Chapter 17: A Second Chance

It was December 31st, many hours to come before the New Year. The Chief was planning a big party for the agents and their close friends and relatives. Dudley was opening a package of sparklers and chewing on chocolate turkey bacon when he heard someone knocking. "Keswick, get the door!" barked the Chief, as he read his new romance novel in the dark so he wouldn't be seen.

Keswick gasped. "It's the Ch-cha-chameleon!"

Moments later, the Chameleon was tied up and hanging upside down. "OK, Chameleon, tell us why you're really here," demanded the Chief, "or we can use some very unpleasant methods to make you talk."

"First, could you please let me down? The blood's rushing to my head."

Dudley shrugged. They could probably take him, like they did before. He cut the ropes, and the Chameleon landed on the floor with a thud. "Well, now that you're down, what do you want?! I want answers! No tricks!" he said with a glare.

"I told you, I'm going to reform! And I need your help. I'm going to need a legitimate job, and I was thinking of starting here."

"Why'd you come to us?" asked Kitty.

"I wasn't sure who to turn to."

"But you hate us!"

"No, I don't. At least not anymore. If anything, I'm jealous of you. People like you guys. You have each other's backs. You guys are like a family. I've always wanted to be a part of a family. I was once, but. . ." He trailed off. "Well, I'd prefer not to get into that now. Can't you give me a second chance?"

"Why sh-sh-should we?" asked Keswick. "Do you have any idea how many attempts you m-m-made on our lives? How many times you tried to destroy TUFF HQ?"

The very nervous and repentant lizard chuckled nervously. "A lot, right?"

"And let's not forget that you kidnapped the Queen, forced children into a life of crime, almost fried everyone in town, tried to stop Christmas. . ." Kitty shook her head in disgust. "Who does that?"

He hung his head. "I guess I did."

"AND YOU STOLE HALLOWEEN CANDY, YOU FIEND!" screamed Dudley.

"Yes, I did all of those things, and more. But I'm really sorry. I can change, I swear." He looked at them, and it looked like he might cry. "The love of a wonderful woman is making me a better man. Please, can't you find it in your hearts to forgive me for everything I've done wrong?" he begged them.

Then there was an awkward silence as they considered the idea. But then there was a CRASH! And then the Chief said: "Agent Foxxy, be careful with those fireworks!"

The Chameleon couldn't believe his ears. Agent Foxxy, he thought. Then he saw a familiar face, and his jaw dropped.

"Sorry, Chief. They're real heavy." Then Mario saw that the Chameleon was staring at him. "Oh, hey, Chameleon," he said casually.

"Mario?! What are you doing here?!"

"I work here. Right now I'm still in training, and I work with Keswick sometimes. It's going to be a while before I'm a full-fledged agent."

"Since when?!"

"After Mr. Wong fired me, I started looking for another line of work, when I accidentally helped Dudley and Kitty catch the Caped Cod. The rest is history."

"Why didn't you tell me? We're practically family."

"I wasn't allowed to. And I wouldn't like it if Maria told you."

"She knows?"

"Of course. We tell each other everything."

The Chameleon took a while to process this. "So, how do you like the idea of having me as a coworker?"

Mario squealed so loudly that the Chameleon jumped back. "Yes! Yes, oh, yes, dude, yes! Oh man, I was hoping you'd ask. I could really use a partner. Heck, maybe Maria will join us and make it a party. I don't think I'd be a real good agent on my own . . . well, at least not yet. And I'm sure you've got tons of expertise when it comes to this."

"Well, I guess that's true. After all, who better than someone with a criminal mind like mine to catch other criminals? That is so clever, Mario!"

"Yeah, it's clever!" They high-fived each other.

"Now hold on here Agent Foxxy," said the Chief. "Just how do we know we can trust him?"

"I'm telling you, he's had a major transformation. He's not the same crook he was before he met my sis. He's like the big brother I never had but always wanted."

The Chameleon blushed at all this praise. "Anyway, I really want this job. I thought Maria should marry someone with an honest occupation."
"Wait, what did you just say?" said Mario.

"I thought Maria should marry someone with an honest occupation."

Everyone gasped as they realized with this meant. "You're going to marry her?!" said Kitty.

"Yes, I was planning on it. I haven't got a ring yet."

"Then we better go shopping!" said Mario. "Oh, this keeps getting better! Can I be your best man?"

"Actually, I was thinking about asking Snaptrap to fill that position." The look on Mario's face was priceless. The Chameleon cracked up. "Gotcha! Of course you're the best man!"

Mario rolled his eyes at his almost-brother-in-law. "So, what do you think Dad's gonna say?"

The Chameleon froze. This was something he hadn't considered yet. "Well . . ." He was at a loss. "Well . . . I guess he'll have to accept our love."

"That's right! Maria and I are sick of how he treats you. I mean, he's all about what's best for us, so why can't he see you're best for her?" He sighed. "Sometimes I'm so mad I could spit in his face. I mean, yes, I know he's our dad, but come on. What'll it take for him to realize that, for once, the great and powerful Malcolm Foxxy is wrong about something?"

Then the Chameleon remembered the reason he came there in the first place. "So, what do you think? Can I have that job? Do you think I can have a second chance?" He tried to give them "sad eyes," which he hadn't mastered as well as the Foxxy siblings. But luckily Mario was on his side.

The Chief stared at his former nemesis, wondering if it was a good idea. Finally he called a meeting with Mario and some of the top agents. The anxious lizard started pacing so hard the floor almost gave out. Finally, they returned. "OK, if you're serious about this, then we'll put you to the test," said the Chief. "Maybe you're telling the truth. After all, that Maria is a good girl. Maybe she worked some magic on you. Maybe you two crazy lovebirds will prove everyone wrong. This is just like the stuff I read about in my romance novels! I mean, like nothing I read in my tough, manly novels!" he said quickly. "Anyway, don't forget: we're watching you, so don't even think about going back on your word."

"I won't, I won't, I swear I won't let you down!" His face lit up brighter than Christmas in Paris. "You're not going to regret this!"

"Well, I don't know," said Keswick. "M-m-maybe you're not aware, but Snaptrap "reformed" twice. The first time was part of an elaborate r-r-ruse. And then there was the time when he dated Agent P-p-puppy's mother. While that attempt may have been s-s-sincere, it didn't last long either."

"I know, but I'm different."

"You can do it, bro," said Mario. "I've been telling people about you on my blog."

"You what?!"

"Take a look." He showed the Chameleon his laptop's screen, which displayed his homepage at Mario' . Most of the top stories seemed about one particular subject.

"What is Marileon?"

"You and Maria. Duh. It's probably the most exciting thing on here. You won't believe who visits my site."

"Well, what are people saying about us?"

"Opinion's kind of mixed. Most people are against it, for various reasons. Some dislike the interspecies thing. And just about everyone thinks that you haven't learned your lesson, and that you're bad to the bone and always will be." The Chameleon hung his head in shame, thinking of everything he had done. He didn't expect people to accept him – had they ever? - but that didn't make this easier to hear. "But there are some, the hopeless romantics out there, who believe in you guys. Guess who one of them is?"

"I don't know. Not your father, that's for sure."

"No. Lady Haha!"

Now it was the Chameleon's turn to make Mario jump back. "REALLY?! She supports us? Oh, you don't know what this means to me!"

"I think I do."

"Well, like you said earlier, I've got to buy a ring. Wait. Oh no. How will I afford it?"

"No, I said we should go ring shopping. I'll help pay."

"You shouldn't."

"Nonsense! I have money, you know. Well, what're you waiting for?"

Before leaving on one of his most important missions, the Chameleon looked around at his future coworkers. "Once again, I'd like to thank you all for giving me a chance. Maybe we all have a little hopeless romantic in us. And I hope all of you can make it to the wedding."

"We will," said Kitty. "I thought about it, and well . . . maybe you have changed, like Jean Valjean."

"Thanks, Agent Katswell."

"You can call me Kitty. After all, you're going to work with us."

"And you can call me Dudley. Um, I've got two questions before you put a ring on her."

"Fire away."

"OK. I just don't get it. Once you went on a date with my mom, but now you want to marry a younger woman."

The Chameleon turned redder than a sunburned cardinal. "Well, I'd rather not talk about that. Next."

"Why'd you pick Mario as the best man and not me?" he demanded. This was an unexpected question. "I've known you longer!"

Mario chuckled. "It's because I'm the bride's brother, obviously."

"Oh, wait, another question!" said Dudley.

"What now?"

"Will there be food at the wedding?"

"Of course! All weddings have food! You know Mrs. Foxxy is a great cook and that she tends to make big meals. You've been to her house. I'm not so bad myself."

"Wait, you cook?"

"As a matter of fact, I once cooked for an entire house of villains when Snaptrap, Birdbrain, and I moved in together. Well, in this case, "an entire house" means three including myself, but still. I make a good French toast."

"Hey, if you hens are done clucking, we've got a ring to buy for a special girl!" Mario reminded the Chameleon. Then he said to the Chief, "I probably won't be able to come to the New Year's party tonight, because I'll be celebrating at home. You understand, right?"

"Of course. This is pretty important."

"So when do I start?" said an anxious Chameleon.

"After you complete your first mission. We'll let you know when that is."

"Got it! Can't wait!"

"Best of luck with Maria!"

"OK!" called the Chameleon, filled with new hope as Mario dragged him at the door and into his destiny.

This was longer than I expected. The next chapter is "The Question." I know it's February, but I like the New Year's proposal idea. Did you know this story now has THREE reviews? Well, this calls for a toast so pour the champagne, pour the champagne. Ha ha. I don't know if you caught the reference, but that was from "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" by Panic! At the Disco. Anyway, thanks Nicky0. Oh, I'm no longer doing disclaimers, because we all know I don't own TUFF Puppy, or The Simpsons, or BATMAN, or whatever. Peace.