himself. The tiger had stripped the rat of his soaking wet clothes, lying them to the side to air dry. They'd need to figure something out for a washer and dryer machine for the rodent in the foreseeable future. "I thought they would understand..." He squeaked up at Pedro in a small voice, hugging his knees close. "Everything I have ever done, I've done for Rathole. For the colony. I wanted to help everyone and just... I'm so sorry Pedro you had to see that. To go through that! It's not fair to you... I'm sorry."

Pedro just nodded, not saying a word. Pedro was afraid what he'd say in that moment after seeing what Theo's people had done to him. What could the tiger say after seeing that... Pedro, for a second, had wanted to become the very monster they feared him to be.

Theo had been banished from his colony and all Pedro could do was to be there for him after it all.

The tiger never once apologized about it as he scooped the naked rodent up into his hands and walked into the bathroom with Theo. Pedro didn't feel guilty for helping out or saving their lives. He was just upset that Theo had to be put through that.

"Let's get you freshened up. Compañero de cuarto." Pedro said in a soft voice that rumbled from his throat. "We'll figure things out tomorrow, comprende?"

"Figure things out?" Theo squeaked, wiping his face off in the tiger's hands. "What is there to figure out?" He asked as Pedro set him gently on a plastic boat within the sink within the bathroom. The sink was the size of a small swimming pool for the rodent who looked up at the tiger.

Pedro gave him a soft smile, picking up the plastic toy boat and putting the stopper in the sink before turning on the warm water.

"Well, where you're going to sleep for starts." Pedro said as he took a pea sized amount of body wash from the bottle in the shower and reached over to begin rubbing his large fingers over the rodents body. Theo squeaked as he realized, not only was he butt naked, but the tiger was manhandling him now with both his massive hands. Those fingers were not afraid to touch him all over. "What you want to eat for dinner tonight." The tiger just went on, lathering the rodent's tiny body up with soap as he scrubbed him off. "What shows you want to watch tonight. And what you want to build together, next. I have a lot of things I want to do, remodel the room a bit more so you can move around easier and..."

The tiger paused to take his shirt off, tossing it aside without a care before turning from the rodent and starting up the shower for himself.

"Una ducha caliente first." Pedro chuffed as he adjusted the dials to get the right temperature. Steam began to fill up the bathroom as he undid his pants and dropped the wet things off to the side with the rest of his clothes, dropping his underwear on top after.

"Pedro." Theo asked from the sink, resting against the side of the toy boat as he looked at the naked tiger. He took a heavy breath and let it out as Pedro turned to look at him.

"Si?"

"Can I shower with you...?" Theo asked and the tiger whole face lit up as he smiled.

"Of course, mi little rata." Pedro offered a hand and Theo jumped up onto it, holding Pedro's thumb for balance.

"I just don't want to be alone right now." Theo muttered, looking away from the tiger who tested the water again before double checking with Theo that the temperature was okay for his tiny body.

"That is one thing, you won't have to worry about." Pedro bumped his muzzle into Theo's side, making Theo look at him. The two looked into each other's eyes. "Mi amor."

And the tiger stepped into the shower, holding the rat in his hand, before drawing the curtains closed. Letting the warm waters wash away the long day and what had transpired earlier with Theo and his people. Washing it all away, down the drain, so the two could start fresh and clean in the morning as they snuggled up later that night in the bed, letting the pleasant dreams of their future carrying them onwards towards the future Theo dreamed of.

Together.