For MrSassyWolf

[honorthecode]

Chris stood for a moment, watching Peter sleep. It looked like the collar was starting to chafe, literally and figuratively. The last time he'd taken it off was for Peter to heal after Kate practically gutted him. He absently rubbed his chest where Peter had pinned him to the rebar. He wanted to be angry but the anger had faded a quite awhile ago. So far, aside from his obnoxiousness, Peter had been a model 'prisoner' on their hunt for Kate.

Kate is who filled him with anger, sometimes straight up rage. How had his sister come to this? Had she always been a psychopath? How had he not seen it? It should have been clear when she burned down the Hale house, but he didn't want to believe it. He wanted to believe it was a youthful mistake. And now she was some kind of monster that he couldn't recognize. He'd made a mistake not putting her down the first time, he wouldn't make that mistake again.

Chris didn't know how long he stood there, just watching the other man sleep.

Comments

[honorthecode]

"You're not looking so good either," Chris replied, studying Peter for a long moment.

"What can you possibly do that I might trust you to take that collar off for the day?" he asked, frowning slightly. He'd come to hate that collar, though not as much as Peter. He was feeling slightly guilty having to treat him like a dog.

But he wasn't exactly trustworthy.

[mrsassywolf]

No, Chris was smart to not trust Peter completely. The wolf was someone who always thought two moves ahead of everyone else. But, the truth was, he was tired of fighting. What he had become, he had never wanted for himself. Kate had turned him into it. And, now, he just wanted her out of the way so he could go on with his life.

But, he wasn't exactly certain what that entailed. "Why don't you tell me what I can do?"

[honorthecode]

Chris sighed and stared at Peter for another long moment. "That's the problem isn't it? Either I have to trust you, or I don't and frankly, I would like one day, just one where I can trust you. So here's what I'm going to do, Peter. I'm going to take off that collar and trust you today. Abuse that trust, I'll come for you after I finish Kate. Don't abuse it, and maybe we try leaving the damn thing off."

He really hoped he wasn't making a huge mistake, but he needed a change today, a break. And trusting Peter to behave for one single day was the change he had in mind.

On his own head be it.

"Come here."

[mrsassywolf]

It's an interesting situation. In order to get what he wanted, he needed Argent to trust him. When he had proven to be the least trustworthy person. But, for some reason, Peter didn't want to run. He was tired of it. Running, fighting, scheming, and nothing to show for it.

"I give you my word. I won't try anything."

So, he moved toward Argent, dipping his head to make it easier for Argent to reach the lock on the back of the wolfsbane collar.

[honorthecode]

Chris knew that Peter's word meant nothing, but he was tired of playing babysitter. Either Peter would help him find Kate of his own volition, or he'd bolt. Either way, Chris would get his freedom back as well.

He reached behind Peter's neck, his fingers brushing lightly against his skin as he undid the collar.

"Here's the deal. I'd like for you to help me find Kate of your own volition. I'll toss the collar if we can agree on that. Once we're done, you can go on your merry way."

[mrsassywolf]

Peter shivered when he felt Chris' fingers brushing over his skin. He doesn't know when the mere idea of Chris touching him would be enough to get a reaction out of him, but now, it does. When the collar slipped off, there was a moment when he felt disappointed. The collar had been a comforting weight during his stay with Argent.

"I will help you find Kate. I do have unfinished business with your dear sister."