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

It can be good.

[He says it so casually, matter-of-face]

He cares.

[ He wants to laugh again, but instead he just jams his hands into his pockets. ]

He doesn't want it. And I'm not brave enough to keep trying. Not when the person of interest has literal claws and not the figurative ones.

[He's quiet for another moment]

I can tell you how you did it. As a wolf.

[ He looks at him, looks at this Derek who actually genuinely wants the other him, feels something sad twist in his stomach. ]

You mean my sarcasm and wit didn't do the trick?

It helped.

[Derek feels a twist of-

He misses Stiles. He misses how Stiles would just ease up next to him, almost touching.]

So, I have to be all wolfy to be in with a shot, right? [ He can't keep the bitterness out of his voice there. ]

Because fuck that.

No.

[He shrugs]

It's not the wolf that did it.

[ Oh. ]

Okay, what did?

[He nudges Stiles into the woods; it's still icy, and he's watching in case he trips]

You didn't like me at first, but you took what I had to say.

You trusted me.

[It's not a small thing. Derek doesn't trust anyone because of Kate, and Peter, because they tore his world apart and they did it so easily, fooled him so casually]

It took a while.

I'd trust you a lot more if it were a mutual deal. [ He's watching where he's going because he doesn't really want to break anything else, trying to pick his way through dark woods. ]

It's kind of hard when you don't listen to me.

It's not going to be mutual. Not for a while.

[He snorts]

I listen. I may just not let you know that.

Well, that's frustrating.

[ He almost trips on a root, swears because it's fucking dark and his thoughts are already spinning. ]

So you're saying I just have to give you - him - the benefit of the doubt and let it all get out of hand and just hope things are going to change? Because I'm kind of a pessimist lately.

[Fast, he catches Stiles, just by the non-broken elbow]

That's what I'm saying.

What did you fight about?

[ Eyeing him up. ]

In general or are you a psychic now?

You were living with me not that long ago. You left for a reason, right?

No way dude, I'm not being Watson. [ But there's - amusement there. ]

You want to bite people in the City. I think that's a dumb idea. So I left.

[A consideration, and then a bark of laughter.]

You told me not to, right?

I think my resounding no was right there when I told you that was an insane plan.

I mean I get it, I do. Pack is like family. But your whole pack is a mess at home and I don't want to go through that again.

Well I didn't do it.

[Just an amused look on his face.]

Well, dating me must make you a genius.

[ Ducking his head. ]

Well, the sex is good.

[He reaches out because he knows that's going to make Stiles trip]

[ He does stumble, pinwheeling his free arm for a second. ] Oh my god.

[He catches him]

Careful.

[ His heart needs to stop picking up like that because he knows this Derek knows. ]

It was me last time. The one that was different.

I know.

He woke up smelling like sex and told me he dreamed about a me that didn't have him.

[They get little pieces]

I didn't think it was actually real.