Chapter 7

Stiles, Derek, and Stefan arrived at the Mikaelson manor right on time, and while Stefan walked ahead, Derek held Stiles back.

"You know you don't have to do this." he murmured, and Stiles just smiled.

"You know I do." Derek frowned his customary frown, but didn't argue.

"Do you have some sort of detail I don't?" he asked finally, and Stiles nodded, but instead of answering glanced up at the house, and then tapped a finger to his ear. Derek nodded and so leaned forward instead, wrapping the younger man in a tight embrace, rubbing his nose against his pulse point and listening to the pleasant jump. When they heard Stefan knock on the door, Derek released him, allowing him to lead the way up the front steps. The door opened as they reached the top, Elijah opening the door.

"Stefan, Stiles, Derek." he greeted, and Stiles found his jaw dropping when Derek responded in kind.

"Elijah." he greeted with an incline of his head. When he noticed his mouth was hanging open he snapped it shut, struggling to make it work.

"You two know each other?" Stiles demanded when he got his voice back, and Derek smirked.

"Of course."

"The Hale pack has been a prominent werewolf pack for a very, very long time. It would be rude of me not to acquaint myself when a new alpha is recognized by the whole of the supernatural community. Your new pack has made quite a name for itself." Stiles' mind was spinning.

"Wait so, is that how you knew I was the missing human member?" Stiles asked, and Elijah just smiled as he opened the door wider, waving them inside.

"Perhaps." Stiles scowled at that, but the expression quickly disappeared as he admired the entrance hall.

"Wow."

"I'm glad you find it to your liking." it was Klaus' voice that rang through the large room and he looked up to see the man in question descending the stairs, eyes bright as they fell upon Stefan. "Stefan! Glad you could make it, mate. And Stiles. We have many questions for you." his eyes slid past him then to give Derek an appraising look. "And you must be Derek, the infamous alpha. I've heard quite a bit about your pack of wolves passed down along the supernatural grapevine. You've made quite a name for yourself, though surprisingly, much of it is shrouded in mystery."

"And we like it better that way." Klaus smirked and Stiles recognized the danger in it now that it was aimed at someone other than himself.

"Alright well we're here to gossip right, so lets get to it." he shifted just the slightest bit in front of Derek, but it drew Klaus' gaze back to him, smile widening.

"Of course! Of course." he turned and led the way out of the main hall, and Stefan made a show of rolling his eyes as soon as Elijah too had begun to walk away. The three of them followed, Stefan remaining curiously quiet, but Stiles was too busy gaping to pay much attention. They passed one particular painting that caught Stiles' eye and he didn't notice when the others left him behind, approaching with a growing frown. It was all in dark colours save for the one bright snowflake, but it seemed so dark, so alone and empty, that it sent an ache through Stiles' chest. This felt like loneliness and it made him shudder.

"Do you like it?" he hadn't realized Klaus was behind him until the other man spoke, and he jumped, flailing a bit as he spun around. Derek was right there to catch him, tugging him ever so slightly away from the original, but that only seemed to amuse the original further.

"No." Stiles answered, and the amusement fell.

"No?"

"It's dark. Lonely. Too lonely. Looking at it feels like I've been abandoned and don't expect anyone to ever find me." he shuddered again. "So no, I don't like it. I don't ever want to feel that emptiness." There was a shocked silence and it was a female voice who broke the silence.

"Oh look, Nik, someone who finally seems to understand your art." it was a pointed remark, and Stiles turned his head to see a tall, gorgeous blonde strutting towards them, bored expression on her face. That is, until her eyes fell upon the three visitors.

"Hullo Stefan," she greeted, eyes hungry, and Stefan just nodded, obviously trying to contain another eye roll. Then her gaze turned to Stiles and he slid unconsciously closer to Derek, grateful for the hand that rested on his back.

"And you must be Stiles. My brothers have been speaking of you since you had yourself introduced. Seems you're not the average human." then her gaze went to Derek and she sniffed in disdain.

"Who allowed the mutt in?" Derek didn't react but Stiles did.

"Rebekah, isn't it? Seems you're just like the rumours said." Stiles commented pleasantly, and she seemed to preen.

"And what do they say, darling." she pressed, expecting a compliment.

"That you're an elitist bitch."

She snarled but before she could react Klaus was laughing, head thrown back in his mirth.

"Oh, I really do like you." he announced, eyes still sparkling with laughter, and he stepped closer, waving Stiles further into the house and leaving Rebekah fuming.

"Brother, you know if left to her own devices our sister will devise some sort of method of retribution." Klaus just hummed, clearly still amused.

"Well perhaps you can dissuade her then. Promise her a new pair of shoes or some such."

Elijah gave a long suffering sigh but continued to walk with them. Obviously he thought this conversation was of higher importance, and that was slightly concerning to Stiles. He knew Elijah had presented the idea of a meeting under the pretence of answering all of Stiles' questions, but in return he would have to answer questions as well which, with his pack in town, made him uneasy. They were led into a cozy drawing room with a lit fireplace and Stiles settled down onto the couch with Derek on once side of him, and Stefan on the other.

"So, Stiles, before we begin, I have a very important question for you." Klaus began, and Stiles, to his credit, remained quiet. "You said you were human, but to be honest, I don't believe you. So tell me, what are you?" Stiles smirked at that, because he didn't even have to lie to answer, and anyone listening for the signs would know he was telling the truth.

"I'm human. Through and through. Have I been propositioned to be different supernatural creatures? Of course. Everyone wants a piece of team Stiles. But I am completely, and absolutely human. I'm just also completely and absolutely awesome so I can understand your confusion." Stefan gave a snort of amusement, and he glanced at Derek out of the corner of his eye to catch his amusement as well. No one who didn't know him would notice, but there was just the slightest upturn of lips even while the rest of his expression remained stoic.

"Interesting, as it would seem you are telling the truth, but-" one second Stiles was sitting between Derek and Stefan, the next he was across the room, tossed into a chair with Klaus leaning over him, eyes burning with intensity. Both Derek and Stefan were on their feet, but with a single glance from Stiles, Derek stood down, glancing at Stefan to do the same.

"You really should be more gentle with me. I am quite fragile in comparison to yourself, and I take weeks to heal."

"Perhaps we'll test that theory," Derek growled, but Klaus didn't move. "Though not today. No, today, I want to know what you are." he grabbed firm hold of Stiles' face, making sure their gazes held, and Stiles watched his pupils dilate and contract as he tried to compel him.

"Tell me what you are."

"I'm human." he said it in the flattest voice he could manage, knowing that's what people usually did when compelled. Klaus gave a hum, leaning back.

"It would seem he's telling the truth, brother." Klaus announced, but he didn't move from in front of Stiles, making it clear that he wasn't free to get up yet.

"Alright I think that makes it my turn for a question. Seeing as I'm pretty sure compulsion was supposed to be off the table." Stiles' voice was sharp, but unyielding. "Why are you still here? And I already know I'm clever enough to think of dozens of reasons on my own. I want to know your reason."

"Very well then," Klaus allowed, far more amused than Stiles liked, and he turned to Elijah. "Would you like to tell them, brother?"

"We're here because Niklaus would like to be able to make more hybrids, as you said."

"Alright, but there's no reason to do that here rather than somewhere else so you still haven't answered my question."

"Patience, Stiles." Klaus was behind him now, a hand on his shoulder, and once more he just looked at Derek, watching the other man fight the urge to leap across the room.

"We're here because Niklaus thinks that what he needs to complete the transition is here. That what he needs is the blood of the doppelganger. The thing that bound him, and the thing that unbound him." It was exactly as Damon had feared. Stefan was gaping.

"You're joking." he finally spat. "If you think for even a second we'll let you anywhere near her-" In an instant Klaus was there and there was a sudden snap, leaving Stefan to crumple to the ground with a broken neck.

"Really brother, you must work on your diplomacy." Elijah complained mildly, but Klaus just shrugged.

"I don't like being told what I can and can't do."

"Then I hate to break it to you, but I'm not going to let you drain her dry either. She's my family."

"Distant family," Elijah reminded him, but he waved that off.

"What difference does it make? The bonds you make are what connect you, not only whose blood you share."

"Are you saying that your distant cousin is more important to you than your father? The closest living relative you have?" Stiles felt the rage building up and this time it was Derek who calmed him, returning to his side and laying a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm saying you'd have to be suicidal to go near my dad, but that isn't the point. The point is, you can't just take someone's blood because you feel like it. You're lonely? Make some friends. Don't drain someone's blood against their will to suit your needs."

"You've basically argued against vampirism, love." Klaus reminded him, and was there fondness in his voice? Stiles just rolled his eyes.

"That's need. That's different. You would desiccate without blood to drink. This is a completely different situation. Why do you need her blood? Why not someone else's like every other transitioning vampire. If you could use anyone, then you wouldn't need to kill them, and so it would be fine. If you use Elena, she will die. Or worse, she'll end up turned or something to escape it. Just like Katherine. Interesting, isn't it? That every time you see this face you end up destroying them? First there was Tatia, who died for you to become vampires. Then Katherine, who you would have sacrificed, and turned herself in order to not be forced to die against her will. Not to mention that you slaughtered her family as punishment for not allowing her throat to be slit like a good little lamb. Then finally Elena, who lived only because there were people who loved her enough to trade their lives for hers. But you destroyed her family. Literally every bad thing that has ever happened to her began because you backed Katherine into a corner for your own selfish need. Why did you need to release the wolf part of you? Why couldn't you be satisfied as a vampire? An original vampire? You're already practically immortal, why did you need more?" He was on his feet at this point, Derek close by his side.

"Are you capable of keeping any of your opinions to yourself?" Elijah asked after a moment, and Stiles just leaned back into Derek, letting himself be anchored.

"No, he isn't. Never has been. Don't think he ever will be." Derek answered for him, and Stiles allowed the vibrations of the older mans voice travelling through his back to calm him further. He closed his eyes, trusting Derek to react to whatever happened in the brief moment.

"You still haven't answered my question." he reminded the two originals. "Why?"

"Why not?"

"Brother," Elijah scolded, and Klaus waved his arms.

"Fine, fine." Stiles opened his eyes to see Klaus take a sip of whatever alcohol was in the glass he carried. "Because it is as you say. I long for family. One who is loyal to me and only me."

"So you want slaves."

"You're far too dramatic, Stiles. I want family. Respect. Loyalty."

"I don't know about you, but Elijah seems pretty loyal to me. Seems like the type to stick by you even when you stab him in the back." Stiles smirked, "No pun intended." Elijah smirked, but Klaus just stared in what seemed to be disbelief.

"You know what, I've changed my mind." Rebekah's voice announced as she appeared lounging on the couch beside where Stefan still lay, momentarily dead. "I do so like your new human." Derek's growl tipped him off that this was not a thing to let slide.

"Wait a second. I am not your human. I am my own human." Klaus took a step forward and Derek's arm hooked around his waist from behind, pulling him back and flush against him.

"Mine." he growled, and Stiles grinned. He always not so secretly enjoyed these possessive displays from his alpha.

"Alright, yours too." Stiles agreed easily, amused by the surprise on Rebekah and Klaus' face, though it was not on Elijah's.

"You can let go of your boyfriend," Rebekah turned up her nose. "We aren't going to hurt him."

"Though you do know if we wanted him, we could just compel him to stay."

"Yeah, about that." Stiles cut in, not pulling away from Derek because with the two originals staring at him like he was a piece of meat, it felt safer. "Elijah did promise that if things weren't mutual, I would be free to go." he looked at Elijah. "Right?"

"I did." he agreed.

"Right, and being 'free' to go, means of my own free will. Which means, no compulsion. So compelling me would be breaking that little rule. Which," he looked at Klaus, "You've already broken." he did step away from Derek now, but only to prove a point. "So answer my questions and we'll all get along fine. Break the rules again, and you'll have made new enemies. Are we clear."

Elijah looked impressed, Rebekah too though belligerently so, but Klaus was torn between amusement and annoyance.

"I do not take well to threats." he noted, and Stiles shrugged.

"Me either. Looks like we're similar, you and I."

Klaus gave a non committal hum.

"What happens if you break a werewolf's neck?"

"I dare you to try." Derek growled, and with the threat of violence, Derek's eyes flashed the alpha red and Klaus actually took an involuntary step back.

"What. Was. That." Klaus hissed, moving away further, and Rebekah was on her feet as well, moving back towards Elijah.

"Oh, didn't I mention? Derek's an alpha."

"And?" was the bit out reply.

"And, to get another answer, you have to tell me why your own flesh and blood isn't good enough."

"Because there is strength in numbers. I do not have to justify myself to you."

"No, you don't. But I'm not asking for justifications. I'm asking for answers. I'm asking why you can't leave my distant cousin alone and instead need to drain her of all her blood. Why don't you find the cure? Take it and become a werewolf? Join a pack if you crave that kind of community. Otherwise, you have a perfectly loyal family, considering they're here even though you've daggered them and stuck them in coffins for decades at a time. I hear it does awful things to the complexion."

"Why are the interesting ones always so impertinent?" Klaus asked his siblings, but Stiles answered.

"Because we wouldn't be interesting otherwise." Klaus turned back to him.

"What is this nonsense you say about a cure? About joining a pack? Do you think I would allow another to rule me?"

Stiles shrugged.

"It isn't like that, but if you don't want it, don't ask." The glass shattered in Klaus' hand but he ignored it, flashing towards him. Before he could so much as touch Stiles, Derek had moved him, and himself out of the way, fangs bared, eyes once more alpha red as his claws extended.

"Do not touch him."

"Do not presume to tell me what to do werewolf." but Stiles was noticing something, Klaus wasn't coming any closer.

"Then don't attack what's mine."

"Perhaps he won't be yours much longer." at that moment, forgetting how dangerous it was, Stiles stepped between them.

"Alright. Enough of that." they were so close that he had a hand on each of their chests, and it felt like he was almost holding them apart. He turned his head to look at Klaus. "First of all, I will always be his. Nothing will ever, ever, change that." then he turned to Derek. "Second. This is supposed to be civil. If he wants to act uncultured, let him. It is his house." Rebekah snorted out a laugh at that, but Stiles watched Derek's eyes fade back to green, though they were still angry.

"I am not uncultured."

"Says the hybrid still practically pushing against my hand to start a fight. Aren't you supposed to be like thousands of years old? You all look really good for thousands of years, though. And I mean really good." Derek growled and Stiles grinned at him. "Come on, you can't tell me they aren't super hot for being thousands of years old." Finally he got an eye roll out of his alpha and he backed off. Klaus leaned back as well, but still stayed closer than Stiles expected.

"What is it about you that draws us all to you?" he mused, and Stiles kept himself relaxed. He knew the answer to the question, but it was his secret. When Stiles didn't speak, Klaus continued. "All of us are drawn to you. Usually Rebekah would have found better things to do by now, probably plotting your death considering your insult, and Elijah would usually at least take a moment to calm our enraged sister."

"What about you?"

"What about me, love? Ah yes. I would have killed you by now for your impertinence." Stiles just laughed.

"I don't think I believe you. Caroline has a bad habit of being painfully honest and I've been on the wrong end of that a few times to know. Seeing as she's your favourite of the Mystic gang, I don't think I believe you in the slightest."

There was silence in the room, nobody willing to be the one to break the test of will that seemed to be occurring between Klaus and Stiles. Stiles knew that Klaus bowed to no one, but his mind was spinning with possibilities. Though his words had said one thing, his body had reacted to Derek's command, and that, to Stiles, was an important piece of information. He on the other hand, wouldn't bow, because the only one he'd submit to was Derek. That's just how it was.

Elijah was the one to finally speak, breaking the stare as all eyes turned to him. He'd seen his brother's anger growing, and did not yet want the human dead.

"Perhaps we should discuss the answer to Niklaus' question, because he is not wrong in his assumption. We have all be drawn to you, desire to be in your presence. Damon is rarely so protective of humans, nor so angry for them disregarding their own well being, and Stefan would not usually have made such an insistence to join this meeting. Not when he would have known Derek would not allow you to go alone anyways."

"I don't have an answer to that question." but it was a lie, and his body betrayed him. Normally he was much better at dancing around the truth, but normally he wasn't surrounded by three originals, one of which who seemed to have a genuine interest in hurting Derek. Not that he didn't think Derek was capable of taking care of himself, but it made him nervous none the less.

"Lie. Shall I compel you again?"

"Why does it matter?" Stiles asked in return, and it was Elijah who frowned.

"Because knowledge is power, as you seem to be well aware of."

"And knowledge of this is my power. You would have to give me something of equal value in return, and I don't think you know anything I want to know bad enough to trade this secret."

"Perhaps I will compel your werewolf then?"

"You can't. He can't be compelled." all three originals frowned, and behind them, Stefan began to stir.

"Why is that?"

"Try if you want to. But don't blame me if you get injured in the trade."

"Ah, so you just think he's capable of avoiding it?"

"No, I know it won't effect him even if you did manage to try. I also know I might enjoy watching you be knocked down a peg."

"You really are very cocky."

"Not as arrogant as you though, Nik. At least he has that in his favour." Rebekah sniped.

"Is that so, dear sister. Please, enlighten me on how his arrogance is any different than my own."

"Perhaps because he has not flaunted it for over a thousand years. Or perhaps it is because he does not feel assured of his own capabilities but of those belonging to someone he loves."

"Love is weakness."

"Shall I stake Caroline then?" Klaus snarled, focused on his sister as she was on him, but Elijah was still staring at Stiles and Derek, everyone ignoring Stefan, even as he shifted subtly to see what was going on. Stiles glanced back at Derek, and when the older man met his gaze, he nodded. It was time to go. He turned back, meeting Elijah's gaze, watching from the corner of his eye as Stefan returned Derek's look.

"We're going to leave now." Stiles announced, and all eyes whipped towards him.

"No." Klaus growled, and Stiles just looked at Elijah.

"Those were the terms, brother, that was our deal."

"Then I'm changing our deal."

"No." Derek said flatly, "You're not. If you're lucky, we'll conduct another meeting, but right now we have to leave. Stiles needs to eat something, and I've had enough of-"

"Of me being so jittery, yeah, I know," Stiles said with an easy smile, cutting Derek off before he offended Klaus further. "Plus, the pack will be getting nervous. They don't like me staying gone for too long after I've been missing for three days. They'd be really unhappy if they found out I wasn't allowed to leave, since I'm assuming you'd let the other two go. And really, we've been getting along so well. Don't really need the politics of everyone thinking you've kidnapped me now."

"Do you get kidnapped often?" Elijah asked, and Stiles shrugged.

"I used to. At the beginning when things got started. But that was mostly my fault. I was often in the wrong spot at the wrong time. It hasn't happened in a long time, in all honesty. And luckily for the Salvatores, they had Elena on their side. If it weren't for Elena, well." Stiles let the thought hang, meeting each originals gaze. "So, we'll be on our way." with that, Stefan was off like a flash, disappearing from the room, the front door banging as it flew open and he practically flew off. Rebekah looked irritated, Elijah unsurprised, and Klaus chuckled.

"You can leave as soon as you've answered the question you've been avoiding."

"No, he'll be leaving now. With me." Derek began pushing him towards the door. "He gave you his terms on sharing that information and you can't meet them. Let it go."

"I've had about enough of you, wolf." he scowled, and Derek just did the thing with his eyebrows that Stiles knew meant 'as-if-I-care'. Klaus made to move towards them, but Elijah put a hand on his arm.

"You may go, but we should meet again. If you are not satisfied with Klaus' need for Elena Gilbert's blood, provide us with a feasible alternative. We will collectively decide if there is information that may be deemed worthy enough to trade for the reason behind your influence."

Stiles nodded, grateful for the words. "You know how to reach me." he paused. "Actually," he put a hand on Derek's arm to stop him, wandering over to Elijah and handing him his phone. "It'll be easier than having you text or call the Salvatores. I don't really know if I like them as middle men. I never feel like I'm getting all the facts and its too much of a hassle to argue with them about it. This way will be easier." Elijah looked amused but within moments was handing Stiles back his phone.

"Don't worry, I sent myself a text message." Stiles just grinned, moving back to Derek and away from the hungry gazes of Elijah's younger siblings.

"Awesome. You know, it's pretty impressive how quickly the whole grasp of technology thing has been so easy. I mean, as far as I know, Rebekah had been in a coffin since, what was it, the twenties? And she's already texting and calling people as if it were natural. And yes, that does mean I noticed the texting you thought was so secretive. Come to think of it, shouldn't Bonnie not be able to properly use technology?" Stiles asked as Derek herded him towards the door since he was no longer talking to anyone in particular. "Wickens, once they've done the whole, search for water trick, can't use time pieces, they break. And technology like cells and computers tend to go caput after not long. I should ask her how that works later." the three originals could hear Stiles speaking all the way back to the car, and Rebekah looked at her brothers in disbelief.

"Does he ever stop?" she asked, and they shook their heads.

"It would seem not."

They made it outside and the moment Stefan saw them he was tossing Derek his keys and disappearing in a flash of movement. Stiles didn't have to look over to know it meant Derek must look murderous. They climbed into Stefan's car in silence but when Stiles glanced over, Derek's knuckles were white on the steering wheel. Once they were safely out of the supernatural hearing range of those they were leaving behind, Derek finally spoke.

"You won't be meeting them again." It was not a question but a statement. Stiles just sighed.

"I have to. I'm the only one they seem to have no interest in hurting."

"That's because they want to claim you." Derek growled, and Stiles just rolled his eyes.

"That's a werewolf thing." he reminded, and Derek snarled again.

"Well the one is part werewolf."

"I have to meet them again. I can't just let them drain Elena dry. She's family, distant or not."

"Did you ever think that is isn't your responsibility? They brought this upon themselves. We belong in Beacon Hills where we have our own supernatural disasters. We don't need theirs too."

"Derek." it was a sharp reprimand and it had Derek swerving to the side of the road. He practically threw himself out of the car and Stiles undid his seatbelt in order to go after him. What he didn't expect was his own door being torn open and to be yanked from the car and shoved against the side.

"I won't let them steal you, even if I have to lock you up in order to keep you safe."

"Derek," Stiles reached up and put his hands on the front of Derek's shoulders, easing him back a bit. "It's going to be fine. Nobody is going to steal me. I'm a human not a possession. Plus, you know well enough I can't let this go." he paused, not nervous yet but not sure what Derek's reaction would be. "You know, when I say I'm yours, I mean it. There's no one else for me. You don't have to worry, I'll always find my way back to you." Though the words had always been there, Stiles felt the nerves of saying all but the three most important words, but he didn't look away from Derek's gaze. What he didn't expect was for Derek to make the next move, lips slamming against his own fiercely. Stiles was shocked into stillness at first, but when Derek began to pull away he wrapped his arms around the older man, pulling him back in and kissing him back with equal amounts of energy. Derek actually groaned, and it pulled a matching sound from Stiles.

"Oh my god." Stiles finally managed, gasping and leaning his forehead against Derek's, and Derek actually cracked a smile that widened easily into a grin at Stiles' gaping expression. "Now you're definitely not getting rid of me." Stiles muttered, kissing him again. Finally it was Derek who pulled away with a content smile.

"You can go back on one condition. You never go without me." Derek finally said, but Stiles shook his head.

"Next time I go it will be just with Elena. That way we don't pose a threat." before Derek could protest, Stiles pushed on. "You guys can all be close, close enough to break things up if they go sour. That'll make Elena's gang happy too since they won't want Elena far."

"I don't like this. Especially since you still don't seem to have a plan."

"That's where you're wrong."