Chapter 4

After what had ended up being a surprisingly productive meeting with the rest, Stiles sat back on the one couch in Derek's loft. Scott and Derek were standing by the windows, talking low about something Stiles' human ears couldn't hear.

Kira was talking to Malia about their plan on getting into the Eichen house and what they would do if things didn't go as planned. Liam was just sitting next to Stiles, listening to the girls talk.

"Hey guys. It's going to work, alright?" Stiles rested his hands on his knees as he looked at the two girls. "We have to believe that it's going to work. We get in, you two get into the electrical room to knock out the power. Then you wait there, while the rest of us go into the closed wing and get Lydia out"

"But Scott, Derek and Liam can't get in there-"

Stiles interrupted Malia with a sigh. "Yeah, we know. But I can. Alright? I'll get her out"

"I suppose so" Malia said while Kira glanced between them.

"Is it just me, or aren't you two together anymore?" Kira froze and closed her eyes briefly. "I'm sorry, I have no idea why I said that"

"No, no it's okay" Malia smiled at Kira. "We're um.." Malia looked at Stiles for help. She wasn't good in not being too blunt and Stiles gave both of them a smile.

"We're not. In a relationship that is. We decided we're better off as friends, you know?" He glanced over at Scott and Derek. Surprised at the intensity in Derek's eyes, Stiles looked away. He heard Scott ask if Derek spaced out before they continued their conversation.

Kira smiled, seeming a little unsure how to react. "But.. You're okay? I mean; still spending so much time together now that you've broken up it-"

"They seem okay to me" Liam said and Stiles sent a grateful look his way. They did not need a rant about how weird it could get, because then it probably would be even weirder than it needed to be.

Scott and Derek walked up to them and Scott sat down next to Kira on the floor, kissing her shoulder before starting to talk. "All set for tonight, then?"

Malia nidded. "Yepp, I need to run back home first. We still have another three hours or so before going in there, right?" She got up and left pretty quickly after that.

Scott and Kira said their goodbyes soon after that and Stiles turned to Liam. "Want a ride home?"

The young beta shook his head. "Nah, I'm good. Mason is picking me up"

"Alright then." Stiles turned to Derek, who was leaning against the table in front of the windows. "See you later"

"Stiles, can I talk to you for a minute?"

Damn, he'd been so close to getting away without making a fool out of himself. It was pure torture having him standing next to him while they all were looking at the blue-prints of the Eichen House. Derek had leaned closer a couple of times, when he was pointing to something on the prints, so their shoulders and arms would brush. And Derek had even gotten so close that even Stiles could smell his scent and that just.. fucked with his head. Stiles had been having a hard time not reacting to it. But rescuing Lydia was more important than Stiles' little crush on the werewolf, so he had managed to focus and come up with a plan.

But after that was done, sitting next to Derek on the couch when they finished with the blue-prints had not been so easy to overlook. Or feel. Whatever.

Derek had, much to Stiles (and probably the rest of them also) surprise, sat down on the couch, joining them in their conversation. He hadn't spoken much, but he hadn't disappeared or kicked them out either, so they had ended up sitting around longer than necessary. All the while Stiles and Derek had ended up almost glued to each other from shoulder to knee. Malia had been sitting on Stiles' other side, hence the closeness, and Stiles hoped Malia and everyone else who could hear his heartbeat thought it was because of her, not Derek.

Jesus, that had been awkward. And a little hot. Because Derek had moved from time to time and let his arm brush against Stiles' arm. Slowly, almost deliberately. And Stiles couldn't. even. when Derek did that. So yeah, awkward seeing how he had his ex on one side and his secret crush on the other side.

And to add to more weirdness; no one knew about Derek and Stiles' friendship so there had been quite the surprised glances when Derek chose to sit down next to someone they all thought got on his nerves.

But now he had asked Stiles to stay back to talk. And Stiles turned slowly and went back inside just as Liam said his goodbyes. "What's up?"

Derek stood with his arms crossed in front of his chest and Stiles swallowed at the sight. It was so normal, so typical Derek. And he had been gone for so long and now he was back and Stiles wanted nothing more than to go over there and hug the man.

But he didn't, so he settled for walking a bit closer and putting down his bag. "Derek?"

"Have you been avoiding me, Stiles?"

"What? No. Why would you think- I haven't done that!"

"Then why have you been acting all jumpy and avoiding being alone with me?"

"You think I've been avoiding you? What would make you think-"

"Stiles!"

Stiles shut his mouth with an audible click and looked at the man in front of him.

Derek raised a brow and waited. "So?"

"So nothing. I haven't. I've just been really busy. Like really really busy with everything that has been going on and you know; school. I have two essays that I'm supposed to deliver tomorrow. And I haven't even got started. And even if my dad knows about all of this supernatural things now, he still worries and wants me to be home by midnight and that's just not doable seeing how the chimeras doesn't have a watch or take precautions not to be out late at night and-"

"Stiles. Calm. Down." He frowned as he took a few steps closer. "If you don't want to talk to me anymore, you don't have to. I just.. thought you have been avoiding me."

Derek was standing a lot closer now and Stiles took a couple of deep breaths, trying not to freak out. This was Derek. He knew Derek and he shouldn't be pushing him away.

"I'm sorry. I've been a little distracted and I didn't mean to make you feel as if I have been avoiding you" He met the older man's eyes and felt like shit when he noticed the well-hidden hurt in Derek's eyes.

It had taken Stiles quite some time to decipher Derek's facial expressions. Because he didn't have that many, to be honest. Or so Stiles had thought.

But as Stiles got to know him, he had discovered that there was a lot more to Derek Hale than the guy let on. So to see hurt swirling in his eyes made Stiles swallow a bit harder than normal.

He sighed. "I really am sorry. I just.. You've been gone for so long and I've gotten used to handle things on my own. It's not like Scott has the time to hang out and talk a lot, with Kira being around. You know Scott, once he becomes smitten with someone, he can't see past that person" He gave a small smile, thinking about his best friend. "And now you're back and I've just.. been busy with everything and.. Look, I am sorry. I didn't mean to, alright?"

Stiles didn't lie. Not technically. So when Derek heard the steady beat for Stiles' heart, he had no other choice than to believe him.

Derek nodded once. "Alright." He paused before deciding to add something. "I didn't mean not to call or send you a text after I left. I just.. didn't know if you wanted me to" He almost seemed a little shy and sweet Jesus, if that wasn't the most adorable thing ever.

Stiles gaped at him. "You didn't know if I- Of course I wanted you to. We've been having this some kind of friendship thing- I don't really know what to call it but yeah, friendship it is, for a while and when you left.. of course I wanted to hear from you. Just to know that you were doing alright and wasn't getting into furry business all the time and-"

Suddenly he was engulfed in strong arms and he felt Derek's nose between his shoulder and neck. Stiles was so surprised that he waved his hands for a second before he hugged the wolf right back.

Derek breathed deeply, as if he'd been longing to do that, and Stiles melted. It was no other word for it.

All of his reasons to avoid Derek drained away and he didn't care. Right now he didn't care about anything, because standing in the almost empty loft with his arms full of Derek friggin Hale- who seemed to want to glue himself to Stiles he might add- was just what he needed.

For the first time in months, Stiles felt himself relax and just be in the moment.

Suddenly his phone rang and the buzz from his pocket made him jump at the same time that Derek let him go.

"Yea-hello?" He glanced over at Derek, who seemed a little embarrassed and Stiles himself was breathing a little faster than normal.

"Dude, you alright? You seem weird"

Knowing that Derek could probably hear what Scott was saying, he groaned. "No, I'm fine. Just peachy. I'm on my way home actually"

"Where have you been? The meeting at Derek's loft was over an hour ago"

Stiles raised his brows. "It was? I mean, it was. But me and Derek here just went over the plan one more time, just to be sure so.."

"Okay.." Scott seemed a little uncertain but Stiles ignored it. He was not about to explain what was going on over the phone. Not that anything was going on really.. right?

Scott cleared his throat and asked if Stiles thought Theo knew about Lydia.

"What do you mean ' know about Lydia'? I'm sure he knows who she is, who doesn't? But if he knows she's at the Eichen house? Probably. Why?"

He heard Scott sigh. "I don't know. Just something Kira said. I don't know man. This plan better work."

"It will. See you soon, alright"

He hung up and turned to Derek. "I better go."

Derek nodded with a face back to being unreadable. "See you tonight"

-o-o-o-o-

Stiles parked the Jeep in the drive-way and couldn't see his dad's cruiser, so he was probably still at work.

Not that it mattered anyway. Stiles was going for a shower, then get some sleep.

Rescuing Lydia had been more than a little eventful and Stiles still couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that Parrish was a hellhound. A hellhound! Thank god for hellhounds, Lydia's scream could have killed all of us, Stiles thought before frowning. Why is that a normal thought for me? Hellhounds, chimeras, creepy-ass masks.. I swear this town will make me go crazy. He shook his head and walked into the house.

At least Lydia was safe. Stiles hoped she would be okay after a few days rest. Seeing her on Deatons table just now had made Stiles' happy that they hadn't waited any longer before getting her out. By the looks of it, they had waited long enough.

After the shower, he wrapped a towel around his hips before padding into his room. With slow movements, he found a pair of boxers and put them on before he fell into the bed before lifting his head in alarm.

"Holy shi- Derek! Make a sound, a growl, something! Not just.." He waved his arms around "sit there in the dark. It's creepy, dude!"

Derek was sitting next to the window, as a wolf. He had gone into the Eichen house a human and come out as a wolf. Something about getting Parrish to go into hellhound-mode or something.

The wolf sneezed before it transformed itself into human form and mother of all that was holy; Derek Hale was naked in his room.

He's naked! I repeat; Derek Hale is naked. In my room! Stiles slammed his eyes shut and kept them closed as he fell back on the bed. "Find some clothes, dude. Boxers in that drawer" He pointed to where he thought it was located, because hell no; he was not looking at the naked body of Derek Hale. It would make things extremely uncomfortable. At least for Stiles. And his underwear. Thank God it's dark in here. He heard soft chuckling and a drawer getting opened, then closed. "You dressed?" Stiles knew he should probably feel a bit honored when Derek thought he was comfertable enough with Stiles to let him see him change from wolf to human. He had a vague thought that not many had seen the tranformation before.

"They don't fit" The words were bit out and Stiles could almost see the glare on the other man's face.

Stiles dared to open his eyes and burst out in a half-hysterical laugh. Derek was standing in the middle of the room in Stiles' Batman-boxers.

Who was stretched. Mouthwatering so.

Stiles briefly wondered if the seams would rip if Derek ever moved, let alone got a hard-on in those. Not that he would get that. Because Stiles' mind could not go there.

"I think I have some sweats or something" Stiles jumped out of bed and found some clothes in his closet. "Here" He held it out and was suddenly aware of how little clothing he himself was wearing. They were both standing in the almost dark room, wearing only their boxers. Or in Derek's case; in Stiles' Batman boxers.

Stiles himself had a pair of red boxers and he knew he wasn't as toned or buff as some of his friends. Not that he was thin or scrawny, but still.. He felt his cheeks heat up and tried not to let this get too awkward. And he was not going to embarrass himself even more by having his boxers getting tighter by looking at the man in front of him.

Seeing Derek's lifted brow he grimaced. "So I sleep in just my boxers sometimes. Big deal"

Derek took the t-shirt and sweats as Stiles dove back to bed. "You need shoes or anything before you go? I don't think mine will fit you but maybe my dad has some sneakers he's not using anymore. I could totally look-"

"It's fine" Derek pulled on the clothes, that fit him like they were painted on and dear God, Stiles couldn't handle this much longer. Not without throwing himself at the other man's feet, begging to touch. Especially now that he knew how the werewolf looked in just his boxers. And oh God, Stiles needed to stop thinking about boxers!

Stiles ripped his eyes away from the god-like body in too tight clothes, and up to amused eyes. "Shut up"

He pulled the sheets over his head and groaned. "I'm going to sleep. Do whatever you want; go home or keep standing there but I'm sleeping. Sleeping here. Talk to you in the morning"

He felt the bed dip beside him and he opened his eyes up to see Derek sitting next to him. "You said I could do whatever I wanted"

Stiles snorted. "So then you chose to sit down on my bed?" He could see how tired Derek seemed and he contemplated asking the man to sleep there. It wasn't like they hadn't done so before, right? Even if it then had been purely platonic, with more clothes on and more for comfort than anything else. Stiles cleared his throat and scooted back in his bed. "Just.. don't steal the blankets" he mumbled before turning around, refusing to meet his eyes.

After a moment or two, he felt the bed shift as Derek stretched out beside him. Stiles could feel the heat coming off the werewolf and he willed his heart to stop beating so erratically. Derek could probably hear it and that was a mortifying thought. And Stiles was so not up for a conversation as to why his heart was behaving like it did. As long as Derek didn't already know from the hormones wafting out from Stiles when he saw the man in just his boxers.

There I go again, thinking about his boxers. Jesus Christ, get a grip man. Sleep. Sleep was good. Sleep was safe. So yeah, he was going to sleep.

Right now. He would fall asleep any moment now. Aaaaany moment now.

As if Derek could read Stiles' mind, he turned towards him and pulled Stiles to him. "Sleep, Stiles"

Stiles felt Derek's arm around his waist and no, this was nothing new. They had done this before but then Stiles hadn't been aware of his attraction to the other man and they had both been in shirts and pants. Now Stiles was wearing a lot less while Derek.. He's not wearing the t-shirt! When did he take that off?

Derek pulled Stiles even closer, so his chest touched Stiles back and oh god, Stiles was about to have a heart attack.

He felt Derek stiffen behind him. "Is this.. is this alright?"

Stiles nodded. "Sure, yeah. It's alright" Stiles tried listening to Derek's breathing and after a while he could feel himself calm down.

He yawned and snuggled deeper into the sheets. "G'night"

-o-o-o-o-

Stiles woke up slowly. It was Saturday and no school, thank God. He hadn't opened his eyes yet and he burrowed his nose into the warm skin next to him.

Wait. What?

He opened his eyes and looked straight into a broad chest. Derek.

He leaned his head back a bit, to get a better view. He even has perfect nipples, the bastard. He rolled his eyes at his own thought and lifted his head. Slowly, as to not wake the werewolf.

This was the first time Stiles ever had managed to wake up before Derek. Maybe he really does trust me after all. Huh..

Derek had usually left some time during the night, after Stiles' nightmares had subsided and Stiles had fallen asleep. They had a pretty clear deal on the nights were Derek came to his room. Derek would stay until Stiles managed to fall asleep, then he would leave. If not, he would be sitting on Stiles' chair reading or something when Stiles woke up. It had been a perfect deal, no awkwardness or nothing.

So this was a first. Stiles knew that Derek would probably wake up soon so he took his time looking at the man next to him.

Derek had his eyes closed, while his hair was slightly messed up and it made him look even hotter.

Feeling something else waking up, Stiles cursed men's anatomy for a second before scooting away from the warm body he had been curled up against so Derek wouldn't notice. But strong arms prevented him from escaping yet another embarrassing situation.

I refuse to have to explain why my morning-wood is poking Derek Hale's thigh. Nope, that is so not happening. He tried to wiggle his way around so he could slip out of the arms holding him trapped. The arms tightened around him and Stiles panicked. He tried to turn around again and sleeping-Derek actually let him, since he was just turning around and not trying to turn around and leave.

Trying to get into a comfortable position, Stiles sighed and wiggled a little before settling down once more. Derek pulled him closer and Stiles eyes shot up to the size of saucers.

Batman's up, was the first thought that fell into Stiles' head and he had to stop the laughter bubbling in his chest.

This whole situation was so messed up. Stiles had no idea what he should do, so he laid perfectly still so not to make things worse. And now his own hard-on was exactly that; hard. As freakin' granite. And Stiles didn't think it would go away anytime soon either. Not with what he was feeling against his ass-cheek.

Derek moved a bit and Stiles had to bite his lip to prevent a moan from slipping out. God, this was torture on a whole new level.

The man behind him moved again, his leg slipping between Stiles' own before he froze.

Stiles closed his eyes. Derek probably knew that Stiles was awake the second he woke up, but he still had to try.

He felt Derek pull away slightly before leaning closer to Stiles' ear. "I know you're awake, Stiles"

And que the goose-bumps. God, this man would be the death of him someday.

"'mornin" Stiles mumbled and scooted away before rolling on his back, pulling up a leg to hide his very enthusiastic boner. "I, uh.. better get up. Dad's probably going to wake up soon and I'm having breakfast-duty"

Derek leaned against the headboard, running a hand through his hair. "He already left an hour ago"

"Oh." Stiles sat up and stretched slowly, feeling his muscles shake and clench before he found his clothes and pulled them on in a hurry. This was oddly domestic and at the same time a bit awkward. "Well, I'm making an omelet either way. Want one?" He finally looked at Derek, who.. was his ears a little bit red?

"Sure. I'll.. get dressed soon"

Stiles felt his cheeks go warm and he bit his lip before nodding, he almost fled the room. He stopped by the bathroom and did his business. Having to pee was out of the question because hello boner, and doing something about said boner was also out of the question because he knew he wouldn't manage to look Derek in the eyes ever again after knowing the werewolf would probably hear and smell what he had done in the bathroom. He washed his face and gave a strong, mental talk to himself in the mirror about stop thinking about Batman, nipples and Derek's scent before padding downstairs to start on making them breakfast.

Derek came down shortly after, looking a little out of place. He hadn't been in the house that many times, except for Stiles' bedroom and Stiles couldn't hide his smile. "Sit down and get ready to be blown away from the awesomeness that is this-" he got the omelet on a plate before giving it to Derek "-mouthwatering omelet."

Derek eyed the food with a skeptical look before taking a bite when Stiles gave him a stare that told him to try it before judging. "Huh, it's actually not that bad"

"You didn't believe in my skills? I'm wounded, Sourwolf"

Derek glared at him, but didn't stop eating so Stiles took that as a win and started eating as well.

The weird, but yet nice morning came to an abrupt end when Stiles' phone started ringing. "It's Scott"

When he hung up, Derek had already cleared their plates and put them in the sink. "Let's go. I need to change before we meet up with them."

-o-o-o-o-

Two chapters in one day! Hope you liked it. So did ya? huh? Hehe..

And thank you again for your rewievs, follows and favoriting!