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"Things That Go Bump in the Night"Written By: Honor Disclaimers: Oranges are purple, the Wizard of
OZ actually exists, and the boys have signed a contract saying they
legally belong to me. And, no, they weren’t under the influence
of drugs or alcohol when they signed it either…well, okay, not
much. ^_^ Pairings: 3x4, existing 5xM Rating: Velvet says it’s an R Spoilers: Nope Warnings: AU (so, SOOO AU), supernatural, lime,
violence, some language, my twisted sense of humor…need I say
more? Author’s Chaotic Rambling on No Particular
Subject: Yeah. No idea where this came from. Sat down
to work on the 4x6, and wrote thirty pages of this instead. Granted,
I was in the mood for some supernatural kinkiness, but I wasn’t
planning on writing it! Ah well. *emphasized*
" Things That Go Bump in the Night" Chapter 7 Much of the most effective communication requires
no words at all.
I swallowed before answering. “Good morning.” “How do you feel?” Complicated question. “Unbalanced, I think is the best word. I’m still trying to come to terms with the fact that I can hurt people.” He nodded, as if that was what he was expecting. “Will you hesitate to do so, if you’re attacked?” Trowa and I had talked about that, after waking up this morning. The more I was around him, the more grateful I was to know him. I’ve never had a better confidant than him. “No. If someone attacks me, then I’ll fight back with everything I’m capable of.” Wufei lit up in a fierce grin. “Good. I came to tell you our discovery from yesterday, since we never had a chance to talk. Your reach is forty-five miles or so.” Forty-five?! “Whoa. That’s…whoa. That’s more than I expected.” “I think it’s more than what we all expected. Quatre, you should know I did a little research last night. The largest range ever recorded is fifty miles.” I’m that close to matching the record? Holy moley. “Huh. I have no idea what to say.” “I don’t think Duo did either when I told him. It’s the first time in years that I’ve seen him at a loss for words.” Wufei smirked, eyes crinkling up in delight. Reminded of yesterday, I decided to ask some questions now that I had someone free to answer them. Trowa had gone to shower before I remembered to ask earlier. “Wufei, what is the Council that Zechs referred to yesterday?” “Ah, that. Duo told me he was spouting off about you being unknown to the Council. We have a group of elders from every major race that forms a council. They are charged with keeping the laws, settling major disputes, and keeping track of the population. Technically, you fall under their jurisdiction because you are an empath—you especially are now that you have claimed us as your pack. Its why I didn’t meet you when you first came in, Duo sent me first to tell the Council that we had an unregistered empath in the area, and then I got to inform them that you were an adopted member of our pack.” Wufei rolled his eyes. “That went over like a lead balloon. Don’t be surprised if a lackey of the Council shows up in a few days and starts asking a lot of questions.” Well, that explained a few things. “Do they have the authority to move me?” The question troubled him and he was slow to answer it. “…perhaps. It was a mixed reaction that I received. They were ecstatic that an empath was discovered, pleased Duo had extended his protection over you…some of them weren’t pleased when you decided to claim us. I think they wanted you directly under their control.” “I don’t particularly like that idea.” “I wouldn’t either, in your place. What will probably happen is that we’ll negotiate to keep you on the condition that you help others when needed.” He quirked an eyebrow, silently asking if that was acceptable. I nodded. “That’s fine. Like Duo’s said, I’m not the type of person that can sit on the sidelines when I can do something.” “Then we likely have nothing to worry about.” Arching an amused eyebrow he added blandly, “Except you being late for school…” I glanced at the clock. “Cripes, it’s seven already?!” Tossing the bowl into the sink I ran for the stairs. Where had I put my shoes?! + Ugh. Geometry is soooo boring. Remind me, why did I decide to take this again? It wasn’t even challenging. Okay, I have to do something to keep from falling asleep. Hm. Can’t read, the teacher will catch me, can’t pass notes with Hilde, she’ll ask me questions about Trowa…I could practice with my ability a little, no one will know if I do that. I wonder how many of my packmates are within range anyway. Careful to keep my expression neutral, I dropped my shields and extended my sense. I immediately ‘saw’ Trowa, then Heero…and Noin, argh. Okay, moving on. There was Sally, Iria (apparently at work if feelings were anything to go by), Meiran (she was in town?), Rashid. Hitting a limit in that direction I changed course a little and focused to my right. I saw Duo with Wufei, and I don’t know what they’re up to, but it’s not good. They were nearly bubbling over with mischievous delight. Never a good sign. I kept scanning, stumbling across a few of my packmates and several other weres that I didn’t recognize. Probably werepanthers, they felt like that. Then I brushed against something Wrong. Really, really Wrong. It took several minutes of concentrated study to realize who it was—Abdul. I know he’s been wrestling with the wolf side of him for a few days, I helped him once to settle down again, but apparently it wasn’t enough. He was so close to losing it now that it scared me. Shit, I didn’t have time to wait for class to end, I had to help him now. I scrambled out of my chair, leaving all of my stuff behind and sprinted for the door. “Quatre!” Mr. White yelled in outrage behind me. “Where are you going?” I didn’t bother to answer, or reply to anyone’s confused queries. I just kept running, calling for Trowa and Heero as I went. As an almost afterthought I called for Duo as well—I’d get smacked if I didn’t alert the Packmaster that something was going wrong with one of his wolves. I was barely out of the school gates when Trowa and Heero caught up with me. “What’s wrong?” they demanded in unison. “Abdul,” I answered shortly as I grabbed both of their arms, urging them to run. “He’s close to turning, I have to get to him now.” Heero pulled free of my hands. “Let us change over, it’ll be faster that way.” I realized the truth of that, and made myself stand still long enough for them to shift over to Wolf form. Again I climbed onto Trowa’s back, then we were off like a bullet from a speeding train. I crouched low over Trowa’s back, distantly praying that no one would see us before I shoved the thought from my head. Abdul was my priority now. It wasn’t easy over this kind of distance, but I tried to calm him down at least a little. It was an exercise in frustration—I just wasn’t good enough at this yet, I had to touch him to have any kind of real impact. “He’s at the park!” I called to Trowa. We took a sharp left, nearly unseating me, then Trowa started to run full out. It took two minutes to reach the park, with me directing them to the far back corner. Abdul was crumpled up next to a small gazebo, face against his knees and shaking. Trowa barely skidded to a stop before I threw myself off his back and at Abdul. I barely touched him before he twisted, burying his face into my shoulder. “Shhh,” I soothed gently, running my hands over his hair and back, calming him down. I felt him shudder hard, just once, and then the beast within him settled down again. I had to dig in my heels to brace against his weight as he just relaxed completely against me. When I was sure he was okay, I stopped and brought my shields back up. “Abdul?” “Thank you,” he whispered. “What happened? You weren’t anywhere close to turning yesterday.” I was really confused on that point. “I walked past a butcher’s shop just as they were slaughtering some pigs—” a small shiver danced under his skin. “The smell of the blood, of fresh meat—I wanted to hunt so badly I could nearly taste it.” As I had already discovered, the wolf side of a were was very strong. I couldn’t really understand what he was saying, but I could understand that what he had seen and smelled was enough to set him off. “Ah. Do us both a favor and avoid that street from now on.” “Good idea,” he agreed a little sheepishly. Slowly he straightened, shifting his weight back onto his own legs. “Thank you, Master Quatre.” I negated his thanks with a small shake of my head and a smile. “Don’t mention it. Now—” “QUATRE!” My head snapped around, seeing an anxious Duo descending on me. Cripes, I’d nearly forgotten about calling him. Hastily I stood up and moved to meet him. “He’s okay, he’s okay. Situation under control.” Duo nodded to show that he had heard me, but still went directly to Abdul and crouched down. “Abdul?” “Sorry, Packmaster. I went past a butcher’s shop and I kind of lost it. Master Quatre set me right again.” Duo sighed, patting Abdul on his shoulder. “It’s alright. Did you call Quatre?” Abdul blinked. “No, Packmaster. I don’t know how he knew to come, he just showed up.” I had four people staring at me in curiosity and I blushed a little. “Um…I was bored in class so I decided to check on everyone. I just felt that something was wrong with him, so I came.” “Ah.” Duo gave me a thoughtful look, eyes darting back to Abdul. “Quatre, you’re getting a cell phone. The next time that someone feels like they’re losing control, they’re calling you. Good luck saved us this time—I don’t want to depend on that.” “Wise idea,” I agreed. “Did anyone see you on the way here?” I had to think about that. “Um…not sure. I was so focused on getting to Abdul, I didn’t notice much else. Maybe? It is the middle of the day.” Duo and Wufei shared a speaking look, then sighed in near unison. “You better tell Meiran, just in case,” Duo informed the shifter. “She might have to do a little damage control.” “How come I have to tell her?” Wufei looked rather put out about this order. “Because I did it last time. Stop whining, ‘Fei.” Wufei grumbled some more, but obediently pulled out his cell phone and called up his mate. I felt sorry for Meiran; going around tampering with people’s memories wasn’t a fun way to spend the day. I really needed to keep better tabs on everyone so she didn’t have to do that. Now that the crisis was over, a few little consequences of this escapade started to sink in. “Er, Duo? Can I ask for a favor?” “Certainly, what?” “Can you write up a note or something?” I gave Heero and Trowa a sheepish look. “I kind of pulled everyone out of school in a hurry. I think we left three irate teachers in our wake.” Duo, the rat fink, started laughing. This wasn’t funny! He didn’t have to deal with a pissed off teacher! Or explain why he suddenly ran out of a classroom for no good apparent reason. This really wasn’t my day. + I was sitting on my bed at home, doing what Trowa referred to as “penitence homework” from Mr. White. Lots of math problems. Trowa and Heero also got extra assignments to make up for dashing madly out of class. I had tried to apologize for getting them in trouble, but they had only exchanged exasperated looks before smacking me in the back of the head. I don’t understand why, after all it was… sorta… my fault. There was a quiet knock on the door, then my sister poked her head in. “Hey. I heard you had a busy day.” “That’s an understatement,” I griped. “Who told you?” “Trowa.” Iria came all the way in, shutting the door behind her before settling herself comfortably on my bed. “Mr. White called and talked to me about you running out of class. I promised to talk to you, so considered yourself talked at.” “Gotcha.” Mentally I prayed that this scene wouldn’t be repeated. Dealing with the aftermath of it wasn’t fun. Iria studied me with thoughtful eyes, tracing the edge of her jaw with an idle fingertip. “Quatre…is something going on between you and Trowa?” Eeeeek. She’d been working so much recently that I had hoped she hadn’t the spare time to notice that. “Um…” “There is, isn’t there.” “Er…” “You’re blushing, little brother.” “Shut up, sis,” I grumbled while carefully not looking up at her. “I can’t blame you, he’s very good looking. And very sweet. He actually met me at the door and said I needed to talk to you. Does he always watch out for you like this?” There was simply no way to avoid this conversation, apparently. I gave in and answered. “Pretty much, yeah. He’s very protective of me, and just…like you said, sweet. He’s very easy to talk to.” And cuddle with. I didn’t dare say that out loud. “So you like him, I take it.” Iria’s face was decidedly amused. “Duh.” I rolled my eyes. “What’s not to like?” “The fact that he’s a werewolf?” The amusement was gone, replaced with some concern. “I’m not being bigoted here, Quatre. It’s just that he has very different values and morals than a human would. It’s bound to cause some conflict.” “Maybe,” I allowed. She did have a point. “But sis, I’m part of a werewolf pack here. My views are going to conflict with the pack as a whole eventually. It’s just something that I’ll have to find a way to reconcile.” “Hm.” After a moment she nodded, and the subject was dropped. “I trust your judgment. Now, I’m off to bed. Have fun doing…homework.” The smirk was back on her face. I stuck my tongue out at her. Really not my day.
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