Brick By Boring Brick/Teen Wolf AU/Sterek(boyxboy)

Better

Stiles couldn’t keep his hands from shaking. It had been over an hour since Matt and Wendy left with a police escort to the hospital and as much as Mr. Stilinski didn’t want to go he left. Stiles was now alone sitting behind the cabin. Many of the residents watched the scene as the ambulance arrived and the police minutes later. Stiles knew that no one would really know what had happened. Rumors would spread but the only solid fact they had was some kid got hurt and Stiles was involved some how. Deaton kept Stiles in his office until the crowds had cleared away. After a tearful goodbye and Deaton convincing Stiles father he would be safe there Stiles slipped out of the back door of the main house and made his way back to the cabin. Stiles was glad Doctor Deaton was on his side. He didn’t think he could go back home just yet. There were too many memories and too many nightmares.

“I thought you might have run away again.” Stiles looked up and saw Derek standing inches away from him.

“I just couldn’t go in yet. I can’t stop shaking.” It was true. He had shakes running through his whole body. They were small but they were there. Derek walked in front of Stiles and crouched down and their eyes met. He reached out and took Stiles hands from his bouncing knees and held them in his own. They were warmer than Stiles expected and softer too. He just looked into Stiles eyes and rubbed his hands softly.

“Better?” Derek raised an eyebrow. Stiles could actually feel himself relaxing.

“For the first time in forever I think I can breathe again.” Derek smiled. A real smile. Stiles could even see his teeth for a moment. That smile warmed him.

“Good.” Derek pulled on Stiles hands pulling him into his chest. They stayed like that for what seemed like hours. Stiles wanted it to last forever but he knew it wouldn’t. He just had this moment and he took note of every second of it.

-

Stiles woke up that night in a cold sweat. Another bad dream. He gasped when he woke and quickly scanned the room. He reminded himself where he was and where he wasn’t. He sat up and took one breath after another. When he finally looked up he noticed Isaac sitting up in bed; watching. He looked sad with those large eyes. His curls a mess. They both looked at one another for a few minutes and Isaac finally moved. He got up and crept quietly across the floor and found himself standing at the foot of Stiles bed. Stiles got up from the bed and took a seat on the floor next to his bed, facing away from Scott. Isaac joined him. They both sat in the quiet darkness for a few moments until Isaac spoke up.

“I still get nightmares too.” He ran his hand through his hair and nervously looked around. “I know I’m okay but sometimes right after I wake up I think I’m back home. That this place was just a dream and that I’m still…” he swallowed.

“You don’t have to tell me.”

“My dad loved me. I don’t know what happened. I guess he needed something, someone to take it out on. The worst was when he locked me in the freezer. I thought I would die a few times. I never knew when he would let me out.”

“A freezer?”

“It wasn’t plugged in or anything.” Stiles could see the anxiety in Isaac's body language. He couldn’t believe a father would do that to his child. He couldn’t believe the horror they had all faced.

“We’re here now.” Stiles smiled reassuringly nudging Isaac. They both smiled at one another and sat in the silence listening to the others as they breathed in and out.

“What happened today? Are you okay?” He pointed to the cuts on Stiles face.

“I’ll take some cuts and bruises over the alternative.”

“What’s the alternative?” Stiles looked over his shoulder as if someone may hear them. That someone being Matt. He could remember the punishments and shivered again.

“Being helpless with no escape. No real escape.”

“I know the feeling.” Isaac bit his lip. They could both feel the sadness creeping in. “So. Anything on that Ortho-thing?”

Stiles felt a ping. A light bulb going off. He could even feel a smirk on his face. In all the chaos he’d forgot what he had hidden under his mattress. He quickly moved and pulled his backpack from under the bed. He rummaged through it and found the box. He held it in his hands and almost couldn’t believe it was real. He hadn’t imagined finding it. It was right there.

“What is that?”

“I think this is it.”

“No way! How did you get it!?”

“Long story. You wanna see it?” Isaac shot Stiles a glance as if he just asked him if he wanted to cut off a limb.

“Is bacon the best topping on pizza?” Stiles shook his head and laughed at his friend.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Stiles slowly opened the box afraid it would no longer be there but as the lid was pulled away the thing shined brilliantly before them.

“It’s-”

“I know.”

“What’s it for?”

“I’m not sure but I know it means a lot to Deucalion and that can’t be good news.”

“What’s going on?” Stiles quickly shut the box and both boys turned. Scott was sitting up rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “Are you okay? Was it a bad dream?” He was quickly awake when he saw Isaac sitting next to Stiles on the floor.

“I’m fine. So’s Stiles. Wait til you see what he has!” Scott hoped over the bed and joined the boys on the floor. Once again Stiles opened the box and they stared in wonder. After a few minutes Scott finally talked again.

“You know what this means right?”

“Deucalion is going to kill us?” Isaac offered.

“You’re just full of sunshine aren’t ya?” Stiles shook his head and Scott cut in.

“He may do that but before he gets a chance we need to do some research. Find out what this thing really is.”

“I hate homework.” Isaac whined.

“Let’s get some sleep. We can start in the morning.”

The boys returned to their beds. Soon Isaac was sound asleep. Stiles still held the small box staring up at the ceiling.

“Are you alright Stiles?” Scott whispered from his own bed.

“I think I’ll be okay.” He smiled into the dark.