Mark Mardon
~*~
He wanted to rage, bring about a thunderstorm so massive the very air trembles.
The best he could do at the moment was make a mild breeze.
'god, this sucks!'
Not that he really felt like complaining, given that he lucked out. Then again, who knew Rathaway was such an animal lover?
Mark snuggled deeper into the snarky man's side as he walked. He didn't know where they were going or why, but so long he kept warm Mark didn't care.
~*~
Hartley could not believe how idiotic people were, or how he was actually the same species with some.
Honestly he would like nothing more than to go back and do some serious damage to those 'kids' that had been out right torturing the beautiful long haired kitten that had scurried over and taken cover behind his legs.
He pulled his coat tighter, shielding it from the cold night air as he headed to one of Captain Cold's safe houses. Everyone knew how the man was about punctuality, and Hartley was already ten minutes late.
Cold's ire would be worth it. Hartley never could stand for those that went after people that couldn't even defend themselves. It was one of the few things he and Cold had in common.
~*~
Mark didn't bother listening to what was going on between Rathaway and Snart, instead he went straight for the couch arm. Looking around, he noticed that Snart's sister had brought a dog with her. By the looks of it, the tan corgi was just a puppy.
He knew if the thing became an issue he'd have no problem out smarting it.
Mark watched as the puppy followed Lisa around the room before both joined the others in the main room.
Spotting him, it came closer wagging its tail.
'don't even think it, furball'
The corgi stopped mid-step. It was looking up at him in surprise.
'DUDE!? YOU CAN TAK!? CAN YOU HEAR ME?!'
'how...?'
'oh my god! this... this is amazing! how is this possible?' Mark watched as the not-a-corgi started to pace in front of his perch. 'ok. ok, so i'm guessing you ran into someone and woke up like this?' Mark nodded. 'i think that whatever made it possible to change us has... has us on like the same frequency. like what lets us kept our thoughts human makes it so we can pick up the thoughts of others like us'
The dog never stopped pacing in a circle as it rambled.
'like a radio? we're now broadcasting our thoughts on an AM signal but also receive similar signals as well?'
'i would assume so. how else do you explain us having this conversation?'
~*~
Hartley kept one eye on the dog. It was being rather hyper after spotting his cat.
'the cat. not mine. i am not keeping that ball of fluff'
Even though he told himself this, he hadn't been able to help but google 'how to care for a stray' and 'what breed is my cat' on his way over.
~*~
Mark noticed how Snart kept looking over at how the dog, 'Cisco' Lisa called him, was acting. It wasn't until Cisco noticed the man glance between the two of them that he told Mark.
Snart knew about the meta-human that was turning people into young animals. He also knew that Cisco was in fact human, and given how he and Mark were acting toward one another, Snart probably now knew Mark wasn't really a kitten either.
It wasn't until after the meeting was over, Snart found him and Cisco in the kitchen. Sitting at the table, the man checked that no one was coming in the door before he turned to Mark.
"I'm assuming you're actually human, same as him," Snart gestured to the corgi. Mark gave a nod. "Good. Then I'm going to tell you basically what I did him."
Snart leaned forward in his seat, arms resting on his knees as he locked gazes with Mark on the floor.
"You use your new form to peep at my sister I will use this," he gestured by placing the cold gun on the table. Snart put as much menace in his words without drawing attention of the other people in the apartment. "You make a mess or hack up a hairball and you're out the door before you can blink. What you do at Rathaway's place is between you and him, understand?"
Mark nodded quickly.
'fuck he's scary when he wants to be'
'you're lucky, the one he gave me was much worse'
~*~
Hartley tried not to think of how odd his cat was acting toward Snart after he stopped in the kitchen. The cat kept a solid five feet from the man at all times.
Just as he was about to talk to the man about it there was a knock at the door. Hartley watched as Snart answered the door. The man froze for a second. Then everything in him seemed to relax.
"Hello, Allen" he smirked and leaned on the door. "And what brings you here?"
"I'm not here to start anything, Snart. I just wanted to ask if you'd se..."
*BARK BARK BARK*
"Cisco!?"
The corgi came running from the kitchen with Lisa Snart rushing after.
Snart moved out of the doorway as the dog ran full tilt toward the woman on the other side of it. She kneeled down, and she grabbed hold as the furball jumped into her arms.
~*~
Mark watched as Snart's sister stepped forward to take the dog, only to be stopped by her brother.
"I think it's time 'Cisco' went home, sis."
"But he is home, Lenny," she whined. "How do we even know if she's really his owner? She could have treats in her pockets or a dog whistle?"
"I don't," the woman offered as she stood, holding the man-turned-puppy in her arms. She walked closer to talk with the other woman. "I promise I...AH."
Snart had come up behind her and patted her down like he was a cop. A very hands cop.
'that was going to get fired for sexual harassment'
Mark watched Lisa roll her eyes at where her brother was putting his hands.
"Wha..What are you doing!" The woman's pale skin was flushed all down her neck.
"Sorry, sis," he stopped his search with his hands on her hips and a smirk on his lips, "Looks like she's clean."
"Snart!"
"Yes, Allen?"
"Wait, she's Allen?" Mick butted in from against the far wall. He'd been silently watching the scene unfold. "As in that cat? You named your cat after her?"
"Maybe."
"You had a cat?"
Mark's head swung from person to person as he watched the conversation. Though he had to admit he was as surprised as Rathaway to find out Snart had had a pet.
'man doesn't seem like the type'
"I'm just gonna.... Yeah, bye." The woman, Allen, turned to head for the door, but the hands on her hips visibly tightened.
"What's your rush?"
'DUDE! do something! snart is freaking me out. who knows what it's doing to her!'
'alright! you don't have to scream at me'
So Mark did the first thing he could think of. He climbed his way up Snart's leg. His claws digging through the jeans made the man step back.
"Thanks for keeping him safe," the woman took the opportunity to flee out the door, "You should get those scratches looked at. Okay, bye!"
'BYE DUDE! YOU'LL CHANGE BACK AFTER 7 TO 21 DAYS! PROMISE!'
Mark took that as his cue to get the hell away from Snart, scurrying behind Rathaway as quickly as possible.
He meowed pitiously when Snart looked at him. Rathaway scooped him up before either could move.
"Well, this has been interesting and all but I think it's time we head home. We'll talk in a few days to fine tune the details?"
From his safe spot within Rathaway's coat Mark saw Snart take a measured breath and settle.
"Yeah, til then."
~*~
After what had happened the first time, Hartley chose to leave the cat at home when he had to go talk with Snart.
He'd decided to name it Sphinx. After the mythological creature that had the body of a cat and the head of a human, given it seemed to be as intelligent as a human. More than once Hartley found him at the computer watching Youtube videos.
'i don't even want to know'
Sphinx became very affectionate over the two weeks it took to plan out the heist. Every time he left Sphinx would wail long and loud on the other side of the door as he locked it. And then swarm him when he came back, circling his legs and crawling over his lap when he sat down.
Hartley got use to waking with a ball of fur purring in his armpit or against his back.
So it was a bit of surprise when he felt fur rubbing from his shoulder to his hip just as Hartley was starting to fall asleep. Looking over his side, Hartley watched fascinated as his long haired kitten changed form.
The body stretched as if it were taffy being pulled. The limbs elongated as the torso widened. The short muzzle shifted into a human face. Fur receded into flesh all over.
The whole process took ten minutes, maybe more. There in the spot behind him was a man. A familiar looking man.
Mark Mardon was in his bed. Naked.
Hartley spent a good minute or two looking the other man over.
'why should i deny myself? he's the one invading my bed'
Obviously seeking warmth, Mark rolled onto his side and curled up to Hartley. His arm wrapped around Hartley's middle as he tucked his face into the smaller man's neck.
Rather than try waking him up, Hartley pulled the blanket that Mark had pushed down during his transformation over the both of them and went back to sleep.
~*~
Mark woke from the best sleep he'd had in ages. He curled tighter around the warm solid body in his arms. He didn't care who it was so long as he got to stay in the bed a few minutes longer.
It started moving, turning in his arms. Mark just burrowed his face into the neck and held on tighter. Half asleep, he gently nibbled on the tender flesh. A gasp was the only response before hands placed themselves on his shoulders and lightly pushed.
"Temping as you are, it might be best if we talk first."
Mark froze as the familiar voice. He felt more than heard the snort at his reaction. Slowly, he pulled back and looked at his bed partner.
At the sight of Rathaway's face the past few weeks flashed through his mind.
"By the look on your face, I'm going to assume you remember everything." The younger man seemed to think about something before speaking, "I'm guessing the dog that was over at Snart's that first night wasn't really a dog either?"
Rather than try to get an explanation out, Mark followed his first impulse. Closing his eyes, he buried his face back into Rathaway's neck and groaned.
~*~