Chapter 2
"I can't BELIEVE Maincoon would do something like that! And the fact that he calls you gay and thinks he has the right to SKIN you like that! We're supposed to trust each other and... Jake, what are you doing?" I froze when Chance noticed I was packing my stuff.

"I..." "Ah, crud. What am I to say. Well, the kat IS out of the bag." I heaved a heavy sigh before I faced Chance, probably for the last time. "Chance, you're the best and only real friend, I have ever had and I didn't want to tell you in case you told the commander or something, or at least wanted to do much the same like Maincoon and Whiskers were about to do." Chance was standing still and I could swear I could hear the gears in his head winding up like a jet engine. But I wasn't going to tell him that I had genuine feelings for him. That would have been pushing it too far. "I don't know how they found out, but..."

"What are you trying to say, Jake?" Chance asked me and I could tell he was confused by the way he was tilting his head to the side and looking at me. I slammed my suitcase shut.

"I am what they said, Chance! I am tail-looker, a rod-rider, a queen, and I can mention a thousand other names I've been called because of what kind of tail, I like to look at!" I hadn't meant to shout at Chance like that, but I was tired of it and I was madder than a kat with fleas. As I huffed to calm down, I saw Chance sit down on his bed with his mouth slightly opened. "He must have blown a fuse, since he's so quiet" I thought. I couldn't blame him, though. "But one thing is to mock me, another is to say something bad about my friends, even if they are going to hate me. But I've packed up and I'm leaving, so you don't have to be afraid of me anymore." I said without looking at Chance. I didn't want the last memory of Chance to be a face filled with disgust and wariness. I grabbed my suitcase and was about to open the door, when it was slammed close before me. I looked up to see Chance's hand holding the door closed and looking even angrier than before. His brow was so twisted in anger that I could almost count the folds under his fur and his lips were curled back baring his teeth, which were grinding together from the tension.

"If you think, I would have ratted you out or worse, just because you prefer toms over she-kats, then you don't know me well enough, Jake Clawson." Now it was my turn to be speechless. "Also, I clearly don't know you half as well either. I got the idea that you weren't a quitter and would always find a way to come out on top." He continued as he looked at me. His expression had now gone from anger to hurt. That face was worse than if I HAD been skinned by Maincoon.

"I'm not!" Was all I managed to shout back before I caught myself and looked at Chance, who gave me a look of mock disbelief. All I could do was sigh in defeat.

"Listen, Jake. I probably can't even imagine what you've been through, but I am not going to let anyone hurt my partner. You are my buddy and I will never turn my back on you when you need me." Chance said as he placed a gentle paw on my shoulder, looking at me with those same sincere, warm friendly eyes, which made my knees buckle.

At first, I didn't know what to say. "Kats alive! No one has ever done this for me. How am I to answer to that?" Then only one thing came to mind to express my gratitude. "Thanks, pal." Chance gave of his toothy as I turned around and unpacked my things.

"So, Jake, tell me something. Did you really have a lot of girlfriends in high school?" I merely smiled as I looked at him.

"Well, not the kind of girlfriends you had."

And we continued the conversation as Chance, with great interest, listened to my life in high school where I found out I was gay, how I could never tell anyone other than my "ex-girlfriends" when my interest in them, sexually was not there. They had all swore never to tell, but somehow it got out as it did in high schools.

"So, Jake. How did you know?"

"Know what?" I asked.

"Well, how did you know you were gay?" I smiled as I found it cute the way Chance's question sounded so surprisingly innocent. Like there was not a sense of cautiousness about our current subject.

"It's a little like your first crush, really. But where you had that crush on that Nancy Kittenbell, mine was on John Scratcher."

"Your high school quarterback?" Chance asked in surprise and then realisation, as if it made perfect sense. I scratched the back of my head as I blushed under my fur.

"Yeah, him. I never asked him if he was gay, but after that, I knew I wasn't into she-kats like the rest of them."

Chance also asked me if gay kats went to the regular bars or did they have their own specialised bars. At first you'd think the answer was obvious and maybe even offensive, but even I asked that kind of question when I first came out. So, I could tell him where the obvious and not so obvious gay places in Megakat City were. Some of which surprised Chance, as he had gone pass some of those places before, but never really noticed that the places was hot spots for gay kats.

Next morning we went to tell Comm. Bobcat about the incident. Feral was lieutenant commander at the time, but was clearly working hard to be the next commander. He was in the room, when we briefed the commander. Feral looked like himself back then as he does now. The same stern look on his face, the same old-school military crew-cut. The only difference was the width of his shoulders. They weren't as wide as they would be once he became commander. Comm. Bobcat, a middle-aged lynx, had heard Maincoon's side of the story, but had the suspicion that there was more to it.

"Take a seat, cadets." He said in a surprisingly calm manner and it was making me really nervous. "Now, I hear from Cadet Maincoon that there was a situation between you and him."

Chance was the first to stand. He stood attended with his back straight and his chest forward. Comm. Bobcat told him though to relax. "Yes, sir. I came out from our room because I heard shouting. That's where I saw Cadet Maincoon, Whiskers and a third kat hold Cadet Clawson against the wall and was cutting his shirt open with a knife, sir." Chance explained. I could see on Feral and the commander's face that the knife was news to them. "I confronted Maincoon and the reason for his actions was accusing Clawson of being gay, sir. So, Clawson and I defended ourselves and defused the situation with Maincoon running off and threatening Clawson."

Comm. Bobcat then turned to me. "Are these allegations true, cadet Clawson?"

"Now or never, I guess." I merely nodded. "They're true, sir. I kept it to myself and didn't tell anyone. I don't know how Maincoon found out but he wanted to skin me for it and when Furlong and I stopped him, he threatened to have me thrown out of the force, sir. I swear, I haven't made a pass on anyone, sir." Chance could tell I was nervous and placed a supportive paw on my shoulder.

"Hmm... What is your opinion on the matter, Feral?" Comm. Bobcat asked, facing Feral, which caught both Chance and I off guard.

Feral cleared his throat before he spoke: "I have always had the belief, sir, that the Enforcers should represent a good example for the citizens of Megakat City and this attack on a comrade because of... "He coughed before he continued. "Of 'personal' differences is not acceptable. How can we protect and serve the city if we cannot be sure of attack among our own ranks?"

Chance and I blinked in amazement as we had often seen Feral as an up-tight, by-the-book stiff but it was clear, back then that he wasn't always that stiff and would become a good commander one day. That it would be him throwing us of the force a couple of years down the road because he wanted to be the hero instead of letting Chance and I taking the shot we had on Dark Kat, we would have never guessed. He is still a stiff, though but there is no doubt he is a great commander.

Returning to my overhanging threat of being booted out of the force, Comm. Bobcat smiled at Feral's answer and turned to face us again. "Very well, then I think, we are going to throw out a few cadets. Feral, would you go and inform cadet Maincoon, Whiskers and Cottenball to pack their things and meet me in my office. You two are dismissed and can report back to your duties."

I was overwhelmed! I was going to stay on the force and with my best buddy by my side. Chance padded my shoulder as we stood outside the office and headed back to our room. "See, Jake. I told you they wouldn't throw ya out because of that." Chance said, once again wearing that over-confidant smile of his.

"Yeah, Chance. You were right. That means I owe you a Mongo Pepper challenge." I said, just being thankful that Chance was okay with me being around him, despite everything.

Chance's chuckle on the upcoming pepper challenge faded slightly and turned into a soft and... dared I say, timid smile. "Jake, I've been meaning to ask you something."

"Yeah, pal?" I asked, wondering why he had such an unfamiliar smile on his face.

"Was the reason for your cover being blown because you were looking at my tail?" Chance probably couldn't see it but I was in an internal state of panic.

"CRUD! Had he noticed it too?" "Nah, I think it was because, I just didn't act like a normal tom-kat. I didn't think it was a good idea to have feelings for anyone on the force. It makes things awkward if it doesn't work out." I answered in a much calmer tone than my internal voice as I looked at Chance with a friendly smile. "So, don't you worry, Chance. I'm not after your tail."

"Why not?" was Chance's comment

"Okay, I didn't expect that as a response. Is it just me or did he just sound... disappointed?" I shook it off as wanting to be attractive to any kat. "Don't get me wrong, Chance you are a looker and I understand that the she-kats dig you, but you're just not my type." I said, knowing it was a mega huge lie. Chance was definitely my type in more ways than I could imagine. He seemed to be fine with my answer. He was and still is a hunk of a Tom-Kat and the things he did, said and the WAY he would say it would make my knees buckle under me, but for the sake of our friendship, I wouldn't tell him.

Maybe he could sense it that day as well.

But even with the fact that Chance knew I was not interested in she-kats, what could have made my best and dare I say straight friend want to pin me to the wall with his firm frame, paws planted on either side of my chest, making sure I don't get away as he while fiercely presses his lips against mine in the most heated and mind-blowing kisses I have ever had. My mind is in a haze of confusion, lust, longing and fear.

I try not to give into Chance's caresses as he opened up my shirt somehow and was now running his paws through my chest fur. I purr into the kiss as his paws run up against my fur. It only proved, I was failing at my attempt to push Chance away so we could talk about this. It probably looked more like I was resting my hands on his chest than trying to push him away. He continues to caress my chest and I gasp as he presses a thumb on my nipple and begins rolling it roughly between his digits.

"Aah nghh, Chance." I can feel my back arching into his touch as he kisses my again. I can almost feel the emotions Chance puts into the kiss. I can feel anger, jealousy, desperation and a need I just can't place. It's so tender, despite the fierce anger, surrounding me with a warmth I just can't resist. I could swear it's... No, it must be my mind in confusion and overrun with pheromones, lust and my own sense of longing, because it couldn't be that... Could it?

I can feel one of his paws move away from my chest and relocating itself on my butt, giving it a tight squeeze. I feel my back curve against his paws as my voice lets out a shaking mew, which only got louder as Chance places a thigh between my legs and lifting me off the ground. The press against my groin makes me mew even louder. "This is quickly spiralling out of control! I got to stop before he does something he'll regret."

"C-chance,.. please s-s-stop. We have to.."

"Why ain't I good enough, Jake? Please, don't push me away. Not again." He nearly shouts and all I can do is look at him with wide eyes. He had caught me completely off guard. He looks back at me. Those usually confidant amber eyes are now filled with hurt and that same need, again as tears threatened to trickle down his striped cheeks. Against all reason, I gently bring my paw to caress and dry the tear away. I knew I shouldn't have done it, but his gaze and his passionate and desperate touches aren't helping me think straight.

"W-what are you talking about, Chance?" I ask softly, still panting from the last kiss. "What is going on in your head, Chance? What has made you do this? And what do you mean 'again'?" I can feel my trousers tenting up against the very clear bulge in my jeans, thanks to Chance's fierce touch.

"What can I do, Jake?" Chance says as he lay his head on my shoulder.

"Chance, you, you're not thinking straight. Maybe you just wait for the drinks to, Wow." Before I can finish, I was tossed onto Chance's bed.

"How did we end up here?" I looked up at Chance with even more confusion as he approached me and quickly placing his paws on each side of my chest.

"That's the problem, Jake. I haven't been able to think straight for a long time, until now." Chance said with that deep husky voice of his, which always gave me goose bumps all rippling down to my groin. One of Chance's paws lifted up and moved down to my trousers as if able to sense the ripples. I looked in horror as he starts opening my trousers gripping the very visible bulge in my boxers and before I can protest, I arched my hips against his paw. I looked at him and all I could see in his eyes was that need and seriousness. Was he really going to?

"C-c-chance, don't. Y-you'll just regret it." Chance just looked up at me. Amber eyes penetrating deep into my soul. Those eyes emanating a clear message, that I was wrong.

"The only thing I regret, Jake, is that I haven't done it sooner, before he had a chance to touch you."

And with that Chance went down on me, wrapping his mouth around my member and successfully stifling my question in a gasp. "Who aaaah, ngh, C-chance aah"

"It's gotta be Vince. He must have said something to Chance at the bar."

Editor's note:

Just went back in and made so correction I saw in my document XD

Stupid typos!

Happy Easter, everyone!

I'm sorry for the long wait but here is the next chapter. Flashbacks are catching up with the Present so soon all will be revealed.

Furthermore, I'm working on tow other SWAT Kats fanfiction. One I have given the title: "Under the Moon" and the other called "Kats and Spiders"

The first one I have already uploaded the first chapter on the SWAT Kats Fanfiction Archives. So, check it out and do let me know if you'd rather have it here.

The other one is based on a challenge from the same web site with a SWAT Kats x Spider-man crossover.

Also, before I forget, like I did in the previous chapters, I do not own SWAT Kats or any of the charaters in the show. The extra charaters, such as Maincoon, Whiskers, Cottenball and Comm. Bobcat are from my imagination.

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Enjoy!