[PSL] You put that urban fantasy right back where you found it (for zunesareawesome)

[cahooted]

Flynn doesn't get involved.

Not anymore; there had once been a time where he had been involved in many things. Wonderful things, adventurous things – but that time was long gone, that life lay behind him now. It had ended when he had convinced Simone to let him stay with her, to bite and turn him. He had looked forward to a lifetime, no, countless lifetimes, with her, spending eternity together. Had been ready for it, or so he had thought.

After three days, three frightening, wonderful and confusing days with Simone, it had ended. Kubichek had not been killed by the grenade (of course not, that wasn't how vampires died, they should have known, stupid, stupid) and he had come back for his revenge, taking them by surprise. They had defeated him but it had cost Flynn dearly.

Now Simone is gone (forever) and Flynn is more lost than ever before in his life. He has taken refuge in Simone's old hideout, living off the remaining blood bags and postponing finding another place to live that isn't full of painful memories. He has secluded himself in here and here he will stay.

Alone.

He can't go back to the Library, he knows he can't. He turned his back on it and maybe he deserves the earth-shattering loss and loneliness of his rash decision; he has eternity to brood over that question. Part of him wishes he could see Judson and Charlene, just one last time, but he knows he wouldn't be able to face them after letting them down like he did. Sometimes he feels like he's catching Judson out of the corner of his eye, in a mirror, a movement of a reflection that can't be Flynn's, but when he looks there's nothing.

Flynn spends the days reading. About vampires, mostly, trying to catch up on his new existence. Most of the nights he spends reading, too, and really, if it were up to him he would never leave the apartment. But spending all his time reading also means he has to go out from time to time to find new material. Tonight is one of these nights and he already regrets it.

They're werewolves, he's pretty sure. It's like his gift to read people has been transferred to the supernatural and he can sense what these creatures are, can see it in their movements, feel it in the air, he just knows. They haven't changed form, only partially, their eyes gleaming in the moonlight, feral and dangerous and... mean. They have circled someone and Flynn can tell that this someone is a werewolf, too. A werewolf that the others don't seem to like for some reason. At all.

Flynn knows bullies when he sees them. They take their time, circling their victim, sometimes attacking for a punch or a scratch or a bite. Flynn pulls a face as he watches from the shadows of the trees before turning his back on the scene. Whatever. This is stupid. It's not his problem. He will seek out the trader he is supposed to meet for a stack of rare books, go home and hate life. Or unlife. Whatever he is supposed to call himself these days. 'Idiot', maybe. Yes, he thinks he'll go with that.

Flynn doesn't get involved, not anymore.

He makes it two steps back into the underwood, trying to ignore the snarling and growling, before he slows and stops. He closes his eyes, exhaling sharply at the sudden fear of a decision already made, before he turns and, with a gust of a dramatic whoosh ports himself forward and onto the clearing. He miscalculates and stumbles on a stone but thankfully for him the werewolves are too busy with their prey to notice his little mishap.

Or... anything about his dramatic entry really as nobody has even noticed him appear. Well, that was a colossal waste of time and energy? The old-fashioned way then.

"Hey! Leave him alone!"

Comments

[cahooted]

"I think I get like that when I don't drink blood. But I haven't tried it and I don't want to. Definitely not before I know more about myself." The risk of actually hurting someone is just too high. Killing someone – or turning them? Flynn can hardly think of anything worse than that.

"No. Some do." He shrugs. "They've been around for a very long time so of course they have networks and everything. Or were aristocrats back in the centruy when they got turned. Not too many of those around anymore, you know?"

Peter's excitement and gratitude is touching and Flynn smiles. It feels good to have done something for someone. It's nice to be able to talk about all the things bottled up inside. It's nice to have company and not be... alone. Part of him feels a little alarmed at the situation because he shouldn't. Don't get used to it, a little warning voice in his head tells him. But it's hard. "Don't worry about it."

[zunesareawesome]

"Y'know, it's probably bad to say but I kinda wanna see what that looks like in action. I mean, besides what we already saw with you and those jerks." A mischievous grin. "In a safe environment with safety measures and stuff. Of course. But it'd be kinda cool to see." His inner wolf would probably not be happy about that, but he's seen entirely too many movies not to find it kinda awesome.

"That's a little disappointing, I gotta admit. I'm sorta expecting an elaborate, underground vampire society going on here. Maybe even secretly running governments? Maybe there's a secret league of vampires in charge of the UN? Descended from ancient royalty or something?" Yes. Entirely too many movies watched. He has an Imagination and he's not afraid to use it.

Peter leans back again, trying to play it cool, but he's just suddenly so happy that a few friendly wolf-whines escape from the back of his throat. He immediately turns, coughs and covers his mouth, his eyes wide. "That did not just happen--"

[cahooted]

"Like an experiment?" Flynn doesn't look too happy about the idea but it would be important and helpful to know his limits. So far he hasn't tested the waters much because... well. Because he's alone and it's too risky. What if he loses control and nobody is around to stop him? To keep him in check? But with Peter nearby, maybe he could...

No. No, it's stupid and reckless. He can't endanger the other man like that. Not when he was confused and searching and alone, still getting used to this existence.

"Maybe I just haven't met them yet." Or the other vampires decided to leave him alone after killing Dracula. Flynn frowns. Do people really think he ripped his head off? It's not a reputation he wants. Sure, it might mean that a lot of people might leave him alone - but it might also mean that a lot of people might seek him out in serach for a challenge. Maybe he should find out what the word on the street actually is.

But then Peter's sound interrupts his thought process and he looks up, blinking and utterly flabbergasted. "What... what was that?"

[zunesareawesome]

"Sure! Yeah, an experiment? And we can do one on me, too, so I can see what I can do. I mean, we should be able to keep each other in check, right? Or I can get some garlic and put it around a room?"

"Hmm. Maybe that's a good thing. They might not be so friendly. Usually they're bad guys in all the movies." A shrug. "Probably best not to mess with them."

Peter's usually cool with embarrassing situations, but this is different. He's not even sure how it happened, he just...he shook his head and spoke through his covered hands before making sure he wasn't still making that noise, and slowly lowered them. His eyes are still wide.

"Uh...I had gas?"

[cahooted]

"Maybe we should wait until we know more about your powers. And until you had some time to practice. If we do it, that is." He still isn't convinced that he has the right to drag the poor guy into his mess. He really shouldn't, it's to safe. "And garlic doesn't bother me." He thinks for a moment. "But crosses do. Maybe you should get one. You know, just to be safe."

Flynn nods in agreement. He, too, prefers to not mess with other vampires. Well, unless the fate of the world is at stake. That's kind of the exception to that rule.

"It... didn't sound like gas. It sounded more like a... hum?"

[zunesareawesome]

Powers. Heh. So cool. If it wasn't so scary occasionally. Or pervasive.

"Sure, I mean, that makes sense." A nod. "I could use some practice. Is that what you did too? Practice with your powers?"

He looks thoughtful. "What about inviting into a house? Is that a thing? Or counting? Do you get stuck on counting?" So many movies, Flynn.

"A hum. Nope, it was gas." He scratches his head, the instinct to just lie on the floor, or place his head low on the ground is almost too strong to resist. Friends, insisted the wolf in him, now that it was certain Peter was not in any danger from this dangerous-smelling fellow, and that he was trying to help them. It was only polite. And he needed to make friends, he was so lonely. No pack would have him.

The whine escapes his throat again, but this time it's far louder. Please like me, said the wolf. Peter covers his mouth again and before he can do anything, he throws himself on the ground, crouching. He's halfway under the table, his eyes golden once again.

[cahooted]

"A little. I know how to do some stuff but I-- what are you doing?"

Flynn leans back, puzzled, peeking under the table. "Peter? Are... are you okay? Did I say something wrong?"

[zunesareawesome]

"Friend?" It blends with the whine, and there's the whump whump whump of a tail somewhere under the table wagging. This is beyond embarrassing that he's just...like this. This is the opposite of the cool persona he's crafted all these years. The absolute opposite. But the wolf was only following along with his actual thoughts, it was just...far too much for a brand-new werewolf to handle.

Under the table, there's the golden eyes looking up at him, slightly pointed ears, and did he have that thick a beard as before?

[cahooted]

Okay, this is weird.

This is very weird and for a moment Flynn just stares because a grown man really shouldn't sit under his table and be able to look like a sad puppy and where is that noise coming-- a tail. Right. Of course it's a tail. What else could it be.

But somewhere in the back of Flynn's mind the wheels start turning and he tries to understand what is happening. It must be instinct. Kind of like how Peter had fled him, thought him to be dangerous, a threat. Wolves were pack animals, weren't they? And Peter had mentioned being alone... The werewolf must be looking for company. Maybe for safety in numbers, a way to protect the newly changed person in their initial stage. Seek out other wolves.

Only the other wolves had been jerks and apparently now he's asking Flynn.

It's a mistake. You'll get him in trouble.

He looks back at the oversized half-wolf under his table. Maybe he could help out. For a while. Until they find a real pack for Peter. "Sure." Flynn flashes him a quick smile. "Yeah, sure, we can be friends."

[zunesareawesome]

Instant relief. Not alone. We're not alone, the wolf was so pleased, this was exactly what they'd needed. Of course, Peter's way of making friends was not so...uncool, but it didn't matter because they were friends!

There's a part of him, the shattered semblance of rationality that's buried under all this instinct, worried about the fact that Flynn's a vampire. Vampires were not supposed to be pack. But this one was...not dangerous. He was kind. He needed a pack, he couldn't be alone like this.

His fur is a mix of light tan and gray on the tail in the shadows, but there's something pained in the way he's crouched. He's whining louder now, digging what look like claws into the floor.

"Ghnnnhh..." he shakes his head, trying to back under the table, but the wolf is desperate to take over. It wants to play, to express its happiness, the overwhelming, simple animal emotion is causing him to come close to, well, Hulking out.

[cahooted]

Flynn backs off when something happens. Oh, this is not good. This can't be good. What is happening?!

"Peter? Hey, what, what are you doing? Wait! You can't change in here, someone's gonna hear you!"

He doesn't know if that's true or if Simone soundproofed the place but he really doesn't want to take the chance that Peter jumps through the nearest window. Especially not when it's about to get bright outside.

"Come on, calm down. It's okay!"

[zunesareawesome]

The pain gives him sudden clarity, fighting past the simple mind of the wolf. Peter's shocked to find that he's already this far along, claws gripping into the floor. What...where had this even come from!? He was happy? This kind of thing only usually happened when he was upset, angry, or scared.

"...can't stop it--hhnnnnggh--"

A growl. He was also about to shred his clothes if he ended up changing the whole way, which would be...inconvenient.

[cahooted]

"S-stop growling!" It feels ridiculous to say it and Flynn can only watch helplessly at the sudden changes occurring. Why was he so stupid? He should have known brining Peter here was a bad idea and now he was about to get ripped apart by a giant wolf in his own living room.

"You are being ridiculous! The apartment is much too small for you!"

[zunesareawesome]

Really? Stop growling? Peter and his wolf are in agreement as he rolls his eyes.

"I know! You don't think I don't--aagghhh--" he's got to get his jacket and shirt off, he likes this jacket and shirt--the table bounces as he backs up into it. This is terrible, he was about to not have a friend anymore because his stupid wolf was stupidly too excitable--

"A room--get me to a room n' lock it--" his words were more garbled now, he's thrown his jacket and shirt off and is trying to get down to his boxers, sorry Flynn--

[cahooted]

A room? A room, a room, okay, alright.

"Come with me!" Flynn grabs Peter and pulls him to his feet with surprising ease. If Peter wondered if increased strength is a vampire feat he now has his answer.

"I have an extra chamber but please try not to completely trash it?" He can at least try to ask.

[zunesareawesome]

Peter can feel that he's gotten heavier, he's building muscle already, and for Flynn to have pulled him to his feet with ease is pretty impressive.

"Hey, you're a long stronger than you--ggghh--look!" Because yes, he's going to still run a commentary even if he's growling in pain, mouth full of inhuman teeth. "You might get--hhh--lucky. I'll try." Or not. He plods alongside Flynn, his gait unsteady, his sense of balance completely thrown off with the added muscle. He's getting bigger by the second, and he's already fairly ripped.

"Lock th' door an' don't--I don't want to hurt you--" Could he hurt a vampire, even at full wolf strength? That sounded like one of those awesome 'who could beat who' superhero conversations.

[cahooted]

Wonderful. No really, this is just great, this day is getting better and better. Hasn't he suffered enough? Does he really deserve this? Flynn struggles not to wince away at the rows of very sharp teeth so very close to his face as he drags Peter over to the adjacent chamber.

"I don't want you to hurt me either, so we're definitely in agreement there." He isn't quite as willing to find out the limits of theirs strengths in the middle of his apartment and dearly needed hideout, so he shoves Peter into the room, pausing in the doorway. He doesn't mean to be rude, he just really likes his limbs.

"You just, uh, you let me know when you're done in there, alright?"

[zunesareawesome]

Peter stumbles into the doorway, his feet ceasing to be feet and more paws. Did he lose his shoes somewhere back there? Probably.

He nods, he'd rather not rip his new friend to pieces. That would be really the icing on the cake of a particularly bad day.

"Jus--stay aw--aaaagghhrrrrggrrrrrr--" And that's the last vaguely human sound he can make as he stumbles to the back of the room, the latter sounding much like the wolf that he was starting to now resemble.

At this point he can't hold on anymore, and he's just got to trust that Flynn gets clear of that door. And hope the door holds. He lets go of the little control he's had, and the wolf takes him.

There's several minutes of pained noises, more animal than not, and then...silence.

[cahooted]

Flynn slams the door shut behind him and, even though it feels more than ridiculous, pushes with his back against it. He can't really lock it from the outside and if the wolf decides it wants to come out (in a double sense of the word) Flynn will be the last defense between him and the rest of the apartment. And, well, his throat.

When the silence stretches out for several more minutes, he turns his head to press his ear against the door. He may not have a wolf's hearing but it's gotten pretty good these days.

"Peter?" he tentatively calls out. "Can you hear me? Are you alright?"

[zunesareawesome]

More silence. And then...scratching at the door. A whine. And the thump-thump-thump of a tail wag.

Open the door, Flynn. Please? Scratch scratch scratch, whine.

[cahooted]

Why is this his life? How did he end up in this situation? Flynn runs his hands down his face, internally lamenting for a little while longer until the whining behind the door gets impossible to ignore.

"Peter?" He steps to the side, carefully opening the door to peek into the room. "Are you, uh. In there?"

[zunesareawesome]

There's a massive snout suddenly in the doorframe closest to where Flynn is. Loud, snuffling noises as someone's trying to figure out why HIS NEW BEST FRIEND OH BOY isn't opening the door fast enough. And now he's excitedly shoving his enormous self into any free space that's between the door and Flynn--Flynn, who smells super dangerous but isn't, but that's okay, because he FED him--

From what could be seen of him, the wolf was far larger than an ordinary one, with a shape that indicated he could probably be bipedal if he felt like it, but clearly preferred to be on all fours. His forepaws could be used to grip as well, but other than that, he retained a completely wolf-like appearance, with tan-and-gray fur.

[cahooted]

"Ooookay."

So now there's a giant wolf in his apartment. That is a thing. A very impatient, excitable wolf who seems to be eager to get out of that room. Flynn's first instinct is to slam the door shut but he can't quite bring himself to do it; he'd have to use considerable force and he doesn't want to hurt Peter's snout.

"Hi. Can you... do you understand me?"

[zunesareawesome]

WHINE.

Let me out oh please please please--

He wags his tail and tries to sniff at Flynn as close as he possibly can.

Understand him? He tilts his head quizzically. Peter's never really been able to remember much when he's a wolf, but this time, something's different. He feels more there than he had before. Maybe because he and the wolf were finally in agreement, maybe because he wasn't scared or angry or hurt.

There's an unsure nod, and then he plops his butt down on the floor, tail still wagging wildly. Whumpwhumpwhumpwhump--

[cahooted]

"Good. That's, um, that's good. You're really big, you know? So, I'm gonna open this door but please don't jump me because you are really big. No jumping, okay?"

Taking a deep breath and feeling less courageous than he's acting Flynn finally opens the door and steps away from the frame to allow Peter to come out. Please don't make him regret this.