The Awful Battle of the Pekes and What's Possible

The War is Over, Nobody Won

Jenny saw Jelly running in the distance, shouting at her to get her attention. Jelly puts a paw up in recognition but does not stop or even look back. They're in this chase together and they now have each other's backs. So Rum Tum Tugger and Mistoffelees were trying to keep up with Jennyanydots who was now attempting to catch up to Jellylorum who was b-lining towards Munkustrap before he reached Demeter.

Munkustrap couldn't think about much else but his lover. How could he be so selfish and foolish? His amazing girlfriend, the person he fought for, not being safe because of his stupid actions? He could've just gone home and stayed home after the Jellicle Ball, but no. He had to wonder and feel the need to be the hero. What's the point of even being a hero if the person you love isn't there to enjoy the safety with you.

Munk reached the den, stopping with great force before doing his special patterned knock on the door. Demeter never liked knocking, so they came up with a special rhythmic pattern so she knew it was him. "Wait, Munkustrap?" He opened the door with the delicacy of decorating a cake, closing it gently behind him and approaching Demeter who was sitting up and ready to climb out of bed. After he confirmed she registered he was there, he sprung up on her, licking her with affections and kissing her passionately. Their noses booped and their ears twitched away from each other when they grazed as they nuzzled.

The group chasing after Munkustrap finally caught up, weary and out of breath. Jelly went to the window, too winded to look much, but got the okay to come in, so she let herself in. As she entered, Jenny right behind her, they caught the pair wrapped up in each other in pure joy. Munk, also catching his breath in between kisses, was just tying himself up with his mate, practically becoming one being. The two took a second before breaking a part, sitting up and looking at the group that accumulated in front of them.

Jelly was baffled, "How did Munkustrap know to use the window?" Munk's eyebrows tilted heavily while Demeter laughed. "He doesn't use the window, he just uses the door." Munkustrap was now reaching for his loves shoulder, mouth thinning to a line. "Why would I ever get in through the window?" The group laughed, explaining to him the situation and why Jelly was so concerned for him showing up here.

"Oh, so you thought I didn't know my mate enough to know that she wouldn't like someone intruding on her? I feel like most people wouldn't like that, but I know especially Deme needs to feel safe. We have our ways. Like I said, I am her mate after all." The two older queens stood in silence, ashamed at their assumptions. Munk sighed, "It's okay though, I'm glad you were here to look out for her... and me for that matter." Jenny nodded softly as Jelly's smile lifted her ears. "Of course. We love you both and we're just glad you're safe."

Munkustrap looked over at Tugger and Mistoffelees who were now by the door of the den, with Tugger leaning on the frame, letting Misto down, holding his lover's paw. He was oh so glad Tugger was gay, Munk knew too well that that tom cat could not handle kittens. At the very least, he was the one cat who truly understood Mistoffelees, and frankly, he saw that being enough for his brother.

Jenny looked at the two in their nest all intertwined with each other and thought back to her own youth, tripping on her own breath. "Well, let's give these two some space, I'm sure they have some catching up to do." Tugger and Mistoffelees, who were by the door, waved their byes followed by the two queens. With the entrance to their den now being closed, after a week of pain, Munkustrap finally found true rest in his queen.

"I'm so happy to be home with you." Demeter glimmered, slicking back the fur on the top of Munk's head and letting her leg hug Munk's torso. "I'm glad to see you safe and healthy." Munk jumped up, eyes a light. "I'm so sorry I left you by yourself, I should tell you what's been going on-" Demeter cut off Munkustrap, sitting up with him and kissing him mid sentence. "No need, hun. Jelly's been keeping me up to speed on everything."

Munk looked down, confused with twinges of hurt. "I mean, like, before I went to the medical den yesterday." Demeter grazed her paw pads over the knuckles of Munk's paws. "Yep, she told me about your heroic guarding." Munk shook his head like he was trying to jumble the words he's just heard. "But the only cat who came to see me was Tugger?" Demeter chuckled, "Firstly, the older cats kept an eye on you from afar to make sure you were safe. Tugger, of course, wanted to help you, so regularly reported back to Jelly in case something like what happened yesterday happened. Jellylorum is the one that told it all to me. Tugger wanted to tell me himself, but I didn't want him in the den."

Munkustrap bit his lip. "Guess I'm glad the tribe looks out for me." Demeter jokingly booped Munk's nose. "Needing love and care doesn't make you any less of a great leader, Munky. You needed help and that's okay, everyone does." Munk let out a breathy laugh, his stomach jiggling dramatically for how little sound came out of his mouth.

"Yeah, I'm so messed up-" Demeter once again leaned in for a kiss, this time it lasted longer than the first short peck. Their tongues met, grazing each other, running over their sharp front teeth before Demeter pushed Munk away to look him in the eyes.

"You're not messed up, you're messed with. Being messed up implies that there's something wrong with the core of who you are, but there isn't. Imagine if someone made a fresh batch of cookies; the recipe followed to a point, baked in a warm oven, decorated with care. But then, when the person baking them turns away, a child comes and sprinkles hot flakes onto them, making them practically inedible.

You're not messed up because you weren't born with these thoughts or fears, you were never the person to keep yourself away from me. Macavity came and took your comfort from you. He took your safety. Him just getting into the ball was a way of realizing that he could do that anytime he wants and ruin everything. I'm not saying this to scare you. I'm saying this because by Macavity taking away your foundations and safety nets, he sprinkled on the hot flakes of doubt and fear and burden onto you. You'll always be my favorite cookie, even if you're a little spicy now."

Munkustrap sat and thought for a minute. First about the words themselves, how he felt less like a mistake because of them, and then he thought about his amazing partner. Demeter didn't usually have a great way with words, but that was just too beautiful. "Yeah,,, you're right. You can't win at cards if you were shuffled a shitty hand. That's very smart of you. Thank you." Demeter blurted out an exacerbated laugh. "Don't thank me, thank Jennyanydots for that one! You think I could have thought that up myself? Love, that's what I'm told. I am the literal queen of being messed up, but according to Jenny, the spool of thread in my skull just got tangled."

Munk smiled, bringing his queen in for a hug, letting the rest of the air that filled his torso collapse into the body now pressed up against him. "If your thread is tangled, I'll just have to sit there and unknot it, won't I?" They felt their whiskers brushing against each other as they leaned in for a kiss. Munkustrap was very happy to be back in his lover's arms. He was also elated that he was able to be fully here and provide for her however she'd need. As much as he knew she cared, he didn't want Demeter seeing him in such a hurt and helpless state.

Even so, they got to revel in each other. The fact they were alive, the fact they were safe. Nothing was better. It remained peaceful for the rest of the night, Munkustrap and Demeter tangling on the bed in passionate kisses, before falling asleep against one another. The nest was full and warm again, sunken in with love. Sometimes you really only need help to show your worst self what is truly possible. 

I wasn't able to tell the full story I wanted to since I'm going to college the day I'm uploading this. I wanted to go more into detail with everything, as well as continue the story fully with how Munk goes about living with Demeter now that he's not as emotionally stable, as well as how he functions when he has to eventually go back to work. I also wanted to do more Tugger and Misto side chapters! If this gets enough love, I'll continue writing the story as a sequel book next summer break, or over winter break. Let me know if you want to see more!