[locked to Jeremy]

[allthesigns]

Is it true?

Did you get into a fight with Carter?

You haven't shown up for school and it's my turn to be really worried so if you could just let me know you're okay and

That would be good.

Comments

[breakthelock]

[jrke;a shit that's right Plastics/Carter are all about spreading the rumors asap. fwah. He feels bad.]

Yeah, it's true.

Let me guess, Sherri told you?

I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you myself but I've been sleeping most of the day, and I didn't really want to tell you over text message or anything.

death is only an old door set in a garden wall;

[allthesigns]

It is taking everything in her power not to go looking for Carter herself and giving him a piece of her mind. The only reason she isn't is her own awareness of what could happen if she did, of how it could be made that much worse instead of better. She's furious enough about it she'd even force her own father's hand, but it doesn't change the damage was already done. It's not like they'd listen to her. It doesn't stop her from wanting to try. This goes beyond what is unacceptable in her mind.

It doesn't matter who went up to who and what was said, you don't beat somebody up like this. "No, it shouldn't be something I have to tell people, but it's something I should've told you," she says. Because he's not just people, he's Jeremy, and he's lost more to last a lifetime, and she knew that, knew he'd find out anyway, so he should've found out from her, not these books she still wants to tear to shreds. "I just felt like--like maybe if I didn't say anything, it wasn't real. You'd never have to find out, which isn't...at all logical."

I'

death is only an old door set in a garden wall;

[breakthelock]

Jeremy will always be pissed at Carter, but he won’t be looking for a fight with him again anytime soon… if ever again (or so he’d like to think right now). The visuals of Sarah’s face, of Elena’s face, they stay with him. Martha’s does too, and he felt horrible, because he is not that kid that he was before. He is not the kid that is so numb that he can’t feel anything even concern and guilt over his sister’s concern, not enough to stop. He isn’t that kid anymore, because he cares and he feels and he feels more than anger despite the fact that he slipped back just now

death is only an old door set in a garden wall;

[allthesigns]

Sarah considers rebuttal. There were opportunities to mention it. They've talked about her Calling. They've had pretty serious discussions revolving it, revolving death and even talking about what happened to Elizabeth--she'd begun to spiral into madness long before she was killed, but it's not about the blame. He doesn't hold it against her, like she wouldn't hold it against him for anything he's never said.

"Oh, trust me, I don't plan on letting you off the hook about your reaction," Sarah says, and if it wasn't for the extent of how bad he looks, how hurt he looks, it's possible she'd have kicked him out of sheer frustration. Then again, she can only imagine the lectures he's gotten from everyone he lives with at this point, and Sarah isn't one to lecture, even if she has very vehement reactions at times

death is only an old door set in a garden wall;

[allthesigns]

Sarah steps into the hug, easier than she did last time, drawing in one, long breath before releasing it almost immediately afterward, closing her eyes against the fabric of his shirt. Her arms remain looped around his middle, and she laughs almost inaudibly, would kick him if he wasn't already so bruised. "Shut up. I will and you wouldn't stand a chance," she says, but the smile's tugging on her lips in spite of herself, too.

"...Then don't go looking for a fight again," she says, voice quiet, but it's strong.

Sarah looks up at him without moving from where he's pulled her in, gaze somber without being accusatory. "I understand defending yourself. I understand not letting someone jerk you around. I understand standing up for yourself. I wouldn't ever want you not to. But looking for a fight that could mean a hospital visit is not okay, Jeremy. I get everyone has already told you this until they're blue in the face, but I'm not passing on my turn

death is only an old door set in a garden wall;

[breakthelock]

There have been opportunities to mention plenty of things that he could have mentioned to her, but he hasn't. Jeremy cannot hold it against her that she never mentioned this to him, because of everything that she's lots, because she shouldn't have to say it. Even if she thinks she should have told him, Jeremy understands why she wouldn't, why it would be hard to, and there's just no good timing for it. He could have asked when he suspected, but he never asked either.

"I wouldn't expect you to let me off the hook," Jeremy says softly as he looks at her, and he knows her well enough to know there won't be any lecturing, but she has her own method of 'not letting him off the hook' and he knows he shouldn't be let off the hook easily. Even if seeing the expression on her face, it's more than enough to stop him.

It's more than enough to make him never want to get in a fight again even if it means running away literally. The expressions on her face, on his sister's, they're going to stay with him for a really long time. Each time he

death is only an old door set in a garden wall;

[breakthelock]

"I don't really want me to look like this ever again either. Believe me, but it's nothing to me compared to how you look, how my sister... did," he says after a moment as he looks down at her, sincerity in his gaze beyond exhaustion, beyond all the other emotions in his expression.

He leans into the kiss as soft and barely there as it may be and then he smiles a little. "Yes, I will," Jeremy says quietly, small smile widening just slightly. "I wouldn't let her kill you."

But Elena's wrath can be serious so he understands why she would not want to incur it.

Jeremy tightens his hold on her just a little. It doesn't hurt to hug her tighter at all. It's the slightly bigger movements that are more painful, and he rests his chin on top of her head. "I know you will," he says with a smal smile. "It's why it's so scary."

It really is scary.

Then don't go looking for a fight again.Jeremy lets out a long breath before he looks down, closing his eyes. The pain for it hits his chest, sliding into his heart and down through the whole of

death is only an old door set in a garden wall;

[allthesigns]

Sarah's attention is drawn to the book when he glances at it, and she has no idea what it contains, is genuinely surprised when he speaks again, looking up at him abruptly. If Sarah's aware of statistics of angels of death, she's also aware of statistics and what people say about angels of vengeance. That they're flukes, mistakes that shouldn't have been created, that they don't live long the way they say these things about her kind. And it's just supposed to be accepted, it's a truth that cannot be avoided, it's the way the world works and has always worked and it won't change

death is only an old door set in a garden wall;

[allthesigns]

Well, maybe not business as usual.

It'd be unrealistic to think things can go back to exactly what they were, and they shouldn't be.

Things happen, and they should change you.

Sarah tightens her own hold on him, her cheek resting against his shoulder. She smiles against it half-heartedly. "As long as that's clear," she says, and she'd say she isn't serious, only she kind of is. She isn't asking for any more promises. Promises can be broken, even when you don't want them to be, and he's only human. They're only human.

Sarah releases a breath she didn't know she'd been holding when he agrees, even if her stomach drops at the next time. She bites on the insides of her cheeks, wondering how she's even remaining in place but the smile doesn't fall, miraculously. She doesn't let it. "That's all I ask. I'll help you find another way," she says, even if she can't really add next time. She knows there will be