there's something about the way that derek hasn't been fought for, not in a long time.
laura was fiery. she held just as much anger as he did, but she didn't use it as an anchor ā she used it to be a better person. all throughout new york, she was there, beside him, helping him get out of bed, helping with the only schoolwork he'd had, introducing him to new things. stitching him back together after he'd been torn apart by kate argent's hands, after their hearts were ripped out of their chest, after the loss of pack, family.
she was the last person who'd fought for him, claws out the moment she suspected he was in danger, telling him she needed him, that he couldn't leave, that she would be there for him until her very last breath. in all fairness, they were halves to a whole; he did the same thing for her, because they're twins.
but then, right when things were okay, he'd come home to yet another tragedy. his sister buried, mangled in half.
and suddenly, there was no one left, nobody there to fight for him. nobody who'd look him in the eyes, tell him it was alright, that they need him, that he's not going to be like this, live like this, his entire life. it went like that for months.
only for him to eventually be seen as a monster, by teenagers he'd only been trying to help, even if it was misguided, even if he'd made mistakes. he scared people, he ruined things. derek would see their fear, and think it must only be right. he's a disaster.
and then, his uncle, who he'd looked up to as a child, who he'd loved and trusted and felt guilty for, because derek'd led him to burnt remains, had turned around and murdered their own flesh and blood. in reckless want of a power he'd thought unlimited; when in reality it was fickle, finite.
even still, he's the one who's considered a monster when his eyes become red. when he wants to help people, when he sees teenagers that are in bad situations, who've been dealt a bad hand, he's a monster. he's the one hurting them.
he loves them, because they're pack, but at some point, he knows that the people around him have a point. that it was born out of loneliness, out of longing for a family he'd lost at freshly sixteen.
and suddenly they're not fighting for him, but they're scared, and hurt, and all they've ever wanted is to be happy, to live a normal life, derek. you've made them just like you, haven't you?
derek doesn't think he deserves to be fought for, to be loved, anymore. not when it comes at the expense of his pack, when it means tearing lives apart. so, he does what he does best ā he hides, shuts himself down. he thinks this is it. this is his fault, and he's ruined every person he ever loved, and his family is gone, and it must be fate that derek hale is the one who leads you to certain death.
but then, just when it's at it's worst, there's stiles.
stiles, who had made it clear that he doesn't consider werewolves an abomination. him, an abomination. stiles, who'd time and time again, save derek's life, save him from drowning both literally, metaphorically; stiles, who risks everything just to bring derek out alive, stiles, who puts a hand on his shoulder when he needs it.
stiles, who will crack jokes until he knows derek is laughing along, who doesn't mind derek's exterior but instead welcomes it. stiles, who stood up for him every chance he'd gotten, who knew that derek hale was not a monster, but a kid who'd been hurt and scarred, and payed for it nearly every day of his life. stiles, who saw derek, and never once went off track, never once stopped trying to understand him.
stiles, who'd fought for derek, tooth and nail, who made him stay.
and derek is scared. so, incredibly scared. but stiles looks at him, and sees the world on his shoulders, and says, "i'll help carry the weight."
stiles looks at him, and he says, "i love you, and i need you, i want you here. so please, stay." and derek is relieved when there's no blip in his heartbeat, when he knows that stiles means it.
2087
blakekathryn
gamechangershow
tangentwithtanner
romaincrisis
izzy806
