benchwarming | [ open au ] moon baby

[ He hadn't changed then, at least Derek didn't think so. Stiles always appeared to have an instinct to look out for others, even when he was human so he pressed on. ]

Specifically. Is there anyone you feel different around? Like... Drawn to or feel more connected to. Like Scott.

[ Because they were friends before and pack now, unlike any of the other from Derek's own.

He also realized he was a terrible interrogator because he was basically vocalizing everything he was internally asking himself, even though he already had the answers to them. Suddenly he was feeling, in the slightest of ways, nervous. ]

Not that I've noticed?

[ Well, okay, that was a bit of a lie. He had more of an urge to check in on Derek, which had made this last week so hard for him, but it wasn't like he was going to share that. ]

Though it's been easier to get the rest of them to listen to me, if that means anything. Even Jackson left me alone during lacrosse the other day because I asked him to -

[ He raised his brows, catching the slight change in his heart rate. ]

Tell me everything, Stiles.

...I've been worried about you?

[ He said it like he was unsure how it would be taken. ]

Just. I worry about all of you normally, but I kept wanting to come by and check up on you last week, even though I was seriously pissed and thought you had told me to get the hell out of dodge.

[ It's tentative as he takes a step forward, testing the water of Stiles words and how much they held true. ]

But you didn't because your anger outweighed it.

[ He hesitated, deciding to simply restate that fact instead because it was also true for him, though he did not want to be seen as the weaker for seeking Stiles out first. ]

No, I - sort of. And because you told me not to come back and I thought you meant for good. So I focused on doing something - so I could protect you guys.

[ Stiles looks up at Derek, watching him approach but he doesn't seem wary. Just confused, and concerned. ]

Does - does that mean something?

It might.

[ He was being vague on purpose. He didn't want to have to confront those confusing urges when he still wasn't confident if Stiles would return them.

But then he was shifting and his red eyes focusing on Stiles intently. ]

[ Stiles feels his breath catch when he realizes that Derek's gone 'full-alpha' on him - his words, not Derek's.

But he's not afraid. His heart picks up, his own golden eyes flashing, and when he's looking at Derek it's suddenly easy to feel himself shift fully, feel his teeth protrude and his claws come out.

He growls, but it's not threatening, just confused. Quizzical. ]

[ Derek sniffs the air around Stiles after the shift, walking around him in circles, but it's not aggravated, its inquisitive, steadily he's moving close, closing the space between them and he growls a response like he's laying a claim. ]

[ There's a moment where Stiles consciously realizes - he's not scared of Derek. Not because the man couldn't kill him, he could, but because he knows, with some kind of certainty, that Derek would never hurt him. Not grievously. (He is a werewolf after all.)

That he's been worrying after the pack and Derek because he wants to make sure they're all right, challenging Derek because he needs to make him see when his ideas could hurt the pack.

He doesn't know why he thinks that, or how he knows it. He hunches his shoulders down, not submitting to Derek, but growling in response to Derek. Laying his own claim.

He'll only be claimed if the same goes for you, Derek. ]

[ He tests the grounds of Stiles claim by moving closer still, until there is only an inch between them.

It was strange that he felt so compelled to be near Stiles like this, to want him next to him and maybe it was a good idea to let Stiles be there. If Stiles wanted to be, though he still wasn't entirely certain he did. Part of the pack, maybe but there was that sense of more that had Derek uncertain.

If Stiles just wanted to be pack, than letting Stiles take that claim would be out of place.

He leaned forward to bite Stiles but again, it wasn't aggressive, it was more testing, to be certain and sure that he was making the right decision if he let Stiles close like he desperately yearned to. ]

[ Stiles still doesn't back down, blinking at Derek slowly, golden eyes following his movements.

For once, he doesn't fight Derek on this kind of thing. Knowing full well what it means, he tilts his head back for Derek, feeling his heart pick up but not out of fear. Offering his neck to the alpha, his alpha.

Reminding Derek that it was because he chose to, not because he was submitting, he rested a hand on the back of Derek's neck, claws scraping gently, and gave a small subvocal noise of encouragement. ]

[ Derek closed his mouth around Stiles neck, teeth pricking at the skin, but it was gentle enough that he didn't think it would leave any lasting damage to the beta.

What would, was the bite that would follow it, staying on Stiles neck with his teeth grazing against him, waiting for Stiles' hand to retreat so he too, could pull away. He would have to learn to take Stiles advice, to trust him, to open himself up in a way he had long forgotten, but in return Derek could see the sudden possibilities opening up to him.

How strong their pack would become as a result, it was inviting to except the claim Stiles now offered. ]

[ Stiles gave a small gasp at the teeth pricking at his neck, knowing the marks will heal over, but the claim they're laying is not undone.

And maybe he should be scared, he hasn't even made it through a full moon yet, but Derek makes it easy to control his wolf - this shift evidence of it - and he just. He trusts Derek, as much as they're bad at talking (Stiles talking but never saying what he means, and Derek mute half the time). He would protect Derek and he knows Derek would protect him.

He knows this with even more certainty than before.

He lets his hand slide away, grazing Derek's shoulder. ]

[ He growls, turning to it and taking Stiles hand as it comes over his shoulder, smelling it, scenting it and making it bare before making his intention clear. ]

Stiles.

[ It's just his name, but what he's really asking if for his permission. He's not sure if this is what Stiles wants, because something like this is indefinite and could easily last until either of them passes from this world.

The word is on the tip of Derek's tongue but he doesn't dare say it. He stares intently at Stiles with red eyes, not breaking contact since he first pulled away enough to see his own eyes glowing in response. ]

[ It's the same wrist Peter Hale offered to bite, before he went for his side instead, but that's not what Stiles thinks. He thinks of the implications of that now, and he breathes in sharply.

Then, meeting Derek's gaze, he speaks, around his mouthful of fangs. ]

I understand. I mean, I didn't know, until now, but I think I get it and - yes, Derek. I want that.

[ He might be sixteen but he's old enough to die, to become a werewolf, and he's old enough to be - this. Mated. ]

[ His eyes flicker, and in response, he gives solemn nod, about as glad to hear it as he is able to recognize it.

He exposes the skin on Stiles arm and gently (as gently as one is able to) bite into Stiles wrist as deep as it may go, holding himself there for some time before he pulls back, and watches the blood swell up to the surface.

Derek shifts back. ]

Stay still, I'll get the first aid kit.

[ He hisses because it hurts. It hurts like when Gerard was hurting him, only he feels like he wants to squirm into the touch, offer Derek the rest of his body to do it to. He breathes slowly out his mouth, eyes squeezed shut and then he opens them when Derek pulls away.

The blood should make him dizzy but it doesn't, and he reverts the shift. He cradles his hand under his wrist to catch the blood. ]

Ah. Thanks.

[ He returns within the minute, a small bag in hand, he takes out the roll of gauze and rolls it around Stiles' wrist. It's tight but not too tight that he won't be able to move it. ]

It'll take longer to heal but the blood should slow soon.

Yeah. Super werewolf healing, right? Or does it - if because it's this kind of bite, is it gonna heal slower?

[ He's looking at the gauze wrapped around his wrist with some intensity, and then he looks at Derek. ]

So....

It'll heal slower because I was the one who bit you, but also this kind of bite is... Special.

[ His eyes meet Stiles'. ]

The pack will know.

I wasn't going to hide it from them.

[ Not that he could if he wanted, he understands, but he keeps his gaze met with Derek's, letting him know that he wouldn't.

That includes Scott.

He reaches his arm out, the newly bitten one, and cups one of Derek's cheeks, like he's not sure what he's doing but he wants to do it anyway. ]

[ He nods in understanding but stills when Stiles' hand cups the side of his face.

It didn't have to be romantic, if Stiles didn't want it to be but he could feel that attraction, and he was certain that it was one Stiles shared that with him. ]

[ Stiles Stilinksi doesn't do things in halves. And he knows he's been attracted to Derek, and so a moment after that he's shifting forward, drawing Derek towards him so that he can kiss the Alpha.

It's chaste, the best way to put it, a soft drag of mouths against each other. It makes Stiles' heart race either way. ]

[ Derek's arms envelope Stiles, holding him there as he deepens the kiss, not having realized that he maybe wanted this just as much as Stiles seemed to. It makes a feeling stur in his gut, like all the anxieties he hadn't realized where building up were suddenly put at ease. ]

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