Stiles was awake before he really realized it. He was wrapped tightly in Derek's arms, naked skin meeting at every turn. Right he reminded himself slowly last night happened.
"Oh god," he let out. "Oh my god," he said much louder. Derek shifted, groaning softly.
"Morning," he mumbled, kissing Stiles' shoulder.
"We had sex," Stiles blurted, "we had sex." Derek chuckled and Stiles' chest heated.
"Yeah I remember," he offered.
"But-but we didn't…are we mated now? Of-officially?" Derek pulled up, rubbing at an eye before looking down at him.
"No we're not mated. That was just sex." His arms loosened and he sat up, rolling his shoulders slowly.
"Oh," Stiles exhaled. He sat up, gasping and slapping a hand on his stomach as pain flared. He peeked under the sheet to see a red mark marring his skin.
"Are you okay?" Derek questioned, frowning at him.
"Uh," Stiles stalled, trying to remember what happened. "I don't remember falling…" Derek gripped the sheet then, pulling it out of his hand.
"Oh that," he mumbled, glancing up after another moment. "I had a nightmare and sort of…I was still laying on you."
"A nightmare?"
"And then you were checking on me and I kind of just…ah let instincts take over."
"So you hit me in the stomach and then decided to have sex."
"Because you were so against the idea," Derek returned, blushing again.
"I'm just trying to follow your line of thinking here."
"There wasn't too much thinking going on. Clearly." Stiles nearly chuckled before frowning.
"Should I feel insulted?" Derek laughed once.
"Maybe." He leaned forward slowly and let his lips drift over Stiles'. Stiles went tense in shock before relaxing slowly. Things were different. They were also still the same. If that even made sense.

He was in a relationship now.
"Mm," he mumbled, flailing backwards, "need to brush my teeth," he explained in a rush before stumbling out of bed, very nearly tripping in the sheet. He ran for the bathroom, trying to ignore the fact that he was naked. And sticky. Okay shower he told himself. Everything will be fine. He snorted. Yeah he was in a relationship for the first time with Derek freaking Hale and they'd had sex without actually deciding they wanted to have sex and now they were just kissing in bed and apparently this was something they were going to do now and he was actually concerned about his morning breath when his dad used to have to remind him to brush his teeth before he left for school. He forced a deep breath, leaning on the sink. Okay this wasn't a huge deal. Right? Right. They'd had sex before. Even though it was decidedly weirder sex. It was still sex. They were still like…well they were still the same they'd been before. Yes. Of course. People have sex. It's the twenty first century. People have casual sex. That could have been casual sex. Totally. Casual sex. Yes. In fact Stiles doesn't even remember all of it. Towards the end there he might have been falling asleep again. So everything was fine. He blew out a quick sigh and grabbed his toothbrush before squeezing toothpaste onto it and shoving it in his mouth. "Fine," he mumbled to himself as he started brushing. "Casual," he mumbled as he brushed, "yeah fine. Fine." The door creaked open slightly and Derek dangled a pair of boxers through. Stiles leaned and grabbed them, biting on the toothbrush and pulling on the boxers before grabbing the toothbrush and brushing again. "Thanks," he mumbled, leaning forward to spit.
"Can I come in?" Derek questioned.
"Sure," Stiles answered, rinsing his brush. Everything was fine he reminded himself. Derek had pulled on his jeans but hadn't bothered to zip or button them and Stiles found himself swallowing as Derek entered the tiny room. Derek crossed right to him, arms wrapping around his waist and pulling him close, he leaned into Stiles neck.
"You smell really good," he informed him quietly.
"It's your toothpaste." Derek chuckled.
"Not what I meant." He dropped a kiss to Stiles' shoulder before reaching around him for the toothpaste and his toothbrush.

Stiles glanced to the mirror for the first time, eyes shooting wide. His neck was a mosaic of pink, red, and purple.
"Jesus Christ Derek!"
"What?" Derek mumbled around his toothbrush. Stiles smacked him.
"What do you mean what? Look at my neck." Derek smirked quickly.
"I am." Stiles huffed and Derek laughed thickly. "It's instinctual to mark you. I didn't bite you too badly." He went back to brushing his teeth, looking entirely too innocent. Stiles smacked him again before twisting out of his arms. Derek pouted for a split second before brushing his teeth faster.
"Not gonna be able to walk down the street," Stiles was mumbling, "without everyone knowing what happened. Derek coughed and spit before quickly rinsing his brush and turning to go. Stiles frowned at him before setting his hands on his hips. "Derek?"
"Stiles?" Derek returned, leaving the bathroom. Stiles rushed to follow him.
"What was that?"
"Hm?" Derek busied himself straightening the sheets and Stiles crossed his arms over his chest.
"You have something you need to tell me?"
"Not really."
"Didn't we just cover you not bullshitting me? Do I need to keep a rolled magazine handy?" Derek turned smoothly to face him, lips thin.
"You're not gonna get away with that again," he informed him seriously. Stiles rolled his eyes.
"Fine so what's going on?"
"The good news is you don't have to worry about your neck." Stiles frowned at him.
"Because…?"
"Because most of the settlement already heard us anyways." His jaw flapped open.
"What?"
"We're werewolves," Derek dismissed quickly, "it happens."

Stiles glared at him wordlessly for so long Derek began to shift uncomfortably before going back to the sheets. Stiles shook his head slowly before crossing to the dresser and pulling clothes out mechanically. He went back to the bathroom, shutting the door and locking it without another word. He got in the shower slowly and washed calmly. So the entire settlement had heard him having sex. Okay. It wasn't like there was anything he could do about it now. It had happened, it was over. Done. He cradled his head beneath the hot spray, forcing a deep exhale. Stiles gave himself the rest of his shower to pout. Once he was done toweling off he sighed and gave his entire body a few shakes. Couldn't do anything about it. It happens. Just like Derek said. Derek was on the futon, pretending to read. He still hadn't bothered with a shirt but his jeans were closed which was a definite improvement. "You're angry?" Derek murmured, just barely making it a question.
"No," Stiles answered honestly, "just…mortified." Derek let the book drop to the carpet before patting the space next to him.
"Come here." Stiles' lips curled as he crossed and dropped onto the futon, pulling his legs up and scooting closer until his legs were in Derek's lap and Derek's arm was around his shoulders. "It's okay," Derek told him softly, leaning his head against Stiles'.
"Okay," Stiles agreed on a whisper, unsure how much he actually believed him.
"If you stayed here long enough you'd probably hear or see everyone having sex." Stiles smiled just a bit.
"That's not really comforting."
"No?"
"Well I don't really want to see that so…"
"But at least they can't hold it over your head."
"I suppose that's true."
"If you're hungry," it sounded like Derek was smiling, "there's pancakes in the kitchen."
"You cooked again?"
"It might have partly been for you this time," Derek told him very quietly, "partly." Stiles grinned.
"I am partly flattered then."
"You should be."

There was a pause before Stiles laughed, Derek's lips curling in response.
"I do want pancakes," he admitted, "but I don't particularly want to walk."
"Hmm," Derek let out, "sounds like a problem."
"You could carry me you know. I'm very compact. Some might even say fun sized." Derek's smile widened.
"Fun sized?" Stiles' cheeks heated and he ignored it.
"Definitely. Plus you're a werewolf so you're super strong."
"It's five steps to the kitchen," Derek told him, smile twisting to a smirk.
"Exactly so it'd be no trouble for you. No trouble at all."
"It would be less trouble for you," Derek pointed out, fingertips drifting across the inside of Stiles' elbow. Stiles blew out a sigh. Derek kissed the corner of his mouth before pushing his legs away and standing. He tossed back a smirk before going into the kitchen.
"Hey," Stiles protested. Derek ignored him so Stiles flopped over and grabbed the discarded book, throwing it. "You're supposed to be nice to me!" Derek poked his head back out, expression thoughtful.
"Did I mention they're blueberry pancakes?" Stiles rolled off the futon and hurried into the kitchen, grinning when Derek handed him a plate of pancakes.
"I could get used to this," he admitted, inhaling deeply. Derek didn't comment, watching him with a smile that was crinkling the skin around his eyes. Stiles tore off a piece of pancake and tossed it in his mouth, sighing as a gooey blueberry exploded between his teeth. He staggered over to the fridge and leaned against it before looking to Derek again. "You should cook like…all the time." Derek chuckled and piled more pancakes on a plate for himself.

Stiles ate until his stomach ached, then he dragged himself back to the living room and tossed himself on the futon. He grumbled in protest when Derek followed, folding the futon down and climbing in too. "Seriously," Stiles mumbled, face half in the cushion, "how come you don't cook every meal? Because you can actually cook and I don't really understand the total hermitage okay." Derek was quiet a moment before sighing.
"Cooking for one person loses its appeal rather quickly."
"Neighbors," Stiles muttered, not letting Derek deter him. He propped himself up on an elbow. "You live in a pack," he reminded him quietly. "Most of them seem nice." Derek blinked a few times.
"I'm sure they are." Stiles laid back, stretching one of his legs over Derek's hips.
"We should throw a party." Derek laughed sharply.
"What? Why?" Stiles shrugged, glancing to where Derek was curled in the corner.
"Don't know…could be a 'we had sex and you heard us' party. Why not?"
"You're ridiculous."
"We've discussed this. All I'm saying is that you should actually like socialize with the people you live with."
"Why?" Stiles huffed at him.
"Because werewolves are pack creatures remember?"
"I've already got all the pack I need."

Stiles inhaled and opened his mouth to argue again, thoughts stalling out when Derek stuck his tongue out. It was so not Derek that it totally threw him.
"Did you just stick your tongue out at me?" Derek shrugged one shoulder in favor of answering.
"What do you want to do today?" he questioned, changing the subject.
"I didn't have any plans," Stiles returned dryly.
"I wouldn't mind getting out of here for a while," Derek said simply. Stiles sighed exaggeratedly before tipping back and staring at the ceiling.
"Well I would love to join you but my neck looks like it has leprosy and remember what happened last time?"
"I'll buy you a scarf," Derek offered, words saccharine.
"Oh yes in the middle of spring. That wouldn't look strange at all."
"We can get out of here and still avoid people you know." Stiles pushed himself back up after a few beats of silence.
"I feel like blindly agreeing would be a mistake." Derek smirked at him and Stiles struggled to swallow.
"Or we could always go for a run." Stiles snorted before puffing out his cheeks and laying a hand over his stomach and groaning. Derek chuckled quickly and Stiles peeked at him. "Going out then?"
"Fine, fine," Stiles sighed, "but it better be something fun."

Derek went shopping while Stiles sat in the car, fingers drumming on the shin that was draped across his knee, heel on the dash. Derek wasn't in the store long but the bags were in the trunk before Stiles got a chance to see what was in them. "You're not going to tell me what we're doing are you?"
"Foot off my dashboard," Derek said in response, getting in. Stiles rolled his eyes. He considered leaving it on until Derek told him but the way Derek's eyebrows pushed up as he turned to look at him made Stiles think it was a bad idea. He sighed and pulled his leg back, dropping it to the floor. Derek smirked briefly, turning the key in the engine before turning to him. "Good boy." Stiles scowled at him.
"How about we leave the dog jokes to the human?" Derek didn't respond, glancing to the mirror before reversing out of the spot. Stiles huffed after a few moments of pointed silence. He pushed off the seat and fiddled with the radio before settling back. "You're really not going to tell me?" Derek smiled slightly before looking back to the road. Stiles huffed again. That was a 'no' then.

Derek drove too fast for a while before pulling to the side of the road. He turned to Stiles with yet another smile.
"Let's go." Stiles paused with his hand on the handle.
"This isn't you bending me over a tree right? There aren't bandages and salve in those bags are there?"
"What, you scared?"
"Should I be?" Stiles returned, swallowing. Derek's lips curled again.
"Come find out." He climbed out of the car then as Stiles chewed on his lip in thought.
"That sort of sounds like a threat!" he called after him. Again Derek didn't answer, heading into the trees with plastic bags swinging in one hand. Stiles shoved open the door and rushed to follow. He had a feeling Derek would leave him at the car. It would probably be some twisted pet joke of his own. Derek was walking fast and Stiles jogged to catch up, shoving off the ground and wrapping his arms around Derek's neck on a whim. Derek grunted and stumbled before straightening and taking another step. Stiles hung off his neck for a moment before pulling with his arms and wriggling up Derek's body until his legs could wrap around his waist.
"Comfortable?" Stiles shrugged, letting his chin rest on Derek's shoulder. "I'm glad," Derek exhaled dryly.
"You're the one kidnapping me and dragging me to the middle of the freaking woods Derek. I should at least get a ride. And don't try to crack any jokes okay?"
"I'll leave the bad jokes to you," Derek laughed. Stiles scowled briefly.
"I'm funny damn it."
"Maybe not in the ways you intend," Derek offered eventually. Stiles scoffed, right in Derek's ear. He wasn't entirely sure how Derek managed to dump him on the ground in retaliation.

Stiles was still rubbing at his tailbone when they emerged from the trees.
"A lake?" he demanded. "All this mystery for a lake? May I remind you we are in Washington? Are you trying to kill me?"
"You don't want to go swimming?" Derek questioned, bags dropping to the ground.
"You're insane," Stiles accused.
"Maybe," Derek allowed, smiling.
"That water's probably like twelve degrees," Stiles insisted, eyebrows pushing up.
"It's the middle of May Cupcake." Stiles next line of argument was derailed as Derek let his head tip back, gripping the hem of his shirt and pulling it off.
"I am aware of the date," Stiles sniffed, crossing his arms and glancing away. He really hadn't been like…marking off a calendar. He'd been gone nearly six weeks though. It didn't really seem possible. Like on some level he still hadn't accepted that this was happening. As if he was still waiting to wake up. The bags rustled and Stiles got an eyeful of Derek as he pulled on swim trunks, tying them before ripping the tags off. "This is not a good idea." Derek shrugged one shoulder, smirking again.
"Stay here then, I got you a book." Stiles scoffed, loudly.
"If you knew I wouldn't want to go swimming then why-"
"I didn't. I just brought a backup plan in case you were scared." Stiles glared at him.
"Very mature." Derek didn't look apologetic as he loped towards the water. He waded in up to his thighs before diving. Stiles shuddered before bending to poke in the bags.

Towels and another pair of trunks were in the first bag. In the second there were two boxes of Pop-Tarts and three bottles of Mountain Dew. Beneath them Stiles spotted the corner of a book and pulled it out, eyes narrowing. He flicked the thin paperback over, rolling his eyes just at the character's name. Who the fuck names their child Rafe? What does that even mean? Is it even a real name? His eyes scanned again. "Last Chance Ranch?" he demanded aloud. "Oh my god." The corner of the front read Harlequin Blaze. "You are not funny!" he yelled after Derek. There was no response and when Stiles looked Derek was so far back he could hardly make out the shape of his head above the dark water. "Yeah because guys always walk through meadows with their plaid shirts unbuttoned and looking sensitive." He scoffed again before dropping to the ground, wincing on impact. He really was going to have to remember to take it easy. Sighing he tossed the book a few feet away. He was going to get bored and he'd be damned if he just caved in a read the paperback romance Derek had bought him. At least now he'd have to get up to go grab it. He'd have to really be desperate before he cracked it open.

Stiles tried not to be bored. He really did. In fact, you would think after all these years he would have mastered entertaining himself. Unfortunately he hadn't. By the time he'd eaten a pack of Pop-Tarts and drained one of the Mountain Dews Derek was still swimming. He shredded the silver wrapper before feeling guilty and gathering the scraps to shove back in the box. Next he peeled the label off the Mountain Dew, stuffing it inside the bottle when he couldn't tear it easily enough. Derek didn't appear to be getting any closer to shore. Stiles sighed.
"This is boring!" Derek swam back, stopping with the water lapping at his ribs.
"I'm not bored," he called in response.
"Yeah you're gonna be a not bored icicle in another minute."
"It's not that cold."
"Says the one of us that can sprout fur at will." Derek waded closer before swinging his hand through the water and sending a stream of it flying straight at Stiles. Stiles yelped, his entire body tensing in reaction to the water that was in fact extremely cold. "Oh my god," he let out, "oh my god."
"See?" Derek taunted, "Not that cold."
"I'm gonna kill you," Stiles gritted.
"From over there?"

Derek slunk deeper into the water as Stiles glared at him. Stiles struggled to his feet before yanking off his hoodie, nearly vicious when it tangled at his wrist. "Oh you're coming in?" Derek called, surprise lacing the words.
"Yes," Stiles informed him, looking down to toe out of his shoes, "and I'm gonna kill you." He bent and yanked off his socks, trying not to wince at the cool stones beneath his bare feet. It's May he reminded himself. He'd be fine. Stiles hesitated briefly before pulling off his shirt. There was a hickey on his chest and he didn't even remember Derek making that. His breath hitched and his fingers curled slightly as the night before flared through his memory. Heat flushed his cheeks and he was biting at his lips before he could stop himself. Cold water he thought somewhat desperately. Yes cold water would be good. He shook himself quickly before unbuttoning his jeans, pulling the zipper down and wiggling out of them. Once his jeans were out of the way he paused, staring at the nearly black water. Derek was pretty far out and it looked like he was grinning smugly. Stiles gritted his teeth and rocked onto the balls of his feet. He was going to regret this. In fact he was 99% sure he was going to regret this. But that had never stopped him before. He was supposed to make stupid mistakes. What else was he gonna have when he was like a hundred and two years old and sitting in a wheelchair on a nursing home's back porch? Okay that's a side note. Focus. Derek was still smirking at him. Stiles straightened his shoulders and walked towards the water.

He got one foot in before stopping and turning back towards the shore. It took an exceptional amount of effort to stop himself from retreating. A deep breath seemed to help and Stiles turned towards the water again. His hands curled into fists as he moved further into the water. It was inching past his ankles, so cold his skin was starting to burn. He tried to think of times when he was too hot, boiling hot even. It didn't help. The water was teasing at his knees when Stiles stopped. Water began to lap gently at his skin as Derek swam closer.
"Talk is cheap Cupcake." Stiles chuckled, surprising himself as a shudder ran through him.
"I'm f-freezing."
"It's worse when you go slow. Just jump in."
"And crack my head open?" Stiles challenged.
"You want some help?"
"N-nn," Stiles tried as Derek started wading towards him. "You just stay over th-there." Derek crossed his arms, one eyebrow arched.
"You're not moving," he pointed out eventually.
"Technically I am," Stiles snapped back.
"You're not."
"The Earth is spinning. I am standing on the surface of the Earth. So technically I am moving."
"Clever," Derek muttered dryly.

He moved forward again, undeterred by Stiles' glare.
"No," Stiles said, teeth clenched. The look on Derek's face was entirely unsettling. Like he'd let just a bit of the wolf out and Stiles was the selected prey. Again.
"I told you it's easier if you do it all at once," Derek insisted.
"Do we really need to rehash the part where you're a werewolf?" He needed to learn to stop provoking Derek. But he hadn't yet and Derek lunged for him. It was trying to dive out of the way that Stiles lost his footing. Derek caught him, but not before half of Stiles' body had been dunked in the frigid water. Derek's arms were wrapped around his ribs tightly, righting him and pulling him close. "Oh my g-g-god," Stiles managed through chattering teeth. "This was a h-horrible idea! I hate you s-s-so much right now!"
"Your body will get used to it eventually," Derek offered.
"B-before or after I d-d-die?" he demanded breathlessly.
"You're not going to die," Derek said patiently.
"You d-don't know that," Stiles' body shuddered violently, "y-you're all big and muscly," he leaned into Derek's body, seeking heat, "n-not to mention a werewolf!" Derek's hands ran over his shivering torso, spreading heat as they went. He curled against Stiles' back and Stiles relaxed just barely. He was still freezing but Derek's skin against his was pleasantly hot. "Was this your p-plan the whole time?" Stiles demanded. Derek chuckled.
"I just like it here."
"I can't s-say the same."
"Come on," Derek sighed regretfully, "let's get you warmed up." He swung Stiles into his arms and Stiles didn't protest, simply shivering again.

Derek carried him past their makeshift camp and back to the car. He deposited Stiles in the backseat, Stiles whining as they separated, and disappeared. When Derek returned Stiles' teeth were chattering. Derek turned on the engine and cranked the heat before throwing Stiles' hoodie in the backseat with him. Stiles grabbed it with tense hands, trying to burrow into it. The trunk opened and slammed closed. Stiles still hadn't figured out a way to fit his entire body under the hoodie before Derek was squirming in the backseat with him. Stiles only managed one syllable in protest before the heat radiating off Derek silenced him. He sank against the body cramping his space willingly. A sound very close to a moan escaped Stiles' lips without his permission.
"So warm," he breathed.
"You're still wet," Derek pointed out.
"Shut up," Stiles shoved his face into Derek's shoulder, "don't care," he mumbled. Derek pulled his hoodie from where it was twisted between them and threw it over Stiles shoulders before pulling him closer. "Still a bad idea," he mumbled as his eyes closed. His body was suddenly urging him to sleep and he was very okay with that. "You're bad at taking care of humans," Stiles continued, mouth running without his brain now. Derek chuckled in his ear and Stiles felt himself smile. "Not funny you could have died and this isn't Titanic buddy."

He paused. Something wasn't right there. "I could have died," he muttered after another moment. "I. Me. The human."
"Stiles."
"Mm."
"Shut up."
"I wasn't tired five minutes ago," Stiles protested. "An we slept like eighteen hours. Or eight hours. Or maybe not there was that break in between there."
"Either go back to sleep or I'm throwing you back in the lake to wake you up." Stiles thought it was a hollow threat but he held tighter to Derek just in case.
"Fine. Sensei is grumpy today." Derek sighed at him and Stiles pulled up enough to stick out his tongue. "If you use corny nicknames then so do I."
"Whatever you want. Go to sleep."
"But I'm not supposed to be tired," Stiles whined.
"I'll make you a deal, you shut up for two minutes and then you can talk as much as you want." Stiles bit his lip, sensing a trap.
"Okay…" he agreed slowly. Silence fell. Stiles was asleep before he realized he had no way to tell the time.

When Stiles woke back up he was mostly seated in Derek's lap, their legs hanging off the seat. Derek's arms were wrapped around him, a book propped on Stiles' stomach. "You are not," he let out, stretching his toes, "reading that."
"You're sleeping on me," Derek returned calmly, "what do you propose I do?"
"Well that's your third horrible idea of the day," Stiles chided, pushing his arms off and sitting up before arching his spine and sighing as it cracked.
"The third?"
"Coming here, buying that book, and reading that book," Stiles ticked off, letting his body relax again.
"Would you prefer I listen to you breathe and count the seconds until you wake up?" Stiles turned enough to grimace at him.
"Trust me when I say that you really do not need to get any creepier." Derek's eyebrows pushed together.
"I'm not creepy."
"Yeah you are. You don't interact with anyone other than me unless strictly necessary and you're always just kind of glaring off into space. It totally reads serial killer."
"People are annoying," Derek said bluntly.
"Yeah so you have a point there," Stiles sighed. He couldn't exactly go about defending the whole human race. "I'm-"
"Pop-Tarts are in the front seat," Derek cut him off.
"Okay then."

They stayed long enough for Stiles to eat, Derek still reading Feels Like Home amidst all of Stiles' protests and gibes. Stiles grew bored eventually and left him alone long enough to eat another packet of Pop-Tarts. "What now?" he demanded, craning his neck again in order to see Derek.
"You're gonna have to get off me if you want to go anywhere," Derek pointed out.
"Right," Stiles agreed slowly. He sighed and stretched his heavy muscles before pushing off Derek and squirming into the front seat. Derek was laughing by the time he settled and Stiles realized that Derek was laughing a lot today. He seemed really happy today actually. Stiles sort of wanted to stop there and not read anymore into it but his mind kept going. Derek flipped his seat down and opened his door before swinging out. Stiles' eyes flicked to him and away. He'd had sex with Derek. Not Derek's wolf. Derek. Derek's eyes had gone blue a few times and he'd bitten him but he hadn't actually like…wolfed out. He'd stayed human. How had he stayed human? Stiles remembered Derek saying he couldn't control his wolf. But then he'd said he'd let instinct take over. Derek flipped his seat back into place, sinking into the car and glancing to Stiles.
"What?" Stiles' jaw fell open gracelessly.
"What?" he echoed.
"You look confused," Derek elaborated. Stiles scoffed while looking away.
"Do not."
"Okay you don't look confused you look like you're thinking very hard about something."
"No I'm fine I just," he paused and shook his head, "no I'm fine." Derek frowned and him and Stiles willed himself not to blush. "I just," he huffed out a breath, trying to explain it away without actually explaining anything, "I think crazy things sometimes and no one wants to know I know that okay because I'm spastic and I talk too much and everyone tells me to shut up all the time so it would really be better if I just started filtering myself." Derek was still staring at him, frown deepening for a moment. "So now I'm filtering myself? Okay?" His hands were curled in his lap and he inhaled shortly before looking down to them.

There was a long awkward silence and Stiles was half debating climbing out of the car and trying to escape when Derek gently cleared his throat.
"I don't want you to," he said, "I mean you don't have to. Yeah you talk too much sometimes and then I have no problem telling you to shut up but if I'm asking what you're thinking or what's going on with you…I want to know." Stiles' throat tightened unexplainably and he didn't know what to say. Derek waited a few more moments before putting the keys in the ignition and twisting them. Stiles blinked slowly wanting to say something, wanting to say the right thing but his tongue felt too big for his mouth and his throat was tighter still. How cruel for words to fail him now. Stiles only seemed to have a problem with words when he actually needed them. Any other given moment he could talk until he ran out of air but now, sitting not two feet from Derek…he had nothing.
"I don't know what to say," he admitted quietly. Derek glanced to him and Stiles couldn't read his expression at all, which was new.
"It's okay." Stiles closed his eyes. That only made him feel worse.
"I really don't," he tried, "no one's ever said that to me before." Well that sounded pathetic. "I mean like no one has actually ever told me they want to hear what I have to say." His mother had never discouraged his ramblings and his father rarely actually said anything about them, he mostly pretended to pay attention like Scott did. Not that Stiles blamed them. Derek didn't say anything and Stiles thought he didn't know what to say either. What a pair they made.

The ride back was silent. Stiles didn't turn the radio on nor did he try to break it. He felt listless, even his mind scanned over his thoughts quickly before sending them back into his unconscious. He thought about fingers that stayed blunt and smooth. Fangs that never appeared. Arms holding him tight. He supposed idly he'd have to ask Derek how he'd done it. Like that wouldn't be an awkward conversation. So…about that sex we had. Still, the knowledge that they need to talk about it started to building. It began innocently enough as tension in his neck. It spread to his shoulders and eventually slipped right down his arms and into his hands. All the while it was still moving, up to his jaw and down through his chest, straightening his spine too. By the time they rolled through the gate of the settlement Stiles felt like he was going to burst. He wasn't sure how he had become the instigator in this relationship. He wasn't sure why he was the one doing the confronting and the talking. Usually he was much better at avoidance. He was practically a master of it. They rolled to a stop outside Derek's house and Stiles released a sigh that he thought he'd been holding for hours. Derek cut the engine but didn't move. Stiles wondered if he'd always been this easy to read or if Derek had learned.
"We need to talk." The words were almost hollow. It didn't matter; they both already knew it was coming. Derek dipped his chin and Stiles wasn't sure if it was a single nod or simply acceptance.

"About last night…well I guess this morning," Stiles began, biting his lip after another moment.
"I'm sorry," Derek said in the next beat of silence, "if you want me to be sorry then I'm sorry." Stiles was intrigued by the turn of events and his lips moved before he could stop them.
"Sorry for what?" Derek looked panic stricken and Stiles shook his head. "Don't answer that." It was only going to get one of them or both of them into trouble. "I just…I have some questions."
"Yeah," Derek breathed out, "I thought you might."
"Oh. Okay." That was good. That had to be good. At least…it sounded good. "I just I mean like…you ah you," he paused to run a hand over his head, "you didn't you know change."
"Oh," Derek echoed, "oh. You want to talk about that." He chuckled and Stiles swallowed nervously.
"What else would I want to talk about?" Derek blinked at him, lips pursed. As if Stiles was purposely missing the point. Stiles rolled his eyes after another second, sighing quickly. "Whatever so how exactly did you manage not getting all furry?" Derek's lips curled into a self satisfied smile.
"I wanted to stay human so badly it was easy."
"That's it? That's the answer?" Derek pulled the keys from the ignition and opened his door before looking back.
"You should be flattered," he informed him.
"You just," Stiles paused his protest to climb out of the car, palm slapping flat against the roof, "you just thought about it and that was enough? You just meditated on it? What?" Stiles' voice increased in volume the further Derek got and it took another minute for him to realize he was standing out in the open wearing only boxers. He yanked the hoodie off the seat and slammed the door before hurrying after Derek.

"That is so not the end of this discussion," Stiles announced as the door shut behind him.
"You're the one that wants more privacy," Derek called from upstairs.
"Okay," Stiles murmured, "you have a point." He pulled on his hoodie and zipped it before shoving his hands in the pockets and climbing the stairs. "So seriously," he entered the bedroom, turning away quickly as Derek pulled on boxer briefs, "you just had to think about it? I thought it was more of a problem than that."
"The bond helped."
"It can do that?" Stiles demanded. There was a long silence and Stiles looked up to see Derek staring back at him.
"I feel more in control around you."
"Even when…" Derek smirked and Stiles had a feeling he should have left well enough alone.
"Yes," he agreed, "even when..."
"Oh," Stiles exhaled eyes wide. "That's good," he continued, voice going so high it nearly cracked. This would be one of the key times for him to shut up, he could feel it. "I-I mean safer. Yeah." Derek's eyes flashed blue and for a moment his grin was almost too full of teeth. Stiles felt his heart pick up. Derek took a step forward and the wolf melted away as if it had all been a trick of the light.
"We could see which you prefer," Derek offered, moving closer still. Stiles nearly choked on his next inhale.
"Oh my god," he managed just as Derek's hands slid through the gape of his jacket, fingertips scraping over ribs. Derek growled low in his throat and Stiles felt claws pressing against his skin. "Oh my god." Derek spread his arms, zipper humming down as it was forced apart. It felt like Stiles' heartbeat was reverberating through his entire body.
"If you're not opposed to the idea," Derek whispered in his ear, claws lifting away before hands pulled him closer, spanning across his back. Stiles managed a whimper in response. Derek leaned to his neck, a hot breath ghosting over Stiles' skin.

"It sort of," he paused to drag in a breath, "sounds like you're trying to, ah, seduce me." Derek's mouth latched onto his neck, sucking hard. Eyes rolling back, Stiles supposed that was the only answer he was going to get. Derek picked him up easily, carrying him to the bed before dropping him onto it.
"You gonna tell me to stop?" It was almost a challenge as Derek grinned down at him and Stiles felt his stomach flip.
"I-um-probably not." Derek leaned down torturously slow, probably giving Stiles every last moment to back out. Even with his heart hammering in his throat he didn't dare move and Derek's mouth caught his.

A/N: There really aren't enough apologies. Leave it to me to actually get a life this summer.

I seriously expected someone to catch on to me adding the anchor thing in..and yet no one did.

And we haven't seen the last of Peter..

Thank you all!