A/N: Hey guys! I know this took me forever to do, but look! It's the final chapter! I ACTUALLY FINISHED SOMETHING! Let's just take a second XD. Anywhoo, I hope you enjoy :)

It was quiet.

It was well past midnight, so this wasn't particularly surprising. The Junkyard had faded to black, the moon had passed behind some clouds, and it was silent as possible.

But there was something eerily uncomfortable about knowing that just a couple hours earlier the Yard had been filled with cats, their pelts melting in and about one another, the sound of laughter and music in the night air. How they had disappeared so quickly and all at once was almost astounding- Munkustrap knew he was the only Jellicle even awake at this hour.

He should be asleep. The silence was insufferable, and it seemed to grow colder by the minute. Dusty shadows seemed to move across the Yard in a slow dance, the moon wavering in and out between thinner clouds. Everything was wavering, shimmering, changing; the unknown was awake and Munkustrap shouldn't be seeing them he shouldn't be here it was so quiet and dark and he wanted to sleep-

"You still can't control it."

Munkustrap jumped, and he forced his breathing to slow (he hadn't even realized it had quickened). He took a few seconds before turning. "Brother."

Macavity stood at the edge of the pile, and suddenly it didn't seem dark at all. The Protector felt his eyesight begin to return, the shadowy unknown dissipating as his eyes found light where there was practically none. Such was the specialty of a cat.

The mystery tom had barely changed. In their recent meetings, Munkustrap had begun to see the signs of age; the greying around the edges, the matted coat and the drooping of his face; but now he seemed no different than he had at fifteen. His fiery fur was no less orange than it had been, his frame no less muscular, his eyes no less piercing and knowing.

"You get scared," the tabby said, and stepped forward to embrace the Protector. For a moment they stood, resting their heads on each other's shoulders, and then Macavity stepped brusquely back. Munkustrap felt himself cold, yearning for his brother's touch, and he hated himself for it. "I would tell you that you're an idiot for taking the night shift," Macavity continued, eyeing his younger counterpart. "But then."

Munkustrap found himself wanting to talk but unable. His tail swished in agitation, but from what he couldn't remember.

Macavtiy supplied the answer. "You want to know why tonight happened." He sounded tired, the menace from a few hours earlier drained from everywhere except those clear yellow eyes.

"Yes," Munkustrap blurted, knowing that that was what exactly what had been troubling him. In the dark things often blurred together, whether in his vision or in his head.

"I shouldn't tell you," his brother sighed, and sat down on his haunches. Even sitting he still managed to look down on the silver tom. "You don't know how long I spent arguing with myself over it. Ultimately, I determined that you shouldn't know-" he paused as Munkustrap joined him and sat "- but I'm going to tell you anyway." He smiled, and every glint of light against his fangs whispered danger. Everything about his brother was dangerous, but the Protector had stopped noticing a few years ago. Macavity brought everything into focus and yet smudged them at the same time.

"The thing is," Macavity said, his voice the only discernible thing in the silence, "Is that you have forgotten about me."

Munkustrap opened his mouth to protest, out of habit, but Macavity continued to speak, anticipating his objection. "Even you, Munkus, no matter what you say, you have forgotten too. I know you recall me. You remember your big brother and you treat me like as such. I like that. I do. But you've forgotten what I've become. You no longer fear me- in a way that was my goal all these years- I've always told you to not fear me. Now that I've said it enough times, you've listened. I suppose I overlooked that I needed you to stay scared.

You forget what I did. You don't realize that I am still doing it. That's begun to frustrate me. Yes, I presume that you can say that I'm bored, but I do believe that this needs to be done." Macavity paused here, his voice so rich and enticing that Munkustrap was left empty, yearning for his brother to continue, and he hated himself for it. The tabby's eyes were glinting now, on alert. He was a predator, but Munkustrap had stopped noticing.

"Tonight was a show. I wanted you all to continue to be afraid- I haven't given you a dose of fear in a hot minute- but that was merely me having fun. There is a bigger issue here, you see. You've forgotten. Perhaps more insulting, you've elected to ignore."

Munkustrap was dumbfounded into a silence that felt almost permanent. His brother was addicting, narcotic. His voice, his eyes, his mere presence had rendered him speechless. Macavity was quiet, watching his younger brother. He shifted, leaning, and watched as the silver tabby subconsciously mirrored him.

"How long has it been," he said, keeping his clear eyes fixed on Munkustrap's brown ones, "How long since you talked magic?"

On cue, Munkustrap answered. "Not since Jemi was born. She has never seen it or heard about what it can do until tonight."

"Therein lies the problem," Macavity nodded, his teeth spreading into a wide smile. "Why do you pretend like it doesn't exist? Why do you ignore?"

Again, the Protector answered. "Because it kills. It shall never see the Yard again. My daughter is staying away from any magic at all costs."

Macavity chuckled softly. "You do realize what a fool you've been for thinking that all these years, after what happened tonight?"

Munkustrap frowned, remembering the small black tom as he leapt about the Yard, mystifying the kits and captivating the adults, and something inside him twinged like a dissonant chord. For the first moment since Macavity had entered the Yard Munkustrap was lucid. His head cleared of the mystery cat's influence, but within seconds he was back under as Macavity continued to talk.

"Father knew. He's known all along. He never shared it with you because he knew how you'd react. But you can't ignore something so powerful," his brother smiled. "Just like you can't ignore me." His tail drew lazy circles in the earth.

"I intend to nurture the kit. He's in such a malleable state right now. I have no doubt that he will only grow under my teachings." The orange tabby stood, stretched forwards then back, and then leaned forward to nuzzle Munkustrap once more. His breath was hot against his cheek; fur soft against the underside of his ears. "So there's your answer. Tonight happened because I was bored and you've begun to sideline me. I can't let you think that I'm lessening in importance. Magic will come to the Yard again, don't you even think for a second it won't, and it will haunt you all. And if I wish it so, it will kill again." He drew away and gave a wink, his grin glimmering. "Mistoffelees already has a hold on Jemima. I wouldn't have told you but I suppose you'd like to know." When his younger brother didn't answer his grin widened. "That's all I've got for you tonight, Munkus." He stepped back. Immediately Munkustrap felt his loss, the yearning, and he hated himself for it.

All the same, he said nothing as Macavity turned and the dark began to melt once more. But as the shadows began to move and whisper, the silver tabby burst out "Mac," his voice desperate.

Without a whisper of hesitation his brother turned back. "Yes?"

"I- you- you didn't hold your punches," Munkustrap answered lamely. He paused, feeling a hint of humiliation at his desperation, and then managed a "Why?"

Macavity nodded as if he'd known all along that Munkustrap was going to ask. "It had to look real, brother. But I also thought it'd be fun to test you." He let out a laugh, his ears twitching in amusement. "You did well. Despite how I made it look, you did the most damage. Impressive." He turned back, done with the extra indulgence. "I need to go. But Munkus-"

"Yes?" the Protector spurt out.

Macavity chuckled again. "- I'm proud of you."

With that he disappeared into the black and the shadows came out to continue their dance.

Another A/N: So...this turned out totally different from how I originally planned it. The chemistry between Munkustrap and Macavity is something I've wanted to explore for a while, but how I initially pictured it is definitely not how it turned out. But I like it. Anywhoo..I do realize this doesn't really close anything. This was intended to be more of an epilogue, but even as that it doesn't really fit. Perhaps another story will be spurred out of what I've left here. We'll see. ;)

It's really stupid but I'm actually super happy that this story was even completed. I'm reallllly bad with finishing things. But it ended up being really fun and rewarding to write. :P To anyone who stuck through the whole thing, you're a babe. I love you.