| Time Will Tell |
Some of the SUVs and state cruisers began to pull away. By the perimeter of cars, Sheriff Stilinski was speaking with Rafe, Mack, and Luis. And the pack, they were bidding farewell to their allies. Deucalion shook hands with Deaton, while Derek walked up to Satomi. "You've been given a second life, Derek," the female alpha said with a smile. "I'm happy for you. Your mother…she was a kind woman. One I'm proud to have known, to have called my friend. With Scott McCall, you're in good hands, but if you ever need anything, you always have a place in my home."
"Thank you, Satomi-sama," Derek said, bowing.
"Come," she said, beckoning him in for a hug.
Off to the side, Brett pulled back from actually giving Liam a hug. As he did, he whispered in the shorter boy's ear, "Think about it," before kissing the side of his temple. With hesitation or a second glance, the Buddhist beta walked away towards his car, Satomi and Deaton sharing in a respectful bow before she followed. Hayden glared at Brett before turning her angry stare to her boyfriend.
"Hayden, you ready to go?" Valerie said, coming up to her sister. Hayden turned away from Liam and nodded. It was then that Mason put his hand comfortingly on Liam's shoulder and, with the other, put his thumb up and grinned as stupidly as he could.
/ | * | * | \
Two motorcycles parked at the entrance of the reserve, the more dirt-bike carrying two passengers. Scott and Stiles tore off their helmets and dismounted from it, their gaze quickly shifting to Eiji, looking for some semblance of direction. "Are you sure you should've come?" Stiles said to the kitsune.
"Your pack is not here," the fox pointed out. "Would you prefer to fight him alone?"
"Deaton said he has visions," Stile continued. "Premonitions? Won't he see you coming?"
Scott thought back to the moment after their saving…
Scott turned off the screen on his phone, dread overcoming him. Derek and Malia looked at him, sensing the shift inside him. Liam followed right after. Before he could explain anything, a sleek black sedan pulled up; out of the driver's side stepped Dr. Alan Deaton.
"You always arrive right when things are about to get worse," Malia said as the veterinarian walked up.
"'A wizard is never late,'" Stiles said. When no one laughed, he grumbled, "Unbelievable…"
"Did you find anything?" Liam said.
"I know what happened with Derek," Deaton said. "Right now, you have a more pressing matter. The Argents didn't come alone."
"You're talking about this 'Soothsayer?'" Lydia said.
"I am."
"Who is he?" Stiles said. "What is he?"
"His name is Lyall Payne. In Celtic society, three positions served as leadership roles. Druids weren't just knowledgable about the supernatural, they were also religious and legal authorities. They were healers and political advisors. Historians even. Then, there were bards. They were story-tellers and singers and musicians. They were masters of the oral tradition. But the third, they were few in number, yet the most revered. In Latin, they are called vates."
"Prophets," Lydia offered.
"Quite. The Romans thought of them as any other oracle—a mystic that may or may not know what they're talking about. A man designed to tell kings or emperors what they want to hear. But the vates, they actually can see into the future. Born of a druid mother and an alpha father, conceived on a full moon after the alpha bites his mate, that child can begin to see visions when they come in contact with the supernatural, be they creatures, or places."
"Like the nemeton," Stiles said.
"A few decades ago, the supernatural took power in Russia and the Middle East, controlling much of what historically would be the Silk Road trade route. As a gift, the old Order of Druids gifted a vates to the Argent family in service of bringing balance to the world. This is the war that Helena Argent went off to fight. Which is here. Now."
"Satomi told us about what he plans to do with the nemeton," Scott said. "What he wants with us." He handed him his phone, the text available to read. "Given how much chaos its brought, I'm not so sure it's a bad thing. To destroy it."
"But you'd die," Derek said.
"Scott," Satomi said. "Our world is just like the other: there's both good and bad. With or without the nemeton. Don't be so ready to give your life away when all these people need you."
"I just…" Scott started, but stopped himself…
"His powers do not work quite like that," Eiji said. "The short answer: he won't. He can't."
"Because of your affinity?" Stiles said; the ninja nodded in return. "Scott?"
"Can you defeat him?" the alpha asked. "I guess, really, what're we walking into?"
A howl ricocheted through the forest. A scream. Jordan.
"Throw him off guard," Eiji said, "and I will do the rest." Scott nodded. "I will only be able to do this once."
"The nemeton, it's hidden," Stiles said. "Use your fox eyes, though; that's how Liam and Mason found it." Eiji nodded and took off atop the trees. Scott and Stiles began to run, deeper and deeper towards the source of the howl. All too soon, though, Scott heard it. An ultrasonic emitter.
"Careful," Scott said to his best friend, tapping his ear. He looked around, scanning with red eyes for the enormous tree stump. Scott and Stiles creeped closer and closer towards the emitter, even to the point where Stiles could hear it faintly. The alpha eventually spotted the flashing bulb in the ground, and beyond that, maybe 50 yards ahead, the beacon that gave the town its name. There, slumped against it, was Chris Argent. Unconscious. And Jordan, only feet from him, impaled on a pike sticking in the ground. They tried to detour the emitter to the left but suddenly heard a snap.
They turned and Stiles was clubbed on his forehead. He went down. Scott turned to attack. Lyall was ready, silver knife in one hand and claw-tipped brass knuckles in the other, a yellow goo oozing off the edges. He shouldn't have been able to match Scott's speed or strength for a human, and definitely not anticipate each of Scott's movements. The visions—of course! Scott was forced on the defense, almost as if the man had seen this fight a hundred time and was simply following predetermined choreography. Scott tried to mix his movements, be random, but nothing seemed to work.
Stiles got back to his feet, but before Scott could do anything, especially after being kicked hard in a tree, the vates threw his knife. Perfectly. Scott watched in horror as it embedded itself into Stiles' chest, right on the outside next to his heart. "Stiles!" Scott cried, his rage kicking in as his best friend collapsed backwards. His face turned into that of a killer, having only once morphed into that face before. He lunged, but again the man was ready. An arm blade extended, hidden under his cloak sleeve, and drove forward, gouging open the alpha's left side. Yellow wolfsbane. He could feel it. He pulled back to his normal transformed state, just in time, too.
Lyall took a swipe mean to behead him. He heard it coming, though, evading it and taking a swipe of his own. He missed, but it seemed as if Lyall only got lucky. So Scott engaged. Hard. And then Lyall was one the defense, barely keeping up. Scott was determined. An uppercut to the man's jaw and the vates was on his back, the wind knocked out of him. Scott waited, not a killer himself. But he was ready, so when Lyall finally got to his feet, slightly disoriented, the alpha readied to lunge again.
However, that action never became necessary. Two oni manifested suddenly and, whilst being caught off hiard on top of being without his silver dagger, impaled him twofold. One through the hear, the other through the neck. Eiji dropped down from the tree above and his shadowy minions disappeared, allowing Lyall's suspended body to collapse.
"Go," the kitsune said, "check on your friend. Bring him to the hospital. I will see to the others." Scott hesitated, looking at Jordan and then a rousing Chris Argent. He nodded to the man, thanking him with a slight smile before running over and crouching next to Stiles.
"I feel like I got hit with a load of bricks," the human said. Of course Stiles was chatty. His forehead was bloody, his skin pale.
"I'm gonna' get you outta' here," Scott said.
"Scott," the ninja said. "Take mine."
The alpha nodded, catching the keys thrown his direction. He lifted Stiles bridal style. "Mmm, I could get used to this," Stiles teased, eliciting a laugh from the werewolf. He sped walk, moving as fast as he could go.
"Stay with me," Scott said when Stiles' voice dropped to a mumble. "Almost there." Stiles tried, but he was fading. Scott got him onto the Kawasaki in front of him and took off. As he got down the road, he could feel the blood oozing onto his arm, hos own side just now starting to hurt. He balanced out, digging out his phone. He called 911, having an ambulance meet him. He knew he wouldn't make it. He pushed through, not stopping. He would bite him if he had to, even without the guarantee. Yes, he was weak, and Stiles might hate him after. They've never verbally talked about it, knowing only that he turned down the bite once before.
The road was long. Curvy. He went on and on. Finally, he heard it. The siren. He saw the flashing lights. White and red. He was thankful the road was straight at the moment. He flashed the headlights and pulled over. They met him halfway. The paramedics took Stiles carefully, doing all they could for him in the prep back to Beacon Memorial. IV. Gauze pads. Heart monitor. Watching them steady the knife in Stiles' chest was the last thing Scott remembered before he passed out.
/ | * | * | \
Scott came to just as Deaton finished patching up his side. "I don't know what we'd do without you," he said.
"I don't either," Alan said with a smile.
"Stiles?"
"Will be just fine," Melissa said, peering over the druid's shoulder.
"It's over," Deaton said.
"Maybe. I'm still not sure about the nemeton."
"I know," Deaton replied. He placed his hand comfortingly on Scott's shoulder before taking his leave.
"Don't let me ever hear you talking about ending your life," Melissa said, pointing her finger in his face.
"I wasn't—"
"Bah—bah…never. You understand me?" Scott nodded, looking at her seriously. "You wanna' see him before they take him into surgery?" The alpha smiled and she helped him up. His mother led him down the hall to Stiles' room. The sheriff was asleep outside. Inside, Malia was asleep on Stiles' leg. Scott walked in carefully, Stiles appearing to be out of it. He took his best friend's hand into his two and only a little pain drew in. He smiled, knowing the boy was gonna' be alright. Stiles stirred and Scott rested his hand back on the bed.
As Scott made to leave, Stiles muttered, "Mm, Scotty."
"Hey."
"'m tired. Head."
"You're gonna' be just fine."
Stiles barely nodded, his eyes remaining closed. "Thanks. Love you, Scotty."
Scott grinned. "Get some rest, Stiles."
He walked over to the door and almost got his hand only the plastic latch when Stiles spoke again. "Take care of him," he said before finally slipping off." Scott took one look back at the boy before walking out. Jordan and Lydia were sitting further down the hall, outside Argent's room. In front of him, towards the exit, were Liam and Hayden, sitting across from each other. They looked pissed at one another, Hayden even a little upset. Derek, however, was nowhere to be found.
Scott checked the cafeteria, finding only a laughing Mason and Corey, in love over a bag of McDonald's. Just outside the front, off to the side, was his father, talking on the phone. They caught each other's haze and Rafe held up his finger, indicating that they'd talk once he was through. Scott nodded and planned to hang by and wait when he finally saw him. Derek was sitting on the grass before the curb. He walked over and sat next to him.
"How's Stiles?" the beta asked, still looking out at the cars.
"The doctors think he'll be just fine. They're about to roll him into surgery, though."
"And you? Are you okay?" he said, turning to him.
"The vet thinks I'm gonna' be just fine," Scott replied with a grin.
Derek couldn't help but laugh a little. "When they told me you blacked out, I freaked out a little. I'm glad you're okay." He provided a genuine smile, devoid of worry, absent of pain.
"Me, too." Scott bumped his side into Derek's, earning a grin from the other. "I'm sorry about what I said—"
"It's not important." Scott nodded and they both turned back to looking out at the cars. "Master Eiji offered—"
"Master?" Scott teased, earning a playful frown from the other.
"Master Eiji offered to help turn me back. You know, to my real age or self or whatever." Scott's expression blankened, his heartbeat picking up speed. "I turned him down." The alpha's stomach flipped in sublime joy. "With everyone gone, err, mostly, I figure why go back? My memories of…that…they just aren't even remotely returning. At this point I don't think I want them to, either."
"You want a fresh start," Scott stated.
Derek nodded. "Hopefully…with you."
Scott turned to look at the boy looking at him and leaned over fast. It was Scott's first-initiated kiss between them and there was no regret, no hesitation, no embarrassment. Well, save for when he pulled back in a start and looked back towards the emergency entrance of the hospital. He saw his dad, phone to his ear still, mouth slightly agape, though. They only got a second to exchange looks when Derek pulled him back into another, even fierier kiss. And this time Scott didn't let go, simply went with all that he wanted and all that Derek gave him.