Chapter Text
A well-known, flowery smell was in the air.
...Lavender!
His mom always grew those flowers in their minuscule orchard and used them to protect her textiles from pests and to provide a scent of freshness. But where was she? Out grocery shopping? Oh, yes! He could see her walk submissively amongst all the people on the main street sidewalk. How strange, considering she had been dead for many years. Unless...this was a chance to start over? Like resuming your videogame from the last save point!
"Mom?" he called out. "Mom!"
Slowly she lifted her head and looked at him, that sad smile he knew so well creasing her snout. He attempted to reach her but the distance between stretched like a rubber band.
"Mom! MOM!!"
Reaching her was a matter of life and death! He HAD to warn her to take it seriously if she ever fell ill; but she was gone, swallowed by the crowds which were murmuring louder and louder and drowned out his pathetic shouting.
With a jerk Wolf sat up, panting hard. Switching on the bedside lamp he swung both legs over the edge of the bed and sat there for what felt like a long time. Finally, he decided this wouldn't do and went to have a shower. But not even the warm water, a thorough shake-out, fur brushing and fresh clothes removed those cold shards pricking and poking inside him. What he needed was fresh air, coffee - and a distraction. There was somebody Wolf hadn't seen in a dog's age due to certain, awkward circumstances. In light of his current state of mind however, awkwardness would be a great improvement.
He grabbed his phone and checked the clock. 6:30, Sunday morning. Why not chance it? He sent a short, encrypted message to the user afxilike:
Hey, are you an early bird? Up for some breakfast? Offer expires 8am cus I'm hungry as a wolf! /W
Having left a short written note on the kitchen table for his crew, Wolf went down by the large elevator and was driving out of the lair's tunnel entrance when an incoming message popped up on his phone:
Sure, why not. Where do you want to meet?
Wolf replied:
I'll pick you up at your local Metro station half an hour from now. Ok?
An answer arrived within seconds:
In a wanted car? Are you joking?
Smirking, Wolf composed and sent one last message before driving off:
You'll see 🐺
The city traffic was light and the skies were clearing up as Wolf drove into a posh neighbourhood downtown. Reaching the local Metro station he spotted someone waiting on the sidewalk outside. Someone who wore a sand coloured linen shirt and matching pants, backpack slung over the left shoulder, whose head turned towards the sound of the approaching vehicle.
Wolf made a smooth stop right by the human teenager, leaned over and opened the passenger door.
"Hey!" he said, smiling. "Glad you could make it. Get in!"
"Hello Wolf. Long time, no see."
Ethan looked very pleased and made a move to enter the car, then hesitated and walked up front, examining the bumper.
"Okay, what was that all about?" Wolf asked once the boy had returned and sat down.
"The registration plates don't match those in the wanted posters. Did you have them changed? "
"Sure did! Usually I don't mind a nice car chase, but not today."
Lowering the sunglasses, Wolf took a good look at the teenager occupying Snake's usual seat. The blue eyes and the curly, straw-coloured hair didn't resemble the mother whom Wolf had got to know so intimately earlier that summer. The facial features, body movements and manner of speaking however, those were so similar it was kind of uncanny!
"Forgotten what I look like, have you?" Ethan asked, studying the criminal canine in turn.
"Just checking to see if you've grown and I think you have. Come on, buckle up!"
As they set off, Ethan examined every detail in the coupé keenly. Wolf grinned with pleasure noticing this. Seeing the kid again somehow made him feel real good and not awkward at all.
"You like my car?"
"It is pretty cool, I admit. Roomy and leathery. But what's that strange smell?"
"Trust me," Wolf coughed, "you don't want to know."
"Maybe not but what I DO want to know is why you invite me for breakfast after two months of silence. I thought you had given up on me and here I am, riding in your getaway vehicle."
"Guess I'm just full of surprises."
"That's one thing I really appreciate about you, even when you refuse giving me a straight answer." Ethan said, his inquisitive eyes watching the canine. "And by the way, is your car always this loud?"
"She's got to be powerful and smooth to handle whenever the heat's on." Wolf said and patted the dashboard affectionately.
"Keeping it in shape must require a skilled and tight-lipped mechanic."
"Yep! You're looking at him."
"No way!"
"Sure way! I've loved cars ever since I was a pup, and one day I met this cranky old guy who taught me the ropes. That was before I entered the robbery business, of course."
"I can't imagine YOU in a boiler suit, lying under a dirty car, covered in grease and oil."
"Didn't I say I'm full of surprises?" Wolf laughed and stopped briefly at a red light. "Snake's still my better at diagnosing what needs to be fixed, though."
"What's he like?" Ethan said with a sudden, unexpected interest. "Your friend."
"Who, Snake? Why'd you ask about him?"
"I figure he is important to you."
"Well, yeah. He's my best bud and the oldest of us. Hasn't got my confidence and planning skills or else he'd lead. Pretty cynical and distrusting and – wait! Why am I telling you all this?"
"Because I asked you and because we are friends?"
"Sure we are, kiddo! Sure we are. But–"
"And friends should be able to share confidences!" Ethan said firmly. "The light's turned green now, by the way."
"Look..." Wolf said as he pushed the accelerator and drove through the intersection. "I've told you several times–"
"Yeah, I KNOW! 'Don't ask me about my work!' And I didn't ask what you are doing or plan on doing, I was asking about your family. You know about mine."
"That's a stretch!" Wolf thought out loud.
"I've told you about my mother and seeing how the rest are gone I'd say you know plenty!"
In most situations Wolf would have come up with a clever retort, but right then he felt completely stumped. Never before had Ethan mentioned his deceased father, or any other relatives for that matter. What did you answer to such an admission? Suddenly Wolf got an idea.
"Tell you what," he said. "Let's have breakfast at my favourite diner and then I'll take you to a place that's important to me. What'd you say?"
"Yeah, why not."
"Oh and I almost forgot, there's something for you inside the glove compartment."
Ethan checked and turned his head, staring at Wolf. "Okay?" he asked incredulously, holding up a beige, saggy bucket hat. "What am I to do with this?"
"Put it on your curly head of course."
"Why? It looks like somebody's nightmare!"
"I want you to be a little less conspicuous. Anyone seeing us is bound to remember that mop of yours."
Ethan inspected the hat carefully and found some brownish grey strands hiding away on the insides. "These look like they came from you." he said. "Did YOU wear this horrible thing?!"
"Sure did! Can't tell you the circumstances though."
"If you could suffer it, who am I to refuse?" Ethan mumbled, pulling the textile hat over his hair. "I look absurd, don't I?"
"Just like I did and a great deal less recognisable."
"Planning ahead to avoid unforeseen consequences, right?"
"I'm glad you remember my lessons and the first one of today is..." Wolf grinned as he switched on the radio and turned the tuner knob. "...you always need a nice tune playing when riding this car!"
"It does add to the overall experience." Ethan nodded sagely and continued trying to adjust the hat.
Wolf kept driving westwards at a leisure pace, humming along to the guitar-laden song streaming out of the speakers, his free paw drumming against the windowsill.
♪ Don't know what you saw
but you know it's against the law
and you know that you want some more
I've heard it all before!* ♪
The canine and the human glanced at one another, smirking at these sentiments as they entered a nice straight stretch without intersections or cameras, the traffic basically non-existent.
"Hey, Ethan!" Wolf said in a confidential voice, leaning over a bit. "What'd you say 'bout a little speed?"
The kid raised an eyebrow. "Would that be wise?"
"Heh, nope! And that's what makes it so FUN, don't you think?" Wolf winked and seized the steering wheel. "Hold on to yourself now!"
Pressing the accelerator, Wolf immediately felt the car responding with a powerful surge.
"Whooaaa!"
Throwing a lightning quick glance at the boy and reading nothing except absolute delight on his face, Wolf pushed the accelerator even further. The engine now shook the entire frame as the vehicle hurled down the road like an unstoppable roaring behemoth. Feeling they were pushing their luck, Wolf eased up on the accelerator and braked, resulting in a powerful jolt and the car was back at law-abiding speed.
"Wow, that was amazing!" Ethan exclaimed, his facial expression exuberant. "Now I see why you love a good car chase!"
Wolf laughed long and heartily. "Glad you liked it but that's enough for today. Wanna show me what's in that backpack of yours? No hidden microphones, I hope?"
Ethan pulled the rucksack into his lap and opened it, revealing a pair of expensive-looking binoculars and a book with the succinct title "Birds of North America".
"Heeey, I got myself a bird watcher!"
"Yes. It is a peaceful, solitary hobby I happen to enjoy a lot. And an acceptable excuse to go outside."
"I might know a place or two where we could go watching." Wolf mused. "By the way, how are things back home?"
"Okay, I guess. Maxed out my grades and mother still signed me up for summer school to get me out of her hair. The less she sees of me the better she likes it."
"Aren't you being a little harsh on your mom?"
"Not really. Anyway, do you know the worst part about our summer school? The building itself is very old and the ventilation awfully shoddy. When entire floors turn into steamers during heatwaves it's downright torturous, and we are prohibited from wearing short pants. I'm trying to fix that."
"Got a plan, huh?"
"I submitted a proposal to expand the school's dressing code, permitting all males to wear uniform skirts in class if they wish to, professors and students alike. There are suitable sizes available for purchase but our principal refuses."
"Don't guys already wear skirts in...whatsthename- Scotland! Right?"
"The KILT," Ethan said with emphasis, "has been worn by the Scots for at least 500 years and is not to be compared to any regular SKIRT. I did bring the kilt up as an example when speaking to the principal, however. She wasn't amused."
"What about your classmates?" Wolf asked, raising an eyebrow. "Sounds like they would agree with you, yeah?"
"Some of them think I'm nuts, others mutter in agreement but they are afraid to rock the boat. Good grades will give you some protection but the principal still called mother to complain about my alleged 'attitude problems'."
"What did she say?"
"My mother? Well, it's weird." Ethan frowned. "I was expecting the usual harangue, that my poor manners are an embarrassment to her and I should be ashamed. Instead, she says I'm doing the right thing and that she told the principal as much too. Mother has been acting a bit strange all summer and I'd love to figure out why."
"Uh... Do you think the ventilation in my car is okay?" Wolf tugged at his shirt collar. "A little hot in here!"
"Maybe it's your ravening hunger?"
"Lucky for us that's our destination coming up on now."
Wolf slowed down, made a left turn across the road and parked next to a low two-story wooden building.
"Okay!" he said after killing the engine. "Let's get into character. Who am I?"
"Mister Oliver Poodleton, tutor of talented young people."
"You bet I am! And who are you?"
"Your devoted star pupil, sir. Who has to wear an awful hat for failing to hand in my homework on time."
"Good improv there, I like it! Keep your cool and let's do this."
"This place looks real nice." Ethan said as they approached the entrance. "Homey."
"Wait until you see the outdoor area. It's really something."
On the inside, the diner looked like a large wooden hut with exposed wooden beams in the ceiling and thick logs serving as supporting pillars. A kind-looking Hispanic woman came forward to greet them. As it turned out, Wolf was a well-known patron of the place.
"Eggs Benedict with extra bacon and a double espresso as usual, sir?"
"You got it!" Wolf smiled.
"And for your young company?"
"I would like the dry French toast along with a pot of Ceylon tea, please. And orange juice, if possible?"
"I think we can manage that. Anything else?"
"Throw in an orange juice for me as well." Wolf said. "Can't miss out on some vitamin C."
"You will have the usual table?"
"If it's not taken, yeah."
"No problem, sir. You are our first guests today. I'll be with you soon with the drinks."
Wolf headed towards the end of the dining hall and Ethan followed, passing through the open doors and onto a terrace.
"Oh wow!" Ethan exclaimed when he saw the lush and vast green valley spread out below them.
"What'd you think?"
"So far they are worth five stars out of five unless the breakfast is a downright disaster."
"Don't worry, that won't happen."
The two sat down at a table by the railed fence and regarded each other fondly. A light breeze from across the valley brushed over them and caused Wolf's cheek fur to flutter in a (at least to Ethan's eyes) comical manner.
"What's funny?" Wolf asked noticing the boy's grin.
"Nothing. Guess I am just feeling happy."
"This is the first time I brought company, you know. I usually only come here by myself."
"Your friends would upset the establishment, wouldn't they?"
"Afraid so. Terrified people is an occupational hazard when you're us. Luckily the people working here have no idea who I really am." Wolf sighed. "Tell you the truth, I always feel a little sad when staff's shrinking away from me and all I'm trying to do is giving them a tip."
"We want to be loved," Ethan said in a poetic voice, "failing that, admired; failing that, feared, failing that, hated and despised. At all costs we want to stir up some sort of feeling in others. Our soul abhors a vacuum. At all costs it longs for contact.*"
"Whoa! Where did that come from?!"
"A European book which deals with difficult existential topics. And it's true, isn't it?"
"Too heavy for me but I sure prefer the first two. Ah, here comes our drinks now!"
The matron arrived carrying a tray and proceeded to lay the table. After she had left, Ethan poured himself a cup and gingerly tasted the hot beverage.
"This tea is lovely. No cause for complaints concerning the coffee?"
"As good as I could ask for." Wolf replied, taking his time savouring the espresso.
"Now YOU share something about yourself!" Ethan said suddenly. "I'm tired of us always talking about me. What music do you like?"
"Hmm, I'm not too fussy. I enjoy 90s rock and classics from the 70s pretty well."
"What would you make of... say, Buddy Holly?"
"More funny sounding than good."
"Black Sabbath?"
"Jeez, you want to get me all depressed?! Give me Led Zeppelin any day! Your turn."
"Aphex Twin is pretty awesome."
"Aphex WHO?"
"His real name is Richard D. James and his music has become very influential in the field of electronic music." Ethan deftly produced an iPod player from his backpack, scrolled through the lists and then handed it over. "Have a listen."
Wolf had some trouble getting the earbuds placed right inside his large ears, but he could hear well enough anyway and smirked. "I should have known you'd be into something weird."
"I can put on Metallica or maybe Rage Against the Machine if you prefer."
"And I bet neither of those two would be appreciated back home."
"Mother stopped listening to most music a few years ago." Ethan answered neutrally. "Sometimes she will play Mozart, Schubert or Mendelssohn on the piano but I know for a fact she used to love Joni Mitchell. And Madonna."
"I didn't– uh, really? She's a pianist, huh?"
"The women of her family were expected to become above average pianists to provide entertainment and impress the guests." Ethan grimaced. "Regrettably she got a SON instead of a daughter but even so it falls to me to carry the torch, regardless of my feelings on the matter."
"Don't you like playing?"
"Depends on the situation and the repertoire. I am still taking piano lessons because she insists and... Well, resisting only makes things worse so I put up with it."
Wolf was spared the trouble of thinking up a suitable response when their orders arrived which kept them busy for a good while.
"That was quite a protein-heavy breakfast you just had." Ethan said after they were both finished. "Did you know that the Golden Jackal, a close relative to wolves by the way, can survive on grass alone?"
"Guess every genus houses some weirdos!" Wolf scoffed as he wiped his black lips. "If I had to do without meat it'd be the end of me!"
"Spoken like a true wolf."
"Yeah and speaking of something else, how has my friends-finding homework been working out for you?"
"At last you ask! Would you believe I have actually become acquainted with someone in my class? He is spending this summer in Europe though."
"Well done!" Wolf grinned and leaned forward. "Tell me more!"
"His name is Nicholas, Niki to his friends, and I am allowed to address him as such."
"Niki? As in Niki Lauda?"
"Who is that?"
"You don't know?" Wolf seemed a little disappointed. "He is one of the best Formula-1 drivers the world has ever seen! Got into a real bad crash once, suffered terrible injuries and nearly snuffed it, but he was back behind the wheels a few weeks later. Amazing guy!"
"It might not come as a total surprise," Ethan said with emphasis, "that I am ignorant concerning most sports. I will look up this Niki Lauda, however. Any idols of yours are worth investigating, to unravel the mystery."
"What do you mean, 'mystery'?"
"Why you became who you are. The thing you refuse to talk about."
"Maybe there isn't much to know?" Wolf answered, trying his best to look bland.
"I will figure you out one of these days, just you wait. Returning to the topic at hand, Niki is athletic and beats the rest of us blokes at sports any day. My opposite, really. I still don't understand why he agreed to a collaboration effort."
"Bet the two of you aced it."
"And you would be right, we were flawless! Niki is very smart and socially skilled and I think his parents expect him to become a diplomat for the United Nations someday."
"Glad to hear you're making good progress." Wolf gave the boy an encouraging smile. "Keep it up and you won't need me for much longer."
"Ow..." Ethan's face fell.
"Not now, next week or month!" Wolf spread his arms wide. "But I'm probably not the kind of company your mom would approve of."
"You don't know my mother." Ethan replied flatly. "She doesn't give a damn what I do, how I do it or how I feel. One thing and one thing alone is important: her social reputation! As long as things are kept quiet I can be best friends with Charles Manson for all she cares."
Wolf opened his mouth to protest, then caught himself in time and shut it just as fast.
"Don't you get it? You're about the only adult who has paid me any serious attention since..." Ethan's sentence trailed off and he turned his head, staring into the valley below them.
Clearly a sensitive topic. Wolf thought as he watched the boy's vacant expression. Memories of your dad are haunting you, aren't they? I bet you two were pretty close. Sorry kid but someone like me can't possibly fill in for him, even if your mom likes me. He cleared his throat.
"I won't just leave you and that's a promise, and I'm sorry for being out of touch for so long. There was some stuff I had to deal with but I'm here now, ain't I? We shouldn't worry too much about the future!"
"Guess so." Ethan said in a low voice.
"Do you really have to guess? This is your tutor speaking and you better listen to him!"
The boy looked back at last, the corners of his mouth curling.
"See! You're still learning!" Wolf laughed. "I'm glad to have you for company today kiddo, and tell you what; the day isn't over yet!"
~
To be continued in next chapter
* Lyrics: Happy Mondays - Loose Fit
* Quote from the book "Dr Glas" by Hjalmar Söderberg