Hard Times
Marine glowered at the officer from her seat on the passenger side of her friend's car. Disapprovingly, she watched the officer rabbit and her friend conversing in front of her. She was unable to hear what was being said but knew that it wasn't right. Her friend had obeyed all the laws of the road, they both had seat belts on, the car was in perfect working order, so why? Why did the officer pull them over? Her azure colored eyes narrowed, as if she were trying to pierce the officer's very soul with her gaze.
"...So you're a dual citizen?"
Sky nodded, a bit unsure of where the officer was going. "Yes." He watched the officer study his citizenship ID even harder.
The officer flipped the card back and forth from front to back. "Hm... Could you tell your girlfriend to stop giving me dirty looks? I'm just trying to do my job."
"Uh?" Sky glanced over the hood of his car to see Marine giving the officer glares of death. Knowing just what she was thinking he tried distracting her with a reassuring wave.
Sky's wave caught her eye and she gave him an uneasy smile. She still had this sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She was so tense from watching the two from inside the car that she swore her body would snap. Every muscle was drawn tight as a spring, even her jaw hurt from clinching her teeth. Silently she prayed that nothing bad would happen to them.
"She's not my girlfriend," Sky said as he turned his attention back to the officer.
As if that were what he was waiting to hear the officer looked up from the identification card. "Oh? In that case what, may I ask, would a wolf and cat be doing together?" The rabbit scoffed. "The two of you can't be friends. Drug dealers maybe?" He eyed the wolf trying to judge his reaction.
"Actually...it's more like we're brother and sister." Sky shifted nervously wondering if that were the best way to describe how he and Marine saw each other.
He scoffed again. Brother and sister? You can't be serious. No cat or dog would be caught dead with each other. Not at this day in age. "Pff, right kid." He shoved the ID back at the young wolf. "Here you go. Now stay out of trouble, and don't get caught with the likes of her again. Not if you know what's good for you." With that the rabbit officer turned and strutted back to his car.
Sky tensed, nearly dropping the card as it was jammed into his chest roughly by the officer. "Y-yes sir, thank you." He turned letting out a long sigh of relief. Jail would not be a nice place for him to visit. Lucky for him he had never done anything to cross the law. Straightening himself he went to the driver's side of his car and slid in.
"What was that crap about!" Marine shot a glare at Sky once he was in his seat. "I mean the nerve of that guy! Why did he ask for your citizenship card anyway?"
Sky tensed again as Marine's furious tone was directed at him. He hated being on the receiving end of her rage, but it was better he then the officer. "He didn't say..."
"That fucking stupid law. Yeah it might be obvious that you're not from around here, but you're driving a registered car under your family's name. Nothing was suspicious about you at all!"
Deciding to keep his mouth shut, he let Marine carry on through her rant till she was done. It was better off that he didn't tell her what the officer had said about them being seen together. Starting the car he slowly drove off the shoulder. The gravel crunching under the tires for a moment before the treads met blacktop.
"I mean you were born here. So your mom took you back to the islands when you were still a baby, but that doesn't make you any less of a citizen! For that guy to sit there and treat you like a common over the border illegal is bull! You don't even look Hispanic! Sure there are a bunch of other illegals that aren't Hispanic, but that guy obviously pulled you over just because you look a little different..."
Sky's lips tightened, he didn't want to fuel Marine's current rage by telling her the real reason wasn't just about his race, but also the difference in their species. The cop obviously thought they were up to no good. "People can't tell all that just by looking."
Marine looked to Sky with sad eyes. It wasn't right... "Yeah, but they shouldn't assume the worst with just one glance. What ever happened to innocent till proven guilty?"
He sighed, making sure to not take his eyes off the road. How was he supposed to tell her that he was used to it? That people mistook him for a different race all the time, and that because of the stereotypes within that race he'd get lumped in with them? He knew she didn't understand it. Marine had only dealt with racial issues a few times in her life, and it was mostly her defending the person outside of her own race. She was special in the way that she didn't see a race but rather a person. It was one of her many qualities that made Sky love her. "I know... It's okay, we're almost home."
Marine sighed and threw herself back against the seat. She was still upset about Sky getting pulled over. What if that cop was more of a racist jackass? He could have easily made up a story to get the both of them in trouble. What would have happened if they had been taken to jail?
She had to admit she was scared to death when she saw those flashing lights behind them. The arrogance of the officer was the only thing that really sparked her rage, everything else was pure fear. A trick she had learned a long time ago was to take her fears, turn it into rage, and let it out. She often felt sorry for Sky and anyone else close enough for her to rant at.
Turning into the driveway Sky cut the ignition and reached over to give his friend a comforting hug. Pulling Marine into his arms he squeezed her tight. "It's all good now. Let's go in."