voluntaryapnea | 28. I like to keep my issues drawn/It's always darkest before the dawn

[Video -- Open]

[Stiles has already packed up a bag, and it's sitting on his bed. There are clothes, food, his laptop and some various other small things including a couple of books inside, and atop the bag is his pillow. It doesn't show in the video when he turns on the communicator. All you can see is that he's sitting at his desk.]

Like Anya said, no one goes after him. You wanna talk about it, you can come and take it up with me.

[And that's all he's saying, because he had to say something. He knows there's a possibility that someone -- or multiple someones -- may take him up on that. He'll deal with it if they do. He disconnects the feed. He doesn't send a message to the rest of his friends. Doesn't really feel like talking about it. He picks up his bag, his pillow, his bat -- because it's his warden's item -- and he drops the note he wrote on his bed.

Staying down in Zero. Stiles. The others will find it. The pack. They all have access to his room, their own keys.

He leaves the room, locking the door behind him.]

[Spam for Dean]

[There's a resigned feeling that's settled into his chest. He's terrible at being a warden. Probably since the beginning. No. Definitely sense the beginning. He is not his dad. He doesn't have his dad's tolerance and fairness and he doesn't have what it takes to do this kind of job, and he wonders why the admiral ever offered him a deal at all. He had to know Stiles would be shitty at it, right?

Regardless of how he feels about it, how he feels about himself, his duty is to Dean and he takes it seriously despite everything else. Right now everything else has to take a backseat to that. He makes his way down to Zero with his things in hand and looks around, taking note of the cell that's been decimated, bars cut away since Dean had locked himself in with Anya. He lets out a breath, purses his lips and slowly heads down the corridor until he stops in front of Dean's cell. He drops his bag and sets down the baseball bat.

Dean doesn't look that bad. Iris took care of that part. There's not much Stiles could have done because he's not a doctor and he doesn't do well with blood and injuries. His nose is bruised, and Dean doesn't even look up at him. For a long moment he just stares at him silently.]

Hey.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Steve is the master of doing things people don't expect him to do?]

Fine. I mean, normal. Just the old normal, is all. I was nearly twenty-five when I got the serum. [So the old normal is pretty familiar.]

So I'm not gonna keel over and die. And if you need someone to relieve you in Zero for a while... [He smiles, wryly.] Betcha Dean'll get a kick out of it.

[He's not sure how he feels about this development. Troubled. Worried. Surprised. He can only imagine how Bucky is taking it.]

Yeah I guess -- that makes sense. I mean it hasn't been that long right?

[He chews his lower lip.] What about your asthma? Do you have an inhaler? I still have a bunch from when I asked for some for Scott awhile back. [Like, an entire closet full.]

Thanks, man. I'm taking some stuff with me so I should be good for awhile, but I'll probably take you up on that so I can shower at least.

[Oh, it's probably a wonder the entire Barge didn't hear Bucky lecturing. At the top of his lungs. But honestly, it's almost the closest Bucky's been to his "normal" self since he came back. Steve hates that this has him so pissed off, but he still feels like it was the right thing to do.]

Nah. Four years - if you discount the nap. [You know, the sixty-seven-year one. Still - he lets out a breath.] Probably won't take me as long to figure out where the doorknobs and light switches are supposed to be, this time. [So yeah, that's him admitting it hasn't been bump-free, but he's fine. He's managing.]

Yeah - yeah, I have an inhaler. I'm good. I think the Admiral put a couple in the infirmary, but sometimes it's hard to tell if he's serious, so... I guess I might need to take you up on that sometime.

[But seriously, pal, he's worried about you.] Okay. Please do, or I'm gonna have to come down and check on you and undermine your authority and I'm sure it'll embarrass you in front of your girlfriend. [He's kidding, but he really wants to make sure you're taking care of yourself, because God knows Steve wouldn't be.]

This isn't your fault. [He glances down.] And I really don't envy you, but you've got my support. For whatever that's worth. [Dean is (literally, ha) sort of an inmate from hell, and Stiles is doing his best, and this is not a reflection on that.]

[Four years kind of seems like a long time to him after someone has super powers. It's not been that long for Scott and Stiles can just barely remember a time when his friend didn't have werewolf powers. When they hadn't been dealing with the supernatural and fighting for their lives on a nearly daily basis.

He smiles faintly at Steve's joke about doorknobs and light switches.]

Okay, that's good. And no problem. I definitely have enough to last for...a few years after an apocalypse happens.

[Stiles is worried about Dean. And Anya. And how this incident is going to affect everyone who's friends with both of them. ]

Thanks. It means a lot. [More than you probably realize.]

[Honestly... it is a long time, and definitely long enough to get used to being healthy and strong and everything else. He hadn't forgotten what it had been like, before, and yeah, he'd been this way most of his life. But four years is longer than he really wants to let on.

He does laugh a little, though, when Stiles says he has enough inhalers to last that long.] Nothing like being prepared, right? It sure does beat the alternative. And thanks for the offer. [He might have to take you up on it.]

You're welcome. You've always got it, and me, if you need anything.

[He smiles faintly when Steve laughs. Being prepared is sort of his job in the pack. He's the guy that always has the plans. Even if they're not always great ones.]

Not a problem. I doubt Scott will need all of them. [Frankly he doubts Scott will need any of them -- he hopes Scott will never need any of them again.]

Same here, Steve. [He smiles faintly.]

[He smiles, and it's genuine.] I sure hope not, that sounds like a lot of inhalers.

I'll let you get back to what you were doing. But seriously - call me anytime if you need something.

[Because it's not lost on him how unlikely it is that people are going to want to turn to him for help for just about anything, now.]

[He laughs softly.] Yeah when the Admiral grants a request, he does so with a flourish.

Thanks, Steve. I will.

[And hey, Stiles won't be one of those people. He knows what it's like to be surrounded by people with super powers and be the sole person who doesn't. He also knows that doesn't invalidate someone's skills and knowledge. He'll call.]

28. I like to keep my issues drawn/It's always darkest before the dawn

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