Two older wolves sat in their small living room at the crack of dawn, having slept very little. Their child was stolen from them once again. It was an incomprehensible level of cruelty that they weren’t even aware anyone could possess. Infinite had taunted them with their very own kin, and then took him away to be torn apart with his oversharpened claws. Or maybe he would use the power of that chest gem to flay their innocent boy alive. Regardless of the methods used, there was little possibility that he would remain amongst the living after whatever agony that evil hellspawn decided to inflict on him. The dark cyan wolf did his best to maintain his composure while holding his wife as she wept.
 
Their front door being opened had both canines up and on the defense. To their disbelief, Gadget rounded the corner and stopped in surprise, having not expected anyone to be awake at such an ungodly hour. He stared with doe eyes, and both older wolves returned the look. The dark cyan wolf warily approached the crimson canine.
 
“You smell like our son... Infinite did a really good job with this illusion.”
 
Gadget rolled his eyes and he put a palm against his forehead.
 
“Dad. I said I would come back, I’m sorry I didn’t have time to explain much. Infinite repaired some major roads because some smaller towns were too cut off to deliver resources, and I was helping package stuff up for transport. It was time sensitive because they were low on supplies. I thought I’d come early to surprise you all and make breakfast… but I didn’t think you’d be up.”
 
The female wolf was out of her seat and squishing her son.
 
“We could barely sleep after what happened! You were barely even here- then you were taken, and it’s been a nightmare all over again, Gadget! How are you still alive? And how did you even escape?!”
 
The rookie resistance member patted her back to ease her worries.
 
“Sorry… I should have stayed longer. I’ve gotten too used to being on the go. I didn’t escape, he brought me here because I told him to. If he’d wanted to keep me captive, I wouldn’t be here. I can do whatever I want. I’m out all day during the week, but I want to spend every weekend with you guys.”
 
“If you insist you can do whatever you want, then why aren’t you coming back to us for good? Why are you going back to that demon when he caused all of this in the first place?!”
 
Gadget growled in annoyance.
 
“You think I don’t know that? He caused this, and he’s trying to fix it now. You can’t just expect me to sit around here while people are still suffering. I’m not just lounging around his fortress; I’m only there to sleep, okay? I would never get anything done if I had to transport myself everywhere. I know you’re worried, but you need to think of all the people who aren’t as fortunate as us. Would you want to be left to suffer by people who made it out in good shape?”
 
The female canine sighed and cupped her son’s cheek.
 
“I see your point… I was just worked up from worrying all night. I’m sorry for snapping at you, sweet cheeks. I just want you safe.”
 
“I know, mom. But things are gonna get better from here, I promise.”
___________________________________
 
Gadget eased into his routine of helping out during the week, and spending the weekend with his family. He’d managed to reconnect with a couple of pre-war friends from his high school, and hung out with them once a week. On top of that, he spent time with Corvin and Fuchsia a couple evenings a week as well, having formed a strong bond during their time in the resistance. The remaining two evenings and 5 nights were spent with Infinite. 
The red wolf often felt awkward around him. The jackal clearly struggled trying to deduce what normal displays of affection were supposed to be like, and Gadget felt bad for laughing internally when he did weird things. He’d refrained from doing anything sexual, which the red wolf was relieved for. The strangest was probably waking up with an ear stuck upward from dried saliva most mornings. He didn’t want to ask if it was some odd jackal thing or if it was just his messed up instincts, so he left well enough alone.
 
He’d finished another day of resistance work, and his group of friends from school had invited him to go out. He just needed to grab his bag, but a dark-gloved hand on his wrist halted his movement.
 
“Where are you going now?”
 
“My friends invited me out, the usual. We’re swimming!”
 
There was a strange tinge to the jackal’s expression, and Gadget didn’t know what to expect from it.
 
“You are out with them quite often… as well as with the pink and green pair.”
 
Gadget frowned at the tone. It almost sounded like he was trying to analyze him for some reason.
 
“Yeah… that’s standard for maintaining friendships. Does it bother you?”
 
“You are not around very often.”
 
“You’re not wrong, but I still choose to sleep in the same bed as you 5 out of 7 nights a week. And I’m here 2 evenings with you, so it’s not like I’m spending more time with any of them. Once the world is restored as best as we can get it, my schedule won’t be crammed with work. I like being around them, and especially my family on the weekends, because we’re all supporting each other.”
 
Infinite grasped green-gloved hands in his own, and gazed uneasily at the red canine. Gadget realized that he probably felt inadequate, but he needed him to realize how he felt.
 
“Infinite, I’m trying to get over what you did to me. I don’t know if you assumed I could just forget it in a flash or something, but I’m still shaken up. My family and school friends don’t know the extent, but we’ve all talked about what we’ve gone through, barring… that. Fuchsia and Corvin have been there for me for ‘that’, though.”
 
The dark-furred canine’s eyes were large with shock, and he directed them downcast. He delicately released the hold on Gadget’s wrists, as if they would snap otherwise. The crimson wolf sighed - the stupid jackal really did think he’d brushed it under the rug. However, Gadget had to remind himself of Infinite’s social ineptitude.
 
“I’m living a normal life for someone my age. I’ve reconnected with friends from before you started the war, and I spend time with my family like an average person would. You’re lucky they’re not raising hell because I chose to stay with you during the weekdays. Infinite, you don’t have anyone to talk to other than me, and it’s not doing you much good... “
 
“I am a solitary person. I don’t wish for anyone’s company other than yours.”
 
“I know, but you still have kinks to straighten out. If you’re getting this worked up and paranoid after a month, then I don’t think things are gonna be good for us. Is there no one from your past that you can reconnect with? Anyone from your pack? I’m trying to help you the best I can, but you won’t tell me anything.”
 
“No. They were massacred shortly before I started the war. That was what reinforced my will for world destruction in the first place.”
 
Gadget’s expression fell as he recalled the first time Infinite had mentioned it. He approached the tense jackal and hugged him. Infinite wrapped his arms around the wolf to return the welcome embrace, and surreptitiously snuffled the red fur atop his head.
 
“You are right; I cannot expect you to spend all of your time with me. I’m sorry for not considering you.”
 
“It’s fine, I’m doing as well as I can given the circumstances. Just stop being so crazy about what I do in my off time.”
___________________
 
Infinite seemingly had no problem with Gadget socializing after their talk… but his paranoia was still ever present. Dwelling on Amy’s words, the jackal silently stressed about whether his lovely wolf might one day decide he couldn’t heal while in his presence. It was an all too likely outcome, and he didn’t know how much time he had left before Gadget would decide to leave him. He wasn’t equipped to prevent it from happening - the only way he could get any ideas was if he accompanied the red canine on his friendship excursions. Covertly. That was absolutely not the same thing as stalking.
 
When Gadget left to hang out with his school friends at a newly remediated park, the undercover jackal tailed him, cloaked by an illusion of self-distortion. There were four of them: a brown male squirrel, a navy male porcupine, a pale lavender female coyote, and a white female falcon. Infinite listened to their confusing inside jokes and odd conversation topics, frustrated that he couldn’t gauge anything from them. When the porcupine emitted an obnoxiously loud whistle, he refocused his attention to see his wolf walking off with the coyote. Of all the times to have zoned out of their conversation. Infinite followed the two canines with trepidation. His sense of smell had never picked up any scent other than his own on the wolf, but regardless, he didn’t think there was a sufficient reason for him to be walking off with this female.
 
When they were out of earshot, the coyote stopped and turned to smile shyly at Gadget.
 
“I know this is weird and all… I’ve been wanting to confess since we met up with you after the war. I’m sorry for seeing your friend when I said I had feelings for you! It was two timing and I know it was disgusting of me. I’ve matured since we graduated, and I never did anything with him other than what you saw at the mall, I swear! I just liked the attention. I’ll never be like that again though. I wanted to ask you if we could go on a date sometime, and have something serious?”
 
Gadget stared uncomfortably at her hopeful gaze.
 
“Brenna and Zip both told me that you said I was too ‘beta’, and that was why you wanted to try and get with Landon. I’m not mad, it’s been like two years? I’m sure you’ve changed, so have I, but you weren’t exactly subtle with any of this stuff.”
 
Infinite’s prior eavesdropping recalled that Brenna was the falcon, and Zip was the squirrel.
 
The lavender canine grabbed one of Gadget’s hands and cupped both of hers around it.
 
“It was because I was so caught up in popularity, and I’m sorry! I did say that I thought you weren’t very masculine too, but that was it. It wasn’t even accurate about you, I was dumb! I cut contact with Landon the day that all happened, because I truly liked you!”
 
Gadget shook his head resolutely.
 
“If you want my honesty, I lost feelings for you pretty quickly after that. I like you as a friend now though, it’s been great hanging out with all of you! Let’s not unearth the past.”
 
“But we could try and get to know each other for real, and you’d come to like me again!”
 
The red wolf’s mouth flatlined at her insistence.
 
“Lea, I’m seeing someone right now. I’m keeping it under wraps for various reasons, that’s why I haven’t told any of you. So that’s just not on the table.”
 
The lavender canine gaped.
 
“Who could you possibly be seeing?! Is it that girl from the resistance that you hang out with?”
 
‘Possibly’, as in “wow Gadget you’re not good enough to get anyone, you’re lucky I’m choosing you again!”
 
“Okay, the way you say that tells me you haven’t changed as much as I thought. We’re not talking about this anymore, let’s just go back to the others. Why are you trying to stir things up when the rest of us are just happy to be alive?”
 
Without giving her a chance to get another word in, he turned on his heel and paced back towards the rest of his friend group. Lea strode quickly to catch up with him. Just as Gadget was about to sit down, the lavender coyote lunged forward and kissed him. Their friends gawked, and the red wolf immediately separated from her, spluttering.
 
“You’re obviously lying! Otherwise you wouldn’t have kissed me like that!”
 
The falcon and squirrel gave each other a facepalm, while the porcupine continued to gawk in confusion.
 
“Holy Chaos, what are you on about Lea? You kissed him! Crazy bitch! I knew this was going to end badly. Sorry Gadget, we tried to talk her out of this.”
 
Lea growled at the falcon.
 
“He said he’s seeing someone! What a great friend for not telling us right? I was lead on!”
 
Zip made an exaggerated volume decreasing motion with his hand.
 
“We’ve only been chilling with him for like a month, and he doesn’t have to tell us who he’s sleeping with anyway. Leave the guy alone, he didn’t do anything to you.”
 
Infinite had had enough of being a bystander. He appeared before the group, floating midair with his signature red hue enveloping his frame. He snatched his crimson wolf up and warped away. They all sat in silence, even Lea, as they tried to process what had happened in that split second.
____________________________
 
Seeing nothing but red, the masked jackal threw Gadget onto the bed.
 
“Can you confirm that you really do not hold any interest in the female who kissed you?”
 
Shocked but just as angry, the red wolf’s hackles raised.
 
“Are you KIDDING ME?! Were you seriously stalking me?! How long have you been doing this for, you Chaos-damned maniac?!”
 
“You did not address my question. Do I take it that you planned to consummate your love with her once you decided to leave me?”
 
“You have no right to be asking me any of this! You were obviously listening to me reject her, and you know I didn’t kiss her, so what is your issue?! I’ve been nothing but patient with you, when it’s questionable whether you ever deserved a chance!”

Gadget got up off the bed and began packing a small rucksack. The smell of salt was suddenly permeating the room.
 
“So I was right.”
 
The crimson canine whipped around and glared daggers. Tears streamed down his muzzle.
 
“Between what I just dealt with and having you dump your insecurities on me like this, I can’t handle anything else! I need time away from you. By being so paranoid that I would leave you, you’ve earned exactly that. I’m going to stay with my family for the week, and know that there’s no guarantee I’ll come back if you haven’t done some serious reflecting on everything you’ve done wrong!”
 
The reality of his intelligent wolf’s words bore down on him like a million-ton weight. He stood there frozen in dread, before coming to his senses and appearing before the red wolf, who had already made it out of the fortress. He gripped Gadget’s shoulders and held him still. The distressed wolf screeched and tried to wrench himself free.
 
“It was only today that I followed you. I am sorry, it won’t happen again. Please come back inside with me. I’m also sorry for interrogating you.”
 
“Too late! I shouldn’t be driven to this point for you to realize you did something fucked up when we’d already talked about my boundaries multiple times!”
 
The red canine lunged to the side and broke free of the jackal’s grip, before breaking out into a sprint. Without another thought, Infinite cast an illusion over his crimson wolf.