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kissandtellus · 1 month ago

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Warning, Bite Risk: Chapter 6

ೃ⁀➷ Synopsis: Caleb sits down with Dr. Zayne for his first treatment. Zayne learns about the horrors that led Caleb to end up in MC’s hands.

ೃ⁀➷ Warnings: Talks of PTSD, experimentation, Trauma, reliving trauma.

Tag List: @mcdepressed290 , @seventeen-x , @rorel1a , @skylarkse , @blorbohunter @teacupwaifu , @lewdcifer778, @eiradragonsong

Caleb and Zayne very slowly started to tolerate each others presence. Especially when it came to Caleb’s treatments at Zayne’s clinic.

“Open your mouth.” Zayne says calmly, the order coming like second nature to him.

Caleb grits his teeth in annoyance, but does as he's told. His eyes are narrowed as Zayne examines his mouth with a small light, checking his teeth and his tongue.

His expression is one of barely contained anger, as if he doesn't like having someone this close to him. And the person in front of him is the very person he wants to throttle.

Zayne seems to realize this too, and he backs away from Caleb, putting his equipment away. He gives an annoyed huff, glancing up at him before speaking again.

“Are you going to be cooperative for the rest of the examination, or do I have to deal with your attitude this whole time?” He asks, clearly annoyed with Caleb's refusal to be compliant.

His expression is one of irritation, as if he doesn't really expect a straight answer from Caleb.

“I want MC.” Of course he does, he always wants her. She was a full-time Hunter, so Zayne would be stuck with the overgrown mutt for the rest of the day.

“She’s out scouting, as usual.” Zayne replies nonchalantly as he cleans the stethoscope's earpieces.

His eyes narrow, and he looks at Caleb with annoyance in his eyes. “And I’m not some babysitter for you. You and I are going to get to know each other, so quit the crap and let’s start getting along.” He says firmly, as if that’s actually an option.

He then sighs in frustration. “And stop asking for her every five seconds. I know you miss her, but that isn't going to change.”

Zayne grabs Caleb’s jaw, looks at the absolutely massive canines in his mouth. He looks at the way his jaw is wired in odd places.

Caleb was bred, or created, to be a fucking machine on the battlefield.

Caleb’s eyes narrow, and his hackles rise instantly.

He growls, his eyes narrowing more as he tries to pull his head back, but to no avail. He glares at Zayne, trying with all his might to make eye contact with the man.

His fangs gleam in the light, his sharp canines looking as dangerous as the Hybrid himself.

“Let go!” He snaps with a snarl, his voice filled with agitation as he desperately tries to wriggle away from him.

Zayne looks at the teeth, and his eyes are narrow in concentration. His face is unreadable, and his mouth is pressed into a thin line.

When he lets go, he's quick to put some distance between them, his eyes narrowing even more. “I need to know what you are, so I can make sure you’re healthy.Don’t be such a child about it.” He snarls.

He looks at Caleb, and there's no denying the anger in his gaze. “Now strip or I'll do it myself."

Caleb’s snarl turns to a smirk as he stands from the table. He begins to shed layer after layer of his clothes. Zayne knew the Hybrid had to be physically fit for being a Farspace Fleet Mutt.

But he has no idea how far that went.

As the shirts are stripped away, it reveals a muscular, built torso that could belong to a male model.

His eyes flicker over Caleb’s body, and they linger on the scars that litter his skin. There are many, and they aren't all just in one place. Every part of him is covered in scars. His chest, his back, his stomach, his everywhere.

All of them look old as he gives him a once over.

He stares at them all, and his eyes linger on a particularly nasty, jagged one on his left shoulder.

Someone tried to take out his heart.

His gaze moves up to Caleb's face, and his eyes are filled with a look that says, “You're lucky I've never tried to do that to you.”

He tosses the sweatshirt back the Hybrid so he’s not flaunting his physique anymore. He looks away from Caleb and back to his notes. "I'm going to ask you a set of questions. You can ask me anything in return." He says, his voice a little softer than before.

Caleb narrows his eyes at Zayne, not trusting that his question will be answered. But he nods anyway, a silent agreement that he's willing to try and get along with the man he hates.

At least, he's willing to try until he starts to feel threatened again, which is when all sense of trying will go out the window. For now, he's still at least trying to cooperate.

Zayne looks at him with a bored expression, then goes back to flipping through his notebook. "Is this your first time escaping from the Farspace Fleet?"

He looks up quickly, before adding, "That's technically two questions, but don't bother trying to fight me on it. Consider it a freebie, because I'm an amazing person."

Caleb blinks, taken off guard by the question. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” He replies cautiously, his eyes narrowing.

He takes a step back, and he crosses his arms over his chest. He’s eyeing Zayne carefully, and his tail is swishing back and forth as he waits.

He’s not exactly the best at being still. Or patient.

He’s about to open his mouth to repeat himself, but Zayne cuts him off with a glare and a raised hand.

"Stop talking. That counts as one of your questions." Zayne says in a bored voice, looking down at his notebook.

He writes something down, before looking back up at Caleb, and raising an eyebrow. "Is it a yes or no?"

He's being condescending, and the look of annoyance on his face is clear.

Clearly he's not going to be a very good sport about this.

Caleb glares at him for a moment, his eyes narrowing. His hands are clenched into fists now, and he leans in, and lets out a low growl.

He's ready to bite off Zayne's head, and the tension between them is thick.

When he next speaks, his voice is low, and he's clearly trying to keep his anger reined in. "No."

"That's what I thought." He replies calmly, writing down an 'N' on his sheet of paper.

Then he looks back up, his expression unreadable, and his eyes are narrow as if he's trying to solve the puzzle that is Caleb.

"Do you remember what your life was like before the Farspace Fleet?" His tone is softer now, and he seems genuinely curious.

His eyes go distant for a moment, as if he's picturing something from long ago. He frowns again, and gives the answer that Zayne wants to hear.

"No. I don't." his voice is distant, as if he's not even sure if he's telling the entire truth.

He looks directly back at Zayne, his expression guarded.

"Your turn."

Caleb leans forward on the table, elbows on his knees, back and shoulders rippling with pure strength. “Why did MC leave you and break off the engagement?”

Zayne narrows his eyes at him, and he raises an eyebrow. "Now, that's two questions for me. You're getting sloppy."

He looks him up and down with irritation, and he grumbles. But then he sighs, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees.

"We had a disagreement.” he says, his tone flat. He seems to be trying to hide the emotion behind that statement. His eyes drift away, and then he looks back at Caleb. "Your turn."

Caleb looks at him suspiciously, and his eyes are narrow. "You didn't answer my question." He snaps, his expression turning into a glare.

He leans in, his tone a low growl. "What kind of disagreement did you have?"

It's obvious that he doesn't trust a single thing that Zayne says, as if the other man has ulterior motives. He isn't sure if Zayne is telling the truth or not, and he's not going to assume the best.

Not of Zayne.

"It wasn’t a nice disagreement, Caleb." Zayne mutters, running a hand through his hair.

His eyes flick back to meet Caleb's, and his gaze is hard. But his expression softens, and his eyes are filled with the first hint of emotion.

"I wanted to... I wanted to start a family.”He says the words quietly, but it's still said with a hint of sadness.

He frowns, and he takes a deep breath. "Your turn."

Caleb raises an eyebrow, and he looks genuinely surprised that Zayne wanted to settle down. From his perspective, he’d always seen Zayne as being too focused on his work to want something so domestic.

His ears lower a little, and his eyes narrow. “…and MC didn’t?” He asks quietly. It’s clear he doesn’t understand why.

"No," he sighs, "she... she didn't want children." He seems sad at the prospect, at the rejection. “She wouldn't elaborate further on it. She just said it was 'complicated'."

He frowns deeper, and leans back in the chair, his eyebrows knit together in thought. He looks like a man trying to figure out the answer to a complicated puzzle, but is only left with more questions than answers.

"Your turn." He repeats.

Caleb blinks in surprise at hearing this. He clearly doesn't understand why not.

After all, Hybrid’s like Caleb usually have a common goal at a point their lives, breed and then die.

He leans in, tilting his head to the right with an odd look on his face. His ears are lowered a little, and he seems genuinely confused.

"Why would it be complicated?" He asks, his brow furrowed. "MC has everything going right for her. If she wanted to settle down, she would." He says, as if it's that simple.

"Yes, well, life is complicated.” Zayne says a little bitterly, but his voice cracks slightly. He turns his face away for a moment, and his brow is furrowed as he seems lost in thought.

He takes a few deep breaths, and he wipes a hand across his face. When he turns back to Caleb, his expression is unreadable once more. He seems to have regained control. He's back to being the cool, calculated Doctor he usually is.

"Asking about personal relationships with MC isn't on the list of approved questions here, Caleb."

Caleb stares at him with narrowed eyes, his eyebrows furrowed. “That’s not what I asked.” He grumbles, his gaze focused on the floor.

He seems angry at the answer, and he’s clearly not happy about being told his question isn’t allowed. He clenches his fist in defiance, but he doesn’t speak again.

He’s clearly upset, but he manages to restrain himself, his eyes going back to Zayne. His tone is more composed. “It’s your turn.”

Zayne is silent for a while as he stares at Caleb, his expression giving nothing away. His eyes look almost cold, as if he's sizing up the Hybrid in front of him.

He's clearly still upset about the questions, but he seems to shake it off, and his expression remains unreadable. He leans forward, his hands clasped together as he looks at Caleb.

“Tell me about your Handler in the Farspace Fleet. You are obviously terrified of them finding you, but you don’t seem to hold a hostility to him?”

Caleb bristles instantly, and his ears flatten as the hairs on his neck bristle.

He clearly doesn’t like the topic, his whole body tensing as he stares at Zayne. He’s silent for a long time, but then his jaw clenches, and he finally speaks.

“His name is Cayton.” He says, his voice filled with an anger that comes from being forced to talk about someone he hates. “And he is-was….my Handler.” He growls low. “Why?”

Zayne taps his pen on his clipboard. “Is he the reason your brain looks like a craft project?”

Caleb’s face hardens at the question, and he looks absolutely pissed, his eyes narrow. He leans forward, his eyes narrowed. “Is that one of your questions? Or a comment?” He asks, his hands clenching into fists.

He seems to be trying to control his anger, his voice filled with a cold fury. “If you’re asking me to tell you about, no. If not, say something else before I rip your throat out.” His voice is low and dangerous.

Zayne looks bored when Caleb threatens him with violence, and he yawns loudly as if to prove it.

He looks at him again, that same calm gaze but with a hint of amusement in his eyes. He seems intrigued, but not scared. “You’re awfully violent for a supposed dog.” He says, the disdain in his voice almost palpable. “Answer the question.”

His nose scrunches in anger as he hears the insult, and his lips pull back into a snarl. But then he sees the look in Zayne’s eyes, and he seems to be trying to suppress it.

“Yeah, I get that a lot.” He scoffs, and he looks down at the desk, clearly not happy about having to talk about this.

“It’s not a pretty story.” He says, his voice filled with bitterness.

“Nothing is pretty about the Farspace Fleet, Caleb.” Zayne replies, his voice sharp and cold. “They wanted to make the perfect soldier. That doesn’t mean they gave a damn how they did it.”

He seems to be testing the waters now, seeing how far he can push it with Caleb. “Cayton was just following orders, wasn’t he? Just like you.”

Caleb looks away from Zayne, and for a moment he’s quiet.

He looks back to Zayne, with a slight nod, and his eyes are filled with hurt. He seems to be struggling with the memory. His voice is quiet, and the words come from him as a whisper.

“You think I idolize him?” He shakes his head, and he lets out a dark laugh, his gaze never leaving Zayne. “No. If it weren’t for him, I’d be dead.”

Zayne grips his own tighter. “Caleb, he wasn’t a good man just because he kept you alive.” Zayne looks down at the x-ray he had taken of Caleb’s skull and his stomach twists.

Caleb gives an annoyed huff as hears this, and he narrows his eyes at Zayne, his ears drooping slightly. He’s clearly annoyed at Zayne’s words, his eyes narrowed, but he doesn’t lash out.

“I didn’t say he was, Doc.” He says with a hint of bitterness. He sighs, sounding annoyed as he adds. “You wanna know the full story, or are you going to make assumptions?”

“I’m not here to play mind reader, Caleb. You’re going to have to spell it out, but you’re not going to tell half-truths and sugarcoat it.” Zayne looks at him with an intense gaze, and his voice is filled with an emotion that Caleb can’t quite place. “If you want me to find a way to help you, I need to know the truth. All of it.”

He leans forward, his voice filled with bitterness and a hint of anger, but he doesn’t lash out. “So get talking.”

Caleb stares at him for a moment, then looks away again.

He stays quiet for a few moments, his expression dark and troubled. But then his gaze comes back to Zayne, and his voice is barely a whisper. “Okay, fine. But I’m not giving you a play-by-play. I can’t even remember most of it. But…”

He trails off, and he looks at Zayne with a frown, his expression filled with hesitation.

“I’ll listen Caleb.” He says in a tone that’s almost kind. “Whatever you need to say… take all the time you have to say it, and I’ll be here. I promise.”

He seems to be genuinely trying to help out the Hybrid. It looks like the anger is gone now, and his expression is warm, with an air of compassion.

His body language has changed too, his shoulders are more relaxed and he seems to be much more at ease. “We can take as much time as you need. Go on.”

Caleb looks at him for a long time, his gaze filled with caution as if he’s trying to find the lie. But it seems that Zayne is speaking the truth, and that he’s willing to listen.

He lets out a small sigh, and looks away as he starts to speak. “They did a test with a lot of us. It was supposed to create the perfect soldier.” He says quietly, and his eyes are closed now, as if he’s trying to block out the memory. “The Farspace Fleet was always experimenting…. Testing.”

He falls quiet for a moment, his eyes still closed as he’s trying to process the memory. “The doctors… they called it ‘The Hybrid Project’…” His hands clench in his lap, and his body seems to be filled with tension again. "...I-I can still remember the pain..."

His voice trails off, and his eyes go distant. It seems like the memory is still too painful to share.

He takes a deep breath, and seems to be forcing himself to focus on the task at hand, and his gaze comes back to Zayne. “Cayton… was one of the lead researchers. And… he took one look at me, and chose to let me survive.” As he speaks, a hint of bitterness is evident in his voice.

He lets out a low chuckle, and his eyes narrow. “Lucky me.”

He clenches his jaw, then continues, his voice filled with pain. “They treated us like animals. They did whatever they wanted to us.” He clenches his fists harder, and his tail comes to wrap around his leg. “It wasn’t enough to just enhance us, to make us into weapons. They had to make us obedient, too.”

He looks at Zayne again, his eyes narrowed. “They made us love our Handlers. Made it so that obeying was our only desire.”

His eyes seem to go cold, and his body goes tense once again. His tail swishes back and forth, clearly a sign of his agitation, and he leans forward to look at Zayne again. "It worked on a lot of them."

He sneers, and his gaze turns bitter. "I guess they weren't ready for a K9 Hybrid who still had the free will to be a giant pain in the ass."

He laughs once again, but it’s not a happy laugh. Instead, it’s filled with bitterness. "They made sure to tell Cayton my failings." He says bitterly, his gaze filled with pain.

He continues speaking, his voice filled with anger. "He just put it on the reports. He'd tell them that I did well on tests, but that I was a bad subject. He never told them he was letting me live on purpose. I was the luckiest one of all of us."

His voice goes cold once again, and his gaze turns distant. "It only worked for a few months..." He says quietly, his words barely audible.

His face is filled with a terrible sadness now, and he looks at Zayne with an expression that seems to say, ‘I've told you too much.'

"Then... everything went wrong.”

"What happened?" Zayne's voice is barely a whisper. He leans forward, his eyes locked on Caleb.

He seems interested in what the Hybrid has to say, and his eyes are filled with a hint of concern. He seems worried about what's been done to Caleb, and he seems to have forgotten about the previous hostility between them.

He's acting like a scientist again, but his question seems genuine. Instead of just a scientist's curiosity, it's almost as if he's showing concern.

He takes a deep breath, it seems to take all of his control to speak.

“They decided to go too far. Too fast.” He’s shaking a little now.

His eyes flicker over to Zayne, and his anger is still there. But there’s a hint of vulnerability there too, and he quickly looks away from him.

He looks back at the floor, his hands clenching in his lap as he speaks.

“My brothers started dying.”

Caleb feels the hairs on his neck stand. “They sent the Hybrid’s out on the missions the human’s didn’t want to do. We were dropping like flies…until I was the only survivor.”

His face is pale now as he continues to speak. His voice is barely a whisper now, and he looks like he's about to cry.

He clenches his fists harder, as if the action is all that's preventing him from breaking down.

"They decided that me being alive was something worth studying in itself." He laughs bitterly again, and his jaw trembles. "After all, I was the miracle Hybrid.”

His gaze turns to Zayne, and he narrows his eyes. "It didn't matter how many times I told them I wasn't special - they didn't care. I was too damn valuable for them to let me die."

He seems bitter at the whole thing, and this is the first time he's opened up about what happened to him.

"They told me I owed them my life, that I owed them everything. And Cayton? He was the one that got to help them study me."

He lets out another bitter laugh, and he looks at Zayne. "He liked to tell me that he was the one that got me this far. That I should be thankful for the hell I had to go through. Thankful that I was the one chosen to survive."

His eyes are cold now, and he looks at Zayne with contempt, but he still seems to be trying to contain his temper. "So yes, I guess you could say I hate him."

Caleb reaches up and touches the scar on his shoulder. “After an enemy nearly tore out my heart, Clayton was pissed when they rolled me in, half dead. But the way they trained us…all I wanted to do was please him.”

He’s silent for a moment, looking away from Zayne as he seems to be trying to block out the memories.

He seems to be trying to control his rage, his jaw clenched. But when he speaks, his voice is low and dangerous. “You want to know what they tried to do to make me obedient, Doc?” He asks, his eyes narrowing.

He turns to look at Zayne, his gaze cold and determined. “It wasn’t just the conditioning that they put us through.”

Zayne's expression goes from one of concern, to one of surprise as he hears this. His eyes widen, and his eyebrows go up.

His eyes go wide as if he's realized he's getting a rare opportunity to hear what happened to Caleb from his own mouth. But he doesn't look horrified. No, instead, he looks interested, and his eyes are filled with curiosity.

He seems to be waiting for him to continue. "Go on, Caleb. I'm listening."

Caleb's gaze hardens, and his voice is filled with pain. "They put a chip in the base of our necks.” He says, his voice filled with bitterness. “They wired us like dogs."

He turns to look at Zayne, his eyes filled with pain. "It was easy for them to change us. One press on a button and we're obedient. Always.” His voice trails off, as if the memories are too painful to recall. “We didn’t have a choice.”

He glares at Zayne, his face filled with contempt. “And guess who got to monitor the chip that had me on a leash?” He asks, his voice filled with anger.

His eyes are narrow now, and he leans in closer now as if ready to attack.

“Cayton held my leash. He’s the reason I feel like I owe him my life. It wasn’t my choice, I just wanted to please him. But you already knew that…”

He narrows his eyes at Zayne, his anger clear. “He gave the orders for what I did. Where I went. If I was a bad dog, he’d shock me to get me to behave.”

He spits out the words, his hatred for Cayton clear. “He got his hands dirty. But he wasn’t about to make that public. So he made all the notes of what he did. All of it.”

He grits his teeth, and leans in so his face is only inches away from Zayne’s. “You know what he called it?”

He doesn’t wait for Zayne’s response, and instead, he spits the words out with contempt. “A scientific record. He wanted proof of what did to me. And he got it."

His eyes are full of pain as his voice fills with anger. “I didn’t think he could see what he did to me, but he did see. Every. Single. Thing.”

Caleb turns his head and take a deep breath. “But when MC found me at the shelter after I escaped and clawed out my chip….I thought she was an angel, a harpy sent to take me to the afterlife…”

His eyes are filled with pain as his voice softens a little. “And she let me live. She didn’t see a monster. She didn’t see a science experiment.”

Caleb looks down now, unable to meet Zayne's gaze. “She saved me, Zayne, and it’s not because of any programming. It’s because she’s good.”

He lets out a small sigh, and looks back up at Zayne. “I’d die for her, and I don’t need conditioning to feel that way about her.”

His gaze goes cold, and his eyes narrow. “So please, Zayne. You want to help me, right?” He asks, his tone pleading.

“All I need is her. I would do anything for her. She’s not a handler or a soldier..,she’s just her.”

His eyes are filled with tears, and his voice fills with emotion as he speaks. “She’s my family, my pack. She cares about me. I need her.”

He lets out a small sob, and he looks at Zayne, his expression filled with desperation. “So please, help me. Don't let them hurt her. Don't let them hurt me anymore. Don't let them use me to hurt her.”

He clenches his fists in his lap as if he's trying to keep himself from screaming.

Zayne stares at him for a moment, his expression unreadable. It seems he's still trying to absorb what he's heard about Caleb's experiences.

When he speaks, his voice is filled with a strange mix of sympathy, anger and pity. "I promise you, she'll be okay. I will protect her." He pauses, and his voice gets softer. "I will help you."

<-Previous Chapter

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kissandtellus · 1 month ago

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Warning, Bite Risk: Ch. 5

Synopsis: Zayne is convinced to help treat Caleb, but K-9 Hybrids don’t take kindly to other males in their territory.

Warnings: Mentions of PTSD, angst, but it’s a little bit more comical for this chapter, Caleb marks his territory, unrequited PINING.

Tags: @mcdepressed290 , @seventeen-x , @rorel1a , @skylarkse , @blorbohunter , @teacupwaifu, @lewdcifer778, @eiradragonsong,

“What can I do to help him?” MC says with a harsh whisper, looking at Zayne, hoping and praying there’s something she can do.

Zayne frowns, and his eyes flick over the image again.

"I don't know if there's anything we can do, MC." He says, his voice heavy with resignation. "It's like this because the Farspace Fleet tried and failed to make him into something that he wasn't meant to be."

He pauses, and his eyes seem to soften. It's a foreign look on him, but he seems to be genuinely sorry. "The damage is too extensive. I don't know how he's functioning."

Caleb hears this, and his eyes shoot open. He has heard something, and he doesn't like the sound of it.

He looks at MC, and his eyes are wide and pleading. His breathing is quick and shallow, and he seems to be trying to find the words to say.

"No." He rasps softly, his eyes filled with fear.

"Please, M-MC, don't- Please. I-I c-can't live without you." He looks like he's about to fall apart.

Zayne scoffs, and his eyes narrow. "And there is that. His attachment to you." He snarls the word, like it's the worst thing in the world.

The word is dripping with disdain, as if his feelings for her are nothing but a hindrance. Something in the way of progress.

"I can get you another pet, MC. You don't need to keep him around just because he's defective.”

Caleb whimpers at the word "defective,"and he curls his lips back in a snarl, baring his teeth at Zayne.

"I-I'm not... a pet!" He snarls in a low voice, his eyes flashing in anger.

His hands are balled into fists by his side, and he looks like he's about to attack Zayne. But he just stands there, unable to move. His body is trembling, and he looks at MC, waiting for her to speak. Pleading with her not to let this happen.

MC balls up her fist by her sides. “He’s not…he’s not defective Zayne. He needs our HELP.” She says stiffly

"And what help can we give him?" Zayne asks softly, his voice filled with bitterness. "I can't even fix his brain. The Farspace Feet did this to him. He's ruined."

Ruined.

Like Caleb isn't standing right in front of them. Like he's talking about a tool, a broken machine. Not a person's brain.

He seems to notice how MC looks at him, and his expression darkens. His voice is cold, and his gaze unflinching when he returns her stare.

Zayne was a Hybrid Specialist, a man who spent his entire life helping Hybrids of every species. Especially K-9 Hybrids like Caleb. But this was so far from what he was used to seeing.

And here was MC, his lost love who left him a year ago, begging for his help.

Caleb's not just a Hybrid, he's a military-grade Hybrid. Someone who has been trained for war from the moment he was created in a lab. From the moment he was born.

He was designed for one purpose and one purpose only; to kill. To be a weapon.

And Zayne knows that she can't help him.

Not without risking her life.

"He is lost!" Zayne snarls in frustration, as if he's angry that MC can't see what he sees in the Hybrid.

"He is beyond our help, MC!" He growls, his voice rising. "He is dangerous. Look at him! He looks ready to rip me to shreds."

He takes a step forward, his fists clenched tight by his sides. And his eyes are filled with hurt. Like she's the one who is refusing to see reason.

"He's not a person." Zayne hisses sharply, his eyes blazing with anger. "He's a Hybrid, MC. Property of the Farspace Fleet."

He stops, for a moment, his eyes turning sad. And his voice softens into a near-plea when he speaks again. "MC, please. I- just... Please don't put yourself in danger. Let's just leave him at a shelter and- and go. We can be together. We can be happy."

“Is this your grand plan?” She says with an arched brow. “Give him back to those monsters so you can have me back?” Her teeth are gritted. “You could be the last man on earth, Zayne. And if you did that, I wouldn’t even spit in your direction.”

A flash of anger fills Zayne’s eyes at the mention of the Farspace Fleet, and his eyes snap to hers. “And what do you think they’ll do with you?!” He snaps, his voice rising again. “You think they’ll let you live? You think they’re the good guys?”

He takes a deep breath, and he closes his eyes. When he looks at MC again, his expression is calmer. “What do you want from me? Huh, MC? What do you want me to do?”

I’ll do anything for you.

MC bites her bottom lip and turns to Caleb still curled on the floor. “I’ll…disguise him. Bring him here for treatment. He’s…he’s not bad.”

Zayne's eyes burn with anger, but his voice is controlled when he responds. “And how long do you think that will last, MC?” His voice is filled with venom, as he turns his gaze back to her. “How long until they figure out what he is? How long until they send those things out into the streets to hunt him down?”

Zayne shakes his head, and he chuckles dryly. “And then what, MC? What are you really prepared to do to protect him?” He demands.

“Anything.” Her voice is ice cold. She kneels down next to Caleb, brushing a stray piece of hair from out infront of his eyes. “I’ll give you whatever you want Zayne.”

Zayne looks at her, and his eyes fill with shock. He clearly wasn't expecting that answer, and he doesn't know how to respond.

His expression softens, to one of sympathy and understanding. He still loves her, after everything. He doesn't know if he ever stopped.

And it tears him up.

"I-" He starts, but his voice fails. He tries again, his voice softer. "MC... you know I can't let you do this. Not... not without me.”

MC lifts her head to him and god, that smile. He missed it. She stands again, holding out her hand in a fist bump. “Partners in crime?”

Zayne watches her with an intensity in his eyes, and he chuckles at her offer. "I thought you wouldn't want me to say no." He takes her fisted hand, and squeezes it.

His eyes are soft when their gazes meet, and his voice is tender. "And here I thought you didn't need me anymore." He says, his voice almost teasing, but in a gentle way.

She kneels down to Caleb who’s watching Zayne like prey. She pets the sensitive spot between his ears. “Let’s go home.”

Caleb’s tail swishes slowly back and forth, and his eyes close when she scratches behind his ears. He purrs softly, and if it were possible for him to melt, he would have.

His eyes open when he hears her words, and his ears perk up. “Home?” He asks, and his voice is cautious, not willing to believe it. “You mean... we can-we are going home?”

His eyes go from MC’s worried face back to Zayne’s, and his eyebrows furrow in concern.

“You… you are coming too, right?” He asks, his voice quiet. His tone is not unkind, but it’s clear he doesn’t trust Zayne. At least, not yet.

He waits for an answer, his tail still swishing around. He trusts her, but he doesn’t know what to think about Zayne. Not after everything that happened.

He doesn’t want to be left alone again.

Zayne is still standing in the doorway, and he is looking at Caleb with an expression that is unreadable. He seems to be thinking something over, but his expression doesn’t give any indication of his thoughts.

Then he sighs, and his face softens. “You don’t have to be scared, Caleb.” He says, his voice low. “I’m not your Handler.” He says the words with bitterness, but not directed at Caleb.

The routine of their life is rough at first. Caleb is still getting used to another male in the house.

Zayne finishes taking a shower in MC’s apartment. But when he comes into the spare bedroom, Caleb is….marking his territory right on Zayne’s lab coat.

Caleb looks up from where he is urinating on the lab coat, and his eyes narrow on Zayne.

“Why do you leave your things in my new bedroom?” He asks, his voice filled with territorial aggression. His hackles are raised, and he is glaring at Zayne like he could rip him to shreds.

He is a Hybrid who doesn’t like to share.

Which is fine, because Zayne doesn’t like sharing MC either. And he certainly doesn’t like having his belongings pissed on.

Zayne’s eyes narrow, and his eyes turn cold. His voice is cold too, and his fists are clenched by his sides. “You’re a very possessive little doggy, aren’t you?” He sneers at Caleb, his eyes challenging him. “Do you want to piss on my boots now? Do that so we’ll know for sure who this room belongs to, huh?”

Caleb stares at Zayne, and his eyebrows furrow in annoyance. “This is my room.” He snaps, his voice loud and clear. “My room.”

His tail is swishing quickly back and forth as he speaks, and his eyes are filled with a challenge. He seems to be daring Zayne to contradict him.

His tail swishes faster once he finishes, and he stands up. “You’re the one who came into my room without asking. That’s on you, pet.”

Caleb looks him over, his eyes narrowed in a glare.

"And just so you're aware, I'm not little." He snarls, his tone low. "You want to call me something? Call me Caleb."

He snaps, his eyes narrowing once again before he returns to the spot on the floor he'd been laying.

He stares at the now pissed-on coat, and his ears fold back. "I guess you'll have to clean that up, pet. I'm not sorry."

Zayne grits his teeth, his anger dribbling out. “What’s next? Are you going to piss on MC to mark her too?”

Caleb’s eyes snap to him, and the glare he sends is withering. It’s as if he’s looking at a fly and debating how worth it is to expend the effort to swat it.

His mouth curls into an amused smirk, with his eyes glinting as he tilts his head to the side, and the words he speaks come out in a low hiss. “Piss on her?”

He turns his body towards Zayne while his lips curl into a cruel smile. “No, I have other methods of marking her as mine.”

Before either male can react, MC calls them from the dining room. “Boys! Dinner is ready!”

Caleb’s ears perk up at MC’s voice, and his attention is immediately shifted to her. His eyes go soft when he realizes that she's just in the other room, and he starts to move towards her, but stops when he sees the coat.

He looks down at the piss-stained coat, and the smirk on his face turns from amused to cruel.

"Get your coat, pet.” He sneers as he walks out of the room.

He doesn’t help Zayne clean it up.

Caleb goes to the dining room, and he looks like a new man when he sees her. The anger on his face is gone, and in its place is adoration.

His eyes are soft when their gazes meet, and his ears are flattened in a happy and submissive gesture. He smiles when he sees her, and his tail starts to wag slowly back and forth.

“MC!” He calls, and he walks over to her, his arms rising to wrap around her.

He kisses her cheek and holds her tightly against him, and he can feel the tension in his shoulders melting. His tail starts to wag faster, and he’s smiling as he starts to relax into the hug.

“Are you cooking in my sweatshirt?” He asks with mock surprise, his voice teasing. "My girl” He sighs quietly, his voice filled with amusement. He leans down to kiss her neck. He’s very, very happy to have her. He’s very happy to be where he is.

MC gasps and pushes him back a little. Ever since Zayne has basically moved in, his affection for her was through the roof. “C-Caleb! Bad boy! I’m cooking!”

Caleb’s eyes widen when she pushes him back, and he takes a step back, giving her some space. His ears flatten again, and he looks like a guilty puppy when she reprimands him.

His head tilts to the side, and he looks at her with those soft eyes. He looks completely different from the possessive, aggressive K-9 that had been standing in front of Zayne.

He takes a step forward, and his voice is quiet and subdued when he speaks. “Does that mean I’m in trouble…?”

She sighs and plates the food for them. “No Buddy, you just know how I am about the…affection thing. Zayne doesn’t know about how you…said the L word to me. He’d lose it…”

Caleb’s face flushes, and his eyebrows furrow. He lowers his gaze.

“He doesn’t have to know, right?…” He asks, his voice hushed as if someone might overhear them. “It’s not important right now.”

His eyes flicker behind her, and the moment they see Zayne, his gaze turns cold. He’s ready to be hostile again, but he keeps his guard up.

He’s not going to say anything that will make Zayne lose it. He doesn't want him to know what he'd said.

“Oh Zayne! Just in t-…hey, aren’t you heading to the clinic? Where’s your lab coat?” She asks with a cock of her head.

Zayne rolls his eyes and unravels his coat. He lifts it up, looking at how the fabric has dried with Caleb’s urine.

He had been trying to ignore it, but he can’t anymore. He doesn’t even bother to hide the resentment in his voice. “I have no idea, MC. And I’m late for work.” He scoffs under his breath, but still loud enough for the others to hear. “Because someone decided to piss on my lab coat."

“Caleb!” She snaps her head to the side. “Why would you do that?!”

Caleb's ears flatten once more, and his eyes go to MC.

His eyes are wide, and he looks like a child caught with its hand in the cookie jar. He shifts from foot to foot, clearly uncomfortable at the stern tone in her voice.

"I-I... It was an accident?" He says with a wince, clearly lying through his teeth.

He stares straight at Zayne, his expression now cold and determined. He glares at him, his eyes full of hatred.

"I didn't like it being there." He snaps, his voice low and harsh. "It was in my room. It needed to learn a lesson."

He turns to look at MC, his eyes narrowing. "Don't be mad, MC. I was just being a little territorial. You wouldn't have to worry if Zayne would keep his stuff out of my room."

“Caleb, I don’t have any extra space for the both of you. Both of your belongings need to stay in that room. Unless one of you stays in my-“

At that, both males perk up and volunteer themselves.

Caleb's ears immediately perk up, and his eyes go wide. He looks at MC with an enthusiastic expression, and speaks fast before Zayne can say the words.

"I'll do it!" He says, his voice filled with excitement. He's leaning forward, his eyes sparkling with eagerness.

He glances at Zayne, and his gaze becomes one of challenge. He's not going to let Zayne near her room again.

He's ready for the ultimate pissing contest between them.

But MC shakes her head. “You know what, I have a better plan.”

But what neither male planned for, was them sleeping in her bed TOGETHER, while she slept in the guest bedroom.

Caleb is the biggest of the two men at 6'2", but that doesn't mean that he feels big right now.

He is trying to make himself as small as possible. It doesn't work. The bed is surrounded by cute plushies and rosy pink sheets that look comical on the war-hardened K-9 and the super genius.

He's squeezed right next to Zayne, and his tail is wrapped around himself almost protectively. The bed is too small for two grown men, let alone a grown man and a K-9 Hybrid.

Caleb is staring at the ceiling, his body rigid and unmoving. “I hate you.” he murmurs to Zayne who isn’t able to sleep either.

“I hate you too, mutt.” Zayne snaps, his voice filled with bitterness. “You disgust me. You have no place in her life but she keeps you around because she pities you. She doesn’t want a monster. She’s only with you out of obligation, Caleb.”

“And what about you?” Caleb asks, his voice low and cold. “What makes you think you’re any better? She broke off her engagement with you way before I came into the picture

He turns his head to look him in the eye, his gaze as cold as they come. “She keeps you around because she needs you, for me.”

He snarls, his eyes narrowing as he continues to glare at Zayne. “Stop telling yourself that she loves you. You’re a fool."

Zayne's eyes narrow, and he leans close to Caleb's face, his eyes filled with resentment. "I'm a fool? You, on the other hand, are a monster. You're nothing more than a feral Hybrid who will never fit in." He's not even whispering, he's saying this loud enough that MC’s ears could easily pick up on it.

"You and I have one thing in common, Caleb. We both love the same woman."

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