studmuffin | → there's just a few things I think that you should know

I don't think you have anything that'll fit me. Don't worry.

[He takes a sniff and his nose curls up. Gross]

What's going on?

[ Pulling a face at him. ]

You're uh - you're not my Derek? I mean, he's not my Derek, he's totally his own Derek, but I figure it would be better to explain it that way. This is the City - it likes to fuck with people, I guess. I'm from ... There's a parallel universe where Scott's the one Peter bit. That's where I'm from.

Don't make that face. If you could smell this room you'd think it's gross, too.

[That is just a fact]

Scott? He bit Scott? Scott hates me.

[ He wants to laugh, he really does. ]

Yeah well, that doesn't change.

What happened to you arm?

[Onto things he can't do anything about]

I tripped.

[ He goes to shrug with the other arm. ] It was snowing.

Does it hurt?

[He's just.

He wants to touch Stiles. He really does.]

A little.

[ He looks up at Derek, eyes wide. ] This is weird. This is really weird.

Can I help?

[He looks hesitant, he just wants-

He wants his wolf. Because Derek is still a bundle of problems, and Stiles helps]

Um.

[ He doesn't think that it's painful enough to deal with, but he just pats the bed beside him anyway. ] There's kind of a bunch of other things that are different.

[He looks at the bed, but instead just crouches next to Stiles.

He's not sitting on that bed]

Are you going to tell me what?

[ Wow.

Wow. This is the closest they've ever been and this Derek is missing the hard edges he usually has and Stiles is kind of still sleep deprived. ] We're not together. [ All in a rush, face colouring. ]

[He takes a breath]

You don't trust me?

[He can't tell that by scent, but he knows Stiles.]

You hate my guts.

[ Staring at him. ]

You hate me and you don't trust me and the idea of me and you ever being anything is laughable.

Why would I hate you?

[That doesn't make any sense at all.]

I don't know. You just do.

[He looks a little -

Well.

Sad.]

Well I don't.

Oh.

[ He pulls a complicated face. ] I don't hate you, it's just hard - everything's complicated, and you won't let me in so.

[ He huffs a breath. ] You were looking for me.

You're the most important-

[He gets quiet. Maybe this isn't a good thing to say. Something he shouldn't say to this Stiles, who doesn't have anyone]

I was worried.

Usually you're only worried because me getting into trouble would fuck up your plans.

[ He makes a noise, a soft almost laughing one. ]

[He reaches up and takes Stiles by the hand, and the pain seeps into him, under his skin]

[ An exhale. ]

Better.

[He nods]

I know.

Do you fuck up my plans a lot?

[ He stares at Derek's hand for a moment. ]

You don't know how hard I try not to. That's the problem.

[He leans up and tries to fix this the only way he knows how.

He kisses Stiles, on the mouth, but then he backs up. This isn't his Stiles. This isn't his.]