Brandt and the Bear

 

Thanks list - http://caboose117.posterous.com/    This chapter dragged a bit for me, but whatever, enjoy;

Recording Three.

*click* Man, I love Sunday Dinner on a Monday.. Mashed potatoes, Chicken, Vegetables, Yorkshire puddings, roasted potatoes and nice, chicken gravy. Seriously, what could be nicer? Oh, right.. You probably just want me to get to the good part, right? Fine, what do I care..

So, where was I? Oh, naked man. Right..



So here I am, stood in-front of a stark naked Daman, who, as it so happens turns human every full moon. Apparently a certain Russian Soldier didn't think it'd be a good idea to give me that memo. I guess it wouldn't be so bad if my eyes didn't automatically stray down south.

Okay, I have to admit, this dude has a nice body..



The teddy bear, no.. Human just sits there on my floor, his face seems passive, as if this sort of thing happens every day. I have so many questions at this point, but I just can't wrap my head around the situation enough to ask them.

I plonk my arse back onto the bed, my head dropping forward to plant my face in my palms as I groan inwardly. What the hell does this mean.



“So, err.. Clothes would be good, yes?” the Russian murmured. I didn't reply, instead I pulled myself to my feet, stepped past him and rummaged through the wardrobe. He was bigger than me for sure, but I'm sure some of my clothes must fit him. I find a pair of lazy jeans, they hang down to my arse on me, and they're pretty long so I assume they'll do. Then I pull out a white t-shirt with 'nutter' printed on the front and drop the clothes in Daman's bare lap.



 While he's dressing I take the time to get a good look at him, brown hair, oddly enough it's the same colour as the fur he was in this morning. I like the colour, it suits him. Strong jaw, perfect nose and those same brown eyes, only not so bulbous and plastic-looking. I notice as he turns three circular scars on his right shoulder-blade, and I figure I'll ask about it later. He's firm all over, and my earlier assumption of him being hairless but for his head and eyebrows is proven wrong after a sneaky glance at his package, neatly trimmed and the same colour as his hair. It's only then that I realise I'm getting an eyeful, and I recoil violently, almost rolling backwards off of my bed in the process. What.The.Hell. I'm not gay or anything, nor do I have anything against anyone who is that way inclined, it just comes as a shock when I realise I'm getting a boner by looking at some guys dick. And not just any guy, a Russian guy, who only becomes a guy on the full moon.



 I'm fucked up. Jeeze..



Daman finally slips the shirt over his head and looks at me expectantly. I don't know what he expects, so I do nothing, just stare right back.



“Uhh... So... If you turn into a human every full moon, how haven't you been found yet??” I ask one of the questions, finally, getting over my initial shock.



“I've been in warehouse since I turned, I was only...taken out a week before your sister bought me.” Ah, that explained it.. But with that answer, new questions arose.



“Err.. So why didn't you just walk out..?”



“Locked?” Right, of course. Silly me.



“Look, uhm.. I've got class tomorrow, you can't stay here by yourself so, assuming you're telling the truth, and you do turn back come sunrise, then you'll just have to get in my bag.” Honestly I don't know why I decided he couldn't stay here. If any of my friends looked inside my bag and saw a stuffed bear, I'd be the laughing stock of the school.



“No, you don't understand. Full moon including before and after, 36 hours. Won't turn back until.. 10am the day after tomorrow, give or take.”



 “You're not serious..? What kind of bloody curse is this? And how in the hell did no one notice some naked dude in a warehouse for a day and a bit?” This thing just keeps getting weirder and weirder. I don't know if I can take many more 'surprises'. “Okay, fine. What do you propose?” I grouch, laying back on the bed as I try and just think of something.



“You go to college, yes? I can pass as student, easy. Much prefer to stay here, but..”



“Oh no. No, no, no. You can't pass as a student, no way in hell. How old ARE you anyway? What would you even do?”



“I'm twenty four, and I don't know, read book?” I can smell the sarcasm, I ain't kidding. It takes all I have not to jump him and throttle him. Maybe I can sneak a feel if I do it, who kno-- Jesus, Brandt..



-------------



Oh, just a second, I gotta grab a snack...



...Okay, to whoever's listening, you guys should try those curry masala pringles, they're the best.

Right, sorry. Where was I..?



-------------



Hormones under check, and long story short, I agree'd to let him tag along, for reasons unknown. I didn't get it, I just couldn't say no to the guy, there was something about him, even in 'cuddly teddy bear' form that made me want to bend at his every whim.



Sleeping arrangements that night were difficult, and no way in hell was I going to give up my bed, but I did feel in high spirits after getting my bike the day before, so I gave him a pillow, and a blanket from the closet. He didn't seem to mind that he'd have to kip on the floor, so I didn't bother him about it. Instead I contemplated what the next day would have in store.



 What the hell was he going to wear, for one. I wasn't worried about getting him into class, no one actually gives a fuck who turns up in the college. You'd think it was a school for delinquents, and I'm not going to say otherwise. As rich as my parents are, I wanted to go to this school, because my friends were going to this school, and at the time I was rebelling, I guess I still am.

Who wants a good school with a good education, and poncy stuck-up teachers anyway.



I mean no offence to any poncy stuck-up teachers who may or may not be listening to this. My bad.



I turn in my bed, my arm pushed under my head and my eyes squinting in the dark. I can see Daman's outline, he's breathing evenly, and I figure by now he's probably asleep. My eyes are starting to adjust to the dark, and I notice he's sleeping on his front, his head turned to the side, facing me. His brown eyes are closed, but I can still picture them. It shocks me how gorgeous his eyes are, the golden brown with golden specks within the iris.



With a quiet sigh, I close my eyes. I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into. Surely it wouldn't be as easy as just finding the witch and demanding she break the curse. I suddenly remember the Russians reaction at some of my questions, and I decide maybe he's not telling the whole truth.

His face is still in the forefront of my mind as I finally fall asleep.



*click*



A Russian soldier stands alone at the post, his cold fingers, tanned from the sun of the morning, clutch the AK-47 to his chest. Brown eyes speckled with gold gaze out into the desert, clouded by night. His breath fogs in front of him, and despite the thick coat he shivers.

He curses Sasha under his breath, calling the other soldier all the names he can think of.



 “Getting shot and missing his fucking guard duty, what a joke..” The Russian is fluent, native tongue and the man shifts his position and pushes the gun under his arm so he can rub his hands together.

“I'll pour water on his mattress later..” he knew it was a petty thought, the guy had been shot, it couldn't be helped, but he still didn't want to be here. All he could think of was his own mattress, warm and cosy, just waiting for him.



 The soldier kicked his foot at the dirt, watching the sand and dust fly up and then finally settle, when he looked up, he reeled backwards at the sight before him. An old woman stood a few feet ahead, she stood hunched over, and she looked dreadful. Daman wasn't sure how he didn't notice her sooner, he was a soldier for christ sake, spetznaz, the best.

His gun was in his hands in a flash, aimed and ready, the safety switched off.

The woman didn't flinch, instead she just stared; her face was pale and wrinkled, shining with sweat. Her eyes looked bloodshot from what he could see in just the moonlight, and he almost lowered his gun at the sight, but he knew better.



“Hold. Leave this place.” Usually, he'd have taken them inside, prisoner to be 'questioned' and 'interrogated', but he could see from the womans condition she wasn't fit for that, and he decided then and there to spare her, if she'd leave.



“Please.. I just need water and a bed to rest..” The woman croaked in Russian, her long, bony fingers reaching toward him. Daman recoiled, clutching the gun tight.



“I won't ask you again, leave this place, you shouldn't be here.” His voice was cold, his face gave away nothing as his eyes narrowed at the woman; just leave, they'll take you if you don't.



“Water.. I need water..” Her voice was like gravel, and Daman quickly reached into his vest pocket, tugging free a bottle of water he kept and tossing it at the womans feet.



“Drink and then go, there is nothing here for you.”



“Please, just a place to stay, it's all I ask..” She stepped closer, the bottle of water ignored, her fingers reaching for Daman. The soldier stepped away quickly, eyes hardening,



“Leave or I'll shoot.” He was firm, and he shifted the gun just to prove a point. He didn't want to shoot, but he'd already helped more than he should, afganistan was a dangerous place for a Russian soldier, he couldn't take any chances.



“Please!” She repeated, rushing forward to grab onto Daman's vest. He got a whiff of something rancid, and it took him a while to realise it was her breath. Personal hygene was a hard thing to come by when you're a soldier, so it didn't repulse him half as much as it would have if he didn't have to smell sweaty feet every night.



Before Daman knew it, his reflexes had already acted, and he raised the gun in the air, bringing the butt down against the womans neck. He watched helplessly as she fell to the ground, clutching her neck in pain,

“I'm sorry.” He muttered, but he didn't relent.



The woman didn't move for a few minutes, just staring at the ground as Daman watched her cautiously. Finally, her head lifted, but her features were changed, demonic was the thought that crossed Daman's mind, and he pulled back, his gun poised.



 “Daman Ivanov..” The woman muttered, her voice seemed younger all of a sudden, less croaky. The soldiers heart raced in his chest, how did she know his name..? Before he could think the woman started chanting something in a language unknown to him, her lips moving swiftly, and Daman stared with wide eyes as he watched her face change slowly, becoming younger, more feminine. Finally the woman looked at him, her face had changed completely, her eyes a bright red. She smirked at him, “Vianna Koltine, remember that name.” She whispered, and then his world went black.