Mistoffelees could feel his mind coming back to consciousness, but all he could tell so far was that he was lying on his back on something soft. His created the worst scenario it could for what could have happened. The last thing he could truly remember was fighting off Macavity. He finally got up the courage to look around but instead of seeing himself in some unknown place with Macavity grinning evilly down at him, he saw Tugger leaning against the closest wall. He had a few bandaged places, but otherwise he was sleeping peacefully. He tried to speak but his throat was dry and sore, all that came out was a wheeze and a cough, which instantly brought Tugger out of his nap.
"Misto, are you ok? Do you need something?" Tugger asked, standing next to his bed where Misto was laying. Misto, still unable to speak motioned to him for water. "Oh right, you must be thirsty after that fight. Here." Tugger helped Misto drink from a basin of water that Tugger had placed nearby for when Jenny would wash Misto's wounds again. "How are you feeling?"
"It hurts. What happened?" Misto asked, hoping Tugger would be able to explain what he couldn't remember.
"All that I know is I came back home to find you passed out on the floor bleeding and Macavity standing over you. I can only imagine what happened before I came back." Tugger tried to explain as best he could. "But do you feel alright…other than the pain that is…?"
"Uh, yeah. I guess." Misto answered confused by the strange question. "Why are you asking?"
"Well, I just want to be sure you're ok." Tugger said, nuzzling Misto's shoulder gently, careful not to hurt him.
"Thanks, Tugger, but I'm fine really other than pain. How bad did Jenny say it was?" Misto said, looking at the large bandages wrapped around his midsection and the few wrapped around one arm and his upper thigh.
"She said if you woke up then we'd know you were going to be ok. You lost a lot of blood. You really scared me Misto." Tugger said trying to keep his tone light but fear quivered slightly in his voice.
"Tugger, what's wrong? I don't think I've ever seen you like this before." Misto asked worried.
"Misto, don't scare me like that again, ok?" Tugger said, looking him dead in the eyes. Misto's eyes grew wide as he saw tears welling up in Tugger's eyes.
"Tugger…you're crying." Misto said, wiping the tears from Tugger's eyes. "Why are you crying?"
"Misto, I can't lose you." Tugger confessed, looking anywhere but at Misto. "I just can't." He said, pulling Misto close to him in a gentle yet possessive hug. Misto's eyes grew wide as his mind started to piece things together. He pulled away slightly so he could look into Tugger's face.
"Tugger, what exactly are you saying?" He asked. He could feel his heart thumping in his chest as his hopes began to rise, his own eyes starting to fill with tears.
"Misto," Tugger said, leaning in close to Misto's ear, his voice a barely audible whisper. "I love you." He said, kissing the smaller Tom's cheek.
"I love you too, Tugger!" Misto said, giving the big Tom a tight hug and a kiss. "I always have."
Tugger held him closer, silently making a vow to himself to never let Misto get hurt like this again, a promise to protect Misto even at the cost of his life. For in Tugger's mind he was worth it and he planned to keep that promise for the rest of their lives.