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Alexandre unlocked the door to his apartment with a heavy sigh. He had done his best to sleep off what Élise called a ‘shifting hangover’ while she drove him back from the farm to his job, but it was a lingering annoyance throughout his shift. On top of that, Alexandre was still getting used to seeing Valixia smiling back at him from every reflective surface. He really wondered how Élise and her family handled it.

He plopped down on his beat-up couch with a can of sparkling water and a bottle of paracetamol, just wanting to relax and process what his first full day as a werefurred-dragon was like. While fighting with the child-safe cap, his phone started to buzz. At first Alexandre thought it was Élise checking in on him, but when he saw the caller ID, his expression changed to a scowl. The display read one word, Father.

“What the hell does he want?” Alexandre muttered, as he considered just ignoring the call, but in the end he clicked the accept button.

“Yes?”

“Took you long enough.” André’s voice was as judgmental as he remembered it.

“I was in the middle of something.” He paused to swallow the pills. “What do you want?”

His father let out a long sigh on his end before continuing. “Your grandfather passed away.”

Alexandre wasn’t sure exactly how to process that. He wasn't close to his father’s family even before he left for university, but he still knew the man. He also realized his father must be dealing with the grief from the loss.

“I’m sorry to hear that. When will the funeral be held?”

“He died two weeks ago, he’s already buried.”

“You could have at least given me a text. Why bother to even tell me at all then?”

“We both know you would have made an excuse not to come, not that anyone would want you there in the first place.”

This conversation was doing nothing to help Alexandre’s headache. “Seriously, why did you call?”

“Because my father still remembered you in his will. There are matters of your inheritance that need to be dealt with so the estate can be fully closed out.”

“Really? What do I need to do?”

“I have some papers for you to sign, and another matter I’d rather just discuss in person.”

The only thing Alexandre would enjoy less than this call would be meeting with his father in person. Still, it was better to get things over with sooner than later so they could both return to ignoring each other. Before he could say anything, his father continued.

“I’m assuming you still don’t have a car, so I will have to drive out to see you. We will meet tomorrow, I will text you the details.” With that, André ended the call.

Alexandre shook his head and put his phone down.

“Arrogant bastard.” He muttered as he covered his face with his hands. God, I’m tempted to just forget about the inheritance. I can’t believe grandpa actually left me anything, he was almost as big of a zealot as my father, He was just better at hiding it during the holidays, or maybe that was just the cognac. With my luck It will be a rosary and a bible so I can save my soul. That could be part of it, but father wouldn’t drive two hours to hand deliver it, there has to be something else about this. I can wait until tomorrow to find out, I’m dealing with enough as is right now.

He rested back on the couch, closing his eyes. Alexandre just wanted to stay still while he waited for the meds to kick in. Before they could, however, there was a knock on his door. With a heavy groan, Alexandre pulled himself up off the couch and went to his door. He checked the peephole and was surprised to see Élise.

“Élise?” He asked as he opened the door, “What are you…”

“Hey,” she leaned in and kissed him softly. It was then he noticed the shopping bags in her hands, “I know the first day after is rough, so I wanted to come over and make us a nice big dinner and help you to relax.”

“I, uh, thanks.” He smiled slightly as he took some of the bags and carried them to his tiny kitchen.

“I’ve got everything to make Chicken Parmigiana, including garlic bread.” Élise placed her bags on the counter. “How are you holding up?”

“I’ve been better. I wish I could have taken the day off.”

“The moon doesn’t care what day of the week it happens to be full on. Oh, by the way, I have a calendar for you, it has the full moons marked out for the rest of the year so you can plan around it. There’s also a moon tracking app you can get for your phone. It was made by new-age hippies, but it’s accurate and that’s all that matters.

“I, ah, yeah, thanks. I guess I have to worry about that now.”

“Why don’t you go take a nice hot shower, it’ll help.”

“A hot shower sounds almost as good as a hot meal.” He leaned in and kissed Élise softly. “Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me, I’m not going to let you go through this alone.” She gave him a tight hug, “Go ahead and take your time, I've got a bit of prep work anyway.”

Alexandre was still smiling when he entered his bathroom. In the mirror over the sink Valixia was smiling back.

“It’s good to see you smiling after all that.”

“It’s been a long day.”

“I wasn’t talking about a long day with a hangover, I was talking about that call.”

“Oh, right, you hear and see everything I do.”

“That’s how this works, yes. Your dad is a total ass.”

“Isn’t he your dad too?”

“He’s not a werefurred-dragon, I don’t have to claim him.”

“I don’t blame you.”

“I get the impression you don’t either.”

“Yeah.” Alexandre pulled off his shirt. “But it’s kind of mutual at this point. I mean, he didn’t even text me to tell me grandpa died.”

“Did you even like him?”

“Slightly more than my father. They were both overly religious bigoted assholes, but my father was…worse somehow. Maybe it’s because I was around him all the time.”

“I’d press for more details, but there’s two things stopping me.”

“Oh? And what’s that?”

“First of all, I really want that long hot shower we’re about to take.”

Alexandre shook his head slightly, “And the other?”

“You need to share this with Élise and Tierlin, and I’d rather not make you have to explain it twice.”

“He smiled slightly at his other half. “Thanks.”

***

By the time Alexandre was done with his shower and getting dressed, his apartment was filled with the scent of garlic bread. His mouth was watering by the time he joined Élise by the counter.

She looked up from the veggies she was chopping for salad. “You look a lot better.”

“And you look beautiful.” He wrapped his arms around her waist.

“No need to flatter me, you already got me.”

“Yes, but I want to keep you.” He kissed the back of her neck.

“Think you can get the bread out of the oven for me while I finish up the salad?”

“No problem.”

Alexandre got the toasted garlic bread from the oven and sliced it into large pieces while Élise tossed the salad. Alexandre knew he was hungry, but as soon as he took his first bite the extent of his post shift hunger really kicked in. Élise smiled as he devoured his first piece of garlic bread, not that she was eating her slice slowly. Before long the bread was nothing but crumbs and the salad bowls were empty.

“That was delicious.” He smiled as he collected the bowls.

“They say hunger is the best seasoning.” She winked as she got up to continue making the rest of their meal.

Alexandre rinsed out the bowls. He thought about what Valixia had said. He hated the idea that this might ruin dinner, but there wasn’t going to be a good time to talk about what had happened.

“So, ah, I got a call from my father today.”

“Wait,” she turned from the cutlet she had just breaded, “I thought you were estranged from your family?”

‘I am, I just never blocked his number or anything. It’s the first time we've spoken since I moved out here.”

“Do you know why he called?”

“My grandpa passed away.”

“Oh god, I’m so sorry, are you ok?”

“I’m fine, we weren't especially close. The thing is, he died two weeks ago.”

“Wait, what?”

“Yeah. The only reason my father brought it up is apparently my grandpa left me something in his will. He must have forgotten to write me out of it when I left for uni.”

“I know you don’t talk about your family that much, so I never wanted to really pry. After all, I was keeping a family secret from you until yesterday.”

“I can’t really hold that against you." Alexandre placed the bowls on the drying rack. “I’m from a religious family, a very religious family. It wasn’t just about sitting through church every Sunday, they held every moment of my life under its lens, and my father was the worst. Every little misstep, even the slightest wisp of sin was punished.”

“When you say punished, we’re not just talking being grounded, are we?”

“The slaps hurt less than the words he would berate me with.” Alexandre replied softly. “He treated me like I was some kind of monster.”

Élise crossed the short distance and wrapped her arms tightly around his body. Alexandre closed his eyes and leaned back into her for support.

“You shouldn’t meet him alone, I can take off from work and be there with you.”

“I can’t let you do that.” he turned around in her arms. “He’s not going to accept you, and he won’t be quiet about it.”

“I can weather some misgendering to stand by your side.”

“No, I won’t let him anywhere near you.” Alexandre held her tightly. “I’m the boyfriend, I’ll do the protecting.”

“Alexandre…”

“I’ll settle this thing with the inheritance and then I can just cut ties with my father forever. But right now, I just want to enjoy the dinner that my beautiful and talented girlfriend is cooking for me.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere.” Élise smiled before lightly kissing his cheek.

***

Alexandre placed his fork down on the small plate. After the homemade Chicken Parmigiana, Élise surprised him with tiramisu for dessert she had brought from the bakery she worked at. Alexandre sighed as he leaned back on the couch feeling contentedly full.

“Am I going to pig out before and after every full moon going forward?”

“Yes, but at least it doesn’t affect your waistline.” Élise sat back down next to her boyfriend and cuddled up. “I know you’re probably not up for any fun times tonight, But I’d like to just cuddle up and watch something with you.”

“That sounds wonderful.” Alexandre reached for the remote and then pulled Élise in tightly. “What do you want to watch?”

“I don’t care, as long as it’s not a hockey game.”

Knowing neither of them were sports fans, he had to chuckle at the comment. He put on a documentary on ancient Egypt and snuggled up with Élise.

I’m not looking forward to tomorrow, but at least I don’t have to think about it tonight. He thought as he relaxed.

***

Alexandre was woken up by his phone dinging with a notification. Élise had left hours ago for her job at the bakery, so it was just him in the apartment. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes before reading the message.

I have a reservation at Montague's for 12:15. Do not be late and dress well, this is a real restaurant.

Alexandre rolled his eyes and put the phone back on his nightstand. Montague's was an upscale restaurant. He had heard the food was good, but it was far outside the budgets of Élise and himself.

At least it’s not downtown, so I won’t need to catch a bus. I’m going to need a shirt and tie to go there. When was the last time I even wore a tie?

He had plenty of time to get ready and arrive on time for lunch, so at first he tried to go back to sleep. However, Alexandre just couldn’t manage to fall back asleep. He gave up and got up to make some tea, but his first stop was the bathroom.

“Morning.” Valixia greeted him from the mirror. “Feeling better?”

“In some ways, yes.”

“Not looking forward to lunch, are you?”

“Not really.” Alexandre flushed and went to wash his hands. Maybe that’s why I don’t feel hungry right now.

“You probably should eat something, even just a piece of toast.”

“Let’s start with a hot cup of tea and see where we go.”

He scrolled through his phone while he waited on the water to heat up in the kettle. It was a distraction at least. By the time he was pouring the water over the tea bag, he was feeling at least a little hungry and decided on making some toast as Valixia had suggested. Of course, waiting for him on the reflective side of the toaster was his other half.

“Good, I was starting to feel hungry.”

“Oh, right, you feel what I feel.” he dropped two slices of bread into the toaster.

“And vice versa.”

“Trust me, I haven’t forgotten Thursday night.”

“Just wait until the next full moon.”

Alexandre’s eyes went to the calendar Élise had hung up. She had circled the next full moon in red just to be sure.

“What if it’s just me and Élise for the next moon?”

“Then I guess Tierlin and I will just spend the night only nailing each other.” Valixia smirked.

“That sounds about right.”

After breakfast Alexandre wasted some more time on his phone before getting ready to meet with his father. As he was getting dressed in front of a mirror Valixia was uncharacteristically quiet.

“I’ve only known you for three days, but you’ve never been quiet this long before.”

“It looked like the necktie was giving you trouble and I didn’t want to distract you.”

“Yeah, no, I don’t buy that.”

“I just kind of want to ask about your dad since I don’t know anything about him, but on the other hand, I don’t want to make you upset.”

“All you really need to know is that he’s an abusive religious zealot, who would most likely burn us at the stake for being a monster.”

“A silver bullet would be easier.”

“Knowing him he would prefer the fire, even if owned a rifle.” Alexandre sighed. “My entire family is religious except for me. That, I think I could have tolerated, at least at family gatherings. But my father is worse. He’s a total bigot on top of that. Skin color, orientation, you name it. He’s almost a caricature brought to life. And he’s not quiet about it either. That’s why I won’t let him anywhere near Élise, her being trans would set him off like a bomb.”

“The apple didn’t just fall far from the tree, it’s in the next orchard over. How did you come out so good?”

“Because every one of his lessons growing up taught me the opposite of what he meant it to do.”

“I see.”

“After I finished high school I moved half way across the province for university to get away from him. I don’t know why I still had his number unblocked. I guess since he hasn’t called in the last three years it never occurred to me to do so.”

“After lunch you can take care of that oversight..”

“We better get going, if I’m late it will only make things worse.”

***

It wasn’t snowing, but the gray skies looked like flakes could start falling at any moment. It was cold, but calm as Alexandre briskly walked towards Montague's. He did his best to calm and focus himself as he waited for the walk signal.

Here we go… He thought as he crossed the street.

Opening the door to Montague's he could see it was rather dimly lit, but it wasn’t so dark that he couldn’t see the elegant woodwork and trim that decorated the establishment. As he unzipped his coat he saw there was an actual coat check and he quickly dropped off his outwear. Turning around towards the host’s stand, he saw his father patiently waiting for him. Steeling himself for the interaction, he approached his father.

“Hello.”

André glanced at his watch. “Good, you’re on time.”

Alexandre just nodded. He knew if he spoke his mind things would get ugly.

His father turned to the host. “We’re ready to be seated.”

Montague's was moderately busy with the lunch service, but it wasn’t crowded. They were led to a corner booth that felt isolated. Alexandre doubted that was by accident. They sat opposite each other with an uncomfortable silence between them. It wasn’t broken until the waiter came to take their drink orders.

“How was your trip?” Alexandre asked after the waiter had returned with their drinks.

“Long, but uneventful.” André let out a small sigh. “It gave me time to reflect on things.”

“I’m sure Grandpa’s death wasn’t easy on you.”

“It wasn’t, but we all saw it coming at least.”

They both sipped their water quietly. Alexandre noticed that the two sniffers of cognac his father ordered remained untouched.

“There is no reason to stretch things out today. Whatever you need me to sign or give me, just do it and you can enjoy your meal in peace.”

“It’s not just about you, Alexandre.” André picked up one of the sniffers and placed it in front of his son. “Before we begin, we are going to remember my father.”

“Really?” He raised an eyebrow.

“What kind of monster wouldn’t toast the memory of a man who didn’t forget his back sheep of a grandson in the will.”

Alexandre flinched at the word monster. He had always hated the way his father used that word, but it hit him differently now that he wasn’t strictly human anymore.

“I don’t enjoy straight spirits.” he declined in a soft voice.

“This was his drink of choice. You didn’t attend the funeral, this is the least you can do.”

Alexandre rubbed his forehead. This isn’t worth the headache. “Fine.”

He winced as the cognac burned its way down his throat after the toast. Alexandre quickly chased it with his sparkling water. By the time he recovered his father was already focused on the menu.

He’s doing everything he can to stretch this out. He opened the menu, but wasn’t really reading it. Just another way to punish me.

When the waiter came to take their orders, Alexandre just ordered the same dish as his father. He guessed that way there was little room for even a hypocrite like his father to judge or berate his choice. Silence fell over the table once more, but this time Alexandre was content to let it hang until his father spoke. André was staring at him. It had been several years since they had last seen each other. It wasn’t until their salads arrived that André finally broke the silence.

“You look different than I remember. Have you been working out? You're not juicing yourself up like those monsters at the gym, are you?”

Alexandre’s build had grown more athletic since he had become a werefurred-dragon, and it showed. The shirt he was wearing didn’t just hang off his thin frame anymore. He felt that jumping to performance enhancer abuse was quite a stretch.

“Just healthy living and exercise." He replied, picking up his fork.

“Hmmm.” His father didn’t sound convinced. After several bites of his salad he finally seemed ready to talk business. “My father left you $10,000.”

Alexandre’s fork paused halfway to his mouth. “He did?”

“He left more to his other grandchildren. Perhaps if you had stayed in touch you would have benefited more.”

Alexandre assumed this was a ploy to make him upset or jealous, and he didn’t let it work. “That’s more than fair. It’s more than I was expecting in all honesty. I’m grateful for it”

“As you should be. My father led a frugal life and invested his money to grow. Now his family can enjoy the benefits of his sacrifice and hard work. Just like how God sacrificed his own son and invested in all of us.”

He fought the urge to roll his eyes. _There it is, and before the main course. _

“I have the check for you, but there is more to the inheritance.”

“Oh?”

“Your grandfather left you a share in the family’s hunting cabin, along with his other grandchildren.”

Judging from his father’s expression Alexandre guessed his father was bothered that it hadn’t gone to him and his brothers.

“I anticipated that you would rather sit and stare at a screen than enjoy time in God’s beautiful wilderness.” His father said as he reached for his portfolio. “Discussing it with your cousins, they decided to make an offer to buy you out of your share. It keeps the cabin in the family, and removes any fiscal responsibility you would have for taxes or upkeep moving forward.”

In the family, meaning I’m clearly not in the family. Alexandre thought as he looked at the agreement his father pushed towards him.

It was just a token amount being offered for his part of the cabin. It couldn’t have been more than a hundred dollars or so from each of his cousins. He didn’t want a part of the cabin, as it would just tie him down to a family he wanted to cut off, but they didn’t have to offer such an insulting amount.

“For this little I might as well hold onto my share.”

“Don’t be a spiteful little monster and sign the agreement. The check will be posted to you on Monday.”

There was that word again. Alexandre flipped back and forth through the agreement as he finished his salad. Ultimately André was right, he really didn’t want the cabin. His share of the inheritance was more than he was expecting as is, and would help greatly with getting through university. He picked up the pen and he signed and dated the agreement where indicated.

André slipped the signed papers back into a portfolio and passed a sealed envelope to Alexandre. “This is the cashier's check for the rest of your inheritance.”

“Is there any more business with the will?”

André shook his head. “Not that concerns you, no.”

Once again an uncomfortable quiet settled on the table. The main course was brought out and Alexandre was content to just eat his meal in silence and then go home. At first he thought his father had the same idea, but instead André cleared his throat.

“How have your classes been going?”

I guess he wants to play at being a father now. “Good for the most part.”

“You’re in computer science, specializing in database structure, right?”

Alexandre had never mentioned his major before to anyone on his father’s side of the family.

“Yes.” He answered tentatively.

“You always did spend too much time on the computer. I was afraid all that nonsense ion the internet would turn you into a freak or worse. At least you are putting it to good use now. How is your apartment working for you? It looked like it was close to most things you would need when I was looking for a restaurant nearby.”

André had his phone number, but Alexandre had never shared his address with him. He had thought it was just a coincidence that Montague's was walking distance from his apartment.

“I’ve heard you’ve been seeing someone for a while now. Is she from a good christian family?

Alexandre dropped his fork down and it clattered on his plate. “Have you been spying on me?”

“You may have walked away from the family, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still ruin our good name. Of course I kept an eye on you.”

Alexandre wiped his lips with the cloth napkin and stood up.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Can’t you just write me off as a failure and leave me alone?” He grabbed the envelope off the table. “We’re done, forever. Tell your friends I moved to the states or died, I don’t care. I want nothing to do with you, so make sure you leave me out of the will, unlike grandpa.”

“Alexandre, you sit back down right now or-”

His son was already out of the booth and heading to the coat check. By the time his father was able to get up and hurry to the front of the restaurant, Alexandre was gone.

***

Alexandre ran down the street, trying to get as far away from his father as he could. His enhanced endurance helped, but he was still out of breath by the time he made it to his apartment. In his mind, Alexandre just heard his father calling him a monster the entire way home. The adrenaline rush that had spurred him on to leave was now faded and his mind was being overtaken by jumbled thoughts and worries.

How the hell did he know so much about my life? His mind raced as he dragged his body up the stairs to his apartment. I never post anything online, I only have social media to follow things and people. Was my father insane enough to hire a private investigator? Or maybe he just paid another student on campus to follow me? Maybe one of my cousins helped him out. God, He knows about Élise! At least that she exists. If he knew she was trans he wouldn’t have been that friendly.

Alexandre’s stomach was tying itself in knots. He went to get a glass of water when he heard a loud pounding at the door. It was the kind of knocking usually reserved for the police. As he stared at his locked door another series of knocks hit. It was enough that Alexandre could see the door visibly vibrate. He swallowed hard and went to the door. He wasn’t surprised to see his father through the peephole, his face a mask of rage.

André pounded on the door again. Not knowing what to do, he unlocked the door and cracked it slightly.

“Go away!” He shouted at his father.

André paid no mind to the request and slammed into the door, shoving his way into the apartment and knocking his son down onto the ground. He quickly slammed the door behind him.

“You little monster! How dare you show such little respect to your father! “

“I showed you all that you deserve.” Alexandre said as he got back up on his feet.

“Honor your mother and father, it’s a simple rule!”

“The rules in that book don’t apply to me, and they never have_."_

“You arrogant monster!” André stepped up dangerously close into his personal space. “Do you think you can just blaspheme in front of me and get away with it?”

“Get out!” Alexandre pushed away from his father. He saw his father’s fist ball up and he ran to the bathroom, quickly slamming the door shut and locking it. His eyes drifted to the mirror over the sink where a rather angry, yet concerned Valixia was watching him.

“What the fuck is wrong with him?”

“I wish I knew.” Alexandre whispered back. Tears were already starting to run down his face as memories from his childhood came to the surface.

“Hey, calm down. Alexandre? Can you hear me, calm down, we can handle this. Maybe you should call the police.”

“Yeah, maybe. “He patted his pants and there was no phone. “Shit, where is it?”

“Did you take it out after we got in?”

“Ahhh…yeah, I was going to text Élise, then the knocking started…oh fuck!”

Valixia sighed. “Alright, we’ll just have to throw him out ourselves then.”

“Easier said than done.”

“You’re not the same man who left home, even before I showed up. You can do this.”

“I don’t have much choice.” Alexandre grumbled before taking a few deep breaths to fortify himself.

He opened the door and saw his father standing there, glaring with a rage that he could almost feel physically. In his hand was Alexandre’s phone.

“Give me my-”

“How could you do this to me! How could my own flesh and blood betray everything and go cavorting with another man!” He thrust the phone forward and it was a selfie picture of Alexandre and Élise. “Only a true monster would choose to live a sinful degenerate lifestyle after all you were taught growing up!”

“She’s not a man, and leave her out of this!” Alexandre lunged for the phone, but André yanked it back and threw a punch that connected hard with his son.

The shock of it sent him down onto his knees.

“A man pretending to be a woman only makes it worse!” He kicked his son while he was down “How dare you do this to us! To me!” His father flicked through the pictures on the phone. “Disgusting filth! I should have never…What the hell is this?”

Through the pain, Alexandre’s eyes snapped open wide. He had forgotten about the family picture that had been taken Thursday night at the farm, in the center of it all were Valixia and Tierlin. He scrambled up to his feet.

“What-what is this degeneracy? You’re a damned fucking…what are they called, furry too? Are you in one of those disgusting whorish suits? What kind of a monster have you become?”

André pulled back to throw another punch, but Alexandre saw it coming and dodged the blow. He then grabbed his father by the shoulders and half shoved, half threw him into the wall. The phone clattered to the floor.

“Get out!” Alexandre practically growled with rage and hurt.

André had never expected his weakling son to be capable of doing such a thing to him, and quickly got up, calling his son a series of slurs under his breath. “I’m glad my father didn’t live to see what an abomination you are.” he said in a cold voice before slamming the door shut.

Alexandre stumbled to the door and locked and bolted it before sliding down against it to the floor. He started to cry, sobbing quietly. It wasn’t just what had happened today, old wounds were ripped freshly open.

“What’s wrong with me? He whimpered as he reached for the phone. He stared at the family picture until the screen went dark. “I am a monster…”

In the dark reflection of his phone screen, Valixia shook his head. “We’re not monsters, you know that!”

The reflection vanished when the phone lit up with an incoming call from Élise. Alexandre stared at the phone before declining the call. He wrapped himself up into a ball and sobbed.

___________________________________________________________

Original concept and setting by Yeania Aeon, with help from Syntaxerror37

Characters are property of valixdweredragon

Written by Syntaxerror37

FA: https://www.furaffinity.net/user/sevencrown37

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