peter & cora } { of homecomings and pack reunions

[impetere]

Cora: [and she and Erica usually wind up working the same shifts so Erica is behind the bar while she's taking drinks to tables]

Stiles: [and he will walk in all tall, built 22 year old with his shaved head and uniform, looking around the place]

Cora: [and she's chatting with some of the regulars and doesn't see him come in at first]

Stiles: [and he is going to just walk over to the bar a moment, and then blink because] Erica?

Erica: [turns and grins at him] Well, well, well. Look at what the cat dragged in.

Stiles: Good to see you. You're looking better than I last recall.

Erica: I've had a few good years. You're looking pretty good yourself.

Stiles: Thanks. [he knows. He gets hit on all time when he has 48 hour furloughs on land] I'm glad to just get off the ship for a time.

Erica: And of all the gin joints in all the world you chose this one?

Stiles: I came to see my best friends and since one is apparently on a date with his girlfriend, I figured I would surprise the other one.

Erica: [nods before turning to point] She's right over there. Hey, Cora!

Cora: [her head turns and when she sees who's at the bar her face immediately brightens] Stiles!

Stiles: [and his face lights up at that] Surprise, I’m home.

Cora: [and she's going to basically run at him and practically tackle him in a hug]

Stiles: [and he may look strong and sturdy, but she's got werewolf strength on him and that will have him stumbling back to catch her and trying not to fall as he laughs]

Cora: [and she's just going to hug him tightly, relishing the fact that he's actually there in person] I can't believe you're here.

Stiles: I wanted to surprise you all. I've been reassigned and earned a month furlough for all the time I was on the carrier.

Cora: [she grins as she pulls back, setting herself back on her feet] Well, I'm glad you’re here. And you drink for free, so what do you want?

Stiles: Just a beer. I can't roll home drunk my first night back. Dad would have my hide.

Cora: Uh-huh. [and she will swing back behind the bar to get him that beer] So how have you been?

Stiles: I've been good. Flying everyday. Hell, I flew my jet over town on my way to Fort Irwin just for fun.

Cora: That sounds great. Not that I've ever really been big on flying, but I'm glad you're having fun.

Stiles: It's more than fun. I feel free in the air. Like it's where I was meant to be.

Cora: Good. Then I'm glad.

Stiles: Plus, I have some good news. But I should probably wait to tell all of you at once. You free Saturday?

Cora: Pretty sure. [she glances to Erica]

Erica: Isaac wanted to go out but there wasn't anything concrete.

Cora: [and back to Stiles] I am free on Saturday.

Stiles: Awesome. Dad and I are going to have a barbeque. Think you can drag the McCall/Hale clan with you?

Cora: I'll see what I can do. It'll probably be easier if you let Scott bring Kira.

Stiles: Sure... and you can bring whatever guy you're with too.

Erica: Wow. He must be invisible because I didn't know he existed.

Cora: [rolls her eyes] I'm not with anyone.

Stiles: Oh. I thought you and Isaac...

Cora: That was over a while ago.

Stiles: Oh. Sorry, I must have forgotten.

Cora: [she shakes her head] It's okay. We're still on good terms and we're still roommates.

Stiles: [puts his hat on the bar and goes to take a swig of his beer] That's good, I mean being friends and all. It's make the apartment awkward if not.

Cora: Very. But we figured it out. Between the five, occasionally six of us, we make it work.

Stiles: But so that whole... group situation has been working well for you?

Cora: Oh yeah. [her voice drops a bit] It's good having most of the pack in one place.

Stiles: Well, you can't expect your uncle to live with a bunch of twenty somethings.

Cora: No. And I think he and Melissa are glad to have me and Scott out of there. [a beat] You know, if you want to come by and see the place tonight, you can. We've got a great couch.

Stiles: Well, Dad is on duty tonight so I don't really have anything to do. I probably should go home and change at least.

Cora: Well, we're here until two, so if you want to hang out until we're done we can do that.

Stiles: Depends. Can I also get curly fries for free too?

Cora: Anything for our boys in uniform.

Stiles: [grins] I knew the uniform would come in handy.

Cora: [she laughs] I'll go put the order in.

Stiles: Thanks, Cora.

Cora: [and off she will go]

Erica: [waits until she's out of earshot before leaning forward on the bar, all cockiness and cleavage] So. Still got a thing for her, huh?

Stiles: [laughs] Nah, she made it clear when we were thirteen that she just wanted to be friends.

Erica: Did she? Huh.

Stiles: What?

Erica: [shrugs as she goes to take care of another customer] Nothing.

Stiles: You know most of the time when someone says “Nothing,” they mean something they shouldn't say.

Erica: [waves a hand at him as she gets someone a beer]

Stiles: [sighs and just goes back to his beer, turning to look out at the bar. There are a few girls and two guys in the room giving him a once over, and he will just smile and nod]

Cora: [and she will return with his curly fries] Compliments of the cook.

Stiles: Send him or her my thanks. They smell amazing.

Cora: Will do. Let me know if there's anything else I can get you. [and she'll give his arm a squeeze before she goes to take on another customer]

Stiles: [and he will probably get a few beer refills, and then two girls will come up and flirt with him at the bar while he's sitting there.]

Cora: [and she ... notices, and it shouldn't bug her but for some reason it does. But she'll keep getting him refills and making sure he's happy]

Stiles: [and the girls will make an offer for him to come back to their place and he will politely refuses because he's waiting for an old friend. They slip him a napkin with their number though, and he will put it in his wallet]

Cora: [and eventually the bar will wind down for the evening and she and Erica will clean up and lock up before going to collect him] Ready to head out?

Stiles: Sure. I have the jeep so we can just swing by my place first so I can change, and then you can show me where this loft is.

Cora: You sure you're okay to drive?

Stiles: .... Yeah, may be better if you drive.

Cora: [smirks before holding out her hands] Keys?

Stiles: [and he hands them over, and goes to put his hat on properly, looking all the more a soldier] Let's go, ladies.

Erica: I'll take my car. See you guys at home.

Cora: [nods and takes Stiles' arm before guiding him out to the car] It's really good to have you home, you know.

Stiles: Well, it's good to be home. It was hard being away so long, but I don't think anyone was expecting North Korea to go that batshit.

Cora: Nope, that definitely wasn't on the agenda.

Stiles: There's a few days that I think I can tell you guys about now that I'm no longer on the carrier.

Cora: I will be happy to hear about them.

Stiles: Oh, A few of them you are going to want to strangle me.

Cora: [and there will be a sigh as she loads him into the jeep before climbing around and starting the car]

Stiles: Hey, we get bored when we're on the carrier.

Cora: That doesn't make me feel better.

Stiles: We figured out how to play Quidditch. With jets.

Cora: Oh God.

Stiles: Your tax dollars at work. [drunken grin]

Cora: [shakes her head as she drives him home, pulling up in front of his house with a sigh] Okay. Go grab your stuff.

Stiles: Sure you don't want to come in?

Cora: They see me all the time. And I smell like booze and cigarettes - I really just want to go home and shower.

Stiles: Alright. Give me ten. [and he will go up to his room and she will see the light in his room turn on. The blinds are up, and she will get to watch him strip out of his uniform, carefully putting it into his dress uniform bag before he goes to get dressed. Then he will pack a small bag, toss on his jeans and finally pull on a t-shirt before heading back out the door with his bag over one shoulder, a water bottle in the other that he's drinking from as he rejoins her]

Cora: [and she will watch to make sure he doesn't fall drunkenly down the stairs and hurt himself, before turning on the car and starting to head back to the loft]

Stiles: [and he will lean back, drinking his water] So what else have I missed?

Cora: [and she will talk about various shenanigans until they pull up at the loft and she climbs out] This is it.

Stiles: This looks like an industrial site.

Cora: Yeah, but it means we had a lot of space to renovate it how we liked it. C'mon. [and she will head over to the door and to the freight elevator]

Stiles: I take it you bought the place then?

Cora: Yeah. I inherited a lot from my Mom. Technically Peter's the building owner, but he bought it for me and he rents out the other floors.

Stiles: And makes money from the rest of the rent. Brilliant.

Cora: Yep. He's always been good at stuff like that.

Stiles: Your brother still around?

Cora: Yeah. He and Fi basically took over Peter's old place.

Stiles: Ah, they're still together. Cool. Did his arm grow back yet?

Cora: It's getting there. Which is ... weird, to be honest, but he'll be a functional werewolf eventually.

Stiles: Did he have like a little T-rex arm for a while? That'd be kinda cool.

Cora: [she laughs] No. But eventually he might have that tiny Deadpool baby hand.

Stiles: Someone's been keeping up with her Marvel education. I'm impressed.

Cora: Isaac's into comic books too. He made sure I stayed well informed.

Stiles: Well, I'll thank him for that. Even if I'm hurt that I've been replaced. At least Scott should have been doing that.

Cora: You haven't been replaced. [she gives him a look as the elevator stops and she opens the doors to the loft. There's a lot of wide open space, with comfy couches and a TV on one end and a kitchen on the other. A staircase sits on one end that leads up to a walkway that looks over the main area with four bedrooms attached. There's the sound of humming from the kitchen and a butt clad in pink pajama shorts is sticking out from behind the door of the fridge] Hey, Kira.

Kira: [pokes her head up at Cora and grins] Hey, Cora. [then she glances to Stiles] Hey, Cora's friend.

Stiles: Oh, you're Kira. Nice to meet you. I'm -

Scott: [from above, having heard the voice] Stiles?!

Cora: [glances up at Scott and grins] I went to work and look what I found.

Kira: [her eyes are just going to go comically wide as she looks down at herself in Scott's shirt and pajamas and she's ... just going to hide behind the fridge door, no big deal]

Stiles: Surprise!

Scott: [is going to just jump over the railing and tackle his best friend.]

Cora: [and she will go get that shower she wanted while the boys catch up]

Stiles: Oh my god you weigh a ton get off me, man.

Scott: [and he will get up, pulling Stiles up as well] Kira, Kira, this is Stiles. I've told you about him.

Kira: Yeah. A lot. Hi. I ... didn't know we were having company.

Stiles: I didn't tell them I was coming home. Sorry. But if you feel any better I spent three years with a bunch of guys on a carrier who have shared porn way less dressed than you so I'm not at all phased.

Scott: [punches him] That's my girlfriend.

Stiles: And she's hiding in a fridge. I'm trying to let her know it's okay to come out. [to Kira] I won't oogle my best bro's girlfriend.

Kira: Yeah, see, I know that. I totally knew that. But the fridge has left me with a bit of a ... situation, so maybe it's better if you guys go over there while I ... take care of it.

Scott: Hey Stiles, come look at the movie collection we have. [drags his best friend over where they will just geek out for awhile]

Kira: [and she will dart back upstairs for a better shirt and probably a bra]

Cora: [eventually will reappear with wet hair] And it's like you never left.

Stiles: [looks up at her and smiles] Or we just never changed.

Cora: Uh-huh. [goes to plop down on one of the couches] So what's this big surprise you keep talking about?

Stiles: Well, I was going to wait for the barbeque Saturday so I could tell Dad too, but I guess for each their own. [and he's going to flop down and Scott will join him] So I've been reassigned to Fort Irwin for six months to help with a training class of new pilots.

Cora: [her eyes widen] Wait, Fort Irwin? That's not that far from here.

Stiles: Nope. About an hour and a half.

Scott: Awesome. So you'll be able to come home for vacations?

Stiles: Yeah, for the next few months at least.

Cora: [she grins] Nice! We'll actually get to see you.

Stiles: Yeah, from now until August. Then I'm off to another training camp.

Cora: August is a very long ways away.

Stiles: Yeah, but I'm looking forward to it.

Scott: Why?

Stiles: Because in August I'm assigned to Johnson Space Center for training. [and he breaks out into a bright grin]

Cora: [her eyes go wide] You're going into space?

Stiles: Yup. Training me to be a shuttle pilot. Either I'm crazy enough or creative enough for them to consider.

Scott: Awesome. Congrats man. [hugs his bro]

Cora: Yeah, Stiles, that's fantastic.

Stiles: So I'll be gone a year at that point, but I'll get vacations.

Cora: [and at that her face falls, just a little. A year is a really long time, and it makes six months seem too short in comparison, but all the same:] I'm happy for you.

Stiles: And hey, maybe I'll get to fly the first shuttle to Mars. Wouldn’t that be cool?

Scott: [picking up on Cora's sadness] Yeah, cool.

Cora: Definitely.

Scott: Well, you hanging out here for the night? Cause I should probably go back up...

Stiles: Yeah, no man totally. You go be with your girl. I'm going to crash on the couch since Dad's pulling all-nighter.

Cora: I'll hang out with you until you pass out.

Stiles: Awesome. [and he's going to stretch out as Scott pats his shoulder and heads on upstairs]

Cora: [and she'll lean back against the couch with a small smile as she waits for Scott's door to close before she speaks] I really did miss you.

Stiles: I missed you guys too. I mean, the squad's fine, but it's not the three musketeers.

Cora: And it wasn't the same here without you.

Stiles: Yeah, but you had Scott, and your pack. And you're doing good from what I see.

Cora: We're figuring things out. But they're not you.

Stiles: [and there's a small smile on his face at that] Good thing I'm home then. I'll just have to give you enough reason to want to send me back to duty.

Cora: [laughs] We'll see about that.

Stiles: So how have you been, I mean being alpha of all this?

Cora: It's been good, having a big pack. But in a lot of ways, being the boss of these guys is easier than being the boss of my actual family.

Stiles: [laughs] Peter and Derek don't take well to the youngest being in charge?

Cora: [she makes a face before shaking her head] Nope. Not even a little.

Stiles: Part of me really wishes I could see that.

Cora: If you're sticking around for a while you probably will.

Stiles: [confused tilt of his head] What do you mean?

Cora: Me and Peter or Derek bickering about something? It happens more often than not.

Stiles: Well that sucks. I'm sorry.

Cora: [she shakes her head] It's not bad bickering.

Stiles: But still, it's your family.

Cora: It's not any worse than the way you bicker with your dad.

Stiles: Yeah, but I don't have supernatural influence over him.

Cora: True, but swap it around and have me be your dad and Peter and Derek be you.

Stiles: [he's trying to think about it but] Nope, can't do it.

Cora: [laughs] Guess you're just going to have to see the evidence for yourself.

Stiles: Guess so. [yawns and stretches]

Cora: [reaches over and rubs his leg gently] Sleep. We can talk more in the morning.

Stiles: Alright. See you then.

Cora: [she nods, and will slowly head back up to her room to pass out after a very long night]

Stiles: [and he will change into sweats and then stretch out and go to sleep on the couch]

Kira: [and he probably will have a quiet time down in the loft until the smell of breakfast wakes him. She's not good at people, but she is good at bacon and eggs. Hope you're not too hungover, Stiles.]

Stiles: [he's going to smell the food and smile, his eyes going to crack open before the light hits and then he groans]

Kira: [she smirks as she hears that, before shaking her head] There's aspirin to your left.

Stiles: [and he's going to reach for it blindly] Thank you.

Kira: No problem.

Stiles: [and after he's had the aspirin and water, he's going to sit up and stretch] You need any help in there?

Kira: [she shakes her head] Nope. But I hope you like bacon.

Stiles: I do. Just make sure you put it on my plate first before the rest of them get down here.

Kira: Noted.

Stiles: I'm going to just do some warmups to get my blood flowing. I'll try not to get in the way.

Kira: [nods as she goes back to cooking, humming along as they go]

Stiles: [and he is going to strip his shirt off and start doing some sit-ups and then push-ups and finding a pipe will do some pull-ups.]

Erica: [will wander down eventually, following the smell of bacon, and smirk when she sees him] And here I thought we only got a free show when Derek was in the doghouse.

Stiles: [drops down and chuckles, having broken a nice sweat] Sorry, military habits. Plus it's great for curing hangovers.

Erica: Uh-huh. [and she'll go and pour herself a cup of coffee as she does] I'm sure it is.

Stiles: It gets your blood flowing. Oxygen to the brain. [he's going to grab his shirt]

Erica: Oh, don't get dressed on my account.

Boyd: But please do, for mine. [wandering down]

Stiles: Hey Boyd.

Erica: [smiles over at him before leaning in for a kiss] Morning.

Boyd: [kisses her back, sliding one arm around her waist] Morning.

Stiles: I think I'm going to grab a shower, actually.

Kira: [pointing with the spatula] Down the hall to your left. I'll save you some bacon.

Stiles: [tosses her a salute as he grabs his back] Thanks, Kira.

Scott: [and eventually he will stumble down, going to follow the smell of his girlfriend and bacon]

Kira: [smiles when she sees him] Hey you.

Scott: Hey. You are amazing, you know that? [reaches for bacon]

Kira: [smacks his hand as she kisses him] Set the table first.

Scott: [pouts, but goes to do as she asks]

Isaac: [and he is coming down, already perfectly dressed and done. Because it's Isaac] Who's the extra scent in the loft?

Kira: Stiles got into town last night.

Isaac: Ah. I take it he's on leave?

Scott: Yeah, for a month, and then he'll be stationed at Fort Irwin.

Cora: He'll probably be staying at his dad's though. [they haven't actually discussed that part yet. and down comes the alpha]

Isaac: Good.

Scott: Hey, he's my best friend.

Isaac: Yeah, and we're already at max capacity. Unless you're going to share the bed with him as well.

Kira: That ... might get a little crowded.

Scott: [looks at Kira] Not really sure I'm comfortable with that anyway.

Kira: Good. Then we're on the same page.

Cora: If he wanted to stay here, we'd figure it out. It's not like there isn't plenty of room.

Isaac: [nope, possessive of his room, but he won't go against the alpha]

Scott: He'll probably stay with his Dad. Just hang out here when his Dad's on duty.

Cora: [she wouldn't have displaced you from your room Isaac] We'll see what he says.

Stiles: [coming out in a tight air force tee and his jeans, barefoot, towel around his shoulders] What I say about what?

Cora: [glances over] About if you want to crash here while you're in town, or if you're staying with your dad.

Stiles: Well, yeah I think my Dad would be upset if I didn't stay at home while I was here. But when he does night shifts I could come hang? It's not like you guys can't come over to my place too...

Erica: That works. [inches past Isaac as she makes her way to the breakfast table] See? You're safe.

Kira: How about we eat breakfast?

Scott: Great idea.

Stiles: Smells delicious.

Cora: [and they all sit down for breakfast and chat a bit about Stuff and Things]

Stiles: [and he's going to just enjoy listening in and hearing about how they all are]

Cora: [and eventually she glances down at her watch and then looks to Boyd because he's her paramedic partner?] Shit, we're gonna be late for shift.

Boyd: Damn, you're right.

Scott: And I've got to get to Deaton's in the next hour or I'm late too.

Cora: [to Stiles] Me and Boyd are going to be out of pocket for the next couple days but are we still on for Saturday?

Stiles: Yeah, totally. And you know where I live so I'll see you then?

Cora: Yep. It's good to have you home. [And with that she will head out to get dressed and head to the firehouse]

Isaac: I need to get ready for the coffee shop. [and he will head up to get ready as well]

Stiles: I'll help you with the dishes, Kira.

Kira: Thanks, Stiles. [and she will start gathering things up] Erica?

Erica: Mmm. Today is my day off. I'm going back to bed.

Kira: [laughs] Go figure.

Stiles: [and he will finish up and then get up to help do the dishes since he has worked his fair share of kitchen duty]

Kira: So you and Scott have been friends a long time.

Stiles: Yeah. His mom and my mom were friends. We knew each other since we were three.

Kira: Wow. That's ... a really long time.

Stiles: Yeah. And we were there for each other when his Dad left, and then when my Mom died... so we kinda grew up like brothers after that.

Kira: That's good to have. Me, I was always an only child and we moved around so much, it was hard to really make solid friends. These guys are the first ones I've really had.

Stiles: So what brought you to Beacon Hills anyway?

Kira: School, mostly. And my mom used to live here during World War Two.

Stiles: [blinks] You mean your grandmother.

Kira: No, I mean my mom. [she smirks] She's a kitsune. They live a really long time.

Stiles: Kitsune. Fox demon?

Kira: We prefer spirit. But we're tricksters so for some people demon is accurate.

Stiles: Sorry. But I guess that means you're one too?

Kira: [she nods] Though I'm a baby compared to my mom. I don't even have my first tail yet.

Stiles: Wait, you're going to grow tails? How do you hide those?

Kira: [she laughs before shaking her head] Tails are not actual tails. They're more ... physical representations of our power. My mom's are shaped like blades, but it's different for every kitsune.

Stiles: Ah. I get it. I think. But that's cool.

Kira: Yeah. But I'm a thunder kitsune.

Stiles: [nods, and then chuckles] So you and Scott…that makes you the Fox and the Hound?

Kira: [she laughs] No, not exactly.

Stiles: It's still adorable.

Kira: We met in college. It was ... we just had this connection, you know? It's like he looked at me and he knew.

Stiles: And let me guess, fell stupidly in love with you. [grins as he dries a dish]

Kira: [she laughs] Something like that, yeah.

Stiles: Yeah, that's Scott for you. But he's a good guy, and he speaks the world of you.

Kira: I caught up to him eventually. And I think the world of him too.

Stiles: I'm just glad you're both happy. He deserves it.

Kira: He's even happier having you back.

Stiles: It's only going to be for a month though. Then I'll be out in the desert for half a year.

Kira: Yeah, but you'll be a lot closer than North Korea.

Stiles: True. A lot less jet lag.

Kira: Yep, and a lot less worrying.

Stiles: That is also true. But I didn't really do much more than sitting around a carrier and running the occasional scouting mission.

Kira: That's good, at least.

Stiles: [and he finishes with the last dish] Well, I should probably be heading back home. Dad's going to be off duty and probably slept a few hours at this rate.

Kira: Okay. Well, it was ... nice actually meeting you. Guess I'll see you around?

Stiles: Yeah, I'm sure it'll be at least a few times. And come to the barbecue at my father's Saturday with Scott, alright?

Kira: Are you sure? I mean, I'd understand if you'd just want the original gang there.

Stiles: You're dating Scott. You're family now.

Kira: [she isn't expecting that and a blush colors her cheeks for a moment, before she nods] Got it. I'll be there.

Stiles: Awesome. Thanks for breakfast too. It was great.

Kira: No problem. I'm glad you liked it.

Stiles: [and he will go and get his things to head home]

Kira: [and she will go do what she does throughout the day and probably text Scott in the interim]

Stiles: [and he will spend the next days with his Dad, catching up and doing father/son things and talking about his acceptance to NASA since there's no reason to hold onto the surprise for everyone anymore, and hanging out with Scott when there is time]

Cora: [and she will also text Stiles while she's on shift when she's not off saving lives and such]

Stiles: [and he will text back, probably some silly selfies with him and his off doing something wintery since it's January and all]

Cora: [which will make her laugh when stuck alone in the rig with Boyd]