#doucheylove

Sebastian didn’t seem to know what to do any better and it made Hunter wonder if he was trying to figure out how to not look as happy as he probably felt.  Maybe for fear that the fissures would actually start showing down Hunter’s face. He tried a hesitant smile in return, and Hunter’s knuckles grew white around the cup, before he forced his stiff hand to bring it up for a sip.

              “He’s am-He is.”

              Hunter glanced down at the brown liquid, thumbnail digging onto the styrofoam rim, as he took another sip, and after as he downed it back to the table, pondering what else was there to say. He’d caught the correction, of course, and it made his coffee taste twice as bitter, to think that Sebastian might actually pity him to that point. To the point of censoring himself for him.

              They hadn’t seen each other in five years.

              Five long years, for Hunter. There had been times, through those years, when Hunter’d forgot all about his high school and college boyfriend, for months. In others, he’d be a constant reminder on the back of his head, through long days and nights of dreadful mourning. He’d tried other relationships. Even come to think he’d fallen in love, once or twice. But every time he did, it only reminded him of how it didn’t feel, of how it wasn’t. It didn’t take long after that, for his partner of the moment to figure out he wasn’t entirely there, and move on. 

              He’d always wondered what it’d be like to see him again. If he was still as lean, if his freckles still stuck out the most on rainy days, his green eyes bright against the pale skin and wet hair. Now that he had, he wasn’t sure what to do with it. From all the times he’d imagined it, he’d never quite gotten to the actual meet part. To the part where they were supposed to speak, talk, catch up, or whatever the hell else people did when they met a long lost lover. 

              Even the words long lost lover made him want to roll his eyes. Sebastian was his ex. One of many. There should be no reason why he ought to stand out like that.

              His blunt nails scratched the back of his neck, distractedly as he mulled it over. Until Sebastian’s rough voice interrupted him.

              “Have you??”

              Hunter looked up so abruptly that Sebastian smiled sideways, before raising his eyebrows.

              “Found someone.” He supplied, clearly noticing Hunter hadn’t been listening before.

                 Sebastian didn’t look as lean as before. He’d grown in muscle, specially in the arms, and his jaw was more pronounced. He still carried himself smoothly, and made even the simple act of sitting down look like a shot from a movie. But it was obvious he had matured. That he wasn’t the same boy as before. Hunter smiled. And it made something coil in his stomach. He wondered if he looked frozen in time by comparison, or as though he’d been pulled apart and then simply placed back together without anything to hold it in, like he felt he did.

              “You know me. Never had a lot of patience for relationships. Too much to do in a day, too much to worry about. Doesn’t leave me much time for dining out and buying flowers when wining and dining is already another part of the job.” He mocked, with a light shrug. Sebastian glanced to the side, and Hunter followed his eyes.

              The rain was staining the windows of the coffee shop. It made everything look like a mess of blurred out colors. It reminded him of his memories about the years when he’d been able to tell exactly what Sebastian was thinking around ninety percent of the time. That had been a long time ago. He had no idea now, as he looked back at him, following the line of his turned neck, up to his popped jaw, about what was going on in his head. 

              “I’m happy.”

              Hunter blinked, in surprise at the sudden statement, but nodded cautiously. Sebastian had said it plainly, like a fact, but Hunter still knew him enough to catch the underline of anger. Some taste of defiance to it, as though he expected Hunter to protest. His lips pressed together in a line, instead, as he looked ahead expectantly, but Sebastian didn’t seem in the mood to elaborate.

              “Have you seen any of the guys lately??” - “I’m sorry.”

              Sebastian stopped, as Hunter blurted over him, his words, and the latter could’ve flinched at the look he got. He didn’t, though, keeping his eyes set and his face composed. He sipped some more of his drink to down the blockage in his throat. It was cold, and somewhat disgusting by now, but it didn’t matter much.

              “I know I fucked up.” He said, after all, after catching his breath and as Sebastian kept looking at him, searching for an explanation. Hunter let out a huff of air as he glanced down at his fingers. “I had no idea in hell what I was doing when we were together. I fucked up a lot. I’m glad you found someone.” He said, honestly. It had been stuck on his tongue since they’d crossed eyes at the cashier’s line. And it felt relieving to say it.

              Sebastian didn’t look like he knew what to answer to that. Hunter gave him a quiet look. He didn’t need him to really say anything. Maybe it was better that way. He thought maybe he should get up and leave, but Sebastian stopped him again.

              “You’re a cretin.”

                Hunter cocked an eyebrow, in his turn, but didn’t disagree. Sebastian’s jaw was popped again, and his fingers were curled over the table. Hunter recognized that barbed edge in his eyes.

              “All I wanted was you, Hunter.” He snorted, and it sounded bitter, as he looked up at the ceiling. There was a strain on the line of his throat all the way to his hard chin, and it made Hunter stop breathing. “Hell, I did everything to get you. And you gave me one hell of a fucking ride too, getting there.” When Sebastian downed his eyes back to him, they were so angry Hunter thought he could taste it. He suddenly wondered if Sebastian was going to punch him. He knew he wouldn’t stop him if he did. “And then you railroaded me, until I’d used up all of my cards, and all I could do was give up.”

              Hunter swallowed. He knew the other was right.

              Sebastian had been the messiest, craziest, best, thing that had ever happened to him. And Hunter had taken him for granted in every way, up to the day when he’d come back to empty drawers and a note on the bed. Being open and speaking all the words out just weren’t things they did. He’d repeated that in his mind day after day. A justification that had paled quickly after he left.

              When Sebastian’d started to close up, he kept telling himself things would come around. It was just another phase. They’d get over it, if he just gave it enough time, like they’d always done. Now he knew how much of a complete asshole he’d been. The one thing he had never done was fight for him. He’d thought he’d given him everything, and when Sebastian wanted out, Hunter had let him, not wanting to get in his way. But the one thing he hadn’t done was ask him to stay.  It kept him up at night, as he wondered if he’d still be there, if he’d just asked him to.

              “Yeah you fucked up.” Sebastian shrugged, and his face seemed to deflate from whatever was clouding his temper before, making it easy going again. “Next time you do find someone, just don’t screw up again. I’m sure you’ll be fine.” He made a pause as he tapped his cup. “Give me a call, if you do.”

              Hunter nodded. His tongue was dry in his mouth and it seemed like an effort to say anything. He wasn’t sure what to make of Sebastian’s disposition. As Hunter watched him, he realized that until that moment, he had still believed Sebastian and him would find their way back together one day.

              He’d let himself hang on to that, for far too long, and probably lost more than one or two, or three, opportunities to move on. As much as he despised all the romanticized, impossible, love stories, he had always thought, deep down, that they were meant to be. That no matter what he did, what they did, they’d end up getting back into each other’s lives.

              “That thing-” He cleared his throat as Sebastian gave him his attention again, looking curious. “That thing you slipped into your pocket earlier…” He trailed off, not sure if he really needed to finish the sentence. It had been all too clear, despite the elegant, quick way, in which Sebastian’s fingers had moved to hide it.

              “Not gonna happen any time soon.”

              Sebastian offered, knowing exactly what Hunter was referencing. Hunter couldn’t quite see his hand as he drew it back from the table to his lap, but he could almost swear it was inside his pocket, twirling the silver band around. “It was kind of a sappy celebration for the whole love wins vibe. And then it stuck. Maybe some time next year.”

              Hunter forced his lips to quirk up and drank the rest of his cold bitter drink.

              “Congratulations.” His voice sounded bloated even for him.

              “Thank you.”

              In the back of his head, he could still see the image his thoughts had perfected along the years, of what he’d choose, if he ever did, to wrap around Sebastian’s and his fingers. But sometime that year, had turned into maybe, and maybe had turned into in a few years more, and then it’d been too late. Hunter wanted to ask. Wanted to ask if all the particulars they’d both shared one day, Sebastian also did with his fiancé, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear the answer.

              He should be glad. And he was, in a sour way. Since they’d grown closer in high school, seeing Sebastian happy had always been high on his list. All he really wanted, even when he didn’t have the time to try to make it happen himself.

              He loved him.

              He had forbid himself from using the word for years. But the day he realized Sebastian was gone, as he sat down on the cold bed, with the note on his hand, and feeling lost and numb, was when he’d finally said it to himself.

              He had loved Sebastian more than he’d ever loved anything else in his life.

              Not the girl he’d had his first crush on. Not his pride, his family, his achievements, himself. Sebastian had taught him how to actually love, and he had loved him until his fingers were raw from touching him, and his mouth was dry from sharing kisses in the dark, more passionate than he’d ever dare outside their bedrooms.

              His lungs felt hollow. He wanted to be glad, and he would train himself to be, along the next days. At least now he knew for sure. He knew for sure that Sebastian was happy and well cared for, and with a whole future ahead. Just like he’d known he would be. However, for now, all he could feel was a need to touch him so deep, the bones in his fingers ached. He still remembered exactly what he tasted like.

               “How’re the in-laws?”

              Sebastian’s lips curled again and this time there was just a shade of that easy way they’d used to have.

              “They’re fine. It’s nice and a curse having normal holidays like all the boring people out there.”

              Hunter chuckled.

              “I’m sure.”

              Maybe in time they could do it. Become a part of each other’s lives again, without messing one another up. Maybe in a few years more. He could feel it then, that that essential part of them, that had always made connection so easy, had somehow, impossibly, survived. And if it could survive this long, perhaps so could a relationship between them, whatever kind it had to be.

              “You? Been doing holidays these days?”

              Hunter nodded at that, knowing exactly what he meant.

              “They came around eventually.”

              There was a light in Sebastian’s eyes that made Hunter’s heart slip.

              “Good.” He said, as casually as it was vehement. “They had to stop being idiot pricks at some point. Runs in the family, it seems.”

                 Hunter offered him a half smile. He hadn’t really been able to feel that happy when his parents had finally accepted him back into the family, after his coming out. Somehow it had felt like settling, without Sebastian. It had felt like admitting defeat, instead of winning something. Now, as Sebastian smiled at him, he finally felt like it was something to be proud of. 

              Sebastian’s phone bipped with a message, and Hunter felt both relief and disappointment when he got up. 

              “See you Clarington,” was the last cheeky thing he said. Hunter didn’t have it in him to respond, so he’d only nodded, in turn.

              Something was still gnawing at him after they said goodbye. Sebastian promised he’d give him a call, and Hunter smiled and did the same, though he knew it wouldn’t happen. They just weren’t ready yet. As he watched him leave, though, he figured at least he’d got to watch him walk away this time. And that helped.

The alpha werewolf had went out for a late night run, who was also with a few of pack mates, when heard the impact of something hitting against metal. He ran in the direction of the whatever cause the sound that rang in his ear so clearly, like it was right next to him. His initial thought was one of his pack mates fell off the trail and injured themselves as the result. It has happened in the past with some of the newly turned werewolves, who thought it was okay to be bold and reckless. He was not expecting the sight he was meet with when he got to the gravel road.

This was not any member of his pack nor was a rogue one who happened to be badly injured. A human was laying upon the road in a position that looked rather painful. He put his hand up to stop them from moving closer as he slowly stepped toward the body that didn't seem to move. He didn't even need to take a sniff to know that this person was bleeding from somewhere on his body. There must be a lot of blood with how strong the scent was hitting his nostrils at once. This was clearly a hit and run accident of either a scared or drunk driver. It's quite rare for this to be done in the town of Westville because there wasn't major stories like this hitting the news or paper.

"He needs immediate medical attention." One pack mate said out loud. The others agreed and replied, "He sure does."

The alpha agreed with them about the need for medical attention, but he knew this kid had no chance of survival even with how fast his speed is. The hospital was several miles away from their current location. "No matter if we race to the nearest hospital. He will have a two percent chance of survival at this rate. His pulse is getting weaker as each seconds past." There was only one option he had to do, even though he didn’t know a single thing about the dying male on the road. “There is one thing I can do.”

The pack was going to protest the werewolf as their alpha lifted the human into a sitting position, so whatever he was going to do will be easier. All he heard as his hand slide to one of side of the kid's neck, "Hunter don't," as they assumed he was going this going to end the kid’s life right out in the room, but instead, he extended his teeth and sunk them into his neck. He pulled out immediately after. He didn't believe in drinking blood from a living being and he didn't encourage it. "If I'm lucky, this will be an successful turn.” He turned to one of his pack mates while holding onto the lifeless human and stated, “Rodger help Matt take him to our home. I will be right in front of you to make sure no one is in the woods and Gary watch behind them." He waited until his betas took a hold of the boy to throw a warning their way. "Whatever you do, be careful. He will be wounded until the process of healing takes it's course. We will place him in the containment room until he can get use to his new life." He got nods of approval from each of the pack mates. With that, Rodger and Matt gently carried the human turning werewolf back to their fort.

Hunter walked in front of his pack in the direction of their home, which he monitoring the heart of the stranger. It was not that he didn’t trust his pack with caring for the health of the motionless person, he did not want to bring a corpse to their home.  Gray walked behind the his pack mates, turning his head to see if anyone was near. He also using to his enhanced hearing to hear for anything out of normal.

Once at the front of the gate, Hunter raised his hand to stop them from walking to ring the bell. It was open once he announced his present to the person sitting at the desk. He walked fast with ordering his pack to the do the same. He was glad to see the one person, who was good caring for the wound.

“Glad you are still awake. We need you to tend to the wounds of this male immediate. He was involved in hit and run. With luck, he will be our newest pack member. They will place him containment where he cared for.” He patted the male in approval and followed him to where the human was laying among a bed that had restrains. He nodded in approval to each of he men who carried him. “Gary, Matt, you done well go rest. I will update you whenever we have something. Wes and I can take over from here.”

Wes made sure he close the door and curtain on the window to not allow anyone to get a view of what was going in inside the room. He grabbed a pair of glove for safety, even though he couldn’t a disease. He checked his blood pressure and pulse to see how his body was doing. “His pulse is low, but steady. His blood pressure is low.” He grabbed a pair of sharp scissors that was on a decontaminated table and began to cut the shirt of unconscious stranger. Once the shirt was opened, he could see cuts and bruise of skin layer. He gently felt along the flesh to feel for any broken rib bones. “Several cuts and bruises. A broken rib...” He checked both of arms and legs for any severe injuries. He checked neck, along with his skull. “Dislocated shoulder. Broken bone in the middle of forearm.” He glance at Hunter after he was done was done with the examination. He had theory about this poor man faced his current state. “Judging by his injuries, I say this was a hit and run. Let’s deal the dislocated shoulder.”

Hunter knew what it meant when they had to deal wit a certain injury, especially unconscious person. He placed both hands on the collarbone of the kid to keep him in place when the arm was pulled and then pushed back. Wes pulled back the arm and counted 1.. 2.. 3.. as he pushed back in to place with a pop. There was a really loud groan from the person laying the bed. He began to work on the cuts by cleaning them, then bandage any cuts that were a tad bit deep. He just put splines instead of a cast because when the transformation began, the bone would instantly heal. “We are done!” Wes said as he reached in the front pockets to search for a wallet. It was quite bulky and leather, like a rich person’s wallet. When it was located, he pulled it out with a smile. “At least we might find out who this person is.” He held the leather wallet out to his alpha, who took it with a small smile of his own. He opened it up to see Driver’s License. His name, address and date of birth. “Our John Doe is Sebastian Smythe.  The address gives an indication that this kid is wealthy. I will have one of my connection get me more information on this guy. He needs to rest. Restrain the arm with the dislocated shoulders while I restrain his feet. It is for his protection.” The both of the restrain the male on the bed tightly with knowing he wasn’t going to get out of them. Hunter knew there was a chance that the restrains would break, leading to the attempt of escaping the confinements of the room. The only twist was the room was made for a werewolf to stay in and not get out. The door had two dead bolts with the unlocking and locking on the outside.