Part 16
Coricopat watched Admetus sit on a car the day after the ball and he sighed heavily. Admetus hadn't moved from the car since they got back.
"Talk to him", Alonzo said and stepped up to Cori.
"Why me?"
"Because you understand the pain he's going through and vice versa."
"Not really."
"Yeah right and Macavity is the biggest goody-goody there is."
"Very funny."
"Ori… I'm serious please just talk to him and don't make me do it an order."
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Oh I dare", Alonzo's grin was gone now and he was glaring at Cori. "Do you?"
"Fine", Coricopat huffed and hurried towards Admetus and Alonzo grinned again.
"Works every time", he grinned and went back to Exotica and Grizabella.
Admetus watched the sky and sniffed. He couldn't help but feel a bit betrayed by the love of his life. A shadow fell on him and he turned and saw Coricopat reach out a paw towards his shoulder. When he saw that Admetus was watching him he froze in his movement and just stood there paw stretched out.
"Did you want something", Admetus asked.
"I er… I uh…" Cori pulled his paw back and rubbed his neck. "Can I uh sit down?"
"Whatever", Admetus said and Cori sat down beside him. Cori opened his mouth to speak but closed it again and rubbed his neck. He did it again and again.
"Ori if you have something to say so spit it out", Admetus growled. "Otherwise it is quiet amusing watching you look like a goldfish but right now I'm not in the mood."
"Stuff it Ad", Cori said and sighed. "I know how you feel."
"Yeah right."
"Ad Mil is my twin I've never been without her."
"Yes you have!"
"Not like this…"
"What do you mean?"
Coricopat sighed heavily. "When I'm away from here and Mil is still here I can feel her inside me. We are linked in a special way. But now when she's on the other side of town that link is so unstable that I can't feel her anymore. For the first time in my life when I'm alone… I am completely alone."
"I-I didn't think of that."
"Ad listen", Cori put his arm around the other tom's shoulder. "I know that you think I don't support you and Mil being together."
"That's not true I-"
"Ad", Cori poked the side of his head.
"Damn I always forget about that."
"You should have learned by now."
"Hey you know me I'm a slow learner."
"That's the first thing you've said all day that is true!"
"Hey!"
Admetus couldn't help but chuckle and Cori grinned back and gave the other tom's shoulders a gentle squeeze. Then he looked around.
"Can I tell you a secret Ad?"
"Yeah sure…"
"Tantomile and I have a plan."
"Huh?"
"We know Zo won't go back to the Jellicles until Munk apologize to him."
"For hitting him?"
"Yeah. The scars on his face go deep and it pained him that it was his best friend who did it."
"Zo still look on Munk as his best friend?"
"He thinks it but if he is aware of it I don't know."
"So Mil is staying there to make Munk realize what he needs to do?"
"And I'm here to make Zo understand it."
"So she didn't leave because of me?"
"Ad I can confirm from a safe source that she is madly in love with you and can't love anyone else as much. But if you ever hurt her I'll kill you."
"So you don't think it's wrong?"
"That you love my sister? Get real! She's hot and I can't blame her she's my sister after all."
"Oh how modest we are today."
"Ad you learnt a new word!"
"Shut up", Admetus grinned and they started wrestle.
"Someone's happy", Exotica grinned and looked at the two toms.
"Yeah", Alonzo said.
"What's the matter dear", Grizabella asked. "You seem awfully quiet and down today."
"Yeah it's lovely this time of the year", Alonzo said. The queens looked at each other confused.
"Zo", Exotica asked and waved a paw in front of his face. "Yoho anybody home?"
"What", Alonzo started and looked at them. "Did you say something love?"
"Yes I said that someone's happy", Exotica pointed at Ad and Cori.
"Oh yes they are."
"So what's up with you today?"
"I just can't stop looking."
"I know dear", Exotica nuzzled his cheek. "I miss them too."
"Mio and Q", Grizabella asked. "Oh how full of joy those two are. Alonzo dear what happened to your cheek may I ask."
"Ask you may but do I have to answer?"
"Not funny dear."
"Munk hit me…"
"Oh?"
"Yeah when I found my kittens, Mio and Q, I brought them to the yard and when Munk found out they were magical he tried to kill them. I stepped between and he hit me instead of them."
"Have he ever asked for forgiveness?"
The queens looked at his face as it turned dark.
"No", he said.
"Is that why you-"
"HELP!" a female voice yelled.
The Strays were all on their paws at once.
"Ori, Ad", Alonzo yelled. "Hurry and come with me. Exy you and Bella stay here." With that the three toms shot out of the yard.
"I'm warning you", Tantomile said and hissed at Tugger. "Come any closer and I'll kick your ugly butt into next week or across the town whatever you prefer!"
"Now, now pretty lady I don't think you can do that and your mate, boy toy and brother are on the other side of town."
"What did you just say", Tantomile spat.
"Your mate Admetus, your boy toy Alonzo and brother are on the other side of-"
He didn't get any further as a fist hit him in the face and he tumbled down the car he was standing on.
"Do you imply I need toms to protect me", Tantomile spat down at him. "Think again bonehead."
"Why you little whore!"
"You didn't just say that", she said and narrowed her eyes.
"I think I did you lousy bitch!"
"That's it!" Tantomile flew at him.
She was clawing and biting him badly when Munkustrap, Demeter, Bombalurina and Skimble found them.
"Tantomile", Demeter exclaimed and hurried over and knocked her off of Tugger. "Tantomile stop it!"
"Let me at him", she yelled. "Let me at that fucking shaving brush!"
"What did you do Tugger", Munk asked as he pulled the tom to his feet.
"Nothing!" Tugger yelled. "I was only walking here peacefully and she jumped at me!"
"Did not", Tantomile yelled. "He's been harassing me all day and he called me a whore and a bitch!"
"Tugger", Bombalurina yelled.
"I didn't Lina I swear!"
"Shut up I don't believe you. Good work Tantomile Tugger we're over."
"WHAT?!"
"You've been harassing Tanta, flirting with the kittens, your niece and daughter too! And you've been sleeping with Cassandra!"
"Oh this is good", Tantomile grinned. "Tugger's getting his ass kicked by another queen."
"Shut up b-queen", Tugger spat.
"Tugger", Munkustrap yelled. "Apologize to Tantomile then go to Jenny and have yourself cleaned up."
"Fine… sorry."
"It was my pleasure", Tantomile said and Tugger left. "Ah Munk before you leave I need to talk to you."
"What for Tanta?" He asked.
"Have you given any thought to what I told you?"
"About looking at my markings?"
"Yes."
"Yes I have but I don't get it. I got stripes but what does that has to do with Alonzo?"
"It's not those kind of marks I was talking about. But since that what you thought of… Alonzo got your stripes too."
"What are you…" he trailed off as realization dawned on him. "Oh…"
"You could say that."
"What", Demeter asked. "What do you mean Munk?"
"Alonzo got my stripes on his face…"
"You mean the scars from your claws", Bombalurina asked. "Are they still soar or what?"
"Only in his heart", Tantomile sighed. "We were going to let you figure it out by yourself Munk but… I think it may take too long and that will only lead to more harm."
"What do you mean", Munk asked.
"Zo still looks at you as his friend I even think he sees you as his best friend. This rift, as you put it yesterday, between the two of you is hurting you both, am I right?"
The Jellicle protector stared at her. He'd tried not to see Alonzo as his friend since they left but he just couldn't do it. They'd been too close for it.
"He wants me to apologize for hurting him and trying to hurt his kittens?" he asked.
"Yes and he wants to tell you he's sorry for things he's been saying to you and the other Jellicles." She chuckled. "But I don't think he'll ever be able to apologize to Tugger or Bustopher and certainly not after the ball."
"I got to admit", Bombalurina laughed. "That those parodies were awfully funny!"
"Yeah", Pouncival said as he came over with Tumble, Misto and Quaxo. "And Tugger's face when he played at the wrong place was priceless!"
"Burst his ego some", Tumble said.
"I think Ad was the best", Quaxo said. "He was too bloody funny when he did Rumpus cat and Bustopher!"
"Language", Tantomile scolded and the kitten grinned.
"English", he said.
"Q…"
"No that's a letter Mil."
"Why you little", she made a grab for him but he hid behind Munkustrap. "Come back here runt."
"Na uh ah remember what Zo said about name calling Millie."
"Yes he said that we, as in the grownies, are allowed to call you whatever we want when you're not behaving. Which for the moment you're not."
"Aw it's just a word."
"It's a bad word."
"Comes from the girl who sounds like a sailor when mad", Misto said and Tantomile made a grab for him but he disappeared in a cloud of smoke and appeared behind Quaxo.
"When I get my paws on the two of you", Tantomile hissed. "You two furry little cockroaches will wish you were never born!"
They squeaked and ran off.
"That happens often", Demeter asked.
"Oh yes the only one they are backing down from is Zo or maybe Ex too."
In the meantime Coricopat, Admetus and Alonzo had found the source of the scream. They saw a queen stuck in a tree with an angry peke beneath it. She was thin and black with a scarlet marking on her shoulder looking like a lightning and she had tufts on her ears like a lynx.
"Ori me and Ad will get rid of that stupid dog and you'll get the queen", Alonzo ordered.
"Right", Coricopat said.
"Hey over here you ugly, stinking trash breathe", Admetus yelled and the dog looked at them and ran over. Alonzo and Admetus turned the other way and let the dog chase them. Coricopat hurried up to the tree and climbed up. He saw that the queen's hind leg was injured with deep gashes. She tried to crawl away from him but he held up his paws.
"Don't worry", he said softly. "I'm here to help I'm Coricopat who are you?"
"I-I'm Amazon", she said and Coricopat saw that her eyes were as green as the darkest emerald and his ear went warm. "Can you help me down?"
"Yeah that's why I'm here", Coricopat said and hurried over and picked her up. She was so thin and almost weighed nothing.
"You are very strong", she said and nuzzled his shoulder. "I feel safe."
"I'm not that strong you should see my tribe leader his is strong. He's been fighting Macavity and won."
"He must be very brave."
"He is", Coricopat began to climb down as she held her paws around his neck. "But sometimes I wonder if he's not just stupid."
She giggled. "Sometimes it's the same thing."
"Yeah like when there was a kitten stuck in the middle of the river and Zo just swum out and got it, ignoring that it was storm and that the kitten didn't knew him."
"That's just foolish. I think we need to talk to him about that. Though… he might just be a 'acting first question later' kind of cat."
"That he can be… but mostly he's just stubborn."
"And you aren't?"
Coricopat got them down and looked to see if he could see his friends.
"I can be if I want to", he said. "But mostly I'm the voice of common sense. Ad thinks I'm boring that way."
"I think you're the smartest."
"Where have you been all my life?"
She laughed and then Admetus and Alonzo came around the corner.
"Hello there what do we have here", Admetus grinned.
"Guys", Cori said. "This is Amazon and she is injured."
"Nice to meet you", Alonzo said. "I'm Alonzo, this is Admetus and the tom carrying you I guess his name is already known to you?"
"Yes", Amazon said. "Mr.-big-strong-and-handsome."
Admetus cracked up, Alonzo's lips twitched in amusement and Coricopat stared at her in surprise.
"Looks like you got a new Tantomile and Exotica on your throat Ori", Admetus grinned.
"Shut up", Coricopat said.
"Who are they?" Amazon asked as they started to walk.
"Tantomile is my sister and Ad's mate Exotica is Alonzo's mate and both of them think I need some queen attention so they've made a game of it to pestering me by flirting with me or nuzzling me."
"Aw how cute", Amazon grinned. "I understand why though."
"Because he's an easy target", Admetus asked.
"No because he's so dashingly handsome."
Coricopat nearly dropped her and his friends cracked up again.
"Are you sure", Grizabella asked and Exotica nodded happily. "And you think he'll be happy?"
"Bella this is Zo we're talking about. He will be ecstatic!"
"I wonder who called for help."
"A damsel in distress. Hopefully Ori finds the love of his life."
"Oh?" Exotica told her about their little game. "You two are bad kitties."
"We know and they all love it", Exotica grinned. "Well not Ori."
"Not Ori what", the object of their discussion said as he and the others came towards them. Alonzo was now carrying Amazon to give Coricopat a pause.
"Whoa he was right", Amazon told Alonzo.
"What", Alonzo asked.
"You are stronger."
"So does that make him Mr.-bigger-stronger-and-more-handsome?" Admetus grinned.
"No it makes him Mr.-bigger-stronger-and-uglier."
"Thank you for that", Alonzo grinned. "But I have a mate so I think you're wrong."
"As do I", Exotica said and came towards them. "And I am his mate."
"Whoa you're hot for be with such an ugly tom", Amazon joked.
"I know but what can you do when there is no dashing tom around."
"Coricopat is kinda dashing."
"He is isn't he? He is wonderful to nuzzle too did you notice?"
"I did actually", Amazon grinned and Coricopat turned bright red.
"Aw how cute", Admetus grinned. "Maybe me and Bella should take this pretty lady to 911 and get her wounds cleaned up?"
"You know it's a G that's turned upside-down right", Coricopat said and referred to the old van with a sign that once said: GILL'S 1. They knew it had once been a restaurant and the letters L and S had fallen off and G had turned upside down and so had the I and 1.
"Always ruining my fun Ori, your common sense is rubbish sometimes."
"I like it", Amazon said.
"Again", Coricopat grinned. "Where have you been all my life?"
She chuckled and Admetus took her from Alonzo's arms and hurried away with her and Grizabella.
"Zo there is something I need to tell you", Exotica said and smiled.
"Okay", he said and took her paws. "What?"
"I'm pregnant."
"Aw", Coricopat grinned. "We're getting mini-Zos!"
"T-that brilliant", Alonzo grinned and hugged her. "That's fucking fantastic!" He swung her around and kissed her head.
"So you're happy?" she asked.
"Are you kidding me woman?! Of course I'm happy… wait happy doesn't cut it I'm ecstatic! This is the best news I got for ages!"
"So we're keeping them?"
"Are you crazy woman?!"
"No just checking."
"You want to keep them", he asked. "Right?"
"Of course I am you idiot", she hit him on the head. "I was just teasing you!"
"Great, we're going to be parents, we got a new tribe member and Ori's got himself a mate."
"Have not", Coricopat said and they looked at him. "Not yet…"
TBC I just couldn't let Ori be alone.