Chapter 30 - Brother
Swinging his legs backward as his upper body leaned forward, he used the momentum to swing his legs forward to gain more speed. He glanced to the left of him watching Scott do the same, the both of them swinging in sync. Stiles was counting down from five, eagerly watching them.
''Three...Two...Jump!'' he shouted and the both of them jumped, Mickeys' arms flayed like a bird as he stared down at the ground hoping for a safe landing.
He hit the ground hard, the pain soaring through his bone as laughter filled him up. He fell over onto his back, making sure his feet remained where he'd landed as Stiles started to draw a line between the two boys to see who'd managed to land the furthest away from the swings.
''How far was that?'' he asked as he finally sta himself upright, looking towards the swing feeling pleased by how far he'd managed to jump.
A groaned made him look towards his left where Scott laid holding onto his leg, Mickey smiled as he leaned over to pat the other on his shoulder. Scott smiled at him as Stiles positioned himself in front of them, his expression serious as he'd taken to be the judge of their little competition, ''Mickey remains as the undefeated winner of swing jumping.''
''Better luck next time,'' Mickey teased causing Scott to punch his shoulder, they both started to laugh while Stiles rolled his eyes.
Staring at the empty swing the memories swam through his mind, there were so many it almost overwhelmed him. Scott and Stiles had been part of Mickeys' whole life, they'd been like brothers. They fought countless times growing up but they'd always made up in a matter of hours, putting their differences aside because they knew the other was more important to themselves than anything else. Mickey and Scott in particular butted heads thousands of times but that was the reason they'd grown so close because they accepted the other for who they were. They were family and nothing could come between that. Stiles had always been Mickeys' rock, someone he could rely on in hard times. Stiles was the one who stood between Mickey and Scott, was the reason when they refused to listen to each other. They each were a piece needed to make a whole, to make it work.
He'd never had to stand alone during hard times, he felt lost without his two best friends by his side. But there was nothing he could do about it, he'd already fucked that up. He could still taste the blood in his mouth, felt it against his skin. It was reminding him that he was alone, that he could never return. Maybe it was for the best after all monsters should stick with other monsters.
His feet had moved on their own and once he finally looked up he realized he was stood in the middle of the lacrosse field, huge and empty as the school was closed during the break. It was a time in life when he'd considered joining the boys in their pursuit to become regulars on the lacrosse team, hell the Coach had been on his case for weeks after he decided to quit.
Sitting down on the bench where he'd been watching the guys play, it felt warm underneath him like he'd been seated there for longer. His phone vibrated in his pocket bringing him back from his memories, his green eyes looking down as he held up the phone.
Stiles, he'd been calling once every day since the night Mickey went out to look for him. He'd texted several more times telling Mickey of how they'd saved Jackson and turned him into a werewolf, hos Scott had defeated Gerard but how the old hunter had disappeared. At least he couldn't do any more harm, he'd been bitten all while having mountain ashe in his blood. So everything had worked out just fine without him, he knew it would.
They hadn't spoken in weeks but Mickey realized that he wouldn't be able to ignore him for much longer, not as long as they remained in the same small town. So he pressed down on the answer button, slowly putting the device to his ear as he closed his eyes to find the courage to speak, ''Hey.''
''Hey? Is that all you have to say after all these weeks? I've been worried sick about you!'' Stiles's voice was frantic and surprised, he'd probably not thought Mickey would pick up his call. It made the blonde smile but Stiles wasn't done, ''You haven't answered any of my text or calls, where have you been? Allison told Scott that she met you the night all crap was going down, why didn't you contact us? Did something happen? Is it because of Scott? He said you guys were good though. Is it something about your mom, heard you were last seen with her?''
''Dude, chill,'' Mickey finally cut in knowing Stiles would go on for hours if he let him, he sighed while combing his free hand through his hair realizing how long it had gotten, ''I'm sorry I didn't contact you, things came up.''
''Well at least now I know you're still alive,'' Stiles sounded irritated but relieved, calmer than before but still filled with questions, ''Seriously though where are you? You safe?''
It depended on how technical one would be, in a way he was safe but it depended on how one would consider safe. He was safe in the way that no one was trying to kill him, he was in danger at the fact that he was kind of being held against his will and manipulating into doing stuff he didn't want to do. He'd killed someone because of his father and Deucalion was trying to use him into having more people killed, so maybe he wasn't particularly safe.
''I'm doing good, don't worry about it,'' he finally said as he stared out onto the empty field, his heart ached but he refused to seek comfort in the one person he'd betrayed. Stiles was only caring for him because he still didn't know what Mickey had done, once he did their friendship would be forever over.
''If you were good I wouldn't be worrying, dude what's going on?'' Stiles wasn't believing him, it was the reason why he was such a good friend. Contrary to what people believe Stiles was an observant person, he cared deeply for those around him and noticed the small things ordinary people would miss.
Smiling sadly, Mickey felt his eyes sting but refused to be so weak. He needed his friend, needed someone he could open up to about what he'd done. His tongue tasted iron as if he'd cut something in his mouth, his throat felt restricted as if the blood on his skin was trying to choke him. He'd killed Erica, he wanted to say it out loud.
Instead, he felt his arm grow limp, the phone hanging loosely in his hand as it hung next to his knees. He sucked in a breath trying to compose himself as he heard Stiles call out to him through the speakers but he couldn't answer him, it only seemed worse as Scotts' voice cit into the conversation as he asked what was going on.
''Mike, hey Mike. Don't worry dude we'll find you, alright? Stay there and Scott will find you,'' Stiles's voice was hurried but filled with promise, it was the words Mickey desperately craved for but even so he knew that he couldn't meet them.
He stood, staring down at the device in his hand. He couldn't meet them, couldn't tell them what he'd done because he couldn't take watching them walk away from him. So he sucked in a rugged breath, ''Don't, doesn't come. I'll make it right, I'll fix this.''
''Fix what, what's going on Mike?'' Stiles's voice was growing more desperate with each word but Mickey cut the call, he would make it all good again. He would keep his friends safe, the alphas wouldn't get to them.
...
When he walked through the entrance he could hear the sound of struggle further in the building, a girl screaming as she fought a losing battle. He didn't bother to hurry his steps, there was nothing he could do for her anyway. When he finally reached the room he saw the back of Deucalion and his father silently watching the scene unfold in front of them, a teenage girl fighting for her life as she tried to escape the grasp of Kali and Ennis. She looked to be around Mickeys' age with dark hair and an angry look in her eyes, he didn't blame her for it.
There was nowhere for her to run, all exits blocked by towering alphas, and by the look of her eyes, she was just a beta. Still, she put up a fight, she was strong but not enough so. Mickey remained silent as he came to a halt next to his father, the man didn't acknowledge him but Mickey knew for sure that he'd noticed Mickey the second he reached the building.
''What do you even want with me!?'' the girl snarled as both her arms were grabbed, held uncomfortably behind her back to stop her from the further struggle. Her eyes were blazing as she glared directly at Deucalion, clearly knowing who was in charge.
The man merely smiled as he took a few steps closer, even without his sight he feared nothing surrounded by his packmates, ''It's not you in particular that interests me, more so your brother.''
Brother? Looking at the girl there was only one possible candidate, another one of Derek's' betas they would use against the alpha to make him join their pack. Mickey shifted as the girl suddenly took notice of him, he probably stuck out like sour thumb amongst the battle ridden alphas.
They didn't dwell further on the subject as she was hauled off to be put in the vault, to share her final days confined with Boyd. The thought of Boyd made Mickey nauseous, so he shook it off to focus on Deucalion.
The man sensed his stare as he turned towards Mickey, hand on his cane as he patiently awaited the teens' question. It annoyed Mickey but he straightened his back as he stared the man straight on, ''You said you said you wanted Derek and Scott in your pack, I can't- won't give you Scott but I won't hold any loyalty for Derek. I'll help you get Derek, only if you promise not to touch Scott.''
He seemed to think about it for a second, Mickeys' father staring at him with a humored smile on his lips but Mickeys stare remained on Deucalion as he awaited his answer. He'd made up his mind and now it was the alphas turn to either take it or not, Mickey was prepared for either answer.
''You're prepared to go against Scott to keep him safe?'' Deucalion asked already knowing Mickeys' answer, because yes he would do anything to keep Scott safe. He'd already betrayed Scott to the point that he would never be forgiven, at least this way he could make sure Scott wouldn't become like himself.
''You gonna accept the offer or not?'' he was feeling restless, nervous for what he was promising. If Deucalion agreed it would mean that Mickey truly would become a monster, it didn't matter because he needed to keep his friends safe.
The alpha chuckled but nodded none the less, a curt nod of agreement and their deal was struck. Mickey would help Deucalion to force Derek into joining the pack, he would fight his friends. He would be the cause of more death but at least Scott wouldn't, Scott would remain innocent and pure. Stiles wouldn't be left alone because he would have Scott, both of them would be fine. It was all that mattered, Mickey sighed tiredly as he glanced at his father. The man was watching him in amusement, it made the teen frown but as Deucalion turned to walk away he for once didn't walk the other way.