"I'll walk you to the door," Derek said as he stopped in front of Florence's house.
"Oh, it's ok. You don't have to do that." She unbuckled her seat belt and opened the car door, putting a foot out.
"Well I'm gonna." He did the same, and while she got out of the car, he walked around to her side and rested a hand on her hip, forgetting about the wounds he made. When she winced, he felt guilt erupt from his gut all the way up to his throat.
He immediately pulled his hand away. "I'm sorry."
"It's ok, Der," she said happily with a smile on her face. But through her cheery voice, he could hear her heartbeat pick up... It killed him. She lied.
All he could was stare down at her, guilt burning in his eyes. He swallowed and nodded, his head snapping to the door when he heard it open.
"Florence!"
Shit.
"Good morning, Mom," Florence said as a woman about two inches taller than her with brown hair and brown eyes ran out to her, capturing her in a tight hug.
"Don't you, 'Good morning, Mom' me! I called the cops on your ass because you scared me so badly!"
Derek, who had taken a step back from the two women, froze and his eyes widened slightly, but he said nothing.
"Yeah, what happened with the cops anyway?" Florence asked, looking at her boyfriend with a slightly apologetic expression. He only shook his head and waved her a single sign of dismissal.
"The stupid bastards wouldn't do anything," she grumbled, pulling away from her daughter and putting her hands on her hips, "because it hadn't been over twenty-four hours since you left."
Florence sighed and took a step closer to Derek, wrapping her arms around his right bicep and resting her head on his shoulder. When she noticed her mother's eyes observing her apparel, her cheeks turned a light shade of red.
"Florence."
"Yes, Momma?"
"Where are your clothes?" The older woman crossed her arms and put all of her weight on her left leg.
"Uh..." she swallowed and looked up at Derek, fear in her eyes.
"They're on the table in my loft," he stated, his voice calm.
"Is that so?"
"Yes, ma'a-" he was cut off when the short woman took a step toward him and grabbed his ear, pulling him down so he was below her level. He yelped in pain and scrunched his face, not wanting to pull away because he knew it would only make it worse.
"Mom! What are you-" Florence was cut off by her mother's hand waving her off.
"Derek, I already know that you had sex with her. I don't need a reminder of it."
"I-I'm sorry!"
She gave his ear a hard yank, making an, "Ah!" esacpe his lips, before she brought him up to her eye level. "Don't be sorry. I know it had to happen sometime."
"Then why are you so pissed off about it?!" he asked, confusion all over his face.
"I'm not!" she giggled, "I just love to mess with you."
"Why are you pulling my ear then...?"
"I may not be mad, but I still am irritated," she informed, her voice more serious, "You knew I didn't want her to do that yet, but you guys did it anyway. You're lucky I'm not going to kick your ass just to get my point across."
"Alright, but why won't you?"
"Because you're too cute!" she said as she released his ear and patted his cheek.
Derek stood straight and rubbed his burning ear, clear irritation in his eyes. He liked Florence's mom. Really. But sometimes, she annoyed the hell out of him with being so unpredictable with her emotions.
Florence's eyes darted back and forth between the two as Derek said, "Well good to know."
Linda, Florence's mother, was about to speak but her eldest daughter of her two children stepped out of the front door and stood on the porch while Colven ran past her and to Florence.
"Aunnee!" he exclaimed, wrapping his arms around her hips and hugging her with all of his strength. "I mi'ed you! Where di' you go?"
She smiled brightly and rested her hands on his back. "I stayed at Derek's place last night."
"Ohh, you mean the 'cary castle?" he asked, his eyes locked on hers.
"Yeah, baby," she giggled, "The castle. But it's not scary."
"I know! I's jus' dark!" he buried his face in her hip, and his voice was muffled, "I don' like the dark."
Florence rubbed circles into his back, looking at Derek, who was looking back at her.
I'm the reason why children keep nightlights.
"That's alright, Colven. The dark is where the monsters hide because they're afraid of people being afraid of them. They don't want to hurt you."
"Really?"
Derek said nothing. All he could do was stare at her as he felt his emotions churning deep within his chest. I bet you wouldn't say that if you knew the monster's past.
She gave him a small smile before she looked back down at her nephew. "Really."
Colven nodded and pulled his arms away from her, taking a step back to look at Derek. "Are you 'fraid of the dark?"
It took him a while to answer, so long Florence began to wonder if he was.
Finally, "No. The dark is comforting to me."
Although she was able to keep anyone from noticing the hurt she felt hearing him say that, Colven was not. The child visually saddened and beckoned him down, to which Derek knelt. Linda tilted her head slightly and felt a small ache in her chest. She could always tell something bothered him, but she never thought it would be so bad as to the point where he found comfort in darkness.
When Derek was at his level, Colven wrapped his arms around his neck. The wolf slowly brought his hands up to the toddler's waist in an attempt to return the gesture.
"You shou'nt like the dark, Puppy... The dark is bad. The dark is where sad people 'tay... So be in the light, ok? 'Cause tha's where the happy is. Aunnee really like you, so she happy when you're happy. So you need to be happy, ok?"
Derek didn't know how else to respond, other than to nod while saying, "Yeah... Yeah, I'll be happy." When he looked up at Florence, he swore he saw her eyes watering.
The two-year-old let go of his neck and smiled brightly at him. "T'ank you, Puppy!"
Derek looked back at the child and his lips pulled to a small smile. "No problem, Colt." He then stood and glanced at Florence, wishing he could have his jacket back for a brief moment. But the thought of her out in the open with nothing but a tank top, not even a bra, that was too big for made him realize that she needed it much more than he did. Not only that, but it was still rather cold out.
"So, um, I should get going," He mumbled. In the middle of his sentance, he heard a cell phone vibrating. He quickly looked between Florence and her mother, but neither of them were responding to the phone. Looking past them, he saw Londong, Colven's mother, answering an incoming call. Derek really wasn't the type to listen in on other people's conversations unless he needed information, nor did he care to. He was actually about to tune out of her greeting, but he stopped when he heard the caller's voice.
Derek frowned ever-so-slightly and listened in on their conversation.
"So you don't want me to tell Florence, right?" London asked, covering the ear she didn't have her phone to with an index finger.
"No. I want this to be a surprise." That voice... He knew that voice. Her voice. It was so familiar...
"Alright. So where are you?"
"Just down the street. I'll be pulling up to the house in maybe a minute or so."
He couldn't help but notice the excitement in both of the girls' voices, making him wonder what the hell was going on. An old friend, maybe? But why is her voice so familiar...?
"Derek?" Florence asked, waving a hand in front of his face.
He blinked and glanced around, noticing Linda had taken her grandson into the house followed by London, before he focused on her. "Huh?"
She frowned slightly with a tilt of her head. "You said you were going to go, so I was saying goodbye."
"Oh... Sorry. I was just zoning out for a second."
"Yeah," she said with a small giggle. "I could see that."
Florence slipped her arms under his and hugged his waist, resting her head on his chest, to which Derek wrapped his arms around her shoulders and held her close. There was this horrible feeling in his gut, one that he hated... He just had no clue why. He pulled her closer and buried his face in her neck, smelling her scent. Derek felt the nerves in his abdomen relax, making him exhale what seemed to be relief.
He could hear a car coming... It wasn't very far, maybe a quarter of a mile away.
The bad feeling came back.
"Are you alright, Der?" she asked, tilting her head slightly so he could have more access to her neck. She really didn't know how, but she just... Knew... That he needed her scent.
"Yeah," his voice was low and smooth, but he just seemed like he was bothered- more than usual. "I just... I just really love you, ok? I love you more than everything in this world and I wouldn't trade you for anything."
Florence smiled and hugged him tighter. "I love you too, Derek."
The car was getting closer... So much closer...
Derek inhaled her scent again, trying to push the sound away. Someone was coming... Someone that could change everything, and that bothered him. No... It made him to the point where he was afraid.
"You know if something's bothering you, you can tell me, right?"
He nodded, closing his eyes tightly when he heard the he car pull up to the house. He heard a door open and close. A very familiar scent wafted through the air, one that made him feel sick with guilt... He nuzzled his noze to her neck and kept his back to the street. He didn't want to see her face... He didn't want to hear her voice again. He didn't want to smell her scent. Not again.
"Ay, Florence! How come I'm not getting any of this fluffy lovin'?!" He knew that voice.
Florence peeked out from behind Derek, only to see a girl about her height with long, curly blond hair and bright blue eyes running up to her. "Kory?!"
Derek's eyes widened and his heart began pounding in his chest. Before he knew it, Florence was out of his arms. He quickly turned and found her embracing the other girl in a very tight hug... He could hear his own heart pounding in his chest, but he did manage to relax his eyes so as to not show shock.
He knew this girl, Kory. He remembered her, even though he didn't want to. The last time he saw her, she was running out the door with tears pouring out of her eyes. He must have been sixteen years old...?
No. He wouldn't think of that. He couldn't. Right then, he needed to make sure Florence had no idea he knew this girl.
Since Florence was facing the street, Kory could get a good look at Derek. In the matter of seconds the hug between the girls lasted, Kory's eyes widened and the smile she had faded when she saw him.
Derek?
He shot her a deadly glare- he didn't intend to, but he was afraid...- and held his index finger to his lips.
She swallowed and stared at him, but she quickly put up that smile she wore so well when Florence began pulling away from the hug.
"What are you doing here?!" she asked, clear happiness and excitement in her voice.
"I thought I'd come by and surprise my best friend, whom I haven't seen in God knows how long," she laughed, glancing at Derek.
"Three years! God, I missed you so much!" Florence screamed with a huge smile on her face.
"I missed you too, Florence," Kory kept smiling, even as she listened to his heart beating...
"Hey," Derek was suddenly behind Florence, more to her right, and he placed a hand on her shoulder blade, "I'm going to get going. I'll see you la-"
"Oh, but Derek! You need to stay!"
"What? Why?" he asked, clearly not enjoying the idea.
"Because! This is my best friend I was telling you about a few months ago! You know the one that moved to Colorado?"
"Yeah..." he said, forcing himself to look at Kory. He needed to make it look like he didn't know her... "I remember something about that."
Kory understood. He didn't want Florence to know that they knew each other... Yeah, it irritated her, but she couldn't think about that at the moment. She knew she would have to go along with it, with him.
"Hi," she smiled and held a hand out to him, "I'm Kory."
"Derek," his voice was low and smooth, and he took her hand and shook it briefly before letting go. She remembered how it felt to have his hand holding hers...
"He's my boyfriend," Florence giggled as she wrapped her arms around Derek's left bicep and hugged it, clear happiness radiating from her body.
If anything, that was what kept Derek from walking away. She was so happy... It pained him to think about leaving her side then.
Kory smiled and looked up at him. It wasn't forced... It was a smile. A real smile. "He seems like a nice guy."
"He is! It was his birthday yesterday, you know."
I know.
"Florence..."
"Oh really?" Kory giggled.
"Mhm. He turned tweny-three."
"Well, happy birthday, Derek," Kory said warmly.
Is she faking this? I can't tell...
"Thanks," he grumbled, glancing at his car. "But, babe, I really need to get going..."
Kory sighed lightly, going unnoticed by her best friend. Derek, however caught it, and looked her dead in the eye.
There were several things he would have expected to see when he looked into her eyes. He was sure he'd see pain, anger, betrayel, hatred, all directed to him. But one thing he did not expect to see was... Happiness. He could see it in her eyes as if everything between them that happened in the past was gone... Until he looked further. Then he saw it. The hurt... It was just barely there, but he found it.
Damn, she's gotten good at covering up her feelings.
He could tell she was taking in deeper breaths through her nose as she smelled the air... Smelled him.
Derek frowned slightly, but he kept his mouth shut. Kory's a wolf... And Florence doesn't know? Some friendship they have... But then I only just told her.
"Hey, Der?" Florence asked as she looked up at him.
He tilted his head down to her. "Yeah?"
"Can I borrow your car?"
"What?!" He nearly choked. "No!"
She tried to look sad, but she really couldn't do it. Florence giggled and shook her head only to let go of his arm and cross her arms. "I was kidding. I know you won't let anyone drive your car unless you're with them."
Kory couldn't help but smile at the scene. Her best friend with the first person she fell in love with... With the person she still somehow loves.
"Well, looks like someone is protective," she small blond observed.
Florence smiled and looked at her best friend. "You have no idea."
The wolf sighed lightly and glanced around, shoving his hands in his jacket pockets, then cleared his throat and looked down at his girlfriend. "You enjoy your friend. I'm gonna get back to the loft."
"Aww ok..." she pouted, hugging him one last time then tilting her head up to kiss him. He smiled slightly and leaned down, catching her lips with his.
Kory remembered when he would kiss her like that. It hurt to see another girl with him... Again... but she was more so afraid for her friend. What does she know about him...? I never told her anything about what happened with him... Or that I even had a boyfriend... Kory had to stop herself from showing anything but happiness. If Florence saw how bad she felt, she would never get her friend to leave her alone about it, which would ultimately lead to explaining how she knew Derek... Which was something she both regreted but would not trade for anything- if that makes any sense at all.
When the couple pulled apart, Kory smiled and looked up at Derek. "You better be taking care of her, Derek."
Florence's eyes brightened and she hugged him again, "He is, even if he doesn't know it."
He couldn't help but smile slightly as he hugged her back. "He knows it. I'll see you later, ok?"
"K. Bye," she kept up that beautiful smile as she kissed his cheek, to which Kory awwed.
Derek smiled a little more then let go of her and walked to his car and was just about to open the door when he was stopped by Florence calling to him. "Wait, what about your jacket?"
"I'll get it later," he said as he opened the door.
"Are you sure? I mean this is your jacket..."
"Yeah," he said, waving her off, "don't worry about it."
"Alright," she couldn't help but feel incredibly happy with being able to stay wrapped up in the jacket's warmth. It smelled like him, it was warm like him... She loved it.
With that, Derek got into the car and started it up, one hand on the steering wheel. The radio immdiately started playing, and Kory could tell which song it was even though Florence couldn't even hear it. It crippled him. He couldn't move... He could only stop and listen to the song while gripping the wheel tightly.
-Don't wanna live!
I don't wanna breathe
Unless I feel you next to me!
You take the pain I feel!
Waking up to you never felt so real!
All Kory could do was listen and feel the pain she felt every time she heard that damned song...
I don't wanna sleep!
I don't wanna dream!
'Cuz my dreams don't comfort me!
The way you make me feel!
Waking up to yo-
He shut off the radio and drove away.
He couldn't allow himself to feel even worse about what happened with her. He wouldn't.
"If I'm an asshole for that, great," he mumbled to himself as he slid a CD into the stereo and turned up the volume loud enough for people outside of the car to hear it, "but I'm not going to let my past hurt her."
With the sound of the heavy and brutal metal blasting, he felt the anger that constantly burned deep within his chest rising to the surface like magma. Derek screamed the lyrics in his mind while the singer, James Hetfeild, unleashed his voice.
End of passion play, crumbling away
I'm your source of self-destruction
Veins that pump with fear, sucking dark is clear
Leading on your death's construction
Taste me you will see
More is all you need
Dedicated to
How I'm killing you!
Come crawling faster
Obey your master
Your life burns faster
Obey your master
Master!
Derek felt his heart pick up as he listened to the lyrics. Just obey your fucking master, Derek...
Master of puppets, I'm pulling your strings
Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams
Blinded by me, you can't see a thing
Just call my name 'cause I'll hear you scream
Master!
Master!
Just call my name, 'cause I'll hear you scream
Master!
Master!
Who was his master? Laura? His mother? Haha no, they were dead because of him. Maybe it was Florence? She seemed to have a way of ruling him, what with the way she could just ask him for something and he'd obey. Or maybe it was Kory since she had the power to just walk in and tear everything apart with just a few words. Or was it even a real person?
Needlework the way, never you betray
Life of death becoming clearer
Pain monopoly, ritual misery
Chop your breakfast on a mirror
Taste me you will see
More is all you need
Dedicated to
How I'm killing you!
Come crawling faster
Obey your master
Your life burns faster
Obey your master
Master!
Master of puppets, I'm pulling your strings
Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams
Blinded by me, you can't see a thing
Just call my name 'cause I'll hear you scream
Master!
Master!
Just call my name, 'cause I'll hear you scream
Master!
Master!
Was it his past? If anything, it sure as hell seemed so. His past always crushed him whenever he found something good and tore its remains apart. It was tearing him apart! Everything he tried to do would be destroyed! Anything that he loved would be demolished and there was nothing he could do about it because... How can a slave disobey his master without being beaten?
Master! Master!
Where're the dreams that I've been after?
Master! Master! You promised only lies!
Laughter, laughter, all I hear or see is laughter
Laughter, laughter, laughing at my cries!
Hell is worth all that, natural habitat
Just a rhyme without reason
Neverending daze, drift on numbered days
Now your life is out of season
He was tired of being fucking ruled by his mistakes! He was tired of having to keep everything away from the woman he loved! He was tired of the anger! He was tired of the pain! He was tired of living every single fucking day of his life in the shadows because every time he stepped into the light, someone got hurt! He was tired of being a danger! He was tired of remembering! He was tired of looking down at his hands and seeing them covered in his family's blood! He was tired of being a slave!
But mostly... He was tired of the fact that he was exhausted, so he had to keep himself alive with pure rage.
I will occupy
I will help you die
I will run you through
"Now I rule you too!" he growled as the last line of that stanza was sung.
Come crawling faster!
Obey your master!
Your life burns faster!
Obey oyour master!
Master!
Master!
Master of puppets, I'm pulling your strings
Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams
Blinded by me, you can't see a thing
Just call my name, 'cause I'll hear you scream
Master!
Master!
Just call my name 'cause I'll hear you scream!
Master!
Master!
I know you can hear me, he thought as a low growl rumbled in his chest, but I'm so fucking tired of being your god damned slave.
Who was he referring to?
Himself.
*takes in a deep breath then exhales* Ok... So this is what happens when I listen to Metallica while writing O_o I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! :3
Disclaimer: the song Master of Puppets belongs to it's rightful owners.