The Hell You Came From [Derek/FemStiles]

Mama

“Derek, darling.”

While Derek is about to take his usual seat beside Peter, his mother suddenly calls softly over to him.

He glances up, sees her waiting in the archway and clearly motioning for him to follow her.

“Uh-oh! Derek’s in trouble!” Leah (the baby of the family, literally, at just seven years old) sings out teasingly.

She’s followed by a chorus of ohhhh!’s from almost everyone at the table, and the only reason Derek rolls his eyes and shrugs them all off (instead of glaring and flipping them all off, like he usually does), is because Stiles is chuckling and clearly finally relaxed enough.

Derek sighs, sticks his tongue out at little Leah–who merely grins smugly back up at him–before following his mother through their house and into her study. He waits patiently at her desk, feeling slightly on edge over worry about what she’s going to say to him, or worse, think of him...

Talia quietly closes the door behind her. She sees her boy’s stiffened muscles, walks around to face him and sees the faint, but unmistakable pink dotted scars across his shoulder and belly.

“Mom, I’m sor–“

“What did that monster do to you?” Talia hisses the words softly out, her face creasing quickly, utterly distraught.

Derek lets out a shaky breath.

He thought she had brought him in here to give him a good telling off.

But there she stands in front of him, close to fucking tears...because of him.

“I’m sorry, mama.”

Talia looks incredulous. “Derek–“

Derek shakes his head, because if he doesn’t say it all now, he’ll never have the courage to do it again...

“At first, I went with her, because I wanted to, because I was a gullible idiot and she made me feel like I was invincible, and after Paige, I thought I’d never even look at anybody like that ever again, so when, Kate came out of nowhere, and seemed like she was too good to be true, I was an idiot and I couldn’t help myself, I just got swept up in her lies. She told me that her dad was dying and she didn’t have enough money to help him. I told her I could help, that I had money. But she said she didn’t want any handouts. So, I...well, the fighting rings were just me helping her raise that money...or so I thought. And that first time she made me kill in the ring for her, I thought I did it to save my own life, but I’m a idiot! I’m a fucking idiot, mom! And when I tried to back out, that’s when she got nasty, and I...”

“Derek, breathe.”

The only time Talia ever seems to need to use her Alpha Tone on her only son is when he’s upset and she needs him to calm down.

Talia smiles softly when he does as he’s told, without protest. She watches him breath deeply before gently pulling him into a warm hug.

Derek breathes her comforting scent in deeply as he hugs her tightly back.

Talia rubs a comforting hand up and down his back and she mumbles into his temple, “Will you show me?”

Derek lets out a shaky breath, but slowly pulls back and nods.

Talia smiles encouragingly, gently grabs his hand and leads him over to sit on the leather couch.

Derek takes a deep breath as she places her hand on his neck to keep him calm; her own calmness sinking down into him.

“Relax, darling, I’m just going to take a quick peek.” Talia tells him, softly stroking at the hairs on the back of his neck.

(She can already tell he’s been through enough. That he needs very much just to rest.)

Derek simply nods. He hears her claws coming out, then, finally lets his eyes fall closed and waits when he feels the tips of her claws brushing against the back of his neck.

Talia takes a deep breath and readies herself for whatever horror she feels she’s about to see...

***
“So, you and Derek, huh?” Isaac grins cheekily, mumbles his words for just her (even though they both know everyone sitting at the table can hear them.)

(Stiles is grateful for how politely they all seem to mind their own business.)

(Well, mostly, anyway. Some of them throw a few little knowing smiles her way.)

Stiles ignores them all as well as her stupid blush. “Um... I dunno. I guess...?”

Isaac smiles brightly. “Well, it’s nice to see he’s finally over Pai–ow!”

Stiles startles at the clear sound of the man sitting opposite them kicking Isaac under the table. She glances around, sees a few wary glances from the others before they quickly go back to their meals and conversations.

“Oh... I, uh, I mean–“ Isaac blushes heavily, completely mortified.

Peter rolls his eyes before throwing on his most charming smile and finally introducing himself. “Ignore this idiot. He doesn’t know when to shut up. I’m Peter.” He holds out a hand across the table for her. “Derek’s uncle.”

“I know who you are.” Stiles mentally curses herself for blushing like a fool under his gaze.

(Of course, it nothing like what Derek makes her feel.)

(Because Holy Crap on a cracker!)

Stiles shakes Peter’s hand, while she secretly hopes Derek’s OK.

She doesn’t know why, but she feels a little worried for him right now. It’s stupid, but she feels like he needs her right now...

“Are you OK?” Cora asks, looking rather concerned when she notices the bummed out look on Stiles’ face.

“Huh?” Stiles hums, clearly distracted. She glances up, sees half the table looking at her now and blushes terribly under the attention. She clears her throat, forces on a bright smile and says, “Yeah, I’m fine.”

While everyone else goes back to their meals, and Stiles and Isaac go back to their mindless chattering, Peter stares curiously at Stiles.

He wonders if she could possibly be feeling the same thing they’re all feeling right now...

Derek’s distress...