Wess' face broke out into a deep crimson. "Yeah, that! Hm. Been a long time..." Wesley felt he didn't even have to complete that sentence. It had been too long since he'd done many things. He was ashamed by his lack of experience, where he hadn't been before meeting Claire. Now, now he was holding her back, wasn't he? Unless she really, truly wanted to just live her life in the wilds. Wess couldn't see why she'd want that.
There were lucid points in his memory about his time as a human. God, Wesley wished he had a picture of him and Aaron. He remembered they had had one in their truck, right on the dashboard. Two best friends on the job, watching each other's backs. Well, mostly watching each other's backs.
Wess closed his eyes, pushing away at the pang that tightened his chest. Claire touching him brought him back to the present, and it took him grappling at the sand with his free hand to realize he wasn't in the forest. He breathed out, trying to determine what she meant. The Wendigo thing? The hunger? The fur?
It didn't matter. His answer was the same.
"I'm not sure yet. Not very good at making plans."
♠♠♠
"I see." It was a lot to think about. What were they even going to do? There was so much that they had to work about as a couple. Money wasn't a problem, as Claire worked two jobs and had more than enough saved away if they ever wanted to buy a house or something civilized. Claire had a feeling that they had the same opinion on that though. There was also the factor of the time they could spend together. It felt as if their time was always getting sidetracked. Whether it be because of night shifts, hunting or just back timing, there was an ache in her heart that was only growing stronger.
"I hope that, we can stay together, no matter what Wess." That was about as gushy as she wanted to get, but there was a pull for more to come out of her. "You're the only person that I want. I want you, okay...?" Claire's words didn't have their usual certainty with them, which only made it harder for her to get the words she wanted to say out. "We don't have to have some fucking big plan. As long as we are close and able to hold hands, I'll be happy." Her heart fluttered in those moments, but she wasn't sure why. "If that means that we stay in the forest forever, then that's what it will be."
"I hope that, we can stay together, no matter what Wess." That was about as gushy as she wanted to get, but there was a pull for more to come out of her. "You're the only person that I want. I want you, okay...?" Claire's words didn't have their usual certainty with them, which only made it harder for her to get the words she wanted to say out. "We don't have to have some fucking big plan. As long as we are close and able to hold hands, I'll be happy." Her heart fluttered in those moments, but she wasn't sure why. "If that means that we stay in the forest forever, then that's what it will be."
Wess wondered if Claire didn't believe in his capability to do this? Why was she so afraid? He knew fear; he could practically smell it (in the metaphorical sense). For a long moment, Wesley stared at Claire, face scrunched in deep thought and a welter of concerns dizzying him.
"I don't want to stay in the forest, Claire. I want," Wess cut himself off and nipped at his lower lip, causing it to bleed. "I wanna feel normal again. I don't like it out here, hungry and scared and lonely. I don't wanna stop being me. If I stay out here, that's going to happen. I need people.
"I may be scared for all of this, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna back away. I can't, and I don't want you supporting' my decision to do so. Okay? I don't know what -- What were you hoping this would all be like? I --" He sighed, letting his head fall back and hit the sand. He couldn't.
♠♠♠
"I know." She gave off a closed off sigh as her body turned towards Wess. Even in the light of the moon, it was unmistakable to see his flaws. The teeth, the messy hair, the blood and creepiness that his eyes gave. She knew that Wess wanted to get out of his shell, to allow himself to become more than just a monster. "You don't want to be seen as a monster that no one can like." The only person that did care was her, but it seemed that it was sometimes downplayed by his come important wants.
"And I'll try my fucking best to be here for you, and help. I guess I just-" What was she even trying to say? "I don't want people to misjudge you because of what you are. Or because of me." Not that Claire had a horrible reputation; it was rather that she was obnoxious to have around. An annoying little lovesick girl. "You're special and I'm sure that others will care for you like I do, yeah?" She only wished that she could show him more affection.
"And I'll try my fucking best to be here for you, and help. I guess I just-" What was she even trying to say? "I don't want people to misjudge you because of what you are. Or because of me." Not that Claire had a horrible reputation; it was rather that she was obnoxious to have around. An annoying little lovesick girl. "You're special and I'm sure that others will care for you like I do, yeah?" She only wished that she could show him more affection.
Wesley frowned at Claire, which further portrayed his razor sharp teeth. It felt strange to Wess that Claire was the one who so desperately wanted to stay in the forest and out of sight of people. Maybe that was why she had dated someone like him in the first place, in the hopes that she wouldn't have to deal with society anymore. Wesley didn't feel particularly guilty at the thought.
"It's better here than anywhere else," he reminded her. Manta Carlos was a place most likely willing to accept beasts like him, beasts of the forest and the night. The Wendigo nodded when she said she was sure other people would see him as special like she did. "Even if they don't... nothin' bad would happen." He hoped that one was accurate enough.
"I already got people searchin' me out. Had a man come find me with a hostage not so long ago."
♠♠♠
She sat up, a bit uncomfortable in the moment. It was a foreign topic for her, to talk and discuss the feelings that she wanted to share and show to her boyfriend. There was a lot in her that said to run away and change the subject. In her mind, she was just a scared little girl that didn't want to grow up. With a huff of relief, she settled back into a laying position, staring at the sky rather than Wess. "You're right. I guess I'm just a bit, paranoid?" How else was she supposed to act when a lot of people had a negative view on him?
"The fuck did they want? Hopefully it was good things if they brought food." It was still a bit of a thought for her to think that her boyfriend needed the meat that she had on her. Nevertheless, it didn't frighten Claire to die by him if it ever came to that. It was simply a downside of dating him. She hummed in an annoyed tone, squishing her eyes shut as she tried to pretend that she wasn't such a bitch. "Sorry."
"The fuck did they want? Hopefully it was good things if they brought food." It was still a bit of a thought for her to think that her boyfriend needed the meat that she had on her. Nevertheless, it didn't frighten Claire to die by him if it ever came to that. It was simply a downside of dating him. She hummed in an annoyed tone, squishing her eyes shut as she tried to pretend that she wasn't such a bitch. "Sorry."
To Wess' credit, he didn't flinch at Claire's aggressive tone. Not only was it not aimed at him, but he had also gotten more used to interacting with people, specifically her.
He hummed. "They said they wanted to be my friend. He was a business man, never really did figure what he meant by friend. He wasn't real clear on that front."
Wess yawned, tongue rolling, careful not to nick himself on his teeth. "'Sides, it ain't the point, really. I just mean people know I'm around and it's already been years and years."
He stared up into the night sky, feeling a drowsiness overcoming him. "Suns gonna come up not long here," he said in a way that suggested they should head back soon.
♠♠♠
"Okay." She huffed out, not impressed by this idea of a friend. Wendigos didn't make friends that easily. There was no line up of people that wanted to hang out and have picnics with him. Claire had been the only one, right? She wanted to think that; that her being in his life had some significance. She nodded and rose to her feet as he continued to talk. The wolf girl knew that the sun was coming up, that hey needed to get back. "I... I'll trust whatever you do." Though she still felt a pull to be weary for him. Her hand extended to help him up, or even to hold onto his for affection. Either way, she would walk back into their home together.~