Jackson chuckled as he watched Scott Hale stumble into his first grade classroom, tiny shoes lighting up and highlighting the added lizard stickers with each step. Jackson's smile grew in size in response to the beaming smile on Scott's face – that kid was seriously too cute.
"Suck it, Lydia," Jackson thought, already dreaming of winning the Class-With-Most-Adorable-Kid award in May.
Jackson crouched down to greet Scott at face level.
"Hey, bud," Jackson said, offering his hand up for a fist bump.
"Mr. Jack!" Scott yelled, tiny fist nearly missing Jackson's, "Gramps taught me a new lizard fact this weekend!"
"The Sheriff?" Jackson asked, smiling back at a nodding Scott.
"Yup," Scott said proudly, "He said that sometimes lizards can remove their tails! Like to avoid predictors."
"Ha," Jackson said, nodding, "I think you mean predators, like bad guys, right?"
"Yeah," Scott said, raising his hands into claws and attempting a growl.
"I think I have a cousin that can do that," Jackson said, "I'll see if he's available for show and tell sometime soon, okay?"
"Really?!" Scott squeaked, huge eyes staring back at Jackson.
"Sure thing, bud," Jackson said, nodding, "But hey, I have a special favor to ask of you today."
"Yes," Scott said, nodding enthusiastically.
"Ha, hold on there, Scotty," Scott's uncle, Isaac, said, crouching down with the pair, "You might want to find out what the favor is before you agree to it."
"Okay," Scott said, turning back to Jackson, "What do you need help for?"
"We have a new student today," Jackson said, nodding toward a small girl sitting alone while other children shuffled into the room, "Her name is Kira, and I thought of you the moment I met her. Do you want to know why?"
"Yes," Scott said, nodding his head abruptly.
"She's a kitsune, which is kind of like a fox," Jackson said, watching Scott's face closely for a reaction.
"Whoa!" Scott said, mouth staying in an 'O' shape.
"It wasn't that long ago that you were new, too," Jackson said, "And you more than anyone accepted me as a kanima, so I thought maybe you would like to reach out to Kira, too."
"Okay," Scott said, nodding his head again, "Do you think she likes lizards? Because I have extra stickers."
"Why don't you go ask her, Scotty," Isaac said, chuckling as Scott ran off.
"Thanks for the backup, man," Jackson said, standing up to shake hands with Isaac.
"Of course," Isaac said, maintaining the handshake that Jackson tried to finish, "Now I have a favor to ask of you."
Jackson's shoulders tensed in preparation for Isaac's next words, werewolves were not particularly welcoming to his kind. Isaac hadn't seemed unfriendly in past visits, though, and Jackson didn't think Isaac would pull anything in front of the children.
"Okay, how can I help you?" Jackson asked, face set in a firm line.
"Scotty wants to ask you to dinner tonight, at the Stilinski house," Isaac said, staring solemnly back at Jackson.
Jackson felt his heart twist at the young wolf's request, and he fought the smile that wanted to form on his face.
"And you would like me to… Not accept?" Jackson asked.
"Quite the opposite," Isaac said, still staring intently, "I want you to accept, but only if your interest in Scotty truly extends beyond Scotty."
"I'm sorry?" Jackson asked.
"We both know that I can hear your heart beating a mile a minute whenever Scotty enters your classroom in the mornings, and it practically falls the moment you see my face," Isaac said, smirking now, "And I can only imagine what your face looks like if and whenever my idiot stepbrother steps up to the plate. So, if you're really interested in pursuing Stiles, then I want you to say yes. But if this is a one time interest, or just some lust thing, then say no. Stiles gets enough of that from Derek."
"Oh," Jackson said, letting the meaning of Isaac's words sink in, "That's very… Liberal of you?"
"Yeah, well," Isaac said, finally letting go of Jackson's hand to smack the kanima's arm, "You make Scotty smile, and if you can make Stiles smile the same way, you're good in my book. Besides, I totally owe you for the way Scotty babbles on about lizards for days – it pisses Derek off to no end. I really couldn't ask for a better gift from the universe."
"Okay…" Jackson said, still slightly on guard with the beta.
"Well, just think about it," Isaac said, nodding, "He's going to ask you at lunch, he practiced his speech for you in the car. He's hoping you notice the shoes he's wearing. I assured him that with the way they light up, you'd be a dummy not to, so you better compliment them."
"Done," Jackson said, smiling again, "I noticed them first thing."
"Good," Isaac said, pushing a small white card forward, "Here's Stiles's work number, you'll want to let him know that Scotty's invited you if you're accepting."
"Thanks, Isaac. I will be – it's not 'just some lust thing'," Jackson said, taking the card, "Stiles is lucky to have such a supportive… ex-brother-in-law?"
"You'll have to ask Stiles about that ex part. Sometimes you do get to pick your family, though," Isaac said, turning to watch Scott showing his sticker book to Kira, "Scott and Stiles are mine."
Jackson wiped his sweaty hands on his pants leg for what had to be the sixth time since the lunch period began.
"Get a grip, Jackson," Jackson thought.
He definitely should not be this anxious about a six year old asking him to dinner with his family. Except he totally was, because it was a step closer to Scott's father.
Jackson sighed slightly at the thought of Stiles Hale. Stiles was definitely hitting every category for Jackson – the man practically walked out of his wet dreams – Stiles was beautiful in an unexpected but completely intoxicating way, that mouth, those fingers, and that ass were seriously obscene. Plus Stiles had that kind of humor that revealed his own inner intelligence, with a bit of dark wit and sarcasm, but he was always smiling. It was uplifting. And it was obvious in the way Stiles cared for Scott that family was pretty important to the man, and that just made Jackson's heart melt.
Jackson still wasn't quite sure how Derek Hale fit into the picture, but he wasn't about to let that ruin an opportunity – especially when the invitation came personally from Scott. Jackson guessed that Scott wasn't too sure what was happening between his parents either, but from the way the little guy covered up anything resembling a wolf with lizard stickers indicated to Jackson that Scott knew Derek had hurt Stiles in some way.
Jackson was pulled out of his thoughts by a tug on his pants leg. He looked down to see Scott looking up at him with wide eyes.
"Hey, bud," Jackson said, "You want to sit up here with me?"
Scott nodded as he climbed onto the bench.
"I like your shoes," Jackson said, nodding to the sticker covered light-up sneakers, "Very cool. I may have to ask you to do the same to my own shoes, mine are boring and not getting me as much attention as I would like."
"Really?" Scott asked, face beaming.
"Really," Jackson said, nodding, "I wanted to tell you this morning, but I didn't want to embarrass you in front of Kira."
"Kira is so cool," Scott said, "She's like a real fox!"
"I know. So awesome, right?" Jackson asked, nodding and offering his brightest smile to the boy.
Scott's face turned suddenly serious, little eyebrows furrowing in serious thought.
"Mr. Jack?" Scott asked.
"Yes, sir?" Jackson asked.
"Have you ever felt a bad hurt?" Scott asked, placing a small hand in the middle of Jackson's chest, "Like in here?"
Stiles turned from his computer at the sound of his office phone ringing.
"IT Desk, Beacon P.D., Stiles speaking," Stiles said.
"Stiles, this is Scott's teacher," a male voice said, "Jackson Whittemore."
"Oh!" Stiles said, sitting up abruptly to pay closer attention to the call, "Mr. Jack, hello – is everything okay? Is something wrong with Scott?"
Stiles's coworker, Danny, furrowed his eyebrows across from their shared desk.
"No, everything is fine, Scott is totally fine," Jackson said, "Scott is happily eating lunch in the cafeteria right now."
Stiles wondered if Jackson's voice had always sounded this silky. If he paid less attention to the man's biceps bulging out of his button ups in the morning, Stiles might remember.
"Oh, okay… Great," Stiles said, still slightly on guard, uncertain where the conversation was going if Scott was okay.
"Actually, I'm calling because Scott made a request of me," Jackson said, "He uh… He asked me if I would come to your house for dinner tonight."
"Oh," Stiles said, closing his eyes to block out Danny's smirk as blood pooled across the surface of his face, "Mr. Jack, I am so sorry about this. He just really admires you–"
"No, it's fine," Jackson said, "It's more than fine. I was actually calling to see if maybe you would like me to come to dinner."
"I'm sorry?" Stiles squeaked.
"I mean, it's fine if you don't," Jackson said, voice hurried, "I just thought that maybe if both Scott and you shared the invitation, then it wouldn't be such a bad idea. Maybe."
"Are you asking what I think you're asking, Mr. Jack?" Stiles asked.
"Stiles, I'm sorry if this is a bit forward, but I have really enjoyed getting to know Scott since he started Beacon's elementary school this year, and I think I would appreciate getting to know you just as much or more," Jackson said, "Since I moved here two years ago, I haven't found a lot of friends in the community. Scott has really accepted me with open arms, and I know that's in large part due to your own parenting. If you would allow me, nothing would make me happier than to walk back into that cafeteria and tell that little boy that I would love to join his family for dinner. But I understand if it's not something you want, or even if it's not the right time – I'm not sure if Scott proposed the idea earlier to you or not."
"Uh… No, no he didn't," Stiles said, feeling slightly flustered from Jackson's kind words, "But I don't see any harm in it. I'm a little caught of guard, I admit, but I think I agree with his request. It would be really nice if you would consider joining us for dinner sometime. Tonight, or this week, or next?"
"Well that depends," Jackson said, chuckling.
"Christ," Stiles thought, "I am going to Hell for lusting after my son's first grade teacher."
"Okay, on what?" Stiles asked, voice slightly cracking.
Stiles threw an office pen at Danny's smirking face across from him.
"What are you having tonight?" Jackson asked, silky voice turning light with happiness, "Oh, and Stiles?"
"Yes?" Stiles asked.
"Call me, Jackson, please," Jackson said.
"Fuck," Stiles thought.