Chapter 11: Academics, Dumpers, and Snakes

Oliver's hands shook as he held onto his backpack, looking at the scene before him.

A nice-looking building stood proud, inviting its students to enter with a large gate leading towards a white path up the stairs towards the main entrance. It looked both ancient and new, having an older look with its Victorian aesthetic clashed with a more modern approach. It had a nice playground with mini hills and a few trees behind it, looking like a mini forest. When they came down the hill path, they had a marvelous view of the city's bay that was semi-blocked by a low hedge, which created a barrier and rail for the deep downward slope that led towards the large body of water. Above, following the hill back to where the city should be, the school has blocked the sidewalk view by placing trees along the ledge. The angle and trees created a mystifying atmosphere in the area as if they were transporting you to another world. Only the large bridge, the passing boats, and the tiny view of the salvage yard miles away broke the illusion.

Saber Elementary School prides itself on its education and promises to lay the foundation for kids' education and development. This is where Oliver would begin his education. He felt his stomach twist as he looked around the area and saw the kats nearby, wanting to go home.

"Hey, kiddo. Relax on the claws," Chance said, chuckling. He kneeled and pushed Oliver close to nuzzle his face. "It's going to be alright."

Oliver felt better, though his eyes drifted towards the kids his age and older, getting dropped by their parents. They were all bouncing and excited as they said goodbye to their parents at the main gate. He wasn't sure if he wanted to follow them. Despite his folks telling him about 'school,' it finally dawned on him that they would leave him here each day.

Turning to Chance, he waved his distress. 'Pa, I'm scared,' he signed.

"Aw, don't be, little one," Jake said, brushing Oliver's head. "Heck, I remember getting scared when I started school."

'I don't want,' Oliver paused, struggling to sign his feelings fully. He'd been getting better but needed more practice to converse in sign language. His dad told him he was learning fast and doing a good job, although he wasn't sure if Jake was just being nice. 'Scared.'

Jake hugged and took Oliver's scent. "Oh, I wish you could stay with us all day." He pulled back and cupped Oliver's cheek. "But you need to go to school. You'll have fun! Maybe make some new friends?"

Oliver wasn't sure about it. However, he didn't have time to think when he heard a loud, cheerful yell. Before he could see, he felt a tackle and was on the ground the next second. He made a surprised sound, grunting as he landed on the floor. Attempting to stand up, he felt someone tugging on his ear. He could see his cousin's goofy grin from the corner of his eye.

"You're going here, too?" Jonathan mumbled as he held Oliver's ear in his mouth. He let go and sat on the floor. "Hi, Uncle Chance and Uncle Jake."

"Hey, sport!" Chance said, letting out a laugh. He stopped, looked to the side, and frowned. Shifting, he crossed his arms.

Richard stepped closer, dangling a backpack in one hand. "What are you doing here?"

Chance grimaced. "Hi to you too, brother. We are here because our kid is going here."

Oliver felt his fur tingle when Richard's blue eyes stared at him. He stood up, hurrying towards Chance and taking cover behind his leg. He wasn't sure why, but there was a bit of hate behind those eyes. His pa shifted his legs closer, blocking Richard somewhat from seeing him.

"My kid wasn't kidding about you taking in a stray. I'm kind of surprised," Richard finally let out. He turned to Jake and nodded before returning to his brother. "Still, how did you get in?"

"A bit of good luck and an old favor," Chance said simply. He patted Oliver's head while giving Richard a stink eye. "What? Are you embarrassed to have us around?"

Richard arched an eyebrow, looked around, and gestured with his head towards a direction. "Embarrassed? I think you do that on your own."

A few adults were looking at the tow truck parked nearby. In hushed tones, they exchanged words, possibly perplexed about its presence or someone facing repossession. It was noticeably out of place among the sleek cars nearby.

"Eh. They can bite me if they have an issue," Chance rebutted. He shrugged his shoulders and grinned. "They'll be begging us to help them when they get stuck somewhere. Hell, maybe you one day."

Just as Richard was about to reply, Jake interjected. "How about we save this for later?" he said, signaling down with his eyes. "I think there's a coffee shop nearby—unless you're busy, of course."

"Coffee sounds good," Richard said, getting close to Jonathan. He handed his son his backpack. A soft smile appeared on his face, altering his severe, usual look. Have a good day today," Richard said.

"I will, dad," Jonathan said. He paused, looking at Oliver. "Dad, can I go with them after school?"

Reluctance was apparent in Richard's expression. "Uh."

"Please?" Jonathan begged, getting close and tugging his dad's pants.

Richard rubbed his head, looking away from Jonathan and staring at the sky. He exhaled heavily. "Let me ask your mother first," he said, defeated.

"Yes!" Jonathan yelled, air fisting the air. He turned and grabbed Oliver's hand. "Let's play some games at your house. What do you say?"

Playing games with Jonathan sparked excitement in Oliver. His attention turned to the school, and his excitement diminished. Being far from his fathers didn't feel right to him. His wish was for them to stay with him. Facing them, he made a meowing sound towards them.

"Aw, we'll be back later to pick you up," Jake said.

"Time will pass fast. How about I make some burgers for us when you get back?" Chance added.

Oliver hated this, though reluctantly nodded. He moved away from Jonathan and put his hands up for a hug, and his fathers closed in, giving a warm hug. They whispered they loved him and wished him a good day at school. As they let go, Jonathan pulled him to follow him while talking about the school and recess, though Oliver wasn't listening as he glanced back at his folks. They were getting smaller with each step, and soon, he turned the corner, and they were gone from sight. It hurt, and he wanted to cry. He brushed his eyes and followed Jonathan.

Having some free time before the bell, Jonathan talked about school and how sometimes the cafeteria lady gave extra sweets. He told Oliver how he'd love Mrs. Bombay as he had her in first grade. He showed him to his class, pointing to a door where kids were already entering. Before he left, he told Oliver to meet him near the swings during recess.

Oliver felt so confused when Jonathan left him. He stood at the doorway, unsure if he should go in. His classmates were sitting down and chatting with one another. Although the bell rang, he continued to stand there. A black she-Kat had been standing in the middle near the board, checking something with her pen before looking around. Bombay wore a face that looked joyful and tired simultaneously, dressed in a colorful dress with golden bells on the tip of both ears. As she scanned, she drifted through the door and tilted her head, her golden green eyes seeming curious.

"Hey there, you must be Oliver," she said with a soothing voice, slowly approaching him. Pushing her golden-brown hair mixed with black back, she kneeled and smiled sweetly. "I'm so excited to have you in my class. Come in. Don't be shy."

Despite being scared, Oliver felt his guard lowering as she reminded him of Aunt Jamie. Her voice was so soothing and gentle that it made him feel welcomed. She put her hand before him, slowly and low for him to reach. He reached for it and grabbed it, seeing her stand up and lead him towards the front of the class.

"Class, this is your new classmate, Oliver Furlong Clawson. Please give him a warm welcome," Bombay said.

The class greeted Oliver in harmony.

Feeling a paw behind him, Bombay guided Oliver towards an empty desk in the middle with a group of five. Every kid's eyes were on him, interested in the new kid. He sat down, copied the other students, and settled his backpack behind the chair.

Ignoring the stares, he glanced around the room—a colorful area with drawings and stripes on boards where kids did projects. In the corner, he could see an area where rainbow bins, scissors, glue, and other crafting tools were located. Cartoon characters and letters of the alphabet adorned the walls. There were twenty little red chairs and desks in the room. On his wooden desk, he could see his name in bold letters, 'Oliver Furlong Clawson,' on the corner, surrounded by patterns.

Bombay lightly patted her hands together, telling the kids about the weekly plan. School had just begun, though for Oliver, the one week he missed made him feel like a stranger. He wondered what his folks were doing at this very moment.

Jake sipped his coffee, enjoying its sweetness and letting it wake him. It made him feel at ease, though not much. He felt anxious when he saw Oliver enter the school. He didn't want to make a fuss, so he kept it inside. His mind drifted to his own experience with school. He frowned, as he was an outsider to most of his classmates. Ever since he found joy in tinkering and building, he drifted from kids his age. When the kids were playing, Jake was building tools from scrap. It didn't improve until high school when he found a niche group of friends through the mechanic and robotics clubs. However, that didn't last, especially when his grandpa died. At that point, he just wanted to be left alone and desperate to do something. Remembering the past made the coffee taste more bitter than he liked. He just hoped his kid had a good day today.

As he glanced at the two tabbies, Jake had another thing to worry about. These two had been good since coming in and ordering their drinks, though they wouldn't look at each other, acting like strangers who shared the same table. His mate was childish, making him chuckle to see that his brother was the same. Similar to a stalemate, none wanted to be the first to talk. Possibly, they assumed it would give them the appearance of weakness in the eyes of others.

Deciding to be an icebreaker, Jake let the coffee down and stared at both of them. "How's the firm? I heard you've been doing well."

Richard blinked, breaking off from his stare battle and turning towards Jake. "You heard right. Getting scum out of the streets and making the city safer, with each conviction," he said, sounding both professional and proud of his achievements. He glanced at his brother before returning to Jake. "The previous attack from Dark Kat has swamped us at the office. There are so many guns for hire. The Swat Kats gave us and other prosecutors many Kats to convict."

"Oh," Jake said, looking at his mate. "How's that front going?"

"Slow. We wanted to put them all together and convict them in one go, but it seems they have some slimy defense. Figures." Richard huffed with bitterness. He frowned, mindlessly spinning the spoon on his coffee. Shaking his head, he slowly drifted to look at Chance. "And how's the garage?"

"It's been good," Chance said simply. He took a moment to drink his coffee before settling down. He reached to his side to grab Jake's hand, caressing it. "I'm unsure if you heard, but Jake and I are finally tying the knot."

Richard blinked, glancing at Jake to confirm. Jake nodded back at him. "Congrats on both of you. When's the wedding?"

"End of this month."

"That soon?"

"Yeah," Chance said, sounding a little disappointed.

"Hey, it's okay," Jake said. He got close, letting Chance wrap an arm around him. Nuzzling his mate's neck, he whispered. "I know you wanted it more in the spring. But let's make do with it."

Chance nodded reluctantly, letting out a massive exhale. Jake couldn't blame him, as Chance was the most excited about it. It didn't matter how they married, but it was another story for his tabby. Chance had talked about it with the same excitement about Scaredy Kat—his grand plan was to have the wedding in some remote area away from the city. Then again, his mate was a religious kat, though not as dedicated as his mother. Chance wanted the gods to witness his bonding with him.

Chance kissed Jake's head before turning back to face his brother. "Hey, Rich. I know it's sudden, but you think you can be my best tom?"

Richard nearly spilled his drink. He choked and hit his chest. After calming down, he looked at Chance perplexedly, unsure if he had heard right. "Me? Why?" he said.

Wanting to know as well, Jake looked at his mate. They hadn't been on the best terms, so it surprised him that his mate asked his brother. Chance had such an unwavering look.

"Because you are my brother. Is it so wrong to ask?" Chance asked with an amused grin.

"Why not ask the mayor, Feral's niece, or one of our sisters?" Richard said.

"I thought about it, but it didn't feel right. To be honest, Jake would have been the front-runner, but we can't have that since I'm marrying this stud," Chance said, laughing. His face turned somber. "Rich. You and I used to be so close when we were little. Hell. We even promised to be each other's best tom when we married. Granted, you up and went got married so suddenly to a strang—"

Richard sent Chance a stern look.

Chance exhaled, putting his hand up. "To Anna," he corrected. He rubbed his chin, seeming to struggle with how to say something. "We… used to have each other's back. If anything were to happen in the future, I hope that it still holds true. I know I'll be there if you ever need something, despite knowing you'll be too stubborn to accept it." He paused, shifting his attention to the skies. "I like to believe Dad would love it if you were there to support my bonding with Jake. I would like you to be there. It would mean so much to me if we can just be like we were in the past, even if it's just for one day."

Richard remained quiet. He briefly softened his usual stony stare, then glanced away. He deliberately looked elsewhere, fixated on something far off. Maybe he focused on something in the coffee shop or pondered over what Chance had mentioned. Figuring out how Richard felt was hard because he was an expert at concealing his emotions and maintaining his composure because of his job. However, Jake could notice the tiny crack as he observed his mate's brother, knowing it was troubling Richard while Chance anxiously awaited his answer.

After a long silence, Richard looked at his watch. Exhaling, he stood up and grabbed his work bag. He said nothing, moving toward the door. Just then, he stopped beside Chance, keeping his eyes forward. "Knowing you. I think it's good that I'm the best tom since you would appear drunk at reception if I weren't there. You stupid pea brain."

Chance's eyes widen, his mouth hanging slightly open before slowly turning to a grin. "I'll take that as a yes, right? Four eyes?"

With a snort, Richard departed, but Jake caught a slight smile on the white tabby.

Turning back to his mate, Jake could see Chance beaming with joy. "I'm surprised," he said honestly, still shocked by it.

"Is it bad that I asked him?" Chance asked, looking worried.

Jake shook his head quickly. "No. It's good that you did," he said, feeling proud of his lover. Not that's not right. He grabbed his soon-to-be husband. "Feeling more prepared for our wedding?"

"Yeah. Thank the gods for my sisters," Chance said, groaning. He put an arm on the table and laid his chin on his palm. "Everything should be good to go. I hope you like the place."

"I don't mind where we get married." Jake leaned in on his mate's shoulder. "Ready to be a Furlong-Clawson?" he teased.

"Clawson-Furlong," Chance rebutted, shooting a playful glare. "I won that fair and square."

"Sure," Jake said, poking his mate's chubby cheeks. He thought he had his way when Chance betted this fight in an obstacle race. Maybe Chance's father was helping him that day as the rope snapped on Jake. He took a rather cold dip that morning, and his mate didn't wait for him, so Chance won it.

Looking out the window, Jake enjoyed the pleasant view of the bay. Richard had shown them this spot, a block from the school grounds' entrance. It was a lovely shop with wallpapers showing images of distant buildings from another land, proud of its cooking.

Just then, Jake remembered something. Thinking back to the other bet his lover withdrew from, he realized his mate never let him win something without fighting tooth and nail about it. It's not Chance's style, and it has been bugging Jake. Not only that, but it happened at the same time that his mate found this school, thanks to an old friend. Of course, he heard about Saber from somewhere but couldn't quite place it.

"Chance," Jake whispered.

"Hmm? What's up, kitten?" Chance said. He had shifted from his earlier pose and rested his entire head on his arms, eyes closed.

"You said a friend got you a spot at the school. Seeing it up close, it looks like you need a good connection to get in," Jake said. He was sure his mate shifted brows, almost like a wince, Jake was sure. "Who's the friend?"

Chance stayed silent momentarily before responding, "Some old friend from high school. I ran into him the same day you were out looking." He stopped, opening his eyes and leaning back. "Pretty nice guy. I almost didn't recognize him. I told him about our situation, and one thing led to another, and here we are."

"Just like that?"

"Yep," Chance said simply. He grabbed Jake's hand. "I mean, isn't it great? It's close to our home and near enough for Mom to pick up Oliver if anything happens when you know what."

Jake couldn't argue with that. It was the perfect place, and the staff was eager to help them when they visited. They were almost too enthusiastic, as Jake was sure they would have a problem with how late they were applying, nearly like they were throwing the red carpet for them. The school would accommodate Oliver's muteness. It was perfect. Too perfect, if you asked Jake. Something was up, but he couldn't place his claw on it.

Jake immediately noticed the silly expression as he refocused on his mate, causing him to hold back his inquiry. Chance expertly lowered his ears, dilated his eyes, and clasped his hands beneath his fluffy chin. Filled with intense pleading, it asked Jake to leave it be. Then again, Chance resorted to it whenever he desired favorable outcomes. While innocent, it also possessed a lustful aspect. Jake recalled Chance using it to excite their workday afternoon, wishing to have office intimacy. Yielding under pressure, Jake gave in to the demands that day, letting his tabby have his way with him on the waiting room couch, exposed to anyone who dared to enter the garage. It was a rush, and they have been pretty bad after that. He felt his cheeks turning hot as he recalled their spots.

"Chance," Jake said firmly, trying to recover and gain control.

"Chance what?" Chance said, letting his eyes twinkle as he got closer.

"Stop giving me that look. It will not work."

"What look? I'm just looking."

"Chance!"

"Yes?"

"Chance… I … I damn it," Jake let out, giving up. He shook his head at himself for being a sucker. He got close for a deep kiss, letting his tongue play with Chance's larger one. A purr escaped them, and Jake could feel one of Chance's hands going behind him and pushing him closer. Pulling slightly from Chance's mouth, he gently smacked his mate's cheek before bopping their noses together. "Alright. Alright. It's great. I won't ask anymore."

Jake tried to pull back but felt his mate firmly hold him in place with his muscular arm. The stupid look was gone, and now a lustful predator was eyeing him down. His spine shivered, and he felt utterly vulnerable as Chance's claws gripped him. Jake needed to calm his mate down, as he didn't want to satisfy the beast in broad daylight. Carefully, moving towards Chance's left ear, he whispered, "Oliver's not coming home till later. We don't have to worry about how loud we are."

Chance's eyes shimmered with excitement, suggesting that it was successful. With one arm securely around Jake's waist, he skillfully led them away from the bench and towards the exit. By playfully nuzzling and nipping Chance's neck, Jake made sure his tiger remained content. The only downside Jake could consider was that Chance would use shortcuts to get home sooner. Regardless, he was becoming enthusiastic, choosing to overlook the imminent rough bumps.

The new room wasn't terrible, though it lacked the same flair as Bombay's. Throughout the day, Oliver did activities with the rest of the class, some of which were fun. Of course, one kid looked annoyed when Oliver poked him to get different-colored pencils, and some gave a stare when he couldn't speak. He felt like an outsider. Recess was the best as he got to play with his cousin and be near someone he knew. Then it ended, much to his disappointment, and his teacher led his class back inside. But that's when things changed for him. Instead of joining them to read out loud, a young lion picked him up and guided him to this new room.

A rather big tiger named Mr. Olson awaited him there. The big tom greeted him in a sign, which Oliver returned. He sat with a group of three and their big brother. A different range of kids were around, some looking older to be in fifth grade and some wearing strange devices in their ears. The older kids, the big brothers or sisters, would help the younger ones practice signs through storytelling. His current helper was the same lion, Nathan Curl, a fourth grader, though he could pass as a middle schooler thanks to his height. He was a kid with dark hair and fiery eyes, though he was pleasant and patient as he helped Oliver and the other two first graders in the group.

Next to him was a black-and-white furred tom named Sylvester Fluff, who wore thick, dark, square glasses. He seemed bored, looking like he was daydreaming. Oliver had noticed him in recess, though Sylvester would mostly sit below the base of a tree and stare at clouds. Oliver couldn't read him, though the kid gave him a piece of candy when he sat down, so Sylvester was all right in his books. The other one is being helped by Nathan, a young snow leopard named Aya King. She did better than Oliver and Sylvester with signs, treating it like child's play. She looked pretty despite her rather sharp gray eyes and annoyed look. Oliver ducked away when she noticed him staring.

Feeling a tap, he glanced to see Sylvester lazily laying his head on the table.

'Where…you…from?' Sylvester signed.

Oliver blinked, turning to look at the nearby sheet that had the alphabet. 'I… live…' he paused, taking a moment to remember how to sign bridge. '…across the bridge. At the s-a-l-v-a-g-e… y-a-r-d with pa and dad.'

Sylvester blinked, sitting upright. 'Two…dads. Weird,' he signed, smiling. He waved his hands. 'But… sounds. Fun. Unlike…this.'

'What is this?'

'Practice,' Sylvester signed firmly. He exhaled, glancing towards the window before looking back at Oliver. 'Want…to see… clouds… with me? Tomorrow?'

Oliver felt surprised. So far, he had felt left out with his classmates because of his inability to speak. However, here he was with some who couldn't talk either. He absent-mindedly nodded, getting a grin from Sylvester.

They sign a bit more, with Oliver learning that Sylvester is the youngest of three. When Oliver asked about Sylvesters's folks, the kid shook his head simply, and they moved on to something else. It drifted to TV shows, though it didn't last when Nathan went to them, signing for them to sign about topics on the sheet. The lion would assist them and show them how to sign something when stuck. Before drifting towards another group, Mr. Olson would check on them. It seemed Olson had a hands-off approach, wanting the older students to be more confident and gain leadership, only stepping in when he wanted the entire class to focus on something.

After a while, the class period ended, and Nathan guided Oliver's group back to their regular classes. Oliver said goodbye to Sylvester and, along with Aya and Nathan, headed down the hallway to his class. Before he entered, he turned to Nathan, saying bye and getting a bright smile from the lion. Oliver slowly turned to Aya, seeing her staring at him with her usual look. He shyly waved at her, and, to his surprise, she waved back at him.

From then on, Oliver was with his class. The class dealt with silent reading, fundamental math problems, and writing in the following periods. It was over in no time.

Following his classmates out, he returned from where he had started, and a group of adults was waiting outside the gate. One by one, he saw kids getting picked up by their parents. A sudden dread hit him, feeling scared that his folks had left him there. He shivered, almost ready to cry, when a voice called out to him.

"Oliver. Over here," a voice said. It was Chance's voice.

Glancing at the side, he saw the big tabby waving at him, with Jake standing beside him. The cinnamon tom kneeled, opening his hands wide. That's all it took, and Oliver bolted towards them, crashing into Jake's chest and nuzzling his dad's neck.

"Aw, we miss you too," Jake said, pulling Oliver close. He purred and lifted him.

Chance closed in, playfully brushing Oliver's head. "How was school, kiddo?"

Pulling away enough to see them, Oliver noticed how excited they were to hear about his day. Though he could say he hated it most of the time, there were some enjoyable moments. Plus, he didn't want to ruin their day. 'It was fun.'

"That's good to hear," Chance said, looking appeased. He looked around and squinted. "Where's your… oh, there he is… Jonathan!"

Jonathan came bouncing their way. He halted fast, stopping before them. "Dad said yes?" he said with excitement in his voice.

"What do you think?" Chance said. He put his hand on Jonathan's back, leading them all toward the tow truck. "I hope you're ready for my special burgers."

"Yes!" Jonathan shouted.

The ride home took longer because of traffic, but they passed the time talking about school. Despite wanting to talk, Jonathan let Oliver go first. They reached the bridge, getting over it and away from the city's heart. Soon, they were on the dirt road, turning towards the less populated area. The tow truck bounced to each side, making Oliver and Jonathan giggle. Chance gave a sly look while Jake groaned and asked his mate to stick to the main roads. They could see the large salvage yard in the distance, getting closer with every passing minute, and soon they entered from the south side.

When they finally reached the garage, Chance parked the tow truck outside. A few cars were already inside the garage and occupying the space. Oliver felt a tug from his cousin, who wanted to rush upstairs.

"Hey, you two, finish your homework in the break room and then go play," Jake reminded, going towards the window and removing the 'be back' sign.

Jonathan groaned. "But Uncle Jake. We can do that later."

"You say that, but your grandma already told me how you forget to do it," Chance said, heading towards a vehicle with Jake. He shot a look at them. "And we aren't asking. Got it?"

Another groan escaped Jonathan. Oliver found his cousin hilarious, stifling a chuckle. He followed the white tabby towards the couch. He unzipped his bag and looked at the sheets of paper containing different tasks for him. It seemed silly for his teacher to give him extra things to do at home, but it seemed normal as no one in class appeared bothered by it. Then again, most of his understanding of things was based on shows, remembering one where kids hang around and get into silly shenanigans. So far, it's been nothing like that show. The school was slower and less wacky than he expected.

Oliver mentally thanked Jake for preparing him for school. He still wasn't great at the subjects, but he was doing a lot better than before. Math was the easiest, as he had experienced using it when counting cars to pass the time or how many blocks he had to walk to get to a drop location. In the past, he relied on the TV in Tram's apartment to learn things. Sometimes Tram would let him be, but other times, the snow leopard would become irritated by the songs the kid's shows played.

Shooting a glance at his cousin, the older kid worked on his homework with an unamused face. Oliver returned to his papers, grabbed a pencil, and began the first math sheet.

To be fair, this was far better than counting cars.

Chance rubbed his chin, feeling like he had forgotten something. He stared intently at the car's pipes underneath, examining each detail, but that wasn't the issue. Despite his efforts to think about it, the answer didn't return, which frustrated him. He slipped out of the car and sat upright on the roller, wiping his paw with his rag. The upcoming wedding plagued him, though he doubted that was the reason. He drifted from the garage to the hangar, but nothing clicked. "What am I forgetting?" he mused.

"Hmm?" his mate said. He stood near the car's exposed engine, leaning on the left of it. "Something on your mind?"

"I'm trying to remember," Chance admitted. "Are we forgetting something? Like, is something going on today?"

"Uh, not that I know. Maybe it's about dinner? Do we have everything for it?" Jake offered.

Chance shook his head. He had gotten it after their frisky morning, grabbing other groceries for the week. Plus, he wanted to make sure their kid had a decent meal during lunch at school. A swift glance out the opening of the garage revealed the boys enjoying a ball game, with Jonathan showing Oliver how to play. With a smile, Chance shook his head. It had nothing to do with his kid.

"Must not be important if you can't remember," Jake said, closing the hood and wiping his paw. He moved closer, smirking and leaning against the car. He briefly shifted his gaze to the side. "Don't run, Jonathan. You might trip and get hurt."

"Bathroom," Jonathan's speeding figure said, rushing towards the waiting room and bolting up the stairs.

Chance eyed his mate. He questioned if the thing he was seeking revolved around Jake. It didn't sit right with him to lie, but he felt terrible for the poor she-kat. With their wedding soon, he wanted to see if his mate would be alright with inviting both Lindsey and Jessica. While Chance can do without Markus being invited, he would be happy if some of Jake's family could come. They were going to bond, and he wanted to know his sister-in-law and mother-in-law. They didn't seem like bad kats. It was just an awkward situation where the two were stuck choosing between the son and the father. But how was he going to ask Jake, and when? His mate could go nuclear. He frowned, wondering if soon would be better than later.

"Jake. I was wondering if—"

Just then, a loud engine came, tires rushing through the dirt, and the sound of metal crashing on the floor. Chance winced, finally remembering what he had forgotten. Their two pains in the tail were coming back today. He gritted his teeth, slowly looking around to see a big mess of junk on their doorstep. Standing up, he felt fury bubbling in him as he headed and heard the brothers cackling from the front of the dump truck.

Chance could see Murray's shit-eating grin and his bellowing brother laughing like a retard. For a second, he felt like grabbing the munchkin kat and throwing him as far as he could. "How often do we have to tell you to stop dumping at our doorstep?" he snarled at them.

"We just missed you two so much after our unfortunate long break," Murray mocked, handing a form. "Think of it like an overdue holiday week gift."

"Yeah, a gift," Murray added, smacking his belly.

Eager to confront them, Chance clenched his fist, preparing to let them have it. Years ago, he came close to getting his chance to smack Burke around, but the Metalikats invaded the hangar that day. Now, there weren't any distractions to interrupt them. Insulting Burke's intelligence was the foolproof method to goad the big fella out of the dump truck. However, he heard another unfamiliar voice concealed amidst the two fools before he could provoke it.

"Uncle Burke and Murray. That's mean," a little she-kat said. She poked her head to look at Chance. Similar coloring to Burke in fur, wearing a pink pigtail, orange hair, and a school uniform. If Chance had to guess, she looked around about Jonathan's or Oliver's age. "Mama told you guys not to cause trouble."

"Ah, don'tcha worry about it, Sarah," Murray said, avoiding her stare and scratching his ear. "He's just a friend. And this is how we play around. No need to tell our sis anything."

Burke turned the other way when Sarah looked at him and whistled. "Yep. Ya don't hafta worry. Don't need to tell your mama."

Sarah pouted, not looking convinced in the slightest. Chance couldn't resist smirking, enjoying the kid's confidence and her handle on these two fools.

"Chance!" Jake yelled out.

The sound of Jake's panic made Chance look to the back, seeing his mate standing near the pile with a panicked look. He was initially puzzled until he realized his lover was holding a ball—the exact ball the kids used to play. In that instant, Chance caught sight of Jonathan near the entrance, looking astonished as he stared at the mess in awe. Oliver was not with him. His heart felt tense, and he scanned around, hoping to see his kid.

"Jonathan. Did Oliver follow you inside?" Jake said, with his voice trembling.

"Huh? No. He stayed outside," Jonathan said, appearing confused. He looked around. "Where is he?"

Jake bolted towards the enormous pile, scrambling to throw whatever he could away.

"Hey, can someone sign this already?" Murray snapped, waving the paper. He leaned out and growled. "And you get out of the way. We haven't moved yet for you to—"

Chance aggressively pulled the little kat out of the window and forcefully slammed him into the ground. Murray gasped, looking somewhat surprised as he attempted to escape Chance's hold. With a roar, Chance pinned Murray down and moved in closer. "Did you see a kid there?" he shouted.

"What?" Murray sputters, "The heck are you—"

"Did you check before you dumped?" Chance snarled. "My kid was playing there. Did you see him there?"

Even Murray's enormous eye widened, appearing to understand the situation finally. He glanced towards Jake, still throwing things away and calling for Oliver. "Oh, by the gods," he whispered.

Chance shook him. "Did you see anyone there?"

Murray looked so shocked. His ears folded. "I… I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't check."

Chance felt so numb at hearing that. He wished that wasn't true. Suddenly, he felt something primal take over, letting it raise his fist so he could cave in Murray's face. He was so close to doing it when he felt something heavy push him away. He grunted, quickly recovering and facing Burke.

"What the hell is the matter with ya?" Burke shouted, standing protectively in front of the laying Murray. "It was just a dump!"

Chance ignored him, eyeing the pair with so much hate. Even after all the abuse these two put them through, it was nothing compared to this. He wanted blood and Murray's head on a stick. Hearing his mate's desperate calls for their son made him rage like never before. Unsheathing his claws, he approached the two brothers, ready to snuff their miserable lives. Burke's face shifted, his arms shook, though he kept his hands up as Chance approached him.

"Uncle Chance! It's okay. Look," a voice said. It sounded like Jonathan. "Oliver's right there."

Chance stopped a foot away from the brothers. He blinked, looking towards where Jonathan was and seeing him point towards the side of the garage.

With a perplexed expression, Oliver stood near the tires on the side, holding onto something. His gaze shifted from Jake and Jonathan to Chance. He tilted his head, looking worried.

Chance sprinted, observing Jake scrambling away from the mess and approaching their son like him. They arrived simultaneously and hugged Oliver, causing him to startle slightly before relaxing in their embrace. Chance noticed his mate's trembling breath and distressed purrs. Jake affectionately licked Oliver's head, mimicking a new mother. Chance fixed his hold and wrapped his enormous arms around his family. Lingering the need to protect them made him push them closer to his body. The feeling of being lost and distraught, recalling the moments Jake seemed to perish when on missions, was something he loathed. It felt too similar.

Chance let out a breath, finally pulling back and looking at Oliver. His voice was still excited. "Oliver, damn it. Crud. I thought. Where did you go?"

Oliver's ears lowered, though squinted, as Jake gave him one last lick on his head. 'Saw something,' he signed. He lifted what he was holding in one paw. An odd statue that looked like a lady justice, though she seemed to wear armor and a strange helmet. 'Can I keep it?'

Chance looked at his mate, seeing the same look of disbelief. He smiled, glad that his kid wasn't in harm's way. The sound of a cough made Chance wince, and he glanced back to see Burke and Sarah tending to Murray, who looked at them with relief and daze. Chance headed towards them, collecting Murray's green hat from the dirt floor as he went. Sarah hissed at him, causing him to stop. Burke quickly stepped in, pushing her behind him and raising his fist again. Chance didn't blame them. He probably looked like a demon to them.

"I'm sorry," Chance said. He ignored his feelings, knowing he had never imagined feeling or saying sorry to them in his nine lives.

Burke raised his beanie, showing his glare. "You can shove that—"

"Burke! It's fine," Murray snapped. His brother tensed up and looked back at him. He ignored Burke, waving his hands. "Oh boy, didn't I deserve it, right? What say you, tail swiper?"

Disregarding the jab, Chance observed Murray rise, wincing and gripping his stomach. Murray wobbled towards him and put a hand up. Chance returned the hat, observing as the munchkin patted the dirt off before wearing it. Murray was waiting for a response. "Yeah. You did. But—"

"Ha! I always pegged ya as the honest type. But nothing. I could have hurt or killed your kid if he was there. Thank the bastards up there that it wasn't the case, or I would have that in my conscience till I died," Murray said. He halted, his hand cradling his chin. "Probably would have seen hell sooner based on how you looked at me." Laughing, Murray winced and held onto his ribs.

Chance moved closer. "You, okay?"

"Does it look like I'm okay? I think you broke something," Murray hissed through his teeth. His expression turned miserable as he gently touched his ribs.

Chance heard footsteps and saw Jake holding their son and Jonathan at his side. He looked at his mate and told him what he wanted to do. Despite his surprise, Jake nodded in approval, especially when another hiss from Murray came. Putting a hand on Jonathan's back, Jake led the boys inside. Getting close to Murray, Chance rubbed his head and gently guided the small tom toward the garage. "Come on. We got ice inside?"

Murray appeared taken aback as he scrutinized Chance and then the garage. "You're not going to peg me or something in there, right?"

It took every fiber of Chance's being not to growl. "Just shut up and move it. Or do you want me to carry you?"

"Nope," Murray said quickly, wobbling towards the garage. He waived. "Come on, Sarah and Burke."

A young chemist, Lou Krok, whistled to some tunes as he waited for the reports. He wanted to get out soon and hang out with his pals from college. However, as he hit print, he got an error message that the printer was out of ink. Hissing, he wondered if another printer was nearby, though it was the only one in the room. He wished he could just go to another room in Megakat Labs, but a recent policy had been in place hoping to prevent leakers. It was not like his team was doing anything exciting. They worked on a formula that would allow plants to fight off bugs and remove the need for pesticides. Like everything, it would take years to offer the desired results, and it has been failure after failure. One terrifying result created a temporary pause in his team's project.

Lou let his chair roll back, wanting to drift endlessly and wishing some ink fairy would deliver his needs. No way did he want to go down to the supply room. It was musty, and it creeped him out. But before he could think about it longer, he felt something rough stop his roll. Looking up, he saw another headache. The security guard, Melvin, is a bulky early forties tom with enormous arms, black and white fur, and a bushy mustache and beard.

Pulling his earbuds up, Lou coiled and shoved them along with his mini radio in his lab coat pocket. "Do you need something, Melvin?"

"You know you can call me Mel, right?" Melvin said, crossing his arms on top of the chair.

"Melvin," Lou repeated. He stood up and exhaled. "Again, do you need something?"

"Well, for starters, you can explain why you weren't at Kal's. You stood me up," Melvin said. He looked hurt. "Did something happen? You didn't call me, and you've been ignoring me the whole day."

Lou didn't want to deal with this. "Something came up," he said simply. He went around Melvin. "If you excuse me. I need to grab some ink. Don't you have patrols or find a donut that needs to be eaten?"

Just then, he felt like a whip, turning around and crashing into Melvin's fluffy yet firm body. He refused to look up, knowing he would see those beautiful orange eyes.

"Lou," Melvin whispered with such need. "Please look at me."

Lou relented, looking up to see what he expected. It hurt to see them remembering all those passionate nights they shared and how they talked about the future so playfully. But then he learned something that crashed him back into reality. "Let me go."

"Not until you tell me what's wrong?" Melvin said firmly. He reached for a kiss.

Lou pulled away.

"Babe, what's wrong?" Melvin said.

It hurt. It hurt so fucking much.

"Please, I want to know," Melvin begged. He pulled back and let out such a fatherly smile. Then again, he has practice. "I got you, and you got me, remember?"

Lou wanted to punch Melvin, though his noddle arms wouldn't do shit. He had a mouth, and that was his only weapon. He focused on Melvin with as much disdain as he could muster. "And who has your wife?"

Melvin's smile vanished so quickly. He let go and took a step back. "How do you know?"

"You're not going to deny it?" Lou asked. Melvin didn't respond to him. He scoffed and shook his head. "And you have a kid. Three, from the sounds of it."

Melvin winced. He licked his lips and looked away. "It's… complicated."

"Don't even!" Lou growled, getting close but stopping when he felt like throwing up. He shivered, turning away and trying to push it down, another reminder of his mistake. "Crud. Fuck! What am I supposed to do?"

Just then, he felt warm paws touching his belly, making him shiver, longing to be with that firm body. The warmth that held him when he was at his lowest. The one who picked him up and loved the 'freak.' He hissed, slapping Melvin's hands away and taking a few steps forward. "I'm fine!"

"Are you carrying?" Melvin whispered behind him.

Lou closed his eyes, holding on to the desk nearby. He exhaled and nodded. It seemed so unreal. Never did he expect this to happen. Since birth, he couldn't place himself somewhere, and his parents struggled with his upbringing. He didn't blame them. Do you treat your child like a girl or boy when they have both sex? Lou considers himself a male, though he knows his other side has needs. It's been bumpy, awkward, and downright embarrassing when his male friends found out about him. And now, he is pregnant with a married tom's kitten. Then again, when has life ever been fair to him?

"We should talk about it?" Melvin said.

Lou groaned, holding his head and wanting to erase that night. He moved towards the door. "There's nothing to talk about."

"Lou, babe. Please let me explain." Melvin rushed towards and blocked the exit. He attempted to reach for Lou's shoulder but retreated when getting Lou's stare. A mixture of pain and panic filled his eyes as he surveyed his surroundings, licking his lips anxiously.

Lou went around Melvin towards the exit. He opened the door, ready to leave, until Melvin spoke up.

"I'm getting a divorce," Melvin blurted.

Turning back around, Lou saw Melvin pleading for him to stay. He wondered if the tom was just saying whatever he could to have him stay, though before he could ask, Melvin continued.

"I'm not getting one because I met you. My marriage has been in shambles for years. Hell, I've been living alone in an apartment for two years. We tried to fix it, but it didn't work. My wife and I married too soon, marrying each other when we graduated from high school and having a family because we thought that was what we should do." Melvin paused, shaking his head. He growled and grabbed his face. "The typical young buck enforcer story. I know, but I wasn't thinking back then. I love females physically, but I always knew I had a thing for males, both emotionally and physically. My parents expected me to have a family and would have freaked out if they knew that side of me. I'm not… I'm not trying to make an excuse. I'm just trying to explain. We came from families that looked down on divorces, and we thought we would hurt our kids if we left each other. But we just made things worse. We drifted farther apart and were coasting along with life, miserable and unhappy."

Tears dripped down Melvin's face, and he focused on Lou with such anguish. It was unsettling to witness Melvin, who always projected strength, struggle with emotions for the first time. "We finally decided that divorce was necessary. I had to move out and step back in my career with enforcers since my lawyer advised me to do it. It doesn't look good for me if I'm in a job with a high mortality rate. I want to co-parent, but she doesn't want that. She wants full custody. I felt so hurt and alone. It's been a long and tiresome legal battle. Then, I went to that bar, wanting some fun and to unwind. And I… I saw you there," he whispered, letting out a small smile. He shifted closer, cupping Lou's chin. "I thought you were cute at work, so imagine my surprise at seeing you there. These two years since we got together were the best years of my life. I want you to be part of my life, and I know you want the same."

It felt conflicting. Lou shivered at Melvin's touch, wanting it to stay there, while the other part wanted to bite it away. He felt so unsure. "Why didn't you tell me?" he whispered.

Melvin winced. "Because I didn't know how to bring it up. I wanted to tell you, but I got scared whenever I thought about saying it," he admitted. He closed his eyes and rested his head near Lou's. "This is not how I wanted to come out. I'm sorry. I fucked up."

Lou wanted to believe it. He did. But he could only remember how his last partner broke him and didn't want to deal with that again. Every bone of his body shivered, and he felt a lump in his throat. He shoved Melvin back, getting a surprised look. "Don't touch me. Just… just leave me alone," he said, rushing towards the hallway. He hurriedly approached the elevator down the end.

"Lou!" Melvin called out. His footsteps rushed to behind Lou. "I didn't mean to lie or hurt you."

"Melvin, just leave me alone," Lou said, sounding raspy and choking as he held back the tears. He whimpered, rubbing his eyes with his lab coat. He punched the button, keeping his eyes on the marker.

"Lou, please. Let's just talk," Melvin said.

Finally having enough, Lou turned back to glare at Melvin. "Oh, now you want to talk? Well. I don't. You and I are done. I want nothing to do with you. Do you hear me? Nothing."

Melvin looked shocked and ready to crumble. "Lou. Please. Don't leave me."

Lou looked away, not being able to stand to look at Melvin. He wanted this end badly, but it hurt to say anything else. The same hurt he felt. He wanted Melvin to experience it. But he couldn't bring himself to bash Melvin anymore and just wanted the elevator to get there. He heard the ding, making him glad, but he felt the same powerful arms grabbing him abruptly before he could turn. He heard a gasp from Melvin, though then he heard his former lover let out a painful cry. The next second, something wet hit Lou as they crashed to the floor together.

Lou grunted, quickly recovering and seeing Melvin on the ground in pain with a large thorn needle on his shoulder. It looked like one of those rose needles, but it was significant for its size. A squishy, wet sound alerted him to the elevator, where a rose-like creature stood with a familiar-looking lizard kat. "Doctor Viper," he whispered.

"Kill them," Doctor Viper hissed, pointing his long claw at them.

The rose monster roared. It looked like a deformed rose with eyes inside the center of its pulsating flower buds, a dark green body, and stumpy legs. It shifted its tendrils, resembling arms, upwards and aimed its thorns at Lou and Melvin.

Suddenly, the emergency alarms sounded off. The monster stopped, hissing and looking befuddled. Doctor Viper let out an annoyed hissed and glared at the alarm.

"Sssseems like one of the sssstill lived," Doctor Viper growled. He winced at the sound and pointed at the alarm.

The monster obeyed, sending a quickthorn to silence it.

Lou felt a harsh tug, getting him up and carrying him down the hall. He gasped, looking to see Melvin carrying his only good arm. Blood dripped on the floor as the big cat moved them away. He could hear the monster roaring from the elevator and Doctor Viper ordering it to get them. Melvin ducked them quickly around the corner, and Lou saw big thorns impaling the wall. They fell again, and Melvin let out a muffled cry.

Lou recovered off the floor, tugging his lover's hand. "Melvin, get up. Come on. We have to go."

Melvin gritted his teeth, shuffling up and taking Lou's hand. He rushed them towards the emergency stairs. He barged into the door, getting them inside quickly. Before moving downstairs, he stopped, and his ears perked, quickly glancing down. "Crap. He's been busy down there."

Lou looked, seeing green pulsating vines down below. Doctor Viper must have attacked from the front door. Lou could only wince, wondering how many lives the mad lizard had taken since coming in. It was a mid-shift change, and he wished his co-workers had made it safely. However, he couldn't think about it any longer as Melvin tugged him up the stairs.

"Let's head up," Melvin ordered. He panted and gripped his injured shoulder. "Stay close. Is that understood?"

"We have to get the shoulder taken care of," Lou said, following close to Melvin.

"Let's get out of danger first," Melvin muttered.

Lou said nothing, though his heart clutched at seeing Melvin's injury as blood kept dripping down. He kept close, rushing up the stairs with him. The monster from before blasted the door below them. It glanced up, seeing them though, halted. Lou could hear Doctor Viper's voice telling the monster to forget them, and the rose monster quickly headed back. A sense of relief washed over Lou, though he knew this nightmare wasn't over. He wondered what Doctor Viper wanted, though he bet it wasn't good.