The streets were dark, and quiet. The once fully functioning street lamps had long since fell into disrepair, their lights flickering in and out, some of them completely devoid of life. In the eerie silence of the city streets, there came the quiet trundling of a small, sleek black van, it's outer paint lacking any sort of advertisement or identification. It turned a slow and easy corner into the parking lot of a vast facility that had been abandoned for many years. It pulled into a slow stop and the lights on its front turned off, as did the engine, leaving nothing but the sound of the wind whistling through the air for comfort. With a sharp click, the back of the van swung open and out stepped 5 people-- though it would have been more accurate to call them heroes. There was no-one nearby to gawk or pause, no-one to call out their name like a fan might do to a celebrity, and they were glad no-one was there. This was a covert operation that hinged on their discreet movements. The leader of the group stepped forwards, a Rottweiler clad in a spandex suit with a cape that wrapped around his back and over his shoulders. He turned towards the rest of the group and bowed his head, just for a moment, as if he were psyching himself up. "Alright, team," He spoke in a quiet, hushed voice. "We get in, we investigate and then we leave. If things are looking difficult, then there's no shame in retreating for now." He paused and watched as the other 4 nodded in agreement, and he seemed satisfied enough to continue. "We'll split up. Eracervine, Wind Rider, you're with me. Restorative Rodent, you're with Outliner. We'll go in the front whilst you to go in around the back. Let's go." With that, he turned and strode towards the facility. The four of them exchanged brief glances, their feelings mixed, before they split off appropriately to go in two different directions. It had been 4 months since their initially patrolling and scouting of the city, with the help of Eracervine. He had the natural and dangerous ability of being able to delete whole clumps of matter from existence, down to a single atom, and by extension he was able to detect foreign chemicals in the air or in the vicinity. If was through that power that they had eventually followed the breadcrumbs that lead to this dark and desolate facility that hadn't seen use in many years. It was theorised by their leader, Top Dog, that it was used as a smuggling operation: a potential mole who had been taking out viral canisters to sell on the black market. They had agonised for several hours on whether they were sure it was the right place before eventually biting the bullet and setting up plans to investigate, but Eracervine was still wary. He wasn't sure what was in store for them inside, and Top Dog was simply too confident about the entire thing. He wasn't a pessimist, but his time behind bars had made him a little apprehensive, at best. The entrance of the facility of shrouded in darkness, but they had luckily brought torches to help them see into the dark. The lobby was littered with paperwork and debris, and cobwebs hung from the corners of the walls. In the middle sat a wide, circular reception desk that was devoid of any sort of information: most of the necessary paperwork was either strewn across the floor and too damp to make out, or it had been packed away and taken out of the facility some years ago. "What is it you're hoping to find here, exactly?" Eracervine remarked as he peered over the lip of the reception desk, briefly glancing over to Top Dog who wandered past it, casting the light of his torch across the room. They spotted a corridor at the far end which seemed like a good start. "If we're lucky, then our potential mole, or at least some information on him. Having a canister of the chemical would be even better," Top Dog replied casually enough. "Frey can analyse it for us and it might give us a lead." "It sounds a little bit like wishful thinking." The deer remarked quietly and Top Dog turned his head to glance at him out the corner of his eye. Since Eracervine had been let out of prison, he had been a little bitter and resentful. The occasional flash of heroics of the old days shone through, but it was brief and stunted. Top Dog was inevitably hoping he could mould the man into a proper hero again someday, though with the way the Rottweiler's plans were going...perhaps that in itself was wishful thinking too. Javier was peculiarly silent. Anyone who managed to catch a glimpse of him before he could notice would have likely seen a sour expression, aimed squarely at their courageous 'leader' in front of them. Eracervine knew his boyfriend of many years too well to be so easily fooled by a fake smile, but he knew better than to press the issue, especially if Top Dog was the cause. Starting an argument in the middle of an operation wasn't the best idea. They delved deeper into the facility, and it didn't take them very long to find a set of stairs leading further down, off to the side of a series of hallways. It was conveniently hidden behind a door that, for all intents and purposes, had looked ordinary. If they hadn't been combing the place thoroughly, they would have likely missed it. The stairs that lead down were wide and imposing and, once again, bore nothing but darkness at the bottom. It was handy that they had some flash-lights with them to aid their descent. The trio was mildly surprised to find that beneath the facility itself was a series of maintenance tunnels that stretched as far as the eye could see. Though, for Top Dog this wasn't much of a surprise-- when Eracervine had managed to pick apart the chemicals in the air and find the facility in the first place, the Rottweiler had run a background check. He had a lot of influence in government departments and that had allowed him access to blueprints and the history of purchases for various properties. He'd called in a few favours and found that the facility grounds stretched beyond its abandoned walls. Though a number of other industrial estates were built atop them, the network tunnels spanned a good couple of blocks of the city. Top Dog had no idea how they'd managed to acquire such planning permissions, and chasing the names of those who purchased the property were dead ends: the men listed were either fake or coincidentally deceased. "I can't believe there's something as long as this down here." Eracervine muttered, wandering with Wind Rider and Top Dog as they moved deeper into the tunnels. Large tubes stretched along the left hand wall, leading deeper into the underground parts of the facility, and numerous smaller tunnels stretched off on all sides with similar shaped pipes going down them. "What's in these pipes, Eracervine?" Top Dog asked rather seriously, running his finger along the exterior of one of them. The deer stood still for a moment as Wind Rider watched him out the corner of his eye. He reached out with his wing-arm for reassurance when Eracervine wobbled briefly on the spot, exerting his power. "The smaller pipes are just the usual city pollution. Gas, fossil fuels, energy...whatever, really," He began. "The large one, however...a chemical I can't identify." "It's not the one we've been looking for?" The Rottweiler quirked his eyebrow. "No. It's different...stranger," Eracervine hummed. "It might be one of the chemicals that creates the compound." "I'm inclined to agree...let's keep moving. Sooner or later we're going to find something in here." Top Dog strode forwards and Javier briefly tapped the deer's arm before following the canine. Eracervine moved to follow but then briefly wobbled again, staggering. He'd been overusing his power lately, especially when he was on patrol, and his downtime between going out all night in a car hadn't quite been enough. Though they were few and far between, the deer suffered from the occasional dizzy spell when he had to exert his power to the fullest. "Fang? You okay?" The avian glanced back at him and saw him hunched over. He began to move closer, but a blaring sound caught their attention and forced them to pause. Top Dog whirled around and saw a flashing light nearby, and above them, something whirred. Between them, through a slat in the ceiling, a thick metal chunk that was similar to that of a blast door began to slide down, powered by hydraulics. Wind Rider moved forwards, but then hesitated when the door above them churned and groaned. The three of them heard an almighty 'snap', and the door suddenly slammed down, making the very earth around them shake. The hydraulics must have rusted over time and were completely unusable. "Fang!" Wider Rider banged on the door with his wing-arms and looked to see if he could find a way through, but the door was wedged shut between them. The avian pressed his ear to the wall, but he couldn't hear anything. 'Eracervine, are you okay?', Top Dog spoke to Eracervine through his mind, casting his consciousness out to get a hold of him. He didn't hear anything for a moment, before a voice projected back to him. '...I'm fine, just a little startled.', He replied back, and Top Dog sighed through his nose. "He's fine." The canine assured the slightly panicking avian, before he projected his thoughts again. 'Don't do anything rash', he called out. 'Conserve your strength and find another way around. We'll meet up later.' The canine didn't wait for a reply, and he patted the avian's shoulder to get his attention. Wind Rider glanced back at him, relaxing somewhat at the relief of his love being safe. "Leave him. He'll find his way around, and I'd rather not have him struggle to remove that door. Come on." Top Dog effectively relayed what he had already told the deer, and he urged the avian forwards. Though Wind Rider looked anxious to leave, he eventually resigned to the idea and followed the other man down the tunnels. They walked for a considerable distance in silence with nothing but the occasional still functioning light overhead and the blinding glare of their flash-lights to accompany them. Wind Rider had a lot to say, but didn't know how to say it. He wasn't sure where to begin. His feelings about the situation had been brewing for quite some time, and he had plenty of opinions to share. Yet, he couldn't help but feel strangely intimidated by the man before him. Top Dog had a lot of power, and not just physically or mentally. He held a lot of influence. "You've been staring at me all night, Javier. I know I'm attractive, but still," Top Dog smirked to himself, albeit briefly, before he turned his head to the side to stare at the avian with the most serious expression he could muster. "If you have something to say, you should say it." Javier felt a little put on the spot, if only because that piercing gaze of the man before him didn't seem like that of a man. For just a fraction of a second, Wind Rider felt strangely inferior, like he were staring into the eyes of someone beyond a hero, beyond supernatural. The feeling faded as quickly as it arrived when the canine's eyes softened at the avian's briefly surprised expression. The canine paused, slowing his striding gait enough for him to turn and observe the avian before him, expecting him to speak. "I just..." Javier trailed off for a moment as he attempted to find the words. "You are a hard man to understand, Top Dog...Hank. I can't figure out what your angle is." "My angle? I'm being a paragon of justice and a hero to all. Is there any other angle I should be taking?" Top Dog seemed almost aloof as he turned and began to walk again, but he deliberately kept a slow pace as they shared their conversation. "Right, sure. You can toot about justice all you want, but the things you do...the things you've done, to me, to Wayne, to Joey...those aren't the things that a hero does. They protect and help people, not manipulate and scheme...you know that, right?" "Of course. I believe we had this conversation before, Javier...about the greater good and all that, right?" Top Dog glanced at him again. "I don't think this time will be any different." "See, that's what I initially thought...but I still can't get over it. Even if you think it's for the greater good, to take advantage of a kid like that...? There must be something else at play. Some other game you're playing," Javier retorted. "The way you hold yourself, the way you're so confident...it doesn't strike me as someone who's a leader. It looks like a man who's got nothing to lose." Javier astute observation made Top Dog pause, if only for a moment. He hadn't expected the avian to be so perceptive, but then he was a quick-witted individual, more than he let on. The Rottweiler sighed through his nose and turned to face him again, aware that he couldn't quite keep his intentions so close to his chest any more-- not if Wind Rider was being so brazen. "Alright, fine," Top Dog began. "If you must know, then I might as well start from the beginning. To put it bluntly...I'm dying. Well, close to, anyway." "Wait, what?" The avian couldn't believe his ear-holes. He assumed, at best, that Top Dog was making a very morbid joke at his expense, but the serious look on his face made it clear that this was no comedy act. "My mental powers are getting too much for my mind to handle. In about 6 months, give or take, I will probably be catatonic and living on life support for the rest of my life. I've already written a will to sign me off of it when the time comes, though I'm hoping to bow out a little more gracefully before then." The canine continued, and Wind Rider felt something that could best be described as a pang of guilt. He resented Hank, sure, but he never wanted him dead. There was no denying what Top Dog did for the city, or at least tried to do. "So, what-- you're just going to leave everyone to clean up after you?" Javier bitterly remarked, and quickly realised that it was a horrible thing to say. Top Dog could see the remorseful expression on his face, so he didn't rub the avian's beak in it. "Of course not," He assured him. "I want to make sure every loose end is tied up first. Most of my plans are laid out, everything I need to do...I just need to make sure Joey gets the life that he wants. When that's over and done, I can leave this world knowing I have done everything I can." Top Dog was good at spewing bullshit, enough for Javier to believe it. The Rottweiler had neglected to disclose his resurrection plans and the potential desire to rebond with Joey in another form. He had even neglected the mention a few other minute details of his plan, though it wasn't for Javier to know. Such things were best kept a secret. The avian spluttered for a moment, unsure what to say, before he dropped his wings to his side and hung his head. "Does anyone else know?" Javier asked quietly. "Frey does, if only because I trusted him to do a scan on me. He might be...quirky, but he's the best scientist I know." "And even he can't do anything for you?" "Some things are simply out of our control, Wind Rider. You know that." Top Dog was right, though Javier didn't want to admit it. The thought of all that resentment inside of him suddenly melted away at the realisation that Top Dog didn't even have long left. Javier had no intention of helping him tick off his bucket list, but he'd be lying if he said he wasn't sad to see him go. "So what're you going to do? About Joey?" The avian pressed, and Top Dog merely shrugged, casting his eyes down. "For the time being, distance myself. Though cruel, he needs to naturally connect with someone else. I think that if he were to get too close to me before I die, then he'll be stuck in a rut for the rest of his life-- maybe even lose the will to be a hero," The canine sounded almost remorseful. "It's his dream. It would be selfish of me to indulge myself with him and ruin his career." "That's...remarkably noble, even for you Hank." Javier's voice sounded soft, which is more or less what Top Dog wanted. A little bit of sympathy went a long way sometimes. "Well, what can I say? I'm a noble man, even if you don't think so." Top Dog sauntered closer a little, reaching out with a hand to toy with the hem of Javier's doublet. His lidded gaze told the avian all he needed to know about the canine's intentions in that moment. Though Javier didn't immediately reject him, he did feel a little put on the spot. It wasn't that Hank was unattractive, but there was no chemistry between them, especially considering his irritation at Top Dog's behaviour. Despite that, he didn't have to heart to push him away, if only because he knew Hank didn't have that long left. Perhaps he felt guilty, or maybe he just didn't want to hurt his feelings. Top Dog coaxed the avian a little closer to the well, until the avian's back was pressed up against the pipes, which were thankfully cool to the touch. The canine's hands roamed over Javier's hips before reaching up to his chest, popping the buttons on his doublet with a remarkable dexterity, taking him no less than a few seconds to make it halfway down Javier's body, parting the garment aside to reveal his rich feathered chest. "Are you sure we should, Hank? Aren't we on a mission?" Javier reminded him as the canine's hands continued to dance down the avian's body, until he popped the final button at the bottom. He sunk his hands into the avian's feathers and ran his fingers up towards Javier's chest, making the man shudder. Top Dog knew how people ticked, so it didn't surprise him to find that Hank was experienced in making him tremble. "The mission can wait." Top Dog insisted, moving his head down and running his muzzle across the avian's neck, burying it into his feathers and peppering the flesh beneath with hungry, strangely passionate kisses. Top Dog could be considerably dominating when he wanted to be, and that showed in the way he manhandled Javier, in the way he kissed him and groped his body. As Top Dog stroked and roamed, his hands moved lower, sliding in around the waistband of the relatively baggy shorts that Javier always wore to accompany his musketeer outfit and leave his legs exposed. He reached around to the middle, fidgeting with the button of the shorts until it finally came undone, revealing the garments beneath. The canine's hand pushed immediately down into the depths of the fabric, wedged between Javier's jock strap and his shorts, and he curled his fingers around the prominent bulge in the avian's front. Javier quivered against him and let out a quiet groan, his eyes lidding over just a little. Javier could tell that Hank was aroused-- if it weren't already obvious from his advanced, the bulge in the front of his tight spandex suit was a clear indication of how much he wanted this. He and Hank had never really dabbled in the past-- if anything, Hank had kept a professional distance, aware of Javier's relationship with Eracervine. Yet, here Hank was, intent on having sex with him. Javier couldn't figure out why. Without the tension of the waistline to keep them up, the avian's shorts fell to the floor around his talons, and he expertly stepped out of them, kicking them aside. Top Dog moved a hand down, shifting Javier so that he stood to the side whilst he cocked up the avian's leg, holding it firmly in his grip and pressing himself up against the bird's behind. It was an awkward position, but one that Top Dog seemed quite intent to perform. Javier teetered on the one talon, but he used the pipes up against his shoulder for support. Top Dog soon realised he hadn't even gotten undressed, but Javier could already feel the thick bulge pressing up between his cheeks and grazing his inner thigh. He glanced at the canine out the corner of his eye and saw his lustful gaze, the glint in his eye that seemed to originate from his need to control. Satisfied that the position was going to work, Top Dog loosened his grip on Javier's leg for the moment and reached around his back, grasping the zipper and yanking it down towards the small of his back. He unclipped his cape around the front and it fell unceremoniously to the floor, and he shrugged out of his suit, letting it slip around his shoulders. As he moved it past his hips and down towards his knees, Javier got a good look at a member he had seen on only a few occasions before: 8 inches of thick canine meat, knotted and anatomically correct, sat at a rigid and firm horizontal angle, pulsing powerfully in the air and bobbing up and down with each turgid throb. His arousal was obvious, given that he was full mast and the base of his cock had swelled to form the iconic, bulbous knot that canines seemed to bear. Top Dog moved back into position again and hoisted Javier's leg up for the second time, pushing the tapering end of his canine cock between the avian's cheeks. The nature of a jock strap allowed for his behind to be more or less exposed at all times, but his cock remained firmly covered, situated in a strip of fabric that cradled his member effortlessly. The avian tensed as he felt the tip slip in up against his pucker, and Hank didn't hesitate to push, piercing the entrance and sinking himself inside. Javier let out a grunt, closing his eyes and feeling his inner walls instinctively spasm to accommodate the impressive girth of the member before him. Javier was no stranger to anal sex, considering the relatively open relationship he and Fang possessed, but he hadn't quite had a canine inside him in many months. He squirmed slightly on the spot, his tongue digging against the concrete floor beneath them as Top Dog let out an audible groan of approval, pushing his hips a little too eagerly forwards and sinking himself in deeper, causing Javier's innards to squeeze again. Neither of them had any words to exchange. For Top Dog, this was yet another pursuit of power, a reason to control someone else, and he was getting off on the thought of being dominant and in power. For Javier, it was merely just another means to an end-- the delicate pleasure of sex, even if it were with someone he didn't quite enjoy all that much. It was for that reason alone that neither one of them could say anything, and instead communicated through passionate grunts and quiet, delicate moans. Hank began in on a steady, yet rapid rhythm, his hips bouncing back and forth by barely an inch or two as he massaged Javier's inner walls with his cock-- though it was fairer to say that he was simply enjoying the feeling of kneading his knot against the avian's squeezing ring. Each buck and thrust coaxed wetter and more audible movements from them, causing the air to be filled with the sounds of their lewd sex, intermingled with their heavy panting and subtle moans of pleasure. With his free hand, Top Dog reached up towards Javier's crotch, toying with the fabric of the jock strap until he managed to wrangle it to the side, exposing the twitching erection hidden beneath. Javier's thick cock immediately bounced to full mast and hung relatively horizontal, the leaking pre-cum from the end of his length a clear indication of how much his body was enjoying this, even if his expression looked a little wary. Top Dog resisted the urge to grasp it with his hand and give it a few leisurely tugs-- the idea of Javier climaxing hands free would be a much more interesting sight. Top Dog's laboured thrusts soon grew heavy, and his breathing grew harsher. It was clear he was reaching an inevitably peak, given the way his hips gyrated and his knot squished and pressed dangerously against Javier's hole, threatening to stretch it open and tie with him right there. Every other thrust was accentuated by a huff and a very canine-esque pant, and even Javier's own tiny groans were growing more intense. "How close are you?" Top Dog demanded between panting breaths, humping his hips as hard as he could. "Close. Just-- Nnf...Just don't knot me, okay? We can't afford to be stuck." Javier grunted out. "I know." Top Dog muttered, though he couldn't help but gyrate his hips against Javier's behind regardless, kneading the knot teasingly against his hole. Javier huffed quietly with frustration, sighing through the nose-holes in his beak. Top Dog sensed his desperation and tugged back, beginning to thrust harder again. It was just what Wind Rider needed. His breathing grew heavier as his cock bounced up and down, restricted ever so slightly by the jockstrap hugging the right hand side of his member, and the milking of his prostate eventually drove him to his orgasm. With a delighted, embarrassing chirp and a toe-curling shudder, Javier's muscles relaxed in an instant and his cock bobbed and throbbed powerfully. After a few moments, a thick rope of cum shot from the end of his member, splattering across the concrete floor and narrowly missing his discarded shorts. One string followed another, and then another, until the floor next to them was stained with various stands of thick, gooey seed. Javier wasn't the only one to orgasm, however. As the avian's innards squeezed and clenched with each turgid spurt, Top Dog's own member was being milked, and he couldn't hold out anymore. Not too long after Javier climaxed, Hank did as well, painting the avian's insides with a thick film of seed that oozed from around his cock and onto his knot, where it dripped down the underside onto his exposed balls and onto the floor between them, the odd droplet catching on Top Dog's suit. The two of them groaned and sighed as the orgasmic pleasure rolled over them, leaving their bodies humming with their union, the tingle of desire that had once prickled their skin slowly fading and being replaced by the rush of endorphins. The two of them quietly panted, unsure what to say to one-another, before Top Dog eventually pulled back. He cleared his throat and turned away from Javier, who lowered his leg and shifted a little on the spot, regaining his balance. His ass felt slightly sore, though it was bearable. That wet feeling between his cheeks that trickled down his inner thigh might be a problem, however. "Get changed and let's keep moving." Top Dog muttered, having already tugged his jumpsuit back up around his shoulders, and was bending down to pick up his cape. Javier eyed him for a moment as he dexterously scooped up his shorts with a talon, stepping into them. He didn't know what to say. The two of them continued onward, with the realisation of Top Dog's deteriorating health looming over their heads. ---------- x x x ---------- Getting in the back way proved to be more difficult than striding through the front entrance, as Joey and Wayne soon came to find out. Their first hurdle was the gate, which was thankfully not that much of a problem for Outliner, who's incredible strength and supernatural tattoos helped to shred the fence open like it was made of paper, allowing him and the rodent inside. The back door, however, proved to be a little more difficult, though not in a traditional sense. Though Outliner could open it up without much of an issue-- and he did so, without hesitation-- breaking their way in had set off alarms throughout the facility. Though neither Joey nor Wayne were hindered by the alarm, they were fairly certain that Top Dog and the other two might run into difficulties, which worried the two of them. Unfortunately, neither could do anything about it, and they continued onwards. Wayne could see that something was on Joey's mind. Though the young rodent was doing a good job of masking his feelings, it was clear from the way he walked and his expression when he thought others weren't watching that he was upset, though it wasn't anything to do with Wayne himself-- at least, he hoped not. Instead, he seemed to have grown a little bitter when Top Dog suggested splitting teams. Perhaps Joey wanted to be with Top Dog, but even Wayne could notice the canine distancing himself over the past couple of months. Wayne had done his best to comfort the boy, but Joey wasn't receptive to him. If anything, he brushed him off where possible. Their journey through the facility brought them to a set of stairs leading down into a series of underground tunnels, and though they weren't aware of it, it was a different set of steps that the other group had descended down, and by extension put them in a different part of the tunnels-- though not altogether too far away from the other group, who were already further ahead. A silence lapsed over the two of them as they walked, with Joey taking the lead by only half a metre or so. The way he held himself as he walked made it clear he was angry about something. Wayne had a son of his own, similar in age to the rodent before him. Because of that, he felt a degree of familiarity, or of bonding to the boy, though he couldn't say that the feeling was mutual. "Joey..." Wayne began apprehensively, causing the rodent to slow for just a fraction of a second. "Is everything okay? You look upset." "I'm okay." Joey turned his head enough to see Wayne out the corner of his eye, and he offered him a wide, characteristic grin. Inside, however, he was angry. To say that he was resentful would be an understatement. Joey was no stranger to danger-- the explosion at the old Hideout, as well as the countless number of critical moments he'd been a part of him had strengthened his resolve in the face of bloodshed and injuries. He'd sat with sobbing people as his body slowly healed them, had to hold the hands of wailing kids younger than himself who were too hurt to even sit up. He'd been through it all. Despite that, however, he was vulnerable-- at least, emotionally he was. Top Dog had been a man who had lifted Joey up from the confines of his day-to-day hero work into something more, something that mattered. He had become less of an extra in someone else's life and became a valid, real hero, enough to make his parents both proud and terrified for him, enough for him to be needed. He wanted that-- to be needed so much that he became an important figure. It wasn't the power or the money that drove him, but that emotional yearning to feel wanted, to be helpful. He wanted to make everyone safe, if he could. Top Dog had helped him to do that. But now he was pushing him away, and Joey couldn't understand why. He hadn't changed, he hadn't done anything differently. He had been as helpful as he could muster, but more and more often lately Top Dog neglected to invite him on patrols. The others avoided him like the plague, as if he were diseased or too much to handle-- all but Wayne, who clung to him like a lost puppy, an overbearing father figure threatening to suffocate him. Joey wasn't cruel; he didn't want to push Wayne away, but the man's obvious over-protectiveness was beginning to stifle him. It felt as if Top Dog didn't need him any more. He had no-one to really confide in. He didn't want to go back to his old 'job'. It hadn't taken long for that bitter resentment and frustration to fester inside of him, growing larger and larger the more he didn't voice his opinion. "I can tell you're hurt about something. It's no good letting it bottle up like that," Outliner quietly pointed out. "Why don't you just talk to me? Maybe I can help you somehow, speak to Top Dog or--" "No," Joey retorted perhaps a little too fast, his expression twisting into a scowl for just a moment, before he smoothed it over. "I'm fine, Outliner. Really." "You don't have to lie to me. I just want to help you." Outliner muttered, and Joey grew more frustrated. He could tell he'd hurt Wayne's feelings now, too. He reached up to grasped his head, resisting the urge to rip his fur out. "Just...just leave me alone!" The rat cried out, bellowing at the man at the top of his lungs before he ducked into a nearby narrow tunnel, one of the many offshoots that seemed to line the walls. He just needed to get away. He needed some time to himself, to think things over. Outliner spluttered and tried to run after him, barrelling down the hallway as fast as he could. Wayne, however, was thick and heavy, and he couldn't keep up with someone as agile as Joey. By the time he reached the end of the narrow tunnel, Joey was gone. He was met with three other routes in a crossroads and the pig had no idea where the boy had gone. Joey had disappeared down one of the other tunnels. If he was honest, he wasn't even looking where he was going-- he just kept running and running, taking any random, wild turn in an effort to get as far away from Outliner was possible. It wasn't Wayne's fault; Joey knew he meant well, but he just couldn't stand him being so overbearing, putting pressure on him to voice his feelings. After he'd ran for a few minutes or so, he began to slow down. He was sure he was away from him, or at least he hoped so. He took a moment to try and calm down, pressing himself up against the wall and sinking himself down to the floor. His chest was heaving and his breath came out in short, heavy pants. He'd overdone it, just a little bit-- he felt as if his lungs were on fire from all that running. Thankfully, after a minute or so, his breathing began to normalise. A scuffle to Joey's right caught his attention, the sound of boots scraping against the floor, as if someone's movements were sluggish, or at least lazy. Joey sucked in a breath and hoped it wouldn't be Outliner looking for him. The rat boy slowly pushed himself to his feet and shuffled towards the end of the tunnel, where the sound was originating from. He hesitated before peeking his head around the corner. To his surprise, however, there was someone else entirely. Hugging the wall and sluggishly dragging one of their legs along with Fang, whose laboured breathing and hunched body were all indicative of an injury. Joey's anxiety about everything briefly melted away for a moment, replaced by a fervent concern. "Eracervine! Are you okay?" He moved away from the tunnel without a second thought, and the deer before him visibly halted and tensed at the sound of his voice. He raised his head to see the rodent standing in front of him, clad in his usual bright yellow spandex suit, and the deer grunted, straightening himself up. "I'm fine. Blast door went off not too long ago, set loose some debris. I just hurt my leg, that's all." His voice sounded a little raspy, and Joey could see there was a little more to it. "Are you hurt anywhere else?" Joey asked tentatively and took a step forward, and he winced as Fang very clearly took a step back. "Just my head, that's all. I had to overdo it clearing out some of the debris to get my leg clear, that's all." He replied, offering something akin to a wry smile, though there was anxiety in his eyes, hidden just beneath the surface. "Okay...sit down, then," Joey suggested. "I can help you, but it's better if we don't move." "...Right." Fang had no reason to distrust him or not believe what he said, yet he couldn't help but feel wary. It wasn't that he didn't trust Joey, but more that he didn't trust himself. There was a reason he went in a high security prison for so long. Slowly, the deer relaxed himself to the ground, and Joey moved to sit beside him. The deer was visibly tense, but he didn't make any motions to move away. They sat there in silence for what felt like too long. Fang could already feel Joey's powers working as his headache eased and the stabs of pain in his leg began to subside, though the rush of chemicals that his body produced to ease the pain he felt were still coursing through his system, making him feel strangely sluggish and a little pleasant. Joey said nothing and simply looked down at his knees for a while, contemplating something. Fang didn't think to ask him what it was. After a while, Joey began to shift. He reached out, albeit slowly, and touched with the deer's knee, pressing against the trousers he wore beneath his traditional Chinese robe. Fang tensed quite visibly, but he didn't move, if only because he was torn between reigning in his own desires and not hurting Joey's feelings by rejecting him, whether those feelings were potentially romantic or not. "What are you doing?" Fang asked quietly, thinking it was better to ask rather than physically deny him. Joey's hand didn't move, though his fingers did clench. "My healing power works better when I'm touching someone," Joey began, leaning closer even so slightly, his fingers curling around to the side, closer to the deer's inner leg. "Even better when...someone's inside of me, or if I'm in them..." As soon as those words passed Joey's lips, Fang retreated, scooting away form him on the floor until there was a decent distance between them-- at least long enough to be out of arm's reach. Joey flinched and his hand hung in the air, as if he were reaching out for Fang, expecting him to come closer. Yet, the deer didn't move: he kept his distance and stared, wide-eyed, at the rat's behaviour. "Why?" Joey asked quietly, hanging his hand as his arm grew limp. He scooted forwards, slowly and carefully, crawling his way towards Fang with a lidded, saddened gaze. The deer couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. The rat boy was acting strange. "Kid, it's not appropriate. I...you know what I went to jail for, I--" "I'm not a kid," The boy childishly blurted out, curling his hands into fists against the floor. "I'm not. I'm..." His mind was foggy. All his bitter emotions boiled up to the surface and delayed his thoughts, making them hazy. He felt disoriented, but beneath all that was a bubbling rage, an anger that stemmed from months of rejection. Why couldn't they just accept him? Inside him, something uncurled, like a snake slithering out from its den. He crept up his body and he felt an unfamiliar clenching around something inside of him, something new. He raised his eyes and a felt a raw, unbridled power surge through him, igniting the anger that twisted in his gut. He felt something in him-- a vivid, profound snap. Fang's eyes widened at Joey's dark expression, and in an instant he felt all his strength leave him. His muscles refused to obey his command and his eyes felt heavy. He sluggishly attempted to move and found himself floundering, albeit briefly, before his body slid. He crumpled onto his side, laid across the length of the tunnel as Joey crept closer, his eyes never leaving Fang's face. The deer was unable to tear his gaze away from the eerie, simmering anger beneath those young eyes. "J...Joey..." Fang rapsed out the boy's name, unable to even speak properly as his chest heaved up and down. It was as if he'd been walking in the desert for hours and hours and his body could take no more. Even curling his fingers seemed like an impossible task. Joey got closer enough to Fang for him to reach out, lifting the flap of Fang's traditional robe to expose his waistline and his black formal pants. The boy didn't hesitate to reach out, tucking his fingers into the elastic band of the trousers and pulling them down at the front. Fang was surprisingly naked underneath, his humanoid member hanging to the side, flaccid and limp. Joey tucked the pants underneath the deer's balls and grasped the limp cock with his hand. Fang was quite literally powerless to resist. He couldn't even move his mouth and tongue enough to tell him to stop, couldn't even lift a finger to wrench him away. The more that feeling set in his bones, the worse it felt. Deeper and deeper that fatigue sunk, and heavier his chest felt with each rise and fall. The feeling amplified when he felt the wet warmth of Joey's tongue and lips running along the length of his member. His heart didn't have the strength to pump blood to his cock for him to get hard. Joey was growing frustrated, his efforts to get Fang hard proving futile. Even as he clumsily pumped and stroked the member, it remained limp and small in his hands, refusing to grow under his touch. He knew what Fang's desires were-- he had researched him when Top Dog had originally spoke of getting him out of prison. He knew he was into it. He couldn't understand why he wasn't reacting. His face flicked up to Fang's face and all the colour drained from his features. Fang looked lifeless-- limp and unmoving, barely breathing. A panic swept over Joey that pushed down his bitter anger, his body coursing with concern and adrenaline. His stomach quivered and the strange clenching inside of him suddenly vanished, and whatever was in him curled back up. Looking back on it, he could have sworn he heard a peculiar hissing noise in the back of his mind. As soon as that clenching inside of him faded, Fang seemed to move. He sucked in a deep breath as if he'd just been given CPR, and he shifted his hands, curling his fingers. Joey touched his hands to Fang's flesh, one hand on his pelvis near his crotch whilst the other curled around the deer's own hand. The physical contact helped to push Joey's healing properties through his body, and with every passing second he looked better. "I...I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm..." Joey knew this was his fault, somehow. Something he did caused this. He couldn't explain it, but he knew it to be true. Fang groaned quietly and sat up, his senses and his strength returning to him just in time to see Joey's head hanging low. The rodent's quiet, tender sniffles echoed around the empty tunnel and the deer felt a pang of guilt. "Shh...it's okay." The deer leant forwards, curling an arm around the rat's body as he used his other one to tuck his member away. Now wasn't the best time. His other arm soon joined the first and Joey instinctively buried himself into the deer's chest, his shoulders visibly shaking a little. Fang had dealt with crying kids in his time-- given the situation, Joey was likely just scared and shocked. Even Fang himself didn't know what the boy had done, but one thing was for certain: it was definitely the rodent's doing. "Let's just sit here a while, okay? Just relax." Fang suggested, and Joey quietly nodding, humming his approval. Fang shifted and scooted backwards until his back hit the wall, and Joey curled up beside him, cuddling into his chest. Fang would have normally tensed at the thought, but that strangely didn't seem to matter. He felt marginally proud of himself for restraining his desires enough to comfort an upset child. ---------- x x x ---------- "I think we're nearing something. Be on your guard." Top Dog, with flash light in hand, slowly crept down the tunnel. At the far end was an ominous door, an apparently end to their journey, illuminated by a sterile light that shone above. Neither of them knew what lay beyond, but they were hoping they might find some answers. Top Dog paused, however, when he heard a thundering of footsteps to his right. Javier halted behind him, bringing his wings up and crouching himself into a low stance, in the event they were under attack. From a side tunnel amongst many on their left hand side, the noise grew louder and louder, until it seemed to inevitably reach them. To their surprise, a pink-skinned pig with black tattoos barrelled into view, whirling on the spot and looking around. His eyes met with Top Dog and he froze. "...Outliner? What are you doing here? Where's Joey?" Top Dog demanded to know, but before Wayne could speak, they heard yet more footsteps from a different tunnel. As if on cue, Fang and Joey appeared from one of the narrow tunnels. Javier sighed with relief and moved past Top Dog to hug his boyfriend of many years, but Joey hung back. His gaze met with Top Dog and Outliner respectively, before he looked away. It was clear he didn't want to talk, and Outliner's mutual silence made the Rottweiler wary. Something was amiss, or something had happened that they didn't want to share. "Well...I suppose we'll debrief when we're done here. I'm guessing all the tunnels intersect, so...our destination is that door." The canine pointed towards the far end of the tunnel, and he moved in front to take the lead as everyone else soon followed. Joey brought up the rear, if only because he didn't want to get into a conversation with Outliner, whose feelings already appeared to be hurt. They eventually reached the door. Top Dog hesitated briefly, before curling his fingers around the handle and tugging it down. With a sharp 'clunk' and an eerie creak, the door teetered open to reveal a well lit room beyond. It seemed to be some sort of underground warehouse. At the far end were several open areas that were piled high with boxes, suitcases and all manner of other things, but the most important thing to note was the obvious stretch of tunnel directly opposite them, with a smooth bottom. Sitting there was a truck, its back end pressed up against the edge of the lower down platform to make for easy loading and unloading. And there, in the back of the truck, were several gleaming steel canisters with a hazard symbol slapped on the front in bright yellow. That was what they were looking for. Top Dog couldn't be sure if chemicals were being made here, but they were definitely being smuggled out. "Outliner, get the truck. Wind Rider, sweep the perimeter. Eracervine, be ready for anything." Top Dog insisted, before he took a step forwards. He branched out his mind, snaking it through all the nearby rooms. He was quite certain that no-one was here, but he has expected at least a bodyguard or two, especially for precious chemicals such as these. Outliner did as he commanded, stepping towards the truck. He hopped down on the left hand side and moved towards the front, intending to move around the side and get into the driver's seat. That's when all hell broke loose. With a cry, Outliner was suddenly sent flying by an unknown force that was obscured by the truck itself. The porcine man was flung across the room and landed in a heap amongst some wooden crates in the corner, briefly winded from the blow. That worried Top Dog immensely: Outliner was a strong, sturdy individual who couldn't be so easily knocked back. Furthermore, the Rottweiler had already done a sweep. Who was powerful enough to not be detected? A rumbling came from beneath them, and Top Dog reacted. "Move!" He cried out, and he leapt backwards as Joey hopped to the side and Eracervine rolled forwards, whirling himself around just in time to see thorny vines erupt from where they were standing. The vines flailed around, thick and plentiful, slapping around the ground and waving dangerously in their direction. Yet, they didn't go much further than that. They hesitated after a while before abruptly retreating, leaving the trio bewildered. Javier was already on the other side of the room attempting to help Outliner when their attacker revealed himself. A sharp thunk sounded throughout the room as their attacker moved up onto the top of the truck, standing by the lip. Top Dog raised his head to see a man covered head to toe in black and dark green, a hood wrapped over the top of his head and a tattered cape billowing behind him. His garb looked military in appearance, but it was clearly custom made. There were several pockets for knives and other gadgets, and his fingerless gloves revealed strange dark green furred fingers. He hopped down from the edge of the truck, and beneath him appeared thorny vines. They curled into the back of the truck and scooped up one of the canisters, bringing it forwards. "Sorry, but I won't let you have these. Bosses orders." The man remarked quietly, his voice low and deep, grizzly and middle-aged. He reached down towards his waist and scooped up what appeared to be a gas mask, strapping it over the front of a defined, yet covered muzzle. "Wait...thorns..." Top Dog narrowed his eyes. "Don't tell me...Rose? Is that you?" The figure hesitated, if only for a moment. "It's Thorn." He bitterly replied, before the vines curled tighter around the canister's edge. The razor sharp thorns eventually pierced the steel and the canister shattered, noxious gas filling the air in a hazy fog of pinkish smoke. Top Dog snapped a hand up to his mouth in an attempt to keep the gas out. "Eracervine!" He called out, before sucking in his breath and holding it, not wanting to let the gas affect his brain, especially one as sensitive as his. To add insult to injury, Thorn tossed a small smoke bomb onto the floor, filling the room with even more fog then before. Their vision was obscured, and their senses were dulled. Even with all that, they could hear the revving of the engine from the truck and the sharp 'thunk' as the truck door shut. He was getting away. Eracervine tried to concentrate and push his thoughts out, focusing on the chemical in front of him. Doing so whilst holding his breath was proving to be a challenge, but he was somehow managing regardless. The problem was catching what had already entered people's systems, and delicately too-- both Javier and Outliner were affected. He swept his power over them and collected up the signature of the chemicals, before he willed them to vanish. He felt a twinge in his brain and his body flexed, but it seemed to have worked. A dizziness rushed over him and he sunk to his knees, overworked and exhausted. Top Dog lowered his hand and sighed, glad to be able to breath. The rumbling sounds of an engine couldn't be heard anymore-- much to the canine's frustration, Thorn had got away, along with the chemicals they so desperately needed. Hank bitterly growled to himself, their vision still obscured by the fog. "Roll call!" He called out, and everyone knew what to do. "Here." Outliner coughed out, his breath a little raspy, his voice a little winded. "Here." Javier called out shortly thereafter. "Also here." Fang said from Top Dog's right. A silence fell over them. "Joey?" Top Dog called out, his stomach twisting as he was met with no response. "Joey!" "I don't see him." Javier replied, the smoke still getting in their way. "Fang, do you?" Hank turned his head in the direction of where he'd heard the deer before. "...No. There's just 4 of us here. You, me, Javier, Wayne..." Fang muttered. "Fuck. Did he get in the truck?" The realisation of that fell over them. Joey was missing. And it was their fault. ---------- x x x ---------- Thorn sighed tiredly as he killed the engine, the truck parked in the middle of nowhere far away from the city, at a small service station. His destination: Millwalk, a medium sized town that was a good 20 miles away. Unfortunately, the truck guzzled up fuel like no tomorrow. He'd had to stop, though he was certain he wasn't followed. He heaved himself out the driver's seat and yanked down his hood, the gas mask already discarded in the passenger seat. He pulled down the balaclava that obscured his muzzle and exposed his face, running his gloved hands over his lapine features. He stuck his hands into the sides of his collar and pulled out two large floppy ears, sighing with relief at being able to stretch them out. He stepped towards the gas pump, the bright light overhead illuminating his midnight black fur and the startling emerald colour of his eyes, like two brilliant gemstones. He reached for the pump and stopped, fingers curling into a fist. Clenching his jaw, he strode around towards the back of the truck and reached for the handle, tugging it down and pulling the door open. From inside, a figure scrambled and scuffed against the iron door, startled. "Why're you acting like the victim? You're the one who jumped in the back of the van-- I don't kidnap kids. That's villain work." The man grunted in response to the figure's movements. He stepped back and jerked a thumb, gesturing for the person to get out. After a moment of hesitation and silence, the figure moved, shifting across the floor of the truck bed and out the back. There stood Joey, his yellow suit a stark contrast to Thorn's practical gear. The rabbit shook his head and closed the door. "Find your own way home, kid," He muttered. "Though I'd try the phone in the gas station. See if your hero buddies can give you a ride." With that, he returned to the pump, pulling out the hole and nozzle and moving it towards he back of the truck. He popped the cap and stuck the nozzle inside, glancing to the meter as he filled the tank. In all that time, Joey didn't move. "Y...You're Rose, aren't you?" Joey asked quietly. "I remember you. Popular hero who grew plants as far as the eye could see...until..." "If you know the story, then don't remind me," Thorn cut him off, glancing to him out the corner of his eye. "What's your angle, kid?" "I-I'm not a kid. It's J-- Restorative Rodent." He retorted. Thorn snorted a little in response. "What a name." He remarked dryly, and Joey's lips pursed into a grimace, before he smoothed out his features. "Take me with you." Joey demanded, and the rabbit tutted in response. "Why? You're a hero, I'm a mercenary. We're pretty different, you and me. If anything, I'm the enemy." Thorn remarked. "Because..." Joey cast his gaze down. "Something's happening to me. Something I can't control, and...I don't know how to explain it. I got angry and things...changed. My powers changed." Thorn paused, if only for a moment, to observe him. Joey couldn't tell what the man was thinking. "I still don't see why I should help you." The rabbit replied, though his voice was slightly softer. "I can tell you what the heroes are up to. What Top Dog's up to. If it'll help. In return, you can help me." Joey suggested. His heart was pounding. This went against everything he stood for, yet he felt as if he needed to do-- rather, he wanted to. Thorn observed him again, albeit quietly. There was an eerie silence, a tension that fell over the two of them. The man sighed. "Fuck it," He muttered. "Get in the passenger's side. I'll go pay the gas." With a grin, Joey turned and did as he was told, heading around the side of the truck and climbing into the passenger seat, placing the gas mask atop the dashboard out of the way. He watched as Thorn disappeared into the store, returning moments later, carrying a number of snacks. He got into the driver's side and tossed them onto the dashboard, making a quick gesture for Joey to take what he wanted. "So, Joey Kendall," Thorn drawled, making it clear that he was fully aware of who the boy was. "Your powers are going haywire, right?" "Y-Yeah," Joey was momentarily taken aback by the use of his real name but tried to not let it get to him. "I got really angry and it was like...something inside me changed." "Mm," Thorn hummed. "Probably because you're too young to fully understand the capabilities of your powers. How do you know that your gifts are simply healing?" "W...What makes you think they aren't?" Joey asked tentatively. "Call it a hunch," Thorn grunted. "What you want to do...what you want to know...it's going to require a lot of self-searching. A lot of sacrifice. I can help you, but you have to really want it. Do you want it?" Thorn turned the engine over as he stared down at the boy, who looked up into the rabbit's piercing gaze. He gulped, before he nodded. Their gaze never broke, and Thorn seemed satisfied. "Seatbelt." He commanded, and Joey twisted his upper body to clip himself in. Thorn turned the wheel and they trundled out of the service station, heading for Millwalk. A new chapter was about to begin, for everyone involved.