Strange Love

Russ nodded. He knew well what Ry was capable of and that he had no plan of holding back either. He tried to recall all the strategies the two mammoth twins had taught him. Lights came on around them hiding the crowd outside the cage with their blinding rays. A buzzer sounded and someone called out a single word. "Begin." Russ circled the small space testing his body to see what shifts he would be capable of.

"Are you going to strike, or are you leaving the first move to me, pup?" Ry growled as he flexed his fingers in anticipation. "Come on, make a move."

Ry glanced around the audience and realized their attention was trained solely on Russ. The fight wouldn't be called until their full curiosities were fulfilled, and all the kid's tricks were recorded... So where did that leave him? He watched as Russ slowly prowled toward him and smiled. "A show it shall be then." He grumbled as he lowered his own body into a crouch. To his surprise when he sprang toward Russ, he was able to avoid the blow. Ry was caught by surprise when the nimble creature dodged the blow, dropped to the ground kicking his feet out from under him, and catching him before he even had a chance to hit the floor. "Fuck!" Ry yelled as he was flung against the upper portion of the cage. He sank to the floor with a thud.

Pushing himself up and wincing at his own set of busted ribs, he held his fist into the air. "I believe this has been a sufficient show of the kid's skills." Ry called out.

"Agreed." Replied Lamia as she stepped closer to the gate of the cage and clamped a lock on the handles. "Now to see how much control he has over the beast when it comes to stopping."

"FUCK..." Ry growled. Red eyes trained on him. "Russ, it's over. The test is complete the second you-" Ry's words were cut off as he dodged a blow. Deciding the best way to disengage was to show surrender, Ry nelt on one knee and lowered his head as Russ came near again. He watched as the long nails of half shifted feet came into view. He extended one arm out straight and winced as a sharp claw scraped down it's length. When blonde hair and sharp teeth came into his peripherals, Ry whispered. "Jos, think of her. She needs you to regain control. Get control for Jos." He didn't look up from the floor, hoping his submission and words would be enough to pull the kid back. To his surprise and relief, the sharp nails began to retract and the blond head disappeared from his line of vision.

Russ took a step back in shock. His eyes darted from Ry nelt before him to the shadowed figures outside the cage. "It's over." He said, though the words came out as more of a question.

Lamia narrowed her eyes as she turned the key and removed the lock. "I would like one more test of these skills, against an opponent he's not accustomed to fighting... if you'd even call that a fight..." She turned her harsh glare onto Ry.

Ry shrugged as he met her at the gate leading Russ forward with his hand still clasping Russ's shoulder. "This is a first for me as well. Considering it's the first time he has giving the animal side full control; I'd say it was a pretty impressive show of control." Ry turned his attention to Russ arching one brow, "I bet I can think of one other person who will find his control of the beast reMARKable."

The corner of Russ's lip twitched. He knew exactly what Ry was getting at. "It's always easier for a wolf when there is submission." He winked.

Lamia crossed her arms, irritation obvious. "It is obvious you two are exceedingly familiar with one another." She nodded to Prometheus. "This may help with your decision concerning Orion's request from earlier, but it hinders my judgement on whether Prince Boosilis can control his wolf or whether you, Orion, are simply familiar enough with the boy that you can control his wolf."

Ry arched a brow. "I promise you I'm not that familiar with him." He patted Russ's back. "Though it's to my loss, the kid's 100% straight."

Russ's head jerked as he pinned Ry with shocked eyes. "What the fuck?!"

Ry laughed, "Lamia was insinuating I had learned to control the wolf through sexual submission." He shrugged still fighting laughter, "What can I say, I had a bit of a reputation at one point."

"Had?" Selena asked arching a suspicious brow. "Your whoredom will forever be etched in the stars."

"That had nothing to do with my sexual prowess." Ry replied as he made his way to the thick double doors leading back into the main court.

"Bullshit! Zeus only held you in such high regard because you were just as much of a whore as he!" Selena barked out.

Ry sent her a sly smile over his shoulder, "Not true... or I'd have more kids..."

Russ's eyes bugged as his head bopped back and forth between the two bickering ahead of him. "Wait!" He said interrupting the argument. "This guy? This muffin cooking, frilly apron wearing mother fucker?" He pointed to Ry. "He has a reputation for being a whore?"

Ry's smile widened and the twinkle in his eyes screamed of a secret he was dying to tell. "She's just jealous she wasn't on my list of conquests."

Selena's hand shot out and the doors slammed closed in Ry's face. "Jealous?! Me?!! You ruined my sister's reputation, and you dare say I am jealous!"

Ry's lips curled and the already devious grin only grew. "Yes, I do."

"STOP!" Prometheus's booming voice called out. "Stop now before I find myself judging the two of you instead of the young man." He said as he patted Russ's back. His eyes held Ry's now somber expression for several seconds before he turned his attention to Russ, still resting his hand on the boy's back. "You are an interesting young man." He said. "You have a rather intriguing future ahead of you." He nodded toward double doors. "The review is over, open the doors and let them return to their rooms."

"Fuck..." Ry said on a whispered growl. He was quiet all the way to their room; but the second the door closed, he shoved Russ against it. "What the fuck where you thinking! I told you not to let any of the council members touch you, and what do you do? Your dumb ass lets the one most powerful seer ever touch you!" He took a few steps back and ran his hands over his hair. "Alright... it's already done... what now..." He paced back and forth for a few minutes. "Worst case scenario, he tells the courts what he saw today... but he didn't seem too shocked or upset by it so it may not be as bad as we think..." He rubbed his chin in irritation. "But the old bastard's seen so much, it's likely nothing would shock him..."

Russ sighed, "As you said, it's too late now. What's done is done. Maybe one of us can try talking to him alone or something tomorrow."

Ry paused for a second before shaking his head. "I doubt he would take the time for a one on one. Anything he says will probably be in front of the whole council... unless we can talk Isha into getting the information out of him..."

Russ flopped down on a stool by the kitchen island. "I'm not sure that's a good idea." His eyes were focused on his hands as he cleared his throat. His voice held a small shake as he asked. "So... are we going to talk about what happened in the cage?"

Ry stopped in his tracks and he turned his gaze to Russ. His brows furrowed as he took in Russ's carefully concealed dismay. "We can... I thought... I figured you were aware of what happened." Ry said.

Russ shook his head. "The last thing I remember before seeing you on the floor of the cage kneeling was thinking I had to win... I had to do all I could for Jos... right after you threw me that first time."

"First time? Try, the only time. I couldn't get another hit in after you let the wolf take over." Ry said walking over to the island and sitting down beside Russ.

Russ's brows lifted in surprise. "Really? I... I don't know. I didn't even think it would be possible with the wards and all. I figured if I could lower my control and let it take over a greater part of me, it would give me more of a chance."

Ry shook his head. "Well whatever you did worked." He arched a brow. "Question is, would you be able to control it had I not surrendered?"

Russ shrugged, "I don't know." He thought back over the parts he could recall. "I think it was more of hearing Jos's name that snapped me out of it than your submission."

Ry nodded in understanding. "So, audio function and comprehension weren't lost, that's good to know. What else can you recall? The more we can piece together now the more it will help if they do force another match, and if it comes down to fighting Fern."

Russ nodded and began searching his memory for any slight tidbit that could help.