Malia ducked, using her lower arm to block Derek's kick. She then action rolled away to be able to stand again. He quickly followed, another kick and a jab to the rib. She stumbled back into a pillar, her back hitting before her head. The room spun. She wanted to close her eyes and get rid of a growing headache but she could already hear his feet shuffling against the concrete. Her eyes opened just as his foot connected with the inside of her right knee. Her leg gave way and she fell to her left. She swiftly turned on to her back, her legs like helicopter propellers as they kicked Derek in the side.

He was the one to stumble now, his hip colliding with Breaden's weapons table. Malia was already back on hr feet and she took the moment to throw a few punches at his stomach. The second she decided to to go for his face, he grabbed her wrist. He pulled it over his head and held on to the other. Malia struggled before colliding her head against his. A loud smack could be heard throughout the apartment. They both fell backwards, holding their foreheads.

A gun shot rang out from somewhere else in the building. Derek shook his head and laughed, "I can't believe she's letting him use her favorite pistol."

"I still can't believe he hasn't shot one of them in the foot or something," Malia joined in his laughed, moving over to sit against a pillar.

Derek got up and headed for the fridge, "You know, It's great that you guys are learning how to really fight."

"I just think it's weird that none of us are being taught by the same person," Malia thought out loud, "I mean, you and I. Stiles and Breaden. Those make some sort of sense."

"So does Scott teaching Liam. He is his one and only Beta. And I thought Kira already knew how to fight?" He walked back over with water and offered her one.

She gladly excepted, "Just with her sword. She still practices with her mom. It's just that now Deaton's been showing her some martial arts stuff."

Derek sat against the same pillar, on a different side, and to her left, "So is Perrish showing Lydia how to shoot and fight between testing his abilities?"

Malia nodded, "Sheriff Stilenski has been helping too. Mason's sat in on some of their sessions too."

"That's good."

"Yeah."

Another gun shot.

"How did your meeting with Peter go last week?" Derek asked, wiping sweat off of his face.

She chuckled, "He didn't answer anything but apparently he's something of a history genius or something."

"He kind of is. Always had been. he remembers like everything from school," He gulped down half of his water.

Malia's eyebrows rose, "Really?"

"Yep."

"Why haven't you gone to see him? I thought you were close," She spoke before thinking and dropped her empty bottle on the ground between them.

Derek scuffed, "We were close. Then the fire happened. Up until he came back to life... I thought he'd changed. I was wrong. He was just using me, along with everyone else. Even Kate. It's sickening."

Malia looked to her lap, her thumbs couldn't seem to stay still as her hands intertwined, "I know."

He noticed that her voice sounded pitiful but he didn't get a chance to comment on it. The lift creaked to a halt and the Hale's partners came into the apartment.

"Looks like you two did a lot of work," Malia thought Breaden was joking until she looked around. A table and chairs were broken, one step was torn off and stuck in the sofa. A few pillars had holes in the corners from missed punches. There were claw marks all over the floor in front of the large window. Luckily the glass was just a bystander to the madness.

"You guys should have seen me," Stiles raised his hand to fake shoot, "I hit every target today."

"He's really improving," Breaden handed him a water.

Derek praised, "I think it's safe to say Malia won today."

"Awesome," Stiles plopped down on to the couch, avoiding the wreckage.

"I don't think I did. Derek almost had me, more times than I can count," Malia used the wall to stand, her back popping.

"Almost," Derek reiterated.

Malia rolled her eyes, "I'm going to head out."

Stiles knit his eyebrows together, "Where are you going? I thought you were going to come over and help me... help my dad."

"I would but this really wore me out," Malia grabbed her military jacket, "And I'm sure he will do fine tonight."

"Malia.." Stiles whined.

Breaden spoke from her spot at the steps, "What's going on with your dad tonight?"

"He's got a date," Stiles said rather slowly.

Malia rolled her eyes again, "It's not just a date. It's with Scott's mom."

"Oh, exciting."

Derek spoke up, "Babe, didn't you have something to give her?"

"Oh, shit! How did I forget?" Breaden ran up the stairs, shuffled around, and was back in moments, "Here. Everything I dug up on our Desert Wolf."

Malia stared blankly at the stuffed vanilla folder until Stiles got up and took it for her. Derek stood up and the four were now in a square.

"I'll look over it. Highlight the good stuff," Stiles flipped through the pages.

Derek put a hand on the Werecoyote's shoulder, "Deaton and I are going to reach out to the supernatural community. We'll figure this out soon."

"Thanks."

"Let us know if there is anything we can do," Breadon called after Malia's leaving form.

"Got it."

-(·)-

"The Louisiana Purchase?"

Malia let out an exhausted sigh, "Yes. But I'm assuming this was a wasted trip."

Peter rushed to lift his hands forward, a feeble attempt at stopping her from walking out, :I know some about it. is this for a test?"

"Yes... and no. I have to make a poster with the basics on it," She reached into her book bag. It was on the floor against the chair and at her left. Her purse was on the other side.

He watched her get out a notebook, a folder and a few pencils and highlighters, "A test only on this one purchase?"

"No, it's the last one I have to make a poster for," Malia opened the notebook and showed him her notes.

Peter leaned closer to see, "Then why do you need my input?"

"I don't. I'm just going to highlight what I need and should try to remember for the final next week," She uncapped the yellow highlighter and began.

He chuckled, "So you don't need me at all?"

"Yep."

"Are you trying to tell me something else?"

"Do you want me to be?"

"No, I'm good."

Malia smirked up at him, "Okay? So, how's your life of solitude?"

"I'm starting to hate tomato soup... and romance novels," He reclined into the chair.

She laughed, "Romance novels?"

"Wait, you don't want to hear about the tomato soup? How I'm 80% sure it's pigs blood and some flour shit?" Peter's expression showed only lighthearted joy.

"I've had it before," She turned back to her highlighting.

Peter rubbed his eyes, "Oh. Well, my roommate reads his books out loud and he pretty much only has romances."

"So did you ever like romance novels?" She mocked.

"No. Not the books. I never minded the movies," He smiled softly at her.

She stopped, sharing his gaze for a moment, "Is that -he- why you look like you haven't slept the entire time you've been here?"

"Uh-" Peter was taken aback by her observation, "He had a visitor the other day. I got a few hours in."

"What is he?"

"I never know the name but he has three eyes," He tried to explain.

Malia understood, "Deaton came to see him so we could figure out where Kate had Scott and Kira."

"Oh. That makes sense."

"Has he done it to you, yet?"

Peter chuckled, "I haven't let him."