Broken Pieces

Epilogue Two: Logan

By Roofles

It all changed that morning.

Before Logan was even at the wedding, things were going on in his life. For the past year, Logan had been in recovery after that night. The claw marks on his face had taken longer than the doctor’s thought it would take to recover.

They feared he might lose his eye and the loss of blood had been worrisome until a transfusion could be arranged.  

“Human’s just aren’t made for this.” The lynx had muttered under their breath. Logan had chosen to ignore them, instead looking at the nearby mirror and at his bandaged face from the bedside he’d been stuck in for the past month. “The wounds keep opening, Mr. Smith. Are you picking at them?” Logan gave them a look. “Uh… right, sorry. Just not used to how fragile you guys are,” they laughed.

Was that a joke?

Logan could’ve killed the doctor five different ways before they even knew what happened and they were calling him fragile? In a way, Logan wanted to lash out. Claw at them like a wild, feral cat but held himself back, offering instead a fake smile and told them to hurry up if he was going to be paying for this.

In truth, Logan wasn’t. His insurance covered most of the fees and the rest were covered by someone else.

“I’ll be there after I finish up here, sir.” Logan said into the phone, glancing towards the wedding reception nearby that late afternoon. “Yeah. It’s nice. Good to see a friend getting married. Wish you could be here,” Logan said softer than before.

Out of habit? Instinct? Or maybe a mixture of everything that happened in his life, Logan was on edge. Even now, even here. Even standing there, reassured by Alan that he would be fine, the man kept his guard up. Around friend and foe alike. There were so many wolves here. Predators. Logan didn’t like being in situations like this.

If they tried something? There was nothing Logan could do… again. He’d be helpless. That thought was more frightening than if they did something. The idea Logan couldn’t do anything again…?

“Does it make you think of the future?” Sloan asked from the other line, resting back in his custom-made Italian leather chair. A clawed tipped finger tapped on the mahogany desk in front of him.

Sloan had covered Logan’s medical bills, even offering facial reconstruction surgery or a skin graft if necessary. The scar, while noticeable, didn’t bother Logan as much as he thought they would. He had long since become accustomed to such scars. No, it bothered others. Kept them at a distance. No one wanted to talk to a human with a scar like that on their face.

As if afraid the predator who did them might show up if they stayed around Logan for too long.  

Scars weren’t like trauma; that was internalized pain others couldn’t see. Logan had his on clear display for the world to see, to judge, to give people the excuse to avoid him as if he had the plague because of it. His good looks? His charming personality? None of that mattered anymore when you looked like someone’s scratching post.

“A lot of things make me think, sir.” Logan chuckle softly, thinking about Sloan’s implication. “A lot…” He paused for a second, looking towards the wolf he’d been keeping an eye out for. “Sir, I’ll have to call you back once I’m done here. If that’s alright,” Logan added on after.

He was learning to be more open about things. Logan couldn’t get away with his looks as he once had, and Logan was… adapting, to his new life. What it meant to be an outsider to the world. Like a predator always on view to the public’s eye. Watchful, weary around… He couldn’t hide any longer.

Not with these scars.

“Make sure that you do.” Sloan’s casual voice hid his agitation over the matter as his nails sprung out, gripping the desk tightly. The lion’s tail flickered back and forth, the tuft of fur like one of those cat toys on a stick flailing about. One of Sloan’s assistance had gone out to buy him a scratch pad to use for the desk. The lion had torn through three of the things already. “Are you…?”

“I’m fine,” Logan laughed the concern away, not wanting Sloan to be stressed. Not wanting Sloan of all people to treat him differently, as everyone else was. “Really. Full recovery. I’m on vacation, remember? No more cases for me for a while.”

“If only it were a permanent thing…” The feline grumbled as Sloan turned to look out the window behind him, down at the parking lot below as if expecting Logan to pull in any minute now. “Our flight leaves in the morning, don’t forget…”

“Don’t worry, sir. I’ll be there.” Logan promised, though even he wasn’t sure if he could keep it.

“I’ll be waiting.” Sloan said and Logan hung up. “Don’t keep me waiting long, Logan…” The lion sighed, resting back in the chair as he stared up blankly at the ceiling.

A trip for just the two of them. Away from this damnable city. Sloan even wondered if Logan would show up for it. If the human could pull himself away from his job long enough to… Sloan wasn’t even sure what he expected as the lion turned back to his desk, starting his new job. He needed to get things ready for his absence. Being mayor was a full-time gig and Sloan didn’t want it interfering with his personal life.

Logan on the other hand couldn’t seem to separate the two from each other any longer. Personal and business. It wasn’t easy to think right now, not after receiving that at his door. Just as he was getting comfortable, a package showed up the night before.

As if someone was aware Logan was planning to leave the city. A city that never seemed to be able to let him go.

For a second, his heart had stopped seeing the care package. Time itself seemed to freeze around him as there, in front of his door, was a gift basket. It was late at night; Logan had been out drinking again… then he came home to that.

Moving out of those scummy apartments, Logan had moved in with Troy. The tiger had found a place that he needed help renting out, being a predator, and Logan needed a place to crash at. His name wasn’t on the lease. For all intent and purposes, Logan had disappeared from the world. He had a small inbox down at the post office he could collect his mail at when he needed, but that was about it. Or so he thought…

This was his home away from home and someone had found him here.

“B,” was all it said on the card with his name written out on the front. The end of the B looked like a tail and Logan felt his heart thundering in his chest as he walked into the apartment. Troy was long since asleep. The tiger taking the main room, while Logan liked to come in the back entrance.

Where the care package had been left.

Logan scanned the surrounding area quickly, looking for any sign that someone was there, had been there… there wasn’t. Nothing until he picked up the package and saw a paw print  stamp underneath. Logan recognized the style of the print and knew it was from a hyena.

“Bartholemew…” Logan let his breath out. The hyena had disappeared after The Market even a couple years ago and Logan had thought the worse. To see him here? It only meant one thing… “Bosch,” Logan looked at the B on the front of the card.

Slipping inside, he triple locked the door before retreating away to the side room to open the letter. His hands were shaking so bad he tore the paper inside slightly as he tried to open it. With sweaty palms, Logan began to read.

“If you are receiving this letter, it means I’m dead.” Logan almost wanted to laugh. Even in death, Bosch could be so cold. “I hope this letter is received by the right person. I’ll pretend it has been, entrusted to the only two people I have ever been able to trust.” Logan felt a pain in his chest. “L, it’s been a while. I made sure the heat died down before letting Bart send it. My last request of our mutual acquaintance after what he owed me.”

“Did you expect to die that night…?” Logan thought aloud. “No, you were prepared for it. The day you died. Every case you took, you were prepared. To you, every case meant you could’ve died.” Logan hadn’t been sure if Bosch had died that night.

He hadn’t read it in the obituaries, no one had told him what had happened that night and Logan had lost contact with everyone on the team after then. Left in the dark, unsure if the jaguar was alive or dead. Until now.

“At least you have the courtesy to let me know.” Logan laughed a hollow sound.  

In a way, he expected relief to hear that Bosch had…

Logan didn’t feel anything as he stared down at the paper.

“Everything I did, I did for my job. To protect the city. To keep the peace.” The letter went on. “You must’ve hated me at the end. Like everyone else did. I didn’t mind being the bad guy if it meant others could live ignorant and peaceful to what happens in the world. I never had such a luxury. You have to be a bad guy sometimes L, to take down the worse scum and criminals of the world. I would know.

“My father killed my neighbor when I was a kit. He was born a monster. I saw first-hand what people are capable of. Some men are born predators. My father expected me to follow in his bloody pawprints. I did, for a while. Until I was sure I was skilled enough to kill him.

“I became the butcher of Seattle after killing him, though at the time I wasn’t aware of it. I found the bad people and took care of them. One by one and fed them to the rich and fat. I want to say I reveled in it; I never did. Every kill made me feel sick. Unlike my father, I wasn’t that kind of man. I was weak. I hardened myself in the military, transferring overseas to Team Dread.”

“Dread?” Logan frowned at that. “What a lame name.” He made sure to make a mental note of it to look into later.

“There, I met a wolf that resembled my father. He was a born monster that had learned to hide his true nature in front of the eyes of others, but I saw what he was underneath that mask he wore. There were many others like him there. Not one or two or five or ten… Dozens, at least. Dozens of other monsters like them. Predators. Being used by the government to take out the worse possible criminals imaginable in other countries. Overseas and at home. I was one of those members. When I return from overseas? That part of my life never left me.

“I recruited M after finding the case by accident. Reading what he did to his family, and your brother.” Logan had to stop there, gripping the letter tighter.

“Mikhail.” Logan knew what Bosch was going for. Finding others like him, recruiting them. Using them to purge the world of scum before disposing of them himself. A vicious cycle. “Is that why you recruited me?”

“M was a born killer and after getting a taste of Red, he had already stepped one foot into the underworld. It was easy. Too easy. All I needed to do was stroke his ego a bit and act as if he were some kind of god at killing. He was nothing more than a tool and a fool. Eventually, all tools become dull and chipped. Threatening to cut the hand that wields them. They need to be disposed of and replaced.”

“Here it comes.” Logan would laugh the second he read it. That Bosch wanted him to become the next butcher. Trained for this. To kill the wretches of the world and become as horrible as they were so others might sleep easier at night.

Bloody his hands so the fat and rich and wealthy could sleep peacefully in their beds built on the bodies of others.

“L,” the letter said. “Don’t become like me.” Logan stopped breathing. “Don’t become like him.” Logan gripped it tighter. “You aren’t capable of doing what I had to do or what he was able to achieve.” Logan wanted to rip it apart. “You aren’t capable of what has to be done…”

And it ended there.

Hot tears dripped onto the paper as Logan turned it over and looked at it side to side, trying to find something else written on the letter. It was nothing more than Bosch admitting his guilt at the end, ending it in rejection.

As if it were some sick job offer Logan had never applied for and been refused from.  

“You don’t even have the courtesy of even asking it of me. After everything I’ve done for you. Is it because I’m some dumb human…?” Logan grabbed a nearby lighter that Troy used to smoke his catnip joints with. Logan flicked it, watched the flame dance before holding the letter over the flame.

In the light of the flame, he read one last word at the very bottom of the page as if added at the last second before the letter was sealed away, waiting for the moment Bosch would pass on from this world.

“Live,” as the paper lit up in flame and burned before his eyes. “Live.”

“Bastard,” Logan wanted to say with hate but only felt longing as the paper turned to ash and he stood there, over the sink, looking down at what remained of Bosch. The last thing he had of the jaguar as he grabbed another beer from the fridge and headed for his room.

There was a light on under Troy’s door and the human stopped in front of it. Wanting to reach up and knock, to talk to the tiger about… He wasn’t even sure what about, not anymore. Logan walked past, not wanting to concern him or anyone else with his problems.

Troy had been smoking a lot since that night they drugged him. Coping with it in his own way. One reason Logan had offered to move in, to keep an eye on the tiger. It didn’t mean he could go to him for his troubles. Troy was dealing with enough as it was. Enough on his plate. A plate the tiger did not want to eat from…

Something like that doesn’t just leave you. It breaks you, if only a little piece. A lot of people are broken inside. Even if you can’t see it, like Logan’s scars. They’re there, those wounds. Chipping away at the foundation of who and what they, you, are. Some people cope with drugs or alcohol, others with religion and family. Some just live in denial… but those cracks don’t ever get sealed up, just covered away. Holding on, praying they don’t all come crumbling down.

Logan could be there for Troy, but Troy could never be there for him.

There was no one left for Logan to go to talk about these things, not anymore, leaving him his last friend. Curled up in the bottom of bottle, Logan could only silently cry himself to sleep. Like water, seeping through those cracks. Unable to hold it in any longer.

At least the wedding was a good distraction from it all.

Logan tucked his phone back into the nice vest suit that Alan had picked out for the groomsmen. He wasn’t the best man and tried not to take offense to that. Some other man, a white furred wolf, had taken the position. Alph or something along those lines. Logan tried not to be bitter about it as he walked towards the dark brown furred wolf standing off to the side.

He looked out of place, in a way Domino always did. The wolf fighting his own battle between his pack life and personal life. Business and pleasure. Trying to have both. People might think Domino was selfish for something like this? But Logan knew otherwise. It wasn’t that Domino wanted his cake and to eat it to, no. It was the fact he was a wolf and would always instinctually desire a pack. A place to call home. It didn’t stop him from being a person who had his own wants and needs and desires. Logan was the one to mix business and pleasure together and he knew how fucked up things could get because of that. He couldn’t imagine trying to have a pack to also deal with.

Or a family…

Logan paused at that bitter thought, lingering in his chest. The very thought that he had no family to return to after this. No one there. Not any longer. After… after… it all.  

Domino was talking to Clementine and the boxer was pulling off the suit better than either of the other two ever could. Clem looked as if he were made to wear the thing and he barked a loud laugh, punching Domino in the arm as Logan joined them.

“What’s so funny?” Logan asked, trying to appear natural as he saddled up beside the canine. “Surprised to see you two still here. Everyone else has left for the night.”

“Logan!” Clem barked loudly before wrapping an arm around the man and hugging him close. Logan could smell the booze on the boxer’s breath. “The very man I was looking for!” The boxer rested far too much of his weight on the human and Logan had to support Clem from falling flat on his face.

“What about?” Logan dared to ask. He glanced at Domino, but the wolf turned to look away from the two.

Or rather, from him.

Ever since Domino had rescued him from The Menagerie and gotten him first aide, saving his life in the process, things had changed between them. The wolf had become distant with the human. Unable to look at him fully. For a second, Logan was worried his scarred face put Domino off.

It wasn’t that though. That would’ve been something Logan could fix, eventually. Use make up or something. This… this was far more complicated.

Domino blamed himself for not reaching the human in time. Blaming himself for what Bosch had done to Logan. That, because of his orders, he couldn’t go in sooner to possibly rescue Logan. Unable to hold it against the Alpha’s orders, Domino beat himself up instead. Not that his presence would’ve changed things. No matter how many times Logan tried to tell him that, call him or text about it… Domino barely responded or replied. He just turned away, unable to look at Logan’s scars even now.  

It hurt nearly as bad as those claws did.

“I was saying,” Clem just went on oblivious to what was going on between the two. He was either too drunk to notice or had drunk because he had noticed. It was hard to say which. “We could all get a place together! Shack up and have a little afterparty of our own!” The boxer said grinding against Logan who just laughed it off.

“I, uh, don’t think that’s a good idea right now, Clem.” Logan tried to sound jovial, laughing about it. His voice was strained, and his eyes darted over to look at Domino. The wolf was still refusing to face towards him.

“What? Come on! Why not?” Clem whined loudly as he tried to finish his glass off. It was already empty, but it didn’t stop the boxer from trying. “Where’d my drink go?” Clem hiccupped.

“Down your gullet. Along with ten others I’m sure.” Logan teased the dog, poking at his side with a smile. Clem had gained some weight over the past year, most likely stress eating or drinking. Logan understood what that was like. “Going to have to hit the gym extra hard after tonight. You aren’t as young as you used to be.”

“Right.” Clem chuckled before his eyes fell on Logan’s face. Clem quickly looked away, “sorry,” he mumbled an apology and an uncomfortable silenced settled over the trio at the words. Clem hadn’t meant to stare.

At times, it was impossible not to.

Logan had expected it to be bad but to see all his friends treat him like this hurt. He had somehow managed to save his right eye. The claw marks ran down the sides of it and stopped just above, clawing through his eyebrow before halting. Four marks down the side of his face and one along his jawline where the jaguar’s thumb had been.

Logan was the one dealing with the aftermath, but it was everyone else that acted as if they were the ones injured that night. Several of the wolves had been, but like most furred covered species, they hid their wounds well. Something a human didn’t have the luxury to do.

His scars were on full display for everyone to see and gawk at. It was funny, in a way… it showed who actually cared for him. Instead of pretending about it.

“Clem,” Logan said, and the dog looked over one of Logan’s shoulders instead of at his face. “Clem.” He said again louder, and the boxer winced, forcing himself to look at Logan with a pitiful whine. “Can you give the two of us five? Just need to say a few things in private with Dom.”

“Whatever you can say… you can say in front of my mate,” Domino growled out finally joining the conversation. His tone of voice was crass and harsh, and Clem flinched hearing it.

“Dom…” Clem whined. The wolf didn’t apologize.

“Fine.” Logan held back his frustrations with the two. This wasn’t the time or place. “Just wanted to let you both know I’m taking some time off. I won’t be around for a while.”

“For recovery? The doctor said you would be…” Clem trailed off as his eyes fell to the ground as he stared at Logan’s dress shoes. “I mean…”

“It’s fine, Clem. Really. That’s not it. I took time off for recovery, sure. This time? I’m taking it off for… me.” Logan shrugged as if it wasn’t that big of a deal. “Just some personal time. Need to sort things out… is all.”

Clem looked up at him and there was that pained expression again on the canine’s face. Dogs could be so expressive that Logan wanted to console the boxer about it. Clem had been Logan’s friend first even before Domino. The two had even worked a couple of cases together.

If Logan had ever taken a partner on the force, it would’ve been Clem above everyone else. Now that he had lost his partner… maybe Logan… he couldn’t even finish the thought, as if some part of him was waiting for the jaguar to contact him about another case the two would go on together.

They’d meet up and act like none of this happened. Laugh about nothing while they stalked their target. Planning to dispose of someone before going for Udon at the shop. Just the two of them, sharing a bottle of sake and…

“Will you… be gone for long?” Clem asked and Logan didn’t miss the implication the dog was implying.

“I’ll be coming back, Clem. This isn’t goodbye. It’s more like, see you later.” Logan patted Clem on the shoulder, looking him in those muddy brown eyes of the canine. “You’re a good friend, Clem. If I ever did get married? You’d be my best man in a heartbeat.” Logan smiled.

And it was genuine. A rarity these days for the human.

Domino snorted, “Still bothered that Alpha-mate didn’t ask you to be his best man?”

Clem barked a laugh at that, complaining about the very same thing. “I met him way before Ralph did!”  

“Who the fuck is Ralph, anyways?” Logan wanted to yell but the three finally laughed about it, able to laugh about something as Logan played it up. Playing the two, even now. Unable to show his true feelings, even to his best friend Clem or the man he’d slept with numerous times on the side.

Always keeping them at a distance, an arm’s length away. As if Logan were made of broken glass, afraid he’d accidentally cut them if they ever got too close.

“I’m surprised he’s still friends with that wolf. Or that Reese hasn’t ripped his furry head off for still being in contact with Alan after it all.” Clem shrugged, unable to understand Reese even at his wedding. “You think Alan’s going to be able to walk after tonight?”

“Not if he gets knocked up he won’t be able to.” Logan smirked at the canine who barked a laugh at that.

“He does have those child bearing hips,” Clem teased along.

“With Barrett being with them, I’d be surprised if they don’t tear the human in two…” Domino grumbled, glancing towards the lighthouse. He and all the other wolves knew not to disturb them tonight. It was one reason why they were packing things up early and moving further away from the building.

To give their Alpha space to do whatever he pleased on his wedding night.

“Dom!” Clem jumped and swayed, Logan having to steady his friend as he laughed about it. “You don’t think they’ll double dog him, do you?” The boxer hiccupped again. “I don’t think his teeny tiny bottom can take it.”

“He’ll be taking something,” Dom chuckled, offering a rare smile. His tail wagged, ears perked up as he looked at Clem and Logan was happy to see Dom look at someone else like that. Because he wouldn’t ever be able to look at Logan the same way again.

“Ah, I’ve missed this.” Logan said truthfully. Even if he was passing a torch from an ex to a friend, it was good to see the two happy together. Stable. Normal. That was what this was. As odd as it was for a wolf and dog to date, the two would have a far more normal life than Logan would ever be able to with them. Either of them.

Logan unable to offer something like that to anyone. Something… normal.

“It doesn’t have to change.” Domino latched onto and even Clem groaned at that, rolling his eyes as his shoulder’s slouched and his body deflated. “Logan, please…” The wolf started up.

“Logan! Do something about this, please. I can’t spend the year listening to him bitch!” Clem begged Logan as the wolf started up on the rehearsed speech he’d been planning for the past year.  

“I-I know things have been strange between us.” Domino continued, pulling out a note card and reading from it. “We’ve had our ups and downs a-and…” The wolf fumbled with the cards dropping several of them and Clem just shot Logan another pleading look, demanding the human to say or do something about this as Domino made a fool of himself.

“Fine,” Logan sighed with a shake of his head.

For once, Logan tried to be truthful with the two. To be open and honest and share exactly what he was thinking and feeling, like Alan did. Taking a page out of the other humans book. If Alan could do it? Why couldn’t Logan?

“Domino?” Logan said and the wolf’s ears perked up. “I don’t love you.” Those ears quickly fell back. “I don’t know if I ever have.” Clem’s jaw dropped open as Logan dropped the news like an anvil on the wolf’s head while also simultaneously kicking him between the legs. “I was just using you to get my job done. Sure, now I see you like a good friend and fuck buddy but that’s about it. There is and will never be anything more between us, Domino. That good?” Logan looked at Clem, feeling confident in what he had to say.

Very direct. Maybe too direct.

“Dude…” Clem just stared at Logan. “It would’ve been easier if you had shot him! For fuck sake Logan!”

“What…? You wanted me to be truthful.” Logan said to him, wanting to tuck the tail he didn’t have at the look Clem was giving him as he tried to smile it away. His smile didn’t have that effect any longer. Not with those scars over the corner of his lip.

“Yes. Truthful. Not gut the poor bastard!” Clem motioned at the wolf whose head had sunk so low, the other two were just waiting for Domino to curl up into a small ball on the ground and cry. “It’s called sugarcoating. Don’t have to hit the man with a damn truck!”

“W-well sorry! I’m new at being truthful. Bite me.” Logan growled at Clem who just through his arms up in the air. “It’s better than silence, right?”

“You think this is better?” Clem reached for another drink off a nearby table. He didn’t care if it was someone else’s. “I mean fuck, Logan. At least let him down softly.”

“Let him down softly? First you tell me to tell the truth and now you want me to put on my kid gloves with a full-grown ass adult?” Logan felt exhausted already as he sighed, shaking his head. “Look. Dom? Buddy?” The human addressed the wolf. Logan had to stop Domino from tucking tail and running away on all fours, whimpering like a beaten dog. “I can’t love you.”

“Uh… dude.” Clem said. “That’s not any better.”

“Will you shut the fuck up for two seconds?” Logan glared at the boxer who lifted his hands up, taking a step back. Logan turned back towards Domino. “Look. I love you as much as I can possible love someone. That isn’t a whole lot. Fuck, the last two guys I thought I loved? They tried to kill me.” Logan let out a harsh laugh at that from the looks the two gave him. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to be that open and trusting a-and… vulnerable as you ever need me to be, Domino. This isn’t about letting you down softly or lying to your face to make you feel better. Dom… I am unable to feel the way you need me to about you or anyone… ever. I’m… I’m broken inside and it’s not something anyone can fix… and I’m sorry for that. I’m sorry I can’t be the man you need me to be.”

The human said as the wolf just stared at him.

Domino looked over Logan’s face, sniffing at his body. Trying to see something that wasn’t there. Maybe, it had never been there, and Domino had just been hoping and searching for it from the human. Like so many other wolves, looking for someone that could understand and love them for who and what they were without it having to be another wolf. Others always asking them to change to fit in to the world that wouldn’t except them for being born who they were.

“I… I see.” Domino let out a heavy breath, clenching and unclenching his hands several times. “Logan…”

“That doesn’t necessary change things either,” Logan rolled his eyes as the wolf gave him a befuddled look.

“I don’t follow…” Domino said.

“He means you guys can still fuck if you want to.” Clem butted back in, not about to be left out of this. “And that means I get some as well,” Clem pointed a finger at one before swaying it towards the other. “None of that behind my back. You hear me? If you two fuck? I want all the messy details,” the boxer hiccupped, and the inner part of his ears turned red. “And don’t leave me out next time…”

“He prefers if one of us is on his back,” Logan smirked, and Domino chuckled at that.

“I’m not a bottom!” Clem snarled at the two. They both ignored him.

“Truthfully, Logan? I… I don’t think I’d be okay with that.” Domino clenched his hands together into tight fists as he snarled out the words. “I just… not. That. Wolves don’t just… we mate for life. It’s a part of who and what we are. We don’t just fuck around as so many others do and can do! I’m jealous. Fuck. Fuck! I’m jealous you can sleep with someone and not feel… anything,” Domino’s ears folded back at that. “I can’t. Not knowing if you will be there or not the next morning? It’s too painful…”

“I see…” Logan said, a bit confused over the matter. He thought it over. “Then. We can’t be together, Dom. Simple as that. I can’t be with… one person. Only.” He sighed, rubbing a hand roughly through the back of his hair as if trying to scratch an itch he couldn’t reach. “I’m just not…”

“Feline.” Dom snorted and got a look. “I get it, Logan. I mean… it took me longer than I’m proud to say. You are a lot like those… cats. You want someone but you also don’t mind having a few on the side. You can’t be tied down to one place but still want a place to return to. Fickle felines, I swear. I… I’m not like that,” he looked over at Clem. For a second, Domino looked happy, and his tail wagged. Then his brow fell down over his eyes as he growled at the boxer. “You better not be seeing anyone else behind my back!” Domino suddenly snapped his jaws at Clem as if expecting the boxer to drop some kind of bomb shell on him as well.

“W-what? No!” Clem yipped again before hiccupping loudly. “I’m a good boy.”

“Yes. Yes you are,” Domino growled low and lustfully as he reached up to pet the side of his face. Clem’s ears jumped up and his tail began wagging quickly as he blushed. “You are my good boy. My stinky, good dog.” Domino nosed at him, and Logan rolled his eyes.

“Get a room you two.” Logan smiled though, for them.

“We just might.” Domino looked over at him before moving in closer to give Clem a soft lick on the cheek. “Babe. Get the car ready.”

“I’m not your babe.” Clem growled but was already packing up his things to go to his truck. The boxer had a stumbling skip to his step and fell over once on his way to the parking lot nearby.

“It’s cute how he tries to hide it.” Logan covered his mouth with a hand, hiding a laugh.

“It is…” Domino stood there, next to him but not close enough for their arms to touch. The wolf, who would’ve loved to move into his personal space chose not to. Even the smallest of things can have the most noticeable effect to those you love and care for most.

“I’m glad you’re finally happy, Dom.” Logan said as he looked at his old contact within The Pack. “You deserve that. I don’t regret meeting you… knowing you… saving you. You’re good people, Dom. I’ve never regretted knowing you.”

“…You do as well, Logan.” Domino gritted his teeth, grinding them as he chewed on something that wasn’t there. Logan didn’t mention how much it looked like another wolf he’d met. “You deserve to be happy, Logan.” Domino faced him. “Find that happiness. Whatever that means to you. And once you do? Never let it go.”

“Just not with you…” Logan smiled sadly, finishing the thought for Domino. The wolf unable to say it, even now.

“Not with me…” Domino admitted. “Fuck. This sucks. Getting broken up with at a wedding,” he rubbed the back of his head grumbling about it.

“That implies we were dating.” Logan had to tease him for old time sake.

“Oh, please. You were one date away from asking to move in with me.” Domino flashed his fangs. “Logan… Will I see you again…?” His face fell with his ears and tails. Needing to know that question. Even Domino wasn’t sure if he’d be happier seeing the human again or not at all. He wasn’t sure which would be worse.

“I’m not leaving.” Logan said, again. “I’m just… I need some time off. Away from this city,” Logan turned to look off into the distance in the direction Seattle was at. “I just need… a break. From it. From this. My job, that city, this state… just need a fresh perspective of things.”

“You aren’t even thirty yet.” Domino rolled his eyes. “You sound like an old man.”

“I know.” Logan said as he looked at him. His eyes must’ve looked so tired from the look that crossed Domino’s face as the wolf averted his gaze. “But I feel it.” Logan reached up before, hesitating, he touched his chest. “They say it lives inside.”

“What does?” Domino ear flicked.

“Trauma…” Logan said the word softly, letting it linger in the air between them before continuing. “My trauma is a bit more… noticeable than others. It’s there. Still. I feel it… at times. I forget it’s there other days…. Then. Then something happens,” Logan reached up to touch the right side of his face. Feeling the scar that Bosch had left behind. “And it brings it all back again. Like a rush. Overwhelming, threatening to sweep me off my feet and drown me under its waves. Just…”

Logan turned towards the sea, the setting sun. Domino followed his gaze, trying to see what Logan saw. He didn’t. For all those he lost in The Pack, Domino hadn’t known loss as Logan, or the others had. Wolves normally weren’t close with their siblings. They were pack members before brothers or sisters. And, outside Logan, Domino hadn’t had a proper relationship until Clem.

“What are you going to do now?” Domino asked but Logan was reminded of another person who had asked that from him.

“Me? Heh, I’m not even thirty yet, Dom. I plan to live. I don’t plan on kicking the bucket for many, many years.” Logan turned to go. “I got a few other people I need to say goodbye to before I go. Hey, Dom?” Logan stopped, looking back at the wolf. “Will you be alright?”

“Eh, I’ll get over it.” Domino shrugged as if Logan had forgotten to show up for a movie they agreed to see together instead of all this. “I… I’ll save you a spot. For when you get back. Okay?”

“Sounds nice. I’ll send you a card,” Logan waved over one shoulder as he walked away. He didn’t turn around or look back. Logan didn’t want to see the look on the crestfallen wolf’s face. Domino had wanted to appear strong in the end and that was how Logan wanted to remember him as.

Logan doubted he’d be dealing with The Pack, or Domino, like this again in the future. At least, not from the inside. Maybe a go between for The Pride and The Pack in the future. Playing the role that Sloan’s brother once had tried to do.

Before Bosch had him killed…

Logan’s phone buzzed as he slid into the driver seat of the Mercedes Sloan had bought him. Logan placed the phone in the mount connected to the air vent. He pushed the talk button as he pulled out of the gravel parking spot, spun the car around and took off.

Clem was waiting in his truck for Domino. The two gave a single nod to each other before Logan peeled out of the parking lot and left everyone else behind.

If he had gone any slower, Logan might’ve not been able to leave.

“Go for Logan.” He said as he put on his shades.

“Logan,” a familiar voice spoke over the phone. A female he hadn’t heard from in over a year. “I’ve been trying to reach you.” She said.

“Yes, I know.” Logan said as he pulled onto the main road, heading back towards the city. “I told you I had plans this weekend.”

“We need to talk.” She did not sound amused, and Logan smiled at that, always glad he could get under her skin like this. He supposed he did have one last member of his family left after it all.

“I’m already on my way. Usual place?” Logan asked.

“Be there within the hour. You know I don’t like to be kept waiting…” She nearly hung up, but Logan was always one to have the last word.

“I don’t know, you seem to have plenty of time nowadays.” Logan had to bring up. His Aunt hung up and he knew she must’ve been fuming on the other end after that, unable to help getting one last jab in.

Mayor Annabelle Horn hadn’t seen Sloan’s rise in popularity within the city until it was too late. Buying officials, blackmailing others, Sloan had taken a hidden lead before bursting onto the scene. Taking advantage of what had happened at The Noble Hare family last year, the lion began “offering” his services to protect the citizens where some like the current mayor couldn’t.

“The current mayor has done a lot for the city, but she isn’t capable of doing the things that need to get done, like I am.” Sloan had said. Complimenting her one second and bashing her the next. Repeatedly bringing up all the things that happened in the city to stain her otherwise clean record.

Sloan was a smart man and used numerous cases and events over the past several years to point out what they needed right now was a strong leader, a symbol for people to look towards and, being a lion, he fit the bill perfectly. Strong and confident, Sloan offered security to the citizens that were afraid to go out at night.  

He targeted a crowd commonly overlooked by the majority of the populace. The middle man. The smaller predators, the omnivores and the nocturnal crowd that was always overlooked. Alone, they were small but combined they were an overflowing group and Sloan needed all the numbers he could get to get over their prejudice of him being a lion, a carnivore.

Even as a carnivore, seen as a predator, Sloan had a comfortable air about him. He went on late night shows, talked with news reporters, and even went to several charity events for those recovering from the dock fires several years ago. He was far more “normal” than any other predator that people had seen before.

And he never forgot the little man.

“He isn’t like the others,” people had begun to say. “He listens. He’s there to help us.” They would buy into the lies that Sloan and his team spoon fed them, creating an air and appearance they could gravitate towards. Lions were such a strong symbol, unlike some random human woman.

Sloan paid off reporters and magazines, news articles and even got several of those on the opposition… removed. Forcing them to retire early, blackmailing them into silence or even… disposing of others that refused to let “some predator” walk amongst them.  

Let alone all the back deals The Pride must’ve done to secure such a place in the polls so quickly, it was only a matter of time until Sloan won. Money could buy power and sometimes, even infamy worked in your favor. Everyone knew who Sloan was. For good or for bad.

Then there was the bomb shell that had dropped of the illicit events that were showcased about Annabelle’s past coming to light. Her paying people off, sleeping with predators and more. And, worse of all, her connections to the Brotherhood… 

His Aunt had instantly come to Logan, demanding that he tell her who had leaked such things. Logan had just shrugged, saying he hadn’t the faintest of clues. And for once, he didn’t. He had suspicions but no proof.

Bosch had removed that evidence last year, along with so many others.

Logan had to wonder where Sloan had gotten such information but left it to the Kincaid family, The Pride, to deal with. Sloan knew what he was doing and Logan, for once, would have to take his hands off it and hope for the best…

“He’s an adult now,” Logan chuckled. “I’m sure he’s got everything handled.”

It was late into the night as Logan pulled up outside the night restaurant. He parked the car, pressed the beeper on it before walking into the place as if he’d been there a thousand times before. In a way, he had.

“Welcome back,” the red panda behind the counter said. He was cleaning a glass. Logan swore it was the same glass as before as he nodded towards him. “The usual?”

“No clue what you’re talking about,” Logan said as he took a seat off to the side. The place was empty, and Logan figured it would be as he pulled out his phone, checking the time. It was almost ten and he still had a flight to catch in the morning.

The other chair shifted, and he glanced up to see a raccoon join him.

“Sorry, I’m waiting for someone.” Logan said and Shryl just took off her glasses, cleaning them on the gown she was wearing.

“Where have you been, Logan?” Shyrl asked as she set them back on her short snout. Logan could see a very large, white furred man come into the restaurant from the back room. A polar bear. Most likely Vladimir but Logan ignored him as he looked back down at his phone.

“Working, jerking off, the usual.” Logan shrugged as he finally glanced up at her. “Why? You worried or something…?”

“Just curious. Haven’t heard from you in a while,” she placed both hands on the table. Wanting Logan to focus on them while the man behind him reached into his coat. Vlad didn’t draw his gun. He didn’t even need one to take Logan down.

All depending on what he had to say. Logan was keenly aware of it, glancing at the window he was sitting next to. Using the reflection to keep an eye on the polar bear and already coming up with three possible things to do. All of which involved using Shyrl as a meat shield in case the bullets started flying…  

“Heard from me? About what?” Logan asked, acting ignorant to the matter.

“What happened that night…” Shyrl voice was devoid of emotion as she asked. “The job.”

“What night? You need to be more specific.” Logan scratched his chin, trying to think what she could possibly be referring to. “I work for the police department. I don’t recall you being there, miss… I’m sorry, I don’t think I caught our name.” Logan smiled at her.

“You know the night.” Shyrl clicked her tongue in annoyance. “About Bosch. When he-,” she said but Logan interrupted her suddenly, catching her off guard.

“Who?” Logan asked and looked at her. “I’m sorry, but you must’ve mistaken me for someone else. I don’t know anyone by that name.”

Shyrl paused at that, sucking on her bottom lip. Her eyes glanced towards Vlad before settling back on Logan.

“December Seventeenth of last year…” Shyrl reminded him.

“Can’t recall.” Logan shrugged and he would’ve been the worse witness to call to the stand. Exactly what he was going for as his eyes open only halfway, looking down at her. “I was out drinking that night with some guys at the station. Ask them. They’ll back me up on the matter. If they remember. That was a long time ago, miss.”

“And about your eye? Those scars?” The raccoon brought up. Logan didn’t even flinch. Instead, he just smiled.

“I fell down the stairs. I’m just so clumsy sometimes,” he said and she cracked a smile at that, shaking her head.

“I see,” she bit the tip of her tongue, then snorted and covered a laugh with a hand. “My mistake.” She stood, putting a black card down on the table and sliding it towards Logan. “I must be mistaken then. If you remember anything, do make sure to call us. My apologies for wasting your time, sir.”

Vlad pulled his hand from within his coat and stepped aside for her to go past.

“Yup. I’m not the man your looking for.” Logan shrugged. “Mistaken identity. Happens all the time, or so I hear.”

“So, it seems…” Shyrl turned. “…Take care of yourself.”

“I will, even if you didn’t tell me that.” Logan sipped his drink and she smiled at that.

“What are you planning to do?” She asked as if she didn’t already know as she stood in the open doorway, back facing Logan.

“I’m planning to take a very long, very overdue vacation.” Logan said as he looked out the window. He could see their reflections in it but refused to meet their eyes.

“Sounds lovely. Have a safe trip…” And she walked out of the café. The bell above the door rang twice as Vlad followed after. The two exiting as quickly as they had entered, leaving without a trace. No sign they had even been here to begin with.

As if on cue, the red panda came out from the back room and stood at the counter again. Leaving the scene if something had happened. Logan appreciated that. He’d hate to have to kill the man as well if it came down to it.

“Sir,” Logan lifted a hand up and the red panda looked at him. “Can I have some udon. Just the regular. Please…”

“Of course. A classic. Only one other costumer ever ordered such a dish,” he bowed towards Logan before heading into the back.

“I guess she isn’t coming then.” Logan snorted, shaking his head. “What a bitch. She sent those two instead… And here I was, looking forward to seeing my aunt again. Family… heh, I guess she never really was. Even now, using me. It’s been so long since we last had a chance to chat, you know? I mean, it’s not like she isn’t busy. After losing her position as mayor, you’d think-,”

Logan looked up. For a second, he thought he saw someone sitting there  at his table. A man with dark gray fur and even darker gray spots. Looking out the window, one leg crossed over the other with a tea cup in hand. Waiting for it to cool off. His sensitive cat tongue unable to handle the heat…

He had that blank expression on his face, hiding his fangs. Maybe a whisker would twitch, his tail swaying side to side as he…

But there wasn’t. A trick of the light? Logan couldn’t say.

The empty spot across the table from him remained empty and his voice died down. There was no one sitting there. Not anymore as the udon arrived. The red panda set it down without a word, turning to go. Logan dipped the ladle like spoon into it and took a sip of the broth.

He lost his appetite after the first bite.

“Huh, I don’t remember it being this salt…” Logan said as the tears dripped down his face and landed in the broth…

Outside the café, Shyrl was loading up into an unmarked van with fake license plates. Vlad took a seat in the back and a newbie was driving in the front. A new replacement, for those they lost. There was always something out there willing to get their hands dirty for the right amount of pay. The raccoon pulled her phone out, sending a message before making another call.

 “Is he coming?” The newbie, a wolverine, asked from the front seat and Shyrl ignored them. The other line picked up after the first ring.

“It’s done,” she said even before they spoke.

“Good.” A voice purred on the other line. “And all the information is deleted, correct?”

“Everything we didn’t send to you. Even the hard files. No one left has seen the footage.” Shyrl said. “No one left, as you requested.”

“Good. Good…” Sloan inspected his nails on the other line. The lion turning in his chair to look out the window. It was raining that night. “You’ll see the money transfer at the end of the day, in the requested offshore account. Some things are best left forgotten… buried in the past.”

“Good.” Shyrl said without any pleasantries to her voice. “Money can really buy anything,” she laughed without humor.

“Not everything…” Sloan continued to look out the window, waiting for someone to arrive. “And the human…?”

“No issue, as requested. He won’t be a bother to us any longer. He’s out of the game,” Shryl inspected her nails as she rested back in the seat. “Why do you have an interest in him? He’s just some human.”

“My business is my own,” Sloan warned, and she shut up on the other line. “Pleasure doing business with you.” And he hung up, looking down at the phone in hand. “Pity… it might be best to remove them as well.”

“Like you had the others, sir?” Lorelai asked from nearby. Sloan’s personal guard never far from his side.

“Something like that… is it ready?” Sloan asked and she nodded. With a gruff grunt, the large lion pushed himself up from the desk and strode towards the doors of his new office. They opened at his approach, and he walked out without stopping. “Send a car to get Logan.”

“If he’ll come,” Lorelai kept pace behind him, always a step behind.

“When he’s ready, he’ll come.” Sloan chuckled as he crossed the hall. Lions and lionesses bowed as he went by. There were others in the mix, other large felines that Sloan had begun to recruit and take in. They worked well enough, trying to take a page out of The Alpha’s book and recruit outside his kind.

But never outside the “family.”

Sloan stood in the elevator and Lorelai joined him, pushing a series of button inputs before pushing B1 at the bottom. The doors to the elevator shut, it rattled before descending quickly. Far past the basement level and further underground.

“Why do you keep him around?” Lorelai asked, curious as any feline might be.

“Logan? He is… interesting,” Sloan chuffed. “Keeps me on my toes. Unlike all the others in the family. Yes-men and woman, that’s what I’m surrounded by on a daily basis. I hate it. Even as the newly elected mayor, no one wants to pull my tail or ruffle my mane. They all just bow down and hope I throw money on them like I have the others… it’s sickening.”

“What? Because Logan doesn’t want your money, you’re interested in him?” Lorelai voice was as void of emotion as her face was. Just standing there to the side as the elevator moved, still as a statue.

“Do you know why my father died…?” Sloan asked, he didn’t wait for a response. “It was because he was blinded by his pride, ironically. He surrounded himself with people who would blindly agree with him, even when he was wrong. He never thought someone would stab him in the back, even after my sister had… He never saw it coming. That look on his face… pure shock. Surprised, anyone could possibly take him down. Pride led to his downfall. I need people that will question me, push me, to keep me guessing. That fear helps keep one strong. It helps me from becoming like my father…”

“Prideful?” Lorelai asked.

“Stagnant.” Sloan said instead. “When Logan is around, I feel younger. More alive… it keeps me from getting too comfortable.” He chuckled. “He’s like a stray cat I found. You feed him and, occasionally, he’ll offer you some love in return before disappearing. Then you wonder… if he’ll come back,” Sloan paused on that. “Those rare times he does? He feel truly blessed. When that stray cat shows up at your down, begging for food and love…”

“It would be easier to just get rid of him, sir.” Lorelai said and didn’t even try and stop Sloan as the lion turned on her.

Nails out, Sloan gripped Lorelai’s neck and slammed her back against the elevator wall shaking the machine. He was breathing heavily, fangs bared as Sloan huffed and panted before her. Sloan’s eyes had turned into slits, and he was snarling at the lioness… as the doors behind him opened.

Dropping her, Sloan smoothed out his shirt and comb back his mane with his clawed fingers before turning and walking out of the elevator. Appearing as if he had never attacked her. Lorelai followed after. Sloan waited for the elevator behind them to close before speaking.

“Lay a finger on him, and I will have you killed.” Sloan warned, not even glancing at her. “I will kill anyone who tries to deprive me of my pleasure.” And with that, he walked forward. Down the dank, dark cement tunnel and into a spacious room.

Water trickled from above and there were was a damp, mildewy smell in the air. Otherwise, the place was bustling with life. Bodies and bodies of people bumping into each other as they pushed past and walked through the rows of stalls that had been set up underground.

“Those hares really know how to dig tunnels,” Sloan purred, pleased to see the space they’d stolen and bought from The Noble Hare’s after their losses. Capitalizing on them the moment they hit rock bottom. “True capitalism, in its finest.”

Taking what was theirs and perverting it for his own means.

The Black Market. Or at least, the newest version of it stood before Sloan.

There were lions stationed at every corner and they were the only ones allowed to bring guns down here. Peacekeepers, they called themselves. Everyone knew exactly what The Pride was doing here. Sloan’s sister had wanted to capitalized on The Market. If there is a demand, there is a supply and The Pride had always had a hand in delivery it to the people.

For a price.

Where others would sell drugs, The Market sold something of equal or greater value. Lives.

Jars with organs floating in them were set up on display, next to packets of blood that had been carefully drained and collected by another group within The Pride, a third party run by a small colony of vampire bats. Some of it was stolen, others willingly given. People selling their bodies to cover the debts they owed or to gain money for their family.

There was always someone out there desperate enough to give into this dark trade.

“Money makes the world go round,” Sloan chuffed as he walked past the stalls, wiping the drool from the corner of his mouth with an embroidered handkerchief before neatly tucking it away.

Such a place like this would always exist. A necessary evil. Sloan didn’t mind playing that role as he walked into his real office, planning to look things over before he headed out on his vacation. In the room were two more lionesses and before them was a bloodied-up weasel on his knees. He lifted an eyebrow at the sight. More so the fact the weasel was dripping blood on the new carpet he had installed.

“He tried to steal product,” one of the two lionesses told Sloan as he walked past them and to his desk.

“Come on man, it was an accident. It fell off the stand. I was putting it back!” The weasel tried to say, to explain. “We’re all alike, right? We can j-just talk this out, man. No need to get on me.”

“Alike?” Sloan focused on the word as he turned to look down at the weasel. “What? Because we all eat meat, we must be brothers? Family?” Sloan chuffed in amusement. “No. That isn’t how this works. Not anymore. We must be held to higher standards because of who and what we are…” He took a seat at his desk. “We all need to eat meat. As such, we must respect the rules more than others who don’t. The rules of society. Without laws, society would crumble, and it’d be a dog-eat-dog world,” Sloan chuffed once more at the thought. “Such disrespect, is a disrespect not just to The Market or my family, but to society…”

“Your orders, sir?”

“Weasel meat doesn’t sell for much,” Sloan said, and the man tried to run for it. The weasel made it to the door before getting knocked back into the room. Lorelai walked in, closing the door behind her. “But… a message must be sent to anyone who wishes to disturb the peace we have painstakingly created,” Sloan went on as the weasel was gagged and bounded, tied up on the spot. “Carnivore? Herbivore? Omnivore? The sacrifices that have been made cannot be insulted.” Sloan looked down at the picture on the desk. Of a family of lions grouped together. The last picture he had of his family, of Jerome… “It doesn’t matter who or what you are. We all play this game so we can get along with each other.”

“Sir?” Lorelai asked.

“Send him to the grinder. I doubt the hyenas will notice weasel meat in their blood sausage,” Sloan said with a dry voice, turning to turn the PC on. He was already done with this issue and the lionesses would carry out his orders as The Mane of The Pride.

In the city above? He would be the mayor the citizens would rally around and down in the underbelly; he would be the man in charge of the market. On two fronts, he would keep peace and order. Using one side to help the other. Profit? Sure, there was always money to be made in such bloody work, but there was something even greater he possessed now.

Sloan had the power to remove the threats to his city. As long as people obeyed the simple rules of society, there wouldn’t be any need for him to step in. Sloan had drawn a line in the dirt he would never cross but anyone else who did?

Would be added to The Market’s next shipment…

…

Out in the middle of nowhere, on a hill were two unmarked graves. Logan placed down tiger lilies in front of one grave and poured a drink for the other. Logan tipped the bottle of sake over, emptying the entire thing out on the tombstone.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been out here…” Logan sighed, looking at the two unmarked graves. “Sorry about that. Not like I could forget,” Logan touched the scar on his back and then the one on his face. “You both made sure of that…” He took a moment, standing there. “I’ll be leaving shortly. From the city. It’s about time I see the rest of the world outside these walls, this cage, I locked myself in. I won’t be able to visit again for a while… I’m going on a vacation! Believe it or not,” Logan laughed.

No one could hear his voice for he was the only one there. The only one left.

“It’s funny, really. I wanted… I just… who’d have thought I’d ever take time off, right?” Logan shook as a cold breeze blew past and he held himself. “Don’t hate me if I don’t return… Okay? I rather think of my future. To focus on something positive for a change instead of… chasing stripes. Chasing spots. Sometimes, even I need a break from it all…?”

Logan laughed then. Smiling as he laughed, and the sound was loud before it began to die off. Turning, changing with the times, turning, and changing as the years went by and Logan held himself as he cried. Sobbing as he let it all out.

The only one left.

Breaking down on the spot, Logan slumped to his knees, curling up as he yowled in pain like an injured cat as he held himself tightly. Letting it all out. There was no one here. No one would ever come out here, to these two unmarked graves.

No one would remember them. No one would grieve for them and so Logan did both. It was the one last, final promise he could give the two as he forced himself up, wiping off after taking the time to let himself grieve for the loss.

“I wonder if things could’ve been different. I’ll always wonder that. If you came to me sooner, would I have been the one to feed you the meat you craved and desired? To drink the Red that society refused to let you enjoy…?” Logan asked the first grave.

Only silence answered him .

“Could things have ever been different?”

His hand hesitated, touching the scars on the right side of his face. He traced it down with four fingers, his thumb brushing against the one on his jawline. One finger stood up higher than the others, where the claws had stopped at his eyebrow.

“It’s funny. At the end.” Logan turned to the other grave. “At the very end? Even then… you missed.” Logan finger ran down above his eye before lifting up. “You could’ve easily maimed me, took my eye… but you missed. At the end… I still never understood you. I wonder if anyone ever did… If you ever let anyone in. If you ever could… You want to know why I hesitated at the end?”

Logan waited for an answer that would never come.

“Because at the end, your eyes were crying out for help… Screaming when your voice couldn’t. I’m sorry I couldn’t reach you, even then. Funny... now that I think about it. A trained killer and you both had those eyes. Screams that no one else could hear, apparently. No one else was willing to listen to, to see… and to offer you help… just me. Maybe there’s something wrong me?” Logan brushed his hair away from his scar before letting it fall back into place. “Maybe us murderers just understand what it’s like to see those eyes in the mirror, every morning?”

Logan wasn’t sure how long he stood there, in the drizzle falling that night. He still needed to pack his bags but wasn’t able to move from that spot. Not until his fingers and toes, his legs and arms grew as numb and cold as his heart felt.

“Goodbye,” Logan managed to say. Managed to turn away from those graves and walk away. Down the hill, to leave them there. Two graves no one else would visit. Not until he returned one day.

At the bottom of the hill, Logan clicked the cars beeper. Sliding into the seat, he buckled up. From the corner of his eye, he was sure he saw a flash of orange and his head jerked, looking up to the hill where they laid buried. Only trinkets left of them. Things to remember them by.

For Logan wasn’t ever lucky enough to have their bodies to return to the earth.

“Heh, I wonder if I’ll ever stop trying to look for you.” Logan took a shaky breath before turning the car on, revving the engine loudly several times. “If my heart will ever be able to let you go.”

And he pulled out of there, out of the cemetery and headed to Sloan’s.

The one-man Logan was still waiting for them to leave their mark, their scars on his body.

…

“We can get facial construction surgery, if you need… Logan.” Sloan said as the two sat in the private jet only six hour later, in the morning. Logan was exhausted, his bags crudely packed before being tossed into the car that Sloan had sent for him.

“No. No, that’s alright.” Logan touched the marks on his face, facing towards the window. They reminded him so much of Barnes. Of the old hare who had a making scar. And of Bosch… of his old life. The last thing he had from the jaguar after burying the knife Bosch had given him at his grave. “Thanks though, sir. I… I appreciate it. And you.” Logan looked at Sloan and smiled then. Across the aisle, the lion sat. “I don’t know if I ever told you this.”

Logan smiled.

“Yes, Logan?” Sloan asked.

“I love you, Sloan.” Logan lied.

“I love you too, Logan.” Sloan acknowledged both the truth and lie of it. “Are you looking forward to your time away?”

“More than anything…” Logan said, resting back in the chair as the plane began to take off. Going down the runway before taking flight, high into the sky.

Away from the city.

Away from this place.

And all those Logan wanted to leave behind.

Logan’s life would begin after he returned. For what? He still wasn’t sure as the human unbuckled his seat and walked over to sit next to Sloan. The lion moved his tail out of the way, waiting for the human to come to him. Not forcing Logan’s hand but expecting it, eventually, as the human slid it down the inner part of Sloan’s thigh and the lion began to purr.

“There you are.” Sloan said, cracking his eyes open to look down at his assistant, there, between his legs again.

“Yes, sir.” Logan smiled up at him before kissing the back of the hand Sloan offered him, nuzzling against it as Sloan petted over his face.

“It’ll be a long flight.” Sloan smiled down.

“I better get comfy then,” Logan teased his belt buckle open, zipping the front of his pants and pressed his nose against the bulge that spilled out from within the tight pants Sloan was wearing. That bulge was barely contained in chocolate velvet briefs that were warm and musky to the touch as Logan rested against it.

“Take as much time as you need.” Sloan said and meant more than just right now.

“I plan to.” Logan said, getting comfortable on Sloan’s lap like a stray kitten, curling up at the one place he could return to.

“Good.” Sloan ran his fingers through Logan’s hair, lifting up the bangs on the right side to look down at those scars. The lion’s paw padded fingers touched one, rubbing down it softly. “You are so beautiful,” Sloan said.

“Thank you, sir.” Logan smiled then. “You are the only one who thinks so.”

“No matter what, Logan. You will always be beautiful in my eyes…” Sloan said as he rested back. Not forcing Logan to do anything more, knowing the human would when he was ready. “Nothing has changed between us.”

“I appreciate that,” and Logan did. “I love you, sir.” He lied.

“I love and cherish you as well, Logan.” Sloan did say it truthfully.

Sloan didn’t mind Logan’s lies. Knowing why the human did what he did.

He’d wait for him, until the day Logan was ready or able to say those words truthfully to him. Without the mask he hid behind. Like the scars on Logan’s face, Sloan waited for the human to bare himself to the lion.

Even knowing that may never happen, Sloan was just happy to have him there with him again. Accepting him for who Logan was as Logan accepted Sloan for who and what he was. Two predators, two broken people, trying to find comfort and acceptance in each other.

Even if one day, one would devour the other. They would always have these warm moments together to remember on.

And some memories, some people, didn’t need scars to remember them by...

The End.