in which argent kidnaps stiles again. beats him again.
but this time, derek finds them, and stops it.
it hurts stiles to breathe. and derek doesn’t think.
he just puts an arm around him.
“hey, it’s okay,” he says. “it’s okay. i’ve got you.”
like that means anything, like he’s anyone remotely comforting, but stiles breathes out shakily, and nods, and swipes at his eyes.
he’s still badly hurt, wincing. barely able to hide it anymore.
“hospital,” derek says. “right now.”
but he pulls stiles’ pain as much as possible as he drives.
stiles sits up straighter once they get closer to the hospital. tries to fix his face more casual.
it makes sense. they’re not—and stiles doesn’t need scott’s mom seeing them, and assuming something. telling stiles’ dad, you’ll never believe who brought stiles in for treatment.
and that’s if she doesn’t just assume that derek did this. that he’s just staying here to silence him.
“what does argent even want with you?” derek says. “you’re human.”
stiles’ cheek is still swelling. his eyelid is almost sealed shut.
and argent’s gonna be sorry. he’s gonna be. when derek finally hunts his family. hurts everyone he cares about.
let him know how it feels for once. just once, let him be the one watching his whole life burn. and know, deep down, that he’s the reason that it happened. the real reason, for all of it. not a hunter, not scott—
derek bites his tongue to keep his wolf from keening.
they won’t let derek stay in the room while they treat him. time moves in slow motion for a while.
stiles is quiet, and shaky, but he’s breathing easier. and he relaxes when he sees derek in the door.
“i didn’t leave,” derek says, and stiles shudders. “i won’t.”
he’s never been more sure of anything.
“why not?” stiles says. “it’s kind of over, you know? the whole big… hero showdown moment. the bad guy’s been beaten, you know? or at least beaten back for a while. so, yeah. you should go, like, celebrate.”
derek looks at him, and stiles says, “i’m not suddenly your problem, okay? just because i like, got hit in front of you, or whatever’s putting that look on your face, i’m fine. you don’t have to, like, stick around just to make, just to make sure i...”
but he covers his eyes, and derek’s staying. he’s staying.
in the hospital gown, there are even more visible bruises. and the old ones look worse than before.
but that’s a part of healing. it has to be.
“do you want me to call someone?” derek says.“like… scott, or your dad.”
stiles scrubs at his eye, and derek’s almost sorry he said anything.
“i’m still gonna be here,” he says. “even if... scott comes by, or something.”
stiles’ eyes flicker over his face.
the bruise on his cheek is turning awful colors. there’s too much fire in derek’s throat.
it feels insane to ever let go of him. but he has to, eventually. when a nurse comes by, when he’s in the way again.
but he moves in close as soon as he can. and this time, stiles' arms lock around him.
his breaths catch, for a while.
it feels wrong ever not being this close to him. not taking as much pain as he can. not keeping his hand there, even once stiles' heart settles, and his breaths go easy.
and maybe that should be weird. or is weird. maybe, maybe.
unless stiles has a problem with it, it doesn't matter.
