Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods. "Right. When you get to Nyra we'll teach you how to fight."

[Tethras Clan]

"But... I'm not..." Merrill protests amidst her tears.

[Carver Amell]

"You are," he insists. 

[Bethany]

"We all are," Bethany says softly, locking eyes with her brother. "Even when we doubt, we're worth it. Even when we fuck up, we're worth it. Because... because we're friends. And friends help each other. Look after each other."

[Carver Amell]

Carver winces, looking away. "...Seeker said I was defective," he says quietly. "And you know sh-- they probably told Dad that too."

[Bethany]

Bethany's eyes narrow. "Well, even smart people can be dumb. And wrong. They mess up their words sometimes too," she says hotly. "I'll talk to them soon."

[Carver Amell]

He winces. "Don't. They're right. I'm... I don't think right, not like you."

[Bethany]

"Neither does Merrill. Either you're both fine or you're both broken. Which is it?" Bethany has evidently learned a bit of ruthlessness from her new dad...

[Carver Amell]

"She thinks fine," he argues. "Talks fast, but she thinks fine."

[Bethany]

"Yes or no, Carver," Bethany demands. "Is it okay to think differently or not?"

[Carver Amell]

"Different is fine. Slow is..."

[Tethras Clan]

"A form of different?" Merrill proposes tentatively.

[Carver Amell]

"Thinking slow makes you stupid," he says, his tone dark. "Neither of you are stupid. Different is fine. My, my thing about moving, is probably fine I guess. But the part where it takes me longer, I don't..."

[Bethany]

"We're weaker than you, both of us. Less tough as well. So what if you're not as... academic," Beth says stoutly.

[Carver Amell]

"Fine, but you keep acting like nothing's wrong with me when it is!" He takes a deep breath, lets it out. "My brain isn't very good. You can't hit things very hard. So I let you do the thinking and I do the hitting. And it works. But you keep saying it's not true and it is."