THE HUNTSMAN

10

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Apollo woke up quietly, wincing silently at the aching in his head.
He cracked his eyes open thankful for the dim light in the room.
"Derek?"
Apollo whispered in confusion spotting the beta sitting beside his bed.
"You're so stupid Apollo."
Apollo laughed, of course Derek would react that way when he woke up.
"Just trying to protect you wolfie."
Apollo mumbled teasingly, weary from the pain medication Mellissa McCall had given him while he slept.
"I don't need protection. I can heal, you can't.
The fact you're in this hospital bed proves that."
Derek glared.
"Sh."
Apollo whispered out closing his eyes.
"Why are you so upset?"
The teen whispered his eyes still closed.
"Because I don't like seeing you hurt."
Derek glared as Apollo slowly opened his eyes.
"Aw you care about me green eyes."
Apollo laughed quietly, barely being heard by Derek.
Derek merely scoffed falling back in his chair as he held back a grin.
"I'm sorry about what my family did."
Apollo mumbled out, giving a clue to Derek he was seriously drugged out.
"They're a-assholes. Kate's an asshole."
Apollo's words became slurred.
"I think I should go-"
"Please don't."
Apollo mumbled grabbing Derek's hand quickly making the wolf stop in his tracks.
"What if he comes back?"
Apollo asked in a small whisper.
It was, perhaps, the first time Derek had ever seen the boy without so much as a grin on his face.
"You're a hunter aren't you?"
Derek asked softly, not wanting to upset the boy.
"Not a very good one."
Apollo mumbled as his eyes closed tiredly.
Derek sat back down in the chair beside his bed, not having the heart to break away their intertwined fingers.

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When Apollo woke up he noticed Mellisa McCall slowly taking all of the needles out of his hands.
"Hi Mrs. McCall."
Apollo smiled, his eyes still closed.
"Hi Apollo."
The woman laughed at the kind boy.
"You're free to go just be very careful with those stitches."
Mellissa smiled as Apollo became aware of the stitches on his hairline.
"Does my family know?"
Apollo asked quietly.
"Uh- we called you emergency contact and she said-"
"Let the kid figure it out? Yeah that would be Kate."
Apollo laughed thankful they couldn't reach his family.
Mellisa laughed as well seeing as it didn't really bother the boy.
"Do you want me to call someone else?"
Mellisa asked the boy, helping him sit up.
Apollo looked around the room, a frown falling on his face as he realized there was no trace of Derek.
"Uh,"
Apollo thought for a moment trying to ignore the ringing in his head.
"Do you know Stiles number-"
"Oh she doesn't need it."
The two turned their heads to see said boy in the doorway with a small teddy bear in his hands.
Apollo grinned widely at the boy telling Mellisa thank you as she left them.
"Hey, I didn't think you'd want flowers so I got you this."
Stiles gave a shy grin as Apollo took the bear with a smile.
"Thank you Stiles."
Apollo chuckled warmly making the other boy grin.
"Would you mind taking me home? I don't want Ally to know."
Apollo messed with the tag on his bear.
"Of course, it's the least I could do."
Stiles smiled, happy the boy asked him of all people.
"I just have to get dress-"
Apollo tried to stand up as he talked however the boy got lightheaded instantly making his knees buckle.
"Woah!"
Stiles quickly hooked his arms around the boy's waist holding him upright.
"Sit, sit."
Stiles said quickly helping the boy sit back down.
"Sorry, sorry I-"
"No! No don't be sorry."
Stiles shook his head softly, his hands still around the boy.
"D-Do you need help?"
Stiles asked softly, not expecting the huntsman's cheeks to turn a soft red.
"Uhm- do you care to?"
Apollo asked his eyes on the floor.
"Not at all."
Stiles whispered quietly grabbing Apollo's clothes off of the table.
Stiles slowly helped the boy into his jeans as Apollo winced at the movements.
Stiles felt awful he should've been in Apollo's place and he would have if the boy hadn't have been there.
"Crap."
Apollo sighed seeing dried blood on his shirt.
"Uh- here, here."
Stiles took the jacket off of his shoulders leaving him in his T-shirt.
"Thank you."
Apollo smiled as he let Stiles help him get the jacket on.
"It might be a little small."
Stiles smiled as Apollo zipped up the jacket.
"It's perfect."
Apollo smiled holding his teddy bear in his hands.
"Come on."
Stiles smiled throwing an arm Apollo's waist as he helped Apollo to his Jeep.
"You got it?"
Stiles asked resting his hand on Apollo's lower back as he helped him step into the car.
"Yeah, thank you."
Apollo smiled as Stiles shut his door hurrying over to the drivers seat.
"Again thank you so much for-"
"Stiles stop thanking me."
Apollo laughed holding the stuffed bear close to his chest as he stared out the window.
Stiles smiled warmly at the sight, his heart skipping a beat.
"You're adorable."
Stiles instantly scolded himself for not having a filter as Apollo laughed brightly.
"You're adorable too."
Apollo grinned looking over at the boy.
Stiles chuckled parking his car as he pulled in front of Apollo's house.
"Uh- so I don't know if you have a date to the dance tomorrow, but I was wondering if maybe you wanted to go? With me?"
Stiles held his breath as Apollo smiled at the boy.
"I'd really like that Stiles."
Apollo grinned warmly as he slowly got out of the car.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
Stiles smiled ear to ear as Apollo nodded walking into his house.
"Oh my God Apollo what happened?"
Chris immediately greeted his son at the door holding onto his shoulders.
"Inside voice please."
Apollo whispered wincing at the volume.
"God, sit down Pollo."
Chris carefully helped his son to the couch.
"I apparently can not be trusted walking down the stairs."
Apollo lied with ease and a fake chuckle.
Chris sighed stroking beside his son's stitches making him wince.
"I know I haven't been the best dad Apollo and for that I'm so sorry. But I want to do better."
Chris told his son with tears in his eyes.
Apollo stared deeply into his father's eyes seeing the guilt hidden behind them.
"I'd really like that dad."
Apollo smiled teary eyed as well.
Chris smiled pulling his son into a tight hug.

Despite the ringing in Apollo's head he was content.
Because for the first time in a long time his house felt like home.