FBI (For Basic Idiots)

A Real One

“No other DNA, just the victim’s blood. No other footprints but hers, seriously, not even a dead leaf out of place. And the only items I found lying nearby were a charm bracelet and a red sweater. Cashmere. Girl had good taste.”

Stiles knows, she goddamn knows the nogitsune is free and out there somewhere, either waiting for her, or worse. Still, she’s nothing if not thorough as always in her research and reconnaissance – even while being in a pack of supernaturals with super senses, she’s often, if not always the person they all come to for help on such matters. Which means she won’t stop until she knows for sure the trickster is gone for good this time. No trapping it. Scott’s stupid morals be damned.

“Yeah, that’s what I was afraid of. No tracks. No anything... Damn it.” Stiles admits, because it’s just further proof she really did set Him free... again.

“Well, now that I’m done with the official report – on your authorisation, I’d like to take the charm bracelet home and see if I can pick up any hints of the supernatural. Not sure which spell to use yet. There’s a few good ones that could do the trick... Or maybe I’ll just try them all... just to be thorough, of course.” Logan says, sounds rather excited by the idea.

Stiles smiles fondly at the newer spark, understands his enthusiasm and excitement, because it reminds her of herself when she first found out what she was. “Of course. Anything to help will be great. Thanks, Logie.”

“Awesome. No problem. I’ll give you a call when I’m done.”

“You sure you wanna spend the holidays cooped up in the office? I could totally get Donna to take the floor for a couple of weeks.” Stiles knows he loves his job more than anything, but she still feels a little guilty for letting him go back home alone.

“Hell no. She hates me enough as it is... stupid Karen b***h hates everyone and everything.” Logan huffs when Stiles laughs. “Besides, I’ll be back down for New Year. I don’t mind working Christmas, never really bothered to celebrate it, but New Year is a time for getting so drunk you forget your own name.”

“And where you left your panties.” Stiles supplies.

Logan sighs, sounds just about done with her, but still, he’s humble enough to agree. He lets out a more exasperated sigh, mumbles out, mostly to himself, “And where I left my panties... Wow, that’s actually happened more times than I can count.”

“Sssllluuut.” Stiles chirps, amused grin lighting up her face as she finally hauls herself out of bed and up to get dressed.

“So?” Logan scoffs out, earning him another laugh as Stiles puts him on speakerphone and places the phone on the nightstand. “Anyway, how did your cute little breakfast date go with tall dark and delicious?”

Stiles can’t help chuckling, shakes her head as she sorts through her suitcase of clothes. “It wasn’t a date.” She tries to sound firm, unwavering. “We talked about the case, mostly...”

“You’re a good liar, Stiles, but not so much when it comes to Derbear.” Logan rather snootily states, laughs when he hears her practically sputtering for her response.

“Do NOT EVER tell him about that stupid nickname!” Stiles hisses out, glares over at her phone when her so-called friend laughs at her again.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m not THAT much of a bitchy queen, y’know?” Comes Logan’s drawl response.

Stiles takes a breath to calm herself – often wonders how she’s not asthmatic, just like Scotty used to be. “We ate and we talked. That’s it.” And of course, she doesn’t mention the blonde w***e of a waitress, because she knows Logan will never let her live it down. Lydia and Allison teasing her through her teen years for her crush on Derek was quite sufficient enough for Stiles, thank you very much.

“Did he insist on paying? AND did he come pick you up instead of meeting you there?” Logan scoffs out a laugh when he only receives silence. “Sounds like a date to me.”

“Well, it wasn’t.” Stiles snootily tells him. “He’s just an old-fashioned gentleman, that’s all.”

Logan chuckles. “I’m sure he is... but it still sounds like a date.”

“You’re impossible.” Stiles huffs as she slips on a pair of jeans and her yellow Converse – and totally not because Derek said he liked her yellow Converse... ugh. She really is pathetic.

“And you’re in denial.” Logan simply tells her, sounds smug again as he then tells her, “You’re meeting up with him again today. You’ve been back in Beacon Hills for 4 days, and you’ve seen Derek more than you’ve seen me in the last 5 months.”

“Because he’s helping me with the case until the others finally get off work for their own holidays.” Stiles says, voice a little too snooty now. And sure, even to her, it sounds like she’s in denial as she pathetically adds the details of, “And besides, wolf packs are a close knit affair, and you and I don’t always work in the same city, so you can’t compare that shit.”

“Sounds like you’re reaching now, but whatever, I’ll play along.”

Stiles sighs, tries not to sound so beat as she states, “This isn’t gonna be a social call.”

“But you wish it was.”

“I wish I could slap you right now, that’s what I wish.” Stiles mutters under her breath.

Logan sniggers quietly. “I’m sorry – what was that? You challenging the Queen of b***h Slaps?”

Stiles chuckles. “Yeah, you don’t get to self title until I see you and Red in action together.”

Logan laughs. “Fair enough. She’s very... catty. I like her.”

“We all call it ‘overly opinionated’, but whatever.”

Logan scoffs again. “Says Stiles Loudmouth Stilinski.”

Stiles isn’t even offended, just silently agrees. “That sounds like a cool Native American name; Stiles Loudmouth Stilinski... I like it.”

Logan snorts. “You’re attention span is appalling. How you ever managed to get a job with the FBI, I’ll never understand.”

Stiles huffs. “It’s not that bad... anymore.”

Logan lets out a more affectionate laugh. “So, what’s the plan if your trickster is indeed free again?” He asks carefully, sounds concerned, but doesn’t want to upset his friend.

Stiles huffs as she pulls on her favourite red zip-up hoodie (that still fits her from her teen years, though, just a little more snugly now that her boobs are slightly bigger and her lean and lithe form has filled out a lot more.) “I dunno yet. Derek’s making me take one step at a time – which, not a bad idea, considering we don’t know even where to start... and adorably, I think he’s trying to keep me calm... at least, until panicking is absolutely necessary.”

This time, Logan doesn’t tease her about Derek, instead, tells her, “I’m glad he’s always got your back. He’s a real one, Stiles. Everything you told me about him, seems like he’s just as in love with you as you are with him. Even after the s**t he went through with that terrible Kate person, he’s always helping you without expecting anything in return. Trust me, girl, as a gay man, I totally agree with you ladies – men are awful... like, a lot. So appreciate this one.”

Stiles doesn’t know what to say to the Derek-being-in-love-with-her part, somehow finds a way to bypass (almost ignore) those words. Though, her throat is rather tight when she replies. “I told you – it took a long time for him to trust Scott and I, let alone anybody else. His own uncle is just as sick as Kate. Frankly, I’m surprised he’s not still pissed at the world, because I know I would be.”

She can just feel Logan rolling his eyes and smirking at her as he says, “He clearly has a thing for women that are too crazy for him.”

Stiles scoffs, snootily tells him, “I would object to that if it wasn’t a true statement.”

“Uh-huh.” Logan says, tone teasingly bored sounding. “Why does the nogitsune even want you anymore if he’s able to possess anybody he wants?” He then asks, because Stiles has told him everything – including how the trickster forced her hand with the ultimatum of a friend’s life or death.

“What I’m more worried about is how he was able to possess me in the first place.” Stiles says with dread on the edges of her tone. “A nogitsune can’t possess another supernatural being, they have to be human. Which, yeah, technically, I am, or at least, I was at the time, but that’s not even the point here. The point is that if he can possess one spark, he can possess any of us. I mean, I would totally choose a powerful spark over a basic human if I wanted to keep myself safe AND I needed some firepower.”

“Well, that answers MY question.” Logan lets out a fond chuckle. “I’ve been studying the memories of other sparks –“

“Um, what?” Stiles blinks down at her phone. “You can do that? How? What? How?”

Logan chuckles. “I told you to join our online forum, but you called me a hippie. I mean, most of them are actually hippies, but it’s sparks from all around the world. There’s basically no written information on us, because our people like to keep their history and their culture safe. So fortunately we do seem to like sharing and helping one another. Seems to be some law that we never turn our own kind away. They gave me a bunch of spells I didn’t even ask for. As soon as I told them I was new to this whole thing, I literally got swarmed with help. They’re all very endearing.”

“I can’t believe this shit.” Stiles huffs as she flops back onto the bed. “Does literally everyone, but me know more about goddamn sparks?”

“What’re you talking about?” Logan asks, sounds brimming with intrigue.

Stiles curses herself silently under her breath before begrudgingly answering. “Derek.” She mumbles out her words. “His mom’s emissary is a spark. Said she kept all the diaries.”

“Awh. Is he gonna fetch them right to you like the good boy that he is?” Logan playfully teases.

Stiles glares down at her phone as she grumbles out her reply. “No. I’m going to his place and he’s gonna help me look over them...”

“Uh-huh. Sounds like any excuse to be in the same room as you, but whatever, what do I know, right? I mean, I barely know the guy.” Logan pretends to let out a tired yawn, almost sounds genuine.

But Stiles knows him better, knows that he can pretend to lose interest as much as he likes, doesn’t buy it for one second, because she can practically hear him smirking as he so blatantly waits for her response. “OK, I’m hanging up now, you prissy little b***h. You’re no help at all.”

Logan laughs, tells her, “In my defence, I wasn’t trying to be helpful.”

“Good. Byyyye.” Stiles drawls out, finger hovering over the phone.

“HavefunonyourDATE!” Logan quickly shrieks out before she inevitably hangs up on him.

“Ugh!” Stiles groans, pokes her finger at the screen and disconnects his call.

###

Much to Stiles’ amusement, Derek insists – frankly pleads – on taking their findings from his family vault to the peace and quiet of his uptown loft apartment rather than be subjected to the utter chaos and loudness that is a bunch of underage supernatural beings staying at the rebuilt Hale house. And of course, being alone with the overly handsome wolf is always a pleasure for Stiles, so obviously, she doesn’t even think of refusing him.

Although, she is rather distracted after opening the wooden triskele box – the nogitsune’s prison for the last decade – only to find the little firefly gone; the nogitsune gone. Otherwise, Stiles would totally be her usual babbling and nervous blushing self around the wolf – the annoying love of her stupid life. Ugh.

“This is bad. Like really bad.” Stiles says, finally registering the gravity of her situation as she slowly plants herself on his single couch. “Like, last time, he just wanted to be free and do his normal evil thing, but this time?” She scoffs out a bittersweet laugh. “This time, he’s gonna want revenge. Noshiko was the first ever to trap him, it was his mistake – fool me once, and all that bullshit. But Scott, Kira and I... we’re all responsible for trapping him again.”

“Stiles –“ Derek tries to think of something comforting to say as he sits opposite her; perches on the coffee table. She, however, cuts him off with that same fearful scent rolling off of her in waves, he almost can’t bare it.

Stiles, oblivious as ever, sighs loudly in defeat, stares down at the perfectly waxed floor with wide-eyed horror. “I can feel his anger, even now.” She glances up at the wolf with a worried look. “It’s like I’m still connected to him... like maybe he’s always been there, waiting for the right time...”

Derek has never been as good with words as his mother or Laura were, or annoyingly, even Peter still is. So, he tries his best; tries what he hopes is the next best thing to calm her down right now. Slowly, he rises to his feet, shuffles over to the kitchen and asks her, “Beer or coffee?” He arches a brow, adds, “Or something stronger?”

“Stronger. Please.” Stiles nods, smiles gratefully.

Derek nods, grabs two clean glasses from the dish rack and one of the many expensive old bottles of scotch before making his way back over to her. He places the glasses down on the coffee table, pours out the whiskey and smiles to himself as he sits down on the couch beside her; as he watches her pick the bottle up to admire its unique look.

Stiles absentmindedly picks up her glass, takes a dainty first sip of the golden liquid as she reads the label of the bottle. Her eyes widen and a small cough sputters passed her most unladylike mouth when she reads the date. “1745?!”

Her wide gaze snaps up to the wolf, who smirks smugly, almost proudly to himself as he quietly sips at his own glass.

Stiles chuckles, briefly wonders how such a manly handsome face can still look so boyish and deviant... and so goddamn adorable. “Where the hell did you even manage to find this?” She asks with clear amazement in her tone and on her expression as she gives the bottle another glance over.

“I’m a Hale. I’m rich and I have connections. Wasn’t too difficult or time consuming.” Derek states simply, no showing off in his tone, only a small casual shrug to go with his words as he takes another sip.

Stiles chuckles at his response, but is then quickly narrowing her eyes as she slowly asks him, “Am I allowed to ask how much it cost?”

Derek smirks slightly. “You are, but I know you well enough to know if I tell you, you’ll definitely feel bad about drinking it. So, pass on answering.” He grins when she pouts, knows she does it without even noticing and that makes it all the more adorable to him. “Just drink and try to stay calm for tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll fill the rest of the pack in on everything.”

Stiles nods, takes a deep breath and another bigger sip of the delicious whiskey. “Yeah. OK. I can do that.” She quickly delves into her back pocket and pulls out a small black crystal.

Derek watches her grip the crystal tight, arches an intrigued brow as he watches it briefly glow a faint green hue. “What’s that?”

Stiles smiles sheepishly, almost looks embarrassed – even more fuelling Derek’s secret urge to press his lips to hers – as she explains, “Tourmaline. Helps with the anxiety. Also, helps with protection. Has pretty much the same effect as when you wolves siphon pain away. All I gotta do is hold it as tight as I need to whenever I feel all... clammy.” She smiles fondly as she tells him, “Logan taught me all about crystals and stuff like that. Don’t tell him I said so, ‘cause he doesn’t really like it, but he really is an adorable little hippie.”

Apart from his cousin; Malia, and Lydia, Derek doesn’t know of anybody else in particular that Stiles has had... romantic relationships with. Save for those one night stands he often used to (painfully) smell all over her throughout her mid 20s, he’s never felt an unbearable jealously like he feels now... Which is why his i***t mouth opens and speaks i***t words before his i***t brain can stop his i***t self.

“Are you two, y’know... together?” Real smooth, he miserably thinks to himself. Much to his surprise, she bursts out laughing at that. And also, much to his confusion, as he frowns back at her.

“I’m sorry.” Stiles chuckles, quickly followed by a wrinkle of her nose as she, more confidently – and in somewhat of horror – states, “God, no.” She shakes her head. “I mean, I love him, but totally like a brother. Plus, he’s totally into guys.” She chuckles at the wolf’s still somewhat confused expression, asks him, “You seriously didn’t notice him checking Jordan out? Or you?” She chuckles again, shakes her head again, clearly incredulous.

“No, I didn’t notice.” Derek says all too politely. No, he didn’t notice, he thinks, because he was too busy staring at Stiles. Her obliviousness is both endearing and enraging... Mostly because he’s too much of a coward to make his own move.