TAMED

Something Different

Ares, Vince, and Levi were assisted into the estate. Despite his flawless obedience, Ares was led inside via leash. Vince just couldn't help but feel irritated about it, what was the kid even gonna do? He was a prisoner in his own head. All he wanted was for his friend to feel safe and secure. A strange kind of flutter grew in his stomach as he followed the teen in. 

Once inside, the security made their way back out with Levi's permission; guess he could handle it from that point. Vince looked around, the place was huge and clearly expensive. He was surprised by the victorian themed decor and furnishings. 

"This place was owned by an old man before I bought it. He was old and frail and the economy just didn't pay him enough to afford housekeepers anymore." Levi began as if he'd heard the boy's thoughts. The blonde listened as he took in his surroundings. The agent took off his jacket and slung it over the arm of a sofa. "He was the fifth generation in his family to inherit the estate, but his wife was never able to bear children, and therefore the home wasn't passed on to anyone else."

The man sauntered tiredly into the lobby and opened a cabinet, pulling out a bottle of scotch. "He left this for me, you're welcome to have a glass if you feel up to it." He said as he poured himself some of the liquid and took a seat on the sofa. 

"Ares, come." He said as he sighed, leaning his head on his right hand, quietly gathering his thoughts. 

The Hound obeyed and walked to his handler, standing silently at his side the way a butler would. 

"Ares, I want you to go take a shower, then go to bed and get some sleep." He instructed gently but with purpose. The Hound nodded dutifully and turned to follow the commands.

"Come here kid, I'll take those off." The man said to Vince. The younger complied and moved toward the agent who leaned forward and unlocked his handcuffs. Vince rubbed the stiffness from his wrists and sighed, taking a seat on the sofa across from him. 

"Look I-" Vince began but was cut off. 

"Listen." Levi interrupted, placing his cellphone and wallet on the end table beside him. "Don't do it."

Vince was confused, his crystal blue eyes met with the hazel ones of the man before him. None of this made sense, the least the man could do would be to speak clearly. 

"Don't get close to him. You'll only get hurt." Levi explained in as understanding of a voice as he could manage. "He isn't a normal person, you've seen this first hand. You could end up killed."

Vince moved his gaze to the cream carpet of the floor beneath his feet. For some reason, those words destroyed him inside. Don't get close? What did that mean? Were he and Ares even close? Still, something didn't feel right, it hurt. 

"I don't see why you think he's so dangerous. It seems like the only people who end up in danger are the people who want to hurt him." Vince defended. He wanted very much to argue this, Ares wasn't a bad person, he just knew it. 

Levi sighed again, something he seemed to do a lot. He folded his hands and sat back in his chair. A weary look on his Italian features. His long, semi-curly hair framed his tired face as he tried his best to relax. 

"The problem is, he doesn't seem to know the difference. If something threatens him, his response is to eliminate that threat."

Vince glared.

"So what he can't be taught to control himself?"

Levi returned the glare. 

"He was 'taught' to control himself from the day he was born. His life has been nothing but following orders and protocol, yet...he still managed to be 'defective' according to reports."