The two weeks that followed went by in a pleasant blur. It was clear to everyone that there was something good in Stiles's life, and many had jumped to the correct assumption that it was because he had someone new in his life, though no one knew who it could be. He was getting annoyed looks from coworkers (more so than usual), nasty insults from Jackson who loudly commented that no one in their right mind could ever find Stiles attractive (and when Malia had been brought up, Jackson had been quick to scoff "Malia's as crazy they come. And you were just her chew toy"), Erika teasing him incessantly, Lydia roling her eyes at him and giving him the silent treatment because he wouldn't tell her who it was, and angry, predatory glares from Malia whenever they happened to come across one another. None of it bothered Stiles. He just took it all stride, incapable of abandoning his smile.

"It's the best relationship I've been in," Stiles stated gleefully during his and Scott's weekly check-in with one another, eating nachos and watching Star Wars.

He ignored Scott's snark, "You've only been in one relationship before."

Stiles knew he may be talking a bit much about Derek, but it was nothing compared to how Scott had talked about Allison, so Stiles figured fair was fair, and continued to do so. "And you know what I think is key to this amazing relationship of mine?"

Scott was a good sport and played along, smiling in amazement. "No. What is it?"

"The fact that I went into the relationship with absolutely no secrets. I was an open book right from the start so there's no worry that he might find out something about me and decided to turn away."

Scott had shaken his head and chuckled. "Sorry to break it to you buddy, but you're a pretty open book anyways."

"Maybe," Stiles relented, "but not on purpose. And it's always an awkward mess as I try to keep my odd thoughts and quirks to myself. I mean, truth be told, there was a lot I had to end up hiding of myself later on with Malia" to which Scott muttered a few choice words that Stiles didn't bother to pay attention to. "But I wasn't talking about just me. In general, I think people would just be happier in their relationships if they started off completely honest. Because it's freeing. That's what it is."

"What's freeing?"

Stiles startled from the couch to see Isaac walking through the door, in the process of hanging his scarf on the wall. Stiles scowled at his presence, lips tight pressed in his refusal to repeat the discussion for Isaac's benefit. Scott, however, didn't have the same reservation. "Being completely honest in a relationship."

"Really?" Isaac smirked. He took the seat next to Scott and leaned forward to stare mockingly at Stiles. "And what's brought up this realization?"

Stiles presented him with a silent sneer, urging him to leave them be, but he should have known he wouldn't get his way because for whatever reason Scott liked Isaac's presence and did all he could to include the other. For example, despite Stiles's glares and tight lips, Scott didn't see the problem in including the other in the conversation. "Stiles told his boyfriend all his weird secrets and thinks that's why they're so happy together." He end with an undignified squawk as Stiles punched his arm.

As Stiles had expected, the information only led to Isaac's smirk widening. On top of that there was a knowing gleam in his eyes that Stiles didn't like at all. There seemed to be a hundred snarky comments at the tip of Isaac's tongue such as "way to take the mystery and fun out dating" or "who on earth would want to still go out with you after finding out how weird you are?" But what he decided to speak out loud, with an evil twist of his lips was "And has your boyfriend been just as forthcoming?"

It was more from the mocking tone than the words themselves that had Stile bristling. Before he could come back with a scathing remark, Scott was asking "Why would you ask that?" with a concerned frown and big puppy eyes.

"It doesn't matter what Isaac asks. He's not a part of this conversation!" Stiles shouted at the same time that Isaac explained, "Well, if this guy isn't being as forthcoming with his own secrets, I'd think that would make the relationship a little...unequal."

It was clear that Stiles wanted nothing more than to strangle Isaac by the heat of his glare, but Scott seemed unaware of the hatred hanging in the air. "What do you mean?" he pressed, with his eyes still wide, still glazed over with concern."

"He doesn't mean anything! He's just being a damn jerk!"

But Isaac spoke past Stiles's outrage, smiling all the while, "What I mean is that Stiles just gave all the power in the relationship to this guy. Puts him at a disadvantage if there's ever a disagreement, don't you think?"

And Scott, the idiot, was just nodding along as if in thoughtful agreement.

Isaac was practically grinning in glee, fully enjoying having Scott on his side and Stiles's misery. "Though that seems to be your kind of thing though, huh Stiles? Giving all the power up in a relationship. You really seem to get off on being led by the chain." Which was finally enough to cause Scott to defend his friend, laying his hand on Isaac's shoulder and tell him to lay off. Isaac shrugged, "Just saying," and then turned to his room.

It left a tension in the living room, with Stiles glaring at the closed door and Scott looking at him pointedly. Sighing irritatingly, Stiles snapped. "My relationship with Derek isn't on unequal grounds." When Scott said nothing, but just kept up his stare of sadness, Stiles calmed down and spoke in a softer tone to reassure him. "I'm not at a disadvantage. Things are good between us."

Finally, Scott relented and turned away, staring instead at his fidgeting fingers. He must have realized that there was nothing more that could be said on the subject without upsetting Stiles further, so the next thing was, "Kira and I have that dance performance at the end of the month. You going to be there?"

As angry as Stiles had been with Isaac's assumption, it actually wasn't something he allowed to linger in his thoughts. He had meant what he had said to Scott that he and Derek were good, and he had no intention on ruining what they had with his own insecurities. He may have been on a bit uneven ground in the beginning, but that was then, and now Stiles couldn't be happier. And he could tell that Derek was happy too, what with those small but genuine smiles that shined so brightly whenever they were together.

What was more, Stiles thought firmly when Isaac's words may have tried to taunt him later that night, what he had said about being led around on a chain simply wasn't true. While Malia had certainly taken charge in their relationship, especially near the end, it was mostly because Stiles hadn't had the energy to argue. He'd lost his passion for Malia long ago, and, as he shared with Derek the first time they had met, he figured he had never truly loved her anyway. And was it giving up power within a relationship if he simply didn't care?

Which probably weren't the best thoughts to be having right before bed, because it left him feeling hallow well into the morning. It had nothing to do with his relationship with Derek, as Isaac had actually intended, but clearly there were still some unresolved issues concerning Malia. Because he hadn't given up power to her. He hadn't been led around on a chain (whatever anyone else may have seen it as). He just hadn't cared. That hard hitting realization, or maybe just the sordid reminder, suddenly changed the way he'd been thinking of their break up.

He'd received such grand affirmation after breaking up with her that while he felt a little guilty about how they had ended, he'd mostly convinced himself that she wasn't good for him. But he had never truly internalized the fact that he hadn't been good for her either.

Afterall, how fair had it been to continue to lead her on like that when he'd lost feelings for her so long ago. Malia may have been too aggressive and too self-absorbed there had been a problem with them when he had said nothing at all. In his indifference, Malia had just filled in the spaces between them.

So of course she had been confused and angry when he'd finally admitted there had been a problem, giving them no chance to mend. They may have been falling apart for years, but in Malia's point of view, their breakup must have seemed extremely sudden. By the time morning had arrived, Stiles's chest ached with guilt. He left to work with a single drive in mind.

Stiles went through the first half of his work with a preoccupied mind. He lazily went through Erika's and Jackson's security designs, marking problems and uniting possible solutions off to the side, while his own designs lay untended at the edge of his desk, never getting the time to go through review and pass on to the next stage of development. Not that he cared in the moment. He was too busy thinking of personal matters.

When Lydia showed up just before lunch, demanding his company, he frantically jumped over the divider of his desk and rushed off. For the first time since dating Derek, Stiles finally had something to gossip about with her. Greedy for gossip after waiting through his noncommunicative company for so long, Lydia listened attentively, nodding along when appropriate.

At the end, though, her only comment was a roll of her eyes and a haughty, "You're an idiot." Then before his eyes spluttering had the chance to end, she changed the subject. "Now that you're back to sharing information with me, I'd rather hear about this new boo of yours."

Stiles laughed, eased by the familiarity of her pushiness. "Maybe I want you to use that big brain of yours and figure it out yourself."

Lydia narrowed her eyes challengingly. "You're going to regret that." They were already heading back into Wolf Security. "You know I won't let this go, especially now that you've made it into a challenge." Her eyes drifted to the elevators, watching as Malia waited for the door to open. "You better get going. Good luck."

Stiles laughed without humor and hurried to catch Malia in the elevator. She glared at his presence, but when he smiled awkwardly in return, her expression softened slightly. "What do you want?" she demanded with that natural growl of hers.

"I wanted to see how you were doing."

The sincerity in his voice must have shown through because Malia instead of snarling, Malia responded. "Okay, I guess." Then, a little strained, "How are you?"

"Okay." There was a long pause between them. Malia went back to glaring, but this time at the wall, and Stiles fidgeted with unused energy, until he got the nerve to say what he needed. "So, look, Malia," she turned her attention to him almost violently. "Um, I wanted to apologize for how things...how I ended things."

"We can't get back together!" she interrupted before he could say more, her stance aggressive and her expression stern. "I have a new guy in my life so you lost your chance."

"And I'm happy for you," Stiles was quick to reassure before she could get more riled up. "I still think it's best that we broke up, but I could have let you know earlier that there was a disconnect, and I could have let you know in a nicer way."

Malia stared at him unrelenting. Then she sighed. "Probably wouldn't matter. I'd have been angry anyways."

The elevator door opened. With a moment's hesitation, Stiles started out, only to be roughly pulled back. "I accept your apology," she stated almost stoically. Only the strong grip on on his arm let him know she had some emotion about it. "And you're probably right. It's best that we aren't together. I can move forward without worrying about you making me look bad."

Stiles sighed, but knew better than to take it personal. It was in her nature to be abrupt and insensitive to others' feelings. And it was no longer his place to try to change her...not that he ever could have, nor that he had never tried.

"Do you think we can be friends at least?"

The question surprised Stiles and all he could do was nod dumbly. "Yea, of course."

Malia nodded too, her lips pursed together in thought. Then suddenly he was being pulled into a tight hug, the breath practically being squeezed out of him. As soon as it had happened, she released him, patted his shoulder and then made her exit.

Feeling out of step, Stiles turned to follow her lead, only to be stopped by the sturdy body that blocked his path; Derek.