After a day of escorting Nova to and from her classes, Cadmus was quite pleased to say that he was ready for lacrosse tryouts. He'd been Danny's stand-in the previous year, which wasn't too bad... but he was sick and tired of just sitting in the goal while people tried pelting him with balls. He wanted to do something other than goalie this year.

Which is why he had thankfully taken up Scott's offer for Nova to sit with his friends Malia and Kira during the practice. He didn't want to have to worry about her while he was playing, not that it was a problem to look out for her or anything... he really did care about Nova, but Cadmus still wasn't sure how to properly talk to her. It had been easy that morning, the banter especially, but he wasn't sure if it would stay that way.

Bad enough that he had to focus on not setting his books or Garret on fire whenever the jerk thought he could hit on poor girls even though he already had a girlfriend, he didn't know how to be a good cousin to Nova while worrying that she would turn at any second... if she was like him.

But that wasn't what he had to worry about yet, Nova hadn't shown any signs of supernatural activation. All he had to do was keep an eye on her and make sure she stayed out of Scott's radar for now.

His eyes flitted over to the other boy at that thought, his lips quirking up at the sight of the werewolf against his better judgement. He'd come a long way since Cadmus had first realized he'd been turned, no longer unable to control the shift or totally helpless against the smallest supernatural threats.

It was a good thing too... Cadmus was getting seriously tired of having to slink through the shadows and slam kanimas into walls or set the occasional circumstancial fire to corral a bunch of alphas away from Stiles and Isaac. That wasn't even including the shit with Jennifer or the Nogitsune.

Seriously, he would have thought that Deaton at least would be better prepared for this sort of thing.

Scott's eyes darted toward him, and Cadmus nearly brained himself with his own shoe trying to make it look like he hadn't been staring. His cheeks risked flushing when he felt the small grin Scott sent his way, but he pushed the heat down. Nope, this was not happening, not again. He had promised himself that the pining was going to stop last year when Scott and Allison started dating, and while he hadn't been totally successful with it—considering the fact he was running after him like a nut job anytime there was a slightest hint that Scott was in trouble—he was determined to do better now. He hadn't been there when Allison died... he'd been too busy wrestling a pissed off Oni, but there was no way he was going to keep pining over a guy who had just watched the love of his life die just a few months ago.

Coach opened the door to his office, making everyone turn their attention to him as he flipped through a clipboard. "As a reminder, it's an open tryout today-- all positions available. This is a rebuilding season, people! Jackson's gone, Lahey's gone... Greenburg, the one guy I actually wanted gone, was held back... again."

Cadmus winced, looking at Greenburg from the corner of his eyes and feeling almost amused when the guy didn't even look worried about it. Wasn't he like, almost twenty at this point?

He really didn't want to know how he still hadn't at least gotten a pity pass.

Coach looked at all the assembled teenage boys and rolled his eyes as he gestured to the door. "Get your asses on the field!"

Everyone cheered and started heading outside, leaving only a few of them in the locker room. Cadmus was left glaring at his shoe as the laces refused to tie up properly, unable to keep himself from hearing as Scott approached Coach.

"Hey, Coach? I just wanted to ask if... I was still... If I'm... You know..."

The man winced, as though he'd been expecting that question. "You're on the team, McCall."

Scott nodded, his face so hopeful it was almost painful. "But am I... Everything that I was on the team before?"

Coach's voice was soft but firm as he clapped a hand on Scott's shoulder. "All positions are available."

Scott's face fell, and Cadmus had to breathe deeply to retract the very tips of the talons he knew were poking out from his fingers as he glanced over at Liam. The younger boy had also clearly been eavesdropping, his mouth curling into a smirk as he met Cadmus' gaze, silently daring him to say something.

He probably wasn't prepared for Cadmus to shove off the locker he was leaning against to stand next to him, making sure Scott and Stiles had actually left. "Careful, or someone's going to wipe that look off your face real quick," he advised.

Liam looked thrown, but unimpressed by Cadmus' warning. "Really?" he scoffed. "Who, you?"

Cadmus actually laughed that time, shrugging with an ease that wouldn't normally come to him. "I only hope I'll be so lucky."

He didn't wait to Liam to respond, leaving the locker room with his stick slung over his shoulders and immediately joining the rest of the team as they ran laps. His gaze strayed a little, smiling when he saw Nova sitting with the kitsune and werecoyote. Her fingers were occupied by what appeared to be sheet music, but Kira was clearly trying to engage her in conversation judging by the earnest expression on her face as she locked eyes with the shy freshman.

Clearly, Nova was going to be okay. He'd known this already, but he was a walking bundle of nerves on a good day. It was totally expected for him to be worried about her.

He couldn't help but laugh dryly as the group ended their tenth lap around the field, watching Coach as he held his stopwatch and made running commentary. "Terrible!" he told Cadmus as he passed, but didn't seem actually irritated by his time, so it was almost a win. Cadmus slowed into a stop, cracking his neck and turning to watch the rest of them pile in. "Horrifying! Pathetic! Unbelievably pathetic! Is that everyone?"

Stiles was the last of everyone, and Cadmus watched with mild concern as the human panted like... well, a dog that hadn't gotten any water in a month.

Coach rolled his eyes as Stiles nearly fell on his face, and Cadmus felt so bad as the temptation to laugh rose within him. "Yup, that's everyone."

Scott quickly grabbed his friend around the torso, supporting his weight as he patted his back. "I got you."

Stiles was still gasping for air, his eyes narrowed as he looked around. "Who came in first?" Scott gestured to Liam, who was showing off and doing pushups with a scowl that would rival Derek Hale. Stiles scoffed deep in his chest. "He isn't human! What is he? Like, a Werecheetah? Does that even exist? Is that a thing?"

Scott shrugged a little, his eyes flitting around. "I think he's just good..."

Unable to keep from speaking up, Cadmus scoffed from his spot a few feet away from them. "Are steroids on the list of options? Because that's my bet. He probably eats Raisin Bran cereal while he's at it."

Scott didn't seem to know what to do with that comment, but Stiles shuddered violently. "Monster."

Grinning, Cadmus wanted to make another joke, but settled for grinning at the two boys as they were ordered to get into line, changing course when Coach told him to get into goal. It didn't really bother him, he knew that he was a good goalie... but he wouldn't get the chance to aggressively step on Liam's toes all the way over there.

He was not angry at him because he was threatening Scott's position on the lacrosse team, nope. He was simply rallying a one-man army for justice against a prepubescent with roid rage.

Liam grinned viciously at him as he scooped a ball into his stick and whipped it at Cadmus' head. In a perfect life, Cadmus would be able to employ his superior agility and speed to catch it, but this was not a perfect life. Scott and Stiles were well versed in supernatural beings, and he had not successfully hidden for seventeen years just for it all to crumble because of one upstart kid.

So he lifted his stick and let it graze against the edge of it, gritting his teeth as he heard the ball hit the back of the net. To anyone watching, it would look like an impressive effort to block such a shot. To Cadmus, it was a personal insult. So, he readied himself and let his eyes narrow, putting Liam into the back of his mind and focused on blocking as many of the shots as possible.

The shock was when Scott's first throw smacked against the metal of the net, making everyone snicker as Garret grinned. "Nice, McCall!"

Stiles pursed his lips, calling out to the blond. "Hey, Garret... Shut up!"

Garret made a face at him, making Cadmus raise an eyebrow. "You really think you could do better?"

The blond boy's eyes narrowed as everyone looked over at the goalie, watching as Cadmus leaned on his stick casually. "C'mon, Garret. Take a shot, or shut your mouth."

Gritting his teeth, Garret took the challenge, throwing the ball hard at the goal post. Cadmus exhaled heavily, hiding a smirk when the ball sailed right over his head. Just because Scott clearly wasn't using his advantages, didn't mean Cadmus was going to hold back on the chance to put an asshole in his place. Everyone else practically cackled at the blond's humiliation, and in a bout of odd confidence Cadmus shot a good natured wink at Scott. He turned too quickly to notice that Scott blushed a little too much to be written off as exhaustion.

Coach seemed enthused by the confidence level Cadmus was exuding, pointing at him with a grin. "Yes! Hot damn! Yeah! That's it, Morales!" He turned to the others with an assessing expression before pointing at Scott and Stiles. "McCall and Stilinski, grab the long sticks! You're covering goal for two-on-ones."

Cadmus watched as Scott and Stiles switched their sticks out, grinning at them as they approached. "Looks like I won't have to do a whole hell of a lot today, huh?"

Stiles grinned right back at him, sending him a thumbs up before turning back to Scott, both of them speaking in hushed tones that Cadmus tries not to overhear as he spun his stick in his hand. Straightening as the whistle blew, Cadmus grinned as Stiles distracted the first attacker so Scott could slam his stick down, making him drop the ball.

The two best friends high-fived excitedly, their confidence restored as they effectively took down anyone who dared approach the goal. Cadmus was tempted to sit down or something, considering the fact that he clearly wasn't needed.

Coach seemed more enthused than Scott and Stiles, to be honest. "That's my boys!" Turning to the bleachers, he pointed to the teenagers in question. "Those two are like sons to me."

Cadmus wondered if that meant they could sucker him into better grades in Econ, but stopped even considering something so stupid the moment he realized Liam was next in line.

Scott and Stiles exchanged glances before readying themselves, but Liam was too quick for them, bobbing and twisting as he switched the hand he held the lacrosse stick in. Clenching his hands around his stick, Cadmus moved out from the goal and twisted his ankle around Liam's leg with a good tug. Liam still made the shot, but he was seated firmly on his ass in exchange of it.

Grinning down at the younger boy, Cadmus raised an eyebrow. "You sure you want to keep acting like hot shit?"

Standing, Liam raised an eyebrow. "Still made the shot, didn't I?"

"Still landed on your ass, didn't you?"

Liam turned on his heel and made his way back to the line, but Malia stood up, calling out in frustration. "That was luck!"

Stiles winced, shaking his head. "Oh, no, Malia... don't get involved."

Malia was clearly ignoring him, despite her better than average hearing. "Do-over!"

Malia was standing on Kira's left, ignoring the wide eyed looks she was getting from Kira and Nova, who was seated on Kira's right. Cadmus bit back a grin at the quiet amusement on Nova's face, apparently she'd looked up from her sheet music at some point because she locked eyes with Cadmus and glanced at Liam, her grin widening.

Good, she thought he'd deserved it too.

Coach shook his head, turning back to the field. "Sweetheart, there are no do-overs—this is a practice."

Not one to be deterred, Malia raised a challenging eyebrow. "Ten bucks on Scott and Stiles!"

The man didn't even hesitate as he pointed at her. "I'll take that action. Hey! Get back in there, Liam!"

Scott exchanged a look with Cadmus, who probably didn't help matters as he mimed smacking someone with his stick. The werewolf's eyes widened scoldingly, as though telling him to behave before turning back to Liam as he prepared for his advanced.

Stiles apparently hadn't learned much as Liam approached him, unprepared for the younger boy to spin out of the way... but Scott had. He somehow managed to flip Liam over his back, leaving everyone wide-eyed as the freshman hit the ground with a thud.

Scott and Stiles immediately moved to help him up, but froze as Coach approached. "Don't move! Don't touch him!"

Liam waved a hand dismissively. "I'm okay, Coach. I'm all right."

He was not all right. He cried out with pain the moment he tried to put wieight on his leg, making Scott and Stiles grab him and loop his arms around their shoulders.

Cadmus felt a little bad as Liam winced. "I think it's my leg."

Resisting the urge to ask how he came to that brilliant conclusion, Cadmus scratched the back of his neck as Scott and Stiles told Coach they were taking Liam to the nurse. The old man worked himself into a frenzy, demanding that everyong start running before he grabbed the lacrosse ball Cadmus was holding and whipped it toward the bleachers.

He didn't even have time to call out a warning to his cousin, who the ball was going straight for as she leaned over her paperwork before Kira had reached out with the lacrosse stick she was holding, catching it effortlessly.

Finstock blinked in surprise, turning to Cadmus. "Oh... did you see that?" Cadmus nodded, wanting to thank Kira for her quick reflexes, but Coach didn't really seem to care, waving at Kira to get her attention. "Nice catch! Throw it back!"

Shrugging a little, Kira stood and threw the ball effortlessly. Cadmus wasn't able to stop the bark of laughter as the ball hit his coach in the solar plexus, sending the man toppling over. Kira looked horrified, but Malia was laughing her ass off at the spectacle.

Coach wheezed, trying to catch his breath. "Someone ask her if she's ever played lacrosse!"

He knew it was a rhetorical request, but Cadmus still turned back to the bleachers and pulled off his helmet, raising a questioning eyebrow. "He wants to know if you've ever played lacrosse!"

It was no surprise that practice ended early, considering the fact that Scott and Stiles had to bring Liam to the hospital, paired with Coach throwing a helmet at Kira and declaring that she was on the team. So, Cadmus found himself exiting the locker room, his hair wet from showering, to face a smirking Nova.

"He isn't dating anyone," she declared, making Cadmus' eyebrows draw together.

"What?"

Rolling her eyes as though Cadmus was the dumbest person she had ever had the displeasure of encountering—which he certainly didn't, he was going to be a lawyer once he got out of this town—Nova sighed heavily. "Scott. He isn't dating anyone, and Malia clearly said that she didn't get straight vibes from him."

Looking up at the ceiling for a sign, Cadmus shook his head and started walking to the closest exit. "Not this again."

Nova didn't stop there, though, chasing after him. "As a matter of fact, I have been here one day, one, and I have yet to meet a single person who might even be close to straight."

"Welcome to Beacon Hills," Cadmus drawled awkwardly as he tried to run away from this conversation. "We should seriously get the city's motto changed to 'Home of the Gays'." Turning on his heel as a thought occured to him, he fixed Nova with an inquisitive glance. "Wait, didn't you clearly say you weren't gay like, eight hours ago?"

Nova waved his point aside. "I'm not from Beacon Hills, I'm from New York. Besides, not even I can deny that Kira and Malia are hot."

Resolving that he clearly needed to talk to his cousin more, Cadmus struggled with his keys for a moment before unlocking the trunk to his car, loading everything inside. "Single or not, and regardless of sexual orientation... I am not making a move on Scott."

Nova carefully placed her backpack in the backseat, and Cadmus noted that the violin case never left her grip. "You see, I know you think that's the noble idea and all," she began, making him wonder if it was moral to leave your young cousin stranded in the school parking lot. "But he's clearly into you, so you just have to make the leap!"

"Scott isn't into me," Cadmus protested, but was ultimately ignored as Nova continued to speak over him as though he had gone mute at some point, using the same arguments over and over.

"You won't know unless you ask!"

She went to grab for the aux cable connected to his car, but he slapped her hand away gently. "I am not listening to Bach again," he warned, already in the process of turning on his own music.

The look of horror on Nova's face as he found the loudest, most irritating song on his playlist was worth the irritation she'd put him through, though. He just turned it up to tune out her protests, dancing the best he could the entire drive home.

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A/N

I love Cadmus so much, and his POV is so fun to write! What do you think about seeing through his eyes?