HAT: I know, I know, another one-shot, but give me a break! I've got a lack of inspiration for my longer stories, so... this is what you get.
Disclaimer: I own nothing other than the plot and OCs because if I did own Cats I'd be licking Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla Ice cream right now. *licks Blue Bell Ice cream* What? This is chocolate. I don't own it.
After a few days of roaming about on the streets Shadow returned to the junkyard and was smothered by the queens and scolded by the queens and toms. Shadow decides to lounge on top of the oven, a relatively safe place, and watch the cats interact and cast him hateful glances. He returns their gazes with a blank, hollow expression. He doesn't want to be bothered, it's obvious by the look on his face. There's also that offer that his sister gave him.
There was a lot to think about.
"Hey, Shadow," a familiar voice whispers, causing him to glance up.
"Oh, hi, Teazer."
She settles beside him and doesn't take her dark brown eyes off of him. "Are you okay?"
He gives a reassuring smile. "Yeah. Just needed some time away, that was all."
Before he knows it her arms are wrapped around his shoulders and blush covers his cheeks as he freezes at the physical contact. "I was real worried, Shady... promise me you won't do that? Promise you won't make me worry?"
Hesitantly his arms wrap around her in attempt to comfort her. "I-I promise."
She pulls away with a grateful smile. "Thank you."
"N-no problem," he replies.
The time passes by slowly and he feels almost content... almost. He nearly slips off in a nap when suddenly he feels a warmth at his side and sees Rumpelteazer leaning against him, using him as a pillow. He feels a small smile twitch at his lips and then he shakes his head and looks at the horizon, trying to think of something, anything, that will make him feel... better... feel... like there's hope for him. His eyes turn a golden color, echoing the colors of the sunset.
When night comes he decides that she's not going to wake up any time soon and picks her up, on arm behind her back and the other under her knees. He feels her breath on his neck and gulps before he stands in front of Skimbleshanks' den door. He looks down at his paws and wonders how he's going to knock since his arms are occupied.
Crap, he thinks before his eyes light up, silvery like the moon, before he lifts up his foot and knocks on the door. He waits and then knocks again and Mungojerrie opens the door.
"Hey, Shade," the calico tom greets. "Did Teazer fall asleep on you?"
The canine nods. "Yeah, I just decided to bring her back since it seemed she was gonna wake up any time soon."
"... How'd you knock?"
"Very carefully."
Dark brown eyes lower to the lifted and wiggling foot and a smile splits the tom-kit's face. "Nice. Thanks for bringing her back."
"No problem."
The calico queen-kit's in her brother's arms and Shadow smiles awkwardly and decides to head to Deuteronomy's when suddenly a silver arm's thrown over his shoulder and a friendly smile's in his face. Shadow's mask slaps into place and he smiles back reluctantly. No one notices the slight prickling of his fur along his spine despite how much he wants them to, but that doesn't happen.
"Wanna take a walk?"
"I-I'm supposed to be home," the blue eyed animal murmurs afraid.
"Oh, okay. See you tomorrow?"
"Yeah."
Shadow walks into the den and internally shudders. The light turns on and he looks straight at Old Deuteronomy whose dark brown eyes hold a bit of worry in them. The canine's heart stops beating in a moment before speeding up and he wonders if this is a confrontation. It has to be, it feels like it. Sure, he's never had one, but he knows, somewhere inside of him, what it feels like to have a confrontation with someone, like this cat.
"Where were you for the past few days, Shadow?"
"In the city," answers the young dog.
"Skimble told me you've been hurting yourself... why?"
Shadow's jaw sets and he narrows his baby blue eyes. "My arm hasn't healed, the wounds just constantly reopen, why would I hurt myself?"
Deuteronomy scrutinizes him for a moment before sighing. "Just go to bed."
"Yes, sir."
He doesn't notice the look that he gets from the old tom, whose eyes are wide and jaw has dropped. Shadow hasn't used 'sir' in weeks so whatever's happened has got him spiraling backwards in his progress over that time.
What's happening?
HAT: I believe that's a good place to stop because the next chapter's not finished yet… yes, writer's block is a murderer of stories fora time being. Seems to have caught some of us writers in the CATS fandom, hasn't it?
Electra: I bet!
HAT: Hi Electra!
Electra: Hi HAT. I was told to be here to tell them to review.
HAT: Yep! Help me?
Electra: Sure.
HAT: Please-
Electra: Review or else-
HAT: I'll write more to Thundering Lust.
Electra: *blinks* What?! *shakes head* You know what?
HAT: What?
Electra: *shoves HAT into a black hole*
HAT: AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!