#stiles and erica are partners in crime | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

stereksecretsanta · 3 years

Text

Merry Christmas, kevaaronday!

For @kevaaronday. I tried to use all the tropes you liked, though I played a bit with the coffee shop!AU request. It ended up being pretty long, but I hope it pleases. Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Read On AO3

*****

Food, Drinks, and Pings

Stiles just wanted to clear things up—he did not work for Hale Corp, and he certainly did not work for said company’s inhouse café, The Family Bean. He was a writer, who just so happened to have been roped into the gig because he was best friends with the soulmate-fiancée of the best friend of one of the sons of the company’s owners.

See, one of Stiles’ best friends from high school was Erica Reyes, blonde, vivacious, and both crazy and powerful enough to castrate someone with her fingernails. She might look like she just stepped off the catwalk, with her hourglass figure, fluffy hair, and red lips, but she had a knack for business that led to a scholarship at a reputable business school. Stiles, on the other hand, took to writing like a duck to water, thanks to his overactive imagination and ability to turn a phrase. He could write anything and so he did—news pieces, articles, blogs, reviews, as well as a modestly famous soulmate series published under a pseudonym.

Erica’s soon-to-be husband and soulmate was Vernon Boyd III, a tall, dark, and delicious drink of chocolate, who was so fit he could bench press a baby elephant without breaking a sweat. He was the perfect picture of seriousness and silence, that Stiles used to wonder how he functioned as Hale Corp’s Director of Operations. After getting to know him better, he realized just how smart and charismatic Boyd really was.

Boyd’s best friend from childhood was Derek Hale, one of the sons from the famous and powerful Hale Family, owners and leaders of the mass media company, Hale Corp.

Stiles knew of the Hale Family, and who didn’t? You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t know the famous family of business tycoons and titans, a family so rich they could buy a person’s soul even. Nor would someone fail to hear about one of the most powerful love stories that rocked the world.

Talia Hale was the eldest child of the main branch of the Hale family and was poised to take over the world. Desmond Fitzgerald, in contrast, was the only child of elderly parents, and they lived at a shabby, squat house with no electricity, scraping by each and every day.

Talia’s father, the late and great Everett Hale, had visited the local community college as part of their charity program. Talia had tagged along, nineteen and already learning the ropes, and had tripped over the custodian who had been on his hands and knees straightening the welcome carpet.

Take a guess who the janitor was.

An accidental brush of skin, the burning of a Mark, and that was it.

Talia and Desmond turned out to be soulmates, and their Marks, her howling wolf and his crescent moon, had become one of the most romantic symbols of their time.

Now, where did Stiles and The Family Bean came in, you ask?

Aside from writing, Stiles knew his way around a kitchen. His mother had passed away when he was seven, and he had grown up with a Sheriff father who only knew the basics. Stiles had to learn how to cook a meal or risk them subsisting on fried everything and endless takeout orders.

So yes, Stiles knew how a kitchen worked. The thing was, Erica didn’t, and had spent high school eating Stiles’ meals and hanging around his kitchen. Nothing soothed her viciousness and temper like one of his desserts.

So whenever Erica was close to breaking someone’s jaw and risking a lawsuit, she’d invite Stiles over and he would come and work his magic at The Family Bean. It wasn’t like it was such a hardship. The place had a gorgeous kitchen, a full pantry, and a really comfy setup with cozy booths and colorful tables and chairs.

It wasn’t only Erica who benefited. Stiles often found inspiration at the tail end of a whisk or in between beating a dough into submission while listening to Erica’s gossip. He had come to depend on her brand of sass whenever he was suffering from writer’s block, or dealing with annoying clients, or avoiding his editor, Danny Mahealani.

It got to the point that Erica had HR make him a permanent guest entry pass—written down for Stiles S, Food Guy—and everyone knew him by name, the security, the delivery boys, the café’s actual employees, and some of Hale Corp’s employees.

That was what he meant by his original statement: He did not work for Hale Corp or The Family Bean. He was just Erica’s food guy and personal chef. Just another title to add to personal punching bag, platonic soulmate, best friend, and partner-in-crime, among others.

Boyd was surprisingly calm about the guy constantly hanging around his soulmate. Then again, no one would choose Stiles’ skinny ass for Boyd’s lusciousness, so Stiles could understand that he wasn’t much of a threat. Erica said that Boyd knew they were a package deal, and it helped that Boyd had been won over by Stiles’ banana bread. Either way, Boyd was cool and didn’t punch Stiles in the face for his and Erica’s weird platonic love affair.

So, in the end, that was Stiles’ life—work, his Dad, Erica, and his other friends.

Then the Hales happened.

It all started on a fine Monday morning with Kira Yukimura. She was pretty and petite, and the goddess who was actually the one in charge of The Family Bean’s kitchen. She wore floral dresses with studded combat boots, and held katana wielding lessons on Saturdays and a kids’ kitchen workshop on Sundays. Stiles adored her.

So when he walked in that day—after spending the entirety of the weekend not writing, because his protagonists, Peter and Wade, were being idiots—only to hear Kira’s cries for help, he was more than happy to tag in.

“I’m not crying.” She glared at him from where she was assembling sandwich orders, her gaze as sharp as her swords.

“But you still need help,” Stiles said. He put his laptop bag in one of the employee lockers, rolled up the sleeves of his red sweater, and put on an apron. “Erica wants to do lunch, but I decided to come in early.”

Kira nodded towards the window. “All right, because I got a purple ticket for you.”

Stiles jumped up. “Ooh, cool! I’ve never handled a purple ticket before!”

Kira gave him a relieved smile. “Well, today’s your lucky day. One of my employees called in sick, another is late, and I’ve got five packed tickets from different departments, three of them being rush orders, not to mention today’s purple ticket is a little too vague. I’m both swamped and stumped.”

“I’ve got your back, K.” Stiles gave her a salute and bounced over to the ticket tacked up on the holder.

Purple tickets were orders sent straight from the Wolf’s Den. It was the codename for the top floors occupied by the Hale Family and their closest associates. Boyd and Erica’s office were there, too. Stiles had only ever seen it through photos. There was a lot of security posted there, as if guarding the gates of heaven.

Anyway, purple tickets meant VVVVIP orders, note the number of ‘very’s. Kira usually handled those, but she obviously needed help now.

“Now, what do the Lords and Ladies want?” Stiles murmured to himself.

The Family Bean:

MH: hot chocolate

CC: pancakes

SHB: waffles

VHB: dirty chai

LH: anything

“You know who’s who?” Kira called out.

“Yep, I got it,” Stiles replied. He learned about this from Erica.

MH was Matthew Hale, the firstborn son and heir to the kingdom. CC was his seven-year-old daughter, who everyone called by her nickname. SHB was five-year-old Spencer, and VHB was his mother Valerie Hale-Barone, the firstborn daughter, second eldest, and the lawyer of the family. LH was Laura Hale, the third eldest and the maverick of the family. She was the only one not directly working for Hale Corp, and was more involved their side projects.

“Purple tickets are usually like that,” Kira said, looking at him with amusement. Stiles realized he had been frowning in confusion. “Despite being insanely rich people, they’re surprisingly not very picky about what they eat. Laura, in particular, will eat anything. It’s just difficult to give them variety or find a balance between upscale and too simple.”

“And now you want me to take a crack at it?” Stiles asked.

“Sure. It’ll be in my name anyway, and I don’t mind if you go wild,” Kira said encouragingly. It made Stiles grin. Most would be horrified at handing over their precious menu to someone who wasn’t a baker, much less someone who wasn’t a legitimate employee. But Kira had always been a rebel.

Under Kira’s guidance, Stiles filled up a purple delivery bag for the Hales. The dirty chai latte was pretty straightforward, though he didn’t know how Kira usually made it, so he went with his own style. He also made a raspberry hot chocolate, strawberry cheesecake pancakes, mixed berry waffles, and, for the anything portion of the ticket, a berry breakfast parfait made of yoghurt and fruits and graham crackers.

“Tastes awesome and looks pretty as a picture too,” Kira said, nibbling on her own waffle as she sat atop the counter, swinging her legs to and fro. Stiles could see a hint of her soulmate Mark under her dress just on the outside of her thigh. “I still believe you should have been a baker rather than a writer.”

Stiles grinned as he hung up his apron. “I’m both, but one pays the bills and the other’s a hobby. It’s surprising how most people would think one’s the other.”

“Kira?” a voice called out.

Kira perked up and immediately slid off the counter. She straightened her skirt and stepped out the door of the kitchen.

“Good morning, Derek,” she greeted.

Stiles peeked out unashamedly through the service window.

Tall, dark, and incredibly handsome, DH or Derek Hale was the middle child of the family. He was the Chief Financial Officer, and was said to be shyer and quieter compared to his more unruly and flashy siblings. It made sense why he was childhood friends with Boyd. The two seemed to share a calm, quiet demeanor.

Stiles had always thought that Derek was quite handsome in an already attractive family, and every once in a while, he would get front row seats—or the view through the service window—to the man in the three-piece suit with the godly shoulder to waist to ass ratio. It was quite inspiring.

“I heard Val and the others had a purple ticket sent down,” Derek was saying to Kira. “I’m on my way up and I thought I’d bring it along and save you a trip.”

“Oh, thanks, Derek. I’ll get it from the back,” Kira replied. “How about you? Do you want anything?”

Derek thought about it. “Just a drink. Anything you want to make me.”

“So long as it’s sweet?” Kira teased, which made the man chuckle.

It was like a bulb lit up in Stiles’ head.

He met Kira at the door when she walked back in, and it said so much about how awesome she was because she immediately said, “Yes, Stiles, you can make whatever you want. I mean, you’ve already tried your hard at the purple ticket. Might as well go all the way.”

“Thanks, K. You’re a goddess.” Stiles bounced off to the machines. He had always liked a challenge.

In the end, Stiles added his specially made ‘very merry berry frappe’ into the bag. He made sure to put it in a cup cozy to hide the purple color. He wasn’t sure if Derek would mind, but it just wouldn’t do for one of the bosses to be seen with a colorful drink. He let Kira whisk the bag away and they watched Derek exit The Family Bean.

“I hate to see you go, but I love to watch you leave,” Stiles murmured, eyeing the man’s backside.

“I’ll drink to that.” Kira giggled, clinking her extra glass of frappe against his. “And you’re teaching me the recipe by the way.”

“Not on your life.”

It took eight days before Stiles could once again visit The Family Bean. He had had a burst of inspiration following his last visit and had locked himself up in his apartment. His Dad John and his editor Danny were used to these binges, so they had taken turns visiting him to make sure he was alive and eating actual food rather than inhaling takeout, junk food, and soda.

He had sent off the first few chapters to Danny yesterday and had then slept for about eighteen hours, before Erica had barged in to make sure he hadn’t died. She had been pissed at him last week, annoyed that she hadn’t sampled Stiles’ berry-filled menu, but she’d gotten over it and had even brought groceries before dragging Stiles to The Family Bean for some fresh air and free lunch.

And if that wasn’t enough to perk Stiles up, she and Kira proceeded to tell him how well-received his menu was.

“The kids absolutely loved it, and Laura practically licked her parfait cup clean,” Kira said as they sat around the table for lunch. She had prepared honey sesame chicken, egg rolls, and sweet potato salad. She definitely had Stiles beat when it came to savory meals.

“Valerie was surprised that her dirty chai tasted great. She wasn’t biting people’s heads off more than usual,” Erica shared. She was running her fingers idly over her soulmate Mark, the three claw marks that spanned across her forearm.

Stiles felt pleased at the compliment, but he couldn’t help sending Kira an apologetic look. He didn’t want to usurp her clients and her kitchen.

Kira just laughed. “It’s fine. I know it’s due to your magic fingers and secret recipes. Just teach me how you do Valerie’s dirty chai and we’re good.”

“Sure thing, but it’s nothing special” Stiles said. “I did bring dessert, as thanks for letting me play around last time.”

Kira bounced on her seat. “Tomato pie?”

“With extra bacon and jalapeños, just how you like it.” Stiles grinned and showed her the pie, making Kira squeal.

“You gals eat up. I’ll mix us up some lattes, if you want anything,” he offered.

Stiles went to the kitchen to fix up Erica’s usual iced cinnamon honey latte and Kira’s vanilla almond. He was in the middle of finishing them up when he heard voices out at the main area. He recognized Boyd’s low voice and decided to make him a cup of blond roast with soy milk. He paused when he heard unfamiliar voices and took a peek out the service window. He instantly recognized the small group that had joined Kira and Erica.

There was Boyd, who immediately sat down beside Erica and kissed her cheek. His soulmate Mark was obvious, a rose on the back of his left hand. Stiles liked their marks, very beauty and the beast.

Having come in with Boyd was Derek, who looked just as handsome as he always did in a fetching dark blue suit. With him were his younger siblings, twins Cora and Cameron Hale, the artists of the family, who made music and art, played a bevy of instruments, and also drew and painted. Stiles was only two years older than the twins, but they had more talent in their pinkies than Stiles had in his whole body.

The twins’ Marks were one of the most popular, not just because the two were celebrities, but also because they were incredibly visible. Even from a distance, Stiles could see the compass between Cora’s collarbones and the lighthouse that popped up over Cameron’s collar at the left side of his neck.

Suddenly feeling shy, Stiles stayed in the kitchen and watched and listened.

“Nice spread, Kira. Is that for us?” Cameron asked.

“No, you Hales have your own food upstairs,” Kira said. “I heard Wild Flour Italian sent lunch over.”

Cora rolled her eyes. “Jennifer Blake owns that joint. She’s been trying to get us to come over. No doubt she’ll just use it as some sort of advertisement. I’d rather take a bite of this.” She pointed at their table.

“That pie looks good,” Cameron said. “Can I have a bite?”

Stiles saw the gleam in Erica’s eye.

“Go on,” she said. “They’re good.”

Stiles watched as Erica and Kira offered the Hales a slice each. For some reason, he felt anxious to hear about how his food will be received. It had been nice to hear the rave reviews from Kira and Erica, but it was different seeing their reactions in person.

Cora let out yum-yum noises, which buoyed Stiles’ spirit.

“Okay, that’s pretty tasty. I love the caramelized bacon.”

“Wait, is this tomato in pie? Like a tomato pie?” Cameron asked, inspecting his plate. He took a large bite.

Kira bounced on her seat in excitement. “Yes, isn’t it good?”

“Who made this?” Derek asked. He didn’t look displeased, but he didn’t look happy either. He had a really good poker face. It might be good for business, but it was hard for Stiles to interpret. Stiles noted that he kept on eating the pie though.

“My Food Guy,” Erica said with a smug grin.

“Her Food Guy’s the one who made the berry-eautiful purple ticket that received quite the sensational reviews,” Kira added. She glanced at the service window and Stiles knew she saw him hiding there.

“The one who made my drink, too?” Derek asked.

Kira nodded. “The same one.”

“Spence went gaga for those waffles,” Cameron said. “And Mattie couldn’t believe someone got CC to eat fruit.”

A loud ring cut through their conversation and everyone started pulling out phones to check. It was Derek’s.

“Mom’s calling. Time to go,” he said, standing up.

In reply, Cameron started shoving the rest of the pie in his mouth and also popped in a couple of egg rolls.

“Where’s the Food Guy, though?” Cora asked, head turning to the kitchen. Stiles ducked down behind the counter. “If he makes stuff like this, I wanna meet him.”

“You can order a purple ticket if you want, but he’s not here all the time,” Erica said, and Stiles glared at her in his mind.

“He works part-time?” Derek asked.

“Not quite,” Kira said. “He’s—”

They were interrupted once more by a ringing phone, and this time Boyd spoke.

“Talia wants you all upstairs. Now.”

Stiles peeked out again. Cameron attempted to bring the entire pie tin, but settled for polishing his slice off. He then joined Cora in writing up a purple ticket order. After a moment, Derek put an order in too. The Hales left in a hurry and Stiles leaned right out of the service window just as Kira came bouncing towards it.

“There’s the man of the hour,” Boyd said, with a smirk.

Kira giggled. “Order up, Food Guy. You got a purple ticket.”

“I’m so proud.” Erica mockingly wiped a tear away. “Stiles, my Food Guy, charming the Hales off through the power of food.”

“Oh, fuck you all.” Stiles glared, ducking back into the kitchen.

At the last minute, he reached out and grabbed the purple ticket from Kira, ignoring the others’ laughter.

Over the next three weeks, Stiles prepared four more purple tickets. According to Kira, his drinks and desserts had become quite attractive to the Hales, both because of the taste and the mystery.

“At this point, they don’t even want me handling the tickets. They always ask if The Food Guy is around before they send their orders down,” Kira said. This time, she was the one helping Stiles prepare and pack.

The Wolf’s Den was going to be holding meetings nonstop, so Stiles had to prepare a variety of drinks and snacks. It would have been easy if they had simple requests, but the Hales were a mix of eclectic and frustrating.

“I’m glad you’re cool about this, but the Hales are bound to find out that the one making all their desserts isn’t even an employee,” Stiles said, as he added an extra shot of syrup in Laura’s honey and milk iced coffee. Just like her usual orders, she had asked for ‘any drink that’s sweet’ which was such a large ballpark that Stiles wanted to clock someone over the head, maybe her.

“I’m more surprised that you keep making these for free,” Kira said.

Stiles shrugged. “It’s a challenge, and I like challenges.”

“Really, just for the challenge?” Kira asked. “Stiles, Valerie fell in love with your version of her dirty chai. I did it the exact same way you did, but she insists that it tastes different. Same with Cameron’s favorite spiced coconut coffee. Same with all the desserts you made for the kids…”

Her face turned serious. “Don’t you think there’s more to this? Don’t you think it’s a ping—”

“It’s just for fun, Kira. It’s nothing,” Stiles said, heart rabbiting in his chest. He pushed it down firmly. “Plus, it’s surprisingly inspiring for my stories. Right now, I’m writing a new story for my spy series and I’m trying to solve this thing going on between James and Quentin.”

Kira’s face fell but she smiled, if a bit awkwardly. “Ah, well. Whatever you say, Food Guy. I’m just happy I get free labor out of it.”

“So you’re the Food Guy?”

The two of them jumped up in surprise and they turned around to see that someone had come in through the kitchen doors.

“Nathan, hello!” Kira greeted. “We didn’t hear you come in.”

Nathaniel Hale was the youngest of the brood at nineteen, and with his dark hair and piercing blue eyes, he was quite the heartthrob in an already beautiful family. If that wasn’t enough, he was an athlete and a rising star in soccer.

Stiles didn’t really care at the moment, too busy wondering if the kid had heard what Kira had been saying.

Nathan leaned against the counter. “Everyone was arguing over who was going to pick up the ticket this time. I walked out while Laura was arm wrestling with Cam.”

Kira laughed while Stiles looked away, suddenly awkward.

“Uh, that’s cool and all, but I’m not remotely interesting enough to warrant an arm wrestle.”

Nathan shrugged. “Your stuff tastes amazing.” He smiled at Kira. “No offense, Kira. You’re still queen. But you… you’re interesting.” He gave Stiles a look. “You know, I’ve been ordering the same caramel vanilla iced coffee from The Family Bean for years now. You made it once and now everything else tastes different.”

Stiles couldn’t help flinching. Oh yeah. Nathan had definitely heard Kira.

But Nathan turned to Kira, breaking the stare. “Anyway, is the ticket ready? Can I take it up?”

Kira smiled and handed over the bag. “You just want to lord your victory over the others.”

“Of course. That’s what having siblings is all about.” Nathan scoffed, but grinned. “Anyway, thanks.”

Kira smiled. “Enjoy your meal.”

Stiles watched Nathan leave and rubbed his left shoulder. He had a weird feeling about all this.

A single touch was all it took to find someone’s soulmate. However, people couldn’t just go around touching one another. Some did, but there were laws against touching people without their consent. So Nature, in all its wisdom, gave people the capability to locate their soulmates by following a trail.

The best trail was through family members. Take for example one other famous Hale love story, that of Valerie. Her husband, the Italian magnate Piero Barone, was from a family of vintners. During Talia and Desmond’s trip to Italy, they met Piero at a wine tasting event and immediately felt what Mark experts called a ‘ping,’ a connection between them that hinted at the identity of Piero’s soulmate. Piero followed the Hales to America, met the family—all of which gave off similar pings—was finally allowed a Touch Test with Valerie, and the rest was history.

There were other kinds of trails, like what happened between Boyd and Erica. They both attended the same university, though Boyd had graduated several years earlier. However, even without knowing Boyd, Erica inadvertently joined the same groups and organizations that he had, and even lived at the same apartment that he had rented when he had been a student. Then after Erica graduated, she decided to take a year off to travel. Months later, when Boyd went on sabbatical, he ended up following almost the exact same itinerary. They finally met by chance during an alumni event and got to talking, which revealed all of the things they had in common. Before the event was even halfway through, they had done a Touch Test and found their match.

Stiles’ favorite trail story was of his parents’. John and Claudia met when they were children. Having no siblings, they didn’t have the benefit of a family trail, and being young meant there weren’t a lot of experiences that could link them. However, they had always known there was something special about one another. They grew up together, grew apart, and met later on in life. They still didn’t have the same life experiences—she was a librarian, he was a deputy—but the moment they saw one another again, they just knew.

Sometimes people just knew.

“Well, well, well. I didn’t know we were serving twink in the menu.”

Ordinarily, that comment would have had Stiles lashing out with his sharp tongue, but upon looking up, he hesitated. First of all, the other person was clearly drunk and it was only, Stiles checked his watch, three-forty-seven in the afternoon. Second, the other person was none other than the infamous Peter Hale, Talia’s younger brother.

The eternal bachelor, he was called, well known for his many dalliances and relationships. He was also the Hale with the most well-known Mark, not because it was at a visible spot, but mostly because he tended to flaunt the large image of a bird in flight that was across his chest via his tendency of wearing unbuttoned shirts.

In Stiles’ opinion, Peter reminded him of one of his book characters—the rich and powerful Anthony, who, underneath all the bravado, was desperately looking for his soulmate, only to find it in the fair-haired, gentle-hearted Steven, who wouldn’t take his crap. He wondered who Peter’s soulmate was.

“Oh, for god’s sake. Uncle, come back here!”

Stiles looked up to see Derek jogging over to them, looking both pissed and worried at the man leaning against The Family Bean’s pristine counter.

Peter ignored him. “Oh, lay off, Derek. I want a drink, and this twink is going to make me one.”

Derek turned to Stiles. “Peter, do not call—” He paused, dark eyes widening.

Stiles felt his heart jerk in his chest and his left shoulder burn. He felt like he had been hit in the head, so did Derek going by his gaping.

Peter suddenly tilted sideways, interrupting their stare down. Neither Stiles nor Derek were able to catch the man before he ended up sprawled across the counter. The sight of him had Stiles dredging up some semblance of control. He sighed.

“You are very rude, and also very drunk, but because I feel sorry for you, Mr. Hale, I’ll make you a free drink.”

Derek let out a gurgle and then a cough, obviously holding back laughter. Peter propped himself up on wobbly elbows.

“You feel sorry for me? Don’t you know who I am, kid?”

Stiles was both annoyed by Peter and buoyed by Derek’s reaction. It was probably what sharpened his tongue.

“You’re Talia Hale’s younger brother, but between the supposed—ahh, what was it—Big Bad Wolf of Media and this so-called twink, I’m not the one nursing a hangover at this time of the afternoon.”

Stiles shook his head and walked off, ignoring Peter’s angry, garbled words and the sudden chuckle from Derek. The latter made Stiles’ shoulder ache.

Stiles ignored that and prepared a quick takeout bag. He could hear Peter and Derek arguing out on the main area. It was the work of minutes to prepare a quick smoothie and throw in some crackers and fruits. He walked back out and handed the bag to Derek, but then quickly tucked his hands to himself. The other man’s piercing stare was making him sweat.

Peter grabbed his drink and took a gulp of the smoothie, before asking, “What’s your name, kid?”

Stiles rolled his eyes. Not even a thank you. How rude.

“Not a kid, and there’s no need to know my name since you’re just going to forget it.”

Peter smirked lasciviously. “Oh, that mouth on you.”

“I’m also not into geriatrics,” Stiles was quick to bite back.

Peter’s jaw dropped. “Geria—”

Derek suddenly burst into laughter and the sound of it seemed to fill Stiles’ heart and mind, making his face flush and his body warm. Derek smiled at him and Stiles felt warmth bloom in his chest.

Stiles cleared his throat, trying to will the blush away. He rubbed his shoulder. “Well, anyway, I’m happy to help. I’ll tell Kira you guys dropped by. See you around.” He glanced at Peter. “Not you. Drop dead.” He stepped back.

“Wait!” Derek lurched forward, startling Stiles and also Peter, who, true to Stiles’ words, slid off the counter to the floor. They ignored him.

Derek leaned forward over the counter. “I’m sorry if I’m forward, but are you—”

Stiles shook his head vigorously. “I’m sorry. I have to go.”

He ducked back into the kitchen, ignoring Derek’s calls and Peter’s drunken warbling. He leaned against the door and slid down until he could curl up into a ball. He placed a hand over his burning shoulder.

Sometimes people just knew.

Stiles was tempted to stay away from The Family Bean after that. He really wanted to. But it was hard to stay away.

Even harder to stay away from a ping.

Stiles wasn’t stupid enough to let that slip away.

Still, it was hard to face up to it and admit that he had a soulmate.

So for the next two weeks, Stiles stayed away from the front of house, always hiding in the safety of the kitchen. He kept on making purple tickets whenever they came, but he avoided coming out for any reason, especially after Derek started coming by nearly every day. Sometimes he even brought his work over just so that he could stay as long as possible.

It confused Kira and Erica, but they assumed Derek just liked the food. The other Hales also started coming by and many times, Stiles could hear them asking Derek why he was hanging around The Family Bean instead of working in his office. Always, Derek kept mum.

Because as it turned out, Derek hadn’t told anyone about the ping.

In fact, Stiles had a feeling that the only person in the Hale family who knew was Nathan. Maybe because he had already been suspicious of it. Out of all the Hales, he was the only one who didn’t ask Derek about why he kept hanging around the café.

The other one who knew was Boyd.

Derek had been called to a meeting one day, so Stiles had felt it safe to come out and work at one of the booths. He had already fallen so far behind on his writing commitments. After a few minutes, Boyd had dropped by and had joined him. Stiles knew he was typing gibberish on his laptop, but he kept on as an excuse not to look at Boyd, who was looking at him intently.

Finally, he spoke, “Looking back, I guess it wasn’t just your banana bread that won me over.”

Stiles jerked, sending a series of characters across the screen.

Boyd kept on. “I always had a good feeling about you from Erica’s stories, but when we met, that was definitely a ping.”

Stiles bit his lip. “Does Erica know?”

Boyd shook his head. “I love her, but Erica would have thrown a party if she knew.”

Stiles sighed, both in relief and in trepidation for the moment Erica find out.

Boyd studied him. “Derek’s a good guy, you know.”

“I know I got that impression from all the stories you and Erica had of him,” Stiles said. “I always thought it was surprising considering he could afford not to be a nice guy.”

Boyd studied him, making Stiles shift in his seat. “Is that the reason you won’t meet with him? Or do a Touch Test? Because he’s a Hale?”

Stiles almost protested, but he deflated. “…I don’t know.”

Boyd hummed under his breath. “Well, you’ve always played your cards close to the chest when it comes to soulmates, but I know you’ll figure it out.” He stood up. “But you better make it soon. Erica and the rest of the Hales are bound to figure it out.”

Stiles groaned and sank down on his seat.

“Noted.”

The day after that, a still-conflicted Stiles was once again at The Family Bean. Kira had gone up to the Wolf’s Den to deliver the latest purple ticket, so he had to stay and man the counter.

The door let out a little tinkle, and Stiles froze the moment he saw the woman entering the café.

He’d know Talia Hale anywhere.

Stiles almost panicked, but then he remembered that she didn’t know who he was. He took a deep breath.

“Um, good afternoon, Mrs. Hale. What can I get you?”

The woman smiled, quite warm and friendly despite her fierce reputation. “Just some tea, please. And are there any new desserts?”

It had been a moment of weakness, but Stiles had actually brought over some peanut butter stuffed cookies and added it to the purple ticket in the hopes that a certain Hale would like them. He still had a few cookies left, but he wasn’t sure if he should offer them to her.

“I smell cookies,” Talia said pointedly. “I’ll have some of those.”

Stiles gulped. “Ah, we have some peanut butter stuffed cookies. Let me get those for you.”

He swallowed his nerves and served the woman, who took a sip of tea and a bite of the cookie right there on the counter.

She smiled, studying the cookies. “Very tasty.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” Stiles smiled politely. He turned away to leave and maybe gather his strength in the privacy of the kitchen.

“When we started hearing about The Food Guy, I admit I was quite intrigued. It’s very rare for someone to grab the attention of my entire family.”

Stiles paused and turned to her.

He should have known.

Stiles nodded stiffly. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”

Talia smiled, sharp and knowing. “And you, Food Guy.”

“Any reason for the visit?” Stiles asked, shifting on his feet.

“I wanted to meet you,” Talia said, taking another bite of her cookie.

Stiles frowned. “That’s all?”

“Were you expecting anything else?”

“Uh, well, I…”

Talia shrugged and sipped his tea. “I don’t blame you for any misgivings you might have should you prove to be soulmates with my son. I’m well aware of the reputation of my family. My late father, Everett, embodied the might of the Hale name better than anyone. You should have seen him back in the days.”

Stiles held up his hands. He couldn’t help the feeling that he had to explain.

“It’s not that there’s a problem with Derek or your family. Being a Hale isn’t the problem… not entirely…” he hesitated, but then plunged on, urged by the ping he could feel inside him and the desire to make someone understand. “My mom passed away when I was seven. She was soulmates with my father. He was—I was—we were never the same after.”

A heavy silence fell, and Stiles was both nervous and intrigued. Talia’s face changed. Something in her eyes darkened and she pursed her lips.

“Forgive my sudden melancholy, but I was just reminded of something.” She sipped her tea. “I was reminded of my youth. My father, Peter, and I had never been the same after mother walked away.”

“Walked away?” Stiles was taken aback. It was rare to hear any mention of Talia’s mother, but everyone had chalked it up to grief at her passing. “But you all said she died—”

Talia interrupted him delicately. “People think of Marks as the be all and end all where the only answer is yes. But even soulmates are a choice…”

“Desmond grew up without a penny to his name, so he rejected me as he could only see himself as an embarrassment to the Hale family. My opinionated father had, unfortunately, been a contributing factor to that line of thinking. I grew up with a rather jaded view of Marks and pings, and I had seen his rejection as a challenge and not a privilege. Desmond and I, our story had been tempestuous, quite unlike the romanticizing people had done.”

She finished the last of her tea. “If I may be allowed to request one thing, all I ask is that you make a choice so that Derek can do the same. No one in this family will certainly blame you for it.”

Talia pushed her empty cup and plate towards Stiles, and smiled. “Have a good day, Food Guy.”

Stiles watched Talia walk away.

He had some thinking to do.

Stiles took a deep breath and tried not to crush the boxes in his hands. He was nervous and his left shoulder was throbbing.

“Ready?” Kira asked him. She was carrying the other delivery boxes.

“As I’ll ever be,” Stiles replied.

Kira smiled, both encouraging and proud, and nodded to the guard on duty. The man held open the double doors for them, and Stiles was instantly met with a wall of sound.

“Purple ticket delivery,” Kira called out, leading Stiles inside.

The office was spacious, as it should be if it was going to accommodate all of the Hales, and all of them were there. There was a long table at one end where Talia, Matthew, and Boyd were talking and laughing. Desmond was on one couch, talking to Piero and Erica. Laura and Cora were seated on armchairs and were arguing loudly about something. Peter was egging them on. CC and Spencer, were seated in front of a television at a kids’ play area set up in the corner. Cameron was with them, all of them singing along to whatever cartoon was playing. Derek, Valerie, and Nathan were huddled around a table, looking at blueprints.

“Oh, yes! The food’s here!” Cameron cheered, which sent the children shouting as well.

Kira navigated the area like a champ, while Stiles slowly shuffled after. “You guys ordered a lot. I had to ask for help. This is Stiles.”

Stiles didn’t miss the way Derek’s head suddenly jolted in his direction, nor Talia’s proud smile, nor Erica’s sudden screech of “Stiles!” which had everyone else turning their way. Stiles winced. He was going to get his ass kicked later for not telling Erica about this.

“Well, well…” Peter grinned. “Hello there, twink.”

Stiles shuddered. “Still not into creepy old geezers.”

“Oh, wait, wait! Is he the guy who called you a geriatric?” Laura asked, before shrieking in laughter.

“And the one who said Peter should drop dead,” Cora added, cackling.

Laughter rang around over Peter’s protests, and it made Stiles’ heart stutter. He felt warm all over, like the pings going off in his head were doubly delighted at the Hales. He glanced at Derek, who was smiling warmly.

Stiles winced when he caught Erica’s gaze though. She looked between him and Derek and her eyes widened. But Boyd was suddenly there, hand over her mouth and whispering to her.

Stiles helped Kira take out all of the food and the ravenous Hales were quickly upon them.

“Food Guy’s stuff tastes awesome,” Nathan said, licking his cupcake’s icing. He waggled knowing eyebrows at Stiles, who bit back a grin. Cheeky kid.

“Please pass our compliments to the chef, Kira,” Desmond said, reaching for his drink.

Kira giggled. “You can thank him yourself.” She waved at Stiles with a flourish.

Stiles felt a little like a deer in headlights when all their gazes alighted on him.

“You’re Food Guy?” and other iterations of the exclamation rang around the room.

Stiles flushed. “I’m glad to hear you all like what I’ve been making.”

“Oh, wow! How wonderful!” Piero piped up. “I haven’t felt a ping in such a long time. How nostalgic, don’t you think, dear?” He turned to Valerie.

“That’s a ping?” Matthew asked, confused, before his face cleared and he rubbed his chest. “Oh, hell, this is a ping.”

“Is that the tingly feeling here, Uncle Mattie?” Spencer asked, pointing at his tummy.

Erica finally managed to get out from under Boyd. “Stiles, did you ping with Derek? Is that why you’ve both been hanging around The Family Bean? You’ve both been pining over each other!”

Stiles groaned, while gasps and shouts suddenly rang around the room.

Kira sighed. “Way to ruin it, Erica.”

“You mean I was pinged through a tomato pie?” Cameron was asking, wide-eyed.

Cora started laughing. “Oh my god! Uncle Peter flirted with Derek’s soulmate!”

“That’s Uncle Derek’s soulmate?” CC asked.

“Yes, he is.” Nathan looked like he was immensely enjoying all this, and Stiles was starting to realize that he was a little shit.

Derek stepped towards Stiles. His face was a little red, but he was smiling and Stiles thought he was the handsomest man he had ever seen.

“My family’s a mess. Please ignore them,” Derek said, ignoring the protests from his siblings.

Stiles chuckled. “At least they keep things interesting. It’s just me, my Dad, and her.” He jerked a thumb at Erica.

“Oh, fu—dge you!” Erica said, glancing at the kids. She turned to Boyd. “And I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!”

Boyd rolled his eyes. “I was giving him space to process things.”

Stiles ignored them and turned to Derek. He only had one chance to do this.

“Ah, sorry, it took a while. I was figuring stuff out, but I thought we should get to know one another first.”

“Of course,” Derek said immediately. He reached out a hand. “I’m looking forward to getting to know you, Stiles.”

Stiles glanced at Talia, who was whispering to her husband. She winked at Stiles.

“Soulmates are a choice.”

Stiles smiled at Derek. He could feel his Mark tingling in anticipation.

“Me too, Derek.”

He reached out and took his hand.

#kevaaronday #stereksanta20 #*fic20 #*gifts20

17 notes · View notes

louisapennyfeather2021 · 4 years

Text

Screw it, I made a Newsies/ Teen Wolf because I don't care, Teen Wolf is my all time favorite supernatural tv series and I stand by this.

Key: ☠️= dead, 🌻= alive, 💀= eventually dies, 🌹= dies and comes back to life

So here's my dumpster fire of an AU idea:

Jack Kelly as Scott McCall/True Alpha Werewolf(makes some questionable decisions to help his friends while also doing what's right. Was turned by Oscar)🌹

Racetrack Higgins as Stiles Stilinski/Human/Nogitsune(ADHD, unreasonably intelligent, spaz who is sometimes questioned because of his slight paranoia. Jack's foster brother)🌻

Sarah Jacobs as Allison Argent/Hunter(has a relationship with Jack for a little while until l the werewolf/hunter thing becomes and issue and they eventually breakup)☠️

Davey Jacobs as Chris Argent/Hunter turned Ally(except Davey and Sarah are still siblings instead of father and daughter and Davey eventually ends up with Jack)🌻

Albert DaSilva as Lydia Martin/Banshee(1, I did this because of the red hair and 2, Race and Albert's friendship works perfectly. Kind of a snob, dates Hotshot for a while before Hotshot moves. Extremely intelligent, plays dumb. Realistic.)🌻

Spot Conlon as Derek Hale/Beta to Alpha to Beta Werewolf/Shifting Wolf(they are literally the same person, fight me. Lost his family in a house fire set by Morris Delancey [trust me], helps Jack learn to be a werewolf)🌹

Medda Larkin as Melissa McCall(Badass mom who loves her children but also keeps him in check while almost dying? Yes)🌻

Bryan Denton as Dr. Alan Deaton/Druid(Jack's boss and mentor. Hides his knowledge about the supernatural until he's almost killed numerous times. Acts as a guide for Jack and his friends)

Hannah Veldheer as Coach Finstock/Human(economics teacher, lacrosse coach, cross country coach. Definitely has favorites when it comes to her players, although she does develop into a fair coach who cares about her team. Has a like/dislike attitude specifically towards Race, although it's because Race goes out of his way to prank her. Not completely stable mentally, she probably shouldn't be a teacher, but she also knows the school can't fire her because of budget and such)🌻

Smalls Hunt as Cora Hale/Beta Werewolf(since she's usually Spot's younger sister in most fics. She shows up after years of Spot thinking she died in the house fire)🌻

Oscar Delancey as Peter Hale/Alpha to Beta Werewolf(but he's a psychotic cousin because Peter was actually in a psych ward and fits the description of Psychotic, I promise he's not just called that because he's done a few bad things)🌹(many times)

Warden Snyder as Gerard Argent/Hunter(crazy, obsessive father to the Argent Twins who they have a restraining order against? Yes)💀

Morris Delancey as Kate Argent/Hunter/Were-Jaguar(Davey and Sarah's older brother. Has a brief relationship with Spot, sets fire to the Hale House to kill the werewolves. Gets turned after everyone thinks he died)🌹

Katherine Plumber as Isaac Lahey/Beta Werewolf (Jack's friend, was considered an enemy at one point when she was in Spot's pack, has a brief relationship with Sarah before something, um, happens[I'm sorry], travels to France with Davey briefly before returning to help Jack)🌻

Crutchie Morris as Liam Dunbar/Beta Werewolf (Jack takes him under his wing when Medda takes Crutchie in, accidentally turns him to a werewolf, has I.E.D[Intermittent explosive disorder, meaning when he's angry he's irrational], but he gets it under control with Jack's help)🌻

Sniper Wong as Vernon Boyd/Beta Werewolf (in Spot's pack before she's kidnapped by the Alpha Pack, best friends with Katherine, Smalls, Spot, and Buttons, enemy to friends with Jack just like Katherine)☠️

Buttons Davenport as Erica Reyes/Beta Werewolf(hardcore enemy to friend with Jack, very brief fling with Spot, had epilepsy before Spot turned him, tries to run away with Sniper to escape hunters but is kidnapped by the Alpha Pack)☠️

Jojo de la Guerra as Malia Tate/Were-coyote(was a coyote for years after watching his adoptive family die in a car accident he thinks he caused, becomes friends with Race while in an insane asylum, has a very brief sling with Race, finds out he's Oscar's younger biological brother, one of Jack's best friends)🌻

Ike Guzman as Ethan Steiner/Alpha to Beta Werewolf(Part of the Alpha Pack until he loses his alpha status, wants to be in Jack's pack, tries to prove himself, rational compared to his brother, runs away to England after something happens to his brother, dates Boots before leaving)🌻

Mike Guzman as Aiden Steiner/Alpha to Beta Werewolf(Part of the Alpha Pack until he loses his alpha status, also wants to be in Jack's pack, tries to prove himself irrationally, really likes Albert although Albert shuts him down after some of the things he's done, eventually becomes friends with Albert, redeems himself in the end)☠️

Hotshot Ferreri as Jackson Whittemore/Kanima/Beta Werewolf/Werewolf-Kanima Chimera(dates Albert for the longest time, egotistical, forces Spot to give him The Bite to change him, becomes the Kanima[deadly lizard thing that kills who he's told to], is eventually redeemed and becomes a werewolf, leaves for England after not being able to handle the chaos of his hometown, returns eventually while dating Ike)🌹

Boots Lowe as Danny Mahealani/Human(the chill guy that doesn't know anything about the supernatural until Hotshot tells him, pretend like he doesn't know, is literally the most chill guy you'll ever meet)🌻

Mush Meyers as Jordan Parrish/HellHound(sheriff's deputy, doesn't know about the supernatural until Jack tells him, doesn't like what he is for the longest time, helps save the day Countless times)🌹

Kid Blink as Sheriff Stilinski/Human(Is Race's biological older brother[Race knew Blink couldn't support both of them and he's okay with it, they still act like brothers], doesn't know about the supernatural for so long, chaotic af when it comes to Race, eventually dates Mush)🌻

Finch Cortes as Theo Raeken/Chimera/Beta Werewolf(friend to enemy to frenemy, tries to kill Jack many times, thinks he's doing what's right, sparks rift between Jack and Race because of Race's skepticism of Finch, creates Chimeras to make his own pack, eventually dates Crutchie)🌹🌹🌹🌹(it happens a few times)

Snitch Caspary as Hayden Romero/Chimera(briefly dates Crutchie, apart of Finch's "Pack", frenemy to friend with Crutchie after some childish fighting when they were younger)🌹

Specs Samuels as Mason Hewitt/Human/Beast Host(Crutchie's best friend and support system/ his partner in crime. Sort of like how Race is Jack's partner in crime.)🌹

Romeo Richardson as Corey Bryant/Chimera(foe to friend, dates Specs even when he's considered a foe to Jack and Liam. He can turn invisible on command and can also turn others invisible. He gets kidnapped and nearly dies when creatures known as Ghost Riders attack)🌹

Skittery Goorjian as Brett Talbot/Werewolf(Crutchie's friend to foe to friend. They fight a lot, but eventually find neutral grounds. Becomes a major Ally to Jack.)💀

And I almost forgot the most important character...

Snaps Walcott(Chaz Walcott's Brooklyn alter ego) as Greenburg aka the mysterious character that Coach Hannah always picks on no matter what even though she secretly thinks of them as one of her many Lacrosse children. Never actually seen on screen, only ever mentioned, could be a girl or a guy, the source of most of Coach Hannah's issues, secretly the best character ever.

I'm pretty sure I've missed a couple of characters, bit this literally covers Season 1 to Season 6. I low-key want to write a fic, but at the same time this is so freaking confusing.

Anyway, I hope anyone who loves Newsies or Teen Wolf or Both enjoys although it's confusing! Message me or send me and Ask if you have any questions!!!(make sure you specify that your questions or suggestions are for this AU please)

#newsies memes #newsies imagines #newsies broadway #newsies imagine #newsies #newsies au #teen wolf au

10 notes · View notes

anonymous-wrote · 4 years

Text

This is a Rizzoli and Isles inspired Sterek incomplete idea.

Based off the See One, Do One, Teach One

Opens with Derek playing basketball against Cora

“Oh finally!” Cora threw his arms up in victory.

“You’re still down by ten.” Derek rolled his eyes.

“I will beat you someday!” Cora whined.

“You ready? Game point!” The ball swished through the hoop.

“Nooo!” Cora attempted to rebound but Derek’s elbow found its way to her nose.

“Aw, crap, lets get you cleaned up.” Dragging Cora in by her elbow, Derek grabbed a towel.

“Not my good towels!” Talia yelled from the kitchen.

Cora rolled her eyes and tossed the good towel on the counter. Derek followed her into the kitchen.

“What did you do?!” Talia glared at her son. “We have guests coming over! Non-pack guests who need to *not* see my grown children beat the crap out of each other or the healing afterwards!”

Derek’s phone blared. “Oh and a girl detective Son keeps calling you”

“Detective Reyes? Mom! Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You were having so much fun—“

Derek held his hand up as he answered his phone. “Detective Hale”

“Hey it’s Lahey. Bad things on the North Ridge.”

“On my way”

“You know your dad and Laura will be here any minute—”

“I’m on call, Mom. Just like I am every weekend.”

“At least change your shirt. You’re covered in Cora’s blood and you never know who you might meet.”

Cora’s jaw dropped.

“Because I meet so many wonderful people in my line of work.”

*~*~*~*~*~*

Stiles pulled up to the crime scene in his Jeep, fingers nervously tapping at the wheel before smoothing out his suit jacket. Impressions were important, right?

Jackson banged on the hood. “You comin’ or goin’, Stilinski?”

Stiles grabbed his kit and opened the door. “Just got the call, jerk face. What are you doing here?”

“Any chance you want to give a statement on what you know about the murders?” Jackson checked his hair in the side mirror.

Stiles rolled his eyes as he began to walk confidently towards the crime scene tape. “I’ll have a statement for you later tonight.” He then tripped over his own feet, but a hand caught him and pushed him under the tape. “Evening, Erica.”

“Stiles” The blonde cop grinned and then glared back at the media. “Watch yourself in there. It’s real...” she trailed off meaningfully.

Stiles showed his credentials to the officer by the door. “Evening, Dr. Stilinski, medical examiner.”

“Erica!” The blonde turned to smile at Derek.

“Derek, darling! Tell me you’ve come to rescue me!”

“Yeah, it’s my case now. Where’s Lahey?”

“Losing his lunch—where else? Anyway, not my problem so toodles!”

Lahey rushed over. “Sorry, sorry—it’s something I ate.”

Derek nodded. “Let’s go.” He flashed his badge as he walked in, Lahey trailing after him.

“About that—ummm...”

Derek pauses when he was met by Chris Argent. “What are you doing here? I thought you were driving Allison back to school?”

“Got called back in”

“That bad?”

“Worse” Chris squared his shoulders and turned away, leading Derek into the main living space where two bodies had been staged, Stiles kneeling by the feet of one with forensic swabs.

“There was another chair here.” Stiles pointed without looking over his shoulder. “There’s blood splatter here that isn’t from either victim and gasoline residue. And there are signs of forced entry.”

“A well to do couple—man and wife dead, posed with a potential third victim missing, gasoline residue,” Derek squatted by the couch and pulled something from under the couch with his pen. “And a teacup.”

—-flashback to Derek getting electrocuted—-

End flashback

“Is she out? Is Kate out?” Derek whirled on his former partner.

“No, no! I just needed your unbiased accessment. It looks like my sister’s mo, right? I checked not thirty minutes ago. She’s in lockdown.”

Stiles pointed out. “Stun gun marks. No one ever released that detail, right?”

Derek’s head jerked up, nostrils flaring. “Are you suggesting something?”

Stiles shrugged and rolled his shoulders. “I need to get the ladies to the morgue. Maybe compare my findings to the previous coroners to be sure but I’m thinking apprentice.”

“Hello.” A simply stunning brunette stalked into the room. “Special Agent Jennifer Blake, FBI. You must be Detective Hale. And Doctor Stilinski.”

Stiles glanced at Derek, eyes wide. We believe the child is Liam Dunbar—we put an APB out on her.”

Derek scowled, clearly not liking the Feds finding out about the missing victim.

“You do remember we are on the same side, right?” Agent Blake tossed her hair.

Stiles looked back and forth between Derek and Agent Blake. “I’m gonna head back and do the autopsy.” Stiles lingered briefly by the door. “Come if you like. Hey, Raeken, I’m gonna need fiber samples from all the furniture and clothing—” The door closed behind him leaving Argent, Hale, and Blake glaring at each other and the crime scene.

#sterek #rizzoli and isles inspired #incomplete #up for adoption #slow burn

3 notes · View notes

that-nico-diangelo · 4 years

Text

Muse Wanted Connections List

Nico Di Angelo || 20 || Unemployed || Percy Jackson

Paired: Casper

Connections: gods/goddesses, he needs a bestie. Maybe a therapist. Someone to spar with him/train his abilities with

Specific: Jason Grace, Reyna Ramirez-Arellano

Jason Todd || 25 || Fight Club/Bartender || DC

Paired: Jean Grey

Connections: Coworkers, One night stands, more friends (takes some work but he’s loyal), fellow antihero/vigilantes

Specific: Dick Greyson, Tim Drake, Talia Al Ghul, Joker

Stephanie Brown || 21 || Bookstore Clerk || DC

Paired: Robin Buckley

Connections: Friends, Friends with Benefits, A mother-esque figure

Specific: Dick Greyson, Tim Drake, Damian Wayne

Ruby || Ancient || Stripper || Supernatural

Paired: Faith LeHane

Connections: Coworkers, regular customers, friends, people who wanna make deals with demons, Friends with Benefits, One Night Stands

Specific: Sam Winchester

Luke Castellan || 22 || University Student || Percy Jackson

Paired: Cecily Herondale

Connections: Enemies, One Night stands, sparring partner, other demigods

Specific: Hermes, Thalia

James Potter || 21 || Waiter at Benbow Inn || Harry Potter

Pairing: Lily Evans

Connections: Coworkers, friends, enemies, troublemaking pals

Specific: Voldemort/Tom Riddle

Jace Herondale || 25 || Cab Driver || Shadowhunters

Pairing: Johanna Mason

Connections: Friends, coworkers, regular riders, a therapist

Specific: Lilith, Maryse Lightwood, The Owl (if you’re feeling creative/mean)

Harry Hook || 23 || Hitman at the Continental || Descendants

Pairing: Gil Legume

Connections: Coworkers, Boss figure, friends, One night stands, enemies

Specific: Captain Hook, CJ Hook

Irene Adler || 35 || Philosophy Professor || Sherlock Holmes

Pairing: Sherlock Holmes

Connections: Students, Friends with benefits, colleagues, friends, partner in crime, people she’s robbed/conned

Specific: John Watson

Diego Hargreeves/Number 2 || 30 || Fight Club || Umbrella Academy

Pairing: Eudora Patch

Connections: Other fighters, budding friendships.

Specific: Luther, Vanya, Allison, Five, Reginald Hargreeves

Clint Barton || 39 || Bouncer & Fight Club || Marvel

Pairing: Laura Barton

Connections: Coworkers, fighters, enemies, Therapist

Specific: Thanos, Nick Fury, Kate Bishop

Geralt of Rivia || 94 || Nurser || The Witcher

Pairing: Yennefer

Connections: Co-workers, random people he’s helped, One night stands, friends with benefits, enemies.

Specific: Zoltan, Iorweth

Valkyrie || Ancient || Commander at LCPD || Marvel

Pairing: Kassandra

Connections: Co-workers, one night stands, friends with benefits, friends, sparring partners

Specific: Thor, Bruce Banner

Morgan Stark || 22 || Student at UNLV || Marvel

Pairing: Lila Barton

Connections: Fellow students, friends, colleagues, professors, enemies

Specific: Bruce Banner, Sam Wilson

Ben Hargreeves/ Number 6 || 30 || Counselor at UNLV || Umbrella Academy

Pairing: Shuri

Connections: Students, people he’s counseling, friends, fellow people with powers.

Specific: Luther, Vanya, Allison, Five, Reginald Hargreeves

Arthur Pendragon || 26 || Owns Amagi Inn || Merlin

Pairing: Gwen

Connections: Employees, friends, enemies, fellow former rulers.

Specific: Merlin, Lancelot, Percival, Uther

Jack Frost || Ancient || Student at UNLV || Rise of the Guardians

Pairing: Toothiana

Connections: Classmates, teachers, friends, enemies, one night stands

Specific: Easter Bunny, Sandman, Man in the Moon, Pitch Black

Maleficent || 38 || Professor at UNLV || Disney’s Maleficent

Pairing: Conall/Diaval

Connections: Students, Co-workers, Friends, friends with benefits, enemies, fellow fae she’ll want to protect.

Specific: Prince Philip, Stefan, Any of the dark fae/fae in general.

Illya Kuryakin || 32 || Head of Security at Wayne Enterprises || Man from UNCLE

Pairing: Gaby Teller/Napoleon Solo

Connections: Employees, enemies, one night stands, friends with benefits

Specific: None

Jughead Jones || 20 || Journalist || Riverdale

Pairing: Shock

Connections: Coworkers, friends, enemies,

Specific: Literally anyone else from Riverdale

Stiles Stilinski || 23 || Police Officer || Teen Wolf

Pairing: Derek Hale

Connections: Coworkers, enemies, one night stands

Specific; Malia, Theo, Erica, The Nogitsune,

Lady Death || Ageless || Mortician || Marvel

Pairing: Currently unpaired

Connections: Friends, coworkers, friends with benefits, one night stands

Specific: Thanos

Regulus Black || 20 || Student at UNLV || Harry Potter

Pairing: Steve Harington

Connections: Friends, classmates, teachers, one night stands, people into dark magic

Specific: Kreacher, Walburga Black

Jade Nguyen || 34 || Hitman at the Continental Hotel || DC

Pairing: John Wick

Connections: Coworkers, enemies, one night stands

Specific: Roy Harper, Artemis

Eris || Ancient || Owns Seven Devils || Sinbad

Pairing: Currently unpaired

Connections: Friends, Enemies, people who’s lives she’s ruined, people who love chaos, one night stands

Specific: Sinbad

Madzi || 20 || Student at UNLV || Shadowhunters

Pairing: Josie Saltzman

Connections: Friends, classmates, one night stands, fellow magicians

Specific: None

James Rogers || 24 || Dojo Instructor || Marvel

Pairing: Bella Swan

Connections: Other Superheroes, coworkers, students, friends, frenemies

Specific: Ultron, Torunn,

Carl Grimes || 19 || Student at UNLV || Walking Dead

Pairing: Nina Gursky

Connections: Classmates, Teachers, maybe a therapist. Friends

Specific: Rick Grimes, Michonne

Atreus || 23 || Citadel Clerk & Fighter || God of War

Pairing: Jenny

Connections: Sparring partners, fellow demigods, coworkers, friends

Specific: Freya, Mimir

Finnick Odair || 25 || Tailor Shop Manager || Hunger Games

Pairing: Annie Cresta

Connections: Coworkers, friends, therapist, enemies

Specific: President Snow, Mags, Peeta Mellark

Blossom Utonium || 22 || Student at UNLV || Powerpuff Girls

Pairing: Brick Jojo

Connections: Classmates, Teachers, friends, enemies,

Specific: The professor, HIM, Mojo Jojo

Magnus Bane || 400+ || Owns The Screaming Cat || Shadowhunters

Pairing: Alec Lightwood

Connections: Employees, fellow warlocks, enemies, clients both magical and otherwise

Specific: Camille

BD-1 || 20 || Student at UNLV || Star Wars: Fallen Order

Pairing: BB-8

Connections: Fellow droids/androids, Classmates, teachers, friends, jedi and sith

Specific: Cere, Greez, Trilla

Raphael Santiago || 79 || Owns Medical Clinic || Shadowhunters

Pairing: Simon Lewis

Connections: Other vampires he can assist, friends, enemies, fellow downworlders,

Specific: Camilla

Leta Lestrange || 24 || Public School Teacher || Fantastic Beasts

Pairing: Queenie Goldstein

Connections: Students, Colleagues, friends, enemies, other witches

Specific: Theseus Scamander,

Will Herondale || 18 || Citadel Clerk & Fighter || Shadowhunters

Pairing: Princess Aurora

Connections: Coworkers, Sparring partners, friends with benefits

Specific: Jem Carstairs, Tessa Grey

Katniss Everdeen || 18 || Fighter || Hunger Games

Pairing: Koriand’r

Connections: Friends, sparring partner, fighters, rivals, therapist

Specific: Peeta Mellark, Gale Hawthorne, Cinna

Poe Dameron || 32 || Fighter & Firefighter || Star Wars

Pairing: Finn

Connections: Coworkers, enemies, fellow rebels, one night stands

Specific: Chewbacca, Zorii

Lucy Pevensie || 20 || Doctor || Chronicles of Narnia

Pairing: Currently Unpaired

Connections: Patients, coworkers, friends, magicians of any sort, fairytale creatures

Specific: Peter Pevensie, Edmund Pevensie, Eustace Scrubb, Mr.Tumnus

Steve Rogers || 95 || Owns Hawke’s Gym || Marvel

Pairing: Bucky Barnes

Connections: Employees, clients, fellow heroes, maybe a therapist

Specific: Sam Wilson, Thor, Bruce Banner

Ahsoka Tano || 20 || Owns The Sanctuary || Star Wars

Pairing: Emily

Connections: Employees, friends, jedi, enemies,

Specifics: Anakin Skywalker, Padme Amidala, Commander Rex

Adrien Agreste || 25 || Bartender at Seven Devils || Miraculous Ladybug

Pairing: Marinette Dupain-Cheng

Connections: Coworkers, friends, one night stands, sparring partner, superhero buddies

Specifics: Gabriel or Emilie Agreste

Toothless || 23 || Student at UNLV || How to Train Your Dragon

Pairing: Lightfury

Connections: Friends, classmates, teachers, tutors, people who like dragons

Specifics: Any of his kids, Stoick, Stormfly, Grimmel, Drago Bludvist

Pietro Maximoff || 25 || Bartender at Lux || Marvel

Pairing: Kara Danvers

Connections: Superheroes in general, friends, coworkers, regular customers, one night stands

Specifics: Vision

Isaac Lahey || 24 || Motorcycle Specialist || Teen Wolf

Pairing: Vernon Boyd

Connections: Friends, packmates/fellow werewolves, enemies, coworkers

Specifics: Erica, Cora

Ezio Auditore || 25 || Bartender at The Eagle’s Perch || Assassin’s Creed

Pairing: Leonardo Da Vinci

Connections: Friends, Coworkers, fellow assassins, templars, enemies

Specifics: Bayek, Desmond Miles, Caterina

Katara || 20 || TA at Xavier’s School || Last Airbender

Pairing: Bianca Di Angelo

Connections: Friends, coworkers, other benders, enemies

Specifics: Aang, Sokka, Toph.

Arwen Udómiel || Ancient || Director at the Medical Clinic || LOTR

Pairing: Aragorn

Connections: Other elves, friends, coworkers, patients, sparring partner

Specifics: Elrond, Legolas, Gimli, Frodo

Kaa || 24 || Stripper || Jungle Book

Pairing: Kidagakash

Connections: Friends with Benefits, One Night Stands, clients, friends, enemies, people she can hypnotize/con

Specifics: Mowgli, Bagheera, Shere Khan

Peter Pettigrew || 25 || Clerk at Mr.Gold’s || Harry Potter

Pairing: Petunia Evans

Connections: Friends, a therapist, personal trainer, anyone willing to be nice to him

Specifics: Voldemort/Tom Riddle

Eddie Brock/Venom || 30 || Journalist || Marvel

Pairing: Cassidy

Connections: Friends, aliens, a Therapist, Enemies, sparring partner, spider-people

Specifics: Anne Weying, Riot

Aslan || Centuries || Counselor at UNLV || Narnia

Pairing: Amalthea

Connections: Friends in general, patients, enemies, everything really.

Specifics: Peter Pevensie, Edmund Pevensie, Eustace Scrubb, Jadis

T’Challa || 35 || Civil Rights Attorney at City Hall || Marvel

Pairing: Jessica Jones

Connections: Friends, Coworkers, more family members, clients, enemies

Specifics: Kilmonger, Nakia, M’Baku

Jacen Solo || 28 || Fighter at Fight Club || Star Wars

Pairing: Mitchell McKinnon

Connections: Other Jedi/Sith, friends, rivals, other fighters, enemies

Specifics: Ben Skywalker, Anakin Solo, Tenel Ka

Damien Wayne || 20 || Student at UNLV and Assistant at Wayne Enterprises || DC

Pairing: Currently Unpaired

Connections: Friends, other DC heroes and villains, classmates

Specifics: Tim Drake, Dick Greyson, Talia Al Ghul

Matt Murdock || 32 || Lawyer at Beaumont Law Offices || Marvel

Pairing: Sidney Prescott

Connections: Friends, Clients, enemies, you name it.

Specifics: Foggy, Karen Page, Electra

Pamela Isley || 33 || Head Caretaker of LC Gardens || DC

Pairing: Harley Quinn

Connections: Fellow plant enthusiasts, people who want to cause trouble, heroes, friends,

Specifics: Joker, Dick Greyson

Zatanna Zatara || 35 || Owner of The Black Butterfly || DC

Pairing: Currently Unpaired

Connections: Other magic users, friends, enemies, clients

Specifics: None currently

Mipha || 68 || Doctor at Limbo City Medical Clinic || Breath of the Wild

Pairing: Currently Unpaired

Connections: All of them. Mipha loves/cares about everyone, good or bad alike.

Specifics: Ganon, Urbosa, Daruk, Revali

Fili || 82 || Cab Driver and Fighter in Underground Fight Club || The Hobbit

Pairing: Pippen Meriadoc

Connections: Friends, co-workers (he’s been here for nearly a decade, so feel free to assume any connections you like

Specifics: Thorin, any of the other Dwarves, Tauriel

John Winchester || 45 || Manager at Mr.Gold’s || Supernatural

Pairing: Mary Winchester

Connections: Other Hunters, friends, enemies, supernatural people he can be nervous around.

Specifics: Bobby Singer

Trixie Espinoza || 24 || Manager at Seven Devils || Lucifer

Pairing: Currently Unpaired

Connections: Employees/coworkers, friends, other supernatural beings

Specifics: Danny Espinoza, Mazikeen

Raven Darkholme || looks 27|| Manager at Limbo’s Bimbo’s, Underground Fight Club Fighter

Pairing: Irene Adler/Destiny

Connections: Xmen, other mutants, enemies, new friends

Specifics: Charles Xavier

Scorpius Malfoy || 23 || Teacher at Limbo City Public School || Harry Potter

Pairing: Primrose Everdeen

Connections: Former classmates, other teachers, friends

Specifics: Draco Malfoy,

Ygritte || 25 || Security at the Eagle’s Perch || GOT

Pairing: Jon Snow

Connections: Friends, warrior buddies, other free folk

Specifics: Mance Rayder, Tormund Giantsbane,

Peggy Carter || 27 || Lieutenant at the LCPD || Marvel

Pairing: Daniel Souza

Connections: SHIELD personell, friends, enemies, pretty much everything.

Specifics: Howard Stark, Jarvis

Thomas || 20 || Student at UNLV || The Maze Runner

Pairing: Newt

Connections: WCKD people, Other gladers, new friends, people to prevent him doing self-endangering shit.

Specifics: Minho, Gally, Chuck, Alby, Theresa, Ava Paige

#limbchq: ooc

4 notes · View notes

wheredidhiseyebrowsgo · 5 years

Note

Hope you guys are doing well!! Do you have any superhero au fics?

Fuck yeah! This is the tag, but I think it needs a little update. -Letta

what we do is what you wish to do by planetsdance

(1/1 |1,284 | Teen | Sterek)

Stiles does not have time for this right now. He’s trying to dodge a multitude of bullets from trigger happy henchmen while still holding on to the six year old hostage who’s frantically clutching at his shoulders. Stiles whispers soothing words to the child as he swings his body forward, casting another web as they start to fall to the ground. “I hope you realize you’re shooting at a little kid right now!” Stiles shouts at the henchmen, trying to find the kid’s parents. “There’s a special circle of hell for that y’know!”

Or, the Spiderman!AU

The Curious Incident of the Cat in the Night-Time by Saucery

(1/1 | 1,400 | Teen | Sterek)

Stiles is Catwoman.

hoping some ghost would be here still by darthjamtart

(1/1 | 1,602 | Teen | NP)

There’s a poster hanging in the window of the Beacon Hills library: brightly-colored depictions of children at desks, holding books, captioned, KEEP YOUR CHILDREN SAFE. KNOW WHAT’S IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. Smaller text at the bottom reads, Paid for by citizens in support of the Mutant Registration Act.

i'm supergirl (and i'm here to save the world) by iphigenias

(1/1 |1,667 | Teen | Allydia)

“Go on,” Allison says, tilting her head back so she can look Lydia in the eye. “Rescue me.”

Danny, the Champion of Beacon Hills by mirrorkill

(1/1 | 2,094 | Teen | Dethan)

Danny is secretly a superhero and has to hide it from the others whilst they're trying to hide werewolfness from him.

(Wherein dramatic irony isn't kind to anyone, Lydia plans to take over either prom or the world, and Danny's mom is amazing but even she can't take down the Beacon-Hills media.)

Pretending I'm a Superman by VforVitaly

(1/1 | 2,232 | Gen | Stanny)

Stiles spends his nights as a silent, invisible Beacon Hills vigilante, mostly stopping petty crime and helping out where he can, but when Danny becomes the victim of a gay bashing, Stiles rushes to his rescue, even if that means risking the reveal of his secret identity.

the loch ness monster that stole christmas by katiesaygo

(1/1 | 2,460 | Teen | Allisaac)

allison and isaac are both superheroes who’ve been assigned to reign in the loch ness monster the day of christmas eve

Wolfman by eak_a_mouse

(1/1 | 2,520 | Teen | Scanny)

It takes a certain kind of mindset to decide that the best way to protect people is to put on spandex and become a superhero.

That isn’t to say it’s not awesome or heroic or whatever. Just, you know, not running the same software as everyone else.

it bares its teeth like a light by brella

(1/1 | 2,585 | Teen | Sterica)

Erica cocks her head and curls her crimson lips up higher. “Mmm. A badass, huh? Rowr.”

The growl does not make his knees shake. Nope.

“Hey, listen, do you, uh…” Stiles stutters out before his brain can catch up to what he’s about to ask. “Do you… wanna get, um, drinks? Sometime? In the future? I mean, uh, I’m actually a total lightweight, but we could… get peanuts, and, um, root beers, or Cokes, or whatever.”

Scarlet Fox Vol. 1 by static_abyss

(1/1 | 2,826 | Gen | Malira)

Of three things, Malia was certain. First, her college's psychology department contained three of the city's most notorious supervillains. Second, there was a chance—and she knew exactly how large that chance was—that they would get her excellent connections if she took on the city's newest superhero. And third, Malia was, unconditionally and irrevocably, broke and out of luck.

Impact by orphan_account

(1/1 | 4,387 | Teen | Stiles/Steve Rogers)

it’s late and you can’t sleep, because you’re terrified of the future and sad about the situation you’re stuck in. In that 3 AM delirium you decide to send a tweet to the only person who’d never let you down and you open up the official Captain America twitter. So you send a tweet, knowing it’ll get lost in the flood of well-wishers and critics. But then, when you’re at your absolute lowest, something miraculous happens; Steve tweets you back to say he’s proud of you. Proud that you’re doing your best despite the odds, for finding the strength to get up in the morning and surviving the day. Steve telling you to not hurt yourself, because he knows just how fragile bodies can be.Steve asking you not to kill yourself, because life is precious and sometimes the knowledge that he might be able to save one is what gets him up in the morning.Steve Rogers doing his best to protect you, even against the monsters in your head.

You’d Be Saving Mine by pocketmumbles (livelikejack)

(1/1 | 4,543 | General | Scira+Derek)

“Sorry, uh, I just.” Derek scratches at his face and knocks his glasses askew. “I have frames just like yours,” he says quickly, gesturing at the man’s glasses.

The man smiles, ducking his head a little. “Cool. We’re, like, twins.”

“Wow.” Derek laughs and hopes it doesn’t sound too frantic. Judging by the way the man tenses and the woman’s smile goes a little glassy, he isn’t very successful. “I mean, you’re – and I’m just – but you’re, like-” He waves his hands vaguely, trying to get his head back on straight. “Specimen.”

(Or, a superhero AU where Scott and Kira are superhero partners and Derek is a store employee who accidentally interrupts them in the middle of a mission.)

the roof was pretty windy (she didn't say a word) by murphysarc

(1/1 | 4,836 | Teen | Allison/Erica)

Erica Reyes had been a hero all her life, except, until her best friend threw her off a roof. Nothing was the same, but that’s not a surprise.

Or, Erica and the pack are a part of a superhero team. Erica/Allison, Stiles/Lydia undertones, as well as general pack pairings. Title from “End Of The Day” by One Direction.

For the Both of Us by ArgentLives

(1/1 | 6,081 | Gen | Allira)

Allison Argent is used to shooting arrows at criminals and always hitting her targets. When Kira Yukimura comes into the picture, however, she's not prepared for the one aimed straight at her heart.

or: The Silver Archer, masked vigilante and Beacon Hill's long time protector, is going to have to learn to share. There's a new girl in town.

when the blood's run stale by vanessamary

(1/1 | 12,129 | Mature | Scallison)

Scott McCall always knew there had to be more people like him. People who were different. People who were special. It wasn’t until he was contacted by Dr. Deaton from the Beacon Hills Institute that he truly understood.

Superheroes by TruebornAlpha

(15/15 | 45,770 | Explicit | Sciles)

Scott McCall is best known to the world as Rocket Boy, the leader of the superheroes known as the Pack. With his team, they protect Beacon Hills and the world from supervillains bent on taking over. But a traveler from the future calling himself "The Stiles" has showed up on their doorstep claiming to be an ally. What are his true motives and will be be able to save the future if he falls in love?

My Knight by SammyVen

(14/14 | 50,805 | Mature | Sterek)

After his parents deaths, Derek Hale becomes Gotham City's biggest vigilantly, known as the Batman. After Derek saves Stiles during his visit to Gotham City for a piece in his article, the two become closer once again. But what happens when Stiles learns Derek's secret?

92 notes · View notes

seashellrosekitty · 6 years

Text

Three Words | Teen Wolf Imagine AU

Pairing: Derek Hale x Female Reader

Plot: Derek Hale is getting married to you. ;)

Wordcount: 1,930 (7-minute read)

Warnings: This is oozing with Fluff! The story is narrated from Derek’s POV. Welcome to Derek Hale’s mind! Enjoy!

A/N: I’m experimenting with my narration. Hope y’all lemme know what you think!

(Photos aren’t mine! They belong to their rightful owners!)

I never thought this day would ever come. I’ve been on the run for half of my life. From hunters, then from the FBI. For some time, I’ve looked at the world as a hostile place. It’s never safe anywhere for supernatural beings like me. But now, as I fix my tie, I’m convinced that all of that has changed. I’m getting married to the most beautiful woman in the world today. A smile draws up on the corners of my mouth as I think of that.

I’m facing the window, overlooking the garden where I’ll soon be exchanging vows with Y/N. Scott comes in appearing a little flustered.

“Dude, sorry I’m late. I had to pick up Allison,” Scott says to me.

“Hey, no problem,” I said, as I grab his hand and give him a brotherly bump on the chest. “I’m just glad you could make it, Scott.”

“I still can’t get over the fact that you didn’t make me, your beloved uncle, your best man,” Peter suddenly appears on the doorstep. His expression is pretentiously bothered.

“Call yourself lucky ‘cause I cared enough to invite you to my wedding,” I say to Peter. He then rolls his eyes at me. I shake my head at him then ignore him.

“Looks like I don’t even have so much to do here. You’re all dressed up, and the rings are where they’re supposed to be, and almost everyone’s here,” Scott says to me. I smile at him then look at myself in the mirror while adjusting my tie.

“Just help me make sure I don’t make a fool out of myself today, Scott.”

“Dude! Who knew you’d look fucking handsome in a tux?” Stiles comes to the room rushing in. I can tell he’s pretty excited for me too. I exhale in his humor. That kid hasn’t changed one bit even after college.

“Thanks for coming, Stiles. You better not mess up my wedding day,” I say to him.

“Oh, come on, Derek. The only person who’d probably wanna mess up your wedding day is Kate Argent...” He trails off. “And Miss Blake, probably. And Braeden,” His eyes darting around as he enumerates. “All of your exes, pretty much,” Stiles says, nodding in certainty.

“Hey, no one’s coming to ruin your wedding, man. Don’t worry about it. Argent’s got Kate covered already. Miss Blake won’t be back for you. And Braeden...you know it didn’t work out with you guys,” Scott says to me encouragingly.

“Besides,” Stiles interrupts. “We’ve got the whole pack surrounding us. And if trouble comes, Peter will be the first one to take care of it. Right, Peter?” Stiles looks at where Peter was standing but didn’t find him there or anywhere in the room. “Dude, wasn’t he just here a minute ago?”

“Forget him,” I say to them. “Damn it, I’m so nervous. I wish liquor still had an effect on us.” I rub my palms together in anxiousness.

“It’s that bad, huh?” Scott asks me, grinning amusedly. I think about it.

“I guess so,” I rub my nape as I look at the window again. “Why do I feel like this is scarier than all the chances we had of getting killed?” I turn my back to the window and look at them, expecting an answer. Scott and Stiles look at each other, both still smiling.

“Maybe because you don’t wanna mess it up?” Scott says.

“Yeah,” Stiles adds. “Not just the wedding, dude.” He pats my shoulder.

“The marriage,” Scott finishes. “This is good. It means you’re not gonna hurt her.”

“I’d kill anyone who would,” I say to them, and they both pat my shoulders to release the tension that suddenly elated at the thought.

Finally, the time for the ceremony comes, and my palms are sweating like hell. I stand at the altar beside Scott, anticipating for when my bride, Y/N, finally marches the aisle. Y/N always wanted a rustic garden wedding, and I always wanted to be wed with her. After I had rebuilt my family’s house, we paid tribute to them and decided we get married inside the Beacon Hills Preserve. Y/N said it would be nice to make a new and positive memory to my family’s home. She really thinks of everything.

It’s a perfect day to get married to Y/N. The start of October Fall has brought a good tone to our wedding. Beacon Hills isn’t as dark as it usually is. I quietly glance at everyone we’ve invited. On the right side of the audience are Y/N’s small family and an intimate number of friends. On the left side sit mine: Peter, Cora and her husband carrying their 2-month old baby, Malia, Sheriff Stilinski, Melissa, and Argent. At the back seated are Deaton, Isaac, Erica, and Boyd.

The wedding march begins. The acoustic quartet starts to play a song. And I can’t wait to see Y/N’s figure to emerge from the back of the whole entourage.

Liam happens to be the ring bearer and he marches first. Scott and Stiles decided on it. The flower girl, Cora’s 5-year-old daughter, follows. Then Stiles and Lydia, being the bridesmaid and groomsman. Allison is Y/N’s Maid of Honor and walks alone. The acoustic quartet starts to play ‘Canon in D Major’.

Finally, there she is.

I’ve never seen her look so beautiful. Look at my princess. She looks so perfect in her lace dress. Her little head crowned with flowers. Her mere presence always made me forget of my vicious side. She’s always been the only good thing in my life when things weren’t; when things were hopeless. The pack calls me ‘sour wolf’ but she always calls me ‘sweetie,” always so endearing. Her tone, always so warm when she says my name.

I’m getting married to her but I still wonder how she manages to be so pure, and goofy, and hot all at the same time. I shake my head at that the thought because that’s when she takes a glance at me while she walks the aisle gracefully with her father. God, look at her. Look at the woman I’m about to be married to.

Her father shakes my hand and eyes me the statement, “Take care of my daughter or you know what’ll happen to you.” I finally grab Y/N’s hands. To my surprise, they’re cold too. Her smile is so big and refreshing, and I could hear her heartbeat pounding in her chest. I wish she could hear mine, too. It’s pounding too. It’s pounding strongly just for her. This feeling is beyond my understanding.

“Hey,” Y/N says to me. I say the same thing to her. “You ready?” Her rosy lips draw a grin at me.

“Ever since I met you, babe,” I say to her.

God, I must’ve done something right in this life to be in this moment right now. Here she is, standing in front of me. Those Y/E/C eyes gazing at me, sparkling with excitement and nervousness. The wedding officiant now tells us to exchange vows. I start with mine.

“My dear Y/N, my love for you will always be whole and will never wither, will never doubt you, and will never love another. I’ve loved you since the day you learned my name; especially when you said it repeatedly for the first time because I froze on the fact that you knew my name.

I promise to listen to you. To laugh at your silly, but mostly funny jokes; to listen to your dreams and wishes; to your problems, and worries. I promise to keep you away from insecurities as possible for you have no reason to be insecure. I promise to be there on days you need me. To protect you from harm. I promise to hold you only with gentle hands. I promise to compromise with you in a disagreement. To massage your neck when you need me to. And give you the whole tub of ice cream on a bad day.

Y/N, your eyes make me weak every time they set their gaze on me, but your love makes me strong. I only want to see your smile when I wake up in the morning because it always tells me that everything will be all right. I will always love the way you say my name because it always sounds tender to my ears. I will always love holding your hands because they’re the perfect fit for mine.

You are my anchor, Y/N L/N.

I promise to be with you in your darkest hour. I will hold your hand and embrace you when you feel defeated. I’ll cry with you and binge-watch anything with you. I will always be your best friend, and I will leverage on being your husband from there. I will always respect you, and honor you as my wife, my love, my Y/N,”

Y/N starts with her vows.

“My dear Derek, I still couldn’t believe my eyes that you’re here, exchanging vows with me. It’s almost the same way when I first heard your friends call you ‘sour wolf,’ because you’ve been nothing but sweet and gentle to me. Derek, I love everything that your handsome face does, I even love it when you look annoyed. I love the way you look at me because you look at me with your kind eyes.

Derek, I promise to coax you when you need me to, even if you tell me you don’t. To care for you when you’re hurt or bruised. I promise I won’t pry on things you don’t want to talk about. But if I know that it bothers you, I promise to convince you that we’ll go through it together. I promise to massage your temples on a hard day and be kinder to you during the full moon. I promise not to nag at you when I’m stressed or frustrated.

I promise to listen to your pack stories, your plans, your goals, and dreams. Your thoughts will always matter to me. I promise to stand beside you in times of troubles and impossible things. I promise to trust you when you tell me to. And I promise to put back the toothpaste cap on and squeeze it from the bottom of the tube.

I love seeing you get excited about the things you love and enjoy. I don’t care how different we are, because, to me, we are one.

I’m excited to share so many things with you. Breakfasts, naps, movies, silences, sunrises and sunsets, and the future ahead of us. I’ve loved you with all my heart, Derek Hale, and I always will. The love in my heart will always renew every day, just as the day does with the sun. I promise to cherish you and honor you as my partner in crime and in life; as my husband and soulmate, my dearest Derek.”

I’ve never felt my face so wet with tears since I lost my family. But here she is, Y/N L/N, now taking my name, finally being my new family. Y/N and I both take sharp breaths as we smile at each other, slowly taking in our vows to each other. For a long moment, I forgot that our families and friends are with us at this very moment.

Y/N and I keep our hands holding each other’s as we exchange rings and take each other as husband and wife. Our voices shake as we talk, awaiting the life we’ll live after we say those three words that will change our lives forever.

What do you guys think?? Did I do Derek some justice?? Hope y’all like it! Tell me if you wanna be tagged!

P.S. I have a Scott x Reader imagine coming up!

Tag list:

@spxderbarnes @bojabee @jurrasicpork

#teen wolf #teen wolf imagine #teen wolf au #teen wolf fluff #derek hale imagine #derek hale x reader #derek hale wedding

124 notes · View notes

teenwolf-theoriginals · 7 years

Text

Would You Rather: Teen Wolf Edition

1. Would you rather bring back Allison only for her to not remember the pack, or bring her back as a villain?

2. Would you rather be Stiles partner in crime or Scott’s anchor?

3. Would you rather be a human in Scott’s pack or a chimera in Theo’s pack?

4. Would you rather get to watch Teen Wolf once in your lifetime, or only be able to watch the episodes from your favourite season?

5. Would you rather fight The Alpha Pack or The Darach?

6. Would you rather Melissa with Chris Argent or Sheriff Stilinski?

7. Would you rather Stiles get possessed by the Nogitsune, or have Scott lose his Alpha status?

8. Would you rather have Kira return or have Malia turn back into a coyote?

9. Would you rather be best friends with Lydia or Allison?

10. Would you rather Stiles die from saving Scott, or have Scott sacrifice himself to save Stiles?

11. Would you rather be stuck in Echien House, or be taken by the Ghost Riders?

12. Would you rather learn self-defense from Parrish or Chris Argent?

13. Would you rather be turned into a werewolf, or find out that you’re a banshee?

14. Would you rather leave with Isaac for France never to return, or leave with Jackson for London and eventually return back to Beacon Hills?

15. Would you rather date Stiles or Isaac?

16. Would you rather never watch season 3 again or never watch season 5 again?

17. Would you rather be Derek’s long lost sister or Peter’s daughter?

18. Would you rather be apart of the old pack or join the new pack?

19. Would you rather save Boyd or Erica?

20. Would you rather meet the whole Teen Wolf cast once for only a few hours, or hang out with only one cast member for a whole day?

#teen wolf #would you rather?#enjoy!

361 notes · View notes

stereksecretsanta · 4 years

Text

Merry Christmas, @inatshej!

I hope you enjoy and have a wonderful holiday season!

Read of AO3

*****

When Darkness Knocks (Knock Back)

He stared at the plate of food balanced on the U-haul box. Around him, half-empty boxes littered the floor, shoved up against the walls and stacked in a feeble attempt to get them out of the way.

Throughout the house almost every room was in a similar state of disorder.

“The moving truck should be here tomorrow with our furniture.”

His gaze slid up, glancing over the TV dinners and mugs of water until he met John’s gaze.

The move took its toll on both of them. John had deep circles under his eyes and the wrinkles on his face seemed to have deepened overnight, adding years to his face, making him seem older than he was.

John stretched one leg, wincing as the unforgiving linoleum dug into his backside. “It’ll be nice to have a table again.” He settled, pulling his other leg up so he could rest his elbow on his knee, head falling into his palm. He stared glassy eyed at the meatloaf in the thin black tray like he could will it into being something more edible.

The sound of John’s breathing seemed exceptionally loud in the empty eat-in kitchen, wheezy and labored after ten trips back and forth from the trailer they’d towed behind the Jeep.

He looked up again, eyes crinkling slightly. “You hanging in there, kiddo?”

His shoulder jerked in a shrug, a plastic smile curled up over his lips. “Of course.” His voice was too chipper, bordering on fake, but John only nodded, head tilting forward to stare at their makeshift table.

“I managed to get my old job back at the police department,” John said. He dug his fork into the fake mashed potatoes, pushing them mindlessly from one side of the tray to the other. “You probably don’t remember Jordan, but he managed to pull some strings to get me back on the force.” He huffed, smiling, “He invited us to the holiday party for the station, said they’re holding it at the Hales’ place.” He looked up, still smiling. “Isn’t that nice?”

He nodded, reaching for his mug. His palm hit the cool ceramic, nudging the mug forward across the cardboard.

John didn’t seem to notice.

“You were a toddler the last time we went.”

His fingers twitched, hovering just out of grasping range of the mug. The handle glanced off his palm.

“I think it’ll be fun,” John finished. His fork thudded softly down onto the tray next to the abandoned potatoes.

His fingers jerked hard enough to touch the glass; he yanked his hand back, dropping it on his lap to try and smooth the gesture. “Goodnight.”

John’s eyes widened slightly, then his brow furrowed in concern. “You alright?”

He barely managed to lifted and lower his head. “Just tired.”

John’s face softened, a thin, weary smile crossing his lips. “I feel you. Goodnight. Love you.”

He unfolded his legs, rising stiffly to his feet. He stepped out of the kitchen and into the dark hallway. The unfamiliar scent of the house made his sinuses burn; it would take some time to get used to.

He rubbed his face against his shoulder, turning to go up the stairs to the second floor. His fingers trailed lightly over the handrail, his every step just loud enough that he knew John could hear in the kitchen below. Slowly, he reached the top of the steps.

His turned into the room on the left, flinging a hand out to smack the light switch. His knuckles clacked painfully against the wall, inches away from their mark. The door swung closed behind him with a solid click and he leaned against the counter. The cool granite cut through his thin sleep pants, biting into his hips. His hands went to the edge of the sink, fingers curling around the porcelain as he leaned forward toward the mirror.

Even in the dark he could see his eyes staring back at him, set in sockets too deep and dark against a pallor.

His fingers scrabbled against the sink, each one twitching against his control.

He scrunched his nose, top lip curling. “Stop.” His fingers forcibly curled back around the sink, his knuckles white.

“Leave me alone,” Stiles whispered, it was more of a weak echo than a sound.

“Stop.” Black flooded across his eyes and he straightened, rolling his neck and loosening his grip on the sink. He flexed his fingers until the ache subsided. “Good boy.”

He opened the door, crossing the distance to his room in three steps. The scent of stale air greeted him when he opened the door; he paused, staring into the darkness.

He’d tossed his sleeping bag in the middle of the room earlier. The sleeping bag and a couple stacks of books were the only thing he’d put on the trailer. Tomorrow he would have his bed again.

He slowly closed the door, bracing one hand on the door jam and the other on the handle to make as little sound as possible. He let out a long breath, closing his eyes. “No matter how hard you try, you can’t win.”

He opened his eyes and dropped to his hands and knees, crawling across the floor to the sleeping bag. He burrowed under the side of the slick material, slithering and twisting until he was completely covered. “Goodnight Stiles.”

XXX Beacon Hills High School looked boring. The bland red bricks, the dead grass in the fields, even the maroon School Spirit! signs blended into the background to the point of being unnoticeable.

He made his way up the front steps. Since he was late, the halls were already empty, clear of the usual cattle-herd shuffle of noise, pushy students. Good. He wouldn’t have to deal with other students for a little bit longer.

His footsteps echoed against the tile as he ducked into the front office.

Fake plants were the only source of color.

A woman looked up from behind the desk; her brow twitched, lips pursed in thought. “Can I help you?”

He shifted his weight, tucking his thumb under the strap of his bag to adjust it. “I’m new.” He paused, not sure if he needed to sign in or just say ‘lead me to my doom’.

Papers rustled as she grabbed things from various piles in front of her.

“You must be Stiles,” she said. A warm smile replaced her bland expression. “I have a syllabus for you, and a handbook— make sure your dad signs it and bring it back to the office.”

She kept talking, babbling about the layout of the school, what classes he had and the teachers names. He only half listened. Each school had the same typical routine.

He shifted over to a chair in front of a blue screen when she said she needed to take his picture for his school ID. A countdown and an awful imitation of a shutter click later, she frowned at the picture on her computer screen.

“It looks like the camera caught a glare, how about we retake it real fast?”

“It’s fine,” he said quickly. It wouldn’t be any use retaking it, the flare around his eyes would still be there. He flashed her a false smile and said, forcefully perky, “It’s just a picture.”

After a beat, she shrugged, giving in. “It’s your ID.”

“Thank you,” he beamed. He plucked the schedule from the stack of papers she’d laid out for him. Chemistry with someone named Harris was first. This ought to be a blast. Or, he thought with a wide smile, at the very least he could make it one. Though nothing had been proven, he was still suspected for a minor chemistry lab explosion at his last school.

She offered him a small yellow slip of paper with instructions to give that to the teacher when he got there. “Last door on the left,” she said as he slipped back out into the hall.

He found the classroom easily. He stared at the cheap wooden door for a second, then, reluctantly, knocked.

The gentle murmur of conversation on the other side stopped. He waited.

A dark haired man with glasses opened it, his gaze flicking dismissively over him.

He stared back, impassive and unimpressed. This worm was meant to intimidate a room full of hormone drenched adolescents? Please.

“You must be Stillinski.” Harris’s eyes narrowed. “You’re late.”

“Congratulations, you can tell time,” he deadpanned.

Harris’s lip twitched, revealing a hint of teeth.

He smiled back, all teeth, and no happiness.

“Get in here before you delay the class longer.” Harris held the door open wider and stepped aside the side to allow him to pass.

Desks were set side by side, forming long rows throughout the room. At least two dozen eyes were locked on him, and a handfull of those closest to the door blatantly stared, wide eyed and shocked after hearing the conversation.

“Sit between McCall and Hale,” Harris snapped, slamming the door shut behind them.

He looked over the sea of faces. A brunette boy dead center smiled and waved, tugging out an empty chair between him and a brown haired girl.

“Hey dude, welcome to Beacon Hills.” McCall grinned as he made his way through the maze of bodies toward them. “I’m Scott.”

He dropped his bag, toeing it under the desk. “Stiles.”

Scott’s smile didn’t falter.

Hale snorted; what little of her expression he could see looked bored beyond relief.

He could relate to her.

“That’s Cora,” Scott said. “She may seem mean but she’s actually pretty nice. It’s like a family trait of theirs to come across as pissed off ninety-nine percent of the time.”

Cora rolled her eyes and leaned back in her seat. Though she was trying to be subtle, he could see her casting curious glances at him from the corner of her eye.

“Do you have something to share with the class, McCall?” Harris demanded, taking his spot back at the front of the class.

“Nope.”

By the end of class he’d learned the pipes next to the sinks at the back of the room that should have held gasses for the class to experiment and learn from had in fact been shut off years ago. He sighed sadly, he’d need to find another way to entertain himself while he was here.

Scott, it turned out, was in his second class also, along with a girl he introduced as Erica, and her boyfriend and partner in crime Boyd. He’d forced out a semi-polite greeting and resigned himself to the readings of Throeau.

After third period math, he thought he’d officially escaped the overly friendly group. He trudged his way through the cafeteria line, carrying the tray of bland food out into the large dining room. He could see tables outside through the large windows, presumably to use when the weather is nice.

He’d spotted an empty table tucked away in the back corner when familiar voice reached his ears.

“Guys, he’s hurting.” That simpering earnest voice had to be McCall.

He rolled his eyes. He’d be willing to bet his immortality that if the McCall boy saw him he’d be immediately invited over to their table. And he wasn’t sure if he was in the mood to be babbled at. He shifted his weight stiffly, casting his gaze around the room until he spotted McCall at a table to the right.

Next to Scott sat Cora, Erica, Boyd, Lydia- she was in his math class- and a boy and girl he hadn’t met yet.

The unknown girl placed her hand on top of Scott’s reassuringly. “Leave him alone, he clearly doesn’t want anything to do with us.”

“He needs friends, Allison. A big move like that has to be hard. This is probably just his way of coping.”

“You can’t help everyone, Scotty. Especially those who don’t want help.”

Cora shook her head slowly. “Drop it, something’s off about him anyway. I kept getting bad vibes from him.”

He beamed. Now this… this could be fun. He switched directions, cutting between the two tables between him and Scott’s table. With each step he adjusted his posture: his shoulders slumped, his face muscles relaxed, and a pleasant smile rolled out across his mouth.

The unnamed boy noticed him first. Thick dark brows rose and his nostrils flared.

The rest of the table turned, noticing him at last.

“Hey Stiles.” Scott beamed with an inhuman measure of goodwill. “Want to sit with us?”

“Yes, please, thank you.”

Cora and Allison stared at Scott, expressions flat and disapproving, who opened his eyes wider and shrugged innocently.

“Stiles, this is Lydia.” Scott motioned to the red head.

“We’re in math together,” Lydia cut in, nodding cooly at Stiles.

“Oh,” Scott’s face fell a fraction, then lit back up. “That’s Derek, Cora’s older brother, he’s a senior.”

Derek scowled the he took the seat next to him. It was the only one available, but it also put him directly next to Scott. And Scott was the one he’d chosen. He could play sweet, become friends, learn Scott’s ins and outs and destroy him by the end of the semester. It’d be great.

He smiled at Derek. “Hello.”

“Hi,” Derek said. He looked at Stiles for a second more before focusing on his food.

The table had gone silent. No one was looking at him directly but the hair on his arms stood on end, they were wary of him. Usually humans didn’t notice anything off, definitely not this quickly. Well, there was that one person in San Francisco, but they had accused everyone of having demons inside them. They hadn’t known what to do when Stiles burst out laughing.

He lifted his hand, forcing his fingers to curl around the plastic fork. The movements were still jerky, like an unpracticed puppet master was pulling at his strings, but it was smoother than they’d been the night before at the dinner table. It was easier to control his body when Stiles wasn’t fighting against him.

Derek shifted, leaning into his space for half a second before straightening quickly, face tensed and closed off.

He looked up, prepared to tell the guy to back off, when sunlight caught Cora’s eyes and for a brief moment, it looked like they flashed gold. He tilted his head, fascinated. That was new. THere was so much about this human world he didn’t understand, it was easy to get distracted by the sensations, sights, and smells.

Perhaps it was the potential flash of gold in Cora’s eyes, or the distraction of Derek leaning in when everyone else always leaned away. Perhaps it was just that Stiles had been quiet all day. Regardless, he was not prepared for his right side to seize out of his control.

His hand snapped out, grabbing Derek’s forearm and digging his fingertips into his skin. “Help.” His voice was a bare tremble of sound, his face still turned forward, away from Derek.

Immediately, he yanked his hand back, eyes wide in shock. He’d never lost control like that.

You know better than that, Stiles.

He swept his arm across the table, sending his tray and carton of milk flying. He jumped to his feet and bolted. He’d have to do damage control later, figure out a way to fix the scene Stiles had caused. Sure, he’d talked his way out of more, but if this threw a wrench in his plan for Scott he was going to be pissed.

He power walked down the hall until he found a bathroom; he ran inside, ducking in the first stall he came across.

He waited, ears straining to hear if anyone from the table had followed him. Aside from his heavy breathing and the sound of blood rushing in his ears, there was nothing.

XXX

His gaze never wavered from the clock mounted above the whiteboard, even though he could feel the teacher’s withering stare. What did he care?

The bell rang, bringing with it a collective sigh of relief and a flurry of movement. The teacher didn’t even bother trying to stop them. She went to her desk to gather her things, as eager to leave as her students.

He zipped his bag up and stood, already halfway to the door when someone stepped in front of him. Big, earnest brown eyes, dopey, wide-open expression. Scott. Right.

He grinned crookedly as he blocked their path, with Derek flanking him and a tall unfamiliar boy hovering uncertainly in the background. “Hey, Derek said he can drive everyone home.”

“Did I?” Derek muttered, making the tall boy huff an almost silent laugh.

“Yes,” Scott said, firm and cheery, “and I’m sure Stiles would like to ride with us. Right?”

He bet that easy assumption of friendless worked on plenty of people, weak, simpering worms that they were. He looked at Derek and twisted his lips into a smirk.

Fine, he said, you want to talk to your new friend? Let’s talk. The stirring of panic and fear fed him, sent a shiver of power through him and made his smile widen delightedly.

Scotts answering smile was blinding.

“This is Isaac.” Scott motioned to the kid behind Derek.

Isaac nodded at him in greeting and took half a step back, letting them leave the classroom first.

“Derek drove his dad’s van today so there’s totally room for all of us.” His step faltered. “Your dad wasn’t supposed to pick you up, right?”

“No.” He shrugged. “I walked this morning. I don’t live too far away.”

“Great!” Scott beamed.

Derek huffed, herding them down the hall.

“The van can hold like ten people-“

“Eight,” Derek interjected.

“Like eight people,” Scott corrected without missing a beat.

“Who all’s getting a ride?” he asked.

Scott stopped next to the vending machines by the exit. Crowds of students shoved their way by, causing Derek and Isaac to take refuge next to them.

“Me, my bike has a flat tire, Isaac, he basically lives at the Hale house, Cora, she actually lives there, Erica, Boyd, Lydia, and her boyfriend Jackson.”

There was a pause before he asked, “Who’s riding in the trunk?”

The perpetual smile on Scott’s face faltered. “What? That’s seven people, the van fits eight.” He ticked his fingers for each of the names he’d said, brow furrowing.

“Then Derek as the driver, and me,” he said, delight filling him at the anxious expression on Scott’s face.

Derek crossed his arms and leaned against the machine, a deep scowl on his face. His eyes locked him. “Laura picked Cora up early for a swim meet,” he said stiffly. “We’ll all fit.

Scott’s face lit up once again. “That’s awesome!” He slapped Stiles on the shoulder.

xxx

They piled into the van, at Scott’s insistence he took passenger seat since he was going to be the second stop.

Erica and Boyd were the first. They said something about a science project and finishing it at Erica’s before adding almost sadly that Cora, Scott, and Stiles were going to probably be getting the project next.

Lydia sat between Jackson and Isaac in the third row.

Derek pulled out of the school lot, breezing past the parent brigade and onto the main road.

Trees and buildings blurred past the windows.

Scott chatted happily at Boyd and Erica. Apparently they’d all been friends since elementary school. It was cute, in a human sort of way. He could fix that.

The tires rumbled over the pavement, the low beat of the radio and occasional crunch of gravel under the tires almost mesmerizing.

He tilted his head. Rocks. Scott said he had a flat tire on his bike; what a good idea. That would certainly liven up the drive home, and perhaps concuss someone in the process.

Don’t! Stiles yelped, but he barely felt any resistance. His little stunt at lunch must have exhausted him.

BANG.

The car tilted, careening toward the curb at the ear splitting explosion of the back tire.

Derek twisted the wheel, cursing as the car skidded to a stop.

The radio crackled, cutting between static and the DJ of a local station.

“Everyone okay?” Derek asked, looking at them in the rearview mirror when the car finally came to a stop.

You almost hurt them! Stiles yelled, fear and anxiety flooding his veins.

Pity it didn’t, he sighed. His fingers curled around the handle on the door to hide the trembling as Stiles fought for control. He was getting tired. He huffed in irritation; sleep was almost as boring as school. But if he wanted to remain in control, he needed to be strong, and if he wanted to be strong, he needed to take a break every now and then.

You’re a monster, Stiles spat.

I’m a demon, darling. This was just for fun. He caught sight of his reflection in the side view mirror and grinned, knowing full well Stiles could see him.

After everyone assured Derek they were okay, he climbed out, Scott on his heels to help with the spare.

Behind him, in the reflection of the mirror, Lydia stared. Her eyes were slightly too wide, mouth set in uncertainty. She jerked her eyes away, ushering Jackson and Isaac out so the van would be lighter.

He frowned, tracking her movements. Sure, the accident could have shaken her, but would she have been looking at him like that? The radio cackled again. He glanced at it. Surely she hadn’t heard him and Stiles.

What?Stiles asked, his voice wobbling.

Nothing. He’d have to be more careful around her. He tossed the door opening, leaping out to join everyone on the sidewalk. If Lydia became a problem, he’d just kill her.

XXX

“I don’t understand.”

If Stiles laid still enough, he could hear his dad talking on the phone. To whom, he didn’t know, but the sound of John’s voice still soothing, despite the soul-crushing things he was saying.

“He’s a different kid.” His voice cracked. “I don’t know what’s wrong.” The talking stopped, replaced by the soft creaking of floorboards as he paced between the kitchen and living room.

A low thrum deep in the back of his head indicated the demon’s absence. It had gone dormant as soon as they’d reached Stiles’s room after dinner and making a show of saying goodnight to John. Stiles had fought again at dinner, even managed to knock his slice of pizza off the counter, but the demon played it off as clumsiness from being tired.

It wasn’t often it needed to rest. It was always there, just below the surface, waiting to wake at any moment.

He strained his ears but John’s voice had become a distant murmur as he moved deeper into the house.

Tears ran down his cheeks. He’d tried to tell John what was wrong before. The first time the demon went dormant he’d run to him for help, woke him up out of a dead sleep, but as soon as John asked him what was wrong, the demon snapped awake and lied. Said he’d had a nightmare.

Months later, the second time, Stiles thought he was clever, and wrote a letter. If he moved slowly and spoke softly, the demon didn’t stir. So he wrote a letter explaining he was possessed and he was scared. He slipped the note under his dad’s bedroom door, and ducked back off to bed. The next morning when John woke and asked him about it, the demon had promptly ripped the note away before John could read it, and played the whole thing off as a prank. And John believed it.

He rolled over, levering himself off the bed. He wasn’t alone, not really, not ever. The toxic presence pressed into his skull, a constant reminder even when he wasn’t fully there.

He crossed the room to the window, staring at the large tree that sat just outside in the yard, it’s thick branches curling close the the glass.

At first he thought it was a bush in the yard. A tall one, just next to the property line. But when it moved he froze, his heart skipped a beat. Was someone breaking in?

The figure stepped forward until their face was illuminated by the floodlight on the side of the house, and Stiles relaxed. Derek. He shook his head, trying to brush off the fright. He was glad Derek was okay after the stunt earlier. They’d changed the tire quickly and had been on their way with little fuss. He was probably just coming over to make sure Stiles was okay, too.

He glanced at the clock on the floor by the wall; it was barely after seven.

Anxiety gripped his chest. He took a step back, away from the window. If the demon woke up while Derek was here, he’d hurt him.

But there was something about Derek that Stiles couldn’t shake. It felt like one of the crushes he’d gotten in middle school, but stronger. An insistent pull, a desire to go to him, to seek out his company. He stepped back up to the window.

Derek was closer now, hesitating between going around to the front door and looking up at the window with an ‘oh, fuck it’ expression.

Stiles chuckled.

He could try to warn Derek that Scott was in danger at least. Maybe. Derek cared about Scott, they were friends. Even if he didn’t believe him, planting a seed of suspicion might help them later.

“Please don’t talk,” Stiles whispered, hand coming up to rest on the glass. “I’ll let you in, but please don’t talk.”

Derek stopped at the base of the tree, head tilting like he’d heard him. But that wasn’t possible. There was glass and easily twenty feet between them.

Derek looked up at the window, an eyebrow lifted curiously.

Stiles smiled. He fumbled with the latch on the window, wincing as it groaned open. Holding his breath, he listened for any indication John might have heard. There were no creaking floorboards, or thundering steps up the stairs. He let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding.

The demon hadn’t stirred either.

“Please don’t talk,” he said again.

Derek reached up, pulling himself on to the lowest branch with ease, then reached for the next one. Before Stiles could back out of the way, Derek was easing himself through the window.

Stiles lifted a finger to his lips, signaling for Derek to stay quiet.

Derek straightened in the dark room, glancing around as if looking for a threat. He opened his mouth and Stiles darted forward, hands flying up to cover his mouth.

“No talking,” Stiles good, eyes wide. “No whispering, no words.” He shook his head. This was a bad idea on so many levels. John was downstairs and if the demon thought he liked Derek, he would target Derek just to hurt him. He’d already tried and that was just because he was bored. He put Derek in danger by letting him in his room. It was too late now.

“Only I can talk, or you’ll wake him,” Stiles said softly. He stared at him until Derek nodded. Stiles let his hands fall away, the warmth of Derek’s lips lingering on his skin. He sucked in a long breath. This was such a bad idea. But, he realized, Derek hadn’t spoken yet. He could still warn him about Scott. Maybe Derek could keep his friends away from him. Keep them safe.

His heart twisted painfully; that would mean Derek probably wouldn’t want to be around him either. He bit the inside of his cheeks, reminding himself that it was for the best. The demon woud be in control anyway, so whether Derek stayed or not, he was out of Stiles’s reach.

Derek flicked his wrist, waving his hand to get Stiles’s attention.

Stiles looked up in time to see Derek drag his finger across his opposite palm, eyebrows raised in question.

Writing.

“Maybe?” Stiles looked around the disorganized room. “I haven’t been able to try that yet.” He reached for his school bag, catching Derek’s concerned expression in the corner of his eye. He pulled out a notebook and the first pen he touched—a neon blue highlighter. He offered the items to Derek, who stared at the highlighter, then shrugged.

Stiles shuffled over to his makeshift sleeping area, reaching for the small lamp John had dug out for him earlier that day. He turned it on, casting the room in a dull yellow light.

Derek winced, blinking as his eyes adjusted.

“If,” Stiles began.

Derek looked up from the notebook, flipping it open to the first blank page.

“If,” Stiles began again, “I start acting strange, you need to leave, alright?”

Derek frowned, not understanding. He flicked the cap off the highlighter, scrawling across the paper. ‘What’s wrong?’

Stiles stared at the words. It was such a simple question. What’s wrong? Everything? A nervous laugh bubbled up from his chest and he sat back in his nest of blankets. He patted the floor next to him, inviting Derek to sit down.

He stilled, but the steady thrum of the demon didn’t change. Hope briefly filled him; maybe passing notes like this could work but... “You won’t believe me.”

Derek rolled his eyes, taking a seat where Stiles indicated. He hunched over the paper, then held up, ‘Try me’.

Stiles tried to smile, but it only wobbled and vanished. He looked at the still open window. He wrung his hands together to stop the trembling. The demon wasn’t even fighting for control and he was shaking. So pathetic. He pulled his knees to his chest, trying to warm up.

What would happen if he told Derek? Would the demon still know? Would he be able to play off what Stiles tells him like he did with John?

His breathing grew faster, his knees beginning to shake. He fucked up. He should have left Derek out of this. But he needed to warn him about Scott. He took a slow breath. He had to tell Derek at least that much.

Derek’s hand reached out toward him, then stopped, inches from his leg.

Stiles tensed, he had to tell Derek something. “Scott’s in danger,” he blurted. Derek cocked his head to the side.

‘From what?’

Stiles laughed humorlessly. “Me?” He rested his forehead on his knees, fingers carding through his hair nervously. He listened to the gentle squeak of the pen against the paper. When the sound stopped he took a moment before looking up.

‘Why would you hurt Scott?’

“Well, not me exactly.” He fixated on the logo on Derek’s shirt, a man riding a horse with a stick in the air; it was easier to talk if he wasn’t looking directly at him. “I’m,” he dug his thumb into his palm, eyes burning, “I’m a demon.”

Derek stiffened, pulling away.

Stiles flinched, eyes squeezing shut, not sure if it would have been easier or harder for Derek to just laugh at him. Demons weren’t real, they were like ghosts, or bigfoot, something to scare kids into acting straight.

He hadn’t been prepared for Derek to back away, despite it being a logical reaction. He wanted Derek to like him. He wanted to be friends with him. He didn’t want to drive him away.

The squeak of the marker was louder this time. Derek was writing heavier, faster.

The thrum in his mind wavered. He was getting too worked up.

Stiles took several deep breaths, in through his nose, out through his mouth. It was too late to back out now. The squeaking stopped. He couldn’t look. “I need help,” he whispered.

“I can help you!”

“No!” Stiles gasped, leaping to his feet. It was too late. The thrumming blared as numbness spread through him, like the demon was stretching out inside of him, one limb at a time. He slapped his hands to his ears, eyes widening in horror.

Derek jumped up, hands held out like he was unsure if he should offer support or keep his distance. “I’m sorry, I-“

Oh, Stiles, the demon purred. What have you done?

His vision flickered in and out of focus. If there had been a mirror close by, he knew his eyes would be black and void.

Derek took a step to the side, toward the window.

“What might you be?” he demanded, gaze wracking Derek from top to bottom. Maybe it was him he should be concerned about and not that nosy little redhead.

Leave him alone! Stiles shouted.

His head jerking to the side was the only outward sign of Stiles’s struggle. He rolled his neck, shoving the inferior human down.

Derek bared his teeth. His gaze darted around the room, but there wasn’t anything he could attack the demon with without hurting Stiles, which he seemed to realize.

“Boo!” He lunged forward, hands outstretched.

Derek jumped back, turning and diving out the window. He landed on all fours, and bolted across the yard.

He smiled. What do you see in him?

He looked down at the discarded notebook.

‘I believe you’ was written in bold and underlined crossed the page.

Stiles, he tisked, you don’t understand, do you? He picked up the notebook, slowly tearing the page out. Each rip of the paper against the spirals seemed louder than the last. You’re mine. He yanked the rest of the page out, balling it into his fist. Smoke streamed from between his fingers, the burning paper seared into his palm. I think you need a time out.

NO! Stiles shouted, then the world went black and silent.

XXX

Sound came back first, distant voices that floated in and out. When he could finally distinguish the different tones, sight came next. It started in a similar manner. Colorful blurs, just out of focus.

Wherever he was, there were quite a few people. He could feel something both hard and soft beneath him, he was sitting on the floor, on a carpet. Next to someone? A dark green shape stood, saying something loudly to someone Stiles couldn’t see.

“Just water, please.” Stiles recognized his own voice, though he wasn’t the the one who had spoken.

He was watching the demons actions again.

His fingers flexed, twitching into the carpet beneath him. He was sitting on the floor in an unfamiliar living room. It certainly wasn’t his and John’s place, it was much too big and bordering on fancy.

As his vision came back, he examined the things around him in a daze.

The couch was huge, curved around the room in front of a massive fireplace. Above the fireplace, a TV was playing a music channel.

Green Shape came back. And then Cora became clear when she leaned close to him. She frowned. “Are you going to get sick?”

Stiles sure hoped not. “No.” He shook his head.

How are you back? the demon demanded in a furious hiss.

Stiles shook his head; he didn’t understand... Where had he gone? Where were they? He tried to open his mouth, but the demon clenched it shut. So he focused on the room around them again.

“Good,” Cora chirped, “we need to get this project done.”

A large catwalk stretched above their heads, stopping on the other side of the house where the living room blended into the kitchen. Father past that, was a dining room.

The thrum in his head pulsed.

“Cora, be nice.” A dark haired man with a goatee watched them from the kitchen. Who was he?

Stiles lifted his hand.

The demon forced it back down in his lap.

Stiles blinked.

The demon glowered.

You need to listen to me. The demon’s voice cracked.

Stiles blinked again. A hand held a water bottle out to him; his gaze traced the hand, up the arm attached to it, finally landing on Scott’s face.

Scott couldn’t smile fast enough to hide his worried expression.

Scott was here! That was good. He was alive. His heart pounded erratically in his chest. But where were the others? Where was Derek?

The man in the kitchen didn’t look away from him, his gaze hard, calculating. Even with the distance between them, he was sure he saw him take a deep breath and wince. The following flash of emotion was too quick for him to place.

“You alright, Stiles?” the man asked.

Stiles flinched. It was over. Someone had spoken to him while the demon wasn’t in control. He waited for the pressure of the being to take over. His stomach clenched with anticipation.

The music from the TV was the only sound as everyone waited for his response.

His head ached, a low pounding in his forehead, each pulse of his heart sending the pain deeper into his skull until he imagined he could feel it on his brain stem. He squeezed his eyes shut. There was a low murmur of conversation around him, but the words didn’t make sense. Was he saying them? Or were they speaking to him?

The demon roared, flinging itself at the edges of his consciousness. Stiles’s shoulder jerked forward, but it was only one hit. For once it was the demon fighting while Stiles held the advantage, the demon struggling for control while Stiles held him back. Stiles had the upper hand finally.

Something snapped. The thrum vanished, pain gone, rapidly replaced with nausea. He wheezed, chest heaving. “Bathroom?”

“First door on the left, next to the front door,” Cora replied quickly.

He stood on trembling knees. He didn’t know where the front door was, but Cora had glanced over the couch so he took that as a good direction. He bounced off the corner of the wall, and cracked his knee against the stair banister, but found his way to the half bath just in time. He kicked the door closed, dropped over the toilet, and heaved. Nothing came out.

What did you do? the demon demanded, his voice soft and distant.

Nothing, Stiles said. But clearly something had changed, something had happened, he’d never gained control like this before.

His fingers curled and uncurled around the toilet bowl. Stiles fought the grasp when the demon tried to move his hands away.

The demon howled.

Several minutes passed before Stiles felt it was safe for him to move. He hadn’t actually gotten sick, but the nausea lingered.

The demon was still there, recognizable by the annoying itch, the impulse to do something he didn’t want to do. But he could ignore him.

He laughed nervously. This didn’t make sense, but he was going to go with it. For the first time, he had more power than the demon.

He opened the bathroom door, stepping into the hall. Voices came from the direction of the living room, so he followed them.

“—the wards.”

“Talia should be home tomorrow.”

“Is that soon enough?”

He thought he recognized the man’s voice who had been in the kitchen, but the second wasn’t familiar. His knees had gone from trembling to shaking by the time he made it to the living room. He balked, one hand resting on the back of the couch, as he came face to face with two men talking to Cora and Scott.

Goatee Guy looked him up and down while the man next to him smiled warmly. “Hello Stiles, I’m Chris.” He glanced at Goatee Guy. “I’m sure you’ve met my husband, Peter.”

“Nice to meet you,” Stiles croaked. He tensed, waiting for the moment he lost control. Like before, it never came.

Peter and Chris excused themselves back to the kitchen to finish making dinner, calling out that Laura, Derek, and Aaron should be home shortly.

Stiles beamed at the mention of Derek. He was alright! Relief washed through him. It seemed everyone the demon had been intent on hurting was okay so far. Everything was might end up being okay.

He, Cora, and Scott finished the project easily. It turned out they’d already built the model volcano and only needed to write the essay part now. It was also, Stiles found out, the same project Erica and Boyd had been grumbling about weeks before in the car ride home.

His heart skipped a beat when he realized how much time had passed. Weeks? He stared at the carpet where it met the wall. He’d been gone for that long? His heart began to beat faster. Was his dad okay? Was he really over here for just a project, or was it something more? He pictured his dad, pale, lying helpless in a hospital bed. He could have hurt him.

“Stiles?”

His head snapped up. Green eyes bore into his, warm hands resting on his shoulders. Derek.

Stiles lurched forward, gripping the front of his shirt and clinging.

“Take deep breaths.”

He could feel Derek’s chest moving, and he tried to match the movement, but his chest just shook, breaths stuttering stuttering ineffectively at his lips.

“Everything’s okay, I promise.” Derek held him tighter, lowering himself to the floor next to him. “Everyone’s okay.”

Stiles clung to him. If Derek said everything was alright, then it had to be. He trusted him. But the nagging feeling of dread didn’t go away.

“Come on.” Derek helped him to his feet, gently leading him away from the living room, and the rest of the house’s watchful eyes. Derek guided him past the stairs and bathroom he’d been in earlier to a set of double doors. A library, Stiles realized as they swung open. Bookshelves lined all four walls, a comfy looking couch in the center of the room.

Derek sat on the couch with Stiles tucked against his side, his arm draped protectively across his shoulders.

The room had a calming effect, or maybe it was being with Derek. He leaned against him and breathed. “What happened?” Stiles asked. He needed to know, rip it off like a bandaid. The last thing he remembered was talking with Derek in his room and gods know what happened between now and then.

“Beacon Hills isn’t normal,” Derek said evenly.

Stiles frowned, but waited. Beacon Hills seemed normal.

Derek stilled, “I came home and told my dad what happened.”

Stiles jerked back, looking up searching his face wildy, but he only saw determination in his expression.

“My mom would have been able to help you faster.” Derek winced apologetically. “But she’s busy with pack business at the moment though. She won’t be home until tomorrow.”

“How long has it been since we talked?” Stiles asked slowly, unsure if he wanted to know the answer.

“Three weeks.”

Stiles flinched, and Derek continued, “Dad and Deaton put wards around your house to try and drive the demon out.”

“Are they witches?” Stiles’s brow pulled down. Witches aren’t real. Then again, neither are demons for most people.

“Druids.” Derek smiled, watching Stiles carefully, like he was expecting Stiles to freak out and run. “I can stop if you’d like, wait until you’re feeling better.”

Stiles shook his head. “I want to know.” He curled his fingers in Derek’s sleeve. “Did you know before you came over to my house?”

There was a pause. “Lydia had an idea. When the tire blew, and the radio cut to static, she said she could hear you arguing with something, so she wanted me to check on you that night.” He took a breath. “Not that I didn’t want to see you, I just figured you wanted your space. But dad and Deaton thought the wards would help, and we did think they worked at first.” His face tightened with anger. “But it was playing with us.”

A burst of happiness inside him made Stiles wince. The demon was still there, weak but gloating about how much fun he’d had playing with the emotions of those around them. “I’m shocked,” he said dryly.

Derek rubbed comforting circles into his shoulder. “They put the same ones up here when Cora said you, her, and Scott had a project due together over fall break. You and Scott were going to stay over here and work on it until after the holiday party.”

Stiles shifted. “How long have I been over here?”

“This is the first day. No one was expecting these ward to work any different than the ones at your house. But, clearly something worked, right?” Derek smiled down at him.

Uneasiness grew inside him, it seemed to be working, but the sublevel thrum continued; “My dad knows I’m here?”

"Yes, and about what's going on."

Stiles gaped soundlessly for a moment, then managed to squeak out, "My dad…knows? About--about the demon, the...everything?"

Derek nodded, his eyes gone soft with sympathy. "Yeah, he knows everything. He's thrilled that we can help you."

Tears pricked Stiles's eyes, so he looked away. "When's the party?" he asked, to distract himself.

"Tomorrow. Mom will be home way before it starts; she'll help you, I promise."

Stiles smiled sincerely for the first time in a year as exhaustion crept into every bone and muscle. How exactly was she going to help him? “Thank you.” Perhaps they were going to try with more wards. Were wards the same as spells? It seemed like they’d be similar. Stiles chuckled. Druids. It felt like he was caught in some D&D game.

It took a second for him to realize his eyes were closed.

Derek spoke soft, reassuring words, and that made him more tired. He let out a content sigh. Everything was going to be okay. Derek’s mom would fix it.

XXX

Everything was grey and in slow motion.

Stiles saw himself push open the doors to the library and step into the hall. The house was dark, the air eerily still.

He didn’t need to look behind him to know Derek was asleep on the couch where he’d left him.

A slow smile curled over his lips. He wouldn’t be asleep for long.

He’d wanted to wait until this Talia person and John were here before killing them all. But an unsettling warning kept stirring in his gut. If he wanted anyone to die, he’d have to do it before she got here.

It was almost sad that Stiles didn’t know how close to freedom he’d actually come.

He padded silently across the hall, through the formal dining room that looped through the kitchen. He trailed his fingers over the closed wooden drawers and cabinets, eyes set on the knife set by the stove. A gas stove, he realized with delight.

He flicked each of the burners, and grabbed the largest knife in the set. It was too perfect; he’d kill who he could and burn the evidence.

You thought you won? he asked Stiles with a shiver of excitement.

Stiles recoiled in horror, then exploded into life, thrashing useless, proverbially clawing at his insides to no avail.

He grinned, looping out through the living room and down the hall, back toward the library.

How about we kill your soulmate first? The demon thumbed the blade of the knife, drawing a thin line of blood. It’s really a pity humans take longer to notice soulmates, but the aftermath will be delightful.

Stiles screamed in rage.

The demon didn’t notice.

Behind him, something clicked. “Freeze.”

He stopped, hand outstretched for the door he’d left ajar. He turned his head slowly, looking back the way he’d come.

Chris stood, legs braced, gun drawn and pointed straight at his chest.

“Are you going to shoot him, Christopher?” he asked sweetly. His lips curled up in a cheshire grin. “You’ll kill both of us.”

Chris sniffed, jaw clenching when he caught the slithering scent of gas from the kitchen.

“If you wait too long, the discharge might blow up the whole house. Tick-tock.”

Chris didn’t move.

If he moved quick enough he could bolt through the doorway. The doors swung inward, so they’d be easy to barricade, then it’d just be him and Derek.

Chris’s gaze cut to the arched doorway of the dining room.

He spun, knife raised, lashing out at the figure flying toward him.

Yellow eyes flashed, and a low growl reverberated through the darkness.

He snarled back, twisting as strong arms wrapped around him, pinning his hands to his sides.

Peter.

He gripped Peter’s wrist, his hands growing hotter by the second. The smell of burning flesh mixed with the gas.

Peter growled but didn’t let go.

Footsteps pounded above them, thundering down the steps to their right. The library doors flew open as Derek spilled out, disheveled and furious.

“Get back.” Aaron lifted his hands.

Laura snarled, eyes glowing, claws descending.

Peter let go, leaving only an ache in his borrowed bones where he’d been squeezing too tight.

He twisted and flung the knife out, burying it deep in Peter’s shoulder.

Something slammed into his back, making his knees buckle. He screamed.

XXX

His hands were bound behind him and something hard was digging into his back. A quick test of his legs told him they were tied to something hard, and not on the ground.

He lifted his head. It wobbled for a second as everything spun into view.

He was in the dining room, the table and other chairs had been pushed out, leaving him alone in the center. From where he was seated, he could see into the kitchen, and across the hall through the library door. All the lights in the house were on.

“Talia’s on her way,” Aaron said, sounding exhausted. Good.

The smell of gas was gone now. He snarled. He’d kill them.

Derek’s concerned face appeared in the entry of the kitchen. “Stiles?”

He sneered, head falling back.

Please stop, Stiles begged. Leave them alone.

No.

Derek had said Aaron was a druid, which was a nuisance but something he’d been able to handle in the past. It was the rest of them that he was having growing concerns about. The banshee wasn’t in the house right now, so that just meant he had to figure out what the rest of them were so he’d know how to handle them.

He tested the restraints holding his wrists. Whoever tied them knew what they were doing. The knot didn’t budge. He took a breath, shooting flames out around his hands. If he couldn’t untie them, he’d burn them off.

The talking in the other room halted.

The ropes smoldered and smoked but didn’t fall away.

He roared, jerking forward against them so hard his shoulders strained, threatening to pop out of their sockets.

Derek flinched and Chris stepped around him into the room. He crossed the short distance, careful not to get too close.

He looked down; There was a ring of salt around the chair. He outright laughed.

Chris stiffened.

He didn’t know how to deal with them, and they didn’t know how to deal with him! A salt ring wouldn't hold shit, he wasn’t some lowly ghost.

Chris squatted in front of him so they were eye to eye. He could see the gun holstered on his hip, and this close could smell something strange lingering on the bullets lodged inside.

“Why don’t you kill me already, hunter?”

Chris’s face didn’t falter, didn’t give away if the question surprised him, or made him mad. He only shrugged. “That’d be too easy, and would hurt someone who doesn’t deserve to be hurt.”

A big smile curled across his face. “You don’t know what we’ve done together. He might deserve it.” He jostled the rope so it rubbed against the chair and squeaked.

“You have two options,” Chris said, speaking clearly and slowly. “You can remove yourself from Stiles, or be removed.”

“I can’t be exorcised, this isn’t some shitty horror movie,” he spat.

Chris smiled, rising to his feet. “Alright.”

He waited. He expected Chris to hit him, for Aaron to come forward and cast some useless spell. For them to try and beat him out of the kid. Instead, Chris walked away, vanishing into the kitchen. He snarled, and jerked and rocked in the chair, left then right, trying to topple the chair. He was covered in sweat and breathing heavily when the front door opened. A cold gust of air rushed by, drawing his attention.

A stately, dark haired woman stood in the door, backlit by the slow-to-rise winter sun, studying him with a clinical, detached expression.

Her demeanor and expression were so much like Derek and Cora’s that she must have been Talia Hale.

“Hello,” he greeted cheerfully like he wasn’t strapped to a piece of furniture in her home.

“Hello.” She dropped her bag where she stood, head tilted, brow pinched as she assessed him.

He smiled pleasantly.

She stepped forward across the threshold of the dining room. Her eyes flashed red.

A primitive fear rose through him, along with the growing urge to flee.

She stepped over the salt barrier and reached for him, one hand curling around the back of his neck.

He turned, sinking his teeth into the soft part of her arm.

Her eyes flared, fangs dropping from her mouth, but she didn’t attack or fight back. The tips of her claws pressed into the tender skin on the back of his neck, a split second of warning before they pierced his flesh, digging in deep and flexing against him. She smiled. “Got it.” She pulled her hand out, yanking the demon right out of the shadows of the Stiles’s soul.

Stiles slumped forward, a sudden weight gone. Trembles shook his body. He felt whole and empty at the same time.

The demon shrieked, a whispy black entity clutched in Talia’s claws. Claws? Her eyes were red, face twisted into an animalistic snarl.

His heart sunk; he’d escaped one monster and fell into the clutches of another. He tried to curl in on himself, make himself as small and unappealing as possible. A sob ripped itself out of his chest. He was so tired.

Derek knelt in front of him, tearing the binds on his feet free before moving onto his hands.

Pack. Derek said pack. The claws, the fangs. Stiles couldn’t breathe.

Derek stilled, hands hovering over him like he wasn’t sure if he was allowed to touch.

Stiles leaned forward, burying his face into Derek’s shoulder. He didn’t know what was going on, but Derek was safe.

“You have to breathe.” Derek wrapped his arms around him, drawing him into a loose comforting hug.

Stiles tried. Each breath felt like a thousand pound weight being dragged up from his core.

Stars danced in his vision.

“Breathe with me.” Derek took an exaggerated breath in.

Stiles sucked in a smaller shaky one.

“Good, now out.”

It took a couple breaths before the stars went away, and a few more after that for the constriction in his chest to lessen.

He and Derek were on the floor next to the chair, the rest of the family hovering in the kitchen and hallway.

“Pack,” Stiles said softly. “Werewolves?”

Derek tensed. “Some of us.” He ran a hand up and down Stiles’s back. “Dad’s a druid.”

Stiles nodded, he said that earlier.

“Chris is a hunter, he hunts bad supernaturals, and Lydia’s a banshee, that’s how she heard you, along with the static.”

Stiles nodded, too exhausted to freak out again.

“How about we talk about this later?” Derek suggested cautiously. “You can ask as many questions as you’d like.”

He pressed the tips of his fingers against Derek’s.

Derek obliged the silent question, letting long claws extend from his fingertips.

XXX

It took quite a bit of convincing to make sure Aaron didn’t call Jordan and move the holiday party to the high school football fields.

“We’re on break, we don’t want to go back to school, even for a party,” Stiles reasoned. “And whether it was held here or there, I’m still going.”

Aaron eventually sighed, resigned, and Talia smiled.

John arrived first, hours before the cooking started.

Stiles leapt up from the couch, darting across the house, and threw his arms around John’s neck, breathing in the familiar scent of his cologne.

John held him back, silent tears streaming down his cheeks.

The rest of the force trickled in as the morning dragged on. Everyone greeted each other with warm smiles and hugs, like they were genuinely happy to see each other. People mingled in the living room and out on the deck where Laura stood by the barbeque, fending off the hungry with her spatula.

Stiles smiled at the scene, and even chuckled at few of the jokes the officers cracked. It felt foreign to be so much in control, and slightly overwhelming. He made his way back to the couch where Derek sat with a book. He had a good system, get up, go say hi to a few people, and then return until he felt recharged enough to get up again. He dropped to the cushin next to Derek, leaning up against his side.

Something crashed in the kitchen, followed by a long stream of curses mixed with apologies. Stiles smiled, looping his arm through Derek’s.

With everyone distracted, he turned to Derek. “Are we really soulmates?”

Derek looked up from his book, closing it without marking the page.

Stiles pushed on nervously when Derek didn’t answer right away. “The demon said it takes humans longer to notice, which implies that you may or may not have felt something already. And I certainly feel something for you.” He stared, braced for rejection. The demon had lied before, after all.

“Yes,” Derek said, stalling anything else Stiles was going to say. “I felt it at the lunch table. But it was... different, weak.” He gave a small smile. “Guess we know why.”

“I swear!” Chris dropped to the opposite end of the couch. “Every party, without fail, birthday party, holiday party, promotional party. Someone gets sick, there’s some kind of accident, someone cries, and someone gets kissed.”

“What happened?” Derek asked, draping an arm around Stiles’s shoulders.

“Talia and Peter are arguing over the last turkey leg.” Chris rolled his eyes, collapsing back against the couch.

“Was that the crash in the kitchen?” Stiles smiled.

“Yes! Jordan made himself sick on cream puffs, at least one dish is broken, and either Talia or Peter are going to end up in tears from losing.”

“Or both of them if Cora snatches it from between them like she did the ham last year.” Derek chuckled.

Chris’s eyes flew open, a loud laugh bubbling up from his chest. “I forgot about that.” He rubbed his eyes. “That was the most stunned I’ve seen either of them, ever.”

“She grabbed the whole ham and ran,” Derek told Stiles.

Stiles’s smile widened. “I would have liked to see that.”

“I should probably go play damage control.” Chris stood, eyeing the kitchen warily.

“Let them fight it out!” Aaron called from the porch.

Stiles laughed. The sound reverberating through the room, light and free. Derek grinned over at him, eyes sparkling.

“Can I kiss you?” Stiles asked.

“Of course.” Derek leaned forward, brushing their lips together. It was chaste, but perfect, lighting up the darkest parts of Stiles’s heart, banishing the lingering ache of the demon. This was happiness.

#inatshej #stereksanta19 #*fics19 #*gifts19

32 notes · View notes