Chapter Text
Hope had never been a particularly social person. As a child she could always be found sitting on the fringes of groups, present but not participating, typically with a book in hand.
As she'd grown, she'd become more isolated, refusing to even humour the adults in her life that demanded she make friends. Her parents dying just days apart had pushed her even further from her peers, as whispers of justice and righteousness followed her down corridors and into classrooms, until she snapped and in one catastrophic fell, revealed her Mikaelson lineage, heritage and temper.
It was safe to say that neither her social status, nor capabilities benefited from the reveal. If anything, it simply enabled her to put more distance between herself and the student body of Salvatore School, after all, who wants to be friends with the freak orphan Tribrid?
Alone is no way for anyone to live, least of all a wolf, a creature that lives and breathes their pack. And sure, her Aunts Freya, Rebekah and Keelin were around, if biweekly phone calls that usually got cut short counted, but Hope craved more.
She ached for the times when her mom would appear at the school, her sole mission to abscond with Hope for a weekend to see some exotic land, or visit with a pack, or just catch up with her daughter.
Or the days when her dad would summon her to the home he still kept in Mystic Falls, large canvases and classical music soothing her whilst he hummed jauntily, complaining that he could never mix a blue that did her eyes justice.
She missed the holidays, with her large, dysfunctional family, and calling her mom after a rough day at school to have her worries calmed in the space of a few melodic verses. She missed sparring with her dad and laughing as he let her win their chess matches.
Mostly, she just missed the feeling of being unconditionally loved, and knowing she had people she could always depend on.
Hope's whole childhood had been spent running and hiding from one big-bad to the next, and she supposed she had grown used to trying to escape her problems rather than face them.
And thus she found herself on the roof of the East Wing at two in the morning. Precariously perched at the very edge of the overhang, feet swinging in the breeze.
High places calmed her. She'd never really thought too deeply into the why of it, other than to theorise that it may be because they scared everyone else, so no one would appear up here to disturb her.
As the moon burst over the mountains to the north however, the Tribrids heart stuttered, legs twitching. Something else she missed? Running.
Her parents used to take her on wild runs and adventures. Racing her up nearly sheer cliffs and down mountain sides, zig zagging through their territories until their daughters legs tired before shifting back to teach her their histories and stories.
Of course, she wasn't allowed to shift on school grounds. She could pose a ‘danger’ to the student body, or so Dr Saltzman liked to say.
She secretly thought he was incompetent.
A ‘danger’ please, they're probably more dangerous to me than I am to them. Hope had been turning since she was twelve, after her aunt Freya found a way to activate her wolf gene without her having to take a life, she'd turned every opportunity she'd had.
Hope loved the freedom being a wolf gave her. Knowing she was the biggest, most powerful creature in the forest, feeling the wind in her fur and the soil beneath her paws. There was nothing like it in the world. After she lost her father, she'd spend days as a wolf, just to feel closer to him and her mother.
But her family grew worried, told her it wasn't healthy to spend so much time as a wolf, and thus sent her back to Salvatore where she's only allowed to turn on the full moon, under strict orders not to cross the forest boundary either towards the town or the school.
The roof, this roof particularly, was her way of escaping. A way to be free, without breaking any of the million rules placed upon her. She knew no one would look for her here, not that anyone would think to look for her regardless.
And so she sat there, enjoying the peace, looking over the gardens and forest that sprawled out below her, bathed in the light of the half moon. Her wolf shifted just beneath the surface, eager to be let out, to run free.
Sighing deeply, resolved to get back in bed and attempt to sleep some before classes started, she cast her gaze once more toward the forest.
Closing her eyes to feel the faint breeze drifting through the grand oaks and pines that surrounded her, wishing it were fur and not skin it touched.
Inhaling deeply she caught the scent of impending rain, alcohol from the party still raging deeper into the forest and… Strawberries?
Her eyes sprung open, her wolf immediately on high alert.
Shifting slowly on the sloped surface until she met the eyes of a girl who looked to be her age. She stood a few feet away, clearly having just climbed through the same attic window Hope herself used to get onto the roof.
It wasn't until the girl gasped softly that she realised her eyes were glowing a bright amber and her fangs had grown, pushing her upper lip up slightly to display the razor sharp points.
Closing her eyes briefly to center herself she took in a sharp breath, only to be assaulted with the full force of the girl's scent; Strawberries, Honeysuckle, a hint of Smoke, and nightlock? An odd thing for a witch to be consuming, since it was widely known to weaken the connection to your magic.
Despite that, Hope could feel her magic even from this distance, pouring off of her in almost violent waves, like it was barely being restrained, just under the surface.
Snapping her eyes open once more, no longer caring that they still glowed amber, she took slow, measured steps toward the girl who looked moments from fleeing or fainting.
But as Hope grew closer she could see clear signs of distress all over her. From her trembling hands, to her pale skin. Dull, green eyes watched her almost lifelessly, tear stained cheeks shining in the moonlight.
Her breath stuttered unevenly in her chest, and she exhaled shakily as more tremors wracked her frame.
“I'm sorry,” she rasped, voice rough and deep, likely from crying Hope would guess, “I didn't think anyone would be up here.”
Hope paused, this girl who looked so fragile and vulnerable, was apologising to her? For what, accidentally finding her on a roof no one was technically allowed to be on?
“Are you okay?” it seemed the appropriate thing to say, but even as the words left her mouth Hope cursed her social ineptness.
Obviously the girl wasn't okay, she was suffering some kind of emotional distress and having Hope ask her idiotic questions likely wasn't helping the fact.
“Do you want to sit down?” she tried instead.
A half nod and a broken sob followed, so Hope crossed the short distance between them to gently guide the girl into a seated position.
She spoke softly, so as not to startle her, still silently praying for her wolf to disappear.
Doubt the bright orange eyes are helping her not freak out, she scoffed internally.
She hoped the soft cadence she forced her voice into would be enough to calm the slightly hysterical girl, because she had no knowledge of how to handle any person, least of all a crying one.
“I'm Hope. Mikaelson….you probably knew that. Uhm, you can talk to me if you want, about whatever's upsetting you? Or anything else.”
The shorter girl's words grew slightly rushed, cheeks heating as she internally scoffed at her inability to be chill.
When it seemed like the other girl was mulling over words she tried again, “I don't think I've seen you around school before?”
Sniffling as she looks up at the surprisingly calm wolf, the girl swipes at her tears, clearing her throat roughly and drawing in a long breath.
“My name’s Penelope Park, I just transferred here from L'Académie des Arts Magiques in Belgium… Gods, I've been here four hours and I'm a fucking mess!” a dry chuckle followed the statement but it quickly turned into a choked sob.
“I'm not usually like this, I swear… I've just had a really shitty couple weeks and I didn't think I'd be bothering anyone up here. Clearly I was wrong. I'm sorry, I can go if you want?” the words spilled forth rapidly, almost panicked and the witch was half stood before Hope caught up with what she was saying.
Placing a gentle hand over her knee, the wolf chuckled self-deprecatingly.
“Honestly, this is the most interesting conversation I've had in months, and the first time someone hasn't turned their nose up at my name… well, ever - so, unless you want to go…?”
Tailing off in a clear invitation the tribrid quashed her rising hopes that the girl would take her offer to stay, if only to avoid disappointment. She was intrigued by this witch, and despite not knowing her at all, she felt a responsibility to make sure she was okay. At least for tonight.
As Penelope made to respond however a frigid breeze whipped past them, a violent shudder rocking the girls slight frame. Her reply died on her tongue as her teeth clicked shut from the cold.
“Actually, would you like to come to my room? It's a lot warmer and I could make hot chocolate?”
Though the offer came across incredibly confident, Hope had never been more nervous.
No one had ever been in her room before. Hell, most of the school didn't even know where it was. But the prospect of this unknown witch entering what amounted to her den didn't fill her with as much dread as she thought it should. It was still there, but with equal amounts of excitement, strangely.
“That'd be really nice, thank you.” it was barely a whisper, and without her wolf hearing she'd probably have missed it, but all the same it was enough for her to release the breath she'd been holding since the question so casually rolled off her tongue.
With a soft smile Hope stood and helped Penelope up before turning toward the attic window.
Slipping through the small space was second nature to Hope by now and she did so easily and with grace. It proved much more difficult for Penelope however as she quite literally slipped through it.
Luckily Hope's quick reflexes allowed her to catch the witch before she could hurt herself and she landed in surprisingly strong arms with a soft “oomph”.
Perhaps unluckily was how close this left their faces as a result and their eyes locked. Green met Blue in an intense gaze, neither girl able to look away. Penelope found herself unknowingly leaning in, until her nose skated along Hope's jaw, completely missing her eyes almost violently turn amber.
Breathing deeply she took in the delicious aroma of apples, fresh rain and chamomile, before snapping to her sense and jerking back so suddenly Hope nearly dropped her.
Wide amber eyes bore into hers and the witch felt a flush build from her chest to the tips of her ears. Stuttering out apologies quicker than her tongue could keep up before Hope took pity, smiling softly and offering an out, “Falling for me already, Park?”
A smirk tugged at her lips as her eyebrow quirked slightly, her eyes soft and teasing.
“Only cause I knew you'd be here to catch me, Mikaelson.” The statement was followed by a wink only marginally ruined by red rimmed, slightly glossy eyes and bright red cheeks.
They shared a soft chuckle before Hope eased the other girl back to her feet, gesturing toward the stairs with a tilt of her head and a soft smile. She began to lead the way, only to feel a soft hand catch her own.
An eyebrow raised in the witches' direction asked a silent question, 'are you okay?'
“Won't your roommate be pissed at you for bringing me round so late?”
“Sure,” the wolf shrugged, and a flash of panic shot through Penelope's eyes, “if I had one. No one wants to room with a Mikaelson, and I kinda prefer having my own space anyway.”
“Oh,” she hesitated, before shyly looking up into eyes that were once again blue, “you know, you've been really nice to me Hope, but I don't want to to intru-”
“Penelope, if I didn't want you in my room I never would have invited you.”
Despite the amusement colouring her tone, Penelope felt the sincerity in those words clearly, and she was relieved to know she hadn't been invited simply out of pity.
She may be a mess right now, but she didn't need anyone's hand outs. She could sense however that Hope wasn't one to do anything she didn't want to, she wasn't fake or a people pleaser.
So when Hope interlaced their fingers - Penelope blushingly realising she'd never let go of the other girls hand - she allowed herself to be led down two flights of stairs and along the senior witches corridor.
Naturally, Penelope assumed they'd take the next left toward the Wolf housing, so when Hope continued to lead her forward, bypassing the turn completely and instead steering her right, onto a corridor the witch could've sworn didn't exist until just then, she got confused.
“Where are we going?”
“My room? Didn't we just have this conversation?”
“Well yeah, but we just passed the dorms..?”
Chuckling as they reached the end of the short hall, Hope turned to one of three doors, the only one on the left, and shook her head slightly, “I'm not housed with the main student body, I don't think they'd know where to put me for a start. For another, they get very loud, and I'm not a people person. This way, everybody wins.”
“What do you mean? They wouldn't know where to put you?”
“Like in which faction's corridor… Oh my Gods, you don't know who I am, do you?”
Walking through the door momentarily stole the response from the witch's lips. Hope's room was amazing.
All dark oaks and deep blue accents, with floor to ceiling windows stretching the entire length of the far wall, opening up the space and allowing for ample light.
Bookshelves ran along the length of the opposing wall, every inch overflowing with books, photos, small trinkets and pieces of art. There were even shelves above the door, as though Hope refused to let any more space be lost than absolutely necessary.
An easel stood in the right corner by the window, art supplies scattered around it. Canvases of all sizes lay around the area, some blank, some looked half finished, others yet had large black streaks running down them, as if destroyed out of anger.
Two leant against the wall, the only visibly finished. Breathtaking depictions of a wolf pack running through a moonlit forest stretched across one. The same wolves playing in a creek, the sun shining down on them, adorned the other.
Hope cleared her throat in the silence, shuffling awkwardly, as Penelope's eyes roamed the rest of the room.
A cluttered desk sat against the left wall, a mini fridge built into it. Two doors stood either side, presumably the bathroom and closet space.
And center place, sat atop a cream shag rug, was a huge four poster bed. A dark blue canopy fell gently down to the floor, blue and cream sheets pristine upon it, as though no one had touched it for days.
An archery set lay in the back right corner, various other weapons hanging on the wall above it.
As her gaze travelled up over them, surprise all over her face at the truly enormous collection, a gasp left her lips and her jaw dropped.
Craning her neck back she took in the ceiling in its entirety, spinning slightly to find a better angle.
Stretched out above her in minute detail, was the night sky. The moon full and bright, the craters and imperfections easily visible, stars practically twinkling down at her, constellations perfectly mapped. The milky way proudly displayed above Hopes bed, easily the focal point of the truly magnificent art piece.
It was gorgeous.
Turning fully to face the wolf, Penelope's jaw worked briefly, words entirely escaping her for several moments. Eventually she simply raised hand slightly to indicate the ceiling, a very eloquent “You?” all she could manage.
Hope laughed awkwardly, scratching at the back of her neck and shrugging shyly.
“I mean, I'm no great artist -”
“Hope, Gods, I don't have words! It's beautiful. Truly. I've never seen anything like it, it's like I'm actually looking at the night sky. Only so much better!”
“I, uhm, well… Thanks.” cheeks burning a bright crimson she shuffled further into the room, cursing herself for being so self-conscious and flustered by a simple compliment.
Penelope approached her slowly, taking her hand and tilting her chin to better see the shorter girls eyes, only to have her breath stolen yet again.
On the roof, Hope had been largely cast in shadow, only her glowing amber eyes easily visible in the darkness, but in the brightly lit space of the wolves bedroom her face was properly visible, allowing Penelope to take her in fully for the first time.
Flowing auburn hair curled lightly at the ends to frame her face. Soft skin and light, barely there freckles made known. Wide, rapidly darkening blue eyes flitted over her own features, but Penelope simply continued her visual exploration of the wolf.
Soft cheekbones, still flushed cheeks and a straight nose, the barest of scars along the ridge that briefly sparked curiosity.
Her gaze lingered for several seconds on full, pillowy lips, caught between sharp white teeth, and the witch found herself wondering how they'd feel against her own.
The faintest of dimples on her chin, and a jaw that could surely cut glass were decidedly not helping her stop the less than friendly thoughts now running through her mind.
A breathy “wow” escaping her, eyes widening at her own slip up and cheeks flushing beautifully “Ugh, I mean -”
A cheeky smile flew across the shorter girl's face, “wow, I agree.”
Hope's own eyes had not been docile during Penelope's examination, instead taking in the witches face in silent awe.
Short, perfect raven ringlets fell to her shoulders, the left side of her head shaved right down, three lines cut into it.
Bright, soulful green eyes darkened under her scrutiny, sharp cheekbones barely pink under her tan skin. A small diamond stud glinted from the left side of an aristocratic nose. A pink tongue darted out to wet incredibly soft looking lips and Hope's breath stuttered slightly.
A beauty mark sat up and to the right of those lips and Hopes wolf vibrated just under her skin, longing to reach out and touch it, trail her fingers across to trace her lips and cheek, to cup her head and draw her in-
Blinking rapidly and shaking her head to rid it of those thoughts she silently reaffirmed her agreement.
Wow.
Penelope Park had to be (in Hopes opinion) one of the most beautiful creatures to grace the earth.
They stood there for a moment, each simply taking in the other. Any semblance of their prior conversation long dead in the air between them as they both separately struggled to form words.
For the third time that night, Hope's eyes glowed amber. Her fangs piercing the lip still caught in her teeth, finally shaking her from her trance and she almost violently tore her gaze from the witch, embarrassed to have once again lost control in front of this girl.
The girl in question was having none of this however, and used the grip she still had on the wolf's chin to turn her face back toward her.
“You're beautiful Hope.”
It was such a simple statement, but the sincerity and ferocity pouring off the witch stole the breath from Hopes lungs. Eyes and cheeks glowing under a soft emerald gaze, she inhaled sharply.
A soft smile tugged at her lips, fangs poking out in what likely should have been a terrifying manner, but instead flooded Penelopes mind with more not-so PG13 images.
“So…” clearing her throat did nothing to hide the rough quality of her voice. The deep, rich timber washing over Penelope and setting her nerves on fire, “hot chocolate?”
Laughing softly the ravenette nodded, putting some much needed distance between herself and Hope. She moved toward the large bed, but hesitated upon reaching it, turning to raise her eyebrow in silent question.
“Make yourself at home, please.” the shorter girl murmured over her shoulder, already pulling out mugs and a ceramic jar, likely containing the chocolate powder.
A pleased smile fixed itself upon the witches face as she swiftly toed off her shoes before making herself comfy against the pillows. Relaxing back she felt weeks worth of stress melt off her and she sighed softly in content.
The scent she now knew to be entirely Hopes own enveloping her and she breathed deeply, filling her lungs with a delicious mix of apples, fresh rain and chamomile, humming as she nestled further into the pillows to be closer to the intoxicating smell.
Closing her eyes she felt her magic stir within her, electrifying her bones and flooding her with warmth. But the panic didn't follow, even as she realised the nightlock must have fully left her system. She felt the safest she could remember feeling in - well, ever.
“So, are you going to elaborate?”
Peering over at Hope she watched confusion mar her face, one eyebrow raised slightly in askance.
“You said the school wouldn't know which faction to put you with?”
“Oh.”
Panic briefly made its way into Hopes eyes before she looked away and breathed deeply, seeming to steel herself for the conversation ahead. Keeping her face completely neutral even as her hands trembled slightly around the mugs she brought over to the bed.
Handing Penelope one before settling down next to her she shut her eyes and began to drum her fingers anxiously on her thigh, the movement so quick it would've gone unnoticed if not for the intense focus the taller girl had on her.
Reaching out to still her hand, the witch smiled softly in reassurance when azure eyes snapped towards her.
“I'm a tribrid. Well, the tribrid, since I'm the only one that exists as far as anyone knows. I'm part wolf, part witch and part vampire. It… Honestly, I thought you'd have known from my name, I mean how many Mikaelsons could you have possibly heard of? I only know of the ones related to me, so it doesn't seem like a common name? But maybe it is in Belgium, that's where you were before ri-”
“Hope calm down, Gods, take a breath!”
Thinking back on it now, Penelope picked up all the signs she'd previously missed that pointed to Hope being a tribrid. The amber eyes (all other wolves, she knew, had yellow), the ridiculously fast reflexes, the incredible strength, the obvious displays of magic she only now realised were just that (levitating herself through the window, opening her door despite there being no handle, making the hot drink she currently held without any kind of heating appliance), her fangs coming to sharp points… The list of small hints she'd apparently ignored continued.
As she connected all of this in her head, the tribrid in question worked herself into a panic. Placing her cup on the cabinet next to her she stood from the bed and started to fidget, first her hands before soon her whole body seemed to vibrate in place. Her wolf begged release, wanting to run from the fear and uncertainty of the moment, but Hope stubbornly resisted waiting for the backlash of her reveal.
Nobody had ever had a good reaction to this news, even her parents had been wary at first, and she didn't expect anything less than for Penelope to storm out of her room and refuse to ever speak to her again.
Instead she got; “That. Is. So. Cool!”
“I'm so sorry, I… Wait, what?”
“That means you can shift at will right? And your wolf and vampire sides fuel your magic? That explains the magic I feel in the air around you. I thought I was going mad when you were so obviously a wolf! You're basically indestructible! And you're related to Freya Mikaelson, she's one of my biggest heroes! On that note, how did I miss who you are? I've never heard of any other Mikaelsons? I must have had a complete collapse of all brain function. But, oh my Gods, Hope, your parents. I'm so sorry. I know it doesn't mean much, you barely know me for Circe’s sake, but I'm sorry you lost them. I can't even imagine how you must feel.”
She barely seemed to breathe between words and by the end tears pricked the corners of both girls' eyes before Penelope flung her arms around a shocked Hope.
It took a few seconds for the shorter girl to respond, but soon she'd melted into the hug entirely, relief washing over her violently enough to make her want to cry, or laugh, she wasn't sure which.
“No one's ever responded like that when they've found out. I sort of expected you to hit me, or storm out,” the confession was quiet, mumbled against the top of Penelope's head after the girls had gotten comfy on the bed again, the taller witch immediately curling around the tribrid.
With her head tucked under Hopes chin, her arm thrown over her waist and a leg snaked between the shorter girls, Penelope felt safe and content and didn't hesitate to make it known.
“I've never met anyone like you Hope, and I don't care about your last name or what you are, because who you are seems pretty amazing to me,” leaning up on one arm to look the girl in the eyes as she spoke, she felt the truth of her next statement resonate in her soul, “I feel like I've known you forever, and I've just been waiting to meet you. It sounds kind of mad said out loud, but I feel calm and safe for the first time in my life, like right here is where I'm supposed to be.”
A tear rolled down Hope's cheek, Penelope's hand reaching up to cup her jaw, her thumb swiping over the wet track left in its wake, “I didn't mean to upset you wolfie, I'm sorry.”
“No. No, you didn't. Just… I know exactly what you mean, I feel it too, settled almost, even with my wolf begging to be let out. I've just never had anyone say anything like that to me before. And wolfie, really?”
“What? It's cute, I think I'll keep it, wolfie. Also, why can't you just turn? I thought hybrids had practically complete control in their wolf form, does that not apply to you also?”
Rolling her eyes slightly the shorter girl simply resigned herself to the nickname, after all, it could have been worse.
“I'm only allowed to turn on the full moon, despite my impeccable control. Dr Saltzman believes I could pose a danger to the student body as a wolf,” scoffing slightly she shifted to look the witch in the eye, “Honestly I'm more dangerous in this form, I can't use my magic as a wolf, yet, and I'm still stronger, faster and more highly trained than most of the staff let alone the students. If I wanted to hurt someone, I wouldn't need to be a wolf to do it.”
“Yet? Is that even possible? How would you do it without being able to speak?”
“Well, magic's all about intent right? So surely if I can channel my magic whilst in wolf form and get it to cooperate, I'd be able to use it practically. My aunt Freya doesn't like me practising here though, she says she’s not close enough to help if something goes wrong.”
Eyes wide Penelope imagined a wolf running at an imaginary enemy, random spells assaulting them even as the huge creature bore down and physically attacked. She wasn't sure if the thought scared her or excited her. The possibilities and appliances would be endless!
“I'm all for the magical safety rules, but I don't see why you don't shift in your room? Surely the headmaster would never know?”
“I've never really wanted to before, I mostly just like to run when I'm a wolf, since I don't get to shift very often.”
“What do you look like? As a wolf I mean?”
“I - I can show you if you want?” Though the idea of shifting in front of Penelope terrified her a little bit, she was mostly excited at the possibility of not only getting to shift at all, but also showing someone outside of her family her other form. No one had ever been remotely curious before, wolves resented her for being able to shift at will. Vampires resented her wolf side's existence. And witches resented her in general, almost on principal.
Having someone not only hold no resentment or judgment toward her, but also be genuinely interested in learning about her, was a new experience for Hope. Truthfully it was refreshing and she enjoyed the change of pace.
“You'd be willing to do that? Are you sure? I don't want you to feel pressured or any-”
“Pen, relax,” the tribrid chuckled, “if you're comfortable with it, I'd love to show you my wolf.”
Smirking, and running her eyes suggestively over her body the witches response caused Hope's breath to catch and cheeks to burn, “my, my Miss Mikaelson, eager aren't we? We've not even had a first date. Yet.”
The wink that followed, unlike the last, had a profound effect on Hope, who could feel her body heating, her wolf brought back to the surface in response to this girl once again.
Her eyes must've started glowing because Penelope's smirk only deepened, her eyes sparking in mischief, though a few shades darker.
Walking her fingers across Hope's stomach she could feel the definition in the muscles beneath, “This'll have to come off,” tugging at the shirt for emphasis.
Hope swallowed loudly, her hands shaking. This was such a bad idea, ran through her head on repeat, followed by, she's actually going to kill me.
“Hope, I'm only teasing. Mostly. You don't have to -” Penelope was once again cut off by Hope, though this time due to her sitting up and tugging off her shirt.
Penelope's mouth was suddenly a desert, her tongue darting out unknowingly to wet her lips. Her eyes fought a losing battle to stay on Hope's face, before she gave up and let them drop to the amazing body currently on display.
Pale, milky skin that practically begged to be tasted. Prominent collarbones, full, round breasts hidden by a Calvin Klein sports bra and a tight, defined six pack, the V of her hips disappearing beneath the waistband of her grey sweatpants.
“My eyes are up here Miss Park,” cheeks flushed, Penelope's gaze snapped back to Hope's, eyes nearly completely black boring into glowing amber, “don't play the game if you're not prepared to lose.”
Any retort the witch possibly could've given died on her lips when Hope stood up and stretched, stomach flexing as she did. She looked Penelope in the eye as she reached for her waistband, “this okay?” but the stunned girl could only nod eyes fixed to Hope's slender fingers as they tugged the pants down and off her body.
Standing before her clad in only boyshorts and a sports bra this was the most exposed Hope had ever been to another person that wasn't her parents, aunts or uncles. Yet strangely, she was completely calm and at ease with it, which was more than she could say for the witch sat on her bed who looked seconds away from passing out.
“Breathe, Pen.”
The witch did as instructed and sucked in a lungful of air, slightly dizzy, though from lack of oxygen or the sight before her, she wasn't sure.
“I feel kind of rude, sat here fully dressed whilst you're practically naked.” The words were shaky at best but Penelope prided herself the ability to form them nonetheless.
“I mean, you won't see me complaining, but there's a reason for my undress, and they do say not to mix business with pleasure.”
The witch gave a short laugh, finally meeting Hopes eyes again, able to read the mirth there even through the blown pupils.
“You're about to literally break every bone in your body, yet you're calm enough to flirt with me?”
“If I ever pass up the opportunity to flirt with you Pen, please have me committed.” the wolfish grin on Hopes face belied the seriousness her voice held, before she winked and started to shift on the spot.
Penelope watched on in grim fascination as Hope's body twisted and broke before her eyes, the sounds of bones snapping and shifting accompanied the odd grunt. The whole thing took only about 8 seconds.
Raising to her paws Hope stood almost 6 feet at the shoulder, and Penelope looked up in awe as she shook out her white and grey mottled coat before trotting softly over to the bed.
Sniffing the bed the wolf gingerly placed first one, then two paws onto the mattress, pushing down experimentally. Guessing what she was about to do Penelope scrambled back to create room, crossing her legs and sitting at the top left corner to leave the rest of the bed open for the wolf to lay.
This proved needless however, since as soon as the wolf was on the bed, she curled around the witch as best she could, placing her large head in the girls lap and huffing contentedly.
“You're gorgeous Hope. You're so much bigger than I imagined though, is that a tribrid thing? I thought werewolves only grew slightly larger than regular wolves?”
Mindlessly the ravenette began to run her hands through Hopes fur, marvelling at how soft it was. Scratching behind her ear she giggled as the wolves left leg kicked slightly.
“You're just a big puppy dog aren't you?”
The wolf growled softly, rolling her eyes and shoving her with her head lightly.
“I never did tell you why I was on the roof did I?” Hope's ears perked up, but other than that she continued to simply enjoy the easy affection Penelope was showing her, “I didn't want to come to this school. I didn't want to leave Belgium at all. It was my home. I'd lived there since I was six, and I'd attended L'Académie des Arts Magiques since I was nine.”
Hope could intimately relate to being forced from a place she called home to come here to Salvatore School. She'd deeply resented being here for much of her first few years, and that resentment only grew after people discovered who she was and stopped even pretending to tolerate her existence.
“My parents aren't particularly loving. Rather, not at all loving. My mother regularly calls me the greatest disappointment of her life, and my father only deigns to acknowledge me to shout at me on her behalf, or… uhm, or to discipline me for being less than the ‘perfect daughter’.”
Hopes stomach clenched uncomfortably at the word ‘discipline’. She didn't for a second doubt what the witch meant by that, and she shuffled around a bit before guiding Penelope into a more reclined position, laying her head across the witches chest in the best attempt at a hug she could manage without shifting back.
She knew on an instinctual level though, that what Penelope needed right now was simply someone to listen. So she stayed a wolf, and let the girl wrap her arms around her, burying her head in her neck to hide the tears slowly falling down her face.
“It's not… It doesn't happen often, I'm hardly around anyway. But, yeah, anyway, I was researching spells to protect myself, and I guess I'd stumbled into black magic without fully realising. The spell I'd found would basically rebound whatever he tried to do to me back onto him. So if he tried to slap me, he'd slap himself instead. That sort of thing.”
Sniffling quickly she sat up and wiped at her eyes, noticing the mug beside her she felt a pang of regret for the wasted drink. Hope noticed her gaze and nudged her hand toward it, and she was shocked to find upon contact, it was still the perfect temperature.
“How…? Preservation spell?” the wolf wagged her tail, “clever. Thank you.”
Taking a long drink from her mug she sighed, “the best piece of advice I ever got, hot chocolate is the universal cure all.”
A soft bark escaped the wolf, as if agreeing, before she placed her head back down on the witch's lap.
“So one of my teachers found me practicing the spell in the library. I was immediately expelled. They don't have any tolerance for black magic at LAM. My parents were… Displeased to say the least. I thought mother might actually die from the scandal of it all. How dare I bring shame to the family and disgrace our name. She told my father what had happened, of course, and it was the first time I was truly afraid of what he'd do to me.
“Parks don't dabble in the dark arts. That sort of behaviour is for commoners and those of lesser intelligence. Eventually they threatened to disinherit me if I placed as much as a toe out of line whilst here. I didn't want to come here at all, but it got me away from them so who am I to complain, really?”
Penelope had calmed significantly through her story, though she looked exhausted, the nights emotional ups and downs likely having taken their toll on her. Hope whined softly, nuzzling into her and sighing when her hands one again ran through her fur.
“Gods, you're like a therapy dog or something. I was on the roof because my mother dropped me off tonight. She made a show of escorting me to my room, pretending to be a loving parent. She threatened me of course, ‘don't lose control, don't embarrass us, don't fail’ the usual. But this time, there's the promise that I could lose everything if I do. My home, my inheritance, my heritage, even my name. The Parks haven't left much of a legacy, but it's what I've got and it's what I've always known.”
Running her hands through Hope's coat one more time she shifted to look her in the eyes, “do you think you could shift back? You're amazing in this form but I'd love a proper hug? If that's okay?”
The wolf stood slowly on the bed, towering over Penelope in what might have been an intimidating way, if not for the wagging tail and wolfy grin.
Hope touched her nose softly to the witches forehead, then again to either cheek where tears had previously fallen, before jumping down onto the floor and shifting back.
Her bones had barely settled before she had her arms full of emotional witch.
“Thank you so much for listening, and for showing me your wolf. You're truly beautiful Hope, in both your forms. I wish I'd had a friend like you in Belgium.”
Nuzzling her face into the taller witches neck she sighed softly, the ache from shifting chased away by the warmth of the embrace.
“No need to thank me Pen. Anytime okay? I promise.”
Sniffling the taller girl pulled back slightly to look into Hopes eyes, “you really mean that, don't you?”
The tribrid smiled softly, “of course I do.”
Smiling back Penelope's eyes fell before widening, a blush overtaking her features once more.
“Uhm, Hope? You're not wearing any clothes.”
A chuckle escaped the Tribrid, hand coming up to scratch the back of her neck as she moved toward the closet to gather pajamas, "yeah, kinda the only downside to the change. I can't tell you how many outfits I destroyed when I was younger. My aunt Freya used to have to enchant my clothes so I wouldn't forget and accidentally wreck them."
“That is so cool, your aunt sounds awesome.”
“She is, I'll introduce you sometime, I'm sure she'd love you.”
“That'd be so brilliant! I can't wait, if she's anything like you I'm sure I'll love her too.”
“Flattery will get you everywhere Miss Park.”
Teasing grins were exchanged between the girls, the flirty banter already an ingrained part of their interactions. A huge yawn coming from Penelope directed Hopes attention to the time however.
“Shit, it's half four. I guess we should both be getting some sleep.”
Smiling softly and gazing up through thick eyelashes, the taller witch encircled a pale wrist and tugged, “Hope, thank you.”
Hope simply smiled in return and moved away to change and give the other girl some privacy.
Once both girls were settled under the covers, Penelope thanked the shorter girl again for everything she'd done that night. Only for Hope to tell her to “shut up and move your cute butt, I wanna cuddle.”
Penelope acquiesced with a laugh, turning over so Hope could be the big spoon and drifting into the best sleep she'd had in what could possibly be years, soft snores the last thing she consciously remembers