( 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]

Where are you?

[studmuffin]

Near the fountain. [ Derek is here. He feels the way relief floods his body but tries not to look at it too close. It's a confusing mess of feelings anyway. One minute they're one thing, the next they're not. He's getting whiplash. ]

What the hell happened?

[lupusalpha]

Get out of there. Right now!

[He's running in that direction]

[studmuffin]

I'm trying.

[ Oh, well that hasn't changed. Instead of going out to the center of the town he moves further down the alley. It should lead him out back. ] Seriously there are people smashing windows in, do you think I actually want to be here?

[lupusalpha]

They've been fighting all day, all yesterday, get to the woods-

[studmuffin]

[ Yesterday there were sacrificial killings, today anarchy on the streets. His life is so not awesome. ]

Doing that, I mean doing that like yesterday.

[lupusalpha]

Just hurry up, will you?

[studmuffin]

Oh my god, Derek.

[ So demanding but he breaks off into a run. ]

[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.

video;

[brobeforehos]

No - no - [Look who is very worried/happy/conflicted to see you, Stiles, look.] You're early, there have not even been zombie attacks yet!

[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.

video;

[studmuffin]

[ WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU MAVIS. ]

Wow, I'm hurt. You're not jumping for joy.

[lupusalpha]

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

All right. I won't ask.