Chapter Text
“So, I was thinking we should probably have a pack meeting since I am back on two legs and we need to discuss whatever it was that attacked me. I know that it ran off because the pack found it, but we don’t know if it left for good or not. And if it's okay with you…I think we need to let the pack know about your Spark. They will smell it on you anyway and it is better to let them know so they do not freak out and think that you’ve been attacked or spelled or anything like that. What do you think?”
“Uh yeah, yeah sure that sounds…okay, I guess.” Derek could smell Stiles’ discomfort at the idea of telling the pack about his Spark. Derek did not want Stiles to feel uncomfortable in any way.
Derek gently placed his hand on the back of Stiles’ neck, which seemed to be his gesture for comforting Stiles lately. “If you don’t want to tell them, we don’t have to. It’s totally up to.”
“No, it's fine…If you will tell them and help me explain it?” Stiles curled into himself a little at the idea of having everybody watching him, judging him.
“Of course, I will” Derek rubbed the back of Stiles's neck, carding through his hair. He could feel some of the tension leave Stiles’ body. Derek’s wolf rumbled in delight at being able to make his boy relax.
Stiles sighed and leaned back into Derek’s touch. The simple touch seemed to calm him down. Now that he thought about it, Derek’s presence made him feel safe and calm. He felt like he could tell Derek just about anything and not feel like he was being judged. Derek didn’t make him feel guilty about all the shit he had done. He didn’t look at him differently like the others did. Derek was…comfort and safety, a beacon of hope, a lighthouse in his stormy ocean, guiding him to safety.
A knock at the door brought Stiles out of his reverie.
“That must be the food.”
“Oh, yeah. Here, I’ve got the money.”
“I got it.” Derek started pulling out his wallet when Stiles brushed by him. Derek caught a whiff of what smelled like…home. He felt a shiver run up his spine. He whipped his head in Stiles’ direction, trying to figure why the boy smelled so good. Derek realized that Stiles was wearing his sweatshirt. A low rumble started in his chest, and his eyes flashed red briefly.
“Okay, here’s—are you purring?” Stiles stopped dead in his tracks. It really sounded like Derek was purring.
“Is that my sweatshirt?”
Stiles looked down and remembered that he was wearing Derek’s sweatshirt. Honestly, he had forgotten. “Oh, uh yeah. I grabbed it before I left to go to Scott’s, thinking it was mine. I’m sorry, I’ll take it off. Sorry. I’ll uh…I’ll wash it.”
Dumb ass. He doesn’t like you. He doesn’t like the way you smell.
Derek rumbled low in his chest, “No, it's fine.”
Stiles grabbed the bottom of the sweatshirt, trying to get it off his head.
Derek growled and flashed his eyes. Stiles felt a little shiver run up his spine and pulled the bottom of the sweatshirt down, “Okay big guy, I’ll leave it on.”
Derek rumbled and smirked a little. Stiles watched Derek walk into the kitchen with the food. Stiles watched Derek as he moved around the kitchen with ease. He let his eyes roam over Derek’s face and body. His sharp jawline was hidden by the beard that he had grown out. His hair was a little curled because it was so long. The way it curled over his face made him look younger. His Henley fit around his arms snugly, showing off his biceps. The muscles in his shoulders flexed as he reached for plates and cups in the cupboard. His sweatpants hugged his ass, showing off the nice round shape of it.
“Stiles!”
“Huh?”
“Take a picture it’ll last longer,” Derek smirked as Stiles’ cheeks turned red and he coughed, scratching the back of his neck—a nervous habit he had that was made worse by the Nogitsune.
“Sorry.” Stiles’ face was on fire. Obviously, he knew that Derek was attractive. Hell, Derek’s general appearance was what made Stiles realize he was more into boys than girls. But he hadn’t ever taken the time to truly appreciate his physique. That crush that he had forced down so long ago was bubbling its way back to the surface. The kindness and the care that Derek was showing him was only making it stronger. He just had to hope that he could keep it to himself.
“Stiles!!”
“Yeah, sorry. What’s up?”
“Come on, come eat.”
“Yeah, okay.” Stiles sat down at the table and allowed Derek to fix him a plate that was way too full.
“I’ll never be able to eat all of this.”
“Just try to eat some of it. I know it’s been difficult lately, but you need to gain your weight back.”
Stiles just nodded his head. He knew that he was still too skinny. One of the side effects of possession—you don’t really feel anything. He was still cold all the time, something he didn’t think he’d ever get over.
“Hey, it’s okay. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“No, it's okay. I didn’t realize it was that noticeable.”
“Not to others. But it is to me.”
Stiles nodded his head, picking around at his food a little bit.
Once Stiles had cleared half of his plate, he looked up at Derek. Almost in askance, to see if he could be done.
Derek took his plate and covered it up, brushing his hand along Stiles’ neck as he passed the boy. “You want to watch a movie?”
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
Derek grabbed blankets from upstairs while Stiles picked out a movie.
Once they had got settled, Derek sitting on one end of the couch and Stiles curled up under a blanket leaning against the other end of the couch, they started the movie.
Derek could feel Stiles shivering even though it was 90 outside. He stuck his hand under the blanket and grabbed Stiles’ ankles, pulling him forward until his legs were curled up in Derek’s lap. He put his hand on Stiles’ ankles and rubbed soothing circles.
“Is this okay?”
Stiles sighed contentedly, scooting forward just a little bit. “Yes. Thank you.”
“Good.”
They stayed like that through two movies, until Derek realized Stiles had fallen asleep. Gently, Derek picked Stiles up and carried him upstairs to his bed. He tucked the boy in and turned out his lamp.
“Goodnight Stiles.”
Derek grabbed a piece of paper downstairs and wrote his number down for the Sheriff.
“If you need anything call me -Derek.”
Derek listened in to Stiles’ heartbeat before he left, content that the boy was okay, and locked the door behind him.