{1.9}

"Bright Ideas"

***

Stiles wrapped his arms around Ollie and hugged him tight.

 Ollie felt the sudden urge to burst into tears, but refused to. Instead, he just held on tightly to Stiles and leaned his head onto his shoulder, inhaling deeply to try and calm his heartbeat. Stiles had dragged him into the bathroom to try and avoid him literally killing someone, and Ollie pulled away to turn and walk to the opposite end of the small room.

"Fuck this!" He yelled, hitting his fist against the hard walls, wincing and pulling away. He leaned his arms against the wall, and then his face in his arms; groaning and struggling to take deep breaths. Ollie hated this feeling, and was encapsulated by an odd sense of deja-vu as he remembered all of the fights he used to get in when he first moved to Beacon Hills. 

 That was how he met Stiles. The thought made his eyebrows furrow, but it was true. He hadn't fought him - but the boy had managed to talk their old principal out of giving him detention. Ollie brushed his fingers against his sore knuckles, and gasped in surprise when a hazy vision overcame his senses.

Alas, his mind was too jumbled for it to make much sense. It was a flash of multiple images; the kanima, the full moon, Jackson, and a flash - as if taken by a camera. That was when Ollie was tugged back into the present by Stiles - who grabbed onto his shoulders and shook them lightly. 

 "Stop freaking out!" He ordered, wrapping his arms around his stomach and squeezing tightly. Ollie coughed, patting the boy's back. 

 "Stiles - I can't - breathe."

 "That's the point," Stiles only hugged him more aggressively, his words partially distorted by the fabric of Ollie's hoodie. "It's like when I have really bad anxiety, being hugged helps slow your heartrate."

 Ollie's face was turning red, "is that scientifically proven."

 He let him go, and Ollie inhaled deeply. Stiles fixated him with a look, raising an eyebrow. "Did it work?" 

 Ollie rubbed his chest, surprisingly feeling more connected to his body than he did five minutes ago. He inhaled deeply, pursing his lips and nodding softly. "Yeah, I actually think it did."

"Good. Now come here, bozo-" Stiles patted the sink, and Ollie shuffled over, jumping up so he could sit on top of the small counter, Stiles grabbing a paper towel and wetting it under the faucet. He walked over, stepping between Ollie's legs and grabbing his hair, gently pulling his head down. Stiles snorted, "you really are an idiot, you know that, right?" 

 Ollie pulled a face as Stiles cleaned the blood from his face, "he deserved it." 

 "Uh, yeah, obviously," he rolled his eyes, "Jackson - okay - Jackson is an asshole. Quite possibly the biggest asshole to ever walk the face of this earth. Perhaps even the biggest asshole to be thought up of in all of asshole history-"

 Ollie smiled, "I get it, Stilinski."

 "But you know what else he is?" The boy shot him a pointed look. "A bloodthirsty, homicidal lizard man. Who, by the way, probably could have killed you. And you still ran over and-" Stiles reached over to grab Ollie's hand, looking at his bloody knuckles with a sigh. "-Managed to get a few hits in, I guess, props for that." 

 "Are you lecturing me or complimenting me?"

"Can't I do both?" Stiles raised an eyebrow as Ollie winced when he tossed his bloody paper towel in the garbage and ran a new one over his knuckles. "I know you won't listen to me if I tell you that it was stupid. I just don't get it-" he glanced up at him as Ollie exhaled slowly. "I didn't think you had the anger-shit anymore. Did something happen?"

Ollie clenched his jaw, an action that didn't go unnoticed by Stiles. "You got mad at Nicole?" 

 "What?" Ollie pulled a face, "how the hell did you guess that so fast? Have you been stalking me?" 

 "I don't need to stalk you, dipshit-" Stiles lightly punched Ollie's shoulder, "I know you. And I know that you need to like... eat an entire meal and then aggressively hit baseballs in an open field until you feel better. So-" he pinched his cheek and grinned when his hand was swatted away. "After we go to detention, we can hang out. But as long as you promise not to kill me." 

 Ollie shook his head, a smile on his face. "Shut up." 

 "I'm sorry, but I can't hear you over your anger management issues-" 

 Ollie laughed, grabbing Stiles' face and leaning down to kiss him. He felt the boy tighten his hands on his hips, tilting his head as one hand tangled in Ollie's messy hair. Ollie traced his finger against the side of Stiles' face, pulling away with a small smile.  

 "Thanks, Stilinski." 

 Stiles grinned, standing up straighter to press a kiss onto Ollie's forehead. 

 "Anytime, Ols."

***

"We can't be in detention together. I have a restraining order against these tools."

Mr. Harris cocked an eyebrow at Jackson's statement, "all of these tools?" 

 Stiles winced, raising a hand and awkwardly gesturing to Ollie and Scott. "No, just us tools."

Harris rolled his eyes as Ollie slung an arm over the back of Stiles' chair with a huff. He hated Harris, he hated Jackson, he hated Matt - 

 Fine, he didn't actually know Matt well enough to hate him. But he gave off weird vibes to the boy, and Ollie didn't like it one bit. Maybe it was because his face reminded him of a rodent - or maybe it was because of the way he kept looking over at Allison. Regardless, Ollie wasn't fond.

- And right now, he really wasn't Erica's biggest fan either. Luckily, it didn't seem like he would be forced to sit next to any of those tools; as Harris gestured for the boys to stand. "You three, over there." 

 Ollie gratefully stood up, walking over and kicking the chair out far enough for him to sit down. Stiles slid into the spot next to him, placing his hand on his thigh as Scott sat across from them, followed by Katrin.

 Harris shot her a look, "I don't remember telling you to move."

 The redhead shot him a defiant look in response, "and I don't remember you revoking my rights."

Harris seemed to understand that this was not an argument he could win, as he turned and walked towards his desk. Immediately, Scott turned to the group with clenched fists. "I'm gonna kill him." 

 Ollie nodded soundly, "I'll help. You can use my bat as to not raise suspicion in the supernatural community." 

 Katrin reached over and flicked Scott's nose, before turning and pointing harshly at Ollie, narrowing her eyes. "Neither of you are going to do anything," she ordered in a steely tone. "You do, and then I will murder you. And then I'll be ahead of ninety percent of the supernatural community, who don't seem to understand how stupid you morons really are." 

 "Let's focus on a positive lifestyle," Stiles held his hands out, gesturing vaguely as he spoke. "We're gonna find out who's controlling him, and then we're gonna help save him!" He clapped his hands together and grinned, turning to Ollie. "C'mon, babe, I know you love a good rescue plan."

 Ollie shook his head, "I'd rather kill him." 

 "Yeah!" Scott shot Stiles an indignant look, "you were the one who suggested it in the first place!" 

 Stiles blanched, pulling a face as he struggled to find the right words. "Uh, well Kat wasn't there, so legally, I cannot be held responsible for any stupid thing that came out of my mouth."

The girl nodded, "I am the only one with a braincell here."

The group sat in silence for a moment, Ollie's eyebrows furrowed as he mulled over the vision snippit he had in the bathroom. If anything, it only further confused him. That had only happened to the boy once before, and it was after the dance as he was running blindly through the forest... so what if his visions somehow have a direct connection to his emotional state? What if the calmer he is, the more coherent they become?

 "Huh," he muttered, squinting as he turned to Stiles. "I think I have an idea." 

 "Well that never ends well," Stiles muttered, but still leaned forward, "still, please share." 

 "Well, whenever I have a vision, it's because the object in question is somehow linked to the supernatural, right?" 

 Stiles nodded, as Scott shrugged and Katrin pulled a face. "We don't know a lot about your thing, Ollie." 

 "Well, so far, that's pretty true," the boy leaned back in his seat and pursed his lips. "And it seems like the calmer I am, the longer the vision lasts, or the more it makes sense." He snapped and pointed to Scott, leaning forward. "Like that time I was asleep and I saw Kate shoot Derek. I was asleep, but I was in your bed, so it triggered the vision for another werewolf." 

 "So, what?" Stiles furrowed his eyebrows, "are you gonna go sleep with Jackson now?" 

 Ollie shot him a look, leaning forward to flick his forehead. "No, idiot. I'm just saying. Maybe if we could somehow get me to have a vision when I'm calm - or say... asleep, it would actually show us who's controlling him." 

 "Okay, there's only one problem in that plan," Scott began, folding his hands together and shooting Ollie a pointed look. "You're never calm." 

 "No need to call me out like that, McCall." 

"He's not wrong," Katrin shrugged, twirling a piece of hair around her finger. "The last time I saw you completely relaxed was when you were at the hospital and were high on painkillers."

 Scott piped up, "the last time I saw you completely relaxed was when you knocked yourself out by running into the doorframe trying to avoid going to PE." 

 Ollie rolled his eyes, throwing his hands up in exasperation, "that was two years ago, McCall, let it go!" 

 "Hey," Stiles suddenly spoke, his eyebrows furrowed as he peered over at the other table. "What if it's Matt? I mean, this whole thing comes back to the video, right?"

Ollie was thankful for the change of subject, and sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. "Danny said that Matt was the one who found the missing footage."

"Exactly!" Stiles whirled around, making Ollie jump as he put his hands on either side of his face. "He's trying to throw the suspicion off of himself!"

Scott shot the boy a disbelieving look, his eyebrows furrowing as he pursed his lips. "So, he makes Jackson kill Isaac's dad-" 

 "Who was an asshole," Katrin added, narrowing her eyes at the other table as Matt offered Jackson a bag of chips. 

 "-One of Argent's hunters-" 

 "Also assholes." 

 "-and the mechanic working on your Jeep?"

Stiles blinked, seeming to not see the issue with his proposal. "Yes!"

"Why?"

 "Because he's evil!"

 Ollie snorted, leaning over and wrapping his arms around Stiles, pulling him into his chest and making the boy squirm. "I think he's sketchy too," he announced, patting Stiles's head as the boy's face pressed into his chest. "He reminds me of a gremlin. Plus, anyone who walks around with a camera that much is obviously a pervert." 

 "I actually agree with that," Katrin nodded soundly as Stiles pinched Ollie's stomach, making the boy yelp and release his hold. "Cameras do give off pervert vibes."

"Yes!" Stiles tapped his fingers against the table, "he's a pervert and he's controlling Jackson and making him murder random people for kicks."

"You guys realize that is a serious accusation, right?" Scott furrowed his eyebrows as his gaze raked over his friend's faces. "We can't just go off of the fact that he has a camera and that gives of pervert vibes."

Katrin raised an eyebrow, "so you admit that it gives off pervert vibes?" 

 Stiles shook his head, turning to shoot Matt a withering glare. "I don't like his face. Look at it. It's all smug and evil." 

 Scott sighed deeply, looking as if he was recontemplated his choice of a friend group. "C'mon, any other theories? Then we can try and lower Ollie's stress levels to find out who it is." 

 The Hispanic boy tightened his jaw, watching Jackson as he grimaced deeply; as if in pain, "or who it's gonna be."

 The Whittemore boy rose out of his seat, the action so sudden that it made Erica - who was seated next to him - jump. Ollie noticed how his face was flushed red, and his shoulders were heaving as if he was having a difficult time breathing. He glanced over at Stiles, who seemed just as confused as Jackson muttered something about going to the bathroom before disappearing from the room. 

 Nobody knew what to say. Harris opened and closed his mouth like a fish, looking around the room once, before clearing his throat and walking briskly over to the door. He turned back to the group, holding out his hands. "Nobody leaves their seats!" 

 Ollie counted to three, the barely audible click of the door triggering Stiles and Scott to leap from their seats, running over to where Erica was seating and lowering their voices. Katrin muttered something under her breath, before following. 

 Ollie leaned down on the table next to Erica, just in time for her to say. "It was a car accident. My dad was the insurance investigator, and every time he sees Jackson drive by in his Porsche, he makes a comment about the huge settlement he'll be getting at eighteen."

 Ollie could feel his muscles tense at the girl's words, and apparently Katrin noticed, as she patted his back as she addressed the blonde. "Jackson's parents died in a car crash?"

 "Yep," she smiled as if that was a normal thing to know. Ollie furrowed his eyebrows, blinking to try and clear his head as he blurted out the first thing that came to his mind: 

 "Hey, that's not fair. My parents died in a car crash and all I got from that was anger management issues and sadness." 

 Katrin snorted, quickly trying to cover it as a cough. "Just another thing to add to Jackson's Asshole Factor."

"You know what? "I could try to find the insurance payoff in my dad's inbox. He keeps everything." Erica opened her latop. Her blonde hair cascaded down her back, and Ollie caught a whiff of vanilla perfume that reminded him of the scent of Nicoles conditioner. 

 Shit. The thought made him grimace. Nicole... Katrin had over a dozen missed calls from the women, probably since he wasn't at home. That just made him fight the urge to slam his face against the desk at rapid-pace. He couldn't believe how selfish and stupid he was. He had gotten his temper so in check, that he forgot what it felt like to have his mind slip back into the way it once was. 

 "Fuck detention," he muttered, before turning to lean over to Katrin and Stiles. "Guys, I'm leaving." 

  Stiles' eyebrows furrowed, "why?" 

 "Because detention is stupid," Ollie spoke as if it was an obvious fact. "And I have to go talk to Nicole... like, now." 

  Stiles didn't even hesitate, dodging around Katrin and reaching forward to slip his finger through Ollie's belt loops. "I'll come with you, I agree with the stupid detention thing." 

 Ollie shook his head, "You have to stay here and cover for me," he smiled softly, "it's fine, I'm not even seething with murderous rage anymore."  

 Erica hummed from her spot at the table, "shame. I like that look on you." 

 Stiles opened his mouth to retort, but before he could Ollie grabbed onto his chin and leaned forward to kiss him. For a moment, he allowed his mind to grow muddled, before he pulled away with a chuckle. "Murderous rage. Down to like, a five." 

 "Out of ten or percent?" 

 "I guess we'll wait and see," Ollie patted his boyfriends cheek, before twisting around to glance at Katrin. "If Harris comes back, tell him that I broke my neck or something." 

 The girl saluted, "will do." 

 Ollie turned to walk out of the library, trying to hide how erratic his nerves were as he felt Allison and Matt's confused gazes land on his back. He knew it was stupid to feel nervous; but he fucked up big time. He could fight a homicidal kanima no problem, and he could hit a werewolf over the head with a baseball bat without batting (pun intended) an eye. 

 But confronting his mother? That was a whole new level of terrifying.