what if (p)

[Natalia]

Natalia didn't know what to say.

So she nodded slightly, still looking fairly submissive. Almost like a puppy waiting to be kicked.

[Deleted]

Jude padded further into the den before stopping again. "Maybe I was earlier, but I'm not now." He gave her a kind smile. "You're my best friend. I could never be seriously mad at you."

[Natalia]

Natalia still didn't know what to say.

Not at first. She just sighed. "Thank you, Jude." She replied softly. 

[Deleted]

Jude gave her a boop on the nose before starting to head out. "Take it easy. You've been through a lot."

[Natalia]

Natalia sighed.

"I don't know...." Then she blinked. She suddenly remembered something. Something about.... Patch! Her eyes sudden sharpened into focus as she started squinting at Jude. "I found Patch a while before I went to Twolegplace. She was wounded."

[Deleted]

Jude stopped in his tracks, taking a glance back at her over his shoulder. "Was she?" He asked in mock-surprise, rolling his eyes to himself. "I wonder what happened."

[Natalia]

Natalia flattened her ears.

Her demeanor changed from submissive to mildly irritated. "Jude. Don't play stupid with me." She growled. "If you respect me as your friend, you'll be honest. No gentle sugar-coating junk."

[Deleted]

Jude shrugged, swishing his tail from side to side. "What do I have to be honest about? It looks like she already told you what happened."

[Natalia]

Natalia sighed.

"She told me that part of it was about your brother. But I want to hear it from you. I don't know how colored Patch's perspective is." She answered honestly.

[Deleted]

He huffed. "I don't want to talk about it. I hate her." He dug his claws into the ground, a little irritated that Patch had told Natalia what happened. It made him like her less. Jude looked away.

[Natalia]

Natalia sighed and her head tilted a bit to the side.

"Jude..." Her voice was soft. Usually, she wasn't that quiet or soft unless she was upset. Well, she sort of was upset. She was upset with Jude a little bit... That was fair. He said he'd been angry at her before, so... Maybe he wouldn't hate her forever for being a little angry with him.

"Do you really hate her?" She asked quietly, as she made to sit next to him. 

[Deleted]

He didn't say anything, though moved over to make room for her to sit. Did he really hate her? He wasn't sure. The only cat he'd ever hated was Thomas, and Patch was a heck of a lot easier to tolerate than he was. Still, the tabby did strongly dislike her. Couldn't that qualify as hate?

Jude stared at his paws, claws still dug into the dirt. "It doesn't matter." He finally said.

[Natalia]

Natalia sighed.

"Of course it matters." She replied softly. She hesitated before moving to press her side against his. "I realize we're... A bit different. I don't think I've really ever hated anyone in my life. I honestly don't see the point." She answered honestly. "I still don't hate Thomas. If I don't hate him, I don't think I'll ever hate anyone. So, I don't hate Patch. I told her so, she needed to hear it. I realize I should at least dislike my brother... But I don't." She sighed.

"I guess we're sort of on opposite ends here? I suppose we need each other to balance each other out." She groaned. "That came out more poetic and sappy than I meant it too...."

Still... She hoped Jude would listen. She listened to him.... Couldn't he do the same?

[Deleted]

Jude didn't react when she moved closer. He listened silently, finding himself somewhat confused. How was never hating anyone even possible? 'Your brother tried to kill you!' The fact that she still liked Thomas made him want to scream. It was sad- he attacked her and her opinion of him still didn't seem to change.

He expected to hear that since she didn't hate anyone, he shouldn't, either. Though what was said was kind of the opposite. He sheathed his claws and looked at her. "You think so?" He gave a short, lighthearted laugh when she continued. "No, you're fine. I like hearing you talk."

[Natalia]

Natalia's features twitched into a slight smile.

"Yeah. I really do." She meowed in response. She was glad to see that Jude seemed less tense than before. She wasn't going to try and force Jude to feel a certain way. She hoped to perhaps show him that anger and hate aren't necessarily the best path... But that would take time.

She sighed. "If you say so..." She hummed slightly. "Y'know... I talked to Pain again. I'm not sure we'll ever be friends... But we're civil at the moment. I mean, we can rub each other the wrong way easily... But we seem kind of sort of neutral right now."