#David Yip | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

dominimoonbeam · 1 year

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What are you doing here?

Huxley/David have a meet cute in the wildness with a bear.

Slight AU! No Angel. No Darlin drama, so they’re just a solid part of the pack. Early in the audio timeline. Hux hasn’t met FL yet and David is still an asshole.

tags: getting together, meet cute with a bear, slight injury, care

What are you doing here?

Huxley hiked up the incline to the vantage point he’d found last year. It was early summer, the sun still high when he broke from the trees and stepped up to the drop off. It sloped down, giving a beautiful view of the forest stretching below and a long valley of tall grass.

He was surprised to see movement down there, soon followed by the yips and howls.

Wolves. Dozens of them. They were running and playing. It was chaotic order. And then out to the far side, a campsite of tents, coolers, chairs, and grills, with a bunch of kids and a few adults.

Not wolves. Werewolves. Huxley smiled. He had met werewolves in Dahlia, of course, but he’d never seen them wolfed out. He wondered if he should leave. Was it rude to watch them? He’d heard wolves in the woods before, but this was the first time he’d seen them here. They look happy. Running to run, playing.

“What are you doing here?”

Huxley spun around, his heart jumping into his throat. He hadn’t heard or felt the other guy coming up behind him. But there he was. And he was big. As big as Huxley. His energy howled wolf, even if he was standing on two legs. “Wow. What?”

The guy took a step forward. Huxley wondered if it was supposed to be threatening. He had his back to a cliff edge and this guy closing the space between them. A lot of people would definitely be worried right now. But Huxley felt the ground under his shoes, deep and rich. “I’m camping, dude. What are you doing here?”

“Bullshit,” the wolf snapped. His voice was deep, a low rumble in his broad chest. “You’ve been out here when we were here before and now you’re here again. You expect me to believe that’s a coincidence?”

“It’s a good spot.”

“Why are you watching us?”

Huxley glanced back over his shoulder, at the pack playing in the valley below. He felt the other guy move closer this time and when he looked forward again, they were within arm’s reach of each other. His eyes were so dark and so clearly pissed that he’d looked at them again. Did he really think Huxley was a threat somehow? To wolves? They outnumbered him. They could rip him apart if they wanted to—not that he thought for a second that they would. He hadn’t done anything.

“I’ll leave,” Huxley said. He liked this spot for the stars but he knew of others. He could move if he was making them uncomfortable.

“You didn’t answer my question,” the wolf said, the words grinding.

Huxley sighed, staring right back at him. “Yes, I did. I’m just camping, man.”

“Alone?”

Huxley was surprised by the little jab of pain in his chest. They guy was asking like it was absurd. But he was a wolf with a pack. Of course it would sound absurd to him. It wasn’t like Hux wouldn’t have liked to go with other people…he just hadn’t met anyone in Dahlia who liked to hike. Honestly, he’d had trouble making any real connections in Dahlia. Either people didn’t like him, he didn’t like them, or, in quite a few cases, they’d like to have him in their beds but that was it. “Yeah. Alone.”

“What’s your name?”

“Huxley. Yours?”

“David Shaw.” He said it like it was supposed to mean something.

Huxley blinked.

“You don’t work for the department.”

Huxley almost laughed. “No, dude. I go to DAMN. I’m just hiking on the weekend. I promise.” He offered his pinkie before he could think better of it. It was something his moms always did.

David glared at the offer, curled his lip, and turned away.

Huxley watched him shift. His wolf was huge. He disappeared into the woods, fast and silent.

When he was alone again, he sighed and collected his bag. He’d move south and give them their space. He hadn’t gone that way before. Maybe he’d find an even better spot.

David waited until the elemental moved out, heading in the opposite direction.

Was he telling the truth?

Maybe.

Was David going to put up with this guy lurking around his pack for the second year in a row?

Nope.

He headed back to the valley. It was a spot his dad had found when he was a kid. They had actually found it together. His dad had decided it was a great spot to bring the whole pack and so they had, every year. …Almost every year.

Asher was waiting for him when he came back, standing in human form with his arms crossed and his eyebrow raised. “Well? Was he a department spy? Or maybe some wolf-hating elemental hoping to pick us off one by one?”

David shifted human. “Fuck you.” He had never said anything like that. But maybe he’d thought it. Why did Asher have to know him that well?

“Was he hot?”

David shot him a look. “Are you looking to replace Babe?”

Asher curled his lip. He would have growled if it had been anyone else. “I wasn’t asking for me…”

“I told you, I’m not dating anyone. I’ve got enough on my plate.”

Asher frowned. A real frown, tinged with worry. “David… Do you really feel that swamped still?”

David sighed and stopped just when he was about to walk past Asher and back toward the camp. For a moment they were alone, everyone else playing and laughing. “No. It’s not that.” He knew how much everyone had tried to pick up the slack, to help him get the security company off its feet and stable. And it was. “I just…I don’t need that. It would be complicated.”

Asher looked unconvinced.

“Jesus, Ash, this is sort of a heavy conversation to take on just because I ran some elemental off.”

Asher smirked. “Yeah, I made that work for me. We should talk about it.”

David rolled his eyes.

“I’m not saying you have to jump into a relationship with the next person you see. I’m just saying—”

“Yeah. Yeah. I hear you,” David hurried to cut him off, not really wanting to hear him at all. He’d decided he wasn’t going to have a mate. His full focus needed to be being alpha of this pack and keeping them together. At least, that’s what he’d said when he started. Now it was just…safer. He had been grateful that he hadn’t been interested in anyone in his pack when he became alpha. The power imbalance might have driven him away from them anyway. But finding a mate outside seemed impossible. It would be hard to find a person he loved that was also good for the pack, good with the pack, and good with him and everything he needed to be to his pack. It was a lot to ask of a person.

He hoped he never found anyone he liked enough to ask that much of them.

Huxley had walked a straight line away from the wolves until he was deep in a part of the woods he hadn’t been in before. He finally let himself slow down and explore when it had been a while since he heard the howls of the wolves.

He found some black berries along the edge of a little clearing and considered it as a possible spot to make camp. He’d be able to see the stars. He liked that. In late afternoon, he started collecting downed branches and twigs, making his way back toward that clearing.

He realized the bear was there at the same moment she realized he was there. Too late for either of them to make a quiet exit.

Huxley’s heart rammed his ribs. She was beautiful but he was way to close. She huffed, staring hard. He dropped the dry wood and spread his arms, taking a step to the side and back. He was about to take another when he saw one of her cubs roll out from under a bush and knew that this was really bad. “Don’t,” he said, even if she couldn’t understand. He wished he could explain. He would leave. He wouldn’t cause her any trouble and she could go on. But bears weren’t werewolves and there could be no conversation between them.

She roared and rushed him.

Huxley backpedaled fast. It would never be fast enough, not even if he tried to run. He shook the ground underfoot, sliding the soil beneath her beating paws to slow her down and trying to roll her, stop her, scare her off. But she was singularly focused now.

He never stopped taking steps backward, trying to create space between them even when she was shrinking it. He pushed more power out, lifting and felling a tree in her path. It startled her but not enough to stop her for more than a few seconds. She climbed over it, scoring deep gashes into the trunk. Her body thudded on the ground when she landed in a run again. She was huge. She was doing exactly what instinct told her to do—protect her babies.

But what she didn’t know, what she couldn’t know, was the rules between humans and animals. If she mauled him, animal control would hunt her down. Huxley didn’t want to kill her, he didn’t want to harm anything.

He continued to lift and roll the ground, slowing her down but only making her angrier. She snarled and roared, clawing at the ground when it lifted in waves and beating her way through. He thought, that if they both survived this encounter, he would marvel at these memories—at how easily she slammed her body through those walls of dirt and roots. She was unstoppable. But he had to stop her.

She was so close—too close. He could smell the reek of her breath and see the black of her gums against those thick white teeth. He pushed both hands forward and she swiped the air at him, they nearly touched, and then he lifted the ground under her high and hard to throw her back, rolling her.

At the same time, one of his backward steps didn’t connect with ground.

He fell, with no idea how far he would go. The sky filled his vision and his hands grabbed at nothing but air. He was horizontal and then his hip hit stone, followed shortly by his back.

Huxley had had the air knocked out of him plenty of times, but this was worse than when he’d hit the ice in hockey or the ground in football. For long seconds, he couldn’t inhale.

He’d been playing sports, and exploring the woods, and doing shit he shouldn’t be doing since he could walk. One of his moms had taken up healing even though it wasn’t her natural gift and though she never said it, he knew it was for him.

He tried to relax and slowly, finally, inhaled. He couldn’t move yet, but his vision was coming back into focus. He could see the ridge where he’d fallen. It was only six or seven feet from where he’d landed, but he’d landed on a slant of rocks. He could hear the river somewhere below, beyond his head. His hips were higher up than his shoulders, leaving him at an angle.

He watched the spot where he’d fallen, willing the bear not to come for him. The only thing he’d be able to do now would be to use what he had left to throw her off the cliff. He didn’t want to do that. The sky darkened as the minutes slid by. No bear.

He moved his arms slowly. His back ached in a sharp jolt and he winced. He rolled onto his side, the one that hadn’t hit the ground first. He had to get up and figure out how to get down. Going back up was probably a bad idea. His head throbbed in a way he was all too familiar with. Had he hit it? Huxley reached up slowly, palming the back of his skull. His fingers came away wet. “Oh shit,” he mumbled before leaning into the heavy pull of sleep.

He woke up sharply and the sky was full dark. It could have been a matter of minutes or hours. The moon was bright, which was good since his flashlight was in his pack somewhere in the woods. Something rustled up above, on that ledge where he’d fallen. Huxley held his breath, like maybe the bear wouldn’t know he was there. When a large, dark head poked over the edge to look down at him, he had every intention of playing dead. It wasn’t like he felt like moving anyway.

But it wasn’t a bear that looked down at him.

It was a wolf.

They’d felt the tremors in the ground even at a distance. Some of the younger members of the pack giggled about earthquakes but the adults knew better. It was a slight difference—earthquake and earth elemental. But once a wolf had felt both, they never mistook one for the other.

Another tremor.

David realized Asher and Milo were staring off in the same direction as him. It was too far away to have anything to do with them.

“You said he was alone,” Milo said. It wasn’t really a question. He was pointing out a detail that brought up other questions. The real questions. What reasons could they think up for why the elemental was doing that? And was it their business? He was so far away that the unempowered might not even feel the tremors.

“Earth elementals might move the ground to make the hike easier…” Sweetheart suggested, but didn’t sound entirely comfortable either.

Another tremor, this one bigger, and then nothing.

David sighed. “I’ll go check on him.” His whole fucking camping trip seemed to be checking on this elemental.

“I can go,” Asher offered just when Milo was about to.

David snorted, even though he had to fight back the smile that pulled at his mouth. They were always ready to help out. He couldn’t have handled the last couple years without them. He still wasn’t sure that he was good enough to be alpha but they seemed to believe he was. Sometimes that was the only thing that got him out of bed in that first year after his dad passed. They believed in him. They needed him to try.

“No, you two stay with the pack. I won’t be long.”

Sweetheart huffed a laugh, crossing their arms. “You’re really going alone?”

David turned and raised an eyebrow. He would have been furious about that snarky question when they first showed up at Milo’s side eight months ago. But now he knew them well enough to hear the note of worry wrapped in amused judgement. “You want to come with, Stealth?” he smirked around the question. They both knew, that for all of Sweetheart’s incredible abilities and skills, they couldn’t keep up with a wolf in a run.

“It just seems silly to go alone when you have a whole pack right here…”

“He’s scared I’ll outrun him again.” Asher smiled, eyes lighting up. The sun had dropped below the trees, the sky losing color every minute that passed and more stars beginning to appear.

Milo laughed, but tried to hide it by ducking his face and pressing it into the back of Sweetheart’s shoulder.

David sighed but nodded. “Milo comes with. Asher stays put.” He exchanged a glance with Asher. The other was still smiling the way he often did, but there was something sharp in his gaze. He understood his role. He always had when it mattered. He was going to stay with the pack and make sure this wasn’t a distraction. It was far-fetched, but they didn’t take chances. Asher and Stealth would keep an eye on things while David and Milo watched each other’s back in the woods.

“I knew you were scared I’d outrun you…” Asher commented, to make the exchange easy even when he nodded once, agreeing to the responsibility that fell on his shoulders when David was gone.

“Maybe I just trust Milo not to run into a tree and knock himself out.”

Asher laughed, the sound loud enough to earn them the attention of some of the others. They were lighting fires and opening ice chests near their campsite in the clearing. “One time!”

Milo snorted. “Twice, Ash… You always forget the second one.”

“He was concussed. He forgot that whole weekend,” David reminded and then shifted and ran toward the tree line. Milo was with him, both wolves darting through the dark woods toward the origin of those quakes.

David expected to find the elemental, probably settled into his camp and looking innocent again.

The moon came out, the sky completely drained of daylight.

Milo growled low when they both picked up the scent of the bears.

For the first time, David allowed himself to worry. He’d told this elemental to get out of their space. He’d forced the man to move his campsite.

I don’t smell blood, Milo said what they’d both be able to sense. He could feel David’s worry through their link. If the elemental had been mauled, they would be able to smell it by now.

They found a downed tree, pulled right up from the ground. A whole stretch of ground was churned up, plants and stones all rolled together. The elemental was strong. So why hadn’t he buried or crushed the bear? It wasn’t dead.

It’s close by still, Milo told him. He knew that too, but he also knew that Milo was asking what he should do about it.

Stay close but keep track of the bear while I look for him, David said. He’d yet to meet a bear that would pick a fight with a grown werewolf, let alone two.

He followed the wreckage on the ground. He knew his scent from earlier and from a year ago when they were both in the area at the same time. Now the scent was spiked with panic and adrenaline.

David’s heart dropped when he saw the edge ahead, the ground tossed in a wave and the dirt-packed edge scuffed by a shoe dragging back over it. Fuck. He rushed forward and leaned over. He didn’t know what he’d find. He didn’t know if he’d be looking down at a body far below, or treetops and no sign of the body beneath. It was a mix of horror and relief when he saw the elemental on his side maybe seven feet below on a rock shelf. But he wasn’t moving. His heart was beating, David could hear it when he tried, but he could also smell blood now. Fuck, he thought louder. He felt Milo tense. I found him. He fell. Hang on.

The elemental. Huxley. His name was Huxley. He opened his eyes and blinked up at him, surprise clear on his dirt-smudged face in the moonlight. “Oh,” he said, voice rough and barely getting out. He coughed like he was trying to clear it but cringed. He tried to sit up.

David shifted human and jumped down. “Stop moving!”

Huxley sat up but had to stop to catch his breath, pressing his eyes shut like the world was spinning.

David crouched beside him, putting a hand on his shoulder to steady him. “Just breathe for a minute.”

Huxley did, but the breaths didn’t come easily, like his chest was too tight.

David looked back up at the ledge, imagining him falling backward off that. “Can I touch you?”

Huxley blinked at him, glancing once at his hand still on his shoulder.

David scoffed. “To check if you broke anything.”

It took him a few seconds too long to answer. David couldn’t tell if that was hesitation or a concussion, but then he shrugged and nodded. “Sure, but you don’t have to. Arms and legs are fine. I can get out of here.”

David snorted, doubting that. He was moving too stiffly to be able to just climb out of there like it was no big deal. He kept the hand on Huxley’s shoulder to hold him steady while the other gently touched his head through thick curls that had mostly escaped their messy tie. Huxley winced when David’s fingers brushed the cut on the back of his head. David muttered an apology.

“You might have a concussion…”

“Oh, I’m definitely concussed, dude.”

“How the hell would you know?” he argued even though the elemental was agreeing with him. David continued to roam his fingers down the back of the guy’s neck, watching his face for reactions.

Huxley smiled. “If they gave out punch cards for concussions, I’d have so many free yogurts by now.”

David continued to stare, not sure if that made sense or not. “I guess that explains a lot about you,” he spat and saw the other man’s expression when his words hit. His smile fell, a polite ghost of what it had been just seconds ago, and his eyes looked away, down. “I’m sorry,” David said, voice low with regret. He hadn’t actually meant to hurt this stranger’s feelings. He was just… well, he was an asshole sometimes. “I didn’t mean that.”

Huxley shrugged, easy expression back in place. He winced when David’s hand was low on his back.

“How did you land?”

“Hard?” Huxley smirked.

David tried not to. “Har har, asshole.”

“On my back, I think. No, hip first, then back.”

“And then head?”

“I don’t remember hitting my head.”

David frowned. Great. At least Huxley hadn’t passed out, thrown up, or started rambling yet. He let go of his shoulder and unzipped the elemental’s jacket.

Milo snapped off a bark and a growl somewhere overhead, warning off the bear when she got curious.

Huxley jerked a little, his gaze going high and toward the woods up there. “It didn’t bite me.”

David lifted the man’s shirt, getting a look at a huge patch of bruising on his side coming up from the waistband of his jeans and spreading over the side of his back. It looked bad, darker in spots where his ribs had taken the brunt of it. He ghosted a hand over them and the guy flinched away automatically, hissing a breath. Broken. He had at least two broken ribs. God, David hoped they weren’t puncturing anything. “What?”

“It didn’t. Just leave them alone.”

David put his shirt back down and looked at his face, wondering if his concussion was kicking in. What the fuck was he talking about? “Who? What are you—”

“The bear. She has cubs. She didn’t touch me so we can leave her alone, right?” I’ll climb down instead of going back up if—"

“Are you insane?” David snapped. Climb down? Maybe he hadn’t looked, but David had. If he hadn’t hit this ledge, or if he’d rolled a little farther, he would have fallen straight down a thirty-foot drop. There was no climbing down. He remembered the path of wreckage above, the overturned ground and the felled tree. “You didn’t hurt the bear.” It had been a choice. He could have but he hadn’t.

“It wasn’t her fault, man. She was just doing what she thought she had to.”

“Are you stupid?” David snapped before he could think better of it. Huxley winced. “You could have died!”

“I didn’t.”

“Because we found you! What if we hadn’t been in the area?” Although, if they hadn’t been in the area, David wouldn’t have pushed this guy out of the area he knew and straight toward a conflict with a bear. Guilt gnawed at the wolf’s heart, but Huxley didn’t even seem to think of that argument.

“I would have gotten up eventually, dude.”

David gawked. He was sure that if Huxley wasn’t injured, he would have shoved him.

“Not to downplay your help,” the elemental added again, as though worried for David’s feelings. It was salt on his wounds. “I really appreciate you guys coming all the way over here to check on me but I’m alright.”

“The hell you are,” David growled. He stood up and looked at the ledge. There were enough rocks piled together to create steps up to it. “Can you get up or do you want me to carry you?”

Huxley laughed before wincing and clutching at his side, still smiling despite the tears that pricked his eyes. “Don’t joke, dude. I think I busted a rib.”

He had busted two. “I’m not joking.”

Huxley dragged a couple careful breaths. “You can’t carry me, man.”

David stared at him, confused. “Yes. I can.”

Huxley met his gaze, looking for a joke and then…was he blushing? Huxley was a big guy. They were roughly the same size. David realized he was used to people being smaller than himself, which meant Huxley probably was too. David couldn’t remember the last time someone had carried him. It had probably been his dad. He pushed that thought away. He supposed Huxley wasn’t used to the idea of being carried. But David definitely could. If it wasn’t for those ribs, he would have already put him over his shoulder and started up the incline and back to the woods.

The bear left, Milo told him over their psychic link. Do you need help getting him out?

Huxley climbed to his feet and David caught is arm by the elbow just in case he fell. He swayed for a few seconds but then nodded, jaw tight as if determined to keep the world from swirling under him.

“So,” David said, trying to start some conversation that might help distract this guy from his own pain. “You fall off cliffs a lot?”

Huxley blinked at him.

“You said you’ve had a lot of concussions…”

Huxley huffed a thin, almost-laugh, and shuffled toward the stone wall. Every step he took looked stiff and pained, but he started climbing. “No, this is a first. I do a lot of sports though and I mean, I did fall out of a tree once. That was kind of like this.”

David laughed before he could stop himself. Jesus. Another Asher…

Milo stood at the top of the drop off in human form. He crouched and offered Huxley his arm.

Huxley blinked at the stranger and the arm. “I don’t want to be rude, but I don’t want to pull you down either…”

Milo looked confused.

David snorted, standing behind Huxley with hands hovering near his back. He didn’t want to touch or push if he didn’t have to, afraid it would hurt him more. “Milo this is Huxley, Huxley this is Milo,” he introduced them gruffly. “Milo could carry you if he needed to. You’re not going to pull him down even if you try.”

Milo’s gaze flicked between the two of them, his smile growing. David wasn’t sure if it was purely amusement or maybe a little pride too. If it was pride, then it deserved to be there. Milo wasn’t big for a wolf but he was still a wolf.

“Oh,” Huxley said in that odd tone that made David wonder if he was blushing again. He surprised himself by how much he wanted to see if he was. Huxley took Milo’s offered arm. “Nice to meet you, dude.”

“Same.” Milo carefully but steadily helped Huxley up over those last steps and onto the ground, not letting go of him until he was away from the edge.

“Thanks,” the elemental sighed, glancing around at the dark woods.

“It’s gone, went that way,” Milo said, pointing south. This would be a pretty elaborate ploy if he was out here trying to spy on us… Milo thought, smirking. David rolled his eyes to himself. Yes, he had been wrong about Huxley. And his mistake had nearly killed the man. If he got attacked by a bear and threw himself down a cliff just to get close to us, I say we give it to him.

Milo ducked away and came back with a hiking backpack. Huxley’s backpack. The elemental wheezed a thin laugh and took it by the strap from the wolf. “Shit. Thanks. You guys really saved me.”

David grunted and took the bag from Huxley before he could try to sling the heavy thing over his shoulder. He was busted up. The walk was going to be hard enough as it was. Huxley looked confused but didn’t fight him over the bag. David pointed north. “We have a healer.”

Huxley blinked and then that blush was back. “Oh. No. I don’t need that. Thank you, but you guys really did enough. I’ll just head back to the parking lot and get out of here.”

Milo shook his head. “That’s a bad idea. You hit your head, right? Have you passed out or thrown up?”

“I didn’t throw up.”

David rolled his eyes and put on the other guy’s backpack. “We already established that you’re concussed, right?”

“I’ll be fine. I’ll go straight for the DAMN clinic. They’re open twenty-four hours and—”

“And that’s a three-hour drive from here,” Milo pointed out before David had to. “What if you pass out and crash?”

Huxley frowned hard, definitely not liking that idea, only David suspected it was more out of fear of hurting someone else in a crash than hurting himself. It definitely wasn’t that Huxley didn’t care about himself. He obviously took care of himself. David had gotten a pretty fucking good look at his chest earlier. No one accidentally had abs like that. And Huxley wasn’t pointedly reckless, he either just prized the lives of others so highly above his own or he didn’t actually think he could die. Maybe it was a bit of both.

David slid a hand under the other man’s elbow and started walking in the right direction. They let Huxley set the pace and David tried to decide on the best way to carry him without causing more damage or pain if his legs finally gave out.

He knew Milo was resisting the urge to make conversation. Huxley’s breathing was obviously a struggle.

He made it a lot farther than David expected him to, even keeping up a good march. Even in the dark and in pain, he was surefooted in the woods. A little more than halfway there, he stopped. Milo had been leading the way and jerked to a stop, turning back.

David had never let go of Huxley’s arm, his grip tightening as he stepped in closer to his side. Huxley closed his eyes, swaying on his feet.

“Go get Marie,” David said, not taking his eyes off the elemental.

Milo shifted and was gone. A howl ripped through the woods, calling to the other across that distance.

The sound forced Huxley’s eyes open again, pressed wide like he could will them to stay open this time. His heart was beating too fast. David stepped into the space in front of him, holding onto both arms now. “Do you want to sit?”

Huxley shook his head, blinking, seeming to try to get his vision to clear. “Sorry,” he mumbled.

David held on to him. “You didn’t do anything wrong.” David had been the one that ran him off. David had been the one that pushed him in that direction and led him to this. “I’m sorry for… I shouldn’t have made you go. This wouldn’t have happened if I’d just left you alone.”

Huxley’s eyes were closed again but he smiled, dragging sharp breaths. “Instinct,” he wheezed.

David blinked. “What?”

“Like the bear, man. You were just protecting your family.”

David stared at him. Yeah. That was what he had been doing.

“You didn’t know,” Huxley added. “And you didn’t hurt me or anything. I’m responsible for my choices. I chose to keep backing up.” He didn’t sound like he regretted it either.

He hadn’t wanted to hurt anyone.

David should have just left him alone.

Huxley started to say something but it broke off when his legs gave out. If his eyes had been open, they probably would have rolled back into his head.

David slid an arm around the back of his shoulders, above the bruising he’d seen. Shit. He curled his other arm under the man’s knees and lifted him, curling him into his chest, his head high on his shoulder and his curls against his neck and cheek.

Another series of howls in the distance. Marie and Milo heading back.

David started walking to meet them, terrified that every second might count. Huxley had seemed like this was no big deal, like maybe he got hurt like this all the time. But David had begun to realize the guy didn’t like to be a problem for anyone.

He felt the moment Huxley woke up, but David didn’t lose a step.

Huxley dragged a few breaths, they were tighter now. He grabbed at David’s shoulders, trying to sit up and look around. And then he made a sound, like maybe he was laughing but his chest was too tight. “You’re carrying me…”

David snorted. “I said I could.”

And then he saw Marie. She shifted from wolf to human, still hurrying to meet him. “Oh my,” she said, and David wasn’t sure if it was the damage of the human or the size of him. David stopped and gently set Huxley down, on his knees next to him.

Huxley blinked blearily at Marie. “Hi,” he said, swallowing hard and trying to introduce himself.

Marie smiled gently at the stranger. “Hi. I’m going to take a look at you and see what we can do, okay?”

Huxley sat awkwardly, like he wanted to slouch but his ribs wouldn’t go for it. “Sorry,” he mumbled.

David frowned.

Marie just hummed softly, gently passing her hands over him, checking his neck first.

“He hit his head, and his side is all bruised up, and I think his ribs are broken,” David said, pointing at the side that had taken the worst of the fall.

She nodded like that was no big deal. He supposed, compared to some of the wounds they’d been brought to her with when they were teens, it wasn’t. Darlin had managed to impale a leg on a fence once. They’d tried to pull themselves off of it and David had threatened to punch them if they kept moving. While they were screaming at each other, Asher trying to calm them both, Arden had had the sense to go get Milo and his mom.

David’s dad had to lift Darlin off the fence before Marie could mend that hole in their leg. Asher had thrown up and Darlin had laughed and made fun of him for two years.

Marie’s hand was around the back of Huxley’s head. She paused and David felt the magic moving between them. Huxley’s eyes closed and this time when they opened they were focused, pupils blown from the magic but otherwise good. He dragged another tight, pained breath but nodded. “Thank you, ma’am.”

She smiled brightly. “Have you been in Dahlia long?”

He exhaled. “A little over a year.”

Marie nodded, opening his jacket and carefully lifting his shirt to get a look at his ribs. “Are you studying at DAMN?”

He nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

She poured magic into him.

He tensed like he expected pain that hadn’t come, exhaling slowly at first and then, when it didn’t hurt, dragging a deep breath. He took another and sighed. “Thank you so much.”

Marie smiled brightly. “No problem, dear.” She moved her hand down his side but he gently caught her wrist and drew her hand away from her goal.

Huxley held her hand between both of his. “The rest is just bruising, I promise. And I more than earned it. You’ve already used so much energy putting me back together, and I’m so grateful, but my moms would be pissed if I let you drain yourself.” He got up while he was talking, suddenly agile again and gently lifting her to her feet too.

David would have rolled his eyes and called him overly charming, if he wasn’t so blatantly sincere.

Marie beamed, squeezing his hand. “Okay, but only if you promise to tell me if anything smarts? I want a real promise.”

Huxley smiled and nodded. “I promise. Thank you. I’m totally good to go.”

David assumed he meant good to walk until he stared at him, awkwardly gesturing to his backpack on David’s shoulders. “I can—”

“I’ve got it.”

Huxley blinked. His pupils were huge. He was probably feeling pretty great despite the bruising because of all that magic in his blood. He’d be sore tomorrow though. “Um. I kind of need it, man.” He laughed a little. “My keys are in there.”

“Still not good to drive!” Milo reminded, already walking away and heading back toward camp now that crisis and danger were all averted.

Marie hummed in agreement but left David to deal with it.

“Oh. Yeah,” Huxley realized they were right, nodding. “I’ll sleep in the truck and head back tomorrow.” He still had his hand out, waiting for the bag.

David growled. He didn’t like the gesture because it felt like he was denying him something. He was not ready to unpack what that was about. “You can camp with us tonight,” he decided what he’d already known was the plan. He’d known it since he saw his busted ribs. “It’s late. I’m hungry. Can we just get moving?” David tried pressing and then winced at how heartless it sounded. “If you’re good to walk.”

Huxley stared. His skin was buzzing from the healing and he felt pretty great after feeling really bad for a while there. David was really inviting him to camp with them? After practically chasing him off earlier that same day? He could see how uncomfortable the other guy was, so he nodded and turned in the direction the other two had gone.

They walked.

David was still carrying Huxley’s backpack.

“It’s really not your fault, dude. You know that, right?” Huxley asked, voice low.

David jerked a little and stood straighter, his eyes fixed ahead. “Yeah. It is.”

Huxley sighed, bumping his shoulder into the other man’s. “Okay. It definitely is. You sent me toward that bear on purpose. Now you owe me food and someplace to sleep.”

David’s head whipped to the side, staring at him in so much surprise that Huxley couldn’t help but laugh.

“I’m sorry. But now that we’re talking about it, I really am tired.”

David relaxed a fraction, nodding once. “It’s the healing magic. It—”

“Makes you tired. Yeah. Not my first time,” he reminded lightly.

David smirked a little. “Right. You’re an expert at getting injured. How many times have you broken a bone?”

Huxley whistled. “Let’s see…” He started listing them off, not in any particular order, but as they came to him. Just when he was worried he’d droned on for too long, David prompted him. He’d been keeping count.

They left the woods for the clearing. It wasn’t as lively as it had been earlier that day. Huxley figured most of the kids had gone to bed, the parents too. Only a smaller group still hung out around the fire.

Huxley slowed down. “Dude. Really, if I’m intruding—”

David grabbed the back of his arm to keep him moving. “You’re fine. I’m the worst of them. Well, except for Darlin, they actually bite.”

Huxley laughed, hoping that was a joke but not really sure.

“A bear?” one guy shouted, almost falling out of a foldable chair in his scramble to get to his feet. “I stayed behind and you got to see a bear?”

David rolled his eyes. They arrived at the group and the group went quiet, staring at Huxley and then at David.

Huxley felt like he usually did, like he didn’t belong, like he was trying to fit in places where no one had asked him to be.

David introduced people and Huxley could see the others relax, like they’d just been on edge until he spoke—something in his voice assuring them that this was okay. They weren’t all wolves, he realized. Milo’s mate was a stealth and Asher, the guy that had almost fallen out of a chair, was with an unempowered human. As soon as he’d gotten everyone’s names, David put his bag down by a chair and then headed toward the table with food. Hotdogs that had lost their heat and buns that were getting dry. They tasted fucking amazing. Huxley was so hungry.

Asher was easy to talk to, which somehow made it easy to talk to everyone. Asher offered him a beer, but David took it away and handed him a bottle of water. “Hydrate first.”

Huxley laughed because he was just thinking that. He pulled on a hoodie from his pack and a bunch of them sat around the fire talking. It had been about the whole bear situation at first but it turned into an exchange of stories. Theirs and his. When he finished the water, David offered him his beer back. It was half-drained but he took it.

He was exhausted, his eyelids heavy, but he still tried to stay awake longer. Some of the others had gone to sleep shifted, curled up around the camp, while others ducked into tents.

“Do you have a tent?” David asked, skeptical.

Huxley followed his eye to his backpack and smiled. “Nah. The weather’s good. I just have a sleeping bag.”

Something in David’s expression hardened again. “Do you always go camping alone?”

Huxley tried to keep smiling. He shrugged. “It’s not like a rule or anything. But I like being outside, you know? Can’t always wait for someone else to want to go too.”

David watched him for a while before nodding once like, even if he didn’t get it, he accepted the answer. He got up and stretched. Huxley watched him. This guy had literally pulled him off a ledge and then carried him to safety. Huxley had never expected that to happen.

David walked closer and Huxley held his breath, those dark eyes reflecting firelight when they flicked over him. He leaned down, closer still, and Huxley stared back. His heart beat faster. His skin and his head still felt gauzy from the healing magic, but it would take a lot more than clouded senses not to see how hot David was. He was close, really close, like he had been before. He’d had a hand on Huxley since he found him, until they reached the camp. It had never been bad, never threatening or grabbing. Just there, steady and reassuring.

David’s mouth twitched. Was that a smirk?

Huxley almost leaned into him. Almost.

And thank fucking god he didn’t, because David picked up Huxley’s bag and then straightened again, unzipping it to pull out his sleeping bag.

Heat rose to his face and Huxley jumped up from his chair with another laugh. “I can do that,” he said.

David rolled it out for him all the same, not too far from the low burning fire. “Things will get loud pretty early, as soon as the kids start waking up, but you’re welcome to sleep through it if you can.”

Huxley nodded, gravitating toward his bedroll. He really was beat. “Thanks,” he said and then stopped to look at David again. “Really. For saving me back there but also for letting me hang out tonight.”

David smiled a little, like he was trying not to. Why was he always trying not to smile? “Better than sleeping in your truck?”

Huxley laughed, dropping himself carefully down onto his familiar sleeping bag. He sighed, stretching out. “Way better.” He was almost out as soon as he was settled, but managed to stay awake just long enough to see David shift into a wolf again and settle on the ground not far from him.

( @zozo-01 I was so excited that I forgot to tag you when I posted this. Hopefully this works... <3 <3)

#huxley/david #redactedverse #fanfic #meet cute #slight injury #rescue #care #slight au #redacted asmr #dominimoonbeam #i love these characters so much!#crackship #rare pair #<3

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cricketnationrise · 10 months

Note

Hi! Could I get brownstone, 11 pm, Alex for your ficlet fest?💘

sure thing! i hope you like it :D

want your own ficlet? rules here, ends July 31

❤️🤍💙❤️🤍💙

brownstone, 11:00pm

Alex is pulled out of a haze of studying when a warm, heavy weight jumps onto his lap and licks across his face.

“Phflltt, gah, David – not the glasses!” Alex tries to scold, but he’s laughing.

David licks the glasses.

“Alright, alright, your point has been made.”

David yips excitedly and jumps down, running for the back door. Alex saves his draft, stretches, and follows. He lets David out to run around the yard and it’s a relief, actually, to get some fresh air after so many hours hunched over his laptop.

When they eventually (after each blade of grass has been freshly sniffed) go back inside, Alex pauses on the threshold of the kitchen. There’s crumbs on the counters, empty cereal and cookie boxes scattered around, dishes everywhere and while the majority are left over from Henry’s latest quiche attempt, more than a few are from Alex’s meal prepping. They normally keep the kitchen neater than this, but between his ramped up class schedule and Henry working on the shelter’s upcoming gala, they’ve both been letting things slide. It’s that time of the night when Alex gets his second (or third or fourth) wind, so he rolls up his sleeves, puts on his music, and gets to work.

He tackles the mess the way he does everything – a veneer of chaos covering a many-stepped plan. He cleans one counter to set up an auxiliary drying rack, starting with the top rack of the clean dishwasher. (There’s always a few mugs that hold a little pool of water on the top, no matter how heated the dry cycle.) He stows pots and measuring cups from the rack next to the sink, making way for more hand-wash only dishes. He breaks down boxes and sorts out the recycling, unloads the bottom rack of the dishwasher and gathers mugs and spoons from around the first floor. A quick reload of the dishwasher and then he can tackle the rest of the dishes with ease. Alex loses himself in the repetitive motions of scrubbing, wiping, rinsing – bopping along easily with his playlist.

Between the music and the running water, he doesn’t hear the front door opening or David’s tags jangling as he runs past. Instead he jumps out of his skin when a pair of strong arms come around him from behind and lock around his waist. The almost-faded scent of linen and fresh grass washes over him, slowing Alex’s heart back to normal and he relaxes into the arms.

“Hello, love,” Henry says, dropping a kiss to his cheek before resting his chin on Alex’s shoulder. “It looks great in here.”

“Thanks, baby. Glad you’re home.”

“Me too,” Henry sighs. “I brought dessert home. From that bakery you like. I figured we both needed a treat tonight, we’ve both been so flat out lately.”

“Stellar. I’m almost done here if you want to get it all ready.”

Henry tightens his grip. “I’m just going to stay right here actually. I’ve been looking forward to this since at least lunchtime, if not earlier.”

Alex smiles to himself at that – more than happy to have his boyfriend draped over him like a particularly heavy hoodie – and keeps washing dishes, humming contentedly.

#cricket writes #rwrb #ficlet fest 3 #the brownstone #red white and royal blue #alex claremont diaz #legallyobtuse

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misslavenderlady · 2 years

Text

A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock ‘N Roll - Chapter 2

Summary: Michael gets a taste of what it's like hanging out with the Lost Boys and they get to see what special talents he has. Everyone wins.

When I pitched the idea for a southern Michael, I KNEW I had to make him play guitar. So please enjoy some tunes HERE

Previous Chapter Next Chapter

The ride back to the cave was interesting, to say the least. Michael was oblivious to the curiosity experienced by the Lost Boys, simply happy to join them while riding on his ATV. He was just as wild in a more casual drive as he was during the game of chicken with David. The boys thought they were pretty noisy whenever they shouted and whooped on particularly fun rides, but Michael’s voice was far more powerful than any of theirs.

He yipped and yeehawed and laughed up into the empty night sky as he followed the boys to their cave. It was like he was constantly running on a full battery and itching to use as much energy as possible. He clearly loved to make himself heard, even with no words said.

Little did he know that everyone else was sharing a conversation through the mental link in their heads, and he was the very reason they were talking.

“I’ll be the first to say it,” Paul spoke to the others. “Michael’s really cute! I always wanted to meet a southern gentleman~”

“Aww and here I thought a Yankee like me was your type, Paulie,” Dwayne teased the blond. Looking to the left of his bike he watched in amusement as Paul playfully stuck his tongue out at him.

“I like that he’s really wild with the driving!” Marko added, smiling devilishly to himself. “If he’s a real Texan cowboy, I’ll bet he knows some other ways to have fun. Maybe he knows bull riding or shooting!”

While the three of them gushed about Michael through their link, David kept himself completely silent. Whenever he was focused on something, the boys knew better than to interrupt his thoughts. All that was going through his mind was who Michael truly was.

Sure, the human was smooth-talking and brave enough to take on a challenge, but he had to dig deeper than that. He wanted to know what made Michael truly tick. What he feared, what he dreamed of, and what the best way to twist his thoughts and keep him loyal would be. Max’s orders were still clear in David’s head, and he had to stay focused if he were to meet the demands.

This was all purely professional. He’d keep a close eye on Michael tonight and strike when the moment was right.

With the speed they were driving, it didn’t take long at all for everyone to get to the cave. Dwayne lit each candle and barrel inside their home with his trusty torch while Paul and Marko gleefully jumped down rocks and ledges with Laddie. It was a familiar routine for them, but a pleasant one.

David glanced over at Michael, expecting him to be a bit intimidated by the dangerous nature of the cave. If the structure of the place didn’t scare him, then surely the wire fences and “keep out” signs outside would. But fear was definitely not on Michael’s face.

The curly-haired boy had Star’s hand in his own, hopping from rock to rock while holding onto her. They both giggled in excitement as they moved together. Even if he’d never been to this cave before Michael certainly maneuvered around it like he had done so for years. Star was all too happy to be included in the fun.

David looked up at the high walls of the cave, not wanting to watch the two of them act so giddy with one another. Not because he cared. It just wasn’t necessary for the time being. At least, that’s what he told himself.

While the boys got settled into their routine of hanging out and relaxing for the night, Star stepped away from Michael in order to help Laddie onto the seat by the old fountain that sat front and center of the room. It made David feel quite pleased with himself to see how much his family had grown and how happy they were in this place they all called “home”. Soon it would be that way for Michael too.

It didn’t take long for David to start using his knowledge of the long-dilapidated hotel that stood before them. He gave the same spiel he had given the others before; the resort's history, the Earthquake that took it down, how they claimed it as their own, everything. The look of wonder in Michael’s blue eyes told the vampire he was already quite impressed with their space.

“Whooooo boy,” he said, letting out a whistle. “I’ll bet this place was mighty purdy back in the day!”

The others couldn’t hold back the fit of giggles from their amusement at Michael’s accent.

“Sorry, did you just say ‘purdy’?” Paul snickered, lighting up a joint in his mouth while lounging on a nearby chair. “Are ya tryin’ to say ‘pretty’ or somethin?”

“That’s exactly what I’m sayin’!” Michael said. “Ain’t those ears of yours work right?”

The others laughed even harder, more than satisfied with how Michael rolled with the punches and could give a bit of teasing as easily as he could take it. Even David found the corners of his mouth starting to tug upward.

Dwayne moved from his spot in the corner, chucking the now extinguished torch to the side since there was plenty of light from the glow of the candles. He stuck his hands in his jacket pockets before sauntering up to Michael.

“So tell us,” he said. “How exactly did a guy like you make the move from Texas to California of all places?”

Michael smiled, leaning against one of the pillars that stood by the rocky walls of the cave. He flicked the brim of his hat, showing off his face a little better.

“My mama and daddy couldn’t stand each otha’ no more so we packed up and headed out west to be with my grandpa. Mama’s from California but she ain’t been here in a month of Sundays. She says it’s a good bit of change for me and my baby brother, Sammy”

The other boys traded looks with one another, clearly entertained by Michael’s interesting choice of words. However, David was the only one to see something else in the human as he talked. There was a hint of sadness on his face. Despite the sweet smile, there was a bittersweet sensation that hinted he may not have wanted to leave home in the first place.

David knew Santa Carla to be his one, true home, but he understood that it wasn’t the right place for everyone. It was dangerous and intimidating and full of the craziest people you’d ever meet in your life. Even without the vampiric influence that lurked in its shadows your life was still constantly at risk in a place like this. It didn’t exactly scream “Home, Sweet Home” to most people.

“It must be quite different for you, Michael,” David commented. He stood closer to the brunet, nudging him softly as a gesture of kindness. It would be much easier to give him a sense of understanding so he wouldn’t feel so alone. “Why don’t we get you some food and you can tell us all about where you came from?”

Michael seemed to like that idea quite a bit, grinning at David for suggesting that. Whenever he smiled it felt like he was adding a new source of light to the space.

Marko was the one sent off to fetch some dinner. Surprisingly, Michael tried to offer to pay for the food himself, claiming it was the polite thing to do for them after they invited him into their space. They turned down the offer but decided to leave out the detail that they never paid for food in the first place. Just a lot of mind tricks and sticky fingers to get what they wanted.

It wasn't long before the vampires and their human guest were chowing down on a spread of Chinese food together. The brunet ate like he was almost starved to death, shoveling plenty of rice, noodles, veggies, and steak in his mouth, yet still eager for more. David didn't even get the chance to do something silly like make Michael think he was eating worms or something. Even if he did use his mind tricks Michael would still probably eat the stuff.

"Jesus, Michael, have you had any food since you moved here?" Marko teased, stirring his chopsticks around in the container he had.

"Course I have! I just gotta hearty appetite, that's all!" Michael said after gulping down the food in his mouth. "That's why we go hog-wild with food in Texas! Every cookout, barbecue, and county fair you see has the biggest spread ya ever did see. Gotta feed all them growing farm boys there!"

The others chuckled to themselves. California was a bit different with food, as it focused more on trendy, diet stuff. It was a good thing they all preferred the taste of fresh blood because there was just a lot of weird stuff sold on the boardwalk they really didn't want to try.

"There's a lot of farmlands there I'm guessing?" Star asked. She was sitting next to Paul, not in the mood for Chinese food but still involved in the conversation.

"Texas is so big ya get a little bit o' everything!. Where I come from there's horse fields, ranches, and miles of woods. But ya gotta be real careful ya don't run into a pissed-off timber wolf in the sticks when the sun goes down"

David snickered out loud at that. Even if he and the boys were truly the scariest and most dangerous creatures out there, there was still a part of him that was intrigued by the idea of Michael taking on wild animals by himself.

"You're not scared of a little pup like that, are ya, Michael?" David teased.

Once again the human boy let out the heartiest laugh he had ever heard. Michael slapped a hand over his knee as he set down his carton of food.

"Hell, they more scared of me! I damn near shot the fleas off a coyote that was diggin' in our chicken coop last year. Ran runnin' with its tail between its legs, the little shit"

Michael held his arms up as if he held a shotgun in his hands. The stereotype of Texans loving their guns didn't go over David's head.

It was strangely pleasant hearing the southern boy go into detail about the life and adventures he had experienced back home. Maybe it was the insanity that came with each tale or maybe it was the intense voice he spoke with that made everyone hang on his every word. Either way, David couldn't deny he was fascinated by Michael. The more they hung out the more he wanted to get to know this human.

Little did he know he was about to learn something extra interesting about Michael.

While the brunet was deep in a story about an incident with a horse he had to help out, he cut himself off, going completely silent. The others watched in confusion as Michael squinted at a nearby corner of the room, head tilted in curiosity.

"Is that a guitar you got over there?"

Sure enough, an acoustic guitar was propped against a dusty, old dresser that was used in a hotel room before the resort collapsed. The headstock and neck of the instrument were a deep, dark brown while the body was a lighter tone. It was in pristine condition, unlike the rest of their tattered hideout.

"Yeah, it's one of mine," David answered. "I've played for years but I mostly do electric guitar these days. I haven't really used that one in a while"

What David didn't let on was that he had known how to play for several decades now. Also, he hadn't exactly acquired that guitar legally. What Michael didn't know wouldn't kill him.

Michael stood from his seat and made his way over to the guitar, eyes growing wider as he got closer. The way he looked at it made it seem like it was the holy grail itself.

"Holy Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, this is a Martin D-28!" he exclaimed. A wild smile stretched across his face. "Hank Williams had a guitar just like this!"

Being around and undead for so long, David and the other boys knew exactly who that was. Only Star and Laddie seemed a bit confused as to why that name was so important.

"Who's that?" Laddie asked.

"Why he's one of the classics of country music, buddy!" Michael smiled at him. "We get a lot of music like his on the radio back home"

The Lost Boys weren't exactly the type that listened to country if that wasn't completely obvious. They loved metal, glam rock, and even hip-hop. With their flashy outfits and tough, biker personas that kept people from messing with them, the twang of country wasn't a good fit for them.

David was tempted to tease Michael about his preference. However, when the cowboy looked over at him and a pout and a softened gaze in his blue eyes, David felt a sense of doubt about his actions.

"Would it be alright if I played y'all a song with this? Please, David? I reckon as your guest I could provide some entertainment to show thanks for your hospitality"

For a wild heart like Michael, he was still quite keen on using good manners. It was a little odd to experience, as the Lost Boys weren't at all used to being treated like people, whether that was by strangers on the boardwalk or by their own sire.

David couldn't help but feel like Michael was pulling on his undead heartstrings. He couldn't possibly say no.

"Of course, Michael. Show us what you can do"

The curly-haired boy went right to work, moving the strap over his shoulder to keep the guitar in place. It took a few minutes to adjust it, tuning the guitar and plucking a few notes to see if it sounded right. When he was satisfied, he stood up straight and positioned himself to play. A deep breath came from his lips before strumming the first notes.

"Say, hey, good lookin', what you got cookin'?

How's about cookin' something up with me?

Hey, sweet baby, don't you think maybe

We could find us a brand new recipe?"

Curiosity formed on the faces of all the others in the cave. Marko, Dwayne, and Paul glanced at each other, sharing the intrigue they had. Star and Laddie smiled widely at Michael. David was simply speechless.

Michael had barely begun his song, but it was already so clear that he was a truly gifted musician. Not only did the tune on the song flow perfectly from the guitar strings, but he also had a singing voice as smooth as honey. The power he already had in his speaking voice carried the melody so beautifully.

"I got a hot rod Ford and a two dollar bill

And I know a spot right over the hill

There's soda pop and the dancin's free

So if you wanna have fun, come along with me"

When he started getting more comfortable with the song, that’s when Michael truly began to shine. He tapped his boot to the beat of the song and gently smacked the base of the guitar to go along with the song. He couldn’t help but smile as his shoulders and hips shook to the beat as if he was holding back an entire dance number too.

"Say, hey, good lookin', what you got cookin'?

How's about cookin' something up with me?"

The others were lightly swaying and tapping their feet along with Michael, clearly enjoying the show he was putting on. They never thought country could be their style of music, but Michael truly had a gift and with a happy expression on his handsome face, it was hard not to smile along. His positivity was practically infectious.

Even though David was the only one to keep a neutral expression on his face, deep down all he could think about was how incredible Michael was. He had truly impressed the vampire all night. He was welcoming, funny, wild, entertaining, and an overall really nice guy. Perhaps there would still be some changes when he became one of them, but he secretly hoped Michael would stay pretty much the same.

"I'm free and ready, so we can go steady

How's about savin' all your time for me?

No more lookin', I know I've been took in

How's about keepin' steady company?"

Now Michael was truly moving without care. He strutted along the area, passing each of the Lost Boys and dancing beside them while continuing the song. The more he moved, the more they were into the performance. Michael clearly wasn’t shy, and it made for a very fun time.

For a moment, David locked eyes with Michael, blue meeting blue. Michael was cheeky enough to send a wink his way while he kept strumming.

"I'm gonna throw my datebook over the fence

And find me one for five or ten cents

I'll keep it 'til it's covered with age

'Cause I'm writin' your name down on every page"

David would tell himself over and over again that any feelings he was getting from this song were just from the excitement of enjoying a show. Just a fun little song and dance for him and his friends to enjoy. But deep down, he found himself liking the way Michael smiled at him a little more than he expected. Maybe it was something in the song lyrics. Maybe it was just the beauty of Michael’s voice.

But it didn’t matter because he was too stubborn to believe it was anything else. So he just enjoyed the last notes of the song telling himself it wasn’t any more than that. Any fluttering in his stomach was just joy from the music. Nothing more.

"Say, hey, good lookin', what you got cookin'?

How's about cookin' somethin' up with me?"

Michael ended the tune with a loud cheer. A whoop of joy to conclude his performance. And once that happened, he was met with an eager amount of applause and cheers. Everyone had truly enjoyed the show he put on, impressed by the sheer talent he had.

When David managed to snap out of his trance, he clapped for Michael as well, leather from his gloves slapping together as he praised the human for a job well done.

“Bravo!!” he shouted, unintentionally louder than the others. Michael seemed quite happy with the attention, yet still remained humble and grateful for their praise. He carefully removed the guitar and handed it back to David before tipping his hat again.

“Aww shucks, y’all are makin’ me blush~”

Once the excitement had died down, Michael and the others went right back into eating their food and enjoying stories from his time back in Texas. David continued to watch him, thinking to himself. He hadn’t realized he was so lost in thought while looking at Michael that he was a bit surprised when he heard Marko speak to him in his head.

“You want me to fetch the bottle so we can make this official?”

Truthfully, David had completely forgotten about sharing his blood with Michael. That was the whole plan for the night, yet there was a bit of doubt he had. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to do it, of course. It just didn’t seem like it was the right time for it. Something about Michael had a pull on him. Like he had to dig deeper and get to know the guy a bit better.

He kept on staring as he gave Marko his response.

“Let him have his fun tonight. Max will get what he wants soon. I just wanna see where this goes”

That was what he’d tell himself and his boys for now. Nothing about his personal fascination with the human had to go noticed. For now, he’d just sit back, relax and enjoy Michael’s company. He only hoped Michael enjoyed himself too.

#the lost boys #tlb #my fic #ao3 fic #david the lost boys #michael emerson #marko the lost boys #dwayne the lost boys #paul the lost boys #swap fic #swap au #Youtube #Spotify

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sweaterkittensahoy · 9 months

Note

For RWRB, their first Christmas together please 🥰

When asked ten seconds after it happens, Alex will declare that he's pleased that David has carried the family tradition of making an ass of himself at a major event.

Henry will squeeze Alex's hand so hard that Alex will have to hide a wince, and in bed that night, Henry will apologize as he kisses Alex's knuckles and fingertips and the center of his palm.

"It's not supposed to be fun to make a mistake at an event," Henry murmurs as he nuzzles Alex's wrist.

"Oh, baby," Alex breathes out, curling his hand over Henry's jaw to lead him up for a kiss. "I'm sorry. I didn't even think about it."

"It's okay," Henry says, and he's smiling as he dips in and kisses Alex. "It was perfect, really, after the shock wore off. That I could--" He breathes in slowly and stares at Alex with tears in his eyes. "That I could make an error in public like that and it was...funny. And fine. And no one pulled me aside to lecture me on propriety."

Alex has to blink away his own tears. He pulls Henry into a tight hug. "Is it safe now to tell you that Nora's been watching everyone react on social media, and everyone loves David?"

Henry chuckles. It's al little damp on the edges. He wipes his eyes against Alex's shoulder, and then settles to one side, his head still on Alex's shoulder. "Show me the highlights," he says.

"You sure?" Alex asks, although he's already reaching for his phone. Henry nods, and Alex goes to his text thread with Nora. The last several messages are just links to gifs and videos of the moment David decided he absolutely would NOT continue to wear his Christmas sweater as part of the White House festivities.

In the videos, he bites the bottom edge of it to try and pull it off, loses his balance and goes rolling under one of the Christmas trees. Which wobbles, stills, and then wobbles again as a loud growl comes from under the branches.

And then the tree goes crashing down. And, a few seconds later, David emerges from the mess, unscathed and naked, shaking the sweater in his mouth like he's defeated it.

Henry giggles, then laughs. Alex starts reading him people's responses: 'David did nothing wrong.' / 'Me after family dinner on Christmas Eve.' / 'Same energy as whipping off your bra after work.'

There are several gif sets as well, showing the side-by-side of the tree going down and the cake toppling almost two years ago at Phillip's wedding.

"How do they even have those?" Henry asks, gasping for breath as he wipes tears of laughter off his face.

"Christmas miracle," Alex replies, and he laughs when David pops up from the foot of the bed and yips at them to be quiet. "Oh, I'm sorry, is the destructor trying to sleep?"

David wags his tail, then bounces up the bed, jumping up on Henry to lick his face.

"I can't say it's something I thought would become a family tradition," Henry says as he pets David and leans over to kiss Alex's shoulder. "But it feels perfect, somehow."

Alex beams and scratches David behind the ears. "Yeah," he agrees. "It does."

#rwrb #alex/henry #david the beagle #christmas fic #prompt fill #ask #answer #thank you to britton bean for the inspo #that dog can get out of any jammies she suddenly does not wish to wear #and she loves jammies

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caxycreations · 6 months

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Tylvinian Tales: The Wolf's Den

Chapter Seven: Recreation

Ferusian Law, Third Sequence, Article One: Law of Consequence

Ferusian citizens are entitled to consequential action against inciting parties, provided the consequential action does not exceed severity of the inciting event.

Consequential action is defined as any measure, be it verbal, physical, or legal, that is taken in response to the inciting event.

Inciting event is defined as harmful action taken by an individual that is not a consequential action.

Inciting events or consequential action which break established Ferusian law are exempt from the Law of Consequence.

The drive was quiet, with David staring out the passenger side window. Glances at his reflection revealed a dull look in his eyes, and his fur bristled slightly with every movement of the truck. I was still angry myself, the last of my adrenaline only just starting to die down. Pulling into the parking lot, I took another glance at David and saw his expression had regained some of the life to it, his energy returning at the sight of the neon lights adorning the front of the building.

I parked the truck, stepping out as David followed suit, and we made our way into the arcade in silence. His smile started coming back the closer we got, and when we finally reached the front doors, he was practically skipping inside. I stopped at the counter to check the balance on my game card, my regular visits leaving me with quite a significant amount of tickets and credits from past visits. According to the system I was low on credits, so a quick top-up and we had more than enough for both of us.

I found David a moment later, holding the bars of a Tamp Tamp Maximum machine, one of his favorite dancing games. I rolled my eyes and smirked as I stepped up behind him, tapping his shoulder with my game card. He yipped and turned around, blushing when he realized it was only me.

"H-Hey big guy, you scared me!" He said with an indignant pout. His nose scrunched and he huffed a little before realizing I was holding my card out for him. He grinned, grabbing it with an excited giggle and wasting no time in tapping it against the scanner a few times, giving himself a fair few plays. I took the card back and leaned on the wall next to the machine. I wasn't much for the games, but David loved them, and I liked watching him have his fun.

His paws were a blur, tail moving wildly behind him, his arms and hands mirroring the motions of the cartoon dancer perfectly. The song was in Kanorian, nothing I understood, but David moved like he knew every step as well as the folks that wrote it. I let out a smile and, sure he would be fine if I stepped away for a moment, tapped the card against his scanner a couple more times and went to find something I could enjoy.

Basketball, mini-golf, shooters, the arcade had plenty of variety, but what caught my eye every time was skee ball. Simple, cheap on credits, and I was good enough to land enough tickets most times to make it worth it. I tapped a few times to my scanner, then to the ones on either side, figuring the next people would get a nice surprise at their free plays. I was just about to roll the first ball when I heard a splashing sound, and I felt my muscles seize.

I wasn't afraid of water, never had been. And yet here I was, my chest tight and my muscles tensing like I was about to fight, my heart racing. I stood there, as still as a stone, fur standing on end with my heart pounding in my ears. Then it came again, that splashing sound, and I knew why I was so panicked. That dream. That nightmare. I remembered it now. I knew I'd had a bad dream this morning, and hearing that sound brought to mind a flash of the ocean, dark shapes atop the surface, and a deep and unyielding burning in my chest as my lungs fought and failed to find oxygen.

Now knowing what was causing my anxiety, I tried my best to breathe slowly. I closed my eyes, thinking of everything I could think of to calm myself down. Music, food, Mom, Dad, Merissa. I tried to think of stories, of shows, movies, games. I tried to focus my thoughts on something, anything besides the sound of water filling my ears, the feeling of air leaving my body to be replaced by the agonizing liquid. It was no use. I dropped the ball I was holding, the sound muffled as I stepped back and braced myself against the nearest wall.

I wasn't used to this. I didn't get scared. I didn't feel anxious. I was the brave one, the confident one. David couldn't see me like-

David. David was here. He was barely halfway across the arcade. He'd see me. He'd see me afraid. He'd be scared to rely on me again. If I could panic over something as stupid as a sound in a gods-damned arcade, then-

No. No, no, no. He knows me better than that. David knows me. He knows I...

I growled, baring my teeth at nothing but my own fear. Standing up straight, I stepped back up to the game and picked up the ball I had dropped. David wouldn't see me scared, because I wasn't going to be scared. He would never think less of me for it. And I shouldn't expect him to. As I prepared to roll the ball, I heard the sound again and turned my head to find the source. It was a spin-the-wheel game with a pond theme. I glared at it, steadied my breath, and turned my back. I tuned it out and took my first roll.

I played for some time like that, my whole body tensing every time I heard that splash. Eventually, I ran out of plays and decided to make my way back to David. He was halfway through his last song, and I couldn't help but smile. His hair was wildly disheveled, his constant movement having undone whatever care he had taken to maintain the dark brown mess currently adorning the top of his head. I checked his score, chuckling to myself. It was perfect. He hadn't missed a beat.

As the song ended, he gripped the railing behind him, leaning back against it. I could see his chest heaving, hear his breathing. It was heavy, desperate. If I didn't know any better I'd say he'd been holding his breath in the entire time. He turned to hop off the platform, giggling as he saw me.

"Where you there the whole time, Rye?" He asked with a smile, hands fiddling with his hair to clean it up. I smirked, brushing his hands away and helping bring some order to the mess he'd put himself in.

"Nah, played a lil bit'a skee ball. Workin' on gettin' some tickets. Figured we'd see if we got enough for a decent prize this time. Ya still want that game system?" I asked, offering him my game card. He took it with a giddy smile, nodding excitedly and bounding off towards the racing games. I followed him and caught up just as he was pocketing the game card, hopping onto a motorcycle mounted on a metal base.

I watched him play for quite some time, and across several games. Hours passed and my eyes never left him, and my smile never faded. He deserved the break after the incident at work, and seeing the smile on his face, hearing his laughter so often, was well worth the hit my wallet would take. Eventually even he started to run out of energy, his tail swaying less excitedly, his steps losing their bounce little by little. Finally, he got off of a light-gun game and leaned against me with a happy-sounding purr.

"Satisfied? Spent enough'a my money?" I asked with a smirk, rubbing his back a bit. He nodded, smiling up at me and giggling softly. I rolled my eyes and held out my hand, closing my fingers around the card as he lay it in my hand.

"Can we check the prize counter? I wanna see how close we are to the Zenith." He said with a tired, but hopeful, smile. I nodded, and we made our way for the prize counter to check the balance of tickets on the card. I scanned it on the kiosk just beside the counter and while waiting for the machine to load, glanced at the Zenith console behind the clerk. A hundred thousand tickets. I had been saving up a while, and as the machine loaded I gave David a nudge. We were a thousand tickets short.

"Damn! Can we keep playing for a bit? We're so close to it, can we please, please, please get it today?" David begged, clinging to my arm. I laughed, nodding and loading up another fifty bucks onto the card and handing it to him. He darted off, quickly settling in front of a machine and starting to play. Another hour later, and a quick trip to the prize counter, and David was the proud owner of a brand new Zenith console. He held it in his arms like it was a precious child to him, even curling his tail around it protectively.

The drive home was filled with David talking at length about the games he planned to play, how excited he was to try the console out. I didn't understand most of it, but I did understand a few things. I understood the excited laughter meant he'd forgotten the stresses of work. I understood the beaming smile on his face meant I'd done the right thing. I understood that when we got home, he would set up the system and everything would be okay. I understood he was happy.

That was enough for me. Seeing his tail not wrapped around his waist, seeing his fingers drumming across the box in his lap, his teeth glinting in the light as he smiled, the idle bouncing in his seat. His joy shone in every single movement he made, and I couldn't help but smile with him. As we pulled into the driveway of my house and made our way inside, I figured he would waste no time in setting up. I was surprised when he set it down and rushed me, hugging me like his life depended on it.

"Thank you, Rye...Thank you!" He spoke softly at first, regaining his excitement quickly and letting go, racing off to set up his new console. He didn't even have any games for it, but I wasn't about to ruin his fun by reminding him of that. I was sure he'd find some free games until he bought a few. I sat in my chair beside the couch, laying back and closing my eyes. We had been in the arcade for hours, and I could feel myself getting tired from all the excitement of the lights and others around us. I was glad to be home, out of it all. As comfortable as I was in a club, arcades were a completely different story.

I could hear David giggling, and the sound of a system booting up. A second later, something fell into my lap. I opened my eyes, greeted by the sight of David laying across my lap, head against my chest and legs dangling over the armrest of the chair, kicking idly. I rolled my eyes at him and sighed.

"Comfy?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Very~! Now shush, I'm gaming!" He said with a giggle, nuzzling my chest for a second before focusing on the TV. I shook my head and smiled again, laying my head back and closing my eyes, relaxing slowly before drifting off to sleep, David playing his game and laying across my lap.

I opened my eyes, surrounded on all sides by water. Panicking, I began swimming up, frantically trying to reach the top. I held my breath, lungs burning and head becoming lighter by the moment, until I couldn't anymore. I took in a deep breath, instinctive and against my will, only to find I was perfectly fine. I took in oxygen, and let my breath back out, as easily as on land. I spun, testing my surroundings. They were still water. I was submerged, and yet...I was okay. Looking up, I saw dark shapes, dozens of them, on the surface.

Swimming upward, I found myself reaching surface quickly, with ease. I climbed onto the nearest boat, pulling myself from the water and dripping onto the dark wood of the craft. The moment my paws touched the wood, my lungs flooded, and I found myself coughing, sputtering, water pouring from me freely. I couldn't breathe, my lungs burning, freezing, shrinking, expanding, desperate for air that wouldn't come. I turned, remembering the water below, the safety inside, and just before I could dive in, I was stopped by a hand on my shoulder.

My eyes snapped open, blinking at the light, adjusting slowly as I woke up. David was shaking my shoulder and holding his phone out to me. I could hear a female voice on the line, and sighed. Taking the phone, I put it to my ear.

"Yo." I said plainly, keenly aware Davina was on the other end.

"Hey, Davey said you got him the Zenith he's been begging for. Did you?" She asked, almost pointedly. I chuckled, remembering she had planned to visit soon to give David his presents and pick up hers.

"Yeah, he had a rough day at work so we hit the arcade an' he had enough tickets t'grab th'console from th'prize counter." I replied. I thought she'd be happy, and instead was greeted with a very frustrated sound, halfway to a hiss and almost, but not quite, a growl.

"You bastard, I bought him one for his birthday and now I have to delay my trip so I can return it and buy him something else! Uuuugh, Okay. It's fine, I'm glad you took care of him. But really? I thought I told you I was getting it for him?" She was obviously irritated, but trying to keep calm. I looked at David, earning a confused head-tilt from the caxy.

"I'm sorry 'bout that, 'Vina. Forgot. If'n y'want, I can send a couple ideas for what he might like." I offered, wanting to make up for it. She laughed, a sultry and playful sound.

"If it's from Knotty Nights, don't bother. That was my backup plan." She said with a laugh.

"Well, I'll just keep it t'myself then." I said with a smirk. "Been alright, 'Vina? Ain't chatted in a while."

She was quiet for a moment. "I've been okay. Moss has been keeping me busy. I never thought raising a teenager would be so hard...They're a good kid, they behave and listen, but they're so..." She trailed off, sighing.

"Independent?" I asked.

"Yeah. I'm trying hard to do right with them, and Trace is helping a lot, but I think you should take some time to see them while they're out there this weekend. They talk about you and Davey a lot, I think they miss you." She explained. I nodded, mulling it over.

"I think I can do that, ain't no trouble t'head over t'Trace's place an' visit th'kiddo." I replied. "But ya woke me up an' I'm awful tired. I'mma give ya back t'Davey an' get a lil more rest. Seeya when ya get here, yeah? Stayin' here still right?" I asked.

"Yep. I'll be there in a couple days, gotta stop by K.N. and grab David's gifts, then I'll be heading there when they're wrapped." She replied. "Go on, gimme my brother back. Go sleep, I'm sick of you." She said with a giggle.

"Alright, alright. Here's Davey. Stay safe, 'Vina." I said with a laugh, holding the phone out to David. He took it, and as he chattered away with Davina, I sighed, relaxing again and letting myself fall back into a dreamless sleep, the barest hint of the feeling of something soft and warm being laid over me as the last sensation before slipping over the edge into sleep.

Tag List

@sparrowcraft @moremysteriesthantragedies @thetruearchmagos @a-scaly-troublemaker @that-one-enby-onyx @snakelovingnerd @eldritchx @leisoree @amerylise @profoundlyhauntedclaws @thefinalgoat @leisurelywingedlemon

#writeblr #relan #literature #fiction #furry #modern fantasy #anthro #anthropomorphic #writing #TTC7 #Tylvinian Tales #Story #Stories

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goalhofer · 3 months

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Where every player played during the 2012-13 NHL lockout: Nashville

Liiga: Craig Smith (Kalevan Pallo) Metal Ligaen: Kevin Klein (Herlev Ørne) NL: Roman Josi (S.C. Bern) SL: Patric Hörnqvist (C.D.H. Glace Rouge) HockeyAllsvenskan: Carl Forsberg (Leksands Idrottsförening) & Patric Hörnqvist (Djurgårdens I.F. Ishockeyförening) KHL: Sergei Kastitsyn (K.K. Avangard) & Pekka Rinne (C.K. Dinamo Minsk) AHL: Daniel Bång (Milwaukee Admirals), Victor Bartley (Milwaukee Admirals), Taylor Beck (Milwaukee Brewers), Jon Blum (Milwaukee Admirals), Gabriel Bourque (Milwaukee Admirals), Bobby Butler (Albany Devils), Rich Clune (Manchester Monarchs), Ryan Ellis (Milwaukee Admirals), Chris Mueller (Milwaukee Admirals) & Austin Watson (Milwaukee Admirals) Didn't Play: Martin Erat, Mike Fisher, Paul Gaustad, Hal Gill III, Matt Halischuk, Kenneth Hannan, David Legwand, Chris Mason, Nick Spaling, Shea Weber, Colin Wilson & Brandon Yip

#Sports #Hockey #Hockey Goalies #NHL #Nashville Predators #Finland #Denmark #Switzerland #Sweden #Russia #Belarus #AHL #New York #New Hampshire #Awesome

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butternuggets-blog · 1 year

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Paw Patrol

Fluff/Humour, SAS Rogue Heroes Werewolf AU

Gender Neutral Reader

Outside, Cairo sweltered through the start of a blisteringly hot morning, but inside the hotel it was deceptively cool. ____ yawned and stretched; after a difficult month of sand, sweat and blood, it was nice to be able to relax and take things slow.

____ looked up as Corporal Heaney came sprinting through the hotel lobby into the dining room, weaving around guests and tables until he came to a stop in front of ____.

'What happened? What's wrong?'

'Noth-nothing's wrong, I just-' Heaney paused for air, 'Could you look after the little guy for us? Just for a short time?'

'What-oooohh!'

Tucked into the crook of Heaney's arm was a fluffy, bright-eyed white puppy. Its long ears perked up at ____'s coo, and it started wagging its tail excitedly.

'His name is David' Heaney handed him over and the puppy immediately launched himself at ____, licking them all over their face.

'I've got to go'

'Heaney, wait, does he have allergies-'

Heaney was already making his way back out the door.

'Who does he belong to?!'

'SAS!' he yelled over his shoulder, and disappeared out of sight.

____ sighed and stared at the puppy. 'What am I going to do with you, huh? What-am-I-gonna-do-with-you?!'

The puppy cocked it's head, and licked ____'s face all over, again.

________________________________________________________________

After breakfast ("No, you cannot eat my food! Noo! ...okay, just the scraps"), ____ waited patiently as the clock ticked on.

After an hour, ____ took their new companion on a trip to the alley outside to go toilet. The hotel clerk had conjured up a leash from somewhere and after distracting David with a belly rub, ____ managed to attach it without much fuss.

____ glanced at their watch, and sighed, as David cocked his leg against the alley wall. 'It's almost been two hours now. I don't think they're coming back for you, are they?'

David yipped quietly, finished peeing, and waddled back to ____.

____ scratched David's chin; the puppy whined and leaned into it, closing his eyes and letting his tongue loll out the side of his mouth.

'I wanted to go sight seeing today... would you like to come sight seeing with me, huh? Huh? Would-ya?'

David yipped again, loudly, and took off towards the street. Before he had gone a handful of steps his paws got tangled up in each other and he face-planted into the dirt.

'Oh no! Oh, baby, are you ok?!' ____ rushed over but David was already staggering to his feet, shaking his head and sneezing the sand and dust out of his nose.

'Oh, poor baby!' ____ laughed and scooped David into their arms, giving him a cuddle and a kiss on the forehead. The puppy's fur really was soft; wispy and thick, with a strong musky scent.

'There you go' ____ set David back down and gave a gentle tug on the leash. 'Off we go!'

________________________________________________________________

David was irregularly unsteady on his feet, so after much slowing down and speeding up it became easier for ____ to simply carry him.

____ stopped a few times to chat with friends, as David bounced around their feet, being adorable. Once or twice ____ had to pull him back before he followed an intriguing scent out into traffic, but on the whole he was very well-behaved.

They wandered around the markets; ____ bought a camera and a roll of film, and a red fez a street vendor had ordered for their pet monkey and had never come back to collect. They drifted through a museum, and an art gallery, and went outside the city limits to squat between the paws of the Great Sphinx, gazing up at the sunset as they ate sandwiches together for dinner.

On their way back to the hotel they passed a group of soldiers who insisted on taking photographs of David posing in front of their jeep. After being swamped beneath a collection of oversized berets, helmets and caps, a thoroughly tired David gave everyone one last lick goodbye before dozing off in ____'s arms.

Muffled shouting rent the evening air as they turned onto the main thoroughfare. Peering across the street into the hotel lobby, ____ could see the rest of their squad - Freeman, Yates, Cunningham, Willoughby, Richards, Kent and Heaney - lined up in front of the reception desk while Captain Anderson loomed over them, screaming himself hoarse.

'-UTTERLY IRRESPONSIBLE!! WHEN SOMEBODY CHARGES YOU WITH LOOKING AFTER THEIR MASCOT, YOU DO NOT PASS THE RESPONSIBILITY ALONG BECAUSE IT IS INCONVENIENT TO YOU!! I OUGHT TO LET MAYNE SORT YOU OUT!!'

Anderson hooked a thumb towards a feral-looking blonde man being held back by four other soldiers. ____ shook their head and walked in.

'WHERE THE BLOODY HELL IS THE DOG??!!'

Author's Notes

'Here sir' ____ gently soothed David back to sleep as the puppy stirred from the noise. The soldiers released Mayne, who immediately strode over, arms out.

'We went out sight-seeing; I did leave a note' ____ rocked David into Mayne's arms and unclipped the leash from David's collar.

'He's been very well-behaved all day. He's had plenty of water and lots of food, oh, and this is his-' ____ pushed the tiny fez into Mayne's breast pocket.

'Thanks for taking care of him' Mayne rumbled, calmer now he was cradling the squad mascot.

____ smiled, and gave a sharp salute.

'Any time.'

Thank you Lt_Aldo_Raine for the names 😄

#sas rogue heroes #x reader #gender neutral insert #gender neutral reader #paddy mayne #werewolf au

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starlitangels · 2 years

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Scratches and Bruises

Pups AU. Micah is, honestly, one of my favorite pups and I don’t give her enough attention 2.0k words

—

Micah rammed her head into my side, throwing me a few feet away. Harder, I said.

I can’t hit you any harder, she replied. Her thoughts were strained from the exertion, and Sam’s accent colored her words. Over the telepathic link, she never really bothered to think in a Californian accent.

Then we’ll have to build you up to it. I growled, getting low, tail and ears high. My daughter copied my pose, without the snarl on her face. She’d started puberty and manifested her powers late. Natalie Shaw had been two weeks shy of her twelfth birthday when she shifted the first time—Micah had been fourteen for a few months.

Her wolf form looked a lot like mine. Mostly grey fur. But where I had flecks of tan, she had black. And a white sock on her left foreleg.

I pounced. Micah copied. We met in the air. She roughhoused with Natalie and Evelyn and Gabriel and Lily all the time and usually came out on top, but part of me couldn’t let that be enough. Natalie and Evelyn were hard to beat for their age, but Micah...

You’re my kid, Mikey, I said. That’s why I’m tough on you. The world isn’t kind to people like us. The world is going to come at you hard, so you’re going to have to fight back even harder.

And just what kind of people are we? she asked, paws batting at my sides.

We’re born fighters, Micah. The universe decided we were just born to spill blood. You’ve always been a fighter—now you just have to have the skills to back it up.

I bashed her off of me with one shoulder. She yipped and whined as she flew backward and hit the dirt hard. Carefully, she picked herself back up to her feet, checking to make sure nothing was broken. Once she was upright, she shook as much dirt out of her coat as she could. Her eyes were a wolf’s amber as they narrowed at me. And at her age, she wasn’t much bigger than a real wild wolf. If some poor hiker saw her out in the woods, they’d probably assume she was just a big wolf and get scared.

Good.

Once she’d shaken herself mostly clean—and probably cleared her head—she lowered herself to lunge again.

I let her get one good shot in. I wanted to see how her frustration lowered her inhibitions—giving her leave to hit me harder.

She rammed me in the chest with her head hard enough to knock the wind out of me. That’s more like it, Micah, I exclaimed, staggering back a few steps. I’m not Gabriel. You don’t have to be gentler with me because I’m your best friend’s softie of a big brother. I’m your parent—and I want you to be better than I ever was.

Copy that, she grumbled. For the record, though, Gabriel’s not a softie when it comes to a fight. He can still beat Natalie.

I huffed out my nose in amusement. For now, I said. She’ll beat him in the next couple years. She’s more violent than he is and Gabriel’s a gentle soul. He gets it from his grandfather. Gabe was a tough wolf and a great alpha, but he was kind. Lord knows Gabriel didn’t get it from David or that menace he calls a mate.

Micah “Hmm”ed and ducked under a snap of my jaws to hit me in the side with her shoulder. This lesson wasn’t involving claws yet. Micah had only been a wolf for a couple weeks. I could start easy on her.

Our conversation fell into silence for a few minutes, broken only by my instructions and Micah’s acknowledgments. She hit harder and dodged better. Re-learning her body in the shape of a wolf, moving faster and with sharper agility. I’d been training her to defend herself since she was two—she used to like to try to tackle Sam’s progenies to practice—and shifting that training to wolf form seemed like the logical next step.

That’s better, I said as Micah slammed into me again. This time with enough momentum to propel me into the ground on my side. She was on top of me, her back legs on my underbelly. In a real fight, she already knew she should have been using her claws to scratch at the exposed vulnerability.

Her upper lip was curled up over her long, sharp teeth in a snarl, growling close to my ear.

Yield, she said. Low—with blood in her voice.

The part of me that still felt like a twenty-something, headstrong, reckless young shifter with no self-preservation did not want to yield to the tiny pup on top of me. She hadn’t beaten me. Not really. She’d just knocked me down. I could easily get back up. Throw her off me. Beat the small figure into the ground mercilessly.

But the part of me that was Micah’s parent was so, so incredibly proud of her.

I flattened my ears back. Yielded.

She climbed off of me and let me get up. I shook dirt and twigs from my coat.

Both of our ears pricked as an alarm rang.

Micah’s mouth dropped open and her tongue lolled out as she panted. That’s my DnD alarm! she said. I put my phone on the back porch so I’d hear it. She dropped the front of her body to the ground, hindquarters still in the air, tail wagging. Can I go? Please?

My amusement echoed down the link. Yeah, kiddo. Go have your dad patch up those bruises and then you can go.

Yay! She bounded back and forth on her front paws. A movement so much like Asher that I knew she must have picked it up from watching him.

With that, she twisted around. Her claws raked up the earth and she tore back in the direction of home. I chuckled once she was out of range of the link and went to go scoop up the pile of our clothes in my mouth before running back for the house myself.

By the time I made it back, Micah was in the shower. I could hear the water running upstairs from the backyard.

Sam was leaning one shoulder against the back door’s frame, arms folded and one leg crossed over the other. Barely out of reach of the Friday afternoon sun from the trees and the porch awning blocking it.

I shifted back, not caring that I was naked. “I know that look,” I said with a smirk. “What’s my lecture for this time?”

He sighed. “You wanna explain why our daughter came out of the woods covered in scratches and bruises?”

I scoffed. “C’mon, cowboy,” I teased, mounting the back porch stairs until we were face-to-face, inches apart. “It’s hardly the first time she’s emerged looking like a wild child.”

He rolled his eyes, swearing under his breath. “She’s just a kid,” he said.

“She’s our kid,” I retorted.

He took a deep breath. “Darlin’...” he whispered. Shaking his head, he pushed off the door frame and retreated into the shadowy depths of the house. I followed him, reaching out and grabbing his wrist.

“Alright. You’re pissed at me. Talk, Sam,” I said.

Upstairs, the water turned off. Sam and I both glanced up.

Sam looked down first. “Darlin’, I know she’s your blood. I know she’s got the same steel inside-a her that you do.” I met his gaze. “But she’s not you. She’s still young. She’s...” He took a deep breath, shoving his hands into his hair and squeezing his eyes shut to rein in his temper. “She’s not a tank. Neither are you. She’s a human girl who happens to be able to turn into a wolf at will.” He opened his eyes. The warm silver had hardened a little. Flint grey. “You couldn’t have gone easier on her?”

I inhaled through my nose. “She can take it,” I said—

At the same moment a different voice with Sam’s accent added, “I can take it.”

Sam and I both spun toward the stairs to see Micah standing at the top of them, a towel wrapped around her body, her newly-dyed, short bright blue hair dripping onto her bare shoulders. Most of her exposed skin was bruised and scratched.

In an instant, Sam was at her side, inspecting the minor injuries. “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should, Micah,” he said. I crossed to the bottom of the stairs and stood there, looking up at my husband—my mate—and daughter.

He held out his hands, palms up. Micah knew the drill. She set one arm on his hands and let him start healing her. “Daaad,” she complained. “I’m tougher than you think. You can’t treat me like glass all the time. I’m not gonna shatter into pieces from a few bruises.” She let her head roll back as the colorful injuries vanished on her skin. “I know I’m your little girl and all that, but I’m not that little anymore!”

“You’re sure as hell not fully-grown either,” Sam retorted.

“I know that,” Micah shot back. “But ya gotta let me spread my wings and fly a little!”

Sam moved to start healing her other arm. She set her forearm in his hand and rolled her eyes.

“Dad,” she said softly. “I love you. You know that. And I don’t wanna fight with you. But...” She shook her head, water flinging from her short hair. “But I wanna learn, too.”

Sam’s face softened. “I know,” he replied. He brushed a messy blue wave behind her ear. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”

She gave him a gentle smile. “I know. But I can take it.”

Sam shot me a look. “She sounds just like you.”

I shrugged. “My blood,” I said.

Micah smiled. “Hell yeah.”

“Hey,” Sam warned.

“Oh, so you can swear but I can’t,” she said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. I started laughing.

“Darlin’, don’t encourage her,” Sam said. Which only served to make me laugh harder. Micah started laughing too. Sam heaved another sigh and dropped Micah’s arm. “There. That’s about as good as you’re gonna get for now. I’ll do the rest when you get home. Go put some clothes on. I imagine the Shaws will be here soon to pick you up.”

Micah pecked a kiss to Sam’s cheek and bolted for her room, calling, “Love you!” over her shoulder.

I climbed the stairs and readily snuggled into Sam’s side when he reached an arm out for me. “Sam,” I said quietly. “We’re not perfect parents. We never will be. All we can do is our best.”

“I know.” He nodded. “I just hate seeing her hurt.”

I nodded too. “There’s a lot of honor in a heart like that. But... God, I see so much of myself in Micah. I just... I want to teach her not to make the same mistakes I did.” I buried myself closer to him. “Even if those mistakes did lead me to you.” I pressed my nose into his shoulder, inhaling the scent that had been my home for almost twenty years. “Let her learn, Sam,” I whispered.

He chuckled. “I’m tryin’, darlin’.”

“I know.”

A few minutes later, Micah emerged from her room in the usual jeans-and-a-tank-top outfit she got from me and pounced on both of us with a, “Rawr!” wrapping her arms around us in a hug. “Natty and Gabriel are here with David,” she said, waving her phone in one hand. “I’ll see you guys later!”

She rushed down the stairs, grabbing her DnD bag off the coat hooks in the entryway and slinging it on. She shook her head again, hard, like a dog, spraying the last bits of dampness from her hair.

“Eleven o’clock, young lady!” Sam called.

She waved dismissively behind her. “I know, I know!”

The door creaked open and slammed shut.

Sam sighed. “She’ll be fine,” he said.

#Pups AU #Redacted ASMR #fic #Micah Collins #Redacted Darlin'#Darlin'#Redacted Sam #Sam Collins #Sam #Starlit Fic

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