abduction.

[[scean]]

((Characters: Munkustrap, Quaxo

Thread Summary: Quaxo steals Munkustrap away to tend to him, and they talk (and kiss). Munkustrap is upset that he killed a cat to avenge the not-dead Jerrie and Teazer. ))


While Munkustrap slept, Quaxo had convinced Jellylorum to let him take him to his own den. It had taken a good while and a lot of sweet talking, but finally the motherly queen gave in and shooed them out. Victorious, Quaxo carried the sleeping Munkustrap to the tabby's own den, lying him on some cushions and curling up next to him.

Quaxo's tail slid around Munkustrap's waist and he stroked the older tom's cheek gently, pressing loving kisses to his cheeks and forehead as he watched his friend sleep. The magician desperately hoped his friend would be alright... if he wasn't, Quaxo didn't know what he would do. He hadn't had to think about that before, excepting the earlier talk with Tumblebrutus he'd had.

... but, that was an awkward talk in itself.

After a long while, Quaxo decided that he needed some rest, too, and closed his eyes, resting his head on Munkustrap's shoulder, his arms wrapped protectively over his waist. He wasn't asleep; he didn't feel safe doing that anymore. No, he was just being protective. Quaxo wouldn't let anything happen to his Munkustrap.

[Munkustrap Etc.]

Munkustrap groaned as he started to wake up, curling in on himself from the pain. With the adrenaline gone, he could feel every bump and bruise and cut and scratch he had obtained in the most recent battle. There was someone warm lying aginst him, though, paws around his waist. The comfort felt nice but was hardly an effective pain-killing mechanism. "Owwww..."

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Quaxo's eyes slid open when he heard Munkustrap's voice, and he sat up slowly, running a soft, glowing paw down his stomach. "Shh... Munky, you don't have to move." he whispered, leaning down to press a tiny kiss against Munkustrap's lips. "Just stay there, sweetie. I'll make you all better." Quaxo grinned, gently pushing Munkustrap onto his back and running both paws down his stomach and side.

[Munkustrap Etc.]

Munkustrap made small, pained noises as Quaxo pushed him into place, not even having the energy to protest the nickname, but he began to relax as Quaxo worked his magic. After a few minutes of this, he felt well enough to open his eyes and look up at the little tom. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice quiet. "I let him take you..."

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"Sweetheart, shh." Quaxo reached up, gently putting a paw to Munkustrap's lips. He leaned down, pecking his cheek softly. "It's not your fault, Munkustrap. Don't blame yourself. You didn't know the kitten would lead to my capture, dear." He pulled away and gently laid beside Munkustrap, one healing paw sliding down Munkustrap's stomach still as he slid his other arm behind Munkustrap's neck. "I'm not worried about myself, either. He may have hurt me, but he hurt you more, Munky. I'm going to take care of you."

[Munkustrap Etc.]

"The kitten?" Munkustrap frowned. "Zalika? Etcy!" He tried to sit up, whining as something torn in his stomach pulled, and fell back into Quaxo's arms. "Etcetera, is she all right?" If Zalika was working with Macavity (a kitten! Macavity would hurt a kitten?

Well... yes, actually...)

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Quaxo nodded and pulled Munkustrap closer, holding him close and nodding slowly. "Zalika. Etcy's fine, Munkustrap. She's back in the nursery with her mother and the other kittens." he murmured, nudging his nose cutely against his friend's cheek and smiling at him. Quaxo rubbed Munkustrap's side gently, looking down at him. "Zalika went back to his tribe. I'm sure both he and Hedrunkus are getting punished by now."

[Munkustrap Etc.]

Munkustrap frowned at the thought of Macavity punishing that kitten - whether it had helped kidnap Quaxo or not, it was still just a child, no bigger than Pouncival. He closed his eyes. Etcetera and the kittens and Jelly were all all right, though. Quaxo was all right. Tumblebrutus was all right. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer were... Munkustrap swallowed thickly and moved on down his checklist. Plato was... "Plato?"

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Quaxo smiled at Munkustrap's concern, hugging him again and nuzzling him gently on the cheek. "Plato's going to be fine, sweetie." he said quietly, leaning down to press a quick kiss to the other cat's lips. "Oh, by the way... Jerrie and Teazer were just messing with our heads. Apparently they can swim, 'cause they showed up at the nursery a few minutes after you fell asleep." He smirked, running his paw against Munkustrap's fur.

[Munkustrap Etc.]

Munkustrap opened his eyes, looking absolutely horrified. "They're not dead!?"

While part of him was relieved to hear that the playful thieves hadn't drowned, a second part was completely disgusted - he had killed a cat to avenge their supposed deaths! Killed! As in dead! As in never coming back!

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Quaxo shook his head, though his amused smile died down as he saw Munkustrap's disgusted expression. He sat up slowly and pulled Munkustrap up as well, rubbing his stomach softly and hugging him. "What's wrong, Munkustrap?" he asked, frowning deeply as he held Munkustrap close.

[Munkustrap Etc.]

"I killed a cat," Munkustrap whispered, burying his face in Quaxo's fur. "The one who said he killed Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer. I said I was avenging them... but if they're not dead... he didn't have to die." It was funny, really, how the one cat in the tribe who would understand everything about killing a fellow cat was also the one cat in the tribe he was with right now. Sometimes, things worked out nicely like that.

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Quaxo immediately frowned and pulled Munkustrap closer, petting the back of his head softly and resting his chin on the top of Munkustrap's. "I see..." he sighed, lifting Munkustrap's chin and staring him directly in the eyes. "As much as I hate death, and as much as I know you hate death, I think you did the right thing, Munkustrap." Quaxo said quietly, biting his lip. "You thought they were death, and you wanted to avenge their deaths. It's not your fault that they are conniving rascals who don't know when a joke is inappropriate."

[Munkustrap Etc.]

"It is my fault that cat is dead," Munkustrap said quietly, looking away. "I didn't have to stay and fight him... I didn't have to kill him. I could have gotten away once I took him down."

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"Munkustrap, please don't put yourself down for this." Quaxo begged, pulling his friend closer again and turning his head back toward him. Quaxo stroked Munkustrap's cheek softly, staring into his eyes. "I'm sorry, sweetie, that you killed a cat. Yes, it would have been better if you hadn't, but you can't change that now."