IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWWWN


Trevor let out a large breath as he wandered the halls of Castlevania, the flickering candle flames which often lit the way contrasted with the occasional cold light from self-sustaining sconces. Adrian and Lisa had both assured him they were not magical, but Trevor found it hard to believe. What else could make light besides fire or magic? It wasn't as though they had captured the sun or the moon. ...Had they captured glowing bugs? That kind of light couldn't possibly be so steady; Unless it was demon bugs.

Mind thus occupied, Trevor wandered the castle, staring at the decor and pondering breaking one light open, just to check. No one had to find out.

Fortunately for the castle's lighting, Trevor stumbled across a different room which drew him in. It looked like a study or lounge, filled with bookshelves, small tables, and cushioned seating. A warm fire crackled from a fine stone fireplace.

A white wolf lay on the rug.

Trevor paused part way into the room, foot not quite planted on the floor. Tall ears perked up and swiveled in his direction, waiting, but the wolf did not make a move to get up. Trevor felt a small tremble in his muscles. Go in? He might risk its displeasure. Walk out? That was the coward's way; Besides, the fire and plush couch looked comfortable.

Trevor leaned forward to set his foot down. Still no movement. He paced forward, keeping his steps smooth and calm.

Once he was an arm's length away, the wolf finally lifted and turned its head, piercing him with bright golden eyes. Once again, Trevor ground to a halt. The color was so familiar. As was the pompous aloofness, if he was being honest.

"...Adrian?" he asked hesitantly.

No response.

"Of course." Trevor scratched at his neck. "Not sure what I expected, honestly."

The wolf snorted.

"Hey, you can hardly blame me," he explained, crouching down to it. "You've got the same eyes."

Its ears flicked back and forth, seeming more curious than threatening. Good. Staying vigilant, Trevor moved one hand towards it, fingers lightly curled. It looked to the hand and sniffed. Trevor relaxed.

"Course you're not as annoying as he is. At least you don't talk." Trevor did a double take when the wolf cocked its head. One brow raised, and Trevor copied it. "You don't, right?"

The wolf sneezed.

Trevor made a disgusted sound and wiped his hand off on his pants. He was sure the wolf looked amused as it turned back to the fire.

"C'mon now. I don't smell that bad." The wolf sneezed again, head shaking as it did so. "Well, I blame all those fancy soaps. What's the point in smelling like mountain laurel? It's more likely to attract trouble than keep it away. Especially bees. I hate bees."

With a short growl more like a groan, the wolf laid its head back down, shifting its front paws underneath.

"I guess you're fine with me then."

Even so, Trevor was careful as he reached one hand out to the plush, silvery fur. The Belmonts had trained hunting hounds, and he remembered them fondly. Probably one of the best parts of his childhood, along with his special tree.

The fur was soft under his hand, smoother and cleaner than anything he remembered from his family's dogs.

"What a pampered pet," he said, amused.

He got a growl for his trouble, but when he smoothed his hand over the head and rubbed at the scruff of the neck, the sound changed. A higher pitched sound came out when he scratched behind the ears, more like a pleased whine.

"Like that, do you?" A quiet wuff came from the wolf.

Running his hands through the thick fur became like a meditation for Trevor. He didn't think. Not about the castle, or the past, or the future. Just felt the fur cascade through his fingers, felt the pull of skin as he rubbed and scratched deeper with his fingers.

Eventually, the wolf let out a content huff of air, and its tail thumped up and down on the floor. Trevor smiled.

"Alright, alright. Let's not get greedy. I'm not staying down here on the floor forever." He gave the wolf one last good pat and scratch along the head and neck before pulling back. The wolf whined, but Trevor wouldn't let himself be swayed.

"Look, there's a perfectly comfortable couch over there, and I intend to get some good use out of it. So whine all you like, but you won't change my mind."

He did exactly as planned and flopped onto the couch, arms spread along the back. He leaned and took a deep breath. Slowly, from the warmth of the fire and the soft cushions, he relaxed, eyes slipping closed.

He woke abruptly-after what felt like only a few minutes-to a wolf snout in his crotch.

"What the hell?" he said, voice groggy. "Get outta there you mutt."

He reached down to pull at the offending snout, but it dodged his hands and stubbornly placed its nose back, snuffling.

"The fuck has got you so interested?" Trevor frowned and pushed at the wolf. When that didn't get its attention, he grabbed at its scruff and tugged. "Hey."

The wolf did raise its head then, but used the opportunity to give Trevor a mournful, pleading look, with wide eyes and everything. Fuck.

"No," Trevor said, drawing out the word. "No. I don't care how much you plead and stare at me, or what cute expressions you make, you're not sniffing my dick."

The wolf snorted and shook its head. Trevor let go of the neck fur and figured it safe enough to leave off when the wolf simply went back to staring at him.

"What, you want more pets or something?" A paw landed on his hand. "Yeah, fine."

It wasn't like he minded anyway. Petting did calm his nerves, and the wolf seemed to enjoy it just as much, closing its eyes and leaning into the touch. A thump thump on the floor told Trevor the tail started wagging again, too.

"No way you're Adrian," Trevor muttered. "He's too much of a vain fucker to sit for something like this."

The wolf growled. Trevor blinked in surprise. "What? You think I'm wrong?"

A front paw lifted and pushed at his face.

"Ack! What?" The wolf shook off his ministrations and put both paws on his legs hauling its upper body onto his lap. "Hey hey! You're too heavy for that!" And it was a large wolf, now that Trevor was seeing it stretch out. It-he?-looked at least three feet at the shoulder, possibly five feet long, and just from the little pressure on Trevor's legs, the wolf probably weighed as much as he did.

It didn't stop the bastard though.

Trevor pushed and protested, but soon the oversized lap dog was sitting atop him, looking extremely pleased with himself. Trevor could not budge. His embarrassment on essentially being trapped under one of Dracula's pets was compounded when the creature began sniffing and licking at his neck.

"If you fucking bite me, you're getting no more pets," Trevor warned, then grunted as he tried to push himself off the couch again. No luck.

Not the least bit bothered-looking rather smug, in fact-the wolf continued to lick Trevor, tail wagging at a quick tempo. With no other options for getting up, Trevor resigned himself to petting the heavy bastard. Maybe he could curry favor through touch. The wolf perked up and finally pulled away to look him in the eyes.

"Were you actually bothered by what I said about Adrian? Or did you just want to be a huge ass?"

The response was a low wuff.

"Funnily enough, that doesn't answer my question."

Soft fur brushed under his chin as the wolf butted up against him, seeming happy to remain in his embrace. Trevor complied, reaching around to scrub all the way down the wolf's back, and felt satisfied with the resulting happy growl which morphed into a whine.

"You are such a spoiled brat." Trevor squeezed the warm body he was wrapped around before speaking again. "So is Adrian."

The wolf huffed.

"He is! Wandering around this huge place and stomping into whatever room I'm in with that fancy coat and ridiculous hair, demanding to spend time with me..." His mind wandered for a moment, realizing just how often the dhampir would find him.

Whether he was thrusting a basket of new, frilly soaps and towels at him in an obvious attempt to make him bathe (who needs more than one a week?), or simply gliding into the room where Trevor was and settling himself down as though he'd always been there and never left. Funny thing was, it always did feel that way. Something about his personality, his very presence, filled the silences Trevor had been used to and dreaded. Not now though, not when all he had to do most days was glance to the side and there he was, the dhampir with a sincere smile and a mischievous sparkle in his eyes.

"I guess I'm not upset about it though," he admitted. "Keeps me from... thinking. You know what I mean, don't you, you brat?"

The wolf nuzzled him.

"That's right precious," Trevor cooed. "You're my new best friend. As soon as you get off my legs."

The wolf licked his face and did not move.

"Come on! How do you expect your new best friend to function when you're crushing his legs?"

Ears suddenly perked and swiveled to something behind Trevor, and the wolf brought his forepaws up to Trevor's shoulders, barking over Trevor's head.

"No no no-! Uph-" Trevor got a face full of fur as the wolf leaned its not inconsiderable weight into him, pushing him into the back of the couch. Once again, his struggles did nothing.

A delighted giggle sounded behind Trevor. He recognized it as Lisa's. "Adrian?"

"Adrian?" Trevor shouted, muffled by the-apparently transformed-wolf crushed against his face.

"Oh dear," Trevor heard, closer to him. "Adrian, my son, it's one of those days?"

An affirmative bark vibrated the chest against Trevor's face. He gave one last good effort to get the crushing weight off himself, but only shoved Adrian a few inches to either side.

"Hold on. Trevor?" He felt a hand squeeze his own. "Adrian, you're crushing the poor dear. Come now. Get down from him."

Adrian whined.

"Down," Lisa said again, voice firm.

Whatever expression she'd made must have worked, because the weight left him completely, and Trevor took in a deep breath. The wolf-Adrian-sat before him, ears drooping.

"Oh thank god," Trevor said, gasping.

Lisa made a sound between a laugh and a sigh, brushing some fur from Trevor's shoulders and head.

"He means well. I expect he got a little too excited when you found him."

"I noticed," Trevor said in a dry tone. He looked at the drooping wolf before him. "What the hell were you excited for anyway?"

No answer, other than his tail tucking itself against his body.

Lisa circled around the couch to hold her son. "I'll tell him if you like." Adrian didn't move for a long moment. Then he huffed and pawed at her arm twice.

"Alright," she said, pressing a kiss to the top of his head.

When Adrian settled down in front of the fire again, Lisa turned back to Trevor and sat beside him on the couch. She smoothed her dress and smiled, expression open.

"I suppose I should make the explanation simple, to start."

"Alright," Trevor said, and crossed his arms.

"There are certain times when my son prefers not to be in his usual form. He does not always spend time as a wolf, but as a bat, as well."

Trevor raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"That question is one he should answer, should he desire to." Lisa still spoke kindly, but her voice brooked no argument. "When he chooses his wolf form, for long periods of time like this anyway, it's best to just... show affection."

Trevor looked over at Adrian. He was curled up, looking cozy as the firelight danced across him, but somehow lonely. Trevor recognized the slump and defeated tilt to the head; He'd worn it himself for a long while. He wore it still, sometimes.

"I get it. I think."

Lisa patted his knee. "He does have some, hm, wolfish instincts like this. But he's still in there. Still himself. Just-" She sighed and said in barely a whisper, "Try to be open."

Trevor swallowed down the lump in his throat. Sincerity like he hadn't seen in years shone on Lisa's face. She was trusting him with her son, with his feelings, during what sounded like a vulnerable time. Why?

"I'll... try," he muttered.

He startled when she reached to give him a brief hug, but managed to return it before she pulled away.

"Get to it then. I have to go find my husband." Lisa left him with one last smile before going over to her son and stroking his head. "I will see you tomorrow. We can talk more then. I love you." Adrian grunted and leaned into her hand. Then she swept out of the room.

Thick silence settled in her departure, broken only by the crackling and occasional pop of the fire. Trevor scratched his head. Ah hell, what sort of pride did he have left anyway? Leaving the comfort of the couch, he sat on the floor next to Adrian, grateful for the rug. Warmth radiated from the fire, lulling Trevor into a relaxed state. He yawned and chuckled when Adrian did the same.

"Tired?" Adrian huffed. Hesitating for only a moment, Trevor reached out and placed his hand on a furred shoulder. Gold eyes turned to rest on him, but otherwise he did not move. Trevor took in a breath and stared intently at the fire. "You can sit close to me. I don't care. Just don't crush me, alright?"

Adrian raised his head, slowly, like he was trying not to frighten off prey. Trevor swallowed.

Carefully, each movement calculated and smooth, Adrian shifted his body until he lay partially curled around Trevor's back, head rested in Trevor's lap.

They stayed that way for some time, Trevor mindlessly stroking Adrian on the ears and neck. Eventually, Trevor's eyelids got heavier, and he had to flutter them to keep his eyes open.

"Guess it's pretty late," he muttered.

A tug on his tunic had him looking down. Adrian pulled on him again, cloth held firmly in his teeth. A particularly strong tug made Trevor waver backwards.

"Lay down? Here?" Adrian responded with another tug. "Fine. Not the worst place I slept."

He started scooting away to lay down, but the hold on his tunic pulled him right down onto Adrian. Silky fur cushioned his face.

"Whatever. Shouldn't bother you, right? You're heavier than I am anyway."

Adrian swatted him with a paw, though Trevor only gave a breathy laugh, eyes slipping closed. The body beneath his head was surprisingly warm. Vaguely, with his mind already beginning to drift, Trevor wondered if it was because Adrian was in wolf form, or even because he had been near the fire.

There was something else as well-a sound. It was slower than his own, but Adrian had a strong heartbeat. Had it always been there? Trevor hadn't been this close to Adrian, or at least not ear to chest, so he wasn't sure; There had also always been a coat or a shirt between them.

The thought wiggled its way through his brain and out his sleepy mouth. "Adrian? Hey..."

A cold nose prodded him when he stopped.

"Mm. Are you naked like this?"

A deep breath left Adrian; Trevor felt his head bob as it did. He got one last swat from a paw and then he was asleep.


THREE. HOURS. LEFT. TIL s3 DROP. =。:.゚٩(๑◊๑)۶:.。+゚

Haha, so this was the chapter I had already finished, so enjoy! I don't think I've ever posted two chapters of a fic in the same day. Unheard of! I hope you guys like it. ^^ Please let me know what you think of it.

Trevor has definitely come a long way, but he's been lonely for a long time, and it's taking conscious effort on his part to believe everyone actually cares.
And speaking of lonely, well, I identify a lot with the way Adrian acts in the series. I understand how he deals with his emotions. So my headcanon is that he's always had bad days, thinking about how he's perceived outside his family 'n junk, and while his parents were still around, he had a safe place to deal with them. He could transform to experience emotions more simply and keep from thinking himself further down.
It's part of a headcanon I have that vampires themselves are prone to lose themselves within strong emotions of all kinds.

But yeah, I am SO READY GUYS. I... do get the feeling we might need even more fluff after this season drops, haha. ^^;