"You had 117 million dollars in bearer bonds just lying around unprotected? You're officially the stupidest person I know, and I have a brother who's not exactly the sharpest tool in the toolshed." A low growl came from deep within Peter's body; he looked ready to kill her. June's muscles tensed, preparing them for the blow, should it come. She silently thanked her body for reacting before her mind did.
"The bonds were safe," said Peter. "Only the claws belonging to a Hale can open the vault." June resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the sheer stupidity – not that the only access to the vault was with a set of Hale claws wasn't brilliant, almost genius, but not taking the extra precaution of placing a lock on the safe that kept their fortune intact? How stupid could they really be? June didn't want Peter to actually attack her so she kept her mouth shut tightly but it was hard task as Peter kept rambling about the bonds, and Berserkers who apparently were from Norse mythology ("you've got to be kidding me," June commented), about Kate, and why she needed Derek to be a teenager again. He was furious, and stormed passed them up the stairs – Lydia suggested that they left too so June nudged Stiles in the ribs, and they ascended the stairs.
"Since it's Peter," June began. "We not going to believe any of the bullshit he just told us, right? I believe him about the bearer bonds, and with everything you've told me about Kate, I really do believe that she turned Derek back just so she could use him but we don't believe him about the Berserkers. Do we?" Stiles and Lydia exchanged a glance that did not make June feel comfortable.
"Malia saw something in Mexico that matches the description," said Stiles.
"We can't be sure," Lydia corrected. "It was dark out and the rest of us only heard a sound. It could have been something else." Stiles furrowed his brows at her.
"Are you in denial?"
"No," she argued. "It's not that I don't trust Malia's instincts but it really could have been anything." June was glad that Lydia was taking this argument instead of her, she was afraid she might snap if anyone said another word to her. She desperately needed to get some sleep.
After they'd spoken to everyone else who had been attacked by Berserkers, which made June rub her temples in frustration, they decided to part ways and head home for the night. As June, Lydia, and Stiles headed for his jeep, June checked her watch. It was way past midnight, and she realized that she once again would have to sneak in. Her limps felt heavy, and her entire body drained of energy as she climbed into the backseat of the jeep – the adrenalin that had been surging through her body most of the day was wearing off, and she could barely keep her eyes open on the silent ride to her house. She thanked Stiles for the ride, and made her way to the front door where the automatic light turned on as soon as she stepped onto the porch. She fumbled with her keys but finally managed to open the door and get inside. She kicked her shoes off in the hallway, and dumped her bag on the floor after which she made her way to the kitchen to get a snack and some water before heading to bed. She turned on the light, and jumped at the sight of her brother sitting on the counter.
"Jesus Marco," she half whispered, half yelled. "You scared me." He ignored her comment.
"You're lucky I covered for you," he hissed. "I told mom and dad that you went to a movie with your friends and the only viewing available was the late one. They bought it but you and I both know it's not true. Where were you?" June drained her glass of water, and refilled it.
"Doesn't matter," she replied dismissively. "You have your first day tomorrow, why aren't you asleep?" Since the Delaneys moved to Beacon Hills, Marco had attended Devenford Prep because they had a better baseball team than the local high school but making friends hadn't been easy and in the end he asked if he could transfer to his sister's school. June had made new friends faster than Marco thought she would, and it surprised him because usually June tried to keep her distance from people, and stay out of everyone's business – she had always focused more on her training than building friendships.
"I'm worried," he said, concern laced in his voiced. "We're all worried, June. You stay out late, you're distracted, and your grades are dropping."
"Thanks mom," she snapped. "I'm fine, Marco." June grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl and headed upstairs while she ate it. She flopped down on her bed without changing out of her gym clothes, and fell straight asleep.
"Shit," June mumbled when she woke up the next morning, and peeked at the clock on her bedside table. She peeled herself off her bed, and shuffled her way to the bathroom where she had to settle for washing herself because there was no way she had time for a shower with only twenty minutes until she had to leave. She splashed cold water in her face, and looked at herself in the mirror. Her dark hair was still in a ponytail but it was now crooked and several strands had fallen out and were waving in every direction possible, she had dark circles under her eyes from months without a normal sleeping schedule, and last night's rendezvous didn't exactly help the problem. She adjusted her ponytail, put a coat of concealer under her eyes, added mascara, and left the bathroom to go change into some school appropriate clothes. She hadn't managed to do her homework for the day but she could usually get through the classes quite easily especially history with Kira's dad since he knew about the pack's dealings (June wasn't sure he knew about Mexico though). She raced down the stairs, and into the kitchen where she snatched half a piece of toast out of Marco's hand, and stuffed it into her mouth.
"Hey," he grunted. "I was eating that!"
"Not fast enough," June teased, and took a water bottle from the fridge. "You ready to go? We have to pick Lydia up on the way." Marco nodded, and grabbed his backpack from the chair next to him. He jogged after June to her car, and slipped into the front seat. June glared at him.
"No," she said firmly. "Freshmen go in the back."
"What?"
"That seat is reserved for Lydia, now scoot. We're late." Marco scoffed but didn't argue as he unbuckled his seatbelt, and slipped into the backseat of his sister's car. The drive to Lydia's house was less than ten minutes and even though June drove above the speed limit, she was still late. She apologized when Lydia slid into the front seat. Marco did a not so discreet fake cough from the backseat that made Lydia jump just a little; she twisted in the seat and looked behind her where Marco did a stupid wave.
"There's a boy in your car," Lydia stated. June kicked the engine awake and it hummed as she backed out of the driveway and set off for school. The quietness of the car was almost scary because she'd gotten used the persistent noise of Stiles' jeep.
"That's Marco," June explained. "Brother dearest." Lydia nodded but didn't say anything else. June felt that Lydia had wanted to talk about something but not in the presence of her brother who remained completely ignorant to the fact that there was anything supernatural going on in Beacon Hills, and that was exactly the way June wanted it. They pulled into the school parking lot, and climbed out of the car. June wished her brother good luck, and pointed him in the direction of the administrations office where he would be talking to an administrator to get his schedule and locker number among other things. The girls made their way inside the building at which point June asked Lydia what was bothering her.
"Stiles mentioned something after we dropped you off last night." June quirked up an eyebrow. "He said he saw you box in the gym so I looked you up online. Why didn't you mention that you were Kickboxing State Champion three years in a row, and placed second in the Nationals?" June shrugged as they stopped at her locker.
"I stopped training when we moved," June explained. "It didn't seem relevant."
"The article also said you trained in other forms of martial arts including Krav Maga and military styled self defense." June nodded.
"Are you just reviewing my training or is there a question in there somewhere?" Lydia hesitated. Her eyes shifted from June to the students who were scattered across the school hallway, each lost in their own personal conversations. The simplicity of it seemed so distant that June could hardly believe it had once been a part of her normal day – that her life hadn't always been about the next threat to the lives of her friends. Lydia's eyes shifted back to June.
"I want you to train me."
"What?" June wasn't easily shocked but Lydia's request threw her off guard.
"I can't defend myself, June, or others. I just have voices in my head, and I don't know how to be helpful if I don't know how my powers work." June sighed but didn't answer. She walked with Lydia to their math class where they took their seats as the rest of the student piled into the classroom. June spotted Malia in the doorway but she backed out of the room instead of entering, only to be dragged back by Stiles.
"I'll do it," June said under her breath. Lydia twisted in her seat as Stiles and Malia sat down in the chairs next to them. "Today during tryouts. Meet me in the gym." Lydia nodded and turned back around, a hint of a smile played around her lips.
"… and math is essential."
"To what?" Malia asked, clearly curious.
"How to tip at restaurants," Stiles replied. Lydia and June both looked at Stiles like the idiot June knew him to be.
"And less important things like medicine, economics, engineering," Lydia explained, and sent Stiles a patronizing smile. June chuckled.
"Tipping," Stiles insisted. Their teacher asked for volunteers to come to the board and solve the equations. June let out a relieved breath when she wasn't called on but Malia was – June couldn't help but feel sympathetic. June could hear Stiles fidget from the table next to her as if he was wanted to say something to her but didn't quite know how. What was with her friends today? Were they that afraid of her temper, that they found it hard to ask her simple questions? She turned her head, and stared at Stiles with a quirked eyebrow.
"So," he began. "You box."
"I used to compete," June admitted, not sure why she was telling him. "Kickboxing mostly. I also did mixed martial arts, self-defense, and Krav Maga." Stiles pulled out his phone after it had made a sound. As he read what was on his screen, his eyes grew worried and deep lines dug into his forehead.
"What is it?" Stiles pried his eyes away from his phone, and locked eyes with her.
"There's been a triple homicide," he explained. "A family was murdered with an axe." June's breath caught in her throat as she processed. Stiles mumbled as he texted his dad to get more information on the circumstances of the murders, and if it was something that the pack should get involved with. June hoped that this time, it would be enough for the police to handle it but something told her that wasn't the case and later, when it turned out that the family that had been killed were all a supernatural being called a wendigo, June knew that the lives of her friends were once again in jeopardy and to make matters worse than they already were – Scott bit a freshmen to save his life.
A/N: I present to you, the second chapter of 'Of Blood and Bones'. I decided to let June teach Lydia to fight instead of Parrish because it makes more sense. Reviews are much appreciated and you write to me on my tumblr (stydiaokaybye) to talk about this fic or any other one. Thanks so much!