benchwarming | [ open au ] moon baby

[ Stiles glared at Derek, and maybe tried to kick at one of his ankles as they were walking back towards the Hale house.

(No one said a werewolf named Stiles wasn't still Stiles. ]

[ Derek avoided it easily enough but it didn't stop him from quirking a bro at Stiles for it. ]

[ Stiles stuck his tongue out at Derek when he saw that, before glancing around the woods again, obviously looking and listening for hunters. ]

[ Did Derek just snort? No. You're hearing things. A bug flew into his nose. He was getting it out. ]

[ There's a hint of a smirk on Stiles' face as he looks forward again. The Hale house is eventually in view, a skeleton of what it once was - and seriously, does Derek live here, or just hang out here all the time for kicks - and Stiles wrinkles his nose at the scent of old, wet burned wood, and hunters.

Wait, one of them - ]

Was Mr. Argent or Allison here?

Chris was. He was leading the hunt.

[ And Chris was just following the code. Derek didn't hold anything against the man for just doing what he had been brought up to. He breathed out and walked closer to the house, letting his sense stretch out again for anything that seemed out of place. Scents were normal, extra heartbeats weren't. ]

Why were they hunting you? You haven't hurt anyone - unless he's still gunning for revenge for her mom.

[ he realizes he's being noisy after a moment and falls silent with a huff, sniffing the air. He couldn't smell anything more recent than Chris passing through. ]

No, Stiles. [ He tilts his head back to him but as far as he can tell, the house is empty so he steps inside. ] Unlike... Kate, Chris follows a strict code. They don't kill anyone who is a minor and they also don't kill unless they are one hundred percent certain that the person they're looking into is a werewolf. At this point I'm kind of passed both checkmarks and they also know I'm the alpha so what more reason does he need?

To him it's just part of the job but without me, you and Scott would be screwed.

[ Persistent, Stiles follows... and also notes the faint smell of rot has he does step into the house. ] But you haven't hurt anyone - you didn't bite Scott, or kill any of the guys Peter did. Hell, you never even killed the hunters.

[ He wonders what went on when the Hale family was alive. What the Argents did then, since they weren't in town but Kate was.

And Kate was a can of worms Stiles didn't want to examine. ]

No, but I did make more wolves, more threats to them, but they're younger so even if Chris doesn't hunt them, he knows they're out there. And if any of you fall out of line, they probably won't hesitate.

[ He sighed. He knew things had sort of become a mess but Derek was trying to do so much and failing. ]

[ Stiles grimaced at the idea of being killed by Argent. It wasn't very fun. Terrifying idea, actually. ]

But you need a pack. Wolves are social creatures so it stands to reason that werewolves are too. And you don't exactly like humans. Besides, it's not like you bit me too.

[ A low growl escapes Derek as he turns away. That bothered him more than it should have. The fact that Peter had bit Stiles in the first place seemed odd to him, the fact that Stiles had agreed made it ten times worse. ]

They don't see it that way. To them we're unnatural creatures, that only assume human form until the switch breaks.

[ Stiles hadn't really agreed; had stood there not saying anything after the offer and Peter, like a good creeper, had taken it as yes enough. Stiles didn't bother correcting the others on assumptions.

He felt his metaphorical hackles raise at that growl, eyes flashing. He was the only Beta who didn't always submit to Derek, always pushing him, but never ignoring him like Scott did. ]

We're not just animals, and Argent knows that. Should know that. He's smarter than his dad and Kate.

[ Derek could feel himself reacting to that in a way he never did with anyone else, including Scott. A part of him was excited by it, while the rest of him was left confused and uttered and unanswered Why? ]

He can't risk the possibility of losing more people to that chance.

[ Despite knowing all of this, Derek still wasn't willing to submit to those ways. He refused to become a monster and held his heritage in high regard, as would almost anyone. ]

[ Stiles breathed out deep and frustrated. ]

Argent isn't going to lose anyone, I didn't lose Scott - [ He breaks off, growling and pacing and closing his eyes against the rage he feels welling up. That's just the wolf aggravating him.

He seeks calm, thinks of his mom and dad. ]

[ There's a nagging sensation to move in and be close to Stiles, sensing the change in his mood and seeing it. His eyes follow Stiles as he paces. ]

If things work out, no one has to lose anyone else.

[ After a few moments of pacing, he stops. ]

There has to be a way to get Chris to stop hunting you, and Scott when he's old enough. Maybe I can talk to him or something.

Stiles, you're one of us, whether he's aware if that or not and you're friends with Scott. He's not going to hold what you have to say in very high regard.

But he might listen to someone! I mean, I can't -

[ Here Stiles felt his throat crack. ]

Scott's like my brother, okay. And you're like family now, I guess, so that means you guys are my family, along with my dad. And I can't lose you guys, and he can't lose me.

I can't just sit here and do nothing, and I know that none of my were-wolfy abilities are going to help me here.

It's not as if we're exactly in a prime position to negotiate how hunters live they're lives, just like they're in no position to do the same to us. We're at opposite ends of the spectrum, Stiles. As nice as a truce would be, it will never happen.

And even if the Argents did for some reason happen to draw one up, there are still other hunters out there who are probably a lot more ruthless in their ways then the Argents are.

But the Argents might help us, with those other hunters, if we had a truce.

We can't just - just let Chris chase you and Scott around, or chase Chris around. This isn't the middle ages!

Then talk to Scott and talk to Allison and if you're still on good terms with them then go with them and speak to Argent and if he for some reason thinks a truce is okay, then speak to me and we'll figure something out but I really don't see that happening.

It's worth a try. It's better than nothing, Derek.

[ Stiles glares at the Alpha. ]

I'm not gonna wait here for them to shoot you and the rest of us when we're old enough.

I won't give them the chance.

[ Shooting a glare back. ]

It's flattering that you'll kill for me, but I don't think that's the only option.

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