I now present to you Chapter Two of "To Touch You Is To Know What Happiness Is," lovingly titled 'In Which Munkustrap Makes Life Difficult, or, In Which Munkustrap Shows His Mastery of Douchebaggery.'

Now, don't get me wrong. I adore Munkus to little bits and pieces, but I needed someone with some influence on the Jellicles to play the 'bad guy.'. So I used Munkus, of course. I just want everyone to know that I hold nothing against him.

Also, noting my mentioning's of Victoria as a kitten: I prefer her that way. Nyah.

There's a lot of sleeping in this fic, but cats take a lot of naps. So, there.

This one's a little shorter, and I apologize.

This story moves awfully fast but, as I said, I'm really just writing it for me. You lucky ducks just get to sit back and see it happen.

"Macavity?"

"What…when?"

"I heard that he's planning!"

"I overheard Mungojerrie say something to Rumpleteazer…"

"It could happen at anytime…"

Tumblebrutus bounded away from his gossiping friends. Macavity…it had been a while since they had last seen him. Tumblebrutus went on a little search for Skimbleshanks and soon found him, cleaning his face and paws. Tumblebrutus joined up with him, already purring. Skimbleshanks smiled when Tumblebrutus brushed up against him. "How are you today, Tumbles?"

"Wonderful," Tumblebrutus said, before kissing Skimbleshanks. It was still hard to believe that he and Skimbleshanks were together. However, he had to end the kiss far too soon. It was likely that someone could see. "There's a rumour going around that Macavity's planning something."

"That rumour is always floating around." Skimbleshanks said. He nuzzled close to Tumblebrutus and managed to lick him about the ears a few times before separating. "No worries, now."

Tumblebrutus smiled. "Isn't it about time for the Midnight Mail to leave?"

Skimbleshanks nodded and the two made for the train station.

Standing on a pile of tires, Munkustrap watched the scene from above. His face was stony, grave. Stiffly, he jumped to the ground.

It wasn't long until Tumblebrutus returned, smiling to himself. Munkustrap headed him off as the kit entered the junkyard. "Tumblebrutus. I need to talk to you."

Tumblebrutus followed Munkustrap to a secluded area. He had no idea what was going on and was surprised when he saw Munkustrap's ears flatten slightly. "What were you thinking? Could you possibly be more idiotic?"

"Wh-what are you talking about?" Tumblebrutus was feeling decidedly more nauseous than he had been feeling a moment ago. Where was this coming from?

"You and Skimbleshanks! I just the two of you, kissing and whatnot! Don't you know how wrong that is? Two tom cats?! And you're still a kitten, do NOT forget that!"

Tumblebrutus fur began to bristle. "I'm old enough to know what I want, and what I believe! You're so old-fashioned! There's nothing wrong with Skimbleshanks and I being in love!"

"In love?!" Munkustrap was getting more and more upset as he spoke. "Love between two toms cannot exist! You're just too young to understand that!"

Tumblebrutus' ears were flat against his head. "No, you don't understand! Just because you don't believe in what's happening, that doesn't make it wrong!"

"Tumblebrutus, you have to listen to me. You're just a foolish little tom, you have NO idea what's good for you and-"

Before he could finish, Tumblebrutus hissed and ran off. As he did so, he was well aware of how immature the action was, but it was all he could do. He curled up in a small pipe nearby, deep within it. Maybe he would just stay here until he calmed down a bit…

When he woke up, it was already morning. Tumblebrutus peeked out of the pipe. Standing off to the side, where Tumblebrutus could see them but they couldn't see him, were Munkustrap and...Skimbleshanks? If Skimble was back already, Tumblebrutus must have been asleep for quite some time. The tom kit pricked up his ears in order to hear better.

"This is none of your business, Munkustrap." Skimbleshanks voice was quiet and calm.

"Something so wrong happening right below my nose is very much my business." Munkustrap said. "I just never would have pegged you as a tom-lover."

Tumblebrutus could feel his anger bubbling up. The way that Munkustrap was speaking to Skimbleshanks upset Tumblebrutus to no end.

"You say that like it's a bad thing. I'm attracted to Tumbles and he's attracted to me. If we both consent to it, I just don't see a problem."

"There is most definitely a problem here!" Munkustrap's voice grew low. "You're just taking advantage of an innocent kit, playing out your sick fantasies on him, confusing him! You're ruining him, Skimbleshanks! You're…you're demented."

"If you say so." Skimbleshanks said. Munkustrap made to reply, but Demeter called for him. Munkustrap shook his head before going to her.

Once Tumblebrutus was sure that Munkustrap was gone, he left the pipe. Skimbleshanks' eyes landed on him and he held out ginger arms. Tumblebrutus held onto Skimbleshanks and the older cat buried his face in Tumblebrutus' mane. "It's all going to be fine, Tumbles. I promise."

"We'll get through it." Tumblebrutus agreed. He pulled away from the embrace just in time, because Pouncival came running into the junkyard.

"Tumblebrutus, there you are! We've found some rabbits! C'mon, we have to go now or all the others will get to them first!"

Skimbleshanks gently pushed Tumblebrutus towards the other kitten. "I'll be up in the big tire, probably sleeping. Go have fun."

Tumblebrutus smiled at ran off with his friend. Skimbleshanks watched him go and a shadow formed over his heart. Things were going to get far worse before they got better – he could feel it.

***

"You must be mistaken, dear." Jennyanydots said, stretching her front paws out.

"I know what I saw, Jenny. I've talked to both of them and fools admitted it." Munkustrap said.

"Now, now. You must remember that Skimbleshanks and I were mates once upon a time. I can tell you, for a fact, that he certainly likes queens."

"They were kissing, Jenny. They sleep curled around each other, and, I repeat, they both admitted to being together."

Jennyanydots looked closely at Munkustrap. "I'll talk to Skimbleshanks for you, my dear."

"Thank you."

***

Victoria sat in the shade of a small bush, watching the other kittens chase rabbits. The white kit didn't bother with hunting; she knew that Alonzo would share whatever he caught with her.

Her bright eyes fell upon Tumblebrutus. He was chasing a small grey rabbit, but she could tell that his heart wasn't fully into it. She wondered what happened between him and Skimbleshanks. Victoria made a note to find out.

Soon, all the rabbits were caught. The kittens ate what they could and brought the rest back to the junkyard.

Tumblebrutus looked up the tire and there was Skimbleshanks, just as he said. The tabby cat swiveled his head, looking around for Munkustrap. The protector of the Jellicle Tribe sat on the ground by Jennyanydots. He was openly watching Tumblebrutus, so Tumblebrutus made a big show of stretching and jumping up to join the railway cat. He snuggled down against the sleeping Skimbleshanks' back, proud of himself in his defiance.

Skimbleshanks woke him later with a nudge on the shoulder and some soft words.

"Tumbles, wake up." Skimbleshanks mumbled into Tumblebrutus' ear. Tumblebrutus stretched a bit and mewled. As soon as Skimbleshanks saw that Tumblebrutus was awake, he leaned down for a kiss. Tumblebrutus smiled – he could never get tired of the way it felt to have Skimbleshanks pressed up against him. The tabby put his arms around Skimbleshanks' waist and pulled, the force of the movement resulting in Skimbleshanks lying over Tumblebrutus, straddling his hips. The way they were sitting, so far back, made it impossible for anyone to see them. Skimbleshanks ran his paws through Tumblebrutus' mane then moved them down to the tabby's shoulders, massaging in little circles. Tumblebrutus gave a small, quiet moan. He opened his mouth a bit, darting his rough tongue out to run along Skimbleshanks' bottom lip. He felt Skimble hesitate before opening his mouth as well. Their mouths melded together, their bodies intertwined. Tumblebrutus trailed his paws up and down Skimbleshanks' back, extremely pleased by the way that the small action caused the older cat to shudder.

Slowly, painstakingly, the two broke apart. Both were panting; the need for each other was far greater than the need for air. Tumblebrutus buried his face in Skimbleshanks' neck, licking, kissing, nibbling. Skimbleshanks clutched at the younger tom.

"T-tumble…Tumblebrutus."

There was nothing more thrilling to Tumblebrutus than how Skimbleshanks said his name. It was music to his ears. Skimbleshanks pulled away. He looked into Tumblebrutus' eyes. Was he really doing this with such a young kit? The railway cat pushed the thought out of his head – he wasn't going to let Munkustrap's words, his ignorance, ruin such a wonderful thing…but….no. Skimbleshanks knew that Tumblebrutus was more mature than most of the other kits, mature enough to know what he wanted.

His thoughts must have been apparent on his face, because Tumblebrutus said "Skimble? What's wrong?"

Skimbleshanks shook his head. "Nothing."

"It's Munkustrap, isn't it? Everything he's been saying?" Tumblebrutus bit his bottom lip, a habit Skimbleshanks found very endearing. "It's been bothering me, too. I mean, he talked to me when you weren't here, and he sa-"

"I should have known…" Skimbleshanks said, rolling off of Tumblebrutus. He looked upset, even angry. Tumblebrutus had never seen such an expression on the ginger face before. "What did he say to you?"

Tumblebrutus sat up. "That I'm too young to understand how 'wrong' this is, that…a relationship between two toms can't really exist."

He was going to say use "love" instead of "relationship," but he realized that neither he nor Skimbleshanks had said that they were in love with the other. That hurt a little bit, but he realized that it was still early in the relationship.

To Tumblebrutus' surprise, Skimbleshanks growled. He looked at the ginger cat, eyes wide. Skimbleshanks' face softened at the sight of Tumblebrutus' expression. He smiled.

"I think I like you're surprised face, Tumbles." Skimbleshanks whispered. He didn't want to think about Munkustrap.

"Tumblebrutus!"

"Tumbles, where are you?"

The tabby cat peered over the edge of the tire. Pouncival and Alonzo were down there. Alonzo noticed him first.

"Get the hell down from there! We're gonna go mess with that beagle trapped behind the fence up by hospital! Come on!"

Tumblebrutus could tell without even turning around that Skimbleshanks did not approve of what the kits had in mind. Sliding out of view of his friends, Tumblebrutus kissed the railway cat's cheek. "I'll be back later?"

He pulled a look that he knew, from experience, was irresistible. Skimbleshanks gave Tumblebrutus a look of his own.

"Don't look at me like that, Skimble…..it's just a bit of fun! Please don't be mad!"

Skimbleshanks smiled. "Just be careful."

Tumblebrutus leaped down to his friends, and Skimbleshanks curled into himself and fell asleep.