A/N: I hope you had a lovely Christmas. Macavity's back.. What? He's my favourite character.
Bit mature, plus violence and injuries. Nothing too bad.
Days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to months. Macavity had allowed for Rumpleteazer to go back to her own barrack, but she'd stuck with Seelniu like glue. Mungojerrie was about as pleased as a cat could get- despite the fact she'd spent a lot of time with her tom, she always spent an equal amount of time with him.
The red tom, however, was completely clueless about Seelniu and Rumpleteazer. Word had quickly spread around the Hideout, but it somehow hadn't got back to Macavity. He wasn't one to ban relationships and love, but he was extremely tough on Seelniu. The amount of times Rumpleteazer had cuddled the black tom after a gruelling training session..
It was always best to keep Macavity in the dark. Bast knew what he'd do if he found out about the two- Rumpleteazer wasn't exactly in Macavity's good books. She hadn't mentioned the Jellicles again, but the fact she'd been so hung up on them still irritated Macavity.
Early Saturday morning, and the sun illuminated the vast, stark training room. Two cats were sparring in the middle of the room- a queen and a tom. Standard training usually involved weapons, but the tom seemed to be holding back.
Several minutes later, and both cats fell to sit on a crate, their chests rising and falling rapidly.
"Oi 'ate earleh troinin.." The queen sighed, as the tom stretched out on his back, lying lazily on the crate.
"Has its advantages," The tom purred, lightly stroking the calico queen's thigh. She giggled, slapping his paw away. The black tom simply smirked, tugging on her arm so she was settled on top of his body.
"Well, Rrrrumpleteazer, what are you doing there?" Seelniu asked, purring quietly.
Rumpleteazer simply chuckled, leaning down to engage the black tom in a deep kiss. He fully returned it, trailing a paw up her side and cupping her cheek. She purred, breaking the kiss and nuzzling his cheek.
"Kotyonok?" Seelniu murmured, flicking his tail up her leg and kissing her cheek.
"Mhm?" The calico queried, snuggling into the tom.
Seelniu sighed, stroking her headfur in time with his tail stroking her leg.
"May I ask about your views on the Jellicle?"
"Jellicles," She corrected, breath hitched in her throat. Seelniu noticed this and sat them both up, resting his back against a rack of weapons and pulling her into his arms.
"I don't want the boss to cause you pain for it," He spoke, gently caressing her back. She tensed, her tail flicking in agitation.
"Oi don' wannah go back.. Oi wanna stoiy wiv ya an 'Jer. Thoiy can' love us tha' much if thoiy le' Mac tek 'Jerrie back.. Plus, 'Lonzo 'urt moiy brotha," She sighed, growling feebly. Seelniu sighed and nuzzled her headfur, kissing her forehead.
"I am very sorry. As long as you are happiness, I am okay. Plus, Jerriemungo and I are here for you," He spoke. Although his english was still garbled, Rumpleteazer could tell just how much adoration he held for her. It tugged at her heart.
On the other side of the Hideout, Macavity was pacing his office. His tail flicked in agitation, his paws clasped behind his back. The monster of depravity was puzzled- the behaviour of some of his workers was really confusing him. It wasn't uncommon for the henchcats to misbehave, but when it was the second in command..
Frowning, the red tom fell into his chair, drumming his fingers on the desk before angrily swiping at the files that occupied it. They flew onto the floor, tumbling down and landing in a disarrayed order. They were supposed to be completed- but, that wasn't Macavity's job. He didn't handle that paperwork- it was basically signing documents. Far too lowly for the Napoleon of Crime.
It was Seelniu's job. Up till now, he'd always completed his tasks, and shown up late every single time his boss called him to the office. He was neglecting his second in command duties- and that was completely unheard of.
What was going on? He hadn't seen him doing anything different- when the black tom rarely appeared, he was on his own, or ordering a trainee around. Come to think of it.. He was seen around the Hideout less. He hadn't exactly been sociable, but it was becoming more and more of a common occurence for him to disappear days at a time.
Macavity sighed, before snapping his head up and staring at a bowl on the dresser. With a flick of his paw, it floated over to the desk, setting down where the files had been resting just a minute ago. The Mystery Cat rose to his feet, before scanning his possessions and grabbing a jug of dark liquid. He poured it into the bowl, before setting it down and waving his free paw over the bowl.
"Locate, locate Seelniu Trazkiowczky," Macavity muttered, setting his paws back down to his sides as the water began to swirl, before settling. An image began to materialize, blurry at first before clearing.
"I think I'd best get to work.." Seelniu sighed, running his hand through his headfur. The dark tom glanced down to the queen beside him, before wrapping his arms round her and shaking his head.
"Eh.. Macavity will cope," He amended, before leaning down for a kiss. The calico tilted her face up, wrapping her arms around the black tom in a hug.
Calico.
That was all Macavity needed to see. Growling, he swept a paw over the bowl, discarding the image before pounding a fist on the intercom button.
"Get me Rumpleteazer. Right now," He spat.
"Get me Rumpleteazer. Right now,"
Mungojerrie almost choked on his mouse stew, partly from the shock of Macavity's voice filling the hideout, and partly from fear for his sister. What had she done? Had he discovered her secret?
"Oi wish tha' bast'ahd woul' jus' le' 'Teazah be," Mungojerrie growled, throwing his spoon down and casting one last, wistful look at the bowl of stew. He knew his sister had to go- she'd be jailed if she refused a direct order from her boss.
Ignoring the many stares he recieved from the canteen's other occupants, Mungojerrie marched out of the door, wincing slightly as his head whipped round to check for the small queen. His neck was healing, but it still hurt. Damn that knife..
Cringing, the calico tom rubbed the back of his neck as he shoved past his colleagues to get to his sister's barrack. He knew that she was in there today- Mungojerrie was due to be training, so she'd be with Seelniu. He'd grown to like the black tom, a feat he'd thought impossible prior to meeting him.
Not even bothering to knock, Mungojerrie strode into the barrack, almost colliding with his sister.
"'Jer? Whot ah ya doin'?" Rumpleteazer queried, biting her lip to try and hide the quiver in her voice. Her twin rested his paws on her shoulders, staring into her chocolate brown eyes. She visibly relaxed, but her tail was still drooped to the floor.
"Oi 'eard ya ah off ta 'Mac-"
"I will take her," Seelniu cut in, but was silenced by Mungojerrie's warning stare.
"Oi don' moind ya two, Seelnyah, bu' chawnces ah, Mac 'as foun' out. Oi realleh thin' it'll be bes' if Oi go wiv 'er," The calico tom spoke, his voice friendly but with a warning tone laced underneath. The black tom simply sighed, nuzzling his queen before heading out of the door.
"Jer.. Oi'm sca'ed," Rumpleteazer whimpered, cuddling close to her brother. Her tomfriend was great, but Mungojerrie still possessed the best ability to calm her down. They were still as close as you could get.
"Shh,shh, Oi know," The calico tom replied, his deep Cockney voice quiet and calming.
"Le's jus' ge' it ovah wiv, then ya can come back an' tawlk ta moi, okay? We'll ploiy cahds o' plot prahnks, Oi promise," Mungojerrie nodded, ruffling her headfur and leading her to Macavity's office.
"Thanks, 'Jer," She murmured, almost giggling as her brother threw her a mock salute and a thumbs up, before knocking on the door and bolting.
It flew open almost immediately- entirely on its own.
Oh, great.
"Rumpleteazer.." Macavity's voice echoed throughout the room, as the door slammed shut behind the calico queen. He'd rendered himself invisible, and was using his magic to put the queen on edge.
"Sah.." She replied, voice as steady as it could get before walking to the middle of the room, pawas clasped behind her back.
"Now, I have a little problem to discuss with you. You are familiar with my rules, are you not?"
"O' course Oi am, ya moide moi study 'em.." Rumpleteazer nodded, trying to keep her voice respectful.
"Then you will be familiar with rule 36? Recite it," Macavity's raspy, disembodied voice ordered.
"'Enches ovah tha rank o' Specialis' canno' be ena'mud," The calico queen sighed, immediately twigging onto the reason she'd been summoned.
"I was generous. I gave you a nice alternative to punishment for your behaviour about the Jellicles. Then you betray my generosity by violating the rule and losing me one of my best workers!" Macavity's voice rose to a yell, as the red tom materialized. His yell was heard all over the hideout- and every cat felt immediate sympathy for the calico queen.
That increased, as the sound of a slap rung out from the office, followed by a yelp. Mungojerrie's hackles rose from where he was waiting- that better not have been what it sounded like..
Macavity was seething, as the calico queen held a paw to her stinging cheek.
"Oi'm sorreh! Don' 'urt-" She began, her words cut off by Macavity grabbing her by the throat.
"Don't tell me how to run my business. I'm not going to give you the easy option again," He snarled, before raising his free paw and using his claws to swipe at her face. The calico winced, as several long, deep cuts appeared on her cheek, before being dropped to the floor.
"Perhaps you'll learn to listen to me," Macavity growled, before beating and scratching the young queen.
Her cries were held off by her biting her lip, but the sound of their boss's yells and her whimpers were audible enough for Mungojerrie and Seelniu to hear.
"'s beatin' er!" Mungojerrie snarled, jumping up to his feet. Seelniu had joined him, and the two had been sat in silence just down the corridor.
Seelniu hissed, but held himself back and grabbed onto Mungojerrie.
"Calm down- you'll make it worse," Seelniu hastily replied, before simultaneously flinching with Mungojerrie, as another yelp came from the office. It was hurting both toms not being able to go to her. How could Macavity do such an awful thing- Rumpleteazer definitely didn't deserve it.
"This is my fault.." Seelniu commented through gritted teeth. For the first time, he felt hatred for Macavity- nobody caused Rumpleteazer pain. She'd already been through enough.
"It ain't ya faul' Mac's such an ass.. Ya make moi sis'ah 'appy," Mungojerrie replied, still trembling with rage as he prepared for his sister to be kicked out of the office. They'd wait. She'd be fine..
After what seemed like hours, Macavity seized the bloody queen by the scruff, yanking her up to face him.
"Thankyou so much for dropping in. Listen to me. Spend time with Seelniu again, and you'll pay in more than your blood," The Hidden Paw rasped, before unceremoniously throwing the queen out. Once she heard the door slam shut, Rumpleteazer cracked an eyelid. The corridor in front of her was desolate, and Macavity wasn't exactly going to assign her a Healer.
Seconds later, and two male voices yelled from behind her, before the sound of running feet reached her ears.
"'Teazah.. 'Teazah, ploise, can ya 'ear moi? Come on, i's no' tha' bad, oi promoise.." Her brothers voice. He sounded steady, but she could detect the worry and pain underneath it. The next thing she registered before losing consciousness was being picked up, and taken to her and her brother's barrack.
Mungojerrie had sent Seelniu packing. He'd heard Macavity's final sentence, and he couldn't have her being seen with him in broad daylight. He wasn't splitting them up- just telling the black tom to be cautious about when he saw his sister. The Russian tom agreed, asking Mungojerrie to take care of his 'kravisaya' before leaving.
The calico tom had never felt greater anger than when he saw the state of his twin. He tentatively approached her, and Mungojerrie couldn't hold back the soft hiss. His sister's coat was marred with blood, with deep, long gashes running all over her slim body. The white was stained red, and the visible parts of her coat were bruised.
"'Teazah.. 'Teazah, ploise, can ya 'ear moi? Come on, i's no' tha' bad, oi promoise.." Mungojerrie straight up lied through his teeth, before scooping her up into his arms. He ignored the blood that got on his coat as he ran back to their barrack. It was an unspoken rule that cats were not allowed medical assistance after being 'punished', and the calico tom knew he'd have to do it.
Mungojerrie kicked the door open and jumped, taking in the vast enormity of cats surrounding him. Why- almost all of the employees were there.. Of course. They'd heard. The twins were well known, and most of the time, the employees felt sympathy for those who'd fallen prey to a beating from Macavity.
"Is she alive?" A grey queen whispered. Mungojerrie vaguely recognized her as one of his sister's friends, but didn't reply. He set his sister down on an unused bed- somebody had cleared it, and put a sheet over it- and reached for the first aid box under the bed.
"If you need us, Mungojerrie, just call," Luka, one of the cats who had aided Mungojerrie, commented, before leading the cats out.
"'Teazah.." The tom whispered, before pressing two fingers to her neck. She was alive- and breathing. Thank bast. What would his mother do? Exile- no. He had to think about her medical side. Mungojerrie skimmed through the box, his paw clasping onto a bottle of disinfectant. Ha.
"Oi'm glad ya ah asloip, this stin's loike a mothah bitch.." Mungojerrie spoke quietly, before unscrewing the bottle and beginning the long process of treating his sister. Wounds clean, be checked to see if she was awake before starting to wrap a shoddy, broken bandage around her, misery in his eyes as he did so.
Maybe this wasn't the best life for them after all. Now.. Now, even the Jellicles looked ideal. If she'd been hurt there, there'd be a medical team assembled almost immediately. Yet, they were bad.. They'd hurt her too.. Oh, he was confused.
Mungojerrie leant down to nuzzle his sister's paw, before lightly stroking her headfur. Their living situation would have to be dealt with later.. Tending to his sister was more important right now.
A/N: I'm sorry, but I don't think Macavity was going to let that slide. Please leave feedback- this one took me ages. . x