Nick returned at two in the morning, bruised and battered and still running on adrenaline. Playing Hide and Seek with Monroe was completely not what it said in the rule book. Even with wolfsbane and a healthy dose of expectation, the blutbad had been able to get the drop on him twice.

At the end of January, with frosted grounds, at night, it hadn't been as much fun as it might have sounded. Then again, nothing about prowling through the wintery woodlands was fun, now that Nick thought about it. But he couldn't choose when to train since the bad guys also didn't simply ignore the weather. Still, it was damn painful to crash onto frozen ground.

"You really need to let go, dude," Monroe had told him the second time, pulling the slightly winded Grimm to his feet. "Stop thinking cop and start thinking Big Bad Wolf Out There to Kill And Maim!"

So he had.

And it had been like turning a key, opening a lid of darkness and power and awareness. His instincts, always good in the past, had opened and flared and taken in everything that was around him. Like before, only in a much large dosage, he had suddenly been there. Completely.

Nick had had spread metaphorical wings, like dark shadows, enveloping him, freeing him, taking with it the hesitation and making way for the true core of the Grimm to fly.

Monroe's expression had been one of approval and shared joy.

They had gone from Where's Monroe to shooting targets and trying out all kinds of weaponry Nick kept finding in the trailer. Each time he adjusted quickly, instinctual knowledge coming forth, letting him know what to do, how to move. It was a dangerous balancing act. If he gave in, the predator took over and there was no telling how far he might go. If he reined it all in, he would never know his true potential.

They called it quits after a while and Nick walked back to the car, Monroe in tow. The blutbad was still excited about the whole Grimm stuff Nick kept unearthing and Nick promised him another go at the trailer's collection of history, lore and gore.

"You're so easy," he teased.

Monroe gave him an offended look. A retort was on his hips when the blutbad suddenly tensed and held up a hand. Nick froze, almost simultaneously feeling the tell-tale tingle of something.

All senses alert, the Grimm scanned the dark woods. Monroe had cocked his head, the eyes showing flecks of red. And then he heard it. It was a barely perceptible noise, so soft that he nearly missed it.

He tensed, listening hard. The sound didn't return. Carefully he moved on, muscles coiled to the snapping point, senses tuned to the slightest noise out of the ordinary. The murky darkness around him didn't reveal anything.

Suddenly something slammed into his side. He was flung to the right and barely managed to roll around before something struck the ground where he had just been.

Sharp claws came at him and Nick jumped back, hitting the ground in a defensive crouch, then quickly back-flipped as his attacker came at him, claws swiping where he had just been. He didn't think, just reacted, let his muscles work, let his mind blank on human thinking.

Gray eyes the color of steel met faintly glowing ones.

Sean nodded his approval of the fast-paced maneuver, but Nick didn't feel very much reassured. He had just about evaded the sharp claws, though he doubted his mate would slice him apart.

He tried to get out of the way when Renard moved lightning fast toward him, but was hit by another blow, which left him half lying, half sitting on the ground. The Grimm snarled in anger and the leash was off, gray eyes flaring, muscles awash in strength and power, ready to anything.

Speed was his asset. Speed was what he needed.

Part of him wondered where Monroe was, but the much larger part focused his attention on the immediate situation.

They circled each other, feigning attacks, going back and forth, both coming close, both evading and dodging, and Nick added a few good hits to his score.

Getting a hold of a clawed hand coming at him, he wrapped his fingers tightly around Renard's wrist, pushing it away from him. He was caught in a strong body grip instead.

Shit!

He was still holding Renard's left wrist, but the right arm was strong and unmovable.

"Never come that close to a larger opponent," the regnant rumbled. "It's a mistake that might cost you."

"You don't say," Nick breathed and resorted to underhanded and sneaky.

He pushed hard with his legs and fell back, taking the surprised man with him. Sean's eyes briefly widened, then he was flipped over Nick in a maneuver that would have made generations of Grimms proud.

Nick rolled aside and came to his feet, looking for a weapon. He saw something not far away and made a dash for it. It was a staff/blade/something studded with more pointy bits. He had taken it from the trailer to get a hang of it, since the weapon was nearly as long as he was tall.

His opponent wasn't really impressed.

Nick made sure that he would leave an impression of some kind, and he scored more than one hit.

Eyes glowed brightly in the dark.

Blows rained, each party receiving and delivering hits, and when sharp claws ripped his shirt, Nick bit back a curse.

Of course his mate taught Nick something with each move, corrected his stance, allowed him to get very close, just to catch him again.

Ducking, blocking, returning blows, Nick was amazed at how much Renard could take and not even falter. Sure, they weren't on lethal terms, but still…

Wow.

Just wow.

It stung to be toyed with. Because of Renard had wanted to, he would have taken out the other man in a stride. Then again, if Nick really wanted to, he could use the psychic connection and deliver a blow that would most likely stun the other man long enough for Nick to end this.

But that was out of the question.

His guard down for a second, Nick was struck by a powerful kick and went flying, but he was right back on his feet, only to have talons nearly take more fabric out of his tee. With a curse he lost his balance and slammed back onto the ground.

His second attempt to get up was thwarted by Renard pinning him down, knee pushing into his abdomen, hands trapping Nick's wrists effectively on the ground.

Eyes, purely gold now, no green remaining, glowed down at him.

"That," the regnant whispered, "was a mistake."

He grimaced. "Yeah. Figured that."

"And it wasn't your first," Renard continued. "You were careless, unprepared."

"I was prepared!" Nick protested.

"You weren't. Expect the unexpected. Even your blutbad friend caught me too late."

"Hey, that was unfair!" Monroe could be heard protesting.

Sean Renard chuckled, glancing at their spectator. Monroe was not far away, looking fascinated and impressed and just a little bit put off by the comment.

"You can blend in with the forest. You smell like the forest!" Monroe complained.

Sean released his mate's wrist and got up, offering a hand to pull the smaller man to his feet.

Nick dusted himself off. Well, he might have lost, but at least he had inflicted some damage. Sean would have some nice bruises by tomorrow. His mate was good; really good. Damn good and fast and he had probably not even used all his cunning and skill in the surprise attack. But Nick was agile and he learned fast. As long as he didn't let Renard get a grip on him, he had a chance.

"At least you didn't get me the first time," he muttered.

Sean's amusement grew. "I gave you a chance."

Nick grimaced. "How very kind of you." He wiped sweat off his face. "I need a shower."

Monroe had ambled over to them, still a bit miffed, but his excitement at witnessing the fight made more than up for it.

"I thought you didn't want to come," Nick remarked, stowing away the scattered weapons.

"Surprise."

It got him a glare.

"If you had listened to yourself, I wouldn't have been able to get you like that," Sean added.

Yes, there had been the brief warning, and probably before that something else as well. But Nick hadn't been expecting anything.

He would have to change that.

"I'm not going to develop paranoia," he grumbled. "Jumping at shadows."

"Only the one that want to eat you," Monroe told him with a smirk.

"Oh, shut up."

They made their way back through the dark forest, Renard easily able to see, just like Monroe, and Nick simply followed instinct and his guides.

Monroe got into his yellow bug and drove off with a wave. Nick closed the lid on the trunk, all weapons safely put away. He would have to go out to the trailer and leave some of them there. He didn't really want Hank to discover the medievalish stuff in his car.

"You walked here?" he asked his mate since there was no car.

"It was a nice night for a stroll."

Nick chuckled. "Yeah, right, sure."

Renard was suddenly there, crowding him against the car, hands brushing over the bruises, quite aware where he had struck. Nick fisted his hands into the dark t-shirt and pulled him down into a kiss, adrenaline and the Grimm still roaring through him. And it was a hard kiss, quite clearly telling the story.

There was power behind that kiss, and longing, and yearning, and need, and so much more that it had him falling. Electric wasn't a word for what he felt.

Sean looked into the gray eyes, his own holding a faint ring of gold.

Nick knew that if he gave in, it would happen right here and now. His fingers curled tighter into the dark fabric, holding his mate close, claiming another kiss, delivering a bite to the lips that had Renard hitch a breath.

And damnit all to hell! Nick didn't care about the time of night or the place. He didn't care about anything but them right now.

By the increasingly hungry kiss, the hands trying to get him out of his clothes, Sean shared his thoughts.

x x x

It was the first time Nick had sex against the car, in the middle of the forest, pants around his ankles, with his mate giving him the blowjob of a lifetime. He might have given an undignified whimper when Sean's hand touched the hard evidence of his need, pulled him out and started to explore. A tongue was added to the exploration, and lips and teeth and pressure and suction, and Nick could only feel and make encouraging noises and moan in more need.

His fingers in Renard's hair had to be pulling out the short strands at the roots the way he was clenching them into the scalp, and he barely managed to swallow the scream that escaped when deft fingers slid into him to push him over the edge. He curled forward, wanting more, needing more, feeling too sensitive, feeling too little, wanting Sean to stop, to continue, and the playful fingers were driving him insane.

Spent, shuddering, groaning in protest as his dick was still sucked at like the world's tastiest lollipop, Nick wanted nothing more than to sink to the floor.

Renard didn't let him.

Actually, those calculating eyes, that devious expression, told Nick he wasn't done.

Not by a long shot.

x x x

So at two in the morning, bruised and battered and riding on that high of fighting and sex, Nick walked into his home, aware that he was featuring a stupid grin.

The bond hummed in the back, echoing his emotions.

He fell into bed, sated, tired, aware that he has to be up and about in five hours, but right now he couldn't care less. And it's just reports.

He could do reports with half a brain asleep. Hank always claimed Nick did so anyway.

tbc...