Suffer Well (Sterek)

I'm just not

Derek woke to an unfamiliar scent, yet it was also extremely familiar. He sat up only to have reality crash down over him as he realized where he was.

He'd been drunk and thought that was the best time to tell Stiles he wanted to be friends. However, his memory showed a different scenario had played out. He'd kissed Stiles before promptly passing out. Dread and regret washed over him in thick waves. He looked down to see he was in Stiles' bed, on top of the covers thankfully, but a thin blanket draped over him.

Stiles had once again looked after him.

He slid off the bed and pulled on his shoes. Stiles had even taken the time to remove them.

As he made his way downstairs where Stiles' voice could be heard. Derek prayed that Stiles was talking to himself and not his dad. However, as fate would have it, Sheriff Stilinski was sat at the table in the kitchen when Derek walked in.

"Good morning Derek," The Sheriff didn't seem surprised to see him, which he was relieved by. He'd expected yelling and demanding of an explanation.

"Hey, Derek, hungry?" Stiles asked setting a plate of bacon on the table.

"Oh, I don't want to intrude, I should-" but before he could finish his sentence, the Sheriff cut in.

"Nonsense, Stiles told me you were up late last night helping him with his thesis, sit down. The least he can do is feed you breakfast," The older man gestured to the chair across from him with a warm smile.

Derek glanced at the door. He just wanted to go home, but he thought it best not to argue with the Sheriff.

Derek had managed to avoid Stiles eyes until now as he sat next to the human. He'd lied to his dad about why he was there. He owed him for that one. He didn't want to have to explain to the sheriff why he'd shown up on his doorstep stupid drunk and under age. He wasn't technically old enough to even be drinking, granted he was only a few months out from twenty-one.

Stiles gave a small smile as he served Derek from the bowl of eggs and plate of bacon he'd cooked.

"Thanks," Derek mumbled. The memory of Stiles' soft lips against his played at the edges of his mind. Stiles had not kissed him back. Probably too stunned by the action.

"I can't thank you enough for helping him, he's been procrastinating all summer," Sheriff Stilinski smiled around a bite of bacon.

"I uh, didn't do much," Derek shrugged. He didn't even know Stiles was planning on going to college, much less know what his thesis was on.

"He told me you were the modest type," Sheriff Stilinski chuckled.

"He told you about me?" Derek quirked a brow. That thought surprised him for some reason.

"Course, I started to question where he kept running off to and I managed to drag it out of him. He's told me about how kind your family has been to him, and I can't thank you enough. I've been so busy at work with the shortage in deputies, so I'm happy to know that he's with you all. I'm familiar with your oldest brother, Damon, he often fixes up the occasional cop car for me," The Sheriff talked easily, but Derek saw where Stiles got his rambling from.

"Anyway, I'm glad you two have become friends."

Derek's stomach twisted with guilt.

"I'm gonna take Derek home, you should get some sleep," Stiles said suddenly, jumping to his feet.

Derek stood up, giving the Sheriff a small smile and a nod, before following Stiles outside.

Derek was tempted to tell Stiles he could walk, but he was still tired and he knew he needed to explain himself, whether he wanted to or not.

Stiles hadn't gotten out of the driveway when Derek started to apologize.

"Stiles, I'm sorry, I-"

"You don't have to explain," Stiles cut in, not offering anything more.

"Yeah, I do. I shouldn't have shown up drunk, I-"

"Yesterday was stressful, it's understandable." Stiles gave a dismissive wave of his hand.

There was a pause while Derek decided how to explain the kiss.

"About...what I did..." Derek couldn't even say it out loud.

"I know, it didn't mean anything, you were drunk, Kate drudged up old emotions and you had your guard down. I'm under no illusion that you have any kind of feelings for me, so don't worry. " Stiles said curtly. He smelled frustrated, like he wished Derek would drop the topic already.

Derek could have told Stiles the truth, but he didn't have to, Stiles was willing to accept the pathetic excuse that was his drunken state. Who was he to correct him?

The two rode in awkward silence when Derek was hit with a new sense of dread.

"Please don't tell my brother," Derek pleaded quietly.

Stiles tossed a confused glance at the alpha.

"Dominic," Derek clarified.

Stiles' scent suddenly changed to discomfort.

When Stiles didn't respond, Derek opened his mouth to question it.

"Is something wrong?"

Stiles shifted slightly, "I wish you would stop doing that," Stiles admitted, his own voice quiet.

"Doing what?" Derek frowned.

"Assume that I'm going to date your brother."

"I don't understand, is it because of his past with Theo?" Derek still couldn't grasp Stiles' lack of interest in Dominic.

"I'm just not interested," Stiles shrugged.

"Why not?" Derek pressed.

"I'm Just not," Stiles sighed, hoping Derek would drop it.

"There has to be a reason," Derek countered.

"I'm interested in someone else," Stiles snapped.

Silence fell over them for a brief moment.

"Isaac," Derek nodded knowingly.

"What?" Stiles frowned.

But Derek decided he didn't want to talk about it any further, so he changed the subject.

"Thanks for letting me stay last night, sorry I kicked you out of your bed."

Stiles didn't respond as he pulled into Derek's driveway.

Derek didn't make a move to get out once Stiles had parked though.

"Stiles, there's something I want to say," Derek stared down at his hands.

Stiles looked over at the alpha. He looked vulnerable and nervous.

"Is something wrong?" Stiles was suddenly filled with concern for the werewolf.

"I...I'm not good at this, but...I enjoy your company. And I would like to attempt at being..." Derek trailed off, glaring down at his hands as if they had slighted him in some way.

"Something resembling friends, but perhaps without so much commitment?" Stiles offered gently.

Derek looked up at the human, "I don't want anything to change," He said.

Stiles tilted his head slightly, "I'd like that," He nodded.

Derek gave a small smile, "Text me when you get home?" Derek asked opening the door to Stiles' jeep.

Stiles nodded with a smile of his own, but it didn't reach his eyes and Derek smelled the sadness Stiles felt.

He wanted to question it, but he was already maxed out on his quota for awkward conversation. Maybe he would ask him about it over text later.

*AN*
Here you are, lovelies!