ihatefreezers:

iamthefirechild:

She could only blink after him, taken aback by his statements. No boy with the concealed sweetness she sensed in him would kill. She knew that. Yet he’d felt the need to defend himself to her anyway. Shaking her head, she nudged Helios away from his sulk at the now-closed bathroom door, and picked up the few clothes she’d found of Isaac’s.

“Come on, silly kitty. He doesn’t want to share the shower with you,” she said. After she started the dryer, she rummaged up sheets and a blanket and pillows, piling them on the couch. Then she tapped on the bathroom door. “Everything alright in there?”

It was a relief to stand in a steaming hot shower. He immersed himself in the water, closing his eyes as the heat engulfed him. All the grime and dirt from the lake dispersed down the plughole and he was finally able to feel clean. As she called in, Isaac jumped slightly: he was easily startled when his mind was so relaxed. “Oh-uh, yeah…I’m fine…this shower’s perfect.” 

Letting out a relaxed sigh, he did a quick once over with the soap before shutting off the water and wrapping himself in a towel. He hoped he didn’t seem like a killer to his new friend… Before long he was changing back into his mangled clothes from the lake. He didn’t mind that they were tattered, it didn’t bother him. 

Summer perched on the edge of the couch, and gave him a quick once-over. “You look much better,” she commented, and stood up. Beckoning, she led him around a low half-wall, lined with bookcases, and gestured at the bed.

“Helios may try to knead you, just push him away if it’s a problem.” The fluffy, Siamese-pointed cat leaped up onto the bed and watched Isaac with blue eyes. “I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”

ihatefreezers:

iamthefirechild:

Summer nodded sharply, concealing her surprise at his statements. It was possible he was older than he seemed, to be living alone, as a person of interest in a murder investigation. “The bathroom is that door over there,” she said, pointing across the room. “You can use anything you find in there, and don’t be alarmed by the cat.”

Isaac could smell the shock on her, it was impossible to ignore: certain emotions have stronger scents than others. He decided to clarify, just to clear the air a little. “I’m not wanted by the police,” he added abruptly, “they haven’t got any evidence against me…not yet anyway.” A short pause interrupted his words before he spoke again. “I didn’t kill him.” Without another word he disappeared off to the bathroom, ushering out the stubborn cat who’d been perching on the toilet seat.

She could only blink after him, taken aback by his statements. No boy with the concealed sweetness she sensed in him would kill. She knew that. Yet he’d felt the need to defend himself to her anyway. Shaking her head, she nudged Helios away from his sulk at the now-closed bathroom door, and picked up the few clothes she’d found of Isaac’s.

“Come on, silly kitty. He doesn’t want to share the shower with you,” she said. After she started the dryer, she rummaged up sheets and a blanket and pillows, piling them on the couch. Then she tapped on the bathroom door. “Everything alright in there?”

ihatefreezers:

iamthefirechild:

She stared at him, dumbfounded, for a long, silent moment. “You live alone.”

Putting her cup down, she leaned forward, very seriously. “This is what’s going to happen. You’re staying here tonight. If you come down with some kind of horrible pneumonia from … /that/, I don’t want you alone. So you’re going to get up and take a hot shower, and I’m going to dry your clothes.”

He nodded, “Yeah, I used to live with my father but he was- um…he was murdered a few weeks ago…it’s just been me since then…”

Isaac didn’t see the point in arguing with her about that, he was too tired, so he just agreed with a sigh. “Okay, I’ll go have a quick shower,” he agreed, sitting up slowly and smiling slightly at her. He knew now she was nothing like his father, she wanted to help him.

Summer nodded sharply, concealing her surprise at his statements. It was possible he was older than he seemed, to be living alone, as a person of interest in a murder investigation. “The bathroom is that door over there,” she said, pointing across the room. “You can use anything you find in there, and don’t be alarmed by the cat.”

ihatefreezers:

iamthefirechild:

“It wasn’t an accident,” Summer said quietly. “I didn’t see anyone else, but the way your clothes were, the way you responded when I pulled you out … ” She shook her head, then glanced away and took a deep breath. He was so frightened, it was making her nauseous. A few more breaths, she closed her eyes and reinforced her shields, and turned back to Isaac. “Is there someone I can call for you?”

He paused to think about everything she’d just told him, considering what might have happened. Her next question snapped him out of his train of thought, “Oh-um…no, not really…” he shrugged as if It was no big deal. “I just kinda live on my own…” His eyes darted to the clock on the wall; it was almost midnight, he should probably get a move on if he was going to get any sleep before school tomorrow.

She stared at him, dumbfounded, for a long, silent moment. “You live alone.”

Putting her cup down, she leaned forward, very seriously. “This is what’s going to happen. You’re staying here tonight. If you come down with some kind of horrible pneumonia from … /that/, I don’t want you alone. So you’re going to get up and take a hot shower, and I’m going to dry your clothes.”

ihatefreezers:

iamthefirechild:

She felt his fear, blurry and bitter, and it was strange — what would make a, a /werewolf/ afraid of someone like her? But it didn’t matter, really. She put her fingertips against his, on the mug, to see how warm his skin was. “Do you think you can stand up now, maybe take a shower? There’s no telling what was in that lake water, and I think you’re warm enough now it won’t be a shock to your system.”

And then she would have to find him something to wear while she dried his clothes, and he would have to call someone — she wasn’t going to let him simply walk out of here alone. He didn’t act as though she’d stopped him suiciding, which meant someone had /put/ him in that lake, and that someone might come back.

Isaac managed a small smile in response, shaking his head. “No — really…I feel fine now…thanks so much for helping me out — like, really, thanks…you literally saved my life…” He let out a shaky breath, glancing from the mug back to her. He paused for a moment, hesitating before he asked her a question. “Did you see anyone, beside the lake I mean… I don’t think it was an accident-” Truth was, he was literally terrified. Too many times he’d been beaten close to death, he thought that part of his life was over…he thought he could relax now, be somewhat normal. He was wrong. People still hated him. People still wanted him dead. He was no more than a monster to most.

“It wasn’t an accident,” Summer said quietly. “I didn’t see anyone else, but the way your clothes were, the way you responded when I pulled you out … ” She shook her head, then glanced away and took a deep breath. He was so frightened, it was making her nauseous. A few more breaths, she closed her eyes and reinforced her shields, and turned back to Isaac. “Is there someone I can call for you?”

ihatefreezers:

iamthefirechild:

Summer’s laugh was choked and harsh. “I /invade people’s privacy/,” she said. “I’m not a hero. There are so many people — hurting — I can’t — at least with you I knew what to do, I knew how, I was /allowed/.” She all but spits the last word. But almost immediately she’s put her hands over her face, head bent, shaking it until her red hair broke free of the metal clip and tumbled over her breast. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled, “I’m sorry, you don’t deserve that, it’s not you, it’s me.”

Her face was set, a little strained when she looked back up at him. “How are you feeling now? Do you think you can drink the chocolate?” It’s as if that grating interlude of pain never happened, she turned so quickly back to helping him.

Isaac flinched back, shocked by Summer’s unexpected harsh words. “I-uh…” He was uncomfortable now, worried she had a bad temper and might hit him. A sigh of relief escaped his lips when she calmed down, although he was still on alert. Silence fell over him as he searched for something to say, not wanting to make things worse. He looked up at her timidly, a shy smile forced onto his lips. “You can’t save everyone you know? Wasn’t saving me enough?” He returned his gaze to the floor, wrapping his arms around himself, feeling uneasy.

“Oh- uh…I’ll be fine in a few minutes, one of the perks of being a wolf I guess…” he mumbled, trying to lighten the mood. He accepted her offer. “Oh, sure…thanks.” He smiled softly, reaching for the mug and taking a long sip.

She felt his fear, blurry and bitter, and it was strange — what would make a, a /werewolf/ afraid of someone like her? But it didn’t matter, really. She put her fingertips against his, on the mug, to see how warm his skin was. “Do you think you can stand up now, maybe take a shower? There’s no telling what was in that lake water, and I think you’re warm enough now it won’t be a shock to your system.”

And then she would have to find him something to wear while she dried his clothes, and he would have to call someone — she wasn’t going to let him simply walk out of here alone. He didn’t act as though she’d stopped him suiciding, which meant someone had /put/ him in that lake, and that someone might come back.

ihatefreezers:

iamthefirechild:

Her mouth dropped open a little, before she snapped it shut. “I-I think a little more than you?” Reaching out, she touched his hand, one fingertip brushing over his claws. “I’m only an empath. Not a hero, not anything special.” Reaching into him, she went ahead and blocked the pain of thawing out. Drawing her hand back, she opened it up, looking at her own palm. “It’s … there isn’t anything else to me, except trying to help people. And most people don’t really … want to be helped. It makes them feel weak.”

Isaac kept his hand still as she examined it, relieved she hadn’t freaked out. “I’m a werewolf…” he explained, closing his eyes briefly. When he opened them again he had fully shifted, a bright amber shining from his irises. His voice was slightly muffled by his fangs as he continued to talk. “You are a hero,” he told her with confidence in his voice, “-and I’m a monster.” Suddenly his pain halted and he felt energy surge back to him. “Yeah- well I’d rather feel weak then dead…thanks…” he murmured softly, hanging his head to hide his face…she probably hated the fact she had saved him now she knew what he was.

Summer’s laugh was choked and harsh. “I /invade people’s privacy/,” she said. “I’m not a hero. There are so many people — hurting — I can’t — at least with you I knew what to do, I knew how, I was /allowed/.” She all but spits the last word. But almost immediately she’s put her hands over her face, head bent, shaking it until her red hair broke free of the metal clip and tumbled over her breast. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled, “I’m sorry, you don’t deserve that, it’s not you, it’s me.”

Her face was set, a little strained when she looked back up at him. “How are you feeling now? Do you think you can drink the chocolate?” It’s as if that grating interlude of pain never happened, she turned so quickly back to helping him.

ihatefreezers:

iamthefirechild:

She picked up her cup again, taking a breath to answer, and then stopped, looking at him. The pleasant expression slid from her face, replaced with something more neutral and considering. After a minute, her mouth quirked, and she said, “I help people, that’s all I meant. It’s what I’m for, it’s,” she shrugged uncomfortably, “all I’m good for.” She glanced down at her hands, entwined around the cup. Very quietly, she added, “What do you mean, /what/ am I?”

Isaac’s body was less stiff now and he was able to manoeuvre himself into a more comfortable position. He was still tucked under his blanket, holding on to all the warmth he could get. “Don’t say that like it’s a bad thing…you’re a hero, y’know that? I’d be dead if it weren’t for you.” He suddenly trusted this girl; she was so innocent and kind-hearted. Taking a deep breath, he pulled his hands out of hiding, showing her his claws. “I mean…are you human?” he spoke calmly, flashing his yellow eyes at her.  

Her mouth dropped open a little, before she snapped it shut. “I-I think a little more than you?” Reaching out, she touched his hand, one fingertip brushing over his claws. “I’m only an empath. Not a hero, not anything special.” Reaching into him, she went ahead and blocked the pain of thawing out. Drawing her hand back, she opened it up, looking at her own palm. “It’s … there isn’t anything else to me, except trying to help people. And most people don’t really … want to be helped. It makes them feel weak.”

ihatefreezers:

iamthefirechild:

Winter set another cup on a table nearby, steam rising from it. She bent to whisper in Summer’s ear, and the redhead looked up at her for a moment, then nodded. They exchanged a brief hug and the dark twin went out the front door. Summer turned back to him with a little smile.

“Isaac,” she repeated. She set her cup aside and wound her towel around her head. “Well, um. It’s okay that your hands are still cold — if you don’t warm up from the middle out you might go into shock. But if you think you can sit up … there’s some hot chocolate.” She indicated the other cup with one finger.

“As for why — I just … it’s what I do.” 

He shook his head, not wanting to risk her seeing his claws. Even if he thought she might be supernatural, he could be wrong, and there was no good in scaring the crap out of her “I-uh…I’m okay, thanks,” he mumbled, even though he craved the hot chocolate more than anything. Her next words surprised him. “Well…what do you do?” he asked, his confusion still clear. “And- well…what are you?”

She picked up her cup again, taking a breath to answer, and then stopped, looking at him. The pleasant expression slid from her face, replaced with something more neutral and considering. After a minute, her mouth quirked, and she said, “I help people, that’s all I meant. It’s what I’m for, it’s,” she shrugged uncomfortably, “all I’m good for.” She glanced down at her hands, entwined around the cup. Very quietly, she added, “What do you mean, /what/ am I?”

ihatefreezers:

iamthefirechild:

Two faces, identical green eyes but framed by different-coloured hair, leaned over him. The dark-haired twin gently pushed him back to the floor; the red-headed one murmured, “Sshh. Don’t try to move yet. You were drowning. I pulled you out and we brought you back to my place.” She pulled the blankets a little higher on him, where he’d dislodged them trying to sit up.

“I’m Winter. This is Summer,” the other one chimed in. Letting him go, she pressed a steaming cup on her twin, insisting in a quiet voice that Summer had to recover as well from her dip in the icy lake. When Summer finally gave in, Winter fetched more towels, mopping the floor hastily and draping one over her twin’s hair. 

Summer spoke to him quietly, in between sips. “How do you feel? Can you feel your hands and feet yet?” She nodded to the bundle on the couch, his jeans and sweater. “I couldn’t find all your clothes.” That came accompanied by a duck of the head and what might be a faint blush, suggesting as it did his nearly-nude state.

The confused beta watched the girls cautiously, not yet convinced he was safe. Given his past, trust didn’t come easily to him, even when he could tell no one here meant him any harm. He settled back down, grateful for the blanket’s warmth. “I-I remember a little of it…I-it’s all a blur really…” he murmured, letting out another shaky breath “Thanks I guess,” he smiled slightly. “Why’d you do it, though? Y-You don’t even know me…”

Isaac was starting to calm down now, lying back, letting his body relax. “I’m Isaac,” he responded with a shy grin, “Isaac Lahey…” As the pair spoke between each other, Isaac drew his attention to the strange scents that lingered in the room. If he knew one thing for sure, there was something supernatural about these mysterious sisters. That was enough to make him nervous: he didn’t have such a good track record with people from other packs, so if they were werewolves he was in trouble. They didn’t smell like wolves though, they smelt unfamiliar.

Her words snapped his mind back into the room. “Oh- I uh…I feel cold,” he mumbled bluntly, regretting how stupid his reply must have sounded. “Yeah, more than I could before anyway…my hands are still a little numb-” he pulled out one hand from under the blanket, quickly hiding it again when he realised it was clawed.

It hadn’t occurred to him before, but he now realised he wasn’t far off naked. A blush cast its way across his face as he pulled the blanket higher still. “Oh god!” he blurted out, completely mortified.

Winter set another cup on a table nearby, steam rising from it. She bent to whisper in Summer’s ear, and the redhead looked up at her for a moment, then nodded. They exchanged a brief hug and the dark twin went out the front door. Summer turned back to him with a little smile.

“Isaac,” she repeated. She set her cup aside and wound her towel around her head. “Well, um. It’s okay that your hands are still cold — if you don’t warm up from the middle out you might go into shock. But if you think you can sit up … there’s some hot chocolate.” She indicated the other cup with one finger.

“As for why — I just … it’s what I do.”