| To Feel |

As Scott rounded the corner down the stairs, he looked back up behind him, Stiles' expression of immense displeasure and Liam's of anxiety. Ms. Morrell was in front of the alpha, leading them down towards the closed wing of Eichen House. Eventually, they passed through the hallway, all manner of bizarre creatures wardened on either side. The passed one cell in particular, the front made entirely of glass. Inside was none other than Peter Hale, seated, bound in a strait jacket, and mouth bound. Upon seeing the three recognizable boys, he began to shake violently, trying scream at them, break free of his restraints. Morrell didn't stop, though, didn't pay him a glance, and the boys followed.

She rounded a corner, coming to another long hallway. In the very back at the end was a chamber floored and walled in rubber. Behind this glass was Theo Raeken. Bound similarly, albeit with his mouth free, he looked as if he was asleep. When his head rose from its fallen position, the chimera smiled up at them with that infamous devilish smirk.

"It took a month to get you here," Theo said, his tone matching his grin. Scott noted that his face was gaunter, the reason why they were there finally taking form. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised."

"We came. Why're we here, Theo?" Scott said plainly.

"What, you're not shocked to see me?" he feigned.

"No one in this town stays dead," Stiles retorted. "It's like the fucking DC Universe." Scott shot him a look, but turned back to Theo.

"I just wanted to tell you I forgive you," Theo said, his gaze locking with Scott's.

"You, you forgive us?" Liam said disbelievingly. "Are you sure we can't make an exception this time?" he directed at Scott. "I mean, I'll do it. I have no problem at this point." Scott gave his beta an even sterner look.

"Things don't change I guess," Theo said, his smirk widening.

"Is that all?" Scott asked, his words still void of emotion. Theo's smirk dropped. Scott's stare—the concealed and controlled emotions—it robbed the chimera of his words. Of his game. He finally nodded, looking away. Scott watched him for a moment, his stare at the other boy's face not once wavering.

"Come on, Scotty, let's go," Stiles said, noting the other's gaze; Liam nodded in agreement.

But Scott turned to Morrell. "I wanna' go in there. I need a moment with him." Theo looked up at Scott, taken aback.

"Scott," Liam started. Stiles sighed, foreseeing a moment like this when they got the call from their former guidance counselor.

"I don't advise this, Scott," Morrell said.

"I'll be brief," the alpha offered. She looked down at Theo's face and relented, opening the door for him. "No wolf-hearing," Scott said to Liam, although when he looked away Stiles leaned back and made a face at the youngest amongst them, trying to signal they needed to hear everything.

"When you go in there, Scott," Morrell began, "touch the rubber after I seal the chamber." The true alpha walked in, Morrell sliding the door closed behind him and pushing the button to seal Theo's cell. She flicked off the intercom and in seconds Scott's hearing shifted; he could no longer pick up any noise outside the room.

"Scott?" Theo said, looking up at his old friend curiously, still caught off guard.

The brunette knelt and touched the floor. He kept his gaze down, breathing in. "This, all this, it didn't have to turn out this way. What happened?" He looked up at the bound boy. "The truth, please."

Theo hesitated. He looked as if he were about to open up, his eyes glistening, when his faux expression reverted to its true form. "This isn't over, Scott," he sneered. "I'm gonna' get out of here, and when I do, I'm coming for all of you. No games. No tricks. You're all dead!"

Scott didn't once falter. He stood, waving an assuring hand to the worried trio in the hall. "You won't," he said, turning back to Theo. "You're not getting out of here, not without my approval. Peter hasn't. He's just down the hall. He probably wants me dead more than you do, and he's still here. Has been for more than a year." Theo looked stunned. "Stiles was right...about a lot of things. He was right about you. About me. But he was wrong about one thing: I still think there's hope. And I would say 'I wish I could show you what I see,' but, I actually can. Satomi taught me that alphas can not only view memories, or take them away, but they can share them, too." Scott stepped forward and, despite Theo's squirm, embedded his claws into the back of his neck…

"Hi, Scott," the school nurse said, looking down at him. "Another asthma attack?"

"Not me. Theo." The eight-year old Scott looked over at his friend, Theo's chest heaving, a sickly noise emitting from his throat.

"Okay, Theo. We're gonna' make you better," the nurse said, walking into another room.

"You're okay," Scott said, leaning over, taking the boy's hand. He was scared, though, his eyes filled with concern. "Remember last time? The trip to the ER? It was easy, right?" Theo nodded. "You got to get out early. Go home."

"Alright, Mr. Raeken," the nurse said, returning with an inhaler. "I know you know how to use this." She knelt down, handed it to him. Theo brought it to his mouth and took a puff, holding his breath for ten seconds before releasing. "Again." Theo repeated the motion and finally let his head fall back. He offered the inhaler to her, the nurse taking it and wiping the mouth piece. "Did you forget yours again?" Theo nodded. "You, too, Mr. McCall?" Scott grinned, guilty. She sighed but smiled nonetheless. "Promise me boys, in the future, at least one of you remember your inhaler so you can look after each other?" They nodded and Scott helped Theo to his feet.

The scene dissolved and a montage seemed to scroll by. They were still in elementary school, but it was earlier in the year, before they met. Scott would see Theo down the hall or the boy would pass by him. They'd be in class and Theo would raise his hand. Once he even looked at Scott, looking around the room and catching the boy's gaze so briefly. Every time Scott saw him he became nervous. With butterflies.

The scene dissolved again. This time, Scott was looking up at his ceiling. He was shirtless, clad in only his boxers. It was the night of Senior Scribe, after the fight with Belasko and after the signing. He was in bed, his eyes dry from infrequent blinking. He was looking up, but he wasn't seeing. He was lost in his mind, in the memories of his friendship with Theo. Of that night, when the boy had stepped in to help fight his attacker. Of his teenaged face. His teenaged body. That more confident smile. The old feelings he once felt stirred, forcing him to roll over and grasp for something else to concentrate on.

The memory merged into the sight of Lydia, looking down at Liam with Hayden resting on his chest. He looked over at Theo, exhaustion and gratitude emanating from his pores. He tried to speak, only his body language nourished enough to step in. But Theo had just stepped forward from his lean on the sofa, looking only at him. He had just pulled Scott in tight, the alpha surprised and yet so entranced by the emotions swelling up inside from his core. As Scott made his way upstairs that night, he could feel his elementary crush come to full manifest as an 18-year-old boy. The desire in numerous prongs: romantically, curiously, sexually. His stomach had flip-flopped at just recalling the hug in his mind and throughout that night, even in bed, cuddling with Kira, he couldn't keep his mind from lingering on Theo. On the hug. On that feeling. On that pull...

Scott's claws retracted and he stepped back. Theo's eyes were closed; he was trembling. Scott looked behind himself; while the door was still closed, Liam and Stiles looked alarmed enough to barge in. He gave them a look, his lip bunched, before turning back around to face the chimera.

"I know what psychopathy is, Theo. I know it prevents you from feeling guilt. That it makes it hard to feel...for others. Maybe that...maybe that'll give you something to think about. For the future. I'll be around." Scott rapped on the glass, the sounds from the rest of the world returning first before the door opened.

"Scott, what the hell was—" Stiles tried, but Scott put up his hand.

"Later," the alpha affirmed. He looked at Morrell, sticking out his hand. "Thank you." She shook it, giving him a reassuring smile. Scott didn't give Theo a single glance when Morrell escorted them out, only Liam and Stiles looking in on the distress pouring off of the interned boy's face. Out at the jeep, Scott climbed in shotgun. He breathed out heavily, looking read to have some sort of breakdown when Stiles pulled him into a hug. He didn't cry, but Stiles held him tight regardless.