@storyweaverofgondor's cats-pril day 13: pipe
a little "what-if" with my forbidden tuggoffelees AU about tapper meeting 2019 misto via the pipe!
(also this was completely unintentional that @afairytalestray and i did similar ideas for today lmao)
"I'll wait for you."
Those were the words Tapper had told Mistoffelees before the other tom had clambered through the pipe, disappearing back to his own Junkyard.
They were the words that Mistoffelees had been running back over through his mind, sitting on top of the wall where Tapper had sung as loudly as he possibly could, a beaming smile on his face.
"What's eating you?"
Cassandra's voice nearly made the magical cat fall from his perch, and he turned around to glare at the brown queen.
His glare, however, faltered upon seeing that she was not alone.
Tugger and Demeter accompanied her, and they sat with him on the wall. For a moment, it felt as though nothing had changed, that they were still young cats again, innocent and in love.
Mistoffelees let out a breath, subtly learning into Cassandra's side. "Tapper asked me to go back to his Junkyard with him."
Over his head, the trio of cats exchanged looks, and Demeter leaned closer to him. "And you... said no?"
Mistoffelees didn't look up, but he nodded. Cassandra wrapped her arm around his shoulders, and he soaked up the sisterly affection.
"Why, Mist?"
"I can't just abandon everyone here!" Mistoffelees exclaimed. "Heaviside forbid something major happens, and I'm not around!"
Tugger let out a sharp scoff. "That's bullshit."
Demeter smacked the tom's arm, eyes narrowing. "Tugger!"
"Buttons, listen to me." The rockstar cat reached out, taking Mistoffelees' paw and holding onto it tightly. "This place, it was never meant for you. They can't appreciate your magic the way that your Tapper did. You deserve to be somewhere where you'll be celebrated, not only when you rescue Old Deuteronomy, but every single day."
The surprised laugh that Mistoffelees attempted to contain escaped him at Tugger's words, and he felt his eyes prick with tears.
Demeter and Cassandra squashed Mistoffelees in a hug between them.
"He's right, love." Cassandra said gently. "Your potential is absolutely wasted here. You're not being appreciated, and I know, just by looking at the way Tapper was looking at you, that you'd get that appreciation."
Mistoffelees scrubbed at his eyes, unable to resist the wide smile that stretched over his face.
The three accompanied Mistoffelees back to the pipe, and he gave each of them a final, tight embrace. Approaching Tugger, he held the other tom's paws in his hands, eyes bright.
"I'll miss you, Maybe." he said softly.
Tugger pulled him into a hug. "You just promise me you'll blow them out of the water, Buttons."
Mistoffelees nodded, taking a deep breath as he looked over his three closest companions one final time. Cassandra rolled her eyes and gave him a nudge, making him laugh and stumble towards the pipe.
He crawled through it, feeling a different, warmer magic washing over him.
It felt right.
And Tapper's bright, delighted smile on the other end of the pipe felt like coming home.
