I'm Not a Cynic

Clouse's ears ticked just smidgen higher as Ellery began to talk a bit more freely about her own thoughts. Did she find it spooky too? Or did she just not believe in their claims? He'd never been sure, but the conversation moved on without him asking the question aloud. His mom and sister's wishes to form their own home somewhere were familiar to Clouse, but the truth was he hadn't been sure that whatever place they made would feel any better to him. He loved all of the women in his family, his mother and Ellery especially, but he'd never fully felt like he belonged in any of their worlds.

Surely now was not the time unload all of that on her, though, and thankfully she offered a segue.

Clouse chuckled at Elle's simile, knowing exactly what she meant. She'd be pissed if she knew all the details of what Scully had put Clouse through, especially the time he'd used him as bait to steal from a pack... His longest teeth poked out just a bit as he smiled indulgently, grey eyes bouncing left to right just to be sure they were definitely alone before he whispered, "Scully's a dick," and then giggled.