Human is Just a Word 18/?
Chapter 18
Derek woke to the sound of Stiles' voice and the noise of furniture being moved around. For a moment he just lay in his bed and tried to make sense out of those noises.
They were coming from downstairs, the living room area, if he was correct.
"You should have just said something." Stiles said. "Then I wouldn't have to rearrange the den in the middle of the night. No, don't give me that look, it's fine, I couldn't sleep anyway."
There were more noises but nobody answered Stiles even when he shut up for a moment to shake out a blanket.
Derek knew these noises, Stiles was preparing the den. Why he did that at this time of the night, he didn't know.
"I could tell that my dad makes you uncomfortable." Stiles continued, not in the slightest bothered by the fact that he didn't get an answer back. "Hey, nothing of that. It's Derek's fault, he should have made sure that you were on board with my dad staying in your guest room." There was another pause. "I know he asked but he should have asked again after you met the man. Hell, I could tell that there was something going on with you and I know you only for a week. Derek's your alpha, it's his job to make sure that you're okay."
There was a little yip for an answer which answered the question why this conversation was so one-sided, aside from the fact that it was Stiles talking. Isaac was in his fur and didn't change back to talk to Stiles which meant that he really was in distress.
However, Stiles was right, it was Derek's job to take care of his beta.
Derek knew about Isaac's past, about his dad. Isaac did have a problem with male authority figures, it had taken long enough for Isaac to accept Derek as his alpha without smelling of fear all the time.
At first Isaac hadn't been able to look him in the eye. Or he had been in attack mode for no reason at all. It hadn't been helping that Derek had become an alpha not long before he bit Isaac, his first beta. They both had to figure out their roles back then and Derek sometimes had come across more like a drill sergeant than an alpha which hadn't went well with Isaac. It reminded his beta too much of his father.
But Derek had failed to sort Stiles' dad into the male authority figure category.
Derek rubbed a hand over his face. How could he have been so stupid? Stiles' dad was a goddamn sheriff.
He was out of his bed and at the door a moment later, his beta needed him. But when Stiles spoke again, Derek hesitated without opening the door.
"There, nice and cozy." Stiles sounded satisfied. "Now get your furry butt over here before we wake up Derek." There was some rustling and a quiet woof from Isaac, who most likely knew that Derek was awake. At least if he paid attention to his surroundings which Derek wasn't quite sure of. If he was too shaken to shift to his human form …
Derek swallowed thickly, this was his fault. However, he couldn't help but to be in awe at how Stiles dealt with the situation. He was pack but this was still new to Stiles, Isaac was barely more than a stranger to him.
"Oh, believe me." Stiles continued. "I'm going to have a word with our mighty alpha in the morning."
Isaac snorted at that and then Derek heard the telltale noises of settling down in the den.
"You don't believe me? Wait and see, tomorrow I'm going to kick his ass."
Derek's hand hovered over the doorknob, he wasn't sure if he should go downstairs or not. He probably would get his ass kicking right then and there and he would deserve it. But it was the middle of the night and things had quiet down, no need to make a fuss now.
Derek strained his ears for any sound coming from downstairs but everything was quiet.
Assured that Stiles had the situation under control, he went back to bed.
Derek woke up early and hurried through his morning routine before he came down the stairs to see what was going on in the den.
Stiles and Isaac were still sleeping. Stiles lay spread out with the blanket tangled around one foot and his head resting on Isaac's middle.
When he came closer, Issac blinked his eyes open but didn't move otherwise.
"I'm sorry." Derek said in a low voice to not wake Stiles. "He's right I should have made sure that you were okay with John staying at your place."
Isaac gave him a low woof and then let his head fall back on his paws. He closed his eyes, content with dozing for a while longer and Derek let him be.
Derek had the coffee brewing when there was a soft knock at the door. He could tell that it was Stiles' dad without bothering his nose because anybody from his pack would have just barged in.
"Morning, John." Derek greeted him when he opened the door. Using his name still felt wrong but he would get used to it, eventually.
"Morning." John gave him a smile. "Isaac wasn't there when I woke up so I guessed ..." He made a gesture with his hand but stopped when his eyes fell on Stiles and Isaac still sleeping in the den. At least Stiles was still sleeping. Isaac was watching them with wary eyes. His wolf face didn't give away emotions the same way his human face would but Derek could tell that he was close to bolting from the posture of his head alone.
"That's not what I expected." John said, clearly uncertain of what to think of the situation. His son was peacefully asleep with a wolf as his pillow. "You know pictures are one thing but this ..." He made another helpless gesture before he turned his back to them. "I need coffee."
"This way." Derek led the way and poured the man his much needed coffee.
As soon as the path was clear, Isaac wiggled his way out from under Stiles and sneaked out of the loft. Stiles protested half-heartily in his sleep but it took him a few minutes to wake up from his search for his pillow. Then he sat there with bleary eyes and hair sticking out in every direction.
His dad just shook his head with a fond smile.
"There is coffee, son." He said. That got Stiles' attention. He stretched and yawned and then came over, making grabby hands at the cup of coffee his father had poured him.
A few minutes later Erica and Boyd joined them and not long after that the first pancake was in the pan.
Who didn't show up for breakfast was Isaac.
Stiles threw a meaningful glance at Derek who already had been half out of his chair to check on his beta. At least Stiles had saved the ass kicking for later when not the whole pack was listening. Not that Derek thought he had forgotten about that particular promise.
Derek had one last look at the table but John and Boyd were engrossed in a conversation about some security stuff Derek knew nothing about and Erica was still busy with the pancakes so he could just slip out for a moment without anybody missing him.
"Isaac?" Derek let himself in Isaac's apartment. There was no answer so he followed the heartbeat to his beta's bedroom.
Isaac was lying on his bed, still in fur.
"Hey." Derek sat down on the edge of the the bed and after a moment of hesitation Isaac put his head in his lap. Gently Derek started to pet him behind the ear.
"I'm sorry." Derek repeated. Earlier it had seemed as if Isaac had forgiven him instantly but now he wasn't so sure anymore. "He'll leave tomorrow evening." He reminded him. "You can stay out of his way, no problem. And he can sleep on my couch tonight."
Isaac shook his head but didn't shift to clarify what he meant.
"We can figure that out later." Derek said and for a while they just sat there. Derek kept petting his beta, giving him the attention he needed. At one point Isaac rolled to his back, exposing his belly. It was half showing his trust and devotion to his alpha and half an invitation for a belly rub. Which Derek provided easily.
Satisfied Isaac stretched and then he lay there in his human form.
"Good?" Derek asked, hand still on his belly.
"Yes." Isaac said. "Stiles helped me last night." He sounded as if he couldn't quite believe what had happened during the night.
"He's pack." Derek said. "We help each other."
They fell quiet for a moment, content in the presence of the other one.
It was true, pack helped each other. But Stiles wasn't a born werewolf, he wasn't a werewolf at all, so the instincts hadn't been there before Derek had claimed him and even now his human mind was still adjusting to the bond. Humans, even bonded into a pack, never fully understood the instincts of a werewolf. It was astonishing how well Stiles responded to the needs of other pack members, especially after such a short time.
"Stiles said he would sleep with me again." Isaac said and placed his hand on Derek's still on his stomach. "I don't want …" He didn't finish the sentence but Derek knew exactly what he was trying to say. He had issues, everybody in the pack knew that, but he didn't want the others to fuss over him. And for sure he didn't want Stiles' father to feel bad for something which wasn't his fault.
Derek knew because he felt the same. He had his own issues and he didn't want to make them a big deal either. Same for Boyd and Erica, they all had their past, they all wore their scars.
Strays, Peter had called them and he was right. This pack was just a bunch of strays who didn't want to be alone any longer. And somehow it worked.
"It's okay." Derek said. "Looks like you and Stiles have figured it out, no need to get the others involved."
Isaac let out a breath and tightened his grip on Derek's hand still on his belly.
"I should go back." Derek said, by now the others had probably noticed his absence. "Want me to bring you some pancakes?"
"You think there are any left?" Isaac asked and let go of his hand.
"I'm the alpha, there better be." Derek said darkly.
Isaac let out a snort.
"Will you be okay here by yourself?" Derek asked more serious now.
"It's okay. I think I'll hit the library later, I need to catch up with some stuff." He said and it was probably true. With Stiles suddenly around Isaac had neglected his studies.
Derek patted his stomach one last time before he left.
When he returned to his apartment, Boyd and Erica were ready to leave. Their company had been hired to provide security for an event this evening and they would be busy for the rest of the day.
"I saved some pancakes for Isaac." Stiles said to Derek while John was busy saying goodbye to Boyd and Erica.
"Not for me?"
"You don't deserve any today and you know it."
Derek accepted it without a comment.
Stiles brought the plate downstairs to Isaac himself which left Derek alone with his dad.
"I have to say, I am surprised." John said while Derek poured them another coffee.
"About what?" Derek asked but he had an idea.
"You." John said with a weak smile. "Your pack." He let out a sigh. "To be honest, I expected less hospitality and more hostility."
"I'm not Peter." Was all Derek could say to that.
"I understand that now." John took a sip of his coffee. "So, what's going on with Isaac?"
Chapter 19
Masterpost