Stiles was standing unmoving, just staring ahead at the monster while it creaked and turned into a pile of dust. Even then, he didn't move, he just stood there, staring straight ahead.
Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.
Evil spirit have tried to go for Stiles, tried to bend him to its will, tried to possess him.
At first Derek could feel a mix of emotions rolling off of Stiles with waves. Stress, anxiety, fear, terror, determination, guilt, hater, self hater and so much more. It was an emotional tornado going on and on. But then just as suddenly, it just stopped. It died down, leaving no traces.
If Derek would be able to see Stiles still standing, wouldn't be able to hear his heart beat and his breathing, he would have thought that Stiles died, that the damn thing had killed him.
But no, Stiles was there, just still as a statue.
Derek rushed forward, catching Stiles by the arm, checking him with his eyes to see if there were any injuries but there were none.
- Stiles. - Derek didn't stop worry seeping into the simple word because something was terribly wrong, this wasn't like Stiles.
Stiles didn't even move, still no emotions coming off of him, nothing.
It was like Stiles had shut every door and window, locking himself up deep inside his head, too done with the outside world.
Derek pulled Stiles into a careful hug but it was like hugging a meat doll.
Others gathered around, wanting to help but Derek just shook his head.
Somehow he knew that Pack wasn't what Stiles needed right now, it was just a bit of peace.
Derek took him home, leading Stiles up to the loft by holding his hand.
Stiles went willingly, eyes unseeing.
Derek tried to hold his own panic down, he needed to be strong right now, he needed to do his best to pull Stiles back out.
He led Stiles to the bathroom, starting the bath.
Stiles was still just standing there, still no emotions coming off of him.
In all honesty, Derek had no idea what to do, he only distinctly knew that this could be something like a mental lockdown when everything has been too much and the mind has shut itself down in a flutter of hope to stay safe, to survive.
Without saying anything, Derek slowly and carefully undressed Stiles, noting that there really were no injuries visible.
He turned to stop the water running, checking if the water in the bath was in the right temperature before slowly coaxing Stiles into it.
Stiles just sat there, all rigid without feeling.
Derek slowly helped lay Stiles down, holding the back of his head with one hand.
He kneeled next to the bath, just holding Stiles into scented water, brushing the hair back from his forehead, trying to see some light into these unseeing eyes.
Derek didn't know what to say, he had never been exactly good with words.
For one fleeting moment he wished that his mother would still be here, she would know what to do.
Derek let out a shaky breath, cupping Stiles' cheek in an attempt to pull some pain but there was nothing to pull. Stiles was an empty shell floating in the scented bathtub water.
Derek was sure that if he would pull his hands back, Stiles wouldn't even notice himself slipping under water and drowning.
Derek hated even the thought of it.
He pulled Stiles back into sitting position, starting to wash him while murmuring some random poetry that he had read a while back. Somehow it felt right to just talk to Stiles, talk about something but nothing at the same time.
When Derek was finished washing him, he picked Stiles out of the bath, wrapping him into an overly fluffy towel that Stiles liked so much, just holding him close for a moment longer before leading this shell of Stiles to their bedroom.
He saw his phone flashing with incoming calls but right now he couldn't find it in himself to face the sheriff and explain what was happening with his son.
Derek sat Stiles down, dressing him quickly into some pajamas.
He stayed kneeled down in front of Stiles, just staring him in the eyes, searching, searching for something but finding nothing.
It really was like Stiles wasn't even there, like he was gone to the world.
Derek raked one hand through his hair, feeling anxious himself.
- Fuck, you will hate me about this but I need to at least try. - Derek stood up, pecking Stiles softly on his temple before sitting down next to him, resting one hand against the back of Stiles' neck.
He took a couple of deep breaths, watching Stiles the whole time.
- I'm sorry. - Derek whispered, letting his claws out.
He hated the feeling and the sound of them sinking into Stiles body but he also knew that he couldn't back out.
Derek was pulled hard, his whole body twisting but then there they were, standing in the middle of the fight.
Stiles was right in front of the evil spirit, it trying to force its way into Stiles.
Stiles was in agony, scream escaping after scream but he fought back, he needed to fight back, he couldn't let this happen a second time.
Flashes of his time as Nogitsune run through his own mind but he tried his best to push it all down, he couldn't go through it the second time, he couldn't, he still wasn't over everything that happened while he was in the Void.
The spirit kept pushing, laughing at him and his will but Stiles kept standing, ignoring the pain tearing him apart from the inside.
The spirit tried a different type of attack, trying to bend Stiles, just enough to control.
Stiles understood what was happening but it was still too late, panic too high.
All of a sudden there was his mother, looking down at him with disgust.
- I never wanted a child. You were an abnormality. The reason why I got sick and why I died. -
Then it was his father, flushed with anger and hate burning in his eyes, pointing at Stiles.
- You killed your mother and now you are killing me! What was I supposed to do with such a monster like you?! You shouldn't have been born! -
It twisted and then there was Scott.
- I am so tired of your bullshit, you are always just holding me back. And all your whining. I don't care! I wish that the Void would have killed you. You deserved to be killed. -
Then it was Allison, bleeding out.
- You did this, you killed me. -
Then it was everyone else who was a victim to Nogitsune while it ruled over Stiles, all chanting one thing, that it was Stiles' fault, that Stiles did this to them, that he deserves to die.
One after one, persons who have died or been hurted came haunting Stiles, screaming that it was his fault, that he's a monster.
Then they were gone and it was only Derek standing in front of Stiles, a hard look on his face.
- You disgust me. I should have killed you the first time I saw you. I could never love you. No one could ever love you. You are an abnormality. A monster. And You deserve to die. I hate you. -
The spirit split and then it was all Pack and all Stiles' loved ones and friends standing around him, shouting him down, tripping Stiles into guilt.
Stiles couldn't breath, he was suffocating, guilt choking him.
He needed to get away but he couldn't move.
He could feel a panic attack coming but everyone around him just laughed and laughed, the shrill sound ringing in Stiles ears.
He needed to get away.
He couldn't do this, he couldn't.
Everything was just too much and he couldn't breath.
It hurt too much and he couldn't breath.
He needed to move but he couldn't breath.
He needed to get away but he couldn't breath.
He tried to squeeze his eyes shut but he couldn't breath.
Everything was spinning and he couldn't breath.
He couldn't breath.
It was like something breaking inside him, like a switch breaking off and water rushing out, drowning everything in its way.
Stiles let it sweep him away.
Laughter died away, hateful looks erased. Dark settling around him.
He still couldn't breath but at least now it was quiet, now it was safer.
So Stiles just pulled in on himself, trying to twist as small as possible, closing his eyes and letting into the peace.
He just couldn't breath but maybe breathing wasn't so necessary anymore, he was safe.
Derek pulled back with a half gasp half snarl, his fangs scraping his lips, he pulled his flaws back.
A soft gasp left Stiles' lips, them staying parted.
Derek stayed still for a moment, too disoriented to move, trying to will his wolf side to back down.
He slowly pulled Stiles closer, holding him secured against his own chest, pulling a blanket over them both.
He was cold but he just pulled Stiles closer, nuzzling against his ear.
- You can breathe. You can breath, Stiles. Breath. - He murmured softly, letting his own breath ghost over Stiles' ear.
For a long moment nothing happened but then a blink, Stiles blinked, once and then again, as if waking up from deep sleep.
Derek pulled him even closer, nuzzling deeper against him, placing a soft kiss right under Stiles' ear.
A soft shudder shook Stiles body, then nothing.
Derek waited and waited, just holding him, letting his breath ghost over Stiles' skin, holding him softly against his own chest.
Then there it was, a whiff of sadness, distant but still there.
- Breath, Stiles, just breath. - Derek breathed out, placing another soft kiss against Stiles' skin.
A crushing wave of sadness rolled over them but Derek just nuzzled against Stiles' temple, placing a soft kiss there.
A choked sob escaped Stiles' parted lips, hot tears starting to roll down his cheeks.
Derek held him secured against his own chest, feeling every rock of sobs breaking out of Stiles' body, letting tears wet his shirt and skin, he held on for dear life afraid to let Stiles go.
Soon the sobs died down, Stiles fingers shakingly digging into Derek's shirt, holding on, just holding on.
A minute or more before the second wave of tears came, Derek held him through it, never saying anything, knowing that words would do nothing right now, just holding on, just holding on, holding Stiles together till Stiles will be able to hold himself together.
When the first rays of sun shined over them, Stiles nuzzled deeper against Derek's neck, letting out a soft breath, too tired to move.
Derek placed a soft kiss against the top of Stiles' head, finally closing his own eyes, letting sleep take over now that he knew that Stiles was safe.
They held on, holding each other together because that's what you do when you're someone's anchor and someone's love, you hold on, just hold on.