Red Moon: Revolution Chapter 20

The meeting at the clothing store didn't last long. Sean and Rob were both in a hurry. Mostly Rob who insisted that they caught the next ferry to Alcatraz where they had agreed to meet his father. They didn't give any details about the meeting and neither Trevor nor Dmitri pushed for any. It wasn't their business and they were starting to get hungry as well with the lunch rush coming soon.

Trevor paid for the rest of his clothes that he had bought and had a fun laugh when Dmitri offered to carry it since it imparted images of Dmitri, a large, muscular man carrying all of his shopping bags. It reminded him of too many movie scenes of some poor sap carrying too many bags and boxes, trailing after a gaggle of giggling girls. He agreed to let him carry a few, but so many that others would see that image as well. Dmitri wasn't familiar with American culture, so the last thing Trevor wanted were strangers laughing at him behind his back since the wolf would easily hear them and become offended.

With shopping done and the underwear shortage no longer a problem, the two decided to pick a spot to eat. Trevor wanted to go one of the tourist traps that was selling food that mixed Asian quinine and American classics such as the kalbi burger. Dmitri wanted steak. Of course he did, anything else was just not going to be filling enough for the werewolf who had a metabolism that required constant calorie intake. 

The walked up and down the hilly streets of San Fransisco until they came to a smaller family owned restaurant that offered both Asian food and steaks. 

They picked a booth near the back of the cozy shop that was run by a talkative couple that looked Vietnamese along with their two sons that helped their mother cook the food.

Trevor easily slid into the booth while Dmitri had a little more issue. His knees were touching the underside of the table so he opted to almost lounge to make room for his mass. Trevor took joy in watching the man wiggle around, trying to find a comfortable position to sit, moving his legs around, crossing them, uncrossing them.

“What?" Dmitri said and stopped moving once he noticed Trevor staring. 

Trevor tried to wipe the smile from his face, but he just couldn't. He didn't want to use the word cute, no cute wasn't a word that applied to Dmitri. Cute was a puppy, a kitten, a baby that found the sight of ripping paper to be hilarious. Charming? Maybe. “Oh, nothing."

Dmitri rolled his eyes as if being stared at was annoying. It was, normally, but not now. Having his mate watch him with obvious joy was not annoying in the slightest. He actually kept making himself look goofy just to make Trevor smile, though he quickly got his act together when the wife came back.

She was a small thing with darker skin and her black hair rolled up into a tight bun. She gave one look at Trevor, gave a smile and then to Dmitri who she had some thoughts about. “What can I get you two gentlemen to drink." Her words were slurred a little, hinting that she had immigrated some time ago but had enough practice speaking English to be easily understandable. She slid them their menus and pulled a note pad and pen from the front of her apron.

“You have tea?" Trevor asked and looked down at the menu which didn't specify beyond iced tea.

“We have iced tea, green, black, herbal…" She gave a long list that Trevor was desperately trying to find on the menu. 

“Uhm." He scratched his chin. He needed to shave, he could feel stubble growing out and he imagined that he looked less than presentable. “I'll have the black tea." 

“And you?" She turned to Dmitri.

“Water."

“Water and black tea." She repeated back and went away to go get their drinks. 

The restaurant only had two other patrons, a Asian couple that were sitting on the opposite side of the room where they were deep in discussion and eating some kind of noodles that reminded Trevor how hungry he was since he could smell it all the way from where he was. The entire place smelled delicious.

There was a blend of spices, seasonings, oil, meats, something oaky and woody, all swirling around the room. Dmitri didn't seem to notice. He was flipping through the menu, looking at all of the pictures of the food. He looked up occasionally at Trevor catching his eye and a small hint of smile would come to his face before he would look back down.

There were so many options, mostly Vietnamese with some more American styles of food since it didn't matter what part of the world you were from, a giant slab of meat was always welcomed.

He ended being stuck between Bun Bo Hue, which was some kind of spicy beef soup with lots of vegetables and Banh Bao, dumplings. Everything was served with a side of rice and vegetables. He went with the soup in the end.

The wife came back with their drinks. Dmitri's water was just in a glass, but Trevor got a small, white porcelain cup and a matching teacup that had a small line of steam coming from its spout. Trevor could smell the tea leaves inside.

“Ready to order?"

Trevor looked at Dmitri questioningly and then he realized that no matter where they went, Dmitri was going to get the largest slab of cow that he could and have it served to him rare.

“Yeah." 

Trevor ordered his soup and Dmitri ordered his very rare steak, putting emphasis on rare. The wife raised an eyebrow. “So strange." She spoke, not caring if she offended Dmitri or not. “Most people get Vietnamese food, but there always some that get steak, rare. Always rare." She shrugged and wrote down their orders and left.

“Know of any werewolves in San Fransisco?" Trevor asked and poured his cup of tea, holding the top so it wouldn't fall off. The discolored water poured out, hot and steamy.

Dmitri didn't touch his drink. He just wanted the food. “None that I know of. There weren't really that many this far south even before the Inquisition. But I suppose that it's possible."

“Wonder why they would stay here when the Inquisition is here as well." Trevor sipped his tea. It wasn't nearly strong enough so he downed the rest of his cup, but didn't pour another, letting the leaves soak for a few minutes longer.

“Everyone has their reasons." Trevor picked up his cup and sniffed it before taking a drink that emptied half of it in one gulp. “A lot of wolves stayed in Germany even after the Inquisition used the Holocaust to disguise their murdering. It was home to them, even if home was hell." He shrugged. “My guess is that a few live here because they consider this city to be home."

“Makes sense." Trevor agreed. 

They kept talking about various subjects such as Dmitri's opinion on the war. The wolf overall agreed with the New Inquisition, though he revealed fears that any stability that it would bring would only be temporary. The current Inquisition wasn't the original Inquisition. It had gone through various phases and changes of policy when there were disagreements. Sometimes there were conflicts that changed how the organization worked, but nothing as extreme as the current war. 

“What I am saying is that each time the Inquisition changes itself. Better or worse. It reverts back to its old self. I am afraid that this will happen here." Dmitri explained his fears. “It always comes back to killing us or getting rid of us somehow." Dmitri was rapping his fingers against the table. He was getting riled up, talking about something that he was really afraid of. He had been around long enough that he was entirely convinced that, if not immediately after the old Inquisition fell, but at some point, the New Inquisition would start targeting werewolves again.

“Don't trust this… Umm, Brennan person?" Trevor asked and poured his tea that was finally strong enough for him to properly enjoy. “She seems reasonable and idealistic."

“I trust her." Dmitri cleared up. “I don't quite trust those that will take her place one day. She was the voice that started change. Who becomes the new voice when she goes away?"

Trevor nodded. He had no real input. The only information he really knew about this war was that the Inquisition was in America because they had been forced out of Europe. Instead of trying to put input into something that he had no real place to have a solid opinion on, he talked about something that he knew that was more up his alley.

“Don't worry." He reached out and touched Dmitri's hands. They were rough, calloused, and of course hairy. The skin was uneven and damaged from someone who had a rough life their entire life, but it was warm and to Trevor, soothing. “What ever happen, you'll have me."

Dmitri smiled, his worries put on the back burners for the time being. He did have Trevor and this more confirmation that Trevor was committed to make them a real lasting thing.

The rest of the time waiting for their food was spent in silence. The company they gave each other was enough to replace words.

The food that was brought out was delicious. Trevor thoroughly enjoyed the soup that was rich with a strong, but not overwhelming spiciness. There was enough meat and vegetables in the soup that each spoonful was had several items in it. 

Trevor looker over to Dmitri who was salivating over his steak that was surrounded by blood. It looked as if the cook had just put it on the grill long enough to brown the outside and that was it. Dmitri would have preferred it to not have even been browned at all. Hell, Trevor got the feeling that a dead cow would have made Dmitri the happiest.

He cut into the slab of meat, cutting off chunks that were just barely small enough to fit in his mouth. He chewed and swallowed as soon as he decided that he could without choking. The entire twenty ounce steak was gone before Trevor decided to sample the vegetables that came with his soup.

“You want to try some of mine?" Trevor asked when he caught Dmitri looking at his food and licked his chops.

“I don't know." He didn't break eye contact with the small piece of beef that had nestled itself among some straw mushrooms. “How is it?"

“Delicious, can't you smell it." Trevor asked and breathed in the smells.

Dmitri let out a small huff. “My sense of smell isn't as good as you think." His shoulders drooped a little. Smell was everything to a wolf and here he was with a sense of smell that was sub par.

“I didn't mean to offend." Trevor tried to apologize.

“Don't be sorry." He traced a faint line down his face that went down his nose. “Got this in France when some man thought he could stop me by shooting my muzzle off." He snorted a laugh. “Almost, but not quite. It's a reminder that even as a wolf, I'm not as invincible as I would like to be."

Trevor traced his own scar that was mostly hidden by his hair, where he had been shot in the head by a scared Inquisition agent during his first transformation. He felt lucky that the only thing that seemed to be an after effect was his loss of memory and the damn… Head… Aches…

A pounding pulse went through Trevor's head and down his back. He spasmed slightly against the seat from the pain. His vision went a little blurry.

Dmitri was immediately up and next to him. “I think its time to go back to the room."

Trevor managed a quick nod and they left before they had even got their check. Dmitri left a bundle of bills on the table as he led his mate out. 

He looked down both ways of the street, trying to find the best way back. His eyes went to the harbor where he tried to see the condo. They had walked so far and with such reckless abandon that he had no idea which way to go.

Trevor, with Dmitri's arm over his shoulder protectively was a little better. The headache was just a throb, nothing like back in Seattle which was a full blown seizure. “I know the way back." He was sweating and his skin was clammy.

“I can carry you." Dmitri said as he stared down a jogger who looked for a split second too long. He then became a runner as he quickly crossed the street.

“I.. I can manage on my own." Trevor stood up straight. He felt well enough to walk and plus he didn't want people to see him, a full grown man being carried back like some small child. Even to strangers, he had some dignity to maintain.

They slowly went back. Dmitri tried not to fuss to much over Trevor as they made back. It was difficult because normally he was some tough, salty man with ice for blood and yet Trevor turned him into some puppy. He felt conflicted. He wanted to make sure Trevor was alright while still appearing strong and not vulnerable. He ended up just glaring at people to make them get out of the way and get out of the way they did.

They got back to the condo just after four o'clock. The day was still young, but it was over them now.

Trevor let himself be carried the final few feet inside and set down on the couch.

“Just rest now." Dmitri got up and headed to the bathroom. “I need to take a shower to get the smell of this city out of my fur."

“You don't have fur." Trevor yelled after him. “And you can't smell well."

“The fact that I can smell it is what concerns me." Dmitri yelled from around the corner. He didn't bother closing the door behind him as he turned on the shower. Soon after some Russian lyrics came out as well. 

“He's no choir boy." Trevor said to himself and grabbed the remote to the television. The headache was all but gone at this point, but Trevor was still a little shaky. 

He flipped through the channels until he ended up on a local news station. 

“The entire island, closed for no reason." A clean shaven and well dressed man said to his partner as they sat behind their news desk.

“Well, not for no reason." The partner, a woman in a blue blouse with hair that only went to her ears replied. “Sources indicate that the city closed Alcatraz for a single person."

“A single person?" The man said. “When has that ever happened? Who is this person?"

“That's the thing Nathan, we don't know. It was just announced today that Alcatraz would be closed to the public and papers that we were able to get from the city showed that it was closed at the request of an anonymous person."

“Must be someone important to do that."

They talked for a little longer before they went to commercial break, promising more information once they got back.

Trevor looked out the window and noticed that there weren't any ferries going to the island, there weren't any ships near it at all. 

Too bad for Sean and Rob. Rob seemed really adamant about getting there. He supposed that they would have to reschedule to whenever the island opened up again or to change locations. 

Trevor did find it odd that someone would close down the entire island, but not enough for him to keep watching the news when Trevor came back in with nothing but a towel on.

“Hello!" The words escaped Trevor's mouth before a thought could even form in his mind. He quickly clamped his hand over his mouth, his cheeks reddening at his outburst. “I.." He stuttered. He had never done anything like that before. He could always rely on himself not to have outbursts.

Dmitri gave a sly grin and crossed the room quickly to sit next to his favorite, shy person. “So you do find me attractive?" 

“I." He was still stunned, unable to form words.

“Stunning, gotcha." Dmitri chuckle, he didn't expect the plan to work this well. He was never very good at being seductive, often being blunt in most things that he did. 

Trevor got himself back together and felt this strong figure next to him, the heat from the shower radiating off of his body. He smelled of Irish Green with just a slight undertone of his natural, woody smell. He snuggled into the crook of his arm. “Very stunning." 

Dmitri bit his lip as they both relished the physical contact. He wondered if he should have just gone out completely naked.

“Feeling better." Dmitri asked and watched the television. The newscasters were still going over Alcatraz, repeating things they had just said earlier. They had no new information, but the twenty four hour news cycle was forcing them to keep talking.

“Yeah, much better now." His hand rested on his own  lap and he got the urge to move it slightly over to that muscular thigh that was pressed up against him. It looked so squeezable. He eyed the lines under the towel, feeling very naughty all of the sudden. Thoughts crawled into his mind, thoughts that just a few days ago would make him think about a lobotomy, but now they felt right.

Dmitri kept his eyes on the television, not at all interested in what they were actually saying or doing, but he wanted Trevor to feel as if he wasn't watching. “Good. We will need to find a way to stop whatever is going on with you." He brought up the subject just to have one to talk about and to prevent awkward silences. 

Trevor took the bait, thinking that Dmitri didn't in fact see him slowly move his hand over to the edge of his leg. His eyes followed the line of his thigh where it slowly faded out and then reappeared, but as something else. A bulge right there under the towel. There was no mistaking what it was. “Yeah, but I don't think that will be possible until we get back to Germany. I'm sure that Rommel knows someone that could help."

He was staring right at his crotch and Dmitri could see it, he wished for it. He just needed Trevor to initiate something. He didn't want to force him into anything, that would scare him away. He needed Trevor to make the first move. “We're here for several more days and we can't afford to have this happen again somewhere where you might be harmed."

“Don't worry about me." Trevor said and bit his lower lip. He wanted to so much, but he was nervous, so nervous. Was it right to do this when they had just gotten back together? It felt like trying to get to second or third base after the first date. Then again, this wasn't a first or second date. They had been together in Russia.

“I will always worry about you." Dmitri was getting tense with anticipation. Trevor's hand was up, hovering over his thigh, so close to making contact. “It is my duty to protect you, my mate."

Mate. It was a word that Dmitri used all the time on him. There was no need to be worried, this was what Dmitri thought of him. He was willing to go to the ends of the Earth for him, he already crossed half the world.

That same courage that brought got him to accept Dmitri in the first place, to let him back into his life came back to him. The problem wasn't that he was afraid of what Dmitri was going to think. The Russian considered him his mate, the problem was, did Trevor consider him is mate, his friend, partner, love.

Trevor set down a hand on Dmitri's thigh, the muscle underneath tensed under his touch and then relaxed. He looked up and saw that Dmitri had was looking down at him.

“I love you."