Weep for yourself, my man, you'll never be what is in your heart Who: Mason and Daniel (NPC) Where: His penthouse in Cherryblossom, over the phonelines When: Evening
A day off. Finally. Mason was going to cherish the hell out of this one. Except the first thing that happened when he rolled out of bed was his knee tweaking out on him. After using every swear in the book, Mason finally hobbled over to the fridge to fetch himself some coffee and an ice pack and landed himself in front of the television for the rest of the day. Not really how he wanted to be spending it, but he had no other choice. He was going to have to break out the knee brace from the closet and keep that on for a couple of days or so. Last thing Mason wanted was to go to the doctors and be told he needed another operation. Fuck that.
Originally, he had plans to go out shopping with Nikki, but those got shot down early via text. His kid sister sent him a series of sad faces and wished him well. At least his family was mildly supportive. Just as long as they didn't come knocking down the front door to check up on him. Though getting a phone call from his brother, Daniel, was the last thing he had in mind. Raising an eyebrow, he switched his phone on to receive the call and placed it to his ear. "Hey, what's up, man?"
""You owe me, prick."
It didn't sink in instantly, but after Mason lowered the volume to the television, he just smirked. "What, you don't like going out shopping with Nikki?"
"Six hours, dude. Six fucking hours."
Mason couldn't help but laugh out loud to that one. "So what do I apparently owe you?"
"Shit, I don't know, vicodin? You got enough pain killers on you."
He had emergency prescriptions in case his knee flared up badly, but like hell he was going to be dishing them out to his family. Especially with Nikki around. Stupid bitch would crush them up and snort them just to get her fix. "Yeah... no. Try again."
"Come on, Mason, I'm only teasing!" Even after all these years, he still had trouble figuring out if his kid bro was joking around or being serious. The guy had a manipulative mind and sometimes he wished he'd grow up. "So how are you doing? Nikki was almost in tears when she found out you couldn't hang out."
"Um... I'm sitting on the couch with ice on my knee and watching whatever marathon Spike has to offer."
"You're just loads of fun."
"I try."
"Say, I had a question for you."
Fuck me sideways running. Daniel wouldn't have called unless he had an ulterior motive attached to it. Mason just facepalmed gently, rubbed his rolling eyes, then sighed. "What."
"You remember the gala from the other week, right?"
"Yeah, why? Were you too drunk to remember those girls' names?"
The pause on the other end meant that Daniel was either rolling his eyes or facepalming. Maybe both. It ran in the family. "No, prick. I'm fine in that department." Bullshit, you're never fine in that department. "Nikki kept talking and talking about it."
"So?"
"So..."
Mason didn't like the way Daniel was dragging this out. "Get to the fucking point, Dan."
"Take it easy! Geez... was just going to ask you what was up with that redhead you brought."
Kiley. He was talking about Kiley. This was not going to turn out well. Mason's mind was already racing, thinking of the various things Daniel wanted to talk about that involved Kiley. Trying to calm down, he took in a deep breath and remained quiet, waiting for Daniel's next move.
"...like... are you two just friends or like... 'friends' friends?"
"Why the fuck do you need to know?"
"Just wondering." With that matter-of-fact tone to his voice, Mason doubted it. "From Nikki's description, you were quite smitten with her. She can't seem to understand why."
"Because Kiley isn't exactly the Prada edition of Barbie in her eyes." Mason rolled his head back, wishing this conversation would just end. "She's just a friend, Dan." Lies. He knew better than that. Well, were they currently friends? Yeah. Did Mason want to stay as friends? ...no. He didn't. All he wanted to do that night was hold Kiley in his arms, whisper sweet nothings in her ear, and finally get a chance to kiss her. Maybe he would have if his family wasn't around and intruding. For all you know, she doesn't even go for the jock type. You're not geeky enough for her...
"Oh really?"
"Yeah really."
"If she's just a friend, then why did you spend more time with her at the gala than with your family, hm? Or what about the full moon? You could have been spending the prep time with us instead of her."
"She needed someone there for her, Dan, just back off."
The silence that followed was a relief for Mason, but it didn't take long for Daniel to piece the puzzle together. "Oh, I get it now."
"What?"
"She's not a full-bred is she?"
In the Normandin family, that was code for a born were. It was expected of them to marry into other born weres and keep the process going. Mason didn't discriminate, though. A were was a were, regardless. And Kiley was a friend and needed support. Of course he was going to be there for her. But the thought of his family not approving of her just because she wasn't good enough for them? Bullshit.
"Why does it matter?"
"You really think mom and dad would like you bringing home some halfassed wolf home?"
"Don't talk about her like that."
"Why so defensive, Mason, hm? Isn't she just a friend?"
"She's a close friend of mine and a perfectly good person. And last time I checked, neither mom or dad have the power to have things their way, because I'm the alpha of this pack, Dan, or did you forget that? I don't give a shit who I date or who you date or Nikki or any of us. Just as long as it doesn't fuck with the family image. I highly doubt that me dating any bitten were makes a damn difference."
"This coming from the guy who stooped low enough to pick up the starving art student in Provdience."
Mason lost it. No one brought up Donna. Ever. The poor girl was dead because he wasn't there for her and he had to be reminded every day that his past mate was gone. His family didn't entirely approve of her, but Mason was happy. Hell, he was willing to break away from the pack to be with her. Though now if anyone dared to mention the fox, that was grounds for getting a bloodied nose and black eye. Instead, Mason chucked his phone across the room and watched it smash into the wall and fall to pieces. Great. Now he needed to buy a new one.
Seeping back into the couch, he closed his eyes and tried not to worry about any of this. Kiley was just a friend. Daniel had nothing to get his panties in a bunch over... yet he couldn't stop thinking about Kiley. He wanted her more than just a friend, but he was scared of putting her in danger. The Normandins were infamous in the media and she didn't deserve to be dragged through this. She probably doesn't even think of you that way. It was wishful thinking. He'd never know.