Chapter Text
“Look, you wanted something gritty and new? Well this is what it looks like!” Grumbling about damned Hunters being a pain, the man slammed the phone down. .
Owl picked up Rabid Dog’s cell and tapped the screen to end the call. “It’s not the strangest thing to want to know how you'll test them.”
The other turned and glared. His comrade had been on “their” side ever since the Association had asked him to be an examiner. He never looked back after gaining his Hunter’s License years ago. The whole “it’s a huge honor” thing was annoying. Rabid Dog enjoyed his freedom in the underworld; no one judging him or keeping tabs. Yet here he was, on site at the Visca Forest Reserve that bordered the Numere Wetlands; waiting to test whoever made it through the first phase.
Owl had come out of curiosity and to keep his buddy in check. RD was compulsive and short tempered, not to mention stubborn. The exam had begun hours ago and Rabid Dog still hadn’t told anyone what sort of test he was going to conduct.
“Spontaneous. That’s real life!” RD snorted and ran a hand through his unruly hair. “I’m doing them a favor over here. They need to get off my back.”
“Well just between us, what do you got in mind?” Owl slid his hands into his pockets, his fingers brushing against the Fun Fun Cloth. If things got out of hand, he could intervene.
“Something violent.” Rabid Dog grinned wickedly. “Maybe make them all choose which one of their bones I get to break.”
“I’m not sure that’s---“
“It was just an example!”
Owl’s ears perked up. “They’re coming.”
Rabid Dog grunted in surprise and swallowed. ‘Shit.’ In truth he didn’t have any idea what he might do to challenge the applicants, let alone how to assess whether they passed. He had simply been lazy about the whole thing and now his situation was starting to sink in. If he didn’t think of something quick, he’d look like a complete idiot.
Satotz was leaving. Owl jumped up to perch on the reserve’s high wall and did a quick count.
“One hundred and forty eight.” He said in low tones once rejoining RD’s side.
Rabid swallowed hard. Sweat formed on his brow. Owl lowered his shades slightly incredulous.
“You don’t have a plan, do you?”
“Of course I have one! I told you! The plan is to be spontaneous.. so put your little shades back up before I rip them off your face and eat them.” Rabid turned and walked away as cool and carefree as possible. He was screwed.
The gate was opening. Rabid Dog’s throat tightened and sweat rolled down. ‘Shit!’ Applicants ambled in cautiously.. he sensed a range of auras; some strong but most of them docile and un-engaged. A small boy in green stared at Owl with wide eyes who in turn glanced at the other Shadow Beast.
“Yo. Phase Two. Everyone here?” RD muttered with his eyes downcast. ‘Shit! Shit! Shit!’
The applicants looked around and shifted awkwardly. This guy looked hard as nails, and not as friendly as Satotz. Owl bit his lip and watched Rabid’s silent struggle. The tension increased all around them. RD hadn’t expected that. They were all looking at him; waiting. They were all nervous and jittery, some guy was even itching to kill him! Rabid cleared his throat and scratched the back of his neck in agitation.
“So this how it’s going to go.” Still not a single solitary idea came to his mind. Rabid was typically a quick thinker, but today, right at that moment.. his brain refused to cooperate. Looking up with a confident sneer to mask his inner nightmare, Rabid Dog’s eyes immediately connected to a pair of soft blue ones.
Everything stood still. He could not look away. All troubles seemed to dissolve into nothingness. Was there music playing? The girl was .. beautiful. Never in his life had Rabid Dog ever seen anyone so cute. Her long hair spilling out onto perfect shoulders. That adorable and unique yellow hat. Those lips. Her face was a picture of innocence and sweetness. In that glorious moment years of suppressed hormones came rushing to the surface. Rapid Dog, the vicious Shadow Beast, leader of the mafia’s elite dark army and cold hearted killing machine, was now hopelessly in love.
Features softened and mind completely overtaken, the lanky man muttered, “Date me.”
All sharp eared applicants gasped in utter shock and whispering could be heard.
“Did he just seriously say that?”
“No way!”
“I think he seriously just said that.”
“Date you?” Owl repeated in pure astonishment.
“Has he noticed that most of us are guys?” Asked another.
Rapid Dog’s mind snapped back into full operational mode. Yes. He’d said it. He didn’t even regret it. This was perfectly fine. This way he’d get to.. talk to her.. to meet her.
“It doesn’t matter.” He answered calmly, as if this concept had been in the works for weeks. As if he had given it all careful consideration. Rapid Dog was a master bullshitter.
“HEY!” Shouted a shirtless applicant with a briefcase, “There are children taking the exam!”
“That will take too long!” A bald man wearing black spoke up, “There’s over a hundred of us and a proper date with me would last for hours!”
“Oh don’t worry, there will be ..accidents.” Purred another in magician’s clothing.
Owl began texting furiously.