bettercallit | (no subject)

Didn't think you'd been rolling around in the stuff for kicks.

[ He puts an arm around Stiles' middle to make sure he stays on his feet long enough to kick the door shut and walk him into the living room. ] Surprised you found your way here in this state. C'mon, get your ass down there.

I'm really, really good at getting places when my senses are fucked. [ Like this he sounds almost sad. ] So I can totally beat whatever it was I kept being given into submission and make my way around the City.

[ Slumping into a seat. ] Hey, hey, did I wake you up?

Do me a favour, don't tell me who your supplier is. [ Or he might have to hunt them down for getting him into this state.

He disappears into the kitchen, pouring a strong cup of black coffee to take in. He puts it down on the table in front of him. ] Drink that.

[ He's petting Fury by this stage, half listing forward. ]

I'm sorry. [ Because he at least has the presence of mind to apologise for turning up out of the blue. ]

Don't worry about it, yeah? Just glad you thought to come here.

[ He perches on the arm of one of the chairs. ] Why'd you go getting yourself drunk? And without me, buddy.

Because I'm really bad at coping with stuff. [ Swaying forward to wrap cold hands around the mug. ] Like, really bad. I didn't want to have a panic attack. [ Looking up suddenly, eyes wide. ] That happens, by the way. Not as much. But sometimes. So I thought if I avoided the woods and hung out with some people I'd be fine.

[ And drinking had happened. ]

[ Derek.

His face hardens, briefly, and then he sighs, quiet but audible, dropping down to sit beside Stiles. ]

Drinking the panic away doesn't solve anything, trust me.

I miss my dad. [ It's soft, ridiculously so. ] I miss him being there so I can look after him. You know, it's just us, so I keep the place tidy, I cook mostly, and when he's not working I make sure everything's okay. It's literally all that keeps my head exploding sometimes. And I don't have that here.

[ A nervous huff of laughter. ] He'd hate this.

[ He tries to empathise and can't, the thought of his own father, the way things were for him growing up, it's enough to make him laugh. But he can sympathise, try to understand what it is to have someone there who he depends on and depends on him, and he supposes the thing he had with Phil wasn't all that different. ]

You're allowed to miss him. [ He nudges him, gently, trying for a smile to lighten the mood, but it ends up just being sad. He puts an arm around his shoulders and squeezes him. ] And you can always cook and clean here if it'll help you.

Yeah, maybe.

[ He smiles, lifts his coffee to his nose and just breathes it in. He doesn't really know how to deal with this at all. He doesn't want to be here in the City suddenly, doesn't want to be stuck with Isaac and Derek.

Derek - who Stiles might have latched on in some serious attempt at Stockholm Syndrome, who has no one and twists up Stiles' insides in a mix of hatred and want. ]

Have you even spoken to him?

[ He doesn't need to be a mind reader to know if at least the few connections he has here are settled then everything else will be easier, and Derek is clearly at the centre of that. ]

Could pay him a visit, have a word if you need more time.

No.

[ Flinching just a little. ] Dude, you do not want to get mixed up in - in that. I wish I weren't. Life used to be normal. All I worried about was getting Lydia to go on a date with me and making my dad eat his vegetables. And I know you're an Avenger and a badass, but you'd pretty much be totally better staying out of the woods.

Not got much experience with normal. Tall, dark, and brooding in the woods is nothing compared to the usual. But if it's not what you want, it won't happen.

He's not --.

[ He's not human. ] Just trust me on this one. You don't want to make Derek mad at you.

You know I can take care of myself, right? If I can help take down a demi-god and an alien army, Derek's not gonna make me break a sweat.

[ He looks at him, really looks, and the worry is there. ] What is it about this guy that gets you so worked up?

[ Heavy sigh. ]

I trust him. He's saved my life countless of times. So I trust him not to get me killed but I don't necessarily trust him around other people? Does that make sense? Because he - he pushes me into crap, sure, but he's never stood by when I've been in danger.

But then there's this whole conflicting signal telling me that I shouldn't, that he's Derek Hale and he's king of bad decisions and he's going to get everyone killed.

[ He doesn't love the sound of that, whether he swoops in at the last minute or not, he still puts him in danger. But it kind of makes him think of Natasha, in the sense that he trusts her with his life, but other people? It's questionable. ]

He ever gets you hurt? Not gonna sit back and let him get away with it. But - [ He shrugs, because, really, who is he to do anything else? ] - you're old enough to make your own decisions. Just make sure you're making the right call if you go back to him, yeah?