Who: Ted and Aaron and Dedalus What: In which Ted is entirely too trusting. Where: River's Edge When: Evening, 26th August, 1979 Rating: Pretty low Status: Complete, Logged
Ted landed on the ground with a thump, then straightened, taking a look around. Dedalus had appeared a few feet away, and Ted blinked, bringing his hand up to the back of his neck as he took in their surroundings. He wasn't entirely sure if this was the right place, but it was quiet and..well, he didn't see any reason why it wouldn't be. He didn't know if Dedalus should come with him when he actually spoke to Aaron- the other man might think he was trying to gang up on him and Ted certainly didn't want that.
"I'm pretty sure this is it," he said, glancing to Dedalus. When he'd gone by to get his friend, he'd briefly explained the situation. "But I don't know exactly where he'll be." He reached for his wand, touching it lightly to make sure it was still exactly where it needed to be, and motioned for them to start down a path toward the center of the village. "I think- I don't think he'll like it if I showed up with somebody, so I may need you to hang back a little."
"You worry too much, Ted," Dedalus told him with a wide, comforting grin, gently patting him on the shoulder. "I don't mind hanging back if you need me to, but I'm certain this poor fellow won't mind that you've brought a friend along with him. He asked you for assistance, didn't he?"
As they headed towards their destination, Dedalus' eyes shifted around at the scenery -- whether or not he truly believed this trip would all turn out all right was something that would not be revealed.
"Maybe I do," Ted replied, relaxing a bit as he returned Dedalus' smile. "I just- I don't know. I hope he's alright." He lifted his shoulder in a shrug and rounded a corner. The street widened into a village square and he slowed. "I don't..I'm not even sure how to find him. He said he's alone, but I don't really know where he is. And it's not like we'd really- well, I suppose he's a bit more beat up than any other person wandering around..."
Aaron had placed himself strategically, guessing that the one who'd come would be one of those bleeding-heart lot who could be easily fooled by a few bruises and big, sad puppy-dog eyes. He'd always had a talent for looking more harmless than he was, and he was using that to his advantage now, curling in on himself on a park bench, bare feet tucked up beneath him. The scratches from last night with Tabby were still red and visible, and he'd had Fenrir take a few swings, bruising one cheekbone and his right arm, just below the tattered hem of his shirt-sleeve.
None of them were bad, and none were anything he hadn't asked for in one way or another. But they'd help his story, and they'd make the game that much sweeter.
Ted's gaze fell on a man, seated on a bench by himself. He seemed somewhat detached, hardly paying any attention to the people around him, so far as Ted could see. He glanced to Dedalus, nudging him lightly. "I think that's him," he started, biting his lower lip. Merlin, he did look rather bruised. "I- would you mind staying here for a few? I'm just- I'm only going to talk to him."
Turning around after being nudged, Dedalus' gaze fell upon the contused man sitting on the bench ahead of them. The man looked absolutely awful, and Dedalus had to fight back the sudden impulse to go and help him. But as Dedalus had assured Ted, he didn't mind hovering a few feet away if that's what his friend wanted.
"Golly," he said, looking concerned. "I hope he's all right over there. And you be careful, too."
"I do, too. And I will." He glanced back to Dedalus. "Thanks again. You know, for coming along." He smiled and then turned to approach the man on the bench. "Excuse me," he started, slowing as he neared him. "Are you Mister Pryce?"
And this was it.
Aaron looked up, letting his eyes go slightly wide and apprehensive, as though he was one of the pathetic humans he and Tabby kept hunting. He tugged at his right sleeve in an attempt to cover the bruise on his arm, giving Ted a tentative smile.
"Yes. You-you're the one I talked to?"
Just the hint of a tremor in the voice. Don't overplay. He let his gaze dart from Ted to the blonde man hanging back a little, quick and nervous.
Dedalus briefly thought about giving the two them a little more privacy, but quite frankly, that was out of the question. He kept his eyes on them, only momentarily looking away, and tried hard to pretend he was preoccupied with some distant object in the sky.
"Yes. Tonks. Er- Ted. Ted Tonks." He returned the smile, still a little nervous, and he took one more step toward Aaron. "And yes. That was me." He glanced to the sleeve as Aaron tugged on it and there was a flicker of concern before his gaze moved back up to the other man's face. "I- what can I do for you?"
Aaron let out a shaky laugh, looking down at his hands, twisting his fingers together in his lap.
"I don't know. I don't know what I expected. I just, I needed to get away for a while, you know? And most people, they don't -- I know it's our fault, the way we act, they think we're monsters because we act like monsters, but I -- you've seen how Greyback and Tabs talk about wolves who aren't part of the pack, you know what they're like. I never wanted to hurt anyone. I just thought maybe if I stayed, if I tried hard enough, maybe I -- maybe she'd get better."
Ted bit his lower lip, genuinely concerned. "Not everybody thinks werewolves are all terrible," he commented. "And- I mean, I know some seem to act worse than others, but-" He broke off, sure that Aaron didn't want to hear any sort of lectures. "Yes, I've seen. But- I mean, all of you have a choice, too, don't you? And I know if you love her- but love doesn't always- it's not your fault. I think...I don't know. It looks to me like all of you have had it rough, and I just- I don't know that being- you know, being in an environment where you're encouraged to hurt others...I don't think that really helps much, either."
"What am I supposed to do?" He bit the side of his tongue hard enough to make his eyes water, blinking rapidly and letting the tears collect on his eyelashes. "I said I'd stand by her. For better or worse, I said that, I said it before God. What am I supposed to do?"
Ted brought a hand up to the back of his neck, unsure. He moved to sit on the other end of the bench, moving slowly enough and leaving enough space between them so that Aaron didn't think he was trying to attack or otherwise upset him. "I- I don't know that I have any answers. I just- is it really safe for you to go back to them? I don't- I won't take you into any sort of official custody, but surely..." He trailed off, trying to think. "I know you love her. But- I don't know how to help her." Honestly- he'd never really run into this sort of problem. Ever. "I don't- do you think she'd listen to anything you had to say?"
Dedalus could scarcely hear what was going on, but he could see that the bruised man had broken into tears, and he couldn't help letting his hand raise up to clench his heart. Ted was doing him an excellent service by talking to him; although in his opinion, a reversal in one's attitude wasn't enough to completely erase a past life full of evildoings.
"If she's not going to listen to me, who will she listen to?" Aaron looked down, twisting his fingers together. "Everyone else gave up on us. One of your support people said it was a good thing we couldn't have kids anymore, because what sort of parents could monsters possibly be? I know not everyone's like that, but Tabs, she -- she doesn't mean to do it, I just, I make her angry."
Ted frowned at that. "They actually said that?" Merlin, it was no wonder everybody hated his department. What on earth were they doing working there if they were going to treat the people they were supposed to be helping like rubbish? A hand came up to pinch the bridge of his nose. "That- Mister Pryce- it's- what you're saying, that sounds like a textbook abuse victim. You can't keep making excuses for her behaviour and her actions. I'm not- that isn't to say she's a horrible person-" although, Ted had to admit that what he knew about Tabby made him more than just a little wary of her- "but...I don't think that sort of thing is good for either one of you."
Aaron shook his head, laughing bitterly.
"Don't be stupid. Men don't get abused."
He knew all the lines, all the arguments. He'd heard them often enough from his father.
"Anybody can be," Ted replied. "Even if it's not- you know, physically. There's still words or actions. Emotional abuse." He bit his lower lip, trying to think. He really didn't know what else he could do for the man. "I..am not sure what you want me to do or how I can help. It doesn't sound like- I mean, do you want to get away from her? Or should we try to get her help, as well?"
There were two of them; that made things difficult. He'd originally planned to just kill whichever bleeding-heart idiot came after him, but the addition of the extra man made things at once more complicated and more fun.
"If I go with you," he said slowly, letting his voice shake a little, "then it's over, isn't it? What would happen?"
"It's not necessarily over," Ted replied. "There's- we could help you. I don't- I wouldn't want to lock you up or anything, just...Get you away from that environment. Somewhere that you're not going to have to go out and kill just to kill..." He glanced back to Dedalus, idly wondering what on earth his friend was thinking about as he stood there. His attention soon moved back to Aaron, though. "It's your choice, though. I can't force you to do anything."
"I meant with the law. The rest of Werewolf Services." He laughed softly, bitterly. "I'm hardly their favourite person right now."
"I- oh. Oh, yeah..." It struck him, then, just who he was talking to and what Aaron had done. But at the same time, that was in the past-- if he wanted to make amends, then surely he could? "No, I suppose not. But that...If you were- if you wanted- maybe they'd give you a chance?"
"I'll have to think about it." Aaron looked up then, giving Ted a shaky smile. "It's a big decision, you know? We've been married for years. She was the first girl I loved. Only girl I loved. I'll need to think it over. Is that okay?"
"I know how that goes," Ted replied with a faint smile. Well, not about a decision like that, but being married to the first girl one loved. "But yeah. Take your time. Just...let me know, will you? I want to help you, if I can."
"I will. I'll keep in touch." He looked to the treeline for a moment, biting his lip. "I should get back. They'll start to wonder what's keeping me if I'm gone too long."
And he wasn't sure how much longer he could keep a straight face.
"Of course," he said, pausing-- he almost wanted to say something else, but then he couldn't quite figure out what else to say. "Take care of yourself, alright?" He stood, brushing off his trousers. "I-I'll talk to you soon."
"Thanks." Another smile, this one slightly less shaky. "I really do appreciate it. Guess I'd forgotten what it was like to be a person instead of the wolf, you know?"
And with those parting words, he turned and loped off towards the treeline, back towards the camp where he could let Tabby and Fenrir know how it had gone, and laugh.
Ted watched Aaron for a few moments before turning back to Dedalus. He ambled back over to his mate's side, hand coming up to the back of his neck. "I...Don't know what we can do for him. That didn't go as badly as it could have, thankfully."
"That poor man," Dedalus said somberly, and inwardly, he was extremely glad he no longer had to act like he wasn't paying close attention. "I'm glad you're helping him, at least. I'm sure he'll be very thankful in the end. You never told me his name, you know."
"Oh! Right, sorry," Ted said, turning to start down the sidewalk in the direction that the two had come from. "That was Pryce. Erm. Aaron Pryce."
His eyes narrowed a little. Aaron Pryce, husband of Tabitha Pyrce. As far as he knew, that woman was evil and murderous, and though he believed in redemption, he knew for certain that Tabitha was far beyond it. Instead of questioning his friend, he wrapped an arm around his shoulder as they headed home.
"You're doing a good thing, Ted."
"Thanks," Ted said as his own arm went around Dedalus' shoulders. "I just...I hope it works out, you know? I know- he's done horrible things, and I can't tell if it's just because of the situation he's been in or...I don't want to believe that he's really that bad of a person..."
Dedalus smiled, nodding. "He's a person who has been exposed to bad things. We all deserve a second chance to make things right, don't we? Or that would be ideal, at least."