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(no subject)

Who: Peter Rumancek

krangke
What: a werewolf and a former runner go into a cave maze.
Where: the caves
When: 2/8, overnight, while the moon is full.
Warnings: werewolf transformation gore (no, seriously, it's gross), possible monster fighting, possible maze runner spoilerish stuff.

The day of the full moon Peter is antsy for a variety of reasons. Mostly, it's that he can feel the wolf beneath his ill-fitting skin, just waiting to emerge when the sun that they can't see sets and the moon rises. Partially it's because he and Newt are going into the caves that night, and Peter doesn't really want to go into the caves. He does, however, really want to know whether there's anything even approaching the possibility of a way out. There's something wrong with this whole place, and Peter wants to know what it is, if only so that maybe his Swadisthana will settle. The persistent twisting ache of wrongness is like cotton in the ears of his spirit, dulling everything else.

He barely eats anything of his dinner before telling Newt that it's time to go. By then he's beginning to sweat, rubbing at his arms and shifting his shoulders around. As they walk toward the closest cave entrance, he begins taking off his jewelry and putting it into the pocket of his jeans. He's carrying an extra bag, and the purpose of it becomes clear when they reach the cave mouth and Peter begins stripping perfunctorily and without warning Newt. All his clothes go into the bag and then he stands there, sweaty and shivering all at once, looking up toward absolutely nothing far, far above them.

For a long moment, Peter looks oddly peaceful. Then he gags, coughs, grabs at his face, and falls to his knees as the change begins to take.

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[this time, it's peter who holds back while newt attacks, and he watches the thing go down in a skid of blood and fur and spear. he knew, intellectually, that newt could fight, but he'd never seen the other boy in action, the unerring accuracy with which he could throw a spear.

he pads over to the creature to investigate, giving it a few good sniffs before licking some of the blood out of its mouth. meh. not particularly good eating, certainly not worth wasting time over. he looks at newt with a tail-wag of approval.]

Don't lick that. Those aren't good for eating.

(Not that he knew from personal experience but rather what several other people had told him since his arrival. He's almost giving Peter a stern look but his mouth is twitching.

He flicks the spear a bit and makes a mental note to clean it later.)

I feel like somehow if you were human right now I'd be getting some snarky surprise.

(He grins then and begins to take off again. There seemed to be only one bat and if his memory was right, they were close to an exit.)

[newt's memory is right, they're close to an exit. it's also very, very close to sunrise, and for the first time all night peter bolts ahead of him, his legs not entirely steady but still enough so that he easily outruns newt. he wants to be out of the cage before he changes back, doesn't want newt to see this part. for some reason, it feels more private.

by the time newt reaches the mouth of the cave, peter is lying naked in a lightly bloody mess on the ground, shivering, surrounded by bits of skin and fur, teeth gritted and fists clenched like he's in pain.]

(Newt makes a noise of surprise when Peter suddenly darts ahead and instinctively, he darts after him. He can't catch up, hell no, not to a wolf but he at least attempts. Doesn't really get the idea that Peter might want to be alone because he's too busy being worried if Peter's okay or not.

Then he winds up running out of the cave and there's Peter. This time, Newt doesn't think anything of his nudity and instead is at Peter's side within seconds, kneeling beside him with his hands hovering over him like he doesn't know where to begin.)

...Peter?

(His voice is soft, mildly uncertain. He's already removing his backpack and setting it aside so that he could zip open his hoodie. He's larger than Peter and so when he drapes the hoodie over Peter's body, it actually lays entirely over his shoulders, his back and Newt's hands rest against Peter's shoulders.)

Are you okay?

Yep. Peachy.

[the words come out through gritted teeth, but his breathing is beginning to slow, his muscles to unclench as the initial agony passes. it really is rough, being born twice in one night. it's a long minute before he sighs and moves to sit up, keeping newt's hoodie around his shoulders.]

I'm fine. Really. Happens every time. Just tired and cold.

(Something inside of him relaxed. He hadn't realized how tense he had become while looking at Peter but hearing his response was enough to make Newt's shoulders slump in relief. His hands work over Peter's back. Not so much an attempt to comfort but actually to warm, hands rubbing into him rather than just stroking. Generating an attempt at heat.

Then Peter sits up and Newt withdraws his hands temporarily. Only to bring them back a moment later and tug the hoodie closer around Peter.)

Okay.

(He'll believe him. It doesn't mean Newt won't be concerned, but you know. He opens up his bag then and pulls out one of the blankets he'd packed. He lets it drop open and sweeps it around Peter and pulls it tight around to the front.)

We'll get you home then and into bed. I'll make you some hot tea, okay?

[peter doesn't seem to notice newt's fear or his relief--he doesn't seem to notice much, actually. it's kind of like he has tunnel vision, or, more accurately, like he's completely exhausted. his hands are clumsy as he pulls the blanket around himself, apparently completely uncaring about his nakedness as he works on climbing to his feet. good job on choosing a blanket that covers the vital bits, though, newt. it'd be sad if those got too cold.

his first few steps are stumbling, a foal on its legs for the first time, but then he settles into a somewhat even stagger.]

Tea would be good.

[they make it about a block before he speaks again, voice slightly hoarse.]

You found something.

(It was a pretty large blanket. He liked to come prepared. He did technically have Peter's clothes but just then, he doesn't think to bring them out. Especially not when Peter instantly stumbles in his attempt to walk. Newt is quick to his feet, throwing on his bag and sliding his spear away. He's at Peter's side within seconds, an arm winding around the boy's waist, secure and locked for support and his other hands rests against Peter's arm.)

Mmmhm. It would be.

(He agrees calmly, pressing Peter against his side to silently insinuate that it'd be fine for Peter to lean against him like that. Newt really wouldn't mind.)

Huh? Oh, yeah....It's a computer chip. It's definitely not functional anymore but...It's odd.

[he doesn't quite lean, but he also doesn't reject the walking help. even with the movement and the blanket and the hoodie newt can still feel him shiver, muscles trembling with some strange combination of exhaustion and newness that isn't really new.]

It smelled like burnt copper.

[another pause, but this one only a few steps long.]

The fuck is a computer chip doing in the ass-end of the caves?

It was burnt copper.

(Newt idly rubs at Peter's arm though he knows until he gets Peter into bed, it won't make too much of a difference.

He gives Peter a mild smile, his unease creeping into the expression a little bit.)

That's a bloody magnificent question. One I was wondering myself. I'm thinking this place might be a little bit more technologically centered than you might be willing to admit. Or at least the people before, maybe.

Huh.

[peter doesn't really know what to make of that.]

Or whatever was in the place where the places meet.

[he squints in confusion.]

Not this place, the one they stuck it to.

It's impossible to tell with just a single, burnt computer chip. If it was still usable then maybe...

(But this was about as useful as any hunk of junk. It was a clue though and that was better than absolutely nothing.)

It could be a lot of things. You're right, it could be that. Could belong to the people who put us here. Could be from an old survivor before we came along. Could be...so many things.

(He sighs faintly, removing it from his pocket to hold it out to Peter.)

You can take a look.

[peter takes the thing offered to him, but it makes no more sense right now than it did as a wolf--he's not only exhausted, but computers have never been a strong point. too poor, really. it doesn't look like any chip he's ever seen before, but that doesn't mean much.]

Why just one piece? When you break something, it's never just one piece. 'less someone threw it away...

[he mutters the words more to himself than newt. then he looks at the boy next to him.]

This is a tomorrow puzzle. I'm too fuckin' tired to even try.

(And Newt's missing too many memories to do anything properly with the chip beyond identify it accurately. He shakes his head and shrugs, taking the chip away from Peter to store back into his pocket.)

You're right. It would've made more sense had it been a bunch of parts. Makes it odder. And almost like it was intentionally...

(But that was just as impossible to tell as the rest of this situation. He looks over at Peter at the same time and finds himself smiling a bit.)

Yes, I think that's pretty right.

(It wasn't worth it with Peter so exhausted. He doesn't say much the rest of the way home and when they get inside, he insists on wiping Peter down with a warm, damp cloth at least to get the excess blood off of him. Then he ushers Peter towards their room.)

C'mon. Do you want me to get you some clothes?

[when newt stops talking peter does too, puts his effort toward walking, one foot in front of the other. by the time they get home, he's gently swaying on his feet while newt wipes him down, head dropped slightly forward and eyes closed. he only opens them again when newt speaks.]

Mm, yeah. Still cold.

[he wasn't shivering anymore, but his skin was still cool, his arms goosebumped. he follows newt to their room like an obedient child, and dresses on pure habit before he practically falls into his unmade bed, not even bothering to pull the covers over himself.]

Thanks, kitten.

(Thankfully, Newt tucks him in for him. He pushes him under the sheets and tucks them down beneath Peter's body to make him properly secured. He even grabs one of the blankets off of his own bed and drapes it over the top of Peter.)

No problem, pup.

(He smooths a hand over Peter's hair, clearing his hair back away from his face. He was glad to see that Peter was at least doing okay and not in pain anymore.)

I'll be right back, okay? I'm starting the tea. Try and stay awake. I want to get something in you before you go to sleep.

(He quickly leaves the room then, abandoning his bag and weapons by the door before heading out to the kitchen. He returns a couple minutes later. He didn't bother boiling water- it'd take too long even if the heat was more thorough. It'd work for now and Peter needed it quicker than anything. He heads back to the bedroom with a mug and tea with honey. He sits on the edge of Peter's bed and hands it to him.)

Here you are.

[by the time newt comes back peter is just on the edge of sleep, but the weight on his mattress and newt's voice make him open bleary eyes. he reaches for the tea, stops, sits up with a groan, and then takes it. it's hot and sweet and good, and it makes peter smile in an unguarded sort of way, content without the hint of smugness that usually came with it. he takes another swallow, and another, until about half the mug is gone.]

That's good.

[he reaches out and puts the mug down before patting newt's hand, his fingers now warm from holding the tea, and snuggles himself back up in the blankets with a sound that's remarkably similar to the sigh he made as a wolf.]

Thank you.

(The affection is blatant in his voice and he doesn't bother making it sassed or sarcastic in tone. He's never quite seen Peter like this and it feels oddly intimate, special somehow. He doesn't really understand that sort of feeling at all but he knows enough to appreciate it.

He smiles faintly when his hand is patted and the sound is similar enough to the wolf that he just reaches his hand out to lightly push his fingers through Peter's hair. He keeps it up, playing gently with the locks because yeah he's definitely sort of figured out by now that that's a comfort for Peter.)

Edited 2016-02-11 03:00 (UTC)

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