'-so yeah. Harvey managed to get everyone out of there before I exploded, but I'm somehow still alive, and Kenny's ability is basically being immortal, so he's also still alive.'

'I'm going to kill that god.'
'Join the club, Mom, join the club.' Preston sighed, completely relaxed as his mother ran her fingers through his hair. He'd explained pretty much everything, from getting taken to the Village to what happened in the aftermath of getting Rob back.
After a few minutes, he spoke up again. 'Mom, did you know that this would happen?'
'Hm?'
'The fact that I'm not technically a hybrid - at least, I don't look like one. Did something like this ever happen to dad?'

Kira tensed up, with her son noting this and sitting upright before turning to face her. 'Mom, please. I know you don't like talking about him, but wouldn't it be better if I knew?'
'Preston, your father was - He wasn't - Notch, I thought this would be easier. Your father wasn't actually a hybrid. A fire mage, yes, but not a hybrid.'

'But... That doesn't make any sense. You don't look like I did, and if dad didn't either, what happened?'
'We're not actually sure. Probably some combination of the powers that we both had.' The brunette crossed her fingers behind her back, thankfully going unnoticed by her son as he sat back against the couch. 'I guess.'
'Hey don't sound so - Oh! I've got something for you, actually, be right back.'
Confused, Preston looked around as his mother hopped over the back if the sofa and into the kitchen. There were a few moments of shuffling, and what sounded like moving glass, until the woman came back with a glass jar almost the size of her head.
Full of candy.
Aw, yeah.

'Is that thing full of candy?!'
'Rock candy, yes.'

~~~
'I'm the worst.'
'You didn't mean to, you were probably just freaking out after what you saw in the nightmare.'
'It didn't mean I had to act on it!' Rob groaned loudly, running a hand down his face as the other hung limply at his side. Lachlan just tutted and shook his head, patting the older hybrid's back gently as they walked through the forest.

After Marina checking the Canadian over once more, she decided that he should be well enough to go outside and get some fresh air, and he insisted on going to the nearby flower fields to make... Some kind of apology gift.

'I get that you feel bad, but I don't think he wants a bouquet of flowers. He just wants to know you're okay; He wants his best friend back.' The blond muttered, so quietly that it went unheard as the pair continued.

Eventually, they stopped. The half-dragon teenager looked around; a sense of familiarity bringing distant memories to his head as he smiled. This was where he'd found Vik while the battle was going on.

"It's also where he saved my life... Wow." 'I want to do something nice for him, for all of you. He quite literally died, and my actions were-'

'Don't you dare give me any of that "Someone else has had it worse" crap,' He quickly interrupted, stopping in the middle of the field and crossing his arms. 'Just don't. None of us have had it as bad as you did.'

'But-'

'No. Most of us got out of there with minor injuries, two people got resurrected somehow, but you're going to have scars from that monster for the rest of your life, and I'm not just talking about physical.'

'...I-I know, but it makes me feel a bit better.' Rob explained, only half-lying as he sat in the grass and started plucking flowers from the ground. 'C'mon, help me find some orange ones.'

+++

'I look fabulous.'

'You keep telling yourself that, buddy.' The Canadian werewolf laughed, weaving another three blooms together as Lachlan adjusted one of the three crowns atop his head. The first few hadn't turned out as well as he'd hoped, but his younger friend seemed happy enough to try and balance the rings of foliage on the tops of his wings.

He was currently up to nine on his whole body. Good job, mate.

'Yo, d'you think Pete would want one?'

'Make it match the suit he used to wear when we were younger. Grey and red, I think.'

'It might clash with his skin though.'

'True. Darker shades of green?' Lachlan suggested, mindlessly plucking at some grass while curling and uncurling his tail around his legs. His friend, thankfully noting the suggestion, went back to work twisting black roses together with orange tulips.

That one was for Preston. He'd taken ages trying to get it right, throwing multiple rejects away with annoyance, and was sure that if this one failed that he would lay down and cry.
"I don't want to fail him. He's my- Friend. My friend."
What Entity had said was still spiralling around in his thoughts. The god had though that Preston was his boyfriend, surely they didn't always act like that.
Right?

'Aye yo Lachlan, I have a question.'
'Shoot.' He answered absentmindedly, looking up as his wings drooped to the ground. Hesitating at first, Rob chewed the bottom of his lip before asking;
Do Preston and I act like a couple?
The Australian almost choked, staring wide-eyed at his friend who flushed bright red and started playing with his fingers. 'W-Why d'you ask?!'
'Something a... Friend said.'
'I mean, you guys do hang out a lot, and- Woah, does this mean you like-'
'No! No, I was just wondering.' Raising his eyebrows at the far higher-pitched voice than usual, a smile began creeping it's way onto the blond's face.
'Dude, you totally like him.'

'No.'
'I won't judge if you do.'
'I don't have a crush on him.' They both doubted his words, and Rob sucked in his breath for a few moments until he covered his face and fell backwards. 'Oh Lords, oh dear Lords.'
Lachlan smirked at what he could see of the wolf's expression, reaching over and patting his arm reassuringly before balancing one of the rejected crowns on his leg. 'My Mum's gonna flip, you know this.'
'What?!'
'Mate, she's known for I don't know how long. Apparently it's something called "shipping", she's done it with some of the guys.'
'...I don't get it.'
'Long story short, she's been counting the days - literally - until one of you mentions having a crush. She's figured you've liked him for a while, especially since you would angstily rant to her when we were younger.' He pointed out.

Lifting his arms up, the werewolf glanced at the unfinished flower crown and furrowed his eyebrows in thought. How had other people noticed, before he even knew? It made no sense.
Lachlan was saying something about having to get back. He asked if the older hybrid wanted to come with him, but Rob decided that he might stay out for a bit longer 'You get home, I'm gonna see my dad later on anyway.'
...
...
...
He didn't go to see his dad. Rob just stayed in the field until nightfall, staring at the waxing moon, and wondering why life was so complicated.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Even more chanting* POOFLESS, POOFLESS, POOFLESS-