Tybalt and Sirius | Backdated to March 15

[om_thekingofcats]

In life it is always important to have priorities. That's why Tybalt had made it a point to find some good napping spots around the Institute as soon as possible. Contrary to popular belief he didn't spend /all/ his time prying into people's business. No, there definitely needed to be naps too. lots of naps.

 

Which is why there was a large tabby tomcat curled on a thick branch halfway up one of the trees at the edge of the back forest. It was quiet, it was shady and it afforded a great view of the back yard. Just because Tybalt didn't /look/ like he was paying attention didn't mean he didn't have one ear open in what was still an unfamiliar place to him.

 

 

Padfoot had been taking himself for one of his long walks, he'd left school grounds to add variety before looping back onto the property. That meant he was wearing his collar, the dark leather one with the disk that listed Jay's contact number just incase.

 

 

In the forest, he padded around like a real pup, bouncy to patches of sunlight and following intriguing smells. Soon he caught a feline scent that was unfamiliar and that caught his interest enough to  head him down Tybalt's path.

 

 

The rustle of movement through the forest caught Tybalt's attention. At first he just cracked one eye to see what was going on, and flicked his ears in that direction. When he saw the unfamiliar dog approaching his tree though, he became a little bit more alert. Tybalt wasn't enough of a cat to feel threatened just because a dog showed up (besides, he was perfectly fine up his tree), so he uncurled languidly, without hurrying. For now he stayed in his tabby cat form and studied the other animal, to see what would happen. Sharron had told him there were dstudents who could turn into dogs. But would a shapeshifting mutant wear a collar? Maybe this was just your average mutt. Out of curiosity, Tybalt raised one paw and waved. A very un-catlike gesture. Maybe that would answer the question of what he was dealing with here.

 

 

Sirius's tail wagged in greeting, he fell into doggie habits quite quickly but this cat smelt strange enough that he was certain this was another shifter and he'd learnt from other encounters that not all shifters picked up animal body language as well as he had. And the wave? Oh well that was just cute.

 

 

He barked, a friendly happy bark and then mimicked the gesture, waving up at the tabby cat.

 

 

 

Right. So much for the notion of just another dog. Well, that made things interesting at least. However, conversation requires vocal chords that can do more than purr, hiss and meow (Okay, and make chirping noises that apparently people found cute. Not that Tybalt had ever stooped to that). Therefore, it was time to change. Fotunately the tree branch Tybalt was sitting on was more than sturdy enough to take the increase in weight as he turned fromk large self-satisfied tabby tomcat to lithe, self-satisfied tabby teenager. The stripes of his fur ewere repeated in his hair, and his eyes had a very distinct feline glint to them. But with a hat pulled low over his teenage ears and a pair of sunglasses, Tybalt's human form could probably pass for human. As long as he didn't grin like he was doing now.  Those canines were definitely too long for normal people. "Hello down there." He called out with a jaunty wave of one hand. "And who might you be?"

 

 

 

Taking the cue, Padfoot shifted to his human form too. Long dark hair, grey eyes and skinny frame, Sirius was dressed comfortably but fashionably as ever. Even his 'just thrown this on' look seemed like it has just stepped off the runway or a fashion shoot.

 

 

 

Waving up, Sirius introduced him "Sirius Black, and yourself?"

 

 

"Tybalt." Apparently the young man didn't care to give a surname. And also didn't seem to recognise Sirius from TV. Still, he seemed polite enough, in a slightly sardonic way. "I think you must be the first ahapeshifter I've met who accessorizes his animal form. I can't say a collar would be my style."

 

 

Sirius automatically touched the collar still around his neck with a smile. "I like to be different." He joked then shrugged "Once you've been accidentally sent to the pound as a stray you soon learn a collar with a mate's number comes in right handy."

 

 

"That sounds like a dog problem." Tybalt smirked and stretched comfortably on his branch. "So, I assume you're a student here?"

 

"Yep, I'm a senior here," Sirius confirmed, looking over Tybalt with obviously curiosity. "New around here?"

 

 

"Relatively speaking. I've been here for a few weeks. It's a nice enough place, It's more interesting than a regular school at the very least." Tybalt shrugged elegantly and flicked some imaginary dust off his lapels. "So are you just going for walkies? or is there something interesting going on that I'm unaware of?"

 

 

 

"There's always something interesting going on if you know the right places to look," Sirius pointed out with a smirk. "I was just clearing my head though, yes. Sometimes it's nice to shift and leave the human world for a few hours, I find. Don't you?"

 

 

"Sometimes." Tybalt agreed easily enough. Except then his expression turned teasing and he brought on the snark. "Except you would be surprised at how much human attention a wandering cat can get. But I guess that's simply because we're more likeable than dogs."

 

 

"Ooooh, you're gonna go there? Really?" Sirius chuckled a little. "Honey, there's a reason why we dogs are man's best friend."

 

 

"Low standards." Tybalt snarked back, without dropping a beat."And you can be the best friend's of our unpaid servants if you like." Sure, it was playing to stereotypes. But for now that amused Tybalt.

 

 

Sirius was grinning as he remarked "Meow! You really are a catty one, aren't you?" Not that he minded one bit. "And here I usually get alone with moggies so well."

 

 

"So I take it you're one of Sharron's friends then? Or do you just have the good taste to be a cat person."

 

 

"Both I would hope," Not exactly bosum buddies but they'd  chatted and shifted together and she seemed pretty cool. "I'm not an elitist. I love dogs and cats equally. And Sharon rocks."

 

 

"So your someone with a lot of love to share around hm? Interesting." Tybalt lithely swung himself down a few branches and landed gracefully on the ground in front of Sirius. "I was getting a crick looking down all the time." He explained with a shrug.

 

 

"Lot of love to share, that's a nice way to put it. I like that." Sirius smiled and approaching Tybalt, giving him a once over now that they were on the same level.  "Cat's don't need to be higher up to look down on people though, or so they say."

 

 

"Very true." Tybalt admitted without even a trace of shame. He reciprocated the once over openly, not even trying to hide the fact. "You're welcome to steal the phrase, it has served me well."

 

 

Sirius chuckled where the shamelessness may have irked some, "How very kind. And what where you, oh noble feline, up to lurking deep in the woods, hmm?"

 

"Exploring. I like to know what's around this new home of mine. Oh and also a nap." Tybalt shrugged. Those weren't exavtly high priority tasks. But why would he pretend he was doing anything else? "And yoju? Was this a case of taking yourself on walkies?" Eventually (pretty soon) he'd get tired of the cat/dog stereotype jokes. But for now they were still amusing enough.

 

 

"In a way, yes." Sirius nodded, he didn't mind stereotypes at all personally. It could be fun to embrace them every once in a while. "Why be cooped up doing work when I can be out here? There's always stuff going on down here, keeps my nose sharp to track scents. Yours caught my attention and here we are."

 

 

Tybalt cocked his head and frowned. He didn't quite seem to agree with what Sirius had said. "Always something going on? I don't know, this place seems quiet in a lot of ways. Or am I just missing the interesting things. Please, enlighten me. Where is the action at Xavier's?"

 

 

"Ah, depends on what kind of action you're looking for," Sirius couldn't resist a wink there. "We're forever getting new students, new powers, new hook ups. What's not to like about Xavier's? Especially the woods, all sorts of things go on down in the woods after all. You disagree?"

 

 

"I'm looking for interesting action. I'll try anything once, but it takes something extraordinary to hold my attention." Tybalt didn't wink, but he did reply in the same sort of spirit. "These woods are starting to lose it. maybe I just haven't had the right encounter in them yet."

 

 

"Well, play your cards right and you never know what might happen." He came forward, closing the wide distance between them.

 

 

 

"Indeed." Tybalt was playing his cards close to his chest, if anything. He wasn't welcoming the approach, but wasn't drawing away either. For the moment, he was just observing Sirius' play.

 

 

 

"So, Tybalt," He leant back against a tree as he spoke. "Where are you from? If you don't mind me asking." Questions about the past could upset after all.

 

 

 

Apparently not for Tybalt, who answered with a blissful lack of concern. "Here and there, by way of San Francisco.  I take it you're from Merry Olde Engelande?" Tybalt's accent could easily be mistaken for a British one, though with him that could easily be an affectation.

 

 

"Accent's a bit of a hint, huh? Yup London," His own affect was affected too, a rough east end accent that had infuriated his upper class parents and had become second nature to use. "It seems to go down well this side of the pond."

 

 

"I imagine it would. The good old touch of Old World sophistication is always popular here it seems.  So I'm guessing you like to stand out then?" That was really more of a conclusion than a question. And not one that Tybalt disapproved of.

 

 

"Like to? It's more it comes naturally, a boy called Sirius Orion Black III isn't a boy who can just blend in." He joked, it was a rather ridiculous name after all.

 

 

Tybalt scoffed at that, dismissive handwave and all "Oh come on, no false modesty. You could have told me your name was John Smith and I wouldn't have known any better. Just like I could have decided to go by anything other than Tybalt if I wanted to."

 

 

"That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet," He couldn't resist quoting Romeo and Juliet when it fitted oh so perfectly.

 

 

Tybalt laughed delightedly,  flashing a definite hint of fang when he did. "Oh well played. You definitely score extra points for the use of the Bard. I suppose John really wouldn't suit either of us."

 

 

"Not at all, though must say I've never met a Tybalt before." Sirius told him, eyes obviously taking in those fangs with clear interest.

 

 

 

"Well, then i guess I clearly don't mind standing out either. Sadly you've already used the best Shakespeare quote for pointing out that the name suits me well."

 

 

 

"Ahhh perhaps but, lucky you, I still have many lines in my repertoire,"

 

 

 

"So what you're saying is that I should leave the talking to you? Allright, show me what you can do with this glib tongue of yours." Tybalt volleyed back with a glib chuckle and a challenging smirk.

 

 

 

"Are we still talking about talking here?" Sirius grined back, playfully waggling his tongue.

 

 

"Whatever gave you the impression we weren't?" Tybalt's innocent act was almost cherubic.  That didn't make it convincing though.

 

 

"Experience and a filthy mind?" Sirius suggested, aiming for an equally innocent tone that didn't suit him or his words.

 

"Well, who am I to argue with the voice of experience? By all means go with whatever your wealth of knowledge tells you to do. And filthy is relative." Just like that Tybalt wasn't playing the innocent anymore. And obviously enjoying the rapid fire swings.

 

"That it is, it shows you don't know me well that you doubt my level of filth. Perhaps you need convincing, eh?" He lent in just a fraction more, eyebrow quirking playful.

 

There was a moment of hesitation before Tybalt smirked and leaned in a bit himself. "Allright, convince me." He purringly quipped back. Still playful, but with some interest behind it that Sirius would be able to detect.

 

Oh yes, the nose knows as he liked to say and his nose was definitely telling him there was interest here, just as much as the body language screamed it.  As certain as he felt, it was was always a gamble but still. He closed the gap to initiate a kiss. Filthy from the start, nothing sweet about it.

 

Well, in for a penny, in for a pound. Tybalt didn't seem to mind at all. In fact, judging by the way he grabbed Sirius' shirt and pulled him in, he was taking the game of verbal oneupmanship onwards to this next level.

 

The growl that rose from Sirius's throat was entirely approving, pushing Tybalt against the nearest tree to effectively pin him as he nipped at the other shifter's lip and tugged.

 

Some time later, the pair were distinctly more ruffled and curiosities (among other urges) were very much satisfied. For the moment at least.

 

"Well," Sirius chuckled a little as he pulled a twig out of his hair and straighted the shirt that was now minus a few buttons from haste. "Is that always your reaction when a pretty boy quotes the Bard because if so, that's something I want to remember." Kitty had claws (and teeth) and it felt fucking good.

 

Tybalt was fastidiously making sure hos clothes were in perfect order and that he was free of greenery. Vanity aside though, he was looking smug and satisfied. That had been a very worthwhile interruption of a nap. "No, the novelty has worn off now. You'll have to try something else for next time. I'm sure you'll think of something though."

 

"I think I just undeniably proved that I'm nothing if not creative and adaptable." Sirius grinned roguishly, straightening up "Well, a was a real <i>pleasure</i> to make your acquaintance Tybalt. You'll be seeing me around." No question of 'if' or 'maybe' about that.

 

"I'm sure I will." Tybalt's dignified response was somewhat livened up by his wicked grin. "May the rest of your day be as good as it has been so far. Though I doubt it will be."

 

"Could say the same about you, Kitten." Sirius pointed out with a wink. "Have fun, don't do anything I wouldn't." Which, of course, clearly left very few limits anyway.

 

He left it one more beat before shifting to Padfoot. Some people he hooked up with freaked out first time he transformed in front of them after being physical but he was very sure that if anyone would be blasé about it, Tybalt would.

Tybalt and Sirius are bored in the forest. A flirting oneupmanship contest ensues, with predictable results. (Mildly NSFW, with a fade to black)