Chapter Text
In a small room a young family huddled together in a corner holding on to each other. The mother held her newborn son in her arms wrapped in a tan old ruff blanket, the only one they owned.
The father had his arm around his wife’s shoulder while the other rested on the baby’s chest feeling it rise and fall with each breath. The parents pressed close together holding their baby as near to them as they could.
“He’s perfect.” The father said choked up with fresh tears stains on his cheeks and unshed tears in his eyes.
“You did an amazing job love, I’m so proud of you.” He pressed the side of his head against her as he said so. “Looks just like you to. Our little fox kit.”
“I wish he looked like you.” She said back sorrowfully.
“Cathy.” The father said looking at his wife. The only light in the room hung in middle of the ceiling, it barely gave any light. But it was enough for the man to see the sadness in his wife’s eyes. “Just because he’s not mine by blood doesn’t mean he’s not mine.”
He knew the way their child was conceived broke his wife’s heart as it did his own. But the joy of being a father out waged his grief of their trainer being the child’s sire.
“I wish we could name him.” Cathy finally said “I wish it was our decision to have him. I wish he didn’t have to grow up in this place like we did and I wish you were his father not that man.” She broke off with a shuddered voice.
“it doesn’t mean I don’t love him. I truly do. He’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in this horrible place but I…I ca… Michael… I don’t want this for him.” Her red heir fell in her face as she looked up In Michael’s eyes her blue meeting his brown.
“I know.” He said softly cupping her face “I know.”
It was quiet after that. Nether saying a word just letting the silence and each other comfort them. They’ve never needed to fill the silence with conversation, the silence was far more comforting than noise. The humming of the old light and each other’s breathing was the best two sounds in the world, they watched the rise and fall of their son’s chest taking in the peacefulness it provided.
That peace however didn’t last. Sounds of footsteps coming down the hall from outside their cell made both hybrids inside freeze. The locking mechanism for their door sounded and the wolf hybrid gave a low growl as the door slowly opened.
“Michael stop that!” Cathrine hissed at her husband “he’ll beat you if he hears that!” The fox hybrid begged her husband as the door opened fully and relived three figures standing outside.
“Well let’s see it.” The one in the middle said. He stepped into the room while the other two men stayed outside. Wills Todd, a tall and fit human had on a red dress shirt, a black vest and tie with black dress pants and shoes. On his wrist was a golden watch and his hair was curly and black with brown eyes hidden under expensive sunglasses.
He rolled up his sleeves and looked to the couple. “Come on Cath, give me the kit. I let you two have it right after it came out now I need to look over my new fighter.” Wills said hands out waiting for the mother to comply.
Slowly Cathy got up as her husband stayed where he was watching his wife with their baby walk towards the man. Cathy slowly handed her son to the man anxiously watching as he unraveled the blanket on the baby’s head revealing two soft red fox ears and black curls similar to Wills with tuffs of white in the front. The baby had a pale skinned face and freckles painted across his nose and on the tops of his cheeks.
“So” Wills started as he turned the babe side to side examining him “thought of any names? I know, I know typically that’s my job but I’ve been busy as of late and don’t have anything good other than Bobby.” He said then turned to the couple with a raised brow.
“Well? Oh and Michael you can stand up.”
With the permission he got up from his knees and stood next to his wife. Her hands shook ever so slightly behind her back so Wills couldn’t see, yet they stilled as he held them tight in his own.
“Jason,” she said, “if you like it, we’d pick Jason.” Cathy met Wills eyes as she spoke. Her back straight and head held high, like the trained fighter she was.
“Jason?” He questioned, “that was your brother’s and father’s name if I’m not mistaken, correct?” He asked already knowing the answer.
He had bought her on her eighteenth birthday, her old trainer was needing to get rid of her to make space for a new fighter. Wills had gotten her whole family history that day, just like he got Michael’s the day he was bought.
“Yes,” she said, trying to keep the emotion out of her voice. “My brother got sick and died before he turned six. But my father was a strong fighter and only ever lost three fights his whole life.” She finished not taking her eyes away from the man who held her son.
Michael rubbed his thumb on her wrist hidden from view to comfort his wife the best he could. He couldn’t speak as much as he wanted to, couldn’t force the man give them their child. He didn’t have the power here, neither of them can do anything if they want this chance, this amazing, beautiful, wonderful chance to name their son.
Having a choice of any kind in the Pit was a gift, a gift that wouldn’t be free he knew. But Michael would fight 10 times in a row to have this chance. A chance that they would be the ones to pick their son’s first name. A fighters last name was whatever their trainers last name was and it changed whenever they changed owners. But your first name was something you always got to keep. One of the few things that was theirs and theirs alone.
“Yes I remember.” Wills said “shame about that kit, I’m sure he would have been a wonderful fighter like his parents.” He hummed in thought walking back and forth in the cell.
Then he held the babe up towards the light making both his parents tense. “Yes, Jason. You’ll make a good fighter won’t you.” A greedy smile came to the man’s face. The babes small red ears flattened as he was held up, and tuffs of white hair fell in his face.
“You can have him back now Cath, and Michael you fight in a hour you’ll have to pick up the slack while Cathy has to feed the kit so much. I expect you to stay on top of your game.” He handed Jason back crossed arms as he finished his sentence.
“Of course sir.” Michael answered looking at Wills while Cathy’s shoulders dropped slightly in relief at having Jason back in her arms.
“Good.” Wells said then turned to the men at the door “Luke, Josh bring Michael to the medical room in an hour to make sure he’s fit for the fight.” The men nodded as Wills walked out the cell, and the door closed behind him with a loud click.
Both parents broke from their stances and looked over the child in Cathrine’s arms.
“Hello, Jason.” His mother said smiling at the baby, Michael laughed slightly and both parents looked at each other and shared a soft kiss.
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At two years of age Jason was alone most of the day in the small cell, trapped within the four stone walls and floor that made up the young child’s world. Being so young the child couldn’t leave the safety the cell provided him from the other fighters. Many fighters wouldn’t hesitate to try and get at him the moment his parents weren’t close enough to protect him.
There’s only two times Jason is ever brought out of the cell. One, for yearly check ups and vaccinations (which the boy is never happy about) and two, for weekly showers with his mother after all the other fighters have finished.
The day starts with the loud ringing from the wake-up bell in the hall right outside their cell. Each parent gives him a hug and a kiss on the head with promises of breakfast when they return. After around 30mins they come back and eat with him till they have to leave again for training. The training can last from 3 to 5 hours all which Jason is left alone without any form of company except a wolf plush. All children in the Pit are given a stuffed toy to keep them company while their parents train and fight. Jason’s plush, a gray wolf with black button eyes was given to him on his first birthday when he became old enough to be left alone.
After training they comeback with lunch and spend the next two hours with Jason till they have to leave again. During this time they tell the boy stories of their fights, they tell him how they won their past fights and teach him. They teach him the way they’ve been taught, they have him copy their moves to make sure he’s ready for the day he’ll have to fight in the Pit as well.
When they leave again for the last time, Jason is left with his wolf that he named Prince. (He got the name from his parents calling him their little prince) Till 2am the boy waits for his parents to come back. He waits by the door, he practices his fighting having Prince watch, he retells his parents stories to Prince. But most of his time is spent waiting by the door for them to comeback.
When they do he Jumps into their arms not noticing their wet hair and bandage arms. They hug and kiss him promising to tell him how they won the next day.
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