Chapter 7: Reconciliation

"Carmelita?"

Carmelita's ears and head perked up and she turned around on the couch to look at Neyla.

"Neyla? How did you get... Oh no, don't tell me! Where is that thief!?" she asked angrily, looking around.

"I'm right here, Carmelita" Sly said coming out from the bedroom.

"So much for talking to her alone" Neyla muttered.

"What are you doing here!?" Carmelita asked directing her question to Sly.

"Just making sure you won't hurt Neyla" Sly replied eyes narrowing.

Carmelita was surprised. She had never seen Sly like this, not with her or Neyla.

"I wouldn't hurt her but I have a good mind to hurt you with my shock pistol" she said narrowing her eyes as well.

"That will be difficult considering that your shock pistol is here" he said drawing the pistol from his leg pouch.

"What...?! Where did you get that?!" she asked getting even more angry.

"From your bedroom" Sly asked grinning.

"Damn you, Cooper!"

"If you two are done!" Neyla said raising her voice, "I would like to talk to you" she said looking at Carmelita.

"But I don't want to talk to you, so get out of my apartment" Carmelita retorted coldly.

"I'm not going anywhere until you listen to me" Neyla said.

"Then I will leave" She said getting up and started heading for the door but Sly was faster. He blocked Carmelita's way and didn't let her pass.

"Get... out of... my... way, Cooper" she growled dangerously low.

"No, you're going to listen to her" Sly replied seriously.

Carmelita threw a punch at the raccoon but Sly ducked to evade it. She then tried to knee him to the ribs but Sly was again faster and pinned Carmelita against himself with his cane.

"You wouldn't happen to have handcuffs, my love?" Sly asked from Neyla.

"I do" she answered taking a pair from her belt and handing it to Sly.

"COOPER! DON'T YOU DARE!" Carmelita screamed, struggling to get loose but Sly was stronger and didn't let go.

"I think you have to do this, Neyla" Sly said as he did his best to keep the vixen in hold.

"I'm sorry for this Carmelita" Neyla said as she came closer and by some miracle managed to cuff Carmelita to a door handle.

"I don't give a damn of your meaningless apologizes" Carmelita snarled in venomous tone.

Sly let her go and quickly moved out of the range of punches and kicks.

"I'm going to leave now, my beautiful tigress. Be careful" Sly said and quickly kissed Neyla's cheek.

"Will you wait for me?" she asked.

"Of course" he replied with a grin.

Sly went back to the bedroom and from there to the rooftop. Meanwhile in the apartment Carmelita was eyeing Neyla furiously.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"I wanted to talk to you" Neyla answered.

"About?"

"About me and Sly"

"You and Sly" Carmelita spat it out like a rotten piece of meat, "There's no such thing as you and Cooper. He's just playing you to get to something and I'm going to find out what it is. Don't you see? He's using you. Like he has done so many times with the both of us"

Neyla was really hurt when she heard her friend scream things like that to her but she kept it calm...

"Sly doesn't use people. He's a good man"

"No, he isn't. He's a thief, a criminal. Something you've sworn to fight against"

"It doesn't matter that he's a criminal. I'm happier with him than I've been in years with anyone. Including you!"

To hear her always-too-calm friend to snap at her like that made Carmelita wince and feel bad but only for a fleeting moment.

"You really are happier with that kind of lowlife scum than with me?"

"You shot me and tried to kill Sly and you are somehow surprised that I rather be with him than you!" Neyla yelled, very angry now, "And the only real reason you're this angry is that Sly chose me instead of you"

Carmelita was about to deny it but Neyla cut her off before she could say a word.

"Don't even try to deny it. It was written all around your face when you saw us kissing"

Carmelita was in loss of words. She didn't know what to say. Neyla was right and they both knew it.

Suddenly Neyla turned to leave but stopped when Carmelita halted her:

"Wait!" she cried out, "You're right" she continued in a whisper.

Neyla was really surprised to hear this. Carmelita was one of the most stubborn persons she knew.

"You're right. I love that damn raccoon. I don't know why but I just do. I know it's wrong but I can't help it" she sobbed quietly, "And now... now, I missed my chance. He chose you and I will definitely beat him the next we meet"

"Carmelita, I need to know: Are you mad at me?" Neyla asked cautiously. She acknowledged that this might not have been the most best moment to ask that from her but she needed to know.

"I guess, I'm not. I'm mad at that Ringtail" Carmelita answered after awhile.

Neyla was happy about the fact that Carmelita didn't hate her. She went to open the cuffs and as soon as the cuffs were off she threw her hand around her and hugged the vixen tightly.

"I'm so happy you don't hate me, Carmy" Neyla almost sobbed.

Carmelita said nothing but hugged her back.

For awhile they stood there hugging then Neyla pulled away and said: "I'll go now but I'll come see you every once and awhile"

"You say it like we won't meet so often anymore"

"I'm going to turn in my badge and perhaps join Sly's gang" Neyla answered cautiously, gauging Carmelita's reaction.

Her ears dropped.

"If that's what you really want..." she said quietly.

"It is, Carmelita, trust me" Neyla replied.

"If you're sure but if he ever mistreats you I will make him suffer" Carmelita said.

Neyla chuckled and said: "He won't. Sly is a good man"

Carmelita nodded.

"I'll go now, Carm but I try to visit you and call you and stuff" Neyla said and went for the bedroom.

"Goodbye" Carmelita said after her.

"Bye!" Neyla said from the bedroom.

She climbed through the window and to the rooftop where Sly was waiting for her. He had his back turned and he hadn't noticed her yet. Neyla was about to say his name but stopped when a thought came in mind.

"I wonder if I can sneak up on him" she thought to herself.

Neyla crouched down a little and started creeping silently towards the raccoon. Once she reached him Neyla raised her arms to grab his shoulders and give Sly a little scare. But Sly had known all along that the tigress was coming and just as she raised her arm he spun around and wrapped his own arms around the stunned tigress and embraced her in a kiss. Neyla was too surprised to return the kiss and as soon as Sly pulled away grinning his usual cocky grin she asked:

"How did hear me coming?"

"Come now, my love. You didn't think you could sneak up on me, did you?" Sly asked his grin widening.

"But how did you hear me?" she asked again.

"I'm a master thief. I have developed rather sensitive ears over the years" Sly explained, "Were we in some more quieter place I could hear even your smallest breath"

"This isn't the end of it. Once you've trained me to be a proper thief we'll see who's who"

This took Sly by surprise.

"You want me to train you? Train you to a master thief?" he asked astonished.

"Absolutely, my love" Neyla said and leaned to kiss the surprised raccoon.

"Now shall we go?" she asked once they pulled away.

"We shall" Sly said.

They took of to Neyla's apartment and started getting ready for the night.

Hope you liked this even if it's too short once again but I like it, so better get used to it. Review and stuff...