I know this seems strange, but from what I've seen no-one has ever done this couple before, so I thought why not...
This does contain slash...so if you don't like slash just don't comment about it, please...
Eventual Macavity/Tumbles...and there's another slash pair in there that you'll find out later...
I don't own Cats, unfortunately. I just own an Alonzo costume, and soon a Misto wig...
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Tumblebrutus ran around the yard, chasing after Pouncival.
"Haha, Pounce!" Tumble laughed, tackling his younger brother to the ground and wrestling with him. Tumblebrutus grinned as he pinned his younger brother to the ground. He and his brother looked alike, but at the same time they looked different.
Tumblebrutus was tall and lanky, brown striped-like markings up his sides, there was a brown patch over his right eye and across his nose.
Pouncival was short but solid, with brown markings down his sides as well; there was a light brown patch over his left eye with a stripe going across his nose.
"I win,"
"Only 'cause you're taller!" Pouncival whined. Tumblebrutus laughed, pushing his brother down.
"Come on, the queens and Plato are probably waiting for us," Pouncival said, trying to push Tumblebrutus off of him. Tumble sighed and got off Pounce.
He didn't really like the Queen-kits, they were always mean to him for some reason…he never did anything to them.
Tumblebrutus followed Pouncival to where the Queen-kits were sitting. Pounce sat down and began chatting with them while Tumblebrutus followed a bit more hesitantly, sitting down beside Pounce and Victoria. Victoria immediately shuffled away, nose wrinkled. Tumble lowered his head.
"Vicky," Pounce groaned, face-palming.
"It's not my fault…he smells!" Tumble felt his cheeks burn and he knew they'd be bright red.
"Vicky," Plato sighed, holding his queen-friend close.
"Plato, it's true!" Etcetera whined, looking at Tumble with dislike. Tumble gave a small sniffle, tears springing to his green eyes.
"He smells," Electra added, looking at Tumblebrutus. Tumble struggled to his feet before he stumbled away, crying softly.
"Guys…why do you keep doing that to him?" Plato asked, sighing, as he watched Tumble stumble away.
"He smells, Plato, it's so gross!" Etcetera said.
"He doesn't smell bad to me," Plato said, shrugging.
"He does to us," Jemima spoke up, snuggling against Pouncival. Plato frowned.
"You could be a bit nicer about it though," Plato suggested. He went quiet as the Queen-kits all glared at him. He sighed and just looked away as Pouncival and the Queen-kits began chatting animatedly once more.
Tumblebrutus stumbled into a deserted part of the yard. He collapsed against a broken stove, before sliding to the ground and sobbing.
It wasn't fair!
Why did everyone pick on him?
To the others he was too tall, too lanky, too serious, too cheeky…he just wasn't…normal to them. Tumble rubbed his eyes, sniffing.
He was only out of kitten-hood and he still didn't fit in…it wasn't fair.
Tumblebrutus began sobbing again as he realised how alone he was…no one wanted to hang out with him, the Queen-kits hated him, his mother was pressuring him to get a Queen-friend and settle down with her.
That was going to be difficult seeing how the Queen-kits hated Tumblebrutus when he was around.
He was a little older than them, just a bit younger than Plato…but they seemed to hate him while they loved Plato.
"Tumble?" Tumble lifted his head, rubbing the tears from his eyes hurriedly.
"Tumble, buddy, what's wrong?" Tumble gave a hiccup, rubbing his eyes quickly.
"N-Nothing, Munkustrap," Tumblebrutus lied.
"Stop lying to me, Tumbles…obviously there is something wrong," Munkustrap's voice said softly. "Come on now, open those eyes and look at me," Tumblebrutus reluctantly opened his eyes, looking at the silver black striped Tabby, who was staring at him gently. Munkustrap settled down to sit beside the younger Tom, placing his arm around Tumblebrutus's shoulders and pulling him close. Tumble immediately moved closer to Munkustrap, clinging onto the only cat that had been nice to him.
"Come on, buddy, tell me what's wrong?"
"T-The Queen-kits keep m-making fun of me," Tumble muttered. "Pounce and Plato keep deserting me to be with them…and I'm alone," Tumble whispered. He looked back at Munkustrap, seeing the Protector looking quite concerned.
"Why have the Queen-kits been making fun of you?" Munkustrap asked, concerned. "What have they been saying?"
"They keep saying I smell weird…and every time I try to sit with them, they all back away and cover their noses…I don't smell weird, do I?" Tumble asked, his voice weak. He gave a startle as Munkustrap's nose suddenly buried itself into the fur on Tumble's shoulder, sniffing about.
Tumble gave a laugh, Munkustrap's sniffing was tickling him.
"You smell perfectly fine to me," Munkustrap told him as he straightened up, smiling slightly. Tumble looked at Munkustrap, giving a small smile.
"Thanks, Munkus," Tumblebrutus said, giving a weak smile. Munkustrap looked at him, still looking slightly concerned.
"Tumble, who do you hang out with when the Queen-kits, Pounce and Plato give you trouble?"
"N-No one," Tumblebrutus admitted. Munkustrap sighed, standing up. Tumblebrutus looked at him. Munkustrap turned to him and offered his paws, smiling. Tumble took his paws and Munkustrap pulled him up.
"You wanted to be a Protector, didn't you?"
"Well…uh, yeah," Tumble admitted, looking up at Munkustrap, who he had always admired. Munkustrap gave a smile.
"Come on," Munkustrap said.
"Why? Where are we going?"
"You're coming on my rounds with me, then I'll see what you can do when it comes to fighting," Munkustrap said, looking at Tumble.
"F-Fighting?"
"You want to protect the yard, right?" Munkustrap asked. Tumble nodded. "Then you'll have to fight at one point to protect it," Tumble nodded, grinning. Munkustrap smiled at Tumble's enthusiasm.
"Let's go then," Munkustrap smiled. Tumble quickly walked along with Munkustrap as they headed along Munkustrap's route.
They talked as they walked along Munkustrap's path.
"Munk, why do you think I smell weird to the Queens?"
"I-I don't really know, Tumble," Munkustrap said hesitantly. Tumblebrutus looked at him, frowning.
"Oh…" Tumble said, deciding not to push the Protector for answers, in case he got angry and told Tumble to get lost. Munkustrap looked at him.
"Come on…just a little while longer, then you can show me what you've got," Munkustrap grinned. Tumble smiled back and continued to walk with Munkustrap.
An hour later, Tumble stood to the side, watching as Munkustrap talked to Admetus, passing off evening duty to him. Admetus nodded, glancing at Tumblebrutus, who looked away nervously.
"Have fun, Tumblebrutus," Tumble looked at Admetus, shocked. Admetus gave him a goofy grin before walking off. Tumblebrutus was shocked and surprised…he had never spoken to Admetus before, having always been intimidated by the older tom.
"Admetus isn't someone you need to be afraid of," Munkustrap's voice snapped Tumblebrutus out of his thoughts. He looked at Munkus, seeing him smiling at him.
"He's a sweet guy, very friendly," Munkustrap told Tumble as they walked off. "Don't ever be afraid to go up and talk to Addie," Munkustrap smiled as they walked. Munkustrap stopped as they came to a clearing. He turned to Tumblebrutus, smiling.
"Alright, Tumbles, show me what you've got," Munkustrap grinned. Tumblebrutus hesitated, looking at Munkustrap.
"What's up?"
"I-I don't know…" Tumble mumbled. Munkustrap walked up to him.
"Are you okay?" He questioned Tumble, concerned.
"Y-Yeah…I-I just don't know what to do," Tumble said. Munkustrap tilted his head but smiled.
"Alright, I'll show you a few moves," Munkustrap smiled as he watched a large grin appear on Tumblebrutus's face. Munkustrap carefully explained a few moves to Tumblebrutus, showing him how to do them.
An hour or so later, Munkustrap stepped back, looking at Tumblebrutus.
"Alright, show me what you've learnt," Munkus grinned, slipping into a defensive crouch. Tumble grinned and slipped into an attack crouch. He bounced from foot to foot before lunging at Munkustrap, claws in. Munkustrap easily knocked his attack away, grinning. Tumble gave a small growl, lunging again. They continued on for a while, with Tumble managing to get a few hits in here and there.
"Come on, Tumble, you can do better than that," Munkustrap teased, grinning. Tumble grinned, leaping up and doing a swing kick. Munkustrap stumbled back and fell down as the kick connected with his face.
"Oh, Bast, Munkus, I'm so sorry!" Tumble cried out. Munkustrap blinked and rubbed the side of his jaw. Munkustrap grinned.
"That was good," Munkustrap laughed as he got to his feet. Tumblebrutus stared at him, shocked.
"Munkustrap, I'm so sorry!" Munkustrap grinned, rubbing his jaw still. He patted Tumble's shoulder with his free paw.
"It's alright, that was pretty amazing…you've got one hell of a kick, Tumble," Munkustrap laughed. Tumble gave a weak smile, relieved that Munkustrap wasn't angry at him.
"Where did you learn that?"
"My...uh…human likes karate movies," Tumble admitted. "I watch them with him and…kinda try out the moves when no-ones around," Munkustrap smiled, wrapping his arm around the embarrassed Tom's shoulders.
"I do too," Munkustrap winked at him. Tumble looked at Munkustrap in shock.
"But I didn't think of using it," Munkustrap laughed, before wincing and rubbing his jaw.
"Wow, you pack one hell of a kick, buddy," Tumble gave another weak smile.
"Sorry,"
"Nah, it's alright," Munkustrap smiled. Munkustrap looked around the darkening sky.
"Come on, lets get you back home," Munkustrap said. Tumble nodded and they headed back towards the main clearing. Jennyanydots smiled and waved when she saw them approaching. Her brown eyes narrowed when she saw Munkustrap's jaw, which was beginning to bruise.
"What happened to your jaw?" She demanded to know, going into Gumbie Cat mode. Munkustrap gingerly touched his slightly swollen jaw. He gave a small smile.
"Your son packs a hell of a kick," Munkustrap laughed, mussing up Tumble's head fur.
"Tumble!"
"It was an accident, Jenny, it's alright," Munkustrap smiled. Jenny sighed, looking at Tumblebrutus, who was looking at Munkustrap nervously.
"The others came back an hour ago, Tumble, why weren't you with them?" Jenny scolded lightly, looking at her eldest son. Tumble gave a small incoherent murmur.
"Tumble!"
"Jenny, it's my fault, he was walking my rounds with me," Munkustrap explained, putting his paw on the young Tom's shoulder. Tumble looked up at Munkustrap. Munkustrap gave him a small smile.
"Oh, Munkustrap, I hope he didn't bother you,"
"Not at all, he's a great kid," Munkustrap smiled. Jenny looked at Tumblebrutus and gave a sigh.
"Jenny, can I have a word with you…privately?" Munkustrap asked lightly. Jenny nodded.
"Of course, dear, Tumble, go play with the others," Tumble gave a wince and sighed before trudging over to the other kittens. Munkustrap watched him go.
"What is it you wanted to talk about, dear?"
"Tumblebrutus," Munkustrap answered, watching as the young Tom stood a little off to the side as the other kittens stared at him. Victoria, Etcetera, Electra and Jemima edged away from him a little, dragging Pouncival.
"Jenny, Tumble isn't accepted by the others," Munkustrap told her. Jenny frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"The other kittens…they hate having him around, they reject him and won't talk to him,"
"Why?"
"They…they say he smells and they don't like him," Munkustrap explained, looking at the young Tom fondly.
"Oh…" Jenny murmured. Munkustrap looked at Jenny.
"Thought I'd tell you…see what you could do to help Tumble…he, he's not feeling like he belongs anywhere,"
"Thank you, Munkustrap,"
"Night, Jenny,"
"Good night, dear," Munkustrap walked by Tumblebrutus.
"Night, Tumbles," Munkustrap smiled, mussing up Tumblebrutus's head fur.
"Night, Munkus," Tumblebrutus murmured, trying to ignore the looks he was getting from the other kittens.
"Kittens, time to come in," Tumble watched as the others walked towards their own dens. Victoria, Etcetera, Jemima and Electra going back to Jellylorum's den.
"You coming, bro?" Pouncival asked. Tumble gave a small nod, though seeing as he wasn't a kitten, he didn't have to go, but he still followed Pouncival back to his den.
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Well, what do we think so far?
Please read and review!
Luv HGP!