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[abrightboy]

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[abrightboy]

"I don't want to do violence," Malcolm tells him, and it's also a confession.

[ukan]

"I know." He's thought about this a lot, had before he ever brought up the change to Malcolm. "That's why I want you to be my pack's counselor."

[abrightboy]

Malcolm blinks and looks up at him.

"...It is?"

[ukan]

"My current LA pack is made up of veterans and people who've escaped the black market. They're used to violence. I want someone who can help them reconnect with the other parts of themselves. And I've felt for a long time that you could be that person."

[abrightboy]

"...I do have a lot of experience with trauma," Malcolm confirms, faintly hopeful. "So I don't have to.... hunt or anything?"

[ukan]

"No. But we do go running in Death Valley some nights. Burns off the energy that builds up in the city. Has Iris taught you to howl?"

[abrightboy]

“I do like running,” Malcolm tells him. It’s his favourite wolf thing to do. The question makes him pause. “…Taught me? Um. I guess not. She took me out around the ship before. Just. Being a wolf.”

[ukan]

Lark grins. "Oh but it's a part of being a wolf. Music will sound different to you the more you learn. We share all our history in howls through the night. We sing all our legends. You didn't think it was all chasing balls and curling together against the cold, did you?"

[abrightboy]

“I guess….I don’t really know what all it involves. But I’ve never chased a ball. Will and I just like… running in nature. Are you going to talk to Will?” Malcolm asks.

[ukan]

"He's my next stop." And then Maggie, and then Iris.

[abrightboy]

“I’d appreciate if you didn’t tell Iris what I said about wanting to change Will,” Malcolm says.

[ukan]

"You think she'd be offended?"

[abrightboy]

“I just don’t want to make trouble when it can’t change anything. Will doesn’t even glow when he changes anymore,” Malcolm tells him.

[ukan]

"Why did it bother you that he was glowing?"

[abrightboy]

“Because I don’t, so I thought we weren’t the same,” Malcolm tells him.

[ukan]

"Is it important to you to be the same as him?"

[abrightboy]

“More than anyone,” Malcolm says honestly.

[ukan]

He tilts his head. "Why? Would he love you less if you didn't glow and he did? Would you understand him less if he glowed?"

[abrightboy]

Malcolm frowns. “It’s not about that.”

[ukan]

He watches Malcolm. "Help me to understand?"

[abrightboy]

“When we talked about him becoming a wolf too, it was… something to share. A way to strengthen our bond. So if we’re not the same thing, then it doesn’t accomplish that,” Malcolm explains.

[ukan]

"Is that all it was to you?" There's no judgment but it is, admittedly, a thing he should know.

[abrightboy]

Malcolm looks at him like he’s seeing something new where he wasn’t expecting that.

“As opposed to what?”

[ukan]

"I didn't offer this as a way to strengthen your romantic relationship, Malcolm." Will was nowhere in his mind when he offered the change. "I'm not a marriage counselor and my culture doesn't exist just to bolster your fun time."

[abrightboy]

“That isn’t what I’m talking about, either,” Malcolm says evenly, his expression going carefully coolly neutral. Well, as much as that’s possible for him. Something wounded by the accusation might have slipped through on the way. But his demeanour has changed. It’s guarded now.

“And I said it’s sorted out now. We sorted it out on our own. Without you. Because you were gone.”

Why did he think, back in the moment, that Lark would have handled it differently than Iris did? Of course he was kind and soft to him before. He was wooing him. He has him now. He can say stuff… like that.

“Anyway. Welcome back. Let me know what the program is if… there’s a program.” Was he supposed to get any training? Will he still? He doesn’t know. He lingers uncertainly.