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It'd been about three weeks since Katherine's death, and Anton finally noticed that Viago was starting to smile again. Not a lot, granted, but he was smiling. He'd smiled at the girl with the purple Mohawk and a colony of earrings crawling up her ear; he'd smiled sadly at the elderly couple walking home hand-in-hand after a late dinner. Viago had even smiled at Anton himself, several times over the past few days.
Viago had smiled when he cursed his pack's inability to not destroy the house. He had almost laughed when Anton threatened to shave Nathan G's testicles if he left the shower in a mess again. And he did actually laugh when Anton swore loudly and nearly dropped his phone in the fountain after a surprise text made him jump as the vibration hit him in the groin.
He would transform around this time next week, and he was already feeling the itch under his skin. He and Viago would repeat the same transformation experiment as the previous month, and if it were a success, then he might expand it to one of the married wolves--if they could be reassured of safety within their own homes, that would be a great asset for pack management.
His train of thought was derailed by the instant raising of the hair on the back of his neck. Anton sniffed the air deeply, seeking out the trigger--and finding it quickly. Viago's blood was a trembling scent on the wind, and seconds later, he zeroed in.
His ears picked up the mocking laughter of at least four humans, and the acrid scent of burnt rubber was lingering. Viago was speaking, trying to extract himself. Had they found Viago in the park, the vampire would have been able to either flee or fight. But trapped on the footpath by the shops, he was helpless in plain sight.
Twice Anton had to stop, grabbing control of his wolf with iron willpower. Even so, he could feel his teeth sharpening, his hair shaggy in prelude to furring out. His eyes were bright in the darkness, and his tread was heavier than usual. "Hey! What's going on here?" He'd meant to sound curious; instead he heard cold fury, chased by the hint of growling.
"We're just having some fun with our pal," one man said, still astride his motorcycle. "Ain't that right?"
The humans all echoed the sentiment, but Viago was quiet. "You alright there, V?"
"He's fine," said the human on the bike, and the name on his jacket was Hurley.
"Wasn't talking to you, mate," Anton growled, and the humans exchanged uneasy glances.
Hurley got off his bike and swaggered over to Anton. He was a few inches taller than the alpha, but Anton was broader in the shoulders and arms. "Seems like our little dandy man has himself a friiiiiiiiiend."
Viago stepped up at that, and he reached for Anton's arm. "Do not let him upset you," he said softly. He knew that if Anton turned in a rage like this Viago couldn't stop him. "Please."
Anton's nostrils flared as Viago got close. "You're bleeding, man."
"Only scratches from the shirt tearing," Viago reassured. "Let's get out of here, and get a coffee." His grip didn't relax on Anton's arm as he tried to calm him down.
Anton's breath was coming faster and harder. He shook his head once, trying to keep the wolf pushed down. "Let us go," he demanded, his voice beginning to change. His fists were clenched tightly, claws digging into his palm.
The humans had been muttering and laughing uncomfortably in the background, circling to group instinctively behind their leader.
Viago took advantage of the realignment and started to back away from the humans. "Look, they are scared. You did very well, thank you," he said as calmly as he could while walking backwards and steering a werewolf on the verge of transformation.
"Catch you next time, dandy man!" Hurley yelled out, and turned his back to snarl at his mates.
Anton stumbled as the challenge of eye contact was suddenly broken. He breathed hard through his nose, and paid no attention to where he was being led.
Viago guided Anton across the street and two blocks away from the motorcycle humans before the wolf could speak. "Viago?" was the first thing that came out.
"Yes, it's me." A quick look around found a dark bus shelter for a line that quit running at 3 pm. He sat Anton on the bench inside the shelter and looked at him. "Are you going to change? I will call Stu for you…"
"No, I'm not turning. I have a handle on it." Anton gripped his hair and could feel it returning to normal. "What was going on?"
"I arrived early and was looking in the windows for shopping, and the humans started to drive in circles around me. Called me dandy man, and fag, queer, words like that. Tearing my clothes, and no one stopped them. Then you came along and I was afraid you were going to transform."
"Well, you weren't wrong there. I was fighting it hard, but if he hadn't looked away when he had, I would have."
"I'm sorry about that. I did not mean to upset you," Viago apologized.
"Upset me? No, why would you--it's not you, V, you were the one in danger! If I'm upset, and I'm not, it's at those doongi on the motorcycles!" Anton gripped Viago by the biceps. "I'm worried about you, mate."
"Please don't be. Usually when we're in the group, Deacon and Vladislav and I, it isn't terribly difficult. People shout things, but they generally leave us alone." He flinched his arms out of Anton's grip. "I should think about changing my wardrobe, but this is what I'm comfortable with."
Anton leaned back, taking in Viago's outfit for the evening. A frilly white shirt, jasmine-embroidery jacket, velvet trousers and some kind of black boots. In other words, vintage Viago. "I think you look fantastic," Anton said helpfully. "But I'm thinking that we should get you something to drink and then get you home."
Viago looked skeptically at Anton. "Why were you transforming?"
The alpha blinked. "You serious? Not taking the piss?"
"I'm serious."
"Because you are my friend, you nut!" Anton hopped to his feet and glared at Viago. "I caught a whiff of your blood and I thought you were hurt!" And only then did he realize that he was getting into bonding territory and snapped his mouth shut.
"Do you have work in the morning?" Viago asked. "I wouldn't like to keep you up all night, but if you want, we can go to the museum. I have hypnotized the night guard to let me in whenever I ask."
Sometimes conversations with Viago gave him whiplash. "Yeah, if you're sure you're all good."
"I am fine," and finally, Viago gifted Anton one of his familiar smiles. "There is an exhibition in one of the halls about the migration to the area, and I want to see if Katherine or I are in it," Viago explained.
"I thought you were sent here by mistake?" Anton followed Viago out of the bus shelter.
"I was, in a crated coffin, but if they have my ship's manifest, I will be on it, sent by Philip and there will be a joke about misdelivery."
Anton clapped Viago on the shoulder. "You're the strangest vampire I've met," he said with a smile.
Viago glowed under the street lighting as they walked together, Anton's arm still loose around his shoulder. Normally, a saving of a life meant things like life debts and other things, but Viago was too happy with the way things were going. He would have simply have to keep an eye on Anton and find a way to repay him.
Anton was surprised by the cool lips that brushed his cheek. "What was--"
"To say thank you," Viago answered, almost shyly.