Dedication and copyright

To those who don't look away.

But if you thought Two of a Kind was too much, you may want to skip this one.

Copyright © 2017 by amenon (key ID 267C5E47)

The world and the notable characters are originally from Twokinds (http://2kinds.com), by Thomas J. Fischbach, and were used under the auspices of Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 US licensing. No endorsement of this work by the licensor is implied.

This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

Dead of Night

Natani slowed down as they approached the bedroom door, then came to a stop with his hand on the doorknob. Alaric could hear nothing from within. All was quiet in the house, except for the soft patter of rain on the roof. The wolf drew a deep breath, held it, then let it out in a slow exhalation, radiating new calmness. Another heartbeat, and Natani opened the door.

Alaric followed the wolf in. A single lamp on the bedstand illuminated the room, pushing back the night. Zen was lying in the big bed, with Keith kneeling by his side, leaning over the gray wolf. Had they just kissed? Both turned to the newcomers. Zen looked... tired, but still had his usual glint of mischief.

He didn't look like he was dying.

Zen smiled at him, and Alaric could tell the wolf had caught his thought. But Zen didn't say anything to him, looking to Natani instead. "Any luck with Maddie?"

Natani shook his head. "No, but there's still..." He closed his eyes, and half the crystals on his necklace lit up. The thrum of magic was so powerful it set Alaric's teeth on edge. But after mere moments, the light faded. Natani opened his eyes and looked at Zen, his regret plain as day. "No. She must be traveling."

Zen nodded, accepting, then turned to Keith, still kneeling by his side. "Tell her..." and Zen whispered something to Keith, too low for Alaric to pick out. Keith listened, and laughed, but the laughter turned to tears. Zen pulled him close, soothing him, and Alaric's heart constricted.

This was really happening.

It was too soon.

Alaric felt Natani's hand on his shoulder. The wolf was looking at him, the pain in his eyes calling out to the pain inside Alaric. He hesitated for the briefest moment, then put his own hand on top of Natani's and reached out to the wolf. Their minds came softly into contact, and they shared what comfort they could. It was the most intimate thing they'd ever done.

There's nothing we can do?

Nothing that he'll allow.

... And we have to honor that?

Natani went still for a moment, poised; then flashed to amusement. Sometimes, you have to let go. From amusement to tenderness, as the wolf leaned down to kiss him on the forehead. Thank you.

Alaric hadn't been kidding, though.

They let the connection fade, but Natani left his hand on Alaric's shoulder, and Alaric his on top. Zen and Keith had finished, and the basitin had pulled away, wiping his tears. Zen looked at Keith, love obvious. The wolf smiled. "Oh, and tell her... that cutesy thing she does? Worked every time."

Keith laughed, and wiped fresh tears from his eyes. "I will. I think she might know, but I will."

Zen nodded, and turned to Natani. "Natani... this is it. I'm grateful, but when I slip, you let me go. Okay? You hold the link closed."

There were tears in Natani's eyes now. "I... yeah. I will."

Zen extended his arm, and Natani stepped closer, taking his hand from Alaric's shoulder. The wolves clasped forearms, and Zen looked at Natani, serious. "You hold it."

"Yeah." Natani swallowed. "I'll... see you later, brother."

Zen gave his brother's arm one last squeeze, then let go. "Yeah. Later."

Natani nodded and stepped back, next to Keith. The basitin put an arm around the wolf.

"Keith..." Zen just looked at the basitin, and his expression said everything. "You know."

"Yeah." Keith wiped his tears again. "And I won't ever forget. I promise."

Zen nodded at the basitin, then beckoned him closer. Keith came. The wolf tousled his hair, and something about it, the care he took, said it was for the last time. Zen let his touch play over Keith's ears, softly caressing, speaking his love. For the last time. Alaric stood and watched, his heart tight in his chest.

Keith leaned in to kiss Zen, taking his time with it. The wolf slowly wrapped his arms around the basitin's neck, and Zen half-pulled Keith onto the bed to give his response. He was even slower to let Keith go, but eventually he did, laughing quietly. "To the last, huh?"

Keith buried his face in the wolf's mane. "Yeah."

They parted with one last look, needing no more words. Keith took Natani's hand, then looked at Alaric and touched him on the shoulder. Alaric almost couldn't bear to look back. Keith's expression made it undeniable.

He could hear the smile in Zen's voice, even now. "And now... I think I need to say goodbye to this idiot in private."

Natani and Keith nodded and, with lingering looks, left the room, closing the door behind them.

Alaric stood there, looking at the wolf. Nora wouldn't help, and he'd had little luck even reaching any of the other dragons. But maybe if Natani...

"Nick?" Zen's voice was gentle. "There's nothing you can do."

Alaric met the wolf's eyes, and saw the truth of his words. The possibilities in his mind narrowed, collapsing into each other until the only thing that remained was this moment. He was out of time.

Nick sighed. "Yes there is. I can be here."

Zen grinned. "You always were the smart one."

And you always knew how to get me.

Nick knelt at the wolf's bedside, and Zen reached out to stroke his cheek. 'I'm yours.' How could he, at a time like this...? Tears welling in his eyes, Nick fumbled to return the gesture. Zen smiled at him, wiping away his tears. "Does this bother you?"

Nick stared, incredulous.

Zen stuck his tongue out. "I mean that whole 'dying nobly in battle' thing your people have going on."

"Ah." It hadn't even crossed his mind. Why was that? "I tried it once. It wasn't all it was cracked up to be." Zen laughed at that, his pure, honest amusement so familiar, and so precious, that Nick couldn't help but smile. "Besides, the basitin fear is being... feeble. Infirm." And Zen looked as well as he ever had. Tired, that was all.

The wolf smiled. "Magic has its uses. But there are limits."

"There really isn't anything...?"

Zen shook his head. "I'm on borrowed time. I would have gone in my sleep, but Natani felt it and... I can't explain any of it. But it cost him more than it got me." The wolf stroked Nick's cheek again. "That I get to say goodbye is as much of a miracle as I can ask for. So if Natani tries again..." Zen sighed, then smiled wryly. "Well, if I can't stop him, Keith will. But I think he'll let me go now."

Nick swallowed his tears. "He will."

The wolf nodded slowly. "And... will you?"

Nick looked at Zen. It was impossible. "... do I have to?"

Zen was quiet for a long moment, but his hands filled the silence, caressing Nick's ears, ever so careful. Comforting. Eventually, the wolf started to find his words. "With wolves, it's... I used to think that it was... pride, you know? That people wanted to die with some dignity, not... railing against the world. Not being unseemly. But... that isn't it at all. I get that now."

"Then... what is it?"

There were tears in Zen's eyes, now. "You, Natani, Keith... Maddie... would I ever leave any of you? But... it's the last choice you can make, when there are no choices left." The wolf's voice cracked. "It's the last goddamn thing you can ever do for the people you love. So you do it. You let go, so they can let you go."

And you let them go, so they don't have to rail against the world. Nick's eyes filled with tears as the last of his stratagems crumbled away, unworthy. Zen pulled him into an embrace, and Nick buried his face in the wolf's chest tuft, Zen's scent enveloping him. For the last time. The wolf's winter coat wasn't quite in yet, and it never would be. Nick would never see that again.

There were so many things he would never see again.

But this wasn't the time for that. His heart near to bursting, Nick pulled away and wiped his tears. "Okay."

Zen had his own to wipe. "Okay?"

"I'll let you go. But it's under duress. Would never hold up in court."

Zen laughed. "That sounds about right. But... thank you. That makes it a little easier."

Nick stroked the wolf's cheek. "For you... anything."

Zen flashed his grin. "A last kiss for the dying?"

How could he not? Nick kissed Zen, pouring out all his love, and the wolf responded in kind. They spoke wordlessly of all they had had. All that would be lost... but wasn't, not yet. They looked at each other, smile meeting smile, love meeting love.

"Any other last requests?"

Zen arched an eyebrow, thoughtful. "Try not to make too much trouble for the world?"

Nick had to grin. "I can't promise that."

The wolf feigned a sigh. "Ah well. History will remember that I tried."

Nick stuck out his tongue. "If I tell history."

Zen smiled at him. "You will. And you know what they say, it's the winners that get to tell it."

Nick's heart caught. "... yeah. I will."

"... how about one last kiss?"

I thought you already had that. But of course, he kissed the wolf. Playful, this time, teasing him for having asked more than once... and Zen responded, reminding him what happens to teases. One last time.

The wolf sighed. "I should warn you, there's every chance that getting an erection would literally kill me right now."

Oh, you idiot. Nick laughed. "Better be careful, then."

Zen stroked his cheek, one last time. "I always am."

"... yeah."

"... one more?"

He leaned in.

It really was the last one.