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ACT 1

(Metro 2033 [OST] #02 - The Anomaly) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcz6SBxI4o4

Death... I can... I can feel it.

I feel cold... It's... Too much.

Too dark.

Please don't go.

"FATHER!" The young husky pup yelled after his father, reaching for him from the distance.

The figure was walking towards the dim light, shining through the edges and gaps of round, metallic door. He couldn't hear him.

"DON'T GO!"

The person was still reaching the door without quitting his step, flowing forward like a phantom.

It was like running on quicksand. Like a gust of wind, a force, pulling him away from reaching this person.

Suddenly, in the middle of a helpless voice crying after his assumed father, the figure stopped.

It slowly turned around, like he indeed had heard something. He looked right at the person running from the tunnel of shadows, ghostly hands keeping him away.

"Emily... I'm tired." The person said with sorrow in his tone, like it took everything to grumble it out of his lungs.

The figure then held an object on his paw, turning to look at it. He gasped for breath and shed a tear, looking at the figure still running and trying to reach him.

"I'm just... So tired... I... I need to rest." The person begged.

The boy trying to reach this desperate, silently crying figure by the metal door couldn't understand him. None of it. None of this. What was this place? Why was he so scared? Why did he feel like this place was full of nothing but death?

"Don't avenge me." The figure now cried out, begging for someone.

Same time, he dropped the object from his hand... Small square object... It looked like...

Something he had seen before.

"Neither of you... Don't let the hate be everything you have left." The father now begged like it was something he wished more than anything.

The boy knew he was speaking to him... And someone else as well... But his words made no sense.

"-LET GO OF ME, YOU MONSTER! DON'T TOUCH ME!!! OWEN, STOP!!"

Out of nowhere... He heard that voice. It was like a sharp, desperate and hateful scream. And he recognized that voice. It was heard just once from the darkness around him... but he knew the voice.

"MOTHER?!" The boy yelled in the dark, but not getting an answer as his movements got slower and slower in the dark tunnel.

The father figure had not heard this scream, neutral by his reaction.

Now he heard another sound. Metal... Heavy, echoing metal. Like... Some machinery was brought to life.

The round door. The metallic vault door behind the figure of his father was opening.

The light was so bright, that he thought despite the dark in the tunnel, it would burn his eyes out of his sockets. He had to cover them with his paws quickly, yet hearing the figure talk by the door.

"I must rest now... I've... I've earned it." The figure said with heavy sorrow, slowly turning around and closing his eyes... Facing the light that was revealed behind the door. The great unknown. The figure had been here before. Now... He embraced it differently.

More final way.

"NO! PLEASE DON'T GO!" The boy started to yell, now more desperately than ever as he knew that his father's voice was tired, given up.

Suddenly the figure of his father chuckled so warmly that it froze the boy from the inside, the man turning back facing him and wiping the tears from his face with the back of his hand.

"Dion... Ryan... I will never leave you. I'm always there. You will feel it. As long as you are breathing... You are Winchester. Somebody is always watching you... And your brother. I love you both. You know that."

".... Dad..." The boy said quietly with a desperate tone, not moving anymore. He whimpered, begging for his father to stay in the darkness with him and not turn back to the light, where he couldn't follow, as he had tried many times over.

Suddenly some raspy, vicious and threatening voice spoke from behind the figure, making the bones chill just from the laughter of pure evil.

"Tick... Tock... Catch a dog by the ear..."

"Don't mind him." The figure said, his smile now slowly gone and turned into a serious expression. Strong. Accepting... Yet despising.

The evil voice spoke again.

"It always ends up like this, Charlie..."

"W-who is he dad?!" The pup yelled scaredly.

His father just shed a tear and whispered.

"My reckoning."

The small husky didn't understand the answer.

Suddenly, the voice from the light hurt his ears with its intimate loudness.

It was the sound of metal colliding against rustier metal, screaming intimidation, was heard. It was... A machine. A weapon.

It was starting up. Every sound had the following reaction of steel clicking.

Charlie turned around now slowly, breathing the air in once again and sighing, speaking one last word he got out from his heart.

"Emily... I'll meet you there."

The evil voice spoke in a respectful, all-knowing manner. Something that Dion had not expected from the evil voice. It was almost apologizing. Yet harsh.

"You know that this is nothing personal, Charlie... Never was. Never will be. I keep my promises... And like a man, you accept your end with honor. There is no greater end than this... We live and we breathe the same air... Until it comes for all of us. It came today to you... And one day, it comes for me."

CLICK

The sound echoed and sent shivers to the small husky.

The father figure turned around slowly, letting go of his son's paw and closing his eyes from the shining light, taking in a deep breath.

"Dad..." The crying voice begged once more behind him. But the old husky didn't turn around this time.

"It begins from the dark sound of steel...." The unknown, evil voice began as final words.

CLACK

"And ends in the land of sun... and blood."

The sound of the gun going off was so loud... So unforgiving... That it drummed his ears in the darkness, the boy screaming one more time with tears bursting out as he witnessed his father slowly turning into sand right in front of him, a gust of wind taking his soul to the light.

"DAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!!!!"

---

"NO!!!"

The huffing, sweat covered brown husky quickly raised from the bed, his breathing out of control and his pupils dilated.

A nightmare...

Nothing but a nightmare.

It took fair ten seconds from him to gather his mind, looking around him and realizing his surroundings.

Breathe.

It was just...

"Hhh.." The boy huffed, letting out air from the lungs, closing his eyes.

He opened them again after a brief moment, staring at the ceiling and the lights.

I'm safe... Imagination.

"Where... Where is it?"

The figure mumbled, trying to reach for something. Right under his pillow, he grabbed it quickly and without hesitation, like it was a cure for what he had been through just now. And on its way...

It was.

Chapter 2

"Open your eyes"

TEN YEARS LATER

after the events of the prologue

YEAR 2286 2th of June

(Donny Hathaway - Someday We'll all be free) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv1B0ejhFVE

Ah. Better.

More than better.

It was that song. That damn song. He couldn't get enough of listening to it over and over again. It's like... It had this... This melody and feel to it that he couldn't get rid of. He loved this damn song. No matter how many times he listened to it, closing his eyes... It's like everything around him just... Went away. That was the right word. Donny had that voice in him that just made you rest and... Let your spirit travel free. And just... Rest. The song was a feeling of hope and accomplishment. It was just so beautiful and perfect to this person that he could listen to it over and over and it would never lose its meaning.

Yeah. That's pretty much it.

That was what our brown-furred, young husky at the age of nineteen was thinking, laying on his back on a comfortable looking bed, his clear blue eyes briefly staring at the ceiling. The handsome young man was having a wide and relaxed smile on his muzzle as he was in total heaven, listening to his favorite song straight from the morning. He had barely wakened up just now, feeling extra lazy today and since he had no things to do, why not just lay in the bed and start the morning with something he savored? What was there to worry about?

Well... Besides something, he used this music to escape from. His breathing had relaxed, his sweat was gone...

But there was still disturbance in his mind. And before long, in middle of this heavenly melody, he returned there, asking the silent question again, his smile fading some.

Why do I keep seeing this dream?

He didn't know if it was good or bad... But even after seeing it, he had to spend mornings just thinking if afterward... Trying to make sense of it... Having wild imagination like his needed always time to cool down.

Yeah, this was not the first time he had indeed seen this one. This odd dream started seven days ago.

It changed from time to time in detail... But yet... It always ended the same way.

It twisted his stomach each time to think about those sounds... That loud one, right there in the end.

Like... Loud... He couldn't put his tongue on the word he was looking for.

The most horrible one was the voice of his mother, screaming for help.

It was something that made him almost as uneasy as what happened to his father.

Turn into sand... And blown away by the wind.

The door. He knew the door. It didn't make sense but... Even in the dark... He knew that he saw right.

Number 55 was on the door. So it was the door of his vault... But why did it open? Why did his dad go out there? Why was he crying? And what was that object that fell on the ground from his grip?

So many questions... But the nightmare didn't bother with answers.

He closed his eyes again, the bright light at the ceiling of his room disturbing his eyes some, but not too much. He had gotten used to it for a long time... But he knew what he had to get used to...

This nightmare... It was important.

He couldn't help but feel the unexplainable feeling in his gut... But something was about to change. He didn't want it... But that is just how it felt.

His life was about to hold something new in it. Something he didn't know yet.

But this is why I am here.

This is his story. A world through his eyes. And believe me... That story... It is worth witnessing.

-

Dion. Dion Winchester was the name of this young man. Dion is indeed a very rare name to have, but his father wouldn't have it any other way. Winchester on the other hand... Well. It was something big.

Not that Dion knew anything about that. In this environment, he was living now... It didn't bring him anything. No. Down here, it was just a family name among others. No fame. Just a brown-furred husky boy...

Everyone has hobbies, right?

Dion loved two things with passion in this world. Music was one. Definitely... But the second... Well, he loved books... As much as he loved writing. He wrote anything overall that came to his head. Poems, stories, memoirs... His dreams... Well, not the recent disturbing one. The last thing he needed was the physical memory of the dream.

On his wall, there was even a list of the bands he wanted to still hear music from. There was so much of it still existing. And he had pretty much heard everything vault had to offer...

Suddenly rattling from the distance was heard, something opening briefly. He couldn't hear it, being focused on his music after his Hathaway track was over, now just relaxing.

It was just another Sunday morning.

Yeah... Morning among others... I wonder how much is the ti-

"Dion."

A voice called for him, but he didn't hear it through the music.

The caller could only chuckle warmly, giving a slight shake of his head as he was leaning against the side of the room's doorway. He cleared his throat, asking a bit louder this time.

"DION."

Now his ear gave a small twitch, and at that moment he knew the first time wasn't just his imagination, the first call of his name being so silent.

Dion took the old earpad's out, the music fading just as a small sound on the background. Someone had made the brown husky come out of his pleasant bubble of warm daydreams and relaxing.

"Huh?" Dion asked quickly before even turning to look who was calling out for him. The puzzled tone was matched with a quick answer for the boy, strong and gentle voice speaking.

"Good morning."

The moment that Dion saw who it was, his face turned from confusion to relaxed, him smiling again and laying the earpads next to him on the bed. The music was still faintly heard from them, adding a nice and quiet melody in the background of their everyday convo. There wasn't a day that they wouldn't talk to each other.

"Hi, dad."

Now, this... This right here is my dad. Just by looking at him, you could see the aura of authority in him.

And well, the most obvious detail to eye.

The fur of this mammal was the same tone as his, but heavily a bit darker because of his age. Same species as well, a husky. But the name of this man was the one that matters the most. It's all about the names in the end... And what they carry with them.

His name was Charlie Winchester. Father of two sons, a husband, and a teacher.

That was what he was in this vault to people around him... And to his sons.

He was once many other things. Out somewhere in the world. World that no longer had any part of him. Those things... Those actions... They were nothing but distant memories now. Dreams.

In here... Life was calmer. Nonviolent. Utopian like.

And none of the people here knew how lucky they were to be here... Instead of out there.

But Charlie knew. And he was glad that none of these souls had to suffer the great unknown.

All those years ago... Charlie Winchester was the most known name in the whole state of Texas wasteland.

Feared and respected... Loved and hated. His actions out there made a mark on the world. In good and in bad.

Would he still be out there... The world might have consumed him.

MIGHT HAVE.

Guess he would never know. He wanted to take that route once. Take his odds. Live life by his rules after everything he had done... But now that he was looking at the eyes of his son, waving his feet on the bedside and looking at him with that smile...

He could only wonder if after all Rex was right ten years ago.

Maybe it was all fate.

Vault 55

It was a morning among others, the sounds and laughter of other of Dion's age, echoing all the way to his room from the vault's narrow hallways. This... This was home like no other. No matter how you looked at it... It was a mecca of peace and routine. So it had been since the beginning of its time.

How was this possible though? To have people living here?

The current year was 2286.

It's been over two hundred years since the bombs fell during the great war, the war that began it all. Made a life on earth a living hell. Remnant of the old, and warzone for people with ambitions to create the new world by their own eyes, laws, and ways.

Well... If you read the books before the times of the great war, it wasn't so much different, when you think about it. Not by far. It was just painted as a more beautiful picture. Now the world was an image without colorful paint. Civilizations, rules and false images of smiles, stripped down into nothing but primal ground.

Death, ash and chaos.

The biggest question was though... Could we learn from it? Would we repeat the same mistake all over again, if we ever managed to build what we had lost? All just to turn it into ash again?

Question for philosophers.

But what comes to the vault... Many people that still lived out there in the waste, knew somewhat what they were. Anyone with acknowledge of reading would pass on the old legend of the story.

Safe homes, the proud monuments, and the results of technology. Made by men before the time of the bombs. Preparing for a better future, underground.

But as more as this story went on, the more it became irrelevant information. No one lived in the vaults any more. It was known that they once held some people inside, those they called "lucky ones". Usually with spite in tone, since who wouldn't want to live in a place like that instead of what misery the bombs had left behind?

Anyway... Food and water weren't unlimited in these vaults.

Most vaults were just a temporary solution. After bombs fell, some would make the biggest mistake and leave early on to dwindle outside, only to be consumed by its horrors. If radiation didn't do its job, the wasteland did.

Now some would go crazy from claustrophobia and escape. Some vaults had radiation leaks. Some residents might have owned a disease that was spread to everyone. Some vaults were too overpopulated to control... Some had too little people to even talk to. And some vaults... Had no one in them at all, due to people not making into them in time when the blasts shook the ground.

There were the main reasons for these things. Vault's simply didn't always work... And sooner or later...

People needed to go out there.

That was the expectation for Dion, Ryan, and Charlie, the day they were outside that vault door.

The reports told of an untouched vault, still full-on power. 200 years old and untouched. There was proof of water supply still ongoing... And lots of food. Would there be none, the order called "the brotherhood", would make one last trip to provide them on a long run. Charlie, along with his sons, had to hide from the world. From the Texas wasteland... From everyone.

The reason... You will learn.

But instead of finding an empty vault... They found something so amazing and unspeakable that it was sometimes still hard for Charlie to soak in.

A society of mere ninety people was still alive... Living in vault 55. For two hundred years... aka two generations... They had never left. Was this possible in theory? Absolutely. Likely to happen? No. Not at all.

These mammals had around four to five different overseers during their run. Only one hundred and twenty people had managed to get into this one vault the day bombs fell. Now, there were under a hundred... But they had made it work. The less people, the more lasting supplies. To survive this far, still... It wasn't any less of a miracle.

These people were just... Lucky didn't do justice to describe it. These people didn't have to live in fear. Hunger. Pain. Suffering. Lack of medication. Dehydration. They didn't even have rules of economy. Everything was shared equally. This... Was utopia, under tons of mud, rocks, and sand.

The vault didn't know anything existed outside... Nor did the outside know of this place. If they would...

The fate of this placed would be so horrifying that it would be compared to a nightmare.

Gladly for Charlie... His kids were safe. Safer than ever. That is what he and his wife wanted all along. For them to have a future of something better. Everyone wants an environment like that to their children, in the end. Most can't give it. This vault did.

Here, his children had grown up to be two, wise and handsome, well-educated youth. They had friends. They had a father. They had everything they needed...... Everything was perfect.

Except sometimes... It's not as good as it sounds.

...

But now... It seemed like it was time for routine for the young Dion. And his father began talking as the pup shut down his music holotape from his pip-boy, focusing on whatever Charlie had to say.

The brown, old and handsome looking husky started to speak as he looked at his son for a while.

"You know, you have been taking it as a habit these days to lay here in your room in the mornings... Like, more than often." Charlie began with a smile, having his arms crossed as he was studying his son as his reaction.

"... Yeeaah. I like... Listening to music. You should be noticing that by now? Not like I get these all from you as presents anyway?" Dion said back with playful sarcasm, pretending nothing was going on and giving a slight shake of the head with a small smile.

"MMMhhm. I sure do notice it, Dion. Ever since I gave you the last holotape, I found you have been burning it in your pip-boy so much that the device should smoke by now." Charlie smirked.

"Haa Haa. That is not even theoretically possible, dad. In order for this device to run so hot that it would cause the system to burn out and create smoke, it would need-"

Charlie started to laugh in the middle of incoming scientific explanation, waving his hand in surrender.

"Aaaa, Dion, Dion... You know what I meant here. You just spend so many hours alone here in the mornings. It isn't that it bothers me. Still, it just seems that you have a lot on your mind. You have been even kind of distracted in classes lately. Not sleepy... But unfocused."

Charlie pointed out with fatherly tone, finding it always amusing how his sons argued back for him from small things. They might have not been wasteland raised like him, but they had his spirit in them. Something to make Charlie more than proud.

The old husky pressed the door panel next to him, closing the door down and the echoing sounds from the hallways died down and left a comfortable silence in the room. Charlie started to walk over to Dion's bedside, the young husky knowing that his dad was about to have a level headed conversation with him, clearly seeing that something was bothering his son a bit. Whenever his dad had that tone that he knew something was up with him, it was something that made him feel safer than anything. Always had. With warm tone the old husky began talking as he sat down on Dion's bedside, the boy scooting up to sit as well. He still did feel a bit bothered though. His problems were always so minimal and he knew it. But to his father, EVERYTHING mattered, when it came to his kin.

"Sooo... ? You are just lingering in your room for no reason? That's okay. Nothing wrong with relaxing like that. Except you have been doing that for a few weeks now... "

"No, I haven't." Dion denied. Yet he put on expression and started to think if Charlie was true.

"Ah, my imagination then. It's just so that you have been late at breakfast a few times, missed the exercise classes of the last two weeks... Yeah, Silas has been talking to me about it... Also, Tio has been asking if something is wrong with his reading buddy in the mornings-"

"Finefinefine, dad... Look, I just... I don't know..." Dion mumbled awkwardly, rubbing behind his ear and looking at the door briefly, wondering how to explain himself. He truly didn't know if it made any sense or reason to himself. Not by putting it to words. It wasn't like him. But he just... Had this feeling that made him do this. The reason was clear, the meaning was not.

"... Is Farin being mean to you again? Just say if he has and I will personally talk with him... Again." Charlie said with a serious tone, referring to a tiger boy named Farin, being in the same age as Dion. He was always on Dion's case from time to time, making fun of him by calling him names like "Queen", and "Sissy dog", and countless others. Just for the fact that Dion always was a shy, music and book-loving person. Also, totally clumsy and sometimes a bit distant, his concentration not always there. Also, he hated violence, avoiding a fight at any cost.

"Nononon, Farin hasn't talked to me for a while... I think he is avoiding me. Which is kinda weird because he usually at least once a day says something mean to me." Dion said quietly.

"Well, you gave him good enough reason by getting into a fight with him. I guess he couldn't expect you punching him in the nose." Charlie reminded with a somewhat proud smirk.

"Well, he shouldn't have called Jill with the... With the bad word. Why does he have to say things like that?" Dion asked with distasteful expression.

"Well, he shouldn't... And some mammals use advantage over the facts that words hurt. But sometimes... We have to fight our own battles, Dion. She needs to learn how to deal with these situations herself someday. It's all about growing up. Just like you. Sometimes, fighting back is the answer. Even if it's only a brief one. To stand your ground. Otherwise, it keeps going on and on without consequences. You showed that to him by giving that light jab. I know you didn't like doing it. But sometimes you gotta do the things you don't like."

"... I just don't get why Farin is like that... Or some of his friends. I don't get the meaning of saying nasty and bad things. Or pick a fight. What is there to gain? If they would spend half the time reading books or getting a hobby instead of spitting on vault floors and pushing people, they would be smarter than their parents." Dion mumbled in annoyance.

"Hahah!" Charlie laughed, ruffling the headfur of his son and agreeing.

"They would, wouldn't they?"

"And I don't like why Farin has to be like that to Jill all the time." Dion sighed.

"...Mmh... You know, if I wouldn't know any better, Dion... I think you like her." Charlie smiled.

"Huh?"

"Jill. You like her more than as a friend, right?" Charlie noted.

"Dad, everyone knows I like her," Dion said with unimpressed expression.

"That so. Well, it seems I catch up these things in a last train then." Charlie smirked.

"You have a habit of doing that sometimes." Dion shot back with a smile, making Charlie chuckle.

"I do, don't I?"

"No, not really. You always notice everything." Dion gave up and broke to a small laugh.

"That's my boy... So, it's not bully problems..."

Charlie started to comically rub his chin and stare at the ceiling, trying to hold his laugh.

"So as detective mind it leads me to my next option. I have a strong male hunch that there are only a few reasons why you would lock yourself here in the mornings like this. And the fact that you can't quit smiling or blush when Jill is even mentioned... And you sometimes linger in the shower even more than your brother..."

"... Where are you going with this?" Dion asked, raising an eyebrow.

"... Dion, you are not spending whole mornings here masturbating are ya? I would find it veeeery awkward thing to explain to everyone asking about your absence." Charlie said with a smirk.

Dion's eyes went wide as he shook his head.

"DAD! NO! I am not! Jesus!" Dion defended back loudly, his face turning stale red and looking annoyed. Charlie couldn't help but to laugh loudly for his son's reaction, Dion's face being priceless the moment he meddled in the detective work.

Dion rolled his eyes and muttered something as Charlie laughed still, trying to breathe a bit.

"That wasn't funny," Dion argued, rolling his eyes.

"It was quite funny to me. Aaah, fine, we rule that one out... Well, at least now I don't have to tell anyone awkward news. Nothing wrong with that you know. You are nineteen, after all, there is nothing to be shamed ab-"

"Dad. For the love of God. Stop." Dion said, slapping himself with his palm, the expression begging for change of subject. Sex was way too intimate and sore subject for the husky boy. Even getting a kiss to the cheek and a hug from Jill once at his eighteenth birthday had left him with an idiotic smile, he couldn't get rid of... Among the natural reaction for thinking Jill too long. So needless to say, Dion was super shy about anything sex-related.

Charlie snorted, continuing his detective work.

"So, I'm out of two options here... I wonder what the third would be... Did you steal all the grognak the barbarian comics under your bed to read in the morning and wish no one would doubt you being clever little thief?"

"Dad, I don't like that comic. Ryan does." Dion said with a bored expression.

Charlie thought for a while until Dion spoke out.

"Dad, have you ever imagined that I would like to be alone in the mornings here just because it relaxes me? Why would I need some secret reason?" Dion asked, trying to act genuine.

"Nope. Not really." Charlie smiled, knowing this wasn't the case here.

"It's... I just like to be alone more than I used to. Is that really so weird?" Dion asked honestly.

"No. It's not weird at all. Everyone needs their own time. Own time is good. Gives you time to think and clear your head. But you have been doing that for two weeks now. Two weeks is a lot to bonder something for an hour or even two in the mornings before joining others. You miss your breakfast. Meaning whatever it is, it is important to you." Charlie explained calmly, giving the questioning look at Dion as the old husky knew exactly how to ease him.

"...." Dion staid quiet, rubbing his shoulder and wondering how to put his thoughts out, thinking if things he wanted to reveal was something Charlie even wanted to talk about.

"Dion... You don't need to talk to me yet, whatever it is about that presses your mind. Just say the word and I'll go... But we will talk about this again." Charlie said, seeing that Dion was looking a bit uncomfortable. He didn't want to press, because he knew that sooner or later his son would tell about it. There was a fine line between making someone feel uncomfortable and pressed and trying to help. So he wouldn't push it.

Charlie rose up, giving a quick kiss on top of Dion's head, talking calmly.

"Okay. We will talk later, young one."

"Dad... "

"Hmmm?" Charlie hummed, looking at Dion's way with a questioning look.

"... Thanks for understanding... You know." Dion said, the uneasy look clearly telling that there was something. He was just not ready for it.

"... Of course, Dion. I love you."

"Love you too, dad," Dion said, smiling some.

"Now... You better get yourself to breakfast. Because you are in a growing age still and you need your food. I want to see you there. Got it?" Charlie smiled.

"Sure, dad." Dion nodded.

"That's my boy. See you there. They have tomato soup today." The old husky said, turning around and opening the metallic door, leading to the hallway.

"Ew," Dion muttered, Charlie, giving an amused laugh over his shoulder.

Just in a few seconds, the door closed. Dion was left to sit on his bed, waving his feet back and forth.

He wanted to tell his father about the nightmare. Just to get it out of his system. But he couldn't. Because he knew it would lead to two things. His dad being freaked out.

Or Charlie thinking he was crazy. No one sees the same nightmare two weeks in a row.

"What is wrong with me?" Dion asked quietly, his smile fading and his eyes looking at his earpads again.

Maybe some more music... Sigh... That'll help.

ACT 2

( Dion - The Wanderer ) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEzqndjwwIA

Ah... Vault Fifty-five.

One of the last completely preserved and fully functioning vaults left in the Us soil.

A place where everyone had been living in harmony since the legendary Great war.

Over two hundred years of love-filled life and routine, untouched.

The sounds of cheery Sunday night were already echoing to Dion's ears as the brown-furred husky boy was walking down the staircase towards the dining hall.

The smell of fresh and warm canned tomato soup filled his nose slowly the more he approached.

His tail was wagging happily, not for the smell but for the sounds and knowing that he would be in his favorite company before long.

And he would get to see Jill again. That was something that always made his day shine like no other. Not even talking to her, he always felt so clumsy and in a loss of words around her.

Jill was a Siamese cat girl who was the same by her age as Dion himself. She had aqua blue eyes just like him, slightly lower height, and well... She was easily the most popular girl in the vault. She was charismatic and beautiful. There were very few flaws a boy could find from her. She was also kind-hearted.

She always had an eye for Dion ever since they were fifteen... Yet they didn't often dare to talk to each other without getting awkward. Something they shared.

Just... You need to ask her on a... Date? How would that even work? And if anyone would hear about it, they would be crashed with questions. Besides, I am way too much of a coward.

"HUSKER!"

The dramatic and playful yell behind his back made Dion's fur spark up as he had been just scared half to death just as he had finished walking down the stairs.

Someone jumped on his back with arms wrapped around him, one fist giving the top of his head a rough shake teasingly. Dion already knew who it was, yelling out of frustration and jump scared.

"Jacob, get off me!"

"I don't think so! You need to defend yourself!"

"Jesus Christ! Stop!" Dion yelled desperately, not able to give amused laugh as the person hopped off his back and gave light and playful jab on his shoulder, the person playfully bouncing in front of him now.

This... Was Jacob Evergreen. My best friend since the day one I stepped into this vault.

The nineteen-year-old German shepherd was giving playful jabs in the air in front of Dion, imitating moves of a training boxer with cocky smile in his blue vault suit.

The boy had brown eyes, average physique and was about two inches taller than Dion. And yes, he was always this full of energy. When his battery was on, there was no draining it out.

Jacob was considered the comedian of the vault youth, always cracking jokes... Even till the point, it got him into trouble. Most even figured him annoying, but it didn't bother Jacob. He was totally fine being in his usual friend group that consisted of Dion and a few others.

And right now, he was on a roll.

"Guess what everyone is talking about? Guess, guess, guess." Jacob repeated, giving few quick moves while skipping around like idiot, purely excited of something.

"... I guess you are about to tell me?" Dion asked with eyeroll and a casual smile.

"Nonono, you have to guess. I am a living hint at the moment." Jacob chuckled, boxing the air nonstop with playful grunts.

"... I'm not following here, I'm sorry. You are just being your usual self." Dion said.

"Maybe you are slow after all as some say. I should have known all along my best friend was a bit retarded." Jacob chuckled, skipping close to Dion to give another playful jab at his chest and bouncing back before Dion could react.

"Whatever, I'm not fighting the air here. And I'm not slow. That's mean." Dion said with slightly offended expression.

"Okay, okay. Fine. Sorry. Everyone is taaaalking about you. Yes, you."

"... Why?" Dion asked, feeling bothered already. But this might as well be one of Jacob's usual pranks.

"Because you..." Jacob said, jumping to give drumroll against the nearby wall and turned to look at Dion with a wicked smile as he gave quick jab, stopping it inches away from his face and bringing his arm back.

"Kicked Farin's ass! You are a hero, Husker! Come on man, you really think people wouldn't hear about it? Everyone has seen the bandage on Farin's nose. I heard you smashed him up! I never believed you would be the one to do it! Do you have any idea how proud I am of you? Farin knows how to fight, but when everyone heard that Dion Winchester-"

"Wowowo, what? I... It didn't go like that at all!" Dion said with an alarmed tone, his eyes widening.

"What do you mean dude?" Jacob shook his head, laughing, not able to stop his excited skipping.

"It was not even a fight. He was making fun of Jill, telling that she was... Look, I don't curse so I won't say what he said, but it just hurt Jill. And he slapped the back of my head and I just... I didn't mean to hit him! I just... I got angry, okay? I quickly, ACCIDENTALLY punched him in his nose. It just... It just happened. If Ryan had not been there to protect me, I would have trademarks around my eyes by now."

"... Wait, really?"

"Yeah. I just got Farin with surprise, I even kept apologizing to him when he started bleeding blood on the floor from his nose. He said he would kill me, and I was almost going to make a run for it with Jill, until Ryan came to aid. Farin had no choice but to leave."

Dion said, the idea of Farin's most likely revenge already scaring him. He hated violence. He cried way too easily. Hell, he had even cried after realizing he had hurt Farin really badly once he was back in his room.

".... Well... That was some anticlimactic turn to hear. Ryan clearly lied then." Jacob said, his smile dying and his happy skipping dying.

"... Ryan told every-? What did Ryan say?" Dion asked with worry.

"Your brother told me that you were beating the shit out of Farin all over the hallway. So far everyone has bought it. I mean, the quiet and shy ones like you can have surprising talents. I guess some just assumed Ryan been training you secretly or something.

"Oh noooo, he is going to kick my ass! I'm going to die!" Dion whined in fear, shaking his head.

"Dude, you are safe as long as you are with me and others. Besides, you are the son of Charlie Winchester. Nothing going to happen to you, stop being a pussy." Jacob laughed.

"Jacob! Don't call me that!" Dion grumpily huffed to his best friend.

"You are so tense this morning! Did you have bad dreams or something, husker? Eh?" The dog teased, un flinched by Dion's annoyed expression and started doing his energic skipping again. After Dion's heard Jacob say the word "bad dream" he quickly shook his head, partly with a bit alarmed look, the horrible memories of the dream crawling back to his mind.

"N-no. I did not. You are just being an extra Jacob this morning. And I need my breakfast, I'm hungry."

"Awww, husker is grumpy when it doesn't eat-"

"Can you just stop that jumping around and calm down? You are making me uncomfortable, you gonna accidentally twist your ankle at this rate."

"Fine, fine. Calm. Collected. I have already eaten tho, but most should still be in the hall."

"Is... Is Jill still there-"

"Oh. My. God. Can you ask her out already? Do you have any idea how weird you two look just scoping each other out every morning without saying anything?" Jacob asked with slightly even frustrated expression, Dion within instant getting bored face and starting to walk past the German shepherd, the dog laughing and imitating a robot-like voice and movements as he followed Dion's lead.

"EEEEE. Process. Female located at the nearby table. For the fifth hundred time. Proceed to. Ask out. ERROR. ERROR. Malfunction prob-"

"Why am I your best friend again?" Dion asked over his shoulder, rolling his eyes but holding his laugh.

"Because my company is delightful and soul-fulfilling-"

"Not the words I would personally use-"

"Not the words I would personally use, uuu look at me my name is Dion, I talk like forty-year-old-"

"It's called being civilized-"

"I call it BOOOORiiiingg-"

"I like being boring," Dion said with an innocent and self-satisfied smile.

"Oh, I know, Husker... I know. that's why I half the time wonder why I'm your best pal. Because you can handle my shit more than others, most likely." Jacob chuckled, running past Dion and doing some goofy dance as he was skipping the steps to open the vault door, the holoplate "dining hall" titled on top of the entrance.

"Green or reeeed-"

"Just open the door, Jacob." Dion said, trusting that he would press the button just in time as he would walk towards it, taking the risk that he would press red and Dion would walk against the door like dumbass. Just as Dion was at the door, Jacob opened it just in time with a wicked smile and Dion entered the hall.

"Don't want to be too mean this morning. Except for Tio. I can't wait to get my daily dose of anger."

"How kind of you. Just leave Tio alone for one morning." Dion said with an amused smile, turning to look in front of him and entering in the middle of loud, familiar and comfortable hassle.

"Not during this life."

"You shouldn't have made him trip on the floor last week when we left the cafeteria. He could have really hurt himself." Dion scolded.

"He is a strong wolf. He can handle." Jacob said without worry.

"Just try to keep it to minimal. You don't want him to really hate you." Dion said, this thought having worried him for a while.

"Naaah, he loves me," Jacob said without care.

"Yeah, totally. Geez, just give him a break-even for one morning." Dion muttered with eyeroll.

"Not a chance, husker... Not a chance."

Jacob... You just can't win with him.

Ah. Whatever.

Time to eat.

(Earth, Wind & Fire - September) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ter0p_iyIxk

Easily half of the vault's community was bunched into the same area, the sounds of laughter, chatter, and random yell filling the hall with soul.

Dion could feel himself wake up into the moment as about seventy mammals were eating their casual breakfast, some mammals already leaving. Dion was about twenty minutes late after all. Not that most would leave after finishing their meal since the dining hall was one of the most popular places to hang out for the youth even after dining time being over.

In a sense, it was like a schoolyard. And what made it more fitting description, was the fact that they had an actual school system.

Charlie Winchester. The man behind it all.

The reason Charlie was easily most popular, loved, as well as hated and envied man in the vault, was fully for one reason.

He was a teacher and created a system for the youth. Instead, as most vault protocols would go, leaving the task of random teaching from parents to their children, Charlie did something that he had read once from a very old prewar book. Mixed with somewhat of a... Council situations once he was still in the Brotherhood of steel.

Charlie was a man of action and social soul at that. In order to keep himself busy, he would contribute to the vault's life as it's an outsider citizen by being the first official teacher by a job. He created a routine for the youth that would be willing to join since his first year in the vault, which would consist of four days a week program. From Mondays to Fridays, he would gather his class in quite big and available room full of desks and chairs, and do something he became quite amazing at.

First, everyone was quite confused about it all, some not joining because their parents didn't like outsiders having any activity with their children. But as more as Charlie told about things he learned from books, as well as some things about his life in the wasteland, it didn't take long for the young kits to beg their parents' permission to attend.

Within a year two, every single minor joined his class every single chosen day to listen to Charlie's teachings and stories.

It led to constant arguing between Charlie Winchester and overseer Calvin Marston more than often during the years. The overseer had not liked some subjects Charlie had talked with the youth about, guns and self-protection being just a few among many. Yet, Charlie's silver tongue and reasoning kept Overseer somewhat in check. Yet it didn't help the rumors and the shunning as effect from some elders and mammals of Charlie's age in the vault. Not that Charlie truly cared. None of these mammals were a threat to him or his kits. The life here was controlled and safe.

It was hard to take any votes or to control and restrict Charlie when every single mammal under the age of twenty-five loved and respected Charlie almost like their father.

It was Sunday morning, and everyone was obviously discussing excitedly about the tomorrow's class and taking on their bets about possible things Charlie could teach. And Dion was about to walk in the middle of that usual discussion as he had for years. Dion had just fetched his food plate until he heard someone.

"Dion! Here, dude!" Someone yelled only after a few steps the brown husky had taken, looking at the table instantly with a warm smile as he saw all his friends on their usual seats on both sides of the table. This spot was always for them and their group. Others knew to let them have it just for courtesy.

Dion started talking towards the cheery voice that called him, looking at the empty stop that was reserved for him. The table had only two mammals at it at the moment, the other two mammals missing from their usual seats. But Dion knew they would appear in no time most likely.

"Morning, Sam. Tio."

"To you as well, sleepy," Sam said happily.

"Hola." Tio said quietly without eye contact, his annoyed face looking at his soup.

These two here are Sam and Tio. Two mammals with golden hearts and my dear friends.

Sam Starling was an eighteen-year-old hyena boy.

He had a casual fur pattern, dark green eyes, and a very joyful yet timid nature. He was most likely the most resembling personality to Dion's himself. They were quite the same in every way. Although, Sam was more carefree and always looking for entertainment. Also, he loved food over everything.

Sam was a bit on the chubbier side when it came to physique. Not too much but clearly till the point where he needed a bit bigger vault jumpsuit. The negative sides of having a passion for food.

Sam had been a good friend of Tio's and Jacob's for some time even before Dion or his brother had lived here. Sam basically was the first friend Tio ever had, the unsocial wolf having his distinct personality.

Ah, Tio. One of his own kind.

Tio Tampico was a Mexican wolf, being the only family line in the vault since its very first functional day that spoke Spanish.

Tio was a twenty-year-old, being the oldest one from their group. Tio was a very quiet personality and boy of a few words. He was always very serious in most cases and also wisest. He loved books even more than Dion did, and he was the only person from the vault beside Dion to have never missed a single one of Charlie's class sessions. Dion and Tio both had reading sessions in the morning when they had time for it, usually discussing the learned knowledge in between pages.

He had a very darkish brown fur tone, along with deep brown eyes. He was considered one of the weirdest boys in the vault among girls and boys. Not due to his unique looks and accent, since his whole family line was from Mexico, but by his harsh manners. Tio had even dated a few girls of his age but never having lasting things with any of them for some reason. The speculation was Tio's normally known hostile attitude over personal space and also due to him needing his time for own hobbies. Tio just didn't like people that much overall, and everyone knew it.

And Tio was always Jacob's number one target to ruffle up and annoy because Tio was so easy to get angry. Sometimes their arguing was entertaining as one could be, but sometimes it was purely annoying. Mostly due to sympathy towards Tio, because Jacob didn't know when to stop and what was the limit. Tio never had burst to cry but would just shut down from speaking or go into his room to sulk for the rest of the day, only because of Jacob.

So... Now you have already met most of my friends. And they all mean the world to me.

Dion sat down opposite of Sam, looking at the dark wolf poking his meal with his spoon beside Sam.

Jacob cheerfully jumped opposite of Tio, right next to Dion. He gave the wicked smile towards Tio already, ready to say something annoying. Tio could sense it, even if he didn't take his eyes off the soup.

Dion gave a few gazes around him and then spoke.

"-Ryan and Niles aaaare?-"

"Haven't dined yet. Training." Tio said calmly and felt his annoyance build up as he knew Jacob was still watching him.

"Oh, okay. How is the food, Sam?" Dion asked with a smile as the hyena was munching his food like he was in heaven.

"Good."

Dion gave concerned look at the other end of the great dining hall, noticing quickly as Farin came out of one of the doors with his best friend, Maurice.

The nose broken, nineteen-year-old tiger boy was far from looking amused, gazing instantly all the way to Dion table. Their gazes collided for a brief second, Dion feeling himself get anxious as the tiger gave a bad look. He then spoke something to his friend, Dion not making out the words.

Maurice was an eighteen-year-old chubby bear, pretty much very same by his nature as Farin. It took two to be the most known rascals in the vault. And not in a good way. The ones that bullied all of their age.

As Dion mentally prepared to be comforted, instead the two went to their seats, far away from Dion.

The brown-furred husky mentally gave a relaxed exhale, knowing that he would have to face Farin sooner or later.

"Dion," Sam said suddenly, stopping his food hogging.

"Yeah?" Dion asked casually, his focus shifting from other end of the room to his hyena friend.

"Did you do it?"

"What?"

"Beat Farin up? Everyone saw his face. Jill won't talk about it, but your brother told you hurt Farin quite bad. I thought you didn't like to hit anyone." Sam said with a bit concerned tone.

"I DON'T! It was an accident! I swear!"

"Dion, don't yell, we are right here." Tio reminded quietly, taking careful spoonful from his soup and still ignoring the annoying dog.

"Sorry... I, look. Sam. Tio. Everyone. I did not intend to hurt him. I was lucky to not get beaten. I just lost my temper. It will never happen again, and that's that. I know that Ryan has told some different version but I was basically hiding behind him after punching Farin." Dion told genuinely.

"... Hmm." Tio just hummed casually like he already suspected such.

"Ooooh... Ryan made it sound way more... Flashy." Sam said, now feeling actually relieved that his friend had not snapped and unreleased some crazy rage on Farin.

"Yes." Tio said with concentrated voice, trying his best to not look at Jacob but it was getting unbearable.

Jacob was still staring at the wolf who was poking his food and ignoring the German shepherds look, when Sam suddenly spoke once swallowing his food, looking over Jacob's shoulder.

"Oh, there he is by the way." Sam pointed out with a smile, two new mammals arriving at their company.

(Metro 2033 [OST] #03 - The Market) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg0FMz2ejSk

Two mammals were walking towards the table, one of them being a fox, accompanied by lynx named Niles.

This fox here is Ryan Winchester. My little brother.

That's an irony for you. Even if he was a year younger than I was, he always felt like the more adult one. He was the one watching after me, not the other way around. It was quite an old joke that everyone here knew. Ryan... Was definitely the star of the vault.

My brother was born a fox instead of as a husky like his father, due to our mother being fox. When different species cross, the end result of the genes was fifty-fifty. It was somewhat not that much of a common thing to do before the great war. Now it was pretty much even considered a norm. You fall in love with who you want.

Not that Dion knew of such stuff. All I knew that I and Ryan were the same blood, even if he had nothing like my personality. The facial features had noticeable similarities though, which made us recognizable as brothers.

Ryan was even considered slightly more handsome than Dion, who was already blessed when it came to genes of looks. Sometimes Charlie would joke by saying that out there in the wasteland every single one from the Winchester family line was handsome. So, they were no exception.

Ryan had dark green eyes just like our dad, almost identically the same. His fur pattern was very different than foxes usually did, his back and legs having black, tiger type stripes almost. It was a rare pattern to have, but it made him just look more of an exotic one. Charlie never knew exactly how on earth did Ryan end up having such a unique fur pattern trait. Also, Ryan was easily the most physically fit kid out of anyone from the vault. That boy was working out each day like it was an addiction. Charlie did tell us once, "treat your body like mind. Keep in shape. We have only one chance to live after all."

True enough, Dion had taken this lesson to heart as well. He had very visible stomach muscles and overall quite fit body, but Ryan took it to a whole another level.

Ryan was only barely one inch shorter than Dion himself.

And by different personalities, I mean the most obvious.

Ryan was self-confident to the core, competitive, carefree, and also more than popular. Maybe quite emotional at times and easy to get on the edge if insulted, not that anyone really had tried that out. Farin and Maurice had tried few times, getting their ass kicked in result. Didn't stop them from trying their luck though.

Ryan was also golden-hearted mammal nevertheless. Always wanted to the right thing.

Every girl wanted to be with him if given a chance. But Ryan was never interested.

Only I and the lynx besides Ryan knew the reason. No one in this vault knew.

See, Ryan didn't like girls. He liked boys.

I had once gone to Ryan's quarters about three years ago, trying to ask for a book that I had borrowed. It had been twelve in the night, so Ryan had not locked his door yet, nor assumed someone would just barge in. I ended up walking right in the middle of seeing Ryan and Niles kissing against the wall more than intensively.

I was shocked more than little, as one would guess. Ryan went in total panic and begged for me to keep the secret from everyone. He had no idea how Charlie would react, and to be honest neither did I. But Dion knew that it was more than a questionable thing to do. To keep that secret. Homosexuality was rather strictly rejected in the rules of the vault and more than shunned upon. Most of the vault's residents were religious mammals, including the overseer and Niles's father, who was a preacher. Ryan and Niles were in a tricky situation due to their affection for each other. Yet, Dion loved his brother and thought Niles as one of his best friends, so he kept his mouth shut and promised to keep the secret that would have severe consequences.

The thing was, not only was being gay considered a mental illness as well as sin against god in here, it was also making you lesser by the fact that you couldn't reproduce and contribute to the vault's lifeline with children. Having a community ongoing down here is what kept the place going. So there was no positive mind by anyone to this considered "perversion."

There were rumors of course among the teenagers about Ryan liking his best friend a bit too much, but most didn't believe the gossip being true. Farin and Maurice were mostly the ones spreading the rumor due to their personal hate towards the Winchester family. Well, they did like Charlie, but not his sons.

Ah, then there was Niles. Niles Hovan. Ryan's secret boyfriend. Niles was a grey Canadian lynx, just having turned eighteen. He was the youngest of our group. The green-eyed lynx was a bit timid nature, quick-tempered and slightly similar to Dion's nature. He had his constant worries, overthinking towards things, and also some sort of sixth sense. Niles loved detective books and always wanted to be one himself. He could study people just by looking at them talk and try to memorize details as if they mattered.

Niles was preacher's son, everyone knowing his father. His father was no good drunken and grumpy idiot, having retired from his job of preaching far ago. His name was Randal Hovan. A man on his fifty's, and overseer's best friend and also a brother in law.

Well... Used to be.

Tragical as it was, Randal's wife aka overseer Calvin's sister, Lilly Hovan, had passed away.

She died many years ago, delivering birth to Niles. It caused Randal's drinking habit within a few years and drove Calvin into a difficult situation since he was only one left of his bloodline besides Randal. Calvin had no idea who would lead as overseer after him since he had no living children, and Randal was a no go for the leading position...

Calvin knew that Randal's son, Niles might be the only one of his bloodline left for the task. But coaching and training Niles into the role would have to begin soon. Whether he wanted it or not. Calvin had ended up marrying a woman once from the vault, a girl called Sandy. But the divorce had happened within a few years. Calvin was the only one to blame for that was himself for the unlikeable personality of his. Niles, of course, had no idea of the task that was secretly waiting for him.

But as we get back to Ryan and Niles, they had somewhat of a very colorful free time hobby, that everyone knew them of. Something that made them unique and stand out from everyone else.

Something that had by Charlie's random teaching session surprisingly become both of their passion. It was something all of my friends and I would follow after Charlie's daily lesson.

What this hobby was, you will learn soon.

"Theeeere is my brother. Mornings." Ryan cheered, hopping right next to Dion, Niles circling around to sit opposite of Ryan, next to Sam.

"Ryan, I need to talk to you," Dion said right away hesitantly.

"Dion, as you see, I'm a bit worked up. I need my breakfast. Can I eat first? See, Sam has an attitude." Ryan said, not able to hold a small laugh as the hyena opposite of him was munching his food nonstop.

Out of nowhere, Tio suddenly spread his arms in question and spoke rather loudly in total annoyance, forcing himself to look at the German shepherd who had stared at him for the past five minutes with grin and silence.

"WHAT? WHAT DO YOU WANT? WHY ARE YOU STARING AT ME?"

Each one in the table turned to look at Tio and Jacob, the self-satisfied smile on the dog's face already making Ryan smile as well. He always enjoyed Jacob's teasing nature and found the banter between the wolf and sheppy the best entertainment.

The German shepherd slowly leaned in to look at Tio with an almost alluring gaze and spoke softly.

"You look extra grumpy today, HOMBRE. Gimme a kiss."

Sam choked on his soup, starting to cover his mouth with his hand, even Dion not able to hold his small chuckle. Ryan was of course snickering, Tio trying to shove Jacob's idiotically smiling face away but the dog dodged, clearly seeing the attack coming. Only one not laughing was Niles, never really getting along with Jacob, just like Tio. He found Jacob to be just a troubled kid who took some built-up frustration on Tio.

"Jacob, you mentally challenged puta-" Tio started muttering and looking back at his soup.

"Ooh, talk dirty to me baby-" Jacob started humming with a smile that just got wider as Tio got worked up.

"Un día te jodiré en tu sueño, estúpido perro..." Tio kept muttering.

"Si si." Jacob teased, having no idea what Tio was muttering. Each time Tio got worked up, he changed languages without even noticing.

"Why do you have to be like this, Jacob? Just leave Tio alone." The lynx asked as he started to eat his soup.

"Because he is too much fun. That's why. I am the bright sunshine into his depressing and serious world, isn't that right, Tio?" Jacob asked, leaning on his elbows and keeping on staring at the wolf.

"Simplemente amas tu propia voz, idiota." The wolf muttered, trying not to get too worked up and forced his disliked food in his mouth.

"Jacob, one day he is going to punch you again," Ryan said knowingly, still snickering for the situation.

"Naah, he won't catch me in time. He clumsy." Jacob snorted out, Tio shaking his head in annoyance.

"You two should start a comedy club," Sam said innocently while licking his plate to be sure he would get all the soup.

Suddenly Dion spoke in between the hassle.

"Ryan, I need to just ask. Why did you lie about me beating up Farin when I totally didn't-"?

"Shhhhh, dude. Not so loud." Ryan said right away, Dion raising eyebrows at that. He then spoke with a bored face.

"Brother, I will tell everyone right here and now if I must, along with giving an apology. I don't want anyone to think that I the kind of weird quiet mammal that loses temper and ends up beating someone up-"

"Like Tio?" Jacob asked with a smirk.

"Idiot." The wolf said back quietly.

Ryan then stopped Dion in the middle of his speech, waving his paws in alarm.

"Just give in to it. Go on with it."

"Yeah, I think Ryan is right on this one," Niles said quietly to Dion.

"No, Niles. It's lying." Dion argued back.

"Dion, that is the whole point. They need to have that picture of you. What you did was an opportunity and I took it. It's Farin for fucks sake, who cares. He is a cunt." Ryan chuckled.

"Ryan, don't use that word... And besides, I'm not good at fighting. Now that everyone thinks so, it makes me a liar as well if I go with it. I don't want the bullies here to try to find out if I really can fight, Farin has friends beside Maurice who don't like me, and-"

"Will you quit panicking?" Ryan asked in an annoyance.

Suddenly in the middle of Dion's worried questioning, Jacob was on it again.

"Let me get a spoonful." Jacob teased, trying to sneakily catch Tio's spoon.

"You already ate," Tio sighed, having calmed down a bit.

"I can eat more. Just one spoonful." Jacob teased.

"Fine. Just eat all of it. I don't want it anyway. It tastes bad." Tio said with given up tone, also this way shutting Jacob up for at least a moment.

The wolf pushed his plate under Jacob's nose, the dog speaking.

"Oh, I just realized... I'm not hungry anymore." He said, winking at the wolf.

"Total child," Tio said in annoyance, shaking his head and turning to talk to Dion.

"Dion."

"Y-yeah?" Dion asked, still wanting to continue the conversation with his brother about earlier, the fox eating and chattering with Niles at the moment.

"You coming to read today with me? Or you got things to do?"

"I'll... I'll see if I can." Dion said, meddled in his thoughts.

"Dion, is it just me, but is Sam getting a more than fatto fat lately?" Jacob suddenly asked teasingly, pointing his finger at the hyena.

"HEY!" Sam said with a wounded tone.

"Jacob! That is rude." Dion scolded, Ryan agreeing on the comment from the side.

"He is right, Sam. You getting a bit too round at this pace."

"Thank you." Jacob said, rolling his arm theatrically on Ryan's way.

"No, I'm not! I just... I really like the food... Look, the more you eat, the stronger you get, right?'" Sam asked, now crossing his arms and expecting someone to support him on this.

"Sam, you are okay the way you are. Although, you have to take into consideration your long term health. If you gain more than a certain kilos from where you are now, it might get into a dangerous level. The average weight is to be balanced with your specific height-" Tio began quietly from the side, staring to explaining to the hyena, like a professor on the matter, the german shepherd cutting the wolf's speech off.

"Aaaaaaw, that is sooo cute!" Jacob squealed, Niles for some reason giving a small smile at that.

"Fuck off," Tio said firmly at the dog who was wagging his tail and looking at the wolf with a goofy face.

"Nonono keep going, mister brainiac." Jacob encouraged.

"Shut up." Tio hissed.

"... Dion, you don't think I'm getting fat, are you?" Sam asked with uncertainty.

Only to realize that the brown-furred husky was zoning out, looking at someone over the room. Sam felt a small smile coming to him as he sighed and spoke.

"Diiiioooon." Sam sang with an alluring tone, knowing who he was looking at.

"Huh?" Dion woke up from his daydream, looking at his hyena friend in confusion.

"You know, she isn't going to be your girlfriend just by watching," Sam told with a genuine tone.

Dion felt himself get a bit warmer from even the word "girlfriend" his eyes widening a bit and him looking down as he realized he was doing it again. But it was hard not to answer the look. The Siamese cat girl, Jill, was looking right back at him from the other side of the room, giggling with her friends.

"You should go for it. Talk to her." Niles said from next to Ryan with an encouraging voice.

"... I dunno-" Dion began.

"DUDE. You punched a guy who was bullying her like all macho-" Jacob began.

Dion was right away about to say something to that but Jacob place paw in front of Dion's muzzle and finished his sentence.

"Even if it was an accident. Judging by that goofy smile you have always when you look at her, you have all sorts of dirty ideas in your head about her as we sp-"

"No, I don't! -" Dion defended a bit too loudly and tried not to get red, Tio speaking quietly.

"Distasteful."

"Jacob, you need a nap," Niles said, shaking his head at the comment.

"I am just getting started here. My battery is fully loaded and-"

Dion took the advantage to zone out of Jacob's blabbering and spoke to Ryan.

"Brother."

"Hmmm?" The fox hummed in question, eating his soup still.

"Since you are almost finished with your food, can we get back to the... Discussion we had earlier?" The dog pleaded.

"Discussion? .... Oh, for f-... Dion, big brother, let it be." Ryan said with frustration building up again.

Now the mammals around the table could not notice the tone on Ryan, slowly shifting their focus back to him. Nobody liked when Ryan got angry. His aura overall commanded respect.

"No. I want to talk about it." Dion pushed.

"For your own good. End of discussion. Okay?" Ryan said, taking a deep breath, wishing Dion would leave it at that. But of course, he didn't. The concerned husky kept going.

"But why did you lie for me? Just tell me-"

"BECAUSE IM TIRED OF DEFENDING YOU," Ryan said sternly, almost like he had been holding that one out for quite a while.

The table got quiet, Ryan looking apologizing right away, but didn't say anything. Niles gave annoyed look at his boyfriend, Sam quitting his eating and clearly Jacob and Tio also noticing the shift of energy in the table.

Dion now looked a bit hurt, almost like he didn't know what Ryan just meant.

"W-what do you mean by that, Ryan?" Dion asked innocently, although his gut could pretty much feel what Ryan's words meant.

"I mean... I mean that I'm not going to look out for you anymore. You are older than me. You are a Winchester. You spend your day's nose buried in books, listening to your music and daydreaming. You can't even talk to a girl you like. It's time for you to start to... Hold up on your own. I can't fight all your battles for you each time you get in trouble, and I know that our dad is tired of it too even if he doesn't say it. You need to grow some balls, Dion. This lie I just made might have given you an opportunity to walk a bit more safely around bullies. I did it for you. That is all I'm saying." Ryan finished, starting to eat his soup and not looking at Dion.

The quiet moment settled into the table as Dion felt his ears flop, looking at his soup with sad expression. It was hard to hear such harsh truth from his brother without warning. He really was a pussy, like many told him. But what hurt most was to hear it from his own kin.

"Ryan. That was unnecessary." Tio notified as he gave a judging look at the fox.

"No, Tio. You are smart and right about most things but this one I'm truthful in. I'm not my brother's guardian angel each time he gets called a sissy or pushed around by Farin or his friends. He can barely even have talk girls without stutter or build up an interesting convo with any of his age outside of this group. Most consider him boring. Now, he has a rumor to boost his image and gave people something to talk about. I have been that guardian angel for him for the past nine years. I'm retiring. Sorry. Dion, you need to get a grip and act like you are nineteen. Not nine." Ryan said with genuine expression, clearly not trying to insult his brother, but it was obvious that Dion took it as one.

"Ryan!" Niles said angrily to his boyfriend with disappointment.

"What?! It's true though. Dion act's way too innocent for his age than he should He doesn't even curse for fucks sake!" Ryan said.

"Yeah we know, Ryan. But Dion is just who he is. Yeah, he can be boring sometimes, but stop being so harsh on him." Jacob said, defending Dion. When it came to the matter of someone talking down on Dion, it brought seriousness out of the dog. He was among the rare amount of people who always defended Dion, even if he was totally poor at physical fighting. Words were Jacob's weapon. He was good at that when he needed to be.

"Look I'm not insulting him here-" Ryan began in defending tone and paws up.

"You ...Kind of are. I'm sorry, Ryan." Sam said quietly, wishing Ryan wouldn't get angry at him instead of such a blunt answer.

Ryan just shook his head and spoke.

"You are all just way too soft about this. Dion. Look at me, you know that I'm just talking as a caring brother-"

Ryan then saw that Dion's eyes were a bit glossy, his brother clearly being hurt from things Ryan had just said.

"Aww shit, look, Dion, I'm sorry-" Ryan began and rolled his eyes in visible frustration.

"I'm not hungry anymore." Was the only thing Dion said, taking his tray of food and raising up from his seat.

"Hey, come ooon big bro, I was just trying to make you understand-" Ryan began, but Dion wasn't even looking at his way, just leaving the table and their company slowly.

"Well done," Tio said to Ryan with low tone, gripping his soup back from under Jacob's nose, giving the soup second chance, only to look up and see the dog was not on his seat anymore.

"Whatever, Tio. He is my brother, not yours. Jacob, can you check on-" Ryan was about to call out the dog for help, only to realize that Jacob had already risen from his seat and walked after Dion.

"He got it. Now I can finally eat my soup in peace." Tio said quietly.

"I haven't seen you that mean in a while to him," Sam said quietly.

"I WAS NOT- UUurrrhhhgg...." Ryan groaned, rubbing his nose bridge and looking at Niles.

"You know Dion will never be like you, Ryan. You just have to accept that." Niles said with an honest tone.

"... Clearly not... Sometimes I just wonder if he is Winchester at all." Ryan said with a small frustrated voice, continuing to eat his soup.

The rest of the meal enjoyment went rather quiet, as no one really said anything anymore.

ACT 3

(Katie Thompson - I'm So Blue) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fpV7bOy8kg

"Look, Husker, you are overreacting. Like always. If people had like, superpower... Like in comics, you know? Your superpower would be overreacting." Jacob was explaining to his best friend, the sad husky walking with slow steps on the hallway.

"Not funny," Dion said quietly, deep in his thoughts.

"Dude... Just... You know Ryan, he talks before thinking-"

"No, he doesn't. He meant what he said." Dion pointed out.

"So, you just gonna lock yourself in your room for the rest of days after your father's classes because you have fear of like... one in hundred to get your ass beaten by Farin?" Jacob asked, sighing.

Dion stopped walking, looking at his best friend with a rather sad and confused look.

"It's not just Farin... It's... I don't want people to start coming to talk with me about me beating someone up. I can't lie about what went down."

"It doesn't take much to go with the lie, Ryan was right about that, Dion. He did you a favor in my eyes, even if he talked to you like an asshole just now."

"No. I'm not going to go with a lie. It's not me. I just... I need time to myself."

"Dion, you have started to need more time for yourself more and more lately. Like honestly, still about a month ago we hanged around as a crew nonstop. You are absent more and more, Husker. Even Tio pointed that one out. You read with our quiet grumpy wolf all the time. Now you don't. What is up with you? We miss having you around all the time."

"Nothing's up with me." Dion defended, knowing that Jacob saw through him right away.

"Dude, we have been best friends for like, what? Ten years soon? Don't you think I would be THE GUY to come talk to if your head is fucked up over something? It can't be just Farin and his boys, or people coming to talk to you about the fight." Jacob studied, starting comically circle around Dion and having clownish thoughtful expression as he rubbed his chin.

"Jacob, quit doing that. You look funny. And also, I'm totally fine. Well, I mean, I'm not... But it's just because... Look, maybe the best thing would be to apologize Farin personally-"

"BEEEEEEEEEB! Wrong answer. How that is gonna play out, are you getting a black eye, me jumping in the middle and getting one as well because I can't fight for shit? Nor does Tio or Sam. Now, as handsome as bastard I am, I'm not the kinda guy who looks roguish with fight marks. Try again. Something smart this time."

"... Maybe if... If I tried to-"

"MAAAAYBE, if you tried to talk to me about whatever is going on in that head of yours that makes you act weirder than your usual weird, we would save time," Jacob suggested, poking between Dion's eyes.

"Ow. Look, I have nothing to-"

"Ummm. Sorry, I didn't want to interrupt."

Both suddenly turned to look at the newcomer on the scene, Dion almost freezing.

Jill was leaning next to the wall, holding some book in her hands and trying not to look Dion as she spoke.

"Hi, guys."

"... Well hello there." Jacob said with an overly done charming voice, Dion internally facepalming.

"Hi, Jacob... Dion." Jill said quietly, shifting her gaze at the husky who was clearly zoning out on her.

"H... Hi." Dion squeezed out with an awkward smile, almost begging not to sweat.

The awkward silence continued for a moment until Jill spoke.

"Hey umm... Jacob... I was wondering... Would it be okay if... If I had a word with... Dion? Like... Private?" The Siamese cat asked from the German shepherd, giving a shy smile.

"M-Me?" Dion asked with lowkey panicking and eyes widening for a moment, Jacob almost laughing at the reaction, but felt just as surprised. His friend gave encouraging tap on his shoulder and spoke carefree.

"By all means. Husker, I will get back to our discussion later, count on that. See you down the decks, rest are most likely already there watching Ryan's show. You take care now."

"But-" Dion tried to argue, trying to grab Jacob instantly, but the dog slipped away, poking his tongue out for him and laughing almost with evil tone.

"Wait till they hear..."

"Jacob!" Dion hissed, quickly acting like he didn't just say anything, turning to look at Jill.

The Siamese cat just smiled shyly; Jacob's footsteps gone as he exited through the door at the end of the hall. Dion gave a hesitant gaze after his best friend, Jill taking his attention by speaking.

"Ummm... How... How you doing, Dion?" The cat asked politely.

"... Fine. I'm... Yeah. I'm good!" Dion meeped, trying his best not to act like a weirdo but he was failing. Yet it didn't bother Jill the slightest like it never seemed to.

"Great," Jill said, just feeling restless as she was trying to keep himself calm and collected.

"Good."

The awkward silence continued for a bit, Dion just smiling like an idiot as the cat prepared to continue.

"Dion, I just wanted to say that... Thank you, for... You know, what happened with Farin." Jill squeezed out, clearly being genuinely grateful.

"... It's... It's okay. He shouldn't have said those things to you." Dion said a genuine tone as well.

"... Or things he said to you. He shouldn't have talked about your... Mother. That was the dirtiest thing I've ever seen him do. It was low, even from him." Jill said, carefully reading Dion's expression.

"... I never told Ryan he talked about her... Ryan would have... Well, acted a way harsher than I."

"Well... Maybe you should not even think about telling him. Farin might be an idiot and violent but he does not deserve anything your brother would be capable of when he gets angry."

"... Mmhh." Dion agreed with a slight hum and nodded slowly, rubbing his shoulder as he was wondering why the girl was equally anxious. Well, they were always like this in each other's company... But it was clear the catgirl was going somewhere with this discussion.

"... What's the umm... Book you reading?" Dion asked awkwardly, trying to make the anxiety atmosphere go away by force.

"Oh? Umm, this? It's... a book called "The man and the sea" "

"... I don't think I've ever read it, actually. Is it good?" Dion asked with a smile, trying to relax himself.

Even Jill now felt a bit more comfortable and spoke.

"Yeah, it's good. It tells about a guy who is fishing at the sea... I mean, that is what I've read so far. I'm kind of still in the start."

"Sea... Isn't the sea like that huge pit full of water?" The dog asked with a puzzled tone.

"Yeah, we learned that in class like... Two years ago, was it?" Jill asked curiously.

"Two years, yeah."

"Right."

The silence continued for a moment, things starting to feel slightly awkward again, but this time Jill taking a step. As well as literally. She walked a few steps slowly towards Dion, almost alluringly with a charming smile, Dion feeling his tail was going to fuzz. Don't sweat. What is she doing?

"Dion... Can I ask you something? Something that's been bothering me for a few years now... I think... I'm not the only one... Dion, I kinda like you-"

"I like you too!" The dog squeezed out quickly, almost feeling like he blew a stream of smoke out of his ears just now. Jill gave a surprised look at the sudden exchanged compliment, then looking down at her book and smiling more.

"That's nice to hear..."

"Yeah... Nice to hear that... You like me too... I'm sounding like an idiot at the moment, aren't I? I'm bad at this. Really, really bad. I'm so sorry-" Dion started blabbering, but before he could in his awkward chuckling ramble continue any further, Jill walked a bit closer with endearing smile, almost like loving the way Dion was acting at the moment.

The husky had only about a second to realize that Jill leaned in and gave a kiss on his cheek.

His whole fur sparked up at instant, eyes widening a bit and not able to stop staring at her, looking slightly enchanted by her.

The cat then spoke quietly with half-lidded eyes, looking at Dion rub the spot on his cheek where she had kissed him.

"Dion... Do you want to umm..." Jill mumbled, trying to get the question out, squirming a bit as Dion looked like he wanted to repay what she just did. It was endearing on so many levels that Jill knew he would say yes to her finished question. She asked softly from the husky.

"... Would you like to go on a date with me?"

Dion was frozen, slowly feeling a warm smile coming to his muzzle as he took the handoff his face and nodded slightly, feeling like it was better not to say anything. He was in a quite loss of words this situation coming so sudden, especially when he had hoped it for such a long time.

Jill then started to awkwardly specify what she said.

"Aaand umm... Thank you. I honestly didn't know for sure if you would have said yes."

"... I would never... I mean... Say no... To that... Like... I like you a lot and-... I have... I wanted to ask... Same question from you for... Well, since many... Few... Years ago and-" Dion now realized he was just blabbering, feeling like his heart was going to catch in his throat soon.

But Jill was clearly blushing slightly, speaking quietly as he tried not to look at Dion.

"... I've liked you a long time too." Jill admitted, feeling like he wanted to give a kiss to Dion again, but held it back.

The silence continued for a slight moment, both staring at each other and wondering what to do or say next.

"So!... Um... Thursday okay for you?" Jill asked quickly, clearly showing her excitement.

"Huh?" Dion asked like he had just woken up.

"The umm, date. You okay to hang out on Thursday?" Jill asked, her tail dancing mesmerizingly behind her.

"Y-Yeah! Thursday. Sure. It's... Perfect." Dion stuttered.

"Great!... Um... Yeah."

"... Yeah..."

"... So. I'll be seeing you, Dion." Jill finally said, giving a wink and starting to slowly and smoothly walk from the situation.

Dion nodded slowly, but as Jill was about to pass him, he spoke to her out of need.

"Jill."

"Mmh?" The catgirl asked joyfully, looking at the husky who was smiling right back.

"... Thank you. For... Being the one with the courage to ask me out... It's... Not one of my biggest traits." Dion said with an oddly apologizing tone and giving an awkward smirk.

"... What you did with Farin said something else to me... Handsome." Jill said with an alluring gaze, just not able to hold internal squeal about Dion's self-honesty in such an endearing way.

Just like that, Jill leaned again at Dion's face quickly, giving a kiss on his other cheek this time. And this time, Dion didn't flinch but could not stop smiling and his eyelids relaxing. She was so damn kind. And she had just called him handsome.

"... Be seeing you... Dion." Jill said quietly with charming tone, continuing to walk past Dion and her tail dancing behind her, purposefully letting it slide against Dion's hand and making the dog shiver.

Now, Dion was left on the hallway, looking after Jill with a totally enchanted gaze, wanting to punch himself for the fact that it was hard not to stare at her body from behind. He felt himself getting a bit woozy even as he kept staring her journey all the way to the end of the hallway, opening the door.

She knew that he was watching, but didn't turn to look at him to make sure. It was almost clear for the dog that the catgirl was swaying her hips from side to side a bit more than normal, just to clearly flirt out at the dog.

And like that, the door closed behind her, and Dion was left alone in the hallway.

Within a few seconds, he jumped in the air and started to total victory dance but rather elegantly and smoothly, snapping his fingers together and feeling like he could dance for the rest of the day.

Maybe... Maybe I'm not a total loser after all...

Yeah. You got this.

Or you sure as hell are going to put your best effort.

Because you...

You are a Winchester.

END