Is There Anyone?
A Tugger/Misto Fanfic
Chapter 3: If I Break Your Heart
~~**~~
It had been three weeks since Tugger first kissed Misto while racing him that one day. They were somehow managing to keep their relationship a secret. Demeter knew of course, but she was keeping quiet. Misto suspected Munkustrap knew as well, but as long as someone wasn't pointing it out to him, he wasn't saying anything. The real one with the problem was Bombalurina.
Misto smirked. He imagined she was jealous.
"Hey!"
Misto whirled around at the sound of Tugger's voice. Tugger jumped down from the car roof he stood on, and sauntered over to the smaller black and white cat, his normal mischievous grin pasted on his face. He kissed Misto without saying a word.
There was that familiar fluttering in Misto's chest…then he suddenly pulled away.
"What was that?" Tugger asked.
"Oh, believe me, I'm not complaining, but…don't you think we're taking a lot of chances?"
"No one's around." Tugger advanced on him again.
Mistoffelees backed up, "That we know of. What if one of the kittens saw?"
Tugger shrugged, "They have to learn someday."
"Tugger!"
Tugger laughed, "I was joking. But I do love it when you yell my name like that."
Misto blushed, looking to the ground. He really was terribly shy, he couldn't imagine what a boisterous Tom like Tugger could see in him. He wondered how long they could keep up this charade. After all, subtlety wasn't one of Tugger's strong points.
"Mistoffelees!" A small voice came from nearby. Misto looked around, and caught Electra peering at him.
"Yes Electra?"
"Bombalurina wants to see you."
"Wants to see me? What for?"
"I don't know. She just asked me to find you." Electra paused. A quizzical look crossed her face, "You and Tugger sure are together a lot lately. Why? Are you doing something special?"
Tugger came up behind Mistoffelees and draped an arm around his shoulders, "Not yet, but…"
Misto pushed Tugger's arm away, looking shocked. He looked back to Electra, who still sat peering up at them with young confused eyes. Thank goodness, Misto thought.
"We're just friends Electra. Like you are with Etcetera and Victoria and Jemima."
"Oh!" Electra perked up in her cheerful voice. "Ok. Well…I'll go tell Bombalurina that you're coming." And with that she ran off.
Misto once again felt Tugger standing behind him.
"You know…" Tugger started.
"Not a word." Misto smiled. He could practically read Tugger's mind. "I'm going to see what Bombalurina wants."
"Hurry back." Tugger teased.
~~**~~
Mistoffelees didn't know why Bombalurina was asking to see him. He didn't much talk to her. She was, well, she was intimidating. Tugger had no problem facing up to her, matching her wit, putting up with her occasional flirting. But she flitted her tail wrong at Misto and he got uncomfortable. When he reached the spot in the junkyard that she had claimed, he slipped in between some old boxes to find her.
"Bombalurina?" He called, "It's Mistoffelees. You wanted to see me?"
"Misto."
Misto whirled around. Demeter stood in front of him.
"Demeter? What are you…?" He looked around. Bombalurina stood at the forefront. Next to her was Munkustrap, Jellylorum, Coricopat, Tantomile, Alonzo, and Cassandra. His eyes fell back to Demeter. "You told?"
"Misto, we have ways here in the Jellicle tribe. Ways that cannot be compromised just for the happiness of one cat. We have to think about everyone."
Misto was still in disbelief, shaking his head. "You told."
"Mistoffelees." Bombalurina spoke, "You're recent actions with Tugger have not gone as unnoticed as you think they have. And it's for that reason that we called you here. What would you do if one of the kittens saw you one day? How would you explain that?"
"We need you to make a choice Mistoffelees." Alonzo said.
"Cease your relationship with Tugger, or he will be excommunicated." Coricopate said.
"What?" Misto said, surprised, "Why? Why get rid of Tugger? Get rid of me!"
"You're not a liability to us….Tugger is." Munkustrap said.
Misto often forgot that if anything ever happened to Munkustrap, Tugger would be called on to be the next in charge. Tugger seemed to have total disreguard for authority, his way of rebelling against the position life had handed him. But Tugger could be responsible when he needed to be. Last year at the Jellicle Ball he proved that when he told the others to rely on Mistoffelees to find Old Deuteronemy.
"The Jellicle Ball is only weeks away. We need everything to go as usual. No surprises." Bombalurina said. "It's your choice."
So that was it? Stay away from Tugger, or he would be asked to leave the tribe this close to the Jellicle Ball? Misto's eyes teared up. He knew Tugger's pride would never allow him to admit that it meant something to him, but Misto knew. And so, he made the decision, he would stay away from Tugger.
