[ Tate deserved so much better than the life he had. Tate deserved a father who loved him, a mother who loved his siblings. Tate deserved to be saved, rather than bullied and made small until he finally surrendered himself to a listless, death-born existence. There's such a huge stretch of time between 1994 and 2011 - Tate must have been alone for so, so long. Derek's starting to understand what he meant, when he said he needed something. It must be so easy for Tate to feel like he could slip away into faded apathy. Of course he'd become an addict. ]
And that was Violet.
[ Someone to need. Violet, who didn't understand that Tate was just - fragile, and scared, and harmless, under the anger and the fascination with blood. Violet, who left him, when he never did a thing to merit it. Tate only ever needed help. Derek needs Tate. Feels like Tate still doesn't understand the gravity of just how much he needs him, but - they're getting there. Derek sets his fingers closer over Tate's pulse, staring at his lips, waiting for him to talk. Waiting to listen for any wavering in his voice, in case he lies, or tries to hide his anger. Tries to hide from him at all.
Violet left. Violet hurt him, and Derek doesn't understand why, but Tate deserved better. Derek's hand doesn't constrict around Tate's throat, but he holds it tighter. Feels the rush of his blood. ]
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And that was Violet.
[ Someone to need. Violet, who didn't understand that Tate was just - fragile, and scared, and harmless, under the anger and the fascination with blood. Violet, who left him, when he never did a thing to merit it. Tate only ever needed help. Derek needs Tate. Feels like Tate still doesn't understand the gravity of just how much he needs him, but - they're getting there. Derek sets his fingers closer over Tate's pulse, staring at his lips, waiting for him to talk. Waiting to listen for any wavering in his voice, in case he lies, or tries to hide his anger. Tries to hide from him at all.
Violet left. Violet hurt him, and Derek doesn't understand why, but Tate deserved better. Derek's hand doesn't constrict around Tate's throat, but he holds it tighter. Feels the rush of his blood. ]
I need you more than she ever did.