[For Derek]

[likeahero]

Oliver's been in the city long enough (a year now, a whole goddamn year) to know there are things he can't explain in any way that doesn't accept the supernatural as a reality. Derek had proven as much. Porthos hunted vampires. Superheroes with superpowers exist.

There's too much evidence to turn a blind eye, so eventually Oliver doesn't. And he sees a lot.

The night has been quiet so far, though a short talk with Alexei earlier has left Oliver on edge. Felicity flirts with him through his earpiece and he can picture her easily, on their couch in her pajamas, laptop on the coffee table and bowl of ice cream in hand as she guides him through the night. It helps.

He's perched on the edge of a short rooftop, about to break radio silence again when he hears a scream cut short in the alley below. The street light cast large shadows in the alley, but the screamer is wearing something that catches the light every now and then as she fights back. Eventually she stills and then Oliver sees it: a larger shadow over her body. A vampire feeding.

Oliver doesn't hesitate, but he isn't one hundred percent sure just how to take care of a vampire (Wood? Silver?), and he doesn't want to send an arrow through its heart only to find out it was a human after all.

He shoots and immediately rappels down into the alley, the creature shrieking in rage as he hits the ground. When he looks up again, another arrow already nocked, the vampire rips the first one out of his shoulder and turns his full attention to Oliver.

Well, at least he's sure it's a vampire now.

The girl shifts behind it, and Oliver is thankful for that much, even if he knows this is not going to end well. Felicity's going to kill him.

He shoots again, two arrows in rapid succession, one aiming for the heart, the other for an eye as the vampire turns into a blur as it rushes toward him.

Comments

[triskehale]

Derek wrinkles nose at the term hunter. The word makes him think of Argents and death, the phantom smell of smoke and charred wood. But he does trust that Dean was honorable, and that he never drew first blood. He knows that Dean doesn't hate him just for being a different species.

"An everything hunter, really," Derek says with a shrug. "Where he's from, at least. I'd say he's more of a supernatural expert than I am. I may be a werewolf but I'm fairly certain that vampires didn't even exist where I'm from."

Derek sighs and lifts his chin to meet Oliver's gaze. "I'll see what he suggests. Want me to keep you updated?"

[likeahero]

"I'd appreciate it," Oliver says with a nod. "Whatever will help if I run into of these things in the future."

He hopes it won't come to that, but it's better to be safe and ready for whatever may come. And he knows Felicity would appreciate that much as well.

"Wolves and vampires...anything else out here I should know about?"

[triskehale]

"No problem," Derek tells him as he slides his hand into his pocket, fingers curling around his phone. "When I need to get a hold of you do I throw up the bat signal, or do you want to give me your number?"

He huffs out a laugh, but then his expression goes a little thoughtful at Oliver's question, and he meets his eyes. "Plenty of things. There are witches and mages. Faeries."

Sookie flits through his mind, and he smiles a little. "But there are monsters out there, too. So just be careful. And I'll keep an eye out for you."

It's not until after he says it that he realizes that it might sound a little condescending, but it's not how he meant it. Derek doesn't have a pack, or a territory, not anymore. But that doesn't mean that the urges and instincts that come with having those things have gone away. He wants to keep this town safe, and he wants to keep the people who matter to him safe.

And apparently, Oliver has found himself in that category.

[likeahero]

Oliver rolls his eyes and holds a hand out for Derek's phone.

Magic, fairies, it all sounds like a world much bigger than Oliver's used to, and he doesn't mind Derek's offer for help and some sort of protection. He's not an idiot, and he knows there are things out there he's not quite up to facing.

"I wouldn't mind a little back up from time to time."

[triskehale]

Derek laughs and sets his phone in Oliver's hand, and then holds his own hand expectantly. Once he has Oliver's phone, he puts in his own information and hands it back over with a nod. He's glad Oliver doesn't put up resistance to Derek's offer of help, and it makes him breathe easier to know that Oliver will reach out to Derek if he needs.

"Anytime," Derek tells him, and he means it. "Just give me a call."