[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]

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.

[spaceforged]

His eyes go round with surprise. He opens his mouth to say something and stops. If Keith had touched his normal hand he could have dismissed it.

But he can’t when the touch went to the hand no one else touches. For a moment he just breathes then the moment is gone as he pats Keith’s shoulder and relaxes. “This is also a fallback point if we need to retreat farther along our territory than expected. There’s good game outside and around the cabin. It could feed the whole pack easily for weeks.”

He shouldn’t lean into Keith’s Touch. He wants to reach for him and never let go. It’s not like him to fall this fast but Keith slots into his life as if he was meant to always be there. He has to stop again, staring into Keith’s eyes as he says. “Thank you.”

For treasuring him in a way. For treating him as if he is something worth protecting instead of a burden or trying to make decisions as if he can’t be trusted with them.

[lonered]

Keith is still in that moment, but he nods as Shiro pats his shoulder and continues. "It makes sense. It's a good contingency to have, in case anything happens and we need to hole up." It's a good place, defensible and with enough resources. Smart.

Shiro isn't the only one who wants to reach out. Every last instinct in him is crying out for it, but it goes beyond instinct too. He's drawn to this kind, gentle, beautiful man like he's never been drawn to anyone. He meets Shiro's gaze, looking genuinely surprised by the thanks.

A shake of his head and he smiles, softer and vulnerable in a way he never allows himself to be, "I should be the one thanking you, I think. For everything."

He finds himself leaning towards Shiro, like he's fighting the urge to close the distance and lean into him, but it's a losing battle.

[spaceforged]

Keith letting himself be vulnerable is what snaps his restraint. This gentle, warm, and considerate man lets him make his choices as he sees fit. He leans into him, their sides touching and something in him settles. "Maybe we can thank each other. Thank you for joining us and for...everything."

His wolf settles, content that Shiro has allowed this much to happen. It's a start and a path to letting himself heal. He senses the increased buzz of irritation through the pack bonds and ignores it. Lance has no idea why he is happy (something he hadn't realize he broadcast once through the link) but Lance probably has an idea and doesn't like it.

For once. Fuck Lance. Allura proverbially pops him in the nose. The bonds settle. He lets out a breath.

[lonered]

Keith's wolf settles too, albeit a bit smugly really, because ah. There. Do you understand now, human half? Keith ignores the lingering feeling and leans back into Shiro. Warm. Safe. He's too new to the Pack to understand the subtler shifts of emotions. He'll learn them eventually.

For now he's distracted by his own warmth, but he does feel that moment that things settle down and he lets out a relieved sigh even if he couldn't explain it in words were he put to it.

"I guess that's fair." Keith hesitates before adding, voice nearly mystified like he can't believe he's actually saying the words, "I feel like I'm home." And he hasn't felt that in so long.

[spaceforged]

He brightens at that. “I’m glad. I don’t know how to describe it but being near you feels like...”

It brought him balance for a little while. He has to work on things and his problems aren’t gone but, “We both get a little better.” He had made the decision to change that night he first beheld Keith.

Since then he has let his wolf be part of his decisions. “I don’t know how to describe it, Keith. But I’m drawn to you. I think the acceptance from my wolf goes deeper than just accepting you as our leader and I... I want to know you.” He wants to know him in ways he won’t bring up for now.

His wolf is pleased he is even letting the thoughts happen.

[lonered]

Keith looks up almost hopefully at that, because does Shiro feel it too? That surprising sense of rightness that being near Shiro brings, settles a restlessness that has lived deep within him his entire life. So when the other man finishes the statement, Keith's expression melts into a smile. "Yeah, it does."

Better. He's better because of Shiro's presence.

Keith doesn't expect Shiro to continue and when he does he's fighting a blush -- a battle that he is actively losing given that he's not used to people saying sweet things to him, and goodness that was sweet -- as he smiles back at him. "I want to know you too, Shiro." And Keith means those unspoken ways too, ways that his own wolf is satisfied enough for the moment that they've spoken this many things. "You're... I've never met anyone like you."

[spaceforged]

“Let’s get back to the cave. I want to talk some more in a more comfortable place.” The cage with silver in the bars is not such a place. Shiro pulls away slowly and stands up, offering Keith his hand.

Normally it would be so hard to open up. He internally checks his wolf and finds them pleased. He doesn’t want to say what he suspects. He could bet Keith would run for the hills and voicing it would make him do the same.

Shiro takes a breath. “Well, like I said before. I’m not that much older than you. I was a pilot but there was an attack when I was taking the ship up towards space.”

His mouth presses into a thin line that’s almost bitter. “That ended my career in more than one way.” He shakes his head. “Anyway, come on.” He lets go and heads for the door. “Oh and I should probably teach you about Pack bonds in the morning. Or tonight, however you want to handle it. Your second has been a bit...irritated.”

To say the least about Lance.