Chapter Twelve
'What part might Darren have in all of this?'
That's the question Stiles asked himself as he lay in Derek's bed, playing with the fox figurine between his fingers.
Darren had seemed so nice. Surely he couldn't know anything about these mysterious happenings?
Yet wasn't it odd that a student Stiles had never seen or spoken to before would suddenly approach him with this seemingly harmless toy?
"Can't sleep?"
Stiles looked up to meet Ethan's gaze, but the former alpha was looking at the figurine.
"You didn't get rid of it?" he queried, but his tone wasn't accusatory.
"It was a gift," Stiles replied in explanation. "Besides, maybe I did simply zone out."
He expected an argument like Derek probably would have given him, but Ethan was different.
"Maybe you did," Ethan agreed simply.
The two of them looked at one another until Stiles felt he should say or do something.
"Wanna sit?" he offered.
Ethan smiled a little and Stiles felt nervous when the twin sat by him, so close their legs were barely touching.
"You still have nightmares?" Ethan asked, nothing but concern apparent in his gaze.
"Not so much. Only sometimes. Sometimes I feel like it was only a bad dream. It never happened."
"Except Allison and Aiden are... " Ethan paused to inhale, thinking of the twin he'd lost.
Stiles felt a tear slide down his face at Ethan's obvious pain. He felt those strong arms embracing him, just like the night before.
"It wasn't your fault Stiles," Ethan whispered with a sniffle. "It really wasn't. You'd never do that."
Ethan pulled back from him enough to look him in the eyes with a burning earnestness.
"You are good Stiles," he went on with conviction. "I remember when you saved me at that creepy ass motel. You're good. Don't ever doubt it."
Stiles wiped at his eye and smiled a little in spite of himself. Ethan kept watching that smile, those eyes. Stiles's eyes were so deep and expressive. He was suddenly and totally lost.
He raised a careful hand to those pale, fair cheeks checkered with moles. Stiles didn't recoil- didn't pull back when their lips suddenly connected.
Ethan felt something spark within, hands finding their way behind the other boy's shoulder and neck.
Stiles moaned into the kiss, hand reaching out to press flatly against that well built chest. He only knew that kissing Ethan felt like the most right thing in the world...
