canon au } { post-402, of father-daughter time and blue eyes

[wildkingdom]

Peter: [has been working on checking the family investments that weren't tied to the bonds, trying to figure out just how much was left for them to live with. He had gone to the bank to look at the family safe deposit box and take a count of the other assets - you don't keep all your possessions in one place after all - and was returning to his apartment when he saw someone sitting in front of his door. He stopped in the hallway, trying to keep his straight face in place] Malia.

Malia: [glances over at the sound of her name and there's a small awkward smile before she pushes up from where she was sitting against the doorframe. It's kind of like that puppy you accidentally gave a little too much affection to and you wake up in the morning to find her sitting at your front door, wanting just a little bit more. She's gotten all the warnings about Peter, and she knows Scott has his reasons for not trusting him but he's managed to help her. Meeting him in person, finally, after so long of just talking about it has turned her into a bit of a stalker. Sorry Peter.] Hi.

Peter: [which is really just another Hale family trait. Welcome to your genetic code, Malia] You're getting better with your tracking if you found your way here by scent.

Malia: [there's a beaming smile at that that she can't really stop because that's absolutely what she did] I used to do it all the time when I was a coyote. It's actually been the easier one to relearn again.

Peter: When we're younger, we're trained on our senses first before we learn to shift at will. It allows you to be able to get out of harm’s way before needing to jump into a fight. [he pulled out his keys, going to open his door] Let's go inside.

Malia: [nods as she follows him in, curious eyes roaming over every inch she can see as she does. Most people would probably try to not seem like they're being nosy, but she doesn't bother, wanting to take in everything she can and not really caring about how it looks]

Peter: [doesn't really have much in the ways of artifacts or anything at the apartment. It is a retreat for him, with soothing blues and cream colored walls, a few tiny touches, and a clean desk in the living room with his laptop. The only hint at personality were a few wooden carvings of masks on shelves around the television, and some books.] How long were you outside? I can offer you something to drink. I have yet to restock since Derek was staying here so food is scarce.

Malia: [she shrugs as she wanders over to get a better look at the masks] I left school after fifth period. Didn't feel like going to history. [where she gets stumped by answers everyone's supposed to know. Stiles and Scott help, try to make her feel not quite so alone, and Kira tries to take the bullet when it comes to her dad but that doesn't make her feel any less stupid] It took me a while to track it. [that's not really an answer to how long, but given that she doesn't always remember to wear a watch it could easily translate to "a while"] Water's fine.

Peter: [goes to fill two glasses since he was thirsty as well, and offers one to him] You'll get there with school. As you've said, you pick things up quick. It's just a new way of storing information in your brain.

Malia: [she shrugs again as she takes the glass from him. It's rough combination of feeling like an idiot and not caring.] I also don't see how it matters. Some president died over a century and a half ago. So what? That's not going to make sure you eat, or that you have a place to sleep or protect you from a predator. [there's a beat, then she snorts] Clearly he didn't protect himself well enough if he got shot in the back of the head. [because after she got it wrong the first time she made sure she knew the answer in case it came again]

Peter: [he smiled at that] No, it's not. Do you know why they teach us history though in school?

Malia: [she shakes her head, finally pulling her eyes from the masks to him as she sips from the glass he gave her]

Peter: Patterns. History often repeats itself, and we learn from how things were handled in the past to be able to change and improve the present and future. It helps you improve yourself. It's a way for humans to study themselves and their ancestors, and see how to better themselves and their world. Since we have a foot in both worlds, it is important to learn, but for us it helps us learn strategy from humans and put it into dealing with our pack structure and other packs.

Malia: [makes a face] Coyotes don't really have packs. [they look out for themselves. It's how they survive] I'm still getting used to the whole ... team thing.

Peter: Which is all the more reason to learn it, so you can get the pack support. [He took a seat in his easy chair] So for instance, your JFK scenario - that would equate to what would happen in Beacon Hills if say, Scott was taken out of the picture. How they handled that piece of history would help a mourning pack try and rebuild to find order and justice for the loss of their great, innocent leader.

Malia: It was Lincoln, actually. [there's a beat, and she's still watching him, soaking up the information so that she can file it away for later, just in case] Who's JFK?

Peter: Oh. [chuckles] As I said, history repeats itself. John F Kennedy was another president assassinated. 1963. He is another one exhausted by historians as one who could make great changes in the human world, but was killed for those ideals. Humans tend to resist change in very violent ways.

Malia: [she makes a face] Lincoln wasn't actually that great. People only really seemed to make a big deal about him after he died. I mean he stopped slavery which is good but he also started a war. That should be considered bad, right?

Peter: The war was started over people not wanting to accept the changes due of his ideals, including the stopping of slavery. They go hand in hand. [thinks, then leans forward] Every event that happens follows a basic pattern. First there is an idea - something to make a change, good or bad, but the idea comes first. Then there is the action - something done that makes the idea visible and unable to ignore. And then there is the reaction - how it is handled, and the ripple effects that come from it. Lincoln had the idea of freedom for all men. The action was freeing the slaves. The reaction?

Malia: [nods. she follows] Giant war, lots of people dead, black people still being treated like crap for the next century. Got it. [then she'll glance away again, wandering over to the bookshelves and cataloging more of his apartment]

Peter: Precisely. Learning facts and reciting them back to teachers is how humans learn and feel they are educated, but that's not what's important to learn. It's that pattern you need to see. It's how you'll be able to predict outcomes to things from your idea stage by seeing how in the past, similar ideas were reacted to.

Malia: [doesn't usually get that far, really, as he saw with the berserkers. She thinks, she acts, she deals with the consequences after, because that's how things are when you're a coyote. There isn't a lot of prolonged contemplation. There's just the moment.] Sometimes thinking too much can be a bad thing.

Peter: [there is a knowing smile because that was something he often ran up against.] Sometimes, but preparing and having a backup plan will mean the difference between life and death. [he was a prime example of that]

Malia: Like your back up plan to use Lydia's banshee-ness to brainwash your way back from the dead? [yep. Lydia told her about that. Maybe not in those words exactly but close enough]

Peter: [small shrug] That is a good example, yes.

Malia: [she appreciates that he doesn't try to make excuses for it. She doesn't really have the patience for that. You either did it or you didn't you don't have to analyze the reasons why. She can understand, logically, why Peter is Satan in a V-neck to Lydia, but what she needs to figure out is what exactly he is to her. That's where things get complicated. But for right now, she doesn't really want to talk about history anymore.] Can I ask you something?

Peter: Of course.

Malia: What's the thing with the color of our eyes? I mean, I know Scott's are red because he's the alpha. But Cora said that Scott's were gold before that, and hers are gold, but mine are blue and so are yours and Derek's were but now they're not and ... [he treated it like a pretty big deal] ... what's it matter?

Peter: [he folds his hands together and rests his chin on it thoughtfully] Most shifters, born or bitten, start with gold eyes. It’s a common trait, and usually it means nothing beyond a link to our other side. But compared to the other colors, it shows innocence. Blue eyes.... it shows that you have taken the life of someone innocent. It could have been an accident, in your case; something done when you had no control of your actions, as in mine; or in an act of mercy, which was Derek's. It leaves a mark on your soul in a way, and that's reflected in the eye color. The red is caused from that spark that an alpha has over other wolves in their abilities.

Malia: ... Oh. [that didn't go where she expected it to go. She turns her eyes back to the bookshelves for a moment, forcing back the feelings of guilt that wrenched their way into the pit of her stomach. The glass of water finds it's way to whatever surface is closest and stays there. She's not really thirsty anymore.] Got it.

Peter: [sees that and he stands up, going to put a hand on her shoulder. For all the talk of him, there is still a bit of tenderness in Peter that only family could bring out] It's a hard thing to deal with, Malia, I know. But what happened was not your fault as much as it may feel like it. You were a child, it was probably your first turn, and you had no one to help you understand and learn control. That blame goes on another. [His sister]

Malia: [she doesn't pull away from the touch, even if it surprises her. Things had been so hands off up until this point, and it is their first meeting, but Peter is someone she wouldn't mind touching her. It's probably not a good sign that she trusts him like that but she also doesn't care at the moment] It still happened because of me. If I hadn't been in the car, they would be fine.

Peter: If your family didn't know you had this gene, there would have been no way for them to know. If you weren't in the car, it could have been worse. You can't change history. And you can use that emotion to help anchor you so you learn control and never have to worry about something like that happening again.

Malia: [her fingers reach out to play with the binding of the book in front of her] Doesn't make the feelings go away though. Stiles says that's normal, but ... I look at my dad and ... my room still looks the same as it did when I was nine. I can't change it, but I still have to live with it. He's still living with it, and he doesn't even know the real reason why.

Peter: I guess the question is - why do you feel you can't change it?

Malia: [her mouth works for a moment, trying to figure out the exact words to why she feels like things need to be the way they were. Why she needs to be the same girl, the person he lost and hope that he doesn't see the cracks in the veneer. She doesn't have the words for that so she just pulls away instead, suddenly very aware of the weight of Peter's hand against her shoulder, almost as though there's more pressure to answer the question properly] I don't know. I just ... can't. [she doesn't know why it should matter, either, she doesn't like the way it makes her feel like her throat is closing and her face is too tight. Emotions still aren't things she's used to and she doesn't know the words to express them] I just ... don't want to go back to Eichen House.

Peter: [takes a step to the side, keeping his hand down but putting himself in the corner of her sight] There is no right or wrong answer to that, so you know. but I think when you do figure that answer out, you'll know what you need to do. Because you're not that little girl anymore, and you shouldn't be ashamed at what you are, even if you can't tell your father the truth yet. You are still a beautiful, cunning young lady and don't let anyone make you believe different, or try to change you into something you aren't. [he surprised himself with the parental protective feeling that come in those words, and took a deep breath.] And you won't go back. If he tries to send you there again, you come here and we'll find you someplace safe to stay.

Malia: [glances back to him, trying to figure out if there was something she was supposed to read in those words. Stiles said that sometimes what they say doesn't always match up with what they mean, or they might mean more if she had the emotional capacity to get it, but the fact that he won't let her go back there means something to her all the same.] Okay. [which is pretty much Malia for "thank you." Some of the tension ebbs out and she shakes her head] I want to talk about something else. [not that she knows ... what, but not this.]

Peter: Very well. Since school is also off the table, how about your training with Scott? Anything you need help with that I could give you a different perspective on?

Malia: [she shrugs] We haven't really been doing much since the whole Derek thing happened. But he was using lacrosse to help teach me to control my strength. [which ... probably involved checking Stiles and not breaking him. Lots of bruises. Sorry, Stiles.]

Peter: I'm afraid I'm not any help at lacrosse. Basketball was my sport. But it is a good way to learn. [looks over at the basketball that Derek had left behind, considering a moment] Have you played it yet in your gym class?

Malia: [shrugs] A little. My coordination is still a little rough. I like it better when we do track stuff.

Peter: Track is easy. This is more about control. Let's go try something. [he goes to grab the ball] There's a court outside.

Malia: [eyes him and the ball warily for a moment before nodding] Okay.

Peter: [goes to show her outside to the court, bouncing the ball a moment.] I'm sure Scott has already explained why controlling your strength is important. But here's a different example. [he stands at the free thrown line, takes a shot and makes an easy basket] Too much, or too little, and you can't accomplish the result you want. You need to read the situation and find the right amount.

Malia: [watches as he makes the shot before nodding. Okay. Should be easy enough] So not enough and it doesn't make the basket, too much and it goes too far?

Peter: Exactly. Then, the coordination is what helps you find the right target. Too much to the left or right will make you miss, even if you have the right amount of strength. You want precision, and it's a combination of both.

Malia: [she nods again. Strength she can handle, it's the precision that's tricky.]

Peter: Start with just shooting while standing still. Once you have figured this out, we can up it with movement, and then adding in an opponent trying to stop you.

Malia: [she nods as she picks up the ball from where it bounced, moving to stand next to him on the free-throw line and balances the ball in her hands trying to judge the distance carefully]

Peter: [he was just going to watch, letting her figure it out in her head. The same way Derek had as a kid when he taught him. How Derek had tried to show Cora when she was younger. All before the fire when they could enjoy simple things like sports.]

Malia: [she focuses, her hands on opposite sides of the ball before pushing it away from her and towards the net. It does pretty well for a while, but it's a little too far to the right and bounces off the edge of the rim and off towards the bleachers]

Peter: [jogs off after it, getting it and tossing it back to her] Very good. Now make the adjustments and try again.

Malia: [she catches the ball easily and shifts it in her hands, as though that will help her do better. she takes a breath, grips the ball and pushes again, but this time she doesn't have enough strength and it falls short of the basket]

Peter: [tosses the ball back to her] Again.

Malia: [she huffs a bit but takes the ball all the same. She nearly had it the first time, she just has to try and remember what she did then. She closes her eyes, trying to remember exactly what she did that time. She channels that frustration into the ball and shoots and this time it goes to high, bouncing off the top of the board and back at her, and she practically growls in response] This is impossible.

Peter: [goes over and takes it from her] No, it's not. That's why it's called training. You're learning. [he stands where she is, nice and relaxed and goes to shoot again. It bounces off the backboard and goes in easily] Relax, and approach it with confidence. Frustration only leads to mistakes.

Malia: [grumble] It's hard to be confident when you have no idea what you're doing. [but she tries her best to do as he says. She takes the ball, and tries mimicking his stance, just to see what will happen. She pushes up shooting the ball towards the rim and it bounces off the opposite side it did the first time, but instead of bouncing away, it falls through the hoop. Her face lights up as it does] Does that count?

Peter: It counts. The goal is to get it in the hoop, doesn't matter how pretty it looks. [gets the ball and tosses it back to her] Now do it again.

Malia: [she makes a bit of a face because with the goal accomplished she doesn't want to have to do it again, but she does as requested. She misses, bouncing off the rim hard, but at least the shot didn't go completely wild]

Peter: [passes the ball again] Now that you got it once, you need to use that to guide you to repeat it. Keep repeating it until you can do it without thinking. And then that will guide you when you change your spot on the court to try from a different angle.

Malia: [there's a pause as she catches the ball in her hands and makes a face] We may be here a while.

Peter: Confidence. You've done it once already. [he chuckles] But it's something that will take time to learn. Just like anything. But when you have that focus, when you make that little click in your head how to make this work - you will find that everything else you need to learn will come faster and easier.

Malia: [nods as she idly bounces the ball in her hands] Is this how you learned?

Peter: In a way. I always loved the game. [wait until she sees the trophy case at school next time] It's one of the ways I helped train Derek when he was a kid. We both played at school once we got the control to be able to play with the humans and not risk exposure. It was a good way to seem normal.

Malia: [she makes a face] I don't think I'll ever be normal.

Peter: You just want to seem normal. You're much better than that.

Malia: I don't think I'll ever seem normal either. [she does sort of perk up a bit at being told she's better] Stiles is helping but a lot of the time I still don't get it, and he can't tell me why beyond ... that's just how it is.

Peter: Explain why you want to seem normal, or explain about the reasons behind the human responses?

Malia: The second one. Like when we were in Mexico, the creepy hunter lady took Lydia and when Scott came to we should have tried to take the hunters and get out of there, but they didn't want to leave Lydia behind. But shouldn't you look out for the good of the pack first, not just one person? And if we're going to look out for just one person, then we risk everyone else getting killed, like they took Scott and tortured him and they could have killed him, all because we stayed behind for Lydia. [there's a beat] I'm not saying I don't like Lydia. She's been really nice to me and she's been helping me with school, but which one is it supposed to be? The pack or the person?

Peter: [oh, you're asking the wrong person this question.] Well, first it comes to who made the choice. Scott is the alpha, and if you're in his pack, you do what he says. If it's your choice. [he tilts his head back and forth, looking for the answer that was best for her] You look for the strategic advantage, if rescue is possible, and what the consequences would be if you fail. Lydia is a very valuable asset - more so than you think. To run and leave her would put you at a disadvantage later if you needed her. If she wasn't in danger of losing her life, but you were, you run and plan a rescue attempt. That is without any emotion. However, your human side will soon start to develop bonds with people - friendships. And that side is the one who will want you to do what they call the "right thing". Which includes sticking at your friends’ side and protecting them.

Malia: Scott said we weren't leaving Lydia. [so it was Scott's choice, which means it falls under rule one] But what about when they took Scott? If he's the alpha we're supposed to protect him, right?

Peter: Yes, unless your alpha orders you to run, you protect your alpha at all costs. Other alphas, however, you have no alliance to. Just your alpha.

Malia: [she nods. Protect Scott. She can do that] But I'm guessing Scott isn't your alpha. [because you totally bailed on them with the berserkers, Peter.]

Peter: [shakes his head] No, he is not. I don't have one.

Malia: Why not?

Peter: [deep breath. Because it was beneath him wasn't an answer. He had his own plans in motion] My time as alpha was not very successful. Neither was my nephew’s. But it's hard to want to let someone else make choices for you after you've been the one making them.

Malia: Is it easier being on your own? [because she's not exactly used to a pack either, and learning the dynamics is a bit more difficult than she anticipated]

Peter: I can't really give you an answer for that. Derek and I tend to work with each other as we need to. [and until recently, he had Buffy and he hadn't felt alone] But sometimes it is easier, for me at least. But I have been alone for a long time now, so I'm used to having to handle things alone.

Malia: [she bounces the ball again] It's not bad. Having a pack, I mean. I was alone on the preserve because that's what coyotes are but here ... here it means I know people in school and I have places I can hang out when things are weird with my dad and there are people who don't treat me like I'm a freak. [which ... most of the kids in school probably do] Or that there's something wrong with me.

Peter: That can be a very nice benefit of a pack, especially at your age. I know when I was your age, my pack meant everything to me. [his hands go into his pockets because talking of his family even now still stung in that part of him that remembered and loved his family]

Mallia: [another bounce of the basketball] Maybe you just need a pack your age? [instead of hanging around with all these teenagers like a creeper]

Peter: [small smile] Not a lot of wolves around here my age anymore.

Malia: And you have to stay here?

Peter: [nods] Beacon Hills has been my family home for longer than our family history books say. Most of the land this city is built on used to belong to the Hale family. [those bonds were the money they had been paid for as they sold the land]

Malia: So you're protecting your territory.

Peter: In a way, yes.

Malia: [she nods. okay. she can get that]

Peter: [looks at the sky a moment] You're probably going to want to get going and get home before your father learns you skipped school.

Malia: [she shrugs. she doesn't really care, but she knows that her dad will. she bounce-passes the ball back to him anyway] I'm sure he'll be thrilled.

Peter: [passes the ball back to her] Take it. Find time to practice.

Malia: [she lets the ball smack into her hands, turning it in her hands for a moment before nodding] Okay. [she takes a step back and starts walking] See you later?

Peter: See you soon. [he gives her a small smile and watches her go]

Malia: [she'll turn her back after that and off she goes to head home.]

Peter: [heads back upstairs, and once he's inside the safety of his apartment, he just leans against the door and for the briefest of moments just for himself, he smiles and lets himself relish in that moment with his daughter]