spamalot } { of misunderstandings and control

[impetere]

Cora: [glances at him over her coffee, not liking this distance, but not really sure what to say.]

Stiles: [just looking at his coffee, his teeth working on his lower lip in thought a moment] Maybe we shouldn't have sex. Just, you know, until we're fixed.

Cora: [she looks a little alarmed at that] Stiles, we don't have to abstain. It's fine.

Stiles: Cora, I don't have any control. I... I didn't care. I honestly don't think I forgot, but that I didn't want to stop. And I'm not comfortable with that risk.

Cora: And you weren't the only one who was impaired at the moment. If I had been sober, it wouldn't have happened. It was a mistake. You can learn to control the urge, and I'll make sure we're prepared. [she takes her coffee before making her way closer] This isn't all on you.

Stiles: [he rubs his hands on the side of his coffee, obviously still distressed] You know, some people would tell me it's more my fault because you were impaired.

Cora: [she sighs softly] I don't believe that. We're in this together, right? So we're both equally responsible.

Stiles: [just nods, taking a sip of his coffee]

Cora: [she watches him for a moment, before reaching to take the coffee cup from him and placing it on the counter next to him] What's bothering you?

Stiles: [sighs] I just.... I don't like what I did last night, Cora. I don't like not caring about being in control.

Cora: It's just an instinct, Stiles. I deal with it all the time. You can learn to deal with it.

Stiles: [not holding a cup of coffee, he resorts to biting his thumbnail] Yeah, but you had years to learn. And I... I mean, Cora... I know better.

Cora: How do you think I learned? I practiced. [she pauses for a moment, before sliding her arms around his waist] And I knew better too. Every time we were together in college there was always a part of me that wanted to tell you to forget the condom and just be with you completely. It's part of the mate bond. But I got through it and so can you.

Stiles: [his hands go around her waist, but he's still not looking her in the eye just yet] Yeah, well right now I'm trying to deal with other stuff too.

Cora: [yeah, she doesn't like that he won't look at her. it makes it feel like she's done something wrong] Like what?

Stiles: Just... stuff. [he shrugs]

Cora: Stiles. [she nudges his shoulder a bit until she can meet his eyes] Tell me.

Stiles: [he looks like he's about to tell her, and then he just shakes his head and looks away again to the side] Cora, it's nothing.

Cora: [yeah, that isn't making her feel better. Her stomach churns a bit, feeling like there's something she doesn't know, and she tries to figure out how to pry it out of him] No, it's not.

Stiles: [there is a frustrated growl] I'm not a fan of the morning after pill, alright?

Cora: [her eyebrows go up a bit at that, because she ... doesn't understand why] Do you have a problem with a normal birth control pill? Because it's not that much different.

Stiles: Yeah, to me there's a big difference. One stops it from happening, the other stops it after it's happened. [he just looks away again] I mean, I get it's purpose and all, but I just.... I don't like it.

Cora: [there's a long pause before] The morning after pill is not an abortion pill.

Stiles: [he looks up at that, because he didn't know that.]

Cora: [she sighs] A lot of people get that wrong. It's the same hormones as a regular birth control pill and it's meant to give you a little extra protection. It doesn't work if you're already pregnant, and it's not even really a guarantee.

Stiles: Oh. [he rubbed the back of his neck] I didn't know that.

Cora: [she gives him a small smile before leaning in closer] Do you really think I would do that?

Stiles: No, but I just... [he shrugged it off] Doesn't matter.

Cora: Yes, it does. [she watches him, trying to figure out what this is] It matters to me.

Stiles: I don't want to talk about it, Cora. [he knows she's trying to prod now, and he's trapped against the counter in her arms so he can't escape. Well, no he can escape since he's currently stronger than she is, but he doesn't think to]

Cora: [she watches him for a moment, before nodding and stepping back] Okay. Sorry.

Stiles: [he breathes a bit easier, and goes to move away from the counter] I should probably get back.

Cora: [nods a bit, heading back towards where she left her coffee] I think I'm going to stay for a bit. I'll head back over later.

Stiles: Alright. [and he's going to go and get dressed, swapping out for a different shirt from her closet and leaving last night's in her laundry basket.] Do you still want to come with me and Dina to dinner at dad's?

Cora: [she nods, giving him a small smile] Yeah. Definitely.

Stiles: [he walks over and takes her hand, squeezing it a bit as he leans in to give her a soft kiss. He's not mad at her, just too lost up in his own head at the moment] See you later then.

Cora: [she closes her eyes into the kiss, before nodding as he pulls back] See you then.

Stiles: [and he's just going to head home, where Derek is waiting to put him through his paces and notices that Stiles is a LOT angrier than he normally is and helps give him at least a way to focus it, even if he has no idea what brought that on]

Talia: [neither does Talia, and she can feel it. Usually he's better after he has nights alone with Cora, which leads her to believe something happened]

Stiles: [and after he finishes with Derek, he's just going to take a very long, hard run through the forest to just try and outpace the bad memories in his head trying to dig themselves in]

Talia: [watches him go before looking over to Derek] You alright?

Derek: [nods, working his shoulder a bit] Yeah, I'm fine. Been awhile since I had to work that hard. [ looks towards the forest] I have a bad feeling, Mom.

Talia: Yeah, me too. [she pauses for a moment] Think your sister might be able to get it out of him?

Derek: Depends on which one you're thinking about. But I'm just thinking more in general - I don't think being a wolf is going to be good for him. He just teeters on the edge of control. You're certain this is only going to last a month, right?

Talia: [she nods] Deaton was certain about that. A week or so and he should be back to normal.

Derek: Yeah, but we have a full moon still to deal with too. And if he's like this? It may just be safer to lock him up that night.

Talia: [nods] I agree.

Derek: I just hope what little control he does have lasts.

Talia: Something must have triggered this. But if he's ever going to have any control, he needs to find it on his own in moments like this.

Derek: Peter is so much better at this than I am.

Talia: Peter understands how tenuous anger like this can be. It's not your fault that you didn't have his anger issues.

Derek: Oh, trust me, part of me is very glad for that.

Talia: [she nods a bit, before reaching over and sliding an arm around Derek's shoulders] He'll be alright. And probably very grateful to be back to normal when this is over.

Derek: [leans into his mom just a bit, chuckling] Yeah, well at least he'll know for certain that he's not cut out for being a werewolf after all.

Talia: I don't think either of them will mind.

Derek: [looks out at the woods] Think someone should go after him?

Talia: [she considers that for a moment, before shaking her head] No, I think he needs the time. I'll wait for him to come back.

Derek: Alright. I'm going to head over to Peter's then and see what project we're working on this week. Dad's okay with Lucy on his own, right?

Talia: [nods with a small smile] Oh, I think he's just fine.

Derek: Good. Call if you need me then. [and he's going to jog off towards Peter's place for a lovely afternoon of research on banshees]