Hunting isn't always easy in the middle of a war... (for like_a_gerbil)

[legacyofiron]

He'd made a decision the moment the different covens and packs started choosing a side that he would not stand for it. After centuries of never choosing one coven to align with, he made it clear at that last gathering that war was no place for their kind. That no matter what they believed, bringing attention to themselves would only result int the annihilation of their entire blood lines. Not there would be loved lost... he held not love for most of the groups that made their choice.

He and many others were forced to this. Forced to make a choice and choose a side. They picked the side that did not believe in mass genocide. Each in their own way had to make a decision. Tony just preferred to work alone. It made things simpler. Easier to deal with in his conscience. Too bad that all ended after a particular meeting with a soldier far too young to be what he was changed into... one that should not be in a war but had to anyway.

Especially when said soldier seemed to follow him since they met. In fact, he stopped in the middle of the woods somewhere deep in German territory and growled a little. "If you insist on following me, at least do me the courtesy of either being unnoticeable or forget all pretense and walk with me." A soft squeak punctuated his words from his shirt pocket under his heavy black coat. Where the sun didn't kill him, it hurt to be in it for long periods without something between him and its light.

Peeking inside at the bat, he arched a brow and spoke in a hushed tone. "I promise he will not eat you. There is not nearly enough meat on you."

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[like_a_gerbil]

It had taken some getting used to. Three nights every month he turned four footed and furry. He could also shift when he needed to but Steve tried to keep those changes to a minimum since it made it less likely that someone would realize what he was. It was strange to think about. Werewolves were something that were supposed to be in books not fighting in a war. But at least the serum had worked and Steve was grateful that he had survived and was healthy. It was a fair trade for that gift.

Then that surprise was followed by another. By accident he'd met with a vampire in the middle of the woods... one that had set the wolf in the back of his mind playing like a pup, whining something that Steve translated as 'This one'.

So... he'd done what those wolfish instincts told him. He followed Tony. Not because Steve didn't trust him or he thought he was going to kill some innocent person. It was that instinct that Steve couldn't ignore that pushed him to follow.

He kept to the shadows, following not as silently as he could, but quiet enough that most beings wouldn't notice him. He figured that trying to hide from Tony could result in Tony trying to put some kind of silver weapon in him. "You didn't say I could walk with you."

Despite not meaning to eavesdrop, he could hear the bat and Tony's reassurances. "That's not a nice thing to say to him. I'm not going to eat him because I don't eat friends not because he's little."

[legacyofiron]

Turning just slightly, his gloved hand moved to rest on the hilt of a sword that peeked out from under his coat. Not in the threatening way. No, just the palm to the pommel as he waited for the young werewolf to emerge from hiding. "I do not care to feel like I am being followed or hunted. It does havoc on my nerves when I'm doing something that already risks my existence so extensively. So... walking with me is preferable to being shadowed, if you don't mind."

He knew who the young 'pup' was. In fact, he helped in the creation of the super soldier serum that Erskine created by supplying willing donors of DNA for both vampire and werewolf... he simply couldn't shake the shock of realizing what he'd done to the man that wanted so badly to be someone that could fight. It made his hackles smooth down a little as he waited for Rogers to catch up to him.

"I am glad to know you won't eat him. Good grouchy friends are hard to come by." The squeak sounded again and the corner of his lips quirked upward. "He... 'appreciates' the gesture. But I don't think he sounds convinced just yet. I did tell him he could stay in the states, but he rather be here."

One gloved finger slid in to softly rub the bat's back. It soothed him slightly and the little creature started to drift back off into slumber. "Tell me, captain... any particular reason why you are following me and not returning to your Howling Commandos? Because I assure you... I am only out to take the heads of those that picked the wrong side of this war." His eyes darkened further as he looked off into the woods blankly. "There are some sins even I cannot forgive..."

[like_a_gerbil]

Tensing slightly when he noticed Tony reach for the sword, he forced back the whine that lingered in the back of his throat. 'This one' wasn't supposed to threaten him unless it was part of... something that Steve still didn't understand but knew could be part of whatever this was. "I told you that I wouldn't hunt you." Following was different. Something that Steve couldn't resist. "I didn't mean to make you feel shadowed."

It made him wonder how Tony saw him. As someone who waited for him to make a mistake so that he could kill him or did he see Steve as an ally?

A look of distaste crossed his features at the thought of eating the bat. Even if it hadn't been Tony's pet it wasn't something either wolf or human wanted to snack on. "Uh... Even if he wasn't a friend, I don't eat when I'm in wolf form and bats aren't uh... I think they'd disagree with me when I'm like this."

As he spoke, he realized how that could sound. "But I won't... even if I was starving I wouldn't... he's your friend so I couldn't." Why did he he have to stutter and sound like an idiot in front of Tony?

Ignoring his embarrassment, Steve tried to figure out how best to answer that question. Honestly, he didn't know why he was following. Curiosity wasn't a believable excuse and the real reason seemed too crazy to say aloud. 'The wolf in my head wants me to follow you and howl at the moon when I can't be around you' probably wouldn't get the best reaction. Especially if he did end up howling at the moon. "I - uh - I don't know why I'm following you. I know you're not going to hurt anyone who isn't dangerous. It's something else but I don't know what."

[legacyofiron]

Noting that tension, he removed his hand from the sword made of silver to let him relax. "Sorry, habit of stance." Sending him a slight smile, he arched a brow at the other. "I don't feel any malevolent intent. Your kind... your scent changes just slightly when you become angry or have a target."

Relaxing a little, he inclined his head to indicate moving on. He found no point in standing around in the middle of the woods instead of continuing progress. He knew Steve's alignment. He knew from the moment he tracked down Erskine's candidate that he spoke so highly of. "I honestly don't think that bat would taste good. But where I eat normal food to put up a front, taste is a little lost on me." Though, he loved coffee still.

"You are now a hunter, captain. Settling for a spindly bat would be silly if you were hungry."

Pausing in his walking, he glanced at the younger curiously. "You are a very interesting individual, Steve Rogers." Whether wolf or man, Steve proved a puzzle to him. Tony found it amazing that he failed to lose interest in the young soldier. "Does this mean I need to walk you home?" He grinned at that, surprised he didn't mind the idea at all.

[like_a_gerbil]

"It's okay. I know that werewolves aren't friendly with vampires." Steve didn't really think of himself as a werewolf but he did shift and that made him close enough to cause Tony to be edgy. And he had been lurking, which wasn't the best way to reassure the elder that he wasn't dangerous. "I don't know if I count as that kind." Pausing, Steve considered how well he followed orders and how he reacted to bullies. "It's probably better if I'm not like the others."

Smiling wryly as he walked beside Tony, he glanced at the pocket that held the bat. "I'm not a hunter. I'm a soldier. But no matter how bad rations get, I wouldn't eat a bat." Focusing on the woods around them, he tried to detect any sign that they were being followed but couldn't sense anyone. "We probably shouldn't talk about that around him. It'll make him even more nervous."

When Tony stopped, Steve gave him a confused look, unsure of what the elder might have noticed that he hadn't. Then, his confusion shifted to another subject. "Huh? Why would you walk me home?" He could take care of himself, especially now that he was part wolf. Even if the wolf seemed to think the idea of Tony going home with him was a great idea and wanted him to say yes.

[legacyofiron]

"It really depends on methods and ethics between covens and packs to be honest. I have friends... or rather, allies that are werewolves." Pausing, he looked over the younger curiously. "Where you are not by nature a werewolf, you have many attributes." His voice was more thoughtful than condescending. A flicker of a smile slid over his lips as he met the other's eyes. "You're right... you are much better. In more ways than you know..."

"Soldier... a damn good one." He nodded at that, looking proud on multiple levels, he stood a little taller... which felt too short suddenly to him. It made his head duck as he smiled to himself. "He went back to sleep. He is nocturnal. I am too... I just learn to just not sleep much."

Still taking in the looks of the younger man, he found himself grinning a little. He had a feeling he knew what might be happening... probably something similar he felt when he'd observed him before Steve changed. "If you will not go back and you are inclined to follow me... then I should lead you home." His voice turned playful before he reached out to lightly tap the star on his chest. "You have a big part in this war... I can't keep you to myself. As much as your company is growing on me..."

[like_a_gerbil]

"So it's not weird that we're talking instead of trying to kill each other?" Steve was trying to learn but he wasn't exactly welcomed by either group. "Am I like anything else out there?" Part of him homed that he wasn't since it didn't seem like most supernatural beings were the type of people he wanted to associate with but he also didn't like the idea of being alone. The Howling Commandos were his pack but part of him didn't like the idea of not having someone else that really was pack.

Realizing how it must have sounded when he'd said 'better', he flushed slightly. "I didn't mean... I'm not better than anyone else. I just don't think I'd fit in with a normal pack. And since I'm not a normal werewolf..." If packs were anything like his old neighborhood, he'd constantly have to prove himself if he did end up in a pack.

"Thank you. This is what I always wanted." As he spoke, his blush brightened. Trying to ignore how pleased he was over that compliment he focused on Tony instead. "You shouldn't go without sleep too much. Especially when you're nocturnal. It can't be good for you." Steve didn't really know how vampire physiology worked but there had to be a point when even a vampire needed sleep. Usually that point happened at the worst time. The thought caused him to swallow hard, startled at how worry tightened his chest.

He liked Tony. He respected him and thought of him as a friend. He was something else according to the wolf even if Steve didn't know what that was. But that didn't explain the ache he felt when he thought of Tony being hurt.

"I don't need someone to lead me home, but..." His tone was teasing until Tony moved closer and touched his chest. Then he forgot whatever else he had planned to say. Breath stuttering, Steve had to remind himself to breathe. Which was a bad idea because suddenly he caught Tony's scent and... "You smell good."

Why did he have to blurt that out? He sounded like an idiot. Or worse, he sounded like he couldn't control the wolfish part of himself. "I - uh - sorry. I didn't mean to say that out loud. I - sorry."

[legacyofiron]

"Well.. I suppose it all depends what side of the moral line you fall on. Or if a vampire decided to sleep with the alpha's sister and all that fun stuff." Tony grinned at him, making light of the supernatural community was his forte. "You are nothing like anything else out there. You show more traits to a werewolf... but your mind set is your own. You are not easily influenced by that pack mentality. I rather liked that about you. Especially when I realized you showed any traits at all."

Angling his head, he smirked just slightly. "I did not mean it that way. But I would think it plausible even still. I meant your character traits are far preferable and desirable in any person, regardless of race." Shaking his head, he glanced at the sky over the rim of his sunglasses and gauged when the sun would set. "I have never wanted a coven. Groups run a large risk of becoming political... stale and set in their ways. I have never met any group of people I wished to stay with. I think being a free agent is safer. Me personally, of course."

Pausing at the concern, he cocked his head to the side, his eyebrows furrowing at the unusual show of feelings. "One less vampire in the world, right? I have things I need to do, captain... sometimes sleep doesn't align properly with those things. I made myself a pretty big target by aligning with the United States government. I doubt I'd be safe sleeping too often."

Chuckling, he shook his head. "No, you don't. But if it helps..." He trailed off as he realized Steve's mind flicked to another train of thought. His dark gaze, even behind the glasses, looked curious until Steve blurted out those words. Blinking a few times, he stared. "I... what?" He looked stunned as every line of thought came to a complete halt. "I do? I generally don't have a smell.. you know, vampire thing..."

Huh. Strange indeed. But not unwelcome. It rather sent a warm feeling coursing through his veins to realize Steve liked something about him. "No... thank you. I don't get compliments usually. Unless it's on my inventing and genius."

[like_a_gerbil]

Sometimes Steve could barely keep up when Tony talked to him. Not because of his genius even if he didn't understand the science behind most of Tony's inventions but because the supernatural world was still completely new to him. He knew Tony was joking - or mostly joking - about vampires and werewolves, but he couldn't help wondering if Tony felt that way.

Did he think that werewolves were beneath him and was only helping because Steve was one of his inventions? No, that couldn't be why. Tony acted like he liked him and Steve doubted that he'd put on that act just to spare Steve's feelings. "Does that mean that werewolves are supposed to hate vampires? If they are, I'm less wolf-like than I thought."

Smiling wryly, he considered the idea of pack and the loneliness he sometimes felt. "I don't think it'd be good if I ended up in a traditional pack. I wouldn't deal well with an alpha. The Commandos will have to be my only pack."

Trying to fight back his blush, he tried to think of what to say that didn't sound foolish or arrogant. He didn't see himself as special but Doctor Erskine and Tony had. "Thank you." That was safe at least. And polite. Polite was good. Probably the best he could manage while he was shying away from the idea of Tony not wanting to be around anyone... and from the idea of Tony being killed.

"What?" Did Tony really think that Steve wanted him dead? "No, I don't want... You're too important to be just 'one less vampire.' There has to be someone who can watch over the area while you sleep. If you don't rest you'll be putting yourself in danger and risking the people you're trying to save."

Maybe the thought of Tony being in danger or being lost was what caused him to lean closer, breathing in the scent that had kept teasing him since they'd met. When he realized what he'd done, Steve gave the elder a nervous smile. "It's faint but it's there. Degreaser and Vibranium."

The Vibranium shouldn't be there since Tony hadn't handled the shield recently but there was always a trace of it on the elder. "And something else. Dunno what it is but it's amazing." Maybe that was something that was just unique to Tony.

"I like your genius too." He really shouldn't keep talking but now that he was so close to Tony he couldn't seem to stop saying whatever came to mind. "I like a lot of things about you."

[legacyofiron]

"Hm.. probably back in the beginning perhaps. Things change over time. There are progressives though that made peace. I was one of the ones that just wanted to stay out of it all." Glancing at the blonde, he smirked playfully. "I'm full vampire and if that is the case I am a retarded vampire." Yes, he beamed proudly at that... even if it hinted to the strange alluring feel to Steve every time he came near to him.

"No, you're too good to hang out with the dunces. I have to admit, I read the files on the commandos. They are a particularly amusing bunch. Very loyal. So... yeah, they would be a good enough pack." He'd studied each of their files curiously. Looking for little details of what really drove Steve Rogers forward. That had simply been curiosity fed by memories of the small blonde in Brooklyn turned into the idol of the American people.

It actually relieved him how the entire man before carried over into the man that now stood with him. He still smelled the same with just a few added scents. He just never expected to have the blonde look so terribly disturbed at his own morbid humor. "My stand in is pretty smart too, you know. He can do it all without me." Why did he want to press the issue?

He liked hearing Steve tell him he was more than... this.

And with the younger pressing so close and breathing him in, Tony thought he might shake apart. His eyes closed slowly at the sound of the description of just what smells his flesh carried when it shouldn't carry anything at all. Steve was too close... terribly close. He could almost feel the pulse of the blood through his veins and it sent that shock of desire through him that had his canines sharpening slightly.

His eyes were shifting in hue, almost black as he let his gaze slide down Steve's neck. He seemed to lose conscious thought as his hand reached out to slide into the soft blonde hair and tangle there. "You are... You know..." He almost choked on a laugh. "This could be mistaken for courtship in my kind's eyes."

[like_a_gerbil]

"I'm glad that things have changed." Steve had the feeling that if they hadn't, things would have been ugly when they'd first met. Even if there was supposed to be hatred between them, he doubted he could have fought Tony let alone do something more violent. "I don't like the idea of us hating each other."

Grinning at the mention of his pack, he felt strangely pleased that Tony approved of the Commandos. "They are. They're the best kind since they chose to be part of the pack." Hopefully, they'd like Tony as well.

Before he realized it, a soft growl caught in his throat at the idea of Tony not being important. "It's not about how smart you are or how smart he is. You're more than just your genius or a vampire. You're special. Important." Nothing would change that belief.

That annoyance slipped away when Tony didn't pull away and let him keep breathing in his scent. The wolf kept catching traces of things that Steve couldn't put words to but both sides of his nature thought was perfect. "There's other things too. They mix together into something that's you."

Which was intoxicating in its own strange way. His breath stuttered when he noticed Tony's eyes and somehow that made everything better, making him more forward than he'd ever considered.

Humming softly, he wanted to lean into the fingers in his hair but after Tony mentioned courting, he couldn't resist moving closer and brushing his lips lightly against Tony's neck. "Is that what's going on?"