Who: Nam-Ra & Nick What: Adjusting to the whole ward and guardian situation. Where: Their place. When: A few days after Nam-Ra showed up. Warnings: Some zombie talk and being dead. Status: Completed Gdoc
This whole town in America that had people trapped was so surreal to Nam-Ra. If this had been a real thing, she was sure word would’ve found a way back to her country. Then again zombies and her home being destroyed did make it hard for news about other countries to end up being worried about by her or the government. Her very little English wasn’t even helping her, leaving her to carry a tablet around with her at all times so she could talk to people. Not that she was doing much of that other than to people who Nick knew.
They were so kind to her, and Nam-Ra was worried they may turn on her when they knew the truth like the government had done to her and her friends. Leaving them for dead on the roof and to where they had to save themselves. Only two adults had really given a damn about them, and the rest were willing to leave them to fend for themselves. Her new group of people like her were probably waiting for her to return. Nam-Ra was pretty sure someone told her time was frozen, but the concern was still there. Then the snickering she heard from people around the town because of certain things she did like a bow to people. It made her miss home, and she wasn’t even sure how she’d deal when school came around again. A sound from the other room that wouldn’t have been as loud if it wasn’t for her hearing caused her to move out of her room. Tablet held in her arms as she went to investigate the sound. “Nick?” She had picked up that word in English, but anything she may have wanted to ask or say wasn’t about to happen since she didn’t know the right wording without using her language or the tablet.
Nick usually stayed in the tiny house on Pack property. However, it didn’t mean he couldn’t be found in the main house. He ended up spending a good amount of time there recently with the arrival of his ward.
At the moment, though, he had stepped out of one of the spare rooms, where he kept some of his clothes he couldn’t fit into the Tiny House. Nobody currently used it, so he figured it was okay.
When he heard his name, he popped out into the hallway. “Nam-Ra?” Nobody else sounded like his newly arrived ward. Nick wanted to check in with her anyway, since this had to be a huge culture shock to her.
“Are you hungry?” he asked in Korean.
She was happy to be taken in by a man who seemed to know her language so she wasn’t always feeling like a social outcast. No more than she did back home and around here as of right now. Nick also seemed like a nice person, making her trust him a bit more than she did with most adults these days. “Yes,” she spoke in Korean with her name being said, moving further out to where he was.
Nam-Ra had so many new smells around her that she hadn’t quite learned his or his sound to where she knew it was him before seeing him. Shaking her head no, she realized that she was going to have to find a way to eat. Thankfully, she had some food before showing up here, but she knew eventually she’d need to eat again.
“I’m not hungry, thank you,” she said softly within her native language. “Also thank you to you and everyone else for letting me stay here.” Nam-Ra wasn’t exactly the best at being social. She had lost track of how many times people forgot that she could speak with how little she spoke.
Nick could speak five languages and thankfully Korean was one of them. Karl could speak more languages, so it probably meant he could also converse with Nam-Ra. The werewolf couldn’t quite remember all of the languages her Pack mate could speak.
“Alright,” Nick replied in Korean. “If you have a special diet, please let me know, because I don’t want you to go hungry.” Of course, as a werewolf, Nick usually dealt with some level of hunger.
At her thanking him, Nick nodded. “You seem like you could use someone in your corner.” Again, Nick used Korean.
Nam-Ra only knew her native language and bits of a few other languages. None of the languages she knew well enough to communicate with people who might be from those places. At least, she was forced to learn English or more she was forcing herself so she didn’t need to depend on the tablet as her only lifeline. Nam-Ra still planned on carrying it around even once she knew English because of any words that may come up that she didn’t know or didn’t know how to say in English.
“I’ll be sure to do that,” she lied, not feeling quite comfortable enough to have that conversation with him just yet. She did know it wasn’t fair to hold back information, and she had the excuse of settling in. Only now that excuse was slipping away, forcing her to be honest with him, especially after everything he had done for her. “Thank you, I’m fine as of right now about food.” She told him in Korean, smiling at him. It was nice to have someone worry about her rather than telling her everything she was doing wrong or being on Nam-Ra’s case about school and being the best which was most days with her mom.
Glancing down, the guilty feeling hitting her at hearing Nick say that. “Does that mean I can tell you something and you won’t turn on me? Or get scared of me?” She asked in Korean, the sound of worry probably showing in her words. What if he didn’t want her around? Where would she go? Nam-Ra sighed, knowing she’d deal with that if the situation arised, but there was no point in letting her thoughts get ahead of things.
He nodded about the food, not entirely convinced, but not pushing her. Nick knew some teenage girls developed issues with food and he wanted her to feel safe with him. So, he wouldn’t push, but Nick would keep an eye on her.
In Korean he responded, “I won’t turn on you. Or get scared of you.” Nick had experienced so many creatures and life stories. Plus, very few people could scare him the way Eve, Savannah, and Kate did at times. And Cassandra. Shockingly, Elena, his actual Alpha, did not scare him.
Nick asked, again in Korean, if they should sit somewhere while they talked.
Nam-Ra was still not completely sure if she believed Nick on how he wouldn’t turn on her or get scared of her considering the people who she went to school with for years had been scared of her at first. Only one of the kids had wanted to keep her in the room, and even herself had been ready to throw herself out a window to protect the others who were fearing her. She wasn’t even going to start on the adults who pretty much had been nowhere to be seen other than one teacher and a few parents who tried to help them.
It took her gaining control, finding others like her, and helping them for her to feel fully comfortable on what she was now. What would she have to do to make him feel comfortable around her? That was a question bouncing around in her head, but no matter she had to get this over with since it wasn’t fair to hide this information. Nodding at his question on having a seat, she moved to the table after picking up a knife just in case he didn’t believe her. Though she only set it down on the table as she slid into the seat across from him.
Pushing a piece of her dark hair behind her ear, she then folded her hands on the table looking at him. “I’m not human anymore. I’m now what a friend,” Nam-Ra couldn’t help the small smile that did show up on saying the word friend since she never had many friends until the world went crashing down around them, “has called a Halfbie. Part zombie and part human,” she watched him, waiting and holding her breath a bit, not that it really mattered as if waiting for him to react in a fearful type of way.
Nick spent his time as a werewolf, so he didn’t really feel like he should judge others for things over which they had no control. He watched as a few emotions and thoughts passed over his ward’s face. Whatever happened probably wasn’t good. When she mentioned zombie, Nick let out a sigh of relief. “Okay, so you don’t have an eating disorder, you just can’t eat normal people food?” Of course, it meant he’d have to figure out how to get his ward food. Shit.
“Okay. Why don’t you tell me what that entails, so I have a better understanding?” Nick spoke with the same amount of friendliness, not afraid of her. “You’re safe here.”
Nam-Ra shook her head quickly on the question about having an eating disorder. “No, I’m not even sure if I could eat normal people food. It’s not something I’ve tried,” she admitted, but also because she wasn’t interested in it. Her stomach didn’t have the same calling for it like it had before being bit by the jerk. The thought caused her without even thinking to touch her arm in the middle where the bite was before dropping her hand back down once realizing she was doing that.
“I’m still pretty much learning,” she told him in Korean, and it was true. Nam-Ra had learned a lot both on her own and with others like her; however, she was still learning new things all the time. “There is no manual on what I am that I can read,” wishing there was since it’d make everything much easier. “From what has been seen, the zombie virus is all about rage and anger. It amps up the anger and rage you feel inside, and makes it a level ten when it may have been a four. Some of the ones like me that I met have a single focus. The one who turned me his focus was making a kid in my group pay for standing up to him. He kept coming as if his mind could only think about hurting us, especially the one who didn’t back down from him. I don’t seem to have the rage like him unless my friends were getting hurt, then it started to appear. It’s quite noticeable when it’s appearing,” she pointed out without going into details though he was welcomed to ask. “I have sensitive hearing where a storm had me on my knees crying out in pain but my earbuds blocked it out. I can smell far off and know whether they are dead or not, harder to kill, and a lot stronger. Also heal and return body parts back to normal quicker than most. The virus had done something to one of my eyes only now you see it looks normal. I have no idea if this is everything since I’m still learning.” Which scared her because what if she came across something scary and bad about herself.
Nick nodded. Well this certainly might prove a slight problem for the werewolf and his ward. But, vampires survived in this town and like fuck Nick wouldn’t figure out something for his ward. Of course, he’d probably talk it over with Elena, as both his closest friend and his Alpha. The werewolf noticed where Nam-Ra touched her arm and it made the easygoing man anger that someone would hurt kids.
He listened, grateful for the fact he understood about 98% of what his ward said, and could infer the other 2%.
When she finally stopped speaking, Nick chose his words carefully. “I am a werewolf, and have been my whole life. I have enhanced senses as well, heal quickly, age slowly, and deal with some other issues. But, the good news is, I’m here and we’ll figure it out together.”
Nam-Ra was worried about being in a town full of people who were alive. She could hear how alive they were, and she was terrified of losing that control. No matter how much control she had, it only took one mess up and it could end horribly for people. Thankfully, she didn’t have the same amount of rage issues as some of the others who had been turned, making people a bit safer. Plus side she knew most of her triggers, but the ones that could surprise her were the concern.
She just hoped the dome never brought Gwi-nam to this place. He would turn this place into a bloody mess and make it like home. If he did, she’d deal with it in a more permanent way to prevent him from ruining this place.
Werewolves were something she had read about in some of her books when on break from class. Seemed unbelievable on them being real; however, the same could be said about zombies and people who were half-zombies. Who was she to debat what may or may not be real when she fell under one of those not so normal categories? “I’ll most likely be stuck at the age I am for the rest of my life. Unless somehow the virus even when dead lets you age,” she doubt it, but she didn’t know the science behind it to say that with confidence. A smile showed up on him saying how they’d figure it out together. “Promise? I don’t want to put any of you at risk. You guys have been nice to me when you didn’t need to be and I don’t want to do anything to betray any of you.” She told him in Korean and meant it more than anything. Adults hadn’t been the nicest to her and her friends as of late, and she had been surprised to be treated with kindness. Nam-Ra was more comfortable with her new abilities, but being in a new world it was a worry on how it might impact her.
Nick knew all about helping people gain control. They still had a cage in the basement, although for Nick it would be the absolute last resort if his ward lost control. “If the rage becomes too much, we’ll deal with the control issues.” The werewolf didn’t mention the whole cage thing.
“Well, I have friends who are vampires, so I’m used to people not aging.” It didn’t phase Nick whatsoever. “I promise. We’ll learn how to control this virus together. And find food for you.” He doubted she’d betray them, except accidentally. “I’m happy to have met you.”
Nam-Ra wasn’t sure if there was any real way to control the issue other than how she had been doing it. The lack of rage she felt within probably had a great deal in helping with that. If she had the rage within like a few of the others, then it would be a very different story. The lack of emotion to things or coldness as others tried to label it probably had a helping hand. She found so far only two triggers that got the rage, and both fell into the same category.
“The issue is while I seem to know what has triggered it so far, it can change. But also I never know when I may come across that until I can feel it bubbling up and the bones start cracking and it shows near my eyes.” She didn’t even think about how that might cause some questions as she spoke in Korean since Nam-Ra was being honest and open with him. Hoping it didn’t end up backfiring on her. There was no adult back home who she felt safe sharing this with even if some of the ones helping them had been alive. This was the first adult who she was sharing this with.
“I started to figure it out, and I had others I was taking care of who were in the same shoes as me. I left them behind! I need for them to be safe!” It didn’t matter if time was frozen, Nam-Ra feared for their safety if anyone found them. They had become her people in a sense and she couldn’t live with herself if something happened to them when she was meant to be protecting and caring for them. “I should be fine for food right now. I had been out for food before showing up here, but you don’t have to worry about an extra mouth to feed?” Nam-Ra had meant it as a very bad joke; however, her tone didn’t exactly portray that. “I’m glad to have met you, and I’ll keep saying thank you for taking me in.” Even more with knowing what she was and he wasn’t kicking her out or anything.
Nick could see how much she cared for the people back home. “I’m sure they’re safe right now, since time froze.” How much his words helped, he didn’t know.
At the bad joke, he sighed, but offered a small smile. “You’re here and I’m your guardian, so yeah I’m going to worry about you and food. You’ll have to deal with it.” Nick grinned his usual amount.
“We’re werewolves. I probably eat enough food for three people alone, and more than just me live here.”
This time, Nick rested a hand on her shoulder. “I got you. Anything you need, let me know, and I’ll help.” Even if it included things like talking to the school. “I’m glad to have met you too.”
It was the first time where she had people to care for or who were important in her life. Nam-Ra could count the number of friends she had ever had in her life. While sad, it was very true. “I hope so. I can’t let them down,” she didn’t fully trust the time frozen thing and it didn’t make her feel better, but she wasn’t about to question it.
Nam-Ra couldn’t help the very tiny smile that appeared on her lips. She knew her mom cared about her in her own way, but Nick’s way was very different from her mother’s. It felt weird to have someone worrying about her who was older. Last ones who did were fellow students and the guy she had a bit of a crush on who turned out to like her as well. “Please don’t make it a big deal or go out of your way on trying to find something. When I feel the hunger coming, I’ll figure it out.” Even if that meant biting herself again to tie herself over; however, she would not tell him that, knowing it wasn’t exactly normal.
Hearing that about them being werewolves did make her feel so much better. If what Nick said was true, and she was holding him to his word. A big deal after how many adults had screwed over the kids. Then she knew this was probably the safer place for her. The chances of her hurting any of them was slim and if she did, it wouldn’t be as serious as if it had been a normal human. Also, the lack of eating wouldn’t draw much attention cause the food would be gone.
“I will let you know. Right now I’m trying to settle in and adjust to the new noise and smells. Thank you for not freaking out about what I am,” she told him, the relief probably clear in her voice. Nam-Ra had been expecting more fear like her classmates who came around, but had been scared first. Nick hadn’t been and it made her feel less like a monster than she had been feeling since showing up here where people seemed safe and happy. “I’m going to go explore a bit,” she said, moving to stand up and head back to her new room to pull on some shoes to go check out the town.