Hank took slow long drag from his ice cold beer. He'd be driving home in about an hour and as one of Portland's finest, he wasn't about to take a chance on getting pulled over for driving under the influence. One beer would be just enough and he was determined to make it last as long as possible even though the medium rare 1/3 lb burger with everything that he had order hadn't even arrived yet.
Across from him sat Monroe, already starting on his second glass of some dark red wine. Hank guessed that it was a Merlot or Cabernet but that was about as deep as his knowledge of wines got. Despite himself, Hank couldn't help but smile a little. Here was Monroe, a Wesen, a Bludbat no less, sitting here amongst 15 or so people who had no idea what he really was. If he were to show himself, the patrons of this small bar & grill in the industrial section of the city would practically kill themselves heading for the door.
"Hank, you gotta try this Pinot noir. It's delicious. It'll go great with that burger you ordered. You know what they say, red wine with red meat.", Monroe stated suddenly snapping Hank out his momentary daydreaming.
"And Monroe, you know what I say about beer. It goes with everything!", Hank said with a laugh. He and Monroe had become pretty good friends over the last few years. Not best friends but definitely good friends. More importantly, he had learned he could count on Monroe in the far too common dangerous situations they found themselves in. On more than one occasion it had taken a Wesen to defeat a Wesen often in a fatal fashion.
"Alright, you don't know what you're missing.", Monroe finished and then took another sip of his wine in an mockingly cultured manner.
Monroe and Hank had been supposed to meet with Nick tonight to go over something new that Nick had found out about Grimms and those who associate with them. Hank hadn't got much from Nick other than that. And when Hank had questioned Monroe about it, Monroe didn't have any more details then Hank had gotten from Nick. They both knew it most be really important. Nick was now an experienced Grimm and not many things or creatures these days would rattle him. But when Hank had gotten the call from Nick a few hours ago, he could hear the edginess in Nick's voice and Monroe had noticed the same thing. In any case, Hank wasn't too worried. With Juliette's unexpected pregnancy, it wouldn't surprise him if the normally punctual Nick would be occasionally late.
"This wine is nice but I sure wished they'd serve our food already. I'm getting a little hungry and a hungry Bludbat is not very friendly if you know what I mean.", Monroe said slightly sniffing the air. "And where the heck is Nick?".
"Nick is probably picking up some pickles and ice cream or some other nasty combination of culinary delights.", Hank answered with a grimace. "Still though, I'm surprised he hasn't at least called to let us know he is on the way.", Hank finished.
Just then, their waitress walked up to their table holding two plates of food. Hank probably should've been happy to finally get the burger he had ordered but the waitress was Wesen! He wasn't sure how he was seeing it but she had definitely woged. The waitress for her part either didn't know she had woged or didn't care. She seemed to be behaving as if everything was perfectly normal, setting down the plates of food with a nod and a smile in a Wesen fashion. Hank's eyes never left her as she walked away.
"She is kinda cute, I get why you are checking her out so hard but you have to play it cool like me.", Monroe joked.
"Did..did you see that? She was Wesen.", Hank said in almost a whisper. His eyes still following the waitress as she disappeared into the kitchen.
"Come on Hank, if she were a Wesen and you could see her, then everyone including me could see her and I'm sure it would raise at least a few eyebrows.", Monroe chided him.
"Uh..uh...", Hank stammered as he finally looked back at Monroe.
"What is it Hank? Do I have spinach stuck in my teeth or something?"
"I...I..can..."
"Hank, are you okay?", Monroe said a little more seriously.
"Monroe, I can see you in your Wesen form.", Hank said almost inaudibly.
"Hank, that's not possible. Not even a Grimm can see us in our true form if we haven't woged voluntarily or involuntarily.", Monroe said just before Hank slumped in his chair and passed out.
