I'm playing again The Wolf Among Us, so of course I had to find a story for the Fables Foursome.
It was late. Mid-afternoon maybe. Duncan had come home a little before sunrise because he had a lot of work. Michael, who had even more things to do, had not returned at all. They hadn't been able to see their lover for a long time, so even though they were all tired, (Y/N) and Jim had insisted on spending time with him before going to sleep. The vampire had accepted, unable to refuse them anything, even if he had to get up early the next day. That was why they weren't sleeping in the same bed, the slightest noise woke the wolf, who fidgeted and woke up (Y/N). She didn't know what had woken her up since she was sleeping alone, but she had felt a presence near her. And when she had opened her eyes, she had seen that monstrous face close to hers. Those empty black eyes. This pale, cracked skin. The scream had escaped her as she threw her blanket over the thing and ran to Duncan's room, who met her at the door, awakened by her yells. Jim joined them very quickly.
"There... There is something in my room." she sobbed, grabbing the vampire. "A monster !"
"I am coming too !" said Jim.
"No. You're staying with Kitten. Don't leave the room, wait for me."
Grunting, the wolf still obeyed, taking (Y/N) in his arms to try to reassure her, to show her that she was safe, until Duncan returned, looking sorry. He hadn't found the thing. There was no sign of a break-in, no sign of magic, nothing.
"Where... where's Michael ?" stammered (Y/N), who needed her three lovers to feel totally protected.
"I don't know. Mikey ?" called Duncan. "Mike? He must still be at work, urgent business. As soon as he gets home, he will help us clear this up. But... Maybe you just had a nightmare Kitten ? Hmm ?"
"No... It was there, very close..."
"I believe you." said Jim, kissing her on the forehead. "I smell something in the house. I don't like this smell."
If the wolf said there was something wrong, then he must be right. The three of them stayed in the living room, waiting for Michael to return, watching for any noise, shadow, but even if the strange smell persisted, nothing moved. It couldn't be a ghost or a spirit, because they didn't smell. And, for the other creatures, Duncan did not understand who would dare to come to them, knowing who lived there. He was rich and powerful, he could destroy anyone who tried to harm them. Besides, even if he was hated a little because he had managed to adapt in the the Mundies world, he did not really have an enemy who would want to hurt him this way. It all made no sense. And Michael still didn't come home, not even answering the phone.
"How is the smell ?" asked (Y/N) to Jim, curious.
"Difficult to describe. It's... familiar but not really ? Heavy. Unpleasant. Like a latent threat, which can be harmless, but still capable of turning against you."
"Wait for me here." sighed the vampire after hearing the description.
Once again, the wolf was not happy that he could not come with him, but he also did not want to leave (Y/N) alone, so he kept her in his arms, caressing her back, while pricking up his ears. And he was surprised to hear voices.
"Duncan is talking." he murmured. "With... Michael ?"
"Is he at home ? Do you think he's hiding to track the thing down ?"
It was a little annoying to have to be quiet so he could listen, when she couldn't hear anything, so (Y/N) tugged on his t-shirt after several minutes, to remind Jim that she didn't have his giid hearing.
"They're arguing ? What's going on ?" she whispered.
"No, they're talking. Michael sounds... sad ? He says he's sorry. That his... Oh. OH ! It's his glamour !"
"Glamour ? What are you talking about ? He thinks he's no longer sexy ? I don't see the connection to our problem."
"Don't you know what it is ? No, of course not. There are two types of Fables. Those who look human and can therefore blend into the crowd of Mundies, and those who have a more... original appearance. So they need magic, if they want to stay in town and not be sent to the Farm, with the creatures which are too big to be camouflaged, like dragons or unicorns. They ask the witches to sell them a glamour. Duncan, you and I don't need it. But, since he is a demon, I imagine Michael has certain traits which he cannot show to everyone."
"I don't understand. His face is not... his real face ?" wondered (Y/N).
"No. Well, yes and no, it's complicated. The real one is what you saw. He hadn't noticed that his glamour was not working anymore when he came to your room, to see if you were asleep. He tells Duncan he’s sorry he scared you. He’s ashamed. He wants him to go buy him a glamour and... not let us know that it was him so you will not be scared. Oops."
Jim bit his lips, realizing that he had said too much, but that was not the opinion of (Y/N), who didn't like having things hidden from her. She jumped up to run to the bedroom, where she saw Michael for a few seconds, before he evaporated into the shadows, leaving her with Duncan, who seemed embarrassed by the situation.
"Kitten... I... I didn't find anything. The sun has set, we could go out for..."
"Buy a glamour for Michael."
It surprised him that she knew, until the wolf joined them, with a small sorry smile, which indicated to him that it was his fault. But he couldn't guess it was Michael they were looking for. With the glamour, his smell was different, he hadn't recognized it. And without his glamour, (Y/N) didn't recognize him at all. She was afraid. She had fled. Michael was very angry with him for that.
"I want to see him." she said in a voice that was not as confident as what she would have liked.
"Duncan. I want to see him. ... Michael, please show yourself."
Slowly, a form came out of a dark corner of the room and the demon was there, with his disturbing aura, his hellish face, his dismal skin, his black eyes. Still, she could see the fear and sadness in his eyes as he stood before her, trembling slightly. She approached him to take him in her arms and it was he who seemed frightened. He didn't think she would want him in this shape.
"Sorry Michael..." she cried against him. "I didn't know it was you, otherwise I wouldn't have been afraid."
"It's not your fault, little fairy. I forgot that these stupid glamours have a deadline. I didn't want to disgust you."
"You don't disgust me ! I was surprised, that's all."
"In any case, I disgust our pup."
They all turned to Jim, who winced, his hand on his nose. But he reacted immediately.
"It's just the smell ! It's like sulphur. You usually smell a little like that, but less and with a sweeter scent, so it's okay. It has nothing to do with your face."
"I'm going to look for a glamour." announced Duncan with a smile, happy that his lovers accepted Michael as he was.
The vampire was the only one who had seen him like this before, without it being a concern for him. He found Michael magnificent in all his forms. If the demon did not want to show himself to the others, it was because he did not know if they could accept it. Now he knew, as Jim forced himself to breathe through his mouth so he could add to the hug, rubbing himself against Michael to try to cover his scent with his, while (Y/N) was looking at his face more closely, finding him less and less frightening as she ran her hands over his cheeks before kissing them. The demon let them, purring, until Duncan returned.
"You know Mikey, you don't have to put this on when you're home now." he laughed when he saw them all together.
"Certainly, but I'm used to it. I prefer that face."
"One day it will be your turn to show off your little nose and your wings."
Duncan was not pleased with this remark, as Michael's perfect sweet face reappeared and their two little lovers stared at him, wondering what they were hiding from them. Later, Jim, who had already transformed in front of her, explained to (Y/N) that vampires have many forms too. They had seen Duncan thirsty, a little scary. But as a bat ? Never. And after Michael said he was adorable when he was changed into a little flying rat, the vampire flatly refused to show them, despite all their pleas, cursing the demon.
