The captain bids Official Season 5 a farewell and fuck you. Thank you for flying with VBK Airlines. Now let's go on without thinking about how messy (and disappointing?) season 5 is turning out.
Liam paces outside the door. Up and down, repeatedly, slightly feeling as a soon-to-be father waiting outside the hospital room for his soon-to-be-born child to come to the world. Or, like a normal teen age boy just outside the ladies' restroom door, waiting for his girlfriend to tell him the result of the pregnancy test.
The more he thinks about it, the more this second option feels more apt to describe his feeling. And it sucks, because, in this very situation, he is the girl. And that's a tiny bit embarrassing, even if he can't really figure out why.
He keeps saying to himself, that he is not alone in this. That it's not his fault, that he is far from pregnant, or laboring, or waiting for the love of his life to finish laboring to go and see his firstborn. His situation is complicated, true, but not that much. It's weird enough to make him feel constantly ashamed of something, that he can't counterargument, but, surely it could be worse, right?
"Riiiight" he thinks, not believing his own line of thoughts.
He sighs and tries to stop pacing. He must have dug a hole in this corridor, and consumed all the sole of his shoes. He actually hasn't, he finds out, and the fact is actually a surprise.
Schools has never been more a burden to him. He has been sentenced to a long wait, and the day can't fucking drag itself away. Scott told him to just go to school and act normal, and wait, and, right now, Liam feels like punching his alpha's pretty boy face. Because, clearly, how sadistic is this?
How can Scott expect Liam to manage waiting for a whole day, when his alpha is at the vet clinic, trying to find the best moment and words to ask Deaton what the hell is happening between him and Liam?
Seriously, did Scott appointed him with a task that he knew Liam was never going to accomplish?
Oh, well.
Was Liam a smoker, he would definitely be smoking a whole pack right now. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately for his lungs and skin and body, no one in the pack smokes, and he can't go buy himself cigarettes.
Here we go, one coping mechanism that he knows works with waiting, and he can't even try it. How is this fair?
He tries not to sigh again, thinking that he doesn't want to attract more attention than he is doing. He goes to sit at a random table, but then checks his phone. End of the break, he needs to get back to class.
Cursing that too, he jogs down the corridor and sits in the correct classroom. His head feels so light, that he check twice that he is in the right room. He crosses the whole room for one of his usual seats in the back, but not too back.
Mason is already there, a quick smile flashed at him, before that smart head goes back to reading his notes.
Liam tries to mimic his friend, and opens his own notebook. He stares at the notes written down, which actually are Mason's notes that he copied on a day that he felt against wasting the paper to make a copy. His own handwriting is far from the neat thing that Mason's is, but it's not this the reason why he can't focus to read more than a single line.
He is still so tense, and he knows that it shows, but he can't do much about it. He fidgets in his seat and tries reading again, but the conversation with Scott comes up once more.
He breaks his pencil between his fingers, and two girls on his right chuckle at that. Mason, on his left, just lifts an eyebrow. He doesn't need to actually voice out the 'What the hell, man?', and his inquiring eyes are fixed on the broken pencil.
Liam finds suddenly very difficult to repress the urge to facepalm himself. Of course he would do something suspicious, like snapping a pencil in two goddamned fingers, which is hardly what a normal person would do, the very day that Scott asked him to stay put and act normal!
As if angry, normal human people snapped things into fingers just like that!
"Wait a minute. Angry? Anger!"
Realization dawns on him, and suddenly he feels so proud of himself that he mentally fist pumps air.
Mason is still staring at him with inquiring eyes, and Liam scowls back, putting up a troubled face. He just whispers 'Anger issue' between his clenched teeth, but it's enough.
After all, anger was once famous for having him snapping at any time, towards anyone, in any possible situation, so he doesn't really have to explain further than a strict line like 'anger issue'. For the first time in his life, he can be thankful for what he has fought against all his life.
Well, before becoming a creature that has to fight to survive, that is.
Voices are turned down while the teacher gets in and starts talking. Mason pats at his shoulder, and whispers back in a sympathetic voice: -Man, chill. Just, calm down, breath, you know. You haven't had an episode in months- he tries to comfort and be reasonable.
It has never worked before, but, considering that the issue at present is different, it does, in fact, relax Liam a lot. Because it means that he managed to shift Mason's attention on something less dangerous than him finding out about his best friend's supernatural powers.
-I know...I guess I'm just tense- Liam whispers back.
-For what in particular?- Mason lifts an eyebrow, more amused than suspicious: -Maths test? Or chemistry?-
Despite people in the pack saying that he is the most naive and innocent person ever, and the worst liar too, Liam knows actually how to be credible. And he knows that there is no way Mason is going to believe him, if he says that yes, he's having anger issues because he is tense for school and homeworks.
But, because Liam actually has a brain, he knows what is that will persuade even Mason's ever doubtful mind.
-The next match, man- he sighs, making it sound like a painful admission.
He's complimenting himself on the inside, but at the same time he realizes that there is a particular reason why this line sounded credible. For the next match, they are going to play against Brett's team, again.
Liam's old team.
He frowns a bit. He's not worried about that. Not only because he had to slightly reconsider his priorities, lately, and 'survive hunters and crazy people' got quickly on top of that list, while 'losing a match or sucking at lacrosse' was considerably demoted.
Plus, it's difficult to be tense and worry for a match against that team. He's a fucking werewolf, and plays in a team with a kitsune, and true alpha. Even if Brett had an entire team made of beta-werewolves like himself and Liam, they still would never win.
But, the good thing is that Mason doesn't know it, and buys Liam's explanation. He nods slowly, and pats Liam's shoulder again. Then he goes back to writing down notes that he and Liam are both going to need and use.
Liam tries once again to copy his friend, if not actually taking notes, at least listening, but he can't pay attention. He doesn't like maths, at all. It used to be because of the anger issue, not having the ability to stay calm, focused and concentrated enough, for enough time.
Chemistry is a bit better, because he likes that a bit more. When he wasn't a wolf, and was feeling the anger building, he could repeat himself, "calm down, this is going to be useful, calm down. It's not only numbers, it's elements. Things. Stuff" and that usually worked out. Sometimes. Now he's a werewolf and has to cope with all the matter from a different point of view.
He's glancing at his phone for the time every twenty seconds.
Yeah, so much for not thinking about it and act normal.
"Breath in, breath out. Calm down, Liam. It's still morning. You have to face the whole day in here" he tries to tells himself, to relax.
Derek's mantra always helps, at least slightly, and he further encourages his brain to just stop worrying: "Think of Scott. Scott is going to fix everything. He's going to help you, just like he always does" he says to himself.
Scott's expression pops in his mind. The soft eyes he has when he tells him to stay calm, when he praises him telling that he's strong, or reminding him that Derek praised Liam in front of Scott. Told him how lucky he is to have him as a beta.
"Breath in. breath out".
Thinking of Scott backfires. There's no way not to picture him and Scott in a bed together, again, now. The panic rises again, and his brain keeps shouting that, to hell with calm, he's fucking his fucking alpha!
"Wait, brain, waaaait. This is not doing any good. Stay calm, and breath. Breath man, breeeeeeath. In, out" he tries to fight the panic.
"The sun", air goes in.
"The moon", air goes out.
"The truth", in again.
"The sun", out.
"The moon", in.
"The truth", out.
He tries to reason again. After all, whatever is happening between him and Scott, it's not sex, and they didn't fuck. Ok, technically it still belonged to that realm, since it was a session of… heavy petting, but that's it. It's way different than actual sex. Liam is no expert when it comes to that, but he knows what sex entails.
And he knows that that was not real sex.
Unfortunately, this doesn't bring peace to his worried mind. He still feels so uncomfortable with this. He can't even look at himself in the mirror, and he doesn't know how to explain what he feels.
Part of him argues that it's because Scott isn't a woman. The other part freaks out and says it's because it's not a human thing.
He admits that both are true. It's not easy, finding out out of the blue that he can be attracted to a male body, even if only one in particular only. And, to realize it in a context when he didn't even have clear knowledge of what was going on…
The bell rings, startling him, slightly hurting his ears too. He recovers quickly and stands up a bit too harshly, so much that he has to grab the table before he knocks it down. He picks up his bag and turns to Mason, who's collecting notes and pens without looking at what he does, and throwing them all in his bag at random.
-So, are you coming with me?- Mason asks, his face fixed on Liam's.
He gets up and they both walk out the room.
-Where am I supposed to come?-
Oh, the pun.
-Duh, to that club, you know. The one you said I couldn't shut up abut- Mason answers, smirking in that nice way of his.
"Oh, damn. That club" Liam grimaces.
Mason has been harassing him into accompanying him to this new club, all week. The thing is, it's a gay club, and he definitely doesn't want to go to a fucking gay club, at least before finding out what's happening between him and Scott. He really can't go in there without knowing in advance if what happened was just a werewolf thing, or there might be the chance that he's into guys as well.
He lets out a frustrated sigh and starts walking towards the door of the classroom: -What about that club?-
-I told you, man, are you even listening to me?- Mason looks a bit frustrated as well, but he's smiling his lazy smile: -are you coming with me?-
-Do I have to?-
-Hell yes. You're my best friend, I need you to be my wingman! I need to get laid-
-TMI, man- Liam chuckles, pretending disgust that he would never feel for his best friend.
-Hey, what's that supposed to mean? I listen at you when you talk about girls and tits-
-When did I do that?!- Liam hurriedly turns to look at him.
God forbid him from starting acting like a moron, he already has to put up with the consequences of dry-humping Scott while they were sleeping.
Mason is silent for a few seconds, like he is actually thinking about it, than shakes his head and chuckles: -Well, never. Not yet. But, I know you're going to start, soon or later-
Liam snorts.
-Come on, please, I can't go alone!- Mason begs.
Liam thinks about it.
He looks at the floor, the dirty light blue linoleum that smells like dust, tainted water, mud, cigarettes' butts, fire and, very, very faintly, soap. The school went on fire, recently, and the floor is the most abused witness, apparently. They will never wash away the nightmares from it, will they?
He thinks about the news the pack gave him.
He thinks about the girl, the one that Lydia and her mom were trying to help. The one they thought was an omega, but it turned out she was a kanima.
"What is a kanima, again? Hell, I have to remember to ask Lydia, again. No wait, I don't want to ask her. She's too scary. Maybe I can ask Stiles. Even if he would look at me with that face he has when I ask dumb questions. Is it my fault if I don't know this stuff?! It's not like there is a manual. Or maybe I can just ask Scott?"
Here he goes, back to Scott.
He shakes his head and goes back on the topic of Mason's night out. His best friend wants to go out, at night, when there have been homicides, once per night, twice in a row. Doesn't Mason have any sense of incoming danger, at all? Is it a human thing? Was Liam this reckless, back then?
His mind pictures the faces of the victims. The crazy girl's father, the policeman, and then herself. Deaton has her body, now. The sheriff himself doesn't know how to deal with the way the craziness is degenerating.
As Lydia pointed out, the girl herself wasn't even crazy. She had.. how did Lydia called them? Liam can't remember, but he knows that he can trust the banshee girl to be right. When a banshee talks, you believe her, even if she says difficult stuff for you to understand. Especially if said banshee is also Lydia Martin kind of smart.
He exhales slowly, considering Mason's request.
His pack hasn't asked Liam anything for that night. He is, technically, free to go. And Mason wants to go to the club so badly, he will probably end up going with someone else. Someone who is not a werewolf and won't be able to protect him, if the proverbial shit hits the fan.
And, it might be difficult to protect Mason without letting him know about Liam secret nature, but, if it means keeping his best friend alive, well, to hell secrecy. His pack has been telling him to let Mason know, anyway, so, it's not like Liam would let anyone down.
Further good thing? It would be a perfect way to let Mason know, without having to face the most awkward conversation Liam has been avoiding.
-Alright, I'll come with you- he lets out: -Just... just tell me how I have to dress up, to not be bothered by half the club-
Mason laughs, happy, and starts babbling about the night. Scott texts him in that moment, in a private chat. Liam tunes out his best friend's merry monologue, and quickly picks up his phone.
Deaton says he has no clue about us. Said he's going to look into some books, will try to find out for us. Is that ok?
Well, no, that really isn't. But it's neither Scott nor the good doctor's fault, if they can't come up with an answer. He scowl at the screen, and texts it back to his alpha. He adds that he's going out with Mason, that night.
Scott's replies telling him to have fun but pay attention. The pack is going to investigate further on this thing about the Doctors and Lydia's dreams, all stuff that Liam either hasn't really understood or hasn't paid enough attention when it was being discussed. Which was a stupid thing, but, whatever. They won't need him, and Mason might do with a bodyguard. Even without knowing that he's bringing one along.
"Seems like I'm free for the night", he says to himself.
That night, Liam recognizes the first sign of a bad night as soon as he walks in, and sees his ex girlfriend. Mason has to bribe her with actual money to let Liam in too. Things proceed to an even worse level, when Mason, barely two minutes after, starts trying to hit on Brett. And Brett, the fucking idiot, actually reciprocates, which sends Liam's mood even lower.
Right when he's thinking that this couldn't go worse, he bumps into his ex again, and, despite werewolf agility, makes her spill a whole tray of expensive drinks. Not that he actually wastes much time cursing his luck for that, because, as the final fucking climax for the night, a scorpion guy attacks Mason.
Liam is so fucking relieved that, after all, he put up with the shitty night so far, since it turned out that he has to play bodyguard, after all. He shields Mason and cast a very quick scowl at Brett.
"Fucking hell, Brett! You're a fucking werewolf, too, and I fucking told you that there was someone not human around, you idiot! You've been a werewolf for longer than me and didn't even see a fucking threat! Idiot!"
He busies himself facing the offender, trying to avoid being poisoned by a venom that he suspects being positively lethal. At some point, he has to stop mentally telling at Brett and focus on his fight, because the scorpion guy is very aggressive, and very close to overpower him.
And keeps going for Mason.
Liam launches himself at the guy, more likely on him, to drag him far from his best friend. He dodges poisoning sharp nails, and punches and snarls at him, and that's when he hears Mason's delighted squeal.
Because, the little fucker is not afraid,, not at all. His face is lit up with joy, and 'oh my god, you're a werewolf!'.
Stupid idiot of a best friend.
Liam dodges a nasty punch, but to avoid another he gets kicked in the chest. He goes down on the floor, close to where Brett is already limping, an has been trying to get up for the pat few minutes.
Liam's head shots up again, dreadfully realizing that the scorpion guy is aiming at Mason again, and tries to push harder on his limbs to get up once more, but he knows he won't be able to shield his friend from those claws.
But, right then, look who's launching himself at the guy and sending him to the floor!
Scott confronts the scorpion guys, claws and fangs and red eyes. Kira is by his side, fury enveloping her with a mystic fire. Liam finally gets up, joining them, and he and Brett rush Mason in a safe corner. They shield him and go back to the fight, but that's when Liam realize that there is something really wrong with Kira.
She looks way too incensed by the fight, and like she is really going to kill the scorpion guy. Only Scott's alpha snarl stops her, and, by that time, their opponent is on the floor, barely conscious (barely alive), and is coughing up a silver substance.
The kitsune, who is now shivering but stands an looks around with the scared expression of someone who realized they have left the building for a few moments. Scott throw her a final glance, to which she replies nodding and pointing at the convulsing boy on the floor. Scott hunches over the silver mud, and frowns.
-It's like Tracy's. It's the same substance-
Kira stops shivering and leans closer to him: -You think they were made by the same person?-
-I guess- answers Scott, who then looks up at Liam.
The frown goes a bit softer: -You said you were going out, not that you were going to put yourself into trouble- he scolds him.
Liam smiles. He's so happy his alpha's here, and he's so happy Mason is safe, and that, after all, the night turns out less messy than it has been so far. Or, at least, he would be happy, if there wasn't a body on the floor, spitting and choking over some unknown, unnatural substance, and smelling like he is unfortunately not going to live past the night.
-I'm sorry- he murmurs back, kneeling down with Scott.
-Don't be- says Scott, and grabs at the shoulders of the barely alive boy: -Help me. We need to take him to Deaton, before it's too late-
Liam nods, and hurries to help his alpha, even though they both know that there is no hope left for the boy, whose body already reeks of death as if this mysterious liquid has been corroding him from the inside.
Unaware of the gravity of the situation, Mason chooses that right moment to fangirl and stifle out a laugh, smacking his hands together (Liam realizes he must also be a bit in shock), and, leaning closer and closer to Brett (what the hell, dude! You stupid dickhead were making out with my best friend and couldn't even point out you were being targeted by the scorpion crazy guy! Hell! If it wasn't for me, Mason would be dead!) whispers excitedly: -You're werewolves! You're all werewolves! I knew it! I knew I was right!-
Yeah. Trust him to focus on the important things, right?
Liam's anger against Brett disappears in a flash, when Scott cast a worried glance to the pale face of the boy they are carrying.
-Really doesn't look good- he whispers.
Kira frowns as well, walking hurriedly by their side: -Is he dying?-
-I think so- Scott replies, staring to walk faster and faster: -Liam, let's go, hurry! Maybe Deaton can help him-
They even start running, and Liam can't help but wonder where the hell is Stiles with his jeep, when you need a lift. They make it to Deaton's clinic still quite soon, but it's already to late for the guy between them.
The good doctor visits him, even if they all know that the coughing and convulsing body has retched over his last drop of silver-like blood. His heart stops with a wet sound that makes Liam wonder if it as melted, too.
"What a way to die" he grimaces, feeling sorry for the boy, even if he had attacked him and his best friend.
The silver liquid has stopped oozing out from his mouth. Deaton pokes at it with a gloved finger, and frowns: -This doesn't look good- he mutters.
-That's what I thought- Liam softly utters back, wondering once again how he has become accustomed to being so close with dead bodies, in such a short time.
-Is it the same substance that Tracy was spitting?- Scott asks, his vice as soft as Deaton's and Liam's, as if in respect for the dead boy between them, who doesn't hear anything, anymore.
The vet nods:- Yes, it is. The person who is responsible for what happened to Tracy's body, is also responsible for the death of this boy. I must say... I really am shocked. Playing like this with young lives...- he stops and shakes his head.
Scott's is looking guilty at the body, and Liam wonders why.
You tried to save him. You saved me, man.
He realizes with a pang of shame hat he is jealous. Of a dead body, belonging to someone he didn't know, because his alpha is mourning over the loss of an unknown, random guy. How vile can that be?
He berates himself, and focuses on helping his alpha, instead of harboring such petty feelings.
-Scott- he calls at him, and the yes of his alpha snap over, locking into Liam's. He doesn't utter another word, and for a moment he just stares at him, with his alpha staring back.
It works.
Scott exhales, his shoulders relax, and he shakes his head. His expression is now less 'it's my fault', and more 'I' sorry'. Liam feels satisfied with that: normal mourning in front of dead people is ok. He can't prevent his alpha from feeling sympathetic. He wasn't aiming at that. He just wanted to shift his mourning from something unhealthy for Scott, into something normal.
-You're right- Scott murmurs, and Liam feels the corners of his own mouth sliding upwards. They didn't speak, but, apparently, he wasn't the only one who felt like a muted conversation went on.
Scott frowns again, turning once more to the doctor.
-I think something is happening to Kira- he says, and tells him about what happened to the young kitsune when she went all samurai on the scorpion guy, speaking Japanese, when she doesn't know a word of it.
-Any clue of what is happening to her, too?- Scott asks, but the good doctor shakes his head once more: -I wish I knew, Scott-
We wish that too, thinks Liam.
We wish that too.
