Title: Caterwaul

Author: Sanely Challenged

Pairing: Misto/Tugger

Rating: PG13 (No K+ and T shit for me. Those’re for video games, ff.n, not movies. And I think we all like to think of our work as movies.)

Disclaimer: I don’t own them.

Summary: Rum Tum Tugger is the target of Macavity’s latest attack. Seriously wounded, he has come to depend on Mistoffelees. Tugger/Mistoffelees slash.

Author’s Note: Ask to archive. This is a hurt/comfort story! It gets worse before it gets better.

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Caterwaul

Chapter One

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Macavity lurked in the shadows, ankle deep in snow. It hadn’t snowed much more than enough to cover the ground bit it was thick in the deep dark under the buildings where the snow plows had shoved it from the street in their last run. Red fur was subdued tonight, by dark and dirt. And damned if it wasn’t below freezing already. His paws were going numb in this snow. He shook his head and pushed the discomfort to the back of his mind. It was useless, something that could not be acted upon. But this anger, this seething fury at Deuteronomy’s clan fueled him. This was a strike he could trust no one else with. Macavity would take out that old fat cat’s right paw.

A certain Rum Tum Tugger.

That damned brat of a tom hadn’t been more than a kit when he was banished and yet here he was, sitting pretty in Macavity’s place.

There had been informants stationed in this alleyway for a little over a week, spying on the cats that sauntered by. It was the only part of his plan he had trusted to anyone else. They had done their job well. Every other night, Tugger returned home by way of this ally. And yesterday, Tugger had not been seen.

Macavity flexed his claws as he waited, scanning the street. He heard laugher from a long ways off just as the bulb of the street light closest to him burnt out with a soft pop. New shadows stepped in and Macavity smiled, showing sharp canines to the ghosts of the night.

He could hear his target approaching, soft footsteps muted by a hum that constant self-sure purr. That wicked smile stayed, tinted now with more than simple malice. He knew how to stop that purr permanently.

---

Tugger stopped no more than a few feet from where Macavity hid, grinning like a mad cat in the darkness. He fell silent. There was breathing in the darkness, and the smell of blood besides. Claws unsheathed and he turned in a wide circle, peering into the shadows.

Macavity took stock of his opponent. In a moment the opportunity would be gone. This tom wasn’t one to back down from a fight, his paws planted in the snow as he looked for an enemy he couldn’t see. That was perfect. It gave him time to play with the rat before he crushed his skull between his claws and all for the better if he didn’t try to run.

A flash of red and Macavity let himself be seen, a slim figure in the darkness. Tugger glared, claws at the ready now.

“What do you want?”

Macavity smiled, chuckling.

“I want many things.” He was circling now. “The question is how to go about getting them.”

“Yeah? It don’t matter.” Tugger began to move too, staring the other cat dead in the eyes. “You know damn well you ain’t allowed this close to the Jellicles. Maybe Deuteronomy’ll have your head this time. Great cat above knows I’ve tried to convince him.”

Macavity laughed deep in his throat.

“There’s a lot of things you don’t understand. The first thing being that your fat old cat is nothing but a coward. Don’t you ever wonder why he banished me, kit? He was afraid that an attempt on my life, would result in his pain.”

Tugger’s eyes narrowed.

“He was managing the safety of the clan. That ain’t weak.”

“You have a lot to learn.” That grin never faded. “Before you were even old enough to walk, I was there by that fat cat’s side.” He was hissing through clenched teeth now. “You have no idea.”

Tugger wasn’t fast enough to block the blow. Macavity landed a solid hit to the side of his head, sending him reeling back. The world spun and the ground tilted under him. Rum Tum Tugger lashed out, blood welling under his claws. But Macavity danced back, out of his reach. Tugger shook his head, the thick mane of gold catching in the street lights. But the world just wouldn’t stop spinning. He pushed his back against the wall to find some stability. It left him vulnerable. Macavity raked his claws down the larger cat’s stomach, sinking in deep. Tugger howled and lashed out. Blood was trickling down his stomach, tangling his fur. He managed to score two long scratches down his opponent’s neck but it wasn’t deep enough to cut the jugular.

Macavity growled and lunged, raking front claws down his stomach again, shredding the skin. Tugger pushed him off, and tried to crawl away. But he was too badly hurt to make it farther than a few feet. He collapsed, one paw held to his mangled stomach. Macavity smirked, eyes locked on the blood stain spreading through the snow. He began to clean his claws, giving Tugger a sharp kick as he walked off into the night.

---

For hours Tugger drifted in and out of consciousness, a haze of pain clouding his vision. At some point, the blood had stopped flowing, the fur matting around the wounds. His thoughts drifted away until he wondered if he were losing his mind. He ached everywhere, felt like every limb was melting in on itself. Frost bite was setting in. Tugger tried to move and couldn’t, weak with pain and blood loss. At that point, he realized he was about to die.

---

Mistoffelees walked with his nose to the air. He could smell blood and the strength of the scent worried him. Munkustrap had passed it off as some wretched dog getting hit by a truck, but Mistoffelees didn’t believe it.

He followed his nose into an alleyway, peering into the shadows. He could just make out a shape in the darkness, surrounded by a shadow deeper than the night. Mistoffelees glanced around, glaring at the broken street light. A ball of electricity formed between his fingers, growing until it was the size of an apple. He drew forward slowly. Whatever it was, he didn’t want to startle it.

Mistoffelees leaned down close to the body, hands outstretched. His eyes widened. There was no mistaking that golden mane. He prayed to the great cat above that he was wrong. Balancing the light above the tip of his left paw, he turned the cat over.

He groaned, a soon to be frozen arm falling away from his bloodied stomach.

“Tugger.” Mistoffelees’ eyes were shining with unshed tears.

Those beautiful golden eyes opened and he saw the flutter of a grin.

“Hey, kid.”

Mistoffelees ran a hand over his ears but stopped when he realized it had been covered with blood. He took a deep, steadying breath.

“Okay.” He whispered, “Okay. I need to get you home.” He looked around, eyes wide. “Can you walk? I can’t carry you.”

There was a rattling sound that had been meant as a laugh.

“I can’t even get up.”

Tugger’s eyes were glazed. He had lost a lot of blood. Mistoffelees slipped and arm over his shoulders, heaving him up from the ground. Tugger was so much larger than him. He staggered under the other cat’s weight. He didn’t know where Tugger lived, only the general area. And the cat wasn’t in any condition to tell him. Besides the junkyard was closer to them now than anywhere Tugger could live.

---

Mistoffelees stared at the entrance to his home. He lived a short run from the meeting place of the Jellicle cats’ meeting place, in a grand piano. The strings had been cut and the keys were missing. The piano hood had been nailed shut for transport to the dump. The only way in was through a hole in the belly of the beast, a good four foot from the ground. Mistoffelees always jumped inside but Tugger couldn’t stand upright, let alone jump.

“Tugger?” Mistoffelees turned to look into his face. He was breathing hard, his free hand pressed to the wound.

“Yeah?” His eyes were narrowed, teeth clenched against the pain.

“I need to get you,” he pointed to the hole in the piano. “Up there.”

A slight movement that could have been a nod was his only answer. Mistoffelees frowned and took a deep breath. He needed help but the other cats were too far away and there was no way he could leave Tugger like this.

It was slow going but they made it, climbing onto the junk cars and making only a small jump into the piano where it balanced on its pile of trash.

Mistoffelees pulled the larger cat into his bed and smoothed down that golden mane.

“It’s okay, Tugger.” He murmured. “You’re safe now. Go to sleep.”

Tugger was already dead asleep.

---

It was hours before he woke. Mistoffelees was beside him, propping him up with one arm behind his back. Blankets pooled around his waist and the sharp sting of his wounds had been replaced with a continual throb that pulsed with every breath. The little cat had torn up an old sheet to wrap around the wound. The pressure stopped the bleeding and kept the torn pieces of flesh together. But he was still freezing, even with the blankets. The cold seeped in through the thin sides of the piano. Tugger wrapped an arm around Mistoffelees and pulled him closer. The smaller cat felt like a little furnace. It was wonderful to be next to him.

“Here,” Mistoffelees smiled. “I need you to eat this.”

He held up a jagged leaf.

Tugger reached for it, feeling the makeshift bandages press against his skin. He swallowed it without another thought. Mistoffelees smiled at him and lowered him back down onto his bed, making soothing noises as he stroked his fur.

“I have to go to the others but you need to sleep. I’ll come back with someone to help you.”

Tugger smiled. In that moment when he lay in a pool of melting snow and his own blood, when he had seen Mistoffelees’ white little heart shaped face, he had almost believed himself to be dead. And now, here he was being coddled and mothered by the cat who’d saved his hide.

“Don’t worry about it, kid.” Even through the pain, his voice was like honey. “I’ll be fine.”

Tugger curled into the blankets one arm tucked over Mistoffelees’ side. The smaller cat nuzzled close, warming him. But there was a new heat winding through his body. He frowned. This was familiar. And very bad.

“What did you give me?” He hadn’t meant to sound that harsh but the effect was immediate. Mistoffelees shrunk back, fear in his eyes.

“It was only a little bit, I swear. Not enough to really do anything bad. You were freezing and I was worried about your cuts. I thought it would help. I’m sorry.”

“Misto, kid,” he met the younger cat’s eyes. “What did you give me?”

His voice was small when he spoke. “Catnip.”

It had been a leaf, fresh. It made sense he hadn’t recognized it. Thinking it was only some kind of medicine, he swallowed it whole. No taste, no smell, and a bite twice as strong as the dried stuff. Running a paw over his ear he closed his eyes. Great cat above, why did it have to be nip? He was trying to get off the stuff.

“I’m sorry.” Mistoffelees whispered, daring to touch his arm. “I didn’t think.”

“Hey, hey, kiddo.” He tilted the younger cat’s head up, scratching at his chin. ‘No harm done. Just didn’t expect it.” He smiled bright enough to dazzle. “Relax a little, ‘kay?”

All that work, the months of trying to wean himself from the devil’s plant, all gone to hell. Tugger could feel the heat rising in his blood, that delicious sense of wild contentment and he knew he had been thrown head first back into his addiction.

But Mistoffelees remained unaware. He returned the smile, relieved. He didn’t want to make Tugger mad. He had been infatuated with this cat since he was a kitten. Maybe not in love since kitten-hood but it had matured from a crush until ever waking moment was spent dwelling on him, on this beautiful tom, on the object of every queen’s dreams. And even though he had gotten his wish to have Tugger here in his bed, he couldn’t take advantage of it. Not that he had even the remotest of chances. Every moment he had with Tugger felt like his last.

‘I’m only helping him to get better.’ He reminded himself, pulling the larger cat close, warming him. ‘There’ll never be any more to it than that.’

But suddenly he wasn’t so keen on the idea of letting the other cats take over.