#laihey

when she arrives , he’s fast asleep. he looked awful — bile rose in her throat , she hadn’t been there to help him. she collapses onto the chair and props her head up with her arm , the soothing feeling of drowsiness lulling her to sleep. when he awoke , she would be there.

one  by  one,  thread  by  thread,  her  quilt  of  safety  unraveled.  the  fatal  wound  the  oni  left  cut  deep,  tearing  apart  life  as  they  knew  it.  three  things  that  could  not  long  be  hidden,  yet  audrey  was  having  trouble  confronting  the  last  one      ––––     the  truth.  the  truth  was  allison  was                          “  so  you’re  really  just  going  to  leave?  ”  why  would  he  stay  when  allison  was                          “  after  everything  we’ve  been  through?  all  of  us?  you’re  just  going  to  leave  everyone  behind?  we  .  .  .  we  have  to  stick  together,  now  more  than  ever.  i  mean,  what  are  you  going  to  do  without  a  pack,  isaac?  ”  it’s  not  enough  to  make  him  stay  and   she  knows  that.  “  i  don’t  want  you  to  go.  ”  maybe  that’s  not  enough  either,  but  it’s  the  truth,  one  she  can  bear  to  face  in  moment.

her   hands   tremble   ,   heart   caught   in   her   throat.   she   was   back.   after   so   long   ,   she   was   here   to   heal.   "   ill   be   right   behind   you.   "   meant   to   comfort   and   comfort   it   did   --   releasing   a   gentle   breath.   the   houses   had   been   more   rundown   over   time   but   there   were   things   that   still   stood   ,   her   old   home   ,   her   '   friends   '   homes.   then   she   saw   it.   the   stain   of   old   blood   on   the   concrete   where   he'd   saved   her   life   ;   surprised   it   was   still   there.   for   a   second   ,   it   looked   like   she'd   seen   a   ghost.   but   her   gaze   returns   ,   turning   towards   him.   "   it   might   be   weird   to   show   you   this   ,   but   i   needed   some   closure.   it's   taken   me   so   long   to   come   to   terms   with   this.   "   just   like   her   ,   he   had   been   in   a   compromising   situation   and   accepted   the   bite   ,   so   maybe   he   understood.   or   maybe   it   was   pitiful   of   her   to   even   try   and   explain.

𝐆𝐔𝐈𝐋𝐓 𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐄𝐃 is difficult to disperse. It was something she had avoided, in regards to Isaac, for quite some time. Only now, as friends of friends, had it taken hold of the banshee, at once 𝖕𝖊𝖗𝖘𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖓𝖙 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖕𝖆𝖗𝖆𝖘𝖎𝖙𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖑, coursing through her petite frame until it was necessary to broach the topic. ❝  No, you didn’t do anything, ❞ she admits with some discomfort, ❝  I was just thinking about it ──── that day.  ❞ Some comment about his bike? A dismissive rejection: a frequent norm for her at that time. With no consideration of the others’ feelings. ❝  I wouldn’t blame you for some resentment. Or hatred, for that matter [ . . . ] I’m sorry, by the way. I should have said that before now.  ❞

  SHE  HESITATES.  maybe  she  was  being  stupid  ,  and  neither  of  their  stubbornness  would  allow  them  to  back  down.  "  i  cant  let  you  do  this.  "  ithaca  almost  scoffs  at  that  statement.  its  not  like  she  wouldnt  come  back  alive  --  or  so  she  thought.  but  something  in  the  worried  expression  of  his  struck  a  chord  within  her.  the  hopeful  eyes  ,  clenched  jaw  ,  he  really  didnt  want  her  to  go.  "  for  future  information  ,  i  do  what  i  want  to  do.  but  ...  for  this  time  ,  i  wont.  ill  stay  if  youre  that  scared.  "  she  sighs  in  defeat  ,  bringing  her  hands  to  his.  the  beta  presses  a  kiss  to  his  knuckles  and  meets  his  gaze  ,  a  tired  grin.  maybe  the  puppy  dog  eyes  really  do  work  on  her.

  "   i   know   i've   been   ...   a   bit   busy   ,   but   i'm   here   to   make   it   up   to   you   ,   dear   isaac.   my   gift   to   you   tonight   is   ..   the   gift   of   food.   "   she   smiles   and   ignores   the   fact   of   how   many   mistakes   had   been   made   while   preparing   everything   for   him   --   it   was   now   perfect   ,   blush   rising   on   her   cheeks.   "   we   call   this   menudo   ,   a   traditional   soup   we   have   at   home.   i   substituted   beef   for   the   actual   main   ingredient   ,   and   its   lined   with   a   red   chili   base.   i'm   not   sure   if   you   like   spicy   but   ..   i   really   hope   you   like   it.   "   this   was   her   way   of   making   it   up   to   him   for   being   busy   with   other   things   ,   and   well   ,   her   way   of   showing   affection   and   care.   ithaca   might   not   have   been   able   to   show   physical   affection   but   she   could   give   him   things.   as   long   as   he   was   happy.