Chapter Text
He opened his crusted eyes and shook his head from the fog of sleep just enough to notice the warmth of a body pressed into his.
“Lydia?”
The strawberry blonde sobbed quietly into Stiles’ jacket sleeve. He pushed himself up, careful not to disturb her grip on him. His stiff jeans scraped over the floor as he moved from his slumped position. He flexed his right hand, his nimble fingers tingling at the tips as his hands woke from their numb slumber. Stiles pushed forward enough to feel a sharp pain shoot down his neck. He grunted, and put his still tingling hand on Lydia’s head.
“What’s wrong?” He asked.
She sniffed, a sickening slurp of mucus before she pressed herself further into his shoulder. Her fingers gripped his sleeve and he could feel her nails dig into his shoulder even through the thick cloth of his jacket.
“Allison.”
She let her long unkempt curls fall against his chest as she pushed her head into him. Stiles couldn’t breathe. His hands gripped a handful of Lydia’s curls tightly. He remembered Lydia scream after he slid down the concrete wall, no longer able to stand, he fell. At first he thought her scream was for him. As he sat there, Lydia shaking against him, crying Allison’s name, he knew what the scream meant.
“No-no, no, no.” He stuttered as the pain cut through him.
Lydia was so scared when they found her, she demanded they tell her who had come with them to save her. She knew Allison wouldn’t stay away. She knew. Void must have told her his plan, he planned to kill her, why else would she be so afraid of Allison showing up? She wasn’t worried about anyone else, because the Nogitsune was only after Alli.
“Why?” He whispered into the musty air of the long damp tunnel.
Stiles shook with Lydia; she sobbed loudly and he couldn't hold back his own tears as he watched her fall apart. He cradled his friend and mourned. He knew he had to get up soon, he had to see what had happened with his own eyes.
“Lydia, we have to go. Scott needs us.”
“Uh-I-I can’t.”
He wrapped both arms around her body and pulled her into his chest. He cradled her tightly, stroking the back of her head with his cold hands. Trying his best to keep it together, knowing at least one of them had too. Another few minutes passed and Lydia’s sobs were quiet again.
“Lyds, we need to go see Scott. He needs us right now.”
“I-I know,” Lydia pulled back slowly, “Can- can you walk?” She asked him.
“Yeah I think so.” Stiles tried to push off from the ground and realized his left leg was completely asleep, “OK I might need help actually.”
“Here.” Lydia stood and fixed her skirt before leaning down and putting her arm around Stiles’ waist.
He felt utterly weak, his body frail and thin. His eyes twitched and one of them felt like it was on fire. He resisted the urge to shove his dirty fingers into it, knowing that the ground of the tunnel was probably littered with shit he didn’t even want to think about.
He pushed from the ground using his fully functional leg and took a deep breath, only to choke out the stale iron air of the decrepit tunnel. Lydia told him to be careful and keep moving and he does as he’s told, letting her pull him up and leaning his weight on her. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and she gripped his hand in hers.
“Come on, let’s get outside.” She said, huffing out a labored breath before starting off down the seemingly endless tunnel.
Every step was an effort, he could barely breathe and he felt like he hadn’t slept in years. He wanted to stop but his mind was alight with determination. The absence of the Nogitsune in his mind was jarring. Despite the exhaustion the Void bastard had left him with, Stiles was ready to fight. Stiles found a sudden rush of energy which allowed him to speed up his and Lydia’s pace. She was clearly tired, her breathing harsh beside him, but she didn't complain and she never stopped moving.
Stiles heard a yell ahead and he was sure it was Scott. Not far now. The two sped up and managed to make it to the rusty gate leading to the outside. Lydia pushed open the gate and Stiles cringed as the rusted barred door screeched painfully open. His head was pounding ruthlessly as they stormed through to the outside.
He nearly cried out as the air hit his fragile body. Lydia stopped to readjust their positions and he thanked her quietly before they were off again. The cold air burned Stiles’ lungs as they rushed the rest of the way to the courtyard. They stopped as they rounded the corner and Stiles nearly fell to the ground with the suddenness of it. He looked at Lydia with a grunt of confusion and he saw her face turn a ghostly white.
He turned his head slowly, painfully, following Lydia’s wide-eyed gaze. His eyes reached the spot, the place where the huntress had fallen. His best friend was rocking back and forth on the hard, dirty ground. His shirt was torn and his hands were covered in her blood. Allison’s body lay motionless in his arms. He gripped her tight, cradling her lifeless body to him, as though it was all just a dream and if he wished hard enough he’d wake up from his nightmare.
Before he realized it Stiles was standing alone, watching across the courtyard as Lydia sank to the cement ground next to Allison, her knees scraping across the ground audibly. She sat on her knees and reached down to Allison’s still body with trembling hands to lift up her limp arm from the ground. Stiles watched her pull her friend’s hand to her chest and clasp her fingers around it tightly.
Scott lifted his head and Stiles could see his face was stained with grime; the only clean parts of his face were his cheeks, where the trails of fresh tears had washed away the dirt. He cried quietly as his eyes met Lydia’s face. She reached out her free hand to him silently. He took it with shaking hands and their entangled fingers fell to rest gently against Allison’s chest. The cold of the night air sent another chill through Stiles’ weak form. He sucked in a wet breath realizing that tears had been pouring from his eyes without his knowledge. He rubbed the back of his hand over his eyes and put one foot forward, and then one after another he moved, lumbering his aching form toward his friends.
“Scott…”
He was nervous of the reaction he might get from his grieving friend. His brother was broken apart into a million tiny pieces and Stiles wanted nothing more than to help him pick them all up and put him back together. But he was afraid he’d hate him. It’s all my fault . He’d failed to fight the Nogitsune, he’d let it take over his mind and body, let it kidnap Lydia. He was the reason they were there.
He was the reason Allison was dead.
He shivered, his face tightening with fear and anguish, tears pouring from his eyes and his hands were shaking uncontrollably. When he looked up from the ground to meet Scott’s eyes he couldn’t see any anger. He wasn’t furious with Stiles or disappointed by his weakness, he was filled with nothing but sorrow.
“Stiles. I, Allison is…” Scott cracked into an ugly sob and Stiles sank to the ground near Allison’s head, next to Scott.
He placed his shaking hand on Scott’s shoulder and Scott lunged forward at his touch. He grabbed Stiles and pulled him into an awkward side hug. Stiles felt Allison’s head lean into his stomach and he let go. Tears fell from his lashes in a steady stream. Scott calmed himself after a few minutes and wiped his face down with his jacket sleeve before pulling himself back from Stiles’ chest. Stiles kept his hand firm on Scott’s shoulder and Lydia reached forward to grip Stiles’ other hand tightly. Scott moved back enough to see everyone with wet eyes, then turned his head to stare at Isaac, just out of reach.
The beta was sitting hunched in on himself, unmoving and silent. Chris Argent had his back to everyone and stood far away from the scene just outside the entrance gates. Stiles’ heart aches as he realized the Nogitsune that wore his face was long gone. Stiles’ face, his hands, his voice, had ordered Allison’s death. He looked behind Scott to see Kira and her mother hovering near the outskirts of the group. Mrs. Yukimura stroked her daughter's head as Kira shook silently against her. Stiles looked back at Scott to see him staring at Isaac’s back.
“Isaac.” Scott whispered kindly to the curly haired beta, and he turned his head enough for Stiles to see his profile, “Isaac, I need you.”
Scott’s voice was stronger than Stiles imagined it could be considering the situation and Isaac must have been surprised by his strength as well because he turned around enough to look his boyfriend in the eyes. Stiles watched in silence as Isaac stood up and stalked over. He took up root at Scott’s left side and sat practically in his lap. Isaac dropped his head onto Scott’s shoulder and Scott tilted his head to rest gently against Isaac’s skull.
Isaac’s eyes were wet with unshed tears, and Stiles guessed he was still in shock. Stiles was still there himself as he stroked his freezing hands down the back of Allison’s hair. Her beautiful raven locks were soft and still warm under his brittle fingers. Lydia slid closer suddenly, taking up the space between them to wrap her arm around Stiles. Her head fell to rest on his shoulder and he hunched, crumbling his body inward and letting his silent tears fall once more.
“It’s…” Stiles parted his dry lips. “It’s all my fault!” Stiles admitted and started to sob into Allison’s hair.
“Stiles,” Scott whispered, “Why would you think that?”
His vision was dim as he shoved his face further into Allison’s silky hair. Of course it was his fault, Allison wouldn’t have been there if it wasn’t for him, it was his fault. I should be laying there, not her.
“It should be me. I should be dead!”
Stiles shook and he could feel Scott gripping his shoulder. Lydia pushed into him and threw her arms around his waist, resting her head on his shoulder again.
“That’s not true.” Isaac said. “It’s not your fault Stiles.”
“He’s right Stiles. I feel it too - I feel like this is my fault.” Scott confessed, his dark eyes searching the bloodstained ground. Isaac’s hand gripped the back of his boyfriend's neck. “If I’d been faster, or understood Lydia’s message, if I was smarter or stronger than the Nogitsune then she’d still be alive. She’d be here, staring up at me with those dimples, laughing at me for being so worried. Touching my face with her soft hands,” Scott stroked Allison’s pale cheek, and padded his thumb across her bloody lips. “But, she’s gone, and I can’t do anything. I can’t do anything at all.”
“It’s- it’s not your fault either Scott- it isn’t, it's mine.”
“No.” Lydia said, “it’s my fault.”
“What?” Stiles asked.
“If I’d screamed when he took me...but he told me that if I did he’d kill everyone and I believed him. But, if I’d escaped, or just found a way to…”
“No Lydia.”
The teens looked up, surprised to find Argent standing above them with, his face is stern, emotionless, but his wet eyes betrayed his stoicism.
“It's the fox’s fault. None of you are to blame. None of you have any reason to feel guilty. It’s the fox’s fault, and he will pay for this.” Argent’s mouth curled into a snarl as he looked around at the teens, but his face softened as his eyes landed on his daughter.
“He needs to die.” Isaac agreed and Stiles nodded at him earning a look of gratitude from the usually snarky beta. He turned to his alpha who was staring at Allison’s lifeless form, “Scott?”
“I don’t...I don’t think we can kill him.”
“Scott, I know you’re a good hearted guy who's sworn to himself not to kill anything, but if there was ever a time…”
“That’s not it Stiles, he’s killed people, and I know he won’t stop. But, what if we kill him and you die?”
“But, he separated from me.” Stiles said.
“You two could still be connected.” Lydia said.
Stiles looked at his friends and Scott nodded, a worried but contemplative look on his face. Is he really OK with killing Void?
“OKwe need to,” Stiles looked down at Allison and his chest tightened, “Allison has to be…”
“She was murdered so she’ll have to go to the morgue.” Lydia whispered.
“I’ll handle it.” Argent replied monotonously, “Isaac, Scott, both of you will have to give statements, and then we’ll decide what to do next together.”
“What about…” Scott started, glancing at Stiles and Lydia.
“They’ll come with us.”
Stiles and Scott both turned to see Kira’s mother, Noshiko, had inched forward with her daughter. Kira wouldn’t meet anyone’s eyes and Stiles noticed she was carrying her sword haphazardly as she stared at the ground. Argent was silent as he stared at the Elder Kitsune, but after a few seconds of scrutiny he nodded tersely and motioned for Scott and Isaac to stand. Stiles head the wind pick up and stilled to listen to it howl around them.
He straightened his back and swallowed his pain before helping Lydia to her feet. They leaned on each other for support and watched silently as Scott picked up Allison’s body, cradling her carefully in his strong arms. Isaac was right beside him, glued to his shoulder as they made their way to Argent’s car.
“Allison’s dead.”
Lydia pushed her body into Stiles and leaned her head on his shoulder. He took her hand into his lap and weaved his fingers through hers.
“How do you feel, physically?” Mrs. Yukimura asked.
No, Noshiko, she told me to call her by her first name. She placed the tea on the table in front of Lydia and Stiles and took a seat across from them. Stiles swallowed. His mouth tasted like bad breath and metal, and his lips wouldn’t stay wet no matter how much he licked them. He took a breath and met the kitsune’s eyes.
“I feel, OK.”
“Liar.” Derek entered the room behind Kira’s dad.
“Derek.”
The alpha met his eyes and subtly smiled, his eyes soft and sympathetic. Stiles looked away, guilt ridden and in pain. Derek moved across the room to take up the space on the other side of Stiles. Kira was on the other couch with her mother and Ken had taken up the comfortable looking chair to their left.
“Where’s Cora?” Lydia asked curiously and Derek met her eyes.
“She’s with Scott and Isaac. They’re all safe.”
Derek leaned toward Stiles, and reached out his hands. He caught Stiles eyes.
“Can I?”
“What?” He saw Derek’s hands reach for his, “Oh, yeah sure.”
Derek’s face was unreadable as he gripped Stiles’ hand under his. Derek Hale is cuddling me and holding my hand. Stiles choked the feelings of warmth building in his chest. He didn't deserve to feel good. Her didn’t deserve to be happy. Not when Allison couldn’t feel that way. She couldn’t be hugged or have her hand held.
She couldn’t feel anything at all.
Stiles was wordless and careful to keep his face blank as he watched the black veins leech from his hand into Derek’s. The alpha winced, and kept his eyes closed until he was done taking Stiles pain.
“Better?” Derek asked.
“Yeah, thanks.” He flicked his eyes up to meet Derek’s for a second before looking back down at the rug, “Uh, to answer your question, I kind of feel like I’m dying.”
Lydia stirred from her comfortable position on Stiles shoulder, “What?”
“It’s OK though, I mean, I feel better than I did before. It’s just, I think Void sucked away all my energy and I haven’t gotten it back just yet.”
“Void?” Noshiko raised her brows at him and he shrugged one shoulder in short reply.
“I call him that, because it doesn’t have a name.” Stiles said, “can you just tell me whatever you know. I mean, now that he’s separated from me, what happens?”
“He has been leeching your pain, feeding on you for months. However, now that he is strong enough to claim a duplicate of your body for himself, he will be nearly unstoppable.” Noshiko replied.
“Nearly. Which means there’s a chance.” Derek said.
“How do we stop him?” Lydia perked up, looking to Noshiko with the kind of determination she used to have, before Peter... before everything.
“The scroll you received from Argent’s friend…”
“The scroll!” Kira shouted, “If we change the host then I can kill him, right?”
“Yes, and it will not kill you Stiles. He may still be connected to you on a certain level, but even if he were to die right now, you would not follow him.”
“You sound sure about that.” Derek said.
After Boyd and Erica died, Derek was pretty messed up. Angrier and sadder than they’d seen him. Which is saying something. Scott went to Derek and told him that Erica and Boyd needed to be avenged, and the Alphas needed to go down. Despite all of the bad blood between them, Derek actually agreed to Scott’s plan. Now, Derek listened to Scott’s advice, and vice versa. They worked together, hell, Derek even built a friendship with Allison and Lydia. They’d all grown over time and now they were actually friends. More than that, they were a pack. The alpha’s presence once used to scare Stiles, but so much had happened and they’d all come so far together.
The more he thought about it, the more he was grateful that Derek was there with them. He felt Derek’s warmth as he sat on the couch arm, and Stiles moved closer; his shoulder against Derek’s leg.
“This is not the first time I have met him, in fact it is not the first time I have had to deal with a Yako.”
“Yako?” Stiles asked, “Is that it’s name?”
“No.” Noshiko said, “The dark fox goes by many names. I don’t know it’s true name, or if it has one. ”
“You have met this thing before?” Kira asked.
Stiles let the conversation fade from his senses, ignoring the rest of the room to contemplate.
I might survive this after all. But what about everyone else?