PSL; [TERRIBLE THINGS WE HAVE DONE]

[vecna]

[It's difficult being the new kid at school, the new kid in town, everyone a stranger, every setting a readjustment, a fresh (and always failed) expectation to fit in hanging over one's head like a knife. It's even harder when your name is Henry Creel; a twelve year-old boy who is a little too lanky, a little too quiet. Who would prefer to keep to himself and not always look someone in the eye, finding more companionship in books and his collection of drawings than any of the kids his age. Who doesn't look like he wants to try to fit in—and struggles with every teacher’s gentle encouragement—even if he’s hardly a rule-breaker. Always punctual, always presentable, good grades, a nice new home to return to at the end of the day.

But his faith in his own integration is low. He had never flourished in his old town — why should he in this new one? As if moving would change how the world is, how he is, but he tries so hard not to linger on these thoughts today. They make him indescribably—

Well, he doesn’t know.

School lets out. The weather’s nice. It’s time to walk home, detaching himself from the excitable crowd of his classmates as swiftly and quietly as he can, his backpack slung over one shoulder and half-unzipped. He tries to stuff a book into it with one hand, paying no attention to where he’s going, and stumbles right into someone in an utterly ungraceful showing.

The book, of course, goes flying and lands splayed open, pages-down. Blue eyes flick up, out comes an automatic:]

Sorry.

Comments

[vecna]

A ward?

[His turn to crinkle his brows as he tries to draw a connection in his mind he’s familiar with.]

So like a shield.

[More magic. Weird.]

Have you and your dad always been this way? Magical, I mean.

[striketwice]

[ Alec frankly doesn't know how best to describe how wards work, so "shield" is good enough for him.

As they talk, they head up the stairs and into the apartment proper, entering through the small kitchen just off the door to the garage. ]

Yeah, pretty much. Like I said, I'm just learning, but my dad knows a loooooot of magic.

[vecna]

[Up they go, and into the kitchen. Henry’s still taking in the place as they walk, trying not to look like he’s gawking too much at every little thing.]

Really? How many kinds of magic is there?

[striketwice]

Nine. Well, nine Specializations.

[ Baby Alec has not yet learned about Necromancy.

In any case, he looks like he's about to start rattling them off, like they would mean literally anything to Henry, but Alec's dad steps in and asks him if he can go set the table instead. He then turns his attention to Henry. ]

In the meantime, I was hoping you could tell me about what you can do, Henry. Alec said you mentioned moving things with your mind.

[vecna]

[Oh... questions time. Henry looks up at Alec's dad, straight-backed.]

Yes, sir. Nothing big, and only if I really focus. Things don't move very far.

[It's really not that impressive to like, actually magic. Though this doesn't seem to include the time he struck Alec across the face in his anger.]

[striketwice]

[ Alec is still nearby, quietly setting things on the table. He's listening, clearly curious.

Thomas simply nods in gentle understanding. ]

I think you're psychic, Henry. Have you heard that term before?

[vecna]

[Psychic? Of course he's heard of it before, but-]

Yes, but I thought that only existed in comic books. Or sci-fi novels.

[Then again, he thought the same about magic.]

[striketwice]

[ Yes about that-- ]

It's all very real, just like magic. As far as you know, no one in your family has these kinds of powers?

[vecna]

[He shakes his head, almost vigorously.]

No, no one. And I can't... I can't tell any of them about mine.

[striketwice]

[ Well, that's a rather insistent reaction. Thomas frowns. ]

Because they wouldn't understand?

[vecna]

[Henry casts his gaze aside.]

They already think something's wrong with me. This would just...

[Prove them right? He doesn't know.]

...scare them, probably.

[striketwice]

[ On the other side of the small room, Alec goes still, eyes flicking up to exchange a look with his dad. Suddenly his father's insistence that Alec reach out to the other boy makes a lot more senses. It's one thing to be teased and ridiculed by one's peers, but when it's his own family who thinks he's... off?

Wow, Alec feels like a jerk. ]

That's why you're here.

[vecna]

[He looks over at Alec, frowning a little, uncertain.]

What do you mean...?

[striketwice]

Because you're not gonna scare us! Because this is someplace you can use or powers or do whatever you want and it's okay! Me and dad are wizards so we'll help you out!

[ Look at this impassioned little speech. Apparently whatever talk his dad had with him the other night really got through. ]

[vecna]

[...Oh.

That’s— That’s not at all what he expected. He expected curiosity, maybe a few words of advice. But a place to use his powers? The implication of being helped not only once, but in the future?

Henry, who’s always felt out of place rather than ever welcomed anywhere, can only ask:]

But why would you do all of that for me? You don’t even really know me.

[striketwice]

[ He can see the surprise on Henry's face, but Alec's determined now. He's never had anyone to look out for before, he's always been out for himself. He's found something almost like purpose here.

And maybe, just maybe, it feels kind of good not to always be on the defensive. Not to be terrorizing or insulting or picking fights. ]

There's not a lot of magic users around here. It's mostly just me and dad. And... if you can't even talk to your family about it, that's gotta be really lonely, right? So, we should stick together.

[vecna]

[Lonely.

It's like a shard of ice through the chest. It's not something he likes to focus on, only because he's slowly begun to accept it as the norm, but hearing it spoken aloud and not just tamped down in his own mind, day to day…

It makes him feel indescribably sad, but also overwhelmingly relieved that someone else can see it. That someone else understands.

The two emotions conflict with each other. Henry’s shoulders sag, his eyes dropping down to his shoes, fingers curling at his sides.]

…Okay. I’d like that. To stick together.

[striketwice]

[ Oh. He's not surer what to make of that reaction initially. It looks like Henry's at war with something. Alec shares a look with his dad, who backs off a couple of steps and motions for Alec to come take his place.

Alec slips around the table, bending to try and get in Henry's line of sight. ]

Hey. I'm... uh. I'm really sorry about all the... the stuff. At school.

[vecna]

[He still doesn't meet Alec's gaze, not just yet. He's bringing up the back of a hand to rub at his eyes first.]

It's okay. [The reply is automatic. The forgiveness probably shouldn't come so easily, but now things could not be more different how things were, and that's all that matters to Henry now.] As long as we're friends [??] now, I feel a lot better about it.

[striketwice]

[ Is he crying?? Is this good crying or bad crying? He exchanges another panicked look with his dad, who quietly urges him, "Go on." ]

H-hey, you don't-- [ have to cry. The attempt to console stops halfway out of his mouth, because Henry calls them friends. Alec has... never had friends, before, he's pretty sure. There's always an underlying air of pity when other kids try to be friendly with him, or obligation, like their parents told them to "be nice to that poor boy", or whatever. This is different. He can't really explain how. ]

... Yeah. We're friends.

[vecna]

[He's not crying!! ...Much. His lashes are a little damp by the time he lowers his hand and actually looks at Alec, the confirmation of friendship enough to make Henry forget all about his self-consciousness.]

Okay... okay, good. Thanks, Alec. For being my friend, and for wanting to help me with my powers. I don't know what I would have done if I had to figure it all out by myself.

[He would have struggled, would have found less than affable ways of testing them. Maybe.]

[striketwice]

[ This is good? This is good! It has much the same effect for Alec, making that weird awkwardness just sort of melt away. ]

You don't have to thank me. It's... kind of nice, I guess, having someone to share a secret with.

[vecna]

Yeah, I guess it would be. [It makes sense if he thinks about it.] There's not many magic users around here, right? That's what you said.

[He must not have many other... "powered" friends at all.]

[striketwice]

Yeah, that's right. I don't know anybody else my age who's a wizard.

[ No powered friends, try no friends at all. ]

That's all right, though.

[vecna]

That must be hard.

[Right? He's not sure if Alec ever really felt lonely the way he did--he had his father, didn't he?--but keeping secrets to himself must have been difficult.]

Wait, so does this make me a wizard, too?