Just a guy (runwiththepack) wrote in sevendevilslog, @ 2020-10-16 08:15:00 |
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Jesse had known that he had made a horrible mistake of taking the bus from New York to Seven Devils rather than just getting on a plane, but by that time he realised that it was too late. It was just that he hated flying, there was something about being that high up in the air with literally no control over anything that happened that got under his skin in all the wrong ways.
Still, he’d made contact with Kitty, been told where to find the spare key and invited to crash in her bed rather than the couch.
The bus driver had been super edgy about the stop at Seven Devils which Jesse figured might have something to do with all the weird shit that had been happening and getting a local bus service seemed to be out of the question so one cab ride later Jesse was arriving in Seven Devils, making what he thought was good time to arrive at Kitty’s aunt’s place.
The town smelt… weird and wrong in so many ways, but honestly the werewolf was just so tired that he was definitely going to worry about getting details later, much later. With rucksack over one shoulder and duffel in the other Jesse approached the house, pausing to rummage out the spare key and let himself in as he’d been told to do. Nobody seemed to be home or if they were he couldn’t hear them which was possible considering magic ran in the family.
A couple sniffs and Jesse knew exactly where Kitty’s room was, and he was soon trailing in that direction. His bags were placed down before he grabbed a towel so that he could hop in a shower and wash off the smell of greyhound and eleven something hours of travel. It didn’t take him long, twenty minutes tops, and he changed very quickly into a pair of sweatpants before he just sat and did his best to dry his hair so he wouldn’t get her pillows all wet.
He’d had all intention of putting a t-shirt on but by the time his head hit a pillow he was out like a light.
Kitty had come home after a half shift prepared to find Jesse crashed out on her bed but not the suggestive eyebrow wiggle from Violet as they passed on the drive. “There’s a red-headed cutie in your bed,” she said with a wink and had only understood when Kitty had told her that it was Jesse from home. Even then she’d left with a far too cheery sing-song.
So Kitty wasn’t surprised to find Jesse’s head poking out from her sheets. His bag was already on the floor, half open with a few clothes having been pulled out, his jeans were on the floor and his hoodie draped over her desk chair. It was like he’d moved in already.
Her lips curled up into a soft smile and she toed off her shoes, shrugged out of her own hoodie and changed into her yoga pants and one of Warren’s oversized shirts (that she’d had since New York and never gave back to him) before sitting down on top of the covers, carefully reaching out and brushing her fingers through her best friend’s hair.
Jesse murmured something sleepily when Kitty brushed her fingers through his hair and definitely turned into the touch because he always loved it when people put their fingers in his hair, some more than others.
It took him a few more moments before he blinked at her blearily, warm brown eyes finally settling on his best friend, and then a broad smile broke out across his face.
“Heeey,” he drawled.
“Afternoon, sleepyhead,” Kitty teased, fingers moving through the strands once more before she leaned against the headboard, tipping her head back and taking a deep breath against the sharp pain in her back. Her shift hadn’t been too long, but it had been long enough that all of her hurt. “You get in okay? Violet saw you- you must’ve been dead to the world if you didn’t notice her opening the door and checking in on you. After she spotted your shoes in the hall, I guess she wasn’t worried enough that you were some kind of serial killer.”
It was good to see him, God. It had only been a few months since she’d left - since the accident and her- well - but it felt like forever since she’d seen him, even if everything else still felt like it had happened yesterday.
“You’re a sight for sore eyes,” she added after a moment.
Jesse might still be shrugging off the fog that came with having just woke up, but he wasn’t that out of it to miss the fact Kitty had taken a much sharper intake of breath when she’d leaned against the headboard, and he frowned. “Are you hurt?”
Immediately concern flooded his features and all pretense around being sleepy was pushed to one side as the werewolf sat up and the covers pooled around his waist. He knew from their text messages that some really messed up shit had happened in Seven Devils so it was possible she’d been hurt during.
“It’s good to see you too.”
Kitty grumbled a little as Jesse shot up and shifted a little, looking at her like an overgrown, concerned puppy and she just waved her hand, lifting her head and offering him a wan smile. “Nothing worse than what I’ve literally just recovered from,” she told him. Which, since he’d visited her in the hospital after the accident, probably wouldn’t actually help. “Shadow demons aren’t exactly the kind you want to shake hands with.”
“So, you are, hurt,” Jesse said with certainly, that frown of his deepening in response. “What happened?”
It was clear that he wasn’t going to let he get away with being vague.
Kitty rolled her eyes, reaching out and tapping his nose gently. “I’m fine. It’s just a few scratches. Someone outside needed help and I went to assist and got caught. It’s just taking a while to heal. It’s- it’s fine, Jesse.”
She shifted though, leaning forward so if he needed to push her shirt up to see for himself, he could. It wasn’t a comfortable thought for her, though, the injuries and scars from her accident had barely faded, still pink and healing, and then now a lattice of angry scratches and slices.
Thank god she never wanted to be a model.
Jesse hissed out a soft breath when he finally got sight of the injuries and gently reached out to lay soft fingertips near but not anywhere close to the scratches and slices.
“These look really fucking sore,” he shared with a shake of his head.
He tipped his head to look at her. “You need any help with cleaning and keeping on top of first aid?”
Even though he didn’t touch close to them, she still sucked in a breath. Every part of her was really sore, and over sensitive in a bad way.
“They are pretty fucking sore,” she admitted with a laugh, tugging her shirt down again once Jesse had looked. “I’m just glad you weren’t here: you’d have done something a lot more stupid.”
“Mm, probably,” he agreed with a small rueful chuckle. “But, seriously, if you need a hand with taking care of them then I’m your guy.” He knew it must be awkward to try and get back though undoubtedly her aunt had been helping.
He scrubbed his fingers through his hair.
“Hopefully those shadow demon things aren’t a norm.”
“I might take you up on that,” Kitty said with a little smile, leaning to the side and she bumped her temple gently against Jesse’s. It had only been a little while but it felt like forever. She’d missed him. They’d been inseparable for pretty much their whole lives.
She squeezed his fingers, leaning back against the headboard and tucking her knees against her chest. “I hope not. Things are always a little weird here, but that’s the draw of this place, too. Magic here is so potent.” She huffed out a breath, “I should introduce you to the pack that’s here.”
“You should,” Jesse said with a nod of his head. “Because I am a pretty awesome nurse.” He lightly nudged her, very gently, and smiled. It was good to see her, New York hadn’t been the same without her.
He hummed in agreement. “Yeah, that’s a good idea. Wouldn’t want them to think I’m being disrespectful by not introducing myself.” It was good werewolf etiquette regardless of where you were that you sought out the Alpha of the local pack, let them know that you didn’t mean any harm and that you’d respect the hell out of their territory.
Full moons were hard enough without adding politics into the mix.
Kitty leaned to the side and pressed a kiss to Jesse’s temple and stood up off the bed. “If you’re rested enough,” she said, holding out her hand, “Do you wanna come pick out some take out and we can stick a movie on? There’s a fluffy blanket on the couch with our name on it.”
Werewolf politics could wait for a day or two, at least. For now, she just wanted to catch up with her best friend and ignore the world for a little while longer.