Derek was waiting outside the school counsellors office. He must have looked ridiculous, leather clad and shifting uncomfortably in a chair that was too small for him. He knew something was wrong with Stiles at the moment, though he probably despised being forced to see Ms. Morrellover such an insignificant incident.
Through the small window he could see him chewing nervously on his lacrosse pocket. He was anxious. Derek was worried.
They stood simultaneously, Derek could sense Stiles was ready to leave, and he did. He left the office with a deadpan expression directed at his rather worn shoes. As soon as he noticed Derek was only inches away from him he jumped violently and fell backwards. Before he hit the floor Derek grabbed one of his arms and pulled him to an upright position again.
"Woah, man," Stiles's words were spilling from his mouth at an alarming rate. "You can't just scare a guy like that I mean I get you have to keep up this creepy back-in-black persona but in case you didn't know you kinda scare the crap out of me a little!"
"I need your help."
"You can't just come to me in school and demand that I solve whatever pack mum issue-"
"Scott is working with Gerard."
The colour that had crept back into his face retreated and disappeared, it felt like a stone had travelled down his throat and fell on his heart. He could swear it stopped for a second.
"You're lying." Stiles replied, his tone void of emotion.
"I'm not, and I need your help Stiles. You have to help me.
"You don't want my help. Not me. I'm just a human." He was still speaking in monotone.
An anger bubbled up from Derek's chest and got stuck painfully in is throat. Stiles was so much more than that, he always was. He had never been just a human to Derek. From the very first time he saw him in the woods he knew he was different. He was extraordinary and fierce, he made Derek long to feel as a human would, just being around the boy and picking up his emotions was mesmerising.
He was fire. And as much as it burnt Derek to stand too close he wouldn't let his flame go out.
"You can't leave it. He's your friend. So you don't get to sit and home and play video games. You don't get to crush over Lydia. Nobody cares that you're broken, Stiles. Help me clean up this mess."
He blinked a few times so the tears wouldn't start to fall. Not in front of him, because of something he said.
"I've got to go."
He moved swiftly towards the door and out of the waiting room, leaving Derek angry and confused. He wished he could see.