spark

Chapter 30 : The Taking of Dispatch 9-1-1

Stiles sat with Buck in the kitchen, the two drinking their coffee in relative silence. The sounds of bare feet smacking on the hardwood floors echoed through the house until Malia made her way into the kitchen, wearing a pair of Stiles' sweatpants and one of Buck's LAFD hoodies. "We're not getting that stuff back, are we?" Buck asks, earning a nod from Stiles at his mournful look on his face at the loss of his hoodie. "I'll just talk to Cap about getting a new one."

Malia smiled wolfishly, plucking a mug from the cupboard and pouring herself a cup of coffee. "God, you guys really know how to pick a mattress. When did your funds become so lucrative, Stiles?" she questioned, leaning on top of the counter as both men looked at her, tired expressions on their faces. "I mean, this house is gigantic. Not to mention the shitload of fucking land you have."

"I made some smart investments, and that was before my dad died and left me with a life insurance settlement." Stiles states, giving Buck a thankful nod as he rubbed some comforting circles in Stiles' back.

"Oh, sorry." Malia winced, not realizing what she'd done until after Stiles' response. "Your dad was a great guy, I'm sorry."

"It's in the past, I've accepted it." Stiles proclaimed, sipping at his coffee. His phone suddenly chirped, causing the phoenix to glance down at the screen curiously, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Um, apparently Scott and Eddie are on their way here, with Lydia."

"Wow, that's literally four people you've fucked in the same room." Malia chortled, both men glaring at her joke. "What? It's true!"

"I'm gonna make more coffee." Buck said, getting off his stool and making his way to the coffee maker.

"So... what does Lydia do?" Malia asks, moving over and taking a seat at the dining room table. Knowing that the company that would be arriving soon would need to be sitting for the conversation, Stiles moved over and sat down at the head of the table, Buck joining him in the seat adjacent to him.

"I don't know if she's found a new job or gone back to her old one. Last year, I was called to UCLA in order to escort a terminated employee off the premises, turned out that Lydia was getting fired from her research position for theoretical physics." Stiles explained, leaning back in his chair slightly.

"Oh, she's been teaming up with Taylor Kelly, doing news stories and some such." Buck states, faltering slightly at the withering glare Stiles sent him. "I know, I know, I remember just how much you hate her. The stories they cover are pretty interesting, though."

"Taylor Kelly?" Malia pondered, making Stiles roll his eyes.

"A nosy and manipulative reporter that harassed me. She kept trying to get a story out of me." Stiles elaborated, Malia snorting at that. "She's also Lydia's cousin."

Malia grimaced slightly, her thoughts on Taylor likely aligning with Stiles' from the few words that he spoke of her. Their ears both perked up slightly as they heard a car parking in the driveway, accompanied by the sounds of car doors slamming and footsteps. Without knocking, Eddie and Scott entered the house with Lydia hot on their heels, the Banshee having changed into a green blouse and some capri-pants. While the two werewolves were strictly business and were making their way straight to the dining room, Lydia couldn't help but stop and marvel at the interior of the house. "Ah, welcome, boys. Would you like to join us for another round?" Malia joked, a wolffish grin on her face as Eddie glowered at her.

"There isn't any time for your jokes, Malia." Eddie growled, sitting down across from her as Scott took the seat next to him. Lydia, a bit warily, made her way over and sat next to Malia.

"Um, hey, Malia. I didn't know you'd be here." Lydia greeted anxiously, gritting her teeth and glowering at Scott, who shrugged his shoulders.

"Okay, lay it on us." Buck sighed, before pointing into the kitchen. "There's fresh coffee brewing."