Stiles drummed his fingers on the countertop, looking as though he were years older than the teenager Derek remembered. They'd both lost a lot, the older man reminded himself.
He handed a steaming mug of coffee to Stiles, finding that his emotions toward the younger man were more conflicted than ever. Why had the hyperactive kid come to HIM in New York, of all people and places?
"Tell me what happened," Derek said, voice calm and attentive.
"I guess he couldn't forgive me," Stiles whispered, as moisture gathered in his eyes.
Derek felt like a hand had gripped his heart. Stiles had been through so much and never had the younger man cried. Something in Derek wanted to cry too as tears streaked down both of the boy's cheeks.
"Stiles," Derek said firmly.
Stiles quickly composed himself, wiping at his eyes with a bitter chuckle.
"Yeah thanks," he said weakly, continuing to rub at his eyes. "Its just that Scott isn't my friend anymore. I lost my brother Derek."
Derek wasn't sure what to say.
"So why come here?"
Stiles looked as though he'd been struck, and Derek felt a sharp stab of guilt, realizing how it must have come out.
"I'm sorry," he said quickly. "I didn't mean it to sound like that."
Stiles gazed at him a long moment, before his composed wall fell back into place.
"I just needed to get out of Beacon Hills, ya know? Kinda like you, I guess."
Derek knew the feeling, so was Stiles saying...
"You... " Derek paused, wanting to make sure it didn't come out wrong. "You want to stay here?"
"If its okay with you," Stiles told him, expression becoming a little hopeful.
The kid had been through so much- lost so much. Derek couldn't say no.
"If you try to find work," Derek said agreeably. "No rush, its just not good to mope."
"No, I get that! You're right Derek. I'll try to find a job. Thanks man."
Stiles smiled a little, and it reminded Derek so of the old Stiles- the carefree Stiles...
"No prob," Derek said. "You can... have the second bedroom."
"You mean it?" Stiles asked, eyes a little brighter.
"Yeah, totally."
Stiles pulled Derek into a hug, giving him a squeeze.
"You're the best, you know that?"
Derek felt smothered, but at the same time he felt warm. It was nice for he and Stiles to finally hug like good friends. Stiles was a friend, he realized suddenly.
OoooOoooO
Author's Note: The next chapter will show more of Stiles's point of view, and will be longer hopefully. Depends how much I feel like writing. I intended the opening chapter to be short and to convey a general overview for the story's plot.
