Author's Note: Another visualizer, I envisioned Lyall Payne being played by Colin O'Donoghue.
| Clean House |
Scott watched the shadows of the tree branches dance across his moonlit ceiling. He was lying in bed clad in nothing but his boxer-briefs, his hand resting on his stomach. He couldn't sleep. His alarm clock dimly read 3:00 AM. He thought back, recalling memories from only a few hours ago…
They were in the sheriff's station. His dad, Argent, Parrish, and himself. Stiles and his father were with them, Argent recounting the arrival of his mother, her search for Kate, her plans for the Hales and Scott's pack and any and all remaining supernatural creatures in Beacon Hills. He told them that his mother left many years ago to fight a war against the supernatural in the Middle East—before the Hale fire—and hadn't heard from her since. She'd always been ruthless, but this lust for bloodshed on a grand scale was new for him per what he could remember about her. He informed them that she had also been well prepped before arriving, knowledgeable of a great deal of the town's recent history.
And now, with Gerard by her side, she'd have an even greater insight and an almost equally dangerous ally by her side. Argent even admitted that he wouldn't be surprised if she had a copy of the deadpool. The sheriff mentioned bringing her in for questioning, even just to give them all time. Argent explained their family's influence, that with Helena's return to Beacon Hills it'd only increased. Unlike many of the hunter families around the world, the Argents were one of the oldest, most dedicated, persistent, and successful. Their reputation was unparalleled even despite the few setbacks in recent years.
So they devised a plan. Everyone would keep in twos. Satomi's pack and Eichen House would be put on high alert. Rafe would place a few calls to trusted agents about chatter and they even considered starting a formal investigation; further, Rafe's field partner was already en route from San Francisco. Braeden was to arrive within the next 12 hours. Isaac was to be checked on. An APB was placed on their vehicles—traffic cams had caught their license plates. Scott had even secretly sent a text to Deucalion.
At the end of their discussion, Rafe had asked Argent where Kate actually was. He explained that he was keeping her in a safehouse with various security measures involved designed to keep her in. There was video surveillance as well as a trusted man, one with whom he needed to call. Stiles asked what his parents planned to do with her. Rather than being direct, he responded with a question, inquiring if they knew how his wife died. As only Scott and Stiles did, he explained: the Code, Gerard, Derek's bite in an attempt to save Scott. The knife. Argent admitted Kate had done some horrible things, as both human and nagual, and although he tried several times he just couldn't kill his own sister. It was the sheriff who asked if his parents would. Argent, truthfully, didn't know…
The anxiety coursed through him. He tried to mentally scroll down his list, hoping that would provide him some semblance of assurance. Some calm. Argent was staying with Parrish. Satomi, Braeden, and Deucalion had each made contact. He'd had a Skype call with Isaac in France, something that had been increasingly regular since the final semester of high school started. Hayden and Malia had joined Lydia for a girls' night. Corey and Mason were staying over at the Hewitt's. Derek was staying with the Stilinskis. And Liam was in the guest bedroom just down the hall, Rafe opting to take the couch.
Scott listened closely, audibly mapping his household. Liam was tossing and turning while his mom slept soundly. His father, on the other hand, was very much awake, struggling just as much. He was at the kitchen table, the light on, a cup of coffee and papers somewhere in front of him. He could hear the buzzing of the light, the slide of fingers against sheets of paper, the light placement of a mug against the wood and a sip when it was brought to his lips. He found the three heartbeats to be the most soothing, allowing his own to slow.
It was short lived, the tapping on his window scaring the hell out of him.
/ | * | * | \
Deep in the Beacon Hills Reserve, Lyall Payne slowly treaded through the debris of needles, leaves, and other deposits from the trees. He was gloved, hooded and cloaked. After hours of walking he came upon a clearing. The ground between the trees was more dirt and dusty than anything else. The waning moon above lit up the entire area, the shallow wind revealing the bits of crab grass sprinkled throughout the grove. In the middle, though, was something found only in few places around the world. He paused at the treeline, looking over the enormous oak stump.
On the far side of the clearing, his peripheral caught sight of a stag slowly coming out between the trees. To his right, a wolf trotted out onto the dirt, its head low, no ill-intent seeming to resonate from it. From the sky above a crow descended, landing delicately on the man's shoulder. He took a step forward, and then another. Each of the animals stood still, the black bird maintaining its balance with ease as he walked. He removed his gloves when he came within feet of the nemeton, revealing tattoos of dara knots on his knuckles, each of them linked.
Lyall crouched down before it, hovering his hand over the enormous growth rings. When he finally touched it, his eyes rolled back. His neck strained so they could face the sky. He spasmed. Twitched. His muscles tightened. On his hand where he touched the bark his veins flowed black, his skin absorbing what looked like pain into his body. The wind picked up speed. The deer and the wolf crossed passes, going opposite directions into the woods. The crow jumped off his shoulder and landed high in a nearby tree.
Lyall's eyes rolled back into position. He took a prolonged deep breath before standing. From inside his cloak he retrieved a silver dagger. The wind suddenly stopped and he turned and thrusted the blade, driving it into the oni that had suddenly appeared behind him. The creature, intending to decapitate him, exploded. He looked around, but nothing came. He turned back to the nemeton and held out his wrist, slicing across it, letting blood drip onto the oak. The wind picked up again.
/ | * | * | \
"I couldn't sleep," Derek said as Scott got up to open the window. As he unlatched the lock and pulled up, the alarm went off downstairs and in the upper hallway. The young Hale quickly slipped in and Scott slammed the window shut. Then there were footsteps; his dad was coming. He ran over to the door and popped his head out, seeing Rafe with his gun pointing down at the ready and Liam behind him.
"I'm so sorry" Scott began. "I couldn't sleep and just wanted some fresh air. I forgot about the alarm. I'm really sorry." Down the hall he could see his mom's face, sleepy and irritable. She closed the door behind her after giving him a final look. Liam looked his alpha over, not sensing anything askew or reading a lie. He made for his room silently.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Rafe asked, his voice hushed.
His son nodded. "Promise."
"Alright. Well good night, buddy. Try and get some sleep." Scott nodded again and once he followed the sounds of his father's footsteps to the bottom of the stairs, he slipped back in. He held up his finger to Derek and listened, checking in on the sounds of the others. His mom was asleep and Liam's heart rate was slowing; in mere minutes, he was out cold.
"I guess you couldn't sleep either," Derek said after Scott turned to him, smirking.
"What're you doing here?" Scott said, his voice muffled yet forceful.
"I told you," he whispered. "I couldn't sleep."
"Right. But what're you doing here?"
"I didn't feel safe with the humans. And the pale one snores. A lot." Scott frowned. "Besides," Derek continued with a grin, "you're my alpha for now. Protect me." His shoulders arched back and his unbuttoned plaid shirt fell off to the floor. His hands moved to the button of his jeans, unlatching the first, all the while maintaining direct contact with Scott's eyes.
"Derek…?" Scott said slowly.
"I feel safer here," he replied, pushing his jeans down, tugging at the legs until he was left in only his grey wife-beater and green boxers. Scott could only look at him, mouth agape. Derek's grin widened, his eyebrows doing a brief dance. He turned around and slipped under the sheets, on Scott's side of the bed where the alpha had been only minutes before. Scott blinked out of his trance and Derek smiled up at him, flashing his teeth. The tanner-skinned boy, still at a loss, walked around to the other side of the bed and slipped under the shallow covers.
They were both on their backs, watching the shadow dance of the tree. When a brief moment passed, Scott finally said, "How are you? I mean, with everything we told you. I know we didn't last time and I'm sorry."
Derek's head turned slowly, Scott's following, their eyes meeting. "It's okay," Derek said, turning and looking back up; Scott didn't follow. "Actually, it's weird. I spent all day in the loft by myself. I mean, Deaton called to check in, but I was alone. With just my thoughts. I...I tried to be sad. To cry even. My mom. Dad. Laura. I should be sad. And angry. But something...something feels like I've already grieved. I've already cried. And because I can't remember, I just can't seem to get angry. It's weird. I mean, I am sad I guess. I miss them. But in some way, actually all the way, it feels like it all happened a long time ago. And I guess it did, right?"
Scott was silent. Derek turned to look at him again. Their gaze didn't hold long, Scott looking back up. "Yeah," was all he said.
Derek smiled lightly, following the motion again. He grinned harder to himself. He closed his eyes, rolling mostly onto his stomach towards Scott. In the same motion he draped his arm over Scott's bare torso, onto the alpha's abdomen. "Goodnight, Scott," he said through his smirk.
Scott's body stiffened, his cheeks blushing. He immediately recalled Stiles' words. He wanted you.
/ | * | * | \
Three SUVs pulled up next to a small abandoned building. "Madame," Martine said, twisting back from the passenger's seat to gently touch Helena Argent's knee. The matriarch stirred, looking up at the clock that read 4:00 AM. "We are here."
"Gerard," Helena said, squeezing his forearm. Gerard stirred and followed his wife as she got out. The teams from the other cars were already in position, one man already working on the advanced lock securing the door. When it finally released, he opened it and walked in. Standing in the center of the room was none other than Kate Argent, eyebrow raised and arms crossed. When Gerard entered, though, tears of happiness pushed to the fore. And then she saw Helena. She fell to the sofa against the wall and began to cry. The patriarch stepped off to the side as his wife ventured further inside. She sat next to her daughter, watching.
"Mama?" Kate said through her sobs.
"Katherine," Helena acknowledged with a smile before embracing her.
"I...I can't believe you're here. Both of you." Gerard smiled down at her, nevertheless still behind the mountain ash line. "Why?"
"I've come to take care of the Hales," Helena said. "For good."
"And Scott, do you know about Scott?"
"The true alpha, too."
Kate smiled, part of it relief, part of it that evil surge within her. "I can help. I want to help."
"I know. That's why we're here. To get you out. I love you, Katherine."
"I love you, too, mama." Helena cupped her daughter's cheek and smiled again. She took her daughter's hand and they stood, hugging once they were on their feet. They turned to leave when Helena reached into her long coat and retrieved a Desert Eagle. Kate stopped. Helena handed it to Gerard and eyed him. Watching. Kate went to plead, opening her mouth, but Gerard was too fast; if he'd had any hesitation it didn't show. The bullet shoved through her forehead and exploded.
Kate crumbled to the ground.
Gerard turned to see his wife looking approvingly at him. He handed her the pistol, in return stuffing it back in her coat. Helena turned to Martine and said, "Ring the Calaveras. Inform Araya that I just did her job."