Title: Legacy (part XII)
Author: BELOVEDbyWAR
Rating: PG
TV verse: Blood Ties
Disclaimer: Not mine, not making any money.
Summary: Mike thinks about what almost happened.
AN: Thanks to luvinmike for beta-reading!
WK: 645
Thanks to Sin Angel and Endgame65 for reviewing!
Endgame65, you asked 'why a raccoon' and 'not a wolf or stag?'
- Well, first of all, because a raccoon was the first animal he had felt drawn to as a child and secondly because of some attributes connected to the animal that come in handy later in the story. And also exactly because Mike is so tall and strong, the raccoon is the exact opposite.
Legacy XII:
It wasn't until much later that Mike realized what had almost happened that night. At the time, he had been far too stunned and later too amused by the vampire's flustered reaction to comprehend that Fitzroy had only been a breath away from kissing him.
KISSING him!
Now how the hell should he take that?! Usually the thought of another man's lips on his would send cold shudders down Mike's back. He was no homophobe; he simply didn't swing that way. Sow why had Henry's intrusion into his personal space not triggered a similar reaction?
It must have been his shock at the situation! Or maybe it had been the welcoming, almost relieved feelings he had felt upon waking. He had not realized it then, but even as the vampire angrily stalked out of the room, that feeling of being wanted had not left him until sunrise, when Henry's death sleep had left Mike wanting that belonging feeling to return ASAP.
He had waited the whole day, tried to distract himself by communicating with the animals outside, but was not successful. It simply wasn't the same. And the longer he tried not to think about it the more he wanted to feel it again!
Standing under the hot shower, Mike could not help but review all that had happened to him in only a few days. Could he live like this? Slowly sliding down the tiled wall into a sitting position, the enormity of the consequences hit him full force.
It was not only his personal life that was bound to change. How on earth could he stay on the force with ears and eyes like this! He could perhaps hide the eyes with contacts, but not the ears. As this was no longer the 80s, he could hardly get away with wearing a headband. And longer hair wouldn't work with the wind factor. Was this how Vicki had felt when she started losing her vision? Did she see no other way but to leave the most important part of her life behind because of her body's weakness? Oh, Lord! Why him?
Buried in his misery Mike did not realize Henry had entered the room until he softly cleared his throat.
"He hem. Mike?"
Startled, the blond looked up to see the shadowy outline of the vampire.
How long had he been in the shower?
Looking at his fingers and the shriveled skin at his fingertips, he must have been quite a while longer than he realized.
"Just a moment!"
Standing up, Mike swiftly washed-up and asked without thinking:
"Would you hand me a towel?"
Just as the words left his lips, the detective realized the intimate situation they were in, but he didn't really regret it because he also realized the humor involved as the vampire did. Mike could clearly feel the other man's amusement and he liked it!
It amazed him how much he craved having someone else around, when only two days ago he had so desperately wished for him to go away.
After the water was turned off, a pale hand passed a towel through the curtain.
Mike quickly toweled himself dry and wound it around his hips before he stepped out. Fitzroy stood there looking at him with a smirk on his face.
"Would you like for me to fetch your clothes also?"
Imagining the terrible outfits which the bastard prince might bring, Mike chose to put back on what he had worn earlier. He would ask Vicki to somehow send him some of his own clothes.
"No, thanks. I think those will do for another day."
Henry nodded his head in acceptance.
"Well, then. I shall leave you to get dressed and wait downstairs. It is time to get acquainted with your new weapon, I believe."
The vampire left the slightly puzzled elf behind.
Oh, this will be good!