We have ways of making you talkโฆ
โHiiiiiii,โ Derek said happily, when Isaac broke down the door, and he and Scott and Stiles burst into the room. โIโm chained up!โ
Stiles looked at Scott, who looked at him, and then they both looked at Isaac, who was too taken aback to even blink, apparently. Derek was indeed chained up. Again.
That wasnโt the surprising part.
โIโm really glad to see you,โ Derek said, rolling his head against the fence. He was barefoot and dirty, and he was slurring his words just enough to be noticeable, but there was no blood anywhere Stiles could see. โAre you glad to see me?โ
โWeโre, um, yes?โ Scott said, like he wasnโt entirely sure.
โWeโre really, really glad to see you,โ Isaac said, in the tone of voice youโd use to talk to a little kid. โArenโt we, guys?โ He shot threatening looks at Stiles and Scott.
โRight, yes,โ Stiles said immediately as Scott said, โAbsolutely! Super glad!โ
โAre you all right?โ Isaac asked Derek, taking a wary step closer. They were all off balance now, unsure of what theyโd walked into.
โNo,โ Derek said petulantly. โI want to hug you but I canโt.โ He frowned and tugged against the manacles on his wrists. โYouโre my best friends in the whole world.โ
โI think heโs okay,โ Scott said after a long, awkward silence. โExcept. You know.โ He made a vague gesture at Derek, who didnโt seem to be hurt, specifically. Just veryโฆun-Derek-like.
โWe shouldโwe donโt have much time,โ Stiles reminded everyone, but it still took a few more seconds for someone to move, all of them completely thrown by the way Derek was acting. Theyโd been prepared for gore, for carnage, maybe for a dead body. They hadnโt been prepared for this.
โI was hoping Stiles would come,โ Derek said dreamily, eyes fixed on him while Scott started on the manacles with a bolt cutter.
โAnd here I am,โ Stiles said unnecessarily, throwing his hands out in a little flourish before he awkwardly shoved them in his jacket pockets. Derekโs dirty, beaming face was freaking him out.
The last manacle came apart under the bolt cutters and hit the floor next to Derekโs bare toes with a loud clang. โI care about you guys so much,โ Derek gushed, slumping over into Isaacโs arms.
โThis is way worse than I imagined,โ Scott said under his breath, shaking his head.
โGuys, Iโm serious. We gotta go,โ Stiles said. Theyโd already been here too long, and every little noise was making him jump.
โStiles says we gotta go,โ Derek muttered. โStiles is always bossing me around and I like it.โ
โOh my God,โ Stiles said faintly, into the shocked silence. Isaac looked like he was trying not to laugh. Scott was looking at Derek like heโd grown a second head.
โYou are so stoned, man,โ Isaac said, shaking his head, and Derek promptly launched into another repetition of Iโm so glad you guys are here. Isaac propped him up while Scott slipped his shirt over his head, both of them humming agreement to every single one of Derekโs declarations of love and happiness.
There were some syringes, most of them empty, one of them still full of a cloudy yellow liquid, scattered on the floor. Stiles grabbed the full one and carefully put it in his pocket while Scott and Isaac helped Derek into his shoes.
When they finally got him out to the Cruiser, it looked like Derek was going to get in willingly enough, until he saw Stiles head for the driverโs seat, at which point he balked, bracing his arms against the door frame like a cat trying to avoid the kitty carrier. โI want you to ride in the back with me, Stiles,โ he said, refusing to budge. โI missed you.โ
Stiles paused, hand on the door handle, and wondered how this shit kept happening to him. He wanted to bang his head against the Cruiserโs window, but that wouldnโt help anyone. โPlease stop talking,โ he begged Derek. โJust get in, okay?โ
Derek glared at him, and for one reassuring second it was like the real Derek was back, until he said, โYouโre hurting my feelings.โ
โJesus Christ,โ Scott said, with feeling.
โFine!โ Stiles hissed, because shouting was a bad idea when you were escaping with someoneโs prisoner. He marched around to the back door and handed the keys to Scott.
Appeased, Derek caught the front of Stiles jacket in his grubby hand and held on as he got in, practically dragging Stiles with him. As soon as Stilesโ butt hit the seat, Derek was right there, pressed against his side, trying to burrow under his arm.
โYou need to put your seat belt on,โ Stiles protested, shoving at him to no avail. โSafety first!โ
Derek scoffed at the idea of a seatbelt as he wormed a little closer and put his head under Stilesโ chin. โI want to sit by you,โ he said stubbornly. โYou smell nice. I like you. I want to touch you. I think about you when Iโโ
โOkay!โ Stiles yelled, slapping his hand down over Derekโs mouth before he could finish that horrifying sentence. โI think I get it.โ
Stiles fully expected to get bitten, but instead Derek gently took his hand and tugged it away. He didnโt let go, just rubbed his thumb over the knob of Stilesโ wrist as he lifted his head so he could stare into Stilesโ eyes. Isaac was rightโDerek was completely stoned. His eyes were almost all pupil.
โDo you?โ Derek asked Stiles earnestly. โDo you really get it?โ
โI think heโs gonna get it,โ Isaac snorted up front.
"Youโre not helping,โ Scott gritted out as he started the engine. He didnโt look happy to suddenly be the getaway driver, but tough luck. Stiles was the one dealing with the real problem here.
Derek was still waiting for an answer, with wide eyes and a painfully open expression on his face. Stiles swallowed and said, โCan weโif I promise weโll talk about this once weโre alone will you stop? Will you please stop?โ Derek was twining their fingers together, Stiles realized, aghast. โJust wait until weโre alone, okay?โ
โOkay,โ Derek said, and put his head back on Stilesโ shoulder and didnโt say another word until they got to his place.
He held Stilesโ hand the whole time.
