Derek kept his palms out, trying to think of a way to explain, but he couldn't get a good enough read on Stiles' emotions.
His initial reaction had been shock, which Derek understood, but there was an undercurrent of something that seemed like a mixture between excitement, embarrassment, and another emotion he couldn't quite sort out.
Before he could figure out what all the swirling emotions meant, it abruptly switched to something sour, causing Derek to stop his forward movement.
Stiles' eyes seemed to darken, his brows shadowing his eyes in a scowl that would have been impressive by Hale standards had it not been directed towards him, "What the fuck?" He said again, this time the surprise had completely left his voice.
"You were having a panic attack, Stiles." He explained, "I knew you'd be even more upset if you thought one of the pack had seen."
Stiles huffed, "I'm not some fucking-" He stopped and Derek could hear his teeth clench as he worked to calm himself.
Derek's wolf – which had, for some reason, attached itself to Stiles – was clawing at him, wanting him to go and gather the distressed boy up in his arms. He swallowed back the feeling in time to see the back of Stiles' head before he slammed the door to his house shut.
He sighed, walking up the steps to the door, "Stiles." Derek listened to the familiar erratic heartbeat on the other side of the door, "I'm… Look, I know that you probably think I'm even more of a – how you'd so eloquently put it – 'creeper wolf' than before. And I'm… sorry." He was shit at apologies, so he hoped Stiles understood he really meant it.
After a full minute, Stiles pulled the door open a crack, revealing one whisky colored eye, "So you can really full-shift into an actual wolf?" Derek nodded, "That's cool…" Stiles mumbled, walking away from the door, leaving it open.
"Except for smelling like wet dog apparently." Derek tried for a smirk, which turned into a full smile when he heard Stiles huff out a laugh.
Stiles fell onto the couch, rolling his eyes at Derek's hesitant stance, "Dude, sit. You're making me twitchy standing there like that." He walked closer, pausing for a second when he heard Stiles' heartbeat spike.
"Do I make you nervous now?" He asked quietly, taking a step back. God he'd really fucked up, hadn't he…
"You can't just use your werewolfy nose and ears and think you've got all my mannerisms figured out, man." Stiles pursed his lips, crossing his arms.
Derek raised an eyebrow, "I know that crossing your arms is a nonverbal sign that you're closing yourself off." He countered, "Body language 101."
Stiles glanced down at his arms before flopping them down at his sides, "I'm just-" He let out a frustrated grunt, letting his head fall back against the cushions, "It's not you it's me, is the best way to put it unfortunately." He rubbed his hands across his blushed face, "I'm just having a bad week."
If Derek were in more control of himself, he might have fought back, but suddenly his wolf decided that it needed to take the reigns and pressed forward into the driver's seat. Derek, being at a loss for what to say – as per usual – let it free.
One moment he was looking down at Stiles and the next he was right beside him.
He pressed his nose against the boy who flailed back into the couch.
Thump-thum-thump-thum-thump-
The wolf's world had become but a pinprick in the galaxy, narrowed down to the boy blinking wide honeycomb eyes at him.
-Patience. Wait.-
The hand rested hesitantly against his fur. He pressed up into the curve of his palm.
"You're really in there, huh?" Boy's lips turned up, head tilted to the side.
-Yes.-
He blinked up at the boy, resting his head on the edge of the cushion.
-Stiles.-
-My Stiles.-
"Do you like being a wolf?"
-You like me as wolf. So yes.-
He nodded his large head, sitting beside the human whose hand was still petting through his fur.
-Boy seemed lost in thought, scratching behind ears. Good scratcher.-
"Maybe you can teach me how to fight?" He mused, glancing down at him, "Then Scott wouldn't have any reason to push me away, right?"
He shrugged his large shoulders, not sure of what Alpha would think.
"Can you teach me some moves?" He asked.
He nodded, standing up. Grabbing his discarded clothes up in his mouth, he padded around the corner, morphing back into human form.
Derek quickly donned his clothes before walking back, shocking the teen who was now pulling on a burgundy sweatshirt, "Shit, sorry. I was expecting it, but still." He gestured grandly at Derek who just shook his head.
"I guess you want to start now?"
Stiles snatched up his baseball bat with a grin, "Aye, aye Cap." He rushed out the door, tossing over his shoulder, "FYI, fetch isn't a combat move!"
Derek smirked, "You have to build up your endurance before learning battle moves, Stiles." He snatched the bat from his hands and chucked it out towards the trees, "Fetch."