Transferring Rp from PMs:
ShyButDangerous
Present Day
After six years away from the town he grew up in, everything is so different. For the first year, while he was keeping contact with Benny, his brother was keeping him updated on changes. But after cutting ties with him, Luke had no way of knowing what was changing. He had cut ties to attempt to cut off the feelings and need for his brother. After spending time with the Moon Shadow pack that lived outside his art school's city, and learning about new forms, those feelings and urges had only grown.
Luke had been told from the start that his mind and personality would become more beast like the more forms he learned. He wasn't told that any existing feelings of desire would explode into something bigger. So here Luke stands, at the bus stop across the street from Benny's house. Luke had been in town three days. That's how long it had taken him to figure out where his brother lived now.
Luke doesn't need to stand there waiting any longer than for the oncoming car to pass by. Then he moves with a purpose, a cross the street and up the driveway to the front door. He swings his black canvas backpack from his hand up onto his right shoulder. He had sold pretty much everything he owned except for a minimal amount of clothing, a single pair of worn black sneakers, and his new phone, with a new number. The backpack holds two outfits, his phone charger, and a paper map. The map is due to Luke traveling back home on foot, most often in wolf form.
He can hear someone moving around inside, no doubt his brother. So without another moment's hesitation, Luke lifts his fist and knocks hard on the door three times.
Kleo
Benny had been unable to get out of bed that morning, too tired, or perhaps unwilling, to get up. It took perhaps hours to drag himself out of bed and into work. His home, as small as it was, was a virtual nest; clothes strewn about everywhere as he was uninterested in cleaning up after himself. And so, still in the boxers and baggy shirt he wore to sleep, he dragged himself to the kitchen to get some late breakfast.
There wasn't much. All he really had was some leftover cereal, and with some reluctance, he realised he needed to go shopping at some point soon. Or he could simply starve himself, that wasn't as horrible an idea to Benny as it probably should have been. With a soft sigh, he grappled to put his glasses on before getting off to work. He mostly worked from home as a web designer. While he certainly didn't do well in school, he quickly realised he didn't need to have gotten straight As to slap some code around and make a website look decent. He didn't necessarily enjoy it, but it payed what bills he had if nothing else.
Mouth half-full when he heard the strange knock at the door, Benny almost ignored it, but, after a soft sigh, he slammed his bowl down on the table and stomped angrily towards his front door, slamming it open with an irritated, "What?!" Slowly, however, his brows furrowed into a glare as he took in the oddly familiar form of a man who he had tried to forget. He swallowed hard. It couldn't possibly be... "Who the fuck are you?"
ShyButDangerous
Currently dressed in black jeans, his worn black shoes, a dark blue tee, and a black windbreaker with a red and silver stripe, Luke doesn't look much different from the brother that left Benny behind. Despite having been out of touch for five years, Luke doesn't look like he has aged much. But the differences are there. His black hair is longer, the ends brushing his shoulders. The right side of his face is partially covered by his hair, hiding the leather eyepatch that in turn hides his blind eye. Outside of the pack, that milky white eye freaks people out. He's more muscled now too, more defined despite still being fairly lean. And that scent of pine needles and soil is no artificial cologne. His once blue left eye is now a vibrant and wild yellow.
Luke's breath flees his chest in a rush, left eye widening. Yes, it's been years, but this is not quiet what he expected. Benny's so skinny, and looks exhausted. Has he even been taking care of himself? Luke breathes in again and shudders. With becoming more beast like comes further heightened senses. He can't place the smell, but his brother's natural scent is different than the sweet smell he remembers.
"Benny." Luke finally finds his voice after standing there for almost four minutes. His voice is different too, deeper, more rough. Luke takes a step toward Benny, into the doorway so his brother can't close the door. Luke almost reaches for his brother, chest aching to embrace him, to heal him though he knows he can't just magically do so. However, he holds back, barely. There's so much tension in his shoulders from his self restraint, and his right hand grins the strap of the pack on his shoulder so tightly.
Kleo
Digging his nails into the palms of his hands, Benny takes a step back almost stiffly. He feels on the verge of a panic attack, unable to shrug away the man as some stranger when he knows just as well who it is. A part of him, a very small part that he had long since thought had been buried, wants to wrap his arms around the man and never let go again, but he can't. He know he can't. Because the rest of him, the part that was hardened by betrayal and feelings of abandon, just want to run away. Instead he simply whimpers, that small little boy returning only briefly.
Luke has changed, that much is true, but he is recognisable. He looks more rough around the edges, perhaps, definitely more muscular underneath it all, but he still looks like the Luke that left him so many years ago. Benny, on the other hand, has changed over the years. He was young when Luke left, of course he has changed. Now he is taller, but lithe—almost underweight—having lost all baby fat from when he was a child, his hair a mess and hanging over his eyes. He hadn't had glasses then, hadn't realised he needed them, but perhaps what has changed most about him are the tattoos that snake up his arms and down one side of his torso. Not that it is at all obvious with the shirt he wears.
Benny gulps, taking another step back as he simply stares. He can't close the door, he realises, but tries not to dwell on it, body quivering as he attempts to reconcile all the bitterness he has towards Luke and the argent urge to just run right into his arms. Upon hearing his name, that name, however, Benny tears up a little, shaking his head with an angry growl, "You don't get to call me that," he hisses, forcing his expression into something resembling anger despite the speed of his racing heart.
ShyButDangerous
Luke can see the storm of emotion acting across Benny's features, and it tears at his heart. Of course he knows he's the reason. Of course he's guilty. At the time, he didn't think he had a choice. Now, though, he realizes it wouldn't have mattered. Every urge is stronger than ever.
Luke's eyes follow Benny's movements. The tattoos are a nice touch, and his fingers twitch, wanting to take that shirt off his brother and explore how far the ink goes. He left hand clenches at his side when Benny steps back.
"Ben, then." Luke steps forward again, then again when Ben retreats another step. He's inside now, and his left hand closes the door behind him. There's no need to have anyone outside witnessing their reunion. "Ben." Luke repeats his brother's name, his rough voice almost purring it. He stops moving then, waiting for Ben to do something, anything. Waiting for Ben to lash out.
Kleo
Benny almost flinches when he hears the door slam shut. He feels small, smaller than he is, like a child cornered by a stranger. But Luke isn't a stranger, is he? Not really.
Benny wants to speak, wants to say something, but he has no idea what to say. What can he say? With a low growl, he buries his face in his hands, pulling at his hair with a low curse. Everything feels confused and painful, as if he's reliving the betrayal and the Luke put him through so many years ago now. With a shudder, he turns his back on the man to hide the water in his eyes.
"Why are you here?" Benny finally manages to say, voice weak as he struggles to get himself back under control. "Why did you leave?" It's as if he can't control himself once one question has escaped his lips, and all that he can do is ask and ask some more. He wants to be happy, but all he can be is fearful that the man will leave again.
ShyButDangerous
Luke hadn't really meant to slam the door. He just hadn't wanted to take his eyes off Ben. So when Ben flinches, Luke's chest aches again. Then his brother turns his back, face in his hands. Luke drops his pack to the floor with a soft thud; there really isn't much weight to it, being just clothing.
Luke closes the distance as Ben starts asking questions. Luke knows his brother is trying not to cry, Ben always turned his back to hide his tears. He doesn't try to turn Ben around, just wraps his strong arms around the younger man's more slender frame. There's not much height difference in them anymore, but Luke is still a couple inches taller. He rests his chin on Ben's shoulder, letting his embrace be a comfort.
"I couldn't stay away any longer." Luke answers each question willingly. "I had to leave." There's no hesitation, and to Ben, there's no hint of a lie, or unspoken information. Luke does that deliberately. He's not stupid, he knows he can't just come home after five years of no communication and proclaim his love for his younger brother.
Kleo
Clutching his head, Benny can hardly see through the tears, but he can't allow himself to succumb to such emotions. He cried too much when he was young, he can't afford it now. With a hiss, he wipes at his eyes, and though for a moment he considers turning back around just to defiantly show his brother that he isn't that crybaby anymore, he simply elects not to.
Benny flinches once more as he feels arms wrap around him, and though he wants nothing more than to pry Luke off him, he doesn't. The touch is a comfort, regardless who it's from, and he can't recall the last time he was embraced in such a way. Sniffling, Benny slowly, oh, so slowly, finds himself leaning back against the other man's embrace, his gaze turned downward just so he doesn't have to admit to his brother what he's doing.
"Why are you so cruel?" Benny murmurs desperately, his hands gingerly dragging over Luke's own as they wrap around his frame. For so long he longed to be near his brother again, just wanted to see him again, and now he comes back. Shuddering, Benny loses the fight with himself and just melts against the man, allowing himself to cry and weep for the first time in so long, "How could you just abandon me? How could..." But he can't come up with anything to say as he feverishly wipes at his sore eyes.
ShyButDangerous
Luke keeps himself from getting distracted by the fact that he's finally holding his brother again by focusing on Ben's voice. His heart is in his throat as he listens to his brother cry. Feeling Ben finally relax back against him is a relief; Ben's not going to push him away. The touch on his hands is soft, skin much softer than his own calloused palms.
"It was just something I had to do for myself." That's all the answer Luke can give right now. The amount of self restraint he's exercising right now is immense. If he admits his love for Ben right now, he might do far more than just hold him. Ben doesn't need that right now. As strong as Luke's urges are, the timing would be horrendous. "I'm here now."
Kleo
"You are here," Benny agrees, but his voice is quiet as he finally manages to get a handle on his own emotions, "But you haven't been for five years." He still feels... angry, is perhaps the best approximation for the entire jumble of emotions he feels running around inside him. And yet he can't bring himself to yell or even scream. He supposes in his own way he is still that devoted little brother who could never be made to hate Luke, even if he felt he should. Slowly, he turns himself around in the embrace to return it, still hiccuping as he nuzzles into his brother's shoulder.
"You're still taller than me," Benny sighs, his voice muffled. For a long moment he simply stands there listening to the beat of Luke's heart. It's comforting in its own way, though he has to tear himself away after he catches himself relaxing. With a pout, Benny gently extracts himself from the man's grip, "And I'm still mad at you, you bastard,"
With a soft sigh, Benny gestures for Luke to follow him, feeling a bit awkward suddenly having a guest. He isn't sure what the man's plans are, but it isn't as if they could just go back to being as attached as they were. Right? Benny tried to pretend his gaze wasn't lingering on his brother, not sure how to respond now. "Can... I get you anything? Water? I have..." Benny winced, "Water and stale cereal."
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