"It would be easier if he saw somebody we know and trust," Derek dropped the final bomb.

"We haven't seen each other in years," Peter reminded him, his mind still swirling with what Derek was trying to tell him here. "You don't know me. And I'm not sure if you should trust me."

"I used to," Derek said quietly.

Peter didn't dare to ask which part he was referring to.

"I'm not saying that you and Stiles should … you know, right away." Derek rolled his empty cup between his palms. "But I want you to know that Stiles is not cheating on me, that we talked about this, and that we've found something that works for us. Stiles will continue to see other men for sex, that's a fact and it's totally fine with me. It would be also fine with me if that's you."

Peter leaned back in his seat.

"This is not what I expected," he said because he had no clue how to react to something like this.

"Believe me, when Stiles told me that it's you he's seeing, I didn't know what to think. It's one thing when it's strangers but my own uncle …" Derek let out an awkward laugh. "Stiles was quick to say that he'll never see you for that ever again."

"That was my reaction when I saw your wedding picture," Peter admitted. Right from the beginning, he's suspected that Stiles was cheating on somebody and he couldn't have cared less about it. Stiles had made it very clear that they were strangers with benefits, no strings attached, and Peter had been more than okay with that. He hadn't been looking for a relationship, still wasn't, so the arrangement had been perfect for him. Besides, he'd liked the added mystery of knowing nothing about his partner.

However, things had changed. Stiles was no longer Stranger, he was Derek's husband. He guessed they could continue as friends with benefits, but Peter wasn't sure if that was a good idea. No matter how okay Derek said he would be with that arrangement.

In Peter's experience things like this never ended well. But Derek had always been a dreamer, he'd always seen the good in people. Which had led to Kate. Peter doubted that Derek still trusted that easily, though.

"I came to New York to get in contact with you again and to meet your husband," Peter said after a moment. "How about we do that and see about the rest later? Stiles mentioned a few things I have to see while I'm here."

In the end, they agreed to do a cheesy tourist day. Peter would come over on Sunday morning with breakfast and then Stiles and Derek would show him around. According to Derek, Stiles had a list of things he wanted to show to Peter.

"I have been to New York before," Peter defended himself even if he had to admit that he'd never bothered with visiting Times Square, the Empire State Building, or whatever else one had to see around here.

"Believe me, you haven't seen the corners Stiles is going to show you," Derek said darkly, it almost sounded like a threat. "Not sure how long you intend to stay but there's no way we'll cover his list in one day."

"I might stick around for a while," Peter answered the implied question. There wasn't anything urgent waiting for him elsewhere, he could stay a while. Besides, he had some contacts in town, it couldn't hurt to strengthen his network around here.

Peter returned to his hotel deep in thoughts. He still wasn't sure what to make out of the situation. Hopefully, things would become clearer on Sunday.

However, he couldn't resist writing a message to Stiles who was still saved under Stranger on his phone.

You're an asshole

It's been said, came the prompt answer. A few moments later Stiles added: Are you mad?

Peter sat down on the edge of his bed, suddenly he felt tired.

I'm not mad, he answered. But what Derek just told me …

He didn't know how to put in words what was swirling through his head.

It's a bit much, he admitted.

I bet

Peter didn't know what to say to that and he thought that the conversation was over for now but a few minutes later Stiles wrote: Derek just got home. Says that I can show you around town on Sunday?

He made it sound like a threat

I just want to show you the things you won't find in tourist guides. Peter could almost hear him pouting behind those words.

Peter wasn't exactly sure how it happened but a few minutes later he'd kicked off his shoes and had stretched out on the bed with his back propped up against the headboard while Stiles quizzed him about his likes and dislikes. He claimed that it was to decide what to show him first but Peter had his doubts about that. If he liked seafood was a valid question but who his favorite Star Wars character was not so much. Peter had his suspicion that since Stiles was allowed to ask personal questions now, he wanted to make up for lost time.

Not that Peter was any better. He turned the questions around to learn more about Stiles as well. At one point Stiles had grown tired of typing and had called him instead. They talked for a while and it was fun and easy. Stiles had a quick mind and knew how to hold his ground in an argument. They only ended the call when Derek announced that dinner was ready.

Stiles and Derek didn't live that far off from the university so on Sunday Peter stopped at one of the many little coffee shops around campus to get coffee and donuts. Looked like most students were still sleeping at this time of the day, there was only one person already in the store when Peter entered.

Without really looking at him the young man gestured for him to go ahead. Peter took it with a thank you and stepped up to the counter to have a look at the display.

Behind him, the young man made a strangled noise and when Peter glanced over at him, he was looking at him as if he'd seen a ghost. It took him a second to close his mouth.

"Do I know you?" Peter frowned, something about his face looked familiar but he had no clue where to put it.

"No, I don't think we met," the man said too fast with his eyes darting around without even coming close to settling on Peter. Judging by his age the man was most likely a student, which he confirmed a second later, but that was not helping Peter with figuring out who he was.

Peter studied him for a second longer but then he shrugged it off and turned back to the woman behind the counter to place his order. He felt the other man watching him and when Peter walked past him on his way out, he noticed him tensing up.

Back in the car, Peter secured the tray with the cups of coffee in the passenger's seat but instead of driving over to Derek's place before the coffee got cold, he sat in his car, watching the door of the coffee shop.

"Who are you?" He wondered aloud. He'd seen his face before, he was sure of that. The man's reaction had made it more than clear that they had interacted one way or another. His reaction hadn't been unusual but normally Peter remembered the people he'd threatened.

A second later the man came out of the store with a cup of coffee in one hand and a white box in the other. He had a look around but when he didn't spot Peter, he hurried in the other direction. Back to campus and presumably his dorm, Peter guessed.

He was tempted to find out more about him but Stiles and Derek were waiting so he just used the moment the man was looking around to snap a few pictures of him.

He had seen him before, he knew it. Not that the man's reaction had left any doubt about that but for the life of his, Peter couldn't place his face.

He didn't know anybody that age around here, he hadn't even been to places frequented by college students. The coffee shop he'd been to with Derek came to mind, there had been students around there, but aside from the waitress, he hadn't interacted with anybody. For sure not in such a remarkable way to justify the guy's reaction. The only other location Peter could think of was the Jungle. He and Stiles had been on the older side there, most of the guests had been younger, but Stiles had approached him before anybody else had made a move. Maybe it was that. Maybe this guy had seen him at the Jungle and had wanted to talk to him but Stiles had been faster. Peter couldn't recall if anybody had been looking at him but there had probably been a few who'd been checking him out.

It still didn't sit right with him but that was the likeliest explanation.

Peter managed to deliver the coffee still hot which he called a win. He still wasn't sure how to interact with Stiles and Derek and it was not helping that Stiles accepted his coffee with that broad grin of his.

Derek just rolled his eyes at his husband and ushered them over to sit properly at the table. When Stiles started to ramble about his plans for the day, Derek stuffed a donut into his mouth.

Fascinated Peter watched their interactions. The other day he'd been too busy panicking over the fact that he'd been sleeping with Derek's husband to pay much attention to how they acted around each other. The fact that Stiles had been messing with him the whole time hadn't helped either.

He had noticed that Stiles acted as if he was still in love with Derek but now Peter was inclined to believe him. They had been together for over ten years, married for four, they were comfortable with each other. This was not the hormone-fueled hot phase of a fresh love, this felt worn in. If what Derek had told him was true, they were secure in their love and trust.

This could have been me, Peter thought with a hint of bitterness. He could picture himself with Olivia like this. This was how they had thought they would grow old together. Aside from the sleeping around part, that still baffled Peter.

After breakfast, Stiles took the lead, he had plans for the day. He promised to do the typical tourist stuff another day, according to him Peter had to do that as well, but today was for the bizarre fun.

Peter raised his eyebrows at that but Stiles just grinned and told him to wait and see. Peter turned to Derek in search of help.

"Don't ask me, I have no clue either." Derek shrugged.

"I would love to show you this one Star Wars exhibition but they're only open on Wednesdays," Stiles said over his shoulder but didn't elaborate on what he wanted to show him instead.

That day Peter found out that New York had some obscure museums. And stores. Peter bought some rare books and some trinkets he knew were not as old as the shopkeeper claimed them to be but he still couldn't pass up on them. Not that he had an idea where to put them. He didn't have a place he called home and he couldn't travel with a dagger in his bag.

For dinner, they had The Best Hotdog in New York and Peter had to admit that it was good even if he was convinced that it would give him food poisoning. In the afternoon they took a break in a Polish place for coffee and some baked goodness Peter couldn't pronounce the name of.

They finished the day off with dinner at a seafood restaurant. By then Peter was dead on his feet, he'd spent more money on stuff he already didn't know why he'd bought it in the first place than he'd ever intended, and his stomach was grumbling from too much grease and sugar over the day. But Stiles swore up and down that this was the best seafood restaurant in town so he settled in and had a real look at the menu.

Peter returned to his hotel late in the evening, tired and struggling with too many shopping bags, but with a stupid smile on his face.