𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬, i. lahey

𝟎𝟏𝟐. deity of vengeance

SIDELINES

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"THIS IS THE one controlling him?" Derek asks, glaring at Matt in an unimpressed manner as the boy crouches down beside him on the floor. "This kid?"

Emery grips Scott's fingers tighter when the kanima starts to circle around them and Stiles, only coming to a stop once it nears Matt.

"Well, Derek, not everyone's lucky enough to be a big, bad werewolf," he mocks. Then, rising from his kneeling position and straightening to face the others, Matt begins, "Oh, yeah, that's right! I've learned a few things lately. Werewolves, hunters, kanimas. It's like a frickin' Halloween party every full moon. Except for you, Stiles. What do you turn into?"

"Abominable snowman," Stiles retorts. "But, uh, it's more of, like, a wintertime thing. You know, seasonal." His response leads Matt to cock his head at the kanima, who abruptly raises its wrist to slash its claws across the nape of Stiles' neck. He manages to mumble, "You bitch," before he's sent toppling onto Derek's chest.

Scott yanks Emery farther from the kanima and switches places with her. "Hey!" he exclaims, preparing the lunge at the creature until it holds up a finger to stop him.

"Get him off of me," Derek grunts.

If it weren't for the intensity of the situation, Emery would probably laugh at the annoyance displayed across Derek's features.

Matt leans over them with a smug grin. "Oh, I don't know, Derek. I think you two make a pretty good pair. It must kinda suck, though. To have all that power taken away from you with just a little cut on the back of the neck. I bet you're not used to feeling this helpless."

"Still got some teeth," Derek hisses, jaw clenched as he jerks his chin toward Matt challengingly. "Why don't you get down here a little closer, huh? We'll see how helpless I am."

Stiles, whose voice is muffled by Derek's shirt, adds, "Yeah, bitch."

"And what about you?" Matt ignores the pair's responses to him, his eyes now being trained on Emery instead. "Hm?"

"Take a guess."

The sound of tires approaching outside makes Scott's body tense again, as his mother's vehicle can be seen through the windows. Emery curses under her breath.

"Is that her?" Matt questions in a rhetorical manner, turning to face Scott. "Do what I tell you to and I won't hurt her. I won't even let Jackson near her."

"Scott, don't trust him!" Stiles yells.

Matt harshly reaches down and drags Stiles' paralyzed figure off of Derek's chest, flipping him over and placing the base of his shoe against the boy's throat. "This work better for you?"

Emery's horror increases at the sight of Stiles' pale face turning to a deep red as the oxygen flow to his lungs has been cut, the veins on his forehead being visible. He struggles to let out several helpless gags.

"Okay, just stop!" Scott shouts. "Stop!"

"Then do what I tell you to!"

"Okay," Scott blurts, his panicked eyes flickering between Matt and Stiles when tears have begun to flood his friend's waterline. "All right, stop!"

Matt removes his foot from Stiles' neck, causing the boy to cough roughly and continue gasping for air. "You," Matt motions at the kanima and Stiles, "take him in there. You two, with me."