she fell in love in the first place

[triskeles]

	For the life of me, I cannot remember What made us think that we were wise And we'd never compromise For the life of me, I cannot believe We'd ever die for these sins We were merely freshmen

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[triskeles]

[ Derek chuffs softly as Stiles rambles, keeping a cringe back as he oh-so tactfully offers Anita their proposition. Not that he expected any different, but it's still... well, it's Stiles. The red bleeds out of his eyes, returning to the green-and-hazel of his humanity before he settles to sit on the edge of the hospital bed. She's so small in it, he really can't stand the image. ]

They're going to keep you a little bit longer here, but once they let you go you'll come with us.

[ Reaching his free hand out, he brushed his thumb over her cheek and offered her a small smile. There was no attempts to stop the tears, and no words to reassure that they weren't necessary. Not when he and Stiles both had been there, losing family in the worst ways they could.

And Anita's parents would be taken care of without her having to worry about anything, that much he knew for sure. He wasn't going to just let the state take care of that, not when it was so impersonal and disregarded them as people-- disregarded that there would be a grieving child left behind. ]

[hypercompetent]

[ It's almost undeniable how quick his face lights up when Anita says yes. Stiles wasn't expecting her to say no, but at the same time, it's kind of realizing something that they've been talking about for ages, and saving a little girl who's lost everything at the same time. He's been there--he can't imagine losing his dad, especially after the crushing blow that his mom's death had dealt him so many years ago. Anita was still young, and she deserved every good grace they could possibly give her.

There was something about this kid. Some kind of spark. And a long, long time ago, Stiles had learned to be watchful for sparks.

His mouth crooks up in a grin as Derek leans in to talk to her, and he plops down in the chair beside her bed. ]

And then you and I can get started on convincing Derek for that trampoline.

[necrobrat]

[Anita reaches up tentatively to lay her tiny hand against Derek's as he touches her cheek, her dark gaze moving back and forth between the two of them as she tries hard to blink back tears. Even now, even this young, she doesn't like the idea of other people seeing her cry. She wants to be brave, but everything hurts.

She knows, though, that she's gotten lucky. She was lucky that these two were the ones to find her.]

A trampoline...

[Thinking about that was easier than anything else right now. It hurt less.

She offers Derek a hopeful smile, though it's a bit shaky and her cheeks are tearstained.]

I've never been on one.

[triskeles]

[ Giving Stiles a dry look as he, once again, brings up the trampoline, Derek turns his attention back to Anita. Bowing his head forward, he briefly taps his forehead to hers-- she's just a kid, lost and alone and hurting, and he's been there-- and offering her a quiet smile. ]

We'll change that.

[ And he looks into her dark eyes for a moment, almost searching as he considers the teary gaze.

That pain strikes him, and he rubs his thumb on her cheek, taking away a trail of tears. After having lost everything of his own, he's going to try and make sure that Anita won't have to go through it again. ]

I know it hurts. But you're being so brave, and I promise we'll be here to help you.