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Paper Rebels (pt 1)

by Whitepython

What is harder? To stop stealing, or to be truly happy?

Dalreto the rabbit squeezed his dark-tinted side bag against his dark-clothed body in relief. The jet-black outfit along with a black balaclava and dark gloves melted his slim, bunny-shaped presence with the night shadows casted inside the luxurious and unlit office building he had infiltrated. He was ready to escape with a statue of some kind of reptilian figure. He didn't have time to examine it in depth once he corroborated that it was the item requested by his client.

His accomplice had sabotaged the electricity in the corporate building, and everybody in the security team was busy trying to figure out what happened. This meant that the only thing that could go wrong would be that the power were to be restored before he and his accomplice escaped from the area and all the security cameras went active.

Dal was as nervous and alert as he always was during this kind of job. But this time, he was more stressed about making this one a perfect escape, knowing that this would be the last heist in his life. After this, it was going to be old fashioned, but honest and hard work along with a safe, calm life to offer to his boyfriend.

He was relieved that his last criminal act screwed some wealthy jackass who had plenty of money to recover from this. And to make things even more perfect, he didn't have to meet with the mob leader who commissioned this. All he had to do was to hand the item over to a middleman and get his money.

As Dalreto searched for his way out, he was reminded that rabbits weren't good at exploring their surroundings in pitch darkness like other species were, but the lapin tried his best in remembering his way back to the emergency exit he used to sneak into the top of this building.

It was when he walked past several cubicles that he was beckoned by the moonlight to escape the same way he went in.

In his rush to escape, Dalreto forgot that lapins were good at finding danger. Especially ones like him.

As the lapin stood a few steps away from the window he previously left open for his escape, he was able to hear a short and ragged breath behind him for half a second.

Something was wrong.

Before the lapin reacted, a strong blow that came from nowhere landed on the right side of his chest with enough force to send him a couple steps back, forcing him to hit a nearby desktop with enough power to cause a second, blunt hit upon impact against his left side.

Confusion screamed at him as loud as the pain in his body experienced, but Dal had no time to stop and nurse his wounds.

The rabbit groaned softly in pain while his hands roamed the desktop for anything to defend himself. As soon as his fingers felt something rectangular and long, they wrapped around it. When the lapin heard the shadow threatening his escape behind him, he turned around in a violent counter-attack that swung the rectangular object with all of his anger.

The sound of papers and other items being scattered followed the strong impact while his assailant was forced to bend down and groan in pain, but the shadow didn't go down. The lapin employed his blunt weapon once more to land another hit against the head of his perpetrator. This sent the shadow down to his knees and to lean against the nearest wall.

Under the moonlight, Dalreto caught his breath while adrenaline helped him to partially stunt his own share of pain. It took him another couple of seconds to realize that his enemy was a male tiger in a security guard uniform. The feline struggled with the pain as he kept his claws behind his head.

When the lapin looked down at his hands, he realized that he fetched a wooden paper organizer from the desktop.

Dal had no time to mess here any further. He had to get out of there before the stunted tiger was able to call for backup, or for the police.

The rabbit threw the wooden item towards the feline before resuming with his escape. But before he could reach the window, something held his head and pulled him back.

Dalreto felt his heart to beat faster when his balaclava was pulled halfway from around his head. He held it from the lower end before he pulled in the opposite direction, but a few seconds later, the cloth covering his identity was forcefully taken off of him, revealing his face to the security guard.

This almost stopped Dalreto's heart as he tried to wrap his arms around his head to hide his face.

He was supposed to execute a flawless escape! If this tiger reported his face to the police, he would lose several years of his life behind bars. But the real tragedy would be losing his boyfriend for good!

The rabbit was quick to connect his knee against the tiger's gut in another hit powered with all his anger. This knocked the air out of the tiger and left him open for the enraged lagomorph to wrap his hands around the tiger's neck before slamming him against the wall behind both of them.

Dalreto was quick to squeeze tighter and tighter around the feline's neck with every second that went by. He had to make sure the tiger would not be able to report this incident! His heart was beating faster and faster as increased his pressure around the neck of his pinned down victim who pushed the rabbit back with no result in the darkness of the still blacked out office.

Even if Dalreto has been spotted stealing before, and even if he wasn't physically strong, he had a secret that helped him to leave the scene of crime without leaving witnesses during his criminal career. It was a supernatural secret that the lapin discovered about himself from early age.

While being normal and vulnerable in pretty much all aspects of his life, the rabbit discovered that demonic blood ran through his veins. This demonic side of him gave him the power to dig his eyes deep into the eyes of any victim he chose to focus his demonic will into the thoughts of the subject.

This would devour the mental energies of his victims and the damage would sink the sufferer into an erratic euphoria of hallucinations that forced the subject to question everything they witnessed for hours along with a nasty headache.

His heart pumped even faster in excitement as he kept dominating the tiger.

Not only he would erase this moment. The demonic euphoria he felt pushed him to leave the mind of the feline empty forever as he held the tight grip around his neck. Dalreto was ready to consume the sanity of this feline and leave him irremediably empty for life.

But there was no way he could bring himself to do such thing!

His demonic side has been getting harder and harder to tame, seducing him to fully give into his unholy nature and to abuse of his supernatural skill without a care.

And it is because this work demands of him to use his demonic side so much that he has decided to quit stealing for good.

Dalreto knew that if he gave in tonight, both his mind and his soul would keep on becoming corrupted. And as soon as his demonic instincts took over, he would hunt for more and more victims without satisfaction until a demon hunter were to put an end to his life.

Perhaps even permanently damaging his beloved wolf if the lupine is the one who takes up such task.

That created a pain worse than ending up in jail.

Also, his mind recreated the pain that the family of his feline rival would suffer after finding that the tiger's life was destroyed after being turned into a brain dead entity in needed to be kept tied to a bed for the rest of his days.

All of this was enough to push aside both his demonic side and the security guard by shoving him towards the same desktop that he was pushed against some moments ago.

The lapin recovered his balaclava before leaving the scene and hoping that his quick reaction was enough to stop himself from being identified.

The projection of the moonlight from the outside drew a white carpet of light on the floor that invited the lapin to leave once and for all.

Dal escaped through the window and took a deep breath to fill his lungs with the air of freedom coming from the dry and hot night. He descended the metallic staircase by skipping several steps at the time as the building remained sunk in darkness.

On his way down, he found his partner in crime at the ground floor. Wearing dark clothes and with their vehicle ready to escape. With the stolen good in his possession and the exit wide open, Dal was ready to leave his criminal life behind for good.

Now he only had to find a way to explain this to his overly ambitious partner in crime...

* * * * * * * * * *

"Sounds like you almost fucked everything up and costed me quite a thousand tonnes. But fortunately, we made a fool out of those corporate dumbassess."

Dalreto listened to those words without interest after reporting the incident while extracting the statue. He told everything minus the part about his demonic impulses to Grodacio, the one who put him in this line of work 10 years ago.

Grodacio was a rabbit like him, but with a bulkier built and whose fur was white and orange, with a few black spots predominantly over his head and neck who sat on the driver's seat. The van they used to escape was now parked at Paradise Hills, the place where they would rendevouz with the middleman and get their money. It has been two hours after completing the heist.

Now that Dal had removed some of his dark clothes, he reveal himself as a dark gray rabbit with a bit of white fur around his neck and random part of his chest.

"So, when is the middleman going to show up?" Dalreto asked. He was anxious to get rid of the item and explain his decision to quit to his fellow lapin.

"Well, about that. I forgot to tell you but he cancelled in the last minute," Grodacio said as he looked for something in his pockets.

"What?!" Dalreto almost screamed. "You told me that we wouldn't deal with the mob! You said that they wouldn't even know who we are! You promised that this middleman was in charge of everything and it would be a quick exchange of hands."

"Shit happens, okay man? For fuck's sake Dalreto, get off of my back already!"

"Let's wait until the middleman is available tomorrow night or something, or do it yourself!" Dalreto demanded.

"We're dealing with the fucking mob! There is no way I am disobeying their demands because you don't want to do it. Also, you need to understand that I haven't seen a single tonne out of this whole operation and I need my money tomorrow morning."

"I refuse to do th-"

"I told you to get off of my back! I don't have any money with me Dalreto. I don't have money for gas, for food or for anything! Quit bawling and come with me!"

Dalreto felt his whole body tensing as he gazed to the outside, resting his forehead against the glass of the van door. He had the goal to leave the criminal life forever, not to create nexus with the most dangerous criminal gang in town.

Instead of arguing any further, the gray bunny decided to shut up and examine the surroundings outside of this van:

Paradise Hills was a sector built along a long, steep uphill. The area was overpopulated with houses that were mostly still bare mortar and bricks. Houses with rusted doors, tiny, wooden windows and plenty of discarded things around them. Their short, almost nonexistent front lawns were fenced by poorly set barricades of metal and wood. The few finished houses were heavily unkempt, with broken windows and faded painting in walls which were heavily covered graffiti. The walls spared from the urban art were peeling away.

The roads were dirty paths loosely pavemented with rocks. This created huge potholes for cars to drive along this part of the city. The sidewalks were heavily destroyed by both trees and poor maintenance which also displayed an ungodly amount of trash bags and missing or broken sewage lids. Old and beaten up cars were parked on both sides of the street.

Not even being half demon made Dalreto feel safe in his place.

"Look man," Grodacio continued to speak after a moment of silence. "It's not my fault this guy cancelled out in the last minute. Instead of complaining, you should be happy because we're keeping the money that the middleman was taking from us.

"You need to snap awake from your drama and stay on your toes. We are about to meet up with the one and only 'Green Doll.' He is the one in charge of the mob operations in the western side of the country. That means that he owns this whole state and the neighboring ones. You need to keep a 'yes sir' attitude for this guy no matter what he says because you can't fuck around with people like him. Or you can insult him if you want to disappear tonight and have the cops to find your dead body discarded on a highway two weeks later. Let's not many any more dramas when things are as easy as delivering the statue, picking up our money and then, we're out of here."

"So, It's a quick meeting and I won't see them again, right?"

"Yeah," Grodacio spoke while he scratched the back of his neck and looked outside.

Hearing that brought a bit of peace of mind to the gray bunny. But now that the adrenaline was setting down, Dalreto felt the pain that the tiger inflicted on him to reach higher levels. His sides ached by the mere act of existing.

"And how much time more do we have to wait? I want to go home already and take some damn painkillers," the wounded lapin asked.

"We're parked in the middle of Paradise Hills! You can't walk in here at 3 am and demand to talk with the city mob because you want to be home already," Grodacio replied with an annoyed tone while staring down at his cellphone.

Dal shook his head in frustration before recovering his side bag from under his footpaws to examine again the statue he extracted.

As soon as he examined the thing under the moonlight, the lapin lamented that he almost lost everything for such a grotesque thing:

A full body reptilian figure made of shiny onyx gifted with a muscular build that wore a mask at the top of his head and some kind of robe over most of his body. The reptile wore also several flowers around his neck. One of his arms carried an egg and the other held a blade by the hilt as the tip of the weapon was pressed against the floor. The stone reptile looked down to the base of his pedestal as one of his clawed feet was descending from it.

What made it unattractive for the lapin were the strange proportions it had on its shoulders, its hands and its feet. While there was something about it's presence that allured his demonic side, for his real self it was an eccentric toy that rich idiots bought at exorbitant prices to impress his stupidly rich ilk.

In any case, he was happy about ditching the thing right away.

Once Dal had enough of examining the stolen good, he decided to plot ways to break his business relationship with his fellow lapin while he waited.

But how can he say goodbye to the only friend he has had since he was a teenager? Gro was like the brother he never had. Someone who had to work as hard as him to scrape by in this cold, dark and merciless world.

Dalreto decided that the best option was to tell him that he wished to take a break from stealing and he would return in a couple of months. From there, he would work hard at his current job at a car garage until he is so involved with it that it becomes the perfect excuse to make it a permanent retirement from this lifestyle. He only needed the perfect moment to say it.

Out of sudden, an energetic and clear, electronic-styled chime rang from the hands of the white and orange rabbit. The sound increased its volume with every second it played. This caught the attention of both bunnies as the white and orange one interacted with his cellphone to respond.

A couple of moments later, Grodacio confirmed with a nod that it was time to go.

The white and orange lapin was the first one to get off of the van and Dalreto followed before being led along a stray alley. It was a path filled with broken glasses and filthy garbage cans filled up to the brim with trash along with discarded plastic bags. All of these items polluted the air with a foul smell. The lapin also noticed the city vermin was busy feasting on these things.

Once the lapins crossed this sea of garbage, Grodacio led his partner in crime to a detour to the left that presented an open area illuminated by two lights coming from each side. This kept one half of this open area well illuminated and the other one sunk in darkness.

After crossing from the light into the darkness, Dal was presented with another of those poorly kept houses, with a small and rusted, yet sturdy looking metallic door guarded by two alligators that stood before it like statues. They wore black vests and cargo pants. One of them held a half-smoked cigarette in his muzzle while the other only offered dead cold expression to the lapins.

The smoking reptile knocked on the door three times before returning to his post.

This action was enough for the rusted door to be unlocked from the inside and for another three reptiles to come out.

An alligator taller and slimmer than the rest appeared leading the trio, wearing also a black vest and jeans. His scaled body was embellished with tattoos and golden jewelry on his wrists, fingers and neck. The other two alligators were dressed in the same fashion as the door guards were, but these new ones were armed with large assault rifles.

This tall gator must be the so called 'Green Doll'

The first thought that Dal experienced was the fear of being shot right on the spot and to be dumped into one of those trash bags he saw at the entrance. But when the tall reptile offered a grin and a handshake to both lapins, his anxiety went down a bit.

"The boss loves efficient ones such as you," the Green Doll said with a tone that reflected his satisfaction. "May I see it now?" The tall reptile asked as his long, clawed hand adorned with a huge, golden ring and a thick, golden wristband decorated in diamonds stretched in expectancy for the onyx item.

The fearful gray bunny looked at Grodacio for approval. When his partner nodded, Dal proceeded to open his side bag and to hand over the onyx idol.

As soon as the black statue was set over that yellow palm, the Green Doll pulled the item towards him to examine it closer. At the same time, Dalreto appraised the jewelry that the mob leader carried in his hand and wrist.

For half a second, Dalreto fantasized about stealing all those jewels and pawn them off. He saw himself taking his beloved wolf to one of the many beautiful islands in Antastoria. He saw himself sipping down on a exotic drink while his wolf lounged in a thong next to him.

"No doubt that this is the one we were looking for, and it is so beautiful," the tall alligator spoke as he observed the statue with a wide grin of satisfaction.

This affirmation took the lapin from the beautiful and paradisiac beaches of Antastoria back into the dark and run-down Paradise Hills.

Dal failed to understand the obsession that rich people had with that ugly thing. Perhaps the secret to have lots of money was to have a taste for art pieces with horrid body proportions.

Once the Green Doll was satisfied with his examination, he gave both of them a nod before handing over the statue to one of his bodyguards while the other produced a paper bag from under his black vest.

"I am sure the big man will be more than pleased. Enough to want to congratulate you two himself," the Green Doll said as the paper bag was handled to the white and orange bunny. Grodacio was quick to hide the paper bag under his shirt without checking its contents.

Dal knew that the bag contained the money they've earned for making sure the statue had a new owner. But that money didn't bring any happiness to the lapin. It was dirty money that these reptiles earned by causing harm to others and he almost paid with his freedom to earn it from them.

The lapin was angry with himself because this was money that belonged to everybody else but himself. Money to pay off debts and leaving this terrible lifestyle behind.

He felt his spirits broken as he reaffirmed that all of his hard work of stealing from others for years netted him nothing but scraps for him to call of his own. He was ready to leave this empty life behind to find some happiness in the arm of his love.

"Of course, anything else you need retrieved, we're your guys to go," Grodacio spoke with pride.

"That's the spirit boys," the jeweled alligator praised the response before everything went silent.

Both lapins looked at each other before Dalreto assumed that the meeting was over. As the gray rabbit spent a moment thinking how to bid his farewells, the Green Doll was quick to speak once again:

"Say, why don't you come and join us?"

This nightmare can't be happening! Being shot and discarded among the trash cans would have been a better outcome!

"Regardless if the big man wishes another retrieval from you later or not," the Green Doll continued, "I would love to keep you two and your skills at my exclusive disposal..."

A quick glance towards Grodacio revealed a bunny with a wide smile and hands shaking in excitement. Regardless of his fear of angering these mob gators, Dal had to stop this train before it crossed the point of no return!

"I- I am not sure." The lapin had a hard time speaking as his stomach spun in all directions and his heart almost froze in fear. All eyes and snouts turned towards him to meet his words with confusion. The exception was Grodacio who leered down at him in anger.

"I really- I enjoy working as independent agent." Dal completed his idea left in midair before his intention was drown in his on fear and a sea of judging stares.

"Oh, come on little buddy," the Green Doll complained. "Don't feel like I am going to imprison you or something." The alligator sounded disappointed before falling into a reflective mood. A couple of seconds later, he pulled something big from his vest. "Here, if you say 'yes' here and now, this will be your welcome bonus."

The reptile stretched his hand to display one of the biggest and thickest rolls of money Dalreto had ever seen in his life.

The money transported Dalreto to a place more meaningful than an island. The lapin saw in his mind his fulfilled dream of being held by his lover as both of them wore overalls inside the mechanic garage that Dalreto works at.

The lapin saw himself and his wolf as the owners of that garage while four or five more anthros, also in overalls, were running around with car parts to fulfill orders while the place grows into a successful, thriving business that keeps both himself and his wolf lover busy and happy.

Dalreto smiled as he imagined himself finally living together with his love, for that money would be the golden ticket out of his and his wolf's problems.

The devilish temptation that once encouraged him to melt away the mind of the tiger now told him to take the money right on the spot.

While the money could purchase the freedom of his beloved one so they might sleep every night in each other's arms, it would also curse him to be a slave of the mob. A curse that eventually, he would have to pay with his own life, or with the sorrow of holding the lifeless body of his lover.

Dalreto shook his head as he walked one step back. This made the alligator to squeeze the thick roll of money in frustration, but he kept his ringed hand extended with the offer.

"I am sure you two have big and lengthy expedients at the local police system." The Green Doll continued with his offer. "We keep several anthros at the force in the payroll. We can make any problem you have with the police to go away like magic. I wish I could do that for myself, but since the feds are the ones behind my neck, the local police would shot me on sight."

Dal wasn't sure if it was his decision or if it was pure fear what kept him frozen. Doing or saying anything felt as scary as not doing anything.

When the mob leader grew tired of keeping his arm extended, he had no more option but to take his money back.

Instead of giving up entirely, the reptile pulled a tiny portion from the thick roll of money before stashing the larger portion back into his vest. He splitted what he separated before handling the first part to Grodacio and the remaining share to Dalreto.

"This one's on me. Take it as a tip for the swift service, mister 'independent agent'," the alligator mocked. Dal hesitated again, but an annoyed glance from the reptile was enough for the lapin to stretch his gray furred fingers to accept his 'tip for excellent service' before he stuffed those bills in the same bag where the statue was once concealed.

"Run now little bunnies, I have several business to sort before the sun rises. And think about my offer because it won't stand for long. Keep in mind that once you join us, there is going to be an endless pool of money from where that little tip and welcome bonus came from if you remain useful and loyal to me."

* * * * * * * * * *

"You imbecile! What were you thinking?!" An angry Grodacio shouted at the top of his lungs while he drove along the empty, dark streets of the city.

"Did you saw all that money? He was carrying at least $200,000 tonnes, if not more! What kind of imbecile do you need to be in order to turn down all of that money because you want to be a 'free agent' or whatever stupid crap you came up? What about me and my half of that money? Were you thinking about that? Of course you weren't thinking, you never think! That dumb fuck tiger must have hit you hard enough in the head to make you this stupid!"

Dal had seen his partner in crime mad several times before, but this was a whole new level of anger. He felt like the bunny was about to punch him in the face in any minute.

While he wanted to insult him back and yell at him with all the anger and frustration he kept bottled up, he didn't want to fight. He felt sore from the statue mission and too tired after all the consecutive works he had taken until tonight. Regardless of this, he still treasured his friend who has been his partner through so many difficult times.

Besides, what was he going to do? Yell at him and cry that he wanted to quit stealing because he had renounced to his demonic powers? That he decided to begin a new life by buying out the place he works at along with his same-sex lover? Even if he skipped the demon part, he knew that Gro wouldn't shut up about insulting him as a tail-chaser for being into guys. The lapin learned early that Grodacio was one of those closed minded, 'lineage pridist' kind of anthros who looked down on same-sex couples.

But this doesn't mean that he was going to take the verbal abuse either. His lover has taught him that he is worthy of respect and he should not bow down before all the insults that Grodacio launches at him in order to keep him happy.

"I am not in the mood to listen to your insults tonight." Dalreto attempted to calm the angry complaints. "I already had plenty of them while we were waiting for those gators, and I am beaten up and tired. Can we argue about this some other time?"

"What kind of fucking joke is this? Where is the fucking punchline so I can laugh? Dismissing this because you don't feel like talking? You will return with me to Paradise Hills tomorrow night and we're going to say yes to those hardbacks!"

Dal knew that his fellow lapin was mad because he used a speciest word to insult those alligators.

"And once we both say yes, you are going to take that money and give me my half of it. And you know why you're going to do it? You are going to do this because I deserve that money! And you also know why I deserve all that money? Because I am the only competent theft here! You are also going to tell those hardbacks to cleanse my profile from the the local police because they are behind my tail!

"And you wanna know why I am being searched? It's all because of your ineptitude sneaking into the places, like you almost being caught tonight! I have covered your ass so many times at my own expenses so you can walk out of those problems for free. I can't believe that all of my hard work and me being the mastermind behind everything we've done for so many years is being paid back like this. Betrayed when I was about to catch the break that I fucking deserve!"

Dalreto now felt his stomach to turn upside down as his throat closed in anger. He knew his secret to his effectiveness has been his demonic skills!

Even if he wanted things to be solved in peace, the mix of physical pain and anger pushed him to attack in automatic:

"So I am the useless one now? Look who's talking mister driver. I fucking quit, forever! Give me my money and get the fuck out of my sight for all I care! If you are so good on your own and so desperate for that money and that clean slate, go and sell your ass to those fucking mob parasites. You won't need me since you are the brilliant mastermind.

"The police is behind your tail because you deserve it for being so stupid! You are so useless that all you can do is to wait at the entrance of wherever I have to work and sit down like the fucking useless bag of garbage that you are while I take all the punches in the face!"

The wide eyes and the twisted muzzle on the white and orange lapin told Dal that he had hit his fellow lapin where it hurt the most.

Dal released a deep sigh once he had managed to both silence and wound the bunny he wanted to consider his close friend. But unfortunately, this was the opposite of how he wanted things to end between both of them. But since he started this, there was no way he was going to take his insults like he did in the past.

The rest of the trip remained awkward and as silent as the empty night streets were. When Grodacio parked outside of the tall, run down apartment building where Dalreto lived, the bunny pulled out the paper bag he received from the mob prior to count the money.

Once the money had been split in half, the white and orange bunny pushed the money with resentment towards the gray one who stuffed it away into his side bag with the same, bad attitude.

"This is far from over," Grodacio reaffirmed. "You and I have a lot to talk about-"

"We don't! This was our last raid," Dalreto said while clenching his jaw while trying to tolerate the physical pain he experienced.

"No! You don't know what is it like being chased by the cops," Grodacio said. "At first, they show up once. Then, they disappear for a week or so. After that, they show up more and more often at your place until you can't eat, sleep or fuck! All you can do is to be afraid that they're going to appear in the middle of the night into your house to drag your ass away into prison! You will get rid of them for me and that's not open for discussion!"

"Not my problem, I don't care." Dalreto attempted to contain his frustration out of this situation and get away from Grodacio at once. "Solve it yourself mister mastermind."

"Whatever; I'll be back in a couple of days. This is far from over."

Instead of prolonging the discussion further, Dalreto unlocked and pushed open the door of the vehicle. Once he was out, He shoved the door hard to close it and send his now former partner in crime away who was quick to take off and leave him alone in the dark street.

* * * * * * * * * *

After taking the painkillers he was in need to, the lapin rested his forehead against one of the tiled walls in his shower room. He allowed hot water to ran along his naked, slim, gray and white furred, and wounded body. At this point, making any kind of movement which involved his chest had the power to send sharp shocks of pain to every corner of his being.

But that didn't bothered him as much as his thoughts did.

Why did Grodacio exploded like that? For how long had his fellow lapin bottled up all those nasty feelings towards him? Why did he had to fight so savagely against his closest friend?

What does he has to do to make Grodacio happy? Get enrolled with the mob until he'd get disposed by the same alligator gang meanwhile Gro filled his pockets with all that money? What about himself? Was he meant to live a life of no happiness and unfulfillment like has so far? A life where his sole reason to exist was to steal and hide from society until he ended up either dead or in jail? Why did that mob guy had to try to recruit him out of the cold?

But that was not all. How could he have failed to notice the tiger stalking him in that dark office? How could he have lost the most important item that safeguarded his identity during his final job?

Dalreto squeezed and pulled on his own ears as his jaw tensed. Negative thoughts kept on jumping into the furnace of insecurity to fuel the stress assaulting his body and mind harder and harder.

Why were all of these terrible things happening during his final night? Why was so hard to straighten up his life? Was his relationship with his wolf not meant to be? Or is it the life of a thief the kind of life that you can't escape once you're in?

The lapin rolled his shoulders as he tried to relax, but the soreness he experienced wasn't helping at all.

He has been delaying this decision to abandon everything to be with his wolf for months and months. Did he still needed to wait more until things were perfect? He had no reason to keep on waiting and continuing with this cold and empty life if he had someone who loved him and wanted to spend his days together.

With difficulty, the lapin pulled his body back and allowed his facial fur to get soaked in the hot water all while he closed his eyes to remember something happy that could put his mind at ease. The lapin recalled the day he met his lover and realized that demon hunters existed.

Commissioned by some avian guy, he snuck into an old house to steal a book. Unknown to him, this house was the headquarters for a group of demon hunters. When he was trying to unlock the door to the office with his target, he was spotted by the canine that would become his wolf.

Dalreto smiled to himself as he remembered how he attempted his demonic mind draining tricks on the wolf, and the shock he went through when the canine proved to be immune to them. His wolf took that opportunity to wrestle him down into submission as he explained that the reason behind his immunity were his holy protection charms.

After the lapin showed himself incapable of overwhelming the wolf, he was forced to explain his presence in that place.

Instead of getting rid of him once he confessed his intentions, the wolf unlocked the door to the office and handed over the book. The wolf said that he disliked his boss enough to do such thing.

Dalreto would never forget the strange turn of events and the kindness shown by the wolf. It was thanks to that favor that the lapin earned enough money to secure the rent of this very same apartment where he lives so comfortably now. If it wasn't for his wolf, maybe he would be living somewhere like Paradise Hills.

After that fateful encounter, Dalreto found ways to keep returning to the wolf until they forged a special friendship. Dal could talk about things related to his demonic self that nobody but the wolf understood. The canine always was respectful, positive and treated him with the patience that nobody in his life, not even his own family, showed.

With this newfound love, the lapin had what he needed to turn his life right.

But meanwhile he took this decision, he spent less and less time with his wolf. Now, It was time to demonstrate to his love that he wanted to make it up for the lost time and to fully commit to him instead of losing himself to the criminal and demonic life.

He had done so many wrong things with his life, this was his last opportunity to be truly happy.

This meant that no matter how bad things were tonight. There was no room to change his decision. Instead of allowing the bad things that happened today to bother him, the bunny decided to contact his beloved wolf and give him the news and get the comfort he needed from him. He was going to show his wolf the love he deserved! He was going to send him a message soon as he finished his shower.

* * * * * * * * * *

The next day, the lapin woke up in the evening, fully rested and glad that the pills took away most of the pain that he felt. This relief also made him wonder if that tiger was doing well. Because there was no way for him to return and figure out, he wished the best to the feline before dismissing the subject off of his thoughts.

Today was his day off at the mechanic garage he worked at. So, he downed another round of painkillers and got ready to use his hard earned money to run all of his errands.

Remembering that he left a message for his wolf inviting him to have a tasty meal at their favorite cafeteria, he inspected his cell phone but found no new messages. He felt disappointed, but he understood that as a demon hunter, his wolf had busy nights and almost no time for leisure activities. And like him, he was also looking for a way to leave that kind of life behind and lead a much average one.

The lapin spent several hours of his first day as a retired theft at the bank, making all the payments that were due. Once all his debts had been erased, he stopped at the local supermarket to purchase vegetables and household items.

It was when he entered the building along the access hall towards the staircase that lead to his apartment that his cellphone notified him about a text message.

A short, yet confident smile and a warmth sensation took over Dal when a message from his wolf accepting the invitation for breakfast arrived. But the wolf asked to him to not to be late because he was now facing difficulties with his boss. So, he wouldn't be sure when he would have spare time again to be with him.

Realizing how bad things were for the lupine too, Dal understood that his wolf needed to be comforted and to be encouraged as much as he did.

As soon as Dalreto locked himself in his apartment and sat on his couch, he shut his eyes and hugged himself. He felt in his imagination the thick pelt of his wolf against his body, he smelt his nice, masculine and canine musk against his face, he bathed himself in his canine warmth and kissed those canine chops who were ready to comfort him in this difficulty times of change.

This auto-suggestion placed his soul at ease and a soft smile on his lips as it filled his heart with new spirits to face the world.

He only had to make it through the night with his imagination to make his vision a reality.

* * * * * * * * * *

Dalreto had risen from bed extra early to shower and to cover his fur with perfumed powder and to iron his best clothes which were a black, long sleeved shirt and some dark blue jeans in order to look perfect for his date with his love. He was ready to pay for both meals and spoil his wolf with the 'tip' he got from those mob guys. After that, he had to be at the garage, ready to keep on building his career.

Dal grinned as he imagined all the fun time he would have eating breakfast with the canine he loves so much, and he was ready for a good conversation with his wolf.

All he was missing was to double check his wallet and his keys in his pockets before-

A strong, angry force rammed against his door several times.

The lapin observed his surroundings before going silent. Was Grodacio here to continue to fight with him? Perhaps if he pretended that he is not home, that bothersome bunny would...

"OPEN UP IMMEDIATELY! THIS IS THE POLICE! WE KNOW YOU ARE THERE!"