Super Secret Turtle 🐢

(Kim)

Dameon glanced at the woman in front of him. His ears flicked once before a warm little smile tugged at his muzzle. “Hey, do not worry about disappearing for a while. Trust me, my mun did the exact same thing.”

He chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. “Life gets busy, messy, exhausting… it happens. Nobody worth your time is gonna hold it against you. So you really shouldn’t feel bad about it, okay?”

His tail gave a lazy flick behind him as he took another sip of coffee.

Across the kitchen, Dameon slowly lowered his coffee mug. “Mhm. Fascinating.” His bright green eyes shifted toward Shadow knowingly. “Anyway, didn’t you promise Daisy you’d help move the new fencing near the wolf enclosure today?”

The reaction was immediate, and Shadow narrowed his eyes. “You did that on purpose.”

“Yes.” Dameon took another calm sip of coffee. "Because unlike the two of you, some of us are trying to maintain professionalism in this kitchen.”

That earned him a long stare from Shadow, but Dameon stared back innocently.

“You own a zoo, not a church.”

“And yet I’d still like to continue this morning without witnessing whatever this is.”

Shadow muttered something under his breath while Dameon looked deeply satisfied with himself. “Besides,” the hyena mutant continued smoothly, “you already told Daisy you’d help. It would be rude not to show up.”

Meanwhile, Kim clung to Shadow like her life depended on it. “Noooooo…” she whined pitifully, tightening her grip. “You have to stay with me…”

Kayla’s expression softened at the sight. “We can visit him a little later today. After all, it wouldn’t be right to go back on his word…” Her gaze slid pointedly toward Shadow before a faint smile tugged at her lips. “Besides, it’d be nice to see the tigers.”

There was a spark of genuine excitement in her eyes then. Ever since she was little, she’d been fascinated by the great cats — all that raw power wrapped in elegance and grace.

Shadow noticed immediately. One glance toward Dameon was enough to catch it: the slightly tired posture, the controlled politeness, and the way he kept glancing toward the clock near the kitchen doorway. Shadow's grip around Kim tightened faintly before he finally started walking towards the door. “C’mon,” he muttered lowly toward her, “before he starts professionally throwing us out.”

“I would never,” Dameon replied smoothly, followed by a pause... “Verbally, anyway.”

Shadow snorted quietly through his nose.

Meanwhile, Dameon had already moved toward the sink, rolling the sleeves of his scrubs slightly higher as he started cleaning the coffee mugs. “There’s a surgery scheduled later this afternoon,” he explained casually without looking back at them. “And unfortunately, unlike certain people in this house, my patients require actual supervision.”

“That sounds targeted.”

“It was targeted.” One of Dameon’s ears flicked again before he glanced briefly toward Kayla. “It was nice meeting you, though.” It sounded polite and warm. But also definitely: alright, everyone out. Shadow looked deeply amused by the entire thing. “See?” he muttered toward Kim, “told you he gets grumpy when his schedule gets messed up.”

“I am not grumpy.”

“You alphabetized the tea cabinet yesterday because you were stressed.”

One of his ears flicked. “You know,” he said, “if the two of you are planning to spend the entire afternoon attached at the hip, I should probably warn you that Sky’s working today.”

Shadow immediately snorted under his breath. “Oh no.”

Dameon looked entirely too calm as he continued. “And with that eye of his? He notices everything.”

Shadow looked deeply entertained now. “He REALLY does.”

“He once asked me why I kept changing cologne brands.”

There was a very brief pause. “…You do keep changing them,” Shadow added suspiciously.

“That is not the point.” The faintest hint of amusement tugged at Dameon’s mouth while he looked toward Kim. “So if either of you values privacy,” he said smoothly, “I’d recommend at least pretending to behave in public areas.”

Shadow looked completely unbothered. “Sky can deal with it.”

“Yes,” Dameon replied calmly, “because forcing your brother to witness your relationship trauma in high definition is clearly excellent family bonding.”

That finally earned a low laugh out of Shadow. “Builds character.”

“Mm. Therapy would also be an option.”

Shadow ignored him entirely, attention already back on Kim.

(Kim)

Dameon glanced at the woman in front of him. His ears flicked once before a warm little smile tugged at his muzzle. “Hey, do not worry about disappearing for a while. Trust me, my mun did the exact same thing.”

He chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. “Life gets busy, messy, exhausting… it happens. Nobody worth your time is gonna hold it against you. So you really shouldn’t feel bad about it, okay?”

His tail gave a lazy flick behind him as he took another sip of coffee.

Across the kitchen, Dameon slowly lowered his coffee mug. “Mhm. Fascinating.” His bright green eyes shifted toward Shadow knowingly. “Anyway, didn’t you promise Daisy you’d help move the new fencing near the wolf enclosure today?”

The reaction was immediate, and Shadow narrowed his eyes. “You did that on purpose.”

“Yes.” Dameon took another calm sip of coffee. "Because unlike the two of you, some of us are trying to maintain professionalism in this kitchen.”

That earned him a long stare from Shadow, but Dameon stared back innocently.

“You own a zoo, not a church.”

“And yet I’d still like to continue this morning without witnessing whatever this is.”

Shadow muttered something under his breath while Dameon looked deeply satisfied with himself. “Besides,” the hyena mutant continued smoothly, “you already told Daisy you’d help. It would be rude not to show up.”

Meanwhile, Kim clung to Shadow like her life depended on it. “Noooooo…” she whined pitifully, tightening her grip. “You have to stay with me…”

Kayla’s expression softened at the sight. “We can visit him a little later today. After all, it wouldn’t be right to go back on his word…” Her gaze slid pointedly toward Shadow before a faint smile tugged at her lips. “Besides, it’d be nice to see the tigers.”

There was a spark of genuine excitement in her eyes then. Ever since she was little, she’d been fascinated by the great cats — all that raw power wrapped in elegance and grace.

Shadow noticed immediately. One glance toward Dameon was enough to catch it: the slightly tired posture, the controlled politeness, and the way he kept glancing toward the clock near the kitchen doorway. Shadow's grip around Kim tightened faintly before he finally started walking towards the door. “C’mon,” he muttered lowly toward her, “before he starts professionally throwing us out.”

“I would never,” Dameon replied smoothly, followed by a pause... “Verbally, anyway.”

Shadow snorted quietly through his nose.

Meanwhile, Dameon had already moved toward the sink, rolling the sleeves of his scrubs slightly higher as he started cleaning the coffee mugs. “There’s a surgery scheduled later this afternoon,” he explained casually without looking back at them. “And unfortunately, unlike certain people in this house, my patients require actual supervision.”

“That sounds targeted.”

“It was targeted.” One of Dameon’s ears flicked again before he glanced briefly toward Kayla. “It was nice meeting you, though.” It sounded polite and warm. But also definitely: alright, everyone out. Shadow looked deeply amused by the entire thing. “See?” he muttered toward Kim, “told you he gets grumpy when his schedule gets messed up.”

“I am not grumpy.”

“You alphabetized the tea cabinet yesterday because you were stressed.”

(Kim)

Dameon glanced at the woman in front of him. His ears flicked once before a warm little smile tugged at his muzzle. “Hey, do not worry about disappearing for a while. Trust me, my mun did the exact same thing.”

He chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. “Life gets busy, messy, exhausting… it happens. Nobody worth your time is gonna hold it against you. So you really shouldn’t feel bad about it, okay?”

His tail gave a lazy flick behind him as he took another sip of coffee.

Across the kitchen, Dameon slowly lowered his coffee mug. “Mhm. Fascinating.” His bright green eyes shifted toward Shadow knowingly. “Anyway, didn’t you promise Daisy you’d help move the new fencing near the wolf enclosure today?”

The reaction was immediate, and Shadow narrowed his eyes. “You did that on purpose.”

“Yes.” Dameon took another calm sip of coffee. "Because unlike the two of you, some of us are trying to maintain professionalism in this kitchen.”

That earned him a long stare from Shadow, but Dameon stared back innocently.

“You own a zoo, not a church.”

“And yet I’d still like to continue this morning without witnessing whatever this is.”

Shadow muttered something under his breath while Dameon looked deeply satisfied with himself. “Besides,” the hyena mutant continued smoothly, “you already told Daisy you’d help. It would be rude not to show up.”

(Kim)

Dameon glanced at the woman in front of him. His ears flicked once before a warm little smile tugged at his muzzle. “Hey, do not worry about disappearing for a while. Trust me, my mun did the exact same thing.”

He chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. “Life gets busy, messy, exhausting… it happens. Nobody worth your time is gonna hold it against you. So you really shouldn’t feel bad about it, okay?”

His tail gave a lazy flick behind him as he took another sip of coffee.

“All I want is for Kim to be happy. And since you’re the one she chose, I have nothing against that. Not that she’d listen to me if I did…” She smiled fondly at Kim. “She loves you like crazy. That’s why she came back, despite her fears. So go easy on her, okay?”

Kim felt tears prick at her eyes at her friend’s words. She probably would have stayed away—afraid and miserable—if Kayla hadn’t convinced her to come back. “Kayla’s the best. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without her…” She looked back at Shadow, her expression softening. “Or you.”

“Hnh... Sounds stupid enough to be true.” The dry mutter carried no real insult behind it. If anything, it sounded dangerously close to affection.

Meanwhile, Dameon watched the exchange over the rim of his coffee mug with quiet attentiveness. Bright green eyes moved between Shadow and Kayla before finally settling on Kayla again at her request.

“Coffee I can do.” His voice carried that same easy warmth as he moved back toward the kitchen island as he grabbed another mug from the cabinet.

“You survived the emotional warfare at my dining table. I think that earns you caffeine.” One ear flicked slightly. “How do you take it?”

“Don’t tease him…” Kim mumbled, though she failed to keep the amusement out of her voice. She pressed a kiss to Shadow’s cheek and nuzzled into his neck, still clinging to him like Velcro, clearly happy to be back in his arms.

Dameon sighed dramatically. “Oh, so now we’re discriminating against alternative milk products in my home?”

“It tastes wrong.”

“You eat cold leftovers straight out of the container at two in the morning.”

“That’s different.”

Dameon hummed thoughtfully like he was seriously considering the argument while pouring Kayla’s coffee. The kitchen lights caught against the piercings lining one of his ears while he did.

“And yet,” he replied smoothly, “despite all my apparently terrible life choices, I still let you live here.”

“I don’t live here.”

“You ate twelve yogurts in two days.”

“I was stressed.”

“You also scared three of my patients.”

Shadow looked offended immediately. “I did not scare anybody.”

“You stood in the hallway at two in the morning, built like a tank, wearing sweatpants and glaring into space.” Dameon took a calm sip of coffee. “One of my patients thought you were a cryptid.”

Meanwhile, Shadow had entirely stopped paying attention again, the second Kim tucked herself back against him. One arm remained firm around her waist while his forehead rested against hers, eyes closed beneath the black bandana, close enough to feel her breathing.

Across the kitchen, Dameon noticed immediately and smirked, knowingly. Because after an entire year of watching his best friend stomp around the house half-angry at the universe, barely sleeping, stress-eating dairy products, and pretending he was 'fine'… This? This was better.

Dameon lifted his mug slightly toward Kayla like a silent 'see what I’ve been dealing with?' before taking another sip.

Kim responded with a rather inappropriate finger gesture.

“Just let me know when you two need the place to yourselves,” Kayla added. “I’d rather not be around to hear the sounds of your… intimacy.”

Across the kitchen, Dameon made a sound somewhere between a cough and a near-death experience. “Absolutely not.” The giant hyena mutant lowered his coffee mug slowly, staring at Shadow with betrayed exhaustion. “Not in front of my breakfast.”

Shadow’s smirk only widened slightly. “You started it.”

“I made one joke about yogurt consumption.”

“And now you’re suffering the consequences.”

Dameon pointed at him with complete doctor-level disappointment. “This is why my patients are afraid of you.”

“They like me.”

“One elderly mutant woman asked me if you were a prison escapee.”

“She asked for my number.”

“She was eighty-three.”

Shadow looked entirely unapologetic while Dameon dragged one hand down his face, muttering into his coffee: “I went to medical school for eight years just for my kitchen to turn into foreplay territory.”

Poor Dameon... she thought, briefly tempted to pat his shoulder in solidarity before deciding against it, uncertain whether he'd welcome the gesture.

"Well," she said instead, amusement still tugging at her voice, "if you ever want to hang out with someone who's not a threat to your sanity, I'm available."

Shadow’s eyes flicked downward instantly, then, slowly back up again as that smug look appeared.

Dameon pointed at him immediately with his coffee mug. “No.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“You are about to do something.”

“That sounds judgmental.”

“That sounds like experience.”

Shadow’s smirk widened, and Dameon saw it. The hyena mutant lowered his mug with deep disappointment. “Kim,” he said calmly, “I am asking you respectfully, as the owner of this house and a licensed medical professional, not to encourage him.”

Shadow looked offended. “Encourage me to what?”

Dameon gave him a long look. “You know exactly what.”

“I really don’t.”

“You are literally smirking.”

“That’s just my face.”

Dameon stared at him for a solid second before looking toward Kayla with the exhausted expression of a man who had suffered greatly. “This,” he informed her, “is what I deal with daily.”

(Kim)

Dameon glanced at the woman in front of him. His ears flicked once before a warm little smile tugged at his muzzle. “Hey, do not worry about disappearing for a while. Trust me, my mun did the exact same thing.”

He chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. “Life gets busy, messy, exhausting… it happens. Nobody worth your time is gonna hold it against you. So you really shouldn’t feel bad about it, okay?”

His tail gave a lazy flick behind him as he took another sip of coffee.

“All I want is for Kim to be happy. And since you’re the one she chose, I have nothing against that. Not that she’d listen to me if I did…” She smiled fondly at Kim. “She loves you like crazy. That’s why she came back, despite her fears. So go easy on her, okay?”

Kim felt tears prick at her eyes at her friend’s words. She probably would have stayed away—afraid and miserable—if Kayla hadn’t convinced her to come back. “Kayla’s the best. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without her…” She looked back at Shadow, her expression softening. “Or you.”

“Hnh... Sounds stupid enough to be true.” The dry mutter carried no real insult behind it. If anything, it sounded dangerously close to affection.

Meanwhile, Dameon watched the exchange over the rim of his coffee mug with quiet attentiveness. Bright green eyes moved between Shadow and Kayla before finally settling on Kayla again at her request.

“Coffee I can do.” His voice carried that same easy warmth as he moved back toward the kitchen island as he grabbed another mug from the cabinet.

“You survived the emotional warfare at my dining table. I think that earns you caffeine.” One ear flicked slightly. “How do you take it?”

“Don’t tease him…” Kim mumbled, though she failed to keep the amusement out of her voice. She pressed a kiss to Shadow’s cheek and nuzzled into his neck, still clinging to him like Velcro, clearly happy to be back in his arms.

Dameon sighed dramatically. “Oh, so now we’re discriminating against alternative milk products in my home?”

“It tastes wrong.”

“You eat cold leftovers straight out of the container at two in the morning.”

“That’s different.”

Dameon hummed thoughtfully like he was seriously considering the argument while pouring Kayla’s coffee. The kitchen lights caught against the piercings lining one of his ears while he did.

“And yet,” he replied smoothly, “despite all my apparently terrible life choices, I still let you live here.”

“I don’t live here.”

“You ate twelve yogurts in two days.”

“I was stressed.”

“You also scared three of my patients.”

Shadow looked offended immediately. “I did not scare anybody.”

“You stood in the hallway at two in the morning, built like a tank, wearing sweatpants and glaring into space.” Dameon took a calm sip of coffee. “One of my patients thought you were a cryptid.”

Meanwhile, Shadow had entirely stopped paying attention again, the second Kim tucked herself back against him. One arm remained firm around her waist while his forehead rested against hers, eyes closed beneath the black bandana, close enough to feel her breathing.

Across the kitchen, Dameon noticed immediately and smirked, knowingly. Because after an entire year of watching his best friend stomp around the house half-angry at the universe, barely sleeping, stress-eating dairy products, and pretending he was 'fine'… This? This was better.

Dameon lifted his mug slightly toward Kayla like a silent 'see what I’ve been dealing with?' before taking another sip.

Kim responded with a rather inappropriate finger gesture.

“Just let me know when you two need the place to yourselves,” Kayla added. “I’d rather not be around to hear the sounds of your… intimacy.”

Across the kitchen, Dameon made a sound somewhere between a cough and a near-death experience. “Absolutely not.” The giant hyena mutant lowered his coffee mug slowly, staring at Shadow with betrayed exhaustion. “Not in front of my breakfast.”

Shadow’s smirk only widened slightly. “You started it.”

“I made one joke about yogurt consumption.”

“And now you’re suffering the consequences.”

Dameon pointed at him with complete doctor-level disappointment. “This is why my patients are afraid of you.”

“They like me.”

“One elderly mutant woman asked me if you were a prison escapee.”

“She asked for my number.”

“She was eighty-three.”

Shadow looked entirely unapologetic while Dameon dragged one hand down his face, muttering into his coffee: “I went to medical school for eight years just for my kitchen to turn into foreplay territory.”

(Kim)

Dameon glanced at the woman in front of him. His ears flicked once before a warm little smile tugged at his muzzle. “Hey, do not worry about disappearing for a while. Trust me, my mun did the exact same thing.”

He chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. “Life gets busy, messy, exhausting… it happens. Nobody worth your time is gonna hold it against you. So you really shouldn’t feel bad about it, okay?”

His tail gave a lazy flick behind him as he took another sip of coffee.

“All I want is for Kim to be happy. And since you’re the one she chose, I have nothing against that. Not that she’d listen to me if I did…” She smiled fondly at Kim. “She loves you like crazy. That’s why she came back, despite her fears. So go easy on her, okay?”

Kim felt tears prick at her eyes at her friend’s words. She probably would have stayed away—afraid and miserable—if Kayla hadn’t convinced her to come back. “Kayla’s the best. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without her…” She looked back at Shadow, her expression softening. “Or you.”

“Hnh... Sounds stupid enough to be true.” The dry mutter carried no real insult behind it. If anything, it sounded dangerously close to affection.

Meanwhile, Dameon watched the exchange over the rim of his coffee mug with quiet attentiveness. Bright green eyes moved between Shadow and Kayla before finally settling on Kayla again at her request.

“Coffee I can do.” His voice carried that same easy warmth as he moved back toward the kitchen island as he grabbed another mug from the cabinet.

“You survived the emotional warfare at my dining table. I think that earns you caffeine.” One ear flicked slightly. “How do you take it?”

“Don’t tease him…” Kim mumbled, though she failed to keep the amusement out of her voice. She pressed a kiss to Shadow’s cheek and nuzzled into his neck, still clinging to him like Velcro, clearly happy to be back in his arms.

Dameon sighed dramatically. “Oh, so now we’re discriminating against alternative milk products in my home?”

“It tastes wrong.”

“You eat cold leftovers straight out of the container at two in the morning.”

“That’s different.”

Dameon hummed thoughtfully like he was seriously considering the argument while pouring Kayla’s coffee. The kitchen lights caught against the piercings lining one of his ears while he did.

“And yet,” he replied smoothly, “despite all my apparently terrible life choices, I still let you live here.”

“I don’t live here.”

“You ate twelve yogurts in two days.”

“I was stressed.”

“You also scared three of my patients.”

Shadow looked offended immediately. “I did not scare anybody.”

“You stood in the hallway at two in the morning, built like a tank, wearing sweatpants and glaring into space.” Dameon took a calm sip of coffee. “One of my patients thought you were a cryptid.”

Meanwhile, Shadow had entirely stopped paying attention again, the second Kim tucked herself back against him. One arm remained firm around her waist while his forehead rested against hers, eyes closed beneath the black bandana, close enough to feel her breathing.

Across the kitchen, Dameon noticed immediately and smirked, knowingly. Because after an entire year of watching his best friend stomp around the house half-angry at the universe, barely sleeping, stress-eating dairy products, and pretending he was 'fine'… This? This was better.

Dameon lifted his mug slightly toward Kayla like a silent 'see what I’ve been dealing with?' before taking another sip.

(Kim)

Dameon glanced at the woman in front of him. His ears flicked once before a warm little smile tugged at his muzzle. “Hey, do not worry about disappearing for a while. Trust me, my mun did the exact same thing.”

He chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. “Life gets busy, messy, exhausting… it happens. Nobody worth your time is gonna hold it against you. So you really shouldn’t feel bad about it, okay?”

His tail gave a lazy flick behind him as he took another sip of coffee.

“All I want is for Kim to be happy. And since you’re the one she chose, I have nothing against that. Not that she’d listen to me if I did…” She smiled fondly at Kim. “She loves you like crazy. That’s why she came back, despite her fears. So go easy on her, okay?”

Kim felt tears prick at her eyes at her friend’s words. She probably would have stayed away—afraid and miserable—if Kayla hadn’t convinced her to come back. “Kayla’s the best. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without her…” She looked back at Shadow, her expression softening. “Or you.”

“Hnh... Sounds stupid enough to be true.” The dry mutter carried no real insult behind it. If anything, it sounded dangerously close to affection.

Meanwhile, Dameon watched the exchange over the rim of his coffee mug with quiet attentiveness. Bright green eyes moved between Shadow and Kayla before finally settling on Kayla again at her request.

“Coffee I can do.” His voice carried that same easy warmth as he moved back toward the kitchen island as he grabbed another mug from the cabinet.

“You survived the emotional warfare at my dining table. I think that earns you caffeine.” One ear flicked slightly. “How do you take it?”

(Kim)

Dameon glanced at the woman in front of him. His ears flicked once before a warm little smile tugged at his muzzle. “Hey, do not worry about disappearing for a while. Trust me, my mun did the exact same thing.”

He chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. “Life gets busy, messy, exhausting… it happens. Nobody worth your time is gonna hold it against you. So you really shouldn’t feel bad about it, okay?”

His tail gave a lazy flick behind him as he took another sip of coffee.

“You idiot…” he whispered hoarsely, though there wasn’t any real bite behind it.

One hand slid slowly through her hair while he rested his cheek against the top of her head.

“I already forgave you the second I saw you.” His voice trembled slightly despite himself. “I was hurt, yeah. Still am a little.” He exhaled shakily. “But I love you more than I’m angry at you.” The confession came quietly. Like something he’d been carrying for far too long. “And if we’re being honest? I don’t wanna be apart from you again either.”

Behind them, Dameon suddenly lifted a finger. “…Hold that emotional breakthrough thought for one second.”

Knock knock knock...

The hyena mutant pushed himself away from the kitchen island with a quiet groan, muttering something under his breath about “people always interrupting at the worst possible moments” as he padded toward the front door.

The house was enormous up close, warm lights glowing through tall windows, and the connected mutant clinic was visible along the property. The moment the door opened, Dameon’s tall frame nearly filled it completely.

For a second, he simply blinked down at the unfamiliar woman standing there.

One ear flicked.

“…Hi.”

His voice was calm but curious.

Her gaze drifted over him from head to toe, lingering a moment too long on the muscles visible even beneath his scrubs. 'Good grief girl, pull yourself together…'

She cleared her throat with a polite cough, trying to compose herself.

“Hi, I came with Kim. I just wanted to check on her…”

“Yeah, well.” His voice was rough. “Too late now.” His grip tightened just slightly. “You came back.”

The words sounded almost accusing, but the way he held her ruined any real harshness behind them. He lowered his head enough for his forehead to briefly rest against hers before muttering quieter, “Don’t disappear on me again.”

Meanwhile, at the front door, Dameon listened quietly as the woman explained herself. He studied her for a brief second longer than most people would probably find normal. Not threatening, just observant.

He noticed the lingering glance immediately. The slight change in heartbeat and the subtle nervousness underneath her attempt at composure. One of his ears twitched upward slightly. Internally, he was amused. Externally, however, Dameon remained perfectly polite.

“Ah. So you’re Kayla.” His voice carried an easy warmth as he stepped aside from the doorway, one hand resting casually against the frame.

“Kim’s alright.” A beat passed before his mouth twitched faintly at one corner. “More or less.”

Somewhere deeper in the house, Shadow could very faintly be heard mumbling something low and affectionate toward Kim. Dameon pretended not to hear any of it.

A sad look crossed the young woman’s face. “I told her she should take the chance—and that no matter what happened, she’d always have me.”

Dameon started leading her further inside at an easy pace, hands tucked casually into his scrub pockets. “So thank you. For getting her through the front door.” The sincerity in his tone was quiet but genuine.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Shadow stared down at Kim for a long moment after her promise. His expression remained guarded, rough around the edges like always, but the tension in his shoulders had eased slightly.

“Hm.”

That was all he said at first.

One hand stayed planted firmly against her waist while the other rested near the back of her neck, thumb brushing once against her skin almost absentmindedly.

“You better mean it.” The words came low and gravelly, more warning than softness. Still, he hadn’t let her go for even a second.

Then, from somewhere near the hallway, Dameon’s voice carried effortlessly through the house: “Keep the emotional reconciliation PG-13 in my kitchen, please.”

“Yes, sir…” she murmured softly. “How can I even begin to make it up to you?”

“Kim is like a sister to me. I want nothing more than her happiness. Truth be told, she wasn’t doing too great either…” A sly smirk spread across Kayla’s face as she glanced back at Dameon. “But judging by what you just said, it sounds like they’re well on their way to making up.”

Then she called out teasingly, “No tango in the kitchen you two — horizontal or vertical. Save it for the bedroom. Your own bedroom, that is.”

He didn’t like strangers to begin with. And someone who’d apparently been close to Kim while he’d been left behind? Yeah. He liked that even less.

“So,” he said flatly, “you’re the one that’s been with her this whole time.” Not openly hostile, but definitely not friendly either.

The kitchen atmosphere tightened slightly at the edges. Then Dameon spoke. “Oh, don’t start.” The hyena mutant didn’t even look up from where he was pouring himself another coffee, though one ear flicked sharply in Shadow’s direction. “She got Kim back here in one piece. That automatically makes her welcome in my house.”

Shadow’s jaw flexed faintly. “I didn’t say anything.”

“You were about three seconds away from saying something.” Dameon finally glanced over, his bright green eyes calm and entirely unimpressed. “And before you ask: no, glaring at guests is not a personality trait.”

Shadow muttered something under his breath, but Dameon ignored him effortlessly and looked toward Kayla instead, his tone immediately smoothing back out. “You’ll have to excuse him. He’s emotionally constipated and territorial.”

“…Dameon.”

“And currently trying very hard not to act like a rescued alley cat.”

(Kim)

Dameon glanced at the woman in front of him. His ears flicked once before a warm little smile tugged at his muzzle. “Hey, do not worry about disappearing for a while. Trust me, my mun did the exact same thing.”

He chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. “Life gets busy, messy, exhausting… it happens. Nobody worth your time is gonna hold it against you. So you really shouldn’t feel bad about it, okay?”

His tail gave a lazy flick behind him as he took another sip of coffee.

“You idiot…” he whispered hoarsely, though there wasn’t any real bite behind it.

One hand slid slowly through her hair while he rested his cheek against the top of her head.

“I already forgave you the second I saw you.” His voice trembled slightly despite himself. “I was hurt, yeah. Still am a little.” He exhaled shakily. “But I love you more than I’m angry at you.” The confession came quietly. Like something he’d been carrying for far too long. “And if we’re being honest? I don’t wanna be apart from you again either.”

Behind them, Dameon suddenly lifted a finger. “…Hold that emotional breakthrough thought for one second.”

Knock knock knock...

The hyena mutant pushed himself away from the kitchen island with a quiet groan, muttering something under his breath about “people always interrupting at the worst possible moments” as he padded toward the front door.

The house was enormous up close, warm lights glowing through tall windows, and the connected mutant clinic was visible along the property. The moment the door opened, Dameon’s tall frame nearly filled it completely.

For a second, he simply blinked down at the unfamiliar woman standing there.

One ear flicked.

“…Hi.”

His voice was calm but curious.

Her gaze drifted over him from head to toe, lingering a moment too long on the muscles visible even beneath his scrubs. 'Good grief girl, pull yourself together…'

She cleared her throat with a polite cough, trying to compose herself.

“Hi, I came with Kim. I just wanted to check on her…”

“Yeah, well.” His voice was rough. “Too late now.” His grip tightened just slightly. “You came back.”

The words sounded almost accusing, but the way he held her ruined any real harshness behind them. He lowered his head enough for his forehead to briefly rest against hers before muttering quieter, “Don’t disappear on me again.”

Meanwhile, at the front door, Dameon listened quietly as the woman explained herself. He studied her for a brief second longer than most people would probably find normal. Not threatening, just observant.

He noticed the lingering glance immediately. The slight change in heartbeat and the subtle nervousness underneath her attempt at composure. One of his ears twitched upward slightly. Internally, he was amused. Externally, however, Dameon remained perfectly polite.

“Ah. So you’re Kayla.” His voice carried an easy warmth as he stepped aside from the doorway, one hand resting casually against the frame.

“Kim’s alright.” A beat passed before his mouth twitched faintly at one corner. “More or less.”

Somewhere deeper in the house, Shadow could very faintly be heard mumbling something low and affectionate toward Kim. Dameon pretended not to hear any of it.

A sad look crossed the young woman’s face. “I told her she should take the chance—and that no matter what happened, she’d always have me.”

Dameon started leading her further inside at an easy pace, hands tucked casually into his scrub pockets. “So thank you. For getting her through the front door.” The sincerity in his tone was quiet but genuine.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Shadow stared down at Kim for a long moment after her promise. His expression remained guarded, rough around the edges like always, but the tension in his shoulders had eased slightly.

“Hm.”

That was all he said at first.

One hand stayed planted firmly against her waist while the other rested near the back of her neck, thumb brushing once against her skin almost absentmindedly.

“You better mean it.” The words came low and gravelly, more warning than softness. Still, he hadn’t let her go for even a second.

Then, from somewhere near the hallway, Dameon’s voice carried effortlessly through the house: “Keep the emotional reconciliation PG-13 in my kitchen, please.”

(Kim)

Dameon glanced at the woman in front of him. His ears flicked once before a warm little smile tugged at his muzzle. “Hey, do not worry about disappearing for a while. Trust me, my mun did the exact same thing.”

He chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. “Life gets busy, messy, exhausting… it happens. Nobody worth your time is gonna hold it against you. So you really shouldn’t feel bad about it, okay?”

His tail gave a lazy flick behind him as he took another sip of coffee.

“You idiot…” he whispered hoarsely, though there wasn’t any real bite behind it.

One hand slid slowly through her hair while he rested his cheek against the top of her head.

“I already forgave you the second I saw you.” His voice trembled slightly despite himself. “I was hurt, yeah. Still am a little.” He exhaled shakily. “But I love you more than I’m angry at you.” The confession came quietly. Like something he’d been carrying for far too long. “And if we’re being honest? I don’t wanna be apart from you again either.”

Behind them, Dameon suddenly lifted a finger. “…Hold that emotional breakthrough thought for one second.”

Knock knock knock...

The hyena mutant pushed himself away from the kitchen island with a quiet groan, muttering something under his breath about “people always interrupting at the worst possible moments” as he padded toward the front door.

The house was enormous up close, warm lights glowing through tall windows, and the connected mutant clinic was visible along the property. The moment the door opened, Dameon’s tall frame nearly filled it completely.

For a second, he simply blinked down at the unfamiliar woman standing there.

One ear flicked.

“…Hi.”

His voice was calm but curious.

Her gaze drifted over him from head to toe, lingering a moment too long on the muscles visible even beneath his scrubs. 'Good grief girl, pull yourself together…'

She cleared her throat with a polite cough, trying to compose herself.

“Hi, I came with Kim. I just wanted to check on her…”

“Yeah, well.” His voice was rough. “Too late now.” His grip tightened just slightly. “You came back.”

The words sounded almost accusing, but the way he held her ruined any real harshness behind them. He lowered his head enough for his forehead to briefly rest against hers before muttering quieter, “Don’t disappear on me again.”

Meanwhile, at the front door, Dameon listened quietly as the woman explained herself. He studied her for a brief second longer than most people would probably find normal. Not threatening, just observant.

He noticed the lingering glance immediately. The slight change in heartbeat and the subtle nervousness underneath her attempt at composure. One of his ears twitched upward slightly. Internally, he was amused. Externally, however, Dameon remained perfectly polite.

“Ah. So you’re Kayla.” His voice carried an easy warmth as he stepped aside from the doorway, one hand resting casually against the frame.

“Kim’s alright.” A beat passed before his mouth twitched faintly at one corner. “More or less.”

Somewhere deeper in the house, Shadow could very faintly be heard mumbling something low and affectionate toward Kim. Dameon pretended not to hear any of it.

(Kim)

Dameon glanced at the woman in front of him. His ears flicked once before a warm little smile tugged at his muzzle. “Hey, do not worry about disappearing for a while. Trust me, my mun did the exact same thing.”

He chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. “Life gets busy, messy, exhausting… it happens. Nobody worth your time is gonna hold it against you. So you really shouldn’t feel bad about it, okay?”

His tail gave a lazy flick behind him as he took another sip of coffee.

“You idiot…” he whispered hoarsely, though there wasn’t any real bite behind it.

One hand slid slowly through her hair while he rested his cheek against the top of her head.

“I already forgave you the second I saw you.” His voice trembled slightly despite himself. “I was hurt, yeah. Still am a little.” He exhaled shakily. “But I love you more than I’m angry at you.” The confession came quietly. Like something he’d been carrying for far too long. “And if we’re being honest? I don’t wanna be apart from you again either.”

Behind them, Dameon suddenly lifted a finger. “…Hold that emotional breakthrough thought for one second.”

Knock knock knock...

The hyena mutant pushed himself away from the kitchen island with a quiet groan, muttering something under his breath about “people always interrupting at the worst possible moments” as he padded toward the front door.

The house was enormous up close, warm lights glowing through tall windows, and the connected mutant clinic was visible along the property. The moment the door opened, Dameon’s tall frame nearly filled it completely.

For a second, he simply blinked down at the unfamiliar woman standing there.

One ear flicked.

“…Hi.”

His voice was calm but curious.

(Kim)

Dameon glanced at the woman in front of him. His ears flicked once before a warm little smile tugged at his muzzle. “Hey, do not worry about disappearing for a while. Trust me, my mun did the exact same thing.”

He chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. “Life gets busy, messy, exhausting… it happens. Nobody worth your time is gonna hold it against you. So you really shouldn’t feel bad about it, okay?”

His tail gave a lazy flick behind him as he took another sip of coffee.

“You should.”

His deep voice was warm and steady, reassuring in that effortless way Dameon always seemed to manage. One of his ears flicked lightly as he folded the newspaper shut and set it aside.

“But you don’t have to feel bad for coming back. Especially not here.”

He offered her a small smile.

“The hardest part is usually walking through the door again.”

From somewhere deeper in the house came the sound of slow footsteps approaching from the hallway... Uneven... Heavy... Dameon glanced past her for only a second before his expression shifted knowingly.

Shadow had heard her voice.

The turtle mutant appeared in the doorway, black bandana slightly loose around his head, bright green eyes widening the second they landed on her. Every emotion hit his face at once: disbelief, hurt, anger, relief...

“…Kim?”

The word barely left him, and for a moment, he just stood there staring at her like he couldn’t fully process she was actually standing in front of him. Then, without saying another word, he crossed the room quietly. Almost hesitantly. He moved up behind her and wrapped both arms around her, pulling her gently back against his plastron as he buried his face into her hair.

“Shadow...” she whispered, unable to tear her eyes away as he slowly approached her.

At first, she stiffened when his arms wrapped around her, but the familiar warmth of his embrace quickly melted the tension away. Her eyes closed as tears began to form, and without a word, she leaned closer into him.

Moments later, she turned in his arms and buried her face against his neck.

A shaky breath left him as his hands slid up her back, gripping her like he was terrified she might disappear again if he loosened his hold even slightly. His face stayed buried near her neck for a long moment, while he tried and failed to keep his emotions under control.

“You disappeared…” His voice came out rough. Not angry in the explosive sense... worse. The kind of pain that had clearly been sitting inside him for a long time.

“I didn’t know if you were alive. If you were hurt. If you just…” He swallowed hard. “…didn’t wanna come back.”

His fingers curled slightly against her clothes before he finally pulled back just enough to look at her. Exhaustion was still written across his face from weeks of sleepless nights.

“And I was mad at you.” The confession came honestly. “Really mad.”

One of his hands moved up to brush gently against her cheek, thumb catching her tears instinctively.

“But damn it, Kim…” A weak laugh escaped him, completely broken by emotion. “I missed you every single day.”

“I was so broken… I still am, really. You’ve already been through so much, and I thought you deserved better than having to deal with m-me…” Her voice cracked on the last word.

“But no matter how hard I tried to stay away, no matter how much I convinced myself it was the right thing to do, I kept finding my way back to you…”

Her heart pounded painfully in her chest, terrified of his answer to the question she was about to ask.

His hand remained against her cheek, and for a second, he looked almost angry again, not at her, but at the idea that she genuinely believed she had to ask.

“Kim…” His voice dropped softer this time. “You really think I held onto you like this because I wanted you to leave again?” He shook his head once, swallowing hard before resting his forehead against hers.

“I don’t care if you’re broken.” The words came out certain. “Look at me.” A weak breath of a laugh escaped him. “I’m a mess too.”

One arm tightened around her waist while the other stayed cupping her face carefully, like she was something precious despite everything. “You disappearing hurt like hell. I’m not gonna lie about that.” His eyes lowered briefly before meeting hers again. “But you coming back? That’s all I wanted.”

For a moment he just stood there holding her close, grounding himself in the fact she was actually here.

“If you stay,” he whispered, voice rough with emotion, “then stay because you want to. Not because you think you owe me something.”

His thumb brushed beneath her eye gently, catching another tear.

(Kim)

Dameon glanced at the woman in front of him. His ears flicked once before a warm little smile tugged at his muzzle. “Hey, do not worry about disappearing for a while. Trust me, my mun did the exact same thing.”

He chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. “Life gets busy, messy, exhausting… it happens. Nobody worth your time is gonna hold it against you. So you really shouldn’t feel bad about it, okay?”

His tail gave a lazy flick behind him as he took another sip of coffee.

“You should.”

His deep voice was warm and steady, reassuring in that effortless way Dameon always seemed to manage. One of his ears flicked lightly as he folded the newspaper shut and set it aside.

“But you don’t have to feel bad for coming back. Especially not here.”

He offered her a small smile.

“The hardest part is usually walking through the door again.”

From somewhere deeper in the house came the sound of slow footsteps approaching from the hallway... Uneven... Heavy... Dameon glanced past her for only a second before his expression shifted knowingly.

Shadow had heard her voice.

The turtle mutant appeared in the doorway, black bandana slightly loose around his head, bright green eyes widening the second they landed on her. Every emotion hit his face at once: disbelief, hurt, anger, relief...

“…Kim?”

The word barely left him, and for a moment, he just stood there staring at her like he couldn’t fully process she was actually standing in front of him. Then, without saying another word, he crossed the room quietly. Almost hesitantly. He moved up behind her and wrapped both arms around her, pulling her gently back against his plastron as he buried his face into her hair.

“Shadow...” she whispered, unable to tear her eyes away as he slowly approached her.

At first, she stiffened when his arms wrapped around her, but the familiar warmth of his embrace quickly melted the tension away. Her eyes closed as tears began to form, and without a word, she leaned closer into him.

Moments later, she turned in his arms and buried her face against his neck.

A shaky breath left him as his hands slid up her back, gripping her like he was terrified she might disappear again if he loosened his hold even slightly. His face stayed buried near her neck for a long moment, while he tried and failed to keep his emotions under control.

“You disappeared…” His voice came out rough. Not angry in the explosive sense... worse. The kind of pain that had clearly been sitting inside him for a long time.

“I didn’t know if you were alive. If you were hurt. If you just…” He swallowed hard. “…didn’t wanna come back.”

His fingers curled slightly against her clothes before he finally pulled back just enough to look at her. Exhaustion was still written across his face from weeks of sleepless nights.

“And I was mad at you.” The confession came honestly. “Really mad.”

One of his hands moved up to brush gently against her cheek, thumb catching her tears instinctively.

“But damn it, Kim…” A weak laugh escaped him, completely broken by emotion. “I missed you every single day.”

(Kim)

Dameon glanced at the woman in front of him. His ears flicked once before a warm little smile tugged at his muzzle. “Hey, do not worry about disappearing for a while. Trust me, my mun did the exact same thing.”

He chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. “Life gets busy, messy, exhausting… it happens. Nobody worth your time is gonna hold it against you. So you really shouldn’t feel bad about it, okay?”

His tail gave a lazy flick behind him as he took another sip of coffee.

“You should.”

His deep voice was warm and steady, reassuring in that effortless way Dameon always seemed to manage. One of his ears flicked lightly as he folded the newspaper shut and set it aside.

“But you don’t have to feel bad for coming back. Especially not here.”

He offered her a small smile.

“The hardest part is usually walking through the door again.”

From somewhere deeper in the house came the sound of slow footsteps approaching from the hallway... Uneven... Heavy... Dameon glanced past her for only a second before his expression shifted knowingly.

Shadow had heard her voice.

The turtle mutant appeared in the doorway, black bandana slightly loose around his head, bright green eyes widening the second they landed on her. Every emotion hit his face at once: disbelief, hurt, anger, relief...

“…Kim?”

The word barely left him, and for a moment, he just stood there staring at her like he couldn’t fully process she was actually standing in front of him. Then, without saying another word, he crossed the room quietly. Almost hesitantly. He moved up behind her and wrapped both arms around her, pulling her gently back against his plastron as he buried his face into her hair.