Here is my 2024 Secret Santa piece for the @super-secret-conspiracy exchange!!!
For my lovely giftee @mainstream-deviant -- I hope you enjoy this little slice of Deathshipping (they meet, they flirt, and it's fantasy, that's about the jist of it lol).
Happy holidays and to a wonerful 2025 💖
Read Below:
Human only settlements are so… quaint.
He’s barely lived in this town an hour before a neighbour is visiting and whispering rumours about a ‘big bad wolf’ living in the forest (which his home is next to, the neighbour helpfully points out).
Ryou, an overworked mage in need of some down time, had been recommended this rundown home by a trusted friend. He’d been reminded several times that it’s a fixer-upper but the people in town are very kind and maybe some manual labour will distract him from the stresses of hectically diverted catastrophes. Living on the forest’s edge had been a bonus; it’s a great place to find a good variety of potion ingredients and have some quiet. Blessed quiet.
This new knowledge of a wolf living in there doesn’t frighten him as the neighbour had clearly expected.
It does answer the question of why Ryou couldn’t sense anything magical going on in there despite its fairly large size; it’s fascinating that one sapient creature, a werewolf judging by the vague description, can keep all others away. He can’t even sense a wayward pixie and those things are everywhere. That must be one volatile wolf.
And yet the town lives. They whisper tall tales but never mention anyone being eaten or going missing, as one might expect from such stories. This carnivorous wolf must have a penchant for non-sapient animals, not entirely unusual for their species, but still something of note considering the things Ryou hears of it.
The most unsurprising thing in this entire situation is Ryou’s ability to end up in the midst of this.
He’s the mage who met, befriended, then hid away from the world the last living kraken because he thought fishing would be his key to relaxation. One werewolf is no trouble.
~o~o~o~
Ryou dons his bright red hood, the boldest piece he owns, and walks into the forest with an overstuffed wicker basket hung over his inner elbow. He could have used a scrying spell to find this mysterious wolf, but had opted for an old fashioned hunt. Or, in this case, make himself the easiest prey possible. A paranoid predator might assume a trap and ignore him altogether, but that’s a risk he’s willing to take. He has a backup plan (or four) if he needs it.
He walks aimlessly. He doesn’t want to get too far; it would be exactly like him to walk out until he’s tired then realize he needs to do that same path back. He’s not making that mistake a second time. This year.
It’s a beautiful forest; it’s both a shame and a blessing that the townsfolk are so scared of it. It’s untouched by sapient selfishness and carries the notable prints and markings of the wildlife that call this place their home. The werewolf doesn’t litter — Ryou likes them already.
“Are you stupid or suicidal?”
“Is none of the above an option?”
Ryou retorts before he even spots him. He has to turn to find the source of the voice and finds the young man leaning against a tree, arms crossed over his chest in forced nonchalance. Ryou’s eyes rake over him, taking in the sight.
His face is twisted into a nasty scowl that would trigger a fight or flight response on actual prey, which Ryou thankfully isn’t. He’s physically fit, made extra obvious by his lack of shirt. His simple woollen pants are cut at the ankles and his feet are bare and muddy. Most striking are his piercing violet eyes and wild blonde hair. Ryou’s fingers itch to pick out the leaves and twigs stuck in it.
He nudges a vision spell over his eyes and spots the silvery shine to the man’s eyes, proof of his inner beast. This is the one.
“You smell like magic. What do you want?”
“I’m Ryou. I’m your new neighbour and came by to say hello! I bought the cute little cottage by the forest that-a-way.” He points over his shoulder.
“How’d you get swindled into buying that death trap? The old owner left ‘cause part of the roof caved in.”
“Nothing a bit of hard work can’t fix. Here, this is for you.” Ryou approaches and holds out the basket. The young man doesn’t take it. Ryou shakes it, as if tempting a toddler, but he still doesn’t move. “I put together a meat selection for you as a little gift. I didn’t know your favourites and the people in town are far too terrified of you to know anything about you, so I went with a bit of everything. Please take it, you have my word as a mage that this is a gift with no strings attached.”
“Your word means shit to me.”
“I can weave it as a spell if you—”
“This is my home. If you want anything out of here for your magic bullshit you better think again. You get one warning. If you come back here again I’ll eat you. Got it?”
“The people in town said you were a bit hostile. Did you know they refer to you as a ‘big bad wolf’? As if you act like some sort of monster, but I find it very interesting that no one’s ever been hurt and that you’ve made such an effort to keep this forest free of other sapient beings, including anyone that could cause trouble for the people in town. I don’t even sense one wayward mischievous pixie… a hard task for anybody.”
“Maybe I should eat you now.” He snarls. There’s that inner wolf. So gruff. And dashing.
Ryou’s arm is getting tired from holding up the basket, but he won’t back down.
“You look really strong, do you patrol the forest a lot? I think it’s really sweet that you keep the town safe. What’s your name?”
“You can call me ‘big bad wolf’ like everyone else. Now get out.” He turns to leave.
“Wait! Please!”
A growl forms in the back of his throat, but he turns back around. If he were in his wolf shape Ryou imagines his hackles would be raised and his teeth bared. He’s incredibly distrustful and private, but Ryou is stubborn.
“I’m sorry. Maybe we got off on the wrong foot. I just moved here from Domino City where I worked as a mage. After one disaster too many I decided I needed a break and this seemed like a nice place. I’m only here to relax and maybe make some friends. I have no ulterior motives. I’m only here for some hard-earned peace and quiet, which I think is also why you’re here, right?”
“Mm. Domino City, huh? I guess that’s why you’re not scared of me like they are,” he says, referring to the townsfolk, “you’ve seen bigger and badder monsters than a guy like me.”
“Oh, you’re plenty big and bad,” Ryou’s gaze once again roams up and down to take him in, “but that’s about right. You’re obviously not interested in human meat, so I don’t see any reason we can’t get to know each other.”
“Aren’t mages supposed to be smart?”
“That’s a misconception; we’re all actually very stupid and make terrible life choices. That’s the only way someone would be willing to study one discipline for a decade to earn a meaningless title.”
That earns a chuckle from the werewolf, and he relaxes that little bit.
“What did you get roped into studying?”
“White magic with a proficiency in healing, though don’t go spreading that around. People seem to think that equates to miracles, but alas, I can’t reattach a head to a body and make it all work the way it did before.”
“I’ll keep that in mind if ever my head and body come apart.”
“Thank you. Will you please take the basket? It’s really heavy and I’m but a poor weakly mage.” Ryou wiggles the basket for emphasis and hopes his smile comes across as cute.
“For fuck — fine.”
The weight is finally gone and the subtle quivering in his arm isn’t for the sake of dramatics. Some manual labour really will do him well.
“Thank you! So. What’s your name? Not that ‘big bad wolf’ doesn’t have its own charm, but… I think we’re a little closer than that at this point, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Amir, and you’re not getting this stupid basket back.”
“I hope you make good use of it.”
Amir huffs. He turns and walks away without another word or even a wave goodbye.
“Bye, Amir! It was nice meeting you!” Ryou cheerfully calls after him.
The warm fluttering of butterflies in his stomach isn’t a new feeling, but it’s been a while since he’s had the time to sit and bask in it and maybe actually pursue it. A gorgeous standoffish and possibly dangerous werewolf living in his backyard? This is so exciting! And everyone says being a mage is dull — there’s no such thing for Ryou.
He’s going to love it here.
