Work Text:
Zeno was impressed. As he listened to the emergency report from the scientists, the security team's recovery personnel managed to find all 43 licker specimens they had released into the city, dead. Their microchips that had been implanted and used to track down the subjects when they ceased all movement for an extended period of time, were still functional upon recovery. The lifespan of the lickers after release ranged from less than an hour to a little less than a day. Further inspection of the wounds on each of the specimens shows an impressive amount of force and destructive power they had never witnessed before. No weapon could inflict those kinds of wounds, and limbs had been ripped apart as if by an immense force. Other specimens had bones completely crushed as if they had been smashed to death but there were no exterior lacerations to show a use of an outside force.
The general consensus was that the release of the lickers into the new ecosystem had clearly upset something that was hyper territorial. The current hypothesis was that a sub species of Garmr had developed through isolated mutation and had taken issue with the introduction of a new complex competitive predator in its environment. It was the only conclusion that made sense.
Zeno was just impressed that Chris managed to fulfill his hunt in roughly 18 hours. Granted, at least three of those hours were spent with Zeno taking a break from his murderous streak to instead capture insects. It was still an impressive feat. One major positive formed from this incident. They were no longer going to release anymore lickers into the city to avoid anymore monumental losses, and they took this as a new positive in their own right. Lickers cannot be mobilized alongside territorial species like Garmr and Titan Spinner, and that there was a new mutation in the city that had yet to be properly documented and studied.
Of course Zeno knew the truth of the matter but he wasn't about to explain that to any of these men. He let the scientists hypothesize to their heart's content as the meeting wrapped up. Zeno had to submit the new loss report to his supervisors in regards to all the dead lickers they now had to make up for. Those were meant to go on the market later this month. They still had plenty of product to sell but their stock had been massively reduced thanks to Chris. Zeno was amused by that fact.
After the meeting came to a close, Zeno collected his afternoon meal tray and returned to his private quarters. Today had gone relatively quietly. He didn't have any nightmares as far as he could tell the night prior, and this morning only woke with mild discomforts. No sickness to confront him but the lingering presence of a nosebleed had spotted his pillowcase enough to have to retrieve a replacement. Opis had spent much of the morning clinging to Zeno as he went about his usual routine to get ready for the day. He even found the persistent moth perched on the ledge of his shower door peering down over the gap at him through all the steam that rose to the ceiling. Tiny squeaks cut intermittently through the air as Zeno attempted to lather the shampoo into his hair.
He didn't understand what exactly had Opis acting this way today. It had been adequately fed and the heating lamp was on inside Nano's tank yet Opis didn't want either of those two things. It clung to Zeno, often perched upon his shoulder tucked comfortably against his neck. Zeno chalked it up to possibly loneliness after he's been absent most of the day before. He didn't get back until just before evening curfew. The Hound Wolves had kept him company for quite some time. Upon hearing how Chris had encountered Zeno before, Night Howl had the forethought to collect several specimens similar to the ones he and Chris were gathering so as not to arouse any suspicions upon his return. They had gathered them in several sample containers. A few had found their way to Nano's feeding shelf while the rest had been submitted to the research department. He appreciated the assistance they offered to help him cover his activities, however unnecessary it might be. He supposed they didn't really know what his position was exactly within the ARK facility. That he had a considerable amount of leeway at his disposal.
The specimen samples weren't the only items he returned with in his possession. Chris had given Zeno a type of communication device. It had a one way messenger that worked like a beacon. It could carry exactly one preprogrammed message and transmit it back to the receiver as a type of distress signal. Chris gave it to Zeno so that if he wanted to be extracted at any time, no matter the situation or circumstances, all he had to do was trigger the signal. They would come for him immediately. Zeno had thought long and hard for a few hours about what kind of message he wanted to program into it. After connecting it to Night Howl's computer, he figured out what he wanted to send when the time came. He input the message which was scrambled into code through the program Night Howl had created, then loaded onto the device. Should it be found, the information loaded on it wouldn't be readable without the program to decipher it. It was a small black handheld device no bigger than a flip phone with only two buttons on it. It was kept in a little protective waterproof case that could fit easily inside his sunglasses case when tucked into his pocket. A habit which Zeno had quickly adopted to conceal its presence.
The communicator aside, he had also received a few more new books, this time from Umber Eyes. Of which he was eager to return to his quarters to settle in and read while he partook of his afternoon meal. Upon his return, Zeno dressed down into more comfortable attire to lounge around the space in as he set his tray on the nightstand. The lights were turned low. Zeno plucked the books from his satchel he carried with him out into the field and made his way back to the bed. Opis was already perched on the pillows eagerly awaiting his companionship.
“One moment, my heart.” He urged the little moth with a tentative nudge to coax it away from the pillows. Opis fluttered up onto his hand as Zeno directed its plump body to settle on the headboard of the bed instead. After rearranging the pillows to better fit his comfort, he adjusted the blankets as he crawled back under their warm layers and moved his tray into his lap. With one book in hand, the nightstand lamp on and his back reclined against the cushions pinned between him and the headboard, Opis was permitted to settle into its own place as well.
Its position of choice had been Zeno's shoulder, to absolutely no surprise at all to the man. Opis’ feathered antennae bobbed quietly as the moth nestled below his ear as its gentle weight left a small spot of warmth radiating from his shoulder. Zeno lifted a hand to give Opis a gentle rub of his finger against its chin. Pleasant little squeaks hummed happily as Opis draped its wings loosely over Zeno's shoulders in a completely relaxed pose.
“Is this what you wanted, my heart, some affection? To have me all to yourself?” A quiet squeak eaked out of Opis as if in guiltless admission. Zeno teased, his words a gentle purr in the air between them. “Such a selfish needy creature.”
He couldn't fault Opis for that desire. It made him happy to be wanted and needed like this. It gave him purpose in between all the monotony of his days that felt worthwhile. After indulging in Opis' demands for affection for several minutes, Zeno withdrew his hand to focus on eating his meal while it was still somewhat warm, and opened the first page of his book to settle in and enjoy the story. With Opis lingering on his shoulder like this, Zeno even indulged in reading the tale aloud to both of his little ones as if it were a bedtime story. His quiet voice filled the otherwise comfortable silence of his room as he purred the words into the air. Opis seemed content as he intermittently flipped the pages and ate, taking minor pauses to chew before resuming the story.
They got several chapters in by the time Zeno realized he had a completely captive audience. With his tray banished back to his nightstand, Opis had assumed its earlier position nestled in Zeno's lap where he could idly stroke his fingers through the soft red fur of its plump body. Its long antennae twitched occasionally as sleepy squeaks came out muffled from its cozy little body. The sedated atmosphere of the room lent to the same feeling besieging Zeno. He reached the fourth chapter before marking his place and setting the book aside. He supposed his agenda was scarce enough that he could indulge in an impromptu nap with his little moth. Opis was more than happy with the idea as Zeno sank further down into the blankets to get comfortable. Opis crawled up the short stretch of his chest before settling in for the afternoon.
“Sleep well, my heart.” He bid quietly. Opis’ muffled squeak was charming as Zeno flipped off the nightstand lamp and gave in to the alluring impulse of sleep.
It had been raining again. Zeno was never quite fond of this weather as the steady drizzle began not long after he disembarked from the ARK. His jacket took the brunt of the chilly moisture as he raced through the desolate streets littered with the rusted husks of old vehicles towards the more familiar suburban neighborhoods. A place of safety and shelter was in sight. He could see the front door of the little two story building as he closed in on the perimeter of the old property. The collapsed tiling of the garage roof rustled in the howling wind as it rolled over the gloomy city and the inky shadows it spread in darkened corners. For it being midday, it certainly didn't look like it. It felt closer to dusk than the sun's zenith. The grey scale colors cast over the whole world in muted tones that were more befitting his sensitive view.
The front door was unlocked. The latch clicked as he turned the knob to enter the old building. The light scent of pheromones left trace trails that wound through every room like a maze. Zeno breathed deeply as he stepped into the threshold of the home's humble foyer. Shaking off the dampness that clung to the shoulders of his black jacket, he took the garment off to give it a more thorough thrashing in the air. Fat droplets met the dust stained and matted rug beneath his feet. He had half a mind to hang it upon the coat hook on the wall merely on principle but thought better of it. Instead he tucked the garment over his left arm for safe keeping. Golden eyes slowly scanned the room.
The pack was absent. The house was completely silent. There were still signs of recent occupation. Chris’ scent lingered as if he had only missed them by mere hours. Zeno tried not to feel so dejected by that prospect. Instead he remained hopeful that they would return and hadn't moved on entirely to their new campsite. Or that, perhaps out of habit, they would keep eyes on this location on the off chance he would come looking for them. It wasn't a farfetched theory considering past encounters.
His footsteps sounded uncomfortably loud on the wooden floorboards as he made his way towards the stairwell in the hallway. Rising up to the second floor, he made certain to hug the walls to avoid bowing the rather aged structure under any more unnecessary strain.
The wind howled against the weather-beaten walls. Windows rattled in their frames as the sealant that kept them in their sills cracked and eroded away with time and lack of upkeep. A chill danced along his spine. The moisture that hung in the air clung to his skin with determination, creeping under the numerous layers of clothing he attempted to bear like a shield against the weather. It did little to stop it. His RCS scars felt tight along his jaw but not quite painful. Not yet anyway. With time, though, he expected them to worsen. It was only a matter of time.
He entered what he had presumed to be the master bedroom. The wooden frame appeared to be repaired from its decrepit state. The collapsed beams were cobbled together as the musty bed was hoisted up at proper height. New blankets were drawn across with dust stained sheets thrown aside as if they had been recently slept in and vacated. The scent of Chris’ pheromones were stronger here. They clung to the bedding, saturated by his particular scent that drew Zeno closer. That ache he had denied himself before was much louder now. The rain pelted the rooftop. It dripped in fat lazy drops from the eaves just beyond the window frame. He could smell the ozone heavy in the air as static grew with the coming storm. It filled every breath he drew in deeply with the comforting aroma of Chris’ trace markings.
Zeno shivered. Thunder cracked across the sky as the storm grew in its determination. The walls trembled and quaked all around him. He felt its vibrations rumbling through his core. Reminiscent of a different sound that he desperately yearned for. The deep predatory growl of the soldier. To feel the warm touch of lips on his skin and the sharp scrape of teeth in a teasing hint of danger dragging across his exposed throat. The whispered promises into his ear as strong calloused fingers explored Zeno's body further. To feel the powerful embrace of war weary muscles dragging him flush against Chris’ broad chest. To feel kept and safe, held close just like he belongs. He wanted Chris to hold him as if he owned every last fiber of Zeno leaving nothing for The Connections or anyone else to claim. For those amber eyes to gaze into his and swear a challenge against the world should anyone try to take what the formidable pack leader already declared to be his very own.
He eased his jacket off to let the damp fabric lay loosely across the cleaned surface of the dresser. He didn't mind a little dust on the wet black material. It's certainly been affronted by far worse in the past. The textured leather of his gloves lingered in his thoughts as he considered their removal as well. A moment of indecision was drawn aside by the distinct chill in the air. He curled his fingers into a fist as the storm rolled ominously overhead. His back spasmed. Another cold shiver dragged through his body.
‘The dampness of the air is infuriating.’ He thought to himself, far from being able to escape its mild discomfort. ‘What I wouldn't give for a hot shower right this moment?’
His silent lament was smothered by the distant thunder. Its eager approach rolled through the skies like an angry pack of ravenous Garmr. The rain came down harder. What scant traces of daylight that had been visible when he left the ARK were completely snuffed out by the heavy gloom. The rain came down in a sudden torrent as if the entire sky had opened up simultaneously. It rocked the whole building right down to its foundations. The floorboards groaned beneath Zeno's boots as he hesitantly took a step back. One hand steadied himself against the old musty wood of the dresser as the other reached blindly in the air. A firm touch encircled his wrist, startling the man as he swiveled golden eyes towards the sudden intrusion.
The grey rain jacket that Zeno had noted to be a common garment sported by the Hounds was the first glimpse of color that warned this newcomer was no threat to him. Cautious golden eyes met the fiery amber of the pack leader’s. Chris' fingers gripped his forearm firmly but not painfully so. A flash of sharp teeth enticed him with a smile.
“Chris…?” The name slipped by his lips with a mix of relief and alarm. Chris answered by drawing Zeno closer as the grip on his arm guided the younger man until their chests were flush with one another. The soldier's other hand rose to cup the small of Zeno's back.
He teased as their eyes met. “My pretty bird has finally returned to the nest.” Zeno tilted his head to avoid the clash in close proximity as they came nose to nose. The soldier's build was always so impressive to Zeno. It was a rarity that he ever encountered someone bigger than him in stature, with Gideon and the new T-500 series of Tyrants being exceptions to that. They were genetically engineered to be impressive while Chris seemed to have no such background. The soldier was larger than life as his arms looped their way around Zeno's hips. He didn't even notice the hand had relinquished its hold on his forearm as Chris seemingly guided it behind his neck so those curious fingers could grope the younger man's backside. Zeno let his body be coaxed into a position reminiscent of their encounter with Plant 43 as his thighs expertly straddled Chris' hips.
Their lips met in a warm welcoming clash of tongue and teeth. Zeno parted to eagerly accept the soldier's probing affections. Chris growled against his mouth as their lips slotted together with practiced ease. The kiss grew until it left Zeno gasping for breath. As they parted, however brief it may be, Chris’ mouth was not idle for long as he suckled and peppered kisses along the right side of Zeno's neck. He carried Zeno with ease towards the bedframe before depositing the young man across the spread of dingy blankets. His disgust was secondary as his enthusiasm for what the soldier was offering grew with each deep breath, dragging in the glorious aroma of those fresh pheromones. They filled the room with a heedy presence that rivaled the heavy dampness of the storm. Sturdy fingers gripped Zeno's hips as he was manually moved along the mattress until his position satisfied the older man. Chris straddled his waist, one knee slotted between Zeno's as his free hand began to unbuckle the younger man's belt. Chris’ lips mouthed lovingly along the crook of Zeno's exposed neck where his nose bullied back the white collar of Zeno's silk button-up shirt.
A deep breath in filled his lungs with the dizzying rush of Chris’ empowering scent. It made his mind feel hazy in all the best ways like that first good drag of nicotine burning its way through his lungs. He wanted this. He had been thinking about this moment for so very long, ever since that night back at the ruins of the R.P.D. Zeno wanted to feel Chris’ touch and the satisfaction of savoring this moment again. To feel wanted in such a carnal and visceral way.
His belt loosened around his hips as the buckle fell open. A subtle flick of Chris’ thumb freed the two corners of his fly as the fabric parted easily under those diligent fingers. Zeno's gloved hands gripped the soldier's biceps, his head falling back into the musty pillows to expose more of his throat to the itchy texture of Chris’ beard scratching against the dip of his neck while the soldier’s lips littered a brief trail of love marks behind on his pale skin. Zeno sucked in a deep breath and hissed as Chris teased his way up the younger man's jaw towards his right earlobe. The warm wet curl of Chris’ tongue against the shell of his ear dragged a pleasant moan from Zeno's chest. His spine curled and spasmed with shivers of pleasure riding down his back towards his hips. His arousal grew with a familiar sedated heat burning slowly at the base of his abdomen.
“Sing for me, pretty bird. Let me hear that voice of yours.” The soldier growled against his jaw. He could feel the press of Chris’ lips against his skin as they drew into a pleased grin. The predatory rumble reverberated deep within the soldier's chest, mimicking the ferocity of the thunderous storm above as it rocked the very ceiling and walls of their abode. The bed rattled in its flimsy neglected frame but failed to falter beyond that.
“Chris…” Zeno uttered his name breathlessly. It slipped past parted lips like a hastily uttered prayer and plea all at once. He felt attentive fingers diligently slipping the buttons of his shirt front free. Zeno’s own fingers splayed across Chris’ broad shoulders as the soldier dipped his head down. The heat built up between their two bodies was trapped, offering a modicum of warmth to ward off the cold chill of the storm outside. The wind howled against the freaky window. A cold draft skirted through the gaps elsewhere in the house but the intense heat of Chris’ body smothered him into the surface of the mattress as the soldier's mouth targeted his supple yet perked nipples. His tongue danced against the hard nubs, teasing them gingerly between his sharp teeth. Zeno wasn't expecting it to feel so good like it currently was as his head dipped back, golden eyes pinning their gaze to the ceiling overhead as his glasses slipped askew. His breathing hitched in his throat as the soldier's hips ground against Zeno's bulging crotch. His cock pushed back against the confines of his trousers and the soft thin material of his boxers. He could feel the dampness of his arousal leaking from the tip of his cock, drooling sluggishly within his pants. The forceful stroke of Chris’own sizable girth impressively trapped behind the guard of his tactical gear ground against him. Jolts of pleasure arced through Zeno's pelvis. White hot and mind numbing as Chris' mouth worked in tandem at his pert nipples, taking turns switching back and forth between them. All Zeno could do was dig his fingers into the fabric of the soldier's raincoat as he fisted up the material. His thighs parted further, giving Chris more room to work between his knees.
“Pretty Birdy, you're all mine.” The soldier breathed against the supple curve of Zeno's chest. The itch of the beard wasn't unpleasant but still odd in its own way as it scratched at his skin. The hot pressure of Chris’ mouth suckled the base of his throat as love marks trailed their way down the plane of his breast. A snarl broke into the air as the feverish grind of Chris’ hips worked desperately against him. Zeno could feel himself getting closer as he whimpered into the crisp cold air between them.
“Chris…please…” He whined with that tight ball of need aching deep inside of him begging to be touched by the soldier again. In a way that only Chris could truly satisfy.
“Mmh, hnn.” Chris’ grunts were incomprehensible as his sounds grew more feral and inhuman the closer they seemed to approach that building precipice. Monstrous growls that once chilled Zeno's blood now warmed his face and shot pleasure tingling down his spine with the sultry promises that accompanied the territorial nature of the man above him. He closed his eyes as the sharp scrape of Chris’ teeth dragged against the right side of his throat making its way up towards the shell of his ear. As the pleasure reached its limits, their lips met as Chris swallowed Zeno's desperate thrashing moans. His body trembled in the soldier's feverish embrace was waves of ecstasy shot through his body and filled his trousers with a shameful heat. Chris' sturdy grip held his hips firmly against the mattress as he ground out every last drop he could coax out of the man even as Zeno actively squirmed away from the overstimulation. It was mind-blowing in its overwhelming euphoria. His breath choked up in his throat as the soldier dragged his lips back to finally let him suck in gasps of air. The warm heat of Chris’ tongue dragging tantalizing stripes along his neck as his nose buried intermittently into that location. Zeno sucked in breath after nearly smothering breath as Chris’ pheromones saturated every inch of the room like a potent blanket over his senses. His head swam with the suffocating dizziness that quickly followed.
It made his head feel clouded and muddled up with a dense unexpected fog he had to fight his way through. Blinking past bleary eyes crusted by dried tears he didn't recall shedding, Zeno’s mind tried to make sense of the darkened ceiling cast in deep black shadows overhead.
‘Night hasn't fallen so quickly already, has it?’ It didn't make any sense. Another blink, and became painfully aware of another detail. His glasses were missing. His vision was clear as he began to make sense of the veil overhead as the dark billowing fabric of his bedroom canopy. There were two other questionable sources of warmth that perplexed him, one that was heavy but not heavy enough to be a bioweapon sized soldier, and one that was rapidly cooling in the confines of his trousers. The former squeaked energetically at him as Zeno became painfully aware of Opis’ presence nestled snugly against his chest between his breast bone and the comfortable weight of the comforter he had fallen asleep under. A pair of feathery soft antennae bobbed against the curve of Zeno's chin as he curled his fingers into the warm red fur of Opis’ large body. He smoothed his fingers along the bulbous curve of its thorax as the previously relaxed muscles flexed up into his palm with the sleepy desire for attention.
The dream, as Zeno realized it was, had been pleasant yet simultaneously left him feeling hollow with the same sense of longing that it had begun with. The yearning to have Chris by his side right this very moment. To feel the brush of his lips and the burning itch of his beard as it scratches across his skin. He craved to be held down and physically manhandled as if he weighed nothing at all to the soldier. He wanted to be held, lavished and appreciated. Or simply, he just wanted to feel a little less alone again.
Opis and Nano were a comfort most days but in moments like now, it didn't feel like enough. Chris made him feel like he was worth being around. Worth being kept close and held. That giving Zeno affection wasn't just a way to use him for expressing carnal urges but that there was something more to it. A greater reason. Zeno even dared to consider that there might be love involved, at least he hoped there was something more than just purely lust in their arrangement. Even if it was merely a one sided affair. Zeno wanted it all the same. He wanted Chris to fill the silence and chase away the cold burden of an empty bed. He wanted to be touched and held and embraced again like Chris did when the lickers attacked and when they were trapped in the bowels of the old Plant 43 nursery.
As he stroked his fingers through Opis’ fur, Zeno turned his gaze towards the dark fabric above and recalled as much of the dream as he could. If only to savor it a little longer before the loneliness takes its place, and before his disgust demands he shower off the stains of his own semen collected and cooled within his boxers. A part of him chided him for the shameful lack of self control, while the other part couldn't be bothered to care enough as he lost himself to the lingering shreds of those fading yet pleasant fantasies.