Caboose's prediction proved quite true, as Miia bonded to him quite readily. It didn't matter what he was doing around the house, she would take every opportunity to wrap him in her arms and coils and hold him tight. Caboose didn't mind at all, since he liked hugs, and super tight snake hugs seemed extra special. They enjoyed talking together as Caboose was an excellent listener, even if he didn't follow what Miia was trying to say half the time. Miia was able to accept this, as the other half of the time he was able to catch the meaning behind her words – seemingly by accident – and provide some deep seeming wisdom about it that was often surprisingly helpful…generally following up by saying something completely silly that dispelled any sense of wisdom in him. On top of that, Caboose proved to be a miracle worker in the kitchen as long as he was making something he'd made before – which surprisingly included a great many dishes – and his food budget was completely supplemented by the government as part of his hosting, leading to him encouraging Miia to eat as much as she wanted. Miia was completely besotted.

Caboose was completely oblivious.

It didn't take long for the pair to fall into a routine for their time together. Sometime before sunrise, Caboose would awaken to find Miia wrapped tightly around him for warmth. He would wriggle around until he had his legs below the knees and arms up to the elbows free, then clamber out of bed with her clinging to him, toss a blanket around her, and begin his day. He would set up everything needed for breakfast, then draw a warm bath for Miia. The steam from the warm bath would lead to her loosening her grip and slipping into the water, and Caboose would carefully remove her sleep clothes and put them in a basket so they wouldn't get wet. Once he was certain she was properly propped up, he would order Freckles to keep an eye on the house and Miia before going for a morning run, choosing a time when he was unlikely to run into anyone and thus be less likely to cause an incident.

When he returned from the run, he would make breakfast for Miia – who would be out of the bath at that point and asking teasing questions about why he hadn't joined her. Much to her bemused frustration, he would always respond that she looked so peaceful while sleeping that he didn't want to wake her by splashing. They would then figure out what they wanted to do together that day, before eventually winding down into sleep at the end of the day. Initially, Miia slept in her own room before finding her way into Caboose's room come morning for 'extra warmth', but Caboose had quickly pointed out it made more sense for her to start the night with him, and thus get more sleep. "Besides, I like hugs," he had pointed out logically…which had made Miia very happy.

All in all, the pair were quite happy with their routine, though change was on the horizon.

On the way back from his morning run, Caboose found himself running alongside a young woman about Miia's age, covered in brown fur with sharply pointed ears and a somewhat canine face. A canine tail wagged back and forth from her coccyx as she ran, her shapely figure bouncing somewhat as her tight black sports bra and shorts hugged her frame. He'd noticed the woman running before, but most other days they only passed briefly when they ran by in opposite directions. Today, however, their run took them in the same direction down the road, so he decided to say hello. "Hello! I'm Caboose!" he called out happily. "Who are you?"

"I'm Polt!" the woman called back. "How far are you running today?"

"Oh, I'm on my way back," Caboose called back. Calling up his HUD on his helmet, he checked how far he'd run. "I already got 40 K M this morning, however much that is, so I'll wait till night for more running. I don't cause as much fuss that way."

"You run 40 kilometers every morning and evening?" Polt asked excitedly. "Me too! Maybe we could run together sometime? I've never met a human who could keep up with me!"

"That's amazing! Neither have I!" Caboose declared happily. "Are you just finishing your run, too?"

"Just starting, actually!" Polt responded happily. "I like to run in the sun!"

"I do too!" Caboose called back happily. "But I draw lots of attention when I run, so I try to run when I don't get lots of attention, really early and really late."

"I know a few runs people don't frequent!" Polt called back excitedly. "Gimme your comm frequency, and I'll let you know where to meet me!"

"Yay, a new friend!" Caboose declared happily before rattling off the frequency his HUD gave him.

"See you around, Caboose!" Polt called as she turned onto another street, exaggerating her stride a bit in a way to draw attention to the sway of her rump under her tail.

Caboose missed it completely. "She seems nice," he said to himself as he turned towards home. "I've never met a human with fur before."

As Caboose entered his house and began preparing breakfast, he was surprised to see someone waiting for him in the dining room just off the kitchen. "Miss Agent Smith?" he asked in surprise. "What brings you here?"

"Just checking up on you and Miia," she reassured him quickly. "Could I have some coffee? You make the best coffee around."

"I don't make the coffee!" Caboose responded readily. "Freckles does. Freckles, Coffee!"

"Command confirmed," Freckles responded as he marched over to a large metal barrel sitting off the ground and unleashing a flamethrower blast on it. Caboose then walked over and used the tap at the bottom of the barrel to pour off a cup.

"Here you go!" Caboose offered happily as he set the cup – filled with steaming brown liquid – in front of Ms. Smith.

Agent Smith rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Don't think about the fact he's using a weapons grade mech to make coffee and treats it like a puppy; just enjoy the liquid heaven…" She took a sip of the coffee. "So how are things between you and Miia?"

"Oh, things have been great!" Caboose declared happily as he started making breakfast. "We spend lots of time together, we have lots and lots of talks, and she gives the best cuddles at night!"

Smith's brows twitched together. "Cuddles at night?" she asked carefully.

"Miia gets cold at night, so I warm her up!" Caboose responded immediately.

Smith took a calming breath. "Caboose…perhaps there's something I should tell you. Something that it's…forbidden to happen between humans and demi-humans."

"Freckles said!" Caboose insisted. "He told me I can't hug Miia too tight, cause humans aren't allowed to hurt demi-humans, and vice versa."

Smith nodded. "There's another form of contact, though, that's classified as harm and taken very seriously," she pointed out. "Specifically, if you were to harm her…purity."

Caboose turned to stare at her even as he flipped the omelet out of the pan and onto a plate without looking before pouring in batter. "You mean get her dirty?" he asked in confusion. "But she bathes every day."

"Not…dirty, exactly," Smith explained. "Or…not that kind of dirty. I mean…if you were to put your sausage in her bun?"

Caboose paused, a handful of links hovering over a hot pan. "…should I make bacon, then?"

"Not that kind of sausage," Smith corrected, horror slowly dawning in her mind. "I mean…if you were to try to put a bun in her oven."

"But it's my oven!" Caboose pointed out. "And I get store bought buns!"

"…if you were to deflower her?" Smith offered hopefully, desperate to find a delicate way to put this.

"Wait, I thought she wasn't supposed to get dirty," Caboose pointed out. "Now I can't wash flour off her after baking? I'm confused."

"Sex!" Smith finally snapped out, her cheeks somewhat flushed. "You can't have sex with her!"

Caboose stared at her for a time. "…what is sex?" he asked in confusion.

Smith stared at Caboose in disbelief. "…Freckles, can you explain this to him?" she asked desperately.

"Confirmed," Freckles answered. "Captain Caboose, it is against local regulations for fraternization within the ranks."

"Frater…oh!" Caboose gasped, his face seeming to light up behind his face plate. "You mean Bow chicka bow wow, like Tucker always wants! Why didn't you say so?"

Smith removed her shades so they wouldn't get damaged as her face hit the table.