Everyone Has Demons [Teen Wolf]

35

BPOV

Stiles looked upset, so I followed him home. Apparently the truth bomb had finally gone off and Malia knew she was Peter Hale's daughter. I didn't blame Malia for being upset, someone should have told her; it was stupid secret to try to hide. But, I had also seen how absolutely insane Peter was. If he was one half of her genes, there was no telling what Malia could turn into. Perhaps it was better that she distanced herself from Ava's friends.

Stiles wasn't sleeping restfully. He tossed and turned and mumbled to himself. I was pretty sure I'd overheard that Malia had been sleeping at his house for weeks. I guess It'd be hard to sleep alone after that.

I climbed into the bed next to him. It felt weird to be lying down; I hadn't slept in two decades. Being here I could almost pretend I was normal. Stiles sat up, he looked around, and then lay back down.

I rolled over and put my arm around him. It took effort for it not to just drop right through him. Touching objects was easy, interacting with them took a little more effort. But touching people was harder; our vibrations were on the same frequency.

Stiles relaxed and after a moment he drifted off to sleep.

OoOoO

When I got back to the loft in the morning Ava was awake. She was leaning against the headboard, drawing circles on Derek's shoulder as he slept. She glanced up at me. "Someone's been out all night," she whispered. She nodded towards the hallway and slid out of bed. She leaned down and kissed Derek on the forehead before following me out the door.

I shrugged. "I was giving you space. How's Derek?"

"About the same," she said. I could see how weary she looked. Between the deadpool targeting her friends, and her boyfriend falling apart, I was surprised she was able to get any sleep at all. I watched her try to compartmentalize. It was how we'd survived for three and a half centuries. I could practically see her packing all her worries into little boxes and stacking them in the corner of her mind. "How's Stiles?" She asked.

"Fine, I guess. Why?"

"I know you were over there."

"What, is there a hidden security camera that sees wraiths in his room?" I asked. "Because last time I checked no one can see me but you."

"Stiles told me you helped them today, that he was the only one who sensed your presence."

I shrugged. "Yes, I did my civic duty. Your friends are alive thanks to me."

"Are you stalking Stiles?" She asked.

"I'm looking out for him," I said. "Something I've only been doing for twenty four hours. That hardly constitutes as stalking."

"Stay away from my friends, Brooke." I heard the front door slide open, Ava walked down the spiral staircase.

I called after her. "Make up your mind, Ava! Do you want me to leave them alone, or save their lives?"

APOV

I saw Braeden standing in my living room. "Good, you're here."

"My employer calls, I answer," she said.

"I need your help," I said. "Derek isn't doing good."

"So I've gathered."

"Are you getting close to finding Kate?" I asked.

She shrugged. "I wish I had something to tell you. How bad is it getting?"

"He's stopped healing. His eyes barely glow, plus his super strength and sense of smell are gone," I confided. "I'm really worried about him. He doesn't want me to help."