Before Stiles knew it Scott was doubled over and Jackson was on his back. He was pulling Scott into the Locker room, and then Scott was climbing on the lockers, chasing him to the other side of the locker room, until Stiles sprayed him with a fire extinguisher. Soon enough he was walking to his Jeep, yawning to himself. He stopped when he saw a familiar figure leaning against his baby. He smiled, continuing his approach. "Hey, where'd you come from?" Derek gave a minimal smile.

"You handled yourself pretty well in there..." Stiles sighed.

"Did I? I feel lucky to be alive..." Stiles laughed softly.

"Well, you should be. I think if he was actually giving an effort to killing you, you'd be dead..." Stiles leaned against his Jeep. "Stiles, he can't play in that game Saturday." Stiles sighed.

"Derek..." Derek stood and turned to him.

"It's dangerous." Stiles turned too, the two of them standing close.

"You think I don't know that? I told him. But he's first line. If he doesn't he'll never get his place on first line back..." Derek put a hand on his shoulder.

"If he doesn't there might not be a lacrosse team to play on..." Stiles shook his head.

"Derek, I know. I agree with you... If I could convince him, I would, but all I can do is hope he'll do right by himself, and the team..."Derek nodded, putting on that sour face he sometimes had, though somewhat softer.

"Right... I didn't mean to pressure you about it. I'll talk to him, don't worry about it." Stiles raised a brow.

"Talk?" Derek nodded slowly.

"Communicating through words..."

"With Scott?"

"Yes..."

"Really?"

"Yes." Derek said matter of factly.

"I don't believe you."

"Have I given you reason not to?" Derek tried to pretend to be at least slightly offended.

"You and Scott don't talk. You posture and-and-and growl at each other like territorial dogs." Derek raised his brows, giving the boy a chance to restate. "You know what I mean." Derek rolled his eyes. "Promise me." Shit...

"Stiles..." The boy shrugged.

"Two little words and I'll drop it and trust you." Derek sighed and let his eyes wonder. He could lie, it would be easy. This was a pack matter. Scott wasn't his, but he'd been abandoned by the alpha that killed his sister. Derek had a responsibility to do what he had to to take care of him, to keep his secret. It was worth it. But he had refused th let what he was ruin his life... Yes, Laura was dead now, and Stiles was just some kid, but he liked him, and he didn't want to ruin whatever it was they had. Then again, was he really gonna do much more than threaten the kid? Maybe put him to a wall, but eh... He wouldn't do much more than talk...

"I promise I won't hurt him... Just a friendly conversation... More or less." Derek nodded returning a cool gaze to Stiles, who really needed to stop staring at his lips like that...

"More or less?" Stiles asked skeptically.

"I won't hurt him. Why is that not the part you focus on?" Stiles crossed his arms, reminding Derek of how Laura used to.

"You promise?" Derek nodded curtly.

"I promise." Stiles relaxed a bit. Derek hesitated when Stiles stepped into his arms, but he found himself automatically leaning in to press his lips to Stiles' for no other reason than it felt right. He knew it shouldn't have but it did; it felt safe, and he had to fight instinct not to back Stiles against the blue jeep. Still though Stiles didn't pull away. That is, until an authoritative voice broke the silence of the parking lot, and they both quickly stepped back.

"Mister Stilinski, there is no fraternizing allowed on school grounds." The man bit, standing a few parking spaces away by what Derek assumed was his car. As Stiles cleared his throat, Derek took notice that the man, most likely a teacher, was glaring venomously at him. Derek, not Stiles.

"Yes, Mr. Harris, accident, won't happen again..." The man returned a flat, stern, almost glare to Stiles once he started talking.

"... I should hope not. Like wise, you should both keep from loitering any longer..." Derek couldn't tell whether the man was protective, or just a dick. Stiles nodded though.

"Right, yep..." He turned back to Derek, cheeks adorably red. "I'll see you I guess..." Derek nodded and moved to let Stiles get into the cab of his Jeep. "Um, do you want a ride.

Yes! "No, I'll walk..." Stiles nodded from the other side of the open window.

"Right, okay... I'll text you. Uh, remember, promised." Derek nodded, smiling. Stiles backed out. Derek was ready to leave but paused as the silence broke once again.

"Are you seeing that boy?" Derek turned to the man, giving a controlled smile.

"I don't know what you mean." The man didn't back down.

"I'm asking your intentions." Derek shook his head innocently.

"I'm not one to typically have intentions." The man glared even firmer than his voice.

"I feel responsible to warn you... He may not have many friends... It may seem like he has no one... That he's safe for you to get away with hurting him however you like... But that boy there, has a way of imprinting on people...-" Derek straightened up a bit.

"Am I being threatened?" The man faltered slightly.

"If you were to hurt him, I'd be the least of your worries..." Derek gave a small angered smile.

"And why would you think I have any intention of hurting him?" The man looked him up and down and studied the features of Derek's face.

"Because you carry yourself like a predator on the hunt, calculating your every move and every word..." Derek smile faltered. "I'm just letting you know... The pain you inflict, it'll always come back to you." Derek nodded, and turned to leave.

"I sincerely hope that's true."