canon au } { post-620: the wolves of war

[impetere]

Stiles: [and he s just doing his thing, working in Boston with Olivia and Walter when all of the sudden he feels a sharp pain in his chest that makes him stand up straight, his hand going to slap on an invisible spot near his heart. A second later the second pain follows and he stumbles back, the breath taken out of him as he hits the wall and slides down it. He looks down, his body shaking and there's no blood there, but he feels like he's just been shot. And then it hits him. CORA. He can't stop shaking though, the panic settling over him and making it hard for him to breathe]

Olivia: Stiles? [and she'll make her way closer to place her hands on his shoulders] Stiles, you alright?

Stiles: [and he grimaces in pain] Can't.... Breathe... it hurts...

Olivia: What's happening? What are you feeling?

Stiles: Gunshots. Two... [he can't breathe] Cora...

Olivia: Cora? Your girlfriend Cora?

Stiles: [nods and he can't speak because he's focusing on breathing so he's going to loosen his tie and show Olivia the bite marks.]

Walter: [Olivia is confused, but Walter is wandering by and his eyes go up curiously] Is that a mate bond?

Stiles: [and he nods and while the pain is fading the panic attack isn't and he is struggling to breathe because his mind is spiraling on what is happening and is Cora dying is he dying he doesn't want to die with Cora being that far away from him why did he leave her he's so sorry Cora don't die on him]

Olivia: [needs to question what that is, but she knows the signs of a panic attack when she sees one] Stiles, Stiles look at me. You're having a panic attack and I need you to do exactly what I say. Nod if you understand?

Stiles: [his teeth are clenched together and he's shaking like a leaf, but he manages to give her the barest of nods]

Olivia: I need you to breathe in with me as I count to five and hold it when you get there. [a beat, before counting slowly] One, two, three, four, five.

Stiles: [he's going to try, and they are shaky breaths and he gets maybe to three the first time]

Olivia: [that's okay, she'll just keep repeating it until he calms down - in for five, hold for five, out for five]

Stiles: [and a few more tries and he gets to five and three minutes later he's back to breathing normally, but he's broken out in a sweat and closing his eyes] Someone shot Cora. I need to find her.

Olivia: Try calling her, we can track her phone.

Stiles: [and he is going to reach into his pocket and pull out his cell phone. She's on speed dial so he will call her]

Angel: [and the only reason he answers it is because it's Stiles] Hi, Stiles.

Stiles: Cora? Where is she? [the pain and breathlessness is still in his voice]

Angel: [notices that, and only says this because it's Stiles] Brazil, I think. Last time she checked in she was in Brazil.

Stiles: Do you have any way to contact her?

Angel: No. The hunters were tracking her phone, so she left it with me in LA and checks in with burners periodically but usually destroys them after]

Stiles: Next time... tell her to call me. [dep breath] She's been shot, Angel. I need to find her.

Angel: [. . . . .] She didn't tell you anything, did she?

Stiles: Tell me what?

Angel: [sighs] Gerard Argent is trying to wipe out the Hales. He sent hunters for her in LA, and she ran to another pack for safety, but his hunters wiped them out and she got it pinned on her. I thought you knew, since it's the FBI that's looking for her.

Stiles: [pinches his nose because shit, he had tried to throw them off her trail] When she calls, tell her to call me. [and he's angry and hurt and damnit Scott if you knew...] I'm going to see if I can find her first.

Angel: You aren't the only one who's looking for her. Argent the Younger stopped in too - you might have better luck tracking him.

Stiles: I'll check with him. [looks up at Walter] But I may have my own methods. [and he is going to hang up and look at Walter] Walter, what do you know about mate bonds?

Walter: It's a preternatural bond between a werewolf and their mate. It's a psychic connection that allows a wolf to recognize when their mate is in trouble or going through some kind of emotional turmoil.

Stiles: Can you turn it into a tracking connection? I need to find her. [looks at Liv] The FBI is hunting her. I don't know if that was them or hunters shooting her, but she's being framed for mass murder

Walter: [he hesitated before shaking his head] Any attempt would be very painful and could result in the death of the subject which would be counterintuitive to what you're trying to do.

Olivia: But there may be something I can do. If it's an active investigation and they're closing in on her location, I can find out where they are and pull the case.

Stiles: Pull it, stop it, put me in on it. I need to get her. [closes his eyes] and then I need to get to Beacon Hills. Something's going on and no one there even bothered to let me know, and I'm pissed.

Olivia: [she nods as she goes to pick up the phone] I'll put you on a plane tonight.

Stiles: Okay. I think... I'm just going to sit here and breathe for a minute then.

Olivia: [nods in agreement] You do that. [and with that, Stiles will be sent off to Brazil to try and collect his girlfriend]

Stiles: [yup, and he will totally be a part of the initial wave in of agents and as they are clearing the building he's going to use his gut to see if that bond can help him just feel where she is]

Cora: [and she is running, trying to see if she can find a way out of the building before the cops get to her. she's definitely scared, and she can feel them closing in]

Stiles: [and he will end up turning down the hallway she's running down, gun up because oh yeah, there's calls coming in over the radio that they aren't alone because there are Brazilian drug mafia wannabe hunters coming in the other side and there's starting to be a shootout. But nope, right now all he sees is Cora in the aim of the flashlight he's holding under the gun]

Cora: [she stops as the light blinds her, one hand coming up to protect her eyes, but then the scent hits her and her eyes widen] Stiles?

Stiles: Oh thank god I found you. [and he's going to hit his com] Clear here. She's not down this hallway.

Cora: What the hell are you doing here? [she can hear the response of "copy that" over the comms but she tries to speak softly enough to not get picked up by it]

Stiles: First of all, what are YOU doing here? Were you going to tell me about the hunters or that you're wanted for mass murder? [but he's going to literally storm to her and pull her into a hug and kiss the heck out of her]

Cora: [closes her eyes into the kiss, because god she missed him so much, but she pulls back after a moment and shakes her head] I didn't want to pull you into this.

Stiles: Yeah, I figured. Still we're going to have words later. Lots of angry words and then I'm going to repeat all of them at Scott but first we need to get you the heck out of here. [and he's going to put his FBI cap and jacket on her, leaving him in just his vest]

Cora: [and she will take it, willing to follow his lead to get her out of there to somewhere safe]

Stiles: [and as they are rushing out, oh look Brazilian hunters who see Cora and start to shoot. Stiles goes to push her down a hallway towards a fire exit and then screams in pain]

Cora: [and she feels that pain before looking down at him] Stiles?

Stiles: [and he's stumbling against the wall, his foot bleeding as he reaches for the com] Secondary targets firing in location. Officer down. Send reinforcements.

Cora: [the hunters are following them, though, so Cora sighs before scooping him up] Sorry babe. We need to move fast.

Stiles: [well hi, that's better but fuck it hurts and he reaches to take off his shoe ad then there is blood and he's going to just pass out in her arms]

Cora: [yep, that's her boyfriend. And she'll just scamper out of the building and into one of the FBI cars that fortunately belongs to someone who works with Scott's dad and has her back, so she will bandage Stiles' toe in the backseat as they start driving back towards America]

Stiles: [and he will eventually come too, looking around the car ad then looking over at her] I never should have left you alone in LA.

Cora: Stiles, you had a good job offer, I wasn't going to let you not take it. I was the one who decided to stay behind.

Stiles: I can find another job. I can't find another you.

Cora: Well, you don't have to. I'm right here. Provided we survive what's coming next.

Stiles: So we're going back to Beacon Hills?

Cora: [she takes a deep breath and nods] Yeah. We're going back to Beacon Hills.

Stiles: Good. [looks at his bandaged foot] How bad was the foot?

Cora: I couldn't save the toe, but you'll live.

Stiles: At least it wasn't two to the chest. [looks at her because yeah, he knows]

Cora: [and her head ducks a bit] Kate was posing as an FBI agent. But Argent had my back.

Stiles: Why do we let the evil Argents live?

Cora: It wasn't for lack of trying. I was tracking her when the actual FBI showed up and tried to kill me.

Stiles: I think we need to talk to Scott about maybe letting us kill them this time? I'm good for kicking Gerard's ass myself. I owe him one.

Cora: We'll see what's happening when we get there. Oddly enough, Gerard isn't calling all the shots. [and she'll proceed to tell him everything that Argent told her]

Stiles: He's still got his hand in the cookie jar. [and he will reach over to put his hand on her knee] Are you okay?

Cora: [pauses for a moment, before shifting closer so she can rest her head against his shoulder] Ask me when it's over.

Stiles: Okay. [and he will shift closer, wincing as he puts pressure on his bad foot and whimpers] I really don't like getting shot.

Cora: Me either.

Stiles: I also don't like being that far away from you when you're getting shot. [he squeezed her knee] I thought I was losing you and I couldn't even hold you or tell you I loved you.

Cora: That wasn't you fault.

Stiles: Still, all I could think of was not being there, and that was on me. I pushed you way. I broke us, and I don't know how to fix it anymore. I just know I need you.

Cora: [glances up at him, before leaning in to kiss him] I know. I need you too.

Stiles: [kisses her back] When this is over, come with me to Boston.

Cora: [she glances up at him] Are you sure?

Stiles: Yes. I don't want the same mistake twice.

Cora: [she considers for a moment before nodding] Okay.

Stiles: Good. [and he will kiss her again]

Cora: [and she will kiss him back and eventually they will get back to LA and switch cars and off they will go to Beacon Hills which we can pick up tomorrow?]

Stiles: [yup, driving up because at least it's not his driving foot that he lost the toe on so he can still drive and when they get to Beacon Hills they have no idea where anyone is but the jeep is still at Scott's place so they switch cars because it's built better for crashing into people!]

Cora: [yep, and she'll pick up the sound of gunfire bouncing off the storage containers] I think we have to go towards the sound of the gunfire.

Stiles: Alright. Just keep your head down if you see bullets coming at us. [he still has his vest on under his flannel]

Cora: [she nods and off they go to the storage containers where they'll arrive just in time to hit one of the hunters with the jeep]

Stiles: [and while Cora goes off to fight the bad people, he'll hide behind the pillar with Lydia, pulling out his gun from before and taking pot shots at the hunters. Totally aiming for kneecaps and feet in revenge for his hurt toe]

Cora: [of course she is. And she has a lot of anger to work through so she tears through a few of them before the hunters realize the tide is turning and scramble back into their jeeps and SUVs to recoup. And she snarls after them because fuck this war entirely]

Stiles: [and when they are gone, he's going to turn to Lydia and Scott] You two have a lot of explaining to do. How could you keep something like this from me?

Lydia: We had ... reasons.

Cora: [waits until they're gone before shifting back and turning to face the rest of the group] Yeah, well, those reasons are lucky I was staying with Angel when I suddenly had a swarm of hunters on my ass.

Scott: I'll explain it all later. [and he will look over at Cora] You came back?

Cora: [she gives him a small shrug] Of course I did. I came back for you.

Scott: [and that will get her a smile and a huge, tight alpha hug] I've missed you.

Cora: [closes her eyes and leans into him, returning the hug just as tightly] I missed you too.

Scott: Alright, we need to get out of here and regroup. I'll explain everything then. [but then Gerard pipes in over the walkie]

Cora: [and Cora will fill in for her brother in knowing the Shakespeare pop quiz. she grew up in Scotland in this verse, it makes sense]

Scott: [and when they get to the animal clinic, everyone gets filled in on the what's going on and then Scott takes a deep breath] Cora... they have Derek and Laura.

Cora: [yeah, that's not good news and it shows on her face] So how do we get them back and take on Two Face?

Scott: [and he will lay out his plan for Lydia and Stiles to go save Derek and Laura while the super shifter friends head to the high school]

Cora: [everyone nods in agreement and before they leave, she'll move over to Stiles and give his hand a squeeze] Be careful.

Stiles: You too. And don't do anything crazy like looking at this stupid thing. I'll never forgive you if you turn to stone.

Cora: Don't worry. I'm not looking to get Medusa'd anytime in the near future.

Stiles: Good. [and he will give her a quick kiss and then off he goes with Lydia to save her siblings dumb asses]

Cora: [and she will head off with Scott to save him from yellow wolfsbane poisoning before ... getting turned to stone, sorry Stiles :(]

Stiles: [gdi Cora. because he's going to feel that and fall against the wall a moment as he's got Derek saved and now they just found Laura and he needs to go find the mountain ash but no, no he's going to feel his damn girlfriend getting turned to stone and he's going to cuss loudly]

Laura: [frowns] What is it?

Stiles: [and he will look up at them and - oh yeah they probably don't know. awkward] We need to get to the school. Something bad happened.

Lydia: [looks confused]

Laura: [looks at Derek]

Derek: [thinks for a moment, then goes over to pull back Stiles' shirt collar even as he tries to bat his hand away] Yeah, that's what I thought.

Stiles: Dude, personal space.

Laura: [sighs] Well, you're not dead. Which means that she's still alive so maybe there's a way to reverse it.

Stiles: Yeah, there better be. [pushes Derek away and stands up] So far, not liking this thing at all. You guys go ahead. I have to find something for Scott.

Laura: [nods and takes Lydia and off they go to head to the high school to ... also get turned to stone. It's a bad day.]

Stiles: [yeah, totally is but he will rush in and save all the stupid hales and hale coyote spawn because he's awesome like that]

Cora: [Yep, and she and Peter will take care of the hunters about to murder them but Monroe gets away]

Derek: [so will he and Laura even though they started in the locker room and then they will all go and stare at Scott who was a total dumbass because he can't ust keep his eyes shut on his own]

Cora: [and they will be in the process of yelling at him to heal when the doors to the library fly open and ...]

Kira: [BAM kitsune] Am I too late? Did we win?!

Stiles: [blinks and smiles] Yeah we won, but your boyfriend is was, once again, an idiot.

Kira: [oh no. and she'll just make her way through the tables, rambling as she goes] The skinwalkers sent me back when they felt the presence of the Anuke-Ite and sent me back to help but they couldn't just have me pop up in Beacon Hills, I had to drive here so it ... took me a while. [and once she's close enough she'll just drop on her knees in front of Scott, one hand coming up to brush against his face gently] What did you do?

Cora: Making sure he didn't look at it. But he's having trouble healing.

Scott: Kira? [look at his broken special eyes. He doesn't know what to do]

Kira: Yeah. I'm right here.

Lydia: [looks at Malia, then looks at Stiles] Kira, kiss him.

Kira: [she looks c
onfused for a moment but ... you don't have to tell her twice because she missed him. a lot.]

Stiles: [blinks because why are you... oh yeah. that one time]

Scott: [oh hey, kissing. that totally focuses him. not really on healing but hey, it's focused none the less]

Kira: [and she will kiss him for a good long while before she pulls back and looks at him, concerned] Scott, look at me.

Scott: [AND HE CAN SEE IT'S A MIRACLE]

Stiles: Huh, my mom was right. You can kiss it and make it better. [Looks at Cora] You need to kiss my toe.

Cora: I don't think it's going to work that way.

Kira: [grins when she sees that] Hey.

Scott: Hey. [yup, missed you and still totally in love with her fuck you real canon]

Kira: [same, these two are just going to be heart eyes forever so ....]

Laura: Well. I should go find my boyfriend. [looks at Derek] Give me a ride?

Cora: Yeah, we've probably got other people we should check on too.

Stiles: Yeah, so um.. you two make good choices. [and they can all leave Scott and Kira making out in the library like there wasn't literally hunters and almost death of all of them 5 minutes ago]

Cora: [yep, and she and Stiles will head to the hospital next because they should really have Stiles' toe actually looked at]

Stiles: [yes, and poor Melissa still having to stitch up Stiles. But hey, good drugs.]

Cora: [yep, and a comfortable bed which is great for your girlfriend who probably hasn't slept in a few days so once he's all stitched up, she may pass out against his shoulder. they're technically not supposed to be sharing the bed, but she may also bite anyone who tries to stop her]

Stiles: [but they will probably discharge him a few hours afterwards so they will move this sleeping snuggle fest back to the Stilinski house and just crash on his bed]

Cora: [yep, back where they belong. they'll see the sheriff later when they're slightly more conscious]

Sheriff: [and he is going to be up and making pancakes and bacon for everything because he saw the car outside]

Cora: [is that food? is that bacon? soon there will be one (1) werewolf twitching awake because after sleep comes hunger. she grumbles a bit as she starts to stir. When she finally opens her eyes and sees Stiles, she smiles and kisses his neck gently] Stiles.

Stiles: [groans and curls into her more] Five more minutes [mumble mumble snore]

Cora: [smirks] Okay. [And she'll slowly wriggle out of his embrace and make her way downstairs towards the food] Hey, Sheriff.

Sheriff: Hey, I was wondering when you two were going to wake up. [smiles and hugs his pretty much daughter in law]

Cora: [and she will return the hug because the sheriff gives good hugs] Stiles is still asleep, but I'm following the siren call of bacon.

Sheriff: Well, I'm glad the two of you are back home. This place is too quiet.

Cora: Even with Alex and Claire?

Sheriff: When they're here. Which right now they aren't.

Cora: True. Jody home?

Sheriff: Upstairs taking a shower. Looks like it's just you and me.

Cora: Cool. [and she will take her large plate of food because she's starving]

Sheriff: [and he will be amused, as always, and take his plate and coffee and sit across from her] So you kids are all okay, right?

Cora: [she nods] Stiles is down a toe, but other than that we're okay.

Sheriff: [and he is going to look confused for a moment] Do I even want to know...

Cora: Not really. He'll live, that's the part that matters. [because she doesn't want him to realize how much trouble she was in when Stiles found her and got her out of there]

Sheriff: [nods] I'll just go with that then. How long do I have you two before you head out of town again?

Cora: [she shrugs] You'll have to ask Stiles. I told him I'd go back to Boston with him but I don't know how long his boss gave him.

Sheriff: Probably not long. I think McCall wants to talk to him too before he leaves.

Cora: [she nods] Well, we'll see. I think we'll have a little bit of time though.

Stiles: [and that is the sound of someone falling down the stairs because lack of toe is throwing off his balance when he is barefoot] Ow.

Cora: [winces] You okay?

Stiles: Yeah, just... ow. [and he is going to limp into the kitchen, holding onto the wall] Hey Dad.

Sheriff: Stiles. Please sit before you lose anything else.

Stiles: You told him?

Cora: He asked. I didn't realize it was a secret.

Stiles: No, it's not. and it’ll explain the little spots of blood on the floor between here and the staircase.

Sheriff: [sighs] I'll get the first aid kit.

Stiles: Melissa is going to kill me. I think I pulled a stitch.

Cora: [winces] Want me to get you some pancakes?

Stiles: Please. [and father and son will hug and then do some first aid]

Cora: [and she will get him a plate of pancakes and bacon and place it in front of him]

Sheriff: You may want to stay off your feet until that heals, kid. Otherwise you're going to keep pulling on those stitches.

Stiles: I guess we'll see what my boss says. I'll call her after I get a shower.

Cora: I'm sure she'll be amused if nothing else.

Stiles: Yeah, though I have a feeling Walter may want to experiment on me now.

Cora: [eyebrow raise]

Stiles: I was at work when you got shot.

Sheriff: [confused, looking at Cora] You got shot?

Cora: [glances to the sheriff] I got better. [back to Stiles] No.

Stiles: I wasn't going to let him!

Sheriff: [there is something missing in this and he knows it but doesn't know how to ask this]

Cora: Okay. Because he would need both of our consent for that and I do not consent.

Stiles: And I should probably warn you - when you totally did what I said not to do and looked at the Anuk-ite - your brother and sister were with me.

Cora: [her mouth works at first to protest that and then he finishes and she looks right back down at her pancakes again]

Sheriff: Okay, what's going on between you two?

Cora: [tries to sit on it for a moment, but the sheriff is the sheriff so ...] It's a werewolf thing.

Stiles: She bit me.

Sheriff: Bit you?

Cora: Not like an alpha bite. It forms a bond between two mates so that they're aware when the other is in danger or upset.

Sheriff: [just nods because werewolves.] Alright. So you made this magical bond when?

Cora: Not long ago. Maybe ... a couple months.

Stiles: Beyond those two incidents, it's not really been a big deal. Right? [looking at Cora please don't freak his father out]

Cora: [she shakes her head because she doesn't want him freaking out either] No, it's really not. And it's meant to be a good thing. Kind of like ... a werewolf version of an engagement? [she would say werewolf married but maybe marriage would be too much]

Sheriff: Engagement? [one eyebrow raised, and then looking at his son]

Stiles: She asked me before I asked her?

Cora: [and then, very quietly] Please don't be mad.

Sheriff: I'm not mad. A bit of warning before you did that would have been nice, but I'm not mad at all.

Stiles: [coughs because he had no warning either, okay dad?]

Cora: Yeah, it ... sorry. It's an instinct thing so while you can try and hold it back sometimes ... planning for it is hard.

Sheriff: Well, I think I can forgive you for that then. [and he will smile] Now you just have to wait for him to get off his ass and ask properly.

Stiles: Hi, I'm sitting right here.

Cora: [she gives a small shrug] Well, clearly I wasn't content to sit around and wait for that to happen. [teasing]

Stiles: Do you want me to ask you? because I can ask you. I've got the ring in my jacket.

Jody: [as she's coming down, catching the tail end of this conversation] It's no good if you do it after she's called you out on it, Stiles.

Stiles: I've been in Boston and then came back to save her from being killed by hunters and got my toe shot off. I haven't had time to ask!

Jody: Okay. But don't do it now. Wait a bit.

Stiles: [and he makes that face the whole you people say one thing than tell me to do another and] I just can't win here can I?

Sheriff: [trying not the laugh. God he missed them being home]

Jody: Don't worry, you figure it out eventually. [and she'll kiss the sheriff on the cheek then go to get herself some pancakes]

Stiles: [and he'll just finish his breakfast, shaking his head and pulling out his phone to check his messages]

Cora: [and she will finish hers as well, before getting to her feet] Thanks for breakfast. I think I'm going to grab a shower.

Stiles: I'll go after you. I should check in with the boss. [and he gets up, wincing as he puts weight on the bad foot]

Cora: [nods, puts her dishes away and heads upstairs to Stiles bathroom]

Stiles: [and he's going to limp his way into the livingroom and sit on the couch while he calls Liv]

Olivia: [answers] Olivia Dunham.

Stiles: Hey, it's Stiles. Checking in.

Olivia: You're alive. Good to hear. [teasing clearly] Everything okay?

Stiles: Yeah, I am, but I'm down a toe so walking isn't my favorite activity at the moment. But we've got things handled here in Beacon Hills.

Olivia: Good to hear. Not about the toe, but about things being handled. I heard from Agent McCall that it was quite the ... event.

Stiles: Yeah, my dad says McCall wants to talk to me before I head out.

Olivia: Do you need a few days to recover? We don't ask a lot of you, but walking is usually important.

Stiles: Probably would be better. Plus I'm going to be bringing Cora back with me to Boston so it'd give her a few days with her siblings. You can send me things to review here if it helps.

Olivia: I'll see if I can find some old case files for you to read up on. Since we were still doing orientation and hadn't really gotten into the good stuff yet.

Stiles: Yeah. So want to figure that I'll be back on Monday bright and early?

Olivia: Sounds good. Also your updated security clearance came in, so I'll have that ready for you and we will really start to dig in when you get back.

Stiles: Awesome. Thanks for understanding all this. I know it's a lot.

Olivia: Oh, believe me. I know how complicated stuff like this can be. I'll see you Monday, Stiles.

Stiles: See you Monday. [and he will hang up and just relax back into the couch, his foot upon the coffee table and he may just nod back off there]

Cora: [and she come down from the shower, all clean, and wearing his clothes because she didn't have any time to pack anything and leans in to kiss him awake when she gets there] Hey.

Cora: Shower's free.

Stiles: In a bit. I'm comfortable here. [yawns] We don't have to be back in Boston until Monday.

Cora: Good. Give you some time to recover. [and she'll shift to settle next to him on the couch so they're all tangled and comfy together]

Stiles: [and he will wrap his arm around her shoulder, his hand rubbing her arm a bit] I really missed you.

Cora: [closes her eyes as she settles] I missed you too.

Stiles: And I'm really happy you're coming back to Boston with me.

Cora: Me too. [a pause before] And when you say with - that means staying with too, right?

Stiles: Yeah. I mean, it's a one bedroom but I really miss you. A lot.

Cora: I miss you too. I just don't want to be out there on my own. [and while she knows that he'll be there, there's a difference between him being there, and him being there]

Stiles: [he takes her hand, his fingers playing with hers] When I felt you get shot... I just... [he's trying to find the right words]

Cora: [her eyes open a bit, watching his hand with hers and quietly waiting for him to finish, linking her fingers with his]

Stiles: I realized that I just... I don't want to be away from you like that. To have you on the other side of the country and not be there for you when you need me. To think I could have lost you and not even be there to hold you or tell you I love you one more time...

Cora: [she glances up a bit] You didn't lose me. I'm right here.

Stiles: I know, but I could have. Twice. And I know we still have things to figure out, and I might be a jerk sometimes, but I love you. And I mean, relationships have ups and downs, right? We can work on getting back up together again. But we need to be together to do that.

Cora: [she nods] I just ... the reason I didn't go was because I didn't want to be out there, on my own waiting for you. I'm sure I would have found things to do and met people but ... it kind of felt like you only wanted me there as an accessory.

Stiles: [and he will think on that, playing with her fingers still] When I asked the first time, I think it was more that I just didn't want to repeat what we did before with being so far away. I didn't want you to be hurt like I was when you left, even though i knew you had to go.

Cora: [she nods] Which sounds like you didn't actually want me there, you were just trying to spare my feelings. But this time, you actually want me there?

Stiles: [nods] I do. I know it'll be hard to pick everything up again, but I do want you there. And maybe you can find something in Boston that will give you something to do so you're not just sticking around waiting for me all the time.

Cora: [she nods leaning in to kiss him softly] MIT is there.

Stiles: [kisses her back] You would make a hot grad school girl.

Cora: Well, I still have to finish my undergrad.

Stiles: That too. Technically I do as well, but I'm apparently getting a pass on the education qualification.

Cora: Helps to have friends in high places.

Stiles: Yeah, it does. And family to keep me grounded as well, so I don't forget what's really important to me again.

Cora: [she nods, before tipping her head down to rest against his chest again] I think it'll be good. I like Boston.

Stiles: So far I've liked it too. Maybe you can show me the sights though? I've yet to take Hal up on his offer for a tour.

Cora: Sure. He's probably better at it than I am, but I know a few places.

Stiles: Well, maybe we can make it a 2 for one tour day. Have Hal show us around, and then you show me your favorite spots.

Cora: That sounds perfect.

Stiles: Then we'll make it happen. [and he will look over and smile at her]

Cora: [smiles back, before tucking into him a little more] We probably shouldn't go back to sleep here.

Stiles: Yeah, and I really need to take a shower. But I'm not looking forward to it.

Cora: [sympathetic face] Well I heard the sheriff and Jody talking about how they had to go into the station to try and sort out everything that was left over from this mess so ... if you take a shower and we make it upstairs, after they leave, if you're feeling up to it, we could totally have "we survived the war" sex. [she says it tentatively, as though it may be too much too fast, but she hadn't had a chance to thank him yet for being her knight in shining armor]

Stiles: [and his eyebrows lift at that] You're serious? [it's not a no. just a came out of left field]

Cora: [she gives a small shrug] I missed you. And I didn't get a chance to thank you for your brave heroics earlier.

Stiles: So it's also "you're my hero" sex.

Cora: Definitely. And also first time with the mate bond sex.

Stiles: I could use a good side of this mate bond right about now. [he's down for it]

Cora: Okay. [and she'll kiss him again, before pulling back so that he can get up] Let's go upstairs.

Stiles: [kisses her back, smiling at her] As long as you help me up the stairs.

Cora: [she smirks a bit before holding a hand out to him] You got it.

Stiles: [and he will limp his way up to the second floor and the bathroom, sitting on the toilet to start undressing] I should probably get something to wrap the foot in.

Cora: Like a plastic bag?

Stiles: Yeah, like that.

Cora: [she nods and heads off to find one, and when she gets back, they wrap up his foot and set him in the shower to get clean. and while he's in there, she will check his room to make sure they have condoms to use]

Stiles: [there will be some under his mattress. Though if she checks in his FBI jacket, she'll find a small box]

Cora: [well, good, she'll probably find the ones under his mattress and stop but good that they'll have some for later]

Stiles: [that's not the kind of box in his jacket but hey, if she stops there that's up to her. He will come limping out of the shower with a towel around his waist as Sheriff calls up that they are going to the station and call if they need anything]

Cora: [calls back down] Okay, see you later! [and nope, she's not checking his jacket for that. she'd rather be surprised. and after that, she'll close the door and follow him back over to the bed]

Stiles: [and he will sit on the bed, and then slide to get his bad foot up on the bed as well.] I hope you aren't expecting me to be on top. I don't think I can do that at the moment.

Cora: That's okay. [and she'll shift to move and straddle his waist before leaning in to kiss him] This works for me if it works for you.

Stiles: I'm not going to complain.

Cora: Good. [and with that she will lean in again, this time to kiss him more deeply as she settles into being close to him again]

Stiles: [and he will be totally open to her in this, sinking into the pillow and her kiss]

Cora: [and she shifts to lean over him more, just sinking into him and slowly starting to shed their clothes and towel so that there's nothing left between them]

Stiles: [all he has is a towel and a plastic bag around his bandaged foot so she won't have a lot to take off. But he's going to join her hands and help her taking off her clothing, tracing her curves as he does it]

Cora: [she hums softly at the touch, before letting her fingers slide over his skin, relearning the paths they usually take against his sides and down his chest]

Stiles: [and he will close his eyes and groan because God he missed her touch]

Cora: [and she smiles a bit against his lips, before breaking the kiss and moving along his jawline and down his neck] Touch me.

Stiles: Impatient. [smirks, but his hands will slide up her sides to cup her breasts, massaging them]

Cora: [and she will moan a bit in return, but as he does, he'll be able to instinctually feel the way she wants to arc her back at the touch and push herself more into his hands]

Stiles: [and he will feel that, knowing she wants more and he will push himself up just a bit to capture a nipple in his mouth, the other breast being massaged firmly as he does so]

Cora: [which draws more pleased noises from her, grinding her hips down against his in response]

Stiles: [and he will groan, and she will know that his hips would really like a lot more of that kind of stimulation, please and thank you.]

Cora: [Yep, and she's more than happy to do that, pressing down in a steady rhythm against him in a way that stimulates them both]

Stiles: [and he really likes that, and it's going to make his lips and tongue and teeth work on her nipples harder, wanting to amplify her pleasure to match]

Cora: [which he will do very well, to the point where she's losing track of which are her feelings and which are his, and she needs to take this to the next level so she reaches for the condom she set to the side, while the other hand slides down to wrap around him]

Stiles: [all he has is a rolling set of feelings, plus with the pain meds he's feeling good and happy. His hand will slide between them though as she wraps her hand around him, and will slide between her legs to tease her clit]

Cora: [and she gasps at that, her hips rolling with the press of his fingers as she slides the condom onto him and moves to shift over him]

Stiles: [and the wave of how fucking good that feels as she slides down on him will hit her as his fingers rub her clit]

Cora: [and he'll feel how good it feels to slide onto him, as well as the small bursts of pleasure as she rides him in time to the press of his fingers against her clit]

Stiles: [and he is going to just feel his eyes roll back into his head as he is overwhelmed by the sensations, groaning as he lifts his hips up to press into her]

Cora: [riding that same high she sets as steady a pace as she can, rolling her hips to hopefully give them both enough stimulation that they can fall over the edge together]

Stiles: [and it's been a few weeks so yeah, it's not going to last too long before he gets there]

Cora: [and when she feels him hit, it pushes her over, bringing her hips to a stop as she tries to roll through the sensations, before dropping down slowly to rest against his chest]

Stiles: [and he is going to cling to her with both arms, holding her to his chest. his heart is pounding, and he's even shaking a bit as he just rides the euphoric wave]

Cora: [and she'll just stay where she is, running her fingers gently against his arms as they both come down, before she looks up at him with a small grin] Told you it would be good.

Stiles: [laughs] You undersold that.

Cora: [she laughs, before slowly shifting off him so that she can settle next to him instead of on top of him] Well, you can't blame me for that. It's not like I've ever done it before.

Stiles: Well, I guess you're going to be a pro after awhile.

Cora: You will too, since you will be helping.

Stiles: True. [looks up at the ceiling] I'm just surprised I didn't blow out every lightbulb in the house.

Cora: [she laughs] I'm also grateful for that, because that would have been really awkward to explain to your dad.

Stiles: And not all that fun when you're naked.

Cora: Nope. Not even a little.

Stiles: You know, while we're in Boston, we could take a a trip to Salem, see if I can find another teacher who can show me some more basic stuff.

Cora: Are there actual witches in Salem?

Stiles: Maybe. I don't know. I'm just starting to learn about all of this.

Cora: Have you talked to Willow at all?

Stiles: I talk to her by email mostly. She gives me exercises but I'm really still feeling like I'm on my own. It would be nice to have someone next to me showing me and feeling my energy to guide me where I'm messing up.

Cora: Well, you could always ask her if there's anyone she knows in Boston? It'll give you a reference for a place to start.

Stiles: True. [thinks for a moment] Maybe Walter is related to that Bishop family.

Cora: Which Bishop family?

Stiles: Bridget Bishop. One of the witches from the Salem Witch Trials.

Cora: Might be worth asking?

Stiles: I could. [though it's Walter. probably better to ask Peter]

Cora: [probably, but Cora doesn't know that] Probably best to go to the source.

Stiles: I'll talk with Willow first though. She may already know.

Cora: Good. I'm sure she'd be happy to help.

Stiles: [and he is going to turn on his side to look at her, smiling softly] I love you, Cora.

Cora: [smiles back] I love you, too.

Stiles: [he'll reach up to adjust her hair a bit] You know, for the last two years we've been offbeat with each other. But that... it was like we were just one.

Cora: [smiles a bit as she leans into his hand] Like we're finally back on track?

Stiles: Kinda like that, yeah. A lot more than I felt a few weeks ago, that's for sure.

Cora: Yeah. I felt it too.

Stiles: I think I'm ready now. I have a job that gives me a real purpose and doing what I want to do. And I have the best girl in the world at my side. I know we may still have some things to talk about and work out - but I'm really in that place where I'm ready for you and me to be us again.

Cora: [and that just makes her smile wider, and she nods as she leans in to kiss him] Good.

Stiles: [kisses her, and then smiles and reaches over to where his jacket is on the chair near his bed] So I know it's not the most romantic way of asking... but when I say us... [and he will fumble for the box in his pocket]

Cora: [doesn't particularly care about the romance part, but she's going to let him fumble, because rushing him isn't going to happen, nor is helping him, she just wants this to play out as it plays out]

Stiles: [and when he has the box, he will put it on the pillow between them] Dad wanted to give me the ring he used to propose to mom, but I wanted something that was just us. So it's not really big since I have a crappy first year salary, but the design caught my eye. [and he will nudge the box towards her, and inside is a ring]

Cora: [reaches over to open it, and when she sees it she smiles wide, tracing her finger over one of the triskeles, before looking up at him again] I love it.

Stiles: I'd hope so. So what do you think... you and me becoming an us? I mean, you've already bit me so you can't really leave me anyway... let's make it legal on the human side too.

Cora: [she laughs, because it's not a great proposal but it is a very Stiles proposal which is why she likes it] Yeah. Let's do it.

Stiles: [and his grin turns into a full on beam] Yeah?

Cora: [she nods] Yeah.

Stiles: [and he is going to roll her onto her back, sliding on top of her and kissing her deeply]

Cora: [and she'll kiss him back for a bit before she breaks it to remind him] Your toe ...

Stiles: Yeah, I know. Right now, I don't care. [and he will kiss her again, fumbling to get the ring and then guide it onto her hand]

Cora: [and she will help him do that, before moving her hand up to cup his face as she pulls him closer]

Stiles: [and they are totally going to enter into round two]

Cora: [yep, time for happy engagement sex]

Stiles: [so much engagement sex, and he's not even going to notice really when he pulls that stitch. again. because the sex is just that fucken awesome]

Cora: [but she will because she'll smell the blood and glance down with a laugh] Melissa is going to kill you.

Stiles: Maybe you can show her the ring and distract her from doing that? [but he is going to wince as he tries to flex his toes]

Cora: [she shakes her head] C'mon. It'll be better if we get it fixed sooner rather than later.

Stiles: [whines] But we were having good engagement sex.

Cora: And you decided to pull a stitch. [leans in to kiss him] Don't worry. There will be plenty more engagement sex until you actually marry me.

Stiles: I'm going to hold you to that.

Cora: Promise. [and she will get him up and back to the hospital where Melissa will likely make stern faces]

Stiles: [and he will make innocent puppy faces]

Melissa: [and she will be very much not impressed]

Stiles: [but, but he's your sweet boy's best friend that you helped raise and he's engaged now. be happy]

Melissa: [well she is happy about that. but she will also shove crutches at him and so help her if you pull another stitch, Stiles]

Stiles: [yes ma'am he will not stop giving him the scary look]

Melissa: [good. And then she will go back to work and leave him with his fiancee]

Stiles: [and he will crutch out with Cora] so I guess since we're out, we should grab lunch.

Cora: Probably a good idea. Where do you want to eat?

Stiles: Diner?

Cora: Sounds perfect. [and off they go to the diner!]