bettercallit | (no subject)

Penny keeps my room open at the youth center. [ Pulling on a loose thread even as he sort of leans toward Clint. ] So I'm staying there until I can get something different, I guess?

[ Because he doesn't want to stay with Derek and Isaac anymore, they make him crazy and after everything, after the kanima and Matt and Gerard and the clusterfuck of everything back home he doesn't need that. Derek wants to make a pack, he can make a pack. Stiles wants nothing to do with it. ] Dude, I didn't mean to bring my emo with me. I just wanted to come check in on you.

Well, room's still available here whenever you want it, and the couch's a permanent fixture. [ It's not ideal, he knows, so he doesn't push, and now Phil's back he can't offer an actual room to call his own.

But that's the last thing he can take, really, Stiles being more worried about him than himself, and he knows he doesn't deserve that kind of concern, not from a kid like him, who's got everything ahead of him. He sighs, but he doesn't let himself think about it, just shuffles over the gap between them and wraps his arm more firmly around him, pulls him close, his other arm - mindful of the mug - gathering him in. ] You're more important.

[ He doesn't mean to, twists a little when Clint brushes up against the remainder of Gerard's message and he flinches. It doesn't take a genius to figure out the pull of air isn't that he opposes to the hug and more that he genuinely can't keep the note of pain out of his voice. ]

Crap. [ Face a picture of guilt. ] I really wanted to enjoy the Hawkeye hug. Uh. Don't worry?

[ He doesn't pull away exactly, but he does loosen his hold, and the casual non-expression he tends to wear twists into deep and obvious concern; the bruises go lower than his face.

He thinks of Derek, but then wonders if he would be that stupid. He tries to keep his tone light, soft. ] As long as you don't spread it around, Hawkeye hugs can be available whenever you need them. [ His eyes are asking what happened, but he doesn't voice it. ]

I got beaten up.

[ He shrugs one shoulder, uncomfortable for a second. Of course he has to lie. He can't really tell anyone that an old man beat the crap out of him as a message to some werewolves, can he? But he doesn't want Clint to worry, doesn't want him to share the same level of concern that his dad had. ]

It's okay, it was just some punk kids from another school. [ Smiling a little. ] I actually played a lacrosse game, can you imagine it? But they uh - didn't like it when we won.

[ He should have caught it sooner, remembers lies and excuses, time spent hiding and covering up bruises, and that's after joining SHIELD, back when he still didn't know how to keep his mouth shut when it counted. ]

Well, luckily for them, they're not here. [ He might have to kill them if they were. ] You won a game? [ It's not so much surprise as it is pleased, and he wishes he could have been there to see it - what's wrong with him? So much for not getting too attached. ]

Yeah, it was awesome.

[ And just like that he lights up. ] Like okay so it took me a while to get into the swing of things but I was on fire. First game not spent on the bench, cool, right?

[ Someone claiming to have been on fire could be a legitimate one, but it helps make him smile, put aside the damage, because focusing on the good is better, right? ]

Guess you showed 'em, kid. Bet they won't be benching you again any time soon.

They better not.

[ Grinning. ] I'm gonna get Scott to help me train over the summer so I can make first line next year.

Always been better at watching sport than participating, but there's plenty of room in the part if you ever wanna show me a thing or two.

Yeah?

[ Playing lacrosse with Hawkeye ... totally game. ] That sounds awesome.

Yeah.

[ He should probably try to do the active thing, he's letting himself go. And he should probably let go of Stiles, but he lets the closeness linger a bit longer. ] You sticking around? Phil should be back later.

[ Wait.

... WAITWAITWAITWAITWAIT. ] Phil's back?

[ The grin is a slow growing thing, but it's very much there. He hoped that might help cheer him up if he didn't already know. ]

Phil's back. [ But then. ] Downside? He had a memory wipe.

That's okay, I'll just have to teach him to cherish me again.

Shouldn't take much doing. It looks like he's unimpressed, but he's got that squishy centre he'll never admit to.

I've won over worse people.

[ Except Derek who is impossible. ]

Don't doubt it. [ He'll give Phil the heads up.

He grabs what's left of his hot chocolate, draining the last swallows. ] Want another one?

Yeah, that sounds really good.

[ Handing over his empty mug. ] So, anything else happened when I was gone?

[ Enough water still in the kettle, he flicks the switch and grabs the jar. ]

Besides Phil and the ghouls? Nah, not really. Few new arrivals, but that's about it.

Anyone super exciting?

Kid named Clary, pretty ready, you'd probably like her. Not really had much chance to socialise with the rest.

You've been adopting other kids? Wow, rude.

[ He's teasing. Mostly. ]

Hey, you left me here, what was I supposed to do?

[ It's okay, as much as he loves having Clary around, Stiles will always be his favourite. ]

Not adopt more kids, yo.

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bettercallit - 2013-01-20 20:54 (UTC) - Expand

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studmuffin - 2013-01-22 17:01 (UTC) - Expand