everybody wants to rule the world

[triskeles]

holding hands while the walls come tumbling down when they do i'll be right behind you

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[hypercompetent]

You and me, huh.

[ You and me. He said the same thing to Derek earlier, when he was pulling him out of the fire. It was just the two of them, and they were going to get out of this okay. The phrase "two victors" had been Stiles' hope the minute Derek's pictures flashed up on the dome. He knew if they met up, if they made it to this point, the two of them could make it to the end. And he doesn't want to get his hopes up any further--doesn't want to get Derek's up any more, either. Because Stiles is starting to see pieces slide into place, and losing Derek and finishing this with another alpha (or vice versa) sounds just as bad as dying right now.

He shifts upwards a little, not moving out of Derek's hands, until he can get one of his up just enough to brush against the stubble of his cheek. Yeah, he wants to do all that. Wants to get out of here alive.

But when he leans forward and closes the distance between them, pressing his mouth to Derek's, what crosses Stiles' mind is simple. I want you to get out of here alive, too. ]

[triskeles]

You and me.

[ Ever since Stiles pulled him from the fire, it's basically been his mantra. Putting Derek into the games with Stiles had been a very, very poor decision on the part of the council, because now it was just going to come around and bite them square in the ass. Whether or not they realized the actual magnitude of the mistake didn't matter. They might've been dancing around it at first, both unsure of it and what it meant, of whether they'd survive or not, but it was there.

The alphas had put mates into the running, and they were about to regret it. Because Derek isn't losing another person that he cares about-- that he loves-- and will fight whatever the games throw at them to ensure Stiles' safety. Same as he knows, with instinct practically roaring in delight and purring in contentment, that Stiles is right there with him.

A soft rumble vibrates in his chest, simple but automatic in response to his touch to his cheek. And then, there isn't an ounce of hesitation in him, as he tips up to meet Stiles. It's just a press of lips, but he curls his fingers against the line of Stiles' jaw, something in his chest bursting to life again. ]

[hypercompetent]

[ When Derek responds in kind, Stiles relaxes a little, ignoring what is probably every television in the country attuned to this very moment. It's just Derek for him and his senses now, the chill of his scent contrasting with the warmth of the body underneath his, and he tentatively rests both of his hands on his cheeks, fingertips just barely touching his stubble as he holds his position, kissing him softly.

When he breaks away, it's slowly, and Stiles lifts his head to look at him instead--his eyes had changed during the kiss, but there was nothing aggressive or angry about it. Just a pair of bright red eyes, soft and warm as he smiles a little down at Derek underneath him.

Then, he drops his head and snorts, shaking it. ] This is so typical. [ Not the kiss, but. He shakes his head again, affectionate gaze on Derek. ] I'm literally strapped down to a tree in a competition full of people who are trying to kill people, after I killed someone, and that's when I get to have the big mate revelation. Dude, I am so sorry you got dragged into my life, it's always full of stuff like this.

[ But he's really not that sorry at all. He's not letting go of this now that he found it. ]

[triskeles]

[ Derek has known since day one that there are hundreds if not thousands of cameras scattered across the island. The gamemakers can turn them on anyone they want, wherever they want, and it's incredibly hard to get out from beneath their eye. He had managed it a few times with Paige, going underground and off their radar-- at least from the cameras, never the trackers-- but he knows better than to think this moment is private.

It doesn't change it any for him, and he focuses on Stiles like the rest of the world is gone, touch soft and kiss softer. Like a quiet realization, and really that's what it is.

As he pulls back, looks at him, there's a matching pair of red eyes looking back at him. Easy, comfortable, like Stiles has lit something warm in him in sharp contrast to that blazing fire that he pulled him out of. And he just watches him, even as he drops his head down. He makes an amused noise in response, slipping his hands down a little to curl against his neck. ] The media's been following my life since I was first in the games. I'm pretty sure you've seen exactly what you're in for with this.

[ He brushes his nose into the upturn of his, thumbing along either side of his jaw. ]