semifreakingnormal | ( 011 ) Ω ( Video )

[Private to Jack]

Hey. Can we talk a minute?

[Filtered to friends, minus Stiles]

Hey, um. I'm going home for a little while. Probably for a while. [Like a year, maybe. 8|] But, uh. I can ask the Admiral to make it like, not long here, right? God, that's so weird. I just wanted to let you guys know.

[Private to Cassel]

Can you make sure Daneca knows? If she wakes up before I get back, I mean.

[Private to Stiles]

Are you in your room? [He is totally inviting himself over.]

[Public]

[Scott has been thinking about this for a while. It started during the last fourth wall, when Lydia talked him like a human being, or a friend, instead of the image he has of her in his head as Miss Thing, too popular to give him or Stiles the time of day. It started with her, with wondering what a future where being a werewolf is useful is like, with knowing that Allison won't hate him. Stiles showing up looking like death amped that curiosity up to a terrible churning in the pit of his stomach. If he can do something, he should. If he can help, he should.]

Hey, um. I'm going to be heading home for a little. [This is a lie, he's expecting a year to pass. He's just not at all sure how to say that while also saying 'I'll be back soon.'] I don't think it'll be too long, here. But I wanted to say something, just in case. So no one, like, freaks out if I just up and disappeared or something.

Uhh - oh yeah! Does anyone have any animal experience? I want to leave the clinic key with someone while I'm gone. I'll totally give them all their shots and flea stuff when I get back. And, if anyone wants anything from like, the tiniest, weirdest town in California, let me know.

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[Today. Today. The word echoes in his mind and he's suddenly very, very tired and he sits down in his desk chair. He stares down at his hands for a long moment before looking up at Scott again.]

When people go back -- do they usually remember stuff from here? I mean, if -- if you go back, will you even remember having been on the Barge?

[Scott waits him out, watching and silent. He wants to help. He wants to do something, and all he can do is sit here and wait for Stiles to be ready to talk again.]

I don't know. I mean - I think sometimes people do. But not always.

[He swallows heavily at that and leans back in his desk chair. He was kind of afraid that would be the answer. Fifty-fifty chance.]

Then just in case. I'm really sorry. [He looks down again, voice thick with emotion.]

[Scott is still, but his eyes stay on Stiles. He's already shaking his head, though, and he knows that what he thinks right now is never going to change.]

Stiles, whatever it is, I can't hold anything against you. [His stomach churns. How bad must it be, for Stiles to feel the need to apologize to him?]

[Scott's reaction to his apology doesn't surprise him at all. He doesn't know what else to say. What do you say when your best friend is about to go through hell and you can't do anything to stop him or talk him out of it?]

Yeah. I know. I know you don't. [He rises to his feet, feeling the need to pace.]

[It's still so weird, to see Stiles with hair. To see him look this stressed, this much older, this - different. So he doesn't say anything for a while, watching the other boy pace instead.

He doesn't know what to say. He's pretty sure there's nothing left to say. So he gets up, reaches out for Stiles' arm and pulls him in for a hug.]

[The hug only catches him off guard for a brief second and then he hugs him back tightly, tears stinging his eyes again so he closes them quickly, holding his breath. He doesn't know how this all works, really. If Scott will end up coming back here. How long it will be if he does. How he'll be if he does. It scares him. When he speaks again, his voice is barely audible. Wouldn't be audible to anyone without super-powered hearing. It's not something he says often to Scott even if he means it, and he does mean it. It just feels like he needs to say it now, even if he hasn't said it since after that night at the Glen Capri and he's not even sure Scott heard it or if he'd been asleep. And this Scott hasn't even lived through that horrifying experience yet and just thinking of all the terrible things that he's going to be going through makes him feel sick.]

I love you.

[And now he's said it and he hopes it doesn't worry Scott even more because before the Glen Capri the last time he said it was after Scott's dad took off.]

[He remembers that night. He remembers the way his hands shook when he dialed Stiles' number, the way he tried not to cry, tried to pretend he didn't care, but of course he did, and of course he was afraid, and of course Stiles was the one to help him. He remembers falling asleep with the phone still on, holding it like a lifeline, because even if his dad didn't love him enough to stay, Stiles would never leave.

It makes his throat tighten, now, and he has to breathe slowly through his nose to keep it from getting worse. His arms tighten, but he's careful not to squeeze too tight, now, careful not to hurt him. He doesn't want to leave Stiles here, but he doesn't want him to be alone like this, either. The best thing he can do - the only thing he can really do is find out what happens, catch up, and then just be here for Stiles.

It's that, or sit here in limbo. And he can't do that.]

I love you too, man.

[After a long moment, Stiles pulls away, taking a deep, shaky breath and just looks at Scott. He tries to smile but doesn't quite manage it, because this is it. Scott's leaving and going home and his life is going to be jacked all to hell in so many different ways.]

Is uh -- is there anything I should do while you're gone? I mean, I don't know. Anything you want or need me to do?

[Scott clears his throat a little as they part, scratches at his eye to make sure there's no dampness h needs to wipe away.]

No, dude, don't - actually-- [He pauses for a second, then looks up at Stiles again.] Can you like, keep an eye on Jack for me? He probably won't need it, but. Just in case.

[Stiles nods slightly. Jack seems like an okay guy to him and if that's what Scott needs him to do, he'll do it.]

Yeah, of course. I can do that. It's no problem.

Okay. [He nods. It's not really a weight, but it's definitely a comfort.] Thanks, man. He can be kinda loud and angry, but he's all right.

[Stretching his arms, Scott cracks his knuckles against each other; it's not entirely awkward, but he's not sure how to just leave, now. So he swallows hard, nods.] Don't worry about anything else, okay?

[Don't blame yourself is what he really means.]

Loud and angry I can deal with. [He has, after all, dealt with Derek Hale for a couple years now. And occasionally his dad can be loud and angry. And Coach Finnstock. Really the list of people goes on and on.]

I'll do my best. [His voice is quiet, and he gets Scott's meaning. It's just a lot easier said than done. He'll understand why soon enough.]

[Lucky for them both, Scott won't hold it against him. He nods, and moves for the door.]

All right. I gotta go talk to a few other people, too.

[He opens the door, pauses in the doorway.]

I'll be back soon.

[Stiles watches him go and rubs a hand over his face. He moves over to his bed and sits down on it heavily, closing his eyes as he hears the door shut quietly behind Scott. It was going to be a long few days.]