Work Text:
Teen Wolf || Sterek || Teen Wolf || The Sheriff's Bison || Teen Wolf || Sterek || Teen Wolf
Title: The Sheriff's Bison – Writer's Pride Month Bingo 2024
TW Disclaimer: All rights reserved to Jeff Davis and MTV. This fanfiction on the other hand is entirely mine. No money is made with this, though reviews are more than welcomed.
Tags: m/m, coming out, Danny is part of the pack, mates, possessiveness, m/f
Main Pairing: Sterek
Side Pairings: Boyd/Erica, Jackson/Lydia
Teen Wolf Characters: Mieczysław 'Stiles' Stilinski, Derek Hale, Sheriff Stilinski, Danny Mahealani, Lydia Martin, Jackson Whittemore, Erica Reyes, Vernon Boyd III, Isaac Lahey
Writer's Pride Month Bingo Prompt: pride puns
Summary: In which Stiles has a minor crisis over his sexuality, Danny is a great friend, Jackson cares more than he lets on and Derek is hopelessly in love with Stiles. Also, the Sheriff makes up for his poor reaction to Stiles' fake coming out.
The Sheriff's Bison
Writer's Pride Month Bingo 2024
"Hey, Danny. Can I ask you a question?"
Half a year ago, Danny would have rolled his eyes and said no. Yet things had changed a lot since then. Because Stiles was no longer just the add on to Scott, who was already the add on to Allison. Somehow, inexplicably, Stiles had become an important part of Danny's life, and all because of Jackson. Because Danny's best friend was a werewolf. Part of an entire pack, which among others included Stiles. And after Jackson and Lydia had joined that pack, they had both argued for Danny to be included, to be told the truth. Because he was Jackson's best friend, because Lydia knew what it was like to not know what was going on but be endangered by being on the fringe of it all.
According to Lydia, Stiles had been the one to support that idea. All the other wolves had growled at the idea of including another human, one they didn't even know personally at that. But Stiles had argued in his favor, that the pack could use someone with his hacking skills, and definitely needed another person able to reign Jackson in. Lydia had also said that it was Stiles' vote that had swayed their Alpha and, now that Danny was part of the pack and knew Derek Hale, he could believe that. It was baffling that Stiles didn't realize how much sway he had with their Alpha.
So things had changed, Danny had developed a fondness for Stiles after learning about this. And being in a pack, it had bonded them even more. There was something strange about being pack, even as a human. Danny had never felt this much like he belonged and there was an inherent, near natural sense of trust between him and his pack-mates now.
Danny looked up at him curiously. "Yeah, Stiles."
For a moment, Stiles just blinked at him confused, not having expected that answer. Because just half a year ago, the answer would have been no. And, over the past two months of being pack and spending more time with Stiles (willingly and not just during lunch because of Jackson/Lydia and Scott/Allison), Danny had realized that Stiles very often assumed that people either didn't listen to him or didn't care to hear him talk. Danny had never noticed before, because he'd never really cared – heck, he'd been one of the people annoyed by the endless rambling. Now, he'd learned how to filter through the rambling to get the important information, and he knew when Stiles was simply rambling because of his nerves and to distract himself.
"Uhm…" Stiles shook it off. "So, how… did you know that you were gay?"
That gave Danny a bit of pause, because whatever he had expected, this wasn't it. "Well, the part where I like guys really clued me in on that."
Stiles huffed and motioned around in frustration. "Yeah, but like, how did you, you know, like… That it's not just appreciation for beauty, or maybe even 'I wish I was this pretty', like how do you determine that you like guys?"
Frowning, Danny leaned back in his chair. "Why do you ask, Stiles?"
"I just," Stiles motioned around even more. "There was always just Lydia for me. Like, full on planned the wedding and what our genetic combination would look like in regards to our off-springs. I never looked at anyone else, neither guys nor girls. So I always just, you know, assumed that I was straight, on account of Lydia being a girl, right?"
Predictably, there was a low growl somewhere behind Danny and he knew it was Jackson, who was still a little jealous whenever Stiles and Lydia were too close, even though he now knew that what him and Lydia had was a mate-bond, something so much deeper than just high school romance, a love that had literally defied a curse and all of that. Danny tilted his head amused.
"Makes sense so far," Danny nudged. "How does it relate though?"
"Well, I mean, obviously that ship has fully sailed," Stiles huffed softly.
"Ah," Danny couldn't help the small smile. "And now that you're no longer looking at Lydia, you find yourself looking… not just at girls, that it?"
A helpless shrug came from Stiles. "I just… I'm not really… I guess?"
For a moment, Danny paused. "When you asked me if you're attractive to gay guys, you didn't mean it the way the other jocks do – as an ego boost – you were… genuinely wondering about your sexuality, huh. Or were you hitting on me?"
"No," Stiles lifted his hands. "You are, as… most people I am surrounded by these days… sculpted from marble and all that, but I am not flirting with you. I just… need your help."
Danny's eyes trailed over behind Stiles' shoulder, where Isaac, Erica and Boyd were sparring with each other, trying far too hard not to look suspicious and curious. Behind Danny, he knew, were Lydia and Jackson. And though he didn't know what other pack members were inside the Hale House, he did know that all werewolves close-by were currently listening in on them.
"Stiles," Danny spoke softly. "You… are aware that everyone's listening, right?"
For a moment, Stiles stared at him, before he laughed. "I am not ashamed of this, I'm just confused. I don't mind them hearing. Dannyboy, one of the first things you learn when you run with a pack of living lie detectors, who can hear any faint whisper and smell any change in your emotions, is that there is no point in having secrets in the pack."
"Okay," Danny offered a half-smile. "How about we go to the Jungle this weekend, together?"
"Huh?" Stiles blinked doe-eyed at him.
And he did have very pretty doe-eyes. Danny tilted his head as he regarded Stiles slowly. Not his type, but there was no denying that Stiles was a pretty boy, now that he had finally outgrown that dreadful buzz-cut. The nerdy type was pretty popular.
"The Jungle," Danny shrugged. "You aren't sure if you're attracted to guys? Go and dance with a few, flirt around, maybe kiss someone. See how you feel about it."
"Huh," Stiles looked thoughtful now, before his face brightened. "Okay. Yeah. Thanks, Danny!"
/break\
Stiles was giddy as he got ready for the club. Honestly, he didn't know what he had expected when he had asked for Danny's advise. But he liked the outcome. Stiles was investigative, he liked the idea of going out to gather more evidence on the matter. So far, all he had was that looking at Derek made his heart race. At first, he had dismissed it as a fear reaction, since most of his early encounters with Derek had ended in bodily pain for Stiles. Instinctive fear. But he could no longer deny that he absolutely was not afraid of Derek Hale anymore. Not in the bravado way he had pretended not to be afraid back in the day, but genuinely not afraid. He was pack now. His Alpha was not going to hurt him, Derek was not going to hurt him.
"Stiles? Where are you going…?"
Stiles paused at the bottom of the stairs, looking over at his dad in the living room. "I'm going to the Jungle. With Danny and I think Lydia and Jackson."
His father frowned at him. "The… Jungle?"
"Yeah," Stiles tilted his head. "I'm not gay but I'm something. Probably bisexual."
All his dad did was blink, with a near sheepish look on his face, remembering the time he'd found Stiles and Scott in the club and Stiles had tried to cover with a lie about his sexuality. It had been a lie, back then, he had never actually put thought to his sexuality before that day. And his dad's reaction had greatly prompted that self reflection. Because for some reason, the way his dad had shot him down right away had stung, more than it should. Plus, he'd felt so comfortable in the club, being flocked by the drag queens who treated him like an adorable baby duckling. He procrastinated that sexuality crisis for a few more months, until he was over Lydia and started looking at Derek far too often and far too long and suddenly the sexuality crisis knocked on his door.
Honking outside drew his attention. "Get in the car, Stilinski!"
Okay, so he was definitely also going with Jackson and Lydia. Rolling his eyes, he ran out to get into the Porsche with the other three. During the drive, Jackson kept looking at him every so often.
"What," Stiles asked unnerved by the time they parked the car. "Is there a problem?"
Lydia and Danny already got out of the car though, while Jackson was still sitting, so Stiles remained seated. Tapping his fingers against his knee, glaring ahead. What he'd told Danny was true, he wasn't ashamed, whatever the outcome of this little investigation was, he didn't mind the pack knowing. He hadn't expected any of them to have a problem with it, they didn't have a problem with Danny either, after all. And Jackson least of all.
"I'm going to tell you something that only Danny and Lydia know," Jackson sighed exasperated. "Not because I have a problem with it, but because I'm a private person and don't like my personal business being gossip for everybody. I'm bisexual."
"Hu—uh," Stiles blinked slowly, before his eyes widened. "Wait, did you and Danny-"
"Yes," Jackson interrupted. "We didn't date, but we used to fool around."
"Okay," Stiles nodded, unsure what to do with this. "Thanks for telling me?"
"I just," Jackson looked annoyed. "Being bi is different than being gay. There's… prejudice even from other queer people. You'll pick a side sooner or later, you're just 'half gay', shit like that."
"I'm sorry…" Stiles frowned.
"No," Jackson looked directly at him this time. "I'm telling you this because I need you to know that it's bullshit and if you figure out you're bisexual, that that's totally fine and normal and that you're not the only one around, okay?"
Oh, Jackson was trying to bond with him and was trying to be reassuring. Jackson cared. A bright grin split his face as he reached out to ruffle Jackson's hair, knowing that annoyed the beta.
"Aw, Jax, I didn't know you cared," Stiles cooed with a grin, before it softened into a smile. "Thanks, though. That's… really sweet of you."
Jackson rolled his eyes but he also blushed. "Whatever, Stilinski. Let's go."
Laughing softly, Stiles got out of the car and followed Jackson to where Danny and Lydia were waiting. There was a pleased, near proud smile on Lydia's lips as she took Jackson's hand and pulled him down enough to kiss his cheek. Danny chuckled and wrapped an arm around Stiles' shoulders, steering him into the club.
They started out at the bar, getting drinks – which, Jackson and Danny were very smooth and good at getting those. And then they started dancing. Jackson with Lydia, Stiles with Danny. Which was nice and a good way to start off, because there was trust and the pack-bond between them. Stiles felt safe to be who he was with them, have fun. They switched partners a couple times, Stiles dancing with Lydia and then with Jackson too. It was a testimony to how much Stiles had gotten over Lydia that this didn't do anything for him. Dancing with her was fun, like dancing with Allison the last time he'd gone to a party with Scott and Allison. There was nothing but fondness and friendship.
"Mind if I cut in?"
Stiles and Jackson turned toward the guy who'd spoken. Hot guy. Tall, dark hair, with a shade of stubble and broad shoulders. Stiles felt himself blush and step away. Figured that Jackson would draw attention at the club, though Stiles didn't know if Lydia would be a fan of that.
"Sure, I'll just… go get a drink," Stiles grinned at Jackson.
"No. I meant you, cutie."
The guy was looking at Stiles. Directly looking at Stiles. Not past him or at someone next to him. Huh. Hot guy hitting on Stiles. His face flushed furiously and he didn't know what to do. Jackson laughed and slapped him on the back, hard enough to make him stumble into the other man.
"Have fun, Stilinski," Jackson smirked. "I'll be with Danny and Lydia."
Okay. Okay. Stiles could totally do this. This was just dancing, right? No, it absolutely wasn't. This was so not like dancing with his pack-mates, this made his pulse race. He could feel the other's body heat, smell his foreign scent. It was kind of nice, the attention, feeling wanted, but at the same time it also felt wrong. He liked the feeling of stubble rubbing against his neck, but all he could think that this wasn't Derek. A couple times, his hands wandered down toward Stiles' ass and Stiles caught his wrist every time, moving his hands back up again, not having any of this.
"How about," hot breath puffed against Stiles' neck. "We get out of here?"
Stiles laughed awkwardly. "I'm here with my friends."
"I'm sure they'll be fine without you."
Stiles startled when his back hit a wall. His eyes looked around over his dance partner's shoulder. They'd moved away from where he'd been hanging out with his pack, far away. And now he was backed into a corner. His pulse sped up when the guy caged him in between his arms, his hands resting on either side of Stiles' head, trapping him.
"Yeah, no," Stiles tried to squirm away. "I'm not interested, I'd rather be with my friends."
Be direct, don't be open to misinterpretation. One hand moved, clearly once again trying to cope a feel, but before he could reach Stiles' ass, he groaned in pain, someone grabbing his wrist tightly.
"He said," Jackson's voice was a barely contained growl. "That he's not interested."
An agonized whimper escaped the guy as Jackson twisted his arm back until the angle started concerning Stiles. What concerned him even more was the flash of blue eyes and the slight hint of fangs. Quickly, Stiles stepped around them so he could rest a calming hand on Jackson's arm.
"Hey," Stiles' voice was gentle and soft, the way he always spoke to the wolves when trying to keep them from wolfing out. "I'm okay. It's okay. You can let him go. You should let him go."
Jackson's lip curled, showing that there was decidedly more fangs now. "He touched you. When you didn't want it. Give me one good reason not to break his arm."
"Lydia, Danny, a little help here," Stiles couldn't help but squeak.
"You're on your own with that one," Lydia sneered at the guy who had gone to the ground. "I'm in favor of Jackson breaking his arm. Maybe another body-part too."
Oh, right. Sometimes, Stiles forgot that Jackson and Lydia fully met each other's freaks. Someone touched Stiles' shoulder and he instinctively jumped, still wired from the experience just now. When he turned, he saw Danny's concerned face and oh. They all worried about him. Okay, so he needed to switch tactics if he didn't want to have to bail Jackson out of jail tomorrow for breaking this guy's arms in public, in front of witnesses. He sighed softly.
"Jax," Stiles' voice got a little softer. "I just want to go home, please."
Predictably, that did the trick. After just another little twist, not enough to break but maybe enough to sprain the wrist, Jackson let go. Giving the guy a last shove and growl, he went to grab Stiles' arm and pull him along, pressing close against Stiles as he guided them out of the club.
/break\
Derek tensed when he heard the Porsche pull up. It was late. The only pack members who were at the rebuilt Hale House after dark were the ones living here. If any of the others dropped by unannounced and late, that never meant something good. Usually, it meant that a new supernatural threat had come to disturb their lives. Isaac, Boyd and Erica on the couch next to him turned toward the door in anticipation too, probably thinking the same as him.
He loved his house, he loved what his pack had done with the place. Rebuilding it from scratch, together, for a new purpose, for their pack. Isaac was his charge and living with him. Boyd and Erica had, after they escaped the Alpha Pack, returned to their families, but they spent more days at the Hale House than not and Derek knew that was a reflection of the way they both had run away together in the first place, leaving their families behind too. But they'd returned to his pack, so he was going to be there for them, offer them a home away from home.
Erica, sitting on Boyd's lap, perked up, hand grasping her mate's biceps. "He smells angry."
She was right. Jackson smelt violently angry. Why? He'd been out clubbing with Lydia, Danny and… Stiles… Which was the reason Derek was still awake at this ungodly hour. When he'd tried to go to bed, the thought of Stiles dancing with strangers, other people touching him, had haunted Derek, so he had abandoned sleep and gone downstairs to find the betas huddled together playing video games. Though he wasn't a fan of playing himself, he could relax in his pack's company.
Isaac was the first at the door, pulling it open. "What's wrong?"
The sight that greeted them was bizarre. Jackson was practically hanging all over Stiles, excessively scenting him. Danny and Lydia were on either side of Stiles, holding onto him. Derek held his breath. Had something happened to Stiles? Was his Stiles alright?
"Nothing is wrong," Stiles sounded exasperated but not like he was in pain. "They are just all being incredibly dramatic about it. I'm fine."
Jackson just growled and rubbed his face against Stiles' arm. "You still smell like him. Erica, Boyd, Isaac, help me scent him, he needs to smell more like pack again."
The three other betas exchanged a look and shrugged. Though once the new arrivals fully stepped into the house and Stiles was closer – right now, his scent was too surrounded by Danny, Lydia and Jackson – they could smell it. Smell a stranger all over him, smell someone else's arousal on him.
"What. Happened," Derek barely managed to force the words out.
"Some guy was flirting Stiles up and they were dancing," Danny answered, then looked away from the Alpha. "But he… got pushy and handsy. When Stiles told him off and he didn't leave, Jackson… lost it a little. Nearly broke the guy's hand."
"Why only nearly?" Erica asked, glaring at Jackson. "Do better."
Jackson snarled at her. "Stiles said he wanted to go home, so I prioritized."
"Emphasis on 'home'," Stiles rubbed his face, just to yelp when three more werewolves started rubbing against him. "I… do not actually live here. You guys know that, right? Just because I cook most of the time for your helpless asses doesn't mean I live here."
"It's the pack's home," Lydia offered. "Jackson is acting… very much on instinct right now. After what just happened, he wants to know you're safe and protected. You… aren't safe and protected at home while your dad is out for a night shift and you're alone. Here is where most betas and our Alpha live, so Jackson brought you here."
"Nothing happened!" Stiles threw his hands up. "You guys are such drama queens!"
"Stiles, you were reeking of anxiety, I could pick it up from the other end of the club," Jackson growled, though it was a soft noise. "He was making you uncomfortable. He wanted-"
"Yeah, we don't need to talk about what he wanted," Stiles tilted his head back against Boyd's chest while Erica was rubbing her arm against his. "He didn't get what he wanted. He didn't even touch me, you literally tore him off me before he could."
"He touched you plenty," Isaac frowned, brushing his cheek against Stiles' shoulder. "We can smell him all over you. Makes you smell all… wrong."
"Well, yeah, we were dancing for a while, there's touching involved," Stiles furrowed his brows. "Touching I was okay with! I mean he didn't get to do any 'bad touching'."
A deep, dark growl ripped from Derek's chest at that. He'd stood frozen, not moving, not processing, but Stiles talking about someone wanting to touch him in a bad way? He knew his eyes were Alpha red and he was half wolved out right now. The betas instinctively made soft noises, trying to appease their Alpha. Danny and Lydia had moved away to make room for Erica, Boyd and Isaac, both humans sitting on the couch and watching curiously.
"C'mere, Big Guy," Stiles voice was gentle. "Pups, make some space. I feel like if our Alpha doesn't get to scent the Stiles too, he's gonna run back to the Jungle and commit a murder."
Derek ground his teeth together annoyed, because going to the club and tracking the one this scent belonged to was exactly what he wanted to do. Stiles gently nudged the betas to make some space, having them crowd around Stiles from behind now, Jackson and Isaac on the left, Erica and Boyd on the right. Looking at Derek, Stiles opened his arms with a bemused smile.
"What? You're gonna pick a murder over scenting Stiles?" Stiles asked playfully.
Damn it, why did Stiles know exactly what buttons to push with Derek? Another growl, not a threatening one this time, and Derek was pressed against Stiles' chest. His face buried in Stiles' neck, which was willingly bared to him. It smelt particularly like the stranger, so Derek did his best to rub against Stiles, scent his neck. Stiles heaved a sigh as he let the five wolves scent him.
This was all Derek's fault. He knew Stiles was his mate, had been feeling the pull for months now, but he kept ignoring it, pushing it down, because Stiles loved Lydia, because Stiles deserved better than him, because Stiles didn't even like him. With every passing week, his excuses thinned more. Stiles had evidently fallen out of love with Lydia – they could all hear his heart-beat around her and it no longer spiked and jumped all over the place. Stiles had chosen to join Derek's pack, was spending a lot of time with Derek – most of the time, when it came to forming plans, when it came to spitballing anything that Derek wanted for the pack, like training plans, Derek found himself alone with Stiles and Stiles always came when he called. And Derek was better now. He had rebuilt the Hale House, the Hale pack, he was the Alpha his betas deserved.
Yet still, that lingering voice in the back of his head kept telling him that he still wasn't good enough for Stiles, not good enough to be his mate, and that Stiles may like him and respect him as the Alpha, but wasn't in love with him the way Derek loved him.
If he hadn't been such a coward, if he had told Stiles, then this wouldn't have happened.
/break\
Stiles sighed softly as he woke up in a puppy pile. The five clingy werewolves plus Danny and Lydia had decided to move it all to the pack den, the incredibly comfortably cuddle room that was all mattresses, blankets and pillows, where the pack would cuddle up after a full moon. At one point, they'd fallen asleep in an entanglement of limbs.
It was weird. The guy yesterday had made him feel crowded in. But when they'd reached the pack house and five werewolves literally crowded him in between them, Stiles had just felt an overwhelming sense of safety, home and happiness. When Derek had scented him, his stubble rubbing exactly where the guy had rubbed him earlier, Stiles had nearly melted.
Blinking, Stiles turned to look at his pillow, also known as their Alpha. Stiles was curled together on Derek's chest, with Isaac, Danny, Erica, Boyd, Lydia and Jackson all around them. Derek's chest was comfortable. His hand rested on it, gently tracing firm muscles.
"I'm sorry," Danny spoke quietly so he wouldn't wake the wolves. "About last night. That wasn't how it was supposed to go."
"Nah," Stiles grinned. "I meant it when I said these guys were being overly dramatic. I'm fine. Seriously, nothing had happened. And before that, I had a lot of fun. We should do it again."
"I feel like you won't go into any club without at least half a dozen bodyguards," Danny snorted, before turning serious again. "Are you sure though? Because Jackson was… seriously freaked out about the change of your scent."
"Yeah," Stiles heaved a sigh. "I didn't freak out about the guy so much as more about what he made me realize, Dannyboy. I didn't damsel in distress, I just… had an epiphany."
"Want to share your epiphany?" Danny asked curiously.
Stiles admitted embarrassed. "The guy freaked me out so much because he had the stubble and the muscle and I liked the feeling of dancing with him, but all I could think was 'nah, this isn't Derek'."
Danny huffed out a laugh at that. "So you're Derek-sexual?"
"No, I do think I'm bisexual," Stiles stuck his tongue out. "I'm just… in love with Derek though."
A small noise from beneath Stiles and oh shit he had temporarily forgotten that he was laying on top of Derek. Turning ever so slowly, Stiles looked at the now wide-awake Alpha.
"So when I said secrets are pointless in the pack, I didn't mean this," Stiles muttered, covering his face with his hands. "Go back to sleep and pretend you didn't hear that. Please."
"You… love me…?" Derek's voice was so soft it nearly faded into nothingness.
Okay, so not going to oblige that little request, then. Stiles sat up and slid off the Alpha, because this was absolutely not a conversation he was having while laying on top of Derek. Danny cleared his throat and got up, one by one nudging the betas.
"C'mon everybody, let's go and prepare breakfast. All the way in the kitchen."
There were grumbling and begrudging noises coming from the others, but when they saw the tension between Derek and Stiles, they gladly followed Danny. Traitors, leaving Stiles alone like that. He started tapping his fingers against his leg nervously.
"So… yeah," Stiles flushed. "I… think I fell in love with you. I just, I mean, you are hot, you know that, everybody who ever looked at you know that, but… everybody in our pack is hot? It's honestly ridiculous that you started a wannabe model cult. So I thought that maybe I just… was into you, but when I danced with this guy yesterday-" Derek growled at that. "-I realized that I might not just be into you. I kept thinking that I'd rather dance with you, specifically."
Derek sat up, staring at him like Stiles was a species he'd never encountered before. This was not great for Stiles' anxiety. He started fidgeting more. Okay, okay, okay. He had experience with being rejected, he could totally do that. Then why did his heart clench so painfully?
"It's okay," Stiles heaved a sigh. "You don't have to say it, I'd rather you not. I really don't need to be let down gently, okay? Let's just skip to the part where I try to get over you, yeah?"
"No," Derek croaked out, and Stiles had never heard him sound so wrecked. "Don't. I don't want you to get over me. I want you to be mine. I love you Stiles, I've been in love with you for so long, I didn't think you would… want me…"
All Stiles could do was stare at Derek a little dumbly. Wait. Did Derek Hale think that Stiles was out of his league? Was that a thing that was happening here? How? Why? What?
"Why?" Stiles asked genuinely.
"I'm not good… with emotions," Derek scowled. "I spent the majority of time we've known each other growling at you and threatening you, often because I was trying to keep you away…"
"O—okay, but why would you do that, then, if you liked me."
"Because you deserve better," Derek looked so sad. "You saved my life, multiple times, even though I kept threatening you. You… always help everyone, you are so… good."
"I'm a sarcastic little shit," Stiles stared at him in bewilderment. "Don't make me sound like I'm some pure goodness who only does good. I'm not above bodily harm. And you're not… Derek you are good too, even when Scott kept pulling shit like framing you for multiple murders, you still helped him, you were always there when I called you too. Don't sell yourself short."
He'd leaned in, was grasping Derek's face with both hands now. The Alpha looked at him in awe and confusion and hope. Sometimes, Stiles forgot that the growling and grumpiness all rooted in trauma and loss and that Derek was so used to losing those he loved. Slowly, Stiles leaned in, giving Derek every chance to lean away, instead the werewolf met him half-way in the softest, most love-filled kiss Stiles could possibly imagine. He practically melted against the Alpha.
"Finally! I've been rooting for them for months."
"Erica," Boyd growled at his mate softly.
/break\
"Son, can we… talk."
Huh. Stiles wasn't used to the guilty soft voice, but he remembered his dad using that on his mom a lot. Turning around on his chair, he regarded the sheriff curiously. At least he wasn't in trouble.
"What's up, dad?" Stiles asked, crossing his arms over the backrest of his chair.
"I… wanted to… apologize," he ran his fingers through his hair. "When you tried to come out to me, I was in my cop mindset and my 'Stiles is bullshitting me' radar went off. But I shouldn't have dismissed it. I'm sorry. You know I love you, right? If you like girls, guys, both, I just want you to find someone who loves you and makes you happy, Mieszko."
Stiles' heart clenched at the nickname. His mother was the only one who used to call him that. Blinking away tears, Stiles lunged forward to hug his dad, burying himself in his father's chest. The sheriff made a sound that was very close to a sob as he hugged Stiles close.
"I also… I got something, well, Scott helped me pick it out."
"For me?" Stiles perked up at the prospect of presents.
"No, for me, for the precinct," a light blush colored the sheriff's cheeks. "If you don't mind."
He got something out of a drawer and when Stiles saw it, really saw it, he hollered out in laughter. It was a coffee mug that read I [heart] My Bison with a cartoon silhouette of a bison in the colors of the bi flag. Oh, that was so, so stupid, Stiles absolutely loved it.
"No, nope, I do not mind," Stiles offered his dad a blinding smile. "Thanks, dad."
The sheriff lingered, like he wanted to say something else, so Stiles waited. "If you… If you have a boyfriend, you can also tell me, you know? You said you were going out with Danny…?"
Stiles made a small noise. "As friends. Lydia and Jackson were there too. I am not dating Danny!"
Oh, Stiles did not like the way his dad raised one eyebrow. That was his figuring-something-out face. That face never meant anything good for Stiles, it had usually meant him and Scott got busted.
"But you are dating someone," his dad concluded after a moment.
Stiles made a complicated contorted face at that. "Ma—aybe. I think. But it's super new so I do not want to jinx it by introducing him to my dad, the sheriff who has guns."
It took a moment, but his dad nodded reluctantly in the end. "As long as he knows that your dad is the sheriff and owns guns, that will be fine. But you can introduce me to him, when you're ready."
Stiles smiled softly. There was no way he was going to introduce Derek 'often accused of murder' Hale to his dad as his boyfriend any time soon, for everyone's sake.
~*~ The End ~*~