Chapter Text
Some women had children but were not cut out to be mothers.
“I don’t think my cold is getting any better.” Legosi was only 8 years old when his scales were beginning to come in. It started as just a few on his body that were easy enough to conceal but when they started appearing on his face, it was too much for his mother Leano to cope with. He rubbed his eyes in frustration as he had to breathe from his mouth with such a stuffy nose. “Hush, I just want to have a nice dinner today, we’ve been holed up in the house all week.” She opened the door on the restaurant, leading him through by the hand. “Table for two. Something in the back.” The waiter looked confused, the young monitor lizard thought she was acting suspicious the way she was speaking low and looking around.
“Uh…sure. Right this way,” He grabbed two menus and came around the counter that’s when he noticed the child following behind and the scales on his muzzle. He said nothing and placed the menus on the table and took their drink orders. “This is nice, isn’t it?” Even her forced smile was a welcomed change to her usual distant demeanor. “Yeah…mom, can we go to the park?” He asked, Legosi always kept a paw over his muzzle to hide his nose so that she wouldn’t make her angry face.
“It’s still really bright out, other parents will be there, kids will be there…I just don’t want anyone making a fuss.” Leano said under her breath as the waiter brought out the sodas. “What would you like?” He asked. “Bokchoy, bean sprouts, radish…, shiitake mushrooms, veggie meatballs and some vermicelli. Miso broth.” She handed him back the menu, holding it out as though she didn’t want to look at him at all but he made no comment on her rudeness.
“Hey, got a cold little guy? Here…” he reached into his pocket and took out a white mask and handed it to him. “That’s perfect! Thank you.” The waiter could do nothing but smile before going to put their order in. The meal itself was quick and mostly quiet. “I heard you on the phone yesterday, who were you talking to?” Legosi asked. Leano looked at him with a glare that made him shrink away from her. “None of your business.” She said flatly. “You shouldn’t meddle in the business of grown-ups.” He didn’t ask again, instead, he swallowed a lump in his throat, wanting to cry after thinking that he had ruined one of the few times she took him somewhere in public.
Leano paid the bill at the counter and they left, now that he had on his mask, she seemed to be more relaxed, even letting him spend an hour at the park before taking him home. When they were home, Legosi spent most of his time alone. He had a pet beetle he spent most of his time taking care of and even talking to. “I saw a caterpillar at the park, it was so fuzzy and brown!” He giggled as he fed him.
Leano spent a lot of time in front of the mirror when she was getting ready for bed. Most of the time she was checking her body for any signs of the affliction that plagued Legosi. “This new diet seems to be working…” be hummed to herself as she checked her figure. She was beautiful, slender with a tiny waist, and many times she thought she should hook up again with the wolf she had Legosi with. But if he saw Legosi, her secret would be out and what little life she had would be ruined.
And so, single she stayed. Her isolation, her loneliness, and everything she wanted to with her life being only forgotten dreams. The irony was, she wouldn’t have minded being a single mother with a normal child she could go around with freely. But he was a stain on her life she couldn’t escape, because of those damn, “Scales…?” She gasped, mortified. She reached her hand around her back to scratch at an itch that had been bothering her all day. When her fingers felt that smooth and familiar texture, she stopped dead in her tracks.
“No! No no no, this can’t be happening! Not me too...” She muttered, she wasted no time moving the fur around the small patch of scales aside and painstakingly tearing each scale from the flesh with her claws. It was painful and bloody, but by the time she was finished, there was nothing more than an exposed wound. “Ah, much better.” Her breathing was labored as she sighed with relief. “Mom?” She looked at the door where the whole time, Legosi had been standing there, watching her the entire time.
“You’re bleeding.” He mumbled worriedly. “Go to bed!” She yelled making him flinch, he ran from the bathroom and went into the bedroom, closing the door. ‘Why does she hate me?’ It was something he would ask himself when she had these outbursts, or when she looked at him, her nose pointed up in disgust he put his hand over his muzzle, gently petting over his scales, sniffling as he realized that they were something about him that she couldn’t stand, so much so that she would make herself bleed just so she wouldn’t have to share that with him.
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School was a constant state of fear. Hybrid children were easy targets because teachers didn’t care about what children did to them. They weren’t typical. They were base and grotesque, and children had no problem punishing them for the crime of existing in their space. It was a level of hatred that only made sense to those who felt it.
“Snake tongue!”
“Lizard mutt!”
“Scaley wolf!” were just some of the cruel things they taunted him with as they took his lunch and stomped on the bag, pushed him into the dirt and threw water on him. “Why won’t you fight back, dragon breath? I thought your ancestors were supposed to be strong!” A young fox laughed as he kicked dirt into his face. “I won’t want to fight!” Legosi cried, he went to get up and each time he did, he was knocked down. “Maybe he’s dumb? My dad said sometimes those Komodo dragons are slow!” An eagle student teased, they all laughed. Legosi cried, trying to wipe the tears from his eyes. “Hey! What if we put him in the freezer? Komodos turn into icicles when it’s cold.” A young cheetah suggested with a wicked grin.
“N-no! You can’t do that, I’m cold blooded…I’ll die!” They picked Legosi up and dragged him inside. It was after hours now, and the school was all but empty. Perhaps the principal and the old groundhog who was the janitor. Legosi tried to use his feet to stop him from being dragged but there were too many people pushing him. He became more frightened as he was pulled behind the lunch counter into the kitchen area. “Don’t worry, Legosi! Your wolf side will save you.” The cheetah cub said with a snicker. As he opened the door and tried to push, Legosi in, he bit him. The cheetah looked stunned, stumbling back before falling dead at their feet. Legosi flicked his serpentine tongue in the air.
That felt good.
The other three turned their backs to him as they tried to wake their friend. That’s when the little wolf had a brilliant idea. Something inside him awakened, he had a power that no one else did, not even his mom. He could protect himself and that made him very happy. He dragged the bodies into the freezer one by one and closed the door. If he could protect himself here…he could protect himself at home too.