Author's Note: Welcome back lovely readers. So here we are up to Pack Mentality! Yay! I apologise if anyine thinks I'm rehashing the series and it's dull; it's onky because the story is still picking up. We can expect subtle canon changes thanks to Stiles being a girl very soon and we'll see this adapted into the "flashbacks-memories-show".
REVIEWS:
J.d - I had a lot of trouble with this one, mostly because I had plotted another female Stiles fic (Not A Little Mischief) with a certain actress in mind when I started, and that translated across when I began this. But I found with both stories as I write and now with A Little Mischief also in the picture my idea for who should play Stiles keeps changing. At the moment I'm basically describing her with Dylan O'Brien's colouration i.e. whiskey eyes, Brunette, pale skin mild Cali tan; she's curvacious mostly because I like depicting women on the heavier side of life and dealing with those issues in my fics sometimes, in my head someine who would be size 10-12 US which is considered obese by Hollywood standards (ridiculous!); most of my reasoning for this is 1. Polish women tend to be on the taller, larger bone structure side of life (I envy those 6 foot wonders!) and 2. For my fic A little mischief Stiles is Loki's daughter - therefore a demigod or demi-jotun if you will, therefore I'd hope for her to be a little mire Amazonian in appearance if you catch my drift - as Tom Hiddleston once said, there ain't no short ass gods! ... or something along those lines. That said, not always easy to find actresses who fit my image, particularlh when characterisation portrayal is more important. The candidates I do have to portray Stiles in Nostalgia's a bitch are: Emily Bett Rickards (reason: Felicity Smoak, enough said), Sozie Bacon (reasons: Skye Miller and Kristen), Alexandria Daddario, Jennifer Lawrence (reason: Jennifer Lawrence) and not necessarily in that order. I know they all look very differsnt but at the ens of they day, it comes down to aho you think portray Stiles' personality and development best, and as above, I'm basing that of other roles these actresses have had. I know that was a larger response than you expected but I have a tendency to rant at 10:45 in the night.
Guest: Yay! I converted you to Sterek! Honestly I'm more a Stydia fan but have loved the way the show portrayed their relationship, I never want to write it any other way.
Celineteana: Merci beaucoup!
Now... the story...
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Teen Wolf or its characters.
The scene opens on the school grounds at night. Scott's leading Allison towards a school bus, so they can be alone. Giving a playful smile, he pries open the doors of the bus, holding it for her. Allison slowly steps inside, Scott at her heel. He leads Allison into the aisle and toward the rear of the bus. He takes the last seat by the back window. She sits down as well, in the seat across from him. Throwing her another playful smile, Scott slips into the seat with her. She turns to him and in the next moment, they're kissing, his lips over hers in the back of the dark, empty school bus. His hands descend to her thighs, pulling her up to his own body. Allison's fingers slide over the nape of his neck, her back arching up, body pushing into his.
Chris coughs. "Is this really necessary to watch?"
"It was just a dream," Scott defends, catching onto the glare the Argent is throwing his way.
"That doesn't make this any better Scott."
Scott's fingernails grasp the seat, turning to claws which rake through the material. He jerks back suddenly, eyes squeezed shut. "What's wrong?" Allison asks, pushing herself up.
"Get away."
"Scott? Scott?" She asks worriedly, moving closer to him, where he'd backed into the seats across. Suddenly his open wide, revealing them to be a seething yellow.
"Get away from me!" Shocked, Allison pulls back. She rushes down the aisle as fast as she can when Scott's clawed hand snags her ankle, tripping her hard. He tries to drag her towards the back but Allison manages to kick herself free. Staggering back from the blow, Scott roars in fury, rattling the bus. He charges, massive clawed hands ripping up a bus seat just as Allison reaches the door, pushing out. But she's stuck. She tries to jam her way out, finally getting an arm through, when a clawed hand pulls her back. The last thing heard before the scene fades to black, is her scream.
Kira's rolling out knots in her boyfriend's shoulders, his head in his hands.
"Scott," Kira says, but the young Alpha, quickly takes to his feet.
"I need a minute," and then he's gone, disappearing down one of the passageways.
The kitsune tries to follow but Stiles quickly stands to stop her. "Someone should talk to him," Kira says. Stiles nods, "Yeah. But not you." She tries softening the blow with a sympathetic look, and despite the hurt that wells within Kira, she understands why she would be the last person to talk to Scott.
"Actually, I should be the last person to talk to Scott," Stiles says, adding, "And yeah, you did say that out loud."
Kira blushes, dropping her chin.
Melissa and Isaac both quickly stand up, offering to go. But it's Chris who stops an argument before it can break out, "I'll talk to Scott. I have to talk to Scott." With that, he leaves, following after where the alpha went.
There's an awkward silence as everyone, broken by Liam asking, "How long do you think we've been here?"
"Two. Three hours. Maybe more," Lydia answer, yawning.
"Anyone else feeling hungry?" Braeden asks and is answered with multiple 'yes' and moans for food.
The gods appear amused. Apollo snaps his fingers and to every one is a cup.
"What is this?" Sheriff asks, eyeing the drink.
Noshiko answers for her friends, "Nectar. Drink this and it will satiate you."
She is not wrong.
Out in the passages, Chris finds Scott hunched over, one hand on the wall. When Scott looks up at him, his face is wet with tears. "It still hurts," is all he manages to say before he's swept into the older man's embrace.
"I know it does," Chris replies emphatically. "The important thing is to know it's not your fault."
Through his tears and short breaths, he mumbles, "How is it not? I might as well have killed her myself."
Argent's grip on him tightens; he pushes the boy away but still holds him close so that he can see his face in the dim light. "Don't say that!" he hisses at Scott. "You didn't kill Allison. You loved her. Isaac loved her. Stiles and Lydia loved her. I loved her. And she loved us. She loved us so much that she was willing to die for us. For you Scott. For her pack." Chris' expression turn dark but not with hate. "So don't you dare take away everything she stood for, everything she died for. Don't you dare ever say you killed her. Because you didn't Scott. You gave her friends where she lost family. You gave her hope and life. Do you understand me?"
Scott nods and Chris pulls him in for one more embrace.
When Scott and Chris return to the cave, they see that everyone's had a chance to stretch their legs and take up new seats. Lydia's seated along the right wall between Parrish and Braeden who's tucked away in the corner. Next to Braeden, along the back wall is Malia curled in next to Kira, Isaac next to her telling them about his adventures in France; Liam and Mason are lying in front of them; Derek is in next to Isaac, and the Sheriff is perched up on a pillowed rockbed (that wasn't there before) in the corner; Melissa and Noshiko seemed to have hijacked the end of the Sheriff's raised platform. Argent passes by Scott, heading straight for the other parents and Melissa makes way for him on the end, handing him a cup of something. Stiles is seated in the corner next to Derek, her feet stretched out along the floor of the platform their parents occupy. When Scott looks at Stiles, she meets his gaze with a tight smile before looking down to her hands again. He reserves a sigh and moves to take up seat between Isaac and Derek, when Stiles curls her legs up. She looks up at him expectantly. He smiles gratefully, taking a seat with his back against the platform, so he's facing Lydia and Parrish. Stiles hands him a cup. He raises a brow and she answers, "It helps with the hunger." Right at that moment his stomach rumbles and he quickly drinks. A warm feeling floods through him, an odd sort of wholeness. "Thanks," he tells her.
"Your welcome," she smiles gently. From the corner of his eye he can see Derek fighting a smug smirk. Scott rolls his eyes but fondly. Above them, Melissa and Noah smile at one another.
"May we resume?" Athena asks.
The group quietens, looking to Scott. He nods.
The screen had stilled on Scott's dream, the last image of closed bus doors with a bloody handprint. The scene quickly cuts to the main hallway of BHHS. Scott enters, Stiles on his tail asking him, "So you killed her?"
"I don't know. I just woke up. And I was sweating like crazy, and I couldn't breathe. I've never had a dream where I woke up like that before."
"Really? I have. Usually ends a little differently."
The pair turn down the hallway, Scott with a disgusted look. "A," I meant I've never had a dream that felt that real, and "B," never give me that much detail about you in bed again."
Stiles blushes hearing her father groan about needing a drink. This really isn't her day.
"Noted. Let me take a guess here -"
"No, I know, you think it has something to do with me going out with Allison tomorrow, like I'm gonna lose control and rip her throat out."
Stiles stutters, "Uh... No, of course not." But then Scott shoots her this look and she caves, "Ok, yeah, that's totally it." Scott sighs, hanging his head low. "Hey, come on, it's gonna be fine, all right? Personally, I think you're handling this pretty freakin' amazingly. You know, it's not like there's a lycanthropy for beginners class you can take."
"Yeah, not a class, but maybe a teacher."
They share a look before simultaneously sighing defeatedly one name: "Derek."
They keep walking. "You know, I'm still not entirely convinced he won't kill us for getting his tossed in jail."
"Yeah, I know," Scott chuckles but then frowns, "It's just - chasing her, dragging her to the back of the bus, it felt so real."
"How real?"
"Like it actually happened."
The two emerge through double doors to the quad. Across the parking lot, police tape cordons off one of the School Buses. Sheriff Stilinski and his Deputies oversee a Lab Tech examining the rear bus door hanging from its hinge. Blood stains it.
Stiles decides to unhelpfully quip, "I think it did."
"Holy- You did that?" Mason looked at Scott shocked.
"No!"
"But you could?"
"If you're asking are we that dangerous, then yes. We're predators. But we don't have to be killers," Derek answers the boy. Mason nods then opens his mouth to speak again but Derek, having had two years of experience dealing with Stiles, guesses exactly what the freshman's next question is and promptly says, "Why was the bus driver attacked? I don't see the point explaining since the visions will probably do it for me. Keep watching. It'll become clearer."
After the bus shock, Stiles and Scott spend the next several minutes quickly scouring the school for Allison. Scott's probably sent out a hundred messages and calls to her, but much to his dismay she hasn't answered any. Right when he's about to lose his grip (after he smashed some poor guy's locker door in), Scott literally runs into Allison. "You scared the hell outta me!" she gasps, laughing a little.
"You're okay," Scott breathes, eyes wide as if he'd just witnessed a miracle.
Allison shakes her head, amused at the cute oddball in front of her. "Once my heart starts beating again, yeah." She continues to pick up her books, dropped during their run-in. Scott helps her, but absentmindedly; his sole focus is on her. "What?" she asks, feeling his lingering gaze on her.
Scott smiles softly, "I'm just happy to see you."
Overhead, the principal makes an announcement that despite the incident on the bus, school will proceed as per usual. Hefting the last of her books into her arms, Allison flashes him one last smile, asking him to save her a seat at lunch, before running off to class. As he looks down the hallway after her, he notices Jackson holding the damaged locker door, confusion and irritance etched on his pretty face. Jackson notices Scott's staring. "What are you looking at, asswipe?" Scott simply hides a smirk and takes off to chemistry.
In Chemistry class, The teacher, Mr Harris, stands at the board writing down chemical interactions while Scott and Stiles converse quietly in their seats."Maybe it was my blood on the door," Scott whispers to her. "Could have been animal blood. You know, maybe you caught a rabbit or something."
"Mmmm, rabbit," Malia moans. Braeden and Parrish quirk a brow at the girl and may subtly shuffle away from the hungry look on her face.
Scott looks confused, "And did what?"
"Ate it," Stiles states as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.
Scott on the other hand looks appalled. "Raw?"
"No, you stopped to bake it in a little werewolf oven."
"Why do you have to be so sarcastic?" Liam asks, because as much as he admires her wit, it pisses him off too.
"It's a reaction. See I'm allergic to stupid questions."
Liam frowns. Mason chuckles at his and Scott's expense.
Stiles huffs, "I don't know, you're the one who can't remember anything."
"Ms. Stilinksi," Mr Harris interrupts. "If that's your idea of a hushed whisper, you might want to pull the headphones out every once in a while."
"I don't like him," Malia states.
"Nobody liked him. But he had a special vendetta for me," Stiles answers.
"What's with the past tense? He moved or something?" Liam asks.
"He was ritually sacrificed," Lydia answers without hesitation.
"I think you and Mr. McCall would benefit from a little distance, yes?" Stiles of course protests but it doesn't stop Harris. Picking up their books, Stiles and Scott move to separate desk across the room. But just as Stiles sets her books down, the girl next to her jumps up, pointing out the windows and exclaiming, "Hey, I think they found something."
In one motion the class bolts to the window to see for themselves. Even Mr. Harris. Two EMTs emerge from the foliage, pushing a gurney. Strapped to it is a man's body.
"That's not a rabbit," Scott whispers to Stiles, shaken.
The gurney rolls toward an ambulance when suddenly the body atop it lurches up. All the students gasp, some jumping back in fright. As the EMT's ease the victim down, Scott steps back from the others. Stunned. Devastated. Stiles slowly turns to him, "Okay. This is good, this is good. He got up, he's not dead. Dead guys can't do that."
"Stiles -" he looks at her with fear written in his eyes, "I did that."
Lunch trays in hand, Stiles and Scott find an empty table for themselves. "But dreams aren't memories," Stiles tells him.
"Then it wasn't a dream. Something happened last night, and I can't remember what."
"What makes you so sure that Derek even has all the answers?"
"Because during the full moon he wasn't changed. He was in total control while I was running around in the middle of the night attacking some totally innocent guy."
"You don't know that."
"I don't not know it. I can't go out with Allison. I have to cancel."
"No, you're not cancelling, okay?"
"Wasn't it not that long ago you were trying to cancel his date with her?" Noshiko puts forth.
Stiles nods, "Yeah, but that was before I realised he could learn to control it."
"You can't just cancel your entire life. We'll figure it out."
"Figure what out?" a voice asks. The pair look up to see Lydia taking a seat at their table. Both of them look at each other confused. "Just, uh, homework," Scott offers, while Stiles mouth to him, 'Why is she sitting with us?'
The popular kids take a seat, Lydia besides Allison who's next to Scott. Danny reluctantly takes a seat next to Stiles, awkwardly ignoring her friendly smile. Jackson rounds the head of the table last, ordering a senior to get up.
"How come you never ask Danny to get up?" the guy asks.
"Because I don't stare at his girlfriend's coin slot." Danny retorts cheekily. Huffing, the senior picks up his tray and leaves altogether, letting Jackson slide into his vacated seat. Danny then picks up the conversation, "So I hear they're saying it's some type of animal attack. Probably a cougar."
"I heard mountain lion," Jackson says.
"A cougar is a mountain lion," Lydia remarks, quickly realising her mistake given the odd looks she gets from all but Stiles. Quickly recovering, the red-head bombshell pouts confusedly. "Isn't it?" she poses to her boyfriend.
"You guys weren't kidding when you said Lydia used to pretend she wasn't smart," Kira says, voice low.
Malia frowns, looking to the red-head. "Why'd you pretend to be stupid? I wish I was as smart as you."
The compliment touches Lydia, who despite overcoming her self-esteem issues can't help the hurt she feels remembering how hard it had once been when she'd been Queen of BHHS. Smiling at the spitfire werecoyote, she says, "You're not stupid, Malia. But I was. I thought if I pretended I was dumb, then people would like me. That Jackson wouldn't feel threatened by me…" she trails off, realising how wrong she was in that thought. She holds nothing against Jackson, though it'd be a lie if she didn't admit to herself that at the start of their relationship, she'd felt that way. With time, she'd realised he didn't really care. That he loved her, brains or no brains. She remembers him telling her before he left for London that the thing he loved about her most was her genius mind, and hoped someday that she'd let other people see that side of her. She'd promised herself then to stop hiding. It helped that her psychotic episodes courtesy of Peter mind-jacking her had taken a hit to her status in the high-school food chain, thereby making her decision easier. What went a longer way was knowing for the first time that she had true friends who cared about her for who she reallyw as and not who she pretended to be. Glancing at Stiles and Scott, Lydia wears a sad smile, silently regretting never getting to know either of them before Allison came along.
While her life is infinitely more dangerous since befriending them, she has never felt safer or happier.
The banshee tunes back into the flickering screen in time to catch her younger self suggesting a group date.
"Hanging out?" Scott chokes. "Like, the four of us? Do you wanna hang out, like us and them?" he directs that last question to Allison who awkwardly replies: "Yeah, I guess. Sounds fun."
"You know what else sounds fun?" Jackson asks raising his fork, "Stabbing myself in the face with this fork."
Beneath her breath, Stiles mutters, "Be my guest," earning a glare from Lydia and Jackson and a muffled laugh from Allison who tries to pass it off as a coughing fit when Lydia's glare turns on her.
Waving out her long curls, the red-head turns back to her jock boyfriend, "How 'bout bowling? You love to bowl."
"Yeah, with actual competition."
Leaning forward, Allison challenges Jackson "How do you know we're not actual competition?" she turns to ask Scott if he can bowl, but it sounds more like she's assuming he can.
"Sort of," Scott shrugs sheepishly.
"Is it sort of, or yes?" Jackson mocks. Everyone turns back to Scott, glancing between him and Jackson as if watching a tennis matching. Stiles is nervously downing curly fries and juice, so much so it's practically spilling out her lips.
"Nervous much, honey," the Sheriff chuckles.
"Hey I was living through Scott, vicariously! I didn't want him to screw up. His sex life was my sex life."
Dead silence echoes in the cavern. Pursing her lips, Stiles thinks over what she just said. Grimacing, she adds, "Let's er- scratch that from the record, shall we?"
Above her head both her father and Melissa groan. "I wish I was deaf," she hears her father mutter.
Across the cavern from them, Liam watches his fingers, far too casually twiddling his thumbs. He coughs awkwardly. "Uh, guys? Just um… you know… for curiosity - no, not curiosity… er… um… history! Yes, for historical purposes, um…"
"Spit it out kid," Isaac demands irritably, though there's an unmistakable amusement in his gaze, knowing full well where Scott's beta seems to be going with this.
Sighing defeatedly Liam pouts. Nervously he picks up his gaze to meet that of his Alpha's. "Have you and Stiles ever… you know?"
Stiles and Scott share horrified looks. Well Scott looks more embarrassed than anything. "We already talked about this-"
Coming to his friend's defence Mason corrects, "Well technically you guys admitted you have no feelings for each other as of then-" he gestures towards the screen, "-you know that's more than just being like siblings. But like, did anything ever happen between you guys before that? I mean, you guys are insanely close. It kind of makes sense that maybe something happened way before all of this."
Stiles shifts nervously in her seat, ignoring everyone's questioning gaze besides Derek's. Then all of a sudden she hears, "Well there was this one time..."
"Dude!" she hisses at Scott. "We agreed never to talk about that!"
"I'm sorry."
"You're full of sorry's lately aren't you," she spits, knowing it's unfair to him when he's been trying so hard, especially after she'd just given him hope that she'd accepted his olive branch. But she can't help that she's still pissed and, now, embarrassed.
Kira nervously glances between her boyfriend and his best friend. "What happened?"
"Nothing-"
"Scott, please," Kira asks. He can hear it in her voice, as strong and firm and calm as she sounds, he can tell there's a hint of pain or distrust.
It's Stiles who answers for him. "We slept together." You could hear a pin drop. Besides her, she feels Derek shift uncomfortably, almost hesitating to move away from her. She glances at him, but his face is a stone cold mask, refusing to reveal his emotions. But there's something in his eyes. She'd seen it before. When she found him grieving for his lost betas. When Cora was dying. When they were in Mexico. It was like he was seeing her for the first time, seeing someone he didn't recognise. Only this time she didn't like it. His eyes swept over her face carefully. Quickly she blinks, turning away in a vain attempt to ignore the way he's silently profiling her. Looking at Kira and Lydia, she explains, "It happened the summer after sophomore year. After… everything with the hunters and Allison leaving," she and Scott wince guiltily at her own words. "The first full moon after Allison left was… hard. But I managed. The second was worse. Stiles started dating this guy from Devonford, but after two weeks caught him sleeping with his ex. So… I figured that we both needed to get drunk. And Stiles had been working on a way to get me drunk for a while so..." The girl in question grins sheepishly under her father's glare.
Coughing, she adds, "Yeah I figured with a controlled amount of wolfsbane and at least 5 gallons of vodka, it might work… and it did."
"Anyway things were emotional, and we were out of our minds drunk… one thing led to another…" Scott pouts, looking up at Kira. "I'm sorry I never told you."
"You said nothing ever happened between you guys," his girlfriend whispers.
"Technically nothing did," Stiles answers. "Seriously. We never meant for it to happen. It was a mistake, one we both regret. Honestly we didn't talk for a week until we both cracked and gave half-arsed apologies that ended with us on weekend gaming binge." Kira doesn't look placated by that, so Stiles adds, "Will it help if I tell you we didn't leave my room all weekend-"
"No."
"You didn't let me finish. I was going to say we didn't leave my room all weekend, even to use the bathroom."
"EW!" Everyone groaned. Well, Lydia screeched and Malia looked unperturbed by it all. "Okay that was a lie. We left for #2… but not #1."
"What did you do for #1?" Parrish asks, instantly regretting the question.
"Well I used a bottle, 'cos I'm a lady," earns her various snorts... "And Scott… well let's just say there's a reason why Mr Rosenberg's roses don't grow anymore."
Lydia and Kira share appalled looks. But then Kira crawls over to Scott, pulling him into a hug and popping a kiss on Stiles' cheek. "Thank you for telling me the truth, guys," she smiles shyly.
"So we're good?" Scott asks, afraid.
She leans into him, pressing a passionate kiss against his lips that leaves him chasing when she pulls away. Smiling widely, she says, "We're good. I just wish you'd told me the truth."
Stiles grins, "Sure thing shorty. You got nothing to worry about. Mostly 'cos we don't remember much. It probably wasn't even good."
"Hey!"
"Roll tape!"
Everyone's eyes turn back to the screen, still slightly dazed and disturbed by that revelation. Of course it would stay a secret, knowing it wouldn't do anyone good if the anyone in town and particularly the high school got word of Scott and Stiles' relationship. It's clear as day they're meant to be friends, soul-bros for life. No matter their indiscretions and arguments.
Relaxing back into her corner, Stiles throws one last look at Derek. It feels like he's pulled away from her some, making her sigh before turning back to the screen.
Just as the light flickers, she feels a large but soft fingers brush over hers. They're hesitant. She feels her heart jump in her throat. Swallowing, she parts her fingers against the soft dirt, raising them slightly to brush against his palm. Taking the hint, Derek slides his fingers alongs hers, curling their hands together.
Puppy eyes narrowing Scott leans across the table, glaring at Jackson. "Yes. In fact, I'm a great bowler."
The scene cuts to Scott and Stiles exiting the cafeteria doors into one of the many busy school hallways.
"You're a terrible bowler!" Stiles announces.
"I know! I'm such an idiot," Scott chastises himself.
"God, it was like watching a car wreck. I mean, first it turned into the whole group date thing. And then out of nowhere comes that phrase," Stiles gags, unable to say it.
"Hang out," Scott groans, hopelessly.
" You don't hang out with hot girls, okay? It's like death. Once it's hanging out, you might as well be her gay best friend. You and Danny can start hanging out."
Liam leans over to Mason, whispering, "Isn't Stiles a hot girl?"
Mason nods, muttering under his breath, "Guess that makes Scott her gay best friend."
They jump hearing Isaac's voice, louder and clearer announcing, "You don't know the half of it."
Scott frowns at them. "I resent that."
Stiles pats his shoulder, while Kira pecks his cheek. "Don't worry, we know you're not gay."
Stiles grimaces, "No offence, but I wouldn't touch that with a ten foot pole. Again I mean." Derek snorts, hiding his mirth.
"How is this happening?" Scott tugs his hair, frantic. " I either killed a guy or I didn't."
Pouting her lips, Stiles says to herself, "I don't think Danny likes me very much."
Having a different conversation, Scott continues, "I ask Allison on a date, and now we're hanging out-" "Am I not attractive to gay guys?"
"I make first line, and the team captain wants to destroy me, and now—" Scott looks at his watch, eyes widening with shock, "-now I'm gonna be late for work." He takes off down the hallway ignoring Stiles shouting after him, "Wait, Scott, you didn't - am I attractive to gay guy - you didn't answer my question."
Lydia looks at Stiles. "You have weird priorities."
"Me!" Stiles gasps. "Are you kidding? Scott. Jackson. Liam-" she lists on her fingers, "Have you met them?"
The True Alpha is about to argue, when he feels Derek lay a hand on his shoulder. The older wolf leans forward, "You know it's true. Don't go there." Again Scott looks ready to argue, but pauses a second, thinking it over and deciding it would be in his best interests not to say anything.
Across them Mason says, "I think Stiles is attractive. Actually all you girls are. And guys. Except Liam. 'Cos that would be weird."
"Aww thank you, Liam's friend," Malia says.
Mason frowns. "Do you not know my name?"
Malia's face is impassive.
On screen, Scott rushes into the vet's office, apologising to the familiar face of Deaton for being late.
"You're all of two minutes late."
"I just don't want you to think I'm slacking."
"Scott, I guarantee you, you're one of the least slacking kids in this town."
They go about their work, only for the Sheriff to appear, glasses on, face dead-serious. It appears as if Scott's having a mild stroke, shocked and frozen where he stands no doubt at loss for words as to his impending arrest at the hands of his best friend's father. Suddenly the door opens and a large dog comes in, the Sheriff behind letting it lead by its leash.
"Hey, I see somebody's ready to get their stitches out," Deaton remarks, unleashing the animal and helping it onto the table.
The Sheriff smiles at the man then turns to Scott. "Hey there, Scott. You staying out of trouble?"
"Yeah," he answers shakily. Luckily for him, the Sheriff thinks nothing of it.
The Sheriff then turns to Deaton and begins to question him regarding the apparent animal attacks, Scott trying his best to discreetly eavesdrop. He perks up when he hears the word wolf.
"A wolf?" he accidentally blurts, earning the scrutinising gazes of both his father figures. Fumbling he says, "I mean, I think I read somewhere that wolves haven't been in California for, like, 60 years."
"True enough," Deaton concedes, "But wolves are highly migratory. They could have wandered in from another state driven by impulse or strong enough memory."
"Wolves have memories?" the beta asks.
"Longer - term memories, yes. Associated with a primal drive." Deaton goes on to try to profile the animal attacks for the Sheriff, Scott only half paying attention as he processes his boss's words, recalling his own dream.
"Mason!"
All eyes turn to Malia, particularly Mason. "Uh, yeah?"
"That's your name. Mason."
"... did you spend the past five minutes thinking about that?"
"... no, I was paying attention…"
Somewhere off in their corner, Apollo shakes his head. "Humans…" he mutters under his breath.
Scott walks through the hospital, to his mother's nurses' station. When she looks up, he raises a bag of chinese take away for her, earning a broad smile. "Is my beautiful, talented, and wonderful son actually bringing me dinner?"
"Thought you wouldn't mind skipping the cafeteria tonight."
"You are the most thoughtful, loving…" Scott's grin broadens only to fall with confusion at her next words, "- most conniving little con artist ever. You are so not getting the car tomorrow night."
"Mom," he whines.
"What? There's a curfew, no car. But I will take this. Love you." She disappears, her dinner tight withing her grasp. Scott mopes, "Love you too."
He turns to leave, but pauses, sensing something. Following his instincts, he finds himself in the room of the bus driver. He only calls on the man's name, but once Mr Meyer's eyes land on Scott, shit hits the fan. His monitor alarms ring loudly as the man falls into a fit of some sort. Melissa rushes into the room, shouting at her son to leave. He does so, hurriedly, fear in his eyes.
"See Stiles, that is the sort of food you should bring me at work," Noah quips from above.
Stiles looks at her father incredulously. "We just saw Scott give a guy a seizure and you're cared about what I feed you?"
The Sheriff shrugs casually. Melissa not-so-subtly leans over to the others and stage whispers, "Explains a lot doesn't it?" The comment earns her a few nods, particularly from Parrish, Scott, Derek and Lydia who know the Sheriff best.
Ignoring them, Stiles narrows her eyes at her father..."Bribery food?"
"Actual edible people food Stiles."
"Even if it's for a bribe?"
Noah sighs, glaring through narrowed eyes at his daughter. "Yes even if it's a bribe… not that I'd take it."
Stiles snorts, "Oh please. You have a heart condition, old man."
"I'm not old!"
"Settle down gramps."
Noah crosses his arms, huffing. Chris pats his shoulder, hiding an amused smile, though there's a twinge of sadness in his heart; he misses the way he used to banter likewise with Allison at times.
It's late afternoon outside the old Hale place. A police cruiser pulls up out front, a hesitant officer stepping out. The officer approaches the House slowly, only encouraged on by the goading of his partner over the comms.
From a shattered second floor window, Derek peers out upon the stray officer, eyeing the canine in the backseat. Steel blue melts into his eyes, glowly softly in the shadows of his squallor. Back on the ground, the police dog picks up its barking once again, growling loudly, frothing at the mouth, a rabid look in its face. The creature claws at the vinyl and glass, ignoring the pleas of the scared officer. Within no time the officer retreats back inside his car, driving away with a haunted look in his eye. Inside the Hale manor, Derek appears satisfied - well he's not glowering at the very least.
Liam and Mason gawk. "Dude you totally were a creeper," they say in unison, earning a glare from the older wolf. Catching it they both wince, ducking their heads like baby turtles.
The former alpha picks up a shift in Stiles. Turning to her, she's silently shaking her head, her lips pressed in a wide grin. Raising his brows, it doesn't take long for her to catch on that he's watching her. She takes in his curious expression. Rolling her eyes, she whispers, "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually forgot what you not smiling looked like. You know back when you were a stone-cold brooding creeper."
Her mirth only grows when his green eyes narrow at her, though there's no heat in them.
Out of the trees, Scott gingerly emerges. Scanning the house, he senses the older wolf's presence, but is at loss for how he knows that. Steadying himself, he says, voice low but clear, "I know you can hear me. I need your help." It's quiet a few moments, and he almost thinks he was wrong, but then the front door creaks open. The young Hale exits in all his leather glory, pulling the door shut behind him as Scott quickly ascends the steps. "Okay," Scott begins, "I know I was part of you getting arrested and that we basically announced you being here to the hunters. I also don't know what happened to your sister…" he pauses a moment, maybe thinking Derek will fill him in, but the older werewolf simply stares him down. Sighing, Scott goes on, "But… I think I did something last night. I had a dream about - someone," he's careful not to mention Allison's name, unsure how Derek will react to him dating a hunter's daughter, "But someone else got hurt. And it turns out that part of the dream might have actually happened."
"You think you attacked the driver?" Derek asks, though it sounds more like a statement.
Scott's eyes widen with hope and maybe a little fear. "Did you see what I did last night?"
"No."
The wolf-pup pouts. "Can you at least tell me the truth? Am I gonna hurt someone?"
"Yes."
"Could I kill someone?"
"Yes."
"Am I gonna kill someone?"
"Probably."
"You know you could have eased him into it," Lydia says, "You know, instead of being outright and asshole-y about it." The others look at her strangely. Clearly she's been spending too much time with Stiles if she's using words like 'asshole-y'.
Without looking at her, Derek answers, "Scott's lucky I didn't tie him down and hit him over the head with a text on werewolf lore until it sunk into his thick skull that I was trying to help him."
"...uh… thanks…?" Scott remarks, looking at him disturbed. "Did you have a book on werewolf lore?"
"... No."
Malia looks up. "So you would have just tied him down? Kinky." She rolls her eyes at the simultaneous glares she gets from both werewolves.
On screen Derek takes in the dejected look on Scott's face. "Look, I can show you how to remember. I can show you how to control the shift, even on a full moon. But it's not gonna come for free."
"Huh, guess you and Peter are related," Lydia snarks. Derek does his best to bite back a growl. Stiles taps her fingers under his, and he curls their hands tighter together.
"What do you want?" Scott asks, suspicious and hesitant.
"You'll find out. But for now, I'm gonna give you what you want. Go back to the bus. Go inside. See it, feel it. Let your senses - your sight, smell, touch - let them remember for you."
Scott snaps back, surprised, "That's it? Just - just go back?"
"Do you want to know what happened?"
"I just want to know if I hurt him."
"No, you don't." Derek smirks a little, his voice patronising, "You want to know if you'll hurt her."
The scene shifts again, it's nightfall. The jeep pulls up out back the school parking looking, just behind the bus departure zone. Scott exits, Stiles in pursuit. As they approach the fence, he notices his friend and raises a hand to bar her. "Hey, no, just me. Someone needs to keep watch."
Stiles gawks. "How come I'm always the one keeping watch?"
"Because there's only two of us."
"Okay, why's it starting to feel like you're Batman and I'm Robin? I don't want to be Robin all the time."
Lydia snorts. "Only you, Stiles, would think this is an important conversation to have at a crime scene."
"Hey, have you not seen Kira's pants?"
"Hey!" the Kitsune exclaims.
Stiles looks at her. "What? I'm not dissing. Seriously, where'd you get your Avengers trousers?"
Lydia growls from her spot, "Stiles I swear to god-"
"Threat! I feel threatened!" Stiles points at Lydia accusingly. She's satisfied that the pack get the reference. Kira most of all, giggles into her hands, smiling at Stiles from her position in Scott's lap.
"Nobody's Batman and Robin any of the time," Scott replies, exasperatedly.
Stiles pouts. "Not even some of the time?" she holds up to fingers an inch a part.
"Just stay here-"
"Oh, my God! Fine." Stomping back to the jeep, Stiles slides into the driver's seat, watching Scott effortlessly scale the fence that would have once had him puffing and panting. Scott creeps onto the bus, eyes searching through the shadows for the blood stains and claw marks. Recalling Derek's words, he closes his eyes as he passes through the seats, letting his senses reach out. His hands pass over the tears in the leather, his face turning over the spilt blood. Suddenly images rush at him. Just like his nightmare, only instead of Allison, it's the bus driver, being thrown off his feet, dragged by his ankles. A hulking beast stands over him, red eyes glaring at a wolfed out Scott. He's broken from the reverie by the familiar sound of Stiles' horn. Eyes flying open, he squints in the deputy's flashlight pouring the windows. Picking up his pace, he exits the bus, running down the tarmac, executing a perfect midair somersault, landing on the jeep's roof. "Go! Go! Go! Go!" he shouts to his friend, clambering in through the passenger side window. When they're a safe distance away, Stiles asks, "Did it work? Did you remember?"
"Yeah, I was there last night. And the blood - a lot of it was mine."
Stiles frowns, confused by the lack of horror and self-loathing on her best-friend's face. "So you did attack him?"
"No," Scott shakes his head. "I saw glowing eyes in the bus, but they weren't mine. It was Derek."
"But didn't you see that Derek had blue eyes?" Mason asks.
"Now you know my pain," Derek grunts. "He was a lovesick idiot and she was-"
"An annoying pain in your ass?" Stiles finishes smirking at him secretly.
The twenty four year old matches her grin. "Yup. A gigantic annoying pain in my ass."
Above them the Sheriff rolls his eyes, clearly his throat, though to the shape-shifters in the room it sounds oddly like he's saying, "Get a room."
"What about the driver?"
"I think I was actually trying to protect him."
Stiles frowns. "Wait, why would Derek help you remember that he attacked the driver?"
"Huh, maybe you're smarter than I give you credit," Derek remarks, softly.
"That's what I don't get," Scott sighs.
After a moment, contemplating it, Stiles remarks, "It's got to be a pack thing."
"What do you mean?"
"Like an initiation. You do the kill together."
"I take it back," Derek deadpans.
"I'm not wrong… entirely."
"Because ripping someone's throat out is a real bonding experience?" Scott gawks horrified.
"Yeah, but you didn't do it, which means you're not a killer. And it also means that -"
"I can go out with Allison," the young werewolf perk up, looking at the horizon as if seeing a bright future ahead of him.
Stiles glares at him. "I was gonna say it means you won't kill me."
"Oh, yeah," Scott looks at her, a little dazed. "That too."
"... Sorry?" Scott says, again, looking at his best friend (he thinks she's still his best friend. At least he knows she is his, but he's not sure if he's still Stiles' best friend).
Stiles shrugs. "Derek got it right. You were a lovesick idiot. Good luck, Kira."
"Ooo, burn -ow! Lydia stop hitting me!"
The scene opens up to Allison's room. Lydia's going through her closet, vetoing just about every item of clothing. "Allison, respect for your taste is, uh, dwindling by the second," she says. Finally she settles on something that she considers for more than half a second. Pulling the shirt off the rack, Lydia spins to show it to Allison. "This."
Rolling her eyes, the dark-haired beauty pushes up from her bed, taking it in hand, holding it against herself in front of the mirror.
While she and Lydia are busy examining the outfit, Chris enters the room silently. Catching his reflection, Allison turns, looking at him as if he's grown a second head. "Dad, hello?"
Chris pauses, a look of realisation on his face. "Right. I'm sorry. I completely forgot to knock."
Eyeing the older man, Lydia bounces onto the bed, holding her head up seductively. "Hi, Mr. Argent."
"Lydia you have no shame," Stiles teases.
"Like you're one to talk, Stilinski."
"Isaac," both girls say.
"Shut up?"
"Dad, do you need something?" Allison asks, clearly annoyed by his intrusion.
"I wanted to tell you that you'll be staying in tonight."
"What? I'm going out with my friends tonight."
"Not when some animal out there is attacking people." Allison tries to stutter her excuses, but her father cuts her short, "It's out of my hands. There's a curfew. No one's allowed out past 9:30 P.M." She looks ready to argue, so he adds with a smile, "Hey, no more arguing." He leaves straight after. Lydia crawls off the bed, resting her chin on her new friend's shoulder. "Someone's daddy's little girl," she remarks.
"Sometimes. But not tonight." Setting down the outfit she'd wanted to wear, Allison grabs a beanie, tucking her long locks underneath. With a determined look upon her face, she heads for the window, pulling it up and crawling out.
Shocked, Lydia leans out the window and hisses, "What are you doing?"
The response she gets is not one she expects. The brunette executes a perfect acrobatic display, landing squarely on two feet on her driveway. "Eight years gymnastics," she grins back, absolutely smug. "Are you coming?"
"I'll take the stairs."
Argent sighs. "There was never any stopping her," he whispers.
Next to him, the Sheriff nudges him, throwing him a supportive smile. "She was smart, knew how to take care of herself. You raised her well."
They turn their attention back to where the scene has shifted again, to the local bowling alley. The pack watch on as Scott makes an absolute embarrassment of himself bowling.
"Man, if this is you bowling, I wonder how bad you were at Lacrosse," Mason asks, trying not to laugh at the younger Scott's humiliating strike out.
Melissa chuckles. "Oh I have videos from when Stiles and Scott used to train together as juniors."
"Mom, no!" Scott gasps, ignoring Stiles' laughter.
Allison leans over Scott's shoulder. "You're thinking too much."
The boy sighs, shaking his head. "I know, I'm sorry. I'm ruining this."
"No, no, not at all, but I wouldn't mind shutting them up, so just clear your head and think about something else."
"Like what?"
"Anything. Think about me." She begins to back away as Scott steps up to take his cue. Just as he's about to move, Allison quickly ducks back to him and whispers in his ear, "Naked."
That sends a thrill through him, her soft giggles echoing in his head as she takes a seat. Suddenly, Scott's vision shifts, the lanes appearing closer, more focussed. He shoots… and scores. Allison gasps excitedly clapping her hands, while the other three stare at the fallen pins in disbelief.
Lydia leans across to the brunette. "What did you say to him?"
Allison smiles cheekily as Scott comes to take a seat by her side, his arm instinctively wrapping around her shoulders. She leans into him, saying, "I just gave him something to think about."
Chris awkwardly coughs. "Is it really necessary we see this?"
Athena smiles understanding his discomfort. "Unfortunately yes. Even the most mundane of things effect each and every one of you in magnified ways. Allison and Scott's relationship was pivotal in everything that unfolded thereafter."
A terse silence sweeps through the cavern. "Yeah, we know," Lydia says after a few moments. "She was important to all of us.
Sensing her grief, Parrish reaches forward to squeeze her hand. She returns the kind gesture, a dimpled smile lighting up her saddened face.
Hoping to lift everyone's spirits, Apollo chuckles loudly, teasing, "This is barely flirtation. You've not seen anything yet. Remember what I said about ratings."
At that the pack blanch.
Sheriff groans. "Oh god, I do not need to see Stiles like that ever again."
"Me? What about you old man. You think I want to see you doing the nasty with Lydia's mom?"
Noshiko claps her hands together. "Okay, I think we should keep going with this," she gestures towards the frozen screen. Everyone silence, switching their attention back.
A very familiar camaro parks at a deserted gas station. Out steps Derek Hale. The twenty two year old goes about his business, quietly, filling up his tank. Out of nowhere, three large SUVs pull up, crowding him in. Several hunters step out, rifles at hand. Remaining calm, Derek watches them carefully, taking out the pipe when his tank is full. He notices a familiar scent. Argent. Chris steps up, a friendly smile on his face. Derek turns to face him.
Glancing at the car, Chris comments, "Nice ride. Black cars, though. Very hard to keep clean. I would definitely suggest a little more maintenance." Grabbing a window wiper and some soapy water, Chris sets about washing the dash. "If you have something this nice, you want to take care of it, right?" Derek continues to watch him, stony faced. "Personally, I'm very protective of the things I love," Chris continues, "But that's something I learned from my family. And you don't have much of that these days. Do you?" Derek's hands curl into tight fists at his side. It's evident on his face he's fighting not to rip out the hunter's throat.
"Derek-"
"It's fine," the werewolf cuts off the hunters, voice firm but tense.
Sighing, Chris pushes, "Derek, really I-"
"Chris," the Argent pauses, watching Derek carefully as the younger man addresses him. He notes how tense his shoulders are, how Stiles runs circles on the back of his hand with her thumb. When Derek faces him, Chris is taken aback. Here is not a trace of anger or despair on the young man's face… only a sort of peace. A soft smile tugs at Derek's lips. "I mean it. It's fine. It was all in the past. We're not enemies anymore." Chris recalls using similar words after Derek had been under the Nogitsune's influence. They share a look of understanding, nodding. Everyone releases the breath they'd been holding.
Chris finishes cleaning Derek's windshield. " There we go," he says. "You can actually look through your windshield now. See how that makes everything so much clearer?" He puts away the cleaning equipment and turns to leave, gesturing to the others to follow. He's stopped by Derek's voice calling him out, goading him: "You forgot to check the oil."
Smirking, Chris turns to one of his hunters. "Check the man's oil."
The hunter smirks, stepping up. He raises the butt of his gun into Derek's window, glass shattering everywhere. "Looks good to me."
"Drive safely," Chris nods at Derek, who simply stands there watching them depart.
Isaac leans over to Malia. "You know if that was the jeep, Stiles would have castrated him by now."
Malia nods vigorously, her face pinched in horror at the idea of anything happening to Stiles' beloved jeep. She knows how much it means to her friend, and would be lying if she said she wouldn't have a hand in trying to kill whoever would hurt the jeep; Parrish had no idea what's going on, so she's letting him slide… for now.
Everyone settles in watching the younger teens bowling once again, Jackson's cloud of angst not amiss by any of the viewers. There's a few chuckles at Lydia's comment about sucking, though it's quickly silenced by terse glares from the queen bee herself and Scott who naturally has always felt protective of her and Stiles viewing them as sisters more than anything.
"Nice shot, man," Scott says approaching Jackson by the pinball machine. The blonde jock ignores him, so Scott continues, "Listen, I know we both didn't want to be here. But the thing is, we don't have to hate each other."
Jackson shakes his head, scoffing. "I don't hate you-"
"Debatable," Isaac scoffs.
"- I just don't believe you. You know, you got everyone thinking everything's fine and normal about you, but I know something's off. You cheated tonight."
Scott pouts bemused. "How do you cheat in bowling?"
"I don't know, but you did. And I don't know if it's steroids or something weirder. I'm guessing something weirder since it's pretty obvious that you're a freak. So don't think for a second I've given up on finding out what your little secret is."
"I don't have any secrets," Scott defends, though it's clear he's lying through his teeth.
Jackson smirks, "Yeah, you do. And here's the other thing. I don't know why, but I think whatever it is you're hiding, you don't want her to find out about it, either," he nods in Allison's direction, Scott following his gaze.
"Jackson was an ass, but he wasn't dumb, that's for sure," Isaac admits.
The scene changes to the hospital. Derek moves silently, dodging out of the nurses' view, into a dark room. Pulling back the screen, he comes to a standstill at the bedside of Mr Meyers. "Open your eyes," he demands, voice soft. "Open your eyes. Look at me."
Beneath his lids, the bus driver's eyes shift. Slowly they blink open with confusion. Once his pupils adjust to the dim lighting, they fall on the werewolf. "What do you remember?" Derek prompts.
Meyer's parts his dry lips, only the sound of gravelling air escaping at first. But then he voice begins to squeak, finding it's sound. "Hale," he rasps.
Derek's eyes widen. "How do you know my name?" he demands.
"I'm sorry," the man begins to shake.
"How do you know me?" Derek asks again, expression becoming a little more frantic, fearful.
All the bus driver can say is, "I'm sorry." The monitors start beeping loudly, alarms going off at a deafening frequency. Confused, Derek backs out of the room quickly before Melissa and some other nurses rush in to begin stabilising the man.
Kira frowns, "How did the man know who you were?"
Derek nods towards the screen. "You guys will learn eventually."
"I'm surprised he recognised you," Scott says. "He probably hadn't seen you since after the Fire, right?"
Derek nods. Stiles frowns. "I recognised him," she says.
Lydia waves her off, "Yeah but you're different."
"How?"
"Weird, for one," Issac offers. Stiles glares, while Derek and Scott hide the grins.
Mason points between Isaac and Stiles, saying, "I thought you guys would be closer, you know like nicer to each other. Especially with the way you greeted each other."
Stiles and Isaac share a look and shrug. "We're not close per say-" Stiles begins.
"Actually we used to piss each other off all the time," Isaac adds.
Liam frowns, "And yet you get to be her favourite puppy." He pouts adorably, causing all the girls sans Malia and the older women to coo.
Stiles rolls her eyes. Oh my go- Liam I was joking."
"So I'm not your favourite?" Isaac asks, faux scandalised.
"I have no favourites," Stiles deadpans. In her corner, Malia coughs loudly as if to announce "HELLO. I'M RIGHT HERE."
Lydia shakes her long scarlet locks. Flipping her hair over her shoulder, she smirks. "Oh please, we all know who Stiles' puppy is. D-"
"Let's keep rolling."
If Derek's cheeks turn pink at the pointed looks he receives from Lydia, Braeden and the Sheriff ('Oh god the SHERIFF knows') then nobody says a word.
Scott walks Allison up to her front door. The young couple pause on the step, the porch lights flooding.
"So, uh, do you think we could hang out again soon?" Scott asks nervously.
Allison grins broadly. "Definitely. But I have to admit something," she pauses and Scott's smile falls a little, confused. "Um, I'm not big on group dates. So next time, just the two of us."
Scott grins his adorable puppy grin. "I could totally handle more of that."
"Great," Allison whispers leaning in for a goodnight kiss. It's soft and sweet. She pulls away and turns for her door, but Scott pulls her back into another two kisses, each more passionate but equally as gentle as the last.
Pulling away with lidded eyes, Allison whispers, "And I could handle more of that." With one last smile, she silently bids Scott heads inside.
Scott turns to leave with a wide smile, his face the portrait of first love.
The entire time, Scott had been watching he'd kept an eye on Kira. He sensed the shift in her, the subtle hints of jealousy, but there was no heat to it, not hate, no anger. There' was only sadness. And happiness. He'd caught her smiling genuinely at the sight of his and Allison's sweet smiles towards one another.
She caught him looking at her, and turning ever so slightly in his lap, pecks him on the cheek. "You two were so cute," she whispers. A pained smile makes its way onto his face. Her smile falls a little notices this shift in his mood. "I'm sorry," she whispers. "I understand."
God, he loves this girl. His wonderful, sweet, shy Kitsune. Nuzzling her neck, Scott leans in and whispers, "Coup de Foudre." Her smile magnifies as he's never seen before on her. "I love you too," she whispers.
Melissa shuffles through her dark house, tiredly dragging her feet. She's already changed into her pajamas, but stops outside her son's room to wish him goodnight. "Hey, Scott," she calls out, "I'm gonna go to - sleep." She pauses, noticing he's not in the room. Suddenly the window lifts open and a dark figure stumbles through onto the bed. Grabbing her baseball bat, Melissa confronts the intruder, bat raised - only to realise it's Stiles. They both flail, screaming for a moment, Stiles scrambling away from her mother-figure on Scott's bed. "Seriously," Melissa groans, pissed. "Stiles, what the hell are you doing here?"
"We should probably have a betting pool for Stiles breaking and entering too," Isaac teases.
"Oh yeah, because none of you have ever broken in anywhere before."
"What am I doing?" Stiles looks at the older woman as if she's gone batshit crazy. "God, do either of you even play baseball?" she points at the bat. Melissa looks at it, just as Scott enters the room behind her. He looks between both of them confused, eyes pinching in confusion at the sight of the bat.
Looking at her son, Melissa asks - more like begs - "Can you please tell your friend to use the front door?" "But we lock the front door. She wouldn't be able to get in," Scott answers as if it's so obvious.
"It's like you guys share a brain," Braeden quips, earning glares from Stiles and Scott.
"Now you know my pain," Derek, Melissa and Noah say at the exact same time.
"I resent that," Stiles grumbles.
"Exactly," Melissa presses.
"I thought you loved me, Mel."
"Only when you're not giving me a heart attack, Stiles."
"And, by the way, do either of you care that there's a police - enforced curfew?"
Scott and Stiles look at one another. "No," they admit.
"No," Melissa breathes. Dropping the bat, she raises her hands in defeat, "All right then. Well, you know what? That's about enough parenting for me for one night, so good night." She leaves pressing a kiss to both of their cheeks, and a maternal smile that says, 'I'm pissed but still love you.' Story of their lives.
When she's out of hearing range, Scott turns to Stiles. "What?"
"My dad left for the hospital 15 minutes ago. It's the bus driver. They said he succumbed to his wounds."
"Succumbed?"
"Scott," Stiles sighs. "He's dead."
Anger seeps into Scott's eyes, turning them gold.
The scene quickly turns to that of the Hale House. Scott storm through the front door shouting for Derek. "I know you're here! I know what you did!"
"I didn't do anything," Derek's voice echoes ominously from the shadows.
"You killed him!"
"He died."
"Like your sister died?"
"I'm sorry, bro," Scott apologises.
Derek pats him in the back, silently dismissing the young Alpha.
"My sister was missing. I came here looking for her," Derek answers, frustration dripping into his voice.
Scott moves up the staircase carefully. "You found her," he spits, accusation on his lips.
"I found her in pieces, being used as bait to catch me!"
"I think you killed them both. I'm gonna tell everyone, starting with the sheriff."
Out of the shadows, Derek appears, hurtling Scott's smaller body down the stairs. He leaps the staircase, landing before Scott. They tussle, briefly, before Scott throws him through a wall. Pushing himself up, dusting off the debris from his leather jacket, Derek comments, "That was cute." He peels off his jacket, laying it to the side, taking slow steady steps towards Scott. A frosted window obscures his face, only the sound of his shifting muscles and bone to be heard. The werewolf emerges the other side, face shifted, releasing a deafening roar as his eyes light up electric blue.
Ooos and gasps sound about the cavern, as well as an unsettling feeling that they're all going to end up watching worse. Derek and Scott somehow watch on with a little amusement while Stiles and Lydia rolls their eyes. Malia is way too enthusiastic with her cheering.
Derek's worried about the way Melissa's glaring at the screen. Clearing his throat, he gains her attention, shooting her an apologetic look. She looks at him hard, before rolling her eyes, biting down a smile. There's something about it that reminds him of the way his mother would chastise him when he would get into a wolfed out tussle with Peter or his cousins.
Scott jumps up on top of an old burnt out air conditioner. Just as he motions to lunge, Derek strikes out across the younger man, his claws dragging painfully across Scott's stomach. Scott stumbles down from his perch, landing on his knees as he hugs himself, wishing the pain away. Derek's eyes lose their glow. Turning away, his back hunches over as he shifts back to his human form. He turns slowly upon hearing Scott's frantic pants; the younger man is holding himself up by the tattered sofa, glaring at Derek through his pain.
"I didn't kill him. Neither of us did," Derek tells Scott. "It's not your fault, and it's not mine."
"This? This is all your fault!" Scott shouts. "You ruined my life!"
"No, I didn't."
"You're the one who bit me," he accuses.
"No, I'm not," Derek finishes solemnly.
Scott's eyes widen. "What?"
"I'm not the one that bit you."
Realisation overwhelms Scott who collapses back against the sofa. "There's another," he says.
Derek nods. "It's called an Alpha. It's the most dangerous of our kind. You and I, we're betas." He pauses, allowing the information to sink in for Scott. "This thing is more powerful, more animal than either of us. My sister came here looking for him. Now I'm trying to find him," Derek pauses. Crouching before Scott, forcing the younger man to meet his gaze, he admits, "But I don't think I can do it without you."
"Why me?" Scott asks, almost whining.
"Because he's the one that bit you. You're part of his pack. It's you, Scott. You're the one he wants."
A black screen plunges them all in darkness, briefly.
Mason whistles at the dramatic ending. "Guess things get easier between you three, now right?" he asks, though something in him tells him that it's too much to hope for.
Stiles and Isaac snort, amused.