"Old Deuteronomy?" Tugger called as him and Misto entered the den. "I've brought Mistoffelees!"
"Back here Tugger!" his father replied.
Misto and Tugger walked to the back where they found Old Deuteronomy sitting and chowing down on some mice. Misto stared at the large, gray cat in wonderment. He's so old, Misto thought, and yet I can see resemblance between Tugger and him, like the nose and smile.
"Ah, hello Mr. Mistoffelees," said Old D.
"H-hello, Old Deuteronomy," replied Misto nervously. "It's a pleasure meeting you. Tugger has told me lots about you."
"And he's told me many things about you, too. You seem to bring out the best of my son. I don't think I've ever seen a cat worry so much as he does when he's here without you."
Tugger blushed and looked away as Misto smiled faintly and smiled coyly.
"He's such a handful," Tugger said. "Always wanting to dance and do things that can get him hurt."
"You love to see me dance!" Misto protested, which made Tugger blush more.
"Son, Misto appears to be at his finest now. I don't think you have to worry and you can be away from him for five minutes without worrying."
But I don't want to be away from him for five minutes, Tugger thought. "Yes, Father."
Old D. smiled at Misto. "Excuse us, Mistoffelees, but can I please speak with my son alone?"
"Of course!" Misto beamed and exited.
Old D. sighed and patted the cushion next to him. Tugger walked over and sat next to him. "Tugger, I have to ask you to do something for me, and you won't like it."
Tugger bit his lip, afraid of what he was going to hear.
"I want you to let Mistoffelees venture out on his own so he can learn to interact with new people, and simply other people for that matter. He's known you the longer than anyone, even his own sister, and he's never had any interaction with anyone else."
"But Father!" Tugger protested.
"Tugger, listen to me. Do you really want him to have only one friend he's truly close with? We're Jellicles. We're all close with one another."
"But...I just don't want him to get too attatched to other people."
"He'll always be your best friend, son. You live with him, for one thing. Even if he makes new friends he'll always come back home with you."
Tugger smiled slightly at that. "I suppose you're right. He really hasn't ever been around anyone else." Tugger stood up. "Can I least introduce him to people? Tomorrow he can go and talk and socialize by himself."
Old D. smiled. "Of course son, and tell Mistoffelees that he can be considered a Jellicle now."
Tugger smiled and raced outside to find Misto. "Welp," he said. "Looks like you're a Jellicle."
Misto smiled eagerly and hugged his best friend. "Goodie! What else did he say?"
Tugger sighed and told him what his father said to him.
Misto frowned. "Oh, well..." He wasn't sure what to say.
"It's only until you become comfortable with everyone. Then you can come back to me and we'll still be best friends just with mutual, close friends."
"Okay." Though Misto was nervous. He had only spent time with Vicky before he was taken away, and then he was with creepier cats in the pound. After that it was Tugger for over a year.
"It's just at the Junkyard, too. At home we won't be interrupted at all."
Misto smiled at that. "That's true."
"Oh! Speaking of which, I have to show you my den! Or should I say, our den."
Misto grinned. "Of course!"
Before Misto, Tugger went to the Junkyard practically everyday and stayed the night many times, so he had a den he liked to live in. Though after Misto came, the roles switched. He spent most of his time at home and little time at the Junkyard, never staying the night anymore. He occasionally went into his den when he visited, but he hardly decorated it or cleaned it, but there was hardly anything to clean.
It was an old jewelry box still with the long mirror in it. His bed was in one corner and that was it. "This is it," Tugger said.
"Oh, Tugger, it's boring," Misto stated. "I know, but since you'll be living with me often we can spruce it up a bit."
Misto walked over and fell into the plush bed. Their bed at home was large and soft and this one was smaller (which didn't bother Misto) and it was squishier. Hm, Misto thought. When Tugger and I sleep here, I won't be able to help it if I fall into him since it's so squishy. I'll be lying here and he'll join me. Then I'll fall his way by accident. Misto smiled lightly. I was definitely going to like it here.
Tugger watched as Misto sat in his bed with his legs crossed and looking utterly sexy. I can't wait till tonight, Tugger thought.
It didn't occur to Tugger that Misto was looking at Tugger's reflection in the mirror. He looks like he wants to devour me! Misto exclaimed to himself. Does...does Tugger really think about me like that? I mean, if anything it only sexually, but...maybe he can think of me romantically? Oh I hope so. He sighed. I should really tell him. We live together. There's no way he'll be able to avoid me if he rejects me. It might be awkward at first, but we'll get over it.
"Come on," Tugger said. "Let's go meet some people."
The second they stepped out the door some of the queens were there to meet Misto.
"Hi bubby," Vicky said. "These are my friends, Jemima, Etcetera, and Electra."
They giggled excitedly and talked together to him and to Tugger and Vicky all at the same time somehow.
"Ladies," Tugger said, suddenly getting that confidence back. "Please, he is completely adorable, but he has to meet everyone. We would love to stay and talk to you over anyone else, but I'm afraid others are waiting."
Misto snorted at Tugger's behavior. Yes, Tug, I do understand what you meant by acting different.
Tugger led Misto away and he soon encountered some toms; Plato, Tumblebrutus, and Pouncival talking and goofing off. They were around the same age as Misto, all recently being toms. Plato was a bit older than Misto, about the same as Tugger, and Pounce was almost exactly his age and Tumble was a bit younger.
"Hey Tug," greeted Plato. Plato completely thought Tugger was sexy, but he still had his heart set on Victoria. Him and Tugger just flirted a bit.
"Hey guys, this is Mistoffelees, Vicky's sister, and my roommate," Tugger introduced. He mentioned Vicky so then Plato wouldn't flirt around with Tugger, so Misto wouldn't be angry when he found out they were dating, and simply because he was hopeful that Misto felt the same and didn't want to make him jealous.
"Hiya Mistoffelees!" greeted Tumble happily.
"Hey there," said Pounce. "You live with him?"
"Yeah, I was adopted by his owner," Misto said shyly.
"Oh, so this is where he's been going off to. I always knew you preferred toms."
Misto and Tugger blushed tremendously. "We're not together," hissed Tugger.
"So-rry," Pounce said.
"Vicky's sister, eh?" Plato asked. "Yeah, you look like her a little."
Misto shrugged. "She's adorable, I'm not."
"Yeah she is," he sighed, thinking of her.
Misto tilted his head but didn't have time to think as Tugger pulled him away again. This time they ran into Skimbleshanks, Jellylorum, and Jennyanydots.
"Hello Tugger!" Jelly exclaimed.
"Hi Miss Jelly," he replied kindly. He knew they thought he was trashy, so he tried to behave.
"This is my roommate, Mistoffelees. Misto this is Skimbleshanks, Jellylorum, and Jennyanydots."
"Hello," Misto replied shyly.
"Nice to meet you Misto," Skimble said warmly, always glad to make a new friend.
Jenny and Jelly were rather hesitant of Misto. They thought was Tugger was afraid of, that Misto was just as trashy as Tugger.
"Yes, well, nice meeting you," Jenny said curtly and walking away with Jelly following, pulling Skimble behind her.
Misto frowned. "Do they not like me?" he asked, looking up at Tugger with his big blue eyes.
"Well, they're just cautious. Skimble loves anyone. It's just that Jenny and Jelly are hesitant of newcomers. Plus they think I'm trash so they'll think you are, too. And Skimble is whipped because of Jelly, so he'll be kind to you in secrecy probably."
"Oh..."
"Don't sweat it, Misty, everyone else will love you."
"Okay." Though Misto wasn't sure.
The next people they met with were Coricopat, Tantomile, Asparagus, Alonzo, and Cassandra, people of Tugger's age, Asparagus being a few months older, though. Then Cori and Tanto, then Tugger, then Alonzo, and then Cass.
"Hey guys," Tugger said. He usually flirted with Tanto and Cass, and sometimes even Cori, but not in front of Misto, to Asparagus's and Alonzo's pleasures. "Misto, this is Tantomile, Coricopat, Asparagus, Alonzo, and Cassandra. Guys, this is my roommate, Mistoffelees." Tugger sighed, getting tired of introductions.
After chatting with them, Mistoffelees got to meet Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, who really liked him, and then Admetus, who also liked him. Finally they caught up with Munk who was hanging out with Demeter.
Tugger sighed, relieved by not having to make any more introductions, other than Demeter, but Munk took over that. "Deme," said Munk. "This is Mistoffelees, Tugger's roommate. Mistoffelees, this is Demeter."
"Nice to meet you," said Misto.
"You too..." said Deme warily. Roommate? she thought. Since when does Tugger have a roommate? Oh...oh! He's not a stupid little slut! He just actually has a friend. Well, he's still stupid, and annoying...but I guess he's not that bad. Just an okay jerk.
Misto sighed now. "Well, I'm beat."
"Are you alright?" Tugger asked alert.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Can we just go take a cat nap now - in our den?" Misto smiled giddily. Our den.
"Of course. I'm tired, too..." The two started walking away, talking together.
"Misto brings out the best in Tugger," Munk said, placing his arm around Demeter.
"They obviously want each other," Demeter said, coming to the conclusion that Tugger and Misto would be those people who obviously wanted one another but took forever to realize it. It wasn't obvious to many people, but Demeter had experienced that firsthand.
"Well, remember how long it took us to get together?" Munk said pulling her close and smiling down at her.
Demeter smiled. "Oh, believe me, I remember," she replied, smiling, too, as they leaned in for a kiss.
Misto hopped into the squishy bed relishly. I've had such a great day, he thought. And now it's only gonna get better when Tugger comes to bed!
Tugger walked over, looking himself in the mirror before plopping down next to Misto. When he lied down, Misto rolled toward Tugger unintentionally, but neither minded. Tugger pulled Misto closer to him and Tugger rested his head on Tugger's like they did normally, Misto's legs over Tugger's. Cat naps and bed time were the best part of day for both of them.
"So, what do you think people think of me?" Misto asked Tugger.
"I don't know, Misto," Tugger said.
"Yes you do, and if you're not telling me then it must be bad."
"Okay, people are hesitant of you, like I said. The kittens like you but when Jenny and Jelly tell them to stay away then they won't quite understand why and they'll be scared of you. Then the rest probably won't mind you here just as long as you leave them alone and don't try so hard. Deme and Munk like you the best it appears, same with Dad, and I think Plato, Pounce, and Tumble like you. Otherwise the rest will take awhile to get use to you. That doesn't matter, though. I only matter because I'm the greatest person ever."
Misto smiled. "I dunno about that, but you are the greatest person in my life."
"And that's all that should matter to you." He kissed his head and the two fell asleep.