selfassured | IC Inbox

[ He lets out a small hum of clearly faked interest but doesn't verbally comment on the classroom thing. It’s not exactly a shock to hear that a key led to an otherwise worthless room.

All the while Derek keeps close and continues to follow Stiles' lead; he’ll start to lead them away a bit once the warm-up is over. He doesn't look surprised by the news of two more people disappearing. ]

We could always ask one of the others to help. I doubt they have anything better to do with their time.

Yeah. I mean, for a while I thought keeping it secret might be a good idea, not really knowing who to trust.

[He's breathing a bit harder now, but doing okay.]

Guess it really doesn't matter anymore, does it.

[ Derek gives a slight shrug. It's true that things are getting a little desperate so there is some merit in sharing their information with everyone else. That said, there's still a chance that a few less than trustworthy individuals are still lurking around. ]

It's up to you. Do you want to tell everyone or keep it between the two of us for a little longer?

...I don't know?

[Stiles sighs; he's always sort of liked this thing between them. It's been their 'thing', and something that he doesn't have to freak out about, or worry. Lydia, Scott--they all keep watching him like he's some sort of ticking time bomb. But Derek? He just exists within his space, letting him do what he needs to do, giving helpful answers, or at least not giving ones that impede him.

Handing out a big part of their bond almost seems wrong.]

Maybe a couple people. But yeah, maybe the whole city doesn't need it, now.

[ Once again Derek isn't terribly helpful with his mute gestures, this time it's a short and simple nod. It's not his call to make, not that he has anyone to tell by this point, it's entirely up to Stiles. It's up to him whether he wants to actually involve Scott, Lydia or someone else. Derek just has to deal with the consequences, given his current standing with the other Beacon Hills bunch? Well, that might mean stepping back and letting them handle it. ]

That's fine. Make sure that the others know to keep quiet about all of this though.

Oh I will. Though that's totally why I'm not telling Scott.

[Also because what the fuck could Scott help him with? His friend isn't stupid, but when it comes to this stuff, he'd be completely useless.]

Is that a smart idea? Keeping something like that from Scott.

[ The last thing they need right now is for a huge fall out between the teenagers. If Scott comes back, they need to avoid a situation that'll cause him to wander off. No one needs to be lumped with the task of keeping an eye on him. ]

Well who says he's coming back.

[Stiles shoots the words back, picking up the pace, panting hard. He hasn't been able to eat as much, lately, and he can tell it's been having an effect on him.]

And he doesn't give a shit about this stuff anyways. He'd listen, but it isn't like he'd given a damn about my reading in the first place.

[ It's easy enough for Derek to keep pace, although he does look a slightly concerned about Stiles' breathing pattern. When he speaks up again he keeps his tone calm, clearly he's just hit a nerve with the Scott talk. ]

Slow down. Whether he cares or not isn't the problem. If you keep it a secret and he finds out, what's going to happen? What'll happen if he finds out that I knew about all of this before him? We're going to need his co-operation.

[ If he comes back. ]

[Stiles forces himself to slow down, taking deep breaths.]

Derek, the last time I tried to tell him about this, when the library came open, he just looked at me blankly. I love him, but he doesn't get it. And of course you know--you've helped me. [Stiles shakes his head.] Fine, I'll tell him.

I just think it's bullshit he can't get over whatever issue he has with you.

[ There's a short sigh as Derek closes the gap. ]

If he doesn't listen the next time around, fine, leave it at that. But you need to try one last time. I mean it.

[ There's still a chance to get through to him. It's just a matter of getting past the 'save everyone' mentality. ]

It's a difference of opinion, not an issue. He thinks we should be taking action, I think we need to avoid attracting attention. [ He pauses before shaking his head. ] If need be i'll back off for a couple of days, he might be more likely to listen that way.

I will, okay?

[Stiles knows he's snapping and Derek doesn't deserve it but--]

Sorry, sorry. He just really doesn't like that I agree with you on this stuff. So it doesn't matter if you're not saying it. I would be.

[ Derek gives an unimpressed look. The temptation to snap back, to try and really hammer home how important it is to get Scott to listen, is right there underneath his skin. Assuming the kid comes back, of course. He fights that underlying urge back down before folding his arms. ]

You have a better chance of getting through to him than I do.

[ He starts to veer off course, clearly set on leading Stiles to the ‘training’ area. ]

If he decides to go after the cultists, the others are going to follow his lead. We can’t let that happen.

I know, but lately--

[Stiles sighs and shakes his head, following Derek, trusting him to lead them wherever.]

I know that--but what am I supposed to do? If he decides to go hero, I can't change that! He's got other people he listens to more than me, sometimes, these days.

[ He won't be taking them very far. Just beyond a nearby group of plants and into a clearing. ]

If it comes down to that you'll have three options. You can either follow him into battle, keeping try to turn him against the idea, or let him go.

[ Sounds simple enough. In theory everything sounds simple though, it's making a decision in the heat of the moment that's the difficult part. ]

What you choose to do will be up to you.

So you mean there is only one option.

[Because the other two don't work. The first will get him killed, and the third is--he won't do that. Period.

He stops running, putting his hands on his hips working to catch his breath.]

I always love making horrible decisions.

No, I mean three options. You're narrowing it down to one.

[ In other words, you've already made your choice, Stiles. Now you've just got to follow it through.

When Derek comes to a stop he's breathing normally. Definitely doesn't look as though the warm-up had any effect on him. ]

You've still got time to think things over. And there's always a chance that Scott won't come back.

And you know why I'm doing that.

[Stiles has to do that. It's his family. Blood or not, Scott is his brother.]

I know. And I should be thankful for that. Except--

--except I'm selfish, and I don't want that.

I do.

[ Which is why he’s going to let that part of the topic drop. Yes, he has doubts on how successful Stiles will be with his chosen option but he’s not going to try and change the teenager’s mind. ]

Selfish or not, you don’t get a say in it. No one does. Either he’ll turn back up or he won’t.

I know.

[He sighs, shaking his head.]

Whatever. Let's get started. I'm tired of talking about this.

[Depressing, and like Derek said, not something he can change.]

[ There's a small nod before Derek rolls his shoulders. ]

There's a couple of logs over there, go and pick one up.

Excuse me?

Do I look like Thor to you?

[Stiles gripes, but he still goes to try and pick one up. And, well, it's a comical, sad thing.]

[ Rolling his eyes and judging you so hard right now, Stiles. ]

Pick up a smaller one then. It needs to have some weight to it though.

Hey I'm trying, okay?

[It isn't like he's had a solid meal in a while. But he's the one who asked for training, so he needs to just suck it up. He moves over to the smaller log and picks it up--it's heavy, but not enough that he's going to start trembling from it immediately.]

Try harder.

[ No one has had a solid meal in a while. And when you’re a werewolf who typically consumes more than a standard human on an average day? The sudden lack of food hits hard. So he can relate to what Stiles is going through, but he does need this practice. Just on the off-chance that things hit the ‘worst case scenario’ point. ]

Both hands at one end then bring it over here.

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