Suffer Well (Sterek)

Blue is just pretty

Derek carefully made his way up the stairs to Stiles' room. He had gotten a text from the human saying they needed to talk, alone. He really wasn't keen on the idea of teaming up with Stiles but he'd barely slept the night before out of fear of losing his siblings. He couldn't let that happen.

Derek reached Stiles' room. He knocked on the mostly open door.

Stiles turned, a pen between his lips.

"Hey," Stiles smiled letting the pen fall from his mouth. He used the pen to gesture to his room, "Come on in."

"What's that?" Derek asked pointing to the wall of pictures and string.

"My case wall. It's complicated," Stiles waved a dismissive hand, but Derek walked closer. There was a picture of him on the wall.

"Where'd you get that?" Derek asked.

"It's an old school picture, I snagged from the school's database. I needed something with your face, it's easier for me to think," Stiles answered suddenly nervous.

"And that one?" Derek pointed to a picture of Kate.

"Allison," Stiles answered.

"Does she know?" Derek asked.

"That she set the fire? Yes," Stiles answered again.

"About me," Derek turned to look at Stiles.

Stiles shook his head slightly, "I didn't think you'd want anyone to know," Stiles shrugged dropping his eyes.

Derek felt his chest tighten. Stiles had thought of Derek's feelings.

"I don't," Derek said forcing his tone to hide any softness. He had to remain stone, he couldn't let Stiles break down his walls.

Stiles didn't respond. He didn't know how.

"What are the different colors of string for?" Derek asked turning back to the wall.

"Green is for the things I've solved, yellow is I'm working on it, and red is unsolved," Stiles explained.

"And the blue?" Derek asked touching one of the blue strings gently.

"Blue is just pretty," Stiles shrugged.

Derek's finger fell from the string a memory of the day his eyes were changed to blue hit him like a ton of bricks. 

"I did something, something terrible." Derek had his eyes closed, but he knew the scent of the woman kneeling in front of him.

"I know," Derek's mother spoke softly lifting his chin.

"My eyes," Derek said sadly refusing to open them, "They're different."

"Different, but still beautiful, just like the rest of you."

Derek clenched his hands. He was letting Stiles get to him.

"So I wanted to talk to you about a pack," Stiles spoke up then, pulling Derek from his thoughts, much to Derek's relief.

"I'm not getting a pack," Derek shook his head.

"I figured you might say that," Stiles sighed.

"Do you know what the Argents do to Omegas? They string them up, upside down and they cut them in half at the waist, it's totally barbaric. Now Chris refuses to get involved, but Allison, she wants to help, and Scott does whatever Allison says. You don't have to turn us for us to be your pack. Dominic says-"

"Dominic?" Derek whirled around to face Stiles. "When did you talk to him?" Derek snapped.

"Earlier, before you got here, I had a couple questions, he doesn't know anything, I promise," Stiles spoke nervously.

"I don't want you involving him," Derek growled.

"I'm not, I just wanted to know more about the bite and how it works," Stiles shrugged.

"I'm not giving you the bite," Derek growled again, the anger rising in him.

"Trust me, I don't want it," Stiles shook his head, "But I know someone who does."

Derek frowned.

"He's a friend, his name is Isaac, anyway, he found out about Scott," Stiles explained.

"You mean you told him," Derek huffed.

"Scott. Scott told him, I specifically told him not to, but he doesn't ever freakin' listen to me," Stiles huffed, "Anyway, we told him the risks and he doesn't care, he just lost his dad, and he's got no one. He's staying with Scott right now."

"Stiles, I don't want a pack. I don't want friends. I just want Kate dead," Derek snapped.

"And I'm with you on that, totally with you, and so is Allison and Scott."

"Allison wants her aunt dead?" Derek asked doubtfully.

"I recently informed her of a new development in my ongoing investigation. The reason Allison's mother died was because Kate used her as bait and made a mistake causing her to get bit. Apparently the family rule was that you get bit, you die. Kate made it look like Allison's mother killed herself, but my dad found the body and there was no way she could have killed herself, she had been shot from behind with a wolfsbane bullet. But once again, no proof Kate was ever there. Allison told me Kate's side of the story however, and she's a big fat liar," Stiles explained.

"Does her dad know?" Derek asked.

Stiles shook his head, "Allison thinks he'll want to have her arrested. She would rather get revenge, by helping you kill her."

"I don't trust her," Derek growled.

"Yeah, I'd be slightly concerned if you did," Stiles scoffed.

"What are you suggesting? I team up with her and Scott?" Derek crossed his arms over his chest.

"And me, I'm kinda the backbone of all this," Stiles pointed to himself.

"Stiles, I barely trust you, I can't just team up with a group of teenagers."

"Whoa, hey now, you're only like three years older than us," Stiles huffed.

"Stiles," Derek growled out in frustration.

"Look, I get it, okay? I don't like to let people in either, but everything goes back to normal after this. You never have to see any of us again. Well except me, but that's..." Stiles waved his hand as he trailed off.

"So what, I bite Isaac and play pack for a week or two, then what, kick him to the curb?" Derek huffed. This was ridiculous.

"No, of course not, he's got Scott. I already told them, this isn't a bonding experience, it's a business deal," Stiles answered.

"You already talked to them?" Derek pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Obviously, I couldn't get your hopes up about all this help and then have to tell you, no one wanted to help. You've been through enough, how heartless do you think I am?" Stiles threw his hands up.

Derek felt the familiar tightening in his chest. Damn Stiles and his consideration for Derek.

"Look, I know it's a lot. Kate will be here tomorrow evening. Go home, think it over, sleep on it," Stiles suggested, "This is your choice, I'm not going to force anything you don't want, but I really think this is your best bet."

Derek nodded, Stiles was right, it was his choice. Stiles was giving him a choice. He should at least think it through.

*AN*
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