Archive of Our Own ^beta

The pounding in his skull would be blinding if his eyes weren’t already clamped shut. Alarm shocks his system when Stiles goes to clutch his throbbing head and can’t move his limbs. “Wha-” he groans, throat like sandpaper as he opens his eyes. Stiles is propped up on a bed that is very much not his. Nor is it one he’s ever seen before. 

His heart is beating so loudly in his ears it’s making them ring. So not helping the headache. The last thing Stiles remembers was talking to Theo by his truck. The chimera was asking him to not go and help Scott so that he could save his dad. He got his father to the hospital and Melissa told him to wait at home because it could be a while. Stiles is sure he made it, he remembers taking a shower. But what happened after?

Looking down he’s in his own pajamas, so obviously he made it out of the shower too. But that’s more context clues than actual recollection. A flash of red eyes sitting on his bed dances in his mind, but they weren’t Scott’s. So who-

“”Look who’s awake.” Theo . “I was almost starting to get worried.” The chimera steps in from the hall. Of course it’s this asshole. Why isn’t he surprised? Standing there in his white converse, dark jeans, and too tight black tee with his ever present smirk. There shouldn’t have been any other suspect in the human’s mind. 

Stiles rolls his eyes, even makes to flip him off, but sort of forgot he couldn’t do that. “Like you actually care, Theo.” He’s never been one to hold back his snark. 

“When it comes to you?” Theo shrugs and his shirt bunches around his shoulders. Seriously? He kidnapped you and you ogle his muscles? Pull it together. “I care more than you know.” 

The human scoffs, wishing he could shake his head at the chimera. “Where am I?” Stiles asks, not really sure if the other boy will give him an answer or not. Why is it that the hot ones are always crazy and abduct people? 

“My home.” Theo offers and Stiles squints at him. Mildly surprised by the ease in which the information was given and the fact that he’s in Theo’s fucking house. That means he’s in Theo’s bed. So not the circumstances he ever wanted to be here in. Okay, not thinking about that when he’s clearly in danger and the person who’s putting in danger can smell everything he’s feeling. “I brought you here to keep you safe while your dad recovers.”

Recovers? That implies that his dad is okay. That’s good. His father is safe and far away from whatever shit show this is. Good. 

“And I’m paralyzed because?” Stiles draws out the last word. 

Theo smirks and takes a step towards the bed, “we have to establish some level of trust first.” He’s close enough to prop both hands on either side of Stiles’ legs. This is also not how he ever wanted to be seeing this picture play out. Stop. That. “You’d run the first chance you got.”

He’s not wrong.

“Sorry being kidnapped doesn’t make me want to stick around places.” Stiles snorts.

Theo’s eyes flash red. Oh shit! He’s an Alpha? Stiles is so fucked. This can’t be happening right now. His hands are too curled to be able to count his fingers properly to check if he’s dreaming or not. Fuck! 

“I told you I wanted you, Stiles.” Theo’s face twists to something almost maniacal before collecting himself. “Now I have you. Don’t worry, sweetheart.” The chimera chuckles, wiping away a tear Stiles hadn’t realized he shed. Theo tuts, gripping the human’s chin, “I promise you’ll like it here. With me.” 

This is what he gets for admitting aloud one time , that he found the chimera attractive. In his defense, Stiles was in his bedroom alone. How was he supposed to know that Theo had a tendency to stalk and heard him? The admission nearly has him wanting to be able to lean into the touch despite everything going on right now. Stiles hates himself for it. This is wrong in so many ways. 

And his eyes are fucking red now instead of gold! There’s only one way that can happen and a nasty churn wracks his stomach. “What’d you do to Scott?” Stiles mumbles.

The hand on his cheek drops and curls into the fabric of his shirt. Theo growls and his eyes bleed to ruby again, fangs dropping at the name. “He’s dead!” Theo snaps and jerks him by his collar and the human flinches as best as his frozen limbs will allow. “Don’t talk about him again!” Stiles squeezes his eyes shut, preparing for a hit of some kind. 

It never comes.

Theo immediately softens in every way possible. Stiles opens his eyes and sees the chimera’s blue eyes come back and his brows pinch with worry. His shoulders lose their tension and even slump a little. Theo’s tone turns butter smooth, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to lose it like that. Not with you.” The Alpha tucks Stiles to his chest after laying down beside him in bed.

Stiles barely feels his embrace. Or the kisses on the back of his neck. It’s almost like he’s wearing too many layers of clothes and can sort of tell he’s being touched. Theo could very easily snap him in two with the flick of his wrist. Yet the chimera is holding him close and consoling him? What fucking twilight zone did Stiles step into? It’s extremely wrong that despite the fact that he’s slowly starting to feel his body again that he’s actually quite comfortable like this. That’s...he’s not thinking about this right now. He’s thinking about how to get the fuck out of here. 

“Do you love me?” 

What kind of fucking question is that? “No.” 

“You will.”

He hates himself for the tingle of anticipation he feels from the statement. The assurance in Theo’s voice. He hates himself for falling asleep to the sensation of the chimera nuzzling the back of his neck while he softly rumbles in his chest so Stiles feels the vibrations. He hates that too.

The first few times Stiles wakes up, he can’t move. Theo utilizes Tracy’s venom- only dripping it on him. The Alpha will not let anyone physically harm him- to make sure that the human couldn’t run away. Yeah, Tracy. Apparently, Theo successfully killed Scott and took his Alpha spark. Stiles found out by asking Josh. He’d learned his lesson bringing up his best friend to the chimera the first time and didn’t want to see what round two would look like. After doing so, he dragged Lydia into the preserve to help him find the Nemeton and used some green shit to bring them back to life.

My pack doesn’t include Scott.

The words from their fight echo in his head. Theo has an actual pack now. One he’s the actual Alpha for too. And now he has Stiles. It’s everything the chimera told him that he wanted. Stiles is one hundred percent sure as to why he’s here. Theo has made it abundantly clear what he meant by wanting the human. He didn’t just mean as a Beta.

The first time Stiles was allowed to not be paralyzed, his entire body felt like it got hit by a truck. He’d spent three days straight unable to move and his muscles had zero problem telling Stiles just how pissed off they were. Theo was right by his side, because honestly, the Alpha knows better than to leave him alone while he has full function of his body. Theo isn’t stupid. When Stiles groaned as he tried to simply roll out of bed, the chimera was right there, firmly rubbing his calves, arm, and back. It was actually fucking amazing, but Stiles won’t say that shit out loud. 

As long as Theo’s home, he’s allowed to move about the house freely. If by freely one means glued to an Alpha chimera’s hip, then yeah, freely. He’s been given nothing but his favorite foods to eat. Whether it’s take out or something Theo made himself, it’s always what Stiles likes. He knows it’s meant to butter him up, he eats for the simple fact that he won’t let the food go to waste. Stiles was raised better than that and if he stays healthy, the better chance he has of getting the fuck out of here and home safely. 

Stiles misses his home. The murder board that’s full of more red string than green. The clutter because he’s always hyper fixated on the monster they’re dealing with rather than cleaning his room. How is dad would leave case files open and lying around knowing full well that the teen can’t resist looking through them. God, he misses his dad. Theo assures him that his father is okay and safe. That he’s been checking on him and he knows where Stiles is. When he asked for proof, Theo took his phone out and put it on speaker. His dad picked up asking if he let something happen to Stiles. The Alpha told him that he was just proving a point and hung up. 

The worst Stiles ever saw of Theo’s temper- directed at him at least- was when he brought up Scott. Other than that, the chimera is surprisingly gentle with him. Even when he asks the same question every night. ‘Do you love me?’ Stiles gives him the same answer and the Alpha never has anything more than a slight sigh just a touch shy of annoyed. Theo’s response is always the same too. He’s so sure that Stiles will fall for him. He’s actually starting to get worried that Theo’s right. 

When Stiles had his first panic attack being stuck there- big surprise here- Theo was right there. Holding him and helping him catch his breath. Theo would make Stiles count the duration of his inhale, make him hold it for a second, and then repeat the process on the exhale. Whispering softly in his ear, telling Stiles that it’s okay, that he’s here and not going anywhere. Repeating that Theo will make it okay if the other boy would just let him as he peppers his cheeks and hair with kisses. Stiles falls asleep in his arms every single night. He almost doesn’t hate it anymore. Stiles kicked himself when he realized that one night he was anticipating it. Waiting for it. Damn near wanting it.

Like all the other times Stiles has woken up, he’s felt groggy as all hell. He’s damn near convinced that Theo’s been drugging him too, if he hadn’t experienced first hand what it feels like regaining feeling in his body after too long. It fucking sucks and leaves him floored most times. But that’s really the only similarity this time around. Normally, Stiles is laying in bed. Not that he can usually feel it, being paralyzed usually means he’s alone but still there’s no one beside him. It makes it odd that the human is sitting up. He hasn’t quite bothered opening his eyes yet. But the realization that he can feel the ache in his joints has Stiles flinging his eyes open at the fact he has an ache to feel in the first place. 

He’s not paralyzed. But there is also definitely no Theo beside him. 

The second his eyes focus, Stiles immediately wishes he had kept them closed. His hands are covered in blood. Inspecting his clothes, there’s splashes and blotches of blood on them too. From where he’s sitting on the couch- Theo never lets him out here unless the Alpha is home. Stiles instantly panics that he hurt Theo, for all of two seconds. Stiles doesn’t feel hurt and that terrifies him further that this isn’t his blood. What did I do? His poor heart is beating like a jackhammer in his chest.

Standing on wobbly legs, weeks of improper use settling into his muscles, Stiles strains to stay upright. Once firmly on his feet, it takes everything in him to not throw up the entire contents of his stomach after surveying the living room. No wonder he’s not paralyzed.

Tracy is fucking dead on the living room floor beside the coffee table. She looks like her throat was scratched to shreds. Nearly gouged out and it doesn’t look as smooth as claws would make them. The chunks under his nails only drive the point home. There’s scratches on her cheek that are the same width apart as his fingers too. Yeah, Stiles kind of hates the kanima, but that doesn’t mean he wanted to kill her.

“Oh shit. Of fuck! Fuck!” Stiles crashes to his knees, crumbling beside her on the wood floors. “No. No, no, no, no.” The human’s bloodied hands shakes as he brushes Tracy’s hair out of her face. She was just following orders- and a little jealous about all the attention he gets from Theo- Tracy didn’t deserve this. Oh my god.

Theo’s going to kill him. Please, let this be some horrible nightmare. A nightmare! Everything in front of him paints a picture that is logically impossible. Theo never leaves him alone until he’s sure Stiles won’t wake up or that Tracy’s venom was effective. The Alpha is better than that. This isn’t fucking real!

Stiles pulls his eyes away from the dead chimera with great effort. He looks at his red crusted hands to count his fingers. There’s five on each. An ice bath wouldn’t feel as cold as his blood does right now. This isn’t a dream. He killed someone and there’s no one to blame but himself. Even Theo knows the nogitsune is long gone, so there goes that excuse. There’s no sign of struggle- on his part- either, so self defense is out the window too. This was just Stiles.

“Fuck!” He shouts, rubbing his hands through his hair, forgetting about the blood he’s smearing into the strands. Stiles curls into a ball, resting his head on his knees, sobbing and feeling utterly defeated. He can’t even run! Theo would just come after him for killing his pack. Swollen eyes dart towards the front door at the sound of a key turning in the lock.

Shit. Shit. Shit! Panic that’s borderline hysteria sets in watching Theo walk into the house with take out from Stiles’ favorite diner, eyes immediately falling to Tracy. Stiles whimpers, the Alpha brings him dinner and he repays the favor by murdering his Beta. His voice is thick with too much saliva from crying when he says, “I-I’m so s-sorry. I-I don’t know what happened.” The chimera’s face hardens for a moment, but softens almost instantly. “P-please, don’t be upset with me. I’m sorry!” Stiles slumps forward again, crying and unable to look at the Alpha any longer.

He hears more than sees Theo close and relock the front door before setting the food down on the coffee table. Strong arms wrap around him and Stiles doesn’t even stop it. He just allows Theo to pull him into his lap. The human fists his hands into the Alpha’s shirt, continuing to cry and spew apologies to the chimera. 

“Shh,” Theo whispers softly against the crown of Stiles’ head, rocking him ever so gently as though he were a distraught child. He certainly feels like one. “It’s okay. I’m here.” The chimera’s voice is soothing and the other boy almost believes him. “You killed her and that’s okay.” Theo pulls Stiles until they’re face to face and he cups the human’s cheek. “I still love you and I still want you, Stiles.”

Stiles whines at the admission, confused about the fact that he was actually worried about that in the first place. The realization is enough to make him get back some of his bite, “you only want me because Void is coming back.” 

The Alpha shakes his head, brushing his thumb along Stiles’ jaw. “Void or no Void, you’re mine, Stiles.” Theo assures him and it feels like a warm blanket. “You can kill everyone or no one at all. That wouldn’t change my mind.” The Alpha tucks him back into his chest for comfort, though his words are anything but. “It’s okay to let Void come back if that’s the case. You don’t have to fight it with me.”

Stiles blacks out. 

When he comes to, it's mostly normal. Stiles is curled up in Theo's bed, but he's alone and not paralyzed. Right . He killed Tracy, of course he doesn't have kanima venom coursing through his veins. It seems like the Alpha was kind enough to bathe him. He's in fresh clothes, the oversized shirt can only be Theo's, but the scent of the chimera is an actual comfort thinking about what he'd done. His hair and hands have been cleaned of their blood like nothing ever happened. Stiles wonders if his own clothes made it as unscathed as his skin has. 

The bedroom door is open- which is a fucking commodity- so Stiles can hear the clattering from the kitchen. He isn't usually allowed to leave the room without Theo. But the door is also never opened, so…

Pulling the covers off, the human gets out of bed and slowly- expecting Theo to barge into the room and tell him to stay put or else- makes his way out of their room. Stiles gives himself a minute to wonder when it became 'theirs' before he's walking down the stairs following the enticing aroma of Swedish meatballs. Yet another one of his favorites. 

Once in the room, Stiles nearly trips over his own feet seeing the pack- Tracy included- sitting at the table while Theo cooks. The human just stands there blinking dumbly at the kanima. She offers him a half assed smile. But she- how is- what? So it was a dream? His mouth falls open and closed repeatedly as he desperately tries to form words, but they're more like grunts if anything. 

Theo turns from the stove with a warm smile for Stiles that quickly twists into concern. "Stiles?" The Alpha tries to get his attention, but the human is staring at his hands. Ten fingers taunting him. "What's wrong?" 

Stiles is losing his grip on reality again, that's what's fucking wrong. He's beginning to find it difficult to differentiate between what's real and what's not. His head swims and he thinks he might throw up. Stiles says nothing in response to the confused chimera. And despite the violent growl of his stomach, the human tucks tail and rushes back to their room. 

Tucking himself on his side, Stiles pulls the covers up to his shoulders and pinches his eyes closed. Wanting to go back to sleep although he's unsure of what exactly he'll wake up to this time around. A sickening image of Theo being in Tracy's place resurfaces the feeling of needing to purge his stomach. 

The mattress dips beside him and arms he's become extremely familiar with pull Stiles close to Theo's chest. Stiles finds himself sighing at the contact and nuzzling into the chimera. He's not even going to bother unpacking that shit right now. Or maybe he's just too scared to. Afraid of what it would mean to want Theo around. 

"And here I thought you'd appreciate a little more freedom." The Alpha chuckles, rubbing his nose in Stiles' hair. 

"I killed her." Stiles whispers. 

"Who?" The genuine confusion in the chimera’s voice just makes Stiles feel even worse.

“Tracy.” Theo has no reaction but to hold the other boy a little tighter. “I woke up covered in blood and she was dead.” It was so real. Stiles is sure that it happened. Isn’t he?

The Alpha shifts behind him, speaky softly, “sounds like a pretty fucked up nightmare to me.” Theo hugs him tighter, Stiles has no doubt that he can smell the distress emanating from him. 

“But that’s the thing.” Stiles sits up quickly to look at the chimera, it does nothing to the Alpha’s hold on him. Theo simply follows and keeps an arm around the other boy’s shoulder. “I wasn’t dreaming.” The human stares into blue eyes, hoping that he’s conveying his seriousness. Not even sure about the reason behind it, but just knows that Stiles needs to talk to Theo about this. That he’d understand Stiles, but above all he’d listen. 

The Alpha has done nothing if not listen to everything that the other boy has said, even when it’s mostly complaining about being here or wanting to see his dad. Why else does Stiles only eat things that he likes? Or when he begged Theo for something else to read since he devoured all the books the chimera owned. Or be given audiobooks that he can just listen to if the chimera’s not around. He got both by the way. 

Theo’s brows pull together and his nose scrunches in the cutest display of confusion Stiles has ever seen. He doesn’t even hate that he thinks that, it’s just a genuine thought from the human. He’s never denied that the Alpha was attractive. “How would you know you weren’t dreaming?” 

“The nogitsune would play with my head, make me forget what’s a dream and what’s not, so I did a lot of research.” Theo nods in an ‘of course you did’ sort of way, “In your dreams you have extra fingers.” Stiles explains, counting them again on instinct. Still ten. “I had ten then, and I have ten now.” 

Nodding his head to the side, the chimera juts his lip, “you can’t read in your dreams either.” Theo offers and Stiles is reminded just how smart the Alpha actually is. It’s refreshing to have someone that can keep up mentally. “Did you try to read anything?” 

Stiles scoffs and deadpans, “I’m sorry, I was a little focused on the dead body in front of me.” Of course he didn’t fucking read anything. He was covered in blood! 

“No,” Theo shakes his head, looking at Stiles like he’s staring into his soul. “You were focused on your dream .” The chimera sighs, patting Stiles’ thigh, leaving the hand and he actually likes the warmth it gives off. It’s grounding and not too pushy. Theo may kiss damn near every surface of Stiles’ head- and the back of his neck and shoulder when they snuggle- but the Alpha hasn’t pushed boundaries and kissed him on the lips. Not once. “How about I bring dinner up here and we watch a movie together to calm your nerves?”

That sounds really nice. Stiles knows he shouldn’t find comfort in that thought. The thought that Theo wants to take care of him. Be there for him. But he does. So he nods, and says, “yes, please,” with a sigh of his own, his body moves without either of their say so and rests his head on Theo’s shoulder.

After dinner, Theo brings their dirty dishes back down to the kitchen while Stiles turns on the playstation and tv. When the chimera comes back, a genuine smile plays on the other teen’s lips. Theo chose the box set of Star Wars and hands it to Stiles to put in and play while he takes his shirt and pants off. They crawl into bed together and the chimera is settling himself, propped ever so slightly and Stiles curls into Theo before he even reaches for him. Legs wrap together and Stiles nuzzles into the Alpha’s chest listening to his heart.

Theo chuckles softly, wrapping his arm around Stiles, hugging him closer. Lips brush his hair and the chimera asks the same question he has for weeks now. “Do you love me?”

Stiles doesn’t know when it happened, or even how really. But he does. Somewhere between the gentle touches and sweet words, Stiles forgot he was even kidnapped to begin with and he fell. Hard. Stiles can’t imagine waking up in any other bed. Without Theo. Can’t see himself pining after Lydia when the chimera is in his life. Or find comfort in his father’s smell or arms as much as he does in the Alpha’s. Everything is the chimera’s now. He’s Theo’s.

“Yes,” he answers truthfully and tries to snuggle closer to prevent the blush splashing his cheeks from being seen. 

But Theo’s breath catches in his throat and with his hand, cups Stiles’ face to look at him, the chimera’s forefinger and thumb holding the other’s gaze by his chin. “Say it,” his voice is but a whisper coming off as a plea rather than a demand. The Alpha’s eyes hold so much emotion it makes them sparkle.

Theo has taken impeccable care of him in Stiles’ eyes at least because he has not once physically hurt him and has had plenty of chances to. Theo loves him. Cherishes him. Wants him. So it’s no struggle to smile and say, “I love you, Theo.” 

The Alpha smiles ear to ear and it’s fucking breathtaking. “I love you too, Stiles.” Theo leans in to finally kiss him and Stiles returns it eagerly. Knowing that he’s safe and cared for right where he is.