Don't Fail Me Now

by DiscontentedWinter

Stiles goes to Derek looking for help.

He finds Peter instead.

Peter takes what he's wanted for a very long time.
-----------
Teen Wolf Fic - Peter/Stiles
Words:36315 complete
Very dark - please note warnings

Genres: Fan Fiction, M M Romance, Abuse, Shapeshifters, Dark, Paranormal, LGBT

109 pages, ebook

First published December 28, 2014

About the author

See also: Lisa Henry

Permission granted by the author

Reviews

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Peter takes what he's wanted for a very long time."

Chapter 1: Jesus H. Christ. So good. Mind the tags though, and be forewarned: the opening scene is 100% non con, after that stuff gets wonderfully blurry and Stockholm Syndrome-y.

Chapter 2: Feels more and more like a The Last Rebellion/ Steter mashup. Is it still Christmas?^^

"Are we going to go through this every time, really?" Peter tilts his head on an angle. His smile inches up a few degrees. "I want you, Stiles. And from where I’m sitting, it looks like I’ve got you."

Chapter 3: So this chapter nearly killed me due to a greatness overload. My eyes were glued to the screen and I think I breathed maybe twice. This had everything: shock value, disturbing sensuality and a further exploration of Stockholm Syndrome.

Chapter 4, 5 and 6: Breathing, it's not something I do when reading this fic. It's marvelous though, absolutely marvelous. DW manages to keep the tension and intensity intact throughout this fic and that's such a difficult task. My only regret is that it's all a bit rushed. I want it to be more, it's so good.

Finale: Whew, what an awesome Steter! My only two niggles are that it feels a bit rushed overall, which is frustrating because I could easily read another 15 chapters of this. >:) And the excessive usage of 'sweethearts' didn't exactly work for me, as Peter would use those sarcastically rather than in a lovable manner (hence the GIF). Whatever, I can edit them out of my copy.

Black coffee crowd, take note: you want to read this!

[Jyanx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as dark, and creepy as I could have hoped it would be.



Oh, I like this very much.



No hea, no last minute respite, just the perfect ending to a dark tale.

[♣ Irish Smurfétté ♣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well.

Shit.

Dark is the word. Dank is definitely the word.

There is also asshole. Peter is an asshole. Fuck him for thinking his way is the only way.

And that, ladies n gents, is how you get a reaction from readers.

[Optimist ♰King's Wench♰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Who says that love and manipulation are mutually exclusive?"

Stockholm Syndrome never felt so good!

Even though I know less than nothing about this fandom I loved the hell out of this. It's full of things that give me the tingles.

It's dark, non-con. My cuppa! Lookit! There's even a cuppa on the cover.

This Peter Hale dude is HOOOOOOOOTTTT!!!

He's a bit whackadoodle but HOOOOOOOTTTT!! And he's set his sights on Stiles after some sort of possession type situation happened to Stiles and turned him all brooding, borderline suicidal, melancholy and whatnot. Evidently, Peter's got a hard on for dark and moody Stiles.

Fate brings Stiles to his door one night and what transpires is not pleasant. Be forewarned: this ain't your momma's non-con. This is The Henry's non-con a.k.a. brutal.

"Give yourself to me, and I'll put you back together."

And he does. In San Francisco. For weeks.

Stiles gives and gives and gives some more. Deliciously.

Peter feeds him. <---melt worthy
Peter keeps him blindfolded. <---made me ache

There is A LOT of blood play and biting with a breath play scene that… FUCK.



Everything is conveyed beautifully. All the emotions, the conflict, the surrender, the relinquishing of control and the begging. I believe I've made my feelz about begging known.

Sometimes, Peter takes those spaces and reshapes them, and fills them with the whispered promises that he can make Stiles whole again.

Sometimes Stiles wonders how long it will take.

Sometimes he doesn't care if it's forever.

And sometimes that idea terrifies him.

They develop an unconventional love heavily based in codependency. But it was hot.

Even though I don't speak the TW lingo this fic whispered sweet nothings to me. I'd read it again.

Apparently, there's an obligatory gif thing. I'm not sure.

Best I could do.

[Dreamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark psychological fanfic from DiscontentedWinter. After Stiles' possession by the Nogitsune's, he is left an emotional wreck. Following a panic attack, Stiles makes his way to Derek's loft where he is raped and abducted by Peter.
Art by RunawayKid

'The only thing he’s really afraid of now is discovery. He’s afraid that he’ll be taken away from Peter and forced to look everything that happens here in the face. He’ll be forced to see how wrong it is, and he doesn’t want that.'

[Emma Sea · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's DiscontentedWinter. It's STETER!

[Onyx · Rating 5 out of 5]

*fic completed 2/08/2015*

First, curiosity. Then, horror. And pity. And scorn. Suddenly, desire. Tears, pain, and blood. Catharsis. Darkness. Helpless arousal. Terror. Affection then leads to hope which then is ruined, and against all odds it makes a sort of sense.

“It fed off chaos,” Stiles murmurs. “This isn’t chaos.”

“No.” Peter steps closer. “This is order.”

Reading this fic means all of the above, over again in loop of sweet, tortuous addiction. Read this, and be as drawn to the story as Stiles becomes to Peter. It'll fuck with your head, and it's so perfect you'll want to do it again. Because that's what Lisa Henry pulls off in this demented, romantic nightmare. Utter perfection.

"There are no wolves in California."

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This fic puts the reader inside Stiles' mind as he experiences Stockholm syndrome. He knows Peter is fucked up and manipulative, but he is already fucked up himself from the Nogitsune, and finds himself more afraid of his reality without Peter than what he experiences under his control. It's very dark and stays that way, which I think is appropriate because fluff would have felt totally out of place. Mind the warnings - there is violent rape and bloodplay so it's not for the faint of heart.

I think it would have been better if Stiles' acceptance had been more gradual, and Peter's use of endearments seemed excessive to me, especially because I can only imagine him saying "sweetheart" sarcastically.

I loved everything else about it though, and ate this up as quickly as she spit it out!

[Tara♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"He's crying again, or still, or something."



Jesus fucking christ!!

So I did not sleep soundly after reading this. Not at all.

I went into this after reading the tags and being totally prepared for what was ahead of me. Or at least I thought I was. The first chapter was horrific and upsetting and made me want to murder Peter but what absolutely scared the bejesus out of me was how I, along with Stiles, started to think that maybe he was helping Stiles as the story progressed. Until you know, I slapped myself up the side of the head and continuously reminded myself that Peter is a creepy, evil manipulative wanker.

Stiles is broken and so very vulnerable and Peter is broken and so very sociopathic. The combination is upsetting and uncomfortable and terrifying.

This is not in anyway a HEA but it ended, I think, the only way it could.

So not for the faint of heart and I encourage people to read the tags. I wish I was progressing onto something that was fluff based but on to More Than Biology.

[Lilia Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those impossible fics to review. I read this almost a year ago and let it sit on my "currently reading" pile because I didn't know how the fuck to rate it. I've read a lot of crazy shit, in this fandom and in general, but for some reason this one got under my skin in a way that I mostly experienced as unpleasant. Granted this is an occupational hazard with this author, but the effect was unusually strong with this particular fic. A lot of my difficulty likely came from the bloodplay--just thinking about it makes me queasy and even nauseous and there wasn't even that much. But the dynamic between Stiles and Peter also freaked me out, like a lot. But I have to give credit to a story that is still causing weird mental problems for me a year later--and which I only read once. Altogether an unusually potent reading experience, hence the five stars.

[Xing · Rating 4 out of 5]

The "Malia doesn't exist" tag makes me a happy camper.

[Maiko-chan [|] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third book read for the BDSM group May 2015 Orgasm Play Challenge, personal theme: non-con.

Ohh this was good. I very much enjoyed this. Not my first stockholm syndrome story as I was introduced to the concept/condition years ago with a story so good that I can't help but compare all other SS stories to it. The rather brilliant Teen Titans fanfic Small Print coauthored by RobinRocks and Narroch that unfortunately is no longer available online*. In the very capable hands of DiscontentedWinter/LH I am proud to say this definitely held up.

I think this has also solidified my feelings regarding Teen Wolf fanfiction. I'm convinced that the fandom fics I lean towards enjoying more are those of a similar style to this story: dark and of a serious nature versus the light and happy so many of the stories in this fandom seem to have.

Quotes:

You made me chamomile tea. You made me chamomile tea, and now you’re raping me.
In what universe does that even make sense?
The same one, maybe, where Peter leans down and licks a wet stripe up the back of his neck, and growls, “fucking whore” and it sounds somehow like an endearment.

Stiles isn’t dumb. He knows what’s happening here. He just doesn’t know if it’s worth resisting. He’s already broken.

“You’ll give me this?” Peter asks in his ear.
“Yes,” Stiles whispers, and wonders why it feels more like a choice when Peter asks than something that’s as inevitable as the dawn.

When is a monster not a monster?

And Peter indulges him with a knowing smile. “Is it really so hard to believe?”
Stiles doesn’t know how to answer that. He wants to say that yes, it’s impossible to believe, but he and Peter fit so well together. If Stiles needs Peter, then Peter needs Stiles too. Stiles isn’t a victim here—not just a victim. He’s allowed to be something else too. This isn’t Scott’s black and white world. It never has been.
Being here, being with Peter, it isn’t just surrender.
It’s also a sort of victory.

Overall: this is stockholm syndrome worth reading.



Notes:
-minor typos
-the bad guy wins (to my immense pleasure, among other key elements, similar to Small Print)
-*Small Print is not online anymore only because of fanfiction.net's conditions regarding content, and the authors do not plan to reupload the story online, however I totally have the story saved, as RobinRocks (and presumably Narroch) is aware so if you're interested then I totally rec it. So much Sladin (Slade/Robin) goodness. If you enjoyed Don't Fail Me Now you'd probably enjoy that story too. Recommended.
-If you haven't read anything by RobinRocks and/or Narroch, regardless of your interest of Small Print, then I highly recommend their Death Note story Poison Apple.
- Marianas Trench's Toy Soldiers definitely fits and is a good song choice for this fic
-still
-*listens to One Direction's Stockholm Syndrome on repeat*
-DW/LH: I think it would be very interesting if you wrote a story inspired by Simon Curtis' Super Psycho Love, just saying

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving this story so far it is truly

Dark,non/con, dub/con, and all kinds of goodies .... and more importantly it has



The man who was

I love big age differences between the MCs and although Peter
But when push came to shove


Anyways our sweet boy all of a sudden has dreams of and he goes from a smart mouth, over hyper, chatterbox to

Peter goes and buys (maybe in the future) for Stiles. Peter is taking good care of Stiles

Then
Yup that D. So the dear sweet boy Peter being Peter gets whatever he wants and Stiles is sooo not immune to Peter's charms Oh yeah a scene from Tribute takes place here. I really don't care what happens in the middle of the story as long as Steter stays together forever--Right? All I am asking is that when it is over let them be together or else

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

"When is a monster not a monster?"

This fic is dark. It is dangerous and disturbing and not for the faint of heart - and I absolutely adored it.

Stiles has been left hollow by the nogitsunes possession of his body. He's not the same person he was before. He's not the Stiles that Scott loves, that Derek knows, that his dad needs, remembers and loves. Peter, the monster of yhe pack, is the only one who understands.

Brutal in parts...and gentle in others. Fear, self loathing and being aware of how much he'd never fitted in, Stiles needs Peter to rescue him. At times the lines between love and hate, between right and wron, between who was rescuer and the rescuee became blurred.

This fic shows that even in dark and twisted life is not always black and white. I hope there is more of this to come.

As a side note, my heart ached for the Sheriff. Truly, truly ached. Maybe it was parent empathy, even as much as I understood Stiles desire and need for Peter, as a mum I cannot bear to think of the sheriff's pain.

A wonderful, wonderful piece of fan fiction. Please not yhe archive/author warnings before reading. Thank you Lisa xx

[Bree Cheese · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't prepared for how dark this fic was when I first started reading - it's dark, DARK-DARK! Once I got in the right mind set and surrounded myself with kittens and unicorns, I was able to enjoy the story.

[Adrian Fridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

[EDITED Aug 1] This was the first time I've ever read an eroticized Stockholm Syndrome story, and it messed me up... in a good way.

When I originally wrote my review, I was peeved from what I can only describe as "emotional blue balls." I typically read dark stories for the ultimate redemption, that sense of closure after being dragged through dirt and hell. In this way, the torture of characters is cathartic because there's the gift of a happy ending (even if it's bittersweet).

After I finished reading Don't Fail Me Now, I was a wreck. I didn't get the closure I was used to, and I attributed that to the failure of the author. I made the grievous mistake of judging this story based on what I wished it was instead of what it actually is.

This is not meant to have an HEA; the I-love-yous are not meant to signify everything is somehow, magically better. The enjoyment of this piece is in knowing how fucked up Stiles is and how fucked up his situation remains to the very end. As Optimist King's Wench so perfectly explains: "Were it real life I'd be appalled, but fiction Stockholm Syndrome *sometimes* works for me."

It's funny how deeply this story affected me without intending to and how much I've been ruminating ever since my initial discussion in the comments. I still don't condone "Rape=Love" stories, but that attitude is based on my battle against rape culture. I remember being way more tolerant of unhealthy, co-dependent relationships when I used to indulge in yaoi manga (where rape=love remains rampant). I know what it's like to take pleasure in awful fictional things while simultaneously knowing I'd never in a billion years ever wish it upon a real person. I'd be a hypocrite to penalize other people for doing the same.

So, as it goes, I'm taking back my initial harshness. The writing is really good, and the smut is--conditionally--very hot. I'm giving this the 4 stars it deserves.

As a side note: If there were a sequel where Stiles figures out a way to snap out of his immense Stockholm Syndrome, I totally imagine it happening with Derek confessing his love and helping through the trauma. Lol, yes, let's sneak Sterek into this Steter.


---Original Review Below---

Stockholm syndrome romance? Eh, I liked everything up to all the love confessions. I find no HEA in co-dependency.

I have an intimate understanding of mind rape and the emotional death a possession like that of the nogitsune leaves behind. It's palpable to me. I could roll with the whole Peter becoming a physical manifestation of that.

Thus the sappy ending just...no. I really wanted to see Stiles snap out of his co-dependency and find strength in that instead. Even if it meant not reading that super hot sex scene in the end with breath play. Conflicting ain't it.

So this would be a 4 star read if Stiles and Peter found a different way to rehabilitate each other from the darkness. Giving 2 stars because I don't want to condone "Rape=Love" (which is Peter's motivations in a nutshell).

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmnnnnnn! This was dark and gritty and fucked... but I kinda liked it. My only issue was that I wish the end had been handled in a way that didn't isolate Stiles quite so much from everyone else. True, they didn't understand. But he didn't even try to explain it to them. I wanted to see the shock and pain on their faces when Stiles told them that he was suicidal, and they all hadn't been helping, but Peter did. That they may not like it, but Peter saved his life. Instead, he sorta came off as, well, a teenager. "I hate you, Dad!" Really? So cliche, and everyone knows, not helpful. And very unfair. Yes, you want to be with Peter. Yes, they're being difficult about it, but you know why. Stiles threatening to kill himself if they hurt Peter was one thing, but saying "I'll kill you" to his Dad?!?! A little too much for me. Poor 'ol Sheriff is only trying to help.

Re-read: I had pretty much the same thoughts about the ending, although what Stiles was dealing with and some of the early stuff definitely hit me hard.

[Skye Blue ☆*~ﾟლ(´ڡ`ლ)~*☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is gonna be GOOD!

Update:

Oh YES, that was good! Totally F'ed up, but in the most delicious way. I need a cigarette.



Peter was disturbing, just the way I like him. What was happening was not okay...it wasn't right, it was disturbing but hot.

Towards the end, I wanted Derek to save him. I couldn't root for Peter, it was f'ed up all the way through, but I could still enjoy the ride.


Did I mention I love evil Peter?


I had this story hyped up in my head, before I started it. Usually that leads to disappointment. But not this time. I loved every paragraph.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now THAT is what I'm talking about.
This actually should have been my first Lisa Henry (instead of The Last Rebellion) - now I understand what the hype is all about.

This is horribly good.
It has exactely the right amount of conclusive world building and psychological realism to make it truly disturbing.
Deceptively calm, understated and penetrative description of the eerie inevitability of revictimization and traumatic bonding.

Stile's susceptibility to violation because of his previous traumatic experience is brilliantly captured and utilised.

And while the story stays imperturbably true to the (horrific) premise, the nightmare is so sensually and seductively offered that I got drawn into it deeply - and afterwards it lingered.

And the ending is just .... worthily consequent and quietly heartbreaking. She really follows through, no cheap cop-out far and wide.

Gah, that was squicky, in a really intelligent, good way.

Be aware of the warnings, though, seriously.

ETA: So, lovely people, what's next for me? Please tell me which other book/story of Lisa Henry comes close to this kind of eerie brilliance.

[Eugenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dark. Dark. Dark.

Dark.
Rape.
Cutting.
Blood play.
Scarring.
Stockholm Syndrome.
Abuse.
Breath play.

This is the darkest Steter I’ve read.
It was well written, but I couldn’t enjoy it. My boundaries kept being poked and prodded. It didn’t feel good. Not right now, at least.

If super dark is your cup of tea, cheers. This one is for you. Otherwise, stay the hell away.

[Fifi LaFleur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrifying, heartbreaking, tragic. It feels wrong that I also found it kinda hot. Geez, Peter is seriously creepy-hot and horrifying at the same time. I couldn't pull myself away even though I hated much of what was being done to Stiles. Poor broken Stiles. I just want to cuddle him and make it better.

A really well developed and fleshed out story. I enjoy the dark (except with Sterek-that's gotta be more sweet!) and it's a testament to exceptional writing that can make me feel some understanding and sympathy for fucked up characters.

I really did enjoy this but I'm off to power read some sweet Sterek now.

[Maygirl7]

I don't know if I'm ready for Steter. But it's Discontentedwriter!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very good!

[Anna Kļaviņa · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5

I couldn't get into this because I can't see Peter as a rapist. I just can't. Perhaps, I could imagine him sexually assaulting some other werewolf, someone just as physically strong as him but not skinny, defenceless Stiles. But my largest issue was the ending, not because Stiles stayed but because it really did look that in some messed up way Peter does care about him. To be honest, I believe it would have been better if Peter would have laughed in Stiles face and send him away back to his dad.

In short this time it's more of "it's me not you" because the story is well written.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was too dark for me. Bloody play, rape, Stockholm syndrome and his isolation to his family and friends. I feel icky!
Not a nice feeling.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow I need a dose of fluff stat. That was dark and horrible and so well written but so horrible. I have read a couple books where Stockholm Syndrome is a theme and and the authors pulled it off. However I did not get the "romance" that other authors seemed to have added. And you know what thats ok, Stockholm Syndrome is not actually romantic its creepy and horrible and manipulative and so Peter. I don't like reading Post Nagatsune Stiles, it's just so depressing and I like Stiles for his happy banter. So yeah the writing for this was great, but I did not love it, it was just too broken and sad. I did not love Peter, and I just felt so so bad for Stiles.

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping. Dark. Compelling. A lesson, a dark one, in trust. Some errors, such as "made" for "mad", but mostly okay. Crazy ride.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very dark, very well written - no HEA but a little hope

[Tjarde · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Plainbrownwrapper]

No, sorry. I don't do rape porn.