Scott felt like he'd been punched in the stomach as soon as the words left Mitch's lips. Surrender? Over his dead body.

Scott was just about to say as much before he caught himself, remembering that he had a façade to keep up. "We aren't going to surrender," Scott started, picking his words carefully, "because we don't want an enemy to surrender to. We just want to leave this whole thing behind us. We just want peace, Mitch." Scott tried to put as much honesty and passion into his expression, trying desperately to ignore the fact that he sounded like he'd come straight out of an eighties movie. 'God, Freddie would have been so much better at this,' Scott thought to himself as he watched different expressions flit across Mitch's face. The team's – christened 'Team Absolutely-Amazing' by the one and only Freddie – negotiator was able to act as well as Leonardo DiCaprio.

Mitch's ears were pressed flat against his head, and Scott was reminded with a jolt that he was talking to a hybrid, one of the creatures who had killed his father. Instant disgust filled him, and the guilt that had been rising up in his stomach faded away quickly.

"There are no strings attached, Mitch," Scott told the cat-hybrid with new resolve. Mitch narrowed his eyes at him, like he was lying or something. Which he was, but Mitch didn't know that.

Geez, Scott needed to step up his game.

"Yeah, right," Mitch snorted, "and I'm Harry Potter."

"But there aren't," Scott said, nearly begging. He was disgusted at himself, but it needed to be done.

Mitch's unimpressed expression suddenly morphed into one of anger. He suddenly went up to Scott, who flinched. "Now, listen here," he growled. "I am taking none of your shit, you got me? Because I am sick of hearing your whiny little voice telling me things that are impossible are going to happen. So, I want you to just walk away. Don't come back."

Scott stood, frozen, and watched Mitch turn on his heel and start to leave the clearing, heading east. Just as Mitch had reached the edge of their little meeting place, a sudden, stupid idea lit up in Scott's head. It was dumb, yes, and unlikely to work, but it was all he had. All he needed to do was play the mystery card.

"Wait!" he said, reaching out a hand as if to grab Mitch and physically pull him back. Almost as if against his will, Mitch turned slightly.

"What?" he asked harshly.

"I have something that'll prove it to you. Just meet me here tomorrow, at the same time. Please."

"What is it?"

Scott smirked. "Ah, but I have to have something to draw you in. Something that will guarantee that you will be here."

Scott had Mitch pegged as the type of guy who needed to know everything, no matter the cost. He hoped he was right.

There was a small stretch of silence as Mitch stared at the ground, biting his lip. Suddenly, he looked up, his eyes boring straight into Scott's. Scott found himself getting lost in the intense gaze. "Maybe," Mitch said quietly. "Maybe."

Scott couldn't help the grin that crossed his face, and blamed it on the prospect that he had another chance to get to the village. It had nothing to do with the fact that he wanted to see Mitch again, no way. There was no way he liked a hybrid.

"Great," he said, but Mitch was already gone. Scott stamped his foot. "Damn it!"

[{x}]

Scott finally found his way back to camp after a half an hour, panting with exertion, all thanks to Freddie's loud voice carrying over the tree tops. This was probably the first time it had come in useful.

Note to self: Don't invite Freddie on long hunting trips.

Scott tromped over to the cluster of three tents – he and Amelia got their own, Brian and Freddie preferred to share, the damn lovebirds – and flung his backpack down. He was still wearing his civilian's clothing, which was soaked with sweat and covered with dirt from where he'd fallen and scrambled around on that one creek bed. He felt disgusting.

Brian smiled briefly at him from where the rest of the team was gathered around their makeshift fire pit, where they were holding hotdogs stabbed on sticks over the flames. Amelia held out a stick to Scott as he made his way over to them, picking his way over discarded bags and supplies. Scott took it gratefully, stabbing a hotdog on it and sticking it over the fire.

"So," he said after a few minutes of comfortable silence. "What have you guys been doing to make yourselves useful?"

Amelia immediately perked up, answering him quickly. "Well, Brian and I gathered up firewood and leaves to start a fire. Freddie was supposed to pick up camp, but you can see how that went." Scott observed the campsite – with plenty of dirty clothes, supplies, and bags littering the ground and spilling out of tents, the site was as dirty as when Scott had left earlier that morning, determined to find the clearing in time.

"At least you didn't give him an important job," Scott told her. "I have taught you well." Amelia smirked at Freddie, who had burst out with a sharp "hey!'". Scott suddenly turned towards the youngest member of the tag-team, serious. "Actually, I do have a pretty important job for you, Freddie. I need your skills of persuasion."

Freddie cocked an eyebrow at him. "Yeah?"

"Mitch is being difficult. I need someone who can back me up on this whole 'making peace' thing. It's so ridiculous, I don't know how we're going to pull it off. He might not even show up this time."

Freddie laughed and nodded at his leader, grinning. "Taking drastic measures now, darling?" he asked Scott, smiling to reassure the blond that he was kidding. Scott twitched the corners of his lips up slightly, taking his food off of the fire and taking a bite. They didn't have the time to enjoy luxuries such as buns.

"Thanks, Fred," Scott said, affection for his tag-team swelling. He fucking loved those jerks. Freddie dramatically winced, and pressed the back of his hands to his forehead, leaning into his boyfriend, who rolled his eyes.

"How could you call me such a name, Scott?" he moaned, pretending to sob in anguish. Scott just let out a huff of laughter, visibly relaxing.

"Could you shut up for five minutes, Freddie?" Amelia asked loudly, pulling her bright red hair over one shoulder, raising a delicate eyebrow. Freddie waggled his eyebrows.

"I do, occasionally." He sent a meaningful look at Brian. The whole tag-team pretended to gag as the two proceeded to kiss. Scott snapped his fingers, getting impatient with the younger man. Freddie was useful, yes, but sometimes he was so difficult Scott wondered if he was even worth it.

"So, you need to come with me tomorrow when I possibly meet Mitch."

Freddie turned towards him, frowning slightly. "Don't you think he might possibly freak out if you bring somebody else with you?"

Scott bit his lip. "Well, I can't think of anything else. Desperate times call for desperate measures," he stated. Amelia snorted.

"Super reassuring, Scott, great job," she said sarcastically.

Scott rolled his eyes. "Ugh, I give up on you guys." He threw his hands up in the air before pointing towards the woods. "We need more firewood. Guess whose turn it is to actually do some work?" Everyone sent a pointed look at Freddie, who shifted in his spot before standing.

"Fine," Freddie groaned, before wandering off into the woods. Brian cast an anxious look up at the darkening sky. He quickly stood, hurrying after his boyfriend.

"Wait, I'll go with you Freddie! It's getting dark!"

As soon as he was gone, Amelia and Scott were left in a comfortable silence. "So," Amelia said, turning towards the blond. "Some peace. Finally."

Scott smiled, looking up at the sky. Stars were beginning to make themselves visible against the dark blue. "It's not often we can get away from the lovebirds." She frowned at the ground, shifting a little bit before looking at him.

"Sometimes I wonder what it's like to have someone worry about you like that. Someone who wants to protect you like that."

"You have us, Amelia. Don't forget that."

"I know, but I—" She sighed. "I guess I mean someone to love."

Scott grimaced at tried to hold the sudden montage of Mitch images that flashed through his mind. "I get ya."

They drifted into another comfortable silence and sat together for another half hour, before they heard a scream to the left and ran to go and rescue Freddie from the raccoon he'd run into.

[{x}]

"This," Freddie panted from just behind Scott. "This is way to hot to be called October."

Scott plucked at his sweat-soaked t-shirt, keeping his eyes forward and doing his best to not collapse. "I know. But, we're almost there, so just keep going."

"I don't know if I can."

They continued in silence – a rare occurrence, seeing as Freddie was on this journey – until they finally reached the clearing, Scott patting a tree trunk and announced that they'd arrived. Freddie immediately sat down on the ground, shedding his yellow jacket and leaning back on his hands. Scott remained standing for around five minutes before joining him, realizing that they were actually about half an hour early. He avoided telling Freddie this, wanting to dodge any more whining or complaining as long as he could.

Around five minutes of just listening to various birds and bugs chirp, Freddie suddenly spoke, his voice quiet. "You know, I don't think—" he suddenly cut himself off and returned to staring at the tree tops.

Scott turned towards the younger man, his curiosity spiking. "What?"

"Never mind."

"Just tell me before I have to order you."

Freddie glared at him before saying. "I don't… I don't think that we're doing the right thing."

Scott snorted. "What, making peace? Freddie, it's all a façade."

Freddie turned towards him now, eyebrows furrowed in what could have been concern or confusion. "That's what I think is wrong. Why are we even killing these people in the first place? What's the point?"

Scott stared at his companion, shocked. "Because they kill us."

"Humans kill each other all the time. Scott, we fucking hunt them like they're animals—"

"They're half ani—"

"And half human. Look, maybe I'm wrong, but, I don't know if I want to do this, Scott. I'll persuade him, sure, I'm still on your side, but I – I can't kill them. I never have and I really don't plan to."

They lapsed into another silence. Scott mulled over Freddie's words, rolling them around in his mind, trying to avoid seeing the undeniable truth in them.

'Think of Dad, think of Dad, think of Dad,' he thought desperately. 'You might lose your job if you think like this. Remember that girl from a couple years ago? Esther? Yeah, who knows what happened to her. You've gotta keep Freddie form having the same fate. You'd be failing Dad.'

"Scott?" Freddie said hesitantly, interrupting Scott's spiral into insanity. Freddie laughed. "I feel like I'm coming out to my parents all over again."

"Have you told anyone else this stuff?" Scott asked suddenly. Freddie nodded after a few seconds.

"Brian. He agrees with me – but, don't fire him. Just fire me if you're going to—"

"No," Scott interjected. "I wouldn't ever fire you, or tell Kevin, or grudge you for this. I've—I've actually been having some similar thoughts, to be honest."

The relief on Freddie's face almost made Scott cry. He really thought Scott would fire him?

"You have to keep it from Amelia though," Freddie said. "She'll tell Kevin if you tell her."

Scott nodded. "Freddie, I need to tell you that I li—"

A rustle in the bushes cut him off, and Mitch appeared seemingly out of nowhere, freezing when he spotted Freddie sitting on the ground across from him. Freddie quickly stood, tugging his jacket back on, and smiled so charmingly Scott wanted to applaud. "Hi, I'm Freddie."

Mitch seemed to regain his bearing all to fast. "Mitch." He then looked at Scott. "I suppose this is that something you were talking about?"

Freddie looked at Scott, giving him a mock-offended look. "Something? I don't qualify as a someone?"

Mitch took a step closer, raising one eyebrow. Scott tried not to think about how perfectly sculpted it was. "Alright, so, get started. This had better be good."