The air in the classroom was heavy with the scent pf antiseptic and rusting metal-a constant reminder of the technology and conditions that kept our world safe. Levi shifted in his seat, anxiously drumming his fingers against his desk that was scratched and worn from the years of use it received. The weight of impending graduation pressed down on his mind, an anchor of both anticipation and dread.

"Alright class, settle down." Mr. Zachary called from his podium on the stage at the front of the room, his voice as raspy as sandpaper rubbing against itself. He wore a threadbare tweed jacket, the cuffs fraying on the edges, and his hair, thinning, barely covered the top of his head. He clutched on to his tablet and pulled it close to his chest, as though he was keeping the secrets of the world on the syllabus that it held.

Levi sat up straighter, ears ringing slightly due to the silence that had just previously hushed the room. The quiet murmuring and shifting of his classmates left a quiet hum of nervous energy settling over the entire room.

"This is your final practical assessment," He continued. "if you pass this, you'll graduate with full certification in Werewolf handling. You'll be ready for whatever the world-or the system-throws at you.

Mr. Zachary's eyes scanned the room carefully, landing on Levi for a brief moment longer than the rest of the class. Levi understood that look. Stay in line. Do the work. Don't make trouble. Don't try to stand out.

Levi glanced at his computer which sat carefully in front of him. His file was open, displaying his assigned werewolf's information. Deg. Such an unoriginal name for something as precious as this. The profile picture showed a young man with wild black hair, two pointy wolf ears sticking out, dark eyes, and a scowl that seemed to be etched into their very. being. The word "CONTROLLED" which sat above their profile picture, flashed in green. The NCS chip embedded in the back of Deg's neck ensured that.

Levi swallowed hard. He hadn't met Deg in person yet. No one was able to meet their own werewolf until they passed the final course of "Werewolf Handling 101."

Mr. Zachary tapped a button on his tablet making the lights dim to a faint glow. A holographic projection started up in the center of the stage, flickering to life. A massive werewolf, jaws dripping with saliva, teeth like quartz lined daggers. Its eyes seemed to glow with feral light, and for a moment, the room seemed smaller, more dangerous. The projection snarled, causing several students to flinch.

"This, students," Mr. Zachary said, his voice icy and unflinching, "is what. happens when you fail to control your werewolf properly."

The image that was on the stage shifted. The same werewolf, now with a malfunctioning NCS chip flickering in the back of it's neck, stood in the middle of the room. The creature was wild and unstoppable. Blood splattered on its claws and stained its fur pelt.

Levi's stomach tied itself into a knot. He didn't need the reminder of what happened when werewolves' NCS chips malfunctioned. Everyone knew the stories from the Cross Complex. Everyone feared the chaos that would ensue.

The image disappeared, and the lights returned to normal. Mr. Zachary's eyes were like two boulders blocking a wave of water like a natural dam.

"Control keeps our society functioning. Without it, we'd all be living in chaos. Your job, once you all graduate, is to ensure that never happens."

Before Mr. Zachary could continue, a sharp knock at the door interrupted him. His gaze flicked quickly to the doors and he nodded.

"Come in."

The doors opened, two security guards walked in, flanking a figure in chains. The metal links clinked softly with. each of the figures steps. Levi's breath caught in his throat.

It was Deg.

He seemed taller than Levi expected, lean but powerful. His wrists were shackled, and the collar around his neck glowed faintly, but just enough for Levi to see it from where he sat-the failsafe of the NCS chip. Deg's dark hair hung over his eyes, but even with his gaze lowered, Levi could feel the tension rolling off him. A subdued storm.

The guards led Deg to Levi's desk. Mr. Zachary's eyes pinned Levi in place.

"Mr. Brooks, meet your assigned werewolf. For your final, you'll demonstrate control in a series of tasks, or commands. Remember, you're responsible for him. If he fails your commands, you fail this class."

Levi nodded, his throat parched. He tried to find his voice. "Y-Yes sir."

One of the guards unlocked Deg's shackles. The chains fell away from his wrists and ankles. As the chains fell away, Deg's arms fell to his side, limp. He didn't look up at Levi. He simply stood there, perfectly still, like a statue, waiting for a command.

"Deg?" Levi's voice soft, almost trying to be empathetic.

The werewolf which stood in front of him lifted his head just enough for their eyes to meet. Levi's chest tightened. Deg's eyes were dark and filled with. a quiet resignation that twisted something deep inside Levi.

"Awaiting orders," Deg murmured.

The words were mechanical, as if they were 'programed' to say that, they were hollow. Levi felt a rush of anger. His face becoming a flush red, but only enough for Deg to see. He wasn't mad at Deg. Instead he was infuriated at the system that was essentially controlling him, reducing someone with thoughts and opinions to this selfless being that could only follow orders.

Levi's fingered curled around the tablet that was set on his desk. He knew what he was supposed to do. Issue a command to Deg. Prove to his professor that he was in control. Show the system that he was ready to join the ranks of society. But his voice stuck in his throat.

He took a breath and whispered to Deg, "You don't have to obey me."

Deg blinked, his eyes widening a little, confusion flickering across them. His shoulders tensed for a moment, as though he were waiting to be reprimanded. Waiting to be punished with physical violence.

Mr. Zachary voice cut through the moment like a whip, almost impatient. "Mr. Brooks, if you can't issue a basic command, you may as well leave the class now."

Levi's jaw tightened. He looked at Deg, guilt warring with the weight of expectation. His mind screamed at him to follow the script laid out right now, to keep his head down and pass the class.

Deep down, however, somewhere in his guts, he knew that this was a test. Not just for him, but also for Deg.

"Deg," Levi said, his voice steadying quickly. "Look at me."

Deg's gaze lifted slowly, uncertainty darkening his already deep colored eyes.

"Good." Levi said forcing himself to follow the script for now. He hesitated before continuing, "I don't want to call you that name anymore."

Deg frowned slightly. "It's just a name" He whispered.

"No," Levi's voice was firm and unrelenting. "It's a name they gave you. I want to give you one of your own." He took a deep pause before adding, "How about... Damien?"

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"Damien..." he repeated, the words barely above a whisper.

Levi nodded. "Yeah. Damien."

For the first time, Levi saw a flicker of something behind Damien's eyes. Something that wasn't resignation.

Hope.

The sound of Mr. Zachary clearing his throat snapped Levi out of the moment.

"Congratulations Mr. Brooks," he said, his tone clipped. "You've successfully issued your first command. Now, lets see if you can keep that control. You'll report to the practical assessment area after this class for your first task."

Levi swallowed and nodded. His hand hovered near Damien's shoulder for a split moment before he let it drop, The werewolf's eyes followed the motion, still wary, but that hint of hope remained.

"We'' figure this out," Levi whispered.

Damien didn't respond, although his hand twitched. The smallest sign of acknowledgement. It was all that was necessary.

As the class continued, Levi couldn't shake the feeling that everything just changed. Not just for him-but for Damien too.

The hum of the classroom seemed to fade as Levi processed everything that had just happened. His fingers still tingled from the nervous energy that coiled in his body. Damien stood beside Levi as the class continued. His hands loosely beside him, the NCS in his neck pulsating green. A faint reminder of who held the power here.

Or who should.

Mr Zachary paced around the stage as his eyes swept over each of the students. "You all have fifteen minutes to review your werewolf's profiles and prepare for the practical exam. Study. the strengths and weaknesses of your assigned werewolf. Their behavior patterns, compliance history, and potential triggers. There will be excuses for failure."

The stern warning settled like led in the students guts. Especially Levi's. He glanced at the tablet that. was left on his desk, scanning over a more detailed version of Damien's profile.

* Name: Deg (Levi Brooks)

* Age: 22 years old

* Height: 6'2"

* Weight: 187.3 LBs

* Status: Controlled

* Compliance Rate: 86%

* Trigger Warnings: High-Stress situations, proximity to other werewolves, sudden loud noises.

Levi's eyes lingered on the compliance rate. 86% was much lower than the average. Most students had werewolves assigned to them with a compliance rating of at least 95%. The lower the number was, the harder it was to control the werewolves under pressure.

Levi swallowed. Why did I have to get the difficult one?

Beside him, Damien shifted slightly, the movement subtle but noticeable. His eyes flicked over to Levi's face, reading the tension and smelling the anxiety.

"You're worried," Damien said softly, his voice just above a whisper.

Levi looked up, surprised. "I'm not worried," he lied.

Damien arched an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching upwards into almost a smile. "You're lying to a werewolf."

Levi's cheeks heated, turning red, as he glanced away. He didn't know what to say. It felt strange to talk to Damien. One, he didn't know Damien too well, and two, he was supposed to be his servant of sorts. The system didn't encourage that kind of relationship between human and werewolf. Werewolves were tools, not partners. Objects, not equals.

But looking at Damien now, Levi couldn't see an object. He saw someone who'd been broken down, reprogrammed, and forced into chains. Someone who against all odds, still had some, little spark, of defiance left in his eyes.

Mr. Zachary's voice startled Levi back into the present. "Final prep is now over. Everyone please, make your way to the assessment room."

Chairs scrapped the tile floor as the students stood up, some with an air of confidence, and others, with a look of dread and fear over their faces. Looks like I wasn't the only one to get a werewolf with a low compliance rate.

As Levi stood up, Damien watched his movements carefully, like a predator in unfamiliar territory. They exited the room in pairs, and Levi with Damien, still eyeing him. The hallways were lined with posters glorifying the necessity of control.

"Control is Safety,

Obedience is Order,

Freedom is Chaos."

Levi's stomach twisted as he avoided looking at the posters and slogans, focusing, instead, on the door ahead: Practical Assessment Room. It loomed larger than life. Instead of regular doors, it was a gateway to his own failure-or his imminent future.

The students entered one by one. Levi's grip on his tablet tightened as he and Damien stepped inside. The room was stark, clinical, bland, with a series of obstacles and stations set up in a grid pattern. Each station represented a different scenario a handler might face; obedience under stress, agility drills, restraint techniques, and-at the end-crisis response.

"Handlers, take your positions." Mr. Zachary commanded. He stood on an elevated platform, flanked by two evaluators with. cold impassive expressions.

Levi guided Damien to their starting positions, a square marked with their names on a piece of tape. He took a deep breath trying to steady his nerves.

"Remember," Mr. Zachary's voice echoed through the room, "failure to control your werewolf will result in a lower score and possible automatic disqualification."

Levi's fingers clenched tightly into fists. I can do this. We can do this.

"Begin!"

A buzzer sounded and chaos erupted.

The first task was a simple obedience drill. Levi glanced at Damien. "Walk forward. Stop at the red line."

Damien's eyes met his for a moment before he turned and walked forward, his steps measured, posture relaxed. He stopped perfectly at the red line, his body still.

Relief flooded Levi. One down.

"Return to me," Levi commanded.

Damien, with no hesitation, pivoted smoothly and walked back with the same measured steps, standing just within Levi's personal space. There was a quiet grace to Damiens movements, even with the simmering strength that flowed beneath the surface.

The second task. was agility. Levi nodded towards the obstacle course: a series of hurdles, a tunnel and a balance beam.

"Go through the course. Steady. and quick."

Damien's jaw went tight, but he nodded and took off. Damien leapt over the hurdles with. ease. His form was fluid and every moment was controlled, nearly perfect. Damien slipped through the tunnel, his dark hair barely brushing the top of the tunnel before landing lightly on the balance beam. Levi held his breath as Damien crossed it, his arm out for balance, muscles taut.

He landed on the other side, glanced back, and returned to Levi's side.

"Good job," Levi said, his voice barely audible.

Damien blinked, like he wasn't sure he had heard Levi correctly.

They moved to the third task: restraint. Levi's gut knotted once more. This was the part that he dreaded the most.

"Handler Brooks," Mr. Zachary's voice called out, "secure your werewolf with the provided restraints."

Levi looked at the cuff on the nearby table. He hesitated, his fingers hovering over the cold, hard metal.

Damien's eyes softened. "It's okay. Do what you have to do."

Even with Damien's reassurance, Levi's gut tightened more. He picked up the restraints, the metal cool and unforgiving. "Give me your hands."

Damien extended his wrists, the faintest tremor running through his fingers. Levi swallowed hard and closed the. cuffs around them, the locks clicking into place. Levi hated this. He hated the way Damien's shoulders slumped, the way the spark dimmed in his eyes.

"Restraint complete," Levi said, his voice hollow and saddened.

Mr. Zachary nodded, making a not on his tablet. "Proceed to the final task: Crisis Response."

Levi unlocked the cuffs, his hands shaking slightly. Damien rubbed his reddened. He didn't say anything, but Levi felt the weight of the unspoken words between them.

They walked to the last station. A red alarm light flashed above as a robotic voice blared; "simulated NCS failure. Handle with caution."

Levi's blood ran cold. The holographic display. around them shifted, creating the illusion of a chaotic street scene. Civilians screamed in terror as an. unchipped werewolf roared in the distance.

Damien's body went ridged, his eyes narrowing as the scenario took hold. Levi could see the tension in his body, the way his muscles coiled and froze.

"Damien," Levi said, his voice steady. "This isn't real. Stay with me."

Damien's breathing grew rapid. The holographic werewolf charged closer. Levi could see the conflict in Damien's eyes-the instinct to fight, or run.

"Damien, look at me."

Damien's eyes snapped to Levi's. For a moment the chaos melted away, leaving just the two of them, together, alone.

"Trust me." Levi whispered.

Damien's breath steadied. He gave a small nod.

The holographic werewolf lunged at them-and Damien didn't move. He stayed by Levi's side, grounded by the fragile thread of trust.

The simulation ended just as fast as it had started.

Mr. Zachary's voice was tight, almost scornful, "Assessment complete."

Levi exhaled slowly, his heart pounding.

Damien turned to him, something unreadable in his gaze. "You didn't leave me," he said softly. "You didn't let go."

Levi managed a smile, "I won't."

For the first time, Damien didn't hold back his smile. It was faint, fleeting-but real.

and for Levi it was enough.

"Mr. Brooks, please take your werewolf and move to the waiting room for your results. All results will be published once everyone has finished their tests." Mr. Zachary's voice was unsteady, almost nervous.

Levi and Damien both walked to the waiting room where dozens of other kids and their werewolves, all in their human form, waited. Each seat had a name attacked to the back rest. Once Levi found his, he didn't sit down, instead, inviting Damien to sit down in. the seat.

Damien, although hesitant, sat down. Several of the other students around looked at Levi with disgust as they had their werewolves sit on the cold floor. They would never truly understand what kind of connection Levi felt towards Damien. To try to give him a better life. Something he can actually enjoy.

A life they both could enjoy, together, side by side.