A/n: Me again, I started this one ages ago and I wasn't sure where it was going. Now I know. I'd like to thank Wolfjet for the idea for this, the pairing was his suggestion so this one is dedicated to him. The rating may go up in future, or there may be an uncensored version... I don't quite know yet. However, I would love feedback on this so all your praise and concrit is much appreciated.
Disclaimer: I don't own Cats, if I did, it would still be open in London, and on Broadway and the UK tour would never end. So obviously I don't own Cats.
Right on Track
Chapter 1 – "It's a Surprise"
King's Cross station was busy. It was always busy these days, humans rushing around everywhere, dragging suitcases, carrying briefcases, spilling coffee and chasing trains. The place had a distinctive smell to it as well, the combination of dirt, oil, smoke, coffee and a whole mixture of food smells from various restaurants. It was like nowhere else in London. At least, nowhere Alonzo had ever visited before. The black and white tom loved visiting the train station. He liked to watch the humans, marveling at how stressed out they were, and how they rushed around, always in a hurry to be somewhere. He liked to watch them eating in the restaurants, and sometimes a nice human would drop something for him. However there was another reason Alonzo loved visiting the train station.
The patched tomcat padded along the departure area, weaving between the legs of the various humans who were all staring at a large board with big yellow letters on it. Alonzo couldn't make anything of that board, but he didn't need to. He knew almost instinctually where he needed to go. Sure enough, he found what he was looking for. The marmalade tabby tomcat was sitting on top of a luggage trolley, his long brown tail swishing idly from side to side as he watched the humans loading luggage onto a train. Alonzo broke into a smile at the sight of the Railway Cat. He looked right at home among the suitcases and the boxes. Skimbleshanks looked up as Alonzo padded over to him, and he returned the patched tom's bright smile with one of his own. This was what Skimbleshanks had really been waiting for, he'd be gone for a week this time and he was glad of the opportunity to spend some time with Alonzo before he left.
The two toms had always been close, from virtually the second Alonzo set paw in the Junkyard. He'd been badly hurt by a streetcat, not quite out of kittenhood, he'd managed to fight the tom off but not before breaking his hindleg in two places. Skimble had helped his mate nurse the patched tomcat back to health, as Jennyanydots had recently had kittens, and was in no fit state to deal with an adolescent tomcat with as much energy as Alonzo had.
Unexpectedly, their relationship had only grown stronger as Alonzo grew up, and he learned a lot from Skimbleshanks, who had become somewhat of a father figure to the young tom. Skimble was happy to take on this role, and taught Alonzo everything a father would; how to hunt, how to fight, all the important life skills a young tomcat would need. As Alonzo matured, and grew into his new adult body, something changed between them. New feelings arose, which seemed wrong to both toms considering the adoptive father role Skimbleshanks had always played, but it wasn't long before Alonzo had learned something else from Skimbleshanks.
One time turned into two, which turned into once a month, which lead to a regular affair between the two toms, skillfully hidden from the Gumbie cat for years. Both had tried to end the affair, several times. They both knew it was wrong, but they couldn't help their feelings. So it went on, although Skimble often wondered just how they'd managed to keep it so quiet for so long. Something had to give, eventually.
Alonzo sat down on the luggage trolley beside Skimbleshanks, and watched the humans for a moment. They could sit like this for hours, in each other's company, without saying a word.
"Is everything okay at the Junkyard?" the marmalade tabby asked. Alonzo turned his blue eyes to Skimble's green ones and nodded.
"Yup, fine. I managed to talk Munk into letting me have the night off." The patched tom replied.
"That's impressive," Skimbleshanks observed.
"Not really, who could possibly refuse me anything?" Alonzo retorted, a cocky grin on his face. Skimbleshanks shook his head, but he was smiling.
"Depends what you're asking for," the Railway cat muttered, moving closer to the patched tom, running the tip of his long brown tail along the full length of his companion's black and white tail. Alonzo's expression immediately changed, his smile now suggestive, seductive.
"Uh huh," the patched tom's response was dripping with scepticism, "It's impossible to say no to me, I'm irresistible," he purred. If he was honest with himself, Skimble couldn't deny that. Without another word, the marmalade tom stood up, indicating to Alonzo to follow. After all, it was far too busy out here on the platform for what Skimbleshanks had in mind. He had something a little special in mind tonight. Alonzo had always wanted to go on one of the trains, just to see what it was like inside. Skimble had never let him before, and the patched tom soon stopped asking. Tonight would be different though, they weren't going to the luggage van like they normally did.
Inevitably, Alonzo noticed that they were going a different way and had to ask.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see," Skimbleshanks said mysteriously. Alonzo growled impatiently, although the sound lacked hostility or aggression of any kind so it came out as more of an annoyed groan. He knew it wouldn't be anything to worry about, he was just curious. Skimbleshanks liked routine, he rarely changed it for anything so Alonzo couldn't help but wonder why. Still, he was more than happy to follow the Railway Cat, even when Skimbleshanks snuck under the ticket barriers and walked out onto the platform. The patched tom recoiled at the sound of a loud hiss coming from the monstrous engine waiting beside the platform.
"It's okay, it's not ready to leave for a while yet." Skimble assured him with a chuckle. Alonzo just nodded and followed the marmalade tabby along the platform until he stopped outside a door. Alonzo hesitated again, staying on the platform when the older tom jumped up onto the train.
"Come on then, I thought you always wanted to see inside the train," Skimble said, turning back when he realised that the patched tom hadn't come with him.
"But..." A half-hearted protest came from the black and white tom, even as he stepped forward to the edge of the platform. He looked down, through the gap between the train and the platform, feeling a little dizzy. The gap looked bigger from here, and although he knew that he'd be able to jump it easily, something made him nervous. He looked up, finding his gaze held fast by Skimblshanks' deep green eyes. The older tom's reassuring smile gave him strength, and he stepped back before leaping up onto the train.
"See, it's not that scary," Skimble said with a chuckle, "Come on." He turned to walk down the passageway, his brown tail flicking behind him. Alonzo followed, looking around in amazement at the comfortable looking chairs, the lights, the windows. It was fascinating.
"Where are we going?" he called, running to catch up.
"It's a surprise." the marmalade tabby said mysteriously, not stopping.