[ since becoming an alpha, derek hasn't let himself feel like prey. he's a predator, top of the foodchain. the world is supposed to bend to him, even when it's propped up by guns and wolfsbane and fire. the fort made it hard to stick to that confidence, and veracity made it even harder, but he's ultimately tried to live his life like an unstoppable force - someone who has all the power a hale is supposed to have. he wants to be unbreakable. he's tried to be unbreakable.
now, though? in this long stretch of silence where tate's just staring at him, innocent and soft, fingertips so close to the base of derek's cock, derek feels snared. he's a rabbit in a trap, waiting to see if the bear in front of him is going to do more, do less, leave, stay. he watches with his heart stuck in his throat, staring at tate with that same carefully manufactured neutrality. he just... waits.
and then tate backs off, makes a joke about him being an exhibitionist. he's right, but derek's sure as shit not going to say that. he just shrugs, with one shoulder, adjusting the hem of his henley, smoothing the edge over his belt with his thumb. tate's happy. good enough.
he doesn't say anything until the elevator reaches the up, the doors softly sliding open, smooth and polished and taken care of. derek's tongue darts between his lips as he breathes in the air, so much less muggy and stagnant than the hellhole of the down. he needs to get tate out of there for good, somehow. needs to find him a dom. ].
Come on. [ he starts walking, hands in his pockets. ] It's not far.
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now, though? in this long stretch of silence where tate's just staring at him, innocent and soft, fingertips so close to the base of derek's cock, derek feels snared. he's a rabbit in a trap, waiting to see if the bear in front of him is going to do more, do less, leave, stay. he watches with his heart stuck in his throat, staring at tate with that same carefully manufactured neutrality. he just... waits.
and then tate backs off, makes a joke about him being an exhibitionist. he's right, but derek's sure as shit not going to say that. he just shrugs, with one shoulder, adjusting the hem of his henley, smoothing the edge over his belt with his thumb. tate's happy. good enough.
he doesn't say anything until the elevator reaches the up, the doors softly sliding open, smooth and polished and taken care of. derek's tongue darts between his lips as he breathes in the air, so much less muggy and stagnant than the hellhole of the down. he needs to get tate out of there for good, somehow. needs to find him a dom. ].
Come on. [ he starts walking, hands in his pockets. ] It's not far.