#derek/brayden

[sourmiguel]

Mr. Stilinski by @doctortay (wc32279, explicit)

Summary: But he’s never really forgotten Wade or those guys from college, definitely not Brayden, the motorcycle-driving musician who devastated him senior year. He hasn’t forgotten the way a fuck-it-all attitude draws him in like a moth to a flame, speaks to his own rebellious nature that has always manifested as abrasive sarcasm and clever manipulation of rules and half-truths. And even though he’s never really forgotten, he’d thought he’d gotten over the bad boy thing, had grown out of it. But then, in his last class on the first day at his new job teaching English at the high school he graduated from fifteen years ago, Derek Hale walks into his classroom and Stiles feels like he's out in the parking lot back in 1995, nearly tripping over his own feet with stunned attraction, immediate and shockingly powerful. His lust is tinged with the familiar but long forgotten thrill needing to get closer to that mysterious cool, compounded infinitely now because this dangerous-looking bad boy is his student.

Ahh, the teacher-student relationship. Love that Stiles is the older one, and Derek's your perfect bad boy. They're so wrong but so right in this fic, it's delicious.

[hawkeyetrained]

You Can Trust Me

Derek Hale x Fem!reader

Other Characters: Kate Argent, Scott, Malia, Stiles (mentioned), Lydia (mentioned), Braeden (mentioned)

Warnings: slight spoilers for s4ep1&2, cannon level violence (though nothing too graphic at all)

Summary: When Derek gets turned back into his younger self, she promises he can trust her.

Word count: 2594

Scott, Stiles, and I had been friends for as long as I could remember. I moved into town when I was just 10 years old, instantly becoming friends with the two. That’s how I met Derek Hale, and how our crazy involvement with the supernatural began.

Derek and I had a different relationship than the rest of the pack. He would often keep me in the loft if the current threat ever got too close, opting to have Peter stay back and keep an eye on me instead of allowing me to help like Stiles. For the last few years, the crush I had on Derek only grew stronger and Lydia was the first to call me out on it. When we were sitting in the loft for one of our pack meetings, she had noticed how I tuned Scott out as he talked but instantly focused on Derek when he spoke. She had nudged my side, making my cheeks burn pink, and later took me out for dinner to talk about what she saw.

We talked at the diner for more than two hours about my crush, going into detail on everything that she could get from me. I had her sworn to secrecy to not tell anyone for fear that he would completely reject me.

So, while broken down on the side of a road in Mexico, she had stuck to my side in an attempt to keep me calm. Stiles was busy fixing his Jeep, Malia and Kira keeping watch on the sand around us, while Lydia and I tried to attempt helping Stiles. Scott had gone off with a woman named Brayden in search of Derek, promising to be back by morning.

I spent the night sitting on the ground by the front tire of Roscoe, Stiles’ jeep. Lydia kept sending glances my way all night, but I ignored her until I was able to see the motorcycle coming back down the road just after sunrise.

Scott had jumped off to grab my arms, pulling me off to the side. “Hey, he’s alright, but something happened in that church. Derek, he’s different.”

“What do you mean?” I tried pulling away only for Scott to stop me. “What happened?”

“I don’t know what happened.” Scott shrugged. “Something changed him, made him younger.”

I spent the entire ride home in the back of Stiles’ jeep, worrying over Derek and wondering why he wasn’t waking up. Once we got back, we went to Deaton’s office first. Scott had called ahead, letting the doctor know about our situation and to see if there was anything he could do to help. Once we got Derek inside and laid on the exam table, everyone watched as Deaton worked for a few minutes on checking for anything unusual, and once coming up empty handed, he sent everyone home for school in a few hours.

“Someone should stay here with him.” Scott mumbled to the group as we turned to leave.

“I think it should be Y/N.” Lydia said, stopping in her tracks.

“What?” I looked up at her. “Why me?” My cheeks were stained a soft pink.

“Out of all of us, you and Derek were closest. And he trusts you the most.” She explained. “When he wakes up, I’m sure he’s going to be confused. You’ll be the only face he’d want to see.” Everyone seemed to agree with her, so they headed out to gather their things for school while I went back into the exam room to join Deaton.

It seemed like hours passed since my friends had left. Deaton had continued to check on Derek when he needed breaks from his paperwork in his office. I had sat myself down in one of the plastic chairs, pulled up beside the table, my arms crossed on the metal surface with my head resting on them. My phone would occasionally go off with a text message, one of the pack members checking in, but there was never much to say other than a finger twitch or a deeper breath than I had been listening to all day.

Deaton had come back in yet again to check on Derek, but this time, the young wolf’s eyes snapped open, his body launching up into a seated position. The doctor had been fast enough to grab my arms and yank me back before I was swiped at by a clawed hand. The boy’s eyes softened ever so slightly when he got a look at our faces and heard our racing heartbeats, but it wasn’t long before he was running out of the clinic.

Stiles and Scott were able to get Derek from the police station hours after he ran from the clinic, the three of us headed towards Scott’s house. Scott’s phone buzzed in his pocked and he told us how he had to go take care of something, leaving Stiles and I alone with Derek.

Derek had seemed apprehensive about following Stiles into the McCall house, but a soft smile and a few encouraging words from me and helped him follow us inside. “Scott?” An older male’s voice called from the kitchen.

Stiles and I shared a worried look, and before we could turn around and get out, Scott’s father showed up in the doorway with a paper bag held in his hand. “Um, hi.” I greeted, offering a slightly awkward wave.

“Stiles. Y/N.” Mr. McCall nodded to us. “Who’s your friend?”

My eyes flashed to Derek, trying to think of a believable excuse. “He’s my cousin.” Stiles blurted out, wrapping an arm around Derek’s shoulders. “My cousin Miguel.” Both Derek and I looked to Stiles to see if he was serious or not, and to our horror, he was completely serious.

We were all quickly pulled into the worst dinner of our lives. Scotts father continuously asked Derek questions, obviously seeing right through Stiles’s lie, but Derek was able to play along. I ate a little food before excusing myself and heading up to Scott’s room, wanting to call him and warn him of his father being home.

I barely managed to send the text before the door was being pushed open. “Y/N?” I recognized Derek’s voice as he called out, not wanting to startle me.

“Yeah, come in.” I smiled at the Hale boy, sliding my phone into my back pocket, and sitting down on Scott’s bed. “How are you holding up?” I asked him as he sat down beside me, leaving more space than usual between us.

Derek shrugged. “It’s all so confusing.”

“Is there anything I can try to help with?” I asked.

He shrugged his shoulders again. “I don’t even know what to ask. I mean, you three look at me like you know who I am, but I’ve got no idea who you are.”

A deep sigh left my nose as I adjusted, pulling my legs up under me and turning to face him. “You’re Derek Hale. You’ve helped us through a lot recently, taught all of us a lot of things about the supernatural world.” His dark eyes lifted up to watch me. “You’ve saved all of us too many times to count. It’s been a hard few years for all of us.”

“If I’m going to be honest, I’m a little scared.” His voice dropped to a whisper, almost like he didn’t want anyone hearing his confession. “I woke up in a strange place, surrounded by strange people, in a city that doesn’t even have my home, and no one will tell me what happened. I don’t know who to trust.”

My fingers twitched together nervously. “I know how scary that must be, but I can tell you one thing. You can trust me. It’s gotta be weird having people know you without you knowing them, but we are actually really good friends. You’ve watched out for me since we met. Let me help watch out for you until we can figure out how to help you.”

“I can trust you.” He didn’t phrase it as a question, more so a way for himself to finally believe it.

The window creaked from behind Derek, alerting both of us. Derek’s arm had crossed protectively over me as he turned to look for the cause of the sound, something he did normally that was showing through his younger self. “Kate?” Derek’s eyes adjusted to the dark of the night faster than mine, but I was able to see her climbing through the window.

“Hey, handsome.” She greeted with a smile. “Been a long time.” Right, Peter killed her, or so we had thought. “Longer than you think.” Her eyes flashed back to me as both Derek and I stood from the bed, my feet automatically drifting closer to Derek’s side. “Aww, little Y/N, still playing shadow?” She taunted, a sick smile on her face before she came closer.

Derek didn’t tense up like he typically does. Instead, he stayed pretty relaxed, making me think that younger Derek had known Kate better than I thought he did. “Derek.” I shrunk closer to him as she got closer to me, not trusting Kate at all after what Peter had done to her.

His hand flexed at his side a little, like he wanted to do something but couldn’t think of why or what to do. “Still scared hun?” Kate stalked closer, ultimately putting herself between Derek and me. “He doesn’t even know you sweetheart.” As she continued to draw closer and closer in the dark room, I had taken steps back, trying to keep as much space between her and I as I could. “He knows me. He can trust me.” My heart started to race, images of her clawed hand swiping at my throat flashing through my head, eyes frantically flickering between her and Derek as I backed up.

In a blur, one of her hands had enclosed around my throat, holding me still and putting just enough pressure to where I was uncomfortable. “Kate, please. Let me go.” My hands reached up to try prying at her fingers, but I was no match for her newfound strength.

“Kate.” Derek’s voice growled out from behind her in a warning. “Let her go.”

A sick smile crossed her face. “If you say so.” Her hand slipped from my throat and just a second after my eyes met Derek’s, she had kicked her boot into my chest and send me stumbling back into Scott’s adjoining bathroom. The door slammed shut and I could hear something being pressed against the outside of the door.

“No.” I scrambled into my knees. “Derek!” I call, banging on the door. “Kate, let me out.” I could hear muffled voices of her and Derek going back and forth, a little worry in the boy’s voice as he said my name. “Derek don’t listen to her. Don’t go anywhere with her. You can’t trust her.”

Minutes of silence passed by before whatever was leaned against the door was pulled away and the door swung open. Stiles stood on the other side, phone pressed to his ear. I rushed out of the room, frantically looking around for Derek, but the still open window confirmed my worry. “Calm down.” Stiles tried.

“Kate took him.” I looked back at Stiles. “Kate took Derek. Ask Scott where she would take him.” My hands grabbed the keys to Stiles’s jeep from his hands before I raced down the stairs and out to the car. I jumped into the passenger seat as Stiles came chasing after me, getting into the already running car and heading towards the school.

He managed to pull up quick enough, letting me jump out and meet Scott and Malia while he went off to delay Scott’s dad. “Hey, calm down.” Scott pressed his hands to my shoulders.

“Kate took him and somehow managed to age him back, before kidnapping him, again. I can’t stay calm Scott. What if she kills him?”

“I don’t think that’s what she’s going to do.”

“Scott.” Malia called from the stairs going up to the second floor of the school. “Scott, what’s that smell?”

Chris Argent had told me stories of some of the supernatural beings he had faced in the past. I tried to check up on him as much as I could after Allison died. I didn’t have a father myself and I had seen him as a fatherly figure since Allison and I had become friends. This creature though, he didn’t have a lot to say on it, other than the fact that they were pretty much soulless creatures that were practically invincible. Berserkers seemed to scare the older Argent man, and so they scared me. I never thought I’d face one, let alone be running from one as my friends battled the other.

I had managed to put enough distance between myself and the one chasing me, but the one that Malia and Scott had been focused on caught me by surprise. It’s thick, bone covered hand swept out just as I was running past, sending me flying across the school floor and sliding up against the lockers in a corner not far from my friends.

Both of the berserkers faces locked on me, slowly creeping closer. “Scott!” I shouted, cowering as far as I could into the corner of lockers. “Scott!” Before any of their hands were able to grab at me, a large shadow managed to knock both away from me. The berserkers went after the shadow, giving Scott and Malia enough time to come to my sides and pull me to my feet.

Once the shadow was able to scare off the berserkers, it stood to it’s full height and turned to face us. Derek, as we knew him, stood in front of us, panting slightly from the fight and running all the way up to us. “Derek?” Scott was the first to ask, holding onto my shoulder.

His eyes locked on my face, and with a subtle nod, I was running across the hall over to him. Derek’s arms wrapped tightly around my waist as I threw my arms around his shoulders. He was back, after months of wondering what happened to him and the past few hours trying to convince him that we were friends, he was back.

“Are you ok?” I asked as I took a step back. “What happened to you?”

“Kate broke into the loft and shot me with wolfsbane. I don’t remember much after that.” His hands had yet to leave my waist as his head came to rest against mine. “All I remember is that I can trust you. I did, I do trust you.”

A breathy laugh escaped my nose as he tipped his head down to press his lips against mine softly. My fingers drifted from his shoulders to his hair, pulling him closer to me. His hands tightened their hold around my waist, slowly wrapping his arms around me completely.

A cough pulled the two of us apart, my cheeks flushed a bright pink as I glanced up into his eyes. “Guys.” Scott spoke, his feet shuffling loudly against the hall floors. “We should probably get out of here.”

“Go.” Derek told him. “We’re right behind you.” I could faintly hear Scott and Malia walk down the stairs, back towards the front of the school. “Come with me.” Derek didn’t ask, seemingly already knowing my answer when I linked my hand tightly in his. “You can trust me.”

A bright smile covered my face. “And you can trust me.”

@thetallassgirl @hallecarey1

[reidiot]

teen wolf continues to be on my top 5 TV series of all time and since it came out, more than a decade ago, i re-watched the show regularly. yet, you cannot convince me, you cannot pay me enough money to watch a movie that wasn't made for the fans benefit. all they wanted was to promote a new show that's gonna be canceled after season 1 anyway *shrugging*

for me, teen wolf ended 6 years ago. stiles went to quantico to join the fbi. lydia moved to dc and became a teacher. scott went to med school and kept coaching the lacrosse team whenever he got the chance. after he graduated, liam got a scholarship and continued to play lacrosse during his college years. mason chose to do computer science. theo wrote a memoir for sure. jordan quit his job and oppened a gym. somehow, malia got a hold on the eichen house and she's now running it. after her healing era, kira entered her vigilante era. derek got an apartment with brayden. peter did what peter does.

years later, they've all returned to beacon hills and continued to carry the legacy of a small town that's been constantly tormented by situations. they're all together. they're happy.

[medium-observation]

FEBRUARY RELEASE

Beetlejuice - First US National Tour

January 21, 2024 - Medium Observation

Video | Matinée

Cast:

Justin Collette (Beetlejuice), Larkin Reilly (u/s Lydia Deetz), Megan McGinnis (Barbara Maitland), Matthew Michael Janisse (s/w Adam Maitland), Jesse Sharp (Charles Deetz), Sarah Litzsinger (Delia Deetz), Hillary Porter (Miss Argentina), Abe Goldfarb (Otho), Brian Vaughn (Maxie Dean), Lexie Dorsett Sharp (s/w Maxine Dean/Juno), Haley Hannah (s/w Girl Scout), Ryan Breslin (s/w Ensemble)

Notes:

Excellent video of Larkin and Matthew as Lydia and Adam respectively. Minimal washout with very little to no obstruction.

NFT DATE: August 1st, 2024

Screenshots:https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBbtWz

Video is $20

Moulin Rouge! The Musical - First US National Tour

January 6, 2024 - Medium Observation

Video | Matinée

Cast:

Mark Doyle (u/s Christian), Arianna Rosario (alt Satine), Robert Petkoff (Zidler), Kevyn Morrow (e/c Toulouse), Andrew Brewer (Duke), Danny Burgos (Santiago), Sarah Bowden (Nini), Harper Miles (La Chocolat), Nicci Claspell (Arabia), Max Heitmann (Baby Doll), Kamal Lado (Pierre), Sam J. Cahn, Darius Crenshaw, Jimena Flores Sanchez, Tommy Gedrich, Cameron Hobbs, Tamrin Goldberg (s/w), Pepe Munoz (s/w), Tanisha Moore, Brayden Newby, Elyse Niederee, Kent Overshown, Stefanie Renee Salyers, Adéa Michelle Sessoms, Preston Taylor

Notes:

Absolutely perfect video of Mark, Arianna and Kevyn as Christian, Satine and Toulouse respectively! Zero obstruction, minimal washout.

NFT DATE: August 1st, 2024

Screenshots:https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjB9sf1

Video is $20

Wicked - Second US National Tour (Munchkinland)

January 28, 2024 - Medium Observation

Video

Cast:

Olivia Valli (Elphaba), Celia Hottenstein (Glinda), Colin LeMoine (u/s Fiyero), Timothy Shew (The Wizard), Kathy Fitzgerald (Madame Morrible), Tara Kostmayer (Nessarose), Kyle McArthur (Boq), Boise Holmes (Doctor Dillamond), Mitchell Tobin (Chistery), Jane Brockman (Midwife), Alexia Acebo (Witch's Mother), Wayne Schroder (Witch's Father / Ozian Official), Jennifer Mariela Bermeo (Ensemble), Remmie Bourgeouis (Ensemble), Sean Burns (Ensemble), Jōvan Dansberry (Ensemble), Matt Densky (Ensemble), Marie Eife (Ensemble), Jenny Florkowski (s/w Ensemble), David Kaverman (s/w Ensemble), Lauren Leach (Ensemble), Megan Loomis (Ensemble), Madison Claire Parks (Ensemble), Jackie Raye (Ensemble), Kat Rodriguez (Ensemble), Anthony Santos (Ensemble), Derek Schiesel (Ensemble), Tregoney Shepherd (Ensemble), Brett Stoelker (Ensemble), Maggie Van Wieringen (Ensemble)

Notes:

Fantastic video of Colin Fiyero! Some readjusting throughout, minimal washout. 

NFT DATE: August 1st, 2024

Screenshots:https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBcqfY

Video is $20

Videos can be purchased through me at mediumobservationtrading@gmail.com

[justanothersterekficgirl]

Mr. Stilinski by alisvolatpropiis

4 works | 32k total | complete

But he’s never really forgotten Wade or those guys from college, definitely not Brayden, the motorcycle-driving musician who devastated him senior year. He hasn’t forgotten the way a fuck-it-all attitude draws him in like a moth to a flame, speaks to his own rebellious nature that has always manifested as abrasive sarcasm and clever manipulation of rules and half-truths. And even though he’s never really forgotten, he’d thought he’d gotten over the bad boy thing, had grown out of it.

But then, in his last class on the first day at his new job teaching English at the high school he graduated from fifteen years ago, Derek Hale walks into his classroom and Stiles feels like he's out in the parking lot back in 1995, nearly tripping over his own feet with stunned attraction, immediate and shockingly powerful. His lust is tinged with the familiar but long forgotten thrill needing to get closer to that mysterious cool, compounded infinitely now because this dangerous-looking bad boy is his student.

[downthecove]

starters to come for all the new muses:

brayden (derek theler golem): idk yet he's just a walking pole

london (ludi lin porn producer): someone's intro scene

isaiah (jordan elsass jock): bullying someone

malcolm (martin cummins dentist): doctor x patient fun

weston (dylan bruce, runs a sex auction): testing newest donation

eddie (ricky whittle gas attendant): glory hole

dustin (jordan calloway pov porn producer): paying someone for public deeds

oakley + ottis (carver twins pool boy + gardener): tending to someone's home

wally (tom holland pizza delivery boy): accepting sex as a tip

ryan (travis willingham video store clerk): showing a muse the back room

roger (david harbour sheriff): using someone in a cell

[skywitchmaja]

they are giving me whiplash flipping and flopping between 24 episode seasons and 12 episode seasons but here we are again at the end of season four!

s tier: lydia and stiles! that’s right! lydia pulled out ahead this round bc she had more to do than stiles this season, which is all well and good, stiles is canonically sleep deprived and NEEDS to rest. well this season it’s lydia’s turn to be sleep deprived and as someone who went to bed at 7:00am last night, uh, morning, i have to honor that

a tier: scooooottt!!!, kira, malia, melissa, sheriff stilinski (still don’t know his first name), meredith (i legit cried at her fake out death i very rarely cry at fake out deaths bc i’m psychic but LYDIA’S apology got me actually. probably horrible mental health representation but her bond with lydia was very sweet)

b tier: chris (allison’s dad coming THROUGH), satomi (she’s cool i like her), coach, derek (not only is he a failalpha he’s failwolf in general<3 at least until he evolves an ability to shift into a real wolf with a tail and everything good for him ig), deputy parish

c tier: liam (liam himself i could go either way on, but i love watching sciles comedy of errors trying to raise this baby werewolf), brayden or however you spell that hired gun’s name (i’m glad we got more of her but tbh i think the mystery was a big part of the draw and now…), lydias mom (i like that they’re giving her a bigger role but i’m not invested like i am with scott and stiles parents), kira’s parents (they’re still cute but don’t make kira move she’s so good at lacrosse!), deaton (tbh i feel like he was barely in this season), scott’s dad (he is making an effort good for him), alba from jtv (not a good enough villain for me to have fun watching her electrocute teenagers sorry)

f tier: aunt kate and uncle peter (STAY DEAD ffs), that serial killer orderly

[stpauls-milaca]

Servants for Sunday USHER: Derek Marxhausen ACOLYTE: Lauren F./Ella R. READER: Brock/Brayden T. FELLOWSHIP: Jane M./Bonnie G. We are in need of a couple of Ushers. If you are willing to serve in this capacity, please speak to Pastor or an elder right away. Thank you! Both men and women can serve as ushers.

[ledenews]

Josh Maniscalco Named to 2023 ECHL All-Star Classic

Wheeling's Leading Scorer to Represent Western Conference in Norfolk on January 16th The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, in conjunction with the ECHL, are excited to announce that defenseman Josh Maniscalco has been selected to play in the 2023 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic presented by Optima Health and Sentara Healthcare. Maniscalco, 23, is having an outstanding second season with the Nailers, as he is currently leading the team in scoring at nearly a point-per-game pace. Josh has eight goals, 17 assists, and 25 points in 26 games. In addition to his lead in assists and points, he is also in the top spot on the club in power-play points (13) and shots on goal (90). His eight goals and 25 points are both tied for the most among ECHL defensemen, and his 90 shots put him in sole possession of first among blueliners. Maniscalco has posted multiple points on seven occasions this season, and three of those games have come in the last two weeks, as he has collected eight points in his last four contests. This is the Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania native's fourth time being honored by the ECHL in his two seasons with Wheeling. Last season, he was named to the All-ECHL Second Team and the ECHL All-Rookie Team, and he was also the AMI Graphics Plus Performer of the Month in December of 2021. Josh played in his 100th professional game on Friday, in addition to his 90th as a Nailer. He has amassed 25 goals, 53 assists, and 78 points in a Wheeling uniform. The 2023 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic presented by Optima Health and Sentara Healthcare will be played in Norfolk, Virginia on Monday, January 16th. The game will air live exclusively on NHL Network and will stream on FloHockey. The evening will consist of a tournament featuring the ECHL All-Stars and the host Norfolk Admirals, with an integrated skills competition with points counting towards each team's score. The Norfolk Admirals will announce their rosters for the Cruisers and Destroyers next week. Additionally, Ann-Sophie Bettez and Sydney Brodt of the Premier Hockey Federation, as well as Emily Brown and Sam Cogan of the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association will each be assigned to one of the four teams. The 15th class of the ECHL Hall of Fame will be officially inducted at a luncheon at noon on the same day as the All-Star Classic. Mark Bernard, Scott Bertoli, Victor Gervais, and former Pittsburgh Penguins Equipment Manager Dana Heinze are this year's inductees. 2023 ECHL All-StarsDetermined in a vote of coaches, team captains, media relations directors, broadcasters, and members of the media. Eastern Conference All-StarsG – Cam Johnson, Florida EverbladesD – Michael Brodzinski, Orlando Solar BearsD – Olivier Galipeau, Trois-Rivières LionsD – Jarrod Gourley, Adirondack ThunderD – Luke Martin, Jacksonville IcemenD – Derek Topatigh, Atlanta GladiatorsF – Collin Adams, Worcester RailersF – Pat Guay, Savannah Ghost PiratesF – Bear Hughes, South Carolina StingraysF – Alex Ierullo, Greenville Swamp RabbitsF – Max Newton, Reading RoyalsF – Zach O’Brien, Newfoundland GrowlersF – Mathew Santos, Maine Mariners Western Conference All-StarsG – Jake Kupsky, Idaho SteelheadsD – Josh Maniscalco, Wheeling NailersD – Matt Murphy, Iowa HeartlandersD – Gordi Myer, Toledo WalleyeD – Andrew Nielsen, Utah GrizzliesD – Chad Nychuk, Kalamazoo WingsF – Tye Felhaber, Fort Wayne KometsF – Liam Finlay, Allen AmericansF – Lincoln Griffin, Cincinnati CyclonesF – Seamus Malone, Indy FuelF – Matt Marcinew, Rapid City RushF – Eddie Matsushima, Tulsa OilersF – Jeremy McKenna, Kansas City MavericksF – Brayden Watts, Wichita Thunder Read the full article

[geeandjaywrite]

It’s not that he doesn’t love Lydia. Of course he loves Lydia. He’s always loved her; been infatuated with her; fascinated with the idea of her. That never really went away. It just changed; grew deeper and more complex with everything that they had experienced.

It’s just that after she drives him to college and leaves him with a lingering kiss and a promise that she’d see him soon, things feel different.

So much has happened since that night he dragged Scott into the woods to look for the body of Laura Hale. So much has happened that he doesn’t really feel like he fits into his own life. He tries to ignore it; to pretend that everything is okay; but after the Ghost Riders, he realises he can’t pretend anymore.

It might be the fact that he was stuck waiting in the train station with Peter Hale but he’s been thinking about Derek. He’s been thinking about Derek a lot, thinking that if anyone understands what it’s like to feel like you don’t fit into your own life, it would be Derek.

One night, after a few too many beers, he texts Derek. He doesn’t expect a response, sure that Derek has changed his number many, many times since he left Beacon Hills without so much as a goodbye. Hell, who knows if Derek even has a phone anymore? It’s not like he was good at texting even when he had some semblance of a pack, of people that maybe, sort of cared about him.

I don’t feel like I’m me anymore. Feels like I’m trying really hard to be the same but it just seems hollow.

He doesn’t get a response but it doesn’t really bother him. He wasn’t expecting one anyway. He’s stopped expecting things from people. He’s stopped expecting a lot of things. That voice in the back of his head tells him that he stopped expecting things from Derek when he left without saying goodbye, like hours in a pool meant absolutely nothing, like Stiles meant absolutely nothing.

So yeah, he wasn’t expecting a reply. He just wanted to say the words.

---

After that, it kind of becomes a thing.

It doesn’t happen all the time. During the day, Stiles manages just fine. He has classes and assignments and even a couple of tentative friends who he’ll grab a coffee with every now and then.

It’s a different story at night though. He tosses and turns for hours, terrified that if he falls asleep, he’ll disappear again and that no one will bring him back. Those endless days in the train station plague his thoughts and he just can’t seem to escape them. It feels like he’s running through those tunnels again, only to end up exactly where he started.

So he tells Derek everything. He pours out the whole story, explains the terror he felt when he knew that he would be taken; when people looked him dead in the eye and had no idea who he was. He explains the frustration he felt when Peter was the only one he could rely on; the bitter disappointment when Peter left and he was all alone. He tells Derek everything and it feels like he’s standing on the edge of a cliff, just screaming into the empty nothingness. The words are out there and even if Derek never replies, it’s better to have written them than to have done nothing. It’s ever so slightly relieved the feeling of slowly choking on the terror.

He ends his text message like this: sometimes I think I’ll disappear again and no one will come looking.

And then his phone beeps.

I would.

That’s it. Two words and Stiles feels like he can breathe again. Someone would come looking for him.

 ---

 It’s not like those two words opened a floodgate of communication but Derek does occasionally reply.

When I do sleep, I see Allison dying. I wonder if Scott blames me. I blame me.

If I had been a better Alpha, Erica and Boyd would have stayed. No one blamed me for that, just like no one blames you for Allison.

Do you think I’ll ever stop blaming myself?

I’m not the right person to ask about blame.

 --- Found handcuffs in my roommate’s closet. Think he uses them for community safety on full moons or he’s just really into 50 Shades of Grey?

Stiles, it’s far more likely that your roommate is an aspiring Mr. Grey than a werewolf. Put them back where you found them. It’s rude to snoop.

Omfg I can’t believe you know what 50 Shades of Grey is!

Everyone knows what 50 Shades of Grey is.

You aren’t everyone though! I didn’t know that you read books. Or watched movies. Or had any knowledge of pop culture.

Derek doesn’t text back. Instead, he gets sent a photo of a bookshelf. It’s so full that Stiles is genuinely impressed; it doesn’t look like even one more title could be added to that collection. He doesn’t know why but he finds himself feeling kind of sad that he didn’t know this about Derek whilst he was living in Beacon Hills. Stiles tries not to dwell on the feeling but he knows himself well enough to know that he’s feeling guilty.

He knows what it’s like to wonder if anyone would care enough to come looking if he disappeared. He imagines that’s how Derek felt after his family died and Stiles didn’t do anything to make him think otherwise.  

He doesn’t text back.

--- It’s the night of the full moon and Stiles feels strange, like something is missing. He was invited to a party or two but declined, pretending that he had an assignment he really needed to finish. He’s weeks ahead of his course work but he doesn’t want to go out tonight. He knows his friends back in Beacon Hills are going to be okay without him; knows that it’s a good thing that he hasn’t heard from them; but it stings a little.

He doesn’t like feeling so replaceable.

He sends Lydia a text message, asking how everything is going. He doesn’t want them to be in danger; doesn’t want them to struggle without him; but it would be nice if they noticed his absence. He’s hoping that Lydia will tell him that they’re okay but that they miss him.

She doesn’t reply straight away and he doesn’t know what to do with himself.

He can see the moon out of his dorm room window. He snaps a picture and sends it to Derek without thinking. Never thought I’d miss chaining Scott to a radiator, he captions the photo. He thinks he means for it to be a joke but even to his own eyes, the words seem flat on his screen. He sends them anyway. It’s not like he’s been censoring himself recently, not around Derek anyway.

On my first full moon alone, I howled at the moon, hoping that someone would answer. It’s lonely without pack.

I’m not really pack though, he responds. It’s easier than acknowledging the fact that Derek’s family burned to death in their family home; that crazy Uncle Peter tore his sister into pieces; that his only remaining family are either certifiably insane or residing with a pack in South America.

It’s okay to miss being needed.

I don’t know if they ever really needed me.

Derek texts back a photo of a pool.

A quick internet search confirms that it’s just a stock photo from Google but his heart races anyway. He remembers diving into the pool and holding Derek afloat; how terrified he had been that they would both drown; that his dad would find his body and drink himself into an early grave.

He hadn’t cared about Derek then, not really, not the way he cared about him now. He had held Derek afloat because it was the right thing to do and because he was selfish. He knew that if he and his friends had any chance of surviving this, they would need Derek.

Near death experiences don’t count as being needed.

This time Derek is the one who doesn’t reply. It’s fair enough, really. Stiles wouldn’t really know what to say to that either.

 --- When he wakes up in the morning, he has three unread messages.

Lydia tells him that all is well in Beacon Hills and tells him to check his email because she’s edited his latest essay. He tells Lydia thanks and tries to ignore the flicker of disappointment in his chest.

It counts as being needed. You weren’t just kept around because you were better than nothing. You’re an asset, Stiles. You’re smart, yet somehow stupid enough to throw yourself into danger without thinking twice. Underneath that unrelenting sarcasm and attitude, you care a hell of a lot. If it wasn’t for Scott, his attitude towards me and some of his questionable decisions, I’d have asked you to join my pack.

A second message, sent about an hour later, reads tell anyone and I’ll rip your throat out with my teeth.

He can’t help but laugh.

---

Lydia asks Stiles if he’s coming back to Beacon Hills for break. It had always been his plan to spend break at home, to fall back into things like he had never really left. He goes to reply, to tell Lydia that he’ll leave after his last classon Thursday, but he finds himself lying.

Sorry Lydia, totally broke. Can’t afford flights and I don’t think the Jeep would survive the drive. Maybe you could come here instead?

I can’t. It’s all hands on deck here.

She doesn’t elaborate. More noticeably, she doesn’t offer any financial assistance. Whilst he would turn it down, the Martins are one of the richest families in Beacon Hills and Lydia is generous with her money. If she cares about someone, she shows it with material gestures. He hasn’t seen Lydia in months; since she drove up to college with him. Shouldn’t she want to see him? Shouldn’t he be moving mountains to see her? This is Lydia, after all. He’s been in love with her for as long as he can remember.

All he knows is that something doesn’t feel right here. There’s a gentle hum of disappointment under his skin but when he examines it, he finds that it seems to be related to the fact that he didn’t know Beacon Hills was facing another threat. It doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the fact that he’s not going to be seeing Lydia this break. He doesn’t know much about relationships but he knows that she’s supposed to offer and he’s supposed to care.

His fingers hover uncertainly over his phone, not quite sure what to say. He can’t actually remember the last time he properly spoke to Lydia. They text a few times a week, when he has time between class and she’s not busy with pack business. He scrolls back through the conversation and he’s struck by how superficial it seems. He can’t even remember the last time that they spoke on the phone. They agreed to have weekly Face Time calls but after their plans fell through three times in a row, they stopped making arrangements.

In the end, he sends back a simple good luck. He needs more time to analyse before he says anything more.

 --- He manages to fall asleep before 3am, which is no small feat these days. He dreams of his mum, of her body on the kitchen floor and his tears marking her face as he cries down the phone, begging for an ambulance. He dreams of her body on a cool metal table in the morgue, of his father having to identify the body because his mum was sick and Stiles couldn’t get the ambulance quick enough to save her.

He dreams of Peter offering him the bite but this time he accepts it, sick and tired of being the weak, defenseless human. He can feel the pain, can feel fire coursing through his veins, and he knows that the bite isn’t taking. He isn’t strong enough to survive the bite so he’s going to die, all alone on the cold, hard concrete.

He dreams of the pool, of Derek growing heavier and heavier. “It’s okay”, Derek whispers, as Stiles has no choice but to let go. He watches Derek’s paralysed body sinking to the bottom of the pool, his lungs burning as they fill with water, and he cannot do anything.

He sees Erica standing on his front porch, smiling at him. He relaxes. Maybe this is a nice dream. Erica is alive and happy, which is how things should be. He tentatively smiles back, lifts a hand in greeting. Her smile grows wider, showing bloody teeth, and he reels back. Blood keeps dripping, gushing out of her mouth, until she keels over on his welcome mat. He doubles over and vomits on his front lawn.

He dreams of Gerard. He manages to get free, trips as he tries to run up the stairs and escape the basement. Gerald just laughs as he slowly walks up the stairs and takes hold of his leg. He screams as Gerard drags him back down the stairs, knowing exactly what fate awaits him there.

He dreams of motel car parks and road flares, of Scott going up in flames because Stiles isn’t enough to save him; because Stiles has never been enough. He says all the right words but Scott just scoffs and tells him that he wishes he had never met him, that his life would have been so much better without Stiles, that it was Stiles’ fault they were in the woods that night. Scott tells him that everything has always been his fault, then drops the road flare and the whole car park burns a fierce red.

He dreams of the Nogitsune, of the darkness. He pushes the blade into Allison’s stomach, hears Lydia’s screams reverberating off the tunnel walls. He wants to take it back, to do something, to save the girl his best friend loved; to save the girl he once considered a friend. He can’t do anything though; he’s not strong enough to fight the darkness.

He dreams of the Ghost Riders, of endless days and nights waiting for someone to remember him, of thinking that maybe it would be better for everyone if he didn’t come back. Easier, maybe. He dreams that he comes back and his dad’s face contorts into something unrecognisable, twisted by anger and grief; the regret of choosing to remember his son at the cost of losing his wife all over again.

He awakes suddenly, covered in sweat and gasping for air. He doesn’t think, just grabs his phone and dials the only person he thinks will understand.

---

It doesn’t matter that it’s nearly 4am. Derek answers the phone after the second ring and god, Stiles has missed his voice. He didn’t realise just how much until he hears it again.

“Stiles?”

Months ago, Derek texted I would and Stiles felt like he could breathe again. Now, Derek has said his name and he feels grounded again, like his feet are back on the ground.

“Bad dream”, he answers. “Sorry for waking you”. He knows Derek wasn’t asleep but it’s the polite thing to say.

Derek doesn’t say anything. Years ago, back when they first met, Stiles interpreted the silence as frustration, like Derek was purposely not fulfilling his role in the conversation so that Stiles would get the hint and shut up. After a while, Stiles started to think that Derek was silent because he was socially awkward and just didn’t really know how to participate in a conversation. After all, he had been alone for a long time.

Derek’s silence seems different now, though, like he’s giving Stiles a chance to process his thoughts and decide where he needs to begin.

“Why did you leave without saying goodbye?” he asks, acknowledging for the first time that he was bothered by it.

“I didn’t think anyone would really care”, Derek says, like it’s that simple. In Derek’s eyes, it probably was that simple.

“I did”. He pauses and the silence stretches between them for a few more seconds as Derek allows Stiles to collect his thoughts. “I was the one who realised you were gone. I went to the loft after school and the place was empty. I don’t have werewolf senses so I couldn’t just track you down… I drove around for hours looking for you. I was fucking terrified that you had been taken by someone or something but then I found Peter at that stupid abandoned train cart you used to live in. He told me that you had gone and that you didn’t want to be found. That fucking stung, by the way. You said goodbye to Peter but not to me”.

“He’s family”. Again, his words are spoken like it’s just that simple.

“Blood isn’t always thicker than water, Derek! Peter is a fucking lunatic, alright? He killed Laura! That’s unforgivable! I know I’m just some stupid, spastic teenager and that you’d happily rip my throat out with your teeth if it wouldn’t stain your upholstery but I deserved a fucking goodbye”.

It’s not until he says the words aloud that he realises how angry he is. He cares about Derek. He has done for a long time now. He trusts Derek in a way that he doesn’t trust anyone else and that’s not a recent thing. The reason he feels comfortable enough texting Derek all his deepest, darkest thoughts isn’t just because he thinks Derek will understand. It’s because he trusts Derek. Quiet, angry, hurting Derek who proved himself time and time again; who proved that despite all his faults, he would show up when it counted; would save and protect Stiles no matter what. He thought that maybe, just maybe, Derek trusted him too; that maybe Derek cared just a little bit; but then he left without so much as a goodbye or a forwarding address.

Stiles doesn’t know what else to say so he hangs up.

I should have said goodbye.

I wanted to but I wasn’t sure you would care.

Actually, that’s a lie. I think I knew that you, out of all people, would understand why I was leaving. I think I was just trying to avoid an honest conversation that I wasn’t ready for.

I’m sorry.

Thank you.

---

He doesn’t text Derek for about a week. He tells himself that it’s because he needs to invest more time into his studies and into his relationship with Lydia but he knows that’s a lie borne out of self-preservation.

In all honesty, he’s scared.

He hasn’t been scared of Derek for a long time. He’s been scared for Derek and whilst around Derek, both of which are common feelings considering Derek seems to have an annoyingly persistent habit of getting into life threatening danger.

He’s scared now though because Derek can be awfully perceptive when he wants to be. Derek also happens to understand him more than most other people these days, which is why Stiles has been messaging him in the first place. If Derek was really listening – and Stiles thinks that he was – then he’s revealed just a little bit too much about his feelings.

Stiles has always found Derek attractive. Even when Derek was threatening to rip his throat out or pushing his head into a steering wheel, he’s been very aware that Derek is more attractive than most people in Beacon Hills combined. Stiles has eyes after all. He’s sure that Derek is aware of it; that he’s smelt the arousal that seems to follow Stiles everywhere he goes, particularly where Derek is involved. Derek, to his credit, has politely ignored the attraction rather than acknowledging it and causing never ending humiliation.

Somewhere along the way, things shifted. The more time Stiles spent around Derek, the more he realised that Derek wasn’t just a pretty face. He had been through hell and somehow still survived but it was more than that. Weaker men would have crumbled if they had gone through half as much pain as Derek but he came through it all and somehow, he still cared about people. He turned Isaac, Erica and Boyd because he was lonely but also because he thought he was giving them a better life. He showed up, time and time again, even when he didn’t have to. Even though he said that he didn’t, he knew that Derek trusted him. Derek’s actions spoke far louder than his words and somewhere along the way, Stiles had proven himself to Derek. The threats and the violence had been replaced with an understanding that they had each other’s backs.

When he went to Derek’s apartment and found it empty, he had realised. Things had just clicked into place and he knew that his physical attraction to Derek had grown into something deeper and stronger. It was a secret that Stiles had intended to take to his grave. He had shoved it into the far corners of his mind and pretended that he wasn’t bothered by Derek’s absence; he had dated Malia and then Lydia and acted like everything was fine.

He had never talked about it so when those words tumbled out of his mouth, the anger and the frustration and the hurt feelings were still so fresh. Derek is smart enough to put the pieces together and realise that there’s something more there, at least on Stiles’ end.

So yeah, he’s scared. He’s not scared that Derek won’t reciprocate his feelings because he already knows that Derek doesn’t feel the same. He’s terrified that he’ll lose Derek completely and he doesn’t know how he’ll be able to handle it.

It’s pathetic but he’s felt more human over the last few months than he has since Derek left. He isn’t ready to lose that.

--- He and Lydia break up during the week that he’s ignoring Derek.

They manage to have a Face Time conversation and about three minutes in, she tells him he looks like complete crap. He tells her that he’s struggling with the distance, that after everything, he just isn’t ready to come back to Beacon Hills and she’s far too valuable to travel to him and leave the town unprotected.

Lydia doesn’t even look surprised and she’s polite enough not to call him on his bullshit.

“It’s better that we end it now. I’ve received an early acceptance to the University of Cambridge so in the near future, we’ll be on different continents”, she says in agreement.

There’s a lot left unsaid. They’re both aware that Stiles is no longer the same person he was in third grade, when he decided that he was going to be in love with Lydia Martin forever. They’ve both lost people and gone through more trauma than most people see in a lifetime. Rather than growing together, they grew apart. Stiles knows that a lot of the responsibility for that rests on his shoulders; that he should have worked through his issues with Lydia, that he should have trusted her with the burden he was carrying.

He was just so in love with the idea of Lydia; so desperate to have the perfect relationship that he had been dreaming of for years that he refused to share his darkness out of fear that it would taint everything.

He ignores the voice telling him that Derek Hale has already seen him at his worst and seems to tolerate him regardless.

--- For someone who once thought that Lydia Martin shined brighter than the sun, he’s remarkably okay with their breakup.

Scott texts him for the first time in weeks, a simple

heard the news. Hope you’re okay.

He replies with a smiley face. He doesn’t think there’s much else to say. He and Scott will always be brothers but they’re living different lives now.

After a particularly sleepless night, he texts Derek. He figures that if Derek was going to make a scene over Stiles’ little crush, he would have done it already.

Would your arm have grown back?

Do you think about that a lot?

I’ve done a lot of research and can’t seem to find the answer.                       

We aren’t related to starfish. I’m 99% sure I’d have ended up with a stump.

--- He gets to know Derek a lot better over text.

Breaking Bad or Walking Dead?

Is that even a question, bitch?

Summer or winter?

Winter. I remember learning how to snowboard when I was younger. My family had a lodge.

Favourite Harry Potter character?

George Weasley or Sirius Black. Ten minutes later, his iPhone indicates that Derek is still typing a message. It’s worth the wait when Derek practically sends an essay about why he likes each character. That leads to a three hour phone call about why Severus Snape is a bad person. Stiles falls asleep while Derek is ranting about the scene in the movie where Severus steps over James Potter’s dead body to see Lily.

The fact that Derek’s a secret Harry Potter fanatic makes him way happier than he should be.

 --- Late at night, their text messages grow more serious.

Worst relationship?

I don’t think I’ve had any truly terrible relationships. I haven’t really been heartbroken or betrayed. I think I’ve been a bad boyfriend though. Both Lydia and Malia deserve better.

You weren’t heartbroken over Lydia?

Not really. I was more in love with the idea of her.

That’s how I feel about Kate.

He doesn’t reply; chooses to call Derek instead. It’s 2am and for the first time ever, Derek tells another person what happened with Kate Argent. Stiles had put most of the pieces together a long time ago but hearing Derek tell the story is the most horrific thing Stiles has ever heard. The police reports had noted that Derek, Laura and Peter were the only survivors; that Derek’s mother and father, his grandmother, three younger siblings, and four cousins of various ages had all perished in the fire.

Derek’s voice doesn’t waver as he tells Stiles that Kate had seduced him; that he had told Kate all about his family; that he had mentioned a family gathering that he wanted her to attend. He tells Stiles that he came home from lacrosse practice to see his family home burning to the ground.

Stiles only utters four words that night but repeats them like a mantra until Derek’s breathing evens out and he drifts off to sleep.

It wasn’t your fault.

--- Did you love Jennifer?

No. I think I could have in time but we both know how that ended.

Why did you believe me when I told you she was evil?

Because it’s you. You’re one of the only people that hasn’t lied to me. That earned you a little bit of faith.

Did you love Brayden?

No. I think I wanted to show the world that I had survived Kate and Jennifer and didn’t have any emotional wounds. I think most people would call that a rebound relationship.

Do you think you could fall in love again?

Stiles waits for an excruciating seven minutes before Derek replies.

Yes.

 --- I tried to tell my dad that I was bisexual once. I think he thought I was joking.

I never got to tell any of my family that I’m bisexual. After the fire, Laura and I moved to New York. I wanted to tell her but I couldn’t find the words. I couldn’t find the words about Kate either. I like to think that she knew anyway and loved me regardless.

I’m sorry I accused you of her murder. That was really fucked up.

---

 I was never really going to rip out your throat with my teeth.

I know.

It was easier to just be angrier all the time. Anger is easier to manage than grief.

Was easier? Are you not angry anymore?

I’m still angry but it’s not the only thing I feel anymore. These messages help. So does therapy.

Derek Hale in therapy? I never thought I’d see the day! In all seriousness, I’ve thought about therapy a lot. I went after my mum died and it helped a little bit. I just don’t know where I’d find a therapist who knows about the supernatural.

Derek texts him a phone number for a counsellor about fifteen minutes off campus. He doesn’t ask Derek how he knew what college he was at.

 --- Peter offered me the bite once.

I didn’t know. I’m glad you didn’t take it?

Because I’d be a terrible werewolf?

Because no one should be connected to Peter in that way. I think you’d make an excellent werewolf. Far better than Scott.

 --- Have you seen the latest episode of Game of Thrones?

He calls Derek and they talk for hours. He almost hangs up the phone when Derek tells him that he doesn’t understand the appeal of Jon Snow but he likes the sound of Derek’s voice far too much.

 --- On April 8th, he gets sent a photo of a cheesy card wishing him many happy returns.

Happy 18th birthday, Stiles.

He sends Derek a photo of his face with his widest grin. He didn’t even know that Derek knew his birthday.

When’s your birthday?

11th July.

And how old are you going to be? I vaguely remember starting at Beacon Hills high as you were getting to graduate but then when we saw you in the woods, you looked like you were 80.

I’m only four years older than you, Stiles. I’ll be turning 22 but I haven’t celebrated in years.

But if someone wanted to hypothetically post you a card and a present, where would they send it?

Derek sends him an address in New York City. Stiles doesn’t need to ask; he instinctively knows that this is the apartment that Derek and Laura lived in before her death.

 --- Do you think you’ll ever go back to Beacon Hills?

Not unless it’s an emergency. I was supposed to go back with Laura when we heard about the killings in our territory but I told her that I wasn’t ready. I made her go alone.

It wasn’t your fault.

 --- Stiles can’t sleep. He Face Times Derek and pesters him until he finally agrees to start watching Parks and Recreation.

Stiles has the same episode playing on his laptop but he finds himself paying more attention to Derek’s face than the episode. He’s never seen Derek laugh before and the sight of him chuckling is mesmerizing.

It becomes a regular thing. Derek watches something on Netflix; Stiles watches Derek.

 --- I hope you fall in love with someone who loves you as much as I do.

Stiles should not be allowed access to his phone while under the influence of alcohol. He texts Derek that exact sentiment the next morning but Derek doesn’t respond.

 --- He doesn’t hear from Derek again.

 --- I’m really sorry, Derek.

I shouldn’t have made things awkward between us.

Your friendship is more than enough, I swear. I’m not going to push for something that you don’t want.

 --- None of his messages elicit a reply and god, it hurts like a fucking bitch. He thinks he finally knows what it’s like to have a broken heart.

 ---

He receives a text from Lydia.

A little bird told me that Derek Hale is currently moping in New York City.

Peter?

Cora.

I didn’t realise you were in contact with Cora. Hell, I didn’t realise that Cora was in contact with Derek.

Of course I’m in contact with Cora. She’s a useful contact. As for her contact with Derek, that’s only a recent development. Their pack bond still exists in some form; she reached out when she realised that something didn’t feel right.

What am I supposed to do about Derek moping? It’s kind of his thing.

Check your email.

There’s an email from Lydia. It’s a forward from a travel agent, confirming that a flight for a Mr. M. Stilinski has been booked for this Saturday.

He doesn’t know what to say. It turns out he was right about Lydia Martin – when she cares about someone, she shows it in materialistic gestures. This might be the greatest gesture that she’s ever done.

 --- Stiles can barely sit still during the flight to New York City. He’s terrified that Derek will slam the door in his face but he knows that if he doesn’t try, he’ll regret it.

The cab ride to Derek’s apartment takes an eternity. He almost forgets to grab his bag in his rush to get out of the cab and forces himself to take a deep breath; to slow down just a little.

He mentions to get into the building without buzzing, darting through an open door as one of the tenants leave the building. Before he got on the flight, Lydia had texted him the apartment number, and his hands shake as he knocks on the door.

“Stiles?” Derek’s voice sounds even better in person. “What are you doing here?”

“You didn’t reply to my texts”, he says like it’s just that simple. In his eyes, it is.

It seems like it might be just that simple to Derek too because he grabs him and pulls him close. Before Stiles can protest about being manhandled, Derek’s lips are against his and the words die on his tongue.

 ---

“Why didn’t you reply?” he asks a few hours later. He and Derek had eventually made it to the bedroom and it was everything Stiles had imagined and more. It was worth forgoing the conversation but Stiles couldn’t ignore the obvious for much longer.

“I panicked. Over text, it was easy. I could say whatever I wanted and not worry about the repercussions. The thought of it becoming something more was terrifying, Stiles. You know my relationship history”.

“And you know that I’m not like any of them”.

Derek nods in agreement. “You’re not like them. You’re more than them. You already mean more. I wanted to be in a better place before giving this a chance”.

“That’s why you’re in therapy?”

“Yeah. I’ve been considering it for a long time but that night when you yelled at me for leaving without goodbye was the final push I needed”, Derek explains. “I’m still not completely there. There are still things we need to talk about and things that will require a lot more therapy but I’m in a place to give this a chance, if you still want to”.

“If I hadn’t have shown up on your doorstep, what would have happened?”

Wordlessly, Derek passed Stiles his phone. The draft messages are illuminated on the screen and Stiles scrolls through them. There’s countless messages, dating back at least two weeks, and they’re all different versions of an apology; of an explanation. Even if Stiles hadn’t shown up on his doorstep; Derek was trying. Derek has proven himself time and time again; Stiles knows that he would eventually have sent a message explaining everything.

“I still love you and I’m all in”.

 --- Stiles calls the university the next morning and defers his enrolment.

University can wait. Right now, he and Derek have a lot to work through, both individually and together. Stiles hopes that if things go well, he can transfer his studies to a university in the city. Based on the course catalogues he finds in Derek’s study, he thinks that they’re on the same page.

-- He has seven missed calls from Scott and twelve text messages, all urging him to come back to Beacon Hills.

There are three messages from Malia, stating that he needs to get his ass into gear and help them out.

There’s even a text from Lydia, saying that she wouldn’t be asking if it wasn’t serious.

He looks over at Derek, who looks more relaxed and happy than he has in a long time. “Shit’s going down in Beacon Hills. They need me to save their asses”. He wants Derek to come with him but doesn’t want to ask; doesn’t want to be responsible for Derek’s shoulders growing tense as he heads back to the town that took everything from him. “I shouldn’t be gone for more than a week”, he says as he’s packing a duffel bag and throwing it into the back of Derek’s Camaro.  

“That’s what Laura said”.

There is no other explanation; nothing else that needs to be said. A second duffel bag is tossed into the back of the Camaro and Derek gets into the passenger seat like he belongs there.

Turns out he didn’t need to ask. Maybe Derek needs him just as much as he needs Derek. After all this time, it’s a nice thought. It helps keep the darkness at bay; helps Stiles feel just a little more grounded than he has done in a long time.

---

“You didn’t think you were doing this without me?”

“Without us?”

Yeah, it feels pretty damn good that they’re an ‘us’ now.

[panharmonium]

i see teen wolf decided to go whole hog on the ‘romantic relationships that appear out of nowhere and have zero prior foundation’ subplots

[maskthesimp]

I watched it and it was almost a waste of my fuckin Paramount+ subscription. I hated it so much. It was so...unnecessary. it was just season 3 but in reverse and with bad writing and arguably even worse effects. Only redeemable thing about it was Eli, and even that's debatable BECAUSE WHERE DID HE COME FROM? WHO WAS HIS MOTHER??? WHERE DID BRAYDEN GO?? AND WHY DID DEREK--!?!? [SPOILERS]

Okay...I'm fine.

I hate that movie so much XD brings out the worst in me istg. Also, Mason and Liam didn't even interact in the movie which is a fucking crime.

Idek where the War went...or where Alec went. Where tf did he go? He was there before. And now we probably won't go back in time if we get another movie or season to see wtf happened to him. Did Scott fail to protect him? Why is everyone split up? We saw them together in s6 and got no explanation for why they were apart.

Wtf happened to Scott and Malia? I despised their relationship like a wart on my foot. It was unnecessary, happened out of nowhere, and they had no chemistry or reason to be together, but there wasn't even an explanation! I suppose I won't complain since it means they're done....BUT WHY WITH PARRISH NOW? Look. I love Parrish. He's awesome. He's one of my favourite Supernaturals but come the fuck on...there is no reason for Malia to be with him. Even when Shelley Hennig and Ryan Kelley saw the fact they had to kiss, they texted each other like "Oh my god NOOOO".

I don't even like Stydia (I'm a Stalia girly through and through), but that was kind of a lame reason to break them up. It would have made more sense for it to be like "Oh we just worked better as a friendship duo. The relationship put too much strain on stuff, so we broke it off years ago." I'm still mad about how they ended Stalia, btw. He walked out of the car over a disagreement, and that constitutes a break-up??? In what world is that breaking up??? They were so cute for each other! Pretty sure they were the only couple to last a full season too, other than maybe Scott and Allison in season 2, but that's debatable since she turned on them at some point.

If Malia and Stiles can stay together after he hid the identity of her father from her and they don't talk for like a week, then they can stay together over him killing in self defence, and her siding with him over his own guilt. LIKE BRO SHE WASN'T DISAGREEING WITH YOU, SHE WAS SAYING SHE SUPPORTED YOU REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU DID! SHE KILLED HER OWN FAMILY, TRUST ME, SHE KNOWS HOW IT FEELS!

Honestly, I'm livid they neglected the creatures. They hinted at so many as well. We never saw a full Kanima, and we never saw the...Dragon thingie or whatever it was. Remember that guy Liam and Hayden met with the wings that were cut off? That guy. What even was he? There are so many things they could have done. Kelpie, Hydra, Werebear, Gorgon, Vampire, Ghosts, and Minotaurs, etc. They could have gone full Percy Jackson with that shit but they just gave us tiny sprinkles because they ran out of creative juices I suppose.

Honestly, same. I made this plot in my head, also half-baked, that could have given them another season, which introduced Dragons and entirely separate culture with several subspecies of weredragons from different cultures. I wrote a few chapters on Wattpad but I haven't touched it in over a year XD

okay so can we talk about how dirty they did theo??? not even the whole thiam thing (which totally should have happened, you can fight me on that).

but like the hellscape they sent him to?? like I know he killed people. but so did Peter. so did Chris. so did Jackson. and yeah Jackson in particular had extenuating circumstances. but you're telling me theo didn't?? like he was kidnapped, experimented on, and raised by literal sociopaths from the age of what?? 9?? he probably spent years trying to make friends with the other chimeras before they became failures and died!!

the Dread Doctors mess with people's minds and memories on MULTIPLE occasions and you expect me to believe that that little child maliciously pushed his big sister to her death?? for what?? no, I refuse. I refuse to believe that a nine year old child (in their right mind) decided to murder their older sibling. no. either the Dread Doctors fucked with him like they did Tracy or they killed Tara and made Theo believe it was him.

I also refuse to believe that that was actually Tara that dragged him to hell. no matter what the dessert fox ladies said. I firmly and immovably believe that that was Theo's own creation. that his subconscious believed that this is what he deserved for what happened to Tara. that his own guilt was literally trying to rip him apart.

I acknowledge that without the hellscape Theo would not have been the Theo that anyone would even want around. but I am thoroughly mad about the hypocrisy on everyone involved's part.

The only reason they punished Theo is because he almost beat them. Stiles HATED Theo because he outsmarted him. Malia hated Theo because he tricked her. Liam hated him because he used his own mind against. Scott hated Theo because Theo managed to rip his pack apart and actually killed him. (I will make an exception to the hypocrisy on Malia's part cuz that is actually on brand for her.)

And again he did kill people, but his eyes are still gold/yellow. he never killed an innocent. not like Peter or Chris or Jackson or other characters I am forgetting (leaving out Malia and Derek cuz Malia's was her mom's fault and Derek's was Peter's fault, technically Jackson's was not his fault but the point stands) oh like Deucalion and his alpha pack.

and if someone says that his eyes don't change color bcuz he is a chimera, maybe. just maybe. but can you name someone he killed that had not already killed someone (besides Scott and that is iffy)

i will retract any of the above points if feasible contradicting evidence is found. I am also very, very open to discussions about and additions to my argument.

[incorrectmulti]

Brayden Schenn: Schwartzy, you can’t live in denial.

Jaden Schwartz: Yes, I can and you can’t stop me!

[grandvhs]

lista de nomes masculinos que estava no meu bloco de notas e eu só lembrei agora

starting with A ;;

aaron.

adair.

adam.

aiden.

ajax.

alec.

alfie.

allistar.

anderson.

andrew.

andy.

angus.

antonio.

anthony.

archer.

archibald.

archie.

aries.

arlo.

arthur.

ashley.

ashton.

austen.

avery.

axel.

starting with B ;;

bailey.

beau.

beckham.

beckett.

bellamy.

benjamin.

bennett.

bentley.

blade.

blake.

blaine.

blaise.

blue.

bobbie.

bodhi.

brad.

brandon.

braxton.

brayden.

brent.

brett.

brock.

brody.

brooke.

bryson.

starting with C ;;

caleb.

callum.

calvin.

cameron.

carlisle.

carlos.

carson.

carter.

casey.

chad.

chandler.

charlie.

chase.

chaz.

christian.

christopher.

cody.

colby.

cole.

cooper.

colton.

connor.

conrad.

corbin.

corey.

starting with D ;;

dakota.

dallas.

damien.

damon.

dante.

darian.

darron.

darryl.

david.

dawson.

declan.

demetri.

dennison.

denver.

derek.

diego.

diesel.

dimitri.

dixon.

dominic.

donovan.

drake.

drew.

dustin.

dwayne.

starting with E ;;

eason.

eaton.

eddy.

edmund.

edward.

elijah.

elior.

ellias.

elliot.

ellis.

elyas.

ember.

emerson.

emery.

emilio.

emmett.

enzo.

eric.

ernie.

ethan.

ethaniel.

evan.

everett.

everson.

ezar.

starting with F ;;

fabio.

fallon.

farah.

felix.

fernando.

ferris.

felton.

finn.

finnegan.

finnick.

fitz.

fitzgerald.

fletcher.

floyd.

flynn.

foley.

forest.

francisco.

franco.

frankie.

franklin.

fraser.

frasier.

freddie.

fredrik.

starting with G ;;

gabe.

gabriel.

gale.

gallagher.

garcia.

gareth.

garrett.

gary.

gavin.

gene.

george.

gerard.

gilbert.

giovanni.

glenn.

gordon.

grady.

graeme.

grant.

greggory.

gregor.

greyson.

griffin.

gus.

guy.

starting with H ;;

hadley.

hale.

haley.

hamilton.

hamish.

hansel.

harley.

harris.

harrison.

harry.

harvey.

haven.

hayes.

heath.

hector.

hendrix.

henrik.

henry.

holton.

howard.

hudson.

hugh.

hugo.

hunter.

hyde.

starting with I ;;

ian.

ibrahim.

icarius.

idris.

igor.

iman.

immanuel.

imran.

indi.

indiana.

indigo.

indra.

inrique.

irwin.

isaak.

isaiah.

isaias.

ishmael.

isobell.

israel.

ivan.

ivey.

ivor.

ivory.

izzy.

starting with J ;;

jack.

jacob.

jagger.

jai.

james.

jamie.

jason.

jaspar.

jaxon.

jaydon.

jed.

jeremy.

jesse.

jett.

joel.

jameson.

jonathon.

jordan.

jose.

joseph.

joshua.

jude.

julian.

junior.

justin.

starting with K ;;

kade.

kai.

kalen.

kameron.

kane.

kasey.

kayden.

keaton.

keegan.

keenan.

kellan.

kendall.

kendrick.

kevin.

khalil.

kian.

kiefer.

kieran.

kingsley.

kingston.

klaus.

kohen.

konrad.

kristoff.

kyle.

starting with L ;;

lachlan.

lamar.

lambert.

lance.

landon.

langston.

lawrence.

lawson.

leeroy.

lennon.

leo.

leonardo.

levi.

lewis.

liam.

lincoln.

lionel.

logan.

lorenzo.

louis.

luca.

lucas.

lucky.

lucis.

luke.

starting with M ;;

mackenzie.

madden.

maddox.

malaki.

malcolm.

manuel.

marco.

marcus.

marley.

marshall.

martin.

mason.

matteo.

matthew.

max.

micah.

michael.

miguel.

mike.

miles.

miller.

milo.

mitchell.

morgan.

moses

starting with N ;;

nadir.

naiser.

nasir.

nate.

nathan.

nathaniel.

naveen.

naydon.

ned.

nico.

neil.

nelson.

nero.

nicholai.

nicholas.

nila.

niles.

nixon.

noah.

noel.

nolan.

norman.

north.

nylan.

nyle.

starting with O ;;

oakley.

ocean.

octavius.

odell.

olaf.

oliver.

ollie.

omar.

omari.

orion.

orlando.

osborn.

oscar.

o’shea.

osten.

oswald.

otis.

otto.

owen.

oxley.

starting with P ;;

pablo.

page.

palmer.

parker.

parrish.

patrick.

paul.

paulo.

pax.

paxton.

payton.

penn.

percy.

perry.

peter.

phineas.

phoenix.

pierce.

pierre.

prescott.

presley.

preston.

prince.

princeton.

puck.

starting with Q ;;

qadim.

qadir.

quain.

quenby.

quill.

quimby.

quincy.

quinn.

quinten.

starting with R ;;

randy.

raymond.

reese.

reid.

remy.

reuben.

rhett.

rhys.

richard.

richie.

ricky.

riley.

robert.

robin.

roger.

roman.

romeo.

ronan.

ronnie.

ross.

rowen.

ryan.

ryder.

ryker.

rylan.

starting with S ;;

sage.

sailor.

salem.

samson.

samuel.

sascha.

sawyer.

saxon.

scott.

sean.

sebastian.

seth.

shane.

shiloh.

simon.

sinclair.

skyler.

sonny.

spencer.

stanley.

stefan.

steven.

stevie.

storm.

sullivan.

starting with T ;;

tamir.

tanner.

tate/tait.

tatum.

taylor.

teddy.

theo.

thomas.

timothy.

tobias.

toby.

todd.

tommy.

tory.

trace.

travis.

trent.

trevor.

trey.

tristan.

troye.

tucker.

tyler.

tyrone.

tyson.

starting with U ;;

umair.

umar.

urien.

usama.

starting with V ;;

valentine.

valentino.

vance.

vaughn.

victor.

vincent.

vinn.

vinnie.

vladimir.

starting with W ;;

wade.

walden.

wallace.

walter.

warner.

warren.

warrick.

waylan.

wayne.

wendall.

wes.

wesley.

west.

whitley.

wilbert.

william.

willis.

wilmer.

windsor.

winslow.

winston.

wolf.

wren.

wyatt.

wynter.

starting with X ;;

xachary.

xan.

xander.

xavier.

xeno.

ximen.

xylon.

starting with Y ;;

yahto.

yakub.

yasin.

yasi.

york.

ysrael.

yuri.

yusef.

starting with Z ;;

zachary.

zahir.

zander.

zane.

zavier.

zed.

zeke.

zion.

zolten.

[chcrliehunnam]

Matt Lanter & Shelley Hennig Manip.

[lostlabyrinths]

HADN'T HEARD FROM DEREK IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. that was all it took for that sick, twisted feeling ever-brewing in scott's stomach to turn into pure panic. derek hale was an elusive guy. ever since the first time scott met him, he could disappear in a blink. he'd gone on weeks not responding to any of scott's (numerous) texts, only to emerge a month later with a new scar and an 'ok'. no, derek tended to weave in and out of communication as he pleased, and that alone was nothing out of the ordinary. a regular tuesday, even. it was that scott's MOM had told him that. who had been one of the first people eli went to when he first started to worry about where his dad had gone. derek was a great, many things --- even some of the things scott regrets saying to him as a teenager --- but he was a good father. a great one, even, and scott knew, just like he knew derek hated puns and recently bitten werewolves with too many questions, that he would NEVER leave his son without a word. that meant derek was taken. and just like that, beacon hills pulled him back in. well, not the town exactly, as he was currently halfway across the state when he hit his first speed bump in the spiral. the bar he'd been directed to had a rotating schedule. the barkeep the night derek was PROBABLY here last wasn't due to clock in for another hour (and he was usually late, apparently), which left scott mccall, veterinarian on pto, drinking alone at a place simply called 'BAR'. it's about the sixtieth time he's looked up to check the clock, and about fifteen or so minutes have gone by when he hears his name being called across the bar. before he can really even process that HE KNOWS THAT VOICE, WHERE DOES HE KNOW THAT VOICE? he's met with the short, cropped hair of a friend he hasn't seen in a very long time. " malia? " it is, undeniably, but he still finds his own shocked mouth asking that question. he goes in for a short, surprised hug when she walks closer and leans back still smiling. " did not expect to see you out here. " and that was true. for a variety of reasons, one of which being he hadn't expected old, unresolved issues to be scratching at their mental coffins at the very sight of his old high school crew. rather than go THERE, a place they've stealithy avoided for years, he pretends he's not thinking of anything other than coincidence. " lemme guess, you also asked brayden? "

@lostlabyrinths gets a plotted starter for scott 💙

one conversation with eli and malia felt like she was right back in high school chasing after one supernatural nightmare worse than the other. even after all this time and finding herself again and travelling the world, all it took for her to feel trapped in this mindspace was the kid mentioning that derek had been missing for a couple of days. . . why didn't he think to come to her sooner? didn't matter now, what mattered was finding out where derek had been because he sure as hell would never leave his own son behind on purpose, or at least not like that. total radio silence, no heads up.

she took off in the middle of the night to follow up on a tip she got from an old friend, or at least a starting point of this bar in the middle of nowhere were derek apparently was spotted for the last time before his disappearing. to her surprise, she wasn't the only one who heard about derek's vanishing. at the counter of the bar she spotted someone she once used to be very familiar with, someone she didn't speak to in what felt eternity. “ scott? what are you doing here? ” she asked while she gave the bartender a sign to bring her a drink. on one side she was glad that she ran into him because it made finding derek a whole lot easier but on the other, she wished it would be ANYONE ELSE from the past she ran into tonight. there were a lot of thing unspoken about between the pair she did not feel like bringing up tonight, or at least not in a sober state.