( v i d e o 28 )

[studmuffin]

[ The video starts with almost Blair Witch levels of shaking, the kind of tremble that usually accompanies the running and possibly evading of massacres. He lifts the device with one hand and breathes out, a quick burst of breath that makes his voice vaguely higher than usual. Do not judge him, he will find his baseball bat soon enough. ] Okay, what the hell?

[ It's been months for him, months of growing and settling and generally smothering down the Beacon Hills level of panic that accompanies his daily life. He'd had Scott and been patching up things with his dad and none of this had crossed his mind at all. Forgetting is so quick. Well, at the beginning with the smothering. Now it's mostly just panic and keep panicking because everything in the town is out to kill you. Even Peter. Especially Peter.

Memories of the City come back in fits and starts. He's vaguely aware of the trouble before he'd left and it matches up. Of course rioting in the streets is a little .. well. ]

Is this going to happen every time? [ Running a hand fitfully through his hair - that's new too, the hair. He tugs it a little and moves his foot up and down, his whole body still in motion. ] I know destruction of property is generally my siren call but seriously?

[ He needs to get out of the center and quickly. ] Is this everywhere?

Comments

[lupusalpha]

[He's waiting at the likeliest exit that Stiles would use, just off the road.]

[studmuffin]

[ Ridiculously he thinks about hugging him. With the running and the whole reunion thing. It's been months since he's seen this Derek, the Derek he has some sort of complicated facemashing feelings for. The last time he saw him they were trying to break into a bank vault and then -

and then Erica and Derek's sister and the killings and everything. So he staggers to a stop and breathes out. ] Hi.

[lupusalpha]

[He stares at him, because -

Hair-

And-]

Come on.

[studmuffin]

[ His hair is awesome, shut up. But he's falling in beside him anyway. ]

How long have I been gone?

[lupusalpha]

Over a week. Not much more.

[He takes a moment and starts back, leading Stiles]

What happened?

[studmuffin]

Things.

[ A week. ] It's been months for me.

[lupusalpha]

How many?

[studmuffin]

I'm back in school.

[ That many. Because the Mun doesn't understand US schools so. That many. ]

[lupusalpha]

[He considers that for a moment]

All right. Get going.

[studmuffin]

You're not coming?

[ OH WAIT HE REMEMBERS THE UNDERGROUND TUNNELS. ] Hey forward planning Batman, well done.

[lupusalpha]

What else is happening-

Did we find Boyd and Erica?

[studmuffin]

[ He immediately trips over a root. There is no way he wants to be the one to tell Derek about Erica. He still doesn't want to think about it himself. So much awful fucking crap happens in Beacon Hills and he figures they're all barely keeping it together back home. ]

We found them.

[lupusalpha]

[He catches him, and holds onto him for a moment]

Good.

[He doesn't want to know the rest.]

[studmuffin]

[ His heartbeat immediately kicks up a notch, his hands curling on to Derek's bicep for a second as though to steady himself. ]

Just. [ Pressing his palm against his forehead. He's tired. He's so tired. ] Just don't ask okay? About anything. It's best if you don't -. I'm going to shut up now.

[lupusalpha]

[He takes a moment. That's not good, nothing good has come out of that phrase]

All right. I won't ask.

[studmuffin]

[ He curls his arms across his chest and keeps walking, not exactly looking at Derek. ]

So I take it the whole party on the streets is because of the graffiti guys?

[lupusalpha]

They started a war.

[studmuffin]

Awesome.

[ NOT AWESOME. ] Has anyone been hurt?

[lupusalpha]

Probably.

[studmuffin]

[ Sigh. ] Okay, I'll figure that out myself.

[lupusalpha]

[Quiet]

I haven't been in town.

[studmuffin]

[ Stopping as he turns to look at him properly. ]

Are you okay?

[lupusalpha]

[He just looks over at him]

I'm fine.

[studmuffin]

[ Eyeing him up. ]

Have you been moping in the woods this whole time man?

[lupusalpha]

No.