Work Text:
Troubled Hearts
It was bitter and cold in the early hours of the morning. Teresa “Trubel” Rubel shivered slightly from her vantage spot atop of an old bakery as she wished violently for pancakes. She’d been tracking this Wesen for the better part of the evening.
It was unique, not one she or her cousin Nick in Portland had seen. Nick, busy being a cop, husband and father of two wasn’t able to get away leaving the task of surveillance up to her.
The Wesen was female, around her early to mid thirties, uneven gait and sad look green-blue eyes. She hadn’t woged or done anything that required a visit for a Grimm, just left her job at a nearby twenty-four hour diner and was slowly walking home.
She was seemingly oblivious to the fact that three large men were trailing her. Trubel discreetly followed from the rooftop. When a loud thud echoed from the street below, Trubel’s blood ran cold. She remembered how scared she was when she was jumped alone by several men.
Without a second thought Trubel jumped from the roof to the street below. Lucky for her, she landed on one of the attacker’s back. Unlucky for him, Trubel quickly slit his throat with the knife she carried between her shoulder blades.
The woman was trying hard to fight off another attacker with her human teeth. “Just woge already!” Trubel snapped as she was thrown momentarily off balance by a blow to the chin.
The woman eyes widened and she woged with some hesitation, though quickly dispatching the man who was attempting to strangle her. The third man got away. Neither woman paid him any mind as they stared at one another, panting slightly.
“You’re a Grimm.” The woman said realization and fear ringing clear in her voice. She wriggled back on the pavement to try and get away.
Trubel held up her hands, palms out. “Easy now. I’m not like a normal Grimm. I’m not going to hurt you. I’ve never seen a Wesen like you before. I was just curious.” She explained softly, kneeling down and offering a hand.
“I’m a Culpeofuchs. There’s not many of us in America.” Said the woman in a slightly accented voice, taking Trubel’s hand. “Thank you for helping me instead of killing me.”
Both women stood in silence, catching their breath. The otherwise silent night was shattered by a loud growl from Trubel’s stomach. The Grimm covered her arms with her stomach as the other woman threw her head back and laughed.
“Does fighting always make you hungry?” The Culpeofuchs asked, a slight grin turning up her lips.
“Let’s just say I’m always hungry.” Trubel answered with a sigh as she dragged the body to the alley. She aided in moving the other body.
“I’m Sabella. Call me Sab.” The Culpeofuchs said after they finished wiping their prints away.
“Sabella, huh? Pretty name. They call me Trubel..”
“Well, that’s truth in advertising.” Said Sabella and laughed again. Trubel smiled, liking the sound. “Could I offer you something to eat?” She asked.
“I wouldn’t say no to pancakes.” Trubel said sheepishly as they walked down the street.
“Would you like to go back to my place?” Sabella asked and Trubel nodded.
Together they walked two more blocks, albeit at a slower pace than Trubel was used to. Trubel had debated asking what happened the whole way. When Sabella let them both into her apartment building she couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Can I ask why you walk different?” Trubel blurted out. Sabella halted briefly in the search for her keys, eyes wide.
“I was born with a mild case of Cerebral Palsy.” She explained, then unlocked the door and motioned for Trubel to go inside.
“My parents were ashamed and sent me here to live with my grandparents. There are rarely any of us born with a defect.” The door was shut softly. Keys hung on a hook and her purse set in a basket.
Trubel’s heart ached for Sabella again as she watched her gather the supplies for pancakes from the kitchen doorway.
She nodded to an empty chair at a tiny kitchen table.
“I don’t have coffee but I have tea and cappuccino mix.” Sabella offered.
“Cappuccino is fine.” Trubel said and Sabella put on the kettle.
“Peppermint Mocha or English Toffee?” She asked, holding a tin in each hand.
“English Toffee.” Trubel said with delight.
Sabella put it on the table. “I don’t know how strong you like it.” She explained and turned around and began to cook. She pulled a stool over and sat as the batter cooked and a few minutes later she presented Trubel with a stack of pancakes, butter and syrup.
Sabella poured water for them both and she made herself a cappuccino as Trubel quickly demolished half the stack, Trubel paused, made herself the cappuccino and ate the rest of the stack.
“What? Is there something on my face?” Trubel asked, a slight flush coloring her cheeks.
“No, nothing. I’m just not used to someone eating as fast as I do.” Sabella said with a grin.
“Oh.” Trubel studied Sabella and felt her heart beat fast. This was unusual for her, feeling affectionate for someone and so suddenly.
“Would you like to go out time?” Trubel asked before she could chicken out.
Sabella looked surprised, “Like a date?” She asked.
Trubel nodded. Sabella smiled fully.
“I’d love to.” She told Trubel.