Chapter 12: The Truth Hurts

Marie asks a question that Jake fears if he honestly answers it will end their growing relationship.

"Jake, can I ask y'all something?" Marie said in a tentative tone while they rode through the Rainforest District on a gondola, the sun was shining above and the sprinklers when they went off made shimmering rainbows. The raccoon was holding her paw while they sat on one of the benches of the otherwise empty car soaring over the jungle. Below them, she could see boats chugging their way along the muddy green river and vehicles of all sorts winding along the roadway which clung to the sides of the large trees.

"What do you want to know, my dear?" Jake chuckled and with a grandiose flourish, he lifted her paw to his lips and gave it a kiss, "My life is an open book to you."

"Why did y'all stop being a burglar?" she asked as she looked back at him, a light yellow raincoat partly covering his baby blue sport shirt and a pair of dark blue cotton pants. She had laughed when he came by her apartment earlier that day because she was wearing a light blue raincoat over her light yellow blouse and jeans, it was almost like they had purposely dressed in opposite colors from each other.

"That is simple, I hated being in jail," the male raccoon answered with a shrug. "To be honest I never really liked being a burglar, but it kept me from starving to death. Also, I am fascinated by security alarms and systems, trying to beat them is like figuring out a very complex puzzle. I was more driven by the challenge than the actual rewards."

"Did you ever rob anyone and feel sorry afterward?" she continued. His paw released hers as he stepped back further into the cable car and sat down. She noticed a sadness in his eyes and a vulnerability that she had never seen before.

"Yeah, lots of times. Early on when I was working with two guys, Wessley and Joey, we broke into some businesses and homes that we really shouldn't have and cleaned them out. I knew it was wrong. When I branched out and started doing my own thing, I selected only the mansions or businesses owned by those who were ruthless or dishonest, and even then I didn't take everything."

"Did you ever hurt anyone?" she asked after she sat beside him again and took his muzzle in her paws to peer into his eyes.

"You're not going to like my answer," he sighed again before he looked away from meeting her eyes.

"The truth, I've got to know what kind of mammal you are if we are to continue in this relationship."

"I've been in a few fights, barroom scuffles, and that sort. Also, I've been attacked and had to fight, even hurt others to survive." Then suddenly he stood up and paced across the floor, hesitating momentarily before turning to her and shaking his head. "You know about Ronnie Charger, the rhino." She nodded because he had told her that when he explained why he lived in the Regency Hotel.

Jake stopped again and walked over to the edge of the gondola again, he looked off into the distance. "I've never killed anyone, but…" he muttered. Her ears perked up when he said that and she stood facing him, he was handsome in the afternoon sunlight. "Remember a while back when that mad priest took over those school buses full of children?" she nodded before he continued. "He was the leader of a religious cult that brutally and ritually murdered three raccoons."

"Of course, that was big news."

"Two of those raccoons that they killed were friends of mine and I was involved with the investigation in a civilian advisory role. What you don't know is that they also kitnapped me, but you won't see that in the news."

She was shocked but knew she shouldn't ask him why he didn't bring kitnapping charges against the jackals. "They never caught him, did they?" she asked instead. Suddenly she hated where this seemed to be going and she even feared the answer.

"And they never will," he replied. She saw tears in his eyes when he first looked at her and then out at the skyline. "I didn't kill him, but I could have saved him," he finally choked out. "He died because I chose not to do so. I walked away and left him to die because I wanted revenge!"

She gasped and turned away for a few moments.

"I'm sorry that it happened," he continued in almost a whisper. "I'm sorry I told you about it and I can understand why you now would want to never see me again."

"Why?" she asked. "How?"

"He was taken by some of my less savory friends to Tundratown and I had the priest placed on a platform in the middle of a large pond which was only thinly iced over. I was able to walk on the ice, but being a red deer he was much too heavy. I only intended to leave him out there as punishment...no, some kind of vengeance...until I called the police, but my anger overcame me. There was a special stone that he was killing everyone for and I had that stone. He claimed it had the mystical powers to call upon his god to purge the world in flames. I threw the stone out onto the ice, just out of his reach, but I really didn't think he would try to grab it. I just wanted him to suffer by having it just beyond his touch, but instead, he stepped off the platform yelling his god would save him and punish us all before the ice broke, he drowned."

They were quiet for a while after that, she watched while he wiped his eyes on his shirt sleeve.

"Jake, would you have done it again if y'all knew he would do that?" she asked in a meek tone, her eyes sought out his again.

"No and I hate myself for doing what I did in the first place," he cried out and slammed his fist angrily against the metal. She ran to him and held him in her arms.

"Can you forgive me for who I am?" he finally asked.

"It's not my place to forgive you," she sighed. "Y'all need to forgive yourself."

They sat back down and held paws for the remainder of the ride and just before they disembarked, she turned and kissed him on his cheek. "Thank you," she whispered.

"Are we finished?" he softly asked her before they got off the gondola. "I mean, should I call a car to come to take you home? I'll understand if you never want to see me again."

"No I'll stay, now that I understand what kind of guy you are," she said as she took his paw again and pulled him down the trail towards the gardens beyond.

"What kind of guy am I?" he asked in confusion.

"One who loves his friends deeply," she replied. She turned to him and passionately kissed him, sighing as his arms enfolded her. She now knew the raccoon wasn't perfect, but who was? At least she believed that he was being honest to her.

They spent the afternoon walking and kissing in the park and after a while, Jake was back to telling her lame jokes again and smiling. They found a traditional tea house and while they enjoyed their afternoon refreshments, he told her more about his life. He told her about Sonya, a red panda that he once thought he was in love with and she, in turn, told him the entire story about being used by Lamar. Finally, he told her about Grandfather, Sonya's real grandfather who became his mentor during his college years. She found the stories about the aged red panda intriguing and some even entertaining.

When he finished, she looked at him, reached over, and bopped him on the nose. "Why Mister Runnel, you are a lil' old coward." She giggled.

"What do you mean?"

"You ran away from me when you were embarrassed that night at the bar. You ran away from Sonya and her grandfather after your father's death. Are you going to run away from me again if things get tough?"

"I think I've stopped running," he answered as he smiled at her.

"Good then when you're ready, y'all need to go see Sonya and make things right again!" Marie firmly stated.

"You're right," he sighed. Then he stepped away slightly, he gave her a mischievous smile. "But I am not finished all my running, because I'll give you a ten-second head start before I run after you and cover you with kisses!"

"Oh my!" she giggled and took off running. He was right behind her and they laughed as she weaved and dodged his embrace. Finally, he caught her and they fell onto the grass with him on top of her. His mouth devoured hers in a passionate kiss as he held her down. She could feel his arousal pressing against her thigh and she ached for him.

"Come on you two!" a small voice squeaked from across the green. "Get a room for crying out loud."

She blushed when he laughed and released her before helping her to her feet. "Sorry about that!" he called back to the mouse who was on the trail. He put his arm over her shoulder while they walked back towards the gondolas.

She wrapped her arm around his waist as they strolled, all the time she was trying not to stare at the bulge in his pants. After walking further down the path and to a more secluded spot, he gently pushed her against a tree and they kissed again. He pushed his body closer to hers and started grinding himself against her, her body responded by pulling him closer. Suddenly he realized what he was doing and pulled back. "Sorry!" he stammered as he stepped back.

"Yeah," she panted. "This is not the place for that."

"Agreed!" he gasped.

That night after she slipped into bed, she dreamt only of Jake and she woke up aching for him. She imagined the taste of his mouth and the feel of his grinding into her again. Blushing, she slipped her paw underneath her pajama bottoms again and her digit found her sweet spot. Her groans and gasps awoke her roommate in the next room. The skunk sat up and after listening to the raccoon, she buried her head under her pillows and grumbled, "She really needs to get laid."