The Fox, The Wolf and The Rabbit's Throat

Chapter 3

"Stiles?" He saw Derek's feet walk into the room. "Where are you?" Derek inhaled deeply and crouched down. "What's wrong?" Stiles slowly walked out from under the bed and shifted back.
"Do they like me?" He asked quietly.
"They really want to meet you." Derek put his arm around Stiles' shoulder and led him downstairs. "Cora's ten and Laura's fifteen. Peter's my uncle." They walked into the kitchen and Laura got up from where she was sat.
"Hi! I'm Laura!" She said energetically and wrapped her arms around him. "And that's Cora." She pointed at a small girl. The girl was glaring at him. "Don't worry," She whispered in Stiles' ear. "She isn't always this grumpy, she's just had a bad day."
"Okay." Stiles whispered back. Stiles liked Laura- she seemed kind, but was really bubbly and Stiles thought it was a little bit funny.
"Do you want any jelly and ice cream, Stiles?" Talia asked, pulling out four bowls.
"Yes please!" Stiles replied. He loved ice cream. Derek, Stiles, Laura and Cora sat at the table. Derek and Cora were talking quietly.
"Please be nice to him." Derek pleaded.
"Why should I?" Cora replied defiantly.
"Cora, please."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because he smells funny."
"That's not a valid reason." However, Derek agreed. He knew that she was talking about his fox side. Fox's smelt different to everything and Derek had smelt a few before, but Stiles' scent was different. When it wasn't near Derek, he missed it and would find himself looking for it- attracted to it- ever since the full moon.
"Yes it is. I don't trust him."
"Why don't you trust him?"
"Because he smells funny!" She half whispered, half shouted.
"Ignore them." Stiles was startled when Laura sat down next to him.
"Why doesn't she trust me?" Stiles whispered.
"Don't worry; she's like this with everyone. She'll soon warm up to you." Laura passed him a bowl of ice cream and jelly.
"Are you a werewolf, too?" Stiles asked after a little while.
"What?" Laura choked on her ice cream.
"Are you a werewolf, too?" Stiles repeated.
"Um... Yes. How did you know about that?" She looked a little concerned and a little surprised.
"Derek told me he's a werewolf."
"Did he now?"
"Is there a problem with that?" Stiles asked, panicking because he thought he'd gotten Derek into trouble.
"Why did he tell you?"
"I brought it up because we were playing in the woods and he shifted, so I assumed he was a werewolf and we started talking about soundproof rooms." Stiles finished his ice cream while Laura processed what he'd said.
"You were playing in the woods and he shifted?"
"Yes. Come with me- I want to show you something." Stiles led Laura outside where the sun was setting over the trees. When Laura was looking at him, he shifted into his fox form and waggled his tail. He didn't want to do it inside because he thought it would give Cora another reason to not trust Laura's jaw dropped and Stiles barked before shifting back. "We were chasing each other."
"Oh." Was all the older girl managed. She'd never seen a fox before and thought he was adorable. "Come back inside- it's getting dark." She held the door open for the small boy.
"Stiles?" He heard Derek upstairs.
"Thanks you." He smiled at Laura and ran upstairs. "Derek!" He said when he caught sight of him.
"Oh my God! Where did you go? I thought you'd left."
"Why would I leave?"
"Did you hear Cora?"
"Yes. But I don't mind. Laura's really nice, so are you." He said the last part to himself.
"Really?" Derek said with a smile.
"Yeah." Stiles returned another smile.
"You can sleep on my bed. I'll sleep on the floor." Derek pulled a blanket out of a cupboard.
"No. You sleep on your bed and I'll sleep on the floor."
"You're a guest." Derek turned to Stiles. "You're on the bed and no more will be said about it."
"Fine." Stiles huffed.

Claudia had dropped off some stuff for Stiles earlier and they were finally going to bed. They'd finished all of Derek's homework and even played for a bit outside, but struggled because Stiles hadn't gotten full control on his eyesight. Derek was settling in on his fluffy blankets and Stiles was lying under Derek's blue duvet.
"Thank you." He whispered.
"My pleasure." The older boy whispered back.

Stiles woke up a few hours later. He rolled around and tried to sleep again, but to no avail. He shifted to see if that would help, but it didn't. He saw Derek's sleeping form on the floor, his blankets messily thrown around him. He silently jumped off the bed and tucked himself in next to Derek. Instantly, the older boy's arms wrapped around him and he buried his face in the fox's fur, letting out a content hum. Stiles finally fell asleep.