author's note: Argh, late again! I tried to write yesterday, but I was hit with a big ol' block. So, here it is, and I'll try my very best to catch up and put 10 up later.
Stockings
"If you already have presents under the tree, what's the point of putting things in stockings?"
It was rapidly nearing Christmas, and Stiles had wondered when the werewolf would question such things. He was sure that in his childhood they must have used stockings (after all, it was holiday tradition!), but it seemed as if he just enjoyed being difficult.
"You just do, that's all. I mean, there was probably some meaning way back when," emphasizing his point with a twist of his hand, as if gesturing back to a time when Christmas meant something more than gift-giving, Stiles then continued, "but now it's just something you do. And it's something that people don't question 'cause there's not point in questioning." He looked at Derek with narrowed but playful eyes, wondering if he had won that easily but knowing it was hard to ever truly win when playing with the werewolf.
As if taking a moment to think, said werewolf was currently looking at the stockings, brow furrowed as if trying to remember something from the past he had violently shoved out of his memories. "...stockings are for putting coal in," he finally said, looking at Stiles.
"...huh?"
"When I was young, the only reason we had stockings was because we were threatened that it was going to be a Christmas sock full of coal, or the presents." He crossed his arms, furrowing his brow. "One year, I actually got the coal."
For a minute, it was silent. Eyes met for a second before the teen was suddenly filling the silence with laughter. Derek said nothing, simply leaving the room as Stiles continued to find hilarity at the story.
His laughter died somewhat when the werewolf returned with a handful of coal, putting it in the stocking that had been assigned to Stiles.