Revamp cuz I don’t like how it’s organized lol if anyone is interested
Name: Matteo [Birth name unknown]
Mutation: Bear brute + canine instinct, heightened senses, slight regeneration (tail - can fully grow back), blood calcification.
Matteo was thought to have been born with rare skin markings but soon started to show visible signs of mutation. Tail sprouting from the base of his spine nearing the age of 3, as well as his teeth X-rays showing more akin to a bear. Once his parents (of whom had 6 other children to raise) realized he was different and couldn’t pick up speech they gave up on trying to care for him. Seeing him as a burden as well as an omen, a punishment for wrongdoings.
He would be shipped away from his Desert home of Southern California to a remote Canadian sinister facility before he could even speak (age 5). BUT on his way, the small crate he was shoved into would accidentally fall off of the trailer hauling him. Breaking, leaving him alone in the Canadian wilderness just as winter approached.
With shackles on his wrists and ankles, he’d survive by catching small animals and eating them. Although it was hard to grasp them and feel their scared heart beats, he didn’t want to hurt them really, but the hunger. Eventually he’d stumble upon Sabretooth , stalking him (Victor knows he’s there, but ignores “the runt”) in fear that he’d end up like the animals he’d captured. Slowly Matteo got closer to Victor to shadow him and learn how to properly hunt. This amused Victor but he would shove Matteo away when he’d get too close or even claw at him if he got in the way of the hunt. This would continue for 3 years , stubborn communication of grunts and growls from both of them as well as Matteo nearly getting beaten to death when Vic felt like it. At 8yrs this would be the first time Vic would make him kill a hunter. He couldn’t handle the sounds of a person pleading and fear , the smell sickened him while Vic reveled in it. The smell of human blood soaks onto him and he panics runs away from the scene.
Somehow he gets to the sinister orphanage he was meant to go into. At first he thinks it’s a safe space with other kids like him. Confused by the collars they’re wearing but wanting to be in a big family like the one in his foggy dreams. This would be a mistake when he’s caught by one of the keepers.
He will spend the next 10 years in this facility getting tested on, abused, and exposed to so much torture it unlocks his blood calcification ability. When cut or flesh opened, the blood hardens once it touches air. Creating sharp spikes jutting out of the wounds, this is still very painful for him but alas it’s just written in his file and then tossed back into his cage. He would step up to being the big brother the other children never had. Being the middle to youngest among the group along side Leo, whom he’d be attached to the most. Making a pact to get married when they escape and own a horse ranch. They would name each other Matteo and Leopold, getting the ideas from tv/movies that they’d get to watch by sneaking into the common area for the scientists. This would make their bond even stronger, although Leo doesn’t understand that they’ve become unhealthily attached to Matteo, (owning him like a dog but neglecting his feelings once they start to get their emotions stripped) this name would later become a weapon and he covets it. Only going by Hound when attending the mansion.
Communication between them was mostly through scribbling with charcoal on lab paperwork they’d steal. The experiments would take a large toll on them both but Leo getting targeted the most since Sinister was very much interested in their shadow/dream walker ability. Even when Matteo would fight feral he’d still get put down long enough for Leo to be taken. This would change them over time. Leo would return more cut off , void of emotion and started to grow a strange attachment to Matteo that was unhealthy and eventually be more like a husk which hurt Matteo the most when he couldn’t make them smile anymore.
Soon, not long after he turned 18 he would gain enough strength to kill scientists and nearly burn the complex down. Coincidentally, the X Men show up to save the children. Leo getting taken away by the scientists knowing if they didn’t get Sinister’s “favorite” back to him he’d have their heads. Matteo couldn’t sense them and ran off once he got all the children safe with the X men. He couldn’t leave without Leo but it was too late, this would lead him on a journey of dead ends trying to find Leo.
He would meet back up with Victor and tag along feeling more beast now that he lost Leopold. Endless brawls and killing (because of Sabretooth) he would end up getting tossed into the hands of the X-men around his 20th birthday (this is when he gets hurled at Zam and then injured by them lol)
At this point he still has no verbal skills and is virtually mute , speaking is painful with underdeveloped vocal cords, making more bear noises and dog whimpers since he was a child didn’t help either. He will learn to sign while attending the school portion of the mansion. He does get speech lessons as well and how to soothe his throat.
He’s grumpy and distances himself in fear of getting the others hurt. Protective of children and distrustful of anyone he can’t get a grasp of their intentions. Guard always up until it’s shattered by this new family. Softening him up and letting him feel like this is a home. He does challenge Wolverine constantly and learns under him bc he can take the heavy beardog. As much as he tries to hide it , Matteo is genuinely a softie and only wants to be cared for after years of needing to be the strong one who can take all the hurt.
This new home is strange to him, owning things and having a space to call his own took a lot of getting used to. Still, on sleepless nights (Leo haunts his dreams, he soon comes to find that it is actually Leo invading his dreams and violating him mentally/ physically , planting seeds of doubt and guilt) he’ll run into the wildness and find caves to sleep in.
He does make the most of his room though, filling it with lots and lots of things. Becoming a bit of a horder but only because he’s one big sentimental softy and can’t get rid of things he deems as important.