FBI (For Basic Idiots)

Relax

“I have a head and a tail that will never meet. Having too many of me is always a treat... What am I?”

“A f*****g headache – that’s what you are!” Stiles roars in her “dream”, the words simultaneously ripping from her throat so angrily that she (thankfully) manages to jolt herself awake.

She does that a lot lately; yells herself awake. Mainly because she’s forced herself to choose anger over fear. But only when her exquisite sarcasm doesn’t work for her.

She hears that smug little cackle of his echoing in her mind, shivers because even when he speaks again, it almost feels like he’s standing right behind her.

“A coin... that is what we are, Stiles. Two sides of the same coin...”

Fuck, Stiles suddenly thinks, doesn’t know what’s worse – Him actually returning, or her just finally cracking and going insane. Even more, she doesn’t know which she prefers...

Stiles chooses to ignore the voice, kicks the covers off and stalks down the stairs and into the kitchen. She sorts through the cupboards for a mug, the sugar and a packet of hot chocolate.

Though, no matter how angry she is, she still has the curtesy to keep as quiet as possible. After all, Melissa was sweet enough to offer up Scott’s old bedroom – which was turned into a guest room, not too long after her son moved out.

Instead of putting the rather loud kettle on, Stiles pulls out a small pot, fills it with water and sets it up on the stove. She shivers at the cold tile under her bare feet – and the shorts don’t help keep her any warmer. She zips up one of Scott’s left behind hoodies, snuggles into his familiar scent. She’s no wolf, but she’s got a pretty keen nose, for a human.

It’s why blood still sometimes makes her gag. At least she doesn’t faint anymore, though, so that’s definitely a plus.

Stiles is, as she almost always is, lost in her ever loud and somehow chaotically organised thoughts, is staring into space for those few moments. That is, until there’s a sharp, but also somehow not too loud couple of knocks... Stiles jumps, heart racing slightly in shock. She quickly realises the sound came from the back door, quickly feels her heart racing for more pleasant reasons when she sees just who the hell is knocking on Melissa McCall’s door at stupid a.m.

Stiles quickly turns the stove off, pads quietly through the kitchen and tries to be just as quiet as she unlocks and opens the door for him. “I think this is the first time I have ever seen you knocking on a door, instead of a window.” She bites back a grin with all her might when he shoots her his infamous (and annoyingly sexy) glare. She steps aside to let him in, then shuffles back over to the stove, lets him quietly close the door behind him. “Is something wrong?” She asks, looks slightly concerned now. “Is everyone –“

He fights back a smile, feels his heart swell, because does she ever put herself first?

“Nothing’s wrong. Everyone is fine. Relax.”

Stiles scoffs, raises a brow, tone filled with sarcasm as she says, “I’m sorry, is Derek Hale seriously telling someone else to relax?”

Derek shoots her a brief withering look, though, he lets himself smile, just a little, this time. Even manages to say the words he actually wants to say without sounding totally socially inept. “Just came by to see you, that’s all.” He almost gets lost in that endearing, almost blinding smile of hers, and really doesn’t know why he ruins these moments with her by cheapening it with his crappy attempt at humour (he’s like a kid who can’t admit he has a “crush”... if only it were that simple.) “Besides, you and Lydia are literally the only two members of our cute little pack that I can almost have full blown intellectual conversations with.”

Thankfully, for him, Stiles’ gleaming expression doesn’t dim any, and Derek feels his heart already racing over that when he finally pulls himself together and just tells her – “I missed you, Stilinski.”

Stiles feels many pleasing emotions right now. Smug is slightly one of them, though, complete joy and jitters takes up most of the room in her bloodstream right now.

They’ve grown pretty close over the years, though, strictly platonic, as far as Stiles is aware, anyway.

Even so, Stiles doesn’t fall back onto her usual banter, like she usually does when she’s feeling all bashful. Instead, she takes the two steps separating them and slowly wraps her arms around his (lovely, thick) waist. She presses her cheek to his (lovely, hard) chest, mumbles her words against him, “Yeah, I missed you, too, sourwolf.” A soft smile tugs at her lips when she feels his lovely warm arms hug her back around her shoulders, feels his cheek pressed to the top of her head.

Derek sighs, reluctant as he pulls his cheek away to talk, but doesn’t move his arms – especially when she’s still so willing pressed against him like this. His tone is slightly wary as he says, “There may also be another reason I came to you...”

And just like that, he’s f****d it up, knows he has when she stiffens slightly, lets out a quiet, but clearly annoyed huff and then, pulls away from him altogether.

Stiles is too annoyed at herself to notice the concern that’s framing his tone, or the worried look he gave her. She just feels stupid for thinking that for once, he’d come to her on more than just a stupid supernatural problem, because is that all she is to him?

“Shoot. What’s the Monster Of The Week this week?” Stiles pulls on her big girl pants, steadies her voice as she goes about making that hot chocolate she’s been craving.

A small wave of relieve washes over Derek then as he realises his error – one, he thinks, he can (hopefully) rectify.

“No monster.” Derek smiles lightly when she finally turns back to face him with that adorably confused look on that lovely face of hers. “At least, I hope not?” He arches a brow, grins when she only looks all the more befuddled.

“Are you asking me? Are you high? Can werewolves get high? Oh, crap! Are you sick? Did another hunter get you? You know, Derek, for a born werewolf as talented as you are, you sure get shot a lot.”

“Stiles, shut up.” Derek tells her, tone totally casual. Though, he has to bite back another smirk when she shoots him that beautiful glare of hers.

“Rude.” Stiles grumbles, turns her back on him again and adds the sugar to her hot chocolate and stirs quietly – wishes so bad she could stir so loud it would pierce his stupid wolf ears!

Derek rolls his eyes, but allows himself a moment to smile, because he can’t help it – Stiles annoyingly has that effect on most people... if she doesn’t annoy them to death first.

He sighs, moves to stand beside her, smirks to himself when she makes a point to look anywhere, but at him. He then tells her, voice soft in a caring way, because he really does care about her, but also still slightly cautious, “You can magic away the sound of your pulse, and the smell of your arousal –“ He can’t help shooting her a small, but clearly cheeky smile when her head snaps to face him, eyes narrowed into another glare. ”– but you can’t hide your natural scent. Not from...” His takes a breath after his little (almost) slip up, instead, simply says, “Not from your pack.”

And at least he’s not lying about that. Closely knitted packs like theirs, and like his mother’s used to be, essentially use one another’s natural scents for communication, and deep bonding.

“I had to text Malia back, and I was standing halfway up the driveway, and I could hear you... been sensing you since you got back...”

Stiles finally seems to notice the concern on his face, sighs loudly and tells him. “I’m fine. They’re just stupid nightmares. Trauma leftover from the Nogitsune. As trauma goes, it’s normal, whether it’s supernatural, or not.” She shrugs casually, sips carefully at her steaming hot chocolate. “No biggie.”

Derek doesn’t believe her, though, his voice is soft again, only slightly wary, this time, as he says, “I’m sorry... Being born and raised into this life, I guess I sometimes forget just how disturbing it can be.”

That gets a small, but appreciative smile from her, and Derek swears he feels his heart melt a little more every time he’s around her.

And then, Derek can’t help marvel at her as he says, “Not a lot of people would have willingly sacrificed themselves to save someone they barely know. You really are the bravest person I’ve met, Stiles.”

Stiles feels her heart fluttering so wonderfully, because she is more than that to him... he... he cares about her... but also, she can’t help grinning cheekily as she says, “Well, I mean, I wouldn’t say I barely knew her...” She chuckles when he shoots her that adorable withering glare again. “Y’know... ‘cause I totally banged your cousin.”

Derek lets out an appalled sounding scoff.

“Oh, please.” Stiles rolls her eyes, still grinning. “Malia’s mouth could rival Satan’s.”