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Viago had known that Anton wouldn't live forever. He wasn't immortal and they knew their time together was finite. But there was something he hadn't considered.
What happens to werewolves when they get old?
The passage of time hadn't meant much to Viago before, things had their rhythms and although he kept track of the year, they ended up just becoming numbers to him that he crossed off, like mortals crossed off days in a calendar.
But he noticed it with Anton.
He had noticed the threads of silver that had appeared in his lover's hair, not a toxic danger like actual silver but still a stark reminder that time was slipping away, like sand in an hourglass. He noticed the lines that appeared and deepened on Anton's face. He especially noticed the looks they would get when they went out together holding hands or would stop for a kiss.
"I think they have a problem with our age gap." Viago had mused. Anton had only laughed. "You were always the prettier one anyway." He replied.
Viago had frowned and cupped Anton's face. "You are still beautiful mein Liebling."
Anton had just smiled his bashful smile and pulled him into a kiss, holding up a metaphorical middle finger at anyone who had a problem with their love.
As Anton got older, his grasp over the wolf slipped. Partial wolfing out episodes became more and more. And turns on the full moon took more of a toll on him. His healing became slower and instead of bouncing back after a day or two, Anton took a week to heal his broken bones. After one moon, several of Anton's bones didn't heal for 2 weeks and then were misshapen.
That was when Viago had called Nick.
Nick may have not aged but he had got wiser over the years.
He had used his foot in the door working at the blood bank to gradually getting the medical knowledge (and more importantly access to drugs) which made him very useful amongst the supernatural community of Wellington.
Viago woke up at sundown, able to make the excuse that he was caring for Anton all night to explain his need to sleep during the day. And if anyone had any questions, then he had gotten a lot better at hypnotising people over the years.
Anton had chafed at needing someone to care for him, having been an alpha for so long, someone caring for him was unfathomable. But eventually he had given in, unable to move far after breaking several bones, although it had broken Viago's heart to see the mental toll that yielding had taken upon him.
Another day, another carer waiting for him when he emerged just after sundown. He thought this one might be new but he couldn't be sure. At first he had tried to remember them but they changed often and he had lived so long that mortals tended to blur into each other. Still he made sure to be polite.
"Good evening."
"Hello! You must be…Viago?"
He nodded
"Viago Von Dorna Schmarten Scheden Heimburg." He extended a hand to shake which she took
"Another Mr Von Dorna? It's not a common name. He is a relation?"
"He married into my family a long time ago." Viago replied "I said I would always make sure he was taken care of."
He didn't mention the marriage was between himself and Anton.
"Did he have any of his fits?"
The girl nodded. The vampire sighed.
Viago waved his hand
"You will not remember anything out of the ordinary about Anton."
She blinked and then smiled, grabbing her coat.
"Goodnight."
Viago peeked his head around the bedroom door. Anton was sleeping. He desperately wanted to go to him but he had business to attend to. He closed the door gently and headed to the kitchen, grabbing some blood while he waited for Nick.
Nick arrived 15 minutes later, letting himself in.
"How is he today?"
Viago grimaced. "More partial turns apparently. His grasp over the wolf seems to be getting weaker."
"We know how this ends Viago. He's not the first."
Viago knew. He wasn't the first of the Te Aro pack they had lost. It wasn't even the first time Nick had said those words to him.
It didn't stop them tearing at his undead heart until he thought he might scream.
"There has to be something you can do." Viago murmurs. He finds he says it nearly daily now.
"I'm doing all I can. It's hard enough to get his pain under control with the wolf metabolism."
"Just… do what you have come here to do." Viago snaps, far from his usual polite self.
Nick nodded and set to work
Twenty minutes later he came out of the room.
"He's settled now, though he took some convincing to let me give him two lots and I don't think it's enough but he wouldn't have it. He's still a bossy bugger!"
"Leave some more, I will convince him. See you next full moon?"
Nick hesitated.
"Viago…he barely made it through the last time. I will visit but the best I can do is make sure his end is comfortable"
There was something in Nick's tone that said he knew more than he was letting on.
"What aren't you telling me Nick?"
Nick sighed. "It's not my place. But you need to talk to Anton."
He patted Viago on the shoulder and then left.
"Vi?" Anton called
Viago walked in the room.
"You didn't take all of the medicine Nick fetched?"
"I don't want any more of that shit." Anton rasped. "I want to spend my last days conscious. With you."
"But the pain…"
"Pain is no stranger to me Vi."
"At least later? Will you have it later? Liebling please!" The vampire pleaded.
"Later."
Viago planted a kiss on the werewolf's head.
"Anyway, what is this last few days nonsense?" He said briskly, smoothing the blankets
Anton gave him a wry smile.
"I can feel it, you know? And also just because I'm old doesn't mean I don't still have sensitive hearing. I heard you talking to Nick."
Viago made a dismissive noise. "He's being cautious. You are strong and will see several more full moons." He wasn't sure who he was trying to convince more.
Anton sighed.
"I'm not even going to see the next one Viago."
"What?
"Nick said you needed to talk to me, remember. Well I have been thinking, and I made a decision. That's what took so long." Anton took a deep breath.
"I want to die as a human. On my own terms."
Viago felt like he had been staked.
"Is ..is that even possible?"
"I talked to Nick. My healing doesn't work like it used to, and at the new moon I will probably be no different to any other human. So we made a plan."
"Without me?" Viago's anger flared. "You just casually planned your death without involving me Anton? What happened to for better or worse ?"
"In sickness or in health?" Anton said wryly gesturing to himself."I didn't think you needed all the details. I'm telling you now, so we both can make the best of the time left."
"But why are you choosing this! There is no guarantee that the next moon is your last!"
"I don't want to take that risk! Not after Decl…." Anton stopped, choking up.
There was a pause
"I don't want to die like that" he continued when he was able to speak again "My mind is made up."
Viago knew he had lost. Anton may not be alpha of a pack anymore but he still had the same grit and stubbornness that had made him so successful in the role.
He knew there was nothing he could say so he stayed silent.
"What are you thinking?" Anton asked, after a while
"About how much I love you? How much I am going to miss you? How immortality has never felt this much like a curse before?" Viago thought. Instead he said
"Do you remember when we first met Liebling?" He stroked Anton's hand. "Clifton called me Count Fagula and I thought you were going to tear his head off."
"I didn't kick his fucking ass nearly enough." Anton grumbled, eyes flashing amber.
"Swearwolf." Viago said fondly
"You never did let me live that one down." Anton said, but he was smiling now, eyes back to their regular hazel.
"Are you scared?" Viago blurted out suddenly
"I don't know if scared is the word. I'm more scared about the next full moon to be honest." came the reply. Then Anton's face fell "I…I don't want to leave you." He whispered.
Viago bit his lip and nodded. He didn't trust he could get words out anymore. He took Anton's hand and squeezed it gently and Anton squeezed back. Words weren't necessary now.
The next days went by in a blur even by Viago's standards. He spent every second he could by Anton's side and although they made plans and reminisced about the past, most of their time was just spent savouring every second they could.
The day came and Viago stayed up past dawn, refusing to let one second be lost. No carer was coming today and they spent the day curled around one another, just being, occasionally dozing off.
Viago's alarm went off at sundown and he gently, unwillingly untangled himself from Anton's arms and sat up.
"Where do you think you're going?" Anton said sleepily.
"Nick will be here soon." Viago said, trying to sound casual, despite what those words meant.
Anton grasped Viago's hand as tightly as he could. "I'm sorry."
" Mein Liebe you have nothing to apologise for."
They both heard the small knock on the front door and then it clicked open.
"In here." Anton called, voice breaking.
Nick entered the room, hovering in the doorway, not wanting to interrupt. Anton gestured with his free hand for him to come over.
"Why don't you go get a drink Vi?" Anton said gently. Viago shook his head. "I want to stay."
"There is some set up involved." Nick said
"Go on." Anton said gently "you've hardly eaten. I will still be here when you get back, I promise."
Viago gave a stiff nod and got up, only letting go of Anton's hand when his arm was stretched as far as it would go.
Viago grabbed a bag of blood, not bothering to heat it from room temperature. It made no difference, the finest procured virgin blood would taste like ashes in his mouth tonight.
His meal finished, he returned to the room, where Nick and Anton were chatting amiably.
"He was always like that. I don't think I saw him angry, even when he stabbed that one guy."
Anton chuckled. "Sounds about right. Easiest pack member I ever had. Would have been a bloody good alpha had he wanted to."
Nick snorted. "He has a job enough with Deacon."
"I hear he got Deacon washing dishes at least." Viago joined.
Nick smiled fondly. Then his face grew sad.
"I'm going to go. Remember what I said Anton?"
Anton nodded
"Go slowly and use it all."
"I will." The werewolf swallowed hard. "Thank you."
Nick left, patting Viago gently on the shoulder as he left.
After wanting it just to be the two of them again, Viago wanted Nick to come back. He hovered around the door, unsure if he could go any nearer to Anton without breaking into pieces.
"Why are you still over there?" Anton said
"I…."
"C'mere"
"I won't hurt you?"
Anton shook his head. "No, you won't hurt me."
Viago walked over and sat on the bed. Anton gestured for him to lay down.
He put his head on Anton's chest, as gently as he could, listening to his heart beat. That noise had been part of his life for a Century and he had never grown tired of it.
"It's time, Vi…" Anton said hoarsely. Viago looked up at him. No matter how time had changed Anton, the picture in his mind would always be of the proud young alpha he had first met. Who Anton still was, deep down.
Hazel eyes stared back into deep brown ones.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Anton reached his free arm up and pulled Viago back against his chest, stroking his hair, then settling over his shoulders. Viago reached up and entwined their fingers.
He closed his eyes and listened, the beat a metronome. The rhythm steady, but slowing. Gradually the space between beats became longer, the beating fainter. And then it stopped.
"Find the biggest tree in Remutaka babe. Go to the top and scatter me up there, so I can wander my forest again."