Chapter twenty-three:

When Stiles woke up it was surrounded, enveloped in heavy warmth. He felt something running through his hair lazily…fingers? Yeah, there was definitely someone running their fingers through his hair. There was a steady pressure under his arms too; almost like he was…hugging someone? Yeah.

So, there was hugging. How did that happen again? He couldn't really remember much.

There…was fire? And-and that monster with the eyes! Someone- someone helped him though…now who…nope no clue. His brain was still half fuzzy.

Stiles sighed. His entire body felt like really, really sore jelly; weak and stretched.

Too tired to really think Stiles just burrowed his head into the warm, flat surface in front of him- feeling it stiffen as soon as he did so, and the fingers in his hair stopping.

"Stiles." He heard the person he was snuggling say. WAIT. That voice…

"MM- De'rk?" Stiles blinked, opening his eyes for the first time since he'd woken up.

"Stiles." Derek acknowledged from above him, and that was when Stiles realised that not only was he cuddling Derek Hale- he was cuddling Derek Hales' waist.

As in Stiles' head was rather close to that region and his arms were around the man's thighs, his skin stuck to the fabric of the jeans. Wow. Awkward.

"Was' goin' on?" Stiles mumbled, trying to detach himself from Derek as dignified and subtly as possible. It was probably one of the more embarrassing things in life; being found cuddle-attacking a man he'd repeatedly voiced his vehemence for.

He was now on the cold, ashen floor, blankets piled around him as he looked up at Derek still lying awkwardly on the couch. He had no idea how he'd managed to get away with it though; why didn't Derek punch him or something when the hugging started?

"The winter spirit must have caught us while we were driving- we crashed." Derek stated, looking down at Stiles and probably judging him for the way he was messily sprawled on the floor.

Well then! Stiles looked at him judgingly right back…only to notice that the man was rather…lacking in the clothes department. Oh, well would you look at that- so was he. This was an interesting turn of events.

Stiles swallowed, "Y-Yeah, I remember the crashing part."

"Do you remember the part where it pretty much almost froze you?" Derek gritted out, frowning down at him. He sounded angry, but Stiles didn't really put any mind to that; not since angry was basically Derek Hales' perpetual state.

"Uh…N-no I might have missed that part?" he tried smiling unconvincingly, "It went a little hazy there actually- but I do remember something really hot. Like…flames. Did your car blow up? That sucks bro."

"Don't call me bro." Derek sighed, rubbing his hands through his sleep ruffled hair; causing Stiles to realise that he basically just slept with Derek Hale.

"And no- my car didn't blow up, it just rolled a few times and crashed. Perfectly fine." Derek deadpanned; heavy with sarcasm.

"The heat was from a Molotov cocktail." Stiles raised his eyebrows, "I pulled one out to throw at the spirit since it was pretty much killing you with cold and even though I'm a werewolf it probably would have killed me too after a while." Derek sighed, "I'm actually pretty surprised that the car didn't blow up- what with the amount of explosives we had in it."

Stiles stared at him, completely in awe. And stared some more just to make sure.

"What?" Derek snapped crossing his arms childishly with an almost-pout, because Derek Hale would never truly pout would he now?

"That was the most I've ever heard you say…like ever." Stiles breathed, his face as shocked as he was able to get it. And yes, Stiles was shocked; because Derek never really talked much around him (but he may have also been putting it on just a bit- just to make fun of the man).

Derek just rolled his eyes and asked; "How you feeling?"

How was he feeling what? Oh, right- the almost freezing to death thing.

"Like I've been stretched out by a steamroller and hung up to dry." Stiles grimaced, gingerly stretching his sore, weakened arms.

Derek didn't say anything, instead frowning and standing up from the couch (the movement showed off a lot of his body what with him only wearing a pair of snug black briefs) to go and walk to a nearby window.

"It's snowing." The alpha said in his typical frowny voice.

"Uh yeah- it's been snowing for the past few days dude." Stiles muttered back, wrapping himself in the blankets a little tighter because it was cold dammit.

"No I mean it's snowing- like a snow storm." Derek shot back, still staring out the window and frowning, "I think we must've pissed that spirit off a bit and now that we've gotten away it's probably trying to just freeze the whole area down and wait for us to die of hypothermia."

Stiles gulped, "Does that mean we're gonna die? Because that ain't the greatest thing I've heard."

Derek shook his head, "No," he said, "We're not going to die. Winter Spirits are basic creatures- they wouldn't even take shelter into account…or fire. They'd just expect any of their prey to be out in the open with nothing to keep them warm. We have blankets, fire, shelter, combined body heat…"

"Comb-Combined body heat?" Stiles would admit that his voice was a tad high when he spoke.

"Yes Stiles. How did you think I kept you from dying? By praying to my werewolf god?" Derek drawled sarcastically. And there he was again; showing humour! Dude was always sarcastic- why didn't anyone but Stiles notice that!

"Do you have a werewolf god?" Stiles raised both eyebrows and shot out a shit-eating grin.

"Ugh. I can't believe I have to be stuck in here with you for an indeterminate amount of time." Derek complained, moving over from the window and plopping back down on the couch.

"Could be worse. Could be your Uncle…or you could be stuck with Jane and Isaac whine they're still in their 'I like you do you like me' phase." Stiles shrugged.

Derek ignored him and said; "You know…there isn't any food in this house- eventually I'm going to get hungry." He leered at Stiles, "Did you know starving wolves can take down a human if necessary?"

"You're not funny Derek." Stiles grumbled.

Derek smirked, "I'm hilarious." He said.