Too Little Too Late? ((59))

[amanika]

"Not because I didn't want t'hear it." Tugger pointed out, as the Mistoffelees' explantion dawned on him, "It was a shock, but honestly Misto, what y'do in that regard is your business. I was jus' warnin' you that not everycat would nessiccarily take it that way. Seemed like it woulda' bin' safer for'y t'keep it t'yourself."

[victoriousscarf]

Misto's ears flickered back. "I don't really need you to be telling me about safety," he said, though it wasn't as bitter as it could have been. "And everlasting cat, it's not like I told everycat I've ever known. But at that point Jerrie, and both your brothers knew. Would you have rather I told you, or find out from one of them? Besides, you're my friend damnit."

He looked back down at his coffee cup. "And you really think I don't know how most cats would take something like that? If I hadn't, I had already been informed that most of them would try to lynch me. I'm not stupid, Tugger."

[amanika]

"An' as your friend, I was tryin' t'look out f'you. That was all. I wasn't tryin' t'call you stupid, I was jus' concerned. If it didn't come across that way, well like I said, I was kinda' surprised too, y'know it wasn't like I expected y'to tell me that outta' the blue."

[victoriousscarf]

Biting his lower lip, Misto sighed softly. "Alright, well... at any rate it was hardly an inspiring response but... better than it could have been. I was just on edge from a lot of other things too," he murmured, going back to turning the coffee around in his paws.

"I... the reason I was in the hospital was because my uncle had sent his goons after me."

[amanika]

Tugger blinked, "I know, you told me that much at the hospital when I asked what happened."

[victoriousscarf]

"Yeah," he said softly. "But you asked me how I was doing, and that's the start of it. "Sent me to the hospital, and then told me to sky on Macavity for him, and then threatened me when I didn't. So that's been... fun."

[amanika]

"Jeez," Tugger was fiddling with his mane again, "I'm sorry." a pause, "An' I'm bleedin' furious with Mac, I was when y'told me before, but now..." he grabbed the coffee spoon again, stirring viciously, creating a small whirlpool in the cup.

[victoriousscarf]

"Why were you angry at him and what changed?" Misto asked softly.

[amanika]

"Nothin' changed, I jus' got distracted b'fore. Else I'd've said somethin' t'him. Mebbe I oughta' go see him afta' all."

[victoriousscarf]

"It might be a good plan," Misto said softly. "But you still didn't tell me why you were so angry to begin with..."

[amanika]

"Oh," Tugger stirred the coffee a little slower, "right. When he first showed up again, after a year or more of not seein' him. His reason was that he didn't want me involved with his business, worried I'd get hurt. When y'first started workin' f'him I pointed out that he was willin' t'let one of my friends get involved. Said I didn't want t'see you get hurt neither." he growled, "Fat lot of good tellin' him that did. You ain't even supposed t'be involved in the gang stuff, but he still let y'get hurt, you ain't in a job where that's supposed t'be an occupational hazard."

[victoriousscarf]

For a moment Misto was too surprised to actually respond. "He... My uncle had my parents murdered, I don't think he needed the excuse of your brother to go after me, and he could hardly have stopped it either."

[amanika]

"He coulda' done somethin', he's responsible f'the wellbeing of his staff, right? An' it ain't hardly no coincidence leavin' you where they-" Tugger cut off as he processed the earlier part of Mistoffelees' response, "Your uncle did what?"

[victoriousscarf]

Mistoffelees' ears all but flattened at the question--he still didn't want to think about it. "The evidence was thrown out so it was never brought to trial," he said softly. "But the evidence is there. And your brother can in no way be blamed for that night when I was beaten, and I'm sure he would have stopped me from leaving if he could have." It had hardly been Macavity's fault he'd been drunk and out on the streets past sane hours. If anycat could be blamed, it would be himself and Coricopat.

[amanika]

Did y'always know it was, well. Y'never mentioned your uncle bein', I can't think y'would've stayed with him if y'did?"