Keigo hates spring. Absolutely loathes the three months of misery, especially the week that he's bed bound. He's had to sit through countless lectures from his handler and even Madame President herself, telling him his instincts are wrong and that he just needs to get over it and get back to work. As if. He can't just get rid of the depression that comes every spring, nor can he ignore the strain his body goes under when he tries to work through it. He's physically weak during spring because he's alone, but does he complain about it? No. He works through it because that's how he was trained, that doesn't mean his work is going to be perfect. If they wanted perfect they'd let him go out and find a partner.

His handler must have finally had enough, because she calls him in on the second day of spring. He knows better than to be late, so he drops what he was doing–paperwork. Ugh.–and flies over. He touches down in front of the Safety Commission's main headquarters, his wings drawn in tight. What could his handler possibly want from him? Besides lecturing him about his really poor work, obviously. The second he walks inside two guards escort him to the elevator, their expressions stoic and unreadable. Okay–that's weird. His handler has never had him escorted to her office. This is fishy.

The elevator dings and the guards lead him–not to his handler's office–but to a conference room. Damn. Not good. The two men stand stalk till at either side of the door and he takes that as his invitation to enter. He plasters his PR trained smile on his face and walks in, ready for the verbal beating he'd been anticipating. He stops dead in his tracks as his eyes land on the person standing between his handler and Madame President. What? "Hawks," his handler starts, her smile as sickly sweet as ever. "This is Kai, your new mate." She sounds way too excited about this. She drones on and on about the reasons why they bought him a person, but he tunes that out. They're actually going to let him have a mate?

Wait wait wait. Rewind. They bought Kai? "What the hell.." He mutters, his eyes wide and bewildered. He blinks a few times in pure shock, then shakes his head. This is wrong on so many levels. "Language." Madame President tuts, rising from her seat. "That's no way to thank us, now is it." Bile rises in his throat and he bows his head. He hates this. Then again, he hates the idea of what they'll do to Kai if he turns down their offer. "I'm sorry. Thank you, Madame President." His voice is clipped and full of fake gratitude. It seems to placate her though.*