Chapter 33 - She's Back
He parked the car close to the exit way and sighed as he let the engine die out, his hands were gripping the steering wheel making his knuckles turn white. His stomach was turning nervously as he chewed on the inside of his cheek, eyes darting around the entrance of the school as he took in the students yet to enter it. The radio had died with the engine leaving behind a buzzing sound in his ears, the silence was slowly driving him crazy as his mind erupted in a ray of emotions. Memories flashed through his vision, blinding him from reality. He clicked his tongue in frustration, forcing the door open as he threw himself out of the car.
The air caused by the sudden movement forced him to blink, as he opened them back up the school had disappeared. The sky had filled with clouds as it prepared for heavy rain, thunder erupted in the far distance. The parking lot was empty, the building next to it decaying a sign no one had cared for it. The bushes and trees were overgrown, the garden filled with weeds. The pavement was cracked, the windows broken. Even the birds were avoiding the place, sensing the terrible deeds that would soon be occurring.
Cigarette smoke filled his nostrils causing Mickey to turn towards the man leaned against the trunk of the car, his fathers' face was neutral but thoughtful. He was thinking but Mickey wasn't sure it was about the things they would do and the morals of it, it could be anything. The details of their assignment hadn't been fully disclosed to Mickey, his father had refused to speak when asked about it.
The cigarette was discarded to the ground, a heavy boot grinding it against the pavement as his father shoved his hands into the deep pocket of his coat, ''Did Rae ever tell you about my past?''
Their eyes met, Mickey tried to remember the few things his mother had said about either of their pasts. His family had always been filled with secrets, most hidden for the sake of Mickey. His mother had always wanted him to grow up like the other children, didn't want him to feel different and that's why she forced him to suppress his powers. To be honest, he was grateful, it had given him a peaceful childhood.
''Honestly? Not much,'' he admitted as he looked away to stare at the sad-looking building, the thunder closing in as small droplets of rains started to fall.
''I was a soldier through my teen to adulthood,'' his father said as his face turned more somber as memories long-buried was dug back up, a new cigarette placed between his lips as he searched for a lighter.
His father seldom smoked because the smell of the cigarette burnt his nostrils, he'd never before smoked in front of Mickey. The smell was terrible so close causing his head to ache, his nose scrunched as his brows set into a frown, ''I figure that's where you picked up smoking?''
A chuckle was his only response, his father's eyes amused as he took in the discomfort plain on his sons' face, ''I was known as the reaper, nazis called me der Sensenmann. I killed many fellow men and never did I regret taking a life, all in the name for my country,''. He sucked in a long breath, letting the toxic smoke settle in his lungs before he exhaled, ''It wasn't until after I was turned that I realized that I did it for my pleasure, doing it for my country was just an excuse,''. He glanced at Mickey who'd grown uncomfortable, shifting his weight between his legs avoiding the man's heavy stare, ''I realized that it hadn't been a stroke of shit luck that those scientists took me out of all the soldiers in my platoon, it was because they saw my potential. They didn't make me into a beast, they merely helped me into my true form.''
His heart clenched but his mouth remained shut, several replies stuck on his tongue but none seemed right. He'd always known that his father was a bad guy, he had to be otherwise he wouldn't be hunted through the whole country. What he'd done Mickey didn't know and neither did he want to know, they were kin but they weren't the same. Ericas' face flashed in front of him, he swallowed knowing his argument was futile.
A heavy hand clamped down on his shoulder, grounding him but fueling his thoughts. Screams erupted from inside the building as thunder sounded from above, it was just above them now. His father leaned down until they faced where leveled, ''Now I'll help you embrace yours,'' his eyes flashed crimson causing the wolf within Mickey to growl in anticipation.
He'd blacked out after that or at least that's what he'd told himself, shoving the memories of that night deep into the back of his mind. The buzzing in his ears had stopped as the bell rung, he choked on the air long due needed to be exhaled and suddenly he was back at the school. His palms were sweaty, his body trembling as the hazy memories slowly faded back into his subconsciousness. He wiped his hands on his jeans before turning back to the car to retrieve his backpack, the image in the rearview mirror made him aware of his pale complexion. His pupils were huge, his nerves wrecked.
Through panic his senses never failed to aid him, picking up on the familiar presence close by. He threw himself out of the car, eyes searching his surrounding until he finally found the person. His heart was beating loudly in his ears as their eyes met, his lips tight as he was unable to find words. When words failed him he turned to action, his feet taking him forward until he could pull her into his embrace.
Inhaling the scent of her hair brought forth emotions he'd locked away since the day she left, the feeling of longing and love filling his heart all at once as he realized just how long it had been since he last saw her. She leaned into him as her arms wrapped around his torso, he could feel her smile against his skin. His voice was muffled as he spoke, ''Welcome back.''
She buried her nose in his hoodie, snuggled against him until he finally found the will to pull back. Not stepping away he used his hand to gently make her look up at him, once she did he leaned down to let their lips meet. She pushed into it as her arms shifted to his neck pulling him closer towards her, they both rolled their eyes as some guys whistled at their public display of affection but neither could care less about what other thought. She was back and that was all that mattered to Mickey, his heart beating for the first time in months.
''We need to get to class,'' she sounded as disappointed as he felt at the fact, and yet he refused to let her go, his dull green eyes sending a heated glare at the school.
He knew what awaited him once he stepped inside the building, Scott would know and so would Stiles and quite frankly Mickey wasn't ready to meet them. So he wrapped his arms around Allisons' waist and pulled her upwards causing her to let out a surprised yelp, her face lighting up into a bright smile as he carried her over to the passenger side. He struggled to open the door but once it was open he gently put her down on the seat, she immediately pulled her legs inside letting him close the door behind them.
''Only for an hour,'' she said trying to sound stern as he closed the door to the driver's side, he grinned at her as he started the engine letting the music fill the space. She studied the car as he idly put it in reverse to back out of the parking spot, ''Is this your car?''
''Nah, it's my dad's,'' he admitted as he drove away from the school, holding his out hand for her to take. Her hand was small in his own, tiny and fragile filling him with the will to protect. The mentioning of his father only serves to grow the feeling.
''You haven't talked much about him,'' she said suddenly curious on the subject, he glanced at her from the corner of his eyes feeling dismayed over the genuine curiosity that sparkled in her eyes.
''There's not much to say,'' he said with a shrug trying to drop the subject quickly, hoping she would lose interest with just some vague answers.
''And your mother?'' she suddenly asked causing him to fully look at her, it only lasted a few seconds before he was forced to turn his attention back to the road. He realized that she was doing it on purpose, mentioning his family. So he shrugged not wanting to further the subject, she leaned her head on her hand as she looked at him with a light smile, ''You never talk about your parents, just like before I left.''
He sighed, fingers drumming on the steering wheel as he thought about what would be good enough to disclosed without letting out too much of the truth. His family was broken, his family was made up of killers. His mother was a human, a former huntress much like Allison had become. She'd once been more like Gerard, consumed by power and greed but luckily she'd changed after giving birth to Mickey. His father was a monster, a man more interested in the taste to flesh and bone then having a normal family dinner on Sundays. His stomach churned knowing he was becoming just like them, becoming the beast his mother had feared him to become.
''I don't know about my dad but my mother's a lawyer,'' he said hoping she would be pleased with just the crumbs, telling her the small things to clench her curiosity.
''I heard from Scott that your dad went away years ago,'' Allison said sounding sympathetic, he remembered how she'd suddenly lost her mother so the thought of losing a father struck her hard. He squeezed her hand trying to soothe away the painful memories, she'd lost so many family members in just a year.
He couldn't deny her the conversation and so he bit the skin on the inside of his cheek trying to come up with a lie closest to the truth, ''My dad's a war veteran, being on the battlefield changed him even though he was strange, to begin with. He's... Complicated.''
His last statement caused her to chuckle, he glanced at her raising a brow at the adoration shown in her eyes as she looked at him, ''You're very similar then.''
Such an innocent compliment yet it caused his airway to tighten, a lump forming making it hard to breathe. If only she knew just how alike they were, those beautiful brown eyes of her wouldn't be filled with adoration. He forced himself to smile.