orderfromchaos | 13. Lucky penny

[The memories reintegrating is exactly as strange as last time, fluid and roughly granulated at the same time, like having mud dragged through the crevices of his brain. He gulps for air, grits his teeth, pieces of him that are non-contiguous fitting forcibly together, gear teeth biting and grinding untill they snap and start to turn, the quiet weeks with Tessic like a deep breath in his chest, the barge a cacophany smacking him and then sinking inside, stones skipped into a river: Elsa, wary and brittle and bright; Vin with her severity and her old eyes and leaf-dappled shadow; Iris and the careful space between them like a fur coat, warm and safe and guilty; Hannibal like a cold hand on his shoulder; Abigail like the rocky ravines back home, harsh and amazing and beautiful. He clenches and unclenches his fists until it's easy to breath again, then gets up.]

[Spam for Elsa]

[He goes to see her first, in person, knocks on her door, relieved it's still there.]

I'm back. I don't know - I'm back.

[Filtered to Abigail, Helena, Vin, Jean, Iris, Bucky and Derek]

I didn't mean to go. The admiral - I was just home, I didn't ask for it, I didn't remember. I know - after what happened it might have looked like that, like I was running away, but I really didn't.

Just. So you know.

[He's run from a lot of things in his life. It's a character flaw he's aware of. But he didn't, not this time.]

[Public video]

How many of you saw parts of your future back during that flood where all our timelines got mixed up? Or any other time, for that matter?

I mean. What are we supposed to do with that? Knowing it's coming, but not when or why or how exactly. Should we do anything?

[A frown, a glance away, not biting his lip but kind of wanting to.]

Do you believe in fate, I guess, is my question. And what does it mean if you do.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[That? That, Stiles understands. Before coming to the Barge it had been ages since he'd engaged in underaged alcohol consumption. Not that he'd ever made a regular habit of it, but by all intents and purposes, Stiles has always been a bit of a lawbreaker.]

Right, okay. So we probably shouldn't hit the Jack Daniels right out the door. Beer it is. [He pauses.] I mean unless there's something else you want to try.

[He shakes his head, casual, it's easier not deciding.]

Beer's fine.

Beer it is then.

[He holds up two fingers to the bartender and orders for them.]

Thank you.

[Sort of quiet. He hasn't said that yet, has he?]

[He offers Dillon a small smile. He hadn't, but that's fine. It's not a big thing. Just drinks and hanging out. Not a chore.]

No problem.

Just - for everything.

[He waves a hand vaguely. He's never had a lot of friends. It's nice.]

[He nods and pats Dillon's back before picking up the beer that's been set in front of him and taking a drink.]

It's good to have you back.

13. Lucky penny

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