[C] Facing the Unreal Reality

Tomaso's body still ached tremendously when he awoke.  He let out a soft groan and rolled around.  

He was in his bed... maybe it was all a very vivid nightmare. Even though he normally didn't sleep in the nude.  

He sat up in his bed and felt his chest.  It was human... he was human.  A very sore human.  Was the car crash real then?  

He slid out of bed and got himself dressed, trying to make sense of everything.

Raisa was barely awake, she had said she would watch him and she was going to stick to that promise.

She looked up from her position on the floor at his doorway.

She hadn't moved from that spot all night, not even to sneak a quick shower.

Blood was still smeared over her skin and she was still completely naked, covering herself in a blanket she had found.

"How are you feeling?"
She asked groggily, trying not to scare him.

Tomaso swung around in shock when he heard the woman's voice. The same woman from his "nightmare".

She was still covered in blood.

"No... no no you can't be real." He said, backing away from her.

Raisa gave a groan and rubbed her hand over her face.

She was suffering bloodloss and hadn't slept all night, she wasn't in the mood for this.

"Tom, calm down. Last night was real and I am really sorry for everything I put you through, I didn't mean to bite you, it wasn't my intention."

She wrapped the blankets tighter around her body as she rested her head against her knees.

"Fawzi!"
She called out into the living room, she just wanted to go to sleep, not deal with a man having a panic attack.

"If... if it was all real.... then you need help!" He exclaimed, rushing over to Raisa.

"You're covered in blood... and naked...And I bit you and.... I bit you! I am so incredibly sorry... here! Let me get you a towel and you can use my shower and then after that I can get you some of my clothes."

Tom rambled away, distracting himself with taking care of the woman. It kept him from having to think about what had happened and what it all meant.

He tried to help her up so he could walk her over to the bathroom.

"Should I call a hospital?" He asked her, his brow furrowed in concern.

The woman groaned softly when she heard her name being called.

She shifted, slowly coming to life, pushing herself off the couch and almost shuffling towards Rai.

What the Hell did she want?

Hospital?

"Nah. She'll bitch about it tonight then go on with her life," the woman murmured with a yawn as she leant against the doorframe.

She rubbed her eyes, trying to bring herself around.

"Mornin'."

"Woah woah! Ease up turbo!"

She replied, going wide eyed as the man freaked out about her of all things.

"Look Tom, it's fine."

She got the blanket she was wrapped in and rubbed it against the patch of dried blood where he bit her, revealing that underneath the skin was perfectly healed.

"I'm a Lycan, we heal really fast, the broken bones from being hit by the car have completely healed already."

Granted the bone was crooked, she needed to get Liq to help her reset it later once she had enjoyed some sleep.

"Look I'm going to sleep, I've been up all night watching him Fawzi, I can't deal with it right now."

She replied, getting up from her spot on the floor to go lay on the couch.

Tom's brain tried to catch up with the fact that she was completely healed despite all that had happened. He let out a steady breath, trying to comprehend it all.

He leaned against the wall and stared at the two women, a blank expression on his face.

"I can't deal with it right now" ... was he the it?

Not a man anymore... an animal... an it.

"Better get a lot of sleep. If you wake up like this, I'll send you into a more permanent sleep, grumpy bitch," she called out with a little smile.

Despite everything, Fawzi wanted everything to go back to normal.

The woman rubbed her eyes again before turning her gaze to Tomaso.

"You gave me a real fright last night."

Her tongue laved over her lips for a moment before she launched herself forwards to hug him.

"Stupid bastard, scared me to death," she murmured against his bare chest.

He hugged her back tightly, closing his eyes. He made sure to steady his breathing to keep from panicking again.

"It's all real... that's how you know so much... because it's all real." He finally said, his voice flat.

"Yeah...surprise," she muttered weakly.

She pulled back a little, dark eyes gazing up into his own.

"You weren't supposed to go through this. Know about any of this. I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry you went through this."

Especially turning. It could have been any Supernatural creature, but he had encountered a young Lycan.

It was cruel. Painful.

"That means that you're a necromancer....." He said, looking back into her eyes. His heart beat was heavy, but steady.

Despite every bit of fear and and confusion that was inside him, a soft smile came to his face.

"Was I close? Is there a safe haven here?"

The woman nodded softly.

"Guilty."

She snorted. "Close? You were right on top of it last night." He had come so close. So so very close to seeing what he had been searching for.

Now he had gone too deep. He was part of that mythical world he had been researching now.

"Rai lives there."

Tom didn't let the woman go, he didn't want to. He pulled her in close again.

"Fawzi... I'm so glad you're here." He said truthfully.

"But you have to tell me the truth now... what's going to happen to me?" He asked the question he was fearing most. He had no idea what it meant for his future now that he was no longer human.

"I don't know exactly," she replied truthfully.

She hugged him tighter. "You survived the night so Rai won't kill you. You turned without fault."

She bit her lip. "I suppose Rai will want you to stay with her now. So she can protect you. Your her child, after all."

Rai had already become protective over him.

"Wait...her child? What does that mean? Within one night she goes from being a potential death threat, the next she's supposed to be like amother figure?" He asked, furrowing his brow.

It was all a lot to take in in such a short amount of time.

The woman gave a soft, sad chuckle.

"I forget you didnt ask for this. Usually this is explained before someone gets turned."

Fawzi pulled away from Tomaso, gripping his hand gently as he pulled him towards the bed. She sat down and patted the bed in an invitation for him to join her.

"It's a term that a lot of Supernaturals use. She created you so you're her Changeling. Though the term child is used to make it more personal. Usually there's a bond between Lycan and Changeling so people accept the use of the term child really readily. I haven't actually heard Changeling being used in a long time."

Tomaso followed Fawzi and sat next to her on the bed.

In this moment he had the strongest urge to just hold her and cuddle her, but that would be weird, so he forced it back.

He nodded his head as she explained all of this to him, trying to stay focused.

"So what happens now?" He asked finally.

The woman sucked on her teeth as she thought.

What did happen now?

"Well right now, I think breakfast and a nice long hot shower is in order. After that..."

She gave a little shrug. "It's hard for me to tell. It's all down to what Rai wants. You'll have to talk to her when she wakes up."

Fawzi couldn't say anything with certainty. It was all down to Rai and Tomaso to talk to each other.

Tomaso nodded, but he still had the blank expression on his face.

"Right... I have cereal and.. milk and well.. feel free to help yourself." He said. He felt rude, but he was too drained to cook a meal at the moment.

He stood up and began to walk towards his restroom, tugging up at his sweats as they fell loosely around his narrow waist.

"I'm sorry I'm not more hospitality at the moment Fawzi... I'm sure you understand under the given circumstances...." He said softly, feeling low about everything.

"But... given everything.... I'm very happy I have you to help me through it." He said honestly, before going into the bathroom to take a long shower.

"Dude, trust me, I understand."

She gave him a little smile as he stood.

"Just go relax and try to wind down a little. I'll worry about breakfast." He deserved a good hot meal after what he went through last night.

Fawzi could quite happily cook him one.

"I'll see you when you're done."

Tomaso found he had some very strong.... urges... while in the shower. Stronger then they had ever been before. He took care of it but it caused his shower to be extra long.

He was surprised when he stepped out and discovered that his house smelt good, kind a home cooked breakfast.

He quickly got dried off and dressed and then made his way to his kitchen.

Pancakes, bacon and a floury Fawzi greeted him when he padded into the kitchen.

She turned a bright smile over her shoulder when she heard him step through the door. She had a little flour smeared over her tattooed cheek.

"Enjoy your shower?" she asked with a crooked grin.

He could make of that what he wanted.

"I cooked breakfast." She was surprised that there was even any left. Rai really was tired if she hadnt woken to the smell of bacon.

Tom's eyes widened as he saw what Fawzi had done. It was such a kind and giving act, and she must have been a natural in order to find her way around his kitchen without disturbing his shower!

"Fawzi you didn't have to do this." He said, but even as he did his mouth started to water from the amazing smell and sight.

"I was hungry, too," she laughed, waving the spatula she had in her hand before serving up a stack of pancakes and a few rashers of bacon.

She set the plate down on the table.

"Sit and eat. I bet you're starving."

She set down cutlery.

"Want anything to drink?"