Chapter Text
The next morning Stiles woke up content,legs tangled in his duvet and warm. He stretched out his limbs,muscles shaking deliciously. He rolled over,expecting Derek's warm body to wrap around him but came up cold. A hand gripped his heart and squeezed. He sat upright. His heart settled at the sight of a note on his bedside table. Stiles picked up the piece of paper and read the messy scrawl.
You were asleep when I woke up and I didn't want to wake you. Sorry I had to go,your dad came home so I might have jumped out of your window...I'll see you soon. In the meantime I brought you a chocolate muffin, I remember how much you like them ;)
Love, Derek
Stiles laughed giddily to himself at the inside joke. Let him explain. Before Derek left for New York they had met three times. The first time was when Stiles' mum died, the second was Stiles' first day back at school and the third...was the most mortifying day of Stiles' life.
It was only two weeks after Stiles went back to school and he was feeling a bit testy for it. The teachers were treating him like an orphan and the other kids looked at him like an alien and were constantly talking about him to themselves. He was angry and sad and all he wanted was something chocolate.
There was a convenience store a few streets away from school and Stiles stormed over there as fast as he could. The store was small,the lighting dim and the woman at the register had a deflated, uninterested face. Stiles got what he wanted and left. Stiles walked to a empty park and sat on a bench, six double chocolate muffins in his lap. They were his favourite and after his crappy day he needed something he liked to make him feel better. The first one disappeared in a second and Stiles hummed contently at the chocolate taste in his mouth. The second one he picked at a bit more but by the fourth one he was starting to feel a little full. But he couldn't take them home because his dad would get annoyed at him for spending his money on crap. So,with eight year old logic, he decided he would have to eat them all. It was the sixth one that really made him feel sick. His tongue felt rubbery and all he could taste was chocolate.
"Oh,god." Stiles groaned,ready to burst. He'd never felt so sick in his life. He had to get home. Stiles picked up his things and started walking home,slowly. There was no one around to see his pale sick face and he was grateful because if he started talking to someone more than words would come out of his mouth. He trudged past the swings and even the thought of them made his stomach roll. There was a section of trees beside the park that ,if you went deep enough led you into the preserve. Stiles made it his escape route,just in case he needed it. It was only two steps before he felt it coming,bubbling up his throat. Stiles cursed,dropped his things and ran ,bolted for the woods. The dead leaves crunched under his Chucks and he leaned against a tree to catch his breath.
"Sweet Lord." He murmured,breathing deeply,trying not to be sick.
"Are you okay?"
Stiles screamed,actually screamed,voice high and shrill. "Woah,woah,calm down its just me." Stiles turned to see Derek's holding out his hands like he was approaching a snarling dog, trying to convince it he wouldn't cause it any harm. Stiles gasped in relief.
"Jesus ,Derek! You scared me nearly half to death." Derek raised his eyebrows in smothered amusement. He was dressed like he always was with dark wash jeans,boots,Henley and a leather jacket. A new one since Stiles still had the one that Derek had given him the first time they met. Stiles stomach growled at him,screaming at him for putting it through that torture.
"Mother of God! Derek get away right now." Stiles warned but Derek being Derek stepped forward immediately.
"Stiles,what's wrong?" He asked,eyebrows drawn in concern. Stiles tried to turn away but Derek reached out and nudged him back to face him sharply. It was the sudden movement that did it. He tried to warn him but it was too late because Stiles was puking his guts out across the forest floor...and on Derek. In that moment Stiles wanted to crawl into a ball and dig himself a hole and live out his embarrassing life there in the darkness. Derek jumped back with a shout but it was a second too late and it splattered over his shoes and his pant leg. When Stiles had finished emptying out the entire contents of his stomach he slumped against a tree trunk and groaned. He felt so much better but at the same time his dwindling pride had just been shot down because HE JUST VOMITED ON DEREK HALE.
"Oh,God-I'm so sorry." Stiles babbled.
"Why is it brown?" Was all Derek said and Stiles looked down...it was brown.
"Uhhh-well-I um-I had muffins." Derek's eyebrows rose higher.
"How many?"
"...six." Stiles mumbled. Derek snorted a laugh.
"That makes sense...why six?"
"I really like chocolate muffins,they're my favourite." Stiles said and wiped his mouth."Sorry for ruining your shoes and your jeans." Derek shrugged.
"It's okay,are you okay?"
"Yeah,much better. I should probably go before my dad starts to worry." Stiles said regretfully,averting his eyes from the chocolatey mess he'd made.
"Oh." Derek's smile faltered a little. "Okay. Are you sure you're feeling alright?" Derek asked again and Stiles grinned impishly, flush rising in his cheeks.
"I'm fine,Derek." He held out his lanky arms. "You can come check if you like?" Derek's eyes widened and Stiles giggled.
"I mean a hug. You don't have to get me a ring." Derek laughed warmly and shrugged,stepping forward into Stiles' embrace. They were kind of the same height but since Derek was a bit older and had grown a bit,he was a little taller and bigger...not in a bad way though,not even a little. Stiles felt the comfort of Derek's body wash over him and he smiled.
"You seem okay to me." Derek said.
"Told you. Thanks Derek...for everything and for not being mad at me for throwing up on you." Derek laughed.
"That's okay." They broke apart and stepped back with matching awkward smiles.
"I'll see you around." Stiles said.
"I'll see you Stiles." Derek smiled,all teeth and it made Stiles feel way better then chocolate muffins ever could. If he knew that was the last time he'd see Derek for eight years he would have done something different...maybe not have thrown up on him. The hug was good though.
Stiles laughed so much that tears came to his eyes. God he was so embarrassing.
Stiles piled on the layers: T-shirt,open button down and hoodie. He grabbed the chocolate muffin (God it looked delicious) and ran down the stairs. His dad was in the kitchen ,stirring his coffee, when he came in.
"Hey,Stiles." He said.
"Hi,Dad. I've got to go or I'll be late for school." Stiles said taking a bite out of the muffin and nearly came in his pants it was so good.
"Okay! Stay out of trouble! Oh,hey did you hear the Hales are back in town?" His dad called out to him as he headed out the door. Stiles smirked,knowingly.
"Yeah, I heard. Bye, Dad."
"See you son."
********
Erica flew at him the second she saw him. Stiles stumbled back with a groan and she apologized. She squeezed his ribs tight and he gasped for air.
"Erica! Erica! I need air." She squeezed him once more before pulling away.
"Stiles! Oh my god we thought you were dead! Are you okay?" Erica asked,gripping his face. Stiles smiled dopily at her and she raised her eyebrows high on her forehead.
"Stiles? What the hell are you smiling at? You just had the living crap beaten out of you?" Stiles just kept smiling at her and took her hands in his.
"He's back,Erica." He beamed.
"Who?"
"Derek Hale." Erica's eyes couldn't have gotten any wider than they were.
"What? Are you serious? Since when?"
Erica pulled him out of the way of everyone and leant against the lockers.
"Yesterday after...you know,he turned up like he always does and" He sighed."-and he did what he always does: patched me up and made it all better." Erica leaned in a whispered.
"What else happened? Did you tell him that you are an absolutely Fangirl over him? Did you kiss?" Stiles made a smug face and Erica's jaw dropped. "More than kissed?" Stiles laughed and she slapped him on the chest. "Are you shitting me right now?"
"No,he's not." A voice rumbled and Erica jumped. Derek's smiling face beamed down at him.
"Derek?" Stiles asked in absolute shock. Derek grinned and in a swift movement had him pushed up against some poor kids locker and devoured his mouth. Stiles let himself be prone,encircled in Derek's warm and hard body.
Erica cleared her throat loudly and Stiles opened his eyes and looked over Derek's shoulder to see everyone staring at him. Stiles flushed beet red and Derek laughed.
"I guess we attracted a bit of an audience." He said and Stiles grinned.
"Derek,what are you doing here?" Stiles asked in disbelief and chest swelling happiness. Derek shrugged,still settled in close to Stiles.
"I never finished my senior year properly so this is where I decided I would graduate then UCLA." Stiles rubbed his hand over Derek's stubble and he leaned into the touch. Erica situated herself right next to Stiles and smiled at Derek.
"Hi,Derek I'm assuming? I'm Erica Reyes and can I just say one thing? If you ever leave Stiles again, not New York or even Australia will be far enough away for me to track you down and kill you." Derek shook her hand with a never faltering smile.
"It's nice to meet you too and just for the record I'm not going anywhere." He said it to Erica,but Stiles knew it was aimed at him. He couldn't believe it! He was going to go to school with Derek! He was going to see him everyday! The opportunities for sneaky makeouts were endless. Derek looked at him slyly out of the corner of his eye like he knew exactly what he was thinking. And Stiles thought Erica might have aswell because she smirked and told Stiles she'd see him at lunch and walked away giggling. Derek crowded Stiles again and kissed him sweetly.
"You still smell like me." He whispered so that Stiles was the only one to hear it. A tingle went down his spine and he kissed Derek's stubbled cheek.
"What else do I smell like?" Derek grinned manically.
"Like a chocolate muffin." Stiles giggled,hands brushing up Derek's chest and he growled quietly,more like a purr. A body slammed into the lockers beside them with a crash and Stiles jumped. He turned to see curly blonde hair,light eyes and a happy grin.
"So this is Stiles?" Isaac Lahey said and Derek moved so him and Stiles were side by side,hip to hip.
"Stiles,Isaac, Isaac,Stiles." Derek said monotonous and Isaac shook Stiles' hand.
"Nice to finally meet you, Derek's been talking about you for years,the whole time I was in New York." Stiles was confused.
"You went to New York too?"
"Yeah after my dad died I went and lived in New York for a while and met Derek over here." He motion to Derek with his head,curls bouncing and Stiles smiled. "Then I came back here a few years ago and Derek stayed in New York with his sisters." He shrugged his lean shoulders.
"Isaac,don't you have other places to be?" Derek said and Stiles elbowed him in the ribs for being rude,but Isaac just laughed.
"Like I don't know what you'll do as soon as I'm out of sight. You two smell disgustingly like each other." Stiles went red and sunk back into Derek. Derek glared at Isaac for embarrassing Stiles and Isaac dropped his smirk.
"Sorry,man,I didn't mean to invade your privacy."
"It's fine, you can't help it. I'm new to this whole werewolf thing and now I'm regretting not taking a shower this morning." Stiles said and Isaac rolled his eyes.
"You would have to take about ten showers to get that smell off you! Don't though cause I'm sure Derek likes it."
"Isaac." Derek growled and Isaac sighed.
"Okay,I'll lay off." Stile sighed in relief. Isaac was nice,but had absolutely no shame. Derek hooked an arm around Stiles' waist and kissed him on head,right at his hair line and Stiles laughed happily.
"Stilinski?" Stiles' stomach dropped to ankle level and he felt his breath quicken. Derek turned around first.
"Yes?" Derek asked and Jackson raised his eyebrows mockingly.
"I wasn't talking to you,caveman, I was talking to Stilinski." Stiles closed his eyes briefly,collecting himself before turning around.
"What Jackson?" He asked and at the mention of his name Derek looked at Stiles sharply and moved in closer to him,arm around his middle,squeezing lightly. Jackson looked like he wanted to laugh until his lungs went dry.
"Oh,shit this is perfect! Stilinski's a fag? I did not expect that one!" Chris Argent laughed harshly at his side but Stiles watched Boyd looking torn between the two sides and he kept quiet.
"And this is what you go for? Jesus, Stilinski way to pick a serial killer." Stiles scowled fiercely and Jackson kept going. "What's wrong,Stilinski? You look a little worse for wear? Daddy been drinking again? Get a bit out of hand?" Stiles clenched his fists.
"Fuck off,Jackson." He spat and Jackson grinned.
"Did I hit a sore spot? Well your boyfriend can kiss it better? Wait- holy shit! Are you a Hale?" Jackson asked,delighted and Derek squeezed Stiles a little harder. "You are arent you? Jesus Christ Stilinski you can really pick them! Better watch out Stilinski,keep him away from matches just in case." Stiles was shaking he was so full of rage. His fists were clenched so tight it hurt,especially the hand with his broken fingers. He wanted to hit him. He watched to punch him in his perfect face, he wanted to rip out his perfect hair and he wanted to yell and scream at him until he had no breath left in him. Derek turned his head slightly so he could talk right in Stiles' ear.
"Do it,Stiles. Just do it." He said and Stiles knew what he meant. Isaac came up close behind them,growling. Derek cocked his head to his side and Boyd stepped out and came around to his side. Jackson watched in confusion as Boyd stood his ground next to Derek and Stiles. Isaac's hand was suddenly on Stiles back and he gave him a nudge forward. Stiles didn't need it. He stepped forward,brought his fist back and swung it in an arch, fast and hard, square into Jackson's jaw. Jackson went down immediately,landing on his ass. Stiles ignored the throbbing in his hand and kicked Jackson in the ribs and he gasped,curling in on himself. Stiles wanted to do so much more but Derek pulled him away with a comforting hand. Stiles didn't think it was enough to make him stop. It wasn't enough. Derek squeezed his shoulder and in a split second had Jackson pinned to the ground. He looked him right in the eye.
"Stay away from Stiles or we will come back." And then he roared,white fangs gleaming, eyes ruby red and terrifying. Jackson looked about ready to wet himself or cry. Derek pulled himself up off the ground, unnaturally graceful and quiet. Jackson scrambled to get up and bolted down the thankfully empty hallway. It was over.
He didn't see Jackson for the rest of the day and he felt calm,especially when Derek draped himself over him at lunch and everybody smiled.
When Stiles got home that afternoon his father noticed the bruises and he was hit with a sea of questions that he answered truthfully. His dads eyes were wide with concern.
"Are you okay?" He asked and Stiles thought about his friends,even Ethan and Aidan were happy he was still alive,he thought about Jackson and how there was no way he would step a foot near Stiles unless he wanted a pack of werewolves on his ass. And finally he thought of Derek, who he loved more than anything in the world and who loved him back. He thought about his life and he answered honestly.
"Yeah, Dad, I'm fine."
THE END