The day went...well.

I guess that's what you could say about somecat whose just forced himself to love someone other then the one he was meant for.

Scourge learned much about she-cats in his time with Brick, he walked closer to any cat he ever had before. Other then Bone of course.

"Scourge, you've been acting a little different lately, is there something wrong?" The black tom had been walking alongside Brick quietly and started at the sudden noise.

He had little time to concoct a lie...and so the truth came tumbling out against his will.

"Well you see, I've been leading BloodClan for moons. Alone. No female has dared come forth to ask me to be their mate. No cat has even attempted to get to know me as more then leader or commander," the words were flowing fast then, there was no going back for Scourge. This was it. The end. "Brick, you are my right hand commander, you have more trust then I have ever given to anycat. Leading, being king of all this, it is lonely Brick. Would you take honor in being by my side, as my queen?"

Brick had stopped walking, sitting down and looking at Scourge in shock.

"I...I didn't think you were picking up my hints you know. And this is so unlike you I would never have even thought of a confession like this. Scourge...yes! Yes I will be your queen, I will stand by your side honorably. I love you Scourge." Words rushed from Brick's mouth, so quickly that Scourge had to take a second to process what she had said.

"I know, I am just so all alone Brick, I need someone by my side. And you, my love, were the only cat I would even consider." Scourge spoke, replacing Bone's name with Brick in his head. Dreaming of a life with a cat he could never love.

How shameful he would even think of loving Bone. How shameful that he would stop trying to deny that love. And how shameful that he would admit that he would always love Bone through his entire life, mated to Brick.

Brick was smart, skilled, strong, and most important, she was female. She would be loved by Scourge's cats. They would not question his love for her. All he needed to do was sell it, to himself and to his clan. Maybe eventually he would believe it as truly as everyone else. Maybe he could learn to love this she-cat over his soulmate.

Brick stepped closer, brushing her tail along Scourge's back lovingly. Scourge forced himself to take initiative and twined his tail with Brick's. He leaned his head against her shoulder, and despite Scourge being much more powerful and skilled, he was still small. His head came up only to her shoulder.

"I will do whatever you wish of me, my love, if you want us to stay a secret I shall still be happy for I am with you." Scourge pushed Bone from his mind and looked up into Brick's eyes. The eyes he would look into and love. He had to.

Somehow her breath smelled sweet, gentle upon his short fur in the somewhat chilly afternoon.

"No, I am not some coy female, I will not force you to keep our love in the dark. Tomorrow, tomorrow they will know." Brick's eyes held such sincerity, it pierced Scourge's heart to know he was lying to her.

"Good, I knew you weren't. Come, you may sleep in my alley this night, it is cold tonight." Scourge smiled back at her, feeling the same happy light in his eyes.

The day went by slowly, Scourge replaced all of the tasks that Bone would usually do with him, with Brick. Bone seemed irritated, but did as he was told.

At the end of the day, however, things did not go so well. Scourge waited patiently for Brick to arrive in his alley. But instead, Bone was the one to show his face.

"I-I don't mean to disturb you sir, but I wanted to ask if you are angry with me, I noticed you replaced me with Brick all day today." Bone looked worried, well, terrified was a more accurate description.

"No!" Scourge was quick to talk, taking a rushed step forward, he was much to close to Bone now. "No! Not at all, it's just that...well...me and Brick have gotten a bit...closer." Scourge stepped back again, slower this time. He was afraid.

"Oh?" Bone looked confused, and then a look of understanding and...sadness? Crossed his face. "Oh...oh of course, sorry I...I didn't know, I'll just...go then."

Bone began to walk away slowly, a look of shame and loneliness on his face. The most emotion he'd shown in a long time. Other then in Scourge's dream of course.

"I'm sorry for bothering you sir, have a good night"

Scourge looked after the last thing that he would ever truly care about, turned around, and walked back to his bed. Waiting.

Brick did show. She said nothing, Scourge appreciated that. He scooted over slightly in order to give her space to lay down. She curled up beside him and buried her nose in his fur.

And Scourge went to sleep beside a cat he would learn to love, even thought he couldn't help but imagine someone else sleeping at his side. Whispers of a past dream danced through his head as he fell asleep curled up against Brick.