HAT: Okay! Next chapter! I can't wait for it to get really into Skimble's POV, but i'm iffy on the decision on when Skimble starts feeling something... *shrugs* Oh, well. Oh! Before I forget, there's going to be a few references from Scottish Siblings because that's the roots of most of the stories I make (mostly, if I make Jenny and Skimble mates [for whatever reason] I'll just change the last bit up a bit... not that you know what it is yet... hehehe! But if you read the first two chapters (chapter three is up) you'll kinda get what I mean about Skimble understanding how Tugger feels... okay, moving on!
Disclaimer: I own nothing besides the plot and OCs because if I did own Cats, there would be more explosions.
Skimbleshanks rubs his eyes, trying his best to stay up. He doesn't want Tugger to be alone, what with the nightmares coming back. He's stayed awake all night while Munkustrap had gotten some sleep so he can make sure Tugger doesn't do anything drastic. He's tired, but he's used to it, being on the train at night and having only a few hours of sleep until he wakes up to spend time with others (namely the kits who should be searching for him right about now...). Tugger wakes up and then he starts thrashing, eyes no longer holding sense, but fear and the wild need to be free.
No, no, no, not again! Skimble thinks, remembering how bad Tugger was one time and nearly killed Jennyanydots and Jellylorum and Skimble knows the flirtatious cat regrets it still. If Tugger hurt his own (little) brother, he'd be devastated. He grabs Tugger's face in his paws and forces the amber eyes to focus on his calmer (because he's a little afraid of Tugger doing something he'd regret) glass-green ones. "Tugger, Tugger, it's okay. Yer safe."
Tugger relaxes and glances down at the silver and black arms around him before his head hangs. "Thanks..."
"Are you okay?" the silver tabby asks his brother before said brother nods with a sick look. "Are you going to go back to sleep?"
The Maine Coon shakes his head. "No. It's too horrible."
Skimble looks at the Protector and sees the conflict in his eyes about staying with his brother. He knows that it's rare when his duties get in the way of each other. Then he turns his gaze on the elder brother and knows that he feels guilty by his scent (however weak he's making it) and the look on his face.
"Go," groans the curious cat. "I'll stay here."
"But-" Skimble knows that Munkustrap needs to be a Protector right now so he interrupts.
"I'll keep him company." Munkustrap's eyes are full of gratitude as he nods and he hugs his brother tightly before he slips out of the den, leaving Skimble with the nightmare plagued tomcat. After a moment Skimble takes Tugger's paw in his. "Are you really alright?"
"No," the maned cat admits in a whisper. "It's so hard... thinking about Macavity and what he did... even more to think about the good things he did before what he did to me. It hurts."
Pity and understanding flood Skimbleshanks as he takes the Rum Tum Tugger in his arms and gently rocks him. The marmalade tabby knows better than most in the junkyard what this tom has gone through. After all, his past is filled with that type of betrayal and even Jenny doesn't completely understand due to being so young when it happened (A/N: No, seriously. If you haven't read the first few chapters in Scottish Siblings then you don't know how effed up I've made his kittenhood).
"I know, I know," the orange tabby murmurs. "And it will always hurt, but the pain will ease with time."
Tugger, not in the firmest of states, looks up at Skimble with large amber eyes. "Really?"
Skimble's heart strings tug painfully at seeing how broken Tugger was and wonders if this was how others saw him when he was younger. "Really... now get some rest."
Then the older tom feels a hesitant arm start to wrap around his torso before it disappears, making Skimble's skin where contact was made feel unnaturally cold. "Can... I cuddle with you? For comfort?" Tugger asks hesitantly, like a kitten.
Skimble can't believe how kittenish Tugger seems to him, but at the same time he can believe it because of the tragedy that happened so he really wants to help him. "You can."
Tugger's arms wrap around Skimble's waist and his head rests on his chest and then Skimble's own arms wrap around Tugger's shoulders. Tugger obviously won't go to sleep easily or have sweet dreams, but Skimble feels he needs to do something. He decides to hum an almost forgotten tune that he used to know the words to, but he doesn't remember then anymore... only the rhythm and how they brought some comfort to those that he sang the song to, especially Jenny. To think he used to sing it often. Still, he hums and feels Tugger relax and soon he's asleep himself.
-LINE!-
The smell of food awakens the marmalade cat and he's more or less shocked about the time of day: afternoon. He can't believe he slept for so long, but at the same time he can. When he makes it to the kitchen area his glass-green eyes focus on Tugger's smiling face and the food that's been prepared.
"Afternoon," Tugger says.
Skimble can't help but blink. "You made lunch?"
"Mmmmhm! I decided this would be the best way to repay you."
"Well..." Skimble's trying to process all of this in his mind, but he knows that Tugger's not one for leaving debts unpaid and will even force the payment on another sometimes, so he doesn't even bother fighting it. "Thank you."
"No... thank you... for everything," Tugger says.
That 'thank you' is for a number of things, Skimble knows, so much more than what's happened recently with the game and nightmares... it's for everything Skimble did in the past for him and he gets a feeling it is also for things that he will do in the future. It's a weighted 'thank you' to say the least.
After lunch is all done and Tugger rises. "I'm gonna go."
Something in Skimble doesn't like that, but he shakes his head. Tugger can take care of himself, he can't have nightmares while awake. "Alright."
When Tugger leaves Skimble's left to think and his thoughts don't take a very satisfying turn. They turn to his past, before he got to behave rather kittenish and have fewer stressful responsibilities. Truly no one besides Tugger's own family and Demeter know what Tugger went through better than Skimbleshanks. To love one of your kin so much and hold them on a pedestal as a kitten only to have the pedestal torn down by the one placed on top of it. Skimble sighs, guilt gnawing on his insides yet again. He can't help but feel responsible for what happened to Tugger since, after all, he led to it in a way. His fingertips sparkle and he closes his eyes and breathes, the sparkles going away.
Calm down... I wonder what I can do to mess with Jen and Jelly, he thinks and a mischievous smirk plays on his face. Perhaps I could mess with that fat cat that wants my baby sister? That'll make them upset... and Bomba, too. Perfect!
Needless to say by the end of the day Bustopher Jones wasn't in a good mood and he didn't come to the junkyard for a few days after and Skimble was accused, but none of Bustopher's female admirers could give solid evidence. No one goes after Skimbleshanks' baby sister without his approval first.
HAT: Haha! Skimble's overprotective of his sister and immature... gotta love him.
Etcetera: That's nice and all, but what's with the sparkles?
HAT: *grins like Cheshire the Cat* You'll find out...
Etcetera: Momma! HAT's acting weird again!
HAT: *giggles* Yeah, but this also shows that Skimble has his own internal struggles too, though they've supposedly been dealt with already. Well they have, but it's still going on, just not as often. You'll understand later.
Etcetera: This has to do with that one story about Skimble's past doesn't it?
HAT: Yep! And trust me, it comes quite a bit later in that story, after (SPOILER, SPOILER, SPOILER) happens. Yeah... that was pretty... dark for me.
Etcetera: Are you sure you're okay?
HAT: Nope! Could you say it please so I can have meat?
Etcetera: *rolls eyes* Okay. Review!
Tugger: *walks by with bacon on a plate*
Etcetera: Tugger!
HAT: Bacon!
Tugger: *turns around* Huh? *sees Etcetera and HAT about to tackle him * Oh no! *flees*
Etcetera: Tugger come back!
HAT: Give me the bacon!
Tugger: NOOOOOOOO! Misto! Help!
Mistoffelees: *whispers* No.
Tugger: *glomped by Etc. and bacon stolen by HAT* Noooooo!
HAT: Well... I'm satisfied *munches on a bite of bacon* See ya!