Greg returned to the safe zone early the next morning, slipping under the wall this time, remembering Patrick's advice. He'd continued to monitor the wolf man's location throughout the night, but frustratingly he hadn't seemed to return to any hidden base at all, remaining around street level at all times. Greg sighed, but didn't give up hope, sure that the wolf man would descend some time soon.

His mind focused on his plans and what he'd do when he eventually did manage to track down the 'good ferals', Greg didn't even notice the person standing by Victor's door until she was right in front of him. "Hm? Gah! Meredith! Wh-what are you doing here?" Greg asked nervously as he noticed her, vaguely wondering if he should run away, in case she tried to seduce him again. He still wasn't confident in his ability to resist her.

"I've been waiting for you." Meredith replied, flushing slightly. "You never responded to my message yesterday… I-I'm not used to men ignoring me, you know." She added in a half hearted joke, but without her usual, flirty demeanor, it just came across as forced. She wasn't wearing her usual outfit either. Instead she'd put on a bulky overshirt which gave her more of a girl next door vibe. Still attractive, but not in your face about it.

"Message? Oh, right! You wanted to talk… uh, sorry, I sort got caught up in some other stuff and I forgot." Greg explained, scratching the back of his head as he slowly relaxed. Without Meredith's outrageous outfits and blatant seduction, he didn't feel like he was constantly fighting himself when he was talking to her. Hell, it almost began to feel comfortable.

Meredith shook her head. "It's alright, I understand. You ended up talking with Fredrick, right? That must have been all you could think about. I know how intense he can be."

Greg raised an eyebrow at her. "How'd you know about that?"

Meredith flushed. "I-I've developed a rather decent information network in the safe zone. Not much escapes my notice."

"Is that how you keep finding me?" Greg asked. Meredith paused for a moment, before nodding nervously. Greg sighed, shaking his head. "No wonder… Why are you being so persistent about all this? I mean, you didn't even know what my ability was before, and you were still hunting me down like a kid chasing a breakfast cereal mascot."

Meredith's flush deepened. "At first, I- I was just trying to annoy Tessa. I knew you two were close, so stealing you from her would- S-see, she and I have a small rivalry as to who is the most desirable woman in the safe zone… If I could steal you from her, it would prove that I was the more desirable one. It didn't matter how strong you were. Then… after I saw how strong you really were… what we lack most nowadays is security, safety, the comfort of knowing we won't be hurt at any moment. Especially when you're out on a mission, you want the security of knowing you have the strongest people by your side. That's why I want to join you. My ability lets me heal others, but they still get injured, weakened, worn down. In a fight, if a feral hurts the person protecting me, I'll be vulnerable. But, if I'm on a squad with you… you never weaken, never tire. As long as you're there, I never need to worry about my safety."

Greg frowned as he listened to Meredith's explanation. His first thought was that this rivalry of hers was largely one sided. He didn't think Tessa gave two shits about being the most desirable woman in the safe zone. As for the rest of her argument… Well, it was sort of obvious, wasn't it? Of course people wanted to be with the people who made them feel the safest. That was just human nature. There was just one thing that was bothering him. "What about the high-tiers? I can promise you, if they're all like that Earth Bender guy and Patrick, they're much stronger than I am. Why not join one of their squads?"

Meredith shook her head. "High-tiers aren't allowed to join squads. They're too important to the defense of the safe zone. They're always here to keep everyone safe. In return, they're provided with everything they might need or want."

Greg paused. "Well… I suppose that makes sense. You don't want your strongest fighters to be god knows where when danger comes a knocking. Still though, aren't you one of the most desirable women in the safe zone? Why not rely on one of them?"

Meredith shook her head. "People who can be of use to the safe zone aren't allowed to live in indolence. If Fredrick caught me living easy off one of the high-tiers, he'd throw me out into the city faster than you could blink. He doesn't mind if you're weak, but if you're strong, and you don't do anything with it, he has no use for you."

"Huh… harsh, but I can't say I disagree." Greg nodded along. "So… I guess the end of all this is you want to join Unicorn Squad, right?"

Meredith nodded. "You know my ability. I would help keep the rest of the squad safe, while you would keep me safe. None of your members are weak, and with my ability helping you to take more risks, I'm sure the squad will shoot to the top of the rankings in no time. It's a win-win scenario. Plus… My offer still stands. Anything you want from me, I'll give you willingly." She finished, watching him carefully as she bit her lip. Apparently she was still holding on to a bit of hope that she could 'steal' him from Tessa.

Greg nodded along slowly, before frowning as she got to the last part. "Okay, first off, knock that shit off, alright? I don't want you on the squad if the entire time I'm going to need to worry about resisting your advances. Secondly… Well, you know, it isn't my squad, so I'll have to talk to the others. From what I've seen, this is more of a friend group that's also a squad, so I'm not sure if they'll be willing to just let someone new in, even if it is someone with an ability like yours." Meredith nodded in understanding. There wasn't much else to talk about, so they quickly said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.

*

"So Meredith does want to join Unicorn Squad, huh?" Victor commented after he woke up and Greg told him the news. "Well I'll be damned."

"Yeah. So what do you think? Should we go for it?" Greg asked.

Victor sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't know. I mean, if she can avoid being her usual Queen Bitch of Hell self, she'd be an amazing asset. But… well, she can be a fucking Queen Bitch of Hell. I mean, I've seen it happen again and again. She comes on real sweet, gets you all wound around her finger, until you're practically addicted to her, and then she turns it around and you can't help but do everything she says cause you need her more than she needs you. Still, I've never seen her try this hard before… I just don't know."

Greg frowned, not sure what to make of it all either. Meredith seemed sincere, but was she? Was it all a trick? Greg sighed. "If only there was a way to test her. Make sure she's being honest."

Victor nodded, before suddenly pausing as a slow grin spread across his face. "Well… there is one way." Greg turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "You see, despite all her behavior, Meredith has never done the deed, if you know what I'm saying. It's always smoke and mirrors, temptations, but never any fulfillment. If you could get her to actually give up her forbidden fruit, it'd at least prove she's being more sincere than usual."

Greg frowned bitterly, letting out a low groan. "Dude, you are killing me! I'm already struggling to resist her offers, I don't need them coming from you too!"

Victor froze. "You mean she's already offered? Like, actually said she'd do it? For real?"

Greg sighed. "Yeah. Well, not exactly that, but she said something along the lines of 'anything that's hers is mine to take' or something like that. And she looked dead serious. I honestly might have gone for it if Tessa hadn't walked in at just the right moment."

Victor raised an eyebrow at him. "In that situation, wouldn't it be just the wrong moment?"

Greg frowned. "No, I don't actually want to sleep with Meredith."

"Why not?" Victor asked, cocking his head. "Despite her other issues, the woman is drop dead sexy."

"I know but… well, remember what we talked about a few days ago? I don't want to get addicted to Meredith." Greg sighed. "Maybe if I liked her, but I barely know her, and from everything I've heard, the odds of me liking her even after I get to know her are slim to none. I don't want to get attached to someone I don't even like."

Victor nodded in understanding. "Ah, right, your temperance issues, gotcha. I don't do that."

"I am aware." Greg sighed, rolling his eyes.

*

The two of them discussed other possible tests for Meredith, but they didn't come up with anything before Tessa came by to pick Greg up for training. Greg informed Tessa about the situation on the way, and they started talking about it as well, though their progress got stalled at one minor point. "Meredith is competing with me?" Tessa asked incredulously.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

"Yeah, she seems to think you two are rivals for most desirable women in the safe zone." Greg nodded before pausing. "Though, now that I think about it, doesn't Sarah get that title by default? I mean, it's literally her ability."

Tessa rolled her eyes. "Yes, let's just parade Sarah around the safe zone, let all the perverts get a good look at her. That will show Meredith."

"Hey, I wasn't suggesting anything like that. I mean, who cares who's the most desirable in the safe zone? I was just saying it's sort of a pointless debate seeing as Sarah literally has cheats. Unless you wanted to add in women… but then you'd have to count desirable guys as well, so that just makes things more complicated." Greg rambled, frowning as he went down the rabbit hole.

Tessa sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Greg, not the point! Meredith has been carrying on some sort of imaginary competition with me this entire time! It's insane!"

Greg paused. "Well, the competition isn't exactly imaginary. I mean, just because you don't care, doesn't mean people don't desire you. Though… the fact that you aren't even trying does make it kind of sad for Meredith." Tessa gave Greg a flat, unamused stare. "Uh, anyways, the real point is whether or not we actually want her in our Squad. I mean, she'll definitely be useful, but… is it worth it?"

Tessa frowned, before sighing. "Meredith… I honestly don't know if we can trust her, but on the other hand, do we need to trust her? If she's just joining us when we go out into the city… it isn't like she can do anything to harm us out there. That would literally be shooting herself in the foot. And when we're back in the safe zone, we don't really have to interact with her. Even if she's our Squadmate, that doesn't mean she has to be our friend."

Greg frowned. "That's a fair point… but, what if something happens, and we all get separated, and it's just me and Meredith alone? If she tries something… I'll fold, and once I start, I'm not sure if I'm capable of stopping." He muttered with a worried look.

Tessa raised an eyebrow at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I- look, I know my issues, alright? I am prone to excess. I sleep too much, I eat too much, I read too much, anything I enjoy, I do it as much as I can. I can't stop myself! And I am absolutely positive I'm going to enjoy sex. Everyone enjoys sex. Now, I don't know if that means I'll tie myself to Meredith, or if I'll just start sleeping with everyone, but I really don't want to find out. Either way, I suck, and I don't like sucking!" Greg explained.

Tessa frowned at him. "If you don't want to do it, then don't do it! I know you have the self-control for it."

Greg groaned. "But that's the thing. I do want to do it! Even though I know it's ultimately a bad idea, I also know it'll be really fun on the way down. And unfortunately, I'm not good with long-term consequences. I mean, I recognize them, but I just don't care."

Tessa threw up her hands in exasperation. "Then just go do it already! Why stop yourself? Go, have fun!"

"No, that's not- urgh!" Greg grunted in frustration, trying to figure out how to explain this. "It's- okay, say you're really craving chocolate, but you know you shouldn't have chocolate. It isn't like you're going to go out of your way to buy chocolate, but if there happens to be a chocolate bar right next to you, you're going to have a hard time not eating that chocolate bar. Does that make any sense? Plus, it isn't like the consequences are terrible. Relationships based solely on sex aren't great, but people do it. Same with sleeping around. I don't necessarily want to be that kind of person, but I don't see anything inherently wrong about it."

Tessa raised an eyebrow at him. "You don't see anything wrong with only using women for sex?" She asked, crossing her arms.

Greg frowned. "Well, it depends on how you do it, doesn't it? If you're tricking women into bed by pretending you have feelings for them, then yeah, that's wrong, but if you're up front about it and everyone involved knows what the deal is and consents, then what's the harm? You use them, they use you, and everyone's happy."

"If that's what you think, then why don't you want to do it?" Tessa asked, looking legitimately confused. She just could not get Greg's reasoning.

Greg sighed. "Because I want to find a real relationship, you know? One based on love and respect. It's hard to find something like that when you spend all your time and energy on shallow flings. I know some people get lucky and turn flings into serious relationships, but… I just don't think it's common enough to depend on. Though… it isn't like I'm finding anyone doing what I'm doing either." Greg frowned, before shaking his head and sighing again. "It's just that any of the ways I actually know how to meet girls are ways that generally lead to flings. I still think my best chance is to just hope somehow she stumbles upon me randomly at some point. Hopefully I'm not too oblivious to notice." Tessa paused, looking at Greg with a mix of exasperation and incredulity. "What?" Greg asked as he noticed her look.

"You-" Tessa began, before sighing in defeat. "Nothing. Come on, we have training to do." She grumbled, stalking off towards the training rooms. Greg watched her go with a confused expression, before shrugging and following. He vaguely felt like he was missing something, but he just couldn't figure out what.

*

Casey heard a knock on her door, her eyes widening in surprise as she found Tessa, instead of Emily, who was supposed to show up sometime soon. "Hey, Casey. Can- can I talk to you about something?" Tessa asked, shuffling slightly in an uncharacteristic display of nervousness, increasing Casey's confusion even further.

"Uh… yeah? Yeah! Come on in." Casey shook herself from her daze, stepping aside to let Tessa in, the two taking a seat in her sitting area, sitting quietly for a moment, before Casey coughed. "Uh, so… what did you want to talk about?"

Tessa hesitated slightly, before replying. "It's- well- with- with Greg… is- is there something… up with him? Like, what's his deal?" She asked nervously.

"Greg?" Casey responded, eyebrows rising slightly in surprise, before furrowing down into a frown. "Up with him? I- kinda? I guess? I wouldn't know how to describe it though… he's just- well, he's Greg. I think the only person who really understands him is himself. Maybe Victor, but even then, I think it's more that they operate on similar wavelengths, than any true level of understanding." Casey explained thoughtfully, before pausing, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Wait, why? What did he do? He didn't bring home another feral, did he?"

"No, he didn't do anything." Tessa groaned. "I just- I don't get why he can get that Meredith-" Tessa spat out her name in a tone of disgust."-is into him, yet when I-" Tessa froze, realizing she'd said more than she meant to, flushing slightly.

Casey's eyebrows shot up. "You- you like Greg?" Tessa hesitated, before nodding stiffly. "That's- that's- that's great!" Casey exclaimed excitedly, jumping to her feet and moving to sit right next to Tessa, grabbing her by the hands. "Since when? What is it you like about him?"

Tessa froze. "I-I- it- I-" She stammered, before taking a deep breath. "I-I think it started after he saved me from that feral, the one who was keeping Sarah captive… he just- it was the first time I saw how… sturdy he can be. He- he has this absolute sense of what's right and what's wrong, and- he just doesn't move from it. He could have left Sarah- he could have left me, but… he didn't. He couldn't. It isn't who he is. And I just see it more and more. With Sarah's ability, with the ferals, with-" Tessa paused. "Well, less with Meredith than I would like, but he at least shows resistance." She grumbled. "Plus… Well, he's kind of a dork, and I like that." She added quickly, flushing lightly.

"Huh…" Casey grunted, cocking her head as she considered Tessa's explanation. "So… Do you think he likes you back?"

"I don't know!" Tessa let out another groan, throwing herself back into the couch. "I'm not even sure he realizes I like him! I mean, I go out of my way to train with him, I take him dancing, we have lunch every day, and- and- nothing! I don't know if he's purposefully ignoring me or if he's really that oblivious!"

"Well, if I had to guess…" Casey sighed. "Greg can be really, really oblivious. Like, it isn't even funny. I once saw a girl go up to him to ask if he wanted to do homework together, and do you want to know what his response was? 'No, I already did it'! And he just walked off, leaving the poor girl just standing there! The worst part? I knew he had a crush on her! At least, he was interested. And it wasn't like he was scared or nervous or anything, he just… the idea that doing homework together was an excuse to hang out never occurred to him."

Tessa frowned. "So what, do I have to start acting like Meredith? Show off three quarters of my tits and plaster myself against him?"

Casey paused, before shaking her head. "As much as I would love to see that, I wouldn't actually recommend it. Honestly, I think your best bet would be to just tell him you like him and see what happens."

Tessa grunted noncommittally, frowning as she considered Casey's suggestion. It wasn't that she couldn't do it, but… the fact that she had to do it just made her uncomfortable. Why could he read Meredith's intentions, but not hers? Why was what she'd already done not enough to get through to him? Her fingers felt itchy as she thought of stabbing Greg again, gritting her teeth in frustration. Finally, she let out a sigh, getting to her feet. "Thank you for talking about this with me. I- I have a lot to think about." She thanked Casey, before leaving the apartment, heading for someplace quiet where she could be alone with her thoughts.