acontritemess | Little birds have to jump out of the nest if they're going to fly

Little birds have to jump out of the nest if they're going to fly

[She didn't actually get nervous until they'd passed Ohio. The next step marked the furthest from home she'd ever been. She trusted Freya, at least somewhat, but home wasn't a place, a concept really was what it was. Home was her family, and she was leaving it on the other side of the country. It was terrifying, but she was equally excited, since she was seeing things she'd never had a chance to see before.

The country changed as they made their way across it, and as they neared the mountainous and wide-open country of Montana, she was in awe. It was just like every postcard she'd ever seen, and she was having a hard time thinking it was real.]

....it's so beautiful...

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[Freya stares at Kevin for longer than necessary. She feels the silence in the air as if it was palpable and swallows while trying to think of something to say.]

So that's it right? Peel the potato... [She doesn't ever remember sounding so lame.

She clears her throat and turns back to the potato in her hand. As her shoulder brushes lightly against his she attempts to keep her focus on the potato. She really is bad at this which Kevin will notice if he looks down at her hands which are struggling to peel off an even layer. It's a waste of potato and her movements are short and awkward.]

[A vibration moves through him as her shoulder brushes against him and he takes a breath to steady himself. He licks his lips nervously and makes short work of his own first potato before looking over to her hands.

A smile spreads across his face as he puts down his work and moves behind her, reaching around to guide her.]

Here, let me show you.

[This is a moment in Freya's life where she isn't sure if being small is a good thing or a horrible thing. She feels Kevin moving behind her and tries to stop her heart from beating to quickly. Her hands only move as he guides her though she isn't really paying attention to the potato anymore.]

Thanks.

[She swallows and while she isn't really paying attention there is already a startling improvement over what she'd been doing a few seconds before.]

How did you get so good at this?

[Kevin enjoyed being so close to her. It was heady and he didn't want to move away, but he forced himself to. She wasn't advancing and it wasn't his place. Maybe she hadn't really wanted to see him in the first place. He returned to her side and restarted peeling himself, focusing on the potato instead of her scent so close to him.

Or at least he tried to. Answering her question was a good start.]

My dad owned a diner, up in Albion. I sort of grew up in the kitchen. I was the little brother, though, so...the potatoes were my job. Dad used to let me think I had some kind of authority, though. I supervised my sisters.

[When he steps away she finds it a little easier to breathe. Her eyes follow him and as she looks back at her hands she realizes that they're trembling. She quickly drops the potato and the peeler, rubbing her fingers on her pants.]

That's probably why you're so good at this. Didn't know your dad had a dinner but I guess that makes sense. [She waves a hand.] He always smells a little bit like food.

[He looks over, watching her hands, frowning slightly, but nodding.]

He takes care of the kitchens at HQ now. Are you okay?

Yeah I heard about that and-

[Like most werewolves Freya isn't a good lair and as much as she wants to talk to Kevin the words die in her throat. She stares up at him trying to figure out what she wants to say. Seconds pass but before she's able to speak the door of the kitchen opens and breaks Freya's next word off.]

Are you guys almost done yet? We need you two to finish and get out of here so mom and I can start dinner. [Jessica looks at the pair with a raised eyebrow.] Or at you guys doing something else in here? [She's smiles and shakes her head before turning to leave.] Whatever but if you take to long I'm telling mom.

[Freya looks back at the potato feeling a little defeated.]

I guess we should focus on this for right now.

[Kevin bit his lip before he said anything else. He nodded and just went back to work. Maybe she wasn't that into him after all. Or maybe she wasn't able to forgive him. Shapers knew he couldn't.

At least he makes quick work of the potatoes.]

[Freya works quickly and quietly. She talks circles in her head and each attempt at bringing up anything relevant devolves to an internal argument. He's here to see his sister. Males don't leave their territory for females, she knew that and Freya was filled with to much self doubt to get passed it.

When she finished she places the items down and turns towards Kevin. He smells... amazing. Focusing, Freya inclines her head.]

Thank you for helping Kevin. You're technically a guest. I don't think you have too.

[She has no idea why she's feeling so formal but it is easier. She needs time to think or hide or run or something. Maybe she can skip dinner...]

[He shakes his head, smiling.]

My mother would never let me live it down if I didn't help out. Besides, I'm not used to being a guest. I wouldn't feel right.

[Freya blinks and looks up at him.]

You wouldn't? Why? I mean... it's just-

[She feels herself stammer which isn't usual.]

Why did you come Kevin? Cat's fine. I'm with her... I won't let anything bad happen to her. You can trust me.

I know Cat's fine. It's not about that.

[He swallows.]

And I know I can trust you.

[Freya doesn't want to ask why he came. She isn't sure she believes him and she's a little scared that she wants too.]

Do you trust me? Really?

[Her tone is soft and a little unsure.]

Then why did it take you so long to tell me about your brother? Why do you think I'd care? Yes, it's spooky as hell but-

Because I wanted you to like me.

[The words escaped his lips before he had any say in the matter and he immediately regretted it. He swallowed, looking over to her.]

I just...I know that wasn't fair of me.

I do like you Kevin.

[Freya exhales before turning to look towards the kitchen door. She wants to tell him they can talk later but the words get stuck in her throat.]

I think my Aunt wants to use the kitchen. We should probably finish and move out of the way.

[He nodded at her reaction, wondering how much of her sentiment was true, but he set back to work on the potatoes, increasing his speed.]

Yeah, okay.

[Saying it out loud made Freya realize how much she really did like Kevin. It'd been at most a week that they hung out but she remembered every detail of those days clearly. She doesn't remember the last time she's felt that happy.]

Yeah.

[Freya begins to help and while her eyes sometimes flick over towards Kevin she manages to keep her focus on her potato's which eventually get peeled.]

[Ever since he'd been articulate enough to use a knife, he'd peeled potatoes for his dad or his mom every day, and he could now do it with his eyes closed, so instead of watching his own hands, he watched Freya, smiling as she worked.]

You're not too bad at that.

[Freya feels her lips twitch into an involuntary smile.]

I had a good teacher.

[She plops the last potato into the water and glances towards the door. She can tell that her young cousin is standing outside, waiting to enter.]

We should go somewhere else. [She points over to the door.] I mean now that we're done. [Freya feels so awkward being alone with Kevin. She really isn't sure what to do. He mom hadn't been around long enough to teach her anything useful and she felt to old to ask now. She'd talked to Cat but it didn't feel very helpful.

Maybe it'd be better for everyone if she just left. She doesn't even know why she came back.]

[He smiles at her comment to spite himself.]

I guess you had an okay teacher, sure. [He wasn't sure how much he'd actually helped, either.]

Uh...where do you have in mind?

[Seeing his smile makes Freya stop and smile in return. It takes her an awkward length of time to realize that she's staring at him with a fond warmth reflected in her gaze. She coughs and looks away feeling weird.]

I had the best teacher. [She repeats with a little more firmness to her voice.]

And I don't know. We should probably get out of the way though. Unless you're planning to help out in here. I... really can't cook.

[Freya had meant that.]

[He laughs at that.] That's debatable, but I'll take your word for it. [His eyes glance toward the door, to spite not wanting to leave her presence.]

Nah, I'll probably just get in the way. [And he motions toward the door.] After you.

You say that like I know where I'm going.

[Even so Freya lead the way from the kitchen only to hear it fill the moment they step into the hall. She wants to kick her aunt in the shins but she knew that she'd loose that fight.

As she steps through the halls she keeps a look out for Cat, David, the two misfits and the dogs. She wonders where everyone else went.]

[Cat had been content to let them have as much time as they wanted. She knew her brother to be a smooth talker, having gotten them into several movies without paying. Maybe it was a juvenile perspective, but it was the persona he's always shown her. It didn't even occur to the younger werewolf that Kevin could ever actually be awkward, so the idea of him needing an escape hadn't even entered her mind.

Once they'd left, she'd made her way to the dogs' room, because it meant she might actually get the chance to spend more time alone with David, and with his 'kids', which she was finding herself more and more fond of.

Or maybe that was just because David smelled so much like them. It was hard to tell.

Once they left the relative seclusion of the kitchen, Kevin found himself wondering things along the lines of Freya. He didn't know what to say to her, he didn't know how to talk to her, and he definitely didn't know how to tell her how he felt. He wasn't sure he could describe it if he tried. He wanted her to know he'd come to see her, not Cat, that he'd trusted her to make sure Cat was safe, and that he'd only taken the chance to come here because his elder brother had given him permission. All the words fit and made sense in his head, but he didn't trust himself to be able to say them aloud, so he didn't.

He just took a deep breathe and shoved his hand in his pockets and nibbled at his bottle lip for a moment before rolling his shoulder in a shrug.]

Is it really that important to know where you're going?

[David prefers to leave people to their own devices. People learn and he's always had his own things to worry about. With everyone here and things as they were he couldn't shake the worry that knotted in his chest. He hopes that Freya's okay, that he might be able to get more time with Cat and that his mother won't do anything weird about all this. It's a very unusual situation.

His dogs are gathered around him on the couch and he's speaking to them softly; admitting is worries and then complimenting them on their behavior. After dinner they'd all go back to his house with Kevin though he might ask his mom to leave his pups in their room here since it's bigger than his small cabin in the woods.

When Cat walks in he smiles and all his worries melt away. Clearly she's here to see the dogs but David can't banish the happy grin on his lips.

Freya leads the way, her golden wheat hair falling in messy waves between her thin shoulders. She doesn't look back but she replies with a shrug similar to Kevin's.]

I guess not. As long as we're out of the way.

[There is so much she wants to say but she finds the words getting stuck somewhere between her head and her lips. She should be able to handle this, she's the female, it's her choice but the more she thinks about it the weaker she feels. The worst part about having something is losing it. She doesn't know if she'd survive losing Kevin, even now, she wonders if she'll be the same after he leaves. Once they're outside her step staggers and pauses.] I'm not sure where to go. [They have many an hour before dinner.

Freya turns towards Kevin now, her fingers lightly playing with a lose strand of hair.] There aren't any games here. Waiting for dinner and I guess you'll be staying at David's since Cat and I have the only other spar room.

A date with destiny...

A date with destiny...

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A date with destiny...

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A date with destiny...

A date with destiny...

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A date with destiny...

A date with destiny...

A date with destiny...

A date with destiny...

A date with destiny...

A date with destiny...

A date with destiny...

A date with destiny...

A date with destiny...

A date with destiny...

A date with destiny...

A date with destiny...

A date with destiny...