FSE

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So here is part 10. im glad this re-boot is getting so much love. :) thank you guys for all the continued support!

Chapter 10

Ricky's eyes opened slowly, breaking the bonds of the eye crusts trying to stop their progress. He stretched his legs out beneath the unfamiliar, scratchy, army grade covers, cracked his neck from side to side, achy from the very flat pillow, and sat up in the metallic room. It took him a moment to realize where he was, then he remembered aloud, "Duh, alien spaceship." with half a grin.

He sat there in the bed, stretching like a cat, and then finally flopped out of bed with the grace anyone would expect from a seventeen year old in the morning. One thing Ricky liked from the ship was the lighting; it didn't seem false at all. Not too bright, not too dark and all done with a small set of lights that weren't in the way, hiding in the ceiling corners. The awkward flicker you always knew was in a florescent didn't characterize these ones.

His thoughts were trying to focus on the large Varius that had set up camp in his living room, and more specifically why they were there. He didn't mind really, he didn't hear snoring, and for some reason the idea of company didn't bug him as much as it would have on Earth. He had a little grin on his face, hours ago he was concerned they would do sick experiments on him as he slept, and now he was letting their kids sleep over for the night.

Waking up to the ship didn't feel as concrete as he had imagined it would. He had pictured that waking up here would inspire more tears, make him feel manic; but it only felt like some dream continued. His mind insisted it was real but it was all blurred, fuzzy on the details and focus. His eyes didn't dart around in panic, it definitely wasn't a science lab ready for experimentation.

The door slid open silently for him and he immediately needed the wall for support. His knees physically and comically buckled beneath him. He ducked into the bathroom and fell to the ground by the toilet, throwing up whatever he had eaten, he couldn't remember so early. He washed his mouth out in the sink, looking up to a movie in the mirror. Ricky Pace, red eyed and on a metallic space lavatory. His mind was more focused now, awake. He shrugged, his notion about the morning not being so concrete disproved. He felt like there was a stone in his stomach, but at least his head wasn't a mess; the room wasn't getting smaller.

He stepped back into the living room, everyone exactly where Ricky had left them. He wasn't sure what time it was, the clocks meaning nothing to him, but if he had a guess it was the morning. He slid open the door to his actual room, observing Klain was still sleeping peacefully at the foot of the bed, the Dobie's belly exposed, arms up like an earth dog wanting a belly rub, and tongue lolling out.

The human couldn't suppress his grin, walking over to the living room quietly. Griffin and Pence were purring in their sleep, Miki had fallen onto Namy in their sleep, and Felix had soaked the pillows and the floor with drool. Varius seemed so...unreal. Like, they were so similar to animals they almost didn't feel foreign but they could just as easily be a Disney attraction. Their looks, characteristics, quirks and sounds; sure they talked, but it almost seemed trivial. Ricky had a hunch that a good scratch behind the ears would make Pence purr, a belly rub would get Klain's leg kicking and that Felix would be just fine siting in the sun, chewing the cud.

He wanted to start the day. Not allow himself a moment to over think anything, drown out a freak out with over stimulation, but Ricky hated waking people, so he walked to the kitchen, his rumbling belly being his guide. The fridge and cupboards were pre-stocked, but with all the stuff the guys had brought over Ricky decided he was going to enjoy his breakfast to the fullest.

He found the pots and pans, and mixed milk and water for the hot chocolate, cracked some eggs and whisked them together with more milk for scrambled eggs. He wasn't sure what the meat was exactly, but Ricky decided it was thin cut, so if he cooked it and then added the eggs to the pan, they would be safe to eat. Unfortunately there was no American cheese or ketchup, but it would have to do. He didn't like to brag, but Ricky was a pretty decent cook. He brought the milk and water to a boil, found two mugs, filling one with orange juice and the other with the hot chocolate powder, Ricky was happy it was the kind with mini marshmallows right in the packet. For a moment he felt like an old man having nostalgia for things that weren't lost but seemed so out of reach.

He let the aromas of the meal fill his nose, if he closed his eyes he could almost pretend he was back at home. He smelled the kitchen in the morning; he felt the floor vibrate not from a gigantic engine, but from leaky and ill-placed water pipes in the New York apartment floor. The floor was hardwood not metal, and they didn't squeak because his dad finally fixed them. His breakfast was a pick-me-up for a long day of school, today was the last day...

Opening his eyes shattered the illusion. Ricky wasn't very connected or loyal to his old way of life, but it was a comfortable place. The pipes became rockets run on a self-replenishing battery well beyond his level of understanding. The floors became cold, sturdy and unsqueaking metallic alloy; his dad never did fix them after all. The food was still a pick-me-up, but for a long day of culture shock, walking and talking... not school. He didn't think he could miss highschool.

Still he had to admit, Ricky WAS eating breakfast at a kitchen table he had the right to call his own. The food wasn't gruel, and the atmosphere was calm and mellow in every way, right down to the gentle snoring in the background. So in all honesty, he was better off here. He wouldn't say it out loud of course, but in truth, and he knew it, this was an improvement already. Right down to the...friends in the next room. On earth all Ricky ever had were acquaintances.

With a very humbling sigh, he gave in to the fact that so far at least, he had been wrong about the entire thing. He hated to admit he was wrong, so with a now more irritated face, he began to chow down with an oversized spoon.

****

Klain awoke from his slumber, cursing his ADD for its choice of how to sleep, working to get all the kinks out of his neck from the lack of any pillow or support all night. He recalled thinking how natural a dog at the end of the bed would look, how 'perfect' Ricky would find it. He wanted to put a smile on his face, make him feel comfy here. Oh how he wanted to see what Ricky looked like with a real smile...And oooh how he wanted to be the one to put it there. He might have won a poker game and taken his money, but Klain knew Ricky was something he was interested in. He didn't even know why entirely, but he did and it was.

"Damn instinctual and sporadic decision making," he swore sleepily to himself. He realized only now, while his head was clear to process the choice, how high the chance of success was, and it made him frustrated. He had clothes on...No dog on earth wore clothes. Naked, he would be...well, naked; in bed waiting like a creep. "Fuuuuuuck!" he yelled, knowing the doors were all sound proof or at least close enough to block out the self-cursing primal scream.

He took in the smells of the room, liking how the blanket bore the human's scent. It was clearly well used on earth, and even with Klain sleeping there it was still a primarily human scent. He took a gander at the knick knacks on the shelf, not knowing what over half the little do-hickies were, or their value. For some reason, only when standing there in curious confusion over the possibly priceless, possibly garage-sale value things did he realize he REEEALY needed to piss off his morning wood.

Pulling at his pants he slid open the door quietly, he was an early riser and completely used to having the first hour or so of the day to himself. He slipped into the bathroom and relieved himself, making sure the door was closed before the flush. The Dobie took a quick look at himself in the mirror, a daily ceremony of sorts that kept him in his place.

Like most Dobie's his fur was never really messy, so after the traditional reason for looking in the mirror, a good splash of water to the face and a quick fix of his shirt he started the reflection time he gave himself every day, a daily 'pep talk' of sorts that did anything but cheer him up. He stared back into his own pained brown eyes, sighing he looked over his hard earned body, the muscles showing, but for some reason not seeming important in the least. He saw his scar, the piercings, the tattoo... he looked at all of it...all reminders of what he had done.

"Listen up you useless piece of shit," he told the reflection, casually, "You have to focus. Stay strong and in control. Shut that dark side out. Dont even listen to him ok? You control that part of you or your gunna have hell to pay when you are alone, and angry. Don't even think about forgetting the fourth." He recited to himself in a drone. He had recited it a thousand times before, "What aren't you going to forget?" he asked the reflection, which shot back the same painful question. "There were two dates Klain, the fourth and the thirteenth." His eyes were watering now. This part hurt the most every time, "Because what happened on those days?" He paused for the briefest of moments, the words closing his throat tight like quick dry cement.

And it was then that the door opened, Ricky standing there gazing at him with a shocked look on his face that quickly shifted to embarrassment. Klain wasn't sure how to feel, but he knew he was just staring wide eyed and teary back at the human.

****

Ricky froze; soooooo happy he hadn't been there a moment sooner. "I-I... shit, sorry!" he stammered, closing the door a little, "I should have knocked." He returned a bit flustered and blushing to the kitchen and began cleaning the dishes so he would be doing something that wasn't being embarrassed. He managed to multitask though. "Way to forget to knock," he chided himself quietly.

A moment later he heard footsteps coming up the little stairwell to the kitchen but didn't turn to face them. "The bathrooms all empty now," Klain muttered, opening the fridge, "Oh, uhh, do you mind if I get something to eat?"

The human froze a moment, "No problem," he managed, handing the Dobie a newly dried plate, and then going for a towel to wipe the water from his hands, "Just clean up after." Ricky retreated to the bathroom but was stopped by a paw, now wrapped firmly around his wrist. Ricky finally looked up at Klain whose face was not the crazy or energetic twitch he thought it would be. Klain's eyes seemed gentler in the morning, the change so grand Ricky found himself staring a bit in disbelief.

"Dude don't worry about it, just relax okay? We're both guys here right?" He asked simply, knowing Ricky like most needed the logical answer to start sorting the thoughts in his head. "Plus I was just washing up my paws so relax." He held them and flicked water at Ricky for show. "You interrupted my drying time."

Ricky still wasn't completely alright with what almost happened, but he put on a little grin and wiped the water droplets from his face, "Sorry. Want me to make you some breakfast?" He offered lamely, not wanted the talking to end, seeing an awkward silence in the distance.

The Dobie tilted his head, "Really? Are you like Namy and love to cook?" He asked, releasing his grip on the soft flesh of Ricky's wrist.

The human shrugged his shoulders turning back to the pans, "More or less, I was just offering."

"What you don't think I can cook?" The Dobie asked teasing, scooting Ricky aside from his own stove, and looking down on him with a devious grin.

"Uhh, no! That's not it at all I was just..."

"'I was just' yeah, no," He interrupted. "You don't think I can cook and I'll prove you wrong. Just sit down in that chair and wait for a masterpiece." He insisted, making a quick turn to the fridge and bringing out a variety of foodstuffs from the cupboards as well.

"What exactly is 'The master' making?" Ricky asked, unconvinced. Truth be told, he really didn't think that Klain was the type to learn how to cook. The muscle heads and the hoodlums always struck Ricky as the 'Hot Pocket' type.

"I am making Bananza Bread." He said simply, "Think banana bread but better. You're not allergic to nuts are you?"

"No I'm not, and dessert is BAKING not cooking." Ricky pressed, not thinking of much else to say, and still dreading silence like it was the plague.

The Doberman shot him a look that said 'shut your yap' and reeked of fake detest. "Geez with the specifics Ricky, and fyi," he said with a cocky tone and pointing a whisk at the human, paw at his side, looking for all the world like a stay at home dad in some comedy, minus the apron. "I can cook and bake, THAT my good sir is multitasking okay? Multitasking, I'm bi-food processing, it's a skill."

And with that, Klain got his wish, Ricky genuinely smiled and laughed making the Dobie's tail go crazy with excitement, the stub moving as fast as it could. "Bi-food processing?" Ricky asked, still trying not to laugh any more than he already had, "Multi talented, but I'm not sure THAT particular arrangement of letters counts as a word."

"It does now," Klain said plainly, turning back to the ingredients at his disposal to hide his own smile. No one got to see that for long, not a real one... He could already feel it, inside he already could feel the ADD kicking in, the other 'hims'. Every thought, every want, need and pleasure and pain. It was like a switch for him, one minute he was fine, he was for all instance and purposes a 'normal' Varius. But all at once in a fall swoop, ideas started buzzing around, awful ideas, stupid ideas, things he would wish in fantasy that slowly but surely would start to seem real if he wasn't careful to shut them out; as well as things he wouldn't wish on is worst enemies.

He went from extreme happiness to feeling claustrophobic in his own skin. He felt like his head was going to burst with all the ideas floating around. He tried to remember how to speak; turning towards the human he craved...that craved him too...right??...No, no Ricky didn't... did he? Would he feel bad if Klain DIDN'T make a move? He couldn't let him feel bad. He had to do something. Did the human like when Klain grabbed him?? No, he didn't. No no no no no no no...Right?...he didn't pull away...why not?

His tongue felt heavy and bloated, unsure which voice to voice for...Unsure what to say, just as confused as its master what to convey next.

He needed his pills...he needed them. Without them he would do something stupid. He had to make noise. The pills were back in his own cabin. The others were still asleep. Humans are so weak...it would be easy. All he had to do was reach out, hold him close enough so he wouldn't get away... they would sleep right through it. Ricky wouldn't speak of it, he would be sure of that... One kiss...nothing monumental, nothing awful. A small kiss...It would be so easy...

****

Ricky laughed for the first time in a long to me, genuinely finding the word hilarious, genuinely forgetting for the briefest of moments that Klain was crazy yesterday. "Bi-food processing?" Ricky asked, still trying not to laugh any more than he already had, "Multi talented, but I'm not sure THAT particular arrangement of letters counts as a word."

"It does now." Klain answered, looking away from Ricky and stopping all he was doing.

"You okay?" Ricky asked the dog who didn't respond right away, "Klain?"

Klain turned to face him for a moment; the look in his eyes fell back into confused and crazy madness. But Ricky could swear they were sad. Scared.

The Varius' arm shot up and grabbed at one of the pans on the counter and pulled it off where it fell to the ground with a loud and echoing boom, startling Ricky to the point that he jumped, "Dude, what was that?" Ricky asked, but Klain was already out of the kitchen, marching through the living room where the others were stirring. Ricky followed, "Klain. Klain, are you okay man?" He asked, grabbing the dogs arm, "I'm talking to you." 'where did this caring come from?' he wondered.

Klain whipped around and grabbed the arm, squeezing it uncomfortably, staring straight into Ricky's eyes, inches away, the pain all gone, only angry sat there in the orbs. "Don't," he breathed, releasing the arm and leaving, Ricky still just standing there confused.

Pence's paw tugged at his shirt, Ricky glanced over at his sleepy friend who was rubbing his eyes and stretching, big furry rear end still in the large comfy seat "What was all that about?"

Ricky didn't know how to respond, but he wanted to get the facts straight with Klain first. He thought about it a moment in confusion. He WANTED to talk to Klain about it. Shit, he was making friends here. "Some pots fell," Ricky replied quietly, thankfully it was early enough that such a topic change worked.

Pence groaned, "Be careful, that stuff is loud," His ear perked up. "Wait, does that mean there's food?" he asked. Everyone in the room who was conscious seemed to gaze over for the answer, desperate looks on their faces, ears docked and waiting for an answer.

Ricky grinned, they were like little kids it was ridiculous. "Do you guys want food? I can make some."

"Yes please!" Pence announced, letting his head fall on the back of the chair and his arm fall off Ricky. Ricky took his own hand and did one thing he REALLY wanted to do since yesterday. He ran it through Pence's mane, who replied with a very happy purr.

"I'll get right to it. Eggs fine?" he asked, getting yes' all around. Ricky's mind was still on the events of the morning, but once again, he now had a task to keep his hands busy

"So can I?" Namy asked, pulling some kind of large arm length gloves on, glancing sideways at Ricky who had just finished cracking the first of two entire cartons of eggs into a bowl. Namy had agreed, well, volunteered, to add some flare to the breakfast claiming plain eggs, even if they DID have the mystery meat and cheese, it was not enough.

"Well, I guess so," Ricky replied quietly, half his mind on Klain, half on the Husky's question. But this half-hearted answer didn't seem to make Namy very satisfied. "What?"

The husky crossed his arms in front of the apron covering his chest, "Do you mean it or are you just saying yes because you don't want to sound rude?" He asked in a very authoritative voice. It wasn't a harsh authority, but it made you realize that your response was important. "Desmond doesn't have to come."

"He can come," Ricky reassured the oddly dressed Husky, "Why are you dressed like that exactly?" He asked, trying to change the subject and satiate his curiosity. The husky looked like some mad doctor with an apron and the long gloves.

"He CAN. Do you want him too though? That's the question. As for the get up, would you want fur in your food? We are furry; we shed a bit even if we don't mean it." He said with a little grin, that fact being the most obvious thing in the world to a cub at The Heart.

"Duh," Ricky said simply, wondering why he didn't think of that and returning to the whisking, "Wow that's so simple." They sat there a moment in a brief silence interrupted by the sounds of the Holoscreen in the next room and the guys waiting for breakfast laughing and yelling and such. "First things first, why were you guys here when I got home, and what's with all the stuff?" he asked, pausing only for a moment and jumped back before Namy could answer "Not that I mind! Just curious."

"Well," Namy started with a grin, grabbing a knife and starting to dice assorted meats and...Ricky thought they were vegetables but they were nothing he had ever seen before. "You know how we wanted to get hair dye? The dye is in the same storage area on the ship as the food, just two doors down so we brought bags to grab some snacks. Unfortunately," he said in an annoyed voice, clearly not liking to sneak into storage, "Those areas are restricted to crew members of military status so we had to do some sneaking around. To avoid getting caught by anyone we, well, knew your door was still on the default password and just..." he seemed a bit embarrassed, making the knife do circles in the air as if to spee along the conversation or offer explanation "You get the picture."

The human stared back at him for a bit, continuing to watch him chop and slice, "So. All of that food I put away last night, and all the stuff in my living room is stolen and liable to get YOU guys in trouble so you brought it to me?" He was a bit peeved it was something so devious that brought them to his door, "Wha-well, can I get in trouble for all this? I'd rather not for obvious reasons." He stated, pouring the milk into the egg mix and then the remainder of the carton onto another pan to boil for cocoa.

"No you will not!" Namy boomed, startling Ricky enough to make him spill a bit of milk, "If this stuff gets found, which I HIGHLY doubt. I guarantee everyone in that back room will turn themselves in to keep an innocent friend out of trouble. Honestly do you think we would let you just hang there?" He seemed a bit offended, his chops becoming a bit more forceful. "I don't know about on Earth, but at the Heart friends are a close knit pack. We look out for each other."

It was a powerful little speech, Namy was quite the speaker, short sweet and to the point, never really needing filler to ruin what was being said, he chose all the right words, got his point across and meant what he said, the emotion showing true. But Ricky honestly didn't know how to follow that, but felt obligated to respond, "Thanks," he said quietly in comparison, "I've uh...I've never really had that. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings."

"No problem, you didn't," Namy said without looking away from the growing pile of veggies, "You do now and that's all that matters right?"

Ricky was really truly in shock. How did Varius become friends so quickly? Maybe the word didn't mean as much, because truly Ricky just felt like an acquaintance with the husky, this conversation being their longest ever. He knew nothing of him, and he knew nothing of Ricky in return, but he had still 'adopted' Ricky into the tight 'knit' pack or friends, his multi-colored eyes not LOOKING like they were the eyes of a liar. It felt strange to be obligated to call someone a friend now. Was it pity that spurred his assimilation into the group? Did they all see him as the special slow kid that a teacher nurtures for a year until they are comfy and ready, and then essentially leave behind as they move on?

"Something on your mind?" The husky interrupted his thought. "Sorry, i'm a talker, but a good listener too. I like getting to know people. We dont have very many new people on the ship very often."

"I know so little about you except that you are like me," Ricky said quietly, not wanting to look at Namy at the moment, fearing he might lose his nerve. "Why do you already consider me a friend? I don't want pity if that's what it is." Ricky's mind was a bit strained that morning. Thoughts of Klain's premature leaving, outburst and mood floated around his mind; not his current question or his finesse with his word choice. It wasn't until he asked did he realize he might have offended Namy.

"I saw you trying to read me and simultaneously draw a blank as we realized we tried to gauge each other," he said with a bit of laughter in his voice. Ricky managed a grin too after a moment, "That was funny, and awesome. You aren't one for small talk and bull shit, you don't waste time with little questions, and you observe and report as I do. That is why Ricky, it's the good way. I call you my friend because I respect you and I hoped you would want to be my friend too. Me saying it now was like..." he paused, "I can't think of the human word."

Ricky smiled, "Test?" he offered, actually a bit honoured that he was respected by the Husky, who was now shooting him a little sideways glare.

"I'm not retarded. I know what a test is thank you." He prodded with playful venom," I was trying to use a bigger word for it."

"You can take your big words and stuff them dog," Griffin shouted from the top of the kitchen steps, right behind them, "When is breakfast gunna be ready ladies? Chatting makes it all take longer!" He noted, clasping his paws together, and having no time to react as the egg in Namy's paw was chucked into and splattered all over his face, the blow making him almost fall backwards down the stairs.

"Eff you Griff," Namy said, returning to the chopping.

"You know I'm teasing," Griffin said with a bit of annoyance, picking at the slimy and shell topping his frown, "Dude really?...I hate the shells man, crack the egg next time or something. They get all stuck in my fur..." He approached, putting slimy paws on one of each of the cook's shoulders, "When will breakfast be ready my equally manly males?"

"Its been...not even two minutes you nut!" Namy shoved off the arm with a grin, scooping up the cat and carrying him down the stairs where he dropped him on his butt. "Stay out kitty cat."

Ricky couldn't help but smile around these guys, they were funny, nice, and they just all in all put him in a good mood. Still, his mind lingered on Klain's little episode and what was wrong with him, he had looked troubled, sad, angry and most of all confused. Then the shift in personality, Calper mentioned pills...Ricky's head looked back to the living room, Calper also said Miki had BEEN depressed also, another thing to figure out. Everyone had backstories, and Ricky was naturally nosy.

****

Klain stormed down the halls, it was very early of course and the halls were thankfully empty. He was almost to his room on the opposite side of the ship, his minds still shouting idea's, encouragements, threats, violent outbursts, hopes; more than once he could have sworn he heard Ricky following him and calling out for him to come back. More than a few times his mind replayed the fresh memory of touch, his fingers not swaying in the walk, but gently stroking that soft flesh...

He had long since mastered the ability to shut out the violent outbursts if he had focus, but his fists were still clenched at his sides. 'It's all that lion, he's stealing your prize' the voice whispered, 'he's nothing and he's stealing from you, scum, he's got no friends...you're so much better, you deserve it...all you have been through.' they played around, echoing in the confines of his mind. 'Be a Mante, you can take him, show Ricky the quality of a true leader. An alpha.'

He shivered. Alpha...that was a strong word, a powerful, attractive word. It was absolute superiority, it was stronger than master. It was your lowers submitting to everything you said without question. A true alpha led a pack of completely sub-servant betas omegas; they did ANYTHING you said without question...such power. It was so tempting.

He could feel himself liking the idea more and more and the voices could too. They sang the word in chorus all at once around in his head.

'He would find it sexy. Alluring. He want's it and you're too stupid to see it.'

"Shut up," he said under his breath, recalling his training with the doctors, "I am Klain, and these are not me." The Dobie began, his voice a whisper, but it was, in a way, his safety phrase. Already the other words were meaning less and less, but the feel of flesh didn't disappear. "I am Klain and these are not me. I am Klain and these are not me."

The voices tried to throw him off as usual, they were a part of him, and they knew what he knew in a way, so they knew they were being silenced and like a virus fought back. They spewed promises, the feeling of flesh dissipated from his paw pads, 'We are you too.' 'He'll hate someone so weak.' 'You don't need this.' 'Your mother, look what you did to her.' 'Your father hates you.' They started getting aggressive, playing at his fears as usual, he shut them out as best he could, knowing he was raising his voice, but didn't care.

"I am Klain and these are not me."

'We are also Klain and he rejects us.'

"I am Klain and these are not me."

'You will never be an alpha, never be his lover with this weakness.'

It was getting easier, the voices were weakening, he was almost to his cabin. "I am Klain and these are not me."

'I am Ricky and I love you.'

The Dobie froze his fur on end, his heart beating like a drum in his throat forcing him to hold his breath. The voice came from just behind him. He could just turn around and...no. It wasn't real. Ricky didn't follow, he would have either gotten lost or caught up by now. He growled threw his teeth. "Shut up!"

'I love you.' The voice whispered again, either in his head or in his ear, but he felt hot breath on his ear.

Klain cursed loudly and threw his fist at the wall with all of his strength. He could feel the force rush up his arm, his skin splitting. He focused on the pain and soreness. "This is what's real." he cooed to himself "Here it is this is real." the voices had scattered and silenced.

***

Pence shoveled more of the eggs into his mouth; thinking to himself the ten minute meal would be gone in a tenth of the time...maybe. Felix got triple portions or course, as usual everyone understood, but everyone hassled him regardless. Griffin was in the middle of complaining about fat cows when Pence finished his breakfast and chugged the cocoa and then the milk. "Delish," he said simply, getting up to bring the dishes to the sink.

The lion washed them without really thinking, it was something he did on auto pilot really, programmed into his system by his mother. He wasn't really planning on staying that morning, he honestly had planned the night before to leave before the others woke up, but that had been a bust. The only real reason he didn't make a bull shit excuse was because Ricky had asked him to stay. Pence silently cursed himself. First off, he wasn't comfortable around the other guys. At heart Pence was socially awkward and had on more than one occasion made a fool of himself; He knew the other guys would accept him if he wasn't a flake and was a bit more predictable, but mentally he couldn't ever bring himself to stay, call them 'friends' outside the situation, or put an effort into hanging out with them.

"You okay?" A voice asked to his left, Miki dumping his dishes in the second sink and waiting for the water, "You seem tense." He added, looking more at the dishes than at the lion, stating facts but also seeming to care.

"It's nothing," Pence tried to dodge the question, but wasn't very good at his fake grins so early in the morning.

"Right, of course it is," Miki looked up, "Dude, answer me honestly okay? When was the last time that wasn't on this return trip that you," he lowered his voice just in case, "Actually had a friend you continually stayed with...Your age?" He added, "The cubs are cute and all, but they definitely don't count."

Pence bowed his head a bit, trying to think up a name that would work, even in the slightest. "Calper," he tried, giving the dog's side of the sink the faucet and going to dry his hand paws. "For years now actually."

"When was the last time you guys did more than just talk in the lounge?" Miki asked. The rottie wasn't stupid, he saw the deflection. It made sense, but didn't have anything real under the surface. He also made sure the others weren't listening. He may have had other motives, but he did seem to at least be offering that Pence join their little group, or at least be friends with him.

"His birthday," the lion answered immediately. The pig's birthday party being held on earth on the military base. "You were there, you remember."

"Everyone was there," Miki stated simply, heavily implying he wanted a better memory.

The lion gritted his teeth, wondering why Miki was so dead set on this, no one really ever cared much before, they didn't ever have a reason to befriend a lion prone to irritated outbursts; this was all new grounds to him. "He slept over my place a while back," Pence lied, "We watched movies and played video games all night." He turned to the dog, keeping his voice low, "Happy?" he hissed.

The dog looked back at him unconvinced, "Why are you so dead set against letting people try and befriend you?" He asked, "I might not have always been the model Mante, but i've gotten better and I can tell you life is just easier and calmer when you arent just there thinking about the social situation and just go out there and experience it."

Pence let out a long held breath, following Miki to the living room to try and make everything look normal, thankfully no one was staring awkwardly, so either they hadn't listened, or didn't want him to know they had. Pence felt stared at, but continued to the living room with everyone present but Klain, Griffin and Namy. Ricky sat next to Felix looking just a bit uncomfortable even on the big couch. He looked lost in his thoughts but aware he was just inches from the biggest fellow around who was talking stats about the fighters on today, trying to explain what the alien numbers meant to Ricky. It was more than likely a front to try and keep the room out of an awkward silence, but hey, if so, it was working. Meanwhile Miki had taken Pence's chair and just watched the line-up for the fight that would be aired in about twenty minutes.

"That wolf, Strez, is going up against the tiger there; both are fast and strong, should be a good fight right?" Felix asked loudly, a large arm nudging Ricky who nodded and offered a 'Can't wait.' Then questioned what weapons they would use starting another tangent.

Pence took a seat on the floor beside Ricky watching the stats, thinking about what Miki had said and thinking about why Ricky seemed distracted.

Ricky sat watching the stats and listening to Felix like white noise. His focus though was on Klain and vaguely on Namy's boyfriend. His hand subconsciously slipped over to Pence's mane and began to run his fingers through it mid thought, the lion suppressing a purr with all his might.

"What do you guys think about Namy's boyfriend?" Ricky when the holoscreen went to commercials, "Like, is he a cool guy? Will he be annoying or obnoxious or something?" Felix laughed out loud, managing a wet sounding snort in the process, and covering his snout in embarrassment. Miki grinned, and Pence laughed too, making Ricky realize where his hand was and pull it back. "What?" he asked, "Is this a good or a bad laugh?"

"Desmond is the gentlest person you'll ever meet, and it will seem a bit off, but trust me, he's a Theodore bear," Miki laughed a bit.

Ricky raised an eyebrow, "What is a Theodore bear? Now I can't tell if you're being sarcastic."

Miki looked confused, "They're a toy on earth for little kids, named after Theodore Roosevelt or something. Little stuffed bear," he added, putting up his paws to indicate their small size.

"Teddy bear?" Ricky asked with a bit of a smile at the mix up, "You mean a teddy bear? He's a teddy bear at heart?"

Pence and Felix giggled a bit, Miki shrugging "Sure... Shut up!" he shouted at Felix who was laughing loudly now, "It's not THAT funny you stupid bull." But he himself couldn't suppress a grin.

Ricky pulled out his receiver and tried to find Desmond's number, "What's his last name?"

"Desmond's? Umm, I believe it's Kristos, but don't ask me on the spelling," Miki added paws up.

"It starts with a 'K'," Felix said, eyes still glued on the Holo-screen, "And you call yourself his friend." He chided Miki.

"Soooorry!" Miki whined, standing from the chair and Ricky hunted for the number, "Ricky I'm gunna check out your room okay? Good," he said really fast walking over to the door.

"Just don't break anything," Ricky said, messaging Desmond and inviting him over, "Hey, why wasn't Desmond with you guys last night?"

Pence stood as well, re-claiming the comfy seat, "He partied hard on Earth and needed a re-fresher kind of day yesterday. He hit the hay early, like before the first curfew."

Ricky looked up having just sent the message, "Party animal?" He questioned with a bit of concern. Of course the first time he reaches out and the guy has a possibility of being crazy. Felix moved a bit, his pure mass nearly knocking Ricky over, a reminder of how physically incapably he was with the guys. Should he need to he could never force them out of his space.

"He was a DJ for hire, got a reputation real fast," Pence noted absently, eyes on the screen, trying not to stare at Ricky at risk of seeming strange. "Loved your music so much."

Ricky felt his eyebrow raise, "A DJ...Really?"

Two paws grabbed either side of his head from behind the couch and shook him a bit; Pence fought the urge to stand when Ricky panicked a moment. "He's damn good too," Namy said, kneeling and putting his head between Ricky and Felix, chin on the back of the couch, "Why are we talking about Desmond?"

"One mention of him and you're on your knees," Griffin said walking in, only to fall when Namy tripped him for the comment, the cat doing anything but landing on his paws.

Ricky explained how he called the bear much to Namy's excitement and Miki sat beside Pence on the floor calling up to him in a whisper, "Pence!" the large cat looked down, the dog holding the Rubik's cube, "I think I broke it! What do I do?"