triskehale | (no subject)

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Derek is on a run through the woods, following a trail that he wore into the earth himself. He could follow it with his eyes closed, which is why he's so surprised to suddenly find it blocked by a strange, squat little cabin that he couldn't see or smell until he was suddenly right in front of it. He has to skid to a halt to avoid crashing into the side of it, and he cautiously walks around to the front of the small structure. It looks a little like something out of a fairytale, like a place that shouldn't exist outside the pages of a children's book.

This is Darrow, so it isn't like a building suddenly showing up is anything particularly out of the ordinary, but Derek is annoyed to find it so close to what the wolf considers his territory, blocking the path that he made himself. He definitely isn't about to inspect it closer, no matter how piqued his curiosity may be, but as soon as he turns away from it he hears a voice calling for help from within. It sounds like a child and while it's suspicious, Derek finds that he can't ignore it.

It doesn't occur to him to let anyone know where he is as he climbs up onto the porch. The place smells like cookies and peppermint and he breathes in deeply as he steps over the threshold. Inside there's no child in need, nothing at all except for a sensation like cool water running down his body and washing away all of his memories, clearing his mind of everything he knows, everyone he loves.

A growl comes up from his throat as he feels his face shift into his beta form, eyes a blazing red as his memories are replaced with something new. He tries, but he can't shift back. He's stuck like this, the cruel result of an enchantress' curse. His feet take him back through the woods to the cursed summer chateau where he's meant to spend the rest of his days with dwindling hope that it will ever be broken.

The chateau is surrounded by an eternal winter and as soon as Derek steps into the snow, vines close the opening behind him and he knows that he won't be able to leave again. He isn't sure how he even got out in the first place, but now he's home.

"There you are, sir!" Derek looks over at the tall, narrow bookcase that serves as the head of household as it toddles over to him, rocking back and forth on worn corners as the small books that serve as its eyes widen in surprise. "What is it that you're wearing? Those are not clothes befitting a prince. My word, where did you even find them? Up to the bedroom with you. Change for dinner, young man."

Derek rolls his eyes with a growl, claws clicking over the ornate doorknob as he lets himself inside. The house is large and quiet, and Derek stares up at the ornate staircase as he heaves a weary sigh. He's been here for years, cursed to be stuck in this form, and time is running out for someone to come and break the spell.

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The voice that emerges from the darkness is deeper than Barry expects, practically vibrating the floorboards beneath Barry's feet, and he hesitates. "It's to protect my identity," he says. "I try to help people, and the really bad ones would come after the people I care about if they knew who I am."

His hands return to the cowl, but Barry doesn't pull it off just yet. Yes, this man has probably seen him, but he might not be alone. "I'm Barry," he offers. "Is there anyone else in the house?"

"I see," Derek replies, taking in everything the man-- Barry tells him and mulling it over. "Well, your secret is safe with me. I couldn't tell anyone even if I wanted to."

The question brings a wry smile to Derek's face, though he does take a step back as Barry moves forward. His body is visible in the beam of sunlight coming in through the window, but his head is still hidden in shadow.

"That's a complicated question," Derek tells him. "Technically no, but--"

Before he can explain further, the door bursts open and a serving cart rolls in with the coffee pot and blender fighting on top of it, nearly sending a sandwich toppling to the floor.

"Everyone likes coffee!" The French press shrieks, sending droplets flying all over. The blender roars to life, sending something thick and green spinning around its insides.

"No, no!" It replies snootily. "There are better ways to get energy! He needs something healthy and green to get his strength back, not your dried out old beans!"

"That's enough," Derek says sternly, and the appliances clatter into silence as the mop moves to clean up the mess. "We have a guest, in case you've forgotten."

He gestures at Barry with clawed fingers and both appliances bow, nearly spilling even more of their contents. "Apologies, Master Hale!"

"They can't tell anyone either," Derek adds, sounding amused and embarrassed all at once.

"Why couldn't you - " Barry starts, only to hear his voice die away in astonishment as a rolling cart careens into the room, spraying him in a few stray drops of coffee. There are voices, and even with all that Barry's seen here and at home, it still takes him a moment to process that the appliances themselves are speaking.

"Wow!" he exclaims, immediately lifting the coffee press, "Is this robotics? This is crazy advanced! How did you - " He lifts the press over his head to see its base, prompting a flurry of new shrieks and flailing metal arms as it tries to cover its hindquarters.

"That is my own personal bottom, sir!" it shouts with such vigor that Barry places it back, blushing hotly. "Sorry," he says, "It's just really interesting, how did you - " He interrupts himself again as his eyes land on the sandwich.

"I'd actually be grateful for any food that you can give me," he tells the blender and the man in the shadows. "My metabolism is really..." The words die in his mouth.

"Sir," he says. "I'm sorry, but do you have claws?"

Derek can't help but to chuckle as Barry inspects the appliances, though he is grateful that the press doesn't throw hot coffee at him. It's done that to Derek more than a few times.

"Please, help yourself," Derek says quickly, gesturing at the food. He snatches his hand back at the mention of his claws and clears his throat, wondering where to begin. "I do, yes. You see, a curse was placed upon me years ago, and the entire estate was effected as well. My blender didn't used to have such an attitude."

"Hey!" The blender shouts, flicking its electric cord towards Derek as it tips itself up to pour a smoothie into a glass. "Drink up, Mister Barry. It has chia seeds!"

"Please don't judge Master Hale too harshly on his appearance, sir," says the mop in the low, solemn tone it always uses. "He's a very nice man."

"Well, most of the time," the coffee pot amends as it nudges a sandwich towards Barry, and the blender flicks it with its cord. "Ow! Almost all of the time!"

"You can all go now," Derek says loudly, reaching up to pinch the bridge of his nose as they all toddle out of the room, leaving food behind on the thankfully inanimate serving tray. "As I was saying, Barry. I was cursed, and part of that curse makes it so I should really be the one covering my face here, not you. And please, call me Derek."

"Somebody cursed you?" asks Barry, aghast. "Wait, so those guys are actually alive?" He nearly claps his hands. "I mean, the curse thing sounds pretty terrible, but creating life out of something inanimate it pretty amazing. Do you think they'd let me study them? I could take a sample back with me to town."

Barry blanches, realizing his scientific inquiries are bordering on out of line. "Sorry, I'm being rude. So, you're Derek." Barry gives his shadow a little wave. "I'm really sorry for what happened to you," he says, "But you don't have to be shy. I've seen telepathic ten foot tall gorillas and an enormous man shark - I don't think you can shock me, whatever it's done to you."

He pulls his cowl off. "Show you mine if you show me yours?"

"I would rather you didn't. Those samples are the only company I have," Derek says dryly. "Well, until now."

This Barry is charming, aside from wanting to experiment on his appliances. That does make him take pause, because what if this scientist wants to make Derek his next sample?

"I've already seen yours," Derek reminds him, "but alright. And I'm not shy. Most people just tend to fear what they don't understand."

Derek is not a monster. He isn't ashamed of his beta form, but he knows that humans won't react kindly to it. But Barry, he can't be a regular human, not with that heart. So Derek takes a breath and steps into the light, chin held high as he meets Barry's gaze with eyes that glow like embers.

"I least must be more pleasing to the eye than a giant gorilla," Derek says in a bland tone, trying not to let his nerves show through. "Wolves are much more elegant, in any case."

Whatever he's seen before now, Barry's eyes still widen. He doesn't know the full extent of the curse, of course, but Derek still seems mostly human, apart from some very obvious differences. His brow is far more pronounced, as are his hair and his teeth, and there's no escaping those startling red eyes.

"This is a wolf curse?" Barry asks, stepping closer so he can see. He wants to reach out and touch, so much so that Barry balls his hands at his sides. "I've never seen a wolf with eyes like that," he can't help saying. "Why did they do this to you? And who is they?"

Whatever Derek was expecting, it wasn't Barry stepping forward with a gaze that's bordering on excited. Derek stands still, hands at his sides as Barry steps forward.

"I'm a werewolf," Derek tells him, lowering his chin so that Barry can better see his face. "Always have been. But then I met an enchantress who didn't take kindly to wolves, and after-- disposing of my family, she cursed me to remain stuck in this form. In this house."

Derek has never said all of this out loud to another person before, and it's almost a relief. His chest loosens a bit and he sighs, mouth quirking up in a wry smile. "I haven't seen another person since. Not until you knocked yourself out on my tree."

Barry smiles. Werewolves don't exist. At least, not in any version of reality he knew before Darrow, but he's probably being too Earth centric. So he does his best to listen, wondering why some random woman would think it's alright to just curse werewolves she doesn't know to live in some house out in the woods. And also -

"She disposed of them?" he asks, shocked. "To other houses or - " Barry swallows. "Permanently?"

"Permanently," Derek confirms, brow furrowing as he lowers his head for a moment. Barry seems shocked, at least. He doesn't seem to think they deserved it. "She chose to spare me, and curse me with this. I don't know why."

That last part is a lie. He does know why. She wanted him to suffer a fate worse than death, to have to remain alive and miserable without his family. She wanted to prove to him that no one could ever love a beast like him.

"Sir," comes a voice from the doorway. Derek's head snaps up to see his bookcase lingering there, somehow managing to look sheepish as it gestured towards Barry in a way that Derek assumes is supposed to be subtle. "The spell can be broken. We mustn't give up hope."

"That's enough," Derek warns, and the bookcase sighs before toddling away. He turns his attention back towards Barry, moving a bit closer and giving him a wry smile. "I must admit that it's nice to talk to another actual person again."

"I'll bet," says Barry with raised brows. He wonders how long Derek has been stuck out here, and is thankful that he's at least had company, albeit in the form of talking housewares. He stares after the retreating bookcase.

"What did he - er, it? - mean, the spell can be broken?" he asks Derek. "If you need help with something, I'm sure I can do it." Barry smiles a little. "It's sort of my thing."

"You don't need to concern yourself with that," Derek says kindly, giving Barry a wry smile as he moves to sit on the padded bench on the bay window overlooking the grounds. Barry could help, but he thinks "all you would have to do is fall in love with me" would come off as a little desperate. Not to mention being a very tall order.

"Please, eat." Derek gestures again at the tray of food, pleased at the spread. There are sandwiches and plates of fruit along with a plate of something that appears to be a kale and quinoa salad that must have been the blender's doing.

"You help people, then? Is that what the strange clothing is for?" Derek asks, letting his red eyes drag slowly along Barry's narrow frame. He's not sure that he's ever seen anything quite like the form-fitting crimson suit, but it does suit him. "I'm sure I could find you something more comfortable, if you'd like."

Barry needs no more invitation and drags the tray to the edge of the bed so he can work his way through it. Between the running and healing his concussion, he's extra ravenous, but he still saves the kale and the quinoa for last, powering through it with extra quick snaps of his teeth.

It doesn't take long, and Barry soon breaks out of his food coma to say, "It's not strange, it's friction resistant. Otherwise, I run so fast my clothes burn off." He grins, for that's always been a hilarious image to him, though one he never wants to live through. "But yeah, at home everyone knew me, or the Flash, at least." Barry's chest puffs out the smallest bit. "The Speedster of Central City."

Derek opens his mouth to continue speaking, but realizes how pointless it would be as soon as Barry starts eating with a speed and intensity that stuns even Derek into silence. It's good to see him satisfied, however, and he's smiling when Barry finally looks back at him.

"A speedster," Derek replies curiously, quirking a brow. It's not hard to imagine given how quickly he devoured all that food. Derek stands and squares his shoulders, daring to brush by Barry as he moves to stack up the plates and move the tray away. It's heady, being so close to another person after so long, and he would be lying if he said he didn't find the smell of Barry wholly enticing.

"Did you want to take me up on my offer of spare clothes, or do you plan on running from here so fast that they would burn?" Derek says it like it's a joke, but his smile is a little tight. What reason would he have to stay? "Though I suppose I've taken up a lot of your time already. It sounds like there probably plenty of people missing you."

Derek swallows hard at that, because he'll never again know what that feels like. There's no one left to miss him.

Barry can't help staring as Derek edges past him. He's a werewolf, sort of like Barry always imagined and sort of not. He'd thought there'd be more fur, for one thing, and that a werewolf would more fully transform into a wolf. Instead the transformation is mostly claws and fangs and a permanently angry looking forehead, but it's not frightening. At least, not like this.

"I haven't actually made that many friends in town," says Barry with regret, "But the city does need me. But don't worry." Barry reaches out a tentative hand to rest on Derek's shoulder. "I can run back in time. I'm pretty sure I can speed canon you a way out of some silly woods."

Barry's heart beats so fast, but it's not out of fear. It's an entrancing sound, and Derek can't help but to hone in on it once he discovers how soothing the thrum seems to be.

He isn't expecting the touch to his shoulder, and he tenses slightly before his knees nearly buckle and he lets out a shaky breath, head hanging for a moment. He hasn't been touched my anyone since his family died, and the effect is staggering. He looks down at Barry's hand with a wounded, longing expression before swallowing dryly.

"You're welcome to try. Maybe your powers exceed hers," Derek says after a moment, low and rough. It doesn't occur to Derek that Barry might be unable to leave; the curse is only on himself, after all. He lets himself imagine leaving, eyes brightening for a moment before his expression goes pained. "Even if I could leave, there's no place for me out there."

He wants to ask if Barry might come visit him sometime, but he can't seem to make his mouth form the words. Instead, he reaches up to curl his fingers carefully around Barry's wrist. He can feel the thrum of his pulse faintly through the suit, and swipes his thumb carefully over the back of his hand before pulling it away.

Barry watches Derek's reaction with some surprise, but then he realizes it must be ages since someone touched him. He squeezes once before letting go, vowing then and there that he's not leaving these woods until he finds a way to take Derek with him.

"You'd be surprised," he says gently. "There's a dude who's half bull in town - this is nothing." Barry smiles. "So I'm going to go outside now and work on getting you free."

"Half bull?" Derek asks, obviously surprised. He covers it up quickly enough, huffing slightly. "Wolves are still more elegant."

Barry's smile leaves Derek vaguely breathless, but it's not only that. It's the conviction in his voice when he says that he's going to free Derek. He has no idea why Barry would go to the trouble, but then again, that's apparently what he does. He helps people, even people like Derek.

"Okay," Derek says slowly, sounding a little unsure. There's a heavy coat in the closet that Derek rarely uses, and he retrieves it to drape it over Barry's shoulders. He had seemed so cold outside, lips faintly blue by the time Derek got to him. It's better that he stay warm.

They head outside with Derek very aware of all the appliances and housewares watching them closely. "Have fun," the teapot calls out in her high, whistling voice. "We'll have something warm waiting when you're done."

Snow is falling softly, catching in Derek's dark hair, melting on his eyelashes and the fur sprouting from his jaw. He huffs in a snowflake and then sneezes softly, wriggling his nose as he watches Barry move through the snow. "Watch out for trees."

"Hey," says Barry half-heartedly, for there's no getting around his ignominious arrival after braining himself on a branch. He stands clutching at his arms, reluctant to take off the coat when it's so warm, but he makes himself shrug out of it.

"It'll just catch fire," he explains, and pulls up his cowl. "If I get out, don't worry, I'll come back," he says, giving Derek a quick little wave before he digs his toes in for traction.

With a crackle of energy, Barry sets off, taking care to dodge the trees at first, and then concentrating on building more speed. After a few passes at nearly mach II, he accepts that the recurring sight of Derek's cabin isn't in his imagination, and arrives back at Derek's side after only seconds have passed.

"Okay," he says. "Maybe it will be kind of hard. But don't worry, there's more I can try."

"Right," Derek says as he takes the coat back. Barry's scent clings to it already and Derek holds it stiffly over one arm, like a server with a tea towel. He merely nods when Barry says he'll be back, not quite believing him but wanting fiercely to.

When Barry moves, it's quick enough that Derek's eyes cross as he tries to focus on the red blur. By the time that he decides to stop trying to watch, Barry is back at his side. Perhaps the spell isn't focused only on Derek.

"You couldn't leave?" Derek asks, looking troubled by the notion. For as much as he enjoys Barry's company, he doesn't want him kept here against his will. "I'm-- I thought it was only me."

He watches Barry with concern and tilts his head, holding out the coat like a token of apology. "What other things?"

"It's like the land just loops - one moment I'm running towards the city, and the next I'm back at your cabin," says Barry with a shake of his head. He waves off the coat and stands with his hands on his hips, considering.

"Other things," he says, "Like a lightning bolt." Boots grinding in the snow as he searches for traction, Barry takes off again, this time paying attention to the exact moment when the world around him seems to loop back on itself. He makes several passes to work up the speed, gathering energy until he can wield it like a spear, which he throws as hard as he can at the invisible barrier. It strikes with a tumultuous crack, but when Barry grins and starts forward, he finds himself back at Derek's side.

"Well, crap."

Derek ends up tossing the coat over the back of a rarely used patio chair dusted with snow, watching as Barry moves again. He can smell the electricity in the air and can't quite suppress his flinch at the crack of lightning, knowing just what that could do to a werewolf.

"Indeed," Derek says dryly, turning his head to look at Barry once it appears that he's planning on standing still, at least for the moment. He smells like raw energy on top of the more natural, almost sweet smell of him. There's a part of Derek that wants to lean in and inhale, but he manfully holds himself back.

"I'm sorry that you were swept up in this," Derek says sincerely, waiting to see how Barry will react towards him once it sinks in that he's stuck here.

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