Who doesn't love Scott McCall? You know, when he's not a raging werewolf on a full moon as a newbie werewolf.
Apologies for any mistakes
Derek still hadn't come by. Stiles thought clearing the air with the sheriff would have been more of a reason for a B&E. It's been two days since he was released from the hospital. No Hale has dropped by and expressed so much of a thank you. Didn't he deserve that at the very least? He helped them all. It's kind of pathetic when a murderous, raging douche twin hopes you're doing better before a family you've spent a lot of time with has. Peter he gets, because… Well, it's Peter. He wouldn't know save-your-life manners if they bit him in the ass. But Cora not coming by when the Stilinskis helped get her to the hospital was pretty low. Lydia told him she was doing better. She saw her when Allison was helping her pick out a taser. They had joked over the equipment in the sports goods store. Why hadn't she shown up on his doorstep? And Derek.
Derek spent time with his dad! Derek got through to him in a way that Stiles never could, it was obvious in the way Dad kept bring up their discussion. Dad liked Derek.
It hurt. It really did. His insides twisted everytime he thought about it. He had half the nerve to barge into the loft and demand his attention. With his luck, only Peter would be there. Being on the receiving end of his undivided attention was unsettling. Besides, the sheriff didn't want him leaving the premises. For once in Stiles' life, he was doing as he was told by staying put.
It was driving him insane.
Scott hadn't been by since he dropped him off, but he was coming over today. He had smoothed things out at home. Meaning, his dad was staying at a hotel now. Stiles couldn't wait to hear how that came to be. His money was on Melissa's wrath.
They never got around to it, for Scott wanted to catch Stiles up on the supernatural happenings of Beacon Hills when he arrived in the early afternoon. His Timberlands kicking the front door, asking for entrance. Stiles was going to slaughter him if they scuffed the door.
He was carrying a 7/11 plastic sack containing four frozen burritos with his hands full of a big gulp for each of them.
The smudge on the door was instantly forgiven as he reached for the items with greedy hands. He headed for the kitchen with Scott in tow.
He popped two burritos in the microwave and pulled out a couple saucer plates. He sucked on his drink as Scott got comfortable at the dining table.
They made it through the burritos before Scott started talking. Stiles was thankful to get something in his stomach, because the conversation didn't sit well with him.
"You should have seen him, Stiles. He finally got the upper hand on a manipulative woman. He tricked her into giving Deucalion his sight back so she was drained of her power. It was amazing!"
"That's dumb."
"Dude!" Scott was scandalized. "It was awesome!"
"I meant that he had her give Death Destroyer of Worlds his sight back." Stiles rolled his eyes at the nickname he uttered with sarcastic mockery. "Sounds like trouble."
"I don't think so. We'll deal with it if the time comes."
Stiles nodded and found himself playing with a loose string on the cuff of his hoodie.
Scott was wigging out over the details. He was so expressive and innocent looking when he was talking about murder and assault. It threw Stiles when that openness became closed-off.
"Have you seen Derek?"
Stiles was alarmed by the question, more by the way Scott sounded and the softness in his eyes. He was tentative with his approach. Something about it seemed like he knew something Stiles didn't. Instead of asking outright what it was that he knew, he simply answered the question. He didn't want to come across as desperate.
"Not since the hospital showdown. He came to see my dad at the hospital, though."
"Did, uh, did he say anything?"
"From what I gather? He apologized and made sure we were both okay. He somehow managed to joke around with my dad like he wasn't arrested and exonerated for the murder of his sister. Dad apparently had a good laugh. That was interesting, to say the least." He paused and took in the nervous bouncing knee of his best friend. Something definitely was up. Scott was more than reluctant to share. He had to probe him for information. "Why?"
"Dude, he's leaving."
"What? What do you mean he's leaving?" He could feel his heart, his body, overreacting to the news. He stood up from his bed and found he didn't know what to do with his hands. They were spread wide like they were in need to grip something. Something like Derek's shoulders to shake some sense into him.
Scott's face slipped into one of concern. That didn't stop his mouth from furthering Stiles' questions like that would ease his friend.
"Like, he's leaving. Beacon Hills, man. Him and Cora are taking off."
"He told you that?"
Scott scratched at the back of his neck. "He kind of passed on the alpha torch."
"He told you he was leaving?" He needed the affirmation.
"Yeah, Stiles. He told me he was leaving."
"Why didn't he tell me? More importantly, why didn't he tell me first?"
"I think it's werewolf territory stuff, but I'm not sure." Scott scrambled for better words. "Not that it's an excuse or anything! I'm not, like, defending him or anything. You know I'm Team Stiles." Scott put his fist in the air to show his solidarity. It only annoyed Stiles.
"You know what, Scott?"
Scott perked his head up, ready for anything his friend had to say. It was easy to slip Scott into an I jump, you jump situation. He was kind of a pushover. He prayed this went over just as well as asking him out into the dark woods to find half of a dead body.
"I'm suddenly not feeling so well. I think I should lie down." He didn't bother with showing Scott out. He turned his back on him and started for his bedroom.
"Stiles!" He stopped at his name and the sound of Scott abruptly getting up.
"Go home, Scott."
That night he ignored his calls, but responded to his only text.
"I hope you're feeling better," it read.
Stiles sent a smiley face. To be polite.
"I had a dream I was curing my own bacon," the sheriff said as he flew down the stairs. He was in a good mood. Stiles hated to ruin it, especially after, well, everything.
"Not a chance. We're going to have one gorging night to celebrate neither of us dying." They had been planning it since he got home.
"Then tomorrow we can have another to make up for all the lies and trouble you got into."
Stiles hung his head, the guilt and shame weighing it down. "I'm sorry," he whispered to the floor.
"Hey. Kiddo, you know I'm just flicking you stuff. I admit I am upset, but Scott and Melissa explained a lot to me. I know you were looking out for me. You had everyone's best interest at heart. Yadda, yadda, yadda. I probably wouldn't have believed it if Hale hadn't come by." The sheriff chuckled. "The guy is a werewolf and I still scare him."
"You're an intimidating man." He looked away to busy himself with a hand towel and curse his stupid overreacting heart. It's not like it was new information anyway. And when will his dad shut up about Derek? It was like he was the one with the crush. Crush wasn't exactly the word for what Stiles felt, though. It was more like crushed.
"Derek seemed to be looking out for you. I think he was adamant that you don't get in trouble for your deception."
That had Stiles turning back around. "What? I thought he just came to check on you and seen how you were adjusting with knowing about freaking werewolves. Werewolves, Dad!"
"We may have talked a little more than I let on. He's stupid for leaving."
Stiles froze, too many feelings to decipher rolling up and down his back, paralyzing him into stillness. His voice went quiet. "He told you he was leaving?"
"Him and his baby sister are going to South America. He gave me their numbers in case I need to get a hold of them for serious supernatural related cases." The sheriff eyed his son with careful examination. "Stiles. Why do you sound so upset?"
"It's nothing."
The sheriff sighed out of frustration. "I thought we were past the lying?"
"Derek and I have been through a lot together. Small stuff like planning and reassurance and the big stuff like keeping Scott's wolf on lock and saving each other's lives."
As much as his father wanted to probe him for answers to his questions about those scenarios, he was quiet and let him continue. It took Stiles one steadying breath and a nibble on a hangnail to get the rest out.
"I haven't seen him since we got Cora out of the hospital. He didn't tell me he was leaving. Scott told me." He wiped at the tip of his nose that was tickled by the sadness he wasn't giving in to. He did not respond to his dad's next query.
"He didn't tell you or hasn't?"