AN: This one was a little short for my normal chappie lengths, but necessary. Holy shit guys, it is HOT outside, happy summer indeed. The other day it was like ninty-eight degrees! The kind of hot where you have all the windows open (except the ones where the sun is directly shining) and you have all the fans going, but they just push around hot air. It's a real struggle, especially if you're like me and need to wear a sweatshirt in the eye of the public to feel normal. :L
But when I'm at home, I can be scantly clothed and as sweaty as I need to be. Today is at least in the eighties and so cloudless outside. May have to work on my tan, lol. I wanted to start a garden this summer, but unfortunately, all of our lawnmowers crap out on us, I have no will or money to pay for someone to till out a small gardening space, and I am unwilling to step into the tall grass to pull up soil myself because of all the woodticks. So many fucking woodticks, is it that way where you guys live? D: I live in the middle of nowhere.
Anyway, hope you enjoy! xoxo
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Sitting in a pleasantly dark and serene bedroom with Benny, just goofing off, watching this and that and playing video games was something Ethan had to get used to again- but it was a welcome change.
Funny how things you used to do everyday could become so foreign in such a short amount of time, and the more Ethan thought about it, the more he remembered that this was something he only ever did with Benny. Again, he was reminded of how very little he'd seen of his best friend in the past months.
"I so had that last Fog Trooper, did you see that?! My rocket-launcher went straight through him!" Benny was screaming, pointing at the screen wildly. "And you haven't taken a single hit to your health so far! It's not fair!"
And that was how things had been going for the past half-hour. With Benny shouting comments like, "This game is bogus!" and "My controller's broken!"
"Don't blame the controller." Ethan couldn't help but smirk. "Maybe you've let yourself slip, B. God knows I haven't held a controller in a month and a half, and this is a new release."
"Please, just please." Benny grimaced and set his controller down. "Hey, do you know when our pizza's supposed to get here?"
It was the first time ever that Ethan had known Benny to not be counting down the moments until their pizza arrived, in case it was free of charge. Instead, Benny was casually leaning back against the bed from his position on the floor, next to Ethan. The spellmaster was seemingly completely relaxed, munching on tortilla chips with medium salsa.
It was ridiculous how happy that made Ethan.
"Uh..." Ethan blinked out of his momentary distraction and looked over at the digital clock on the bedside table. "It should be here soon, let me go check."
"Here, I'll come with you." Benny shifted and grabbed the two hands that were offered to him.
Ethan had to keep himself from smiling and probably gaining weird looks from his best friend. Just the simple act of holding onto him and doing something small to help him out gave him a sense of satisfaction, and dare he say- happiness.
Though he did look at Benny's hands and noted that the salve his grandma had prescribed would need to be reapplied, probably soon after they ate or maybe after Benny had had a shower.
Ethan worried his lip between his teeth for a second and wondered if things actually were the same as they were five months ago. Would he have been so concerned about Benny back then? Of course, he had cared for Benny back then, but would he have worried so much over something like a simple skin burn? Now, although Ethan knew it would heal soon on it's own even without the help of magical salves and medicines, it suddenly seemed significant. He wanted to reach out and help Benny off of the floor, wanted to put a smile on his face...
The seer even found himself having thoughts of maybe asking Benny to allow him to apply his saliva to his burns and bruises...he was sure it would work, or at least eighty percent sure...it had worked for his own wounds. But how freaking awkward would that be?
'Hey, Benny, I was wondering, could I lick your neck and hands and arms? It'll be weird but I have a sort-of theory that it'll heal it better than your grandma's ointments can.' Ethan looked away and fought a blush, frowning a bit. Yeah, that would go over well.
Maybe he was just analyzing things too much.
The two made it to the living room, where Cody was snoring on the couch, next to a pile of dusty books and old-looking papers. It was around two in the afternoon, and while the psychic was taking a power-nap, Ethan knew Benny's grandma would either be up in her study, or relaxing in her bedroom.
The doorbell rang, and after a brief discussion, Ethan went to answer it while Benny went to get the drinks they had gone to the store for earlier.
"I'll bring these back to the room." Benny said around a bag of candy he was holding between his teeth. He started back to the guest bedroom and Ethan shook his head, smiling as he opened the door and stepped out onto the porch.
"Hey. Here you go, twenty-five eighty-nine, right?" Ethan asked, counting out the money and adding a tip as he stepped out onto the porch (like he didn't just learn how dangerous that could be the day before). "Keep the change."
"Actually, it's a little late, sorry about that." Ethan froze, wondering if the voice he heard was real, or if he'd fallen asleep and was dreaming. "Two minutes late, or so I gather, but thanks anyway, pup."
"Oh, no." Ethan immediately tried to close the door and step back into the house, but Sylvan had already stepped forward and swung the strap of his carry-out pizza bag, which hooked around the doorknob and gently swung it closed. It was done with such swiftness, that Ethan only had time to turn his body halfway and marvel ruefully.
Ethan turned back and hated himself as his head automatically ducked in discomfort when Sylvan stepped in closer and smiled at him. It wasn't the disturbing, toothy smile he'd given him a couple of times before, but it was still unsettling.
Sylvan gestured to the little wooden bench the Weir's had on their porch, and walked over, leaving Ethan to follow with a whirling mind and a suddenly faint and dizzy body.
"What are you doing here?" Ethan asked as spitefully as he could, and wondering how long it would take Benny to come looking for him. "I thought you said you would leave me alone."
"Well, I can never really leave you alone, sweet pea." Sylvan answered, making Ethan flush hotly in indignation and sputter when the older werewolf swiftly took a bite out of one of the slices of pizza.
"Hey, I paid for that!" Ethan exclaimed, making the other man smile.
"And how kind of you that was. Do you like the shirt?" Sylvan flicked his pizza delivery shirt, and then reached up to tip his head-band style hat. "How about the hat?"
"What did you do to the pizza guy?!" Ethan demanded and made an "egh" sound when the slice of Italian Deluxe was placed in his hand.
"Oh, relax, I just borrowed his clothes." Sylvan licked his lips before white, white teeth were flashed at him and Ethan tried not to flinch. Even if the forced calm associated with the monster-wolf's presence was keeping him from freaking out, Ethan knew grudgingly that he still held a great deal of fear for the older man, and probably always would.
"Anyway, I came to try out a little experiment." Sylvan pointed to the pizza slice in Ethan's hand and then pointed to his face. "But first, feed me."
"What?!" Ethan yelped. "You can't be serious."
"Oh, I'm plenty serious." Sylvan flashed his teeth again. "Being on the road takes a lot out of you, and I'm hungry. Now hurry up before I make a scene and draw everyone outside. You know how I'm dying to meet all your little friends, E."
His nickname was said with heavy emphasis, and after a brief moment of mental contemplation, Ethan miserably complied. He held up the pizza slice with a barely concealed snarl and simultaneous flinch, as he was sure his fingers would get chopped off as well.
Thankfully, his fingers remained intact, and when the werewolf pulled back and lounged more comfortably than Ethan liked, the seer-turned-werewolf mustered his courage and asked again, "Why are you here, Sylvan?"
He fought the urge to call him 'monster' instead.
"Well, I really should elaborate, shouldn't I?" Sylvan smiled. "I guess I'll make it easy for you." He reached into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a bundle of cloth, and when he unwrapped it, a small shard of a mirror was revealed. "Recognize anything?"
"What is it?" Ethan looked at the item. "A...mirror piece?"
"Not exactly." Sylvan held it up between two fingers. "Look closer. Come on, I know you're smart, Ethan. Connect the dots."
"It's..." Ethan looked closer, and suddenly, when it caught the sun in it's reflection, remembered something. The glass that had flown into the body of the smoke-man had looked just like it! "It's a part of the glass that flew into the fire when I was trying to get us out!"
"That it is! Good boy, Ethan!" Sylvan smiled and put a hand down on Ethan's unruly hair. "Now, might I remind you that the last time we met, I told you that you would eventually come to me...that you would need my help. While that time hasn't come yet, that time is also fast approaching, and I'm afraid I had to break the promise I made you. I can't just leave you to fend for yourself, my little pup. It would be completely insensitive of me, not to mention counterproductive!"
"Please, what are you saying?" Ethan asked, tense and listening hard for any sign that Benny was walking to the front door. "Just tell me, if you're not here to hurt me or kidnap me, what are you here for?!"
"To give a little test run, let's say. I'm trying something new." Sylvan lent forward and stared hard into Ethan's eyes. Ethan would have flinched back, but a strong hand reached out and grabbed him at his shirt collar.
"Your friend is a spellmaster." Sylvan stated, holding him strongly by the blue fabric of his t-shirt, and pulling him fractionally closer. "And his powers are quickly developing, into something even better than I had hoped for. Now listen, Ethan, this is important."
Not knowing what else to do, Ethan nodded, and felt a deep, sick and confusing desire to fulfill whatever this man wanted him to do. He knew it was their rare and unnatural bond, the bond between a werewolf and the one who created him. He found himself confusedly wanting to please Sylvan, and the thought made him shiver in both excitement at his new command, and disgust at his submissiveness.
"First, put any plans you have for tomorrow out of your head, because you're going to go on a little trip for me. You and your wizard friend are going to head out of town and drop in on the first little city you find to the east." Sylvan waited for Ethan's hesitant nod. "There, you'll find everything you need to."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ethan wondered out loud, and when he realized that he hadn't actually meant to speak, blushed the lightest shade of pink, only flushing darker when his werewolf sire smiled at him.
"Your smart, Ethan." The werewolf responded. It was the second time he'd said it, like he was reminding Ethan of something very obvious. "I don't do anything without thinking it through very carefully, pup. I chose my lieutenant well, and now all I need to do," A strong hand grasped the side of his neck. "-is get him to believe in himself."
"I still don't...understand. You can't send me looking for a short piece of hay in a haystack." Ethan protested, but found that he had a hard time of concentrating when physically being touched by his sire.
Sire, Ethan thought dazedly. This monster had tortured him, broke him, bitten him, turned him, and almost cost him his life and best friend...but his touch seeped into him like heavenly water, soothing over aches and pains he didn't know were there.
All at once, everything was right in the world. Why had he been so anxious just a moment ago? Of course, his creator wouldn't hurt him.
"I'm trusting you, now, Ethan." Sylvan's voice floated around him and Ethan hummed in agreement. "Open your eyes, pup."
"Uh...ahh!" Ethan startled at a sudden warm moisture and ticklish yet painful lapping on his palm. Confused and suddenly very warm at the odd sensation, Ethan's eyes snapped open and he stared down to where Sylvan held his hand, palm-up and against his tongue, which was doing a thorough job of painfully cleaning out Ethan's hand-wound and simultaneously coating it with a generous amount of saliva.
"Ah." Ethan squirmed under Sylvan's ministrations and swallowed. It was an odd sensation, due both to the scratchy texture of Sylvan's tongue and also to the fact that it should have hurt more...but as the werewolf's rough tongue moved up his hand and arm, Ethan found the pain disappearing rapidly.
"Werewolf spit."
"Intelligent as always." Sylvan smirked and then blew cool air over the brightening wound. "It looked painful. Silver is a real bitch, isn't it? We'll have to work on that."
Now, with the weird sire-wolf pheromones seeping into his consciousness from simple touching, and also from the saliva probably in his blood-stream, Ethan was completely relaxed. His body felt like he was floating, although something in the back of his mind screamed that this was dangerous.
"Now I'm going to let you return to your friend." Sylvan let Ethan's hand go, but then licked his fingers and stroked at Ethan's hidden hairline. "I suspect he's becoming curious. See? Aren't I a kind master, Ethan? I look after you even when you reject my presence and swear loyalty to others. I've even gone out of my way to make sure you and your geeky best friend weren't severely hurt in that fire. Plus, I'm letting you have the day off, isn't that nice of me?"
Ethan did little more than breathe and enjoy the feeling of peace sinking into his skin. Sylvan still stroked his hair and forehead, where there was barely-noticeable bruising.
"Also, I need you to repeat to me my directions for later this evening."
"Whitechapel...east exit." Ethan searched his foggy memory for the information. "Yeah, I'm supposed to find something."
"It has to do with magic." Sylvan nodded and pulled away.
"It has to do with magic." Ethan repeated, and when Sylvan's hands were completely off of him, his mind cleared up ever so slightly. "I remember. Can I go back in?"
"Certainly." Was the response. "In a moment...now, is there anything you need to tell me? While you have my attention?"
"Uh, no? Well actually, I have a date tomorrow." Ethan blurted suddenly. "The girl of my dreams asked me out, but I think it's more of a pity date."
"How precious." Sylvan smiled. "I don't quite remember what it was like to be nervous over something as simple as a date, but I imagine it would be a little nerve-wracking for you. Funny though...somehow, I didn't think she was the one you were interested in."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ethan asked, not defensively but curiously.
"Just that you have some great friends." The werewolf shrugged. "And then you have some not-so-great friends. Just something to keep in mind...also, this girl is a vampire, is she not? Could pose some problems in paradise."
The older werewolf stood up. "Just one more thing before I go. I may need to take a short break from babysitting you, pup, but I have strong allies near and far...and they've provided me with a few things, like that magical glass I used to scare away the boogeyman. I'll be in touch." He waited for a Ethan to stand up and then ruffled his hair again. "And if you find yourself in a predicament again, Ethan, just remember this...if you call for me, I'll be there."
"But..." Ethan began as Sylvan placed the box of pizza in his hands, as well as another smaller box of chicken wings, and walked down the front steps. "You still haven't explained a few things! Why did you come now? What is that glass? And...and what did you do to Cody?! If that was you in the woods, then it must have been you to knock him out."
"Oh, it was quick and painless." Sylvan waved it off. "Not like it was the first time, in any case. He's an interesting kid, if not a bit annoying, but the same can be said for most of you young people. I just needed to borrow a few of his memories."
Sylvan looked back at Ethan and paused in his steps. "Just as I'll need to borrow a few of yours...you'll remember the things you need to. But you'll forget this encounter until I sat otherwise."
"Until you give the word." Ethan responded automatically, caught suddenly in the glowing glare of Sylvan's werewolf irises.
"Good." Sylvan smiled and continued on his way. "Also, you should go on that date. Expand your horizons a bit. Vampire bitch or not, I think it'll be good for you. And I know you'll do your best to hate me again when you remember this, you difficult little seer, but please try not to embarrass me too much."
"Huh?" Ethan blinked in time to see the retreating back of the pizza delivery guy. He looked down to the open pizza box, and to the half-eaten slice lying on top of the smaller box.
"Oh...thanks!" Ethan yelled and walked inside with the now only mildly warm pizza. He found Benny with a mop in the kitchen
"What took you so long, dude?" Benny complained. "The pizza might be cold by now."
"What are you talking about? I was only gone for a second." Ethan asked, confused and took a bite out of the half-eaten slice. "Anyway, it's probably still warm, and Italian is good hot or cold."
"Whatever, dude." Benny sighed in relief as he out away the mop and bucket. He took a few pieces and placed them in the microwave.
"Hey..." Ethan was suddenly reminded of something. "Are you sure your grandma out up seals on the whole house?"
"Yeah, incredibly sure." Benny nodded. "You should have seen all the junk she had out in the living room earlier."
"Oh, that's right." Ethan remembered thoughtfully. "I forgot...but she didn't put them on the porch?"
"Uh, I don't know." Benny shrugged and took a bite out of his freshly-microwaved pizza. "We could ask her."
"That's okay." Ethan smiled. "Never mind, I was just curious."
"You know what I haven't watched in a long time?" Benny asked suddenly, wistfully.
"What?"
"A good horror movie." Benny's face scrunched up. "They're all so cliche and none of them are even scary anymore..."
"Well, Netflix doesn't exactly have every scary movie there is to see, Ben." Ethan smiled. "Maybe we should go and see one sometime."
"Are there any playing?"
"We can check." Ethan said, and when they'd finally made it to the guest bedroom again, and were settled in with pizza and drinks, Ethan had gotten up onto the bed with his laptop while Benny had switched to different video game.
"You wanna see the new Saw?" Ethan asked, as he both checked the movies playing in the local cinema and the movies listed on several (probably illegal) movie sites.
"Gross! You know I hate those movies!" Benny nearly shouted, and Ethan winced at the loud volume, but grinned.
"Yeah, me too. Just checking...uh, how about, a Nightmare on Elm Street?"
"We could watch that one, but it's kinda old-timey." Benny looked back at Ethan. "It's cool, but how about something more modern?"
"Umm, the Amityville Horror?"
"Not the flavor of movie I'm feeling right now, and that one's old too."
"Scream?"
"E, that's a comedy."
"True. Uh, The Messenger?"
"Too much Kristin Stewart."
"There's a bunch of foreign movies?"
"Too foreign."
"You're hard to please..." Ethan muttered, but couldn't keep a small smile off his face.
"What about those Indigenous movies?"
"Huh?" Ethan glanced at Benny when he put his laptop down and grabbed for his pizza and soda.
"The ones with the old lady and the kid who goes into a food coma."
"I think you're talking about Insidious, Benny." Ethan corrected with a small chuckle. "And no, he didn't go into a food coma, he got lost while lucid dreaming."
"That sounds scary." Benny looked back at him. "Should we watch that one?"
"Sure. I thought it was good, I watched it with my parents when it first came out." Ethan pulled it up to full-screen, and then put the laptop down again, and waited for Benny to crawl up next to him. "We can still see a movie tomorrow, if you want.
"Maybe, if there's anything good playing. Thank god it's the weekend now." Benny responded and settle in, shoulders and feet brushing with Ethan's own. It was still light outside, and Ethan should be texting his parents or calling them to check-in. Grandma Weir had been talking to them (keeping tabs) and told him they knew he was fine, and not to worry- but it had been almost five days since he's last been home...been over a week since he'd been to school.
Granted, the school had been taking a lot of time off itself, due to unprecedented problems with the electricity and waterlines, not to mention the odd wildlife being found around the school. Ethan was sure none of it was normal, was really sure Benny or Rory had a lot to do with it, and wondered how long it would take for school to actually be let out for summer, with all the make-up days they'd have to assign.
Thankfully, the next week was completely off the schedule, and no one would need to show up for school. Ethan decided he would call his parents later, and check in on Jane too.
"Somehow...I feel like going out of town tomorrow." Ethan said slowly. "Is that weird? I just feel like..."
"A change of scenery?" Benny asked, chugging down the rest of his soda and uncapping the bottle to pour some more. "No, actually, that sounds great."
"Maybe we can see our movie there." Ethan offered, and started the movie. He had the strangest idea he was missing something, but...it didn't feel bad. He figured it was nothing to worry about. And if there, by chance, was something funny going on, he still wasn't worried about it. He had Benny next to him again.
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AN: Had to end it here, I don't do domestic too well. :P But there will be more E/B interaction next chapter as well. As always, please correct any mistakes. Reviews are life! Until next time!
Uploaded: Sunday, June 4th, 2017, 3:51pm