here comes a thought

     the familiar voice of the lebeau who had always been kind to her sent a rush of relief flowing through her. nick had welcomed her into the pack in a way that not many had, she was extremely grateful for his acceptance. while she was gone hayley thought excessively about the pack that she had left behind, the pack that was missing an alpha, the pack that she had sworn to protect and look out for, her pack. as soon as she had gotten a handle on herself, hayley had purchased the property she had told the pack she would. now she just had to let them all know. it would help hayley relax if she knew that they all had a vampire free safe space they could be. the hybrid offered him a reassuring smile, ‘ you never have to worry about me, kid. ’ granted she had been incapacitated of sorts during her absence. ‘ no one can keep me down for very long. ’ and that had always been the case, and she intended it stay that way. she wasn’t going to get into the gory details of her disappearance with nick, he didn’t need to know. but she wanted to assure him she was not going anywhere again. ‘ i’m glad to see you too. have you been alright ? ’ her smile widening at his excitement to see her. ‘ i’m sorry for disappearing, ’ not that it was her fault, but leaving was not ever her intention and she feared that the pack would assume that of her. while apologies were rare for the woman, nick deserved nothing but her own kindness, what she had of it anyway. ‘ wasn’t by choice, but it’s been handled. and, good news, i got that place i was talking to you about. if you’re still interested there’s a room with your name on it. ’ @crescentborn​

If there was anything that Xiomara understood it was feeling completely left in the dark regarding a sibling. Her sisters – bless them. Always managed to give her a run for her money. It was easy for them to place the blame on her cause she was the one that decided to embark on a career that had her gone more often than not but this was not the cold ages. Things like emails and cell phones existed but explaining that to them was rocket science and though she held a degree in the medical field it was just not something she was up for doing nor would she be successful. Watching the male exhaled everything that he had, she shook her head, “I just got into town a couple of weeks ago so I doubt I would be able to even know who your brother is.” And Alaric seemed to have taken a last minute trip out of town – or maybe he was just dodging her. Who knew. “But I can help put things up – you got no leads?” @crescentborn​

“Really?” A deep churning hope sprung in his chest. Sometimes, really truly, Nick forgot that other people WERE capable of true kindness. It wasn’t something lost to the world. Even if more of the population cared about themselves more then other actual people. “Thank you so much.” He expressed, fumbling over the other flyers he had in his hand. “I-- I’m Nick, this is Oliver--- he’s my brother, I mean, not by blood but like--- he’s my big brother’s best friend and he’s always been like a brother to me and I love him and my brother won’t look for him and no one is looking for him and he needs to be looked for because even if he and Aiden are fighting he would never- he would never leave me. Not without a text or something, so-” a pause, Nick realizing he may have overshared. “Sorry- sorry to ramble, I just -- I’m really worried.” He explained, letting more emotion then intended poke through his tone. “Thank you.” He said again. 

@crescentborn​    said   :   ‘   you   did   things   to   survive,   that’s   in   the   past.   ‘  

​   ↳               ⸻         nick    &    oliver                

there   he   was:   vicious,   vile,   VACUOUS  thing   being   granted   clemency   by   his   soft-hearted   brother.   judas   forgiven   at   the   gates.   prodigal    son   played   backward.   oliver   could’ve   fucking   CRIED.    he   only   wished   he   deserved   it…..but   if   the   past   few   months     (   weeks   ?   years   ?   decades   ?   )   had   taught   him  anything   ,   it   was   that   he   didn’t   deserve   SHIT.   but   god   ,   his   nicky-   oliver   missed   being   thirteen    ,    bursting   through   the   lebeau   house   ,   jumping   on   nick’s   bed   until   the   kid   flew   a   clear   foot   from   the   mattress.   until   he   burst   into   giggles    ,    bad   mood   forgotten.   but   he   wasn’t   thirteen   anymore.    wasn’t   much   of   ANYTHING  anymore.   he   shouldn’t   of   come   back   here.   “   nicky……honey   ,   goin’   home   ain’t   an   option   for   me   no   more.   i’m   not-   “   not   wanted.   not   needed.   too   busy   jumping   at   his   own   godforsaken   shadow   to   even   try   fixing   it.   “   -i   ain’t   even   a   real   WOLF   anymore.  so   just…..don’t   go   mouthin’   of   to   the   others   ‘bout   me   bein’   back   yet,   alright   ?   “

There were no better words to describe Abi, she grew up in the New Orleans coven with a hellbent mother on wanting nothing more than power. At least she had that in common with the other Harvest Girls, while Davina took the best route - Abi fed into the power. She loved it. But not more than she loved him. She was just a little twisted, relying on her magic for just about everything. And that included Nick himself. Whenever an argument would arise, she’d use magic to make him either agree with her, or completely forget about it. It was wrong, the little voice would always scold her about it, but she just couldn’t stop. Her need and love for power is what got her caught up in the Mikaelson’s, and Abi knew one way or another - she wasn’t going to survive this. Not after deciding to go after baby Hope. So she took the precautions she needed to, and made Nick completely forget about her. Save him from having to mourn her death, it was in his best interest. And now here she stood, hues following Nick’s movements. Crossing the street, Abi moved to stand in front of him, dimple induced grin on her lips, “Hi, Nick.” Words came soft then, and before he had a chance to question as to who the hell she was, she reversed the spell she had on him that made him forget her. @crescentborn​

It was like a spill. No, not a spill. It was a WAVE, engulfing him whole. One moment she’d been a pretty blonde girl across the street, her eyes meeting his and looking at him like--- was there someone behind him maybe? Someone so beautiful looking at him like he was someone special, like there was something else there, that couldn’t be right and yet--- there she was. No one behind him, just him. Then, she crossed that street. No instinct to run, Nick often trusted his instincts, it was instinctual to trust her. This stranger who smiled at him like he was someone special. She knew his name. How did--- ?? “I---” A single moment, a single sweep, and it HIT him. Was this how being struck by lightning felt? Thunder? It was like a slap that burned with inferno, and guilt strung into him like a tornado. “Abi.” How could he forget her? Laying together at nap time in Pre-K, laying together in the grass when they grew into something more-- helping each other choose show and tell in Kindergarten, play dates in first grade, second, third, forth--- growing up just a little bit more but Abigail was always there and somewhere along the way she went from his best friend to GIRLFRIEND. Not that he ever mentioned her to his brothers or pack because there was the curse and more pressing things and then he--- maybe he got too focused on the pack? On the broken curse? Had he left her behind? How could he--- “I’m so sorry.” She was here to break up with him, she must have been. There was emotion though he couldn’t quite understand, an overwhelming relief that came with seeing her even though he couldn’t figure out why. “I am--- the worst boyfriend in the history of ever.” 

meanwhile   in   hell:   a   man   lays   vivisected.   ribcage   splayed   like   the   wings   of   a   bird.   flesh   unlaced   from   bone.   innards   displaced.   the   man   is   conscious   ,   though   he   wishes   he   wasn’t.   the   person   with   the   knife   is   unbearably   tender   with   each   stroke   of   the   knife.   coos   gentle   reassurances   and   pets   his   hair.   they   are   wearing   the   face   of   his   brother.   

on   earth   ,   alastair   smiles.   a   gentle   bemusement   overtakes   him   —–   when   he’d   told   the   boy   no   one   was   looking   for   him   ,   he’d   thought   he’d   spoken   honestly.   there   would   never   be   any   missing   persons   cases   opened   over   a   thing   like   him.   no   impassioned  pleas.   no   thousands-of-dollars   rewards.   no   cross-roads   deals.   only   silence   and   putrefying   bones.   only   the   pungent   smell   of   fear   and   sweat   and   burnt   flesh.   needless   to   say   he   found   the   pup’s   efforts   adorable.   how   he   longed   to   blacken   that   sanguinity   ,   warp   naivete   and   cheer   into   jagged   edges.   something   ugly.   rotting.   breathless   and   awful   and   transcendental.   “   sweet   boy   ,   you   wouldn’t   wanna   see  him  now.   the   maggots   got   to   him   weeks   ago.  “   @crescentborn

there was something ABOUT him. different then a person that nick had ever known. it was a presence, some type of aura around him, or maybe it was a bad feeling in his gut that nick felt. he wasn’t a witch, he didn’t have some cool sensing powers like abi but there was something. maybe it was an instinct that came with being a wolf, triggered or not, that nick felt. like this man before him was the bad news of the worst kind. his feelings were only confirmed when lies spilled from his lips. taunts that couldn’t be true cause there was no way oliver knew this guy. oliver’s gut feelings were stronger then his (the bombs were proof of that, his feelings towards hayley-- outsiders in general, were proof). no way this guy knew him. “no thank you.” it was polite simply because nick didn’t know how to be anything but. “i mean--- i appreciate your theory but, there’s just no way.” no way. just no way. 

She only met Oliver that one time when that stupid jukebox wouldn’t stop playing the same song over and over, it was a quick fix thank fuck. And now he was missing, just like her mom had been, and Matias and Aiden, hell even Jackson when he took off. Except she had leads on both Matias and Aiden, and of course she was going to follow up with them. Was Oliver taken too? Jesus fuck, this pack really needed some GPS trackers. “I…” How would she tell Nick about this whole thing? That she had this horrible gut feeling that Aiden and Matias weren’t okay and maybe even Oliver too? “Someone took Matias and Aiden.” Alright, out with it, Hope. “Maybe they took Oliver too? I don’t know, but I’ll find out. Seems as if whoever took them is trying to draw me out for something, so we’ll see. It’s not like texting isn’t a thing anymore apparently.” Hope wasn’t naive enough to believe this would be a friendly exchange either, all friendliness went out the window the moment they decided to take her cousin and pack member.

Nick didn’t know Hope all too well. He also didn’t know Hayley too well but he found he already cared about her deeply. Seeing her safe after being concerned made it all too clear, regardless of what others thought--- she was pack to him. Nick considered her FAMILY, and Hope was Hayley’s family, so she was his too. He just needed to get to know her a little better. Once he did, he would be hopeful for some other members of the pack to stop running their dang mouths off on leadership skills and new members (Nick didn’t like to fight with people but people were also a terrible headache, pack or not, when they insulted family. It was contradictory, they were supposed to be family too and yet, they just didn’t care. Nick couldn’t understand why). “Aiden?” His heart skipped a beat. Nick didn’t know a Matias, he was pretty sure he wasn’t pack but maybe he’d missed the wolf? Regardless, concern swarmed his expression. Had he been so consumed in everyone else he didn’t realize his BROTHER was missing? “Could I--” He knew there was nothing he could to, nothing he could offer and yet-- “What can I do Hope?” There was a wetness to his eyes that Nick blinked back. “I need to do something, please.” 

Isaac’s heart sank the second that he saw the poster in Nick’s hand. He had been forced to tell a lot of people about Oliver’s death in the recent weeks but the one person that he had been avoiding telling was the one that wanted to find him the most. Isaac had intentionally kept his distance, not wanting to see the look on Nick’s face when he got the news. Keeping the truth from him felt just as cruel, though, and Isaac knew what he had to do. “Nicky…” he started, sad smile on his lips. “C’mon. Come with me. Let’s go get a coffee and have a talk, alright?” 

Something was wrong. That much was all too clear from Isaac’s demeanor, the typical brash man looked like the same as a shaking leaf. Nick hadn’t seen him properly for a few weeks, passing him in small moments when he was amongst the pack, but nothing true face to face conversation like. Nick had been thinking Isaac was simply caught up in his own concern for Oliver, just as Nick was. Had he been hoping? “No.” The word slipped from his lips, eyes deep imparted on Isaac with absolute concern clear in them cause he needed to know-- ( that stranger’s words in his head--- Nick had been so sure he was LYING but-- ). “This is about Oliver, isn’t it?” Nick breathed. Nick tried to breath. He couldn’t. “What happened?” His voice came out in a plea. 

“No, there’s not a cash price I - I don’t have cash.” Nick expressed for what felt like the millionth time since he began putting up posters in search of Oliver. Something felt wrong, and if Aiden wasn’t going to listen about it then Nick would be the one doing something. Even if Oli was fine then, well, at least he would know to reply to at least one text. Despite that small string of hope, Nick couldn’t help but feel deep in his chest there was truly something WRONG here. “I’m just looking for my brother and please-- if you happen to see him anywhere just shoot a text, please. I’m really worried about him.”

“I’m sorry--- do I know you?” He’d seen the guy hanging around some Crescents but Nick himself didn’t recognize him. There were a lot of new people joining them, wolfs coming out of the woodwork without fear of the curse plaguing them any longer. Nick tried--- was trying, to personally meet them all. The Crescents had always been his family, and he wanted to keep it that way. “You’re new around here I’m guessing?” He prompted with a smile. 

“Hayley!” He didn’t have a right to be so relieved. It wasn’t like Jackson who he’d known since he was small, or his actual brother Aiden. Nick didn’t know Hayley all that well, but all the same the concern he felt was all too real. She saved his family, his pack, and she was his friend. Short time or not, he’d come to care about her deeply. With Oliver and Greyson still MIA it gave Nick hope that they were alright too. He started towards her, a big smile on his face. He wasn’t certain if he had the right to hug her or not, but he was happy all the same. “I’m glad to see you! I’ve been pretty worried, honestly.”

There was something about her. The woman seemed like she was running from something, or someone. Like any sudden movement made her flinch. It wasn’t his business, Nick knew. He hadn’t any right to be concerned about some stranger struggling. But her labored breaths, the way she--- she was lying to who she spoke to, Nick was almost positive of it. It reminded him of how Oliver lied with a slickness to it that Aiden, Jackson and Nick himself lacked. Someone was not believing her story, and against his better judgement, Nick corroborated. “Hey!” He said. “I’ve been waiting for you forever.” Maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe he’d gotten better at lying. Lots of maybes. 

OLIVER WAS STILL MISSING. The word didn’t feel right though. It felt more like ghosting but even that wasn’t correct. Ollie would never leave Nick on read. Maybe the others, but not Nick. Even the small check in text of ‘u alive?’ would have some kind of reaction. Even a fucking emoji of a thumbs up, a shrug, or a sad face emoji. The lack of any reaction at all was concerning to the extreme. Aiden was kind of useless in the face of Oliver’s vanishing, stuck in his own emotions and Jackson was busy SO. So flyers. Oliver’s face printed on the front, posters asking if anyone had seen him, Nick’s number if they had, and the deep hope there would be something. “Excuse me sir,” He began noting a stranger observing a flyer he had just stapled to a wall. “Would you have happened to see him recently? The man in the poster, Oliver.”

She was still new to everything, though it felt like a whole lifetime had passed away she realized at that moment that not much time had actually passed by. Especially when it was such young werewolf that was calling her out on her behavior. “Thanks,” she responded, giving a gentle smile. The blood bags helped but they were not the same thing as – well you know. Grabbing the nearest napkin she wiped it off and crumbled the napkin in her hands, “Sorry – just – getting used to – well everything if I am being honest. You new in town?”

Hearing a knock on the door was the saving grace he needed to tear away from talks of color schemes and the likes. Planning things was more so Caroline’s forte, and he’d be pretty much happy with anything she and Stefan decided. That wasn’t to say he didn’t want to have any part of his wedding planning, but certain things he was okay with stepping to the side. Swift kisses are placed on Stefan and Caroline’s cheeks before he moves away and heads for the door. Usually, whenever they got someone coming by they just walked in, it was a nice change of pace. Then he’s opening the door and spotting Nick, Aiden’s little brother. Then he’s asking about Hayley and Klaus is taking a deep breath in, “She’s not here.” He answers, licking his lips over. “I haven’t seen her in… awhile,” Which is concerning, “But I’m keeping an eye and ear out for any news about her. Is everything okay?” You know, aside from the mother of his child missing?

They called him the big bad hybrid. Nick didn’t really see it. He seemed a little put-off and grumpy but--- big and bad? It sounded more like Little Red Riding Hood then anything true and Hoodwinked happened to be his favorite take on the story, so Nick couldn’t help but be open minded. Plus this was Hayley’s daughter’s father. Extended pack. Even if everyone else seemed to kind of hate him, Nick well-- he didn’t know him. He’d decide for himself. “Do you- do you know where she is?” He asked, there was a clear nervousness to him. It would have been there if this was Klaus or anyone else though, nick feared poking his nose into other people’s business. The only thing was well, he cared about Hayley. He wanted her to be okay. So. If that meant feeling some nervousness so be it. “I’ve just been um, I know it’s not my place really but Hayley was really nice to me and I just haven’t seen her for a while and I wanted to make sure she was okay.” He explained, something of a stumble to him. 

For a moment, just a brief moment, everything seemed to be just fine. Not great, not good, not remotely okay, but just fine. There was a moment where she thought she was going to be able to get through this conversation without any hiccups. The instant that he said her name her defenses gave in. She wanted to crawl into a hole – make a cancoon of herself and not be forced to be out till she was ready, if she that time ever came to exist. Gasping softly, she shook her head, the words at the tip of her tongue but all her strength refuses to exist there. “What if I am never ready?” she whispered terrified, her index finger tracing the ring Kadir had given her. Not even her engagement one but the one to prevent her transition. The fears she had over the full moon had rendered her useless. Broken, and she didn’t know if she would be able to put it all back together. The person that always made it better was nowhere to be seen and she knew she had to let that go. That she couldn’t linger too much on her brother’s absence but where did she place her grievances at? Where did her anger go where the person it was directed towards was no where around? Was she able to say that she had been hurt when she had delivered the final blow? Was she innocent in all this? Did she get to hold onto any defense? How much coverage did self defense truly hold? The question ran through her head as she kept looking forward, focusing on an intimate object as if such concentration would prevent the tears from coming out. She couldn’t do this to Nick. Greyson spent his entire life having it together so she wouldn’t feel the pressure, she owe Nick that much. “Yes.”  She answered as her voice began to grow quieter after just one word. Needles piercing behind her eyes as tears finally filled them up. Knowing that she was not going to last any longer she turned sideways and wrapped her arms around him, embracing him as she turned away from him, allowing her tears to fall leaving a puddle on his shoulder blade. Knowing that someday she would have to explain it. To talk about what had happened. What she had done. It would all come out because nothing did stay in the dark. Would Nick hate her? Would she not be able to be Kadir’s sun anymore? Would Isaac leave her? “I’m sorry,” Her bottom lip quivering as she whimpered.

“That’s okay too.” He didn’t miss a beat. Not a single one. Nick didn’t even think about it, he was too certain of it. He lacked his usual stumbling or stuttering, because of the many many things he was uncertain of, this wasn’t one of them. He would always be there for Kayleigh, thick and thin, easy and hard, watching an old movie at a drive in or fighting for their lives. Kayleigh King was his best friend. His sister. The only person who knew the same pain of watching their family be forced to turn into wolves for an entire month and hope they would be safe in the mean time but unable to do anything about it. He loved her, and he would forever love her. It was the same love he had for Aiden, Oliver, and Jackson. The difference was this: the three of them always tried to shield and protect him. Even if Nick wanted to protect them too, he was given seldom chance to try. With Kayleigh it was different. They protected each other and that was something Nick would never falter in doing. “If you’re never ready then you’re never ready.” He said it in the same way one would say ‘the sky is blue, the grass is green, my pack is my family and I’ve never hit someone before but god I’d fight to the death for them’. “I’m still here.” There was another layer under the words, and Nick hoped that Kayleigh heard it. I’ll always be here. “I’m---” The stumble returned, because what he felt was heartbreak. For her suffering, for the fact he saw it in her--- she’d never be the same after this, the kind of awfulness that shaped who you were as a person was so clearly upon her. And all Nick could do was be there. He would do it, every moment she needed him, but he wished he could do more. “I’m so sorry Kay.” It was all he could offer. It was nothing, the words felt useless, but all the same Nick did all he could in the moment. He held her tightly, his arms around her were gentle but firm all the same. “You have nothing to be sorry for.” He told her, and just as before, the words didn’t miss a beat and were something he believed in ethereally. “You survived. There’s nothing to be sorry for about that.”

Aiden couldn’t help but roll his eyes at the old nickname, a fond smile on his lips as he watched his little brother approach. Nick was the most important person in Aiden’s world, and as much as it might frustrate him to be asked for favors from anyone else, Nick was the one person that got whatever he wanted. His brother could ask him to chop off his left arm and Aiden would find the blade without question. “Nicky, we talked about this. You gotta work on the apologizing thing. I’m your brother, not your alpha or your boss. You never have to say sorry for asking for something from me, alright?” His voice was soft but stern, making it clear that Nick finding some kind of self-confidence was of the utmost importance to the older wolf. If Nick stayed as kind and naive as he was, the world would take it from him by force and Aiden would much rather he keep those pure, innocent parts of him for as long as possible. “I actually talked to Klaus about Hayley. He hasn’t seen her either, so it might be time to escalate that situation. Get the pack together, do a search party.” Greyson was another story, however. “I’m sure that Grey is around somewhere. Hell, we should call the county jails first. You know how he is.” The mention of Oliver made his stomach turn and Aiden had to stop himself from immediately snapping that he didn’t care where the hell that idiot might be. For one, it wasn’t true, and for two, Nick didn’t deserve his vitriol. “He left the party that night with Mikael. I’m sure that they’re just a bit busy in his den of sin. Don’t worry about it too much, Nicky. Ollie won’t leave when he’s got a new guy giving him whatever he wants.” And that guy would never be him, as much as he had once wanted it to be. It was a bitter pill to swallow, the kind that caught in your throat and sat there no matter how many times you swallowed. He’d never be rid of Oliver, the man was in him like a disease, killing him slowly but surely and only taking deeper root the more that he fought it. 

Okay so he’d been tiny and the ‘en’ part had been hard to pronounce so Aids had been easier. Eventually Nick had discovered a separate meaning for the word but it was too imprinted in his mind and his brother to be changed. Plus there was always first aid! Though it didn’t have the s at the end. Plus Aiden, Oliver and Jackson all called him Nicky. It was only fair he delivered his own brand of nicknames. “Sor--- I mean, got it-- yes.” He stumbled over his words sheepishly, wishing nothing more then to abide by his brother’s wishes. Aiden was right in Nick’s multitude of hasty apologizes, he needed to knock out the instinct. “Search party sounds good!” He agreed enthusiastically, relieved Aiden was willing to help despite his own feelings about Hayley. Which personally, Nick didn’t fully get. Hayley came in and saved them. She was a Crescent. She was pack. If it was someone the old timers didn’t dub a queen then maybe everyone else wouldn’t be so stingy, but Jackson was also supposed to be king and no one cared about that. Then again Jackson had always been around, but that wasn’t Hayley’s fault she couldn’t be! Regardless, Nick was pleased to hear something was being done about it. “Yeah but-- but what if Kayleigh needs him?” She did. She didn’t say it of course but Nick knew how it felt to be Kayleigh. Missing your older brother, scared of what would happen to him. It was a feeling they had shared back when the curse was still thriving, and he only saw Aiden once a month, worrying about him the rest of the time. Those were times Nick only had Kayleigh. Now, the curse was broken, and Grey hightailed it away from her and--- unlike Nick, Kayleigh couldn’t chase him the way Nick did to Aiden. Grey didn’t leave enough of a trail, and Kayleigh had people tying her back (Nick had no one but the pack). “Is Michael a name I should know?” Nick asked genuinely, a tilt of his head. Ollie wasn’t known for ‘serious’ relationships, but Aiden knowing the name of someone Ollie liked was a sign of something new alltogether. Unless Michael was someone he happened to forget that was a wolf, in which Nick would feel eternally guilty. “Aiden.” A frown on Nick’s face was pertinent. “Don’t be a jerk. I know Ollie’s done some bullshit but he’s still family. If you’re sure he’s okay I’ll believe you but don’t talk about him like that. It’s...” He struggled to find the word. It wasn’t necessarily untrue, even if Nick didn’t like the distaste and style of Aiden’s explanation. Finally, he settled on a word. “It’s mean, Aiden.” A childish word but relevant all the same. After all, when Nick thought of being mean, he thought of their father. The thought of Aiden was vastly different, and the idea of the images bleeding together in any regard made him something akin to terrified. “You’re better then that.” At least, Nick desperately wanted to believe he was. 

Kadir new a few of the faces in the other pack. This one however, he knew strictly from Kayleigh. She was rather fond of the pup and a part of him couldn’t help but want to dislike him on principle. He’d already seen what some of her friendships caused for her. However, he couldn’t help the hint of a smirk as the younger crescent member looks almost shocked to see him.  “No weird then having to play nice you your alpha.” he offered with a shrug.  “But yes I  am that guy.” he chuckled. Kadir couldn’t remember a time when he wasn’t confident in himself. Maybe when he was younger , younger then the young man standing in front of him. But he couldn’t really recall, he liked to think he had a good head on his shoulders. And a large reason for that were the alphas that had come before him, the elders that helped raise and train him. They had a good pack a solid pack. Crescent had been that once, perhaps they still were they just needed to get past all the stupid drama.   “What are you apologizing for? Save your sorries for when you really need them. Don’t waste them on nothing or the word become meaningless.” he huffed eyeing him for a moment longer. “ When the last time you ate?”

.

“But that isn’t hard though,” Nick knew there was a naivete to him, he was working on it. Still, he couldn’t help but speak his mind naturally, especially when he felt something was worth saying. “Jackson is a good guy. I mean he’s a little boring sometimes.” At least compared to Ollie, but then again Nick also considered Aiden boring at times. It was probably something that came with the ‘do not do this thing’ type attitude. “But he’s not bad. He would never do something without a reason.” And though Nick didn’t know too much of pack politics, he did have faith in Jackson, he would never do something without provocation. For Kayleigh’s sake the very most, Nick hoped that didn’t happen. 

Sometimes Nick wondered what kind of life he would have lived without the curse in place. His dad never being, his mom being moved by the wind due to her depression at his dad’s lost, and Aiden forced to take up responsibility he never asked for. The shorthand for responsibility he never asked for was Nick. Would he better someone stronger then he was? Nick almost hoped so. Then again, he didn’t dislike himself too much. Even if there was room for improvement.

A smile drew to his face at the dismissal of apology, it was kind. Plus if Kayleigh cared for him as much as she did, Nick didn’t see why their two packs wouldn’t get along. Besides the whole dramatic history but putting that aside. “Do gummy bears for breakfast count?” He asked genuinely. A shy looked embed onto his face, embarrassed by it. Hoping to make it better, Nick added. “I also had coffee.” Loaded with so much sugar and creamer Candy Land would shame him, but still.