peter & cora } { of barbecues and changing dynamics

[impetere]

Stiles: [breaking in the new fire pit / grill area that he and Stiles built during the week. Scattered around it are chairs and plates, the end of a winter barbecue ready to be cleaned up. The adults relax in the chairs, the teens resting on the wall as Stiles comes back out with a tray of things to make smores] Who's up for dessert?

Kira: Oh! Me!

Scott: Yeah, me too. [reaching over to get enough for him and Kira]

Stiles: Cora?

Cora: [she nods as she inches over for Stiles to sit] Sure.

Stiles: [and he will plop down, putting the tray between them and reaching to the pile of twigs] There's more than enough for both your and Scott's appetites.

Cora: [laughs] We do know how to control ourselves, you know.

Stiles: Well, you do. Scott never had any control.

Scott: Hey.

Cora: I think you'd find he's gotten better at it.

Scott: I have to keep a budget after all.

Stiles: Amazing what adulthood brings.

Cora: We've figured out the whole communal living thing pretty well, I think.

Stiles: Hey, I gotta say the place looks awesome.

Kira: We're still working on the interior decorating part of things.

Stiles: I can find you cool stuff, if you want. movie posters, things like that.

Cora: They'd have to get past Erica, Isaac and Boyd too.

Scott: Nothing gets past Isaac. Which is why we're still stuck the way we are.

Cora: What do you mean?

Scott: Cora, he won't agree on a single paint color.

Cora: He's never really had a place that was his. Give him a little time, he'll get over the rush that comes with actually having a say.

Scott: I know.

Stiles: [nods and just is going to.... set his marshmallow on fire]

Cora: [glances to Stiles] So what about you? Any new friends?

Stiles: I've got my squad brothers. However they're breaking up the squad. Todd and Simon are finishing their tours, and Alec is staying in the air force and not going to NASA with me.

Cora: That's a shame

Stiles: We keep in touch though. I mean, that's what Facebook is for.

Cora: That is very true.

Stiles: But hey, when you're trapped on a boat with a few hundred seamen, after a while you're friendly with everyone.

Sheriff: [chokes on his drink]

Cora: [smirks because she heard that]

Scott: [looking over at Stiles] Dude.

Stiles: What?

Cora: Also the marshmallows are on fire.

Stiles: [looks at his stick] Just how I like them. [and he pulls his stick back and blows on it]

Cora: [wrinkles her nose] I like a little less charcoal in mine.

Stiles: Don't know what you're missing. [and he goes to make his sandwich]

Cora: [gets hers nice and golden before doing the same] I like what I like.

Stiles: You know what you like. That’s a good thing.

Cora: I think so.

Stiles: But, you won't know if you like something until you try it.

Cora: I have tried it. You've burned so many of my marshmallows.

Stiles: I did not.

Cora: You absolutely did.

Scott: You did, dude.

Stiles: Then I was distracted.

Cora: By what? [and she will lean in, the challenge in her stare]

Stiles: Um... [he will lick his lips, and then look over at Scott] Lots of stuff.

Cora: Mmmm-hmmm. [and she's going to eat her s'mores]

Kira: [just glances to Scott like what are we watching here]

Scott: [shakes his head and shrugs at Kira]

Stiles: I'm going to get a beer. Anyone want a beer?

Cora: [both ladies raise their hands]

Scott: I'm good.

Stiles: Three beers. I'll be right back. [and he's going to go inside and just stand in front of the fridge a moment, taking a deep breath with the cold air helped cool him down because it was way too hot outside]

Melissa: [was returning over for a glass of wine] Everything okay, Stiles?

Stiles: [stands up quickly] Yeah, no I'm totally fine. Why, do I not look fine? Cause I am. Fine, that is

Melissa: Yeah, I know that kind of ramble. That ramble is not fine.

Stiles: [crosses his arms on the top of the fridge door, using it to hide the rest of his body] I just... it's been a long time I've been gone. I'm not used to things still.

Melissa: In a good way or bad way?

Stiles: I knew going away was going to make me fall out of the crowd. I just... things have changed more than I thought.

Melissa: I don't think they've changed as much as you think.

Stiles: Cora just has this... power to her. It's confusing me.

Melissa: She's ... grown into this whole alpha thing. She's gotten good at it. But why is it confusing you?

Stiles: She's my friend, Melissa. But that power... [coughs] and she's your daughter so I shouldn't be talking about that to you.

Melissa: [she shakes her head as she picks up her glass of wine and turns to face him] It brings up stuff you thought you were over?

Stiles: She wasn't interested in me then. She's never shown she was. It's just been friends and I don't want to screw that up just when I got back.

Melissa: [she nods once] She wasn't interested then because she was thirteen, Stiles. She didn't even start dating anyone until after high school, and it's only been Isaac. Maybe things have changed for her too.

Stiles: And if it doesn't work? I'm going to Texas. I'm probably going to end up staying there if I pass the training camp.

Melissa: Then you'll both have time to move on and sort things out if you do. But from what it sounds like you have a pretty small window to see if it actually will. If that's really what you want.

Stiles: I don't know what I want.

Melissa: Then you don't have to do anything until you figure it out.

Stiles: [nods] Yeah, I know.

Melissa: Also, keep in mind you haven't seen each other in a long time. It's okay that you've both changed. That doesn't mean how much she cares about you has.

Stiles: [nods, and he goes to reach for the beers] I need to get these out to the girls.

Melissa: [she nods] Have fun.

Stiles: [and he is going to bring the beers back with an easy grin, going to sit back next to Cora and drink his liquid courage]

Cora: [will do the same and Kira is rambling about some encounter she had with the anthropology class she's TA-ing]

Stiles: [and he's going to listen and go to toast another marshmallow]

Cora: [finishes her beer as Kira finishes talking and shakes her head] See, you guys have fun jobs. I'm pretty sure you don't want to hear about the adventures Boyd and I have had on calls, because a lot of them are kind of gross.

Scott: I work at a vet. My job consistently deals with poop.

Kira: [Cora starts to open her mouth to counter that and shakes her head] Nope. I hear enough about poop. I'm drawing the line at blood and guts.

Stiles: You both had the chance to join the air force with me. You made your choice. You get to live with your blood, guts, and poop.

Cora: Yeah, because putting me in a confined space that could possibly explode is a great idea.

Stiles: Not all Air Force people are up in the ships. There's ground control too.

Cora: [she shrugs] I like what I'm doing.

Stiles: Then enjoy your blood and guts. [smirks around his beer bottle]

Cora: [she laughs] I think so long as we like what we're doing, that's the important thing.

Stiles: Too true.

Scott: That's why we do it, after all.

Kira: [raises her beer] Agreed.

Sheriff: [looking at the time] Well, kids, I'm pretty sure between the four of you, you can figure out how to put out the bonfire. But it's time for this old man to head to bed.

Cora: [glances back with a smile] Night, Sheriff.

Peter: We should probably go too. [holds his hand out to Melissa]

Stiles: Night, Dad.

Melissa: [nods as she takes his hand] See you all later.

Stiles: [leans back, waiting for them to go and then] So I have no idea how to put that out, by the way.

Cora: A bucket of water?

Stiles: That would be too easy.

Cora: [and the fire fearing werewolf is just going to give him a Look. Do not play with fire, Stiles]

Scott: [yeah, he can feel that from his alpha] I'll get the bucket of water.

Cora: [glances to Scott with a small smile] Thank you.

Stiles: You can use sand too, you know. It snuffs it out.

Cora: Do you have any sand to use?

Stiles: No. That's where the fun part would come

Cora: I'm failing to see how that's fun.

Stiles: After the fire is out, we can make sandcastles.

Cora: We still don't have any sand, Stiles.

Stiles: [sighs] You guys have no creativity.

Scott: [comes back with the bucket of water and puts it by the fire] There, when we're ready to douse it.

Cora: Thank you.

Stiles: So what should we do now? [drinks his beer. Totally his third one of the night]

Cora: [she glances around looking up] It's getting late. We should probably call it a night.

Kira: [glances at her watch before wincing] Probably a good idea. We've got brunch with my mom tomorrow.

Scott: [whimpers] Yeah, which means I need to look halfway decent.

Stiles: You guys are no fun. At all. Totally lost your fun gene.

Kira: [smirks as she gets up and makes her way over to give Stiles a kiss on the cheek] Thanks for inviting us, Stiles.

Stiles: [she gets a smirky smile back] No problem. You're always welcome, Kira.

Kira: [and she will turn back to Scott] Ready?

Scott: Sure. Cora, you coming with?

Cora: I'm gonna make sure this one gets to bed first. I'll walk or I'll crash here.

Stiles: I can do just fine. Go. [totally tipsy]

Scott: Uh huh. [and he's going to go douse the fire]

Stiles: Aw man, my fire...

Cora: Yep. [she shifts to her feet to take his arm] C'mon, bud. Time to get you into bed.

Stiles: Pssh, not the first time someone's said that to me.

Scott: [yeah, he and Kira are just gonna exit, stage left now]

Cora: [shakes her head as she gathers up their beer bottles and nudges him ahead of her inside] I'm sure.

Stiles: No, really. You'd be surprised how much notice the uniform gets.

Cora: Would I?

Stiles: Uh huh. Girls love a man in uniform. Guys too.

Cora: Now that sounds like there's a story.

Stiles: So many stories. So many.

Cora: I think I'm more interested in the ones with boys.

Stiles: What, you're not into guy on guy porn, are you?

Cora: No, but I didn't think you were either.

Stiles: Not the porn but, I mean come on... three years trapped on a carrier. We were bored. Not like it makes us gay. Just... bi. Ish.

Cora: Mmmmm-hmmm.

Stiles: Not my preference though. Still rather have girls.

Cora: Good to know.

Stiles: What about you? You into girls?

Cora: I don't know. Isaac's the only person I've really been with.

Stiles: Really, in all this time?

Cora: I mean, I've dated other guys, but it's never gotten ... that far.

Stiles: Just not right?

Cora: Yeah. And with Isaac ... it was more about helping him heal than it was actually romantic.

Stiles: Poor Cora. That's not fair to you.

Cora: Why not?

Stiles: You shouldn't give it just for someone else. You should want it too.

Cora: I did want it. I didn't say that. I wouldn't have done it if I didn't.

Stiles: Oh, okay. Never mind then.

Cora: It just ... [she takes a deep breath] ... He was the one in control. Which is weird with he ... alpha of it all, but it was what he needed.

Stiles: I don't need details. Rather not hear them, in fact.

Cora: [her eyebrows go up at that] Why not?

Stiles: Cause you're like... it's like hearing about my sister having sex. If I had one.

Cora: [.... oh.] Got it. I will cease the sex talk.

Stiles: [yup, because that's where he put you back when you turned him down years and years ago, Cora] Thanks. I think I should go to sleep.

Cora: [she nods] Right. I'll clean up. [well a) she didn't realize she was turning him down for the rest of her life and b) SHE WAS THIRTEEN, STILES. her feelings are allowed to change]

Stiles: [but it was always "the three musketeers" so that's why he didn't think it would. But he's going to just end the conversation by faceplanting into the couch and pretty much falling asleep there]

Cora: [will just cover him with a blanket before putting the beer bottles away and walking home, crashing on her own couch and just staring up at the ceiling because what is going on with her, that statement should not be bothering her]

Stiles: [and he is going to just sleep it off, and then the next morning he is going to drink a lot of water and go for a three mile jog in his sweat suit that will eventually just be a t-shirt with his hoodie arms tied at his waist]