CHAPTER TWELVE
“Are you sure man?” Tony asked, watching as his brother pack other suitcase, his clothes with no order whatsoever.
“I trust Liam, alright? He’s a good friend we can trust in, even you dear brother” Stiles exclaimed, without looking up. He closed the suitcase and exited his room, followed closely by Tony, “Are you completely sure?” He asked again.
Stiles deeply sighed, feeling he was dealing with a little child, “Yes Tony, I´m completely sure, you have already told Jarvis to keep them only in their flat and the common floor, what could they fucking do?”
Tony remained silent and looked away annoyed, hating when his brother was right.
“Look, we need someone who can take care of business here, beside Clint and Thor, alright? Even they, could use some help” He asked, throwing his bag in the pile of suitcases it was gathered in the living room of his flat before putting his hand on Tony´s shoulder, forcing him to look at him dead in the eye.
“Alright” Tony finally hissed, shaking his shoulder, “Idiot” He added under his breath, making Stiles roll his eyes, “Is everyone ready? We need to leave like now” Stiles exclaimed as he sat on the couch, taking a deep breath. Seconds later the doors of the elevator opened and Derek and surprisingly, Liam walked out of it. Stiles couldn’t help but frown as he noticed Liam seemed distant, he was avoiding him, he wouldn’t meet his eyes. And Derek, well Derek was mostly like Stiles, he was a freaking tree that didn’t show anything beside fake happiness and a resting bitch face.
They fell in a tense silence, where Tony would only stared at Liam as a potential threat, “You're leaving soon?” Liam suddenly asked before nervously clearing his throat.
Tony narrowed his eyes and twisted his mouth, “I just hope you know I have several ways to kill you if you do something to get me or my friends mad” It wasn’t a threat, it was fact. Liam swallowed hard and nodded slowly, “Clear as water”
Stiles deeply sighed and rolled his eyes, “Leave him alone idiot” He muttered standing up, walking away, “I´m gonna check on the others, we need to leave” He added, raising his arm, entering the elevator before Tony could answer back. If honest he just wanted to go to Steve´s room and make out with him before leaving for good.
Trying to get some decent sleep, in a tiny seat with a super soldier beside was a pretty hard thing to do. Stiles couldn’t understand how Steve was able to sleep whenever he wanted to, in any possible position, it was actually annoying. He twisted his mouth, sitting up. Watching as Steve twisted himself, trying to find a better position to sleep, he was such a dork.
“Couldn't sleep?” He heard a soft voice asking him. Stiles followed the sound and noticed Natasha was leaning against the large glass, watching the ocean, it was a view as peaceful as intimidating.
He groaned as he stood up with effort, being careful not to touch Steve, “Not really” He muttered quietly, walking toward her. They remained in comfortable silence for minutes until she spoke again, quietly but her tone wasn’t gentle, not even close, “I swear if you ever hurt him again, I will kill you”
Stiles swallowed and let out his breath, “I believe you” He whispered, for a second doubting about himself. He liked Steve, that was already a known fact, but he had this other thing, beside always running away, he had a tendency to screw things up. The panic about screwing things up with Steve grew inside him. It wasn’t getting killed by Natasha, that she would surely do it, it was hurting him. Again. He stole a quickly stare from the man deeply sleeping and sighed.
“I totally believe you”
After six hours of flight, they were finally landing in the middle of the night, among millions of tall and strong trees. Stiles put his hand on Steve’s shoulder and lightly shook him, trying to block away the horrible sound of the alarm, indicating they had finally arrived their destination. Almost immediately Steve straightened up, shoulders tensed and eyes struggling to close again.
“Wo, calm down soldier boy” Stiles muttered, laughing under his breath, earning a pretty mad stare from Steve, who only groaned in response before rubbing his eyes, “What time is it?” He tiredly asked.
Stiles hummed, looking through the window, “Judging by the sunset, I would say seven pm, come on big guy” He exclaimed, extending his hand. Steve pulled a face and groaned again, slowly standing up. Stiles couldn’t help but laugh at his bad temper. Who would had guessed, soldier boy didn’t like to being woken up.
“Shut up” Steve mumbled shaking himself, trying to scare the sleep away, “Where are we?”
“We, my friends, are in the north of Rome, Italy, you would know it Rogers, if you would stop drooling for my brother and pay attention instead” Tony complained, watching the ramp descend in front of them, letting in the cold air of the north. Stiles laughed out loud, carefully walking out of the quinjet, steeping into a dense forest with pines as tall as buildings.
Steve gasped offended, “I know we´re in Rome idiot! Just freaking where?” He exclaimed, extending his arms, revealing they where standing in the middle of freaking nowhere.
“Jeez, calm your boyfriend down”
Steve almost punched him right in the face, if not for Stiles holding him by the chest, repressing his laugh,
“Another forest?” Scott whimpered as he climbed down, bag on shoulder and sad puppy expression on his face. Derek, Lydia and Jackson right behind him, unbelievers expressions as well, “Man, first thing first I will do when all this is over, is going to the damn beach”
Stiles rolled his eyes, hearing Lydia´s excitement of going to the damn beach. as if they were gonna go. They could hardly arranged to go get the chinesse food.
“Any idea how to begin?” Jackson asked behind him, groaning as he carried Lydia´s completely unnecessary big suitcase. Stiles shrugged with one shoulder, watching as Tony made fun of Steve´s bad temper, strangely mimicking him. He smirked, turning his attention to Jackson, “I think we need to do some research about the place history, we need to find the records”
“And where are you, smart ass, planing to find them?”
Ten minutes later, Stiles raised his arms, wide opening them with excitement. A tall worn out orange historic building behind him, a tall historic building closed, completely closed, lock on doors. That no one could really enter without permission.
“Thats private property” Derek exclaimed pointing at it with a quick gesture, making Stiles rolled his eyes, “Yeah, you clearly know many about it” He muttered annoyed.
“Eh?” Tony asked confused, looking between them. Scott, who was standing beside him was kindly enough to fill him up, putting an arm around his shoulders, “Thats the first thing he told us when we met, we were trespassing his damn private property” Scott exclaimed, staring at Derek, raising his fingers to mock him.
“Seriously, how are we doing this?” Steve asked, interrupting the silly discord.
Stiles couldn’t help but stare at his… current something, he was so innocent, “Don’t worry big guy, I got this” He muttered clapping him in the back with tender.
Steve opened his mouth, asking what his… current something was planning to do when he suddenly disappeared in the thin air, “Omg, thats illegal!” He exclaimed, looking between the group and the tall building, where he managed to hear quiet noises and, of course, Stiles silly laugh.
Scott sarcastically smirked, “Please, he has done so many illegal shit that this is like a piece of cake”
“Knock it out guys, knock it out” Bruce whispered when they saw a bunch of policeman appearing down the corner, their faces so serious and strict it actually scared them. Everyone began to play dumb, they started acting like tourists, talking among them about the impressive structure in front of them. Scott even told Derek to take his picture as he put his thumbs up and wide smiled.
“What are you guys doing? You look like idiots” Stiles suddenly asked, popping his head though the tall wooden door. Tony flinched at his brother appearance and grabbed him by the shirt, pulling him outside, flinching when the door cracked at being closed, “Just shut up, you got them?”
Stiles took out a bunch of yellow papers from the bag he was carrying, “Its all here” He muttered excited, “Come one hon” He said directly to Steve, grabbing his hand, pulling him to his side, “You’re a criminal”
“And you’re adorable”
Stiles dropped the pile of papers on the small coffee table, getting distracted by watching Steve quietly read. They had been reading for hours inside the little cabin at the outskirts of the village they had rented for days. The cabin had only three big rooms, so they had to team up into groups of three and for Stiles discomfort, his brother was staying with him and Steve. And Tony hadn’t shut up in the whole night about how he wasn’t sharing bed with them.
“Would you just shut up?” Stiles exclaimed to his brother before throwing him an empty can of red bull. Tony stared at him before muttering between teeth, “I need food” He complained already standing up.
Stiles and Steve were suddenly left alone, he let out his breath trying to control his hormones, reminding himself they had to find an energy source, they weren’t there to make nasty things.
“You´ve been staring at me like for five minutes, its creepy” Steve suddenly exclaimed, looking up from his yellow pages. Stiles choked with his laugh and lightly tilted his head, “I´m not staring at you” He muttered, getting bak to his reading. But he could feel Steve´s eyes on him, it was getting into his nerves, especially when he decided to open his big, beautiful, stupid mouth.
“What are we?”
Stiles froze for a whole minute, before swallowing hard. He let out his complete breath and opened his mouth but nothing came out. He finally looked up at Steve, who seemed shyly regretted for asking. Stiles couldn’t help but smile as he dropped the pages and slowly stood up, his legs cracking in the process for been seated down for so long. He walked toward Steve and stopped when they were centimeters away from each other, he kneeled in front of him, leveling their eyes and widely smile.
The moment Steve asked the question, Stiles had no real answer but he just needed a deep look into those blue eyes and he suddenly knew it, “Whatever you wants us to be big guy” He whispered truthful. Steve let his mouth hang open, wanting to say something but he was lost.
Stiles attracted their lips together, smiling against them when the big bad super soldier let out a gasp of surprise.
“You're such a dork” Stiles whispered before returning to the kiss.
They ending up rubbing against each other on top of the table, making a mess of papers. Steve´s shirt was open, showing his chest when someone cleared it throat real loud. Steve and Stiles wide opened their eyes, staring at each other for a couple seconds before stepping back.
“Seriously?” Tony exclaimed, freezing in his place with a several bags of chips on his arms.
Immediately Steve climbed off the table, clearing his throat in the process, his cheeks more red than ever. Stiles couldn’t help but laugh as he arranged his hair and clothes, “Oh man, sorry bro” Is all he exclaimed trying to avoid eye contact, otherwise he would laugh his ass off, he sat back at his chair trying to get back to his reading.
“I´m going to Nat´s and Bruce, I´m done with this shit”
*
“I think I found something” Lydia exclaimed as she entered the room, Tony and Scott right behind her, hopeful expression on their faces. Stiles stood up immediately, following her movements as she sat in front of the table, spreading the papers on it, “According to his” She started, pointing at an ancient script on one go the pages, where the ink had mostly disappeared, “Theres a legend about a woman named Diana, a goddess and her sanctuary was by the lake Nemi”
“You think, it is there?” Stiles asked looking up at her.
“It has to be, I mean… it also says, every foreign person that dare put a feet near the lake was sacrificed in a ritual, plus we really haven’t found anything else” She muttered, watching the ancient maps of the town as she scratched her chin, “It has to be” She repeated under her breath, biting the inside of her cheek.
Stiles nodded, straightening up, “Its fits every pattern, it has to be” He exclaimed turning to Steve, raising the eyebrows, letting the question hang in the air. Steve shrugged and twisted his mouth, “Its your call, whatever you want” He answered. Stiles nodded again and sighed, “Lets go then, we can’t lose any more time”
Twenty minutes later, a search group, leaded by Stiles, was stepping into the unknown forest, leaving the cabin behind. Derek, Scott, Jackson and Bruce decided it was better to stay put, trying to find something else for their help. Stiles was low key glad Derek didn’t get along with them, it would had made everything a lot more uncomfortable, beside he couldn’t help but notice his sudden strange behavior, he seemed more introspective and paranoid than usual since the moment they landed in the town, but it wasn’t his place asking, not anymore.
The more they step into the heart of the forest, the more energy around them, Stiles could feel. It was different, unknown, probably filled with creatures so ancients he had never heard of them. It felt older, somehow mature in a way the nemeton back at Beacon Hills wasn’t. He twisted his neck, rubbing it with his hand, the energy was too strong, he felt like an outsider, he wasn’t connecting properly with it and the forest was letting him know that.
“I can feel it too, you alright over there?” Lydia asked quietly beside him, her mouth and shoulders showing her anxiety, “It feels… different, not wrong, just” He tried but struggle to find the correct word to describe it.
“Different?”
Stiles half smiled before nodding, “Yeah, different”
There were silent for a couple of minutes, long enough for Stiles to realize the quick side way stares she was giving him every passing second. Stiles gibed, lightly exasperated, “If you wanna ask, just do it”
She almost rolled her eyes and deeply sighed, “Alright… whats the deal between you and Steve?” She exclaimed bluntly, directly to the point.
He remained silent, cause in reality he didn’t know the answer, not completely, “I just know, I- I like him” He finally whispered, “I like him a lot”
She nodded and kept her mouth shut. Stiles though in a way, she was kind of in the middle, Derek and him, they were her family, her best friends, and keeping his secrets from Derek as well as being also a confident of Derek, well it wasn’t fair for her, Stile knew it and he didn’t want to put her in that position.
“You can tell him, I mean, if you want to, if you think its necessary” He exclaimed suddenly, making Lydia hummed in response, raising her ginger eyebrows, “Huh?”
“Derek, I´m not… I don’t want to hurt him, I´m not trying to do it, but I also don’t want to hide my, whatever thing I have with Steve from him, he doesn’t deserve it, either Steve and either me, so, if you want to tell him, go ahead” He explained, stopping on his tracks when he sensed something.
Lydia didn’t notice she was walking alone, until she was meters away from him, “Stiles?” She asked confused, looking behind her.
The group stopped in their places as well, confused, trying to figure out what made Stiles suddenly stop. He looked around him, searching for something in the dark, he could hear something in the distance like a crying, it was calling them.
“You hear that?” Steve asked quietly, standing beside him. The crying became stronger, it was the crying of a little child but Stiles wasn’t sure it was one. Those trees were as old as the earth itself, there was numerous ancient creatures, some he didn’t even know they existed. But before he could even think of telling the group to go into a different direction, Steve was already moving.
“Steve no, wait!” Stiles exclaimed, trying to grab his arm but the stupid captain began jogging, following the sound. Without doubting, Stiles went right behind him, almost stumbling with the several big roots from the trees and pines, “Its not what you think, wait Steve!” He tried yelling but suddenly the blue and red suit had disappeared among the tall pines. Stiles stopped in dry, looking around him. All he could hear was that crying, every time louder, more desperate, asking for help. Stiles began to follow it until he manage to see between the bushes a small clear of dark water where the moon reflected. On the shore, kneeling on the soft dirt, was Steve, staring hypnotized at the water.
“Steve?” Stiles tried, slowly reaching him.
He didn’t even move at hearing Stiles voice, he couldn’t hear anything, beside the desperate callings. Instead he extended his arm, his eyes locked on the strange body below the dark water, “Theres a child in there” He whispered, feeling the freezing water on the tip of his fingers.
“Listen to me, that is not a child Steve”
In a blink of an eye, Stiles saw a rotten arm coming out of the water, before grabbing Steve by the neck and sank him down. Stiles wide opened his eyes, running to try catch him but he was suddenly gone, everything became quiet. The crying was gone and the water was steady again.
“Steve?” Stiles exclaimed, taking second to realize he was gone, “Shit”
He jumped into the freezing water, taking an air mouthful before diving in it. He couldn’t see anything, everything around him was pure frozen, darkness.
“Where are they?” Lydia asked confused, stepping into the shore, looking around her.
“They went this direction” Natasha exclaimed, trying to catch her breath when something caught her attention, “The water…” She whispered, staring at the soft waves, when there was suddenly a splash. Stiles gasped for air, swimming to shore with one arm, carrying Steve with the other.
“What the hell is that?” Natasha breathed, watching a strange creature, stuck in Steve´s back, she managed to see, the monster had his fangs buried in his flesh, “What the hell is that?!” She exclaimed, entering the cold water, helping Stiles to carry the unconscious body.
“Don’t touch it!” Stiles yelled, grabbing Tony´s wrist, centimeters away from the black creature, “Its an apallimay” Stiles explained, watching the fangs of the monster dig deeper in his naked flesh. Steve moaned in response and his skin visibly paled. Stiles panic highly grew inside him, “We need to take him out of here” He added, already taking his cold hand on his.
“What do we do?”
“We can’t do anything, not even me, we need to take him to a healer, its the only way” Stiles explained, “I´ll see you back in the cabin guys” He added, not waiting for an answer before tele transporting himself and Steve into the center of town. Steve fell hard against the ground over his chest. The black monster didn’t even flinch at the punch, didn’t even blink, his big green eyes wide opened, it seemed hard as a rock.
Stiles looked around him, they were completely alone, too late in the early morning for anyone to be awake. He licked his sudden dry lips, carrying Steve by the waist and began his desperate searching. He had no idea where to find a healer, specially in an unknown country, in an unknown town where he didn’t have the remote clue where the fuck he was. He just hopped his guts told him the exact place. After minutes of walking aimlessly, Steve´s weight began to be more heavy, his skin was every time more pale and dead.
“Shit, shit” Stiles muttered, stumbling with a hole in the pavement, falling on his knees against the hard floor but he didn’t drop Steve, “Shit!” He cursed out loud, tightening his grip against his waist. He snatched his head up when he heard something in front of them. As an act of magic, Stiles was able to see a little cabin with a smoking chimney, barely illuminated by the old lamppost beside it. It seemed as a cabin taken out of a fairytale. He felt the hunch he was looking for. Immediately he stood up with effort, dragging himself and his current friend slash boyfriend to the almost broken down, little home.
“Aiutare!” Stiles screamed, dropping himself on the door when Steve´s weight was too much, “Steve?” Stiles called him, laying themselves on the floor, “Steve” He tried again, clapping his pale face but there was no response. Stiles heart stopped for a moment before he looked up, staring for a few seconds at the big wooden door in complete shock. He began knocking repeatedly, with more strength, “Aiutare per favore!” He yelled again, the desperation clear on his voice.
When he was about to surrender and find help some other place. The door wide opened and a couple of old women pooped their heads out, a little white candle in hand of the tall one, “Aiutare per favore, lui è mio amico, sta morendo” He whispered, unconsciously, caressing Steve´s cold and sweated cheek.
The two women exchanged a quick stare before nodding to their selves, “Portalo dentro” The tall woman with the white candle and golden hair whispered, as the other one, short, robust and dark hair, quickly ran inside of the house.
Stiles put his arm around Steve´s waist and picked him up with effort, slowly taking a few steps.
“Sbrigati ragazzo dai!” The tall woman exclaimed, looking something behind Stiles, searching for something, “Seguimi” She added, giving him a long stare. Stiles noticed her eyes were strangely olive green. The light of the candle produce a sinister shadow on her face. She turned her back on him and began walking. Stiles swallowed hard and looked around him, they were standing in a long hallway, made with grey big stones, there was barely lighting and he could perceive a faint smell of dampness.
He began to follow her in complete silence, only Steve´s feet dragging were heard. He began wondering if trusting in those two unknown women, when Steve was unconscious had been a good idea when he managed to see, the tall woman was limping, one foot was slightly taller than the other one and her legs seemed crooked and thin. What did he managed to get theirselves into?
They quickly reached a little living room, it was lightly more illuminated than the long hallway but the smell was stronger. A wooden, big table was resting against the wall. On it, tons of herbs and old books were scattered. Stiles swallowed, noticing only one black couch in the middle of the room, that seemed as old as those two woman.
“Mettilo lì” The tall woman exclaimed, pointing the couch with a head movement. Stiles did what he was told, quietly laying Steve on the couch upside down. Stiles hand hesitated a second, shaking as he still hold his arms before backing away from him, almost feeling as small as a child.
“Sei americano?” She suddenly asked, giving Stiles her back as she quickly moved her arms, doing, preparing something on the long table, he had no idea. Stiles was only able to nod as he stretched her neck, trying to take a peek of what she was doing.
“E bene?” She pushed, looking up her shoulder. Stiles snatched his eyes to her and swallowed, “Se” He whispered, feeling his legs abut to give in.
“What are you supposed to be? A damn wizard? Satanic worshipper? I can’t figure it out” The woman asked, surprising Stiles, who only wide opened his eyes at her, surprise, surprise, she had British accent, “Excuse me?” He blurted out frowning. The woman turned her head, facing him, twisting her lips, “I can feel your powers and… something else, something strange, so I ask you boy, what are you?”
He kept his mouth shut, staring at her dead in the eye, making sure he left perfectly clear, he wasn’t opening his mouth, specially not to her.
“Can you leave the poor kid alone, Amanda? Please?” A cheeky voice spoke, followed by quick steps.
Stiles turned, following the sound, to find the short, fat woman, carrying a big grey book on her hands. Apparently, Amanda send her a pretty mad stare before returning to her work. Stiles tried to figure out, what kind of relationship those two had.
“Hi, my name is Sariah” The short woman exclaimed, distracting him from his own thoughts, showing a bright smile and her numerous wrinkles. Stiles raised his eyebrows and rubbed his sweaty hands against his legs, he had no idea why those women made him felt so nervous.
“I´m- ah, I´m Stiles” He answered, trying to return the smile, “Is my friend going to be alright?” He asked, before clearing his throat, his nervousness growing every time higher.
Amanda scoffed, finally finishing whatever thing she was doing, only then Stiles noticed she had a small wooden plate on her hand, a strange, green liquid inside of it, “Please kid, the way you look at that man, that isn’t friendship” She exclaimed, nearly rolling her eyes. As if they had been intimate friends for years.
Stiles decided it was better to completely ignore her comment, watching as she approached the liquid to Steve´s dry lips. Stiles resisted the need to push her away, his distrust beginning to grow inside him. He closed his hands into fists, “Is he going to be alright?” He asked instead.
The answer took seconds to came, “He has lost a lot of energy, this things feed on it, it doesn’t matter if we take it off, the spirit of the apallimay will remain inside him, feeding on him” Sariah explained him, looking for something in the big book, “We need to resit the spell to take it off, otherwise…”
Stiles didn't need to hear the end of the phrase, he was immediately beside him, holding his hand, “Just do what you have to do, please” He asked quietly, his voice tense as wire.
He felt Amanda´s eyes on him before he heard her deeply sigh, “Just… this won’t be pretty kid, be ready”
It wasn’t pretty, not even close. Stiles had to look away, bitting his lip when Steve moaned in pain again, clenching his jaw.
“This is almost over kid” Amanda exclaimed, repeating her enchanting in an old language Stiles couldn’t recognize. The enchanting had lasted minutes and the monster wasn’t showing any sign of tiredness, “You think he will hold on?” Stiles heard someone asking him. He frowned as if the question had personally offended him, “Of course he will, he can” He strongly exclaimed, squeezing his hand, wishing he could take his pain away.
For the fourth time, Stiles began making the green liquid medicine that Amanda had actually though him to. Stiles crushed the several herbs on the mortar, ignoring the strong scent of it, as fast as he could. Trying not to flip at Steve´s urgent groaning.
“Is it ready?” Sariah asked, raising her voice, not looking up at him. Stiles frowned concerned pouring the liquid into the wooden plate, “Its here” He answered, quickly walking toward Steve before kneeling in front of him. He slowly approached the plate to his lips and Steve drank it with desperation. The liquid falling through his cheeks and chin. Stiles suddenly heard a loud squeak and a groan before feeling a couple of claws grabbing him by the neck, holding him tight, followed by fangs trying to bite him. He dropped the plate impressed, not really knowing what the hell was going on.
“Kill it Amanda! Someone kill it!” Sariah yelled, trying to catch the beast herself. Stiles gasp in true horror, trying to take it off but it was like trying to grab something slobbery, humid, it kept sneaking thought his fingers, “Goddamn it!” He exclaimed annoyed, before slamming his back against the nearest wall. It was enough for the monster to fall to the ground. Only then, Stiles was able to really look at it. And it looked like a fucking gremlin. But their faces were different, the monster in front of him, almost seemed as an old man, his features were filled with anger and resentment.
The monster groaned at him, ready to attack him when suddenly, Amanda was slamming at it with a fucking whip, but it seemed it was working, “What the fuck?!” Stiles shouted, watching the monster twist in pain as it desperately tried to find an exit.
“Its going to scape!” Stiles yelled, about to follow it when the animal escaped through a window, braking it into a million pieces, letting fresh air enter the closed room. Stiles dropped his shoulders disappointed, remembering Steve was finally free. Amanda muttered something about the apallimay not being able to hurt anyone again but Stiles was too distracted to comprehend her words.
“Steve...” He muttered under his breath, kneeling beside him. Steve was breathing through his mouth and his eyes were barely opened, “Stiles..?” He managed to say before completely falling back asleep. Stiles clenched his jaw and let out his breath, resting his head over his knee. He felt the pressure leaving his shoulders, he was gonna be alright. He remained steady on his place for entire minutes, afraid of moving or even breathing, feeling Steve was gonna disappear any moment.
“You know, none of you can stop whats coming, right?” Amanda suddenly whispered, crossing one arm over her chest, “Not even you… little spark"
Stiles turned his head, staring at her for a couple of seconds, she was carelessly leaning against the table, eating a red as blood apple. Stiles watched her movement as she approached the red fruit to her equal, red lips. It perfectly contrasted against the green of her eyes.
“So, you’re aware something is going on?” Stiles asked, slowly standing up.
She shook her head and half smile, almost with pity, “We know as much as you do kid and we both know, none of us, not even you, had felt such powerful darkness to defeat it, you can’t stop whats coming”
Stiles kept his mouth shut, somehow knowing, arguing with her was a waste of time, he shook his head, almost with desperation, “Nemi´s lake…” He said instead, “Its the energy source in this place, right?”
Sariah was the one to answer, “It is” She whispered, rubbing her chin as she carefully stared at Stiles, it was getting into his nerves, “You’re not just a spark, right?” She suddenly asked. Stiles twisted his mouth with discomfort, “I guess no, I´m not”
“What are you?” She asked slowly.
He looked away, staring at the broken window and the night sky behind it, “I was possessed by a nogitsune when I was younger, nothing worth talking about” He bitterly muttered, ignoring the gasp of surprise one of the witches let out. But it was Amanda´s comment what made his blood go cold, “You have a darkness inside you kid, we can see it, it is slowly eating you alive and it will success if you don’t fight it”
Stiles closed his eyes for a second, taking a deep breath, “I´m not- I´m not bad, I´m a good person” He muttered, almost feeling like a frightened child, “And I´m gonna to try to stop this, I will stop it, whatever the hell is coming, I will do it, no matter if I die in the process” He angrily exclaimed, putting his hand on Steve’s shoulder. Without anything else to say, he tele transported back to their cabin. Stiles caught Steve before he crashed again the floor, “Bruce!” He immediately yelled, checking the already healing mark bites of Steve’s back and neck.
He suddenly heard hurried steps, he could only prepare for the million questions he was gonna get. The door wide opened and the entire room filled with high voices. Stiles rolled his eyes before closing them, pinching the bridge of his nose with tiredness, “I said Bruce guys!” He shouted making everyone shut up.
Slowly Bruce popped his head between the mass of people, “Here” He muttered raising his arm. Stiles looked up at him, smiling with fond, “You can take care if him, right?”
“Of course…” Bruce answered unsure, watching Stiles stood up before removing his still wet jacket and boots.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Tony rambled, watching his brother run like a crazy bitch around the room, changing clothes, “Trying to protect this shitty place idiot, what do you think?”
Tony raised his eyebrows, impressed by his rude attitude, he muttered between teeth, “Need some help?” He finally asked unsure. Stiles groaned in response, shaking his arms, “Just- just wait for me, alright?” He breathed. Tony had barely time to think what to answer when Stiles was completely gone, disappeared in the air, “Great” He whispered, twisting his mouth, “Lets just…” He started to say, picking Steve from the floor, his buddy was having a really difficult weekend, not to say month, at least he was dating someone, too bad it was the idiot of his brother.
Stiles landed on soft dirt. He leaned on his elbow, looking up, staring at the calm water of the lake. It was so big he couldn't see the other side of it. But what made him run out of air was the brightness of the water. It seemed was clear as in the day, the water was bright blue and shinny, it seemed magical. Stiles frowned, sitting on the sand, burying his fingers on it as he took deep breaths. He could feel the magic of the energy source, it was calling him, it was powerful and pure, nothing dark had reach it. Yet.
Quickly, Stiles began taking his shoes and socks off. He let out his shaky breath, burying his feet on the cold sand too. The words of the tall witch were still haunting him, fresh in his thoughts. Someone else noticing that dark matter inside of him, it wasn’t good, it meant it was growing and he had no clue how to stop it. Without trying to give it more thinking, he removed his white shirt and tossed it away. The cold wind made his skin shiver, his teeth began to tremble as he slowly approached the water.
“Oh sweet fucking Jesus” He whimpered, as his toes touched the water, followed by his feet and finally his legs, it was like taking a band aid. He took several deep breaths before diving into the freezing water. He wide opened his eyes and what he saw was something completely different what he expected. There was only an infinite blue and darkness below his feet. He felt tiny and intimate, he needed to get out. He emerged from the water, gasping for air and removed with his both hands, his too long hair from his forehead and shook his head. He began swimming, trying to use his inner fire to keep him warm, but it wasn’t working, he looked down at his hands and gave it one more try but nothing happened, his fingers were beginning to turn purple.
He continued moving his arms and legs, against his will. Until he was able to see in the distance the other side of the lake and the far away lights of the town. His lips shivered with strength, he tried lighting his hands on fire but they didn’t answer, he frowned confused, trying again but it never happened, “Shit” He exclaimed, understanding if he didn’t hurry up, he would literally get hypothermia, he needed to continue moving. After minutes he finally arrived to what seemed to be the center of the lake.
He felt something hard below his feet, he frowned before submerging, noticing there was a tall rock where he could stand. Carefully he climbed it. The water only reached to his waist, he rubbed his arms and torso, trying to gain some heat and took a deep breath.
As he began reciting the protective spells, he felt a bigger connection to the lake. Blue and purple lights began forming in the sky, as same as it happened in Beacon Hills. It was beautiful. When he finished, he dropped his hands, feeling a sudden tiredness, he resisted the need to let his legs give up. He looked around him, everything was still dark, the sun wasn’t giving any signs to appear. One more time he tried heating himself, it didn’t work. He tried tele transporting himself back tot he shore but it didn’t work either. He cursed out loud, slapping the water, he stared at it for a couple of seconds, preparing himself to swim back. He was fucking freezing to dead.
He crawled out of the water with the little energy he still had, burying his frozen fingers in the sand. He rolled on his stomach, staring at the night sky. He let out his breath, putting his arms around him, quickly warming himself up, this time he was able to do it, “Come on, come on” He rambled impatiently, desperately wanting to feel something more than cold. He quickly straightened up, grabbing his boots and shirt and tele transported himself back, finally to the damn cabin.
Stiles fall hard against the floor but didn’t dare move for seconds. He kept his eyes closed and his arms around him, getting into heat, when he managed to hear a quiet breathing. Slowly he sat on the wooden floor, acknowledging he was back at his room. Steve was completely asleep in the bed. Without thinking about it, he quickly stood up and walked toward the bed as he took all his clothes off. Steve was on his side, a bandage around his chest, covering his back. He grabbed clean and, more important dried and warm boxers and quickly put them on, followed by his black pants.
Stiles half smiled, so glad Steve was alright, more glad than he thought he would. He removed the sheets and climbed into bed, he carefully put his arms around Steve and ignored his sudden gasp of surprise, “You’re freezing, get off of me” Steve complained, never opening his eyes.
“Sorry” Stiles answered quietly but didn’t let him go, instead he buried his face in Steve´s neck, breathing in it, “Hi” Stiles added.
Steve hummed in response, lightly moving, “Hi” He answered. Stiles couldn't help but smile, lightly kissing him in the cheek.
“You need to stop doing dangerous things on your own” Steve suddenly said, finally opening his eyes, turning his head to face Stiles, who only hummed in response and narrowed his eyes, “Sorry” He repeated before beginning to kiss Steve´s neck.
“I´m serious Stiles, you need- you know we can- I can help you and-“ He tried to follow his scolding but his damn lips were too distracting. He groaned when he felt Stiles cold hand on his lower back, slowly rubbing it, “I´m going to kill you” He muttered, drooping his head, giving up.
Stiles laughed quietly, he kissed him one last time before looking up, “How you feeling?” He asked, leaning his chin on Steve´s shoulder, “I´m alright, don’t distract me again, Tony and Bruce said you ran away like the idiot you are”
Stiles smirked, “I went to find the energy source big guy, did it pretty well without help”
“You’re an idiot, you could have been hurt” Steve complained, putting a hand over his face and slowly rubbing his eyes. Stiles swallowed hard and half smiled, “I like when you worry about me”
Steve scoffed, dropping his hand, “Its the only thing I do” He answered, looking at him in the eye, “Thank you for saving my life”
“Oh yeah, I did, I saved your pretty ass soldier boy” Stiles exclaimed before lowering his hand and playfully pinch his butt. Steve let out a squawk of surprise, straightening up and his cheeks turned impossible red. Stiles laughed out loud, simply enjoying his man´s innocence.
Twenty minutes later, Stiles was falling asleep when he managed to feel and hear Steve climbing off the bed, whispering something about going for something to drink. Stiles felt a sudden coldness that made him pulled a face, he mumbled between teeth and waved his hand, hearing the naked steps of Steve as he walked out of their room. Seconds had barely passed, when he snatched his eyes open as he heard something breaking in the distance.
His first thought was Steve, the apallimay had returned and attacked him again. He quickly sat in bed, feeling a sudden panic and his blood go cold, “Steve?”
He heard his brother screaming something he couldn’t quite understand. Stiles tossed the sheets away and wide opened the door of his room.
“Steve!” He yelled as he started running, stumbling with his still asleep feet.
“Bruce, bruce, look at me” He heard Natasha, hurriedly whisper. He quickly climbed off the stairs and faced what was going on and it wasn’t Steve. In the middle of the living room there was the biggest black wolf with blue eyes Stiles had seen in his entire life, the animal said Derek in every sense of it, on his blue eyes and black fur, but it couldn’t be, Derek hadn’t turn into a full wolf, afraid of hurting someone since they began having control problems. The wolf was directly looking into Bruce´s eyes, they were locked in each other. Stiles realized the green guy was about to make an apparition, he seemed hypnotized and lost in them.
He looked around the room, realizing not even Scott, Jackson or Derek were there. He frowned confused wondering were the hell everyone was.
“Natasha” He called her quietly, as he walked toward the wolf, “Natasha” He tried again, snapping his fingers. She snatched her head to him and swallowed hard. Stiles nodded several times, trying to calm her down, “I will grab the wolf and you and Tony will take Bruce out of here, alright?” He asked without really asking, beginning to move faster when he heard Bruce groan and gasp, struggling the transformation, “Tony?” He asked looking for confirmation. His brother immediately nodded in response as well as Natasha.
“One…” Stiles started, nervously taking a big step.
“Two…”
“Three!” He yelled before launching himself toward the beast, not turning to see if Natasha and Tony had succeed. Stiles saw the moment his hands were centimeters away from the black fur and saw, in complete horror, how they passed through, it was like trying to grab smoke, useless. He landed on the floor, immediately turning around to see the wolf was intact and it had his blue electric eyes fixed on him.
Stiles saw from the corner of his eye, how Tony tried to approach him, “No! Just go! Go!” He yelled, dodging the claws of the wolf. Stiles began crawling, trying to scape from the wolf when he felt something sharp digging on his leg. He turned his head impressed, realizing the wolf had caught hi leg between his fangs.
“Fuck!” He screamed, trying to defend himself but it wasn’t working, he couldn’t touch it, either his powers. Stiles felt how his leg was teared apart, he repressed a scream as he began groping the floor, trying to find something. When his fingers felt something cold and hard. Without thinking he took it into his hand and used it to stab the wolf in its chest. For his surprise he heard the monster roar in pain.
He managed to hear in the distance between the wolf´s cries, someone yelling his name. Stiles stood up, ignoring the strong pain on his leg and backed away from the wolf, “Metal! Metal can burn him!” He yelled to whoever was listening. His hand frantically moved between the broken fragments in the floor, searching for something metallic. He suddenly heard Scott´s panicked voice, saying over and over something about Derek not waking up.
Stiles froze for a fraction of second, hearing his words. He stared at the wolf again and realized why it reminded him so much about Derek. It hit him in the lowest of his stomach, slowly he stood up, noticing Tony was fighting against the wolf, following his instructions. Steve was there too, with his shield and his bloody bandages. He couldn't care any less. He began climbing the stairs, his leg didn’t protest in pain anymore or at least, he couldn’t feel it anymore. He shook his arms, feeling he was under water.
The roar´s of the beast were still audible but Stile heard them kilometers away from him. Scott was suddenly in front of him, putting his arms on his face, shaking it. Stiles blinked several times trying to understand what he was saying. Until he felt his friend knuckles on his cheek, punching him with strength. It was everything he needed, in a blink of an eye, he recovered his movements, he pushed Scott away and began quickly limping toward the room. His hand shook the moment the opened the door and stared at the scene in front of him.
“What is happening?!” Lydia yelled, clapping Derek´s asleep face.
Stiles walked toward her and took her into his arms, pushing her away. Without saying anything, he took Derek´s unconscious body into his arms, ignoring the protest of his bones at the dead weight and its heaviness. He groaned as he tossed him to his back and began walking back, still hearing the fight in the first floor.
“What the hell are you doing Stiles??!” Jackson yelled, trying to stop him but Stiles never stopped walking. He couldn’t, the more he got closer, the more his fear and anger grew, the closer he got, he knew what was going on, what Derek had done.
“Move” He blurted out, pushing everyone away, before dropping Derek´s body on the couch. He watched without surprise how the wolf connected his eyes on him and slowly walked toward the inert body. Stiles wished he could curse, he could yell, cry, he could punch him right in the face but nothing came out, he was in pause, in blank. They watched how the wolf closed his blue eyes before turning himself into dust and suddenly it didn’t exist anymore.
Stiles let himself dropped on the couch, facing how Derek, slowly blinked his eyes before wide opening them and straightening up. Him and Stiles stared at each other for what if felt an eternity.
“How could you?”
“How could you do that to me?”