A/N: Okay, this needs to be addressed cause it's getting ridiculous. For those following Bluelighthouse's "Nighthowlers" story and have a problem with the whole Trisha/Judy thing, chill. Seriously its a fun story that's unconventional. Besides, the relationship "threat" to WildeHopps is over now. Seriously, leave it alone. Those who are attacking him need to back off.
For those worried about MY story, thinking that because Blue and I are lending each other characters that our stories are going to be the same, let me put that to rest. At MOST Trisha is a tease to Judy. She never had the best friend or high school experience growing up so this is more along the lines of that. Having a close friend that you can tease about boys or play small pranks on. A sisterly experience she never got to have growing up. She will not be trying to steal either mammal in any way shape or form.
Also, Nick in this story is 100% a mate for life fox. Zero interest in any other females (although like most males he can't exactly turn off the looking aspect) romantically or sexually. Judy is also the same way. Doesn't matter who or what, neither of them will ever abandon the other for any reason. There will be no 'threesomes' happening in this story.
Which is another thing. People are attacking Blue for the whole "Trisha and Judy like each other but Nick and Judy like each other so which is she going to choose' yet over TWO DOZEN people have asked/pleaded/DEMANDED for me to make a three-way between the characters happen. WTF people? You're asking me to do something people are attacking him for even though he isn't doing it to begin with!
And for god sake! Trisha is HIS character! Stop messaging him to demand he give her over to me. She's the same damn bunny! Trisha isn't any different between our two stories, its Nick and Judy who are not the same. So lighten up. And stop giving my bro a hard time. Fuck.
Oh and 700 reviews! That's nuts!
REVIEWS!
First off, to answer some of the overly asked questions:
Trisha was naked asleep on the couch because she was treating her fur and did not expect them home for another seven or eight hours.
No. No 'love triangles'
No. No threesomes
Yep. Nick fucked up. The things we do for love
Readingburnz: Ah, but they won't need that confession. They have the video of him attacking Judy now and that will give them a warrant for his home. He's going DOWN!
GusTheBear: Yes, Delta is a great character. Although I already have two canines with bunnies. Let's see if something else happens ;)
IMWHITE: Bad! Bad reader!
Starfang's Secrets: Oh she's a good gal. I have something in store that should be great for her ;)
Neo4812: They did not. Judy just threw it behind her
Harkonnen28: Yeah, still working on that one. My first idea I loved got trashed because it doesn't work in reality.
Fox addict: Glad to hear, although Bluelighthouse deserves that credit. I'm using his character already built :)
akanomie1: You're looking for "We just call them extras" *fans self*
Zanrok: Oops! Fixed ;)
Disclaimer: I stole Mickey's wizard hat so I could use magic to get the rights to Zootopia. Turns out it only works on broomsticks. Like that's it. It seriously only works on broomsticks.
Chapter 29 - A New Point of View 2
The sweet smell of freshly cooked eggs permeated the apartment, snaking it's way under the firmly closed door and tickling the nose of the slumbering striped cat, jostling the feline from a pleasant dream she could not remember. Waking up to the sound of a frying pan going and the scent of breakfast being cooked was the way most mammals, if given the choice, would prefer to be woken up. Stretching her limbs, the tigress let out a loud yawn with a muffled roar. Her paws hit the wall above the headboard and she had to control herself not to leave gouges with her claws. It may be something minor to tigers, but to the landlord and also her roommate, it would most likely be a cause to be charged for the repairs, if not simply kicked out.
Turning and flicking off the fan she had positioned next to her bed, Lylah licked her dry lips. She was sorely tempted to pull the covers back up over her head and go back to sleep, though she knew that was not going to happen. If she waited too long, such as she had done on Monday, she knew her roommate would come in to make sure she would get up. While the idea of her girlfriend coming into her room this early in the morning might be something to welcome, Tammy tended to play a much different game. There was no waking kisses, no soft caresses with whispers of sweet nothings, or certain promises if she was to get up. Instead, Tammy had gotten a cup of water and started sprinkling her with it until she finally roared and chased the giggling cheetah from the room.
Checking the time, Lylah saw it was roughly ten minutes until her alarm would go off. Not enough time to even get comfortable let alone go back to sleep. Ugh. Screw it. Swinging her legs out from under the sheets, she moved to the edge of the bed and slowly started stretching the rest of her body. Turning her head rapidly to the side until she heard a crack, she grabbed it with both paws and bent her neck side to side, causing further cracking sounds to resonate through the small room. A feeling of relief passed through the feline though she knew it wasn't the proper way to handle a stiff neck. Looking around her room, she marveled at the fact that she had her own place, even though the room was medium sized at best and she had to share the apartment. It still beat living in her mother's basement by a long shot.
Reaching over to her bedside table, she grabbed the glass of water she always brought with her to bed and took a drink, taking care of her parched throat. The apartment was a relatively dry environment which suited Tammy perfectly. Lylah on the other paw was a mammal that required a lot of moisture as part of her daily life. As a guest in her girlfriend's apartment, she refused to bring it up to her, settling instead for trying to handle it by drinking extra water and running the humidifier currently situated in the corner by the window. It served it's purpose well enough making her room comfortable enough to sleep in.
Standing, Lylah switched off the humidifier before heading out into the hall, smoothing her ruffled head fur and yanking down her favorite night shirt, an oversized jersey of the Rainforest district soccer team 'The Monsoons', that had gradually moved up her taut stomach, and her tight shorts barely coming halfway down her thighs. Moving into the kitchen, the sight of a gorgeous cheetah in a pink spaghetti strap top barely reaching a pair of light blue panties had her freezing still, her jaw dropping down. For the past several days, Tammy had been waking her up in different articles of clothing, ranging from fully dressed to tight shorts and tank tops. This time was much different. The alluring sight had made Lylah's mind go completely blank, all thoughts of greeting the cheetah flying from her head.
The audible gulp had Tammy turning around to see her tigress's eyes wide, completely focused on her rear. Giggling, she gave it a little shake, her tail twitching back and forth. The wiggle had the effect of making her follow her girlfriend's assets, deepening the desire even further before it snapped her from the trance. Suddenly aware of where she was and what she was doing, she sheepishly looked up to see Tammy give her a slow wink with a seductive grin on her face.
For Tammy, the look of the striped beauty was as equally sexy. Her fur sticking up in several places gave her an innocent appearance and the tantalizing view of her muscular legs running up her thighs, only stopped by a very small pair of shorts and hidden by the tail ends of a long jersey made the whole package feel like a present the cheetah couldn't wait to unwrap.
Neither made a move on the other however. While they had had spent long times kissing and nuzzling each other, even employing their teeth for the occasional nibble of the neck or using a claw to boop each other on the nose, they had refrained from going any further. They both wanted to, that much was certain, but they feared rushing the whole experience. Such a relationship was rare for them and while they both felt it was going to be a permanent one, there was still the fear that if they moved too fast they might lose everything. So they settled for the little things, such as the kiss between the two of them saying good morning as Tammy finished with the breakfast.
"I can't believe I'm going to say this but, I really hope we're back on patrols today." Lylah scooped up some eggs before slipping them in between her teeth. "I'm not saying yesterday was boring, but yesterday was boring. I mean traffic duty? There's an accident right there and we gotta run car interference while the other mammals get to actually investigate the scene."
Sighing along with the tigress, Tammy showed she had been disappointed too. "I know Pretty Kitty, but that's just the problem we run into sometimes. We aren't always going to get the choice assignments." Taking a sip of coffee, she looked like she was going to continue speaking but thought against it. Something had been nagging Lylah though and continued to do so each and every morning since they were partnered up.
"Hey Flower? Do you...do you regret being my partner?" Keeping her eyes downward, she let her ears flick towards the cheetah. There was silence for several seconds which Lylah tried to interpret one way or another. The scrape of a chair and the soft patter of paws on linoleum were all that she heard, but she felt the soft touch of a paw on her cheek that lifted her head. Sneaking in between the tigress and the table, Tammy sat on Lylah's knee. Cradling the striped cat's head, she brought it to her neck.
"Why would you ever think that, Pretty Kitty? I love being your partner." Having a sudden problem with concentrating now that her girlfriend's scantily clad rear was practically sitting on her lap, Lylah tried to focus.
"Well...you've been there a long time and you should be getting interesting cases. But instead you're stuck with a rookie and forced to do boring patrol work." Nuzzling into her neck, Lylah was both thrilled and nervous to feel the cheetah subtly bring her down to her chest where her nuzzling increased.
"Pretty Kitty. Patrol or case, it doesn't matter. As long as I can get along with my partner, both are equally okay. I mean sure, a good case is fun and intriguing, but it wouldn't feel the same without you nearby working with me." Dragging her tongue along Lylah's head, she smiled feeling the tigress shiver. Noticing the shift of her head turning into her chest, Tammy quickly stood up before Lylah could return the favor with her much larger tongue along her fur. "Sorry Pretty Kitty. Gotta get that shower done if we're gonna be on time."
Lylah let out a small growl at losing her chance but decided to feign disinterest. Watching Tammy grab a towel and start heading towards the shower, she kept the sight of her rear in the corner of her eye until her girlfriend turned her head back around. Quickly taking a sip of coffee in an attempt to appear not guilty about checking her out, she missed the sly smile on Tammy's face. "Could always join me though."
Coffee sprayed across the entire kitchen table.
The two felines had been slightly late and had to jog out of the apartment in order to catch the trolley that ran by their building each morning. It may not have been the fastest mode of transportation, but since it went all the way down one block before the precinct, it was definitely helpful for them. They were relatively silent during the ride and had been ever since Tammy had decided to take her shower.
Lylah was upset with herself. She had refused to take the offer which she wasn't sure if it had been made in jest or not but she had been too cowardly to find out. As such she was berating herself repeatedly. She was still afraid of messing things up and her immaturity in relationships was not helping matters. The idea of being able to be next to Tammy in such an intimate setting, one where nothing came between them, not even their clothes, had been such an exciting prospect for the tigress that it had frightened her with it's intensity.
Tammy was on the other side of the extreme. She had been very serious about her offer to the younger feline. She agreed that they should wait to become fully intimate, but after having taken part in the biting and licking and kissing with her for the last couple of weeks, which was even more intense now that they were living together, she felt that they needed to step up a pace. Especially after the courtship ritual Lylah had started the week previous. Unfortunately her offer had been rejected which led to her feeling a bit insecure about herself. It was unfounded but doubts still tended to leak in about whether or not she was attractive enough or maybe that she was pushing her Kitty too fast and may scare her off.
Reaching the turn, Lylah and Tammy hopped down from the trolley, taking care not to let their feet get crushed by the vehicle. Luckily there was very few cars going by so the wait to walk across the street went relatively quick, though Lylah did have to snag the collar on a young warthog who had decided to rush ahead into traffic without his mother. After thanking the officer profusely, the female boar admonished her son with some words that made even Tammy's ears blush.
Entering the precinct, they gave a cheerful wave to Ben who squealed in delight at the pair. He had taken to the newest unlikely couple with great gusto, often complimenting them on how cute they were together or suggestions on where they might take each other on dates. Being a cheetah himself, Lylah had approached him a couple of times to get his advice on what Tammy might like for dates or gifts. This morning however, while he did seem very happy to see them, he also looked a bit lackluster and they knew why. The suspension of the Wildes had hit everyone hard but nobody as hard as the friendly dispatch officer.
Making their way to the bullpen, Tammy suddenly grabbed Lylah's paw and dragged her down a side corridor, one which was rarely frequented as it only held office and janitorial supplies. Moving about halfway down, just out of sight of the main lobby, Tammy looked ahead to see no one by the supply room and turned her gaze back to the tigress. A heated look in her eyes had Lylah swallowing hard. Putting one paw on the tigress's chest, the cheetah pushed her up against the wall hard. Though Lylah was much stronger than the slim feline, the surprise of her actions had caught her off guard. Feeling the soft touch of Tammy's lips on hers had her floating in the clouds until she pulled away. This time, Tammy lunged as if going for the kill, pressing their lips together hard, their mouths opening and letting their tongues flick in an out, tasting the other. This lasted nearly a minute before they both fell back breathing heavily.
"Wow." All the tigress could do was stare aimlessly, having trouble focusing on anything in front of her. "Just wow."
"Mmmm, same for me Pretty Kitty." Looking pained, she moved towards her Kitty and wrapped her arms tight around her strong chest. "I'm sorry if I was pushing you too fast this morning. I don't want to rush anything and I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable." Pressing her cheek to Lylah's, she nuzzled her affectionately. Feeling a paw on her cheek, she looked up to see the tigress's eyes brimming with tears.
"You don't have anything to be sorry for, Flower. It wasn't anything you did this morning. It was me. I really wanted to join you. I was just so excited I got a bit scared and I let that force me to sit at the table banging my head into it repeatedly." Her sheepish smile had the cheetah giggling behind a paw clamped over her mouth.
"Well, that's just great. Both of us thinking we did something stupid and it cost us thirty minutes of conversation. Why don't we just agree that we'll talk about these things whenever they hit rather than let them stew." Lylah nodded in agreement before looking at her watch, her eyes bulging. Tammy grabbed her wrist and turned it so she could see. Her own panic hit as they had less than ten minutes to get into the bullpen and in their seats before the Chief arrived.
Not letting go of her Kitty's wrist, Tammy took off down the hall, practically dragging her along. The sudden reappearance of the two from down the hall had Clawhauser gasping on a donut, trying not to choke on it. He knew there was no work related reason for them to be down that hallway and he desperately wanted to ask what had happened but the two were gone before he could unstick his throat from the sugary treat.
Entering, the normally loud room was still chaotic but it was fractionally subdued with an occasional glance towards the front row where an infamous chair sat empty, two mammals missing from the room. Tammy and Lylah took the hit the hardest, both having formed a friendly attachment to the pair. The tigress had spent over six months of her life with the vulpine and the cheetah had been partnered with the hyperactive rabbit many times, always having a great time with her. Now to see their chair empty for the next two weeks made the room a little less bright.
The side door opening wide, the room changed from rowdy to ritualistic, the officers slamming their hooves and paws on the tables, grunting as a group. The two felines also joined in, Lylah's larger paws outshining her partner's. "Alright, settle down. Settle down!" Waiting for the last of the mammals to quiet, the Chief glared at the room before putting on his glasses. "I have four things on the docket today. First, as everyone can see and probably knows by now, the Wildes have been suspended for the next two weeks. This was a command decision made by myself and I will not be going into details, though I doubt the confidentiality of it will remain intact by the end of the day. Damn gossip runs through here like wildfire," the Chief muttered under his breath. "Assignments. Wolford. Delgato. A new gang has been rumored to be recruiting members. They're drug peddlers and have been linked to black market arms. This is a reconnaissance mission only. Get in, get any info you can, and get out. No risks. If it's not going to work, back off. These mammals have more firepower than we can handle without intel. It may come down to a SWAT take down." Looking serious, the wolf and lion grabbed the file and headed out. Though they were both known for joking around, Wolford especially, they also knew when it was time to put professionalism first.
Several of the officers watched them leave with envy, others with scared expressions. All eyes snapped back to front as the Chief held up a second file. "Jackson. Fangmeyer. There's a nightclub in the Rainforest district rumored to be selling Nip. It's exclusive to big cats so you're going to pose as a couple and go in with the intent to purchase a decent quantity of the drug. Take the morning hours to get fitted with wires and undercover outfits. We'll also have your fur temporarily darkened for the assignment. The club opens at 9:00 pm so you two will be expected to be in position by then. Dismissed." Lylah and Tammy both could tell Liz was not happy about the assignment. Jackson was well known for being a bit of an ass and also a shameless flirt regardless if a female was taken or not, and one of his prime targets had been officer Fangmeyer. Indeed, as the two were headed up, Lylah clearly heard Jackson whisper something about being excited to be working 'so closely together' which made her mirror Fangmeyer's look of nausea.
"Higgins. Snarlov. Automobile pieces bought at a repair shop in Tundratown have been linked back to stolen cars in the area. Investigate. See if we have a new chop-shop in town and if this repair shop is linked." Higgins, who did not seem to enjoy the idea of being sent to the bitter cold of the snowy region, maintained an air of professionalism as he took the file before following his polar bear partner. Looking out over the rest of the assembled officers, Bogo swept the room, seeming to analyze everyone. "Standard patrols. Johnson. I want you to take Meadowlands today. Forrest and Thompson. Rainforest District. Dismissed."
Far more at home in the rain and tree habitat than the blinding sand and scorching sun, Lylah couldn't help but feel much better than she had the last few days and part of last week. The constant sight of water nearby was comforting to the striped feline whose instincts demanded a way to cool off and rehydrate often. It wasn't one she needed to partake in, her evolved mind able to resist such temptation, but that didn't stop the underlying desire.
Tammy was having her own difficult with her instincts, though it was for very different reasons. Being a mammal designed for high heat and low humidity, she was quite uncomfortable being in the natural environment of her partner. The sight of the water wasn't much of a concern but the height of the trees and the possibility of being over a thousand feet off the ground was. Not to mention the regular rainfall that was produced for the denizens of the rainforest. She was more than okay with taking warm showers, but when she got wet she wanted it on her own terms. The humidity was also a factor, the thick air practically choking her. Luckily, having lived in Zootopia for years and being a cop for another four, she had learned to adapt to the unforgiving terrains her body was not designed for, though they did still tend to make her uneasy. Being next to her girlfriend did help though. She was able to concentrate on her whenever the feelings got too intense.
"Do you ummm, want to talk more about what happened today?" The question slipped from Tammy's mouth before she could clamp down on her thoughts. She was still feeling a bit insecure, regardless of how their earlier conversation had gone. The idea that she may not be matching up to what Lylah desired was something she just couldn't shake.
"I thought we took care of that? Are you still upset I didn't join you? I mean, I really wanted to I'm just...I'm nervous, Flower." Fiddling with her claws, Lylah kept her head down. "I mean, it took a loss of control just to do the...the thing on Friday. I don't really know what I'm doing. The last relationship I had was in high school and, while my parents were supportive, hers weren't. They forced her to kill it after a couple of weeks." Running a paw over her eyes, she sighed heavily. "Worst summer of my life. Then it didn't help when I got back to school and everyone knew what I was into which was still very taboo. Didn't make many friends after that."
"Oh Pretty Kitty." Getting a better understanding of where she had been coming from that morning, Tammy paused trying to form her sentence the way it needed to be said. "Are you afraid that I'll leave you too?" Her gaze averted out the window, Lylah slowly nodded. Her heart breaking, the cheetah reached over and clasped her paw. "You don't need to worry about us, Kitty. I'm not going to abandon you." Gathering her courage, she swallowed the lump in her throat. "I...I love you, my Pretty Kitty."
Whipping her head around, her eyes wide with shock, Lylah could only stare at the now nervous and blushing feline. She was waiting for a response but her nerves were wracked, unable to utter another word. Smiling softly, Lylah squeezed her paw in return. "I love you too, Flower."
The tears in their eyes threatening to spill over had both of them unable to look away for several seconds until the sound of a horn jostled them from the moment. Tammy had allowed the cruiser to slow well below the speed limit as the two had shared the moment as they declared to each other. Exchanging a glance, they broke into heavy giggles before the senior officer of the two resumed traveling at normal speed. "Let's wait until after our shift next time to reveal something personal like that. I don't need a complaint from a pissed off driver causing us to get separated."
"Probably a good idea," Lylah agreed. She really enjoyed the time she got to spend with her girlfriend both on and off the job. Every moment in the cruiser was a bonus as far as she was concerned. "So um, any chance we'll get another event like the wolves last week? I'm getting kind of antsy for some action."
Tammy couldn't help but grin. "Honestly, I hope not. I don't need to see you taking on two wolves at once like last time. You had me worried. Although it was pretty hot seeing you take em down while barely breaking a sweat." And even hotter when you pinned me against the wall after. She suffered a small shiver up her spine at the memory of the intense gaze boring into her very soul, the strength in those large paws, and the heat flowing from her lips.
Blushing beneath her fur, Lylah was pleased by the praise. "You weren't so bad yourself. That take down on the white one was practically flawless. I've never seen a sleeper hold like that. Where did you learn it?"
Beaming, she had to hide the overwhelming smile her Kitty's comment had caused. "You liked that, huh? I took self-defense classes when I was younger. My father made it mandatory when I wanted to learn karate like my brothers."
"He wouldn't let you do karate?" Lylah was puzzled. From what Tammy had told her about her family, it didn't seem to fit with the characteristics she had described.
"Oh no, nothing like that. I was a year too young to join the classes so he had me take those to get my body and mind prepared." She smiled mischievously. "I surpassed my brothers again. I hold a black belt in karate, a 4th degree black belt in Judo, and a Black and red belt in Jiu-Jitsu." She frowned, a little bothered by having to clarify her belt color. "I would have progressed further but when I joined the force my training pretty much ended. Although they do teach some pretty advanced stuff at the Academy." Winking at her partner slyly, she added, "Nothing like I learned though. I passed top of the class in sparring and takedowns. I'm probably the best in the precinct a well."
"Better than Judy? Wow. I'm impressed. She kicked my ass during her training seminar at the Academy." The look of embarrassment on Tammy's face had the tigress puzzled for a second before she grinned widely. "She didn't." A glance away from her had Lylah gloating even more. "Oh my god, she did. The tiny bunny beat a master of martial arts such as yourself?"
"That rabbit is insane! I'm a cheetah! One of the fastest mammals in the world and I could barely follow her! I don't know how she does it, I can tell you." Shuddering at remembering their last encounter with each other, Tammy swallowed hard. "She hurts but she's not strong enough to knock you down. But the repeated strikes...it's just ridiculous."
Sighing at her own memories of fighting the insane ball of gray fur, Lylah sympathized. "Yeah. She took me down hard in less than five moves. I swear she taught Foxy some stuff too. He was quick and when he hit you it was like being hit by a truck."
Raising her brow, Tammy gave her a look of doubt. "I wouldn't figure he was that strong. He certainly doesn't look it."
Surprised, Lylah glanced over noting the look on her face. "Oh god no. He's strong, overly strong for a fox, but nothing on that scale. No, that bastard studied and studied hard. He read books and books on anatomy. He learned every pressure point for every mammal his size or larger. If he wanted to, he could take down Bogo."
"...Damn."
"So what's for lunch?" Reaching midday without anything more exciting than a jaywalker they didn't even bother ticketing, it was exciting to reach lunchtime just for the sake of being able to get out of the cruiser. It wasn't the company bothering the tigress, merely being stuck in one spot without stretching properly was causing some unfortunate cramping in her thighs and the occasional bored drumming of her claws on the handle of her door.
"What, just because I'm the senior officer I have to choose lunch?" The smirk on the slimmer mammal's face betrayed her scolding tone, her playfulness showing through the facade.
"Nope. You're just the one driving." Tammy, surprised by the quick retort, turned back to her now grinning girlfriend.
"Heh. Sly Kitty."
"Dumb Flower."
The two mammals looked at each other, each realizing what they had just said. "Oh god. We're becoming like them!"
"Now now. Don't be so hasty, Pretty Kitty. We're not like them. We're just...filling in while they're gone." The look her partner gave her made her feel stupid. "Yeah okay, that was lame. Maybe we're just jealous of them."
"Jealous? Of Foxy and Flopsy?" Laughing, Lylah pounded on her armrest.
"Well yeah. I mean they're so perfect for each other that they clicked almost immediately, going from purely despising one another to less than forty eight hours being hopelessly in love with each other. It's pretty damn romantic."
Reaching over, the tigress scratched the other feline behind her ears, causing her to let out a loud purr. "Maybe. But I have my Flower. I have no need to be jealous of anyone." Her blush spread over her face and down her chest, making the cruiser suddenly feel very warm. Tammy guessed that if they had been parked, Lylah would not be safe from her attack.
Composing herself and attempting to banish the rather risque thoughts consuming her imagination, Tammy cleared her throat. "There's a cafe near here we could try. We could also backtrack to that diner we passed a little while ago."
"I'm feeling light. Haven't done much to get too hungry so the cafe works for me. Maybe a small sandwich and a bag of chips." While Lylah tended to devour a lot of food to gain energy when given the opportunity, it was always worked off with their high risk jobs and her own training regimen at the ZPD gym. However, with relatively no movement all morning, her body was not demanding copious amounts of calories. The silence from her partner had her glancing over, concern flowing over her at the stiffness in the cheetah's body. "Flower? You okay?"
Starting to shake slightly, Tammy stammered at her. "Di-did you s-say san-sandwiches?"
"Seriously Flower, that was pretty disgusting." One overly satisfied cheetah wandered out of the small cafe followed at a distance by a mortified tigress who attempted to hide her face from the other patrons, though the fact that both felines were wearing ZPD uniforms, the odds they wouldn't be pegged together was pretty much an impossibility. Having spent the better part of the last half hour watching bread, meat, vegetables and heaping amounts of condiments disappearing into the gaping maw of her partner was frankly unnerving.
"I don't know what you're complaining about, Pretty Kitty. Those sandwiches were delicious. I noticed you were enjoying yours." Licking the leftover mayo off her lips, Tammy let out a content purr.
"Was. Was enjoying it. But once you had devoured your third in ten minutes my appetite suddenly left me. I know you made the waitress's day with her tip, but it looked like she was going to throw up at one point."
"I think you're just jealous I have a healthy appetite for sandwiches." Shaking her head, Lylah gave her a look of pity.
"No, you have an unhealthy obsession with sandwiches." It was true that Tammy tended to prefer them over most other types of food, but the lengths she would go to in order to obtain one was known to only a few. Now that 'few' included Lylah who had been rather disturbed by it. "Honestly I'm surprised you didn't choke on that second one. Did you even chew it?"
Opening the cruiser door, Tammy hopped in, her partner following suit on the passenger side. "Who has time for chewing? Besides, it was only a triple layer club sandwich with horseradish on whole wheat. Easy peasy." Lylah made an exaggerated gagging sound that had Tammy grinning viciously. "One day Pretty Kitty, I will open your mind to the wonderful world of sandwiches that only Tammy Thompson can deliver."
"If that 'wonderful world' includes the tuna sub roll with jalapenos, swiss cheese, and spicy mustard you had when we walked in, I'm out sick that day. Because if I eat something like that I'll be out sick for a month." Laughing outright, Tammy put the vehicle in drive and headed out back onto the road. Lylah turned towards her, curiosity getting the best of her. "How on Earth do you still have that sexy slim figure when you devour entire menus at whim?"
"Super crazy fast metabolism, my gorgeous Kitty."
"Jeez. Is there anything you don't do fast?" Lylah joked. The sudden feel of a soft paw and sharp claws being dragged up her thigh had her shivering.
"There are several things that I can do. Nice," her claws moved slower while traveling up Lylah's leg. "And," the sensation reached her hips making the tigress start to pant. "Slow." The paw pressed between her legs eliciting a small 'mew' from the feline.
Dragging her paw away, Tammy smiled happily letting the tigress bask in her arousal. "Like that, Pretty Kitty?" Her eyes closed, all Lylah could do was nod happily though a bit frustrated, something the cheetah had been counting on. "Maybe later we can play a bit more back at home." Looking a bit more relaxed and excited at that assurance, Lylah let herself sink back into the cruiser's seat, a low purr emanating from her throat. The crackling of the radio broke the spell and both took their gaze off the road to stare at it.
"All units, we have a report of shots fired on the northern edge of Downtown near the Rainforest District tunnel. Any cars in the area, respond."
Tammy looked over at Lylah and, getting a stern nod of agreement, grabbed up the radio. "This is Z-117. We're near the tunnel. Can be at location in under five minutes."
"Z-221 here. Can backup Z-117. Nine minutes out."
"Roger Z-221. Z-117, suspect is a female moose. Armed with a semi-automatic pistol. No wounded or dead civilians reported. Callers have described her as agitated. Approach with caution."
"Understood dispatch." Hanging up the radio, Tammy took a hard left and pressed the pedal down. "Alright Pretty Kitty. You haven't been through something like this so you need to listen to me and do everything I tell you without question. Can you do that for me?" Feeling a strong paw on her shoulder, she reached up and caressed it with her own.
"I trust you, Flower. You haven't led me wrong so far. Besides, we have plans later and I expect you to be there." Tammy glanced over at her with a wide grin and a mischievous twinkle in her eye. Images flashed through her mind's eye, all of them rather inappropriate for the current situation they were about to be in, but it was difficult to control her imagination these days.
"Let's end this quick and maybe Buffalo Butt will let us go home early." Seeing the amused expression on her partner's face, Tammy shrugged. "It's catchy. Blame the fox." Lylah simply chuckled making a mental note to tell Nick the next time she saw him.
Reaching the tunnel, the cruiser barely slowed down, weaving between cars, the lights flashing on the darkened walls casting shadows of everything between them and the curved surface. Sirens were rarely necessary in the tunnels as everyone would be able to see the flashing colors in their mirrors or all around them, although there would be a few mammals who either weren't paying attention enough to move over or were just arrogant or rude and simply refused leaving the officers to find the quickest path through, often utilizing the oncoming lanes. Daylight up ahead of them had them slowing. Exiting a darkened tunnel into bright light always took a small adjustment and while the cruiser's darkened window tints would handle the transition just fine, other mammals, driving with standard windshields, would have a much harder time and were at risk to accidentally hit the cruiser as they left the tunnel behind.
Tammy who was focuses on driving through the ever changing traffic, motioned for Lylah to key the radio. "Z-117 to dispatch. Exited tunnel into Downtown. Update on suspect location?"
"Dispatch to Z-117. Suspect is still reported at 10th and Center."
"Roger Dispatch. Half mile from location." Whipping left and barreling through four lanes of traffic, all who had come to a stop at the sight of the cruiser's flashing lights, the duo headed down the street. Seeing mammals running away from the location they were headed to, they figured the suspect must be making some noise and scaring them off. Lylah rolled down her window, listening intently hoping to hear more than just screaming mammals and stampeding hooves. A gunshot would help her know if the mammal they were looking for was still nearby, though that was exactly what she prayed she wouldn't hear. Each gunshot could mean an innocent victim could be hurt or possibly killed.
Reaching the intersection, they were pleased to know they wouldn't need to go searching far for the suspect as the cow was standing directly in front of them, slowly spinning while brandishing a pistol in her hoof. Jackknifing the cruiser across the intersection to prevent more cars from coming near, Tammy had Lylah get out of her side before scrambling to follow her, keeping the vehicle between them and the moose.
Turning what she hoped was a calm face to her partner, she placed a paw on the rookie's shoulder. "Okay, Kitty. Here's how this is going to go down. I'm going to attempt to talk to her. Find out if she's okay. What's happening. Why she is firing the pistol. Hopefully she will be willing to talk to us. That gives us a chance to talk her down. End this peacefully and not have anyone hurt."
Peering over the cruiser's hood, Lylah could see the agitated moose watching the car intently. "And if she doesn't?" After several seconds with no response, she turned to see her partner with her back against the car door, looking incredibly drained.
"If she doesn't, then we have to bring her down to prevent anyone else from being shot. If we can tranq her, more's the better. But if it comes down to live fire, only take the shot if I can't, alright?" Getting a nod from the young tigress, Tammy returned it. "Alright. Let's move in. I'm going to talk to her over the hood. I want you down near the trunk viewing through the rear windows."
Watching her obey the commands she was given without hesitation, Tammy was filled with a small sense of pride. She has a great future as an officer. I can just tell. Shaking her head, she slapped the back of her paw. Get your head right, Thompson. Thoughts like this come after you save the day. Focusing on the matter at paw, Tammy reached the end of the hood, keeping her tranq pistol down in her paw, hidden from view by the vehicle. "Ma'am? This is Officer Thompson, ZPD."
Seeing the cheetah partially concealed by the black SUV, the moose narrowed her eyes at the cat, her hoof twitching as if itching to bring the weapon to bear. "Are you here to stop me? It won't work! I'm going to find him and I'm going to kill him for it!"
Swearing under her breath, Tammy realized the situation they were in. This was more than just a disgruntled mammal or someone high on something. This was one intent on murder. Gonna have to play this one right. "We're just here to talk. What's your name, hon?"
Keeping her hoof steady and her digit on the trigger, the cow gave no outward sign of being nervous, only that of determination. Seemingly fighting a battle within herself, eventually responded, if not grudgingly. "Miranda."
"Nice to meet you Miranda. I'm Tammy. Now Miranda, why are you out here? You mentioned something about hurting someone? Who was that?" Approach it carefully, Tams. Don't work her up, make her seem like you're on her side.
"My husband! He took my children from me! I can't find them anywhere!" Rage flowed from her, making Tammy and Lylah equally nervous. An upset mammal with a gun is infinitely more dangerous and a mother fixated on something in regards to her children was even more so. One of the few remaining instincts from their days long before evolution was the protection of one's offspring overriding most forms of common sense. Normally this mother wouldn't be waving a pistol around or threatening murder, but put the loss of her kids into the mix and she could easily become deranged, something they feared had happened.
"That's awful Miranda. What's your husband's name? Maybe we can find him and get your kids back for you." When dealing with a dangerous suspect, empty promises are no longer lies when talking them down. One of the rules we learned in the Academy and one I pray works here. "It's not right he took the kids. So why don't we work together to find them, okay? Nobody out here knows your husband. They don't need to get hurt. That'll just mean I have to call in ambulances and whatnot. It will take all day and I'm betting you want to see your kids soon, right?"
Her hoof slightly shaking now, looking around at all the mammals hiding in bushes and behind apartment steps, she seemed uncertain. ""I-I guess not. All-all I want is my kids back..." Looking at the firearm in her hoof, a look of severe distaste could be seen even from the officers position. As if it was a vial of poison that she longed to throw as far away from her as possible. It gave Tammy a renewed sense of hope that they could end this without bloodshed.
"That's great Miranda. So why don't we put the gun down and we'll go find them together." Slowly stepping out from behind the cruiser, Tammy watched carefully as the moose started to bend down in order to place the gun on the ground. She started approaching her at an even slower pace trying not to spook her. Even though it seemed as if the moose was willing to comply, Tammy had been through too many standoffs to know it could change at any moment.
Clearing the hood of the car, Tammy froze seeing Miranda stop moving. The hoof clutching the gun even tighter than before, Tammy was dismayed to see a crazed look come back over her eyes. "Miranda? Are you alright?" Her eyes flashing, she stood straight and brought the gun to bear on the cheetah. She ducked in time for the moose to miss the first shot, the bullet striking a lamp post some twenty feet behind the officer. She had not even registered the noise of the shot, nor the impact behind her. It had merely been an instinctual reaction as the barrel was turned towards her. She quickly dove back behind the hood knowing she was being targeted again. This time she heard the roar of the pistol and saw the sparks flare as the bullet struck the front of the car.
"You're working with him! You helped steal my babies! I'll kill you!" The desperation and hatred in her voice was one of a mammal consumed by madness. Tammy didn't know if she could be reached anymore. She made a decision that now it was about finding a vantage point to take her out. The dosage set in their tranqs were for for large mammals so it should be enough to take her down with one shot. Getting that shot though would not be an easy feat.
Rising up, the senior officer peered through the lowered passenger window out the driver's side. The tint should be enough to block the moose's vision while she came up with a plan. Her thought process was suddenly broken when, whether the moose had been able to see through the glass or had simply decided to target it, a round had come through the window, shattering and spilling glass all over the front seat and floor. Thought the shot was wide, Tammy ducked back down again. The gun propelled a fourth bullet, this one striking the rubber of the tire. The protective layers stopped it from deflating, but it did puncture enough to trap the bullet.
Lylah moved to get an opening only for the moose to suddenly train her sights in her direction, her next shot smashing through the rear light causing the rookie to fall backwards. "Stay down, Forrest!" Tammy using her last name made Lylah take even further caution knowing it would not be used lightly considering she rarely even used her first name at all. Gaining the best viewpoint through the rear window which was tinted enough that the moose couldn't see her, Lylah watched the moose becoming more agitated and unstable. She was now walking back and forth across the road, smacking the gun's barrel against the side of her head, muttering to herself.
"Miranda!" Tammy tried again to calm down the angry mammal but this time keeping her body low on the other side of the cruiser. "We're only here to help. Let's try this again, this time just drop the gun to the ground and you come to us, alright?" She did not have the line of sight her partner did and had not seen the change in the suspect's demeanor.
"No. No no no no. I won't lose my babies. Not again. Not again you hear me!" Lylah, who still had a viewpoint of the suspect watched in horror as she turned and place the gun directly on the side of her head. Grim determination had settled in her eyes and across her mouth, the thin line telling them exactly that she planned to go through with what they were seeing. Closing her eyes, her digit tightened down on the trigger.
"NO!" The gut-wrenching cry of the tigress was to no avail. Squeezing the trigger, causing the hammer to pull back and release, the moose's hoof jerked backwards at the recoil which was merely pushing on dead flesh. The flash from the barrel had been blocked by the fur surrounding the mammal's head but Lylah could almost picture it in her own. Blood had sprayed outwards over the hoof and arm, coating the fur and painting the pavement with drops scattered everywhere. The projectile cut through the soft tissue around the scalp before punching into the bone of the skull. It seemed to Lylah that the split second of a moment had taken hours until the round had pushed through the other side, spraying more blood and brain matter across the area.
Almost as if by some change in the laws of physics, her body remained standing, a look of anguish and pain frozen on her face. Then the strings of the puppet had been cut, crumpling the lifeless form to the ground. The tortured grimace on her lips now the blank stare of a corpse, her last act in her life being to end it.
Tammy who had heard the shout, turned to see her partner clap a paw to her mouth and fall, her hindquarters slamming into the pavement. Like lightning, the cheetah had moved towards the feline, collapsing beside her searching for any sort of wound that may have caused her to fall. Not seeing any, she looked to her face only to finally hear the whispers the tigress was making. "No. No, please no," all the while keeping her gaze as far from the other side of the vehicle as possible.
Looking over, Tammy had a good idea of what she was going to see though she knew it would haunt them both for quite a while. The sight of the pooling blood around the head of the moose told her exactly what had happened. The bullet had not been meant for her partner or herself, but for the grief stricken cow they had failed to convince to come with them and end it peacefully rather than with bloodshed. Cradling Lylah's head, she stroked her ears and neck. "It's okay, my Pretty Kitty. It's okay. We're both safe. It will be alright." Looking into her once vibrant eyes, she could tell her girlfriend did not believe her. The light had gone out in them though Tammy knew it was only temporary. It comes with the job, Pretty Kitty. You'll understand eventually. Though I wish you would have never needed to.
Huddled in the back of an ambulance and covered with a blanket, the tigress officer shook uncontrollably. Eyeing her with concern, her partner moved towards one of the EMT's assigned to the scene. There had been almost no injuries and those mammals that were, thankfully, had not been caused by the gunfire. They had been mainly caused by fleeing mammals getting knocked down by others in their panic.
Subtly gesturing towards the ambulance, Tammy kept her voice lowered. "How is she?" Turning his gaze from the jaguar he was currently bandaging up, the rabbit EMT eyed the tigress.
"She's in shock. First time?" Tammy nodded. "Yeah, that will do it. She'll be fine after a while but she's been pretty unresponsive. I'd recommend getting her home to wait it out, though I wouldn't leave her alone." Fixing the rabbit with a soft gaze, she made sure to focus on every word the lapin had to say, knowing she would need that knowledge to help her get through her pain.
"No problem there, she's my... roommate." Sensing the small hesitation on the feline's voice, the rabbit simply gave her a small glance, understanding the unspoken words. Rather than wanting to raise an objection, it actually made the EMT feel more secure in releasing his charge to the cheetah. Having a loving environment was the only thing better that he could think of than a partner and roommate being there for her.
Nodding, the rabbit continued. "Make sure she gets plenty of attention. Being alone with her thoughts isn't exactly the best option right now. I've seen more of these cases than I'd like and you cops are no different. Especially not the first time. I'd recommend counseling but your chief will probably make that mandatory anyway." Placing his paw on hers, he looked at her with a very serious look on his face. "I'm sure she's strong and judging by your handling of the whole situation this isn't your first one, but you need to be just as strong. She's going to need you far more than realizes."
Lylah thanked him and left him to his work. Heading over and sitting beside the big cat, Tammy wrapped her arm around her and hauled her in tight to her side. Running her paw up and down her arm, Tammy leaned in and gave her a kiss on her forehead. Lylah leaned down and pushed her head into the cheetah's neck, nuzzling it affectionately. Her partner could also feel the desperate need for comfort from the small mammal, something she was more than happy to give.
Licking the feline between her ears, Tammy gave her a short grooming bathe, one that her mother always gave her to help her through some difficult times. It had the desired effect making the tigress calm down after a few minutes. She continued to bathe her, making sure to get her ears and cheeks. It was an intimate act, one that she would normally only do in the comfort of their home, but it was something her Kitty needed. Thankfully, the EMT's on site and also their backup officers knew the importance and let them be. Eventually Tammy admitted there wasn't much more she could do for her for the time being. "C'mon Kitty. We'll head back to the precinct and then go home." Hauling up the much heavier mammal was something of a challenge for her but thankfully enough of Lylah was on the surface that she stood to help her before they walked back to the cruiser, a spotted arm laying across a striped one.
Stopped just shy of the doors, a bull moose stepped up, slightly blocking their path though it did not seem to be intentional. "Officer Thompson? I was told by your colleagues I could find you over here. I just want to tell you how sorry I am. To you and your partner." Eyeing him, she could tell he was extremely sincere though she wasn't sure why.
"Umm, thank you sir. I'm not sure what you are apologizing for though." A pained look coming across his face had Tammy suddenly suspicious of the circumstances of why the moose was here though she did not want to spout it out if she was wrong.
"Well...Miranda she is...was my wife. I'm sorry for any danger she may have presented to the citizens of Zootopia and any pain she may may have caused you." A sudden urge to lash out in the defense of her Kitty swept over her though she managed to suppress it. Though part of her really wanted to forget her self control, even for a short while. Narrowing her eyes in remembrance of what the cow had said, she glared at him warily.
"Miranda said you stole her children. That she was looking for you to kill you. Any idea why she would say that? Did you take the children?" Sadness filled the bull's eyes, tears welling up from the bottom.
"My wife was a very...confused...mammal. She had been hospitalized for several years and had finally been released into my care about six months ago. She stopped taking her medication for the last few weeks without my knowledge. I only found the pills today. When I brought it to her attention, she knocked me out with the gun." Tipping forward, he showed her the bandaged gash to the back of his head." I don't know where she got it from. I don't allow them in the house. When I came to, she was gone and I heard the report on the news." Glancing over to the white sheet covering the body in the road, he grew quiet. Taking a few seconds to compose himself he turned back to the officer, his voice shaky. "Our two children died in childbirth, officer. It was many years ago. It's why my wife needed to be hospitalized. I'm very sorry for what happened here today but I'm grateful no one was shot." Except for your wife. Tammy immediately felt horrid for having that thought and she sought to end the conversation quickly. Assuring the husband that no one had been gravely injured, she let him go back to his mourning as she continued taking Lylah to the car.
The silence in the cruiser was deafening to the cheetah. She had grown accustomed to hearing her girlfriend's lovely voice teasing her or discussing wild theories or just completely random talk that she could listen to for hours. Instead she was treated to a shell of a mammal who did not speak, though whether it was by choice or out of her control Tammy didn't know, nor did it overly matter. Knowing how difficult an experience like this can be, Tammy made sure to keep a careful eye on her tigress. It was not uncommon for officers who have seen instances like that to slip into depression. The only sign that Lylah gave that she was alright was when Tammy reached over and put her paw on her shoulder. The soft contact helped to center the feline, not letting her slip further away than she already was. A soft nuzzle of her outstretched paw felt like heaven to the cheetah who had been growing more concerned with each passing moment. But now she had a feeling her partner would get through it alright.
Reaching the precinct, the two cats left the vehicle, though one of them far slower and more reluctant than the other, and entered the building. The smaller one was subdued, her cheerful demeanor diminished. The larger striped female was much more somber, barely glancing at anyone she passed. Lightly putting pressure on her girlfriend's arm, Tammy led her to their office. Lylah had not been given a desk yet so she tended to occupy Wolford's when he wasn't there, keeping in close proximity to her cheetah. Setting her down, Tammy looked into her eyes, searching for the spark of life she had come to love seeing in her bright amber orbs. "I'm gonna go speak to Bogo, okay Kitty? We'll most likely be sent home so I'll come to collect you. Alright?"
With no response being given nor any sign she had even been heard, Tammy let out a small sigh and turned to leave. Feeling a large paw grab her own, she stopped and turned back following the striped arm to it's owner. "Thank you, Flower." The words hit Tammy hard. For such a long time she had not said a word but here she was, opening back up to her. It made her heart soar with relief that maybe everything will be okay.
"Anything for you, my precious Kitty." Holding her paw tight, she bent down and nuzzled it before pressing her lips to her fur. "I'll be right back." Regretfully letting the paw fall and seeing the dullness return to her eyes, Tammy hurried into the main lobby and to the flight of stairs to the left. Skipping as many as she could, she reached the Chief's door fast enough that even she was slightly winded.
Raising her paw, she let it fall three times before a voice came from inside. "Enter." Turning the knob and swinging the door open, Tammy stepped through quickly before shutting it behind her. Anytime she had ever entered Bogo's office, he had been reviewing a case file or something along the equivalent. Always preferring to make them wait until acknowledging them. However, when it came to the well being of his officers, the Chief was above and beyond the most protective out of any of his assistant chiefs throughout the city. Calmly gesturing to the chair in front, his voice softened. "Sit." Tammy gratefully took a seat, her legs already threatening to give out on her. "So it looks like there were some problems out there today."
"Yes sir." Suddenly nervous at the thoughts going through her mind, Tammy swallowed hard before addressing the buffalo. "Umm, if I may sir? I'd like to this taken care of as quickly as possible. I need to get my partner home." Bogo's face, which had been been soft, frowned further with sympathy.
"How is she?" It was a rhetorical question but one that everyone ended up asking anyway. Very few mammals could experience a suicide in front of them, especially one as graphic as a gun, and not feel bothered, sometimes downright distraught. For a rookie it was probably even worse, having had no experience that could desensitize them to the experience. There had been three other rookies in Bogo's career as Chief that had seen such a case. One of them had stayed a cop, eventually having a satisfactory career. One of them had quit and never touched another job as a first responder, having seen enough death to last them a lifetime. The third had needed to be institutionalized after having slipped into a severe depression, almost ending their own life in an attempt to escape it.
Tammy bowed her head, trying to shake away the look of the defeated mammal she had seen in the ambulance. "She's in shock, sir. Weren't you at your first time? I know I was."
The Chief sympathized with her. He had seen far too many in his years. One of the few benefits of being the Chief was no longer needing to always attend to certain cases like that, though he hated feeling that way. The idea of his officers having to view horrific acts because he couldn't take it upon himself because of what his job demanded always left him with a bitter taste in his mouth. "How long ago?"
"...Two years sir. Drug dealer who didn't want to go back to prison. Killed a young antelope girl before turning it on himself." A vacant look came into her eye, remembering the day that almost made her turn in her badge. "The girl had nothing to do with him or anything else for that matter. It was just senseless."
"Most crime is, Thompson. Go. Take your partner home. I'm giving you both the next three days off. I want to see you both Monday morning and you both will be talking to the precinct therapist. Dismissed." Giving him a crisp salute, Tammy turned and headed from the office. Trying not to fall down the stairs with how tired she suddenly had become took a lot of effort. Thinking back to the first suicide she had seen had her nerves rattled, much worse than the one this afternoon. She was not stronger than Lylah. Far from it in fact. The tigress was doing much better than Tammy had done her first time.
Stopping at her office, she was a little worried to find it empty. A piece of scrap paper sitting on the desk caught her eye and she read it quickly. 'Flower. Went home. Love, Your Kitty.' Pressing it to her chest, Tammy hurried from the building, pausing only to let the traffic slow in front of her just long enough for her to dash across. There were a few horns honked her way but she barely heard them. Her only thought was to get home as fast as possible.
Though the trolley would certainly have been easier, it was not nearly fast enough for Tammy. Letting her inner cheetah loose, she sprinted down the sidewalk, blowing past any mammal in her way. Newspapers at the stands lining the path fluttered at her passing. In the thousands of years that mammal kind had been evolving, the cheetah had retained the top spot as fastest mammal alive and today was when she was thankful for that.
Reaching the apartment, she blew through the doors and started racing up the steps. Halfway to her floor, she began to feel the adrenaline leaving her, a sure sign she had overextended herself. Fast she may be, but her endurance, like the rest of her species, had always been lacking. A trade-off for their enhanced speed. Pushing through with sheer determination, Tammy reached the floor, though slower than she had ascended the rest of them. Turning left, she grabbed the wall to keep herself from stumbling. Her vision had become a little hazy but she knew a bit of rest and she would be right as rain again.
Halfway down the hall, her apartment door sat on the right. Reaching for the doorknob, she immediately chastised herself remembering that Lylah was obsessed with keeping the door locked. With it suddenly turning in her paw, Tammy immediately cut her thoughts and began to worry. It should not have turned. Oh Kitty. Pushing through, she could see no sign of her tigress's entrance. No strewn clothes, no unpinned badge, no open bottles of water on the counter. The only thing that alerted her that anyone was in the home was the vague sound of running water coming from the bathroom. The patter of droplets spraying from the shower head.
At first she didn't see anyone in the enclosure, but the tip of something orange made her pause and backtrack towards the shower door. Seeing her Kitty slumped on the floor, still dressed in her uniform and sitting under the hot spray of the shower had her heart breaking. Entering herself, she took a seat next to her, not bothering to remove her own clothes either.
Wrapping her arm around the tigress, she dragged her closer, letting the poor feline curl up against her side. After a few minutes of the contact, Lylah moved her body to the side and lay down, her head now in Tammy's lap. She smiled softly at her Kitty, stroking the wet fur slowly as she hummed an old song she remembered from her childhood but could no longer picture the words. It seemed to help as the ragged breaths coming from the larger mammal had calmed somewhat. They stayed there for quite some time, only deciding to leave once the hot water had vanished and the cold threatened to freeze them.
Tammy led her from the bathroom, grabbing two large towels along the way. Rather than separating halfway down the hall, Tammy brought them both to her room. Starting to strip out of her own uniform, Tammy suddenly paused. Was this really the way she wanted Lylah to see her naked for the first time? Struggling, she finally told herself that this was an intimate time as any and there was nothing sexual that either of them would link to that moment. Dropping the uniform piece by piece, Lylah eventually stood in he soaked underwear. Hooking her thumbs on the sides, she took a deep breath and slid them down her toned legs. She wasn't able to look in the direction of the tigress, embarrassment ruling over her. She quickly toweled off, grabbing the first pair of panties and t-shirt she found. Turning towards the tigress who was still in her sopping wet clothing, Tammy decided she should go grab something for Lylah to sleep in. "I'll be right back, Kitty. If you want you can dry off or I can help you when I get back."
Finding anything in Lylah's room was a miracle. The tigress was not exactly what she would call 'neat.' Luckily it wasn't necessary to go hunting as she kept her sleeping jersey always on top of the piles ready to be used again. Grabbing it, she looked for a pair of underwear but that's where her luck ended. There was no organization to her laundry. Thinking she had been gone too long as it was, she would have to hope Lylah would be okay with just the jersey.
Rounding the corner back into her room, Tammy was stunned into silence. Her partner was standing without a stitch of her soaked uniform left on her body. She couldn't stop herself from pausing to take in the sight of her wet fur, the striped pattern tantalizing to her eyes. Beautiful. She knew it was inappropriate to be thinking such thoughts after the day that had just occurred but she couldn't help it.
Picking up the second towel, she moved to stand next to her tigress. Seeing the cold eyes looking down at her but seemingly not recognizing her had her scared. Slowly, she dried Lylah off, taking care to not give in to her own desires that being so close was causing. She focused on anything but the feel of her muscles beneath her paws. The thick tuft of fur running down her taut stomach. The smell of her sex as she bent down to rub the towel over her legs. It was so difficult for her to resist and if it had been any other day, she would not have. But it was her tigress. Her Lylah. Her Kitty that needed her comfort and support and she would never do anything to betray that. Slipping the jersey over the tigress's head, she pulled it down to cover her as much as possible, thankful it was a much larger size.
Leading her onto the bed, Tammy instructed her to lay down before she climbed in next to her and wrapped around her body, clutching her head to her chest. "I love you, my Pretty Kitty."
"I love you too, Flower."
