odi et amo

Thom was studying for hours in the library. Who had ever came up with the subject: Science… Going through his notes over and over again, he felt like he could just give up. It wouldn’t make a difference anyway. 

Isaac laughed, the boy’s whispers loud to his hearing. “Welcome to the endless hell of the American schooling system. Would you like the fast track to damnation, or eternal slow burning suffering?”

“I don’t trust people who claim they’re just trying to be nice.” Isaac didn’t trust people, period, in all honesty. “If you knew my history, I’m sure you’d appreciated just why that is.” His gaze narrowed again, and he scoffed. “Give me one reason I should get in the car with a stranger.”

Isaac blinked, unsure whether the girl was serious or not. He doubted he was capable of joking right now, and if he wasn’t, how could she be? “No, it isn’t.” He mumbled in reply, his lips refusing to obey him properly. “I don’t know. A year? Longer, probably. I wasn’t exactly counting the days.”

There was a brief moment of silence and Lydia knew it was become of Allison. It’s not that she didn’t like talking about her fallen best friend, it’s just that it still hurt. And Lydia was almost sure Isaac felt the same way. The two had gotten pretty close before her death. “It would be nice if you came back. All of us at graduation.” Lydia smiled at the thought of them graduating and moving on with their lives. She knew that would be a good day; after everything they had all been through- a ceremony to celebrate surviving. “No pressure though. But if you want any help with material I’d be happy to.” She offered. When Isaac mentions the kamina, Lydia laughed. Back then they all thought it was the worst of their problems. If only she had known. “You’re not too far off, actually. They’re making chimeras.” Lydia sighed, struggling to find a way to explain what they were. “They’re trying to create supernatural creatures with non-supernatural means. That’s how Deaton explained it to us.” Lydia paused again and thought back to the everything they’ve done. “They’re pretty much taking teenagers and experimenting on them turning them supernatural. They’ve killed a lot of innocent kids. They call them failures. We don’t know know anything about these guys, or what a success is going to look like but they’re terrifying.” Lydia frowned, thinking about all of the people they weren’t able to save. Innocent kids that had their lives turned upside down. “You know we could try.” Lydia joked back with Isaac. “I don’t know, it would be pointless to create more stress on everyone now. If it gets worse I’ll definitely tell him but for now let’s keep it between us, okay?”

“It would be a bit of a colossal screw you to this goddamned town if we all made it there, wouldn’t it?” Isaac smiled vaguely, looking around them. “Any idea what you’re doing after that, though? College?” He shrugged at the offer, looking at her. “Thanks. I think I could catch up - it’s not like Chris didn’t try to keep me schooled, more that it wasn’t the same.” Of course, it never would be, no matter how much he wanted it to. Her laughed tugged a small smile onto his lips, and he looked down, grinning at the ground, if only for a moment. “Chimeras? Like, two-sets of DNA chimeras, or goat-growing-out-of-lion chimeras? Because both are scary, but I know which one is more grotesque.” He figured it was the former, but then again, you never know. Most of the myths he knew of were proving to be true, after all. “Jesus.” He whistled the word out, unable to put his horror into words. Not that it was all that surprising. In fact, the realisation that he wasn’t surprised was almost as horrifying as the idea of these supernatural doctors. “Well, I don’t think a success will be the creation of a flying unicorn, let’s put it that way.” He muttered, shaking his head. “How big are you thinking, like, dinner-plate? Or bigger?” He smirked. “Alright, alright, I can keep a secret. But promise you’ll ask for help as soon as you need to, okay?”

“She said without sincerity.” He deadpanned, reaching up to rub at his eyes, hoping they would stay open for just a half hour longer - that was all he needed. “Let’s just say I had nowhere left to run and leave it at that.”

“Well, I guess it was, technically. For you. Time doesn’t really matter to dead people, does it?” Isaac blurted the words, unable to stop them once they’d started. “Shit, I-” He cut himself off before he could say anything else that unfathomably idiotic. “Yeah, a while’s about right.”

The wolf in her already felt the healing process activate, but she knew that leaving the bullet in would be unwise. She looked back at the beta, biting back tears of both fear and pain. While she was brave and strong, a near death experience was a harsh thing to go through. She nodded, opening up her hands as her claws retracted. “My brother showed me…” She whispered, digging her own claws into her flesh, making her eyes flash. But she managed to pull the bullet out by the tip of her claws.

Isaac watched, admittedly a little worried about the girl as her claws came out. He’d never had to do it himself - the pack had always had Deaton, and he’d always had Chris in France. The fact that she knew how to pull a bullet out of her own thigh was at once disturbing and slightly impressive. His eyes trailed her movements with a grotesque fascination as she pulled it out, half wanting to ease her pain, but not trusting enough, never trusting enough to do it. “No wolfsbane?”

Stefanie held her thigh in her hands, letting her eyes fall from the back of the werewolf to the wound. Thankfully it wasn’t wolfsbane, or it would’ve been goodbye for the shewolf. She looked up to the beta then back to the shooter who cursed before turning his back on the wolf. Relief sank through her as she watched the shooter walk away. “Thank you- Thank you.”

“South by southwest, five kilometres or so!” Isaac yelled at their back as they retreated, doubting the hunter’s bruised ego would let them take his advice. “If you even want to catch that thing, of course.” He muttered, before turning back to the injured girl. “Just trying to keep my alpha out of any more pointless fights, don’t worry about it.” He shook his head, stepping closer to her. “Can you get it out?” He asked, pointing to her wound.

Isaac continued to frown at the girl, wondering why it was she’d decided to bother him. Most people would leave the guy who looked a bit like a down-and-out hobo - that left only one conclusion: she knew who he was. “Probably because I am tired. I think I’m allowed to be a little nostalgic about coming home, not that it’s any of your business.”

“Right, yeah, of course you are.” Isaac mentally slapped himself - of course she’d know. He coughed, looking away, wishing the awkward tension in the room wasn’t chafing at his neck. He was used to his wishes not coming true by now. “Do you - do you know how long it’s been?” For a literal zombie, at least, he figured, she wasn’t behaving particularly brainlessly.

“Not really. It was more out of necessity than fun, but things didn’t work out.. Have you seen Scott, then? Surely, he’s kind of filled you in?” she asked. “We could really use you, Isaac. I’m glad you’re back.”

“Kitsune stuff?” Isaac shrugged again. “Kind of, but I’ve only really gotten bits and pieces. Something about doctors and someone called Liam - oh, and Theo, from when we were kids, but not the whole story.” He nodded once. “Yeah, I’ve heard things are a bit crazy.”

“With my mom, yes,” she answered with a nod, lifting a hand to her hair awkwardly. “You’ve been gone; you’ve missed a lot.” She gave him a woeful smile and ducked her head. “And now you’re back – for good?”

“Right. Was that, um, fun?” Isaac didn’t fail to notice the awkwardness in the way she was holding herself. “Yeah, I’ve heard.” He nodded, looking aside, unable to escape the awkwardness. “Well, I’m back. I don’t know how long for. Hopefully for good, however long that is.”

“No, I’ve been away myself so..” Kira shook her head, still a little in awe at the sight before her. “I’m sorry. I just.. I’m happy to see you, of course, but – H-How was France?”

“Oh. Uh, with your family, or?” It was the only explanation Isaac could think of, for Kira to be away and out of contact with the others. “No, no, it’s fine. I get it - you weren’t expecting me.” He shrugged. “It was nice, I guess. Different. Better, for a while.”

A smirk spread across Roman’s features at the tell that the other male didn’t like him– he had a knack for making enemies quick and loved it. Well, pushing people’s buttons was what he loved; them hating him was a side-effect. ‘ Don’t worry, Dick– is your name Dick? I hope so, it suits you– But yes, do not worry a cute little curl on that head, I’m very versatile. Oh, come on– there’s no need to be vague. In fact, the vague-ness is a dead giveway that you’re something more than human. So what is it? Big-foot? Yeti? Werewolf? ’ He tilted his head and leaned back casually against the brick wall next to him, knowing the other must be trying to figure him out right back. ‘ Oh, yes. I’m an avid smoker– wanna help me finish my next cigarette? ’ He deflected, reaching into his pocket. 

Isaac fought the urge to roll his eyes at the boy - from his chemo-signals, it was apparent that he was enjoying being that annoying. “Isaac, actually. Far less convenient for your ‘humour’, I don’t doubt.” He scoffed, shaking his head, snarky evasion already forming on his lips. “You caught me. I’m the abominable snowman. Seriously, dude, what is your deal?” Well, it was obvious the boy was no human, now. But what was he? Nothing Isaac had come across before, of course. Something that smelled of smoke - a phoenix? He really should have spent more time studying the Argents’ bestiaries. “I prefer my lungs non-cancerous, thanks.”

‘ The only problem I’ve got is a growing crush on you, baby-blues. Keep talking to me like that and we might have an even bigger problem, if you know what I mean. Why do I have to figure it out? What’s a guy like me gotta do to just get some friendly advice– do you want me dead? My body found on the side of the street? Is that what you want? I think my stone-cold heart’s about to shatter. ’

Isaac pinched the bridge of his nose, forcing himself not to grow overly irritated. “You have a taste for pissed-off guys you just met? How masochistic.” He snarked, allowing sarcasm into his tone. “If you can’t figure it out yourself, you probably will be dead, let’s leave it at that.” He took a deep breath in, before frowning at the scent of the other boy. “You been smoking, or something?”

‘ What a turn-off, pretty boy. You could have been the exception– such wasted potential… I think I’m going to actually cry, and I haven’t cried since my goldfish died last summer. ’

“Do you ever stop talking? Or have you got some kind of problem? Either way, you’ll figure out what I mean in no time.”