Even after he could no longer hear the footsteps and voices retreating down the corridor Stiles was reluctant to step out of the room. He'd met quite enough people he'd rather not run into again for one day. Instead he considered sinking into one of the armchairs but found himself staring at the small bottle left on the table. The sound of someone returning down the hallway and the click of the handle had him snapped out of his daydream and once again diving for the cover of the embroidered screen. There he froze waiting for the person to see the room was empty and leave.
"Stiles you can come out," At the sound of Derek's voice Stiles relaxed.
"Did you get to talk to Cora?" Stiles asked as he tried to manoeuvre himself out of the hidey-hole he'd hastily squeezed himself into. It was a lot harder to get back out of this spot than it was to hide in it. He was just trying to dislodge his shoulder from where it was wedged between the dresser when Derek rounded into view above him.
"No, they don't like us interacting much but seeing her means that she is still alive and fighting," Derek offered him a hand up. He winced as he straightened up and stretched out his arms and rolled his shoulders.
"Yeah, the fighting part is definitely relevant," He muttered, turning back to Derek. A raised eyebrow came in reply. "She explained a few things about werewolf bonds, and then Alison passed this on for you," He scooped up the bottle from the table and held it out to Derek, "Morrell's concoction to uh, block the bond," He took it carefully from Stiles and considered it for a moment.
"Thanks,"
"Is Cora your only family?" Stiles asked nudging Derek as he crossed back to the table.
"One of my uncles is alive somewhere though we rarely hear word of him, and I have Laura too; she's my older sister. Lucky enough that she married before we ended up like this." He rolled the bottle from one hand to the other. "She avoids Argent manipulation," He shrugged and the ghost of a grateful smile flit over Derek's features.
"Is she anything like Cora?"
"Less physically aggressive, but Cora's had to grow up faster than all of us. Laura is warmer but with a sharp edge if you cross her,"
"Are you close with them both?"
"I was closer to Laura growing up, before I came to the Argents. They cut off nearly all contact with my family,"
"Cora's very protective of you,"
"She knows I blame myself for what happened. That everything I do now is punishing myself"
"Is it?" Derek didn't reply but Stiles saw the way his shoulders sank a little, the way his breath caught and his eyes flicked down to the floor. Stiles didn't need an answer for that one.
"So uh, Allison didn't seem too bad," Derek rolled his eyes and having clearly shaken off his melancholy fixed his stare on Stiles.
"Erica wouldn't have put you in here to keep you safe. You couldn't stay put even for your own safety,"
"It was not safe in that bedroom,"
"No-one of Kate's staff would have been up by the bedrooms,"
"I don't know who he was but he doesn't like me. Big muscles, dark guy, hates my guts." Derek huffed a laugh,
"That might've been Boyd, He's Erica's second in command,"
"I happen to know his sister," At that Derek raised an eyebrow, "Not like intimately. His sister is a changeling. She's part of my family back home,"
"He doesn't talk about his sister,"
"Well he still draws her. Okay yes I looked through a sketch book but I was up there for ages I had to entertain myself somehow. Anyway this one sketch was a dead ringer for Alicia. I thought he'd be happy to know she was alive and well,"
"He lost her a long time ago, doesn't mean it's a wound that's healed,"
"I know, He added little above a whisper, "I lost my mum. That's one of the worst things about me being here is that dad is on his own now," Although Stiles' voice got cleared he curled in on himself as he spoke his hands shifted frantically twisting and clenching, "He's already lost her, and he's thought he'd lost me before now as well and… it's my fault he's suffering y'know," He took a shaky breath and then looked up to Derek who bore his own sad consoling smile.
"What about the rest of your family?"
"My dad is my only blood family, Fae families are pretty big though, but we can all feel each other. I've fallen off the grid so I'm as good as dead to them now," a sharp stab of yearning cut through his chest when he thought of where he wanted to be right now.
"I'm sorry,"
"Tell me more about your family," Stiles asked, cutting himself away from his own memories sharply to turn the conversation onto Derek.
"I don't like talking about them," Derek said slowly
"Yeah I figured, but I know you're getting information from me for Gerard and it's not like I can use any of this stuff against you,"
"I don't have to tell you anything,"
"Neither do I,"
"Then maybe we don't talk about that,"
"Are you suggesting another subject?" Stiles shoved himself up from the chair spun on his heel and dropped to sit on the table facing Derek.
"How about we go back to you getting to know Alison Argent." Derek asked pointedly, his
"She seems nice. Less homicidal than her relatives,"
"She's only been let into the whole fairy tales are real secret for about a year or so. She doesn't know the extent of the family secret yet I don't think,"
"She seems pretty relaxed about the whole idea. The sort I'd tell all my kind's history and secrets without realising," He joked but Derek's face blanked to it's default serious expression.
"Never forget that she's still an Argent. Smiles and pleasantries aside she'll run a blade through you," Derek was reaching out a hand to him and Stiles twisted out of reach before it could reach it's mock-reassuring mark.
"She could be different,"
"And she could be worse. Stiles please don't trust an Argent,"
"Who am I supposed to trust?" He snapped
"Yourself," He said firmly and then after a moment a much quieter, "… Me,"
"I'm stuck with you. Trusting you isn't going to help or hinder me,"
"We're bonded. I won't hurt you. I can't,"
"You take a potion so you don't feel Derek. It's not exactly the picture of trust and openness,"
"It's better for you if-,"
"Just trust you on that shall I?"
"Stiles," His shoulders were slumped once again but he looked up to meet Stiles' gaze.
"I feel sorry for you Derek I do. If everything Cora said about the bond is true then I am so sorry. But this was forced on us. I don't know you," With a small nod and a sigh Derek turned his gaze away. Stiles continued regardless "I say Allison seems nice because she believed me when I said I wasn't looking to hurt her and she didn't hurt me. She stepped in when Cora was all claws and fangs and was near enough attacking me. Scott broke into her room and she hid him from the guards instead of skewering him like you seem to think she would,"
"No matter what you think of her she's an Argent. She'll hold control over you whether you trust her with that or not,"
"She's not the only one," He saw the split second as Derek raised his head to apologise or protest of defend himself and Stiles had already stood and was halfway out the door. As he pulls it shut behind him he sees Derek looking up in his direction but not following him.
The damn werewolf wouldn't exactly have a problems finding him no matter where he went but Stiles couldn't help but want to put as much distance between them as possible in this house. He climbed two staircases walked the length of a corridor and at the very end was a huge great window overlooking the grounds. Just below it was a wooden sill, just wide enough for Stiles to sit precariously against the glass Clouds were thickening overhead as he looked out. Closest to the house were neat boxed flowerbeds and gardens and a few staff began to run for cover as rain began to splatter down upon them. Stiles raised a hand to the glass and felt it cold beneath his fingertips as the droplets pelted the other side. He rested his forehead against it and felt the faint vibrations of Mother Nature fighting her own battle to balance the elements. He took a few deep breaths and felt his own balance inside himself. It had been fragile and strained with nothing to stabilise it. No contact from his family, no wills and no solid nature beneath his feet or hands. The rain carried on falling and a deep rumble through the clouds reminded Stiles how little a true will could be stopped. He took several deep breaths and tried to find some solace.
A small cough broke his thoughts and he looked up to see a woman stood a few doors away. She was watching him warily.
"I have dinner, if you eat that," There was a sharp edge to her tone contrasting with the faint shake of her hands on the tray she carried and the fact that she stood near eight feet out of his reach.
"Thank you," He said, reaching out a hand so she could pass him the food tray. Still she hesitated to come any closer. Slowly she took a couple of steps towards him and as soon as he fingers touched the edge of the dish she let go. Stiles couldn't possibly get a grip on it before it fell with a clatter to the floor. The woman yelled and jumped back. Stiles swung his legs down to pick it up and she turned tail, grabbed hold of her skirts and ran, disappearing down the corridor with a prayer under her breath. His eyes fell on the upturned plate and food thrown across the carpet. It didn't look like anything he wanted to eat anyway.
He'd just resettled himself when he heard heavier but steady footsteps heading for him. Resolutely he kept his eyes shut and head turned to the window. A sharp pain struck him across the back of his head.
"Ow hey!" His eyes shot open and he found himself face to face with Erica as she leant back and folded her arms loosely over her chest.
"What did you do to Berny?"
"You say that like I know who that is," Erica stepped to one side and looked pointedly down to the mess of food now staining its way into the carpet. "I'm pretty sure Berny is a name I can add to the 'scared of or hates fae' list,"
"She said you attacked her,"
"I didn't have a grip on the plate she passed me and she was so skittish she dropped it and ran," He waved a hand in the direction of the mess as he spoke.
"Maybe you should work on your reflexes,"
"Maybe you should work on your reflexes," He mimicked. Erica shoved his feet out of the way so he was forced to sit with his back to the window and she sat herself in the gap next to him.
"Okay kid I'm going to give you a run down of everything important in Derek's life and you're going to shut up and listen. Then you will never repeat this to anyone ever again,"
"Firstly I'm older than you-,"
"AH! You're listening not questioning,"
"My apologies," Erica raised an eyebrow at his sweet sincerity before composing herself.
"Derek's poor tortured soul is both quite easily explained and a tricky masterpiece."
"You really want to set the scene huh," He bumped his shoulder against hers and she shoved him back.
"Are you telling this story?" Stiles held both hands up in surrender. "Well then. Derek comes from an age old family who until the last decade were wealthy and ruled over more country than any other family for miles. They were peaceful with few soldiers since anyone attacking the country would be attacking werewolves and everyone knows better than to start a war with werewolves. It'd be suicide but there were a group of druids who found a weapon that work. The Hales had allies of course but when they thought that the all great and powerful werewolves had a weakness they backed out of the picture. The Argents offered to lend their support in return for a guarantee to secure their new alliance. That guarantee was Derek,"
"Woah hey, is that normal? Holding someone hostage for an alliance,"
"You won't attack someone who can hurt your kid," Erica shrugged
"He was just a kid? It's barbaric,"
"Says the creature who steals kids,"
"We don't steal kids," Stiles insisted, "Changelings pass over on their own,"
"Yeah whatever," Waving off his comment "Back to torture in this reality, Kate effectively adopted Derek as her servant. Got Derek to spill all the secrets of his family, and security in his family's lands and castle. Derek even told her when all his family would be gathered together in celebration. They were trapped in the castle, and every single one of them was murdered. The Argents, since they effectively owned Derek and he was too young to rule, took control of the land and within a year they'd declared all supernatural creatures dangerous,"
"You forgot the part where I fell in love and singlehandedly ruined the lives of everyone in the whole country," They both jumped and looked up to see Derek crossing towards them "One of my sisters is imprisoned in her own home and the other is forced to serve as an Argent personal guard," He added, "No wait, include anyone from other realms too," He waved a hand in Stiles' direction. Stiles shot a look back to Erica who'd ducked her head obviously scolded for talking out of turn again. He felt a curl of shame in his own gut but looked up again to Derek.
"I was going to tell you," Derek muttered as he leant on the wall on Stiles' side of the window, "Erica gets a little impatient with me sometimes,"
"Its been a while since we had fresh blood, I've got to sharpen my teeth somewhere," She whined up at him.
"Just when I was starting to think you weren't a crazy person," He said leaning quickly away from her. She flicked out a claw inches from his face just as a thunderous crash of storm clouds and lightening lit up the sky behind them. Stiles lurched away from her further, his shoulder whacked into Derek's leg.
"Your timing is the worst," He grumbled.
"I beg to differ," She smiled sweetly and hopped down herself.
"You can apologise by making sure everything's ready for tomorrow," Derek told her and she nodded, shooting Stiles a deadly smile before slipping away.
"What's happening tomorrow?" Stiles asked lean out of Derek's space and back against the window
"I have to leave for business tomorrow instead of in a few days from now,"
"So I'll have the run of the house?" He asked hopefully. A little exploring couldn't do much harm. Besides all houses have their secrets
"Erica's still in charge,"
"You realise I may not be in one piece when you get back,"
"That'll be your fault not hers,"
"Sure it will," He leant back head resting on the glass feeling the vibrations of the rain against the other side.
"Do you want to get dinner? I take it that's yours all over the floor,"
"It is…but," He listened to the rain for a moment, "I think I'd rather stay here a little while,"
"Aren't you cold by the window?" Derek asked cocking his head to one side and looking Stiles up and down, no doubt taking into account the way the hairs down his arms were stood all on end.
"I like to hear it. Even if I can't be out in it,"
"You want to go out in this," His scepticism of Stiles' wishes evident in his tone.
"It feels incredible," Stiles told him plainly as he glanced out into the darkness of the thickening storm.
"Okay, I think we can't find a coat for you" Stiles eyes shot up but Derek had already turned away and was heading for the door. He opened it before glancing back "Are you coming then?"
Derek led him out through the kitchens, staff ducking out of their way as they passed. Stiles didn't know who the action was for, himself or Derek. He didn't look back to find out which it was they were inevitably gossiping about. The door to the garden was in an alcove out of sight of the main kitchen, Stiles nearly walked straight into Derek when he stopped in front of it and reached for the latch.
"You can use this door while I'm away. Try not to let anyone see you," He said quietly his head ducked so no one but Stiles who see or hear him, "And then head out into the main gardens, stay out of sight of the house as much as possible,"
"Uh, okay?" he agreed as Derek passed him a heavy coat.
"Almost everyone in this house believes you can't leave the building. I, I couldn't bear the thought of you being trapped, if anything happened,"
"Thanks," He felt the weight of the coat in his hands and found he was reluctant to put it on. Derek appeared to notice his hesitation.
"Wear it until you're out of sight of the house at least,"
"I can do that," Derek smiled in gratitude glanced past Stiles' shoulder to the kitchens and then opened the door slowly and ushered Stiles through.
Derek's hands pulled the coat up around Stiles' neck and shoulders as he pushed him out across the garden. He didn't remove the hand on Stiles' shoulder directing him through the rain until they were well out of sight of the house. Derek was scanning the area, even in his own home Stiles wondered what exactly Derek was on the lookout for.
"So remind me what's actually keeping me here?" He asked stepping closer to the flower beds to run his fingers through the stems as they swayed under his fingertips.
"Nothing. But you'll be safer under my protection and if you leave, the bond between us could become fatal should you return to your family,"
"Right,"
"Do you want me to stay here or walk with you?"
"Are you going to come search me out if I don't come back?" Derek shook his head slowly.
"I hope you'd come back anyway," Stiles shrugged as he shifted from foot to foot. "There's a path through there that circles round through the orchard and a stream that runs through the property," Derek nodded to a break in the hedgerow a few feet from them. Stiles was intrigued at the very least. Derek sat himself on a bench half hidden by the flowerbeds, his legs stretched out as though he were reclining in a n armchair inside or next to a fire
"Huh," Stiles glanced away to the supposed pathway and considered taking Derek's advice; though now he was outside and feeling the elements around him he had little inclination to do anything but breathe it in.
"Take your time, the rain won't bother me," Derek prompted when Stiles had been staring out blankly.
"Really? It doesn't bother you?" Stiles asked incredulously
"No," Derek said carefully,
"Do you not feel it on your skin and through your hair? Feel the tension of the storm in the air you breathe and in your bones like electricity?"
"It's rain. It's wet," Stiles stared down at him unimpressed. Derek raised an eyebrow which incensed Stiles to his core.
"A pond or a lake is wet," He snapped, "They can submerge you in wet, but storms hit you like they've got something to prove," He threw out his arms and shut his eyes as he leant his head back to feel the drops hitting his face. "Don't you feel it?" He asked again quietly, "It's incredible," He sighed. His clothes were already soaked through and were clinging to him. He felt a chill run down his arms and across his abdomen and wrapped his arms back around himself for warmth. He toed off his shoes and stepped out onto the grass stretching his toes to feel the grass and earth between them.
When he glanced over Derek too had his head tipped back against the rain. He wasn't smiling but there was a certain serenity in his appearance. Stiles snapped a flower from its stem and stepped lightly on his toes over to slip it into Derek's hair.
"You do feel it, don't you?" Derek opened his eyes slightly, squinting he looked up at Stiles.
"Laura and I used to lie out in the rain for hours," He admitted, "Even before my werewolf abilities had developed and I could catch the worst chills. We'd sit down at the base of a tree and when I started to shiver she'd hug me so tightly it hurt and tell me it was for my own good. I'd left before Cora was allowed out with us," Derek's gaze dipped down. Stiles caught Derek's chin, his fingertips grazing his jaw until Derek's eyes flicked up to meet Stiles'. He pulled his hand back suddenly unsure of himself.
"What do you feel out here?" He asked, an edge of tenseness in his tone.
"Just the rain Stiles," Derek dipped his head and ran his fingers through his hair dislodging the flower. They both watched it fall to the ground, "And why don't you have your shoes on?"
"It feels nicer,"
"You'll make a mess when we go back inside," Derek scolded lightly, which made Stiles think there was more chance of Erica or someone else having a problem with a few muddy footprints than Derek cared for them
"Maybe I'll stay out here all night," He danced out round in circles away from Derek across the grass.
"You're a fae not a fish. And you'll slip if you keep going in circles on this mud,"
"I've been dancing since before I can remember," He called out
"If you fall over much you've probably knocked yourself silly," Derek drawled.
"I don't fall-," His footing slid from under him and the next thing he knew, the wind was knocked out of him, "-Ow!" He groaned, "Don't say it!"
"I wasn't going to," Derek hummed and Stiles tried to ignore the thumping in his head.
"Maybe I'll just lie here instead,"
"You'll get a chill,"
"Mmm," He could feel the mud in his hair and flexed his fingers digging his nails into the ground until it hurt He took a sharp breath and for a moment he felt everything. Including someone looking down at him. He opened his eyes to see Derek looming over him frowning. "I could teach you a thing or two y'know,"
"I'm sure," He grumbled and offered Stiles a hand up. "You're not actually hurt are you?" He asked when he saw the wince as Stiles pulled himself up.
"Nothing I won't forget in the count of ten,"
"Count of ten?"
"Fae healing is exceptional,"
"How long exactly is a count of ten?"
"Uh, it should maybe be up by now," Stiles cocked his head to one side and felt the stab of pain from his shoulder up his neck. "I hate you, the wills hate you, the weather hates you…Oh wow what is that?" Derek's hand rested across his neck and a wave of calm replacing the aches.
"Werewolves have pretty good healing too,"
"Yeah, no I don't hate you right now,"
"Should we get you back inside and cleaned up?" He was already nudging Stiles back the way they'd come, coat draped over his arm until just before they turned the corner towards the house at which point he threw it over Stiles' shoulders. Stiles hesitated at the door looking back out across the gardens. Derek's hand paused on the door handle waiting for him. "You can come out here when I'm in town; provided you try not to injure yourself,"
Derek nudged Stiles over and lowered himself to the stone steps, the very highest one was still dry though it didn't matter much to the state of their clothes. Stiles dropped down beside him and tucked himself into the corner looking at Derek side on.
"Hey are you sure Erica wouldn't mind taking my pain? Or whoever else on your staff is a werewolf,"
"Erica will let you suffer, so will Boyd. If you run into Isaac he might take pity on you," Derek shrugged.
"Ah so there is hope in your staff. How many of them know you're a werewolf?"
"All of them,"
"And they're okay with it?"
"I employ them."
"And they think I should be in a dungeon cell,"
"You scare them. Give them a day or two, they'll see you for the idiot you are," Derek smirked.
"Or I'll end up skewered,"
"Erica wouldn't dare," Stiles rolled his eyes and pulled a face.
"Are you really okay with Erica telling me about, you know, your history. I mean I'm glad to know it, and I know it's probably not the whole picture but it's still your story really and-,"
"I barely know you," He paused and Stiles determinedly looked out into the rain instead of glancing up to him, "But I'm okay with you knowing. There are other parts of the story of course. You can ask,"
"Thanks, but I'm good,"
Stiles' foot dropped down a step to nudge Derek's and though they both stared out watching the rain together Stiles' felt some part of his inner warmth and balance restored; if only temporarily. Stiles wondered if maybe his dad could still feel a glimmer of their connection.
