Disclaimer: I don't own "Grimm" or any of the show's characters, wishful thinking aside.
Authors Note #1: When I started this, it was supposed to go in a different direction altogether. But I found that story didn't want to be written. So, I let this take me where it did.
Warnings: temporary gender swap, transformation, magical shenanigans, angst, hurt/comfort, first time, romantic tension, sexual tension, animal traits and behaviors, canon typical violence, mild sexual content.
Mélange
Chapter Two
He eyed the mirror like it might be combustible.
"Dude, I'm not touching that. One of us is enough," he decided, when neither of them made a move to pick it up from the trailer floor. "I mean, what did you do the first time? Maybe try that?"
Nick shot him a look.
But seriously, what else were they supposed to do?
They'd torn the trailer apart trying to find some scrap of information about it. And found nothing. The hidden drawer didn't have anything in it other than cobwebs. The mirror didn't look weird or smell weird, other than being visibly very old. It gave him the creeps, but that was mostly because it had given Nick tits. So he figured he had a pass on that one.
"If this is all it does, I guess it can't hurt, right?" Nick said hesitantly. Crouching into touching range.
He wanted to knock his head into a wall.
"Why did you say that!?" he snarked. Wondering if anything in the trailer was actual wood he could knock. Absolutely not in the mood to tempt fate. "Now it's gonna-"
He trailed off when Nick went for it. Wincing as Nick held it as far away from him as he could. Nothing happened. But then, on the very edge of his hearing, he swore he heard a faint hum.
"Do you hear that?" he asked, head cocked.
"Hear what?" Nick returned, mirror glinting oddly. Slowly bringing it closer to his face as he talked. "I'm going to try something."
His heart jumped in his throat when Nick's reflection suddenly solidified across the pitted mirror. It was Nick. His Nick. His eyes darted back to the real thing, but still saw the female version.
"It's working!" he urged, the hairs on the back of his neck prickling. "Just keep holding it!"
There wasn't any fireworks. No dramatic flash, popping sound, weird smoke or anything to show that something had happened at all. The mirror glinted, Nick's back stiffened, and suddenly he was lunging forward to catch him.
"Nick? Nick!"
Because it was Nick.
His Nick.
He tucked his nose into the crook of his neck to be sure. Breathing in the familiar scent of him. Every tense muscle settling as Nick's pulse thumped between them. His clothes fit. His face had the hint of a five o'clock shadow.
He was back. And thank fuck for that.
Nick was already starting to stir when he eased him down on the floor of the trailer. Refusing to let go when Nick's hand clenched around his arm. Holding onto him as his head thudded back against his chest.
"Did it work?" Nick slurred muzzily. Voice shaky, but decidedly back to normal. Nothing like the high female tones from before.
He huffed a relieved laugh. Kicking the mirror under the desk, safely out of range. Grabbing him up in an awkward half-hug. Unable to stop the rumble that rattled up from his throat. So content he couldn't hold it in. Because Nick smelt over-warm and present. Like sugared musk, his couch cushions, and dangerous things.
He smelt good.
Right.
His.
He coughed, embarrassed. Only realizing the moment had stretched when Nick shifted, chin tipping up to look at him. Because Nick was clear eyed and still letting him hold him like this was something they did all the time, rather than never.
"Hi," Nick chirped, grinning like a complete idiot. Relaxing into him rather than making any effort to pull away.
Seriously?!
"You're unbelievable," he growled, as Nick's grin got even wider. "Never do that again."
And because his better judgement had left the room with his pride a long time ago, he solved what happened next by burying his nose in Nick's hair. Breathing him in without censor as he kneaded his hands into the curl of Nick's shoulder. Unable to drag himself away. Unable to get enough. Because all that tension in him had finally settled. Everything was as it should be. Nick was fine. He was fine. Everything was fine.
His wolf rumbled when Nick's pulse picked up. But there was no fear scent. If anything, the hand on his arm squeezed meaningfully. Like Nick was giving him permission. He rubbed the scruff of his chin through the Grimm's hair. Pleased when their scents mingled.
He hadn't realized his eyes had shifted red until he caught the reflection in Nick's pupils.
And quite suddenly, something important slotted into place in his mind's eye.
Maybe there was an entirely different reason he was obsessed with Nick these days.
He planned to spend the next few days quietly freaking out about it. About having maybe fallen for his very male, very Grimm, best friend. But all that went right down the toilet when he looked up from washing dishes the next afternoon and found the female blutbad who'd started this mess staring at him through the kitchen window.
Because, sure, why not?
This might as well happen while everything else in his life went up like an absolute dumpster fire.
He glared until she smirked at him. Turning on her heel so carefully not even an inch broached his territory. The challenge was there anyway. No blutbad would be so bold. Not unless they had a death wish. Her hips had a bit of extra sway in them as she turned. Blonde hair in a loose braid halfway down her back. Letting him watch as she crossed the road and disappeared into the park with a slow, predatory amble.
Come and get me.
The wolf under his skin curled its lip.
He wasn't surprised.
The only thing he was surprised by was that it'd taken her this long.
He didn't take his eyes off the window as he grabbed his phone and dialed. Turning off the water and draining the sink as the predator in him stretched. Growling.
"Hey, what's up?"
Nick's tone was easy. Back to its usual warmth as the static backwash of him pressing the phone against his ear with his shoulder made him wince. Able to hear the loose flip of paper in the background. He was at work. Good.
"She was here."
He didn't have to say anything more than that.
The sounds in the background stopped.
"Are you okay? Do you need me to come-"
He cut him off as he turned off the stove and stepped into the hall. Straining to keep track of her. The fading sound as she started running. Moving deeper into the park.
"No. She left. It was just a warning," he returned, jamming his feet in his hiking boots. "What about the boyfriend? He pressed charges, right? She could be going after him...is he out of the hospital?"
It wasn't the redirect that would send him to hell. He was going there anyway. But he didn't feel good about it. It was a strange place to be, weighing Nick's safety against a lie.
Because he knew she hadn't.
She was waiting for him, and he had to handle whatever happened next.
Because she wouldn't stop.
Not until Nick was dead.
And he couldn't let that happen.
If he hadn't been so focused, he might have appreciated the irony. Especially considering what had started their argument in the first place. But now wasn't the time to be fair. Right now, it was time to-
"You think she'd go for him? I'll head to the hospital. I can radio backup. Monroe-"
He opened the door, her scent like a slap as he took in the road and the path towards the woods beyond. Not bothering with a jacket as every inch of him ran hot with rage.
"I'm fine. I'll check in later," he told him, so focused on the shrouded green he knew he was being clipped. Brief. Nothing like himself. Once again reminded of how distracting a female's scent was. Only hers had the fading tint of Nick and it was enough to make him see red.
"Alright, call me if anything changes," Nick returned grudgingly.
He made an assenting sound and hung up.
In another universe, he might have been able to convince himself that because he hadn't said it, it wasn't a complete lie.
A/N: Thank you for reading, please let me know what you think. – There will be more to come.