'I'm Charming;I'm witty:I'm your type'

“I don’t give a fuck if you don’t respect me as a person, but you will respect me as an enforcer of the law,” Gabriel said, pressing forward and shoving a pointed finger in Peter’s face. It had been one roller coaster of a night and Gabriel was getting the impression this guy almost wanted to get arrested. He kept coming at him. “And now I have it on record that you threatened to kill the deputy sheriff,” he said, tapping the body cams they were required to wear. Peter could have gotten away with it by claiming he was not in control of himself when shifted. He’d have simply been confined to house arrest during full moons.  But now he’d threatened Gabe as a human. “Unless you’re trying to tell me someone else would have killed me?”

“I would respect you if you were an actual freaking person! With real freaking emotions for your fellow towns people.” he panted as he tried to hold in the anger inside of him. No need to wolf out on the man now, he had to control it for certain. “Someone else did, actually half this town wants you dead.” he hissed back. “No one respects you, Gabriel. You’re the scum of the town always will be.” he yanked himself away from him. “You can arrest me but good will that be? Arrest some kid who has a clean record and a good person.” he swallowed. “A kid who spends night and mornings helping the people around here. I see the good in all but you’re so dark I can’t see through it. I’ll be released because my parents are more powerful than you ever will be.”

“Yes I did.” she beamed. “His name is Wesley, a small bundle of pure energy.” she explained. Faline didn’t bring up the abrupt subject changing, understanding that it was what he needed now. “I hope so.. Im rather new at it.. but we always had animals at home..Iv’e been studying medicine for a while now. Thank you for the compliment.” 

“I would like to meet the little guy sometime because lord knows I love animals.” sadly his family didn’t have them anymore because Maya was highly allergic which was funny considering what they were. “I’m a compliment monster remember? You support me and I just give it right back.”

“Oh snakes are the worst. And sneaky and…” Tatum shuttered at the thought. But they could hear the fear in Peter’s voice so they puffed out their chest to be a little braver with a thought from Pa: All you got to do is be scarier than whatever’s scaring you!  

“Well. I can still turn into full forms of things thanks goodness for that.” They nodded in appreciation of that fact. They couldn’t maintain it for longer times anymore but thank goodness they could still fully shift! “I’ll be a snake and I can still understand you when you talk, but I won’t be able to talk back. I mean, I could but it’d be in lots of poking out my tongue. I promise ya though, it’s still me! I’ll just look like a snake. But it’s me!” Tatum pointed to themselves for added reassurance. Boy he was so afraid. Tatum hoped they could help. “Ya know, though, I think we need a code word first….You know, to shout when you’re super scared so I can know to turn back. Or to not get closer to you! Because if you yell or step on me that’ll be…..very not fun.”

“I mean it has no legs! No creature shouldn’t have freaking legs, Tatum!” he wasn’t trying to yell but the fear of knowing he has to touch one and keep it as a pet for a day was killer. He wasn’t ready for this dare but he did it to himself.

“You’re actually being a lifesaver right now.” finally Peter managed a smile on his worried face. As they explained what the shift would be like and they could still hear him he relaxed a bit. “Yeah, the tongue will freak me out even more so I’ll try not to talk. If that’s okay.” he gulped as he ran a hand through his hair. “No I don’t want to hurt you um....the code word can be...um....metal. Is that okay?”

“Yes it is, it really is.” She repeated placing the fallen glass aside. “It really is fine, It’s my job and trust me I would prefer water being spilt over beer any day. It’s less of a mess. Let me do it,”