Title: The Library Cat

Author: Sanely Challenged

Pairing: Misto/Tugger

Rating: PG13

Disclaimer: I don’t own them.

Summary: Tugger says there’s no cat alive he can’t catch. Mungojerrie calls his bluff. Slash.

Author’s Note: Ask to archive.

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The Library Cat

Chapter One

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“What?” Tugger was grinning, sprawled over his throne. “You don’t think I can?”

Mungojerrie snorted.

“‘s not like every cat falls head over paws for ye, mate.”

“There ain’t a cat alive I can’t catch.”

“‘s that right?” he leaned back into the shadows, away from the hot summer sun. “Wot about my Munkustrap, ‘ey?”

Tugger threw his head back and laughed.

“Kid, he’d fall over himself for some of this.”

“Right.” He cocked a brow. “An’ it’d only take how many bags o’ nip?”

“Whatever it takes.” He shrugged, that trademark Tugger grin gleaming.

“See, now, tha’s not fair, mate. If ye were on even footin’, yer charms an’ their resistance, who’d win, ‘ey?” Mungojerrie propped his hands behind his head, watching the gentle sway of Munkustrap’s tail from a distance.

“I said I could catch any cat.” Tugger folded his arms. “I didn’t say how.”

“Aye, I’m sayin’ how. I’m sayin’ it don’t count if ye get ‘em high.” He waved a paw at the flies. “See, if ye get ‘em high, it’s the nip that caught ‘em. They’ll regret bein’ wit’ ye in the mornin’. Tha’ ain’t caught, tha’s coerced.”

Tugger followed the other cat’s gaze and snorted.

“You can’t keep your eyes off of him for more ‘an two seconds.”

“Why bother?” he grinned.

Munkustrap turned, feeling eyes on him. Tugger leaned back, laughing at the Mungojerrie’s wink. The gray tabby rolled his eyes and turned.

“‘e’s tormentin’ me with the view, tha’ one.” Mungojerrie tore his eyes away to look at Tugger. “I bet I know one cat ye can’t catch.”

“Ain’t possible, kid.”

“We’ll see ‘bout tha’.” He grinned. “I bet ye a days plunder tha’ ye can’t get that Quaxo character into yer bed.”

“Mr. Mistoffelees?” he laughed. “Easy as nip.”

“‘Ey, now. Don’t be so sure o’ tha’. ‘Lonzo got ‘is nose ‘bout burned off when that bit o’ hellfire caught ‘im lookin’.”

“Yeah? That’s not sayin’ much. That cat’s a far cry from the Rum Tum Tugger.”

“So we got a deal then? A day’s plunder if ye can catch that cat?”

“Yours and your sisters?”

He thought about it for a moment.

“Aye.” He smiled. “‘s not like yer gonna win.”

Tugger cocked an eyebrow.

“I can get anyone.”

“I know, I know. Heard it before, I did. Few times, in fact. Now, wot do I get if ye can’t get this cat?”

Tugger grinned.

“Nip?”

“How much?”

“Enough to keep you and your sister flyin’ high for a week.”

“Ye got tha’ much?” his eyes narrowed and Tugger winked.

“I’ve got my sources.”

“Damned house cats. Ye get all the nip in the world an’ leave street cats like us in the lurch.”

Tugger laughed.

“Nothin’ wrong with that.”

He stood, long legs unfolding.

“So where’s Mr. Mistoffelees live anywat?”

“Far as I can tell, ‘e’s the library cat. Wellington Square Library and Gardens.”

“I’m tellin’ ya,” he grinned, “this’ll be too easy.”

“Right.” He shot another wink at Munkustrap as the tabby glanced back at him. “Ye got a week.”

“Two.”

“Wot?” he laughed. “Don’t think ye can do it tha’ fast. Stallin’s a sign of weakness, mate.”

“I’m takin’ time to enjoy my catch.”

“Nice way o’ sayin’ ‘That boy’ll have my ass if I go after ‘em.’”

“If Mr. Mistoffelees is really as bad as all that, I’ll need a few extra days to warm him up.”

“Ye got ten days.”

He grinned.

“Done.”

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Mistoffelees prowled under the rack of ancient history, watching a hole in the wall. He had smelled a mouse earlier today but hadn’t managed to find the hole until now. This was his job and as much of a home as he’d ever have. The library staff let him stay here because he caught the mice. There was even a nice lady, Fran something, that fed him in the back room. As long as he did his business outside, he was allowed to stay.

Which was fine with him. He was protected from the elements in here, which was more than he could say for the majority of homeless cats. And the library, thank Bast, was air conditioned. A series of funny little vents blew cold air up from the floor. In this heat, finding anything cold was like slipping into the Heavyside Layer.

The mouse poked its head from the hole, little pink nose twitching. Mistoffelees faded out of sight and held still, waiting. He had chased this mouse before, always out in the open. It was beginning to get smarter, holding to the fringes of the room. But it was only a rodent and when it didn’t see a cat, it crept forward. Mistoffelees knew better than to shoot electricity this close to the books. He followed the mouse, cutting off its means of escape.

He was barely in position when Rum Tum Tugger chose that moment to make his grand entrance. He came in through the door in the back room, weaving through the employees feet. The mouse panicked, flying back towards home. Mistoffelees didn’t get a clean shot. The first hit only pressed the mouse to the ground. He hated to torment these single minded creatures. It wasn’t their fault Bast made them small. He broke the mouse’s neck and picked it up in his teeth.

Fran saw him as he came close, visible now. It took her longer to see him than would have been normal for any of the others. Even with her thick, coke bottle glasses, she was still half-blind.

“Hello, Tux. Did you catch another rat?” Fran was getting on in years, gray streaking through her sun-blond hair.

Mistoffelees dipped his head, a slight nod, and made for the door. He left the bodies outside, always. He didn’t like to torment these humans either, by leaving little corpses around. Not that he liked seeing the bodies himself.

Besides, there were ally cats that would appreciate the meal.

Tugger jumped onto the book counter and watched as he left the mouse outside. One of the younger women stroked him, cooing over his golden mane. He startled her when he jumped down, coming to walk at Mistoffelees’ side as he returned.

“Hey, Mr. Mistoffelees.”

“What do you want, Rum Tum Tugger?” Misto stopped, holding his ground. He didn’t trust this cat.

“Aw, hey now, kid.” He tried to look offended. “What’s up?”

Didn’t trust him at all. But there was no help from the humans. Even Fran had returned to her job.

“What do you want?”

“What makes you think I want anythin’?” he frowned. This was going to be hard.

“Because you’re a sorry, self serving, excuse for a tom.” His eyes narrowed. “And no one, least of all you, comes to me unless they want something.”

Tugger fell back a few steps. There were nearing the science-fiction section now, towards the middle of the library and out of the human’s line of sight.

“What did I ever do to you?”

“I haven’t got a bit of peace from those kittens after you opened your big mouth at the Jellicle ball.”

“What d’ya mean?” he hung back a few steps now though still following. Something was wrong. The Mistoffelees he knew was quiet and aloof, painfully shy. But this cat was full of fight.

“Why in Bast’s name did you have to tell them that?”

“Tell them what?” he knew an opportunity when he saw one. “That there’s no cleverer cat?”

It only earned him a freezing glare.

“Those seven kittens? Now I have seven other kittens begging for a trick ever time they managed to catch sight of me!”

“Hey, hey.” He held up his paws. “I’m sorry.”

“And what are you about barging in here? You’ve no business here, Rum Tum Tugger, this is my territory.”

Tugger looked around.

“You live here, kid?”

That tone stopped him. It was a kind of quiet, sympathetic disapproval. Mistoffelees looked at him in shock. He hadn’t expected that, not when he’d been ready to fight.

His cheeks flushed under white fur. He didn’t need anyone’s pity.

“Where’s your family? A kid like you oughta have somebody.”

“Get out.”

“What?” The calm caught him off guard.

“Get out!” But it was gone in a flash of lighting. Mistoffelees knew better than to shoot electricity in the stacks. It could ruin the books or, if the wind was wrong, set fire to the whole building. But at the moment that didn’t matter to him. The corners of his eyes burned. He didn’t have anyone, didn’t want anyone. No one had ever wanted him until they saw some magic. Then he was all flash and show, only to be exploited. It wasn’t as if his powers were too important to fritter on lost trinkets and lightshows.

“Misto?” Tugger was trying to be nice. “You alright?” he could see the tears in the younger cat’s eyes.

“Go!” the lightning scorched the tip of his tail, sending him scooting backwards. He knew where Mistoffelees was aiming next. It was a little farther up and to the front.

Tugger abandoned all dignity and made a mad dash for the door.