spamalot } { of therapy sessions and new suits

[hereditare]

[Stiles’ first therapy session is going to be him rambling about how therapy has never really worked for him because his dad probably tried to put him in it after Claudia's death, and he probably had to go to the guidance counselor a bunch of times and he just never really ever got answers and ramble ramble ramble … ]

Laura: Stiles. Will you give it a few sessions before you pre-judge my technique?

Stiles: Oh no, totally give it a few sessions. Just wanted to let you know what's happened before so you're aware of... stuff.

Laura: [she nods slowly, before leaning back in her seat] Why are you here? Honestly.

Stiles: Honestly? Cause I killed someone and had a nervous breakdown in the forest.

Laura: And what exactly do you want to get out of this?

Stiles: [drumming his fingers on his knee] Um... I just... I wanna be myself again. I mean, I look at how I treat people sometimes and it's not me. But in the moment, I can't not do it, you know?

Laura: Okay, so here's what we're going to do. We're going to talk. And I know you know how to talk, you've been talking pretty much since the moment I met you. But we're going to actually talk, and you're going to have to tell me things you may not want to, but you have to tell them to someone, or you're not going to get better. So I'm going to ask you about things you don't want to talk about. And if you want to get back to you again, you're going to have to tell me - the whole, complete, one hundred percent truth. No matter how embarrassing, how intimate, or how uncomfortable. I'm not going to tell them to anyone else, but they need to be out there, or you're never going to be able to let them go. Got it?

Stiles: [bites his lip, thinking on that a moment because he is fine with talking, but really talking about the stuff he doesn't like to talk about isn't easy for him] I got it. And I apologize in advance if like, tomorrow I'm a jerk about it or something. I just... there's stuff I really don't like talking about.

Laura: I know. Everybody's got that. But if you keep carrying it with you, you're never going to get past it. [she takes a breath as she leans forward, holding her hands out in front of her] Think of it like you're carrying this giant box of stuff. It's heavy and it's awkward and you've got to get it a couple miles down the road but you don't have a car. Do you really want to carry that all the way there on your own? Or do you want someone to help you carry it?

Stiles: Well, it depends. It there's a bag in the box I can pack stuff into it and hold it on my back and then it evens out the weight and won't hurt my arms.

Laura: There's no bag, Stiles. There's just the box.

Stiles: Yeah, then it makes sense to share the load.

Laura: So think of the box like everything you went through in the past few years, and the couple of miles you have to go, the next few months you have to get through. I'm gonna help you carry it. But in order to do that, I have to know what I'm carrying. And if I think you're bullshitting me, I'm gonna call you out on it. I'm going to push you, and you may not like me very much for it, but in the end, you'll feel a lot better.

Stiles: [nods] Okay. Okay.

Laura: Okay. [she exhales slowly, before leaning back in her seat again] Just remember that this is kind of like a cone of silence. Whatever you tell me, no matter who about, doesn't leave this room. No one else is going to hear it, not from me. No matter who it's about. [meaning if you need to talk about her sister, because she knows she's part of the problem in there somewhere, then he can talk about it and it won't get back to her]

Stiles: [yeah, because there will be a lot of things about Cora probably coming out after a while] You sure you want to know about some of that?

Laura: It's not about what I want. In this room, I'm not Cora's sister, I'm your therapist. And I know enough to know that there are going to be things you'll need to talk about. I can compartmentalize. But if you're still not comfortable with that, I can recommend someone else who knows about werewolves. [that way he's still free to say whatever he needs to] This isn't about me keeping a client, this is about you feeling safe.

Stiles: I don't want someone else. [at least with Laura, he feels safe] I just don't want to make you upset or angry at your sister.

Laura: [she shakes her head] She's my sister. She's always going to invoke one of the two one way or another. But if you feel like I'm not being objective, feel free to call me out on that too.

Stiles: Okay. [bites his lip though, obviously nervous and anxious]

Laura: Just remember that we're doing this an hour at a time. This isn't a sprint. We're probably going to even need to keep doing this after you're "better" because it takes maintenance. But don't worry about that right now. Just focus on getting through this an hour at a time.

Stiles: [looks up at the clock. it's been barely ten minutes] Okay.

Laura: Okay. [she holds up her hands for a moment, before nodding slowly] Since this is the first session, let's talk about something easy. How's Dina?

Stiles: [yeah, he relaxes at that] She's good. She's finally getting some consistency in her life. I'm looking at this preschool for her that Ryan's going to. They have this list of things she needs to be able to do on her own though before they take her. Including tying her shoes. I mean really, can I just send her with Velcro shoes? Not that she can't figure it out, but denying kids school because they can't tie their shoes?! What is that even?

Laura: [she laughs a bit at that] I think that's mostly meant to encourage you to teach her yourself.

Stiles: I mean, I have been. She's getting it down somewhat, but she's a girl. She likes these jelly shoe things that just slip on her feet so she doesn't have a lot of shoes to practice on.

Laura: Well, I'm sure she'll have a little variety, now that she's not living somewhere as urban. [running around on the preserve in those jelly shoes is not a good idea]

Stiles: But I don’t want to be the dad that can't get his kid into school because of laces.

Laura: I don't think you will be. I think she'll be just fine. [there's a pause] How do you think she's adjusting to Beacon Hills? It's certainly a much bigger family unit than she's used to.

Stiles: You mean beyond the fact that she thinks Peter is a large doggie? [smirks. No, it never gets old] Good. She's really starting to come out of her shell so the move here was good. She's starting to forget not to talk to strangers because everyone's so friendly, so I'm working on that again. She goes off me a lot on who to trust to talk to.

Laura: How do you feel about that? Her forgetting not to talk to people she doesn't know.

Stiles: Well, seeing that there are people who have actively tried to kidnap her for my ex-in-laws? It's scary. I know she's not even four and that's how kids are, but I just worry one second someone's going to turn around and she'll run off to talk to someone walking a dog and then she's gone and I'll never see her again. [and his hand starts to bounce again from the spike of fear that brings]

Laura: But there is a line, isn't there? You don't want her to not make friends, so she can't never talk to anyone.

Stiles: Well, other kids her age I'm pretty sure are manipulative kidnapping types. It's the adults I worry about.

Laura: [she nods] Do you think that the Graysons will come back again for Dina?

Stiles: [he looks at his hands] I don't think they'll ever stop. They don't like not being able to get what they want. I don't even think Suzanna wants Dina, just that she can't have her, so her father now wants to get her back so I can't win.

Laura: Even with what happened at the house?

Stiles: I don't know. I mean, I killed one of his sons. I think Nadia got the other, but a lot of it's a blur to me. That's not going to just get left alone, especially if there were hunters involved.

Laura: Probably not. But do you feel like she's not safe here?

Stiles: [he thinks] Sometimes. Sometimes I think it would be better for us to just disappear. But everyone keeps reminding me that it's not a good life for her, so I stay.

Laura: Do you agree with them?

Stiles: Depends on the day? Lately, yeah. She deserves something better. But how much am I risking giving it to her here? They know where I am. They know what you guys are. I'd never forgive myself if one of you guys died for me.

Laura: Do you feel like you would be able to give her what she's finding here on your own? Without your family?

Stiles: I don't know. I mean, I'm probably going to spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder. At least here she has her family. If something happened to me, I know the people here will keep her safe. It's a risk. It's a big risk. I can't tell you which one is better because I don't know what kind of life I could make somewhere else.

Laura: [she pauses, considering for a moment] Better question - do you want to make a life somewhere else?

Stiles: [he shakes his head] No. My family's here. My friends. And with Cora back I just... I want to be here to have that back. I hated pushing everyone away like I did. I didn't have anyone, and I used to be good at making friends.

Laura: Worrying about the safety of your family is normal. Everyone feels it. So I think what we have to work on is instead of your first instinct being to run in order to protect them, finding some new coping mechanisms.

Stiles: [nods] Yeah, probably a good idea.

Laura: [nods with a small smile] It's a little goal. Little goals are good. [she makes a note on the pad next to her] What do you think you could do to make yourself feel safer here?

Stiles: [shrugs his shoulders, but he tries to think.] I um... I don't know.

Laura: Did you have ways of making yourself feel safe when you were living in Mountain View? Even if it was only briefly?

Stiles: I hid at work for the most part. Dina was in the daycare, and the Google complex is large enough that I could just go to work and know that the security at the place wasn't going to let anyone in to hurt us.

Laura: So you need someplace here, in Beacon Hills, where you feel like there's enough security in place.

Stiles: Maybe.

Laura: Maybe? [pushing just slightly for a little more]

Stiles: I mean - you'd think living in a house full of werewolves would make me feel secure. But I'm worried about everyone there too.

Laura: You want to protect them too.

Stiles: Yeah, I do.

Laura: Would it be easier if you were protected by people you didn't care about?

Stiles: [he bites his lips, thinking about it to give her an honest answer. Would he be as worried if he had a security guard watching him? What if they came after him and that person was hurt. Would he be as concerned?] I don't know.

Laura: What was it about the security at Google that made you feel safer?

Stiles: Have you seen the size of the complex? Even if they knew what building I was in, they'd never find me. It's its own city.

Laura: So you liked the anonymity.

Stiles: Yeah. I did. I really liked that job a lot too for what I did. I hated losing it.

Laura: What did you do there?

Stiles: I was a programmer. I worked in the labs designing apps for productivity. Last few years I was developing kid friendly ones to help teach kids about things like the internet.

Laura: Do you think that's something you could still do?

Stiles: Well, I started a small online business trying to help local places here build website and apps, but there isn't a big draw yet. Not that I've had time to advertise.

Laura: Maybe that would be a good thing to start focusing on. Move you out of the past and start looking to the future a little more.

Stiles: It's not like I need to worry about the money anymore. But I need something to do. I feel useless if I don't have a job.

Laura: And I'm sure you don't want to rely completely on their money either.

Stiles: No, not really. It gives me security that Dina's not going to ever have needs, but I don't want it for myself.

Laura: So there's another little goal. Get your business up and running.

Stiles: Which means I need to get Dina to tie her shoelaces first so I can get her into pre-school so I can have time to work on the business [chuckles]

Laura: [she laughs] At least you know what you have to do.

Stiles: [smiles at that] Yeah. Hopefully it's easier than potty training.

Laura: Considerably. At least in my experience.

Stiles: Good to know. There's hope for me still.

Laura: [nods for a moment before glancing up at the clock] And that is time. So for next time we see each other - start poking at your business, and see if we can brainstorm some new coping mechanisms.

Stiles: That sounds like easy homework. [small smile]

Laura: Well, first day of school. I can't promise they'll always be this easy.

Stiles: True. So when is next time?

Laura: How often do you want to see me?

Stiles: [shrugs] I guess whatever's normal for people?

Laura: There is no normal for something like this. Every patient is different. But since you don't seem to be on the edge of having a mental breakdown, I think we can take a bit of breather between sessions. So let's try once a week, and we can adjust it as we go.

Stiles: And it's not like I can't come to you if I need it on a bad day, right?

Laura: Exactly. If you need to talk you can call me anytime.

Stiles: I'll try to limit the 3am panic attack calls.

Laura: I appreciate it.

Stiles: [stands up] See you next week. Or Sunday. You know, whenever. [grins]

Laura: [she smiles back] I'll see you Sunday.

Stiles: [and he's going to leave and hike back to the main Hale house. On his own, sticking to the main trails.]

Allison: [will be sitting on the porch when Stiles gets back, watching Ryan and Dina run around playing some kind of game that they're completely making up as they go along. She's fairly certain the rules are changing every five seconds]

Stiles: [and he's walking up from around the house, watching them a moment with a smile before climbing the steps to the porch] Hey you. Want company?

Allison: [looks up with a smile] Love some. Cookie? [holds up a bag with an assortment of what looks like chocolate chip cookies in them] I swear I didn't bake them.

Stiles: Like I'm going to turn down a cookie. [grins and goes to sit with her, taking a cookie easily] Dina been behaving for you?

Allison: Yeah, she's been great. Probably the most well-behaved out of all of them. [including her own son. she holds no illusions]

Stiles: While it's good to know, I'm sure it will come back to bite me later when she's a teenager.

Allison: It's true. It's the good girls you gotta watch out for.

Stiles: And my growl is nowhere near as impressive as the other dads around this house.

Allison: I think you'll be okay. The boys in Beacon Hills aren't too bad. [a beat] So long as his last name isn't Whittemore.

Stiles: That's if she likes boys. She may like girls. I try not to steer her either way.

Allison: Still should avoid Whittemores.

Stiles: [nods] Whatever happened to Jackson anyway? I thought he went out to be a model out in London or something.

Allison: [shrugs] I lost track of him when he and Lydia broke up.

Stiles: Probably better that way.

Allison: Probably. He's better off not getting pulled into some of this stuff.

Stiles: True. [sighs] How are you doing? [Stiles has no clue about her family being involved in the attack]

Allison: [makes a face to that effect] I have to deal with my grandfather. Not exactly my favorite thing.

Stiles: This a family issue or a hunter issue?

Allison: [she blinks at first, surprised he doesn't know, before her face turns apologetic.] His hunters were the ones with the Graysons.

Stiles: [blinks] The hunters with them were from your family?

Allison: [she shakes her head. Then she pauses.] My aunt and my grandfather didn't agree with the changes I made when I rewrote the code. They didn't like that I was including wolves in that. They must have been how the Graysons found out what the Hales were, and the hunters that were here were using their shells.

Stiles: [clasps his hands in front of him] Well, damn. That makes this all the more awkward.

Allison: Yeah. Sorry, I thought you knew.

Stiles: [shakes his head] No, no I didn't. But there's probably good reason. I wasn't really myself that afternoon.

Allison: How are you doing, anyway? [she knows about Cora things which ... yay, Cora things, but she wants him to tell her]

Stiles: Well, started therapy with Laura to try and get myself back a bit more normal after all that. [looks at his hands] Didn't think I was capable of that.

Allison: [reaches over and takes one of those hands in his] Sometimes we can surprise ourselves by what we'll do to protect our family.

Stiles: [takes her hand and squeezes it] Yeah. And that was a big surprise.

Allison: But you're dealing with it, which is good.

Stiles: Yeah. It’s amazing what a complete mental breakdown does for a guy. [chuckles]

Allison: I'm serious. Dealing with it can be a lot harder than pretending everything's okay. I'm proud of you.

Stiles: [he smiles a bit, looking back at his hands] Thanks. It's a long road ahead of me, but I need to do it. I hate feeling the way I do all the time.

Allison: If there's anything Scott and I can do just let us know, okay?

Stiles: [thinks a moment] I will. I'm trying to be more forward in asking for help now, so I will.

Allison: Good.

Stiles: I think the biggest things I need help with are people just reminding me not to run away from my problems. And if I'm having a bad day, maybe distracting Dina so she doesn't see me like that. She's already seen me hurt a lot so I want to make sure she doesn't anymore.

Allison: If you ever need us to take her for the day, just call. In fact I'm sure that Malia would say yes in about two seconds flat.

Stiles: Is there a reason why don't have a kid yet? I keep wanting to ask.

Allison: Because if she had a kid and was working on passing the bar right now her head would explode. But I'm pretty sure that after she passes we're not going to see her and Isaac for a week.

Stiles: [laughs] Well, I'm glad they are at least making sure they have their priorities straight. They're going to be good parents.

Allison: Yeah, they are. And Malia's going to be a great mom. And until then, we get free babysitting.

Stiles: So take advantage of it while we can.

Allison: Excatly. [she pulls out another cookie] How do you think we wound up with baby number 2?

Stiles: Wow. Too much info there. [laughing]

Allison: [she grins as she takes a bite of her cookie] But yeah, if you ever need a day for whatever reason, just let us know. It's what we're here for.

Stiles: Once I get my business up and really going, I can take turns too on the babysitting detail. I actually got homework for next week to come up with a game plan to get it going forward.

Allison: Good! You were doing that IT thing, right?

Stiles: Building websites and apps for small businesses. [his is not really IT but eh, not worth correcting her]

Allison: [she nods] Cool.

Stiles: It's not really that hard to do, it just takes finding time to focus, and finding people to hire me.

Allison: I'm sure there are a few small businesses in town who could use it. It'd at least be a start.

Stiles: Probably are. I just need to dress up in good clothes and try and find it. It was one of the things we did in our internship was trying to get business.

Allison: [nods] Do you need Lydia to take you shopping?

Stiles: I have one good suit. [he thinks] Just one.

Allison: [she nods] Still, let her take you. I think she could use it too.

Stiles: [nods] Okay. If you've got Dina for the afternoon, I could go inside and see if she wants to get out for a bit...

Allison: Actually I think she's over at her and Cora's, but yeah. Dina and I are good.

Stiles: [thinks] I'm not sure I know where that is, actually.

Allison: I can help you with that. [pulls out her phone to text him the address] I'll call her and let her know you're coming.

Stiles: Alright. Think she'll even notice I was here? [nods at where Dina is with Ryan]

Allison: [she laughs softly] Probably not. But she'll still miss you until you get back.

Stiles: Always does. Never gets old either. [smiles] Want me to bring you back anything?

Allison: [she shakes her head] Have fun.

Stiles: [and he's off to head to Lydia and Cora's place]

Lydia: [will be waiting for him when he gets there, but will get distracted in the waiting, working on one of her projects for her doctorate.]

Stiles: [and he's going to arrive, and since she's not downstairs, he'll park and go up to ring the doorbell or knock on the door or whatever way he needs to let her know he's there]

Lydia: [picks her head up at the sound, and makes her way to the door, opening it with a smile] Hi. Lemme just grab my shoes.

Stiles: Take your time. I'm not in a rush. [and he wanders in, looking around a bit]

Lydia: [they're still moving in, so it's pretty basic and there are boxes here and there. They just got their stuff shipped in from Boston and haven't gotten the chance to unpack yet, and it's one of those boxes that Lydia is going over to find shoes. Her work is splayed out across the coffee table, pages of equations and theorems for her to work through]

Stiles: You guys, uh, need any help unpacking? I mean, can't be fun living out of these.

Lydia: [glances up as she pulls on one of her heels] I think we're just playing it by ear. These just got here yesterday after our landlord, so ... mostly we're just trying to make sure nothing's broken.

Stiles: [and he may just go to peek into the box closest to him to see what's in there] You guys accumulated a lot of stuff.

Lydia: [that's actually one of Cora's boxes, an assortment of books things from her room, including an old Beacon Hills High lacrosse sweatshirt with number 24 emblazoned on the back] We were there for three years. Probably would have been there longer, if I hadn't ... [she gestures a hand to her head] Or ... I would have. Cora had a few job offers back here.

Stiles: [sees that, and nope, he's reaching in to shift the sweatshirt to see his number] Well, seeing that I'm in therapy now, we can be team basket case.

Lydia: [she smirks a bit] At least we're not doing it alone. [the second heel is on and she glances over to see him rooting through one of the boxes] Something wrong?

Stiles: [and his hand is back out] No, just something I wasn't expecting to see. Should we go?

Lydia: [she watches him for a moment, but decides not to push and nods, leading the way to the door] Yep. I know just the place.

Stiles: I just need a few things that will make people think I'm a serious businessman. But nothing too fancy. [following behind]

Lydia: Mmmm-hmmm. [and she'll reach the door of the Jeep and wait for him to unlock it]

Stiles: [and he'll go over and unlock it, opening it for her] So you going to let me know where we're going, or should I just drive around a bit?

Lydia: The mall. [she gives him a small smile] I've got this. Trust me.

Stiles: Oh, I trust you. I just worry that I'm not going to hold up to your expectations.

Lydia: Nonsense. By the time I'm done with you, you'll be practically respectable. [and then some]

Stiles: [gets behind the driver's seat] And now I'm terrified.

Lydia: [smirks a bit] Just drive.

Stiles: Yes ma'am. [and he's driving] So you're still doing school stuff here?

Lydia: [she nods] I'm transferring into the CalState doctorate program. Most of what I have left is mostly my dissertation, though, so I don't have to be up there much.

Stiles: What's your dissertation about?

Lydia: [rambles something complicated and mathematical because she's still going to win that field's medal, even if the dead are trying to invade her brain]

Stiles: [and he actually get it. Mostly. Or at least acts like he mostly gets it]

Lydia: [you gets points for pretending, Stiles] It's a work in progress.

Stiles: I'm sure. It's probably more interesting the coding.

Lydia: [she shrugs] I just like the numbers.

Stiles: And the numbers have always liked you too.

Lydia: [she smiles a bit at that] I guess so. But ... at least they still make sense.

Stiles: I think the saying is - the numbers don't lie. [smirks]

Lydia: [laughs] Yes. Exactly.

Stiles: [and they are at the mall] So what are you going to do after you finish school? Teach?

Lydia: Probably a professor. [she climbs out of the car and leads the way to one of the higher quality menswear stores] I don't think I could stand high school students. I don't have Cora's ... relatability. Or knack for robots.

Stiles: [he's following, his eyes widening as they walked into the store because so not his style.] I don't think I could either. I was better annoying the teachers than being one.

Lydia: [ignores the deer-in-the-headlights look and just takes his hand, guiding him through the racks until she stops and one to flip through them and look for something, occasionally glancing up at him to gauge sizes] What's your size?

Stiles: [gives her his stats] You're going to make me try this stuff on, aren't you?

Lydia: How do we know it fits you if you don't try it on?

Stiles: I usually just hope for the best

Lydia: [just ... stares at him for a moment, before shaking her head and placing a jacket in his hands] Just ... stop. Let me work.

Stiles: [deep breaths as he takes the jacket, and then just watches]

Lydia: [grabs a few pants, shirts and jackets, before handing them off to him and guiding him towards one of the changing rooms] Go. And come out when your dressed so I can see it.

Stiles: [goes to change, and comes back] Um.... I'm not sure about this.

Lydia: [she considers for a moment before tipping her head to the side] Cute, but not exactly professional. Try on one of the suits.

Stiles: Okay. [and he's going to go back and try on something else, coming back out as they play with his sleeves]

Lydia: [and that makes her smile] Now we're talking. [she turns him to face a mirror and nudges him to stand up straight] See? Almost respectable.

Stiles: [pulls on his collar] It feels still and awkward.

Lydia: That's because you're not confident in it. [Lydia turns and moves in front of him, adjusting the lapels of the jacket, before moving up and undoing a few buttons on his shirt - enough to be professionally casual] If I were meeting you for the first time, I wouldn't see a rambling awkward tech geek. I'd see a confident business professional who is here to perform a service that only he can provide. [she looks up at him for a moment, before smirking] Besides. You look hot.

Stiles: [one of his eyebrows go up] Really?

Lydia: [smirks a bit before turning to stand next to him, facing the mirror] Oh yeah.

Stiles: [he looked at himself a bit, then rubs the back of his neck] I wish I felt more confident.

Lydia: What's holding you back?

Stiles: You mean beyond the last four years of being told I'm worthless.

Lydia: You are not worthless. [she moves for a moment to stand behind him, straightening his shoulders and pushing up on her toes so that he can see her face] You gave up everything to protect your daughter. You stood up to people who scared the crap out of you, who nearly beat you to death, because it was the right thing to do, and when the time came you did whatever it took to protect those you cared about. You, Stiles Stilinski, are pretty spectacular. [she tips her head around his arm so that she's look at him more directly and not through the mirror] And that's Lydia Martin saying so. [even if she doesn't feel like Lydia Martin most days]

Stiles: [he bites his lip, smiling a bit] Thank you.

Lydia: [nods] Anytime. [she takes a step back] Besides, the people you're going to be talking to? Just remember that they'll have no idea who you are. You can be anyone you want to be.

Stiles: Well, some of them will probably still see me as the Sheriff's son.

Lydia: Still. That's not worthless. That's when you get to show how much you've grown up.

Stiles: [nods] I can work with that.

Lydia: Good. [she pats his arm lightly] Now try on one more and then we can go.

Stiles: Alright. [and he goes back in, and comes out a few minutes later] You know, this I don't mind.

Lydia: [she tips her head to the side] That's good for after you get the job. Get that and the suit.

Stiles: [looks at himself in the mirror, smirking a bit to himself] Yeah, I can do this.

Lydia: [and she'll just let him take it all in, smiling to herself for a moment. This is good. This feels normal]

Stiles: [nods to himself, then goes back towards the dressing room and starts changing while talking] Maybe I should get another shirt or two? Just a different color or something so I'm not wearing the same two all the time? Is that a smart thing?

Lydia: [nods in agreement] Sure. What brand is that?

Stiles: Um... Hugo Boss. [looks at the price tag] Holy... this is for just one shirt?! Is this decimal in the right spot?

Lydia: Relax. You can afford it.

Stiles: I'm still getting used to that fact. I... I don't even want to know how much the suit is. Just... take my credit card and buy it for me and don't show me the receipt or I may have a panic attack right here.

Lydia: Done. [she grabs a few shirts in his size off the Hugo Boss rack before making her way back and knock lightly on the door] Give me what we're keeping and I'll go take care of it.

Stiles: [he opens the door not thinking about the fact he's not wearing his shirt to cover the years of scars on his back that are way more than he earned in lacrosse, and still skinnier than he ever was, as he hands her the stuff he's keeping, and then his credit card]

Lydia: [takes them without comment, but her eyes take them in all the same, and she gives him a small smile] Meet me in the front when you're done.

Stiles: [nods and closes the door, reaching for his t-shirt to put on, not thinking anything about what things he had been hiding that he had exposed, and after he goes to put the stuff he wasn't taking back, he goes to meet her]

Lydia: [she finishes ringing things up before handing the garment bag to him with a nod] Ready to go?

Stiles: Yeah, sure, unless you want to grab something in the food court.

Lydia: [she pauses before nodding] Sure. I could eat.

Stiles: [grins and holds out his arm for her like he used too when they were teens, tossing the garment bag over his other shoulder]

Lydia: [she smiles at that as well, taking his arm before following his lead to the food court]

Stiles: [burgers and fries and milkshakes await them in the food court]