If you can call this a meet-cute
1872
Kurt liked America, or was it Canada? He wasn't sure, they were so far north he supposed it sort of blended together.
Kurt stayed near the circus, with how he looked he never really had the chance to leave, and rarely alone. He heard his mother a few yards away, rustling through the bushes. Looking for some plant or another.
Kurt jumped and caught a branch, flipping up into the tree. A few birds squawked and flapped away. Kurt smiled,
"Kurt! Dont scare the birds. What have I taught you, child?" His mother called from the ground. Kurt flipped to hang upside down from his knees.
"Sorry mutti, it was too tempting." He said, his mother shook her head and waved from him to come down.
"Carry the basket blau mein liebling. And leave the poor birds alone." She said, Kurt crawled down and took the basket from her hands. She looked up at him with a small smile and a sigh. He already towers over her at only 16.
It didn't take long to get back to the circus and their trailer, Kurt's siblings off doing something. He wasn't sure what, but he didn't mind helping their mother alone.
Of course Kurt still took his first chance to run off back into the woods to explore the only place he could.
"Can I go mutti?" He asked, tense like a spring. She nodded and he dashed out the door at full speed.
It was closer to sundown now, the sky just beginning to paint itself in beautiful colors. Kurt loved it, and he climbed. He jumped from tree to tree.
He spooked the birds, but he did say sorry.
Kurt ran out of breath and he dropped to the ground. He found a small river and sat by the edge, his feet lazily kicking in the water. Yeah, Kurt likes this place. It isn't Germany, but it's a nice home away from home.
The light breeze ruffled his hair, that chilly promise of fall that you got on September nights.
And then the wind carried something other than a chill, a drawn out howl. Wolves it sounded like. Until it wasn't, one of the howls sounded so human. So broken almost. The chill from the wind shivered down his spine and he stood up. Kurt heard the howling echoing. Closer closer, and he ran home.
He pushed the door to their trailer open with a breathless pant.
"Wolves." He said.
His siblings looked up from their card game. Stefan tilted his head.
"Right, I heard one of the locals talking about that. She said there's a wolf pack that lives around here." He sat up straighter and stared at Kurt. Unnerving. "And she said that one of the wolves is a man." He said. Kurt almost laughed. But that echoing howl came to mind again.
"What?" He mumbled. Stefan continued talking.
"Yeah, she said that he's a wild man. He runs with the wolves. Lives in the woods half dressed and he never talks. The locals say he's insane. That he hunts and kills anyone who enters his woods." He said. And then he jumped at Kurt with a roar. Kurt squealed and dropped to the floor while Stefan laughed.
Margali came over to Stefan's side and shooed him away.
"Don't scare Kurt, he's younger than you it isn't fair. Kurt there isn't a monster in the woods." She said, she reached a hand out to help Kurt stand. His siblings giggled behind her. But Kurt cracked a smile. He knew they were just having fun. And he didn't mind. His mother was comforting. But he didn't really believe her.
That howl, that was human, and so unhuman at the same time.
That night he heard it again, that growling howl that sounded to human and at the same time not enough.
It sounded like it was right beside their window, it sounded like the man wolf was crawling right into bed with him!
Kurt flailed and woke with a strangled kind of gasp. Jimaine slapped at him as she slept, his sister shushing him.
Kurt shook and curled up closer to his siblings and his mother, they were a comfort but Kurt could swear that howl still echoed outside their door.
The next morning brought their first show in this strange place, Kurt buzzed with excitement the entire day. He loved the trapeze. He lived for it.
His mother watched him from the ground as he practiced, ever the watchful protecting eye. Kurt didn't notice her as he flipped, caught a bar with his tail, twisted, grabbed, flew.
Margali worried for her son, for how the world saw him. For how the world would treat him. But she tried not to let those worries show. She sighed and dusted off her skirts as she sat. One of the strong men gave her a wave, flirting she knew but she ignored it. Her eyes turned towards her younger son up on the trapeze. He missed a catch and she stood with a worried gasp but he fixed it and continued to fly. Margali smiled and shook her head, that child is going to give her a heart attack.
Kurt was oblivious to his mothers worry, in the air he felt free. His mind only on the grabs and flips he needed to do. He took a break finally and climbed down, his tail swishing back and forth in childlike joy. Kurt sat next to his mother and slowly caught his breath.
"I'll be in the sideshows liebe, are you sure youll be okay in here alone?" She said, Kurt flashed her a shining smile.
"I'm not little anymore mutti, I'll be alright in the big top alone." He said, Margali pulled him into a hug.
"Oh my boys growing up. Such a shame." She said, Kurt laughed and wiggled away from her. "You'll do amazing, you're so talented." She said,
Kurt shrugged in that shy 'geez mom you'll embarrass me' way. But he loved the praise.
"I'm going for a walk before we have to get ready. Get rid of my nerves." Kurt said. Margali stood up and put her hand on his shoulder.
"Be careful, this place is new." She said, Kurt noticed the worry. He shared it. He tried to smile as he stood but it was stiff, almost flavorless.
"I know mutti. I will." He said, and he left.
He found himself in the woods again. His skin crawled but he refused to be scared of it. The local legend couldn't be true, so he had nothing to fear. That's what he told himself at least.
He took to the trees again with a shout and explored further. One eye on the sun to track how much time he had left and one ahead of him to make sure he didn't fall.
Kurt stopped to catch his breath only when he felt like he couldn't breathe anymore. The air burned in his lungs as he flew through the trees. This was good.
Once the circus had been near a town, he hadn't been able to leave the trailer for almost a year. Stuck inside unless it was nighttime until they moved again. Months trapped in their small home so nobody would see him. Kurt frowned at the memory, he tried to forget it.
Kurt kicked his foot as he sat on the branch, his tail slapped at a leaf as it fell.
Kurt glanced down to follow the path of the leaf, he froze. A full body shudder shaking him.
A wolf sat under the tree, small. Sort of brown. His eyes were bright, yellow. Or maybe green. Kurt stared, frozen. It reached up onto its back legs and stretched up to sniff at him. And then it growled, kurt dashed. He flew through the trees. Afraid to touch the ground until he was out of the woods.
Kurt was shaken, he stumbled as he made his way back to the biggest tent.
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Logan turned his nose to the air, wolf he smelled. His closest friend he knew, the brown wolf and him had been close since Logan came here...he wasn't sure when that was. Now that he thinks about it. He tilted his head and reached out to pet him when the brown wolf sat by his side.
His hand buried in his friend's fur and they sat in silence. Logan leaned closer, using his nose to see if his friend was hurt. He wasn't, thankfully, and Logan hugged him. The wolf licked at his hands, his face, nuzzling against him. Ever protective of the young boy. Logan heard the rest of their pack nearby, he and the wolf waited for their family to come back to their den. Logan smiled as they came home. He wasn't sure he'd ever understand why they insisted on leaving at least one to watch over him when he didn't go with them. But it felt nice, it felt natural.
The young boy flipped onto his back and curled up on the ragged pile of furs he slept on. Sundown would be soon. Then they would hunt again. But for now they napped. And Logan felt his pack curl up on and around him. Warm and soft, the world's best blanket. Their heartbeats echoed in his ears, and the wolves' breathy pants bounced off the walls of their cave. Safe, Logan thought. More an emotion than a thought. Safe safe safe.
That night they were distracted, sounds. Lights. Cheering.
Logan crept closer, crouching in the edge of the trees and watching as the crowd moved through the tents. He looked on with curiosity. His family did as well, all of them silent in their intrigue. But the interest was lost when they heard an explosion of sound. It couldn't really be called music.
Logan turned and ran away with a growl. Back to finding dinner.
Logan stalked away alone before dawn, his pack still asleep in the den.
There was a new smell in their woods. Like brimstone and cat. It wasn't unpleasant. But it was strange. He couldn't place it. He followed it, and found it led back to the tents and noise. Now it was quieter, and Logan snuck closer to investigate. He sniffed, in the dark he saw perfectly but that didn't mean the strange shapes meant anything to him.
Logan reached out to touch one of the tents, and he slipped inside. It was empty for the most part, pedestals or cages lined the walls.
It left a bad taste in his mouth and he left.
He found that brimstone scent again and he followed, to the biggest tent. Logan tilted his head. The only sign that he was confused really. This made no sense to him. He reached out to touch and feel and examine everything.
He heard a clunk as if something had been dropped and he snarled. Then he turned tail and ran.
But he wanted to return. He wanted to understand the strange people and their strange place. He thought about it as he curled back up with his pack, such a strange place.
Logan snuck off later, alone to watch the strange place. His pack followed him at first but soon only his curiosity lasted.
After a few hours he almost left it alone, almost lost his interest in the new place.
Then Logan stopped, and stared. A blue boy. Walking around with his tail swinging behind him. Logan moved closer, nestled in the bushes to watch him.
He walked like a certain level of grace, of balance. Logan liked it. He saw as the blue boy was tackled by another person. Logan tensed but they both laughed and he calmed down with a growl.
Logan stayed silent and still. Staying there while the blue boy walked around, talking or playing. Flipping as he moved from time to time. Mesmerising to Logan. And that brimstone and cat scent floated across the air to him.
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Kurt did well, in fact he was amazing. Their first show in this place and it was a hit. The Incredible Nightcrawler flying through the air and the next morning nothing could dampen his mood.
Stefan and Jimaine went to town, shopping, visiting. Kurt was left behind but that didn't make him frown! Oh no, he simply packed himself a few snacks and went into the woods for a picnic with the company of himself.
It was brilliant. The wolf and fears forgotten as he sang whatever songs he knew and ate alone. Self care.
Kurt stretched out on his back in a patch of sunlight. He fell asleep in minutes, warmed by the sun and his happiness. He heard a rustle in the woods and he sat up and rubbed at his drowsy eyes to see a pair of eyes. The same wolf from yesterday he thought. But instead of running he reached for the last few snacks he had and tossed them closer to the wolf.
"Here, I hope this counts as a truce mein freund. So we can share these woods." Kurt said with a hopeful smile. The wolf stepped closer and chomped it down. With a few more sounds and snorts more wolves appeared from the shadows of the woods where they blended. Kurt smiled, mostly a panicked look, and dug out the last of his snacks. He was full anyway. So why not share?
The wolves liked it at least. One of them even sat down in the sun nearby. Kurt was almost scared to move or speak.
And then he saw him, Kurt only glanced up, Wondering really if he could stand and leave without getting bitten, when he noticed another person standing there. More crouching really, in the bushes. He wasn't large but he was muscled. Dark hair long and wild and tangled around his face. The scruff of a not-quite beard and piercing eyes. They weren't all that bright really, beautiful brown, but the look he had on Kurt was intense.
He stood up taller when he noticed Kurt meet his eyes. He was barefoot, shirtless. Only wearing pants made of some animal's hide. Kurt couldn't tell if he was just dirty or hairy or maybe a mix of both. Kurt hazarded a small wave.
The other boy slowly raised his hand in a hello. Kurt watched as he fell back into a crouch and moved closer to him with a sniff. Kurt was scared to move, scared to breathe, he wanted to run but he didn't know if he even could. The wolves on all sides and the wild boy at his front. Kurt shut his eyes tight, at least if he died he wouldn't see it coming.
He heard the boy get closer. The wolves move around him. Kurt prayed.
And then he felt the boy's face near his own. Sniffing, almost nuzzling against his cheek. His hand oh so lightly traced down his arm. Feeling his fur Kurt thought.
"Hello…would you also like a snack?" Kurt whispered. He couldn't force his voice any louder, scared so very scared. He heard the wolf boy snort and stop for a moment.
Kurt opened his eyes and the boy noticed. Their eyes met, and they stared at each other. Kurt thought the wolf boy seemed almost confused, but it wasn't a reaction Kurt wasn't used to. Kurt smiled and waved again. The wolf boy leaned back and then he pulled away and let out a rumbling growl. Kurt stared wide eyed after him as he bounded back into the woods. The wolves followed him soon after.
Kurt froze for a while, but eventually he had the mind to curl into a ball and let out a shaking breath.
"Well that was something.." He mumbled.
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Logan ran a while before going home. He knew his pack followed. They understood when he was in a mood it was good to let him run it off.
Logan stopped with a ragged growl and punched a tree, his claws sinking deep in.
Confusing confusing confusing.
The brimstone and cat. He followed the scent, he was only curious.
The boy was kind, he shared and it was nice, he didn't run. Even though he was oh so scared, he shared and he was kind. He was soft, he was made of shadows and sunshine and Logan was ashamed to admit he stared at him.
He hated people, he thought to himself. Hated them. Loud and annoying and greedy. Mean, humans are mean.
Logan slowed down and headed deeper into their woods towards home.
Blue, an amazing shade of blue. Logan had a faint memory of a blanket that color. Coughing so hard his bones shook and clutching hard to the deep blue.
He didn't pay attention to it. He tried not to remember it at all. Past, in the past. Long past…
Logan shook his head with a snarl and he felt a wolf curl up by his side. Those certain brown spots he saw out of the corner of his eyes. Comforting. But not enough.
Feelings feelings.
Logan tugged at his hair. Why was he upset? Why was he mad why was he sad why did he feel so alone??
Logan fell to his side and hugged his wolf.
The brimstone boy was beautiful and Logan knew that. He understood that. But he didn't understand why the stink of his fear upset him so much. He liked that scent. He always had. In a twisted way.
For somehow, it was wrong so very wrong on someone so gorgeous. Logan growled into his friend's fur. It turned to a whine and he felt a rough tongue on his head.
Logan pushed the blue boy from his mind and tried to drift to sleep with his family in a dogpile on top of him. Feelings confused him, he ignored them.