The Games Room

Stiles remembered to check for any red socks in the washer before he threw in the clothes. He'd gone to school for the better part of a year with pink underwear because of that – he didn't think Derek Hale would be too happy if he dyed his clothes.

The washers were huge, industrial monsters that threw out hot air like bellows. Stiles leaned his head against one, just for a moment.

"You'd better not let Gibson catch you sleeping." A voice said, and Stiles turned to see Sarah, the Other. She was sitting on top of a free-standing cabinet – head touching the roof. Stiles choked back a yelp of surprise. She was watching him with curious blue eyes. "You're one of the new ones, right?"

"Yes," Stiles said, remembering his manners at the last moment. "Miss."

"Don't tell anyone you saw me. No one really comes in here through the day – and I like to be left alone."

"I'm just leaving." Stiles said, quickly, stuffing the rest of the clothes into the washer. "I need to get back up to make his bed."

She sniffed the air in a way that made the short hairs on the back of Stiles neck rise up. "Derek's bed?"

"Ah, yeah. I've been cleaning."

"In Derek's room?" She said, looking at him oddly.

"Yes." Stiles replied, slamming the washer door shut and setting up the wash cycle, adding powder. "For hours. I'm about to expire from hunger, not that he ca…" He trailed off. "I mean, it's such an honour, to… like… serve."

He wasn't expecting Sarah to laugh, but she did, smothering it with her hand. "You're the first person to ever say that and not mean it." She grinned, and he smiled back, unthinking. "The bedding is in here." She said, thumping the cabinet she was sitting on. "Derek's stuff is grey – like his mood."

He grinned up at her, opening the door. Sure enough, it was all colour coded. He pulled out the grey set and sighed. "You think he'll let me away for food after this?"

"Depends." She smiled down at him, before leaping gracefully down. Stiles had almost forgot she was an Other, a werewolf, but that movement reminded him full force. She might smile and laugh, but she was still a much higher class of person than he would ever be. "He's never really let anyone in his room." She threw over her shoulder as she walked out. "You'll want to hurry though – you'll be expected to serve at dinner."


Stiles got back to Derek's room, holding the fresh bedding in his arms, when he almost walked head first into Laura Hale, flanked by Danny and Jackson. He managed not to fall over his own feet when he stopped, ignoring Jackson's snide smirk and returning Danny's open smile. He wondered what they had been doing – and if it had been anything like his day, which had managed to suck balls. Laura glanced his way only once as she walked past him, expression blank.

Stiles knocked at Derek's door, waited the 5 seconds and walked in. The werewolf was sitting, back to the door – reading something online. Stiles hadn't been near a computer in 24 hours. He wondered if his warcraft guild thought he was dead – or if they assumed he'd gotten a letter.

Derek didn't make any move to acknowledge that Stiles was in the room, so he shrugged and started making the bed. There was a difference between the werewolfs bed and his own one at home – namely it was much larger than his single – so it took him much longer than he expected to make. He was just throwing the pillows back on the freshly made bed when there was a knock at the door. Stiles looked at Derek, who had not moved to show he'd even heard it. After a few moments though – Derek waved a hand over his shoulder. "Bring that in, then go."

Stiles practically ran to the door, opening it wide to see the covered tray of food, the smell making his mouth water. He'd never been so hungry in his life. Carefully picking it up, he put it down on the small table beside Derek, trying not to notice that the wolf was glaring at him as he removed the cover.

"Get out." He snapped, once Stiles took a step back. He didn't need to be told twice, practically bolting out of the room and down towards the kitchen, where his nose was picking up all different lovely smells.

"Where the hell have you been?" Gibson snapped as Stiles burst into the steaming room. Everything smelled delicious, heavenly – he almost swooned at the thought of eating.

"I was making Derek's bed." He replied, wondering if they had tight portion control for the 'chosen' or if they were just allowed to eat whatever they wanted. He really hoped he was just allowed to eat what he wanted, and he was going to start with that chicken – gold and perfectly roasted.

"You are too late to help with the serving." Gibson said, and Stiles could tell he was furious – the slight twitch of his eye betraying his mood.

"I did everything as fast as I could!" Stiles argued. "It's not my fault he told me to-"

"Silence!" Gibson snapped, glaring. "You are expected to serve dinner at exactly 5 o'clock. If you are late again you will be given other, more distasteful tasks."

"What the hell, dude!" Stiles bit back. "I've been awake since 7am and I've had nothing to eat – I've spent the whole day cleaning up after a spoilt brat who can't even make his own bed and you're bitching at me?" The room was totally silent as he continued. "I've not had a fucking pee break – but that's okay because I've not had anything to drink since yesterday – and you're telling me I'm going to be.. what? Punished? What are you gonna do? Starve me?" He laughed, although there was no humour in it. "Isn't that what you've been doing?"


He didn't know what he was expecting, really, as he sat on the edge of his bed. He called an Other – Derek Hale – a spoilt brat. His dad was probably getting a call now, about how disappointed they were in his son – he was getting sent back. He'd not even lasted a day.

He honestly thought Gibson was going to have a heart attack – the way the vein in his forehead was throbbing.

So Stiles was sitting on the bed, still with nothing to eat, head throbbing and a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach that had nothing to do with hunger. With a sigh, he looked about. This place didn't seem like the best thing a person could do. He'd actually rather be at school than here. He'd rather be anywhere.

From the corner of his eye, he saw his backpack – and reached out for it. He wondered what his dad thought was required for staying in this hell-hole. He tipped the bag out onto the bed. A couple of comics, a few school books, a notepad, a pen and… Stiles almost choked on his own breath – a box of condoms. Why the hell did his dad think he was going to be needing condoms?! His dad, who knew Stiles track record was making a total ass of himself in front of Lydia Martin every day for the past 10 years. Give or take.

His letter was there too – seal still unbroken. He forgot he'd not even opened it, just left it on the table. Perhaps his dad thought it would remind him of how 'lucky' he was, to be chosen.

Stiles stuffed everything back into the backpack, checking the pockets to see if there was any snacks, but they were all empty. Sighing, he threw himself on the bed and looked up at the ceiling. His dad was going to be so disappointed in him, not even lasting a day.

Three high pitched beeps got his attention a few moments later – door opening.

"You will present yourself to Miss Sarah Hale, who has asked for you." Gibson said, holding the door open. "Now." As Stiles walked past, he could see the disdain in the older man's eyes. Well, I can't stand you either, Stiles thought, walking past.

"Miss Hale is in the games room." Gibson said. "Follow me."


The games room turned out to be… well… not what he was expecting. The rest of the house was so old fashioned, Stiles hadn't even seen a telephone – and this place was… was… Heaven.

"Is that the new Playstation?" He gasped. It wasn't even on the shelves yet. PC's, consoles, pinball machines, stacks of board games, boxes of jigsaws… everything that was good and pure in Stiles world. Sarah was sitting at a green felt table, playing a game with tiles. Mah-jong, Stiles thought, but he'd only ever played it on his computer, he'd never seen it played properly.

"That will be all, Gibson." She said, in a bored voice, not even looking up. Stiles heard the soft click of the door behind him as Sarah carefully matched two tiles and put them to one side. She glanced up at him then and smiled. "Derek finally let you away?" She said, looking back down at the board.

"Ah, yeah." Stiles said, unsure what to do.

"You weren't at dinner."

"No, I was… um… I was…"

"Already fallen out with Gibson then?" She laughed. "Every year someone does, you know. You'd think he'd learn."

"Happens a lot?"

"Oh, yeah!" She nodded, matching another two tiles. "He was chosen once, years ago, before Laura was Alpha – and we kept him. He thinks being stuck here is the best thing in the world." She grinned. "He thinks everyone new is going to take his place. He's okay, really, just a bit… dull." She glanced at him then, eyes bright blue. "I read your file. It says you like to play online games."

"Uh, yeah." Stiles said, wondering just how much information they had on the people who came into their lives. People said that they had files on everyone, ones that detailed your whole life – but Stiles wasn't too sure.

"Do you play WoW?"

"Yeah, I do." He said, trying to keep the enthusiasm out of his voice. This was an Other – a werewolf – a seriously good looking girl of his own age. They didn't think that online games were all that cool – Scott's girlfriend Alison's expression when he'd let it slip that he played said it all.

"What do you play?"

"Human rogue."

"Gnome warrior here." She said, eyes glinting.

"Are you serious?" Stiles laughed, glancing at the PC's lining the wall. "Max level?"

"Well, duh – do I look like a noob to you?" She said getting to her feet and walking towards the computers. "We've got StarWars too – if you play that."

"I hope you don't take this the wrong way or anything… but I think we need to get married and live happily ever after in Stormwind." When she laughed, Stiles grinned. "I've got a max level Jedi Shadow."

"Lets roll on the darkside. I wanna be a Bounty Hunter."

"I'll be an Imperial." Stiles said, hunger forgotten as he sat at the PC and logged into his account. "They share a starting world."

"I'm really glad you're here. " She said, sitting down at the computer beside him. "No one else they've picked plays." She grinned, logging on.


"CC!" Stiles called, hitting several keys in a row. "Get the healer!"

"What does it look like I'm doing?" Sarah hissed, "My stun is on cooldown! Don't kite him over there– you'll pull the trash."

"I know!" Stiles retorted. "He's going!" He called. "He's down!"

"Alright!" Sarah said, punching the air. "Nice one!"

"Another fucking marauder weapon." Stiles groaned. "I'm never gonna get an upgrade at this rate."

He almost missed the polite cough behind them – Sarah spinning around on her chair. "Laura!" She said. "You nearly gave me a heart attack!"

"I've been standing here for half an hour." She said, looking at Sarah with fondness. "It's after midnight. Bed."

"Can't we just play a little longer?" Sarah whined, throwing puppy eyes at the Alpha. Stiles could hardly believe it – he'd just spent the better part of 6 hours playing a computer game with an Other. More importantly… a girl.

"No." Laura laughed, and Stiles had never heard her laugh – not even on TV at the big televised Alpha Council, where they all got together to discuss world events and pack politics. They were normally pretty rowdy, but Laura was always composed. "Bed." She glanced at Stiles, who was starting to remember that he still hadn't had anything to eat. "You too."

"Yes, Miss." He said, turning and using his quick travel to get to a cantina before logging off. Best thing? Maybe.

Stiles crawled into bed, trying to be as silent as possible. He'd managed to get changed in the shower room, and made his way back to his bed in the dark.

"You okay?" Isaac whispered.

"Yeah – I didn't mean to wake you." He whispered back.

"It's okay." The blond boy said, voice so quiet Stiles could hardly make it out. "What do you think?"

"About?"

"Them."

"Some of them seem okay."

"Yeah." The teen in the other bed said. "Some of them."

"Are youokay?" He asked, he didn't think spending all day with Peter would be awesome fun. There was something… off about the man.

"Yeah." He heard Isaac turn around. "Night."

"Night."


I am a huge WoW / SWTOR player - and I'd like to think Stiles was too - so yeah, that part was me just adding in my own little part just for me :D

Totally changed my original idea for this - so... lets see where the characters take us - hell, it worked last time!

Thanks for all the great reviews - I mean, we've only just started and you're totally blowing me away with all the love :D

Love you like... Dean Loves that Impala!