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Part Twelve: The Chance for a Home

Poetic title, can you figure out what it means? It's been a long labor of love with this, but I'm glad I got so many people to enjoy it and so many fans, faves, and as many comments as I got from it. This is the final chapter of New Kid, and what is to come next will take awhile, but for those of you who like my writing style. Anyway here's the chapter, enjoy it and leave your thoughts here.

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"I still can't believe you did that..." Matt was looking at me astounded and Jarrod was looking at me with almost extreme rage.

"It's his own fault for what he said, he asked for it." I grunted and looked back at him as we walked out of the building.

"Oh really? Cause I didn't hear him at any point say 'Please pull my arm behind my back and nearly pull it out of my socket' or anything similar to that!" Jarrod had his hackles up and I couldn't really say I blamed him.

It was just less than 20 minutes ago when we were finishing up that things had taken a slight turn for the worse. One of the younger students, a badger of about 14, was stretching to cool down when he grunted and fell down holding his leg in pain. Immediately Jarrod and I walked over to look him over as he was rubbing his leg.

"What happened, Bryan?" Jarrod was concerned for the kid, because he was technically responsible for what happened to any of the kids here. I knelt down and removed his paw from his leg and felt the calf muscle. It was tightened, tense, and felt slightly too firm.

"It's ok, he just has a cramp in his calf." I started to rub it for him as someone behind me started to whisper and chuckle at something. I looked back and saw a tall looking raccoon talking with some kind of lizard but returned my attention back to the badger's leg.

"You'll be ok, you just need to eat a banana later to boost your potassium levels; that'll keep your muscles from cramping, that and doing stretches more slowly." I gave a slight smile and then turned my head at hearing that racoon again.

"Yeah maybe that fag can get it on with the captain's banana." I growled and turned towards him as Jarrod saw this and put a paw on my shoulder. Apparently he saw where I was going and was going to try to prevent it, but that didn't mean I was going to stay quiet.

"What'd you say, buddy? Something about him getting it on with me?" I growled and the coon just shrugged.

"Hey the guy's a fag, and from how you seem to be rubbin' his leg for him I'm guessin' your're a cock-suckin' fag yourself." He laughed along with the lizard and that did it for me. I got out from Jarrod's grip and had tackled the coon right to the floor. He wasn't strong, he wasn't fast, heck he was barely able to move when I charged, and right now I had his arm pulled back painfully.

"Do you even know what a fag is you idiot?! You shouldn't throw around words like insults unless you know what they are first but you shouldn't insult people you know nothing about either!" I pulled his arm back some more and he cried out in pain.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry I didn't mean it just please let me go!" He was trying hard to get away but I had most of my weight on his body and had the advantage of leverage against him.

I slowly let him go and when he had calmed down I got off of him and looked at him sternly. I had just shown that I was a better fighter so that should have prevented anything but I didn't like to leave things to chance. He groaned and got up though and I snorted at him.

"I think you owe the lil' guy there an apology, and if I ever hear you usin' that kinda language or talkin' like that again I'll kick you outta here, litereally." I grunted and looked out at the rest of the people that were looking at me, "And that goes for the rest of you, you're here to learn self-defense, not to trash talk people, you can't follow that then don't come back."

They all nodded and the racoon went to apologize to the other kid and Jarrod just looked at me like I'd just steped on his tail. I guess how I handled that wasn't the best way to do it, but it was the first thing I thought of and I always tended to be an 'act first think later' type of person, which was something of a flaw people often told me to work on.

But that lead me to being lectured by both Matt and Jarrod, both of whom looked very surprised to see the other lecturing me. In all honesty it felt like they were treating me like their son, which considering everythingI knew about them both so far would make things incredibly more awkward in my head.

"Ok listen, I just pulled the guy's arm back a bit I didn't really hurt him and he's fine. No harm, no foul, ok? Not like I pulled it out of his socket or anything."

"You just can't do that sort of thing, Zeke, you can't go around hurting people just because they tick you off." Jarrod looked at me accusingly as we reached the parking lot and I just took some deep breaths to try to cool off.

"I don't... Not anymore at least." I sighed letting it all out and leaned against Jarrod's truck that we'd been walking to.

"I don't fight people because they make me mad... Not that often anymore at least. These days I tend to fight when I see someone spouting off or doing something hateful to another thing. I can't stand people who hate just because they don't understand others."

"But why do you do that, you don't need to fight or do things like that, just because it's wrong doesn't mean you need to fight it." Matt looked at me this time and I shook my head.

"I can't help it, it's my namesake to be the way I am." I sighed.

"My first name is William and it means 'Valliant Defender' or 'One who Protects' depending on how you look at it it can mean a lot of other things, but all very similar. And if you don't fight what's wrong Matt... If you don't fight to show the world that what's wrong won't be tolerated, then it will just let it grow and fester until it grows into something unstoppable, like an army. Wars are constantly fought around that same premis and it's not right to not fight to protect someone when they need protection. I am a defender and I will always fight to protect people. It's literally who I am." I smiled a bit at that, it had been a long time since I thought like that or remembered my own name's meaning.

"Ok, but the thing is, Zeke, you can't keep doing this to our club, man." Jarrod has his arms crossed and I looked away from him, it was like I was being lectured by my parents, minus the screaming.

"Pots is going to start hearing about things and when he does he's going to put a stop to this club and I have fought too long for this chance, so please for the love of God will you ease up on your temper some?"

"Geeze, fine, dad, I'll ease off and try to control myself better, just drop it already, ok? Now you wanna come over and I'll make somethin' for dinner to apologize because I have a ton of energy I now need to focus before I explode again." I wasn't really angry but the adrenaline was still pumping in me and it always took me awhile to settle down once I got excited. Hopefully this wouldn't be an example of how I would be if or when I started having sex. I don't know how I'd handle that.

"Raincheck. Dad's taking me out to eat tonight since I had to cook the other day. Didn't know you could cook though."

I shrugged, "A lot you guys don't know about me."

And with that Jarrod drove off leaving me and Matt together and a slightly awkward feeling between us.

"So... the offer still stands with you, Matt, you wanna come over? I can make a pizza that's pretty good."

He looked at me sternly and for a second I thought that I might have burned a bridge that couldn't be repaired but he shook his head.

"Just what are you trying to say, Zeke? You're really sending me mixed signals here and I really don't know what to make of all this."

"Listen... I meant what I said; things were just going to fast. I mean we've only known each other for a little over a week and I'm just not used to things going fast, I prefer to take things slow and get a feel for things before I jump right into them. I'm not really good at talkin' like this, but I guess what I'd like to say is that I want to be your friend before we try to get serious about anything. Is that ok?"

He sighed and scratched his head a bit looking like he was thinking about things.

"I guess... considering all that you've gone through, your childhood and how often you've had to move that I can understand all that. Just... try and be honest with me from now on. Ok, Zeke?"

I flinched inwardly at that. I hadn't been completely honest with him, but I nodded and agreed. I figured I had to start learning how to make friends while I could otherwise I was always going to be alone like Skye said to me.

"Ok, then let's head to my place. I'll start making the pizza and by the time my dad comes home it should be about ready to come out of the oven."

"You're expecting your dad home early today then?" Matt opened his car for us and I sat in the passanger seat to be driven the short drive to my house.

"Heh, nah it just takes awhile for my sauce to get thick enough and for everything to be ready. I try and make as much from scratch as possible since most stuff is full of salt and Lord knows what else."

He chuckled and left it at that, it didn't take long for us to get to my place and for me to get to work. Matt settled in the kitchen and worked on the English homework we had from the day that I'd already finished as I started to get out the cans of tomatoes.

It didn't take long for the ingrediants to get out and after I assembled them all I put them into a large enough sauce pan and started to work on it while I got the rest of the ingrediants out. My mom always told me that I could become a chef one day if I worked hard enough, but really I didn't aspire to much in life. I figured I'd die in a ditch long before I hit 20 anyway so planning far into the future wasn't much for me. Even if I did manage to survive to live a long life I enjoyed cooking because it was another art form that I could master and not for what it could get me. I enjoyed things for the sake of enjoyment, if you put too much pressure on it and make it a job then it doesn't become fun anymore and you don't want to do it as much, and I wanted to do the things I enjoyed for as long as I was able.

It took about a half hour for the sauce to get ready and then it needed another half hour to simmer before it would be anywhere near ready to use. In that time I couldn't do much else other than prepare the chicken for the pizza. Gratting the cheese would just dry it out and crust needed to be used as quickly as it was made so it wouldn't get touch or stale. That left me some time to relax and help Matt on his English, I guess he really didn't understand poetry that well, even though I found it to be rather easy, but then again poetry is just more art to me.

When the time came for the sauce to be poured I had all the ingredients ready and started to pile it all on. Chicken, cheese, pepperoni, and a few choice vegitables all made the pizza look amazing. The colors and smells of it all really brought out the quality that I was going for.

I had always had a bit of pride in my cooking, and when I wanted to, I'd go all out when preparing things. For Matt, though, I really wanted to go all out.

I was hot and sweating a bit by the time I got the pizza into the oven. It was almost 5:30 at this time when I heard my dad pulling in. I was really smelling strong and despite that I was still wearing my jacket to hide my arms but after the work out with the club and now cooking over a hot stove I knew I'd be needing a shower tonight.

"Zeke? I see the great Matthew has graced us with his presence again ain't he?" My dad laughed as I heard him setting down his things and joining us in the kitchen.

"Yum, I smell your infamous buffalo pizza too? Lord, son, you're gonna kill me with all that spicy food you love to cook." He chuckled but I just shrugged.

"Hey if you don't like it you can get your own food to eat. Just more for me." I smirked and my dad laughed as he turned to Matt to ask how he'd been.

Those two talked for a bit as I washed up and put away the things that I had used. No doubt my dad thought that Matt was a good guy and would be good for me, but I didn't see that in myself, and I didn't want to break his heart either when we'd leave again so I didn't want to pursue it.

About 15 minutes later the timer on the oven was going off and I went to open the oven when the doorbell also rang.

"Now who could that be? You expectin' anyone, Zeke?" I looked up from the pizza as I pulled it from the oven and shook my head to my dad as he went to get the door.

"I don't know who'd be coming here, dad, maybe it's someone from your work?" I shrugged totally clueless as I set the pizza down and he went to answer the door.

"Huh, Jarrod said he was going out to eat with his dad, you think he changed his mind or something?"

Matt just shrugged and I started to slice the pizza when my dad called me, "Zeke, get in here now, there's someone here to see you!"

I blinked wondering who it could be and Matt, wanting to see who it was I guess, followed after me. When I walked out of the kitchen and looked at the front door though I stood dumbfounded for a moment.

Standing in the doorway, dressed in a business casual outfit consisting of neatly pressed slacks, a pressed white button up shirt that was tucked in with a red striped tie that he'd gotten 3 years ago and a pair of those brown loafer shoes was a black tiger. This wasn't any normal black tiger though, this 24 year old, 6'8", 300 pounds of muscle, white striped black tiger was the guy we had welcomed into our family years ago and who both me and my little brother could look up to, and whom my parents were happy to call their son. Standing before me was my big brother, Skye. I suddenly couldn't control my emotions and I laughed excitedly before I ran over to him and buried my head into his chest as I hugged him.

Skye wrapped his left arm around me and rubbed my back as his right hand was holding his sports jacket over his other shoulder. Even though I was downright puny compared to him I still tried to hug him as hard as I could. It had been ages since I'd seen him last and I just wanted to remind myself of my brother. He was one of the few people who actually understood me and I loved him all the more for it.

"Well hey there, pup, glad to see you're so happy to see me." I couldn't help it, my tail was wagging a mile a minute and I was just rubbing my head against his chest. Skye was the best guy you could ever hope to have as a brother and after all the stress I'd been through lately having him around made it seem like a great weight had been taken off my shoulders.

"What are you doing here though? Didn't you get my message I said that everything was fine with me. I just had a moment and things went bad."

"What do you mean 'had a bad moment', Zeke?" I jerked suddenly realizing I'd said that in front of my dad and he didn't know anything. I'd basically just told him something bad had happened and now he wanted to know what it was.

"It's nothin', pop, lil' pup just missed me is all and was just stressed out. And since the local FBI office isn't to far from here it's no trouble, plus I had a case so it's good. Now we gonna sit down or stand in the door way for longer." Skye smiled at my dad who gave me a stern look that meant we'd talk later before we moved in. Skye was fast witted like I was, but he knew something was bothering me and he'd get it out of me later.

"Well anyway..." My dad smiled as we walked into the family room returning to his normal happy exterior, "Glad you could come by, you're family, Skye, and you need to drop by more often. You came just in time too, Zeke just got out his famous, or should I say infamous, Buffalo pizza. I hope you brought some antacids."

I shot him a look and rolled my eyes, dad was always poking fun at my cooking things that were far to spicy for most normal people to eat.

"You know, Zeke, you're going to burn out your spinchter one day. But yeah dad can't wait. How's mom and Joey doing?" He looked into the kitchen and blinked, "And who's this now? Don't tell me my little brother has found the otter of his dreams that makes you tingle in certain places when you think about him?"

I blushed and I felt myself go rigid at that, I gave Skye a very sharp jab into his side for that but being the giant orge of a guy he was he barely flinched. I looked over at Matt and saw that his face was turning a nice deep shade as well. I'd get Skye back for those comments later but now wasn't the time. I just walked next to him as my dad did all the talking.

"Well Sarah's doing good with Joey down south, he's still going to school there until we can finally settle down someplace, and to answer your question this is my boss's son, Matthew Jordon. Now that the introductions are out of the way let's eat that pizza while it's still good and warm, and enlighten us on how you're doing too, Skye we barely get to hear from you but once a month these days it seems."

Skye just chuckled as they sat down at the table, from me trying to jab him or from what my dad said I wasn't sure, but if it kept him from talking about Matt anymore I didn't care. It was true though that Skye was really busy lately. He had a lot to do to finish with school and I often wondered how he could handle so much all on his own, but I guess that he'd just gotten used to it from a young age.

"Well that's good to hear, pop, and sorry I don't talk to you guys much. I'm real busy and I barely have enough time to talk or respond to my brothers' messages." He hugged me to his side and I smiled a bit. While it was hard to get in contact with Skye, he always tried his best to email us back or return our calls as fast as he could. He cared about Joey and me like we were his own little brothers, and we really thought of him as a big brother too.

"But to answer your questions, I've just got two more semesters and then I'll be finished with law school. I'm considering a Doctorate in Criminal Justice and another in political science. The case load at the FBI is pretty rough but I have a job waiting for me at the Department of Justice. And glad to hear Joey isn't givin' ma any more trouble, but enough about me and my life, what's been going on here?"

I sighed inwardly; Skye really had cast a wide shadow for me and Joey to live up to. I know my parents didn't expect us to change the world or cure the next horrible plague, but still with Skye it sometimes felt like we had a lot to live up to, even if we weren't blood. I finished slicing the pizza and made plates for the four of us and looked over to my dad as I sat down.

"Ehh life is going well, we've just been moving into this house here and Zeke just started school last week. He's also helped start up a martial arts club from what I hear, and as for anything else... Well I haven't heard anything from the school so I can only assume that Zeke is staying out of trouble." I flinched at that, I guess when I mentioned a 'bad moment' that translated as trouble to him but I tried to play it off. I could get lectured later when Matt wasn't around to hear it.

"I'm glad though that you're doin' well in school. Makin' all A's I'm sure and doing well. You've really set the bar high for your brothers, but I'll just be happy to see Joey graduate highschool right now. That'll be good enough for us." He looked over to Matt and saw that he looked a bit confused and he laughed.

"Damn, sorry about this, Matt. This here is Skye, he's our adoptive son, he's 24 and as you heard, working for the FBI, and whom I'm now going to get a beer." He chuckled looking so proud. I sighed to myself, I knew college was going to be in my future soon but I had no plans or ideas on what to do.

"Ehh it's ok, pop, I'm not really hungry or even thirsty at the moment." He looked over at me and I knew from how he was smiling he had something on his mind.

"Hey, little bro, how about we work up a little sweat? You've got a hoop set up in the driveway, right?"

I could tell that he wanted to talk to me alone from that. It was just an unsaid thing you could pick up on if you knew him well enough but I wouldn't let him pull me aside so easily.

"Yeah the last family had one over the garage, but we don't have any balls, you know I'm not real athletic or into team sports."

He smirked, he could tell I was trying to delay talking with him about my problems.

"Well how about ya get on the back of my bike then, bro. You didn't think I would come in a car now did you? It'll be a way for us to see this town you're living in now."

'Damn it' I thought that I could have avoided this but I had no choice now. I sighed and stood up as I looked up at him.

"You never were the conventional sort, bro."

"Yeah well that's why you love me, pup, now come on I don't bite... Much," He gave me one of his cocky grins as he turned towards the door.

"Be sure to wear a helmet you two, I don't need to explain to your mother why her sons' brains are scattered all over the asphalt here."

My dad could make a joke about anything but I nodded to him before I looked over at Matt.

"I'll hang around for a bit, besides I want to taste this pizza of yours."

I nodded again and followed after Skye. By the time I got outside he was already getting on his huge red and black Harley. The thing was beautiful and a really powerful machine. Even though I knew absolutely nothing about anything mechanical even I could tell this thing was a work of art and a real heavy duty machine. He tossed me one of the helmets he had in the storage bin on his bike and put his on too. I knew though that the only reason he put it on was because my dad told him too. He just was the kind of guy who never really bothered with one normally unless he had to.

We took off and Skye started to drive us along the roads. I guess he didn't know where to go exactly so he just headed towards the edge of town where the beach was. It was quiet and wet there making it a good place to talk. No people, no animals aside from the birds you'd hear singing in the air, and just the sound of the crashing water on the sands. It wasn't much but it seemed a lot like the place Matt had taken me, but I couldn't be sure.

"Okay... Spill it, pup." Skye took off his helmet and placed it on the handle bar as he got off his bike and I followed suite walking behind him.

"About the phone call you mean?" I groaned, I really wasn't looking forward to having to tell him what I'd done.

"I called you later that night and told you I was ok, I just had a stressful moment and needed to talk that's all." I shrugged and he gave me one of those looks that said he didn't buy that.

"And..."

I gulped, "And the stress kinda made me loose it for a moment and I did something that would have gotten me into trouble if more people found out..."

He sighed and shook his head at me, "And that's why you're going to talk to me here, and even if you'd said not to come you know I would. So cut the bull shit little brother. I'm here, now talk to me."

I felt like a pup again when he said that, I was embarrassed to tell him how I'd lost my cool and went off. I felt my ears pin down and I let out a soft sigh before I looked up at him.

"Well... ya see a guy was talking down to me and I told him to shove off and as I walked away he told me to 'watch my back' and then everything went black and the next thing I know another guy is pulling me away from the guy. I'd somehow gotten the guy against the wall and lifted him up about 3 inches off the ground with my arm into his throat cutting off his air, but I snapped out of it and let him go. And then today another guy was making gay remarks and it sort of ticked me off so I shoved him into the floor matts and twisted his arm to shut him up, but I didn't dislocate his shoulder just put him in a really painful position... And that's it."

I heard Skye sigh and he pulled me close and hugged me. After a moment of that he pulled back and looked me right in the eyes, concern written all over his face.

"What are we going to do with you, little brother?" He rubbed my back before I pulled back, tucking my tail and ears defensively.

"I can't help it, Skye, it's just..." I shook frustrated and angry with what I'd done, "These things just set me off and then... I dunno it's like my body responds and leave my mind behind to catch up."

I sighed and rubbed my shoulder, "I should just be locked up in a rubber room with my arms tied back and fully restrained."

Skye sighed again and I looked back at him, "No you don't, bro, but you do have to get better control. Martial arts were supposed to give that to you, but you need more meditation and yoga."

He looked at me while I grunted and rubbed my shoulder. "Come on, bro, remember what I taught you. You already know how to sit, how to breathe, and how to clear your mind."

I shrugged, "Yeah I know, and I do that sometimes to focus, but I guess I'm just nervous being new here and I have an issue to prove to myself for the short amount of time I'll be here."

"If I've told you once I've told you a hundred times, little bro, you don't have to worry about anyone or anything but being true to you." He reached over and ruffled my head and chuckled. "I'd say you already proved yourself. That otter is pretty cute."

I chuckled and looked away, I knew Matt was quite the looker and didn't need Skye to tell me that. "Yeah he's a nice guy and all, I wish I could be myself with him but there's no point. After this summer is over we'll just be moving again... just like we've been doing for years."

"Maybe... Maybe not..." I looked up at him and studied his face. There was something in his eyes that had something mischivious in them and that look always made me weary. Nothing good ever came from a mischivious tiger's face, even if it was only half.

"I mean look, little bro, you're moving into your senior year in high school and I know something you don't know." He was smirking and now I was curious. Curse my feline instincts.

"Ok bro, I'll bite. What's going on? Am I being home schooled to avoid the pathetic attempt at moving into a new school for my last year and get my G.E.D. and head off to college in the spring, or is this something about being shipped to a military school?"

"All excellent guesses but no. I'm not going to say anything just yet, but I'll let your dad tell you the news when we get home. You feel like going back now?"

I studied his face. He was hiding something from me but for the life of me I couldn't figure out what. He just turned around and walked back to his bike swishing his tail. After I got back on his bike he drove us back to my house.

My dad was wringing a rag dry over the sink when we walked into the kitchen. As I looked around I noticed that Matt was nowhere to be found.

"Hey, pop, we're back. What's going on here?"

My dad turned towards us as he laid the towel in the sink and shrugged, "Nothing much. Matt spilled his drink all over the table and his pants so I told him to go up and get a pair of Zeke's in his room."

I felt myself go rigid and tense at that, "DAD! Why didn't you just go get him a pair of my pants instead?!"

"What and risk running across some gift your brother here got you that I don't know about and don't want to know about?"

I could just feel Skye smiling at that and I just growled and let out an angry bark.

"Oh and what you did is so much better?!"

"A dad's gotta make sure his boy is prepared and safe, you can thank me later."

"AHH! Dad I'm going to kill you one day!" I turned right around and started upstairs and towards my room, leaving Skye and my dad to do about whatever it is they wanted to.

I knocked on my door and opened it slowly, "Hey, Matt? Ya decent?"

I opened the door a bit and gulped at the site. Matt was sitting there in just a pair of very tight boxers and man he was hot. They were a deep green color with leaves on them and they fit him very nicely. He was sitting on the edge of my bed a pair of pants lying next to him as he looked down at something in his paws. I walked in and felt my body go stiff at what he was holding; it was that pack of feline brand condoms my dad had gotten for me.

"So is this why you said to back off, Zeke?" He shook his head and chuckled a bit before he got an angry tone to his voice, "You think I'm some pathetic pup who you have to lie to to spare his feelings!?"

He turned his head to glare at me and I gulped, he looked really upset with me, "Matt, listen I'm sorry it's just-"

"Just what? You liked Jarrod better because he was stronger than me and willing to have sex with you without having to do the whole 'dating' thing?" He stood up and looked at me still clutching that box and I blinked.

"Wait... You think Jarrod and I....?"

"Well it's pretty obvious isn't it? I mean you and him are suddenly a lot closer than you should normally be, and he's the only cat you know really. I mean come on, Zeke, I know I'm new to this and all and I don't want to sound like some whiny girl but if you wanted to be with him you shoulda just told me instead of all that bull you gave me the other day."

"But that's not-"

"I just don't get why you had to be all secretive about things."

"You don't understand, Matt."

"Then help me to understand!" Matt was staring hard at me, I'd betrayed him in a way with this and now he was thinking something that wasn't true.

"Well... ya see, well..."

"Well what, Zeke, just tell me!"

I was shaking and trying to think up something to tell him but couldn't think of anything.

"Well?!"

I clinched my teeth in frustration and stared him down, "My dad got 'em for me, OK?!"

Matt shook his head and stared at me and looked angry, "I figured you wouldn't have gotten them, but would your dad really buy condoms for your boyfriend? I mean come on that doesn't make sense no matter how ok he might be with your sexuality."

I growled and got pissed at that, he still couldn't figure it out and was making me have to say those words that I hated to say.

"He bought them for ME to use, Matt! He didn't know what kind of junk I had because..." I clenched my teeth and stared him down hard, "BECAUSE I'M A HYBRID OK?! I'm a stinkin' Mixed Blooded Bastard! THAT'S why I was attacked when I was a kid, THAT'S why I always wear a jacket, THAT'S why I didn't want to get close to you, and THAT'S why my dad got me a pack of canine and feline condoms!"

I was panting and I was trying hard not to cry from how frustrated I felt from having to admit that. I kept looking at Matt and he just looked stuned and I was just waiting for him to reject me and leave. What he did next, though, is something that truly surprised me.

"I... I'm sorry I accused you like that, Zeke, I had no right...I'm sorry."

I turned away from him. I was still shaking horribly and couldn't make myself stop. I'd just revealed my darkest secret to someone I still hardly knew for very long. I was frightened and I felt so small right then. All I could feel was my body shaking until I finally sat down, unable to remain standing after all the stress I'd suddenly subjected.

I suddenly felt something on my shoulder and I looked over at the paw that was there. Matt knelt by my side; his face full of concern. I guess it wasn't every day that someone broke down like that in front of him.

"So... I guess that explains a lot of your cold behavior and why you like to climb that tree at school." He was quiet for a moment and I looked at him. He looked confused and uncertain, likely didn't know what to say in a situation like this, but then again who would know what to say in a situation like this.

"Yeah... but listen Matt if my heritage makes you feel uncomfortable you don't have to stay here, I don't want to make you feel you have to stay here for my sake. I'll be fine, just please don't tell anyone about my heritage and you don't have to be around me anymore." I looked down at my lap and sighed, my shaking was starting to slow down a bit and when I felt Matt's paw remove itself from shoulder I let out a breath knowing he was about to leave.

At least that's what I was expecting, but when I suddenly felt his strong arms wrap around me and pull me back into a hug I was shocked. I had expected him to head out, leave, even laugh but he just sat behind me and hugged me.

"I don't want to leave, Zeke. I get that you've had a really hard time trusting people since that attack when you where young, and the constant moving likely didn't help much either, but I'm not going to judge you based on what you are. You didn't judge me when you knew I was rich or the son of your dad's boss and to be really honest I never really saw the point of why bloodlines matter so much to so many people. My dad is a native brown otter and my mom is an Amazon River otter so it's not like I'm a pure blood either."

He hugged me closer to his body and I felt my shaking start to slow, "I want to know you better, Zeke, you can trust me. Even if you have to move away tomorrow I'm not going to hurt you and I'll do all I can to make sure you aren't hurt again."

I chuckled and poked him as I got out of the hug and looked at him, "I'm not some china plate that's fragile, Slick, I'm a living shield that will do all he can to protect others. Defending a shield is just an insult." I shook my head feeling calm now and leaned into him and gave him a fierce hug.

"But thanks for sayin' so, it really means a lot to hear someone say that."

"No problem." Matt looked at me and then suddenly realized he was still in his boxers and blushed a bit. Even I had forgotten he was without pants, so I went over to my bed and tossed him the pair of shorts.

"Heh, thanks... Forgot what I was doing up here in the first place." He slid on my pants and I sat on my bed for a moment.

"So, you wear that jacket to hide your hybrid nature, huh?"

I nodded and rubbed my shoulder a bit and started to take it off before I gulped and took off my shirt as well. I had my back turned to him and let him look at my striped back and shoulders. I hated having my shirt off; not only did it expose my stripes that I was always concerned about being seen but it also showed everything that I saw wrong with myself. I guess Matt liked my stripes though because I felt him put his paw on my back and use his fingers to trace them along the black lines that ran over the orange fur on my back.

He moved from my mid section up along my spine and with how gentle he was moving his fingers I let out a soft purring noise. I was rarely touched by people and almost no one had ever touched my back before. It was a nice change to feel someone gently move their strong fingers around my back, but as he touched the scar on my left shoulder I flinched like I'd just had ice touch my skin.

"Sorry, does it hurt or something?" I looked back and shook my head as Matt pulled his hands back.

"Nah, it doesn't hurt. Sometimes when I'm stressed it will feel like it's hurting but it doesn't hurt to touch it. It's just something I don't often let people feel. Just makes me feel real vulnerable and that's somethin' I never liked to feel."

"You let Jarrod touch it, though, so you must trust him a lot too."

I looked at him and raised a brow, but then I remembered that I thought I'd seen someone that day, "So that was you wasn't it? What were you doing and why didn't you say anything when you saw us?"

He blushed, "I had forgotten something in my locker so I had to run back and get it before I went home, that's when I saw Jarrod's hand on your shoulder and it looked like you both were having a moment. That's also why I sort of came to your club today, to check out what was going on between you two. I guess I was kind of jealous about the way you two were so close all of a sudden."

"It's ok, I understand I suppose...," I turned back around to him and laid back on my hands. I had a lot to think about now and I had no idea where to go with this now.

"So... What now?" I looked over at Matt as he sat next to me.

"I dunno... you want to give this a shot? I mean I know you think you won't be around for long, but I'd rather have a try at a relationship than just not try at all. I mean don't you want to try a bit, Zeke? I know you've had it rough but that doesn't mean you should live your life completely isolated from trying to find love."

I just shrugged and looked over at him, "I guess, but like I guess it wouldn't hurt to try to-"

I was suddenly interrupted as I found a pair of lips on mine. Matt was pushing his lips to mine and was pushing me down into the bed. I was staring at him for a moment before I just leaned back and let his body cover mine as our lips pressed together. It was so good to feel his lips against mine and I just closed my eyes and felt his warmth envelop my own.

As our lips started to part I questioned much of what I had gone through since I had gotten here such a short time ago. I met a guy and much to my surprise I found myself involved in the space of a day. I had formed a strange friendship with a rival through a shared secret. I'd helped out a small kid and had been reminded of just how cruel the world can be. I'd dated, got a school club off the ground, and fought a few guys. What surprised me the most was that someone saw through the walls I'd built up and still cared about me, even with my secret exposed. It was crazy to think about all that happening in less than 2 weeks but I guess that was life for you; always doing something crazy and unexpected.

As I felt our tongues moving about and I was stroking Matt's head as he held his own on my chest I wondered if I could actually make this last. I wasn't exactly the most sane or stable of people and with how my life was I'd likely move away soon and have to end this then anyway, but for the first time in my short life I didn't care. I didn't want to worry about the future in a few months, in a few weeks, or even tomorrow. All I wanted right now was to focus on this wonderful feeling flowing through me as I kissed this handsome otter that was laying over me.

Matt soon pulled back and fell over onto his back next to me. We were both panting and we looked over at each other and after a few gulps of air we just started to laugh. I had no idea why we were laughing, and if I could have asked him I don't think he could have given me an answer either. We just laid there laughing and looking at each other until we could both calm down.

"Ya' know I could get to like this sort of thing while I'm here..." I grinned at Matt before I sat up with a grunt and went to put on a shirt.

"Well if we date we can make out and junk as much as we want. Plus it'll be nice to have a friend who you can be so close with."

Had to admit that was a good point and as I pulled a shirt over my head I told him so. "I guess we can try this out. It would be nice not to have to keep any secrets from someone, and be slightly intimate with," I sort of blushed at saying that out loud. I was no way near comfortable enough with myself or even with others to even think about having sex, but I had to entertain the possibility that there would be a day where I actually wanted it.

I was glad I had opened up with Matt. The accusations had forced me out and he had accepted me, all the things Matt had thought had been dismissed and nothing more needed to be said. I saw him smiling at me and as we finally left my room fully dressed and relaxed, he took my hand and we walked next to each other down the stairs where my dad and Skye were both sitting and talking about something.

"About time you two came down, I was about to come up and take pictures." My dad once again couldn't go more than 5 seconds without saying something that had the potential of embarrassing me. Before I could say anything, though, Skye shoved him softly.

"C'mon, pop, don't embarrass him. Besides based on how those two are holdin' their hands so tight, I think now would be a good time to tell him your surprise..."

Skye was giving that wide grin of his again. He was up to something and I still couldn't tell what it was. He just sat there and kept grinning at me as Matt and me walked over and sat on the chairs we had next to the couch.

"Ok, dad, Skye's been tellin' me you have some kind of news to tell me so what is it? Please tell me you're not sending me to a private school like you did with Joey or something else stupid like that."

"Nah nothin' like that this time. It's even better news." He smiled wide and leaned over to look at me.

"We're home, son." That's all he said and I just stared at him. I had to repeat what he said to me twice before I could respond.

"What? Well yeah we're here at the house dad, but what's so special about telling me that?"

"Oh c'mon little brother, listen to what he just said carefully and just figure it out." Skye looked at me and I just blinked as I looked at him and back to my dad as my eyes started to widen.

"Y-you don't mean...?" I looked at my dad astounded with what he had just said.

"Yep, I sure do. I just got word yesterday that I've been offered a permament position here at the company and that we won't have to move again. I told your mom and after your brother is done with school they'll be moving up and joining us here where he'll be starting school with you in the fall." He just chuckled, "In other words, boy... We're home. We're finally home at last."

I couldn't believe my ears, it sounded almost too good to be true and yet I'd just heard it plain as day. My dad had just said that we were going to settle down here, for the first time in years we weren't going to have to move after only a few months of staying in a place. No more false hopes about finding a home, no more wondering where we'd be the next month. My dad had finally found us a home here, and I could barely move.

I felt Matt pull our shoulders together as he laughed, happy to hear the good news. Skye was laughing at the blank and surprised look on my face. My dad was just grinning happy as he sat back and started talking with Skye again, and through all that I could only sit there. After a moment of it sinking in though I felt a smile come to my face and I had to hold back tears of joy that were trying to come out. My family had finally found a home; I was finally home.

The End

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Well that's the end of the story, bet you didn't think I'd bring up those condoms again huh, but like I said before they weren't a red herring. As for Zeke though don't worry there's still a lot of adventures left for him to go through. He has to grow up a lot and calm down more before he can really be happy. There's a lot for him to do and this is just the first part of 4 stories entitled "New". You may be wondering a lot of things though, like who this Skye guy is, what actually happened to Zeke when he was a kid, and what's with this trip to Japan he's going to be taking? Well that'll be answered in the books I plan to get published later but for now I hope you enjoyed this story. It has been my first great work and while it took a long while I'm glad to finally have it done. A lot of revising and editing will have to go into it, and some more details and chapters for when I finally get it published. It'll take awhile but I'll keep you posted on it and everything else, for now though see the journal I'll be posting about what is to come next.

It's been a lot of fun people, and for those of you that kept around this long, thank you form the bottom of my heart.

Now go check on my journal for some fun news.

Also: the character of Skye is copywritted to my own bro, Ty Masters, who has helped me so much with my projects and things here, I do not own the character nor any resemblence to him.