A/N: Hello everyone! Welcome to chapter 9. I think you'll like this one as I continue to develop Alex and Monroe's relationship. Idk you might even begin to ship them by the time this is over. Enjoy!
Monroe was quite happy as he made his way to see Alex once more. He had been invited to see his latest commission for a rich collector. He realized this as he drove through a very expensive looking gated community. Once he found the address, nervously he knocked on the door and a tall, greying women opened the door.
"Hi! I'm a friend of Alex, he said it was okay for me to come by."
The women smiled brightly and said "Ah, yes! He mentioned you would be coming by. Please do come in."
Monroe stepped inside the house and was mystified at the sight of it. It was of course, on the outside, a beautiful and obviously large home with a finely trimmed lawn and crisp white exterior. The mansion hardly stood out from the others in the neighborhood. The inside, however, was simply breathtaking. It was a sprawling wonderland of color and beauty. The walls were covered in portraits and landscapes of places he could only dream of visiting, the furniture was a compilation of pieces that shouldn't go together but somehow did, and to add to the overall vibe of the home there was classical tones melodiously floating through the walls.
"You have a wonderful home," Monroe says trying his best to take it all in.
The women laughed bashfully and responded "Why thank you. To most people my home is a bit unusual but to me it's a perfect representation of me and who I am and have always been."
"Well, I think it's wonderful. I love this one over here particularly," Monroe says as he points to an impressionist painting of an eerie looking forest.
"Oh that one is a favorite. It's of a particular place the artist called the Black Forest. I always wanted hike through it. It looks…exciting."
"You aren't wrong," he replied.
"You've been there," she said excitedly.
"Yes, actually. Had a few family gatherings in that forest. They ended…interestingly."
She smiled and said, "I bet they did. Oh I don't believe I've introduced myself. I'm Denise Watergate."
"I'm Monroe," he said as he shook her hand.
"I'm sorry to interrupt but I believe I called dips on him first," says a paint stained Alex from atop the staircase.
"He's so lovely, Alex. We might have to share," she says holding onto Monroe's arm.
"Looks like you have some stiff competition," Monroe says playing along.
Alex descends the stairs and grabs Monroe's hand. "This is why I have to keep you close or I'll lose you to just anyone. See, Denise I told you he was great."
"You were right."
"C'mon I have something to show you," Alex says as he drags Monroe upstairs. "I'm going to show him the art, Denise."
"Behave yourself, Alex," she warns.
"When do I ever?" he teased as he led Monroe down the hall to where he was working. "I'm sorry that once again I'm covered in paint when I see you."
"It's alright. It's very you."
When they reached their destination Alex closed the door before Monroe could peak inside.
"What, is there admission?" Monroe said sarcastically.
"Actually…" Alex continued to tease.
"I have an idea," the blutbad says giving him a short kiss on the cheek.
"That will do," Alex says smiling brightly.
"Just returning the favor from last night. Now can I please see it?"
"Okay but I'm not done yet so be gentle on me."
Alex opened the door to discover a stunning mural of a mystical forest. He used dark and somber colors to give the room an ominous mood yet the color of the sky was a calming grey. In this, seemingly magical, forest Alex took care in drawing the wildlife. He painted light golden birds, curious deer and Monroe admired the intense stare of the grey wolf. He couldn't see how it wasn't finished as the entire wall was covered in forest.
"So…what do you think?" Alex said with a touch of nervousness in his voice.
Monroe smiled and said "It's the most magnificent thing I have ever seen."
"You really think so?" Alex said growing excited.
"Yeah, I do. Especially the wolf. He's my favorite."
Alex laughed and replied "Yeah, I thought you might like him. You seem like a wolf kind of guy."
You have no idea, Monroe thought to himself.
"But here's the best part and that's actually what isn't finished," Alex says as he moves toward the window and shuts the curtain close and proceeds to turn off the lights. Even with the lights off the room is still well lit and that light comes from the delicate beauty of glow-in-the-dark, painted fireflies. Monroe's eyes grew wide at the sight. What was once a dreary forest, became a lighted wonderland now with the added touch of glowing fairies and wildlife who were now more lively and spirited than they had been in the day.
"You're so talented. She's going to love this," Monroe says in awe of the scene. He was starring for some time when he became more aware of the eyes staring into him. He turned to Alex and asked curiously "What?"
"Nothing you just…I like the way you admire my art, that's all," he said but Monroe could tell there was something else but didn't bother to press the issue.
Monroe laughed and continue to look at the mural. "How did you do this?"
"Actually it's simpler than you think," Alex says as he goes into explaining the thought process of making the making the mural. He said it was simple but the way he explained it allowed Monroe to see that in reality Alex had put a lot of thought into his craft. It was nice to see him so passionate about something.
"Wow. That's actually way complicated. I think I only understood half of that," the blutbad teased.
"Yeah, I understand. It's kinda like the way you talk about clocks."
"I know exactly what you mean. When you love something you can't help but let it take over all of you."
Alex turns to look at Monroe head on and responds, "Precisely. It kinda calls you to it."
The pair share a look for a moment but are brought out of their trance by the sound of Denise calling for them.
"Tell her I'll be down in a minute I want to clean up in here before I leave," says Alex.
"I'm hungry do you want to go to lunch," Monroe asks.
"Sure," Alex says with a smile. "You choose. Something vegetarian of course."
"How did you know I was a vegetarian?" Monroe asks since he doesn't remember telling Alex that fact about him.
The artist freezes and says "You told me when we were out last time. Remember when we ordered those tacos at one of the bars I took you to."
Monroe furrows his brow as he neither remembers the tacos or the discussion into his eating habits but he shrugged it off. Maybe it did come up in conversation.
"I'll wait for you downstairs. Don't take long I'm really hungry."
"I won't leave you long, darling," Alex replies.
Monroe descends the stairs as he goes through a mental catalog of all the good places to eat he knows of.
A few weeks later at Monroe's house he and Rosalie are once again talking in his work room.
"So is he really talented?" she asks curiously.
"Yes. I really liked the mural he painted. There was even a wolf in it."
"I know you loved that. Which reminds me of what I wanted to ask you. What kind of wesen is Alex? I couldn't smell it on him when we met."
"I don't know. I can't smell it on him either. I thought he was human when I first met him because of that but he would be…different if he was human."
"You're right but you should ask him about it sometime. Maybe he's like you and you'll have even more in common," Rosalie says with a wistful gleam in her eyes.
"Perhaps, but the real question is, if he is a wesen, why is he hiding it?"
"That is interesting."
"It doesn't matter for right now. At some point he'll woge with me around and I'll know."
"Are you going to see him today?"
"Possibly. He says he's kinda busy with his some other business so maybe not. I don't mind I've been able to have a lot of time with him lately."
"Yeah you two have been together, what feels like, every day. Have you heard from Nick lately?"
"Actually, not really. He and I have been on a break for a while."
"Oh that's kinda sad," she says her face falling slightly.
"I don't know. I think it's good for us. He gets to work on whatever it is he an Juliette are going through and I get to have some time to focus on something that isn't him. I think being with Alex kinda cured me of my lovesickness."
"Oh I know and I'm happy for you but you and Nick were cute. You were Monhardt!"
Monroe laughs and says "You really called us that?"
"Only in my head. It's your couple name."
"If we ever become a couple. For right now it's more of a bromance."
Rosalie laughs and agrees. "A girl can dream."
"What? You aren't team Alex anymore. I remember when we were at the coffee shop you were all for it."
"Oh don't get me wrong I'm good for you being with him. I can ship you with more than one person. Monhardt just happens to be my OTP."
Monroe smiles and says "Well, I'm sorry to break it to you but that may never be cannon. Alex and I are kinda clicking, lately."
"Are you two official?"
"No not yet. At least I don't think so I mean we have gone on a lot of dates but I don't think that means he's my boyfriend yet. We really haven't talked about it a lot. I wouldn't mind if he wanted to be more though."
"You need to get on that too. Your new mission is to first find out what kind of wesen Alex is and then find out your relationship status," Rosalie says determined.
"Yes ma'am," Monroe says giving her a mock salute.
She smiles and ruffles his hair playfully. "I got to go. I'll see you later Monroe."
"Later Rosalie. I'll walk you out."
When she leaves Monroe contemplates her words. What kind of wesen Alex is doesn't matter so much as much as he being wesen does. If he were human he might not understand Monroe as much and might not be able to handle it. As far as their relationship went, Monroe was happy the way things were now. He enjoyed Alex's company and they were compatible but there was no real spark between them. Monroe couldn't help but compare his feelings for Alex to those he possessed for Nick. He knew in his gut what he felt for Nick had to be love. That love was made of a fire hotter than the sun. It shined brightly and made everything about life better. There was a passion that he had for Nick that he didn't feel for Alex. But maybe, he thought. Maybe I need to know him a bit longer. I haven't known him as long as I've known Nick. That's what he always told him when he thought about this issue. Maybe I'm just anxious to be loved. But why shouldn't he be. He deserved love and everything that came with being loved. But if Alex came in today and said 'Monroe, I love you' would he be able to say it back?
That very day, Nick Burkhardt had wesen on his mind. But this one was not in connection to a case. This wesen was his best friend. Nick will admit to have been neglecting him lately. He and Juliette really needed to work on their relationship. Nick's cop instincts were telling him something was up with her but he didn't want to investigate to confirm his feeling because he knew it wasn't good. Normally, he would tell Monroe of his worries but he didn't want to dump all his problems on him like he always did. Besides, Monroe seemed to be really happy with Alex, lately. He had been stalking the blutbads Facebook and all he could see was photos of him and Alex at various locations around Portland. Some of them was even of the two together at Monroe's place snuggled up on his couch or of Monroe blushing slightly as Alex kissed his cheek mid-photo. Nick was forever warry of Monroe's relationship status as that had not changed but from the looks of things it seemed like he and Alex were in a relationship. Monroe was a wonderful person and deserved to be loved by someone. Still, there was a feeling about the entire situation that didn't sit well with him. He couldn't put his finger on it but decided not to think too closely into it. His thoughts were plagued by the blutbads image so, he decided to pay him a visit.
"Stop it!" Monroe pleaded.
"SURRENDER!"
"NEVER!" Monroe yelled as he tried, in vain, to fight off Alex.
This was the type of battle that, sadly, could not be won by compromise. This was a tickle fight. It had started innocent enough as Alex, being the person he was snuck up behind, Monroe in the kitchen and ,much to the wesens luck, Alex had discovered that the wolf had a tickle spot. Monroe tried to get away as he saw a devilish smile spreading across his companions face but it wasn't enough. Monroe had been captured and tackled onto his couch and was practically being tortured by the artist.
"Alex!" Monroe said through fits of laughter. "Please!"
"Just surrender and I promise I'll stop."
"Ha ha ha. I can't!" he said trying to win this fight.
"Well since you will not meet my demands. I must continue."
This epic war continued on for a few minutes more until the blutbad could barely breath and finally puffed out an "I surrender!"
"What was that I don't think I heard you?" Alex responded playfully.
"I said I surrender! I surrender!"
"Oh that's what I thought," he says as he stops his attacks but continues to sit atop Monroe.
Out of breath Monroe says "You are cruel."
Alex smiles and says "I don't think so. This was pretty fun for me."
Monroe smiles and says "Yeah, I think the key word here is for you!"
"Exactly! I'm happy seeing you smile."
"Oh so that was your plan all along?"
"That and I kinda like being on top of you," Alex says slyly.
The pair stare at each other for a moment before a very bold Alex bends down and places a kiss on his captives lips. Monroe responded in time to the kiss which grew deeper the longer it went on. Without much warning he could feel one of Alex's hands finding its way up Monroe's shirt. Monroe followed along and brought his arms around Alex's waist pulling him closer. Alex was about to move his hands further along Monroe's torso when as chance would have it, however, the couple was forced apart by the ringing of the doorbell. Alex sighed in frustration as he removed himself so Monroe could get the door. Monroe, a bit disappointed himself, placed a kiss on Alex's forehead as consolation.
Monroe goes to answer the door when much to his surprise he sees a battered Nick standing on the other side of the door.
"Nick!" Monroe says horrified. When he first opened his door he couldn't even recognize his friend. He was covered in what would soon be bright purple bumps as well as horrible scratches across his face and arms. His cloths, now tattered and bloody from the fight, barely clung to him. "What are you doing here?! You need a hospital!"
"No, I can't. It's not safe right now," he murmurs as he stumbles inside the house. Monroe catches him as he is about to fall over onto to floor and leads him to a chair in the kitchen.
"I'm going to try and fix you up as much as I can. But tell me what happened," Monroe says as he paces for a few minutes anxiously trying to figure out what he can do.
"I was investigating a case and I got attacked and…"
Nick was unable to finish before a very angry blutbad tackled him to the ground. Nick instantly responded as he kneed him in the side in an attempt to get away. But he was not quick enough to escape his claws as they dug themselves into his back. Nick responded with a powerful punch to the face which caused the wesen to stagger but an instant as he prepared for his second attack. The blutbad was stunned further when Monroe forcibly pins him to the ground.
The blutbad is revealed to be Alex who exclaimed "Monroe! He's a Grimm!"
Monroe's face returns to normal as sighs and says "Yes, Alex. I know."
Alex, shocked and awed, says "What do you mean you know?! How are you friends with a Grimm? Do you know what they do to wesen like us?"
"Yes I know. I've been told a thousand stories about what Grimm's do to wesen. But Nick is different."
"There is no such thing!" Alex says his eyes set aflame with fury.
"Listen to me," Monroe said calmly. "Nick isn't dangerous. He's not going to hurt you. You know I wouldn't let him in my house or even be friends with him if he were like the Grimm's we've always heard about. Trust me, Alex. It's okay." Monroe waits a few moments before running his fingers through Alex's hair and saying "So, are you okay?"
Alex takes a deep breath and says "Yeah, I'm okay. Now get off of me."
Monroe smiles and says "I don't think so. I kinda like being on top of you." They both laugh before Monroe removes himself and then helps up Alex. The pair stare at each other for a moment and then turns their attention back to Nick.
"Um…I'm sorry I tackled you, Nick. I wasn't thinking clearly. I thought there were only killer Grimm's," Alex apologizes.
"You wouldn't be the first to react that way. Actually, that's why I look like this. Everyone thinks I'm a killing machine."
"What happened to the wesen you just fought?" Alex asks.
Nick shrugs and says "They'll live."
An awkward silence falls between the trio but is broken by Monroe saying "Well let me get you both fixed up."
"Monroe you're bleeding," both Alex and Nick say as they notice a gash on Monroe's shoulder. When he turns his head he sees blood seeping through his shirt.
"Oh! Well I'll go take care of this first then," he says starting to walk upstairs.
"I'll help you," Nick says following behind him.
"Nick I can do it. I'll just put a Band-Aid on and change shirts."
"No. I think you'll need more than that," Nick protests. "I need to talk to you," he whispers.
"Okay then. We'll be back down in a second, Alex."
"Okay. I'm going to get some ice for my face," he replies.
When the pair are both out of hearing in Monroe's room Monroe takes off his shirt to get a better look at the scratch through his mirror.
"So what was it you needed to tell me?" Monroe says as he examines himself. He is met with silence. "Nick?" he asks turning to his friend who looked to be deep in thought.
Did he always look like that? Nick thinks to himself. He had never seen a shirtless Monroe but he had to admit that he enjoyed the sight. He knew Monroe was an active person as it kept his craving for meat at bay but he didn't know it had also helped him to look as muscular as it had. The cut on his shoulder luckily wasn't deep but it has caused the skin around it to be a bright red. The stress of his struggle with Alex had allowed for some tendons on his back to pop out more than others as they had captivated Nick's eyes and mind and refused to relinquish him.
"Nick!" Monroe says louder this time. He watches as Nick's eyes springs back to life.
"What is it?" Nick asks still coming back to reality.
Monroe laughs and says "You had something to tell me."
"Oh! Yes, I did…but I…uh…can't seem to remember what that was," the Grimm stammered.
Monroe smiles and says "Well I'm going to put on a bandage on this cut while you remember."
"I'll help," Nick says a bit too enthusiastically.
Monroe gathers the materials needed then sit himself in front of Nick on his bed. "Now tell me what the deal is with you getting attacked."
"It wasn't just some random wesen attack. It was reapers again. I lied to Alex. They are definitely dead and their heads are being shipped back where they came from as we speak."
"Why are they attacking you again?"
"I don't know but I'm going to have to find out. Monroe, he scratched you pretty bad. This is going to sting."
Nick didn't give him any time to prepare himself before he applied the stinging solution to the cut. Monroe let out a growl in response. "Oh calm down you big puppy it's over now," Nick teased. "But don't worry I'll make sure they don't come for you again."
"You can't guarantee that. Unless you plan on being with me every second of the day."
"I wouldn't be opposed to that," Nick says as he finishes up.
Monroe turns to Nick and says "I wouldn't either if I didn't already have my own guard."
"You honestly think Alex can protect you from a reaper?" Nick says feeling a bit offended.
"Well he was ready to protect me from you," Monroe replies as he stands to get a new shirt.
"I wasn't a real threat."
"I know that but…who else would be brave enough to face a Grimm. By that alone I think if faced with a reaper he will be just fine."
Nick was perplexed at Monroe's reaction until a thought hit him. "You think that's attractive don't you? You like that he's a blutbad like you and he's a wild one at that," he says crossing his arms.
Monroe smiles and says shyly "Maybe."
"Monroe! Is that like your type now?" Nick whined.
"I wouldn't say it's my type but…I'm so…closed off, you know, and he's just…him. Whatever him happens to be each day I see him," Monroe replies. He knew that it was just the excitement of the day but he was attracted to Alex at least in a superficial kind of way. The guy was handsome and strong, what was there not to like?
Nick rolls his eyes and says "I'm glad you like him but he's only given me more scars that are going to have to take time to heal."
"It's not his fault, completely. He thought you would hurt me."
"Ugh whatever, Monroe."
Monroe now finally dressed turns to Nick and asks "Oh don't worry, Nick. You'll always be my knight in shining armor."
"I better be," Nick agrees. Their conversation now ended the two begin to leave. One last question still lays heavy upon Nick's mind. He can't seem to decipher why it does but still he has to ask. "Monroe," he says hesitantly.
"What is it?" Monroe answers with his hand on the doorknob.
"Earlier when you introduced Alex you didn't say what he was to you. So you two aren't official?"
Monroe leans his back against the door and says "I guess not. You can see that I like him but…I…we haven't talked about being official. I think I would like to be though. He makes me happy."
Something about hearing those words from Monroe made Nick's heart stop for a few minutes. He wanted Monroe to be happy as any good friend would. I even encouraged him to ask Alex out. So, then, why does him being with him make me feel this way. But the real question was: What exactly was it that Nick was feeling? Am I happy for him, scared for him or am I just jealous of someone else taking up his time? These weren't questions to think about now when Alex was right downstairs so Nick decided to contemplate their answers some other time.
After a pause between them, Nick says "I'm glad you're happy."
Monroe smiles and says "Thanks. I want you to spend more time with us. I want you to see him the way that I do, Nick."
"Okay, maybe we all can hang out sometime."
"I'd like that."
They descend that stairs to see Alex on the couch with a bag of ice to the side of his face where Nick had punched him, Monroe went to sit beside him and examine the bump.
"Is it bad?" Alex asks removing the bag to reveal a blue and purple region of his face.
"Not really. Most of the swelling as gone down. It's just discolored. I think you'll be okay."
"I'm sorry I hit you so hard," Nick says.
"It's cool. I attacked you," Alex replies with a smile. "Monroe, I actually have to go. Something has come up with my commission."
"Oh, okay. Will I see you tomorrow?"
"Maybe not tomorrow morning but that afternoon I'm going to a friend's showing and I would love it if you would be my date."
"Of course! That sounds fantastic."
"Wonderful. I'll see you tomorrow night then. Nick, you can come along as well if you like. I don't know if art is your thing but I think it would be nice if we all did something together."
"I would love to but I'm working late at the station tomorrow," Nick said.
"Too bad. Maybe some other time. Well I am going to make my exit," he says as he kisses Monroe goodbye. "It was nice meeting you, Nick."
When he shuts the door close behind him Monroe says "C'mon Nick. Let's get you patched up now."
He takes Nick's hand and leads him into the kitchen to begin bandaging. When that's done the pair take their usual spots on Monroe's couch. The rest of the night goes as nights between them usually do. They talk, eat, drink, and then watch a movie until one of them falls asleep. Both Nick and Monroe fell back into this rhythm that had been neglected but would never be forgotten. This rhythm beat on as their lived did in perfect sync with one another.
A/N: Hey everyone! So that is chapter 9! How did you like it? Leave me a review to tell me of your thoughts. It took me a while to do this chapter and I think it is one of the longest I have ever written for this story. For next chapter, all I can say is that it's going to be good. Thanks for reading from Maria and Monroe.
