Thanks to Cody Furlong for reviewing again. I very much love my reviewers. It's like they aren't afraid to let it be known they would actually read what they're reviewing, you know?

Thalia and Melpomene guide me.

I still own nothing.

Warning to anyone who dislikes large amounts of swearing. This chapter is going to get really colorful with Nikki. *shivers*

Jake wiped the sweat off his brow with a rag. Sure, he'd made one before, but making a Glovatrix for someone else wasn't as easy. Especially when that kat was asleep in another room. He had to keep it the right size, and it wasn't easy to do that without the paw it was made for. Either way, he was almost done. It had taken him more time to get the components together than to actually assemble it, since it had to be bigger than his own. He tightened a couple parts, made sure it was solid, and smiled. Sure, at this point the only utility it had was a grappling hook, but he was still proud of it. He looked at the clock. 8:30.

"Shit." He was hoping to Bast that Nikki hadn't gotten back yet. He set the Glovatrix down, then bolted out of his invention den, locking the 'monument' behind him. He saw Nikki's car in the driveway. She'd obviously just pulled in, because she was walking to the door. Jake ran through the shadows, darting behind his house. He hoped she hadn't seen him. Nikki didn't like him being outside late, or early. She didn't know about his inventions, and he'd rather not make her mad. Not with Chance here. He inched to his room's window. He slid it open easily and slipped through, shutting it quietly behind him. After fixing the thick, dark blue curtains, he found Chance sleeping on the floor, but judging by his position, he'd gone to sleep on his bed and fell off sometime in the night, then either didn't wake up or was too lazy to get back up. Jake nudged his friend with his foot.

"Chance," he whispered, "get up."

Chance halfheartedly turned over, keeping his eyes closed. He was really a bit cute, his red shirt and jeans, sleeping, or at least attempting to. Jake nudged Chance again. He was ignored. Jake sighed. He didn't have time for this. He hadn't wanted to resort to it, but Jake knelt beside Chance. He clamped a paw over Chance's mouth. After making sure Chance was still sleeping, he positioned a foot over his friend's tail. He lowered his foot enough to put pressure on Chance's tail, and kept putting more and more pressure on it until Chance shot upright, at which point Jake moved his foot and clamped his other paw over Chance's mouth to muffle all noise. After a moment, Jake moved his paws. Chance was glaring at him, understandably. Jake brought a finger to his lips.

"What the hell was that for?" Chance hissed.

Jake shrugged. "I couldn't think of another way to wake you up enough. Nudging you hard only got you awake enough to go back to sleep. And unless you want to be humiliated by Nikki, I kinda needed to wake you. She's here."

Chance's features relaxed. "Sorry. I'm not a morning person."

"Is anyone?" Jake asked. He stood up and walked to the door. "Be right back, I'm going to tell Nikki you're here. Go ahead and change or whatever. Unless you're really fast, changing in the closet's probably a good choice. I give it about forty seconds after I go out to tell her until she tries to bust in. And she will, trust me, no matter how awkward it would be." Just before he opened the door, he winked, and whispered, "T minus forty seconds."

Chance quickly pulled a purple t-shirt and another pair of jeans out of his bag, as well as socks and boxers. He went into the closet to change as fast as he could. He could hear the short conversation going on in the next room.

"Hi Nikki." Jake.

"Hey, kiddo." Nikki, he assumed.

"I have a friend over, just so you know."

"You have a friend?"

"I do now."

"Jake, I'm happy for you and all, but now I gotta torture him. Where is he?" Without waiting for an answer, she opened the door to Jake's room. Chance thanked Bast that he'd finished changing. He hid in the corner of the closet, curled in a ball. "Okay, where are you, little fucker!" She scanned the room and immediately looked in the closet. She saw Chance and dragged him out of the room by the scruff of his neck, which was humiliating in itself, but not as much as what she did once she got him into the living room. She actually held him up with one paw, keeping him at least four inches off the floor. He scanned her while she gave him the once-over. Nikki must've been at least six feet tall, and her hooker boots added around five inches. She had blonde fur and black hair. She was pretty much wearing an all-black hooker suit, but somehow not looking like a hooker. It might have been the muscle rippling underneath her skin. When she finished looking him over, Nikki dropped Chance, who landed in a heap. She took a step back and nodded her approval. "Muscular, blue-eyed blond, damn sexy stripes, not afraid to wear purple, respectful, overall cute and hot at the same time. Nice catch." Nikki walked off in a random direction, leaving Jake flushed dark red, noticeable even through his fur, and Chance doing a good job of matching the shade.

"Nikki!" Jake yelled.

"What?" She poked her head around the corner leading to the hallway to the kitchen.

"Now show Chance what you're really like. You get ten seconds."

"What the fuck Jake? Why the fucking hell can't I be fucking nice to your friend, you mother fucking asshole? Son of a bitch, I meant really Jake, what the fuck were you fucking thinking? Damn mother fucking bitch-ass fucker!" Nikki laughed.

Jake looked at Chance, whose jaw was dropped, and his eyes wide. "Meet my foul-mouthed sister Nikki."

Nikki was determined to have the last word. "Chance, huh? Really cute name. I'm gonna at least try to pretend I'm completely sane while you're here, but only this one time, kay? Seeya laters." She ducked into the kitchen to make herself a sandwich before going to sleep.

"Sorry about that." Jake said, still rather red.

Chance stood up, combing through his fur with his claws. "It's okay. That was really weird though." He avoided eye contact with Jake.

"Chance, is something wrong?" Jake asked worriedly.

"Let's not talk about it here." He looked in the direction Nikki went. "Do you know a nice place?"

Jake nodded. "Get on my motorcycle. I have to grab something."

Jake brought them down roads Chance never knew even existed in MKC until they pulled up to a tall chain fence with barbed wire at the top. Or, at least, part of a fence. Chance couldn't see the rest of it, because it was thickly surrounded by trees and shrubs on both sides. This small bit of fence was actually a mile or so away from any actual road. Jake hid his bike in the brush.

"So, where are we?" Chance asked.

"We aren't there yet."

Jake jumped up into the limbs of a tree and looked at Chance. "I hope you can climb."

Chance nodded meekly. "I can." He drew out his claws and jumped up beside Jake.

Jake climbed and jumped between limbs. Some were large enough for him to walk on. Chance followed him slowly, slipping often. Jake had obviously done this a few times before, at least. Jake stopped on a limb the size of his own waist, looking outwards. Chance followed his gaze and saw a tall stone wall, apparently stretching all around the inside of the fence. The wall itself must have been two stories tall, maybe three.

"What is this place?"

"I don't know why this wall is here. but as far as I know, it always has been. There's no way to get through it ground level though. Those doors were welded shut. But a year or so ago, I found a way in on the second floor." Jake opened the bag he'd been carrying. Out of it he pulled his Glovatrix, which he put on, and then Chance's Glovatrix, which he readjusted a bit for Chance once he was wearing it, so that it fit perfectly. "The one thing these Glovatrixes do have right now is a grappling hook. Shoot it up there, try to get it hooked on that railing." Jake pointed at a balcony, then showed Chance how to fire it.

Once they were on the balcony, Jake waited a moment for Chance to catch his breath. When he was ready, Jake opened the door leading to the balcony and and they walked up a small flight of stairs on the inside, leading to another balcony, except this one faced the other way. The area on the inside was truly beautiful, though Jake didn't give Chance time to admire it yet. Jake released the hook, but hooked it on the railing, telling Chance to do the same. They let the line out slowly so that they could repel down the wall. At the bottom, they drew the hooks back. Jake had designed the hooks to be able to go in and out of a small metal case so they would be easier to fit in the Glovatrix and to retract.

Chance looked around while he followed Jake to a marble fountain in the middle. It was a park. There were sidewalks and benches everywhere. The lawn was moss, like Jake's yard. Off to one side was a playset arranged like an obstacle course. Jake took off his boots and socks, and sat on the fountain, feet in the crystal clear water. Jake motioned for him to do the same.

When Chance sat down, Jake asked him, "So what did you want to talk about? He tried not to sound overly concerned.

"Did she mean it?" Chance asked quietly. "Did she mean what she said about me?"

"Of course." Jake felt sorry for Chance. Sincerity must have been relatively unknown to him before. Popularity and people lying to you tend to go hand in hand.

"She did?" Chance sounded happy, yet unsure of himself.

"Chance, look at your reflection in the water." When he did, Jake continued. "Three things jump out first. One, you're wearing purple. Two, your fur is mostly blonde. Three, your eyes are a beautiful and deep shade of blue."

"I don't think she said that last part like that."

"I know. But it's true." Jake smiled at Chance. "Your stripes are damn sexy, as she said. Something to do with that tiger thing." As he said it, Jake couldn't help but trace Chance's visible stripes with a fingertip.

Is Jake... no, he couldn't be. Or is he? Just give it a minute.

Jake continued. "You're muscular, but to just the right extent. The combination of your stripes and muscles make you really hot, in all truth. And your face holds a rare innocence usually lost by the time we're ten years old, making you cute at the same time. Not to mention you are respectful, whether you try to hide it or not. So overall, you'd be an awesome catch to anyone who could win your heart. A word of wisdom, though, not everyone will love you for who you are, and only love you for you physical extent. You deserve the best." Jake's eyes glassed over, and he blinked back tears, and looked away from the kat who had so quickly become his crush. He had a feeling Nikki had looked Chance over out loud only as a spur.

Chance stared at the back of Jake's head. He heard a sniff. He was, wasn't he? He was try to tell me he likes me, wasn't he? And now he's crying. I hope I didn't hurt him. He but a paw on one of Jake's shoulders. "Jake..."

Jake turned to look at Chance, who immediately noticed that Jake was trying not to tear up any more than he already was. Chance wrapped his arms around Jake and pulled him into a hug, except it was lighter than that, more like pulling Jake into a position to lay his head on Chance's chest. Chance crossed his wrists and rested his paws at the small of Jake's back. He rested his cheek against Jake's.

"Thank you Jake. I wasn't sure if she was being honest." Chance blinked. "I love you, Jake."

Jake's ears twitched, and his tail swished, the tip touching the water. He met Chance's gaze. "Really?"

Chance nodded. "Will you be mine, Jake?"

Jake had started sobbing. "I love you too, Chance! And yes, I will. I want to be yours."

Chance let his tail curl into Jake's, so that they twined. He ran his paw down Jake's back. "I always will." He held up his Glovatrix, which he'd laid on top of his shoes. "I really hate to ruin this moment Jake, but weren't we going to the Yard to find blasters?"

Jake rubbed his head into Chance's chest for a minute. "Yeah, I guess."

Later that night, Jake sat in his invention room, Chance at his side. Blasters with their laser diodes were scattered all over the floor. They had managed to find seventeen blasters, but only eight had the diodes intact. Jake had modified them, of course, and had put four together for each Glovatrix, so that they'd be stronger than Enforcer-model blasters.

Weeks passed, and the bond between the two only grew stronger, as did their trust of each other. Jake had stopped hiding, even though it took Chance almost a month to completely convince him, and the kats at school were utterly shocked, but it passed. Chance's grades rose enough to let his popularity level drop to the point where people wouldn't be nice to him just to get popular. Neither of them cared, though. One of them went to the other's house almost every weekend. They grew stronger physically and mentally as they trained themselves. Every time they got bored, or didn't have a way to settle an argument, they raced each other on the obstacle course at the park until both of them were satisfied, or until they burned out. Only Nikki and Krystal ever caught on to they're relationship; they hid it quite well. By summer, Jake was all lean muscle, what was left of his younger features almost erased. His sincerity always burned through though, and occasionally he could make himself look innocent. Chance, on the other hand, didn't lose the innocence in his look and manner. His muscles grew more well defined, though his longer fur hid the fact, and made him look like he was just a very large, fluffy kitten. Jake had updated the Glovatrixes often, adding some of his simpler missiles, like the bolo missiles and the spiderweb missiles. They practiced with them in secret, mastering their aim. Well, Jake anyway. Chance didn't have the natural mastery of aim that Jake did.

Now, though, summer was coming to a close, and the couple would soon be starting their junior year. That didn't stop them from spending the last weekend before it started together, camping at the park where they had admitted their love for each other.

Jake and Chance were hanging upside down from the monkey bars, seeing who could stand the blood rush the longest. Jake was winning, clearly.

"Jake, do we have to do this?" Chance pleaded.

"Yeah, unless you want to give up." Jake smiled. He knew Chance was starting to fade.

Chance looked at the ground, ten feet away. "Ugh..." His legs loosened, and he fell, landing in a pathetic-looking heap of fur. Jake pulled himself up to the top of the bars and stood up. He flipped off of it, and landed perfectly on his feet with all the grace of a she-kat. He ran over to Chance, dropping to his knees. He straightened out Chance, who was barely awake.

"You okay, love?"

Chance coughed. "Yeah. Just give me a minute." Chance shakily got to his feet, using Jake as support. They walked over to their tent, which they had set up about thirty feet away from the fountain. Jake opened the 'door' and helped Chance, who was still dizzy, inside. Jake slipped in after him and closed the door behind them. They slid into their sleeping bags. They laid there in silence for a few minutes. Jake shivered.

"Cold?" Chance asked.

"Heh. Yeah. Unlike someone, I don't have much meat on my bones to keep me warm. My fur only goes so far." After a little while, Jake got up.

"Where are you going?"

Jake rubbed his arms, trying to warm himself. "Bathroom."

"Oh. Hurry up, I don't want you to catch a cold."

Jake nodded before going out. Chance felt his grasp on consciousness slipping away after five minutes. He burrowed deeper into his sleeping bag and fell asleep. He woke around two in the morning. He blinked, letting his eyes adjust. Jake had slipped into Chance's sleeping bag with him and was nestled on his chest, his tail twined with Chance's. Chance poked his lover.

"Jake."

Jake yawned, opening his eyes.

"I see you're in my sleeping bag." Chance chuckled.

With a look of alarm, Jake shifted, trying to get out. "Sorry, I-"

Chance held Jake still. "You're fine, Jake. It just surprised me. That's all. I only woke you up to tell you that I like you like this."

"Like what?" Jake relaxed a bit.

"Just... needy. You're so cold that you're pulling heat off of me, even though it's summer. It's cute. I really do love you Jake."

Jake smiled. He shifted himself so that their noses were touching. "Remember the first time I brought you here?" he asked.

"Of course."

"We'd known each other less than a day then. I love you even more now than I did then, and my love will only grow for you."

Chance did something he'd wanted to do for a while. He moved his nose to the side and raised his upper body enough to meet Jake's lips. They'd never kissed before. They held hands, they cuddled, but they never kissed. Chance was always waiting for the perfect moment, and he figured now was as good as any. They kept it chaste though, but more love and meaning was transferred through it than even the most beautiful Disney kiss. Chance held it as long as he could, letting his empathic aura soothe Jake's nerves. Then they slept that way, lips and noses touching, breathing through their noses.

In the morning, Jake asked a question that startled Chance.

"What are we going to do with our lives, Chance?"

After thinking a few minutes, Chance came up with a good answer. "We could become Enforcers. We're in shape. You'd be the best marksman they'd ever seen, and I'd be a damn good pilot. You know?"

Jake nodded. "You're right. And I bet we'd be the best recruits they'd ever had."

"Enforcers it is, then?"

"Enforcers it is."

BAM! Sorry to the people who don't like time shifts, but this is the first of a couple for me to get the story flowing the way I want it to. Also, there's going to be a few rather vague crossover moments in upcoming chapters, a word of warning. Anyway, please review, and the next chapter should be up soon.