Chapter 10: I'm Going to Have to Do the Right Thing, Aren't I?
This chapter was mostly inspired by the song "We Are Young" by FUN, featuring Janelle Monae. Disclaimer: I'm not the brilliant Butch Hartman. That means I don't own T.U.F.F Puppy, just Maria, her family, Mr. Fowl, Jerry, Jose, and Rafael. The title picture is a scene from this chapter. It was inspired by that scene from Hannibal where Hannibal is carrying an unconscious Clarice Starling.
The seagull manager was dozing at the desk of his jewelry store. He was unaware that the Chameleon was on the ceiling planning on robbing him at that very minute. He didn't notice a pair of glowing red eyes as the sinister reptile crawled above him.
The Chameleon stood by a shelf of necklaces. The perfect crime, he thought. I'll just turn into a magnet, and take all the loot I can carry. I can't believe the door was unlocked and the manager's sleeping. Could it be any more convenient?
I've been distracted from doing evil lately. Why? Oh, it must be Maria. I'm afraid I'm spending too much time with her. That our relationship can't work. An angel can't love a devil. I'm afraid this will end badly and I'll hurt her.
I've never cared this much about anyone. I've hurt people before. But she's different. She's not like anyone I've ever met before. No, that's not true. She's like. . . me. I've never felt like this about anyone, not even Charmaine.
He was about to enact his plan when something caught his eye. He saw Maria walk out of Griffin's Diner in uniform. He remembered hearing she had a part-time job as a waitress there. She looked terrible. Her gorgeous eyes had bags under them and her mascara was smudged. Her hair was in disarray. She walked out like a zombie.
And then she collapsed on the sidewalk form exhaustion. The Chameleon gasped. This wasn't good. This city was full of dangerous people. He should know; he was one of them.
People stopped and stared. The Chameleon got worried. She just looked so helpless. "I'm going to have to do the right thing, aren't I?"
He left the store. He had given up on evil for tonight. He went to Maria's side. He heard people talking about "The poor girl. . . covering for that other girl. . . overworked for no reason."
He tried to wake her up. No response. He decided to let her sleep and picked her up.
Then the T.U.F.F. mobile appeared. "What now?!"
"We've received an anonymous tip-off that you were mugging Maria," explained Kitty.
"Now this is just ridiculous!" said the Chameleon. "I wasn't doing anything like that! I was just going to take her home because she passed out from working so hard."
"Then who told us you were mugging her, and why?" said Dudley.
They heard a familiar cackle from a dumpster. "I wanted to get some of the competition out of the way," Verminious Snaptrap. "Plus I wanted a reward for turning you in." He laughed again.
Kitty grabbed him by the ankle, threw him onto the sidewalk, and cuffed him. As Dudley dragged him away, she said, "Chameleon?"
"What?"
"Do you need help?"
Her offer surprised him. "No, I'll be fine, don't worry." The T.U.F.F. Mobile drove off.
He carried her away from the restaurant and to their homes. It was a long walk, but that didn't stop him at all. He felt like a knight on a mission. He felt more love for her than ever and he didn't think it could be matched by anyone.
Look at her, he thought. She looks just like Sleeping Beauty. Only instead of Prince Charming, she's being carried away by me! I'm not sure what she likes about me. Is it my looks? I remember her saying I'm the handsomest man she's ever known. Is it my intelligence? Charmaine only wanted my money. She didn't dump me soon enough. But that can't be what Maria wants. She already has money. And she kissed me! We kissed three times! It was amazing! I still taste her lip gloss. Peppermint and cinnamon.
I wonder if Maria has an obsession with me. Am I in her dreams? "If I am, they're probably nightmares," he joked.
Being in love drives you crazy. Oh, Maria, my sweet friend, I don't think I deserve to know someone as perfect as you.
He finally arrived at the Foxxy residence. He had a feeling that the door was locked and that he wouldn't be welcomed in with open arms.
He saw a balcony where he thought Maria's room might be. Now that's convenient, he thought. He held onto Maria tight as he climbed the wall. When he reached it, he placed her down gently, grateful for the railing, and he slid open the door. Maria really ought to lock this. You never know. Some nut could try to break in.
The Chameleon carried Maria in. Nice room. And then he heard a gasp. He wasn't alone.
Now if this was Malcolm or Marge, the Chameleon's story probably would have ended here. But as his luck would have it, of course it was neither.
Mario was staring jaw agape, face turning whiter by the second. "Uh. . . hi," said the Chameleon. The lizard set Maria down and rushed to her brother. He put his hand on the teenage fox's mouth. "Don't scream. No matter what you do, DO NOT scream. If you scream, you will wake up your parents and your father will do something terrible to me, which means I'll do something terrible to you. Now I certainly don't want to do anything terrible to you because you seem like a nice kid and I don't think your sister would be too happy with me. Now, I'm going to take my hand off of your mouth and you won't scream. Nod if you understand." Mario nodded. "Good." The Chameleon removed his hand.
Mario's color gradually returned. He sat down on the thick red carpet. It was pretty obvious what Maria's favorite color was. "Like, what are you doing here?"
"It's not what it looks like, I swear. Maria just collapsed outside of that restaurant she works at and I decided to take her home."
"Wait, you carried her all this way? By yourself?"
"Yes."
"You didn't take a cab, or bus, or plane, or anything?"
"No." He was a little afraid that Mario would think he was creepy or something.
"Wow, I thought chivalry had died in the Middle Ages! I guess it was better you finding her than some perv. Anyway, I'm not surprised that she passed out. She said this morning we should be working two shifts today: hers and Miranda's. She doesn't need to work there, in my opinion. And I know I'm not the only one who thinks that. I don't know why she works for Griffin. I know she's part-time, usually, but I've heard he was a real slave-driver. I guess she wants to prove to people she's not a spoiled rich girl. If you ask me it ain't worth it. Anyone who took the time to know her would know how cool she is."
"You're right."
"Of course I am."
The Chameleon pulled Maria's blankets off her bed. Then he gently placed her on the mattress and covered her up. He took her glasses off and put them and something else on the nightstand.
"You like her, don't you?" said Mario.
"What?" said the Chameleon, taken off guard.
"You like like her. I think it was pretty obvious. I knew it even before Birdbrain and Jack Rabbit started the rumors."
"Uh. . ." The Chameleon just didn't feel like discussing his love life with his crush's little brother.
"You know she likes you too, right?"
"She does?"
"Well, yeah. And here's another bomb for ya: My dad is a lawyer! She told me about the other day. You saved her life- what, three times? Four?"
"She told you about that?"
"She tells me everything."
"Everything?"
"Everything. I think you're real good for her. You're her first real friend, maybe even her first boyfriend. I've never seen her so happy before she met you. Be good to her. Don't let her get away. Because you'll never meet a girl like my sister again."
The Chameleon wasn't sure what to say. "Well, good night," said Mario.
"Good night."
"Thanks for getting my sister home safe."
"No problem, really."
Mario left. The Chameleon looked around the room. Then he looked at Maria as she slept. He bent over and kissed her forehead. "Good night, Maria." He left the way he came.
I know that wasn't much action but it was still really sweet. I'll have the next chapter soon enough. I think this story will probably have fifteen or sixteen chapters when it's finished. Oh, and by the way, Lady-Salem, something weird happened. I couldn't log in to moderate your review soon enough so people wont be able to see it. I don't really understand it, but I want you to know I really appreciate your kind words. Bye!
