The trash can skidded across the street, landing in front of a car that barely swerved out of the way.

"Hey! You almost destroyed my expensive car! Put that trash can back where you found it and don't kick trash in the middle of the street! Do you have any respect?!"

An angry man was yelling at Hubcap. That's right, Hubcap.

Hubcap's eyes rolled. He was too busy being mad about his circumstances that he let his anger take control of him and kicked it in the middle of the street. His thoughts had been preoccupied with the thoughts of...someone he didn't even hang out with.

Hubcap's body tensed as the man stepped out of the car, causing traffic for Adventure Bay. Hubcap felt awkward. He knew he was in the wrong here, but to cause traffic over a car nearly getting dented...?

Cars stopped and a few honked their horns. Hubcap could hear chatter as the man got closer, right up to the top of his short head.

Hubcap hates being small.

"DID YOU HEAR ME, YOU USELESS RUNT?!!" Hubcap flinched at the word Runt. "I SAID TO PICK UP YOUR DAMN TRASH!"

The man took a couple breaths, gritting his teeth as his hands stiffened into fists. "Fucking stupid villains. They deserve no respect." A few more second pass. Hubcap felt intimidated, wanting to grow—he couldn't. "WHAT ARE YOU STANDING AROUND FOR?!!!!!!!! DON'T ACT SO STUPID!!!! PICK IT UP!!!!!!!!"

The man kicks Hubcap in the stomach. Hubcap let out a pathetic yelp. These thoughts were really screwing with him.

He went flying, landing in the middle of the road. He struggled to get up as the man followed. Hubcap couldn't breathe as he struggled to make himself go upright.

What was he thinking about? Only the most naive, nicest female in the entire PAW Patrol. Not Ella, not Everest, not even Liberty—she's hot though.

Skye...Hubcap shook his head. That was how he got into this situation. He was mad at her for reasons he did not—

It's love you fucking stupid dog! No use in denying it to myself. I know...I know I like her more than I should. This goes against everything I wanted with the PAW Patrol. They're the sworn enemy, yet Skye...

"Hey!! Leave him alone! Pick on someone your own size!" A squeaky voice exclaims as a dog barely bigger than Hubcap runs in front of him.

He recognized that voice. It was the voice that wouldn't leave him alone.

"Skye?! What are you doing here?!" both Hubcap and the angry man exclaim.

"We heard the news about traffic." A German Shepard trots up to the scene, traffic cones in paw. The shepherd's eyes found Hubcap. He growls. "You," he snarls, approaching Hubcap.

Hubcaps scrambles to his feet.

"You're the one causing this traffic!"

Skye places herself between Chase and the Ruff-Ruff Pack leader. "Let him explain," Skye sweetly begs, blinking up at Chase.

Chase takes a deep breath, nodding as his eyes harden. "Go ahead, gang member," Chase orders Hubcap. Chase's voice deepens with each word. His head lifted to the sky, but his eyes swiveled suspiciously over to Skye.

Skye blinks at Hubcap. "What happened?"

Hubcap felt embarrassed, his tail dropping.

"Uhhh," he diverts his eyes. "I just kicked a trash can into the streets."

"Aha!" the angry man cries, pointing his finger at Hubcap. All three pups narrowed their eyes at him.

Chase sighs, a crack in his tired voice. "I better clear traffic before things get worse."

The adult pup lifts his head in the air, letting out a howl. He barks out his megaphone, then bounds rearing his head towards the upset mass of cars and people yelling at the angry man.

Skye and Hubcap watch. Hubcap's body relaxes. He didn't know if he could handle the German shepherd's rage on top of the angry man's; he was still screaming at Hubcap.

"Punish this pup! This pup deserves the death penalty for ruining my day."

"Excuse me?"

Skye's head tilted to the side, her lips pursed.

"He'll get the punishment we have set out for him, but death is intense for someone who just kicked over a trash can," the cockapoo reasons.

The guy gets even madder. "He's the one running about the streets of this peaceful town, kicking over trash cans and ruining people's cars—"

"And he will get his punishment in due—"

The man picks up Skye angrily. Hubcap could feel the heat of his huffing from where he stood.

"I want him dead!"

Hubcap's jaw dropped. What the hell was wrong with this man? Seriously, this is why I don't like humans. They think they own the world.

The man started to shake Skye. Skye's eyes closed partially. She then reached a paw to touch the man's hand.

"Could you let go of me, please?"

Hubcap pondered if he should help, a sense of unknown heroism wanting to take over him. However, he was uncertain if his attempt would be seen in a different light than if someone like Chase or Zuma were to rescue her.

He decided not to, figuring someone would see his rescue as an attempt to induce Stockholm Syndrome on Skye—that was not his intention.

The man stares at her with a wrinkling face. "I hate dogs," he snarls. He throws her to the ground, knocks the breath out of her, and walks away.

The angry grimace was still on his visage and Hubcap rushed to her side, uncertainty in his eyes. He swore he heard something crack.

Skye sucks in a breath, standing up. She winced, indicating to Hubcap that something indeed broke within her; however, she's still standing.

She blinks at Hubcap, a sweet smile masking the pain. "Are you okay?" Her voice wavers.

I could ask you the same. You...you just took that like it was nothing. Hubcap's respect for the aviator skyrocketed; he tried not showing it.

"Yeah. Thanks," he mumbles.

Skye tips her head, a small sly smile on her face. "What was that now?"

Hubcap refused to give in. He already thanked her. She heard him.

"Nothing!" he exclaims.

His gaze trails to find Chase padding up to them. "Roadway is secure!" he confirms chest puffed out. His expression contorts, tipping his head. He scratches his head. "Where'd he go, Skye?"

Skye's paws were on her ribs. "I," she grimaces, "don't know."

Chase bristled. His eyes turn soft. "What's wrong?" he whispers. His warm gaze find itself on Hubcap.

Hubcaps stiffens with horror. He thinks I did this.

Hubcap's body started to shake. Skye noticed this with concern in her eyes. "That man picked me up and dropped me. He broke my ribs."

"What the hell?!" Chase snapped. Realizing his immaturity, Chase focused his attention on snapping himself back into his professionalism. "Is Hubcap okay?"

"I'm fine," Hubcap snapped, annoyed at him for assuming he's done the worst.

I might've stolen Gasket's ideas and yelled at her, but I would never hit anyone! Who does he think I am, an actual villain? I just like ruining people's days because they ruin mine.

Chase's harsh eyes bear intimidatingly into Hubcap.

"So if that's all you're here for, I'm going home."

Hubcap spins around, ready to leave. A paw touches his pad right before he could leave. He spins around again, ready to snap at Chase.

"Hold on." Hubcap's expression softens without his permission. It was Skye. Her eyes were warm and a smile was on her face. "It's getting dark." Her paw retracts. "You won't make it back to your home in time. There's a lot that can happen at night."

Hubcaps grimaces. The dark isn't scary! I'm a villain! I can handle a little black sky.

Chase nodded in agreement with Skye. Despite appearing annoyed at Hubcap's sudden presence, Chase's face furrowed. "That's right. You're better off with us." Chase sighs, muttering, "Unfortunately," under his breath.

Hubcaps growled lowly. "I can handle myself," he grumbles.

Skye ignores this. "Come on!" she chirps, bouncing in the lead. She groans, clutching her ribs. Her excitement faded. "Hurry."

"Skye, you shouldn't be walking around," Chase informs. His chest was puffed out.

"I can handle myself, Chase. Let's go home. Ryder will be looking for us."

Chase groans, mumbling something out of both Skye's and Hubcap's earshot. His head lifts. "Alright then. Are you coming, Hubcap?"

Hubcap grimaces. "Am I allowed a choice?"

"Well, you did cause chaos in Adventure Bay..." Chase trails off as Skye smiled warmly at him.

"Ryder must be informed of this incident." the cockpoo informs. Her face contorted with more emotions, forehead furrowing with a flinch following it. "It's just despicable!"

Hubcaps flinched. Was littering that bad in the cockapoo's eyes?

"There was no need to cause a scene. Mayor Goodway must do something about him."

About who? Me or the guy who shouted at me and caused even more of a scene than necessary?

Chase sighed. "If Hubcap..."

"It doesn't matter. That man was out for blood, Chase. We need to tell Ryder."

Hubcap's heart raced. He didn't want that human involved. Humans are bad. "No!" he cries. "Don't tell him! This can be our secret!"

Chase regarded him with a curious look. Skye, meanwhile, gazed at him with an undetermined expression.

"No, Skye's right. If we don't tell Ryde, we will be neglecting our duties."

Duties?! You mean you have to tell the humans when you solve problems no matter what?! Ugh! I hate humans!

"I'm sorry, Hubcap," Skye remarked.

Chase rolled his eyes. "I'm not sorry. This is mandatory. He unnecessarily injured a pup and could've hurt you. He is a danger to this city, and Ryder must be informed."

Hubcaps tipped his head. Was he only concerned now that he saw Skye's injury?

Are they...together? Hubcap wondered.

It was futile to wonder without actually asking, but Hubcap couldn't help it. A hero and a villain? It was a nice thought at least.

I should've known, Hubcap thought dejected.

Chase noticed Hubcap's slight change from the way his tooth gripped his lip and chuckled. What's so funny?

Hubcap wished he was big enough to size up. Hubcap's fur fluffed out.

Chase sighed, tail lightly angling in the direction of their headquarters. "Let's go. You can camp there tonight, Hubcap." the German Shepard faces him. "But you better not cause any trouble."

Chase's stare was exhausted and serious, powerful muscles rippling beneath his fur. Hubcaps shivered. Yeah. I suppose I won't. His gaze shifted to Skye briefly before he side-eyed Chase to avoid looking him fully in the eye.

"Of course not!" panicked, he yelped.

Chase eyed him a moment longer, head dipped. He was intimidating. "You better not," he snarls softly before beaming as he lifts a paw in the air. He then bounds away, not realizing he was faster than Hubcap and Skye.

Skye hobbled in front of Hubcap. "Come on," she encouraged. "Follow me!"

Hubcap sighed. It was getting rather dark. But should I really be following the pups saying humans are good?

Hubcap peers up at the sky. An orange color was trailblazing across the sky. He shivers. I don't want to stay out for long. Who knows what's out here.

"W-wait for me!" he cries, mentally cursing himself for letting the stutter show.

He bounds forward, just keeping up with Skye. He would never be able to catch up with Chase.

It was odd walking beside your enemy, though there was something comforting about being beside Skye. Hubcap didn't understand his feelings completely.

It was silent. Too silent. Hubcap often let his mouth run. But I don't know what to say. What can I say to such a—I don't think I can.

Hubcaps kept his mouth shut. He was usually loud and boisterous, shouting his lungs out at his friends as if they were his slaves. The silence was giving him time to think over himself.

My life sucks. he thought. I don't even have the confidence to win over a girl. What girl would want a trash-throwing pup like me, anyway? All I do is ruin others' lives to make myself feel better.

Is this life really what I wanted? I'm not rich, not famous, and I'm certainly getting no closer to proving any sort of point. Gasket is the one with all the ideas, and I can't even drive like Dwayne.

I really am a lowlife, huh? Why do my friends stick around?

"Look at that!" Skye brought him out of his depressing thoughts.

Hubcap looked up from the hill they were on. They were right next to the Lookout. The sun was barely peeking out. The sky got black quickly. It was already difficult to see even with the stars dimly shining.

Hubcap didn't think anything of it, but the cockapoo next to him was somehow mesmerized by the setting sun. She sat down, and pat next to her for Hubcap to join.

Hubcap's eyes shifted to the side, unsure if Chase was coming out and would get mad at him for this. He gave in with a sigh, still tense.

"You can relax, you know."

Hubcap grunts. He didn't want to take any chances. Humans were a strange species.

Skye stares at him, blinking curiously a few times. She shuffles uncomfortably.

"Ryder would never do anything to hurt you."

Hubcap scoffs, knowing words would never express the harm humans have done to him. It didn't matter if Ryder wasn't going to hurt him. His view of humans would forever be hampered by the amount of humans who threw him aside or abused him for existing.

People always viewed runts like him in a bad light. He didn't understand humans. If he wasn't special, then what made all the 'normal-sized' dogs special? If there were so many of them, then why were they valuable?

It just didn't make sense.

Silence followed the two for a bit. Hubcap, bored, kept watching the sunset. The sun trailed beyond the ground, disappearing in favor for the black sky that followed it.

A few awkward moments follow. Then, "I just can't understand."

Hubcap faces her. Of course, she didn't understand. No one ever bothers to understand those who don't conform to society's views.

"I just can't understand. There are so many good people and animals out there. I don't understand why you and your pack are on your own. You won't take help from anyone, and you push anyone and everyone away."

Hubcap didn't answer. It was hard for the "good" people and dogs to understand how life's harshness has shaped strays like him. He didn't think she would even be able to understand anyway. She didn't go through the experience he had.

Skye continues. "There's plenty of shelters that will take you in. You're just starving and alone. Without any guidance."

Her eyes shift passionately. Hubcaps wanted to say something, but his voice was caught in his throat.

The grass crunched behind them. Hubcap grit his teeth and his hackles raised as he stood up. It was indeed the one he didn't wish to see.

"Skye," Ryder began, his hair messy. "Chase informed me of the situation." He looks at Hubcap, tapping his fingers on his arm.

He seemed deep in thought.

"Are you okay, Hubcap? That man didn't harm you, did he?" Ryder asked with a softness in his voice.

Hubcap kept his hackles raised. There was no way he was going to trust humans now after that situation.

"No," Hubcap grunts. "Don't come closer." He lifts a paw in the air and Ryder blinks.

"I have to. Chase informed me Skye was injured during the process of stopping the man that was causing trouble; you caused trouble as well, Hubcap..."

Ryder pauses mid sentence, pondering over something thoughtfully with a hand on his chin. He smiles.

"Regardless, I'm glad you seem okay. At least from the outside. Thank you for watching over my pup, too. I am very grateful for it."

Alarmed, Hubcap looked up at him. Watching over Skye? It was like he was a babysitter.

But I'm more surprised he's grateful to me of all dogs. I just sat here with Skye while she watched the sunset. It's no big deal.

"Why?" Hubcap inquires. Ryder raises an eyebrow, indicating with a wave of his hand for the dog to continue. "Why are you thanking me? I was told to come here by both Skye and Chase."

"And they were right to do so." Ryder looks at the sky as dusk sets in. It wouldn't be for long since the ever darkness was consuming the skies brilliantly yellow-orange-and-pink glow.

Hubcap started to stand up.

Ryder watches him do so, deciding to continue. "It's getting dark out, Hubcap. I don't think it's safe out there," Ryder leans over and Hubcap scrambles backwards, aware, "even for a tough pup like you."

Is that an insult? Hubcap growled lowly.

Skye noticed this and stands up. She winced as she moves her body slowly. "Is it too late to get a check up?" Skye inquires, taking in a shaky breath.

She shouldn't be moving so much, Hubcap ponders, digging his paws into the ground. If I was taller I'd bite him.

Ryder sighs, putting his hands on his hips. He puts a hand on his chin. "I could call," he remarks. Skye perks up, "but I can't guarantee we can find a doctor's office still available. Possibly broken ribs are too much for Katie to handle."

Skye nods. "I understand, Ryder. I can wait."

Ryder purses his lips. "It might be a few days."

The cockapoo's head lowered. "I'll stay here," she informs him. Ryder's eyes shine. "I'll get some rest and I promise I'll recover soon. I'll be ready to serve you again in no time, Ryder!"

Hubcap didn't understand how she could be so..cheery. Yet her smile and happy tail wag tugged at his heart and he found himself smiling...but only in the slightest.

"The other pups could watch over you, but there's still a chance I'll need your particular skill set or a chance that I need everyone except you. I'm not sure if I can leave you alone, and everyone else has their own busy lives." Ryder remarks, a hand on his chin in thought.

Hubcap saw his eyes trail over to him. Hubcap wasn't sure if what he was considering was a good idea.

If what Hubcap was thinking was what Ryder was thinking, then he was putting his full trust in a literal gang member.

"Will you watch over her?" Ryder asks him.

"M-Me?! I've caused you trouble time and time again. I—"

"I know, and you owe time and compensation for your deeds. Cleaning up the town and watching over Skye for what happened to her should suffice." Ryder informed.

Hubcap was flabbergasted. Still to trust him? Strange.

He didn't want to clean up the town either. Watching over Skye felt like a good excuse for him to spend more time with her.

"I guess," Hubcap remarked, unsure how else to respond.

"That a boy," Ryder chirped.

Hubcap glared at him. "I'm not a child," he informed. "I don't need encouragement to do anything. I'll do what I please."

Ryder sighs, putting his hands to his face. "Just come inside." he begged.

"That's more like it!" Hubcap exclaimed, running inside. He liked being begged to do things. It made him feel he was in control.

He could hear Ryder laughing as he ran right to the entrance of the Lookout. He looked up and gulped.

The idea of such a strange new place spooked him. He forces a brave face. He walks in, expecting surprise and shock.

All pups turn their gazes. "Hello!" Rubble greets with slobber going down his chest. He licks it up, slurping intensely, frowning. He then giggles with a relaxed face.

"Sup," Zuma remarks. "We knew you were coming. Your gang is all here." He points with a paw at Gasket who was on the floor with Rubble's slobber covering her. Zuma then points his tail at a bandaged Dwayne. "He walked into the middle of the street."

Flabbergasted, Hubcap started spewing nonsense. Gasket scrambled to her paws, going up to Hubcap, and—with annoyance—she pressed a paw against his mouth. "Don't ask, Boss," she informed him.

His inventor's eyes trailed over to Chase before looking at Rubble with soft eyes. She seemed lost in a trance almost, but shook out of it immediately as her eyes narrowed.

"Anyway, I guess we're all spending the night with the PAW Patrol. What did you do?" Gasket asked him.

"Don't ask," he dittos with half lidded eyes. His "friend" didn't need to know he caused accidental chaos just by thinking of Skye of all pups.

It was embarrassing.

Gasket seemed to understand, turning to Ryder. "So how long will you keep us here?" she asked.

"Just for tonight. At least you, Gasket." Ryder turns to Hubcap. "Yeah. Hubcap has some making up to do and Dwayne needs some time to heal."

Ryder pauses.

"You can always come visit them; but for now, you're on your own."

Gasket didn't seemed bothered, her face neutral as she nods. Her emotions shielded as she responds, "Right. Thanks for the information. I'll stay here for one night and retrieve them when you're ready."

She then briefly gazes at Hubcap. "I hope you learned your lesson. I'd rather not fight these pups." She smiles, "they're fun!"

Huh? "Disband the Ruff Ruff Pack?" Hubcap inquires. Gasket and Dwayne both startle.

"No!!" Dwayne throws himself in front of Hubcap, crying loudly with both pain and sorrow. "Don't disband our friendship! I love hanging with you and Gasket."

Dwayne sniffles. Hubcap flinches. Yeah. Because we're technically the only pups who want to hang out with you. Everyone else either thinks you're a freak with buck teeth or take advantage of you.

Hubcap realizes that's what he has been doing, knowing he's a hypocrite. Yet, he still didn't like it when others took advantage of Dwayne. He was only his to take advantage of.

"Calm down, won't you? I was just asking for clarification." Hubcap pauses, rolling his eyes. "Dork."

It made his heart warm to know Dwayne cared about their little group being together.

"Well, we don't have to disband our pack," Gasket informed, a frown forming on her face at the thought.

Maybe his "friends" cared more than he thought.

"We just have to stop causing chaos. Maybe become a rescue group like the PAW Patrol."

Hubcap opened his mouth to retort. He was not a good helper. "Gasket I—"

"That would be lovely!" Ryder interrupts with an innocently hopeful smile. "We would be open to more helpful paws around here." He pauses. "The world surely needs it..."

Hubcap shut his mouth. The world needs more helpful paws?

He was confused. We're some humans...nice?

"It does?" Hubcap inquires, now questioning his entire selfish motives and behaviors.

His rude, arrogant, abrasive, and bitter motto of making everyone pay for the past was starting to dwindle.

Help. Hubcap wasn't sure if he should gag or smile at the thought. Maybe if he had help when he was younger he wouldn't be this...aggressive, this unstable.

Ryder's words made him consider the thought, holding it at the front of his mind.

Maybe it was time to let the past be the past.

Not everyone will be as cruel as the humans who've rejected him in the past. Not everyone will be as dismissive of Gasket as a dog like he and those humans were. Not everyone will be as abusive and cunning as those humans were to Dwayne.

I have the choice to decide, he realizes. I can give us the life we truly deserve. Not this twisted lie I promised them. Hubcap purses his lips. For once, I can prove those humans wrong, but in a better way.

"Hubcap? Are you okay, dude?" A paw waved itself in his face. Zuma was in front of him, eye twitching. "Did you hear a word of what Ryder just said?"

Hubcap stares at Zuma, panicked. He didn't want to embarrass himself and say he was considering the words Ryder just told him.

"N-No."

The others looked at him, each pair of brown/orange, magenta, golden, and blue eyes blinked.

"That's okay!" Ryder chirps. He bent down to Hubcap's level, looking him in the eyes. This time, Hubcap returned the eye contact.

Ryder smiled warmly.

"I replied with 'Yes, this world does need a light to shine down upon it.'" Ryder paused, allowing Hubcap to mull over the comment. Then, "'It is up to us to decide if we are going to treat the world how it wants us to treat it, or if we should treat it well regardless of how we're treated.'"

Ryder pauses, taking a breath. "Being nice isn't a weakness," he informs, reaching over with a hand to Hubcap.

Hubcap looks at Ryder's hand with narrowed eyes. He didn't fully trust the words Ryder was saying. Not yet. He needed to further see the full weight of what Ryder wanted to do rather than hear about how great they were.

Ryder watched Hubcap with trustful eyes. His smile not wavering once. His eyes softening at Hubcap despite Hubcap's fur fluffing, teeth gritting.

"It's up to you."

Hubcap sighs, putting a paw, still disgruntled, into Ryder's hand. He's right. This lifestyle of hurt and pain had to stop. Hubcap had a choice to do wrong or to do good.

He's seen it today. The bad human made the choice to harm him even in spite of his accidental actions.

And here he was, having the choice to change his pack for the better; he decided to take it.

"Okay," Hubcap remarks, unconvinced, yet willing to listen and perhaps be proven wrong about some humans. "I guess we can change the Ruff Ruff Pack."

Hubcap's face furrows. His jaw moves in a circle. "But I'm not disbanding the pack."

His eyes briefly find themselves on Skye. She was smiling.

"I'm just going to discuss this with my pack. The future of the Ruff Ruff Pack will not be decided in one night."

Hubcap still needed more convincing. But if there were other humans like Ryder, then helping them wouldn't be a waste.

Hubcap was getting excited thinking about the idea of humans actually wanting him. Something he wanted since he was a pup; he never got it—maybe now he can.

"We understand." Ryder pauses, clapping his hands together as he stands, startling Hubcap. "Well, pups, it's now time for bed."

The pups all dispersed, happily exclaiming about getting ready for bed. Chase immediately grabs a stuffed bear, eyes wide as he looks around for judgment that wasn't there. He sighs, panicking as the bear almost falls to floor.

He rescued the cop bear just in time. He lets out a small breath of air from his nostrils.

Meanwhile, the spotted Dalmatian pup named Marshall immediately runs to the bathroom to prepare for bed. He comes out smiling, nearly blinding Hubcap with his pure white teeth.

The gray pup with white paws and belly thrusts his entire body at once into the garage. "I still need to clean up! Ruff Ruff! Green means go!" he barked, excitedly cleaning up his own mess—this was a contrast to Hubcap with cleaning.

Yuck!

Zuma immediately starts walking to his pup house, only ridding himself of his sun glasses. He put them on the kitchen counter. He then slowly makes his way to his pup house, leisurely enjoying the sudden burst of wind that made his ears flap in the wind.

"Peace." Zuma lifts his paws in the air with his middle digit curled inside in an oddly cool gesture—Hubcap had no idea what it meant.

Rubble raced around Gasket, happily barking. "Sleep! Sleep! Sleep! Sleep!" Rubble then rammed into the door, faceplanting. He immediately started snoring.

Ryder chuckles as he scoops the snoozing pup up in his arms. "Silly pup. Couldn't even make it to your pup house, huh?" Ryder exits the Lookout, still cradling Rubble affectionately.

Ryder renters, freezing midstep. "Right. Sleeping arrangements. I unfortunately don't have any spare pup houses at the moment, so Dwayne can sleep in here with me since he's injured."

"Yeppie! I get to sleep with the cool human!" Dwayne exclaimed, bouncing and accidentally landing on his injuries. "Oww! Whoops!" the Great Dane giggles. His head lowers. "I'll just...sleep on the couch."

Dwayne pads sadly to the elevator, looking upset. Perhaps he was just sad he couldn't bounce as high anymore. Hubcap didn't know anymore. He wasn't good at reading others.

Gasket awkwardly looks at Ryder. "Well, uh, this turned out odd." Her voice wavers as she continues, "I, uh, think I'd prefer to sleep outside. Maybe alone. Maybe I'll see if Chase or Rubble will let me inside their caves. Bye."

Gasket scrambles outside, leaving Ryder, Hubcap, and Skye alone.

"Right," Ryder remarks confused. "Are you comfortable enough to sleep in a pup house? I'm sure Rocky would—"

"No! He can sleep with me!" Skye suddenly barks, shocking Hubcap and Ryder.

Ryder, still confused, glances at his smallest pup. "You sure? You're pretty small. Your del—"

"Yes!" she insists. "Do you really want me waking up in the middle of night and being unable to find my way to my water bowl?" Her head tilts, eyes flashing, asking him to dare say otherwise.

Ryder smiles. "I suppose not. It's fine with me if it's fine with Hubcap."

The spotlight was now on him. Hubcap froze.

"Uh, I guess."

Despite the answer, Hubcap was unsure if it was truly okay for a villain such as himself to be alone with someone like Skye. Sure he accompanied her back to the Lookout, but certainly there would be some warranted suspicion of him whilst there.

However, Hubcap figured since there was no one else around who would do this for her, he would do it.

"Come on, then!" Skye sweetly barks, slowly walking her way to the door.

Hubcap kept up with her, keeping an eye on her the entire time. His mind was wild, but he attempted to keep calm. After all, this was only going to be his first day getting closer to the one dog who made him feel something more than just frustration and anguish.

The two were silent until Skye pauses at the entrance to her puphouse. She turns to him. "Can you open it? It hurts to twist."

Hubcap groans, feeling lazy. Though, he pushes through and opens the door. He watches Skye get in with slight worry before closing the door after himself.

Skye snuggles into her bed, patting next to her. Hubcap sighs, lying down next to her.

Now what?

"You know, Hubcap," Skye begins, looking at her leg.

Hubcap tilts his head. What now?

"I am a runt myself," she informed, stunning him. How does she— "yet I still believe in humans. Perhaps you will too, if you can see what I see in Ryder."

Hubcap didn't a get a chance to respond before she yawned and fell asleep, curling right up against his chest.

Hubcap sighs, now realizing they might have more in common than he thought. And maybe, just maybe he had a chance with her. After all, she didn't seem to hate him, rather being kind to him even above Chase of all pups.

Hubcap smiles, tucked himself in, and put his head above hers. He nuzzles her, and mutters, "Good night, Skye." Then, he falls asleep, unsure, yet considering what Ryder told him.