âWhat happened to you?â he said with a frown, he has been in his fair share of fights, so that happened to him, but because of his powers, the black eye didnât stay too long, only did before he was turned.
âI got in a fight - obviously.â Nikolai said, gesturing toward the marks upon his generally clear face. âI donât heal as fast as a vampire does - the bruises will be gone soon enough.â He wasnât envious of the others healing abilities - he much preferred being able to really feel something.Â
âThat doesnât look like a âIâm fineâ.â Ethan said with air quotes. He observed the male and shook his head, âHell if you look like that then Iâm assuming the other guy is dead.â
âI am.â Nikolai confirmed, already quite annoyed by the older mans presence. He had never been quite good at hiding his emotions. âHe probably wishes he were dead. - But thatâs no where near my problem.â
âGood.â Silas said once he had wrapped a towel around his waist, watching the cat take its human form and walk around like he was home. Partly it pissed him off, yet there was a part of him that was very much ok with this. âIâm not assuming anything. Iâm hoping itâs not you, but you have to admit that it looks suspicious that you pop up now. Had it been the other way around youâd have suspected me too.â He said as he moved around the sofa, eyes glancing over the other while his brows furrowed.Â
It was clear to see the young shifter had been in some sort of fight, cuts and bruises decorating his body. âwhat the fuck happened to you? Who did this?â He said in a commanding tone, cupping the boyâs chin to have a good look at his face. âWhat trouble are you in now and donât tell me itâs nothing, itâs clear to see this isnât nothing.â
âItâs definitely not me.â Nikolai admitted - heâd killed before, but that wasnât something he made a habit of doing. And that particular instance was years ago when he was much younger. And that was something the shifter rarely if ever talked about. âYou know I go were I please and I tent to gravitate toward places that are more open to our kind.â It was the truth - Nikolai couldnât stay in one place for long, he was always moving. He just happened to find himself here in the midst of a small town murder.Â
âWhat?â He asked, noticing the worry in Silasâ tone. He brushed him off with a wave of his hand. But the other was cupping his chin and forcing him to look up at him. âNo one important. Itâs nothing.â He said, taking a step back in an attempt to keep his distance. He fought often and made good money when he won said fight. It may have been on the illegal side according to council rules - but the cat had never been one for following those. âAnd yet, Iâm telling you itâs nothing. Iâm in no trouble.â Currently - who was to say what would happen in his near future, considering the happenings about this small town.
Your dominant hues are red and magenta. You love doing your own thing and going on your own adventures, but there are close friends you know you just canât leave behind. You can influence others on days when youâre patient, but most times you just want to go out, have fun, and do your own thing.
Your saturation level is high - you get into life and have a strong personality. Everyone you meet will either love you or hate you - either way, your goal is to get them to change the world with you. You are very hard working and donât have much patience for people without your initiative.
Your outlook on life is slightly darker than most peopleâs. You try to see things for what they are and face situations honestly. Youâd rather get to the point than look for whatâs good.
âI live here, you turn up when a murder has happened?! Weâre gonna talk. But hey, if you want me to fucking drop you, I will!â Silas near shouted in his mind, mostly because adrenaline was coursing through him. Not that he minded seeing Nik again but not under these circumstances, the cat appearing right around the time the murder took place. It was suspicious and he could right now only hope the young shifter had nothing to do with it.
He flew a little higher, knowing the young one didnât like heights, having a good hold on him but not too tight as he didnât want to injure him with his talons. Silas flew right home and into the window he always left open for himself to fly in, threw the black cat right into the couch before landing himself in front of the window to make sure Nik couldnât escape, and shifted back to his human form while keeping his eyes on the other. He huffed when he wrapped a nearby towel around his waist. âShow yourself.â The command was simple, yet firm, making sure the boy knew it was probably best for him right now to obey.Â
âClearly I have bad timing.â Some how the young shifter managed to deadpan his words in his head, no humor whatsoever as he practically went limp in Silasâ talons. He really, really hated heights - and the other fucking knew that. But when he was flown through an open window and thrown toward a couch - the cat twisted in the air and managed to land on his feet. ( No matter the lack of grace achieved. ) Claws out and fur up, the feline growled and hissed his evident displeasure at the current situation he found himself in. Taking in his new surroundings, Nikolai knew he wouldnât be able to get out of the room this way.
Leaping off the couch, the cat shifted in midair before landing in his naked, human form before the other. Tilting his head, Nikolai rolled green eyes up at the older male. âIâve shown myself.â There was sarcasm and anger clear in his tone as he turned away to face the rest of the room, tension clearly running high in them both. Heâd once lived with Silas for a time, before they had gone their separate ways. So when he found his way to a closet, he walked about the room confidently, and as if he owned it. Finding a pair of sweats, he put them on. âItâs insulting that you would assume the murderer to be me, old man.â
A murder had been committed. How? No one knew, but Silas blamed himself for it. Though he was quite the workaholic plus loving flying around, that night he had decided to stay in, catch up on some rest. A mistake, he knew now. someone had paid the ultimate price, but for what? The general message didnât make it better, a rogue werewolf or shifter. Was it someone of his own kind?Â
Many questions reigned his tortured mind as he flew over the city, looking out for anything suspicious but mostly seeing who was outside at this late hour. His eyes scanned the area and far beyond, when something caught his eyes. For most hard to notice as the little creature was dark as the night itself. Normally cats wouldnât catch his attention but there was something about the way this one moved, itâs form and shape too familiar, but it couldnât be who he thought it was? âYouâve got to be kidding me.â He thought to himself, flying a little lower but staying out of hearing distance. The closer he got, the more sure he was that this wasnât an ordinary housecat, this was one he had met before. One he knew all too well even if it had been years. His behaviour on the ground told the old bird enough. What if the cat had something to do with the murder? Silas decided not to take a chance and started a full dive right down, only shrieking loudly to announce his presence right before he grabbed the small creature with his large claw, flying right back up. âWhat the fuck are you doing here?!â Words shooting through his mind, knowing the boy could probably hear it while he flew straight home with a firm hold on his now prey.
@xxxnikolai
Of course Nikolai always happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time it seemed. He hadnât witnessed the murder first hand, but heâd seen enough and smelled enough with his keen animal senses to know that it was bad. Heâd only been at Confessions that morning, hidden up in the buildings rafters as he was still new to town and heâd only been looking for a place to sleep for a few hours. Being a cat, it was easier than most for him to get in and out of place completely unnoticed. And the things he did for a living were already shady at best.Â
So as the shifter kept low to the ground, creeping through the alleyways and occasional rooftops that night, there was practically a witch hunt out on the streets that night. The murderer yet to be found or identified. Nikolaiâs kind was suspected - and that wasnât good for him. But he hadnât expected anyone to actually come after him. But when he was suddenly scooped up off the ground - his paws no longer planted to the earth, the cat froze in fear. In the air now, Nikolai tried to quickly comprehend what was happening to him as he realized heâd been caught in the sharp talons of a large bird. One wrong move and those talons would stab through his dark fur. The voice Nikolai found screaming in his head was all too familiar to him. âI could ask you the same fucking thing! Now put me the hell down!â He thought back, hissing in distress - it had been a couple years since heâd seen Silas. But he had always had hated heights. If he let go of him, he wasnât confident he would land on his feet from such a high position.Â
âYou know there are healers who specifically know about the way shifters heal, right?â She said, slow, fighting back a begrudgingly amused grin. She shrugged, digging her phone out of her pocket to check it, something to do with restless energy. âMaybe. Do you want scars? Trying to be dashing?â
âRight - but Iâm not one for being poked and messed with - plus...â Nikolai shook his head, green eyes squinting in distrust. âI donât fuck around with magic, of any kind.â He trusted his own body and his shifts, but witches and their spell work was something different. âI fucked a witch once and they literally tried to make me their pet.â He shook his head at the thought, sensing her amusement. âB- Iâm already dashing.âÂ
âYouâre down to a handful at most Iâd say.â He hadnât been keeping the best track plus he was sure some had been hidden from even him. A smirk tugged at his lips âI would miss you, you are my main source of fun in this place. Lately itâs been a real drag.â he admitted sliding Nik a drink as he poured himself one as well.Â
âSomething like that - yeah.â Was the shifter worried? No. Not in the slightest. Nikolai was just as much a thrill seeker as heâd ever been and he wouldnât be stopping any time soon. He shrugged his shoulders, though he was in agreement with the vampires words as he took the offered drink. âWell, there was that body found over by Confessions this morning.â
âListen, man, I wanna believe you, but with a shiner like that one, I get the feeling the other guy is saying the same thing about you.â Cal took in otherâs bruised up face, shaking his head after a moment. âAre you going to tell me who did this? Or is it the type of fight you donât want to report?â
âI highly doubt it, but okay.â Nikolai said with a shrug of his shoulders. He didnât need to prove himself, especially with the thick wad of cash in his pocket from the fight earlier that evening. âItâs the kind you donât report - and sorry, I donât generally spend time talking to cops.â
She was unused to feeling protective over anyone, and it was an odd and overpowering feeling. She knew he could handle himself â hell, even those bruises proved he could handle himself, so she tried to wave the feeling away. Still, she worried. âI didnât ask if you thought it was going to heal,â she said, raising her brows at him, âI asked if you went to a healer to check.â
Nikolai huffed, unable to mask annoyance in his current state. He wasnât used to others caring about him. But Bianca always seemed quite concerned, and yet he never seemed to have the appropriate responses. âNo, I didnât go to a healer.â He never did. It seemed pointless when the injuries would heal in a few hours anyway. âShould I?â His lips upturned into a smirk. âThink Iâll have some permanent scars?â
Lucien looked the shifter up and down shaking his head as he took a long inhale of his cigarette. Here Nik was getting into all kinds of trouble, per usual it seemed. âIâm starting to wonder when these nine lives of yours are going to run out.âÂ
Nikolai rolled his eyes at the vampire as he sat across from him at the bar. âWhat, am I down to like four now? Iâve lost track.â His bruised face twisted up into a pained smile. âLetâs hope I donât lose them all - youâd miss me to much.â
âHmm define âfineâ cause no offense, the other guy should be worried for himself,â Londen said looking at the young man cocking her head.  âStill on your feet though, so I suppose that is something,â she grinned.
âI suppose he should be.â Nikolaiâs face would have held an expression of mocked concern had it not been so battered and bruised. âBut thatâs not my problem.â He shrugged his shoulders, no ounce of apology in his stance. âDonât we cats always land on our feet though?âÂ
âYour face looks like a mess,â Bia said, bluntly, reaching out to touch his chin and turn his face to look at the bruises. Her concern was hidden behind something like iron in her, but it was there; she tilted her head, and let him go, frowning.  âDid you see someone to check itâs healing properly?â
Nikolai reached up to shoo Biancaâs hand away from his injured face, but he was unsuccessful. He chalked this up to being wholefully tired - going rounds with werewolves could do that to a guy. âYou know it will heal, B. It always does.â He said, trying to hide the wince as she examined his bruises with cool fingers - they were like ice. The young shifter would be lying if he said he didnât desire more of that - when compared to the makeshift ice-pack of frozen peas that had been there previously.Â
Have you spotted [NIKOLAI VEGA] walking about town recently? People say they look a lot like [Â CODY CHRISTIAN ]. [HE] is a [CAT SHIFTER], [PANSEXUAL] and is [TWENTY-THREE] years old. They [ DO NOT ] wear a brand and are currently an [ UNDERGROUND FIGHTER ]. [HE] is known to be quite [-TEMPERAMENTAL, -SARCASTIC, and -ALOOF], but some also say [HE] is known to be [+CONFIDENT, +DARING, and +INDEPENDENT]. But not everyone is as they seem.
Nikolai didnât have a very normal childhood. Found crying and screaming his tiny lungs out in an alleyway one night in the pouring rain, the infant was snatched up and sent straight to the hospital for evaluation. Alone and clearly abandoned, doctors were shocked when he made a full recovery. Soon after, Child Protective Services placed him in a foster home. From what he could remember of those first few years, the memories were not pleasant. Smaller than the other boys his age, quieterâhe was the perfect target for harassment and bullying. That wasâuntil he started fighting back.
He wasnât like the other children, and he always felt different, like he didnât belong. He was an outsider even though they were all living in the same sort of hell. This small boy developed a backbone and temper early on. Some were frightened of him; they didnât trust the look in his eyes. Others challenged him and many adults kept their distance. He had to learn to fight and take what was his or there would have been no survival for him. This however came easier than expected. Nikolai liked to think he had a sixth sense of sorts, one he could not explain, but embraced wholeheartedly. He could hear and see better, had faster reflexes, could fall out of a tree and land on his feet where he should have broken bones. Having no one to really confide in, the young boy kept these oddities to himself. Past around from foster home to foster home, Nikolai eventually became just another child lost in the system.
At fourteen, he was taken in by a couple that saw him as nothing more than a pay check, or so he thought. He attracted the darker side of the husband who sought to teach the stubborn boy his lessons with a belt and any number of other punishments the sadistic man could dream up. He hated him and for a long time, Nikolai merely accepted his fate, went along and allowed them to think he was broken. But by this time, something else was already churning within him: the lust for blood and a darkly rooted thirst for revenge. He stayed to protect; he was stronger than the younger children in this couples care. He could take it. He healed faster, could withstand more. And one night, after two years of hell and the physiological scars to prove it, something finally snapped within Nikolai. He was all claws and teeth, tearing into a jugular as if the predator within him had done it a million times before. The man deserved an even worse fate. But terrified by what heâd done, confused and ultimately horrified with himself and what he was truly capable of, the young shifter ran as far away as he could.
Leaving everything bottled up only made things worse on Nikolai as he grew older. He refused to let the animal free until it would force its way out of him. He refused to accept what he was, and again had nowhere to turn. Eventually he was found in the middle of a bar fight by anotherâa shifter like him. Bloody and bruised it was at this point he learned, and accepted. Got sense knocked back into him. Even learned to use this ability to his advantage like he had done years ago as a young child. Using his skills in underground fights, he was smaller and didnât look like much in comparison and that was exactly what he wanted. To be underestimated. Nikolai took down men half his size. He was quick, lethal. And better yet, he enjoyed the thrill, the adrenaline rush. The pain. It was intoxicating.
At twenty-three, a Cheshire like confidence and enough cash in his pockets, Nikolai learned through the grape vein of a  town called Stone Coast where supernaturals thrived. Wanting for once to be with his kind, be a part of something bigger, needing another fix, another distraction: he made his way there. Stone Coast was surely quite the distraction.Â
