[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

[spotlion]

The look the other wolf throws Shiro has him rethinking a lot of things. Had he just been snarling because he didn’t like some stranger in pack territory. A stranger that could claim their pack and could fix it.

Instead of him. Shiro looks whole and he has never felt the pack bonds be this strong. But he hates it. Who the fuck is this guy to stroll in and make it all better?

‘Jealousy doesn’t serve the pack’ his own wolf snarls. Guilt claws at him. Yeah. He couldn’t lead and he knows it. He can’t fix it. But this man can. With that, Lance looks away, rubbing the back of his neck. “Fine.” He spits. “It stops here. But you better do right by the pack, alright? Or we’ll have a problem again.”

Shiro casts him a calm measured look, and Lance wants to wilt. “I just. I just want everyone to be okay. That’s all.” That’s not why he personally has problems with Keith but that’s something to deal with...over time.

[lonered]

Something in Keith eases, the smallest bit, barely visible, but that was exactly the right answer. No matter what Lance's tone might be struggling with saying, the words themselves matter. "Good," he answers, nodding. "If I don't do right by all of you, you should have a problem with me. Someone to hold me accountable." Though he knows Shiro will do that anyway, but that's complicated in its own way given how he can hear his heart and his wolf singing together for the other werewolf.

"That's what I want too. You don't know me. I get that. But you will." And if nothing else, Keith wants to do the right thing for this pack, for these people who have been so open and welcoming to him even in so short a time, who made the ground beneath his feet feel steady and solid and sure for the first time in his life.

So he glances at Shiro once before turning his attention back to Lance and stepping forward. He holds out a hand towards him to shake. Deal?

[spotlion]

He surprises himself by not hesitating. He takes Keith's hand in his and gives it a strong squeeze. His wolf rumbles with approval as he says with his eyes gone gold but kept dropped, "You're the Alpha. And yeah, I'll keep my eye on you." That alone could sound like a threat but he keeps going. "And I'll watch your back. ...but knowing you, well, how about you come to our pack gaming sessions? Shiro doesn't always show up,"

He flashes Shiro a smile that the other returns with a slight tick to his eyebrow. "But we have them three times a month. Sometimes gaming of the tap your controller way. Sometimes the roll the dice way. Easy way to see all of us and we know you. And your luck." He grins without showing teeth.

[lonered]

Keith looks pleased by Lance returning the handshake. He didn't want to have to physically knock the other werewolf down, but he was willing to do it. This is better. Much better. Lance is a lot of bluster and pride and prickly reactions, but he cares about the pack. That much is undeniably clear. That he can work with, if the other man isn't entirely made of ego. Good.

The invitation catches him by surprise, however, and he doesn't catch it in time to keep it off his expression. He doesn't get invited places. He's the wandering loner. But that isn't true anymore. He's still getting used to that idea. "I'd like that." The most surprising thing is that he really means those words. It sounds nice. It sounds fun.

"Can't speak to my luck, but I'm pretty good at video games." Especially vehicle sims. His reflexes are second to none. A glance over at Shiro. "I would've pegged you as the competitive type, deep down." The teasing is deliberate but gentle, run through with that fondness he couldn't hide if he wanted to at this point.

[spotlion]

Lance when Shiro laughs, relaxed in a way he has never seen before. The older wolf’s eyes spark with blue again. “I am.” He rumbles and Lance gets the impression it is time for him to go. “Oookay! I need to get back. So I’ll text you the details and we’ll see what you can do.”

He steps back but Shiro looks amused as he beats a hasty retreat. Shiro waits until Lance is out of ear shot. “I am better than they are and don’t want to crush egos. That and,” he tilts his head slightly to the side, grinning at Keith. “I think I’ve always been waiting for you.”

[lonered]

Keith nods once at Lance. "Yeah, thanks." He means it, but it's hard not to be distracted by Shiro when the other wolf laughs like that. When Shiro answers, Keith's expression widens into a grin. "Oh? That a fact?" How polite of Shiro, really. Keith is about to inform the other man that he'll be happy to put that to the test too but Shiro keeps talking.

And Keith's heart thuds heavy and hard and he finds himself caught by that grin on the other's face -- he's beautiful, brighter than the fullest moon and near blinding for it -- and feels himself smiling in answer. Always been waiting for you. And okay, maybe it's in the context of games and competitive streaks, it still echoes in Keith's ears.

It brings to mind those other words, the ones Shiro had spoken earlier that had seemed almost accidentally voiced at the time. "Because I'm yours?" He asks, voice low, but smile still lingering on his features. And because you're mine.

[spaceforged]

His voice goes low, a rumble in his chest as wolf and man come to a decision at the same time. No more waiting. No more holding back. He moves slowly and deliberately as he closes the distance between them and cups Keith's face in his hands. "Because I'm yours if you'll have me."

He swallows and smiles quietly back. "I think I get what Coran was trying to hint at without making it obvious. But, it's up to you." His wolf be damned, he would refuse it if that is what Keith wanted but he doubts he has to worry about that.

[lonered]

Shiro's touch, even so gentle and soft as those hands at his face are, is enough to still his heart for the span of several beats. Violet eyes widen as he looks up at Shiro. The words kickstart his heart back into beating, and his wolf is all but howling in agreement.

He lifts his one hand, curling it around Shiro's wrist, thumb tracing its way along metal knuckles. "I'll have you. Of course I'll have you."

Coran knew it when he saw them, and so many of the things the older wolf had alluded to really do make more sense now. And there's no denying it. This man in front of him, this strong, beautiful, kind man, is the one his heart was meant for. "If you'll have me too," he adds, even as his free hand lifts to settle flat against Shiro's chest, above his heart. Mine.

[spaceforged]

“Of course I will.” Keith’s hand fits against his chest as if it was always meant to. He leans in as he says, “My Keith.” The first brush of their lips together feels like he found where he belongs.

He leans back in, gently drawing Keith closer as his hands drop to his shoulders. His wolf sighs happily, and he feels a sense of peace sweep over him the likes of which he has never known before.

He reaches through the pack bonds and finds the tie that exists between himself and Keith. It’s whole. Beautifully wonderfully whole. “Keith...” He breathes,

[lonered]

"My Shiro," Keith echoes back in that moment before the kiss, and then words seem entirely superfluous anyway, and he kisses Shiro back. His own wolf is a mix of triumphant and contented, as if it knows even more than he does that he's finally found himself to the place where he belongs.

He winds his arms around Shiro, stepping in closer, closing whatever space between them. Right here, in this man's arms, he's home.

"I think I've been looking for you, all this time. I never knew what it was, what was missing..." But this was it. Shiro. This warmth, belonging. And this pack. They'll take care of it together, side by side.

[spaceforged]

Shiro says nothing as he wraps his arms around Keith and watches him with a small smile on his face. The thought of that is over whelming but, he pushes past that feeling.

“I think every time I stopped before your apartment it was because I knew what would be to me. Every time I ran, I stopped right there.” Somewhere inside him he’d known. This won’t fix his problems or Keith’s but having each other to lean on will make it easier to bear.

He leans in to kiss him again then stops and blinks. “Um, we might want to finish making dinner before we really get into this.” His cheeks turn a bit pink. “Then I’m all yours.”

[lonered]

Keith smiles back. This is overwhelming all of this. His life has shifted, but shifted for the better. He understands what he is, who he is. Thinking back he remembers the feeling of those moments that someone was there in those moments before Kosmo started barking at the window.

He leans up to meet that kiss, looking confused when Shiro first pulls back and-- Right. Yes. Dinner.

A laugh, and he nods. "Yeah, that might be a good idea, huh?" He manages to find the strength to disengage from Shiro, stepping back. "But I'll hold you to that." He informs Shiro with a playful grin.

And he will. Because nothing sounds better than curling up close to Shiro by the fire.

[spaceforged]

Shiro swallows and checks the pot of water over the fire. It’s as hot as he wants it to be. He checks over the ingredients they’d prepared and starts adding them in. A campfire stew isn’t too bad.

He ate many of those on his journey to this city. He goes looking for the jerky he had stored and has to pause to breath in.

It’s so much easier to stay steady now he accepted he is a werewolf. He still thinks himself a monster but, it’s bearable. “Keith can you grab the jerky from my pack? It has all the seasoning this stew will need.”

He’s looking forward to curling up with Keith.

[lonered]

"On it," Keith nods and finds the jerky that Shiro has asked for, bringing it over towards the campfire and setting himself beside the other man once more -- not touching because he doesn't trust himself to be able to keep it to anything minor right now, and he doesn't want to interrupt Shiro cooking.

It's almost overwhelming how much he just wants to drape himself all over Shiro. He's never been one for physical proximity or affection, but now both he and his wolf are absolutely craving it.

Dinner first. Patience has never been his strong suit, but he's trying.

[spaceforged]

He isn’t the most touch oriented person but the desire to lean into Keith and forget about food is almost overpowering. He takes a breath but all he can smell is Keith. He and his wolf want to be as close as they can get.

Shiro focuses on takes the jerky and breaking it into pieces, adding it to the pot. “I did this a lot when I was hiding from the druids. It’s a bit like hot pot. If you have ever had that before. I needed so much meat but I couldn’t stand the idea of killing to get it. Not then.”

The ghosts of so many killed by his jaws lingered so thick around him that he almost choked on it. Shiro stirs the pot as the last of the jerky is added. “So I did like they trained us to do in emergency situations. Kept me alive as I wound my way this way.”

[lonered]

When he was hiding. There's still a prickle of rage at the thought of Shiro being hurt, but Keith sets it aside for now. That is the past, and he can't change it. All he can do is make sure that no one hurts Shiro again, or any of his pack.

"And then you found your way here." Keith nods, picking up a couple bowls and holding them ready for when the stew is done. "It smells good." And he's hungry, but that's his usual state of being. At least he understands why now.

Keith is trying to behave, but he can't quite help but shift closer to Shiro, lean into him, just the press of the sides of their bodies together.

[spaceforged]

He leans into Keith the moment their hips touch. He can’t help it. It feels right and good. It feels like they’ve known each other for years and like they barely know each other at all.

“And I found my way here.”
He echoes as he stirs the stew. The scent of the meat and the vegetables is enough to make him smile. He can still do it. Shiro waits a little longer then he ladles stew into both their bowls. The meat, chunks of carrot, potato, and various vegetables steam in the fire light.

He takes one of the bowls, their fingers brushing against each other. Shiro swallows and his smile turns soft. “And you found me.” He whispers, “One moonlit night.”

[lonered]

Something in Keith eases when Shiro leans into him in return, relief in a way, because it does feel right. It's warmer even than the fire roaring away in front of them.

He holds onto his bowl, releasing Shiro's bowl as their fingers touch. His gaze rises to roam over Shiro's face, taking in his features in the firelight. He's beautiful, the strong line of his jaw and the depthless gray of his eyes.

An answering smile surfaces on Keith's face as he shakes his nods, barely a movement at all, "We found each other."

[spaceforged]

“That we did.” Shiro says and takes his spoon in hand. It is a really simple stew but it fills the need to eat. The protein and nutrients work their way through his system just as well as they had in the past.

It had kept him going as he cane toward the city. Now as he looks at Keith, they’ll give him the energy for whatever he and Keith decide to do next. He is looking forward to it more than he probably should.

Shiro thinks it over and says, “The only thing I know about mates is what Coran told us. I have no idea what else it entails. ...but I feel a tie to you that isn’t a pack bond. It’s just us. It seems whole but not yet sealed.”

What it takes to seal it he has no idea. Coran naturally would know but he doesn’t want to ask. They’re werewolves. They’ll figure it out by instinct.

[lonered]

"Same here." Coran's explanation is the first he'd heard most of the things Coran talked about. But beyond that, he can feel that tie between them too, whole and strong, but Shiro is right. It isn't sealed yet.

His wolf seems to have ideas about it though, and provides a very clear picture of sinking his teeth into Shiro's neck, leaving a mark for the rest of the world to see, of the two of them moving together as one.

The thoughts have him blushing and he turns his gaze back towards the fire. "I can feel it too." He's smiling, glancing at Shiro out the corner of his eye as he starts in on his stew.

[spaceforged]

Through the bond between them Shiro picks up on fragmented images that are suggestive enough he stops his spoon mid-way to his mouth. He lowers it back to his bowl as his own wolf clarifies what that has been about, showing him what both wolves think will seal the bond.

He takes a deep breath and goes back to eating. “I think our wolves have a...few ideas.” He had mildly suspected it. It’s how mates are determined in the wild but.

It feels right and he wouldn’t mind letting himself be that vulnerable if it was Keith. He flushes and pauses eating yet again, looking for the words. But it seems the words are as easy as. “If it’s you, I’m okay with it.” Only Keith is allowed this much.

[lonered]

"Yeah. They... really seem to." Keith agrees sheepishly, but he doesn't think that their wolf halves are wrong about this either. The flush on Shiro's face is perhaps the most endearing thing that he's ever seen, and he's struck again with just how beautiful the other man is.

He's not expecting the words that Shiro says next, and the surprise shows on his face, but so does how happy he is to hear it. "Me too. If it's you." And only if it's Shiro. He scoots a little closer before he adds, "But only when you're ready," he promises.

A quiet moment and he adds, "You're worth waiting for." However long that may be, even if all of Keith's heart is made up and ready to be Shiro's, heart and body and soul.

[spaceforged]

There’s a moment where he doesn’t know what to do. He didn’t expect this. Keith is willing to wait until he is ready. He leans into him, breathing in his scent.

He burns for this man. Shiro says, “Keith. I’ve never wanted anyone in my life more than you. I’m ready whenever you are.”

[lonered]

Shiro leans close and Keith's wolf preens in approval at the proximity. He leans closer himself, up to press a kiss to his cheek. It's an impulsive little incidental display of affection, the sort of thing that Keith has never in his life done.

"I want you too. So much."

More than he has ever wanted anyone, ever even conceived of wanting someone else. He's more than ready too.

[spaceforged]

Shiro sets his empty bowl on the ground and takes Keith's from him, setting it beside his. The air in the cave feels changed and every breath he takes feels too hot. Anticipation hits his system like a spark to a match as their mutual desires flows through the bond between them. "Then why not now?"

He leans in and kisses him properly, sighing at the first taste of him on his lips. It feels like they were made for one another. The pack, all of his life fades away until all is left is the man in front of him.

He brushes dark hair away from Keith's face and marvels at how soft it is. He hadn't expected that. There's so much he hasn't expected of today. "I want you inside me." He breathes as they part for air.