Something in the dark (Matthias; Zander)

[Zephyr]

Full moons are a subject of endless conflict for Silas. He hates them, hates turning into a monster once a month; hates the intense agony and pain that comes along with every bone in his body breaking and changing and shifting. He hates losing control to the point where he’s merely a passenger in his own body when the wolf takes control. Recently though, they’ve started taking on another meaning. Full moons are the only time when he’s sure to see Matthias, and while he spends most of their time together as an animal, there is a short time before and after where they’re together, for a while.

Still, Silas is used to being alone. Every single month, he gets the closet ready; throws down a blanket, makes sure that the metal plate on the door is secure and that the hinges aren’t loose.

Tonight, he’s been back and forth; has checked the damn door and hinges about a hundred times. He’s anxious and antsy and restless and pacing, his jaw twitching and all the muscles in his body wound taut. He’s currently barefoot and without his suit jacket, his shirt unbuttoned halfway down his chest. Silas has lost too many fucking suits to the wolf, he isn’t willing to lose another. Still, he hasn’t taken his clothes off yet, running his fingers through his hair over and over again as he makes paths on the floor from how much he’s pacing.

The pull off the moon is strong; threatens to wipe all rational thought out of his mind as he collapses on his couch, knees pulled to his chest and head lolling back against the cushions. He always takes the full moon off of work. It’s part of the provisions made for the werewolves of Boston; they don’t have to worry about work when there’s a dangerous, deadly animal ready to burst out of their body.

It’s kind of comforting, really.

Unable to just sit, Silas gets up again and continues pacing. He shoves his hands in his pockets to quell the shaking and pads over to look out the window, glaring at the sky like he could possibly change anything. As it gets closer, Silas can feel his body itching, fingertips and toes going numb, and he isn’t sure Matthias is going to get there on time. This always happens and the hunter is always there, like fucking clockwork, but the wolf’s paranoid mind is working away, telling him that this is going to be the day that Matthias decides that babysitting his wolf isn’t going to be worth it and Silas walks over to stand in the doorway of the closet, the tattered and worn blanket where the wolf has lived most of its life.

Fanfuckingtastic.

[Matthias Walker]

It’s the first time he’s brought food.

It is not exactly the first time he has thought of feeding the wolf something, but the execution is more complicated than the intent. That it is meat in the plastic shopping bag he has tucked under his elbow is unquestionable, but the semantics of it—raw or cooked, how much of it, whether the wolf is going to rip off his face to get at the food—have sort of complicated matters. It does not exactly help that Mattie cannot remember the last time he stepped into a supermarket alone; he spends longer than he has wandering from the deli to the slabs of raw meat and then back again, frustrated by the utter weirdness of a werewolf digestive system. Raw meat shouldn’t be a problem, but when he shifts back—

Then he passes a window and his stomach drops somewhere around his ankles because it is fucking dark out and he is not going to crawl in through the goddamn fire escape to feed steak to a wolf that could very well rip his face off trying to get at the food.

The selection is hasty and when Mattie makes it to Silas’s apartment, fumbling with the key, the seven-pound ham seems more fit for a family’s Christmas dinner than a starving wolf, but whatever—at least it’s something. He hesitates for a moment on the doorstep, leaning in to listen for sounds of the shift. Silence. The key clicks in the lock, and Mattie pushes the door open, steps inside. The plastic bag is annoyingly loud, and he deposits ham and jacket on the kitchen counter as he passes.

“Silas?” For a moment, the apartment feels strangely empty. Their unspoken ritual of being there on full moons has gone on for months; Silas wouldn’t have left. Then the familiar awareness of the werewolf, the quietest sound of clothing on skin or of bare feet over the carpet, settles in and Matthias toes off his shoes and wanders into the apartment. So he isn’t too late, however much he’d been pushing it back at the supermarket; so this is one more full moon Silas won’t be alone for and Mattie will end up with the wolf pressed against his side.

It probably shouldn’t feel like cheating, because Silas is a goddamn wolf for the entire night, but it sort of does, anyway, and that is something he will be keeping to himself.

“Hey,” quiet in recognition of the burden of full moons as he steps into the room, crooks a lopsided grin at Silas. “Feeling nostalgic? C’mere, I brought you a present. Was thinking about one of those dog sweaters, y’know, with glittery pink rhinestones on it? Or a pretty purple collar so I could take you on walks and become a vigilante by making you eat all the assholes. But, yeah, c’mon, I wanna show you on the off-chance that you won’t get overexcited and climb the goddamn counters after you shift. You feeling okay?”

[/font]

[Zander Burke]

He was running late, he got caught up at work having to deal with some bullshit "apprentice" who almost fucked everything up. Work for Zander was no big deal, there were days where nothing happened at all, he just worked.. and that was enough time to get his mind of the constant restlessness all day. Days before the full moon, sure he can sit at home and go nuts, but not on the full moon. There is no amount of gaming or guitar playing, that would ease this wolf's nerves. Today they were allowed to come back to work, thank fucking god. Using body strength, and very little amount of thought was the easiest way to get his mind off of anything. But of course, the day where he can't handle any bullshit... is the day when some nineteen year old snot, wasn't paying attention... almost getting someone killed. At the end of the day of all times.

He had lost his temper on the kid, yelled at him a little more than necessary. Actually he had gotten so frustrated that... he actually forced himself to walk away before he punched the fucker out. He was pretty sure the co-workers who he had worked with since he had begun work here... told the kid 'Don't mind him, he had his monthly man periods'. In all honesty Zander pulled this shit every month around the same time, he figured humans would accept the fact that a man would get bitchy once in a while... than taking the day off every month. He couldn't even drive right away, he had to walk around, try and calm himself down enough so he could drive.

When he got home he only had time to change, into some basketball shorts and a hoodie (left unzipped) -- and back into his car he went. The first thought that crossed his mind was, he wanted to go see Silas and take him where he normally goes. But he knew he wasn't going anywhere as soon as he reached Silas' apartment building. At this point he felt as if his skin was on fire... he had been late before a couple of times -- at that point he stayed home and tried to werewolf proof his fucking apartment. Before he knew it he was staring at Silas' door, listening carefully before deciding to barge in. Yes he was a werewolf himself... but if Silas had already shifted -- well Zander didn't want to try and defend himself at all.

Instead he heard voices, and the first thought that ran through his mind -- was Mattie was there. His hand froze, hovering over the door handle, calculating the amount of time he had to get back to his own apartment. As that thought processed, there was a internal shove from his wolf that he wanted out. Fuck... he wasn't going to make it home -- oh my fuck he didn't want to shift in Silas' apartment. But there wasn't enough time to safely make it home. So he quickly weighed his options, and found he would much rather be here than rampaging on the streets as a confused curious were-fucking-wolf.

Zander opened the door, and met the two with a tense smile, feeling suddenly super awkward. He was sure Mattie knew about Silas... he didn't know why he was here -- but it was safe to assume Matthias was kept up to speed. Although the poor hunter would now have another furry guest. Mattie being here didn't bother him as much as he had originally thought. He was well prepared for it, he supposed. Plus... he found he didn't fucking care -- especially now that his mind was focusing on his breathing.

With heart hammering in his chest, his gaze slid to the fucking ham on the counter. "You brought food." he stated, not really a question but past the fuzziness in his head he managed a chuckle, "I don't know why... but I find this very fucking amusing." he said as he backed up against the wall and slid down. He didn't want to go and meet Silas, or get to close -- if the other recalled he wasn't all that great at holding back his wolf... while another was around him. Also he didn't want to make anything awkward. Mainly the wolf thing though -- he hoped Silas understood. Either way, his wolf knew Silas was there, smell him.. so all effort went into backing up against the wall, and sitting his ass down.

"I'm surprised you're still here... I don-" he grimaced glancing at Silas with what he hoped was an apologetic look. He was trying to hold the wolf back just a little longer -- which only made the pain a little worse. His wolf was clearly spoiled, since this was his time. "I waaas here to take you outside of Boston, since its fucking safe there. I'm too fucking late to do anything." at this point the wolf's breathing had become shallow, a little harder to keep focus. The tenseness in his muscles was becoming very painful.

So. He was going to fucking shift here -- and there wasn't anything he could do, although his brown eyes glanced to the door... a thought or an impulse wanted him to get up and run. It took a lot of power to just stay where he was.

[Zephyr]

While the sound of the door opening isn’t unexpected, he’s so lost in his own thoughts that he barely registers it. The bag crackling in the relative silence of the apartment has Silas jumping, gaze jerking towards the door with a feral, predatory look in his eyes that disappears as soon as he realizes that Matthias has gotten here.

He won’t have to be alone.

The relief he feels is disproportionate to how he should feel, he decides, but in that moment, he can’t find it in himself to give a fuck. The monthly routine of clinging to Matthias while his bones are shifting and stretching; skin pulling and splitting; organs changing, has become something that Silas didn’t know he relies on so damn much.

His face quirks into a grin to meet the other man’s as Matthias pads toward him. He has to keep himself from saying something as stupidly sentimental as ‘you made it’ because of fucking course he did. Silas has more faith in Matthias than that. The kid wouldn’t leave him to fend for himself, not now. He doesn’t know what the future holds, but at least they’ll have this, even if it’s just a small thing.

The shift into teasing may be as natural as breathing to Matthias, and Silas finds himself appreciating it. The teasing takes his mind off of the painful twisting in his gut; the itching of tight skin…he finds himself wanting to just scratch it all off. Luckily he abstains, so used to this by now that he just snorts at Matthias. “Do that and you’re liable to get eaten yourself.” He’s long ago stopped worrying about the hunter’s safety in the presence of the wolf. He’s realized that the beast looks forward to these days as much as he does, mostly because it’s claimed Matthias as its’ own and it likes spending time with him…probably because Matthias is the reason that’s it’s finally gotten out of the fucking closet, but details.

The thought of a present perks Silas’ interest, but he just lifts an eyebrow. “A present for me? Just as I turn into a giant, hairy monster? You shouldn’t have, darlin’.” And he doesn’t even think about the nickname as he walks with Matthias towards the kitchen, his heart pounding out of his chest. “M’fine, mostly. Well…as fine as I can be right before I undergo a horribly painful and agonizing transformation.” It helps to make light of the situation…it really does.

What doesn’t help, is Zander suddenly barging in mid-transformation himself. Silas does not consider Zander a threat. He fucking likes the guy a lot, but he’s a little more wolf than man at the moment and the change is threatening and unwelcome. Added onto that is the idea of another wolf intruding upon his territory so close to the change. The snarl that leaves his throat is vicious and Silas unconsciously shifts until he’s standing a little in front of Matthias, every single muscle taught and wary.

It takes longer than he would like for his brain to process what exactly is going on. He emerges from the wolf’s haze and sees Zander on the ground by the door, in just as much pain as Silas will be in a minute, and he hasn’t thought this through fully. Matthias and Zander have met, but he doesn’t know if Matthias knows that Zander is a werewolf or if Zander knows Matthias is a hunter and he hasn’t met Zander’s wolf and what if it fucking hurts Matthias.

Panic rises hot in his chest, and he half thinks about kicking Zander out of his apartment before he changes, but the logical part of his brain says that this isn’t a good idea. Trembling as he presses the wolf back; feels it fighting against him, he grabs Matthias’ shoulder, half to catch his attention and half to use as a crutch as pain wracks his body. “Be careful. I don’t know how aggressive Zander’s wolf is.” Silas half growls, knowing there’s no time for extended explanations.

This is happening now.

The thought of what could make a good gift for a werewolf is soon answered as he catches the scent of meat on his way towards Zander. He quirks a small smile at the hunter’s thoughtfulness that morphs into concern at the other wolf’s predicament. He isn’t solely interested in Matthias’ welfare. Zander has just as much of a chance to get hurt if his wolf decides that Matthias shouldn’t be here.

“Hey.” Silas growls, trying to catch Zander’s attention while simultaneously pressing back the change. It’s going to fucking hurt more, he knows from experience, since he’s repressing it so hard, but this is important. “You okay? C’mon.” He grabs Zander’s arm, hauling him to his feet and towards the couch, as far away from Matthias as possible. “I don’t leave my apartment on full moons.” He admits before letting Zander go on the couch, leaning forward to grin at Zander. “I’d appreciate it if you tried to not let your wolf maul Matthias…as much as you possibly can. I kinda need both of you intact.”

He swipes his thumb affectionately across Zander’s cheek and thinks about going to lock the door, but he wants Matthias to have an escape route in case something goes wrong. Still suppressing the wolf, Silas walks back to Matthias, his voice low in an urgent whisper. “I didn’t fucking know he was coming, or I would have said something. I hope you brought the fucking dart gun.” Which was doubtful since Silas thought he’d stopped bringing it when he realized that Silas’ wolf wasn’t going to rip him apart.

He’s filled with so much anxiety that it feels it suffocating him, and he half doubles over as his stomach suddenly shifts, groaning as the pain washes over him. Clawed fingers reach out and cling to Matthias for dear life. Once the pain passes, Silas half straightens, trembling as he struggles to hold the wolf back. He wants to stay human as long as fucking possible to have a clear head to make sure nothing’s going to happen. Even through his pain and the way he’s clinging to Matthias so tightly that his knuckles are bleeding white, he tries to inject some lightheartedness into the situation. “Thanks for the food, darlin’. You sure know the way to a monster’s heart.”

[Matthias Walker]

“I bet your wolf would love the sweater,” Matthias says, utterly undeterred. Threats have long ceased to earn more than a crooked grin and an arched eyebrow; Silas’s wolf is a fucking sweetheart and it’s so unbelievably ironic that Mattie sort of wants to film it just to prove it. His hands find his pockets, and he falls into step beside Silas, “I bet it’s secretly hiding its desire to be a goddamn fashion model. Fierce.” There is very little he can do other than serve as a distraction: At the very least Silas has stopped referring to the wolf as a monster, and the ritual of the full moons has become familiar enough that cheek and lazy smiles come easier now.

Except that would be too easy.

Except that nothing can possibly work the way he expects it to.

The door opens, and Zander tumbles in, and Mattie freezes. Silas’s wolf may be a sweetheart but it is still better kept a secret, and Zander needs to get out now before—the snarl from Silas beside him startles him into motion, reaching out to grab uselessly at Silas’s shoulders and blurting at Zander, “You need to—” The words die in his throat, brow furrowing, and the pieces begin to fall into place. Zander is not just a man; there is more than coincidence and poor timing to his visit tonight; this is not at all what Matthias came for tonight. The comprehension is followed by startled accusation in the sharp gaze still pinned on Zander, diverted by Silas’s grip on his shoulder, his words as much confirmation as warning.

So he can’t go, then, not when the alternative is setting a wolf loose in the streets of Boston to do God knows what, and Matthias is loathe to leave, too. This has become too familiar, and he just…leaving Silas isn’t an option. Even if it means facing another wolf with only the silver pocketknife and a goddamn ham to serve as diversion.

Wary, his gaze flashes to the door as Silas approaches Zander and then back to the other men, flighty and on the edge of bolting. It would be better, it would be smarter, to remove himself from an equation with too many unknown as it is, but he just—Silas’s approach again has blue eyes snapping up to meet the doctor’s, and God, he’s trying not to keep the accusation to a minimum, here, but regardless of whether or not Silas had known, it does not change the fact that Zander is a werewolf and Mattie is a hunter and Silas had known that. He twists his hands, still in his pocket, around the red pocketknife, presses his thumb against the groove that will draw out the silver blade.

“You know I didn’t,” he says, snappy with frustration, and licks his lips, looking past Silas at Zander, “Just, Christ.” He did not leave Cesan’s apartment to wrangle goddamn werewolves, “I will fucking lock you in a closet without food if you guys decide to have a fucking dogfight, okay, so just—” His arms go around Silas instinctively when the man’s fingers knot into his hoodie, and he should be—is—accustomed to this but it is still the worst part, every month. “Yeah,” he says mindlessly, gaze searching for Zander, who cannot possibly be faring much better, over Silas’s shoulder as he rubs a palm reassuringly over Silas’s spine, “Figured ham would be preferable to, I don’t know, eating your own shit or something—speaking of, your wolf better be goddamn housebroken, I did not sign up to clean up pee all night.”

The next shudder that goes through Silas is caught against his chest, fingers carding through his hair; perhaps his own safety should be priority, but he is too accustomed to holding onto Silas through the transformation to let go because Zander is here. Because another werewolf that might actually be inclined to kill him is here. Great. “Shh, hey,” even if the words are for Silas, his gaze remains fixed on Zander: The unknown, the novelty, even—Silas’s change has become a familiar, if terrible, ritual. Zander’s? Still brand spanking new, and curious, “S’okay, let go, it’ll be okay, ’bout time you got another wolf around, you can,” lips quirk into a grin despite himself, “sniff each other’s butts and do doggy things. No humping allowed.”

[/blockquote]

[Zander Burke]

As much as Zander wanted to be light-hearted like he normally is. He was in the stage, where he was sort of internally panicking. He didn't expect Mattie here, he didn't know he'd have to almost fear for the hunter's life. Zander didn't know how his wolf would react to Matthias, he really didn't know. He could honest to god tell them how it treated his previous x-box 360, but people will be new experience. Like Mattie, Zander was in a flight mode, his eyes flickering to the door... almost not even thinking about what would happen if he just left. The wolf grew more persistent, it wanted out, and the effort Zander was putting towards keeping it back was very painful. The werewolf shifted making a move towards the door -- but Silas' voice cut that thought off, as the other wolf came into view.

"Yup. Great, thanks for asking" he would reply jaw set, grinding his teeth with the effort. Zander was resigning himself to sit here now, well that was until Silas grabbed his arm. The werewolf allowed himself to be picked up, although his wolf caught Silas' scent and struggled against Zander's restraints. This time it wasn't even about sex, this was just wanting out -- and later was not even an option. Without Silas' help Zander would have doubled over. "Ffffuuuckshit. I'm s-fucking christ! I'm sorry I showed up. I didn't know that he." he didn't even try and finish his sentence, he was so focused on not shifting here. He fucked shit up bad, and he couldn't help but think of the consequences. He would have preferred to have punched that kid out than shift here potentially putting Mattie in harm's way. Now he didn't know that Matthias was a hunter so, instead of self preservation... all he could think about how his wolf could potentially rip Mattie to shreds.

Zander hit something cushy and, that sudden change halted some of the pain for a few seconds. Which was good because Silas was still talking to him. He wished he didn't hear it because, now he was completely sure who Silas' lover was. When Silas left, Zander sort of curled up on the couch, and blocked the other two out. He tried to control his breathing, and calm his fucking wild thoughts. Sending himself into a panic will not help his wolf any, and he could feel the panic effecting everything. The wolf was currently in a frenzy, and Zander did as much as possible to calm the beast down. His heart still hammered in his chest, but the panic was leaving the pit of his stomach and his chest. Ears picked up Matthias smart ass mouth, but he couldn't help but laugh some. Through set jaw he would say "'nfortuantly for you. He's wild." and que a dry chuckle. Not that it was the time for any jokes at all.

---

The change after that came fairly quickly, it was suddenly after his little not funny joke that his mind completely was taken over. Bones snapped, grew, reformed all over his body. The pain dulled to its regular level of pain since he finally calmed his shit down, and just let the change take over. There was the rush of adrenaline, that rush that Zander always looks forward too -- but this time there would be no forest, or farmland to greet the wolf. Instead there was only closed walls, the wolf itself was somewhat acustomed to indoors... but this wasn't his. None of this was his. When Zander finally opened his eyes, it was all wolf, with ripped fabric of Zander's cheap sweater.

There was confusion at first, not knowing his surroundings. So of course the beast poked his nose everywhere on that couch until he found he was able to go over it. The back way. Which caused Silas' fairly new couch to topple over with the wolf bounding over. Brown and blue eyes met Mattie first, there was wariness in his eyes -- and uncertainty in his steps. Hackles were raised, lips twitched, with tail over his back. Did the wolf feel threatened? Probably, but the beast was testing because he didn't know how to react.. so he would test Mattie to see what he will do. Zander didn't move from where he was, he instead focused completely on the human, a low growl rumbled in his chest lips would pull over displaying large teeth, ears perked forward (minus the flopped over one).

But of course as soon as Silas got in the way with threatening growls, Zander would suddenly sit ears flattening back. A whining growl would escape his muzzle as he tried to walk towards him... tried to be the more dominant one, the rumbling low pitched whine still happening. If Zander growled now, it wasn't anything... it was similar to what dogs do when their owners were not listening at all. The wolf, clearly frustrated, knowing full well that this was not his territory his nose would plant itself on the ground sniffing around. Of course the scent of meat would not go unnoticed, and the werewolf would follow it. Which meant large front paws were now on the counter sniffing at the contents of the bag... and then pulling everything to the floor -- now ignoring Mattie since he wasn't allowed.

[Zephyr]

Not telling Matthias about Zander had been one of the more stupid things he’s done. He’d been able to justify it at the time; Matthias hadn’t told him about Cesan. And that fucking hurt. But it’s a little different, he knows. Especially with Matthias being a hunter and Zander being a werewolf. He just never thought that guy would seek him out during the night of a full moon. The concept that anyone else would regard the change as nothing more than a curse that needs to be hidden away behind locked doors is not one that he’d ever entertained before.

There’s a little more at play here, a little more at stake than Silas’ own sense of vindictiveness at knowing he’d never been enough for Matthias. He regrets it now, even as another pain rippling through his body sends him into Matthias and he canfuckingnot keep the agonized groan out of his voice. “Sorry. I’m sorry.” Comes again through cracking bones, and he hears fabric ripping behind him, and he cannot let the wolf have its way right now. A shudder does through his body and he shifts his face to Matthias’ ear, words strained and wrecked. “Still want you here.” No matter what happens in the future; if fucking Zander starts to come over every month, he is not willing to give this up.

With head buried in Matthias’ hoodie, Silas groans, uncurling the fingers of his right hand to pull at the button of his slacks, getting them undone and pulled down to his ankles before the pain has him buckling over, into Matthias. He cries out in pain, his grip tightening in the fabric as he falls to his knees, and then to a heap on the floor at the hunter’s feet, still holding onto the hoodie with his left hand, fingers claw like and knuckles white.

As the change starts to come with a vengeance, Silas half rolls onto his side, panicking as his body stretches and swells, clawing at the buttons of his shirt like he’s possessed. It might be a stupid thing to worry about, the integrity of his clothing, but it’s easy to focus on instead of just reaching out to claw blindly at Matthias’ feet because the hunter is what Silas really wants to focus on, to be his constant.

He manages to get the shirt unbuttoned and off of one side of his body before he really starts to reshape, throwing his head back in an agonized scream that is more animal than human.

At first, when the wolf is finished reshaping the surgeon’s body. It lays there in a heap of – fortunately – unruined clothing, panting heavily. The familiar presence of the man soothes it, and it doesn’t register the intruder…not at first. The feel of fingers in its fur is a familiar pleasure, and the wolf whines lightly, shifting to push its muzzle beneath the man’s hand, seeking more.

It suddenly catches the scent of the stranger, seconds before the growl reaches its ears and the wolf freezes, every muscle in its body tense and ready. The wolf’s first priority is the human…its human. The wolf’s defensiveness as it gets to its feet and half places itself in front of Matthias, staring down the lighter wolf with trembling limbs and lip curled in a vicious snarl, has less to do with the fact that they’re on the wolf’s territory and more out of protection of the man…whether or not said man can protect himself.

Finally, the tense standoff comes to an end and the wolf watches the stranger go off in search of an easy meal. He stands by Matthias, body pressed up against the man’s legs, still tense as it watches the other wolf pull the bag off of the counter. Slight interest stirs in the wolf’s eyes as it lets it’s growling grow quiet, ears pricking forward in intrigue as it scents food. It’s fucking starving after the change, and its stomach rumbles impatiently, but it’s never had food before, and it doesn’t need it now, not when there’s a strange wolf that could potentially harm its person.

Though…wolf. That’s the important part. The beast has never seen one of its own kind before and if it weren’t for its unwavering loyalty to the man, it would probably be investigating more.

[Matthias Walker]

There is something to be said for being the only one in the room not hurting, and it is this: He fucking hates it. Should be grateful, yes, that it isn’t him snarling and shivering, listening to his own bones snap and swell beneath skin, but hunting, Mattie has found, is an exercise in futility all on its own, and this is infinitely worse. Worse because Zander is here, because caution stays him from dropping onto his knees with Silas, from holding onto him as long as possible while hair turns to silky fur and fingers to rough paws and jagged nails. Instead his gaze remains fixed on Zander, one hand curled into his pocket around the knife, pressing the flat of the blade against the pad of his thumb, blue eyes sharp and resigned.

If it comes to it, then so be it.

It has been months since the last werewolf hunt: The informal deal with the pack was meant to last a matter of days when he made it with Nate but, well, he still stays out of wolf business when he can. This, though, this is self-defense, and where he could step out of the apartment, leave and not look back, it means leaving the wolves to their own devices and he just—what if they fight, if morning comes around and he returns to find blood soaking into the carpet, what if—

His free hand settles instinctively along the black wolf’s spine, rubs a familiar greeting, but blue eyes stay fixed on the wolf still gathering itself from the couch. It looks—uh, like an overgrown dog, all spotted and with a goddamn floppy ear, and Mattie frowns at it, half-fascinated and half-exasperated because Jesus, where the fuck had the big scary werewolves gone?

He makes no effort to move as the couch tips over, hits the floor with a bang; the growling has his grip tightening on the pocketknife, lips pressing together, the hand resting on Silas’s shoulder slowing in its reassuring motions. If Zander tries to attack him, it will not be with Silas in the way; Mattie is better-equipped to take care of himself than to play vet to a werewolf in the aftermath of a dogfight. Silas, though, does not seem terribly inclined to step aside, and Mattie is left to hover, tense with the expectation of, yes, stepping in between two goddamn werewolves, for a moment—

And then Zander’s ears go back, and the growls turned into frustration, and then disinterest, and Mattie rocks back on his feet, blows out a breath, and looks down at Silas. “Well. Thanks. I—y’know, the food’s supposed to be for you, you should go make sure he doesn’t eat it all and choke on the goddamn plastic bag in the process.” The crackling of the bag, the crinkle of aluminum foil—it won’t slow the wolf down long, Mattie suspects, but he still ruffles up the fur at the nape of Silas’s neck absently and then steps cautiously towards the other wolf.

He’s never had a pet dog, but he is fairly certain that letting them eat plastic bags and aluminum foil is not a good idea.

“Hey,” softly, at Zander now, as he draws to a stop a distance away and kneels, watchful, judging the distance and the speed, if he can just yank the bag away then the aluminum foil should come with, as long as the wolf doesn’t fucking bite him first, “C’mon, you need help with that or something? I have opposable thumbs, it’s pretty nice. Useful, and shit, and you—you and I are not going to get along if I have to borrow a broom from the lady next door to poke you until you get distracted.” The rambling is absentminded, his gaze unwavering on the wolf as one hand is carefully stretched out, fingers of his other hand still pressed against the pocketknife.

[/blockquote]

[Zander Burke]

The wolf wasn't stupid, but when faced with something man made... it made things a little difficult. Especially if his object in interest is wrapped in tinfoil... and then inserted into a plastic bag. The man's words reach Zander's ears, not really understanding the words... when they are spoken he freezes listening before he goes back to the ham wrapped in a puzzle box of sorts. The wolf spent about fifteen seconds sniffing it, trying to see if there was some sort of hole in it he can essentially made bigger. The wolf's stomach is growling, making Zander a little more determined to get in the fucking bag. He already tasted the plastic while it was on its way down... and it didn't really taste like whatever smelled so nice. The plastic actually had a bit of Mattie's smell on it, and the wolf was hesitant for a moment... but it came and went.

Although it wasn't what he smelled he took the plastic bag in his maw, and just shook his head, until the piece that was in his mouth broke sending the plastic/tinfoil wrapped Ham rolling across floor, which Zander pursued. Finding the gaping whole in the bag Zander's nose didn't hesitate to sniff every inch of the foil. He then licked it a few times before trying to take a bite. As soon as teeth scraped against foil, the wolf recoiled, growling. When an animal wants to break whatever he no longer wants in his mouth, he paws at it roughly instead. But this time when he persue's the ham once more his ears picked up Matthias' soft voice. Zander's first reaction was just baring his teeth, with tongue swiping his nose. There was no growls or threats, that was a warning to stay where he was. He was already told 'no' by the other wolf to not touch Mattie at all, so he wasn't.

Zander's ears however perked to his voice, as he tried to explain he only wanted to help. Of course his words meant nothing to the wolf, but if Mattie moved there would be another impressive show of teeth, tail raised, but head was lowered warily. As soon as Mattie moved... however slow it was. Zander would lunge a few inches snapping his jaws together. If this caused the man to jump, that would be enough -- Zander didn't want him near the food. But then the wolf would paw at the ham some more, when he was satisfied that the human wasn't going anywhere. Of course this only sent the ham rolling forward, closer to the human, now it was just in the center of the two. The beast let out another bit of frustrated growls, as he sat back on his haunches -- eyes flickering to Mattie and then to the ham.

If Mattie didn't move, or nothing else happened, the wolf would groan... an awkward short growl and he would lower his front half to the floor. Head still raised watching. Matthias hadn't attacked him yet, nor did anything else... Zander was curious so he didn't move, just watched.

[Zephyr]

The wolf is busy stepping out of the entangling clothing. It is used to, by now, being in various states of clothed-ness. At least Silas doesn’t ruin as many items as clothing anymore, but the wolf doesn’t seem to care about the clothing like Silas does, kicking it aside roughly once the shirt sleeve comes free of its paw. It’s still pressed against the man’s legs when it hears his voice. It licks its chops in a motion reminiscent of the man it was a moment ago and looks up as Matthias looks at it. The wolf whines, wagging its tail. The wolf rubs its head on the man’s legs like an oversized cat, too pleased with the way the human’s hand is buried in its ruff.

That curious acceptance lasts right up until the man steps away from it and towards the strange wolf. The dark beast tenses, hackles raised and fur standing on end as a deep rumble shakes its spine. It resists the urge to step up to the man, because it knows that its protection won’t be welcomed. The man has deliberately stepped away and towards the interloper, and hasn’t commanded the wolf to protect him…so the animal is torn and wary.

It’s interested in the other wolf, but the man is its main priority. It stands tense and wary, eyes not once leaving the form of the stranger. It readies itself, at the first flash of teeth, ready to attack if the beast so much as looks at the human in the wrong way…its human.

When the other wolf flops down, the animal mostly relaxes, abandoning its position behind the man to pad up and investigate the other animal. Without much warning, the wolf shoves its snout in the other wolf’s space, sniffing warily at him. It’s still a little tense, ready to leap away if the wolf snaps at it.

But it is so curious. It’s never seen another wolf before.

[Matthias Walker]

“Oh come on, you little bitch,” the cursing is borne of affection, really; the note of exasperated frustration is an afterthought at best as he snatches back his hand from the flash of teeth. The body language of wolves is only vaguely familiar: With Silas’s wolf it is easy, comes without thinking, but then, Matthias has never had cause to worry about misinterpretation with Silas. But Zander: The bared teeth are warning enough, but the wolf isn’t getting anywhere chewing on the tin-foil, even if he has effectively shredded the plastic bag. Mattie settles onto his heels, watches in indulgent frustration until the ham finally rolls across the floor, coming to a bumpy stop between them.

For a moment there is silence—he stares at the spotted wolf, and the wolf looks back, and then, finally, it rumbles out a sound more a groan than a growl and slides onto its stomach. Mattie breathes out, carefully, and as Silas steps past him—so familiar that Mattie doesn’t even blink at the soft brush of fur and fluid muscle against his side—to the other wolf, leans forward to pull the ham the rest of the way over, fingers finding the creases in tin-foil and ripping it open. Distraction as Silas might be, Mattie is still reluctant to be the hoarder of meat around wolves—

And yet, rolling the entire fucking ham back to Zander is not exactly part of the plan, either. Wolves are not known for sharing; it is a present for Silas—albeit only for the simple fact that Mattie had not exactly been planning on playing goddamn puppy-sitter for more than one wolf tonight.

“Hey,” softly as he spreads the tin-foil out into a makeshift plate. Perhaps it’s stupid to expect them to keep it on the goddamn square of tin-foil, but Mattie is not so fond of defiling Silas’s apartment that tossing a greasy ham on the floor for them to rip apart sounds like a good idea. “C’mon, okay, wolves do that hierarchy and eating order shit, right, can I—just, Christ, don’t goddamn kill each other, you want the fucking food so bad you can learn to share. I felt much less stupid talking to a wolf when there was only one of you. Silas, c’mon, you’ve gotta try actual food, I swear, most dogs fucking love food—”

[Zander Burke]

Zander was still very, very interested in the ham even though it had rolled away on him. He really didn't want to get too close to Mattie, he didn't know Mattie's intentions... he really wasn't used to him at all, and because Silas had told him no. This wolf was normally super dominant, the problem tonight being he wasn't in his own territory. This place reeked of someone else, and it bothered him which translated into an almost submissive behavior. Or in Mattie's case, just really unsure as to how to handle anything.

But what he was sure of, was the ham that rolled away from him... towards the person it smelled of. Which meant it was no longer his... but being a very hungry animal he was torn on wanting to get up and take it forcefully... or sitting here and drool. Since he lay down he was pretty decided on sitting and drooling. Eyes staying glued to the ham, now completely ignoring Mattie. Of course his vision would soon be obstructed, causing the floppy ear'd wolf to instead try and see it from under Silas' legs. Zander would growl a short sound, sort of half-hearted, not looking at Silas at first until the other wolf shoved his face into his space.

This would cut any irritated growls short, as his interest was torn from the food to Silas. Zander would suddenly stand up, a jerking movement, claws clattering against the floor. There would be a tense moment, before Zander would bow -- tail raised and waving slightly. No not a submission... but since he wasn't allowed his food now and since he felt he wasn't allowed to be dominant since this place wasn't his -- playing was the next best thing for him. Also he was used to just running... when he couldn't there would just be bottled up energy.

A high pitched whine would escape if Silas did not comply with his wishes, and he would stand again snapping at Silas ear or scruff.

That was until Mattie spoke again, Zander immediately tensed back up. But this time he was curious, so he approached slowly until he was pretty much where he was before -- a safe distance away. Of course the human kept making noises, causing Zander to head tilt a bit before licking his chops. This time if Silas tried to get by him, or move towards Mattie Zander would suddenly snap at the other wolf, growling pushing the other back. This food, he has claimed as his... and it didn't occur to him at all that Silas could walk around the island. Zander would step forward towards Mattie, slowly -- head lowered, tensing up with every jerky movement Mattie made. His eyes would jerk from the food to Mattie every couple of seconds, but he was so close now -- muzzle only half a foot from Mattie's (if the man didn't move). The wolf would sniff curiously, mingled scents from the human and the slab of meat.

Zander just wanted the food.

[Zephyr]

What?

The dark wolf blinks at the spotted one, tail hanging loosely against his hocks. This is the not only the first wolf it’s ever met, but also the first being besides Matthias. It should be instinctual, but play is not something the wolf is familiar with and it stands there, head tilted to the side.

The sudden snap to its person isn’t familiar either and the sudden movements raise alarms in the wolf’s head. It leaps backwards towards Matthias, its human, the only being that it trusts, a snarl ripping from its throat. It may not know what play is, but the wolf knows that growling and snapping teeth is a decidedly bad thing, and of course this means that he has to protect its human from the rabid beast.

Then said human is talking and the wolf whines, twisting its head back around to look at the man, looking hopelessly confused for a moment. He was talking to it again…using that word that he calls it. Though the wolf doesn’t associate himself with the man that keeps it locked up twenty nine nights of the month, it has learned to associate the name with it, and it knows that Matthias is talking to it. The wolf is used to the man’s babbling and it yawns widely, falling to its haunches to watch the man with curious eyes.

The meat is really fucking tempting, and for all that it is vicious, it doesn’t quite know what to do with the man lying innocuously on the foil. Hunger prickles at its gut, but it isn’t sure if it should take the food or not.

Until the other wolf starts to slink towards it.

And oh hell no. The wolf might not know what he wants to do with the meat, but it recognizes the man as its and anything the man touches, including this meat. The dark wolf tenses, muscles quivering for a second as it lets the spotty wolf gets closer and closer…until the Silaswolf suddenly springs into action. In a move too quick for a human to react to, the wolf darts between Matthias and the spotty wolf, grabs the ham up in powerful jowls and bounds away from Matthias and Zanderwolf as fast as it can, disappearing into the bedroom.

Once in the safety of the bedroom, the wolf ducks into the closet, padding to the farthest former to curl up with its prize (probably smearing ham juice all over Silas’ hanging suits), before it notices something interesting in the open drawer of the dresser in there. There is something shiny, and shiny beats a juicy ham any day of the week, so forgetting about its old prize, the wolf drops the meat onto the floor, padding to the dresser and shoving its nose into Silas’ clean clothing. It snuffles around for a moment, because it finds what it’s looking for.

There is something long and purple and a little sparkly hidden under the clothes. It looks harmless enough and smells like rubber. Upon inspection, the wolf realizes that is squishy and good to chew on. Unaware of what this thing really is, the wolf only sees a potential chew toy in the purple thing. Immensely pleased with itself, the wolf grabs the long thing in its jaws and decides to show it to Matthias before it starts to chew on it. Maybe the man will be proud and praise it.

That thought has the wolf wagging its tail as it emerges from closet and bedroom in turn, long, rubber, purple thing clenched between its jaws like a trophy.

[Matthias Walker]

The wolves are left, for the moment, to their own affairs—until Mattie looks up and notices two pairs of canine muzzles pointed in his direction. Or just to the meat; where he would differentiate for Silas, Matthias is too wary to make the distinction with Zander: In fairness, the spotted wolf has yet to try and rip out his throat, but neither has he been friendly, and as the animal stepped, slow and wary, towards the meat lying on the miserable square of tinfoil, Mattie half-rises from his squatting position to ease back a step. The body language of wolves is much more delicate an operation than that of men, and whether this is too much a submissive retreat, Mattie has no idea.

The last fucking thing he needs is for this fucking wolf to prance around thinking he’s—whatever, the alpha or something. Silas, for all that the apartment is his territory, seems more confused than vicious, now, if not willing enough to sit back and watch as Zander creeps towards the food.

Except—not, apparently.

The leap is sudden enough that Mattie blurts a started curse, eyes wide as Silas darts forward, grabs the ham, and fucking bolts; in the wake of his surprise amusement rises in his chest, curls the corner of his mouth into a disbelieving laugh, gaze tracking the dark plume of the animal’s tail until it vanishes into the bedroom. His hands settle loose and palm-down on his knees, and he throws a quick glance at Zander, eyebrow arched, fully expecting the other wolf to chase after Silas and the ham. As long as they don’t fight, well, Mattie is inclined to let the two wolves shape their own dynamic as they will: He is not a goddamn wolf whisperer and he certainly cannot play mediator to wild animals.

“Well,” he says wryly, half to himself and half to Zander—that the wolves can’t actually understand him is something long-accepted and equally long-ignored—“Gotta be quicker next time, I guess. Or I’ll buy you your own ham, I don’t know, just as long’s you leave me alive to do it,” frustrating as it is that the monthly ritual has expanded so abruptly to include a third, even just for one night, Matthias isn’t quite good enough at combining man and wolf in his head to blame the spotted wolf for Zander’s unannounced entry, “Go play or something, if you pee on the carpet I will make a fucking fur coat out of you.”

The destruction that Silas is probably wreaking is deliberately ignored. He’s positive he’ll get an earful come morning on grease stains, but frankly it isn’t worth the effort of trying to get a wolf to eat neatly with knife and fork.

He has settled, cross-legged, on the floor, head tilted to one side to listen for sounds that his presence is, for whatever reason, needed, when Silas comes prancing triumphantly back out of the bedroom sans ham and Mattie arches a gentle eyebrow at the wolf, opens his mouth to greet him, and then does a double take at the gleam of purple sparkly rubber clamped in the wolf’s jaws. There is a moment in which he stares, half-convinced that no, this cannot possibly be what he thinks it is, that there is some ridiculous slapstick mistake happening and—

The sound Matthias makes in the back of his throat borders on hysterical, and once he starts laughing, the messy guffaws gasping out of his chest, he cannot quite stop; it is through tears that he opens his arms for the wolf, “Oh my fucking God, come here, c’mon, Silas, let me see, c’mere, sweetheart, Jesus Christ—”

[Zander Burke]

The wolf was practically drooling he was so close, all his muscles were taut. Of course, considering how tense Zander was – Silas fucking leap scared the shit out of it. His eyes did catch Silas lunge for the meat and if Zander wasn’t so startled by it his jaws would around Silas so fast. But of course Zander was startled, so when he whirled to bite Silas… jaws only loudly snapped together instead. The snarl was caught in his throat when Silas bounded away with no bites. Zander began to move to follow the other wolf… but once he reached the end of the island… he stopped – unsure of whether he should continue or stay. With not being in an area he’s used to, the wolf is clearly uneasy and confused. He would whine, before his attention would turn back to Mattie – turning himself around to face him.

When the man spoke his head would tilt, and he would move closer – just as he sort of saw Silas do. The other wolf seemed to trust this thing. Zander didn’t… he didn’t understand it, at all. But what he was looking for was not attention, no it was more food. Since the ham smelled of Mattie… Zander came to the conclusion that he must have more somewhere. The wolf was wary but he made a slow approach, head making a slow tilt with every three words that escaped Mattie’s mouth. Tongue swiped his lips and nose, and he didn’t stop approaching until his cold nose was close enough to poke and prod the human’s hair. The wolf would sniff eagerly, over his hair, face, sweater until he his nose found his hands.

Zander would force the hand to move to he could get at it. The hands still smelled of the ham and tongue would test first before swiping a few times, licking at each hand in turn. The wolf realized that there wasn’t any more food; the wolf would growl lowly backing off. But instead of snarling the growl pitched into a frustrated whine, huffing. Noise and movement caused the wolf to perk up turning around to see Silas looking very excited about something. Eyes would spot whatever was in his mouth and his ears would perk right up – noises from the man were ignored… as strange as they were. But as soon as Mattie was gesturing at Silas… this was when Zander decided he wanted whatever the other wolf had.

Zander lunged towards Silas grabbing at one of the ends of rubber, with a playful growl tail wagging over his back. The spotted wolf would put on the brakes pulling, teeth trying to dig into the rubber. If Silas wasn’t giving he would try giving his head a shake… although it would only jerk his and probably Silas’ head awkwardly. Either way, he wasn’t going to give up the not nice tasting whatever he was trying to get from Silas.