Pieces

A Tugger/Misto Fanfic

Chapter 6: When The World Goes Dark

~~**~~

Victoria wandered past Misto's empty den, peering inside as if she expected him to be there. She sighed softly. It had been a week since Misto and Tugger mysteriously disappeared one night. Not even the twins could explain where they may have gone. It was if they had vanished. Victoria's heart ached, as she missed Mistoffelees terribly.

"He'll come back Victoria."

Victoria looked up to the sound of Munkustrap's voice.

"Will he? You don't know that. And what about Tugger?"

"Well…" Munkustrap chuckled, "If I know my brother, he's making sure that nothing happens to Mistoffelees."

"How do you know they're together?" Victoria asked.

Munkustrap smiled at the young white queen. He hadn't said anything, but he had actually known about the relationship between Misto and Tugger for weeks. But he knew better than to question Tugger's pride. It would come out in the open when the time was right.

"I just have a feeling. Try not to worry. Misto is quite capable of taking care of himself."

"I know. And if Tugger is with him, I know they'll be safe." She smiled, "Tugger would pounce on anything nasty that came near them!"

"Yes Victoria, I imagine he would."

Victoria nuzzled up to Munkustrap. He gently patted her on the head. "No more worries now, ok?"

"Ok." Victoria agreed.

She turned and looked up at the starry night sky.

~~**~~

Tears streamed down Misto's cheeks, and he continually wiped them away. He wasn't used to such emotion. It all came at once, like a flood. His heart was pounding, his body ached. He felt terrible. What was this? He had never felt anything like this before. To call it jealousy seemed redundant, but it hurt to much to be anger. Misto sobbed with the realization. It could be nothing but love.

He loved Tugger. He did. Had he known this already? Did Angelique know he would learn this? Misto didn't care about the answer to any of these questions. He just wanted the answer to one.

Did Tugger love him in return?

Like this, the painful kind of love?

Misto sighed, catching his breath and letting the few hot tears left in his eyes tumble down his cheeks. He shivered. He marveled at how humans stuck it out with just jackets and sweaters, and no fur to keep them warm.

He looked around, suddenly realizing he had no idea where he was. How long had he been walking? After he had left their room, he had just walked. Walked with his head down, in a straight line for a while, and then he remembered turning right near a bench. Or had it been left? Misto turned around. "Oh no."

He heard footsteps near by, and cat-like he froze. Listening and waiting. The footsteps grew closer, and louder. More than one set of feet. "Hello?" He called. There was no answer. Misto sighed, "Stop it Mistoffelees, you're just nervous." He whirled to face the other direction, and ran smack into a short, but well-muscled young man.

"Whoa there tiny dancer! Why in such a hurry? You ran into me."

"I'm sorry. I didn't see you. My apologies."

Misto went to push past the man, and was held back. Two other men, both taller than the first, walked up on either side of him. All four of them stood beneath the glow of a streetlamp.

"You guys see that? Tiny dancer here ran into me." The guy repeated again to his friends.

"Yes." Misto said, "And I apologized. Now can I please go? I have somewhere to be."

"Oh, and where do you have to be at this hour that is of such importance?"

"Well…actually I'm going to makeup with my boyfriend. We had a horrible fight, and I realize I was wrong. I love him, and I'm going to tell him that."

"Aw, did you hear that?" A second one said. "He loves his boyfriend."

"Bet we'd love your boyfriend too." Said the third, "What's his name?"

"Tugger." Misto said proudly, as if he wanted the world to know.

The three men looked confusingly at each and then burst out laughing.

"Tugger?" One exclaimed, "I'm not even gonna ask about that one!" They all continued laughing. Misto didn't see anything funny about it, and he went to walk past the trio and was once again grabbed by his shirt collar and thrown back up against the building.

"Did I say you could go?" The first said.

"I can go when I want to." Misto said.

"Oh really?"

Misto's heart was pounding, this was starting to look unpleasant. He closed his eyes. He could use his magic, disappear in a flash and they would never know the difference. He waited. Waited for the spark. But nothing came. He wasn't a magical cat anymore…he was just human. "Oh no."

"Oh no is right, pretty boy."

Misto shoved the shorter man away with every bit of strength he could muster and made a run for it. He didn't get very far before he felt himself being pulled back.

"No! No! Get off! Get off! Stop!"

The shorter man punched a strong right hook to Misto's face. Misto's begging continued, but it only seemed to make the man punch harder. Misto slid to the ground and one of the other men kicked him, hard. The blows just kept coming. Misto couldn't even tell where they came from anymore. He continued to plead with them to stop and leave him be, though at this point his voice was hardly above a whisper.

Misto opened his eyes, and behind the dirty shoes he saw kicking him, in the background a small white cat scurried past and ran off into the night. For a moment, it seemed to stop and look at Misto.

"Victoria." Misto whispered. "Tugger."

He was suddenly jerked up, and punched again before the hands holding him let go, and he fell to the ground. Blood trickled from his nose and mouth, his clothes dirty and torn now, and the bruises already forming. He felt himself being kicked once more, and he shuddered.

"Stupid pansy boy. Stay on your own side of town."

~~**~~

Tugger laid back on the bed, wide awake and staring at the ceiling. A million thoughts running through his head. With every little sound he sprang up and waited for the door to open. But the hours ticked by, and there was still no sign of Mistoffelees.

"Damn it, Misto! Where are you?" Tugger wondered aloud. "Argh! Why do I have to be such an ego-centric bastard?" He sighed, "Why can't I just admit what's there, like he does?" He stood up, "That's it. The minute he walks back through that door, I'm telling him. Mistoffelees, I love you." Tugger paused. He had never uttered those words to anyone before. It felt strange and foreign.

Tugger went to the window, peering out to the street below. No one was around.

He started back toward the bed, when he heard a loud knock near the door. He stopped, he waited. One knock? Maybe it was nothing.

Another knock came, and then a second, and a third. "Misto?" Tugger ran to the door and flung it open. He smiled when he saw Misto standing there, but his smile quickly faded when he saw the condition Misto was in.

Blood trickled from his nose, and his clothes were torn and dirty. His hair was musseled, and he wavered on his feet. "Tugger? Can we go home?"

He collapsed forward into Tugger's arms. Tugger knelt in the doorway, holding Misto close as Misto dug his fingers into Tugger's shirt, and held on for dear life. Tugger buried his face in Misto's hair, tears brimming at the corner of his eyes.

"We'll go home, Misto. We'll go home."