Like it or Not

Feeling Things

Stiles, without dropping his coffee off on his desk like he normally would, belined straight to Lydia's office. He pushed open the glass door to where the redhead was seated at her pristine L shaped desk that overlooked Ninth Avenue.

Lydia spun her chair away from one of her three monitors, "Stiles," She glanced at the clock, the coffee in his hand, and the way his teeth were buried into his bottom lip.

"We need to worry," Stiles set his coffee down and leaned on Lydia's desk.

"About?"

"I'm...feeling things..." Stiles waved a non-committal hand as he attempted to put his feelings into words.

Lydia pursed her perfectly lined red lips, "One night? You spend one night with him, and you're hooked?" she pushed out of her chair.

"I did not say I was hooked...I said I was feeling things," Stiles corrected, his tone mildly defensive despite expecting this reaction from her.

"What did I tell you? I told you to be careful. What did he do?" Lydia was now pacing the threadbare carpet of her office. Her heels barely denting the thin fibers.

"He's just...I don't know...he's not as bad as I thought, and I feel bad for him and..." Stiles ran a hand over his face. "He said some things that..." he trailed off again, unsure of how to describe Derek's earlier flattery.

"What did I tell you?" Lydia was now facing Stiles, her arms crossed over her chest.

Stiles threw his hands up, "I don't even know why you're so upset, I said I was feeling things, not that I slept with him."

"Now you want to sleep with him?" Lydia scoffed, her arms falling away.

"What? No," Stiles flailed once more.

"I told you he was sweet, didn't I? This is dangerous Stiles. Derek's gonna be pissed when he finds out," Lydia pointed a perfectly manicured finger at Stiles.

"Wait," Stiles shook his head, "You said Elijah was sweet."

Lydia's brows rose, "Are we not talking about him?"

Stiles' expression changed so rapidly Lydia had a hard time following his emotions. He landed on offended.

"Come on, you really think I'd do that?"

"Wait, but if it's not Elijah then that means..." Lydia smirked as she rounded her desk.

Stiles' shoulders straightened.

"You're falling for Derek," Lydia laughed as she reclaimed her leather desk chair.

"No, I said I was feeling things," Stiles corrected. He was beginning to regret telling Lydia.

"What kind of things?" Lydia pressed, reaching for Stiles' coffee.

"I told you he's...not as bad as I thought...I kinda feel bad for him. Plus, earlier, at breakfast, he said some things that made me realize he's not a total asshole."

"You had breakfast with Derek?" Lydia grinned from behind Stiles' coffee cup.

"We're trying to make this believable," Stiles huffed. He definitely regretted telling Lydia.

Lydia took another sip of coffee before setting the cup down and smoothing her smirk, "Okay so you're obviously upset about this. Why?"

"I...don't know..." Stiles licked at his bottom lip, "I just don't like it."

"What don't you like about it?" All teasing was gone from Lydia's tone. She was now in fix it mode.

"I'm so used to hating him, ya know? It's weird to feel accomplished when I make him smile. It's weird to see him smile. Also, we have things in common. I don't know how to handle that," Stiles waved his hand through the air spastically.

"He has a cute smile," Lydia agreed.

"I thought he would be harder to break too ya know? Like every time I touched him, he practically turned to stone. But just now in the hall... He gave in and...he's a great kisser."

Lydia leaned forward, her eyes widening, "I'm sorry, you kissed him?"

"We have to make it believable, so, yes," Stiles' tone was growing defensive again.

"Wow, so you're not just claiming it, you're acting the part too," Lydia tipped her head as she studied Stiles.

"What?" Stiles shifted uncomfortably under her stare.

"Maybe you're what he needs," She hummed thoughtfully, almost like she wasn't talking to Stiles.

"What who needs?"

"Derek isn't a bad guy...I just think he's broken. Maybe you're gonna help put him back together."

Stiles scoffed, taking two steps back. "That's ridiculous. Of course he's broken; the man he loves is out there acting like Derek is an old fling."

"I'm just saying, Derek pulled away when he and Elijah broke up, maybe you can bring him back out of his shell a bit."

Stiles narrowed his eyes at Lydia.

"I'm not saying you have to fall in love with him," Lydia rolled her eyes, "But if anyone can befriend Derek Hale it's you."

"A week ago, I would have laughed in your face at the mere idea of befriending Derek but considering how this morning went...it might not be that impossible. I will not, however, fall in love with him."

Lydia put her hands up in mock surrender, "I'm not saying you will."

"That is the least of my concerns," Stiles sighed as he saw Elijah walking towards Lydia's office door.

Lydia scoffed when she spotted him, "He's so charming and hot it makes me want to punch him."

Stiles laughed just as her door opened a crack.

Elijah gave a gentle tap on the glass with a knuckle, "Might I interrupt you?"

"Seeing as how you already have," Lydia sneered, gesturing for him to enter.

"My apologies, I just wanted a word with Stiles."

"I'm all yours," Stiles gestured for Elijah to lead him out of the room. He knew it wasn't best for them to linger.

"Oh, now that would be fun," Elijah winked at Stiles.

"Watch your mouth, he's taken," Lydia snapped, her eyes shooting daggers at Elijah.

"It was merely a joke," Elijah assured her before following Stiles into the hall.

"I get the feeling she's not your biggest fan," Stiles looked to Elijah for a reaction.

"Derek got the kids in the divorce," Elijah winked.

"What happened between you two anyway?" Stiles dared ask as he and Elijah made his way towards his desk.

"You don't know?"

"Derek was...lacking in the details. It just seems like five years is a long time to break things off for no reason."

Elijah hummed in response. "Five years is also a long time to grow apart."

Stiles frowned but could tell by the way Elijah's shoulders stiffened that this conversation wasn't going any further.

"What did you want to talk to me about?"

"I would like a list of your models. I need to decide who gets put in what era," Elijah seemed relieved by the conversation change. It made Stiles even more curious about what happened between Elijah and Derek. It was something that neither of them liked to talk about. 

*AN*
Hope you guys had a happy holiday. Happy New year!