"You’re asleep, when it happens: you know because you wake up, heart pounding in your chest, fangs digging into your lower lip hard enough to draw blood. For a second you have no idea what is going on at all, and then you think, Stiles."
From this Tumblr gifset. Prompt: "When Stiles uses his head to foil the alpha pack one too many times, they strike at his heart by stealing the sheriff’s memories of his only son."
Since Stiles has been messing with the Alpha Pack, the Alpha Pack decides to mess with Stiles and erases his father's memories of him (or at least so it seems). The Sheriff, having no idea who Stiles is, throws him out and Stiles turns to Derek. This is a very convoluted and layered premise for a plot, but the plot is really kind of in the background. What is in the foreground is the dynamic between Derek and Stiles as they try to figure out how to restore the Sheriff's memories and defend against the Alpha Pack. This is "pre-slash" and Derek and Stiles' relationship is still verbally combative and yet their relationship is founded on this unshakable loyalty to each other. In a manner of speaking they hurt each other as a defense mechanism to cover that they are secretly pining for one another and both so f'd up that they lash out instead of reach out to each other ... and yet they are bound together - a united solid force. Interesting commentaries on how Derek relates to Stiles in this, realizing that Stiles has lost his family essentially as Derek has lost his.
Okay, so this is "Inception" inspired and to be honest, I got to the end and am as confused as Stiles and Derek as to whether they are in reality or dreaming or under mind control or what the fuck is going on.
But again, it is spectacularly written as is all of M_Leigh's works and so drenched in emotional strife and her never ending ability to expose the core of a character. Her characterization of characters not her own are so much more authentic than a TW writer puts forth.
This is Derek's POV, his outer façade is posturing, but juxtaposed against a self deprecating inner monologue that gives him so much depth he is like a never ending hole. And the multidimensional image of Stiles that is formed through Derek's eyes ... just amazing.
Does anyone know who M_Leigh is? She has got to be a professional writer, the quality of imagination, conveyance and prose is just exceptional.
"You have learned, over the years, that you have an almost stunning lack of control over the events of your own life, and your part in them; even as an alpha, you've been essentially powerless, impotent."