Hi, folks! I've had this idea for a while now… the song is a version of As Long As He Needs Me, from Oliver! Yeah, I decided to take a short break from Cori/Jem… :D
Disclaimer: I don't own Cats or Oliver!
~HNM~
"Bomba," my sister whispers worriedly, bandaging the gash on my arm, "Why do you keep going back to him?"
"Mac's a good guy, deep down. He really does love me," I told her, attempting to put some of my usual swagger into my voice. Demeter looked at me quizzically.
"Would a good guy hit you? Would he make you run home, crying, every night?" she demanded, grabbing me by the shoulders. I twisted away, hissing as I accidentally knocked my arm on Deme.
"He isn't perfect, sis, I know," I said quietly, wishing she would understand. "But nobody is." As she opened her mouth to retort, I stood up, straightening my back and setting my mouth in a firm line.
"I'm a big girl, Deme. I can take care of myself." With that, I left the small den we shared.
~HNM~
I climbed up the fire escape onto the roof of one of Mac's warehouses. I knew he was a crook, but I didn't care. Even though he beat me, his mate... I knew he loved me, too. He just shows it in different ways…
"He doesn't act as though he cares," I crooned softly, hugging my knees to my chest and looking up at the Jellicle Moon. My friends back home in the Junkyard would be celebrating the Jellicle Ball, not suffering from a black eye and broken rib…
"But, deep inside, I know he cares…
And that is why I'm tied
Right by his side…
As long as he needs me,
I know where I must be.
I'll cling on steadfastly
As long as he needs me." Mac did need me. I kept him sane… if he took out his frustration on me, he wouldn't hurt anyone else. At least, he wouldn't hurt them as much…
"As long as life is long
I'll love him, right or wrong,
And, somehow, I'll be strong,
As long as he needs me." The Jellicles didn't approve of my choice to follow Macavity into exile. But they didn't understand; they had never been as lonely as I had been. Sure, I was constantly surrounded by toms, but none of them dared to look under the mask I wore to see what the real Bombalurina was like… except Macavity.
"If you are lonely, then you will know,
When someone needs you, you love them so…" Demeter kept urging me to go back to the Junkyard with her. I knew enough about Mac's connections to the underworld that I could bring him down, with a little help. I would never let her pressuring get to me, though. I would never betray him.
"I won't betray his trust," I told myself.
"Though people say I must…
I've got to stay true, just
As long as he needs me…"
~HNM~
So? Did you like it? I wanted to show a softer side to Bombalurina… actually, I might turn this into a full-length fic one day… I seem to do that with a lot of my oneshots, actually. :P
Please review!