Chapter Text
It was at the Lacrosse game.
The game had completely slipped his mind, but even if it had he wouldn’t have thought twice. Scott had bigger things to worry about then a high school sports game, he didn’t think they would be that stupid, especially with Stiles on board.
But then the news came to him that the Beast had attacked the school, courtesy of a rushed text from Hayden.
So he wasn’t surprised to hear the screams when he reached the school.
The busy parking lot, people dotted, scattered and scrambling at each other for safety. The sound of utter chaos coming from inside the school, belonging to maimed and terrified students, spectators and teachers. He could smell the blood. He knew he had to find Scott and the others, and avoid the Beast. He knew what it was capable of, and it would be stupid of him to handle it on his own.
Theo twisted around, bolting for the school. He burst through the doors, running down the hallway when a torrent of people came screaming, stumbling and rushing past him. He gritted his teeth in annoyance as some pushed past him, but continued onwards.
He reached the intersection, turning his head to both ends of the hallway.
Theo blinked as he saw the bodies laid strewn across the floor, some propped up against the lockers, chests ripped open by claw marks. Insides splattered across the lockers, the blood looked like spilt ink in the dark.
But then he smelt it.
Fresh blood.
A familiar scent.
Alive.
Theo didn’t waste any time following the scent, bringing him to the janitor’s closet. So much blood.
He cautiously opened the door, careful to whoever was behind it.
Theo’s heartbeat spiked up.
He was slumped against the wall, skin shining with sweat. Trails of blood marked the wall, from where he had collapsed. His eyes were closed, his breaths in heavy yet ragged pants. His head was bleeding. Excessively. It trickled down the side his face, over the blossoming bruises that threatened to adorn his cheek.
It was Stiles.
His hands were pressed down on his side, where deep claw marks had been slashed over from hip to his abdomen. He could practically see the skin shredded into ribbons. The blood stained his lacrosse shirt, changing the jersey from a soft maroon to a deep crimson.
He was on him in a second.
“Stiles-Stiles, can you hear me?” He said frantically, moving his hand to press on his wound. How long had he been here?
Stiles winced at the contact, but wide, panicked eyes made contact with his.
“Theo.” Stiles sighed, almost sagging in relief.
“Shit, Stiles.” Theo said, shaking his head as he inspected the wound. It was gruesome, sticky beneath his fingers. The blood glistening as it continued to pump out of his weakening body.
He turned back, checking the hallways- for Scott, Malia, Lydia- any one of them. A sharp moan of pain had his attention back on Stiles, shifting and pushing harder onto his stomach.
He felt a flare of anger and resentment towards Scott. Were they this stupid? How the hell did he manage to leave Stiles out here to just bleed out.
"T-the beast.” Stiles wheezed, shifting his body, “It’s still outside.” His eyes locked with his in warning. Theo quickly shut the door behind them, locking it. Theo nodded simply, pressing his hand on Stiles’ wound.
Stiles let out a pained cry, hand grabbing for Theo’s shoulder. His head fell back, hitting the wall, panting heavily. More sweat rolled down his paling face.
A loud growl suddenly reverberated from hallway, both their heads snapping to the door, freezing.
The room darkened, the leg of the Beast large enough to block out the small window, giving them a preview of the nightmare. Stiles’ breath catches in his throat, willing himself to keep his breath in.
The Beast roared powerfully once more, Stiles unable to keep himself from flinching, the floor and walls shaking, reverberating dangerously. Theo gripped Stiles’ shoulder in warning, eyes still fixed on the the Beast.
Stiles and Theo both let out the breaths they had been holding when it finally ceased.
“I got it’s scent.” Theo whispered. Stiles simply nodded, loosening his grip on Theo’s shoulder, suddenly feeling sick.
“Stiles, it’s still outside.”
“Oh my God.” Stiles moaned, squeezing his eyes shut, trying so desperately to not make a moron of himself and not cry in front of Theo.
But it was literally the worst thing he’s ever felt.
“Stiles.” Theo moved closer to him, one hand pressed tightly on his fucked-up side, and the other hovering uselessly.
“It fucking hurts.” Stiles spat angrily, digging the side of his head into the wall in some feeble attempt to get away from the blistering agony.
It wouldn’t stop. And he let out a frustrated, pained cry as the immeasurable pain grew more insistent. He couldn’t keep in the pathetic whimper that escaped his throat.
“It hurts like shit, it hurts.” He said hoarsely, eyes squeezed tightly, feeling sick.
“It hurts.”
He grounded his teeth, frustrated tears leaking out, breaths laboured and desperate.
“Make it stop, makeitstopmakeitsop.”
He barely noticed Theo taking his wrist.
Suddenly, he felt a majority of the pain just… dissipate.
Panting, Stiles opened his eyes, meeting Theo’s face who’s in turn was squeezed in pain.
Stiles frowned, eyes widening as he looked down to where Theo’s hand gripped his wrist tightly, his eyes following up the path of the dark vein-like lines that travelled up his arm, infecting Theo.
Theo’s eyes flew open, a few short breaths escaping.
Theo nodded, gripping Stiles’ wrist tighter, “You’re right.”
“It does hurt like shit.”
Stiles swallowed, feeling more sweat and blood trickle down the side of his head. He felt drunk. Dizzy. Off-balance. And so tired… If he could only…
“I need you stay with me, Stiles.” Theo said firmly, shaking his shoulder slightly. Stiles’ eyes rolled back slightly as he blinked, but he nodded sluggishly at him. It didn’t assure Theo one bit.
“Of course I get stuck, dying, in a freaking janitor’s closet with you of all people. Flippin’ brilliant…” Stiles mumbled incoherently, demeanour slumping. Theo averted his eyes from his, unsure of what to say.
“Shut up, Stiles.” Theo said simply, his voice smaller then he wanted it to.
Stiles scoffed, eyebrows raised in his direction.
“You need your energy. We don’t know how long we’ll be here.” Theo said hastily. Stiles frowned, glancing up at Theo with curious eyes.
“What do you want?” Stiles asked, frustrated. Because that’s what he wanted to know. What did Theo want? He thought he figured him out, back in Eichen house. Theo wanted power, he wants to be an Alpha. Hell, he even admitted to him that he did. It had been easy, then. He’s used to that. Peter, Kate, the Darach. Yet here he is, Theo Raeken, trying to keep his insides from spilling out.
“Right now, I want you to shut up and stay alive.” Theo said forcefully, his tone demanding and sharp, a wonderful display of how serious he was. The grip on his wound tightened at his words, causing a small cry to leave his lips. He tried to ignore the way Theo flinched.
So Stiles bit his lip, nodding his head.
“I think I can only do one of the two things.” Theo’s head turned back to him, eyes narrowing in what seemed like…
Concern?
Stiles chose to ignore it.
Mere minutes passed by, and Theo could see that Stiles’ condition was deteriorating. And the Beast was still outside. Prowling. He could still hear people screaming.
“-where is your ‘pack ‘anyways?” Stiles murmured, eyes focused on the way Theo’s hand pressed on his wound. Black lines on the Chimera’s arm, taking away his pain.
“Where the fuck is yours?” Theo fired back angrily. Stiles blinked, the sudden retaliation unexpected.
“Why the hell aren’t they looking for you, why isn’t at least one of them with you-.” Stiles didn’t want to hear it, shaking his head.
“Uh, maybe there’s a freakish super-sized monster wolf-.”
“So they leave you on your own?” Theo shot back, eyebrow raised in an incredulous manner. “If I hadn’t found you, you would-.” Stiles scoffed before he could finish his sentence. His daring wet eyes challenging Theo’s.
“I’m not out of the woods yet, buddy.” Stiles said, leaning his head back onto the wall tiredly.
Theo pursed his lips.
There’s a silence.
“Does it still hurt?” Theo asked quietly, eyes glancing back at Stiles’ gruesome wound. Stiles doesn’t even bother looking down, instead analysing the features of Theo’s face for any line of deceit. But his mind is all jumbled with the adrenaline and fatigue that he gives up. Gives in.
“You’re taking away my pain.” Stiles acknowledges, gesturing his head towards Theo’s arm.
“Is it working?”
Stiles nodded, biting his lip.
“Thanks.”
“Why’re you even bothering with me?” Stiles murmured.
His head was now on Theo’s lap. Because it got to the point where Stiles couldn’t hold himself up against the wall. Couldn’t hold his own body up. It took a while to drive common sense into Stiles, as if he was in utter denial that he was-
Dying.
But he eventually gave in because Theo found a weak spot in his defence.
After all, that’s what Theo did best.
Theo’s hands are still pressed firmly on Stiles’ abdomen, careful not to agitate it; The feeling of the wet, mutilated flesh was something he was used to by now. Warm and sticky beneath his hand. Stiles’ blood. Stiles’ life blood.
“Still think I have some ulterior motive?” Theo said mockingly, remembering their conversation.
“More than likely.”
And clearly, so did Stiles.
But the dying human still smirked up at him playfully, the adrenaline and fatigue undoubtedly overwhelming his mind.
They didn’t have much time.
“But ‘seriously, why’re you helping me?” Stiles mumbled, frowning up at Theo, “You could ‘probably make a run for it. You’re fast.”
“Not if I’m carrying you.”
“Why?” Stiles challenged. "And for the love’of God, drop the altru-istic act, ‘lease." Theo averted his eyes, shifting uncomfortably. Stiles frowned; He never think he’d live to see the Chimera as uncomfortable with something as he was now. Theo always seemed so damn sure of everything, with his knowing smirk and confident-ass voice. It frustrated him to no end.
Seeing this side to him made him uneasy. It reminded him that Theo was still pretty much human.
“Because you don’t have to die.” Stiles frowned.
“The-fuck is that supposed t’mean? Why’d you care if-.”
Theo cut him off, never letting him finish his second sentence. “I’m not the bad guy, Stiles.” And, gosh, the guy almost sounds offended.
Stiles scoffed, shaking his head. He’s heard this argument way too many times. “Then what?
“When Scott finds out the only way to stop the Beast is to kill whoever’s behind it, what do you think he’ll do?”
This threw Stiles off-guard.
“What if you’re right, Stiles? Maybe the definition of a True Alpha is someone who doesn’t put up with murder.”
“Y’can’t use my own words against me.”
“More people will be dead by the time he finds an alternate solution- if there even is one.”
“So what would you do?” Stiles fired back, almost defensively. Theo doesn’t even hesitate to answer before glancing down at him.
“Snap it’s neck before it can kill anyone else.” Doesn’t even miss a beat.
There’s a silence. Theo could see Stiles’ mind at work. Knowing that he was silently agreeing with him, that he was right.
But of course, Stiles would never admit it.
“I’m tired.” Stiles announced, eyelids showing signs of dropping once more. Theo could hear the slow pulse of Stiles’ heart.
Stiles was dying.
“You can hold on a little longer, it’s still out there.” Theo said. Stiles whimpered, shifting his body, leaning into him.
“I’m going to die, aren’t I?” Stiles said softly, “Fuck.”
"Fuck."
Theo was determined to focus on taking his pain.
“Y’know, this being senior year I thought that maybe…” Stiles started, his eyelids fluttering in effort to stay awake.
“Maybe I’d actually survive ‘till graduation ” Stiles chuckled, as if the idea was a far-fetched fantasy. “Throw our hats in the air like the best sorta cliche high school movie…” Stiles’ eyes wandered over his deliriously, “Hell, maybe you’d be there. You’d look so funny in of those dumb robes…”
Theo blinked. He knows that Stiles probably doesn’t even know he’s rambling. He knows that being disjointed from reality was a side effect of dying. And from the looks of his bleeding head, he knew that it was also a contributing factor.
But still.
“Lydia would’ave like literally the best valedictorian speech, and Malia… ” Stiles laughed, but it was throaty and pained. Theo wanted him to shut up- he didn’t want to hear this.
“Didn’t even make it past the first semester.”
Theo gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to slap Stiles. An unfriendly, unfamiliar feeling started to flare up in his chest him.
“Stiles, shut the fuck up.” Theo whispered furiously.
Stiles laughed. But it came out as a guttural sob, his lips chapped and pale. The discolouration in his face significant.
“You’ll get your wish soon.”
Theo stiffened at the remark, his eyes making their way back to Stiles’. They looked dreary and tired. Glazed over, his eyelids drooping too frequently. He turned away from him, biting and licking at his lip.
As if, in realisation of what he just said, Stiles lets out another pained sob, fingers twisting in Theo’s shirt.
Theo’s chest tightens.
“You’re not going to die.” Theo said, in a matter-of-factly tone. Stiles looked up at him, but Theo doesn’t return the look.
“No?”
“No.”
Stiles just nodded in acknowledgement, but he’s pretty sure he heard wrong. He doesn’t bother asking for a repeat because he’s not sure he wants it. He’s confused, tired and dying and Theo’s making it worse. Messing with his head while he’s like this. But he doesn’t even have the energy to get angry.
Suddenly, Theo’s head snapped upwards. Stiles frowned, jerking against him, hand instinctively making for Theo’s arm. “What?”
“It’s gone.”
Stiles sucked in a breath, letting his hand fall back down. “Oh goody.”
Theo doesn’t even hesitate to scoop up Stiles’ legs in a bunch, his other arm grasping at his back and shoulders. Stiles let out a guttural cry as Theo stood up, carrying him in his arms. The movement agitating his wound, jostling it painfully. Theo winced slightly as Stiles screamed at the movement, but he strived on. He needed to get Stiles to the hospital, now.
He ignored the human’s pained moans, finally getting to his pickup truck. He placed Stiles over the passenger seat, then made a round to the other side truck to fasten himself into the driver’s seat.
“Put pressure on it.” Theo said, pulling out of the driveway. The parking lot was still teeming with utter panic and chaos.
It was only a few minutes drive to the hospital, but Theo knew that a few minutes could mean Stiles’ life. He didn’t give it a second thought as he pressed down on the pedal, going over the speed limit. Not caring for the red lights and stop signs. His attention solely on the road- that is, until Stiles let out wet cough.
Theo couldn’t do anything but listen to the sound of Stiles heaving, his savage gasps for breath. Theo used a spare hand to lift Stiles’ head up, leaning it on his lap so that his throat was slanted, and that he could breathe.
“Stiles, you need to breathe.” He gave Stiles a quick glance down. Shit.
Stiles’ pale skin glistened with sweat, his bangs plastered to his clammy forehead. His chests heaved with his pants, his eyes widened as he clutched the seat beneath him. Red stained his bottom lip.
“Shit, Stiles, we’re almost there.” Theo said, fighting against looking at the distant hospital and back at Stiles. He used a hand to drag Stiles’ torso upward, so his body was shifted in a way he could breathe easier.
More blood speckled his pale lips, his eyes beginning to lose their light. Glazing over as his eyelids fought to be closed. It felt like he couldn’t get any air in, and he was breathing like hell.
Just before Theo could park into the hospital, Stiles’ heaving breaths came to an abrupt end. Theo’s breath hitched, as he looked down at Stiles. The human’s eyes were closed, his head lolling to the side into Theo’s lap.
Theo didn’t even bother parking.
He slammed the door open, immediately taking Stiles’ lifeless body in his arms and bolted for the doors.
“Somebody, help!” Theo called out, running for the reception desk.
It was all a blur from then on. One of the worker came towards him, yelling out instructions at the receptionist and at Theo. A group of people came with a stretcher and an oxygen mask, adjusting Stiles onto it. Melissa came at one point, following the group with haste, only saving Theo one glance. A look of worry and fear.
Theo didn’t know how long he was there.
Siting at the waiting room, Stiles’ heartbeat out of reach.
He's never felt so anxious.
He should leave, Melissa would’ve eventually called Scott. They’d be here soon. He’d find out if Stiles had made it sooner or later.
His hands melded together, his foot tapping impatiently on the floor.
No,
He would wait.