Summary: Stiles and Derek have an important talk that leads Derek to realize something that changes everything.
Derek had somehow managed to make it through his insane first hunt with no long lasting damage.
There had been a moment when the last one of the mermaids had managed to creep up behind him and wrap its long scaly tail around his waist. Thankfully his hands were still free so he managed to shoot his attacker in the gills of its right side.
As promised he had slowly risen to the surface and swam to the bank, where Stiles immediately began searching his suit for damages.
âEverything looks good, lucky you. Your first hunt and you came out without a scratch, pretty sure this would not be the case had I been the one in the water.â Stiles said.
âYou slept with Argent.â Derek said.
It had taken all his will power and mental strength to stay focused on the mythical creatures trying to drown and eat him. Now that he was out of that strange and dangerous situation he could focus on what he wanted.
âYes, do you think I can afford all those guns with my allowance and the non existent salary of a hunter?â
âHe is literally older than your father.â
âLook, whatever you think it is, it's not that. Iâm not into him, heâs not into me. I was a legal consenting adult, Argent didnât pressure, bribe, seduce or force me into anything.â he explained as Derek began taking off the suit.
âIf not then how the hell did it start?â
Stiles made a noise of annoyance and turned away, Derek could smell the tension coming off Stiles in waves. He figured it would be better to drop the topic for now, and let Stiles cool off and answer when he felt like it.
Wordlessly Derek handed the suit and gun to Stiles so he could put it into a separate cases so that he could wash it before returning it to Argent.
Argent, who he was sleeping with.
The car ride was also quiet, giving Derek plenty of time to try and think of a scenario in which a barely Stiles would end up in bed with Chris Argent. All he could imagine is a business exchange of sex for guns, but his stomach told him that wasnât right.
If it were then Stiles probably would have said so, he surely wasnât as easy to embarrass as he had been when Derek had last been in Beacon Hills. It almost felt unreal to imagine the person sitting in his passenger seat as a nervous teenager.
Derek was surprised to hear Stiles speak so suddenly after nearly an hour of silence.
âI hadnât spoken to anyone about Scott and the others, he hadnât really talked to anyone after he lost his family. He never asked me to talk and I never asked him to tell...but we both just knew. We both knew we needed someone if not to talk to then at least someone to feel.â Stiles said.
Derek looked over at him and now he saw it all clearly and he didnât need any of his werewolf senses to see it. He could see the man behind the curtain that this new version of Stiles, he could see a shadow of that teenager he knew.
The teenager that lost everyone, including himself.
âYou donât need to explain yourself to me Stiles, Iâm not judging you for it.â Derek said, keeping his eyes on the road.
He knew how it felt to try and defend your actions and how awful it was when the person you're telling looks at you while you do it.
They pulled into the parking lot of his building and he parked next to Stilesâ jeep.
âWhat do you do after a hunt?â Derek asked.
Stiles looked confused by the question, as if it were a joke.
âI patch up and look for the next hunt, but I guess this time Iâll just go right into looking for the next case.â
âWell if I learn anything useful I write it down before moving on.â
âYeah, youâre not doing that this time.â Derek said as he got out of the car.
âIâm not?â Stiles asked as he followed.
âYouâre not; this time you are going to leave me the monster business and you are going home. Tomorrow you are staying home with your dad and if you so much as google monsters Iâm gonna smash your laptop.â Derek explained.
Now Stiles looked totally lost as to how he ended up in this current situation.
âWhat makes you think thatâs gonna happen?â
âThe fact that I said so, and Iâm the one who owns your little hunting headquarters, the one who just paid your medical bill and also just fought three mermaids so that you wouldnât have to.â Derek smiled charmingly.
âThatâs blackmail.â Stiles argued.
âI never said Iâd stop helping if you didnât do what I said, but I would really appreciate it if you did this. Trust me, no matter how permanent it seems, parents donât stay with you forever.â
At that Stiles looked away in shame.
He couldnât believe that he was arguing about speaking with his dad, with Derek of all.
âWhat if he doesnât want to see me?â
âThen at least you will be able to say you reached out. Sometimes just knowing you tried is all you need, itâs better than wondering what would have happened. Derek assured.
âWhy?â Derek repeated in confusion.
âWhy are you helping me, why do you care if Iâm injured or speaking to my dad? You never really seemed too interested in what I had going on before. Why now?â
There were two ways that Derek could answer that question, both were truthful, but one was harder for him to say.
In the end, when he looked at the almost pleading look in Stilesâ eyes he knew he had to give the hard answer.
âBecause, I get you. You did something, someone died, and you regret it. Youâre trying to save this town to make up for what you did and no matter who forgives you or who you forgive you canât forgive yourself.â
This time itâs Derek who turns away, but he doesnât leave.
âIâve been there, it wasnât self defense and it wasnât an attacker; it was a mistake and nearly my whole family. Stiles; you have a parent to help you through this, I didnât have that. Take advantage of what you have while you have it.â
A salty scent hit his nose and he knew it wasnât the salt water from the lake, it was tears. He just didnât know if it was from Stilesâ crying or his own.
âIâll go.â Stiles mumbled as he went to his jeep.
Derek watched him climb in and wipe his eyes with his sleeve before he drove off. Even after he could no longer hear the loud engine of that hideous vehicle Derek stayed outside and realized that there was a third answer, an answer he wasnât ready to say out loud.
