"I️ didn't know where else to go," Stiles admitted when confronted by Theo in the hallway of the bunker.

Theo was standing there, arms folded with one eyebrow raised. He took in the blood staining the other's face as well as the desperation in his eyes.

Theo rolled his eyes, appearing more unamused than concerned.

"What did you do?" Theo asked, wondering if there was a mess left behind somewhere that he'd have to clean up.

Stiles sighed. He looked down at his own shaking hands. He felt the hitch in his breath before he spoke and a part of him feared that tears would follow, but he managed to keep it together enough to prevent that.

"I hurt Scott," Stiles confessed before looking back up at Theo.

Much to his surprise, the chimera still appeared bored and as if he was waiting for something else. After a brief moment of silence, Theo spoke.

"Wait, is that it?" Theo asked.

Stiles' eyes widened with surprised at the other's words. He must've not heard him correctly. Or, he was simply being Theo.

"You don't get it. Scott's my best friend!" Stiles explained.

Theo shrugged.

"Exactly. Is. Meaning he's still alive. So, I don't see what the big deal is," Theo replied.

Stiles released another pathetic, shaky breath. He managed to meet the other's gaze and hold it.

"I'm a monster," Stiles uttered.

Theo didn't care to admit how much it pained him to see Stiles like this, or how much he hated the fact that this was the type of pain that he couldn't take away. He wanted to come in closer and comfort the distressed vampire, but knew that that would be taking it too far. He had to restrain himself, reducing himself to an awkward stare. Besides, it wasn't like he even knew how to comfort the other in the first place so he supposed that none of it mattered anyway.

"You're not," was all Theo said, but his tone was different: softer, and it didn't go unnoticed by Stiles.

Theo cursed himself in his head for only saying two words. He felt so useless.

Think of something to say, dumbass.

Stiles looked at Theo, but remained silent. He didn't believe him and it was written all over his face.

"Look, if you really were a monster, you wouldn't feel so guilty about what you did," Theo explained.

Seriously? You fucking idiot, that's the best you can do?

It was then that Theo changed the subject and suggested to get Stiles cleaned up. Practical solutions were definitely more up his alley than feelings. And so, they dealt with the practical. They got Stiles cleaned up and established where he'd sleep. When it got late, the two of them both turned in for the night.

Neither of the two had a restful night.

Stiles found it difficult to fall asleep, tossing and turning restlessly as he couldn't seem to shut his mind up, until he finally just passed out from utter exhaustion.

—

Stiles entered his living room to see the back of a figure of a woman. His eyes widened with surprise, and he shook his head slowly.

"Mom?" he asked.

"Yes, Stiles?" she replied without turning around.

With that, Stiles felt a tear roll down his cheek.

"You're alive," he choked, his voice soft and filled with awe.

Claudia shook her head. Slowly, she turned around, revealing that a large chunk of her throat was torn out and bloodied.

"No, son. I'm dead. And it's all your fault," she said.

Stiles stood there, practically paralyzed with fear as his mother's eyes rolled into the back of her head, showing only the whites. She then went limp, falling to the ground.

Immediately, Stiles rushed to her to side as she shook vigorously before ceasing to move, going entirely limp. Her eyes remained open, still revealing only scleras and blood vessels.

Stiles vigorously shook his head.

"No, no, no, wake up! Wake up!" he screamed, beginning to do compressions.

"Stiles?" he heard, looking up at the sound of his name.

His father was standing there, eyeing his son with horror.

"Dad-" Stiles began, but he was cut off before he could say anything else.

"You killed your mother!" Noah screamed.

Stiles shook his head.

"No, no...I️-I️ didn't. I️ swear I️-" he stammered.

Stiles' dad shook his head, looking at his son with disgust.

"Just look at you. You're a monster!" he stated angrily through gritted teeth.

That was when Stiles touched a hand to his mouth, realizing that his fangs were bared and his lips were stained with blood.

"No, I️-I️ couldn't've. I'm not...I️ didn't," he pleaded, unable to form a coherent sentence.

The sheriff spoke once again, a wooden stake suddenly appearing in his hand.

"You killed your mother," he repeated. "Now I️ have to kill you!"

—

Theo awoke to the sound of screaming, immediately jolting upright. He then recognized the sound as Stiles, rushing to his side.

Vigorously, he shook him awake, shouting his name.

When the vampire opened his eyes, he still didn't seem fully aware of his surroundings. As he pushed himself upwards, he was visibly shaking, making Theo even more worried.

"Stiles, are you okay?" Theo asked.

Stiles didn't even respond. He didn't even look directly at Theo, his gaze somewhere far away. His breaths were rapid and shallow, as if he were struggling to get enough air. He was hyperventilating.

"Stiles, c'mon, calm down," Theo commanded, mostly out of fear. He wasn't quite sure what was happening but he knew that it wasn't good.

Stiles opened his mouth, appearing as if he were trying to say something but couldn't. He then just shook his head rapidly, still hyperventilating as he clutched his chest.

"Stiles, calm down. Breathe," Theo said, raising his voice unintentionally.

Stiles was trying, he really was, but he just couldn't. He couldn't force his breathing to slow nor could he loosen the tightness in his chest.

After a while of the vampire hyperventilating and unsuccessfully attempted to speak while the chimera yelled at him, he finally was able to regain some semblance of composure.

Stiles shook his head slowly.

"I️-I'm fine. I'm sorry, if I️ scared you," he said sheepishly.

"What the hell was that?" Theo asked.

Stiles shook his head once again, trying to downplay his episode the best he could.

"Nothing. It was nothing," he answered quickly.

Theo's eyes widened.

"Nothing? That was not nothing," Theo said. "What's going on?"

Stiles attempted to dodge the question once again, but Theo continued to demand answers. Eventually, Stiles simply lost his cool.

"It was a panic attack, okay? I️ get panic attacks!" Stiles exclaimed.

At those words, Theo visibly shrunk. Stiles picked up on something that he would've identified as guilt if it wasn't Theo and he didn't know better.

"I️ didn't know," Theo utterly quietly.

Stiles shrugged.

"Yeah, well know you do," he replied bitterly.

An awkward moment of silence passed as the words set in. Theo felt like a complete asshole while Stiles had to live with the fact that he'd actually just revealed one of the most intimate and personal details about himself to Theo Raeken of all people.

"Look I️ can...I️ can leave, if you want," Stiles suggested, breaking the silence.

Theo sighed.

"Don't be ridiculous. Where would you even go?" Theo replied.

Stiles shrugged.

"I don't know. I️'ll figure it out," Stiles offered.

Theo shook his head.

"There's nothing to figure out, because you're staying here," he said.

Stiles still didn't budge, insisting on going.

"I️ get it, okay? If the whole panic attack thing is too much then-"

"Stiles!" Theo interrupted.

He cleared his throat, and the next time he spoke his tone was much softer.

"Just stay. Please," Theo said, staring deep into the others eyes.

Stiles swallowed before nodding.

"Okay."