A/N: Yeah, there's some wish fulfillment in this one. You'll see. Two things that are broken on the show right now totally get fixed.
"Home sweet home, right?" Stiles said. He looked around Beacon Hills. It looked so harmless. Looking at Main Street, the place could be anywhere USA, but it just had to be a beacon for the supernatural.
"So, do you think your dad will be at work?"
"Let's try home, first," Stiles said.
His house looked ragged. They didn't have much of a lawn because it was California and it was stupid to water in a nearly perpetual drought, but obviously his dad had not kept up on the general maintenance of the place while he'd been away. Stiles couldn't imagine the state of the kitchen sink or laundry room. Not that Stiles did all the chores himself-but he did help out more than occasionally, and the other times, he nagged his dad to keep things looking right.
Derek squeezed his forearm and asked, "You ready?"
Stiles didn't even want to analyze whether or not the zing in his stomach had more to do with loving the way Derek was suddenly so touchy-feely, or being terrified his dad was going to handcuff him to something for the rest of senior year. "Are you coming with me?"
"Should I? I mean, maybe we should give your dad some time to cool down," Derek said.
"Coward," Stiles muttered, but he nodded. It was probably the right thing to do. Besides, he and his dad were probably going to get sloppily emotional, and neither one of them would enjoy Derek looking awkwardly on at that kind of party. "Okay then. Well, I guess I'll see you around."
"Let me know how it goes. Text or call or whatever. Or come over when you think your dad won't freak out if you're out of his sight."
Stiles grimaced. "The Jeep was on her last legs when I left, and sitting around not being started won't have been good for her. I don't know if she'll even start."
"I can have it towed to a garage I know. Least I can do to pay you back," Derek said.
Stiles raised his eyebrows. "I don't even know if that's worth it. Everything is going on it. It's probably more cost effective to just save for a new car. I love the Jeep, but maybe it's not worth saving."
"If you love it, it's worth saving. At least to me. My treat. When's the last time something turned out right for you?"
Stiles shrugged. "Well, I guess this last couple of weeks turned out better than expected. I thought I was going to be murdered by the CIA and have to drop out of high school, but I guess you and I make a pretty good team."
"Stick with me then, kid," Derek said. It should have made Stiles wince because it was corny, but somehow, coming from Derek in his quietly fond voice, it was the perfect thing to say and had Stiles tongue-tied and fighting a blush as he got out of the car.
His dad was already walking out the front door, and as they tearfully reunited, Derek drove away.
Scott was pissed off at him for leaving; never mind the fact that they'd been ignoring each other before Stiles left and that he'd only left town to help out someone they both cared about. Scott disapproved so he must be right. Stiles was getting so sick of Scott's self-righteous attitude. He wondered sometimes if you could lose true-Alpha status because it was turning you into an ass.
So his first day back at school, Stiles found himself standing around talking to some guy from the lacrosse team he'd never really talked to, much. It was kind of refreshing, only worrying about girlfriends and dances and math class for a few minutes. Stiles smiled as he read a text from Derek. They'd been texting back and forth all weekend since they came home. Apparently the wizard Derek employed to look after his cars had actually breathed life into Stiles' Jeep.
"That from Malia?" Jason asked.
"No. Malia is in parts unknown," Stiles said.
"Everyone thought you went to find her," Jason said.
"Not this time," Stiles said.
"What are you so happy about then?"
"My friend got my Jeep fixed."
"Must be a pretty good friend to try to fix that piece of shit," Jason said.
Stiles flipped him off and considered his words. Derek was a good friend. He had become someone Stiles could depend on and who he cared for more than he liked to admit, even to himself. And Derek had to feel the same, though, because, hello, he had agreed to be a deputy for four years just so Stiles could have some lame-ass college experiences, and he had fixed Roscoe. He'd reached out to Stiles for help when he didn't trust anybody ever. Maybe he even felt a more intense interest than just a friendly one. Was that even possible? Considering the conversation they'd had about bisexual werewolves, maybe it was possible. Maybe Derek even felt more strongly than Stiles, who'd only just begun to realize that he might actually be thinking of taking his attraction to guys from a vague theoretical idea to some pretty specific fantasies with one guy in particular.
Considering all of this, Stiles texted, Watch out, buddy. The next time I see you I might kiss you on the mouth.
Stiles laughed out loud at Derek's reply. Hardly a threat. I kissed a darach. And Kate Argent.
"So this is how it's going to be now, is it?" Scott asked. Stiles hadn't noticed him walking up because he'd been text-flirting.
With Derek Hale.
Jesus.
"What are you talking about?"
"You're ignoring me."
"Don't be such a drama queen. I was just texting Derek. I didn't even see you walk up."
"He your best friend now?"
"Don't be an idiot. You're my best friend. Even if neither of us has been acting like it lately."
Scott seemed mollified by the fact that he wasn't being blamed for everything. "Where were you for all of that time?"
"Vegas mostly," Stiles said.
"Yeah? You do anything fun?"
"Yeah. Catching an assassin for the CIA counts as fun, right?" Stiles asked.
"I guess. For you. You're weird. What's Derek up to?"
"Fixed my Jeep."
"Awesome."
And then it seemed like they were back on track. Friendships should always been this uncomplicated.
"Did you just say you caught an assassin for the CIA?" Jason asked.
Stiles looked at Scott, who shrugged. He opened his mouth to reply when his phone rang. He saw it was Derek.
"Hey Der," he said.
"Hey Stiles. Want me to pick you up in your Jeep today? You can drop me off at my place after. Maybe get a pizza?"
"You are going to wait in the parking lot, right? You're not going to show up in the boy's locker room like a creep again, are you?"
"I'm remembering all of a sudden why I used to find you so annoying. I'm trying to be nice, here, Stiles. I'm delivering your Jeep to you that I fixed for free, remember?"
"You know I can't stop myself from being a smart ass, Derek. I have practice tonight, but you can pick me up at five if that works."
"Okay. Later," Derek said.
"Are you gay for Derek?" Scott said once Stiles had hung up.
Stiles thought about denying it, and then decided not to bother, "Pretty much," he said.
"Does he like you back?"
"Who knows? I always think he's about to kill me and then instead he saves my life in some thoughtlessly selfless way. He's pretty hard to read. I don't know. We're getting pizza."
"That's so weird. Although, he is your type. Like, you know, a broody psychotic Hale," Scott said.
"You forgot stupidly hot. By the way, broody? You been reading those word of the day calendars again?"
"I guess the SAT prep did something for me," Scott said, smiling with goofy pleasure. "You think your dad will believe you're gay this time?"
"I don't know. Maybe he'll buy bisexual, which is more accurate, anyway. It'd probably be better if he didn't believe me, considering I'm trying hit on an old dude. Do you even know how old Derek is?"
"I mean…not that old. He did date one of our teachers like, years ago, though, so he must be at least twenty-five."
"Maybe Jennifer Blake was just robbing the cradle. I mean, she was a sadistic revenge driven druid serial killer," Stiles said.
"Yeah, but she took her teaching job kind of seriously," Scott said. "She wouldn't have wanted to get fired for dating some young guy, right?"
"Is it weird that she's like the best English teacher I ever had? Yes, it's weird. She killed one of my best friends. That was a weird thing to say," Stiles said.
"Are you guys like into LARPing? You like act out an elaborate fantasy life or something? Cause I think Ms. Blake just moved away," Jason said.
Stiles nodded his head emphatically. "Yes, we're LARPers. And all the werewolves and monsters you see running around town are just people in costume."
Jason laughed. "Shit, everyone knows werewolves are real. Scott wolfs out like every other day."
"Wait, people in Beacon Hills know? This actually explains a lot. Did you know the CIA also knows about werewolves?" Stiles asked.
"If the government knows about this stuff, why don't they send the army into to Beacon Hills years ago?" Scott said.
"Cause they're dicks," Stiles said.
The bell rang and they had to go to class. After practice, Stiles showered quickly and ran out to the parking lot. Somehow Scott, Kira and Liam had beat him there and were shamelessly watching from a reasonable distance.
"Why is Scott standing over there giggling at me like a fourth grader? I haven't seen the guy in months. What the hell?"
"Ignore him. He's an idiot. We'll have to all get together and hang out like on the weekend or something," Stiles said.
"We could just invite them all to come with us," Derek said.
"Yeah, sure," Stiles said, trying not let his disappointment show on his face.
Derek went over to Scott and the others, who said that they were busy. They got in the Jeep and Stiles let out a long breath.
"Feel good to be back at the wheel?"
"Are you kidding? So good. I'm so glad you did this. Thank you," Stiles said. He looked over at Derek and maybe held his gaze a couple of moments too long because Derek frowned and looked away.
"Thank me a year from now if it all holds up. My guy says it will and from what I can gather from the bill it's almost entirely made of shiny new parts now, but I guess the body could still rust to pieces," Derek said.
"You cannot undersell this, man. This is possibly the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. I really really appreciate it," Stiles said. "Thanks for not listening when I told you not to bother."
Derek shrugged. "No problem. You want to start the engine?"
Stiles sighed with contentment when the engine turned over immediately. "Oh that's so nice," he breathed.
"Well, take me home, then. Unless the two of you want to be alone," Derek said.
"I love Roscoe. You know this. And I would appreciate it if you would respect our love," Stiles said.
"I do," Derek said with surprising seriousness.
"Yeah, I guess you do," Stiles said.