Second short! This one takes place after the drive-in, so after Chapter 14 in the larger story. Can be read on it's own! What's important to know is that Joaquin is a werewolf, Kevin is a human that knows about the magical world. Sort of like an Alaric from The Vampire Diaries! That should do it.

Kevin/Joaquin: Dating a Werewolf (Rated T)

Two days after the drive-in, Kevin Keller parked his father's truck in a derelict driveway a block away from Sunnyside Trailers. He sat in front of his wheel for a good ten minutes, arguing with himself if he was really going to do this; go find the elusive Serpent he'd kissed at the movie. He wasn't stupid enough to bring his truck into Sunnyside. He was the son of a sheriff; even if he knew most Serpents were probably fine folks, there was a good number that wouldn't hesitate to vulture his car for parts to pawn. Plus, parking away, he could always back-out. Drive away and call it a day. Leave the single incident as just that...a one-time thing.

He almost did too. Kevin wouldn't say he was afraid. He told himself he was being cautious (truth? He was afraid...a little. For good reason, his voice of safety reminded him), and that nothing about what he was about to do was logical. Logic, which is father had always relied on so heavily.

Emotions weren't logical, however, Kevin told himself as he started his engine up again. He thought of his prospects if he turned away and went back to the Northside. There was Moose; who was not only dating Midge, but still in the closet. Or just experimenting, Kevin wasn't sure. There were the older college kids he sometimes met up with via social media, but none of those were regular or dependable. There was one kid off in Greendale, but that was a very long drive. The Southside, though shady, was just across the tracks.

And plus! He'd liked Joaquin. Perhaps it was hard to gauge his actual personality, since they'd more or less just played tonsil-tennis, but the little he did see of Joaquin encouraged him to dig deeper. Dig deeper even knowing what he was.

Kevin left the truck, turning it off.

He wasn't stupid though. He tucked wolfsbane and some pure silver into a little pouch. His dad would have a hernia if he knew he was here and that he'd gone unprepared.

Yes, maybe it was stupid walking into the very heart of the Southside Serpent Werewolf Pack grounds, but Kevin was taking some chances. Or, he'd never get anywhere in his love life. He took this very seriously.

There wasn't a lot of people who looked at him as he walked in. Far less than he thought. He'd been sweating under the illusion everyone would clock his arrival right away, but if anything, the wolves looked at him with expressions anywhere between mild-disinterest to a passing curious thought.

He realized his folly right away. He and Joaquin hadn't even exchanged numbers, much less gossiped about which trailer he took residence in. He didn't even know where he was going, or if Joaquin was even home! He considered leaving, but he'd for sure look stupid, and he was here...wasn't he? He could give it a college try, if nothing else.

A boy around his age noticing him loitering. He was large and intimidating, with hands as big as logs and shoulders that could block out the sun. Kevin's hands didn't go for the silver immediately, but he definitely put his fingers in the vicinity.

"Hey, you, uh, lost?"

The boy's voice was much kinder than Kevin expected. Despite his large stature, Kevin got the immediate feeling he was a soft-spoken sort of guy.

"Yes. I'm looking for Joaquin…" He trailed off. Had they given last names? Well, Kevin had given his- it was only fair Joaquin knew his family and all- but he was lost upon Joaquin's, "Just...Joaquin." He said, attempting to sound confident, as though he never intended to give a last name in the first place.

"DeSantos?" The boy asked, like there were other Joaquins' running around. What did Kevin know, he mused, maybe there were? Maybe the name Joaquin was a cultural werewolf thing. Maybe it was a traditional pack name? There was so much Kevin just didn't know about werewolves, or other creatures, that he wasn't in a position to be making judgement.

He did assume, though, that the Joaquin he was looking for and Joaquin DeSantos were one in the same. If that was really his last name. The boy could have told him that it was something stupid Batman or Lupin or Sauron and Kevin would have been none the wiser, inclined to believe him.

"Yes. Him." Kevin said, nodding gratefully, "I'm Kevin. His…" Kevin trailed off, once again unable to articulate his thoughts. He ran his hands through his hair, hoping he wouldn't have to spell it out. Were wolves inclusive of the gays?

Luckily, understanding lit the man's face.

"Ah. Yes. Right," There was no sense of resentment, just a lightbulb going on, "I'm Darkon."

"I take it that's not your real name?" Kevin couldn't help but question.

Darkon laughed, his white teeth juxtaposed against his inky black skin. Kevin surreptitiously looked for fangs but saw none...right now.

"It's the one that matters, Norther." He said, "C'mon. I'll take you over there."

Joaquin's trailer was mostly the same as every other trailer. The only defining factor that would lead Kevin to it on later dates was the thin strip of 60s avocado green painted as a flit of color round the sides and a half-dead potted plant near the door.

Darkon nodded to Kevin, leaving him off. Kevin gave a half-wave that the boy probably didn't see, before sticking his hands into his pockets and looking carefully at the door.

He was about to knock when he heard voices coming around the side. Joaquin was one...the other was FP.

He sheltered himself behind the other side of the trailer, none to keen on having a run-in with the Alpha. Not only was FP an intimidating figure, he for sure didn't want FP to think he was here because of the whole Jason shit going on. He waited until FP clapped Joaquin's shoulder goodbye and was all the way on the other side of the park.

Kevin paused, peering around the side of the trailer, but didn't see the person of his interest.

"He knows you were there," Joaquin said, sneaking up behind him like he had materialized out of thin air. As far as Kevin knew that wasn't a werewolf skill. Kevin nearly jumped out of his skin, "He just didn't want to waste the time right now to interrogate you."

"Rather I'd be interrogating him," Kevin mumbled under his breath. He realized belatedly that FP had probably smelled him, or at the very least, sensed him. Useless to hide from magics, he reminded himself.

"So, you're here." Joaquin said, brushing past Kevin and opening his door, "You have balls, compadre."

"I sure hope so," Kevin said, coming after him. He took two steps up to the door and paused. Joaquin looked back at him with half-amusement, half-wariness.

"Well, come in, Preppy. What are you waiting for?"

"I'm not a vampire," The words were spilling out of Kevin before he could stop them, "You'd have smelled that, of course. I was just being polite."

"Huh." That was really all Joaquin managed to say, eyes widening at Kevin's words.

Inside was quaint. Small, sure, but comfortable feeling. Lived-in. The style choices actually weren't too far off from his father's taste; plaid, hunting, cameo. It was almost comical. In fact, Kevin was almost sure that his dad owned the same throw blanket on Joaquin's couch.

"Come in here," Joaquin said, grasping Kevin's wrist and pulling him to a bedroom. The very touch made Kevin's heart thump and he was not regretting this at all.

Kevin didn't think this was a invite for sex, as much as he maybe wanted it to be. Rather, it was a secluded place to chat. Which is what he'd come here for. There were signs of other family living here; at least one parent and a child, but that was as much as Kevin gleaned.

"Vampires." That's all Joaquin said, scrutinizing Kevin with a new look on his face.

"Yes. I came here to have...the chat." He said slowly.

Joaquin looked surprised, which was expected, "Oh. I'm clean. Got checked up three months ago, haven't been with anyone since."

"Not that! Thought, good to know," Kevin nearly choked, "Me too. For the record. Uhm, damnit, I meant...I know. That you're a werewolf," Kevin added for clarity, since his words had been miscommunication only moments before.

This seemed to shock Joaquin more, which was the response he'd been thinking would happen.

"So you, Mr. Do-gooder," Joaquin said, poking Kevin's chest for emphasis, "Knowingly not only made out with a gang member, but a werewolf at that?"

"...Yes?"

"Are you crazy?" Joaquin asked, but he was grinning.

"Maybe," Kevin groaned, "Desperate, more like." He didn't elaborate more.

Joaquin bit the inside of his lip, raising an eyebrow, "Right. Same."

This did surprise Kevin.

"Look, Sweet Pea pointed you out to me. Knew I wasn't lucky in relationships. It's not a big deal. You're lucky I'm nearly out of options too, else I wouldn't have taken my chances on a Northsider like you."

"Oh, well, gee." Kevin muttered, feeling a little insulted.

"You're honestly telling me that if you had the pick of any guy you'd choose a werewolf thug that pulls C's on average?" Joaquin asked pointedly, "And, you're...a Keller."

"Yeah." Kevin said, "And you still made out with me."

"Maybe I'm crazy too," Joaquin said, a genuine smile splitting across his face. It was soft. It was all-revealing. All of a sudden, Kevin's worries seemed to vanish. He laughed, his concerns seeming less significant.

"I'm glad you sought me out, Preppy," Joaquin said, closing the distance between them.

"You didn't give me a number or anything." Kevin said, waiting for the other boy to make the first motions.

"Didn't think you'd want to see me again." Joaquin said so quietly that Kevin maybe imagined it.

"Did you want to see me?" Kevin asked genuinely.

"I'm pleased you're here. That enough?" Joaquin asked sharply, then tempered, "I guess I'm not...always sure."

"Right. Well, here I am." Kevin said, swinging his arms out as though presenting himself.

"Yes. Here you are," Joaquin agreed, surging forward to put no distance between the pair, his lips warm on Kevin's. Kevin melted into it for a second, forgetting everything. Joaquin was intoxicating; he'd been at the drive-in too. His warmth was everywhere and he was so responsive, so willing.

But Kevin pushed back.

"The reason I came. To talk about werewolf stuff. Is there things I should know about kissing wolves or whatnot?" Kevin didn't want to overstate his relationship here, "Things that might be...important to know beforehand?"

"You came here to talk?" Joaquin asked, running his long hair back. Kevin couldn't tell if he was frustrated or amused.

"Yes. No. Both?" Kevin flailed a bit, wincing.

"Well, I dunno what to tell you," Joaquin gave a over-exaggerated shrug, "You'll smell like me, it will start to linger for longer the more we…'hang out'. You won't notice it. Other wolves or magics will. I might start to smell like human," He scrunched up his nose, "But your scent is hardly overpowering. If we go out to eat, I might get my steaks closer to still moo-ing than cooked. I get moody around moon changes. You do know that I can change whenever I want, none of that 'only on full moon' BS?" At Kevin's hurried nod, Joaquin continued, "If we get into fights, fur might start popping out or my fangs will length or my eyes will flash. If I get really turned on that might happen too. I don't know, is that what you're looking for?"

Kevin blinked, trying to file away all of it, "Yes. That." He said. It was so logical, he thought, so second-nature for Joaquin.

"Well, that's the short of it. It's like asking me what it's like to be hanging out with a Mexican. It's cultural. You just learn it, Prep." Joaquin said, crossing his arms.

"I'm supposed to be the bridge between your kind and my kind. I want to know. Also, for my own knowledge," he added, "But, if you think that's the important stuff."

"Yes."

"Then…" Kevin, though Joaquin had made it clear that he desired him, felt unsure about kissing him again.

"Thank god," Joaquin murmured, pulling Kevin to him, diving in so passionately that Kevin felt like he was going to drown in this boy. So deep that Kevin couldn't have stopped him if he wanted. So deep that if Kevin never came up, he wouldn't complain.

Joaquin's fingers were curious and delving at the hem of his shirt. He was feeling along the his skin when he suddenly startled back, yelping like he'd been tasered.

It took Kevin a second. He looked down to see his little safety-pouch. Kevin opened it, and Joaquin laughed. He sucked on his thumb, cussing. There was a blister already forming on it, red and irritated.

"Look, Preppy, I have a lotta kinks, but masochism isn't one of them," He said, looking warily at the bag of things that could for sure hurt- and even kill- him.

"Right, sorry." Kevin felt like an idiot, fumbling to untie it and throw it across the room.

"It's probably for the best," Joaquin said, nudging it away with a baseball bat, "Since not all wolves will be as...friendly as I am." He said, a feral and sultry smile on his face, "And, as nice as I am," He whispered, leaning in close, "I still bite." He nipped on Kevin's neck, just a playful one, and Kevin felt his legs go to jelly.

"Sweet mother of-," Kevin breathed out, "You're going to be so bad for me." He was so hyped about that.

"I hope so," Joaquin said.

"My dad's not home often, we can meet there," Kevin said all at once, going hard imaging Joaquin sneaking in through a window for moonlight rendezvous or mid-day breaks.

"Or here. My parents aren't around much either." Joaquin said with an unconcerned shrug.

"But..you just said…" Kevin frowned, casting a look back to the bag.

"Wolves in general are dangerous, sure, but no one will give you shit as my boyfriend." Joaquin said plainly, like it was obvious.

"Boyfriend?" Kevin echoed a little dreamily.

A flash of doubt passed Joaquin's face, "Unless-,"

"No! I just, I'm glad. Boyfriend," Kevin echoed, looking at Joaquin.

"Uh, yeah. You don't date much?" Joaquin guessed.

"No. My dad nearly kicked me out the other day to go find a 'nice gay boy'. Sad when your dad is your wing man." Kevin gave a leveled sigh.

"I think he's going to be disappointed," Joaquin said, "Because I am only .5 of those things. Pan; but don't let that bother you. I'm very interested in you. I'm definitely not nice and I'm only a 'boy' 50% of the time," He explained at Kevin's curious expression.

"Well," Kevin said decisively, "I'll take you at 0%. Full wolf."

"Aren't we brave?"

"Just stupid, maybe," Kevin said, grateful that they were already so casual with each other.

Joaquin's phone beeped from his bed. He checked it and gave Kevin one last short but searing kiss.

"Said I'd go running with Fangs," He said apologetically.

"Right. I did sort of surprise you here. Can't be upset you have plans." Kevin said, though was disappointed still.

Joaquin was searching. He came back with a sharpie and penned his phone-number on Kevin's palm.

"Howl at me sometime soon," He said, closing Kevin's fist to protect the ink.

He almost left without anything else. But Kevin, feeling emboldened, grabbed him back for one final kiss. Joaquin chuckled, nodding to himself.

Then, he was gone.

Kevin waited around. He was curious, admittedly. He knew from Betty's retelling that wolves and clothes didn't go together. As in that clothes didn't magically poof on and off for a wolf, if you morphed while wearing clothes, kiss those Reeboks goodbye. They weren't at a point in their relationship where Joaquin would be stripping in front of him, but Kevin was curious about what he looked like as a wolf. He'd never been up close and personal to a changed werewolf.

Joaquin's bedroom window looked out to the forest surrounding them. He caught a flash of fur out of the corner of his eye. Kevin turned to see a smaller gray wolf dart through the foliage. He didn't think that was Joaquin, but he couldn't be sure.

A second later, a majestic looking wolf with the same color fur as Joaquin's hair chased after him. It was unmistakable; that was Joaquin.

The wolf paused at the edge of the treeline and looked back to his trailer, directly at Kevin. His eyes were humored, as though he predicted Kevin would stick around. They were so human it was a little terrifying, to be perhaps a yard away from a great beast that he felt no fear around, only awe.

The wolf gave a small howl, more of a yelp, and Kevin held up his hand with the number to indicate he understood. The wolf shook out its fur, and then vanished into the woods.

Kevin breathed out. He hadn't realized he'd been holding air in.

It was decided; in all his years of life, Kevin Keller had never seen anything more sublime.