"You've got to be fucking kidding me."

Craig, after talking to Smitty in the parking lot, eventually decided that it would be best if they went back to Craig's place and got in contact with everyone. However, since it was late, they settled on just telling Tyler the situation and having Smitty spend the night.

"I wish I was, Ty, but-"

"So he's been lying to us this whole time?" Tyler turns away from the demon and instead focuses on his fellow human. Up until now, Smitty had been quiet and tried to stay out of the couple's way while Craig explained, but after hearing Tyler raise his voice, his head shot up. There was a hint of fear in his eyes. Probably because he was being yelled at by someone who's engaged to a demon. "You knew Scott was alive and just let us all think otherwise?"

"I-I.." The boy stuttered.

"Ty, he's scared, leave him alone. He knows he made a mistake."

"Yeah, and Jonathan made the same mistake not too long ago and we didn't do shit and look where it got us! And that mistake was mostly harmless at the time, wasn't it?"

"You wouldn't have believed me even if I did tell you! I'd just be his stupid roommate that's in denial!" Smitty snapped just to keep the couple from getting into an argument because of him. "At least I'm telling you now before things get worse."

"How do we know they're not already worse-"

"Scott would be calling me up to stay at my place if he was in town. If anything, we have some time." Smitty growled, fishing his phone out of his pocket to check for any missed calls. Of course, there was nothing.

"Guys, let's just figure this out tomorrow. Come on, Smit, I'll show you to the guest room." He gestured for the human to follow him as he made his way to the stairs, not even turning around to see if he had listened as he reached the top. He lead the human down the left of the hallways for a few steps before reaching a white door. "Sorry if it's a little messy, we've kinda been storing shit everywhere these days." He apologized as he turned back to the younger.

"I-it's fine, Craig." He smiled, still clutching his phone in his hand. "Sorry to bother you and Tyler, by the way."

Craig ruffled Smitty's hair, smiling. "Don't mind Tyler, he's always like that. It's fine, Smit, don't even worry about it, okay? Just get some rest."

The demon leaves Smitty in front of the white door as he stretches his arms out, letting out a yawn as he reaches the master bedroom.

"I wanted to plan our wedding in peace, Craig. I didn't mean to get upset at the kid."

Craig collapses onto the bed, exhausted not only from work but from the situation he had been dragged into. His eyes flutter shut. "I know, Ty, but this is just how things are. When something happens and it could hurt the group, I need to step in." By now, Tyler had joined him on the bed, laying on his side so he could face the demon, twirling strands of his hair in his fingers.

"I know, babe, I know this is what you need to do, but I just wish you didn't have to." Tyler's voice was soft as he spoke to the demon, who kept his eyes closed as his breath slowed.

"I miss Evan." It was times like this that Craig thought of his brother, all the times they had shared from when they were kids to the last moment they had seen one another. It always made Craig feel guilty, like he hadn't done enough to help the hybrid with the job they were both given. No matter what, the spotlight was always shown on Evan, and he paid the price for it. The demon toyed with the engagement ring on his finger, enjoying the sensation of his fiancé's hands in his hair. "It just isn't fair." He breathes out, biting on the end of his tongue to keep from saying more.

"I know it isn't, and I know you miss him, but he'd want more than anything to know you're happy. Let's just worry about this in the morning, okay? You need some rest."

———

Aggressive knocking on the door the next morning woke both Craig and Tyler with a jolt. Several bad thoughts creeped into the demon's head during his half-asleep stage as he sat up, not noticing that Tyler was already getting out of bed. "Don't worry, Craig, I'll get the door, just relax. Danger doesn't knock, remember?"

"That's what you think." Craig mumbled as he fell back onto the bed, the pillow underneath him puffing out as his weight fell onto it. Before he fell into somewhat of a doze, he could hear the front door opening from downstairs.

"Yes?" Tyler asked as he opened the door, surprised to find Jonathan waiting there with a worried expression. "Jon? Are you okay?"

"I should be asking you that. Where's Craig? Is he here?"

"Yeah he's sleeping, why does-"

"He called me like ten times last night, is he getting paranoid again or did something actually happen?"

"Tyler-" both Tyler and Jonathan turned around to find Smitty rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, hair sticking up in different ways and the clothes he had worn the previous day were all wrinkled.

Jonathan turned to Tyler. "What is he doing here?"

At this point, Craig had finally decided to crawl out of bed and head downstairs to see what scene awaited him. As soon as he saw Jonathan, everything from the night before caught up to him. "Oh good, you're here. That's one less person I have to call today, then. Come on, take a seat on the couch. Babe, can you get me a yogurt or something?" The demon asked his fiancé as he led the other two towards the living room. Tyler nodded, heading to the kitchen.

"Craig, what's going on?" Jonathan asked after him and Smitty had settled on opposite sides of the couch. Meanwhile the demon had taken out his phone, scrolling through his contacts before finally pressing something.

"Hey, Marcel-Yes, it's actually me you idiot." Craig ran his fingers through his hair while he paused, listening to human on the other line. "Look, I need you to call the others, except Jonathan, he's already here- I'll tell you when you get here." Another pause. "Are you seriously fucking arguing with me? Because you're gonna regret that I swear- good, now go call them. I want you all here by tomorrow."

Tyler brought Craig's yogurt right as he hung up. "Here, Craig, is everything alright?" The demon took the yogurt and spoon from his fiancé before leaning into him, eyes closed as he just hummed. "Sit down, babe." He led Craig over to a different couch than where Jonathan and Smitty sat, letting him get comfortable before addressing the other two. "I think we need to wait for everyone else to get here-"

Just then, Smitty's phone rang. The boy jumped up, as did everyone else, startled by the sudden noise.

"Who is it?" Craig asked as he peeled the top off the yogurt. Smitty just gave him a look before getting off the couch and going back to the guest room to answer it.

"Hello?" He said as he brought the phone to his ear.

"Hey, Smit, what's up?" Scott paced around his own living room, licking at a cherry flavored lollipop after barely getting home from a job that had taken all night. He was exhausted, but his gut was telling him to call his former roommate. "Been a while, hasn't it?"

"What do you need, Scott? A place to stay? Are you in town? You can always drop by, you know that, even if it bugs me I want to know you're safe."

Scott sighed, taking the candy out of his mouth as he sunk into the couch. "No, I'm not, but I'm safe, don't worry. I'm just handling a lot right now and wanted to talk to my best friend. You always keep me grounded, you know? Anyway, what's happening with you?"

"Oh," Smitty seemed a bit caught off-guard. "Well, I'm just doing the usual, you know. I have a job interview coming up, actually, so I'm kinda nervous for that."

"Don't be, you'll be great, I'm sure you'll get it. What's it for?"

"It's at a bowling alley, I think maybe for the shoe thing or concessions, just something to help pay the bills, but it seems fun."

"I can send you money-"

"No, I want to earn it myself. I have nothing to do anyway. And maybe I'll meet someone."

"What happened to your lone wolf thing?"

"Maybe this lone wolf decided he needed a pack after all."

"Well, you howl at that moon and tell me if something bowls back then."

"I will."

"Hey, good luck with your interview, it's nice hearing that you're getting your life together. If you need anything, though, just remember I'm here for you, okay? Or Craig, you can call him, too, he really meant it when he said he'll be there for you, okay?"

"O-okay, Scott, I will. Thanks, by the way." Smitty smiled even though the demon couldn't see him.

Scott smiled as well. "No problem, Smit, take care of yourself."

"You too."

The call ended then, Scott placing it on his coffee table while going back to licking at his lollipop. He smiled to himself.

That's funny, Smitty, he thought to himself as he enjoyed the cherry-flavored candy.

I would've never thought you were such a good liar.