Chapter Text
1. Sorrow
Derek leaves a single light pink wild rose by her gravestone, because it's the best flower he can think of. It stands out a little amongst the dahlias, but it just makes it all the more fitting.
2. Jesus Christ
For all that Scott accuses him for being built up out of anger, even the rage is seeping away from him, leaving him tired and drained on the bed in his nearly bare bedroom and the world could fall apart for all he cares.
It doesn't really feel like any of it is worth saving, anyway.
3. Streets of Philadelphia
“Of course you’re not a monster,” Stiles sounds as broken as Derek feels. “Jesus Christ.”
4. Still a Long Way to Go
”This,” he says, running a hand over the blanket, “is a comfort box.”
5. Blue and Yellow
“I like your face just fine,” Derek blurts before he can think to stop himself. Stiles doesn't say anything or look up at him, but he's smiling into the ice cream cone so Derek counts it as an accidental win.
6. For the Widows in Paradise, for the Fatherless in Ypsilanti
He smells proud. It's not obvious, but it's there, and Derek really, really does not know what to do with that little piece of information.
“Anytime, son,” he answers.
7. In the Shadow of the Valley of Death
”How have you been since we saw eachother last?”
“Fine,” he says, and it's so obviously automatic he makes a face at himself.
8. By and Down
” I was sixteen,” he says around the fangs that have dropped again . ”Where are you going with this?” he asks, even if he already knows.
9. About Today
“I trust you're telling me the truth.” His voice breaks a little. “Let it be clear though that even if you would do it, I'd find a way to drag your werewolf ass back to me. I don't fucking care what I'd have to do.”
10. I Wanna Be Adored
Every single one of his senses scream Stiles; the taste of his tongue, the scent of his cheek, his skin under Derek's fingertips and the content sigh when he rests his forehead against Derek's.
“I've wanted to do that for a while,” Derek admits.
“Good,” says Stiles with a breathless laugh, “Me too.”
11. Back Down the Black
“No. Seriously Derek, if you only let yourself believe one thing coming out of my mouth, let it be this: Stiles kept your apartment clean and your fridge full, sure, but he didn't get you out of bed and into the real world. That was all you.” Lydia says sternly. “You survived and then you came back. Take credit for that, because you deserve it.”
12. Wish You Were Here
“I really miss them both,” he says, voice so low it's almost a whisper.
She doesn't comment it when he starts crying, just gives him tissues sits with him in silence. Even when his hour is up, she lets him stay and waits until he's ready to leave.
13. Daphne Descends
“What?” Stiles says, looking perfectly comfortable despite the lack of layers he usually hides behind and the man watching him.
Derek just bites his lip to keep himself from saying something he shouldn't, and instead he just goes over to Stiles and wraps him up in a hug.
14. Green Eyes
“And you're my best friend.”
Lydia looks up at him, eyes wide.
15. Sweater Weather
He follows but stops and watches when Stiles starts wading out slowly, very obviously trying to keep from complaining about the temperature. Then makes an undignified noise when he gets to hip depth and Derek can't control his laughter anymore.
16. Hey Jupiter
“I need your help, Der,” Lydia says, voice small and brittle like he's never heard her before.
17. Happy Home
Everytime he's imagined this, because he has, maybe more than he'd like to admit, it has been amidst blood and pain and possible death. Last minute confessions, the kind that will only make the pain and death worse.
18. the Light Behind Your Eyes
When Derek runs his hands up over her shoulders to bare skin he expects it to be cold, cold like the air around him, yet Erica's a furnace compared to the night air and she smells like cheap motel room soap, coffee and moss and life .
19. Never Tear Us Apart
”Forever doesn't scare me,” he says, draping his arms around Derek's neck. “I wanna have a home with you, steal your shirts and watch you drool on my pillow.”
20. Woods
Stiles smells of ozone as Derek closes up on him, tickling his nose and making him shiver. It's not the intense scent when he steadies himself for battle, growing quickly like dark clouds on the horizon, but the lighter notes of it he sometimes smells of when they brush their teeth next to each other, or when they kiss when he comes home, or when Derek's talking history with Noah. Stiles is happy .