I really need something to distract me from school, so let's hope this works out.
DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING.
Read, Review, and Enjoy!
The New World is just that: a new world.
A place where order and peace is nothing like it used to be.
Where humans are so sparse...they're distributed like rations.
Werewolves rule the streets, the cities, and the countries.
They posses authority over everything.
And the humans left...have no choice but to do as they're told.
That being to follow their master's orders...and to stay out of the way.
Amongst those few humans is one Genim Stilinski.
He's fresh; barely a month.
Already stripped from his parents, given the necessary shots and operations, and on his way to a wealthy family where he'll be taken care of and protected until he's old enough to be given orders.
The family?
The Hale Pack.
A northern California family. Not too quiet, not too involved, and has been vacant of a human for decades.
With more wealth than most of the world...the Hale back will be perfect for the puny child that will most likely cost more to take of than he's actually worth.
At least...that's how the officials see it.
"Is he here yet?" Laura demands impatiently and peeks into the window her parents stand in front of.
"No, Laura. Just be patient. Why don't you play with your brother?" Talia smiles, never tearing her eyes away from the white room behind the glass.
"Derek's boring." Laura sighs. "Daddy?"
"Yes, Laura?"
"What will he be like?"
"...he'll be great." Declan whispers and smiles at his daughter. "He'll be one of us."
"Declan." Talia whispers when a woman enters the white room with a bundle in her arms.
"Shh." the woman coos and places the bundle in the single wooden crib placed by the window.
"Daddy! I want to see!" Laura smiles.
"Oh..." Talia sighs and looks down at the boy wrapped in blue blankets.
He's still the hospital issued beanie, and his hands are covered in tiny sock like mittens.
His cheeks are pale, with almost perfect pink circles on his cheek bones. He's fast asleep, peacefully resting.
"He's...little." Laura mumbles in her father's arms.
"He's...very little." Declan agrees with a smile.
"He's perfect." Talia grins and looks up when the woman opens the door that leads to their room and waves them in.
"Derek, come on." Declan calls as they file in.
"Where?" the two year old asks as he hurries over to them.
"He's right here." Declan chuckles and lifts the boy onto his other hip.
"What's his name?" Laura asks and turns to the woman in the corner.
"We get to name him, sweetie." Talia explains and bends to run a finger over the boy's cheek.
"We do?" Derek asks and grins down at the baby.
"We're not naming him Dooly!" Laura growls when she notices the way her brother grins widely.
"Why?" the two year old demands and glares back.
"Your sister's right, Derek. We can't name him after a pet turtle." Declan chuckles.
"His parents had given him a name." the woman in the corner states softly.
"They had?" Talia asks in surprise and turns to the woman.
"Genim Stilinski. Genim after the Mother's Care Grandfather. Stilinski after the Father's Care Pack."
"Stilinski..." Declan sighs. "Brave pack. Extinct pack." he whispers and shakes his head.
"He was a descendant of great people." the woman agrees softly.
" I think...Genim is a pretty name." Laura mumbles and grins.
"Genim." Talia smiles and nods. "I love it."
"Welcome to the family...Genim Stilinski." Declan smiles.
"Hale." Talia states and looks at her husband. "Genim Stilinski-Hale."
"...he's pink." Derek suddenly states with a confused frown.
The room erupts in giggles and fond smiles.
Until Genim wakes up in a mess of soft whines.
His little mitten clad hands rub over his face as he opens his eyes and looks up at the strangers above his crib.
"Whoa..." Laura and Derek whisper in unison.
"Daddy..." Laura asks in confusion as they all stare at the little boy's eyes.
Molten Gold.
Sweet honey.
Almost the shade of a beta's right before they pass away.
His eyes...are unique.
They're brilliant and big, and the cutest thing Talia's ever seen.
Derek frowns when the baby suddenly starts squealing and grinning a gummy smile.
"He likes us." Talia chuckles.
"Yeah..." Declan sighs in relief.
The next few months are hell for the Hales.
Genim takes well to the members of their pack...but he's restless.
Even a pack of wolves can't keep the child entertained for long, and the Hale house is constantly filled with frustrated whines and fussy cries.
The children take to steering clear of the baby, and the adults have to make a chart with 'turn times' so that he never ends up sitting alone in a room because no one wants their ear drums to explode.
No one can keep him calm...that is until he learns to crawl.
And perhaps that's even worse than when he was stuck in one place.
Because suddenly, Genim is moving things, and disappearing, and getting stuck in places, and wandering off.
He never sits still for longer than a few minutes...and although he rarely ever cries anymore, he's still a whole world of trouble.
"Genim stop it!" Laura screams before a loud clattering filters through the home. "Mom!"
Declan chuckles and follows his wife up stairs.
"What do you think he did this time?" Talia asks as they walk towards their daughter's room.
"knocked her doll house over?" Declan whispers.
"Tipped her toy box?" Talia adds before opening the door.
"Daddy!" the five year old whines and points to the toddler grinning up at them.
Genim's sitting the in middle of the room, a small tub of paint in his hands and a large sketch pad at his feet.
Declan glances towards the corner and finds the plastic paint station knocked onto the floor.
"Genim..." Talia sighs and walks to the baby.
"Daddy, he ruined it!" Laura pouts as she picks the plastic stand up off the floor.
There's a painting attached to the clips.
what used to be...something...is now covered in tiny black streaks that can only be Genim's fingers tracks.
"No...he didn't." Declan mumbles awkwardly before dipping a finger into the tub of brown paint. "He helped. See?" Declan moves back to show his daughter the stick figures he'd made out of the streaks.
"What is that?" Laura asks before smiling as him.
"It's us! See? There's you. There's me and your mom. there's Derek. There's Cora-"
"What is that?" Laura giggles and points to the little dot with hands and legs.
"That's stiles!" Declan exclaims and grins when Laura laughs.
"Stiles! No!" Derek's voice filters through the room before a crash sounds. "Mom!"
"Oh no." Laura giggles.
"Oh no." Declan nods and stands.
"Mom?" at Three years old, Genim is puny.
He's pale, thin, and has eyes that are still a tad too big for his face.
his hair is buzzed short, because of the fact that he whines and fusses when it gets too long, and he's dressed in his usual superhero T-shirt and comfy pants.
"What is it, Genim?" Talia asks and looks down from the pot on the stove.
"Where's Derek?"
"He's at school, sweetie."
"Why?"
"He'll be back soon."
"When?"
"Soon."
"...where's Cora?"
"Taking a nap."
"Why?"
"Because she was all tired out from when we were at the park."
"...where's-"
"We're home!"
"Dad!" Genim shouts and runs out of the kitchen with a smile. "Derek!"
"Hey, kid!" Declan laughs and plucks the tiny child into his arms.
"Derek! Can we-"
"After homework, Genim." the older boy assures as he walks to the kitchen table.
"Why don't you help him?" Declan smiles and places Genim in a chair beside Derek. "What's for dinner?"
"Pasta...and a progress report." Talia sighs before handing her husband the fancy maroon colored envelope and thick piece of paper.
"Another? We just did one-"
"I know. But Genim's special. He's smaller, and he isn't exactly the healthiest, and...I don't know. I don't know why they're starting to come more frequently but...filling them out more often is better than them coming into our home and watching us."
"Genim's small, I understand that. And he isn't...completely normal. But that's just who he is. That isn't a reason for them to check up on him so much. He has a family to take care of him!"
"Declan...please. Just...fill it out."
"...what am I supposed to tell him this time?"
"That...it's for Laura's project. The family tree."
"he's going to start questioning all these pictures sooner or later."
"Let's hope it's later."
"Derek?" At five, Genim has become Stiles.
After one too many mispronouncings of his name on his first week of school, he'd come home furious, and demanding that everyone call him something else.
That something else had turned to be 'Stiles', in dedication to his original last name that'd been cut out of his history when they had registered the boy.
Stiles, at the time, hadn't understood the entire meaning, but had liked the name anyway.
And after that day, Genim was no more.
"What, Stiles?" Derek asks from his place at the kitchen table, doing his homework.
"Can we play?"
"I'm doing homework."
"After?"
"Stiles..."
Derek looks down at the boy.
He's no longer sickly pale or too skinny.
His eyes are still wide and bright, and his cheeks still a rosy pink, but he looks healthy.
"Stiles, why don't you help me with Dinner?" Talia asks as she walks into the room.
"Because..." Stiles pouts.
"I'm doing homework, Stiles."
"I'll wait."
"But I-"
"I'll wait." Stiles states and climbs up into the chair beside Derek.
"Okay..." Derek mumbles and returns to the task at hand.
At the kitchen Island, Talia flips through the mail and stops with a sigh when the familiar Maroon envelope appears in the middle of the stack.
"We're home!" a thirteen year old Derek shouts through the house and turns to his brother. "Go do your homework."
"You're not the boss of me." Stiles mutters as he walks towards the kitchen with a huff.
"Do it!" Derek calls out.
"Hey, baby bro." Laura greets her brothers with a smirk.
"Laura, don't you have somewhere to be?" Derek demands and glares when his sister mimics him.
"I'm making lunch."
"What are you making?" Stiles asks and pulls out his work form his bag.
"It's a surprise. Oh, that reminds me, Stiles, take your pills. We don't need any of your surprises."
"Funny." Stiles states sarcastically as he walks to the medicine cabinet and grabs the orange bottle from the shelf.
"Hey, it's not my fault you're weird." Laura teases with a smile. "I'm kidding."
"Yeah, you wish you could be as amazing as me."
"Yeah, that's it. I wish I was an eleven year old boy with ADD."
"ADD stands for Awesome Dysfunctional Dude." Stiles states as he swallows his pill.
"Only in your dreams." Derek scoffs and looks up from his homework.
"What happens in Stiles' dreams?" Peter asks and walks into the room while tossing his back pack onto the kitchen counter.
"Just the usual." Laura smiles.
"Oh." Peter nods and grins at the younger boy.
"You two think your so cool, just because you're in high school." Stiles glares.
"I'm sixteen, driving, and taken. I don't think I'm cool. I am cool." Peter smirks and winks at his cousin.
"Am I'm a freshman in Varsity Volleyball. I'm cool, Stiles." Laura smiles.
"Don't you people have homework to do?" Derek asks and raises an eyebrow at his family.
"Don't you have a life?" Peter demands and returns the gesture.
"No." Laura and Stiles scoff in unison.
"Funny." Derek Glares.
Stiles is eleven years old.
Sixth grade, still skinny, and as of recently, diagnosed with ADD.
The maroon envelopes still rush in at least every other month, and the Hales still love Stiles to death.
"Stiles I swear. If you're not downstairs in five minutes, you're walking your ass to practice!" Derek shouts and slams a fist against his younger brother's door.
"Would you hold on?!"
"I have work in half an hour!"
"Chill out!" Stiles shouts back. "Deaton won't kill you!"
"Just hurry up! I'm leaving in Four Minutes!"
Derek walks down the stairs to find Peter and Laura watching T.V in the living room.
"Taking forever?" Laura asks as he grabs his keys from the coffee table.
"As always." Derek sighs.
"Calm down. You have time."
"I have work."
"See, those words and that facial expression should never leave a sixteen year old boy." Peter sighs and looks up at his cousin.
"Yeah? Well I think those same words should be the only ones coming out of a nineteen year olds mouth but...that isn't happening, now is it?"
"Very funny."
"Alright, I'm ready." Stiles sighs and walks into the room with his gym bag slung over his shoulder.
"Get in the car." Derek demands.
"Alright, alright."
Stiles had joined the school's Co-Species Lacrosse Team the minute he'd become a Freshman in high school. And although no one in the family enjoyed seeing Stiles get pushed around by a bunch of wolves, they can't deny that stiles isn't really good.
Derek also can't deny the fact that it's a pain in the ass to have to drive the kid around to all his practices.
It doesn't matter that they're brothers. Derek still gets annoyed.
"I'll be around after work, so-"
"Take as long as I can. I know." Stiles sighs and grabs his bag form the back seat.
"Or you could just walk to the Book Store."
"That requires too much energy." Stiles grins. "I'll see you in a few hours, Derek."
"Stay safe." Derek calls just before the door shuts.
Derek will admit that Stiles is a pain.
But they're brothers. He cares.
And so, he waits in his car three days a week until his younger brother disappears into the school with a gym bag over his shoulder.
And then he speeds to the other side of town to work.
Hoping and praying that his boss will be too busy to notice that he's a few minutes late.
At fourteen, Stiles is still fragile. He's thin, and pale, and human.
And his family worries about him.
Every last one of them.
Even Derek.
"Your brother gives me the creeps, man." Scott mutters as they walk out of the school to find a sleek Black Camaro purring in the parking lot.
"Derek? Why?" Stiles asks as he forces his bag closed.
"He's just...too quiet."
"Derek? Quiet? I don't know what world you're living in, Scotty, but Derek isn't quiet. He's sarcastic. And snarky. And broody. But not quiet."
"Maybe with you and Laura. But in school...he just...I don't know."
"My brother's fine."
"Stiles...he's the star Baseball player. But he's also the star freak."
"Derek's not a freak, Scott."
"That's just what the other guys say!"
"Jackson's opinion doesn't matter! Derek's not a freak. He's cool."
"Calm down, Stiles. I just meant that maybe you should talk to him."
"Talk to him? About what?"
"About just...being more social. He needs to start talking to someone besides just you and Laura."
"Leave him alone, Scott." Stiles sighs before walking away.
"Hey." Derek states stiffly.
"Don't listen to him, alright? You're not a freak." Stiles states seriously before grinning and reaching out to gently punch his shoulder.
"Whatever."
"You're not!"
"How do I look?" Stiles asks and turns to face Derek with a frown.
"What are you wearing?" Derek demands with wide eyes when he looks up form his text book to find his younger brother wearing his leather jacket.
"Come on, Derek, just let me borrow it for tonight."
"No! You're going to a party. I don't want my jacket reeking of hormones and puke."
"Come on Derek, please? It's a bonfire, it'll be cold."
"Then wear your jacket."
"It isn't the same!"
"Stiles-"
"Derek, please, I'm begging you. Let me borrow it?"
"No."
"Why not? You've never had a problem with me borrowing your clothes before!"
"Stiles, you're fifteen, going to some random party with Scott. I don't trust you with it."
"I'll keep it safe!"
"Knowing you, you'll lend it out and I'll lose it forever!"
"I won't!"
"Stiles-" Derek's cut off when Stiles flops down onto his bed next to him and puckers his lips into a puppy-dog pout.
"Please?"
"Stiles-"
"Please?"
"...Stiles, I swear, if that jacket comes back damaged in any way, I will kill you."
"I promise I'll take care of it." Stiles grins and hugs his older brother tightly before rushing out of the room.
.. . ... . . ...
Stiles walks back into the room six hours later.
"Stiles?" Derek mumbles out groggily and looks up to find Stiles toeing off his shoes and wiping his eyes. "Stiles?"
"Go back to sleep, I don't want to talk about it." Stiles whispers before turning and trudging towards his bed.
"Are you crying?"
"No. I'm just...it's late. my eyes are tired."
"Stiles, look at me." Derek sighs and sits up.
"I didn't mean to, Derek." Stiles whispers as he sits on his brother's bed.
"What didn't you mean to do?" Derek asks and leans over to start taking his jacket off of Stiles' body. "The jacket's fine."
"Asshole." Stiles scoffs before ripping the jacket off and shoving it into the other's hands. "Not the stupid jacket."
"Then what, Stiles?"
"...I wasn't thinking. I don't know what I was actually planning on doing but...I went back to the cars."
"...okay?"
"His car...it looked weird.. So...I went."
"Stiles-"
"The windows were fogged over. There was...noise. So... I looked in."
"Stiles you don't-"
"She was with Jackson."
"Stiles, come on-"
"She's human! Why would she ever date him? He's...he's an ass, and a jerk, and a fucking-"
"Stiles stop it." Derek demands before placing a hand on his arm and tugging him back against the headboard.
"She's a human. He's not."
"It's normal-"
"But it's not. He doesn't treat her right. And it's-"
"None of your business. Look, I get that you've liked her for a long time but...honestly? This isn't any of your business. I'm sorry to say that."
"...I can't wait to turn eighteen."
"Why's that?" Derek asks and sighs when Stiles leans against him.
"I'll get out of this place. I'll get my orders and I'll go to school, and it'll all be behind me."
"So you're ditching us?"
"No. I'm not ditching you guys. I'll come back. Some time."
"You're an idiot. We'd track you down."
"Laura would track me down. You'd just follow." Stiles grins and looks up. "You're the best, Derek. You know that?"
"I think I've heard it once or twice."
"I'm going to bed."
"Your own."
"Yeah, yeah."
"where are you going?" Derek demands when his brother walks into their room reeking of cologne.
"Out."
"On a Sunday morning?"
"...yeah." Stiles shrugs and pulls on a T-shirt.
"That's my shirt." Derek states with a frown and watches Stiles push on his glasses, rather than his contacts. "Stiles, where are you going?"
"I'm going out. Now if you're done asking questions, either get in the Jeep or stay here. Your choice. I'm leaving."
"...I can't believe this." Derek sighs and shoves on a pair of shoes before following Stiles downstairs.
"Be back later, Dad!" Stiles shouts through the house as they rush down the stairs.
"Where are you...oh, never mind. Derek, keep him safe." Declan mumbles from wherever he is in the house.
"Where are we going? And why are you dressed like that?" Derek demands once they're in town.
"We're going to a place."
"A place?" Derek demands when they pass the town limits sign. "Where is this place."
"A few hours away. Just...chill, okay? It's not dangerous, it's not illegal, and it's not bad."
"Then where are we going?"
"Ever heard of Bloomer's Palace?"
"...please tell me you're kidding."
"I'm curious."
"Curious? Stiles that place isn't for people like us!"
"Erica's been there. So has Isaac, and so has Boyd."
"My friends have nothing to do with you! We're not going!"
"Yes we are."
"Stiles, they're different."
"Yeah, they were bitten."
"No. They aren't like us. We get along, we love each other, we live together, we're okay. Bloomer's is a place for humans and wolves who don't do those things. It's a place for wolves to show off their humans, and it's a place for humans to look for wolves."
"It's a place I want to see. And you're my ticket in."
"I'm not taking you in there, Stiles. You're not seeing those things. Not as long as I'm alive."
"Well, then the good news is that I'm prepared."
"What are you talking about?"
"I know you may not think it, but I'm not ugly. I can get in by myself. It'll just take some effort."
"Stiles, you're not-"
"I want to see. I want to see what kind of monsters would ever go into that place, and I want to see what poor souls are stuck in those collars."
"And once you see, then what?"
"...then we leave."
"You're going to break down, Stiles. I know you, you can't handle that sight."
"Derek. Please. Just help me out here."
"Why do you want to see-"
"They're my friends too, you know. I want to see what they had to deal with before they came to Beacon Hills."
"They had to go through torture, filth, and they had to go through hell and back. Why isn't that description good enough for you?"
"Derek...please."
"Stiles..." Derek sighs and looks over at the other boy.
He's dressed in khakis, and a maroon t-shirt, and a cardigan that Derek's never seen before.
His eyes look a little too big, thanks to his glasses.
And his hair actually has a style to it for once.
"This is what those human wear. They try to look as much of one personality trait as they can. It draws attention."
"And what personality trait are you portraying, exactly?" Derek asks tiredly.
"Brains. I'm smart."
"And what if you actually do get attention?"
Stiles sighs and leans forward to open the glove compartment at a red light.
"I doesn't matter." he states as he pulls something out and slams the little door closed.
"Why not?"
"Because I'll be wearing this." Stiles states and tosses the object into Derek's lap.
It's a collar.
And simple maroon collar with an elegant H pressed into the center.
"Where did you get this?" Derek demands and looks at Stiles with wide eyes.
"Isaac got it for me."
"Where did Isaac get it?!"
"Who knows? Who cares?"
"I do! Stiles-"
"I'm yours. To show off, to watch, and...you know. I won't get into trouble, and you won't look out of place."
"We're teenagers. we'll look out of place anyway."
"Not today. There's a reason we're going on a Sunday, Derek."
"And what's that reason?"
"Sunday afternoons, Bloomer's turns into a coffee shop. It turns into a hang out spot for everyone."
"So?"
"So, you don't have to worry. I did my research. I know what I'm doing."
"Stiles you're not actually going to wear this, are you?"
"I am."
.. . . ...
"Put it on me." Stiles demands when they pull into a parking space in front of a brick building.
"What?" Derek demands when Stiles shoves the collar into his hands.
"Put it on me!" Stiles states before turning in his seat and exposing his neck. "Now, Derek!"
Derek complies and gently buckles the collar into place.
The colors contrast with Stiles' skin and Derek can't help but stare at the thing as Stiles moves around the jeep.
"Here, put this on." Stiles states and hands Derek a small bottle.
"What is this?"
"My cologne. Don't ask questions, just put it on."
"I'm going to regret this." Derek sighs.
Inside...it's everything Derek feared it'd be.
It's dark, and it's crowded, and the scent of coffee can't fix the fact that it's freezing nor can it cover the thick scent of hormones and perspiration.
"Grab me." Stiles whispers suddenly.
"What?" Derek asks and looks down.
"Look around." Stiles mumbles softly and looks down.
Derek obeys and sees what Stiles means.
No one wanders expect those with no collar.
And those with collars are attached to wolves.
They're cuddling, or touching, or intimately looking at one another.
And when the barista sends them a weird look, Derek reaches over and wraps an arm around Stiles' waist.
"Come on." Derek mumbles and pulls Stiles towards an empty booth in the corner.
"It's cold." Stiles whispers as they slide into their seats.
"Good afternoon boys." Stiles jumps and Derek looks over to find a waitress grinning at them.
No Collar.
But then again...Stiles never wears a collar either and he has a family.
But they're not in Beacon Hills.
"I'll have a black coffee." Derek mumbles out in the midst of his thoughts.
"and for you?" the girl turns to Stiles and smiles.
"S-same."
"Right Away."
"This place." Stiles whispers and looks around.
"I don't like it." Derek mumbles as another shiver runs down his spine.
"It's not that bad." Stiles mumbles back.
"It's a coffee shop now. It's bound to be a hell hole at night."
"You don't know-"
Stiles is cut off by a crash on the other side of the room and a series of gasps.
"Oh my God." Stiles whispers before staring shakily behind Derek.
Derek turns and freezes at the sight.
A wolf...down on his knee.
A velvet box in his hand and...a human girl in front of him.
"Oh my God." Stiles repeats.
"He..."
"He proposed." Stiles mumbles in shock.
" Here?" Derek asks and turns back to find Stiles smiling slightly.
"Not everyone can be a romantic like you, Derek."
"Funny. I'm just saying...why?" Derek frowns.
"Who knows. I liked it."
"You want to propose to someone in this place?"
When Stiles doesn't answer, Derek looks up to find his brother staring off over his shoulder.
His eyes are wide, and his hands are clasped together tightly.
"What are you..." Derek stops short when he turns around.
A Wolf.
No human.
Seated on the other side of the room.
Grinning at Stiles like he's a piece of meat, with his electric blue eyes glowing to the point where they're the main source of light in his section of the room.
"Derek?" Stiles whispers before frowning.
"Look at me." Derek states and turns back around slowly. "Stiles."
Stiles turns his gaze back and takes a shaky breath.
"Derek-"
"Just look at me." Derek states and takes one of Stiles' clenched fists shakily.
"Derek." Stiles gasps just before the sound of a chair scraping against the floor fills his ears.
"Look at me."
"Der-"
"Good afternoon, beautiful." Derek can't help but hold Stiles' hand tighter and glare up at the older wolf.
He's older than Peter.
With blonde hair, and naturally blue eyes.
"Good afternoon." Derek responds when Stiles only stares.
"I believe I was talking to him."
"I believe he's taken." Derek glares.
"Oh? By whom? Certainly not by you. You're nothing more than pack. Possibly a friend, though I doubt it."
"We're together." Stiles states and blanches when the man turns to grin at him.
"is that so?"
"Yeah."
"Why do I find that hard to believe?"
"I don't know. Why do you?" Stiles asks nervously and turns his eyes to Derek briefly.
"He's nothing but a pathetic beta with little self control. You, however, are a rare and fine specimen. You'd never, in a million years, waste your time with his company."
"...we're leaving." Derek states harshly when Stiles blushes.
"So soon?" the man asks and smirks.
Stiles doesn't answer.
"When you decide that you want real company, I'll be here, beautiful."
Just allows himself to be dragged out of the building and back to the car.
"Are you satisfied?" Derek demands as they get in.
"...fairly." Stiles mumbles and nods.
"Alright, sweetie, you don't have to do this today." Talia mumbles as stiles lies back carefully.
"Mom, I've been putting this off for months. I think it's time we get it over with." Stiles chuckles and shivers when the alcohol drenched cotton ball runs over his neck.
"But..."
"I have seven months left until I turn Seventeen. You know the law. I have to get it done before then."
"Exactly, you have months!"
"Derek did it the day of his birthday!" Stiles protests and looks up at the smirking beta.
"But Derek-"
"Isn't human, I know." Stiles winces at the sound of the ink-gun running.
This was it.
The next required step of the new world.
A person must sport their pack's symbol on a part of their body.
It was law.
It was mandatory.
And it had to be done during their sixteenth year of existence.
"Alright. Are you ready?" the girl seated next to him asks and smiles reassuringly.
"Yeah..." Stiles sighs.
.. . ... . . . ...
Stiles grips onto Derek's hand the entire time.
"Don't." Stiles grits out when the older wolf tries to pull away.
"I need-"
"I don't care, Derek."
"It isn't that bad-"
"Shut up!"
.. . ... . ...
"It looks really good." Derek compliments as he stands behind Stiles.
The human's admiring his red skin in the mirror with a smile.
"It'll look epic once it heals."
"It's nice, Stiles." Talia grins and hugs her son gently.
"Thanks, mom."
... . ... . . ...
Derek can't help but stare at Stiles more often after he gets the tattoo.
The fact that the kid was walking around in muscle shirts didn't really help either, but either way...his eyes would just trail down to the black ink that stretches over pale skin.
And that, in turn, would lead him on a scavenger hunt to count all the small freckles he could spot on Stiles' skin. That would turn into him scolding himself, which would lead to Stiles frowning at him, which would then force Derek to walk out of the room awkwardly.
"Are you okay?" Stiles' voice snaps Derek back to the present and away from his thoughts.
"What?"
"You've been staring at that T.V for a while. Isn't like you."
"Just thinking."
"You've been doing that a lot lately too. You sure you're okay?"
"Yeah...I'm fine. Really."
"I don't know...you're acting weird." Stiles mumbles before shuffling out of the living room and up the stairs.
"She's not exactly my type." Stiles mumbles as he and Scott walk into the Hale House.
"Not your type? Since when do you have a type? I thought types were over rated?"
"Well...I changed my mind. She's hot...but...not how I like them, you know?" Stiles sighs and kicks off his shoes by the door.
"And how do you like them, exactly?" Scott laughs.
"Smart. Mysterious. Someone who will understand my jokes."
"I don't think a girl like that exists in Beacon Hills, Stiles." Scott sighs and follows his friend into the kitchen.
"Who says is has to be a girl? maybe the right person is...a guy." Stiles mumbles carefully, and jumps when Derek proceeds to choke on the apple he's munching on whilst he does his homework at the table.
"Whoa, you okay?" Scott asks with wide eyes after Stiles' brother regains his composure.
"I'm fine." Derek mutters as he packs away his books.
"Anyway...yeah."
"What do you mean a guy?" Scott asks slowly and turns back to Stiles.
"I've tried. With girls, I mean. It never works out, no matter how hard I try. I just thought...maybe I could try with a guy. It's not unheard of."
"Yeah but...I don't know. I guess I just never imagined you to...swing that way."
"Swing that way? Is that what the kids are calling it now-a-days?" Peter asks as he walks into the room with a wide smirk.
"Peter." Stiles greets stiffly.
"Cousin, dearest." the older man grins.
"I'll be in our room." Derek suddenly mumbles and walks out.
"Is your brother okay, Stiles?" Scott asks after the senior walks out.
"Yeah, why do you ask?"
"I don't know...he didn't seem...right."
"He's fine, Scott. Probably just freaking out over something stupid."
Peter lets out a sudden laugh.
"What?"
"Nothing, why don't you two go back to talking about swinging." Peter laughs as he grabs something from the fridge and walks out of the room.
"He creeps me out." Scott states.
"Is there anyone in my family that doesn't creep you out?"
"Um...your parents are cool."
"Come on." Stiles laughs and leads his friend up stairs. "Derek, we're coming in."
"I can hear you." the older boy mumbles from his desk.
"Just making sure." Stiles grins at his brother as he leads Scott in.
"Derek?" Scott suddenly asks after shutting the bedroom door.
"What?" the older boy answer wearily and turns in his chair to look at the kid.
"Are you okay? Really?"
"I'm fine, why do you ask?"
"...I don't know." Scott sighs and shrugs.
"Told you." Stiles grins.
"It's so weird." Stiles mumbles for the hundredth time from his bed.
"I know, I heard you the first time, Stiles." Derek sighs turns to face his brother. "Little help?"
"I knew that this day would come. I mean, it came with Laura, but I never thought about it." Stiles sighs and stands up to grab the Valedictorian Sash from Derek's desk. "Not until it was too late."
"Too late? You make it sound like I'm leaving."
"You are. All the way across the country." Stiles mutters and slides the sash into place carefully.
"I meant leaving like dying. I'm coming back, Stiles."
"...It doesn't feel that way. So what's the speech about? You haven't let anyone read it. Not even me."
"Don't change the subject."
"I'm not. You have so many pieces, Derek." Stiles huffs and grabs the Honors Cord from their closet door knob.
"I worked my ass off for thirteen years, I'd hope so, Stiles." Derek smiles and allows Stiles to slide the cord above the sash.
"Look at you, all grown up." Stiles sighs and steps back to take a look.
"I'm still Seventeen, Stiles."
"Six more day and eighteen hits." Stiles grins.
"Boys, come on, we'll be late!"
"Coming, Mom." Stiles calls out and sighs. "Come on, we should go."
"Hey, Stiles?"
"What?"
"...You know that you'll always have me, right? Whenever you need me."
"Stop being sappy, and let's go."
.. ... . . . ... . . .. . . ...
Stiles does not cry that day.
He doesn't get teary eyed during the family dinner.
He doesn't silently cry later that night when Derek leaves and doesn't come home until the next morning.
He wasn't terrified for the well being of his older brother.
He was fine.
"I'm fine, Derek." Stiles repeats after Derek asks the same question again.
"You're lying."
"So what if I am."
Things don't really get better...or worse for that matter.
Derek leaves and visits not nearly enough.
Stiles grows up and continues his life.
"Stiles, letter!" Declan knocks on his son's door and holds up the maroon envelope with a grimace.
"Here." The seventeen year old states and hands him a photograph along with a filled out form.
"When did you-"
"They come in every third Friday of the month. Just printed out the picture, it's fresh."
"Stiles, if there anything-"
"I have to go, Dad. I have practice."
"But it's winter break, you-"
"Have conditioning. I'll be home later, on time for dinner I promise."
"Laura and Derek are coming home today. Your mother and I were hoping that the four of us could meet them at the airport."
"What time does their flight arrive?" Stiles asks as he shoves on shoes.
"Four."
"Can't. I get out at Five."
"Can't you just-"
"Dad, I'm trying to make first line this year. Can't you guys just go without me?"
"...you know that Cora won't go unless you do."
"Then...you two go."
"Stiles, is everything okay? Really?"
"I have to go Dad."
.. . . ... . . .. . . . .. . . ..
"So. Almost Seventeen." Scott grins as they walk out to the field.
"What about it?"
"Dude, you're almost there!"
"Woo-pi-doo. Am I supposed to be excited?"
"Look...you have one more year, and that's it. You go to the Feds, and they doo what they want with you. Don't you think you should be spending this time being happy, with your family."
"Yeah, if only my family were actually a family."
"What are you talking about?"
"Laura hasn't been home in over a year, she's miraculously coming home today. No one's heard from Derek since June. Cora's clinging onto me like glue, Mom's been distant lately, and Dad...he's acting weird. He's trying to be Mom and Dad at the same time, but...he can't."
"Well, no offense dude, but you aren't exactly helping either."
"What are you talking about?"
"You've been distant too. Maybe your Dad just wants to help. And you know, you could call Derek once in a while, same goes for Laura. Cora's just realizing that soon you won't be around. She loves you, Stiles, even if she has a weird way of showing it. You guys are a family. You should start acting like one again."
"Whatever."
... . ... . . .. . . ...
"What are you doing here?" Stiles asks in shock when he and Scott find Derek in the parking lot.
"Picking you up from practice." the older brother grins.
"Where's Dad?"
"With Mom."
"Where's Mom?"
"With Laura."
"Do I have to waste a breath again?"
"They're at home, now get in."
"I'll see you later, Scott."
"Think about what I said, Stiles."
Inside the car, Derek has the radio off and the AC blasting.
He's messing with a cell phone Stiles didn't even know he had, and after he drops it into a cup holder, he drives off without a word.
"You're grown."
"...you were gone for six months, that happens."
"No, I mean, seriously. Did you hit puberty or the gym?"
"I'm making firs line, this year. I took up weight training."
"Isn't that the class all the jocks take?"
"That's the one."
"So you're a Jock?"
"Yeah, right." Stiles scoffs.
"How have things been?"
"They've been...slow."
"Yeah? Not excited?"
"About what?"
"Your birthday's in a few days, the big one seven."
"It's just another mandatory thing. No big deal."
"If you say so."
"How are things in New York?"
"Loud. Fast. Busy...it's awesome."
"Cool."
"Mom's freaking out in the car." Laura sighs after sitting beside Stiles. "She's not coming in."
"Good. She'll feel better this way." Stiles sighs and looks at his older siblings. "You guys don't have to be here either."
"We want to be here. This is important." Laura reassures him with a small smile.
"Thanks." Stiles smiles back.
"Mr. Hale?" the nurse calls from the desk and smiles at them gently. "The doctor's ready to see you."
.. . ... . .. . . .. . . .
"Stiles, this may be a bit cold." Dr. Deaton sighs before placing his fingers on the birthday boy's back.
"Ahh..." Stiles gasps at the feeling of ice cold jelly being caked onto the small of his back.
"Relax, it won't hurt you."
"What is it?" Derek asks from his place beside Stiles' legs.
"It's to aid in numbing the skin. this procedure wouldn't work other wise.
"What exactly does his procedure do?" Laura asks and grips her brother's hand tightly.
"It'll prepare everyone for the day of his next birthday."
"It's working." Stiles mumbles and pulls his hand free to tuck his arms under his head.
"Relax. This won't hurt." Deaton mumbles before pushing a needle through the jelly and into Stiles' back.
Stiles feels a warmth spread through his body before the feeling of falling suddenly starts.
"Relax." Deaton repeats.
"What am I supposed to be doing exactly?"
"Relax. It'll come to you."
.. . ... . . .. . ...
Derek can't do anything but watch as his brother slowly relaxes more and more until he's limp.
"He's asleep?" Laura asks and runs a hand over their brother's head.
"In trance, actually. He's fighting his first battle. He's in training."
"Deaton?"
"Yes?"
"...what's waiting for him next year?"
"I'm afraid I do not know. It's never the same. Never predictable, either. It could be a battle field, it could be a maze, it could be a free response test. I don't know."
"What was it when you went?" Derek asks carefully.
"...it wasn't anything I had imagined. So much panic and chaos. My unit was full of unprepared humans. Out of the fifty of us that were set loose...three of us survived to continue. The others died of stupidity...or of self inflicted harm. I wouldn't wish that type of experience on anyone. Especially not this child."
Derek jumps when Stiles suddenly twitches and tenses his body.
"Stiles?" Laura mumbles.
"He can not hear you."
"Where is he? What's going on?" Derek asks.
"He's in the darkest place his mind can conjure. This experience will be the only aid he receives for next year. If his mind can not conjure something close to the reality that will come, he will be unprepared, and at risk of death or worse."
"Stiles is strong." Laura states.
"I have no doubt in that."
"Mmng." Stiles groans and frowns slightly before going limp once more.
.. . .. . . ... . . . ...
"So what was it like? What did you think up?" Laura asks as Deaton cleans Stiles up.
"um...I don't know, actually. I remember the feelings just...not the images." Stiles sighs and looks at his siblings.
"What did you feel?"
"Confusion mostly. Frustration just as much. Fear, pain, anger...jealousy."
"Jealousy?" Laura asks.
"I think that's what it was."
"You're done, Mr. Hale." Deaton grins and allows the boy to sit up from his position on his stomach.
"Thanks Deaton."
... . ... . .. . . ... . ...
"Hey." Scott greets Stiles once he climbs into the Jeep.
"Hey."
"So?"
"So what?"
"So, how was it?"
"You know, it's at times like this I wish you were still human." Stiles sighs with a small smile.
"Seriously, Stiles."
"I wasn't bad. I mean, I'm not traumatized, and I'm not depressed. I actually feel pretty good."
"Good." Scott grins.
"Yeah. So where to?"
"So...Senior year's coming." Derek states as he walks out into the back yard.
"When did you get here?" Stiles asks from his place up in a tree.
"Few hours ago. What are you doing up there?"
"I was reading." Stiles holds up a book as evidence and pulls his glasses from his face.
"What's up with those?" Derek asks and nods at the thick rimmed glasses.
"Ran out of contacts. Mom ordered more but...I'm stuck wearing these things for a while."
"They make you look older."
"Yeah?" Stiles chuckles and puts them back on. "You coming up here, or what?"
"Up there?"
"Yeah, up here."
Derek sighs and looks up at the other boy.
He's sitting on a thick limb, back resting on the trunk, and his legs straddling the branch.
"Yeah..." Derek sighs and starts climbing.
"Here, use this one." Stiles leans forward to help him sit on the branch beside his.
"Why are you up here, anyway? Was your room not good enough?"
"Cora wouldn't leave me alone. She hates dirt so...I came out here."
"You could read on the back porch?"
"I could have. But...I don't know. I wanted to come up here."
"I hate heights." Derek huffs and glances down.
They're high, and even though Derek knows there's no way he can get hurt...he's scared.
"Why'd you come up here, then?" Stiles grins.
"...you asked me to."
"You should have said no. Come on, let's go back." Stiles sighs as he moves so that he's facing Derek, both legs now on one side of the branch.
"Mom sent me out here to tell you Dinner's ready." Derek sighs and starts climbing down.
"What's for dinner?" Stiles asks.
"Um, Steak and- STILES!"
Stiles pushes off the branch and slips through the branches with a soft rustle.
His arms are held above him, and Derek hears him let out an excited huff right before he lands, perfectly, on the ground below.
"Come on!" he calls with a smile.
... . ... . . ...
"Hey mom." Stiles kisses their mother's check on his way to the kitchen sink.
"Hey Sweetie." she smiles back.
"Are you going to tell me what the Hell that was?" Derek hisses and moves to wash his hands beside his brother.
"What?"
"Stiles, no offense, but you're not exactly the most...elegant. Or the luckiest, or...anything that special."
"Wow, thanks."
"No, I didn't mean it in that...way. It's just-"
"I'm hungry." Stiles sighs and walks away.
... . ... . . . .. . . ..
"Stiles!" Derek slams an open palm against the door when he was met by silence. Again.
"What is going on with you?"
Derek turns and faces his mother with a tired sigh.
"Does he do this a lot?" Derek asks and gestures o the door.
"Shut himself out and ignore everyone? Give us the silent treatment and-" she's cut off by the sound of music suddenly being blasted. "Blast his music."
"Why don't you do anything about it?" Derek demands.
"Sweetie, I know that you want to help. But Stiles...this works for him."
"Works for him?"
"We tried. Your father managed to talk to him...it didn't exactly...work."
"He broke down. He cried, he screamed, he had a panic attack, and then he didn't let me leave until I woke up for work the next morning." Derek turns to face his father with a frown.
"Why does he do it?" Derek demands.
"We don't exactly now."
"I can't take that." Derek sighs and turns back to the door.
"What are you-"
"When you room with a Spy obsessed rich kid, you learn a few things." Derek mumbles as he kneels in front of the door knob.
"You learned to pick a lock in college?" Declan asks with a frown.
"If you hear anything...ignore it." Derek states seriously before walking in and shutting the door along with the replaced lock.
"Get out." Stiles states seriously without glancing up from his book.
"No. Stiles, what's going on with you?"
"With me? You ask like you know me."
"I do know you. Stiles, you're my brother! You-"
"You've been gone for a year, Derek. You come home twice a year, and then expect everything to be the same! It's not, Derek!"
"Then tell me what changed!"
"I grew up! I finally let the fact that I'll be eighteen soon set in. I finally realized that when that day comes, you won't be there!"
"How do you know that?" Derek demands harshly, hating the fact that his throat tightens painfully and his body goes cold.
"Because you're acting like Laura! She promised you that same things you promised me. And now, she comes home once. This past year was a shock for everyone. It won't be long until she doesn't come home at all. Do you know how many Christmas days, and birthdays, and full moons, she's missed?! Every single one for the past three years."
"We were here for your birthday."
"Yeah, and the whole time you two complained about missing class and having homework to do once you got back. Why do you even bother? Why do you care? Why don't you just go back and live your life and just get on with it."
"Get on with what?"
"Get on with leaving all of us behind."
"Stiles, I'd never do that. I could never just leave everyone, most of all you, behind."
"You're one hell of an actor in that case."
"Stiles." Derek sighs and moves to sit beside his brother.
"I'm scared, Derek. What's going to happen to me in a few months? Where will I go? What will I do? Will...will I ever see you guys again?"
"Hey..." Derek whispers and frowns when the first tear slides down Stiles' face. "Everything's going to be okay. Nothing's going to happen. I promise. I won't let anything bad happen to you."
"What can you do to stop it, Derek?" Stiles scoffs but allows Derek to pull him closer.
"I don't know. But let's not worry about that until it gets here, okay?"
Stiles is cold and tense in his arms as Derek runs his hands over the younger boy's arms and back.
"I don't want to lose any of you."
"You won't. I promise you that."
"When are you leaving?" Stiles mumbles and digs his face deeper into Derek's shoulder.
"...August." Derek mumbles slowly.
"...liar."
"I'll call and change the day of my flight. I'm staying until August. You and me, just like old time. Okay?"
"When would have left?"
"...two weeks from now."
"I'm glad you're staying."
"Yeah. Me too."
"What's it like?"
"What's what like?"
"College. New York City. Life without parents."
"I hear the parties are insane."
"You hear?"
"My room mate and I aren't really the party type."
"Room mate?"
"His name is Marcus. From Florida, no human in the family, only child, Spy Obsessed, and he's engaged."
"Engaged?" Stiles asks up looks up at Derek with a raised eyebrow.
"Arranged since he was eight. She's some really important family heir to a pack in Michigan or something."
"People still do that?"
"Apparently."
"I'd hate to be in that situation."
"Same here."
"Yeah, because you aren't capable of being in a relationship." Stiles grins lightly.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Derek, you're nineteen. You've had a total of zero girlfriends and two flings. You shy away from everyone interested. And come to thinkof it, you never show interest in anyone at all."
"I show interest. You just don't notice." Derek states before rolling his eyes.
"If you say so."
"How's school? Do you have a girlfriend? Or...boyfriend I guess?"
"I came close." Stiles sighs. "It just...didn't work out. I didn't feel anything outside of physical attraction."
"...you didn't feel anything? What does that mean?"
"He was cute. He was smart, and funny, and human. But I don't know. When he kissed me, I didn't feel anything. I felt...awkward and I wanted to push him away."
"Weird."
"...yeah. What about you? Any action?"
"Um...no. I mean, there've been offers but I'm not interested."
"Do you feel like...no one meets your expectations. Like you know they're great but...they aren't what you want."
"...yeah. That's exactly what it's like." Derek frowns.
"I keep asking myself what it is that I'm looking for but even I don't know."
"Great minds think a like." Derek chuckles.
"I want to find them, Derek. Maybe they'd be able to help me through all this."
"I'm here."
"...yeah but I want something more. Some one to just...be with. Someone I can call mine."
That summer didn't last nearly as long as anyone would have liked.
Soon enough, Derek and Laura were gone, school started up again, and the countdown began.
"I hate that." Scott mutters, causing Stiles to look up form his lunch.
"...It's degrading." Stiles sighs and follows Scott's line of sight.
There, on the news screen above the office building, the number 86 blares at the students of BHHS.
"It isn't fair. They broadcast you guys like you're nothing but trash."
"I don't get why we even come to school. Most of us don't even make it to graduation. We're pulled out and taken away and that number drops every time we do."
"You'll be fine, Stiles. You'll make it."
"We should spend our lives training. Getting ready for the day we're tested. Instead we're tossed in blind."
"...it isn't even November."
"And we've already lost twenty nine. and I have one more month."
"You'll make it."
"Yeah...but odds are I'll never see you again Scott. Once I pass...they can do whatever the hell they want with me. Who knows where I'll go or what I'll end up doing."
"Everything'll be fine."
.. . ... . . . .. . ...
"I'm home!" Stiles calls out after shutting the front door.
"Stiles, will you come in here for a minute?"
Declan's sitting at the kitchen table with a frown when Stiles walks in.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, sweetie." his mother soothes softly as he joins them at the table.
"Did something happen?"
"Here." Declan mumbles and slides a maroon envelope across the table.
"I just filled one out last-"
"It's not a progress report." Declan mumbles.
"Then what-"
"You're done." Talia states softly.
"What?"
"They've gotten all the information they need. They've built your test and they're ready for you." Declan states emotionlessly.
"Why are you two acting so weird?"
"This is rare. It means that they've been building your test for a while and they've been reviewing your information carefully. It means that, to them, you're special." Talia explains.
"Special? Special how?"
"We don't know." Declan sighs and rubs his temples.
"You're not giving me enough information." Stiles sighs and stands slowly.
"We don't have much information." Declan mumbles. "We were born wolves, we didn't go through this."
"I can't." Stiles sighs and walks out.
"Stiles?" Talia calls after him softly.
... . . ... . . .. . . ..
"Hey...Mom said you needed someone to talk to." Derek mumbles through the phone.
Stiles relaxes back into the trunk of the tree and sighs in return.
"You're gonna be here, right?"
"I already have my plane ticket. I'll be there in two weeks. I promise."
"I can't, Derek. I don't know what's going on. I don't know what's going to happen. None of the others have come back."
"Hey, everything's going to be okay. I'm sure they're all just living the lives assigned to them."
"...I don't want to do this."
"I'm sorry."
"I'm terrified."
"I know. Me too."
"Stiles, wake up."
"No." Stiles groans and pulls his covers tighter.
"It's time for school, wake up."
"No..."
"Mom made breakfast."
"What kind?"
"Wake up." Stiles opens his eyes to find Derek leaning over him, his hair glistening form his shower and his cologne drowning Stiles' senses.
"What time is it?"
"Time for you to wake up."
"Why?"
"Because school's important."
"Why? I only have one more day of it."
"Exactly. one more day. Go."
"You suck."
"Go."
... . . ... . . .. . . ..
"Hey." Scott greets him at his lockers with a grin.
"Hey, Scotty." Stiles sighs as he opens his locker door slowly.
"Happy Birthday, dude." Scott grins when Stiles opens his locker to find a box.
"My birthday's not until-"
"I know. But...I'm not gonna see you tomorrow so..."
"You really shouldn't have given me anything." Stiles grins and grabs the box.
"I wanted to. It's a special Birthday, Stiles."
"What is it?" Stiles smiles before tearing at the paper. "Did you wrap this yourself?"
"Yeah! How did you know?"
"Uh...lucky guess." Stiles shrugs when he see the clump of tape stuck to the box. "Oh...it's a...what is this?"
"It's a holder. It can hold anything pretty much. And it'll always stay that small."
"You got me a magic necklace?" Stiles asks and lifts the present by the black cord.
"It's for your test. You never know what it'll be."
"Yeah...I guess you're right." Stiles sighs and slips the present over his neck.
"I got the Triskelion pressed into the silver. Thought it'd be cool if you have something to remind you of your family."
"And you got your tattoo pressed in too." Stiles chuckles after spotting the two circles on the other side of the silver pouch.
"You got to remember your best friend." Scott grins.
"Hey." Derek mumbles and leans against Stiles' door frame with a sigh.
"Hey." Stiles mutters softly as he pulls on a jacket.
"You ready?"
"...no really, no."
"You're wearing glasses?"
"...safer than contacts. I don't know how long I'll be there. No one does." Stiles sighs and pushes the frames high up on his nose.
"I have something for you."
"Now?" Stiles asks and turns to find Derek holding up an envelope.
"Yeah...I figured now is a good time as any."
"What is it?" Stiles asks after shoving on sneakers.
"Just something to take with you."
It's a picture. One they took during the summer of their whole family.
Laura and Peter stand behind Stiles with matching grins.
Derek and Cora are sitting on the picnic table on either side of Stiles. Their father is smiling by the grill in the background, and Their mother is hugging them all, her face squeezed between Peter and Laura's.
"Did you and Scott talk to each other or something?" Stiles smiles sadly before pulling out his wallet and shoving the tiny picture into a window.
"No, why?"
"Nothing." Stiles chuckles.
"Stiles?" Laura pokes her head into the room with a wide grin.
"You too?" Stiles huffs before laughing and hugging his sister tightly.
"It's not as sentimental but...I tried."
Laura hands over a long envelope.
"You gave him money?" Derek scoffs.
"Hey! He can buy himself something nice afterwards!"
"Thanks Laura."
... . . ... . . . . ...
"Are you nervous?" Declan asks his son as their family is lead into a secluded waiting room.
"Of course not." Stiles mumbles and rubs a hand over his cheek.
"Stiles...it's okay to be nervous."
"I'm not nervous, Dad."
"Really?" Declan asks with a surprised look.
"I'm not nervous. I'm just...I don't know."
"Oh sweetie." Talia sighs and hugs him tightly. "Everything's going to be fine."
"I know." Stiles mumbles and hugs her back. "Guys, I'm going to be alright. I know I am." Stiles states softly, no one saying anything about the fact that his heart beat blips.
"I wonder what it'll be." Cora mumbles.
"Yeah, you and I both." Stiles sighs before pulling her into a hug.
"You'll be fine." Declan mumbles.
"Genim Hale?"
"Stiles." the birthday boy states on instinct as he turns to face the man in white at the door.
"Apologies. Right this way."
"All of us?" Stiles asks with a slight frown.
"Of course. Right this way."
The new hallway's are dim, and blank, and when they finally come to a room, Stiles can feel his pulse in his neck.
"We'll be back soon." the man states before leaving.
"Another waiting room?" Derek mumbles.
"Another waiting room." Stiles sighs.
"How many more?" Laura mutters.
Stiles sits in a recliner and sighs when Derek and Laura start bickering about something.
"This place is creepy." Cora states and looks around the mostly empty room.
"Someone's coming." Derek states suddenly right before the door opens and the man's back.
"We're ready for you. All of you."
"Right." Stiles mutters before following.
They're taken into another room, this time a completely white room.
"Stand here." the man states and gestures to a red X on the white tiles.
"Why?" Stiles asks after obeying.
"Your exam will begin in three minutes.
"What exactly is my exam?"
"You along with four other humans will be placed in a virtual course. It is your decision who you make alliances with and who trust. Although nothing will be reality, the technology is advanced enough to make everything feel real. That being said, the mind can manipulate the body to actually feel the sensations. You may not literally be in danger, but your body may react as if you were. Be careful. You objective it to reach the door in the opposite side of the course. There are no rules. You must get to safety. And you only have twelve hours. After those twelve hours, the course will begin to destroy itself. You will experience death and your mind will do everything in its power to make it as real as possible."
"I'll actually die?" Stiles demands.
"You will go into a coma. Never able to wake up. Reach the opposite end, Mr. Hale."
"What happens if I do?"
"Your fate will be decided after your exam. Now, you will be given this watch. It has all your recourses, the time left, and a map of the course." the man states as he slips the black watch onto Stiles' wrist. "The exam will commence in forty seven seconds."
"Stiles, you can do this." Derek suddenly states.
"I know." Stiles whispers hoarsely.
"We'll see you when it's over." Laura comforts.
"You'll be fine." Declan smiles slightly.
And then, everything starts.
Black, metal bars suddenly separate Stiles from his family. The white walls slide away and he can see the other humans.
And panic suddenly breaks loose.
"No! No, please! Please! Don't make me do this. I can't!" the girl to Stiles' left pleads, her hands clutching the black bars and tears streaking down her face.
"You have to, Rachael. Stop being an idiot, and get to the other side." a man growls.
"Dad, please. Please."
"Twenty seconds." a voice announces over head.
The white ceiling changes into a gray sky.
The lighting changes into a stormy tone.
"You are to get to that door, and follow instructions. You will not complain, you will not give in, and you will not die. Do you understand me?" Stiles turns to look at the boy on his right and frowns.
"Yes, sir. I will carry on the Duke Pack Pride." he responds like a soldier before turning to look at the course.
"Oh my God, oh my God, Oh my God." the next girl over is shifting from foot to foot. Bouncing with a small smirk on her face.
"Calm down, sweet heart-"
"Shut up. I need to get in the zone." she snaps at the man, not much older than them, behind the bars.
"Ten seconds."
And the last boy, all the way on the left.
He's alone. No one behind the bars, a blank look on his face, and just...an easy aura.
"You'll do great, Stiles." Talia whispers.
"Derek?" Stiles suddenly looks at his brother with a frown.
"What?"
"After today...we have to talk." he states simply before turning to look at the course.
"Three...Two..."
At the sound of the horn, Soldier Boy takes off in a run.
Doesn't glance back, doesn't make a sound, just runs into the woods.
"No! No!" the girl keeps screaming and begging.
The other boy walks in calmly.
And the other girl laughs before following them in.
Stiles turns around and lets out a breath when he's met with more woods.
They were gone.
"Please, please, don't make me do this!" the girl sobs.
"Hey, come on, we have to get to the-"
"No!" she screams and glares at Stiles. "Leave me alone."
"No. Come on. We can't stay here, we have to get out. We-"
"I said to leave me alone! You worthless bumbling idiot. Just go!"
"But-"
"There is a knife in this stupid watch. If you don't leave, I swear I will take it and dig it so far into your chest, your body will send you into that coma faster than you can blink. Now go."
"...you should find that door." he mumbles before walking into the woods.
They look like the ones behind his house.
There's just more trees and leaves and slippery slopes.
He can't hear any animals, which really creeps him out, but he can hear laughter echoing through the air.
Without a second thought, Stiles starts running towards the echoes.
Hoping desperately that he's doing the right thing.
