3 x 05 ~ Frayed
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Leo's PoV
The accident... they started to speak but their voice trailed off, the night of the accident, is when, is when I placed myself in your body, in your mind,
I coughed some more and as I looked around to see and hear rain pouring down from the sky.
"The night my parents died..." I muttered as I thought back to the night,
The night we left you alone in the world... they started but stopped themselves,
"We?" I asked softly as a chill not started to fill the air of my car,
Leo... there's something I've been meaning to tell you, they started to speak, and I waited to hear exactly what they would say,
•••
"Leo, Leo, Leo!" A voice called out, snapping me away from the memory, I looked around to see Lydia looking back at me with a worried expression all over her face, "are you okay?"
"I'm peachy," I replied flashing her a quick smile, that soon dropped from my face,
"He's lying," another voice added, my eyes trailed to my left to see Erica smirking at me, "I heard your heart tick,"
"You're about to hear some unpleasant words in a second," I said tilting my head to the side slightly, she huffed before rolling her eyes at me,
"Could you two not verbally assault each other?" Allison asked us from the driver's seat,
"I don't know, would you prefer to shoot us full of arrows instead?" Erica sassed at her, I noticed Allison's grip on the steering wheel for a moment,
"Okay lets all dial it back, for like five minutes," Lydia said trying to defuse the growing tension in the small car, she looked up from her text book and then back down, "and try to remember why we're all here, okay?"
"Why are we here? As in following the cross country team to their meet?" Erica asked with a bored tone as she twirled a curl in her hand,
"We're just making sure Scott, Stiles, Isaac and Boyd, are okay," Allison answered as she drove even closer to the bus,
"And do you plan on checking on them through the back door of the bus?" I asked rhetorically, Erica caught on to what I was gesturing and chuckled, only for Allison's heart rate to speed up once she realized,
"Am I getting too close? I'm getting way too close, aren't I?" Allison asked us quickly,
"That depends. Are you just following the bus, or are you planning on mounting it at some point?" Lydia asked her, Erica and I chuckled at the question,
"Yeah, I should back off," Allison said before slowing down a bit,
"Well, that also depends. Oh, do you mean the bus or the ex-boyfriend you're currently stalking?" Lydia asked this time scratching her head,
"I think you mean now hunting, seeing as she a hunter," Erica said trying to add to the conversation,
"Yea, no, this qualifies as stalking, trust," I said glancing at the blonde then back to the window,
"Well, after it happened, I'm not letting him out of my sight," Allison told us,
"Hmm," Lydia hummed,
"And by the way, this all started when he came knocking at my door," Allison told us,
"For what?" Lydia asked her, Allison glanced at us then back to the road, looking lost for words,
•••
Derek's PoV -- Two Nights Ago
"I know where they are," Scott said after opening the door to my loft,
"Same building as the Argents, we know," I said answering his question, before he asked,
"Cora and I followed the twins," Boyd said looking back at him,
"Then they want you to know," Scott said in his usual tone of worrisome,
"Or more likely, they don't care," Peter said to him, I glanced at him before looking back down at the map,
"What is this?" Scott asked taking a step towards the table,
"Isn't it obvious? The schemers are scheming, coming up with a coup de main, better known as a pre-emptive strike," Peter told him, and I glanced at him,
"You're going after them?" Scott asked me,
"Tomorrow. And you're gonna help us," I said to him, not even taking no for an answer,
•••
"They're one floor above them in the penthouse, right above Allison," I said to him,
"So kill them first, that's the plan?" Scott asked rhetorically,
"They won't even see it coming," Boyd said to him,
"Why is the default plan always murder? Just once, can someone try to come up with something that doesn't involve killing everyone?" Scott asked, "what does Leo think about all of this?"
"You never get tired of being so blandly moral, do you? Not that I disagree with him," Peter asked him, before turning to look at me with a general look of disapproval, "and yes Derek, what are my godson's views on this little attack,"
"He doesn't know," I answered as I looked down at the map to avoid the looks of the others, "but if he did, he'd agreed with me,"
"Well I do. Why do we need this kid?" Cora asked me,
"This kid helped save your life," I said to her before turning to Scott, "and you know we can't just sit back and wait for them to make the first move,"
"You can't beat a pack of alphas," Scott said to me,
"That's why we're going after Deucalion, just him," Cora said to Scott,
"Cut off the head of the snake and the body dies," Boyd said to Scott, trying to encourage him,
"Only this isn't a snake, it's a hydra. And like Scott says, they're all alphas," Peter said to us,
"Deucalion's still the leader," I said to him defiantly,
"Let's hope so. Because you know what happened when Hercules cut off one of the heads of the hydra?" Peter asked,
"Two more grew back in its place," Scott said answering his question,
"Somebody's been doing their summer reading," Peter said, almost with a hint of pride,
•••
Leo's PoV - Flashback
It was the night of the car crash, the night we were planning on leaving Beacon Hills, the voice... my mother, told me from the depth of my mind, We were so scared that they were going to come for you so we had to leave,
"Who was coming for me... mom?" I asked her, my voice almost failing to pronounce the word, she didn't respond, and I started to panic, these were pieces of a puzzle that I didn't even knew existed until know, "Mom? Who was coming for me?"
...The Wild Hunt, she said in a soft whisper, my brows furrowed in confusion as I didn't know what she was talking about, but I remained silent and listened, your father and I knew from the day you were born, that you would be special, we saw it in your eyes... that's why we decided on the name Leo for you... but this, t-that was something we never saw coming,
"What happened?" I asked softly,
We were leaving, packing our things and leaving Beacon Hills, to put as much distance between you and them as possible, b-but in our desperation to save you... we lost ourselves, and that's... when she attacked, my mother said to me solemnly,
"She as in..." I started but say my voice went quiet,
Kali, she came after us, she was furious that your father had chosen his family over his pack, my mother started to tell me and tears started to pool in my eyes, so as we were driving heading out of town, she attacked and threw our car off the road... and then she...
I didn't respond as the gears in my mind started to turn, and it slowly things started to make sense, and now I knew why Derek didn't want me anywhere near the alpha pack.
"She slashed dad's throat," I said in a low voice as the tears ran down my face, and landed in my lap, I sniffled a few times and closed my eyes to fight back the rising emotions,
Leo, baby I know your mad but you need to know we only wanted to protect you, my mother told me, and honestly I understood their actions, but it wasn't them my emotions were rising about,
"So Derek and Peter knew... and they didn't say anything to me," I muttered to myself as I wiped the tears from my face, "they fu*king knew... and didn't tell me..."
Leo? Are you okay? my mom asked me softly,
"No... I'm angry," I said to her, before turning the car key, the engine roared to life and I knew I had to go see an untrustworthy Alpha,
•••
I groaned a bit as the burning feeling from before still lingered in my chest. It was annoying but bearable. My mother said she would try to slow down the pain, and whatever she was doing was working but I didn't know for how much longer my body would hold out.
"So is that whole "not let them out of your sight" thing literal or more like a general rule?" Lydia asked Allison,
"Why?" Allison asked her back,
"You're running on fumes," Lydia said not even looking up from her book,
"Ugh," Allison groaned,
"Well that's great," Erica muttered looking over Allison's shoulder,
"Yeah. And I'm pretty sure that bus holds a lot more gas than this Toyota," Lydia added, with a sarcastic tone
"What if we stop?" Allison asked,
"Is it really that big of a deal? I mean, so we lose them. We know where they're headed," Lydia said,
"The track meet is still miles away by time we caught up it'll be night fall," I said looking at the horizon,
"Also I have no intention of walking back to Beacon Hills in these hills so..." Erica added before sloughing back even further into the chair,
"You guys didn't see what happened," Allison said to us, the seriousness of her tone made me look over at her,
"I know who started it," Lydia said softly,
"Is that what Aiden told you?" Allison asked her softly,
"Hmm, I felt that shade from back here," I added, Allison glanced at me before looking back to the road,
"Aiden?" Lydia asked,
"Yea, the straight version of Ethan," Erica said with a half smile,
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on a second. Is that why you invited me on this whole little road trip thing? Oh, my gosh. You're keeping an eye on them and me," Lydia said to her, in fake disbelief,
"Took you long enough to figure it out," I remarked as I looked back to the window,
"So there's nothing going on between you two?" Allison asked her,
"I'm appalled by the insinuation," Lydia said trying to sound hurt, but I started to smile because I knew her all to well,
"Nothing?" Allison asked again,
"Nothing," Lydia answered her, but I heard her heart tick, I glanced over at Erica who had a knowing look on her face, she applied some lipstick before glancing over at Allison, then to us in the back, "what?"
I laughed slightly at her face, which didn't go over well with the red head.
"Why are you on Leo's case then? He's with Ethan," Lydia said trying to shift the spotlight onto me,
"Ethan and I only talk," I said quickly shutting down the accusation,
"Oh really?" Erica asked in an amused tone,
"Yes," I snapped,
"Nothing else beside talking happens right?" Allison asked, looking at me through her mirror,
"We only talk," I reinforced, "I'm not trying to... tough that little dangly thing that swings in the back of his throat,"
•••
We drove for a while before coming to a stop, a few cars behind the school bus. I pulled out my phone to check the time, only to see I had a voicemail, which was probably there from last night. So seeing as I had nothing better I decided to listen to it.
At first it sounded like static, or someone shuffling, then the voice came through, "Leo, it's me, Derek, but you probably knew that from the number... Cora, just head downstairs with Boyd, I'll be there soon! Look, I just wanted to apologize, you can hate me for the rest of your life... but just know that, I really am sorry,"
The line went dead, and slowly I lowered the phone. I glanced over to Erica, to see she had a look of distress on her face, like she was worrying about something, something big.
•••
Suddenly Lydia's phone started to ring so she decided, and she answered it trying to use her most smooth voice ever, "Hey, Stiles. Yeah, we're just about to walk into a movie, uh, you know, the popcorn and..."
"I know you guys are right behind us. Put me on speaker," I heard him say through the phone,
"Okay," Lydia muttered before pressing the speaker button,
"Okay, look, Scott's still hurt," Stiles said through the phone, and that gained everyone's attention,
"How did Scott get hurt?" I asked him, but he didn't reply,
"What do you mean still? He's not healing?" Allison asked,
"No, he's not healing. I think he's actually getting worse. The blood's turning, like, a black color," Stiles told us,
"That's never a good sign," Erica added,
"W... What's wrong with him?" Lydia asked him,
"What's wrong with him? I don't... do I have a PhD in lycanthropy? How am I supposed to know that?" Stiles asked her rhetorically,
"At this point in your life, you really should though," I snapped at him,
"You're not wrong," Stiles mattered from the other side of the line,
"We need to get him off the bus," Allison said to us,
"And take him where, a hospital?" Lydia asked,
"If he's dying, yeah," Allison said looking at her, "Stiles, there's a rest area about a mile up. Tell the coach to pull over,"
"Yeah, I've been trying," Stiles said to us softly, and an idea popped into my head, as another burning sensation came to my chest,
"Well, reason with him," Allison said to him,
"Reason? Have you met this guy?" Stiles asked rhetorically,
"Just try something," Allison snapped,
•••
Five minutes later the bus had pulled over and we all quickly moved to help Stiles and Scott. While Erica went to go check on Boyd and Isaac. As we walked towards the rest room, I got a strong scent of iron and guilt. We helped Scott onto the floor before pulling up his shirt to reveal a nasty looking claw mark...
"Oh, my God," Allison exclaimed, as she got down to her knees to get a better look at it, "why didn't you tell us?"
"Sorry," Scott said to her, before his eyes slowly closed,
"Okay. Just give us a second, okay?" Allison said before standing back up, "this shouldn't be happening. I've seen him heal from worse than this,"
"Okay, what do we do then? Do we just call an ambulance?" Stiles asked,
"What if it's too late? What if they can't help?" Allison asked,
"We gotta do something," Stiles said softly,
"I can do something," I muttered as I looked down at him, then back to the others, "I can absorb some of his pain, stop it from hurting, maybe that could jump start his healing process,"
Allison gave me a nod and I moved forward to kneel before him. Slowly I took Scott's hand and linked it with mine.
"I'm sorry Leo," Scott muttered softly to me,
"Sorry about what?" I asked him with the softest smile I could muster,
"...about Derek," Scott muttered with a sad look, I looked at him with confusion before glancing back at the others, I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat before I shook it off, I linked Scott's hand with mine in an attempt to take his pain,
"This better work," I muttered as I focused, I watched as the veins on Scott's hand slowly turned black and begun to creep their way onto my hand,
"You know, it could be psychological?" Lydia asked them,
"What do you mean, like, psychosomatic?" Stiles asked her,
"Somatoformic," Lydia told them, the veins reached my hand and I gritted my teeth as his pain soon became mine,
"Som..." Stiles started but stopped,
"A physical illness from a psychogenic cause," Lydia started then continued to add, "yes, it's all in his head,"
"He's feeling it in more than his head," I said through gritted teeth as my knees started to give out, the pain was started to become to much to take,
"All in his head? Because of Derek. He's not letting himself heal 'cause Derek died," Stiles said, and at those words I pulled back and fell back onto the floor,
"Leo are okay?" Lydia asked as she dropped down beside me, and I slowly pulled myself up to look at Scott, who's eyes were slowly closing,
"I think so," I groaned out, "but Scott's are bigger concern right now,"
"So what do we do?" Allison asked, as Lydia helped me up,
"Stitch him up. I'm serious. Maybe all he needs to do is just believe it's healing," Lydia said to them, as she pulled out a sewing kit,
Together Stiles and Allison worked to get Scott ready. While sloughed against the wall, as the pain coursed through my body.
"He's gonna need another shirt. Where's his bag?" Allison asked as she began to heat the needle and thread,
"Um, I'm gonna get it. I hate needles anyway, so... uh, do you know what you're doing?" Stiles started to say before he asked her,
"Yeah, my father taught me," Allison replied to him,
"I mean, how fast are you gonna... I mean, the bus, like, the bus could leave," Stiles said to her,
"Well, you just make sure it doesn't leave," Allison said looking back at him,
"I can help," Lydia said before heading out,
"I think I know away to stall Coach for a few extra minutes," I said before pulling out my phone, Stiles moved over to prop me up as we started to walk out of the rest room,
"Who are you calling?" he asked,
"My aunt," I answered as I dialed the number, I groaned as I limped outside,
"Why?" he asked me,
"Cause Coach got a crush on her," I said to him with a smile,
•••
"Okay!" Coach yelled, "get back on the b-"
The sound of his ringing caused Coach to stop in his tracks. He looked down at it and the brightest smile grew on his face. I heard his heart rate increase and I knew my was working.
"Marceline, Hi! How are you?" He asked her as he stepped back onto the bus,
"I'm good, Bobby, and you?" She said back to him,
I turned and glanced at Stiles with a smug look.
"You're evil, I know, it keeps me awake a night," I sassed at him and he rolled his eyes, I looked around to see Boyd, Isaac and Erica together all with the same sad, pained expressions, "Stiles, is it true? Is Derek... dead?"
"I-I, I don't know what to say Leo..." Stiles started before his voice trailed off,
•••
Leo's PoV - Last Night
"Erica? What are you doing here?" I asked the blonde,
"I need your help," She told me, and I narrowed my eyes at her,
"Did Derek send you over here?" I asked her bitterly,
"Yes and no," she answered, so I crossed my arms as I waited for an explanation, "he asked me to go get some old book from his house, so I decided to ask you to come with me, since its dark and creep out there,"
"It almost midnight," I told her,
"Right? So the faster you help me, the faster we can be done with this," she said before throwing a smile at me, and since I wasn't in the mood to go back and forth with her, I decided to go,
"Fine," I said with sigh, I walked away and grabbed my keys, jacket and shoes before heading out the door with her, "why didn't Boyd or Cora go with you?"
"They're doing something with Derek tonight," she answered me and I rolled my eyes at the mention of his name,
"What about Isaac?" I asked her as we got into the impala,
•••
Derek's PoV - Last Night
"I'm not talking about Isaac," Deucalion said, and I started to forward,
"You knew I would do this? Derek, don't," Stiles said to me, but I kept walking forward, "you can't do this so no one gets hurt. If someone else dies-"
"Him," I said cutting off Scott, "just him,"
"Just me? Now, how's a blind man find his way into a place like this all on his own?" Deucalion asked me, and that when I heard it,
The sound of claws crashing on cement. Boots climbing the escalators. Two heart beats from the upper floor.
Deucalion: Kill him. The others can go. You're beaten. Do it, Derek. Take the first step.
One pack versus another.
•••
Leo's PoV
Stiles and I watched and tried to stop them, but with him being human and me still suffering effects of the pain, we couldn't pull him away.
"Stiles, Leo, what's happening?" Scott asked us,
"They went after him, I told 'em what was happening with you, and they just went after him," Stiles told him,
"Boyd?" Scott asked as he moved towards the crowd,
"Isaac, Isaac, Isaac," Coach yelled, as Danny tried to pull him away but Isaac threw him back and kept on punching the twin,
"ISAAC!" Scott yelled, and he stopped Isaac looked at Scott, and I could see all the pain and guilt in his eyes,
•••
Derek's PoV - Last Night
I rushed Deucalion but Kali jumped in kicked me back, and like that the battle ensued. I attacked Kali, Boyd and Cora took Ennis, while Scott and Isaac fought the twins. We tried but with four alphas to one the odds were in our favor.
Kali pinned down Cora, and the twins kept a hold on Scott and Isaac,
"Kill him, the others can go," Deucalion said to me, I looked over to Scott, Isaac and Cora then down to Boyd, "you're beaten, do it Derek, take the first step,"
"Are we serious with this kid? Look at him," Kali spoke and I glared at her, "He's an Alpha? To what? A couple of useless teenagers?"
"Some have more promise than others," Deucalion muttered,
"Let him rise to the occasion then. What'll it be, Derek? Pack or family?" Kali asked as she started to press down on Cora neck,
I looked between them, conflicted, as I couldn't find it within myself to let either of them get hurt. I would rather die than hurt them myself.
I looked up at Deucalion, only for the sound of a string being tugged and a high pitch whistling noise, made me duck. I stayed down as more arrows flew through the air, and I knew the only person it could be, was Allison Argent.
"Aah! Aah!" Kali screamed,
"Your eyes... cover your eyes!" Deucalion screamed,
With each bolt that flashed, the play field soon became leveled. I ran over and helped up Boyd and told Cora to take him away. I turned to see Scott and Ennis squaring off. They ran and collided, but Scott stayed up while Ennis stumbled back, so I took that as my opening.
I rushed Ennis in an attempt to end him. We went blow for blow, but I managed to push him back to ledge, I tried to tip him over but he wouldn't budge, until Scott came in going straight for the back of his leg. With one swift slash, the brute of an alpha quickly lost his balance and I used that to send him over the edge.
Little did I know, he would take me with him. I looked back at Scott as the world around me started to fall.
As I started to fall.
In that moment everything slowed down and all my world seemed like it was about to end, and the last thing that crossed my mind, was the picture of Leo's smile, before everything went dark.
•••
Leo's PoV
I sat down on the bus next to Erica staring at my phone.
I didn't know how to feel, on one hand I was mad at him for lying to me, and on the other I feel horrible for not giving him a chance.
My hand started to shake as I looked down at my phone.
Why? I asked myself,
Why what sweetheart? My mother answered,
Why do the men in my life always hurt me in some way? I asked her,
Sometimes, to hurt others is the only way we can truly protect them, my mother told me, I sighed at the thought before looking out of the window,
You told me I was special, and that people were coming for me, but what makes me so special? I asked as I looked in the glass at my reflection,
There's a reason why your father always called you his little lion, my mother said with a tone of happiness and remembrance,
And what does that mean? I asked her with a half smile,
You'll find out soon enough, she said gleefully before disappearing again,
•••
Derek's PoV