Chapter Text
The bombs went off when they were sophomores in high school. They were only sixteen when they lost everything, except each other.
Stiles and Scott had been friends since they were little. No one would have guessed they'd be the ones to survive the apocalypse. Scott's asthma almost got them eaten a couple of times before they made it out of Beacon Hills. The two managed to find Kira in the middle of a fight with a giant frog, and she gladly jumped into the Jeep. They were able to pick up Lydia, who they almost hit when she ran into the road, on their way out of town.
Stiles was angry for a long time. After his dad died, he could have watched the world burn without a second thought. Scott tried to hide his sadness, but anytime they stopped moving, tears found their way down his face. If anyone asked about his mom, he'd break down before he could form the words. Lydia didn't talk for a while, and her night terrors produced screams that could have gotten them killed without proper shelter. Kira learned how to fight with any weapon. Her strength was the source of her unrelenting positivity. She never gave up hope, and most days, that's what kept them going.
They met Malia a year later. She'd been living on her own, surviving off what she could hunt. She hadn't been around people in awhile, and her social skills had taken a hit. Malia was often blunt and never held back an opinion. She was brash, and her first choice was always violence. Stiles was the one to find her. He brought her back and slowly earned her trust. Kira helped her the most. She taught her what love truly meant. Soon, Malia was part of their family.
It'd been four years, and they learned how to manage in this new world. Scott turned out to be a pretty good medic, just like his mom. Lydia got their garden down to a science, and she created a filter to collect clean drinking water. Malia and Kira were a killer pair of hunters. Stiles could fix anything. He engineered their entire bunker, which always kept him busy. Unfortunately, the apocalypse didn't think to provide Adderall. The group could solve any problem they encountered. Together, they were able to survive.
When Stiles finally got the radio working again, it took awhile before they picked up any signals. Finally, they met Satomi. She offered them a place in her commune. Haven, her shelter, had a fully functioning farm. There were at least fifty adults and a dozen kids all living together. They'd build their shelter on the side of a mountain. The rocky terrain and wide river that surrounded them kept most of the creatures away. It was safe. They weren't just surviving. They were living.
The five of them considered their options. They could stay. Their shelter was stable, the garden had good yield, and all systems were functioning. However, they would never meet anyone new. They could never fully relax. They could never truly build lives or futures.
The choice seemed clear. They would make the journey from their bunker to Haven. However, the next radio signal they received changed everything.
Stiles was packing up the supplies, when he heard the radio crackle to life. He was surprised to hear from Satomi. Their last communication had laid out a clear plan on how they were to get there. The journey would be more than difficult, but it was a necessary risk. Stiles picked up the signal coming through.
A woman's voice called out, "Hello? Hello, is anyone there?" She didn't sound familiar.
"Hey, this is Stiles. Who's this?" He took note of the frequency. The group wandered into the room, curious to what was going on. They leaned in close to hear.
"Oh! Oh my god! Hey, hello, I'm Laura! I've been trying to get a signal for weeks!" The woman excitedly yelled into the radio. They could hear more people start talking in the background.
"Well, it's good to meet you Laura. You're on with our bunker. We've got Scott, Lydia, Kira, and Malia here as well," Stiles introduced them. There was a lot of chatter on the other end. Stiles furrowed his brow as he waited for someone to address them again. He caught some of their conversation.
"Lydia? Did he say Lydia?"
"Sweetie, I don't think..."
"But he did say his name was Stiles, and there's a Scott too. Those sound like guys from Beacon High lacrosse. There were a couple of benchwarmers with those names. If they're from the same place, there might be a chance... Just, let me talk." Stiles knew he wasn't the best lacrosse player back then, but hey .
"Just don't get your hopes up."
Stiles glanced back at the group. They looked equally perplexed.
"You said there was a Lydia there?" A man's voice came through this time.
"Yessir. Why-" Stiles barely got the words out before the guy was interrupting him.
"Is her name... Is it Lydia Martin?" The voice sounded so pained, but there was a hint of hope.
"Who is this?" Lydia cut in beside him.
"Lydia? Is that... god... is that really you?" The voice sprung to life with joy and shock. Stiles saw Lydia's jaw clench for a moment as she seemed to recognize the voice.
"Jackson...?" She said tentatively, not willing to believe it. The group looked on with wide eyes. They'd heard of Jackson before. They'd even gone to school with him for a while. He was a popular jerk from what Stiles could remember. Though, they knew him better now as the guy who died to save Lydia's life. They had found her completely in shock, racing out of Beacon Hills Preserve. Eventually, she told them the story of Jackson, the boy she loved, who pushed her out of the way as the creature slashed in her direction. He'd told her to run as he lay there bleeding out. Lydia had no doubt that he had died from the injury he took for her. However, it seemed she may not have been right after all.
"Lydia! It's me. It's Jackson. Oh god, I'm so happy to hear your voice. You're alive. You're really alive. I thought... Never mind that now. God, Lydia... I know it's been a long time, but I think about you, like, everyday. I always hoped you made it," Jackson's voice came through the radio quickly. Lydia stared down at the machine, tears forming in her eyes.
"Jackson... you're alive ," Lydia whispered like she was afraid saying it out loud would make it cease to be true.
"Yeah... I'm alive," he said with a happy sigh, like her voice was all he ever wanted to hear.
"I left you there," Lydia's tone shifted to horror. The group rushed in to support her as she stumbled in shock.
"Don't think like that," He quickly dismissed her concern. "Lydia, even I thought I was going to die. I'm so glad you are safe. That's all that matters now. These guys here saved me. I didn't know how to find you or even where to look. The more time that passed, the more I thought I'd see you again," Jackson assured her.
The group all knew what came next. It's been four years. Did they feel any different? They were pretty certain Lydia had never moved on, but Jackson was a whole other story.
"Jackson... I..." Lydia started.
"Lydia, I love you. I never stopped loving you. I understand if you'd moved on, but I had to say it at least once," he told her. Stiles would forever deny the tears that pricked the corners of his eyes. Though, glancing over, he noticed there wasn't a dry eye in the bunker.
"I love you too. I still love you," Lydia's tears finally fell down her face. She leaned close to the radio like it was a lifeline.
"Where are you? I need to see you. Also we- god shut up I'm getting to that -might need your help," Jackson was clearly fending off the rest of his group from interrupting his reunion.
"What's wrong? Are you in danger?" Lydia's tone quickly laced with worry. Stiles understood. It's not everyday the love of your life comes back from the metaphorical-dead. It would pretty much suck if they died before you could see them again.
"We're safe, for now. We're just running out of food. Our crops were completely destroyed by an overgrown snake. Also... we're out of ammo," Jackson admitted. Stiles remembered when they first ran out of ammo. It was pretty early on. They'd learned to hunt with weapons that don't require anything but their own strength: swords, machetes, staffs with spikes, and anything else that packed a punch.
"We're in a bunker for now, but we got another signal. A woman named Satomi has an entire community up in the mountains called Haven. Our bunker is pretty coastal. We have at least a four day journey ahead of us. We can get you though. Satomi seemed pretty open to newcomers, strength in numbers and all that. We can make the journey there together," Lydia spoke with more hope than Stiles had ever heard from her. It was like someone relit a fire within her. He supposed Jackson was that someone.
"We're back in the Beacon Hills Preserve. There's eight of us, including myself. Do you really think the five of you can make it to us?" He sounded unsure. Lydia looked back at all of them. They glanced between each other and gave a simple nod.
"We can do it."
-
Stiles went over the map one last time before they left. It would take them at least an extra day with the detour to Jackson's bunker. They called themselves the ' Hale Pack '. Stiles was not going to admit how cool he thought that was. Why don't we have a group name?
He was excited to meet some new people. They were his family, but he's seen the same four faces for years. This new group was mostly one family, three siblings and their uncle, plus a few people Stiles vaguely remembered from high school.
Stiles had mostly talked to Laura Hale, the oldest of the siblings. She seemed to be the leader over there. Jackson was always trying to cut into their planning. Lydia wasn't much better. We get it, you're in love. Good for you.
He'd mostly given up on finding love. That's just not the world they lived in anymore. Malia and Kira got lucky, but that kind of luck was in short supply. Stiles was pretty sure Lydia used up the last of it. He was happy for her, truly.
Who knows? Haven has a lot more people than his current dating pool: his straight childhood best friend and the girl who's been in love with her 'dead' boyfriend for four years. Stiles wasn't going to hold his breath though. Love just didn't fit into his life.
Scott walked into the mostly bare room, giving him a heavy pat on the shoulder, "You ready to go?"
Stiles looked out at the place they'd called home for years, "Yep."
As they crowded next to the hatch, bags and weapons in hand, they all glanced back one last time.
"Good riddance," Malia grumbled.
Wind rushed across their faces as they pushed the heavy metal door open. Their bunker didn't look like much from the outside, a hatch leading below the long grass. That inconspicuousness kept them safe. Though, there was one thing that marked their location if you knew what to look for.
The faded blue Jeep sat a few yards from the entrance. Broken down cars weren't a rare sight, but this wasn't just any car. It may have died long ago, sitting unused with an empty tank, but it saved them all in another life.
Stiles' Jeep is what got them out of Beacon Hills. It had been his mom's over a decade ago. His Jeep was the last thing he had left of his parents.
The group passed by it slowly. Lydia traced her fingers along the faded blue paint. Scott gave the hood a soft pat, offering a smile for the memories. Stiles stopped at the driver's side door. He rested his hand on the groove of the handle for a moment. Stiles tugged it open, the hinge creaking painfully. He leaned in and pulled the keys from the ignition. Closing the door, he held the keeps in his palm. Stiles smiled sadly at the car.
"Thanks for never abandoning me. Bye, Roscoe," Stiles pocketed the keys, and joined the group. They pulled him in close, sandwiching him between all of them. "Hey, hey. Don't crush the Stiles. There's only one," He complained, hiding his amused grin.
"Shut up. We're comforting you," Malia said, swatting his head.
"Thanks, guys," Stiles held them close for a moment before wiggling out of the group and pulling out the map. "Now, it's time to go meet Lydia's boyfriend, " he teased.
" Yeah ," Lydia said, a smile spreading across her face.
They started down the dirt road, soon venturing out farther than they had in years. Stiles was dragging his fingers across the map, trying to tell what the best way through Beacon Hills Preserve was. It was a dense forest and offered few escape routes if things went south. He bumped into Malia, who had stopped in her tracks.
"You heard it too?" Kira pulled her sword out and held it at the ready. Malia nodded, gripping the handle of her axe tighter.
"What?" Scott whispered. Stiles glanced out at the open path and shrugged. They had spent less time landside. They could defend themselves, but their fighting skills still offered room for improvement.
"Spuzzard," Malia said grimly. Lydia furrowed her brow.
"Is that what she called the one that kinda looks like an ant?" Lydia mumbled over to the guys. Stiles thought for a moment before confirming it.
Stiles grabbed his bat and held it in a tight grip. The metal was cool under his fingers. Scott and Lydia pressed in closer on either side, looking out at the rustling leaves in front of them. Scott pulled out his crowbar, holding it at the ready. Lydia had her machete in a shaky grasp. A long, spiked leg stepped out from the shrubbery. It sank deeply into the earth with its sharp tip. Soon another followed, revealing the disfigured form of its body. Malia and Kira stood at the ready. Stiles hadn't been this close to one of the creatures in a while. He clenched his jaw nervously, trying to appear unaffected by its sudden appearance. It made a terrible screeching sound and quickly clambered towards them. With fluid collaboration, Malia and Kira ran at the creature. Malia slid on her knees, landing a deep blow to the creature's legs. Kira used a large rock as a ramp to propel herself towards the creature's head. With Malia taking out the legs, Kira was able to decapitate it without the need for dodging its spiked appendages.
Stiles, Scott, and Lydia stood in awe of the two women. They were grinning, sharing a high-five over the defeated monster. The rest of the group caught up to them.
"That was amazing," Stiles said breathlessly.
"You two are badass!" Scott exclaimed.
"You really move together as one. Your synchronicity is almost beautiful," Lydia said, shaking her head in disbelief.
Kira smiled proudly, leaning into Malia. Malia shrugged.
"We're a pretty good team," Kira said, beaming at the other.
"It's that or die," Malia said flatly. Kira just laughed softly, nodding in agreement.
Stiles doesn't completely understand their relationship. Kira was like sugar became a person, and Malia was so rough and blunt. Maybe it was about the balance between them. They were like a perfect duo, completing what the other needed. Stiles felt a familiar twinge of jealousy in his gut. He pushed down the feeling. That kind of longing had no place here. Distractions like that get you killed.
The group continued on the path Stiles mapped out. They had to make it a few days before they reached the Hale Pack. Stiles figured they survived this long, what's a few days on the surface?
"So guys, I was thinking, and we need a group name," Stiles announced. Lydia raised a brow.
"A group name?" She questioned in a disinterested tone. Stiles nodded.
"Is this about Jackson's group having a name? What were they again?" Malia recalled.
"Hale Pack. I think like half of them are all a family," Kira remembered.
" Pack , how animalistic," Lydia rolled her eyes.
"I think it's cool. Hey, maybe we can be the McCall Pack," Scott offered, flashing his crooked smile. Stiles shook his head.
"No way, man. We gotta choose something that fits all of us," Stiles shot down his friend's idea. Scott nodded, looking a bit disappointed.
"Survivor Crew?" Malia suggested.
"Too general," Stiles dismissed with a wave.
"Beacon Bunch," Kira beamed. Stiles raised his brows, but he soon shook his head.
"No, this other group is from Beacon Hills too. It would be confusing," Stiles reasoned.
"Okay, well how about you think that over for a while. It'll keep you busy," Lydia suggested sarcastically.
Stiles frowned. They trudged forward, avoiding the area that was too dense to see through clearly. Soon, they found an open field that seemed like easy terrain to cut through. Malia and Kira scanned the surrounding area, keeping an eye out for any approaching creatures. Stiles pulled the map out, finding where they were based on the faded street sign they passed a few minutes ago. Getting to the Hale Pack would be the shorter half of their journey. It'll only be two days to get to them, but then they had three days to Haven from Beacon Preserve. A five day journey might as well be a suicide mission. Traveling land side was a risk few people took, and even fewer survived.
"Hey, guys, wait up for a second," Scott said. Stiles turned and saw him standing a few feet back.
"Why'd you stop?" Stiles questioned. Scott was looking at the ground with a furrowed brow.
"The ground here... it looks weird," Scott leaned down to take a closer look.
"Wait, Scott, that might not be a good idea," Concern was creeping into Lydia's voice. She took a step towards him. They all heard a crumbling sound as the earth beneath Scott gave way. The sinkhole quickly widening towards them. Stiles reached out for Lydia as he saw her footing start to slip.
"Stiles!" Lydia screamed, grabbing for him frantically. He held onto her arm, but the ground sank around her. Stiles fell forward, slamming into the ground. His shoulder felt close to dislocating, but he held onto her tightly. Stiles felt Kira and Malia grab onto him, so he didn't follow Lydia down. He looked down and saw Lydia holding onto his arm like a lifeline, feet dangling above the deep hole.
"Lydia, do you see Scott?" Stiles asked fearfully. She peered down and nodded.
"Yeah, he's here. It's a few yards down, but he doesn't look too hurt," She smiled with relief. Stiles let out the breath he was holding.
"Okay, hold tight. I'll pull you up," Stiles said, wincing. He braced himself against the ground, Kira and Malia holding onto him.
"Stiles... there's something..." Lydia started, looking closer at the walls of the hole in front of her.
"Is it important right now?" Stiles groaned. Lydia shrieked and her grip faltered. Stiles held on tighter and reached down with his other arm, relying on Kira and Malia to hold him up. "What? What's going on?" He yelled down to her.
"There's something living down here! It's in the walls!" Lydia tried to move away from the walls frantically. Stiles held onto her with all his strength.
"Lydia! You have to calm down. I'm going to lose you!" Stiles pleaded desperately.
"Stiles! We're losing you !" Malia screamed behind him. He felt himself slipping, but he couldn't let her go.
Lydia's arm slipped through his grip, and Stiles jerked forward and reached out to grab her hand as she screamed. His eyes widened as he felt Kira and Malia lose their hold. Stiles knew he could have let her go and save himself, but he'd let go of so much over the past few years. He was not going to lose her. Stiles and Lydia toppled into the hole, and he pulled her close to brace her fall as much as he could.
They hit the ground hard. Stiles heard a terrible crack and yelled out in pain. He definitely just broke a rib. He leaned his head against the dirt and caught his breath.
"Stiles! Stiles, are you okay? Oh, you dumbass. I'm so sorry. Why did you do that? Why didn't you just let go?" Lydia's voice was panicked and filled with guilt. Stiles shook his head.
"And let you go alone? Never, Red," Stiles grinned through the pain. She laughed with tears threatening to fall. Stiles looked over and saw Scott nursing his head.
"Welcome to the hole. It sucks," Scott grumbled.
"Are you guys okay?" Kira yelled down to them. They looked up, and Stiles gave a thumbs up.
"We need to get out of here. We're not alone," Lydia sounded scared, and Stiles figured that was a bad sign.
He looked at the walls and saw dozens of holes. He listened closely and heard the movement in the earth.
"Shit," He mumbled.
His eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he heard more voices above the entrance to the chasm. There was more than just Malia and Kira up there. Lydia looked up, noticing as well. If there were other people up there, that could be just as dangerous as the monsters down here.
Kira poked her head over the ledge, beaming down at them, "These people said they can help us pull you guys out!"
Stiles and Lydia shared a glance, but they didn't have many options here. The strangers tossed them down the rope, and they sent Scott up first because he needed the gash on his forehead stitched up. Kira was the second best at first aid after Scott himself.
"I think you should go up next," Stiles insisted. Lydia frowned.
"No way. You're injured," She pointed out.
"Barely. It's not even that bad," Stiles rolled his eyes. Lydia reached forward and poked his ribs gently. Stiles grunted in pain. She raised a brow. "Point taken, but I still want you to go up first."
"Stiles, don't be a hero," Lydia glared. Stiles grinned at her.
"Aw, you think I'm a hero?" Stiles teased.
"Shut up. You're going next," Lydia said definitively. Stiles shook his head.
"Lyds, you're sweet, but you need to go up first. These things are moving more and more by the second, and the group needs you to make it out of here. Come on, you got a guy waiting for you," Stiles' tone was more serious now. Lydia looked at him with sympathetic eyes and nodded.
"Okay. Thank you," She said softly. Stiles waved her off.
"Don't mention it. I am a hero after all," Stiles chuckled. Lydia shook her head in amusement.
Stiles helped her get hooked onto the rope when it was lower down again. Once she started getting hoisted up, Stiles sat down. He winced, and let out a few shaky breaths.
Come on, Stiles. You've survived the apocalypse. You can deal with a cracked rib.
A few minutes later, the rope was being dropped back down. Stiles pushed himself up and got himself adjusted onto the tether. He eyed the holes nervously as the noise started getting louder. Stiles was halfway up, when a sound behind him got his attention. He watched the hole in grim anticipation. A worm-like creature shot out, and he kicked it away, swinging on the rope. There was a screech among the monsters, and soon, the worms were coming at him like he was a piñata. Stiles yelped as one bit his arm. He swatted them away.
"Hey, Kid! Stop moving so much!" A man shouted down at him. Stiles only had a few more feet, but the monsters were coming at him in droves. When he reached the surface, Stiles scrambled out of the hole, throwing a worm that had attached to his flannel off.
"Gah! Shit !" Stiles exclaimed, nursing his bleeding arm. Scott rushed over, and Stiles could see the messy stitches running along his forehead. Scott took his arm, giving him an apologetic look as he disinfected the gash. Stiles yelled out in pain. He looked away as Scott began stitching him up.
Lydia was with Kira and Malia. Kira was hugging her tightly, and Lydia was looking down at her sympathetically. Stiles glanced over to the man wrapping up the rope. He was maybe in his forties, wearing a stern expression. A woman gave him a pat on the back. She was younger than the man, maybe in her thirties. Off to the side stood two more people. An older man, Stiles would guess, in his sixties, and he was surprised. Older people weren't exactly common anymore. The other was a dark haired girl, around their age. She was gorgeous, with strong features but soft eyes. Stiles was thankful that they'd saved him and his friends' lives, and maybe that's why he felt a little guilty about the bad feeling in his gut he got from them. Stiles turned to Scott as he felt him cut the thread on his stitches.
"Do we know anything about them yet?" Stiles asked in a low voice. Scott shook his head.
"No. From what Kira told me, they heard yelling and came to help. I haven't even spoken to them," Scott glanced over at the group. Stiles saw his eyes land on the girl and freeze. He smiled a little as his best friend melted over her. She really was exactly his type. Stiles could remember all of Scott's crushes growing up and how hopeless Scott got every time they were near.
"Before you fall in love, let's make sure they don't want to kill us," Stiles urged. Scott gave him a confused look.
"Why would they want to kill us? They saved us. That makes no sense," Scott furrowed his brow. Stiles looked over at the strangers.
"Yeah, well it's the end of the world. Things don't tend to make sense," Stiles mumbled. Scott helped him up, and Stiles groaned in pain.
"Come on, let me wrap your ribs. It's the best I can do right now," Scott brushed off his suspicions. Stiles pulled up his shirt while Scott wrapped the bandages snugly but not too tight. Stiles let out a sigh from the pressure. "Let's give them a chance, okay? There's safety in numbers," Scott offered.
"Yeah, well, there's also death in numbers, okay? It's called a massacre," Stiles said pointedly. Scott looked up from the med kit and gave him a flat expression. Stiles put his hands up in surrender, "Fine, fine. I'll give them a chance."
Once he was as patched up as he was going to get, Stiles and Scott joined the group. Kira and Malia gave him relieved smiles.
"Sorry we couldn't hold you," Kira looked at him sadly. Stiles shook his head.
"Not your fault. Don't worry about it," He pulled her over into a side hug, avoiding his broken rib.
"So, are we going to go meet these people?" Lydia glanced at him. Stiles nodded.
"Yeah, let's thank them. I'm just worried this wasn't done out of the kindness of their hearts. Hang back while I check things out," Stiles said cautiously. Lydia walked over to the four with him, and Stiles extended a hand to the middle-aged man, "Thank you for the help. You really saved our asses back there."
The man smiled, shaking his hand, "It was no trouble. You have to be careful in fields like this. Sand Gobblers like to nest in these places."
"We haven't been this far out land side in a while. We're still learning the ropes," Stiles mirrored the man's smile.
"Is that so? You guys have a bunker?" The man raised a brow.
"We did," Stiles answered. He wasn't going to mention Haven to these people when he didn't know anything about them.
"Did? Hm , so where are you headed now?" His voice was even and unsettling.
"We have some friends who need help. They're out of supplies," Stiles replied carefully. The man glanced back at his group for a moment and seemed to silently communicate something.
"Friends are a good thing to have out here. How about we help you out. We can get you to most places a lot safer than you can on your own," The man offered. Stiles narrowed his eyes.
"Why would you help us? Sounds like an unnecessary risk for you," Stiles questioned. Lydia touched his arm gently, reminding him to stay calm. The man noticed the action and smiled.
"Like, I said, friends are a good thing to have. We help you, and maybe you can help us down the line," The man tilted his head, looking them over.
"We have nothing to offer you," Stiles clenched his jaw. The man grinned.
"Allies are more than enough some days. As for proper introductions among friends, I'm Chris," He said calmly.
"Stiles. I need to talk to the other before we decide on anything," Stiles said in a flat tone. Chris nodded, allowing him to walk back to the others.
"I don't like this," Stiles said in a low voice to Lydia.
"I know, but they might be useful," Lydia whispered. They reached the others and explained the offer.
"That sounds great. They clearly have more experience," Scott pointed out. Kira nodded in agreement.
"I don't know. Stiles is right. We don't know if we can trust them. People are different out here," Malia glanced back at the other group.
"Then we vote," Stiles said definitively. "I'll understand whatever the group decides."
Scott and Kira voted to join the others, and Lydia hesitantly agreed. Stiles nodded and Malia pressed her lips together into a thin line.
"Fine. Let's go meet our new travel buddies," Malia narrowed her eyes. Kira held her hand reassuringly.
They walked over together, and the others approached as a group as well. After they introduced themselves and Chris gave his name to the rest of them, the older woman stepped forward with a grin.
"I'm Kate. I'm glad we're able to help you kids," Her smile was a bit toothy. Stiles felt like she was baring her teeth more than she was being friendly.
"Gerard Argent. These two's father, and this one's grandfather," The old man greeted them with a sickeningly sweet tone.
They're a family. Stiles was a bit nervous about that. Families were loyal in a much different way, and if they had no one outside of the bloodline with them, it could mean trouble.
Chris gestured for the girl to step forward. She had a flat expression, serious and unwavering. The crossbow on her back made her stand out from her gun toting family. She gave them a fake smile, much less performative than the others.
"My name's Allison," She said in a stiff tone. Stiles glanced over and saw Scott's already fond expression. God he's hopeless.
Stiles reluctantly shared their map route. Chris gave the appearance of being in charge, but Stiles noticed the glances he shared with Gerard. Stiles would go out on a limb to say the older man had more authority than he was letting on. Scott was never much for subtly, already talking to Allison and flashing that goofy, crooked smile.
"So, where are you guys from?" Scott asked her. She didn't even spare him a glance.
"Nowhere, I suppose. We were moving to Beacon Hills when this all hit," Allison shrugged. Scott nodded.
"That's interesting. I'm from Beacon Hills. Stiles, Lydia, and Malia too. Kira was new to Beacon, but she's from New York," Scott rambled. Stiles would have pitied him, but the girl had the faintest smile. Maybe the idiot does have a chance.
Stiles didn't want to admit it, but the Argents were making the journey much smoother. They were getting them around creatures safely before they even realized it was there. He still thought they were an unnecessary risk. Kate was chatty. She also wasn't being subtle with her flirtatious comments, which also somehow felt like threats. Chris was always scanning their surroundings, changing their path if he noticed some sign of danger, or reviewing the map. Gerard's eyes were always on them. Stiles felt like a zoo animal or a lab rat being studied. Allison was the only one that didn't seem horrible, but she didn't say much. Scott had gotten a few responses out of her, but the more she shared, the more tight lipped she seemed to get. She felt reluctant to get close to anyone, and Stiles could understand that. Making friends these days didn't happen often and didn't last long. He was just glad to have his gang.
At the rate they were going, they'd reach Jackson's bunker, and the rest of the Hale Pack, the next morning. The sun was getting low in the sky, and Stiles stared out at the horizon. A soft smile spread across his face. He hadn't seen a sunset in years. Staying landside this late in the day was usually a surefire way to get killed. Stiles nudged Lydia and gestured at the sky. The smears of gold and magenta faded together in a warm glow that was brightest at the horizon line, creating long shadows that stretched back at their feet. She smiled and sighed softly.
"It's odd how beautiful it can still be," She whispered.
"Sometimes it feels like nothing's changed," Stiles said wistfully. He looked back to see Malia and Kira holding hands and leaning into each other. Scott had coaxed Allison into a soft conversation.
He glanced at the older Argents and found them speaking in hushed tones with hard expressions. Stiles narrowed his eyes. He felt that familiar twist in his gut that told him something was wrong. His dad might have died years ago, but Stiles was still the son of the Sheriff.
Chris called out to the group that they should rest for the night. Stiles was weary of leaving his friends in such a vulnerable position, so he volunteered to be on look out. Allison said that she'd also be on surveillance. The rest of the group got settled, and Stiles walked to the edge of their campsite with Allison. He pulled out a packet of food. If he wasn't sleeping, at least he could get some energy. The girl gave him a sharp look that made him hesitate.
"What?" He questioned in a low voice.
"Not both," Allison said in a tone that made it seem obvious.
"Huh?" Stiles asked, with a confused expression.
She rolled her eyes and sighed, "Not both. You get sleep, or you get to eat. Never both. The smell of food attracts creatures, which is dangerous while others are sleeping. Only eat when everyone is alert." Allison explained it, and it did make a fair amount of sense. Still, Stiles slumped his shoulders in disappointment. Not both became not either for him tonight.
They sat in silence for a while. Stiles glanced out at the dark forest. The night was still, and thankfully, that meant they were safe. He soon became restless. His hands were fidgeting, messing with his clothes and tapping lightly on his leg.
"Quit it," Allison mumbled. Stiles stilled.
"Sorry. It's hard to control sometimes," He said softly, rubbing the back of his neck. She looked over at him.
"What is?" Her tone wasn't as sharp as it had been. He met her eyes.
"I have ADHD. I used to take Adderall, but meds don't last long in the apocalypse," Stiles smiled. Allison offered a soft hum of understanding.
"My mom had depression. She survived the monsters out here, but..." Allison trailed off.
"Not the ones on the inside," Stiles sighed. Allison nodded. "My mom died years before all of this. It was also a battle of the mind, but hers was frontotemporal dementia," He explained.
"That must have been hard. I feel like it was easier out here. After you lose so much... what's one more?" Allison looked out at the tree line with a steady gaze.
"It was, but I had my dad. He was a good man," Stiles said simply. There was a small ache in his chest that had lessened over the years. It slowly was being replaced with the memory of love. Maybe it would always hurt, but he hoped one day the memories of joy would overtake the pain. Just like it had with his mother.
"Sometimes, I feel like I lost both of them that day. My father means well, but he's different now. He-,"Allison stopped abruptly. Stiles glanced over, studying her expression. She looked... remorseful. "He cares about family a lot," She finished.
"I understand that. I do too. These people," Stiles gestured back at the group, "They're my family. We've survived for four years together. Well, three for Malia. I'd died for any one of them."
Allison gave him a steady look, "But what would you do to survive?"
Stiles stared at her for a moment, "What would you do to live?"
Allison sighed and looked away, "Same thing."
Stiles shook his head, "No, they're very different, but I don't think you've done much in the way of living in a long time."
"I'm alive. That's what counts."
"Till the day that you're not. All our days are numbered out here, but when I finally bid this world farewell, I hope I can say I lived a good life," Stiles grinned up at the moon.
"Good lives don't exist anymore," Allison said in a flat tone.
"You're wrong," Stiles replied simply. He wouldn't tell her about Satomi's shelter. Stiles still didn't trust these people enough to risk Haven.
They continued their watch in silence. He looked over at the dark haired girl, and her expression wasn't the stony mask it normally was. It was soft, and there was just a bit of hope fighting to break through. He smiled. Maybe the Argents weren't all bad.
In the morning, right as the sun peeked over the Earth, the group packed up and continued on their way. Stiles could see the nervous anticipation Lydia was exuding. He rested a hand on her shoulder.
"It's going to be great. You're in love. What do you have to be nervous about?" Stiles raised a brow. Lydia rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe the fact that I haven't seen him in four years. What if he's different? What if I'm different?" Lydia gripped the straps to her backpack tighter, turning her knuckles white. A small part of Stiles almost enjoyed seeing the great Lydia Martin nervous over a boy.
"Lydia, you're getting a second chance with the guy you love. Try not to let nerves kill the joy of it all. This is more luck than you usually see these days," Stiles said reassuringly. Lydia took a breath, and her shoulders relaxed. She gave him a sympathetic smile.
"Thanks, Sti. Hey, maybe one of the others in the pack-"
"Nope," Stiles interjected, "I've given up on that. The right person for me probably got squished like a bug, by a bug." Stiles shrugged nonchalantly.
"That's grim," Lydia frowned. "How are you both the most hopeful and most pessimistic person I know?"
"Well, you don't know that many people. Small data pool," Stiles grinned. Lydia laughed, covering her mouth to stay quiet.
"We're close. Your coordinates are right up here," Chris called over to them. The group looked around closely. Some bunkers are well hidden and hard to find.
They heard a branch snap nearby. They drew their weapons, holding them at the ready, as they crept further. A guy with curly, sand-colored hair turned around a large tree and his eyes widened at the sight of them. He was tall, with sharp cheekbones, and a slender frame. The guy held his hands up in a sign of surrender.
"I- uh... please don't kill me," The guy's voice was panicked. Stiles stepped forward.
"Are you with the Hales?" Stiles asked calmly, hoping not to scare him further. He nodded and his eyes lit up.
"Oh, are you guys part of Lydia's group?" He asked hopefully. Stiles turned back and reached out for Lydia, who quickly joined him. She smiled and gave a small wave. The guy waved back, smiling softly. He looked over at the weapons nervously. Stiles turned, swatting his hand at the group.
"Stop it. Lower those. He's who we're looking for. Well, one of them," Stiles turned back towards the guy. "Can you show us the way to your bunker?"
The guy nodded eagerly, relaxing as things were no longer aimed at him, "My name's Isaac by the way. You're Stiles right? I recognize your voice. There's more of you than I expected. I thought there were, like, five of you?"
"Yeah, Me, Lydia, Scott, Kira, and Malia are the ones that talked to you. The other four are the Argents. We met them on the way, and they had a lot of experience being landside. They offered to help us, and we could use the extra hands," Stiles explained. Isaac nodded and led them through the woods. He eyed the Argents cautiously, but otherwise, Isaac seemed more curious of all of them. Stiles understood; it wasn't everyday you got to meet new people.
"So, Isaac, why are you out here alone?" Lydia prompted. Isaac looked back at them and grinned.
"I'm not," He said simply. Stiles went rigid as he heard the leaves above him rustle. The group had their weapons trained on the figure who dropped from the branch above them. Stiles was shocked they hadn't heard them earlier. A blonde girl brushed the hair away from her face, flashing a sharp smile.
"Well, well, you must be Lydia ," The blonde looked her over, seemingly unbothered by the guns aimed at her. Isaac just looked amused, like this was normal for this girl.
"This-" Isaac tilted his head towards her, "-is Erica." His expression was almost pleased by the shock on their faces.
"Nice to meet you," Lydia said civilly to the girl. Erica just raised a brow and shot Isaac a look before turning and following him on their way to the bunker. Lydia frowned and looked at Stiles. He shrugged.
"So, are you two Hales?" Scott spoke up curiously.
"By blood? No. But we're all a family," Erica answered without facing him. Scott nodded.
Stiles saw how Allison walked closer to Scott. The rest of her family stayed close together. Stiles smiled to himself. Scott really could charm anyone.
Isaac and Erica guided them through the dense forest without hesitation, never breaking stride as they winded through the trees. It wasn't long before they saw another figure. He was sitting on a stump, axe laying across his lap. Beside him was a large metal hatch. Erica skipped up to him, and he stood to greet her. She jumped up, wrapped her arms around the man's neck and pulled him down into a kiss. The guy was big. Tall and broad. His dark features shifted from a stony look to a soft, fond expression in an instant.
"And this is Boyd," Isaac sighed, rolling his eyes as he turned to face the group again. Stiles understood that feeling. Being around couples could leave such a bitter taste in your mouth these days. "Which means we've arrived."
Boyd looked over Erica at the group, scanning over them. His eyes fell on Lydia, "You're her, huh?" Lydia blinked in surprise.
"How did you both know?" Lydia questioned this time, saving the pleasantries. Boyd glanced between Isaac and Erica with a small grin.
"Because Jackson hasn't shut up about you in four years. We could pick you out of any line up," Boyd stated simply. Lydia's face grew as red as her hair. Stiles beamed over at her.
"Aw, that's so cute ," Stiles teased. Malia snickered. Scott and Kira tried to cover their amusement. Lydia glared at him, but it lacked her usual fire.
"Well, without further ado, welcome to our humble abode," Boyd cranked the metal handle on the hatch. Erica happily descended the latter. Boyd and Isaac gestured for the group to follow. Lydia was the obvious first to make her way inside. Stiles gestured for Scott, Malia, and Kira to follow her down next. He looked at the Argents, who seemed to be discussing amongst themselves.
"Deciding if this is where we part ways?" Stiles questioned the family. Chris looked over at him.
"What's your plan here? You said before that they're out of supplies, but you all aren't picking enough to rebuild their stock. Planning on bringing them back to yours?" Chris studied him. Stiles tensed. He was fishing for more information, and Stiles didn't like the new line of questioning.
"After a while. We'll take a rest here and regroup," Stiles answered as casually as he could. It was a lie, but he didn't want them catching wind of Haven.
Chris gave him a steady look, "Well, we should be moving on. Be careful out there, and remember, you always have friends." He flashed that sharp smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. It unnerved Stiles, but he remained calm.
"Right," Stiles said, taking a step back towards the bunker. Chris' eyes didn't leave him. Stiles could see Gerard and Kate's gazes on him as well. Allison was the only one not looking at him. Her eyes were trained on the ground, fixed and unwavering.
He reached the entrance, and only Boyd remained on the surface. Stiles forced his attention to the latter, catching Boyd's watchful eyes on the family a few yards away. Stiles made his way down, wincing as his ribs ached. Boyd followed him inside, closing the hatch above them.
"So, you don't trust them?" Boyd asked him.
"No. I think they want something, and they're hiding more than they let on," Stiles didn't hold back his opinion. He trusted the Hale pack a whole hell of a lot more than the Argents.
Boyd just nodded. Stiles reached the bottom and saw the rest of the group standing in the small room. He looked at them quizzically.
"What's everyone standing around for?" Stiles questioned. Lydia rolled her eyes.
"Like we're meeting everyone without you," She smiled, but there was an unsteady edge to her voice. Stiles knew she was nervous, but he had a good feeling about this. He caught the small look of disappointment on Scott's face when he realized the Argents, more specifically Allison , were not joining them. As much as he felt bad for his friend, Stiles was glad they were gone.
"Well, let's get to it then! I don't know about you all, but I'm anxious to meet this so-called love-of-your-life ," Stiles grinned at Lydia.
Lydia pressed her lips together in a smile that held more hope and joy than Stiles had ever seen on her. He caught Boyd, Erica, and Isaac exchanging excited looks. Boyd opened the heavy metal door leading them inside the bunker. It was nicer than Stiles expected. It seemed like a large shelter, built for hiding away for a long time. Honestly, it puts their Hobbit hole to shame.
"Damn... you guys have a nice place..." Malia mumbled. Kira nodded in agreement.
"Pretty great, right? Unfortunately, our food is almost completely gone since our crops got completely wiped out. By the time they regrow, we'd be long gone," Isaac sighed, giving the metal supports a fond pat.
"Aw, I'm sorry you guys have to leave this place," Kira said in a sad tone. Isaac shook his head.
"Don't be. This place was great for a while. Safety and survival is great, but I think we're all ready to have lives again," Isaac smiled at them.
"We're back!" Erica shouted as Boyd pushed the door shut behind them. Stiles heard some movement from the adjacent rooms.
"What? You're back already? Is someone hurt? I knew I should have come along!" A girl shouted as she quickly entered the doorway. She stopped in her tracks, staring out at the large group.
"Oh, you know you need to rest," Erica rolled her eyes, ignoring the obvious explanation.
The girl was shaken from her frozen look to glare at Erica, "It was a dislocated shoulder, not a near death experience. I popped it right back into place. Everyone's just being dramatic. Now, please explain what is going on. Is this them?"
Stiles wasn't sure who she was, but she already sounded badass to him.
"Cora, this is Lydia and the people guiding the way to Haven," Isaac gestured at them like they were something to be presented. Stiles smiled awkwardly.
"I'm Stiles, the guy from the radio? Nice to meet you," He gave a small wave. Cora gave him a flat look.
"These people made a trip landside? I'm shocked," Cora raised a brow. Stiles changed his mind; she's an ass.
"Hey, we're here to help you ass-," Malia started, but Kira pulled her back.
Cora grinned, "Jax is with Derek at the workbench. I think he's just annoying him. I'll go grab everyone."
Lydia perked up. Stiles let out a breath. This was more socializing than he'd done in years. Their group stood together, like they were afraid to venture out. Erica followed Cora into the other room to collect the rest of the Hale Pack. Boyd and Isaac leaned against the wall across from them. Stiles guessed everyone was curious about Jackson and Lydia's reunion.
"So, how was the trip?" Isaac prompted.
"Pretty good, other than falling in this one nest like a sinkhole," Scott answered cheerfully. Stiles wanted to groan. Scott was sweet, but his optimism could be exhausting. Stiles thought he mind just be bitter about his own cracked rib.
"Shit, that sounds rough," Isaac cringed, but there was a smile beneath it.
"Yeah, the Argents helped, but I'm pretty sure they just wanted to kill us for supplies," Malia shrugged. Isaac looked at her with concern.
"Oh, come on. They helped us. You guys are ungrateful," Scott complained. Stiles helped back his amusement.
"Scott, you just wanted to fuck Allison. You're not thinking with your head," Malia retorted. Scott stammered, and that time, Stiles did laugh. Lydia even let out a small, amused huff .
"Well, he was thinking with one head," Kira mumbled. That made all of them burst into laughter.
"Guys... we literally just met these people. Can we not do this right now ?" Scott whined.
"Damn, and I thought Erica gave me a hard time," Isaac grinned. Scott turned red and dragged his hands down his face with a groan.
"Cheer up, Scotty. There will be so many new people who don't know you're a dumbass," Stiles shoved him lightly. Scott gave him a sarcastic smile.
"Wow, thanks ," Scott said sharply. Stiles grinned.
They turned as they heard voices getting closer.
"Why do you need to show me something? Is this really important? If you found another weird monster that's, ' actually sort of cute ', I'm not interested. The last one bit me, and-," Jackson's words caught in his throat as he looked out at them. His eyes fell on Lydia in a moment, and the two stared back at each other.
Stiles recognized him enough from school. The past four years had definitely changed all of them, but Jackson still had the face of a Ken doll. He was rough around the edges now, with stubble and some scars along his arms. They all had at least a few these days.
Lydia took a step forward, and it lacked her usual poise. Jackson looked like his mind finally caught up with the reality of the situation in front of him. He took two strides to reach her, wrapping an arm around her waist and cupping her face with the other. Lydia brought her hands to his face, touching gently down his cheek and jaw, like she was testing if he was real. Their kiss was both surprising and highly expected. It was filled with more emotion and joy than the past four years had given them. They parted, pressing their foreheads together gently.
"I can't believe you're here," Jackson said softly. Lydia smiled wide.
"Me? You were supposed to be dead. I can't believe you're alive, and you're actually in front of me right now," Lydia sounded giddy. Jackson looked at her like she was all that mattered.
The group seemed to collectively start shifting out of the room. No one wanted to intrude on them any further. They followed the others into one of the other rooms. There were more people here that Cora had collected. There was a woman, who looked a few years older than them, and a man, who looked older but well groomed.
"Ah, if it isn't our saviors," The man said with a sharp grin. "I'm Peter, eldest of the bunker here," He said in a sweet tone. The woman rolled her eyes.
"He said that because he wants you to think he's in charge around here, which he's not," She said firmly. Stiles guessed she was Laura from her voice.
"Dear niece, don't make me sound so ulteriorly motivated," Peter crossed the room to them. Stiles looked him over. The guy seemed like a douche, but he was nowhere near as creepy as the Argents.
"I'm Stiles," He smiled, standing up straighter and giving the man a steady look. Peter grinned and looked back at the woman.
"I like this one," Peter said simply before walking into the other room without meeting the rest of the group.
"Sorry about him. Nice to meet all of you. I'm Laura," She smiled brightly. They introduced themselves.
"Lydia is back with Jackson. I think they have a lot of catching up to do," Stiles explained. Laura nodded.
"What a happy coincidence that was," She said cheerfully. "So, we'll rest up tonight, and we can get an early start tomorrow," Laura clasped her hands together. Stiles could see she was tense. He guessed she was trying to hide how dire things were getting for them. Staying positive was the only thing they had some days.
"It'll be a three day trip, and we can't risk turning back. Bring what you need, but make sure you can still run and fight," Stiles reiterated the plan. Laura nodded.
"You all have probably had an exhausting two days. Please, take a seat," She gestured to the random assortment of chairs they had. Malia was the first to dump her pack on the ground and sink into a chair with a sigh. The rest of them followed suit soon after. "So, have you met everyone?"
"Everyone but Derek. Shocker, I know," Boyd informed her, walking over to the kitchenette. Laura sighed.
"I can try to get him," Erica offered from where she was sitting on the counter.
"No, allow me," Laura said in a sharp tone. Boyd and Erica chuckled softly.
"Now he's in for it," Boyd mumbled.
Isaac sat with them, "He's not so bad. He just..."
"Hates people?" Erica finished.
"Probably prefers society this way?" Boyd added.
Cora strolled into the room, "Talking about Derek? He's such a grump. I tried to get him away from his workbench, and I swear to God, he'd rather sit in the dark than meet the first new people in years."
"The guy sounds like a peach," Stiles grumbled. Cora grinned.
"Derek's my and Laura's brother. We practically had to convince him to go to Haven," Cora informed them.
"Why would he not want to go?" Scott questioned, furrowing his brow in confusion.
"Maybe because trusting a bunch of strangers on the radio is a suicide mission," A guy answered in an irritated tone from the doorway beside them. Stiles looked over at him. He wore an angry expression, with dark hair and stubble. His features were sharp and intimidating. Stiles was fixed on the guy's pale green eyes. They were so bright compared to the scowl that framed them.
"Ever the optimist," Cora beamed over to her brother.
"Derek, I assume?" Stiles raised a brow and grinned, holding out his hand to greet the man. He just stared back, making no effort to return the gesture. Stiles lowered himself back into his seat. "A pleasure," Stiles muttered.
"This is going to get us all killed," Derek looked over to his-Stiles would have to assume after all these years-friends.
"If we stay we're already worm food, and have you seen worms these days?" Erica pulled a face. Boyd let out an amused huff.
"Derek, you know this is literally our only option," Isaac shot him an understanding look. Derek just leaned against the wall and said nothing more.
Stiles was starting to understand the dynamic here. Unlike the Argents, these people let their personalities and motives out in the open. Derek was the most closed off, but even then, he was pretty easy to read. He was your typical dark and broody type, with an aversion to change and the unknown. Cora seemed spunky and bold, but she had an act-first-think-second quality that could be trouble. She wanted everyone to know she was strong. She was similar to Malia but much more sociable. Isaac seemed like the opposite. He'd already played peacemaker multiple times in their short stay. He was clearly the softie of the group. Isaac reminded him of Kira in a way, always focused on keeping smiles. Erica was confident and sharp, and Boyd was quick witted and thoughtful. They seemed like a perfect match even if they weren't trapped together for years with limited options. Laura was the leader and kept the gears working. She seemed to balance out all of the extremes. Stiles wasn't sure what to think of Peter yet. The man had the energy of someone whose bark was worse than his bite, but you can never be too careful. Jackson, well he hadn't met him really, but he doubted there'd be any problems there considering how similar him and Lydia sounded.
He liked knowing what was going on. Everyone was easiest to balance when you know what to expect. Stiles didn't like the Argents because they were unpredictable. The Hale pack, however, was quickly understood. He hadn't met new people in a long time, so maybe it was just easier approaching them like any other problem they faced in this new world. Stiles wanted to relax and get to know everyone, but there just wasn't time. Hopefully, soon there will be.
"Think there will be interesting people over there? Honestly it's nice to see even a couple of new faces," Cora smiled.
"Yeah, it's all been so crazy, but this is like a chance to have a life again," Scott said. Stiles caught Derek rolling his eyes. The man turned and left the room.
"Sorry about him. He's just... well that's just what he's like," Cora frowned.
"Okay, well I have packing to do. Want me to show you guys where you can bunk for the night?" Erica hopped off the counter.
"Yes, please. I think I could pass out right now," Malia groaned. Kira just shook her head and smiled, following them out of the room, along with Scott and Stiles.
Erica led them to what looked like a living room with a few hammocks strung up and a couch. Scott, Stiles, and Kira set down their stuff next to hammocks. Kira suggested Malia take the couch because she moved around so much in her sleep and might fall if she tried a hammock. They considered Lydia for a moment, but they figured she'd probably end up with Jackson. Malia soon crashed on the couch, and Kira opted to lay down. Stiles guessed she didn't want to leave Malia alone in this new environment. Scott ended up helping a couple of their new travel buddies pack. Him and Isaac seemed to hit it off, which wasn't surprising to Stiles considering their mutual sunny dispositions.
Stiles wandered between the rooms cautiously. Most of the Hale pack was, ironically, packing. Lydia would have appreciated his pun. Okay, she would have tolerated it. Stiles came across their radio, which peaked his interest considering how long he'd worked on theirs to get it working. Stiles studied their equipment, seeing the subtle differences in their work.
"What are you doing here?" A stern voice from behind him made Stiles jump.
"Oh, sorry. I was just checking out your radio. Ours took months to fix up," Stiles turned and saw Derek standing in the doorway with a familiar scowl.
"I don't know what your angle is, but I don't trust you," Derek bit out spitefully. Stiles furrowed his brow.
"Look man, we're just trying to help. Honestly, if it weren't for Jackson, I probably would have voted against this risk. Though, knowing my friends, they would have stuck their necks out for anyone who asked. Lydia deserves this though. She's had a rough few years. I mean, we all have, but how can you deny anyone even the smallest bit of happiness these days? Anyway, Derek, I'm not here to hurt your family. You all seem like good people, which is saying a lot because I generally don't like most people," Stiles explained to the man. He wasn't looking for a fight. This guy generally didn't actually seem that bad, just a bit protective and guarded is all. Stiles could understand that. He'd kill anyone who tried to hurt his friends.
Derek seemed to study him for a moment. The man nodded carefully like he was considering what Stiles had said, and he relaxed a little.
"I appreciate what you guys are doing. We really were getting thin on options, and you all put yourselves at risk to come get us," Derek said simply. Stiles was surprised at the change of tone. He smiled over at the man.
"I think we're gonna get along, Derek," Stiles said matter-of-factly. Derek just frowned and walked away. Stiles nodded to himself.
I'll wear him down.