spamalot } of roommates and baby redheaded puppy

[tradedfireforname]

Marissa: [pulling him into the house] Sorry the place is a mess. When you've got two girls working odd hours, and a seven year old who thinks he's a rock star on a skateboard, you have this place.

Nik: [he laughs softly before shaking his head] It's fine. I'm pretty sure I've seen worse.

Sarah: [trotting down the stairs, grinning] I thought I heard something tall, dark and sexy walk in.

Marissa: I believe you already met my roommate, Sarah.

Sarah: Also the best friend, the auntie to her son, and a red belt in karate who will kick your ass no matter how big you are if you think about hurting her. Just saying. [all said with a bright, cheerful grin]

Nik: [an easy grin right back] I don't doubt that for a second. Nice to officially meet you.

Sarah: Same here. [eyes him, then nudges Marissa as she walks by] So I'm covering your shift tonight so you have fun with the red head monster [said so affectionately] Who is currently hiding in his bedroom streaming who knows what from my Netflix. You need me to come back, just text me and I'll fake cramps again.

Marissa: [laughs] I think we'll be just fine.

Sarah: You two have fun. But not too much fun. [she grabs her keys and heads to the kitchen to grab something to eat on her way out] And it's always nice seeing you, Handsome. [winks and she's in the kitchen and gone]

Nik: [he takes a deep breath as he watches her go, getting a feel for the place, and there's bits of Marissa and Sarah, followed by wolf, which he was not expecting. He manages to keep it off his face for a moment, but is picking it apart in his head. Young. Not quite ready. Maybe her son?] So rock star on a skateboard, huh?

Marissa: It's a thing the kids do here. These clone housing complexes have a lot of streets that they can ride around on, and a few abandoned and empty pools. He's got great balance and loved to watch these crazy stunt videos on YouTube. He thinks he's indestructible. [she leaned on the stairs] Gabriel! Get off the computer and come down here. Dinner's almost ready. [she then smiles at him] So let me show you the kitchen. [and she's taking his hand, dragging him into the house]

Nik: [... yeah, this kid definitely might be a wolf, but his mom is not, which makes him wonder where dad is, but he won't ask now. He just lets himself be dragged into the kitchen, continuing to look around] Yes ma'am.

Marissa: [and when they are in the kitchen and Sarah is gone, Marissa may just pull Nik into a quick kiss because hello Nik she missed you in the few hours you've been apart]

Nik: [oh, nope, he won't complain about that. He kisses her back, hands moving to her hips as he listens for feet on the stairs]

Gabe: [which will happen about two minutes later, and he flops himself onto the couch, still staring at the tablet with a video going] I'm here, Mom.

Marissa: [yup, pulling back and grinning] Come in here and help me set the table.

Gabe: We're using the actual table? [he pauses the video and comes in, and then looks up at the huge man] Wow, you weren't joking when you said he was big.

Nik: I'm way less intimidating than I look, I promise. [he holds up a hand in a bit of a wave] Nik.

Gabe: Gabriel, but everyone calls me Gabe. [he smirks, then nods] You look like a tank.

Marissa: Table, now.

Gabe: [eye roll, but he goes to set the table with paper plates and cheap silverware] Aunt Sarah?

Marissa: Work.

Nik: [he chuckles softly, because ... well, that's what he is. He pauses before turning back to Marissa] Anything I can do?

Marissa: [nope, not saying the first answer. Kid in the room.] You're the dinner guest. All you get to do is sit down, look pretty and entertain us with stories about your life while Gabe tries to question your intentions with his mother.

Gabe: [smirks] She doesn't bring guys home often.

Marissa: And for good reason. [gives him a look]

Gabe: Someone's gotta watch out for you, mom.

Nik: [he laughs a bit before nodding] Alright, fair enough. [he moves to sit at one of the chairs before giving Gabe a bit of a shrug. The closer he gets to the kid, the more he smells wolf, but it's new. Like a kid who hasn't quite had his first turn yet] Fire away.

Gabe: [sits across from him, grinning. This seven year old acts a bit older than he should, but he's the man of the house and all] So what do you do for a job? Mom says you travel through here a lot, but not what you did.

Nik: I work for my brother. He's in finance. Wall Street stuff.

Gabe: You really don't look like the business suit type. Unless you're really secretly meaning mafia when you say Wall Street.

Nik: [he laughs, before shaking his head] No mafia. I mostly work on the road, which means I don't have to dress the part much. Only when he wants me there for board meetings.

Gabe: Uh huh. Working on the road for a Wall Street company. And you look like a tank. [dubious child is dubious]

Nik: Can't a guy like to work out?

Marissa: [putting a pot filled with mac and cheese on the table between them] Gabe... [warning mom tone]

Gabe: There's nothing wrong if he's in the mob, Mom. It means we're connected. I'd totally be popular at school if you got married into the mob.

Marissa: I'm not getting married into the mob. I'm not even getting married. We're just spending time together when he's in town, okay?

Gabe: Whatever. [he goes to stick his fork in the pot and Marissa slaps his hand]

Marissa: Wait. And the guest gets served first. Stop acting like you were raised by wolves. [which was a joke between just the two of them]

Nik: I'm not in the mob. A lot of day traders work from home these days, but if you want to test my economic expertise, feel free to ask me whatever you want.

Gabe: [yeah, that stops him just a bit because the kid has no idea how finance actually works. it just means money and numbers and people get rich really fast or broke really fast] You win this one. [he will trip you up, Nik. Totally still believes you're in the mob.]

Marissa: [returns with a pile of chicken cutlets on a plate, and a bowl of peas and carrots.] Nik, please take what you want first, then Gabe you can serve yourself. What do you want to drink?

Gabe: Can I have my soda ration?

Marissa: Yes, you can.

Nik: [eyes the food eagerly before loading himself up, not taking more than his fair share but still ... more than he probably should.] I'll get a beer if you have it? Otherwise just water's fine.

Marissa: Alright. [and soon a cold Mexican coke is put down in front of Gabe, and a Sierra Nevada brand beer in front of Nik. Marissa has a strawberry lemonade because she made it herself, thank you, and it tastes amazing.]

Gabe: [making his plate, leaving enough for his mom but he's obviously a very well fed boy]

Nik: [yeah, Nik's just going to dig into his food a bit, tossing Marissa a thank you smile for the beer before turning back to Gabe] So did I pass, or is this still an interrogation?

Gabe: I'm forming my next line of questioning. [contemplations over mac and cheese. the mac and cheese comes first though]

Marissa: Well, I have a question, if you don't mind. [she smiles] Mainly when are you going to be coming back through again?

Nik: [exhales slowly] A couple weeks, maybe? I'll have to see how long this thing in New York takes.

Gabe: Can we go to New York, Mom?

Marissa: We will one day, kid. Just not yet. [not while this was still too new to know where it was going]

Nik: It's a great city. Maybe if I keep passing through you could head back with me, sometime? I'll give you the grand tour.

Marissa: It'll depends on how well he's doing in school and what time of year it is. [or time of the month.] We'd have to drive anyway.

Nik: [he gives a bit of a shrug] That's fine. I prefer to drive anyway.

Marissa: I don't think we'd all fit on that motorcycle of yours, especially with luggage.

Nik: I do have other means of transportation. I just have to know in advance.

Gabe: Mom doesn't fly. [mouthful of food. What are manners?]

Nik: I was thinking an SUV. But good to know.

Marissa: [wrinkles her nose] Don't ask me to drive it. It would ruin my reputation.

Gabe: [smiles] You hear yet about my mom, the firecracker on wheels?

Nik: [he laughs] I saw her in action, actually. Pretty impressive.

Gabe: It's a lot better than when she was stripping.

Marissa: [turns bright red] Gabriel Martin.

Gabe: What? You told me it wasn't something to be ashamed about!

Marissa: But it's not something you bring up at the dinner table either!

Nik: [his eyebrows just go up at that in surprise, glancing between the two of them for a moment, and electing to just stay out of it, very interested in his food]

Marissa: [deep breaths] Aright, so now that the cat is out of the bag, yes, I'm a stripper too. I don't do it nearly as often as I used to, but it was a good way to get start-up money for the racing, and to make ends meet on bad months.

Gabe: Mom was a dancer when she was in school. You should see all the videos she has.

Marissa: It's also how Sarah and I became friends. [blink] The dancing - not the stripping.

Nik: [nods for a moment, before holding up his hands] I wasn't judging. I sell commodities for a living, I really don't have any room to.

Marissa: [a bit relieved] Some guys get ideas about me when they learn, that's all. [looks at Gabe] Which is why I wait to tell them privately.

Gabe: Sorry Mom. [back to his food]

Nik: [he shrugs] It's tough out there. You do what you need to do. [or at least ... that's what he hears. >.>]

Marissa: It can be when you're suddenly a single mom with a mortgage and a toddler to feed and bills to pay. But we did good, all things considered.

Nik: [suddenly can mean a lot of different things. Nik plays with his food for a moment, before taking another bite] I take it dad isn't around?

Gabe: [ is suddenly very quiet] He died.

Marissa: [nods in confirmation] When Gabe was two. He had been called away for business and from what I was told, he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and got in the middle of some kind of gang war and didn't make it.

Nik: [if dad was the wolf - and he had to be - Nik's brain translates it to fill in the pieces. "gang war" becomes "hunters" or "pack war" and that's one of the worst ways to lose someone. It's the kind that you don't really see coming] I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ...

Marissa: [she gets up, a small smile as she finishes her lemonade] No, it's fine. Always comes up. Just... never gets easier to talk about.

Gabe: [picking at his food, trying to smirk a bit] I do have to come from somewhere, after all.

Marissa: [returns, trading in her lemonade for her own beer now] He was a good man though. You remind me of him in a way.

Nik: [smirks as he takes another sip of his beer] I'll take that as a compliment.

Marissa: You should. Only reason I let you talk me into going on the roof with you. I'm actually not that easy. [smirks]

Nik: And here I thought it was my inherent charm. [and other various assets that he won't talk about in front of her kid]

Marissa: Well, that and your brother-in-law was just too adorable. I mean, who wouldn't want to be a part of that party.

Gabe: [his plate is finished and they are getting way too mushy] Can I be excused?

Marissa: [nods] silverware in the dishwasher, and that bedroom better be clean by the time I come up there to say goodnight.

Gabe: Got it. [kisses her cheek] Nice to meet you, Nik.

Nik: [nods with a small smile] Nice to meet you too, Gabe.

Gabe: [and he's putting the plate in the trash, the silverware in the dishwasher, and then running back upstairs with the tablet and slamming the door shut.]

Marissa: [rubs her eyes] And here I thought he was doing good on his etiquette classes. He's obviously cheating on his tests.

Nik: [shakes his head a bit] It's fine. You aren't the only person in the world with secrets. [speaking of which, he pushes at his food again for a moment, before] At the risk of seeming pushy, I've got one more question about your ex. [which is really more of an indirect way of revealing that he knows stuff too.]

Marissa: [takes a sip of her beer, then nods] Go ahead.

Nik: [he pauses for a moment, trying to figure out the best way to word the question, before] Was it hunters, or was it another pack?

Marissa: [gives him a look, suddenly suspicious] Was who what?

Nik: [he closes his eyes for a moment, and when he opens them, they're that bright beta gold] The gang war.

Marissa: [and that there catches her breath and she's up, backing into the kitchen more] Damnit, Nik. Not you too.

Nik: [yeah, that could have gone better. He closes his eyes and when he opens them again, the gold is gone, and he's holding up his hands in supplication] Normally, I'd wait until I've known a girl longer than a week, but ... your kid's about to turn, and I'm not sensing any other wolves around. And that worries me, for both of you. Going through something like this isn't easy.

Marissa: Yeah, tell me something I don't know already. But how did you find out? Because you're not taking him from me. [her hand may be searching for a butchers knife]

Nik: [and then his hands come up even higher, because whoa nelly] I wouldn't. That's not ... I would never. I swear. [he exhales slowly] His scent. I can tell by his scent. [he stays seated the entire time, trying to make himself as harmless as possible] Marissa, I just want to help.

Marissa: They told me I had to keep him and what he could be secret, Nik. [she's obviously scared] They told me if the person who killed Jake knew that he had a son, and if he became like him... they would come back and kill him too. I'm not going to let any stupid hunter come back here and kill my son.

Nik: I'm not going to let that happen either. [his voice is calm as he slowly gets to his feet, hands still up as he makes his way closer] Did Jake have a pack?

Marissa: He did, but he kept us separate from them. He was always worried about hunters. He said his alpha could be a bitch sometimes and I was barely twenty and had a temper.

Nik: Who was his alpha? Did he give you her name?

Marissa: He mentioned it once or twice. [she tries to remember, her arms crossing to show she's decided not to grab a knife at this point] Callie or something.

Nik: [there's a long pause, then his face sobers] Kali?

Marissa: Yeah, that's it. [she shrugged] No one from the pack knew about us from what Jake told me, so it's not like I could call any of them for help. [she looks at the calendar.] He's been transitioning for a few months now. It gets worse every month. He knows what he is and tries really hard, but I can't help him. Sarah's taught him a lot about control and breathing and it sometimes helps, but we know it's not going to last.

Nik: [nods slowly] Well, first things first, the person who did that is dead. Very dead. They're not going to come back for your son. [so not telling her that Kali killed her own pack] Secondly, trying to help him on your own is going to risk bringing hunters back either way. It may not seem like it now, but he's going to be stronger and violent than you, and it wouldn't be hard for him to overtake you and cause some serious damage. But I can help, if you want me to. I can teach him.

Marissa: [there's a sad little laugh] Well, it's not like there's a listing for werewolf trainers in the yellow pages. [she swallows] You do realize what you're offering, right?

Nik: [he nods] There's a reason why wolves run in packs. So they don't have to do this alone. [but he's aware that this is way too soon for the complications that could come if they don't work, for whatever reason, and he knows she needs to put her son first] I'll do this either way, but if you'd rather we stop, I'll understand.

Marissa: [shakes her head] If you're in my son's life, helping him with this, you're in mine. Doesn't matter how, you'll be stuck with both of us. [she hesitated.] Gabe should be the one to make the call. It's his life too.

Nik: [he nods] Want me to talk to him?

Marissa: I should be there. Just in case he needs me. [she needed to hear what was going to happen if nothing else]

Nik: [he nods] I'll stay here. You can ... ease him into it, I guess.

Marissa: No, we're in this together. [she grabbed his hand, squeezing it tightly for strength as she pulls him to his feet] Still certain choosing me was the right idea?

Nik: [he gives a bit of a grin as he goes with her] Not regretting it yet.

Marissa: Yeah, well that yet probably has a lot more to contend with. [she's not even bringing up her heart issues. Instead she's taking him upstairs to knock on Gabe's door] Honey, we need to talk. Can we come in?

Gabe: We? [and he's up and opening the door. The room is in a state of chaos] No judgements. I still have two hours Mom, you promised.

Marissa: It's fine, honey. We need to talk about something.

Gabe: [blinks, looking at her, her hand, then Nik] I'm not going to be a big brother, am I?

Nik: [there's a soft laugh, before shaking his head.] No. No, that's not it. [he turns and points to the bed, which is hopefully has room for him to sit] Can I ... ?

Gabe: Will you break it? [you are a tank]

Marissa: [lets Nik's hand go, pulling Gabe into her arms] Nik told me something and he wants to talk to you about it. Just listen to him, okay?

Gabe: [is confused, kinda scared, but nods. He turns back to look at Nik, leaning against his mother since she isn't really letting him go] What's up?

Nik: [sits on the edge of the bed - and no, he doesn't break it - resting his forearms on his legs and not looking up right away] You and me? We're kind of in the same club. [when he does look up, his eyes are that beta gold again, though he isn't sure if Gabe is as aware of what it means]

Gabe: [blinks, and his eyes glow in response. He's that close to his first shift] My dad used to be able to do that.

Nik: [he nods in agreement, before he blinks and his eyes are back to normal again] He was a werewolf like me. And like you.

Gabe: Mom told me that. She said that's why the bad people killed him. Why I had to learn how to be calm and in control when I have my bad days.

Nik: [he nods again] Finding your anchor isn't easy, especially when you're doing it alone. And there's a lot of stuff that you'll need to learn - dealing with your senses, controlling your strength - I offered to help teach you to your mom, but she says it's your call.

Gabe: [bites his lip] Is there a way I could just... not turn into one?

Nik: [he sighs softly, before shaking his head] Sorry, kid. It's not something you can turn off. But it is something you can control. I've been doing it since I was a kid too, and it took some time, but now I don't even turn on a full moon anymore. You're lucky, you were born a wolf. We get it a little bit easier than ones who were bitten.

Gabe: How much time is time? Cause I actually like going to school and stuff.

Nik: You can still do all of that. You just have to be a little more careful. But it'll probably take a few years until you're really good at it, but who knows? You might be natural.

Gabe: [looks up at his mom a moment, then him] So you're going to stick around for a few years to help?

Nik: [he nods] I'll stick around as long as you want me to. I still have to go back east to see my brother, but I can be back for the full moon.

Gabe: What would happen to me if mom and Sarah try to help me instead?

Nik: You'll be violent. Angry. You'll want to attack anything that moves and you'll have the strength and claws to do it. Even if you've been practicing with the breathing exercises Sarah's been teaching you, there's nothing that will prepare you for that first push of your wolf. Unless they chain you down or find someone to lock you up, there's a pretty solid chance you could hurt them. And even if they do chain you down, if those chains break, you definitely will.

Gabe: I don't want to hurt my mom or Aunt Sarah. [he bit his lip, suddenly really looking like a seven year old child]

Nik: Good. That's good. I don't want you to hurt them either. Me? [one finger shifts easily into a claw, and he uses it to slice a red line into his arm, letting them watch as it heals] I can take a few hits.

Marissa: [winces and looks away. Not a big fan of blood] Warn a girl next time you do that, okay?

Gabe: [eyes widen and he steps away, getting closer] Cool. I'm gonna be able to do that too?

Nik: [there's a wolf grin back at Marissa and he nods] Yep. Some parts of being a werewolf are pretty cool. You'll be able to hear and see and smell better, you'll be stronger, faster reflexes. You'll kick ass on a skateboard.

Gabe: And mom won't have to worry about hospital bills anymore from me when I fall. [he was getting into this now, excited]

Marissa: You're still wearing a helmet though. Can't heal from a brain injury if you don't have a head to heal.

Nik: She has a point, and this isn't something you can show off to the other kids. You still have to be careful. You don't want them talking about you're magically healing broken arm.

Gabe: Won't people notice that I'm different though?

Nik: [he gives a bit of a shrug] Did you notice anything different about me?

Gabe: Beyond the fact you're a tank?

Nik: [he laughs] Yes, beyond that.

Gabe: [shakes his head] Not really.

Nik: We're all just people. We just have a little more to worry about than everyone else. There's a whole world of people out there just like us and they have normal jobs, normal lives, normal families.

Gabe: How many more?

Nik: Hundreds. Thousands, even. I could take you to meet a whole family of them right now. Not all of them are wolves, either, there's Nagual and tanuki and werecoyotes and they all just live day to day like they're normal, everyday people.

Marissa: [is just watching, but knowing that makes her feel a lot better. Her son was going to have people like him to live among one day]

Gabe: [grins] That sounds cool. Do you know any around here? Maybe my age?

Nik: Unfortunately, no. I'm not as familiar with the Vegas packs as I'd like to be. But the Hales are about three hours from here in Beacon Hills, and while they're not necessarily you're age, they're still good people to learn from. And I could always poke around and feel things out. See what I can find.

Gabe: [nods, but he gets it. He just wanted to know more people his age like him] You sure you want to do this for me? I mean, you just met us.

Nik: You shouldn't have to do this on your own. We tend to take care of each other when we can. And as I said, I don't like the idea of other people getting hurt when I could have done something about it.

Gabe: And you won't just leave me if you and mom end up not liking each other anymore, right?

Nik: Nope. You're stuck with me, whether you like it or not.

Gabe: [looks up at his mom again] Can I keep him?

Marissa: It's your choice, kid. This is your future, and I can't help you anymore on this piece of it.

Gabe: [grins and goes to hug Nik, wrapping his arms around Nik's neck]

Nik: [is startled by the hug a bit, but he returns it all the same, one hand rubbing his back gently] You'll be okay.

Gabe: Thank you.

Marissa: [smiling just a bit, leaning against the wall] Yeah, you're stuck with us now.

Nik: [he glances up at her with a smile back] I think I can live with that. I just hope you realize that I come with a pack and my pack [and his bank account] may be more than you bargained for.

Marissa: If it includes your brother-in-law as an example, I'm sure I can handle them. [walks over, putting a hand on the back of her son's head] But like he said, thank you.

Nik: Let's just say most of us are very Russian. [but he nods in agreement all the same.] I do think I should be heading out, though. I'm hitting the road early tomorrow, and you have a room to clean.

Marissa: Russian?

Gabe: I knew you were in a mafia. [grins]

Nik: [he laughs] I'm not in the mafia. But yes, my first name is Nikolai. We are very Russian.

Marissa: [Nikolai. That is fun to play with in her mouth. Draw your own conclusions.] Sounds like it.

Gabe: You'll be back before my next bad day, right?

Nik: [he nods] I'll be here for the full moon. I promise.

Gabe: [grins] Okay. I'll see you then.

Marissa: Come on, I'll walk you out. Like you said, he's got a room to clean.

Gabe: Mom....

Marissa: Just because you've got someone to teach you to be a werewolf now doesn't mean you stop listening to me first. Room. Clean. Now.

Nik: She's right. No matter what I teach you, your mom's still the alpha. [but with that, he's going to follow her out and back down to his bike]

Marissa: [is quiet until they get down there] I don't know how to repay you for this.

Nik: [he shakes his head] I'm happy to help. Really.

Marissa: So you said, but taking care of a kid is a big thing, you know. Especially when it's my kid. That wasn't what I was expecting when I met you.

Nik: Not really what I was expecting either. But things change - I've gotten good at rolling with the punches.

Marissa: Yeah, me too. But I know how sometimes what you think is a good thing can turn around and bite you hard. Do don't this just because you're being nice or for me.

Nik: I'm not. I'm doing it for him. [he nods his head up to the window of the bedroom] He goes into a full moon unprepared, he could kill someone, and that's not the kind of thing you put on a kid. If I can help him, I want to help him.

Marissa: I don't want that for him either. [she feels a bit awkward now, because this fun easy relationship turned into something a lot more serious than she was looking for, and she's not sure what to do now]

Nik: [he watches her for a moment, before taking a step forward and pressing a kiss to her forehead] I'll be back a couple days before the moon. We'll give this a little space and see what happens. [there's a pause, before he takes a step back] Do you have a piece of paper?

Marissa: [she closes her eyes into the kiss. It feels like 10 steps back physical wise, and yet a leap forward relationship wise and she's very, very confused at the moment. But she nods all the same, and then reaches into her back pocket] Who needs paper. I have a phone.

Nik: Alright. If you run into trouble before I get back, just get Gabe, get in a car and drive to Beacon Hills. The first person you're going to want to call is Derek - that brother-in-law you like so much. [insert Derek's phone number here] His wife is very capable, between the two of them they'll be able to keep you safe. [he pauses, giving her time to get it down before] If Derek doesn't answer, call his mom, Talia. She's his alpha, and she has an alliance with my pack. If you say I sent you, she'll protect you.

Marissa: [she's putting Derek's number into the phone making a note of his mother's name too] Okay, I have it.

Nik: [Talia's number comes next and he gives her a small smile] And if you need me, [insert his phone number here]

Marissa: [puts them both in, and then sends him a text quickly] And that's mine.

Nik: [pulls out his phone, and checks the text before saving the number] Got it.

Marissa: So I guess I'll be seeing you soon. [small smirk]

Nik: [he nods with a small smile] Guess you will. [and with that, he'll take another step in and actually kisses her this time, this one a little more soundly than before]

Marissa: [that... that's a bit better. She melts into that kiss, relaxing and threading her fingers into her hair as she returns it]

Nik: [he holds it for a moment, one hand at the back of her head to keep her close, before pulling back slowly] Night, Marissa.

Marissa: [she wants to ask him to stay longer, but Gabe is home and she can get loud. So she takes a few steps back] Get home safely, handsome.

Nik: [he nods, before taking a step back and heading towards his bike. A few minutes later, the engine revs and he's peeling away and heading back towards his hotel]