Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ice had an itch in his bones the second he got out of his plane. It was a jittery, achy feeling; not completely unlike touch starvation, except it made him more bright-eyed than jumpy.

Slider caught it immediately, judging by the way the older man ushered him into the showers first. Ice sent him a small, grateful smile, buzzing with the need to shift. To just forget about classes and this competition and lay in a patch of sunlight; preferably on Ron’s bed. He hurried through his shower, receiving an amused nod from Slider when he skipped over fixing his hair entirely, instead slipping into a t-shirt and sweats and sweeping out. He caught a couple playful jeers about where he was rushing off to that he ignored, leaving for Slider to handle in his stead.

As soon as their door was closed behind him Ice shifted, stretching out happily with a low purr. He padded into the bedroom, pleased that there was indeed quite a bit of sunlight streaming in and that it did fall on Ron’s bed. He leapt up, taking only a second to find a fitting spot before he curled into a tight ball, heaving a contented sigh as he waited for his RIO to return.

Footsteps and noisy conversation in the hallway had his ears perking ten or so minutes later, but he didn’t bother lifting his head. None of the voices or footsteps were Ron, they were of no consequence to him.

That was, until he clearly heard their door open. 

Tom’s head snapped up, ears perked and eyes wide as he heard those voices suddenly become far clearer, as if…as if they were in his barracks.

They were in his barracks.

Heart pumping hard in his chest and body already trembling with adrenaline, his lips peeled back in a snarl as he jumped up, ready to change back and ask them why the hell they were coming into his barracks without permission, when Bubba poked his head into the bedroom.

Ice froze, staring wide-eyed at the RIO, whose face twisted in a disgusting grin.

“I told you guys Kerner’s cat would be here!”

“Actually? You found him?!”

“Yeah, I found him.”

The words were dark and foreboding and Ice’s ears flattened against his skull, lips peeling back in a snarling hiss and puffed tail lashing threateningly.

The RIO just chuckled, crossing the room in a handful of large steps. 

“Here, kitty, kitty.”

Ice leapt from the bed, darting past the man and artfully dodging the kick aimed at his ribs on his way. He skidded towards the bedroom doorway, only for a hand to swoop out of nowhere before he could cross the threshold, scruffing him roughly and jerking him off the floor.

“I got ‘im!”

It was Cowboy who whooped as Ice was swung around, yowling at the sharp pain in his neck and the sudden lack of control. He hated the helpless feeling sinking in, it was the very reason he’d stopped shifting alone. The reason he always had Ron with him when he was out in public.

But he hadn’t been in public.

He’d been following the rules.

And it still wasn’t enough.

He still wasn’t safe.

“C’mon! Give ‘im here and we’ll get this on ‘im!”

“Yeah, c’mere, kitty, kitty. We brought a present for you!”

Ice snarled, twisting his body and swiping at every hand that came too close. There were a couple of yelped curses and then the hand around his neck was slamming him into the wall hard enough to stun him.

“Grab his legs!”

“Quick, ‘fore he starts kicking again!”

Ice tried to growl, but it sounded more like a whimper, even to his ears. The room was spinning and his skull was throbbing and he had no control as his legs were grabbed and squeezed together hard enough for the bones to radiate pain.

That’s gonna bruise.

Before he was able to tell which way was up there was a thick, heavy strap being tightened around his neck and suddenly he couldn’t think about anything but getting air.

“It’s on ‘im!” 

“Good, now c’mon! Before Kerner gets back!”

He snarled again, bucking as he was forced into a burlap sack. Then there was nothing but rough cloth surrounding him and he had no room, had no space to even breathe or maybe that was the collar digging into his throat and he was being bounced and jostled and unseen hands were hitting him everywhere he turned. Ice lost track of his kidnappers’ conversation, then, too busy fighting not to hyperventilate, because if he did that he really wouldn’t be able to breathe and the only thing he could think of that would make his situation worse would be if he passed out.

The moment light spilled in Ice was lunging for the opening, snarling and hissing and clawing in a desperate attempt to escape.

Just as quickly the light disappeared, the bag closing and he was left confused and trembling…right before being hauled off the ground and slammed into a wall.

A wail escaped at the impact, and the next time the bag was opened he made no move to attack the hands reaching in to grab him, too busy fighting back the urge to curl in a ball and trill for Ron to save him.

Laughter was loud in his ears, the hands restraining him more merciless than anything he’d felt since he left his Father’s house. Ice barely got a glimpse of his surroundings–dark, grimy, brick, the smell of danger sharp in his nose, the air stale, like the alleys he’d slept in once upon a time–before he was again trapped, everything dim. His only source of light was a crack above him and a small hole near his feet. 

It took a long moment of panting for breath before he was able to tune in once more to his surroundings. The first thing he noticed was the heavy scent of gunpowder, so thick he could taste it and as his eyes adjusted his ears pressed impossibly closer to his head.

He was surrounded by firecrackers.

A whimper escaped him as he looked around, reasoning that he was in a box that smelled like cardboard. Pressing up against the top of it was enough to figure out that there was something heavy holding it closed, keeping him trapped.

He hated being trapped. Hated feeling helpless. Hated being at someone else’s mercy.

He’d thought he was safe from that once he left the Admiral’s. Thought that without Father and with Ron he’d be protected. 

But even that wasn’t enough.

Ice swallowed hard, wincing at how tightly the collar was digging into his neck, the feeling far too much like Father’s hands closing around his throat. He could hear the voices of the four who’d captured him, but the words were too indistinct to make out.

But then came a noise that he could recognize even above the sound of his thundering heart.

The distinct ‘click’ of a lighter, followed immediately by the sizzle and pop of string burning down.

They lit the firecrackers.

He yowled, desperately hoping someone would be nearby who would realize what was happening and stop it.

But good people don’t exist in this world.

He was reminded of that fact the moment the first firecracker went off, practically under his feet. And then all he knew was loud bright burning and everything hurt and he could smell smoke and the way his fur was tinging and he felt himself shaking and it was too much.

He’d need to shift if he wanted to escape, but was it worth it?

If he survived but they knew about him, he’d be worse than dead.

But then the collar digging into his throat sparked and the next thing he knew the burning was outside and inside and all his muscles were being torn at and he had no control over his body and everything was just flaming, overwhelming pain.

He thought he heard himself screaming above the sound of the explosions going off under him, but he couldn’t be sure. 

But then, somehow, between all his desperate thrashing and the blasts of the firecrackers, somehow the box tipped and Ice saw his chance and bolted.

He ran, heart beating out of his chest and entire frame burning as he pushed himself as fast as he could go, his only thought to get away. 

After an infinite amount of time running a familiar scent had him skidding left, hitting a wall hard enough to rattle his brain, but not caring in the slightest. All he cared about was the door that was opening ahead of him, his last bit of energy going into getting there.

He had to find Ron.

He hit someone’s ankles on his way in, heard a too-loud yelp above his head, blood pumping in his ears as he raced for the first corner his gaze locked on. Ron’s scent was strong here and that was all he needed to know he could let the fear take over.

Ron would take care of him.

oO0Oo

Slider’s head had snapped up when Mav yelped, as had everyone else’s, but the last thing he’d expected to see was Tom tearing into the room like a bat out of hell, something large and black and unfamiliar around his neck as he darted for the far wall. Slider was moving before he knew he’d lifted his feet, approaching the now-cornered cat.

Ron dropped into a crouch, ignoring the clamor behind him as he scanned Tomcat. Burning hot rage surged through him when he noticed that the feline’s fur was burnt, clear to the skin in some places.

“Tom? Tom, you hear me? C’mon, bud, look at me.”

Tom didn’t. Instead, as soon as he was cornered he started spazzing, flipping and jerking and pawing helplessly at the collar locked around his neck. Distraught mewls left him with each gasping breath and Ron’s chest ached with the desire to take his kid’s pain away.

Slider’s gaze zeroed in on that black strap, and he realized after a lucky glimpse of the flailing feline that it was a shock collar.

Someone put a shock collar on his pilot.

Ron’s expression became mutinous in a heartbeat, but when Tom jerked back against the wall, body stilling as he screamed? Slider was positive that noise would be the soundtrack for all his future nightmares.

He barely registered the exclamations behind him, reaching forward with soft murmurs, fingers searching as Tom shook from the electricity currently pumping into his body. He finally, finally, found the clasp, tearing the collar off Tom’s neck.

The second he had the collar free of his pilot a familiar glow enveloped the distressed feline, and in a moment he was faced with his shaking, panicking brother, instead of the charred cat.

Slider didn’t even have a chance to worry about Ice shifting in front of so many people, the blond’s distress so obvious it became his only priority.

Slider tossed the shock collar behind him and heard a sharp curse. “They’re still using it!”

A boot came down hard on the mechanism and Ron knew without looking that he didn’t have to worry about it anymore. It reassured one small part of his mind, hearing the venom they had towards that inhumane tool.

“Tom, Tom, hey, bud, look at me. C’mon, honey, you can do it.”

Slider didn’t dare touch him before knowing that Ice recognized him, the pilot’s gaze was too wild and hazy, face frighteningly pale while his neck was dark and obviously burnt. 

Low whimpers were leaving the blond unbidden, one hand cradling his bruised throat while his other arm curled around his chest, knees tucked up close. 

“Tom? Tom, c’mon, bud, it’s alright.” Ron tried, hoping the constant stream of reassurances would somehow break through the fog in his pilot’s mind. He kept talking, grateful that the others were staying silent and still. Slider wasn’t even sure if they were breathing at this point. All he knew was that the less unhelpful stimulation the better to get Tom out of the panic he was locked in. 

It took an age, but finally Ice showed some sign that he heard Slider’s low voice, ragged breaths slowing to a fast pant rather than the desperate hyperventilating, the grip he’d claimed on his t-shirt loosening hesitantly.

“Ron?” Tom’s voice was soft and wrecked, nervous blue eyes peeking at him over his knees and Slider was positive he heard his heart shatter in his chest.

“There you are. Just keep breathing, honey, you’re alright.”

A couple heavier, faster gasps as Tom raised his head, right hand still protecting his neck. Slider opened his mouth to speak, but then Tom’s head snapped towards the door and he paled impossibly more, a whine building in his abused throat. “Ron.”

“Showers. Get in the showers, I’ll take care of it.” He hurriedly hauled the blond to his feet, doubt flickering through him when he felt how hard Tom was shaking, but then Wolf stepped in, offering a hand, but making no move to touch Ice just yet.

“C’mon, they’ll deal with the bastards. I’ll stay with you.”

Slider sent him a grateful look and was glad that Ice only took a second to hesitate before deeming Wolf sincere. He’d known that Ice had been testing them before, but none of them were expecting for this to be the way they found out.

Wolf took the younger man’s weight easily, hushing him under his breath as he led him out of sight. Ice was trembling harder than Wolf thought possible and Leo tugged him closer, carefully guiding him into a stall in the hopes that the small, enclosed space would help the pilot feel safer.

Out in the locker room they heard the door slam open, the loud conversation between the four who entered immediately snuffed out, leaving an eerie silence in its wake. Ice had flinched beside him and slowly Wolf pulled him into a hug, hushing the blond again when Ice whined softly. It was beyond out of character, but the younger man had just been electrocuted and clearly wasn’t fully cognizant yet, otherwise Wolf knew he wouldn’t allow himself to be led so easily. Ice remained stiff and quivering in his arms, but when Wolf strengthened his hold he pressed closer, chin on Wolf’s shoulder, head moving back and forth a moment before stilling.

Out at the lockers Slider’s expression was stony, umber eyes ablaze as he watched the four men who’d entered. They caught sight of him, trying and failing to hide their snickers.

Beside him, Goose growled under his breath and Mav snarled. Hollywood’s arms were crossed, his pissed expression perfectly mirrored by Chipper and Sunny.

“Why so moody, boys? Something happen?” Woody chuckled, raising his hands in a playful surrender.

“Looks like the cat’s got their tongues.” Cowboy crowed and they all laughed, laughed at the pain they’d caused.

“Why the hell did you hurt my cat?” Ron growled, stepping forward. The four must’ve been suicidal, because they actually snickered in the face of Ron’s rage.

“Why do you have a cat on base, Kerner?” Psycho taunted with a grin.

“Yeah, you could get in a lot of trouble for that.” Bubba sneered, and they all fell to laughing like schoolgirls.

Oh, Ron was going to enjoy messing them up.

“I don’t see how that would be any of your business.” Goose murmured, voice low with rage. 

Cowboy just huffed, rolling his eyes. “Yeah, you wouldn’t, Bradshaw. First we get stuck with Mitchell,” the pilot’s eyes flicked to Maverick, who snarled back, “Then you idiots somehow sneak a cat? We were just trying to have some fun.”

“Yeah. I’d think you’d be happier, Bradshaw. Originally it was Mitchell we were gonna stick in a box with some fire crackers.” Bubba cackled, the words stopping their listeners cold.

“Think the collar would fit him?” Psycho mused next to his RIO, who shot Maverick an assessing look. If the group had been furious before, they were seething now.

“What is wrong with you guys?!” Chipper spat in disgust.

Cowboy shrugged, eyeing the other pilot warily. “Lighten up, Piper. We’re just kidding.”

Maverick scoffed, drawing scowls from the four while flanking him Goose and the others bristled. 

But it was what Bubba said when he smirked and met Slider’s eyes that made them snap.

“He was easy to catch, too. I thought he’d have more spunk, but a hand around his neck and he was quiet as a lamb. Guess all dumb animals really are the same, huh, Kerner?”

Slider had cracked a fist across the man’s jaw almost before Bubba finished his sentence, the RIO falling into the lockers with a yelp. Psycho shouted a protest, moving for Slider, but Goose grabbed his fist, redirecting him face-first into the bench. When the pilot attempted to stand Maverick floored him with a sharp kick to the guts, taking maybe too much satisfaction in the choked noise the man made, curling in on himself on the floor. Bubba’s only attempt at regaining his footing was fouled by Slider grabbing the front of his shirt and decking him twice more, taking far too much pleasure in the way the other man’s bones cracked, blood already dripping from a freshly-split lip.

Meanwhile, Chipper had launched at Cowboy before the man had a chance at joining the scuffle, landing a solid gut shot and finishing him off with a knee to the face when he crumpled forward. Woody fell in a similar fashion, after Hollywood blocked the RIO’s first punch and returned it with two of his own, both of which landed. 

The man’s left eye would be black in a matter of hours. 

Sunny had to grab his pilot’s shoulders, hauling him away from Cowboy when Chipper started forward again, still seeing red. The RIO glanced over, glad to see Goose with a hand on Slider’s bicep, both men obviously incensed, but neither resuming their violence. 

After a few words, Slider nodded, reaching down to once more grab Bubba’s shirt and haul him up, slamming him roughly against the lockers with a growl.

“You four try and report this and you’ll be wishing I finished you off here. You got that?”

After sharply banging the RIO against the lockers again Slider received a dazed nod and dropped the man in obvious disgust. He glanced at the others and, upon registering that they hadn’t suffered any injuries, nodded towards the showers, the group filing wordlessly in that direction.

Wolf had tucked the blond pilot close, covering his ears and humming under his breath when he realized Ice was flinching at each noise from the fight, verbal then physical. It didn’t do much, but soon enough the sounds stopped and Ice tensed all over again, head snapping up. It was silent for a long few beats and, right as Wolf was going to suggest he poke his head out while Ice stayed put, the younger man bolted from his arms. Wolf cursed under his breath, only a step behind the pilot and able to breathe a sigh of relief when Ice ran straight into Slider, the RIO catching him easily.

“Ron!” Even as panicked as he was, the blond’s voice was pitched low, mindful of the potential audience the guys had left on the floor. “Are you–?”

“Everyone’s fine, T.” Slider soothed, reaching up to cup Ice’s face with one hand, the other holding his shoulder as he tipped Ice’s head up, narrowed eyes studying his neck. Wolf hadn’t looked at it too closely, more concerned with soothing Ice, but what he could see as he stepped closer wasn’t pretty. A sentiment obviously shared by the others as they all winced, some hissing at the nasty burn. 

Ice wavered in Slider’s grip for a moment and Wolf automatically put an arm out, not touching, but close enough to help Slider catch him should he go down. To his surprise, though, Ice leaned back into him, just a bit. Enough for Wolf to see the permission for what it was and step closer, strengthening his hold.

“Ron, they…what if they…and you, I don’t…you could…”

“Hey, hey, deep breaths, Tommy. You’re alright.” Slider soothed gently. “I took care of it, alright? We don’t have to worry about them.”

He received a disbelieving look in return, but Ice didn’t have enough air yet to argue with him. Slider’s gaze was soft, both hands now grasping Ice’s shoulders, thumbs smoothing repetitively back and forth. It wasn’t until Ice had his breathing mostly under control that Slider spoke again.

“How’d they get you, buddy?”

“I…wasn’t even outside, Sli, was in…I was in our room and I wasn’t expecting them to barge in or I would’ve shifted back, but then I couldn’t and they grabbed me and took me down to the alley…collared me and stuck me in a box with some firecrackers…closed the lid…thought I’d have to shift just so I wouldn’t burn to death, but when they turned the collar on, I…I don’t know, everything just went white and then I was here and…”

“Alright, bud, easy, take a breath.” Slider murmured, gently cupping the blond’s face to draw his attention. “You’re alright, it’s over, you’re safe.”

“No, I’m not, Ron! They…They came into our room and if they’re willing to do that then…then…”

“We need to get him out of here, Sli.” Goose murmured, shooting a concerned look at the other RIO, and Slider sighed when Ice hurriedly shook his head, next words a growl.

“I’m not going back there.”

“How about our place?” Mav offered quickly. “We’re in base housing, not barracks. It’s a little farther away, but it’s different.”

Ice blinked wide eyes at him, some of the tension finally leaching from his frame. Slider’s shoulders slumped in relief and he glanced behind him at Nick, receiving a confirming nod. Then, he met his kid’s eyes again.

“Tom?”

The blond was still caught somewhere in his panic, had to be if he was this easy to read not just by Ron, but by the room at large. If he was in his right mind Slider knew he’d hate this, but the fear didn’t care about anything but feeling safe again.

“O-Okay.”

Slider nodded approvingly, “Alright, bud, c’mon and we’ll walk over, okay?”

“I…” Wolf hesitated, sharing a worried look with his pilot, then glancing back at Slider. “Can we come, or would that be too much?”

He still had an arm bracing Ice’s back and the blond leaned into him pointedly, meeting Ron’s gaze. Something passed between the pilot and RIO, then Slider nodded slowly.

“You guys can come?” He left a question in his tone and Ice quickly nodded his consent. Slider frowned. Ice was really out of it if he was agreeing to more people instead of less.

But then…humans were social, but shifters were a whole nother brand of co-dependent. Tom himself had said that, according to his Mom, shifters wanted more interactions with others because of their animal form, regardless of what species that was. Tom’s other form was a solitary hunter, but when mixed with how much humans depended on each other you were left with someone who wanted contact with others and lacked the human tendency to shy away from comfort in order to save face. It was why Tom was, to this day, so forgiving of his father and every other scumbag who’d hurt him growing up. Because in his mind he needed them and any interaction was still just that: an interaction.

So this, right now? Wanting people he considered safe to his shifted form nearby? That was entirely his other form talking, something Slider would find endearing if it weren’t for the reason Tom was locked in an animalistic mindset to begin with.

As such, he slowly nodded. “Alright, they’ll come with us and will be mindful and quiet, yeah?”

He didn’t harden his voice for fear of spooking Tom, but the others got the picture anyway.

“Don’t worry about us, Sli. Let’s just get him out of here.” Sunny murmured, meeting his eyes. Slider blew out a slow breath, running his hands over Ice’s bare arms.

“Warmth and pressure, it’s like how your siblings used to climb into your bed? That…That helps. Helps with the grounding and makes the other side of me…happy.”

Tom’s voice echoed in his ears and he glanced over his shoulder at Goose.

“Nick, I’ve got a jacket in my locker, you mind grabbing it?”

“Got it.” 

Goose easily strode back in that direction, returning in less than a minute, holding up said piece of clothing questioningly as he approached. Slider hesitated only a second before gesturing the other RIO closer to accept the jacket. He didn’t know what would set Tom off, but sudden movement seemed like a gamble he wasn’t willing to make. 

He carefully wrapped his jacket around Ice’s shoulders, Wolf moving his arm just long enough for the heavy cloth to settle, before returning his supportive hold. Slider relaxed when Ice did, the blond’s hands moving to tug the clothing closer, cover up the bruises forming along his arms.

“Alright,” Slider breathed, waiting until Ice’s dark, hazy gaze met his. Ron’s heart clenched in his chest and he forced a small smile, reaching up to cup his kid’s face. “You ready?”

A miniscule nod, Ice’s eyes flicking down and Slider grimaced, sharing a concerned glance with Wolf as he nodded at the others. Goose took the hint, tugging Maverick toward the door across the room, opposite where they’d left the sorry excuses for human beings, Hollywood following them after a second. Ice stayed with Ron, allowing Slider and Wolf to guide him out of the room, Sundown and Chipper falling in line behind them.

Slider knew Ice could hear where each of their classmates were, but he didn’t seem bothered to be surrounded like this. If anything, he slumped as they moved, tilting into Ron’s side. On Ice’s left Wolf was chewing on his lip, gaze flicking between Ice and the others ahead of them, shaking his head slightly when Wood glanced back to meet his RIO’s eyes. 

Normally it probably wasn’t a long walk, but with the way Ice would stumble into him in some kind of mix of an adrenaline crash and shock and the wrong headspace, it took almost twenty minutes. 

Their only saving grace was that they didn’t meet anyone who’d ask questions. As much as Slider dreaded the rumors that would be going around tomorrow, undoubtedly threatening his pilot’s reputation, he’d take that over having to explain their trek to a superior officer, something he was sure Ice would hate even more than the rumors.

Finally, they reached Goose and Mav’s, the two leaving the door open as they began rushing about inside. Wood followed Mav at the pilot’s directive, while Slider and Wolf lowered Ice onto the couch, Chipper locking the door behind them and Sunny turning into the kitchen where Goose was. 

Chipper licked his lips, fidgeting while he watched Slider pull his pilot close, allowing the blond to finally duck safely against his shoulder, Wolf backing off to perch restlessly on Slider’s free side.

“I…do any of us know how to treat electrical burns?” Chipper asked nervously.

“Mav does.” Wood murmured, reappearing with an armload of blankets and pillows that he dumped on the first chair he came to. He handed one of the thicker blankets to Wolf, who passed it along to Slider. “He said we’ve gotta keep him warm and wash his neck with cool water. He’s getting a washcloth and some bandages, now.”

A low sound from Ice had their heads swiveling towards the pilot and Slider winced, pulling the blanket tightly around his pilot.

“We don’t have to do that immediately, T, don’t worry. Why don’t we wait a little for things to calm down, then we’ll see?”

Ice huffed out a breath against Slider’s throat, but said nothing. At their confused stares, Slider brought one hand up and gestured at his neck, mouthing, ‘bandages.’

Understanding lit the three’s expressions and they all cringed, nearly lifting hands to their own throats at the phantom pressure Slider’s explanation prompted. Mav returned with a dripping washcloth dangling in one hand and some rolls of bandages as well as a bottle of painkillers in the other, setting the bottle and bandages on the coffee table and offering the washcloth to Slider.

“I’ll go get a bowl and another washcloth.” The short brunette explained, voice soft. “You’re supposed to keep rinsing the burn for at least a few minutes, the longer the better in this case.”

Slider sent him a grateful nod, accepting the cloth. “Thanks, Mav.” 

Maverick’s lip twitched in acknowledgement, but his emerald gaze was hooded with worry as it flicked to rest a moment on Ice, before he moved for the kitchen. 

Slider turned back to his pilot, who was still visibly shaking, even under the jacket and the blanket. He frowned, shifting his grip to pull Tom closer and ducking his head, voice barely a breath–not that Tom would have any trouble hearing him, “You want Wolf on your other side, or do you need space?”

Ice swallowed, wide eyes staring unseeingly at the floor where his head was tucked against Slider’s neck, but he murmured back, “First one.”

Slider nodded against his kid’s hair, lifting his gaze to meet Wolf’s and inclining his head towards Ice. “Get on his other side? Don’t need to be right up against him, but close enough he can feel you.”

Wolf stood immediately, slowly doing as told. He settled into the small space on Ice’s right, adjusting the blanket tighter around the younger man unthinkingly, their shoulders brushing even when he pulled back.

A soft breath left Ice, fists unclenching and eyes fluttering closed. Slider huffed a relieved puff of air, nodding approvingly at Wolf and raising the washcloth with a low rumble in warning. 

Wood carefully folded onto the remaining sliver of couch on Slider’s free side, attentive gaze fixed on the injured pilot, while Chipper stood sentinel in the kitchen doorway, able to watch them in the living room, have an ear on the kitchen, and keep an eye on the front door, just in case. 

Mav returned after a couple minutes, mindfully placing the bowl on the coffee table and nodding approvingly when he saw Slider gently mopping at his pilot’s neck.

“Goose is making some tea and he’s got Sunny mixing biscuit batter. Wants him to have something easy on his stomach before he takes meds.”

Slider hummed with a soft ‘thanks,’ dark eyes warm and appreciative. Mav ducked away from the affection, face heating as he fidgeted nervously, looking unsure of himself for the first time since Slider’s known him.

Ice nosed into the crook of Ron’s neck pointedly and he ducked his head to catch the quiet, “He can come closer, if he wants. ‘M alright, just a little…off.”

‘Off’ was putting it lightly, and Ice even admitting that much only proved how rattled he was, but Slider knew enough about Ice’s sensitivity to moods to know that this was a peace offering as much as an attempt to reassure Maverick. Ice was always far more open with his affection and emotions as a cat, and likely would be purring and nudging at Mav right now were he in his other form. As it was, though, allowing Mav closer may be enough to soothe both their anxieties.

“Mav,” The pilot in question jolted, head shooting up and eyes wide, as if expecting to be scolded for being in his own house. Slider tipped his head towards their feet, offering a soft smile. “C’mere, he’s alright. Jus’ a little spooked, is all. Can see for yourself.”

Maverick swallowed hard, gaze flicking from Slider’s to the pitiful form of his pilot and back again. Wolf and Wood watched wordlessly, the former drawing meaningless patterns on Ice’s back in an earnest attempt to soothe as well as give his hands something to do. When Slider didn’t retract his offer, though, their youngest haltingly stepped closer, hesitantly crouching at their feet before shifting into a more comfortable position, leaning back against Ice and Slider’s legs.

Tom made a low sound that Slider knew had nothing to do with pain and he hummed soothingly. This was a lot of comfort, far more than his pilot was used to receiving at once, and he was too out of it to hide how much he currently wanted it.

Mav didn’t know that, though, and jumped, shooting a wide-eyed look Slider’s way, face paling. Ice huffed at him and Slider’s lip twitched in something he hoped was reassuring, hand never stopping its careful cleaning of Ice’s neck. His pilot freed one of his own hands from his cocoon, reaching out to offer it to Mav, eyes opening when Pete immediately reached up to clasp his hand. 

Ice offered him a weak attempt at a smile, squeezing Mav’s fingers, and the brunette finally relaxed, expression softening. Slider knew from experience that Ice didn’t settle until those around him–most often Slider–were cared for. Hopefully now that Mav had relaxed they’d be able to coax the blond into some form of rest so he could finally lose the shaking that clung to him like a second skin.

Goose padded in, then, a steaming mug cupped in his hands. Gaze softening when he saw where his pilot had perched, the RIO stepped carefully closer, crouching in front of Ice.

“You want some tea, Tom? Should feel good on your throat.” Goose didn’t need to ask twice, Ice’s head lifting from Slider’s shoulder for the first time since he sat down, hands reaching for the mug. Goose wrapped the pilot’s hands around the warm ceramic, carefully guiding him through drinking it, free hand reaching over to smooth through Mav’s hair soothingly.

Ice winced, pausing after the first swallow as he adjusted to the warm liquid, and Goose’s brow pinched in concern at the same time Slider’s did.

“Tom?”

The blond shook his head slightly, rasping a low, “Fine.” 

Slider hummed, sharing a discerning look with Goose, before murmuring, “Alright, just don’t push yourself, T.”

Ice made a soft, noncommittal noise, taking another sip of tea.

Goose watched him attentively through narrowed eyes, still absently stroking his pilot’s hair. “Biscuits’ll be done in ten minutes or so, if you’re feeling up for it. Really want you to have something in your stomach before taking meds if we can, Tom.”

A soft nod from the blond gave Goose his answer and the RIO seemed satisfied. Sundown ducked into the room, sharing a concerned look with his pilot before sending a questioning glance Slider’s way. The older man met his gaze and tipped his head in a small shake, Sunny’s expression creasing sympathetically.

While Ice was sipping at the tea, Slider leaned forward and tossed his rag into the bowl, thankfully not making a mess on Goose and Maverick’s coffee table. Maverick reached over and grabbed the fresh cloth to hand him and Slider offered the young pilot a warm smile that had Mav ducking.

“Thanks, Mav.” Carefully folding the sopping material, he waited for Ice to take a breath and glance at him, making eye contact with the younger man before reaching up to gently wrap the cloth around Ice’s neck, holding it in place with one hand. Ice winced, grip on the mug tightening, but didn’t move away, even though Slider could tell he wanted to. 

After a good couple minutes, Slider carefully lowered the rag, murmuring a small ‘thanks’ when Mav took it and placed it in the bowl on the coffee table. Using his now-free hand, Slider tipped Ice’s head up, carefully scrutinizing his neck. Wolf swallowed hard and Mav blew out a soft hiss past his teeth. Wood and Chipper both craned closer, wincing at the bruising they could see even where they were, while Goose’s gaze darkened into something furious. Sunny’s expression hardened and he glanced at Slider, unsurprised by the stony ire in those umber eyes.

Ice huffed, lip quirking up as his eyes fluttered closed, before opening again after a moment too long. “Would you guys relax? It’s not that bad.”

“Tom, if this wouldn’t be a nightmare to explain, not to mention dangerous for you, you’d have been in a hospital room ages ago.” Slider growled back, though none of his anger was aimed at his pilot.

Thankfully Ice was either too out of it to notice or steady enough that he recognized the protective tinge to Slider’s words. Either way, he huffed again, humming when Ron shifted his grip to rub soothingly along his jaw. Ice was leaning into him immediately and Slider’s incensed scowl was replaced by an amused smirk. He saw Goose’s expression light up with something purely mischievous.

“He has cat traits as a human?!”

“Lots of things pass over.” Slider affirmed, lip twitching. Ice sent him a half-lidded glare, but didn’t pull away from his hand. Yet again proving that he was far more out of it than he’d like to let on, because normally he didn’t give in to affection this easily even when they were alone, too worried about being bothersome. The blond’s current behavior was far more in line with something Slider would expect from Tomcat.

Slider let up on the petting, stilling his hand. He didn’t move away, yet, Ice leaning too much into him for any abrupt change to be a good idea. Ron watched carefully as Ice processed that he’d stopped and slowly pulled away, allowing Slider to gently smooth his hair back from his face. The pilot rolled his eyes when Slider frowned, pressing the back of his hand to Ice’s forehead for a moment as a cursory check of his temperature. 

“I’m fine, Ron.”

Slider simply rolled his eyes right back. “You’ll be saying that on your deathbed.”

Ice’s lip twitched up, eyes falling closed as he tiredly tilted back into the crook of Slider’s neck. Slider let him–he always would–gently tugging the cup from his kid’s hands and offering it to Goose to set on the coffee table before it had a chance to spill. 

Ice sniffed, nosed into Slider’s neck, then sniffed again.

“Timer.” He murmured seconds before the oven beeped. In front of them Maverick’s jaw dropped while Wolf’s eyebrows rose and Goose tossed his hands up playfully, more amused than shocked. 

“Okay, in hindsight, I really should’ve guessed the heightened-senses thing.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t.” Slider confessed, a pleased smirk on his lips. He could feel the small smile Ice was hiding against his shoulder at their astonishment.

“How did you do that?” Maverick was the one to question, eyes sparkling with interest as Goose pulled himself to his feet in order to follow Sunny into the kitchen where the RIO had already turned off the timer.

Ice shrugged, pressing more closely into Slider’s side. “Could smell it.”

“So could we?” Wood pointed out curiously and Ice huffed with playful derision.

“Yeah, but you aren’t able to sense the difference between food that’s cooking and food that’s cooked. The smell changes.”

“And you can actually tell the difference?” Wolf asked, gobsmacked. Ice shrugged again.

“Wait, wait, wait.” Maverick leaned closer. “If you’ve got a cat’s senses…does that mean you have night vision?”

That drew all their attention, Goose and Sunny stepping into the room to hear the answer. Slider scrubbed a hand over his face as he bit back his laughter at their interest and the blush he could feel Ice hiding against his shoulder. 

Ice sighed, keeping his eyes stubbornly closed in a futile effort to avoid their attention. “Yes.”

Slider couldn’t hold back a chuckle at their obvious amazement.

“Dude, that is sick.” Holly gushed, rocking in place as he considered the implications.

“I take it that’s why you two volunteer for so many night OPs?” Goose asked, fondly exasperated. Slider shrugged.

“Like I said, I don’t know why it took you so long.”

“Every time he asked me about it I told him I was what he’d call a ‘Shape-changer,’ but he never got the reference.” Ice admitted with a smirk.

He received several blank looks, but Mav’s expression lit up with glee. “The Riddler-Master series?! You read them?!”

Slider groaned softly as Ice’s eyes snapped open in surprise. “Couple of nerds.” Ice nudged him sharply and Maverick rolled his eyes, slapping the RIO’s shin. 

Goose chuckled, shaking his head fondly as he disappeared back into the kitchen, the other four casting curious glances between the two pilots.

“What are these books about, for context?” Sunny asked curiously.

“Basically a prince of a farming island is born with three stars on his forehead, which means that he’s ‘destined’ for greatness he doesn’t want. He wins a crown in a contest that starts him on the ‘magic path,’ then has to go meet the girl he’s supposed to marry. On the journey he’s attacked by a bunch of different people, which just drags him deeper into the ‘wonderful world of magic.’” Mav simplified, stumbling over himself while explaining–the only person who’d ever cared about his interests before was Goose, so he was a bit lacking in practice.

Ice hummed an agreement. “That’s the first book.”

“Honestly, even without context the ‘Shape-changer’ part wasn’t really a lie.” Chipper mused lightly. Goose sighed as he reentered the room, setting a bowl of biscuits on the coffee table.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. He basically told me years ago, I just never realized. I’m an idiot, yadda, yadda. Here.” Plucking a biscuit from the basket, Goose held it out to Slider. “They’re still pretty warm, but shouldn’t burn you or anything.”

Wood leaned forward to snag one, taking a large bite out of it, free hand cupped to catch crumbs. After swallowing, he nodded. “Yeah, they’re cool enough. You’re good.”

Slider’s lip twitched in an amused smile at the verification, offering the baked good to his pilot. Ice hesitantly caught it in his hands, breaking off a small piece to try.

“We didn’t poison them, if it makes you feel better.” Sunny offered lightly, also grabbing a biscuit. “Though I have little faith in Goose’s cooking ability, hopefully the recipe isn’t too bad.”

Maverick snickered as Goose sent the other RIO a dry look. “Why do none of you have any faith in my kitchen capabilities?!”

“‘Cause Mav doesn’t.” Wood pointed out, still snacking on his biscuit.

“It does seem like if anyone would know, it’d be him.” Wolf agreed, one eye on the conversation while the other remained on Ice, watching the way the pilot tensed at each swallow. On his other side Slider’s gaze was soft as he caught the pills Mav dumped in his palm. 

Ice’s lips twitched down at the sight of them, but he didn’t argue. He took the pills with another piece of biscuit, gratefully sipping at the tea when Goose passed it back to him, the RIO now sitting on the coffee table before the couch. While the blond didn’t seem like one to appreciate being mothered this much, he currently took the attention with no complaint.

It was a bit unnerving.

Slider could feel how Ice relaxed as he ate, stress slipping from his frame and thankfully finishing all of the small biscuit, despite how obviously painful it was to do so. The blond was fading fast, gaze even hazier than it had been earlier. As the others chattered, Ice’s eyes closed, head once more settling against his RIO.

Slider’s grip tightened when he felt his kid sink more heavily into him, listening carefully to the way Tom’s breathing slowed. Thankfully, the assault didn’t seem to have any internal impact beyond the bruising, soreness, and the–according to Maverick–typical symptoms of an electrical burn. Now, bundled up and held close, people he’d decided were safe surrounding him, Tom was able to give in to sleep. The panic attack alone had to have been exhausting, and that wasn’t even counting what happened before he found Ron.

Slider’s jaw clenched.

His kid had been trapped in a box with firecrackers and an electric collar.

What kind of sick freaks did that to an animal?!

On Ice’s other side Wolf tipped his head down to study the pilot, then glanced at Slider, uttering a soft, “I think he’s asleep?” 

Slider nodded a verification. “Yeah, he’s out. With everything that happened I’m surprised he was able to stay awake that long.” Ron too kept his voice low, even though he knew it probably wasn’t necessary. While Ice was ordinarily a light sleeper, due in part to his heightened senses, this crash was a result of extreme pain and fear, plus an added dose of shock, adrenaline crash, and just stress at the overall situation. Slider would be astonished if anything less than a bomb going off woke Ice up with how much his body needed to shut down.

The others relaxed around him, frames losing their tension and relieved sighs escaping some of them. None of his audience made any move to leave, though, and Slider waited patiently for the questions. With how well they’d handled this whole thing? The least they deserved was some basic explanations, and he knew Ice would feel the same way were he awake and in his right mind.

He heaved a sigh when none of them spoke, glancing around the group.

“I know you’ve got questions. I can’t promise I’ll be able to answer all of them, but at least some of them I’m good for.”

Goose was the one to blow out a sharp breath, nodding decisively at himself, one hand rubbing over his mouth. “So…So Tom and Tomcat…they’re…?”

“One and the same.” Ron murmured, echoing Tom’s own words all those years ago. “He’s a shifter. Tomcat is his other form.”

They were all silent for a long moment, digesting that, then Wood began slowly, “How come…I mean, I’ve never heard of shifters outside of like, books and TV and stuff?”

Despite the lack of a real question, Slider knew what the pilot was trying to say and nodded. “Yeah, I hadn’t either before Tom. There’s not a lot of them, as far as we know, and it’s meant to be a secret. The government would probably experiment on them or something if they found out.”

Chipper and Maverick’s expressions screwed up in disgust at the same time Wolf and Sunny’s slackened in horror. Slider felt Holly tense next to him and saw the way Goose’s jaw clenched. 

“That’s why…” Sunny trailed off, but once Slider caught his eye continued slowly, “That’s why you said a hospital would be dangerous? Because if they found out Ice is a shifter…”

“There’s a good chance he’d be carted off to some facility and spend his life in a concrete room with wires running through him.” Slider affirmed grimly. The entirely-possible reality was never something he wanted to think about–something he had nightmares about–but was also a necessary fact for them to understand the situation. “That’s why you guys can not tell anyone about this. I don’t know if he was planning on telling any of you or not, because for him to even be around people while shifted is unusual. But if he had been it certainly wouldn’t have been like this and I can almost guarantee it wouldn’t have been all at once.”

Thankfully, they all looked like they understood, offering immediate nods. 

“We’re not gonna say a word, Sli.” Chipper murmured solemnly. At Ron’s feet, Maverick nodded quickly, gaze resolute where it was fixed on Ice.

Slider felt himself relax a little as the others echoed Chip’s words, each of them every bit as serious as they were in combat.

Wolf’s gaze flicked to him, then, brow furrowing. “You said it’s unusual for him to be around people as a cat?”

Slider hummed, murmuring, “It’s been years since he was shifted around anyone other than me. His other form’s weaker–not to mention a strange site on base or on a carrier–so he was always careful about it. I thought I was seeing things when he trotted up to us that first day.”

Goose’s brow furrowed as he thought back to said day, gaze flicking to Slider. “The first time we saw his other form you said that we smelled safe, right?”

Ron blinked, genuinely impressed that the other RIO had remembered the off-hand comment. “Yeah. He judges people based on their scent. And he’s really careful on top of that, so I’m used to him avoiding a lot of people, even if he only senses one thing off. He’s been hurt so much that any hint of danger and he basically labels them a threat. How do you think he got his callsign? He’s picky who he works with because he knows way more about people upon first meeting them than regular humans do.”

“But he wasn’t like that with any of us?” Goose prompted slowly. Catching the look Maverick sent his RIO, Slider chuckled, shaking his head lightly. 

“No, he wasn’t. Mav, he never would’ve picked at you so much if he didn’t like you. Trust me, I’ve seen how he is when he doesn’t like someone. He just isn’t sure what to do with you because in some ways you two are far too similar, while in other ways you’re really, really different.”

Goose smirked with a soft, “Told you so.” Maverick scowled at him, but emerald eyes were narrowed contemplatively at the ground as he thought through what Slider had said. 

“Does this kind of thing happen a lot?” Chipper asked, nodding pointedly at the pilot bundled under Slider’s arm. The RIO sighed, shaking his head.

“Thankfully, no. Like I said, he’s careful who he’s around. What makes this whole thing worse is that they came into our room. I may as well go put in a housing request now, because even if I could convince him to go back and stay there I wouldn’t. He’d just be jumping at every sound and constantly expecting someone to come in and hurt him and I won’t have him living like that.” Again remained unspoken, but Ron certainly thought it. He knew that Tom wasn’t allowed any boundaries growing up, and it had taken years of asking permission to come into their shared room when the blond was keyed up before Ice began to understand the concept of having space that was his.

“You’re welcome here until you get somewhere else.” Goose offered gently, breaking Slider from his thoughts. If there was anyone else that knew how much damage those four had done, it was Goose. “I won’t have him going back there, either. He doesn’t need that on top of what happened.”

Slider sent him a grateful look at the same time Wood murmured, “I can’t even imagine. He wasn’t even doing anything to them and they seek him out just to hurt him? Even if he really was just an ordinary cat that’d be sick. What kind of people do that?”

“Too many.” Slider intoned, gaze darkening. On Ice’s other side he saw Wolf freeze, then the RIO’s face paled.

“All those scars…”

Realization flickered through the others’ expressions. Chipper looked sick, Sunny’s fists clenching beside him. Rick tensed, sucking in a sharp breath as Goose winced, sharing a knowing glance with Slider. Maverick had gone still and wide-eyed, leaning into his RIO when Goose reached out to tug him against his leg. Slider’s eyes narrowed a moment as he catalogued the responses, but he waited patiently for one of them to make the first move before speaking.

Wolf leaned forward, craning his head in an attempt to see Ice’s face. He blew out a heavy breath. 

“That one above his temple…” 

Chipper cursed sharply at the same time Wood did and Slider sighed. 

“No wonder we never noticed it. It’s just in his hairline, you can’t see it unless you’re looking for it.” Leo murmured next, fire in his eyes. 

Maverick’s head snapped up, then, something strange in his expression. “Do the scars transfer to both forms? If he got hurt as a human we’d see it on Tomcat, too?”

Slider cocked a brow, unease curling in his gut. “As far as I know.”

Waving a hand, Mav growled, “How many of these did he get in this form? As a human?”

Slider heaved a sigh, the others’ attention now impossibly more concerned, really wishing Maverick hadn’t figured that out. “I can’t tell ya, bud. That’s a question for Ice, if he wants to say.” Finishing with a hard look to ensure the pilot knew Ron was serious. Mav blew out a frustrated sigh, but nodded his understanding. 

There was a long beat of tense silence. All of them knew Slider’s response could only mean something bad. If Ice got all his scars from things that happened to him as a cat, Slider would’ve just said so. 

“I know we literally saw him shift earlier…but it still seems so weird that Ice and Tomcat are the same.” Hollywood murmured thoughtfully, brow furrowed as he glared at the carpet in front of him.

Slider chuckled at that, some of the tension easing from his frame. “That’s how he wants it. The harder it is to reconcile the two, the better. It’s what keeps him safe. Shoot, I knew Tom when he was a teenager, back when he was way more open than he is now, and I was still shocked when I found out. Can’t imagine how mind-blowing it was for you guys.” He received some concurring hums at that and softened on them. “I appreciate what you’ve done, though. Even though it was…strange and a lot, to put it simply, you still helped far more than we would’ve expected from…anyone, really. I owe you.”

Goose rolled his eyes, waving a flippant hand at the same time Wood lightly smacked his shoulder. Maverick was shaking his head and Wolf’s gaze was soft with gentle bafflement. Chipper’s eyes were narrowed and Sunny’s eyebrows raised incredulously.

“Don’t owe us anything for being decent.” Goose was the one to reply, sending Slider a pointed look. “Think you and Ice have been together too long, Sli. You’re starting to sound like him.”

Ron’s lip twitched at that, but he had to be sure. He wanted to believe it was this easy, really he did, and he would if it was for him. 

But this was about Tom. About the blond’s safety. That meant it required more than a single check.

“You’d think it would count as ‘common decency,’ but the fact that we’re in this situation at all is proof that it’s not that common.” Slider murmured back, cocking an eyebrow at Goose. “I’ve had to stop people from strangling him before, it doesn’t take long to start expecting the worst when it comes to this.”

The others paled, eyes widening in horror. Goose’s gaze was incensed, just like earlier, and Slider was expecting that. He was pleased to note the growing outrage in the others’ expressions too, the obvious disgust a balm on his shot nerves.

Thinking about how on-edge he was, Tom probably wasn’t the only one who needed a nap to recover. (Though Slider dreaded going to sleep, dreaded hearing over and over the way his kid had screamed as he was electrocuted.) 

“People have tried to strangle him?!” Maverick growled, knuckles blanched from how tightly his fists were curled. 

Slider sighed. “Strangling is the better end of it, honestly. It gets worse, but, like I said, it’s been a while since anything this serious happened.”

“But…Tomcat is so…so sweet. Which sounds really weird when you realize that Tomcat and Ice are the same…same person, but regardless,” waving a dismissive hand at himself, “why do people have to be so mean to a cat? I know he wasn’t doing anything to deserve that sort of treatment, even without context.” Wolf was the one to murmur, one hand again trailing repetitively along Ice’s spine, the motion more for him than the pilot, at this point.

Slider shrugged. “I honestly couldn’t tell you. Some of the things when he was younger don’t surprise me too much, sometimes he was in places he shouldn’t have been and just didn’t realize until it was too late. But a lot of it is just people being cruel to what they think is a ‘dumb animal’ for the fun of it. He pretty much stopped going out alone once he was in Academy, is almost always with me to keep stuff like this from happening.”

“Kinda funny that he decided you’d be the one person to know.” Sunny mused gently, eyeing Slider consideringly. The other RIO shrugged. 

“Pretty sure I just got lucky enough to be the first half-decent person he came across. Like I said, he’s got a pretty good sense for a person’s character straight off the bat, and we still didn’t really talk to each other the first couple months we were living together.”

That got some incredulous looks from his audience, much to Slider’s amusement.

“You two didn’t talk to each other?! ” Chipper was the one to sputter, Goose cackling softly at their expressions. 

“Oh, yeah. See, they’re both really stupid at times and Ice currently has more people skills than he did when he first got to Academy, to give you an idea of how bad the situation was.”

“He was seventeen, Nick?! How was I supposed to know he didn’t talk to anyone his own age? Felt weird to try to befriend a teenager I thought I was never going to see again after that year.”

“Seventeen?!” Wood interrupted sharply, eyes narrowing.

“Yup.” Goose popped the ‘p’ with a smirk, arms crossing. “He was just a baby when he first got there. Was all cute and shrimpy back then. The second they left the ‘roommates who don’t talk to each other’ phase Ron was a complete sucker for T’s every whim. ‘Course, that hasn’t changed.” The RIO finished with a toothy smirk and Slider rolled his eyes as the others chuckled at him. 

“Uh huh, says possibly the biggest hypocrite to date? What was it he somehow moved you to do two months after you’d met him? Without him even needing to ask?” Slider shot back pointedly, cocking an eyebrow as all attention swung to Goose, who scowled playfully.

“First of all–”

“Eleven blankets, Nick! We didn’t need more than two!”

“You didn’t have heat! It was the middle of winter!”

“The barracks are insulated! The heat was out for less than three days and we spent most of our time out of the room!”

“Well excuse me for not wanting you two to die of hypothermia!”

“You didn’t even give me any of the blankets!” Slider shot back around a laugh, shoulders shaking. “You piled them on Tom’s bed and when he tried to protest you kidnapped him!”

“You weren’t feeding him enough!”

“Like hell I wasn’t!”

Despite his earlier assumptions that it would take a bomb going off to wake Ice, Slider was genuinely surprised his pilot was able to sleep through the sharp quips he and Goose were tossing back and forth. The others were in various stages of mirth, Chipper now curled on the floor clutching his stomach as he silently cackled, while Wood gasped out soft laughs, shoulders shaking. Sunny’s grin was wide as he followed the match, entirely too pleased by his entertainment. Wolf had his free hand pressed against his mouth to cover his giggles as Maverick watched the two RIO’s wide-eyed, something both delighted and cunning in his gaze.

“Why–Why–” Wood gasped, struggling for breath a moment before finally managing, “Why do you guys talk about him like he’s some sort of…of…house plant?” 

That just got the others laughing harder and Slider had to bite back a snort. He shared a mischievous look with Goose.

“I mean…”

“Where’s the lie?” Nick grinned back, earning more chuckles from his audience.

Slider shook his head, smile softening when his pilot shifted against his shoulder, nuzzling further into the crook of his neck with a low whine. Slider reached up to brush through Tom’s hair with his free hand, waiting for the blond to settle once more before returning his attention to their discussion. Across from him, Goose’s gaze was tender where it was fixed on Ice, and the others had begun quieting down.

“No wonder he hangs around you so much. I forget how long you two’ve known each other.” Wolf murmured thoughtfully, having watched the way Slider quieted his pilot without a word spoken. 

Slider nodded agreeably. “If he’s comfortable with you, you’ll know it, because he’ll be all over you in both forms.” Then his brow furrowed contemplatively and he glanced to his right at Wolf. “Speaking of, did he happen to bunt you earlier?”

That got him several odd looks, ranging from puzzled to flabbergasted to slightly concerned.

Wolf stared back at him uncomprehendingly. “Did he what me?”

Slider chuckled, more at himself than the other RIO. “Scent you. Like…rub his chin on you? Like…” He demonstrated by turning his head, easily tucking his pilot under his chin for a moment, rubbing his jaw along Ice’s hair in a quick imitation of the act. Wolf’s confusion slowly lit to dawning understanding.

“I didn’t think much about it at the time, but yeah, he did. Along my shoulder in the locker rooms.” The younger man visibly hesitated, before slowly asking, “What…What does that mean?”

Another low chuckle left Slider as he explained, “Cats have scent glands on their cheeks and forehead,” He raised his free hand to skim along Ice’s jaw pointedly, “They’ll scent things they think belong to them. It can be a territory thing, or it can just be a way of saying someone is ‘theirs.’ It means that person’s safe.”

Leo’s eyes lit with something both surprised and touched at Slider’s explanation while Goose’s eyebrows rose. “That’s why he does that?!”

Next to him Maverick groaned, head falling back against the coffee table. “Goose, at this point it just feels like you’re really oblivious.”

The older man rolled his eyes as the others snickered at him, offering a shrug. “I never really thought about it. It’s cute, actually. ‘Course if you call him that to his face he gives you a look that makes you feel like you gotta sleep with one eye open, but eh.” Another shrug as Slider offered an agreeing hum.

“Yeah, that look’s something else he got from his shifted form. A lot of the affectionate behaviors he knows are things that pass over. Like earlier? That was all his other form talking. Since he shifted while really stressed out it messed up the transition; blurred the line, so to speak. It’s why he was so…different. For him it’s easiest to be affectionate as a cat.” He doesn’t think he deserves it as a human. Even if Slider didn’t say the full truth aloud, he could tell from Goose’s pursed lips that the other RIO knew the context all the same. “But even with that, or especially because of that, I guess, he’ll still default to people he’s used to. Same reason he was glad to see Nick when we first came here, the bane of my existence that he is.” Goose playfully stuck his tongue out in retaliation and Maverick’s lips stretched in a grin that didn’t reach his eyes, that look contemplative. Ron wasn’t sure what to make of how careful the young pilot was about this whole thing, but between the way Ice treated him in person and as a cat, as well as the immediate aid the brunette had offered when this…episode started, Slider knew it was nothing he had to worry about. 

The last lines of tension finally melted from his frame as he tugged Tom all the closer, a soft breath leaving him. Looking around at the protective huddle that was there for Tom, Ron could finally believe they were safe.

oO0Oo

Slider noticed the second Ice rose to some level of consciousness. Felt the way he tensed, breathing picking up just a bit. He was silently grateful that he’d already directed Wolf to give the pilot some space for when he inevitably woke up. Ron opened his mouth to say something hopefully soothing, but before he could even think of the words Ice had jolted out of his hold, twisting to corner himself in the couch, legs pulling up beneath him, eyes flashing as his pupils constricted to pinpricks and claws slipping out as neatly as they did in his other form. Lips peeled back in a snarl, exposing inhuman canines. 

It wasn’t hard to tell that the blond was on the defense.

Ron was slightly amused by the way the others jumped, various surprised sounds escaping as they scrambled back. Ignoring their shock and Tom’s apprehensive fear, Slider sighed fondly, nodding pointedly at the claws now digging into Goose and Maverick’s couch.

“Tom, the couch?”

His pilot blinked at him in bewilderment, the lack of any extreme reaction catching him off-guard enough to kickstart his human instincts. Ice’s next blink had his pupils dilating back to their normal size as the blond sent a confused glance to his hands, wincing when he realized he was digging holes into the fabric. He mindfully contracted his claws, shifting the digits back to human fingertips in the same breath by smoothing the pad of his thumb over each finger, tongue running over his teeth to get rid of his canines. 

Now physically fully human, Ice’s gaze flicked back to the others, eyes narrowed as he catalogued each man. His chest was pumping discreetly enough for most people to not notice, fingers curled into blanched fists. 

He was panicking, even if hiding it well. Telling Ron all those years ago had been one thing, but six people at once? In all honesty Slider was impressed Ice wasn’t spiralling more obviously.

“Back off a minute, let him breathe.” He ordered softly and relaxed some when they jumped to comply, vacating their spots around the living room swiftly enough that Ice physically startled. The blond was every bit as keyed up as he had been earlier, except now his human side was in full control of his head.

“We’ll go wait in the kitchen, Sli, ‘kay? No rush.” Goose was the one to say and Slider shot him a grateful look, tension bleeding from his frame when they filed out, allowing him to turn his full attention onto his kid.

“Easy, bud, just breathe. You’re alright. Like Nick said, no rush. Just breathe.”

“Ron, I…What?”

“Breathe, Tommy. I’ll explain, but first I want you to breathe, can you do that for me?” Slider coaxed gently, gratified when Ice made a noticeable effort to slow and deepen his gasps into something closer to natural.

“Good, that’s good. Just like that, Tom, you’ve got it.” 

Slider waited, feeling useless as he helplessly watched his pilot struggle. He knew that the situation was a lot, and could physically see it all catch up to Tom at once. Wide azure eyes were resting on him, occasionally flicking towards the kitchen before returning to Slider as the younger man fought to ground himself. 

Finally, the breath his pilot drew didn’t shake and wasn’t far too fast. Tom’s shoulders lowered just a little, gaze trained on Ron as his hands unclenched.

“There we go. Good job, T, you’re okay.”

“Ron, what…?” Ice swallowed hard, an absent hand lifting to brush over his abused throat. His voice was still a rasp. “…What happened?”

“What do you remember?”

“I…” Ice’s brow furrowed, expression darkening. “I was in our room and people…people came in. Then…they locked me in a box with some firecrackers. And…And a shock collar.” The blond blew out a stuttering breath, curling tighter in on himself unconsciously. His fingers flexed closer to his throat, but didn’t touch the burnt skin. “I…I don’t know how I got away, the next thing I remember is you and…and they showed up, I think?” Slider nodded a confirmation at the lost look his kid sent him, heart aching. “I…I don’t…it’s all kinda…kinda blurred after that. I just…” 

Ice trailed off with a frustrated frown at his own inability to recall the events and Slider took pity on him, voice soft as he explained, “Yeah, the four guys who grabbed you came into the locker room and received a rather swift education on why we do not go into other people’s rooms without permission. Then we came back here with the guys to Goose and Maverick’s. Your other form was the one making the decisions, which is probably why your memory’s hazy.”

Cobalt eyes flicked over his face, Ice’s expression considering before he paled, pressing back against the couch as his gaze darted toward the kitchen.

“Ron, they…”

“They’re alright, Tom.” He soothed quickly, before the blond had a chance to get himself worked up. “I talked to them. I told them the basics. Told them that you’re a shifter and that they are not to tell anyone about this. And I believe they understand. I think that today showed exactly why you have to be so careful. And you think they’re safe, right?”

Ice blinked back at him, brow furrowed. He opened his mouth…then closed it, eyes narrowed as he thought. A shiver ran through him and Slider grabbed the blanket the blond had weaseled out of, shaking it out and holding it up in silent invitation. It was a wonder Slider’s jacket had remained on the younger man’s shoulders in all the commotion. Ice stared at him for a long moment, then slowly slunk forward, feet dropping back to the floor as he returned to his RIO’s side. He leaned forward, elbows propped on his knees while he thought, hair falling into his face as Slider gently wrapped the thick cloth around his shoulders, tucking it close. Ice’s silence was all the answer he needed, but he allowed the pilot time to sort it out for himself, rubbing a soothing hand up and down his kid’s back while he waited.

“I…” Ice sighed, head hanging, “I have to talk to them, don’t I?”

Slider shrugged mildly. “You don’t have to, but I think it would be appreciated. They just wanna see that you’re alright. We can save any heavier questions for later, if you want.”

Ice blew a measured breath out through his nose, then slowly nodded. “Alright, I guess…I guess you can tell them they can come back.” Then, lip twitching in a wry smirk, “I promise I won’t snarl at them, this time.”

Slider chuckled at the attempt at levity, squeezing the younger man closer for a moment before turning towards the kitchen. “You guys are good to come back in.”

Unsurprisingly, Goose was the first one to stride into the room, cutting through the tense atmosphere with the ease of long practice. His gaze was soft as he reclaimed his spot on the coffee table, bumping Ice’s foot with his own while the others filtered in.

“How are you doing, Tom?”

Ice’s eyes flitted from Goose to the guys and back and Slider was unsurprised when he felt the blond lean into his hand. “I’m fine, Nick. Sorry that we took over your house.”

Goose rolled his eyes, waving a dismissive hand. “You were invited, T, don’t gotta apologize for that. How’s the neck?”

Ice winced, a small twitch of his lips betraying more than his words ever would. “Not bad.” 

Implying that it was bad, to an extent, and that was far more than Ice would regularly admit.

He had to be in a lot of pain, if that was his baseline.

Goose stared back at him for a long moment, unimpressed, before sharing a long-suffering look with Slider. The others watched on in various states of disbelief.

“Not…What do you mean, not bad?!” Maverick was the one to sputter, warily stepping closer until he was behind Goose.

Ice narrowed his eyes at the younger pilot, silently assessing. 

Key word: ‘silent.’

“Are you telling me you’ve had worse than an electric collar? Cause I don’t know if you’re aware, Ice, but that’s pretty bad.” Chipper exclaimed, drawing the pilot’s wary attention.

“It went better than it could have.” He replied carefully, frame taut with tension. He hadn’t straightened, still leaning forward, hunched protectively in on himself. Slider’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully at the position–he would’ve expected Ice to be tipping either back against the couch or into Ron, if anything, not exposing his back and neck like this–but then he remembered what Tomcat looked like earlier tearing into the locker room and cursed sharply enough that Ice jumped, all eyes snapping to Slider.

His pilot’s brow furrowed questioningly, the blond’s bafflement obviously shared by the others. “Ron? What’s–”

“Why didn’t you remind me you had other burns, you idiot?” The scold was nothing but fond exasperation and Ice’s wince let him know he was entirely right. Goose’s gaze snapped to Ice, his own eyes narrowing and the various worried questions going unanswered. 

“Maybe I should’ve been more specific a minute ago. Where are you hurt, Tom?”

“I’m not–”

“Tom.” Both Goose and Slider growled in sync and the blond sighed, head hanging. After a long moment he moved, one hand reaching under his jacket to hitch up his shirt, revealing dark patches across his torso.

Slider pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh and heard Sunny hiss.

“We should clean and wrap those.” Mav began fretting, hands clenching into fists and emerald gaze dark with concern. “There’s no way they don’t hurt, you had to have noticed them.”

“Those are from the firecrackers?” Wood asked lowly, jaw clenching at Ice’s confirming nod. 

The blond blew out a sigh, glancing over at Maverick, eyes hooded. “They’re not that bad, Mav.”

He received several disbelieving looks for his efforts and bristled. Slider rolled his eyes, holding a hand out for one of the washcloths still soaking on the table, uttering a quiet ‘thanks’ when Nick handed it to him. Mindfully, Ron began tenderly pressing the soft cloth to the burns, free hand keeping Ice’s shirt up and framing the wounds. 

“Did they do anything else, T?”

“Nothing important, Nick.”

“How’d they get you, from what you can remember?” Slider asked before more spluttering disbelief could be voiced. There was only so much of that Ice could take before he’d shut down on them.

Ice stiffened under his hands and Slider was grateful the others quieted to allow the blond to gather his thoughts.

“I…I was in our room, when they came in, and tried to get to the door. One of them–Cowboy, I think–scruffed me before I could get out. Slammed me against the wall when I struggled too much.” That was met with several curses, including Slider’s. Tom twitched, but didn’t pull away from Ron’s grip.

“Did they only do that once?” Goose growled, fists clenched and expression dark.

The way Ice winced and didn’t answer told them everything they needed to know and they all cursed again.

“Sli–” 

“‘M checkin’.” The RIO murmured, one hand pressing the rag to a burn on his pilot’s hip while the other felt along his ribs.

“You think anything’s broken, T?” 

“No, Nick. It’s just the burns. I’m alright.”

“No concussion?”

Ice’s pause was enough for Ron’s free hand to move from the blond’s torso to his head, skillfully carding through his hair.

“I don’t think so. It’s hard to tell, with everything else, but if I am concussed it’s not serious.”

“Hate to be that person, Ice, but any concussion counts as serious.” Sunny murmured, sounding faintly exasperated. 

“I mean, if it’s not messing with his eyesight or his balance or anything…” Maverick offered, raising his hands in surrender at the dry, scolding glares he received for his attempt at aide.

Ice’s lip twitched faintly at the same time Goose growled, “Pete, you are not the one we’re gonna use for a comparison.”

Slider glanced at the brunette consideringly for a moment, before meeting Goose’s eyes, eyebrows raised. The other RIO rolled his eyes pointedly, shaking his head and Slider’s lips twitched in a faint smirk.

“Job didn’t stop after Academy, huh?”

“Sli, I was working before, during, and after Academy.”

Slider glanced between Goose and Maverick, gaze both surprised and assessing while the others watched in various levels of bafflement.

Before he could ask Ice hissed, jerking away from Slider’s hand and the RIO winced, immediately pulling back. “Sorry, Tom.”

The blond shook his head faintly, one hand reaching for the injury before Slider grabbed his wrist, gently pulling him away.

“Let me see, T.”

Ice sighed, but stayed still, hand falling once more to his lap. Slider used a careful grip on the blond’s nape to turn his head, hissing past his teeth sympathetically as he got a look at the bruise. He tenderly smoothed through blond hair, picking at the dry blood there. 

At the other end of the couch Wolf craned closer, brow furrowing. “That blood?”

Slider confirmed with a nod, still studying the wound. “Yeah, not a lot, but they broke skin. You have a headache, Tom?”

The pilot blinked, as if not expecting to be addressed, then hummed an affirmative. Slider just nodded, unsurprised as he did a more precise search through his kid’s hair.

“No wonder you had such a hard time shifting completely. Between that and the stress I’m surprised you bounced back so quickly.”

Ice huffed at that, shoulders dropping a little. “It’s not that bad. Nothing that hasn’t happened before.”

Because Slider had him facing the other way Ice missed the infuriated looks that darkened his audience’s expressions.

But that didn’t mean he couldn’t smell it.

The blond shifted his weight towards Slider, fingers flexing uneasily in his lap.

“How often did it happen before?” Wood questioned carefully. 

Slider was close enough to hear the way Ice’s breath caught and briefly considered waving the question away. Tom surprised him, though, and answered with a truthful, “Not that much, since Academy. More when I was a teenager, but that’s not really surprising. I wasn’t able to shift until I was ten, so I was still pretty new to it.”

“Does it hurt?” Chipper blurted, head cocked curiously. 

Ice’s lip twitched in a small smile, head ticking to shake before he seemed to remember Slider was still examining him and stilled. “No, it doesn’t hurt. It did take a while to get used to, was pretty disorienting at first. Now the only time it messes me up is when I get some type of head injury or something similar." They’d assume the ‘something similar’ was the stress and fear Slider had acknowledged earlier.

Slider clucked his tongue as he finished his exam, then murmured low enough that only Tom heard him, “Y’know, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for you to shift so I can check your other form.” A growl rose in the blond’s throat, lips peeling back, and Slider cocked an unimpressed eyebrow at him. “I thought you said you weren’t gonna snarl anymore?”

“I said I wasn’t gonna snarl at them. Never said anything about you.” Slider rolled his eyes playfully, lip twitching in a small grin. Goose honked a surprised laugh, Maverick’s eyebrows raising in amusement at the same time Chipper smirked. Wolf chuckled, leveraging himself onto the far arm of the couch while his pilot huffed a surprised breath, teeth flashing in a smile. 

Sunny didn’t bother hiding his snickers, glancing between the pair before teasing, “One of the perks of being the favorite, huh, Sli?”

The other RIO shared an amused look with Sunny, shaking his head in obvious exasperation. “This is nothing. He used to scream at me in Academy. Always sure we’d get caught before I found out he was a shifter who just liked to give me gray hairs.”

Ice was smirking, cobalt gaze sparkling. “I would’ve shifted back if I heard someone coming.”

“I know that now. But there were a good few weeks where I didn’t.” Slider shot back, sending his kid a scolding glance that did nothing for Tom’s smugness. “And I take it that’s a ‘no?’”

Ice paused, cocking his head in consideration, then released a heavy sigh. Slider fought an eye roll at the theatrics.

“You don’t have to, you know.” He pointedly ignored their increasingly-puzzled audience, attention remaining squarely on his pilot. Ice sighed again.

“You’re right, though, I should. Besides, no reason not to, at this point.” Despite his words the blond made no move to shift or even give himself the room to do so and Ron’s gaze softened.

Voice low once more, he murmured a quiet, “Later?”

“I…Please?” The request was barely a breath and Slider nodded immediately, tugging his pilot closer reassuringly. 

“Of course, kid.”

He felt Ice sag into his side, the last threads of tension snapping, leaving the blond boneless against him. Ice was done in, between hops and classes, then the mess following that. Ron needed to wrap his torso and usher him off for more rest. His pilot seemed to be thinking the same thing, his fists clenching and unclenching for a moment, eyes downcast.

“We should…should head out. Let you guys have your house back…” Ice began slowly, expression carefully stony.

“Nope!” Mav chimed brightly, leaning against his RIO’s shoulder. Ice’s gaze snapped to him, brow furrowing, and the younger pilot continued, “You and Slider are bunking with us until you can secure new housing.”

“I—What?!” Ice straightened, tensing as his eyes narrowed.

“We offered.” Goose explained easily.

“And I accepted.” Slider continued before Tom could argue. “I’m not having you stay in our rooms after what happened.”

“What? Ron, you can’t— We can’t put you out.” Ice stuttered, brow furrowing as he leaned back. “You’ve done enough as it is—“

“It’s not up for debate.” Goose grinned, though his gaze was soft with understanding. “You two are staying with us until your new housing assignment comes through.”

“What…Nick, you don’t have the space—“

“We have a perfectly good couch.” Goose shrugged. “And the floor’s clean. It’ll be fine, temporarily.”

“I can’t ask you to—“

“You’re not asking. We’re insisting.” Maverick butt in, trying for a smile to hide the alarm bells going off in his head. “Besides, you really think you can win a fight against Goose and Slider? Speaking from experience, Ice, I have enough trouble beating just Goose.”

The blond frowned momentarily, then blew out a sharp breath through his nose. Goose grinned, reaching to pat the pilot’s knee appreciatively.

“It’ll work out fine, you’ll see.”

“You shouldn’t be forced to have mess food after all this.” Wood was the one to pipe up, straightening. “Wolfie and I were gonna eat off-base tonight anyway. If you call for some take out, can just tell us the restaurant and we’ll pick it up for you.”

“Sure.” Wolf nodded along immediately. “Wouldn’t be any trouble.”

“And you’ll need clothes and stuff brought over, at least for the night.” Sunny added, pushing himself to his feet. “Chip and I can go along with Sli. Make sure he doesn’t run into any trouble.”

Something dangerous sparked in Chipper’s eyes, countenance darkening as he nodded. “I dare them to show their faces after this. If they so much as look—“ He grunted as Sunny lunged at him, covering his mouth with a sigh.

“Like I said,” The RIO murmured, exasperated, “We’ll make sure there isn’t trouble.” A pointed look at his pilot. “Not cause it.”

Chipper rolled his eyes, but nodded along, prying Sunny’s hand off his face. “Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever you say.”

Slider smirked at the pair, speechless for a moment at the thoughtfulness as he glanced at his pilot. “You alright staying here for a bit? Make sure Nick chooses something actually edible for supper? I don’t want another soup crisis.”

“For the last time, it sounded like it’d be good—!”

“Who in their right mind gets soup from a street vendor?! Do you have any idea how old that probably was?! The pot was likely a graveyard of all the past soups that didn’t make it!”

Tom huffed an amused breath, cutting in before Goose had a chance to respond, “Yeah, Ron, I’ll be alright. Don’t do anything stupid?”

“I’ll keep ‘em both on the straight and narrow, Ice, don’t worry.” Sunny vowed as Slider squeezed his pilot one more time before leveraging himself to his feet. He tugged the blanket tighter around Ice’s shoulders almost unconsciously, backing off at the mirthful look Ice was sending him.

“I’ll be back.”

“We’ll be here.” Nick replied airily, waving a hand. “Don’t worry ‘bout us, Ron, we got ‘im.”

And as Slider followed Chipper and Sunny out the door, faintly hearing Mav and Wood already arguing over restaurants behind them, he felt himself relax knowing that it was true.