darkest timeline } { of returning enemies and revealing histories

[impetere]

Cora: [they were just supposed to go see a movie. It's a normal night out, when they both happened to have the night off, but just as they're getting ready to cross the street to the theater, a scent that she hoped she would never smell again crosses her nose on the breeze and she freezes, stopping on the corner and her eyes immediately moving to scan the crowd]

Stiles: [he had moved on a few steps past her when he noticed that she wasn't at his side. He looked back, seeing her frozen] Cora?

Cora: [she doesn't see him. not yet. but she knows he's there, so she just grabs Stiles hand and pulls him away from the theater and towards a darker street so that they might not be seen by human eyes]

Stiles: [and he's not going to complain about the enhanced senses cryptid pulling him away. In fact, it has his instincts up] What's wrong?

Cora: [she shakes her head because she doesn't want to say it, mostly because she doesn't want it to be true, but in her panic she doesn't realize that Gerard was downwind and she's heading right towards him]

Gerard: [and he will just wait for her, waiting for her to walk under the neon sign before he made his presence known in the doorway] My, you have grown up since we last saw each other, Cora.

Cora: [and she just stops sort, eyes wide and just looks ... completely terrified. Part of her wants to claw his face off, part of her wants to just run and she can't decide, so she just stays still]

Gerard: [starts to step closer] You really thought that you could hide from us?

Stiles: [yup, no he sees that and he's putting himself in front of her] Yeah, whoever you are, you need to back off the creepy pedophile act before I call the cops.

Cora: [no Stiles don't do that, her hand is going to come up to grip at Stiles' shirt to try and pull him away from the psychopath who could hurt him, but her grip isn't solid so there's not much force behind it] What are you doing here?

Stiles: [nope, he's a Price. They jump right into the center of danger]

Gerard: I've come to claim what's mine.

Cora: No.

Gerard: [smiles] You don't get a say in the matter. Unless you plan to repeat the favor your brother so selflessly gave you.

Cora: If you come near him, I swear to God I'll kill you. [she's still fucking terrified but there's anger there too]

Gerard: So he is here. Good.

Cora: [oh that was dumb. God, Cora, why are you so stupid. her hands shake at the fact that she may have screwed all of this up and the panic begins to rise] Just leave him alone. You've done enough.

Stiles: [and he's been watching the exchange, and he just grabs Cora's hand with his left hand] We're leaving. You come near her or threaten her or her brother like that, you'll regret it.

Gerard: [taking another step forward] You don't even know what you've gotten yourself into, young man.

Stiles: [and he smirks] Neither do you.

Cora: No, don't. [she didn't mean to put Stiles on Gerard's radar but it's too late for that now]

Gerard: [another step] You do have the power to stop it right now, if you want.

Stiles: [nope, too close. He's going to flick his wrist and a single shot gun slides into his hand, and he has it aimed while putting Cora behind him. Gerard raises his hand as Stiles stares him down] Cora, we're leaving. I see you following, I won't hesitate.

Gerard: [just smirking at them, hands up]

Cora: [doesn't really now what else to do so she just lets Stiles guide her because the panic is starting to get to the point where she can't even really think]

Stiles: [and he's going to get them moving, leading her away from the crazy grandpa and out of the darkness into the light of the city and the crowds. They are small, so they can blend into the throgs of tourists and theatre people on Broadway until they get to the Times Square subway station. He pays for them both to go in, and then they can find a stairwell to go down to the cars and hop last minute into an empty car. Once the door is closed and they are alone will he tuck his gun away] Ok, I think we're safe. We'll just take this a few stops and then switch over back to the Freakshow.

Cora: [and she's just going to ... sink onto one of the seats and quietly start to have a panic attack]

Stiles: [and he will see that and kneel down in front of her] Cora, breathe. It's ok. We're safe.

Cora: [and she shakes her head and is probably crying and this is likely the most vulnerable he's ever seen her but she can't really control her mask right now] No, no we're not.

Stiles: [and he's worried, taking her hands and holding them] When we get to the Freakshow, you can call your brother. That's who he was talking about, wasn't he?

Cora: We ... we can't go to the Freakshow. It's not safe enough. [nowhere is safe enough] I can't ... I can't go home either. [but telling someone is important. That's something she should do. Her hands shake as she fishes out her phone, trying to hold on to it, but she keeps messing up her passcode so she can't get it open]

Stiles: [and she's a wreck. He's never seen her like this, and it scares him. But he had been drilled in getting into these kinds of situations and how to deal with them so he still has his wits. He will reach up to put a hand gently on her shoulder] You won't have reception in the subways. How about seeing William?

Cora: [she shakes her head, when she finally gets her phone open and he's right, she doesn't have reception but she still scrolls through her texts until she finds Peter's name and taps out a quick "Gerard's here" text because Peter will know what to do. the text will send when she gets above ground] He probably has spies everywhere. If we go to William now, he'll know where to find him.

Stiles: Well, then come home with me. The mice can get his scent off our clothes and watch out.

Cora: [she doesn't want to drag him into this any more than she already has, but if she can't go home, the next safest place she could be is probably with a Price. At least Stiles' apartment is familiar. she knows the terrain] Okay.

Stiles: Alright. Come on, let's change lines. [and they can subway and bus hop for a bit to make sure they aren't being followed]

Cora: [and Cora's text sends once they're above ground, so Peter is in the loop. she'll just tuck herself against the window on the bus, pull her hood up and try to pull herself together]

Peter: [fuck]

Stiles: [and he will stay close, still holding her left hand, the gun back in his arm holster on the right so he can protect them if needed. Finally they get back to his place and he takes them in through the back door, then up they go to his place and inside. He will pull his blinds down and double lock his door.] Mischief Managed. [and the mice come out, but they can smell the fear and there is no rejoicing, just rapt attention to see what is wrong]

Cora: [yep, and she just goes to sink onto the couch, wiping her face and realizing she probably owes Stiles an explanation] That was Gerard Argent.

Peter: [and there are texts to know where she is]

Stiles: [give him a second] You mean of the Argent hunter family?

Cora: [and she'll tell him she's with Stiles, before nodding] Yeah. Like them.

Stiles: Shit. I need to tell my family.

Cora: Why?

Stiles: Because the Argents are not covenant, but they are covenant adjacent.

Cora: [she shrugs] It doesn't matter. They won't get here fast enough to stop him.

Stiles: Not unless they send my grandmother. But they can contact other people. See what allies I have that can help us.

Cora: No matter what happens, he can't have me or my brother back.

Stiles: Oh, he won't. Trust me.

Cora: [huffs a bit as she brushes the tears from her face] I'm sorry I'm such a mess.

Stiles: You're scared. I get it. [and he will kneel in front of her] What did he do to you guys?

Cora: [she swipes at her face again before looking down at her hands] When I was ten, my mom made a deal with the Argents. They would get a werewolf to help train their hunters against, and the Argents would leave us alone. Laura was the heir and Derek was the spare, so I guess I was the disposable child, because she gave them me. [she still hasn't forgiven Talia for that, even if she's dead]

Stiles: ..... You've got to be fucking kidding me. Why the hell would she do that?!

Cora: Don't know. Never got the chance to find out. I was with the Argents for about a year and a half before they went back on the deal and burned down the Hale House - not that we could prove it, obviously, but Laura and Derek knew it was them. Anyway, Derek came to try and come get me so that I could be there when we buried my mother, but he got caught trying to break me out. So he made another deal. I got to go home, but Derek had to come back and take my place.

Stiles: [shakes his head] Damn. That's why he's so quiet.

Cora: [she nods] And not good with people.

Stiles: And why you don't trust people.

Cora: [glances down and nods]

Stiles: I'm sorry. I'm so sorry that your family was crap and did that to you both.

Cora: You're not the person I want the apology from.

Stiles: I know. [and he will reach over and take her hands with his] I promise you, I will never let that man and his family hurt you, as long as I can help it.

Cora: Just don't get hurt in the process. [she's done with people getting hurt because of her]

Stiles: I'm tougher than I look. [licks his lips] Want to know a secret?

Cora: Sure, since you know mine.

Stiles: [and looked over at the mice] Lights out.

Mice: [nods and runs to the couch, and jumps up to turn off the light in the apartment.]

Stiles: [As Cora's eyes adjust, she will see Stiles pull his hands back and splay his fingers towards the ground. Slowly a blue glow starts to emanate from him, a white light starting to wrap around him, dancing along his fingers. When he opens his eyes to look at her, they will be softly glowing a blueish white around the brown rims]

Cora: [frowns as she watches him at first, and then her eyes widen] You have magic?

Stiles: [smirks] Yeah. It's a recessive gene from my grandfather's side. I got lightning.

Cora: ... Well, that's useful? [is it? she's not sure]

Stiles: It's good in a pinch. I can also do some basic telekinesis. I'm still learning though. It didn't manifest until I turned 16.

Cora: [nods] Well, I've never met someone with magic before.

Stiles: Well, now you have. [he will hold out his hand, the light still dancing over his fingers] It's safe. Just tingles a bit.

Cora: [shakes her head] When I was with the Argents they used to ... [electricity is not good basically]

Stiles: Oh. I'm sorry. [and he will let it fade away, and the mouse will automatically turn the lights back on]

Mice: HAIL THE CELEBRATION OF NOT DESTROYING THE TV WITH MAGIC! [and there will be celebrations]

Cora: [there's a pause, and then a snort of laughter, a little bit of the tension broken as she watches them celebrate. she'll then glance down at her phone and see if there's anything else from Peter]

Peter: [telling her to stay where she is. Because being with a Price is better than her being alone elsewhere. Do not go outside until he tells her]

Cora: [and since that may be a while, she looks up at Stiles] Is it okay if I stay the night?

Stiles: Sure. You can have the bed. I'll hang on the couch. Catch up with the mice.

Cora: I don't want to put you out. I'll be fine on the couch.

Stiles: My mother would have my hide if I let a guest sleep on the couch.

Cora: I'm not a guest. I'm a refugee.

Stiles: You're a guest. Shut up and take the bed.

Cora: [sighs] Fine. [a beat] ... But while I'm imposing, if I take a shower do you have something I could change into? [she smells like panic and fear and she's not going to get any sleep at all if she doesn't get rid of that]

Stiles: I don't know, I usually wear the same outfit every day so there wouldn't be any spare clothes around at all. [sarcasm]

Cora: [rolls her eyes] Smartass.

Stiles: [smiles and points to the bathroom.] You can use my stuff. I'll put some clothes on the sink.

Cora: Thanks. [and she'll go take a quick shower so she can try and feel like a normal person again]

Stiles: [and he will put in a pair of his sweats and a lacrosse t-shirt on the sink, trying not to look at her shillouette in the shower curtain]

Cora: [doesn't really notice unless he lingers, she's just trying to let the hot water ebb away her tension]

Stiles: [nope, no lingering. He will, however, go and find them something to nibble on. He had gotten cookies for the mice, which he will give them with cheese and grapes, and leave a few for them while he makes a nest on the couch]

Cora: [and when she feels calm again, she dries off and gets dressed. she's swimming in his clothes but they're comfortable and smell like Stiles, which will hopefully help if she wakes up from a nightmare] Thanks again.

Stiles: No problem. I'm sure you'd do the same for me. [and he will hold out the sleeve of cookies]

Cora: [and she'll take one with a nod] And I'm sorry I ruined our movie night.

Stiles: Well, I have a tv. We can find a movie on it?

Cora: If you want, sure.

Stiles: Come on then. [and he will pat the couch near him as he reaches over to the tv and the remote comes flying to him]

Cora: [and she'll go to settle next to him, tucking her legs under her]

Stiles: [and he will put on some superhero movie on netflix]

Cora: [she can work with that. they're usually fairly entertaining]

Stiles: [and somewhere along the way he will get up and get them drinks]

Cora: [and for the most part she's engaged, but towards the end, her long, emotional few hours get the better of her and after a while, she passes out against Stiles' shoulder around the big boss fight]

Stiles: [and he will look down at her, and then just smirk and put his arm around her, letting her use the non-boney parts of him as a pillow]

Cora: [and she shifts to lean into him unconsciously, resting her head against his shoulder and relaxing again]

Stiles: [and when the movie is done, he goes to shift her] Cora, want me to carry you to bed?

Cora: Mmmm. [there's a non-committal noise, because she's pretty heavily out]

Stiles: [and thanks to his Price family education, he is strong enough to gather her into his arms and carry her to the bedroom, where he will tuck her into his bed. He will then touch his headboard and mutter a relaxing spell, hoping to keep her calm and give her a nice sleep]

Cora: [and magically, somehow that works. or the dice actually like Cora today. She wakes up in the morning, confused as to how she wound up in Stiles' bed but otherwise calm]

Stiles: [and there will be low snoring from the couch, him sleeping half on, half off it, dead to the world]

Cora: [and that makes her smile a bit, but she just lowers herself back down to the bed, reaching for her phone to see if there's anything from Peter]

Peter: [just a note for her to check in in the morning, and stay off the streets.]

Derek: [and one from her brother worried scared about her]

Cora: [to Peter] I'm still at Stiles'. Unless he kicks me out, I'm not going anywhere. [to Derek] I'm okay, sorry. I fell asleep.

Peter: Good. Check in every two hours.

Derek: Are you safe? Laura told me he found you

Cora: [to Peter] Will do. [to Derek] Yeah, I'm fine. I'm with Stiles and the mice.

Derek: Okay. If you come home, stay to the rooftops. Let me know when you leave and I can keep watch.

Cora: Okay. Right now, I'm not going anywhere. We'll see what happens today and what Stiles wants to do.

Stiles: [and speaking of, he will try and turn, his body thinking he's in the bed, and then THUMP he is on the floor.]

Cora: [glances up and looks over at him] You okay?

Stiles: [give him a minute... and then he's snoring again]

Cora: [shakes her head and goes to check her email and what not while she waits for him to really wake up]

Stiles: [and eventually he will wake up, groaning and stretching] Cora, you awake?

Cora: [she glances over with a smile] Yeah. You fell off but it didn't seem to bother you, so I figured I'd wait until you woke up.

Stiles: Yeah, I sleep like the dead. [and he will push himself up and then come into the bedroom, his hair sticking out everywhere]

Cora: I noticed. [and then she sits up and crosses her legs in front of her] So Peter is still telling me to lay low. If it's not okay for me to stay here, I can go home, but ... I figured I'd see what you thought.

Stiles: Well, I have to work tonight, but you're welcome to stay. I'm sure the mice can entertain you.

Cora: Thanks. Peter wants me checking in every two hours. I'll send him voice texts from the mice. [he'll love it.]

Stiles: [laughs] I'll go out and grab us lunch and make sure there's enough for your dinner too so you don't have to worry about food. But first, I need to shower and coffee.

Cora: I can make breakfast if you have stuff?

Stiles: Um, yeah. I think I have pop tarts, frozen waffles...

Cora: ... You need to buy more real food.

Stiles: I'm living the teenage bachelor life. Plus it always guarantees that I have offerings.

Cora: [she shakes her head] Guess I'm making waffles.

Stiles: You're welcome to look in the cabinets for anything and use whatever you find. [and he's going to reach into his laundry basket and find a pair of clean underwear and a shirt]

Cora: [and she will drum up some waffles an peanut butter for them, and leave out a set for the mice, before moving to sit on the couch to wait him out]

Stiles: [and he will come out after a few minutes, muttering as he dries his hair with his shirt, a towel around his waist] I smell waffles.

Cora: You would be right. [gestures to the plate for him] I fed the mice too.

Stiles: You're awesome. [and he will toss his shirt into the hamper] Let me just get a new shirt. Dropped that one into the tub.

Cora: [she nods, and eats her waffles, averting her gaze to give him some privacy]

Stiles: [he walks around basically shirtless at work, so he isn't shy. But he will disappear into his room to grab his jeans and toss on a t-shirt before padding back out and joining her at the folding table] So do you want me to grab anything else for you while I'm out?

Cora: [she shakes her head] No, I think I'm good. Maybe a spare toothbrush?

Stiles: I think I can grab one of those. You sure nothing else? Snacks or something? [and he's going to eat his breakfast]

Cora: I mean, some actual food might be nice, but I can eat anything.

Stiles: I'll see what I can find. [grins]

Cora: You know, you are going to have to start eating like an adult at some point.

Stiles: Yeah, at some point when I'm actually earning a decent wage. You know how much rent is in this city?

Cora: I do. It's ridiculous.

Stiles: So most of my money pays the rent and utilities. I'm lucky I can afford pop tarts and not eating ramen.

Cora: I'm not judging that. I'm just saying that you should try working in some fruits and vegetables every now and then.

Stiles: I eat popcorn. It's totally a vegetable.

Cora: That has zero nutrients. They've been all dried out.

Stiles: It's still a vegetable. People eat dried fruits all the time.

Cora: But it doesn't do anything for you.

Stiles: [shrugs] I'll think about it.

Cora: [nods as she finishes her waffles] I think you'll be better off.

Stiles: Yeah, but it won't be nearly as tasty.

Cora: Not if you know how to prepare them.

Stiles: I'm not good at cooking.

Cora: It takes practice, but me or Laura could teach you.

Stiles: Maybe I'll take you up on that. While you're here at least.

Cora: If you get the food, I can do the cooking.

Stiles: Make me a list. I can go get it and bring it back with lunch.

Cora: I'll text it to you.