Shadows // Stiles Stilinski x Male OC

13

*** Alex's POV ***

When I saw Stiles in pain, I couldn't hold myself back. I should have done something when he first arrived, but I didn't want to make a scene in front of my family. I couldn't stand seeing what Finnicki was doing to him anymore. I saw the desperation in Stiles' eyes, how he couldn't move or speak. I couldn't control what I was doing or what I was feeling—it was all too much. And with what Finnicki said... Am I turning Dark? And what curse was he talking about? I know Uncle Macon is hiding things from me, but I never imagined it would be a curse. I couldn't stop thinking about it.

Everything started to rotate. I couldn't control my powers. The dinner table began to spin, like a tornado had been created in the room. I was standing on one side while Finnicki was on the other, and the table spun between us.

"Get away from him!" I yelled.

"Oh, really, coz?" Finnicki said mockingly.

"Alex, will you stop this?" Uncle Macon demanded. "Stop it now!"

Finnicki laughed. "Oh, just another good boy gone bad, I guess."

"Alex, child, there's no need for this," his mom pleaded.

"Will you stop this immediately?" Uncle Macon repeated, sitting in his chair while it spun with the table holding a glass of wine.

"Breaking windows on poor, helpless little mortals.": Finnicki laughed harder. "He's already closer to the Dark than I was!"

"You know that's a lie!" Uncle Macon shouted, now holding onto the table for support.

"I want you out of here!" I yelled, and Finnicki laughed even more.

"Finnicki, don't make me get up from this table!" his mom yelled, the table spinning faster, dishes rattling and breaking.

"I am so sick of everyone treating you like you're something special! There's nothing special about you!" Finnicki taunted. "Go on, you tell him, Macon! You know how he will be Claimed!"

"I said, get away from my boyfriend, you witch." Without realizing it, I pushed him out the window with my powers. Then I felt myself growing weak. Slowly, everything stopped spinning. I heard a grunt from Stiles, then he fell to the ground, dizzy. I ran to him and put his head on my lap while he lay on the floor.

"Boyfriend, huh?" he asked with a weak smile before passing out.

"Is he gonna be all right?" I asked as my grandma approached and touched his face.

"He'll be fine," she said.

"What curse was Finnicki talking about?" I asked.

"Finnicki was just telling stories to get your rage going, to make you lose control. You mustn't let him," Grandma said softly, looking at me.

"Larkin, help me take him to my room," I asked my cousin, who was still sitting at the table eating and ignoring what was happening.

"Oh, he will," his mom said, slapping him on the head and taking the fork and plate from him. "Sitting there eating through a Caster combat like you're two sandwiches shy of a picnic."

"I'll finish it when I get back. I'm still hungry," Larkin mumbled. He knelt next to me, helping me lift Stiles. As we carried him towards my room, I overheard Grandma and Uncle Macon whispering to each other."Did you see the way she looks at the boy? There's no getting in-between them now," Grandma said."Then it has begun," Uncle Macon replied.What are they talking about? is this about the curse? Is there really a curse? Why does no one ever talk to me about it? I was pulled from my thoughts by Stiles groaning as Larkin and I continued down the hallway.

*** Stiles POV ***

I opened my eyes, everything still blurry. When my vision finally cleared, I realized I was in Alex's room. My head throbbed, and I felt like throwing up. The memories of what happened at the dinner table flooded back into my mind.

I turned to the side and couldn't help but smile. Alex was standing with his back to me, putting on his pajama shirt. For a moment, I was mesmerized. His back was sculpted, each muscle defined and rippling slightly as he moved. I couldn't help but admire the way his skin seemed to glow in the soft light of the room. A warmth spread through me, momentarily pushing aside the pain and nausea. I wanted to reach out and touch him, to feel the strength and warmth that his presence radiated.

As he finished putting on his shirt, he turned back to me and smiled, noticing I was awake. His smile was like a balm, soothing the turmoil within me. He came and sat next to me on the bed, his eyes filled with concern and relief.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" he asked softly, brushing a stray hair from my forehead.

"Like I was in a tornado inside a dining room," I said, giving him a small smile. "No big deal." I laughed, trying to lighten the mood.

"I'm so sorry about Finnick," he said, breathing heavily. "I didn't know he was back."

"Yeah, he's sort of a bitch, isn't he?" I joked.

"He's a siren. He can make mortals see, think, or do whatever he wants... especially men," Alex explained, holding my hand.

"Isn't that, like, the working definition of a bitch?" I joked again, and Alex chuckled.

"He wasn't always like that. We were like brothers, you know?" Alex said, his voice tinged with sadness. "Traveled together so much we shared the same suitcase. Did homework, watched movies. We were just kids."

I could see the pain in his eyes as he continued. "The night Finnick turned 16, he ran away. He said he could feel himself turning Dark. He said he had to get away before he hurt anybody he loved." Alex's voice trembled as he closed his eyes, a single tear slipping down his cheek. "Before he hurt me."

Gently, I reached out and wiped the tear away with my thumb, feeling the wetness on my skin. His vulnerability tugged at my heart. "I followed him that day, you know. Then it happened."

"I saw it all," Alex said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I saw how he looked at the moon before turning completely Dark, how he made that guy walk to the train tracks and just stand there, waiting for the train to kill him. I still remember the creepy smile on finnick's face, how he was enjoying it."

He paused, his eyes haunted by the memories. "He loved me. I know it. It's not fair what happened to him. And the same thing could happen to me."

"It won't," I said firmly, my voice steady.

"Did you see me tonight?" he asked, his voice breaking. "I can't control myself."

"Alex, I don't believe that we have one fate and no choice," I said, leaning closer. "We make our own lives." Gently, I kissed him, pouring all the calm and reassurance I could into that simple act. "We can write our own destinies. Together."