The water was starting to get cold and Stiles vaguely cleared the fog in his mind to the side long enough to wonder whether or not to drain it and start again. He turned the same glass over again in his hand while washing the outside with his dishcloth. He stared out the window at the changing leaves. Stiles frowned then looked down at the sparkling glass. He focused long enough to rinse it and place it on the mostly empty dish rack. He reached into the chilled water to grab another glass which made him remember he never decided on whether or not to drain his water. He pulled the plug and ran his soapy fingers through his hair without thinking about it.
He heard the door open and it snapped him out of his daze frowning at the now color vibrant tree he used to love to climb where his mother could see him. He quickly shut off the water before it could over flow, he hasn't realized how full it had gotten.
"I got those cupcakes you like." Stiles' dad came in loaded down with enough bags for five trips for a sane person. He probably shouldn't let him carry all that by himself, he should offer to help.
John laid the grocery bags on the counter and immediately went back out the door for another trip. Stiles picked up another glass.
"I even got all that green smoothie shit you wanted me to drink. And I foun- Are you still doing the dishes?"
Stiles turned to see his father looking at him puzzled. He looked at the clock. Oh, it had been over two hours since he left for the store. "Yeah, sorry." Stiles' eyes didn't quite meet his father's.
"No. No, it's fine kid. Take your time." John spoke gently. "Christ when you were a teenager I could never get you to do them even begging you." John forced a smile and tried for levity.
Stiles frowned back looking at the bag of apples on the counter. "I should've helped you more."
That sentence hung in the air for a moment.
"It's okay you were young. Everything is so important when you're in highschool. Finals, sports, Lydia Martin to worry about."
Stiles let a small smile leak onto his face. It quickly fell, but he finally looked his father in his eyes. "Things used to be so important to me." It slipped out before he could catch it and he immediately turned away from his father's saddened face. He felt bad.
"How about I make dinner tonight? I'm living in your house again, might as well pay you back. Right... Pops." They both noticed the awkward pause that betrayed just how long it had been since Stiles had joked back at his father like that. It had been long enough to where it no longer felt natural.
John sounded encouraged from Stiles' attempt, "Nah kiddo, I love having you here. Close, safe. You never have to pay me back for anything. This will always be your home. I love you more than anything Stiles. I hope you always know that. That I'm always here for you, and you can tell me anything."
Stiles placed the glass in the dish rack and moved on to another. "I know."
His dad sighed, but still kept trying. "I'll make use some chicken salad tonight, we've got leftover chicken. Why don't you boot on to your computer and play Xbox with Scott while I cook." His father moved into the kitchen with him to begin putting away the groceries.
"I'm not hungry yet."
He stopped what he was doing to look back at Stiles. "Are you sure? You didn't eat lunch." John's eyes flickered to the stove that read 5:30.
Stiles shrugged.
"Okay. How about you finish the dishes, I'll put these away then review my files, you play with Scott and then we can eat together in a couple hours."
