Feral Wolf (original, fic, PG-13)
Monday, March 9th, 2009 08:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tsaikoFinally sat down at put in order all the werewolf bits I've written about Jesse and Gene. I also gave it a title. Go me! I'm at 14 pages and over 5,000 words. Still think there might be a few holes in the plot. Here's the story as it stands right now.
It was Gene's father that had taken him aside and explained about the packs. The town's boundaries were made up of huge farmland tracts. Bordering the tracts were forests and streams. These were guarded to four large werewolf packs and a dozen smaller family units. In return for guarding the town, the werewolves were treated like normal people instead of feared and hated.
That didn't mean they didn't have to be vigilant. Werewolves had their own laws, their own customs, but even they needed help. It was the duty of every villager to watch for rogues and ferals. Rogues especially. Rogue were werewolves that looked just like normal werewolves when the moon was full except they'd lost their humanity. They could still think like a human. They just didn't care if they killed them.
Ferals, like the Earl Holden's boy, at least looked different. When the full moon hit they didn't change completely into wolves. Instead they turned into half-wolf, half-human creatures with no humanity in them. They weren't evil. They just weren't human. All they had were their lupine instincts.
Gene always remembered what his father had told him. So on the first day of school, he'd spent the entire time watching Jesse Holden right up until he'd punched him in the nose. Which had just gone to prove that his father was right. Ferals needed to be watched to make sure they didn't cause problems.
And really, that's when his troubles began.
***
Jesse hadn't meant to cause trouble today. He really hadn't. Then again, he never meant to get in trouble at school. Yet despite all his effort to remain trouble free, trouble often found him.
Unsurprisingly, the reason he was now sitting on the bench in front of the head teacher's office was because of Gene. Gene was sitting on the complete opposite end of the bench from him, trying to pretend he wasn't there. Which was fine by Jesse.
"Mr. Holden. I do believe it's your turn to explain what happened."
Mr. Sinclair held the door open and Norman, still sporting a black eye and a bloody lip, came out. Jesse growled low in his throat. The other werewolf dropped his eyes and moved swiftly to the other side of the hall. "Mr. Holden, that is enough. Inside my office now."
Gene was watching him. Jesse didn't even need to look to know it. He could just tell. It set his teeth on edge, the way he could feel it whenever Gene was watching him. And Gene was always watching him. Ever since their first day of school.
"Have a seat, Mr. Holden." Jesse gingerly settled himself in the chair on the other side of the desk. Mr. Sinclair sat down in his own chair, steepled his hands, and gave him a considering look. It was one Jesse had seen many, many times. "Care to explain why you felt the need to start punching Mr. Wright?"
He wanted to tell Mr. Sinclair the truth, but he didn't know. It wasn't like Norman had been doing anything but talking to Gene. But something about Gene's posture, or maybe his scent, had told Jesse that something was wrong. Very wrong. When Norman had reached forward, Jesse had moved forward without thinking. The next thing he knew his fist was making contact with Norman's face. That was the truth, but Jesse doubted it was a good idea to tell Mr. Sinclair that.
This was going to be a long, long conversation.
***
"We need to get out of here," Jesse said. "I can't believe you got us trapped down here."
"Me?" Gene asked. "You were the idiot that pulled on the rusty chain. Did I tell you to pull it? No. In fact, I specifically remember telling you not to pull it." He was the slightest bit hysterical
"You were the one stupid enough to want to explore a castle that use to be inhabited by vampires." Jesse's voice dropped to a growl even as he got louder. "Were you dropped on your head as a child? Or are you just naturally this much of an idiot."
"You were the one stupid enough to follow me," Gene yelled back. "I came in here alone for a reason.
"Yes, because I really wanted to be the one to go back to the village and tell your father than I saw you go into the ruins of McGregor castle, but I decided it was none of my business. That would have gone over great."
"Nothing would have happened had you not messed with the chain!"
***
Jesse had yelled, but that wasn't anything new. Jesse was always yelling at him. Or ignoring him. Or occasionally punching him. The yelling was the most comforting, familiar thing about this whole debacle. It was the silence that Gene was worried about. Silence meant that Jesse was changing or had changed into his werewolf form. A form that Jesse couldn't control. A form that would very likely eat him for dinner.
Gene tested the crowbar he'd wedged into the cell lock, reassured by it solid weight. It wouldn't hold against a crazy werewolf, but it might at least slow him down. Really, that's the best he could hope for at this point. At least he'd die a hero, having made sure that the feral werewolf hadn't attacked the village.
A low growl came out of the darkness and Gene quickly moved to the farthest corner of the cell, which was not nearly deep enough for his liking. It was the only one that was at least semi-sound though. Moonlight fell through a barred window. Gene watched as it slowly revealed a thin, sharp muzzle. The werewolf was growling, but it wasn't baring its teeth. That was a good sign right?
Not much of one Gene decided as the rest of the werewolf revealed itself. It was big even for a werewolf. It walked upright on muscled legs, though it dropped to all fours in order to sniff the ground. Silver light edged its dark fur. Inch long claws scraped the stone floor, before it looked up at him.
It saw him. The werewolf was at the bars in one bound, muzzle pressed as far as it could go. Gene flinched. The werewolf's growl deepened. One arm reached forward and snagged his ankle. He kicked, felt his foot connect and heard the pained yelp, and then it was captured as well. Gene was yanked towards the bars, sharp claws digging slightly into his skin. He curled into a ball.
Going to die. Going to die. Going to die.
Therefore Gene was totally unprepared for when the werewolf snuffled him a bit before it licked him.
"Wha..." The werewolf wasn't trying to kill him, unless licking to death was a bizarre new way to die. Instead it was sniffing him and wagging its tail.
"Oh for the love of... you're nothing but a big puppy."
The werewolf seemed to chuff in agreement.
***
It was hard to believe that at one point, Gene had been terrified of the idea of Jesse as a werewolf. Being a werewolf was scary enough. Being one that completely lost his humanity during the full moon? That was beyond terrifying. Jesse hated him enough when he was human. Gene had decided that he never, ever wanted to know what Jesse's wolf instincts thought of him. He liked all his body parts where they were, thank you.
That was before he'd locked himself in the dungeon of the old McGregor Castle with Jesse on the night of the full moon. There had been no other way. They'd been too close to the village to just let Jesse run free and no other place would hold a berserk werewolf. Gene had figured that he was as good as dead.
Until he realized that Jesse transformed didn't see him as a threat. Instead, he saw Gene as a mate.
"Hey Puppy," Gene said as he was pushed against the wall that bordered the Thomson's farm. The werewolf made a soft sound of greeting before carefully licking his neck. Gene supposed he should call him Jesse, but he couldn't reconcile the guy that loathed him and the werewolf that wanted him. So he called the werewolf Puppy. "Feeling affectionate tonight?"
In response, Puppy turned him around until his hands were braced against the wall. There was warm breath on the back of his neck, and clawed fingers spanning his hipbones. Heat curled low in his stomach. "Yeah, feeling real affectionate tonight." Puppy growled low in his throat, pulling at Gene's pants until Gene had to either undo the button or have them ripped off.
It was going to be a rough night. He'd probably wind up with more than his fair share of bruises and scratches by the end. It was just as well no suspected the real reason he looked like he did after every full moon. Gene would never live it down if people found out that he bottomed for the werewolf that normally hated his guts.
***
He hadn't recognized the werewolf when it slid out of the shadows. Gene was naturally wary because he knew most of the wolves in the four packs around the village. Sometimes he got a little confused telling one from the other. But he at least recognized them.
This werewolf was a silver so pale it was almost, but not quite, white with dark markings around his muzzle and ears. It was close enough that Gene could see its eyes. Pale yellow, almost clearless, and definitely not one of the packs.
"Greetings stranger," Gene said, because it was just good manners. Puppy was around, but had gone on ahead. He'd been following his tracks in the snow when the werewolf appeared. Gene knew from experience that Puppy wouldn't show himself when other werewolves were around. "I assume you are just passing through."
Werewolves couldn't speak when the moon forced them into their wolf forms. At least, they couldn't speak English. Gene knew how to read the basics of wolf body language. He didn't like what this one was saying.
The wolf was approaching him with its head down, its ears alert, and tension in its posture. It walked forward stiff legged, one carefully placed paw at a time. Watching him. Gene swallowed. He knew stalking when he saw it.
The first thing anyone learned was not to run. Keeping his eyes on the wolf, Gene slowly back up a step, then two. That did not have the desired effect. The wolf sped up. Gene had a split second of hysteria before the wolf was on him, snarling.
Just as quickly it was hauled off of him.
The full moon threw everything into brilliant relief. Puppy had the back of the strange werewolf's neck in his own jaws and was shaking him like a ragdoll. Like the werewolf weighed nothing at all. Then he reared up and threw the wolf across the clearing. It slammed into a tree trunk with a sickening crunch and a sharp yelp of pain. Gene didn't see it move after that.
Puppy was still growling, muzzle dark with blood, and took two steps towards the wolf before Gene could get his feet up under him. "No! Puppy! Don't... don't... " He couldn't seem to breathe.
In an instant, Puppy was there beside him. Gene grabbed onto the thick fur around his neck and buried his face into it.
***
Jesse knew there was trouble when he walked into the room and the Alphas from the four largest packs in the area were there. He brought his head up, put his shoulders back, and walked quickly to the table. Four sets of eyes - two yellow, one golden, and one brown - followed his progress. Pride was the only thing that kept him from diverting his gaze.
"The werewolf has found a way to escape his cage," Martin said. They always referred to his other self as "the werewolf." Which was just as well. He wasn't in control of what he did in that form, couldn't even remember what happened. As a werewolf, he might as well be another person. It helped to disassociate himself from what occurred when he took that form. Less guilt and self-recrimination that way.
"It hasn't hurt anyone, has it?"
"No," Martin replied. "But an issue has arisen."
Something cold settled in his stomach. The packs had every right to kill him for what he was. Jesse's father had fought long and hard against it, and once his father had passed, he'd done everything in his power to keep his father's wish. Even during the days when he thought it would be simpler just to let them kill him. "I can make the cage stronger. There are reinforcements that can..."
"That won't be necessary." This from Noah, the Alpha of the largest pack. "And we're not going to kill you. That won't be necessary either. It seems that your werewolf self has found his mate."
"Mate?" If he hadn't already been sitting, Jesse's legs would have given out from under him. A mate? It didn't happen often to those who were completely feral in werewolf form, but when it did... it offered a rare chance of legitimacy. A feral werewolf would listen to its mate no matter what, and that alone would cause the packs to accept one living in their midst. Assuming that the packs could trust the person the werewolf had mated with. "Who is it?"
All four Alphas looked extremely uncomfortable. Emma was the one who finally broke the silence.
"The werewolf's mate is Gene Preston."
Oh no. No. He refused to believe it. "Him? I... the werewolf is mated to HIM?!?"
It was like his worse nightmare had come true.
***
The worse had been that they'd tried to get him to move in with Gene.
"No," Jesse said in a voice that sounded suspiciously like a snarl. "I have lived on my own for four years..." since my father died "...and I will not move in with someone else." They argued for another twenty minutes, but Jesse refused to budge. Then they'd suggested that Gene move in with him and it was another twenty minutes of arguing because he didn't want anyone else in his house.
Separate. He would agree to be with Gene on the nights before and after the full moon, as well as the night of the full, but no more. It was something Jesse felt he could live with. If things changed in the future, he'd deal with it then. Just not now.
Gene was waiting for him in the hallway. Jesse hesitated in the doorway before he stepped forward. Would he feel any different towards Gene now? Was this why Jesse always felt so out of sorts whenever he was around? Had he somehow known that they
were mates?
"It doesn't matter what they told you. We don't need to live together. I mean, I've been doing fine for over six months now. You in werewolf form just sort of find me wherever I am. Nothing has to..."
Jesse saw red and seized on the most convenient reason "You've known that the werewolf could get out of its cage for over six months and you didn't tell anyone? What if it had hurt someone? Or killed them? I'm a feral werewolf! Do you have any idea what that means?" His breathing was harsh.
"I... "
"Forget about it. I don't want to hear your apologies." Jesse turned on his heel and stalked away. He just could not deal with this right now.
It was only much, much later that Jesse started to wonder if the reason he was so mad was because Gene hadn't told anyone about him escaping his cage or because it was obvious that Gene didn't want to live with him.
***
The werewolf woke in the same cage he'd woken up in for most of his life. That was fine. He'd learned how to open the door years ago. Now he knew that if he returned to the cage at the end the half of him that walked in the sun - the daystealer - wouldn't try to make it more difficult for him to get out.
Only this time the door to the cage was open. That was different. The werewolf distrusted different on principle. He whined, low in his throat, senses alert to try and figure out what was going on.
His first instinct was to growl when he scented someone, but the scent was immediately placed and the urge squashed. Mate. His mate was here. That explained nothing, but it did help ease some of his worries.
"Hey Puppy. It's okay. You can come out. There's nothing wrong." Puppy was the name his mate had given him. He didn't always understand it when the non-wolves spoke, but he knew words. Bits of phrases. Things he'd picked up. "Come on, Puppy."
Despite his mate's tone, coaxing and reassuring, he took his time coming out. His tail wasn't between his legs, but it was low and his ears flicked between going forward and back. There was no strange scents or sounds. At least none that he could detect.
His mate kept speaking, but there was no urgency in the words. Just reassurance. His mate seemed to understand he just needed time to figure things out and would wait. The werewolf knew that there was a reason why this one was his mate.
He slid quickly out of the cage, low to the ground, exploring the area quickly. Nothing out of the ordinary. His nose told him that there was a fox near the woods and deer had wandered through earlier before startling. It had probably caught his scent. No half-wolves and the werewolf had long ago learned that they and the non-wolves were his biggest threats.
Once his survey was complete and he was sure, sure, sure there was nothing wrong, the werewolf bounded over to his mate. He reared up on his hind legs, something which true wolves and the half-wolves couldn't do, towering over his mate. Then he put his clawed hands on his mate's shoulders. But carefully. Very carefully. His mate tensed, but didn't pull away.
His mate smelled of sweat and soap and man and his. Right. Perfect. The werewolf dropped his head to nuzzle at the dark curls on his mate's head. Then his mate smiled, and stroked his muzzle. Puppy chuffed. Everything would be fine.
***
"You know, I didn't let the werewolf out of the cage," Gene said as they waited on the back porch for the moon to rise. "I know you think I did, but I didn't. The werewolf always got out on his own."
"I never said you did let it out," Jesse replied after a while. The moonrise was late this day, long after night had fallen. It meant it was going to be a short night. Gene didn't think Jesse minded the shorter nights, but he wished he had more time to spend with Puppy. Even if he was dead tired the next day.
"I know you didn't say it, but you thought it."
"You really shouldn't try to guess what I'm thinking. You've never been very good at it." Jesse turned to look at him with eyes that were more green than blue. "It's easier to ask than to try and guess." There was a long pause where nothing but the crickets made a sound. "Why didn't you tell others?"
"Tell others what?"
"That there was a feral running around. I know you're big on the threats werewolves pose to humans. Even if you did know it was me, why didn't you tell anyone?" Gene blinked and his mind flailed. How did he answer this question without totally getting punched or yelled at? While his brain was still trying to come up with a good answer, his mouth was already open and speaking.
"It's hard be threatened by a giant wolf like thing that only seems intent on snuffling you, licking you and romping around like a big puppy."
Okay, not what he intended to say. Jesse was staring at him. Then he sighed, which in Gene's mind was a lot better than how it could have been.
"Licked you?"
"Yes. A whole lot."
"I don't need to hear this." There was the faintest edge of tension in Jesse's voice.
"Sometimes in interesting places."
"You can stop now."
***
"You know, feral werewolves are not given a wolf name."
"Really? Why not?" Gene asked. It was so rare that Jesse talked about what he was and how it related to the packs. Gene did his best not to pry, but that didn't mean he wasn't curious. Being curious about everything that had to deal with Jesse had always been a fault of his.
"There's no point. A feral werewolf won't acknowledge it. It's just a word with no meaning." Jesse snorted. "There's some people who say that the only name a feral will respond to is the one given to them by their mate, but most werewolves think it's just... you gave it a name, didn't you?"
Gene realized his face must have gone pale, because Jesse was suddenly looking at him with way too much intensity. Smooth. He needed to be smooth. "So... er... how about that weather?
"Gene, what do you call me when I'm in werewolf form?" Jesse said in that even, dangerous tone of his. Gene swallowed hard.
Oh dear lord, he was doomed.
"Puppy," Gene replied, wincing even as he said the word. Jesse stared at him in open mouth shock. For a few blessed seconds Gene actually thought that he might get out of this without being yelled out. Then incoherent rage took over Jesse features. This was going to get loud. At that very moment, the full moon crested the horizon.
Gene had never, ever been so glad to see Jesse change in his life.
***
Jesse noticed that on the mornings after he turned, he almost always woke up in his own house. Sometimes on the bed, sometimes on the rug in front of the fireplace, sometimes on the floor beside the bed, and, on those nights when it was warm enough, on the porch out front. Gene wasn't always next to him, but he was always near.
The only place Jesse never found him was in his bed.
This morning he woke up to find Gene curled up in a bunch of old blankets, pressed against his side. That was another thing. Gene never took the blankets off of his bed or the pillows either. If Jesse moved and woke Gene up, Gene would pull away. He didn't think Gene was shy. Not the way he spoke of what he did with the werewolf. Which meant that Gene pulled away because it was him.
He'd never thought he'd be... jealous of his other half, but Jesse was discovering a lot of things about himself when it came to Gene. He wasn't sure that he liked it.
There was only one thing to do about it. Jesse disentangled himself from Gene, picked him up, and dropped him on the bed. Gene let out an undignified yelp and nearly rolled off.
"What are you doing?"
"Move over," Jesse replied. Gene was just staring up at him with confused brown eyes. "Over. Now."
Gene scooted until he was pressed against the wall. He gave Jesse a wary look. Jesse ignored it in favor of laying down on his own bed, grabbing the blankets at the foot, and pulling them up. Then he reached over and yanked Gene down beside him.
"Jesse..."
"It's too early to fight," Jesse said. He arranged Gene until he was satisfied, and Gene let him. "Go back to sleep. In a bed this time. You're going to kill your back sleeping on the floor."
"Fine," Gene huffed. "But I'm already awake so I'll probably get up in a few minutes." Jesse grunted in reply.
Within seconds, both of them had drifted back off to sleep.
***
Jesse woke up to the smell of sleep. Sleep had its own smell: a bit of salt from sweat, warmth from body heat, a faint cotton/soapy smell from the sheets, and above all the concentrated scent of mate mingled with his own. The scent of home.
His arm was asleep, but that wasn't anything new. Gene often slept wrapped around an arm or a leg. Like he was afraid Jesse would slip off into the night if he didn't hold on. The few times he'd slipped out to use the bathroom or check on something during the night, he'd come back to bed only to find Gene wrapped around his pillow instead. Jesse found it ridiculous that he could be jealous of a feather filled substitute.
And that had been his first clue, that slight irritation. The second had been when he realized that it felt strange for him to wake up the night after a full moon without Gene by his side. Jesse had whined, low in throat, before he caught himself. The third clue was when Gene had gotten sick one night and he'd instantly woke up at his absence. When had not having Gene in his bed become the unusual enough to wake him from a dead sleep?
There were a host of little things that shouldn't make it true. Gene still annoyed the shit out of him. He was too loud. He took minor things too seriously and serious things to casually. He was always flirting with everyone. He couldn't leave Jesse alone but had to poke and prod at him until he figured out what was going on in Jesse's mind. He was so damn irritating.
Despite all that, Jesse had realized that when push came to shove, he would gladly lay down his life to save Gene's.
They'd been together for over four years now and Jesse was beginning to realize that maybe, just maybe, he'd fallen in love with Gene. Which made him feel absolutely ridiculous. How did one tell the guy you'd been mated to for four years, co-habitating with for three, and officially married to for two that you'd just realized you love him? Wasn't that supposed to have come before everything else?
The best course of action, Jesse decided, was to burrow his nose into the crook of Gene's neck and make a firm commitment to worry about it later.
***
"You want us to what?" Gene said. They'd sent Emma to speak to him because out of all the leaders of the packs, Emma was the least intimidating. Or so everyone thought. Gene didn't buy it for a minute. Even when she wasn't in wolf form, she could damn scary. Especially if you and her younger brother just happened to have dumped a bucket of water on her while she was sleeping
"The council would like you to consider marriage. I know this is a private decision, but it would solve a lot of problems. Inheritance. Property. A stronger bond between you two," Emma explained. "It would also calm some the muttering among the packs..."
"Do you think I care?" Gene clenched his fists. The last thing he wanted was to push Jesse. Everyone pushed Jesse into things, even Jesse himself. It wasn't fair and he wasn't going to do it.
"You two are practically married already."
"Not a good argument." Gene crossed his arms.
"You're going to want kids at some point." Emma knew that was his weakness. Gene did want kids, but it was going to be far in the future and he'd only do it if Jesse wanted to. "It's going to have to be through adoption. None of the packs will let you adopt orphans if you're not married."
"We don't have to adopt werewolves." Puppy would love little werewolves. Gene had seen how the werewolf watched them from a distance: tail wagging, but a low whine in throat because he knew they'd run from him. "We could always adopt human kids."
"And the town isn't going to allow that without some sort of legal bond between you. Like say, oh, marriage."
Gene bit his lip. "We could always go out of town."
"Even if you did, the magistrates are going to require..."
"Fine," Gene said, cutting Emma off. "I'll agree to this on one condition. Jesse has to ask." Emma made a face. They both knew the sun would freeze before Jesse would ask Gene to marry him.
***
The one thing about Gene that was guaranteed to piss Jesse off was his ability to think that he understood what was Jesse was thinking without asking. He didn't trust Noah worth anything - as pack leader the werewolf had no one's interests at heart but his packs' - but could very easily believe that Gene has said what he'd been told. If you ask, he'll go along with it.
Go along with it. That was what really made Jesse see red. Gene would just "go along with it." Would he really? And Jesse was absolutely 100% sure Gene thought that he wouldn't ask. Like Hell.
Some of what he was feeling must have shown on his face because people were scrambling out of his way as he stalked towards the city square. It was market day. Gene had gone to into the city because Jesse in general didn't like large crowds. He found Gene at a fruit seller's stall, flirting with the girl running it. She was blushing and batting her eyes. Gene was eating it up.
Fortunately, Jesse knew the perfect way to put a stop to that.
"I need to talk with you," Jesse said. Gene glanced at him, but his body language still said he was mostly focused on the girl in the stall.
"Jesse? Is it important? I was in the middle of..."
"I need to ask you to marry me," Jesse replied. The girl Gene had been flirting with made a little "Oh!" sound, her eyes going wide. Gene just looked stunned. Jesse took a hold of Gene's arm and guided him a little ways from the stall. Several people were looking at them.
"Well?"
Confusion crossed Gene's face. "Well what?"
"I have it on good authority that if I ask you, you'll say yes." Somehow Jesse managed to keep the tension out of his voice, though it felt like his stomach was nothing but one big knot. "So I'm asking. Will you marry me?"
"Uh... er... yes?" Gene said. Just like that, all the anger drained out of Jesse. He nodded once.
"Good. We'll do it next week." Then just because he was feeling daring, Jesse leaned down and kissed Gene on the cheek. Gene blushed. "I'll see you when you get home."
The whole thing was so public that there was no way Gene could back out. Jesse knew he'd been trapped into doing this, but for the first time in his life, he didn't feel trapped. He felt... at peace. It was a nice change.
***
It was their wedding night.
Gene still couldn't believe it. They were married. For as long as love shall last, I will ease your pain, share your laughter, carry your burdens, temper your anger, share your dreams, hold your heart and honor these vows. That's the vows they'd repeated under the circle of oaks. But what if there wasn't love to begin with?
"You look nervous."
"I'm not." Gene winced and Jesse raised an eyebrow. His denial hadn't sounded the least bit convincing.
Fingers touched the back of his neck. It was almost soothing. "It's not like you haven't done this before."
"It's different." Being with Puppy was different. When Gene was with the werewolf there was absolutely no doubt in his mind he was wanted. With Jesse all he had was doubts. "It just is."
"Would it help..." Jesse whispered. Gene shivered as warm breath brushed across his ear. "... if I was on bottom?"
"Um."
Jesse walked over to the bed and laid down on his stomach. With his shirt off. In nothing but a pair of very well worn pants. Gene felt his mouth go dry and his legs go shaky. Jesse looked back over his shoulder and gave Gene a challenging look.
"Well?"
Gene had never moved across a room so fast in his life.
***
"Jesse, have you seen my brush?" Gene was sure he'd left it on dresser. It was missing more teeth than it actually had, and at one point the handle had cracked, but it was his. He always said he was going to get another one, but he never actually had the time. And if he didn't brush the curls that made up his hair, he'd look like he was sporting a rat's nest.
"Here."
"Thank you," Gene said, automatically taking whatever Jesse was holding out. He ran it through his hair once before it dawned on him that it wasn't his brush. "This isn't my brush."
"No. I got you a new one," Jesse replied. "Because it's your birthday."
"You've never bought me anything for my birthday before. I didn't think you even knew when my birthday was," Gene replied. Jesse wouldn't meet his eyes, shifting his weight back and forth. Like he was nervous.
"I asked around. You were always complaining about the brush, so I went got you a new one."
He couldn’t help it. He smiled. Then Gene leaned over and kissed Jesse on the corner of his mouth. "Thank you. I love it." I love you.
Jesse smiled back, turning his head to kiss him properly. "I'm glad."
That was when Gene realized that Jesse didn't actually hate him.
In fact, the werewolf just might love him.
Any suggestions as to what else you'd like to see with these two? Because if not, I'm calling it done.
It was Gene's father that had taken him aside and explained about the packs. The town's boundaries were made up of huge farmland tracts. Bordering the tracts were forests and streams. These were guarded to four large werewolf packs and a dozen smaller family units. In return for guarding the town, the werewolves were treated like normal people instead of feared and hated.
That didn't mean they didn't have to be vigilant. Werewolves had their own laws, their own customs, but even they needed help. It was the duty of every villager to watch for rogues and ferals. Rogues especially. Rogue were werewolves that looked just like normal werewolves when the moon was full except they'd lost their humanity. They could still think like a human. They just didn't care if they killed them.
Ferals, like the Earl Holden's boy, at least looked different. When the full moon hit they didn't change completely into wolves. Instead they turned into half-wolf, half-human creatures with no humanity in them. They weren't evil. They just weren't human. All they had were their lupine instincts.
Gene always remembered what his father had told him. So on the first day of school, he'd spent the entire time watching Jesse Holden right up until he'd punched him in the nose. Which had just gone to prove that his father was right. Ferals needed to be watched to make sure they didn't cause problems.
And really, that's when his troubles began.
***
Jesse hadn't meant to cause trouble today. He really hadn't. Then again, he never meant to get in trouble at school. Yet despite all his effort to remain trouble free, trouble often found him.
Unsurprisingly, the reason he was now sitting on the bench in front of the head teacher's office was because of Gene. Gene was sitting on the complete opposite end of the bench from him, trying to pretend he wasn't there. Which was fine by Jesse.
"Mr. Holden. I do believe it's your turn to explain what happened."
Mr. Sinclair held the door open and Norman, still sporting a black eye and a bloody lip, came out. Jesse growled low in his throat. The other werewolf dropped his eyes and moved swiftly to the other side of the hall. "Mr. Holden, that is enough. Inside my office now."
Gene was watching him. Jesse didn't even need to look to know it. He could just tell. It set his teeth on edge, the way he could feel it whenever Gene was watching him. And Gene was always watching him. Ever since their first day of school.
"Have a seat, Mr. Holden." Jesse gingerly settled himself in the chair on the other side of the desk. Mr. Sinclair sat down in his own chair, steepled his hands, and gave him a considering look. It was one Jesse had seen many, many times. "Care to explain why you felt the need to start punching Mr. Wright?"
He wanted to tell Mr. Sinclair the truth, but he didn't know. It wasn't like Norman had been doing anything but talking to Gene. But something about Gene's posture, or maybe his scent, had told Jesse that something was wrong. Very wrong. When Norman had reached forward, Jesse had moved forward without thinking. The next thing he knew his fist was making contact with Norman's face. That was the truth, but Jesse doubted it was a good idea to tell Mr. Sinclair that.
This was going to be a long, long conversation.
***
"We need to get out of here," Jesse said. "I can't believe you got us trapped down here."
"Me?" Gene asked. "You were the idiot that pulled on the rusty chain. Did I tell you to pull it? No. In fact, I specifically remember telling you not to pull it." He was the slightest bit hysterical
"You were the one stupid enough to want to explore a castle that use to be inhabited by vampires." Jesse's voice dropped to a growl even as he got louder. "Were you dropped on your head as a child? Or are you just naturally this much of an idiot."
"You were the one stupid enough to follow me," Gene yelled back. "I came in here alone for a reason.
"Yes, because I really wanted to be the one to go back to the village and tell your father than I saw you go into the ruins of McGregor castle, but I decided it was none of my business. That would have gone over great."
"Nothing would have happened had you not messed with the chain!"
***
Jesse had yelled, but that wasn't anything new. Jesse was always yelling at him. Or ignoring him. Or occasionally punching him. The yelling was the most comforting, familiar thing about this whole debacle. It was the silence that Gene was worried about. Silence meant that Jesse was changing or had changed into his werewolf form. A form that Jesse couldn't control. A form that would very likely eat him for dinner.
Gene tested the crowbar he'd wedged into the cell lock, reassured by it solid weight. It wouldn't hold against a crazy werewolf, but it might at least slow him down. Really, that's the best he could hope for at this point. At least he'd die a hero, having made sure that the feral werewolf hadn't attacked the village.
A low growl came out of the darkness and Gene quickly moved to the farthest corner of the cell, which was not nearly deep enough for his liking. It was the only one that was at least semi-sound though. Moonlight fell through a barred window. Gene watched as it slowly revealed a thin, sharp muzzle. The werewolf was growling, but it wasn't baring its teeth. That was a good sign right?
Not much of one Gene decided as the rest of the werewolf revealed itself. It was big even for a werewolf. It walked upright on muscled legs, though it dropped to all fours in order to sniff the ground. Silver light edged its dark fur. Inch long claws scraped the stone floor, before it looked up at him.
It saw him. The werewolf was at the bars in one bound, muzzle pressed as far as it could go. Gene flinched. The werewolf's growl deepened. One arm reached forward and snagged his ankle. He kicked, felt his foot connect and heard the pained yelp, and then it was captured as well. Gene was yanked towards the bars, sharp claws digging slightly into his skin. He curled into a ball.
Going to die. Going to die. Going to die.
Therefore Gene was totally unprepared for when the werewolf snuffled him a bit before it licked him.
"Wha..." The werewolf wasn't trying to kill him, unless licking to death was a bizarre new way to die. Instead it was sniffing him and wagging its tail.
"Oh for the love of... you're nothing but a big puppy."
The werewolf seemed to chuff in agreement.
***
It was hard to believe that at one point, Gene had been terrified of the idea of Jesse as a werewolf. Being a werewolf was scary enough. Being one that completely lost his humanity during the full moon? That was beyond terrifying. Jesse hated him enough when he was human. Gene had decided that he never, ever wanted to know what Jesse's wolf instincts thought of him. He liked all his body parts where they were, thank you.
That was before he'd locked himself in the dungeon of the old McGregor Castle with Jesse on the night of the full moon. There had been no other way. They'd been too close to the village to just let Jesse run free and no other place would hold a berserk werewolf. Gene had figured that he was as good as dead.
Until he realized that Jesse transformed didn't see him as a threat. Instead, he saw Gene as a mate.
"Hey Puppy," Gene said as he was pushed against the wall that bordered the Thomson's farm. The werewolf made a soft sound of greeting before carefully licking his neck. Gene supposed he should call him Jesse, but he couldn't reconcile the guy that loathed him and the werewolf that wanted him. So he called the werewolf Puppy. "Feeling affectionate tonight?"
In response, Puppy turned him around until his hands were braced against the wall. There was warm breath on the back of his neck, and clawed fingers spanning his hipbones. Heat curled low in his stomach. "Yeah, feeling real affectionate tonight." Puppy growled low in his throat, pulling at Gene's pants until Gene had to either undo the button or have them ripped off.
It was going to be a rough night. He'd probably wind up with more than his fair share of bruises and scratches by the end. It was just as well no suspected the real reason he looked like he did after every full moon. Gene would never live it down if people found out that he bottomed for the werewolf that normally hated his guts.
***
He hadn't recognized the werewolf when it slid out of the shadows. Gene was naturally wary because he knew most of the wolves in the four packs around the village. Sometimes he got a little confused telling one from the other. But he at least recognized them.
This werewolf was a silver so pale it was almost, but not quite, white with dark markings around his muzzle and ears. It was close enough that Gene could see its eyes. Pale yellow, almost clearless, and definitely not one of the packs.
"Greetings stranger," Gene said, because it was just good manners. Puppy was around, but had gone on ahead. He'd been following his tracks in the snow when the werewolf appeared. Gene knew from experience that Puppy wouldn't show himself when other werewolves were around. "I assume you are just passing through."
Werewolves couldn't speak when the moon forced them into their wolf forms. At least, they couldn't speak English. Gene knew how to read the basics of wolf body language. He didn't like what this one was saying.
The wolf was approaching him with its head down, its ears alert, and tension in its posture. It walked forward stiff legged, one carefully placed paw at a time. Watching him. Gene swallowed. He knew stalking when he saw it.
The first thing anyone learned was not to run. Keeping his eyes on the wolf, Gene slowly back up a step, then two. That did not have the desired effect. The wolf sped up. Gene had a split second of hysteria before the wolf was on him, snarling.
Just as quickly it was hauled off of him.
The full moon threw everything into brilliant relief. Puppy had the back of the strange werewolf's neck in his own jaws and was shaking him like a ragdoll. Like the werewolf weighed nothing at all. Then he reared up and threw the wolf across the clearing. It slammed into a tree trunk with a sickening crunch and a sharp yelp of pain. Gene didn't see it move after that.
Puppy was still growling, muzzle dark with blood, and took two steps towards the wolf before Gene could get his feet up under him. "No! Puppy! Don't... don't... " He couldn't seem to breathe.
In an instant, Puppy was there beside him. Gene grabbed onto the thick fur around his neck and buried his face into it.
***
Jesse knew there was trouble when he walked into the room and the Alphas from the four largest packs in the area were there. He brought his head up, put his shoulders back, and walked quickly to the table. Four sets of eyes - two yellow, one golden, and one brown - followed his progress. Pride was the only thing that kept him from diverting his gaze.
"The werewolf has found a way to escape his cage," Martin said. They always referred to his other self as "the werewolf." Which was just as well. He wasn't in control of what he did in that form, couldn't even remember what happened. As a werewolf, he might as well be another person. It helped to disassociate himself from what occurred when he took that form. Less guilt and self-recrimination that way.
"It hasn't hurt anyone, has it?"
"No," Martin replied. "But an issue has arisen."
Something cold settled in his stomach. The packs had every right to kill him for what he was. Jesse's father had fought long and hard against it, and once his father had passed, he'd done everything in his power to keep his father's wish. Even during the days when he thought it would be simpler just to let them kill him. "I can make the cage stronger. There are reinforcements that can..."
"That won't be necessary." This from Noah, the Alpha of the largest pack. "And we're not going to kill you. That won't be necessary either. It seems that your werewolf self has found his mate."
"Mate?" If he hadn't already been sitting, Jesse's legs would have given out from under him. A mate? It didn't happen often to those who were completely feral in werewolf form, but when it did... it offered a rare chance of legitimacy. A feral werewolf would listen to its mate no matter what, and that alone would cause the packs to accept one living in their midst. Assuming that the packs could trust the person the werewolf had mated with. "Who is it?"
All four Alphas looked extremely uncomfortable. Emma was the one who finally broke the silence.
"The werewolf's mate is Gene Preston."
Oh no. No. He refused to believe it. "Him? I... the werewolf is mated to HIM?!?"
It was like his worse nightmare had come true.
***
The worse had been that they'd tried to get him to move in with Gene.
"No," Jesse said in a voice that sounded suspiciously like a snarl. "I have lived on my own for four years..." since my father died "...and I will not move in with someone else." They argued for another twenty minutes, but Jesse refused to budge. Then they'd suggested that Gene move in with him and it was another twenty minutes of arguing because he didn't want anyone else in his house.
Separate. He would agree to be with Gene on the nights before and after the full moon, as well as the night of the full, but no more. It was something Jesse felt he could live with. If things changed in the future, he'd deal with it then. Just not now.
Gene was waiting for him in the hallway. Jesse hesitated in the doorway before he stepped forward. Would he feel any different towards Gene now? Was this why Jesse always felt so out of sorts whenever he was around? Had he somehow known that they
were mates?
"It doesn't matter what they told you. We don't need to live together. I mean, I've been doing fine for over six months now. You in werewolf form just sort of find me wherever I am. Nothing has to..."
Jesse saw red and seized on the most convenient reason "You've known that the werewolf could get out of its cage for over six months and you didn't tell anyone? What if it had hurt someone? Or killed them? I'm a feral werewolf! Do you have any idea what that means?" His breathing was harsh.
"I... "
"Forget about it. I don't want to hear your apologies." Jesse turned on his heel and stalked away. He just could not deal with this right now.
It was only much, much later that Jesse started to wonder if the reason he was so mad was because Gene hadn't told anyone about him escaping his cage or because it was obvious that Gene didn't want to live with him.
***
The werewolf woke in the same cage he'd woken up in for most of his life. That was fine. He'd learned how to open the door years ago. Now he knew that if he returned to the cage at the end the half of him that walked in the sun - the daystealer - wouldn't try to make it more difficult for him to get out.
Only this time the door to the cage was open. That was different. The werewolf distrusted different on principle. He whined, low in his throat, senses alert to try and figure out what was going on.
His first instinct was to growl when he scented someone, but the scent was immediately placed and the urge squashed. Mate. His mate was here. That explained nothing, but it did help ease some of his worries.
"Hey Puppy. It's okay. You can come out. There's nothing wrong." Puppy was the name his mate had given him. He didn't always understand it when the non-wolves spoke, but he knew words. Bits of phrases. Things he'd picked up. "Come on, Puppy."
Despite his mate's tone, coaxing and reassuring, he took his time coming out. His tail wasn't between his legs, but it was low and his ears flicked between going forward and back. There was no strange scents or sounds. At least none that he could detect.
His mate kept speaking, but there was no urgency in the words. Just reassurance. His mate seemed to understand he just needed time to figure things out and would wait. The werewolf knew that there was a reason why this one was his mate.
He slid quickly out of the cage, low to the ground, exploring the area quickly. Nothing out of the ordinary. His nose told him that there was a fox near the woods and deer had wandered through earlier before startling. It had probably caught his scent. No half-wolves and the werewolf had long ago learned that they and the non-wolves were his biggest threats.
Once his survey was complete and he was sure, sure, sure there was nothing wrong, the werewolf bounded over to his mate. He reared up on his hind legs, something which true wolves and the half-wolves couldn't do, towering over his mate. Then he put his clawed hands on his mate's shoulders. But carefully. Very carefully. His mate tensed, but didn't pull away.
His mate smelled of sweat and soap and man and his. Right. Perfect. The werewolf dropped his head to nuzzle at the dark curls on his mate's head. Then his mate smiled, and stroked his muzzle. Puppy chuffed. Everything would be fine.
***
"You know, I didn't let the werewolf out of the cage," Gene said as they waited on the back porch for the moon to rise. "I know you think I did, but I didn't. The werewolf always got out on his own."
"I never said you did let it out," Jesse replied after a while. The moonrise was late this day, long after night had fallen. It meant it was going to be a short night. Gene didn't think Jesse minded the shorter nights, but he wished he had more time to spend with Puppy. Even if he was dead tired the next day.
"I know you didn't say it, but you thought it."
"You really shouldn't try to guess what I'm thinking. You've never been very good at it." Jesse turned to look at him with eyes that were more green than blue. "It's easier to ask than to try and guess." There was a long pause where nothing but the crickets made a sound. "Why didn't you tell others?"
"Tell others what?"
"That there was a feral running around. I know you're big on the threats werewolves pose to humans. Even if you did know it was me, why didn't you tell anyone?" Gene blinked and his mind flailed. How did he answer this question without totally getting punched or yelled at? While his brain was still trying to come up with a good answer, his mouth was already open and speaking.
"It's hard be threatened by a giant wolf like thing that only seems intent on snuffling you, licking you and romping around like a big puppy."
Okay, not what he intended to say. Jesse was staring at him. Then he sighed, which in Gene's mind was a lot better than how it could have been.
"Licked you?"
"Yes. A whole lot."
"I don't need to hear this." There was the faintest edge of tension in Jesse's voice.
"Sometimes in interesting places."
"You can stop now."
***
"You know, feral werewolves are not given a wolf name."
"Really? Why not?" Gene asked. It was so rare that Jesse talked about what he was and how it related to the packs. Gene did his best not to pry, but that didn't mean he wasn't curious. Being curious about everything that had to deal with Jesse had always been a fault of his.
"There's no point. A feral werewolf won't acknowledge it. It's just a word with no meaning." Jesse snorted. "There's some people who say that the only name a feral will respond to is the one given to them by their mate, but most werewolves think it's just... you gave it a name, didn't you?"
Gene realized his face must have gone pale, because Jesse was suddenly looking at him with way too much intensity. Smooth. He needed to be smooth. "So... er... how about that weather?
"Gene, what do you call me when I'm in werewolf form?" Jesse said in that even, dangerous tone of his. Gene swallowed hard.
Oh dear lord, he was doomed.
"Puppy," Gene replied, wincing even as he said the word. Jesse stared at him in open mouth shock. For a few blessed seconds Gene actually thought that he might get out of this without being yelled out. Then incoherent rage took over Jesse features. This was going to get loud. At that very moment, the full moon crested the horizon.
Gene had never, ever been so glad to see Jesse change in his life.
***
Jesse noticed that on the mornings after he turned, he almost always woke up in his own house. Sometimes on the bed, sometimes on the rug in front of the fireplace, sometimes on the floor beside the bed, and, on those nights when it was warm enough, on the porch out front. Gene wasn't always next to him, but he was always near.
The only place Jesse never found him was in his bed.
This morning he woke up to find Gene curled up in a bunch of old blankets, pressed against his side. That was another thing. Gene never took the blankets off of his bed or the pillows either. If Jesse moved and woke Gene up, Gene would pull away. He didn't think Gene was shy. Not the way he spoke of what he did with the werewolf. Which meant that Gene pulled away because it was him.
He'd never thought he'd be... jealous of his other half, but Jesse was discovering a lot of things about himself when it came to Gene. He wasn't sure that he liked it.
There was only one thing to do about it. Jesse disentangled himself from Gene, picked him up, and dropped him on the bed. Gene let out an undignified yelp and nearly rolled off.
"What are you doing?"
"Move over," Jesse replied. Gene was just staring up at him with confused brown eyes. "Over. Now."
Gene scooted until he was pressed against the wall. He gave Jesse a wary look. Jesse ignored it in favor of laying down on his own bed, grabbing the blankets at the foot, and pulling them up. Then he reached over and yanked Gene down beside him.
"Jesse..."
"It's too early to fight," Jesse said. He arranged Gene until he was satisfied, and Gene let him. "Go back to sleep. In a bed this time. You're going to kill your back sleeping on the floor."
"Fine," Gene huffed. "But I'm already awake so I'll probably get up in a few minutes." Jesse grunted in reply.
Within seconds, both of them had drifted back off to sleep.
***
Jesse woke up to the smell of sleep. Sleep had its own smell: a bit of salt from sweat, warmth from body heat, a faint cotton/soapy smell from the sheets, and above all the concentrated scent of mate mingled with his own. The scent of home.
His arm was asleep, but that wasn't anything new. Gene often slept wrapped around an arm or a leg. Like he was afraid Jesse would slip off into the night if he didn't hold on. The few times he'd slipped out to use the bathroom or check on something during the night, he'd come back to bed only to find Gene wrapped around his pillow instead. Jesse found it ridiculous that he could be jealous of a feather filled substitute.
And that had been his first clue, that slight irritation. The second had been when he realized that it felt strange for him to wake up the night after a full moon without Gene by his side. Jesse had whined, low in throat, before he caught himself. The third clue was when Gene had gotten sick one night and he'd instantly woke up at his absence. When had not having Gene in his bed become the unusual enough to wake him from a dead sleep?
There were a host of little things that shouldn't make it true. Gene still annoyed the shit out of him. He was too loud. He took minor things too seriously and serious things to casually. He was always flirting with everyone. He couldn't leave Jesse alone but had to poke and prod at him until he figured out what was going on in Jesse's mind. He was so damn irritating.
Despite all that, Jesse had realized that when push came to shove, he would gladly lay down his life to save Gene's.
They'd been together for over four years now and Jesse was beginning to realize that maybe, just maybe, he'd fallen in love with Gene. Which made him feel absolutely ridiculous. How did one tell the guy you'd been mated to for four years, co-habitating with for three, and officially married to for two that you'd just realized you love him? Wasn't that supposed to have come before everything else?
The best course of action, Jesse decided, was to burrow his nose into the crook of Gene's neck and make a firm commitment to worry about it later.
***
"You want us to what?" Gene said. They'd sent Emma to speak to him because out of all the leaders of the packs, Emma was the least intimidating. Or so everyone thought. Gene didn't buy it for a minute. Even when she wasn't in wolf form, she could damn scary. Especially if you and her younger brother just happened to have dumped a bucket of water on her while she was sleeping
"The council would like you to consider marriage. I know this is a private decision, but it would solve a lot of problems. Inheritance. Property. A stronger bond between you two," Emma explained. "It would also calm some the muttering among the packs..."
"Do you think I care?" Gene clenched his fists. The last thing he wanted was to push Jesse. Everyone pushed Jesse into things, even Jesse himself. It wasn't fair and he wasn't going to do it.
"You two are practically married already."
"Not a good argument." Gene crossed his arms.
"You're going to want kids at some point." Emma knew that was his weakness. Gene did want kids, but it was going to be far in the future and he'd only do it if Jesse wanted to. "It's going to have to be through adoption. None of the packs will let you adopt orphans if you're not married."
"We don't have to adopt werewolves." Puppy would love little werewolves. Gene had seen how the werewolf watched them from a distance: tail wagging, but a low whine in throat because he knew they'd run from him. "We could always adopt human kids."
"And the town isn't going to allow that without some sort of legal bond between you. Like say, oh, marriage."
Gene bit his lip. "We could always go out of town."
"Even if you did, the magistrates are going to require..."
"Fine," Gene said, cutting Emma off. "I'll agree to this on one condition. Jesse has to ask." Emma made a face. They both knew the sun would freeze before Jesse would ask Gene to marry him.
***
The one thing about Gene that was guaranteed to piss Jesse off was his ability to think that he understood what was Jesse was thinking without asking. He didn't trust Noah worth anything - as pack leader the werewolf had no one's interests at heart but his packs' - but could very easily believe that Gene has said what he'd been told. If you ask, he'll go along with it.
Go along with it. That was what really made Jesse see red. Gene would just "go along with it." Would he really? And Jesse was absolutely 100% sure Gene thought that he wouldn't ask. Like Hell.
Some of what he was feeling must have shown on his face because people were scrambling out of his way as he stalked towards the city square. It was market day. Gene had gone to into the city because Jesse in general didn't like large crowds. He found Gene at a fruit seller's stall, flirting with the girl running it. She was blushing and batting her eyes. Gene was eating it up.
Fortunately, Jesse knew the perfect way to put a stop to that.
"I need to talk with you," Jesse said. Gene glanced at him, but his body language still said he was mostly focused on the girl in the stall.
"Jesse? Is it important? I was in the middle of..."
"I need to ask you to marry me," Jesse replied. The girl Gene had been flirting with made a little "Oh!" sound, her eyes going wide. Gene just looked stunned. Jesse took a hold of Gene's arm and guided him a little ways from the stall. Several people were looking at them.
"Well?"
Confusion crossed Gene's face. "Well what?"
"I have it on good authority that if I ask you, you'll say yes." Somehow Jesse managed to keep the tension out of his voice, though it felt like his stomach was nothing but one big knot. "So I'm asking. Will you marry me?"
"Uh... er... yes?" Gene said. Just like that, all the anger drained out of Jesse. He nodded once.
"Good. We'll do it next week." Then just because he was feeling daring, Jesse leaned down and kissed Gene on the cheek. Gene blushed. "I'll see you when you get home."
The whole thing was so public that there was no way Gene could back out. Jesse knew he'd been trapped into doing this, but for the first time in his life, he didn't feel trapped. He felt... at peace. It was a nice change.
***
It was their wedding night.
Gene still couldn't believe it. They were married. For as long as love shall last, I will ease your pain, share your laughter, carry your burdens, temper your anger, share your dreams, hold your heart and honor these vows. That's the vows they'd repeated under the circle of oaks. But what if there wasn't love to begin with?
"You look nervous."
"I'm not." Gene winced and Jesse raised an eyebrow. His denial hadn't sounded the least bit convincing.
Fingers touched the back of his neck. It was almost soothing. "It's not like you haven't done this before."
"It's different." Being with Puppy was different. When Gene was with the werewolf there was absolutely no doubt in his mind he was wanted. With Jesse all he had was doubts. "It just is."
"Would it help..." Jesse whispered. Gene shivered as warm breath brushed across his ear. "... if I was on bottom?"
"Um."
Jesse walked over to the bed and laid down on his stomach. With his shirt off. In nothing but a pair of very well worn pants. Gene felt his mouth go dry and his legs go shaky. Jesse looked back over his shoulder and gave Gene a challenging look.
"Well?"
Gene had never moved across a room so fast in his life.
***
"Jesse, have you seen my brush?" Gene was sure he'd left it on dresser. It was missing more teeth than it actually had, and at one point the handle had cracked, but it was his. He always said he was going to get another one, but he never actually had the time. And if he didn't brush the curls that made up his hair, he'd look like he was sporting a rat's nest.
"Here."
"Thank you," Gene said, automatically taking whatever Jesse was holding out. He ran it through his hair once before it dawned on him that it wasn't his brush. "This isn't my brush."
"No. I got you a new one," Jesse replied. "Because it's your birthday."
"You've never bought me anything for my birthday before. I didn't think you even knew when my birthday was," Gene replied. Jesse wouldn't meet his eyes, shifting his weight back and forth. Like he was nervous.
"I asked around. You were always complaining about the brush, so I went got you a new one."
He couldn’t help it. He smiled. Then Gene leaned over and kissed Jesse on the corner of his mouth. "Thank you. I love it." I love you.
Jesse smiled back, turning his head to kiss him properly. "I'm glad."
That was when Gene realized that Jesse didn't actually hate him.
In fact, the werewolf just might love him.
Any suggestions as to what else you'd like to see with these two? Because if not, I'm calling it done.
