Chapter Text
Vampires and werewolves don’t mix. At least Mark thought they weren't supposed to, after years of being told so as a child. So why was he, a vampire, staring into the eyes of a werewolf in the middle of the park?
“Is there something I can help you with?” asked Mark after the stranger stared at him for a beat too long.
The werewolf just kept looking, and Mark’s confusion only grew. He had been observing the ducks swimming around the pond when the man suddenly approached him quietly and simply stood next to him. Mark only noticed him thanks to the abilities he gained from being a supernatural being. If he had picked up that the other was a wolf, then surely the wolf knew Mark was a vampire too, so why was he just standing there quietly gawking?
“If you have nothing to say, I’ll be taking my leave.”
“WAIT!” the stranger exclaimed, as if his consciousness had only just returned. “I’m Junior.”
“Okay, Junior, how can I help you?” Mark asked upon finally getting a response.
Another moment of silence passes between them, and just as Mark turns to leave once again,
“I’ve been looking for you,” the so-called Junior whispers, but with their enhanced hearing, they both hear it.
That stuns Mark, and he takes a step back. Looking for me? he thinks, I’ve never seen this man in my entire life. He had encountered countless people throughout his hundreds of years living as a vampire, but never once had he seen the face of this man who claimed to have been searching for him. Maybe his pack wants to attack vampires-
“I can see the gears turning in your head, but rest assured, I mean no harm.” The werewolf tells him. “I don't know who you are, but I know what you are. My mate.”
After having said that, Junior approached him and shyly grabbed Mark’s fingers, and the effect was immediate. Sparks flew up across both of their arms from the point where their hands were touching. For a brief moment, both their eyes shifted colors, the vampire’s became red, while the wolf’s became blue, and that confirmed everything Junior thought to be true.
Sheepishly, Junior smiled and asked, "Could my mate tell me his name as well?"
"I'm... Mark."
"Beautiful name for a beautiful guy."
The vampire almost gets lost in the werewolf's flirting, because whether he wanted to admit it or not, the other man was extremely attractive. However, he was reminded of the word Junior said, "Mate." This is a word that is strictly associated with werewolves, vampires don't have anything like that. Is it even possible for a vampire to be a mate? Even with little knowledge on the topic, he knew that "mate" was another word for "soulmate" among werewolves, and that finding their other half is extremely important. Can Mark even be that to someone?
"You are aware that I'm not of your species... right?" He isn't stupid, he knows Junior is aware, but he badly needs answers to this whole mate matter.
"Does that change anything?"
"I thought our species couldn't intersect."
"We'll just have to be abnormalities then!" Junior smiled as if he didn't just flip Mark's world upside down. "Come with me, let's go somewhere more secluded so we can talk more." Still holding his hand from earlier, Junior ran off with Mark following like a confused puppy.
Supernatural speed is usually reserved for moments where they’re in deserted areas, or in non-human exclusive events, but it appeared like someone was overly excited and forgot that minor detail. In a flash, they arrived in front of what looked to be a small, cozy cafe. There were a few customers inside, most of whom Mark could identify as also being werewolves. The atmosphere was warm, and he felt accepted, even while being considered an outsider for most of those inside the store.
"Here it is! This cafe is officially owned by one of our pack members, but we all share it. We can talk in the staff room, safe from unwelcome ears, if you know what I mean... Come with me."
"Is it really ok for me to be here?"
Junior gave him a deadpan look. "You worry too much. Just trust me."
Easy for him to say. Mark thought, He's not the one being dragged around by a complete stranger.
Junior waved back at the two baristas at the counter, who waved at him once they walked in. Their interlocked hands did not go unnoticed, raised eyebrows being aimed at the werewolf, but they left them alone. Mark could tell that Junior wouldn't escape their teasing once he left. If the inside of the cafe was impressive, this room was even more spectacular. Why waste all of this beautiful decor in a room most people won't see, thought Mark, while he looked at the multiple beanbags, the fluffy carpet, the fairy lights, and the plants hanging all over the room.
As Junior walked in, he chose a vinyl from the display on the wall with the fairy lights and put it on the record player located by the entrance of the room. As a soft melody started to play, he sat in one of the beanbags and dragged Mark to sit in the one right next to it.
"Pretty, isn't it?" Junior asked when he saw the vampire looking around. "We made this room to be the best part of the cafe so that whoever comes here feels comfortable."
"This doesn't look too much like a typical staff room, I'd say." Mark claimed while he looked around once more.
"It's not meant to. This is a place for us to take our special ones when we find them." The werewolf winked at him. "I think we're actually the first ones to use this room. This cafe is fairly new, so no one has found their mate yet, until today."
Junior's flirting was slowly increasing the more time they spent together, and Mark was worried about how the next few moments shared would turn out if the other man kept teasing him.
"So, Mr. Vampire. What do you want to know?"