Chapter Text
3rd person POV
Sam and Kit fist-bump
Both," Another creature case closed!"
They both smile and look at each other, but to Sam, it feels a little different. He brushes off the feeling, and they head back to RON. When they return to CLADE, they head back to their apartment.
Sam POV
We solved another creature case today! Kit and I have been partners together for years, we are best friends, and I wouldn't have it any other way. But I keep getting this warm feeling when I'm around her, and it scares me, so I've been trying my best to ignore it.
On another note, it's the afternoon, and we usually try training after lunch. However, that weird feeling has left me feeling uneasy. I hear knocking on my bedroom door, go to open it, and find Kit. My heart starts racing, and I feel my cheeks go warm.
Kit," Hey Sam! Are you ready for training? I think the outside obstacle course would be fun for today."
Sam," No, it's raining, I'll get my fur wet. I think the indoor one will be fine. Maybe we could try to beat our score again."
Kit," Yah, but there are parts of it that we haven't touched yet. Come on pleeeaasssee."
She looks at me with her big, beautiful fox eyes, and I can't find it in me to tell her no. Usually, I can, but at this moment, she's radiant. Wait, did I...think that?
Sam," Fine, but I'm not happy about it."
Kit," Yes! Come on, I'll race you."
Sam," You're on."
We race to the doors, and as usual, she beats me. She's always been faster.
Kit," You ready to get you're fur wet?"
She says with a large smile, and I roll my eyes, crossing my arms.
Sam," I guess."
She runs outside yelling in excitement, and I feel my heart beat faster as I watch her get excited, running into the rain. I don't know what's happening with me; these feelings are getting my head mixed up.
Kit," Come on, Sam, you're going to miss training."
I hear a noise and look at the door frame behind Kit, where I see the CLADE Crest.
Sam," Look, the CLADE Crest, I guess we'll have to do the rest of the training course later."
Kit," I guess you're right."
She shook the rain off of her and pressed the crest to find the vending machine next to the exit open. We hop in and get dropped off in the director's office.
Director Scratch," Agents, there is a missing Kit in the North American Forest."
Sam," Wait, Kit's right here, though."
Kit," Oh, that's a Short-Tailed Weasel."
Sam," A Short-Tailed Weasel? But she called it a Kit."
Kit," Yeah, baby short-tailed weasels are called Kits and they're relatively common in the northern part of the North American region."
I love how she can spit out information like that —well, like it, not love it; that would be weird. I mean, I couldn't love her; that would be crazy. She's my partner. But that feeling I've been having, could it be? I snap out of the thought when the director gets our attention.
Director Scratch," Ba bak! Agents, you're job is to find the baby weasel and return it to its mother. Oh, before I forget, there is a private party in the area, so please try not to disturb it. Additionally, there is some extra equipment in RON for you in case you need it."
Kit," Ooh, what is it-?"
Kit gets cut off by the director, who pushes the button that sends us to RON. We land in RON and take off for the North American Forest. As we approach the landing, we see a large building with a group of other animals entering it. It must be that private party the director was talking about.
Kit," Wow, Sam, look at all the lights. When it gets darker out, they'll look really cool, don't you think?"
Sam," Yeah, it will."
We land not too far from the party and close to the weasels' burrow. We land and leave RON meeting with Mama Weasel. We walk up to the burrow, and Mama weasel pops up.
Mama Weasel," Who are you?"
Kit," I'm Agent Kit Casey, and this is my partner, Agent Sam Snow. We're from CLADE, we're here to help you find you're missing kit."
I look at Kit, and I like the way she called me her partner. I don't know why we're detective partners, and I've heard her say it a million times, but this time it felt different.
Mama Weasel," Oh, thank goodness. I can't find her anywhere!"
Sam," Is it ok if we ask you some questions, and do you happen to have a picture of her?"
Mama Weasel," Yeah, that's fine, and I do have a picture of her somewhere."
Sam," What's her name?"
Mama Weasel," Her name is Hazel. She's only 2 months old."
Kit," When did she go missing?"
Mama Weasel," an hour and a half ago, I believe."
Kit," Does she have any places she likes to go?"
Mama Weasel," Yeah, there's a building not too far from here that she likes to play around. I went to search for her inside, and they wouldn't let me in because of some party."
Sam," Ok, thank you, ma'am. We'll find Hazel."
Mama Weasel," Thank you so much. Please hurry; she's never been gone this long, and it's getting dark."
Kit," Don't worry, we'll find her."
Mama Weasel," Wait, don't forget the picture."
Another weasel ran up to her and handed her a picture. She gave it to me, and I scanned it with my ispy glove, then handed the picture back to her.
Sam," Don't worry, we'll be back with her."
She nods her head, and the other weasel walks her back into the burrow. Kit and I walk back to RON.
Kit," You know what I'm thinking, right?"
Sam," That we're going to have to crash that party that the director told us to stay away from."
Kit," Yep, you ready to do a stakeout so we know what's going on?"
Sam," Yeah, are you?"
Kit," You know I am."
Kit POV
We leave RON again, heading over to the party. We duck behind some trees to see a variety of animals dressed in fancy clothes. We're talking tuxes and ball gowns, but I still don't know what the party is for.
Sam," Do you see what I'm seeing?"
Kit," Yep, I see it, Sam. Do you know what this means?"
Sam," I finally get to see you in a dress."
Kit," I mean, yeah, but we don't have that type of stuff with us."
Sam," The director did say they packed some equipment for this case, maybe it could help?"
Kit," Let's go look, maybe I can skip the whole dress thing."
We head back to RON and look in the storage area for the extra equipment the director left for us. We open the doors, and the lights in the back of the room turn on, revealing two large garment bags. I can see Sam's eyes light up, and I'm just hoping it's not what I think it is. We walk toward them, and Sam opens the one with his name on it, revealing a dark green tuxedo and black dress shoes.
Sam," I love it. You know what this means."
Kit," Yeah, and I really don't like where this is going."
Sam," Open yours, I'm dying to see it."
Kit," No, you can wait. You go get dressed, and you can see after."
Sam," Fine, but I think you'll look great no matter what."
He walked out of the room, and what he said made my heart flutter. I shake the feeling and move on, you sly cat. I chuckle and turn to the bag. I already know it's a dress—I open it, and it's a dress—but I love it!
The gown is a strawberry-pink, one-shoulder, long-sleeved satin gown. Gems cluster across the bodice and fade down the skirt, catching the light with every movement. Draped fabric gathers at the hip before flowing into a soft train, while a high slit adds a touch of daring elegance.
In the bag are high heels that match the dress and a small purse. I zip the bag back up and take it off the wall. I walk out, not seeing Sam, so I go back into the storage area to get dressed, and somehow I didn't notice the mirror built into the wall. I get dressed pretty quickly, but something feels off.
I'd been ready for ten minutes but couldn't make myself move. I kept fussing with the pin in my hair, straightening the fall of the dress, trying not to think about how ridiculous it was to be nervous in front of him, of all people.
When I finally opened the door, Sam was standing by the mirror, fixing his cufflinks — a dark green suit, dark tie, hair just messy enough to look deliberate. The kind of sharp that made my pulse skip.
He turned at the sound of my heels, and for a second, I thought maybe I'd imagined the silence that followed. But then he just... froze.
No words. No smart remark. Just that look — the kind that saw me and not just the dress. It was enough to make my stomach twist in the best way.
Kit," What?"
I asked, half-teasing, half-terrified.
Kit," Do I look weird?"
His mouth parted like he was going to say something, then he shook his head, eyes still tracing over me.
Sam," Weird? You look like the kind of beauty that makes time forget how to move."
The line should've made me laugh — and it did, a little — but mostly, it made my heart ache because he meant it.
I crossed the room to fix his tie, pretending my hands weren't shaking just a little. He smelled like Cold air, pine, and something warmer underneath — something that made it hard to think straight.
Kit," You clean up pretty well yourself, you know."
He smiled that slow, crooked smile.
Sam," Still not sure I'm fit to stand next to you."
My fingers lingered on his collar before I let go.
Kit," Then you'll just have to keep up."
Sam POV
I was adjusting my cufflinks when I heard the faint click of heels behind me.
Kit," Ready?"
I turned — and forgot how to think. She stood framed by the doorway, a vision of impossible grace. The dress shimmered with every breath she took — the way the gems on her dress were catching the light like starlight caught in motion. Her hair was pinned just enough to look deliberate but soft enough to make me want to ruin it. For a heartbeat, all I could do was stare. She smiled, half-teasing, half-unsure.
Kit," What? Do I look weird?"
I swallowed, still searching for words that didn't sound ridiculous.
Sam," Weird? Kit, you look like the kind of beauty that makes time forget how to move."
Her laugh was quiet, but it reached her eyes, and that was what finally undid me. She crossed the room, the scent of jasmine and something distinctly her curling around me until the world felt smaller, quieter, like we were the only two people left in it.
She straightened my tie with a smirk.
Kit," You clean up pretty well yourself, you know."
Sam, "Yeah?"
I murmured, voice lower than I meant it to be.
Sam," Still not sure I'm fit to stand next to you."
Her gaze softened — warmth, affection, a touch of mischief.
Kit," Then you'll just have to try to keep up."
I smirk at the comment as she starts walking in front of me, going to walk out of RON. I follow behind, trying to stare at her beauty, but calling her beautiful will never do her justice because she'll always be more than stunning.