Red Tail || BxB

--Chapter 20--

   It's late at night. Stiles is dead asleep on the couch and Derek is sitting at the opposite end of it, wide awake. He couldn't help but look at the small werefox that was just inches away from his leg.

Derek wanted so badly to let his instincts kick in, he just wanted to keep Stiles safe, in his arms. God, that stupid 'mate pull' was getting annoying. Especially since he didn't know if it was affecting Stiles differently because of the fact that Stiles was never attracted to him in the first place, unlike Derek.

So while Derek wants to do anything to keep him safe, and feel like he was protecting him, Stiles probably just felt scared and confused.

Derek keeps his eye on Stiles, whos eyes were shut lightly and his tail was tucked up behind his leg. His face facing the outer part of the couch.

Without noticing what he was doing Derek slowly started sliding down the couch until he was laying down next to Stiles. Derek was about to pull his body away and head upstairs to prevent himself from screwing something up when he felt Stiles' slender body lean into him.

It took the werewolf by utter surprise. Slowly though, he glanced down at the werefox, gently wrapping an arm around his body protectively and watching as Stiles unconsciously moved his head from the couch to Derek's chest.

Derek can't help but smile, even if Stiles didn't know it was him he was up against.

Both of the boys melt into a more comfortable position as Derek takes the outer edge of the couch and Stiles takes the inner part, and Derek. Half of the skinny boy laid peacefully on the wolf's broad chest, his nose in the crook of Derek's neck.

Derek wrapped his opposite arm around the boy's back, attempting to pull him closer and into his arms. He doesn't get very far before he too falls asleep with his head brushed up against Stiles' dotted forehead.

---

Stiles is the first to wake up. The night had been dreamless and empty. He could barely remember anything from yesterday, which was probably a good thing. The moments he did remember were vague and fogged, like Gerard, or the pain, or Scott, or Derek... Derek.

Slowly opening his eyes Stiles noticed that it was Derek's arms he was in. Stiles' legs were tangled with his and his arms and head were on Derek's chest. Part of him wanted to get up and walk away from the awkward situation soon to come, but something made him stay.

Something made Stiles feel safe for the first time all week, no all year. It just all seemed to click. So he stayed. Stiles closed his eyes once again and nuzzled his nose lightly on Derek's chest. The small action caused Derek's eyes to slowly flutter open.

Unlike Stiles, Derek remembered everything from the night before. They way Stiles' eyes were filled with pain, after Gerard showed up in the woods, when Scott came to Deatons office, when Stiles accidentally called him Der. All of the confusion.

Derek looked at Stiles who was still laying peacefully in his arms. His breathing was shallow and stiles tail was wrapped around his own leg. Derek sighed and attempted to gently bring Stiles closer.

Stiles allowed himself to slide closer to Derek's muscular form, and took a deep breath, taking in Derek's foresty scent... if that's even a word.

The two boys laid there in silence and Stiles opened his eyes once again, this time acknowledging Derek. Stiles slowly gazes up at the werewolf who had his arms wrapped around him in a protective manner.

"Morning sleepy head." Derek mumbles in a gruff tone.

Instead of answering Stiles made a sound that resembled the noise of a motor as he stretched, this caused Derek to lightly chuckle and roll his eyes.