While Murray wound up in yet another race for a Treasure Key, Coco followed the path to the last one, which Bentley's directions showed was at the end of another path she could follow via a mobile gun turret. Hopping on, she blasted the doors apart and rode into the path. She then proceeded to blast her way past several conveyor belts and martial arts monkeys that blocked the path, and across snowy fields and gorillas launching exploding snowballs. It didn't take long for her to retrieve the Treasure Key and return. By then, Murray had won the race, and Coco detoured back to the van to retrieve it before moving to wait for Sly by the fireworks.
Sly never knew he could feel so happy and awkward at the same time. The entire encounter had started so innocently. He'd convinced Carmelita to come into one of the huts to warm up...which turned out to be a combination sentry post/storage shed. There were blankets, some crates, and a fireplace. He'd quickly lit the fire and arranged the blankets to help her warm up, but she continued to shiver. Without even thinking about it, he'd wrapped her in his arms, using his own internally regulated body temperature to try and warm her up, but she was still chilled...mostly because her clothes were wet from melted snow.
Then she'd started undressing.
He'd tried to be a gentleman, keeping his back turned as she laid her clothes out in front of the fireplace to dry. But then she'd told him flat out to shed his clothes and spoon up behind her before she froze. With a direct order like that, he hadn't hesitated...and did his best to remain suave while being very careful where his hands - or other things - wound up. For the sake of his dignity, he found himself very grateful for how thick and fluffy a fox tail was.
To get both their minds off what was happening, Sly had started talking about the members of the Fiendish Five they'd dealt with, and what they'd learned so far about Panda King's operation. As they talked, Carmelita wound up getting excited about the prospect of the huge bust she'd be able to make by taking down the entire gang, turned...
Sly wasn't sure about the exact order of events after that, but he found himself very glad Coco hadn't walked in on them. That would have been even more awkward than it was already. He still faced resolutely away from Carmelita, clutching his cane as she pulled her now dry clothes back on.
"You've done this sort of thing before?" she asked carefully.
"No," Sly offered quickly. "That was...the first time..."
She hesitated for a few moments. "...really," she replied finally, her voice having a hint of surprise mixed with amazement. She pulled on her jacket. "Sly...if..."
When she didn't say more, Sly turned towards her and saw her hand on her abdomen. He quickly realized her concern, and smiled as he realized he could reassure her. "You don't need to worry about that," he said softly. "My Dad managed to teach me one family technique before..." He glanced away, not wanting to mar this moment with talk of what had happened. "Anyway, it was one developed by one of my mystic ancestors, a focusing of internal energy that prevents anything 'left behind' from having any mystical trace of the one who 'shed' it."
Carmelita raised an eyebrow. "And this has relevance how?" she asked coldly.
"Well, in more recent eras of science, this was discovered to mean that, with this technique active, we don't leave behind fingerprints...or DNA." He grinned cheekily. "It didn't take long for one of my male ancestors to discover a...recreational use for this technique." Reaching over, he put his hand over hers on her belly. "Which means this won't happen unless and until we both decide we're ready."
Carmelita's eyebrow raised further, plainly trying to maintain a composed expression. However, the rapid coloring of her cheeks plainly showed that she wasn't succeeding. "A useful thing to know." Her expression then grew thoughtful.
Reaching his other hand up, Sly pulled a penny from her ear. "Penny for your thoughts?"
"Just that if you continue to evade capture as effectively as you have, the first time I put you in cuffs might not be to take you to jail," Carmelita replied, her smirk turning a trifle wicked. A similar chuckle followed as Sly's cheeks colored. "For now, I need to gather the squads. I'll catch you later raccoon...one way or the other." With that she sauntered out of the hut, her hips swaying enticingly as her tail swished, showing off how tightly her pants hugged her figure.
Sly promptly fell flat on his back. "...what a woman..." he murmured, desperately struggling to get himself under control. "I'm not so sure I can handle her..." A massive grin plastered itself on his face. "But it's going to be fun trying."
"Are you about finished 'warming up' the Inspector, Sly?" Bentley's voice demanded a bit snippily from the Binoc-U-Com.
Gulping, Sly picked up the communicator. "Uh...how much did you hear?" he asked nervously.
"I didn't," Bentley responded flatly. "Once Coco said I should give you time with Miss Fox and I realized what was happening, I set your Binoc-U-com to buzz me when you were alone."
Sly groaned, putting his face in his hand. "So I'm going to have to explain what that was to Coco later. That's not going to be awkward at all..." His head shot up. "Wait, where is she? She didn't go after Panda King on her own, did she?"
"Relax," Bentley reassured him. "You still have four of the Treasure Keys. Coco's got the other three now, though, and she's waiting for you by the fireworks."
"On my way," Sly muttered as he grabbed his clothes.
I can just picture a worried Sly busting down a door... to find Panda King and Coco having tea together, maybe some vegetarian pot stickers as well. Even more awkward if Panda King's daughter Jing is there brushing Coco's mane and cooing over how adorable she is.
Well, I'm sad Coco won't be a big sister anytime soon, but I can't wait to see how the confrontation with Panda King goes.
Pretty sure Sly was happy this chapter contains copious amounts of fluff.
If Sly was the spoon then Carmelita is the spoon bender.
If I didn't know any better I'd think Carmelita was trying to sway Sly over to her side in more ways than one.
You did that just to spite me. I'm positive. I'm the only person on this website that consistently hits the ten percent margin nearly without fail... and you're all laughing at me over it. Hmph!
Honestly if I could control when it turns on and off, I'd probably be the richest man in the world at this point. Right now, I have to content myself with the fact that it enjoys me failing at guessing things on your stories. Ah well... at least I'm being laughed at for something even I find funny.
Yes! I know it, also I am super glad that the Cooper Clan discovered that kind of ability. Anyways great chapter as always and I'm sorry Sly, but your going to have a rough time telling Coco what she almost saw
7761091 I... I can't hate these puns.
Nice...
I am so done man Also, here's a nice song.
Seeing as I have nothing constructive to say......Dudda Dudda da!
I AM....THE SINGING TELEGRAM! *gets shot in chest.*
Only the Cooper Clan can be stealthy enough to come up with such a technique, and 'suave' to take 'full' advantage of it. Looking forward to more.
Keep up the great work. Deus tecum.
wow: I'm both curious and nervous about how this will affect things later... this is a new feeling...
7761228 Wut?
7761090 Now I wish that's what would happen.
7761238 indeed.....
7761311 It's a scene from the movie Clue, it's pretty funny how it actually happens.
7761799 But what about how it COULD have happened?
7761865 I'm not referring to the endings, just the singing telegram.
......Did I answer a question completely off topic?
Y'know... Three chapters ago, I would have been all "GOD, Why don't they just F*** already!?"
And now that it happened...
...
Now I just want to see them work together and f*** (figuratively) someone else up.
There is just no end to our appetites as readers.
Also: *Obligatory comment relating to the incredible speed at which the intensity of that chapter increased*
Seriously. Hugging -> three paragraphs and a sentence later -> Sly doesn't know what happened and Carmelita is worried about getting pregnant.
I wonder if Josh is reading this?
I love this!
Ooooh Sly you dog you~
Nicely done dude, hahaha!
7761940 We're both referencing the same movie at least.
And here I thought Coco was just being factitious about Sly and Carmelita getting it on...
7761526 knowing Tatsurou it very well may.
shame shame shame every body knows your name sly. and the same goes to you too Carmelita. Atleast coco know when not to bother her parts at an awaked moment. also more chapters please
I'm sorry but I can't help but see the panda king throwing the fight in honner for what he had done to sly.
I'm jest saying mind you but I also see him being a permament member in the 3rd game. same with dauntay.
( sorry for any miss spelling )
This reminds me of a scene from Rover Dangerfield. At the end of the movie Rover gets goated into chasing his lovely mate Daisy around the yard. In the end, a very winded Rover Dangerfield stands up, adjusts his tie, looks right at the audience, and sez " Eh, when I want to catch her, I'll catch her."
7765084 Am I the only one expecting a reference to Kung Fu Panda?
Who am I kidding? They're not the same.
One is a big panda that knows martial arts and used fireworks to achieve their dreams.
Oh wait.
This doesn't warrant a sex tag?
So, when they learn this technique, male Coopers can "get busy" anytime they want without knocking up their partners.
...
...
...
Uh, okay?
Now that's a useful technique.
8090798
I think it's more like what Sly was saying: they can control that until they and their partner are both ready for such a change in their lives. It was just developed my a Cooper who was more of a "player" with such matters. Sly's dad always struck me as having to be the honorable, gentlemanly type, if his son is any indication at least.
And if you disagree, just note that's my head canon for all this going on.
8742537
Actually, the original purpose of the technique was to thwart mages that used sympathetic magic to catch thieves by not leaving anything of their 'essence' behind.
As science developed, Coopers discovered this extended to not leaving behind forensic evidence, including DNA evidence once that started being used.
The teenage son of the Cooper who discovered the technique meant 'no leaving DNA behind' realized it could be used to prevent insemination.
8742540
All the fun and none of the potential responsibility pretty much.
Gotta love teenagers when they think with their hormones and reproductive organs.
So you explained both the... lack of Pregnancy after the previous chapter and a logical way for sly to avoid having paw-prints over those calling cards. well done!