Kennedy woke up with the echo of Cait’s arms wrapped tight around Lira, lingering, warm in her mind. Filtered like that, once removed, it was the most comforting thing in the world. It was getting hard to sleep without it, and she had been more relieved than she liked to admit when Lira had walked in late. She’d been able to link to her as she cuddled up with the big girl, and they both had finally gotten to sleep.

  She didn’t even think Cait knew about that. Clearly, she hadn’t missed her riding along during some of her and Lira’s more explicit escapades, but given the pair’s attitude towards sex, the tender moments after seemed almost more taboo.

  You’ve got it bad, babe, she thought to herself. Damn Lira for pegging her type exactly, and all but forcing something to happen. Not to mention things with Lira had finally progressed towards where they’d been heading for 8 years. Kennedy knew those feelings had been in Lira since the day they met, and they’d been in Kennedy since not long after.

  That big bulletproof bimbo is just a Bullshit catalyst, she thought, smiling at the thought. A few weeks ago, she’d been a nothing Guardian, with exactly two friends to her name. One because they were the only girl on campus with comparable levels of trauma. The other, she was constantly paranoid would finally get tired of her inability to overcome her issues with physical intimacy.

  On a mental level, she knew that distrust came entirely from her and was fully misplaced. Lira had never wavered from being her best friend, even if she had fucked her mom for a few years, which Kennedy had always suspected had been a surrogate for herself.

  All that had changed a few weeks ago when a big beautiful be-donged babe had stumbled naked out of a pile of animated shit.

  Glad I didn’t have that extra pair of pants, she thought, stretching. With a sandblast, Cait looked good even after going through that.

  She quested her mind out into the apartment, finding no others but Dawn’s. The fawn was meditating, but, by Kennedy’s estimation, it wasn’t working. She made herself known, pulsing reassurance towards the deer.

  Dawn hadn’t been doing well. That was public knowledge amongst the team after yesterday, but Kennedy knew it had been that way for a few days. Normally the deer was the way she looked on the outside, cool, calm waters within and without. Now she felt like her birth species, nerves and adrenaline running 24/7.

  Kennedy got up, stretched, and walked over to Dawn’s room. She kept pulsing comfort as she opened the door, walked in, and hugged her. For whatever reason, Dawn being as much animal as human, she barely even felt a twinge of panic when she touched her.

  “It’s gonna be okay,” she whispered, and Dawn nodded against her shoulder. She could feel it didn’t do a lot, but it did do something, and that would have to be enough for now. Kennedy left her to her meditation, staying linked and helping to fight back her anxiety and she went through her morning routine.

  Secretly, Kennedy didn’t believe what she’d said. She couldn’t think of any good reason Freeflow hadn’t checked in with his girlfriend for the better part of a week. Worse, the brushes with her mother recently had told her the woman’s calm fa?ade was a hell of a lot more skin-deep than usual.

  A few weeks ago, that panic would have been getting to her too. But with Cait and Breastman around, it was difficult to believe things would be too bad. Cait inspired confidence just by existing, and Breastman clearly didn’t grasp the effect realizing that something as scary as him was on your side had on a person. What were the waves gonna throw at her that were worse than him?

  Shouldn’t tempt fate like that, she scolded herself. She pulled on a cutoff t-shirt with her favorite album’s cover art emblazoned on it, finessed their espresso machine, and went in search of Rose.

  The Cruma should be in Keeper’s care, but had proven itself to be a, literal, flight risk. Kennedy had been surprised more than once by an enormous kitten slamming to the ground next to her, proudly displaying a rabbit. The praise she heaped upon her every time was not helping things, Keeper assured her, but that was Keeper’s problem.

  Keeping her eyes upward, Kennedy strolled towards the Godolphin Stables replica behind the Coliseum. The sky was clear today, the Tortoiseshell high above tinting it a pleasant teal. Notably absent was a pitch black winged cat, so Kennedy expected Keeper was keeping a handle on things. She reached out her mind as she approached, and found Rose’s eager to accept her.

  Linking with the cat felt like rubbing her cheeks to the beast’s soft fur, and buoyed her already good mood. She drew more than a few stares and gasps as her hair turned to cascading black feathers, and majestic wings burst from her back. Laughing, she thrust herself upwards, feeling her elation at flight echoed by Rose.

  She did a lap of the compound, looping around and practicing some of the maneuvers Rose had been trying to impart to her. The beast was a poor teacher, but it was adorable that she tried. As she pulled up to execute a wingover, she found she had a companion. Rose chuffed at her, leading her in the stalling turn. Kennedy looked down, seeing the small form of Keeper shaking an impotent fist up at the pair.

  Kennedy’s heart swelled as she followed the Cruma though an aerial dance, feeling the steps ahead of time. After a few minutes, she gently nudged Rose towards the ground, landing in front of Keeper.

  “Rose is hard enough to control without you encouraging her!” the middle aged man admonished. His point was undercut somewhat as Rose sauntered up to him, nudging against his hip with her head.

  “Noooooo,” Kennedy cooed, patting Rose’s flank. “She’s very good all the time! Isn’t that right, sweet baby?”

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  Kennedy had picked up Cait’s mannerisms when talking to Salad and transferred them to Rose. Sure, there was 200 lbs. of muscle separating the Cruma from Cait’s chonker, but they were both still just kitties. Rose spun, playfully nipping at her fingers as Kennedy continued to praise her.

  “Stop that!” Keeper cried, reaching out to slap at Kennedy’s hands, but thinking better of it when Rose’s ears flattened out. “She’ll never be allowed to roam free on campus if she won’t behave!”

  Kennedy sighed, scratching Rose behind the ear. She fixed her golden eyes on Keeper, knowing Rose did the same. She watched the man shiver under their gaze.

  “I’ve told you Keeper,” she explained, exasperated, “the best way to keep her complacent is to keep her linked up to me! Then she’ll be as nice and happy as I am! Isn’t that right sweet baby?”

  Rose’s rumbling purrs drove the statement home nicely.

  “Look, Kennedy,” Keeper said, shaking his head. “Your mom put Altered Beast protocols in place for a reason. You know how many Guardians have brought back some exotic monster that seems to like them, only for it to maul them or someone else the second something sets it off? Until I’m 100% sure that’s not going to happen with Rose, I can’t let her fly free.”

  Kennedy sighed, moving her scritches to beneath Rose’s chin. The Cruma closed her eyes, truly looking lost in bliss.

  “I get it, Keeper, you’re just doing your job.” Kennedy turned her gaze back to him. “I don’t really have anything on my plate today, could I take her around with me if I promise not to leave her unattended?”

  She bent down, wrapping her arms around Rose’s thick neck, laying her cheek against her soft fur. She pouted as she met Keeper’s eyes.

  Never would have tried the whole ‘let the hot girl do what she wants’ shtick a couple weeks ago. Those two are rubbing off on me.

  Keeper gulped, grimaced, then nodded.

  “Alright, honestly, I doubt I’d be able to keep her penned now anyway. But I swear to god, Kennedy, if this goes wrong its on you!”

  Kennedy squealed in delight, and Rose chuffed in agreement, not understanding her excitement but still feeling it.

  “Thanks Chris!” Kennedy beamed, before shooting into the air, Rose following close behind.

  They didn’t confine themselves to AEGIS airspace on this flight, spiraling out over the city. The pair played in the air, diving and chasing, their link forming a feedback loop of primal joy and elated freedom. Kennedy swooped low, drawing gasps from pedestrians as they shot past mere feet overhead.

  Kennedy pulled up, rising high, nearly to the ceiling of the Tortoiseshell. She cruised in the sky, closing her eyes to feel the wind on her face. Lira had said nothing felt as good as sex, but she had never done this. Rose bumped her head gently against one of her outstretched hands, pulling her back before she should lose herself and smash into the ‘Shell.

  “C’mon Rose, lets head back,” Kennedy cooed, scratching at Rose’s head. They turned, and landed back in front of the Palace a few minutes later.

  “Okay,” Kennedy said, turning and crouching in front of Rose. She met the Cruma’s eyes, and reinforced her words through her link. “Best! Behavior! I’m taking you in here, because Mommy needs more coffee. If you’re good, you can have some bacon as a treat!”

  Rose might not have understood the details, but vibes did a lot when communicating with animals, and Kennedy could shoot those straight into her noggin. Rose strutted into the Palace beside Kennedy, head held high. She stayed by Kennedy’s side as they entered the dining hall, but she could feel the Cruma’s interest perk at the myriad of scents the room produced.

  Kennedy waved to Austin, the twinky barista leaning on the café counter, and he lazily waved back. He stretched, and started to prepare Kennedy’s espresso before she even reached the register.

  “You’re too good to me, Austin,” she said with her warmest smile as she took the cup from him. “Can I get some of the ham you use for those breakfast sammies as a treat for my girl?”

  Austin leaned over the counter, only to be greeted by Rose’s face much closer than expected as she put her paws up on the surface.

  “Wow!” he exclaimed, recoiling from surprise rather than fear. He hesitantly extended a hand, which Rose enthusiastically sniffed then started to lick. The barista giggled, wiped his hands, and grabbed a couple of slices of ham from the fridge beside the cook top. He held one out, and Rose nearly scrambled across the counter in excitement. He stroked the top of her head as Rose scarfed it down.

  Kennedy thanked him, and took the proffered extras before she thumbed the scanner in ‘payment’. She went out one of the open glass doors to the patio, enjoying a surprisingly temperate August morning. She tossed another piece of ham to Rose, who caught it, then laid at her feet cleaning her paws.

  She’d nearly finished her tiny cup of espresso when she felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning, she found herself held at knifepoint.

  “Your money or your ass, slut!” demanded Lira in a faux-pirate accent. She waved an odd knife at Kennedy, matte-grey but somehow shimmery. Kennedy made eye contact with Cait standing behind Lira, but just got a shrug.

  “Better do what she says!” the Amazon said, good humored mischief behind that dazzling grin. “Too bad we don’t get paid, huh?”

  “Whoop!” Lira yelped, as she found herself pinned to the floor under a snarling Rose. The knife dissipated as she dropped it, and Kennedy immediately knew who she had to thank for the redhead’s new toy.

  “That’s a good girl Rose!” Kennedy praised, lifting the cat’s chin up so as not to threaten Lira, but not feeling the need to make her dismount the attacker. She scratched under the cat’s chin as she looked up at Cait to give her a wink. “I had backup too.”

  She reached out for Cait’s mind, and the connection was devastatingly easy. She felt like she melted into the girl, as smoothly as she bound herself to Rose’s simple instincts. It was all she could do not to let out a sigh of relief as the rock-solid support of the Amazon propped up parts of her mind she never even realized needed it. She was fairly certain part of that was Cait’s ability, but not all of it. The girl just accepted people, and wanted them to be who they were.

  When she was linked up to Rose and Cait, she didn’t even experience any of the headaches or mental fatigue she’d normally get from holding a dual link. In fact, she’d been meaning to start working with the two of them and a third partner, seeing if she could hold three links, provided two of them were these.

  “Hey!” Lira called. “She’s making biscuits, but I can feel those claws!”

  Kennedy shook herself, and gently nudged Rose off of Lira. The Cruma bent down to sniff the girl as she got up.

  “Technically, you’re a very good girl for protecting your mama,” Lira praised. Then she winced, rubbing at her back. “But goddamn those things are sharp.”

  Cait looked at Lira’s back and hissed in alarm.

  “Yeesh, you’re actually bleeding. Probably gotta get those disinfected. C’mon, you’re injured.” Cait swept Lira up over her shoulder, completely unaffected by the irritated redhead pounding on her back. She blew a kiss to Kennedy over her shoulder. “You keep your money and your ass this time, but we’ll be back!”

  What a fucking whirlwind, thought Kennedy, grinning into her cup. She kept the link with Cait up. After having it going for so long during their expedition, their range covered the whole campus, at least once it was established, and she was loath to give it up.

  Her phone buzzed, and she summoned it to see a notification from her mom.

  M: Kennedy, could I see you at Cottage #4, please? I believe you would be of assistance to our newest ward.

  K: omw

  Pepped up after the espresso and fumbled mugging, she left the cup on the table and shot into the air, quickly followed by Rose.