The pale morning sun cast a shadow over their naked backs. Scott was asleep beside him. He had an arm thrown over his chest, his fingertips felt the tremor of every breath, and his face was tucked in the crook of his neck. Isaac breathed softly not wanting to wake Scott. He had been up awhile, watching him sleep. His eyes moved behind his eyelids, his lips twitched, he murmured incoherently. Isaac kissed the base of his neck and brushed the hair out of his eyes. Scott rolled onto his stomach, squeezing the pillow tighter, and jostled the blanket with his legs.

It had been different with Derek. When they did sleep, and that was rare for them, Derek would tell him to go to sleep in a stern voice. He wore a shit eating grin, despite knowing he, and no one else for that matter, could tell Isaac what to do. He would then kiss him on the forehead and pretend to be asleep until Isaac sighed and turned off the lamp that sat on a small stack of textbooks by the mattress on the floor. He rested his head on his shoulder and walked his fingers down his chest. He felt Derek smile and smiled too. Derek put his hands over his. He loved his hands, their heaviness and how tightly they squeezed. They were always cold and rough.

"Sleep, Isaac." Derek said his name like he wanted to say something else in its place, but they didn't have any other names for each other. They didn't know what to do with sweet words. The only things they were good at were fighting and fucking.

Sleep wouldn't have him. In the darkness he found him. His fingertips followed a line down his lower abdomen as if it were a map. His lips were a ghost on his skin, drawing out a long moan. He knew him better in the black of night. They were a murky river running over stones, caressing flat and jagged surfaces, flooding in monsoon season. What words their mouths didn't form, their hands on each other's bodies screamed. His teeth sank into his shoulder. He ran his tongue over the crescent-shaped indentation. The corner of his mouth twisted into a sneer and he looked up at Derek. He had an expression Isaac had never seen before. His hand reached out as if to caress his cheek, but instead he grabbed his hair and pulled his head back. He kissed him, from his lips to his collarbone. Derek wrapped an arm around his back and flipped Isaac under him effortlessly.

It seemed Derek never left his thoughts. He was on the inside of him. His fingers were wrapped around something vital, but they didn't squeeze. They touched a part of him that was buried deep and that hurt more than raised voices or shards of glass. Derek had fragmented himself behind his eyes.

Isaac never wanted the quiet of the moment to end, but knew it already had. He looked at Scott. It was the second time he had seen that look. Contentment, funny he could make them feel something he never had. He didn't want to leave the bed, but knew he had to.

Derek was howling for him. Birds took flight and squirrels leapt through the trees. The wind picked up leaves, turning them over in its gentle hands. Branches swayed across the grayish blue sky. His ears perked to every sound, waiting for familiar footsteps.

"Where are you going?" Scott asked sleepily. Isaac didn't answer. He knew Scott knew. Scott was only asking because he wanted to hear an apology. Isaac felt a tidal wave of guilt, sea water filling his mouth and stinging his eyes, but not over leaving Scott.

"I love you." Scott said. He was sitting up. His fingers were curled around the blanket, holding it up to his waist as if there was any modesty left between them or perhaps he just wanted something to hold onto. His hair was ruffled and his lips were pale and dry. He rubbed at the corners of his eyes. He was beautiful and innocent and the silence was corroding that. He looked scared. More scared than Isaac had ever seen him. Isaac wasn't sure why he said it. Was it to make him stay? Or maybe he really meant it.

They stared at each other not saying anything for what seemed like an eternity with no good books to read until, "I'll be back soon." Isaac kissed him deeply like it was the last time.

Those three words plagued him even as he ran faster than he had ever run before.

"I didn't think you'd come." Derek admitted.

"You wouldn't shut up." Isaac watched Derek fold his arms over his chest and smile like something was funny. "What do you want?"

"To talk," Derek stated simply.

"So talk," Isaac sighed.

"I made coffee." Derek retorted.

Isaac waited outside, reveling in the light breeze. Isaac remembered getting up early to watch the sun come up. Derek said he had never seen a sunset before. Isaac wasn't sure whether he thought that was more sad or pathetic. Derek would drape a blanket over his shoulders and sit beside him in comfortable silence. Derek's eyes weren't on the horizon, they were on him. A faint smile played across his face. He made Derek wait as if he was so enthralled with the setting sun he couldn't see him looking at him, but he always knew when he was watching him. Finally he would turn his head to meet his kiss.

Derek returned with two mugs of steaming hot coffee. He set them on the rail to cool. Derek looked at Isaac sadly. He knew what he was thinking about.

"I'm sorry I hurt you." Derek muttered.

I'm sorry, too. Isaac should have said, but instead he just nodded.

"Isaac, you need to leave. You need to get far away from here, from me."

"What?" Isaac snapped.

"It was true what I said. That I wanted to protect you and that's why I sent you away. But I can't. I can't protect you."

"What are you so afraid of?"

"Deucalion wants me to kill one of my pack. He's not going to stop until that happens. And if it's you that gets hurt," Derek paused. "Killed…"

"That's not going to happen." Isaac reassured. Derek gave him a look that said, 'You can't promise me that.' And he was right. "Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"I thought…the hell with what I thought. The first thing you did was run to Scott."

"Where was I supposed to go? I don't have anyone. Just Scott and you," His lips were hesitant to form around the word.

"You still have me." Derek reassured. Somehow he wasn't so sure. Isaac smiled and looked at the peace that seemed to surround them. The trees were still and shards of light were shining through the haze. It was the opposite of what he felt. The fire should have spread to the forest, Isaac thought. Leaving the earth bare and tarnished where nothing would grow. The ricketiness of the porch comforted him. The wood was splintered and the paint faded. It was like an old song he knew every word to.

"That is the last place you'd be safe. You understand?" Derek said huskily.

"Yeah, I understand." Isaac swallowed thickly. "Alright I'll go. I'll get out of town, but I'm not leaving you."

"Why do you always have to be so stubborn?"

"I thought that was what you liked about me." Isaac laughed.

"It's one of the things I love about you." Derek corrected. "There's a lot."

Their hands were almost touching. His thumb brushed against his skin. It was warm from the coffee. Isaac rested his forehead on his shoulder and covered Derek's hand with his. He wrapped his arms around him tightly. Isaac didn't want to think about this being the last time he would breathe in his scent or feel his rough skin on his. Derek was still in his embrace.

"What about Scott?" Derek asked.

Isaac heard the heartbreak in his voice. Derek knew. He saw it in his eyes, heard it in his voice, and smelled it on his skin.

"What about him?" Isaac continued to act coy.

"I know you fucked him." He sounded more hurt than angry.

"So?" Isaac said with a coldness he supposed he got from his father along with a few bruises. It had settled in and made itself at home when he was curled up and shivering on the freezer floor.

"You're growing up."

"If that's how you perceive maturity than I'm not sure I want to get as old as you." Isaac grunted.

"I'm old, huh?"

"Yeah,"

A heavy silence grew between them and the smiles faded from their lips. Isaac knew what Derek was going to say before he said it.

"You're okay leaving him?"

"Don't really have a choice, do I?"

"No."

"So how about a drink?" Isaac smirked at the scowl that darkened Derek's face. "What I'm old enough to fuck, but not to share a drink with?"

"Alright," Derek sighed. He came back with a half empty bottle of whiskey. He kept looking at Isaac as if to ask if this was what he really wanted. He poured a splash of whiskey clumsily into the empty coffee mug.

Isaac downed it in one gulp, coughing and sputtering drops of whiskey onto his lips and chin.

"Easy does it." Derek laughed. He patted him on the back. Isaac smiled too, relaxing into his touch.

He kissed the whiskey from his lips.

His backpack was heavy. The straps were digging into his shoulders. He was trying to say goodbye, but knew he already had in his own way. Scott wouldn't look at him. They stood side by side. It was like they were strangers in a crowded elevator and all they shared was chanced, physical closeness. Scott couldn't get his scent off of his skin. He couldn't forget the feeling of his lips on his or how he tasted. He felt his fingertips on his sweatshirt sleeve. It was a passing touch. His long, slender fingers slid down his wrist to trace the curve of his clenched fist. He whispered in his ear and kissed the side of his mouth.

Scott watched him walk away. He looked at the back of his head and the palms of his hands. He wanted to run to him and lock their fingers together and kiss the skin between where his hair stopped and his cardigan began, but he let him go.

Tiredness defined Isaac as much as his reflection in the mirror. Exhaustion burned his bones to ash with every step he took away from Scott. His eyes were heavy and itched, but he couldn't sleep. Not yet.

The school bell rang. Students flooded out the door and into the cool fresh air and flickers of sunlight. They were in such a hurry as if they had somewhere to be, something to do. In reality they had nothing that couldn't wait.

Allison and Stiles headed straight for Scott. Isaac looked over his shoulder at them. He was a trespasser in his life. He watched him smile, soft laughter falling from his lips. With them he was happy. Scott looked at Isaac for the briefest of moments. His face was so different from the one before. His eyes were hazy and his smile was gone, replaced by an emptiness that made him look much older. Scott blinked and Isaac was gone.

The night sky was shrouded by fat clouds. There was not a star in sight. It was calming in a way. Even inside he was cold. Isaac was glad he had brought a jacket with him. He was the last customer in the diner. The waitress was jonesing for a cigarette. Her smile was anxious and her palms were sweaty. She stank of cheap perfume and addiction.

Isaac heard the door opened and the clack of a cane. He knew that smell: sweat and the sweet, metallic intoxication of blood with a brooding undercurrent of amber, musk, and oak. It was veiled, poorly, by rich cologne.

The tall man sat down opposite him. A shadow ghosted over his ashy skin, bristly stubble, and thin lips. Isaac held his breath. His hands were wrapped the mug, but not for warmth. It had gone cold a while ago. He could crack his jaw with it if he was fast enough. He wasn't.

"I've been watching you." Deucalion said.

"Is that supposed to be funny?" Isaac asked.

He smiled and took off his sunglasses as if to command, 'Look at me.' Isaac looked into his eyes. He had felt those eyes on him in the woods. They had lightness to them like the last flicker of a candle. His eyes haunted him even when he closed his own he still saw them, orange and red flames blackening the sky.

"You're very interesting, Isaac. Somehow," His voice had a hint of cold amusement to it, "You've become indispensable to not one, but two Alphas. Are you just that good?"

"Who the hell are you?" Isaac asked, though he had some idea.

"My name is Deucalion." His voice boomed with confidence. "Why are you running, Isaac? Don't you know it's pointless?"

"Yeah you found me, a couple miles from Beacon Hills." Isaac put his hands together in a silent clap. "Tell me did you get lost on your way here?"

His smile didn't diminish. It was well practiced. "I have a message for Derek."

"I'm not your fucking messenger boy."

There was stillness between them. They weren't alone and never had been. The twins held the waitress by force. Her makeup was streaked. Her mouth kept opening and closing like a fish gasping for air. She was scared, but quiet. She thought, stupidly, that if she was good they would let her go, but this wasn't about her. Isaac smelled the nicotine in her bloodstream. At least she got a last smoke he thought pettily. He saw the hesitancy in Ethan's eyes. The fear in his heartbeat was louder. Ethan snapped her neck. Aiden looked over Ethan with calmness and trust that had been absent from his gaze before. Isaac watched the life go out of her eyes. He had never seen anything like it before. He felt his dinner coming up, but fought to hold it down. He didn't want to do anything that could be perceived as weakness. He didn't know he was crying until he tried to breathe. His nose was stuffy and his throat ached. Maybe he was weak.

"Tell Derek that he will join me."

Isaac heard the satisfaction in his voice. His self-assurance was nauseating.

Deucalion grabbed his face. His fingernails dug into his skin. Isaac felt blood roll down his cheeks. In thick drops it fell onto the table. Splat, splat.

"Is that clear?" Deucalion whispered. His breath was hot against his ear. His fingers curled in his hair. He slammed his face into the table. Blood trickled down his lips. Isaac tasted the blood on his teeth. Deucalion pulled his head up only to slam it on the table again.

Crystal.

"Isaac?" Derek could barely see him in the impenetrable blackness, but he smelled him and felt his fingers on his collarbone. The mattress sagged as he crawled into it. Isaac straddled his hips.

"You look surprised to see me." Isaac murmured. A smile danced across his lips. It was gone in a second like its only purpose was to confuse his heart.

"That's because I am." Derek admitted.

Derek searched his eyes for answers, but there were none. Something had changed in him. His bright blue eyes were closer to a murky gray. They were hollow. His guilt had subsided, when he became too tired to cry and his feet ached, and turned to acceptance. It made him want to be close to Derek the only way he knew how. Isaac pulled off his shirt. Derek ran his hands down his bare chest. It seemed like forever since he had touched him.

"I don't want to," Derek said softly.

"Fuck?" Isaac finished for him. "Since when? This is what we do."

"We can be more."

Isaac listened to his heart pound, a bead of sweat dripped down the small of his back, the mattress squeaked under their weight and the scratchy sheets—he kept telling him to switch detergents—rustled in his sweaty, clenched hands.

"Isaac, I…"

Isaac covered his mouth with his and whispered, "Don't."

He couldn't hear those words again.

"Stay?" Derek knew all he had to do was ask. Isaac hadn't realized how much Derek needed him and how scared he was until now. "Just for tonight and then go, far away. Don't come back."

"I won't." Isaac lied.

He knew he was the message. There was no leaving.