Night's Omen

Frank always made it a point to get to know his team members. It made you perform better as a team, and if you knew about the other person's life, family and such, you would be more likely to do your best to keep them alive. So with that in mind Frank had decided he needed to spend some time with Skye outside of just hunting. He also wanted to meet her husband since the whole shifter thing was new new to him and a lion sounded pretty bad ass, not to mention he was ex-military and that had already scored him some points in Frank's book. When Skye had mentioned dinner on their last hunt, that had sounded like a good idea to Frank.

They decided to get cleaned up and then meet in the lobby area of Crimson, and hopefully Nick would be able to join them. Frank was sorta nervous about meeting his pregnant partner's husband, but hopefully the guy would trust Frank to protect her. He would almost certainly take a bullet for a teammate (had done it before). But to protect Skye in her present condition, he would probably die. It was one thing for a person to get killed at work, but in Frank's mind her unborn child was totally innocent and Frank would give his life to protect a child, even if he did hate the majority of the adults in the world.

But he was getting way to wrapped up in his thoughts as he crossed the lobby to wait for them in a chair by the door. He had actually cleaned up quite a bit, and was wearing decent clothes, it was pretty shocking to see Frank in a pair of jeans that had 0 holes, and in a nice ironed La Coste collared shirt. But hey, they were going to dinner in New York City....had to look pretty snazzy for that right?

It wasn't like Nick was a stranger to Crimson, so when Skye said she wanted to have dinner with her new partner, he was all for it.  As instructed, he went to Crimson to wait in the lobby, obviously recognized as her husband by now.  Some of the hunters there knew what he did for a living, and most were smart enough not to mess with him.  He was....looking forward to meeting her new partner.

Really, he didn't think she should be hunting while pregnant, but he was reasonable.  She was a sniper, and didn't often end up in the line of fire.  One of the few times that had happened, though...he'd sat with her and dug the bullet out while she cried, and there had been nothing worse.  The fact that he was there before Skye was good, because he had to get that across.

It wasn't hard to figure out who her new partner was, given what she'd told him when she called.  He put a nice smile on his face (one that didn't show the slightly elongated canines he'd acquired over the years) and approached the bearded man, offering up a hand to shake.  "You must be Frank.  I'm Nick, Skye's husband.  It's good to meet you."

He'd spent a lot of years covering up his accent, to the point that it was completely impossible to hear when he wanted it quiet.  Right then, he had a little twang to his voice, just because it was natural to him.  He could deepen the accent if he chose.

Frank saw the big man walk into the lobby. That was probably Skye's husband,because he wasn't a hunter Frank had ever seen before, and clients usually didn't show up at this time of the day. The fact that the man approached him confirmed Frank's first impression. He took the mans hand and gave it a good hard shake,more out of Marine habit than anything.

"Good to meet you Nick, I'm Frank Laun, Skye's partner. Guess she's running late huh? Well, hell man you want to grab a drink or something while we wait? Skye said you were in the service...want to trade some war stories?"

Frank really didn't know what else to say to the man. But telling old war stories was usually a good ice breaker between service folks. But the slight accent got Frank's attention. It was so familiar, he wondered if Nick was from anywhere near where he had grown up. Louisiana was a fairly large state, but the southern part bred a very distinct accent, one which Frank only made a slight effort to cover.

((Wow, my last post was Fail.  I blame it on being super distracted.  ))

Nick really HAD been ready for all sorts of problems, most of the fabricated in his head as potential issues, just in case he had to deal with them.  Being caught off-guard with this guy wasn't his idea of a good thing, but he was pleasantly surprised so far, particularly by the slight bit of accent he could hear from Frank.  It sounded like someone out near where he'd grown up, which was definitely Cajun country.  If that was where Frank was from, he'd give the guy a chance.  It could have been MUCH worse.

"That sounds jus' fine," he agreed, not about to burst Frank's bubble about the drinking issue.  There was nothing in Crimson that could get him drunk, but he'd sure as hell sit around and BS while he waited on Skye.  "What branch were you, then?  And exactly how much did Skye tell you about me?  I don't want to get repetitive."

That much was true, though he was also interested in just how much of an introduction, or warning, his wife had given Frank. 

Frank walked toward the liquor cabinet in the corner of the Guild's common room. He cracked it open and pulled out two glasses and poured about two fingers of whiskey in each and slid one over to Nick. It hadn't crossed Frank's mind that some people might not whiskey enthusiasts like he was. He would drink any kinda whiskey so long as it wasn't Kentucky Deluxe...that 8 dollar a fifth shit had almost killed him in High School. As for how much Skye had told him, well seems like she had covered the basics.

"Welp, for starters she told me you were Air Force, and that you were a lion. That, along with the fact I found she was a hyena about 5 minutes before was a bit of shock I gotta say. She also said you did some Merc work, which happens to be what I did before this Hunting gig. She also said she was pregnant..so congrats on that man. But what really makes me curious is your last name, you wouldn't happen to be from South Louisiana would you? LeCroix sounds awful damn familiar."

Frank knew that comment would force to admit he was from Louisiana. He also knew it would probably lead to questions about his scum bag politician father, who was and had been for quite some time, one of Louisiana's senators. The Laun name was fairly high profile in the southern area of the state, well, Frank's fahter and older brother's names were, Frank and his younger brother Kurt were almost swept under the rug like a dirty family secret.

Nick actually liked his liquor, though it had been something of an acquired taste and rather necessary for getting along throughout his life.  First, his father, then his friends, and then buddies in the service.  You just didn't get around the whole 'drinking' issue without doing it, and so he'd acquired the taste.  He couldn't get drunk off of any of it, but he'd learned to enjoy it, so he didn't have a problem with the whiskey Frank offered.

How awesome for a marriage was that?  A husband who couldn't possibly get drunk.  Shifters were just cool like that. 

Nick was probably better off not being able to get drunk.  He had enough issues without adding something mind-altering to the mix.  Frank seemed to have a decent handle on his resumé, which was slightly interesting, but Nick trusted Skye.  If she thought the guy should know all that, then he'd let it go. 

"Yep, that'd be it.  Haven't been down South in awhile, though.  I thought your name sounded familiar, too, but you don't seem like the type that wants to discuss that," he said, giving Frank a look that made it clear just who he was thinking of.  He was willing to bet that Frank happened to be the 'black sheep' of that crew, based on what he'd heard about the Senator and other son.  Nick wasn't going to push on that one, because the information was easily accessible if he needed it. 

On to 'friendlier' things.  "Thanks, though.  I'm pretty thrilled about the pregnancy, which brings me to my big concern," he said, his voice conversational, friendly.  Deceptively so, of course.  "I'd much prefer to be present on all of Skye's hunts, just to make sure everything goes alright, but naturally, I can't.  Since you can, I just want to have it out there that I really don't want to get a call about any 'accidents' or 'ambushes'.  Get my point?"

He wasn't accusing Frank of anything, because there definitely wasn't anything to accuse, but the fact of the matter was that if Skye was horribly injured, or died, and Frank wasn't worse off, Nick was going to remedy that.  Skye was his everything.  "I've only had to pull a bullet out of her once, and I don't want to ever have to do it, or see someone else, ever again.  So, between you and I, keep an eye on the little family I'm starting there, okay?"

Frank was glad Nick didn't seem to object to the drink he passed him. And yep, as expected Nick knew all about his family he was sure. But whatever, that shit didn't matter out on the battlefield and thats where Frank lived, not up in Washington with the rest of the scum suckers. He listened to Nick's explanation of how he felt about Skye's hunts and found himself nodding in agreement.

"I'm gonna do my best to keep her out of harms way. I don't know what she told you about how I ended up here, or what Batten even put in my file, but I lost 3 of the best friends and soldiers I ever led to vampires. I'm never gonna let something like that happen again. Rest assured man, I would take a bullet for Skye or jump on a grenade, because I am never losing another fucking team mate again!"

Anger briefly flashed across Frank's face. That botched mission, his dead men, his bullshit Medal of Honor. Fuck that, he was never going through that again. He would die to insure his team lived next time.

Nick may not have understood Frank's reasoning, since he hadn't yet bothered to get information about the man, but he got the feeling that he wasn't being lied to.  Better, his threat was there, seemed to have been understood, and Frank had promised that he'd keep Skye safe.  As far as Nick was concerned, Frank was responsible if anything happened to Skye on a hunt.

That was enough for him.  It gave him a place to start killing if he ever lost her.

Obviously, Nick wasn't all there, but he smiled at the reassurance he'd just received, and tipped the rest of his whiskey in Frank's direction in an unspoken toast.  He was a good monster, most of the time, and as long as everything went fairly smoothly, he'd stay that way.  Anyone who dared touch Skye the wrong way, beware.

"That's good to hear.  I think you and I are going to be great friends, Frank," he offered, willing to be much more pleasant now that they were understood.  "I know what it's like, losing teammates.  My last run in the service went something like that."

Yeah, 'something like that'.   

((I just realized that Skye technically should be in her 8th/9th month right now... we'll skip the chronology this time lol))

Skye finally turned up, dressed in her more usual outfit of a black skirt and pastel sweater set. "Hey!" she chirped, rounding the corner and immediately approaching her husband for attention. She nuzzled into him affectionately, before rolling up to her tiptoes to give him a little kiss on the lips. Proudly, she turned to Frank, and gestured to her husband.

"I guess I don't need to introduce you two," she said. "You ready? Sorry I took so long, it doesn't seem like my clothes want to fit right anymore, but I guess that can be expected."

Ah, and there was Skye, just in time to keep him from being asked for details, which was pretty inevitable.  That was how he preferred it, actually, but he'd have given the details pretty freely if Frank asked.  Skye came first, though.

Skye came to him immediately, and he slid his arm around her automatically before leaning down a little to make her giving him a kiss easier.  Was it obvious from his smile how completely in love with his wife he was?  Who would have expected it from a lion and a hyena?  Hell of a curveball, that.

"I think we're good, Skye," he responded pretty positively, turning his eyes back to Frank briefly.  "We were 'bonding' over a drink, so you didn't take long at all.  You look amazing."

She did.  He wasn't making it up or trying to schmooze her.  It thrilled him to no end, even with her crazy cravings and requests, to see her pregnant.  It was the whole idea behind it, that there was a baby in there and it was their child, his and Skye's, that made it so amazing.  He couldn't think she looked less than gorgeous that way.  He really, truly wanted a family.

"Hm, bonding over drinking, and only one of you can actually feel the effects," she mused, giving Frank a warm smile. "You'd better watch out. I've seen him hustle humans for fun when we were younger. Don't ever play darts with him after you've been drinking - he 'sobers' up like that," she said, emphasizing with a snap of her small fingers.

While Nick was excited about being a dad, Skye was excited about being a mom. She was warming up to the idea of leave, especially since she was having a more difficult time walking with extra weight now than ever before. She was about to pop, literally - Doctor Batten had informed her that she was only a week or so out. The baby, of course, had decided to camp out for a little while.

"It must be a cat after all," he'd said. They'd had a good laugh, but she hadn't mentioned that remark to Nick. She wanted him to be surprised.

"Shall we?" she asked brightly.

Frank was a bit taken aback by all the family to be bliss. He had never planned that path for himself, and so it was slightly strange to see two people in his chosen field so happy about having a family of their own. But he did even the closeness that Skye and Nick shared...he hoped he would find that one day.

" What...you mean...You shifters don't feel booze like the rest of us? So why even drink it unless you just like the taste. I would hate it if I didn't have anything to kill the pain from time to time."

He looked over at Sky and for the first time really noticed how pregnant she really was. He was about to be turned out on his own until she was back from leave, which really didn't bother Frank, he had gotten the hang of the killing part quick enough. It was the social aspects of vamps and shifters he was having more problems understanding...obviously.

"Yea sure lead the way Skye, where ever you want to go is cool with me."

Skye laughed at Frank's sudden revelation, the sound akin to tinkling bells. It suited her, though - if you could look at her and imagine what the sound might be, it would be just what you'd expect from a woman of her stature and demeanor. Sweet, feminine, and very girlish. "Oh, Frank," she said, waving her hand at him. "I thought you knew that. There's precious little that can affect us that's man-made. It's true, I've heard of some drinks brewed somewhere in this city that can get a shifter drunk, but I don't deign to try them."

She hugged against Nick again for good measure, because she loved the warmth and size of him. She had hated it at first, hated his smell, his golden eyes, and his aggressive, territorial nature, but in the end, that's what had hooked her and reeled her in. She smiled at the thought, and looked back to Frank.

"I'm open to whatever. There's a new seafood restaurant in town by the harbour, and as far as I know, they serve other things, too, in case fish is not your taste." Skye particularly enjoyed salmon, and she didn't even have to ask if Nick minded. He was like any other cat - if she came home with any sort of seafood, he was crawling up her leg like a housecat to have some. It was cute.

Really, it was probably for the best in Nick's case that liquor didn't do anything to him.  He could have easily succumbed to something like that after what had happened, and he didn't need that.  He liked his life without a mess like that, though he could have done without Skye warning Frank about his inability to get drunk.

"Honey, the darts or pool game I had planned for later could have bought you a pretty new mobile for the crib," he told her with a good-natured smile, leaning down as though it were something he didn't want Frank to hear, even though he said it loud enough.  His point was that he still hustled humans sometimes, though married life meant he found himself in bars to do so less often.  Still, it happened, and Nick played a marvelous drunk.

Then, he won.  It was excellent.

"Seafood sounds great," he agreed immediately, no hesitation whatsoever.  Seafood was up there with the couch and Skye amongst Nick's favorite things, and it was a running joke at home.  Really, he didn't care, because lions didn't exactly have a lot of seafood in their diets, so he knew it was just personal preference.  He'd always loved seafood, but the cat jokes were pretty damn funny.

Well, Frank's head was certainly spinning. He'd been doing this whole "Hunter" thing for a good bit now, and still had little idea about what was going on. He'd learned to kill things, but really it was just adding to the skills he already had in that area. But he had learned almost nothing about the real day to day reality of the things he had killed.  And somebody in town made supernatural hooch? That was something Frank wanted to see for himself.

"Huh, well...I'll have to remember to stay sober around you if any kinda games of skill pop up. Especially if any of my cash is on the table. Seafood sounds great, haven't really had any since the last time I stopped in at my place in New Orleans, and thats been a good while. Ya'll are gonna really have to educate me about the whole shifter thing....and probably answer a couple of my leech questions too. I can kill them, but I really have no idea what it is that I'm killing...and that kinda don't sit right.

Frank had seen some rough shit on some of his missions in the Marines, but still it didn't compare to some of the shit he had seen the vamps doing. Some of them were obviously a little fucked in the head. He had even heard whispers among a couple of the other hunters about some vampire fortress called Midnight, whatever the hell that was. Yeah, this pleasant dinner with the LeCroix family should be quite the learning experience.