1,007Big Bad
Chapter 30
Derek could feel Stiles trembling, his entire body shaking, such was his unmitigated rage that could not be contained. He had been worried about such a reaction, but Stiles knew himself better than anyone else, so he'd trusted that he could get through this. He was so used to doing everything himself, to burying his own wants and needs, trudging on as he did, focusing on the more immediate needs. Uncaring of Scott's actions and reactions, he turned Stiles into him and hugged him tightly, giving him someone to lean on.
Someone to fight in his corner for a change.
"What do you need?" Derek murmured quietly into the nape of Stiles neck, tickling the teen with his days old bristle, causing him to shiver at the feel of it rasping against his neck. "Whatever you need." He added, making sure he knew what happened next was up to him, nobody else, not even Melissa or McCall. Just waiting for him to give the go ahead, for them to leave, and he'd pave the way.
"Who are you?" Scott asked, his tone bordering on hostile, staring at the leather clad guy practically pawing at his best friend like he was a piece of meat. Envy surging through him, immediately disliking him on principle, who needed to paw at someone like that? It was obscene, absolutely no need for it at all.
Stiles growled in sheer annoyance at the way Scott sounded that question out. How dare he think he had a right to ask those kinds of questions? He'd lost that right a long time ago, even if he couldn't remember any of it, Stiles could. He wasn't one for letting slights go, especially against people he cared about.
"My name is Derek Hale," the werewolf explained disinterestedly, clearly Melissa didn't remember the supernatural, otherwise she would have asked if they had a way to help him or bite him again depending on how much Scott even told her. "Stiles is my…" pausing briefly, they hadn't discussed anything, and truth be told, they hadn't been on their first date yet.
Which reminded him, if Melissa and Scott no longer remembered the supernatural…did that mean Stiles father no longer remembered anything supernatural? Or was the fact Stiles being magical the thing that stayed Harry's hand in wiping his memories?
"Boyfriend," Stiles declared, straightening up, eyes dimming, resigned coldness suffusing him, his decision made.
"You're gay?" Scott questioned, laughing a little, shaking his head, "Don't kid around, Stiles, I think we'd know." He was nothing like Danny, and all gay people were exactly the same. Stiles was nothing like that, no, Stiles was just messing around with him.
"I am," Stiles replied, taking strength in Derek beside him, it was an odd feeling, having someone siding fully with him. Lately Derek had become his…anchor, not in the werewolf sense, but his lodestar, the rock he needed to ground him. It hadn't just been today, but lately, he couldn't pinpoint an exact moment. "We?" he added sarcastically, like either of them had known what they wanted a few years ago. Both of them had been ignored, bullied and invisible.
"Why haven't you come before now?" Scott asked, head cocked adorably, or it would have been when they were younger, and not when Scott was in dire need of a shave and too old for that teenage naïve look to have any effect whatsoever. "Were you grounded?" it was the only reason Scott could figure out as to why his best friend wasn't at his side. Every single time he ended up in hospital, Stiles was, without fail, always at his side. To commiserate, to cheer him up and generally just be the best friend ever. Come to think of it, if he ended up in hospital while Stiles was grounded, he came anyway. His dad would let him off early with the worry and all.
"No, I wasn't grounded," Stiles replied, surprised to feel utterly detached, staring at him he felt no rage nor sadness. Resignation was truly the only emotion he felt sitting within his heart for Scott. That anger had gone just as quickly as it came. If he didn't know any better, he would have thought Derek had drained that rage from him like one drained pain.
"Were you on holiday?" Scott wrinkled his brow trying to figure out why Stiles was being so quiet, his stillness, his silence was completely out of character. He'd have taken his complete disregard and sarcasm instead of this creature that stood before him right now. Watching him move towards the chair and set it further from the bed - and not closer – before sitting. Why was he sitting so far away? Who was this stranger wearing Stiles face?
Derek pursed his lips, once again reminded just how much an idiot this boy was. Did he have absolute zero situational awareness? Then again, he had proven time and again he did not. All those extra senses he'd had gone to waste, luckily for everyone, he was no longer a danger to the supernatural world or himself. It simply amazed him that this boy had managed to become an alpha. No, not managed, manipulated, it was taking a lot of getting used to the new order of information he now knew to be the truth.
"You know my father and I couldn't afford a holiday," Stiles retorted without any real heat, Scott knew how much they were burdened under with his mother's hospital bills, she'd been in for months, after she began to worsen under her illness. Truthfully, she should have been in long before then, but it was a week after she'd raised her hands to him again – tried to kill him – that his father had her put in full time hospital care. Although, he had every intention of giving his father money to pay off the bills within the next couple of weeks. He could make more magical items and make more money, that would never be a concern, he was making connections in the supernatural world. It thrilled him to the core.
"Oh, yeah," Scott said quietly.
Derek bit his tongue, he didn't even have the awareness to apologise for his callousness, how had Stiles remained friends with him so long? Stiles might have the understanding that came with age, but for Scott it wasn't that long since it happened if only in his own mind. Then again, nobody could deny Stiles was a vicious shit when provoked, however, he couldn't recall when Stiles was actually vicious to Scott without a reason. Even if that reason ultimately flew over Scott's head. Those times were usually dire, when Stiles was hurt, injured or in danger of losing his life.
Either that or he deliberately ignored it, neither one brought any comfort.
Scott pouted, "Where were you then?" glancing briefly at the man who still hadn't removed his hand from his best friend. As always, he had the expectations that his best friend would be with him at all times when he called.
"I was out with my friends and boyfriend," Stiles intoned, staring straight at Scott, or what felt like was straight though him.
"Friends?" Scott muttered, hurt splashing across his face, "Aren't we friends?" a plaintive whine in his voice. Jealousy, anger, rage, annoyance suffused Scott, he did not like the thought of Stiles having anyone else, especially other friends. Stiles was his.
Stiles was barely able to refrain from screaming at the teenager, he hated that this version of Scott didn't remember anything. There would be no point to shrieking the rafters in, even if it would feel good for a few moments. He'd just be left feeling guilty, and he hated the fact he knew he'd feel guilty. This was the old Scott that wasn't burdened by being a werewolf – thanks to his decision to go hunting for a body – he was young and innocent again, it was exactly what Scott had always wanted. Or he thought so until he lost his wolf and suddenly the reality wasn't as good as the dream.
It was difficult to tell how long Scott would live, his asthma was…bad. No treatment had worked well in the past, his lungs had constantly rattled before he became a werewolf. Stopping him from being fit, healthy, and leaving him hospital or bed bound for periods of time. He'd forgotten how bad it could be if he was honest.
"We're…acquaintances now, not friends," Stiles revealed, "Not best friends." Causing Scott irrevocably harm with just that one statement.
"Why? What happened?" so utterly painfilled hurt, a wounded look crossing his face. This couldn't be happening, he would never let that happen, Stiles was always supposed to be his best friend, they'd sworn to be brothers.
Stiles felt a deep tugging in his heart, a place where Scott still burrowed deeply into. Where a lonely little boy had found a friend, and they'd remained so for years before they were torn apart by differences by such callous disregard. He could keep that Scott as a part of him, love him as a brother, but hate who he had become. Rubbing his chest feeling a manifestation of that bond he had with his 'brother' pinging for a moment before he inhaled sharply, "We just grew apart." This was a gift of kindness he'd give Scott, the last thing he could do for him.
Scott rubbed his head, tears filling his eyes, what could have happened to them that they were no longer friends? They'd promised, they'd promised always to be brothers, best of friends, to not let anything tear them apart. "Why?" his voice choking with genuine emotion, he didn't want to lose him, was this…what did he say his name was? Derek Hale, was this Hale's doing? Had he forced Stiles to not be friends with him anymore?
Now it was getting awkward, Derek pondered on whether forgetting your memories had your body going through puberty again or if reversing the gift he'd spat in the face off, had made him more emotional. Then there might be the emotional manipulation, although, to be fair, Scott did seem genuine, but Derek would never take anything in the face of value when it came to Scott ever.
"We really should have gotten everything from Harry and Peter before coming here," Stiles practically mouthed the words, but Derek nevertheless heard them. It hadn't dawned on him until Melissa didn't even so much as raise the possibility of Scott being given the bite (again). Truth be told, Stiles didn't think getting the bite would return his memories (taking off the table his inability to be given he bite again from anyone in future thankfully).
The world was better off without Scott as a werewolf, even if it meant his death.
"Agreed," Derek murmured, a little louder but not enough for Scott to actually hear, but he was sitting there, eyes narrowed in on them suspicion wafting from him in droves. He refrained from groaning suspecting that he was likely going to come to some hellishly outlandish conclusion that would only serve to piss Stiles off.
"It doesn't matter what happened," Scott said dismissively, "We can be best friends again!" his sadness disappearing and his sunny disposition returning as if he considered the mattered settled.
"No, we cannot." Stiles stated firmly, he would never trust Scott again, and his life was going in a vastly different trajectory, he was going to be enmeshed in the supernatural world, whereas Scott…well, he might get into university to become a Veterinarian if he got his grades up. Scott would be at school for another few years at least anyway.
"What? Why?" Scott asked indignantly, his gaze turning to Derek as if he suspected him to be behind Stiles refusal. "I don't remember anything, so it's easy to forgive you for whatever happened!" he knew it would never be him turning Stiles away, he'd never do that.
"Bold of you to assume it was me," Stiles managed to grit out, the son of…inhaling sharply, succeeding in keeping his calm. Why the hell was he sitting here? He should have just turned around and left but then Scott would continue to torment him if he did not cut ties properly. "No, Scott, you got a girlfriend and pretty much ignored me, we grew distant, it's fine, it happens, I just wanted to come and see you, to tell you myself, at least until you get your memories back so you understand." Lying through his teeth since he knew from Harry that he would never regain his memories.
"I wouldn't do that," Scott uttered defensively, uneven jaw clenched, there was no way he would do as such.
"But you did," Stiles calmly refuted, staring straight at Scott.
"Then I had a reason," Scott declared firmly, glancing at Derek as he said it, before gazing at Stiles again, there was no way he'd give up on his friendship with Stiles for anything, even this mysterious girlfriend of his, or rather ex-girlfriend, since apparently, she'd left with her father the night of his accident. He didn't even have a photo of her, his phone and laptop were destroyed and missing respectively.
Stiles sighed, "You always do." A reason to leave him kidnapped in the hands of Gerard Argent while working with him, to leave him desperately trying to save Derek's life while he swanned off with Allison to get a damn bestiary. It would have always been the same, without fail, him trying to save them while Scott did whatever he liked.
There was always going to be someone or something to blame. It didn't bode well for Scott in the future.
"Do not," Scott answered.
Stiles stood up, shaking his head, bloody hell, he really shouldn't have come, but it was the end of the road, "Goodbye, Scott, I wish you nothing but the best." And he meant that, thinking of the Scott he'd known best, the Scott burrowed in his heart, the very same Scott he was right now, he had a rare second chance, hopefully he'd use it well.
He coaxed his magic into Scott, helping his lungs, it wouldn't make his Asthma disappear but it would make it more manageable.
"I'll always be here for you when you need me, Stiles, I promise, no matter how long it takes for you to see reason." Scott called out from the bed, eyes wide and begging for Stiles to take control of his own life, to stop Hale from controlling him. He had to be the reason, Stiles was just making up excuses, surely, they'd never abandon one another, they'd sworn to be brothers forever. Did Stiles' dad know what was happening? A hopeful pang suffused him, perhaps he could go speak to him, maybe he could save Stiles.
Stiles huffed out an incredulous laugh, turning to stare at Scott, he couldn't believe it, he really, really couldn't believe it. His mind mulled over his own memories, trying to figure out if he'd always been that way, and he'd been utterly blind to it. Yes, was the answer, he had been so utterly blind, Scott could never take responsibility for his own actions. He automatically sought to blame anyone else for his own actions. "How was I so blind?" shaking his head in sheer incredulity.
"See!" Scott said, perking up again, all sunshine and rainbows.
Derek snorted, "Fool," he really shouldn't insult him, Scott was nothing but a child in the body of an adult (barely an adult).
"Ha! You wanted to be his brother," Stiles taunted him, elbowing him from where they stood at the hospital doorway.
Derek grimaced, "Not one of my proudest moments." Truthfully, until lately, he hadn't made any real proud decisions, he'd been sinking like he had tonnes of weight strapped to his legs pulling him ever downward. He had never been taught to be an Alpha, never cared to be one either, he'd been content to be an Alpha, aware that his decisions led to deadly consequences. "But it did lead me here, to you." Stiffening a little, half expecting Stiles to give him a sarcastic quip or retort.
Stiles craned his head, staring up at Derek with a thoughtful look on his face, pondering on whether touch was Derek's love language or if vocalisation was closer to the truth. Both were easily understood by a werewolf, or should be, thinking of Kate Argent and how she'd tricked him. He did wonder about that, but didn't dare vocalise it. Derek already blamed himself for the tragedy enough without him prying into it. Something to ponder on later, right now he had to deal with Scott's latest bout of stupidity, honestly the idiot. "Nah, it was definitely when you told me I was trespassing." Lightly teasing him. However, before he could get lost in Derek's everythingness he was pulled out of his reverie much to his annoyance and it showed.
"Everything will be okay, my mum and your dad will make sure of it," Scott enthusiastically declared, he didn't dare move too much, his body despite the pain relief, was in such pain that he most times wished to be knocked out just to end it. The pain medicine barely took the agony of his shredded skin away. He wasn't going to mention the sponge bath, an attempt to wash out the debris in his skin and keep him from gaining an infection. Never again, if anyone came near him, he would not be responsible for his actions. He didn't care if he got an infection, he wasn't suffering through that again.
Stiles rubbed at his temples, how was it that one conversation with Scott could exhaust him so utterly? "You're so bloody infuriatingly exhausting!" he spat at Scott vexed.
Derek all but giggled, smacking his hand over his mouth, "You're sounding more and more like Harry every day," he chortled. That chortle became a laugh that he tried desperately to muffle at the look of shocked indignation crossing Scott's face at his 'so-called' best friend.
His pack. His family. His second chance.
"What?" Scott muttered offended, he really didn't like the way Stiles was speaking to him, he didn't deserve it.
"Derek isn't responsible for you or I not being friends anymore, get that through your thick skull. We merely grew apart, made new friends, and moved on." Stiles declared firmly but dispassionately. "No, we won't go back to the way we were. Too much time has passed for that, and too much has gone said and unsaid." He'd never trust Scott again, even without his memories, he would only just do the exact same thing without the supernatural aspect, which is kick him to the curb whenever – if ever – he got another girlfriend. Like he was going to put himself through that shit again, he had more self-respect than that. Not a whole load, but enough.
Scott tried to move, only to cry out in pain, stiffening up, utterly, his body shaking at the extent of the reminder of the pain he was under.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I'm about to go on my first date with my boyfriend," Stiles enunciated a few words just to get through to the idiot. Maybe that would get through to him that this wasn't a gigantic conspiracy that Derek was leading. Honestly, it was ridiculous, Scott had someone to blame for every single little thing.
Scott's uneven jaw wobbled as he stared at his best friend, feeling utterly wretched, he didn't know what he'd done to deserve his best friend abandoning him so. He wanted so badly to reach out, to drag Stiles closer to him, make him really see that he meant no harm he just wanted to be friends again. Whatever that happened couldn't be that bad, not enough to write off years of friendship. He wondered what Stiles had done that made him distance himself.
He never once considered that it was him, himself that was the problem.
"Are you alright?" Derek murmured quietly, easily keeping up with Stiles quick strides, as he attempted to flee the hospital as swiftly as possible. The elevator light was lit up, and a ding announced its presence on their level, fortuitous timing.
"No," Stiles confessed sourly, "There's so much I wanted to say, do," clenching his hands into fists, before pressing the button shifting closer to Derek knowing it's likely they'd be stopped on a few floors on the way down. He honestly wasn't sure how he felt right now.
"You can say all you wanted to say to him, to me." Derek suggested, "If you want you can use the punching bag I have at the loft." He'd stopped buying them because they got severely ruined. He was a werewolf, and they were nothing, at least until they'd been reinforced magically by Harry. It was fascinating, not even his claws seemed to make a dent in it. He had tried, it was actually part of the fun.
"Maybe," Stiles murmured, sagging against Derek, mentally drained.
"Do you want to head home?" Derek asked, wrapping his arm around him, ignoring the look he got from the couple that stepped into the elevator afterward.
"No," Stiles blurted out immediately, he wasn't going to give Derek any chance to take back his offer of a date. He wasn't going to let Scott ruin his life any further than he already had. "But I could use something to eat."
"There's a place that sells curly fries on the way to the cinema," Derek intoned, as more people entered the elevator, luckily for them, the next level was their own, someone was wearing a disgusting scented perfume. It was clogging up his nostrils, making him feel unpleasantly sick at the moment.
He moved a tad too fast when the elevator doors opened, but he honestly didn't care. Greedily inhaling fresh air, oh, that was much better, when Stiles joined him, both of them exited the hospital, leaving the scent of illness, bleach or disgusting body odour.
Less than a mile away from their location, a storm drain was wrenched open, and a half transformed Werecoyote emerged out, supernaturally blue eyes glowing with a feral intensity with a single goal in mind.
To get her revenge.
She didn't care about anyone that got in her way. She never had.
A/N – just to stop anyone taking the comment I wrote in Scott's mind about 'all gay guys being the same' it's not something I believe, and I know it not to be true, and I can't believe I'm having to write this but just because someone wrote it doesn't mean it's true or that they believe it to be so. There so that's that out of the way, will Stiles and Derek get their first date in before things all go to hell or will they not even get that peace?
ugh the only downside of wiping Scotts memory you can't really give him the what for, but Stiles still can scream everything from the rooftops i think I might do that :D would be fun heh! R&R please