[for thomas]

[triskehale]

It's been nearly two weeks since they returned from that other Darrow, and Derek is beginning to settle back down. The things he saw there still haunt him, and keep him up at night, but he's almost to a point where he can ignore the memories. Derek has seen many, many terrible things, and he knows that he just has to keep on going.

He knows that everyone has been struggling, and it's his friends that have been helping to get him through it. Derek is trying to help however he can, and that's why he laces up his running shoes one morning and heads to Thomas' with a hoodie over his track pants and fitted t-shirt. Winter is drawing near, and Derek can see his breath while he walks. There's a calm sort of stillness to the city, one that only seems to come with cold, crisp mornings.

After stopping to get two coffees and breakfast sandwiches, he heads to Thomas' building and knocks on the door, listening hard as he waits for it to open. Thomas saw some horrible things, and Derek wants to make sure that he's doing okay. Feeding him and dragging him out for a long run should hopefully be a good start.

Comments

[triskehale]

"I get that," Derek tells him. He gets wanting to go back and help, at least. He doesn't really have any friends back home, not really. They're all Scott's friends. Hell, Scott is here in Darrow and they still aren't even close. He sighs and then looks up at Thomas again, giving him a reassuring smile. "You got one of them. Maybe the rest will follow."

[shuck_you]

"Maybe," Thomas said, sighing. He'd love to see Alby and Frypan again but the Glader he'd most want to see would be Chuck. The only thing was he didn't know if he could handle seeing Chuck either, knowing what happened. He didn't know how he'd be able to not break down in tears every single time he laid eyes on Chuck.

"Getting Newt was good for right now," he said, glancing over at Derek. "I didn't expect anyone. I'm good for now."

[triskehale]

For a moment, Thomas just smells of pure and simple grief. It's strong enough that Derek looks over at him in concern, but he doesn't ask about it. Thomas may be thinking about someone he lost, and Derek doesn't want to dredge that up.

Sometimes Derek wonders if maybe his sister might show up, or any of his family. Anything is possible, he assumes, but he doesn't dare let himself hope. If he started to hope for that, it's all that he would ever do.

They stay there in an easy, comfortable silence for awhile, staring out at the ocean as the cool, salty air stings their skin. Derek looks over and reaches out to pat Thomas' chest with the back of his hand. "Ready to head towards Semele's? I was thinking we might go fast this time."

He gives Thomas a teasing smirk, eyes bright as the wind whips through his hair.