Werewulf part 8
#8 of Werewulf
So here is chapter eight oh and by he way.......
So here is chapter eight oh and by he way....
I FINISHED MY NANO! WEREWULF HAS 50,000+ WORDS!!!! :D
Alot more to post in the future! i have up to chapter 14 done, and up to chapter 11 edited by Ruth! :)
anyway here yah go hahaha
Chapter 8.
"You're serious?" Duke asked as he entered Kyle's room, eyeing the small set up in front of the TV. He had expected Kyle to suggest something outside and adrenaline pumping like the games he set up before; Video games didn't seem as appealing to him. Nothing the human did seemed normal, but it wasn't too bad, at least it was a game...kinda.
"Yeah, what's wrong with a few video games? Afraid I'm gunna kick your ass?"
Duke pouted, "No, I just..." He laughed inside imagining the next few words, 'I just have never played a video game in my life because my family of werewolves travel around place to place without bringing much with them.' 'I just would rather be outside were my inner beast feels more at ease, where I feel in touch with a natural force you can't even begin to comprehend.' Kyle might accept a lot, but that might be the turning point.
Duke laughed aloud, "I don't usually play video games," he half lied, "What do you have in mind though? I'm down for whatever." Duke made his way over to the gamer chairs set up in front of the screen.
"Either Marvel vs. Capcom on Xbox, Super smash bros melee on the GameCube, or some left for dead maybe?" Kyle listed, "What do you feel like?"
"Whatever you want, it was your choices for the game tonight remember?" Duke reminded the boy. In truth Duke didn't mind so much now that he was sitting, Kyle's scent was thick in the air and on the things around him. It enveloped him in a cushion of comfort and set his mind at ease.
"I guess, but I might as well try and accommodate you. What kind of games do you like?"
'Not fake ones...' flashed across Duke's mind momentarily.
"When it's your turn to pick the game it's whatever game you like," Duke reiterated, "Just pick one!"
"Fine fine fine, don't get your panties in a bunch."
The games weren't actually half bad, sure Duke didn't really understand why someone would want to play as someone who dies over and over again, and maybe his hand eye coordination wasn't the best with controllers, but he still had fun. Kyle was really good at them though and either used his skills to crush Duke like a bug, or drag them through co-op missions.
"Have you ever picked up a controller in your life?" Kyle asked offhandedly, but it made Duke smile. He really hadn't.
"I'm just not a big fan of video games is all; I never feel the need to practice," he tossed in, hoping for retaliation.
That's what he loved about Kyle, the thing that intrigued him most of all about the boy, he fought back. Most people didn't know why but they responded in a bit of reverence to werewolves everywhere. IT was a natural dominance thing, there were always exceptions of course, but generally speaking the average person wouldn't go out of their way to attack a werewolf in any way, especially a natural Alpha.
Kyle did, and on the first day. Hell the coat Duke had given him wasn't even working. In theory the scent in the coat should have made Kyle more responsive to Duke's will. It wasn't brain washing per say, it was exposure to the natural alpha pheromones on a near twenty four seven basis. But it didn't seem to have an effect on the little human. Duke flashed back to some of his personal experiences with the coat trick. How it broke the willpower of adults in hours, but it didn't matter to Kyle. It was infuriating and fascinating at the same time, a sick masochistic paradox of wanting what you couldn't have.
His scent was concerning as well, a sort of self-loathing pleasure to Duke really. It alternated and mixed together the qualities of Alpha's and Omega's; even his natural chemistry was intriguing and rare. Duke's family hadn't even believed him until last night. It turned out that Brianna had lurked in the woods that night and scared Kyle shitless at the flags. But she confirmed the confliction, it wasn't like a werewolf to be affected by human pheromones, but naturally they regarded them. Just because she perceived dominant qualities didn't mean she felt he was higher up.
It was all that fight Kyle had in him that Duke liked, most of his past play things...play mates had been so easy to control, too boring to even be called a game. One didn't even want to leave his side. But Kyle, he ran for the hills and didn't stop. A few others had run away, but by the second day, after a single night with the coat they returned of their own free will.
Duke felt a hint of shame in himself; it wasn't fair but he had used mind tricks to get Kyle out of his house the previous night. It was for that purpose only and wouldn't happen again, but it still did happen before. Werewolves used to use their 'Voice' to lure beautiful townswomen from their homes at night, virgins usually if the stories were told right. The wolves of the past would talk them right into the woods to satisfy whatever savage desire troubled them the most that night. Duke had used it for much more innocent purposes, but it was still monumentally unfair to the human, and it was also a cheap way to progress his game. But what's done is done he decided, no use in letting it bug you.
"It's not really a big deal," Kyle assured, "It's just a bit funny. For some reason I thought you'd be good. I guess it must be your natural hate of losing and all."
"That somehow I'm just skilled at anything and everything that could possibly challenge me?" Duke asked with just a hint of humour in his voice, "What kind of pedestal do you put me on?"
Kyle cast him a sideward glance, "It's not a pedestal, it's like...I don't know, almost an expectation? I don't know that much about you so I'm just filling in the details."
"Assuming makes an ass out of you and me," Duke sang the little saying.
"Shut up," the lanky boy pushed Duke's rocker back making the larger boy freak out as he felt like he was falling.
"I thought Quinn said you weren't the social bug. What's all this 'interaction?' ha-ha," Duke laughed a little, "How come you aren't so much more popular?"
It wasn't until he asked did Duke realize how rude it sounded, how straight to the point he was. He mentally smacked himself for not thinking ahead, in a strategic game you always had to think ahead, and the game of life was as strategy based as it got.
Luckily Kyle didn't seem to take offence, "I just don't usually like people, they just piss me off sometimes. Like the last guy I brought over here, the first thing out of his mouth was a snide comment about how my 'dad' let the lawn go to hell unlike the rest of my street; and all I could think was that I would have to finish my homework early so I could do it the next day and keep up appearances." It was a very bitter statement, but not angry, "If you don't understand a situation I don't see why people have to stick their nose in and comment on what they don't understand, like they're the expert."
"So I take it Quinn understands huh?" Duke asked, he wasn't so sure about Quinn, her obvious feelings for Kyle were nice, and she seemed nice enough, but she also seemed the type to accidently take things too far. Like if Kyle went to a party with her and her friends he would be over exposed or something. She seemed to be the only friend Kyle had, she was important and she had to keep that roll or it would crush his little buddy.
"She's been around for a long time. She's always been there for me and with me. What do you think of her?" He smiled, "I can't imagine you think too well of her throwing you into the mob like that!" he laughed, "The look on your face was priceless."
But Quinn was no longer on Duke's mind, "Well, she seemed cool, but umm...well what chance...Kyle am I your friend?" It was intentionally straight forward, "I mean, you invite me into your home, I drive you around, we laugh; but let's be honest I did pull a knife on you. Why aren't you afraid of me?" He was scared to ask, afraid it might somehow break whatever was keeping the boy close. It wasn't the Alpha in Duke that was for sure.
Kyle sat back a moment in the rocker, "Well...I'm not one hundred percent sure actually. You seem willing to understand. You seem like you're open and have problems like me. Everyone else in this town puts up a front, like everyone is so close that having problems means everyone knows them; so eventually they just hid all their dark secrets. You seem real or something; more real already then the robots I've grown up with. The football team at high school has lost and or gained like six members since the little league team when they were nine for crying out loud! You know?" Kyle answered, "I'm hoping that makes sense because I've never really put it to words before."
The larger boy sat back a moment taking in the new information. It felt cold, but he knew that on instinct he was gathering Intel; at the same time he knew he cared enough to collect information. This really was just a unique case, he wanted to win and it was difficult. "So you know Quinn's problems?"
Kyle nodded, "Don't ask me though, I've been sworn to secrecy."
"I wouldn't ask that, don't worry." Duke had to think, what could he disclose so that he wouldn't give away his secrets, but still made sense? It was ironic that Duke had the biggest secret of them all that trumped all the little secrets he disclosed, and that was why Kyle liked him more than most. "So do you have any other skeletons in the closet that aren't currently downstairs at the moment?" Duke asked, referring to Scott. It was always weird referring to people you knew weren't there but were supposed to be. He shivered a bit at the memory of that morning when he had confronted the hung over ass. Duke knew he might have gone too far...
Kyle laughed, "You're so lax!"
Duke made a face, "What do you mean?"
"Well, normally people might share before asking, but you go straight to the point, direct approach. You know it's the fastest way, so you just go for it."
Duke shrugged, "Well you pointing it out isn't making it as fast as I would have planned," he noted, pausing the game, "Sorry, I can't kill zombies very well and talk at the same time."
"Fair enough, but you couldn't kill zombies very well in the first place so..."
"ANYWAY you little pisser, you want to answer my question without the verbal assault maybe? You know a real answer and not, 'Make fun of Duke Time, because he doesn't play video games?' How does that even work!? I don't play fake games so I'm a mockery!"
"To gamer nerds everywhere," Kyle confirmed, clearly enjoying it all too much, "But fine, if it'll get you to calm down; Scott and my mom are my only real problems."
Duke made a puzzled look, "Your mom? How so?"
Kyle shrugged, "Well I can't leave her, she is my mom. I have to keep this whole fucked up house in order, that includes but is not limited to yard work, maintaining a healthy amount of alcohol in the house, cleaning when she doesn't, making sure Scott doesn't leave so we can afford to live here, keeping my grades up so Scott isn't pissed that he pays school taxes, making sure I don't leave her alone with that man and so much more!" Kyle replied in an overly excited voice, the sarcasm not even the least bit subtle, "It's just a lot some times. And I can't even go to school looking like a mess or teachers ask questions. I can't be taken away from her or she will be so much worse off than the current amount of abuse. I just can't consciously let that happen."
Duke listened intently to the short list his buddy had comprised and couldn't help but respect the guy. He was all for self-sacrifice and he wasn't even out of school yet. Some werewolves his family knew could learn a thing or two from this kid; most wolves couldn't or just chose not to control themselves and often got in trouble with the law, human or otherwise. They never grew up, at all. Duke knew he wasn't exactly the epitome of maturity, but at least he knew where the boundaries were.
"Dude...that's a lot for one guy... Props my man, really that's a shit ton of maturity, but really, you shouldn't feel responsible for your mom, she's the grown up."
"But she really isn't," Kyle snapped, "She needs me so I do it. If she could function on her own I'd get Scott fucking arrested in a heartbeat! I don't even think she would...she probably would mourn Scott's loss and nearly starve herself in grief if he went to jail. It happened when my dad died...I was forced to feed my mother so she wouldn't die on me man...Why am I even telling you this?" he asked, his voice much more empty now. "You already knew a lot..."
Duke put a hand on Kyle's shoulder, "I'm always here to listen if you want stuff off of your chest okay?" He sighed, "Now my turn I guess, it's only fair right?"
Kyle looked up with a look of regret in his eyes, "You don't have to tell me if you don't want too; don't feel obligated to say anything just because I broke down."
Yet another admirable trait, compassion. Kyle might do a damn good job of hiding it, but he really was a caring guy in the wrong situation. The lack of social graces was probably just him snapping at people with pent up rage from all he had to give up already and they would never know. But that smell was back, that distinctly submissive smell that practically was begging for comfort. As an Alpha Duke felt the pull to comfort the little lost boy, to hold the fragile being close. Alphas were great leaders of course, but they always wanted their following happy, every Omega should be happy and comfy.
Of course two guy friends don't just start hugging over sob stories of how their lives had sucked, they just insure the other that they were there for them and get back to shooting zombies in the face.
"No, no I want to tell you," Duke assured him, "You said communication of shit was a friendship thing and I want you to be my friend dude." Duke took a deep breath, "Umm...where do I start? What can I talk about?"
Duke really didn't have a clue, he couldn't exactly just change into a werewolf to prove a point, that MIIIGHT freak Kyle out. At the same time so would just claiming to be a werewolf, or claiming to have all these werewolf related problems, cause anybody with fur knows, fleas itch like a mother fucker.
"I don't know dude, it's your closet," Kyle noted shyly, "I don't want to push you into anything is all."
Duke nodded, trying to think. "You are so different when there isn't a crowd of people around you know that?"
"Completely and entirely, crowds make me jumpy," Kyle noted, "But seriously, you don't have to prove yourself by telling me your secrets, if you don't feel comfortable them, you don't feel comfortable; friendship isn't forcing secrets out."
Duke cocked an eyebrow, "But you said you liked me because I'm open."
"Open doesn't mean you don't have secrets dumb dumb. You think I have told you everything?" Kyle patted the bigger kid on the shoulder, "Just relax, you're over my house and you haven't been kicked out. You're doing infinitely better than most others, and if you want we can play a game at the park tomorrow instead of this."
Duke smiled, "So you already want to play?" It was some of the best news Duke had heard, maybe the Alpha scent was working after all.
"So long as I don't have more important matters to deal with," Kyle teased, "But yeah, it's nice to actually hang out with someone you can stand." He looked down at the floor, "You've been nicer to me than most people and I don't really have a legitimate reason to push you away."
"I could bring the knife." Duke pointed out with a playful grin.
"Don't be an asshole." Kyle noted, restarting the game, "You're still over ten thousand points behind."
"I still feel like I should share something," Duke noted, a 'Smoker' currently dragging him up a wall to be mauled by the rest of the hoard.
"Then share away, I won't stop you, but I won't press you to share either."
~~~~
Kyle did realize something was different; he was never this open, ever, not even with Quinn around. Duke seemed to emanate calm and understanding. He would voice an opinion but you knew he wasn't going to mess with your life if you asked. It was also a natural calming, like the fact that he was big almost made him plain old comfortable. Sure big guys could hurt you, but Duke wasn't that kind of guy. In his case Kyle knew the big lug had his back, the last dozen of hours they had known each other proved that. Duke had done nothing really wrong, even if he was a bit strange and off putting...Duke was safe.
"I don't mean to kick you out," Kyle said, looking at the clock, "But it is one in the morning, we got school and I have the sneaking suspicion you didn't even start your homework."
Duke turned, "Why would you say that? I'm already finished thank you very much. Assuming and making an ass of yourself again I see."
"Well sorry, you just seem the type to question authority and not partake in their activities at all."
"Well I guess normally, but it is school right? My parents might be pissed if I started failing. Freedom loving me or not, I still live with them." He scratched the back of his head and yawned, "But I guess I should get going, it's been a long day."
"Drive safe," Kyle said simply, shutting off the games and leading Duke to the front door, "See yah tomorrow."
"Later today," Duke corrected.
"Whatever. See yah." Kyle shut the door after Duke. It was a bit depressing to see Duke go, Kyle felt he actually had a friend in him. Sure it had been two days, but Kyle still felt almost...comfortable around him, and honestly, that was more than he could say for his own house.
...Which was surprisingly quiet at the moment...
Kyle looked around the living room, no beer cans, no mess and no television. "Mom?" Kyle called into the dark, not even a single light was on. It didn't matter the day that Scott wouldn't be in bed by now, and neither would his mother.
Kyle flicked on some lights and wandered through the house, for the first time feeling absolutely alone there. Something was always making noise, now it was silent as the grave. "Mom, are you there?" Kyle called again into the black void of the back hall.
He snuck his way down its corridor and to the master bedroom at the end of the hall, not a single noise in the world to make his steps seem quiet, at the moment the emptiness make them echo like a shout in the woods, hauntingly and extended.
Carefully he knocked and opened the door slowly, the hall lights casting a large beam into the room. On the bed lay his mother, sleeping comfortably and soundly alone. Scott was nowhere to be seen, not that Kyle cared at the moment, it was the first time he had seen him mom sleep so soundly in a very long time. She wasn't twitching or shaking from nightmares, she just slept, inhaling and exhaling in calm and peaceful normality.
"Goodnight," he whispered into the room, closing the door again, "Sweet dreams mom."