It would be an exaggeration to say the two of you already get along perfectly, though the bond is strong enough for Callahan to hand you his plate of meat with only the skeptical twitch of a jet-black dog ear to betray his uncertainty.

"How can you even eat this much? I thought sheep—no, damn it, goats—only ate grass, as far as I know." The labrador raises his hands defensively before you can even answer, shoving another forkful of calf into your mouth. You swallow eagerly, eyes shining, and continue gobbling down the meal like a creature born to devour.

Callahan blinks, caught off guard for the first time since your paths crossed. His brows furrow slightly, and he shifts in his seat, momentarily unsure whether to scold or laugh. You can almost hear the gears in his mind turning, trying to reconcile this voracious little hybrid with the calm, controlled man he thought he knew.

A smirk tugs at your lips as you finish the last bite, looking up at him with an expression that clearly says, I’ve got this under control.

Callahan exhales, letting the tension slip from his shoulders, though he shakes his head. "Damn it," he mutters, a mix of exasperation and amusement in his tone. "You're impossible."

And somehow, just for a moment, it feels like the start of something resembling understanding between the two of you.