The Fox, The Wolf and The Rabbit's Throat

Chapter 4

"Mum?" Stiles called as he ran inside, Derek behind him.
"Cub?" Stiles ran up to his mum.
"I brought Derek home for lunch. Is that okay?"
"Yes, it's fine. Hello Derek." She turned to the older boy. "I'm Claudia."
"Hi." Derek said sheepishly.
"Your dad's upstairs, in the study."
"Cool." Stiles ran upstairs. "Dad!" He tumbled into his dad's study. "I brought Derek home! He's my new friend."
"Hello Derek. I'm John." John got up to shake Derek's hand. "I've heard you're amazing at basketball."
"Well-"
"He's the best!" Stiles exclaimed and Derek blushed a little.
"I'm sure he is." John smiled and turned back to his desk. "Now, if you'd excuse me, I've got some work that demands to be finished." Stiles backed out of the study with Derek and walked into his room.
"Do you like Spiderman?" Stiles asked and threw himself on his bed.
"Um... Not really, no." Stiles sat upright at Derek's response.
"What about Batman?"
"No."
"You've got to like Robin?!" Stiles couldn't believe Derek didn't like them.
"No." Derek laughed.
"How is this funny?! It's a very serious matter." Stiles pouted. "Who do you like?"
"Superman." Stiles hissed. Superman?! He thought.
"How? That's a crime!" He cried.
"No it isn't."
"It is!"
"How is it a crime to like Superman?"
"Because it is!"
"But that's not-"
"Yes it is!" Stiles was full on pouting whilst sat on the edge of his bed. Derek thought he looked so adorable.
"Fine. It is. Lock me up and throw away the key."
"Yay!" Stiles tackled Derek and they both rolled around on the floor, laughing in a tangled mess of arms and legs.
"Boys!" They heard from downstairs. The pair of them shot off, down the stairs and were sat down at the table, all in the blink of an eye. "Hungry?" Claudia laughed and placed two bowls on the table. "The finest spaghetti Bolognese for two of the world's finest growing boys." She bowed slightly and the two boys laughed.

The spaghetti was devoured and the pair of boys played out in the woods afterwards.
"Do you have basketball tomorrow?" Stiles asked.
"Mhm. What about you?"
"Luckily, no." They both laughed.
"Meet me by the big tree at the front of the school tomorrow morning."
"Okay." They both played until the sun started to set.
"I should probably go." Derek announced.
"Aww... Okay. See you tomorrow." Stiles watched Derek shift and run off into the woods.

Stiles had a dreamless sleep that night and woke to the sun streaming through his curtains. He quickly got dressed, brushed his teeth and grabbed his bag before running downstairs for breakfast.
"Someone's happy." Claudia laughed as Stiles ran into the kitchen.
"Mhm." He hummed.
"Can I ask why?"
"Because I am." He laughed.
"Someone's also being very secretive."
"I can have secrets if I want." Stiles playfully glared at his mum.
"Okay. So, toast or cereal?"
"Toast." Stiles sat down at the table and pulled on his shoes, tying the laces in a double knot.

Stiles waved one last time at his dad, before rushing off to the large tree that stood, tall and proud, in front of the school.
"Derek!" He called as soon as the older boy's scent filled his nostrils. He smelt like wild flowers in the forest, the woods after it's rained and, most of all, home. It was a confusing smell.
"Stiles." Derek smiled when the clumsy boy tumbled into view. "How are you?"
"Great! You?" Stiles was now stood in front of Derek, who was leaning on the tree.
"Good now you're here." Derek laughed quietly when a slight blush crept onto Stiles' cheeks.
"Dude!" An unfamiliar voice called. Stiles looked in the general direction of the voice and saw a larger boy jogging towards them.
"Jake!" Derek replied as Jake came closer.
"Who's this?" He asked, eyeing Stiles in a judging way.
"Stiles." Derek smiled, almost as if he was proud.
"What sort of name is that?" Jake sniggered quietly, oblivious to the fact Stiles could hear him. The younger boy felt his lip quiver and tears burn his eyes.
"It's an awesome name." Derek stated, frowning at Jake as he wrapped a comforting arm around Stiles' shoulders. "Do you have a problem with it?"
"Yeah." Jake laughed, two more of his friends joining him.
"Hey, Derek." They both said as they joined them. Stiles recognised one of them as Charlie.
"What's your problem with Stiles' name?" Derek completely ignored his other friends and Stiles' could smell the anger coming off of him.
"Derek.," He tugged lightly on Derek's top. "It's fine."
"No, it's not. If you've got a problem, tell me." Derek growled at Jake.
"Guys," Jake turned to the other two. "This kid's name is Stiles. What kind of name is Stiles?" He sniggered again. The other boy sniggered, too, but Charlie frowned slightly.
"That's not nice, Jake." Charlie scolded quietly.
"But who's called Stiles?" Jake was still sniggering. "It's such a stupid name." He emphasised the 'stupid'. Derek stepped up to him and pushed him against the tree, his anger making him lose control.
"Don't you ever dare call Stiles stupid." He spat before placing his arm back around Stiles' shoulders and walking off.
"Thank you." Stiles whispered gratefully.
"Anything for you." Derek smiled down at him.