[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.

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[lonered]

The touch on his shoulder, so simple and normal a touch as it is, it has the wolf in him waking, clearly pleased by it, even while Keith is trying to figure out how to slow his heart from racing at those words. No one has ever said anything like that to him. No one has ever been willing to believe in him that way.

Shiro is-- It hits him in actual conscious thought now, plain and black and white: he's falling for him. Fast. Hard. Like a meteor that's broken atmosphere and is burning its way through the sky to the ground below. Oh. He's in trouble, isn't he?

He shakes the thoughts off and smiles up at Shiro. "I won't." He can't give up on himself now. He can't let Shiro down, or any of the members of his new pack.

The next minute he's up on his feet, grinning. "Works for me." He heads out along with Shiro, trying not to let his thoughts keep up racing through everything. Instead he focuses on what they're doing, on getting ready for tonight.

[spaceforged]

He wants to wrap Keith up and keep him safe. He realizes it the moment he sees that brightening of his demeanor and how often he seems lost to even be included.

It scares him with a sudden cold realization that he's falling for him. As fast as he fell from the sky when he was still human he is finding Keith as stable ground. He keeps it inside wrapped up tight and smiles for him. He's so screwed.

He leads the way back to the car as he puts himself back under control. The rest of the drive he's the same as ever but in the back of his head he feels like the ice is cracking under his feet. He hasn't felt safe in so long. Safe and just him.

The day passes easily, too easily in his opinion. By now he's keenly aware of how united he and his wolf are today. He doesn't know what to do about that. But he can't deny how soothing it is to be on the same page.

When the night comes sweeping in like ink dropped into water, he gently pushes open the window at the back of his apartment. He strips to his waist. He unzips his pants and makes sure not to look at Keith doing the same. He keeps gravitating to him. Pulled by something he can't figure out and wants to. He wants to know if this spark is his alone or Keith feels it too.

But he's been hurt before and that keeps him from asking. As a wolf he pauses to be sure Keith is alright then he slips up onto the window sill and walks along the edge, catlike in his grace. The moon's silver light strips the colors from the world and the scents of the night soothe him.

It could always be like this is he let it be. As he drops to the alley below the window swings shut on the weights designed to shut it. Then he waits, eyes up on the window now he lets himself look at Keith and drink him in. He's gorgeous as a wolf or a man.

[lonered]

The longer Keith spends with Shiro, the more at ease he feels. And his wolf seems to fully agree. Everything feels like it makes sense for the first time in his life. It's almost too much to handle.

When night falls and they're ready to head out, well, if Shiro had looked back, he'd have found Keith doing a little too much looking before he realized what he was doing. After that he's just blushing and quite grateful once he's out of his own clothes and able to shift into his wolf form. Wolves can't blush at least.

In his wolf form he follows a few moments after Shiro, making his way out the window, taking just a moment to turn his face up at the moonlight that shines down like a beacon, soothing and invigorating at the same time. He makes his way down to beside Shiro, nearly prancing, looking much more like an excited puppy than any dignified alpha werewolf. And maybe that excitement is why he makes his way to Shiro and nuzzles right against the other wolf.

[spaceforged]

He presses into Keith his head resting against his back. He sighs. The moon shines down but it doesn't stir up memories. Shiro rubs the side of his furry face against Keith's and steps back. He swivels his ears forward and wags his tail.

Without another word he turns and takes off. He races through the alley like an arrow let loose from a bow. The arid scent of the city mixes with telltale scents of other beings. Human. Not human. Old scents of his pack are buried among them all. This is home territory and he knows it well.

Better than he thought he did.

He ignores it, waiting at the end of the alley for Keith. His tail wags again. Shiro leaps in the air and lands right back where he was.

[lonered]

Keith look skyward. The moon is waiting and he swallows back a howl. Later. When they're out of the city. For now, he runs after Shiro. This place is new to him, but he knows it's his. This is his territory, the home of his pack and he and his wolf both feel like they're home. Like they're complete.

It's the first time he's run and kept his mind, that it's not only his wolf in control. It's almost overwhelming, but in the best sort of way.

His tail wags again as he comes up beside Shiro, looking at the other wolf. Keith may be the alpha, but Shiro knows this land better, and Keith has no qualms about following him. It feels natural.

[spaceforged]

He takes off again, sticking to the alley ways and side streets. He pauses at a shadowy street. After a pause he plunges down the street to the edge of the wood.

The scent of fresh living things takes over banishing the scent of gasoline and artificial buildings. He takes a path between the trees as if he had been doing it his whole life and not a few years. Shiro leaps over a fallen tree trunk and into the river. Water soaks his feet and part way up his legs.

He opens his mouth and howls to the stars over their heads. Shiro takes a turn and takes them along the edge of a path only he has never taken. It brings them out into a small clearing with a pool of water at the center. A cave dominates the north side. He slows and trots towards it. Inside the cave his usual supplies wait for them.

Without a word he stops and changes shape, kneeling down to open the duffel bag. “We can go on foot further up to the boundary and camp where ever you feel is right. Let your wolf side guide you.”

[lonered]

Keith follows close behind, moving quickly, silently through the city, relaxing as the scents of the city, of humanity in general, fades away. And the woods welcomes them. His heartbeat races along with the cadence of his paws as they strike the ground, and oh he runs, like he was born to it.

He hears Shiro's howl and lets his own rise to join, continuing after him.

By the time they reach the cave, he's already exhilarated by the whole thing. Keith stops at the mouth of the cave and transforms as well, forgetting any self consciousness at his nudity in favor of staring up at the moon for a long moment, shutting his eyes like he's soaking up the moonlight.

It's Shiro's eyes that draw him out of his, and he turns with a smile, eyes still the near luminescent violet of his wolf form. He looks at Shiro with undisguised fondness now before remembering he should answer. "Right, yeah. I don't think that'll be a problem." He heads into the cave to join Shiro at their supplies.

[spaceforged]

Keith looks at him and his heart skips a beat. Shiro forces his eyes away and pulls on his pants. The magic of the run still sings in his veins. Their howls had united into one singular piece of music that sounded so perfect to his ears. "You're a natural at this, there definitely won't be any issues."

He says as he pulls on his shirt. He hasn't fought his wolf the whole day. It hasn't settled his issues. They won't vanish overnight but it's a start and he smiles at Keith. "I like running with you. Can we do this again some time?" Running with Keith had felt right. Even now he wants to lean into him and let the moon's light fill him with strength.

"...I never realized how peaceful being a werewolf can be." He hadn't meant to say it out loud but Keith knows his story. He knows what damage is there. This is his Alpha who can keep the pack safe. For the first it hits him, can keep him safe too. He will do the same for Keith. But the knowledge that's equal is like a spark igniting something inside him that hasn't burned in a very long time.

He smiles and it warms his eyes. "I understand Coran a little better now."

[lonered]

"It feels right. All of it. The wolf, the moon, running with you." It feels like every step he's ever taken -- and all the very many missteps that they'd so often been -- have led him here, exactly where he's supposed to be. He drops to a crouch to grab his own clothes from his bag as well, pulling on his pants and his shirt, a smile finding its way over his features in answer to the one on Shiro's face. "Yeah. I'd really like that. Any time you want." Keith's heart is still racing with the rush of the run and the moonlight, but also the strange flutter that Shiro's smile sends through him.

He sweeps up his back, shrugging it on as something to distract him from that flutter, but Shiro keeps speaking and Keith turns to face him fully, lighting up at the words. He really feels that way? Keith has heard Shiro's story, has heard the pieces of the horrors he's been through and oh Keith fully intends to watch out for him from here on in, a comforting thought in that he feels like Shiro will do the same in turn. This pack, his pack, they'll make sure it's protected and cared for together. That thought echoes through him, and he turns to face Shiro reaching out to set a hand on his shoulder. "I'm glad. You're beautiful, you know." He seems to realize what he's said and adds, quickly, "Your wolf form, I mean." And this form. Shiro is stunning. Keith would have to be an idiot not to notice. "Like something out of a fairy tale." A spirit meant to guide the lost back into the light.

[spaceforged]

His face turns bright red. Keith called him beautiful and he doesn’t know how to process that. Shiro swallows then picks up his bag. He slings it over his shoulder.

His hand covers Keith’s for a moment. He lets go and stands up straight. “Let’s keep going. There’s a lot to show you and I...thank you. You know you’re gorgeous too, right?” He doesn’t correct himself and walks out back into the moonlight.

The silvery light falls on him and for once he basks in it. It feels perfect and right. He turns to look at Keith with eyes gone sky blue again. “Reminds me of all the legends of knights and heroes.”

[lonered]

Keith is quick to nod. Keep going. Sounds good to him. He's eager to go farther, to see what else there is to see. Of course, he's not expecting what Shiro says next, so it takes his brain a moment to catch up to it, to process it, and by that time Shiro is stepping out into the moonlight.

His eyes widen and he watches the other man, watches the moonlight wash over him and his heart tries to leap out of his throat. Those eyes catch his attention, his eyes flashing in turn. And slowly he walks out to stand beside him.

"Knights and heroes, huh?" His heart is racing. He thinks it might be more than just the moonlight. "Do you really think so?" Does Shiro really think he's gorgeous. Did he really say that about him?

[spaceforged]

"I do." His eyes are on the moon again. He shouldn't be flirting but Keith said it first and he just reciprocated. He reaches out and claps a hand on his shoulder. "If you have a sword you're armor and a horse away from it." Aaaand that was too far. He steps forward away from Keith and focuses ahead of them. The wolf in him is thinking he is overthinking this.

Keith is as interested in him as he is in him. He tells that part of him and shut up. "Anyway, the boundary as I know it is this way. There's a river that cuts along the edge. In the summer when it rains it usually extends into the territory."

[lonered]

Neither of them should be flirting, probably, but here they are, and Keith would be lying if he said he wants any of it to stop. But he knows it's likely a mistake. His wolf finds that thought ridiculous and intends on ignoring all these overly human misgivings tying Keith into knots until that human half works itself out.

It might be sooner than later, given the way Keith's heart leaps at little more than the touch to his shoulder and the words that follow. He just has to hope the moon's light hides the pink rising in his cheeks as he refocuses on the new subject.

"Great. Then let's head that way to start?"

[spaceforged]

Shiro smiles and slips between the trees, guiding Keith to a hidden path. He had made it ages ago and came out here to run until it made a secret way. Just in case they needed it.

The path leads deeper into the forest with the sound of water coming to them from the far distance. He doesn’t say anything as he walks at Keith’s side. From time to time he points to small details. “I made this path. Along the path there are places the pack can hide. If something comes for us we can ambush or just attack from those hide outs.”

He is paranoid as hell. But after what happened to him...it made him feel a sense of purpose. Instead of all the blood on his hands.

[lonered]

Keith follows, taking in everything they pass. This will be his home now. All of it. And it already feels right, solidifying by the moment as they pass each new place, each new landmark. He can hear the sounds of the woods, smell scents he's never been aware of before. He's stopped fighting a part of himself, and it's like having his eyes opened.

He nods. "It's a good defense."

Even the idea of anyone coming for this pack sets his hackles up though. Keith understands paranoia, a little too well. He's been on his own too long. "You've been looking out for all of them." And the rest of the pack clearly cares about Shiro; it's impossible to miss it seeing how Shiro interacts with the other pack members he's met.

[spaceforged]

"They shielded me when I came to them. They didn't have to do that." Shiro says, his voice soft as he pauses at the top of a small rise. Below them bushes and bracken spread out in a seeming maze leading down to the river's edge. "It was the least I could do in return." He kneels down and studies the land then he slips down and heads for the side closest to the river. A small narrow path winds through it, taking them in a spiral before they come to the edge of the river.

They're at the boundary as he knows it. "This is the boundary. ...unless it feels different to you." He isn't an alpha. He has a sense of territory but not the desire to claim more than what the pack had come to see as theirs.

Only an Alpha can truely define borders and claim where they hold dominion. Shiro looks at Keith, again caught by how natural it feels to stand at his side. "Only you can decide the true boundaries, Keith."

[lonered]

Keith looks over at him, smiling as Shiro speaks. They've taken care of each other, this pack. The kindness and the warmth are unmistakable. It's a family, and Keith is still overwhelmed at the idea of that sort of group actually accepting someone like him. He doesn't want to screw this up, doesn't want to let them down or somehow betray that faith in him. It's almost daunting in its way. He stops on the shore of the river with Shiro, looking across the water, lips pressing into a frown.

"Across the water is someone else's." He doesn't know how he knows that, but he's certain of it. "It doesn't feel hostile, but that's not territory to be claimed." Not without a fight, and Keith -- who is no stranger to fighting for what he needs to when he needs to -- doesn't go looking for conflict without good reason.

[spaceforged]

He nods and accepts Keith’s statement. The Alpha has spoken and his law will be known. Shiro gestures for Keith to follow him. There is more to see. He turns and leads him to a wide open clearing.

He takes a breath. It had been a while since it had seen use the scents are old yet the entire pack has been here before. He turns to face Keith. “This is both a trailing ground and a dueling ring. If anyone challenges you from other territory this is the outside the city space I made for it. I taught all of the pack how to fight as wolves and people here.”

He is the best at what he knows how to do. The monster in the pack. He takes a breath. “I can teach you how to fight as a wolf here. You likely already know instinctively but I can make it a skill in your arsenal. It would have to be on days we both have off.”

Teaching someone to fight and doing 12 hour shifts at the same time are not a good combination. “But, what training have you had in fighting? Might as well talk about it while we’re walking.” He walks through the clearing heading to the other side.

“There’s more to see.”

[lonered]

Keith glances back at the river just once before falling into step with Shiro once more. The clearing is interesting, and he takes a moment to walk to the center of it, nodding as Shiro explains what it's for. It makes sense. There's a little touch of a smile as the other man speaks. He said it before, Shiro has taken care of this pack, of these people. In so many ways. Keith notes it to himself once again that he can't let the other werewolf down. He won't. He refuses.

More to see is good, and he's back to following where Shiro leads. "Uh... not really any training. I've learned as I went, I guess. Fights happen. ...a lot." A pause and he adds, hurriedly, "I don't go looking for them! I guess... something about me just rubs people the wrong way." He stops speaking and stops walking, startled at the next thought and taking a moment before he voices it. "It's because of this, isn't it? The wolf, my wolf. The alpha thing."

The wolf inside him is near rolling in laughter as his human side finally understands. Well. Better late than never.

[spaceforged]

Shiro smiles at him. "It's exactly because of that. When you walk into a room everyone notices you. Even humans. Some seek your guidance others pick fights because they sense your dominance and it bothers them." Like it bothered Lance.

He can feel Lance's aggitation in the pack bonds. Someone had to have told him who their new alpha is. His wolf agrees with the choice but the man himself is insecure and sometimes...it makes him do things that set Shiro's teeth grinding.

"I'll teach you everything I know." He says as he stops at the far edge of the clearing. "We could start tomorrow." Lance has the training he gave him but he'll be honest with him. Lance can be lazy and act like he's the gift they've all been waiting for.

Keith will knock him down several pegs because he wants that win and will do what it takes to get it. "Judging but how you move, I think you'll pick it up fast."

[lonered]

So much of Keith's life is falling into place as he learns this other piece of himself. Things he never understood make sense, and it's overwhelming. It's a good overwhelming, but still. He's really glad that he's out here with Shiro while he's coming to all these realizations.

"Okay. Good. Teach me. I want to learn." That thread of agitation isn't entirely lost on Keith, even if he hasn't put together what it is yet. He does know a confrontation with Lance is inevitable, and he intends to take it seriously. He needs to.

Making his way over to Shiro, he looks at him curiously. "How I move?" He echoes curiously. He knows he's scrappy, not really any particular style, but he can hold his own in a fight.

[spaceforged]

“You don’t waste any movement.” He explains as he leads on towards the one place Keith has to know about. Not for the sake of the pack but his own sake.

“Most people try to move or fast or slow as their thoughts. You don’t. Your pace only shifts when it needs to and not a moment before.” The edge of a log cabin roof peeks through the trees. He keeps his hands in his pockets as he picks his way through the undergrowth until the nearly invisible path is under his feet.

“You are so closely tied to your wolf side it’s likely instinct but it’s a good one.” They come around the curve and the log cabin just down the path looks just about the same as anything else here. Vines crapped down one side is half hiding it and the window on the right side.

He tenses despite himself. “Coran told you how I was turned.” He begins, as he makes himself walk towards the cabin. “What I did in that arena.” Every word feels like chains rattling in the dark.

“This exists because of that.” He takes the key off the ring of keys in his pocket and sucks in a breath. His wolf rises to the surface and suddenly all the tension is gone. His wolf will deal with this.

Because he can’t. His voice is measured and calm, the wolf speaking through the man. “It’s just in case. But it felt necessary. What if they still have some kind of grip on me?” He reaches the door and presses his hand to the well worn wood. “I could become a threat to this pack.”

[lonered]

"It's sort of weird to hear that, you know. Closely tied to a side I never even knew I had. But... yeah, I guess I must be." He can't argue it, not with how whole and integrated he finally feels now that he knows what he is.

He feels Shiro tense, like he can scent it on the air, or has some sense of the other werewolf's presence, and he's turning to look at him even before Shiro speaks. "He did," he nods.

Keith follows closely, quiet as Shiro speaks. He hears the change in his voice too, and somehow knows what that means. There's that rise of fury in him once more, his wolf baring its teeth because how dare someone think they could hurt his mate, and it's a thought that Keith still can't let actually into his conscious thoughts.

"Show me," he prompts quietly, even as Shiro is unlocking the door. But he adds, voice lower but steady, "And you won't. I won't let it happen." This is his pack now. He won't let anyone be hurt. And he won't let Shiro be used like that. "We won't let it happen." Because that's what they are now, all of them, a we.

[spaceforged]

He looks at him with the faith of the wolf and the worry of the man still there on his eyes. He unlocks the padlock on the door and opens it, holding it open.

It’s dark inside but that changes as he shifts the curtains on the windows to let the light in. Inside is a cot against the wall and crates of supplies for someone to be on watch.

It’s what is in the center of the cabin that is cause for concern. A pit is set into the floor and closer examination would reveal bars of metal carved with runes and sigils. Shiro walks up to it and turns on a hidden over head light.

The bars take definition. They’re the walls and floor of the pit. The bars are thick and black with a deep thrumming of magic in a dormant state. He kneels down and lifts the lid of the massive cage. He meets Keith’s eyes. “It’s bespelled by Allura. It’s meant to contain me but it could contain any of us. The spells activate the moment the lid is shut. It’s not silver but it doesn’t need to be.”

He keeps talking because it’s the wolf speaking not him. Never him. Not for this. “The best magical containment for werewolves will never be silver. Silver hurts us and other metals are easier to break. But, if you want to contain a werewolf long term you use an alloy that weakens them in the cage while not burning them or driving them crazy.”

[lonered]

Keith follows Shiro inside, frowning at first sight of the pit, and then bristling at the magic he can feel, dormant and pulsing in the bars. The wolf in him stalks, unsettled, but Keith himself remains still, listening to Shiro describe it, the words that are spoken so matter-of-factly, clinically almost.

He steps closer then, nodding. "I understand."

He understands, but he doesn't like it. He understands necessary things, but Shiro is warm and kind and good, and no one should use him in some way that goes against that. No one should give them reason to need this cage.

Stopping by Shiro's side, dropping to a knee to look inside where Shiro has lifted the lid. All right. He reaches out then without thinking about it, his fingers finding Shiro's metal ones, not sure who he's trying to reassure -- the other man or himself.