"Thank god!" Monroe exclaimed the moment he laid eyes on Nick.
The Grimm cocked his head, a quizzical expression in his eyes, as he stood on the porch of Monroe's house. Dressed in habitual jeans, a leather jacket and dark blue tee underneath, Nick looked like he had just come off a case. His gun was still strapped to his hip and the police shield clipped to his belt.
"What?" he asked.
The blutbad grinned at him, ushering him inside.
"You and Renard. Good for you. You finally resolved your… issues."
Nick blinked, then a light blush worked its way up his neck. "Oh."
Monroe tapped his nose. "Yes, oh. Can't fool the nose."
Even after a day at work. The scent of the regnant on Nick was strong, a recent claiming, and it appeased something inside Monroe to know that his best friend had finally given in and done the right thing. There was only so much punishment both had been able to take. It had been a painful time for all, even Monroe, who hated to sit between two lines and try to play peacemaker.
Nick ducked his head a little. "Yeah, well…"
"Good for you, man! And good for me. I was sick and tired of you two prowling around each other, afraid to finally give in. Breaking a bond isn't easy and it wasn't done on both sides." Monroe shook his head. "I don't know who the bigger idiot was, you or Renard."
"I think we're still vying for first place."
"You think?"
Monroe opened the fridge and took out two bottles of the expensive microbrew he favored and which Nick had come to like. He pushed a bottle into Nick's hands.
"So? No more sleepovers, right? This isn't a one time thing?" He sounded almost panicky at the thought. "You're back together?"
Nick chuckled and took a swallow. "No. We're good. Really good."
Monroe tapped his nose again, waggling his eyebrows suggestively. Inside he was sighing with deep relief.
Nick chuckled. Then he grew serious, looking at the other man. "Thanks for your help, Monroe. It's appreciated."
"Hey, you're my best friend. And how sad is that for a blutbad to say? Best friends with a Grimm. Anyway, you're my friend. My best friend. And it's what friends do."
Nick smiled softly. "Yeah. You've done a lot to help me. You didn't have to get involved in our… personal life."
"Are you kidding me, dude? I've been involved in this right from the start." Monroe snorted and shook his head. "Because you were a tenacious little Grimm who wouldn't leave me alone. Who had no idea about the world out there. Someone had to educate you. And tell you not to hug all the creatures out there!"
"I don't hug!"
Monroe gave him the evil eye. "You're still too innocent. Some of those things out there want to eat you, man!"
"Like you?"
"Like other blutbaden. Anyway… I should open up counseling hotline. Grimms welcome."
"And you'd be good at it."
Monroe's chest swelled a little and he grinned widely. "I would, you can count on that! Cheers!"
Their beer bottles clinked together.
"So… movie?" Nick asked hopefully.
"I guess that means either I cook or you threaten me with take-out?"
"You liked the veggie pizza!"
"It was soggy, dude!"
"You ate it all, Monroe."
"Because I paid for it and I'm not throwing away food."
Nick grinned and took out his cell. "Chinese? Thai? Greek?"
"Vegetarian Greek?"
"Chinese then. Or Italian. The spinach lasagna was great."
Monroe's brows lowered.
"You ate it all," Nick reminded him almost gleefully.
"Alright, yes, Italian. Geez, you Grimms are pushy!"
Lasagna it was. And salad, as well as a bottle of very good, red wine from Monroe's collection. Nick picked a movie and they settled down, enjoying the meal, the wine, the companionship.
Nick didn't stay overnight. He returned to his own place for the night, not the least bit lonely even though he was alone in bed. The bond was back, a barely perceptible pressure in the back of his mind, but it was there and it was reassuring.
x x x x x xx x x x x xx x x x x xx x x x x xx x x x x xx x x x x xx x x x x xx x x x x xx x x x x xx x x x x xx x x x x xx x x x x xx x x x x xx x x x x xx x x x x xx x x x x xx x x x x xx x x x x xx x x x x xx x x x x x
That Bud kept dropping by to help Nick with repairs was almost normal by now. Especially since that the Grimm had freed the eisbiber from the terror of Salvadore Butrell. Even though he had faced their opposition, some of them even thinking about turning him over to the bad guys to appease Butrell, all were by now his fans, as Monroe called it. Nick had dropped off more than one of the eisbiber fruit baskets at his friend's house. There was only so much fruit and pie and chocolate he could stand.
Right now Bud was fiddling with the fridge, which had given up the ghost again. The original plan had been for Bud to give Nick a calculation on necessary repairs around the house, starting with the kitchen and ending with the roof. Nick was thinking about selling the house, which had originally belonged to Marie. It was too big for him, filled with too many memories, and he had spent a good amount of his free time – not that there was much of it – going through listings, looking at houses and apartments. So far he wasn't even sure whether he wanted one or the other.
Renard had kept silent about it all, not mentioning the possibility of Nick moving in with him. It would be a risky move at best. Not only did they have work to consider; there was also Nick's other profession as a Grimm.
Currently Bud was muttering to himself as Nick watched.
"Uh, you need help?" he asked.
"No! No, no, I'm fine. It's just… this model.." He gestured. "Like I said before… it's not my friend. And I'm trying." He gave Nick a brief, shy smile. "I'll get the motor running again. I will."
"It's no big deal if you can't," Nick tried to calm the fretting man. "If you say it's a bust, I'll bite the bullet and buy a new model."
"No!" Bud held up his hands. "No, really, I can make it work!"
"Bud… it's not your personal failure… and I'm not going to be angry or anything. Just tell me if it's done for."
The eisbiber's eyes grew large. "I can do it," he insisted.
Nick shrugged. "Okay. I'll just be over there," he gestured at the living room, "working. You call, okay?"
Bud nodded and turned back to his challenge.
The rest of the house had to wait. Nick knew it would be another challenge to get the other man to accept payment for the repairs, but he was set on not accepting any kind of favors or gifts.
x x x
Nick was in the middle of surfing through several property-for-sale sites, the mutterings of Bud a background noise, when the door opened and Sean stepped into the house. His brows rose in a silent question and Nick shot him a quick grin.
"Yes!" Bud suddenly called. "I knew it! I knew it wasn't a lost cause! It's running, Nick, it's…"
The eisbiber had walked into the living room and stopped mid-sentence, eyes round as saucers, staring at the newcomer. His face lost all color and he stammered something, then a terrified squeak left his throat.
"Great," Nick said, trying to act as if nothing was wrong, as if he didn't see Bud's reaction to Renard. "Bud, this is Sean Renard."
"He's…"
Bud swallowed reflexively, eyes darting to Nick, trying to confirm that the Grimm knew and understood who and what the newcomer was. And Nick did. He knew that very well and he knew the reaction most wesen had to facing the Guardian.
The eisbiber swallowed again, so pale Nick was afraid he would faint any moment.
"Uh…" He stepped back. "I… should go…?"
"No, it's okay."
"He's… Do you know what he is?" the eisbiber blurted, voice rising with the last word.
"Yes. Very much."
"You… you do? Really? Nick, he's… And you… he…"
Yes, close to hysterics now.
The Grimm calmly raised his hands. "It's completely okay, Bud. Completely. Sean is my mate. I know who and what he is and we are bonded."
Bud really looked like he was about to pass out right here and now. "M-mated? B-b-but… You're… he's… really?"
Worry spread through Nick. "Bud? You okay?"
"He's… a Guardian!" the other man close to whimpered. "They're… legendary. And you… you are mated… and you're a Grimm and… oh god… I didn't know. Nick, I didn't know! It's… No offense, really, I didn't… I never…"
"Bud, breathe!" Nick almost laughed, though that would have probably sent Bud off into complete hysterics. "It's okay. Really."
He sent an imploring look at Renard, who was watching it all with his usual composure. There was an amused sparkle there though.
iSo not helpful!/i Nick thought sharply, wondering if it went across the connection.
"Your highness," Bud stuttered.
Nick had a wild moment of dread that the eisbiber would fall to his knees. He would put an end to that right away if it happened. Whatever Renard was to other wesen like Bud, no one would kneel in his house on his watch!
Renard regarded him silently, making no move, either threatening or peaceful.
"Geez, Sean, don't scare him any more than he already is!" Nick finally blurted.
Bud winced, sending the Grimm a frightened look as if Nick's words would rile up the powerful creature.
"It wasn't my intention to scare you," Renard finally broke his silence.
Bud wrung his hands. "I'm okay. Really. Just fine. I'll… go, if that's okay?" Imploring eyes turned to Nick. "The fridge's working. If there's anything else, really, anything, just call. Any time. Night or day. I'm there. You know it. Just call. You, too, sir. Your highness. Uh… right, there were the fixer-uppers, right? Uhm, just make a list. I can work with a list.."
"Bud, stop it!"
And he stopped, frozen, almost as if in shock, wide eyes staring at Nick. The Grimm was fighting down his exasperation and annoyance, which was mostly directed at his mate anyway.
"Sir?" the eisbiber squeaked.
"It's Nick. That's not changing. And I'm not going to make a list for you, Bud. I want your opinion on repairs and stuff that might need fixing if I sell the house. Draw up an offer and send it to me."
"Offer?"
"Yes, offer. I'm going to pay you."
Again Bud's eyes darted over to Renard, who was still watching it all without interfering.
"I couldn't… you're… he's…"
Nick sighed and wondered how so much work on the eisbiber's confidence around him had gone down the drain so fast. Of course Renard was powerful and was the highest ranking individual in Portland when it came to wesen, but Bud was about to keel over from terror. Monroe had accepted the regnant without much fuss. A bit of a freak-out for a minute or two, then a healthy dose of respect, and now they worked amiably together. Nick knew that text messages were frequently exchanged, and they were mostly about Nick himself.
Bud was… well, his reaction was extreme.
"You don't have to give me anything or be around at my beck and call, Bud. I'm not royalty. And I'm not asking for gifts or slave labor or services that I'm not going to pay for! Neither is Renard going to ask you to do it without payment either!"
Nick shot his mate a sharp, pointed look, which was answered with an amused half-smile. "I won't," Renard only said; quite unhelpfully, too.
"Bud? You know I want to be a friend, not… the Grimm you guys are told about in horror stories."
The other man blinked, then suddenly straightened his shoulders, pulling himself up to his full height.
"It's my honor to help you, Nick, for what you did for us. I'm proud to be your friend." He glanced at Renard. "Uhm, Detective Burkhardt. Sir."
"Nick is still fine. Don't mind Sean."
The other man's eyes went wide as saucers. "He's a Guardian! He's… this is his protectorate!"
"In my house we're all the same."
Bud opened his mouth to protest, shooting frantic looks at Renard. Right now the hyperventilation was close to surfacing again.
"And please, tell all your friends and whoever else, I'm not asking for any more gifts. I'm your friend without them anyway. And I'm paying for services rendered. I want to hire you and anyone else you can refer to me, but not without a bill."
Bud nodded mutely, clearly shocked.
Nick walked up to him and held out his hand. "Deal?"
The eisbiber smiled tentatively and slowly took the hand offered. "Deal. And I will. Thanks." Again his eyes strayed to the tall, imposing figure of Renard.
Nick fixed him with a hard look. "No bowing, Bud. Not in here, my turf."
He opened his mouth to say something, then snapped it shut when Nick just narrowed his eyes.
Bud quickly gathered his tools. "Your highness," he blurted, darting toward the kitchen exit.
Nick watched him with exasperation as Bud fled the house, then turned that look on Renard. His mate closed the distance and wrapped an arm around the Grimm's waist, pulling him into a kiss. Nick responded without hesitation, though the amused sparkle didn't leave.
"You weren't helping!" he snapped when they separated.
"I didn't say more than a few words."
"Which were quite enough! Your vibes must be terrible," Nick growled.
"My vibes?" An elegant eyebrow rose.
"You were bragging. Don't think I didn't notice."
"I wasn't."
"You were blasting your true nature all over the house, Sean! I was expecting Bud to faint. If you had dropped the façade I'd probably have had to resuscitate the poor guy!"
"You didn't tell them."
It was a statement, matter-of-fact, and brows rose. Nick shrugged.
"No. It wasn't important. And you see what the result is. I'm probably getting buried in gift baskets and stuff again!" He sighed. "Damn! Not even Monroe wants to take them off my hands anymore!"
"Gifts?" Renard asked, laughter clear in his voice.
Nick rolled his eyes. "Don't ask. I'll start boxing them up and sending them to you!" he threatened.
The regnant placed a kiss against one temple. "You do that."
"There's only so much pie a man can eat."
"I like pie."
"You would. I also have a wardrobe full of quilts and crocheted afghans and knitted blankets. If I ever lose power in mid-winter, I'm prepared. You don't want to know about the collection of jams and honeys. You really don't. And I won't mention the other baked goods either."
Sean smiled. Nick's fingers slid underneath the suit jacket to play over the thin material of the dress shirt.
"Any reason why you dropped by and scared my fridge repair guy?" he asked.
"I was in the neighborhood."
"Uh-huh. Try again."
Another kiss, this time trailing down Nick's other temple. Another, between the eyes. The next, at the corner of his mouth. And finally finding his lips.
Nick responded to the gentle, soft expression of affection, and he drew Sean closer, exploring the other man's mouth, letting him do the same, and while it was hot, it wasn't followed by the immediate surge of lustwantneed. It was… so much more and so much stronger than the basic emotions.
"I see," the Grimm murmured when they parted, gazing into the green eyes that reflected a lot more than Renard probably wanted.
"You got plans?" Sean asked.
"Hm, actually yeah. Training with Monroe." He gave his mate an apologetic look.
Renard smiled. "Good plan." There was no disappointment or anger or sarcasm.
Nick nipped at the slightly red lips. "Want to come along?"
"And do what?"
"Train?"
He chuckled. "I don't think so."
"Scared?" Nick teased.
That got a flare of indignation. Nick chuckled and kissed him again, then drew back.
"I'll be back tonight."
Renard tilted his head, gazing at him, thoughtful.
"Your place," Nick promised, answering an unspoken question.
"I'll see you then," the regnant said.
tbc...