
Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/2173419.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Graphic_Depictions_Of_Violence, Rape/Non-Con, Underage
  Category:
      F/M, M/M, Other
  Fandom:
      Teen_Wolf_(TV), Phantom_of_the_Opera_(2004)
  Relationship:
      Derek_Hale/Stiles_Stilinski, Lydia_Martin/Jackson_Whittemore
  Character:
      Derek_Hale, Stiles_Stilinski, Jackson_Whittemore, Lydia_Martin, Peter
      Hale, Scott_McCall, Isaac_Lahey, Erica_Reyes, Allison_Argent, Chris
      Argent, Gerard_Argent, Kate_Argent
  Additional Tags:
      Angst, Humor, Scarred_Stiles, Human_Derek_Hale, gypsyDerek, Phantom/
      Stiles, Anal_Sex, Possessive_Behavior, Depression, Costume_Parties_&
      Masquerades, kid_Isaac_and_Erica, sterek, Alternate_Universe_-_No
      Werewolves
  Stats:
      Published: 2014-08-21 Chapters: 2/? Words: 2847
****** 'Sing Prima Donna... Once More.' ******
by FreckleSue
Summary
     It all started with a fire and that is how it will end.
     Derek had finally managed to escape from the circus his Uncle had
     sold him to. To hide from Kates thugs that closed in on his heels, he
     found an open sewer drain that took him far below the surface and
     away from her cold touch.
     But what Derek did not expect to find is another soul dwelling in the
     shadows, a man whose life rotting away by depression and self
     loathing.
     Stiles had hidden from the world for years after the great fire burnt
     down the theater and killed his only family, leaving him horrible
     scarred. Haunted by memories of lost love, he did not expect another
     soul to come across him. This soul, so angry at the world and
     silent... Stiles finds himself wanting to reach out into his light,
     to feel the warm tan skin and wonder, if once again.. he could feel
     the light..
***** 'Where' *****
‘You are my special little one.’
Shaking fingers reached out, nails scratching across the dust covered curtain
hanging limp before them. Across the stage dust gathered over the years of
silence on what was once alive and wide, where souls danced across its surface
and master pieces were uttered out to the air.
Lights once filled this area, music played loudly and freely to payers’ ears,
voices singing out in merriment and perfect harmony. This place… This place was
once alive.
Twice it lived… and Twice it died.
Now in darkness and grime, it lay forgotten, hollow and burnt from the fire so
long ago.
‘You must never forget..’
Pushing the curtains back, he gazed out into the audience, the empty seats
haunted and broken. Before the stage, right where the music pit laid, the once
magnificent chandelier that hung above the grand area, shining its lights,
diamonds flickering like stars within the shadows or burning bright as the sun
when the actors needed it to embrace them. This place was his home.
This place was his everything.
Now that bright light was shattered, laying in a pile of twisted metal at the
end of the stage, breaking the wood, cracking the surface and ruining the
fountain. The fire took it all away, took away his family.
Teeth clenching tightly, his breaths become rapid as the memories started to
return.
Then she came.
Long ago he stood in the shadow sobbing at his loss, burying himself deep
within his tomb and hidden pathways for years that he did not notice them
rebuilding. Bringing this place back to its glory. The music was what he
noticed first, playing so softly at first before it got bigger, louder, voices
following soon after, words playfully dancing to his ears that for a moment, he
thought he was a child again, that when he raced to the surface and peeked onto
the stage he would see her again dancing, arms wide and reaching to him to rush
at her, to let her pick him up and twirl him within the air as her voice bathed
his ears of tales and fantasies.
When he looked, it was not her. No.. It was someone else, another angel moving
across the remade stage with presences of a goddess. Pale skin glowing in the
spot light, golden red hair like flames curling around her slender form in her
movement. She sang perfectly, her steps on point and making every cue and twirl
on beat. Her face showed her concentration, her determination and at that
point.
He fell in love.
‘Wherever you go… Please let me go too…’
With a hiss, he tossed the battered curtain back before him, blocking the sight
again.
That was in the past, a childish dream, a foolish hope and he followed her like
a horse to water, leaving her gifts, teaching her from the darkness, making her
the star he knew she was. He helped her, risked everything and all he asked,
all he wanted…
Pulling away, he let out a yell, his hands covering his face quickly as he felt
the first throb of pain. It all was ruined! Everything he worked for,
everything he done was ruined! He still remembered the look on her face when
she saw him, the utter disgust across her lips and sorrow within her perfect
green eyes. He still remembered the feel of betrayal when she reached to him
and ripped his shame away, laying him bare before the crowd, letting them see
what a real monster he truly was.
She let that man see him too.
With another yell, he turned and grabbed the first item within reach, tossing
it across the stage, listening to the crash of impact. He trusted her; He would
have done anything for her.
Touching his face again, he removed his shame, looking down upon it in pain.
How he wish he didn’t have to have it, how he wished he could throw it away,
break it before his feet and leave it behind like everyone else did. Forget
about it just like how everyone forgot about him…
With a choked sob, he rose the item back up, feeling his pride shatter a little
more when the cold marble touched his skin, chilling his charred skin. He was
weak, just like she told him. He did not deserve her, just like he did not
deserve to live when ‘she’ died.
Mask in place… He returned back to the shadows he dwelled in, back to hiding
just like the coward he was.
‘My special little one…’
***** Ever *****
Chapter Summary
     He ran.
He couldn’t feel his feet any more but he kept going. Numb and bleeding, the
wet stones below he followed, eyes searching, always searching. He wouldn’t go
back; he’ll die first before they take him.
Turning a sharp corner, he stumbled into empty wooden carts causing them to
fall and clatter but he kept moving, hooping over them, the muscles in his
thighs threatening, burning but he couldn’t stop, they would get him.
Derek had to get away.
He used his burning rage to keep moving when his body was demanding to stop, to
pause, to rest. The feeling of betrayal all those years ago the day they came
and got him, calling out for his Uncle, reaching out to him in hopes he would
be saved but his Uncle turned his back, a leather purse clenched tightly in
hand. He had sold his only nephew away. He screamed for his sister, wanting her
to rush at him, to follow him but she was gone, locked away so she wouldn’t
interfere.
The years that followed felt like a dream, a never ending nightmare he couldn’t
wake up from. The Great Argent Circus was his cage, trapped within the ring of
cheers and coins he never got to touch. A young age he was taught to dance,
poisoned blood in his veins they told him. A gypsy he was and that they abused,
making him remember the dances his mother had taught him, the movement his
father would do to make their family laugh and sing. Thick make-up and paint
covering his torso to cover the lashes and bruises on the days he was not fast
enough, on the nights he did not earn enough and Kate had to re-teach him the
lesson of why one must ‘try harder next time.’
He grew, he hated and he danced, his face morphing into stone, an emotionless
expression that drew women to his stage, their heavy perfume choking his lungs
when they closed in, their too soft hands wanting to touch him, ease away the
stress from his face, the crease in his brows and sometimes, the men would come
too, their faces red and lips painted in grins at the idea of pinning him down,
over powering the dancer with their weight until his stone face broke in a
scream. They wanted to touch him, to taste him and he felt like his skin was
peeling away every time they did. No soap was strong enough to remove the taste
of them from his mouth, no water hot enough to remove their touch from his
skin.
But of all the people they allowed to touch him, all the payers whom pinned him
down and used him for their own desires, no touch was more painful than that of
the masters daughter.
Kate Argent.
Her nails always sank into his back, hard enough to draw blood, to remind him
whenever he bathed, whenever he had to paint over them, that no matter whom saw
him, who lay with him, who used him. He was hers, her own little gypsy pet to
warm her bed when she felt the need.
After suffering for so long in this hell hole, he saw his chance to escape.
Derek had finished his performance, the clicks of coins hitting his stage
echoing dull to his ears as he walked away, his skin coated in sweat from the
humidity, muscles sore from his movements. He made it behind the curtain of the
circus ring, the rest of the ‘family’ the head master joked loudly following
after him. A ‘family’ of other children bought to dance alongside him, who all
suffered the same fate. There was one person within the group Derek had watched
thou, sometimes out of confusion. A young man named Scott was just shy of
sixteen, his olive covered skin unmarked from eye few, black hair shaggy
dripped in sweat along his forehead, cradling his young face. He still smiled,
which was very rare in this place. Scott was the small light of hope, always
whispering to the others of the plans he had when he earned enough to get out
[they would never get out… Scott would understand soon]. The places he would
see and the people he would met but one dream, one that he held onto was the
day he got to see his mother again, feel her arms wrap him back up in her
embrace before he was ripped away from them.
Scott had hope and Derek felt a small ping of pity for the boy.
But tonight, when he made it to the back of the stage, the exit was open.
Normally Kate had her thugs standing watch, waiting for him so they can lead
him to his next performance, lead him to the waiting hands of ‘clients’ that
paid for his ‘entertainment.’ Kate never trusted him on his own, not after his
second failed attempt to run. She always had someone watching him, guarding
him.
They weren’t there, the exit was empty.
He looked around quickly, everyone was moving, getting undress from their
performance, stretching for their next act and there, he saw them. Two of Kates
helpers whom normally grabbed him stood chatting with the eldest son, Chris
Argent. They were not paying attention, he had a chance. Still in costume, his
muscular upper torso covered in gold flakes, dark purple soft pants bagging to
his knees so his feet could move without stepping upon them. Dark colors of
red, wine, yellows and blue sashes wrapped around his hips, ringing with small
sliver bells that were tied to the ends, he wasn’t prepared
He ran.
He made a couple of steps out of the exit when he noticed the young teen
walking before him. Young Scott, eyes so bright, crooked jaw always a smile. He
was walking towards the wagons where the ‘clients’ sat waiting, he was going to
do his rounds.
Grabbing Scott’s elbow, Derek yanked him along causing the young boy to yell
out but Derek ignored it, just kept running, forcing the boy to keep up. Scott
voice called out in a panic, he just kept going, ran through the crowd, pushing
people away, eyes searching, always searching until he found the road. Soon
shouts were made, voices ringing out of the runners, soon Kates thugs would
follow and for that, Derek finally yelled at Scott to run faster.
They had made it to bridge, just outside of the camp grounds. Before them the
town laid, they could get lost in there, hide and escape. Rushing over the
wooden boards, Derek pulled Scott towards the town.
“Derek what are you doing?!” Scott’s voice finally snapped into his ear and
Derek finally spun them around, pushing the teen into a dark ally, giving them
a chance to breath. “Scott listen to me.” He hissed, “This is our chance to get
out.”
“ Are you insane!” Scott panted, “They’re going to whip us!”
“Scott this is the only way!” Derek growled.
“No its not! We could have earned our way out, just a few more coins and we
could walk away free men!”
“Don’t be stupid Scott!” Derek snapped, pushing the young boy against the damp
brick wall, “We’ll never get enough coins! They will keep raising it, they will
never let us leave!”
“No! Chris swor-“
“Gerard doesn’t care enough for our freedom.” Derek glared, “He would gladly
watch us die in a ditch before he allowed anyone to walk. They lied to us, to
you. THIS is our only chance.”
Scott stared at him in shock, wide eyes pleading for the truth to not be but
Derek just looked away, peeking back around the corner. “If you think my words
are wrong, then go back.” He spoke softly, “Walk back to the camp ground and
tell them I did this and you can see how long it takes before you earn your
‘freedom’.”
The sounds of dogs made Derek jerk back hissing, “Now or never kid.” And
without another word, Derek spun and took off, leaving the silent teen behind.
Derek got him that far, Scott can choose where to go from there.
Getting closer to the center of the town, a rise of panic began to rise in his
chest at the sounds of barks getting closer. They were going to catch him, they
were going to bring him back to her and she wouldn’t kill him. No, she would
never let him know the sweet bliss of numbness, she would tie him up, keep him
pinned and keep him awake, she would beat him, burn him and remind him over and
over again who he belong to, who was his ring master.
His feet scraped across the ground causing a fall, striking the ground
completely on his left side, shooting pain along his shoulder and head, his
temple catching the stone floor. He laid there in pain, body shaking
uncontrollable at this point, his brain screaming at him to run but his body,
his body refused to move.
He didn’t want to go back.
He wanted to go home.
Closing his eyes tightly, Derek rolled himself onto his front, his stomach
heaving at the wave of dizziness. If they catch him, he would make sure he
fought back, he would not go back limp, he’ll go back kicking and screaming or
he’ll go back dead. Pushing to his hands and knees, he began to crawl, his skin
started to pick up something cold covering his form, the white noise in his
ears finally faded letting him hear the soft putters of rain hitting the
ground. Perfect its rain. The ground was getting to slick for him to hold on.
He was going to get caught. Closing his eyes tightly, he gave it one last push;
he used the last of his strength to lean forward into the wall and pushes
himself to stand.
With a crack, he landed on his back.
The shock of pain yanked the air from his lungs, leaving him to lie on the
ground gasping like a fish out of water. Wide eyes watch a small rusted color
gate slowly swing back up, locking itself back into place within the wall.
Air filled his lungs and his back arched up from the gasp. Rolling onto his
side, his fingers squeezed into fists at the pain that rocked his body from the
impact. He didn’t fall from very air, five feet tops but it still hurt like a
bitch when you don’t brace for it. Pushing to his elbows, he looked, frowning
on how he ended up here.
Looks like the wall he thought was a wall…was not one but a broken window. His
body went still when he heard the sounds of rushing feet and barking dogs. They
were here. Rolling, he pressed himself closer to the wall, teeth biting his
tongue to keep the hiss of pain from his battered back meeting the wall that
lingered under the window. Drops of water trailed over the edges, seeping into
the stone, trailing down to him from the outside where voices muffled over the
rain.
‘Do you see him?’
‘ He came this way; I hear those damn bells over here.’
‘Find him! Kate is going to have our balls if he gets away!’
‘What about the other one?’
‘We’ll get him later, Find Derek!’
Derek kept silent, his heart racing, feeling it was going to crawl up out of
his throat but by some higher power, they began to move away, rushing down
another ally taking them further.
Derek stayed where he was, his lungs starting to burn from the breath he held.
He ignored it, not wanting to make a sound, not wanting to move a muscle until
he knew for sure they were gone.
A few minutes felt like an hour but Derek finally let his lungs empty out,
hands lowering from their spots on the wall. Once his nerves were settled, he
began to take in the area. It looked like the ‘window’ he fell through was an
opening to a tunnel, perhaps it was the sewer? He’ll take whatever it was if it
meant he was out of sight and well hidden. Taking another deep breath, Derek
began rising himself to his feet, it would be best if he got away from the
window in case they rounded back. He had to go deeper into the tunnel.
He moved forward.
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