Fic: Shadowfall, Chapter 5

[theropod]

AO3 Link to full story: [link]

Summary:

There are those in this world that are born with great powers, and there are those in this world to which great power is given. Nebris was granted his shape-shifting powers by the Bestower, Vechs, and has since used that power for personal gain. But when another shifter, one that can also take the form of a Dragon, emerges and challenges Nebris, his entire world is turned onto its head. He finds himself questioning his way of life... But can he escape the shadows?

In this chapter, Nebris returns to Pyro after their previous fight, because he just can't stay away.

Finally :D it's been like half a year but guess which story is back on track (hopefully)? Shadowfall is back! And hopefully it is here to stay. The entire story is written out, from this point onwards its a simple matter of editing as we go but here's hoping that should be an easier task. But for now, enjoy!

-0-

 

Nebris sulked for a week in his dark, lonely base before he grew sick of the sight of the same damn walls, of growling at shadows and swearing at the memory of a loud, friendly laugh. He couldn’t take it anymore. Sulking for a week had done him no favours, just put him in a black mood as he lost himself in his thoughts.

 

Maybe Pyro was right about some stuff. Maybe he didn’t have to go about terrorising the nearby city to get what he wanted. Granted the things he wanted were much easier to get when he could just fly down and laugh in the face of bullets, but…he didn’t particularly care for the idea of facing down Pyro. He’d gotten attached, he admitted that. In just a week the young irish kid had wormed his way into his life and he’d found himself sorely missing the training sessions they’d been having daily. There was a distinctly Pyro-shaped hole in his daily routine, a daily routine which, let’s be honest here, was at the moment just a lot of sulking in various places around his base. Sulking in bed, sulking in the shower, sulking while he cooked breakfast, sulking twice as hard when the clock hit the time for Pyro’s training sessions, and of course, sulking as he went to bed.

 

He spent a lot of the time sulking, basically.

 

Sunday rolled around and Nebris gave up, dragging himself out his cave and transforming in the midday sun to flap his sulky-self on over to Pyro’s little training area. Pyro called it a mountain, Nebris generously called it a big pointy hill. He’d sat on top of taller buildings in the city. He came at it from the direction of the sun, flying high so he was less likely to be spotted from the ground below. With his dragon eyes, he could easily make out the figure on the mountain. A small green dragon, curled up, looking miserable.

 

He sighed, banked his wings, and began to descend in wide, slow circles till he came in to land.

 

Pyro lifted his head from underneath his wing, golden eyes widening when he saw who it was.

 

“Please tell me you haven’t been up here the entire week.” Nebris drawled, sitting back on his haunches and not bothering to change at that moment.

 

“N-no…I was resting.” Pyro stared at him, as though expecting an attack. He didn’t look like he was going to be getting up any time soon to defend himself though. In fact, as though to prove he wasn’t a threat, he shifted back into his human form, standing there awkwardly.

 

Nebris sighed internally when he realised that Pyro was wearing the clothes he’d last seen him in. He really hadn’t left the hilltop since they’d parted ways. “So I can’t help but notice you aren’t attacking me.”

 

“…Neither are you.” Pyro replied, looking a little more confident.

 

“Why?”

 

"Why? Because I don't want to!" He all but yelled the obvious answer. “At first it was fine, y’just showed up and started being evil n’shit, and all I needed to do was stop you from hurting people! I wasn’t attached! But then you started being nice and helping me and you – you were friendly and everything was great, right up until that stupid argument and I jus’– fuck!” Pyro turned away and wiped at his face. Nebris squirmed guiltily when he realised he was probably wiping away tears. "I don't wanna fuckin' fight ye!" Pyro sniffed slightly. "It's not bloody fair!"

 

“It’s not fair…” Nebris murmured, slowly shifting down into his human form. The flakes dissipated and he slowly approached Pyro’s back, laying a hand on the shorter man’s shoulder. “I already told you that I didn’t want to fight either Pyro…so…let’s not.”

 

Pyro turned and before Nebris could move back, Pyro had latched onto him, arms around his neck in a tight hug. Nebris stood there for a second in shock before his arms hesitantly came up around the other, holding him close. Drawing back after a long moment, he gently touched over the other's arms and back, wincing when he found a mark or two from his attacks earlier in the week. "I'm - I'm sorry." he said hoarsely. "I'm sorry for everything..."

 

Pyro finally seemed to calm, snuffling and just leaning against the other feeling him touch the marks and wincing. He hadn't realized how they hurt. "I don't wanna do this." He muttered quietly. "I finally feel like I've found... A friend maybe... I don't wanna push you away now. Can we just... Just pretend we aren't... Just for a while..."

 

"Yeah, yeah we can." Nebris nodded slowly, voice a little rough. "I don't want to hurt you...never have. I saw you, and I just..." he took in a shuddering breath and lifted his head. "I shouldn't make things more complicated, I'm sorry."

 

The younger shifter shivered. Despite being mid-afternoon the chilly air further up the mountain was growing colder. It didn’t help that he’d been up there for quite a while in the hopes that Nebris would come back, and now rainclouds were starting to loom threateningly overhead. Home was sounding like a good idea right about now. "Let's get outta here... We can head back to my flat. It's not much, but it's warm... And there's tea." A rough chuckle as he moved away to gather his things. "I mean... You'd probably rather my place than your... your lair... Unless I'm wrong?"

 

"I...my 'lair' isn't really anything special." Nebris murmured, thinking back to the shadowy cavern. "But it does have enough room for a dragon or two, if you like."

 

Pyro smirked, the effect a little lost with his cheeks puffy and eyes all red, and he shakes his head. "I think I've been a dragon enough for now… I think I just wanna be human a while." He rolled his shoulders, beginning his hike back to the road where his car was waiting. Partway down the path, he turned back to Nebris, waiting.

 

Nebris hesitated only for a moment before he followed the younger man, wanting to stay with him longer, to figure things out between them and what it would mean for his future. "I suppose it can't hurt to act like a normal guy for a little while..."

 

It was a bit of a hike and by the time they reached the car the clouds had rolled in. Pyro started up the car, kicking the heat on and sighing, warming his hands on the vent before buckling up. Nebris climbed in and popped on the seatbelt, looking around the car curiously. It had been a long while since he'd been in a vehicle like this. These days when he wanted to go somewhere he just flew. It was quite novel for him to be inside one of these. It was a rather messy vehicle... Pyro had a tendency to grab food in the middle of a drive and just toss the wrappers into the backseat. But other than the litter, the car looked well kept... He obviously cleaned it regularly, he just hadn't yet this week, what with marooning himself on top of a hill.

 

Pyro hummed quietly with the radio as they made it back to the city and parked in the garage across from his flat. They made it across the street and inside with little trouble, the space looking a little cluttered, but it was an organized kind of chaos, could have been worse. It reminded Nebris of his own bedrooms in his student days, though his had often included a person or two passed out between beer bottles and the usual leftovers after a night of partying. Nebris couldn't help breathing in the scent of Pyro as he stood there, surrounded by his belongs. The scent felt too much like safety and companionship, something he shouldn't associate with Pyro after such a short time with him. If anyone should feel like that, surely it would have been Etho, not some new Empowered who barely had a grip on his gift yet.

 

Pyro got some of the clutter cleared away which mostly involved using his foot to shove a pile of games back into a corner, and went to the kitchen to put the kettle on. "Make yourself comfortable. Flick on the telly if ye like." He called as thunder crashed outside and rain started to pour. Looks like they’d gotten inside just in time.

 

The shape shifter wandered over to the tv and flicked it on in passing, making his way towards the window to watch the storm roll in. He'd never been a fan of flying in storms, so it seemed like he'd be staying a while. Hopefully Pyro wouldn't mind. Then again, it would give them a good chance to talk things over, to make some decisions.

 

Pyro had a look outside himself. "Nasty fuckin' weather... This time of year it's always so shitty." He grumbled, rolling his eyes. "I mean I don't mind the sound of it... Kinda soothing but... I get all kinda of cooped up." He sighs and stretches himself out, leaning against the wall just beside the window, watching the droplets roll down.

 

"Feeling cooped up is better than being out there. Flying in storms is rather chaotic, especially when you don't have a grip on it yet." Nebris commented, turning around to face him. "Not recommended." he said with a slight grin.

 

He got a smirk in return and they watched the rain fall in silence for a few moments until Pyro heard the kettle whistle merrily. He left Nebris by the window and went to serve up the tea, returning with two cups and a tin of biscuits tucked under his arm. He set everything down on the coffee table, shoving aside a few game boxes and controllers to make space "I dunno how ye take yers so I just made it like mine... Milk, two sugars." He shrugged and sipped, taking a biscuit and munching it thoughtfully.

 

Nebris accepted the cup with a quiet 'thank you' and sipped at the hot liquid, barely feeling the heat. Being a dragon at heart certainly had its uses when it came to scorching hot liquids. Following Pyro’s lead, he reached out and took a biscuit but instead of nibbling it, he dunked it in the tea and popped it into his mouth, humming happily.

 

"So...when did you get yours?" Pyro’s voice cut into his appreciation of the soggy biscuit.

 

Nebris didn’t mind so much. "Get what, my wings?" Nebris asked, already guessing that was what Pyro was meaning, avoiding the question for a few seconds longer.

 

"Your powers... Y'know... When did ye get em... How... I really dunno where mine came from maybe if I know about yours I can figure it out..." He munched another biscuit, kind of nervous to learn.

 

"...I got them from Vechs...he's usually the one who gifts us our powers." Nebris explained softly, eyes on his teacup instead of looking at the other shifter. "Us being the darker ones, I guess. He made me, and he made Etho...and others. I was dying, and then...I wasn't. I woke up surrounded by people Vechs had had a hand in making. It was one of the most confusing, frightening things I'd ever experienced in my life." he laughed darkly. "And things didn't really get better for a while."

 

Pyro tilted his head curiously as he absorbed the words. He had no idea who this "Etho" was but just hearing the name made his stomach want to revolt. "So wait... When we get these powers... Someone just gives them to us? And there's more of us? People with powers?" He bites his lip, processing these revelations.

 

"Someone usually gives us them, yeah. There's more than a few out there who were born with gifts, but for most of the people you’ll end up talking to, it’s given to us. In Vechs’ case, it’s done without warning." Nebris frowned. "I'm guessing this is all news to you..."

 

"Well yeah... I just kinda... Woke up with them. Thought I'd passed out after a hard night o' drinkin' but I felt... Different. And I played with it some an... Well. I figured it out kinda. And then you attacked and I..." He trailed off, swallowing hard. "I hadn't really... It had only been like 3 days so..."

 

Nebris whistled, a frown creasing his forehead. "Wow, that's...not good." Also not how Guude operated, so there was truth to what the near-god had told him, not that he'd really doubted him. "Well...if you, maybe, ever need help and you can't find me, there's someone you can go to. His name is Guude, and he'll look out for you. He's the one who usually makes the 'good' guys, I guess you’d call them. Even if he didn't make you, he should still be able to help or point you towards people who can help." Guude was nice like that. Even if Nebris feared him almost as much as Vechs, he still had a healthy amount of respect for the guy.

 

Pyro hummed thoughtfully, tapping one foot restlessly on the floor. "I'll have to look him up... So... You're saying this "Guude" didn't make me? So why don't I just go to this Vechs motherfucker and ask him what the shit? Thinks he can just dump some fuckin' powers on me and say nothin'... Could've at least left his phone number..." He finished his tea and scowled at the empty cup. "Bastard..."

 

Nebris shuddered and shook his head. "It's not like a one night stand kind of thing. Vechs isn't someone you want to mess with. He makes people like Etho and - and the Lich, you don't want to get on his bad side. Do not mess with him." He could only imagine what would happen if Vechs got angry at the newly Empowered. He could destroy him with just a look, a snap of his fingers, Pyro wouldn’t stand a chance.

 

Thankfully, Pyro seemed to get that Nebris was serious about this. He held his tongue, stopping himself from spitting out further insults about Vechs and changed the subject. "The Lich, huh? He sounds like bad news." He shrugged and shook his head, taking another long draw from his drink. "What about the good guys, then? What kinda players they got on their side?"

 

He relaxed at the subject change, though not entirely enough to be comfortable when the Lich was mentioned, and he skimmed over that.. "I don't know of them all, but there’s a few I do. There's a guy named Pause, one named Beef, some guy I heard mention of being a Zisteau or something? I can't really remember who else. But there’s quite a few. Guude’s even got some of the Naturals on his side the way I hear it."

 

"Weird names... Then again ‘Pyro’ ain't the best thing either." He chuckled before a thought occurred to him now that he’d finished his tea. "Want a beer then, if you’re staying a while? Or can you even get drunk? I've been having a harder time of it lately meself."

 

"We're dragons now, in every way I guess. Stronger constitution." Nebris laughed softly. "And I've really made it a point not to get drunk. Too dangerous around my home." He dreaded to think of what Etho could get up to while he was drunk, of what he would agree to. He knows he’s far too loose tongued and agreeable when drunk.

 

Pyro arched a brow, but didn't ask, shaking his head and deciding not to have one himself... What's the point, really, if you can’t feel the effects or drink socially? He actually felt a bit tired, the week on top of a mountain practically roughing it had drained him physically and emotionally. At least he’d had the sense to come back every other day for food and cleaning himself up, otherwise he’d stink to high heaven, even if he had worn the same clothes. He yawned, "Ye can have the bed if ye like... Passed out on this couch so many times it's almost like a second bed now anyway."

 

Nebris shook his head, smiling at the yawn. "I wouldn't dream of taking the bed from you. I'm fine with the couch, promise."

 

Pyro smirked and waggled his eyebrows playfully. "We could always share the bed. S’plenty big." There may have been a slight suggestive tone in his words, but plenty of room for it to be taken as a joke. He didn’t even know if Nebris swung that way and, well, things between them weren’t really all that smoothed out yet.

 

Nebris’ mouth went dry frighteningly fast at the playful tone and he had to fight a rush of desire back. For goodness sake, they’d only just gotten back on speaking terms. He’d better not mess this up again. But still, his voice was a little lower, a little raspier as he replied. "Sharing...wouldn't be a bad thing. If it’s big enough."

 

This time it was Pyro's turn to have his mouth go dry. Well shit. He hadn't expected that. He bite his lip and got up, heading for the bedroom. Nebris followed without a word. Pyro was right, the bed is pretty big. Queen-sized mattress, at least. There's all kinds of video game posters and such all over his walls, shelves stocked with more games and movies than books. He motioned Nebris in and got a spare thick quilt out of the closet. "I like to hog." He says with a smirk, climbing in and wrapping himself up in a little cocoon.

 

Nebris stopped by the bed, doing his best to fight back the desire. It had to be wholly inappropriate for him to be feeling this, especially right now. Poor Pyro had enough on his plate. "Nice room." he commented idly, voice still sounding too aroused for his liking as he kicked off his shoes. "You mind if I..." he mimed removing his shirt and waistcoat, not really wanting to strip (because that could just lead to complicated things) but at the same time unwilling to sleep in his shirt.

 

"Nah, get comfortable." Pyro mumbled, ejecting shoes and shirt and pants out of the blanket after somehow having wormed out of them in his cocoon when Nebris wasn't looking. "An' get th' light, wouldja? 'Lectric bill's too damn high as it is." He picked up a TV remote from his bedside table and pointed it through the still-open door to click the set off.

 

Nebris chuckled lowly and turned his back to Pyro to unbutton the waistcoat, setting it aside on a chair to be followed by his shirt soon after. Back bared to Pyro, he fingered the material of his trousers and decided they would have to go too, else he'd wake up in a wrinkled mess. They were neatly folded and set down, leaving him in his socks and a pair of black boxers. He flicked the lights after that and let his faintly glowing eyes guide him to the bed.

 

Pyro perked at the sight of them, peeping over the top of his blanket burrito. " 'S that somethin' that came with the dragon thing? The way they glow like that?" He asked, tilting his head and giving a lopsided grin. "Cool."

 

"Yeah," Nebris laughed softly as he slipped between the sheets and got comfy, facing Pyro for the moment. "They're one of my favourite things. Technically, they're part of my dragon shape but I like to keep them."

 

"Hmmm... I wonder if..." Pyro mumbled before concentrating, managing to get just his eyes to shift. He looked over at the other, grinning excitedly as his own golden eyes gleamed in the dark, briefly illuminated by a flash of lightning outside. "I feel like such a badass now. I could scare the shit outta some people with this."

 

Nebris couldn't help but laugh again at Pyro's excitement, it was just infectious, a delight to hear. "You should keep them, you look good like that,” he murmured.

 

"Maybe I will. Thanks for the idea." He chuckled, yawning again and giving a little stretch before curling up just a bit tighter in his bundle. "Thanks for... for everything. For training me. For coming back today. You really…helped." He added more softly. "I owe you." His smile was much less cocky and cheerful, more reserved, grateful... and maybe a little sad.

 

"...Thank you for today as well." Nebris murmured, smiling faintly as he watch Pyro get sleepier. It really wasn't fair, he was just too adorable. "I really enjoyed it...happy to come back." 'Enjoyed being with you' went unsaid.

 

Pyro bit his lip, wormed his way just a little closer and rested his forehead against Nebris' chest, humming as he started to doze. "Night..." He mumbled, a contented smile curling his lips.

 

Nebris stopped breathing for a moment, staring down as though he couldn't believe his eyes. "G...goodnight." he murmured when he finally recovered and slid an arm around the younger man tucked up in his blanket burrito, smiling faintly.

 

There was the smallest responding nudge and a faint hum as the other slipped fully from consciousness, one hand fisted in the blankets and the other tucked under his head.

 

Nebris drifted off some time later, unable to keep his eyes on Pyro for too much longer.

 

Several hours later, Nebris awoke to find Pyro quite a bit closer than he had fallen asleep. His legs were tangled with the other shifter's and his hand had shifted to rest on Nebris' chest, having apparently escaped the blanket burrito. But the closeness alone wasn’t what and woken him. No, it was the shaking and quiet whimpering of his companion, distress etched on his sleeping face that spoke of the nightmare he was having. Nebris blinked groggily until he could see clearly, and he didn't like what he saw. "Pyro," he whispered, cupping his face gently. "Pyro, wake up. Come on..."

 

Pyro felt the other's presence, his touch, his words, but they didn't bring him completely out of it. They did give him something to reach for, and he slid the hand on Nebris' chest around his body and pulled him close, clinging to Nebris like a child would cling to his teddy bear. Finally he managed with a shake of his head, to snap his eyes open and blink as he took in reality, gasping for air. Still shaking he stared at to Nebris' face, his own expression fearful, his entire body tight and tense.

 

Nebris wrapped his arms around the shaking man, running his fingers through the black hair while his other stroked up and down his back. "It's okay, I've got you." he shushed. "I've got you." He didn’t have a clue what Pyro’d been dreaming about but it seemed to have been a bad one to have that sort of fear on the poor kid’s face.

 

Pyro took a few deep breaths to steady himself, letting himself be soothed by the other's touches and soft cooing. He hid his face against that strong, kind of fuzzy chest and processed what he had seen, opting not to tell the other until he sorted things out for himself. He managed to relax after a bit at which point he realized just how tangled they were together. He blushed hot. "...Sorry for uh... Getting all up in yer business... I guess I'm kind of a sleep cuddler."

 

"Don't worry about it," Nebris murmured, still continuing to gently touch over Pyro's back and hair. "I don't mind...how you feeling after that?" he asked, concern clear in his rough voice. "You alright?"

 

Pyro wasn't sure if the other not minding made it better or worse. He cleared his throat. "Yeah, fine." He offered shortly, not meaning to sound grouchy but not really wanting to talk about the dream. "It was just... I... I don't usually get them anymore and... It was something different from the usual." He was purposefully vague, and gave the chest his face was pressed to a gentle nuzzle, hoping to get the other to let it go.

 

Nebris nodded, trying to keep his heartbeat relatively even as Pyro pressed closer. He hadn't shared a bed with someone like this in a long time, probably since before his change. Etho, for all he enjoyed taking pleasure, had never been one for cuddling. He couldn't help himself now, almost craving the feeling of Pyro curled against him.

 

Pyro was grateful to the other for letting it drop, and he let a silence fall between that wasn't entirely uncomfortable. He spent a moment just enjoying the feel of his companion's skin, his scent, just the fact that he was alive and breathing next to him was a comfort. He felt something stirring in him that wasn't altogether unfamiliar, but he was almost afraid to admit what it was.

 

"You know, you can go back to sleep if you want, still sorta dark out." Nebris murmured, enjoying just...touching. It was soothing in a way he wasn't all that familiar with and he wasn't sure that was a bad thing.

 

Every blink brushed his eyelashes against the other's skin, so no wonder he knew he was still awake. Perhaps it would be wise to rest more. He closed his eyes, focusing on just the feel of the other wrapped around him, humming quietly and letting himself doze, not quite as deeply as before, but restful all the same.

 

The elder shapeshifter smiled softly and let himself drift back into a light sleep with his arms around Pyro, chin on top of his head. As he drifted off, he thought to himself that he could get used to things being like this. Maybe.

 

Comments

[theropod]

You have no idea how happy I am to have this series be back :D Hopefully I'll be able to get a chapter a week up or some such. No promises, but no 6 month unannounced hiatus this time either.