semifreakingnormal | ( 012 ) Ω ( Video )

[He's been back about an hour, just sitting in his room. It's not that he doesn't want to be here. He does. He needs to be here, to make things right again, and still all he wants is to rewind the clock, to go back to weeks ago, before their darkness spilled out into the world. Everything had looked bright. Okay. And now...

Now he understands why Stiles didn't want him to go back. Nothing will be like it was. Not until he saves Allison.

And he can't do that by letting people think he isn't here. He gets up, splashes water on his face, stares at himself in the mirror until he thinks his expression is normal. It's close enough. Drying off, he goes back to sit on the bed and picks up the communicator. When it clicks on, he smiles, and it's still Scott underneath, even if it's not quite as bright. He's older, though, only a year but it feels longer. His hair is shorter, he looks stronger. He's trying to hide the rest, and doing a decent job of it. But only decent.]

Hey, guys. I'm back.

[He waves his free hand. Semi-awkward Scott McCall is still under the new haircut! And is that a tattoo peeking out from under his left sleeve?]

So, did I miss anything good? I think...I was a troll, the last flood. How long ago was that?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Scott can't exist in a world where there is no brightness. He can't exist without hope. He wouldn't exist. He lives to do what's best, even if he wouldn't say that himself. He struggles to do what's right for everyone, by everyone, because he cares easily and has a much too strong sense of responsibility.

It can't always be this bad. That's what Deaton told him, and that's the glimmer of hope that is his stepping stone. It got him here, on the Admiral's promise, because no matter what, he's saving Allison.]

You don't piss me off.

[He manages a smile, slightly wrung out but not wobbling.] Good. You're going to totally hate Beacon Hills, though. No skyscrapers.

Hey, I've managed not to go totally stir crazy here, how bad could it be? [It's something different, that's all he can ask.] And hey, I guess my weird spider DNA keeps out most supernatural stuff, so you don't even have to worry about me getting kidnapped by another werewolf, or... whatever else goes on where you're from.

[Fuck if he knows.

Also that's probably not entirely reassuring and there is a quick, guilty look on his face like he's not sure if he's allowed to joke about that.

Sorry Scott.]

[Scott smiles a little, but it's small and a little pained at the edges. Peter doesn't know everything, and he didn't mean it badly, he knows. It still makes his insides clench.]

At least I don't think we have to worry about the Oni any more.

[Look, he's good at that. And he's still... trying to make this whole friend thing work out. It's a work in progress.]

That's good, right? See, you got this.

Yeah. [It's good progress. Scott nods, pushes through.]

You could crash in my room, too. Isaac's been in the extra room, or I'd say you could sleep there.

[If Isaac sticks around. He has no idea.]

You know, I'm pretty sure the last time I had a sleepover, I was like, eleven. [He doesn't sound like he thinks it's a bad idea though. He'd had fun back then, and really, he's missed doing stuff like this.

And it occurs to him that he should probably look Harry up when he gets home, see what he's been up to. Not that he really expects he'll want to like, reconnect after seven years, but.]

Your mom won't mind?

[Don't do it Pete DON'T LOOK HIM UP]

Dude I have sleepovers like every day. [Mostly because he ends up passing out at Stiles' house or vice versa. He shrugs a little, and as always thinks about money: it wasn't easy growing up in a one parent house, with your dad never being on time with checks.]

Yeah, she'll be fine with it. [She would probably say something about more were-boys to break up her house, but she'd be cool about it. At least Peter doesn't turn into a spider. That'd be weird.]

Cool. I guess I've got some vacation plans for the first time, like. Ever.

[And he is, despite everything, excited to go. At some point. When it's less emotionally devastating for you to be home.

And seriously, he's dropping the goofing around and stuff for a second. Or several.] Anything I can help out with in the meantime?

Wish it was some place better than Beacon Hills, but at least we won't get bored.

[She shrugs, shakes his head, and manages to smile almost like he used to. There's nothing to do but keep moving, keep trudging forward, keep pushing until you can't anymore and - even when you can't.

Regression to the mean.

He draws a deep, slow breath. It's going to be okay, because hes' going to fight for it to be.]

Nah. I mean, if you want to play lacrosse sometime, Stiles and I are gonna try getting a league together.

[Look, you would so not believe how impressed Pete is right about now. He has no idea how you just... pick yourself up and keep going after something like this, all while acting like things are pretty much as they've always been.

He knows Scott's not okay, that eventually this might catch up to him and he'll fall apart, but. Jeez, Scott. You're a pretty impressive guy.]

Sounds fun. We should probably be on different teams, though. Keep it fair.

[By putting it completely out of mind. Scott's so focused on getting her back, like he was when they broke up - this is just going to be harder than it was then. That's all. Then everything will be the same again.

Things can't always be bad, and they can't always be good: Scott knows that, even if he's still trying to convince himself to believe it. But he's an alpha, now. He has to be a leader, which means he has to be put together. So he grins.]

Definitely. Then Stiles' team will have a shot at winning.

[You're a good man, Scott McCall. Someday, when you confess all of this, Peter might legit say you're his hero.]

Hey, Stiles and I will totally kick your ass, just you wait.

[Bullshit hero since he was five years old.]

Dude, you will totally try.

( 012 ) Ω ( Video )

spam;

spam;

spam;

spam;

spam;

spam;

spam;

spam;

spam;

spam;

spam;

spam;

spam;