“ it’s okay! he’s with me. ”
henrietta lacks, the first ever human being to have her cells immortalised. ever since, HeLa cells have been saving humanity in ways imaginable and not. thanks to it, polio was eliminated — and these superhero cells keep on living. of course, the book brett is reading informs, that henrietta lacks herself never granted permission of such theft.
whether she liked it or not, part of her remains eternal.
the book popped up on brett’s feed a month ago, and has been the slow read he turns to when he needs a distraction.
after all the near deaths — he actually died, but he didn’t tell anyone — his parents decided to leave for a better place. they ended up in rural virginia, somewhere the nemeton cannot reach.
upon arrival, brett knew something was off about henrietta. unlike the beacon hills, there is no death-calling stump — rather, there is something hidden in their dreams.
this is where he meets kavinsky, the hurricane that swept brett off his feet.
kavinsky’s dream is to go out in a bang — like fireworks, beautiful and transient. that is to say, he exists in a place that represents the exact opposite of his trajectory.
“ it’s okay! he’s with me. ”
kavinsky’s announces with a dagger-edged grin, arms spread wide like a pair of wings. they are at a club where everything is intoxicating, the music, the lights, the scents — but nothing compares to kavinsky’s sing-song command, which happens to be both persuasive and instigating.
brett wants to warn him — if reading and minding his own business got brett into trouble, gods know what will happen if kavinsky interferes with his unyielding nature — but the strangers pulls his fist back. now released from the stranger’s aggressive hold, brett’s eyes dart to the side, catching a glimpse of kavinsky’s expression despite the dim-lit environment.
irritation bounces off kavinsky like sparks, looking for something — anything — to burn.
here in henrietta, kavinsky is a king. well, a false king, but powerful nonetheless. when he speaks, people listen. well, most people do.
but ronan lynch is not most people.
kavinsky drops on the couch and takes the spot next to brett, the residue of his unhappy conversation with ronan lynch earlier still heavy in the air. kavinsky pulls out a cigarette and lights it fire red, then he stares off into the distance while brett stares at him.
“ not gonna lie, ” when he speaks, kavinsky glances at him, his sultry gaze enough to pierce a hole in his chest. volume turning down another notch, brett admits, “ that was pretty cool. ”
a familiar shark grin spreads on kavinsky’s face, and brett is suddenly underwater. he watches, in slow motion, the glass kavinsky slots into his hand, then the reverted baritone of kavinsky’s low mumble pressing close to his ear, leaving on his skin a probing question.
“ are you going to say no too? ”
kavinsky has many flaws, all of which he wears proudly as medals along with a heart made of glass. brett cannot understand how ronan missed the point — that kavinsky was chasing after him — when kavinsky was so transparent.
kavinsky, sleeping-with-a-gun-in-hand kavinsky. finger is always on the trigger, always ready to shoot — he simply hasn’t decided at whom yet.
“ i told you i don’t drink. ”
brett reiterates for the umpteenth time. kavinsky laughs, downing the shiny liquid himself then slamming the empty glass on the small table. brett didn’t want to add to kavinsky’s tally of rejection but it can’t be helped — or can it?
somewhere to the right, prokopenko snorts. brett knows prokopenko knows, and prokopenko knows brett knows — they are in the same chase after kavinsky.
“ fine. but you’ll come to fourth of july with me. ”
kavinsky grins even harder, as though he is trying to split his face apart. brett continues to stare — maybe he can also steal a piece of kavinsky and keep it forever.
kavinsky’s dream is to go out in a bang, which means brett’s mission is to prevent the bang from ever happening.
unfortunately, cancelling fourth of july isn’t an option.
just before the dragon explodes, brett moves and puts himself between kavinsky and his creation.
werewolves aren’t invincible, especially not against fire raging fire; but he is more durable than kavinsky, body and soul, so he decides to take a chance. he has died and come back, after all; maybe he can do it again.
maybe this is why he became a werewolf. maybe this is why he was given this power.
