When a Little Fresh Air is Required PV Wyatt Starkey

“Guitar, bass, and a bit of piano,” Alec repeated as he reflected on it Wyatt's list of hobbies with a hum, he smirked. “That does seem very Wyatt Starkey, I like it.” Alec said thoughtfully, reflecting on moments where he should have seen other instruments than guitar coming. Wyatt was a music nerd. Although Alec might have just thought it because Wyatt listened to more music than Alec ever did. Maybe Alec was the weird one.

Teasing Wyatt about a possible rather probable baby face Alec watched the way Wyatt brought his wrists together beneath his chin, he blinked and stared up in the sky as to emulate the baby-faced Wyatt Alec had been teasing him of. The young teen would pretend to fuss over him on the continuation of an adorable baby-faced Wyatt. Reaching forward Alec would attempt to boop Wyatt on the nose with his index finger, whether or not he was successful Alec found it hard not to break into a bout of laughter after and despite his best attempts to hold back, he would do so anyway. It wouldn't take much to sober up as Wyatt hands found their way back to his pockets and he commented on Alec's own baby face. Mouth falling open Alec made a mock-offended gasp. “I do not!” Alec protested, though he found himself grinning widely.

Wyatt went on to ask what Alec was like before Hogwarts, Alec struggled with giving an answer. He seemed upset by his inability to do so Alec had asked if it was normal, he still struggled to give some form of answer and Wyatt spoke up.

“It’s not a universal experience, no, but not remembering doesn’t make you helpless. The memories come back when you’re able to understand them,”

“-but I feel helpless,” Alec whispered, the words butting out of his mouth almost immediately, skirting the edge of almost interrupting Wyatt. Alec released a shaky breath, “It's so... frustrating.” Still whispering and yet even Alec could notice the way his voice cracked as he spoke. The thought of missing crucial pieces of his past, of his life, it's a very scary thought to face. It felt like another problem to add to the list, one more thing wrong with Alec, something else for people to look at him and frown upon with. Frustration turned to anger that always bubbled up quickly, and in the end, fizzled out as if it were a small flame put out by the harsh wave of the wind. Alec's emotions came and went quickly, all of it left Alec feeling like a bottomless pit.

“Don’t think about it too much right now, it’s okay to not deal with that stuff yet. You will when it’s the best time, you know?”

Wyatt had spoken up, making his best efforts to comfort the distraught Gryffindor. Usually Alec would not have taken to the words as quickly as he did, this time he clung to anything in order to feel okay. Wyatt was thoughtful, he always knew what to say to make Alec feel better and it would be no different this time. Alec's head turned, his eyes looking up to meet Wyatt's. “You think so?” Alec let out a resigned sigh, it sounded less hopeless, rather a gentle acceptance of the situation for what it was. A sad smile edged onto Alec's lips and he slowly nodded. “You're probably right- I mean, you are, you're right.” He was right, Alec knew he was right. To some extent, it all still frustrated him and as much as he hated to say it, “It's a can of worms better left as is, for now. Opening it feels like a disaster waiting to happen.” Their conversation prompted questions for Wyatt that Alec hadn't realized he'd had before. It was a very personal conversation and Alec was beginning to think there were reasons Wyatt hadn't ever touched on the topic of his own past. A silent feeling of understanding, and Wyatt didn't have to say a thing.

It was nice to be able to end a conversation this way. Alec felt strangely at piece with himself, and now glad Wyatt had asked the question to prompt the conversation. It was important. He knew if he'd run into the realization of lack of remembrance himself, the thought process wouldn't have led Alec here, he wouldn't have felt okay about it, somewhat at peace. Despite it, Alec was embarrassed to have made such a big deal over it, he almost didn't feel allowed. Alec didn't feel like he could complain about his problems, Wyatt probably had it worse. Alec felt prompted to apologize, and did, hoping he had given some sort of sufficient answer to Wyatt's question. He felt he hadn't, which is why he was surprised when Wyatt spoke.

“Your answer was perfect,”

Perfect. Alec stared and blinked. He could feel the heat spreading to his cheeks as he replayed Wyatt's words in his head. Nervously he bit at his lip and looked down shaking his head. Now Wyatt was just saying things. Alec knew his answer wasn't perfect. And with everything... well, he didn't expect it to be. A certain sadness lingered in Alec's chest. It felt like the best way to get through it was to move on from the thought of it for now. Yet while moving on from the thought, it lingered hidden in the questions Alec voiced, asking about Wyatt's past.

Silence filled the air as the two walked and Alec took the silence as a moment to reboot and clear his head. He waited for Wyatt to speak, silence lasted so long it was almost questionable. Alec wondered what Wyatt was thinking. It made Alec slightly wary, “Wyatt, you don't have to talk about it if you don't-” want to. Alec had started speaking and Wyatt interrupted, Alec had almost thought he wasn't going to speak but when Wyatt did the words seemed to spew out of him like word vomit, it was as if he'd recited the story a million times over. Words incredibly put together for something he'd pulled up on the spot.

It was a shame the story followed the classic plot of old beliefs. People were more accepting these days, apparently not Wyatt's mother's family. His parents stayed in Cokeworth not knowing where else to go. The way Wyatt forced a smile and a chuckle was an immediate red flag for Alec and all so suddenly he was reminded of that feeling of understanding. It was hard to describe the way Alec processed the use of the word irratible Wyatt's mother not being able to do much about it so they didn't leave, or Wyatt's father leaving at being exposed to magic Wyatt saying it wasn't a bad thing. It was Alec's turn to be silent. His eyes followed Wyatt's hand as he pointed, Alec's stricken gaze softened as his eyes settled on the street Wyatt used to live on and then his school. Wyatt mentioned his lack of friends, a strange addition yet Alec nodded. Wyatt said he was surprised Alec liked Cokeworth, offering up that perhaps he was just too used to it. “Maybe,” Alec spoke, though he still found himself betting on a different reason, he wasn't going to tell Wyatt as much. Once again Alec felt heat spreading to his cheeks.

Wyatt said they had a lot in common before Hogwarts that it was a right time wrong place scenario. Words that finally drew out a smile from Alec. “And to think, so much wasted time,” Alec spoke dramatically, to joke and tease. Really it was, it would have been nice to have someone like Wyatt around sooner. Then Wyatt said he was glad Alec was here, and Alec's smile widened. “You could have fooled me, with the way you were freaking out this morning.” Alec teased, followed by him pausing taking a moment to be serious. The young teen rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly as he spoke, “but seriously, I appreciate you being so cool about this.” Alec let out a breath, his frown back, “It's been such a rough summer, even worse than the one you supposedly ruined.” Wyatt hadn't ruined that summer, he had to know it by now. This summer was also most definitely a summer for the record books. Especially with Nina having left on top of it. Alec still didn't have the heart to tell Jackie.

Alec took a moment to take in the cool night air and once again clear his head. What was it? There was something that he... “I have a question. You don't have to answer if I'm prodding too much. You said it wasn't a bad thing your father left. Is that why you don't talk about him? Because it wasn't a bad thing that he left.” As far as Alec could remember Wyatt's father had never been mentioned before this point. Alec felt like it was important to ask... He and Wyatt were somewhat close but was it even Alec's place? There was also another thing. “Is there a reason we're walking toward your school?”

Edit: did some rewriting
@Wyatt Starkey

wearing | hex: #3a5948

After explaining his life to a bad therapist or two and years of internally trying to make sense of things, Wyatt knew what to say, but what he thought people needed to hear was only a fraction of what he needed to share. The words rushed out of him like an unchecked stream, yet they were anything but uncalculated. Wyatt disliked this: the too-familiar phrasing reminded him of his inability to be completely sincere, even with people he cared for. People like Alec.

Would it kill him to stop thinking for a second? Thankfully, Wyatt’s answer seemed to be enough for his friend, and he not-so-gracefully changed the topic to his surprise at Alec’s genuine appreciation for Cokeworth. Following Wyatt’s suggestion that he wasn’t charmed by the town due to his familiarity, Alec responded with a “Maybe” that almost prompted Wyatt to ask what he meant. He’d noticed something in his tone that betrayed disbelief, but Wyatt didn’t want to challenge him.

Instead of pursuing Alec’s slightly-off tone that would certainly lead to a petty argument, Wyatt opted to focus on the ideal world where Alec and Wyatt had grown up in the same town and become friends. That alternate reality would’ve caused Wyatt far fewer headaches, with the violence of their real first meeting becoming something of another universe. Though the thought calmed his nerves, a voice from the back of his mind told him that Alec may not have thought of the situation the same way. Wyatt Starkey being one of your few friends? Sounds depressing, it told him.

Still, the moment was too good to let this voice ruin it. Alec’s smile was so warm that Wyatt doubted he could ever feel cold again, and the town around them was silent and calm. Almost forgetting himself, lost in this feeling of tranquility, Wyatt allowed himself to be honest. Calculated as ever, sure, but entirely honest. With great effort, he confessed that he was glad Alec was here, despite the circumstances to blame for his arrival in Cokeworth. Great effort.

“You could have fooled me, with the way you were freaking out this morning,” Alec teased, finding some sort of balance between seriousness and lightheartedness. Alec rubbed the back of his neck: a tick of sorts that he did when he was nervous. Wyatt couldn’t help but smirk at that. He noticed it every time. It was sort of… cute? No. “But seriously, I appreciate you being so cool about this. It's been such a rough summer, even worse than the one you supposedly ruined.”

“I’m insulted! I thought I did a much better job at ruining that summer than a ‘supposedly’ suggests,” he grumbled, tone obviously joking. Things were getting stomach-knottingly serious, and Wyatt needed to bring some levity to the conversation. And then he had to apologize. “I’m… sorry”––Sorry was such a difficult word––“about this morning. I was just a bit overwhelmed and I… am not… used to you being here? It doesn’t feel right– not you! You’re great, of course. I… dunno.”

If Wyatt had mastered anything, it would be making himself look like an idiot in front of Alec. However, while he didn’t prefer Alec thinking he was stupid, Wyatt couldn’t find himself being seriously worried about what Alec thought his intelligence level was. As long as he still wanted to be his friend, Alec could think Wyatt was the dumbest person on Earth. As long as he would stay.

“I have a question. You don't have to answer if I'm prodding too much. You said it wasn't a bad thing your father left. Is that why you don't talk about him? Because it wasn't a bad thing that he left.”

“Yes,” Wyatt replied shortly, disappointed that they were back on the topic of his family, as he was never a fan of such lines of questioning. Alec hadn’t asked what his father had done, though, only if Wyatt didn’t talk about him because it was better for the family that he’d gone. His reply was vague, but it said more than enough about his earlier childhood. Or so Wyatt would have liked to believe. “I don’t want to talk about him. Especially not today. I don’t mean to be rude.”

Resorting to shorter phrases, Wyatt kept his tone unassuming and without any wavering or voice cracks, though his monotone delivery may just have been as much of an indicator of his emotions as bursting into tears. Using quick, honest sentences was the most efficient tactic he could think of in order to end that situation, and hopefully they were done with it. It wasn’t because of Alec, though; Wyatt would have been more open with Alec any other day, just not this one.

There was a bit of a pause after he shut Alec down. Wyatt feared he’d put him off and was starting to get antsy when Alec asked, “Is there a reason we're walking toward your school?” A fair question. One that would earn a fair answer. Wyatt’s posture and the topic of conversation would shift in tandem, his stiffness melting away and spilling into the gutter on the sidewalk’s curb.

“It’s a long enough walk from the home without being a marathon. There’s also a playground we could jump the fence to get into if we’re feeling nostalgic and it’s not being used by some other kids smoking a bifter,” he said with a light chuckle. He nodded ahead. They were almost there now, the old building clearly in view. There it stood, with more paint chipping than Wyatt remembered, but at least the sign reading “Holle Primary School” was replaced. It had been stolen last summer.

“We don’t have to stay here, of course. I’m sure if we wander enough, we’ll run into something half-interesting. Though it might take all night,” he warned with a playful smirk. While his tone was mockingly grim, Wyatt couldn’t find anything wrong with the idea of spending all night walking around Cokeworth with Alec. There were certainly more horrible things to be doing.

“This might sound a little– no, very random. I was thinking of,” Wyatt cleared his throat, buying some time. “When we spoke outside your common room during the school year. You were holding a book, I think, and you kicked it away before you sat, and... I've been wondering what it was. Why it didn’t seem like you... wanted me to see it?” Something about that moment had Wyatt replaying it in his head. Quickly, he added, “Of course, you don’t have to tell me or anything if it’s some crazy secret.”

Interacting: @Alec Mason
Mentioning: N/A

At Wyatt's dramatized reaction, Alec laughed, relieved the other had found a way to lighten the depressing mood. When Alec stopped laughing he inhaled and glanced towards Wyatt. “You wish.” Wish he did, and part of Alec meant it seriously, with the way Wyatt over their time together continued to apologize for ruining Alec's summer even though he had never done that in the first place. If anything Wyatt's presence had made the summer more bearable for Alec, in the end he was glad to have had Wyatt there. Wyatt had found a way to lighten the conversation, and then drag it back down to earth again as the two always did. An apology for earlier that day. Wyatt would find himself having trouble with the right words as he apologized, a smile edged at Alec's lips as he watched Wyatt fumble through his words and his apology.

Wyatt hadn't needed to apologize, as Alec had been poking at him more than anything. The gesture was sweet, and it was nice to be made aware of what had been going on in Wyatt's head when Alec found him hard to read. Besides, quiet snickering ensued from Alec as Wyatt voiced an impromptu compliment. It was as best of a time as any for Alec to ask what was on his mind. Thus Alec asked a simple question, a careful question that tiptoed the line. A question that would confirm enough for Alec to be satisfied. Wyatt seemed to go inward at Alec's question and Alec eyed him warily. Wyatt's yes was all Alec needed to hear and he nodded. For Alec, Wyatt's answer was the end of the subject, one word to leave the Gryffindor to quietly mull over. Wyatt spoke up to add that he didn't want to talk about his father, especially not today, then clarified that he didn't mean to be rude with this request. Shaking his head Alec would almost immediately cut in, “It's not rude.” Alec would leave the subject at that.

When Alec spoke up again it was to ask Wyatt's intention behind heading towards his old school. As if Alec were a small child he would light up at the mention of a playground. Wyatt nodded ahead to the building clearly in view, Alec's eyes examined it as the other made sure to mention they didn't have to stay by Wyatt's school. They could wander, perhaps run into something half-interesting, though it may take all night, Wyatt's tone mockingly grin though he took the belief of not being boring in his stride, Wyatt was smirking. Alec playfully rolled his eyes.

Alec having not yet answered, Wyatt took the time to bring up something else that had been on his mind, random as Wyatt said it may have been.

“When we spoke outside your common room during the school year. You were holding a book, I think, and you kicked it away before you sat, and... I've been wondering what it was. Why it didn’t seem like you... wanted me to see it?”

Stunned Alec blinked and shifted his gaze from the building in from of them towards Wyatt. The other seemed hesitant about asking in the first place and now that Alec was stunned by the question, felt the need to add that Alec didn't have to tell him, you know, if it was some crazy secret. Bursting into laughter Alec shook his head, “what happened to whole honesty thing? Aren't crazy secrets the ones we're supposed to share?” Alec questioned though his tone was teasing. Though silently Alec was beginning to have the feeling the honesty thing only applied to him. Whether it was because Alec was the only one who wasn't honest all the time, or because Wyatt was better at holding it together and it was obvious when Alec wasn't following the whole honesty thing.

When Alec sobered up from his laughter Alec spoke, “it's not some crazy secret, just in case you were wondering.” A mischievous look on his face. Still Alec felt the need to puff out his chest at the very thought of having a crazy secret. Alec's little prank group and it glory days were long behind him now. An open book, practically, he had one he had none. Feigning a look of innocence Alec eyelids fluttered, followed by a devious grin on his face. “I stole it from my mother,” he hardly seemed to care about such open admittance, taking but a moment to dote on the subject and and provide a more insightful response. “It had a lot of... er- personal things in it. There are letters for your mom. I didn't know if you'd want them. It didn't seem like a good time.” The Gryffindor explained, immediately dropping the somber face the second he finished, he shrugged. Quickly Alec added, “you won't.” Alec's eyes wandered for a few awkward seconds. “Their nothing important.” Besides, even if they never the letters were never sent out there had to be something with ethics on reading other people's letters. None of it applied to Alec of course.

Alec glanced back towards the school, eyes settling on the sign, Alec knew exactly what he wanted to do. Smiling, without thought Alec eagerly reached for Wyatt's hand to pull him towards the fenced off schoolyard. “Come on! I want to go jump a fence.” The way in which Alec approached the subject after the stop to answer Wyatt's question made it unclear whether Alec was as eager as he claimed or if he seemed to be looking for a way out of anymore conversation on Wyatt's question. He looked at Wyatt competitively, “let's see who can do it with the most flair.”

@Wyatt Starkey