Lalaith<\/a><\/p>\nAuthor’s Note:<\/strong> This fic was a labour of equal parts love and agony. All the lovely art was created by the wonderful Lalaith just for the fic, including the chapter markers. The only piece that I did was the banner on the first chapter–a holdover from when I first began to write this fic.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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Derek blinked up blearily into Stiles\u2019 face, wolfsbane ash laying heavy on the back of his tongue. He reached his hand up, fingers tracing the other man\u2019s face as he tried to get his bearings. The instant punch of attraction that came with Stiles\u2019 presence rolled over him like always, muted only by the wolfsbane poison dissipating from his system.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWell, that was fun; let\u2019s never do it again.\u201d Stiles gripped his shoulder with one hand while the other clasped his wrist and helped Derek sit up. \u201cHello, Derek.\u201d He leaned in, pressing his mouth against Derek\u2019s, brushing lips\u2014a shared breath more than a kiss\u2014before sitting back. He touched an absent hand to Derek’s jaw before dropping his hand altogether.<\/span><\/p>\nDerek looked around, frowning as his head cleared, the wound in his shoulder already gone\u2014as well as his shirt, he noticed. They were in an unfinished basement, bare lightbulbs bouncing light off dull grey concrete. A towering stack of matching grey totes defied gravity along one side wall. One of the totes was on its side, spilling clothing over the concrete floor. A sagging grey couch squatted off to the side, a hunched shadow along the wall. The only other item in the basement was an industrial sink that gleamed white in the otherwise grey space.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d Derek shoved down his panic at Stiles\u2019 presence as he tried to sense if anyone else was nearby. \u201cWhere in the hell are we?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI could do without the judgement in your tone, we\u2019re locked in my basement.\u201d Stiles huffed, poking him in the shoulder and handing him a dark blue t-shirt. \u201cSorry these have been packed away for a while, can\u2019t promise they don\u2019t smell a bit musty.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWhy are we <\/span>locked<\/span><\/i> in your basement? I didn\u2019t even know you <\/span>had<\/span><\/i> a basement,\u201d Derek said, turning an incredulous look onto Stiles, his mind reeling. He shrugged the shirt over his head and turned back to stare at Stiles. Only then did he notice the blood on the other man\u2014fresh blood.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cYou\u2019re hurt.\u201d He reached for him, pausing when Stiles winced.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cGo ahead, I just got shot a little bit,\u201d Stiles said, shrugging. Then, when Derek jerked forward, choking on his panic, Stiles waved his hands in an attempt to calm him. \u201cNot with a bullet or anything, just a dart\u2014or three.\u201d He muttered the last under his breath, but Derek heard it just the same.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWhy were you shot with three darts?\u201d Derek pulled Stiles\u2019 shirt away from his chest when the other man rolled his eyes and waved him forward. There were three puncture wounds, two still bleeding sluggishly\u2014all already showing livid bruising. Derek couldn\u2019t imagine the kind of impact they\u2019d had on Stiles when they hit to leave that kind of mark. The shooter couldn\u2019t have been standing far from him.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cBecause Jedidiah Williams is an asshole who got his hands on a wardbreaker and made it into my house,\u201d Stiles grunted when Derek pressed on one of the bruises before drawing some of the pain. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about that, they don\u2019t hurt that much unless someone is poking at them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cNobody I know would sell a hunter family a wardbreaker,\u201d Derek said, letting go of Stiles\u2019 shirt and sitting back.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cOh, I doubt its the kind of wardbreaker you can buy, even on the dark markets. This one was blood made, a lot of magic blood was spilled for this, unwilling magical blood,\u201d Stiles said, something dark passed over his features. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be very satisfying when he dies. I\u2019m going to make sure that it happens soon.\u201d He looked down at his hands, shaking them out. \u201cAs soon as these drugs wear off.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cRight,\u201d Derek drew out the word as his brows raised. He\u2019d need to revisit Stiles\u2019 murderous impulses and his reaction to it later. \u201cBack to the explanations first. Why are we in <\/span>your<\/span><\/i> basement and don\u2019t talk around it.\u201d He glared at Stiles when the other man opened his mouth.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI don\u2019t know what you mean,\u201d Stiles said, blinking suddenly wide eyes at him.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cUh-huh, explanations, preferably before they come back. Since I\u2019m assuming we\u2019re locked in down here,\u201d Derek said, nodding up the stairs towards the door.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cYou\u2019re a werewolf and my door isn\u2019t exactly reinforced,\u201d Stiles said, arching his brow as he pushed to his feet and crossed to the sink. \u201cThere are at least two of Jed\u2019s goons on the other side and I used up the last of my wolfsbane stash getting that poison out of you. You\u2019re lucky I have a feel for poisons or the bit I had wouldn\u2019t have been enough.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cYou have <\/span>bits<\/span><\/i> of wolfsbane in your basement?\u201d Derek stood and followed him to the sink, watching as Stiles twisted the facet on and began to scrub his hands with a harsh block of porous rock and green soap. The astringent scent of cloves and cinnamon flooded his senses\u2014not what he expected.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cIt was packed away with my old shirts, leftover from an old defunct project. I probably should have thrown it out but I\u2019m a bit of a packrat. My friends have cured me of most of it, but even sealed they won\u2019t touch the containers with wolfsbane in them.\u201d Stiles grinned as Derek leaned back against the wall and continued to watch him. \u201cI still haven\u2019t gotten around to going through it\u2014it\u2019s only been five years since I moved in. I\u2019ve got room and time.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe words sounded like a well-trodden argument, and Derek decided to ignore them. Stiles having the wolfsbane had been a stroke of luck for him. He had been trying to keep watch on the hunters and the pack, ready to jump in and help. He hadn\u2019t seen the hunter that shot him until after the bullet hit. Jedidiah Williams’ ugly face grinning over his right before he brought a tire iron down on his head had been the last thing he thought he\u2019d ever seen. Waking up to Stiles still seemed a dream.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cStiles, start talking,\u201d Derek said, crossing his arms and settling in, keeping part of his attention on the door. Stretching his senses, he could hear footsteps above them but only one person shifting restlessly near the door.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cForgive me for wanting to get that ash off my hands,\u201d He sniped, twisting the sink off and shaking out his dripping hands, the wrinkle between his eyes deepening as he looked around.<\/span><\/p>\nDerek sighed and shoved off the wall. He crossed over the bin; he didn\u2019t scent any wolfsbane among the clothing spilling out of it, so he scooped up the first piece of fabric he saw, tossing it back at Stiles. Crossing back over, he took up his position on the wall again.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nLetting his gaze scan Stiles, he realized the man was still in clothes he\u2019d been wearing at the bakery when Derek had stopped by for coffee earlier in the morning. Ash and dirt were covering the dark wash of jeans tight enough to cause Derek to rumble in appreciation before he could stop himself\u2014He ignored Stiles’ sly grin as he took in the reasonably clean long-sleeve t-shirt, frowning at blood stain from the darts wounds.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cYou know that Jed up there is in Beacon Hills because his brother died right?\u201d Stiles let out a breath at Derek\u2019s nod. He tossed the shirt aside and turned to the side of the sink to lean back against it and face Derek. \u201cWell he\u2019s a lot better informed about the circumstances than any of us realized. He decided to get the full story from me. He wants the identity of his brother\u2019s killer. He has almost all the details, just not <\/span>all <\/span><\/i>of them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWhat exactly is he missing and why does he expect you to know?\u201d Derek felt his brow furrow. \u201cDoes he know about the pack, is that why?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThat\u2019s part of it, I\u2019m sure.\u201d Stiles nodded, not meeting Derek\u2019s gaze.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cStiles?\u201d Derek dropped his arms and reached for Stiles, reeling him in. He slid his hands to rest on Stiles\u2019 hips, holding him still. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cOkay, so, I might be a little bit magic?\u201d Stiles winced when Derek just stared at him, waiting for him to continue. \u201cOr more than a little bit. I\u2019m going to be honest with you and hope it doesn\u2019t bite me in the ass. I\u2019m a spark, we aren\u2019t sure exactly what that means in the grand scheme of things, we do know its dangerous. We keep what I am as quiet as possible but\u2014people have shown up a couple of times over the years looking to rip my magic out of me for some dark ritual or another. We\u2019ve also had at least one hunter show up to kill me for my dangerous and unstable abilities. That was all in the early days though, its been years since anyone has attacked us for this. I thought it was unknown to the world at large until Jedidiah up there started spouting off about my magic just before he dumped me down here with your dying body.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019ve heard of sparks,\u201d Derek said, his grip tightening on Stiles as he thought about the danger the man had been in constantly before Derek had even met him. \u201cThe\u2014your ability\u2014isn\u2019t rare, just uncommon and coveted by those that seek to increase their power through darker rituals since a spark will twist to a user’s will or something. Peter knows more; usually, sparks are protected by their community. A spark is usually drawn to an area with a pack or a kiss, and then they protect\u2014\u201d Derek frowned as he thought back over his strange conversation with Finstock. His hands tightened before he forced himself to relax. \u201cYou\u2019re the Guardian.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019m the what?\u201d Stiles laughed, his hands resting on Derek\u2019s forearms as he stared at him, amusement coloring his scent. \u201cI don\u2019t know if I would say it like that, but I guess it’s something like that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cIf Peter ever finds out about this I am never going to live it down.\u201d Derek shook his head to clear it before meeting Stiles\u2019 gaze. \u201cIf you\u2019ve managed to keep this underwraps, and you have or Peter would have said something if there was even a hint of a spark being in Beacon Hills, then how does Williams know?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWe were so careful with our early kills, just not careful enough,\u201d Stiles said, puffing out his cheeks and frowning. \u201cI left magical residue on them. It disappeared before anyone could get a good read according to Jed up there, but there was enough for them to know that the deaths weren\u2019t as natural as they appeared and there were just enough of them to lead them here and enough similarities to lead them to me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWhat do you mean early kills? I thought this was about his brother,\u201d Derek reached up and gently pulled Stiles\u2019 lip from his teeth. \u201cBe careful, you\u2019re going to bite it bloody. Just tell me what\u2019s going on. Trust me, Stiles, please.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWhy? Why should I trust you\u2014fuck,\u201d Stiles jerked away from Derek, banging his hip against the sink as he spun. He shoved his hands into his hair as he began to pace. \u201cFuck this. Nothing I\u2019ve done has made sense in the normal way since that alpha crashed his through our lives like a train with teeth. Why should this\u2014you\u2014be any different?\u201d He pointed an accusing glare at Derek.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019m not sure what to say right now, except you <\/span>can <\/span><\/i>trust me. I\u2019m invested in you. Overly invested, according to some. There\u2019s something about you, Stiles, something that\u2014even before this\u2014made me want to come back. Something that made me think that Beacon Hills wouldn\u2019t be a terrible place to live,\u201d He said, cupping Stiles\u2019 face as he met his gaze. \u201cSo unless you\u2019re about to tell me that you\u2019re gunning for my family\u2014\u201d Stiles shook his head but didn\u2019t pull away. \u201cThen we don\u2019t have a problem.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI kill hunters and supernaturals too far gone to save with pastries,\u201d Stiles blurted out. He sucked in a breath, his eyes going wide. \u201cWait\u2014I didn\u2019t mean to say it like that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cOkay,\u201d Derek said, his hands settling on Stiles\u2019 shoulders as he watched the other man try and gather his thoughts. Derek let his mind drift over the last week as little things fell together, puzzle blocks tumbling over one another and clicking into place. \u201cTake your time\u2014although, I\u2019m not sure how long they\u2019re going to give us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cOh, we\u2019ll be fine. I\u2019m fairly sure they\u2019re going to be taken care of before we even attempt the door,\u201d Stiles said, his gaze flicking to the stairs; he looked back at Derek with a smile curving his mouth that was a mix of mischief and worry.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cUh-huh.\u201d Derek brushed the back of his fingers over Stiles\u2019 face. \u201cI\u2019m not going to hurt you, I don\u2019t think I have that in me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cOh, fuck you and your sincerity,\u201d Stiles huffed, but he didn\u2019t sound or scent as angry, and he leaned into Derek\u2019s touch. \u201cI don\u2019t even know how this started, and we can talk about that later. The short version is that with my spark I can manipulate poisons and circumstances enough that I\u2019ve managed to kill the hunters that come through Beacon Hills\u2014the ones that don\u2019t adhere to their flimsy code and those that are a threat to our community.\u201d He lifted his chin, eyes going steely cold. \u201cI\u2019ve done the same to those in our community that have preyed on both humans and supernatural. We made that decision when a witch started dropping bodies shortly after we just kicked them out of town. That blood is on our hands. We make damn sure that doesn\u2019t happen again, and anyone with those kinds of credentials that comes to Beacon Hills\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cYou\u2019re the Guardian,\u201d Derek repeated his earlier assertion, not flinching from Stiles\u2019 challenging glare. \u201cYou and your pack protect Beacon Hills. I\u2019m not angry with you. Do you know that in a pack structure there is a position called the left hand?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019ve heard about it. We\u2019ve avoided most established packs for obvious reasons,\u201d Stiles said, tension flowing out of his posture as he leaned back into Derek.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cYes, your alpha aversion,\u201d Derek said, amused. \u201cYou know that you\u2019re their alpha, right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cIt\u2019s not an aversion to not want another pack poking their nose into our territory,\u201d Stiles replied, narrowing his gaze at Derek, hands tightening on his arms. \u201cAnd yes, I know. Nobody thinks I do, but I do. I don\u2019t think they need a wolfy alpha, but\u2014\u201d He tilted his head and looked at Derek from under his lashes. \u201cA wolf with more experience hanging around wouldn\u2019t be as bad as I thought\u2014if it was the right wolf.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cYou\u2019re something else,\u201d Derek said, unable to stop the smile curling his lips and unwilling to stop himself from leaning in and kissing Stiles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cSo now we get out of here, because I\u2019m pretty sure they don\u2019t expect you to live much longer on your own and I got the impression they wanted to use you as some sort of leverage,\u201d Stiles said when they finally parted, his lips swollen and red, cheeks flushed and eyes blinking at Derek even while he made plans.<\/span><\/p>\nDerek had never been more attracted to someone in his life. He\u2019d worry it was a situational thing, but he was pretty positive that it was a Stiles thing, and Derek had always had a thing for competent people.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI was wondering why they didn\u2019t finish the job where they shot me,\u201d Derek said, rubbing his thumb over Stiles\u2019 swollen lip before focusing on the task at hand.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cYou\u2019re a Hale,\u201d Stiles said, shrugging, something like unease threading through his scent. \u201cIf they can net your uncle or your alpha they will probably try.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019m a Hale, but I wouldn\u2019t be the first to move out on my own,\u201d Derek said softly, brushing the backs of his fingers over Stiles\u2019 cheek. \u201cThat\u2019s a discussion for when we get out of this basement, though.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cRight, yeah\u2014fuck.\u201d Stiles closed his eyes and took a shuddering breath before he opened them and returned Derek\u2019s gaze. \u201cYou\u2019re something else, Derek Hale.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cSaid by the pot,\u201d Derek replied with an arched brow and dry tone just to watch Stiles laugh. \u201cI don\u2019t want to wait for them to come to us. We don\u2019t know when that will happen for one and for another this area is too open. I doubt they are going to leave their guns upstairs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cTaking that door should be easy enough with both of us, you\u2019re back to full strength?\u201d Stiles patted Derek\u2019s shoulder, and Derek nodded.<\/span><\/p>\nStiles stepped out of Derek\u2019s arms, shaking out his hands, and Derek felt the loss immediately, barely stopping himself from following Stiles just to stay within his space.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI don\u2019t know that I\u2019m at full strength, but whatever they gave me was meant for a witch\u2014I\u2019m not sure how much that differs from a spark, but we\u2019ve discovered over the years that it does, especially when it comes to things like this. I\u2019m burning through it quicker than I imagine they expected. I\u2019m pretty sure Jed doesn\u2019t know I\u2019m a spark,\u201d Stiles said, even as he continued to shake his hands before holding them up, and Derek watched flashes of light spark off the tips of his fingers. \u201cFrom what he said he doesn\u2019t know I killed his brother or any of the other hunters, but he thinks I know who did it\u2014which he\u2019s not wrong I guess.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cExplains why you\u2019re still alive,\u201d Derek said, ice slithering through his blood at the thought of Stiles lifeless on the basement floor instead of the warm, vibrant man in front of him. \u201cSo, the door.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThe door,\u201d Stiles agreed. \u201cLet\u2019s go teach hunter\u2019s not to play with guns and break into my house.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nThey both turned to the stairs at the same time.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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Shoving the door open, Stiles spotted one hunter slumping against the wall. Stepping over the sprawl of his legs, Stiles kneeled and checked for a pulse despite Derek’s confirmation about the lack of a heartbeat.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cLooks like they got into things they shouldn’t have,\u201d He said, looking up at Derek, grinning wide. “Then again, those treats were for guests.”<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cTreats?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI brought some cookies home from work,\u201d Stiles said, shrugging at Derek’s look. He always struggled to explain his spark and how it wasn\u2019t <\/span>just <\/span><\/i>power but almost a breathing will\u2014a force. The last time he\u2019d done that, Isaac had cracked Star Wars jokes for a month. \u201cIt felt right.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cYou brought poisoned cookies\u2014magically poisoned cookies\u2014home from work, because it <\/span>felt right <\/span><\/i>and didn\u2019t find that suspiciously like a warning?\u201d Derek sighed and stepped past Stiles.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThere is real poison in them, its just enhanced with my spark\u2014nevermind. So you don\u2019t find it weird that my spark basically told me to make poisoned cookies and bring them home,\u201d Stiles whispered as he waited for Derek to get his bearings and figure out where the others were. He couldn\u2019t count on everyone being victims of death by chocolate chip.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cOf course not.\u201d Derek glanced back over his should brow furrowed in a frown. \u201cIt\u2019s protecting you to the best of its ability, you\u2019re the guardian of the territory and there is a credible threat. Cookies might be an odd choice of weapon, but I suppose it makes sense if that\u2019s what you\u2019ve been using to take out threats in the past. Of course your spark is going to warn and arm you\u2014at least you listened to it that much, even if you didn\u2019t take the warning as seriously as you should have.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cHuh,\u201d Stiles stared at Derek, his heart turning over in his chest. This fucking man. He forcibly turned his mind back to their immediate situation. \u201cCan you tell how many are in the house? I was only able to detect the three in between getting shot and dumped into the basement with you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019m only hearing one heartbeat\u2014this way,\u201d Derek said, frowning as they moved out of the hallway and toward the kitchen.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThen one of them is out of your range or he\u2019s down as well. We\u2019ve got to assume that the one still standing probably knows something is up,\u201d Stiles murmured as they paused outside the spill of light from the kitchen doorway.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cRight,\u201d Derek whispered agreeably.<\/span><\/p>\nTogether, they entered the kitchen to find another man sprawled on the floor, eyes wide dull, gaze fixed, and mouth agape. Derek shook his head when Stiles glanced at him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nJedidiah Williams paced across the room, separated from them by the multilevel kitchen counter, hands rubbing over his scalp constantly. He was so distracted by his thoughts that he didn\u2019t notice them until they stepped out of the shadows of the doorway and into the well-lit room.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cYou!\u201d He spat, pointing a finger at Stiles, his hand shaking as his pacing stopped and he faced them fully. There was no weapon in sight, though.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cNot looking too hot there Jed,\u201d Stiles said, letting his mouth curl into a smirk as he observed the waxy grey cast to the man\u2019s skin, beads of sweat rolling off his scalp.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cYou did this,\u201d Jed said, pressing forward against the counter, his palms flat as he leaned towards Stiles. \u201cYou and your foul magics have killed Leon and Dave. Now you\u2019re doing something to me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cFoul magics?\u201d Stiles turned and mouthed the words to Derek, his brows shooting up.<\/span><\/p>\nDerek shrugged, looking amused even as he kept his attention on Jed. \u201cHe seems like the dramatic type. He did shoot me and then hit me with a tire iron. I\u2019m pretty sure he was talking then too, but I was a little distracted.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cHuh, okay,\u201d Stiles said, turning back to Jed, who glared at them even as he slumped down further on the counter; his elbows looked as if they were locked to hold him up. It wouldn\u2019t be long now if Stiles was any kind of expert\u2014and he was. \u201cAnd this is less magic and more poison. You and your boys just couldn\u2019t keep away from those cookies, could you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cPoison?\u201d Jed glanced at the white pastry box open on the counter, crumbs alone showing evidence of what had been inside. \u201cWhy\u2014how did you know we would be here? Why would you bring poisoned cookies here?\u201d The befuddled expression wiping out the anger on his face and amusing Stiles.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI didn\u2019t,\u201d Stiles said, grinning. He crossed the short distance to the box and nudged it with his finger, ignoring Derek\u2019s warning mutters behind him. \u201cThat\u2019s probably the <\/span>foul magics <\/span><\/i>you\u2019re accusing me of. But you and your boys certainly inhaled my death by chocolate cookies, so I think calling it foul is incorrect.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cDeath by chocolate, really, Stiles?\u201d Derek said from behind him, managing to sound exasperated and fond simultaneously.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI know, a bit on the nose. I was led to it, though, and the recipe is very popular. We can\u2019t keep them in the case when we bake them,\u201d Stiles said over his shoulder, not taking his gaze off Jed, watching the man further deteriorate.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cYou make these for the bakery too?\u201d Derek\u2019s voice held a level of pearl-clutching that Stiles didn\u2019t appreciate.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWithout Brewster\u2019s spice mix, of course, that\u2019s only for special customers,\u201d Stiles said. \u201cDon\u2019t be a Mortimer, you were doing so well earlier.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019m not being a\u2014\u201d Derek blew out a breath. He turned Stiles around to face him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019m not going to endanger anyone in town. We\u2019ve been doing this for years, you know,\u201d Stiles said, crossing his arms and glaring at Derek while keeping part of his attention on the dying man on the other side of the counter. “It’s not like we’ll stick him in a window seat or bury him in the basement.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI know, I\u2019m sorry\u2014\u201d He took a deep breath, closing his eyes briefly before opening them and smiling at Stiles, a soft curve of his lips flashing briefly. \u201cI like chocolate, you know. Old movies, too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cYeah?\u201d Stiles felt his face heat as Derek brushed his fingers over his cheek before slipping his hand around to the back of his neck, tilting Stiles just where he wanted him and leaning in. Derek kissed him softly, giving the barest hint of teeth along his bottom lip before pulling back. Stiles found himself chasing after Derek, wanting more\u2014always wanting more.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cDefinitely,\u201d Derek replied, stepping back. \u201cAlthough I’m no good at baking, plus movies are much better watched with company.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI see what you\u2019re doing here. This\u2014this is not subtle at all,\u201d Stiles said, biting his lip to keep from smiling.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWasn’t trying to be. Is it working?\u201d Derek raised his brows, grinning without shame.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cAsshole, you know it is. Now stop it. We have to finish dealing with this jackass,\u201d Stiles said, shoving Derek\u2019s shoulder before turning his full attention back to Jed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019m going to kill you,\u201d Jed rasped, having made it halfway around the counter, a knife clutched in his hand. \u201cI\u2019m going to cut your heart out and gut you in front of your wolf, we\u2019ll see how pretty he thinks you are then.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cYou can\u2019t even stand straight and the hand holding that knife is shaking so hard you could double as a paint mixer. I\u2019m not exactly trembling with fear over here. You\u2019re going to be dead soon, I don\u2019t even have to touch you,\u201d Stiles said; he felt his smile widen, his teeth on display as he leaned towards the hunter. \u201cI\u2019m going to make sure that your entire clan is forgotten, everyone that had a part in what is going on in Beacon Hills and what went down in Amity. You attacked the wrong packs. I can\u2019t protect everyone, but\u2014\u201d He shrugged and wandered around the end of the counter to Jed, plucking the knife from his hand. It was a tactical bowie knife, fairly typical for someone like Jed. It was wicked sharp with a serrated edge. Stiles imagined it had seen more than enough death.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThis isn\u2019t the end, eventually the council will find you,\u201d Jed said, shoving himself up from the counter, swaying in place as he glared at Stiles. \u201cThey\u2019ll make you regret what you\u2019ve done.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI regret plenty of things in my life,\u201d Stiles replied, holding the knife to the light briefly before returning to Jed. \u201cThis is never going to be one of them. Maybe if you hadn\u2019t come in here determined to do the same thing to us\u2014\u201d He shrugged, frowning. \u201cProbably not, though. I know what you did up in Amity, and I know that there were families and covens before that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cNot much longer now,\u201d Derek said, coming around beside Stiles and boxing Jed in against the counter. \u201cI can smell death on him\u2014you\u2019re going to want to get your house cleaned after this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019m never going to hear the end of this,\u201d Stiles groaned, glancing around the room and spotting his cell phone on the table in the breakfast nook and a mess of other items that he assumed were Derek\u2019s since they were scattered around a familiar cell phone. \u201cI should call Isaac and Erica. They\u2019ll need to help with clean up.\u201d He grimaced, already hearing their complaints.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019m going to kill you, gonna make it stick this time,\u201d Jed hissed, shoving himself into Stiles\u2019 space, eyes wild and glassy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nStiles was jerked back from Jed. Derek turned Stiles into his body when he heard the gun go off\u2014the weapon he\u2019d never noticed. Stiles swore as he heard Derek grunt as his body jerked with the impact of the bullet. He struggled out of Derek\u2019s hold, the other man almost a dead weight\u2014he wouldn\u2019t think about that.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cGet out of my way, monster,\u201d Jed shouted, spittle flying from his mouth as he aimed the gun at Stiles just inches away. \u201cHe can\u2019t save you again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cHe doesn\u2019t need to,\u201d Stiles said. He shoved the gun down with one hand while swinging with the knife still in his hand, thrusting it into the hunter\u2019s throat. He let Jed crumple to the floor, knife lodged deep as he turned to Derek.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI hate being shot,\u201d Derek said as Stiles kneeled over him. \u201cI\u2019m going to need one of his bullets unless you keep wolfsbane handy in your kitchen.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
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