A/N- Title taken from the Fable "The Scorpion and the Frog"

He pulls up outside the corner store. He checks his hair in the mirror and brushes the rest of the woodchips out. He wanted to be on the frontline, but Gerard was giving him the worst jobs. He's still picking at the blister in his palm, when he pay for the six pack of Corona. He walks out ready to get a shower and watch netflix. He gets his key out when he pauses. "What in the fuck?"

Standing infront of him is Mason. Just the human alone wanting to "hang out" would be awesome. But he's holding a bloody Corey on one side. While Scott is holding Corey on the other. His fellow Chimera looks like shit. There's vomit around his around and they're trying to tame a puncture wound in the pale man's right arm.

"Thee! Thank god Scott smelled you! We need you!" Mason asks.

"We need your truck!" Scott points.

"Please could you take us to Deatons?" Mason asks.

The brunette rocks on his heels and has to think about it. He's worked an Eleven hour shift with Gerard up his ass. He wants to relax. Not jump into a McCall crisis that could take all night. He glances at Masons sneakers, unable to look at his face just yet. His shoes dotted with blood. What's he doing out this late anyway. Was this a date with Corey gone wrong? If he's even gonna make an good impression. If he's even going to try to get on Mason's good side, leaving them all stranded is a terrible idea.

Yet it's still an option his twisted brain considers. He could just grab Mason by the arm and...

"Theo!" Scott yells.

"Yeah, all of you, get in"

That's how he finds himself in Deaton's back room. With Corey writhing on the table. Scott's on one side trying to pin him down, while Theo is not so subtly glancing at Mason's who mixing wolfbane and mute saliva in a jar. "Arrgghh Gooood!"

"Theo hold his other side. I'm going to take the claws out. Guys hold him, try to take the pain away at the same time! Mason orders. Of course, Corey is in fight or flight, the pain causing him to snarls and claw.

"Fuck!" The other chimera yells growling himself.

"I'm taking the claws out, bare with me!" He's leaning over Corey with lightly trying to take the claws out of the skin. Scott's stroking his hair and clenching his wrist with his vein's pumping. Theo's doing one half of the job, but not the other.

"Theo it's not supposed to hurt! Take the pain away!"

"Relax, I'm trying!" Theo tightens his grip, but it's very clear that nothing's happens. As Mason take the rest of the claws out, Corey grabs his finger.

"Mase...take my arm!" Corey asks with as much strength in his voice that he can manage.

"You know I'm not super natural" Mason strokes his sweaty fore-head.

"I know but you'll do a better job than this!" He jerks his head towards Theo. By this time, he's had enough. Clearly not needed and embarrassed by Corey of ALL people, the chimera let's him go.

"Fuck you. I really tried asshole!" Theo spits out.

"Thee!" Mason calls out, but he's already gone. He's not Deaton, he's not an alpha. And if Corey didn't like his help, then why the fuck should he give a shit. He storms outside into the cold air and leans against the balcony.

"Wow, shouting at someone who's just been attacked? Classy!" Scott joins him, taking out his phone.

"Hey, he started being a dick first!"

"Sometimes you've just gotta let the other guy have it! Corey's not thinking straight!"

"You wanted a ride, if you wanted a nurse you should have called mommy" Theo tuts getting out his own phone. Just messages from Patty , another "job" that he's got to keep secret. Yipee.

"After Gabe, we thought you were okay. I mean you couldn't take Mason's pain away but you were on the right path. What happened?"

"It's...….Who the fuck knows?"

"Are you okay?"

"Corey's the one bleeding out on a metal table. Not me"

"I know, but you smell..." Scott clicks his tongue against his mouth as he tries to find the words. "You smell bummed out. Come back in"

"Why? To watch Mason and Corey slobber over each other the rest of the night? I'll pass!" He goes to the trunk of his car and gets out a can of beer. By the time he's opening it at the balcony, Scott took one as well"

"Hey!"

"It's a six pack Theo, and I need one, to take the taste of jealousy away"

"You're signals are off"

"Bullshit. You STILL haven't told Mason how you feel? You run your mouth to everyone else, but you can't ask him for a coffee date!" Scott chuckles. You've dated tons since then, you can't be this nervous!"

Theo scowls into the air and taps a claw on his can. He coughs into his palm, sips and stares out into the night.

"Okay, so another foul-mouthed tirade is coming up..." Scott said beginning to walk back into Deatons.

"At times, I've been predictable. But I'm so sick, of everyone in this town, looking at me like they know me. You know? Sure I've been with models and Insta-betas and coyotes that have been on the cover of magazines. But they're not HIM. If you don't know my options, then you can't judge my fucking choices"

"I'm trying to-"

"Oh but you do McCall. I mean you try not to be. But you're a judgemental prick, just like everyone else. Mase is the only guy that doesn't look at me trapped in the past. The only pack member that wants to hang out. The only one that calls me "just because" And I'm not crushing on him because he sees potiential in me. I don't wanna date him to get to you. I want to be with him because Mason Hewitt means something. This hypnotising hold that I explain. I can't grab those words from the back of my throat, but it churns in my fucking guts. It destroys me in the worst way, but I wake up smiling every morning because of it"

"Dude, love does that!" Scott chimes in excitedly.

"Woa-" Theo coughs out the alcohol and lets it dribbles down his chin. "Let's not, go there"

"Why not? Theo is okay, to surrender to feelings. I did with Kira. It's great to finally let your guard down. Stop the fake bravado. Quit being nice nasty. Look at Mason in those huge brown eyes of his and tell him what you just told me!" Scott's now by his side nudging him in the shoulder.

"Tell me what?" Mason asks. "Corey's doing well"

"Great!"

"Thee?...What is it?" Mason walks further onto the balcony, in the place where Scott once was. Close enough for general chit-chat, but not near enough for Theo's liking.

"I...I hope Corey's got an apology for me?" Theo asks.

"No, he's patched up and injured if anything, you should get him a gift or something!"

"Me!"

"What's going on with the pain transferance? Let me see your hands, maybe I can..."

The chimera leans away from him and laughs. "Oh my god"

"Theo..." Scott whines,

"Mase, just because you've sucked a little supernatural dick over the years, it doesn't make you an expert okay!"

"What are you?..."

"Grinding against Brett Talbot in Satomi's office doesn't make you a driud. What happened with that training Mason. I heard you flunked the MMA course. You couldn't wrestle to save your fucking life!"

"That's bullshit!"

"Really? Josh literally told the whole bar that night! If I were you Mase I'd go back to Corey and play night nurse. Seeing as being a chimera lackey is all you're good for?"

"What crawled up your ass and died?"

"I'm not gonna be lectured on my own powers by an incompetent human that has none!" Theo growls. "I didn't take Corey's pain away! And you know what? I don't have to give a fuck about him or you!" Before the chimera can take another sip, Mason shakes his head in disgust and goes back to Corey in the clinic

"For god sake!" Scott hissed. "Isn't it painful? Shooting yourself in the foot everytime you're around him?"

"Selfless Stupid Scott. You never learn!" Theo speeds back to his truck and opens his door. "Call an Uber!"

"Theo isn't about transport! Why do you do this to yourself!" Scott yells, as confused as he's ever been.

"I'm a dread doctor creation, I was raised to destroy everything!"

"So were Corey Josh and Hayden! They still..."

"I'm a different breed though. I don't accept love Scott. I claw it to death. I'll poision it. I'll strangle it. That's why I've got to stay away. I've got to push him away. If I give in, it may go two ways. I'll either be distant aggressive or moody. Or I'll go the other way and smother him too much"

"There is such a thing as balance" Deaton comes out of nowhere and hand's Scott a bunch of car keys.

"Not for me. Mase is too beautiful for this. For me" Theo sighs as he gets into the truck and starts the engine. He ignores Scott's calls, he even marches to the car, but Deaton holds him back. He can leave without trouble. He gets home, flicks Hulu on, and opens his second beer.

He'll have to spike this with whatever's in the fridge. He needs to get drunk. Sure enough there's darach lipids in jar. That'll do. He gets that from the fridge and opens the cupboard to get a tall glass. It almost tumbles from his hand, when he falls to the floor. Puzzled he heaves himself up and runs to the sink.

He curses as he vomits, which is unusual. He's cool in stressful moments and he'd only drunk half a can with Scott. "Fuck, get it together!" He scolds himself as he vomits again. It burns this time, scorching his throat and irritating his gums. He turns on the cold water and splashes against his face. Only to get thrown against the fridge. He lands on his back on the kitchen floor.

"Fuck!"

"Good Evening Mr Raeken!" Decaulion beams from ear to ear. "We were going to wait until tommorrow" He says, as Kali and Ennis appear around him. "But this little pity party of yours was too delightful to resist! Can anyone join in?"

"Gerard sent us, he thinks you're ready for the big leagues" Ennis nods disapprovingly.

"Sorry guys. If you've been watching, I've had some fuck buddy issues recently. I'm wiped out!" Theo groans as Kali leans down to sniff him.

"A cassanova to the end. Admirable. We need to see what you're made of. Jackson has been made aware. Work and rent will be covered. Any other messages you'd like me to pass on?"

"Tell McCall that I'm okay. I don't need him sniffing around for me" Theo leans upright as The pack leader grabs his wrist.

"Fine!" They all crouch down on the floor, while Ennis and Kali give each other a profound glance that their boss doesn't catch.

"Is..."

"We've been watching you Theo. So...let's cut the crap. Is there anything that you wanna tell Mason?" Kali asks reluctantly.

"Just...tell him I'm sorry"

Ennis nods. Theo thinks that he can see a splash of guilt across his face as they all grab him. That expression of guilt quickly turns into fang as they howl around him. The chimera's vision goes blank as all four of them disappear into the kitchen floor...