novocaine

"I think of my friends." Addison spoke proudly. "I think of everyone who deserves to have their voice heard. I think of this place, this town. We're all connected, Lycus, and we're all in this together." She took Lycus' hand in hers. "You're not alone."

"You'd think, after all these years, I'd get used to you saying things like that." Stiles pressed a soft kiss to Malia's mouth before pulling her against his chest. Stiles only shined for her. "I love you."

Kim smiled as his fingers clawed through the air, shaking her head.  “Yeah, I know. You could go all beast mode. Don’t worry. I could so take you even if that happened.” Not that Zed would hurt her anyway. He was one of the good guys. He was right about most of the people here being misunderstood. Unless you were Drakken. There was no misunderstanding that guy.  “Well, about that.” She began sheepishly. “Remember when I told you Wade was taking my phone to try to add those cool new features? Turns out, I don’t know how to use them all yet. Flashlight feature? Totally a thing of the past. Promise not to tell him, though? He’d go all lecture mode on me.” Plus, he’d be mad that she dozed off in front of his lecture. Mad Wade?  So the drama. Nevertheless, Kim was nonplussed by the lack of light options. “No big. A little dark never hurt anybody.” They wouldn’t be stopped so early in their mission. Kim paused to tease. “We’ll just have to be extra careful. I’ll go first, so you’ll for sure be safe. Trust me?” 

“Hey, I pride myself on being a gentle-zombie. Ladies first, always, but the thing is, we don’t know what’s down there. And if there is another monster like me, it would make more sense for me to take the lead. Not to brag, but I’ve gotten a little better at monster negotiations. Not that I don’t consider you a leader or anything. Just... Just think of me as the offensive line to your quarterback! You have the ball, Kim, just let me help you, so you can get that touch down and win the game." Zed gave the redhead a wink before feigning left and twirling around her to the front. “We got this.” He lifted up the caution tape for her to go under as clouds began to darken overhead. “Teamwork.” 

Harvey’s hand drifted over the Nick’s chest, palm settling over his heart. Calloused fingers pressed gently against his ribcage; drawing invisible patterns over the gentle thrum underneath. During Harvey’s darker moments, he convinced himself there wouldn’t one. Now, his feelings weren’t so cut and dry. “Don’t say that.” He muttered with a shake of his head, eyes fixated on his own hand in contrast to warm skin. “If it’s not true. Or if it won’t be tomorrow. Just—” Harvey shook his head. “I’m stronger than I look, Scratch. I don’t need bullshit.”

Nick nodded with a sad smile. “I know you are, and I wouldn’t string you along like that. My feelings are true. They’re more real than anything I’ve ever felt. I’ll eat truth cake right in front of you if I have to.” Nick moved Harvey’s hand from his chest. “I’ll prove it to you, farm boy. Tell me what you want me to do." He pressed a kiss to Harvey’s knuckles, speckled in soft purple and pink. If Harvey could be brave, so could Nick. “I’ll do whatever you want me to do.” 

“Oh, hecate, no.” A shrill laugh emitted from otherwise worried lips as Hilda settled onto the chair across from the mortal boy. A warm hand reached out to pat the top of his. “No, sweetheart, not a thing like that. I do, however, need a small favor. You must’nt do a thing - but grant me your word.” She observed the expressions on Sweet Harvey’s face, shifting and morphing from one thing to another. “I have a… plan. An idea, really. To save both Sabrina’s.” Mortals were finicky creatures, but Hilda has come to find that this one always seemed to be steadfast in anything regarding that. “Though it does mean one thing.” Her words fell in gentle tones; imploring as she beat her way around the bush. Though time was of the essence. “I would need to split you into two parts.” 

The guilt that had sloshed when he sat, curdled into prickling anxiety. It thickened inside his throat and coated his lungs like heavy batter. Harvey couldn’t breathe. He nodded slowly at Hilda’s words. Harvey had no reason to mistrust Hilda. She had never been unkind to him, in all the years that he’d known Sabrina’s aunt, but magic still frightened him. Understanding magic was like wrapping his head around the existence of God and why bad things happen to good people, like his brother Tommy. Harvey just couldn’t make sense of it. “Two parts,” Harvey croaked out finally. “Which parts? I —” That doesn’t matter, Harvey. You stupid chickenshit. Man up. He shook his head and began again. “If it’s… If it’s the only way to save Sabrina,” he met Hilda’s eyes with his own, “I’ll do it. She’d do the same for me.” The lump in his throat ached. “What do I have to do?” 

“Lots of things. Isn’t that why you brought back-up, to beat up all the potential bad guys?” Kim struck a brief fighting pose, loose fist gently tapping against his arm as she passed by him to approach said tape. The bane of her existence. “We don’t even know if Bonnie and Bucky hid the trophy here for sure. It could be a trap.” Still, not one to let any lead go unfollowed, Kim lifted up the tape, lifting herself up on her tip-toes to attempt to allow him passage underneath. Once he was ahead, she ducked underneath it herself. Before they could go any further, Kim’s hand was darting out to grab his gingerly. “Wait! We need some light. Can your Z band do that?” 

“In Seabrook?" He shook his head. “Nah. There’s not really bad guys here. Just... misunderstood guys. You know. Zombies. Werewolves. Vampires. Over-zealous cheer captains. You know. Normal.” Zed halted at Kim’s touch, eyes drawn to her pink-tinged fingers before gently removing them. “Z Bands are kinda temperamental. One swipe and I’m—” Zed motioned with clawed hands and bared teeth. “You know.” He casually tapped the screen. All functions were normal. Thank goodness. “Eliza programmed a few hacks, but we haven’t gotten official Z Band upgrades in a loooong time. The band glows in the dark though, which is cool. It’s just not enough to... light the way. Hold on.” Zed raised a brow, smirk ready on his lips. “Don’t you have a phone? With a flashlight?” 

“Says the person who is now on the ground.” Zig replied with a snicker. He was still pretty pissed off at the moment but hitting the other man felt good. “Would you like for me to hit you again? Because I happily will.” 

“I think you proved your point. And, for the record, my grandma has a pretty mean right hook.” With a grunt, Eli finally stood to his feet. “You know, I’m really starting to regret not giving you a bigger role in my zombie short. You have that anti-hero machismo down pat.” 

Theo laughed and took a few stumbling steps towards his boyfriend as they walked, hands tugging at the front of the familiar denim. “Harvey’s nice, but not that nice. He wouldn’t give anything of —” Tommy’s. The wind stung against Theo’s already reddened cheeks. “Of his if he still wanted it. Roz is trying to get him to dress more his style, anyway.” Theo tugged at the clothing in question, hoping to tug the boy attached along with it. “Don’t you dare.” He stood up on the tips of his toes, searching for a kiss. “I think I like it better with you in it.” 

The hobgoblin smiled warmly into their kiss. “Thanks,” he murmured. Leaves skittered around their feet as they ambled forward. Autumn was a complicated time for Robin. He wet his dry throat. “I’ve never actually thought about style before,” he spoke up. “Us hobgoblins, we’re kind of... proud. We can’t— we don’t,” he corrected, “just accept new clothes. But, seeing as I’m not living at Harvey’s house, it’s a little different.” Robin reached for Theo’s hand to hold, fingers sliding perfectly between the spaces. “I guess it’s a good thing you’re smaller than me. I wouldn’t want to leave.”