rakesh used to flinch when he watched the fights. not that he really remembers it, but they were once a young little thing, someone that winced and hissed with every blood splatter coming from the cage. now, this ritual feels like communion. they stand near the cage, close enough to smell the ichor and the grit, but just far enough that the coat of old, matted down fur doesn't get newer bloodstains on it. he chews on the side of his nails, teeth picking at skin, destroying flesh out of boredom as their eyes watch the fight unfold.
this one is different. rak finds his eyes trained on the man inside the cage -- someone close enough could've told them their pupils were wider than normal, but it would be a foolish decision to approach when he was this focused. the thing that fascinates them is that they haven't given this man much thought before this. the newcomer's name is something starting with an L, rak is almost sure; he didn't bother committing it to memory, sure as he was that this man would be just someone else they could watch get torn apart in the cage, nothing more. but now-- oh, now. now he is covered in sweat, and infected gunk, and he's ramming his knuckles into a clicker's skin before pulling its spore-y skull apart with bare hands and it is... well. rak didn't know that watching the cage fight could get them to squirm in their own seat.
they are the first to offer taking care of the newcomer, when it's pretty obvious yen is willing to give him a chance after surviving the cage. he keeps the thinly-veiled second intentions far from his voice, but yen still gives him a disapproving look before he allows it.
their expression is schooled to be something utterly unimpressed as they wait for leon to step out of the cage. their gaze lingers over quickly rising shoulders, a sweat droplet running down his neck, the blood on his hands, eyes squinted in forged scrutiny. "that was shit. you're lucky yen wants to keep you." it's a lie through bare teeth: the strength and determination shown in the cage were pretty impressive for a rookie. rak has no intention to let his admiration show though, not when it would be far too much trouble for them to get involved with a newcomer they don't even trust yet, and they refuse to let leon feel like he has that kind of higher ground here. "what's your name again? luke?"