FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Dirty Laundry

Chapter Twenty One

By Roofles

Two hours ago…

It was brief, only a moment, but that single absence, that silence might as well have been a blowhorn in the boxer's ears. It droned on far longer than it should've making the canine begin to fret with worry.

“Logan?" No response.

What have I done, Clem could only think. Only dread.

“Come in? Over…" The boxer tried again. There was a crackle on the line but no response. “Logan? Are you there? Can you hear me, over..." Clem said several times into the radio set up in the back of the surveillance van.

The van itself was an old beat-up model that had its guts ripped out and replaced with something new and shiny. It was something Clementine had teased the human about when they first were partnered together. “Ugly on the outside, shiny on the inside."

Logan was sure enough to tease him back. “Reminds me of a certain dog," Logan had even flicked one of Clem's floppy ears as he brushed past the canine, just enough for their sides to bump and for the boxer to pull back embarrassed by the contact as their hands touched.

Humans didn't prefer the closeness canines did. Well, most didn't. This seemed to be one of those odd ducks that liked to play devil's advocate on the matter. Clem's face burned as the human leaned over his shoulder to look at the report they'd be working on together.

How many months ago was that? Years now? It was hard to say. Hard to tell. Logan had been part of Clem's life for such a long time, the idea that he wouldn't be there… the next day… it was a thought, a worry, a fear the boxer hadn't known until that moment of silence.

“Hey, Clem." Logan just smiled when he caught the boxer's eyes making the already flustered canine blush even more than he already was. The two of them had been assigned to the same case. “I'm glad to be working with you." Logan just said casually enough with a friendly upbeat tone and a warm smile that Clem wasn't used to seeing.

People didn't see him other than the dog he was. He was just a pet, a servant, a second class citizen to most humans. To be here, at the police station, working with a human? That was common place in their line of work. To be working with one who didn't talk down to him? Mock him? Shame him? Or be repulsed by Clem's very presence…?

How had Clem gotten so lucky meeting someone like Logan, even knowing why he was here wasn't the same as the humans.

Working with Logan for the past three years had been a trip in itself. At that time, those at the doghouse were a frequent mess of interchangeable canines. Most couldn't put up with their moody wolf Alpha. Others just couldn't listen or obey. Stray dogs. That's all they were. They were a common place thing; Clem knew very well about stray dogs in his life. His best friend, Togo, at the time was dating a human who not only was in a relationship but was going to marry her! It was one thing of drama after another, it seemed.

And the boxer was getting fed up with it.

He might've been Reese's childhood friend but even Clem had his limits. The wolf's mood would change as quickly as the other dogs did. Reese would somehow find these lost, broken canines and bring them home like the strays they were. Things worked out, at first, until the rules began to be enforced. Most didn't want to work; others were too scared of the wolf to do anything but whimper and some just wanted to sleep with everyone in the household!

Clem should've done something back then. Said something! Tell Togo just what to say, what to do about his situation! Get the guy to either dumb the bitch or move on. But Clem hadn't. He'd stepped to the side, looking in, and watched as the husky, his best friend, struggled to win the human over. Suffering in silence.

It was luck that Togo had managed to win Charles over. Clem was lucky Togo had. He wasn't sure how the husky would've managed if things hadn't gone as well as they did. Togo had been so happy with the human, so full of something Clem could only call a high of its own. And Clem hadn't helped him with it…

He stood there, on the sidelines, while his best friend tried to win a human over.

Then there was Reese. Clem had picked up a change in the wolf over the years, a shift in his personality. Whereas Reese had spent a great deal of time thinking about, dealing with and even hunting for his old pack mates… there came a time when he just stopped. With Clem's help, the wolf had buried away all his secret and tried to be… normal.

And Clem hadn't asked. He hadn't said a word as he helped pour cement into the new shack they had set up on the side of their house; pouring cement into the hole the two had dug in the middle of the night. Burying Reese's old life away underneath six feet of concrete. Hoping that, maybe, if Clem didn't say something? If he didn't ask… then he wouldn't get involved.

Still standing there on the sides when Reese brought his own human, Alan, over the first time. After that horrible night Clem, the police officer, found the wolf dripping blood in the garage with an unconscious human in the back seat. After what Reese had done to those responsible… and Clem hadn't even thought about calling the cops or reporting him in, no.

Clem had helped him, of course.

That's what pack did. That's what friends do. Clem had been hiding Reese's secrets from the police ever since he joined the force. This was nothing new. And yet, still, Clem had wanted to reach out to the wolf's back. To let Reese know he was there for him. That he was his friend and that, no matter what, he would be.

But he hadn't. He couldn't. No words came out when he opened his mouth wanting to support his friend…

The boxer had stood there, on the side lines once more looking in. Watching as everything unfolded. He didn't do anything, directly, no. He would stay on those sidelines. Hiding things from the police, burying Reese's secret and keeping his new family safe…

“Logan…?" Clem whined softly into the radio in his hand. He was shaking and Clem, despite himself in front of the other two canines, was trying to fight back the tears. Gripping his head, all Clem could think of was the worst case scenario.

How many times had he worried about Reese. Worried the wolf would never come back after one of his… outings.

Then Bale's brother had showed up out of the blue. Reese wasn't at home at the time no, that was why he'd shown up Clem knew instantly. He wouldn't lift a finger against Reese's new pack, his new family. Bale was a coward and would die as one as well. One of his goons however jumped the boxer and despite Clem's best efforts, he got a bloody lip for his efforts trying to protect Reese's pack and watch his back.

When Reese found out, he told the boxer he'd take care of it and… and Clem had let him. Standing there, bleeding from the nose as his pack, his alpha took care of the problem once more for them all. And all Clem did was stand there.

Stand there from the side lines looking in.

Clem was used to it. Getting into fights. Getting beat up. Getting bloody. Strangely, he was never one to bloody his own fists though. He was their punching bag. He'd take the abuse so that the others, those these people were looking for wouldn't have too.

“Logan? Please… answer me…"

How many scars did Clem have? It was funny really. None of these scars were because of something he had done. It was always others. Others that Clem stood in front of. Using his bulk, his body as a shield for them. He was a good police officer, he figured, despite hating the job he chose to take in order to protect the others, willing to sacrifice his own body to do so.

When Alan had gone to that place, The Brotherhood, Clem once more just stood there, on the side lines, letting others take care of it. “Reese can take care of it." How many times had Clem said that? Leaving the Alpha of their pack to deal with the issues. Covering his tracks, watching his back but never standing by his side… letting Reese carry that burden while Clem helped without ever letting anyone see his hand in the matter.

Just as Logan was now. Heading into that place all by himself and Clem… Clem was there, on the side lines, supporting but never directly helping him.

Was he coward?

Was that why he was sitting here now, in the surveillance van outside this abandoned factory? Was he afraid to go in there with Logan? He could've gone in! He could've put his foot down on the matter and just… just asked to come along too.

Why was it so hard to ask… to be allowed too? Was it because he, too, was just a dumb dog? Forced too, bred too, beaten too, trained too… to be a dog that'd never bite the hand that feeds, to listen and obey and a dog that would never cause troubles for others? All he wanted was to…

To be at someone's side instead of, forever, being on the side lines looking in.

“Logan?"

Is that why Togo had a man? Why even someone as fucked up and broken as Reese could find someone? Because at least they had the balls to try? Risk getting hurt time and time again so that, maybe, in the end… they wouldn't be alone?

While Clem just stood there. Standing there, on the sidelines looking in.

“No." The boxer growled, snarled and bared his fangs. “Dammit, no!" Clem shouted out throwing the radio down. “I'm going in!" Clem decided getting dressed. He put on the bullet proof vest over his uniform and grabbed one of their side arms.

“It's a little late for that," Copper the bloodhound felt the need to point out but didn't move to stop him. Like Clem, Copper was a guy who liked to let others do what they did while supporting them from the side.

They were just dogs, after all, in the end of things. Dogs that had always been told to listen and obey without question.

“I'll go too!" Hugo instantly jumped in, the German Shepherd more than happy to risk everything for something he believed in. If Clem thought he'd be of any use, he'd have taken the young officer along with him.

With a shake of his head, Clem declined the offer.

“I'm only going in to get Logan and the chief and get out." Clem decided to tell the other two. It was a lie though. He was never good at lying but the half truth at least helped with that, something Logan had taught him.

The boxer could care less about their boss. After seeing how the canine had nearly killed Logan, what he'd done to the mayor and now this… it was too much. Clem wasn't as soft as these other dogs were. He'd leave him to rot in this hell while he got Logan out. The two of them, then, could figure something out.

As long as Logan, his human, was safe… even Clem knew how fucked up that sounded and was glad he hadn't mentioned it to the other two dogs with him.

Clem stepped out of the van and made sure he had his nightstick with him as well; like the one Logan had threatened Reese with the police issued stun baton was developed to handle the larger species of criminals out there. And Clem wouldn't hesitate, this time, to use it.

Clem easily got into the abandon factory, nose twitching as he followed the smell of the human and the jaguar that had gone in with him several hours before. Clem knew he should've gone sooner. It was difficult, even now, to go through those open doors and down the slimy steps into the bowels of the city.

Every voice of reason, every fiber in his being was telling him to stop. To turn back. To call Reese and tell him to deal with it. As he always had. Leaving the hard work to the wolf and only stepping in to help clean up and cover up the mess Reese made of it. Bury and hide the evidence…

Like the good dog he was.

“You're the bestest damn dog I know." Logan words had touched Clem far more than the boxer had realized. That dumb, young human smiling at him as he slapped Clem on the arm in a friendly gesture. “I'm glad to be your partner in all this…"

The boxer should've listened, then, to Logan. To the human… to obey without question. Then Logan would call him a good dog, again. Just shut up and listen…

But Clem wanted to be better than that. Better than this. Clem would make a difference this time, no matter the cost.

He was thankful he'd had the smarts to bring a flashlight as the sewers were dank and dark, even his canine senses couldn't help navigate through these depths. Underneath earth and stone, buried away… like so many others Clem had helped Reese bury. It seemed fitting, in a way.

At least he had the right mind to bring a flashlight. The light helped see the scratch mark arrows marked in the walls pointing him where to go.

Clem's floppy ears perked up; his stubby tail wagged… Logan had left these! He was sure of it! The human had left him markers knowing that Clem would join him. That was why these were here. And with that thought bubbling up in his chest, the boxer proceeded down through the tunnels one after another with his head held high.

“I'm coming, Logan." Clem fingered the gun at his side. He'd do something this time. He'd make a difference. He'd help them and-

There was a dead end.

The boxer faltered in his steps, his mind going blank for a moment as he starred at the claw marks on the cement wall in from of him. Claw marks into a grinning face with X's for eyes. Buried down here underneath earth and stone, Clem found himself walking into a trap. Leaky pipes dripping nearby and the smell of something sour was in the air… Clem realized his mistake only too late as the sharp blow hit the back of his head.

If he had been a human, he was sure it would've knocked him out as the boxer stumbled forward into the wall.

Clem, bleary eyed, spun around with the flashlight in hand as he drew his gun. It was knocked out of his hand as the orange blur moved in on him.

“I suppose I didn't hit you hard enough, huh?" The tiger purred against the boxer's ear after slamming him back against the wall. He kept a hand firmly clasped over the canine's throat and Clem could feel the feline's nails digging into his loose hide along his neck as he was lifted off his feet. “You're far more… sturdy, than I took you for."

“Who…?" Clem couldn't focus. His head had been hit, twice now, and it was hard to think. To put two and two together. It was hard to see and it was getting harder and harder to breathe as that hand tightened around the boxer's throat.

“Shhh, it's alright. Just got to sleep." The tiger leaned forward, breathing against his ear. “I need some bait… in order to get him to come out of hiding." The cat-like sandpaper tongue licked over Clem's ear and the boxer shuddered, wincing as a soft whine left his throat. “Get Logan to come out and play with his old, dear friend…"

Mikhail didn't even see the baton as Clem snapped it open, the interlocking parts clicking together, before jamming it forward underneath the tiger's arm.

A yowl ripped through the tiger's chest and out his throat as he pulled back, convulsing from the sudden surge of electricity that was shot into his system. Clem didn't ease up; he didn't stop as he pushed forward with the rest of his strength ramming the two prongs at the end of the baton into the tiger's thick hide.

Clem wasn't sure if his strength failed him or if the tiger managed to knock the baton out of his hand but sure enough, he was shoved back against the wall with his weapon rolling across the floor out of reach. Disarmed, blurry eyed and cornered… Clem only wanted to help.

“You stinky little mutt!" Mikhail snarled in his face, his whiskers a curled mess with his fur standing on end. “I can't see him like this! I can't let him see ME like this!" The tiger spat to the side, drool dripping from his dagger like fangs. “I should just kill you now. Chop you up and send you piece by piece to him…"

The tiger nails dug into Clem's flesh, and he tried to pull back but the cement wall stopped him.

“Rip out your throat and just-," the tiger stopped as his eyes went wide, ears perking up. “Dammit all." He cursed, tossing Clem backwards and taking a step away.

It took a moment for Clem's jarred mind to grasp what was happening. The tiger bent down, stealing his gun and the baton away before turning his back on the officer and walking away. There was something there, Clem needed to stop him, but the world was spinning.

Then he heard it. Voices. Someone was coming.

The boxer tried to stand, forcing himself to his knees as his shaky arms tried to support his weight. He coughed several times before throwing up. It only made the shooting pain in the back of his bloody skull ricochet around his mind like a pinball. It made him almost hurl, again, as two guards came around the corner to investigate the noise.

Clem didn't have the strength to put up a fight as they came over.

All Clem had wanted to do was help but now it seemed he'd be needing rescuing too. He didn't know who that tiger was or what was going on anymore as they hauled him away towards the cells, they kept the “fresh meat" in.

“Logan… am I… a good dog?" And Clem blacked out.

….

Back in the present time.

“L-looks like we have an un-unexpected winner!" The bat just went on, trying not to lose face as if this all had been planned. The announcer threw out his arms, wings spread as he looked around the audience who weren't buying his shtick. “The human came to rescue his dog!" And there were a couple of jeering laughs at that.

Logan checked in with Clem, making sure he was okay. The boxer skull still hurt, his body ached, and he was glad for the save. Here he was trying to help and all he ever did was seemed to get in the way…

“But there's another dog that's here that no one came to rescue…" And that got a low murmur from the crowd and drew both of their attention to the far side of the ring.

The gate on the far wall of the old dog fighting stage began to open much to Logan's annoyance. It remained open but no one stepped out and all they could see was a dark tunnel leading further into the unknown. The human had been hoping that they'd come rushing in to stop him from joining in the fray or at least clean up the mess he made; why else had he gone overboard like that? Hacking the body of the Tasmanian devil into bits and pieces. No one seemed to mind his participation other than those who'd lost their bets.

“We were going to save him for the main show! With the prize on the line but it looks like…" The bat stopped, touching a finger to one of their large ears. “Yes. Yes, it looks like we have a special visitor. Don't you want to introduce yourself for the crowd?" The bat spun around to look at Logan. “Mr. Smith?"

Logan didn't even falter as he stepped forward. If they wanted him to play a part in this sick play, he was more than happy too. Under his own terms.

Clem being here, they knew who Logan was… the human didn't need it spelled out for him any further. Clem was just the bait to lure Logan out of hiding. It was far faster than he was expecting to reveal himself; in the best-case scenario he'd never had the need too. But it looked like a certain striped feline couldn't allow that.

If Logan's gambit had succeeded, he'd never had the need to expose himself like this. And if that was the case, Mikhail wouldn't be able to take control of the situation. If there was one thing Logan remembered about his old friend… was just how much he loved control.

This could work too, in a way, to Logan's favor. He needed to stall. To buy time for the wolves on the outside to get into position. None of those above were any the wiser, other than maybe Vicky, to what kind of bloodbath they were about to experience. And she was too distracted with her own fucked up problems to worry about them.

Walking forward into the middle of the stage, Logan gave a flourish spin and a bow towards the announcer.

“I wasn't supposed to be the final act," Logan just teased aloud so everyone could hear him. “I'm just the special of the day." He added on throwing out his arms. “Something far too spicy to stomach, something too filling to be handled by one carnivorous mouth." The human mocked as if he were an item on the menu, toying with the meat cleaver in hand. “Take your best shot at me. I'll cut and slice ya' to pieces for tomorrows brunch to go along with your little friend here." The human gestured at the mutilated corpse; the blood still fresh on the clothes he wore.

There were several murmurs from above, even a few laughs and someone clapping at his display. All mockingly so as they looked down on the human in a literal and figurative sense. Logan didn't find the situation to be amusing. Sure, he was one of the smaller species out there. But there was a reason why humans were on top and these… animals, weren't.

Dressed up as a waiter, covered in blood, wearing a bat mask Logan just addressed them all. Their attention and their amusement? If that was what they were after? He'd give it to them. Their wants? Their desires? He'd provide it all for these beasts. A performance and a show? He was an actor! He could capture them all in his web. He'd perform whatever sick role they needed him too. HHe'd do it all so someone else wouldn't have to suffer instead.

“I've laid with lions." Logan just went on stopping several people from laughing. “I've danced with wolves! I've hunted tigers and I've even dated a few, too." The human just went on dramatically. “I've swam with sharks, I've feasted on bulls and I'm only getting started!"

There was another murmur from the crowd above.

“Bet on me and make a fortune." Logan just went on, making sure every eye was on him and that they'd overlook the canine inching his way towards the open door on the other side of the ring. “I'll take on each and every one of you bastards, and still be asking for more. I'm insatiable…" He mocked, hatred dripping from his words. “Or do you not have a spine? Milo!"

His mask slipped both figuratively and literally as he gritted his teeth, baring his human teeth up at the crowd. He couldn't see any of their faces. The light from above blinding them from his eyes, turning them into nothing more than faceless silhouettes of the killers they were. He was sure though, somewhere mixed into the crowd was the tiger watching his performance.

Logan could feel his blood boiling. The only reason why Clem would be here, the only person who'd leave markers luring the canine in further… as they had done to Logan, would be that feline. Just another victim, another scar, Logan would have to carry until his dying day.

“Get down here and face me, you coward!" Logan shouted out, breathing heavily and taking several moments to look around the room. “You're just a scaredy-cat, like always…" Logan spat the words out. “Hiding behind others. Attacking the weak, the defenseless! You don't have the balls to face someone head on." Logan threw out his arms. “Come at me! I'm right here! No more hiding, no more running away. Come on down and-,"

“Look here!" The announcer cut him off, the bat holding the microphone hanging from above. “You can't just pick a fight without coordinating it through us!"

Logan turned around and threw the meat cleaver at the bat who quickly flapped out of the way just in time as it sailed by their face with a frightened squeak losing their bravado when their own life became threatened.

“Come on!" Logan just shouted out. “You're supposed to be big and tough predators, right?" Logan just mocked. “I got no weapon now! Come face me like a man! Or are you just that scared… Hiding down here? In the sewers!" Logan just called them all out. “What? To eat some meat? Guess what? The rest of us buy it from the store like civilized beings!" Logan just pointed up into the crowd, blindly and aimlessly from the bright light falling from above. Like a giant spotlight on him. “Get a nice glass of wine and a good juicy steak… up above! Not in the sewer like the filthy vermin you are…"

There were several snarls at that. Growls and curses thrown from above at the human who thought he could just come down here and ruin their good time. It only made Logan smile grow.

Good. Let every eye be on him.

It would give his partner a chance to escape from here. Clem could slip out, unnoticed while every eye was focused on the human in the ring calling them out. Clem could rescue the mayor. Logan knew, in the end, he'd die in this place anyways. He'd toss himself onto the dinner plate so the appetizer that was Clem could escape to safety.

“Pathetic creatures with their tails tucked in, declawed and fangless." Logan just mocked openly with a shrug and a shake of his head. Insulting them again and again as he berated them all for their spineless cowardly ways.

It was nice, for a change, to be able to vent like this. To open up and show them all who Logan really was. He wasn't afraid of them, no. He was very, intimately aware of what they were capable of. He'd play their game; he'd dance to their tune and he'd also be the one to stab them in the back first.

“Enough of this!" Someone spoke up, a harsh female voice that roared out from one of the corners. The amusement gone from her voice. Logan recognized it to be the lioness he'd seen at the table. Most likely trying to gain some semblance of control that Logan had stolen from the show. Stolen from them, from her.

This was, after all, her moment to shine. To showcase her strength and power before the other gangs so that no one would question her. Grown fat and lazy, letting a human take the reins away from them like this? It was a mistake she couldn't afford to cost. Logan was good at that. Stealing the show as it were. He did always know how to make an entrance.

“Get rid of this nuisance at once!" Lorrell snarled down at Logan from above. The human couldn't help but smile at that. Aggravating these carnivores was a guilty pleasure of his at this point.

“How about you come down here and do it yourself? Rather than sending young lions to do your bidding!" Logan called back. “The club went up in flames rather quick." He suddenly brought up. “I'm sure none of the other gangs had any… collateral damage in your blood feud." There was a snarl from above; at least he had someone's attention. “How many people died just cause ya' got butt hurt the wolves attacked you? Attacked you first, I should say." Logan toyed with the idea; it wasn't confirmed but he wouldn't be surprised if The Pride had been planning their own attack on the The Pack before the moment had been stolen from them.

Just as Logan was doing now, again, stealing the spotlight away from The Pride. It was easy to get underneath someone's skin when their very vice was in their namesake. Pride.

“Why you insolent little cur." Lorrell spat down at him, literally. Or maybe she was just drooling. They were, after all, just animals in suits. “I've coughed up hairballs bigger than you." Animals in suits pretending to be someone. To be anyone. It was pathetic, just as Vicky had said. “Chewed on bones bigger than your-,"

Logan almost felt pity for them. Huffing and puffing like this just to be noticed. Insolent spoiled children was all he could see them as.

“And I've fucked men bigger than you, lady." Logan called back not giving her a second of time to soak in her own retort. Not giving her the pleasure of backing down to her or bowing his head in submission. Not giving her a moment of the spotlight Logan had stolen from the lioness in charge.

There was a loud cackle of a laugh to their side and Logan was sure one of the two hyena sisters were taking great amusement in this. In a way, that too worked in Logan's favor. Having the hyenas openly laugh at the lioness in charge, was something else. An insult to their pride. Salt in the wound.

“I heard lionesses are the hunters of any true pride," Logan just continued with a knowing smirk. “Yet, at the club, I saw very few of them there. What? Men just too disposable for you?" Logan just went on. Finding someone's weakness was always a specialty of his and he knew how to get underneath someone's fur both in a good and a bad way.

There was the sound of shattering glass from above and Logan was sure she'd crushed whatever drink she had in hand. Lorrell hissed at one of the other lions but the announcer from before quickly cut in.

“Now, now. This is a neutral ground…" The bat made sure to remind everyone. “No one can just take charge of the situation. No guns allowed," they added and Logan was thankful for that as he was sure the lioness was about to shoot him on the spot.

Logan didn't bother to interrupt. He didn't need too. He could practically feel the anger from the woman above. Feel the energy in the room shifting and changing. Everyone was getting on edge; everyone was reaching for whatever hidden weapon they had smuggled in. All the gangs would like to pretend to be on friendly terms here out in the open like this, but they were all more than happy to stab one another in the back if the opportunity ever arose.

And Logan would happily create such an opening for them to devour each other for dinner instead of what was on the menu.

“Then start the show already!" Lorrell spat at the announcer, turning her anger on the bat who suddenly regretted speaking up on the matter.

Clem was already to the door as the two began to argue, the canine motioned, and Logan was already running towards the boxer planning on getting out in the confusion he had just caused. Logan didn't manage to take three steps before there was a loud “yip" as the boxer was thrown back from the entrance.

“Clem!" Logan ran over, standing above the dog's knocked over body to shield him from further harm.

What stepped out made even Logan falter.

Bound and chained, muzzled and gagged, with spiked black leather collars and straps wrapped around his body there was a pit bull. His fur had been dyed a shade of red matching the very blood Logan had spilled. He wasn't just thick, he was massive and Logan knew that whatever they'd done to this canine wasn't exactly legal. Muscles bulged through his fur leaving large patches of skin exposed with throbbing veins as the canine struggled against the bindings they had somehow managed to get him into.

“Well fuck me silly and call me Sally." Logan took a hesitant step back. Clem just gave him a look at that.

“Back before this place was rightfully taken away, the human's had dog fights down here!" The announcer began as Logan backed away with Clem from the mutant looking pit bull that stepped forward into the ring.

Chains were connected to the muzzle on his face, the collars around his neck and along the harnesses tied around his front and back; they had bound his hands with the very same harness looking more like a straight jacket than anything else. One of the chains rattled and gave a sharp pull. There was the sound of something clicking, unlocking and Logan stepped back as the first chain was pulled away and the pit bull's right arm was freed.

“They would place bets on these canines! These dogs! Fighting down here, underneath the city. All these dogs wanted was to please their masters. Willing to do anything for them! Politicians, police officers, the old mayor of the city… it didn't matter! Everyone knew about it, they relished in the shows that were put on!" The announcer continued as another chain was pulled free and the bulging arm of the pit bull ripped free of his bindings.

“Uh…" Logan just said, a bit unsure what to do in this situation. He wasn't exactly practice in fighting a truck.

“Plan?" Clem hesitated, hiding behind the human as the two just stared at the pit bull foaming at the mouth. His eyes were locked onto Clem and no matter where the two moved, the canine was just giving a death stare at the other canine. “What did I do?"

“I think he likes you." Logan just tried to joke as he desperately tried to formulate a plan.

“But dogs fighting got boring, fast." The announcer continued. “So? So they decided to… juice things up!" The bat laughed and it clicked in Logan's head.

This pit bull, this ex-dog fighter, wasn't just naturally big, no. He had been juiced and shot up with who knows how many kinds of steroids to give him a body like that. Even for a pit bull, the canine had to be as large as a buffalo and Logan wasn't sure how that was even physically possible. He wouldn't have believed it if he weren't seeing it now.

“Inbred," Clem muttered behind Logan getting a look. “Humans used to do it to us… all the time. They'd take the purest of breeds and inbreed them into… that." The boxer dared to point a finger and Logan followed it over towards the canine that would've put a Greek god to shame.

“Hercule is one of those left behind!" The announcer said. “You see, most dogs just love humans!" The bat mocked. “But not Hercule, oh no no no! He's one of those rare… breeds. He hates humans! The only meals he'll eat anymore! He is the dog that bites the hand that feeds him!" And the announcer just laughed as the last chain was pulled away.

The chain rattled along the floor, quickly being pulled back through the bars and out the doors with the pit bull's muzzle with it. Hercule was still wearing a mask but his jaws were free now and he snapped his teeth several times as he looked between the two in front of him as if unsure which he wanted to feast on first.

“They were going to have the mayor fight this guy?" Logan just frowned. “Not very sporting of you, is it!" He called up without daring to take his eyes off the canine.

If he got hurt, would… anyone bother to save him? Logan wasn't sure. He wasn't sure if Mikhail would bother. The tiger defiantly wouldn't lift a finger to save Clem, but some small piece of Logan dared to hope the tiger wouldn't be cruel enough to leave him utterly defenseless against a monster like the one before him.

Hercule took a step forward and once more the other two found themselves backing up.

“Plan?" Clem asked again, cowering behind Logan as the human tried to think of a possible escape for the boxer.

“I'm thinking…" Logan gritted his teeth as he came up empty handed. The walls were too slick, too tall to climb, and the fence above would make it even harder to get out before someone stepped in to force them back into the ring. Unless Logan could somehow throw the canine.

The exits were locked and there was a killer dog in front of them.

“Wish I hadn't thrown that chef's knife away," Logan half joked as he took a timid step forward. The pit bull's ears perked up. Both of them were gnarled and chewed to the point Logan could only guess that's what the tuft of fur used to be.

Logan slipped out of his bloody vest and held it up to the side like a cape.

“Ole, ole!" Logan waved the vest to the side. The black vest was dyed red with blood that still dripped from the front. “Come at me big boy."

Hercule didn't, instead turned and focused his full attention on the boxer who was cowering against the wall.

“I will punch you!" Clem barked out and only got a smile, dripping with drool, in return as Hercule rolled one shoulder. Then the other. Then, without warning, charged.

Logan was already stepping in the way, sliding into the goal along the dirty dusty floor and could actually feel the impact of the pit bull's leg hit against his own. It was like a truck. A truck of pure muscle and bone and fur and hide as Logan tripped the pit bull, forcing them to fall on their face.

His leg hurt but Logan tried not to let it show as he pounced onto the pit bull's back. The canine barely even seemed to register what happened as they just stood back up with Logan on his back. Hercule shook his jowels, spittle and foam flying through the air as the human tried to choke the canine out from behind. Their neck was too thick and, Logan swear, it was flexing to prevent him from getting a firm hold.

“Fuuuuu," Logan could only cry out as he was grabbed by an arm and unceremoniously thrown to the side like a sack of potatoes. Logan hit the floor hard but rolled back to his feet, letting the momentum carrying him back into a standing position. He had his fists up but the canine, once more, showed no inclination of even registering that he was there. “The hell?"

“Help!" Clem barked out as he ducked as a solid punch hit against the concrete wall. Logan jaw dropped, Clem's eyes widening as the wall itself cracked from the force of the punch. The pit bull's knuckles were bloody and yet didn't even bother to look down at them. “He's gonna kill me!" Clem just whined as he took off running.

“Don't run from a dog!" Logan rolled his eyes at that as the instinct to chase seemed to kick in and the pit bull took off after Clem. Thankfully due to his weight and size, the pit bull was slow as hell and the boxer was easily able to run laps around the canine chasing him. Literally.

Clem took off running circle around the ring with the brute chasing after him with grabbing hands outstretched and a drooly tongue looking more like a pervert than anything else.

“The fuck do you want me to do?" Clem just growled as he ran past the human just standing there. Logan thought about tripping up Hercule again but decided against it. The fact the canine was built like a brick wall would mean his leg would snap before the pit bull did; it still hurt from his first attempt.

“Just give me a moment." Logan just said watching as the boxer continued to run away from the lumbering mass of fur, drool and flesh chasing him. Hercule passed by Logan again and still the canine didn't seem to see him. “His nose doesn't work…" Logan noted as he watched. “His eyes aren't the best… but he's still able to follow and track Clem…"

“Any time now!" Clem whined out, huffing, and panting as he continued to run laps.

“Yeah, yeah. Just don't let him get you." Logan muttered as he watched. The pit bull was unchained, literally. The fact they had made such a showcase of releasing him wasn't the issue, that was part of the performance, he was sure.

It was the fact no one else had come in. Not a single person had come in to clean up the Tasmanian devil body or to get Logan. No one had even come in with the next contender and it was the pit bull himself that had to stop Clem from escaping.

The dog, this fighter, was clearly a menace to their own people. He was just a showcase to toss out at the end to clean up the mess. He would've fought the mayor, another human, so it couldn't be that.

Then Logan dared to risk it as he reached up and undid the mask on his face. Grabbing it, he pulled it off and only at that, when Hercule came around again, did the pit bull look over at him.

“Sup." Logan gave a smile before diving out of the way of the bull, or pit bull, charging him. Hercule hit the wall hard and shook several tables above. “Clem!" Logan called out as he ran over towards the boxer trying to catch his breath. “Put this on." Logan was already putting the mask on Clem's face. The muzzle made it a little difficult too.

“What are you doing?" Clem just said looking past Logan at the pit bull getting back up.

“Saving you, duh." Logan patted Clem's head before turning around towards the canine. “Humans made this mess… only seems fitting we clean it up too," and Logan reached into the back of his pants. Not into a pocket but into the pants themselves getting a look from Clem.

That was until he pulled out the metal handle of the switch blade Domino had given him. With a press of a button the knife popped out the end and Logan got into stance.

“What do you need me to do?"

“Nothing. Just stand there and look pretty." Logan just smiled. Clem whined. “It's fine Clem. You're a good boy." And Logan looked away from the boxer who could only stand there, on the side lines, once more…

Bosch had taught Logan a lot of things over the years the two had known each other. One of them was how to take a punch. And no more than now was Logan glad that the jaguar had.

Despite the switchblade slicing through the pit bull's thick red dyed furred hide, it seemed to do little good against a dog that didn't value its own life. The punch was heavy, the pit bull throwing his full weight into it as he brought it up along Logan's side. The human was already moving with the punch, pushing off with it and still, it hurt.

This hurt.

As he hit the ground, rolling back up onto his feet. That was the only thought he could think as his brain tried not to fall out from the blow. This hurt. Logan was used to pain and didn't let it show as he wiped the blood from his cut lip.

A single punch had nearly taken him out and he could taste blood in his mouth.

Spinning the switch blade around Logan moved forward once more. The knife bit into the pit bull's arm, sliding down it like, well, a knife through butter as the blood gushed from the open wound. Logan had landed the hit, dealt the damage, and still felt as if he'd been the one to lose the tradeoff.

Another blow came and Logan brought an arm up to block it, to deflect it off to the side so he didn't take the full brunt force. It hurt. The blow made his whole arm go numb for a second as he stumbled backwards. Just as he did the pit bull spun around and Logan wasn't fast enough to react as the heel of the canine's bare foot connected with his side.

Logan felt as if they'd broken instead of hearing it. His ribs screaming out in pain as the human was flung towards the other side of the ring. Rolling once more, this time Logan couldn't find his footing and nearly slipped back to the floor as he held his side breathing heavily.

“Fuck…"

Logan cursed, wincing from the pain in his arm. The pain in his side as he held his bruised, hopefully not broken, ribs. The pit bull was taking the knife wounds like a champ, he had to admit. He almost laughed, a weak smile pulling up on his face as he winced once more forcing himself to stand up.

“Not so high and mighty now, are you?" Lorrell laughed from above. Hell, it might've not been her. It was hard to focus, hard to see as Logan staggered a bit before finding his footing.

Bosch had trained the human how to take a blow, sure. But the jaguar's advice, although not helpful right now, rung in his ears.

“You're just a human. No matter what you do, no matter how much you eat or work out… there will always be limitations you will face. Just as I, as a jaguar, might face different ones from you. You can't escape how you were born…" Bosch words weren't exactly useful right now but, in a way, Logan understood them in that moment more than he had in his entire life.

“Just a human," Logan huffed under his breath looking forward. He brought his hand up and bit down on it, hard. The pain brought some rational thought back to his addled mind. The pain flooded his system with adrenaline, the rush of it hit him as hard as the pit bull had. “I'm officer Logan Smith!" He shouted out to those watching. “You bastards ate my brother! Once I'm done here… I'll fucking kill the rest of you too and add them to the pile!"

Logan stood up, lifting the only weapon he had available as he backed up, just enough for his foot to hit something on the ground. A quick glance told him what it was, and his own heart sunk thinking of what he could do to save his own skin. Sure, he'd announced who he was. They already knew. They knew who he was. If he didn't kill them now? They'd hunt down him and his remaining family, he was sure.

So, all he had to do was track down each and every one of these bastards and kill them. Easier said than done as Hercule let out an animalistic roar and charged once more. Logan was sure the canine couldn't even speak after everything he'd been through.

Logan almost felt pity for the canine running at him. His mouth was foaming, he was covered in blood, his muscles were bulging unnaturally and there were several veins nearly popping out of his thick neck as the mad dog charged him.

Logan spun the dagger around, catching the bloody blade in his fingers and threw it as hard as he could aiming for the canine's eyes. He didn't need to hit him, he didn't need the dagger to stick, no. That wasn't the point of a distraction as he ducked down, nearly keeling over from the pain of the movement and grabbed what he'd spotted.

Hercule covered his face with the bloody arm, charging forward blindly and snapping his jaws. Just as he brought down his arms, closing in on the human in the ring did Logan swing the makeshift bat he'd found in the middle of the ring.

Taking the Tasmanian devil's arm with both hands, Logan used all his strength to drag, lift and throw the mutilated corpse at the canine. There was a sickening rip of fur and flesh as the weight of the marsupial dead body weighed down the bloody, nearly hacked off arm until Logan could feel the sinew and cartilage ripping free from the shoulder joint to the point Logan was just swinging their arm with all his strength.

It connected.

The thick arm connected with the bottom of Hercule's jaw and the canine foaming muzzle snapped shut on his own drooly tongue. The pit bull's eyes widened as he bit off his own tongue, the chunk of muscle flying through the air.

Logan was surprised how often that worked. These animals didn't seem to care about such weakness when they were fighting. A trained professional might, not a mindless beast like Hercule had been turned into.

“Hah," Logan managed to breathe out. Only to be tackled by the canine anyways. Anyone of sound mind would've pulled back, react to biting off their own tongue. This canine was already gone as he landed on top of the human.

Logan's breath was knocked out of him, and he cried out in pain as the pit bull's elbow landed on his bruised side. Before he could even gasp for air, two strong hands closed around his throat and began crushing it. Spittle dripped from above as the pit bull snarled down at him. Blood and saliva dripping from his muzzle as Hercule began choking him out.

“Clem…" Logan tried to say, tried to reach out and grab something as he clawed the ground helplessly with the larger canine over him.

“Limitations…." Bosch's words seemed to echo as his vision became blurry.

“Dammit, not like this…" Logan tried, grabbing the ground blindly for something. Anything as his lungs began to burn and scream out. Even if the pit bull did get off him, Logan worried his windpipe would be crushed beyond repair at this rate. “Clem…. Domino… someone… anyone…"

Milo…

Logan's fingers went limp as he felt the brush of leather against the tips of his fingers and in the next second the heavy weight on him was lifted off. There was a snarl as someone roared out, grabbing and clawing at the pit bull as they ripped Hercule off the human's body and tossing the large pit bull off to the side.

The human whole body arced as he took a painful gasp of breath and his eyes shot open. He never knew oxygen could taste so good.

Logan recognized the roar, or thought he did. He knew it to be that of a male feline and cracked an eye open, wheezing as he tried to catch his breath, rubbing his throat with a hand.

“Milo…?" Logan said his name, feeling far younger than he was in that moment as he looked up into the blindly light above him and at the male silhouette standing over him. They were large, imposing and looking down at him. Their seemed to be a… crown, around their head?

It didn't make sense until they spoke and Logan realized it wasn't a crown. But a mane. A mane of golden, black tipped fur as the lion said his name.

“Logan." Sloan voice was unnaturally soft and Logan could feel sweat dripping from his brow and it wasn't because of the bright bulb from above.

The human's voice caught in his throat. What he thought was sweat had been tears as he looked up into the face of his boss.

“Sloan… Sir…" Logan just managed to choke out, coughing several times as he tried to sit up.

“Just stay there." Sloan voice had a deadly calm to it, like the eye of a storm about to hit as the lion turned to face the pit bull staggering back to his feet. “We have a lot to… discuss, after this."

Logan just nodded as he shuffled back. Clem quickly came over to help the human stand up.

“I'm sorry!" Clem whined softly. “I froze. I saw him and yet I just couldn't…"

“Are you hurt?" Logan just asked, his voice hoarse from nearly being choked to death. Clem's face fell at that as the human asked if he was okay. “I'm glad." Logan wheezed out. “Don't worry, I won't let them hurt you." And Logan patted the boxer on the head as if he were nothing more than a pup that was lost in the mall and Logan would help him find his parents.

“Right…" Clem only said as Logan took one hand in his, standing in front of the boxer as he rubbed his throat with his other hand. The two watching as the large lion squared off with the pit bull in front of him. “You think Sloan can take him?"

“Honestly… I have no clue…" Logan admitted as he watched his boss square off for a fight. “I'm just glad he's here…" The human could feel nothing but gratitude for the predator who'd showed up to save his life.

Not wanting to think about how he'd thought, if only for a split second, it had been Milo…

Logan just hoped when the time came, before this all was over, he'd be able to face Mikhail without hesitating as he'd just done.