âYou were just a wolf. It doesnât get much more magical than that.â
WHAT: Atreus and Shiro have a run-in. Literally. WHERE: The forest WHEN: March 15th or so, late late night. WARNINGS: Very vague mentions of nudity but not in a sexual way. Otherwise nothing! STATUS:Complete!
It had finally warmed up enough that Atreus could stretch his legs. All four of them. The black wolf took the newfound warmth as an opportunity, one to de-stress and unwind after a few days of anxiety plaguing him. Even if he had been reassured this wasn't his fault, he didn't bring Fimbulwinter to Vallo, Atreus worried.
After several years of such a harsh winter, it was difficult not to. But now it was spring again, and he'd almost forgotten what that was like.
It was wildly different as a wolf, his favorite dorm. It was his first, as well, and the one he had perfected. He ran as swift as any of the wolves in the forest, just alone and along the edge of the dirt road that wound around the Quills and near the edge of the forest. He only had the moon to light his path, and that was all he needed.
Or so he thought, as Atreus rounded a corner, paws hitting the ground aggressively as he sped up. He hadn't spotted the lights as he came around a tree, and slid directly into the moving personal vehicle from the opposite direction. His wolf form rolled under it, until it came to a stop a few feet away.
Night had always been the best time to fly in the desert around the Garrison. Shiro could remember racing across the sand and over rocky cliffs on many moonlit nights before he left for Kerberos. Keith had been on a bike beside him more often than not. Those memories didnât sting now as much as they had when heâd first made it back to Earth. When heâd known for sure his life had been turned upside down and would never get back to the way it had been before. Now he knew he didnât want that life back.
But he did still miss his friends.
Shiro raced through the forest on his hoverbike, deftly dodging trees and boulders and even the occasional startled forest creature. At least heâd never lost this. It was this skill in particular that let him react quickly enough to the wolf to jerk the bike up and to the side, giving the animal enough clearance to roll under without smashing right into the bike. It was a heavy bike though, hover propulsion or not, and he slammed against a tree before coming to a stop.
âWell that was a little close for comfort.â Shiro blew out a breath and climbed off the bike, lifting his goggles up onto his head. It was risky, checking on the wolf, but Shiro wasnât capable of walking away without making sure heâd done no harm. He stepped carefully forward through the bushes. âPlease donât eat me. I just want to make sure youâre okay.â
Atreus hobbled out of the thick bushes on all four legs, one limping a little bit as he got his bearings and stopped next to Shiro. He paused for a second, before finally shaking his black hair out to remove any bits of debris that had stuck to him. He knew most real wolves would have started growling or ran away by this point, but having his own mind meant he just looked up at the driver with piercing blue eyes for a moment.
It was incredibly tempting to stay as a wolf, and reach up to nuzzle Shiroâs hand - just for a little added affection, but he didnât. He shook his furry head and took a step back. It was almost like magic, how quickly he could go from wolf to person, but it also left him standing there in the woods, quite naked.
âI, uh--â He stood fully and rotated his sore shoulder. âThink Iâm okay? Are you okay?â He hadnât gotten a good look at what was crashed into the tree until his eyes widened at it just then.
Shiro had seen a lot that caught him by surprise in Vallo, but watching a wolf turn into a person was going to set a new bar that was hard to top. It was incredible magic. And it didnât hurt that said person was attractive either. Shiro gaped for a long moment before shock gave way to decency and his only personal sense of honor. He quickly held a hand over his eyes, feeling the blood rush up into his cheeks.
âUhhhhâŠâ he said dumbly. âThat was unexpected, sorry, I...Iâm okay!â He was having a hard time holding onto the thread, but he did manage to look over at the bike. âThe bikeâs fine too. Itâs suffered worse, donât worry. Are youâŠ.cold?â
âOh, sorry--â Atreus wasnât used to having to feel shame about being naked, but then he also wasnât around other people very often. It was more the latter than the former, if he was being honest, because if heâd been under more scrutiny, he would have likely had a little more shame. Unfortunately, his clothes were still back in his room at the quills, abandoned there before heâd turned into a bird to fly out the window.
And now he was getting far too easily distracted, peeking at the floating bike. Floating! Just there, in the middle of the air, as it hummed quietly in the night. Atreus got a little closer, his grin growing. âIâm not cold yet. But wow. How did you get this? Is it magic? It has to be magic.â
Shiro felt silly holding his hand over his eyes. He lowered it and stared at a point above Atreusâs shoulder instead, but the blush in his cheeks wasnât going anywhere. âOh, um, itâs not magic, no. Itâs science.â The bike gave him a good excuse to do something other than try not to stare. He moved over to it and pulled it back up from its lean against the tree, pressing a button to make it hover. It hummed with energy.
âItâs a hoverbike. Itâs similar technology to my arm,â Shiro gestured at his mechanical arm, which appeared unconnected from shoulder to bicep. The lit up shoulder piece made a low level noise a bit like the bike but barely noticeable if you werenât listening for it.
âItâs magic to me,â Atreus breathed out, happily. His hand reached out to touch the bike, without permission, and the energy of it thrummed under his fingers. It seemed more reasonable than reaching out to touch Shiro and his arm. It felt like cross-realm magic to Atreus, with the glowing lights and mysterious ways.
âIâve seen a lot of remarkable things, but this--â He gestured from the bike, to Shiroâs arm, grinning openly. âIs-- wow!.â Atreus seemed to finally realize he was ⊠well, naked, and made a little face before going around to the other side of the bike to give the other man a break from his flush. âIâd ask for a ride of not for--â he shrugged, âMy night run. Sorry about that.â
The open wonder on Atreusâs face earned him a wide smile from Shiro. So many people reacted to new things with fear or distrust that this place had been a pleasant surprise with how many outlanders were eager to experience new things. âDonât get me wrong, itâs amazing technology and Iâm happy to have it here. But...â
Shiro glanced back at the spot where Atreus had shapeshifted and laughed, delighted and at least mostly distracted from Atreusâs nudity at this point. âYou were just a wolf. It doesnât get much more magical than that.â His smile tipped a little crooked and he stole a glance back at Atreus. He wanted to ask about the tattoos, but it felt more personal than this strange meeting allowed. âYou can have a ride another time, though?â
It was no secret to himself that Atreus was pleased with being able to shapeshift into animals. It had been a lot of trial and error over the years, a lot of research and practice. His father didnât understand, and didnât particularly like it cutting into their daily training, but once he had been able to, it was the surprise heâd been hoping for.
âI can do others, too,â It was a boast, and he wasn't sorry for it. Atreus still stroked a hand lovingly over the hoverbike, enjoying how it felt and desperately wishing he had clothes here to ask for one now. He had never been the most patient. âI donât do it a lot, but sometimes you just need to get out of walls that feel like theyâre closing in, right?â He looked hopeful over at Shiro. âBut please, yes? Sometime? I just need a five minute warning.â
Shiro frowned. Atreusâs words stirred memories of his time in a Galra prison and he pressed a hand to the back of his neck in a nervous gesture. He really didnât want to focus on that. He was generally very good at not thinking about that. He brought his gaze back to Atreus instead. âAnytime, I promise. Especially if you tell me more about your ability. If you want to anyway! Thatâs not a requirementâŠâ
Focusing on Atreus and his skills made him remember that the man was still naked and Shiro startled, half-tugging his leather pilotâs jacket off. âIâm sorry, do you want to borrow this?â
Atreus knew immediately heâd said something wrong, just by manner of Shiroâs body language. He wasnât sure what, and opened his mouth to ask, but ultimately closed it again. Atreus being nosy wasnât asked for, even if it was pretty much always on the tip of his tongue. âI donât mind. I shouldnât,â he went back to grinning, unabashed. âBut thatâs never stopped me before.â
He laughed, full-bodied and into the crisp, night air. It was getting a little cold now, without the fur to protect him. âThat depends, should it cover my upper or lower half?â He reached out for it, but just touched the leather before dropping his hand away. âI donât want to take your coat from you, I can just go back toâŠâ Atreus mimicked a growling noise and put his hands out as if they were paws.
âOh, right, obviously,â Shiro laughed, settling his jacket back into place. He was going to be picturing Atreus in nothing but his jacket for a while, anyway. At least the idea of it wrapped around his waist was amusing enough to keep the laugh relaxed and not embarrassed. Feeling charmed and a little reluctant to end the encounter, Shiro scratched at his jaw and fiddled with the handle bars of the bike.
âCan youâŠchange into something that can hang on for a few miles?â He raised one eyebrow and smirked. He might have been a focused leader, but when it came to flying, he could be just as reckless as the next hotshot pilot.
Oh, now he got excited. Like a puppy dog - Atreus perked up and nodded. Then he sobered a little and tilted his head, regarding Shiro. âThat depends, how do you feel about snakes?â
Brok or Mimir would have made a timely vulgar joke at that very moment, or at least the latter would have stifled a laugh, and it wasnât lost on Atreus that he could do the same. But naked and lovingly caressing a bike that was hovering had him second-guessing the snake-joke, and instead he just looked hopeful. âI suppose I could try something else, butâŠâ
Shiroâs eyebrows rose. It was very strange to be having this conversation and not think the person saying such things was mentally unstable. He smiled, expectantly. Curious. âI love snakes. Theyâre incredible creatures.â
He straightened up the bike a little and threw a leg over it, careful not to kick Atreus in the process. âHow do you want to do this?â He pulled his goggles down over his eyes with one hand and held out his other arm. âDo youâŠwant to wind around my arm or something?â
It was hard to hide how pleased he was with Shiroâs response, Atreusâ cheeks flushed and he nodded a little eagerly. âAsk me about Jörmungandr sometime? Heâs my friend, and heâs so large he can wrap around the entire world.â Well. Probably. It was mostly an exaggeration, even if his world serpent really was huge.
It was a simple transformation, he reached a hand out to touch Shiroâs arm, and in the next moment, a pythonâs head slid up the space-travelerâs arm. He coiled his black, iridescent body around the human bicep under him, just firm enough to hold tight. When comfortable, Artreus just laid his snake-head down on Shiroâs shoulder.
Seeing the transformation in reverse still hadnât prepared Shiro for watching Atreus turn into a snake. His scales glittered beautifully even in the night. Shiro could only imagine how they looked under the full light of the sun. It distracted him, thankfully, from that slightly terrifying mention of a snake big enough to wrap around the world.
âWow,â he breathed, gently shifting to grip the handlebars. âThatâs really something special. Remind me to ask how it feels when youâre back to yourself.â He smiled down at the snake on his arm, brushing a thumb over his scales before reconsidering whether that was appropriate with permission. Squaring his shoulders, he leaned over the bike in preparation.
âIn the meantime, hold on tight. And just give me a nibble or something if you need me to stop.â With that, he pressed his thumb to a scanner, the bike roared to life, and they raced out across the moonlit forest.