Human is Just a Word 20/?
Chapter 20
While Stiles was upstairs to get ready for bed, Derek considered joining him and Isaac in the den. Usually it was the whole pack, sleeping together in a pile, and it somehow didn't feel right to sleep in his own bed while Stiles and Isaac were down here.
On the other hand, Derek felt like an intruder. This was a thing between Stiles and Isaac and even if they didn't mind if he joined them, it didn't feel right.
So Derek wished them a good night and went upstairs.
The last Derek saw of them was when Stiles flopped down next to Isaac who had already slipped in his fur and had settled down in the nest of pillows and blankets. Stiles dragged three blankets over them and buried his nose in the soft fur of Isaac's flank.
At least he isn't abusing him as his personal teddy bear, Derek thought with a smile and closed his bedroom door.
Derek went to sleep with the memory of Stiles using him as his personal teddy bear and he closed his eyes with a ping of jealousy in his chest.
When he came back downstairs in the morning, Stiles' father was already there but the youngest members of his pack were still sleeping. This time Stiles lay on his stomach, spread out like always but since he lay on top of Isaac he had his butt in the air. Derek tried really hard to ignore the last bit and to make sure that his beta was still breathing under the human draped over him. Stiles wasn't build but he had some muscles and for sure he wasn't the lightweight he looked like. Derek had found that out when he'd tried to maneuver a barely conscious Stiles into his hotel room. Which felt like an eternity ago but thinking about it, it had been just over a week now.
"I should take pictures." John said softly enough to not wake them. Isaac was already awake, Derek could tell by his heartbeat, but if the beta wanted to pretend in front of John, Derek wouldn't call him out on it.
"You haven't yet?" Derek raised an eyebrow at him.
"Not enough." John admitted. "I made coffee, if that's okay."
"Coffee is always good." Like the day before they went over to the kitchen and the second the path was free, Isaac wiggled his way out from under Stiles and shot out of the door.
"I'm sorry." John commented.
"It's not you." Derek assured him.
Boyd and Erica didn't join them over breakfast, which meant no pancakes. Instead Stiles made them scrambled eggs with bacon and toast which was still better than anything Derek could provide. Isaac did join them but he still kept his distance to Stiles' father and only spoke when addressed directly. He excused himself as soon as he was finished and went back to his own apartment to study.
John and Stiles left soon after him. Stiles wanted to show his dad more of the city he now lived in, not that Stiles had time to explore it in detail over the week he'd been here, but he already had a few favorite places he wanted to show his father.
Derek used the quiet to get some work done.
The day went by quickly and over dinner the whole pack was together again. While Stiles cooked, the others gathered in the living room. At one point Isaac slipped out to help Stiles in the kitchen but Derek was the only one who even noticed. Boyd and Erica were talking about the event they had provided security for the night before and in the end they and John were discussing security issues Derek had no clue about. It was like they were talking in another language so he left to see what Stiles and Isaac were doing in the kitchen.
They didn't notice when he came over, both too engrossed in their work.
Derek watched them for a moment. Isaac was the closest in age to Stiles, it was only natural that they related to each other. It was good that the members of his pack went along this well but there was still this little ping of jealousy in his chest. He liked Stiles, there was no denying that.
But it was obvious that Stiles didn't liked him back the same way. How could he? Derek had basically raped him. That he could stay under the same roof as him was a miracle. Derek had expected Stiles to act around him like Isaac did around John. Or worse.
Derek was the alpha but he didn't want to be feared, especially not by Stiles. The first days Stiles had been wary, waiting for Derek to snap, but now he had no qualms calling him out on it when he messed up like with Isaac.
"Hey, Derek." Stiles addressed him, pulling him out of his thoughts. "Don't just stand there. Here, chop these for me."
And like that Derek ended up next to Isaac, chopping peppers, while Stiles swirled around the kitchen, doing a million things at once. Somehow he did manage to bring everything together in time and soon they all sat down at the kitchen table.
Boyd and John were still talking shop and Derek got the feeling that at least John was at ease with the situation now. How Stiles felt he wasn't sure. The teenager was more quiet than usual and just listened to his father talking.
This man is all the family he has left, Derek reminded himself. It was a feeling he could relate to. After the fire, when it only had been Laura and him, he hadn't let her out of his sight for months. Leaving her to live with strangers? He would have rather killed himself.
After dinner John had to leave.
Stiles went with his father to help him putting his bag in the rented tow truck. The real reason was of course to say goodbye and all the werewolves stayed upstairs to give father and son some privacy.
Boyd and Erica were still tired from their latest job so they called it an early night and went over to their place. Isaac lingered at the door but Derek shooed him off so that the beta could clean up his place and get the scent of John out of his apartment. The beta didn't say anything but he took the worn shirts Derek gave him without a word and then left, already sniffing the fabric. It wouldn't get all of the foreign scent out of his place but it would help.
Derek was the only one left and with nothing else to do than to wait for Stiles he started with the dishes. When Stiles finally came back upstairs, he joined him in the kitchen and reached for a towel.
"You okay?" Derek asked, arms up to the elbows in soapy water.
"It's just weird, you know?" Stiles said. "He's going home and I have to stay here."
"I'm sorry." He really was. If there was another option ... but there wasn't. Stiles was bonded into his pack and he couldn't live in Beacon Hills anymore. The only other option would be for his dad to move here but that didn't seem to be an option either. Over the weekend Derek had heard the name Melissa a few times. He would ask but Stiles didn't seem to be in the mood right now.
After the dishes they turned on the TV for some mindless distraction. Stiles sat there, at the end of the couch, feet tucked under him and nibbling with his fingers at the seam of the armrest without paying attention to what was happening on the screen. He was staring into nothingness and smelling of loneliness.
Derek sat in one of the chairs and wasn't paying attention to the TV either, his focus was on Stiles. For a moment he considered fetching Isaac, maybe he could return the favor and help Stiles for a change. But Derek didn't call for his beta.
It might be selfish but he didn't want Isaac to be here right now.
Derek expected that Stiles would turn in early but two hours later he still sat in his corner and hadn't really moved. It was eerie to see the vibrant teen this quiet.
Derek couldn't stand it any longer. A pack member needed comfort and the wolf in him was longing give him just that but Stiles was human and still new to living in a pack. Not knowing what to do, Derek let his instincts take the lead.
Stiles didn't even seem to notice, when Derek got up and disappeared upstairs. When he came back downstairs it was on four paws.
He let out a soft whine when he approached Stiles to not startle him and then jumped up on the couch.
"What?" At least he had Stiles' attention now. "Derek? What are you doing?"
Derek gave him a look that should translate to Do I look like I can talk right now? which Stiles countered with a gape and a full body twist.
Derek just huffed and made himself comfortable with his head in Stiles lap. He quirked an eyebrow at him but when Stiles didn't throw him off immediately, Derek closed his eyes and relaxed.
Stiles was tense under him and he didn't know what to do with his hands but then one hand found its way to Derek's head. Hesitating at first but when Derek hummed encouraging Stiles gained some confidence and started to scratch him behind the ear.
Derek didn't bite his hand off and Stiles relaxed a bit. After a while the petting became almost an absent thing with Stiles staring into nothingness again.
"I miss him." Stiles spoke. "I missed him since we left Beacon Hills but now it's kinda worse. Before, everything was such a chaotic mess, I didn't really think about it but now …" He let out a sigh. "Now he's gone and I miss him."
There was something about the wolf form that made it easy to forget that there was a sentient mind behind his animal eyes. Sometimes it made things easier. So Derek wasn't surprised when Stiles suddenly hugged him and buried his face in his shoulder.
"It's not fair." He sobbed.
Derek had expected the breakdown a lot earlier but it was good that Stiles finally allowed himself to let it all out.
Now the tears were flowing and Stiles was just clinging to him, sobbing into his fur. Derek let him ride it out.
When the sobs died down and Stiles started to drew back, wiping his face in embarrassment, Derek jumped off the couch and gently tugged at Stiles pants to get him up.
"Where are we going?" Stiles asked, voice hoarse from crying but he smelled better now. He followed Derek up the stairs to Stiles' bedroom.
Derek hopped on Stiles' bed and made a point of settling down.
"Time for bed, I guess." Stiles muttered and let out a yawn. "But I need a shower first."
He gathered his things and then went for his shower. Derek closed his eyes and let his mind drift with half an ear out for the noises from the bathroom. Stiles showered quickly, brushed his teeth and then he was back in the bedroom.
"You don't have to sleep here." He said when he slipped into bed. "I mean, you can if you want but you don't have to."
Derek just wiggled his way under the covers and a moment later Stiles was hugging him again. The bed wasn't that big, they had to lie close, but the den hadn't felt right for this. Stiles was human and this felt like it needed a human kind of solution. Not that Derek minded the hugging. So far Stiles had abused him as his private stuffed animal every time they had slept in the den, he hadn't expected anything else now.
"You're soft and warm." Stiles mumbled into his fur, already drifting off to sleep. Derek followed him a moment later.
Chapter 21
Masterpost