I don't own these characters.

A/N: This is the sequel to Spotted and the last planned story in the Lioness trilogy. You should definitely read Lioness and Spotted before you read this. If only to keep up with the cultural things I've made up for this universe.

This story is unbeta'ed, so there will probably be several typos. Please, excuse them and I apologize in advance for them.

Also, excuse anything that seems OoC. It's still been a long time since I've watched the Swat Kats.

Please, enjoy. If you want to keep up with updates for this, check out my profile or my Facebook page (there's a link on my profile).

Pride

1: Successful

Callie sighed as she flopped down into a booth at the high-end bar. It was one of the few places that would serve her without an argument. A year later and Megakat City had yet to forget she was a lioness and for some reason kats seemed to think it was their business. So, during daylight hours, many businesses, even lion owned ones, would fight about letting her in.

As soon as she was down on the plump maroon cushion, Rita Runt, a fellow attorney, fighter for the downtrodden, and closeted lioness, smiled at her. Callie smiled back and Rita slid a flute of cream to her. Callie tipped her head and the glass to Rita.

"Did Mel call you? Cabot thinks the world stands still for him," Rita said, scratching underneath her chin. She had an arm slung over the booth, resting on her suit jacket.

Callie rolled her eyes. "You know Mel will come up with what he comes up with." She would not mind a moment on her own, as much as her own could be with Rita right there anyway. Rita would appreciate the silence for a while.

Callie took a sip of the cream and sighed as it settled in her stomach. It was stronger than her usual fair and thicker, but Rita had thing for rich creams. It could be worse. If Nia showed up, they'd have to switch to blood and she might never make it home.

"So, you're still on this roll, huh?" Rita asked.

Callie shrugged. "What else can I do?"

The response drew a chuckle out of Rita. "I know they hate seeing you come into court now."

Callie had no doubt that was true, but they probably hated seeing her when she first started just because she was a lioness. Well, screw them. Leaning back, she took another sip of her cream and let her eyes drift around the bar. There were kats mixing, mingling, drinking, and laughing so carefree, like this city did not have problems. There are so many problems and I knew that before fighting out how prejudice kats can be.

"If they don't want to see me anymore, they need to stop trying to pass all of these discriminating laws or they need to stop trying to discriminate when it's already clearly illegal," Callie said.

"Maybe they actually like seeing you and that's why they keep trying stuff. The lawsuits alone have to be bankrupting the city," Rita replied.

Callie shrugged her shoulders again. She had spent the last year back in the courtroom, practicing law with sharp precision. She took up for any and all lions in the city who found themselves being discriminated in some form. Ever since she and Felina had been shoved into the public eye, people had been looking a little closer at each other to figure out if a kat was a lion or a lioness. Between the firings, denial into places, refusal to rent or sell property, and other things, she was swamped with work.

One of the saddest things about it was that a lot of kats who were accused were not lions or lioness. They just happened to be a little too much of the opposite sex for someone dealing with them. The city was too paranoid. Hell, the whole colony was the same now, which was thanks to Megakat City.

Felina and Callie were not the only out lionesses now. Over the year about a dozen of so well known kats had come out the closet. They were all decent people, trying to show there was nothing wrong with or reason to fear from lions. Callie was not sure how well it was working, but they were out and they were proud. Hopefully, more would follow. And, hopefully, kats would accept they all just kats and sexuality did not determine morals.

"How could you start this little celebration without me?" Mel asked as he rushed over, moving himself into the booth right next to Callie. He gave her a one-armed hug as he set his briefcase down under the table.

"Try getting here on time. She told us when she'd be out of court," Rita pointed out.

Mel waved her off, the cuff of his tan suit shifting over his obsidian wrist. Rita rolled her green eyes. Callie chuckled a bit and shook her head at their typical antics.

"Did you at least order for me?" Mel asked.

Rita snorted. "So the waiter could think I'm some old gib? Of course not." She waved him off as if he was insignificant.

Callie held in a laugh while Mel growled and his golden eyes stared daggers at Rita. It was funny to watch them go back and forth. They reminded her of siblings.

Mel waved a waiter over and ordered. He turned his attention back to Callie. "So, more hate mail coming your way?"

"Of course more hate mail coming my way. I get hate mail just for waking up in the morning," Callie commented. She sipped her drink. She did not care about the hate mail. It was all talk. Early on, a few fools tried to come up to her in public and Felina had flattened them in no time. The toughest of kats had learned to threaten her from a distance.

"So, what cause did we champion today?" Mel asked as he undid the button on his suit jacket. He propped his arm up on the back of the booth just like Rita. "Was this the case with the post office trying to fire ten suspected lions?"

"No, that one's next week. This week was the she-kat who was denied an apartment due to the realtor thinkings she was a lioness. I love how in both of those case, none of these kats are actually lions," Callie sniffed.

Rita waved her off. "They think lions and lionesses are everywhere."

"Well, they're not wrong," Mel pointed out with a laugh.

This was true, but people looked at it as a plague more than anything else. She often wondered what people who do if or when they found out the kid who bagged their groceries was a lion or their kitten's first grade teacher was a lioness. Would they continue to think all lions and lionesses were evil or would they start to understand sexuality did not make or break who someone was? She did not have a lot of faith they would err on the side of understanding right now.

"It amazes me how often people try to discriminate here after you tore apart so many of those half-assed city laws that were passed," Rita commented.

"Kats know the city will keep backing them for the moment," Callie replied. The city had passed several crazy laws in the time finding out the former deputy mayor and their beloved Enforcer hero were lionesses and in a relationship. They panicked so much that every law that was passed had dozens of loopholes and she tore each one down one by one. She would do this for the rest of her life if she had to.

"Kats are idiots, but I've been saying that for years," Rita said.

"Yes, well, you hate pretty much everyone," Mel pointed out.

"And you're at the top of the list," Rita shot back.

Mel chuckled a little, but did not say anything back. His drink was delivered, but he barely got to taste it before Nia came over. Tawnia Dilan walked around like she ruled the world and dressed the same, but somehow in a simple manner. Callie doubted she ever saw any businessperson carry themselves with as much elegance and dignity as Nia.

Nia greeted them all with hugs and kisses, a custom from her old colony. Callie had not known Nia was from elsewhere until they started hanging out. This was something Nia kept just as secret as she did the fact that she was a lioness. Foreigners were generally viewed with suspicion in Megakat City, especially since foreign businesses start coming in and buying up the city. Domestic business owners had probably helped push those ideas.

"Shall I just order us a bottle?" Nia asked. This was what she did whenever Callie or Rita won a case to help keep Megakat City equal as far as laws went or when they won a battle of the underdog.

"Can we try to avoid mixing drinks? We're all on creams and you want to jump right to blood," Mel replied.

"No, I'm on nothing and we need to celebrate. Why should we celebrate with cream over blood? A much richer drink," Nia argued.

"Because unlike you, the rest of us have to actually drive our own cars back. Unless you driver is dropping each of us off and you're arranging for someone to pick up all of our cars," Rita arched a daring brow.

Nia scoffed. "I'm trying very hard to understand what Mira sees in you, but I'm assuming it has to do with the fact that your tongue is otherwise engaged when you're with her."

Rita hissed in Nia's direction, but Nia did not even blink. Instead, she waved over the waiter and ordered an obscenely expensive bottle of blood for the table. Callie silently vowed to have no more than a glass. She would have to go out with Felina later on and she could not be fall down drunk for that.

"So, dear, another win for the good side," Nia commented as she folded her hands in front of her and rested them on the table.

"All she can do is win. I always knew she had the killer instinct," Mel bragged and flashed Callie a smile.

Nia waved him off immediately, her heavy hand making a noise through the air. "Stop trying to take credit for her. You've got your own glory."

"Until he has to step down anyway," Rita said.

Mel arched an eyebrow. "And why would I step down?"

"Eventually, you know as well as we do, one of these lion cases is going to land at your feet. Do you really want to make that decision? Betray the pride for your career?" Rita posed.

Mel waved it off, his massive paw cutting through the air. "You have very little faith in me, my dear. When the day comes for me to chose, I'll be as out as Callie."

Callie wished Mel decided to be as out as her right now. She could understand why he would not, but she really wished more lions and lionesses closer to her were open about themselves, especially her own pride. And this was her pride.

Callie could not pinpoint when these three became her pride, but she told them everything and depended on them in a way she had never been able to depend on her family. They were always there for her with everything. She could call anyone of them at any time and they would be there for her. Hell, one day she called Nia at two in the morning when she and Felina had a fight and Nia talked to her for almost two hours to help her understand it was not the end of the world.

"I doubt any of us will ever be as out as Callie," Nia commented as the waiter returned. Glasses were put down and blood was poured.

"Rather impossible unless someone takes pictures of us straddling our lovers," Rita concurred.

"Can we please not talk about that?" Callie would like to forget her unfortunate outing by former Lieutenant Commander Steele. He had taken something precious to her and perverted it like the bastard he was. He thought he tore her down, thought he tore Felina down, and thought had could use them for his own gain. Joke was on him. She was feeling so much better now compared to last year since she was free of City Hall and Felina was studying for the captain's exam to show the Enforcers she was not going anywhere.

Felina would very soon be Captain Feral, the first female captain in Enforcer history. Callie wondered how the Enforcers would handle that. Hell, how will the city handle that?

"Are you still getting action like that, dear?" Nia asked with a smirk.

Callie snorted. "I'm not telling you that." Sex talk was saved for Rita since she was closer to Callie's age. Telling Nia about her sex life was a little weird because she was so much older than Callie. Not to mention, Nia was someone Felina once chased after.

Rita sucked her teeth. "She is. More than the rest of us. Felina's stamina is disgusting."

Mel chuckled. "You sound jealous, Rita. Why not just go grab you a butch lioness and stop trying to play one in your own relationship?"

Rita glared at him, but she did not really have a comeback. Rita was with a fashionista she-kat, Mirage Gypt, better known as Mira. Mira was a scary female, take charge, and refused to be pushed around. She could keep up with a cynic like Rita, but neither of them could be classified as a "butch" lioness, physically speaking anyway.

"Are we not supposed to be celebrating a victory for us all thanks to Callie? May we do that?" Nia asked as she raised her glass.

Rita and Mel glared at each other just for the hell of it and reached for a glass of blood. Mel eased the last glass over to Callie. They all raised their glasses.

"May Callie continue to blaze a fiery trail to make the world safe and equal for us all," Nia said and they clinked glasses. "Callie, you continue to be an amazing kat and I'm honored to know you and to be pride with you."

"I'm honored to be in a pride with all of you," Callie said.

Mel and Rita scoffed, tired of hearing her say this. They did not even bother to make fun of her anymore when she did it. Still, she meant it. She had never had friends like this. The closest were Jake and Chance and she would never consider those two family.

"So, what's the next fight?" Mel asked as he swirled the blood in the glass. This was a habit he definitely picked up from Nia.

Callie went through her schedule for the next couple of weeks. She had yet to find herself with a shortage of cases. The city still seemed to be in some sort of lion panic, which she had hoped would die down as time went by. Her hype and Felina's hype had died down some, but this idea of flushing out and getting rid of lions was alive and well. It caused a lot of grief all over the city for people who were just trying to live their lives.

"Well, continue to fight the good fight. You're making the world safer for lions," Nia said.

Callie was not so sure about that. Drawing so much attention to the fact that lions existed seemed to put them all in danger. It was safer to hide in the shadows than for kats to hunt for them everywhere. But, it wasn't right.

They shouldn't have to hide because people shouldn't hate them just for who they loved. This was why she fought. They should be treated equally because no matter what they were still kats. Who they loved should not be considered a scandal of any kind.

"I was considering coming out," Nia said after three tumblers of blood. Callie continued to nurse her first. She still had no desire to go home drunk, even though her pride wanted her to celebrate by drinking more.

"Why?" Mel asked, on his second drink.

"To show we are everywhere and to give support to the others out there who are scared," Nia replied.

"What about your companies? This isn't good for your business," Rita said.

"My PR people would know how to spin it. If not, they're fired. They've managed to deflect all of the hatred I got for being foreign. Besides, it's not like I'm really in the closet," Nia pointed out.

"It's really your decision. You can remain how you are or control the situation as best you can in allowing people into your personal life," Callie replied.

With a raised eyebrow, Nia frowned. "Allowing people into my personal life?"

"Coming out allows people to come in. Hell, people seem to take it as an invite," Callie replied. This bothered her the most with being forced out of the closet.

Kats seemed to think they were entitled to an opinion on her relationship now that she was out. Clients even tried to give her advice. Random kats approached her, wanting to know why she was with Felina, if Felina was worth everything, and a million other things that was not their business. Felina was worth everything, all the time.

"I would suggest you keep your personal life as yours for the moment. Yes, coming out does show support for other lions and lionesses out there. You also set a great example for how we're not degenerates or dangerous, but it's dangerous to you. It's dangerous if you ever decide to settle down with one of those lionesses you like to rotate from your bed," Callie said with a smirk.

Nia gave her a playful scowl. "You're the expert here, so I'll take your advice for the moment."

Callie chuckled a little, even though it was very dangerous to be out. A few of dozen open lions or lionesses were out for the reasons Nia wanted to come out, but others were out because they had been caught by the wrong people and hospitalized because of it. Violence against lions was up from nothing to ridiculous amounts. There were "pack attacks," gangs of kats hunting for lions to harass, beat, and sometimes kill.

Callie had actually worked some of these cases, working to make the punishment severe for looking to destroy a kat based solely on their sexuality. Too many of the kats involved in these pack attacks got off lightly, mostly acting like the lions deserved it and too often the judges seemed to agree, being as lenient as the law allowed. Most lions made sure to be out with their prides now.

"We should work on normalizing lions, though," Nia said.

Mel tipped his glass to her. "I agree with that."

"It's your decision, Nia. I'm sure you can beat back any opposition that comes your way," Callie replied. Nia was just that type of kat, which was she was able to keep her late husband's business empire running and how she could expand it despite how hard the business world was on females.

With a shake of her hand, Nia waved that off. "I'm not worried about the opposition so much. It's this idea of allowing people into my personal life. I don't want people harassing my son and his family. They know of me, but I don't want the press in my kittens' faces. I don't want them subjected to violence, but this is how the other side wins."

Rita nodded. "This is also true."

"It sounds like something to discuss with your son and his family," Mel said.

"Yes, I suppose, but this is why I'm discussing it with you," Nia pointed out.

Callie smiled a little. Despite all of the hardships of the year, this was one of the best things she got from being a lioness. This pride, this family. People who believed in her and believed in her opinion.

"Talk it over with your son. You know I'm with you if you decide to come out," Callie pointed out.

Callie was possibly the only one of them who could be there for them. Mel would undoubtedly lose his job and Rita would lose dozens of clients if she came out. Callie wondered if there would ever be a time for Mel to safely come out and keep his job. Rita would lose clients no matter what because kats were prejudice.

"Some day. Some day." Mel reached over and patted Nia on the forearm.

Nia nodded slightly. Callie hoped this was true. One day, they would all be able to just be treated as normal kats. For now, though, there were tons of work to be done and a little more celebrating to do.

"I should get home," Callie said. Especially before they talked her into more drinking.

"No, stay. You've only had one and this was such an important case," Nia insisted. It was now against the law to fire a city employee over the suspicions of their sexuality thanks to Callie.

With a chuckle, Callie wiggled her eyebrows. "Yes, but I need to be somewhat coherent when I make it home or I just get put to bed without any of the fun stuff."

Her pride laughed, but they let her go after long goodbyes. She made her way home — to Felina's apartment. Well, their apartment now, Felina insisted. Callie gave up her condo only weeks after being outed by Steele. There were several reasons why. One of the biggest was because the place haunted her now. It was in her condo those horrible pictures had been taken, pictures to ruin her life, ruin Felina's life, and make it seem like there was something wrong with their relationship.

Beyond that, her own neighbors had protested on her lawn. Then, there was the fact that her neighbors' property had been damaged from kats trying to get to her. She would not have cared if it was only the neighbors who actually protested her, but there were some kind kats who had been nice and supportive. They were in danger because of her.

Felina's apartment was a little different. There might be a little graffiti on the door, but kats seemed very reluctant to go after an Enforcer, an Enforcer whose uncle was the commander of all Enforcers. Added to that, Felina had plenty of support from military friends and some Enforcers. A couple of knuckleheads had tried Felina and it never ended well. She beat up her fair share of bigots and friends of hers beat up even more.

"Honey, I'm home," Callie called as she opened the apartment door. She heard a grunt and knew already Felina was working out.

"Hey, kit," Felina replied with another grunt. She was at her heavy bag in the corner of the living room, punching it.

Callie licked her lips at the sight. Felina wore only a sports bra and skimpy shorts. She had her hands wrapped rather than using gloves. There were so many muscles on display and Callie just wanted to plaster herself to Felina at that very moment.

"Spare a moment for your lover, who is dying for your kisses?" Callie teased, even though she was. Drinking blood had this affect on her.

Felina chuckled and she spared Callie a glance. "Dying for kisses? I guess you didn't have enough glasses for your clothes to just fall off, huh?"

Callie snorted through her nose. "I'm not the only kat blood has that effect on."

"Far from it. I'll give you kisses, but anything more will have to wait until after a shower."

Callie shook her head and eased on behind Felina. She pressed herself against Felina's back and nuzzled Felina's back. She was covered in sweat, but smelled so sweet to Callie that she just wanted to let Felina have her way with her.

"You don't need a shower. You smell good enough to eat," Callie remarked.

"No, I'm not letting you do anything to me when I smell like this."

"I like the way you smell and I'm very tempted to tell you to take me to bed and hold my tail over your shoulder."

Felina whimpered and her punch was very off target. The heavy bag knocked into her and she grunted softly. "Shower first, kit."

"No," Callie whined, burying her nose in between Felina's shoulders.

"Yes. I'm dirty. This is not a good sweat."

"Fine, but then, I get to be on top."

Felina growled and turned. She grabbed Callie by the nape of her neck and leaned down for a kiss. Callie sighed against Felina's mouth. There was not enough time in the day for kissing. She whined in protest when Felina pulled away. Felina had the nerve to smack her lips together.

"Rabbit's blood?" Felina asked.

Callie had to laugh and roll her eyes. "Oh, please. You know Nia's taste run finer than that."

"You know I don't know any highbrow drinks."

Callie snorted. That was the understatement of the year. "I am aware. Now, go take your shower so we can celebrate the way I've wanted to since I walked out of that courtroom today."

Felina gave her a smirk that made her melt right there. Felina was walking catnip, more so now that she decided to workout even more. If she walked outside in anything showing off her shoulders and arms, kats stopped and stared with envy in their eyes. Felina was definitely the type to make every she-kat a lionesses.

While Felina showered, Callie made herself busy by cleaning up Felina's workout area. Felina was training now. Mostly because there were bigoted jerks about the city who liked to hurt lions and lionesses, who liked to hurt her. Felina wanted to be able to protect them. Yes, she carried a gun, but she always considered she could be disarmed or she could intimidate someone before things had to come to physical blows.

Once she was done cleaning up, she glanced at the coffee table to see Felina's books for her captain's exam. She had probably been studying before she worked out. Callie went to see if Felina had eaten anything, as she sometimes would work through meals. The sink was clear and the stove was clean, so Felina had just come in and started studying and then worked out for more hours than she should on an empty stomach. Callie shook her head and decided to start on something quick. She needed to eat, too, after all.

"I can take over," Felina said, wrapping her arms around Callie's waist. She pulled Callie from the stove and buried her head in Callie's hair.

A teasing smile conquered Callie's face. "Of the food or me?"

Felina laughed as little, which Callie felt on the top of her skull. "Food for now. You deserve to unwind a little beforehand."

Callie scoffed. "You're kidding, right? I'll be more than a little unwound once you start. But, I will go take a shower and then we can eat. You'll need the energy."

Felina laughed more, but they both knew it was true. Callie went to take a shower and then slipped on one of Felina's shirts. By the time she made her way back into the living room, Felina had their food set up on two plates and a flute of her favorite cream waiting for her. This was the only way to celebrate a courtroom victory as far as she was concerned.

Felina was on the couch, waiting for her. Callie wasted no time easing herself onto Felina's lap, straddling her. Months ago, this would have made her think of those pictures, but she enjoyed this position too much to allow that to ruin it for her. Leaning in, she kissed Felina passionately and moaned as Felina returned it while wrapping strong arms around her. They would get to their food and drinks later.

-8-8-8-8-

Next time: meet Felina's pride and Chance and Jake make an appearance in the series.