Disclaimer: I don't own Tennessee 'kid' Cooper but I do own Danielle the Raccoon and a few others. The Cooper ancestors belong to the Sly Cooper franchise, sucker punch games and Sanzaru games. Not me!
Journey of a dream.
Tennessee carried Danielle back to the hotel as he finally set her down on her feet, holding her steady for a moment so she wouldn't fall over. The two raccoons looked at each other warmly as Danielle wandered deeper into Tennessee's temporary bedroom while looking around with eyes brimming with child-like curiosity.
The male adult raccoon tossed his cloak aside as he slowly followed Danielle to make himself invisible as to not ruin the beauty she had brought into the room, knowing full well that even though that the curtains were drawn that she could brighten any room just by standing in it. Danielle's back was turned to him as she suddenly looked upon the desk and noticed the letter Skeeter had written to him and she approached it and picked up the note delicately in her rather small hands as she looked over each neat word.
When she finished reading it, Danielle raised a brow towards Tennessee whom smiled sheepishly while he rubbed the back of his head "Er...Skeeter kinda likes money from me as he's savin' up fer a lil' sumthin' even if ah' dunno what." He explained with a slight chuckle escaping his throat. As the dust furred outlaw's eyes fell back upon the female raccoon standing in front of him, his heart melted at the all too familiar grin she was giving him.
Even in the darkness of the room, Danielle's smile was enough to put a shining light inside Tennessee's yellow orbs as he found his brownish fur bristling up to hide a blush creeping upon his muzzle and he found that his tail was swishing behind him to express whatever great joy he tried to withhold.
Tennessee pulled up a chair whilst Danielle sat herself down upon the squeaky bed that creaked underneath her light weight, her eyes widening at the uncomfortable sounds it made underneath her. She decided to try her best to ignore it as she looked to Tennesee who straightened his posture at the sight of her inquisitive expression.
It appeared that Danielle was ready to ask her questions as he started by pointing at the gunshot wound in her childhood friend's ear "What in tarnation happened ta yer ear?!" She exclaimed, expressing motherly lecturing and worry at the same time.
Tennessee sighed. Considering that he hadn't seen Danielle for a long time, it wouldn't be a major surprise that she didn't know about his injury. He removed his bowler hat and placed it upon his lap so he could think of a better way to explain this even though the fear that she would over worry did nip at the back of his head but he decided to tell her the whole story anyway.
"Alright, I got this here hole from m'ah pa's own cane when it was turn on me."
Danielle looked shocked as soon as those words left his lips. She never expected to hear that her best friend endured an injury after just arriving in Cotton mouth bluff! Tennessee took note of her position tensing up and her eyes widening to the size of dinner plates but he placed a tender hand upon her shoulder to calm her. Tennessee could feel her ragged pulse underneath his furry palm as he tried to wordlessly soothe her emotions.
Even when the room was darkened by the closed curtains it made Tennessee's soft gaze relax Danielle's facial expression even further as his unique eyes were somehow more enchanting at night so this darkened room made it all the more calming. The outlaw softly blinked his eyes and she matched those small blinks of the eyes to calm herself down.
Eventually, peace was restored as Tennessee continued his tale. He had told about how he stolen a precious item belonging to Sheriff Rico fox, how Buck had came to his aid at times of need and much more about all he had been doing over these past few months. Danielle was on the edge of the bed at some parts as she listened intently to the tale she was being told. When he was finished, however, she tried to recall anything interesting about what had been done since she had last seen him but whatever she told him came out dull to her own ears.
Tennessee furrowed a confused brow as he tried to think up any excuse to get her to stay for the night. He honestly didn't want her to leave his side and felt kind of helpless to help her if she needed it! It was really strange of him but the dust furred raccoon couldn't help but fumble nervously where he sat is he twiddled with his fingers whilst biting down roughly against his toothpick as he fought back the strong urge to ask Danielle a strange question.
He managed to ask her through a quivering stutter of a voice "Er...So where are y'all stayin' iffin' ya don't mind m'ah asking?"
Danielle brought her eyes to meet his. That was a very good question since she didn't have a place to stay right now and the only real option was staying in the hotel but then again it wouldn't be easy staying in a hotel and word spread quickly so if she were to find a room then rumours would spread and say that she stayed in a certain room of the hotel and she would surely be a target for those pesky dogs again. Over analysing? yes. A risk worth taking? Not really.
She shrugged.
The question motored out of the dust furred coons mouth faster than a hare sprinting on a hamster wheel as a highly visible red tinge made itself known upon his muzzle "Would ya like ta stay with me?"
The female raccoon was surprised upon hearing this. Never had she thought that her best friend would offer such a thing! It was kind and generous but she felt that it would get in the way of Tennessee's business and she didn't want to harm him anymore with her presence than she needed to. She opened her mouth to reply but the words jolted out from Tennessee's mouth after he asked the original question in a way to assure her.
"Ah' know its weird figuring we're best friends and all bu-but ah' don't wanna see ya wake up in the night and have nightmares and stuff alone so ah' thought that I would try and be polite and-" He stopped rambling when Danielle pressed a finger against her friend's lips to silence him and she looked into his eyes.
Somehow, those yellow orbs always found a way to end up into her mind and make Danielle smile on the inside. She found them hypnotic from the first day of meeting him and would never forget the idiotic smile he gave whenever she said goodbye to him. He was just such a rapscallion and had such a happy-go-lucky vibe in each step he took that whenever you meet him, it would drive you crazy and you would remember that mischievous personality for the rest of your life.
So, with a voice softer than a bed pillow, she told him "Tenny, ah' know yer tryin' to be a great friend but ah' need my space. If ah' get into a pickle then ah'd be sure ta give y'all a holler."
Tennessee's ears flattened against his forehead a little sadly as Danielle didn't regard him as anything more than a friend. Actually, it was usually the other way around during these kind of situations where a girl likes a boy and they don't like you back. Tennessee tried to hide his sadness as he forced a toothy smile to his lips even though his ears were pointed backwards and his eyes shown his emotions quite a bit as they turned from energetic and joyful to rather dull and unenthusiastic.
"Um...Yup, ah'm bein a good friend..." Tennessee forced himself to laugh even though his heart was kind of betraying how sad he was on the inside. He was going to keep her happy for now but hoped that she would see his feelings soon.
Danielle peeled herself away from the noisy bed she sat on and went towards the door without another word, saying nothing as she walked out the door as if she was kind of upset too. Tennessee didn't know what was the matter but all he did know was that it had been a stressful day and he needed to hit the hay soon anyway as he began to make his bed and get ready to sleep the night away as it was his night off.
As Tennessee laid down on his bed, his gaze glued to the ceiling, he found his heart beating rapidly within his chest in a scream to tell Danielle how he felt. The outlaw held it off, however, as he knew that he shouldn't rush these things even if he wanted to tell her so badly.
He closed his eyes and allowed all thoughts to be cleansed from his mind even though he clutched his hat in his sleep like a teddy bear as snores very soon purred from his throat and nose.
A/N: Awwww, poor Tennessee. All he wants is Danielle's affections but it doesn't seem that she cares right now, does she? I hope that this chapter was enough and I also thought it would be best if I updated this as well as my Rioichi fanfic as they are side by side and my origin Ancestors stories.
Sorry if it was rushed and short but I wanted to keep you happy so I hope that this was alright.
Thanks and please review.
-Chloemcg
