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Best Friend

Stiles sat across from Alaric in the small café he’d decided on for lunch. Derek’s best friend was different from what he’d expected. He’d expected a Tom Ford suit and a Porsche with an ego to match. But this guy was sporting a black leather jacket over a faded t shirt and drove a jeep. And as far as Stiles could see, there was no ego.

“I’ve heard a lot about you.” Alaric spoke over the glass of tea in his hand as they waited for their order.

“Oh, I bet. All stellar I’m sure,” Stiles snorted.

“He speaks highly of you, for the most part,” Alaric smiled.

Stiles scoffed, “Really?”

“Yes. Swears that no one could do the job like you. He has mentioned your stubbornness though.”

Stiles laughed. He was surprised Derek spoke kindly of him at all.

“So what brings you to his office?” Stiles finally asked.

“Well, he’s been…avoiding my calls. And I’m guessing you’re familiar with his history with Elijah.”

“I have noticed he’s not been answering when you call.”

Alaric put on a tight smile. His hand releasing his glass as he leaned back in his chair.

“He left me no choice but to come check on him in person.”

Stiles nodded. “You’re afraid he’ll get back with Elijah.” It wasn’t posed as a question.

Alaric pondered for a moment before responding. “I just worry that Elijah will get his hooks into Derek. I doubt Derek would be stupid enough to go back to him, but I know that Elijah is very good with words. And Derek…stews.”

Stiles noted the way Alaric was being careful with his words. He studied him as he recalled Elijah’s warning: ‘Perhaps it’s not me you need to be worried about.’

“You gonna speak plainly or…?” Stiles crossed his arms over his chest.

Alaric chuckled, “Fair enough.”

Stiles braced himself for whatever Alaric was going to say.

“Whenever Elijah is involved, Derek makes poor choices. He drinks heavily. Blames himself for how things went. He thinks about what it would be like to get back together with Elijah. I do my best to keep him from spiraling. But that’s hard to do when he won’t pick up the phone. So here I am.” Alaric spread his arms out to signify his location.

Stiles raised a brow. “That’s it?”

“Do I need a better reason?” Alaric frowned.

“Well, no, it’s just…” Stiles trailed off. Perhaps Elijah was wrong about Alaric.

Alaric dropped his head, letting out a scoffed laugh. “Let me guess, you’ve been talking to Elijah.”

Stiles bit at his bottom lip.

“Anytime Derek would get upset about Elijah flirting with someone, Elijah always brought me up. Claiming that I was the real threat. He just wanted to turn the argument around until Derek was the one apologizing. Elijah and I had a…confrontation if you will. It didn’t go well. He accused me of having feelings for Derek.”

“But you don’t,” Stile guessed.

“Derek’s my best friend. Has been for years. I just want him to be happy. I don’t care who it’s with. Elijah doesn’t make him happy. And after Elijah…” Alaric shook his head.

“He was different.” Stiles recalled Lydia claiming the exact same thing.

“Yeah,” Alaric answered, dropping his head. His tone was quite.“Now he’s so…”

“Guarded?” Stiles finished for him.

“I know you two don’t get along very well, but he’s a great guy.”

“I’ll admit, he and I butted heads a lot but now that we’re…ya know…I mean I assume you know.”

Alaric nodded.

“He’s not so bad. I mean, I get why he is the way he is. And when he lets himself be, he’s sweet and a really nice guy. The asshole persona he puts on is…well, I get it now.”

Alaric smiled, his shoulders dropping in relief.

“Alaric…” Stiles hesitated as he bit down on his bottom lip.

“Please call me Ric.”

“Ric, I have to ask…what exactly happened between Derek and Elijah. I mean I know about their relationship but how it ended is unclear and neither one is exactly forthcoming about it.”

Alaric’s brows rose, “Oh that’s quite the story.”

“Both seemed to think the other ended it.”

“Well, the two had gone out for a get together with a few friends. I was among them. It was a ritzy place. There was dancing and finger foods. Elijah’s favorite kind of place.

Towards the end of the night, we were all gathered on the balcony and Derek decided to propose. I saw the dread on Elijah’s face immediately. He was gonna say no. But then…he didn’t. He said yes. Sort of.”

Stiles frowned. “Sort of?”

“He started to pull Derek back to his feet and gave a simple ‘course’ as his answer. It was like he was embarrassed by the whole ordeal. He was very tense after. Derek was on cloud nine. He was oblivious to the discomfort Elijah was feeling. He was careful not to let it show too much when Derek was looking. Putting on fake smiles and posing for cameras. I didn’t have the heart to tell him in the moment. I was gonna wait til we were leaving, but Elijah and him had snuck out before I got the chance.”

Stiles fiddled with the napkin in front of him, frowning down at the white cloth. “Elijah gave back the ring.”

Alaric nodded. “Derek showed up at my front door in the middle of the night with his bags and tears in his eyes. Elijah wasn’t ready for commitment. They fought and Elijah stomped out. While he was gone Derek packed his stuff and left.”

“How can you be with someone for five years and not be ready for commitment?” Stiles shook his head.

“Exactly. Derek realized that Elijah wanted to keep his options open. Elijah called when he found Derek had left. He wanted to talk. Well that talk, like all the others, turned into a fight. Elijah quit and they didn’t see each other again.”

Stiles nodded. It made sense now why Derek had been certain Elijah didn’t want him back. Why Derek put up the walls to keep people at a distance.

“Derek spiraled pretty hard after that. He started drinking a lot. He closed himself off. I hate what Elijah did to him.”

Just then the waitress set down two to go bags. “Hale?”

Stiles grabbed the bags, sliding a tip towards the waitress.

“We should get this back to the office.”

Alaric nodded before following him out of the café.

*AN*
Sorry I didn’t get this up earlier, I’ve been in the hospital with a heart condition and it makes me feel pretty terrible. Hope you like the chapter!