dexterous-sinistrous:

Derek lifted the gun, putting Stiles in the crosshairs as he waited for his aim to steady. His arm was heavy, his aim wavering a little. He knew he wasn’t the same ever since the fall. He wondered how this was going to end if he did pull the trigger.

Was he going to hit the glass, or was he about to put a hole in Stiles’ face?

“Did you think he loved you?” Jennifer fiercely uttered, narrowing her gaze. “Or maybe you thought you loved him. That you were finally capable of loving someone that would actually care—”

The shot rang out.

(Or, the James Bond AU no one asked me for…)

“It’s not a clean shot,” Erica stated as she looked down the scope at the oncoming train. She had a window of opportunity, knowing the moment that the train hit the tunnel, they’d lose everything. She watched through the scope as Derek struggled with the unknown assailant, both of them furiously trying to overpower the other. “Ma’am, I repeat, it’s not a clean shot—and the tunnel is coming up.”

“Can you get to higher ground?” Claudia asked as she leaned against her desk, just over the intercom emitting Erica’s voice.

“Negative,” Erica answered. “I don’t have time.”

Claudia paused, weighing the pros and cons. She had faith in Derek, always believing in his abilities to get the job done—with or without the finesse some of the other agents used. But she couldn’t risk the lives of every allied agent when she knew Derek’s abilities had been slipping. “Take the shot.”

The office turned eyes towards Claudia, all staring at her to confirm they heard her correctly.

“Derek isn’t clear,” Erica quickly countered.

“I said take the shot,” Claudia nearly snapped.

Erica pulled the trigger.

Derek’s body stumbled backwards upon impact of the bullet tearing through his chest. His footing was lost, his body falling off the train and plummeting down into the water below the bridge.

The office waited with baited breath since the shot rang out over the speakers.

“Agent down,” Erica’s voice softly confirmed the dreaded inevitable as she watched the train pass through the tunnel, the assailant getting away.

Claudia’s hand shot out, her fist slamming against her desk in anger. “Damn it!”

[Continue Reading on AO3]