Tumble slowly opened his eyes and looked at Munkustrap and Cori. Munkustrap was looking at Cori.
"You were right," Munkustrap murmured to Cori. Tumble looked at them both, eyes wide.
"Y-You knew?" He yelped.
"I had a suspicion…but I didn't know for sure," Cori shrugged.
"M-Munkus, I'm so sorry!" Tumble sobbed. Munkustrap quickly hugged the younger Tom.
"For what?" He cooed.
"F-For…for being with Macavity,"
"You can't help who you fall in love with, Tumbles," Munkustrap said softly. Tumblebrutus looked at him, tears still falling down his face.
"Oh, buddy…and well, I am sort of happy you found Macavity,"
"Really?" Tumble asked, his ears lifting. Munkustrap gave a small smile.
"He will love you and will do whatever he can to protect you," Munkustrap murmured, gently rubbing Tumble's ears. Tumble sniffled, looking at Munkustrap with tear filled eyes. Munkustrap gave a reassuring smile, gently rubbing the tears away.
"W-What am I going to do, Munk?" Tumble sobbed. "I-I don't have anywhere to go…a-and my parents will tell that I was moaning Macavity's name,"
"Shh, shh," Cori soothed softly. "You do have somewhere to go, you can stay here," Munkustrap nodded in agreement.
"And your parents won't tell, they're too confused about this," Cori continued.
"A-Are you sure I can stay here?" Tumble asked softly. "I-I don't want to intrude,"
"Tumble, there is no way you are leaving this den," Cori said firmly, making Munkustrap chuckle.
"Don't you start laughing at me, Munkus!" Cori growled softly.
"My bad, gorgeous," Munkustrap smiled, holding his paws up in surrender.
"Good…" Cori huffed before smiling at Munkustrap and Tumble. Cori sighed, looking around the den. Munkustrap frowned as well, giving a hum.
"What's wrong?" Tumble hiccupped.
"Um…we don't have the spare nest set up,"
"I can sleep anywhere," Tumble murmured.
"You're not sleeping on the bare floor," Cori told him firmly, grabbing his paw and pulling him over to the large nest already set up. Cori rearranged the nest. He grabbed Munkustrap's paw and put him in the middle of the nest while Cori took the left. Tumble went to the only spare spot hesitantly. He lay down and yawned largely, curling into a ball, his head resting against Munkustrap's back as Munkustrap held Cori in his arms.
"G'night, Tumble," Cori yawned.
"Night, Tumble," Munkustrap murmured.
"Goodnight, Munkus, Cori," Tumble whispered sleepily. "Thank you," Munkustrap gave a soft purr, the sound which Tumble fell asleep to.
The next morning, Tumble slowly opened his eyes, finding himself staring at the sleeping Cori.
"He'll be asleep for another hour," A warm voice said. Tumble sat up and looked at Munkustrap, who was brushing down his fur with his paw.
"He always sleeps in late when he's worried," Munkustrap sighed, looking at his soul-mate sadly.
"He's worried?" Tumblebrutus asked softly, looking at the sleeping mystic.
"I can hear you, you know," Cori yawned tiredly, his green eyes opening.
"Sorry, darling," Munkustrap smiled. Cori stretched and crawled over to Munkustrap, nuzzling against him. Munkustrap purred, rubbing his cheek against Cori's lovingly. Tumble turned his head away, feeling his heart ache even more.
"Oh…sorry, Tumbles," Cori murmured.
"It's alright," Tumble sighed, rubbing his chest. "I'm going to go for a walk," Tumble got to his feet and stumbled from the den.
"We need to get him back to Macavity, even just a little while, Munkus," Cori murmured.
"I know, Cori…but how?" Munkustrap sighed. "I have no idea how to find my older brother," Cori sighed, resting his head in the crook of Munkustrap's neck.
Tumble walked around the yard, looking around sadly. His eyes made contact with his father's and Skimble glared at him for a moment before looking away. Tumble felt tears prick at his eyes but he blinked them back and he walked away.
"You disgust me," Tumble looked around, frowning.
"P-Plato?" Tumble whispered. The red tom was glaring at him.
"W-What did I do?"
"Pouncival told me what happened last night," Plato growled. Tumble's eyes widened.
"I'm the only one he's told and I won't be telling anyone," Plato told Tumble. Tumble breathed out in relief.
"But you disgust me…get the hell out of here, you don't belong here," Plato growled. Tumble's eyes widened as Plato crouched, his eyes flashing dangerously. Tumble whimpered.
"Get out!" Plato yelled, leaping at the young Tom. Tumble turned and bolted from the yard. Plato hissed.
"Plato, what the hell did you do?" Plato turned around and relaxed.
"I told him to get out,"
"Why?"
"Because he loves Macavity," Green eyes flashed dangerously at that.
"And you chased him away?"
"Yes, we don't want him here!"
"Plato, look into my eyes,"
"Cori, why…"
"Just do it!" Plato blinked and stared into the green eyes, transfixed. Plato groaned as a sudden dizziness overcame him. He blinked and looked at the dark mystic.
"Oh…Cori, what happened?" Plato asked confused. "How'd I get here?"
"You were sleep walking," Cori smiled gently, though his eyes showed how tired he was.
"Oh…thanks, Cori,"
"Any time, Plato," Cori watched as Plato stumbled off before groaning.
Wiping Plato's memory had taken a lot from him…Plato now no longer knew about Tumble saying Macavity's name in his sleep.
Now, to find the distressed teen Tom who had bolted from the yard. Cori sighed.
This was going to be fun.
Tumble ran through the streets, scared. He had to get away, before any one else found out. He knew the Jellicles were going to hate him…and though he hated to leave Munkus and Cori like that, especially after they had been so nice to him, he just had to get away.
Tumble slowed down when he got to the park, sniffling and crying softly. He sat by a tree and buried his head in his paws, sobbing softly as the loneliness got to him.
He felt so alone.
No.
He was alone.
Tumblebrutus began sobbing again.
"Brutus?" Tumble whipped his head up in shock. Macavity was staring at him, looking tired and worried.
"Macavity!" Tumble cried, leaping to his feet and throwing himself on the ginger Tom, wrapping his legs around Macavity's waist, holding him close. Macavity clutched the young Tom close to him, burying his nose into the top of Tumble's head fur and inhaling his scent. Tumblebrutus was sobbing, wetting a patch of fur on Macavity's shoulder. Macavity pulled his nose out of the top of Tumble's head so he could pull the young Tom back, so he could kiss him. Tumble wrapped his arms tightly around Macavity's neck, craving the kiss that he had missed. Macavity held his soul-mate close as he broke the kiss, gasping for air.
"I've missed you," Tumble whispered. Macavity kissed Tumble's cheeks, kissing the tears away. Macavity sighed, smiling as he noticed the pain in his chest had gone.
"I've missed you too," Macavity murmured. Tumble smiled and looked up at Macavity, leaping at him again, kissing him furiously. Macavity fell back against the grass, Tumble on top of him, nuzzling him furiously. Macavity wrapped his arms around the young Tom, holding him close as Tumble purred loudly. Tumble perched himself up slightly, moving his paws to hold Macavity's face gently. Macavity closed his eyes, savouring Tumble's touch. Macavity opened his eyes, his heart lurching when he found himself staring into blue-green eyes.
"Brutus," Macavity whispered, drawing the Tom close again so he could kiss him passionately. Tumble responded happily. They broke apart, staring into each other's eyes.
"W-Why are you here?" Tumble asked breathlessly.
"Needed a walk…didn't think I'd find you here," Macavity murmured, rubbing Tumble's ears.
"Why were you here?"
"It doesn't matter," Tumble smiled, kissing Macavity again. "I'm with you," Tumble glanced up and froze.
"Cori," He whispered. Macavity rolled over, making Tumble fall onto the ground. Macavity spotted the male mystic, staring at him and Tumblebrutus, shocked. Macavity snarled and leapt at Cori, pinning him to the ground.
"Macavity, no!" Tumblebrutus cried as Macavity lifted his paw, staring into Cori's shocked green eyes. There was a snarl and Macavity was tackled off Coricopat. Tumble watched, frightened as Munkustrap and Macavity fought each other. Macavity kicked Munkustrap off and went to run at him again when Tumble ran over, standing in front of Macavity and putting his paws on his chest.
"Macavity, don't!" Tumble cried. Macavity looked at him before glaring at Munkustrap and Cori. Munkustrap was beside Cori, helping him up worriedly.
"They know!"
"T-They already knew," Tumble whispered, rubbing Macavity's cheek. "They're fine with it," Macavity stared at Cori and Munkustrap shocked as they looked at him, Munkustrap's arms wrapped around Cori's waist.
"O-Oh," Macavity murmured, pulling Tumble back into his arms and trying to calm himself down.
"Sorry," Macavity said, watching as Munkustrap helped the slightly shaken Cori up. Munkustrap sighed, nuzzling at Cori's neck lovingly and reassuringly.
"Something you want to tell me, Munkus?" Macavity asked, giving a small smile as he looked at Cori and Munkustrap.
"Yeah…you attacked my soul-mate," Munkustrap growled, his blue eyes flashing darkly.
"I thought him knowing about us would threaten my Brutus's safety," Macavity retorted, holding Tumble closer. Munkustrap sighed.
"We already know about it,"
"Well, I know that now," Macavity snapped. He sighed when Tumble rubbed his chest softly. Munkustrap slowly moved closer to Macavity, gently pulling Cori with him.
"When did you find out about us?" Macavity asked, gently sweeping his paw down Tumble's back, making him purr loudly and arch into Macavity.
"Cori pretty much figured it out when Tumble came to us, asking about something that had happened…to do with scents and attraction," Macavity glanced at Tumble with that.
"But…he confirmed it to us last night," Cori said softly, leaning into Munkustrap's embrace. Macavity looked at Tumblebrutus, who just buried his face into Macavity's orange and white chest fur.
"Brutus?" Macavity murmured, feeling the distress the young Tom was feeling.
"Brutus, what's wrong?" Tumble just shook his head.
"H-His parents kicked him out," Cori told Macavity. Macavity snarled.
"Why?"
"Because I was whispering your name in my sleep," Tumble whispered, looking up at Macavity. Macavity rubbed Tumble's cheek gently. Macavity leaned down slightly, purring as he nuzzled Tumble.
"Macavity…make sure he's back here in four hours," Munkustrap said. Macavity looked at him questioningly.
"I know you two need to spend time together…I know what happens if you're parted for too long," Munkustrap told him.
"Spend some…quality time with Tumbles…but bring him back here in four hours so he has a reliable alibi from us," Munkustrap smiled. Macavity purred as Tumble nuzzled the crook of Macavity's neck.
"Thanks, Munkus," Munkustrap just inclined his head, giving a small smile, before he took Cori's paw. Cori smiled at Munkustrap lovingly then gave a small smile to Tumble and Macavity before he and Munkustrap walked off, paw in paw, with tails entwined. Macavity looked at Tumble, who was watching Munkustrap and Cori walk through the park.
"Want to go somewhere else?" Macavity asked Tumble softly.
"Where?" Tumble asked, tilting his head.
"Show me the woods you like to go to," Macavity murmured. Tumble grinned and nodded, taking Macavity's paw and leading the ginger Tom away, feeling more alive and happy than he had been for a long while.
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Ahh...so what do you think?
I may begin to update less soon...I got a call today saying I was successful for the job I applied for...so I have a job...finally!
Thanks to those who reviewed!
Please read and review!
Luv HGP!