The next afternoon, Bomba almost threw herself over Mistoffelees' desk. "The doors are open, the jail is free! Let us head home."

"Oh," Mistoffelees said, blinking rapidly at her. "I still have a little to finish. I'll lock up."

"Do it tomorrow," she said, drawing it out. "I want to get home and do you forget, I'm supposed to escort you."

"Please, Bomba," he said, rolling his eyes. "Don't start acting like my brother."

There was a knock at the back door before it opened and Coricopat slipped inside, "Mistoffelees?"

Mistoffelees felt his shoulders tense as Bomba turned slowly, looking the other teen over. "You make it so easy though," she drawled, turning back to Mistoffelees who blushed.

"I, I mean, that is," he stammered, trying not to switch back into Spanish in his sudden panic.

Coricopat froze, paling very slightly and thinking quickly, "I came to deliver some aspirin."

"You'll need it, I'm sure," Bomba said, hands on her hips. "Last I checked he wasn't supposed to talk to you at all, so why are you suddenly with the aspirin, hm?"

"I...I just go where Doc tells me and deliver to who he says."

One look at Mistoffelees' face prove that a lie. "You're out of your heads," the red head declared, planting her hands on her hips. "Why shouldn't I drag you back home?"

"Because no one else is giving us a chance, and this may be the only attempt at peace between the territories to come since this whole thing started?" Coricopat offered quietly, "And because it's just ice cream?"

"Ice cream?" Bomba asked, eyebrows going up and looking back at Mistoffelees who stammered something out in Spanish to the effect he was agreeing. She turned back to Coricopat. "Love doesn't bring peace, chit. Just heartache."

"Not always," Coricopat shook his head.

She snorted. "Right. If you're not home before your brother is, it's not my fault," she told Mistoffelees, whose eyes just widened.

Coricopat blinked, but stepped fully away from the door. His gaze darted to Mistoffelees in moderate confusion. "Bomba," Mistoffelees started and she shook her head.

"I'm tired, I'm going home. Bring me some more bubble bath from your adventures today, hm? It might even give you an excuse for being out." With that she strode for the door, stopping next to Coricopat. "I'm sure I don't have to threaten you if you hurt him, no?"

He shook his head, "No, ma'am. I am well aware."

"Good," she said, waving once more to Mistoffelees and striding from the room.

Coricopat watched her go, still blinking, "Did we just get a roundabout approval?"

"I think so?" Mistoffelees offered. "At least not straight up rejection." He swallowed hard, rising and moving to put things away.

The other teen leaned against the wall for a moment, "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"No," Mistoffelees said, "Just a few things and then I can close up for the night."

"Alright. How was your day?" the other teen asked, taking a step closer.

Closing the cupboard, Mistoffelees turned back at him. "Well," he said after a moment. "Yours?"

"Pretty well. Getting better."

Blushing slightly, Mistoffelees smiled, stepping forward and tugging Coricopat into a kiss. Coricopat leaned down into the kiss, one arm looping around the other's waist.

After a long moment, the shorter drew back but didn't move far. "I wanted to do that since you walked in."

The other smiled down at him, "You're not the only one..."

"I," he let out a breath. "It scares me a little, how much I want to kiss you and how much I think about you."

"Why?" Coricopat's hand moved to rest against the other's cheek.

"Because it's so strong," he said. "I can't think straight."

"Given time it should ease up, right?"

"If we get it," Mistoffelees said, pressing just a little closer. "I think so."

Leaning down to kiss him once more, Coricopat drew back slightly, "Shall we head out?"

"Yeah," Mistoffelees said, glancing around the room. "It would be good to get out of work for something like that."

The other offered him a bit of a smile, "Alright then."

Sliding his hand down into Coricopat's, Mistoffelees led the way out, pausing to lock the door and taking Coricopat's hand again. "Did you have a place to go?"

"I was thinking the soda shop a couple blocks east of here. It's outside both territories."

Mistoffelees smiled and nodded. "Alright. I've never spent much time outside of the territory since coming here, so you'll have to lead the way."

The taller teen offered him a bit of a smile before he headed for the soda shop, his hand still grasping the other's. They arrived a short while later, Coricopat holding the door open for Mistoffelees. At that, Mistoffelees shifted and glanced up at him before entering. "You don't have to..."

"Have to...?" He hadn't even processed the door thing, letting it swing closed from behind them.

Mistoffelees moved his hands for a moment in front of him, trying to find the right words. "Treat me like a girl?"

The other blinked rapidly for a moment at that, trying to figure out what he meant, "Oh! The door! Sorry, I...didn't even think about it."

Offering him a smile, Mistoffelees shrugged. "Okay. Just, well, it was sweet, but..."

"I'll try to avoid it if you'd like?"

"Well," the shorter shrugged again, unsure. "I guess I just wanted to make sure?"

"It's a habit, I'm...not sure how I picked it up, but it's one of those things I do without thinking. But if you'd rather I not...?" Coricopat offered again.

"No, no, it should be fine. Just," he gestured to his stature. "I've been mistaken for a girl in the past. Working at a dress shop has never helped and people don't look past how short I am."

Coricopat smiled faintly at that, "I can promise you that I don't doubt you're a boy."

Flashing him a smile, Mistoffelees finally sat down at one of the booths, where he could see the door and most of the rest of the small shop. Coricopat settled across from him, the back entrance in his line of sight, though the front door was at an awkward angle from where he was. Mistoffelees couldn't help but give him a nervous smile. "Think we got the place covered?"

That earned a faint grin, "Yeah, I think so."

Ducking his head down, Mistoffelees started fiddling with the saltshaker on the table. "I think it should concern me how automatically I make sure I have sight of a place."

Coricopat sighed, leaning back in his seat, "It's an automatic response around here.

Still paying more attention to the saltshaker, Mistoffelees nodded. "I hate that it is."

"I know. It...it really is an awful fact of life here currently."

"I don't know," Mistoffelees murmured. "Having come here so recently but... I think it's always been a fact of life here. Hatred like this, it needs time to grow. It doesn't just spring up."

Coricopat traced patterns absently on the tabletop, "True I guess. People need someone to fight with."

"I wish they didn't," Mistoffelees sighed, leaning back.

"I know what you mean. But what are we supposed to do about it?"

"I have observations, not answers," Mistoffelees said quietly and stretched his hands out on the table. "So, what do you do with yourself?"

"What do you mean? I go to school, I work at Doc's, I go home and avoid my family..."

Mistoffelees' smile was somewhat sardonic. "Sounds familiar, except for the avoiding family bit."

"I think it's the story of a lot of kids," Coricopat replied quietly.

"Most likely. Do you at least enjoy school and work?"

The taller teen nodded, "I do. School's good, and Doc's a great guy to work for...even if he does worry a lot."

"Someone should worry, don't you think?" Mistoffelees offered.

"Everyone around here knows the trouble, knows to be careful, though," Coricopat replied with a shrug.

"Or they're already dead," the shorter teen dropped the words into the space between them.

Coricopat flinched slightly at that, "Well, that's supposed to end this week."

"If it solves anything," Mistoffelees returned. "You really think one rumble is going to change matters?"

"I think if your brother and Mac can keep the gangs in line after it there's a chance for it to change something for a while anyhow."

"For a while," Mistoffelees agreed. "But how long do you really think that would work? We all live here, it's all of our homes but we only fight over it."

"I don't know, but what other options are there that you really think the gangs would go for?"

"No," Mistoffelees said, looking down again.

Coricopat sighed, "It's a one on one fist fight at this point, anyway. No weapons."

"I'm sorry," Mistoffelees said, shaking his head. "It, let's talk about something else. What's this Doc like then?"

"He, well he's pretty nice. A hard worker, treats me like an adult. He served in the last war, and says he grew up just a couple blocks from here before that, though we're not sure how much of that part's true."

"Why wouldn't it be?" Mistoffelees asked, tilting his head.

"Well, he..." Coricopat paused realizing he was talking to someone who had just moved to the country recently, "It's, I dunno, some things he says about when he was growing up don't sound like New York, they sound more like...I dunno, Russia or something."

"Maybe conditions like this are found everywhere," Mistoffelees shrugged.

"Maybe so. I dunno."

"It must have been hard, serving in the war, one way or another," Mistoffelees mused, looking down at the table and unable to stop himself imagining it. Shuddering slightly, he turned his gaze back toward the door.

Coricopat nodded, "It sure sounds like it. I mean, he's got good points, but it's not easy to get out of something you've been raised in."

"Hard to walk away from your past and all that?" Mistoffelees offered.

The other nodded in response, "Yeah, that. I've been trying that, and it only works so far when you're still in the same school, in the same apartment complex, and the same areas as the gang you used to run with."

That finally got Mistoffelees' eyes back up from the table. "What?"

"What do you mean what?" Coricopat asked warily.

"Well, you," Mistoffelees paused, gathering his thoughts back. "You made it sound like you were, well, trying to get out, or at least away from the gang."

The other looked at him for a long moment before nodding, "I was. Am."

Tilting his head, Mistoffelees gave him a long look before his shoulders sagged. "Oh. Oh, but... aren't you the second?"

Coricopat sighed, "That...would be why I'm having a hell of a time of it."

"I couldn't imagine Alonzo trying to get out," Mistoffelees murmured, looking down again. "He's as bad as my brother."

"See, I used to think that about myself too..."

"What changed your mind then?" the Puerto Rican teen asked, voice small.

"It was kind of a gradual thing, but watching friends die or get disfigured sure chipped in. I just...wanted the choice to you know, settle into a comfortable life. A chance to grow old and die in my sleep."

"I'm glad," Mistoffelees said quietly.

"I'd be more glad if the others would get that, though..." Coricopat sighed.

"It's hard for other people to see past their noses," Mistoffelees said, leaning back and looking around the room.

"I guess that's true. Doesn't mean we have to like it." He paused for a long moment, "What brought you here?"

The smaller teen couldn't help but laugh. "Here to the ice cream parlor?" he teased. "Or do you mean here to America?"

That earned a sheepish grin, "Here to America."

Mistoffelees pursed his mouth, considering. "It was hard... back home, I mean, Puerto Rico. When our parents died, brother thought we might have more opportunities here. It's the land of it, right? I think we've both gotten pretty disillusioned about that. Bomba still loves it here though."

"Did you come with your brother initially?"

Mistoffelees nodded. "There was nowhere for me to stay back there if he was coming here. And at that point, we weren't much for being separated. But," he sighed. "Things are the same as they were back home. Still hard."

"I get the feeling they're hard everywhere. Much as I hate hearing him talk about it, my old man talks about when he first came to the 'States sometimes. It gets better gradually, but..." He shook his head, "What do you do with your time? Besides school and work."

"There's not much besides school and work," Mistoffelees said with a bitter laugh and a shrug. "I go to school, I hate it, I work, and then I go home and hear about gang business. I make money, I help my brother but there's very little space really for much else."

"You hate school?"

Mistoffelees blushed and sighed. "I loved school back in Puerto Rico. Learning, making a better life. But here... here I feel like a fool and the teachers yell at me for not catching onto the language. They don't teach, they just yell, thinking us worthless pupils for being Spanish speakers first. English is a language of so many words, but sometimes I don't think it can really say what I want it to."

Coricopat looked at him for a long moment, "I...guess I can understand that. I mean I don't think I really know anyone who's dealt with that specifically, not that talks to me about it, but I can see how that would do it."

"You don't talk to many of us, do you?"

"Not really, no," the other teen looked apologetic. "On the other hand you all don't talk much to us either."

"It is a two way street," Mistoffelees agreed. "But it's hard. For you as well, but it's hard to be hated on sight for the color of one's skin or one's accent."

That earned a nod, "I guess I hadn't really thought about it like that. I mean... I don't know if it's really the accent, as much as I hate to say it. I mean, sure it marks you, but, well, Doc's got an accent. My old man has an accent. I mean, Doc runs a drugstore and my old man only sort of pulls off a job at a garage, but Doc runs his own business there..."

"But it's the accent and skin color of the decade?" Mistoffelees offered with another sardonic smile. "I do read history. One group in, one group accepted, the newest still hated. We're in a long, tradition honored line but it hurts to be in the middle of a transition. I just..." he shook his head. "But, you didn't hate me for any of that."

Coricopat shook his head, "No, I don't. I guess, I dunno, working with lots of people at the drug store is starting to change some perspectives. I mean, I still don't care much for your brother, but that may be as much a conflict of interests as anything."

Mistoffelees' eyes flickered away and back. That hadn't quite been what he meant. "I don't think my brother much likes you either."

There was a long pause before Coricopat spoke again, "Besides, there's...I don't know, it was like, you were the only other person at the dance who didn't have a chip the size of the Empire State Building on your shoulder. I mean, that's not why I kissed you, but no. You're you, and I'm me. There's got to be a point at which people say 'their heart beats like ours and they breathe air like us, and they have dignity like us, and things they care about, so it makes sense that we're not that different'. Y'know?"

"I wish they knew," Mistoffelees said, voice faint but he was leaning back toward the table again rather than away. "I wish they would understand."

"Maybe someday. We...we have to do with what we have, however little it is."

"I don't know, I think you're worth more than a little to me," Mistoffelees said, a smile entering his eyes again.

Coricopat smiled at that, "And you far more than a little to me."

"I still don't understand why," Mistoffelees said, shaking his head ever so slightly. "Why I feel like this, what you're doing..."

"What I'm doing?"

"We," Mistoffelees amended. "What we're doing."

Coricopat thought about that for a long moment, "Well, I mean...where do we want this to go?"

"Hell if I know," Mistoffelees said, with a nervous laugh. "I look at you, and I think, oh, I love you. Then, god, I think I must be out of my mind, because that's insane. I've known you for a day, kissed you the first time I saw you. Isn't that sort of crazy? But can't love work that way?"

"I...Well, I always thought love working like that was just fairy tales, but I don't know what else to, well to call this." Coricopat offered him an uncertain smile, "I mean, love at first sight isn't...well, doesn't seem right, but love at first kiss?" He shrugged, "I kind of like the sound of it."

"Well, sight and kiss came close together," Mistoffelees couldn't help but smile. "But I like the sound of it too."

"I.." the taller teen paused, "how long can it last?"

Swallowing, Mistoffelees met his eyes. "Forever," he said softly. "It can grow, it will change, I'm sure. Love always does. But I can't feel like this and think it's just going to fade away into nothingness."

"That-that isn't quite what I meant." Coricopat drew a deep breath, "Maybe it's morbid of me, but how can we hope to nurture it in this neighborhood? In this place, we're on opposite sides of what at the moment is practically an unofficial gang war."

"I'm not giving you up," Mistoffelees said, bluntly. "We'll figure it out."

"I'm glad. I'm not willing to give you up, either."

Mistoffelees bit his lip. "Are we crazy?"

"Probably. I'm not sure I care though," came the quiet admission.

Mistoffelees held his hand out across the table, standing. "Come," he said softly.

Coricopat hesitated, but rose, taking the other's hand, "Where are we going?"

Mistoffelees smiled. "No idea. I just want to kiss you again."

That earned a grin, "I am certainly not objecting to that."

Pulling the other through the back door, Mistoffelees looked either way before pulling him hard into a kiss. Coricopat startled slightly at that, but quickly recovered, pulling the other close and deepening the kiss.

Hands going to Coricopat's shoulders, they wouldn't settle in any place, moving down his arms and along his back as Mistoffelees tried to get closer. One of the Coricopat's hands moved up to tangle in the smaller teen's hair, his other wrapping around his waist to pull him flush against himself.

Finally, Mistoffelees drew back enough to breath. "I should get home," he tried to get out.

"I...probably. Can I walk you to the territory border?"

"You could convince me to stay a moment longer," Mistoffelees grinned.

Coricopat grinned back, leaning down to kiss him again, "I might just have to try." Pressing into the kiss, Mistoffelees wrapped his hands around the back of Coricopat's head, holding on.

After another long moment, Coricopat finally drew back, "We really should get you home before your brother gets there..."

Trying to catch his breath, Mistoffelees nodded, smoothing down Coricopat's hair-or trying to. "God, it looks obvious you've just been kissed."

The other grinned, running a hand over his hair, "So let it. Let the world know for all I care right now."

"The world can know, how about not letting my brother or other's in the area into it yet?" he said, but still grinned. "Dare I ask how I look?"

Coricopat reached up to comb his fingers through Mistoffelees' hair to tame it a little bit, "Like you've been kissed recently, but it's not blatantly obvious."

"God," Mistoffelees murmured, trying to smooth down his own hair but unable to actually stop smiling at the other.

"You should have time to comb it before you run into anyone, right?"

"That's the hope," Mistoffelees said, eyes widening. "It's that bad?"

"Not...really? I mean your hair's in disarray and I don't think my fingers are going to help tame it any. And your face is flushed a bit..."

"I think we'll make it," Mistoffelees said, leaning up to kiss him again. "But god, what are we doing in the next few days?"

"You could come by the drug store..." He paused, "Or maybe not. God, I don't know."

Mistoffelees let out a long breath. "This isn't sustainable. For now, do you think we could avoid either territory?"

"I think this may be the closest we can get to it..."

"Then let's stay out here," Mistoffelees said. "I think, I think Bomba is willing to let me slip away."

"Then let's plan to meet here after work?"

"Okay," Mistoffelees nodded. "Okay. Tomorrow," he twined his hand with Coricopat's. "I really need to get home tonight though."

Coricopat offered him a smile and another quick peck, "I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Walking me home?"

He nodded, "As far as I can."

"Good," Mistoffelees managed. He finally stepped back, keeping their hands together as they walked.

They reached the edge of Puerto Rican territory and Coricopat stopped, "I...really shouldn't go any further..."

Turning to him, Mistoffelees paused, wanting to linger. "No, you shouldn't."

Coricopat paused for a moment before leaning down, intending to just kiss the other briefly. Mistoffelees leaned up into the kiss, intending it to be just as brief but not wanting to let go once he was there.

"Dios mio!" Pouncival's voice cut through the air, his eyes narrowing at the two of them as Coricopat startled and took a solid step away from Mistoffelees. Which was little compared to the solid three that Mistoffelees took away from him before turned abruptly, eyes huge.

Pounce shook his head, moving over, looking up at Coricopat, "I am sure we had a conversation about what I thought of you yesterday. Not to mention what you needed to avoid. I am certain that kissing him where his brother can catch you was top on that list." He scowled, turning to Mistoffelees, "And I am also sure that you are supposed to be at home."

Mistoffelees' jaw worked for a moment, unable to get any sound out. "I-I, si."

Coricopat opened his mouth to say something, but Pounce cut him off, "No. You, American, should be long gone. Mistoffelees, we had better get you home. Now."

Looking between them, Mistoffelees swallowed and nodded, running a hand along Coricopat's once more. "Buenos noches," he said quietly.

Coricopat offered him a faint smile, ignoring the way Pounce's jaw tensed, "Good night."

With another faint smile, he finally turned back to Pounce, trying to force himself to keep from looking back at the other. Pounce glanced at Mistoffelees before starting toward the apartment building, "Are you out of your mind?"

"Yes," Mistoffelees said, looking down as they walked. "What were you doing out here anyway?"

"Had to run some errands. Was on my way home."

"Oh," Mistoffelees managed, still looking down. "I," he swallowed again, really unsure what he could possibly say.

"Why? That's all I want to know. Why?"

"Why?" the smaller teen finally looked up. "Why I'm doing this or why I'm feeling this?"

"Why are you doing this? How can you possibly even consider this?"

Floundering, Mistoffelees switched back into Spanish. "I don't know. But I'm sick of dealing with this, this hatred between us. It's stupid, there's no logical reason. He's sweet, and kind, isn't that what should matter?"

Pouncival followed the language change smoothly, "And when he has to introduce you to his parents? What then? You already know what your family thinks."

Mistoffelees flinched back at that. "I don't, I don't know."

"Or when he comes up injured? What will you do then?"

"Why, you planning on injuring him?" Mistoffelees snapped, finally looking up.

Pounce looked taken aback, "No, I'm just saying he's in a gang. There are fights. It happens."

"Then I'd see about doing the same damn thing I do for you and the other morons that live here," Mistoffelees snapped. "Which is patch you up. Besides, that argument could be used against your suite just as well."

Pouncival's eyes narrowed, "Fine, forget it all. We're practically home, but I'm having a hard time trying to figure out why not to tell your brother where I found you."

The smaller teen's eyes widened. "I-I..."

"If he doesn't ask I won't say it, but I'm still not sure why."

"Pounce," he said, voice small and reaching a hand out. "I'm still sorry."

Pounce drew away from the touch, "And I'm still not sure I'm ready to forgive you."

"I know," he murmured. "I just sort of wish that it could have been different. I didn't want to hurt you. I didn't."

"Well, it's been done. I'll get over it eventually, but not if I walk upon the two of you again likely."

"I'll keep that in mind," Mistoffelees, said, dropping his eyes again.

"Well, you'd better scurry upstairs before your brother gets home."

Giving the other teen a long look, Mistoffelees swallowed and nodded, before taking the stairs two at a time. Pounce followed more slowly, slipping into the apartment his family had.

Entering the apartment, Mistoffelees glanced around, trying to place himself back in the familiar surroundings, but they felt so odd now. Finally, he moved toward the small kitchenette, starting dinner.

Munkustrap arrived about fifteen minutes later, draping his coat over one of the chairs, "Buenos noches, Mistoffelees"

"Buenos noches, hermano," Mistoffelees replied, not quite turning but feeling his shoulder blades tense.

"How was your day?" The older brother continued in Spanish as he started getting dishes down.

"Usual," Mistoffelees replied. "School, work, things like that."

"And how were those?"

"The same," Mistoffelees shrugged. "Classes were hard, I got yelled at again. Work was fine, I think Bomba is more on edge than usual though." Which was a hilarious understatement for how on edge he was.

"Bomba's on edge?" Munkustrap paused, "I'll talk to her later, see what is going on."

"It's probably the rumble," Mistoffelees murmured, still not looking at his brother.

"Which isn't a rumble in the typical definition."

"Still, you're fighting in it," his brother said.

"It's a fist fight. I will be fine, a couple of bruises and scrapes. Nothing lasting."

"Until you get your head knocked into a brick wall, insuring in either brain damage or death," Mistoffelees returned. "Every fight is dangerous.

"Oh for the love of God... I will be fine. What has you so on edge?"

"What needs to put me on edge?" Mistoffelees said, finally turning. "Things were supposed to be better here and we're still just fighting!"

His brother murmured something at that, shaking his head, "We're coming to an end of that."

"We are?" Mistoffelees demanded, hands on his hips. "How can you possibly know that?"

"It's...well, alright maybe not permanently but that's what this is supposed to help sort out."

Mistoffelees just threw his hands up. "Because they need more reason to hate us, because we don't have enough issues, we have to look for more."

"They hate us already, and there are those they hate more."

"Like?"

"The police for one."

"That's not reassuring, brother," Mistoffelees snapped. "Isn't that a reason to make more people dislike us. We should be trying to get along, to, to, build bridges or..."

"Or kiss them at public dances?"

Mistoffelees blinked, shoulders going up. "Excuse me?"

"How do you recommend building bridges?" Munkus changed the question

"I don't know. Talking tends to be a place to start. We live in the same places, go to the same schools. Bitch about the same teachers even, god, why is it so hard to find common ground?"

"It..." Munkustrap sighed, "Well, we can't very well do so now."

"Of course not," Mistoffelees muttered, turning back to dinner, turning the stove off.

His brother's eyes narrowed, "What do you want me to do?"

"I don't know," he said, shaking his head, shoulders slumping.

"Then I'll keep doing what I feel is working."

"But it's not!" Mistoffelees slammed the pot back on the counter and winced as soon as he realized he'd done it.

Munkustrap scowled at that, "Then tell me what is?"

Bowing his head down, Mistoffelees sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "I'm just tired."

"We all are, but there's no reason to take it out on each other."

"I'm sorry," Mistoffelees said, shoulders hunching.

"It is fine. I'm sorry as well."

Taking a breath, Mistoffelees finally turned. "I just, it's just," he paused and stepped forward, wrapping his arms around him, and holding on.

Munkustrap drew his little brother close, holding him tight, "I'm sorry. I know you worry, but I'll be alright."

"Please, be alright," he said, holding on.

"I'll...see if we can find a way to negotiate after this week, alright? The wheels for this are already in motion and I can't stop them."

"Alright," Mistoffelees murmured. "I just..."

"I know."

Mistoffelees took half a step back, pausing. "It's just, would it be so bad to get to know them?"

"…Maybe not." Sighing softly, Mistoffelees turned back to the food he'd left on the counter. "I'll give it a try, a sit down with Macavity after this week," Munkustrap reassured quietly.

Mistoffelees nodded, not quite believing his brother but wanting more than anything to be hopeful.

"I promise."

"Alright," Mistoffelees said. "Here, you should eat."

Munkus took the food, "Gracias, hermano."

That got a soft smile from the younger brother. "Will you be anywhere tonight?"

"I think I'm going to be going to Bomba's, but I'll be home tonight."

"Good," Mistoffelees said softly.

"There's a cease fire, right now, Mistoffelees. Do stop worrying tonight?"

Mistoffelees sighed again. "I'll try," he said, mustering a smile.

"Now, shall we eat?"

Nodding, the smaller teen sat down at the table.

"So you've been around all day then?" Munkustrap asked, conversationally.

Mistoffelees could feel his shoulders tense again. "Since work, certainly."

"And what did you do then?"

"Read, mostly. Worked on dinner," Mistoffelees mumbled, focusing on the food.

"What did you read?"

Mistoffelees blinked at that. "Don Quixote," he returned, a little unsure about the specificity of the question.

"Very good. Are you enjoying that one?"

Mistoffelees shrugged. "The same as usual," he said. "Come now, it's a book I can actually read in Spanish."

"Si, this is true," he glanced up, "I want to remind you that I don't want you seeing that American. Am I still clear?"

That got a rapid blink from Mistoffelees. "What about earlier?" he asked weakly. "About trying to be friends?"

"That does not mean I trust them with you. And certainly not this week." Eyes drifting down again, Mistoffelees nodded, not saying anything one way or the other yet. "Am I clear?" his brother pressed.

"Yes, brother, very," Mistoffelees said, not meeting his eyes.

"Good. I..." he sighed, "I'm just trying to keep you safe."

"I know you are," he said. Or at the very least his brother thought he was helping.

Munkustrap finished his dinner, rising, "I'm headed out to Bomba's. I'll be back later..."

"Alright," Mistoffelees murmured, once again wondering if his brother realized how often he was supposed to be left home alone. At least that afternoon he'd run out, but he could never admit that Munkustrap.

The older brother paused, "Are you going to be alright tonight?"

"Sure. I'll see if any of the other Sharks are around at the roof, or just read some more," he lied carefully.

"Alright. You know where to find me."

"Sure I do," Mistoffelees agreed. "Or just follow the sound of Bomba's yelling."

"I'm hoping to avoid another fight," Munkustrap responded. "Knock if you come over."

Mistoffelees rolled his eyes. "Knowing you two, I'll be more than sure to knock."

That earned a quiet laugh, before his brother leaned over, kissing his cheek. "Stay safe," he picked up his coat and left.

"You too," Mistoffelees said, watching his brother leave. Standing, he began washing the dishes, trying not to let his mind wander.

So, after the lack of Mistoffelees in the last chapter, have an entire sequence with him!

If anyone is interesting, over on the magical_notes Livejournal community (magical-notes . livejournal . com) we've been putting up commentaries that we recorded on each chapter, detailing not only some of the process but also what we think of certain scenes and how they fit into the story. The first three are already up, and the fourth should be appearing soon!

Some interesting things with this chapter is how very lonely Mistoffelees actually is in this story. His brother leaves him along for long stretches of time, he doesn't even enjoy school in this story (which is a rarity) and he goes to a job he doesn't enjoy, and then at most hangs out with the gang members while not approving of the gang in general. Thus, his complete attachment to Cori comes partly out of how dissatisfied and lonely he currently is.

We hope everyone's been enjoying the story so far! Please, if you have been enjoying it, drop us a line. Reviews mean so much to authors, and it only takes a moment of your time to make our days so much brighter. Though we've been getting a decent amount of hits per chapter, we've been getting very few reviews, and so we would like to stress just how much it means to us. Cheers all, and we hope you've been enjoying it!