new york wolves } { of full moons and bad days

[hereditare]

Stiles: [yup, it's that time of the month again. And while he's no longer one that they need to chain up for everyone's safety, he's still having issues just on the day of the full moon keeping his focus. Which would be why he went directly back to the Hale penthouse after his early class and is pacing in the living room, trying to focus on his breathing and pushing back that pull inside of him as the sun was setting]

Laura: [has gotten into the habit of being home before sunset since Cora happens to have a late class that day. She makes her way in and flashes him a small smile] Don't wear a rut in my floor, okay? They cost a fortune to refinish.

Stiles: [stops, looks at the floor, than her. Oh, she's joking. yeah, he laughs a bit] Sorry. Just... I made it through the day. I'm trying to keep positive with that.

Laura: That's good. Keeping positive is good. Now you need to work on the relaxing part.

Stiles: See, that was a problem before I was even like this. Relaxing and me - doesn't really mix well. Kinda like water and gasoline.

Laura: So you don't unwind ever?

Stiles: ...... Well, sometimes. Cora usually helps these days. A lot.

Laura: We're just going to skip over this getting potentially awkward and skip back to when you were living in Beacon Hills. What'd you do to turn off your brain then?

Stiles: Scott and I would usually play lacrosse.

Laura: [glances down at her watch] Okay. We could do that.

Stiles: [blinks] I didn't know you knew how to play lacrosse.

Laura: I don't. But I can learn and you can hit me as hard as you like and I probably won't even feel it.

Stiles: [laughs] Yeah, you mean more like my bouncing off your body right?

Laura: [smirks] Something like that.

Stiles: I don't think it's really very house friendly.

Laura: So we'll go up to the roof.

Stiles: Balls falling off the roof? [or him?]

Laura: A chance to work on your reflexes.

Stiles: But I can't both slam into you and catch balls at the same time. I mean that's pretty much impossible.

Laura: True. So do you know an empty lacrosse field we could play in?

Stiles: Um............ no.

Laura: So let's avoid the body slamming for now and just try tossing the ball around.

Stiles: Okay. I'll get the sticks and meet you on the roof.

Laura: Sounds good. [and she will write up a note so that people know where they are when they get home]

Stiles: [and he will be up there with a bag of balls, two sticks and the net that he actually had up there that was placed against the wall so that it would just bounce back at him when he missed]

Laura: [makes her way over, reaching out for one of the sticks] Alright. How do we do this?

Stiles: Well, what I do is aim at the net, and you take this bigger, wider stick and you try and stop me by catching the ball in it.

Laura: So you want me to play goalie?

Stiles: You're the one who says you'll barely feel if you get hit....?

Laura: I'm not complaining. I used to do it for Cora all the time.

Stiles: What did Cora throw at you?

Laura: Soccer balls. And she kicked them.

Stiles: Ah. Yeah, those are bigger. [he twirls the stick in his hand a bit. It was amazing how the wolf had helped him get better coordination after years of being clumsy]

Laura: [goes and moves into the goal herself, getting a feel for the stick in her hand] So why the stick?

Stiles: Because I kinda don't feel comfortable just aiming at your body?

Laura: No, I mean in the scheme of the game. Who looked at a stick and thought hey, maybe I'll put a net on it?

Stiles: I think it's a Native American thing?

Laura: [tips her head to the side then ...] Oh! Kind of like Jai alai?

Stiles: Um... maybe? If I knew what that was.

Laura: I guess it's kind of like Central America's lacrosse.

Stiles: They yeah, probably.

Laura: [nods] Their thing is even more ridiculous though. It's like having an arm shield on.

Stiles: Well, we do normally where helmets? Does that work?

Laura: Oh, they wear helmets too. The balls are made of limestone, I think.

Stiles: .... Ow.

Laura: Yep.

Stiles: Well, I'm glad I'm not in Central America then. [and he puts a ball in his stick, and goes to fling it as hard as he can at Laura]

Laura: [and catches it easily thanks to her alpha reflexes]

Stiles: [nods, and then decides to play with his speed and that is going to be him scoping and tossing at rapid fire]

Laura: [can keep up with him pretty well, mostly because alpha, but she's not perfect so a few do slip past her every so often]

Stiles: [and at the speed and force, the net in the stick or the one behind Laura isn't going to last long]

Laura: [nope. eventually it tears as the ball slips through it and she frowns] Okay, I had that one. Just because your net was faulty doesn't mean it counts.

Stiles: [takes a deep breath and looks out at the sky] I'm feeling better though.

Laura: [smiles] Good. So it helped.

Stiles: Can I help with dinner?

Laura: [nods] Sure. [she tosses the stick back to him, before reaching behind her to grab the ball] You can chop.

Stiles: Works for me.

Laura: [and downstairs they go to get started. Laura's just making pasta, but there's a salad to go with it, so she puts Stiles to work chopping up cucumbers, carrots and other veggies to go in it]

Stiles: I think I'm actually not as clumsy as I used to be. Like my balance is better.

Laura: One of the many werewolf benefits. It's balanced out by the downside of being able to smell and hear everything and anything and all that full moon nonsense.

Stiles: Sometimes it makes me wonder just how messed up my brain was before all of this. [he's cutting carefully, still learning to trust himself not to accidently cut a finger off or something]

Laura: [glances back at him] Probably not as much as you think. Even if you had a normal brain before you were turned, you'd probably still notice a difference in your reflexes and everything.

Stiles: So do you guys have it when you're little, or is it like a booster pack that gets turned on when you're going through puberty?

Laura: [laughs] Well, it depends on what your parents are. If only one of your parents is a wolf there's a chance you could still be human, but our first full moons are usually around eight or nine.

Stiles: Was it like what mine was?

Laura: Pretty much, except the werewolves are much tinier.

Stiles: Aw, puppies.

Laura: Terrifying puppies, yes.

Stiles: But still cute. Is it sad I kinda want to see what Derek looked like with his fangs at 8. If it's as adorable as I think?

Laura: I'm sure Peter managed to salvage some photo albums somewhere.

Stiles: You would take photos?!

Laura: Not of wolfy him. And ... not very good ones. We can't really take pictures head on.

Stiles: You can't?

Laura: Our eyes, the glare of the flash ... it takes a lot of work to make sure they come out right. Handy for if someone's trying to book us, but less convenient for things like driver's licenses.

Laura: No idea. I just know that taking photos for things like family Christmas cards were an ordeal and a half.

Stiles: [thinks a minute, then goes to step back as he pulls out his phone] Let me try something. [and he's going to play with his phone settings and plays with the resolution] Look directly at me.

Laura: [turns and does as he asks, raising an eyebrow in a silent question]

Stiles: [takes a photo, no flash, to see what appears]

Laura: [no flash is less of an issue than full flash would have been, but there's no avoiding the red eye and a slight glare to the picture]

Stiles: [licks his lips, and swaps it to video to see if it makes a difference] Okay, I'm going to try something else. Five seconds of video. Let's see what happens. [and you're on, Laura]

Laura: [looks back at him again, still stirring the sauce in front of her] If you're expecting something more exciting than this, you're going to be sorely disappointed

Stiles: No, I'm just looking to see if the camera process for recording video works differently than photos since you can capture stills from video as photos. [stops the recording, and then goes back to rewatch it]

Laura: [will just let him do his thing, but she isn't sure how different it's going to be]

Stiles: [it actually is, because it's a different function of the camera that sharpens and takes in the image differently] Well look at that. You'll still be able to look normal to surveillance cameras.

Laura: Oh joy.

Stiles: But look. [he shows her his phone, and he takes a still from the video and makes it into a picture] Now you have a picture of yourself. Of course you're not smiling, but we can work on that.

Laura: [laughs] Thank you, Stiles. I appreciate it.

Stiles: [grins, and then looks up at the tapping noise on the window. It's very soft, but he hears it] It looks like it's going to rain.

Laura: [takes a deep breath] Smells like it too. There's a window open somewhere - can you go find it?

Stiles: Yeah, sure. [and he's going to go off to find it]

Esposito: [and that's about the time there's a text] You busy?

Laura: [fishes her phone out of her pocket and texts back:] Making dinner. Why?

Esposito: Some things went down at work today. You heard from your brother?

Laura: [at first that statement makes her panic, because her first thought is that Derek is missing] No. Should I have?

Esposito: Maybe. He could be with Beckett. He's fine, for the record. Can I come over?

Laura: [glances around, before shouting into the other room] Stiles, what time is Cora supposed to be back tonight?

Stiles: Her class lets out at eight.

Laura: [nods, before texting Espo again:] Sure. It's just me and Stiles right now.

Esposito: I'll be there in ten.

Stiles: [coming back] It was Peter's room.

Laura: [text: Okay] Great. Thank you. How's the salad coming?

Stiles: I just need to toss it.

Laura: Great. Javi is going to be coming over in about ten minutes but the sauce just needs to simmer and the pasta is done so just help yourself when you finish that. I'll be in my room if you need me, okay?

Stiles: [nods] Yeah, alright. I think I should be okay until she gets home.

Laura: Okay. But you need me just call, alright? [teasing] You know how Peter gets when we claw up the furniture.

Stiles: So make sure I go into his room if I need to shred things. Got it. [he's going to find something in the fridge to nibble on before the dinner is ready]

Esposito: [and then he is there and the doorman is buzzing to let them know he's on his way up]

Laura: [nods] Good boy. [fun and games at her uncle's expense? she would never. but with that, she'll go to the door to meet him there.]

Esposito: [and that is a very frustrated and angry smelling boyfriend you've got there, Laura] Hey girl. Good to see a friendly face right about now.

Laura: Yeah, I'm guessing. [and no that doesn't make her feel happy at all. She'll just take his hand and lead the way back to her bedroom where it's quiet and soundproof - though this is probably the first time he's actually been in it]

Esposito: [and if he wasn't in such a mood, he'd be making a joke about it, but instead he's just going to follow] This day just blows, that's all I have to say.

Laura: [waits until the door is closed before sitting him down on the end of the bed, fighting the urge to use physical contact to push the anger away until she gets the situation out of him] What happened?

Esposito: [and he's just going to tl:dr at her the details of the case up to Derek and Ryan betraying him and Beckett to Flack and the suspension and Beckett quitting]

Laura: [and she can see that Derek and Ryan were just trying to protect them but she has a feeling that isn't the thing that matters right now] That does sound like a shitty day.

Esposito: And that bastard is still out there somewhere. That's the part that gets me. Fine, discipline me, but getting rid of two people who know what the guy looks like? That's not going to get him stopped.

Laura: I know. [she sighs, her hand coming up to brush against the side of his face, both as a sign of comfort and to see if he's in pain] Are you okay?

Esposito: [it's very faded now, not like when he had gotten taken down by the other soldier] I'm angry. I'm pissed at Ryan - he's my partner and he's supposed to have my back, ya know?

Laura: Yeah, but I think he felt like this was having your back. He'd rather you be pissed at him and alive than dead and ... dead. You and Beckett.

Esposito: [scowls] Still ain't right.

Laura: No, it isn't. But would you have done it for him, if you thought he was in over his head in something that was going to get him killed?

Esposito: [sighs, because she's right. he's just too pissed off to admit it]

Laura: [yep, she knows that sigh. she pauses to shift up onto her knees and sliding her arms around his shoulders] And if what he did means the difference between you being here right now and you not being here at all? I'm glad he did.

Esposito: [she's totally using affection to make him agree with her. Cheater] Yeah, well at least I still have a job.

Laura: Beckett quit. Flack didn't fire her - I'm sure she had her reasons.

Esposito: How can she keep working at a place that ain't gonna let her get some kind of closure on the bastards who killed her mother? You think that's fair?

Laura: No, I don't. But also think that you guys could have at least let Flack in the loop - he can keep a secret.

Esposito: We didn’t want to risk him. We already lost Montgomery. It's better we keep it in our circle.

Laura: [nods once. She doesn't agree, but she can certainly understand the logic] I've never really understood that, though. People thinking ignorance keeps other people safe.

Esposito: Sometimes people are safer when they don't know. When they know, they want to be involved, and then that puts them at risk.

Laura: And when they don't know, they're still targets anyway because people care about them. So instead of being prepared, they're caught unawares and become another victim that you have to live with.

Esposito: [he gives her a look. A please don't lecture me look I came here for comfort look]

Laura: [closes her eyes because she doesn't mean to lecture] I'm sorry. I just ... I hate that people think keeping their mouth shut actually protects anyone. In my experience, it really doesn't.

Esposito: You mean Derek?

Laura: Actually, I mean my uncle and my mom.

Esposito: I'm sorry.

Laura: [she shrugs] They knew about Derek and Kate and that she could be a threat, and they said nothing to the rest of us. Granted, Peter was told by my mom not to say anything, but if he could .... things might have been different.

Esposito: Do you think it would have changed that night?

Laura: I think less of us would have been in the house, at least. Less people to go back for. My mom may have gotten out alive.

Esposito: Is that a fact, or a hope?

Laura: Less people being in the house is a fact. If she had considered it seriously, maybe she wouldn't have let our human family members be around. [a pause] My mom is probably a hope.

Esposito: Maybe she did consider it seriously. Maybe she wanted to trust that Derek and Kate would work. Maybe she didn't tell you because she didn't want anyone else ruining a chance for your brother to be happy.

Laura: She knew that Kate's father was a psychopath. She probably thought she could protect us and whatever the attack would be wouldn't be that devastating.

Esposito: You probably won't know until you ask Peter, I bet.

Laura: [she makes a face at that, because asking Peter about Kate and her mom is like a powder keg waiting to go off]

Esposito: Didn't think it was a safe family topic.

Laura: [shakes her head] And it's not like it'll change anything now.

Esposito: Once a secret’s out, you can't take it back.

Laura: [she shakes her head] Something always changes.

Esposito: [reaches up to rub her arms, because now he was the comforter] You just have to trust that there was a good reason why you weren't told.

Laura: [nods as she leans into him] Sorry. Totally hijacked your bad day there.

Esposito: That's fine. In a weird way, it calmed me back down a bit.

Laura: Then I'm glad it helped.

Esposito: Mmm, girl, you just being here tends to help.

Laura: [smiles up at him softly before leaning in to kiss him] I'm still sorry your day sucked.

Esposito: Yeah, well you've got about three weeks of kissing me to keep me distracted. [kisses her back]

Laura: [hums softly] Three weeks. Whatever will I do with it all.

Esposito: I have a couple of leads to track down, but otherwise I think there are a lot of soap opera dates in our future.

Laura: I'll bring the popcorn.

Esposito: I'll bring the beer. [and the condoms]

Laura: It's a date.

Esposito: That's what I like to hear. [and he's going to kiss her again]

Laura: [oh good, more kissing. Let's do some more of that]

Esposito: [nope, totally good with that, and some feeling up]

Stiles: [and he's going to ruin it at exactly 8pm on the dot with a crashing noise and a snarl as he's losing his grip with the moonlight streaming into the house]

Laura: [her head snaps up and she pushes away] Stay in here. [and that's all he gets before she closes the door behind her and heads into the living room] Stiles?

Esposito: [yeah, he's going to be worried, but he will do as he's told and just... listen at the door]

Stiles: [snarling, shifted and his hands are gripping the back of the couch as he's struggling to keep his control] She's not home yet.

Laura: [takes a few steps closer, placing her hands over his] Maybe her class is running a little late.

Stiles: [looks at her, all yellow glowy eyes and heavy breathing and growly voice] I can't do this without her.

Laura: Yes, you can, Stiles. I know you can.

Stiles: [claws digging deeper into the couch] I'm trying.

Laura: Listen to me, focus on my voice. What is it about Cora being here that helps you?

Stiles: You really want the details about that?

Laura: [rolls her eyes] What does she make you feel? Try and find that feeling and hold into it. Use it to drag the wolf down.

Stiles: [growls] I'm trying.

Laura: You're panicking. You've done this before, Stiles, why are you panicking now?

Stiles: Because I haven't... done it by myself.

Laura: Well, time to take the training wheels off. You can do this.

Stiles: [shakes his head] I can't.

Laura: Yes you can. [her voice is strong and sure] You can.

Stiles: [he groans, gripping the couch again] What if I can't?

Laura: It takes practice, just like everything else. [there's a beat] Cora's your anchor, right?

Stiles: [nods his head, taking a deep breath]

Laura: Tell me why. How does she make you feel?

Stiles: ... Special.

Laura: Why?

Stiles: [deep breaths] Because she loves me.

Laura: And do you love her?

Stiles: Of course I do. [glaring through his furred little puppy brows]

Laura: Why?

Stiles: Why? [not understanding]

Laura: Why do you love her? Tell me.

Stiles: Is this really the time?

Laura: Yes, this is absolutely the time. You need to focus on the things that keep you human and love is one of the things that can do that. So tell me.

Stiles: [deep breaths, closing his eyes] Because she puts up with me. Even when I'm an idiot. Because of the smile she gives me in the morning when we wake up. How she looks when she steals my clothes... [he's breathing is evening out as he talks though]

Laura: Good. Keep going.

Stiles: [deep breath, closing his eyes] How she squeezes my hand under the table at the library. Her lips against my neck.

Laura: Take those feelings and those memories and let them tether you. You can do it, Stiles. I know you can.

Stiles: [he nods, trying to focus on it. Trying to find her scent in the mixture of wolves in the house and use it to help. He tried to picture her smile in his mind, the one she gave when they were having fun and he grabbed onto it, focusing and slowing his breathing back down, his heartrate stabilizing]

Laura: [she pulls her hands back as she hears his heart rate slow, taking a quiet step back and letting him do it on his own]

Stiles: [he lifts his head up a bit, taking in deep breaths as his face shifts back to normal, his claws retracting] I got it... I got it.

Laura: [grins at him] Yeah, you do. Told you you could do it.

Stiles: [and he's just going to slide down to his knees, taking deep gulping breaths]

Cora: [as he does the door bursts open, with a frantic looking Cora] I'm sorry, I'm late, I know.

Stiles: [and he's sitting on the floor, back to being himself and gives her a shaky smile] I'm okay. I'm okay.

Cora: [smiles a bit when she sees him, dropping her bag to the ground before going to sit next to him] You sure?

Stiles: [nods slowly] Yeah. Yeah, I think I got this. [looks up at Laura]

Laura: [nods before pulling back to leave them alone] Okay. I'll be in my room if you need me. ["please don't need her" is the implied suggestion]

Stiles: [nods and leans into Cora's shoulder, taking her hand and just taking in her scent]

Cora: [curls into him as well, letting her back rest against the couch more] I'm proud of you.

Stiles: Hold onto that thought until sunrise.

Cora: [smirks a little at that] So are we just going to sit here until sunrise to be sure?

Stiles: I should actually eat. You sister made some stuff for dinner in the kitchen.

Cora: Okay. Let's go eat. [and she'll take his hand to help pull him to his feet]

Stiles: [and he will go, focusing just on her.] If you can't tell, Esposito is here to talk with your sister.

Cora: I caught his scent on the way in. I also heard the "leave me alone I have company" tone.

Stiles: So we have the rest of the house to ourselves.

Cora: Ooooh. [she stops on her way to the kitchen before turning to face him, sliding her arms around his waist] Unfortunately I have an exam to study for. Unless you want to quiz me?

Stiles: I can quiz you. I did all my homework for tomorrow yesterday and I'll do tonight’s tomorrow.

Cora: [teasing] Overachiever.

Stiles: I was salutatorian back at high school. You can be jealous.

Cora: [eyebrows go up] Only salutatorian?

Stiles: My ex-girlfriend was the valedictorian. She was crazy smart.

Cora: [there's a beat because sometimes she forgets that Stiles has one of those] Oh. Guess you couldn't show her up.

Stiles: My ADHD was my downfall.

Cora: [and she's going to change the subject, pulling away to make them some plates] How is that interacting with your wolf, by the way?

Stiles: Not really as bad as it used to be. I can focus a lot more.

Cora: That's good. [She goes to place one in front of him] So now you can be even more of an overachiever.

Stiles: What, you afraid of a bit of competition?

Cora: Who said we were competing?

Stiles: Well, you're smart and get good grades. I'm smart and get good grades.

Cora: Can't we both just be smart and getting good grades?

Stiles: We can. [totally smug]

Cora: [rolls her eyes] Eat your dinner.

Stiles: Yes, dear. [and does]

Cora: [and she will sit down to do the same, twirling the pasta around her fork for a moment before she goes back to the thing that's bothering her] What was she like?

Stiles: Who?

Cora: [another awkward pause] Your ex?

Stiles: Lydia? [sighs] She um... she was just this girl I thought I was in love with since I was six. Really smart, redhead, fashion model pretty.

Cora: [her lips purse for a moment, trying to see what that sigh was] We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. I mean ... you never mention her.

Stiles: [nods] She dumped me when I got my diagnosis.

Cora: [her eyes widen a bit] Did she know?

Stiles: Yeah. I told her and Scott. Scott never knew how bad I got, but they knew I had come down with it. Scott, in his known optimistic way, was certain I could beat it. Lydia... refused to be saddled with a boyfriend that would not be at full capacity to challenge her.

Cora: [her hand wandered across the table to give his a squeeze] I'm sorry.

Stiles: It was just before graduation. Kinda sucked, because I had loved her for a long time, and then... you realize that you don't know what's really important to you until you witness something like that.

Cora: And what was important to you?

Stiles: At that moment... realizing that if I wasn't going to have a lot of time left, I wanted to live my life. Experience things. Just find a few perfect memories to take with me when I left... if you get to take them with you.

Cora: Did you have them? I mean, before ... [she came in and fixed him]

Stiles: Yeah. [he looks up at her, smiling] Meeting you.

Cora: [her head ducks at that] I almost had a panic attack, I'm not sure you would call that perfect.

Stiles: Okay, maybe not the first meeting. I think that first kiss... and the first time we... [looking at his salad] You made me feel like I was the most important person in your life. I never felt that with Lydia.

Cora: You are. [and that's not something she admits lightly] After my family, it's pretty much you.

Stiles: Yeah, it's pretty much the same with me.

Cora: [she smiles a bit at that] I think my sister worries sometimes. About how close we are.

Stiles: Why?

Cora: Because of the mating stuff that we've sort of glossed over but never really talked about?

Stiles: Well, we've also been dating for over a year now. So being this close now isn't really all that uncommon.

Cora: Yeah, but ... when wolves mate it ... the bond is permanent. It's not something you can erase or take back and it's with them until they die.

Stiles: [he reaches across the table to put his hand on hers] The fact I'm here right now, able to form full sentences? That was your gift to me. Something you offered out of love. When I told Laura I wanted it... that was me wanting to be a part of this family. Forever. I've already made one forever bond. I don't plan on ever leaving this pack. And I've already told my dad and he understands. I'm under orders to visit on holidays, but he knows that from now on, wherever the Hales go, I go. [he leaned closer] Wherever you go, Cora... I go.

Cora: No, but. [she takes a deep breath] There are people that say that when a wolf loses their mate, they don't last much longer after that.

Stiles: Are you worried that my disease is still somewhere in me, a ticking time bombing even the bite can't fully cure?

Cora: No. I'm worried about the rest of our lives and the fact that my entire family died in a fire when I was eleven. [she looks up at him for a moment] And I'm not even close to ready to go there, so I'm not saying that I won't be one day. I just know that my sister's worried I'll jump too soon and something will happen to one of us ... [and they'll lose both of them]

Stiles: Well, maybe I'm still working on changing my mindset of not taking my time on what I want. [small smile] When you're ready, Cora, that's when we can look at it. But I'm not going anywhere until then either.

Cora: Good. Because I don't want you to go anywhere.

Stiles: Good. Because you're stuck with me.

Cora: I'm glad.

Stiles: [and he's done eating] So, quiz time?

Cora: [she nods] C'mon. Time to talk chemistry.