Suffer Well (Sterek)

A friend?

Stiles walked back into his room after walking Isaac out.

"You get him patched up?" Derek asked from the computer chair, where he was currently sitting.

"Yeah, he's gonna go home and rest," Stiles nodded, "Thanks for doing that."

"Why would you only accept the bite from me?" Derek blurted. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about what Dominic had said to him.

"What?" Stiles asked in confusion.

"Dominic said he offered for Laura to give you the bite. You said you didn't want it, but if you did, you'd want it from me, why?" Derek explained.

Stiles shifted slightly, "If Laura gave me the bite, I'd be in her pack. I would want to be in yours," Stiles shrugged.

"Why? You'd be with Dominic," Derek pointed out.

"Why does that matter?" Stiles frowned.

"Come on, Stiles, don't pretend you two aren't going to get together," Derek huffed.

Stiles' frowned deepened, "Why would you think that?"

"You obviously like him," Derek responded.

"We're just friends," Stiles shook his head.

"For now," Derek snorted. He tried to ignore the twisting in his stomach.

"Seriously? You really think there's anyway someone like Dominic would go for someone like me?" Stiles scoffed at the idea.

"He flirts with you like crazy," Derek pointed out.

"He's a flirty guy, in fact both of your brothers are," Stiles argued.

"Trust me, Dominic likes you," Derek sneered jealously.

"Why are you bringing this up?" Stiles shifted his weight slightly.

"I'm just trying to understand you," Derek shrugged simply.

"Understand me?" Stiles frowned.

"At first I thought maybe you were only using me cause you needed help with Scott, but then I thought you might be trying to get close to Dominic, then I thought you wanted the bite, but you have Scott under control, Dominic already likes you, you don't want the bite," Derek huffed in frustration. He really couldn't figure out what Stiles' motives were.

Stiles' features softened, "Derek, I'm not using you. I don't understand why you think I am."

"Cause you text me, and pretend to care about this whole Kate thing, and-"

"How many times do I have to tell you, I'm not pretending," Stiles huffed.

"Because everyone always wants something from me. Jake in eighth grade only wanted to get in my pants. Heather in nineth grade only wanted to get to Damon. Jessica in tenth grade wanted me and the entire basketball team. Kate wanted my family dead. It's taken me a while, but I've smartened up. I'm not falling for the good guy act again, so just tell me what it is," Derek snapped. He was on edge, being around Stiles all day for several days was making it harder for Derek to ignore his growing feelings.

Stiles looked slightly taken a back. He hadn't realized the amount of people that had taken advantage of Derek.

"I'm sorry that so many people treated you like shit, but I'm not one of them. I like you, Derek, I like your family. Is it so bad that I consider you a friend?" Stiles frowned sadly at the alpha.

"A friend? You barely know me," Derek scoffed.

"I know more than you might think," Stiles responded quietly.

"Enough that you would consider me a friend?" Derek asked doubtfully.

"Definitely enough for that, remember I have the mind of a detective, and your brother's phone number," Stiles smiled.

Derek rolled his eyes, "Speaking of, thank you for coming up with a lie as to why we were meeting. I wouldn't have been able to think of that."

"Course," Stiles gave another smile.

"I should head back actually, I don't want to leave them alone for too long," Derek said standing from Stiles' chair.

"Right, yeah, I'll see you at dinner," Stiles nodded.

"Dinner?" Derek frowned at the human.

"Uh, yeah, Dom invited me over. He said they missed me," Stiles answered.

"They or he?" Derek scoffed.

Stiles bit down on his bottom lip, "Both. He said they but then he said he missed me. He also said he wanted to make it up to me, the whole Theo thing," Stiles replied sheepishly.

The familiar aching in Derek's chest had returned, "Don't be surprised if he asks you out." Derek spat. He mentally kicked himself for letting his jealousy seep through.

"I'm not gonna date your brother, Derek," Stiles frowned.

"Why not?" Derek asked in confusion.

"I don't want you to think I'm using you to get to him," Stiles spoke with a sincerity in his tone.

"I don't. If you want to date my brother, go for it," Derek said fighting to keep his tone even.

"You seriously wouldn't care?" Stiles frowned.

"Nope," Derek lied. He was glad Stiles couldn't hear his heartbeat.

"Oh," Stiles gave a small nod.

Was that disappointment in his tone?

"Anyway, I guess I'll see you later then," Derek said going towards Stiles' door.

"Text me when you get home, please," Stiles said following Derek.

The alpha paused, turning to Stiles. He was planning to make a snide remark, but he smelled the worry, and saw the concern on Stiles' face.

Derek let out a sigh, "I will."

*AN*
Small update, I promise next chapter will be longer and more interesting. 😊