Authors note: Woot Chapter 2! I fixed the format error no more uploading notepad documents. LOL. Read and Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Cats and make no profit from this story.

Misto stayed crouched where he was watching as the flirt reached up and gingerly touched the scratch on his cheek. He glanced stunned at the blood on his fingertips and then at the spot where Alonzo had stormed off too. Slowly he seemed to come to and leave in the opposite direction.

Misto couldn't take it anymore he followed Alonzo's scent to the tom's den which was an old shipping crate. He glanced inside to see the white and black tom sitting on his bed of old pillows sobbing into Coricopat's shoulder. The mystic glanced up and saw Mistoffelees in the door and smiled encouragingly at him to let him know he had everything under control. The tux nodded to the stripped tom before turning and leaving Alonzo to greave.

"Come on now Misto don't fret." He was in the hollowed out washing machine that was his sister's den. He lay stretched out on the pile of blankets that was her bed while she soothingly scratched his back. "I know you feel guilty but it's not your fault." He had just told her about what he had seen with Alonzo and Tugger.

"I probably shouldn't have told you but…"

"It's ok I won't tell anyone besides I know you. If we hadn't talked you'd have just let your guilt eat away at you." She smiled gently and began scratching behind Misto's ear. "Let's talk about something more pleasant."

The tux sighed as the white queen talked being around his sister always helped him. "Have you and Pouncival been practicing your dance for the ball? It's coming up in a month you know."

The white queen giggled softly, "Yes and despite the fact that poor guy has two left feet I think we are progressing nicely. You and I should probably start practicing our dance for the ball. Or perhaps you'd prefer to dance with someone else this year?"

The tux groaned, "I know what you're hinting at and no Cori and I are not going to be dancing at the ball. He isn't interested in me."

"What makes you think that?"

Misto blushed and told her about the near kiss. "He pulled away so quick you'd of thought I'd burned him. Claimed he needed to talk to Munkus and left. So no he isn't interested in me I just hope he isn't too disturbed to not be my friend."

"I'm sure he isn't disturbed you're just being an overly dramatic fraidey cat."

"I am not!" He shot up and glared halfheartedly at her. "Take that back or I'll tell Pouncival about the time you wet the bed because you thought our uncle's house was haunted."

Victoria let out and indignant "ha" and playfully punched him in the side " You wouldn't dare."

Misto smirked, "Try me."

She laughed and threw up her hands in mock surrender, "Ok I take it back, meany cat." She stretched out beside him and lay her head on his back. "Everything will turn out alright. You'll see." They lay like that until they both fell asleep drowsy in the heat of the afternoon and comforted by each other's presence.

Misto was awoken hours later by someone gently shaking his arm. He yawned and cracked open an eye, and found himself looking in to the white and black face of Alonzo. "Can you and I talk?" He paused for moment before continuing, "outside."

Misto got up slowly to avoid waking up his sister and followed the other tom out of the den. Feigning ignorance he asked, "What wrong, Alonzo?"

Alonzo turned quickly his fist catching Mistoffelees' jaw knocking the smaller tom to the ground. He was almost red faced with anger when he ground out through clenched teeth. "Don't pretend you don't know what's going on."

The tux rubbed his sore jaw a little bit in shock that other had punched him with such strength, but then again he was Munkustrap's right hand man for a reason. He stood holding his hands out palms facing the other tom as if to keep him at bay. "Ok ok you win Alonzo. This is about Tugger isn't it?"

Alonzo growled and advanced a step toward the other, however seemed satisfied when Mistoffelees took a retreating step back. "Why haven't you slept with him Quaxo? Why do you keep stringing him along you know he will keep chasing you until you give in so just do it."

The tux tom stood up to his full height, even though it still put him a full head shorter than the white and black tom, and took a step foreword. "It's none of your business who I do or do not… couple with and we both know that Tugger losing interest in me won't make him want you again. Perhaps if you had been harder to obtain he would have been interested longer…" Mistoffelees slapped his hands over his mouth shocked that he had let his anger get the better of him and cause him to deal such a low blow. Alonzo look struck and hurt, but before Misto could stop him he turned tail and ran as fast as his feet could carry him in the other direction.

Misto couldn't run after him his embarrassment having rooted him to the spot. He couldn't believe he had just said that to the already upset tom. He hadn't even meant it everyone knew the Tugger's affection was fleeting and would change at the slightest whim regardless of the what the person on the receiving end thought or wanted.

"That could have gone better." Misto jumped at the voice and the sound of feet hitting the ground behind him. He turned quickly and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the mystic standing behind him.

"I I don't know what got over me it's just…" he shook his head. "Never mind what are you doing here?"

"I'm here to walk you back to your den. There are rumors that Macavity is in the area and Munkustrap has ordered every to get to their dens and stay there."

"What about Victoria.."

"Pouncival will be along any minute to stay with her. Come along" He put his hand on Misto's shoulder and led him away and towards his den. "I know you live alone and since my sister is bunking with Bombalurina tonight if you want I can stay with you."

Misto smiled, "That would be nice, thank you."

Together they hurried to Misto's den crawling in the pipe. Misto sat down on his mattress cross leg and gestured toward the other end for Coricopat to sit. The mystic smiled and sat down. "What are your plans for the ball? Are you going to dance with your sister again? It was a real hit last time."

Misto laughed "It's a hit every time, but yeah we plan on it no sense in breaking tradition right?" He laughed. "Aside from the group dances I think I will be sitting out a lot the ball."

"I understand that. I try to avoid anything other than the group dances myself."

"Is that why the fabled mystic twins don't have their own dance?"

Cori rolled his eyes and laughed, "we're hardly fabled but I appreciate the sentiment. Tanto says she'd rather dance with anyone other than her brother. Says we get accused of being mates often enough without the help of dancing at the ball."

"To be honest the ball is getting rather… repetitive. The same songs the same dances the same boring tales."

"The same lecturing ramblings of Gus. I've got palsy but was once an amazing actor and you runts wouldn't know hard work if it bit your tails." He shook his hands while imitating Gus the theater cat.

Misto laughed, "Oh come on give him a break he's old and senile I doubt he remembers telling us any of his stories. Jerk" he playfully punched Cori in the arm. He leaned back and sighed. "I feel so bad for Alonzo but I don't know what to do. Maybe I should just give in to Tugger I mean it can't hurt Alonzo's chances if he loses interest in me."

"That would be a bad idea Quaxo. While it's true it won't hurt Alonzo it won't help him either. Besides never give someone as insufferable as Tugger the honor of being your first."

Misto looked at the mystic shocked but nodded in agreement. "Have you…"

The mystic interrupted blushing, "We experimented when we younger but no we never actually mated." Cori frowned his mouth turning in to a thin line, "though that certainly wasn't from Tugger's lack of trying."

"I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."

"That's alright no harsh feelings there I'm mostly angry for Alonzo. He's been a dear friend of mine since we were kits and then he fell for Tugger and has been a mess ever since." Cori took a calming breath and continued, "I am losing my patients with Tugger stringing Alonzo along like that I am sick to death of picking up the pieces he leaves behind." He shook his head as if to clear the thoughts from it and smiled at Misto, "Let's move on to a different subject shall we? I hear tell that you and your sister had dinner with your illustrious uncle last night. How did that go?"

Misto gave an exaggerated groan and cover his face with hands before running them through his head fur. "It was boring as usual. He will not stop lecturing me about finding a mate and soon."

"Perhaps he's thinking the junkyard needs more magic cats."

The tux laughed, "That's the last thing the junkyard needs."

A knock came on the side of the pipe, "Quaxo? Can I come in?" It was Munkustrap.

"Yes Munkus you can."

The grey and black tabby climbed in and stopped a little shocked to see the mystic seated at the end of the mattress. "I came to see if you were alright. I'm making my rounds before joining Demeter in our den."

"Yes we're alright."

The mystic cleared his throat. "Who have you checked on so far?"

"Not many Jenny and Jelly are keeping the kits with them as well as Gus, and Skimble. Tugger is staying with Alonzo and then there's the two of you."

The mystic hid a frown and said, "Alright then be careful Munkustrap."

The jellicle protector nodded and disappeared back out of the pipe.

The mystic sighed and leaned heavily against the wall. "I guess I will spend another day comforting Alonzo's broken heart."

The tux scooted closer to the mystic and placed his head on his shoulder comfortingly and began purring. Cori smiled and laid his head against Misto's rubbing his cheek against the soft head fur.

Early the next morning Mistoffelees woke up warmer than usual. He raised his head and felt the weight against his back. He had fallen asleep curled up on the bed with Coricopat curled up around him using his back as a head rest. He smiled when he felt the mystic's steady breath ruffle the fur on his shoulder.

He looked around the room and yawned waking up the other tom who sat up and stretched. "My apologies Quaxo I hadn't intended to use you as a head rest."

Misto smiled, "there's no need to apologize no harm done."

Coricopat stood and stretched again, "I need to go check on Alonzo I feel he may need me."

Misto nodded, "go on and go I don't want to hold you up."

The mystic kneeled down and gave Misto a quick hug and left.

It wasn't a few minutes after the mystic left that Tugger sauntered in. "I was told Coricopat stayed here last night. Tell me the truth is he why you keep turning me down?"

The tux stood up quickly a frown creasing his face "No he isn't. The reason I keep turning you down is that I don't want you. What I don't understand is this if you don't want Alonzo why do you keep stringing him along?"

The flirt smirked, "here's a lesson for you. Never turn away a willing piece of tail." He walked up to Misto pinning him between himself and the wall with his hands on either side of the tux's head. He leaned in as if to kiss the other but stopped when the smaller tom turned his face away. He instead went to the ear and said, "I bet you and him would be just alike in bed. So reluctant at first but then…" he let out a little laugh and left the sentence hanging. "Did Coricopat do to you what I did to 'Lonzo? Did he make you beg for it?"

Misto scoffed in disgust, "if you must know we didn't do anything but fall asleep. As for what you may or may not be doing with Alonzo I don't care, that's between you and him." He shoved against the flirts chest trying to push him away. "Now leave before I get angry with you."

Tugger grabbed Misto's chin turning his face back towards him before planting a kiss on the other's lips. He received a growl in return and chuckled, "Don't worry I won't push for any more today." When he spoke his lips brushed against the smaller tom's, "I'll see you later, Quaxo." With that he backed up and left the den.

Misto sighed and sat back down on his bed grabbing fistfuls of his head fur. He hadn't wanted this but had expected it. Things were getting more complicated, a lot more complicated. He took several calming breaths before standing and heading out in to the junkyard to hunt. He fancied a nice fat rat and intended to get just that.

It didn't take him long to find his breakfast and even less time to eat it pitching the bones into a random junk pile. Seeing that the sun was fully up he decided it would be a good idea to practice his magic then find his sister to practice their dance for the quickly approaching "Jellicle Ball".

Evening rolled around to find that Misto and Victoria were finishing with their dance rehearsal. Mist smiled and wiped the sweat from his brow, "Not bad if I do say so myself. It aught to be a hit at the ball, as usual."

Victoria sat down on a near by discarded tire returning the smile. "It always is. Though I was hoping to be told that you and a certain spacey cat had decided to dance together this year."

"Not you too, there is nothing going on between me and Coricopat… unfortunately."

"Ah ha I knew it. You do like him."

Misto frowned and sat by his sister. "Yes I'll at least admit to you that I think I'm falling for him, but it doesn't matter because he doesn't care for me we've already discussed this."

"Yes we've talked about your unnecessary jumping to conclusions. Here's an idea why not, oh I don't know, talk to him. There's this amazing thing called a conversation and if you have one with him then you can tell how you feel and find out how he feels about you. It's amazing really."

He huffed in response knowing that couldn't come up with an argument that would stand against her logic. He needed to have a sit down chat with Cori, but the thought of it had his stomach doing back flips.

Misto got up and yawned, "I think it's time for me too head home. I'll see you later, Victoria."

Victoria waved good bye as he left, and headed to his pipe. Crawling in he lay down on his mattress and groaned with pleasure. He was exhausted from both using a bit more magic than he had intended and from allowing Victoria to talk him to a several hour long practice session. He didn't think at this point they could get any better, but she was always worried about it so he indulged her. Flopping on his stomach he was quickly asleep.

It seemed but a few minutes before he felt the presence of another cat in his den. He was about to open his eyes and demand they leave when he felt a pair of warm hands on his lower back, massaging gently. He bit back a moan and carefully opened his eyes, glancing over his shoulder he was pleased and shocked to find Cori seated behind with a heated look in his eyes.

"Cori…" he was silenced by the other tom with kiss as he felt the other stretch out along his back. He moaned at the feeling of the rough tongue exploring his mouth and closed his eyes to savor the sensation. He pushed his hips back in to the mystics feeling the heavy member resting on his backside. He sucked in a gasp when felt the others hands on his hips.

The tux's eyes flew open as screamed in pain at the claws suddenly sinking in to his hip. He jumped away only to sigh in disappointment he realized he had been asleep. Coricopat wasn't here and the pain had been a wayward spring his mattress breaking through to stab him in the hip. Thankfully it hadn't drawn blood. He curled up frowning and huffing to himself. He didn't know how long he could keep up like this and decided that first thing tomorrow he was going to have a long talk with Coricopat.

He just silently hoped that he wouldn't regret it in the end.

Author's note: I hope you all are enjoying the ride thus far. I am not sure how quickly I will be able to update or how long it will be, because I'm breaking my own rule of posting as I write it. I had thought it would be two chapters but as you can see it will be longer. Thought I'd leave you with a little treat to keep you wanting for the next chapter. Why? Because I'm evil like that. Remember lovely readers, please review.