1x1 with sharp edges

Never before had Tyler Lockwood enjoyed a cheeseburger so much. Running away from home and away from the girl he loved had taken a lot out of him. He had to do it. Klaus had that sire bond and it was so powerful that Tyler had actually done something he never wanted to do. He’d sooner die than hurt Caroline, but that was exactly what he’d done.

Night was falling. He could feel it. Being a hybrid now, he wasn’t subject to the painful transformation every month any more. He sat there in the bar for just a little longer. Tyler had nowhere to go. He was so uneducated in what to expect or what to do, he was lost.

He watched as other men and women in the bar started to file out. One by one, he had a feeling that those who left were wolves. He remembered how painful the change was. Feeling every bone in your body break repeatedly as your mind reverted to a primitive instinct. Being a wolf was so much more than he’d ever anticipated. He was grateful to be a hybrid but yet instead of being a slave to the moon, Tyler was bound to Klaus Mikaelson. Staying far away from Mystic Falls was the best thing he could do.

An older woman with mostly gray hair and friendly blue eyes approached Tyler. She was obviously someone who worked at the bar from first glance. She was putting chairs up on some of the far tables. On other tables, she was putting plates and mugs into a plastic tub. She noticed that Tyler was still sitting there looking to be lost. She approached him with a smile. “Gonna be closing up in a bit. You new around here?”

There was something vaguely familiar about her but Tyler brushed it off. “Yeah.” He muttered. He piled his plate and mug on top of one another. “Thomas dropped me off here.” He told her.

She adjusted her red spectacles and smiled. “Thomas? Gray curly hair, a bushy mustache and fondness for Bluegrass music?” She leaned against a chair with a twinkle in her eye.

Tyler started to feel his nerves ease. “Yeah. How did--?” He stopped himself. He could see it now. He could even smell it. He actually smiled. He was safe. He knew that now.

“Thomas is my father.” She chuckled loudly. “My name is Lisa. My son Josh is the cook.” She motioned toward the girl that had started picking up the dishes after Lisa had stopped. “That’s my daughter Hannah.”

Tyler felt much happier than he had before. “I’m Tyler.” He told her. Since Tyler knew that Thomas was a werewolf, he quickly surmised that Lisa was too. “Are you…?”

Lisa nodded. “Yeah. Gen X Kid with a fondness for Bacardi when I was a freshman in college. Wrapped my car around a tree. I walked away from it, my best friend didn’t.” She exhaled. “You’re going to need some place to stay. The full moon is going to make it ugly around here soon.”

Tyler took in the story with active attention. He nodded slowly. “I’d really appreciate it if you can help me.” He wasn’t going to change of course, but he still wanted to get out of the line of fire.

“Help us close up the bar tonight and you can stay with me and my kids. I’ll make you work for it.” She joked. If her father spotted this one and brought him to her, he needed help. He had an affinity for lost pups.

Tyler nodded furiously. “Absolutely!” He rolled up his sleeves and immediately got to work. He knew he needed help and he had absolutely no idea what to do next.

~*~

It took roughly an hour to get everything closed up properly. Josh came out of the kitchen drying his hands on a towel. Tyler had finished putting the chairs on the tables. Hannah had washed the last dishes. Lisa called them all into the bar. “This is Tyler. He’s gonna stay with us for a few days and help out at the bar.” Lisa told them.

“Papaw find him?” Josh nudged his sister and grinned. The two of them were untriggered and Lisa hoped it would stay that way.

Tyler chuckled. “He did. I needed a friend and he found me.” He looked at the two and was curious. “Are you two…?”

Hannah shook her head. “Nope. Full moon is going to be at it’s apex soon. We need to go.” She punched her brother back and walked toward the front door.

Tyler walked toward Lisa. “Will you change…?” He started to get worried.

She smiled gently. “You have never been in a pack before have you?” The young man was slightly older than Hannah who was her oldest. “My father is a shaman. He knows all the old ways.”

“Which means…?”

“Dad knows how to break the curse of the moon. I turn only if I want to. It hurt like hell, but it was worth it.” Lisa answered.

Tyler couldn’t believe what he’d heard. “Where is he now?” He started to bounce on the balls of his feet.

“He’s helping someone else tonight. We’ll catch him when he’s done. I promise.” She told the young man. She could see the anxiety and pain in his eyes. He had left behind something that was too hard to talk about. Lisa was smart enough to know that look. It usually involved a girl.

Tyler started to think that this could actually happen. He didn’t know who Thomas was helping tonight. Tyler knew he wanted to be next.


 

Tyler Lockwood/Cerberus