Title: Challenge and Response
Author: Leela (leela_cat)
Pairing: Adam/Tommy
Rating: PG
Word Count: 7x100
Content/Warning(s): Werewolf AU
Author's notes: Written for glam_100, prompt #022: Actions Speak Louder than Words. Many thanks to aislinntlc for the preread.



It's been years since Adam's hooked a tail on his belt loop before going on stage. Tommy's got flesh-eating bugs squirming around his gut as he watches Adam do it. He fucking knows it means there's an unmated alpha werewolf on the hunt somewhere nearby, and he's the prey.

Needing distraction, Tommy chews on his lip and focuses on tuning his guitar yet again.

"Stop worrying," Adam tells him. "The tail's just a warning. I'm not expecting any trouble."

Tommy might have believed him, if the possessive hand that landed on the back of his neck hadn't contradicted Adam's words.

~!~

Three songs in and Tommy's hyperaware that there's an unfamiliar werewolf a few rows back, directly in front of him. He can feel the weight of the alpha's unrelenting attention.

"I'm gonna kill Adam if he doesn't stop changing shit on the fly," Terrance mutters as he dances behind Tommy.

Bouncing sideways so Terrance doesn't clip the headstock of his guitar, Tommy blinks as he almost runs into Adam. Who's supposed to be on the opposite side of the stage.

Adam slinks around Tommy, sniffs Tommy's hair, and licks up his neck, broadcasting his claim and a challenge to everyone.

~!~

"Fever," Adam murmurs, flipping his hand in the signal for a setlist change, and heads over to tell the others.

Tommy doesn't bother asking why Adam's digging "their song" out of the vault. He just pokes at his pedals, avoiding Isaac's What the fuck look and ignoring Terrance and Brooke's cursing. It's not his fault Adam's got his alpha up and the new dancers don't know the moves.

Not that Adam gives a fuck about the dancers. He's grabbing Tommy's shoulder, spreading a hand over his throat, humping him from behind. Wagging his tail and ass at the other alpha.

~!~

The rest of the concert flies past in a blur of being touched, felt up, and grabbed. Adam pulls Tommy's hair, fits his hand to Tommy's throat, and drapes himself all over Tommy. Shit that was way easier to handle when Tommy was playing bass.

He only fumbles the strings once, missing the bridge behind Better Than I Know Myself when the rogue alpha makes it to the front row and reaches for him.

Dude is enormous. And hairy! Growling, Tommy stomps on the asshole's hand. He's got an alpha, goddamn it. He's not letting a wannabe fuck that up.

~!~

Applause is still echoing through the venue as Tommy racks his guitar and races off stage. He's about to jump down the shallow stairs when the rogue alpha steps out from the shadows.

"Tommy Joe Ratliff." The alpha's voice is raspy from too many cigarettes and too much booze. "I, Marcus Kormen, claim—"

"I'm already claimed," Tommy says at the same time as Adam growls, "No, you fucking don't. He's mine."

Adam tries to push Tommy behind him, but Tommy resists. So Adam settles for pressing up against Tommy's back, looming over him, resting his hand on Tommy's claim mark.

~!~

"I have the right to challenge." Kormen moves to the bottom of the stairs. He's tall enough that his eyes are level with Tommy's, but all his attention is on Adam.

"You're not pack," Adam says dismissively. "You can't challenge me."

"I'm making my own pack."

"Not with my mate."

"You think you can keep him?" Kormen laughs. "A spoiled rich boy like you?"

Adam's growl vibrates through Tommy, and he splays a hand over Tommy's chest.

Baring his teeth at Kormen, Tommy leans into Adam, rests his head on Adam's shoulder, making a display of his submission to Adam.

~!~

Kormen and Adam aren't paying much attention to Tommy. They're too busy snapping, snarling, and fucking posturing like D-list celebrities on the red carpet.

"Jesus fuck!" Tommy stamps his foot. "You can't challenge Adam without me expressing some kind of interest in you. And this is my interest." Turning his back on Kormen, Tommy kisses Adam.

Adam's teeth are sharp, his nails are pointed claws, but he immediately focuses on Tommy and their kiss.

When they finally stop, Tommy's got a leg wrapped around Adam's thigh, and Adam's got his hand on Tommy's ass. Kormen is nowhere to be seen.