A/N: I should apologize for the last chapter. Btw someone said they cried and I quote, "Damn you, this is all your fault. I'm crying now. Your fault. Yours and Derek's," and I was worried that it wasn't good enough to merit any kind of emotion. I love all the Derek bashing comments! I've had problems so sorry for the lateness! Post 2x12.
He slams the door to his room open and drops his bag on some random stop before slumping down into the chair at his desk. He's too tired to fret with trying to do much of anything, so he lets his head fall back and closes his eyes. His bed would have been the better target now that he thinks about it but it's too late to do anything now. It's quiet, which is comforting, for once. He listens to the sound of the trees outside and waits for sleep to come. The window slides open slowly, like someone's trying to be quiet, and he somehow manages not care. There's no rush, no fear, just calmness and peace and the inability to move from his spot. A few seconds later, he can feel someone's breath against his overly exposed neck. Usually he'd freak out, but the soft scratch of a scruffy chin grounds him, the kiss that follows, more so. He lets out a soft whimper, unable to control the way his body is reacting to the contact. The kisses get rougher and the biting harder, his masochistic body apparently finds it overly attractive and his pants grow tighter. He tries to lick his dry lips but can't find the effort to do. The thumbs rubbing circles into his inner thigh don't help. Or maybe they do, because his heart is racing and there is suddenly a hand palming him through his pants. He can't help but arch into the touch, or he thinks he is.
The mouth at his neck leaves and he tries to protest before a pair of fangs is biting down on his neck. He opens his eyes gasping; arms readily flying up to push away the pain, only he finds himself face to face with the barrel of a gun. He looks up at the gunman, Derek. It doesn't make sense. Derek could kill him without the use of a gun, but Stiles doesn't bother to question the alpha's reasons. There is a gun pointed at his face and Derek's finger is on the trigger. He tries to back away but he's frozen again and it's not like he could go anywhere without Derek's having the chance to shoot him. He stands and suddenly Erica's at the alpha's side. It's not possible he tells himself, Erica and Boyd are still with the alpha pack, but she's there and staring him down from behind Derek. Isaac and Boyd appear next, to her right. He takes a step back, amazed that his body is finally registering what he wishes it to do. There's no talking, just silence and the distant call of his name. Scott appears on Derek's left and Stiles knows he's dreaming. He has to be because this can't be happening. Derek cocks the gun and shoots right into Stiles' chest. He falls backwards and lands into a pool which wasn't there before. He's sinking, arms uselessly falling to his sides as he comes into contact with the bottom. He looks up desperately trying to call for help but no one is moving, they're staring at him with the least amount of interest as if he were already dead. Lydia's face appears to his right and he lifts his hand to her but she just smiles and walks away towards Jackson. He's looking up at them all, the voice of his father and Ms. Morrell echoing in his head. 'It's you Stiles.' 'But if you hold on.' He closes his eyes fighting the urge to let his breath out, 'more time to be rescued.' "It doesn't matter what you think Stiles. It only matters what they think' It's starting to hurt, his lungs and head. 'I thought maybe,' 'You thought wrong,' His vision is blurring and he knows he should just let go, give in. 'I wish I knew how to quit you.' He gives into the reflex and wakes up panting in his chair. The fresh air in his lungs burns slightly but he's okay with that because at least he's breathing. He looks around the room, running a hand through his hair, it's grown.
"Everything okay?" His Dad asks having just come up the stairs. Stiles gives him a faint smile and nods.
"Almost fell out of my chair in my sleep," It's a lie and he's worried about how easily it comes. His Dad gives him a half smile and nods understanding that Stiles would rather not discuss the actual reason for his sudden panic attack.
"Okay," He leans against the door, "I have to go to work so I'll see you later." He takes a step towards the stairs before turning around, "Oh and Scott's been trying to call you." He turns around and starts going down the stairs. Stiles stares at the empty door way for seconds before jumping up and grabbing his phone from his backpack. There are unsurprisingly ten messages from Scott.
Scott:
10:24 am: Hey u still up 4 2day?
10:25 am: Stiles?
10:25 am: U better not b sleepin
10:26 am: Pick up ur phone!
10:27 am: R U mad?
10:28 am: Come on man!
10:29 am: We're supposed 2 practice
10:29 am: STILES!
10:30 am: Plz! Pick up!
10:31 am: ur Dad said ur home. I'm coming over.
He sighs and calls Scott with a quick glance at the time. It's 11 am, so much for coming over.
"Hey," Scott answers somewhat nervously, "So about practice."
"You do not get to cancel the one time I fall asleep and end up going late," It sounds like one word when he says it and considers repeating himself for Scott's benefit.
"Isaac wanted to know if he could come along too." There's more noise and Stiles can tell he's on speaker.
"You have me on speaker don't you."
"Hi Stiles," Isaac offers quietly, he can almost see the guilty puppy face on the guy's face and immediately forgives him.
"I'm sorry but no," there's a small whine and he runs a hand down his face, "If you come then I have to go against two werewolves and you can ask Scott last time I got nothing done with him!"
"Okay so it would be me and Scott,"
"Scott and I," he corrects for the sake of being a complete and utter child.
"Scott and I versus you, Jackson," a pause, "and Derek." He wishes there was an escape button for reality right about now. They all know he's been actively ignoring Derek since the whole Mat escapade. Stiles made that pretty obvious the night Jackson was killed and reborn as a wolf. He almost ran over Peter in his hurry to get the hell out of there with Lydia and Jackson (wearing a towel) in the back seat. They didn't know why, of course, and Stiles wasn't about to tell them that Derek had toyed around with him in a futile attempt to get Scott on his side. No. They didn't need to know that and it would only make the already rocky relationship worse.
"What time?" His voice goes up an octave but he hopes they'll ignore that.
"Noon?" Isaac sounds hopeful and Stiles knows he'll feel even more terrible for what he's about to do.
"Give me a sec," He puts them on hold and calls Danny.
"What do you want?" He's irritated and Stiles knows that's mostly because the last time he called up Danny he blackmailed him with Derek's body.
"I will pay you twenty bucks to go out with me at noon today." He licks his lips waiting for the response impatiently.
"You're not my type," It's short and all too painful. Stiles gestures wildly in the air at his room.
"Just as friends," He's on his knees despite the fact that Danny can't actually see him, "Please Danny I need you're help."
"Why should I help you?"
"Because Scott and Isaac are trying to force me to talk to the world's biggest asshole and I can't even begin to explain the level of uncomfortableness that would ensue should I even come within a mile of him ever again." He stays quiet and Stiles takes that as a clue to keep going, "Please Danny. I can't see him right now." He sighs, "It just hurts too much."
"I get it," Danny sighs.
"So is that a yes?" He closes his eyes hopeful of a confirmation.
"Yeah," Stiles fist pumps in the air screaming thank you, "But next practice you better invite me or I'll get Jackson to kick your ass." He hangs up and Stiles dances shortly before taking Scott off hold.
"Hey," He tries to sound sad.
"So you coming or what Stilinski?" Jackson grunts to the phone, of course.
"Sorry guys," He's trying to channel sadness but the relief has left him too happy, "Danny and I are going out at twelve and I can't go." There's a pause and Stiles can see Scott and Isaac eyeing Jackson who is no doubt taking out his phone to ask Danny himself. He starts a text and sends it to his new bestie.
To Danny:
11:15 am: Don't Tell Jackson I just asked you out right now
"I'm really sorry guys maybe some other time?" he can hear Isaac sigh pathetically and it makes him cringe slightly.
Danny:
11:16 am: He wants to know where we're going. Why does he want to know?
"Little prick actually isn't lying. Danny just told me so," Jackson grunts confused.
To Danny:
11:16 am: Ur pick & they invited him to the practice he likes to torture me
"Still here guys!" He waves to absolutely nothing and immediately feels stupid about it.
Danny:
11:17 am: We're going to The Loft hope you have more than twenty bucks on you
"Alright we'll see you later then," Scott hangs up and Stiles takes that as a win, until he looks at the time and realizes he has to get dressed and eat something small because The Loft is four freaking hours away. He ends up taking a quick shower and eating a bag of chips before heading to Danny's house. When he arrives, Danny's already outside in a grey blue knit button up sweater and black shirt. He slows down and doesn't bother to look down at himself, he is the worst date in the history of dates.
"We're not going in your car," he smiles and swings his keys in the air. Stiles sighs and parks in the street. He slides out of his car and ignores the look Danny sends his way when he says goodbye to his car. He drags himself to the prius, heading for the passenger seat. Danny throws him the keys. "I don't really feel like driving for two hours." He pushes past him and gets into the car. Stiles tries to tell himself that it's worth it, that at least he's not with Derek, but he kind of thinks he might as well be. He turns on the car with a glare towards Danny.
"We could always just go to lacrosse practice," He puts the car in reverse and pulls out of the drive way with a pout clear on his face. Danny smiles to himself and Stiles chooses to ignore the fact that he's pretty sure the guy hasn't shaved in two days and has the same amount of scruff Derek usually has. He makes a point of talking about just about anything from the yellow leaf on one of trees to the random water puddles to the traffic to the idea of werewolves actually existing and what it would entail. Danny catches none of it, he's listening to his I pod and nodding his head as he blatantly ignores him. He's used to it, being ignored, and rambling on until someone tells him to shut up. Danny is the only one who's ever been capable of ignoring him though, Derek would have snapped. Four hours later they arrive at the Loft.
"We're here," he grumbles looking up at the restaurant, "We're going to a family restaurant?"
"My dad said I have to make dinner so you're paying for that too," He gets out of the car. Stiles nods.
"Okay I deserve that," He locks the car and jogs up to the front door, opening it with a smile for Danny, "Thank you?" Danny rolls his eyes and walks inside. Stiles struts inside and waits for them to be seated at a booth before opening his mouth again.
"What made you say yes?" He's taping his fingers on the table waiting for Danny to speak, "You said no and then I said stuff and then you said yes. Why?"
"I know what it's like not to want to be around your ex," the waiter comes up to them, "The sun drink please." He smiles at Danny and turns to Stiles like they're a newly wed couple.
"I'll have the same?" He looks at Danny, never having actually eaten at the restaurant.
"No," He turns to the waiter, "Get him water."
"What?" Danny raises an eyebrow but it's nothing like Derek. Nothing about Danny is like Derek and he takes comfort in it, if only for now.
"So do I know him or," Stiles winces and looks up at him with a slight smile.
"Sorta?" Danny rolls his eyes and Stiles is thankful that he doesn't push any further. The waiter returns with their drinks and smile on his face.
"What will you be eating?" Stiles picks up the menu and glances over before turning to Danny.
"Two teriyaki Chicken plates with spam musubi and macaroni salad," Stiles hands him the menu and the waiter walks away with an awkward smile.
"So what's the deal between you and Jackson?" Danny leans back.
"Same thing between you and Scott," Stiles nods awkwardly.
"This is the most you've ever spoken to me." Danny shrugs. The meal went on just as boring and uneventful as that. Between their random conversations about Danny being Hawaiian and what life is like over there Stiles couldn't help but think absent mindedly about Derek. Little things made him think of the stupid alpha, like the leather jacket trio sitting down by the Tiki Bar and the happy little boy that kept running around the restaurant while his parents remained ignorant. He wondered if Derek was like that once. If Derek had ever smiled when he was younger, if he was born in a leather jacket or just picked it up as time went on, he really wouldn't be surprised if the guy was born with it.
"You ready?" Danny asks holding out the receipt to him. Stiles just smiles and nods, he grabs the receipt and takes one last look around the restaurant. No Derek. No Isaac. No Jackson. No pack. He struts up to the hostess and pays for the dinner. Danny drives on the way back. When Stiles gets home he can't help but feel uncomfortable. He managed to ignore Derek without any trouble, and if felt wrong because some part of him was telling him the pack would do something to force him into seeing the alpha. But they didn't do anything. He shrugged off his sweater and placed it over his chair before falling belly down onto his bed.
