spamalot } { of kidnapping sisters and lots of ketchup

[impetere]

[Derek decides he wants some quality little sister time and tells Cora to meet him down at the coffee shop as he finishes up his shift. She spends the time while she waits doing her homework. Derek offers to help, but she tells him she’s got it. There’s a crack about her getting the smart genes from him. Cora petulantly points out that that’s not now genes work.]

Derek: It's a joke, pup.

Cora: [a bit of a look at that, before pulling one knee up to brace her notebook on it] Are you almost done?

Derek: [wiping down the 'fixin' bar and checking on milk levels] Ten minutes left. Do you want me to make you something for the road?

Cora: [shakes her head as she scratches out the answer to another math problem] No, I'm good.

Derek: Alright. I was thinking we could take a drive down to Santa Monica for dinner if you're up for it since it's not a school night.

Cora: Sure. Can we hit the pier?

Derek: That was my plan.

Cora: [grins] Awesome.

Derek: [grins and has to go back for a customer but is glad Cora approves of their outting]

Cora: [and is just going to go back to her homework until he's ready. Yaaaaaaay math.]

Derek: [and ten minutes later he's off to the back to clock out, change into a different top, and joining her with his letterman's jacket tossed over his shoulder] You good?

Cora: [flips the notebook closed and nods] Yep.

Derek: [heads out, holding the door for her before putting on his shades]

Cora: [follows his lead, slinging her back pack over her shoulder as she looks for his car]

Derek: [gets to the car and is putting the top down so that they can enjoy the breeze and smells on the way to the coast]

Cora: [tosses her back pack into the foot well of the back seat and settles into the front comfortably, leaning back into the seat] Does Mom know where we're going?

Derek: I may have told her I was stealing you for the weekend and would return you on Sunday.

Cora: [surprised, she turns to face him] Really?

Derek: Yeah. We haven't spent a lot of time together lately, and I kinda miss you. Hope you didn't have plans.

Cora: [pleased! Surprise brother time is surprising, but she's definitely not going to complain] Nope. Not that I'm aware of anyway.

Derek: Great. There's a ball cap in the glove box if the wind and your hair don't agree.

Cora: [she shrugs as she leans back in the seat again] I'm good for now.

Derek: Alright. [and he literally peels out of the parking lot for the expressway. Speed limits? what are those?]

Cora: [her hand finds the grip of the door as he pulls out but once she gets used to the speed she relaxes, closing her eyes as she does.]

Derek: [drives for a bit, playing with the radio before finding an indie station and relaxes] So how're things going?

Cora: Okay. School's almost done for the year, so it's mostly just been getting all the teaching in they can before Memorial Day weekend.

Derek: Think you're set for finals?

Cora: Yeah. I can't wait until next year when I won't have to take them. [if she keeps up her straight A average at any rate]

Derek: You thinking about starting any AP classes?

Cora: I'm registered for History, English and Chem. [so she plans to take them] The teacher for Chem is pretty good and English is easy. History might be a little rough though.

Derek: History sucks, but if you chose American history, it'll stick easier. European is harder.

Cora: There isn't really a specific one. It's just "History."

Derek: Wow, that's changed since I was in school.

Cora: [she shrugs] It's not really the subject matter so much as the teacher. I had him for the first half of US History and he was ... awful.

Derek: Well, you'll figure it out. Or get a good tutor.

Cora: Boyd and I helped each other through stuff last time, maybe we can do it again.

Derek: Boyd?

Cora: Yeah. [she pauses and holds up her hand so that it's a whole head above hers] Boyd? He works at the ice rink? [because I can't have them not be friends, too many feelings]

Derek: [thinks, then nods] Right. He's in ROTC, isn't he?

Cora: Yep, that's him. He's a nice guy.

Derek: [won't complain about his sister having a soldier type as a friend] Doesn't he hang with that blonde girl? Erica?

Cora: [nods] Yeah, I hang out with her sometimes too. [Erica's a little shy, and her epilepsy is awful, but Cora tries to pick up on her seizures coming if she can. It doesn't stop people from being assholes about it though]

Derek: Sounds like you've got a nice little friend circle going then. Probably better people than the jocks I hung out with.

Cora: Probably, considering the jocks you hung out with were more like Jackson Whittemore. [eye roll. dick.] Not all of them are bad, though. Danny's pretty cool.

Derek: Did Isaac Lahey get into any of your classes this year? I knew his older brother before the accident...

Cora: He's on the lacrosse team, I think? And he's in Harris's class with me.

Derek: Do me a favor? I've been hearing some things on the grapevine from old friends and if you think something's going on at home at him, just let me know. [because Derek was good friends with the Laheys back then]

Cora: [frowns for a second, then nods] Yeah. I'll keep an ear out. [though that may mean actually ... talking to Jackson. Maybe she could just talk to Lydia and get the same information.]

Derek: Thanks. [he gave her a small smile. Yes, Cora, he needs you to spy for him a bit.] And um, how's everything going with Scott?

Cora: Good, I think. He's getting the hang of it. His second full moon is coming up so we're going to see how he does with anchoring himself.

Derek: That's good. Hear anything from Fiona yet about who his alpha may be?

Cora: She's got a few leads, but nothing concrete yet. She says there were rumors that the alpha pack was in town around the time that Scott was bitten, but she can't think of why they would need a beta.

Derek: Power recharge? [he's joking. mostly.]

Cora: [rolls her eyes] I don't know. Fiona would know better than I do. She gets this stuff, I don't. [she pauses then glances over to him with a bit of a look] Why don't you ask her yourself?

Derek: I really don't talk to her much than in passing at the coffee shop.

Cora: Really? Because she's in there all the time.

Derek: Trust me, I know. She doesn't tip all that well.

Cora: [smirks] I don't really think she keeps coming back for the coffee.

Derek: Well, if it's for anything else, she's not making it that well known.

Cora: Ah. [her lips purse slightly] She's pretty cool though. And her dog is awesome.

Derek: So you're with mom as being a part of her fan club, huh?

Cora: [she laughs] I'm a fan of Bob. Fiona is just ... cool. She's got so many stories about stuff she's run into. She claims she even met a kanima once.

Derek; A kanima. Really?

Cora: [hands up] That's what she said.

Derek: [laughs because there is a different meaning to that phrase to him]

Cora: [shoves at him because her tone did not even match that, Derek]

Derek: [just keeps laughing, trying to keep them from swerving at the push]

Cora: [eye roll as she turns her attention back to the road again]

Derek: [drives for a bit, then licks his lips] So what do you think about her? Beyond her dog and her stories?

Cora: [she shrugs] She's really nice. But she's one of those people who doesn't do anything half way.

Derek: Not sure how to take that.

Cora: When she's in she's all in. She doesn't really ... waffle. It's what makes her good at her job, because she'll keep at something until it's done.

Derek: That sounds good for a job. [scary as hell for casual dating]

Cora: [yes, well, Cora's not trying to date her so she doesn't really know how that works] Yeah. But that's all we've really talked about.

Derek: You know Mom thinks I should talk to her more too.

Cora: Really? [nope not surprised.]

Derek: Yeah. But if she's the kid who's all in, I don't know if she would like me all that much.

Cora: I don't know how that translates to other stuff. We don't really talk about that. If you want to know, you'll have to ask her.

Derek: [looks over at her] Well, I want your opinion first.

Cora: [she glances back to him, staring at him for a moment] Would it be such a bad thing to go all in?

Derek: [good thing she can't see his eyes behind his shades as they sadden a bit before he looks at the road a moment] Not sure I really want that in my life. Not right now when I'm trying to figure everything else out.

Cora: [continues to study him for a moment] I just think she doesn't want to be played. If you go into it looking for casual, and tell her that, then there's no reason why it can't be.

Derek: [nods] Alright.

Cora: Okay.

Derek: [looks at her from the corner of her eyes, then sighs] Cora, I should probably tell you something. About me that you don't know.

Cora: [glances back over, confused] ... Okay?

Derek: You remember when you were, what... six I think? Back when I was in school and I used to hang out with the girl who played the cello after school sometimes?

Cora: Paige. I was eight.

Derek: Eight, sorry. And yeah, Paige. Remember what I told you when you asked why she didn't hang out with me anymore?

Cora: [nods slowly, and her face is getting more and more concerned by the second]

Derek: That wasn't the real reason. It's what Mom and Peter told me to tell people. I think you're old enough to know the real reason now, but you may not like me much after you hear it.

Cora: [there's a pause] Do you really want to do this while you're driving?

Derek: It's easier to talk when I'm driving. [he has a reason to look anywhere but her eyes]

Cora: ... Okay.

Derek: I really loved Paige, but I got it in my head that we wouldn't have any kind of future if she was human. I was still young, and I believed it. [believed Peter. He always believed him without a doubt until then]

Cora: [suddenly she's remembering that conversation they had about Stiles and she straightens a bit in response] What happened?

Derek: I... I asked Ennis for a favor. I thought if she was like me, I could be with her forever. I was selfish, and well... [he licks his lips, his fingers gripping the wheel a bit]

Cora: [... and it doesn't take her long to put it together because apparently she's going to roll a nat 20 on this one] The bite didn't take.

Derek: [he shook his head] It didn't. And I didn't know what to do. I hid her in the root cellar and tried to take her pain away. But there was nothing I could do. So I made it stop. [and there's a tear sneaking out from under his sunglasses that he rubs at]

Cora: [she's quiet for a long time, before glancing across the highway and nodding to the shoulder] Pull over.

Derek: [sighs and does so. Luckily they are still in the mountains so there's not a lot of traffic]

Cora: [she waits until he stops the car, before unbuckling her seatbelt tugging on his jacket to get him to look at her] Do you really think I'm not evolved enough to understand why you did it?

Derek: [looks at her and shakes her head] No, not now. That's why I'm telling you now.

Cora: Okay. So why did you think I would hate you?

Derek: Cora, I killed someone. Because I was a selfish idiot. I can't expect anyone to like me for that.

Cora: Okay, yes, ambushing your girlfriend with the bite was selfish. That I don't like you for. [pause for emphasis] But I'd like you a whole lot less of you just let her waste away in pain while her body rejected it.

Derek: It was my choices that put her there. I couldn't do that to her.

Cora: And for that part of it, you did the right thing. That doesn't make you a killer, Derek.

Derek: Doesn't change the color of my eyes, Cora. I'm still the reason she's dead.

Cora: [she exhales, studying him for a moment before reaching for his sunglasses] Show me.

Derek: [she will be greeted by a pair of eyes that had been crying and he squints at the sunlight a bit. The guard is gone from his look, as if the normal Hale ego he carried. Almost vulnerable, all hidden behind those shades. But he looks at her sadly, and his eyes glow blue. The only Hale with blue eyes, a secret he had only shared with his mom until then.]

Cora: [she hasn't seen her brother's eyes in a long time, and it's just occurring to her now what the reason was. He didn't want anyone else to know, to see him and make assumptions about what he'd done. But now that she does know, she doesn't startle or pull away.] It's still you. [her voice is soft, but her attention stays on him the entire time. The thing that matters is he's still her big brother and she still loves him.]

Derek: Yeah, it's still me. [she gets a sad little laugh] You always looked up to me so much, Cora. I didn't want to lose that.

Cora: [she smiles a bit as she leans in to hug him] I'm pretty sure you're stuck with me.

Derek: [wraps and arm around her to pull her close, burying his head against her shoulder] Good. Because you're still my favorite.

Cora: [she takes a deep breath as he pulls her closer, letting herself bury into his arms a bit] I better be.

Derek: [he chuckles and after a moment more pulls back, rubbing at his eyes and looking at her, his eyes normal again] But now you know my big, dark secret.

Cora: [she smirks a bit] I'll guard it with my life.

Derek: Good. [he reaches for his shades]

Cora: [gives them back to him, and goes to put her seat belt back on]

Derek: [once she's safely buckled, he's pulling back onto the road]

Cora: [and she settles back in comfortably, just turning all of this over in her head until he talks to her about something else]

Derek: [he drives for a while, thinking to himself absently] That's why I was worried about you and that Stiles kid. Just so you know. Not thinking you'd do what I did, but just knowing how that kind of mental conversation with yourself can turn bad.

Cora: [she shrugs] I don't think Stiles is that into me anyway. [they've been spending time together lately, but it's mostly been about werewolf stuff. It's not exactly hanging out]

Derek: Teenage boys don't tend to know how to show they are into girls until the girl is also into them.

Cora: [she shrugs. she doesn't know what to do and for now, she's just happy that he's at least paying attention to her. If they stay just friends then they stay just friends]

Derek: And if you do make the first move, I promise not to kill him outright.

Cora: [turns to him, eyebrows raised]

Derek: Your choice, and I will respect it. But I reserve the right to hassle any boy that breaks your heart.

Cora: [eye roll] I can take care of myself.

Derek: I am fully aware of that.

Cora: So why do you have to do the caveman big brother thing?

Derek: Because it's my right as a big brother to scare the crap out of anyone who hurts my baby sister. I've been waiting for you to start dating so I can do this. [he gives her a smirk] Don't take away my fun, Cora.

Cora: [shakes her head] It's stupid.

Derek: Hey, I dealt with Laura when I was a kid being dressed up in costumes, you will deal with my big brother moments.

Cora: [that earns him a look] Laura dressing you up didn't involve someone else getting threatened.

Derek: I won't actually hurt any of them.

Cora: You'll just scare them enough to wet themselves.

Derek: Only if they have weak bladders.

Cora: [SO MUCH EYE ROLLING]

Derek: [grins and reaches over to rest his arm along her shoulders]

Cora: [doesn't fight him. besides, at this point she probably won't date until she goes to college anyway]

Derek: So what do you want to do when we get to Santa Monica?

Cora: [shrugs] Hit the boardwalk?

Derek: That's a definite. We can play games, ride the rides, or just people watch.

Cora: And funnel cake.

Derek: [laughs] Can't forget that.

Cora: [grins] We could just wander around. See what's there.

Derek: After we get dinner because I'm starving.

Cora: Sounds good.

Derek: [keeps driving, and soon they are over the mountain and he sniffs the air as the ocean comes into view.] Hello Malibu.

Cora: [grins a bit as she shifts so that she can see the beach]

Derek: Mom packed you an overnight bag so we don't have to rush home.

Cora: Perfect.

Derek: [grins, glad he's making Cora happy with the trip]

Cora: [she is! it's pretty much made her day]

Derek: [and 20 minutes later, pulling into the parking lot at the pier]

Cora: [waits for him to stop the car before climbing out, running her fingers through her hair to get it to lie flat again]

Derek: [looks immaculate as ever. Shoulda worn the hat, Cora.]

Cora: [shut up, Derek. She's not a freak of nature like you. Besides your hair is shorter than hers. It's also not like her hair is super curly and thick - it settles pretty easily]

Derek: [works to put up the roof awhile she preens, then checks his phone quickly]

Cora: [glances over as he does, raising an eyebrow] Waiting for something?

Derek: Just Mom, wanting to make sure we got here safe. [texts her back quickly]

Cora: [nods, making her way around the car to stand next to him]

Derek: [sends off the text and slides the phone back in his pocket] Alright, pup. Where we going first?

Cora: You said food, right?

Derek: Right. Mainway or one of the restaurants?

Cora: [pauses as she considers] Mainway.

Derek: Think we can find an old fashioned sausage and pepper sub up there? [starts walking with her]

Cora: Maybe. I want a cheesesteak.

Derek: You want what Californians think is a cheesesteak.

Cora: It's close enough. I want piles of meat and cheese with onions and lots of ketchup. On a long roll. [she gestures with her fingers to indicate]

Derek: [laughs] We can find you that I'm sure.

Cora: [she grins] Good.

Derek: [and they head to the pier. It's a regular walkway with a few souvenir shops and restaurants at first, but opens up to a small midway and games closer to the rides]

Cora: [wanders closer to him, eyes roaming over everything to make notes for later]

Derek: [stops and points] Looks like we can get Dinner at the same place. [there is a cheesesteak and other hot sub stand]

Cora: [turns and grins when she sees it] Perfect.

Derek: [leads her over, getting them both one for now, as well as sodas, and heading over to a bench to sit and eat]

Cora: [follows his lead, but not before she slathers an impressive amount of ketchup all over her sandwich]

Derek: [laughs] Would you like some meat with your tomato sugar?

Cora: Don't judge me for my ketchup addiction.

Derek: Good thing you have a Hale metabolism.

Cora: [nods a bit as she goes to take a bite]

Derek: [is amused and just sits back, enjoying his wedge with minimal ketchup]

Cora: [munch munch munch] So you like Fiona?

Derek: She's nice.

Cora: Mmm-hmmm.

Derek: But I'm just not sure. After Paige, I didn't let myself get into a relationship.

Cora: Well, she already knows the big thing.

Derek: True. She actually didn't know I was a Hale until we ran into each other at the house.

Cora: So .... that problem is already not a problem.

Derek: I'm just... worried.

Cora: About?

Derek: If I could be that possessive as a kid... how bad would I be now?

Cora: [eyes narrow] She's not Paige, Derek. And you're not the same kid you were back then. And yes, you're a wolf, and that comes with a territorial nature, but are you going to make the same choices again?

Derek: That's the thing. I don't know, and do I want to risk hurting another person trying to find out?

Cora: Are you just going to be alone for the rest of your life because you're too scared of what you might do?

Derek: I'm not alone. I have my family. That's all I need. [lies he tells himself]

Cora: [she gives him a skeptical look at that because yeah, that's bullshit]

Derek: [just looks back and raises an eyebrow as he takes a bite of his wedge]

Cora: [her face softens slightly, before moving her sandwich down to her lap for a moment] Do you really think we can't tell? We're werewolves, Derek. [they can pick up on emotions just as easily as anyone else. And she's his sister, she can tell when he's lonely.]

Derek: Shh, don't say that out loud. [he's trying to dissuade the convo because he doesn't need another lecture in how bad he hides his feelings]

Cora: [rolls her eyes. And it's not a lecture. it's an honest question.] That aside, you really don't want a family of your own one day? Or kids? You're just going to be weird Uncle Derek. Like weird Uncle Peter. [except in happyverse maybe Peter actually raised Malia WHO KNOWS.]

Derek: [both eyebrows go up] Weird?

Cora: Weird. [Only single family member who seems to have no life outside his family? Little weird.] Or people could just assume you're gay and that we don't talk about it.

Derek: [glare now]

Cora: [innocent shrug] People make assumptions. I'm not saying it makes them right but ... [she lets it trail off before inching closer to him so that she's leaning against his shoulder more] It'd just be nice to see you happy. Actually happy, not just you thinking you're happy.

Derek: [sighs, contemplating his wedge a moment] You know you don't need to be in a relationship to be happy, right?

Cora: Generally, yes. I know. But you do when it's what you want.

Derek: [snorts] Well, what I want right now to make me happy is going to finish this before it gets cold.

Cora: [laughs, before taking another bite of her own] Fine. Eat your dinner.

Derek: [switches the sub to one hand, wraps the other arm around his sister and eats and snuggles at the same time. He's a pro at that]

Cora: [shifts a bit herself so that she fits against him better and still allow for eating. And with that, they had an awesome weekend.]