Originally Posted by watchthxpaintjob

The wolf laughed again, hoarse and cruel sounding. he bit down lightly into Jackson’s neck, just barely enough to puncture the skin, not enough to do any major damage. He was using Jackson as bait to taunt Stiles even more.

“I know you,” the wolf said, pulling back and licking his lips. “You’re the howling boy, aren’t you? maybe I should let this trash go and take you instead.” He clung tighter to Jackson to prevent him from struggling with anger. “You’re either very brave, or incredibly stupid.”

That small flash of Stiles’ eyes had Jackson’s breath catching in his throat. For a split second, time stood completely still, and it was as if years HADN’T passed between them. He could ignore all the other pain, he could ignore the fact that he couldn’t move, just to stare into those eyes forever.

And then the arrow was flying. Jackson flinched instinctively, throwing his arms up to shield himself. But the sudden silence had him glancing up and behind him. The wolf was dead, lying on the ground, staring up at nothing with eyes already glazing over.

He wasted no time in falling into Stiles’ arms, pulling him close and burying his face into Stiles’ neck. there was no anger, there was no sadness, just an overwhelming RELIEF that his mate was alive.

Originally Posted by watchthxpaintjob

He couldn’t say much about the staring, since Jackson was probably looking just as idiotic, returning the stare. At least, until the guy bent down to pick up his dropped items. “No, don’t apologize,” he muttered. “It’s okay, really.”

Jackson bent down to help the guy pick his things up, almost with a deflated sigh. He hadn’t been expecting much, but the feeling of loneliness was stronger than before. “Not the hall I’m looking for, but definitely that building,” Jackson responded. He straightened up and frowned at his map.

“I think it’s that way.” He pointed vaguely to his right. “And you’d think they’d make these maps easier to read.” Rolling his eyes, Jackson shot a glance at the other, making sure he was okay before starting to walk. He wanted to ask if they’d met somewhere before, but that sounded completely cheesy. Still, Jackson couldn’t ignore the fact that there was something familiar about him.

Originally Posted by lcbrat

what duran planned on happening was for them to go inside quietly. what was actually happening was stiles screaming and thrashing and using his powers. duran could FEEL it – along with the car being threatened with destruction, and the migraine he’d been keeping at bay was threatening to spill over.

he started to take a step toward stiles, to offer at least SOME sort of help, but he was grabbed roughly by the shoulder and yanked backwards so fast he almost tripped. “no,” a voice whispered in duran’s ear. “you’re going to put the collar on him. you want to leave so bad, right?”

duran froze again. he was already torturing himself with this betrayal, and these madmen wanted duran to KEEP GOING? stiles was going to hate him. he didn’t get to protest because he was being shoved toward his brother, with a force he’d used against stiles himself. was this a bad idea? this whole situation was starting to feel hopeless, and even duran was losing his grip on his control.

the collar was thrusted into his hands, and for the briefest of seconds, he thought about letting his walls down so he could tell stiles it’d be okay. duran didn’t want to hurt stiles with another collar, especially if it was going to be used to CONTROL him. duran had had ENOUGH with being used and controlled, brothers pitted against each other for some sick amusement.

he hated his fucking powers.

this is to get us free, he reminded himself. the money he needed was inside, practically within his grasp. it’d get him and stiles out of here, away from this bullshit and somewhere safe. duran could get stiles help, and neither of them would have to use their powers in defense again. he could try to even manage his migraines.

resolve strengthening, duran closed his eyes as he clasped the collar around stiles’ neck. he could hear the click echoing in his mind, rattling around until it became nothing but a distant hum – a ringing in his ears. somehow that made it easier to keep stiles blocked out.

“okay,” duran said flatly, getting back to his feet. “he’s got the collar on. can we go inside?” he yanked his brother upright with one hand as he adopted a bored expression. “the sooner i can go, the better.”

Originally Posted by lcbrat

“I don’t know.” Duran’s voice was sad. Echoes of the dying screams were still playing in his head, and at this point, Duran wasn’t sure if they were still screaming, or just memories haunting him. He didn’t want to go near this place ever again, and the further away they got from this whole god forsaken town, the better.

He was silent for a long time along a freeway, not sure what to say or think. He just knew they had to keep walking. Duran could feel a funk settling over him like some tangible object, leaving him feeling heavy, dirty and just cold. Nothing had ever felt like home to him, but that damned hotel had been the closest thing to home he knew of. Maybe that’s why it was getting to him so bad. Even though he didn’t really care about or trust the people with them, they were still part of the same team. They’d tried.

And Duran felt like he failed.

He couldn’t protect Stiles, and he definitely couldn’t protect himself. He looked to Stiles for so much, and now, he HAD to step forward and be a ‘leader’ of sorts, at least until they found some way to help Stiles, if such help was even possible. At least his brother was alive, right there, and holding his hand. Duran wasn’t going to lose him. Not again, not ever. He also wasn’t going to bring trouble to their father. If the Sheriff thought they were dead, it was best. He wouldn’t be involved, and he wouldn’t be hurt either, even if Duran really wanted to call him and let him know they were alive.

If he couldn’t have a home, he was going to place his home in his brother, since he wasn’t going to fail again in protecting his family.

After what felt like forever, Duran stopped when they came across a town just past the exit they were walking by. It was then that Duran noticed the loud roaring in his head wasn’t the echoing of the fire, it was the sound of cars driving by, some honking at the idiot teenagers hitchhiking. “Shit,” Duran mumbled. He wasn’t sure if Stiles had to push them out of the road at any point, since he’d been so lost in thought and not paying attention, and now he felt dumb.

“I’m so fucking tired,” he mumbled, rubbing his face with both hands. “Think we can catch a motel in this town?” He started walking again, pressing even closer to the edge of the road to avoid the traffic.

No matter what happened to them, the world kept going.