peter & cora } { of friendships and bad breakups

[littlebitscary]

Derek: [he had been planning on slipping out of Gabrielle's loft earlier, but she had teased him into one last round (and a long, steamy shower) before he was able to slip out into the daylight. His sunglasses kept the sun from blinding him as he headed back uptown to the apartment. He stopped at a local coffee shop - never Starbucks, you always support the local people - to grab his morning fix and made his way back home. He wasn't surprised to hear people up when he arrived, but there was a strange smell that made him stop, hand on the doorknob as the door started to open, his spine stiffening in the fear of the unknown behind the door]

Victor: [his head tips towards the sound of the opening door] Derek? That you?

Derek: Yes, sir. [he will take a deep breath and walk in the rest of the way, pulling off his sunglasses once he closed the door behind him]

Victor: [is standing to be seen in the dining room and he gestures for him to come in with a smile] Come in, there's someone I want you to meet.

Derek: [he will drop his coffee and jacket on the kitchen table and move the rest of the way to stand beside Victor, curious but also on the defensive.]

Victor: [and sitting at the kitchen table is an unfamiliar wolf, a rather intense looking one with spikey blond hair] This is Greg Ruckman. He's going to be joining the pack.

Derek: [he will nod to Greg, his eyes giving the man a careful once over. Derek had always been observant, but his last few years, he had been upping his talent on taking in information, processing it, and storing it in parts of his mind for reference later.] Hi.

Greg: Hi. You're the other Hale, right? I've already met Laura.

Derek: Yeah. Laura's my sister.

Greg: Great. Well, happy to be part of the team. [and as he says this, the front door slams]

Fiona: I know, I know, I'm late.

Derek: [and his head will perk up a bit at Fiona's voice, a small smirk on his face. Looks like he wasn't the last one home after all]

Fiona: [she makes her way into the dining room and starts slightly when she sees the strange person there] Oh. Hi.

Greg: [and when he sees her, his face lights up with definite interest] Hi. I'm Greg.

Fiona: Fiona. I'm Leah's sister.

Derek: Victor says he's joining the pack. [someone had to tell her]

Fiona: Oh. Great. Awesome. That's ... really cool. [and as the token human, that only means so much to her]

Derek: [rolls his eyes and half-turns back to Gregg] You get used to her.

Greg: [totally not breaking his attention from Fiona] I think I can manage.

Victor: Anyway, sit. Eat. There's plenty of food.

Derek: [well, he's not going to say no. He is still a growing wolf]

Fiona: [and she will do the same, and she and Greg will start chatting about where he's from and his previous pack situation and all that jazz as they eat]

Derek: [and he will listen, the introvert of the table. He's mostly interested in how he came to join their pack from his previous one]

Greg: It seemed like a logical choice. I was growing apart from the rest of them, I got a new job here - it was time to make a change.

Derek: What kind of job?

Greg: Finance.

Derek: You're another math nerd, huh? [sorry Victor, Nik, you've probably heard that a few times already]

Greg: If you mean am I a fan of making lots of money, then year. Sure. Math nerd.

Derek: [smirks, his hackles lowering.] Cool.

Greg: So what do you do?

Derek: College.

Greg: What are you studying?

Derek: Comparative Literature and Society at Columbia.

Greg: So a book nerd instead of a numbers nerd.

Derek: Pretty much. And language nerd. And Jock.

Greg: Do all of those things normally go together?

Derek: Language, yeah. Books aren't written just in English. I also know Spanish, Latin, Japanese, and French. Sign Language too, but you don't write in that one.

Greg: It's the jock part that caught me by surprise.

Derek: I play intermural basketball. I got to stay in shape. Those books get heavy. [smirks]

Greg: I'm sure.

Fiona: Well, I'm sure Victor will be happy to have another finance guy on board.

Derek: Maybe you'll be able to help him get time to take an actual vacation.

Fiona: Not possible.

Victor: I vacation. Sometimes.

Derek: I won't believe it until I see it.

Victor: [shakes his head as he goes back to eating]

Greg: So what are the local spots in the city?

Derek: Couple of good clubs, both human and cryptid.

Greg: Maybe you could show me around later. [that's definitely directed more at Fi than Derek]

Fiona: Uh, sure. Sounds like fun.

Derek: [and he will notice that and look over at Fi, eyebrow raised]

Fiona: [sees that and shrugs.]

Greg: Great. I'll let you know when I'm free.

Fiona: Cool. Until then, I have homework to do. [and she will grab her plate of pancakes and retreat to her room]

Derek: Let me know if you need help. [because book nerd]

Fiona: Sure.

Victor: [and Victor and Greg will talk some more and Greg will eventually return to his apartment and they don't have to be on their best behavior anymore]

Derek: [good, because once he's in his room, he will want to get some real sleep because he barely got any last night]

Fiona: [of course he didn't. so she'll let him nap for a while before knocking on his doorframe] That offer to help still good?

Derek: [his head will pop up, his hair everywhere] Yeah, sure.

Fiona: Good, because I still don't understand Shakespeare.

Derek: What play is it this week?

Fiona: The Tempest.

Derek: Oh god. that one

Fiona: Oh, so the fact that he makes less sense than usual is not just me.

Derek: It's his last play. There are interpretations about it being an allegory of the European man's colonization of the world.

Fiona: By sticking a wizard on an island with fairies?

Derek: Most of his plays had a supernatural element in them.

Fiona: I ... guess?

Derek: [and he is going to just start listing them off on his hands]

Fiona: Okay, stop stop I get it. You've made your point.

Derek: So what do you need help interpreting?

Fiona: ... All of it? [she hands him the copy before going to flop next to him because what is personal space between bffs] I just ... I'm already bored with Prospero. It seems like ... the most entitled of entitled white men.

Derek: Want to believe that some people think that he is a representation of Shakespeare himself.

Fiona: I'd buy it. I've heard that Shakespeare was a dick.

Derek: So the story goes [leans back on her, flipping through the pages of the play]

Fiona: [and she will let him do that, fingers idling gently in his hair as she listens to him break it down]

Derek: [and that is going to make him relaxed and happy as he explains]

Fiona: [and she'll listen and ask smart questions occasionally, but eventually her train of thought will drift and she'll stop paying attention]

Derek: [and he will notice and turn to look at her] What's going on?

Fiona: Hmmm? [she glances back to him] Nothing. [then after a pause] What do you think of Greg?

Derek: I don't know. I mean, we just met him and all.

Fiona: But first impression?

Derek: [wrinkles his nose] I think he's going to be a player.

Fiona: Really?

Derek: Yeah. I mean, he was looking at you like you were a slab of meat.

Fiona: Yeah, that's the vibe I was getting too. In addition to him basically asking me out.

Derek: You should tell him you have a boyfriend.

Fiona: I do?

Derek: Well, you have a boy thing still, right?

Fiona: He moved out West.

Derek: Oh. [sits up a bit to look at her] So why were you late getting home today?

Fiona: I slept at Very's and lost track of the time.

Derek: Oh. Well yeah, that would make sense.

Fiona: I don't know. He seems nice otherwise, right?

Derek: Well, yeah, but Victor was also in the room so he couldn't really be himself.

Fiona: [yeah, he has a point there] Maybe we'll see how the city tour goes.

Derek: Want me to go with you? Make it a team thing?

Fiona: Nah, I'll be okay. It's just one day.

Derek: Well, text me if you need to me pretend to be on fire and need you to rescue me or something.

Fiona: [she laughs] You got it. But right now, I should probably get back to my homework.

Derek: Alright. But if you need anything else, I'll be here.

Fiona: Thanks. [and she'll go back to work. And the first date will go fine. And there will be a couple more dates. And for a while, Fi will actually seem really happy, because as free spirited as she is, she does like a good relationship. But eventually things will start to turn, and Greg will start isolating her from the rest of the pack, but especially Derek]

Derek: [and while he is off doing his own thing, he is going to notice that he sees her less in the off time, which is weird since they live together. So he's going to just go and knock on her door when he knows she's home] Fi?

Fiona: [startles and turns to face him with a small smile] Hey. What's up?

Derek: I just thought I'd come hang out. I haven't seen you in a while.

Fiona: Oh. Uh, I can't. I'm supposed to meet Greg, I only really came home to shower and change.

Derek: Well, how about tomorrow? My class was cancelled so we could do lunch?

Fiona: ... Yeah, that should work. I have a break between my classes.

Derek: Ok. I'll meet you in the student hall?

Fiona: Perfect. I'll see you there.

Derek: Yup. [and he will be there waiting for her the next day]

Fiona: [and she will come up, as promised] Hey.

Derek: Hey! So where should we go eat?

Fiona: I kind of want a burger.

Derek: Mm, yeah. A burger sounds good.

Fiona: Student center?

Derek: Nah, there's the diner down the street. Let's go there.

Fiona: [there's a brief moment of hesitation before she nods] Okay.

Derek: I mean, we can eat in the center but the food isn’t the best.

Fiona: No, no. It's fine. You're right, let's go to the diner.

Derek: [and he will raise an eyebrow, but off they go to the diner]

Fiona: [and she's just going to breeze right past it like it wasn't weird at all] So what's been up with you? Are you and Gabrielle still you and Gabrielle-ing?

Derek: Yeah, but I think it's almost at the end of it. She's been talking about this background dancer on some Broadway show that she met in a jazz class. Pretty sure she's going to be too busy soon to hang out.

Fiona: Oh that's a shame. It seemed like you guys were getting along really well.

Derek: We were, and we'll still be friends. I knew going into it that it wasn't going to be a long term thing. [nothing with Derek is]

Fiona: [something will be in like ... a couple years.] Oh. Well, still. Sorry.

Derek: Eh. [and he will hold the diner door open for her] So you and Greg have become kinda tight.

Fiona: Yeah. Things are ... going good, I think.

Derek: I feel like I hardly ever see you anymore. You two are always out.

Fiona: He likes to do stuff out of the house or sometimes we just chill at his place. I mean, some of the stuff we like to do is not the kind of stuff you want to share, you know?

Derek: Well, yeah I get that. I guess I just miss you, that's all.

Fiona: Yeah. I've missed you too. It's just that honeymoon phase stuff. It'll even out.

Derek: As long as that's it. But maybe we could schedule a time just for us? I mean, I was here first, and I'm your best friend.

Fiona: Yeah, I'd be okay with that. [she leans back as she considers for a moment] Do you still have your Thursday mornings free?

Derek: Yup, more so than ever for the foreseeable future.

Fiona: Then maybe we can do breakfast? I don't have class until eleven.

Derek: Yeah, I can be up there and awake by then. I can use the mornings for either a workout or time at the library.

Fiona: Great. Then it's a date.

Derek: It's a date.

Fiona: [and they will continue chatting over food and their breakfast dates will go great for a while, but she starts cancelling some of those for varying reasons until but one night she comes home really late, looking Not Happy but trying to be quiet]

Derek: [and he will be up in the living room watching some mind-numbing action movie while reading. His ears will pick up the sound of footsteps, followed quickly by her scent.] Hey stranger. [said over the couch, not turning to face her]

Fiona: [totally jumps in surprise when he calls her out] Hey. What are you doing up?

Derek: Just reviewing the novel I'm giving an oral report on tomorrow.

Fiona: Oh. Good luck. I'm just ... going to go to bed. [she sounds so tired, more than just physical exhaustion, but she doesn't really want to talk about it if she can help it]

Derek: Sure. [and he'll just sigh, getting used to her avoiding him] I guess I'll see you again in another few weeks.

Fiona: [she stops in the doorway, and her shoulders sag] I'm sorry. Things have just been rough.

Derek: [and he will throw an arm over the back of the couch, looking at her] Yeah, but that's why I'm good for. I can help when things are rough.

Fiona: [his werewolf night vision might make out an unnatural redness on her arms like she might have been grabbed roughly and held in place and she reaches up to tug at her sleeves to try and cover it] It's not ... I'm handling it. Really.

Derek: [nope, he sees that, and her motion is what draws his eye to it. he's up and over the couch immediately] Fi, what happened?

Fiona: Nothing. We just got into a fight, I'm fine.

Derek: A fight that left marks on you?

Fiona: They're not bruises, they're just ... he didn't hit me.

Derek: Oh, so that makes it ok? [that protective instinct is kicking in]

Fiona: It was a fight, we both got heated. I'm fine, Derek. Really.

Derek: [there is a growling in the back of his throat] No, he hurt you. It's not okay.

Fiona: Well, I'm dealing with it, okay? We're taking a break, I'm not going by him for a while, I'm not being stupid about it.

Derek: Good. [and the anger fades to worried puppy eyes] Are you sure you're ok?

Fiona: [she's quiet, and then she shrugs, because she doesn't know. Everything is sort of swirling and she wanders between okay and not. Her eyes drop to the ground because she honestly doesn't know what to do]

Derek: I know you probably don't want to talk about it, but when you're ready, I'm here, ok? Even if it's just to distract you.

Fiona: [part of her doesn't necessarily want to talk about it with him, because she knows how he feels about this particular subject, but she nods] Right now I just want to go to sleep. But maybe tomorrow?

Derek: Sure. I can make us breakfast.

Fiona: Okay. Thanks, Derek.

Derek: You're welcome. [he wants to know more, but he can wait. He needs to wait so she can settle her own thoughts]

Fiona: [and she appreciates that and she will retreat into her room and try to sleep. But when that doesn't work and she can't quite settle, she'll listen for when the TV goes off and Derek goes to his room, and everything goes quiet ... and eventually she'll crawl out of her own bed and go to crawl into his instead, mostly looking for support and maybe needing to be sure that someone else won't be able to sneak up on her while she's sleeping]

Derek: [he hadn't wanted to ask her if she wanted him, but he is always there for her. He'll hold her close, shifting them to put her at the wall and him between her and the door. A silent promise of anything wanting her would have to get through him first.]

Fiona: [honestly, she would have said no if he had asked, so it's probably better this way. but yes, perfect, this is just what she needed, so thank you, Derek]

Derek: [that's what friends are for. Plus she's warm and smells nice]

Fiona: [good to know. And she'll sleep through the rest of the night, finally able to feel like she can relax a little bit]

Derek: [and he will be asleep with her until the sunlight comes through the window hitting his eyes]

Fiona: [she grumbles if she feels him move, because she was warm and comfortable and doesn't want him to go anywhere, but she's still mostly asleep]

Derek: [he will hear her grumble, and he is nice and warm, so he will just stay there until she's ready to get up]

Fiona: [and eventually she will roll over to face him] Hi.

Derek: [and he will smile at her] Hey.

Fiona: I'm sorry about last night.

Derek: You did nothing wrong, Fi. No need to apologize.

Fiona: Yeah, but I was a bit of a mess, so I probably didn't make much sense.

Derek: You feel a bit better now?

Fiona: [she nods] As long as Greg keeps his word, it will probably stay that way for a while. I just need some space to think.

Derek: [he reached up to gently push a piece of hair from her face] Well, you know I've always got your back.

Fiona: [her head tips into his hand and she smiles] I'm sorry if it feels like I've been avoiding you. I mean, ... I have, but it's mostly because he got really weird about our friendship.

Derek: I wasn't the cause of this last fight?

Fiona: No. I was the cause of this last fight. [she shakes her head] He doesn't get why I don't want to be a werewolf.

Derek: [his eyes will widen at that] You mean he doesn't get that you're just perfect the way you are?

Fiona: His feelings are ... super intense and mine are not and he seems to think that if I got turned, then we'll suddenly feel the same, and everything he's been doing will make total sense. [her tone seems to indicate she doesn't feel the same]

Derek: That's not how it works. And even then, it's your choice, not his.

Fiona: Yeah, I know. My sister's been a werewolf for a few years now - if I wanted the bite, I could have gotten it. I clearly don't.

Derek: If he doesn't respect your choices, maybe he's not right for you.

Fiona: Yeah, I'm starting to think that too. [but she really wants to sit on it before she pulls the plug completely. she's never been the type to look back and she won't start now, but she wants to make sure it's the right choice]

Derek: I'll be here for you if you need me.

Fiona: Thanks, Derek. I'm sorry I've been so evasive lately but he got really touchy about you for some reason.

Derek: He’s just jealous that I'm prettier than him. [grins]

Fiona: He also thinks you have feelings for me.

Derek: [there is a moment of wide eye, almost like he is halfway between surprise and being caught, and then he scoffs] We're family.

Fiona: [she completely misses that because Derek has obviously not been pursuing her so why would he] Exactly.

Derek: You'd think he'd understand pack family affection.

Fiona: I don't think it was the same for him in his old pack.

Derek: Well, he should take advantage and learn, instead of getting jealous of it.

Fiona: [she shrugs] We'll see. Right now, all I know is I don't want to see him for a few days.

Derek: Alright. If you want, I can clear my schedule to distract you. Unless you want to be alone.

Fiona: That is sweet of you, but I have a ton of homework to do.

Derek: Alright. But you know where I am if you want to get out for a bit.

Fiona: I do. And you still owe me breakfast.

Derek: True. What do you want?

Fiona: French toast?

Derek: French toast it is. [and he will roll himself out of bed, jumping to his feet and reaching for his jeans to wiggle them on since he slept in his boxers and t-shirt]

Fiona: I'm gonna shower while you're cooking, I'll be out in a bit.

Derek: See you in a few. [and he will pad into the kitchen barefoot, looking for bread and eggs for the toast, knowing he smells of Fi but that isn't new, and it isn't sexy smelling.]

Fiona: [and she will dip into the shower and clean up a bit]

Nik: [pokes his head in once Derek really gets going] I smell breakfast.

Derek: Yeah, I'm making it for Fi. She had a rough night.

Nik: Oh? [he frowns] Everything okay?

Derek: Not really, but she hasn't told me and I'm not pressing. She'll talk about it when she's ready. [he will look over at Nik] You've done work with the new guy, Greg, right?

Nik: Yep. Victor has him down at the firm.

Derek: What do you think of him?

Nik: [shrugs] He's a little intense, but he's not bad. Why?

Derek: He isn't around much here, and doesn't really talk to me when he is.

Nik: Yeah, he's not used to the type of pack that just lives on top of each other. His last alpha wasn't as hands on.

Derek: I think he might have the wrong idea about Fi and me.

Nik: [and he eyes Derek for a moment silently] What's that?

Derek: We're family. I think he thinks it's more than that.

Nik: Uh-huh.

Derek: It is what it is.

Nik: Uh-huh.

Derek: What?!

Nik: [just gives him a long silent look because he notices things]

Derek: [rolls his eyes] So how about you? You spent time with my actual sister lately?

Nik: Yes. We had dinner last night.

Derek: How'd that go?

Nik: Fine. [shhhhh Laura may be still in his room]

Derek: Uh-huh.

Nik: Well, if you're sharing that French toast you know where to find me.

Derek: If you give me twenty I'll make you a whole plate. [smirks]

Nik: You joke, but I do have a twenty in my wallet.

Derek: I'm not joking. [holds out his hand]

Nik: [pats down his pockets and actually fishes out the twenty and hands it off to him]

Derek: [tucks it into his jeans and he goes to grab more bread from the bag] I'll call you when it's ready.

Nik: Thank you. [and he heads back to his room]

Fiona: [and eventually she will come out, all showered and clean] Smells good.

Derek: Good. I'm also making a plate for Nik, but you still get first dibs on slices. [there is a small platter in front of her. He has a pile of sausages that he's going to fry up once he is done the last piece of tone]

Fiona: I don't care as long as I can put peanut butter on them.

Derek: Do as you will. [he may already have it out and warmed it up on the side of the oven while he was cooking]

Fiona: [then she will snag it and go to pull the peanut butter out of the cabinet, before coming back and giving him a kiss on the cheek] Thank you.

Derek: Anytime. I won't even charge you. [and he finishes the last piece of toast and makes himself a plate, and then one for Nik.] Nik, Order's up! [and he will drop the sausages into the pan]

Nik: [and he will shuffle back out again to claim his plate] Thank you.

Derek: You're welcome.

Nik: So what are you two going to be up to today?

Fiona: Classes then homework. I know, so exciting.

Derek: I got a pick-up game with some guys after class, and then I got a paper to write.

Nik: You boring responsible students.

Derek: Not all of us can be motorcycle riding muscle men.

Nik: And what a pity that is.

Derek: Enjoy your breakfast. [and he will roll the sausages onto a plate between him and Fi]

Fiona: [oooh protein] Also, if you know Greg's going to be around in the next couple days, could you give me a heads up?

Nik: [squints] Did you dump him?

Fiona: No. [not yet] I just want some space.

Nik: [regards her silently before nodding] Yeah. No problem.

Derek: [and he will give Nik a half-shrug, hoping he'd get that this was what he was waiting for her to talk about]

Nik: [he's not getting in the middle because he still has to be friends with Greg , at last for now, so he just lets it go. Maybe Greg will tell him. It's fine, he doesn't blame Derek]

Derek: So yeah, breakfast is served. [and he will go make her a cup of coffee too]

Fiona: [and they will eat breakfast! And a few days later, Fiona will dump Greg, in the safety of the penthouse with all the pack around just to be safe and he ... does not take it well. In fact he's super angry about it. Nik definitely hauls him out, but as far as Fiona's concerned it's over]

Derek: [and yeah, if he starts making her upset, he is going to get protective and half step in front of her in case he tried anything.

Greg: [well if he does Greg will forcibly shove him out of the way] Stay out of this.

Derek: Or what, you're going to hurt me too? [steps right back into place, arms crossed]

Greg: You think I won't?

Derek: And hurt a member of your own pack? In front of your alpha?

Greg: I didn't ask you to be a part of this. You're sticking your nose where it doesn't fucking belong.

Derek: No, I'm protecting my friend who you've hurt and are making upset with your tantrum. [said in a calm voice, emotionless face]

Greg: She doesn't need your protection.

Derek: She's a part of my family. No, she doesn't need it. But she gets it just the same.

Greg: [growls again, before turning and leaving, slamming the door hard behind him]

Derek: [lets out his breath slowly before turning to check on Fiona]

Fiona: You didn't have to do that. I was fine. [she doesn't seem fine but at least her voice is steady]

Derek: And I wanted to make sure you stayed fine.

Fiona: [she swallows and nods, before jerking her thumb back over her shoulder] I'm going back to my room.

Derek: Alright. [he's not going to hover. But he will stay in the apartment doing homework and reading in case she needs him]

Fiona: [she doesn't want to talk about it, so she'll stay quiet for a while, but eventually she'll come out and tuck herself against his side. she doesn't want to talk, but she doesn't want to be alone. she's a weird pile of wants right now]

Derek: [which is fine. He will just shift and let her get comfy and continue reading]

Fiona: [thanks Derek. and she'll just stay there, and probably eventually just pass out somewhere where she feels safe]

Derek: [and he will wrap his arm around her so she doesn't roll off the bed while sleeping]

Fiona: [thanks Derek. she'll just snuggle into him and stay safe]

Derek: [you're welcome. He knows how to take care of his bestie]

Fiona: [and Greg will be gone for a while, and for a bit it will seem like everything's fine. Fiona will keep going to class as per normal. And then she'll be attacked by an alpha outside of her class one night and while she manages to get away without getting bitten or clawed too badly, she does come home a bit of a mess]

Derek: [and he's watching tv when the door opens... and he smells blood. He's instantly up on guard before seeing her] Fi?

Fiona: I'm fine.

Derek: The blood on you says differently.

Fiona: It's not deadly bleeding.

Derek: You shouldn't be bleeding at all.

Fiona: Yeah, well, we can't always get what we want.

Derek: What happened?

Fiona: Some alpha jumped me when I was coming out of class. Came from out of nowhere.

Derek: An alpha? Why would an alpha jump you?

Fiona: I don't know. But I managed to get away from him and onto the subway so hopefully he lost my scent.

Derek: You need to tell Victor.

Fiona: Yeah, I will. I just need to clean up first.

Derek: You do that. I don't think the alpha would be stupid enough to try and come in here.

Fiona: [and she goes to head off to the shower]

Derek: [and he is going to pace, because he instantly went back in his head to Paige and he knows in his soul that Greg arranged this]

Fiona: [honestly doesn't think Greg would be that dumb]

Derek: [he was that dumb at 15. Greg is an idiot compared to him]

Fiona: [well what are you going to do about it, Derek?]

Derek: [he is going to stay put right now, until Victor is told by Fiona.]

Fiona: [good boy. She will do that and victor will be p i s s e d]

Derek: [and he is going to wait for Fiona to tell him about what Gregg had been pressuring her to do]

Fiona: [and she doesn't because she doesn't think it's related.]

Derek: [sighs, then looks at her] Fiona, tell him about what Gregg and you had a fight over. About what he wanted you to do.

Victor: [an eyebrow raises]

Fiona: What does that have to do with this?

Derek: What would have happened if the alpha bit you? [eyebrow also raised]

Fiona: That doesn't mean he had anything to do with it.

Derek: But you can't deny that someone would risk pissing Victor off by coming after you.

Fiona: He might not have even known who I was.

Derek: He might not, but he might have. You can't just ignore the possibility.

Fiona: No. Greg wouldn't. I don't believe it.

Derek: [looks at her, then sighs and looks at Victor because this is something he takes seriously because of his own history] Gregg was trying to pressure her to ask for the bite so they could be werewolves together. [sorry, Fi.]

Fiona: [RUDE DEREK]

Victor: Sorry he did what?

Derek: [and he will look at her, his eyes begging her to tell him]

Fiona: It was just a fight.

Victor: Fiona.

Fiona: [shakes her head and turns to head back to her room]

Victor: [sighs and waits until her door closes] Tell me.

Derek: [sighs] She told me that he wanted her to be a werewolf because then she would understand why his feelings were so intense and would stay with him.

Victor: [sighs] he asked me about it but i told him that Fiona had to be the one to ask me.

Derek: I really hope I'm wrong. But if I'm not, that alpha isn't going to stop.

Victor: I'll look into it. You worry about her for right now.

Derek: I think I should tell her. So she understands why I'm worried about this.

Victor: It's your choice, Derek, but you're probably right.

Derek: [takes a deep breath] I'll go talk to her. [and he's going to go get two beers from the kitchen so he has a piece offering]

Fiona: [the door is open but she doesn't address him right away]

Derek: I know you're angry at me, but I need to tell you why I had to tell Victor about it.

Fiona: [is quiet for a moment before shifting to face him but not saying anything right away]

Derek: [he holds out a beer to her] When I was fifteen, the girl I was in love with was attacked and bitten by an alpha. For me.

Fiona: What?

Derek: [he will go and take a seat on the floor] I didn't specifically ask for it. But my mom was a powerful alpha. All the other alphas in the area would do anything to get in her favor. One heard that I was afraid my girlfriend, Paige, would reject me when she learned that I was a werewolf, and I wish she was one so she'd understand. So to earn my favor, which is an extension of my mothers, he hunted her down and bit her.

Fiona: ... That isn't your fault, Derek. You didn't actively ask for it.

Derek: No, but I still have a part of the blame. [sighs] But it does get worse, Fiona. It didn't take.

Fiona: ... Oh.

Derek: I was the one who found her. [and he takes a long pull from his beer] I tried to take her pain, be there so she wasn't alone. But it was too much for her, and I didn't want her to suffer anymore. [he looks at his beer a moment, then takes a breath and looks up at her, revealing his blue eyes to her for the first time] Maybe it wasn't my fault, but I can't say I didn't play a part in it. [chuckles sadly] And in the end, she knew what I was already. And she still loved me.

Fiona: [she pushes up on her knees and moves closer] Your eyes don't define who you are, Derek.

Derek: I know. [sighs] But that's why I'm worried about you. I don't want the same thing to happen to you.

Fiona: I get that. But you're saying that Greg willingly did this to me.

Derek: I'm saying it's possible. Or maybe an alpha is trying to recruit him and using you. But if someone like me had it pass through their head as a kid... I really hope I'm wrong, but my gut isn't so sure.

Fiona: [she shakes her head] I really hope you're wrong.

Derek: But what are you going to do if he did.

Fiona: ... I don't know.

Derek: Either way, for now will you be careful until Victor gets to the bottom of this?

Fiona: [nods] Yeah. I don't have class until Monday so I'll be careful.

Derek: You can even torture me and have me run errands outside for you.

Fiona: I don't want to torture you.

Derek: Not even a little? [teasing slightly, trying to break the tension]

Fiona: No. I know nine times out of ten, you're trying to protect me.

Derek: Good.

Fiona: [she pulls her knees into her chest because she's feeling very small at the moment and not really sure what to do with all of this information] Will you just hang out with me for a little while?

Derek: Yeah, of course. Want me to get more beer and snacks?

Fiona: [she nods] Yeah, that'd be good.

Derek: [and he will push himself up and head into the kitchen to get them, bringing back enough to last them a few hours]

Fiona: [and she'll put on some movies and just curl up against his side and drink her beer and try not to let the feelings crush her]

Derek: [and he is going to just ignore that voice in his head that keeps replaying Nik's mmhmm and looks, instead focusing on the movie and his beer]

Fiona: [and she'll keep to the apartment as promised, probably with either Derek or Nik, or whoever else will put up with her, until Victor tracks down the alpha who attacked her, gets the story out of him, and then finds Greg. And when the truth comes out that Derek was right, she's reacts by ... punching Greg in the face. Hard. All the wolves immediately smell two sets of blood, both Fiona's and Greg's, and someone please pull her back before she tries to punch him again]

Derek: [while he is all for her punching Greg, he'd rather her not break her hand. So an arm goes around her waist and he's pulling her back] Fiona, stop. He's not worth it.

Fiona: [she probably did break her hand, tbh, it's looking Not Good.]

Victor: Derek, get her out of here. We'll deal with this.

Derek: [nods and he will drag her away to find a place to look at her hand, and then sigh] We're going to have to go to the hospital.

Fiona: [she really doesn't want to but she also doesn't want to be here so] Fine.

Derek: [and off they go to the hospital, waiting for her to get an X-Ray and then a cast on her hand]

Fiona: [and at some point in the hours spent in the waiting room, the dam breaks and she's sobbing quietly on the stretcher]

Derek: [and he will hate that and go to hold her tightly] I've got you, Fi.

Fiona: [and she just curls into him and lets it out, because it's hard to hold on to the anger when there's nothing there for you to punch]

Derek: [and he will eventually shift them so he's sitting on the stretcher with her, just keeping her tucked into him, surrounding her so she can get it out]

Fiona: [eventually, she sniffles] I thought I could trust him.

Derek: I know. We all did.

Fiona: Why would he do that to me?

Derek: Because he thought that you'd love him more. His pack before him must have messed up his ideas of relationships.

Fiona: [she doesn't really know what to say to that, so she just buries into him and tries wrestle with that]

Derek: [and eventually they will get her cast on, and he will call an uber] Are you hungry?

Fiona: [she shakes her head at first, but her hand hurts, and she needs to take it with food] Can you get me a milkshake? [because apparently right now she's five]

Derek: Let's go to the diner, and I'll even get you fries to dip into it if you want.

Fiona: Okay.

Derek: [and he will have the uber drop them at the diner and order them both fries and milkshakes, and he will sit on the same side of the booth as her so she can lean on him.]

Fiona: [she will. and she'll barely touch her fries, but she'll drink most of the milkshake and just ... not know what to do with any of this. she's never really had her trust broken this badly before]

Derek: [and he doesn't know how to help her beyond being that rock to lean on, to not let her be alone as she processes it all]

Fiona: [which she appreciates. all she really needs is him to be there. she'll figure it out eventually]

Derek: [and he will text Victor while they are there, checking to see if it was safe to return yet]

Victor: [yep, all good, they can come back whenever they're ready]

Derek: [so he will bring her home once they are done and her pills have kicked in]

Fiona: [and she will probably wind up sleeping in Derek's bed for the next week or so]

Derek: [which he is used to at this point and won't say anything. Even if Nik keeps giving them looks]

Nik: [not this time.]

Derek: [and he just might like having her in bed, waking up to a warm body pressed against him that smells so nice]

Fiona: [eventually she'll get over it and retreat to her own space though, because they're not like that - and even if they could be, she is nowhere near ready for that]

Derek: [and he wouldn't anyway. Because he wouldn't want to be a rebound even if he wanted it]

Fiona: [rebounding from this one is weird, because this one is harder to bounce back from. But eventually she does. Things even out, and things go back to normal. She starts being a little more steady on her feet and there are even a few flings between the fallout and Laura's death with Derek's uncle showing up on their doorstep]

Derek: [and she gets to be the rock when Derek wakes up from that horrible battle that took his sister and his arm]

Fiona: [yep. There every step of the way, just like he was for her. and probably really worried because they weren't sure if even taking the arm was going to save him]

Derek: [Marcus kept him unconscious for a long time too in an effort to keep his body focused on just healing]

Fiona: [so she'll just sit with him to make sure he knows she's there, and wait for him to wake up]

Derek: [when he starts to surface from the depths of suffering, the pain is a numbness that he can put a name to. There's another numbness, one he hasn't felt in almost seven years. Loss. Loss of a family member. An alpha. There's a part of him happy to stay in the void and avoid returning to this world, but he knows that fate isn't that kind to him. There will be a groan as he starts to pull himself out, his head fuzzy and his lips dry as he presses them together]

Fiona: [reaches forward and squeezes his hand] Hey, Der.

Derek: [he felt her hand in his and tried to squeeze it, but he is tired and weak. His eyes open partly, still drugged and sluggish] Fi?

Fiona: Yeah, it's me. [shifts in closer so that he can catch her scent] You're safe, you're back at the penthouse.

Derek: [he catches the scent and relaxes back into the bed] What... happened?

Fiona: I'm not sure, but you were ambushed. They got you with a wolfsbane bullet.

Derek: And Laura? [he knew the answer inside his heart, but he could be wrong.]

Fiona: [she shakes her head] I'm sorry, Derek. By the time we got there, she was gone.

Derek: [he can't hold back the wail. It's a mixture of a howl and a sob, wracking his lungs as the emotion just overtakes him]

Fiona: [and her eyes blur a bit and she just inches closer, doing her best to wrap his arms around him and keep him close. She tries her best to soothe him, even though she knows there's nothing she can do]

Derek: [he goes to try, and that's when he realizes he can't on one side. He pushes back in fear, the drugs cleared from his eyes as he looks at the bandaged stump] Fiona, what...?

Fiona: We got their late, and we didn't know what kind of wolfsbane it was to burn it out. It was either take the arm or lose you. [and she wasn't going to lose him too] It'll heal, Derek. Marcus says it'll come back, it's just going to take time.

Derek: It'll come back?! [there's hysteria in his voice, fear gripping him tightly]

Fiona: Derek, we didn't have a choice. I'm sorry. But look at me. [one hand brushes against the side of his face, drawing his eyes back to her] It'll be okay. I promise.

Derek: [he will look at her, terrified and hurting. But he looks into her eyes and nods before the tears just start and he curls up into her]

Fiona: [and she'll just hold him for however long he needs, because this is a bad day and she knows it]

Derek: [and he is probably going to cry himself back to sleep, clinging to her]

Fiona: [and she'll tuck herself in with him, staying close for however long he needs]

Derek: [which will help, needing that comfort]

Fiona: [as long as he needs. day in and day out. at least until Peter knocks on their door]

Derek: [and plenty more after they arrived in California]

Fiona: [yep. Because they were trying to navigate their new relationship, and while the emotional stuff hadn't changed, the physical stuff was]

Derek: [well, the sleeping in the same bed stuff hasn't changed either.]

Fiona: [no, that's true. but there could be kissing involved]

Derek: [which is always a nice way to wake up]

Fiona: [and she's trying not to push him on the sex thing, but being this close and comfortable with each other means sometimes some of those early morning kisses get a little more slow and languid]

Derek: [which he enjoys, but he's of course got body issues with his arm, so he isn't sure how to approach that]

Fiona: [which is fair, but one morning she'll shift just enough that she's rolling over him and just settling to get comfortable there, but not pushing it any further than that]

Derek: [which will get a groan from him, because he's still a guy and there's sensitive stuff there liking her rolling around]

Fiona: [she grins a bit at that, and she parts the kiss just enough to talk] You like that?

Derek: Maybe. [and he will lean his head up to kiss her more]

Fiona: [she hums into the kiss, letting herself settle over him more and tentatively push her hips down against his]

Derek: [and that will get another groan, his hips shifting to press back on instinct]

Fiona: [nips at his lip as she pulls back] Tell me if you want me to stop, okay?

Derek: [nods, but he doesn't want her to. It's been awhile for him and physical affection comforts him]

Fiona: [good then she's just going to lean into it, starting to pull at their clothing a bit and letting her hands wander because it's been a while for her too and she's been wanting this for a while]

Derek: [and he will let her, easily letting her take his shirt off and his hand will slowly wander, touching her in a way he only dreamed of]

Fiona: [once his shirt is off and on the floor she'll do the same with hers, pulling it up and off and letting herself settle over him before she leans in to kiss him again]

Derek: [and yeah, he's getting into this, his fingertips dragging along her back, feeling her skin shift under them]

Fiona: [and she hums at his touch, her hips rocking gently against his as she lets one hand wander against his side, letting her nails drag lightly]

Derek: [and he groaned, nipping at her lip as his hand slid lower towards her hip]

Fiona: [and she giggles into the kiss, continuing to rock her hips gently against his]

Derek: [his hips will figure out a pace with her, and soon his hand will start to slide up her ribs, edging along her breast]

Fiona: [and the giggles will fade to soft pants, giving a soft moan as she feels his hand start to inch where she wants it. She doesn't sleep in a bra so they're definitely right there for him to touch]

Derek: [and hearing her enjoy it, he will take that as permission to cup her breast, massaging it gently]

Fiona: [which she enjoys even more, breaking the kiss as she tries to catch her breath and keep their pace steady]

Derek: [and he will use that break to guide her breast to his mouth, sucking on her nipple]

Fiona: [and that draws a gasp and a happy noise out of her, tipping forward to nibble against his neck]

Derek: [he only has the one hand to hold her breast, so he just focuses intently on it, alternating between sucking and nipping, his tongue flicking the hardening nip]

Fiona: [and that just gets more happy noises out of her until eventually she's pulling away] Hold on, I have to get a ...

Derek: [his head will fall back onto the pillow, his eyes watchign her] Do you even have any?

Fiona: Uh-huh. [she has to practically unseat herself from his lap because they're in the nightstand on her side of the bed, but she tries to keep that contact as much as she can as she rustles around, before withdrawing one from the box there] See?

Derek: [and he is going to be trying to work on getting his boxers off while she was looking, but it's hard to do it laying down with only one hand and a hard-on] Good.

Fiona: [she'll get her own pants off and help him with what's left of his before moving to straddle him again, leaning in to kiss him as one hand wraps around him gently]

Derek: [he moans against her lips, his eyes fluttering shut as his hips thrust into her hand]

Fiona: [there's a few steady strokes to make sure he's ready, her free hand finding his and guiding it between her legs at the same time]

Derek: [he will squeeze her hand, looking back at her nervously. They were finally at this point, and he just hoped that he was able to still impress her]

Fiona: [she looks back at him, before leaning in to kiss him briefly] I just want to be with you. We're doing this together.

Derek: I know. [he has wanted this for a long time.] I want to be with you too.

Fiona: Good. [and she leans in to kiss him again, before shifting up and starting to slide down onto him with a soft groan]

Derek: Oh God. [he will tilt his head back because it has been awhile, and it's her and it is just so good]

Fiona: [and she takes her time, giving them both a chance to settle, before she starts to give slow tentative rocks, almost as though she's testing the waters]

Derek: [his hand will squeeze hers, just letting his senses take over. Feeling her body sliding up and down. Their scents mixing with the heavy tang of sex, her heartbeat speeding up as she does...]

Fiona: [and she's just going to keep going, trying to keep as steady a rhythm as possible and still keep her balance. as she gets closer and closer to the edge, she moves her free hand to slip between them, trying to make sure they reach the edge together]

Derek: [He feels her fingers between them, rubbing herself and stroking him. It gives him that one thing more that gets him to the edge and falling over. His eyes flash blue and he bites his lips, tiny fangs searching for purchase but he couldn't do that to her. Not after everything she'd been through.]

Fiona: [she falls over not long after him, her body dropping forward to rest against him as she tries to catch her breath. She's grateful that he didn't do that at least not right now, but it's something they can revisit later, when things aren't so new]

Derek: [if he ever did it, it would be something that they discussed together and agreed upon. but for now he can just relax back into the bed, focusing on regaining his breathing]

Fiona: [and she settles next to him with a happy hum, before slowly shifting off him] You good?

Derek: I'm great. And you?

Fiona: Awesome. [tips her head to press a kiss to his shoulder] Glad to have gotten the first time awkwardness out of the way]

Derek: [his hand will go up to stroke her hair gently, just smiling at her]

Fiona: [smiles back as she leans in to him, just staying where's comfortable] We should do that often, I think.

Derek: You'll get no complaints from me. I'll try and figure out how to participate more.

Fiona: And your arm will heal too. We can also try different positions and see if that helps.

Derek: So what you're saying is a lot of experimenting? [there's a smirk, something she hasn't seen in awhile from him]

Fiona: [she laughs] Oh, definitely experimenting. We would be experimenting even if you had two arms, so that was a given.

Derek: [his hand will cup her cheek] I should have told you a long time ago how I felt.

Fiona: [shifts slightly to press a kiss against his hand] It's okay. We needed the time.

Derek: I don't want to waste any more.

Fiona: Well, good. Because I'm not going anywhere.

Derek: Good. [and he's going to just snuggle into her]

Fiona: [and they will drift right off for an early morning nap]