[For Sam] Urban Fantasy AU

[lonered]

Keith can't get the image out of his mind -- the tall, striking man with the strangely two-colored hair and the eyes the clear and endless gray of the sky after a storm, caught in the light of the full moon, like the entire world is about to glow with it. It's almost a memory, he thinks, and that's why he can't let it go. He's never had a memory of his lost time before.

It doesn't make any sense. Why this man? He's seen him before, of course, around town. He's rather hard to forget. But this is something more than that, something more than a strange and inconsequential dream cobbled together from pieces of his subconscious and an attractive stranger. It has to be more. Whenever he dreams, after all, he only dreams of running, of the night air and the scent of the woods and the moonlight spilling over the world.

It's the first lead that he's had, and it's in this strange town that he can't seem to make himself leave. Keith doesn't know exactly how he's going to find this man, and the only plan he has is to keep an eye out. But life and luck are kind today, and in the coffee shop, just as he turns from paying for his caffeine, he finds himself staring at the man walking through the front door.

Violet eyes snap wide, and for a long moment Keith can't do much else but stare. He's still staring when the barista is calling his name with his drink. He turns to gather up his coffee, holding the cup and going back to staring at this man, as if he's trying to decide how to best approach him that won't immediately chase him off. 'I had a dream about you and the moon.' would probably make him sound crazy.

But he has to say something. He needs to put answers to this. The fugues, the lost time with no memories, waking up in places he doesn't expect, or waking in his bed somehow more exhausted than when he went to sleep, it's been growing worse lately. He needs answers before it drives him crazy.

So for now he just stares.

Comments

[spaceforged]

His face goes carefully blank. He'd called it. He hasn't had the desire to step on Lance's neck and truly do the alpha thing. He has all the instincts of an alpha werewolf but none of the dominance. Lance usually backs down to him.

And he's met Lance's stare before. "You're more dominant than he is. He has an inkling of that but you had no idea what you are. Now. It will be a very different story." Oh boy, would it.

He's almost sorry but Lance has had this coming for a long time now. He warned him not to mess with strangers and to only report what he sees. Shiro leads him up a flight of stairs around the side of the building straight up towards the top floor. "Wolves rang from more comfortable following. To strong wills with a heavy amount of dominance. You're the later. That's why small animals can't handle you around. And most people drop their eyes."

[lonered]

"This all sounds... so strange." Keith slips his hands into his pockets again as he follows Shiro up the stairs, listening still. His thoughts are racing as he tries to reconcile all this in his mind. It should be something impossible, but it feels right somehow. All of this.

Keith blinks. "There's actually a reason for that?" He's been different his entire life, and never had any idea why. Actually having those answers is almost too much.

"So I'm some sort of dominant wolf. Is that going to be a problem here?"

[spaceforged]

He pulls out his keys and unlocks the door. Keith is taking this pretty well. He opens the door and slips inside, holding it open for Keith. "You're the most dominant werewolf in this city." He gently corrects him. Shiro flips on a light as a pair of yellow eyes glint from the edge of his couch.

There's not much to his apartment. He has exactly what he needs. Floor rugs make pathways over the cold grey tile floor. The grey couch is large enough for a man his size or a wolf. Small pictures dot the side table and coffee table both made of metal. It's a two bedroom one bath apartment with the kitchen connecting to the living room.

He removes his shoes at the door and gestures to the apartment. "Make yourself at home." Now he has to answer the other part but he feels that...needs a closed door. "I'll get your question in a moment. Shut the door, Keith."

Shiro sits down on the floor as black shape on the couch turns out to be a cat. "Kuro," He calls out as the cat studies Keith. With a flick of his tail, he hops down, ignoring Shiro to rub up against Keith's legs then trots off to the kitchen.

"...it's not going to be a problem, Keith. This city has been without an Alpha since I got here. You're a stabilizing force." Now that Keith knows what he is... Shiro looks up at him, watching his face. "All of us are more stable because you're here. I think your wolf side has chosen this city. ...and the pack. But, you don't have to deal with that business until you're ready. If. You want to at all. It's your choice how you approach anything."

He stares down at his hands. "I'll help you and teach you what it is to be a werewolf no matter what. It's difficult to learn it all on your own." As he had to do.

[lonered]

A cat actually approaching him and not fluffing up to hiss and spit and scratch then run is novel enough that Keith watches the cat with plain fascination as it winds around his legs and patters off. Huh. Despite himself he smiles, always a little quicker to warm to animals than people, given the chance and the choice. Good kitty.

He looks back to Shiro, frowning. "What do you mean deal with that business? You can't mean... you can't want me anywhere near your pack." No one has ever wanted him near much of anything -- though now he wonders if some of the encounters he's had in the past were unintentional crossing of the paths of other Alphas, the start a confrontation that his wolf was aware of but he'd never understood.

But if the presence of Shiro's pack is the reason he's felt drawn here, somehow less restless, more settled, then what does that mean? His Wolf stalks behind his eyes, already knowing its choice in this matter. This pack is where he belongs, and he will fight and bleed and die for it, if that's what it comes to. This thought strikes Keith, even if it's more in feeling than words, and he looks visible shaken as he takes a seat and looks at Shiro, violet eyes a strange mixture of bewildered and certain, decided.

[spaceforged]

He gets up briefly to get a mug of water from the kitchen and returns with it. Shiro is again surprised as Kuro climbs into Keith’s lap and makes himself at home. Like him Kuro had had a bad time of things and is wary of strangers. To accept one so readily only fuels his gut feeling this is their alpha.

“...he has never accepted anyone but me.” Shiro says as he holds out the mug to Keith. He checks the pack bonds finally and finds them alive with wondering where he is and why he hasn’t been present today. He’ll have to explain it to the pack.

“My wolf accepted you. I accept you. I doubt the others will object. Lance has faults but he will see a settled pack and not complain.” Mostly. He has good control and Shiro is confident he will make a decent second one day.

He settles beside him and has the odd sensation of being at peace, wolf and man. He blinks at it. “I think you’ll do just fine with us. If you’ll have us.” Shiro finds himself reaching out to place a steady hand on Keith’s shoulder.

“This is a lot. I know. ...especially with the wolf inside being its own being.” His wolf all but makes a satisfied noise. “And he has his own ideas. Kind of makes it all seem even stranger. Especially for you. I doubt you’ll have any problems shifting voluntarily and this will put a few things into perspective.”

Werewolves are faster and stronger than humans. Their better hearing and sense of smell even in human shape is an asset but growing up different like that... “Wait.” Something occurs to him and he looks towards the kitchen. “You’ve been trying to eat like a human and not getting why you’re still hungry. Haven’t you?” He peers him with concern. “And it’s worse after a full moon. Right?”

[lonered]

Keith looks down when he suddenly has lap company and, well, that's kind of great. He smiles and reaches a hand slowly carefully out to pet the cat, gently so as not to chase him off. Cute. This is a great cat, clearly. He will stop the petting to take the mug though with a soft murmur of thanks.

There's a long moment of quiet as he considers that. Accept him. That would really be a first, but it's nice to think about. "What are they like?" The rest of this pack that Shiro keeps talking about -- aside from Lance who Keith has, well, gotten off on the wrong foot with, clearly.

He's not expecting the touch though, but it's nice somehow. Grounding. Whoever this Shiro is... Keith likes him. He blinks though. "I mean, yeah. It's sort of ridiculous. I guess I've gotten used to feeling like I'm starving even after I eat. At least I've got a reason now."

[spaceforged]

He takes out his phone and fires off a text to Hunk.

‘You know how you usually bring me food because I’m too tired to go out and eat much after a full moon and two, twelve hour shifts?’

‘Okay what’s going on. I always have to text you first.’

‘Bring double that amount.’

‘Shiro? My man, you’re not hurt or anything are you?’

‘No. I found a werewolf who didn’t know he is one.’

‘....

You’re joking, right? Wait. Your jokes are morbid and nerdy. Okay. I’ll be over in ten.’

Shiro talks to Keith as he texts. “I’ve mentioned Lance but there’s seven of us total. Myself, Lance, Allura, Pidge, Hunk, Coran, and Matt. Right now with you. Coran is the oldest of us. He’s lived for a few hundred years. Allura is a...complicated case. Technically she’s slightly younger than Coran. But due to circumstances...she has only experienced eighteen years.”

He sets his phone down as Kuro curls up in Keith’s lap and purrs for all he is worth. Shiro smiles. “Matt and Pidge are from a pack a few cities west of here. They took me in after I...” The light dims in his eyes and he looks straight ahead at the blank tv screen. “I escaped.”

He studies his own reflection in the screen. “There’s an entire world of supernatural that runs under the world we see. Keith...if you ever hear of Black Druids. Run. Don’t ever let them catch you.” Shiro has lost all of the joy and gentleness he had on his face.

He shakes his head and shoves it all down. “Anyway, Hunk is who I just texted. He tends to make sure the whole pack is taken care of after a full moon. I was scheduled two twelve hour shifts at work. I don’t know why I’m even awake but I think it has to do with meeting you.”

Shiro smiles at the thought. “He’s a gentle guy. He is an incredible engineer and a great cook. I suck at cooking so I ask for his help. Pidge is a computer wiz too. You’ll probably catch them bickering about tech.”

[lonered]

There's a story in here somewhere, one that Shiro is only hinting at, but those hints are enough that both Keith and the wolf inside him can feel a growl rising. Someone hurt Shiro. He doesn't expect the little protective rush that rises in him, wants to find whoever did it and--

He reins himself in and frowns. It's his turn to reach out, set a hand lightly against Shiro's flesh and blood bicep. For now he just nods, but he wants to know about these Black Druids.

For the moment, he summons up smile. "He sounds great, they all do." Or at least, the tone in Shiro's voice when he speaks about the pack sounds good, and that's enough that Keith wants to meet them.

"Hey... if I'm supposed to be an alpha... This is your pack, right?" Clearly Shiro is in charge. He has the bearing of someone who is. Why is Shiro being so open and non-hostile to him?

[spaceforged]

Shiro leans back against the couch and smiles at him. “Technically Yes. In actuality. No.” He meets his eyes again without any desire to make the other wolf bend to his authority. “My wolf is different. I can run the pack but I lack what makes an Alpha an Alpha. I can calm and bring peace and protect but that’s all.”

He leans into the hand on him without realizing he is. “I call it peace bringing. I haven’t found out much about it. Only it is rare and people who have the quality to them...rarely get turned unless the circumstances are extreme.” He doesn’t want to talk about what happened to him. How he was turned.

“I don’t have a need to dominate other wolves or follow anyone.” Shiro’s grey eyes turn as blue as pure ice. “I choose to follow you.”

[lonered]

The way Shiro leans into the touch is enough to make Keith have absolutely no real desire to move his hand away. Peace bringing, huh? He can believe that, if only for how quickly Shiro has set him at ease. Keith knows himself, knows his tendencies towards withdrawing and closing off the world, reacting a bit too fiercely. Something about this man, about being near him, has settled at least some of that restlessness.

Keith nods slowly, understanding. "All right. That makes sense. As much sense as any of this makes right now," Keith manages a little smile at that, though the expression falters as he meets Shiro's eyes an they frost over blue. It's striking.

The words are equally so. "You really mean it." Okay. It's a lot. The wolf in him has accepted this, revels in it because this, this is what they have been waiting for, were made for. The human side of him that has spent so many years alone and confused, wandering, always the loner, that side finds it harder to wrap his head around.

Somehow neither side of him wants to let Shiro down. "I'll... do my best."

[spaceforged]

“I know you will.” Before he can say more the scent of roasted meat and vegetables wafts from under the door. He recognizes the heavy thuds of Hunk’s feet on the stairs.

The door rattles as Hunk reaches the landing and he climbs to his feet. He gets the door open just as Hunk puts his foot he’d intended to bang on the door with down. Hunk is a big man about his height and built like he should be on a swat team. Shiro could see it if only for the sake of saving others.

Hunk isn’t a coward but his motivation is always about helping. He is also carrying more boxes with him smelling of good food than Shiro has seen since last time he pulled several shifts before a full moon. He snags the left half of the boxes and stacks them on the coffee table.

“Shirooo, you look way less cranky this post moon than you usually do.” Hunk says as he slips inside and shuts the door behind him. He catches sight of Keith and smiles brightly. He meets his eyes for a second then drops his gaze. “So, you’re the guy.” He pauses to set the boxes down in front of him then frowns a bit. “Looking a little thin there.”

Shiro settles himself back down and pops open a box of Hunk’s family recipe style bbq. He breathes it in with a happy sigh. “You spoil this pack.”

“You’re family.” Hunk says as he sits down and pushes a box towards Keith. “Come on. I can feel your hunger, man. I’m Hunk by the way. You’re that guy I noticed near the college campus a few times. I kept meaning to talk to you.” Shiro let’s him talk as he stuffs his face with Samoan bbq chicken.

“If that’s not enough, Shiro keeps his kitchen stocked. I can make more. No trouble. You look like you need a few meals. No offense.” Shiro sucks his head to hide a small smile.

[lonered]

Oh good god, something smells delicious. Keith's stomach wakes up and growls a far more emphatic growl than the wolf in him has ever managed. He's starving, and apparently food has arrived. And it has arrived with a large man who could be intimidating by size alone if it weren't for everything else about him. There's an openness and a warmth about this guy that Keith barely knows what to do with, especially watching him interact with Shiro -- the fact that they're clearly family is obvious. Keith likes it.

"Uh... yeah. I'm the guy." The clueless werewolf who is still reeling from the revelation and looking at a world that suddenly makes so much more sense than it ever has for him before.

He offers Hunk something of a tentative smile, like he's not sure how to handle such plain, genuine friendliness directed at him of all people. "Keith. It's good to meet you, Hunk," he answers, in response to the introduction, reaching for the box as it's pushed towards him. He does not need to be told twice. Truth is, he doesn't exactly eat well. His lifestyle doesn't allow for it, the wandering, odd jobs that barely cover enough for him to keep a roof over his head in whatever city or town he's passing through, meals when he can grab them. Feeding his pet wolf is more important, though said wolf is good at hunting too and-- Oh. Right okay. So he's had a pet wolf all this time which probably should've seemed weird, but never did. That makes sense now.

Anyway.

Actual home cooked food? Not something Keith has had since he was a kid. "No this is great. Thank you." So he will dig right in, unable and not particularly concerned enough to hide the very evident delight on his face at the first bite. This may actually be the best day of his life.

[spaceforged]

“You’re welcome. Welcome to the weird wide world of what goes bump in the night.” Hunk grins and looks to Shiro where he’s on his second box of food. A rice dish he really likes. From the happy look on his face he has no desire to speak until he’s devoured it.

“How did he find you, Keith? Was it last night? Did he finally change under a full moon?” Shiro gives him a steady stare. Hunk only laughs. “He did, didn’t he? Wow. He has resisted that for as long as I’ve known him.”

Shiro lets it go. The food is far more important. “Uh, make sure you stay fed or it’s not good for you. Okay? It affects everything. Healing. Speed. The works. Changing takes a lot. You need your nutrients to be a happy and healthy person. If you need a quick bite you can always stop by where my family cooks. Got a phone?”

[lonered]

Keith looks up from absolutely devouring the dish in front of him, taking a moment to swallow, shaking his head slightly. He manages a sheepish look and a shrug. "Actually, I don't know. I remembered seeing him last night, right around the time the moon rose. Then..." Well then he initially lost the memory, but the wolf inside him now that he's aware of its presence, supplies the missing memories, the change into his wolf form and then running. Always running. Shiro had said he'd followed Keith after he transformed, right? So that must mean that the white-haired man had changed as well. "Well, then nothing, until I ran into him this morning."

He swallows again. "Yeah. That sounds important. I guess I never..." Knew? But it does explain why some days, usually in the wake of the full moon, he always felt drained to the point of barely being able to move. "Yeah. I've got a phone."

Keith feels a bit like he's caught up in a whirlwind with all of this. The revelation, the genuine kindness he's being met with here. The fact that Shiro thinks he's meant to be the Alpha of this pack that he's only met a couple members of. But already, well, there's a protectiveness and a loyalty building in him, a certainty that if anyone or anything threatened, he'd fight tooth and nail and fang and claw to drive it away. It's a strange realization and Keith blinks at himself in surprise.

[spaceforged]

Shiro lightly bumps Keith’s shoulder with his own and slides another box to him. “Take your time adjusting. We can approach this at your speed.” Hunk nods in agreement as he takes out a slip of paper and writes out a bunch of numbers and what they’re for. He sets it on the table.

“My cell, Shiro’s since he’s stuffing his face, and all the important pack numbers. Shiro can explain all
The pack stuff to you. But basically we make sure everyone is looked after and we all stay fed with a roof over our heads.”

Shiro swallows and finally sits back. “We could run tonight. You haven’t experienced running as yourself yet. It’s important to do that. You need to find your harmony with your wolf side.” He pauses and a light glints in his eyes as they turn halfway blue. “And I want to see if you can keep up with me.”

[lonered]

Keith looks over at Shiro as he's bumped, a faint softening of his expression, like something about the other man sets him at ease in a way he can't quite understand just yet.

He glances at the list of numbers tucking them away and into his pocket for the time being. He'll put them all into his phone soon, so he'll have them. It's about then that he realizes he's already made up his mind. "I'd like to meet them. The others, I mean." It seems the right thing to do, doesn't it?

He's digging into the next box, quite content to devour as much of the food Hunk brought as he's able to get his hands on, but he perks up significantly when Shiro speaks. "Yes." No hesitation. "That sounds... great." The wolf in him agrees, but Keith adds, "I should get my friend though. I think... I think he's probably been running with me this whole time." His good wolf who has probably known more about Keith's true nature than Keith could have ever guessed.

That said. "We'll see who's keeping up with who though." He grins. It's on, Shiro.

[spaceforged]

"What days do you have off?" Shiro asks as he unlocks his phone and checks his schedule. "I have Friday through the weekend off. My next free day is Thursday and next Friday." They could call the pack together and get him introduced to all of them. Hunk checks his own phone. "I got the weekend off. I could ask for friday if that's good for everyone."

It's better than trying to figure out if Shiro usually calm and collected just showed a side of himself Hunk hasn't seen in a while. It comes out off and on. It reminds him once Shiro was a fighter pilot and soldier. Before things happened and he walked away from it to the field of medicine. Maybe a new wolf around could mend him enough to return to the sky.

"Bringing a friend is fine. We'll be running at the edge of the city where it meets the forest." Shiro had went out of order but the grin on his face is all reckless cocky pilot. "We will."

[lonered]

This is happening fast. Keith is still wrestling with the whole whirlwind of it, and the loner in him, the man who's spent more of his life alone than having anyone to rely on is wondering if he ought to run.

But the wolf has found its home, and somehow there's something reassuring about this thought. There's also the fact that he's drawn to this Shiro, and Hunk has the sort of warmth to him that's downright magnetic too. And oh he wants to run with Shiro, wants to see where his limits can be pushed to, and how they align with this other werewolf's.

"Great. Sounds fun." That grin on Shiro's face is infectious, and Keith feels himself grinning back, all excitement and challenge.

[spaceforged]

Hunk raises an eyebrow and his smile grows. He hasn’t seen Shiro this at ease after a full moon. He checks his watch and makes a noise. “Okay. I got to go. I promised Pidge I’d run through a few calculations with her. She wants a second opinion.”

He gets to his feet and eyes them. Shiro looks so relaxed he has no idea how to process. And dare he think it, but he damn certain he flirted with Keith once or twice. “See you later. And Keith,” he smiles again. “Welcome to the pack.” He gives them a small wave and departs, leaving Shiro and Keith alone.

Shiro swallows down more bbq pork with a happy sigh. “He really does spoil us. Want to see the map? I’ll show you our route for tonight. ...and my usual patrol routes.”

[lonered]

Keith offers another smile of his own and waves back as Hunk goes. Once they're alone, he turns to face Shiro more fully. And to get back to the food. He's learning that he's spent the better part of his life starving, apparently. "He was really nice." Hopefully Shiro will ignore the fact that Keith says that like it's some sort of shock. He hasn't really had a lot of luck running into nice people for most of his life. His lifestyle and his tendency to keep every last mental wall he has up as high as he can don't help either.

"Great, yeah. I'd love to see."

And he would. Honestly he'd love to see or hear anything Shiro wants to show him or tell him. He wants to spend more time with this man, is drawn to him in a way that he can't really explain. But here he is, feeling it anyway.

[spaceforged]

He doesn’t comment on the shock he had heard in Keith’s tone. It would only make him angry at the implications. He has no desire to make others bend down and obey. But his protective instincts are as strong as any Alpha’s.

And he and his wolf both feel at ease with this alpha. Keith. His wolf accepted Keith’s without a question. Normally he is the one in control. He and the wolf rarely run together as one. Not so today.

He gets up and retrieves an iPad. “Hunk is like that all the time. He rarely gets mad. He will always be at your back to support you even if he’s scared out of his mind.” It had been Allura and Hunk who convinced him a pack would keep the city safer than a lone wolf could.

He clears a space and brings up the map. He taps a self made marker and a route lights up in blue. “This is my patrol route each night.” The route takes him through the whole of the city.

Unknowingly to him, it takes him right past where Keith is staying too. “I know every street of the city. How it smells. How it feels.” He taps another marker this one in purple. The route takes them from behind this apartment into the woods beyond it at the edge of the city. “This is the route I take to run. I like running through the woods.” He looks up at him and smiles.

“It feels right.” It feels like the breath of free air. He needs that more than he ever wants to admit. “There’s a small clearing with a cave a little ways in. I keep spare clothes and supplies there. I go out once a week to check and refresh the supplies. I’ll show it to you tonight.”

[lonered]

Keith settles in and then leans closer, quite into Shiro's personal space. Ostensibly, it's to see the i-pad, but the truth of the matter is, he's caught in the other werewolf's presence, some magnetism that wants to draw him in. He doesn't feel like fighting it right now either. This is the first time he's felt at ease, felt like he might be somewhere he could belong in as long as he remembers

His eyes follow the route on the screen, reaching out to tap a fingernail at one point. "This is where I've been staying. ...are you what my friend keeps barking at?" Keith's pet wolf has clearly figured things out long before Keith has managed to put them together. But somehow that sounds about right. He watches as the route changes, eyes tracing the path through the woods. "Yeah. I know what you mean. I like the woods," he agrees. "It's quieter, away from the city." He's always been drawn into those quiet natural spaces, always felt less boxed in. Less trapped.

Keith smiles, a remarkably open and happy expression. "Looking forward to it."

[spaceforged]

His shoulder makes contact with Keith's as his eyes widen. "That's where you're..." Shiro looks again at the map. He'd always stopped there during patrol and looked up at the moon overhead. It had felt like his feet always carried him there at one point or another during a run. As if he were being pulled by a tie he couldn't understand. It had been one of the few points of agreement between himself and his wolf side.

He'd stand there for a few minutes with his eyes on the heavens and then the barking would start and he'd be away, running through the city and into the shadows. "I probably am." He admits at last caught by Keith's gaze. He's beautiful this alpha werewolf.

Beautiful inside and out. He smiles back, open and relaxed. "I'm glad I get to be there for your first run." Maybe Keith had seen glimpses of him when he ran on, disappearing into the shadows and into the feel of running. It's a nice thought. It's enough for a little while he forgets he's a monster. "It's peaceful in the woods and wide open."

He glances at how many boxes of food are left and adds, "Want to stay out there when we get there? I'm not expected back for a while." He tries not to sound so hopefully about it despite how much whining his wolf side wants to do.

[lonered]

Keith can't help a smile at that. He's oblivious to Shiro's thoughts, knows nothing about the other man stopping at that spot. But it does explain why his wolf-friend, who has never been one to make much fuss about anything, has been barking up a storm around the same time every night since he's made it to town.

And he kind of likes the idea of Shiro having been nearby before their paths finally crossed fully today. It feels right, and that thought alone is enough to startle Keith out of his thoughts. He's letting himself feel at home here, like he's found his place, and shouldn't that be terrifying?

It isn't though, not when Shiro is smiling at him like that. "I can't wait," he agrees, and he means it.

He perks up at the next suggestion. "Yeah. Can we? That sounds great." Keith and his wolf side are in full agreement on this point.

[spaceforged]

That smile is dangerous. It makes him feel...like he's known Keith for a lot longer than a day. "We can." He finds it odd how in line he and his wolf are today. Normally they don't sing in unison. He resists the things that make him a monster. The wolf insists they're not. They just are.

His memories say something else. He puts that aside and taps the ipad screen. A map of the forest and the trails through it light up in soft purple. "We can explore it if you'd like. I know the paths...but I haven't really gone looking beyond them." But Keith might want to. Keith who seems so blended together he and his wolf. Or at least...more in harmony than most he's ever seen.

To think he only became aware of the wolf so recently. Shiro pulls another box of Hunk's food close to him. "Do you have any other questions?" Likely not one about his metal arm. He wouldn't lie about how it came to be. But he wouldn't give the details either.