AN: This isn't the last chapter, there's definitely another one coming. Just so you don't think the ending sucks...
Enjoy your read!
Chap. 3
But the full moon does come, much faster than anticipated.
Peter feels it approaching throughout his whole body, right down to his very bones. It's like they are already cracking in anticipation…
Peter is agitated. He's going to turn soon and he won't have to feel ashamed or sorry for it. Soon, he will roam the land free. Maybe that's what he needs, to be free again.
Right now he feels trapped, like his own body is too small for him. Something inside of him is aching to break free, to let loose. That's how it often is before the night of the full moon. Peter's senses are heightened, his earing piercer, his touch more sensitive…
The worst is his smell. When the full moon approaches, Peter can smell literally everything. He finds it distracting, especially when Roman is around. There's something about Roman's smell that has Peter completely entranced. He thought about it and thinks there are multiple reasons for that.
Firstly, it's because he's upir and upirs have a particular sent. It's not unpleasant but there's something about it that keeps you on edge.
Secondly and this is harder for Peter to admit, Roman has his own distinctive sent, a mix of shampoo, perfume and skin, that he finds particularly appealing. There's something about it that's just speaks to the wolf in him. These days, whenever Peter picks up on the sent, his brain shuts off and his body just has to get close to Roman, drawn to him like a magnet to a fridge. Peter sees no other way of describing it, metaphors aren't his area of expertise. But apparently, picking up on Roman's sent and trailing him everywhere is. Life. You never know what's going to hit you. Unless you're Destiny… Anyway, Peter's pretty sure Roman must have noticed but luckily he doesn't comment on it, probably because he doesn't care.
There's something else though. Something about the sent which is unusual. A sort of shade to it that just isn't right. Peter's sure he has encountered that particular fragrance before but he cannot remember when and where. He doesn't like it. It taints Roman's smell, not really diminishing it's appeal but somehow itching at Peter's brain, reminding him that's its not the way it usually is.
Or maybe Peter is just too focused on Roman's smell…
He needs to get out of the house. Better yet he needs to get out of his own skin. It feels like it's burning.
-HG-
Peter wakes up. It's the middle of the night and seriously for an instant, it's like he's on fire. There isn't a single piece of clothing covering him and he's kicked away his bed covers, but still he feels uncomfortably too warm. Kind of like when you have a fever. But Peter knows he's not sick. It's just that the moon will be full tomorrow night. Tomorrow never seemed further away.
Peter is deterred from his trail of thoughts by the sound of Nadia's cries. She's awake! Concerned, he immediately throws on some clothes and exits his room, heading determinedly toward the baby's. It's weird, because if Nadia wakes up at night, she usually stops crying the instant Roman gets by her side. This worries Peter a little. Maybe she is sick? Or maybe another flying doctor has arrived to kidnap her. You never know. Peter accelerates his pace. But as he passes by Roman's room, he stops dead in his tracks, surprised to hear deep breaths emanating from behind the closed door. Intrigued, Peter carefully opens it and discovers a body lying across the bed, sound asleep but still fully clothed as if rest hadn't been part of the plan. Roman never sleeps much and he certainly never sleeps when Nadia is crying, Peter thinks. That usually wakes him up. What if Roman's the one who's sick? He should check on him later, after he's comforted Nadia…
When she sees Peter approaching her, the child doesn't calm down but stretches her arms with the hope of getting picked up.
"Hey there princess!" Peter whispers, cradling her into his arms.
Nadia cries do soften but she continues whimpering.
"Did you have a bad dream?" Peter asks even though he's unlikely to get a response from Nadia, who just sniffs and hides her head in the crook of Peter's neck.
It's probably her teeth again, Peter thinks. He still looks around in case a giant flying lizard is hiding somewhere in the room . Yea it's unlikely. But you never know.
Peter makes out the sound of footsteps coming from down the hall and soon enough, Roman enters the bedroom.
"What's wrong?" he asks, sounding half asleep.
Nadia starts squirming out of Peter's arms as soon as she notices her father's presence.
"I think she wants you to hold her!" Peter observes, slightly offended.
Roman approaches to take Nadia from him and that's when Peter notices that his usually perfect hair is all over the place and that his eyes are puffy with sleep. The days when Roman Godfrey looks less than perfect are extremely rare so Peter seizes his opportunity:
"You look like shit!"
If Roman's looks could kill (but luckily they can't, that's just Nadia), Peter would be gone.
"Fuck you!"
This makes Nadia giggle happily.
"Don't curse in front of the baby!" Peter gasps exuberantly.
"Pff. Don't curse in front of the baby that makes heads explode. Yeah ok."
Peter smirks. He notices Nadia's eyelids starting to drop and soon enough Roman puts her back in her crib. Reaching for a storybook that is lying on a shelf, he sits beside Nadia.
"What are you doing?" Peter asks.
Roman stares at him blankly.
"Reading her a bedtime story!"
"Are you serious?"
"Nadia doesn't fall back asleep unless somebody reads to her!" Roman explains very slowly.
Peter thinks it's sweet that Roman is being an attentive father to Nadia but really he doesn't have to explain things like he's some sort of retard. He wants to comment on it but Roman keeps blinking like it's hard for him to focus so Peter choses to say something about that instead.
"What's wrong with your eyes?" he asks.
"Nothing!" Roman snaps crankily, all the while rubbing his eyelids.
Peter sighs.
"You're the one that's gonna crash!" He says. "You look like you need sleep more than she does."
Roman gives him a look that clearly means that Peter should go fuck himself and turns to the book.
"Once upon a time—"
"Just give me the damn thing!" Peter exclaims, snatching it away from Roman's hands. "And do everyone a favour by going to bed!" he adds
"You're an asshole!" Roman says.
But he obeys which confirms that he definitely wasn't feeling on top of his game.
"It's ok Nadia!" Peter says, taking Roman's place by the crib. "You're uncle Peter's gonna tell you a story. A good story, not like the crappy ones you're used to."
Nadia gurgles peacefully.
"I'm glad we agree. So, it's the story of this gypsy and his mom—"
-HG-
The following day is uneventful. Peter's stuck at work and so he can't be distracted by stuff. His mind is more or less able to function normally and he can concentrate on stuff again. He thinks being away from Roman's place is good for him. Peter's wonders why his smells affects him so. He was always perceptive to it. When they'd just met and Roman had asked if he could watch Peter transform, he hadn't been able to refuse him. There was something about him... and the way he smelled was definitely a part of that something. But now it's different and the pull towards Roman is much stronger. Peter wonders if that's because he's transitioned into a real upir. But that doesn't really make sense …
Peter sighs. He cannot wait till tonight. He wants to turn, just so that he doesn't want to turn anymore and finally be able to focus. He wants to shut off that part of his brain that is nagging him, making his daily routine something wearisome. It's tedious to feel like a part of yourself doesn't agree with you, doesn't want to be doing what you've decided to do, doesn't want to be where you are…
A nice, refreshing smell breaks Peter away from his thoughts.
"Hey!" He greets Deidre warmly, though a wrench still in hand.
"Hi Peter!"
Peter likes Deidre's sent. It doesn't have him torn between running away and trying to get closer. It's refreshing. Deidre smells like fresh grass and sunshine. Well not exactly like that but it feels this way to Peter.
"I wanted to see how you were doing!" The blond says. "I haven't heard from you in a while."
She sends him a small smile.
"Yeah sorry. I've been—"
"Busy?" Deidre winks. "I've figured."
Peter feels slightly guilty for not calling her. This girl has been nothing but cool with him. Plus she's really attractive. And she's a gypsy, she knows about werewolves, so he can talk about it freely. Plus she's really attractive. Peter tries to figure out why he hasn't called her… She's sexy, she's easy going, she's fun… Yeah, there's definitely no reason why he hasn't been keeping contact!
All the while, Deidre is strolling around the shop, apparently in a good mood and not holding a grudge.
"So… full moon tonight. You must be feeling pretty on edge right now?"
For a second, Peter's about to ask how she knows this but then he remembers Deidre's brother is a werewolf too.
"Cristian is always a bit tensed before the full moon!" Deidre says, confirming Peter's deductions. "He says it's distracting because his senses are much stronger."
Peter nods.
"It's the same for me."
Cristian may have been dick during their brief encounter but Peter thinks maybe he's made a mistake not trying to speak with him more. He's about the only other werewolf he's ever met, apart from Nicolae, and Nicolae's gone. And when he'd still been around Peter had been a child. It's quite different, the whole wolf thing, as an adult.
"You know, it's a shame you haven't really spoken with him. I know he can come off a bit… rude but Cristian's a pretty nice guy when you get to know him!" Deidre says, like she can read his mind.
"Yeah… I guess you don't meet another werewolf everyday!"
Deidre smiles at him brightly:
"Come by and see us sometime!" she tells him.
Peter's about to agree when she adds 'and bring your friend Roman!', so instead he asks 'what?!' suspiciously. Luckily it doesn't seem to offend Deidre.
"I think good ol' bro has like a thing for him!" she confesses, clearly amused by the situation.
Peter doesn't understand why he suddenly feels a burning hatred towards the good-ol-bro-who-has-a-thing-for-Roman.
"Oh?" he asks, very proud of his ability to sound casual.
"Yeah well he hasn't said anything. But I can tell. He kept staring at him when he was around."
Peter starts gripping his wrench more tightly.
"I would avoid getting too close to Roman!" Peter growls. "For some reason his lovers tend to disappear under mysterious circumstances."
Deidre looks at him questioningly:
"I thought you said he was a good person… despite the upir thing. Besides, it's fine, Cristian can handle Roman!"
The wrench that Peter had been holding nervously, breaks in two.
"Woah!" Deidre exclaims. "What was that?"
Peter stares at the two pieces of the broken wrench he now holds in each hand.
"Are you ok?" Deidre asks.
"Yeah… sorry!" Feeling embarrassed, Peter looks around to find an excuse to cut the conversation short. "The sun is going to set in an hour. I should get home." He says hastily.
He should actually stay at work a little longer, god knows he needs the money, but all Peter feels like doing is getting out of there.
Deidre nods, looking contrite.
"Do you need a ride? You'll get there a lot faster."
Peter doesn't really feel like talking anymore, what he wants now is to change the soonest possible. But accepting Deidre's offer seems the quickest way to get to that so:
"Sure. Thanks!"
-HG-
Deidre drops him off in front of the glass house. A little noise at the back of Peter's mind tells him he should have gone to Destiny's but he ignores it.
Shelley who is playing with Nadia in the living room greets him when he arrives.
"Hi Peter!"
He smiles at her warmly. He's getting used to it but it always does something to him, hearing her speak. It's like the world is a slightly better place for it.
"Hey Shel!" He greets back.
He approaches to give Nadia a kiss on the head.
"Hello princess!"
"Roman told me she woke up last night! I'm sorry I didn't hear!" Shelley says apologetically. "Johann sent me a new violin concerto and I can't stop listening to it!"
Peter shrugs. Unlike Roman, he doesn't really mind Shelley's continued friendship with Doctor Pryce. He thinks it can always come in handy.
"You don't always have to be the one to get up, I can do it too!"
Shelley drops her gaze. It looks like she wants to say something but is hesitating.
"Roman seems tired these days!" She finally says, softly.
Peter can't really protest since he's noticed it too.
"That doesn't mean Nadia's suddenly your sole responsibility." He tells her.
"I know."
Shelley wants to add something but she doesn't, Peter can tell. She seems kind of defeated.
"Turn off the frown! You know what? I'll go check on that idiot right now, how's that?" Peter offers.
"He's in his room."
Peter climbs up the stairs. He's not even in front of Roman's doorstep that he can already hear him speaking on the phone.
"What do you mean you can't tonight?" Roman is saying.
He's not raising his voice but he sounds irritated.
"I don't care if it's the full moon. Have your sister drop it off or something."
Peter thinks this doesn't sound like a work conversation.
"No, I'm not gonna eat her. Got to hell!" He snaps, shutting off his phone as Peter enters his bedroom.
"What do you want?" Roman says when he sees him.
"Well hello sunshine!"
Roman rolls his eyes and let's himself fall languidly on his bed.
"Aren't you supposed to be running around wagging your tail or something?"
Peter keeps his face neutral. Showing irritation while Roman is being purposely annoying only encourages him.
"It can still wait a bit. Who was that on the phone?"
Roman raises an eyebrow.
"That's none of your business!" He replies petulantly. He's never liked justifying his actions.
"Was it Cristian?"
The words are out of Peter's mouth before he realizes he was thinking them. Roman looks startled for a moment but then he composes himself.
"Yeah!" He confirms with a shrug.
Peter frowns, suddenly he's unsure what to say. "I didn't know you guys were friends" is all he comes up with.
"We're not!" Roman replies. "Sometimes we fuck."
Peter is startled by this answer, he really hadn't been expecting that for some reason. It doesn't help that Roman is using that fucking tone where you can't really be sure if he's serious or just trying to provoke a reaction. Was he actually sleeping with that shithead? It's not impossible. Peter actually suspects Roman's slept with half the town… He knows upirs have a pretty extensive sexual appetite; their kind being opened to pretty much anything. At least that's what Nicolae had explained when Peter had asked him about upirs:
"They like two things: sex and blood."
"Sex and blood?" Peter had asked.
"And manipulation. To manipulate you into fucking them and then drinking from you… that gets them off!" His uncle had confirmed.
At the time the young boy hadn't felt like having his uncle go into detail and had hastily changed the awkward subject of sex. But now, thinking back on it, Peter thought that description fitted Roman rather well. So it's not that it would be weird if Roman was actually fucking Cristian. No, it's more that if Roman felt like trying it with a werewolf, Peter didn't understand why he had to go to Cristian out of all people?
This really bothers Peter. And that it bothers him, bothers him even more. It's just because Cristian's a dick, Peter thinks to himself. So is Roman but still!
"What? Problem?" Roman adds, upon Peter's silence.
Peter wants to wipe that smug look from his face.
"Is this about Deidre?" He asks, confused as to why he's asking and by this entire conversation itself.
"No!" Roman replies, actually sounding sincere.
His answer does something to Peter's stomach, kind of similar to the effect of a punch in the gut. He decides it's time to retreat.
"Whatever. I'm not gonna be here tonight so if you feel like you have to sleep just leave the baby monitor with Shelley!" He says, exiting the room.
He hears Roman sigh behind him so he turns around, ready for another confrontation. But Roman isn't looking at him anymore; he's pinching the bridge of his nose, eyes closed, looking tired.
Peter leaves, confused.
-HG-
After the initial few minutes during which his human flesh is torn, his bones break and his eyes pop out, being a wolf again feels truly wonderful.
For the first time in a very long while, Peter feels in control. He is still himself, able to enjoy the sense of freedom that a turn entails. But his mind is clear of everything and suddenly the world is simple and evident. It's like he can do anything, go anywhere. Nothing and no one can bother him like this.
Peter feels amazing. He's been running for hours, throughout the woods. He hasn't had any particular aim since he caught and ate that rabbit a few hours ago. The animal's raw flesh had tasted like pure victory between Peter's teeth, probably the peak of his night. Peter feels that the sun is going to rise soon, probably in a little more than an hour. He doesn't mind. Peter notices a strand of water and, happy to find refreshments, eagerly drinks from it.
But his nose suddenly picks up on a disturbing sent. It's quite faint for now, but it's there; Peter knows what it means. Another wolf! Intrigued at first, Peter rises to his feet, and trails the sent. As it grows stronger, he recognizes other smells and he knows he's been here before.
Finally, Peter is led very near a house he knows all too well. Unpleased, he is growling angrily from the back of his throat and feeling his fur bristle; Roman's house and its surroundings are part of Peter's territory! He doesn't want another wolf there. Unable to see the trespasser, he howls provokingly. And then, he avoids making any movement or sound, trying to hear where the other might be and if he has left. Unable to pick up on anything and in case the intruder doesn't understand, Peter starts pacing around the house.
After a couple of rounds, he spots something near a tree in the back. Getting ready to attack if necessary, Peter growls some more and so the other wolf shows himself. His sent is definitely the one Peter had been trailing. This makes him furious! How dare this other wolf come here? Showing his teeth, he walks slowly towards his rival, determined to make him leave. It looks like the beast doesn't want to move. Could it be Cristian or somebody else from his pack? Peter's more human side knows he shouldn't attack. This wolf could be part of the clan that has helped him. But all of his instincts are screaming to make him leave, aiming for the kill if necessary.
"Peter!"
He hears an authoritarian voice calling onto him but he ignores it and howls again, trying to impress the other wolf.
"Shut up!" The voice says. "You'll wake Nadia!"
Peter turns around towards the house and spots Roman. He hesitates, wanting to go to him, but all the while determined to make the intruding presence depart immediately. But that other wolf is gone. Peter can't see him anymore and his sent is less present.
Satisfied, he howls one last time.
"Jesus!" Roman groans.
He sounds irritated but Peter doesn't care for it. He, on the contrary, is very happy to see Roman! He walks confidently towards him and sits near where he stands.
"What are you wiggling your tail for?" Roman asks, pissed off. "You're proud of yourself is that it?"
Roman is angry with him… This bothers Peter. He should be glad that he's chased of the intruder, keeping him, Nadia and Shelley safe. Willing to pacify things, Peter gets closer to him and when he reaches him, rubs against Roman's leg. A small part of him thinks this might be a bit weird but the bigger part feels it's the right thing to do.
"What are you doing?" Roman asks, surprised.
Peter likes being near him. He feels like it is improving Roman's mood, who isn't complaining anymore. Content, Peter finds his hand and licks his fingers.
"This is new!" Roman says.
Peter can tell he doesn't mind though. He barks in response and walk past Roman into the house.
"Are you serious?" Roman says following after him. "Peter!"
But Peter ignores him. He wants to check his home is undisturbed by the intruder's presence. He circles around the living room trying to pick up on a strange sent but there's nothing. Satisfied, Peter climbs up the stairs.
"Get back here!" Roman calls after him. "You're going to scare Nadia."
Peter might be a wolf at the moment but that doesn't mean his survival instincts aren't working anymore. Not in the least, quite the contrary actually. And since he doesn't want to take any risks, he wisely avoids Nadia's room and instead, pushes the door into Roman's with his nose.
The entire room smells just like him. Peter bounces with excitement and decides he wants to stay here. He settles on the bed.
"Oh for fuck's sake!" Roman complains when he enters the room and finds Peter there.
But since Peter seems determined to stay where he is and Roman is unwilling to leave him on his own to rampage around his room, he shrugs, gives up and settles beside him on the bed.
"It must be nice to be a wolf." Roman says after a while.
His eyes are closed and he is resting his head against the board.
Peter makes a little noise of acknowledgment from the back of his throat, and rests his head on Roman's leg.
Stress and agitation are emanating from Roman's entire body. Peter can feel tension radiating from him in strong waves. This makes him sad. He whimpers a little. But then Roman is scratching the top of his head with long fingers and it relaxes Peter. Soon enough he is asleep.
-HG-
When Peter comes to, the sun is well up in the sky, and he is lying naked on Roman's bed with his wolf's skin spread in pieces beside him.
"Shit!" He grumbles.
Blinking awake and adjusting to the light, he sits up and looks around the room. Roman is nowhere to be seen.
"Shit!" Peter says again, louder this time.
What the fuck was he thinking, going in this room and falling asleep on Roman's bed? Not only was it unexplainable but it was also plain stupid! There were bits and pieces of his wolf everywhere! And what could possibly have gove through his head that could justify rubbing against Roman's leg and licking his hand like a tamed puppy? Peter feels humiliated. Roman is never going to let that go! He is going to make fun of him forever…
Peter takes a deep breath. First thing first, he has to get dressed and then he'll clean the room. Getting out of bed, he notices some of his own clothes have been left for him by the bed stand. Unsure if this is Roman's or Shelley's doing but hoping for the former (he doesn't feel comfortable with poor Shelley seeing him lie in his own bloody remains) he grabs his pants and puts them on. When he's done dressing, he goes down to the kitchen to get a garbage bag and proceeds in getting rid of all of his wolf bits. When it is done, he takes off the bed sheets for cleaning and takes out the trash. On the up side, Peter doesn't feel too drained because he's already rested, turning back while asleep and waking up late. The usual slumber that overtakes him after he's turned back doesn't make itself present. But Peter is starving though. He walks to the kitchen to make himself a steak but Shelley's beaten him to it.
"Here!" She says, handing him a plate of delicious looking cooked meat.
"You're a true blessing!" Peter thanks her, helping himself with the food and not bothering with cutlery.
"No problem. Roman said you might be hungry when you'd wake."
Peter is touched by the fact that Roman is being oddly attentive to his needs. He decides to enjoy it while it lasts. He is probably just trying to get Peter to let his guard down so he doesn't see the taunting coming! Yeah…That must be it! As if confirming his thoughts, he receives a call from Roman.
"Yes?" He picks up preparing for the worst.
But when he hears Roman's voice it's not at all what he'd expected.
"I need a favour!" He says, sounding extremely distressed.
"Ok what do you need?" Peter asks, sobering up instantly.
"Go to the back of my closest, there's a safe. I keep some of Pryce's synthetic stuff in there. If there's any left, you have to bring it to the white tower"
Roman dictates a series of numbers that Peter writes down on his hand before rushing to his friend's room. He finds the safe and opens it without difficulty, having the code and all, but finds that there is none of Pryce's liquid solution left in there.
"Sorry. Nothing here!" He tells Roman after he's called him back.
"Fuck!" Roman exclaims, like he's about to cry. And then he promptly hangs up on Peter, ignoring his questions.
A sense of dread settles in Peter's gut. It sounded like Roman needed to feed, soon. Why wasn't he asking Pryce for more of his stuff then, since he's at White Tower though? The whole damn thing makes no sense and Roman sounded really desperate over the phone! Peter decides he has to go and check on him right away. Some might say going to see an upir who hasn't fed in a while is like walking right into a lion's den. But Peter's never been the cautious type.
"I need to borrow one of the cars!" He tells Shelley as he is walking back downstairs.
She hands him the keys to the Jaguar like she was already expecting him to ask.
"Thanks!" Peter says. "I'll be back soon."
He hurries off and drives, as quickly as he can, to the white tower.
-HG-
Getting security to agree to let him see "Mr. Godfrey" is, as usual, a whole ordeal but Peter manages to convince them by reaching Roman's assistant, who seems relieved to hear someone's coming. When Peter does arrive, the man is twitching nervously in his seat looking like he's about ready to bolt but not quite daring to just yet.
"Is he in there?" Peter asks, pointing to the office with his head.
There are lids closed upon Roman's glass walls which prevent Peter from seeing if he is inside. The assistant doesn't need to reply though because Peter suddenly hears a big noise coming from behind the glass and so he takes it as a yes.
"It's gonna be ok!" He tries to reassure the assistant before going in.
It doesn't look like it's working, the poor guy turns another shade paler. As he passes through the door, Peter barely avoids a flying tablet coming his way. It lands behind him in a loud crash.
"What's going on?" He asks in shock.
Roman's office looks as if a, no make that two or three, werewolves have been stuck in it for days and decided to play a game where the point is to make sure you can't see the carpet anymore. Books, pens and sheets are lying around on the ground, a painting has been smashed against a book shelf and in the middle of everything there's Roman who's holding his chair up in the air, ready to throw it across the room.
"Put. That. Down." Peter articulates in tone that leaves no room for discussion, but still raising his hands up in case Roman decides to ignore him.
He doesn't. A bit reluctantly at first, he finally puts the piece of furniture down, safely. Behind him, a lamp falls off his desk against the wall producing another crash.
"You should go!" Roman tells him.
Peter rolls his eyes in response.
"Yeah because you seem to be doing so well on your own!" He ironizes.
Roman slumps down on the same chair he was going to destroy a minute ago and buries his face in his hands.
"It's all over!" He groans.
"What it is?" Peter asks carefully walking closer.
Roman makes a vague gesture to indicate his surroundings.
"Your office? Well if that wasn't your goal then I sure as hell don't know what you…"
Roman sighs loudly, interrupting him.
"No! The company! It's over! Olivia's going to reclaim it."
Peter blinks in surprise.
"What? How?"
"She summoned the board of directors for a meeting today to convince them I'm not fit to run the institute. She wants to be in charge again until I'm 'ready' or some shit like that."
"Well… maybe it's not such a bad thing. It's not like you love being a C.E.O. And plus it'll give you a chance to go to uni!" he adds jokingly.
Roman glares at him.
"You're so fucking retarded! I don't give a shit about the company and neither does Olivia. This is just the first step. What she really wants is Nadia!"
Peter scratches in his head in confusion so Roman groans again, very frustrated.
"She's gonna make it look like I'm an unfit parent. Sure, right now it's fine! I have a job, and enough money to raise and care for at least 20 kids! So she can't really do anything! But once she has the company back I'll have nothing! And she'll make her claim on Nadia with the same arguments that she's used for the institute."
"Which are?"
"That I'm immature and have a substance abuse problem!"
"What?! WHAT?! You?! That's ridiculous!" Peter exclaims in a tone he hopes sounds convincing.
It doesn't.
"This isn't funny Peter!" Roman says getting out of his chair and starting to pace around the room like he can't keep in place. "I haven't fed in too long. It's sure as hell is going to look like I'm addict in there. I can't think straight, how the fuck am I suppose to defend myself properly?"
"Don't you have lawyer?"
"What good is he going to be when I rip out his neck?" Roman says flatly.
Peter sees his point.
"Why can't Pryce give you … that stuff he usually gives you?" he says.
He is trying to follow Roman's erratic movements with his eyes and it's making him dizzy.
"Officially, because his equipment's broken and he's working on getting it fixed. Officiously, because he's working with Olivia."
"Shit!'" Peter says, not knowing what else to say.
Roman's stress is slowly getting to him.
"This is all my fault!" Roman laments, going through his desk, like he's searching for something. "They're going to take Nadia and there's nothing I can do! And there's no more—"
He stops himself mid sentence and stares at the glass panel besides his desk.
"No more what?" Peter asks.
Roman shushes him with a hand movement.
"What? What are you doing?"
Peter follows Roman's gaze, to where his assistant is seated. The fallen lamp had left a breach within the window's lids so there's a clear view of him.
"No!" Peter exclaims, understanding Roman thoughts. "No!"
"What?" Roman replies innocently.
"You're are not eating your assistant!"
"Why not?! No one's will miss him!" Roman replies, licking his lips.
"I will restrain you if necessary!" Peter says firmly.
Roman chuckles, without taking his eyes of the assistant.
"Oh no, please don't!" He deadpans.
Peter goes to him and puts his hands on his shoulders, determined to stop his friend from making a mistake.
"Come on Roman, stop it! You'll regret it afterwards."
Taking a deep breath, Roman finally drops his gaze and turns away from his prey towards Peter, looking defeated.
"Well what do you want me to do? I can't go in there. I'll either kill someone, get sick or, at the very best, run out. Either way, Olivia will have won her case!"
Peter can see raw fear behind Roman's green orbs.
"She's gonna take her from me Peter!" He says, voice breaking.
Well Peter sure has hell doesn't want Olivia to have Nadia either. The spark of an idea flashes through his head and, seeing no other option, he decides to seize it before he has time to really think about it and change his mind.
"No she won't!" he says determined. He takes off his jacket and offers his exposed neck to Roman. "Drink!"
The other young man is stunned silent.
"What?" he asks, blinking at Peter.
"You can feed from me!"
Roman's mouth drops; he stares ahead for about 10 seconds and then:
"Are you FUCKING crazy?!"
"You say you need to feed to get through this!"
Roman shuts his eyes and shakes his head like he's properly horrified by the idea.
"There's no other way!" Peter insists. "We can't let Olivia take Nadia from us!"
"You don't understand, I'm starving!" Roman cries out in anguish. "I won't be able to stop!"
"You will!" Peter insists, sounding much more confident than he actually is.
"It'll be painful! And you'll have mark!" Roman makes gestures like he wants to pull out his hair. "What if I kill you?"
"Roman!" Peter stops him by taking his face into his hands. "I trust you! Ok?"
Roman sighs. He's thinking about it, Peter can see it in his eyes. So he tries to convey some reassurance with a look, let him know he is isn't afraid.
Then, Roman nods and Peter takes a breath. He hopes he won't regret this. Maybe he's just signed up for certain death? One thing's for sure, if he makes it out alive, Destiny's gonna kill him!
Roman looks like he is about to start but then he stops himself, still hesitating, even though Peter's seen acceptance in his eyes.
"Well?" He encourages.
"Could you… could you turn around?"
"What?"
"I can't…not if you're looking at me." Roman says in a small voice.
Peter understands that Roman must be feeling ashamed.
"Afraid you don't look good with fangs?" Peter jokes, trying to relax the atmosphere.
"Please?" Roman says, seriously.
With a nod, Peter turns around, leaving the back of his neck exposed for Roman to bite. Peter feels warm fingers running over his skin, pulling back the hem of his shirt.
"It's ok it's old!" He whispers, afraid that Roman, or him, will run from this.
Peter feels Roman's body moving closer to his and then he can sense his breath against him. Peter shivers, a mix of horror and excitement.
"I'm sorry Peter!" Roman murmurs in a strangled voice.
He buries his face against Peter's neck, almost a tender gesture, and takes a deep breath. It's like he's smelling his food before tasting it, making the pleasure of anticipation last.
And then Roman bites into Peter's skin.
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