Fic: Discovery Channel (2/12) Part 1
Title: Discovery Channel
Author: kayevelyn
Fandom: Teen Wolf
Pairing: Stiles/Derek
Rating: Overall R
Warnings: eventual knotting
Summary: Stiles is the best werewolf ever. fork in the road au. (were!stiles)
Notes: Oh yay I managed to post on time \o// This is new and exciting for me let's see how long that lasts.... (also argh AO3 formatting is the bane of my existence >.>)
Also! Not sure if it was obvious but I totally screwed with the canon timeline. I tried plotting out the original timeline with dates we were given and basically ended up wanting to shoot myself in the face because TEEN WOLF WRITERS Y U NO PLOT OUT BETTER? Sooooo that got highjacked and changed :|
[Read on AO3]
Chapter 1
“And get this, I won’t actually turn into a wolf, which I’m a little upset about because how cool would that have been?” Stiles bumped the bright yellow volleyball back to Scott, but gently. He was still unsure of how strong he actually was. His reflexes were great, catching the ball when Coach Finstock tossed it to him without a second thought, but then he’d gone all saiyan and served the ball right into Greenberg’s face, breaking his nose.
Coach Finstock had been too shocked at the soft volleyball they used breaking someone’s nose that Stiles had been able to slink off into the crowd and avoid any lecture. He had no idea how he would explain that, and mentally added it to his list of “Shit Derek Needs to Teach Me” he had going in his head.
They’d had a good talk the night before, laying out in a small clearing behind the house. They didn’t talk about anything too heavy, keeping it to general questions about werewolves, and what supernatural creatures did and did not exist. Derek had tried to explain the feeling of turning, how the power felt coursing through his veins, but he was pretty shit with words.
Stiles could still envision it. He had closed his eyes while Derek talked and he’d experienced the phantom feeling. He knew if he worked hard enough he’d get it for real soon.
Derek told him all the benefits he’d get. Most of them Stiles had already known: the enhanced senses, the strength, the healing, but a few of them were news to Stiles. He’d been a little heartbroken when Derek said that most dogs wouldn’t be playful with him, instinctually submissive to the stronger wolf, but that had been brushed away with the assurance that almost nothing could hurt Stiles permanently.
“You won’t get sick. You could crash your jeep tomorrow, wrap it around a tree, and you’d walk away. Short of decapitation and wolfsbane you’ll live.” Stiles had shut his eyes as Derek kept talking, but all he could think was that his dad wouldn’t need to worry about him anymore.
He’d lost track of time, not even noticing it get too cold because his magic-werewolf powers kept him running at a nice warm temperature. Which just made Derek wearing his leather jacket all the time a douchey move, Stiles gladly told him.
The only reason they had even stopped, because Stiles knew he was capable of talking all night, was the noise of Scott falling through the stairs. It had scared the crap out of Derek and him, and they’d gone running back inside, Derek all claws and fangs, until they’d heard the pained whimper of Scott asking for help.
He’d gotten away with only a few scratches, and Stiles used the stairs as a parting shot for why Derek needed to move.
Scott had stayed upset until Stiles had won him over with apology donuts and coffee this morning.
“So what? You just look like… something else?”
Stiles shrugged, leaning to catch the ball as Scott shot it too far to the side. “I had Derek change for me, and it looked more like a vampire from Buffy?” Scott just shook his head. Stiles sighed. “If you’re gonna wear the title of nerd at least live the culture. We are marathoning Buffy over break. At least until season 3 which is when we can jump ship to Angel, because I am not rewatching season 5, no way, no how.”
Scott laughed. “Whatever you say. My mom is working the Christmas eve night shift and then the Christmas night shift so I’m free for the normal.”
“Same here. Dad thought about taking off, but I told him I would be with you so not to worry too much. And hey, if he is around he’ll just have to deal with you and me playing Halo all day.”
Coach blew the whistle signaling that they could pack up and head to the locker rooms and Stiles enjoyed shooting the volleyball right into the netted bag Coach Finstock was holding open.
“Yes! I am amazing!”
Stiles was riding the high of being awesome the whole way through school. He felt like he was vibrating in some ways, like he could feel the power right beneath his skin. Derek had warned him that as the full moon got closer he’d start to get consumed by the sensation. The animalistic side would become more apparent and violent, but as long as he kept his heart rate down he could overcome it.
He wouldn’t have to worry about physically losing control until after his first full moon though. That was when the transformation completed, and he’d start to need to work harder on his control. It would take time, Derek had said.
Which was cool, because Stiles had all the time in the world.
He nodded to everyone he passed on his way to Scott’s locker, grinning like a fool. A few people even nodded back, total strangers attracted to his sheer animal magnetism or something. He’d need to ask Derek about that. It would probably take some time since he was pretty sure the last time Derek dealt with normal people on a regular basis was when he was in high school, and he’d deftly avoided all mention of his own past during their ridiculously long talk last night.
Stiles understood, and he was going to give Derek his space. Or at least, his emotional space. Derek was stuck with him physically. He’d said they were brothers and damn if Stiles wasn’t going to make him regret that.
He bounced over next to Scott and grinned. “So, you and me, skipping practice again? Or well, you aren’t skipping because you have your note, and I’m not because I’m thinking of dropping.”
Scott looked up. “You’re quitting?”
Stiles shrugged. “Thinking about it. I mean I have a pretty unfair advantage, and if I suddenly got super good wouldn’t it look suspicious? I mean I was gonna ask Derek, just to get his input, but I don’t want to draw any attention to us.”
“But who would notice? If you did it gradually? No one is looking for werewolves.”
“That’s the thing Scott,” Stiles dropped his voice, “I think people are.” Scott’s eyes went a little wide. “I mean, I don’t have any proof, and Derek hasn’t said anything about it, but just think about all the myths you hear. What always comes alongside werewolves?”
Scott paused, and then he gasped in realization. “Vampires?”
Stiles stared at him. “No, you idiot, hunters!” He banged his head against a locker. “I can’t believe you. We are definitely catching you up on your supernatural mythos. You are going to be the slightly more research savvy Xander to my Buffy, which is a reference you’ll get by the end of winter break I promise.”
Scott closed his locker, looking a little lost and unsure. “I don’t know. I mean, aren’t you throwing yourself into this kinda fast? You don’t even know Derek all that well, and you’re going and asking his opinion on things in your life, not to mention that he’s all that you’ve talked about today.”
“Well yeah, turned into a werewolf and he’s my only source of knowledge? The other potential source being something that tried to kill me? I’ll take my chances with Derek.”
“But, don’t you want to know if there’s a cure or something? There’s always a cure in stories right?”
Stiles blinked. “Why would I want a cure? Scott, I feel awesome. Sure the senses are overwhelming at times, but if I get those under control just think how amazing it will be? I mean, not just in high school but after we graduate too. I’ve been toying with the idea of going into forensics, or some kind of police work, and these senses would help.”
“How do you know you’ll even get to be those things? What does being a werewolf mean? There has to be a catch.” Scott dropped his voice.
“And I’m sure there are plenty of hurdles, but they aren’t going to make me want to give this up.”
“Shouldn’t you be keeping your options open though? What if you end up not liking it?”
Stiles laughed. “What’s not to like?”
Scott made a frantic motion with his hands as Stiles started to head towards the front of the school. He jogged to keep up with Stiles. “What if Derek’s lying? Did you think about that?” He grabbed Stiles’ shoulder and turned him around.
Stiles let out a huff. He tried to think how to explain how he knew Derek was telling the truth, and how he knew Derek was trustworthy. He wasn’t going to mention Derek’s sister, because that would just freak Scott out. Besides, it wasn’t his story to tell. “It’s just,” he sighed and shut his eyes. “It’s a pack thing.”
“A pack thing.”
“Yes.” Stiles tossed his head side to side. “I don't know any other way to explain it. I feel a connection with people, not just Derek, but other people. You. My dad.” Scott gave him a look. “Lydia, Danny, you know the usual suspects.” Stiles kept going despite Scott’s look of momentary satisfaction. “The people I care for.”
“You care for him?”
“Not yet. And I don’t trust him one hundred percent yet, either, Scott. I’m not stupid. But, he and I both said we’d try. We’re stronger together.” Stiles shifted his backpack. “I think if you spend some time with him you’ll see he’s not that bad.”
“I don’t really want to spend much time with him. He’s scary.” Scott said, but he started to follow Stiles outside.
“He’s growly for sure, and yeah, the wolf form can be scary, but he won’t hurt you. But here, I’ll make you a promise. We’ll go to my house, pop some popcorn, study for these finals and I will try very hard not to mention Derek, or werewolves. How’s that?” Scott stopped right before they got to the parking lot. Stiles looked at him, frowning. “What’s the matter?” He looked up and saw the problem immediately.
Derek was parked right next to his jeep, looking dour and pointedly ignoring the stares he was getting because his car was amazing, sleek black and totally not what Stiles had been expecting. But maybe he should have. It wasn’t like Derek was a mom-van type of person.
Stiles grabbed Scott’s arm, pulling him across the parking lot. They were getting looks as Derek finally looked up and showed some emotion beyond glaring when Stiles stopped in front of him.
He let out a low whistle. “Very low profile car there.”
Derek went back to his default face. “It was Laura’s idea.” Scott looked at Stiles, confused, but before Stiles could do anything in response Derek continued. “Get in. Both of you.”
Stiles saluted but then paused. Scott was staring at the car and then he turned wide eyes to Stiles. He sighed. “You are aware that we have finals tomorrow and Friday right?”
Derek raised an eyebrow. “You’re studying?”
“Is this a huge surprise? I’ll have you know I am an awesome student. Scholarly.”
Scott snorted and when Derek gave him a look he shifted on his feet, shutting up.
Stiles rolled his eyes. “I promised Scott we’d hang out.”
“That’s why I invited him along,” Derek said slowly, as if Stiles hadn’t heard that part. “That and we need a guinea pig.” Stiles perked up and threw his arm around Scott’s shoulder, pulling him to the car.
“I like the sound of this.”
“I don’t,” Scott mumbled as he was shoved into the backseat.
Stiles climbed into the front seat, petting the dashboard because it was just as pretty as the outside. He could hear Scott moving around in the backseat, trying to get comfortable as Derek got into the car as well.
Most of the school was still staring at them as Derek pulled out and Stiles gave a wave to Jackson and his group as they passed by his car. The look of shock on everyone’s face was perfect.
“Touch the radio and die,” Derek growled as Stiles started to flick all the buttons on the console.
Stiles rolled his eyes as he turned up the heat. “Like I would change from your whatever it is you’re listening to. What is this? 60s rock?” He made a face.
Scott cleared his throat from the backseat. “So uh, what are we doing?”
“We’re going to start Stiles’ training.”
Stiles looked over. “Scott would make an awful sparring partner.”
“Yeah. I really would.”
“Not that type of training. Your senses. Sight, smell, hearing.”
“Wait am I going to track Scott?”
Derek gave Stiles a sideways glance as Scott poked his head in between them. “I was thinking about it. Are you complaining?”
“No complaints from me,” Stiles said distractingly, reaching for the radio dial because it was now some bluegrass, wailing shit and whatever song was playing was destroying his hearing. Derek slapped his hand away.
“What would I have to do?”
“Run really fast probably.”
“No. You’d just go into the woods. And keep going until we find you.” Derek pulled off the main road, heading to the Hale house.
They lapsed into silence, and Stiles closed his eyes taking in all the other things going on. Derek was tapping his finger against the wheel, and if he focused on it, the sound got as loud as a heartbeat. Then Stiles moved his focus to Scott. He was restless in the backseat, constantly shifting. He was twitching and his breathing was elevated. His heart was racing. Classic signs of nerves.
Scott was starting to sweat a little. Stiles could smell the salt in the air. He reached his hand back, grabbing hold of Scott’s knee. He squeezed it, trying to say that everything would be okay.
Stiles got home after eight. Derek had driven Scott to work, letting Stiles take a break from training to grab his car from the school parking lot, but Stiles had opted to go back to the Hale house with Derek and watch him putter around, trying to salvage as much as he could. Stiles had even been the responsible adult and pulled out the digital camera, taking a few snapshots to use for his stupid photography final.
Derek had finally kicked him out, and Stiles had reluctantly gone. He didn’t feel tired, even though he had spent the last four hours trekking through the woods. He knew he still had energy to study, if he wanted to. He sent a text to Scott, telling him that he was home, alive and still wolfy. He got a smiley face in response, and though Stiles knew it was too much to ask for an “I guess you were right” he took what he could from the message.
His dad was home and Stiles walked into the house silently, sure that his dad was sleeping. He was surprised when he saw his dad sitting on the couch and he dropped his bag. The look his dad was giving him told him he was in trouble.
“Hey dad!”
“Stiles.” His dad looked back to the manila folder, and Stiles crept closer, knowing it must be the case file. “You’re home late.”
“It’s not even nine,” Stiles argued.
“Is your jeep running fine?” He asked.
Stiles swallowed, and took a seat next to his dad. “Yeah. Why?”
“Harley saw it sitting in the school parking lot when she was coming for her shift at seven.”
“Scott and I didn’t need it today. We got a ride from another one of our friends.”
“I heard about that. I believe the gossip going around the office was ‘an older guy in a muscle car’ but feel free to correct me.”
Stiles let out a breath. “Okay, before you start, he’s not that much older than me.”
“Uh huh,” his dad didn’t sound like he believed him at all.
“It’s Derek. From the Hale family.”
“Derek Hale?” His dad asked, setting down the manila folder. “What are you doing hanging out with Derek Hale?”
Stiles shrugged. “Just kinda, met up with him the other day. He seemed cool, back in town. Told him I remembered him. We have a few things in common, figured we could help each other out.”
His dad was staring at him, mouth opening and closing and Stiles realized how it could sound. The only reasonable thing in common both of them had was dealing with family deaths. He looked at his hands, bit his lip and wondered how far he could push it. He knew it would look weird, Derek and him hanging out. It would raise questions, and Stiles had been planning on talking with Derek, asking for a good way to explain it. But now that he was being quizzed by his dad on it…
Stiles looked back up. “So we just sit around and talk. Scott came today, so it’s not like I’m alone with him.”
His dad reached over and clapped him on the shoulder. He could smell the emotions shifting in his dad. He couldn’t tell them apart yet; Derek had said it would take time and they’d start practicing scenting emotions soon, but he could tell the ups and downs that were going through his dad’s head.
“I’m glad you have someone to talk to.” His dad said sincerely. “Just try not to get on his nerves.”
Stiles laughed. “Oh don’t worry, already done. But I’ve given him the full disclaimer that I am like a leech and that he is stuck with me until I decide otherwise.”
His dad chuckled and went back to his folder. “Well, at least just give me a heads up if you’re going to be out late.”
“But dad-“
“Especially with winter finals coming up. I don’t want to hear your excuses if you fail.”
“I won’t dad. Promise.”
His dad gave him a look as Stiles tried to play innocent. “I’ll believe that when I see it.” He flipped through a few pages. “Where is Mr. Hale living exactly?”
“Currently?” Stiles floundered. “I think he’s got a hotel a few towns over? He’s looking around.”
“Well, when he gets a permanent address I’d like a copy of it.” Stiles opened his mouth to protest and his dad held up his hand. “I’m just looking out for my son. Give me that much.”
“Fine. When he gets a place, and if he tells me where it is, I will pass it on. Now my turn, what’s going on with the case?” Stiles leaned over and he caught a glimpse of an autopsy report.
His dad shut the folder with a laugh. “This is not a trade off. You don’t get to grill me after I have asked you my questions.”
“But dad. I want to know about the murder. You don’t know how much my high school reputation relies on being the most informed about police business.”
His dad gave him a look. “It’s not a murder.” Stiles’ mouth dropped open. He hadn’t been expect that so quickly. “Or at least, we don’t know. Preliminary reports indicate that the legs might have been ripped off by an animal. They don’t think that was post-mortem either with the amount of blood loss.”
“So it was just an animal attack?”
“When we find the other half of the body we’ll know for sure.”
“How likely do you think it’ll be that you find the other half?” Stiles asked quietly, sneaking the folder from his dad.
“It’s only been two days, so we haven’t searched far. But if it was an animal who knows how far the other half could have been dragged.” His dad snatched the folder back and smacked Stiles over the head. “Go upstairs and study. Stop bothering me.” He made a shooing motion and Stiles held up his hands in defeat.
“You got it. You’re the boss.”
“Damn right I am.” His dad settled back in the couch as Stiles walked up to his room.
He threw his book bag on the floor and then collapsed into his bed. He was still buzzing. He wasn’t sure that feeling was ever going to go away. He’d learnt so much today, or at least it felt like he had learnt a lot. By the end of the training he was able to find Scott almost immediately. Getting to him still took some effort, because running through the woods on high speed was hard.
Derek said it was so easy because he was tracking Scott, but when they had done it once more after dropping Scott off, Stiles had been able to find Derek quickly, even when he tried to run downwind.
Stiles took a deep breath, feeling how safe his house was. It was good knowing what was going around him. He knew he couldn’t keep constant vigilance, it would just wear him out, but once in awhile just to make sure. His dad wasn’t opening the whiskey, or stress eating. Nothing wrong was going on.
Stiles shot up and ran to his window, opening it and looking down. He blinked because nothing was there, and then he looked to the left.
Derek tried to hide behind a tree but Stiles caught him. He sighed, heartbeat slowing back down.
“Way to be creepy Mr. Creepy McCreepster,” his whispered. He knew Derek could hear him anyway. “What is this? More training?”
“You weren’t supposed to notice me.” Stiles could hear him as if he were right next to him.
“Well you just spent all afternoon training my sense of smell. I could pick you out of a men’s washroom.” Derek snorted. “So what are you doing here? Want to recite poetry? I want you to know that my heart already belongs to someone else.”
Derek was silent but Stiles was getting used to these pauses. “New wolves sometimes have issues controlling themselves, especially if they don’t have their alpha to keep them in line. You’re most vulnerable asleep and as it gets closer to the full moon the wolf might take over. I just wanted to make sure you stayed out of trouble.”
“So you’re going to be watching me sleep. Kinda creepy.”
“Your other option is possibly maiming and killing someone. So if you want that I’ll be on my way.”
“Shut up,” Stiles said, resting his chin on his palm, looking up at the night sky. The moon was getting close to full. Only five more days and then he’d feel what it was really like. “That’s not the only reason, is it?”
Derek took another moment to answer. “I am worried your alpha could come looking for you.”
“The alpha,” Stiles whispered. “He’s not mine. I don’t want him.” Derek didn’t say anything, but Stiles could still see him leaning against the tree in old lady Matilda’s yard. “So my dad knows about you.” Derek stayed quiet and so Stiles kept talking, explaining their cover story.
“Sounds reasonable,” Derek agreed once he was finished talked.
“I didn’t tell Scott about Laura.”
“Thank you.”
Stiles laughed coldly, feeling guilty that he wasn’t feeling guilty for keeping something from his best friend. “It was for me more than you. He wouldn’t understand. Not yet at least.”
“He’s not pack.”
“He will be though. You said yesterday a pack could have humans.”
“Yes, I did.”
Stiles licked his lips. “I wasn’t lying to my dad, you know. We can talk about things.” It was easier like this to bring it up. He could see Derek, and he knew Derek could see him, but they weren’t together. It was like talking to no one, just whispering your fears in the dark.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Derek snapped back, but he didn’t sound as defensive as he did in the daylight. Maybe he felt the anonymity as well.
“Maybe one day.”
“Not tonight.”
“No.”
“Get some sleep, Stiles. You have your finals tomorrow. I won’t bother you until the weekend.”
“But you’re going to still be a creeper outside my window, right?” Stiles said laughing as he stood up.
“Just looking out for you.”
“Sure, sure. Night, Derek,” Stiles said as he slid the window shut. Now that he knew Derek was out there he could hear him, shifting around and getting comfortable. He knew Derek could probably hear him too, which just meant that he was definitely jerking off in the shower instead of bed tonight.
Scott and he were the talk of the school the next day. Even though finals were taking place all day students still found ways to whisper questions their way about Derek. Scott floundered under the attention, not knowing what to say, and Stiles found himself having to step on his foot one too many times because the word “werewolf” was just a breath away, Stiles could tell.
However, he was enjoying the attention a lot. Especially because Lydia seemed to be noticing him, and actually looking at him instead of through him. Sure, she could very well have been looking at Scott, but Stiles was right next to Scott for almost the whole day and it wasn't like she could ignore him completely! He was taller!
During lunch people actually came up and sat with them, instead of just at the same table. No matter what Stiles used to think, having people notice them with more than just contempt was actually great for his ego.
Animal magnetism. It was totally a thing.
The only downside was when Coach Finstock cornered him near the end of the day, demanding to know why he skipped conditioning two days in a row. There had been stammering from him, and vague threats of being benched forever from Finstock, and the only thing that saved him was Danny politely coughing behind them because Finstock had cornered him right at Danny’s locker.
Stiles had made a quick exit, nodding his head in thanks to Danny because he knew the boy didn’t use his locker. Everyone knew he took over Jackson’s cause it was closer to his homeroom.
The excitement had died down on Friday, since Derek had kept his promise and not made a surprise reappearance. He hadn’t even been at Stiles’ house the night before, or at least not anywhere Stiles could easily find him. Just to be safe Stiles kept his private business in the shower. No need to make it awkward so early in their friendship.
Stiles would still manage to scare him away eventually he was sure.
***
Derek checked into a hotel on the outskirts of town after the sheriff drove up to the house and knocked on the door Friday afternoon. He hadn’t answered the door, waiting upstairs in his old room until the sheriff left. He was glad he’d parked his car behind the house, because he really hadn’t been expecting the visit. So even though he hadn’t been planning on listening to Stiles, he ended up doing what the boy had wanted.
In the long run he knew it would be for the better. If Stiles and he were going to be… friends, pack mates, something… then some sacrifices would need to be made. He hadn’t been planning on any of this, but having another beta had given him purpose and direction. He wasn’t an omega anymore. He knew what he was up against now, and he had someone who could help him find his sister’s killer.
It wasn’t happening quickly enough, though. The alpha wasn’t coming, not yet. Derek waited outside Stiles’ house two nights in a row. Nothing happened. Stiles had nightmares, but they weren’t related to the alpha.
On Saturday he bucked up and called his old landlord, canceling his lease for the end of the month. That had been an argument, with her demanding a full month’s notice, and him having to try and convince her that a family emergency was a good enough reason to wiggle out of the cancellation fee. He knew he’d have to go back to New York after the full moon, if only to pack a larger suitcase, and she told him they would have words when he got back.
After he called her, and his old job, he went out in search of a new apartment. He hated the mundane normally, but there was something calming about it, and doing these things helped distract him from the fact the he was alone. He’d promised Stiles he’d give him some space, and he would. Stiles was a new werewolf, and while some of his actions towards Derek in the past two days had screamed we are pack, Derek didn’t want to believe it. Not yet.
So he found a new apartment that he could move into on January 1st, and then he went looking for a part-time job so he could pretend he was a member of society. It would stop questions from being asked, or at least too many questions.
He wouldn’t tell Stiles about the apartment just yet. He’d let him think that Derek was going to stay at his house. It was amusing watching him spaz out about everything when he went into lecture mode.
***
Stiles woke up Monday feeling like he was going to burst out of his skin. His head was cloudy, like too much was stuffed in there. He’d spent the first two days of winter break with Scott, a quiet day of raiding the store for as much junk food before going home and playing Halo. He’d been planning on spending the night Sunday, but around eleven he’d started feeling off, and after he snapped at Scott for no reason, he’d decided against it.
He was on edge. Tomorrow was the full moon and he knew everything he was feeling was just in preparation for that.
Someone knocked on his bedroom door.
“Go away,” he muttered, burying his face in his pillow.
“Scott’s here,” his dad said.
Stiles groaned. He didn’t want to see Scott. His dad he could handle, there was something calming about being around his dad, about thinking about his dad. But anyone else just raised his hackles. “Tell him I’m sick.”
“What?”
Stiles raised his voice. “I’m sick!”
His door cracked open and his dad peaked in. He took a look at Stiles and then walked closer to him, coming to sit on the edge of his bed. “You sure look it. Late night?”
Stiles groaned again and buried his head back in his pillow. “Something like that.”
“Well, I suppose I could be persuaded to take pity on my son, and tell his friend he’s not feeling well.”
Stiles peeked out from his pillow. “Could you? Tell him I’ll text him, or skype him, but I just can’t be in the same room with him. I’ll be better Tuesday for our Big Wolf on Campus marathon.”
His dad laughed, rubbing his back. “That’s a pretty specific time.” Stiles just grunted. “Alright. I’ll pass on the message that you two will be back to your normally scheduled tomfoolery tomorrow.”
Stiles groaned. “Who even says tomfoolery, dad?”
His dad cuffed him lightly on the back of the neck, but didn’t respond as he got up and left, closing the door behind him. Stiles tried to focus on the feeling of calm he had around his dad, but his mind was never good at staying on one thing, and he found himself drifting quickly. The longer he drifted the more agitated he got.
He pushed himself up when his phone buzzed and glared at it when he saw it was a text from Scott asking if he was okay. Stiles let out a rush of air, reminding himself that there was no reason to be upset. It wasn't a big deal, and Scott was just looking out for him.
He pressed Scott’s number and didn’t have to wait long for him to pick up. “Scott, Scott listen to me,” he tried to start with, to take over the conversation before it started.
Scott was already talking though. “Stiles! Are you okay? What do you mean sick? And what is Big Wolf on Campus?”
“I mean,” Stiles took a deep breath and then let it out as slowly as he could to calm his racing heart. “I mean werewolf stuff, Scott. The full moon is tomorrow and my body is freaking out. Hence the ‘Big Wolf on Campus--”
Scott cut him off. “See! I told you! This stuff was bound to happen.”
Stiles looked at his hands and closed his eyes when he thought he saw claws. He knew he was hallucinating; he couldn’t be turning already. “Scott. I knew this was going to happen, Derek had told me. I just wasn’t expecting it to feel like this. Everything but my dad is putting me on edge, and I think I’m starting to shift even though Derek said that wasn’t possible because the transformation wouldn’t take over fully until after the full moon and Scott I really think I’m starting to freak out a bit here.”
His breath was coming in short pants. He hadn’t expected it to overwhelm him this much. He was too small for his body, and he was pretty positive that his fingers were turning into claws because he could feel the nails pushing out.
Scott was saying his name over and over but it was too much for his senses.
“Scott. Scott I need to go.” He hung up the phone and pressed it into the bed. He felt it buzz under his hand but he ignored it. He focused on breathing in and out. He focused on his dad, who he could hear puttering around downstairs.
“You look like shit.”
Stiles’ head snapped up but when he saw it was Derek he let his head drop back down. “I’m feeling the effect of the moon. Everything is pissing me off, like more than normal.” Derek stepped away from the window, leaving it open so Stiles could feel the cool breeze coming in. It did help, and Stiles moaned, climbing out of bed to sit by the window. “I haven’t even had a chance to do any more research either.”
“It’s fine,” Derek said awkwardly, and Stiles glanced at him.
“You don’t remember the first time you changed do you?”
Derek shrugged, and took a seat in his computer chair. “I didn’t change until I was a teenager, but I started training for it when I was younger.” Stiles was quiet, waiting for him to go on. “It didn’t stop me from completely losing control the first time I shifted anyway. My uh- my dad and uncle had to chase me away from the highway.”
Stiles snorted. “The highway is like 20 miles out or something.”
“You lose track of how far you’re going when you lose control like that. I didn’t hurt anyone, except myself. And my dad. Gave him a black eye for about five minutes I think.” Derek swallowed and Stiles could feel the tension in his body. “My family made fun of him for awhile, so that’s the only reason I know it happened.”
Stiles didn’t know what to say. He hadn’t been expecting a conversation about family. He didn’t know what to add.
“We should get you out of here,” Derek said, standing up. “You started to shift.”
Stiles looked at his hand. “I thought you said I couldn’t? Not till tomorrow.”
“I may have been wrong.” Derek scowled when Stiles laughed. “I really don’t know what I’m doing, and each person can be affected differently by the bite, depending how balanced they are.”
“Well I am definitely not balanced in the slightest.”
It was Derek who laughed this time, a sharp snort through his nose. Stiles stared at him, wide eyed. “I can think of a lot worse people I would want to be dealing with right now.”
“Someone like Scott?” Stiles asked. He loved his best friend, but he was sure that if Scott had been bitten instead that Derek would be having a much harder life right about now.
Derek shook his head. “I’m not naming names. I think any other teenager would have been awful. Now come on, let’s get out of here.”
Stiles stood up, stretching. “I should probably actually get dressed.” He was still wearing his pajamas but Derek just rolled his eyes.
“We’re going running. And maybe if you get violent I’m going to throw you into a tree. Wear whatever you don’t mind getting destroyed.”
Stiles looked at his clothes. “These clothes it is.” He grabbed his phone, and debated calling Scott back. He was feeling better. “I should probably call Scott and apologize.”
Derek didn’t say anything as Stiles decided against calling, going over to his laptop. Scott was online, and Stiles pulled up a video chat.
“Stiles!” Scott called the moment he popped up. Stiles grinned, waving. Scott’s face morphed and he pointed frantically to what Stiles assumed was Derek lurking in the background.
“Yes, that’s Derek, being a creeper.”
Scott looked gutted. “But you said you were sick.”
Stiles rolled his eyes. “I said I was sick to my dad because I couldn’t tell him I’m starting to wolf out. Derek is taking me running through the woods so just in case I lose control he’ll be the only thing I can hurt.” He heard Derek scoff and he flipped him the bird without taking his eyes off of Scott. “I’ll be back to normal on Tuesday, okay?”
Scott bit his lip. “Are you sure? I mean… the transformation won’t kill you, will it?”
“No, Scott, it won’t kill me.” He did give Derek a look, who just sighed and started climbing out the window. “Anyway, I’ll see you on Tuesday, bright and early. Or probably mid-morning is more like it. Either way. Oh and you’re my alibi for tomorrow night. If my dad asks, I’m sleeping at your place.”
“What but?” Scott flailed.
“Scott. I’m going to be turning into a werewolf whether or not you cover for me. It will just make my life a lot easier if you tell him I’m with you.”
“Why don’t you just tell him you’re with Derek?” Scott muttered and Stiles just sighed.
“Maybe next month. But for now, no.” He frowned as Scott still seemed like he wasn’t going to go along with the plan. “Please?” Stiles drew out the request into a whine.
Scott huffed and threw his hands up. “One day you are going to need me and I’m just going to turn my back on you because you’re a terrible person.”
Stiles clapped his hands in delight. “I owe you one man.”
“You owe me like five hundred,” Scott mumbled but he waved as Stiles cut off the video chat.
Stiles shut his laptop, spun around and grinned. “Let’s go.”
***
The woods seemed a lot smaller now than they had as a kid. Derek had to keep redirecting the two of them every few miles, but even if it seemed cramped, Stiles was enjoying it. He flopped down on the ground, not caring that he was getting dirty. They were both sweating, having been running for a few hours now, and Derek watched as Stiles stretched.
“Ah that feels good!” Stiles laughed. “I actually feel like I’m in control.” He tilted his head back and looked at Derek. “This was an excellent idea.” Derek snorted. “Guess you’d be full of good ideas, considering you’ve been a werewolf for so long.”
They lapsed into silence and Derek sat down on the ground next to Stiles, soaking in the serene feeling of the woods. His pants were getting dirty and wet, but it was okay. The motel had a coin operated laundry room. He’d sacrifice his pants for the feeling of pack he was getting from this moment.
“Hey Derek?” Stiles asked, and Derek grunted in reply. “Can you tell me what it’s like?”
Derek wasn’t stupid enough to not know what Stiles was talking about. He closed his eyes, remembering every full moon since he’d left Beacon Hills. He’d spent them in the apartment with Laura, or taking walks around their neighborhood. Nothing like what it had been like when he was a kid. Nothing like what he was going to give Stiles.
“You’re going to lose control,” he finally settled on.
Stiles snorted. “No shit. But what does it feel like? Or are you gonna tell me that’s one of those things I have to experience for myself?”
Derek shrugged. “It is pretty indescribable.” He broke out into an uncontrollable smile at the look Stiles gave him. “It’s different for everyone. I can’t tell you what it will feel like for you.”
“Will I recognize you?”
“Possibly. It depends on your mood. It depends on who you think pack is. It depends on a lot of things.”
Stiles let out a breath. “What will help me gain control? Or is it just time and different for everyone?” He was smiling, but Derek could feel his frustration at having no clear-cut answers.
He tried to think about how to explain anchors, and how they change month to month if you’re not stable enough. He was terrible at words so he used his mom’s. “Think about what you care most about, and hold onto that. It’ll keep you human.” He looked at Stiles, who was staring open mouthed at him. He ducked his head. “That’s the best way I can think to describe it.”
Stiles leaned back, staring up at the darkening sky. They’d probably need to head back soon, just to make sure they hadn’t been found out by Stiles’ dad.
“Stop thinking,” Stiles mumbled. “It’s like I can feel your brain running from here, and I’m not even trying.”
Derek snorted. “What are you doing? Communing with nature?”
Stiles shrugged. “I don’t even know. I just know it feels like I’m connected with the whole forest right now. I can hear and smell so many things.”
“Good. Hold onto that. It’ll be helpful tomorrow.”
“What? So I don’t run out of it and have you chase my ass around town?”
Derek nudged him with his boot. “I’ll definitely tackle you before you make it out of the woods.”
“Try me, old man.” Stiles nudged back, twisting his leg in a way that probably hurt. “I will outrun you, and give me some time in wolf form and I will pin you like Nala did to Simba.”
Derek stared at Stiles slack-jawed, unable to stop himself. They’d only known each other for a few days but every time Derek thought he was getting a grip on how Stiles’ mind worked the kid threw another curveball at him.
“Close your mouth, you’ll catch flies,” Stiles muttered, reaching up to push Derek’s mouth shut. He didn’t even open his eyes. He just knew apparently, and it shocked Derek enough that he actually let Stiles do it.
He swallowed, trying to get his footing in the conversation again, but Stiles had already moved on to musing about what kind of danger they would run into during the full moon and Derek’s only response was to remind him for the seventh time that fairies weren’t real, and if they were they definitely wouldn’t be child abducting horrors like in Torchwood. Or at least Derek really, really hoped.
***
Derek was already waiting in the motel parking lot when Stiles got there mid-afternoon. He was starting to feel his blood heating up, and the jumpiness was coming back. He had texted Scott to make sure they were clear on the cover story. He’d also included a link to the wikipedia page for Big Wolf on Campus just in case they got asked about it later.
Derek took one look at him and stepped away from his car. “Come on, we’re walking. You look like you need it.”
Stiles nodded, following along silently. He didn’t think he actually felt that different, but because he was looking for every little change, anticipating it, he could feel everything. He didn’t talk the whole time they walked to the woods, or even when they started running once they were a safe distance from the road. He just focused on his body and how it felt.
Derek didn’t push him, though Stiles could feel his eyes on him the whole time. Stiles didn’t think he was waiting for a freak out, but he could tell it was a more cautious approach than Derek had taken the day before, when his observation had been focused more on their surroundings, making sure they didn’t stray too far.
Stiles could still smell the search teams they had, but there was no one currently in the woods. Stiles knew this because he could hear almost everything. He thought it might have to do with how much he had paid attention yesterday. He was noticing things he didn’t normally pay attention to, but he could tell where deer were, and where a few coyotes were trying to run away from them.
He could even tell where a mountain lion was starting to hunt and if he had to guess the thing had to be two miles from them.
“This is ridiculous,” he breathed, finally slowing to a stop. Derek turned and looked at him. He didn’t say anything, just quirked his head. Stiles grinned widely. “Amazing. But so ridiculous. There’s a mountain lion like two miles that way,” he pointed even as Derek glanced off to the side.
“There is,” he said, nodding, and then a faint smile was coming across his face. Stiles could only guess what he was thinking, and he wondered if he was remembering what it was like. He’d lived the past six years away from here, who knew when the last time he’d run like this had been.
Stiles wasn’t stupid enough to ask.
“Come here,” Derek said, looking up at the sky.
It had gotten dark quickly, the perks of winter. Stiles could feel his body begging for the change, and he wanted it so badly. He wanted to run completely disconnected from his human thoughts. It would be the greatest escape.
He didn’t even think, stepping into Derek’s personal space, and Derek let him.
He froze, human brain kicking back in as Derek wrapped an arm around his shoulder and pulled him the rest of the distance, until he was standing in a loose hug. He was suddenly running on all cylinders, his mind yelling that this was weird and wrong, but the other part of him wanting to reach out and bury his face in Derek’s neck.
This is what Derek had meant, when he talked about there being two minds. Your human self had thoughts, but your wolf just knows.
“What do I do?” Stiles asked.
He heard Derek swallow, and suddenly it was awkward all around. “It’s uh, it’s how my parents kept track of younger wolves. We’d try to imprint our scents so deeply in the wolf’s mind that even if you completely lose control and nothing short of pain will bring you back, you’ll still know to listen to us. You’ll still know to come back to us.”
Stiles thought about it, but the wolf inside him was already forcing him to relax. He was more instinct than anything else and he buried his face in Derek’s neck, taking in the clean, earthy scent that was uniquely Derek. He’d never intentionally taken in anyone’s scent yet, and he promised himself that he would do that first thing when he got him to his dad. He needed that connection because even though he had joked about it, smelling Derek made him truly think he could track him anywhere.
Derek’s stubble was scraping against his own neck, and Stiles shivered. They were imprinting on each other, that was the only thing that was racing through his mind.
His wolf was howling in his mind. This was his pack.
Being a wolf was like watching the world through an old sepia film. Stiles could tell what was going on, and sometimes he had moments of grabbing hold of his body and being in control. Mostly he let himself be taken on the ride.
He could feel Derek running beside him the entire night, and when he had moments of clarity, he knew he was being herded. He knew he was trying to reach his other pack members, he could feel them far away, too far away, but Derek would growl a warning every time he tried to head towards them.
Stiles had tried challenging Derek, growling back and trying to wrestle him, but the wolf was in full control during that time and Stiles hadn’t been able to use any human tactics against Derek. Deep down he wasn’t sure if he would have been able to win even if he had been more balanced. He had been thrown into a tree after all. He remembered that part clearly.
That was the one thing he had been pleased with when he had woken up in the other bed in Derek’s motel room; he had remembered the night before. He hadn’t been expecting to with all the myths he had been reading, and Derek hadn’t seemed positive that he would.
He rolled off the bed, scratching his stomach as he walked to the bathroom. He could hear the water running from Derek taking a shower, and he perched himself on the sink bar right outside the bathroom. He could feel the wolf at the surface of his mind, and he didn’t feel the need to run from it. Running around last night and letting it take control of himself had helped him feel more connected to the wolf.
He kicked the door with his bare foot. “Leave hot water for me!” Stiles heard Derek laugh and he kicked the door again. “I’m serious!”
“You seriously think there’s hot water to begin with?” Derek asked and Stiles rolled his eyes.
“Very cute. I need to at least wash this dirt out of my hair. Since you know, I got thrown into a tree!” Stiles looked down at himself and blinked.
He was naked except for his boxers. He hadn’t even realized, feeling so comfortable with himself. He blinked again, and he could feel his human mind coming up, all his insecurities coming up because he was practically naked in a motel room with this guy he barely knew.
Pack, the wolf whispered, but Stiles ignored it, grabbing his wadded up dirty clothes, and grudgingly putting them on.
He was back in the clothes when Derek opened the door dressed in only sweatpants. Stiles frowned because he could see the steam coming from the bathroom.
“No hot water my ass,” he grumbled, trying to push down his blush because he’d been naked and that wasn’t cool! He barely took off his shirt to go swimming with Scott. Nudity and him were not good friends.
Derek was looking at him oddly and Stiles wondered if he could smell his insecurity. He probably could.
“Give me your clothes.”
Stiles almost tripped off his own two feet as he walked into the bathroom. He turned around blinking wildly. “Excuse me?”
Derek rolled his eyes and held out his hand. “I’m doing laundry. Give me your clothes so I can wash them.”
Stiles stared at him. It made sense, he couldn’t exactly go back to his dad’s house in dirty clothes and expect him not to ask questions. But… “what would I wear?”
Derek slowly pointed to his small bag. Stiles shifted, unsure. He could feel the battle going on in his head between what was acceptable by his human side, and what the wolf instinct thought was alright. Derek wasn’t his friend just yet, not a good enough one to share clothes with, but he was pack. And that overrode the human side in the wolf’s mind.
Stiles walked to the bag and grabbed the first shirt he saw and the other pair of sweatpants, waving them in Derek’s face before he went into the bathroom to take his shower.
“Don’t forget to text Scott back!” Derek called. “Your phone’s been going off since six.”
Stiles groaned as he turned on the water, still blessedly hot. He’d do that as soon as he was clean. He had so much he wanted to tell Scott.
Part 2
Author: kayevelyn
Fandom: Teen Wolf
Pairing: Stiles/Derek
Rating: Overall R
Warnings: eventual knotting
Summary: Stiles is the best werewolf ever. fork in the road au. (were!stiles)
Notes: Oh yay I managed to post on time \o// This is new and exciting for me let's see how long that lasts.... (also argh AO3 formatting is the bane of my existence >.>)
Also! Not sure if it was obvious but I totally screwed with the canon timeline. I tried plotting out the original timeline with dates we were given and basically ended up wanting to shoot myself in the face because TEEN WOLF WRITERS Y U NO PLOT OUT BETTER? Sooooo that got highjacked and changed :|
[Read on AO3]
Chapter 1
“And get this, I won’t actually turn into a wolf, which I’m a little upset about because how cool would that have been?” Stiles bumped the bright yellow volleyball back to Scott, but gently. He was still unsure of how strong he actually was. His reflexes were great, catching the ball when Coach Finstock tossed it to him without a second thought, but then he’d gone all saiyan and served the ball right into Greenberg’s face, breaking his nose.
Coach Finstock had been too shocked at the soft volleyball they used breaking someone’s nose that Stiles had been able to slink off into the crowd and avoid any lecture. He had no idea how he would explain that, and mentally added it to his list of “Shit Derek Needs to Teach Me” he had going in his head.
They’d had a good talk the night before, laying out in a small clearing behind the house. They didn’t talk about anything too heavy, keeping it to general questions about werewolves, and what supernatural creatures did and did not exist. Derek had tried to explain the feeling of turning, how the power felt coursing through his veins, but he was pretty shit with words.
Stiles could still envision it. He had closed his eyes while Derek talked and he’d experienced the phantom feeling. He knew if he worked hard enough he’d get it for real soon.
Derek told him all the benefits he’d get. Most of them Stiles had already known: the enhanced senses, the strength, the healing, but a few of them were news to Stiles. He’d been a little heartbroken when Derek said that most dogs wouldn’t be playful with him, instinctually submissive to the stronger wolf, but that had been brushed away with the assurance that almost nothing could hurt Stiles permanently.
“You won’t get sick. You could crash your jeep tomorrow, wrap it around a tree, and you’d walk away. Short of decapitation and wolfsbane you’ll live.” Stiles had shut his eyes as Derek kept talking, but all he could think was that his dad wouldn’t need to worry about him anymore.
He’d lost track of time, not even noticing it get too cold because his magic-werewolf powers kept him running at a nice warm temperature. Which just made Derek wearing his leather jacket all the time a douchey move, Stiles gladly told him.
The only reason they had even stopped, because Stiles knew he was capable of talking all night, was the noise of Scott falling through the stairs. It had scared the crap out of Derek and him, and they’d gone running back inside, Derek all claws and fangs, until they’d heard the pained whimper of Scott asking for help.
He’d gotten away with only a few scratches, and Stiles used the stairs as a parting shot for why Derek needed to move.
Scott had stayed upset until Stiles had won him over with apology donuts and coffee this morning.
“So what? You just look like… something else?”
Stiles shrugged, leaning to catch the ball as Scott shot it too far to the side. “I had Derek change for me, and it looked more like a vampire from Buffy?” Scott just shook his head. Stiles sighed. “If you’re gonna wear the title of nerd at least live the culture. We are marathoning Buffy over break. At least until season 3 which is when we can jump ship to Angel, because I am not rewatching season 5, no way, no how.”
Scott laughed. “Whatever you say. My mom is working the Christmas eve night shift and then the Christmas night shift so I’m free for the normal.”
“Same here. Dad thought about taking off, but I told him I would be with you so not to worry too much. And hey, if he is around he’ll just have to deal with you and me playing Halo all day.”
Coach blew the whistle signaling that they could pack up and head to the locker rooms and Stiles enjoyed shooting the volleyball right into the netted bag Coach Finstock was holding open.
“Yes! I am amazing!”
Stiles was riding the high of being awesome the whole way through school. He felt like he was vibrating in some ways, like he could feel the power right beneath his skin. Derek had warned him that as the full moon got closer he’d start to get consumed by the sensation. The animalistic side would become more apparent and violent, but as long as he kept his heart rate down he could overcome it.
He wouldn’t have to worry about physically losing control until after his first full moon though. That was when the transformation completed, and he’d start to need to work harder on his control. It would take time, Derek had said.
Which was cool, because Stiles had all the time in the world.
He nodded to everyone he passed on his way to Scott’s locker, grinning like a fool. A few people even nodded back, total strangers attracted to his sheer animal magnetism or something. He’d need to ask Derek about that. It would probably take some time since he was pretty sure the last time Derek dealt with normal people on a regular basis was when he was in high school, and he’d deftly avoided all mention of his own past during their ridiculously long talk last night.
Stiles understood, and he was going to give Derek his space. Or at least, his emotional space. Derek was stuck with him physically. He’d said they were brothers and damn if Stiles wasn’t going to make him regret that.
He bounced over next to Scott and grinned. “So, you and me, skipping practice again? Or well, you aren’t skipping because you have your note, and I’m not because I’m thinking of dropping.”
Scott looked up. “You’re quitting?”
Stiles shrugged. “Thinking about it. I mean I have a pretty unfair advantage, and if I suddenly got super good wouldn’t it look suspicious? I mean I was gonna ask Derek, just to get his input, but I don’t want to draw any attention to us.”
“But who would notice? If you did it gradually? No one is looking for werewolves.”
“That’s the thing Scott,” Stiles dropped his voice, “I think people are.” Scott’s eyes went a little wide. “I mean, I don’t have any proof, and Derek hasn’t said anything about it, but just think about all the myths you hear. What always comes alongside werewolves?”
Scott paused, and then he gasped in realization. “Vampires?”
Stiles stared at him. “No, you idiot, hunters!” He banged his head against a locker. “I can’t believe you. We are definitely catching you up on your supernatural mythos. You are going to be the slightly more research savvy Xander to my Buffy, which is a reference you’ll get by the end of winter break I promise.”
Scott closed his locker, looking a little lost and unsure. “I don’t know. I mean, aren’t you throwing yourself into this kinda fast? You don’t even know Derek all that well, and you’re going and asking his opinion on things in your life, not to mention that he’s all that you’ve talked about today.”
“Well yeah, turned into a werewolf and he’s my only source of knowledge? The other potential source being something that tried to kill me? I’ll take my chances with Derek.”
“But, don’t you want to know if there’s a cure or something? There’s always a cure in stories right?”
Stiles blinked. “Why would I want a cure? Scott, I feel awesome. Sure the senses are overwhelming at times, but if I get those under control just think how amazing it will be? I mean, not just in high school but after we graduate too. I’ve been toying with the idea of going into forensics, or some kind of police work, and these senses would help.”
“How do you know you’ll even get to be those things? What does being a werewolf mean? There has to be a catch.” Scott dropped his voice.
“And I’m sure there are plenty of hurdles, but they aren’t going to make me want to give this up.”
“Shouldn’t you be keeping your options open though? What if you end up not liking it?”
Stiles laughed. “What’s not to like?”
Scott made a frantic motion with his hands as Stiles started to head towards the front of the school. He jogged to keep up with Stiles. “What if Derek’s lying? Did you think about that?” He grabbed Stiles’ shoulder and turned him around.
Stiles let out a huff. He tried to think how to explain how he knew Derek was telling the truth, and how he knew Derek was trustworthy. He wasn’t going to mention Derek’s sister, because that would just freak Scott out. Besides, it wasn’t his story to tell. “It’s just,” he sighed and shut his eyes. “It’s a pack thing.”
“A pack thing.”
“Yes.” Stiles tossed his head side to side. “I don't know any other way to explain it. I feel a connection with people, not just Derek, but other people. You. My dad.” Scott gave him a look. “Lydia, Danny, you know the usual suspects.” Stiles kept going despite Scott’s look of momentary satisfaction. “The people I care for.”
“You care for him?”
“Not yet. And I don’t trust him one hundred percent yet, either, Scott. I’m not stupid. But, he and I both said we’d try. We’re stronger together.” Stiles shifted his backpack. “I think if you spend some time with him you’ll see he’s not that bad.”
“I don’t really want to spend much time with him. He’s scary.” Scott said, but he started to follow Stiles outside.
“He’s growly for sure, and yeah, the wolf form can be scary, but he won’t hurt you. But here, I’ll make you a promise. We’ll go to my house, pop some popcorn, study for these finals and I will try very hard not to mention Derek, or werewolves. How’s that?” Scott stopped right before they got to the parking lot. Stiles looked at him, frowning. “What’s the matter?” He looked up and saw the problem immediately.
Derek was parked right next to his jeep, looking dour and pointedly ignoring the stares he was getting because his car was amazing, sleek black and totally not what Stiles had been expecting. But maybe he should have. It wasn’t like Derek was a mom-van type of person.
Stiles grabbed Scott’s arm, pulling him across the parking lot. They were getting looks as Derek finally looked up and showed some emotion beyond glaring when Stiles stopped in front of him.
He let out a low whistle. “Very low profile car there.”
Derek went back to his default face. “It was Laura’s idea.” Scott looked at Stiles, confused, but before Stiles could do anything in response Derek continued. “Get in. Both of you.”
Stiles saluted but then paused. Scott was staring at the car and then he turned wide eyes to Stiles. He sighed. “You are aware that we have finals tomorrow and Friday right?”
Derek raised an eyebrow. “You’re studying?”
“Is this a huge surprise? I’ll have you know I am an awesome student. Scholarly.”
Scott snorted and when Derek gave him a look he shifted on his feet, shutting up.
Stiles rolled his eyes. “I promised Scott we’d hang out.”
“That’s why I invited him along,” Derek said slowly, as if Stiles hadn’t heard that part. “That and we need a guinea pig.” Stiles perked up and threw his arm around Scott’s shoulder, pulling him to the car.
“I like the sound of this.”
“I don’t,” Scott mumbled as he was shoved into the backseat.
Stiles climbed into the front seat, petting the dashboard because it was just as pretty as the outside. He could hear Scott moving around in the backseat, trying to get comfortable as Derek got into the car as well.
Most of the school was still staring at them as Derek pulled out and Stiles gave a wave to Jackson and his group as they passed by his car. The look of shock on everyone’s face was perfect.
“Touch the radio and die,” Derek growled as Stiles started to flick all the buttons on the console.
Stiles rolled his eyes as he turned up the heat. “Like I would change from your whatever it is you’re listening to. What is this? 60s rock?” He made a face.
Scott cleared his throat from the backseat. “So uh, what are we doing?”
“We’re going to start Stiles’ training.”
Stiles looked over. “Scott would make an awful sparring partner.”
“Yeah. I really would.”
“Not that type of training. Your senses. Sight, smell, hearing.”
“Wait am I going to track Scott?”
Derek gave Stiles a sideways glance as Scott poked his head in between them. “I was thinking about it. Are you complaining?”
“No complaints from me,” Stiles said distractingly, reaching for the radio dial because it was now some bluegrass, wailing shit and whatever song was playing was destroying his hearing. Derek slapped his hand away.
“What would I have to do?”
“Run really fast probably.”
“No. You’d just go into the woods. And keep going until we find you.” Derek pulled off the main road, heading to the Hale house.
They lapsed into silence, and Stiles closed his eyes taking in all the other things going on. Derek was tapping his finger against the wheel, and if he focused on it, the sound got as loud as a heartbeat. Then Stiles moved his focus to Scott. He was restless in the backseat, constantly shifting. He was twitching and his breathing was elevated. His heart was racing. Classic signs of nerves.
Scott was starting to sweat a little. Stiles could smell the salt in the air. He reached his hand back, grabbing hold of Scott’s knee. He squeezed it, trying to say that everything would be okay.
Stiles got home after eight. Derek had driven Scott to work, letting Stiles take a break from training to grab his car from the school parking lot, but Stiles had opted to go back to the Hale house with Derek and watch him putter around, trying to salvage as much as he could. Stiles had even been the responsible adult and pulled out the digital camera, taking a few snapshots to use for his stupid photography final.
Derek had finally kicked him out, and Stiles had reluctantly gone. He didn’t feel tired, even though he had spent the last four hours trekking through the woods. He knew he still had energy to study, if he wanted to. He sent a text to Scott, telling him that he was home, alive and still wolfy. He got a smiley face in response, and though Stiles knew it was too much to ask for an “I guess you were right” he took what he could from the message.
His dad was home and Stiles walked into the house silently, sure that his dad was sleeping. He was surprised when he saw his dad sitting on the couch and he dropped his bag. The look his dad was giving him told him he was in trouble.
“Hey dad!”
“Stiles.” His dad looked back to the manila folder, and Stiles crept closer, knowing it must be the case file. “You’re home late.”
“It’s not even nine,” Stiles argued.
“Is your jeep running fine?” He asked.
Stiles swallowed, and took a seat next to his dad. “Yeah. Why?”
“Harley saw it sitting in the school parking lot when she was coming for her shift at seven.”
“Scott and I didn’t need it today. We got a ride from another one of our friends.”
“I heard about that. I believe the gossip going around the office was ‘an older guy in a muscle car’ but feel free to correct me.”
Stiles let out a breath. “Okay, before you start, he’s not that much older than me.”
“Uh huh,” his dad didn’t sound like he believed him at all.
“It’s Derek. From the Hale family.”
“Derek Hale?” His dad asked, setting down the manila folder. “What are you doing hanging out with Derek Hale?”
Stiles shrugged. “Just kinda, met up with him the other day. He seemed cool, back in town. Told him I remembered him. We have a few things in common, figured we could help each other out.”
His dad was staring at him, mouth opening and closing and Stiles realized how it could sound. The only reasonable thing in common both of them had was dealing with family deaths. He looked at his hands, bit his lip and wondered how far he could push it. He knew it would look weird, Derek and him hanging out. It would raise questions, and Stiles had been planning on talking with Derek, asking for a good way to explain it. But now that he was being quizzed by his dad on it…
Stiles looked back up. “So we just sit around and talk. Scott came today, so it’s not like I’m alone with him.”
His dad reached over and clapped him on the shoulder. He could smell the emotions shifting in his dad. He couldn’t tell them apart yet; Derek had said it would take time and they’d start practicing scenting emotions soon, but he could tell the ups and downs that were going through his dad’s head.
“I’m glad you have someone to talk to.” His dad said sincerely. “Just try not to get on his nerves.”
Stiles laughed. “Oh don’t worry, already done. But I’ve given him the full disclaimer that I am like a leech and that he is stuck with me until I decide otherwise.”
His dad chuckled and went back to his folder. “Well, at least just give me a heads up if you’re going to be out late.”
“But dad-“
“Especially with winter finals coming up. I don’t want to hear your excuses if you fail.”
“I won’t dad. Promise.”
His dad gave him a look as Stiles tried to play innocent. “I’ll believe that when I see it.” He flipped through a few pages. “Where is Mr. Hale living exactly?”
“Currently?” Stiles floundered. “I think he’s got a hotel a few towns over? He’s looking around.”
“Well, when he gets a permanent address I’d like a copy of it.” Stiles opened his mouth to protest and his dad held up his hand. “I’m just looking out for my son. Give me that much.”
“Fine. When he gets a place, and if he tells me where it is, I will pass it on. Now my turn, what’s going on with the case?” Stiles leaned over and he caught a glimpse of an autopsy report.
His dad shut the folder with a laugh. “This is not a trade off. You don’t get to grill me after I have asked you my questions.”
“But dad. I want to know about the murder. You don’t know how much my high school reputation relies on being the most informed about police business.”
His dad gave him a look. “It’s not a murder.” Stiles’ mouth dropped open. He hadn’t been expect that so quickly. “Or at least, we don’t know. Preliminary reports indicate that the legs might have been ripped off by an animal. They don’t think that was post-mortem either with the amount of blood loss.”
“So it was just an animal attack?”
“When we find the other half of the body we’ll know for sure.”
“How likely do you think it’ll be that you find the other half?” Stiles asked quietly, sneaking the folder from his dad.
“It’s only been two days, so we haven’t searched far. But if it was an animal who knows how far the other half could have been dragged.” His dad snatched the folder back and smacked Stiles over the head. “Go upstairs and study. Stop bothering me.” He made a shooing motion and Stiles held up his hands in defeat.
“You got it. You’re the boss.”
“Damn right I am.” His dad settled back in the couch as Stiles walked up to his room.
He threw his book bag on the floor and then collapsed into his bed. He was still buzzing. He wasn’t sure that feeling was ever going to go away. He’d learnt so much today, or at least it felt like he had learnt a lot. By the end of the training he was able to find Scott almost immediately. Getting to him still took some effort, because running through the woods on high speed was hard.
Derek said it was so easy because he was tracking Scott, but when they had done it once more after dropping Scott off, Stiles had been able to find Derek quickly, even when he tried to run downwind.
Stiles took a deep breath, feeling how safe his house was. It was good knowing what was going around him. He knew he couldn’t keep constant vigilance, it would just wear him out, but once in awhile just to make sure. His dad wasn’t opening the whiskey, or stress eating. Nothing wrong was going on.
Stiles shot up and ran to his window, opening it and looking down. He blinked because nothing was there, and then he looked to the left.
Derek tried to hide behind a tree but Stiles caught him. He sighed, heartbeat slowing back down.
“Way to be creepy Mr. Creepy McCreepster,” his whispered. He knew Derek could hear him anyway. “What is this? More training?”
“You weren’t supposed to notice me.” Stiles could hear him as if he were right next to him.
“Well you just spent all afternoon training my sense of smell. I could pick you out of a men’s washroom.” Derek snorted. “So what are you doing here? Want to recite poetry? I want you to know that my heart already belongs to someone else.”
Derek was silent but Stiles was getting used to these pauses. “New wolves sometimes have issues controlling themselves, especially if they don’t have their alpha to keep them in line. You’re most vulnerable asleep and as it gets closer to the full moon the wolf might take over. I just wanted to make sure you stayed out of trouble.”
“So you’re going to be watching me sleep. Kinda creepy.”
“Your other option is possibly maiming and killing someone. So if you want that I’ll be on my way.”
“Shut up,” Stiles said, resting his chin on his palm, looking up at the night sky. The moon was getting close to full. Only five more days and then he’d feel what it was really like. “That’s not the only reason, is it?”
Derek took another moment to answer. “I am worried your alpha could come looking for you.”
“The alpha,” Stiles whispered. “He’s not mine. I don’t want him.” Derek didn’t say anything, but Stiles could still see him leaning against the tree in old lady Matilda’s yard. “So my dad knows about you.” Derek stayed quiet and so Stiles kept talking, explaining their cover story.
“Sounds reasonable,” Derek agreed once he was finished talked.
“I didn’t tell Scott about Laura.”
“Thank you.”
Stiles laughed coldly, feeling guilty that he wasn’t feeling guilty for keeping something from his best friend. “It was for me more than you. He wouldn’t understand. Not yet at least.”
“He’s not pack.”
“He will be though. You said yesterday a pack could have humans.”
“Yes, I did.”
Stiles licked his lips. “I wasn’t lying to my dad, you know. We can talk about things.” It was easier like this to bring it up. He could see Derek, and he knew Derek could see him, but they weren’t together. It was like talking to no one, just whispering your fears in the dark.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Derek snapped back, but he didn’t sound as defensive as he did in the daylight. Maybe he felt the anonymity as well.
“Maybe one day.”
“Not tonight.”
“No.”
“Get some sleep, Stiles. You have your finals tomorrow. I won’t bother you until the weekend.”
“But you’re going to still be a creeper outside my window, right?” Stiles said laughing as he stood up.
“Just looking out for you.”
“Sure, sure. Night, Derek,” Stiles said as he slid the window shut. Now that he knew Derek was out there he could hear him, shifting around and getting comfortable. He knew Derek could probably hear him too, which just meant that he was definitely jerking off in the shower instead of bed tonight.
Scott and he were the talk of the school the next day. Even though finals were taking place all day students still found ways to whisper questions their way about Derek. Scott floundered under the attention, not knowing what to say, and Stiles found himself having to step on his foot one too many times because the word “werewolf” was just a breath away, Stiles could tell.
However, he was enjoying the attention a lot. Especially because Lydia seemed to be noticing him, and actually looking at him instead of through him. Sure, she could very well have been looking at Scott, but Stiles was right next to Scott for almost the whole day and it wasn't like she could ignore him completely! He was taller!
During lunch people actually came up and sat with them, instead of just at the same table. No matter what Stiles used to think, having people notice them with more than just contempt was actually great for his ego.
Animal magnetism. It was totally a thing.
The only downside was when Coach Finstock cornered him near the end of the day, demanding to know why he skipped conditioning two days in a row. There had been stammering from him, and vague threats of being benched forever from Finstock, and the only thing that saved him was Danny politely coughing behind them because Finstock had cornered him right at Danny’s locker.
Stiles had made a quick exit, nodding his head in thanks to Danny because he knew the boy didn’t use his locker. Everyone knew he took over Jackson’s cause it was closer to his homeroom.
The excitement had died down on Friday, since Derek had kept his promise and not made a surprise reappearance. He hadn’t even been at Stiles’ house the night before, or at least not anywhere Stiles could easily find him. Just to be safe Stiles kept his private business in the shower. No need to make it awkward so early in their friendship.
Stiles would still manage to scare him away eventually he was sure.
***
Derek checked into a hotel on the outskirts of town after the sheriff drove up to the house and knocked on the door Friday afternoon. He hadn’t answered the door, waiting upstairs in his old room until the sheriff left. He was glad he’d parked his car behind the house, because he really hadn’t been expecting the visit. So even though he hadn’t been planning on listening to Stiles, he ended up doing what the boy had wanted.
In the long run he knew it would be for the better. If Stiles and he were going to be… friends, pack mates, something… then some sacrifices would need to be made. He hadn’t been planning on any of this, but having another beta had given him purpose and direction. He wasn’t an omega anymore. He knew what he was up against now, and he had someone who could help him find his sister’s killer.
It wasn’t happening quickly enough, though. The alpha wasn’t coming, not yet. Derek waited outside Stiles’ house two nights in a row. Nothing happened. Stiles had nightmares, but they weren’t related to the alpha.
On Saturday he bucked up and called his old landlord, canceling his lease for the end of the month. That had been an argument, with her demanding a full month’s notice, and him having to try and convince her that a family emergency was a good enough reason to wiggle out of the cancellation fee. He knew he’d have to go back to New York after the full moon, if only to pack a larger suitcase, and she told him they would have words when he got back.
After he called her, and his old job, he went out in search of a new apartment. He hated the mundane normally, but there was something calming about it, and doing these things helped distract him from the fact the he was alone. He’d promised Stiles he’d give him some space, and he would. Stiles was a new werewolf, and while some of his actions towards Derek in the past two days had screamed we are pack, Derek didn’t want to believe it. Not yet.
So he found a new apartment that he could move into on January 1st, and then he went looking for a part-time job so he could pretend he was a member of society. It would stop questions from being asked, or at least too many questions.
He wouldn’t tell Stiles about the apartment just yet. He’d let him think that Derek was going to stay at his house. It was amusing watching him spaz out about everything when he went into lecture mode.
***
Stiles woke up Monday feeling like he was going to burst out of his skin. His head was cloudy, like too much was stuffed in there. He’d spent the first two days of winter break with Scott, a quiet day of raiding the store for as much junk food before going home and playing Halo. He’d been planning on spending the night Sunday, but around eleven he’d started feeling off, and after he snapped at Scott for no reason, he’d decided against it.
He was on edge. Tomorrow was the full moon and he knew everything he was feeling was just in preparation for that.
Someone knocked on his bedroom door.
“Go away,” he muttered, burying his face in his pillow.
“Scott’s here,” his dad said.
Stiles groaned. He didn’t want to see Scott. His dad he could handle, there was something calming about being around his dad, about thinking about his dad. But anyone else just raised his hackles. “Tell him I’m sick.”
“What?”
Stiles raised his voice. “I’m sick!”
His door cracked open and his dad peaked in. He took a look at Stiles and then walked closer to him, coming to sit on the edge of his bed. “You sure look it. Late night?”
Stiles groaned again and buried his head back in his pillow. “Something like that.”
“Well, I suppose I could be persuaded to take pity on my son, and tell his friend he’s not feeling well.”
Stiles peeked out from his pillow. “Could you? Tell him I’ll text him, or skype him, but I just can’t be in the same room with him. I’ll be better Tuesday for our Big Wolf on Campus marathon.”
His dad laughed, rubbing his back. “That’s a pretty specific time.” Stiles just grunted. “Alright. I’ll pass on the message that you two will be back to your normally scheduled tomfoolery tomorrow.”
Stiles groaned. “Who even says tomfoolery, dad?”
His dad cuffed him lightly on the back of the neck, but didn’t respond as he got up and left, closing the door behind him. Stiles tried to focus on the feeling of calm he had around his dad, but his mind was never good at staying on one thing, and he found himself drifting quickly. The longer he drifted the more agitated he got.
He pushed himself up when his phone buzzed and glared at it when he saw it was a text from Scott asking if he was okay. Stiles let out a rush of air, reminding himself that there was no reason to be upset. It wasn't a big deal, and Scott was just looking out for him.
He pressed Scott’s number and didn’t have to wait long for him to pick up. “Scott, Scott listen to me,” he tried to start with, to take over the conversation before it started.
Scott was already talking though. “Stiles! Are you okay? What do you mean sick? And what is Big Wolf on Campus?”
“I mean,” Stiles took a deep breath and then let it out as slowly as he could to calm his racing heart. “I mean werewolf stuff, Scott. The full moon is tomorrow and my body is freaking out. Hence the ‘Big Wolf on Campus--”
Scott cut him off. “See! I told you! This stuff was bound to happen.”
Stiles looked at his hands and closed his eyes when he thought he saw claws. He knew he was hallucinating; he couldn’t be turning already. “Scott. I knew this was going to happen, Derek had told me. I just wasn’t expecting it to feel like this. Everything but my dad is putting me on edge, and I think I’m starting to shift even though Derek said that wasn’t possible because the transformation wouldn’t take over fully until after the full moon and Scott I really think I’m starting to freak out a bit here.”
His breath was coming in short pants. He hadn’t expected it to overwhelm him this much. He was too small for his body, and he was pretty positive that his fingers were turning into claws because he could feel the nails pushing out.
Scott was saying his name over and over but it was too much for his senses.
“Scott. Scott I need to go.” He hung up the phone and pressed it into the bed. He felt it buzz under his hand but he ignored it. He focused on breathing in and out. He focused on his dad, who he could hear puttering around downstairs.
“You look like shit.”
Stiles’ head snapped up but when he saw it was Derek he let his head drop back down. “I’m feeling the effect of the moon. Everything is pissing me off, like more than normal.” Derek stepped away from the window, leaving it open so Stiles could feel the cool breeze coming in. It did help, and Stiles moaned, climbing out of bed to sit by the window. “I haven’t even had a chance to do any more research either.”
“It’s fine,” Derek said awkwardly, and Stiles glanced at him.
“You don’t remember the first time you changed do you?”
Derek shrugged, and took a seat in his computer chair. “I didn’t change until I was a teenager, but I started training for it when I was younger.” Stiles was quiet, waiting for him to go on. “It didn’t stop me from completely losing control the first time I shifted anyway. My uh- my dad and uncle had to chase me away from the highway.”
Stiles snorted. “The highway is like 20 miles out or something.”
“You lose track of how far you’re going when you lose control like that. I didn’t hurt anyone, except myself. And my dad. Gave him a black eye for about five minutes I think.” Derek swallowed and Stiles could feel the tension in his body. “My family made fun of him for awhile, so that’s the only reason I know it happened.”
Stiles didn’t know what to say. He hadn’t been expecting a conversation about family. He didn’t know what to add.
“We should get you out of here,” Derek said, standing up. “You started to shift.”
Stiles looked at his hand. “I thought you said I couldn’t? Not till tomorrow.”
“I may have been wrong.” Derek scowled when Stiles laughed. “I really don’t know what I’m doing, and each person can be affected differently by the bite, depending how balanced they are.”
“Well I am definitely not balanced in the slightest.”
It was Derek who laughed this time, a sharp snort through his nose. Stiles stared at him, wide eyed. “I can think of a lot worse people I would want to be dealing with right now.”
“Someone like Scott?” Stiles asked. He loved his best friend, but he was sure that if Scott had been bitten instead that Derek would be having a much harder life right about now.
Derek shook his head. “I’m not naming names. I think any other teenager would have been awful. Now come on, let’s get out of here.”
Stiles stood up, stretching. “I should probably actually get dressed.” He was still wearing his pajamas but Derek just rolled his eyes.
“We’re going running. And maybe if you get violent I’m going to throw you into a tree. Wear whatever you don’t mind getting destroyed.”
Stiles looked at his clothes. “These clothes it is.” He grabbed his phone, and debated calling Scott back. He was feeling better. “I should probably call Scott and apologize.”
Derek didn’t say anything as Stiles decided against calling, going over to his laptop. Scott was online, and Stiles pulled up a video chat.
“Stiles!” Scott called the moment he popped up. Stiles grinned, waving. Scott’s face morphed and he pointed frantically to what Stiles assumed was Derek lurking in the background.
“Yes, that’s Derek, being a creeper.”
Scott looked gutted. “But you said you were sick.”
Stiles rolled his eyes. “I said I was sick to my dad because I couldn’t tell him I’m starting to wolf out. Derek is taking me running through the woods so just in case I lose control he’ll be the only thing I can hurt.” He heard Derek scoff and he flipped him the bird without taking his eyes off of Scott. “I’ll be back to normal on Tuesday, okay?”
Scott bit his lip. “Are you sure? I mean… the transformation won’t kill you, will it?”
“No, Scott, it won’t kill me.” He did give Derek a look, who just sighed and started climbing out the window. “Anyway, I’ll see you on Tuesday, bright and early. Or probably mid-morning is more like it. Either way. Oh and you’re my alibi for tomorrow night. If my dad asks, I’m sleeping at your place.”
“What but?” Scott flailed.
“Scott. I’m going to be turning into a werewolf whether or not you cover for me. It will just make my life a lot easier if you tell him I’m with you.”
“Why don’t you just tell him you’re with Derek?” Scott muttered and Stiles just sighed.
“Maybe next month. But for now, no.” He frowned as Scott still seemed like he wasn’t going to go along with the plan. “Please?” Stiles drew out the request into a whine.
Scott huffed and threw his hands up. “One day you are going to need me and I’m just going to turn my back on you because you’re a terrible person.”
Stiles clapped his hands in delight. “I owe you one man.”
“You owe me like five hundred,” Scott mumbled but he waved as Stiles cut off the video chat.
Stiles shut his laptop, spun around and grinned. “Let’s go.”
***
The woods seemed a lot smaller now than they had as a kid. Derek had to keep redirecting the two of them every few miles, but even if it seemed cramped, Stiles was enjoying it. He flopped down on the ground, not caring that he was getting dirty. They were both sweating, having been running for a few hours now, and Derek watched as Stiles stretched.
“Ah that feels good!” Stiles laughed. “I actually feel like I’m in control.” He tilted his head back and looked at Derek. “This was an excellent idea.” Derek snorted. “Guess you’d be full of good ideas, considering you’ve been a werewolf for so long.”
They lapsed into silence and Derek sat down on the ground next to Stiles, soaking in the serene feeling of the woods. His pants were getting dirty and wet, but it was okay. The motel had a coin operated laundry room. He’d sacrifice his pants for the feeling of pack he was getting from this moment.
“Hey Derek?” Stiles asked, and Derek grunted in reply. “Can you tell me what it’s like?”
Derek wasn’t stupid enough to not know what Stiles was talking about. He closed his eyes, remembering every full moon since he’d left Beacon Hills. He’d spent them in the apartment with Laura, or taking walks around their neighborhood. Nothing like what it had been like when he was a kid. Nothing like what he was going to give Stiles.
“You’re going to lose control,” he finally settled on.
Stiles snorted. “No shit. But what does it feel like? Or are you gonna tell me that’s one of those things I have to experience for myself?”
Derek shrugged. “It is pretty indescribable.” He broke out into an uncontrollable smile at the look Stiles gave him. “It’s different for everyone. I can’t tell you what it will feel like for you.”
“Will I recognize you?”
“Possibly. It depends on your mood. It depends on who you think pack is. It depends on a lot of things.”
Stiles let out a breath. “What will help me gain control? Or is it just time and different for everyone?” He was smiling, but Derek could feel his frustration at having no clear-cut answers.
He tried to think about how to explain anchors, and how they change month to month if you’re not stable enough. He was terrible at words so he used his mom’s. “Think about what you care most about, and hold onto that. It’ll keep you human.” He looked at Stiles, who was staring open mouthed at him. He ducked his head. “That’s the best way I can think to describe it.”
Stiles leaned back, staring up at the darkening sky. They’d probably need to head back soon, just to make sure they hadn’t been found out by Stiles’ dad.
“Stop thinking,” Stiles mumbled. “It’s like I can feel your brain running from here, and I’m not even trying.”
Derek snorted. “What are you doing? Communing with nature?”
Stiles shrugged. “I don’t even know. I just know it feels like I’m connected with the whole forest right now. I can hear and smell so many things.”
“Good. Hold onto that. It’ll be helpful tomorrow.”
“What? So I don’t run out of it and have you chase my ass around town?”
Derek nudged him with his boot. “I’ll definitely tackle you before you make it out of the woods.”
“Try me, old man.” Stiles nudged back, twisting his leg in a way that probably hurt. “I will outrun you, and give me some time in wolf form and I will pin you like Nala did to Simba.”
Derek stared at Stiles slack-jawed, unable to stop himself. They’d only known each other for a few days but every time Derek thought he was getting a grip on how Stiles’ mind worked the kid threw another curveball at him.
“Close your mouth, you’ll catch flies,” Stiles muttered, reaching up to push Derek’s mouth shut. He didn’t even open his eyes. He just knew apparently, and it shocked Derek enough that he actually let Stiles do it.
He swallowed, trying to get his footing in the conversation again, but Stiles had already moved on to musing about what kind of danger they would run into during the full moon and Derek’s only response was to remind him for the seventh time that fairies weren’t real, and if they were they definitely wouldn’t be child abducting horrors like in Torchwood. Or at least Derek really, really hoped.
***
Derek was already waiting in the motel parking lot when Stiles got there mid-afternoon. He was starting to feel his blood heating up, and the jumpiness was coming back. He had texted Scott to make sure they were clear on the cover story. He’d also included a link to the wikipedia page for Big Wolf on Campus just in case they got asked about it later.
Derek took one look at him and stepped away from his car. “Come on, we’re walking. You look like you need it.”
Stiles nodded, following along silently. He didn’t think he actually felt that different, but because he was looking for every little change, anticipating it, he could feel everything. He didn’t talk the whole time they walked to the woods, or even when they started running once they were a safe distance from the road. He just focused on his body and how it felt.
Derek didn’t push him, though Stiles could feel his eyes on him the whole time. Stiles didn’t think he was waiting for a freak out, but he could tell it was a more cautious approach than Derek had taken the day before, when his observation had been focused more on their surroundings, making sure they didn’t stray too far.
Stiles could still smell the search teams they had, but there was no one currently in the woods. Stiles knew this because he could hear almost everything. He thought it might have to do with how much he had paid attention yesterday. He was noticing things he didn’t normally pay attention to, but he could tell where deer were, and where a few coyotes were trying to run away from them.
He could even tell where a mountain lion was starting to hunt and if he had to guess the thing had to be two miles from them.
“This is ridiculous,” he breathed, finally slowing to a stop. Derek turned and looked at him. He didn’t say anything, just quirked his head. Stiles grinned widely. “Amazing. But so ridiculous. There’s a mountain lion like two miles that way,” he pointed even as Derek glanced off to the side.
“There is,” he said, nodding, and then a faint smile was coming across his face. Stiles could only guess what he was thinking, and he wondered if he was remembering what it was like. He’d lived the past six years away from here, who knew when the last time he’d run like this had been.
Stiles wasn’t stupid enough to ask.
“Come here,” Derek said, looking up at the sky.
It had gotten dark quickly, the perks of winter. Stiles could feel his body begging for the change, and he wanted it so badly. He wanted to run completely disconnected from his human thoughts. It would be the greatest escape.
He didn’t even think, stepping into Derek’s personal space, and Derek let him.
He froze, human brain kicking back in as Derek wrapped an arm around his shoulder and pulled him the rest of the distance, until he was standing in a loose hug. He was suddenly running on all cylinders, his mind yelling that this was weird and wrong, but the other part of him wanting to reach out and bury his face in Derek’s neck.
This is what Derek had meant, when he talked about there being two minds. Your human self had thoughts, but your wolf just knows.
“What do I do?” Stiles asked.
He heard Derek swallow, and suddenly it was awkward all around. “It’s uh, it’s how my parents kept track of younger wolves. We’d try to imprint our scents so deeply in the wolf’s mind that even if you completely lose control and nothing short of pain will bring you back, you’ll still know to listen to us. You’ll still know to come back to us.”
Stiles thought about it, but the wolf inside him was already forcing him to relax. He was more instinct than anything else and he buried his face in Derek’s neck, taking in the clean, earthy scent that was uniquely Derek. He’d never intentionally taken in anyone’s scent yet, and he promised himself that he would do that first thing when he got him to his dad. He needed that connection because even though he had joked about it, smelling Derek made him truly think he could track him anywhere.
Derek’s stubble was scraping against his own neck, and Stiles shivered. They were imprinting on each other, that was the only thing that was racing through his mind.
His wolf was howling in his mind. This was his pack.
Being a wolf was like watching the world through an old sepia film. Stiles could tell what was going on, and sometimes he had moments of grabbing hold of his body and being in control. Mostly he let himself be taken on the ride.
He could feel Derek running beside him the entire night, and when he had moments of clarity, he knew he was being herded. He knew he was trying to reach his other pack members, he could feel them far away, too far away, but Derek would growl a warning every time he tried to head towards them.
Stiles had tried challenging Derek, growling back and trying to wrestle him, but the wolf was in full control during that time and Stiles hadn’t been able to use any human tactics against Derek. Deep down he wasn’t sure if he would have been able to win even if he had been more balanced. He had been thrown into a tree after all. He remembered that part clearly.
That was the one thing he had been pleased with when he had woken up in the other bed in Derek’s motel room; he had remembered the night before. He hadn’t been expecting to with all the myths he had been reading, and Derek hadn’t seemed positive that he would.
He rolled off the bed, scratching his stomach as he walked to the bathroom. He could hear the water running from Derek taking a shower, and he perched himself on the sink bar right outside the bathroom. He could feel the wolf at the surface of his mind, and he didn’t feel the need to run from it. Running around last night and letting it take control of himself had helped him feel more connected to the wolf.
He kicked the door with his bare foot. “Leave hot water for me!” Stiles heard Derek laugh and he kicked the door again. “I’m serious!”
“You seriously think there’s hot water to begin with?” Derek asked and Stiles rolled his eyes.
“Very cute. I need to at least wash this dirt out of my hair. Since you know, I got thrown into a tree!” Stiles looked down at himself and blinked.
He was naked except for his boxers. He hadn’t even realized, feeling so comfortable with himself. He blinked again, and he could feel his human mind coming up, all his insecurities coming up because he was practically naked in a motel room with this guy he barely knew.
Pack, the wolf whispered, but Stiles ignored it, grabbing his wadded up dirty clothes, and grudgingly putting them on.
He was back in the clothes when Derek opened the door dressed in only sweatpants. Stiles frowned because he could see the steam coming from the bathroom.
“No hot water my ass,” he grumbled, trying to push down his blush because he’d been naked and that wasn’t cool! He barely took off his shirt to go swimming with Scott. Nudity and him were not good friends.
Derek was looking at him oddly and Stiles wondered if he could smell his insecurity. He probably could.
“Give me your clothes.”
Stiles almost tripped off his own two feet as he walked into the bathroom. He turned around blinking wildly. “Excuse me?”
Derek rolled his eyes and held out his hand. “I’m doing laundry. Give me your clothes so I can wash them.”
Stiles stared at him. It made sense, he couldn’t exactly go back to his dad’s house in dirty clothes and expect him not to ask questions. But… “what would I wear?”
Derek slowly pointed to his small bag. Stiles shifted, unsure. He could feel the battle going on in his head between what was acceptable by his human side, and what the wolf instinct thought was alright. Derek wasn’t his friend just yet, not a good enough one to share clothes with, but he was pack. And that overrode the human side in the wolf’s mind.
Stiles walked to the bag and grabbed the first shirt he saw and the other pair of sweatpants, waving them in Derek’s face before he went into the bathroom to take his shower.
“Don’t forget to text Scott back!” Derek called. “Your phone’s been going off since six.”
Stiles groaned as he turned on the water, still blessedly hot. He’d do that as soon as he was clean. He had so much he wanted to tell Scott.
Part 2