𝙽𝚊𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚊'𝚜 𝙿𝙾𝚅

Peter explains that Derek took Paige to an old cellar until she healed but the bleeding continued and she only got worse as Derek begged Peter to tell him what was happening to her.

"He knew the answer though. It didn't matter that she was young and strong. Some people just aren't made for this" Peter tells us "She fought. She struggled desperately. Trying to survive"

He says that Derek cradled Paige in his arms for hours, taking her pain and keeping her warm until it all got too much for her. Knowing she was dying, the young girl begged Derek to end the suffering and he did. He killed her to stop her pain and held her dead body in his arms as he cried.

"I remember taking her body from his arms, to the woods, to a place where I knew that it would be found. Another in a long line of Beacon Hills animal attacks" Peter says as a tear rolls down my cheek and I feel a hand cover my own on the table.

I turn my head to see Stiles lace our fingers together, giving my hand a tight squeeze as I wipe my teary eyes onto the sleeve of my free arm.

"And what about Derek?" Cora asks.

"Taking an innocent life takes something from you as well. Bit of your soul. Darkening it. Dimming the once brilliant, golden yellow to a cold, steel blue. Like mine" Peter declares, flashing us his icy blue eyes.

❦ ❦ ❦

"What? What's this look on your face?" I hear Cora snap and I turn my head to see Stiles look at her in confusion.

"What look?" He asks.

"The kind of look that makes me want to punch you" Cora spits and I roll my eyes with a small smile.

"Down, Coco" I say teasingly and she turns to me, biting the air jokingly which makes me giggle.

"Oh my God. You are so Derek's sister. I forgot" He comments, making me snort.

"What is with the look?" She repeats herself.

"I just don't believe him" Stiles answers with a sigh "All right, in Miss Blake's class we're reading Heart of Darkness. And it's in first person, right? Narrated by Marlow. The thing is that he's an unreliable narrator. You know the details of it have changed, you know, just because of his perspective"

"Well, then we heard the story from Peter's perspective" I state.

"Right, and I don't think we got the whole story" Stiles responds.

"So, what? Are you just gonna ask Derek about the girl he fell in love with and then killed?" Cora asks in disbelief.

"If I have to, yeah" Stiles nods.

❦ ❦ ❦

I hop out the Jeep in my driveway and make a move to close the door before pausing.

"Hey, Stiles?" I speak up.

"What's up?" He replies.

"Do you wanna watch a movie with me?" I ask curiously and his eyes widen slightly in surprise.

"I-I, uh-" He stutters and I smile in amusement.

"You don't have to. It's just that Scott's with the Argents and my mom's at the hospital. I don't really want to be alone" I explain and his facial expression softens.

"I can stay" Stiles answers, nodding "I can definitely stay"

I smile widely in response and his lips tug up at one side.

"Come on, dork" I chirp, pushing the car door shut.

Stiles climbs out of his Jeep and we enter my house, kicking off our shoes and hanging up our jackets. I grab the remote control, jumping onto the sofa and Stiles follows my actions, flopping down next to me.

"What do you want to watch?" I ask, turning to look at him.

"I don't know" The Stilinski boy shrugs with a small smile.

"Okay...How about Captain America?" I suggest.

"So you can drool over Chris Evans for 2 hours? No, thanks" Stiles scoffs.

"Come on, dork" I pout childishly.

"Why don't we watch Batman or something?" He counters and I make a face at him "What?"

"Marvel is so much better than DC" I declare and he looks at me as if I'd just shot him.

"How dare you. DC is superior" Stiles argues.

"Iron Man would crush Batman" I grin.

"Well, Superman would beat Captain America" He retorts.

"Bucky wouldn't allow it. He'd go all Winter Soldier on Superman's ass" I say matter of factly.

"What about the Joker?" Stiles frowns.

"Well, that's a whole different story. DC villains are superior to Marvel villains, but Marvel heroes are superior to DC heroes" I explain.

"Hmm, I could maybe get behind that idea" Stiles hums and I grin in triumph.

"So does this mean you'll watch Captain America with me?" I ask hopefully.

"Fine" He sighs, rolling his eyes.

I squeal happily, putting the movie on and grabbing a blanket.

"Also, let's be real here, dork. Chris Evans is hot, but Sebastian Stan is a god" I comment and the boy groans, making me giggle.

We watch the whole of Captain America: The First Avenger before watching The Dark Knight for Stiles' benefit. Just as I click play to the start of Iron Man, I feel the boy next to me staring at me.

"What's wrong?" I furrow my brows curiously.

"Nothing. It's just been a long time since we did this" Stiles answers, gesturing to the tv.

"I know, I've missed it" I reply and he smiles softly.

We both turn back to the tv and although my eyes are watching Robert Downey Jr on the screen, my mind is elsewhere. I quickly turn to Stiles who jumps a little, looking at me in confusion.

"Why didn't you call? Or text, or even send me an email. I mean, I haven't heard anything about you, that didn't come from my brother, in eight years" I ask him, unconsciously fiddling with the blanket on my lap and he frowns.

"You didn't call either, Natalia...I just assumed that you forgot about me" He admits and guilt fills my chest.

"How could I forget you? You're my- You're my Stiles" I laugh shortly and he smiles widely.

"I promise I'll call next time" He assures me.

"There won't be a next time. I'm not going anywhere, dork" I declare.

I lay my head on his shoulder and he hesitantly wraps his arm around me, letting me cuddle into his side.