Macavity set Coricopat down on a nest in his hide out. Cori groaned weakly, writhing slightly. Macavity sat beside him before he began to clean the wounds covering Cori's body, making sure they didn't get infected. Macavity finished and looked at Cori, before blinking in surprise. Cori's large dark green eyes were on him, watching him. Macavity stared back, he had no idea Cori had been awake.
"How are you feeling?" Macavity asked Cori. Cori gave a shrug as he sat up.
"Okay, I guess," He murmured, looking at his paws as he crossed his legs. Macavity watched him. Cori glanced sideways at him.
"What toms did this to you?" Macavity asked. He watched as Cori stiffened, his large eyes going even larger. Macavity shifted so he was sitting next to Cori. Cori breathed out. Even though what the Toms had just done to him should scare him away from others…he actually didn't feel scared around Macavity.
"It's alright, you can tell me, Cori," Macavity told him softly.
"Plato, Bill Bailey, Victor and George," Cori murmured. "Admetus was sitting to the side, telling them that it was a really bad idea," Macavity stiffened.
"Admetus was there and he didn't help you?" Macavity asked slowly. Cori glanced at him, seeing the anger on Macavity's face.
"Admetus is terrified of them…he speaks out against them and they hurt him," Cori murmured. "He said he was sorry when they left," Macavity sighed, calming down slightly. He looked at Cori again, Cori was absently playing with the fur on his leg. Macavity had no idea how this happened, but the next thing he knew, his lips were against Cori's. He opened his eyes and saw Cori's large green ones staring back in shock. Macavity pulled away. He wouldn't say sorry…that wasn't like him, but he stood up and turned his back to Cori.
"That was stupid of me," Macavity muttered darkly, especially just after Coricopat went through. He felt a paw touch his shoulder and he turned around. He was surprised when he found Cori's lips against his own. Cori was still surprised he was doing this…but kissing Macavity, it was different from everyone else. While Alonzo's lips were hard, chapped and cruel, trying to fight for dominance over Cori, Macavity's were surprisingly soft…and he wasn't trying to dominate Cori. Cori wrapped his arms around Macavity's neck. Macavity finally broke the kiss, but kept his arms wrapped around Cori's waist. Macavity looked down at Cori, who was about half a head smaller than him, and purred, nuzzling the top of his head. Cori purred back just as loudly, rubbing his head against Macavity's chest. Macavity gently picked Cori up and carried him back to the bed.
"You should still be resting," Macavity told him, kissing his head softly. Cori nodded. Macavity sat on the bed beside him, before wrapping his arm around Cori. Cori sighed contently, closing his eyes.
Though it was weird, Macavity was the Hidden Paw, The Napoleon of Crime, Cori was with him and he didn't feel scared at all. With Macavity he felt safe, he actually felt loved. He didn't feel like he had to use himself just to have attention paid to him, just to be noticed and talked to. With Macavity…it felt like everything was going to be okay. Cori sighed once more and buried himself deeper into Macavity's arms. This was the first time he didn't feel so alone, the first time he didn't feel alone since Tantomile had been killed.
A few days later, Cori was walking through the hallways. He was allowed to go wherever he wanted. He walked past the door to Macavity's 'throne' room and heard raised voices.
"I just wish you would have talked to me about taking him!" Cori paused. That was Munkustrap's voice.
"Ha, and would you have listened to me?" Macavity bit back. "After I tried to take Demeter last time?" There was a large pause.
"That was different," Munkustrap finally answered.
"How different, brother?" Macavity asked. "You tried to kill me when I tried to take Demeter and yet you're here now just asking why I didn't tell you first," Cori tilted his head.
"That's because I know you won't hurt Cori," Munkustrap replied. Another pause. "I know you actually care for him, Macavity," Cori peered inside the room. Munkustrap and Macavity were standing a few feet apart, staring at each other…however, it was calm.
"I just wished you would have told me, instead of just taking Coricopat," Munkustrap continued. "His home is still the yard,"
"And it's the rapists home too," Macavity hissed back. Munkustrap sighed sadly.
"I know, Macavity, I know," Munkustrap muttered. "But his last memories of Tantomile are there…did you even let him decide if he wanted to stay with you or go back to the yard?" Macavity paused.
"He can leave any time he feels like it…he isn't my prisoner, Munkustrap," Cori finally slipped into the room, looking at both the Toms. They both turned and looked at him when he walked in.
"Coricopat," Munkustrap smiled softly, staring at his bruised body sadly. Cori walked over to Macavity. Macavity watched him.
"I-I want to stay with Macavity, Munk," Cori told him. Munkustrap inclined his head, looking back at Cori. Cori was looking up at Macavity, his large green eyes innocent and full of…love? Macavity wrapped his arm around Cori's waist, not seeming to care Munkustrap was in the room. Cori leaned into the one armed embrace. Munkustrap gave a small smile. This was the first time he had seen Cori truly happy in months.
"Then stay with him, Cori…I'm not forcing you to do anything you don't want to," Macavity looked back to Munkustrap.
"What is dear old daddy going to think about this?" Macavity asked slowly. Munkustrap cringed.
"He's not going to like it…he's not going to like that Cori's staying here with you, he'd much prefer Cori to be at the yard," Cori tightened his grip on Macavity. Macavity rubbed his back soothingly.
"I-If I had to go back to the yard…Macavity could come too, right?" Cori asked slowly. "He's not so bad," Munkustrap smiled again.
"I know he's not…but it probably wouldn't be wise," Munkustrap chose his words carefully.
"Why not?" Cori asked, his tone deadly. "I don't care what the others think," Munkustrap shook his head, sighing.
"It's not that, Cori," Munkustrap answered. "It's just that, well, what do you think Macavity would do if he laid eyes on the scumbags who did this to you?" Munkustrap asked him.
"Oh," Cori murmured. Macavity smiled. Munkustrap rubbed his head, tiredly.
"Cori, though I wish I didn't have to tell you…it probably isn't wise for you to return to the yard after this," Munkustrap told him sadly. "The others will think you betrayed us by turning to Macavity and blah, blah, blah…and so on," Munkustrap waved his paw dismissively. Cori's eyes went sad as he thought of never returning to his old home…to see Munk and Tugger.
"You and Tugger will still come to see me right?" Cori asked. "Even though I'm not exactly a Jellicle anymore?"
"Of course, Cori…we would never desert you," Cori looked up at Macavity. Macavity seemed fine with this. Macavity held out his paw. The silver tabby eyed it wearily before taking it and shaking his paw.
"Friends?" Macavity asked. Munkustrap nodded.
"Though if you do come to the yard, I will be forced to try to hurt you," Munkustrap warned him. Macavity grinned.
"I have no reason to go to the yard anymore," Macavity answered, his dark red eyes straying back to Cori. Munkustrap gave a small nod and a smile.
"See you soon, Cori," Munkustrap said before he turned and left. Cori looked back at Macavity, who raised a paw, gently rubbing the side of Cori's face.
"You want to stay with me?" Macavity asked. Cori nodded, wrapped his arms around Macavity again.
"Yes," Cori whispered. Macavity smiled, nuzzling at Cori again.
Cori sat in his and Macavity's room, sitting on the window seat that Macavity had had put into the room, so Cori could stare out at the city.
I found God on the corner of 1st and Amistad
Where the West was all but won
All alone, smoking his last cigarette
I said, "Where you been?" He said, "Ask anything"-
Where were you when everything was falling apart? Lost and insecure, you found me, you found me But in the end everyone ends up alone
All my days were spent by the telephone that never rang
And all I needed was a call that never came
To the corner of 1st and Amistad
Lying on the floor surrounded, surrounded
Why'd you have to wait? Where were you? Where were you?
Just a little late, you found me, you found me
Losing her, the only one who's ever known
Who I am, who I'm not and who I wanna be
No way to know how long she will be next to me-
Where were you when everything was falling apart?
All my days were spent by the telephone that never rang
And all I needed was a call that never came
To the corner of 1st and Amistad
Lost and insecure, you found me, you found me
Lying on the floor surrounded, surrounded
Why'd you have to wait? Where were you? Where were you?
Just a little late, you found me, you found me
But in the end everyone ends up alone
Losing her, the only one who's ever known
Who I am, who I'm not and who I wanna be
No way to know how long she will be next to me
Lost and insecure, you found me, you found me
Lying on the floor surrounded, surrounded
Why'd you have to wait? Where were you? Where were you?
Just a little late, you found me, you found me!
The early morning, the city breaks
And I've been calling for years and years and years and years
And you never left me no messages
You never sent me no letters
You got some kind of nerve taking all I want!
Lost and insecure, you found me, you found me
Lying on the floor, where were you? Where were you?
Lost and insecure, you found me, you found me
Lying on the floor surrounded, surrounded
Why'd you have to wait? Where were you? Where were you?
Just a little late, you found me, you found me!
Why'd you have to wait to find me, to find me?
"I'm sorry I made you wait so long," Macavity whispered in Cori's ear. Cori leaned his head against Macavity's shoulder.
"You have no need to be sorry…you saved me," Cori told him. Macavity kissed Cori's cheek.
A few weeks later, Cori was walking along the streets. Macavity had told him to be careful, but had allowed him to go out when Cori asked if he could. Cori smiled as he walked down the streets. He had changed so much in the time he had been with Macavity. His silver, brown and white calico fur was clean and shiny once more and groomed to the standard Tantomile liked it at. He had put on the weight he had lost when Tantomile died, which had been quite a lot which wasn't good seeing as Cori had been lean enough as it was back then. Cori's dark green eyes were filled with light once more. He was happy. He hadn't been happy in a long time. Macavity cared about him, he had been worried about letting Cori go out for a walk, but Cori had persuaded him. Macavity had kissed him and told him to be careful and to be back by sunset. Cori didn't really mind.
"Traitor!" Cori stopped and looked in the alley way where the hiss had come from.
"How am I a traitor, Demeter?" Cori asked evenly as he spotted the black and gold queen, who was accompanied by Bombalurina, the scarlet queen.
"You joined Macavity,"
"Because I was raped by Jellicles," Cori hissed back.
"He'll hurt you like he hurt me," Demeter growled at him.
"No, he won't," Cori told her firmly. "He loves me, Demeter, and I love him…and that will never change," Demeter shook her head.
"You are such a fool," Demeter told him. Bombalurina looked at Demeter before looking back at Cori, her amber eyes sort of sad. Cori blinked.
"It should never have been Tantomile being hit by that car…it should have been you!" Demeter started to screech at him. Cori slipped back, shocked. Bomba's eyes were wide.
"Everyone thinks it, it wouldn't have been a big loss if you were the one hit…but Tantomile was part of us, you never were!"
"Demeter, stop it!" Bombalurina hissed at her friend. "Cori's important too!"
"He was a loner, a freak…and then he became a whore, then a traitor," Demeter spat, ignoring Bombalurina. Cori's eyes glinted with anger and tears.
"You are wrong, Demeter!" Cori yelled at her. "I am important! Macavity loves me!" Demeter scoffed.
"Just because you are jealous, Demeter," Cori hissed at her. Demeter looked at him, her dark eyes dangerous. Cori smiled emotionlessly.
"I know you are, you want Macavity…but he never loved you, he loves me!" Cori ran off with that, hearing Demeter's enraged screech behind him. He slowed to a walk, blinking back the tears that had formed in his eyes. He was important too. He was.
He stopped walking and looked at the place he had walked to. It was the park that he and Tantomile used to come to. Cori took in a deep breath and walked into the gates. He found the old oak he and Tantomile used to sit under and lay down in the shade. He smiled and closed his eyes.
"Well, well, well…if it isn't the Jellicle whore," Cori's eyes snapped open and he shot up. Plato, Bill Bailey, Victor and George stood in front of him. Misto, Admetus, Tumble and Pounce stood off to the side, looking scared and shocked.
"Ready for round two, Coricopat?" Plato snarled, leering at Cori. Cori sunk back against the tree. Everlasting Cat help him.
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Sorry about this being the forth reupload of this chapter, but I forgot to put what song it was, and then the song wasnt in italics anymore and then part of the lyrics disappeared...sorry :D
Um, the song is 'You Found Me' by the Fray, it just sort of fit, I guess...
This is the first time I've included Bill Bailey, Victor and George…it's just that I didn't want Jerrie, Tumble and Addie to be part of the group that did that to Cori. Maybe another chapter or so…this was going to be my last chapter but it turned out longer because I thought of more storylines in my head last night :D
Thanks for the reviews, I know it's a little weird to make the Jellicles the bad guys (minus Munk and Tugger, and soon to be a few more) and Macavity the caring one, but hey, we need something like this…
Please read and review!
Luv HGP!