Chapter IV: Roast Beef Sandwich

"What the hell was that!?" Wendigo roared, slamming his fists into the immense, jet-black table. The strange material of the table resisted his blow like gelatine though a moment later, it hardened like steel, pushing his fists back and resuming its original shape. "That was not part of the plan!"

Shark Tamer chuckled softly and waved a webbed hand absently at the ferocious cannibal. "No, no it was not but you cannot blame the poor boy for experimenting with his newfound abilities. Besides, the results were both pleasing and disappointing at the same time." The genetic genius of the Gene Stealers tapped a few buttons on the strange table and holographic images popped up in front of each of the gathered members. "As you can see, this form of infection is being accepted well enough. Rate of transformation is high and, according to our results, upon activation the initial victim was able to manifest superpowers as did the one closest to him. All subsequent transformations, however, were reduced to Generation 1s."

Sitting right next to Shark Tamer was Gnoll, the hyena of the previous Gene Stealer outbreak. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he regarded the data and swiped through the pages with a paw. Beside him was his mate, Psycho, dressed in a very sexy West California Police Department uniform without pants.

"Why do you think that is?" Gnoll asked. "I thought you had isolated the signal to grant victims superpowers and were expecting everyone who fell prey to the transformation to become a super."

"I can only surmise that it is a conscious effort to make a super. In the case of our friend's newest lieutenants, Stampede was made a super because of the original signal. Stampede created Taurus out of a heartfelt desire not to be alone. Everyone else was just born out of lust and desperation."

At the far end of the table, sitting next to the large, empty seat reserved for their leader, Dragon Knight grunted. "So you're saying we have to consciously think about making supers and those we transform must do the same to create supers?"

"Perhaps. I also detected the original Minos Strain weakening with each subsequent transformation, eventually plateauing at Generation 1 level. It may be also that the chances of creating a super rapidly decline with each successful creation."

"I'm disappointed," giggled Spider Queen who hung upside down above her seat. "You usually are not this... careless."

Shark Tamer flashed her a wicked, toothy grin. "This, like many others, is a mere test, my dear. We have proven that Generation 2s can be created out on the field thanks to the aid of Minos. The transmission method is equally as effective as well. Since we are now officially exposed, I see no reason to restrict our experiments to lab rats and kidnapped specimens. We have the whole _world_as our testing grounds!" Shark Tamer chuckled darkly and then spoke with calm, even tones. "We have isolated the phenomenon. Now we must expound on it."

"No."

Everyone around the table froze even the cocky, laid back bull-man who had his hooves up on the table. Minos, the newest Gene Stealer sat up, eyes wide. All eyes were turned towards the door into the conference room where the voice had emerged from.

"Continue testing for the creation of Generation 2s."

They all turned back towards the big empty seat. Dragon Knight, who had been sitting right next to it, flinched at the sudden appearance of Chimera.

"Emotion is still a key factor as it should always be," the leader of the Gene Stealers uttered. "We have exploited love and affection but so far, we have only seen its effects after gradual growth and development. Gnoll and Psycho developed fully only when their affection was realised after trials and tribulations. Same with Man Breaker and Boy Breaker. With Taurus and Stampede, their development is on its way but they never had a previous relationship, it was merely starting. "

Chimera's one, blue eye switched towards Minos, freezing the Gene Stealer in place. Then, it turned towards Shark Tamer, making the bull sigh in relief. "Find a target with an existing carnal relationship."

"I see," Shark Tamer said, grinning broadly. "Brilliant as always, Lord Chimera. I had not thought to test that. I shall locate one promptly!"

"See that you do." Huge, black wings sprang from Chimera's back, almost entirely eclipsing the entire table. One of the wings even clipped the thread Spider Queen was hanging on, causing her to fall and land landed securely in her seat. Chimera's eye turned to Minos, once again freezing the bull.

"We are counting on you, Minos. Do not disappoint me."

*****

Trying desperately to calm himself, Caleb Hale shut the door behind him but kept his paw on the doorknob just in case he had to make a hasty escape or turn it into some sort of weapon to facilitate his escape. His father, David Hale, stepped forward, jaw locked in place and his face completely unreadable. David sniffed and Caleb prayed lupine instincts did not kick in and the scent of his fear did not reach his father's nose.

"What do you need to talk about, dad?" Caleb asked, keeping his voice surprisingly even.

"Let's go to the lounge. Sit down."

Not the lounge. Anything but the lounge. David Hale had a massive recliner there and it was reserved just for him. Whenever he had to play the strict father, he would get one of his pups and sit them on the three-seater while he occupied the intimidating seat. It was effectively his throne where he could pass down judgements to his naughty pups. Caleb hated being seated opposite to that recliner.

It didn't help that Lance accompanied them and stood ominously beside his father's seat. David Hale parked himself into the seat while Caleb sat down on the three-seater opposite. For a long moment, the patriarch of the Hale household leaned forward, resting his muzzle against clasped paws. His features were still unreadable as he stared deep into Caleb's soul with piercing, blue eyes.

"Caleb... This is about you..."

Mary had warned him that things were about to grow complex. Was this where his father outright asked him if he was an Outsider? Had Lance spilled the beans? Would he have to choose between lying to his father and maintaining his identity only to disappoint Lance all the more or tell the truth and risk losing his house and his family? Would he have to go into federal housing like Lars?

"... and Lars."

Caleb's ears perked up. "Lars? Why? What's wrong with him?"

David Hale shut his eyes, squeezing them tightly. Still with eyes shut, he said, "He's... Firebrand."

Caleb's eyes flicked towards Lance who flicked his ears and widened his own eyes as if to tell Caleb that he should act surprised. It took him a second to realise that this should be news to him.

"Oh..."

Lance pursed his lips lightly, gesturing very vaguely for him to keep going.

"Oh!" Caleb exclaimed, leaning forward in shock. "No way! He's - But then that means - and the Outsiders - and - and - and -"

"I know, I know," David said, waving his paws slightly and leaning back into his seat. He opened his eyes, looking at Caleb apologetically. "I'm sorry I had to be the one to tell you. I know he's your best friend. But Lance convinced me that you should know."

Lance did?

"Oh... Thanks, I guess..." Caleb folded his ears back, whimpering softly. "Am I not allowed to see him?" He almost kicked himself for sounding like a little teenage girl being forbidden to see her boyfriend.

"What? No!" David shook his head, laughing softly. "I'm not that kind of dad, Cale. Lars made his choice. He'll have to live with it. He's your friend and you can treat him however you see fit. I may disprove of his choice but I know his friendship means a lot to you and I don't want to break that up because of something he did. Although I still think that he's put even more of a negative light on Outsiders by promoting vigilantism but that's his choice. Lars is a grown man and knows the consequences of his actions. Still, regardless of what his actions are on the field, one cannot discount his actions off the field as well."

David smiled but it looked quite forced. "He has been your friend through thick and thin, he lied for you to cover for your actions with Lance and was there when you..." He paused for a moment and looked as if he was at a loss for words. He must have been referring to when the hyena strain had taken hold of his youngest son.

"Thanks, Dad..." Caleb murmured, stunned at his father's understanding. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to come out as an Outsider. "I..." Then he saw Lance's expression and the quick shake of the head that followed. "I really appreciate it."

David's smile began genuine and he stood up, crossing the distance between them. He kissed Caleb's forehead very lightly, squeezing a shoulder. "I'm proud of you, son. I only want what's best for you and what makes you happy. I'll do anything to make that happen."

His father then headed upstairs.

Lance occupied the seat next to Caleb, letting out a relieved sigh. "You okay?"

Caleb glanced at his older brother in confusion. "What just happened?"

The bigger wolf grinned and said, "I just talked to Dad. Told him that you should know about Lars. He was pretty pissed at first when Lars came out but I managed to calm him down." He nudged Caleb lightly. "Told you I'd wean him to like the Outsiders. Little more difficult now that Lars revealed himself but we're getting there."

"So... you're not mad about the test? I mean, I'll be honest there, I thought you had outed me to get back at me..."

Lance puffed out his cheeks and let out his breath slowly. "After how he blew up at the whole Firebrand/Flare Blue debacle? I can see why you wouldn't want to tell him quite yet." He paused for a moment before he shook his head. "I just wish you told me though."

Caleb folded his ears back. "Sorry. I didn't think you'd understand."

His brother's arm wrapped around his shoulders, pulling him together tightly. "Cale, I love you. I'll always listen."

Frowning slightly, Caleb glanced over his shoulder at the stairs. Most of the house was quiet and he guessed Abby and Leon were out. "Where's mom?"

"Out dealing with the shit that happened at West Marrington. Dad said he's going to hit the hay. The past few days have been really wearing him thin and he needs some rest."

"Good."

Caleb seized Lance's paw, pulling him off the couch and towards the door. "Dad, Lance and I are going to grab some dinner. You want anything?"

His father's chirpy tune came from downstairs. "Ooooh! Get the Pad Thai from that Thai place I like! You know the one."

It was sad that now Caleb knew that joyful tone was probably just an act for his sake. "'Kay! Be back in a bit!"

With a puzzled Lance in tow, he jumped on Ballistic and handed his brother the other helmet. They were halfway down the street when Lance asked, "Are we really going to go grab dinner?"

"Yeah. With some banana cream pie for dessert."

"Cream pie? Eck, you know I hate -" He paused. "Oh..."

Caleb's tail wagged excitedly, gently thumping against his brother's thick leg. He sensed Lance's puzzlement as he drove back up to the Facility and led them into its depths. Elliot was engrossed in some videogame that he was using the supercomputer to run while Bren was probably meeting with the FBI PR team to release his statement. No one else was in the Facility except Madman but he rarely left his room except for when he was teaching Caleb how to fight as a hyena.

"What are we doing here?" Lance asked as they entered Caleb's Armoury. Then his eyes widened as Caleb reached the storage compartment where _Funny Bone_was stored.

Caleb plucked the weapon from where it hung and glanced over his shoulder seductively at his brother. "Well... You did say you wanted to have some hot hyena sex, right?"

The bigger wolf swallowed loudly. "Oh fuck me..."

"I intend to."

*****

At lunch the next day, Caleb winced as he sat down next to his friends, delicately balancing his tray of food with stacks of steaks and some healthy, organic pork sausages on it. Once he was down, he gently placed the ice pack over his genitals, sighing in relief.

"What happened to you?" Ben asked.

"Mary?" Caleb prompted.

Shaking her head, Mary said, "Last night, our dear pup snuck back into the Facility, put on Funny Bone, grew big, muscly and hilarious and then proceeded to make sweet, sweet love to his superhero of a brother. Hence..." She gestured with her fork at Caleb's crotch. "... the ice pack."

"Why didn't you call me?" Ben replied. "I love a good three-way!."

"Trust me, if we added another hormone crazed canine into the mix we would have never been able to clean up the mess," Caleb answered with a smirk. He eyed Mary curiously. "You said things were about to get a lot more complex but things turned out great! What's up with that?"

His heart began to plummet as Mary took her time to answer, delicately lifting her form and pushing a leaf of lettuce into her rosy lips, chewing _extremely_slowly. She even took the time to dab her lips with a napkin before responding.

"What would be simpler? That your father accused you of being an Outsider and kicked you out from Lance's betrayal or maintaining this charade of innocence, realising your father is okay with Lars joining the Outsiders and meeting him on the field as a rival?"

Caleb opened his muzzle to reply with what came instinctively... then reeled himself back in.

"Damnit, Mary!" he growled. He then glanced over at Lars who was sitting across the table with the intention of getting his opinion. His jaw dropped when he noticed his best friend was actually reading the script for Les Miserables. Seeing his expression, Alex and Ben followed his gaze and they too looked shocked and horrified.

"You got the part!?"

Lars, ears folded back muttered a soft affirmative.

"Yup," said Mary proudly. "Our dear quarterback is going to be the esteemed Jean Valjean in this year's production of Les Miserables. He found out this morning."

Still not entirely believing his ears, Caleb said, "I thought you said that the quarterback turning out to be a vocal and dancing genius was a 'dark time in Earth's history'?"

"Yeah..." grunted Lars without much other comment.

"And you still took the part?"

"Yeah..."

Alex threw his hands up into the air in panic. "Save us!" he cried loudly. "The Dark Lord Disney is on the verge of being resurrected again! Someone has already started the first steps of the ritual!"

All at once, everyone on the table but Lars pointed at the Doberman and shouted, "High School Teen Drama!"

Lars grumbled and remained noncommittal while everyone else laughed.

"You know what happens next, right?" Alex laughed, seating himself back down. "You're going to find the meek girl who just happens to _super_talented and will steal the leading female role from the cold-hearted bitch of your co-star." He glanced at Mary. "No offense."

"None taken," answered Mary with a shrug. "I think it's flattering."

"You forget that Lars is gay," Ben said smugly.

"Oh, right, right." Alex nodded and tapped his chin. "Well, I guess that means then that you'll probably fall in love with the quiet sound coordinator who always makes you sound so good, you two sing karaoke together and then proceed to make toe-curling, mind-blowing, heart-stopping love. Clearly off screen, though."

Caleb snickered, grinning broadly as he said, "Of course, after that some jealous party will have to curse you with a sleeping curse from which you'll only awaken if your true love kisses you. It will be a heart-warming event when your gay lover finally comes out and wakes you."

"That's in the sequel," said Alex. "And only after the story has been beaten to death with a rotten poo stick will -"

"The Dark Lord Disney rise!" they all cried in unison.

WHAM!

Lars got up, snarling at them. "You guys are dicks." He stormed away, taking the script with him while the others just kept laughing.

"Y - y - you know..." laughed Ben, finding it hard to breathe. "We're just perpetuating the stereotype of the doubtful friends who mock him but in the end, we're there supporting and cheering him on when he makes his ground breaking performance, right?"

...

The boys froze and exchanged glances.

"Shit... You don't think he'd really come back, do you?" asked Caleb worriedly. "I read somewhere that he enslaved all the children of the world with upbeat music and then forced them all to sing 'It's a Small World' to anyone older than the age of 10 which led their victims into insanity."

Even Ben, the indomitable Blood Wolf, shuddered as he said, "I remember hearing from my parents that one of their ancestors had to contend with huge, floating Disney Lands that dropped costumes of various beloved characters that subsequently latched onto anyone and forced them to move against their will."

"Thank god for HBO and their rampant smutty shows," Alex said. "Nothing like traumatising them with visual imagery of sexual intercourse to break their innocence and the hypnotic spell of the Dark Lord."

Mary sighed loudly and stood up. "You guys really are jerks."

That accusation stunned Caleb and he regarded her with surprise. "What did we do?"

She gave him a sour look. "Your best friend is pouring his heart out for the musical and you're here mocking him about bringing about another potential Apocalypse."

"I didn't think he was really serious about it... I mean, I never pegged Lars to be a thespian..."

"And no one would have ever pegged the three-hundred pound, teen muscle god of a wolf that you are to be a colossal nerd."

Caleb's ears folded back and a blush touched his cheeks. "Oh... Right..."

"Clueless as always," she sighed, with a roll of her eyes. "I want you to find Lars and apologise. If you were really his friends then you would support him in whatever he decided to do, and I'm not just saying this only because I have a vested interest in his performance in the musical."

It was Caleb's turn to give her an accusing stare, one echoed by the others around the table. Mary paused for a few moments before her expression faltered "Okay, so maybe that influences my decision a bit. But you know what's right. Plus you've got a game tonight. You want him performing at his best."

Nodding glumly, Caleb stood and sniffed the air, searching for Lars' scent. Despite the cacophony of scents in the lunch room, he knew Lars' pretty well and could track it if he was halfway across the world.

"Why don't you tempt his forgiveness with something extra?" Alex suggested. "Mike and I were planning to go on a camping trip in the mountains next weekend after the game. Why don't you come with? It's a long weekend because Monday is apparently 'teacher development day' which we all know is just a cover for 'CBF Day'."

"You mean those artificially created mounds of dirt?" snorted Ben derisively. "Those aren't mountains."

"You have a better suggestion?"

"Yeah, I do, in fact," answered the werewolf, grinning broadly. "My family has a cabin out in the wilderness on the mainland. I'll see if we can use it for the weekend. I'm pretty sure it'll be okay."

"A cabin?" Alex repeated. "Is this one of those tiny one-bedroom places where some of us will end up having to sleep on the floor?"

Ben actually looked insulted. "What? Of course not! It's a sizable place. We've got rooms for everyone." He stood up and flicked out his phone. "Look, you in or not?"

Alex shrugged. "Sure. I don't see the harm. Caleb?"

Turning to Mary and seeing her nod, Caleb said, "Sure. Sounds great."

At that moment, a lively British voice cut through their conversation followed by heavenly scent akin to freshly baked bread, the spicy, aromatic hint of tea, the lingering aftertaste of turpentine and mixed with just the right amount of manly musk that reminded Caleb that the owner was also a jock.. "Hello gents. What's the topic of conversation today?"

"The usual," said Ben. "Dark Lord rituals, camping trips, teen dramas. What's up with you?"

"Camping trips?" Ashton asked, beaming. "I'm quite an outdoorsman myself! Wouldn't be too much trouble if I imposed, would it?"

"Not at all!" Alex replied with a grin. "The more the merrier. You can be Caleb's plus one."

Caleb practically threw himself off his seat in horror, crashing to the tiled floor of the lunch room while spraying some steamed vegetables into the air. A pea landed on his forehead, somehow feeling like an anvil.

"Are you alright, mate?" Ashton asked, looking clearly worried.

He bolted upright his speed nearly matching a super and pointed absently in the direction that Lars had vanished. "I gotta go find Lars. Laters."

He left the lunch room to the sounds of his friends rapidly making plans for the weekend. While some time away from his chaotic house did seem nice, memories of the previous night with Lance kept permeating his mind and it pained him to be apart from his brother again. Bringing his brother to the outing would be suspicious as well as he was_fairly_ sure they'd bring the whole cabin crashing down on their heads. The Facility barely withstood their lovemaking and they had been caught in so much euphoric sex that neither of them really paid attention to Madman jerking off nearby and recording the whole event.

They destroyed the recording but he was pretty sure the hyena now had something else to get his rocks off.

Lars' scent took him to the gym where the big Doberman had tossed aside his letterman jacket and went on shirtless while landing blow after blow on a punching bag. He wondered whose face the Doberman imagined was plastered on the plastic frame.

"Um... Hey," he greeted gently.

"What?" growled Lars, pounding the bag with a sharp one-two-three punch. He was clearly holding back. A super would have sent the back skyrocketing into the next country.

"About back there... Sorry. I mean, it was all in good fun... We didn't mean any of it."

Lars clutched the bag and growled loudly. "I don't get it... You're allowed to draw and I can't fucking sing. Why?"

Comparisons. So that was it. Caleb had his artistic outlet and no one batted an eye at him for making decent sketches. In fact, others even encouraged him. However, when big, bad Lars, star quarterback for the West California High Raptors, got up and sang, it was big news and something worth mocking. Suddenly, Caleb felt even more rotten than he already did.

"High school..." he murmured softly as if that was an excuse. "Social stigma. Historical evidence. It's... it's..."

"It's bullshit." Lars punched the bag again, his fist nearly digging entirely into the bag. "Singing was the only_fucking_ thing I had for myself. My old man said I had to be the quarterback because of what I was and my mom insisted I be as macho as possible because that's part of the image. Do you know that no serious supers sing as part of their average lives? Some have powers over sound. One chick can even convert soundwaves to light. But _none of them_are guys who sing in high school. It's just" -

Wham, another punch.

"...so..."

Wham.

"...fucked..."

Wham-wham.

"Up!"

Caleb whimpered softly, inadvertently, but it was audible enough to make Lars' ears flick. The Doberman sighed and caught the swinging bag. A soft buzzing came from both canines and they reached for their respective phones.

"Mary says," Caleb read, "that you've got this connection in your head that singing is so stereotypically gay that coupling that with your quarterback status is perpetuating the stereotype that all super-macho jocks are secretly homosexual."

Lars frowned at him. "She also says that the reason why you've never been able to draw cocks is because it's like the last step for you. The moment you start drawing a cock, it's like you're confirming you like it."

They flicked their ears at one another.

"How'd she do that?" Lars asked, making Caleb shrug.

Their phones buzzed at the same time.

All it said on Caleb's text was 'I'm that'. Lars showed him his text and it finished with 'good, bitches.'

"Mary is scary," said the Doberman.

"Imagine living next to her for most of your life." Caleb shook his head and pocketed his phone. "Look man, you know no one cares right? In the thirty-first century, whether or not you like cock or pussy is no one's business but your own. We'll give you shit about it but no one cares."

"You sound like you're trying to convince yourself more than me," snorted Lars. "How long have you been squeamish about putting cocks on your drawings?"

"Forever," Caleb admitted with a sheepish grin. "I keep telling myself that it's in bad taste though I always get a boner just imagining it on the page. Plus I'm worried that I might end up jacking off to my own artwork and cumming all over my pages. What would my teacher think if I submitted it like that?" He hiked his chin at Lars. "And what about you? How long have you had that awesome singing voice?"

"Ever since I discovered my parents were supers and they could just disappear off into the night without any reason. I could kick up episodes of Earth's God Talent or Terran Idol and sing along with the audience participation parts. You know you get live critiques from the judges, right?"

"Oh right. That's because the converted Simon Cowell into an AI. Did he ream you?"

"Multiple times. Said I've got that 'boy next door look' but not 'star quality'." Lars shrugged. "That and coupled my 'rents perspective that I should be the football jock all my life and that anything else would be considered less than manly."

Caleb lifted an eyebrow. "Seriously? They said that?"

"Not in so many words," Lars grunted, slamming his fists into the punching bag lightly. "It was little things. My old man would say that football was a man's_sport. My mom would mention that _men got their paws dirty. Dad would say men don't wear makeup. Mom would say male actors are just acting like real men. Things like that."

A small smile crossed the wolf's features. "You know they were probably referring to those things in general and that it had nothing to do with being gay, right?"

"Probably. Just stuck with me."

Approaching his friend, Caleb rested a paw on Lars' shoulder and said, "I'm sorry if we made you uncomfortable. I'll do whatever I can to help you with the musical even if that means reciting lines beside you. I'm not going to sing, though."

Lars flashed him a cheeky grin. "Why? Don't tell me you're afraid of the Dark Lord?"

"No. Just that when I sing, it remains in the secrecy of my bathroom."

Laughing, Lars said, "Okay. And if you need anything for me to help you get over your cock-drawing-phobia, I'm here too."

He gripped Lars' shoulder in a tight hug. "Thanks man, I really appreciate it." Then, remembering Ben and Alex's plans, he pulled away and said, "Oh hey, after the game, Alex was planning a camping trip for next weekend. It's a long weekend so we can probably head out right after the game or early Saturday morning and then head back Monday evening. "

Lars mulled it over only for a second and nodded. "Yeah, that sound great. Where are we going?"

"Some cabin Ben's family owns."

The Doberman stuck his tongue out. "Really? I'll be smelling sex and werewolf everywhere..."

Caleb punched his friend's shoulder lightly. "Come on. I thought we were over stereotypes. Yes, his family is sex crazed but at least they clean up after themselves."

"Yeah, yeah. This weekend isn't a full moon though, is it?"

"No and thank god for that."

*****

It was halftime and the West California High Raptors were up 21 points against their foes, the Saint Aloysius Riders. The Riders had an excellent defence and they seemed to be targeting Caleb after the first few plays when he slipped past them easily and scored a series of touchdowns. Their offence was decent but in the past few weeks, the Raptors' defensive team had really picked up the slack and ensured that Caleb didn't have long distances to run to make that winning catch.

Regardless, the wolf's muscles were bunched, strained and even guzzling down a whole sports drink didn't cool him down. He was barely listening to Coach Davison who kept telling the offensive team to start making short passes and then saving the scoring plays for the end. They needed to start running down the clock not gaining more points. Yes, the points would make this a crushing defeat and he knew the team could do it but they needed to play smart not just hard.

Caleb had to agree. The Raptors' weakness - as his father had often analysed - was that they were overaggressive. They scored the points but wore down and became predictable. If the opposition had a strong defensive line, they would weaken and fall behind. That weakness was starting to be overcome thanks to an improving defensive line but Caleb was still feeling the strain. He and his backup, the fox Matt, had both been hard at work trying to make those passes and blocking when needed.

It was a far flung change when he wasn't just bolting down the field and now actually blocking other guys just to keep them away from Lars. Not that he minded. Madman had taught him during his lessons as a hyena that his new body was built with shorter legs compared to the rest of his body, this made him perfect for blocking and reversing attacks. Putting that into practice in football helped with the mentality.

Lars' musk filled his nose as the Doberman sat down next to him, sweating right the rest of the team. "You're doing pretty awesome out there. How's it feel to be smashed into once in a while?"

"I'm laughing. Can't you tell?" he grunted. His phone abruptly buzzed and both boys flinched, fearing the dreaded 'Waiting for you'. Those three, magical words did not come, thankfully and Caleb picked up. "Hello?"

"You're not reacting fast enough, Muscles," grunted the deep bass from the other side. "That guy slipped past you on that last play. Keep an eye on his tail. Felines always betray their movements with their tails."

It was Madman, his other couch coach. Being restricted to the Facility, Madman had taken to watching football and had really gotten into it. The poor hyena wasn't allowed out yet. His size and infectious powers didn't lend him to be out in public. He helped around the Facility where he could, though. Apparently, Bren was considering putting in another extension known as the 'Metal Works' where Madman could go putting his metallurgy skills to good use.

"Thanks," he muttered.

"What's the strategy?"

"Long plays with scores at the 4thtry. Run down the clock."

"Good strategy. Keep the formation wide. Don't want anyone slipping past you. Opposing team will know you'll try to wear them out. They might go for kicks or field goals."

That was a good point. "Thanks."

"Take those pussies out."

Caleb hung up and raised Madman's point with Coach Davison. The strategy was changed slightly to ensure that the team at least kept their foes on the Rider's side of the field. Then they'd be less likely to try for a field goal that would actually make a difference.

When they were called out again, Caleb shouted 'Raptors!' alongside everyone else and they marched out onto the field to the cheers of the crowd. The stadium was packed, as always. This would be the ground-breaking hat-trick game for the Raptors have a series of disappointing test matches.

The game ended in the Raptor's favour and by the end of it, Caleb was pumped but also painfully aware of the exhaustion in his entire body. He couldn't be bothered to take a shower and celebrate with the rest of the team, instead just retreating to the school parking lot to meet his parents, still wearing his football gear.

"Ah, the Halestorm arrives!"

That British accent cut through his weariness. He winced when Ashton slapped his sore back. In the second half, the Riders had assigned a huge boar much bigger than him as blocker. Getting around the guy was easy enough but _blocking_the guy as the Raptors kept the plays long was the issue. He had been trampled quite a few times though he always took the opposing player down with him.

"Hey, Ash," Caleb grunted, barely managing a smile.

"I must say, I've never been that interested in American football but now that I know a player, the game is quite thrilling." The tiger winced as he reached towards Caleb's muzzle. The wolf pulled away as the touch stung. "Got a rather nasty cut there, mate."

He hadn't even noticed it. "Don't worry about it. It's nothing."

His mother's cry cut off all conversation and he turned as his family came bounding over to him. Abby looked bored as usual while Lance and Leon were offering their congratulations. It surprised Caleb that after the test at the Elemental Tower, Leon had reeled back on the torment. He was still an ass but the practical jokes were down and he had reverted to just verbal insults. Naturally, his father was beaming.

"Way the go, sport!" David Hale exclaimed, slapping Caleb's back and making the young wolf wince. "I see Coach Davidson has you blocking instead of just running. Good on him and on you! More versatility in the position means you'll have a better chance at getting a professional position! Hey, if he can get you to start working on your throwing arm, you might just be able to work your way up to quarterback!" David's eyes glistened at some distant future as he rubbed his chin. "My son... the professional quarterback..."

"Dear," Lillian Hale said, taking Caleb's paw and pulling him away from his obsessed father, "Caleb has just finished a football game. I'm sure the last thing he wants to do is talk about it. Besides, we have yet to make the acquaintance of his friend."

Ashton bowed theatrically to her. "My name is Smithson, ma'am, Ashton Smithson. A pleasure to make your acquaintance and might I say, you've done a fine job raising your son here."

All the Hales froze; Caleb because he saw the stunned expression on both his mother and Abby's faces. Even Abby, who was in the middle of a phone call, looked like someone had just turkey slapped her with a big, thick, _British_cock.

It was David Hale who broke the silence. "Holy crap, you're British!"

Ashton laughed his refined, hearty laugh. Both Lillian and Abby seemed to swoon a little. "Funny, your son said exactly the same thing when we first met."

"I can't blame him," David answered, a strange glimmer in his eyes. "Do me a favour and say 'fish and chips'."

It took Caleb a second to see predatory glimmer in his father's eyes. "No!" he cried, finding the energy to wrap his paws over Ashton's muzzle. "You guys are _not_going to traumatise him! No Hale Family Hazing! I just won a game! Don't I deserve a break?"

David prised his son's paws from Ashton's lips, using just a little bit of his super strength so Caleb could not resist. "Cale, son, this has nothing to do with breaking in your new friend. I just find British accents really sexy."

Ashton flinched, taking a step back away from the suddenly very dark grin on David's muzzle. "Excuse me...?"

"One thing you'll learn about me, Ashton Smithson," David said, licking his lips, "I have a thing for exotic accents. Gender is never an issue."

"What about marital status?" answered the tiger shakily.

David hiked a thumb over his shoulder. "If you hadn't noticed, my wife and daughter are also eagerly waiting for you to say something stereotypically British and my daughter is currently in a long term committed relationship."

"Oh..."

Caleb interposed himself between his father and Ashton, blushing deeply. "Dad! Please! No!"

"Caleb, not now. Daddy needs him some bangers and mash."

"No! God please, no!"

Thankfully, Lance and Leon came to his rescue, pulling his father away and turning them towards the family van.

Sighing and ducking his head in embarrassment, Caleb turned to Ashton with a whimper. "I'm sorry about that. My dad likes to flirt. He doesn't really mean any of it. My mom allows it for some reason."

Ashton chuckled softly. "It's a thirty-first century marriage, I suppose. You should see how things are in Great Britain where polygamy has been legalised."

"Would you like to come over for dinner?" Lillian Hale suddenly asked over Caleb's shoulder.

"No!" Caleb shouted.

"I would love to," Ashton replied.

Seizing the tiger's shoulders, Caleb said, "If you value your life and your sanity, you will not come over to my house for dinner!"

"Oh Caleb, what's the worst that could happen?"

Unfortunately, Ashton had no idea what a typical dinner with the Hales was like or what a dinner with an exotic friend was like. Lillian had set up a rather big spread - by Hale standards - in commemoration of Caleb's team making a hat-trick victory and, being the wolves that they were, the Hales - baring Caleb - tore into the three whole turkeys like they hadn't eaten in weeks. Caleb barely touched his food as he kept his head ducked in embarrassment.

Ashton just sat, fork held in the air as the Hales ripped through the meal. Within ten minutes, one of the turkeys was gone and the second was halfway to being devoured. Leon and Lance snarled and snapped at one another over a thick drumstick with Lance winning. The meat loaf was gone in another two minutes with Abby licking the serving plate clean. At the half-hour mark, no one was using cutlery anymore and claws were tearing into the last turkey.

"Why do you even bother with these?" asked Ashton, gesturing at his spoon and fork.

Caleb was fighting every instinct in his body just to seem refined in front of his friend. However it was getting harder and harder with every passing second. His mind was screaming that there wouldn't be any food left for him and he should start tearing in now or he'd be left to starve. "Honestly? I don't know."

"At least they left the veggies..." Ashton said, spooning some peas lathered with butter onto his mostly empty plate. "Want some?"

The Hales were voracious carnivores and though Lillian Hale slipped as many vegetables into their meals as she could, they mostly went untouched. That was why she enforced vegetarian nights. It was either eat the disgusting steamed vegetables and experimental combinations of vegetables and substitute meats or starve. Caleb hid a grimace as he spooned a large helping of the peas onto his plate.

His mother said something before tearing right into a drumstick.

"What did she say?" Ashton asked.

"'Good on you, Caleb, for eating your greens'."

He spooned some of the peas into his muzzle and shuddered at the taste.

He felt Ashton's smile even on him. "You know, you don't have to hold back on my account. I can see that you're fighting every urge not to join your family's..." Ashton glanced at the debris. "... feeding time."

"I just don't want you thinking I'm a pig..."

"Pigs take a breather every now and then. This... This is a massacre. Can anyone even hear me over the sounds of chewing and the souls of the deceased ferals that went into this meal screaming in unholy agony as their carcasses are torn to shreds?

"It's been forty-five minutes. Nope. You can probably get something in after ten when we're still building momentum but after that, don't even move into our field of vision. You might lose a finger."

"Did that actually happen?"

"Just once."

Ashton pulled his paws away from the table and shoved them into his pockets. "Do you entertain much?"

"Mary comes over constantly but that's only because she can make my dad shut up. She's the only one that can beat him at martial arts so he's piss scared of her. Since dad is the alpha male of the household, if he's quiet, everyone else is. We need to double our food if Lars is in since he's basically another Hale and Ben hasn't been over except for big parties. Alex hasn't been over yet."

"I see." The tiger smiled at him. "Go on, Caleb. You look like you're going to collapse from hunger."

He whimpered. "Please don't judge me."

He never got to hear Ashton's reply as he dove straight for the remnants of the meal, barely chewing. After expending a lot of energy at the game, he needed his reserves restored. Again, it was one of those times he wished he was a super just so he could regenerate easily. Maybe if he wasn't so damn hungry, he wouldn't felt a little more civilised in front of Ashton.

Once the meal was gone, he wiped his muzzle with the back of his paw. He never got to engage Ashton in conversation as his mother - showing surprising endurance despite having just eaten enough to put anyone else in a food coma - returned with a sizable platter of desserts. Caleb vaguely remembered Ashton grabbing some fresh fruit before everything became a blur of sweet and chocolaty goodness. He wasn't even sure what he ate or how he ended up on the couch resting his muzzle on Ashton's lap, the tiger stroking his hair lightly.

He hummed softly in approval. The lounge was empty and it sounded like everyone else had gone off to their individual activities. Abby had gotten a call from Arthur to meet her and it sounded urgent so she left. David decided to take Leon and Lance out bowling for some much needed father and sons time while Lillian went into the study to work on something for the senator. The TV was on, showing some documentary.

"You have quite the family, Caleb," Ashton said. The tiger was smiling. "I found it quite interesting that your father and mother keep a photo album of all the kinky things they've done to one another and to other people they've engaged before and during raising their children."

They showed Ashton the albums... All those horrific albums of his mother pinning down his father with various gear and even going so far as using... _equipment_on him. And the group sex... Wolves were social creatures and David was a very curious person. That he regularly engaged in carnal acts with Caleb's gay uncle and his boyfriends to the entertainment of Lillian was something the two were oddly proud of... and something that traumatised the kids especially since it happened at least once a year. Caleb felt he could just die.

"I know what you're feeling," Ashton chuckled. "My parents are far from ordinary as well. In fact, my father is a super."

Caleb immediately sat up, staring at Ashton in horror. "What!?"

"His acting career is just the cover," the tiger responded, waving a paw absently through the air. "He's registered with all the superhero organisations around the world and what not but it's not like he does anything with his powers. He's fully capable of the normal super feats of strength, speed and agility and has the added ability to control machinery at his will. Cyberkinesis, I believe it's called. But he doesn't do anything with it."

"He doesn't...?"

Ashton shook his head. "Nope. Not every super out there wants to save the world or 'do their civil duty'. There's enough people for that. My father just wanted a normal life. He got married, had a child and has a steady job. Technically, he's on call if something earth-shattering comes but that's about it. It's really like having a parent that's part of the military reserve."

Caleb frowned. He had never considered the possibility that there could be people out there with superpowers who didn't want to use them to help or harm others. Quite possibly, there could be an equal number of Outsiders who just wanted to push their abilities into the back of their mind and live normally. In retrospect, it would be easier for Outsiders to blend in than a super.

"I bet your family doesn't exactly go around parading the fact that they like engaging in bondage at least once every year..." Caleb mildly wondered if it was because Lillian knew David was a super and it was sort of a turn on for both of them to see the limits of David's regeneration and endurance... or because they knew that David really wouldn't get hurt... or there was some role reversal involved. He pushed the thoughts from his head, finding them even more traumatic than he first believed.

"No but my parents aren't even completely together," answered Ashton with a shrug. "You know tigers. They mate, they produce offspring and then the male leaves. They're legally married on paper but about five years ago, my mother decided she could not constantly move all over the place and settled down here. My father still travels, still visits and they still love each other on some level but well..." Ashton coughed, a blush touching his cheeks. "Suffice to say that my father regularly engages his cast mates in carnal acts of pleasure and my mother has had to do her fair share of 'favours' in order to make her exhibits as success."

Caleb angled his head to the side in curiosity. "Seriously?"

"Unfortunately," Ashton responded with a shrug. "Every family has its quirks, Master Hale. Sometimes, it's two loving parents who occasionally let themselves go. Other times, its two parents who barely love each other and go around the country producing a slew of children."

"Really?"

"Well, not recently. My father has had a vasectomy and my mother doesn't take it vaginally."

Caleb flinched. "Eeew! TMI!"

Laughing softly, Ashton said, "Indeed. I've probably got a mess of half-sisters and half-brothers all over the world." He waved his paw through the air. "My point is that every family is unique. In this crazy world of ours, if someone was normal by the standards of... I don't know... the twenty-fifth century or, God knows, the twenty-first, then they'd still be odd and considered backwards. I guess what I'm saying is that your kinky parents and your family's voracious eating habits are nothing to be ashamed of."

Feeling comforted, Caleb just smiled at Ashton and said, "Thanks." He rubbed his forearm bashfully, trying to straighten out the fluffed up fur there. "I guess I was freaking out a little because you act so refined and dignified that being exposed to us wolves would be sort of like... I dunno... slumming it."

The tiger let out his brilliant laugh. "Surely you must know that he who is most 'refined' has the most dirt to scrub, right?"

Caleb's con-fuzzled look came back. "Come again?"

"I'm saying that I'm into some things that aren't exactly considered... normal." Recalling how his parents had just shown the forbidden photo albums to the feline, he instinctively shied away. Ashton snickered and slapped his thigh lightly. "Baby. To settle your mind, I will confess that I have a little thing for transformation."

"What now?"

The tiger blushed for the first time since Caleb had met him, absently scratching his cheek. "When I was a cub, my mother always used to plop me down in front of the telly and would leave me for hours on end. Sometimes, she'd be 'entertaining' one of her 'clients' and I'd often watch rather graphic shows that a child should not be exposed to. Horror movies for one.

"I became rather fascinated with the concept of one being turning into another. Werewolves in particular were always a hot topic for me. As I grew older, that fascination evolved to a more... carnal aspect to it. I enjoyed the idea of growing muscles, a lusty bestial side that emerges from deep inside and, I am a little ashamed, that I found myself often wondering how such beasts mated."

Caleb's brow furrowed. Ashton was effectively confessing to him that a massive turn on for the tiger was one guy turning into some feral, muscular beast possibly with a super-engorged cock or boobs. He found himself at a crossroads. Being fully capable of transforming into one such creature, he could grant Ashton his greatest desires but after being with Lance and being reminded of what they had together, he was unsure. Further, if he told Ashton of his abilities, he would be dragging the tiger into the depths of the Outsiders.

"You probably shouldn't mention that around here," Caleb rumbled softly, keeping his face still. "Transformation isn't something that's openly welcomed after I recently... erm..." He wasn't sure if he was referring to this household in particular or all of West California.

"A reason why I am trusting you with secrecy," answered Ashton. "I know full well that you underwent such a transformation and I also know that it was a traumatic experience. I have not been outward with my desires because... well, the current climate for those with my tastes isn't quite welcoming." He grinned brightly. "Besides, there's always the image boards!"

"The what?"

The tiger gave him a disbelieving look. "The image boards. Surely you have the internet? Surely you've seen those..." Ashton's eyes widened as Caleb grinned. "Ah, I see I am not the only one who can play at innocence."

Caleb shrugged. "Hey, I'm a horny lupine teenager who jacks off three times a day at a minimum. If I need a little extra stimulation, the internet is my wingman."

"Have you ever considered posting any of your art on those boards?"

He froze and instantly blushed. "Oh... erm... No. Those boards usually require... genitals. My stuff is strictly clean."

"Well there are clean boards too." Ashton leapt to his feet, spreading his arms. "Come on. How will you improve as an artist if you don't put yourself out there and expose yourself to a crowd beyond your high school?"

"Well..." He found Ashton seizing his big paw and pulling him towards the stairs. "Where are we going?"

"Show me what else you have drawn," insisted the tiger.

Finding himself completely unable to refuse the tiger, he strode up the steps.

"Caleb! Ashton! No claws on the floorboards!"

Both of them froze. Caleb quickly explained to his friend that his mother hated bare claws and offered him a pair of slippers. They made their way up to Caleb's room where he fished out some of his drawing pads that he populated with sketches and even some inked works when he was bored. Ashton flicked through them, letting out soft hums of approval as he flicked through them.

"For someone who takes this all from his imagination, you are extremely talented. Your proportions certainly got better over time."

Caleb blushed as he sat next down to the tiger. "After I beefed up and Mary pushed me to workout, I sort of got a better idea of anatomy. Feeling your sore muscles helps, you know?"

"I suppose so. Do you have any more?"

Glancing around his room, he said, "I might have some really old stuff thrown away... Mostly landscape stuff though... Nothing really special."

"I would still very much like to see it."

His heart pounding in his chest and all too eager to please, Caleb began rummaging through his bookshelves, searching for even older scraps. He was just pushing aside old textbooks when he heard a distinct click-click. Flicking his ears back, he heard the tell-tale sound of someone tapping on their phone and he turned back around.

"What're you doing?" he asked Ashton. The tiger gave one last triumphant slam of his thumb on the holographic screen of his phone and gave Caleb a grin.

He turned the broad screen to the wolf. "I just posted your artwork online."

...

"You what!?"

He lunged at the tiger but Ashton showed surprising agility as he carefully dodged past the wolf, bolting out of the room and hurrying down stairs. Growling and panicking slightly, he shot after the feline. Quick reflexes and combat training kicked in as he vaulted over the bannister and combat rolled the moment he hit the ground. Ashton showed a moment of shock at the move before he shot into the lounge room. The tiger's lead was gone, however, and Caleb managed to crash-tackled him to the ground, seizing the phone with a triumphant cry.

"Ha! Now how do you -"

He stared at the screen.

Ashton had posted one of his later works showing the four-armed wolf which was modelled after Lance. It had only been up for about five minutes but in that time, four people had already given it a 5/5 star vote and ten had marked it as their favourite. Two people posted comments, claiming how sexy Feral Fang looked but how cock was needed.

"You've already got fans," Ashton said with a grin. "It's posted under my profile but I gave credit to you as my 'unnamed friend'. Hope you don't mind."

Caleb shuffled off the tiger, staring in awe as another comment was posted and displayed dynamically on screen. This commenter mentioned how the image was so well done and asked if they could colour it in. The moment Caleb finished reading, another came up and simply asked for 'moar'. All the while, the view, favourite and vote counts were rising.

"They really like it..." he murmured softly. "Wow..."

"I told you you were talented," Ashton chortled, sitting up. "Now do you believe me? You need to go out there and post your work. It's the only way you'll grow."

Caleb nodded absently as he handed the phone back. "Maybe you're right. I might need to draw some guy's junk though."

"No one will blame you if your artistic integrity demands otherwise."

He smiled at the tiger before giving the guy a light punch. "I'm still going to get you for that stunt."

"Oh?" Ashton asked, waggling his eyebrows. "What are you going to do to me?"

Was that a seductive suggestion? Caleb wasn't quite sure. Thankfully, his mother came in a moment later.

"Oh, Ashton, you're still here." She checked the clock hanging over the front door. "My, it's already late. Shouldn't you be heading home?"

Checking the clock, the tiger gasped. "Cripes! It's that late already! My mother must be worried." He stood up rapidly and bowed respectfully towards Lillian Hale. "Thank you for your hospitality, Mrs. Hale. It was truly an honour being welcomed into your household."

"It was a pleasure, dear," Lillian said, with a smile. "But it is well past nine o'clock. Why don't you spend the night? The city can be very dangerous especially at night with all the supers and villains running about."

"I don't want to impose any further..."

Caleb jumped to his feet and slapped the tiger's back heartily. "Nah, it'll be cool. We've got sleeping bag. You can take my bed and I'll sleep on the floor. Besides! It's the weekend, bud!"

Ashton smiled. "Well, in that case..."

*****

The place was called 'Mino's Tats'.

Neil Rossman thought it was a play on 'minotaur' but wasn't a very good one. At first glance, it didn't appear at all like a tattoo parlour. Nestled between two large business buildings in West Marrington, one could almost miss it without knowing exactly what to look for. The only reason Neil knew was because he was striding up to it with his long term partner, Dylan White.

Both of the humans worked in the nearby _Ambiance Logistics Incorporated_building; Neil as a programmer for the corporation's IT department while Dylan worked for acquisitions. They had met quite by accident one day when a project for acquisitions required some extra help and Neil was loaned to the programming team to work with the businesses to build the application. He and Dylan had really hit it off from day one.

After a few drinks, some outings, they finally went on their first date eight months ago. Sex came that very same night and the night after that... and after that and basically at least three times a week since that day. Neil was madly in love with Dylan and he was sure the tall, dark skinned Adonis felt the same about him.

It had taken him a long time to come to the decision to get a tattoo because they weren't quite financially ready yet to arrange a wedding. They both reasoned that a tattoo was both affordable and cool and not as cheesy as a promise ring.

So they both went looking for a decent tattoo parlour.

"Are you sure this place is safe?" he asked, warily approaching the unassuming metal door. All sorts of graffiti framed the door but they were all styled to look like two massive bovines - one male and the other female - holding up the big sign stating 'Minos' Tats' also in graffiti and not an actual sign.

"A friend of mine said he was going to come to this place to get his own tattoo yesterday," Dylan answered with a grin. "You know Manny the accountant?"

"Didn't he not turn up to work today?"

"Uh..."

Neil gazed up at the brilliantly drawn and painted artwork that framed the door. It was good, that much he had to admit. At least the person that worked here could draw. His credentials as a tattooist, however, were what was put into question. Sighing, Neil pushed open the door while Dylan just followed behind, grinning sheepishly.

Inside was the very typical punk-metal-rock themed environment. Dark, lots of flaming skulls, a few satanic symbols and an array of piercings and tattoos on display behind the main counter. A big bull occupied the space behind that very same counter, wearing a black tank top that showed off his impressive muscles and fact that his arms were completely covered in tattoos. From what Neil could see, the bull's entire body was covered in it save for his face. A golden nose ring was the only piece of decoration on the huge male's features.

The bull turned deep, dark eyes towards the newcomers, smiling wanly. "Hey there. How can I help you folks? I'm Minos, by the way."

With the bull standing at an impressive seven feet tall and being wider than a truck, Neil was feeling somewhat inadequate and intimidated. Every inch of him wanted to run but a glance over his shoulder at Dylan - at the man he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with - and his courage swelled.

"Ah yes, I'm looking for a tattoo for my mate and I. Something to symbolise our commitment to one another." He felt stupid for referring to Dylan as his 'mate'. That was a fur term. Several took offence when humans tried to use it.

Thankfully, the bull was not one such fur. "Cool, cool. A tat is the next best thing to a ring. We got those too if you're interested." The bull winked at him, not so subtly kicking the glass case beneath the counter were various piercings were shown.

"Just that tattoo, please," answered Neil with courage he did not have.

"Alright. What were you looking for?"

That Neil had never really decided on. The idea of a tattoo had crossed his mind multiple times throughout his twenty-eight years of life but it had always been brushed away in favour of something else. One day he'd be obsessed with a band and then he'd hear their next album and dump them. There was a phase during his teen years where he was obsessed with death - not killing anyone, just the philosophical concept of it - and he thought getting a grim reaper tattoo would have been awesome. The following year, angels were his thing.

But Dylan... Dylan would be forever.

"Dyl, would it be a bad idea to get your face plastered on my ass?" he asked over his shoulder jokingly.

His boyfriend was leafing through a book of tattoo designs. "Unless you want to prove to the world our unrequited love by pulling down your pants, then no." Dylan pointed at something on the magazine. "Hey, it says you do custom designs?"

Grinning, the bull said, "Oh yeah, it's our house specialty. You give us a basic idea, I draw you a quick sketch, make the stencil and then go to work. It costs extra though."

Rubbing his chin, Dylan regarded the book before setting it on the counter and shutting it. "I've decided. I'd like a nice yin-yang symbol but make it so that it's in the jaws of a tiger on my right shoulder."

Neil made a sour face. "Yin-yang? Really? Black and white? Am I _really_that pale?"

Dylan grinned at him and leaned over, pecking Neil's freckled cheek lightly. "Hey, yin-yang is a symbol of harmony and balance but at the same time, two parts of a whole. You make me whole."

"That was cheesy."

"Yeah? Well on our wedding, you've got to come up with a cheesy line for our vows. You are not going to make that stupid programming joke about how there are only ten types of people, those that understand binary and those that don't."

The bull at the counter flicked his ears. "I don't get it."

"He's saying it wrong," said Neil, pushing Dylan away with a grin. "It's there are only 'one-zero' types of people which is two in binary. In fact, you know what...? Do you have a piece of paper?" The bull handed him a sheet and Neil went to work. Two minutes later, he turned the page to the bull. "I want that to be my tattoo. On my left shoulder too."

The bull's brow furrowed. "It's just a bunch of ones and zeros... What does it mean?"

Dylan laughed, slapping his forehead. "Oh God... Really?"

"Yes," the programmer replied smugly. "It says 'I love you Dylan S White' in binary."

His chocolate Adonis blinked those beautiful brown eyes of his for a moment before swooning slightly. "Awww. Really? That's so sweet." He turned to Minos. "Can we add a 2 somewhere in there?"

"No!" Neil snapped.

Minos laughed heartily, his barrel chest rising and falling joyfully and his laughter filling the entire shop. He asked for the couple to wait patiently while he sketched up a draft. Neil watched with fascination while the bull's meaty hands moved dexterously across a tablet with nothing more than a simple stylus/pen. It amazed him just how precise the bull was on such a medium. Everyone possessed a tablet, of different makes, yes, but to think that anyone could produce something other calculations and documents on the screen was stunning.

"How's this?" the bull asked, turning the tablet towards Dylan.

Just by the shine in his boyfriend's soft, brown eyes, Neil knew Dylan liked it. It did look like the perfect amalgamation of ferocity and serenity. The tiger looked truly intimidating but the yin-yang symbol was amazingly peaceful. It wasn't just solid black and white either. There were actually soft swirls amongst the symbols, nothing too prominent so that when seen from afar, it would appear solid but when seen up close, they drew the eyes in a perfect circle, almost hypnotic really.

"I love it!" Dylan exclaimed.

Minos beamed and turned to Neil next. "Okay... yours will be a little more difficult... Do you want me to arrange the numbers in any shape? Like a heart or something?"

Neil shook his head. "It'll loose its aesthetic if it's anything else."

"Alright," Minos said with a shrug. In large, blocky numbers but still arranged, he gave Neil the sketch. "This one will be more extensive. From what I remember from binary, the numbers have to stay in groups of eight, right? The tattoo will probably have to wrap around your shoulder and about halfway down your bicep. That means we'll be touching on some sensitive flesh especially around your armpit. Unless you want it smaller."

Imagining that needle against armpits made him shiver. He was already ticklish there; he didn't want to really think about what it would feel like to have a tattoo there. Then again, this_was_ a sign of his commitment. If enduring an hour or so of agonising pain and risking infection was what it took to show Dylan how much he loved him, then he would do it.

"Let's do it."

The tall bull man nodded and placed his tablet on the counter. A holographic display popped up in front of him and he began typing across the similarly light-projected keyboard. "Cool. I'll just get the 3D printer to create the stencils and then I'll take you to the back where we can get started."

"What's the risks for getting a tattoo?" Neil asked, trying to be nonchalant about his concerns.

"Virtually nothing. Unlike the twenty-first century where they use needles in rapid succession to insert ink into the skin or the twenty-third where they chemically change the pigments of the skin, we use nanobots that are pre-programmed to remain in a specific design and shape over the course of its lifetime. That means even when you get old and wrinkly, the tattoo will keep its shape. Also, removal is simple as we just send a universal shutdown command available to all doctors and tattoo artists that cause the nanobots to disperse and enter the bloodstream harmlessly.

"The only thing is that we are still using needles to insert the nanobots. These are all sterilised before use and strictly one-use. You might get some mild irritation afterwards as your body gets used to the nanobots but that should only last for an hour or so. Just applying some ice to it will help."

Neil nodded and let out a noncommittal grunt. That _sort of_comforted him. He was just never a big fan of needles. Dylan remained blissfully calm. When the 3D Printer dinged and Minos retrieved the stencils, he asked the two to head to the rear to begin the procedure. Neil led the way, diving through a black curtain into a rather neat area where there was a table and the necessary equipment to apply the tattoo.

"Who's first?" Minos asked, preparing the sterilised equipment.

"I'll go," Dylan responded, taking off his jacket to show off his lean musculature. His ebony skin shone in the dim light of the parlour, making Neil almost regret marring the perfect, smooth surface. However, as he reminded himself time and time again, this was a sign of their commitment. Dylan rolled up his sleeve.

"I'll need you to take off your shirt," Minos said. "It's a fairly big tattoo."

"Oh, right."

Neil was finding it hard to keep it in his pants as his boyfriend took off the casual, collared blue shirt he wore. Dylan had been hitting the gym recently and his pecs were really starting to show. It was all he could do to turn away and glance at the various pictures of satisfied customers with their own tattoos on the walls.

"So how'd you hear about this place?" Minos asked, applying some alcohol to the affected area just to numb it a little.

"A friend of mine supposedly went to this place to get his own tattoo," Dylan responded. "Manny Goldman. Maybe you know him?"

"Oh yeah. Small guy." Minos pressed the stencil against Dylan's chocolate flesh. "Got himself a 'Mother' tattoo."

Dylan laughed. "That sounds like him. He's one hell of a - AAAAAAGH! OH GOD! AAAAAARRGH!" Both Minos and Neil flinched and continued to freeze up even after Dylan began laughing and pointing at Neil's horrified face. "Ha! Totally got you!"

"You're so immature," grunted Neil. He glanced at Minos. "Make sure it's _really_painful."

"Sorry," the bull said, letting out a sigh of relief. "All you'll really feel is a few pinpricks like getting a needle. Hold still and please don't do that again."

"I make no promises," was Dylan's reply with his beautiful, perfect smile.

Minos went to work, gently pressing the needles containing the pigmentation nanobots into Dylan's flesh. Neil watched in fascination as all the bull really had to do was just apply a small jab for each colour at a certain sections. First came the black outline for the tattoo and he had one stencil for that. Minos had to pierce the flesh for each section though for large outlines like the shape of the yin-yang symbol or the overall outline of the tiger, it was just one pinprick. For the tiger's individual stripes, his eyes and whatever else, it was a dozen smaller jabs.

Even after he finished jabbing, he held the stencil over the affected area, carefully watching as the nanobots went to work, spreading across the skin to change the colour. With Dylan's skin already being fairly dark, it was barely visible but still there. The outline already looked spectacular but when Minos swapped the stencil for the individual colours and the tattoo began taking its true shape, Neil was soundly impressed. Minos applied several layers of colour, each with different nanobots. This gave the tiger's fur a very realistic fur-like texture and the yin-yang symbol its mesmerising swirls.

When done, Neil could not help but keep staring at the tattoo... it was simply... amazing. It really popped out at him. Dirty thoughts entered his mind of making sweet, sweet love to his boyfriend, their naked bodies glistening in heat of their passion while their sweat rolled over their newly acquired body art.

"What do you think?" Minos asked, holding up a mirror for Dylan to check.

Eyes wide, Dylan glanced at the tattoo within the mirror, shifting his arm left and right with a big grin on his face. "I love it! It's perfect! You're a true artist, man!"

"Thanks. I just work with what I'm given." He nodded at Neil. "Okay, your turn. I'll need you to lie down for this one."

"Lie down?" Neil asked, startled. "Why?"

"We're going under your arm. It'll be easier on you if you're lying down with your arm over your head. Unless you want to hold your arm up for ten minutes?"

That was a good point. Neil stripped off his own jacket and shirt, revealing his slim figure. He rested his back on the cold metal table, shuddering slightly at the freezing touch of the rubbing alcohol on his left shoulder. Dylan stood to his right, gripping his hand with a smile.

His boyfriend was showing off his new tattoo, flexing even. Neil couldn't take his eyes off it. Even the tiny pinpricks that began peppering his shoulder couldn't distract him from the sheer beauty of the mark... and of his boyfriend. Between switching his attention from one masterpiece to the other, he was finding himself getting extremely... aroused. Strangely, he didn't care.

"I love you so much," he murmured.

"I love you too, Neil," Dylan replied, leaning down and pressing their lips together. Neither of them cared that Minos worked quietly on Neil's shoulder. Dylan let out a loud moan and from the corner of his eye, Neil saw his boyfriend rubbing himself shamelessly. Neil was just about to start protesting when he decided to steal one last glance at that amazing tattoo.

"Lift your arm," Minos said.

Neil did as he was told before he brought his attention right back towards Dylan tattoo... His eyes widened when the ink began... moving, shifting. For a second, he thought something was wrong... that the nanobots were going haywire. Was this a negative reaction? Then, the flesh around the tattoo began changing as well. Dark chocolate skin began tightening, deep cuts appearing across them as muscles grew and stretching it taut. Developing shoulders became thick like Dylan had been born with the shoulders of a god and had been working out for all his life!

The ink from Dylan's original tattoo began to spread, seeping across his already thick arms. Where they passed, muscles bulged and grew. Biceps built over long months of working out seized up and exploded into massive sizes so much so that they actually pressed up against Neil's nose. Dylan threw his head back, letting out a deep, long moan as the tattoo ink wrapped around his rapidly flexing and relaxing forearms. With each burst of fresh, firm muscle, a new mound and vein popped across Dylan's forearm. The ink greedily pounced upon the new ground, taking the vivid, red shape of seething flames.

"Dyl! What's happening to you!?" Neil cried but his boyfriend was barely listening. Dylan's hand flexed abruptly around Neil's crushing the young programmer's fingers in a vice-like grip. A pained cry escaped from Neil but at the same time, he became aware of the thickening fingers wrapped around his own... and the other hand seizing his crotch.

Dylan locked gazes with him, his irises completely black and filled with desire. He was panting, every breath growing more ragged and desperate. For a second, those eyes glanced away.

"Done," Minos said, sounding smug. "Tell me what you think, Bullhorn. You too, Spit Roast."

For some reason, Neil responded to that name and turned his head towards his tattoo. His heart skipped a beat when he found a huge arm attached to an equally massive shoulder. The binary code wrapped around his shoulder and half-way down his bicep looked so amazing _sexy_against his muscular, vascular limb.

"What...?" he began but then let out a moan as Dylan squeezed his raging hard on.

"I fucking love it!" rumbled Dylan, his voice dropping a whole octave. "Fuck! I fuckin' need you in me, Neil!"

Neil didn't have the will or the desire to oppose his boyfriend's wishes. With his huge new arm that reached all the way down past his knees, he seized his singlet and tore it clean off his chest, letting out a triumphant roar in response. Dylan threw himself onto of Neil, their lips meeting in a passionate, unbridled meeting, groins undulating with the transformation rapidly took hold of them.

Minos took a step back and watched his work. The two men - so madly in love - suddenly had long ropes of black ink seeping across their entire bodies, originating from their tattoos. For Neil, soon to be Bullhorn, the bands bypassed his chest and went straight for his crotch. The pale young man bucked his hips and his growing cock pressed up against his pants. The male on top of him broke their kiss and pushed himself up, positioning his ass in the direct line of fire for the growing member. Neil's cock twitched, thick spots appearing across his pants as they became soaked in his precum. Both men let out loud cries that grew into thunderous moos.

"Fuck me-oooooo!" roared Neil. His cock tore right through his jeans, sending a button flying that just _missed_Minos' nose. The huge, eighteen inch member throbbed eagerly. A blackness separate from the tattoo ink began creeping up the base of the massive example of male meat. It travelled up the pink flesh, thickening the overall girth and developing a rather nice, plump medial ring about halfway down the shaft. Thick droplets of precum poured from the tip of the still human cock but that soon ended when the black skin consumed the member entirely, flattening out that head. It only took a second before the definite bovine cock reached its capacity for precum on its flat plateau and it began pouring back down the length like a fountain.

Following the explosion of his boyfriend's cock, Dylan's own body responded accordingly. His tattoos had already started developing across his chest, stretching his singlet to its limits and even to the point where his pecs were starting to tear at the seams and the shoulder straps were vanishing between the folds of his muscle. The words 'Roast Beef' were starting to form on the big, imposing pecs before they stopped on the last 'e'. Black strands instantly erupted from the existing tattoos and bled straight into the man's ass.

"O-oooooooh" cried the top as his ass burst out of his jeans, big, firm and juicy - a real bull's ass. Across the right cheek was a tattoo mimicking a brand simply stating, 'Burned'. His jeans fell away from his groin, his already impressive ten inch cock surprisingly remaining untouched. Still, the change accelerated as black fur began spreading all across his already ebony ass, covering it in a short coat that accentuated every muscle. The man let out another trumpeting 'moo' as a long ropey tail ending in a tuft of black fur sprang from just above his rounded ass, lashing excitedly from side to side.

Their requisite components sufficiently changed, the two seemed to just know what was happening and proceeded. Neil's thick, bovine cock pushed deep into Dylan, eliciting another series of short moos as Neil thrust inch after inch of himself into his mate. Their faces were scrunched in grimaces of pain and pleasure, the pleasure overwhelming them entirely as the change continued to ripple across their bodies rapidly.

For Neil, his legs ballooned out, thighs tearing right through the remnants of his pants and forcing Dylan to spread his own legs apart as they become far too big for him to just sit across. This exposed Neil's _enormous_balls that touched the cold metal of the table. Large bone tattoos appeared across Neil's thighs and calves, nothing too graphic but just vague bone shapes. They ended at his calves as his feet contorted and twisted, bursting free of his formal, black shoes as large, cloven hooves. Creamy white fur spread all across Neil's legs, making the man shudder as they carried the infection all the way up his lower body, over his huge, bubble butt and then up to his thickening torso.

Abdominal muscles bulged one by one before becoming covered in the thin, white fur. They stretched and grew to accommodate with his developing height. However, their appearance was brief as thick, bright, reddish-brown fur originating from his crotch shot upwards, travelling over his abdominals in a sexy treasure trail that spread all over his thick, plump pecs and covering his erect, pink nipples entirely. His mate would surely have to go digging to find those sweet spots. This same red fur spread across Neil's shoulder but failing to cover the original binary tattoo. On his right forearm, the word 'Bullhorn' was engraved in big, black, letters.

Neil threw his head back, a roar erupting from his changing jaw and facial features. His face grew longer but maintaining a squarish proportion. Large, white horns erupted from his temples just as the tattoo of a human skull and crossbones appeared against his left cheek. Somewhere across his broad, gargantuan back, a bull skull in the form of a tattoo appeared.

Bullhorn was complete.

At the same time, Spit Roast was in full development. The black fur all over his rump spread down his legs, changing them to be longer than his mate's. They were a little slimmer, built for running but no less sexy. The bright red racing stripes that crossed his thighs made him look really fast. Dylan's back doubled over and he was forced to lean down, lips colliding with Bullhorn's complete bovine muzzle. A bull skull wreathed in flames drew itself across his back, shining through the thin, black fur and mounds of muscle that rapidly developed. His shoulders followed suit, growing another tiger and yin-yang symbol on his left shoulder and flaring flames on his forearms. He was perfectly symmetrical.

Dylan tore his lips away from Bullhorn, screaming in ecstasy as his thick hands seized his cock. The ten inch member disappeared between the meaty embrace of his fingers and he stared at it, his black eyes pleading like he was urging for it to grow. He got his wish. With every thrust of his hips, with every jerk of Bullhorn's cock into his ass, his own member grew and grew. The form that prised his fingers apart was no longer human; jet-black save for the splotches of pink at the very end of that cylindrical shaft spewing thickening ropes of precum all over his mate's chest.

For one last time, Dylan White threw his head back and let out a long-lasting, titanic roar. His jaw thrust forward, forming the perfect, square bovine muzzle that turned his roar into a joyful moo. His cock jerked in his meaty hands, spraying gallons of his seed all over an equally sex-driven Bullhorn. Horns jerked his head from left to right as they emerged but the movement was soothed by the movement of his ears to the sides of his head and the soft tickle of the black fur completely covering his features.

Dylan White was gone.

Spit Roast took his place and his first act?

Jet-black flames erupted from between his lips, colliding with the top of the tattoo parlour and setting it alight. Beneath him, Bullhorn exploded into his ass but even after the joy of orgasm, neither fur stopped their wild humping. Spit Roast flexed his huge arm muscles, bouncing his pecs and spewing flames all around him, bathing them both in the flames of their passion and lust.

Outside the tattoo parlour, Minos smirked to himself and lit a cigarette, letting out the subsequent billow of smoke. The scene inside had certainly been hot but he couldn't get too involved. He needed to be out of this place before the cops, supers and Outsiders showed up. The cigarette helped calm his rising libido.

"That was not part of the plan."

He glanced to his left.

Gnoll stood there, frowning.

"Where's your bodyguard?" smirked Minos.

"Working," grunted the hyena. "You were meant to keep this shop open for as long as possible. Burning it down will draw attention to your activities. A fire is not the safest way to get rid of evidence. There will be _something_left."

The Gene Stealer shrugged, pulling the cigarette from his muzzle and waving a hand absently. "So what? They can search all they want but all they're find is more of my work and by the time they realise what it is, it'll be too late."

"You're relying too much on what ifs and what can bes. The Outsiders are powerful." Gnoll narrowed his gaze. "Especially Mary Brightwood and Caleb Hale. They're the most experienced with dealing with us."

"Just because you were careless and had a cure developed for your strain, it doesn't mean the rest of us have to suffer," grunted Minos. "We're still contributing."

"So am I."

"As a spy? Some job that is."

There, Gnoll smirked and let out his hyena laugh. "You're so na誰ve if you think that's all I'm doing. Besides, the cure only works if people take it and Shark Tamer is a genius. There is more than one way to change a man."

Minos frowned at the hyena. He flicked his cigarette away and towered over his fellow Gene Stealer. "Fine. You can assure Shark Tamer that I _needed_to blow this place up. Stampede and Taurus haven't reported in even after I've dropped lots of hints. They might end up going to the Outsiders and I need to cover my tracks. You can take this to him as well..."

Minos flicked an ear as the fire began to spew out of the door and smoke began billowing out. "Super auras. Did he ever consider those?"

Gnoll flinched. "What?"

"The transformation into Gen 2s," answered the bull worriedly. "I felt their aura around me. They were pulling me in. If I weren't a better man, I would've joined in. But the fact is, with these two already so passionately in love, when their auras activated, it sort of destabilised the transformation. It reacted to their desires, changed the parts of their bodies that they _needed_not what was in direct proximity. I know -"

Gnoll held up his paw. "I know, I know. It's good and bad... I'm not sure what this means. I'll take it to Shark Tamer. Although It might mean we've actually taken a step back... Good work. Now make yourself scarce."

"Whatever."

*****

"What?" Caleb asked in a soft whisper as he shut the door quietly behind him. Ashton was sound asleep. Despite being rather fit, the tiger had _terribl_y loud snores for some reason that kept Caleb up. He was still cute when he was sleeping though.

Despite the deprivation of sleep, Caleb was able to pick up his phone before it got into the full verse of 'Waiting for you' and sneak out of his bedroom before anyone heard.

"We've got a situation down at West Marrington," answered Bren. "There was a. When firemen came to put it out, they were assaulted by two superpowered bulls. Conversion came within moments and now we've got a squad of sexed up bulls humping each other amidst flames."

"On my way."

"I'll meet you at your place. I'm 5 minutes from there and will pick you and Mary up. Feral Fang and Steel are already on site and I can't have you driving Ballistic up there."

That was true. If either of them saw Ballistic or if Ballistic was seen out in public by a super, he would be in big trouble. Bren and Elliot could modify memories of the public and edit any videos but for supers... it was difficult.

He snuck downstairs, being sure to keep his sandals on in case his mother awoke for some reason, and waited outside. Bren arrived moments later, tossing him a gym bag filled with a spare uniform. The back of the van was filled with the rest of the team, desperately putting on their own disguises. As Caleb was pulling on his hoodie, he noticed a piece of armour sitting inside his bag.

Funny Bone.

He had yet to transform in front of the public and he just knew that this was going to be a publicised event. How would the media react if they saw him transform? He shook his head free of the thought. He needed to do what was right regardless of the consequences. Save the people first and deal with the media fallout later... even if it drove a bigger wedge between himself and his father...

He put on the armour just as Bren came to a halt.

"Damn... that's the Costington's building. That's going to cost someone a pretty penny." Bren glanced over his shoulder at them. "Game plan. Lars, Mary, I need you on fire control. Get that fire under wraps before it spreads any further. Mary, use the fire trucks if you need do." Bren tossed a keycard to her. "Here's a one-time only security pass for all the city's fire fighting equipment and stations. It will self-destruct at exactly noon tomorrow. Until then, all the fire stations, fire hydrants and fire engines in the continental United States are at your disposal."

"Even the fire_men_?" asked Mary. Caleb wasn't sure if she was serious or not.

"Don't push it."

They jumped out of the van, Lars and Mary putting all joking aside to leap ahead of them. Hell seemed to have broken loose on the street. An entire _building_was a blaze. It only looked to be about twelve-storeys high, spreading from a smaller, almost completely burnt out building. Adjacent structures were already starting to catch the flames.

In front of the building, surrounded by fourteen, massive bull men with tattered firemen uniforms were Feral Steel and his son, Feral Fang. Amongst the fourteen were two completely naked bulls that stood out from the rest. One had flames jutting out from between his lips and the other's horns suddenly extended like a lance. Feral Fang leapt to the side in time to avoid being skewered.

"Dad... Lance," Caleb whispered.

Blood Wolf rested a paw on his shoulder, squeezing it tightly. "Let's take care of the small fries first. They can handle the Gen 2s."

"Right."

Bren jumped out of the van and gazed at the burning building with a wince. Media hovercopters were already in the air with spotlights at them.

"Does anyone ever question why a tiger like you always appears in the media and the public, gets visible _killed_but comes up the next day?" Ben asked.

"Several times," Bren responded with a shrug as he retrieved his revolver. "But it's one of those things that's best left to the media to contemplate and stew about. The truth is a lot more boring than what they come up with."

"Like?"

"You know. Time travel, interdimensional manipulation, immortality and even that I'm an Outsider that just can't die. Clones and artificial being just sounds boring in comparison."

Caleb suspected Bren enjoyed the publicity and wondered if there was something good coming out of the Outsiders being a public figure. He shook the thought and focused on the situation. Charging forward alongside his teammates, he flung his arms to his side, a pack of six ghostly hyenas appearing by his side. The bulls turned and some screamed, their huge cocks deflating just a little as fear overtook them. The hyenas slammed into the six closest bulls, knocking them down instantly and tearing into their flesh with their massive jaws; nothing fatal just enough to keep them down.

Other bulls let out a tremendous roar and charged, eyes wild. Ben's eyes turned red and the exposed blood from the downed bulls came rushing towards him in a massive stream. He gripped the stream like a whip and flung it around, slamming it straight into the faces of the charging bulls and sending them crashing.

"Outsiders!" roared the bull with the words 'Spit Roast' across his massive, muscled chest. "Bullhorn, you got them?"

"You got it!" rumbled the other bull. He turned, grinning broadly at the Outsiders, rolling his shoulders which cracked ominously. Behind him, Feral Steel and Feral Fang were suddenly free and engaged Spit Roast willingly. Slabs of metal came shooting out of thin air but Spit Roast was pretty fast, certainly faster than Steel could summon those slabs and for Lance to catch him.

Caleb was desperate to lend a hand to his father and brother but he needed to take care of 'Bullhorn' first. The massive bull stood at an impressive fourteen feet tall, slightly shorter than the sixteen foot Spit Roast. Each of the two horns the bull had extended and shrunk tauntingly. It was a battle of bones...

Bullhorn made the first move, letting out a bellowing cry and charging forward shoulder first. Being a super, the bull was blindingly fast. Caleb only had a second to dodge to his right, towards the back of the bull. Ben leapt into the air but Bren wasn't so fortunate. He jumped to the left, levelling his gun directly at the bull's face. Even from his angle, Caleb could see the sinister smirk on Bullhorn's face. The instant Bren came in line, those two horns shot forward, piercing the tiger's lungs without so much as a hint of resistance!

Thank god Bren didn't have any pain receptors.

The tiger showed no outward indication of pain and squeezed the trigger of his gun. Bullhorn instinctively jerked his head away, tossing Bren to the side and straight into the fiery building. One bullet managed to connect with Bullhorn's shoulder, puncturing the flesh around the large tattoo of binary code.

The wound wouldn't last long, though.

Caleb pounced on the opening, jumping straight for the bull's weakened side and sweeping his paws upwards. Large spears of bone shot up from the ground, aiming straight for the bull's left side. Bullhorn only had a second to dodge and wasted it. He gave a cry of agony as three spears punctured his big, meaty arm.

Thick, bloody ropes suddenly lashed around Bullhorn's neck as Ben came crashing back to the ground. The big werewolf pulling at the lasso, sending Bullhorn to the ground.

"Neil!"

Both Caleb and Ben jerked towards Spit Roast. Black flames shot straight towards them. Caleb didn't have enough time to dodge and just crossed his arms in front of his face out of instinct. Powerful arms wrapped around him and he was suddenly thrust into the musky chest of Blood Wolf. He felt Ben shudder as the flames hit him... and then suddenly drag him down as Ben collapsed to his knees.

"Blood, you okay?" he asked. Ben's back was black and charred, even exposing some of his spine.

"I'll be fine," grunted the werewolf. "Just... give me a second..."

"You have one second to pray, fuckers!" shouted Bullhorn, tearing the blood lasso from around his neck. The big bull staggered to his feet. Spit Roast appeared next to him, eyeing the wounds to his arm worriedly. They were already closing.

"Will he be alright?" came Feral Steel's rumble.

Caleb glanced up at the masked features of his father and nodded. "Yeah..."

"Stay back. We'll handle this."

He couldn't abide by that. Not after Ben just defended him. "My teammate just got his back baked. I'm not going to back down!"

His dad snorted. "Loyalty from an Outsider... That's refreshing."

Ethereal hyenas appeared beside him, flanking both him, Lance and David. "Just what the hell is your problem with Outsiders? What have they ever done to you?"

For a second, Feral Steel was silent. Then he said a single word "Love."

Blood Wolf growled behind them. "So what? Your first girlfriend was killed by an Outsider being 'irresponsible'? Your wife is one?"

Caleb glanced at Ben, worried that he might be onto something. Lillian Hale did show surprising resilience in dealing with three testosterone-poisoned boys, a twenty-something princess and her superhero of a husband. Not to mention her job as an assistant to the senator. Didn't ever super need a mild-mannered alter ego?

"No. My first love was an Outsider and he did irresponsible things with his powers, killing himself in the process to... to..." Feral Steel grunted turning a stammering choke into a snarl. "It doesn't matter. Suffice to say I don't hold anything against your existence. I just don't want any of you doing stupid things out of some misguided attempt at heroism."

Caleb inadvertently exchanged glances with Lance. His brother was nursing a few injuries of his own but they were quickly healing. Neither of them ever knew their dad had a boyfriend. That David Hale was bisexual was a given. Hell, Lillian Hale encouraged it and engaged in some homoerotic activities herself in private. But that David actually loved an Outsider...

"The media is going to have a field day about this," snorted Ben.

"No!" Caleb snapped, shooting the werewolf a piercing stare even though it was hidden beneath his hood. "We're all entitled to our secrets."

Feral Steel grunted. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. But I'm still not backing down."

His father smirked. "Ryan would've said exactly the same thing."

Bullhorn was almost completely healed and behind them, the flames had started to die down thanks to Lars and Mary's efforts. Something exploded within the building, showering glass shards upon them. Caleb hoped to reason with the two just as he had somewhat reasoned with Stampede and Taurus... But just the looks the two bulls gave him...

"Ready for this, babe?" asked Spit Roast, smiling at his mate.

"With you by my side, I'm ready for anything," answered the other. For a moment, their lips met in a tender kiss, confusing the others.

Then, Spit Roast flung towards Caleb and his allies, black flames shooting from his lips. Instinctively, Caleb swung his paws upwards while sending his hyenas to attack. A wall of bone erupted from the ground, shielding them all before -

CRRACK!

The two came shooting right through his barrier, grazing his right shoulder. The horns retreated before his could swear and came shooting back through at another angle. He ducked right beside Feral Steel and Feral Fang.

"What the hell are those horns made of!?" Lance shouted.

"More than bone or that kid overdosed on calcium," grunted Feral Steel.

Caleb eyed his father curiously. "Was that a milk joke?"

"Get a sense of humour and some baseline powers and you might get it."

Sneering despite himself, Caleb spied the shards of glass that had fallen form the explosion in the building. He swiped one up and channelled his powers through it. Blue light shone from the shard as it reshaped, ethereal white feathers gently descending from it to reveal a big, glass spear gun.

"So that is how your powers work..." Feral Steel said thoughtfully.

"You haven't seen anything yet," Caleb grunted rolling out from behind his barrier. He heard his father cry out a warning but he was barely listening. He pulled the trigger of his newly acquired glass spear gun. Long bolts of glass shot from the edge of the spear, shooting through the air with a high whistling sound.

The two bulls gave a cry one such spear sliced through Spit Roast's right leg, forcing him to his knees. The hyenas were keeping them busy but Bullhorn's face contorted in rage upon seeing his mate fall. He reared his head slightly, a sign that he was about ready to unleash another attack. Caleb had no time to aim so he just trusted his new weapon and fire.

Ka-pow!

Instead of a single spear, a thousand tiny shards of glass erupted from the muzzle of the weapon. The shotgun blast covered a wide radius. Though it was not enough to do any significant damage against the bull, it was enough to cause his head to jerk away... and to get a few glass shards into his eyes.

"Fuuuuck!" shouted the bull, rearing his head back.

Caleb tossed his glass spear gun behind him. "Yeah, that's what I'm thinking," he growled.

A rush of power exploded from within him and collided with the strength radiating from Funny Bone. Both forces collided roughly at his heart, sending his chest barrelling out. New but familiar strength filled his muscles. The intoxicating endorphin rush of his body feeling like it had just gone through a whole day of working out and was ready to blow off some steam by jacking off wildly filled every muscle in his body. He grunted loudly as his armour shifted, changing perfectly to fit his growing size. His outfit had been modified to stretch with his changing form, allowing his engorged package to remain perfectly comfortable without bursting embarrassingly out like the first times he had changed. Perhaps the most uncomfortable aspect of the change was the shifting of his jaw. It felt like someone was pushing back on his muzzle, squashing it back into his skull.

The sensation was only very brief and the transformation only took him a minute but that was still a minute left exposed. He had been working with Arcturus and Madman to shorten the change. Before, it had taken him five minutes to undergo a full change. Thankfully, the ability was something the bulls were not expecting and they just stared slack jawed at his mutation. He was forced to remove his hood as the change reached completion as was uncomfortable for his skull to push the limits of the fabric unlike the rest of his body.

"Fuck!" Spit Roast shouted. "One of Gnoll's hyenas!? That's - That's impossible!"

"What are you?"

The sound of his father's fearful and horrified voice caused his heart to freeze. He turned to Feral Steel, searching for the disgust, horror and rejection he knew would be there. For the moment, there was just amazement.

"I'm Weapons Master," he grunted. "I take whatever I'm given and turn it into a weapon. If that includes the strength of my enemies, then that's what I'm going to work with." He turned towards the bulls, snarling. "If you can't handle it, then get out of my way."

To his surprise, he got a vague chuckle.

"You remind me of my son... My other son. A fighter to the end. No matter what hand he's dealt, he'll keep fighting. He got turned into the freak you got this form from. Fought it with all he had."

Caleb tired not to tear up. "You must be proud."

"I am. I still think you should leave this to the professionals but I think I understand you a little more now."

Mary had been right. Things were getting more complicated. It would've been easy for him had Lance just outed him to their father. It would've been easy if his dad had just rejected him after his first public transformation, called him a beast and a villain waiting to happen. But this... This complicated matters.

"Let's bring these guys down," Caleb growled, throwing his massive paws to his sides. Huge pillars of bone, even taller than the burning building, erupted from the ground, blocking off all possible exits for the two frightened bulls.

"Your powers are enhanced with that form then?" Feral Steel asked, waving his paws. A slick, silvery coating covered the bone walls effectively reinforcing them.

"My powers over bones and the hyenas come from my equipment, Funny Bone. That's the armour I'm wearing. My form comes from it as well. When I'm in this body, I get to use it to its fullest."

David Hale chuckled softly. "You know, with baseline powers you'd make a killing on merchandise. All the customisable 'Weapons Master' figurines would be so marketable. You'd probably have more porn than anyone else."

Caleb flinched. "What!?"

"It's the internet, son. You're not a super until you have someone draw a pornographic image of you and posted it online. And the baseline powers. Can't forget that."

He growled and David Hale lifted his paws slightly.

"Sorry. Old habits die hard." Feral Steel turned to Caleb, holding out a paw. "I'm not going to stop telling you and your friends to leave this to the professionals but I won't turn down the help. Not like before. At least on this issue. Anything else, you leave to us, agreed?"

"That's not my call," Caleb grunted but he reached out and grabbed David Hale's paw. "But on my part, it sounds good."

On instinct, the two of them immediately turned towards the two bulls. Another blanket of black flames came shooting towards them. Caleb instantly summoned another barricade of bone and then sidestepped. Two horns came shooting through the fragile structure but that moment they did, large, metal clamps sprang from the air, holding themselves to the barricade and binding down the horns.

Father and son immediately rounded the barricade, charging at the two bulls. Bullhorn desperately tried to prise his horns away from the barricade but was unable to move. Spit Roast spewed flames at the two, desperation showing in his eyes. Feral Steel zoomed in front of Caleb, erecting a shield of metal that caught the flames and brushed them aside. He crashed straight into Spit Roast, sending the two tumbling with David slamming steel-covered fists right into the bull's face, knocking him unconscious. Caleb drove a knee right into Bullhorn's jaw.

"Fuck you!" roared Bullhorn. "Dylan! Dylan! Are you okay!?"

WHAM!

"I'm going to kill you!"

WHAM!

"You won't stop us!"

WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!

Bullhorn, barely conscious, slumped to his hands and knees, his horns angled awkwardly. "Can't... stop... Minos..."

Caleb flicked an ear.

"Minos...?"

*****

The press had a field day.

Weapons Master and Feral Steel working together with evidence of the two coming to some sort of agreement. Further, Weapons Master's new ability - Hyena Form. Caleb had stood beside his father, Lance and the other Outsiders as various news channels eagerly interviewed them on their newfound partnership. David claimed that he was optimistic about where this was going and hoped that both the Outsiders and Alliance could put aside their differences in favour of doing what was right. When asked for a statement on what he thought, Caleb just used his media training, kept the topic on the safety of West California and the world while hoping for the future.

Bren picked them up again and drove them back to the Facility.

However, the moment they were a block away from the battlegrounds, Mary spoke.

"You need to intercept your dad," she said urgently.

"What? Why?"

She gazed at him with desperate features. "Caleb, that was just a ruse! Your father got some of your fur as a hyena when he shook your paw! He's going to run some DNA tests to find your identity!"

He froze. His father would never... Would he...?

"But - But what he said out there -"

"Just to get you to shake his paw!"

"That son-of-a-bitch!" Blood Wolf growled. "It's desperate, though. Caleb wouldn't be on file. He's hoping that Weapons Master is some criminal or delinquent he can expose!"

"He knows how the media works," grunted Lars. "He's been at it for a while. No matter what Weapons Master does, if he has a shady past, it'll cause everything to come crumbling down. It's ruined many politicians and supers before. He exposes this to the media, the Alliance looks like the bigger man for trusting them and will appear to be the victim for trusting a bunch of 'criminals'. They might even spin it a certain way to make it sound like you guys fooled me too to undo the damage I did!"

Caleb couldn't believe his ears. He flicked his rounded hyena ears towards Mary. "How do you even know this? You can't read my dad's thoughts."

"I can when he's really loud about it," she answered worriedly. "He practically orgasmed when he found a bit of your fur on his paw!"

Crushed and feeling incredibly foolish. He had wanted to believe that his dad had turned a new leaf... had come to accept the Outsiders because he had an Outsider lover...

He was so stupid...

The van suddenly came to a halt.

"Uh-oh..." Bren said.

"What now?" Caleb growled.

"Lance," answered Mary shakily. "He wants to talk to you. In private."

Anger bubbled in Caleb and he threw the doors wide open, storming out of the van and towards Lance who was standing in front of the van.

"What!?" he barked.

Lance held up his paws in surrender. "Easy, easy! I know what dad tried to do. You'll be happy to know that I got this from him." The big, four-armed wolf held up a small, plastic canister with the label 'Weapons Master. Analyse NOW'.

All his anger suddenly eased. "What? How?"

Quite proud of himself, Lance said, "I convinced him that he should go home to mom as she's probably worried. I'd take this little beauty to the lab to get analysed. I was thinking I'd grab some feral hyena fur from the zoo and chuck it in here. It'll make it seem like you're genetically a feral hyena but still a fur. Blame your powers for the impossibility. Give something those guys at the lab something to think about. That should throw dad off your scent. "

Caleb couldn't help but beam brightly. "Fuck Lance, I love you so much right now!" He collided with his brother, their lips meeting happily.

Lance grinned through the kiss and gently pushed him away. "Hey, it's the least I could do for saving our asses back there. Dad wouldn't want to admit it but we were on the losing end. Those bulls were tough... Full blown supers..."

"Tell me about it," Caleb grunted. He glanced downwards and was suddenly very aware he was hard and his large, hyena bulge was pressed up against Lance's hardening crotch. "Erm... Do you wanna go back to the Facility to..."

"Fuck?" Lance's eyebrows waggled tauntingly at him. "Why not here? Now?"

"Here?" Caleb asked, glancing over his shoulder at the occupied van. "Erm..."

His brother's sexy baritone echoed in his ears. "There's something really_hot about being rivals out in the battlefield and the fucking each other's brains out behind the public's back. Doing it _out in public is basically making me cream myself."

Caleb shuddered, panting loudly as his hormones were starting to get the better of him. He remembered how Lance simply adored the rush of engaging in a forbidden relationship. Sure, the two 'brothers' making love to one another was technically no longer taboo since they weren't really brothers. However, now that they were enemies on the field...

"Bren!" he shouted.

He got an affirmative honk in response and the tiger drove around them. Mary, being Mary, poked her head out of the rear of the van and shouted, "Take pictures!"

The van couldn't have driven away fast enough. Lance suddenly swept Caleb up off his feet on one pair of arms while the other held him tightly. Neither of them really cared about hygiene as Lance carried him into a dark alleyway, thankfully unoccupied. The big, four-armed wolf peeled off his mask, showing his beautiful eyes.

Both of them were practically panting with eagerness as they tore at each other's clothes. Caleb used his powerful hyena jaw to rip Lance's shirt clear off him while Lance's super strength ripped Caleb's pants right down the middle to expose the massive, sixteen inch boner that simply _begged_for attention.

Lance eagerly took the meat into his muzzle, making Caleb arch his back and let out a soft yip. The wolf-turned-hyena tore at his shirt but remembered how it was made of extra strong micro-fibres that even his enhanced strength could not tear through. Thankfully, Lance helped in that respect. Using all four of his arms, the massive wolf ripped his hoodie and shirt off, exposing his tan furred chest framed by spotted dark brown. Lance hummed in approval, running his paws over Caleb's thick abdominals, tail thumping the ground in excitement.

Caleb was equally eager and had to pull his cock from Lance's muzzle, leaving the wolf whimpering like a pup. He seized Lance's belt buckle with his jaws, tearing the leather as easily as he would tear through a steak. Lance pulled down his spandex pants, exposing his two, enormous, twin cocks that were already shooting tiny loads of precum like mini-geysers.

Having never gone done on anyone before, Caleb froze but then the wind changed and Lance's heady musk filled his nostrils, all the associated pheromones drowning out all concerns. He pushed his nose against the base of his brother's knotted cocks, enjoying the touch of warmth and the scent. His tongue lapped up all the precum that fell down from those twin spires and he found he enjoyed the taste thoroughly.

He had licked the cocks clean when Lance said, "Fuck bro, I need that fucking huge prick in me."

Caleb grinned and spun Lance around, rubbing his enormous hyena cock against Lance's fuzzy butt crack. Their muscles both bunched at the same time as Caleb slowly entered his brother's abused hole. It had yet to fully regain its rigidity after last night's wild session, making entrance into his brother slow but smooth. Lance moaned loudest as Caleb's knot pressed against the edges of his ass.

"Shit bro..." Caleb murmured. "It fits right in..."

Lance, overcome with pleasure, had his face pressed up against the wall of the alleyway, one set of arms reaching down to squeeze his cocks while the other dug claws into the bricks. "It belongs there..." he moaned.

Caleb slowly drew out and then slammed his cock back into his brother, quivering in delight at the euphoric pleasure. A deep growl rolled from his throat as Lance responded by grinding his ass back into Caleb's groin. Their balls slapped loudly against one another as their furious lovemaking brought their panting and moaning to a rising climax.

The two Hales kept their howl and roar stifled as they reached orgasm, cum spilling out of Lance's ass as Caleb's cock pumped more seed that his brother could take. Lance created a sizable pool right beneath them enough that as they collapsed upon one another, they slipped on it and crashed, exhausted into the ground.

Caleb held his brother tightly, the metal armour of _Funny Bone_providing a bit of a chilling touch but the cape wrapped around them both, giving warmth.

Neither of them said anything... mostly because they knew that within ten minutes with Caleb's virility and Lance's regeneration, they would be at it again.