Disclaimer: teen wolf does not belong to me in any way, shape or form. Thank you so much for the continued support, especially to ScottKen, Selena, xnathiagrey and guest for reviewing, I wanted to update before this but was ill, then straight after got covid (like June time I think) then for the past few months I've been working like crazy so just starting to get back into a normal routine as uni has stopped classes for winter again (but I still have lots of essays due) so I hope you all enjoy and please keep reviewing :)
She had long since tuned out the snappy bickering between Stiles and Derek, too mentally drained to bother trying to play referee with their childish behaviour and pointed to her house towards the end of the street.
"That one Stiles"
"I know" he immediately said confidently before blushing a little, "uh... I remember. It's... it's a beautiful house"
"Just didn't want you to miss it" she smirked, enjoying his awkwardness a little too much as he slowed the jeep down to turn into her driveway, his tyres skidding across the gravel as he parked haphazrdly in front of her double garage - garage that was just filled with boxes of stuff they had yet to go through.
Derek's pale, sweaty face glared at Stiles as he shut off the engine, no doubt about to make a snarky remark - or threaten, possibly threaten - but Kayla stuck her head between the seats, sending Derek a warning glare.
"No"
"I didn't say anything"
"You were about to" she remarked, "and y'all are giving me a headache. Shut up"
Derek rolled his eyes, making a move to the door handle but she just reached around and slapped his hand away.
"Are you stupid? You can barely walk, wait for me"
She clambered over the seats, limbs twisting into awkward positions as she landed in the middle of them, shuffling towards Stiles' door and trying to open it.
"Oh, uh... um..." Stiles stuttered, "wh-what's-"
She managed to unclick the door, trying to push it wide open but had somehow landed on Stiles' lap, her legs tucked around his hips as she half fell against the door.
"Uh... heh..." he swallowed nervously, pressing himself back against his seat, "you-you could've just asked me to move"
Her back was awkwardly digging into the steering wheel as she straddled him, a playful smile pulling at her lips.
"Now where's the fun in that?"
He exhaled shakily, his eyes nearly rolling into the back of his head as he uncomfortably held his hands to the side, unsure where to put them that would be appropriate and for a second - just a second - she wished he would touch her - her waist, her thighs, hell even her god damn shoulders but she shook that thought away, leaning sideways to push the door open and hop out the jeep, deliberately doing a playful grind against his hips as she did so. Why? Because she was a flirt. Sue her.
She rushed around to the other side of the jeep and saw Derek beginning to stumble out and hurried over, grabbing his arm before he fell.
"I told you to wait"
"You were giving that fumbling idiot a lap dance. I wasn't staying to watch"
She rolled her eyes, moving an arm around his waist to keep him steady.
"I wasn't giving him a lap dance. I would put a lot more effort in if I was"
Derek scoffed under his breath, clearly not happy with her loose lips as she just looked up to find Stiles exiting the jeep, awkwardly trying to adjust his slacks and tugging his tee down as far as it would go.
No surprise why. Teenage boys and their easy boners.
"Hey, Stiles? Could you open the front door please? The key's in the soil in the plant pot" she asked and Stiles let out a nervous laugh.
"You're willingly telling me where the key to your house is? The key that opens your front door? The... the one into your house where your bedroom is?That key?"
It was clear he wasn't used to this, to someone being so forthcoming and laid back, flirty and openly sexual towards him but she found it cute and endearing, enjoying playing with him.
"Yeah" she shrugged, "it's not like I have anything to worry about, right?" she smirked as Stiles rocked back and forth on his heels, hand rubbing the back of his head as he tried to come up with an answer that wasn't just gibberish.
"Wha-? N-No" He stuttered, "why-why would you have to worry?"
"Just checking you don't go around rooting through girls underwear drawers" she snickered, "though, if you do, mine are in the top drawer"
His eyes widened, breath catching in the back of his throat as he looked completely and utterly stunned, a shiny sweat breaking out along his forehead.
Derek's weight begun to get heavy though, an annoyed grunt being huffed out which Kayla recognised as 'hurry up before I rip someone's head off'
She rolled her eyes at his impatience, helping walking him forward.
"Stiles. Key" she repeated to him because he was standing there awkwardly, as if he had forgotten what he was supposed to do. He cleared his throat and looked around in confusion before running up the steps onto the front porch.
"Right. Got it"
"I would rather get shot again than watch the two of you 'flirting'" Derek said as he rolled his eyes, breathing heavily.
"Shut up - we're not flirting... I don't even think Stiles is capable of 'flirting'" Kayla replied, rolling her eyes because Stiles' awkwardness was what made him... well, him.
"Because I do have a set of K-nines and extremely large cla-"
"Oh my god Der - you're dying and you seriously wanna discuss my relationship status?" she asked in shock, helping him up the few steps.
"Well you're still my cousin and-"
"Right okay, well - let me say this loud and clear. Stiles is my friend. I'm his friend. we share certain interests. We share the same friends. And we both agree you're the world's biggest douche. We are not in a relationship okay?"
Derek watched her face carefully as they passed by Stiles who was holding the front door open.
"Whatever" He grumbled, "but I mean what I said about the claws"
Kayla smirked. Derek was an ass - sometimes - and often didn't show his emotions but when he did it showed what a decent, caring person he was. It was a nice change from the brooding, dark Derek that people saw all the time.
"Yeah... whatever" she mimicked him before placing him gently on the couch and pointing to the pristine white material of the sofa.
"Try and not bleed on the couch - mom just had it steam cleaned" she advised, putting her thumbs up as she prepared to walk away to the kitchen to get the first aid kit, and maybe get Stiles to help because he looked like a little lost puppy standing there not knowing what to do.
"Your level of care is overwhelming" Derek said sarcastically and Kayla just smirked.
"So is your level of sassiness Der - be right back" she called over her shoulder, dragging Stiles into the kitchen and getting prepared for a really really long day.
Stiles stumbled after her, feet tripping over each other as he looked around her house in amazement, letting out a long whistle in appreciation.
"Oh, you got money money" he exclaimed, "my entire house could fit in this kitchen"
She frowned, pausing to glance around.
"It's a normal sized kitchen, Stiles"
"Normal?" he chuckled, "dude, this is impressive. What is this-" he rapped his knuckles on the breakfast bar, "-real marble?"
"I guess so?"
"What is it your family does again?"
"My mom is the director of an art gallery. My dad... my dad was in business"
"Oh" Stiles muttered, seeming a little disappointed, "so no secret werewolf societies?"
She snorted, "not that I know of"
"That sucks" he muttered, unable to stop himself from taking a walk around the breakfast bar, his eyes zig zagging across the glossy black kitchen, soaking up every inch of high end decor.
Oh, how the other half lived.
She found his behaviour somewhat humorous, watching as he spun around her kitchen, his busy fingers touching anything and everything that was left out, acting like a kid in a toy shop.
"Wow" she smirked, "if you're impressed by this, wait till you see my bedroom"
He stopped short, quickly turning to face her with an amazed slack look on his face, his eyes widening in surprise.
"W-What?" he wondered, taking a couple of seconds to compose himself by swallowing quickly, "y-your bedroom? As in... your room... with your bed in it...? I can... see that...?"
She simply shrugged, keeping a playful smile on her face.
"Play your cards right, and you just might"
He was like a deer caught in the headlights, overwhelmed by her words and she was having fun playing with him like this, enjoying the way he seemed to melt around her. They bounced off each other well, an ease to their new found friendship.
"Jeez, relax" she chucked, playfully slapping his chest as she laughed, "I didn't invite you around for an orgy. You really need to learn how to act around girls, Stilinski"
He gulped, rubbing his chest where her hand had smacked him a little too boisterously, willing away the redness in his cheeks.
"Heh... uh... Hm-"
She smirked at his inability to string a complete sentence together, climbing onto the worktop to reach the top shelf where the medicine cabinet was and pulled out the large box, holding it out for Stiles to catch.
For someone on the lacrosse team - albeit; mainly the bench - he wasn't very coordinated, stumbling as he reached up to grab it, the contents nearly falling onto his head as she grabbed his shoulder as leverage to push herself down.
"I think he needs a bit more than antiseptic cream" Stiles quipped.
"Surprisingly, my mom doesn't stock new arms" she smirked, raking through the box Stiles was still holding as she picked out some cream, alcohol wipes, bandages and tape and placed it on the breakfast bar.
"I still don't get why he needs the bullet" Stiles murmured, "surely if it's got wolfsbane in it, he should stay far away from it?"
"It's complicated" she shrugged, "but there's different kinds of wolfsbane, each with varying degrees of seriousness and symptoms. Once we know the kind, we know how to treat it"
"And how long do we have?"
Kayla's stomach sunk, briefly pausing in her search for some scissors as she remembered just how time sensitive wolfsbane was.
"Honestly? I... I don't know"
Stiles must've sensed her sudden shift in demeanour from flirty and care free to being haunted by something, her face pinched with grief.
"This is how your dad and brother died, wasn't it?" he asked, keeping his voice as gentle as possible, tinged with sympathy.
Her eyes shot up to meet his, surprised by his deduction. How did he know that? She was normally so careful about her past, her emotions... never letting anyone get too far past her defenses, but he knew. He somehow knew.
"How did you...?" she wondered, unable to finish her sentence, "I didn't say anything about wolfsbane when I told you about their murders"
He shrugged, "your eyes got sad"
Such a simple explanation, but somehow, it cut deep.
She tried to keep the sadness at bay, to not let people see her insecurities, but she let her guard down.
She let her guard down around this hyper, awkward human kid.
She finally found the scissors in the mess that was their medicine box, holding the blades as she looked down.
"It was meant to be our family movie night" she muttered, keeping her voice low and quiet as she focused on playing with the small scissors, "that morning I... I just left for school like normal. Dylan was going to pick up the popcorn, and dad had asked me to please try and keep things civil between mom and I. He said he just wanted to be a normal family. But that night I was running late. I don't know why... it couldn't have been anything important, but I got home late and they were already there. The hunters. I... I froze" she explained, "I just froze. All I could focus on was the spilt popcorn all over the carpet and... and then they got shot. Multiple times with wolfsbane bullets. By the time I tried to save them, it was too late. The wolfsbane was already working its way to their hearts. They died en route to the hospital. The doctors tried but... but there was nothing else that could be done"
She could feel Stiles' gaze burning with intensity as he stared at her, watching and listening to her intently as she made herself vulnerable to him, baring her heart and soul.
"So yeah..." she shrugged, looking up and trying to lighten the mood, "wolfsbane sucks"
"Wow... uh... that's... that's heavy. I'm so sorry" Stiles said, "were they ever caught?"
"No" she shook her head, "they got what they came for and then disappeared. I wish I followed them - did something to stop them or catch them, but I didn't. But Derek? Derek I can save. We have time - not much, but time. I'm not going to let the same thing that happened to them, happen to him. No way"
"I understand" he nodded, "it's not the same but... my mom died. Health reasons" he added, "I know what it feels like to be powerless to help the people you love. To just watch everything play out, and yeah, it sucks" he agreed, "it's the worst feeling in the world"
"I'm sorry. I didn't know" she said, "the dead parent club is kinda depressing huh?"
He smirked, "oh, 1000%"
"Don't even get free doughnuts here"
"Just a lifetime of trauma"
"I would prefer the doughnuts" she chuckled, grabbing the stuff off the breakfast bar before smiling softly at Stiles, "but in all seriousness... I really am sorry. No one should lose a parent so young"
He simply smiled back, both connecting and understanding each other on a whole new level as they bonded over their shared pain. But, of course, she couldn't let it get too sappy as she made her way back through to the living room, surprised to see Derek still sitting where she left him.
"Holy shit, you did as you were told"
He sent her a glare, holding his bad arm.
"Jeez, touchy touchy" she muttered, perching on the edge of the sofa next to him, "how are you feeling?"
She pulled back his bandages and squinted at the damage. The wound looked awful - bruised and black, oozing a think bloody substance and Kayla was just glad she wasn't squeamish.
"Like death" was Derek's short reply, making Kayla roll her eyes.
"Really? I never guessed with it being a wolfs bane bullet and all" she quipped back sarcastically, undoing his old bandages and wiping gently at the wound with alcohol wipes, "If Scott doesn't get this bullet... what're we gonna do?" Kayla asked carefully just as Stiles walked in, holding the phone up in his hand.
"Yeah... Scott doesn't have it yet but he will" Stiles said, somewhat nervously as the two Hales stared up at him.
"I trust him" Kayla said, turning back to Derek, "but seriously, do you have a plan B - everyone needs a plan B and C and D and hell, the whole of the frigging alphabet"
"I have an idea - not sure if it'll work or not"
"Wow, you're just spilling with positivity - I mean, really" Stiles spoke up and the two males just glared at one another from across the living room"
"What's the idea?" Kayla asked, trying to think about what his plan was but coming up a blank. Surely if there was a cure then she should have found it out before it killed her dad and brother, "because if it's cutting off your own arm, that should be a last resort"
Derek simply sighed, proving to her he had no other plan.
"Oh my god you're gonna cut off your arm" Kayla exclaimed, "why do you have to jump to the most dramatic option?!"
"What? No, no, no, that is just wrong and... ew, no" Stiles said, arms waving around, "I'm not watching that"
"If it works, I'll heal"
"Yeah, and that's a big maybe" Kayla said, "there has to be other things to try before that"
"Hopefully soon, because dude... you are seriously starting to smell like death" Stiles piped up, swallowing thickly as the two Hales glared across at him once again.
One thing about Kayla is that she did not have a lot of patience.
She hated waiting. She found it a waste of time. She despised being forced to wait things out, not knowing the outcome.
So every time Stiles' phone beeped, she found herself sitting up straight, ready and raring to go but Stiles just shook his head and she deflated back on the sofa, going back to twiddling her thumbs.
A few minutes later she heard the shrill ring of Stiles' phone ringing and perked up, sending him a hopeful look and he simply nodded as he accepted the call.
"Scott hey, how's it going?"
Pause.
"Have you found it yet?"
Pause.
"Well what are we supposed to do with him - Kayla and I are way outta our league here"
"Hey, speak for yourself amateur"
Stiles simply rolled his eyes, focusing back on the call.
"What? Aw dude, you owe me big time... he smells like death. Why would we take him there?"
Pause.
"Okay, yeah I got it"
"Wait, what?" Kayla demanded, standing up and striding over to Stiles, pulling the phone from his hand and putting it on speaker, ignoring his flabbergasted facial expression.
"Scott, what the hell?"
"Take Derek to the animal clinic - it's closer and I uh... I dunno where you live" Scott admitted sheepishly.
"Do you have the bullet or not?" Derek demanded loudly, an edge of anxious worry in his tone.
"Look - their house is basically a Wal-Mart for guns okay? I need time"
"Derek doesn't have time Scott" Kayla said, closing her eyes briefly, "If you don't have the bullet within the hour, I'm coming over"
"You can't-"
"I can and I will" she said determinedly, "and I don't care if I have to chloroform them all to get it. That would put a real dampener on your date, huh?"
"I'll get it" Scott reassured, his voice just barely shone a hushed whisper, "I'm on it. Don't worry"
'Yeah, easier said than done Scott' she wanted to say but, instead of being her usually snippy self, she simply ended the call, not wanting to say anything she would regret.
She wasn't all that keen on taking Derek somewhere she didn't know. At least in places she was familiar with, she knew the exits and entrances, the best hiding places and where the weapons were. This animal clinic was unknown territory and Kayla hated unknown territory.
Unfortunately, Derek's health took a sharp decline and made the decision to suck it up and go there.
The jeep ride there was mainly uneventful - Stiles and Derek took a few digs at each other but no one got their throat ripped out so Kayla guessed that was a good an outcome as any.
"S'okay... I can manage" Derek said through gritted teeth, pulling himself out of the jeep. He was damn stubborn that's for sure - If he could just let go of his pride for two frigging minutes then maybe Kayla could actually help him.
"Just don't blame me if you face plant the ground then" Kayla said in a sarcastic tone, helping Stiles open the side entrance door that slid up and watching in worry - though she covered it up with a poker face - as Derek stumbled in, sitting down on the piles of dog food clumsily.
It was then Stiles' phone went off and Kayla's head snapped up - Scott better have that damn bullet or so help her god the outcome would not be pretty.
Stiles answered it quickly, shooting them both a confused look.
"... Nordic blue Monkshood..." he muttered, "I thought you said this was a wolfsbane bullet?"
"Same thing" both Kayla and Derek said at the same time, causing Stiles' eyes to go wide and stare at both of them cautiously.
"So creepy" he murmured under his breath.
"It's really rare" Derek said, eyes sliding shut for a few seconds, "Just... just make sure he gets the bullet"
Stiles spoke to Scott for a few more seconds before hanging up, meeting their expectant stares.
"He's gonna try and leave now"
"Try?" she asked, "what do you mean 'try'? We're kind of on a time crunch here"
"Well, y'know-" Stiles shrugged, "-it is a date"
"Oh my god"she exclaimed, "this is ridiculous. He's had enough time. Stiles, can I have your keys please?" Kayla asked, holding out her hand expectantly.
"What? Why?" he asked, sharing a confused glance with Derek who was shaking his head at her in warning.
"Because, in case you hadn't noticed, Derek looks to be on his last legs"
"Oh I noticed - just didn't think it was important" Stiles replied offhandedly and Kayla saw Derek glare at the back of Stiles' head.
"Oh for god's sake" Kayla murmured, striding forward, invading his personal space and sliding her hand in his pants pocket, fingers scraping his upper thigh as she grabbed his jeep keys.
"What're yo- Oh god... I-"
He froze, completely stilling as he held his hands up in surprise, mouth slack as her hand accidentally grazed his crotch as she pulled the keys out.
"Don't be such a guy" Kayla said, holding the keys up with her thumb and finger, shaking them in his face, "thanks for the keys though" she added with a wide smile, ignoring both Derek's and Stiles wide eyed stares.
"Kayla, you can't go round there - it's dangerous" Derek said, shakily pulling himself to his feet, holding onto the wall for support.
"And who says you can drive her without my permission?" Stiles demanded, holding out his hands for the keys back. Her, seriously? Such a guy, Kayla thought with a shake of her head.
"First off - I doubt you could stop me anyway, what with you looking ready to be buried six feet under, and Stiles... well, I could probably kick his ass" she said confidently.
"Gee thanks" was Stiles' snarky reply as he folded his arms across his chest, but made no move to correct her because - duh - of course she could kick his ass.
"Look, I'm just gonna go and drag Scott outta there, nothing more... it's either that or you drop dead screaming in pain, there's not a lot of choices here Der" she told Derek, standing in front of him stubbornly.
Derek blew out a long exhale of air, his expression tense and taut as he realised their options were seriously lacking.
He sighed heavily, "I can't believe i'm saying this but... fine - in and out, that's it" he warned, pointing a finger in her general direction, "you're not staying any longer than necessary"
"Of course - I'm not gonna willingly hang out with those hunters anyway" she told him, preparing to run out the door and zoom off to Allison's house but stopped and turned around, realising if things went badly this was the last time she could ever see Derek again.
She stepped forward and gently wrapped her arms around his torso, feeling him clench up for a few seconds before relaxing, patting her back awkwardly.
They weren't a 'lovey dovey' type of family... affection did not come easy to her, but she had lost enough people. People she didn't get to say goodbye too. More recently, Laura being one of them. She wasn't going to make that same mistake.
"If we're not back in time... do your last resort- no arm is better than no life" she whispered in his ear, feeling him nod before pulling back, all three of them silent. Stiles watching them like they were some frigging complicated science experiment or something.
"Right... bye" she said, jogging out the side door, jeep keys held tightly in her hands.
"Be careful with my jeep - she grinds in second" Stiles warned as she climbed into the drivers seat, biting his finger nails nervously. Kayla just waved her hand in acknowledgement before stepping on the gas pedal and racing out of the parking lot at full speed, tires squealing against the concrete.
"If she gets a speeding ticket for doing this for you, you're paying for it" Stiles warned, pointing an accusatory finger in Derek's direction who was slumped up against the wall in exhaustion, wondering why the hell his cousin left him with such an annoying teenager.
Reckless should've been her middle name, because that's what she was.
Not necessarily in the self destructive kind of way, but she was rash and impulsive, not always thinking things all the way through. Usually, it got her in trouble. Either by her saying the wrong thing, or doing something risky that others would raise their eyebrows at.
So why should her driving be any different?
She paid no attention to the speed limit, let alone the road. Her whole focus was on getting to Allison's as soon as possible, even if that meant nearly upturning the jeep every time she took the corners too quick or cutting through a red light, resulting in many horns getting honked at her.
She easily cut her journey time in half though, slamming on the brakes she skidded into the Argents driveway, jumping out without even bothering to turn off the engine or close the door and ran up to the front door, banging on it repeatedly and urgently, no subtlety in sight.
It didn't take long for Chris Argent, the slightly creepy and intimidating man, to open the door wide, his ice cold stare glaring down at her in confusion.
"Is Scott here? It's an emergency" Kayla said quickly, not bothering with the polite formalities as it was a complete waste of time - especially to this family - and just as she said that, Allison and Scott came up behind him, Scott looking like he was ready to leave and Kayla silently thanked whatever God was out there.
He must have the bullet then, hallelujah.
"Kayla, what's wrong?" Allison asked, frowning in worry, "has something happened?"
"Oh, um... Deaton needs Scott, something about a dog and an earring - I never really heard" she rambled as another Argent, Allison's aunt she assumed, came and stood next to the little group.
"And who's this? Another one of Allison friend's? Its a pleasure to meet you" Kate grinned, though there was an underlining menacing tone that Kayla didn't like one bit.
Kayla forced herself to take a calming breath, reminding herself what was at stake her. She couldn't be her usual, snarky self... not with Derek's life on the line.
"Yes, yes I'm new too, yada yada yada, but we really need to-"
"What's your name?" the woman asked, raising her eyebrows and smirking slightly, her caramel locks bouncing around her shoulders.
Kayla couldn't resist what happened next. She just had to get under her skin. Why? Because something about this woman just pissed her off.
"Hale" Kayla said, her gaze strong and unwavering, not willing to back down, "Kayla Hale"
It may be stupid to out herself like this, especially to another Argent, but it was worth it to see the woman's eyes widen slightly in surprise, her forehead creasing in alarm.
'Guess you didn't get us all like you thought you did' Kayla thought angrily. The Argent family were suspects in starting the fire but, to be honest, Kayla had no idea if they did actually do it or not. They were a small group of suspects out of hundreds of hunters, but certainly the family with the most balls.
"Hale? Well..." Allison's Aunt smirked, "it's so nice to finally meet you. I'm Kate" she held out her hand, her voice dripping with faux niceness, "me and your family go way back"
Kayla felt that burning, red hot fire curl inside her stomach, her anger - usually quick to rise - was desperate to be freed, to be allowed to lash out at this despicable excuse of a human being, but she used every ounce of self control to swallow it back.
That wasn't usually like her. She was quick to react, her negative emotions usually getting the best of her, but she couldn't allow that to happen.
Not now. Not with Derek's life on the line.
She forced a sickly sweet smile on her face, reaching out to shake her hand back but made sure to squeeze it tightly, letting Kate know she wasn't playing.
"Oh, really?" Kayla asked, feigning innocence, "they never mentioned you" she shrugged, referencing the snide remark Kate had made about knowing her family, "guess you weren't that important"
Kate laughed, throwing her head back in delight as she threw her a wink.
"Ask your cousin. He'll remember me"
She wondered what that meant, her stony stare briefly twisting into confusion. What cousin? Laura, or Derek? Why would they know Kate personally?
"Anyway-" Kate continued, taking Kayla's silence as a way to change the topic of conversation, "I know this is an emergency, but I have a very important question to ask brown eyes over here" snapping her attention towards Scott who perked up in surprise and a little bit of guilt.
"Me?"
"Yes, you Scott - now... I hate to be the one pointing the finger but... what did you take from my bag?" Kate asked, crossing her arms intimidatingly but keeping that butter wouldn't melt smile on her face.
Psychopath much?
Kayla gulped nervously, her entire body lighting up with new found anxiety as Scott's panicked eyes flickered in her direction, begging for help.
"Uh... what?" Scott asked in shock, and Kayla admired how he tried to act genuinely confused - she just hoped it payed off.
"My bag - what did you take from it?"
Scott stayed silent, looking between her and Allison and Kayla felt like kicking him into making up an answer - nothing says 'guilty' more than staying silent and looking like a damn criminal.
"Do you want me to repeat the question? Maybe enunciate more clearly?"
"What are you talking about?" Chris asked, glaring at them all with new found suspicion and Kayla just wanted to grab Scott by the arm and high tail it the hell out of there before things got worse.
"My bag was open in the guest room and when I left it was shut - Scott goes to the bathroom and then it's magically opened, care to explain how that could happen Scott?"
"Scott didn't take anything" Allison protested and it was then Kayla felt something touching her hand. Without looking down or doing anything that would give herself away, she kept her hand still, slightly turning the palm inwards. Whilst the Argent family was focusing on Allison, Scott's warm hand touched her open palm and pressed something cool into it.
The bullet.
Kayla closed her hand around it, keeping it tucked away in her grip as Scott pulled his hand away, leaving his arms free and dangling by his sides as she carefully stuffed the bullet into the back pocket of her jeans, remaining poker faced.
"Something was taken from my bag" Kate continued, unwilling to let the subject drop, "now, look - I hate to be the accuser here Scott, because I really do love those adorable brown eyes, but I don't know if you're a klepto, if you're curious, or if you're just stupid. But answer the question. What did you take?"
The whole situation was tense and awkward, and even Kayla was getting a touch of second hand embarrassment.
"Nothing. I swear"
"You don't mind proving it, do you?"
"Are you serious?" Allison protested, looking mortified, "this is ridiculous. Stop this"
"How about you show us what's in your pockets?" Kate shrugged, "then you can go on your merry way and help... that dog, or whatever"
"Dad?" Allison asked desperately, but Chris simply shook his head, beginning to look intrigued and a little suspicious.
"Come on Scott... prove me wrong" Kate challenged and Kayla stood there awkwardly, just glad Scott had enough sense and passed her the bullet before it was too late.
Scott sighed, but knowing he was in the clear thanks to her showing up at the last minute, began to turn out his pockets, appearing completely innocent, when suddenly Allison whipped out a small package, holding it up for all to see.
"See? Scott didn't take anything - I did" She said, her face twisting into an embarrassed, horrified stare, like she wished the ground would just open up and swallow her whole and Kayla could clearly see why.
Allison was holding up a condom packet - thankfully, unopened and unused - and Kayla couldn't help the amused snort that escaped, biting her lip to at least try and hold back her chuckle.
"Dude-" Kayla chortled under her breath, "-at least steal the good kind. Those suck"
Her effort to lighten to mood fell on deaf ears, no one paying even the slightest bit of attention to her.
"Well..." Kate trailed off, everyone completely silent, not knowing what to say.
"I'm sure you would want some 'family time'" Kayla broke the silence, grabbing Scott's hand and dragging him over the threshold, almost making him trip, "so we're just gonna... go... there's a dog and an earring needing our help" o
Unsurprisingly, no one protested their exit, Chris slamming the door shut behind them.
"Holy shit Scott" Kayla exclaimed, dragging him towards the jeep, "Allison wants to bang you. That's, like, front page news"
"She likes me" he muttered, face breaking out into a cheeky grin, his eyes clouding over as he began most likely day dreaming about getting laid - again, such a guy.
But Kayla couldn't deny one thing: Allison was totally and completely infatuated with him.
She wondered what that was like... to be so head over heels in love and lust with someone that everything else became small and unimportant. She doubted she would ever find that.
"She really does and I'm super happy for the two of you but why don't you grab your bike and let's get going eh? It's kind of a life or death situation here" She said and Scott nodded, still looking to be in a daze as grabbed his bike off the ground and placed it in the back of Stiles' jeep.
"Wait... how did you get Stiles' jeep?" Scott asked, sliding in next to her, "he's very protective about his jeep"
"I stole his keys" she shrugged nonchalantly, not really seeing anything wrong with that as Scott looked at her with wide eyes, "what? It was an emergency"
she started the engine and, without missing a beat, took off, the sudden on burst of speed making Scott fly back in his seat as he tried to grab onto the dashboard in alarm, getting thrown about like a rag doll.
"Whoa" he exclaimed, suddenly looking like he had ages ten years as she gingerly reached for his seatbelt, buckling up even though - hello - werewolf healing, "a little warning would've been nice"
Kayla was about three inches away from crashing into the animal clinic but managed to slam on the brakes just in time, hurriedly turning off the engine and jumping out, ignoring Scott holding his chest and muttering a quick prayer.
She followed him into the clinic, skidding into the back room only to come face to face with the sight of Derek leaning over the table, Stiles getting ready to chop off his arm with a tiny electric saw.
"What the hell are you doing?" Scott exclaimed, completely mortified.
Stiles let out an exhilarated chuckle as he pulled away the saw from Derek's arm, running his hands over his short hair.
"Oh, you just prevented a lifetime of nightmares - thank you" Stiles said as Kayla raced past him to grab a hold of Derek who looked deathly pale, holding him up.
"Please tell me you have it" he gasped, his whole body shaking.
"Yes, yes of course" Kayla replied, pulling out the bullet from her pocket and handing it over to Derek.
"Do you know what you have to do?"
"I need to... I'm gonna... I..."
He was fading - and fading fast. She only just managed to wrap her arms around him before he could drop to the floor like a stone, the prescious bullet slipping from his grasp.
She tried to reach for it, to catch it before it fell but Derek's weight made her off balance and, as she leaned to the side, Derek's body pushed into her and they both tumbled to the floor, Kayla wincing as he fell on top of her legs.
"No, no, no, no, no" Scott was murmuring as he raced forward to try and grab it while Kayla used all her strength to pull Derek onto her lap, tapping his cheek.
"Der? Der can you hear me? Derek?" she demanded in worry, tears beginning to blur her vision.
This could not be happening again.
Not again. Not to Derek.
Stiles slid down beside her, leaning over Derek as he shook him to try and wake him up.
"Not again, not again, not again" she chanted, holding onto him for dear life, "this is not happening again, it's not happening again, it's not happening again-"
Stiles was watching her, a little worried and a little in surprise, not used to seeing this delicate side to her. She had always come across as so... hard, he supposed. So composed. Never did he expect to see her get upset.
"Will punching him work?" Stiles asked desperately, placing his hand on her shoulder to try and get her attention.
"What?"
"If I punch him, will it wake him up?"
"Maybe. But he'll also be very pissed"
"Scott, what're we gonna do cause I think he's dying... I think he's dead" Stiles exclaimed in worry as Kayla manoeuvred Derek's body off her, gently placing his head on the concrete.
"I don't know, hold on" was Scott's strained reply, trying with all his might to reach for the bullet that had fallen down a drain.
Stiles shook his head, already seeming to regret whatever idea had sprung into his head as he muttered a quiet "please don't kill me for this" and pulled back his arm, punching Derek square across the face.
To her surprise; it worked. Derek gasped, his eyes flying open as he bang coughing and Kayla just simply wordlessly grabbed him, helping him to stand. He was unsteady but still alive - which meant they had time.
"I need the bullet" Derek said as Scott ran over, having used his claws to reach the bullet, and thrusted it into his hands. She just stood there, steadying Derek with a well placed hand on his back, watching in an equal amount of fascination and fear as Derek opened up the bullet, spilling it's wolfs bane contents and lighting it on fire before pushing it into his open wound.
She grimaced as he let out a howl of rage and fell to his knees on the floor, Scott grabbing her arm to stop her from going after him. After a few seconds Derek stopped screaming and his wound was completely healed.
"That was awesome! yes!" Stiles said and Kayla had to agree as she let a small smile grace her lips. Derek was completely fine, thank god. There was one thing she couldn't lose, and that was more family.
The next few minutes consisted of Scott warning Derek to stay away from him and threatening to go back to the Argents but, before Kayla could smack him over the head for being so stupid, Derek shouted at him, saying they were hunters and couldn't trust them. Kayla had to agree with that - she trusted Allison, sure - well maybe - but the rest of them? No way in hell.
"Wait... you're gonna take him to Peter?" Kayla asked in shock, lowering her voice and leaning forward, "you can't... he's... he's in bad shape Derek"
"I have no choice - it's either this, or those two jackasses get us all killed"
Their uncle Peter stil remained in a near comatose state, nearly his entire body covered in harsh burns. If that didn't open Scott's eyes to what hunters - what the Argents - were capable of, she didn't know what would.
"Fine" she shrugged, not having the energy to object, "but you can go alone - I hate hospitals"
That was no word of a lie.
She despised hospitals. They gave her the ick. They were depressing - too clean and clinical. They were the place that people died... why would anyone like that?
Derek nodded in understanding, turning to face Scott.
"I'll show you just how nice you think they are"
She was surprised Scott willingly went with Derek, given their already strained relationship, but in a way was thankful. Maybe this was a turning point? Maybe, just maybe, it would open Scott's eyes to the dangers of being a werewolf, and how it wasn't all becoming good at sports and getting the girl.
She watched them leave, wordlessly following Stiles to his jeep that she had parked haphazardly squint, the front of the bonnet nearly crashing through the wall.
"Oh my god" Stiles exclaimed, biting down on his fist to no doubt stop the torrent of swear words that wanted to escape his mouth as he saw his jeep, cringing at the lingering smell of burning tyres.
"What?" she asked cluelessly, "I didn't crash it"
"Oh my god-"
"And I only hit like, three curbs"
He squeaked against his hand, his terrified eyes giving the jeep a through once over as he rounded it, inspecting it for any new bumps or scratches.
"Stiles, I can drive" she reassured, "I'm an excellent driver. I just drive fast... and get distracted sometimes..."
He was inspecting the back of the jeep but she still heard the terrified whimper and simply chuckled to herself, climbing in the passenger side and waited for him to get in too.
Once he was finally done scrutinising every inch of his jeep, he climbed in and threw her a warning stare.
"You are never driving this jeep again"
She snorted, unable to hold back her amusement.
"Relax" she chuckled, "I don't want to. It feels like every time you turn a corner, something very important falls from the hood"
"If anything does fall, it's not important. Everything that is, is duct-taped"
"Is that meant to make me feel safer?"
He threw her a sheepish look, "doesn't it?"
She just laughed, choosing not to reply as Stiles started up the engine and reversed from the parking lot, tilting his ear to the steering wheel as if trying to listen to make sure she didn't damage the machanics of it.
"Stiles?"
"Hm?"
"Relax, your jeep is fine" she chuckled, "well... fine as the condition you gave it to me in"
"You mean stole" he corrected with a smirk, "I didn't have much of a choice"
She just shrugged playfully, letting him know their banter was keeping her occupied but it didn't take long for Stiles to work up the courage to ask about one person: Peter.
"What was Derek talking about in there? Y'know, about showing Scott something? And someone called Peter?"
"Our uncle Peter was the only survivor of the fire and he's uh... he's burnt pretty badly" Kayla explained, meeting Stiles' gaze as he glanced over, "he's in the long term care facility, pretty much comatose. I guess Derek wants Scott to see the truth about the Argents the hard way"
"Oh, I'm... uh, I'm sorry" Stiles said awkwardly, "can he not heal?"
"No" she shook her head, "the damage was too extensive. He's healed a lot, physically, but his mind is damaged. I can't see a way back for him"
"So fire is dangerous to werewolves?"
"It's dangerous to anyone Stiles" she chuckled, trying to keep the mood light, "but yeah. It's dangerous to werewolves. Superficial burns? They're fine. They'll heal. But the fire was started with accelerant... it made it burn quick, and hot, and burned right down to the bone. They couldn't escape because of mountain ash... so they were trapped. There's only so far supernatural healing will get you... and if doesn't bring you back to life"
She watched as Stiles swallowed the disgusted lump in his throat, his face screwing up at the thought of burnt flesh.
"But I'm sure I read somewhere that it was an electrical fire...?"
"Nope. Whoever runs those investigations were corrupt. They lied on the report, why? I don't know, And by the time my dad tried to get it reinvestigated, all the evidence was gone"
"Why would someone falsify reports?"
"Why would someone kill ten members of one family?" she retaliated with a one shouldered shrug, "because people suck. People are the worst. Hunters-" she emphasised, "-are the worst. If it's not fire, it's wolfsbane. If it's not wolfsbane, it's chopping people in half. If it's not any of those despicable ways, then they'll fry them like an egg with thousands of joules of electricity and get off on it. I'm happy Derek is showing Scott their true colours, I really am. Because I know - I know - if the Argents ever found out about him, he would end up like my family, or worse"
Stiles was listening contently, his eyes darting over ever few seconds to watch her ramble, so much conviction in her voice - strong and unwavering, burning with a fierce passion for justice.
"And I like Allison, I really do" she continued, "but I'm also being very, very cautious of her. She may not know about werewolves, but I bet when she finds out she'll follow in her family's footsteps. Which means Scott, and me, become prime hunting targets"
"But you're human-"
"It hasn't stopped them before" she muttered, "sometimes, just being associated with werewolves is enough"
Stiles had then turned into her driveway, parking just outside the double garage and Kayla was pleased to see her moms car still not here.
"I'm sorry... that was really insensitive of me to ask-"
"It's fine - it happened years ago, I can talk about it without breaking down y'know" she reassured him, playfully nudging her elbow with his, "could I do with a few thousand hours of therapy? Probably. But I'm fine"
He seemed relieved, happy she wasn't going to bite his head off for prying into her personal life.
"Anyway, thanks for the ride Stiles and thank-you for helping Derek - he appreciates it but just doesn't like to show it, he hates being in people's debts" she chuckled, grabbing her bag before leaning forward and giving him a quick peck on the cheek, ignoring his flabbergasted expression as he looked at her as if she had just propositioned him for sex.
"Oh, uh... um, n-no problem, I'm all about saving the weak - y'know like batman, though Scott would claim he's batman and I'm robin but seriously, I wanna be batman" Stiles rambled nervously, cheeks flushing again as Kayla watched him in amusement, probably unaware he was still holding the cheek she had kissed, like he was savouring the lingering feel of her lips.
Remembering the promise she made to him she pulled a pen and paper from her bag, quickly scribbling something down on it and folding it up, placing it in his hands.
"Good night Stiles - I'll see ya tomorrow" she bid farewell as she slid from the jeep, jogging up the path and unlocking her front door, giving him a quick wave before disappearing from sight.
Stiles shook his head to get him to focus, bleary and overwhelmed with confusion, finally dropping his hand from his cheek as he looked down at the paper in wondering. What could be written that she couldn't just say to his face? Some part of him hoped it was maybe an invite to her bedroom at some point, but he knew he wouldn't be that lucky.
He unfolded the paper and let out an amused chuckle at what he read, caramel brown eyes lighting up with something close to adoration.
I.O.U
100 x cheeseburgers like I promised.
And I always keep my promises, even ridiculously expensive ones like this.
Thanks for all your help, Kayla :)
Stiles smile was wide as he pulled out of the driveway, carefully folding up the bit of paper and placing it in his pants pocket, eyes flickering to the rearview mirror as her house disappeared from sight.
A/N) I know I know, I suck. I wanted to power through this re write but life is busy lol I still hope you all liked (I made it really long haha) I seriously cannot wait for more flirting and more moments between these two. Defo gonna be more of a build up haha so hope you all enjoyed and please please review, I shall see you all super soon I promise :) x
OOOOOH ANDDDDDDD I've published and working on a pre series fic centred around Kayla before moving to Beacon Hills, so very Kayla/Aiden centred, it's called 'before you' if anyone wants to check it out. It's something different and will be very enlightening too :)