Disclaimer: I don't own CATS!

Sorry it's been so long since I've updated this one for real, please review!


Leo padded softly after Misto as he followed the tux through the bright, dusty yard, unsure as he looked back and watched his sister hesitating with each step. She was like a mule, she was so stuborn, and making a face about as pretty as a mule as well.

She did not look happy as she huffed after them, with what looked like an everlasting scowl on her face at everything the 'yard had to offer.

The tom had begged his sister to get out of the den, to meet some of the other cats, and to just try and stop acting so hateful and to get to know the Jellicles before she judged them.

He had already met some of the toms his own age, although he had no idea what to think of them, besides the fact that unlike Cicero he didn't think they were horrible. He didn't really talk to them about much, except about their family relationships, about their parents and siblings, since he wanted to know more about the tribe.

But that was just because he was so socially deprived, having spent his whole life stuck in a situation that was dysfunctional to say the least, he knew next to nothing about interacting with toms his own age.

Cicero was trying to just buck up and go through with it, even as her body fought against her commands to move forward. She just wanted to explode and tear apart all that she hated, go back to her window and look at the stars... not have to deal with this, a past she didn't know existed, a future she was unsure of, pain she didn't understand.

If anything, in the end, even through all of her confusion and hate and longing and resentment, she just wanted to be sure of something. Even if it was just the promise to watch the stars with her brother, she just wanted to be sure of something, because everything else made about as much sense as someone on an acid trip acting as tour guide on a vacation to an amusement park.

Leo's limping became more and more visible as they continued, since he wasn't used to doing so much walking; his long lasting injuries and scars just seemed to become even more apparent in this place of refuge.

His scars didn't stand out among the henchcats and roughians found in Macavity's lair, there the only thing that made him stand out was his gentleness. But here his limp seemed worse than ever since it didn't seem normal anymore, his scars standing out visibly against his fur, normally not so noticable in a room full of similar scars, similar wounds.

And he was so out of breath from limping through the heat, although Misto didn't notice, since he was focused on other things.

But Sissy noticed, knowing her brother and his physical limitations well, as she came to a brisk hault, planting her feet firmly into the dirt. "Hey, we need to stop," she said to Misto, in a voice that actually seemed to command respect, and not like she was just complaining.

"Wha-" he begun cluelessly as he turned around, before he saw Leo holding himself up on his paws as he panted.

"I... I just need a minute," he said between breaths, as Sissy stepped up to him and helped him sit down on a tire, not letting go of him and rubbing his shoulder.

Misto stared at the exhausted tom, surprised he would tire after such a short walk, not realizing it hurt to walk for too long because of his injuries.

Sissy sat on the ground and leaned her head into Leo's chest, looking up at his face with a worried look, the same way she always did growing up, whenever he was punished because of her. "You're stupid, you know that right? All those times you stood up for me and got hurt for it, now look at you," she murmured in a teasing voice, nuzzling him slightly.

He simply responded by giving her a slight smile even as he was trying to catch his breath, and then shaking his head no, to show that he thought she was wrong, and that everything he had gone through had been worth it.

Misto didn't hear what Sissy had said, and so he didn't know what to think as he watched them. It was almost sureal, seeing two cats that were so much like yet so different from him and his sister. Both the same colors and the same age, but that really was were the resemblance ended, as they're personalities matched about as much as Munkus' and Tugger's did.

He wanted to say something to them, wanted to ask them a million questions about their lives, to understand them, but the awkward tom had no idea what to say. And before he could say anything, he caught the sight of a small group of cats heading their way.

At first the tux worried it would turn into another mob situation, until he saw who it was, just some of his friends.

Tumblebrutus, Etcetera, Electra, and Jemima, all chattering about the exciting new visiters, until they noticed the small group right in front of them, and rushing to greet them.

"Oh no," said Misto exasperatedly, when he realized how overly excited they could get, especially Etcetera; he did not want his friends to scare the daylights out of these scared, socially starved cats.

But much to Misto's relief, they stopped about halfway, next to an old refrigerator, where it seemed Electra had to practically hold Etcetera down to keep her from bouncing to the moon, or tackling the two new cats.

Sissy and Leo finally looked up and saw the small group of cats up at the fridge staring at them, fear and uncertainty taking the back seat to curiousity as they watched the queens practically throw Tumblebrutus toward them, obviously sending him to greet them.

Tumble, I'll bite a bit stumblingly, walked right up to Misto with a kittenish look on his face, eyeing the brother and sister constantly.

"Misto... so what's with them? They're a couple of weird critters, aren't they?" he whispered to the tux in a sneaky voice as he wondered why they were so nervous.

"They're okay, they're just scared," said Misto, glaring at his tactless friend. "And don't stare!"

Of course, Tumble wouldn't stop staring, as they huddled together nervously at the eyes of the young tom and the queens who still hadn't approached.

"Well, they won't stop staring," said Tumble, gesturing behind his back to the three queens, who were chattering excitedly and giggling as they were obviously ogling the brother and sister.

"I'll be right back," he said in a sleezy voice, nodding to Leo and Cicero and inching back toward the group of queens.

"Just look at her, she looks like she could just get picked up and blown away by the wind," giggled Cettie, commenting on how small in stature Cicero was.

"I wonder what they like to do for fun, probably kill giant rats or cat fighting," said Jemima, eyeing Leo's scars admiringly.

"I don't know, they probably don't have much fun, considering where they're from. Although the tom is kind of handsome," whispered Electra, casting an occassional glance at Leo.

"Oh, you find any tom attractive," said Cettie, taking a swat at Electra's ear with her paw in a teasing manner, intent on making her sister embarrassed.

Misto watched as Tumble approached the queens, not really caring so much as to what they were saying, but more interested in talking to the queens and maybe finally getting a date.

"Hey Leo," he said, moving toward the tom and sitting down next to him, keeping one eye on the queens. "You see those queens over there, do'a think either of us have a shot with one of them?" He said this as he wiped his nuckles on his chest in a show-offy manner, really to silly too be sauve.

"What?" asked Leo, looking away from his sister. "Do you mean like... courting?" It felt like a window has been shattered, since the tom had never been in a situation that gave him the opportunity to date before, and he suddenly found himself feeling like his limbs had gone numb with nervousness, as well as just the shock that this option existed now.

"Um, I don't know what courting is, but if it involves taking a queen out on the town for a night, then sure," said Misto, shrugging. "Hey Tumble, girls, get over here!" called Misto, trotting over and leaving Leo and Sissy alone.

"Are queens the only thing he thinks about?" asked Cicero, relaxing and putting a smile on her face now that she didn't have to deal with the magician for the moment.

"Probably," said Leo, still slightly in shock, letting out a sigh until he noticed Electra looking at him with a sweet smile, pretending to be listening to the others while she kept glancing his way.

Leo watched her curiously, noting her unusual normalcy compared to her sister Etcetera, who just seemed so hyper. She kept giving him looks, although she wasn't conventionally beautiful, she had this different sort of prettiness about her that just seemed to come from her personality, as well as her scruffiness.

Leo shyly returned her smile as he found himself unable to think straight, his sister noticing and bumping him on the arm with her paw. "Go talk to her, lover boy," she teased, acting all silly, something only her brother could coax out of her. "Go get'em, show that goofy magician how it's done."

The awkward tom wasn't sure how, but he found himself walking toward the group, struggling to smile as he wobbled nervously on his feet like his legs had turned into jelly. As he stopped in front of them, Electra turned around and faced him, cocking her head to the side and smiling. "Hey, so you're new?" she asked.

"...Yes, I'm Leo, what's your name?" he said, trying to keep from tripping over his own words, even though outwardly he kept up that calm, thoughtfulness he never had to fake, until now.

"Electra... so you wanna..." she begun, gesturing away from the others and stepping away from there little group, as she noticed the stares they were getting from the other queens and Tumble.

"Sure," he managed, as he tried to swallow his nervousness and followed her, getting out of hearing distance of the others but staying in sight of his sister, who watched from her spot which she hadn't left.

"So... how are you and your sister adjusting?" she asked, really unsure of where to begin, since she had no idea what he had been through.

"We're doing alright in many ways.. although it would be nice to not be stared at constantly and mobbed," he said, with a half laugh.

"Sorry about that, we don't get many new clan members, especially in such unusual circumstances. Although really that's no excuse," she added, wanting to be clear that she had nothing to do with the mobs.

"It's okay, I just hope we can stay here, even if Cicero is mad about it," he whispered this last part, looking over his shoulder as he said it.

"Well, I hope you can stay also. Maybe we could even hang out sometime," she said, scratching her ear a little nervously as she said this.

"Okay... why not tomorrow? You could come over for lunch, Jelly's been making every meal a feast," he said, wanting to ask her before she lost inerest.

At this Electra was taken aback slightly, since she didn't expect him to call his mother by name, and this was kinda fast, but she decided to just go with it. "Sure, I'd like that," she said sweetly.

"Great... so I'll see you around noon?" he said, looking around Electra at his anxiously waiting sister.

"Okay, I can't wait," she said, stepping out of his way, watching as he limped back to his sister, at the same time as Misto started in the same direction.

Just then, the scruffy queen felt a familiar paw on her shoulder, and she turned here head to find the eyes of her sister staring into hers. "So, how'd it go. Electra?" asked Etcy, in her trilly voice.

"So how'd it go, Misto?" asked Cicero in a voice that was icy yet with a slight touch of wit. Humor is best served cold.

"Pretty good, actually, since I really no how to sway a queen," he said in a cocky voice. "I'm thinking I may ask out Jemmi sometime."

"A ha. And how about you, brother?" she said, using a tone of incredulousness with Misto before turning sweetly to Leo, as he walked back up to her, his limp not nearly as prominent as usual.

"Electra's coming over for lunch tomorrow," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I hope that doesn't bother you, Misto."

"Bother me? You kidding, she's not the prettiest queen out there. But, if you find her attractive..." he said, shaking his head at the idea of going out with such a tom boy.

"Well isn't somebody shallow?" asked Cicero, putting her arm around her brothers neck and walking off with him


That night, at Electra and Cettie's den.

"So you saw them today?" asked Victoria, batting a paw in the air as she imagined wiping the whole bloody mess off the scope of her life and getting things back to the way she liked them.

"Yeah, they were with Misto," giggled Cettie, "they're just sooo weird, you know?" She was an unashamed gossip, a cat and a queen if there ever was one, even if she was so little-girlish at times she seemed rediculously silly.

"Well, I think Leo is nice," said Electra, deciding to just be honest about it. "I mean, he's down to earth, and he really cares for his sister."

At this Victoria sat up and raised an eyebrow at her, studying her face for any hints of betrayal, knowing something was up. "I don't care if they're nice, they're a threat. And... and if you're my friend, you won't speak to them!"

Electra tried to hide her reaction as what Victoria said hit her like a piano dropping from the tower of London, and she suddenly found herself unable to breathe. "But I'm going over to their den for lunch tomorrow!" she screamed inside her head, as she found she may have to choose between getting to know this tom, and her best friend.