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This takes place during Lunch with Mycroft from John's POV for part of it.
Chapter 54
John's POV
He had loved his birthday surprise, the party for all the October birthday pack-members and the after party for just the two of them set up in the living room. Two days after the new moon gathering his bondmate had attend a lunch with both of his brothers. He had been shocked when the day after Mycroft had called and requested a lunch with him, even more shocking was how smoothly that lunch had gone. He had arranged for them to meet him at a shifter run restaurant.
He had showed up before Mycroft but had spent the time speaking with the restaurant owner, a wolf from Layard's pack. Once he is notified that Mycroft is being seated by one of the wolf-pup host, he thanks the younger man before making his way to his seat where he slides into his seat just as taller man sits down. Sitting on the table is a tea for him and a hot chocolate for the human.
"Good afternoon, Mycroft," he murmurs politely before taking a sip of tea.
"Thank you for taking the time to meet with me on such short notice," the human comments.
He can smell the human's shock as he studies him with the same ability as his brother. "Of course," he replies softly.
Smiling he remarks, "Actually, telepathy is not my gift, though I do have a minor ability in it. In this case I really did not need it." Why would he need to use telepathy when facial tells and sent give away that the human was re-evaluating everything that he had previously considered himself to know. A raised eyebrow questions him, along with scent filling further with curiosity and frustration so he answers the look, "Simple really, three times you have been told to have a word with me, and three times you have not. Now you are wondering if you should have, and not a word like that first farce of a conversation we had." The shorter man shrugs, pausing for a moment when the waitress gets there to collect their orders, well his order because the doctor says nothing, just smiles. Once the waitress is gone he continues, "Now I asked Tech to make sure no one could listen in on your lunch yesterday so I do not know what was said, however since we are here, I am sure it is something that shocked you enough to finally decide to speak with me."
For a few more moments of silence pass while he watches the thoughts flicker through the older man's eyes, while they are shuttered and mostly closed off they still had emotions that were more noticeable by scent. Finally, the taller man starts to speak, "I feel that we have started off on an uneven keel," he starts, "If you would be amendable, I would like to speak with you about the shifter pack that you and my brother belong to."
After the query, the human falls silent and he decides to wait until their food is delivered before answering. Since he can smell the waitress who had taken their orders coming their way with food, he holds off. Once the wolf female who is serving delivers their food, he thanks her silently and the two take a few moments to eat before he decides to speak.
"I do not promise to answer everything since you are not pack, however I will answer what I can."
The human nods once, continuing to eat, his scent full of curiosity as he decides what to ask. "Am I correct in thinking that you are the leader of your pack?"
He continues to eat, but nods once, "Indeed."
Pleasure fills the humans scent at the idea he was correct before it returns to its previous curiosity, "You have accepted my brother into the pack, why?"
He gives a minor shrug, before replying, "It was the correct thing to do. Since then, he has thrived in a way I am certain he had not previously." He had determined already that Sherlock had not been well appreciated by his family because he lacked the social ability that went with being part of a political family.
Again the taller man's changes to satisfaction before returning to curiosity with undertones of frustration, "Why can I not track him on the CCTV any longer?"
He smiles, almost smirking as he considers the fact Elspeth tends to trip everyone who is following his bondmate that does not belong to the pack. When it is one of the others, they also tend to make it impossible for the humans to follow him. Maria who lacks strong gifts in many areas has a remarkable ability to use illusions. Cyanne is good at getting humans to do her bidding by looking all small and adorable, also good at tying shoe laces and such to trip folks out of her way. "For the same reason your men are unable to track him very well. The pack protects its own. He has a twenty four hour protection team that doesn't count when I am with him, along with Tech who is very good with computers of all types and making people do what he wants. The pack protects its own."
The tall human nods once, finishing his meal before questioning, "Is he safe?"
"Always, as safe as anyone can make him, the new lab means there are less accidents with the food supplies and other hazards. I am good at keeping up with him on a case, at least physically, which means I can protect him as well." he replies as considers the facts of there lives, "I am also very good at patching him up those times when he gets himself injured somehow."
The human's scent becomes less questioning, and more resigned as he comments, "Thank you for being willing to speak with me, could we have another discussion in the near future?"
"I can arrange to have Eric give you notice any time something goes wrong or once weekly if you would like." He suggests with a small smile, he can understand wishing to keep track of a family member. With Eric watching everything within the pack, and all those who dealt with the pack, it would be simple for him to do a report on Sherlock, nothing reveling, just a general health report, but it should make the human back off a bit.
The humans face is blank but his scent is thankful as he inclines his head and states, "That would be excellent. Thank you."
With a smile, he stands stating, "Don't worry about the bill, its already taken care of, good day, Mycroft." As soon as he is done speak he is gone, striding out the building with a mental goodbye to the owner and his staff.
He is on his way back to the flat when his phone chirps with an American number. "Hello?" he quires, mildly shocked someone got through, very few people can call without Eric being aware so that means he must trust whoever it is.
"Elite Elder Watson," the voice greets him, "I was curious if you have time for coffee? It's Aiden Jefferson, Eric's son."
"Ah, hello Aiden, good to hear from you, umm yes, I could met you for tea where would you like to meet at?" he answers the cobra, understanding how he got through, of course he would trust his son.
"Well there is a coffee shop not far from Eric's house, do you know the one?" the younger man queries.
He thinks about it a moment before replying, "I know the one, I can be there in half hour."
"Alright, thank you," he can hear the relief in the younger man's voice. A moment later the line goes dead.
Tucking his phone into his pocket, he finds a quiet corner to that is unseen, shields and shifts before heading towards the neighborhood that Eric has his home in. About two blocks from Eric's house he stops in a dark alley and shifts back into his human form, un-shielding and striding into the coffee shop that he had shifted by. Glancing around, he spots the tall cobra over near the corner, when he turns towards, the younger man stands smiling at him.
Elite Elder Watson, thank you for taking the time to meet me, the cobra greets him.
"Hello Aiden, call me John," he greets the taller young man.
"Hello John," he replies, nodding once before motioning to the table he had been seated at.
He smiles at the younger man, taking a seat closer to the window while the cobra sits back down with his back to the wall. His scent is mild, no major emotions ruling them. "What can I do for you?" he queries as the waitress comes over.
Both order their respective drinks before the taller man speaks, "I would like to formally request a change of dens. I am moving here and would appreciate it if you would consider my entry into the Watson den, sorry, Watson pack."
For a moment he studies the slender young man, considering everything he knows about him before inquiring, "Why have you decided to move here and change packs?"
He smiles, answering, "I'm the only cobra in a den that hates cobras, I wish to be out from under my matriarchal thumb, and I'd like a chance to get to know Eric better which will not happen if I stay in my birth den."
He thinks about it for a few minutes, he can smell the sincerity in his scent, hear it in his voice, his rarely used thera abilities can feel it in his being. Nodding once he asks, "Do you plan to fully change dens or be connected to both?"
"Complete change of dens, I do not wish to belong to a den that actively despises me. Eric has a great deal of respect and loyalty to you, something I know he gives to next to no one, thus you are respectable and worth the loyalty." The younger man pauses for a moment before continuing, "I would appreciate it if you would consider my request."
The two fall silent as the waitress delivers their drinks. Once she has left, he takes a few sips of the tea, thinking that it is still good, as he considers his answer. This could cause problems between his pack and the coral snake den that he is from, however he doubts it since there is not an elite in the den, and snakes have always been well aware of where they fall on the racial listings. What he knows about Aiden besides the fact he is Eric's son is he is a straight A student, excellent with computers, a skilled fighter, able to mimic and hide with the same skill as his father, a very minor healing gift, telepathy, and a minor ability to See.
Unfastening his left wrist on his shirt, he offers his arm to the younger man with a smile, "Welcome to the Watson Pack," he murmurs.
The cobra smiles back, unfastening his left hand again shirt and the two grasp wrists, a tingle of power going from him to the younger shifter as he is accepted into the pack.
"Thank you, Elder," he remarks afterward.
"Well we have pack meetings on the full and new moon. You already know who all is at the top of the pack. Do you have somewhere you plan to stay? Any other plans?" he asks the younger shifter.
His scent is content as he answers, "Eric is already aware that I am coming for a visit, I am fairly certain that he is aware that I am planning on moving here, because while I have not told him, he tends to know everything. I wish to go to university, though I have not decided which one to go to yet. I will be doing something with computers, and possibly medicine but have not fully decided. I want to get my own flat, but not sure I actually want to live on my own since like most snakes I like company." He pauses, shrugging, "I also wish to get to know the others of den."
For the next hour or so they chat until he gets a text from his bondmate inquiring when he is going to be home. At that point, he smiles at the cobra, offering to walk with him to the other cobra's home before heading home himself. At Eric's house he has a quick word with the older cobra, sharing his memories of the last several hours, and the older cobra agrees to his offer to Mycroft. When he is done speaking with the older cobra, he shields before he leaves and shifts as soon as he is outside to sprint on his way home.
