Dark orbs watched the wolfs obvious displeasure at his lack of care. Something about his approached seemed to be lacking for her, though he wasn’t about to waste time dissecting just what it was. In his eyes, the situation had come about from her own ignorance. There was nothing there that deserved his pity, especially not after listening to such a temper tantrum. And so he made a gesture of rolling his eyes at her sight, taking one last sip of his lukewarm tea before setting the mug aside.

“I’ve given up beating around the bush when it cones to you, Ms. Summers. This situation doesn’t call for a pity party, so please don’t expect one,” he smiled slightly, not unkindly, “You’ve managed to rope yourself into a fairly stupid situation here, what with the copious amounts of denial. That kind of coping mechanism doesn’t really set you up to deal with this most efficiently. Though, I do give you credit for keeping it up this long. I would have expected you to yield sooner. “

Just the idea of attempting to ‘medicate’ lycanthropy with alcohol was just so laughable to him, he found he couldn’t hold back the chuckles. “And how well did that work for you then?” another rude giggle left his lips, “Pass out black outs? As far as I know, they don’t stop the howling, which means you must have been taking yourself out on some very dangerous midnight runs,” he leaned a cheek on his palm, calming, “Do you happen to remember any of the other nights? Anything at all? Your lot tends to cause problems when your wolf around unchecked. We’re late to the game already but if there’s anything needing damage control I’d really need to jump on it sooner rather than later.”

There was a hesitation about her that Kohl found hard to ignore, to view as anything other than annoying. It was there in the way she refused to speak it, in how she ignored the classification entirely, “I’ve dealt with my fair share of werewolves and you’re by far the most interesting one. The level of denial you’ve achieved is astonishingly amusing, ”he gave Lily Summers a once over, sighing, “You need more help than I thought.”

There it is. It was the question Kohl had expected would come before anything and to hear it so late in the game made him smile. As his flatmate continually proved, she was slow to understand. “The same simplicity of a human, “ he said, more to himself than her. Studying her eyes for a moment, making sure they were focused rightly on his. When he had Lily’s attention where he wanted, he allowed the black to take over his eyes, the sightless gleam instead of pupils staring straight her way as the slightly neglected fangs peeked out from his cocky smile.

“I, Ms. Summers, am a vampire,” he blinked, putting away his fangs, “A very, very old vampire.”

(Source: alostwolf)

Kohl hadn’t expected such obedience from Lily. He’d expected more of a fight; a demand for answers and explanations. He hadn’t wasted time envisioning how the big ‘werewolf realization’ would play out, but this reaction still felt rather lack luster. When he bothered to think on it, such a life altering revelation seemed to call for a reaction more passionate. Rageful shouting or devastated tears were more the social norm. Obedience and silence fell short. As far as life changing events went, this felt a bit disappointing . After all, what was the point of bothering with humans, or semi-humans, if they were going to bottle every feeling up.

But that’s what the human was doing, curling into herself and his jacket as they walked down the streets of Cardiff, morning mist settling with the sunrise. There was the occasional stare from the normal pedestrian; a neighbor running out for his paper or standing in his robe for the morning smoke who’s gaze locked on the quite under dressed woman and her bored escort. And he was bored. Despite the tousled hair and bare feet, the dirt marred face and overall embarrassment of her situation, Lily was a bore to escort. At the moment, she seemed more likely to keel over then erupt with feeling. That dead look in her eye wasn’t the kind of reaction he’d anticipated throwing himself into the situation. Not that he’d anticipated much but a depressed, self pitying wolf wasn’t exactly something the vampire wanted to deal with. He wasn’t even sure he could deal with. Offering comfort wasn’t his strong suit. Even now, he offer nothing more than an arm behind her, guiding her, not gently, from walking into telephone pole. The look in her eyes paired with the slight sway to her walk made him doubtful she’d even make it to the apartment conscious. The color in her cheeks drained too quickly and she looked half ready to up chuck her last feed onto his jacket. Oh lord, that was the absolute last thing he would suffer through. He took more haste leading her back, practically carrying her to the flat. She hadn’t so much as made eye contact with him, hadn’t said so much as a word, before her naked behind was bounding up the stairs to the bathroom, hear heaves echoing through the hall.

I’d never pegged her for the graceful sort but that has to be a first. He shrugged, scooping his jumper off the floor and tossing it into a near by hamper. It reeked of dog already and he was sure some form of grime had managed to rub off during their walk.

Water on tile made it apparent his flatmate wasn’t interested in talking just yet and Kohl made an executive decision towards his own breakfast. He busied himself with cereal, setting light to the stove and waiting for his kettle to boil. It seemed polite to make a cup for the cleaning wolf upstairs, though he left it on the counter with his empty bowl. Lily was still in the shower, as far as he could tell, and Kohl wasn’t much in the mood for waiting. His head ached for multiple reasons, not the least of which was a lack of sleep.

The couch seemed as good a place as any to wait for his little wolf to finish grooming and it was the perfect place to nap in the mean time. His crook of his neck fit perfectly on the armrest, and he’d just begun to relax when he heard the clatter.

“There it is,” he sighed, draping an arm over his eyes as the wolf continued her racket upstairs. She would choose to break down just as he should unwind, and in a place where he couldn’t observe no less. From the sound of it, his bathroom was destroyed. Amusing yes, but he could help wishing that she’d chosen an emotion less destructive for him.

He was still lounging when she decided to join him downstairs, hair dripping wet and eyes rimmed with red.

“You’re done your temper tantrum then?” His face was neutral, despite the chide in his tone. “ I might have chosen to brush the guts out of my teeth rather than destroy the bathroom, but to each their own, I suppose.”

He sat up, rubbing behind his neck and pointing to the kitchen, “There’s a cup for you in there as well, though I expect it’s cold at this point,” he waited a moment before deciding pleasantries were the least of their worries.

“I’m not sure what you’re expecting me to provide, as far as answers go. Seems you’ve figured out the werewolf bit on your own. Rather shocking it took you this long, in my opinion,” he smiled, not kindly before the cool expression returned, “Was this the first time you changed? My guess is it wasn’t.”

(Source: alostwolf)

Throughout the many centuries in which he’d been alive, Kohl likes to believe he’d successfully squashed out all traces of compassion. Weak emotions made for weak men and he’d been through with weakness decades past. But despite all this, despite the years of disowning such humanity, vampire couldn’t deny the small pang if pity he felt when Lily looked at him. For that brief moment, he’d felt it again. There had been something frighteningly pure about the look in her eyes; a helpless kind of fear that he almost felt cruel to ignore. For once, in that fleeting moment, the idea of cruelty brought him no pleasure.

Still, there wasn’t much he could do. The werewolf only had one path in front of her and staying would do him far more harm than it would do her good. It was clear by the expression on Lily’s face that she was lost to this calling of the moon, so Kohl took his leave.

Leaving though posed almost as difficult as staying, though he wasn’t sure why. Against better judgment, Kohl decided to follow his more morbid curiosity and stick around. He didn’t have much of a place to stay aside from perched in a tree, which felt not only juvenile but unsafe.

Yes, he could blame staying put on his own curiosity, this being the closest he’d been to a full werewolf transformation in decades. He hadn’t seen this since the old days of caged ‘dog’ fights. What he couldn’t quite justify were the other emotions. Maybe it was the fact he’d been around this women for weeks, watched her rather pathetic way of struggling about life. Maybe it was that look of desperation she’d given him just moments before. Maybe, deep down, it was the incomprehensible situation of being needed, something he hadn’t faced in death.

So he stuck around lurking in the trees and watching this as if it were a show. Watched as the wolf ran about, feeding on animals and staying, thankfully away from humans. By the time she’d changed back, there wasn’t much of a mess to clean.

——————

He hadn’t remembered settling at the base of the tree, or nodding off, but he was awake the moment Lily began moving. Admittedly, the vampire had dozed off when he saw the girl changed and unconscious. It wasn’t part of his plan and he started awake rather suddenly, rustling the leaves beneath him as he sat straight.

Kohl hadn’t meant to skulk about as Lily woke he just wasn’t sure how to breach this topic….certainly not while the woman was stark naked. But it was unavoidable now, especially as she knew he was there. That’s right…Their senses are heightened after the change... For the length of a heartbeat, he allowed himself a moment of composure. This conversation was bound to be taxing and he was tired. But he could only dwell for a moment before standing and walking out.

She didn’t seem surprised to see him.

“Here…” clearing his throat, Kohl extended his overcoat to her, eyes focused on the ground out of gentlemanly habit. “I doubt this is a conversation you want to have in the nude.”

He cleared his throat again, finding the emotions that had led him to stay on that night gone. This situation called for emotions he had discarded long ago and now he was left feeling…awkward. Which meant returning to the frigid mask.

“Let’s return to the flat. You- no, I won’t talk about this here.”

(Source: alostwolf)

Throughout the many centuries in which he’d been alive, Kohl likes to believe he’d successfully squashed out all traces of compassion. Weak emotions made for weak men and he’d been through with weakness decades past. But despite all this, despite the years of disowning such humanity, vampire couldn’t deny the small pang if pity he felt when Lily looked at him. For that brief moment, he’d felt it again. There had been something frighteningly pure about the look in her eyes; a helpless kind of fear that he almost felt cruel to ignore. For once, in that fleeting moment, the idea of cruelty brought him no pleasure.

Still, there wasn’t much he could do. The werewolf only had one path in front of her and staying would do him far more harm than it would do her good. It was clear by the expression on Lily’s face that she was lost to this calling of the moon, so Kohl took his leave.

Leaving though posed almost as difficult as staying, though he wasn’t sure why. Against better judgment, Kohl decided to follow his more morbid curiosity and stick around. He didn’t have much of a place to stay aside from perched in a tree, which felt not only juvenile but unsafe.

Yes, he could blame staying put on his own curiosity, this being the closest he’d been to a full werewolf transformation in decades. He hadn’t seen this since the old days of caged ‘dog’ fights. What he couldn’t quite justify were the other emotions. Maybe it was the fact he’d been around this women for weeks, watched her rather pathetic way of struggling about life. Maybe it was that look of desperation she’d given him just moments before. Maybe, deep down, it was the incomprehensible situation of being needed, something he hadn’t faced in death.

So he stuck around lurking in the trees and watching this as if it were a show. Watched as the wolf ran about, feeding on animals and staying, thankfully away from humans. By the time she’d changed back, there wasn’t much of a mess to clean.

——————

He hadn’t remembered settling at the base of the tree, or nodding off, but he was awake the moment Lily began moving. Admittedly, the vampire had dozed off when he saw the girl changed and unconscious. It wasn’t part of his plan and he started awake rather suddenly, rustling the leaves beneath him as he sat straight.

Kohl hadn’t meant to skulk about as Lily woke he just wasn’t sure how to breach this topic….certainly not while the woman was stark naked. But it was unavoidable now, especially as she knew he was there. That’s right…Their senses are heightened after the change... For the length of a heartbeat, he allowed himself a moment of composure. This conversation was bound to be taxing and he was tired. But he could only dwell for a moment before standing and walking out.

She didn’t seem surprised to see him.

“Here…” clearing his throat, Kohl extended his overcoat to her, eyes focused on the ground out of gentlemanly habit. “I doubt this is a conversation you want to have in the nude.”

He cleared his throat again, finding the emotions that had led him to stay on that night gone. This situation called for emotions he had discarded long ago and now he was left feeling…awkward. Which meant returning to the frigid mask.

“Let’s return to the flat. You- no, I won’t talk about this here.”

(Source: alostwolf)

Kohl glanced over at the fridge again, nodding more to himself than in answer to her statement. Their home was filled with human food and it was true that none of that would appeal to a waking wolf. Still, this begged the question of what would the sleeping wolf crave.  Of course, it was silly to even ponder such a thing now. The wolf wanted blood, he suspected. And if this woman was left to her own unknowing devices, she would find it in innocent people. That thought didn’t bother him greatly, but he didn’t feel like watching her make a scene in this town he’d begun to grow comfortable in.

“That may be true, but you look particularly tired today. That’s all I meant.” Tired and snippy. He imagined that was another side effect of the beast; a shorter fuse. And for as tired as she looked, he could only imagine how much worse that would be now. Could imagine, but he wouldn’t. That would be too considerate for his liking.  His concern was purely towards the comfort of his new living situation…and the safety of this new.

“Go out?” Kohl stilled at the sink, turning to better face her. It was hard to keep from looking at her in his normal, scrutinizing way, but he felt he managed. Leaving the house was better for her…but in that case… “That sounds fun. Would you mind if I tagged along? It’s been a while since I’ve actually gone out to enjoy myself around here.” If she was planning on going out, it seemed better to accompany her. Redirecting her to a new location once they were in a car together would be infinitely easier that way.

(Source: alostwolf)

Living with another human being had not brought as big of a change to his daily routine as the vampire had originally expected it would. Kohl had assumed there would be awkwardness, disagreements over silly things; hell, he’d thought there would be people visiting that he could complain about. In the beginning he’d waiting on all of these things. Yet, to this day he hadn’t had so much as a 5 minute conversation with Lily, let alone a disagreement. The young woman was cordial, but she seemed to gather there was unspoken truths between them.  Both of them were lying, that was easy enough to tell, but as neither party was willing to admit or confront such folly, their conversation remained shallow affairs. The vampire was almost growing bored of his newest ‘adventure’.

It was a bit tedious having to leave his home everyday, pretending to run errands to quell any suspicions. She’d never asked him what his job was and if he was out often enough, he doubted she would. Besides, he found it easier to be out of the house. The girl was so jumpy he found himself slightly on edge whenever she was home, attempting to be careful when it came to interacting with her. In Lily’s case, he found her animalistic senses only hindered her normality, and while that may have been amusing, he grew tired of feeling her fright when he was actually being hospitable.

Now at last, the long awaited day was here. The entire reason Kohl had agreed to this arrangement in the first place. Tonight was the night of the full moon.  Lily hadn’t seemed much different to him, but the wolf was easy enough to sense on a day like today. There was no question she’d changed. So…when he came home to find her passed out on the communal couch, he couldn’t help feeling anxious. She can’t possibly be planning on changing here….

Kohl could already see the moon beginning to rise outside the kitchen window as he fixed himself some coffee, already sensing this would be a late night. He knew little about what the actual transformation from human to wolf was like, but he was fairly certain going through such a process in the flat would be unwise…especially when he was there. He turned to look at her for a moment as she entered the kitchen, before sighing. Were she not so blatantly clueless, he may have thought this was a trap to eliminate the vampire.

He waited a moment  after she spoke, plugging the coffee pot in before turning to address her question. “Better than yours I’m guessing. You look beat…” It was hard to act cordial when the situation was so bizarre. She was too relaxed, and it was slowly becoming clear to him that she had even less an idea of how to handle this situation than he did. Far less…which meant bringing her somewhere safe to transform would fall on him. Damn.

“Did you eat yet? You look a bit peckish.”          

“And isn’t that the cold, hard truth of this world.” He turned from the picture he was looking at to smile back at the woman, pretending they were sharing some trivial inside joke.  Kohl could hardly remember the last time he’d struggled to pay a bill.  The 1800’s had blessed him with a few fortuitous investments and, not being a big spender, cash hadn’t been a worry.

“My name’s Kohl.” He extended a hand to Lily, walking back to his prospective flatmate. “Kohl Maurer.  Nice to meet you Lily.”  Kohl ended the introduction with a natural and charming smile. He thought she was relaxing. Or at least, that’s what he hoped was happening. The woman was tightly wound, but he had a sense her intuition was stronger than he’d originally suspected.  “So…do you have any questions for me or anything like that? Some ‘prospective flatmate’ interrogation?”