Chapter Text
Dyson was, for the first time in longer than he’d care to think, unsure of what to do, torn between obligations and loyalties. He had made choices that, even two years ago, he never would have imagined himself taking. But he was now faced with the reality that was living with them.
Perhaps that was why he was here, now, alone in the woods, baying at the moon, getting back to his inner self, rather than facing the consequences in the city. That would be the easy way to describe it. But things, he knew, were never easy. And there was something more behind this. Something that was drawing him back. An emptiness… A mystery he had to learn.
~LG~
Kenzi was perched on the makeshift kitchen counter, body wrapped around the warmth coming from her coffee mug, soaking in the early morning light that penetrated the loft's tinted windows and fighting off the cold bite in the morning air. This was why she didn’t do mornings. But considering the temperature, maybe mornings didn’t do mornings either. And yet her body had betrayed her by not being able to sleep, so here she was, sitting awkwardly, her eyes roaming the space that was so entirely Dyson while her fingers traced the still healing wound where her shoulder met her neck.
When she had let herself into the loft late the night before, she had been full of anger and had gone there with the intent to vent her rage at his staying away from her. But when she found it dark and cold and seemingly abandoned also, it was only her loneliness left to keep her company. She hadn't meant to spend the night, but there was something about being there, feeling some of the safety that had been missing everywhere else in their world that had so rapidly become unsafe - uncertain - that had made it almost impossible to leave.
Now, in the morning light, she was deciding what she should do. After all, she wasn’t made for hiding. Her eyes fell on the punching bag that was hanging in a place of dominance within the sparsely decorated space. Unfolding herself, she went to examine it, fingers outlining faint blood stains that had been left on the well used surface. How often, she wondered, as a confused warmth filled within her, similar to taking a shot of tequila, or, more foreign a concept, coming home, had he pictured her while venting the frustrations she had brought to his life?
She curled her fingers into fists, standing in her best fighting stance, as she heard the sound of keys in the lock behind her, and tried this coping mechanism for herself.
She punched, refusing to give into her instincts as he opened the door, never doubting that it was him. He didn't deserve her greeting or her forgiveness for leaving. Not when she had been left with uncertainty. And definitely not when she was too tired to turn it into anger.
Dyson wasn't surprised to find this intruder in his space, her scent had greeted him at his car, lulling him back to the safety of his den. For the first time since leaving, he felt like something - one thing - was starting to make sense again.
He looked at the lock before shutting the door, "Did you break in?"
Her eyes narrowed at him over her shoulder and she tossed another punch, this time imagining his face. "Give me a little credit… I stole your spare key." She corrected, smirking when she caught him smiling, "You probably should change your locks."
He could only nod, the tensions he had brought with him from the forest leaving him. "You're probably right." drawing in a deep breath, he watched her take another punch before making a quick assessment of his apartment and the crumpled state of his bed. "Does Bo know you spent the night here?"
Her stomach tightened. His second question after not seeing her in almost a week, after she had been on death's proverbial door and he had left, was about Bo. She punched again, already understanding the appeal. "Well, someone left and told her to keep an eye on me, which she's been taking annoyingly seriously. I finally convinced her to go bang somebody last night so I could have some me time." Her fist connected to the bag again, before she allowed her fingers to spread out over the canvas, almost looking for a connection with something. She had spent her entire life avoiding being lonely, only for it to penetrate and soak into her entire self over the past few days. Until now.
Not that she would tell him that. Not while she refused to forgive him for leaving in the first place.
He crossed the room in slow movements, his hands setting on her slim form to fix her fighting stance; taking the opportunity to whisper an apology and leave a light kiss near her ear.
Her big eyes, almost seeming bigger with her day-old makeup smudged around them, locked on his and he couldn't help the deep breath that he drew in response, letting her - the feeling of security and comfort that had become synonymous with her - wash over and fill him completely.
She finally allowed herself contact with him, her hand cupping his face, fingers curling into the hair behind his ear. Was he aware of how he leaned into her touch? Should she tell him that it made him seem more like a lapdog than a wolf? She definitely wouldn’t be telling him it was one of the things to change her mind on being more of a cat person.
Her eyes read the defeat of his journey, of his own uncertainty for the future, his worry for what was going on now, out of his control. "I'm glad you're home."
Smiling at her he pulled her to him. She was right. He was with her. He was home.
~LG~
The Dal had locks on its doors that hadn’t been used in over fifty years. While it closed, it was never shut away from those who needed a safe haven. Even now, far too early for most bars to be opened, two men sat, quietly discussing the politics of the day.
“Can we trust her?” Was the hushed question that Kenzi struggled to make out as she made her way through the door steps ahead of her companion.
There was a shrug from the other man, from Hale, as he sat, his back to her, and carrying more troubles than she could ever recall living there before. “The council listened to you, Trick, with your recommendation of someone dedicated to maintaining peace. I know you were pulling for me, but, since Val was also part of the battle and not nearly as much of a political risk, I can see why they chose her as acting Ash.”
“They don’t know what they’re missing out on,” Dyson’s voice called, announcing their arrival to the pair.
Kenzi rolled her eyes at the two men’s reactions at seeing them arrive together so early in the morning, but ignored it. She had other things more interesting to watch.
Hale’s smile was tight, “Val will walk that political tightrope far better than I could. She’s always been better at maintaining objectivity than I.”
“Well, I hope they don’t mistake objective with disinterest,” she pointed out before sliding onto a barstool.
Choosing to ignore his friend, Hale focused instead on Kenzi. “What brings you here? Isn’t it too early for a bender?”
She gave him a look that left no doubt that no such time existed. Aloud she explained, “I’m actually here for a book exchange with old Trick-a-dee.”
The older man rolled his eyes. “You’ve had time to think of new nicknames, I see. Drink?”
“Well, if you don’t like that one, you definitely won’t like the rest.” She admitted before refusing the offer. “Yesterday Lauren found alcohol in my system on a blood draw, and I’ve never seen her so pissed. Even the harpy she works with took a wide berth. I best not tempt fate twice in as many days.” She set the book she had brought with her on the bar as she shed her outer layers of clothes. “I finished this one, although there was too much talk of human sacrifice for comfort. You really should work on that.”
Hale shook his head, picking up the book to look at for himself. “The Great Fae War? Who the hell are you and what have you done with Kenzi? Why are you reading this ancient history?”
“Some of us were there,” Trick reminded, taking the book back into his possession.
“Look, sometimes survival is about badass fights and stealing and blowing shit up. Other times, it's boring books and cracking codes and ancient history. But this girl’s gonna do what she’s gotta do to thrive here. Especially when the rest of you close ranks or go walk about because they haven’t been neutered,” she finished with a pointed look to Dyson. “And you’re still in the doghouse, by the way.”
She widened her glance to chastise the other pair. “You know, I thought we got past this whole keeping me in the dark thing, but considering ya’ll grew up before they invented lights and the telephone, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised there’d be setbacks.”
Knowing better than to engage her on such a topic, Hale made use of the opening she had given him and purposefully not looked at Dyson. “You know, I had to cover for you when you skipped town.”
“I didn’t skip town,” he countered.
“Really? Because you weren’t here, you know in town, so, technically… look, I’m doing what I can to help, but, don’t leave town again.”
The shifter nodded, a rueful smile playing at his lips at the change in positions he and his friend had so suddenly taken. Typically, Dyson was the one with orders. Orders that Hale always followed with loyalty, humility and grace. If only it were in Dyson to do the same now. “I don’t do well on a leash.”
“Try. Or else our acting ash may have you neutered.”
Kenzi looked between the two men. The tension that had met them after the alpha fight still seemed to be present. Even if they weren’t, she was over it. “Are you two done measuring or should I get a camera?”
“So, what can I get you this time?” Trick asked her then, not wanting to draw further attention to whatever was going on between the two friends. After living as long as he had, he had learned the importance of staying out of the personal affairs of others, especially those he would like to keep as friends. “If you want something more tantalizing, I have a couple interesting translations about nymph mating rituals.”
“Kinky. It's tempting but I was actually hoping you might have something on the wolf spirit.” She quirked a smile when they tried not to react, all three failing terribly. She knew their tells too well and knew that they were either still trying to hide things or were surprised at how much she already knew.
“What do you know about the wolf spirit?” Dyson asked.
She turned to meet his eyes, her expression mostly serious. “Only what you mumble about in your sleep.” This reaction neither of the remaining pair tried to hide. She rolled her eyes. Typical.
Dyson frowned, and if she didn’t know him better, she would say he was flustered at her teasing. She broke into a smile, pleased that she wasn’t the only one of them in the awkward space she had dubbed “the great between”. They weren’t friends anymore, that she knew. But what they were… well, she was almost scared to find out.
Trick glanced between his patrons, definitely not wanting to know any more. Especially considering how recently his friend has been involved with his granddaughter. “I’ll see what I can find. Hale, Dyson, we should talk.”
Seriously? Didn’t she just… “Sure, and I’ll just wait here, then.” Kenzi called after them, shaking her head. “Because it’s not like we just talked about this!” She frowned, wishing she could have a drink, or two, considering she was unsupervised. Well, she reasoned, while she wasn’t able to drink now, there was nothing stopping her from planning for later.
~LG~
“You look terrible,” Trick told Dyson as he moved to a bookshelf, searching for the right volumes for Kenzi as his guests made friends settled near the fire. “I haven’t seen you look this drained since before you stopped letting Bo feed from you.”
Dyson ran his hands across his face. If only that was how he felt now. Then he only felt tired and thin. Now he was feeling full and pulled in more directions than he was comfortable with. Before he knew his loyalties: to Trick and to peace. Now, things were no longer that simple. And seeing the expression on his friends' faces, he knew that it was only going to get worse. “What is it?”
Trick looked to Hale to make the explanation and continued his search. “Word of a human being claimed by a shifter and surviving has spread. No doubt helped along by Vex. We were hoping that until Lauren finished her report we could keep a lid on it.”
“How bad?”
“So far, we’ve found two dead humans we believe are attempts at shifter claims gone wrong. For obvious reasons, we haven’t told Kenzi.”
“Damn it,” Dyson stood up, holding back the reaction that he wanted to let out of him. Had he less control, he might have. “They’re scared.” He had his back to his friends, one hand on his hip and the other massaging his forehead, trying to settle his head enough to finally let him decide what he knew had to be done. He met Trick’s eye. “I think it’s time, Trick. If the council decision goes like I think, I won’t be of use to you anymore, not like you need. But Hale…”
The Siren didn’t like the sound of where this was heading. While he knew that there was still much left unsettled between him and his friend, that was something completely different. “The council hasn’t decided…”
“And it isn’t just the council…” Dyson confessed, his tone was low and serious, and almost fractured. “When I left, it was to seek the counsel of the wolf spirit. She didn’t come.” His head sagged, “No shifter I’ve spoken to has seen her since…” He didn’t have to say it for them to know it was since Kenzi. “She has abandoned us, because of me. And the price will be mine to pay.”
That, Trick couldn’t believe. No devine spirit was as loyal to their chargers as was the wolf spirit. “This isn’t your fault.”
Pity laced Trick’s tone. It was a kick to the gut, one the wolf wasn’t going to take laying down. For the wolf spirit to abandon those in her charge, those given to her to protect as they had her… something terrible had to have happened. Something that, perhaps, the ancient laws had been put into place to prevent. “How isn’t it? I claimed a human, I chose her over my kind. I broke that law first. Now others are trying, humans are dying and we are alone. And you know how dangerous we are when alone.”
“Do you regret it?” Trick asked.
“What?”
“Claiming Kenzi? Do you regret it?” It was a simple question, but they all knew that it was also an important one to each of them in different ways.
It was also an answer that Dyson didn't even have to think on. “No.”
Trick smiled, almost relieved. Even Hale’s expression relaxed or became resigned. “Then, don’t do anything rash. Let Hale work with the Ash and give Lauren time to investigate fully. Don’t mention the wolf spirit. We will just see how the council wants to handle this. Until that is known, there’s nothing we can do. Well, almost nothing.” He allowed, smiling at the wolf’s confusion. “You might want to talk to Kenzi. While I’m happy she’s asking before borrowing my books to read… What’s the saying about a little bit of knowledge being dangerous? And she’s already proven dangerous enough.”
“I think my odds are better facing the council,” the shifter admitted; all three of their attentions flicked upstairs when the clatter of breaking glassware met their ears.
~LG~
Kenzi was standing on the bartop, taking full advantage of being left alone to investigate the space. But besides wondering when the last time Trick had gotten someone to dust up there, finding lost coinage that was definitely not human and storing a bottle of her favourite for her use, it was rather disappointing.
“I didn’t know this was a Coyote Ugly bar,” a strange voice sliced through her peaceful ponderings, scaring her enough to knock over a tower of glassware on her way to the floor behind the bar. It was a man, tall and commanding. Just what she needed. Why couldn’t it ever be the short and scrawny guys? She knew she could take them in a fight.
“What do you want?” She demanded, holding his eyes, not willing to back away, refusing to be a victim again so soon, even as he cut off her exit. “Bar’s not open yet.”
His eyes flicked from hers to her shoulder, where her shirt had pulled away enough to reveal the edge of the bite she had been told she would carry for the rest of her life. His head cocked in confusion and his step faltered. “It’s you. How?”
“Back away,” Dyson barked the order, Hale hot on his heels as they entered the tavern fully from downstairs. The bar seemed so much smaller now than it had only moments ago. His voice was on edge, knowing the intruder was between him and Kenzi. Would he be able to act in time should she be threatened?
He took a step.
“Wait.” Kenzi said, stopping him. Her eyes were still on the stranger who didn’t look as certain as he once had, his movements showing more fear than anything else. That he was trapped wasn’t helping. She knew better than most what happened to cornered animals. In slow movements, she reached up, moving her shirt, watching his expression when he could fully see Dyson’s mark upon her skin.
“How are you real? Why not…” He asked mournfully, tears building in his eyes. He glanced back to Dyson, his arms falling back to his side, resigned at being caught. “I mean her no harm.”
The alpha stepped forward, not accepting that for fact. Not while he was still so close to her. “Then back away.”
“What the fae was that, D-Man?” Kenzi asked when Hale had placed him in handcuffs.
“Are you hurt?” She shook her head, smiling when he made contact. Who was he trying to reassure? “I’ll tell you everything later,” he told her. “I promise.”
“May you live in interesting times,” Trick murmured as he assessed the damage of the bar, two books in hand. He shook his head, once again needing to order more glassware. He never seemed to have enough on a good day. Instead of focusing on that, he turned to Kenzi, presenting her with his findings. “Here’s what little I have on the wolf spirit, and this one,” he added with a flourish, “Is about the nymphs, just for fun.”
Still not fully willing to give up with only the promise of later satisfaction, Kenzi took the books into her possession, immediately impressed at the leather on one of the books. “This is so soft. This is quality leather.”
Trick leaned forward and looked at it. “It’s human leather.”
Kenzi jerked her hands away, almost throwing the book in the process. “What? Human! What is wrong with you people?” Her eyes locked with Dyson’s, “Please tell me he’s joking.”
Instead of answering, he looked to Hale as the siren moved their prisoner to the door. “I’ll take our uninvited guest in for questioning.”
“I’m taking you the compound,” Dyson said to Kenzi, not willing to leave her unattended any more. “Lauren’s expecting you soon.”
This was decidedly and quickly becoming not her day. “Oh goody, more fun.”
“Don’t forget your book,” Trick reminded, taking enjoyment from her expression when she reluctantly took the human-bound tome in hand.
“Stop using us for stationery!“
Outside, Dyson pulled her to a stop, still on edge. “Are you sure you’re alright?”
“Aside from being grossed out about the human leather? You know what…” she admitted, pulling her arm from his hand and no longer willing to let him off the hook with a joke, “I’m actually getting royally pissed off at being used as a voodoo doll by Lauren and not knowing what’s out to get me because everyone is keeping secrets from the feeble human who's out of her depth in ‘the scary fae world’. It’s a rerun that I really want to skip. And just because I’m now tied to you and this stupid world doesn’t mean I’m going to put up with this.”
“After the compound I will tell you what I can.”
“No, you’re going to tell me everything. If this is about me, then I deserve to know.”
As much as he would like to, he couldn’t deny that. “You aren’t a feeble human. But right now you - all of us - are out of our depth. Both sides are reacting to protect ourselves because whatever is happening, and what happened to you, shouldn’t be happening at all, especially not to anyone human.”
~TBC~