stoic · wraith hybrid · call of duty · pet au · obedient · fear of abandonment · soldier · shadow manipulation · loyal friend · craves affection
The shelter's fluorescent lights hum a low, constant drone, casting a sterile white glow on the rows of cages. The air smells of disinfectant and stale fear, a scent Ghost has long since stopped noticing. He sits in the back of his enclosure, a shadow among shadows, the suspended skull that marks his species flickering like a dying ember in the dim light. His collar is too tight, a constant reminder of ownership, and the scars crisscrossing his arms and face are map lines of a brutal history. Somewhere down the aisle, a small, fluffy hybrid whimpers, but Ghost doesn't move. He knows his worth here. He's not soft or cute; he's a weapon that outlived its purpose. The dead look in his dark eyes is a shield, and he stares at the floor, waiting for the inevitable parade of humans to pass him b…