[ He laughs, before he says that, humorless and dry. He shakes his head, and he slackens his grip on Tate's hand, making it easier for him to pull away, if he needs to. Derek looks down, sets his fangs together, feels the sharp points dig into his gums when he angles his jaw to make them do it. Tate moves closer, but for all of Derek's surveillance, he doesn't notice. ]
I've lived a life hiding from humans who wanted me dead. I've seen... every manner of murder. Men and women cut in half. Decapitated. Shot, burned, drowned, hung. It was just... easier to assume you would be like any other human.
[ Even the good ones - like Chris, who had a code - would kill a werewolf, if it threatened their family. Stiles and Paige are the only exceptions, but one of them became a killer and one of them died. You can't be close to a werewolf and come out unscathed. Derek thinks that, sometimes.
He's sorry. For not trusting Tate. For still not trusting Tate. Not completely. ]
It was never - personal. Hiding this. Keeping you out of the loop. It's just... hard, like I said. When people think you're a monster - it's hard to shake that reputation, no matter how good of a person you might really be.
no subject
[ He laughs, before he says that, humorless and dry. He shakes his head, and he slackens his grip on Tate's hand, making it easier for him to pull away, if he needs to. Derek looks down, sets his fangs together, feels the sharp points dig into his gums when he angles his jaw to make them do it. Tate moves closer, but for all of Derek's surveillance, he doesn't notice. ]
I've lived a life hiding from humans who wanted me dead. I've seen... every manner of murder. Men and women cut in half. Decapitated. Shot, burned, drowned, hung. It was just... easier to assume you would be like any other human.
[ Even the good ones - like Chris, who had a code - would kill a werewolf, if it threatened their family. Stiles and Paige are the only exceptions, but one of them became a killer and one of them died. You can't be close to a werewolf and come out unscathed. Derek thinks that, sometimes.
He's sorry. For not trusting Tate. For still not trusting Tate. Not completely. ]
It was never - personal. Hiding this. Keeping you out of the loop. It's just... hard, like I said. When people think you're a monster - it's hard to shake that reputation, no matter how good of a person you might really be.