Demons - Stiles Stilinski (Teen Wolf)

Chapter 14: A Talk with Isaac

The silence is comfortable between us as we slowly make our way home after the game concluded afraid of which father would be waiting at home for us. The only sounds are that of the rustling leaves of the trees lining the sidewalk, the soft sound of Isaac's lacrosse bag moving with his movements and the soft thudding of our feet on the asphalt. Concern and pride fill my being for Scott's achievements that night and the looming threat of the strange werewolf who was released from custody earlier that night. The crisp new bills in my pocket and promise of Stiles having to do one thing I wish doing little to soothe the fear in the pit of my stomach as the street sign for our street comes into view.

I subconsciously move closer to Isaac as we continue, our pace slowing further, neither of us wishing to discover the answer to our unspoken question. The house seemingly looms in the shadows across the street from the Whittemore's brightly lit home as though the very building has taken on the demeanour of the man who owned it.

A soft crack from the tree line draws my attention causing me to gradually come to a halt as I try to see what could have caused the noise. Isaac takes a few more steps before stopping too, noticing my lack of presence at his side, and looks back at me. A look of questioning gracing his tired features. I take a step closer to the trees to get a better look at what could have possibly caused the noise. The wall of black remained uninterrupted, the only other sounds drifting from the forest is the rustling of leaves both in the trees and on the forest floor, presumably as some nocturnal creature ran about on its midnight adventure.

"Carter?" Isaac called out taking a step back in my direction, "Is everything alright?" I look for another second, briefly seeing a flash of red, but assuming it was my eyes playing tricks on me. I turn back to my twin and sigh.

"Everything's fine. I just thought I saw something."

I return to his side and we continue down the street until we reached the door to our house, both of us pausing to listen. His car is in the driveway, but the house is seemingly silent, which does nothing to calm my nerves. Isaac reaches for the handle and slowly opens the door in order to minimize the squeaking of the door hinges. The faint sound of breathing drifts from the sofa in the living room. We both slowly enter the room making as little noise as possible before speeding up the stairs avoiding the steps that squeak. Both of us very much aware of the consequences of poking a sleeping dragon.

Once we were safely in our shared room and the door was securely closed, I release a breath that I didn't know I was holding and lay down across my bed, hair fanning out around me. I glance in the direction of Isaac who hadn't moved other than to set down his bag giving me an all too familiar look.

Raising myself up onto my elbows, I ask, "What's up, Issy? You haven't spoken a word since we left the field. I thought you'd be more excited about winning the first game of the season."

He sighs and sits down next to me, facing towards the door so only half his face was visible and places a warm hand on my knee. He opens his mouth as though to start speaking and then stops himself as though debating on whether or not he actually wants to speak the thoughts bouncing around in his head.

"I-," he cuts himself off.

Sitting up I nudge his side hoping to break his stern facial expression, "Come on, spit it out."

He swallowed almost imperceptibly before glancing in my direction. "I saw you running off with the Sheriff's kid," he stops again.

"And?" I gesture him to continue.

"I-," he mutters, "I think you should distance yourself from him." Shock fills my body at the suggestion from my brother. He is supposed to be on my side, not His. He continues, "I've been thinking, that, maybe, it would be better for you if you left him alone. That boy only ever gets you in trouble, Car."

I push his hand off my knee and abruptly stand up, anger overtaking the initial shock of his words. How could he think that? How could he side with that man? The man who is the source of all of our pain and suffering. Pacing I stumble over my words, "Why-? Ho-? Wh-?" Pausing to collect myself, I press my fingertips into my temples and release a harsh breath.

"How could you say that Isaac? Why would you agree with such a thing?" I just don't understand what could possibly make him think such a thing. He stared at the scratched wooden floor directly in front of him, his hand hovering in the same position it was when I pushed it off my knee. His eyes look far away as his jaw almost unnoticeably clenches and unclenches. "Why should I give up on one of my best friends? Because He doesn't think I should be around him?"

He sighs and starts to mess with his fingers, clearly regretting even breaching the subject in the first place, "I just-." He pauses and looks up to my face, his blue eyes shining in the dim light of the room, his mouth firmly shut.

"You just what, Isaac?" I hiss at him, my face twisted in rage.

"I just don't want you getting hurt anymore," he mutters, a single tear falling from his eyes. "I want you to be safe and unharmed." More tears fall down his face as he aggressively wipes his face, my anger ebbing away and my features relaxing. "I just don't know what else to do." He buries his face in his hands and his body begins to shake. Guilt replaces the anger that was consuming me moments ago as I take a seat next to my twin and wrapped my arm around his back, rubbing it gently in comfort. He turns into me and buries his face in my shoulder and wraps his arms around my waist.

"I just don't know what else we can do," he sobs. I continue to rub his back, both arms now around him. I stare blankly at the opposite wall, my twin sobbing in my arms, guilt pooling in my gut at the pain this is causing him.

Gently shushing him, I murmur, "I'll figure something out. Everything will be alright."