[ text log ] ;; akilah + stuart
INPUT_SUMMARY…?__// Akilah texts Stuart after she knows that he’s safely back Underground to check on his well being.
Akilah: Stu?
Stuart: Yeah?
Akilah: You’re back, right? You’re safe? I know you escaped, but I just wanted to make sure
Stuart: As safe as I can be, yeah.
Akilah: …How are you doing?
Stuart: Tired. Sore. I’ll be fine.
Akilah: Are all of your friends oKay?
Stuart: Allison is hurt. She was shot. She’s … okay. Or, she will be. She’s healing. But, she’s human.
Akilah: I’m glad you’re all still alive. Which one is allison again?
Stuart: Brunette. Huntress. She was presumed dead for four years.
Akilah: Presumed dead?
Stuart: I don’t know the whole story. Stiles does. She faked her death to fall in with the hunters so she could collect information from the hunters. She fed me information anonymously for years.
Akilah: Ahhhhh. Who shot her? Do you know? And how did she get shot?
Stuart: Just one of the guards. I .. honestly don’t remember a lot of it clearly. I was drugged when she got to me. But I do remember that she came alone. Probably despite the others trying to make a group plan.
Akilah: Alone? Why would she do that? That was dangerous.
Stuart: .. I’m aware that it was dangerous. And I know she was too. I – Do you remember when we were younger and you told me that one day I would met someone special? Do you remember how I made fun of you for it and told you how cheesy you sounded? You have my permission for one – just one – “I told you so.”
Akilah: : ) I won’t rub it in
Akilah: I’m really happy for you, Stu.
Akilah: Now don’t mess it up.
Stuart: I don’t really plan on it. You know as well as I do that I’m not really used to something like this.
Akilah: I know. I’m just teasing. Was she as stubborn as I was about befriending you?
Stuart: It was different. I don’t know how to explain it, but .. - It was different than us.
Akilah: I’m really glad you have someone down there with you
Stuart: … I am too. Without her, I probably wouldn’t have made it out.
Akilah: …You sure you’re gonna be okay?
Stuart: I’ll be okay, yeah. The only thing that’s going to scar is the back of my neck. Allison got to me right on time.
Akilah: [delayed] What did they do to the back of your neck?
Stuart: [ delayed ] Before they knew it was me and not Stiles, they branded the back of my neck with his initials, and our birthdate.
Akilah: Stu…I’m sorry
Stuart: Don’t. It’s not your fault. Don’t apologize.
Akilah: I know, I just…I work for the government. I work for the people who do this shit to people. It might not be my fault, but it doesn’t feel like I’m doing enough to stop it.
Stuart: If you tried to do anything to stop it, you would be putting yourself in danger.
Akilah: The thing is, I don’t really care about that.
Stuart: But I do. You’re in the safest possible place you can be right now. You’re an asset to them, and they’re going to protect that. What will you do if they do start coming after you, Akilah? I can’t have you hurt.
Akilah: Then how do you think I feel, knowing how badly they hurt you when they had you?
Stuart: .. – it wasn’t that bad.
Akilah: Don’t you dare lie to me. They hurt you so badly that you were unconscious, and I know you’re probably still littered in bruises.
Stuart: … what do you mean?
Akilah: [delayed] Did you really think I wouldn’t come check on you when I found out where they were holding you?
Stuart: … you came to see me? Don’t you know how much of a risk that was?
Akilah: Yes, Stuart, I’m not an idiot. I was fully aware of the risk.
Stuart: [ delayed ] It wasn’t as bad as I’m sure it looked. They still wanted me in one piece.
Akilah: What, exactly, is your definition of bad?
Stuart: I wasn’t dead. Nothing was broken, for the most part. Bruises and minor burns will fade in time.
Akilah: At least you weren’t dead, so everything is just fine? Do you know how ridiculous you sound?
Stuart: Even so, what can be done about it now? I did what I meant to do. I kept Stiles save, and freed his father. I didn’t intend on getting rescued, if you want the honest truth. I went into it to save my brother ; to save what family I have left.
Akilah: I mean, nothing, but…you don’t have to downplay it. You looked like shit. I was worried at first that you WERE dead.
Akilah: How did Stiles feel about your little stunt, anyway/
Stuart: They weren’t about to let me die. Being Stiles, or not, I still have magic. And they wanted something out of me because of it. What they wanted, I’m not actually completely certain on.
Stuart: … he feels guilty. Because he feels like it was his fault.
Akilah: You have magic too?
Stuart: Yes, I’m like Stiles. Except I’m a witch, not a druid. My powers are not connected with a pack like his are. Which actually means he has the potential to be stronger than I ever could be, depending on the strength of his pack.
Akilah: But that’s…basically impossible. Supernatural twins rarely, if ever, share the same powers.
Stuart: I’m very well aware of this. At least, I became aware of this after I learned I had a twin brother. I’ve tried to not think too hard about the implications. But the more I learn about my birth, the more it makes sense to me.
Akilah: …What do you mean?
Stuart: You have access to almost anyone’s records, right? Tell me what you can find on ‘Dymek Stuart Stilinski.’
Akilah: [delayed] I’ve looked you up before…I don’t know how I missed the part where you died at birth.
Stuart: More than a week after birth, but – according to records, I wasn’t doing too well after birth to that point anyway.
Akilah: …Do you know how you were brought back?
Stuart: A witch coven. They stole my body from the morgue and used my spark to bring me back – in hopes of using me in their coven.
Akilah: Wait, you’re…you’re not in their coven, right?
Stuart: I’m not, no. My parents - the ones who raised me - were both solo witches. While covens are not inherently bad, this one was corrupt. My parents took me from them to prevent them from getting more powerful. And since I was legally dead in Beacon Hills, they raised me. The fire? That was the coven trying to come back for me.
Akilah: Oh my god
Akilah: Stu, I’m so sorry.
Akilah: I didn’t know.
Stuart: I know you didn’t. I tried to keep you out of all of this stuff as long as I could. Letting you think I was dead was one of the most painful things I’ve ever done, next to losing them. But, I had to. I hoped it would keep you safe. You were far too smart, had far too much going for your future, to get mixed up in the affairs of the supernatural.
Akilah: Okay, well…now you know that was a stupid decision. I don’t care if you’re supernatural. I don’t care if I work for the government. You’re just as smart as me, and I’m not going to let you get hurt again if I can help it.
Stuart: … the thing is, you probably can’t help it. We’re on complete different sides of the same war, Akilah. There might come a point where you have to pick between my life, and your job. And I don’t want you to have to make that decision.
Akilah: It wouldn’t be a hard decision for me to make.
Stuart: It should be. Because your job is also your safety net.
Akilah: Stuart, my job is just a job. If it came down to you or my job, I’d pick you every time.
Stuart: It’s not just a job. It’s a part of a bigger problem. It’s a part of the people who hurt me – and not just me, any of my people that they catch.
Akilah: I understand that, now…
Stuart: Do you just understand because it’s me that made you realize that? Because it’s so much more than me.
Akilah: No. I just never really got to hear the other side of it until now.
Akilah: Stuart, I took this job before the laws were enacted. I didn’t even know the supernatural existed when I took this job.
Akilah: When I learned all that stuff really existed, I thought it was fascinating. But the government doesn’t think that: they paint all of you as dangerous monsters with no self control.
Akilah: I REALLY thought what I was doing was for the best of the country, but I get now that things aren’t so black and white.
Stuart: None of us are that black and white, Akilah. Not just magic users. Werewolves. Vampires. Banshee. Anyone that your government claims is dangerous.
Stuart: Each one of us still has a human soul.
Stuart: If we were that dangerous, it would have been us that exposed us – not the laws. We’ve been living, as a whole, for centuries without the rest of the world knowing about us.
Akilah: I know. I mean, I’m sure there are bad werewolves and vampires and magic users just like there are regular bad people in the world. But I fully believe that most of you are just trying to live your lives like everyone else.
Stuart: Exactly my point. Exactly the whole point of the rebellion. None of us are meant to live our lives in chains.
Akilah: Stu, what do you want me to say? I’ve already said I agree with you.
Stuart: .. I know. I guess… I’m just not used to someone on your side changing your mind.
Akilah: I wouldn’t get too used to it. Most of the people I work with are very set in their ways.
Stuart: I know. I’ve met your brother.
Akilah: My brother and I…we’ve always been really different.
Akilah: I’ve been working for the government for four years, and he didn’t even realize I had moved here until recently.
Stuart: I’m aware. And grateful
Stuart: [ delayed ] Your brother is the one who took me in.
Akilah: If he ever found out I’ve been helping you…I don’t doubt that he would throw me under the bus in the name of the law.
Akilah: [delayed] …Did he think you were Stiles?
Stuart: No. He knew I wasn’t.
Akilah: Does he know who you really are??
Stuart: He doesn’t know who I am to the Underground, but he knows my name.
Stuart: Not that my name is important anymore. I’m on the list.
Akilah: Shit
Akilah: Does he know that you know me?
Stuart: I honestly don’t know.
Akilah: If he doesn’t know already, he’s going to find out.
Stuart: Even if he does, how is he to know I know you now?
Stuart: .. and besides, he still took me. And let them believe I was Stiles.
Akilah: I mean, I guess he wouldn’t be able to find out that we still know each other now. But if he finds out we were friends in high school, he might press.
Akilah: Why would he let them believe you were Stiles? Why not just keep you and Noah to lure Stiles out?
Stuart: … I really don’t know.
Akilah: I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to figure my brother out.
Stuart: I’m sorry.
Akilah: It’s not your fault.
Stuart: Still.
Stuart: And … thank you. For coming to see me. Even if I wasn’t awake. I just –
Stuart: I don’t like the idea of you seeing me like that - but it means you care.
Akilah: You don’t have to thank me. And I’m always going to care about you Stuart.
Stuart: .. I’m realizing that.
Stuart: But I haven’t had many people in my life that care. So, thank you.
Akilah: I’m really glad you’re okay.
Akilah: I already mourned for you once. I really don’t want to have to do it again.
Stuart: That depends on your definition of okay.
Stuart: But I’m getting there.
Akilah: Sorry, poor choice of wording. I’m really glad you’re alive.
Stuart: Just … please stay safe, Akilah. And let me know the moment you don’t think you are.
Akilah: I will. You stay safe too.
Stuart: I will try.