So, I wish Alexander had had a bigger role in the show, especially during the Black Claw plotline. After he's the last one left, I expected him to show up in Portland, where he knows there are trustworthy people and an unconventional Grimm. And, yes, I want to ship him with Nick eventually. I'm a weirdo. So here is the Alexander-centric version of Grimm nobody asked for.
Also, I thought he was a Balam like Valentina Espinosa from the La Llorona episode. They look pretty similar. But when I was checking spelling of wesen names (because yeesh, I'd better check these crazy names) it said he was a Pflichttreue.
Juliette is just kinda…gone. My lazy self didn't want to write the break-up and heartbreak, so Nick is already on the mend.
There's a bit of wind-up before we get started. Bear with me.
(-)
"Keep an eye on him." At the time, I didn't think they meant for me to literally keep an eye on him. But here I was, in Portland, covertly tailing a Grimm.
It wasn't that I wasn't interested. This Grimm was unlike anything I'd ever heard of. I'd already learned that he was close friends with a Fuchsbau and a Blutbad, which was bizarre. I couldn't imagine how that had come about. The Grimm was a police officer who arrested and saved more Wesen than he killed. Further digging into his past cases led me to discover a whole lodge of Eisbiebers who seemed to trust and respect him, one in particular calling him a friend. The entire situation was unprecedented and fascinating.
No, my problem was that I was being treated like an errand boy. I was a full-fledged member of the Wesen Council, and I had earned my place there. But because I was the youngest, all the legwork and dirty work fell to me. If it was because I was the greatest predator among us, that would be one thing, but I wasn't.
Still, by the time I got back to Portland and started following him, I witnessed him walk a Gelumcaedus into a storm drain and emerge later with his Kehrseite partner and the same Gelumcaedus, apparently having killed his two brothers after walking into a trap. It was impressive that he not only took on three of those beasts at a time and lived, but that he spared one to arrest and prosecute. One would think it easiest to kill them all, but he didn't do what was easiest.
His case involving Krampus was the one that was most revealing. I had started to notice that he was even stranger than his behavior. When fighting Krampus, his skin drained of color, and he seemed to gain strength and a disregard for damage. It was not normal, not even for Wesen, and I wondered where he had gained such an ability. It certainly wasn't any Grimm power I'd ever heard of.
As I watched his unwillingness to shoot a murderous Wesen while it was unconscious on the ground, I was all the more fascinated by this creature designed to identify and kill Wesen who refused to do so. And then his patience was rewarded as Krampus Woged back to his human form, clearly disoriented and distressed.
De Groot contacted me to let me know that Rosalee Calvert had requested that the Wesen Council deal with Krampus, so he would understand what he was and help him take measures to keep himself from roaming around abducting children before Christmas. The Council, who had long since stopped investigating reports of Krampus, wished me to verify that we were actually dealing with Krampus, which I immediately told them we were.
Arrangements were made for him to visit the Wesen Council and I settled back into my mission. I had asked how long they intended to make me stay and was told to remain dutiful until given other directions. It was disgusting how unappreciated and disregarded I was. I believed in the Council, and in our mission, but no one believed in me.
"You know, you could just talk to me," the Grimm said one day not too long after that as I was tailing him through the forest. It was a tricky thing to do in the daytime, and I apparently hadn't done well. Because he turned and looked right where I was hiding.
Seeing no point in pretending I hadn't been seen, I stepped out. "What do you mean?"
"You've been tailing me for weeks."
It was startling to know he'd caught on to my presence so soon after I arrived, and that he had kept it to himself for so long. "Why do you say that?"
"Because I've noticed you around. You're not stealthy enough to hide from me. I know when you're nearby. So why does the Council have their wetworks guy tailing me?"
"We wish to know more about you. You are an unusual Grimm, and that's something worth learning about." It wouldn't hurt to tell him, and there wasn't a great lie to tell anyway. But I wondered how he had caught on to my presence. When it came to stealth and stalking, there were few who could best me.
He seemed to study me, those piercing grey eyes assessing my intent. It was one predator evaluating another, and I fought down a shiver. Unusually peaceable or not, this was definitely not a Grimm I wanted to cross; I had seen that already.
"Then we're back to my original point: why don't you just talk to me?" He looked…somewhat exasperated. "This surveillance business is ridiculous; either deal with me directly or go away."
Well, when given that ultimatum… "What do you suggest we talk about? I doubt you want to divulge all your deepest secrets."
"No, not while I can't trust you. And I don't trust the Wesen Council either. Especially if some policies threaten my friends' lives."
"What threat have we given them?" I asked, truly curious. Both times Ms. Calvert had contacted us, she had just been doing her duty.
"The Grausen. They said if they didn't contact you and you found out, you'd kill them. That's not the kind of people I want to be involved with."
"Ah. Well, you disagree with our Grausen policy entirely, I know. Although there is consideration to study further Grausens that are discovered and attempting to treat instead of kill. It isn't our standard practice still, but it's being treated as an alternative." I figured he'd be happy to hear that.
"And which alternative would you pick, given the choice?" This was a test.
I shrugged. "Abduct the child to run tests and try your method of curing them. If it proved effective and they were cured, I'd return them to their home."
The Grimm's mouth fell open for a moment before he shook his head and chuckled. "Well, at least you're an honest child-snatcher."
"I am many things, but above all else, I am necessary."
"So tailing me is necessary?"
I couldn't control the feline growl that escaped me. It wasn't my fault they treated me as expendable. "Apparently."
He was watching me closely now. "How long are you here for?"
"Indefinitely." I sighed. "So I guess I must deal with you directly, since I can't go home. How do you suggest I go about doing that?"
It was a long time before he answered, and that grey gaze was piercing me the whole time. "Why not join us?"
"Join who?" This sounded…interesting.
"Monroe, Rosalee, Hank…and me, of course. We handle Wesen problems as non-lethally as possible. And deal with other problems like Grausens and La Llorona. It certainly never lacks for excitement." He gave me a smile that was so charming and welcoming that I understood how Wesen might find this Grimm appealing.
"La Llorona? A ghost?" I couldn't help but ask; I'd heard ghost stories, but he spoke as though he encountered her.
"She's something. Probably not Wesen, but she's real. That case was the first time I saw a Balam. That's what you are, right?"
The question was a little insulting, but I let it slide. "No. Did you kill it?"
The Grimm rolled his eyes and snorted, as if the idea was ridiculous. "No. She had been hunting La Llorona for years after she took her nephew. With her help, we saved the children who had been taken here."
With the help of a Balam, he saved children from a ghost. This Grimm never ceased to surprise me. "So a Balam can be an ally?"
"Any Wesen deserves a chance to be judged for who they are, not what they are. My ancestors had it all wrong. They learned a lot over the centuries as they stalked, hunted, and killed Wesen, but you can learn a hell of a lot more by talking and asking questions. Not to mention judging people by the color of their skin, fur, scales, feathers, or whatever else is un-American." He said the last bit with a wry smile.
"So it's all about the content of their character?" I asked. It was a very American sentiment. At least at the country's most idealistic core.
"Pretty much. And if you aren't a Balam, what are you?"
Now I smiled at him, sounding as smug as I could. "I thought it didn't matter."
That amused him. "I suppose it doesn't. I can just sketch you and find you on my own if you're shy."
Grimms were said to be artists and chroniclers, passing books down through generations. He must have his own inheritance to be so knowledgeable and effective. Not to mention being well-armed. And if he really could sketch me from memory… "I'm a Pflichttreue."
"Gesundheit." I scowled as he laughed. He wasn't laughing at me, per se, but it was still annoying. "I'm sorry, I've been wanting to use that for a while."
I let myself Woge without even trying to stop it. He stopped laughing but didn't react other than growing still and examining me. And, oh, those eyes. The blackest depths one would never reach the bottom of; the reflection of my primal nature: the killer, the animal…but also something I'd never heard described in the gaze of a Grimm: acceptance. Maybe because it was this Grimm, but what should be an unsettling reflection was just…what it was. I was a Pflichttreue, a man with a feline predator inside him, and that was okay. It gave me a tingle inside and my fur stood up a bit.
I Woged back to human and met those grey eyes, finding myself oddly missing those black depths. It was the first sign (one I paid no attention to) that I was in trouble. "I am not a man to be trifled with." I got enough disrespect from the Council.
His face was serious as he said, "I apologize. There's just a million Wesen names that are hard to pronounce and spell, and I've been sitting on that joke for ages. It was meant to be playful, not insulting. It wouldn't be as funny if the name wasn't German, which that is, right?"
"Yes…" I didn't know why I told him, but I said, "It means 'devotion to duty'."
"That's not a bad thing, depending what your duties are."
Just the way he was looking at me… "You, Grimm, are strange."
That charming smile was back. "If we're going to be in public together, you should call me Nick." He strode closer to me and offered his hand.
I took it after a moment, still in wonder at it all. "Alexander."
Something about this moment seemed to shift things. I felt something change as we shook hands, and the touch lingered a moment longer than necessary. Physical contact was never something I found particularly reassuring, but even just his hand on mine made me feel…safe. I wanted more of that contact. And I had a sinking realization that I was already in over my head.
(-)
"So, wait, you're getting in bed with the Wesen Council?!" The Blutbad seemed nearly panicked at the idea. We were in Ms. Calvert's Spice Shop. I was in the main shop area as they had a not-so-quiet conversation in the back room.
"Not the Council; just Alexander. He's been stalking me for weeks; I figured he might as well be useful if he's hanging around."
"WEEKS?!" The Blutbad was really quite excitable. "Why didn't you say something sooner?!"
"I wanted to see what he'd do. All he's done is observe."
"You know you can't be dealing with just him; everything he sees gets reported to the Council." Ms. Calvert wasn't as naïve as Nick seemed to be.
"Well, sure, but if I make him leave, they'll just send someone else, right? At least I know who I'm dealing with now. And…he doesn't seem like a bad guy." An interesting statement.
The Blutbad scoffed. "He's just the guy they send in when they need children abducted and murdered. Y'know, an assassin. Not bad at all."
I couldn't deny that. As I told Nick: I was necessary. I did what needed to be done, however distasteful or upsetting it might be. I was not a good man. But…why did those eyes, both grey and black, make me feel better about myself?
"Hey, we all have things in our pasts we aren't proud of."
"But we've moved beyond them. I'm a vegetarian. Alexander hasn't moved on from anything; he's in the middle of it."
"Besides, a Balam-"
"I was wrong, he's not a Balam. He's a Pflichttreue." Despite his disparaging about hard to pronounce names, Nick had picked up my species fairly quickly and accurately.
"Ooooh. That makes sense." What made sense?
"What makes sense?"
"Pflichttreue are known to be clever and fearless, not to mention they're said to appear and disappear without a trace. And their dutiful nature makes them excellent for any job the Council wants done. I think they have at least one in service at all times."
"Uh, guys, pretty sure he can hear you, because he's getting pissed off."
I had moved to the far end of the shop, not fully aware of the slight growl growing in my chest. I was a member of the Council, not a servant! But even in my anger, I wasn't blind to another clue about Nick. Nothing had triggered the senses of the Blutbad or Fuchsbau that I was upset, but the Grimm could tell. And since sense of smell was the strong point of the two Wesen and there was a door between us, that left few options on what had tipped him off.
My growl. I let it deepen without raising the volume much. "Yeah, he's really pissed off." He could hear me. That was why my camouflaging skills hadn't worked. He hadn't spotted me, he heard me. But even then, he had to have extraordinary hearing. Unseen was my best skill, but I was stealthy and unheard as well.
The door opened and all three came through into the shop, Ms. Calvert looking sheepish. "Sorry, I wasn't trying to offend you."
"What did you mean by that?" Because it wasn't anything I had heard of. But maybe that was by design, if what she was implying was true.
She backed into the Blutbad who wrapped his arms around her. His eyes flashed red, and glancing at Nick's eyes and seeing they were getting darker, I realized my eyes must be changing as well. I took a deep breath and calmed myself. "I apologize. But what did you mean by that?"
The Fuchsbau looked confused. "I didn't mean anything. It was just something I heard my father mention once; he used to sit on the Council."
My family had always been involved with the Wesen Council. Sure, I was the first to actually become a member, but…no, surely they wouldn't give me a seat simply to ensure my…services. But the lack of respect and handing the most unpleasant jobs to me…it would make sense.
"Did you not know that?" The Grimm looked thoughtful.
"I…am a member of the Wesen Council, not a servant to them." My faith in my cause couldn't be shaken so easily.
Nick seemed to consider me even more closely, but something like pity flashed across the Fuchsbau's face. That was irritating. At least the Blutbad just looked suspicious and wary.
Finally, Nick broke the silence. "Look, if you guys aren't comfortable working with him, we won't. But Aunt Marie said to trust my instincts, and my instincts tell me to trust him. They told me to trust you, Monroe, when we first met, so they haven't led me wrong yet."
The Blutbad smiled a bit a that. "I jump out a window and throw you into the side of my house and you trust me. I kind of thought you were a dodo Grimm at first. What kind of Grimm likes to spend time with a Blutbad?"
"An unusual one," I said. "That's how you two met?"
The pair exchanged a glance with amused smiles before Nick said, "Actually, I ran into his house and tackled him on the stairs, accusing him of kidnapping a little girl. The window incident came later that night."
I was stunned. This level of friendship and trust had come from first impressions like that? Perhaps a simple fight in the forest while I was attempting to kidnap and murder a little boy wasn't entirely irredeemable, impression-wise. The Grimm certainly seemed to have the same counter-intuitive trust in me.
"My concern is his intentions," the Blutbad said. "While your ancestors may have come to some agreements with the Wesen Council, given their…behavior, the Council isn't fond of Grimms. Especially Grimms that interfere in Council business, which you have. He could be gathering information so they can kill you later."
That brought those eyes back to me. "I don't think he'll kill me."
It was a startling statement, and even worse was it felt true. I barely knew this man, this Grimm, but already I knew I wouldn't be able to carry out orders to kill him. He was too rare and valuable for that. And if the matter was brought up for discussion, I would vehemently argue against it. Of course, that assumed they were interested in my opinion.
All eyes were on me, and I sighed. "I can't guarantee the intentions of the Council, but personally, I do not wish you harm. And my current orders do not indicate any hostility on the Council's part. Nick is simply an oddity, one the Council can see value in learning about."
Nick just looked at the Blutbad and Fuchsbau, apparently giving them final say. He really did see them as equals. The two Wesen exchanged a look before looking at me. Then the Blutbad sighed. "Welcome to Portland, Alexander. I'm Monroe."
"Call me Rosalee," Ms. Calvert said.
The Grimm just gave all three of us an approving grin. Then he pulled out his phone. "Hey, Hank? Wanna come down to the Spice Shop? I want to introduce you to someone." After a moment, he said, "Okay, see you soon."
"You're telling Hank right away?" Monroe asked.
"Well, doesn't make sense to hide it. At least not from our friends." The three of them shared a look that intrigued me. Who would they hide my presence from that they didn't consider a friend?
There was mostly awkward small talk between the three of them as I examined the various ingredients on the shelves. It was quite a collection. Before too long, Nick's Kehrseite partner was walking in the store.
The first thing he did when he saw me was narrow his eyes. "Am I crazy, or is this the Wesen I arrested for trying to abduct and murder a sick little boy?"
"You aren't crazy; Nick is."
Rosalee lightly smacked the Blutbad. "Monroe!"
His eyes slid to me. "Uh, no offense."
"None taken; I entirely see your point. I can't expect everything to be forgiven or forgotten." Although Nick seemed to have forgiven me. Being absolved of my crimes in the eyes of a Grimm cop…life was only getting stranger.
"Hank, this is Alexander. The Council sent him, and he's been stalking me for a few weeks, so I figured we should come to an understanding with him."
His partner looked at him for all of a few seconds before he said, "You are crazy. You get a stalker and invite him to spend time with you." He looked at Monroe and Rosalee. "Are you two cool with this? Isn't this Council dangerous?"
Rosalee said, "At its heart, the Wesen Council is there to protect us. It was founded to keep order and make sure the world doesn't ever learn of our existence. Some of its more…mercurial rules are outdated, but they are all geared towards the goal of protecting us."
"Although it says something that I feel safer with a Grimm, well, with Nick handling most Wesen matters in Portland than Alexander and his associates." Monroe's eyes slid to me again. "No offense."
I smiled. Strangely enough, I understood what he meant. The justice of the Wesen Council was swift and absolute: no room for error. Nick…he was…kind. That was the feeling I got from him that made me feel safe from his touch. Sworn to uphold human law, he compromised that oath to deal with Wesen with that same kind of justice, just taking into account their unique circumstances. Granted it was still a Grimm; Wesen still died, but only when there was no other choice. All my investigations into Nick's past cases told me that he was a good man. And I fully accepted that I was not. "None taken."
(-)
The first case I had with Nick gave me no doubts that there was something happening. He and Hank were interviewing a father whose daughter had gone missing. I was, as usual, shadowing him while he worked.
"Please, Mr. Gatti. I need you to calm down and answer our questions," Nick said patiently. They were interviewing the frantic man on the porch of his house.
The man Woged, revealing that he was a Klaustreich. He jumped back from Nick, but what he said next was unexpected: "What kind of freak are you?!"
The detective exchanged a look with his partner. "Calm down, I'm not the kind of Grimm you've heard about."
"What's a Grimm?"
Nick's jaw dropped open a moment, then he said, "I am. It's how I can see that you're a Klaustreich. But I won't-"
"What's a Klaustreich?"
It wasn't unheard of for a grown Wesen to be unaware of our world, but they generally ran into someone who could explain things to them before they reached this man's age. I couldn't help but wonder how Nick would handle him now.
"Look, Mr. Gatti. You know how you change sometimes like you did now?" When the man nodded, Nick said, "That means you're a kind of person known as a Wesen. Wesen all have a dual nature, part man and part animal. You're a Klaustreich, a sort of cat Wesen. Being a Grimm means I can see what you are when you change like that, which is called Woging."
The man was stunned. "You mean there's more of us?"
Hank nodded. "Yes, there's more. And is your daughter a Klaustreich too? You said she was adopted."
Mr. Gatti shook his head. "She's different than me, but she's also…Wesen."
"Can you describe her? It's possible something about you two being Wesen could be why she was taken." Nick was taking notes, and I was impressed with how adeptly he was dealing with the man.
The father seemed to suddenly grow suspicious. "How do I know you won't hurt her? Those eyes…" he trailed off with a shudder. Aside from my experience, Wesen did not enjoy their first time meeting the gaze of a Grimm. I gathered that Monroe and Rosalee had adjusted to the point where it didn't bother them.
Nick looked confused, but said, "Mr. Gatti, I have a lot of Wesen friends. You could ask any of them; I'd never hurt them, and I'd die to protect them."
His instincts to protect his daughter seemed to be bringing him up against the experience of meeting a predator like a Grimm. "I won't let you hurt her because she's different."
The Grimm sighed. Then he said, "Hey, Alexander? I don't suppose you could talk to this guy, could you?"
I jumped, startled at the request. I figured he probably knew I was there, hiding in the trees in the park across from the house, but I didn't think he'd reveal my presence to his partner. Since we reached our understanding, he seemed content for me to follow him at work.
Still, it was a reasonable request. As I revealed myself and approached them, Hank said, "Has he been here this whole time?!"
"He's been following us since we left the station. It's fine," Nick said, and Hank wasn't happy with that answer.
The Klaustreich looked alarmed at some stranger wandering up and asked, "Who is this?"
"One of my Wesen friends. He isn't afraid of me, and you shouldn't be either."
The first thing I asked when I joined them was, "Were you raised by humans?"
He nodded. "My parents adopted me. I know I was a difficult child, especially once we realized I was a freak, but they still loved me as their own." There was a soft smile as he said it. It was not the most common experience of a Wesen child raised by Kehrseite parents. He was lucky.
"Alexander, could you Woge for him? I assume you've been listening, so you know he doesn't believe I don't hurt Wesen," and Nick shook his head, "even if he doesn't know what a Grimm is."
Looking curious, the Klaustreich watched me. I sighed and Woged, watching Nick's eyes blacken and swallow me down. I still enjoyed the sensation, and thought it was probably perverse that I took pleasure in what others feared. "I see what he looks like too," I told the man, nodding at Nick. "But he isn't bad. Whatever your daughter is, he just wants to find her and bring her safely home to you."
Nick's eyes turned grey as I Woged back to human form, and they were filled with questions as they met mine. But he seemed to set that aside as he looked back at the Klaustreich. "Please tell me what she is. We don't want to waste any more time; Allison's life could depend on this."
Mr. Gatti nodded. "She's not a cat…Klaustreich like me. She's more like a mouse."
All three of us stared at him for a moment. Raised by Kehrseite or not, a Klaustreich raising a Mausherz as his child was bizarre. Clearly his upbringing had given him different values and inclinations that made him very different from most of his kind, but still…
"Probably a Mausherz, then. And she doesn't know about Wesen either?" Nick was the first one to get over the somewhat paradoxical relationship of this father and daughter.
Shaking his head, Mr. Gatti said, "She was adopted by humans too. But when she started showing what she was, they kicked her out. She was living on the street when I met her." He smiled sadly. "I called her my little Alli Cat. She always thought that was funny. It took a while to win her trust, but once I took her home, I promised that she'd never be alone or afraid like that again." Tears filled his eyes. "But she's afraid right now, I know it. She's so meek and sweet and harmless…she won't be able to do anything to protect herself."
Hank said, "Let's just concentrate on finding her. Now, would any of your neighbors have seen Alli on her way home?"
He sniffed. "I don't know, we just moved here. We were living in Chicago, but we wanted a fresh start somewhere with more nature. We both love hiking."
And an idea struck me. "You don't know your neighbors? Have any of them seemed hostile at all, glaring or getting angry with you for no reason, Mr. Gatti?"
Mr. Gatti said, "Call me Chris. And…now that you mention it, there's a guy on the next block who seems to take a lot of walks that take him in front of our house. Alli was trying to garden once when he yelled at her and scared her back into the house. He was gone before I could confront him, though."
Nick seemed to catch on to my idea, at least a little. "Did she Woge…change in front of him?"
Chris nodded. "She said he got even angrier when he saw her as she ran into the house."
The Grimm looked at me expectantly. I said, "I think Chris moved into the territory of another Klaustreich. He would have no way to tell since he didn't know what he was and what his kind do. And while it is fairly common for Klaustreich to take weaker Wesen as family, it's usually as girlfriends or wives, and they are mostly abusive relationships. If the Klaustreich saw that there was another of his kind in his territory who had a loving relationship with an adopted daughter who is a Mausherz…he'd probably find every aspect of the situation offensive."
"When did the incident where she Woged happen?" Nick asked.
"Last week…" Rage was growing on his face as he had listened to my theory, and he Woged, letting out a mrowling noise. "If he hurts her, I'll tear him to shreds."
Now that sounded like a Klaustreich. Nature couldn't be denied completely. But I was finding him a superior version to any other Klaustreich I'd met, mostly because he was different. And, thinking about it, it was probably the same type of thing that endeared Monroe to Nick.
"Calm down, Chris," Hank said. "We'll go talk to your neighbor. If Alli is there, we'll find her."
"I'm coming with you," he said.
"If I'm right and this is another Klaustreich, you two getting anywhere near each other right now will inevitably lead to a…cat fight, for lack of a better term. Neither of you will be able to control yourselves. He started a turf war, and whether you know about your kind or not, your instincts know how to handle it." Part of me thought it should be handled like that, but I knew the resident Grimm cop would feel differently.
"You won't be able to smell if he has Alli," he said to the detectives. He was still Woged, claws flexing in anticipation of being used.
"Alexander will," Nick said. He looked at me and asked, "Will you come with us? I don't want to arrest Chris for manslaughter if it turns out she's there."
I looked between the Grimm and Klaustreich. I Woged and met the other Wesen's gaze. "If he has her, we'll find her. And between the detective, the Grimm, and myself, he won't escape justice, one way or another." I Woged back and said, "Alli will need you here, ready to welcome her home."
Finally, Chris Woged back into his human form. "Fine. But I'm trusting you…" He looked between the three of us.
"We actually have a lot of experience with this kind of thing," Nick said. "Both Wesen disputes and child abduction…" He glanced at me with the smallest of smiles. It still amazed me that he had already moved past that enough to tease me about it.
"Let's get going," Hank said. "Time matters, and we need to find Alli."
After getting the address, we got into Hank's car and drove down the block. It was easier to ride with them than walk to my rental car I'd parked down the street in the opposite direction. Although Hank still glanced at me in the rearview mirror, suspicious. When we stopped and got outside the house, I Woged, scenting the air. And, sure enough, the scents of both Klaustreich and Mausherz were lingering. "They're here."
Both detectives pulled out their guns. "Works for me," Hank said. "But let's look for probable cause other than a Wesen smelling the suspect and victim."
They advanced on the house and I followed, and before they got on the porch, I saw a light on in the basement. "Nick," I said quietly. When he met my eyes, I nodded at the window. He carefully looked in, trying not to get in front of it. When he withdrew, he nodded and joined Hank on the porch.
I was still Woged, and after they kicked the door open and entered, I slipped in and followed the scent straight to the basement. My abilities were hard to explain. People just tended not to notice me if I didn't want to be seen. I wasn't invisible, but their eyes seemed to pass over me if I was making any attempt to hide. And when I was in full form, I moved like a shadow. So I was at the bottom of the stairs, grabbing the Klaustreich tormenting the girl in the chair, and twisting both his arms painfully behind him before he had a chance to notice me.
The man Woged, but the snarl of a Klaustreich was nothing compared to my growl. I was so distracted establishing dominance that I didn't see the detectives coming down the stairs. Hank was untying the terrified little Mausherz, but Nick was just staring at me with those black eyes. And some part of me felt satisfaction at him admiring my form. Because there was a slight smile that, combined with the pull of those fathomless eyes, made me feel more than accepted; Nick approved. I let out a slight purr of satisfaction.
"Hey, maybe handcuff him, Nick?" Hank suggested, looking between the two of us with suspicion.
The Grimm started, and the Klaustreich had noticed those eyes too. I could feel his frame tense as he Woged back to human form with a whimper. "A Grimm! Don't kill me!"
I offered his wrists to Nick, who cuffed them. As I Woged back to human, the eyes that faded to grey were still watching me. "Thanks, Alexander. If you hadn't figured out the territory angle, we probably wouldn't have gotten here in time." That smile was so warm.
"Of course. Happy to help."
When we got outside, Hank loaded the Klaustreich into the back of his car. He looked between his prisoner and the girl. "Why don't you take her home? I'll send the EMTs to check on her there while we secure the scene. And we can not have some random guy accompanying us on a case. Hard to explain without some details getting to the Captain."
That was interesting. They weren't worried about all their coworkers noticing me, just the boss. It made sense, but something about the way Hank said it got my attention. But then Alli got both of our attention as she gasped, eyes still tearful, and asked, "I can go home?"
"Yeah, your dad is really worried about you." Nick had scarcely finished the sentence before she darted off. He looked at me as we jogged after her. "Mausherz run to their safety zone when threatened. Kinda nice that her safe place is with someone who is her natural predator."
"There is something to be said for being protected by something that should scare you, but doesn't."
When we got to the house, Alli was already in her father's arms. "I'm so sorry, Alli Cat, I didn't know there were others like me."
That was a problem. Nick was already on it though, writing something down on his notepad and tearing off the paper. "There's a shop down in the Pearl that can help both of you: Rosalee's Spice Shop. She and my other friend Monroe can tell you more about yourselves, and the world. If you go before tomorrow, just tell them Nick sent you."
"When do they close?" Chris seemed eager to learn more.
"I think they close at eight today. You can probably go there after the paramedics look Alli over."
Chris let his daughter go and hugged Nick, saying, "Thank you. You saved us."
A growl bubbled out of me without any effort on my part. Chris let go of the Grimm as his daughter gasped. I got myself under control and he smiled at me. "Thank you as well."
I just nodded and turned away. What was wrong with me? I had a suspicion, but it was ridiculous. And impossible. As impossible as a Klaustreich adopting a Mausherz and a Grimm that cared about Wesen. Which meant it was possible. I shivered, because I didn't know what I'd do if I was right.
It was incredibly rare in the Wesen community, but not so rare as to be considered a myth. Mating. Natural ties that formed between two Wesen that were so compatible that a bond formed between them. But a Grimm was not a Wesen, so this was something else. A crush? That was almost more embarrassing and only slightly less befuddling. Either way, it was not acceptable for a Council Member who was reporting on a Grimm to develop any kind of feelings for said Grimm. So I needed to ignore it.
A hand touched my shoulder and instead of tensing, I relaxed under the touch. I was in so much trouble.
"Hey, mind giving me a ride to the station? Hank will probably have left the scene to book the perp, so I'd rather not walk," Nick said. I turned to see him smiling at me, and it did strange things to my stomach. I fought down a groan at this hopeless situation.
"Of course." I just walked towards my car with just a nod to the Klaustreich and his Mausherz daughter. I was not looking forward to being alone in a car with Nick, but only because I was looking forward to it. It seemed my life was getting stranger than I could handle. And it was the Grimm's fault.
(-)
So, I hope that entertained you. I have a strange obsession with the Mating trope, so it slipped in. Not sure how many people are interested in this pairing, but I hope someone finds this to their liking.
Hope it wasn't too OOC either, but some of it is the pull of the Mating Bond.
Also, Monroe said there was no "de-Woge" to Nick, so I use it for both transformation both ways, though it perhaps is only meant for the transition to their Wesen form.
I'm probably going to selectively include episodes, and I definitely plan to include Trubel.
Let me know what you think; I have way too many fics and feedback helps me pay attention. But whether you review or not, you are wonderful and I hope to post more soon.