Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Why did we have to be partnered together?” Stiles grumbled, pulling down the ladder to the attic.

“Because the universe obviously hates me,” Isaac hissed. Stiles rolled his eyes. He was obviously getting the short end of the stick in this deal. Stiles was a great student, while Isaac was not. He didn’t know if it was from lack of trying, lack of care, or lack of brains. It didn’t really matter, as long as Stiles wasn’t brought down because of it.

For all the aloofness that he presented to people, he worked really hard to get good grades. Luckily, he was naturally gifted, but all the craziness of the half year really made things harder. He had to do what he could to get some sort of scholarship for college, to try to ease the burden on his dad. Isaac was not going to drag his average down.

“Let’s just find what we’re looking for, get this done as quick as we can, then go back to ignoring each other like usual,” Stiles said, climbing up into the dusty space. There was a book up there that would be perfect for their presentation, they just had to find it first. It had been years since Stiles had been in the attic, never liking the cramped room. Nevermind the fact that it was creepy and probably crawling with spiders, it was where they kept all of his mom’s things. Seeing all that stuff just made him sad.

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” Isaac muttered, tapping his foot impatiently as he waited for Stiles to make it up.

“I can barely tolerate talking to you at all, believe me when I say I’m going to avoid repeat-” of course all the talking was distracting Stiles from what he was doing and his foot missed a rung. He had a split second to mourn how dumb he was going to look falling flat on his ass in front of Isaac, but then said ass was being cushioned by two strong hands. “Whoa! Hands off the merchandise!”

“Would you rather I let you fall next time?” Isaac asked, holding him up until he regained his footing.

“Maybe!” Stiles whined, scampering up the last few rungs. Isaac joined him a moment later, with his stupid werewolf agility. “Just, start looking around for the book. It’s old and brown and has a cover and-”

“And pages? I’m familiar with what a book is,” Isaac scoffed.

“That’s funny, I’ve never seen you read. Do you even know how to?” Stiles asked, smirking at Isaac’s sneer.

“I don’t need to know how to read in order to kill you,” Isaac threatened, stepping toward him menacingly.

“Whatever. Be careful with what you touch. There is stuff in here that’s sentimental and irreplaceable. I doubt you’d understand anything about that, aside from your dumb scarves,” Stiles sneered, feeling a little ego boost when Isaac frowned and turned away from him. The faster they found it, the faster they’d be out of here.

They started on opposite ends of the room, searching box by box. Isaac was making good time, going through old furniture and holiday decorations. Stiles took the side with more of his mom’s stuff and kept getting distracted by what he found. Every item had a memory attached and he found himself getting lost in them.

The apron his mom always wore when she was baking. Her cakes were a little dry, but her cookies were the best. The ukulele Stiles had begged her to play at one of his school events. She’d never even held one before then, but she worked for weeks to learn how to play that one song for him. The journal she’d write all her ideas in. Sometimes she would talk about writing a children’s book about her little Mischief. She would doodle little pictures of Stiles in a cape, saving the day. He wished he had been able to save her.

Stiles settled down more comfortably to flip through the pages. Just seeing his mom’s handwriting was making him feel closer to her. He could practically hear her voice saying the words.

“For someone who is eager to get rid of me, you certainly are taking your time,” Isaac said. Stiles turned to look at him and found him looking annoyed with his hands on his hips.

“I’m looking,” Stiles defended, shaking the journal above his head. “See, a book. Just making sure it’s not the one we’re looking for.”

“That’s not brown or old,” Isaac pointed out.

“Your attitude is getting old though,” Stiles muttered, pointing the book in Isaac’s direction. He attempted to swipe at it, so Stiles pulled it back, accidentally dropping it on the floor. “Look what you did!”

“Me? Please,” Isaac snorted, going back to his side. Stiles grabbed the journal, making sure it wasn’t damaged. It looked mostly okay, except for one corner on the back cover. The paper was peeling on the inside and he held back the little whine that wanted to burst out.

“Ah man,” Stiles whispered, flicking at the page. He was about to go downstairs to grab some tape to fix it, but another little piece of paper peeking out from underneath distracted him. That shouldn’t have been there. Stiles started peeling the page back even more, revealing an envelope. An envelope with his name on it. “Oh my God.”

“Did you find it?” Isaac asked, peeking over his shoulder. “What’s that?” Stiles couldn’t do much more than stare down at the paper in his hand. That was definitely his mom’s handwriting. Was this some goodbye letter she’d written him before she died? If this was just an old birthday card, he’d lose his mind. But why would something like that be so carefully hidden away? This had to be something important.

It was a bit unsettling to uncover something from his mom so long after her death. Should he open it? He really wished Scott were here with him right now, instead of Isaac. This was something that needed best friend support, not an annoying acquaintance. But Stiles knew he wouldn’t be able to wait to find out what was inside.

He flipped the envelope over, carefully pulling open the flap. Stiles could feel his heart racing in anticipation and thankfully Isaac had the unusual graciousness to move back and give him some space. He took a deep breath, pulled out the sheet of paper inside, and started to read.

Dearest Stiles,

If you’re reading this, it means I’m not around anymore to help guide you on this journey. I’m so sorry to be telling you this, this way, but I needed to wait until I knew you were ready to hear it. I hope you find this at a time you can handle this news, but it will come as a shock either way.

On my eighteenth birthday, your grandpa sat me down and let me in on a long hidden family secret. Our ancestors were very special, powerful people, but not in the way you might think. We have a natural ability that most others don’t. We have the power of magic.

The gift typically lies dormant until we reach adulthood, which is when we’re given the choice whether or not to embrace it or suppress it. I jumped into it with reckless abandon. I found a teacher who helped me figure out this new world and those were some of the most amazing years of my life. I flourished in my newfound power and planned on taking it as far as possible. But then I met your father.

I used to think I would never love anything as much as the magic, but then I met my Noah. He was so simple and pure and good, and I couldn’t imagine rocking his world with this knowledge. But I also couldn’t imagine my life without him. I made the decision to step away from my magic, only doing little things here and there. It was hard at first, and not everyone understood my choice, but I was firm in my decision.

And then you came. I understood why my father and the last few generations before us had chosen to suppress their gift. There is an inherent danger to that life, but when you’re young, that doesn’t matter so much. But when you hold that tiny life in your hands, nothing else matters. I saw your little face and knew my time in that world was truly done.

Now, I don’t want you to feel bad about that. It was my choice and I’d make it every time. The years with you and your father were the most fulfilling of my life and I’d never trade them for anything. But now is the time for you to make your own decision.

There is a hidden room in the basement of the house, with the entrance blocked by the pantry shelves. I hope you still live in that old house, since your father promised he’d never move. This is where I’ve left all of the things I gathered during my years of dabbling in magic and it’s yours now, if you accept this gift. There is also information on how to suppress the power, if that is your choice. Just make sure you learn enough to pass down the information to your own children, if you decide to have any.

I wish I was there to see you and help you make this choice, but I know how strong you are. Even at a young age I knew. The potential and promise in you was staggering and I know you’ll succeed in anything you decide to do. Please be careful. This isn’t information to be shared with just anyone, but I hope you trust someone enough to have some support in whichever journey you choose.

To my precious boy. I love you so much.

Mom

Stiles stared down at the letter in his hand in open mouthed shock. Of all the things he expected to read, that definitely wasn’t one of them. This had to be some sort of a joke, or weird dream. He was the normal, human guy, surrounded by weird. That was his role and he was pretty good at it. Being special was something he’d never considered.

“Stiles?” Isaac asked quietly, setting a hand on his shoulder. That jolted Stiles from his shock and he jumped up, sprinting to the door of the attic. There was one way to find out if this was real. “Stiles!”

He couldn’t deal with Isaac right now. Stiles raced through his house, throwing open the door to the basement and vaulting down the stairs. Isaac was right behind him, only hesitating slightly when he saw where they were going. He went over to the pantry wall, trying to peek around the boxes and cans to see if he could see anything that looked strange. He’d come to this spot hundreds of times in his life, but never looked closer. Why would he have?

“Help me move this,” Stiles demanded, moving to one end. To Isaac’s credit, he didn’t argue, just mirrored Stiles’ actions. He ended up doing most of the work, thanks to his werewolf strength. Stiles would thank him later. As soon as there was enough room, Stiles slid into the space and inspected the wall. There had to be some sort of door.

“What’s going on?” Isaac asked, but Stiles just waved him off. If he didn’t need Isaac’s help moving this shelf back, he would’ve sent him away already. Stiles ran his hands along the wall, trying to feel for any differences that shouldn’t be there. The bricks were rough and lumpy, but one in particular stood out among the rest. He pushed on it, hoping for something to happen. He wasn’t disappointed.

Stiles heard something unlatch, then suddenly part of the wall was opening up toward him. Isaac grabbed his arm and jerked him back, preventing him from getting smushed against the shelf behind him. He didn’t care about the save though, transfixed by what laid ahead of him.

He stumbled into the room in a daze, his arms going lax at his side, staring at the proof of the information in the letter. There were shelves full of books and jars lining the walls and a giant wood table in the middle of the room. Stiles wasn’t sure how, but he could feel the power thrumming around the room as soon as he crossed the threshold.

There was a lamp sitting on the table so he flicked it on, illuminating the room. How had he and his father gone so long without knowing that this was here? How had his mom been able to keep this secret? Stiles already wanted to run screaming to Scott and he’d only known about this for a few minutes. How was he supposed to deal with this alone?

Stiles only remembered he wasn’t alone when he heard a little whine from behind him. Isaac was hovering in the doorway, staring at the walls as if they were going to close in on him. Of all the times to be worried about a little thing like claustrophobia.

“Just prop the door open with a can of corn and get in here if you’re staying,” Stiles grumbled, rolling his eyes. This was one of the most important moments in his life so far and he didn’t have the bandwidth to deal with Isaac’s issues. Isaac growled at him a little, but did as suggested, adding a few extra cans for good measure. Stiles walked over to the nearest shelf, running his fingers along the spines of the books. He’d started this whole thing by looking for a book, but he’d ended up finding so much more.

“What’s this?” Isaac asked, holding the letter that Stiles hadn’t realized he dropped.

“Hey! That’s private!” Stiles snapped, stomping over and snatching the paper from his hands.

“But it’s blank,” Isaac said in confusion. Stiles looked down, finding the paper just as he’d found it, with his mom’s sloping script.

“What are you talking about? I said you couldn’t read earlier, not that you were blind,” Stiles scoffed, holding up the paper in Isaac’s face. Isaac batted Stiles’ hand away in annoyance.

“And I’m telling you, the paper is blank. Are you losing your mind or something? What is all this?” Isaac asked with a frown.

“Can you see the stuff in this room?” Stiles questioned, pointing to the various items.

“Of course.”

“And you’re not saying you can’t see writing on the paper just to get me to hand it to you so you can read it, right?”

“No!”

“Holy shit,” Stiles whispered in awe.

“You really see writing on the paper?” Isaac asked.

“Yeah.”

“What does it say?”

“It’s a letter from my mom,” Stiles mumbled.

“And?” Isaac prodded.

“I can’t- I can’t tell you, okay? It’s private,” Stiles stammered, folding the paper back up and shoving it into his pocket.

“Look, I’m not asking you for personal details about what your mom wrote to you. God knows if I had gotten a letter like that from my mom, you would be the last person I’d share it with. But disappearing words and a secret room? You need to tell me something,” Isaac sighed. Stiles frowned, feeling the little pang from the reminder of Isaac’s own parentage. He didn’t know the story of his mother, but she obviously wasn’t around.

“You have to promise me that you’ll keep your mouth shut about this. This is my information to share or not share, okay?” Stiles ground out, trying to look as threatening as possible. It probably didn’t scare Isaac at all, but he wanted to make sure the other boy knew he was serious.

“Whatever, just tell me,” Isaac grunted, making a hurry up motion with his hand.

“It turns out my mom could do magic and apparently so can I,” Stiles blurted out, cringing at how dumb that sounded.

“Right. And I’m a vampire,” Isaac snorted, shaking his head.

“No, but you are a werewolf and a year ago I would’ve said that was pretty far-fetched,” Stiles shot back. How could anything surprise them these days?

“I’m supposed to believe you? This is probably some big scheme to make me look stupid.”

“You think I’d go to these lengths to do anything when it comes to you? And bring my mom into it?” Stiles snapped, feeling his irritation rise every passing second. Isaac looked thoughtful for a moment, glancing around the room again.

“You got me there,” Isaac admitted. “Well, you know what this means, right?”

“What?”

“You’re a wizard, Harry,” Isaac said seriously, flashing him a cheeky grin after a few seconds.

“You’re such a dick!” Stiles moaned. Why did it have to be Isaac with him? Even Derek would’ve been better.

“What am I supposed to say?”

“I don’t know! Something supportive?”

“Um, congrats on not being the weak link of the pack anymore?” Isaac shrugged.

“Real nice, thanks,” Stiles spat.

“Well, I don’t know. Kind words aren’t really my forte. Maybe you should talk to Deaton? That guy’s always up to something weird,” Isaac suggested. Stiles was about to open his mouth to argue out of pure reflex, but then he realized Isaac might’ve said something helpful. That was just slightly less surprising than the whole magic revelation.

“Of course I’m going to talk to Deaton,” Stiles scoffed, not wanting to let Isaac know he said something smart for once. Wouldn’t want to encourage him to start talking more.

“I guess this means I’ll be doing the project alone,” Isaac murmured, venturing further into the room to look at the different jars.

“Yeah right! I wouldn’t trust you to tell me the time, let alone trust you with my grade,” Stiles snorted.

“You should probably be nicer to the guy who knows your big secret,” Isaac warned, cutting his eyes over at him.

“Oh please. Like you actually care about school. Do you even hand in homework?”

“Funnily enough it was kind of difficult to stay on top of things like that with one eye swollen shut and being shoved in a freezer all night. I guess we can’t all be perfect like Stiles Stilinski.”

“Okay, I’ll concede on that one, but what’s your excuse now? I’m pretty sure Derek doesn’t do the same.”

“Well, now you’re right about the not caring. My future doesn’t really skew toward academics.”

“And what does it skew toward?”

“Staying alive. But history shows I fail at most things, so we’ll see how long that lasts,” Isaac said darkly, creeping forward to stand in front of him again. “Any other questions?”

“Not if your answers are going to be morbid,” Stiles muttered.

“Not morbid, realistic. We Laheys don’t have a long shelf life,” Isaac laughed.

“Jeez, dark humor is one thing, but yours is pitch black. Can we ignore your past trauma for now and focus on my current crisis?” Isaac rolled his eyes, but backed away without another word, leaning against the opening of the room. Stiles wanted to look at everything in there, but he was nervous to touch anything. What if something was dangerous? He really needed to get some advice before he did anything, and Deaton seemed like the next logical step. Stiles reluctantly left the room, shooing Isaac out of the way.

“Now what?” Isaac sighed.

“Now we put everything back like we found it and pretend this never happened until I figure out what to do next.”

“And then?”

“And then we work on our stupid project.”

Chapter Text

“Do you have an extra pencil I can borrow?” Isaac asked, flicking at the leadless tip of his pencil. Stiles rolled his eyes, dragging his backpack over so he could rifle through it. He so didn’t want to be doing this right now, his mind preoccupied with the revelations from earlier.

“Can’t you just whittle it with your claws or something?” Stiles grumbled, digging into the messy depths of his bag. Isaac made a big show of flicking his claws out and jabbing it into the wood, splintering it down the middle.

“Oops,” Isaac deadpanned, dropping the remains of the pencil on the table.

“Why is it my responsibility to provide you with these things?” Stiles asked, tossing the stubbiest pencil he could find at Isaac.

“Derek isn’t really keen on going school supply shopping I guess,” Isaac muttered, angrily flipping the page of his notebook.

“Well, I doubt he was expecting to be saddled with a teenager, but I guess that’s what happens when you bite randoms,” Stiles snorted. Isaac growled a little under his breath, but didn’t say anything. Stiles was glad. He didn’t want to talk, he just wanted to work.

They worked together in silence, only speaking when it was unavoidable. Isaac wasn’t the terrible student Stiles assumed he was and he was pleasantly surprised. Not that he would say anything like that out loud. They were making pretty good progress until they heard Sheriff Stilinski’s car pull up in the driveway.

“I thought you said he wouldn’t be back until late!” Isaac hissed, curling in on himself a little.

“Why does it matter? It’s not like he’s going to bother us,” Stiles brushed off, trying to focus on his paper again. Isaac seemed determined not to let that happen though.

“And he’s okay with someone he arrested for murder being in his house? And around his son?” Isaac snapped, flicking his eyes towards and away from the front door.

“Oh my God, it’s fine. That’s old news,” Stiles scoffed, rolling his eyes at the other boy.

“Right. My dad’s murder and me being a suspect in the crime is old news. My mistake,” Isaac growled, clamping his lips shut as soon as he heard the keys in the door.

“Hey Stiles, change in schedule. Rodriguez was able to come in for his shift after all. I-” his dad cut off his words as soon as he saw Stiles wasn’t alone. He had a confused look on his face for a split second before it settled into his neutral one. “Lahey, right? How are you doing?”

“I’m doing well, sir, thank you,” Isaac replied, staring down at his hands.

“What are you boys up to?” he asked.

“Just working on a dumb project for school. We should be done soon, hopefully,” Stiles answered. Getting done as fast as possible had two draws: getting Isaac out of here and giving him time to feel his feelings about everything he’d discovered.

“Sounds like fun. Will you be staying for dinner?”

“Um-”

“I don’t think we’ll be that long,” Stiles said quickly. The three of them eating dinner together sounded like a unique form of torture.

“Alright,” his dad sighed, shrugging his shoulders. “I’ll be around if you need anything. It was nice to see you again, especially under better circumstances.” Isaac just nodded and kept his head ducked until he left the room.

“Jeez, you act like my dad is going to shoot you,” Stiles laughed, relishing in Isaac being bumped off his high horse. He was still a bit bitter from being knocked around by the Beta trio in the early days. If his dad could get this kind of reaction out of Isaac, he’d have to keep that little bit of information in mind for future exploitation.

“Shut up Stiles!” Isaac bit out, snarling in anger.

“Watch what you say to me. You know how easy it would be for me to call my dad back and tell him you’re threatening me? Most dads are actually protective of their sons,” Stiles sneered, knowing a second after he said it that he’d gone too far.

“You know what, screw this!” Isaac hissed, tossing all of his papers and books into his backpack. “Finish the project yourself. I’m done.”

“Oh great, now you’re gonna leave me with all the work?” Stiles snapped, his earlier flash of guilt disappearing as soon as it appeared. Isaac leaving him with more work was just going to take time away from finding out more about his mom’s secret. “Have fun getting a zero.”

“We already established it doesn’t matter, remember?” Isaac chuckled mirthlessly, stomping to the front door. Stiles didn’t even try to stop him, relieved when he didn’t slam the door behind himself. He was probably too scared to draw attention to his exit and get Stiles’ dad involved. Stiles couldn’t worry about unimportant things right now though. He put all of his schoolwork away, promising himself he’d get back to it later.

Stiles sprinted up to his room, eager to examine the letter more closely now that he was alone. If it was magical enough to cloak anyone else from being able to see the words, there might be something else he’d missed.

“Done so soon? Did your friend leave already?” his dad asked, popping his head out of his room as he dashed by.

“Isaac is not my friend,” Stiles laughed, scrunching his nose at the mere idea of that. He’d probably consider Jackson more of a friend, the murderous lizard bastard he was.

“How is he doing? I still feel pretty bad about how everything went down.” he said, stepping into the hallway and leaning against the wall.

“He’s fine. A jerk, but fine,” Stiles sighed, antsy to escape to the privacy of his room.

“Well, it’s not uncommon for victims of abuse to lash out at others. It gives them a sense of control over something, when they’ve lacked it for so long,” his dad pointed out.

“Since when are you Dr. Phil?” Stiles snorted, eyeing his dad suspiciously. If he’d heard what he said to Isaac earlier, this was a pretty roundabout way to lecture him.

“It’s called empathy, son. Might want to try it out sometime,” he scoffed.

“You know, you’re right. I think I’ll go practice in my room right now!” Stiles grinned, trotting backwards toward his bedroom door. His dad rolled his eyes and waved him off, going back into his own room. Stiles finally had some privacy, but he made sure to lock his door, just in case. He pulled the letter out of his pocket where he’d stashed it, laying it down flat on his desk under the lamp. It looked the same as it had before, with no extra details making themselves immediately apparent.

Did something like that take a lot of skill or power? Did it take no effort at all? Stiles had no idea if all this was supposed to come naturally to him or if it was something he was going to have to train to do. Deaton had told him once that he had a spark, but how far would that get him? He just really wanted his mom here to explain it all to him.

Would she still be alive if she kept at it all those years? Did stopping to live a normal life with him and his dad cost her hers? What was the point of having power if it couldn’t save her?

Stiles stared down at the paper, feeling overwhelmed by all the questions he’d never have the answers to. This one letter wasn’t enough. All the things hidden in that room weren’t enough. Stiles wanted his mom.

“Dammit!” Stiles gasped, wiping at his cheeks. He didn’t usually cry about his mom anymore, except on the harder anniversaries, but now the tears were flowing and he knew he wouldn’t be able to stop them. Stiles balled his fists at his sides, resisting the urge to let his frustrations out by destroying something. That was not something he would normally do, but did he really know himself anymore? There was this whole part of himself he’d never known about.

Why had he been forced to find out like this? He could understand that he was too young to be told about this before his mother died, but it would’ve been a lot easier to swallow if she’d told his father about it so he could tell him when he was ready. Now he had yet another secret to keep from his dad. Their relationship had already been through so much, now there was another chasm that would be impossible to cross.

Stiles felt so alone right now. It was like this whole world had just opened up to him, but he didn’t know what to do with it. He had settled comfortably into the role of the plucky human sidekick to Scott’s werewolf. He was good at that and happy there. But now what was he? What if magical people and werewolves were sworn enemies and he had to choose between his gift and his friends? His mom had chosen love. Would he do the same?

This was too much to deal with alone and he ached for his mom to come in and make things better. Stiles moved over to his bed, grabbing the family picture from where it sat on his end table. They were so happy in the photo and he wished he could transport back to that time. A time before his mom was sick and before life was complicated. A time before he was facing down monsters on a regular basis. A time when his mom could hold him and tell him things would work out.

Stiles clutched the picture to his chest, laying down on his bed and trying to imagine what his mom would say to him right now. It had gotten harder over the years to picture her voice, but now he heard it as clear as day. She was telling him that he could get through anything. If he could survive losing his mother at such a young age, he could do this too. Claudia Stilinski might not have gotten as much time as she deserved, but she’d raised a strong son who could take on anything. He would do her proud.

Chapter Text

Stiles groaned, sliding into a desk in the back of the class. It was the period before the project was due and he was trying to scrape together something at least partially presentable. His grief induced exhaustion had kept him asleep longer than he planned and he woke up right before his alarm this morning. There had been no time to work on anything, so he was trying to do what he could during his other classes. Stiles had made a little progress, but he’d be lucky to squeak by with a D.

Isaac sauntered in right before the bell rang, not even glancing in his direction. He’d been so cocky last night, telling Isaac he was going to let him fail, but now he was probably going to fail right alongside him.

“Hey Isaac, can you come back here?” Stiles whispered, knowing the other boy would be able to hear over the sounds of the rest of the class. He saw Isaac twitch in response, but he made no moves to listen to the request. “Please, I need to tell you something.” Stiles could practically feel the eye roll, even though he couldn’t see it, but his plea must’ve sounded pathetic enough because Isaac reluctantly crept over, sitting down in the empty seat next to him.

“What do you want? Felt like gloating about telling the teacher you did the whole assignment by yourself?” Isaac grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.

“The opposite actually,” Stiles sighed, thanking his lucky stars when a substitute teacher walked in and started setting up a movie. That would buy him more time. “I’m sorry about what I said yesterday. I know it was my fault you left and that’s the reason we didn’t finish the assignment. All the stuff with my mom is no excuse.”

“I think it’s pretty common knowledge that we don’t like each other, so working together was bound to blow up in our faces, one way or another. It doesn’t matter anyway,” Isaac brushed off.

“It does matter. I shouldn’t have been so flippant about your past.”

“Leave it alone, Stiles,” Isaac growled, sending him a warning glare.

“Okay,” Stiles mumbled, leaning back a little. He didn’t think Isaac would attack him in the middle of the classroom, but a little slice with his claws didn’t seem too far-fetched. “And I didn’t mean what I said about letting you fail. Although that doesn’t really matter now.”

“What do you mean?” Isaac asked.

“I was going to put both of our names on the project, but I accidentally fell asleep and didn’t finish it. I threw together as much as I could, but it’s still not great.”

“Are you being honest or are you just saying that since the outcome would be the same?”

“Can’t you hear I’m not lying?” Stiles challenged, letting his heartbeat be the answer. Isaac watched him critically for a few moments before sighing and digging through his bag. He set a small stack of papers on the desk in front of them. “What’s this?”

“I stayed up all night working on this thing. It probably isn’t as good as anything you would’ve done, but you can put your name on it if you want,” Isaac mumbled, looking away in embarrassment. Stiles was actually speechless, which was not something he was used to.

“I thought you didn’t care about school?”

“I don’t, but I can’t afford to call attention to myself and have teachers get in my business. Keeping up appearances means staying with Derek,” Isaac shrugged.

“Shit, I never even thought of that,” Stiles muttered, feeling incredibly guilty. Even through everything, he’d always had a safe home to go to. He sometimes took for granted that that wasn’t the case for everyone. “Do you mind if I take a look?”

“Go ahead,” Isaac replied, waving his hand at the papers. Stiles leafed through them, skimming over the words as quickly as possible.

“This actually isn’t bad,” Stiles commented.

“Don’t sound so surprised,” Isaac grumbled, cutting his eyes away to stare out the window.

“Sorry, but really, this is good. I might be able to add some of my stuff on to bump it up a little, if you don’t mind?” Stiles asked, already getting started without waiting for an answer. Isaac didn’t argue, just watching in silence as Stiles did his thing. It was going to look like pieced together trash, but all the information was good, and that’s what counted. The actual presentation only needed to be a couple minutes long, but Stiles could do that part in his sleep. Stiles scribbled out a little intro and outro script for Isaac to say, while he was fully prepared to just wing his part. This might not be the disaster he thought it would be.

*

“I can’t believe how well that went,” Stiles laughed as they walked out of the next class. The teacher seemed pleased with what they’d said and he was confident the papers would be up to snuff. “I guess we work well together, even when we’re not actually working together.”

“Let’s not make a habit of it though,” Isaac muttered, walking to his locker. Stiles followed, not seeing anything better to do at the moment.

“God no, but do you think you could do me a favor?”

“Seriously?” Isaac grumbled, shaking his head.

“I need you to help me move the shelf again, so I can get back into the room,” Stiles whispered, shooting a casual finger gun at a student before ducking back closer to Isaac. They probably looked like they were conducting a drug deal.

“Why don’t you ask Scott?”

“I haven’t actually told him yet,” Stiles admitted. “I’m still trying to come to terms with it myself and I want to let the idea settle a bit before I tell him. Please? I’ll owe you big time.”

“Fine,” Isaac sighed, slumping in resignation. “What time?”

“After 7pm would be great. That’s when my dad leaves for work,” Stiles said in relief. “Thank you so much. You don’t know how much this means.”

“Whatever,” Isaac grunted, slamming his locker shut. “I have to get to class.”

“Of course, don’t let me stop you,” Stiles said brightly, waving goodbye. He could hardly wait to get back in that room now that everything wasn’t so fresh. He planned on looking at everything and cataloging it and doing research and so much more. Tonight couldn’t come soon enough.

*

Stiles finally got his dad out of the house, just before 7pm. Today, of all the days, was when he decided to drag his feet and risk being late. He’d said there really was no such thing as late for him, but Stiles convinced him that it would be setting a bad example for everyone else if the Sheriff didn’t follow the rules. He really sweetened the deal when he gave his dad one of the snack cakes he had stashed around the house. Then he was all too willing to rush off and enjoy his forbidden treat.

Now Stiles was pacing in the living room, waiting for Isaac to show up. He should’ve offered him a ride or something, since he was pretty sure the other boy didn’t have a car. He wasn’t even sure if Isaac had a cell phone and he definitely didn’t have the number if he did. There was always the option of calling Derek, but he didn’t feel like having his life threatened right now.

Stiles understood why his mom would hide the secret room behind such a sturdy cover, but it was very inconvenient. He wasn’t even sure he could move the thing with all the items taken off of it. There must be some sort of spell she used to be able to move it herself, because she was too slight to do it by hand. Just another mystery he was dying to figure out.

When it got to almost 8pm, Stiles started to get angry. He wasn’t trying to, but it was like torture knowing what he wanted was just out of reach. If Isaac wasn’t planning on coming, he could’ve just said no instead of stringing him along. He thought they’d made at least a little bit of progress, but evidently not. Stiles was just about to throw caution to the wind and call Derek when he heard a timid knocking on the door.

“What the hell, man? I thought I told you to be here at 7:00?” Stiles groaned, pulling Isaac into the house as soon as the door was opened wide enough.

“You said after 7pm. And it is,” Isaac pointed out, snatching his arm out of Stiles’ grip.

“Everyone knows that means get to the place as close to the time as possible!”

“Maybe this is the fastest I could get here. Did you ever think of that?”

“Oh don’t give me that. I’ve seen how fast a werewolf can run.”

“And what makes you think I would bother running over here? Do you think I’m just so excited to be spending more time with you?” Isaac spat.

“God, I know you don’t care about me, but I thought you’d at least care a little bit since you know this involves my mom. Excuse me for thinking you’re a decent human being!”

“I’m sure you’ll learn soon enough,” Isaac growled, stomping over to the door to the basement. “Can we just get this over with so we can go back to not interacting? I’ll have to thank our teacher for sticking us together in the first place. It’s been really great.” Stiles followed after him, geared up to keep fighting. He didn’t know what it was about Isaac, but the other boy just drove him insane.

“You know, I thought us working together would be a turning point in this messed up thing we have, but I guess it’s back to the same old nonsense,” Stiles scoffed, pushing his way over to the wall.

“I’m sorry, but I’m pretty sure it was you biting my head off the second I got here!”

“Because you purposefully came late just to screw with me!”

“You wanna know why I was late?” Isaac snapped, digging his hand into his pocket. “Here!” He thrust his hand in Stiles’ face, revealing a small pile of little black wheels.

“What are these?” Stiles asked suspiciously.

“Because I’m an idiot, I went to the hardware store to find wheels to stick under this stupid shelf, so you could move it on your own. It took a little longer than I expected, which is why I was running late. Now I see that I shouldn’t have bothered,” Isaac hissed, turning his hand over and letting the plastic clatter to the ground. And just like that all of Stiles’ righteous anger fizzled away and he felt stupid and guilty. Isaac was doing him a favor and didn’t deserve him being such a dick.

“Isaac, I-”

“I don’t want to hear it. I’m tempted to just leave now and not bother helping you put these things on, but I don’t want you to be tempted to ask for my help again. So shut up and stick these stupid things on while I hold the damn thing up,” Isaac demanded, stepping over and lifting the shelf without another word. Stiles scrambled to pick up all the wheels, scooting around on the floor to fit them onto the legs. They slid on perfectly, because of course Isaac would take the time to make sure they were the right size before coming here and getting snapped at.

“Okay,” Stiles whispered as soon as the last one was on. Isaac carefully set the thing down and stepped back to make sure the job was done. “So-” Before Stiles could say more, Isaac turned and started walking up the stairs. Stiles sprinted after him, not wanting to leave things this way. He grabbed Isaac’s hand but he jerked it away, spinning around to glare at him.

“Don’t,” Isaac warned.

“Look, I’m sorry. Please don’t leave angry again,” Stiles requested.

“I’m not angry. I feel absolutely nothing,” Isaac chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. “As far as I’m concerned, we never need to speak again. I suggest you tell Scott about all this soon, because I’m not going to be helping anymore. Good luck with all this witch stuff.”

“Wait-” Stiles started, but it was no use. Isaac was already out the door and this time he had no qualms about slamming it shut behind him. Stiles had to put Isaac out of his mind right now. He was pretty sure he deserved a little grace, after what he discovered yesterday. It had only been a day since he found out something that would change the rest of his life, so emotions were bound to run high.

Deciding Isaac was a problem to deal with another day, Stiles sprinted back down the stairs and over to the wall that hid the room. He pushed on the same brick as before and marveled at the secret door opening up in front of him. It was like walking into Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory and he gazed around in amazement.

Stiles started on one end, working his way around the entire space. There were jars of liquids and powders, all labeled in Latin. He never knew his mom knew how to speak Latin. Just another part she’d hidden away. Stiles couldn’t understand diving into this world and then just leaving it. He didn’t feel worthy of a sacrifice like that.

There were a few books sitting here and there, but they were also written in Latin. Luckily he knew a certain strawberry blonde who spoke the language, but he’d have to convince her to help him. She was still getting used to all the supernatural stuff and was a little weirded out by it, so it might be a hard sell. He would still try though. And maybe working closely together would help their relationship progress into something more.

How had his mom been able to stand knowing all this was so close, but not let herself indulge in any of it? Only a day in with this knowledge and it was pretty much all Stiles could think of. Had that been where some of her more aggressive delusions had come from? When she was really sick and was convinced Stiles was trying to kill her? What if the disease had just taken her filter away and that’s how she really felt? He didn’t want to believe that, but he needed to learn as much as he could about this magic to see how far the power could go. If saving herself was ever an option.

Stiles grabbed one of the books and sank down to the floor, taking comfort in just touching something his mom had. He imagined his mom as a young woman, poring over the books with vigor. She had always been the type of person to put her all into everything she did, and he was sure she would’ve been the same way with this.

He flipped through the pages, glancing over all the words he didn’t understand. A Latin to English translation book was going on his shopping list, just in case Lydia wasn’t up to the challenge of being his tutor. He’d have to check to see if the school offered it as one of the language courses.

Stiles was just about to put the book back and grab another when a piece of paper slid out of one of the back pages and fell to the floor. His heart jumped a little, wondering if this was another hidden letter. He carefully picked it up, unfolding it from where it had been bent down the middle. Stiles’ breath caught when his mom’s face was staring back up at him. She couldn’t have been more than a few years older than he was right now and she looked so happy and carefree. He ran his finger over her face, imprinting the image in his mind. It wasn’t fair that she wasn’t still here, exactly like this. If anyone deserved it, it was her.

Stiles was so focused on his mom that it took him a while before he realized she wasn’t alone in the picture. She was with a man, but it definitely wasn’t his dad. This man had dark hair and sharp features, with an air of mystery around him that was clear even in a photograph. Who was he? Was he just a friend or an old boyfriend or what? Did he know about all this? Why else would a picture of them together be in this book?

He flipped the photo over, looking for any information that might be on the back. His mom had a habit of making notes on the backs of pictures with details of what was depicted. It was especially helpful after she got sick, so she wouldn’t have to work so hard to remember things. Stiles found his mom’s distinct handwriting in the corner, giving him a precious clue on his journey to find out more information.

Claudia Gajos and Tobias Harland, 1991

That was definitely after his mom had found out about the magic and Stiles wasn’t sure how, but he knew that this man was involved with it as well. There were still a lot of questions that needed to be answered, but at least he had a lead. Now, he just had to find him.

Chapter Text

Stiles was sitting on the edge of his bed, bouncing his leg in nervous anxiety. He was about to take a big step and he wasn’t sure if he was scared or excited. In theory this all would work out well, because why wouldn’t it? Scott was his best friend and they’d gone through everything together. Telling him he had the potential of becoming a witch was just another one of those things, right? All Stiles knew for sure was he didn’t want to go through all this alone, and who better to have by his side than his best friend?

“Sorry I’m late!” Scott panted as he rushed up the stairs and banged into Stiles’ room. “One of the animals at the clinic made a massive mess and I had to stay longer to clean it up.”

“See, that’s the appropriate reaction when you keep someone waiting,” Stiles chuckled.

“Huh?”

“Nevermind, it doesn’t matter,” Stiles brushed off, waving Scott further into the bedroom. He’d thought about just taking Scott down to the hidden room and showing him everything, but that felt like too much. Stiles didn’t want Scott to get overwhelmed, since this was a big deal, so he decided to just tell him while they were in his room and show him one of the books, since the letter would probably be blank for him too.

“So, what’s going on? It must be big, since you couldn’t just tell me earlier at school,” Scott asked.

“Big is an understatement. This is ginormous. This is life changing. Nothing will ever be the same,” Stiles boasted, vibrating with energy.

“Is this like the time you were going to start that blog and you were convinced it was going to blow up?”

“Hey, that was a good idea! A blog about serial killers would’ve been awesome and I was way ahead of my time!” Stiles defended.

“We were twelve and that was creepy,” Scott laughed.

“Whatever. This isn’t like that though,” Stiles said, waving that particular tangent away. He couldn’t get distracted with any side banter. “Take a look at this.” Stiles handed over the book, biting his lip as Scott flipped through a few of the pages.

“Are you doing research for something?” Scott asked, tilting his head as he scanned the words he couldn’t read. “Is this for school or Derek?”

“Neither. This is about me. About my mom and her family before her.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“I found this letter, right. And it was from my mom. She told me that we come from a long line of people who can do magic.”

“Like pulling a rabbit out of a hat?” Scott asked hesitantly.

“No, like witchcraft. Like, I don’t even know how far this goes yet. But it’s real and- and who knows what I’ll be able to do,” Stiles grinned, gesturing to the book.

“So, your mom-”

“Was a real, bona fide witch! I know it sounds crazy and I’m still wrapping my head around it, but it’s true. And I have the potential to become one too!”

“Become one? You mean you aren’t technically one yet?” Scott questioned.

“Well I mean, I have the power in me already, but I still have to learn how to use it,” Stiles shrugged.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Stiles felt like a bucket of cold water had just been thrown over his head. Of all the reactions he was expecting from his best friend, this hadn’t been one of them.

“Scott, what-”

“Maybe you should just leave this stuff alone.”

“What are you talking about?” Stiles yelled, turning away to try to regain his composure.

“It’s just- I mean, this sounds dangerous.”

“So what? As if everything else we’re dealing with isn’t dangerous!”

“Exactly! Why would you want to add to it?”

“I finally have a chance to be more than the useless human sidekick!” Stiles shouted, throwing his hands up in exasperation. “Maybe now I won’t be beaten up by geriatric old men, or left on the sidelines while you all are out there fighting. This will help me make a difference.”

“You know that’s not true. You already help so much,” Scott argued.

“But it’s not enough. I’m sick of being defenseless. I don’t have werewolf abilities like you, or weapon skills like Allison, or anything that can help much when push comes to shove, but now I have the potential. Deaton said it himself that I had a spark.”

“He was just saying that to rally you to get your part of the trap done.”

“Wow,” Stiles scoffed, shaking his head. “I never would’ve expected Isaac to be more supportive than my best friend, but here we are.”

“Wait, Isaac knows about this? Since when? Why would you tell him before me?”

“It wasn’t on purpose, but I’d still rather be talking to him right now at this point. And that’s not something I thought I’d ever say,” Stiles spat.

“Look, I’m sorry, it’s just-” Scott started, running a hand through his hair. “You know how much I hate all this supernatural stuff. I just don’t want to see you falling deeper into it, especially with something that neither of us know anything about.”

“Like it or not, I’m in it with you no matter what. This isn’t going to change that,” Stiles sighed, trying to push past his feelings of disappointment. “But I can’t just ignore where this could take me. I’m going to see this through, with or without your support.”

“I didn’t mean to upset you,” Scott whispered, holding the book out toward him.

“I have to give this my all and I hope you can come to understand where I’m coming from,” Stiles sighed, taking the book back and holding it to his chest. “I’ll call you later, okay?”

“I’m sorry, I-”

“It’s okay, you’re just being honest. We don’t always have to do everything together, right?”

“Just give me a little bit of time to let this new information settle, okay? It’s just a lot, along with everything else,” Scott pleaded, actually looking scared that he’d ruined their friendship. Stiles still wanted him to go, but he didn’t want him to leave without knowing that they were still good.

“I promise you’ll be the first person I call if I turn myself into a frog,” Stiles chuckled.

“How will you do that as a frog?” Scott snorted, sagging a little in relief.

“You know I always find a way,” Stiles laughed, casually steering Scott toward the door. If he wasn’t going to help right now, Stiles needed him out of the way. He didn’t mean to be harsh, but he had work to do and he’d already wasted enough time. As soon as he got Scott out of the house, after a few more jokes and reassurances, he got down to business.

Stiles went to his computer, determined to find some information on the man in the picture with his mom. He’d found a considerable amount of information before with less clues, so he was sure he would find what he was looking for now. Having a last name was already a big step up on what he was used to working with.

After about twenty minutes of searching and finding nothing, he was starting to get discouraged. But Stiles still had an ace up his sleeve. He didn’t like to take advantage of this particular resource, since it was frowned upon and a tad bit illegal, but this was a risk he had to be willing to take. Stiles grabbed his car keys and darted out of the house, anxious to get this part over with.

*

“Surprise!” Stiles announced, bursting into his father’s office with his hands full of greasy fast food goodness. Desperate times called for desperate measures.

“Stiles. What did you do and how much is it going to cost?” Sheriff Stilinski asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

“Why do you always assume the worst?” Stiles asked in mock offense. His dad knew him well, but he knew how to play this game. “Can’t a son treat his dad to a nice dinner?”

“Maybe in some families, but not this one. Unless that’s a tofu burger you have masquerading as something good,” he replied, squinting at the bags, as if he’d be able to see through them.

“I’m pretty sure I have some grilled bacon cheeseburgers, but I can toss them if you’d rather me get some tofu,” Stiles teased, pretending to take the bags to the trash.

“Don’t you dare,” his dad warned, waving him over and clearing a space on his desk. “Whatever you did, I won’t mind if it means I get food like this.”

“I didn’t do anything,” Stiles chuckled, setting down the bags and pulling the items out. Time for part two of the plan. “I made sure to get extra ketchup this-” Stiles lifted the lid off the plastic container, but stumbled a little and dropped it right on his dad’s lap.

“Stiles!” his dad moaned, grabbing a napkin and wiping at his ruined pants.

“I’m so sorry!” Stiles gasped, flapping around in distress. That had been a total accident, of course.

“I gotta go try to wash this off in the bathroom,” he grumbled, tossing the soiled napkins in the trash. “Don’t you dare eat any of my fries.”

“Of course not,” Stiles assured him, keeping the guilty look firmly planted on his face. “Sorry!” As soon as his dad was out of sight, Stiles got to work. First, he pulled up an old saved game of solitaire he’d half finished ages ago. Just in case his dad came back unexpectedly, he had an alibi as to what he was doing on the computer. His dad would still be pissed, but at least he wouldn’t know Stiles was up to no good.

Next, he put Tobias’ name in the police database. If he had any sort of record in the state, he should be able to find it. Nothing came up in the criminal records, which was a relief. Stiles could overlook some things, but he didn’t want to find out his mom had been hanging out with a bad crowd.

Stiles finally found success when an old report popped up of a suspected arson case. There were no suspects named, but there were a few witnesses who had given their information, in case they needed to be called in for more questioning. One of them just so happened to be a Tobias Harland. Stiles quickly scribbled down the number listed, praying a number from three years ago would still be the right one.

He closed up all the tabs and moved back to the other side of the desk with plenty of time to spare. When his dad came back they ate their meal together, chatting casually like they always did. Stiles’ mind was miles away though, thinking about what he’d say to the man if he actually got ahold of him. Would Tobias be friendly? Would he even want to deal with Stiles at all? What if he was wrong and this guy knew nothing about magic? Those were all questions he was planning on getting the answers to. And he was going to try to get them that weekend.

Chapter Text

Stiles tapped his cell phone against his thigh, trying to drum up the courage to call the number he’d written on a scrap of paper the night before. He’d hoped the perfect words would come to him in a dream or something, but no such luck. What if he was about to call one of his mom’s random boyfriends or something? Stiles would be mortified. But there was no way he couldn’t find out for sure.

He really wished Scott was with him right now. Having that support would’ve meant the world to him, but Stiles knew that Scott wasn’t ready for that. They hadn’t talked about it in school that day, but Stiles still caught the wary looks Scott would send him when he thought he wasn’t looking.

Stiles had even briefly been tempted to ask Isaac to come over, but he’d thrown that idea out pretty quickly. They hadn’t spoken at all since that night at his house and he’d even made himself scarce around Scott and the others. That was just fine with him too, since he had more important things to do besides fight with Isaac.

Stiles decided to just wing it, since that sort of thing usually worked out for him. Thinking on his feet had gotten him this far in life, so he hoped that skill wouldn’t fail him now. He dialed the number and pressed send before he could talk himself out of it. The other line was ringing, so at least the number was still in service. Stiles didn’t know what he’d do if he got sent to voicemail. Talking was his strong suit, but not when it came to being succinct. He was more likely to ramble on and on about nothing that that would definitely scare anyone away and then-

“Hello?”

Stiles made his brain stop going off in a million directions and focused it on the voice coming through the other end of the line. Someone had actually answered. And they sounded male.

“Uh, hi. Is this Tobias Harland?” Stiles asked, hating how timid his voice sounded.

“Who is this?” That wasn’t a no.

“Well, you don’t know me, but I think you knew my mom. Her name was Claudia-”

“Gajos? Claudia Gajos?” the man asked. Stiles wanted to cheer in glee. He’d found the right guy. Now he just had to figure out how to ask him if he knew anything about magic, without straight out asking him if he knew anything about magic.

“Yeah, that’s my mom.”

“Wow, I never knew Claudie had a kid, but it’s been years since we last spoke. How’s she doing?” the man asked.

“Actually, she passed a few years back,” Stiles mumbled, digging his toe into the carpet. No matter how many times he said the words, it never got any easier.

“Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that. She was such a nice girl and a dear friend.”

“Yeah, she was great.”

“Well, not that I don’t appreciate the call, but why did you contact me? Did your mom mention me to you?”

“Not really,” Stiles murmured, knowing that this was the point of no return. “I found a picture of the two of you in a book.”

“What kind of book?”

“Why would you ask that? Would it matter what kind of book it was?” Stiles asked, holding his breath.

“Well, given the fact that you wouldn’t just come right out and tell me, I think I know what kind of book it was. What do you know?”

“Honestly, not much. But I’d like to change that,” Stiles replied. “Would you be willing to help me with that?” Tobias sighed on the other end of the phone and Stiles could feel the discouragement wash over him. If he said no, Stiles didn’t know where he’d turn next.

“I’ve kind of been out of the game for a while,” Tobias said, clucking his tongue. Stiles scrambled to find a reason for him to change his mind. “But since Claudie isn’t around to teach you this stuff, it wouldn’t be right for me to just brush you off.”

“Really?” Stiles gasped, smiling in relief.

“I can’t promise much, but I can at least answer your questions.”

“Thank you! Thank you so much. You have no idea how much I appreciate this. Do you think we could meet up this weekend? I’ve got a car, so I can meet up with you,” Stiles stammered, bouncing around his bedroom with joy.

“I’ve got a place in Grady-”

“Perfect! That’s only like an hour from me-”

“But I’m out of town until Sunday. Would that work?” Tobias finished.

“Yes, of course. Again, thank you so much. This really means the world to me.”

“I’ll text you my address, okay? Does noon on Sunday sound good?”

“It sounds amazing. Literally the best time I’ve ever heard!”

“Okay kid, I’ll see you then,” Tobias said with a chuckle.

“It’s Stiles, by the way,” Stiles said, but he didn’t get a response. He checked his phone and saw the other man had already hung up. “Okay, that’s okay. The important thing is I’m finally gonna get some answers! No more plucky sidekick role for me, that’s for sure. And this talking to myself thing I’m doing right now is fine too. No one will make fun of me when I get my power.”

*

“Scotty boy, have I got news for you!” Stiles called out as he walked into the vet clinic later that night. He knew Scott was still gonna be weird about the whole thing, but there was no way he wasn’t going to tell him this news. And there was the added benefit of telling Deaton about all this and picking his brain.

“Stiles? Is everything okay?” Scott replied from the exam room in the back. Stiles hopped over the counter and trotted through the doorway.

“Not only is everything okay, everything is amazing,” Stiles grinned, leaning against the wall as Scott swept the floor.

“Should I be worried?” Scott winced, ducking down to pick up his dustpan.

“Only if you want to be a spoilsport.”

“So, it’s about that,” Scott mumbled, throwing away the mess and turning to lean against the metal table.

“It’s probably gonna be about that a lot these days, so you should try getting used to it,” Stiles suggested, trying not to let Scott’s reaction sour his mood. He would understand eventually.

“Ah, Mr. Stilinski, it’s good to see you again,” Deaton said, walking into the room from his office in the back.

“Hey Dr. D, did you hear the news?” Stiles asked. If anyone would understand a normal person dabbling in the world of the supernatural, it would be an emissary.

“And what news would that be?”

“Oh, just the little fact that I have magic in me,” Stiles replied, brushing his shoulder like it was no big deal.

“Magic? Real magic?” Deaton asked, turning and giving him his full attention.

“Passed down on my mom’s side,” Stiles confirmed.

“Fascinating,” Deaton murmured, looking contemplative.

“Do you know a lot about magic?” Scott asked.

“Not personally, no,” Deaton replied. “As a matter of fact, I’ve tried to stay away from it altogether.”

“Why? Are there a lot of people out there doing magic?” Scott questioned, looking a bit nervous.

“Well, there are ways for people who weren’t born with the gift to learn how to perform it, but it’s very hard and not without risk. When that power doesn’t come naturally, one has to turn to dark means to obtain it.”

“But I was born with the gift, so it’s okay,” Stiles defended. If he didn’t have the ability already inside of him, he wouldn’t mess with the stuff. But it was his birthright.

“While that’s true, the source isn’t the only thing there is to worry about. Wielding magic is inherently dangerous. For you and everyone around you in the beginning, while you are still learning, and then a little more for everyone else once you’ve mastered it.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? You think I’m going to use this to hurt people?” Stiles snapped. They couldn’t possibly think that of him.

“That kind of power can go to a person’s head and change them.”

“It won’t with me. I won’t let it,” Stiles insisted.

“And I believe that. It doesn’t happen to everyone,” Deaton said. It made Stiles feel a little better to hear that the wise man seemed to have faith in him. “Take Scott and Peter. Both werewolves and yet, Peter let the power go to his head, while Scott hasn’t. As long as you have people around you to help keep you grounded, you should be fine.”

“Do I have people to keep me grounded?” Stiles asked, aiming the question at Scott. Could he count on his old friend for this, after they’d been through so much together?

“Of course you do,” Scott declared, stepping forward to put a hand on Stiles’ shoulder. Stiles pushed it off and pulled him into a hug instead. This was the Scott he knew and loved. Always steady, always willing to help.

“One thing I have heard is that the first person a practitioner of magic shares their secret with has the potential to become a powerful ally. The simple act of letting someone know something so intimate forms a bond that is hard to sever or duplicate,” Deaton explained.

“Great! I told Scott,” Stiles grinned, bumping him with his elbow.

“Uh, I might be the first person you told on purpose, but I’m technically not the first person you told,” Scott pointed out with a grimace.

“But then who was-” Stiles started, before realizing the answer. “No.”

“Yeah.”

“Not him. Anybody but him!”

“He’s really not so bad once you get to know him.”

“But I don’t want to get to know him!” Stiles whined. He almost stamped his foot like a child, but reined it in at the last second. This was a nightmare.

“May I ask who you are referring to?” Deaton questioned.

“Isaac,” Scott whispered.

“Oh.”

“See, even Deaton knows. That was a sympathetic ‘oh’ if I’ve ever heard one!” Stiles moaned.

“I don’t know Isaac very well, but he may be exactly the type of person that you need.”

“I didn’t know we had a comedian here. I’d stick to your day job.”

“Maybe he’s right. You could use someone who won’t be afraid to tell you the truth. Someone who isn’t afraid of hurting your feelings,” Scott offered.

“You think I need someone to be a dick to me because you are too good of a friend to do that yourself?”

“Kind of, yeah,” Scott admitted.

“I doubt Isaac and I will ever be more than two dudes who antagonize each other whenever we have the unfortunate luck to be stuck together, witchy business or not,” Stiles scoffed, waving that particular little nugget of information away. He didn’t need a sidekick. Everyone knew that the Scrappy Doo episodes were the worst. “Forget about Isaac for a moment, or forever for that matter. I never even got to tell you my big news.”

“Which is?”

“I found a guy who knew my mom while she did magic. He’s willing to meet with me on Sunday to answer my questions. I was hoping you’d come with me,” Stiles said, shooting him a hopeful smile.

“I can’t-”

“What do you mean you can’t? Come on Scott, I know this isn’t your favorite, but I really need your help through this!”

“It’s not that. I just have plans with my mom this Sunday.”

“Can’t you just reschedule? I don’t want to go by myself.”

“I would, but I can’t. She’s been working these crazy hours and she finally got a weekend day off for us to spend some time together. You know how weird it’s been since she found out about everything, so we really need this time to talk about stuff. I’m really sorry,” Scott explained. Stiles sighed, knowing he wasn’t going to argue with that reason. After all this, he knew how important it was to spend time with your family while you still had a chance.

“It’s fine, Scott. I’ll figure it out,” Stiles murmured, trying to shake off the disappointment. It wasn’t ideal, but he could do this alone.

“You’re still coming over to my house tomorrow to hang out though, right?” Scott asked, punching him softly on the arm.

“Of course I am. See you then,” Stiles replied, turning to leave. If he’d looked back before he turned the corner, he might’ve caught the mischievous glint in Scott’s eyes.

Chapter Text

Stiles parked his jeep in front of the McCall house, frowning a little in disappointment. Usually he lived for these nights where nothing was going on and they could just hang out, but now all he could think about was his meeting with Tobias tomorrow. And he wished he could go in and share that excitement with Scott.

Of all the people to have been bitten by a werewolf, Scott was probably the worst one it could’ve happened to. He was so refreshingly normal that he couldn’t appreciate all the possibilities. Stiles didn’t regret refusing Peter’s offer for the bite, but he was pretty sure he would’ve taken to this life better than Scott had. Scott fixated on the bad parts. Stiles could appreciate the gifts. And that’s how he saw his magic.

There was danger in pretty much everything a person could do in life, from waking up in the morning to going to bed at night. Stiles couldn’t live the rest of his life without experiencing the thrill of being powerful. It would be worth the risk.

But Stiles couldn’t go in and tell Scott these things. Scott could be completely satisfied going through life living safely and without risk. Taking care of pets all day and relaxing at home all night was the dream for him, but Stiles craved so much more. He’d found his element when he’d stumbled into the supernatural world and now he had a chance to really belong in it.

Stiles climbed out of his car, already thinking of excuses to leave early. He could just pretend to get tired soon, even though he felt so amped that he probably wouldn’t sleep at all that night. Or he could say he needed to meet his dad. Scott’s werewolf hearing might catch the lies though. He’d have to distract him with something.

“Hey Scott, what’s on the agenda tonight? Finally gonna watch Star Wars?” Stiles called out as he walked into the house. He’d play things cool and see how the night turned out.

“Great,” a quiet mutter came from the living room. Stiles groaned, recognizing the voice. He walked into the room to find Isaac sitting on the couch, flipping through channels on the TV.

“What are you doing here?” Stiles asked, a bit brusquely, he could admit.

“Scott invited me.”

“Why?”

“Beats the hell outta me,” Isaac snorted, tossing the remote on the coffee table before standing up. “I’ll take your presence as my cue to leave.”

“My God, you are so immature,” Stiles scoffed, shaking his head in amusement.

“Excuse me?” Isaac growled, stalking up to stand in front of him.

“You keep getting your feelings hurt about every little thing. But let’s not forget you’re literally an attempted murderer.”

“It won’t be attempted for much longer.”

“Enough!” Scott shouted, sprinting into the room and moving to stand between them. “I thought if I left you guys in a room together that you’d actually learn to be civil.”

“Whatever gave you such a crazy idea?” Stiles laughed, rolling his eyes at the glare Isaac shot him.

“So you only invited me over for some weird ploy?” Isaac asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

“No, of course not! Well, maybe a little,” Scott admitted after a few seconds.

“Great.”

“Don’t sound so surprised. Scott’s my friend, not yours,” Stiles bragged, throwing an arm around Scott’s shoulders.

“You sound like a child.”

“Doesn’t make it any less true. Go hang out with your own friends. Tell me their names again, cause I’m drawing a blank.”

“Stiles, don’t be mean. And Isaac, don’t leave. I really think we all could get along if you guys just tried,” Scott sighed, sending them both his puppy dog eyes. Stiles had become immune to them years ago, but the werewolf in Scott seemed to give them more power.

“I’ll try,” Stiles acquiesced, shooting a look over at Isaac before focusing his attention back on Scott. “But only because you asked me to. Best friends do stuff like that for each other.”

“Thanks man,” Scott grinned, turning toward the other boy. “Isaac?” Isaac slumped a little, staring down at his feet.

“Whatever. I haven’t got anything else to do tonight,” he mumbled.

“Great! This is gonna go so well, I know it,” Scott said, nodding between them.

“So what did you have planned for the night?” Stiles asked.

“Um, just hang out, I guess,” Scott shrugged.

“And this is why I’m the idea guy,” Stiles snorted, grabbing the TV remote and flicking through channels until it landed on some sci-fi horror flick. This would do for now. Isaac plopped down in a chair with a face looking like he’d just sucked a lemon. Scott sat down on the couch in between them, flashing the fakest smile Stiles had ever seen. At least this was helping distract Stiles from his big meeting tomorrow.

*

They all sat in silence for a while before Stiles and Scott started up their usual banter. Scott tried to include Isaac here and there, but he didn’t seem interested. It didn’t bother Stiles much, since he didn’t really think Isaac would add anything of value, but Scott was losing some of his sunny disposition, so he decided to buck up and make an attempt.

“You ever see this movie before?” Stiles asked, pointing to the screen where the robot was shooting lasers at the aliens.

“You know I haven’t, I just told you,” Scott replied in confusion.

“I was talking to Isaac,” Stiles muttered, not reacting to the look of surprise Isaac shot him.

“Oh!” Scott said brightly, turning toward Isaac to wait for his response. That look of hope was too strong for even Isaac to resist.

“Once actually, a long time ago. The comic book version is better though,” Isaac answered, fiddling with the arm of his sleeve.

“You read comic books?” Stiles asked, perking up with a bit of interest. Could they actually have something in common?

“I used to when I was younger. I even collected them.”

“Used to? Why did you stop?”

“I just outgrew it, I guess,” Isaac mumbled, looking back toward the TV.

“Oh well, I guess I’m just immature, since I still read them,” Stiles scoffed, leaning back on the couch. He shouldn’t have bothered trying.

“That’s not- I didn’t mean anything by it,” Isaac murmured, looking genuinely regretful of his words.

“I think I might have a few of yours upstairs. Let me go grab them,” Scott offered, dashing up the stairs before anyone could answer. He wasn’t very smooth.

“You know, I wish Scott would just come out with whatever it is he wants to say,” Stiles said, knowing his friend could hear him from his bedroom.

“We actually agree on something for once,” Isaac added, tipping his head back to hang over the back of his chair.

“I told him about my mom and everything the other day,” Stiles mumbled, thinking back to that disappointing night. Isaac’s head snapped back up in interest.

“Really? Why does it sound like it didn’t go well?” Isaac asked.

“It went fine, Scott’s just predisposed to be overly cautious. But I’m pretty much on my own to deal with all this stuff. Even Deaton doesn’t know much.”

“You should tell him what Deaton told you,” Scott said, poking his head around the corner.

“Really Scott? Why are you sneaking around?” Stiles snorted.

“I’m not, I was just walking by and caught part of your conversation. But really though, you should tell him,” Scott insisted.

“Tell me what?” Isaac asked, looking at them in mild curiosity.

“Apparently the first person I told about my magic had the chance to be a powerful ally, or something like that,” Stiles muttered, shaking his head at the absurd idea.

“And the first person you told was me,” Isaac finished, raising his eyebrows in response to the new knowledge. Stiles expected him to say something snarky, but he wasn’t ready for him to start outright laughing.

“What’s so funny?” Stiles hissed.

“You wasted it on me,” Isaac laughed, holding his stomach as he got control of himself again.

“But what if he didn’t? What if this helps you two become friends?” Scott suggested.

“I wouldn’t hold my breath,” Stiles spat.

“Ditto.”

“I think maybe he should go with you tomorrow to meet Tobias.”

“What?!”

“Who?”

“Scott, that is a terrible idea!” Stiles argued, tempted to check his friend’s forehead for fever. Of all the crazy things he’d come up with so far, this took the cake.

“It’s not! It’ll be safer if you have backup, in case something goes wrong.”

“What makes you think something will go wrong? I’m just going to talk to him.”

“You never know.”

“Um, excuse me. Who says I want to be signed up to be a bodyguard? Who even is this guy?” Isaac interrupted.

“Yeah, he’d be a terrible bodyguard. I’ve never seen him win a fight, like ever.”

“Oh really? Would you like to test my skills right now?”

“Enough!” Scott shouted, throwing his hands up in frustration. “Why can’t you guys ever just talk without it turning into this?”

“It’s all the unresolved sexual tension,” Stiles quipped, smirking at Isaac’s eye roll.

“Look, it’s too dangerous for any of us to go off on our own, especially with all of us so separated. Lydia’s off helping Jackson settle in in London, Allison is finishing the school year abroad with her dad, and no one has heard from Erica or Boyd for weeks. We can’t keep splitting up,” Scott said, looking between them for a bit of compromise. He may have had a point, but that was why Stiles wanted Scott to go with him. Not Isaac.

“Fine,” Isaac sighed.

“Really?” Stiles and Scott asked in unison.

“We really can’t keep losing more people. And even though we aren’t even in the same pack, it does affect everyone,” Isaac grumbled, running his hand through his hair. “And if Derek finds out something happened that I could’ve helped prevent, he’ll be pissed.”

“He wouldn’t care if anything happened to me,” Stiles snorted, finding the idea completely ridiculous. Derek would be more likely to kill him than care about him. “He’d probably celebrate getting me out of his hair once and for all.”

“Derek’s not this monster that you’ve made him out to be in your mind. He might not always make the right moves, but he’s trying his best,” Isaac defended. Stiles chalked that up to a natural Beta compulsion to stick up for their Alpha. He’d known the gruff man longer.

“Thank you Isaac, this means a lot,” Scott said, swatting Stiles on the arm to stop him from arguing further. There probably was no point in trying anymore.

“Whatever. Now I’ll be able to drive in the carpool lane,” Stiles grunted, accepting the offer. “Do you think you can be ready by 10am? And not some vague time afterwards that you deem fitting?”

“Whatever,” Isaac mimicked, standing up and heading toward the door. “I’m gonna leave now before you piss me off and make me change my mind.” Stiles stopped himself from replying with something snarky, not wanting to keep Isaac here for longer now that he was leaving.

“See you!” Scott called after him, watching him leave and waiting a few seconds before turning back toward Stiles. “Why do you guys always have to do that?”

“Don’t ask me. You should be on my side, no matter what,” Stiles grumbled.

“And I’m asking you because we are close. We can talk about anything. I’m still getting to know Isaac and I don’t want him to think I’m criticizing him,” Scott explained.

“Some people just don’t mesh well together, I don’t know what you want me to say,” Stiles sighed, shrugging a little. From day one there had been this tension between them and Stiles hadn’t felt the need to resolve it. But now pack lines were becoming more blurred and there might not be a way to avoid it as easily.

“Can you just try to get along tomorrow? I know you’d rather it was me going with you, but Isaac is doing you a favor. Maybe you’ll be able to figure things out?” Scott suggested, poking him in his side.

“I’ll try, but no promises,” Stiles agreed, feeling a bit more of his excitement for the meeting dim. But after meeting with Tobias and developing his skills, no one would have to worry about him going off on his own again. He’d be the one they’d come to when they needed backup.

Chapter Text

Stiles was outside of Derek’s loft right at 10am and he blared his horn as soon as his car came to a stop. The night before had been pretty restless, but a double espresso and two energy drinks had him pumped and ready to go. His head was swimming with all the possibilities of this meeting. Would Tobias agree to help him learn magic? Was there some spell that would automatically make him good at it? What kind of stories could Tobias tell him about his mom? Stiles couldn’t wait to find out.

“Holy hell, I’m here, okay,” Isaac grumbled, dragging himself into the jeep. He looked like he hadn’t gotten much sleep either. Did that mean Isaac had been excited about today as well?

“Why do you look so…” Stiles trailed off, waving his hand in Isaac’s direction as he pulled back onto the street.

“I was just training with Derek. We usually do that in the afternoon, but since I’m going to be busy, we started early,” Isaac sighed, yawning into his fist.

“Wait, so Derek knows who we’re going to meet?” Stiles asked. He wasn’t really sure how he felt about Derek being in the know at this point. He’d have rather waited until he could do something impressive with the magic.

“I don’t even know who we are going to meet,” Isaac scoffed, slumping down into the seat. “All you told me was his name.”

“Oh yeah,” Stiles mumbled, remembering Isaac left before he could explain who Tobias was. “So then what did you tell Derek about what you were doing today?”

“I told him you were meeting some creepy guy from an online dating site and Scott begged me to come with you so you didn’t end up murdered,” Isaac grinned.

“What the hell!” Stiles whined, staring over at Isaac in shock.

“If it makes you feel any better, Derek didn’t seem surprised by that.”

“Yeah, it makes me feel spectacular,” Stiles spat, wringing his hands around the steering wheel. “I’ll have you know that I can get a date whenever I want to. I have a lot of exes.”

“Of course. We should introduce your nonexistent dates to my nonexistent friends. I’m sure they’d get along great,” Isaac laughed.

“Whatever,” Stiles mumbled, turning on the radio and putting the volume on full blast. He wasn’t going to admit that was kind of funny.

*

They were about 30 minutes into the drive when Stiles glanced over and noticed Isaac looking at something on his cell phone. He chuckled a little, thinking back to when he wasn’t sure if the other boy even had one. If he didn’t even know something as basic as that, the whole witch bond thing was surely not in their future.

“What?” Isaac grunted, shooting him a look.

“Nothing. Just surprised you have a cell phone.”

“Why wouldn’t I have a cell phone?”

“It was just a thing, don’t worry about it,” Stiles brushed off. “Can I have your number?”

“For what?” Isaac snorted.

“Emergencies?”

“Would you really call me in an emergency?”

“If everyone else was dead, maybe,” Stiles laughed.

“Even then, you should probably check the phone book first.”

“The phone book? How old are you? Have you time travelled from the 90s just to drive me insane?”

“Yes, I have. How about you use your magic to send me back?”

“That will for sure be the first thing I ask Tobias how to do.”

“So this guy is a witch? How did you find him?” Isaac asked, sliding his phone back into his pocket.

“He was in a picture with my mom. I tracked him down and he agreed to meet with me,” Stiles explained, rubbing his hands on his jeans as he felt them clam up. They were almost there.

“And what are we supposed to say when we get there?”

“We’re not going to say anything. I am going to talk to him while you wait in the car,” Stiles corrected, eyeing the street signs to make sure he was going the right way.

“And how am I supposed to be your bodyguard if I’m relegated to the sidelines?” Isaac grumbled. “What was the point of me even coming?”

“You came to get Scott off my back. I don’t actually need you here,” Stiles pointed out.

“Fantastic,” Isaac sighed, staring out the window petulantly. Stiles just ignored him. As if Isaac really wanted to go in there and stand by his side. As if he cared.

Stiles finally pulled up outside of the address Tobias had given him. The house looked painfully normal, but that was probably on purpose. You couldn’t expect someone to have things like gargoyles sitting on the roof. It made Stiles wonder what else was out there, living amongst everyone under the radar.

“Okay, you can do this. It’s gonna go great and be the first step toward world domination,” Stiles said into the mirror, trying to hype himself up. “No more weak link after today.” He was about to climb out of the car when Isaac’s hand on his wrist stopped him.

“Wait,” Isaac mumbled, closing his eyes and blowing out a breath. “You’re going to be careful, right?”

“Like you care,” Stiles scoffed, trying to pull his arm away. Isaac held on tight though, jerking him closer so their faces were almost touching. This felt uncomfortably intimate, but Stiles couldn’t find it in him to look away as he stared into Isaac’s eyes.

“I’m being serious. Just because we don’t like each other, that doesn’t mean I want anything to happen to you,” Isaac insisted, finally letting go of his wrist. Stiles still didn’t move back, feeling frozen in his spot. It was just a friendly warning like he’d shared with Scott countless times, but this felt different. Stiles felt the urge to throw some kind of sassy quip back at him, but it didn’t feel like the right thing to do in this moment.

“Okay,” Stiles whispered, feeling his stomach flip just the tiniest bit. Nerves about the meeting, of course. “I better get inside.” Isaac leaned back, running a hand over his face as he looked away.

“I’ll be here,” Isaac agreed, turning to stare at the house. Assuming their strange moment was fully over, Stiles climbed out of the car. He could worry about Isaac later, right now it was time to get some answers.

Stiles slowly made his way up the walkway, taking in every detail. He had a feeling he would be recounting the events of this day for the rest of his life, so he wanted to remember every little bit.

The yard was perfectly trimmed and uniformly green. There were bushes along the front of the house with blooming flowers that looked familiar, but he couldn’t place the name. The house was painted an inviting, bright yellow. It looked like a place his mom would’ve loved.

“Okay, don’t be weird,” Stiles whispered, taking a deep breath before knocking on the door. He suppressed his urge to fidget, locking his knees and shoving his hands in his pockets. What if Tobias didn’t really want to meet and he sent Stiles to some random house? Or maybe this really was the right place, but Tobias would decide that he hated him and wouldn’t help him in the end? Stiles didn’t know what he’d do then.

“Is that me you’re hoping isn’t weird, or yourself?” a man said as he opened the door. It was like the man from the photo had stepped right out of it, with no time passing at all. Stiles could almost imagine his mom standing right next to him like they had in the photo.

“Uh, me. I’ve been told I’m a lot,” Stiles stammered, biting his lip. What a way to make a first impression. At least he hadn’t said anything too embarrassing. “I’m Stiles.”

“Tobias. Nice to meet you,” Tobias replied, stepping back to give him a once over. “You look so much like Claudie.”

“I do?” Stiles asked, beaming with pride. He never really saw it when comparing himself to either of his parents, but he wasn’t going to argue if someone else did. He welcomed anything that would connect him to his mother.

“Well, I’d say she was a bit prettier, but yeah,” Tobias laughed, his eyes going soft as he mentioned his mom. Stiles suddenly felt bad that his mom thought she had to choose between these worlds. Obviously he was glad that she’d chosen his dad, but he was sad that she couldn’t find the balance to keep both. That was why he was determined to succeed in this newfound ability.

“That she was,” Stiles agreed, rocking back on his heels. This was going pretty well so far.

“What do you say we take this talk inside, so we can get down to business?” Tobias suggested, stepping to the side to give Stiles room to enter. It was the moment he’d been waiting for for days, but he still took one last second to look back at Isaac, just to make sure they were on the same page. Isaac was watching them with an unreadable look on his face, but when they made eye contact, Stiles saw the slightest nod of his head. Taking that as the blessing he didn’t know he wanted, he turned back toward Tobias and walked into the house.

*

Isaac slumped back in his seat as Stiles walked around the jeep and up to the house of the strange man he was meeting. He’d been expecting to argue a bit, stand around while Stiles nerded out over potions and whatnot, then the car ride home with more arguing. The first part had been accurate, but then things went wonky toward the middle.

He was not happy to hear that he’d be stuck in the car for this meeting, especially after having confirmation of what this whole thing was about. They hadn’t told him the details the night before, but he knew it was going to have something to do with magic. A witch who knew Stiles’ mother had been a bit unexpected, as was Isaac’s natural reaction to Stiles going in alone.

Isaac wasn’t the type to casually touch people. Physical contact in his experience usually meant pain, so he carried that over into his new life at first. He was a bit more mellow now, but he still didn’t seek contact. Yet something had compelled him to reach out and grab Stiles before he could leave. Maybe it was for emphasis or just to stop him from getting away, but he hadn’t been expecting the feeling he got when they were locked in a stare-down with their faces only inches apart.

It was something other than annoyance or anger, which is what he usually felt when he was around Stiles. He couldn’t say it was care, because he didn’t really. It was probably just responsibility and stress. Isaac didn’t want to let Scott down, since he was such a good guy. There was no hope for a friendship there if he let something happen to Stiles.

He’d pushed aside his default assholeishness and told Stiles to be careful, which the other boy had agreed to without much fuss. That should’ve been all there was to it, but now Isaac couldn’t stop thinking of that moment they shared. Maybe it was that weird bond thing that Scott had mentioned the night before creeping in. Or their more consistent meetups that were slowly melting away the dislike for each other. No matter what it was, it had unsettled Isaac and he didn’t like that feeling. The whole point of becoming a werewolf was so he could have stability and power, but one moment with Stiles had turned him back into that invisible kid walking the halls alone. Unsure and out of sorts. At least he had the next however long alone to get himself back to normal.

Isaac watched Stiles standing at the door mumbling to himself and he snorted at the other boy’s nerves. He acted so gung ho before, but when it came down to it, he was scared. Isaac wasn’t sure if he was more scared of the possibilities of the magic or just from meeting this guy, but it didn’t really matter. It didn’t stop him from pursuing what he wanted and that was commendable.

When the door finally opened and Isaac got his first look at the guy, he didn’t like what he saw. It wasn’t that he didn’t look normal, but there was just something Isaac didn’t like about him. And he liked him less when he started talking. No one had mentioned Isaac’s dead mother since pretty soon after her death, but if a random person from her past had come up to him and started talking about her beauty, he didn’t think he’d like that. Going so intimate right off the bat left a sour taste in his mouth, but Isaac could admit that might just be him being jaded.

Isaac settled in the seat, watching as Stiles was about to head into the house. He was ready to hone his ears on the house so he could keep track of what was going on when Stiles turned to look at him. Isaac didn’t know what Stiles was looking for. Was it a warning for him to stay put and not do anything? Was it just a goodbye acknowledgement? Whatever it was, Isaac felt compelled to give him some sort of response. He tipped his head a little, figuring that was the right move when Stiles gave him a small smile in return and went into the house.

As soon as the door closed behind him, all sound from that direction stopped. Isaac frowned, trying to block out the other neighborhood noises. He wasn’t the best at this sort of thing, but it was obvious after a few moments that something was blocking the sound from leaving the man’s house. The backup he was there to provide just became impossible to actually fulfill.

Isaac felt like storming up to the house and pulling Stiles out, demanding he be let in or they leave, but he knew that wouldn’t go over well. He had no choice but to stick it out and hope that Stiles didn’t get into any trouble. Either way, this was going to be a long wait.

Chapter Text

“Wow, this place is amazing,” Stiles said in awe, looking around the room.

“Really? It’s just a normal living room,” Tobias chuckled, watching Stiles’ circuit around the space.

“I know, that’s what makes it great. My first instinct would be being flashy about everything, but you’ve got the flying under the radar thing down. I’d never suspect you,” Stiles babbled, poking at the couch. “Although I’ve never suspected anyone of doing magic, since I didn’t even know it was real until a few days ago. So I guess that means most people are good at blending in. That kind of throws everything I just said out the window, doesn’t it?”

“Claudie never let on about her magic?” Tobias asked, making Stiles sober a bit.

“No, she didn’t. I think she was planning on it when I was older, but she never got a chance. She did write me a letter though, explaining a little bit,” Stiles mumbled, digging his toe into the rug he was standing on. “But it’s kind of like being expected to give a thesis when you haven’t even taken the prerequisites yet. I think I’ve got all the tools I need, but no idea how to use them.”

“And that’s what you need me for,” Tobias sighed, rubbing at his jaw.

“I don’t expect you to take me under your wing or anything and teach me everything there is to know, but I would really appreciate at least a helping hand. Just something to set me on the right path. I’ve got all the witchy TV shows ready to marathon and Harry Potter too, but nothing can beat a real, live person,” Stiles stammered, tapping his fingers against his thigh. He really needed to shut up.

“You are so much like Claudie,” Tobias said, smiling wistfully. “She was always so curious and had so much energy. When we weren’t working on a spell, she would be bouncing around everywhere. Just couldn’t stay still.”

“I’ve never heard someone refer to my ADHD as a good thing, but I’ll take it,” Stiles chuckled, wringing his hands in front of him. “Does that mean you’ll help me?”

“It’s been a while since I’ve engrossed myself in the lifestyle, but I can help get you started on your journey,” Tobias agreed, and Stiles couldn’t stop the embarrassing squeak from leaving his mouth.

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”

“You realize this is a dangerous world to get caught up in, right? There is no shame in deciding it’s too much and living a normal life.”

“I’m already elbow deep in crazy. This can only help,” Stiles laughed. There would never be normal for him anymore.

“Are you talking about the werewolf sitting in your car?” Tobias laughed, tipping his head toward the door.

“What are you- I mean-”

“I’ve been around the block long enough to recognize things. And for someone who was thrust into this magic stuff without much guidance, you are pretty calm about it. So it makes sense that you are already involved in the less than normal side of life,” Tobias explained, waving off his concern. “Werewolves, huh?”

“It’s kind of a long story,” Stiles mumbled, keeping those details quiet. This was going to be strictly about magic, not the secrets of his friends.

“They always are,” Tobias chuckled, walking over to his bookshelf and running his fingers along the spines. He grabbed one that looked like a cookbook and brought it to the coffee table, gesturing for Stiles to join him. Stiles eagerly made his way over, watching in awe as the book transformed into something else with just a few muttered words from Tobias.

“Holy shit,” Stiles breathed out, reaching his hand out to touch it before snatching it back. “I’ve never seen magic in person before.”

“This is barely anything. Pretty soon you’ll be able to do so much more,” Tobias said, flipping through the pages.

“What is that?” Stiles asked, sitting down on the floor across from Tobias.

“It’s kind of a spell book for beginners. Claudie and I read this thing cover to cover. I don’t think there was a spell we didn’t try,” Tobias said, smiling as he ran his finger across one of the passages.

“It’s in Latin,” Stiles groaned, staring at the unreadable words.

“You better get used to that. Most things are in this world. A carryover from the olden times,” Tobias snorted. “Claudie told me her dad made her take Latin in school, but never told her why. She was very appreciative of that fact when she found out about this.”

“I’m so behind,” Stiles moaned, running a hand down his face. “Isn’t there some spell I can do that’ll teach me how to read Latin?”

“Afraid not, at least not that I know of. Although if you get good enough, you can create your own spells.”

“Really? Did you ever come up with any?” Stiles asked excitedly. He imagined generations of witches studying spells he’d created. This was so much cooler than ending up in some lame history book.

“Nah, too risky for me. There is so much trial and error that goes into something like that. This stuff can be dangerous enough as it is.”

“Yeah, I get that,” Stiles mumbled, biting his lip as he thought about all the possibilities. What if he could come up with things to help protect the pack? Or his dad while he risked his life every night at work? Stiles would willingly take that risk.

“I can already see the wheels turning in your head. Just like Claudie.”

“Did my mom make her own spells?” Stiles asked, grinning at the idea.

“A few, but I can’t for the life of me remember what they were. She was always fearless though. Never letting the odds of a little danger stop her.”

“I wish I’d gotten the chance to see her do this stuff,” Stiles murmured, imagining himself sharing this with his mom. He’d already mourned the fact that she’d miss all of his normal life events, like graduation and getting married, but it was like each day there was a new thing he’d have to accept would be without her.

“She was one of a kind,” Tobias whispered, letting out a deep sigh. “I’m so sorry, but I have a lot to do today. Maybe we can pick this up another time, once you’ve gotten a little more experience under your belt.”

“But, I don’t even know where to start,” Stiles said, feeling disappointment start to well up in his chest. He hadn’t expected to be a master by the time he left this house, but he’d thought he would have more to go off of than this.

“You start here,” Tobias replied, flipping the book closed and sliding it over to him. “I can’t be your teacher. You’ll have to figure most of this out on your own.”

“But-”

“Listen to your instincts. You’ll get as far as you were meant to,” Tobias said, standing up from his seat and walking toward the door. Stiles understood that he was being dismissed. He grabbed the book and tucked it under his arm before joining Tobias at the door. “I’m sorry if this isn’t what you were expecting. It’s just, I’ve been out of the life for so long that I can’t let myself fall down the rabbithole. Magic can be addictive if you let it take over your life.”

“I understand.”

“If you need something, don’t be afraid to call. And maybe in the future, I’ll be able to do more. This was just so out of the blue,” Tobias said regretfully.

“I appreciate everything you’ve done,” Stiles said, trying his hardest to keep the disappointment out of his voice. He’d imagined Tobias taking him under his wing and teaching him everything there was to know. He should’ve expected it wouldn’t be that easy.

“I know you’ll do great,” Tobias said kindly, opening the door for Stiles to leave. Stiles nodded, schooling his expression into one of acceptance. This was just a speed bump and he wouldn’t let it stop him. He held his head high as he walked to the car, steeling himself for the gloating that was sure to come from Isaac. Stiles knew the other boy would be happy to hear he’d been let down by this meeting.

“Not a word,” Stiles grunted as he climbed into the jeep. He sat the book down carefully in the backseat, even buckling it up for good measure.

“Why? What happened?” Isaac asked. Stiles rolled his eyes, already dreading this drive home.

“As if you don’t know. I’m aware how werewolf hearing works,” Stiles spat, pushing down on the accelerator a little harder than necessary.

“Right, except your new friend did some sort of magic to keep me from hearing.”

“Really?” Stiles questioned, feeling his mood pick up a little. If Isaac didn’t hear what was said, no one would have to know the details unless he wanted them to. “Well, it went great.”

“That’s it?”

“Yeah, that’s it. What were you expecting?”

“I don’t know, I guess I thought I’d get more, since I wasted my day coming out here for nothing,” Isaac muttered, crossing his arms over his chest. All of that weirdness from before was being replaced by the usual annoyance, which was a relief. Irritation at Isaac he could deal with, so he wouldn’t aim it toward Tobias undeservedly.

“Your job is done now, so you can stop acting like you care,” Stiles laughed, steering them back onto the freeway home.

“I just think you need to be careful. You don’t even know this guy.”

“Excuse me, I don’t know him? You’ve never even spoken a word to him!”

“Exactly! Being that secretive is weird.”

“He’s a witch. You think he’s going to broadcast that to everyone?” Stiles pointed out. Isaac was blowing this chaperone thing way out of proportion.

“No, but you have to admit that warding or whatever is a bit much,” Isaac shot back.

“He’s just trying to protect himself. My mom trusted him, so I’m going to give him a chance.”

“People don’t do things for other people without expecting something in return.”

“Wow, your pessimism is so refreshing,” Stiles scoffed. If Isaac wanted to live his life assuming the worst in people, he could go right ahead.

“Man, you are so naive,” Isaac laughed bitterly. “It’s called being realistic. I’ve seen how the world works and I know that most people are just waiting for the opportunity to kick you in the teeth.”

“Maybe in your world, but not mine. I’m not like that. Scott’s not like that.”

“And how about me?” Isaac challenged.

“I’ve got my dentist on speed dial when I’m around you.”

“Nice,” Isaac huffed, shaking his head and looking out the window. Stiles rolled his eyes, gripping the steering wheel tighter.

“Once again you can dish it out, but you can’t take it back. Poor Isaac is too sensitive,” Stiles mocked.

“Watch it,” Isaac hissed, still turned away from him.

“Right, but you get to call me naive and immature. And judge me for liking comic books, but anytime someone says something you don’t like, you pout or storm off,” Stiles laughed, letting his frustrations take over his tongue. “I know Scott gives you a pass on a lot of things because he pities you, but at some point he’s going to have to admit that you’re just an asshole, abusive father or not.”

“Pull over,” Isaac growled.

“And there you go, proving my point,” Stiles snickered.

“I said pull over!” Isaac shouted, turning and flashing his gold eyes at him. Stiles jumped, changing lanes and pulling onto the shoulder. Maybe he’d gone too far this time. Isaac slammed the door open, making the hinges squeal in protest.

“Where are you going?” Stiles yelled, switching on his hazard lights.

“I’m walking home, so go!” Isaac spat, hopping out of the car and banging the door shut.

“Oh, come on,” Stiles grunted, shaking his head at the theatrics. This move would only hurt Isaac.

“After my brother died, my dad took all my comics and ripped them up, saying I was too old for stuff like that. So I’m sorry if my past trauma reared its head at a time that was a little inconvenient for you, but don’t act like I’m the only one who is overly sensitive,” Isaac muttered, stalking away from the car and toward a cluster of buildings in the distance.

Stiles felt his cheeks burning with regret, but he ignored that and guided the car back into traffic. Isaac made his choice and could find his way back on his own. Stiles was not responsible for a werewolf throwing a temper tantrum. But he could admit that what he said was shitty. Even if Isaac deserved to be taken down a notch, that was a pretty low blow.

Stiles sighed, running a hand through his hair. He knew Isaac coming had been a terrible idea and this just proved it. At least they wouldn’t need to deal with each other again after this. Scott would have to accept that there was no chance at friendship between them. And besides, Stiles was about to be way too busy to deal with high school drama. Immersing himself in everything witch would be his next step. Everything else was insignificant.

Chapter Text

Stiles bought every Latin to English book he could find in the local bookstore and got to work, spending every waking moment that he wasn’t busy with school poring over books. It was tedious and time consuming, but he was too paranoid to plug something from these books into his computer. And he also had no idea how to type it. At least school was over soon and he’d be able to dedicate more time to his studies. He wished Tobias could’ve been more help, but he wasn’t going to let that disappointment stop him.

Stiles still hadn’t tried to do anything, but he was itching for the opportunity. Was there such a thing as an easy spell? Like, could he make something change colors with a wiggle of his nose or make something move by crossing his arms and nodding his head? Had he been watching too many old TV shows? He really wanted to find something to show off to Derek with, and by the weekend, he was sure he’d found it.

He called Derek up, asking if he and Scott could come over so he could show him something. As far as Stiles knew, Derek had no idea about the witch stuff. He hadn’t talked to Isaac since the drive home after Tobias, but he probably would’ve heard by now if the other boy had spilled the beans. Stiles had seen Isaac in school that week, but they steered clear of each other, which was for the best. And he was a bit relieved to hear Derek say that Isaac wasn’t at the loft at the moment as well. Maybe it was petty, but Stiles didn’t want Isaac to see his cool new trick.

Scott kept asking what they were going over for during the drive, but Stiles kept mum about it. He wanted it to be a surprise for both of them. They were going to get a little taste of what was to come with his newfound power. No more human sidekick, he was going to be on the frontlines for all the action now.

“What do you want?” Derek grunted, blocking their way through the door once they got to the loft.

“Oh, nothing. Just for you to stand back and be dazzled,” Stiles said casually, grinning at the pinched look on Derek’s face.

“I don’t get dazzled,” Derek deadpanned, glancing over at Scott.

“That’s probably why you’re always so tense,” Stiles chuckled. Derek rolled his eyes, moving to the side so they could enter. Stiles immediately went over to the big table in front of the windows, taking out the supplies he brought from his bag.

“Stiles?” Scott whined, realizing what he was about to do.

“It’s fine. It’ll go great, Scott,” Stiles assured him, cracking his knuckles for a bit of flair.

“What will go great?” Derek asked, crossing his arms over his chest. Stiles waved him off, focusing on finding the page he’d stuck a bookmark in. He obviously hadn’t been able to practice this spell on anyone before now, but he had practiced his incantation. It probably didn’t matter if it was a little choppy, as long as he said all the words.

Stiles started murmuring the spell under his breath, ignoring Derek’s growls of annoyance. Derek was going to be so impressed by what was happening that he would forget that they didn’t always get along. Stiles would probably get bumped up to second in command in the pack.

As soon as he was finished he looked up, excited to see the amazement in their eyes. But they were gone. Stiles cocked his head to the side, trying to figure out if they were playing a trick on him. This really wasn’t funny.

“Guys!” Stiles yelled, walking around the table to look for where they’d ended up. He froze when he saw the piles of clothes where they’d been standing. Those were the clothes they were wearing, right? Any pranks they would pull definitely wouldn’t involve them getting naked, right?

A sudden whimper from behind the couch caught his attention and he rushed over, panicked to think he’d somehow hurt them. Deaton’s words about going evil flashed through his mind, but he brushed that away. If he was feeling guilt, he wasn’t going dark side. Stiles skidded to a stop once he finally saw what was making the noise.

“Derek, please tell me you got a dog and didn’t tell me about it,” Stiles whispered, staring down at the chocolate lab puppy. It was huddled in a ball and looked at him with familiar brown eyes. A black German Shepherd puppy suddenly bounced from around the side of the couch, growling and baring its teeth a little. “Oh no. Please tell me I didn’t turn you guys into dogs.”

Stiles stumbled back, trying to figure out what to do. This wasn’t the goal of the spell. It was just supposed to be a little thing that wouldn’t do any permanent damage. But what if this couldn’t be reversed? He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket, needing to get some sort of help. This was going to be completely mortifying, but he had to put his pride aside for the moment for the sake of the pack. The other line rang, but no one answered. It didn’t even switch over to voicemail.

“Dammit Tobias, I need you,” Stiles whined, feeling his hands starting to shake. He should never have tried anything this soon, but he thought if he could do a few things by the next time they talked, Tobias would think Stiles was worth the effort to help. This sure wouldn’t make him look good.

Stiles scrolled through his contacts, trying to find Deaton’s number. The man might say he doesn’t know much about witches, but he knew a lot about other things, so maybe he’d be smart enough to figure this out. He groaned when he couldn’t find the number listed in his phone. How did he not have his number saved by this point?

He marched over to Scott’s pile of clothes, rifling around in his pockets until he found his phone. His trembling fingers could barely work the cell, but soon enough he heard the call go through. Deaton better answer.

“Hey Scott, what’s up?”

“Isaac?”

“Stiles?”

“Why are you answering Deaton’s phone?” Stiles demanded, pulling the phone away to stare at the screen.

“I answered my own phone. Why are you calling me? Where’s Scott?” He had called Isaac’s number somehow, but Stiles hadn’t done it on purpose.

“Shit, I was trying to call Deaton,” Stiles moaned.

“Well, good luck with that-”

“Wait! Please don’t hang up!” Stiles shouted, startling a bark out of one of the puppies. “I need your help.” Stiles grit his teeth as he listened to the exaggerated laughing on the other line.

“What was it that you said before? That you wouldn’t call me unless everyone else was dead?” Isaac laughed, going silent after a few moments. “Oh shit, is everyone dead?”

“Not yet,” Stiles ground out, glancing to the side as who he assumed was puppy Scott was peeking at him from around the couch.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean!”

“Just get to the loft, now!” Stiles snapped hanging up the phone before Isaac could ask any other questions or try to weasel out of coming over. He needed someone over here and even Isaac was better than no one. Just barely.

Stiles cautiously walked over to where his formally human friends were, hopeful that on some level they would understand that he was safe and not a threat. This was going to be very hard to explain if he ever got this fixed. Maybe Deaton would give him free veterinary services if they stayed this way.

“Hey guys, do you know me?” Stiles murmured, bending down and sticking his hand out. Maybe if he’d ever had a pet dog growing up he’d know what to do. Scott would know what to do, after working at the vet clinic for so long, but he was currently trying to catch his tail, so he wouldn’t be much help at the moment. Puppy Derek had perfected the annoyed eyebrows, even in this form, so Stiles backed up, figuring as long as they weren’t chewing on electrical cables or eating chocolate, they were fine.

He went back over to his spell book, trying to figure out how to fix this. There hadn’t been a need for a follow up spell, because nothing like this was supposed to happen. It was supposed to be a temporary thing that lasted for a second or two, and definitely no turning into an animal.

Stiles wasn’t sure how much time had passed before Isaac slammed into the loft, looking as out of breath as he could ever remember seeing him. Maybe it was a little mean to let Isaac think Scott and Derek might be dying, but at least it got him here in record time.

“Shut that door!” Stiles demanded, not wanting to add chasing dogs down the street as a new problem to deal with. Isaac followed his direction, looking around the room for the threat. Somehow the most dangerous one in the room was Stiles at the moment.

“Where are they?” Isaac asked, flicking out his claws as he prepared for a fight.

“So, about that…” Stiles mumbled, interrupted from going further by puppy Scott trotting toward Isaac like they were best friends. Isaac took a step back, looking toward Stiles for an explanation.

“You got a dog?” Isaac asked, tilting his head to the side as puppy Derek crept closer. “Dogs?”

“Not exactly,” Stiles sighed, running a hand down his face.

“Just spit it out already, because what I’m thinking can’t possibly be what’s going on,” Isaac hissed, staring down at the dogs.

“I thought it was a simple spell. I didn’t think this would happen,” Stiles whined, clutching his spell book to his chest. “I just wanted to impress them.”

“Not that I’m complaining, but why wasn’t I invited to this little shindig?”

“I didn’t think you’d want to be. We’re not friends, remember?” Stiles snapped, falling so easily back into the biting remarks with Isaac. It was a helpful distraction to the chaos he’d caused.

“Well, let’s be sure to keep it that way, since this doesn’t look very fun. Good luck,” Isaac grinned, turning around and getting ready to leave.

“Wait! Please don’t leave! I know you don’t like me, but leaving would only hurt them,” Stiles rushed out, sighing in relief when Isaac’s shoulders sagged and he slowly spun back around.

“Nice one,” Isaac muttered, walking further into the room, skirting around his Alpha and his friend as they sniffed at his legs. “What am I even supposed to do?”

“I don’t know, just keep them alive,” Stiles shrugged, frowning as they trailed after Isaac. “They seem to like you, so pet them or something.”

“Right. I’m gonna get down on the floor and give Derek belly rubs right as he turns back into a human,” Isaac scoffed, grabbing their piles of clothes and setting them on the couch. He walked over to Derek’s bed, stripping the blankets off and moving them closer, draping them over a chair.

“What’s that for?” Stiles asked, glancing up from the page he was trying to decipher.

“I’m pretty sure they’ll appreciate a bit of coverage when they change back.”

“Good thinking,” Stiles murmured, squinting at the text. The pounding behind his eyes was making everything a blur, and since Latin was already foreign to him, it wasn’t helping anything.

“What were you trying to do anyways?” Isaac asked, tossing one of Derek’s socks a few feet away. The puppies just stared at it and stayed next to Isaac.

“Does it matter?” Stiles sighed, raking his fingers through his hair.

“I don’t know. I don’t know how any of this works. But maybe talking through it will help you figure something out,” Isaac said.

“There was this spell that I thought was about revealing someone’s true nature. There was a picture in there that kind of looked like a werewolf. I thought if I did it in front of Derek and Scott, it would cause them to shift,” Stiles explained.

“That would be helpful, to find out if someone was more than human,” Isaac noted.

“Exactly! But then this happened and I don’t know how to change them back! What if this is permanent? Oh God, how am I going to explain this to Melissa? She’s still trying to come to terms with all this stuff and if I bring Scott back to her like this she’s going to freak out!”

“Stiles.”

“What the hell was I thinking with all this? Of course I’d suck at being a witch. I always mess everything up. Derek is definitely gonna kick me out of the pack now, if he ever turns back. Then I’m going to be stuck all alone while Scott does this cool werewolf stuff and-”

“Stiles!” Isaac shouted, hovering about an inch from his face. When had he gotten there? And when had Stiles started hyperventilating? “Breathe with me, okay?” Isaac grabbed his hand and put it on his chest, doing the same with his own hand. Stiles nodded jerkily, trying to follow the direction. It was easier said than done, but after a few minutes, he finally felt like he was in control of himself again.

“Thanks. I’m sorry, I-”

“It’s okay. I know what a panic attack feels like, so I know how much it sucks,” Isaac murmured, keeping the contact even though the attack was over. It was sort of grounding for Stiles and he appreciated it more than he was willing to admit. “Now, I know this is stressful, but if anyone can figure out how to fix it, it’s you.”

“Yeah right,” Stiles scoffed, rolling his eyes a little.

“I’m being serious. Look at all you’ve done so far, just being a human. Do you think just anyone would’ve been able to survive all this? I barely have and I’m supposed to be a predator.”

“Why should I believe you? You don’t even like me.”

“That’s exactly why you should believe me. Do you think I want to admit that you’re better in this world than I am? That I’m only here because of a pity bite and Derek’s need for Betas? For all intents and purposes you shouldn’t even be in the pack, but you are because you have value here. Even without the magic, your spot was already solidified. So if you can accomplish all that, I know you can figure this out too.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Stiles murmured, feeling embarrassed by the praise. Even if Isaac was just saying these things to give him a confidence boost to fix this mess, it still made him feel warm inside. Like maybe he was worth something.

“Say something in Latin,” Isaac chuckled, patting him once on the chest before pulling his hand away. Stiles suddenly felt cold, but Isaac was right. It was time to get down to business.

“Here, maybe you can help me,” Stiles said, shaking off the weird feelings that settled into his gut. He grabbed one of his translation books, flipping through the pages until he found the one he was looking for. “See if you can find this word in any of these spell books. It means reverse. Maybe we’ll find something that can help with this.” Isaac studied the script, but hesitated before picking up one of the books.

“Are you sure you want me to touch these? Aren’t they private and important?” Isaac asked, looking at the old books warily.

“I trust you with it,” Stiles admitted softly, realizing he was telling the truth. He wasn’t sure what changed, but now there was no one he’d rather have here helping him besides Isaac. “Just don’t read anything out loud.”

“Right,” Isaac murmured, picking up the nearest book and carefully scanning the pages. They worked next to each other in silence, with the only sounds being Stiles’ occasional groans and the dog squad clacking their claws against the concrete floor.

“You have to admit, they are kind of cute,” Stiles chuckled, pointing to where they were chewing on an old pair of shoes.

“Dammit, those are mine,” Isaac growled, glaring at the duo going to town on his sneakers.

“Oh, just leave them. Those look worn out anyways.”

“I only have like two pairs of shoes!”

“You have a leather jacket, but barely any shoes?” Stiles snorted, focusing his attention back on his current book.

“Derek’s priorities are a little off,” Isaac murmured, squinting at a page and looking back toward the dictionary. “I think I found something.”

“Where?” Stiles asked, leaning over the table and checking out what Isaac was pointing at. Their heads were almost touching, but that wasn’t important right now. Stiles tried to decipher the surrounding words from what he’d gleaned from the language the last week, praying this was the key to figuring this out. “Holy shit, I think this will work.”

“Really?” Isaac asked, sounding pleased with himself.

“I think so,” Stiles replied, moving the book to his side of the table for a more thorough look. He spent the next ten minutes checking every single word in that paragraph, trying to determine if their search was over. If dog day afternoon was over. “This is it.”

“Yeah?”

“I mean, I’m not entirely positive, but I think so,” Stiles admitted, biting at his thumbnail. “Is that enough to take the chance?”

“We can’t really do nothing and hope they switch back on their own,” Isaac shrugged, walking over and tossing the blankets near where the puppies were laying.

“Maybe you should leave,” Stiles suggested, and his heart had a little spasm when he saw the hurt flash across Isaac’s face. Of course he would assume that Stiles meant that as a dig, since that was their normal interaction. “I didn’t mean it like that. What if I’m wrong? I don’t want anything to happen to you.” Isaac nodded, but walked back over to the table.

“I understand that, but I’m not going anywhere. I don’t know why, but it feels like I need to stay here, to help you see this through,” Isaac said, standing by his side in determination. Stiles was worried about Isaac staying, but also unendingly relieved. If he fell into a panic again, he was certain Isaac would be able to get him out.

“Here we go,” Stiles mumbled, before beginning the incantation. He took it slow this time, making sure every syllable was clear and concise. His excitement earlier overshadowed the seriousness of this, but he wouldn’t make that mistake again. If this didn’t work, he’d know for sure that it was due to the spell, not his reading. Isaac stayed completely still to his left, but Stiles could feel the energy flowing from him and influencing the spell. It felt right, like he should’ve been there from the beginning.

“Stiles, you idiot!” Derek roared, and it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever heard.

“Why does my mouth taste like Isaac’s feet?” Scott whined, snatching up a blanket to cover himself.

“I did it,” Stiles whispered, staring over at his once again human friends. “I did it!” Without thinking he launched himself at Isaac, wrapping him up in a hug. It only lasted a few seconds and Isaac was too shocked to return it, but that was okay because everything was fixed.

“Enjoy your little victory while you can, because I’m going to kill you,” Derek growled, securing a blanket around his waist.

“Oh lighten up. No permanent damage, right?” Stiles pointed out, walking over to Scott to get physical confirmation that his friend was alright.

“What happened?” Scott asked, shaking his head to clear the cobwebs.

“What do you remember?”

“It’s kind of fuzzy. Like, I know I changed, but everything feels like a vague dream that someone else had, but described to you,” Scott explained.

“I wish I would’ve taken a picture. You guys were pretty cute. Hey Isaac, did you take one?” Stiles asked, turning to hear his answer. But Isaac wasn’t standing where he’d last seen him. “Isaac?”

“He left,” Derek grunted, snatching up his clothes and walking toward his bed. Why would he leave without saying goodbye? Stiles thought they’d had a bit of a breakthrough in their relationship, but maybe it was only for the current crisis. Would Isaac go back to how they were before, with trying to constantly tear each other down? Stiles was beginning to realize that he really didn’t want that. Working with Isaac was actually kind of nice.

Stiles tuned back into his surroundings, listening to Scott try to make sense of everything that happened, but part of his mind was still with the curly haired boy who’d come through for him in his time of need. Maybe Stiles could figure out a way to fix things so they could have more of these good moments. He’d just turned two people into dogs, so how hard could it be to befriend Isaac Lahey?

Chapter Text

Stiles swore off of trying any other spells until he got a better grasp on the language. He sent a message out to Lydia about possibly teaching him Latin when she came back, but she wouldn’t give him a definitive answer. Stiles didn’t tell her what it was about, for privacy reasons, and Lydia wasn’t sure when she’d be coming back. He’d have to do this on his own for now, but was he really alone?

In a way that was still pretty shocking to Stiles, when he thought about talking to someone about this magic stuff, it wasn’t Scott who always came to mind first. More and more it was becoming Isaac. Stiles wasn’t sure if it was due to how Isaac had come through for him during the puppy incident, but he found himself not really wanting to question it. If that’s what felt natural, why fight it? The only problem was that it seemed the other boy was avoiding him.

It was hard to be sure when it came to Isaac, since his default seemed to be being a lone wolf, but even Scott commented on it. Stiles barely caught a glimpse of the other boy during the last week of school, even though they shared a few classes. Isaac would slide in at the last second, when he decided to show up, then leave as soon as the bell rang. Stiles racked his brain trying to figure out what he’d done wrong this time, but he came up with nothing. Their last interaction had been pretty positive in his opinion, but maybe Isaac didn’t feel the same way.

Now that school was over, he was going to have to be creative about ways to get Isaac somewhere they could talk. He never seemed to be at the loft, at least according to Derek. That might’ve been a lie though, since Derek was still pissed at him about the puppy thing, so any information he got from the man was suspect. Scott wasn’t any help either, mostly questioning why Stiles cared whenever Isaac was brought up. That was a legitimate question when it came to past Stiles, but not so much anymore. He brushed it off as wanting to thank Isaac for his help, but it was about so much more than that now. But how much further was something he’d have to figure out with Isaac.

Stiles knew he was being shady, but he snuck Scott’s phone away from him during one of their hangouts, flipping through it when Scott went to use the bathroom. He read through a few of their texts, just to get a feel for how Scott talked to Isaac, then sent a text asking to meet up at the loft the next day. Luckily Isaac replied quickly in agreement, so Stiles could erase the messages before Scott came back. It was a shit move, but he couldn’t afford to waste the whole summer trying to pin Isaac down. And if the other boy told him to get lost, Stiles would accept it.

He knocked on the loft door the next morning, gripping the strap of his bag in nervousness. Stiles still wasn’t very sure why he was being so weird about all this, but he actually wanted things to go well this time. Before, he wouldn’t care if the interaction ended in insults and shouting, but now he wanted to leave the meeting in a better place than they’d started.

“One second!” Isaac shouted from inside the loft. Stiles could hear Isaac trotting down the spiral staircase, so he took the last few seconds he had to plaster a smile on his face. He knew Isaac would see through it, but he’d still make the effort. “Hey Sco-” Isaac froze with the door halfway open when he saw that it wasn’t who he thought it was.

“Hey,” Stiles replied timidly, shifting his weight from side to side.

“What happened this time?” Isaac asked, sniffing the air around him in exaggeration. “I don’t smell blood or dogs.”

“No, nothing like that,” Stiles sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Actually, I just wanted to talk.”

“Funny, I got a text from Scott’s phone, asking to meet up. Such a coincidence,” Isaac scoffed.

“I’m sorry, but I didn’t know how to get you to agree to see me. I promise I’ll never trick you like this again,” Stiles insisted, pouring all of his sincerity into the words.

“So, what is it you want?” Isaac asked, leaning against the doorway. He didn’t seem to want to invite Stiles in, which wasn’t ideal, but workable.

“Well, I want to thank you again for helping me the other day. I don’t think I would’ve been able to do it without you.”

“Yeah, you would’ve,” Isaac brushed off.

“No, don’t belittle what you did,” Stiles said firmly, making sure Isaac was really paying attention to what he was saying. “I was freaking out and you kept me calm. You went above and beyond and I owe you so much.” Isaac shook his head, as if he didn’t quite know what to say.

“It really was no big deal, but I’m glad I was able to help. Not bad for your last resort, right?” Isaac chuckled, tapping his head against the side of the door. “Was there anything else?”

“Why did you leave right after? For a second I thought I’d accidentally done something to you, but then Derek said he saw you leave. Why didn’t you stay?”

“I thought you’d want to celebrate the win with your friends. I would just get in the way of that,” Isaac shrugged.

“Isaac-”

“And I really didn’t want to stick around for Derek’s wrath. I bet he was pissed,” Isaac laughed, turning to jokes instead of facing the real issue. Stiles knew that trick. “He won’t even talk to me about it.”

“Avoidance seems to be the theme these days,” Stiles mumbled.

“Well, it was nice catching up, but-”

“Why don’t we get along?” Stiles blurted out, not able to hold back any longer. The question had been bouncing around in his head for days and he didn’t think he could go another second without it being out there. “I mean, I know why we didn’t at first, with the whole dueling packs thing, but that’s old news. Everyone else seems to be at least cordial with each other, except us. Why not us?” Isaac sighed, tapping his fingers against the metal door as if he was deciding whether or not to slam it in Stiles’ face. Luckily the call went in Stiles’ favor and Isaac opened the door, finally letting him in.

It felt weird being back, especially without a crisis. The loft was always going to remind him of that day, of his near disaster. Maybe he should get one of those little paw print wall hangings to commemorate the day. Derek would definitely kill him, but it would be worth the one second of laughter.

“Um, I don’t-”

“God, I’m sorry to put you on the spot like this, but that question has just been eating at me and I can’t come up with a good answer. And I hate not being able to figure things out,” Stiles babbled, pacing around the open space. Derek really needed more furniture. “Like, you aren’t that bad of a guy and I don’t think I’m that bad of a guy, so we should be able to coexist in okay guy peace, but somehow it always gets messed up. Are we just naturally oil and water? Fire and ice? Cats and dogs?”

“Funny,” Isaac scoffed, but Stiles could tell he didn’t take offense. “It’s probably my fault. I’m not the best at making friends.”

“That’s not true,” Stiles insisted. Isaac quirked an eyebrow at him, challenging him to prove him wrong. “What about Scott?”

“Scott doesn’t count. He’s just… Scott.”

“Okay, I’ll give you that one. But what about Boyd and Erica?”

“I’d consider that more circumstance than friendship. And obviously they aren’t here, so what does that tell you?”

“Derek?”

“What Derek and I have definitely wouldn’t be considered friendship. You were right before when you said he was stuck with me because he decided to bite randoms. If he’d known what he was getting into, he probably would’ve left me in that hole,” Isaac chuckled. Stiles winced as his earlier words were thrown back at him. And the worst part was Isaac wasn’t even upset about it, he was just stating it as if it was a fact.

“I never should’ve said that. There were a lot of things I shouldn’t have said,” Stiles whispered.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m not the kind of guy people want to be friends with,” Isaac smirked. “I’ve worked hard to keep this air of mystery around me.”

“Why do you have to do that? I’m trying to be serious here,” Stiles grumbled, throwing his hands up in frustration. Was he expecting too much right now?

“It’s easier to accept people not liking you when you’re a dick on purpose,” Isaac said quietly, ducking his head down in embarrassment. “When you actually try and people still don’t like you, that’s what hurts.” Stiles’ dad’s words from the night he’d found everything rang in his head again. Isaac had been through so much in a short amount of time and Stiles hadn’t given him any grace. No one, besides maybe Scott, had even bothered looking past the front Isaac put up and tried to get to know the real person he was inside.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For not trying? For not realizing what was going on and making an effort? For falling into that weird antagonization spiral we have?”

“I’m not your responsibility.”

“You’re right, you’re not. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends,” Stiles said firmly. “Can we try? I’m not saying we have to do anything crazy, like go to the movies or have sleepovers or something, but can we at least put forth the effort to turn this into something pleasant?”

“Pleasant?”

“Perhaps a weird choice of words, but you know what I mean.”

“Okay.”

“Okay? Really?”

“Yeah,” Isaac shrugged, like it wasn’t a big deal. And it shouldn’t be. Making friends as a teenager should be simple, in theory.

“Great. Um, so now we just-”

“What if we aren’t good at it at first? What should we do if we need the other one to dial things back?” Isaac asked.

“We can have a safe word?” Stiles suggested. “If one of us says it, the other one will know we need to take a second and readjust.”

“A safe word? Like people use during sex?” Isaac snorted.

“Same concept, different context. You have any that you prefer, from experience?” Stiles laughed. Isaac immediately turned bright red and looked away. “Oh my- are you a virgin?”

“Could really use that safe word right about now,” Isaac growled, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Dude, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” Stiles chuckled, gesturing to himself. “I’m obviously a virgin too.”

“Can we talk about something else?”

“I would’ve thought you’d hooked up with someone by now. I mean, you’re a good looking guy,” Stiles said, realizing his blunder as soon as the words slipped out. “To girls, I mean. Well, I’m sure guys too. Actually-”

“Pancakes!” Isaac shouted suddenly.

“Pancakes?”

“We don’t have a safe word yet, but that’s just the first thing that came to mind. Pancakes, pancakes, pancakes!”

“Okay, I’ll respect your request to stop, but we really need to come up with a new word. For one thing, you sound ridiculous, and another, I might want to discuss pancakes at some point, so we need something that won’t come up in casual conversation.”

“Whatever. Just keep your commentary on my sex life, or lack thereof, to yourself. We are definitely not there yet,” Isaac demanded.

“Of course. See, this is going great. We’re setting boundaries and feeling each other out,” Stiles said with an approving nod. Isaac didn’t look as amused. “Maybe we should quit while we’re ahead today. We don’t want to push things too hard, too fast.”

“Good idea,” Isaac agreed. Stiles was about to walk back up to the door when he remembered what he had in his bag.

“One more thing, I got something for you,” Stiles said, digging through his bag for the item. “It was such a bitch to find, but I couldn’t let the internet beat me.” He pulled out the papers that were carefully tucked into a protective plastic sleeve and handed it to Isaac.

“The comic book from the movie we watched?” Isaac murmured, running his finger along the edge of the pages.

“I figured it could be sort of an olive branch, in case this talk didn’t go too well. And you don’t have to keep it in the sleeve or anything, but I wasn’t sure how stringent you’d be on something like that.”

“Thanks,” Isaac whispered, sending him the most genuine smile Stiles thought he’d ever seen from the other boy. At least in his direction.

“You’re welcome.”

“I don’t really have anything to give you-”

“That’s okay-”

“But I can give you my cell number?” Isaac offered.

“Really? You’d do that?”

“Yeah, I mean, I guess.”

“And can I contact you? Even if no one died?”

“I’d prefer it, actually. I’m kind of sick of all the death and chaos,” Isaac chuckled, taking out his phone.

“Here, let’s swap,” Stiles suggested, tossing his own phone at Isaac. “We can do each other’s contacts.” Isaac nodded, handing his phone over. Stiles made sure to jazz his contact up, adding funny witch related emojis next to his name and snapping a quick picture of himself when Isaac wasn’t paying attention.

When Stiles got his phone back, he checked what Isaac entered, finding a plain name and number with no flair. That simply wouldn’t do. Isaac was chuckling quietly at his own phone, so Stiles took the chance and got a photo.

“Well, I should probably head out now,” Stiles said. He didn’t really have any plans, but he didn’t want to push this too far and have it get awkward on the first day of trying.

“That’s probably a good idea. Derek is going to be back soon,” Isaac agreed.

“Damn, he’s never going to forgive me, is he? If you can think of a way to get back on his good side, let me know,” Stiles chuckled, walking back up to the front door.

“I’ll text you,” Isaac snorted.

“I’ll look forward to it.” Stiles left the loft feeling so much better about everything than he did earlier. Who knew fixing things with Isaac would lift such a weight off his shoulders? He checked his phone when he got back in his jeep, looking to see if the picture he’d taken was any good. Isaac was hunched over a little with his head tilted to the side, giving one of those bashful smiles where his lips were almost downturned. It was perfectly Isaac and Stiles set it as his contact in the phone. He felt satisfied as he drove back home. This could be the start of a wonderful friendship.

Chapter Text

Stiles flipped off the television, rubbing at his burning eyes. He’d been binge watching anything he could find that had to do with witches all day, waiting for Scott’s shift at the vet clinic to be over so they could meet up. He’d given up on the older shows, finding them too hokey, and moved onto movies aimed toward adults and teens. The Craft was his personal favorite so far.

He kind of wished he had a coven, craving the camaraderie that came with it. Being around werewolves who took being in a pack so seriously, it made him want the same, just with his own kind. And maybe they’d be able to help guide him through this journey, instead of floundering like he was now.

Stiles really hoped Lydia would come back soon and agree to help him with his Latin. That could be just the thing that brought them closer together and made all of his fantasies about being with her come true. They could be a power couple, right next to Scott and Allison, if they ever figured out their stuff.

It was almost time for Scott’s shift to end, so Stiles got ready to head over. Deaton wouldn’t mind if he hung around for a bit. And maybe Stiles could pick his brain a little more when it came to witchy stuff. There had to be something else the other man knew about all this, being their usual source of information.

He climbed into his jeep and took off, flipping through the stations on the radio to try to find the perfect song for his drive. Stiles was a pretty good driver, but he could admit that he got away with a lot, having the Sheriff for a father. And the fact that the residential streets of Beacon Hills were usually pretty quiet. So maybe he didn’t always pay as much attention to the road as he should. Nothing terrible had happened to him so far. Then again, that could always change.

Whether it was a sixth sense, or standard driving acumen, Stiles glanced up at the road just in time to swerve away from a little black bundle in the middle of the road. At least he hoped he did. Stiles pulled the car over to the side of the road, panting as his heart felt like it was going to beat its way out of his chest. He’d never hit an animal before. Hell, he even avoided running over obvious roadkill. He needed to make sure that whatever it was was okay.

Stiles climbed out of the car, relieved to not find a splatter on the pavement. But now he had to find where it ran off to. If it was someone’s pet, he wanted to take it back to where it would be safe and sound. If it was a stray, maybe Deaton would know what to do with it.

“Where’d you go little thing?” Stiles called out, looking around the street. “I think you’re a cat, but I mean no offense if you’re actually a dog. And if I’m searching for a rat or something, I’m gonna hate myself.” Logic said the animal would probably run in the opposite direction of the car, so he went that way, checking under parked cars as he went along. This sure would be a funny story to tell, if someone looked out and thought he was a prowler.

Where would a scared animal go? His recent experience with his puppy pals told him that instinct was to hide behind something big, but that could be anything when it came to something the size of a tissue box. The thing could be long gone by this point, but something was telling Stiles to keep looking. Like a dull ache in his chest that wouldn’t go away until he got eyes on the animal again.

Stiles finally got lucky when he was passing by an alley and swore he heard a tiny meow. How he got this far, he had no idea, but that didn’t matter now. He was in between a nail salon and laundromat that had seen better days and the space was filled with dumpsters and a couple old cars. Stiles got down on all fours, crawling around to see if he could find the elusive little creature. Finally, scrunched up in a ball under a car, he spotted it.

“Hey kitty, what're you doing over there?” Stiles murmured, reaching his hand toward the cat. It cowered back even further, placing itself completely out of his reach. “I just want to make sure you’re okay. I’m not gonna hurt you.” The cat wasn’t budging though and Stiles groaned in defeat. How was he supposed to get this thing out of there? He needed help.

Stiles stood up from the dirty ground and dug his phone out of his pocket. Surely Scott could leave work a little bit early and help him out. Especially if he was possibly bringing Deaton more business. He flicked through his phone and called, tapping his foot as he waited for the other line to pick up.

“Hello?”

“Isaac?”

“Yeah?”

“What the hell? How do I keep doing that?” Stiles muttered, staring down at his phone. Sure enough, Isaac’s face was staring up at him. “I was trying to call Scott.”

“Oh, okay. Is everything alright?”

“Yeah, just needed help with something. I guess my fingers like you,” Stiles chuckled.

“Uh-”

“Wow, that sounded weird. Don’t worry, I’m pancaking myself,” Stiles snorted.

“Well, what is it? Is there anything I can do to help?” Isaac offered.

“Really?”

“I mean, I guess. We’re trying to be friends now, right?”

“Right, yeah. It’s not much, I just need help lifting something really quick,” Stiles explained.

“Oh, did the wheels not work out? Should we try bigger ones?”

“No, the ones you got were perfect. I’m actually in an alley near downtown right now,” Stiles said, wincing in reaction to Isaac’s silence. “Again, that sounded weirder than I meant it.”

“It might take me a little bit to get there.”

“That’s totally fine. Although we should think about brainstorming a way to convince Derek to get you your own car.”

“Right,” Isaac snorted. “He hasn’t even replaced the shoes he chewed up with Scott.”

“Maybe I can find a spell that will mend them for you?”

“I think you’re more likely to make them come to life and terrorize the city,” Isaac laughed.

“Hey, I’m not that bad!” Stiles whined, even though he was enjoying this back and forth. Neither of them were trying to hurt the other, which was progress.

“Tell that to Derek.”

“Whatever. We can discuss Derek and my impressive magic skills when you get here,” Stiles said, ducking down to peek at the cat again. It hadn’t moved. He told Isaac the address of where he was and hung up after Isaac assured him that he was on his way. Now all he had to do was wait.

*

“And that’s the reason the elementary school didn’t let students take home the class gerbil anymore,” Stiles said, finishing the latest story he was telling to his new friend. The cat wasn’t much of a conversationalist, but that had never stopped him before. It was kind of like talking to Derek.

“That was your fault?” Isaac asked, startling him from the end of the alley.

“You heard that?” Stiles cringed, hoping Isaac hadn’t heard all the details. How was he supposed to know that you weren’t supposed to take gerbils on bike trips? It hadn’t gotten hurt, but it never quite acted the same either.

“I heard enough,” Isaac confirmed, staring at him curiously. “Who were you talking to?”

“That’s what I need your help with,” Stiles sighed, waving for Isaac to join him on the ground. “I almost hit a cat with my car and I need to see if it’s alright. The problem is, I can’t reach it, which is where you come in.” Isaac ducked down to look under the car, spotting the shifty little kitten.

“And you want me to lift this thing?”

“Yeah, can you?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t really been practicing my power-lifting recently,” Isaac scoffed.

“Well, can you try? Just long enough for me to crawl under and grab the cat?”

“What if I drop it on you?”

“You won’t.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I trust you,” Stiles shrugged. Isaac looked like he wanted to ask why, but he stopped himself. Stiles was glad, since he didn’t really have a good answer. His gut was just telling him that Isaac wouldn’t let anything happen to him.

“Shit,” Isaac grunted, standing back up and rubbing his palms on his pant legs. “Just be quick, okay?”

“Of course,” Stiles nodded, moving into position. “In and out, in and out.”

“Pancakes,” Isaac snorted, crouching down to get his hands under the side of the car.

“Hey, that was funny,” Stiles chuckled.

“Ready?” Isaac asked, taking a few deep breaths to pump himself up.

“Yeah.”

“Go!” With a big heave, Isaac lifted the car, locking his knees as he got fully upright. Stiles darted under, not willing to waste a single second. The cat stayed put, thank goodness, so Stiles reached over and grabbed it, pulling it to his chest so he could crab walk backwards out of the space. As soon as he was clear he tapped Isaac’s leg, who then set the car back down as carefully as he could.

“That was amazing,” Stiles laughed.

“Yeah, but let’s never do that again.”

“Agreed.”

“How’s the cat?” Isaac asked, peeking at the animal, but keeping his distance.

“I don’t know. I’m going to take it to Deaton’s to get it checked out.”

“That’s a good idea.”

“Do you want to come with me?”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Actually, would you mind driving us? I kind of want to keep a hold on this guy, just in case. I’ve found out recently that distracted driving isn’t a very good idea.”

“And that’s only a recent discovery?” Isaac questioned, rolling his eyes. Stiles shrugged as they made their way back to his jeep. He’d gone a few blocks to catch up to the cat, so they had a few minutes of walking. It wasn’t awkward though.

“You do know how to drive, right? Stiles asked, eyeing him warily before he handed over his keys. This was his baby and he didn’t let just anyone drive it.

“I used to work a backhoe to dig graves. I think I can handle it,” Isaac scoffed, holding his hand out.

“Not really the time to be referencing anything related to death,” Stiles muttered, reluctantly tossing him the keys. Isaac was a surprisingly cautious driver. He kept both hands on the wheel, stayed under the speed limit, and used the turn signals every time. He could probably parallel park without breaking a sweat. Isaac was like a driver’s ed instructor’s wet dream.

“Damn, you’re a great driver,” Stiles grinned, shifting the cat into an easier carrying position now that they were parked.

“It’s easy to remember the rules of the road when your teacher literally beats them into you,” Isaac snorted, turning off the car.

“Um-”

“Sorry, I shouldn’t joke like that. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable,” Isaac sighed. He started to get out of the car but Stiles stopped him with a hand on his elbow.

“You know, if you ever wanted to talk about anything, I’m down to listen,” Stiles offered. Isaac looked surprised for a moment before he smoothed his features back out.

“Sure, I guess. I mean, maybe,” Isaac replied, sending him an appreciative smile. “Same.”

They finally climbed out of the car, making their way into the clinic side by side. It was just before closing time, so thankfully the place was empty.

“Hey Stiles, I thought you were going to be here like half an hour ago!” Scott called from the exam room. They walked back there, finding Scott sweeping the floor.

“A little change of plan,” Stiles replied. Scott looked up and smiled when he saw Isaac was with him.

“Oh hey, what’s up?” Scott asked brightly. He’d been very excited to hear about their talk from a few days ago, saying it was about time they became friends. Scott was such a Disney character.

“I actually need to see Deaton,” Stiles said, tipping his head down toward his little armful.

“Oh no, is it okay?” Scott asked, walking over to take a peek. As soon as the cat laid eyes on him, it freaked out, hissing and scratching at anything within reach.

“Whoa killer, what the hell?” Stiles exclaimed, setting the cat on the exam table and moving out of the strike zone.

“Is everything alright in here?” Deaton asked, walking into the room with his usual air of calm.

“My cat hates Scott,” Stiles said, pushing him toward the exit.

“It’s not uncommon for felines to react negatively in the presence of a werewolf. We’ve run into that problem here occasionally,” Deaton explained.

“We should probably wait out here,” Scott sighed, pulling Isaac out to the waiting area.

“I wasn’t aware you had a pet cat,” Deaton said, walking to the sink to wash his hands.

“I don’t. I was just driving and almost hit this little guy, so I wanted to get him checked out to see if he was okay. Maybe find his owner as well,” Stiles said, getting a better look at the cat now that it wasn’t hiding or being held. It had black fur and yellow eyes and was a bit scrawny looking, but Stiles didn’t really know anything about cats.

“Well first off, this is a female,” Deaton chuckled, grabbing a tool from one of his drawers. “Now, let’s see if she’s got a chip.” Deaton waved the thing over the cat’s body, with no luck.

“A stray?”

“Perhaps. She looks young, and like she’s been on the streets for a while. Are you planning on keeping her?”

“I don’t know. I hadn’t really thought that far ahead,” Stiles sighed. He wanted to say yes, but he didn’t know if that was realistic. Would his dad let him have a cat? Did he want one that hated werewolves?

“I can take her to a shelter, if you’d like?” Deaton offered, giving her a quick exam to check for injuries.

“Maybe,” Stiles murmured, reaching over to scratch the cat under her chin. He stared at her, feeling himself drawn to her in a way he didn’t understand. Stiles had always considered himself more of a dog person.

“Oh my,” Deaton said quietly, looking at the cat in surprise. Stiles was about to ask what he was surprised by when he noticed what was happening himself. The cat’s eyes were changing, the pupils expanding until it completely obscured the yellow of the irises. Was this thing a demon?

Stiles was contemplating whether to run away or punch it in the face when the pupils retracted back to a normal size. But instead of the yellow eyes that were there previously, now they were more of a honey brown color.

“What the hell?” Stiles muttered, staring at the cat in shock.

“I don’t know for sure, but I believe you’ve just found your familiar.”

Chapter Text

“A familiar? Like a witch’s animal sidekick?” Stiles asked in wonder, staring into his own eyes, just in cat form.

“In layman’s terms, yes,” Deaton confirmed. “There is a lot of lore about this type of thing, but I’ve never encountered it in person.”

“Wow,” Stiles gasped, putting his hand down in front of her in greeting. She sniffed at it before nuzzling her face against his palm. “Hey girl, we gonna be best friends now?”

“You should look through your books to see if you can find out more about this.”

“Easier said than done,” Stiles scoffed, petting his mysterious new friend. “You don’t happen to speak Latin, do you?”

“Unfortunately, no,” Deaton replied, putting away all of his equipment.

“I really need Lydia to come back,” Stiles mumbled.

“Well, familiars are known to be connected with magic and act as a sort of guide when necessary. Maybe you’ll be able to figure this out together?” Deaton suggested.

“What do you think? Will you help me?” Stiles asked the cat, smiling when she purred in response.

“Is it safe to come in yet?” Scott whispered, peeking his head around the corner. The responding hiss was a pretty clear answer. “So that’s a no?” The cat seemed to have had it with the werewolf intrusion and booked it toward the exit.

“Wait kitty, don’t go!” Stiles shouted, scrambling after her. If she got loose, would he ever find her again? He skidded to a stop in the waiting area, staring wide eyed at the scene he encountered. Isaac was sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of the chairs, currently being circled by the cat. He looked kind of nervous, staying perfectly still.

“Is she about to kill me?” Isaac murmured, following her circuit around his body with his eyes. She seemed to be considering him, pausing every few steps to give him a sniff. The three of them had ridden in the car together without issue, but maybe that had just been due to a bit of shock following their ordeal.

“Uh, maybe?” Stiles shrugged. Isaac could hold his own against a tiny cat, right? She suddenly stopped right in front of him, leaned back on her haunches, and leapt toward Isaac’s face. He cringed away, preparing for the claws to enter his skin.

“Aww!” Scott cooed from where he was peeking around the corner. Instead of attacking, the cat was nuzzling Isaac, headbutting his chin until he opened his eyes and gave her the attention she craved.

“Isaac, did you stop being a werewolf without telling anyone?” Stiles asked, carefully walking over to join them on the floor.

“Not that I recall, no,” Isaac chuckled, scratching the cat behind her ear. She looked completely relaxed now, bouncing from one of their laps to the other’s.

“So it’s just me she hates?” Scott whined.

“I think it’s a little more complicated than that,” Deaton replied, pointing to the cat. “Take a look.” Stiles looked down at her, blinking in surprise as her eyes started going wonky again. When they shifted back to normal, the left still matched Stiles’, but the right had spun off in a different direction on the color wheel entirely.

“Holy crap,” Stiles murmured, looking between the cat and Isaac. The right eye was now a perfect match with Isaac’s.

“Does it’s eyes change to match whoever touches it?” Isaac wondered.

“Deaton was touching her during the exam and nothing happened.”

“So what does this mean?”

“Maybe it’s the bond thing?” Scott piped up from the other room. Stiles tipped his head to the side in consideration. He hadn’t really thought about the supposed magical bond with Isaac, since it didn’t seem to be very present for them. Sure, they were getting along now, but they’d still been at each other’s throats in the beginning. Maybe it was something that had to develop. It must be, according to the cat’s eyes.

“Maybe I should leave,” Isaac mumbled, shifting uncomfortably.

“Why?” Stiles asked.

“I don’t want to get in the way of your magic stuff,” Isaac shrugged, staring down at the cat as she stretched out between them. “I know you never meant for us to have the bond or whatever.”

“It may not have been on purpose, but I don’t think there is any getting away from it now,” Stiles said, gesturing down to the cat. “And I’m not going to risk upsetting her by letting you avoid us. I think she likes you.” The cat chose that moment to paw at Isaac’s stomach, forcing a small smile out of him.

“I like her too,” Isaac admitted. “I’ve never really been around cats before. Any kind of pet really.”

“Me neither,” Stiles grinned, bumping him with his elbow. “I guess we can learn together.”

“I’d offer to help, but she hates me,” Scott grumbled, poking his head around the corner again.

“I’m sure she’ll warm up to you,” Stiles laughed, wincing when he heard her growl a little. “Maybe.”

“Why don’t you take this,” Deaton said, handing Stiles a pamphlet. “It’s something I give to new pet owners. Tips on how to take care of her and all the supplies you’ll need.”

“Thanks,” Stiles murmured, looking over the sheet. There was a lot of stuff he hadn’t even thought about. Cats were so much more complicated than the random goldfish he’d won at the fair as a kid, that never really lived to see the end of the week. And then there was the problem of convincing his dad to let him keep her. It wasn’t like he could come out and say that she was his magical partner in crime. He’d have to come up with something, because there was no way he was letting her go.

“Now what?” Isaac asked.

“Now, we go shopping.”

*

“What about Salem?” Stiles suggested. He and Isaac were walking around a pet store, grabbing everything he would need. Stiles figured that having all the things a cat needed would help convince his dad that it was a good idea to let him have a pet. It was still going to be a hard sell, but anything helped. Isaac suggested picking out a name, so it would signify they had already bonded.

“You were watching Sabrina, weren’t you?” Isaac chuckled, reaching up to tap the cat’s feet. Stiles planned on leaving her in the jeep while they shopped, but she was not having any of it. The cat had perched up on Isaac’s shoulder and wouldn’t budge, so that’s where she was now.

“Maybe, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a classic cat name,” Stiles defended.

“A bit on the nose though.”

“Fine,” Stiles conceded, tossing a litter box into their cart. “Do you have any ideas?”

“Um, I don’t know. I’ve never named anything before,” Isaac mumbled, looking up toward the ceiling in thought. “Cat?”

“You think I should name my cat, ‘Cat?’” Stiles asked, staring at him like he was crazy. “What would you name a kid? Human?”

“I’d probably just let the mother name it,” Isaac shrugged.

“You are no help.”

“I’m sorry, I guess I’m just not very creative.”

“Apparently,” Stiles snorted, scanning the different types of food. Did he go wet or dry? Fancy or basic? Chicken or fish?

“Throw out some options and see if she likes any of them,” Isaac suggested.

“You think that’ll work?”

“It’s worth a try, right? If she doesn’t react to anything, she probably doesn’t care.”

“Let me test it,” Stiles said, staring up at her. “How do you like the name Scott?” The cat immediately let out a warning meow, laying her ears flat against her head.

“I’m guessing that’s a no,” Isaac chuckled.

“How about Hermione?” The cat yawned, flicking her tail. “Luna?” Still no reaction. Maybe he was expecting too much. He went through almost all of the Harry Potter characters before dipping into Sabrina again. Stiles even suggested some names from The Wizard of Oz, but had no luck. Nothing felt right.

“I don’t think she likes them,” Isaac laughed, pointing at the cat that looked utterly bored.

“What are you, her attorney?” Stiles grumbled.

“Maybe you’re trying too hard. What does she look like to you?”

“She looks like a cat.”

“Oh, come on. You can’t steal my idea,” Isaac said with a grin. “Just take a second.” Stiles took his advice and paused, considering his options. He could always give her a temporary name and change it when he figured out her personality more, but that wouldn’t look like he was serious about his pet. This wasn’t as official as naming a baby or anything, but switching it a bunch of times seemed too immature.

“Who are you?” Stiles murmured, scratching at her chin. She was obviously feisty, so she needed a name with substance. “She looks like Thackery Binx.”

“I loved that movie as a kid,” Isaac chuckled, looking Stiles up and down. “Are you the virgin who lit the candle?”

“Look who’s talking,” Stiles grunted, glaring up at him. “Do you think that’s too male? Maybe just Binx instead?”

“It’s a cat. Does it matter?”

“If not Binx, maybe another character. What were the Sanderson sisters' names?”

“Mary, Sarah, and Winifred.”

“Winifred,” Stiles mumbled, testing how the name felt in his mouth. “Winnie.”

“I like it,” Isaac smiled.

“Me too,” Stiles agreed, standing back to get the cat’s opinion. “What do you say, girl? Do you think you’re a Winnie?” She jumped off of Isaac’s shoulder and started weaving in between their legs where they stood.

“I think that’s a yes,” Isaac said, stooping down to scoop her back up again. She curled up in his arms contentedly, purring as she closed her eyes.

“Winifred ‘Winnie’ Stilinski. Sounds good to me,” Stiles said, twirling her tail around his finger. He had everything they needed in the cart and a name to call her. Now came the hard part. “Let’s go meet your grandpa.”

Chapter Text

“So what’s your plan?” Isaac asked from the passenger’s seat of the jeep. Winnie was curled up in his lap and they were sitting in the driveway outside of Stiles’ house. Once they’d gotten everything they needed from the store, Isaac had disappeared while Stiles was in line, returning with an engraved name tag shaped like a pumpkin and a bright orange collar. It was absolutely perfect.

“First, we go in-”

“We?” Isaac interrupted, shaking his head in denial. “What do you mean ‘we?’”

“As in both of us going in there. My dad is less likely to shoot me down with a witness,” Stiles pointed out. “Besides, he likes you.”

“He likes me? What on earth gave you that impression?” Isaac scoffed. “Was it when he threw me in jail?”

“No, remember he invited you over for dinner when we were working on that project?”

“Out of politeness.”

“Okay, well after you left he pretty much told me not to be a dick to you,” Stiles laughed.

“And clearly you didn’t take his advice,” Isaac snorted.

“Hey, we’re friends now though, right? It just took some time.”

“I guess,” Isaac sighed.

“And as friends, you’ll probably be seeing a lot more of me, which means seeing more of my dad. So why not get the awkward stuff over with?” Stiles said, tipping his head to the side. Isaac groaned and Stiles knew he got him.

“So we go in, then what?” Isaac asked, resignedly. They went over the rest of the plan, with Isaac only throwing out a few more token protests. There wasn’t much he had to do besides stand there and look innocent. Stiles had to do all the hard stuff.

They made their way into the house with Isaac carrying most of the supplies and Winnie wrapped around Stiles’ shoulders. She seemed to like being high up and involved in all the action. Kind of like Stiles, always throwing himself in the thick of things. His dad was inside and hopefully in a good mood, but he’d work around any scenario. This cat was already family.

“Hey Stiles, I didn’t expect you back so early. Weren’t you hanging out with Scott tonight?” his dad called from the kitchen. Stiles had Isaac set all the stuff down next to the front door.

“Change of plans actually,” Stiles replied, sending one last hopeful look in Isaac’s direction. “Do you think you could come in here for a second?”

“Oh boy, what did you do this time?” he scoffed, shuffling his way toward the living room. “None of my deputies called, so it can’t be that bad, right? Or is this a preemptive- oh, hi Isaac.”

“Hello Mr. Stilinski,” Isaac said politely, shifting his weight a little. His dad was staring at them both curiously, too distracted to even notice the cat as far as Stiles could tell.

“How are you doing?”

“I’m doing well sir, and yourself?” Isaac replied. Stiles could feel the waves of discomfort rolling off of him and Winnie must’ve felt it too, because she let out a little meow and hopped into Isaac’s arms.

“Uh, honestly I’m a bit confused,” he said, turning to face Stiles. “What’s that?”

“That is Winnie,” Stiles answered, smiling as if he wasn’t springing a pet on his dad.

“And what is Winnie doing here?” his dad asked, eyeing the bags of pet supplies piled at their feet.

“Living here?” Stiles asked hopefully.

“Stiles-”

“I know we really aren’t pet people, but she’s different. I can’t explain it, but we just bonded, you know? Like the moment I saw her I knew she belonged here,” Stiles explained. He wished he could tell the truth about what was going on, but that wasn’t a conversation he was prepared to have yet.

“Stiles-”

“I promise I’ll take care of her. I got everything she needs and Dr. Deaton already examined her and she is healthy. No fleas. You won’t have to do anything,” Stiles stammered. He would wear down his dad, no matter what it took.

“Where did this cat even come from? Is this some stray that was at the vet’s office?”

“I kind of almost hit her.”

“Stiles!”

“I said almost. She’s fine!”

“So is this some sort of guilt thing? It’s a cat, son, I don’t think it cares,” he chuckled. Stiles was starting to feel discouraged and glanced back toward Isaac. He was bouncing Winnie in his arms like a baby and she was purring in delight. “And what’s your role in all of this?” Isaac twitched in surprise at being questioned and shot a quick look of panic in his direction.

“Um- I-” Isaac stuttered, taking a tiny step back toward the door. Now Stiles felt bad for making Isaac come in with him, because he was absolutely terrified. Fighting lizard monsters was nothing for him, but dads were a different story. Stiles felt bad for making fun of him for it before.

“Isaac had nothing to do with it. He just helped me because Scott was busy,” Stiles explained, trying to get the focus back on him.

“So, does that mean you two are friends?” his dad asked.

“Uh, yeah. Why?”

“Isaac, would you like to stay for dinner?”

“Wait, what’s going on here? Can I keep her?” Stiles asked, raising his eyebrows in question.

“I don’t know yet, but I do know that I’m hungry. I also know that I’m going to order a large pizza with all the toppings I want and I’m not going to hear a thing about it,” he boasted, challenging Stiles to argue.

“With garlic bread on the side,” Stiles agreed. He’d let his dad cheat a little if that meant he got to keep Winnie.

“Isaac, any requests?” his dad asked.

“Um, no anchovies?” Isaac replied, darting his eyes around the room as if he wasn’t sure where to look.

“Good call. I’ll order it and let you know when it’s here,” he chuckled, walking back into the kitchen. Stiles started grabbing up the stuff and gestured for Isaac to follow him up to his room. Isaac took the heavier items and trailed after Isaac with Winnie up on his shoulder.

“I think that went well,” Stiles said as soon as he closed his bedroom door behind them. Isaac shot him an incredulous look, setting Winnie down on the bed.

“I should go,” Isaac muttered, walking toward the window.

“Wait, I don’t think it was that bad. And my dad didn’t say an outright no to keeping the cat, so I think it was a win,” Stiles said, darting over to block Isaac from leaving.

“If I stay, I’ll just ruin it,” Isaac sighed, running a hand through his curls.

“No, you won’t.”

“I’m too…” Isaac trailed off, motioning vaguely at himself.

“You’re not. And it’s understandable if you’re a bit skittish toward certain types of people,” Stiles said carefully, hoping that he wasn’t overstepping. He’d been completely unsympathetic toward Isaac before, but that was wrong. “I know it’s not the same, but I was terrified of doctors and nurses for a while when I was younger.”

“Really?” Isaac asked, biting his lip in contemplation.

“I spent a lot of time in hospitals when my mom was sick and I’d always see her in pain after tests and stuff, so I thought the doctors and nurses were hurting her. And then when they couldn’t save her after all that, I thought they were evil,” Stiles explained. “Scott’s mom is a nurse and she’s the one who showed me that they weren’t all bad and that I couldn’t use my negative experience to paint everyone in the same light.” Isaac slumped, digging his toe into the floor.

“I know deep down that not everyone is like my father, but it’s hard sometimes. It’s like, shouldn’t your family treat you the best out of anybody? And if my dad was so bad, maybe that’s what I should expect from everyone. Was I the cause of all that anger?” Isaac whispered.

“God no, none of that was your fault!” Stiles insisted, impulsively grabbing his hand. “You could never do anything to deserve that. And I would’ve said that before too, even when we hated each other.”

“I don’t think I ever hated you,” Isaac murmured, staring down at their joined hands. “It was just…”

“Circumstance? Stubbornness? Derek Hale? All of the above?” Stiles offered, smiling ruefully. “I do have to admit that I prefer us being friends instead of enemies.”

“Me too,” Isaac agreed softly.

“So will you stay? Just for tonight. And after this, we can hang out anywhere else you want. I’ll even face the wrath of Derek,” Stiles chuckled, peering up into his eyes.

“I guess,” Isaac sighed, nodding his head in confirmation.

“Great, now help me set up all this stuff. My dad will be less likely to say no if we open it all and can’t return it,” Stiles laughed, letting go of Isaac’s hand and grabbing the nearest bag. He put the litter box in his adjoining bathroom, making sure it stayed out of the way. Her food and water dishes went in there too, just in case she made a mess. Isaac was less helpful, batting a little foil ball back and forth with Winnie. It was slightly adorable though, he could admit.

His dad called them down just as he was debating where to stick the scratching post and Isaac immediately froze, not noticing the toy rolling past his hand and falling to the floor. Winnie stretched, pawing at Isaac’s still hand.

“It’s gonna go fine, remember?” Stiles said, shooting him a supportive smile. Isaac nodded, trying to return his smile but falling a bit short. That would have to do. They walked down the stairs together with Winnie weaving in between their legs. It was like she’d always been there.

“Hey boys, grab whatever you want,” his dad said, sliding a couple overpiled slices onto a plate. When Stiles’ dad went for it, he really went for it. He hoped the grease coma would put him in a good enough mood to fall in love with Winnie.

Stiles put a couple slices on a plate and handed it to Isaac, hoping it would make him feel less awkward. He sat Isaac next to him at the table, putting himself between the two of them like a buffer. Winnie jumped up in their laps, laying across both of them.

“Thanks for the pizza, dad, it looks great,” Stiles said.

“Yeah, thank you,” Isaac added, concentrating on twirling his finger around Winnie’s tail.

“Well, we had to celebrate, right?” his dad said, grinning over at both of them.

“Celebrate?” Stiles asked, hoping that meant what he thought it meant.

“Of course. A new friend is always something to celebrate,” he said, raising his pizza in cheers. “Welcome to the chaos, Isaac.”

“Oh,” Stiles grumbled, flicking at his plate.

“So, how did you guys become friends?”

“What makes you think there’s a story behind it? We just are,” Stiles brushed off. He couldn’t talk about witch bonds and magic puppies and Isaac’s now calming presence.

“Well, I’m glad to hear it. New friends are always a good thing.”

“I agree,” Stiles said, looking pointedly down at the furball in his lap.

“So Isaac, got any plans for this summer?” Isaac froze with a slice of pizza halfway to his mouth.

“Um, no sir,” Isaac replied, setting the piece back down.

“You know, that’s good. One of your last summer breaks before you become an adult. It’s nice to just stay a kid for a little bit longer.”

“But you told me that I should get a job,” Stiles muttered.

“Because you’ve never had one,” his dad chuckled.

“I can’t tie myself down like that. I need to be free to do my own thing,” Stiles defended.

“My deputies and I know all about you doing your own thing,” he scoffed. “Isaac, do you know all the things Stiles and Scott have gotten up to recently?”

“Are you trying to scare him off?” Stiles grumbled.

“I think he should know what he’s getting into. To be forewarned is to be forearmed,” he laughed. “Maybe you’ll be a good influence on him.”

“Stiles and Scott are good guys. They’ve been really nice to me, after everything,” Isaac said softly. Stiles shot his dad a smug look.

“I’m happy to hear that,” his dad replied, nodding his head in approval at Stiles. They ate the rest of the meal in silence, the only sounds in the room chewing and Winnie purring. Stiles could see his dad glancing at the cat every now and then, but he couldn’t tell if he liked her or not. She didn’t seem to have a problem with him, so that was a plus.

When they were finished, Isaac insisted on washing the dishes, grabbing them all before Stiles could protest. Stiles stayed to help, because he wasn’t that much of a jerk. His dad just watched from the doorway, shaking his head fondly as he took in the scene. Isaac hadn’t even tried and he’d won his dad over. There hadn’t really been anything to worry about in that regard. But he still hadn’t given him an answer about Winnie.

“Come on, let’s go to my room and brainstorm an argument if my dad says no,” Stiles mumbled as soon as they were finished. Winnie raced up the stairs in front of them, already making herself at home. Stiles pulled Isaac to sit next to him on the bed, with Winnie stretching out between them.

“Do you think he’s gonna say yes?” Isaac asked, scratching Winnie behind one of her ears.

“Man, I hope so. I can’t imagine letting her go,” Stiles sighed. “What if it messes up the familiar bond?”

“I could take her to the loft?” Isaac offered.

“If she reacted so poorly to Scott, I can just imagine what she’d think of Derek,” Stiles snorted.

“We could figure something out,” Isaac murmured, yawning into his fist.

“Maybe I’ll guilt him with Winnie having to go to a shelter if we don’t keep her. And I think I heard before that black cats are least likely to be adopted out, which is dumb, but could work in our favor right now. My dad really is a big old softie, no matter what he says,” Stiles babbled. “I don’t know, what do you think?” When he didn’t get an answer he glanced over, finding Isaac fast asleep on his back. Winnie was curled up on his chest, blinking her multi-colored eyes up at him. There was no way he could give this up.

“Hey Stiles-” his dad started, appearing in his doorway. Stiles waved his arm, putting a finger to his lips to quiet his dad before he woke up Isaac. His dad looked over in affection at the lounging duo, cocking his hands on his hips. Stiles raised his shoulders in question, tipping his head down toward Winnie. The older man sighed, before nodding his head in approval. Stiles wanted to shout in delight, but held back at the last moment. He mouthed a thank you to his dad as he walked off, leaving them alone again.

Stiles sank back onto his bed in relief, glad something finally went his way. It was kind of rocky at first, after being brushed off by Tobias and the puppy fiasco, but things were looking up for him now. He thought it might have something to do with working things out with Isaac, but that could just be a correlation versus causation thing. Either way, he was going to appreciate the wins and do everything he could to keep the trend going.

Chapter Text

Loud purring woke him up the next morning. Stiles blinked his eyes open, rolling onto his side to stare at the cat lying between him and Isaac. Isaac had his hand resting on her back and she was twitching beneath it, since he wasn’t awake to pet her. He hadn’t planned on sleeping in the same bed as Isaac, or even having him spend the night, but Stiles wasn’t bothered by it. It felt natural, like whenever Scott stayed over. The progress they’d made in their relationship in such a short amount of time was pretty surprising.

“Morning, pretty girl,” Stiles murmured, patting the top of her head. She slid her head along his palm, causing it to slip down and bump against Isaac’s hand. He jolted up in surprise, looking around the room until his eyes landed on Stiles’.

“Oh, um,” Isaac stammered, looking embarrassed. His cheeks were turning a bit red and Stiles could admit that it was kind of adorable.

“Morning. That wasn’t you I was calling pretty girl earlier, if you heard that. That was for Winnie,” Stiles chuckled, sitting up to rest his back against the wall at the head of the bed. “Not that you aren’t pretty too.” Stiles was expecting some banter or maybe a pancake, but instead Isaac rolled off the bed looking completely flustered.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to sleep here,” Isaac rushed out, looking around the room for his shoes.

“We didn’t mind, right Winnie?” Stiles said, hoping the cat would help him out. And how weird of a thought was that? What even was his life now? But Winnie knew what to do, jumping at Isaac’s chest and forcing him to catch her.

“Really, I-” but that was as far as Isaac got before the cat lifted her paw up and smushed it against his lips.

“See, she agrees with me,” Stiles laughed. Isaac rolled his eyes, but admitted defeat, sitting back down on the edge of the bed. Satisfied with her work for the moment, Winnie jumped from Isaac’s arms and trotted off to the bathroom.

“So, has your dad decided whether or not you can keep her?” Isaac asked.

“He couldn’t resist saying yes when he saw you sleeping with her on the bed,” Stiles confirmed. Isaac groaned, burying his face in his hands.

“He saw that? I can never come back here,” Isaac moaned.

“Nah, he likes you already,” Stiles brushed off, sending him a sly grin. “Besides, who could hate anyone with those curls? How did they get so fluffy while you were sleeping? You barely even moved.” Isaac tried to flatten out his hair, glaring over at him.

“I’m not fluffy,” Isaac grumbled.

“The fluffiest,” Stiles argued, scrubbing a hand over his own trimmed scalp. “I’m thinking of growing my hair out this summer, but I haven’t decided.”

“I remember when it was longer freshman year. It was nice,” Isaac said quietly.

“Yeah right. Mine is straight and boring, while yours is all bouncy and full of body,” Stiles scoffed. “I’m sure everybody goes crazy over it.”

“Sure. I’m beating suitors off with a stick left and right,” Isaac snorted, shaking his head at the idea.

“Have you thought about asking anyone out?” Stiles wondered. He didn’t see why anyone would say no to him.

“After the first attempt went so well, not really.”

“So you were telling the truth? About Lydia?”

“Unfortunately, yes. But I don’t actually hold a grudge about it. I was just saying that stuff to sound tough or something,” Isaac mumbled, twisting the corner of Stiles’ blanket in his hands.

“Yeah?”

“She’s not even really my type though, no offense. I know you have a massive crush on her.”

“Really? Then why did you ask her out?”

“I don’t know, trying to feel normal I guess. Like if I was dating this popular girl, everything else would get better somehow,” Isaac murmured. “I know how dumb that sounds now.”

“I don’t think that sounds dumb,” Stiles shrugged. Stiles couldn’t relate to what it was like being abused, but he understood loneliness. “So if Lydia isn’t your type, what is?” Isaac laughed a little under his breath, sliding back up to sit next to Stiles on the bed.

“I don’t even know anymore, but it doesn’t really matter. It’s not like I can date anybody.”

“Why not?”

“Oh, I don’t know, the whole werewolf thing for one,” Isaac said quietly, just in case Stiles’ dad was nearby. “That’s probably not a thing you can keep from someone for long.”

“Yeah, it got a bit tricky between Scott and Allison before she found out. And after too,” Stiles said.

“I remember,” Isaac said, rubbing his chest. Stiles didn’t get to the warehouse until the kanima fight was pretty much over, but he remembered Isaac looking a little worse for wear. While Derek had obvious slashes from a set of claws, Isaac had puncture wounds made by various weapons. Scott had filled him in on everything after the fact.

“Well, maybe you could find someone who already knows? You and Erica were pretty close in the beginning,” Stiles suggested.

“That was until she got to know Boyd,” Isaac chortled. “It was never like that with us anyway.”

“Allison’s single now, but that would be kind of against bro code. And her and Scott will probably be getting back together soon, no matter what they say at the moment.”

“Daughter of a hunter? I think I’ll pass,” Isaac snorted. “I just got rid of one dad who liked to kick my ass, I don’t need to incur the wrath of one who prefers more lethal weaponry.”

“Maybe Derek knows-”

“Dating isn’t really all that important to me at the moment. It’s been so long since I’ve had actual friends that I’m still kind of getting used to that. A relationship would just be adding too much stress right now,” Isaac interrupted, waving away the idea of Derek being some sort of matchmaker. He probably wasn’t planning on biting anyone else, but he didn’t want that to be the way he widened their dating pool. “What about you? Planning a way to woo Lydia when she comes back?”

“I don’t know if there is even a point anymore,” Stiles admitted. “I thought her helping me with Latin would bring us closer together, but she doesn’t even know when she’s coming back. The longer she stays with Jackson, the more likely it is they’ll decide to stay together.”

“Have you thought about telling her how you feel? And not in a joking way?” Isaac asked.

“I don’t know,” Stiles mumbled, staring down at his lap. Did he admit that he didn’t miss her as much as he thought he would? It had been great getting to know her these last few months, even though they weren’t very close. It definitely was more of a relationship than they’d ever had, but it was just barely friends. Past Stiles would’ve been overanalyzing any interaction, trying to find hints and clues that she felt the same about him, but he wasn’t sure he felt that urge anymore. Maybe his crush on her was finally waning.

“I get it. The idea of taking that risk and putting yourself out there is terrifying. Sometimes it’s just better to appreciate what you’ve already got, instead of trying to get more,” Isaac shrugged.

“Yeah,” Stiles agreed, going with Isaac’s reason. It may not be his for this situation, but it was still a valid one.

“I should probably get going. I’m sure you have plans for the day,” Isaac said, glancing over at the clock on his wall.

“Not really. Scott’s taking all the shifts at the clinic that he can get, then doing summer school when that starts up. It’s just gonna be me and my books this summer. At least now I have Winnie to keep me company.”

“Oh.”

“Unless you want to keep me company too? I wouldn’t mind,” Stiles offered.

“I don’t know. You’ll probably get sick of me.”

“No way!” Stiles denied. “I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you.”

“Okay,” Isaac agreed softly. “I should probably text Derek to let him know where I am. You know, after-”

“Of course, do what you need to do,” Stiles nodded, rolling off the bed. “I’m going to go see what my dad is up to. If he’s leaving for work soon, we’ll be able to go into the basement.” Isaac dipped his head in acknowledgment and Stiles slipped out of the room. Maybe if his dad wasn’t going to work soon they could grab breakfast.

“Morning son,” his dad said suddenly from his bedroom doorway.

“How are you so sneaky?” Stiles grumbled, covering his heart with his hand.

“How was your night? Did you and your guest sleep well?”

“Uh, yeah, we did,” Stiles muttered, sneaking a glance back toward his bedroom. He hoped his dad wouldn’t say anything too embarrassing, especially with super werewolf ears nearby.

“Kind of interesting that you went from enemies to sharing a bed so quickly, since just a few weeks ago you weren’t even friends. Have anything you’d like to tell me?” he asked.

“Well, Isaac doesn’t snore, I can tell you that. And his morning breath isn’t too bad either.”

“Is that all you need to tell me?”

“Why would there be anything else to tell?” Stiles shot back. They both eyed each other suspiciously, but didn’t press further. His dad never did this with Scott, so he wasn’t sure where it was coming from with Isaac.

“I’ve got to be getting to the station now. Will your friend be joining us for dinner?”

“I don’t know. Are you going to be weird about it if he does?”

“Oh son, between the two of us, I’m definitely not the weird one,” his dad chuckled, patting him on the shoulder before heading for the stairs.

“Be safe,” Stiles called after him.

“You too,” he replied, winking at him over his shoulder before disappearing from view. If Isaac wasn’t already awkward, he sure would be after this. He was going to need to sit his dad down when Isaac wasn’t around and have a serious conversation. The kind of joking he did with Scott was not going to work with Isaac, especially not this early on. And if his dad scared away his new friend, he was going to be pissed.

Stiles walked back to his bedroom, prepared to apologize for anything weird Isaac might’ve heard, if he hadn’t already escaped through the window. But Isaac thankfully was still there and he didn’t look uncomfortable at all. He was actually asleep again. He’d turned onto his side and grabbed Stiles’ special pillow, burying his face in it. Winnie was sitting on the end of the bed watching him, her tail flicking with interest.

Stiles decided to leave him to his rest, sprinting down to the basement and grabbing a few books to bring back up. He could do his studying thing and Isaac could do his sleeping thing. Stiles spread everything out on the floor, hoping to make some good progress. Language courses were never really Stiles’ favorite. He much preferred remembering facts and problem solving.

A few hours passed before he realized, so engrossed with what he was doing. Isaac was a very still sleeper and Stiles almost forgot a few times that he was even there. Winnie was gliding around the room, investigating every inch as far as he could tell. She seemed content though, and that was good enough for him.

Isaac suddenly sucked in a sharp breath and sat up, tossing the pillow he’d been clutching to the other side of the bed. Stiles glanced up at him, chuckling at his even more mussed hair.

“My God, I really hope that isn’t how you wake up all the time. It looks pretty stressful,” Stiles chuckled.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep again,” Isaac murmured, sliding off the bed to join him on the floor.

“Don’t even worry about it,” Stiles waved off. “Does Derek wake you up in the middle of the night to train or something?”

“No, your bed is just really comfortable,” Isaac said, dipping his head in embarrassment.

“Really? Well, if you ever want to come over and take a nap, my bed is open to you,” Stiles offered. Isaac scoffed and shook his head, but Stiles caught the hint of a smile flash across his face. He found himself not really minding the idea of more Isaac, no matter the hour.

Chapter Text

Stiles spent the next couple of weeks immersing himself in Latin. He and Isaac would pore over books for hours, searching for certain words that would pop up most often. Then they would make flash cards and Isaac would quiz him. It might not have been the best way to learn a new language, but it was the best they could do at the time. Winnie would flick her tail whenever Stiles’ pronunciation was truly abysmal and meow when he got it right. All in all, they were a good team.

Stiles was straightening up his room for today’s session, throwing the extra pillows he had on the floor. Isaac pretended he didn’t like them, but Stiles knew he did. Just like he knew which of his blankets he preferred and that he liked to face the door to his room, just in case. Even though these meetups weren’t focused on getting to know each other better, little nuggets of information still slipped out here and there. That’s why Stiles now knew that Isaac’s favorite class in school was French and he went through a phase when he was younger where he wanted to be a photographer. And that he’d never been to a drive-in movie, which Stiles was planning on rectifying in the near future. Isaac pretended like he wasn’t interesting, but Stiles soaked up every detail he could get.

He was just getting Winnie fresh water when he heard a knock on his door. Stiles kept telling him that he could just walk in, but Isaac insisted that he wasn’t going to do that. It was like he was paranoid that his dad was going to think he was a burglar or something. Actually, Stiles’ dad had grown quite fond of his new friend. On the nights that Isaac was still there when his dad got off work, he always insisted that he join their family for dinner. Bit by bit, Isaac was starting to relax around his dad. They weren’t going out on a fishing trip close, but Stiles could see them getting there someday.

“You know, one of these days I should leave you out there to see if you get desperate enough to just walk in,” Stiles joked as he walked down the stairs, knowing the werewolf would be able to hear him from outside. He threw open the door, prepared to make another joke about somehow being more polite than Scott when shock stole his words. “Lydia?”

“Surprised to see me?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Uh, yeah, a little,” Stiles nodded. “When did you get back?”

“A few days ago,” Lydia shrugged.

“And I’m just hearing about this now?” Stiles exclaimed, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

“Was this supposed to be my first stop?” Lydia scoffed, rolling her eyes. “You’re lucky I’m here at all, since teaching someone Latin isn’t really my idea of a fun summer.”

“You are so right. I appreciate you taking the time to help me so much,” Stiles agreed, trying to butter her up instead of pushing her away.

“What’s this about anyway? Why the sudden urge to learn that particular language?” Lydia asked.

“It’s probably easier to show you while I tell you,” Stiles said, ushering her into the house and toward the basement. This was the kind of thing you needed to have proof of if anyone was going to believe you.

Stiles gave her a tour of the room, giving her a bare bones explanation of what he knew so far. She didn’t really seem phased by it, which was a bit surprising. Most people would be freaking out, but most people weren’t Lydia Martin.

“Am I the only normal one around here?” Lydia sighed, running her finger along one of the books.

“You are taking this very well,” Stiles pointed out.

“Well, when your ex-boyfriend turns into a lizard, gets killed, then transforms into a werewolf, you learn how to roll with the punches.”

“Ex-boyfriend?” Stiles asked. He’d expected to feel excitement at hearing those words, but he didn’t really feel much more than curiosity. Things really had changed.

“Neither of us are into the idea of a long distance thing,” Lydia brushed off. “So, if I help you, what’s in it for me?”

“What do you want?”

“What are you capable of?”

“If you help me, we’ll find out.”

“And say I ask you for a favor in return?”

“You’ll get it,” Stiles agreed.

“Then we’ve got a deal,” Lydia grinned, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “Let’s get to work.”

They stayed down in the basement, since the small room didn’t bother Lydia like it did Isaac. Lydia flipped through all of the books to determine which one would be the best starting off point for learning from, choosing a small one from his mom’s collection. She was a surprisingly patient teacher, explaining things better than most of the staff at their high school. Maybe it was the fact that Stiles was more passionate about the subject, but he found himself enthralled with every word she said, even when she was explaining something as boring as tenses. Stiles was so focused on his work that he didn’t even hear Isaac come in.

“What the hell, I was knocking for like five minutes. If this was your way of making me walk into your house, you suck,” Isaac grumbled, freezing when he got to the opening of the room and saw him inside with Lydia. “Oh.”

“Hey, sorry I didn’t hear you,” Stiles said, scooting over from his spot. He hadn’t noticed how close he’d been sitting to Lydia this whole time, but now that Isaac was here, it felt like it was too close. “I keep telling my dad to fix the doorbell.”

“Right,” Isaac mumbled, shifting a bit uncomfortably as he glanced over at Lydia. “Hey Lydia.”

“Isaac. Planning on trying to kill me again?” Lydia asked, shooting him a smirk.

“Uh, I don’t think so.”

“Good.”

“Sorry about that.”

“Don’t worry about it. We’ve all done things we regret,” Lydia brushed off. “You tried to kill who you thought was a lizard monster and I drugged your Alpha to resurrect his murderous uncle. We live and we learn.”

“We live such boring lives, don’t we?” Stiles snickered.

“Well, I should probably get going,” Isaac muttered, turning to leave.

“What? Why? You just got here,” Stiles protested.

“I don’t want to get in the way,” Isaac shrugged.

“You’re not! We can move this up to my bedroom like usual.”

“Really, I think I should leave. You’ve been waiting for so long for Lydia to come back and I don’t want to take away from the work you guys are doing,” Isaac said, walking toward the stairs.

“Are you sure?” Stiles asked. Isaac had a point about this being what he’d been eager for, but he still wanted Isaac here too.

“Yeah, we can hang out later. I’ve been getting kind of sick of Latin anyway,” Isaac chuckled, digging his hand into his bag. “I don’t know if you need these anymore, but I color coded the flash cards. It’s okay if you don’t use them though.” Isaac held out the cards and Stiles took them, their fingers lightly brushing as they pulled away. Stiles felt something twist his insides in a way they usually did when it came to Lydia, but before he could say anything, Isaac had already dashed off.

“Since when are you two friends?” Lydia asked as he walked back into the room where she was sitting.

“Um, it’s kind of a long story,” Stiles mumbled, tapping the stack of cards against his thigh.

“They always are,” Lydia sighed, tipping her chin at his hand. “What are those?”

“Just some flash cards we’ve been using.”

“Isaac speaks Latin? So what do you need me for?” Lydia asked.

“No, he’s just been helping me.”

“So Isaac has been learning Latin with you out of the goodness of his heart?”

“Yeah, pretty much. Why?”

“I just like having all the information available,” Lydia replied coyly, pointing to the seat next to her. “Let’s get back to work. My time is money.”

*

The next week was pretty much spent with Lydia over every waking hour when his dad wasn’t home. And when his dad was home, they moved the lesson to her house. They didn’t take anything witchy over, but they didn’t need it to learn the language. Stiles was still nowhere near fluent, but he was getting the hang of a few things.

Focusing all of his energy on this was kind of making him neglect other aspects of his life though, which made him feel a bit guilty. He felt like he hadn’t seen Scott in forever, but Scott was busy as well. And Winnie still didn’t like him, so it wasn’t like they could hang out in his room. Isaac texted a few times and Stiles always answered, but he hadn’t come over since Lydia came back. Stiles wasn’t sure if it was because of the awkwardness of the past, but he’d deal with that eventually. For now, he had to put all of his efforts into learning.

It was Saturday night and he and Lydia were laid out over his bed, practicing pronunciations. Winnie had taken to Lydia instantly, rubbing against her legs as soon as she walked in the door. Stiles had been a little nervous that her eyes would shift again, but was relieved to see the blue of Isaac’s still staring back at him, along with his own brown. That was a connection he wasn’t willing to have with anyone else.

“That was really good,” Lydia complimented after he went through his current list of words.

“It’s all thanks to my amazing teacher,” Stiles grinned, bumping her with his shoulder.

“I know,” Lydia agreed, rolling her eyes. They had gotten to be pretty good friends during this week and a different Stiles would’ve been salivating at the idea of them spending so much time together. But all he could think of right now was getting better at witchcraft and impressing Isaac. Somehow that had become one of his top priorities.

“Stiles?” Isaac called from the front door.

“Isaac?” Stiles asked, sitting up in surprise. What was he doing here? Stiles heard his rushing footsteps up the stairs and soon enough Isaac was standing in his bedroom doorway, looking a little flustered.

“Are you okay?” Isaac asked.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”

“I texted you a few times, but you didn’t answer. I got worried.”

“Oh,” Stiles replied, looking around the room. “I guess I left my phone somewhere. What’s up?” Isaac sighed, glancing over at Winnie curled up contentedly in Lydia’s lap.

“Nothing, it’s fine. I’ll see you later,” Isaac said, turning and walking down the hallway. Stiles didn’t let him get away this time, sprinting ahead of him to block his exit.

“What’s going on? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.”

“Come on. I know something is bothering you,” Stiles pressed. He couldn’t let Isaac leave without finding out what was bothering him.

“I was just waiting for you and when you didn’t show up, I was worried,” Isaac sighed.

“Waiting for me?” Stiles questioned, trying to think of what Isaac was talking about. They hadn’t hung out in days. What were they supposed to be… “The movie! Shit, I forgot.”

“It’s fine.”

“No, I’m sorry. I just got so caught up in all this stuff, I didn’t even realize what day it was,” Stiles groaned, scrubbing a hand down his face. “Let me wrap things up, then we can go and at least catch part of the movie.”

“No, that’s okay. Go back with Lydia,” Isaac insisted quietly, shaking his head. “I get it.”

“You get what?”

“You know this is what you always wanted. I’m not going to get in the way of that.”

“That’s not- this is just about getting better at Latin,” Stiles argued.

“And I’m happy for you, I really am. I’m glad it’s going well,” Isaac said tightly.

“Why are you saying it like that? It’s kind of sounding like you’re jealous,” Stiles pointed out, feeling immediately guilty when Isaac’s face got a little red. “Wait, I didn’t mean-”

“Whatever,” Isaac scoffed, trying to get around him to leave. Stiles stopped him again.

“Come on, it’s not like that. She’s just helping me.”

“I thought I was helping you.”

“You were! And you still are. I just need a different kind of help right now. Everything we did with the flash cards was amazing, but I have to learn all the other stuff too, like sentence structure and all the other boring stuff that goes into language. And if you knew how to do it, of course I’d pick you,” Stiles insisted. Isaac slumped a little, staring at the floor. He didn’t look angry anymore, just embarrassed and defeated.

“I know, I’m sorry. I’m just being dumb,” Isaac mumbled.

“You’re not.”

“I know how important all this is to you and I shouldn’t get in the way of that,” Isaac sighed, shooting him a sad smile.

“Once I start getting the hang of it, I won’t have to spend as much time with Lydia, you know? But for now, I have to take advantage of not being bogged down by school or the next crisis,” Stiles said, regretfully.

“Yeah,” Isaac agreed.

“I’ll call you, okay? Make up for the movie we missed?” Stiles offered.

“Sure. I’ll see you later,” Isaac said, finally skirting around him and trotting down the stairs. Stiles felt like such an asshole, but he really hadn’t meant to hurt Isaac’s feelings. Once things weren’t so busy, he’d make things right.

“Is everything okay?” Lydia asked, quirking her eyebrow at him as he flopped back onto the bed.

“Yeah, I just forgot I made plans with Isaac,” Stiles sighed.

“Do you need me to go? We can pick this up again later,” she offered.

“No, it’s already too late,” Stiles mumbled, picking up the nearest paper and trying to read from it. His pronunciation was so atrocious that Winnie left the room completely. He just couldn’t focus right now.

“So, how long have you two liked each other?” Lydia asked casually.

“What? Me and Isaac? I told you, we just decided to become friends one day.”

“That’s not what I meant,” Lydia laughed, looking pointedly at him.

“What are you talking about?” Stiles asked in confusion.

“Oh, come on. It’s so obvious to anyone who spends like thirty seconds around you two,” Lydia scoffed, turning to face him fully. Stiles mirrored her action.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about. And besides, you’ve only seen Isaac since you’ve been back for like two minutes,” Stiles argued.

“Which is four times what even the most boneheaded person would need to see it. Present company excluded,” Lydia snorted, pushing at his shoulder.

“You- there’s not- we don’t-” Stiles stammered, frowning a little at the accusation. There wasn’t anything like that going on. Isaac would never see him that way. Although he had missed the taller boy being around this week, in a completely different way than he missed Scott when they were apart for extended periods of time. And he did get excited when he knew Isaac was on his way over. And he hated when it was time to go home. But that was just the excitement of new friendship, right?

“Okay, so let’s test it,” Lydia challenged, suddenly leaning forward and bringing her lips to Stiles’. He pulled away in shock just before they touched.

“What are you doing?” Stiles yelped in surprise. And what was he doing?

“Your crush on me was so obvious before I left. That Stiles probably would’ve been too shocked to kiss back, but you for sure wouldn’t have pulled away. Not unless there was someone else you would rather be kissing,” Lydia said, leaning back with a smirk on her face.

“That- that doesn’t mean anything. I just wasn’t expecting it,” Stiles insisted.

“Sure it doesn’t,” Lydia giggled, sliding off the bed and grabbing her purse. “I’m going to leave you here to deal with your identity crisis, since you obviously are too distracted to work.”

“I’m not- you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Tell that to your cat’s eyes,” Lydia laughed, tilting her head to the side. “Let me know when you figure things out.” Lydia floated out of the room, leaving chaos in her wake. She surely hadn’t known what she was talking about. He and Isaac were friends and allies in this crazy world they were living in, nothing more.

Although they did share a bed occasionally. And kind of co-parented a cat together. And maybe Stiles had caught himself staring at Isaac’s small smiles a bit longer than what was considered normal. Then there was that spark of something that he felt whenever they touched. Oh man, Stiles was in trouble.

*

Stiles hovered outside of the loft door, trying to figure out what to say. He wanted to apologize again for what happened earlier, but what did he say? And did he bring up Lydia’s theory? What if Isaac laughed in his face, or thought it was disgusting, or decided he hated him? Stiles knew Isaac wasn’t cruel, but shock could bring out the worst in some people.

And was Stiles confident about his own feelings right now? Maybe Lydia’s words had just confused him and once they had time to settle in his mind he’d realize that she was mistaken. Either way, he still needed to get the friendship back on track before he worried about anything else.

“Were you planning on knocking or doing some magic trick and turning the door into something stupid?” Derek asked, standing in the now open doorway with his arms crossed. Stiles hadn’t even heard him.

“Hey Derek, you’re looking well,” Stiles grinned, grimacing a little at Derek’s eye roll. This was the first time he’d seen him since the puppy thing and evidently the wound was still fresh.

“What do you want?” Derek grunted.

“Is Isaac here? I need to talk to him for a second.”

“Yeah, he’s in his room. Funnily enough, he told me he was hanging out with you tonight and was probably going to spend the night. What happened to that?”

“Oh,” Stiles mumbled. He’d forgotten that was part of the plan as well. He’d really screwed up. “Something came up.”

“Right.”

“So, can I come in? I’ll be quick and won’t utter a word of Latin,” Stiles promised. Derek sighed, but moved aside to give him room to enter. Just as Stiles was passing him, Derek grabbed his arm and pulled him close, eyeing him with a warning clear in his eyes.

“Don’t upset him,” Derek growled, waiting until Stiles bobbed his head up and down before letting him go. He hadn’t been expecting overprotective Alpha. Stiles sprinted off toward Isaac’s room, finally taking a breath when Derek was out of sight. That was weird.

Stiles didn’t hear any movement inside the room and the door was cracked, so he carefully pushed it open, peeking inside. He’d only been in here a few times briefly, just when he was picking Isaac up and he forgot to grab something. It definitely wasn’t homey and comfortable like Stiles’ room, which was another reason they spent more time there. Besides the witch stuff and murderous Alpha.

Stiles sighed when he saw that Isaac was asleep on his bed. He wasn’t going to wake him up, so their talk would have to wait. But before he left, Stiles couldn’t resist sneaking over to get a better look at him. Isaac looked so sweet when he slept, with the permanently tousled curls and the way his lips parted just a tad sometimes. He was laying on his back and had his hands resting on top of something on his chest. Stiles’ curiosity won out and he got closer, wanting to see what he was looking at.

There was that little flip in his stomach again when he read the title. It was a book about learning Latin. Even after Stiles had blown him off a little, Isaac still cared enough to keep trying to learn the language. It was still important to him, even though he’d never have to look at another Latin word if he didn’t want to.

At that moment, Stiles knew. There were no more questions left in his mind about how he felt. Lydia was right. Stiles liked Isaac.

Chapter Text

“What am I going to do?” Stiles moaned, flopping back onto his bed. It had only been two days since he finally admitted to himself that he had a bit of a crush on Isaac and that was all he could think about right now. It was even taking precedence over the witchcraft stuff, which had been his top priority since the moment he found out about it.

“Why don’t you just talk to him about it?” Lydia suggested, sitting at his computer desk with Winnie resting on her lap.

“And what am I supposed to say? ‘Hey Isaac, I know you’re not gay, but do you want to be my boyfriend?’ That doesn’t seem like a good idea,” Stiles scoffed.

“Are you sure that he isn’t gay?” Lydia asked.

“I- I don’t know. But I’m not gay either,” Stiles shrugged. “We haven’t really talked about that kind of stuff before, at least not in depth.” Now that he was thinking about their conversation about relationships, he remembered that Isaac hadn’t really been gender specific. But at the time, Stiles figured the girl part was implied. Maybe he was wrong about that.

“Really? No clues that he might feel a certain way about you?” Lydia prodded.

“I don’t know! I’ve never even been in a relationship before. I didn’t know I was supposed to be looking for signs,” Stiles sighed, rubbing his eyes. “The only concrete detail he told me was that you weren’t really his type.”

“Excuse me?”

“No offense.”

“Well, that settles it then. He’s definitely gay,” Lydia laughed. “Any guy who isn’t into me surely can’t be straight.”

“Really?” Stiles asked, sitting up to look at her.

“I’m kidding,” Lydia scoffed, rolling her eyes.

“Jokes aren’t helping right now,” Stiles grumbled.

“Look, you need to stop seeing things as being so black and white. Sexual orientation and attraction are a spectrum. Sure, there are people planted firmly on one side or the other, but there are others who hover around the middle. Maybe you and Isaac just so happen to be two of those people and you have naturally gravitated toward each other,” Lydia explained.

“I don’t know,” Stiles said again. That seemed to be the only thing he could say at this point, because he really didn’t know.

“So find out. Ask him how he feels and go from there.”

“You say that like it’s so simple. What if I ruin our friendship?” Stiles whispered. He didn’t know what he’d do if he wrecked what they had right now for the possibility of something more.

“You have to decide if it’s worth the risk,” Lydia shrugged, setting the cat down on the bed and slipping her shoes back on. “Would you stop being friends with Scott if he told you he had a crush on you?”

“Of course not! I love him like a brother and would never see him that way, but I’d still want to stay in his life,” Stiles insisted.

“So trust your friend. Even if Isaac doesn’t feel the same way, trust that he’ll be a good enough guy to let you down easy and stick around. And if he doesn’t, maybe the friendship isn’t what you thought it was,” Lydia said, tossing an SD card from her purse at him. “I recorded some lessons on here for you to listen to when you aren’t busy. Take a break from me and the Latin and figure out what you’re going to do. I’ll be here when you’re ready.” And with that she left, flipping her hair over her shoulder and once again leaving Stiles in turmoil. Everything sounded so simple when she said it, but Stiles was a coward. Life threatening situation and he was there without hesitation, but matters of the heart and he was as timid as a mouse. Why else had he never drummed up the courage to tell Lydia about his years-long crush?

It was a bit easier to avoid it when it came to Lydia, since they only just recently started running in the same circles. And obviously she knew about the crush without him having said anything about it, so that didn’t bode well for him keeping this from Isaac. Stiles could tell himself all he wanted that he could just do nothing and go on like everything was normal, but that wasn’t realistic. He was bound to ruin things by being too nervous and twitchy.

But what if he decided to take the chance and Isaac felt the same way? That was just as scary as the opposite scenario, albeit in a different way. He’d never been in a relationship before and didn’t really have good examples of healthy couples around him now. His parents had loved each other in a way that seemed perfect, but that had been seen through the eyes of a child. Lydia and Jackson were a mess. Scott and Allison had been tumultuous at best. That didn’t mean he couldn’t be in a successful relationship, but the odds weren’t in his favor.

Maybe he was just getting ahead of himself though. Since the last time he’d seen Isaac, they hadn’t really talked. Stiles sent out a few texts and Isaac always replied, but it felt stilted in a way that it hadn’t before. Isaac was always the type to write out a full sentence with proper grammar and punctuation, but now his replies were more often one or two words at most. Had Stiles ruined what could’ve been before it even had a chance to start?

He knew one thing for sure though, sitting here and doing nothing wasn’t going to help anything. Languishing here alone would just end up messing up what they did have and Stiles was never the type to let inaction determine his life. If something was going to happen, he was going to be an active participant in the outcome. One of the main points of harnessing his magic was so he could take on a bigger role when threats came along, so he wasn’t going to be complacent in his personal life. Something had to be done, and it needed to happen soon.

*

It took him another day to get everything set up. He’d had to coax Isaac into agreeing to meet, using the fact that he hadn’t seen Winnie in days as the reason to come over. Stiles piled the jeep with all the supplies he needed and headed off to pick up Isaac. He’d felt a little silly fretting over what to wear and he ended up wearing what he always did. It wasn’t like he was going to show up in a tuxedo with a rose between his teeth or anything. This was just going to be a make up for the movie night they missed and there were no expectations. Maybe a few pointed questions and Stiles would see where they’d go from there.

He honked the horn when he got there, not wanting a repeat of the awkward run-in he had with Derek the last time he was here. This night had the possibility of being awkward enough as it was and he didn’t need to add anything to it. A clean escape was the goal.

Isaac trotted out of the building after about a minute, a weather inappropriate scarf wrapped around his neck. Stiles used to find it a bit annoying, but now it was just another one of Isaac’s quirks that he found endearing. Like how he always fiddled with the ends of his sleeves when he was nervous. Or how he ran his hands through his hair right after spending so much time trying to get it to lay properly.

“Hey,” Isaac greeted as he climbed into the passenger’s seat. He picked up a dozing Winnie and cradled her in his arms, giving her a light kiss on the top of her head.

“Hey,” Stiles replied, taking a moment to appreciate the scene before he started driving. He hadn’t truly realized how much he missed being with Isaac and Winnie until the three of them were back together again. “So-”

“I’m sorry,” Isaac rushed out, glancing up at him before looking away. “I shouldn’t have gotten so weird about you spending time with Lydia to work on your Latin. I was just being selfish and only thinking of myself.”

“What, no! You had every right to be mad at me for forgetting our plans. That was completely my fault,” Stiles argued.

“But still, I should’ve been more understanding. Your magic is more important than some movie.”

“But my magic isn’t more important than the people I care about,” Stiles insisted, finding a new understanding for how his mom could give this all up for love. He wasn’t saying that he was at that point with Isaac, but if his magic started damaging the relationships in his life, like with Isaac or Scott, that would be a good enough reason to give it up. He told Deaton before that he wouldn’t go dark with this and he meant it. “Don’t ever think you rank below it.”

Isaac had a little embarrassed smile on his face and Stiles knew he’d said the right thing. Isaac nodded and Stiles did too, finally pulling back onto the street and driving toward their destination. He felt better having that sore spot smoothed over, so it wasn’t hanging over them for the rest of the night.

“So, did you finally get somewhere with Lydia?” Isaac asked, pointedly keeping his eyes focused on the road in front of them. “Lots of late nights.”

“No,” Stiles murmured.

“Why not? You were waiting for her to come back and she did. What’s the problem?” Isaac pressed. “She’s not still with Jackson, is she?”

“No, she’s single as far as I know.”

“So what’s the problem? Why haven’t you taken your shot?”

“Because I don’t feel that way about her anymore,” Stiles admitted, glancing over to gauge Isaac’s reaction. He looked surprised and maybe a bit hopeful, but that could’ve been Stiles’ own hopes skewing things.

“Really?” Isaac asked quietly.

“I’m not really the same person I thought I was.”

“You’re not?”

“She’s not really my type anymore.”

“And what is?”

“I’m still figuring it out. I’ve been told things like this aren’t so black and white.”

“They’re not?”

“No, but I’m looking forward to meeting someone in the middle.” Isaac smiled, nodding in response. Did that mean they were on the same page?

“Hey, where are we going? This isn’t the way to your house,” Isaac said, looking around the streets they were passing.

“Change of plans. Gotta make up for the movie we missed.”

“Oh, what’s the drive-in playing tonight?”

“Not the drive in. I’ve got something better,” Stiles said mysteriously, wagging his eyebrows. Isaac snorted, but didn’t ask anymore questions. Soon enough, he pulled up behind a secluded area near the woods, where an old abandoned building sat. It didn’t look like much, but it was just what they needed for this.

“Did you bring me out here to kill me?” Isaac wondered, climbing out of the jeep and glancing around.

“I would never!” Stiles scoffed, walking over to where he’d stashed things earlier. “Since I made you miss your first drive-in experience, I decided to recreate one.” Stiles pulled a blanket off a little table sitting to the side of the jeep, revealing a projector and speakers. He already had a screen hung up on the side of the building.

“You did all this for me?” Isaac murmured, staring at him in awe.

“Of course I did,” Stiles laughed. He would do anything for Isaac. Stiles finished getting everything set up, laying a blanket over the hood of the jeep for them to sit on and grabbing the snacks he stuck in the back. Isaac was standing with Winnie, watching patiently as Stiles flitted around nervously. Isaac hadn’t protested, even though this looked a lot more intimate than a normal friendly hangout.

“So, what are we watching?” Isaac asked, carefully climbing on top of the car.

“A classic, of course,” Stiles grinned, turning on the projector before joining Isaac on the hood.

“Hocus Pocus,” Isaac laughed, scratching behind Winnie’s ear. “I don’t think I’ve watched the whole thing in years.” They settled in as the movie started, picking at the bags of chips and popcorn Stiles laid out.

“The beginning is darker than I remember,” Stiles mumbled, watching as the Sanderson sisters kidnapped a little girl.

“Maybe you shouldn’t have named your cat after someone who sucks the souls out of children,” Isaac chuckled.

“Hey, you were there too, you co-conspirator!” Stiles hissed.

“And my top suggestion was Cat,” Isaac reminded him.

“Whatever. I still think the name fits,” Stiles grumbled, looking down at the cat in question. She was stretched out in between them, looking as content as ever. Winnie always seemed happy, but there was a little extra spark he noticed when Isaac was there with them too. Stiles reached down to pet her just as Isaac got the same idea and they both jolted back like they’d been stung.

“Sorry,” Isaac whispered, tucking his hands in his lap.

“Don’t be,” Stiles whispered back, the movie fully forgotten at this point. He couldn’t take his eyes off of Isaac right now, drumming up the courage to actually say something. That wasn’t a feeling you got with just anyone. It had to mean something.

“What?” Isaac asked finally, squirming under Stiles’ intense scrutiny.

“You know, Lydia said the strangest thing the other day. She asked how long we’d liked each other. You and I,” Stiles said, listening as Isaac sucked in a sharp breath. “I told her we didn’t, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized she might be right. At least on my end.”

“Yeah?”

“Admittedly I’m a bit confused, since it isn’t really something I’d considered before, but I feel like it’s true,” Stiles said, trying to rush everything out before he lost his nerve. “And it’s okay if you don’t feel the same way, but I felt like I needed to be honest and brave. I hope this doesn’t ruin our friendship, but I understand if you need some space or something to think about things. I just needed to say this instead of keeping it all bottled inside and-”

Stiles’ next words were cut off by a pair of lips being pressed against his. He didn’t even have the urge to pull away like he did with Lydia, wrapping his hand lightly around the back of Isaac’s head to pull him in closer. Stiles tried to shut off his overactive brain, focusing on only this moment. It wasn’t some epic makeout with nips and turns and tongue, more like two kids who didn’t know what they were doing. But it was perfect.

Isaac was the one to break the kiss, pulling their lips apart but keeping their foreheads pressed together. They sat there panting for a few moments, trying to absorb what happened. Stiles finally broke the silence, because of course he had to.

“Really?” Stiles asked. Was Isaac really confirming that he felt the same? That he liked Stiles as well and wanted to see where this could lead? Was Stiles really that lucky?

“Yeah,” Isaac breathed out, and Stiles wasn’t sure if he’d ever had a bigger smile on his face.

Chapter Text

Stiles felt like a little kid, constantly glancing over at Isaac and grinning in embarrassment. But it was okay, since Isaac seemed to be doing the same. He’d been so focused on getting through the talk that he hadn’t planned what would happen afterward. This was honestly the best outcome and Stiles couldn’t ask for anything better, but now what? This was the furthest he’d ever gotten with anyone before and he was pretty sure the same could be said on Isaac’s part.

“So, that happened,” Stiles laughed, which caused Isaac to laugh as well. “It’s a good thing we’ve both seen this movie before, since neither of us are paying attention.”

“Can’t really help being distracted right now,” Isaac said softly.

“Good line. Perhaps you’re a bit more suave than you’ve been letting on?” Isaac snorted, shaking his head in amusement.

“Hardly. I’m kind of waiting to find out this was all some sort of dream or something,” Isaac shrugged.

“Dream? Not a nightmare?”

“I am fully versed in nightmares and this is the furthest thing from one.”

“Does everyone get to see how charming you are, or is it just me?”

“Just you. And maybe a few old ladies,” Isaac chuckled. Stiles raised his eyebrow in question and Isaac explained. “Byproduct of working at a cemetery. As long as you’re quiet and helpful, they love you.”

“I guess I don’t have to be jealous then,” Stiles sighed exaggeratedly. “So, what now? I’m not really sure how to do this.”

“And you think I do? You’re supposed to be the smart one who comes up with all the plans,” Isaac scoffed. “Plus, you’re the one who set this whole date up.”

“In my defense, this wasn’t technically a date. Just an oddly romantic bro hangout. And then things developed in the best way possible,” Stiles said. “Maybe we can just talk a little?”

“Okay,” Isaac agreed, tipping his head forward. “About what?”

“Well, this might be a weird question to ask a guy who just kissed me, but are you gay?” Luckily, Isaac took it in stride. They’d gotten to know each other well enough as friends to learn that Stiles’ mind didn’t always work the same as other people’s.

“Honestly, I’m not sure. It was never anything I let myself consider, living with my dad. He never would’ve accepted anything like that and I don’t even want to think about what he would’ve done if the idea of it popped into his head.”

“Is that why you asked out Lydia?”

“On some level, yeah. She was pretty and acceptable,” Isaac admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “I realize now how unfair it would’ve been for me to use her like that, but at the time I was just thinking about myself. And I might’ve grown to actually like her, but I’ll never know now.”

“I can understand that. And it’s not like every relationship has to be serious. High school flings are a thing.”

“Is that what this is going to be?” Isaac asked quietly.

“I don’t know, but I don’t want it to be.”

“Me neither,” Isaac smiled. “So, can I ask you the same question?”

“And what question would that be?” Stiles responded evasively. Isaac rolled his eyes, giving him a pointed look. “At the risk of sounding like I’m cheating off your homework, I’m not sure either. Not for the same reasons as you, more like I let myself get so caught up in my crush on Lydia that I never really looked at anyone else. At least, not until you came along.”

“I distracted you from Lydia Martin? That doesn’t sound right.”

“I’m here though, aren’t I?”

“But do you wish you were here with her?” Isaac asked, the uncertainty clear in his voice. Stiles grabbed his hand, interlocking their fingers.

“There is no one else I’d rather be here with.” Isaac smiled again and Stiles couldn’t resist leaning forward and giving him another kiss, this time just a quick peck on the lips. He realized he had that urge every time he saw Isaac’s smile, but he hadn’t been able to do anything about it before now.

“And you call me charming,” Isaac scoffed, shaking his head in bemusement. “Um, what about your dad?”

“What about him?” Stiles mumbled, completely distracted by the proximity to Isaac’s lips.

“What’s he going to think about this?” Isaac sighed, pulling back a little. Stiles immediately felt the loss and wanted to follow, but held back. “It’s one thing for you to be friends with the one-time murder suspect and another to be dating him.”

“So, we’re dating?” Stiles grinned, feeling his stomach do a pleased flip. It had kind of been implied, but hearing it out loud was really nice.

“Can you not get distracted for a moment, please?” Isaac whined.

“You have nothing to worry about when it comes to my dad. I promise he only sees you as my friend, not as who he thought you were back then. He’s even been asking me recently where you’ve been,” Stiles assured him.

“Really?”

“Of course,” Stiles insisted. Isaac didn’t look completely convinced, but fathers were always going to be a sore subject for him. He wouldn’t push him on this. “Would you prefer we keep this quiet for now? At least from my dad?”

“You wouldn’t mind?” Isaac asked, the relief clear in his voice.

“If that’s what you need right now, of course not,” Stiles replied, rubbing his thumb along the back of Isaac’s hand.

“I don’t want you to think I’m trying to hide, it’s just-”

“I get it. No explanations needed,” Stiles waved off. “But what about everyone else?”

“Scott’s gonna freak,” Isaac chuckled.

“Or claim that he saw this coming all along. And that’s why he pushed so hard for us to become friends,” Stiles snorted.

“What do you think Derek is going to say? You don’t think he’ll kick me out, do you?”

“If he does, I’ll kick his ass,” Stiles insisted, puffing out his chest. Isaac cackled, like it was the most ridiculous thing he’d ever heard. “I can totally take him!”

“Sure.”

“And besides, I think he has his suspicions anyway. He totally threatened me the other day when I came over to see you.”

“When was that?” Isaac asked in confusion.

“After our argument the other day. I went to the loft to apologize to you, but you were asleep.”

“Oh, I didn’t know. He told you I was sleeping?”

“I went to your room and saw you. You had a Latin book laying across your chest,” Stiles explained, smiling as he recalled the sight. That had been the moment he knew he was a goner for Isaac.

“Such a creep,” Isaac teased.

“Hey, it’s not like I stood there and watched you sleep. I was in and out. I didn’t even run my fingers through your hair like I wanted to,” Stiles defended.

“Wow, your restraint is commendable.”

“And yet somehow, I don’t seem to have any left,” Stiles said, using his free hand to reach up and card his fingers through Isaac’s curls. They were softer than he imagined. “Very nice.”

“Yeah?” Isaac whispered, scooting a little bit closer. Winnie meowed in protest, but moved out of the way, walking to sit higher up on the jeep. Stiles took advantage of his grip and pulled Isaac in for another kiss. Isaac returned it with gusto, leaning over him and causing him to lay back on his jeep a bit. Stiles was starting to get a bit lightheaded, so caught up in everything that was happening. He wanted all of this and more.

“Wait,” Isaac said suddenly, pulling back and hovering over Stiles’ body.

“What?” Stiles mumbled, staring up at Isaac dreamily.

“I think we should slow down,” Isaac said, his eyes locked on Stiles’ lips.

“Says the guy on top,” Stiles laughed, running his thumb against Isaac’s slightly puffy bottom lip. Isaac gave it the gentlest kiss before moving back to where he’d been sitting earlier, pulling Stiles up with him.

“With this being both of our first relationship, I don’t think we should rush. I mean, I want to, but this is still so new. Is that okay? I don’t want you to think I’m pushing you away or anything,” Isaac stammered.

“Hey, we both get to set the pace, okay?” Stiles assured him, nudging his shoulder. “We’ll go as fast or as slow as we’re both comfortable with.”

“I’m sorry for giving you mixed signals,” Isaac sighed. Stiles grabbed Isaac’s hand and brought it up to his lips, kissing the back of it. Isaac smiled in response, rolling his eyes.

“I don’t care if we’re in the middle of the hottest makeout session in history. If you say stop, we stop. Enthusiastic consent or nothing,” Stiles insisted. Isaac nodded in acceptance, relaxing now that they had reached a firm understanding. “Now, how about we finish this movie that we’ve barely watched any of?

“Okay,” Isaac agreed, shifting so he was facing the screen again with the side of his body flush with Stiles’. Winnie decided it was safe to move back over, laying across both of their laps. Stiles couldn’t have asked for a better way to end the night.

*

“So…” Stiles murmured as he pulled up outside of the loft. The rest of the movie night had gone amazing, with the two of them sharing a bag of popcorn and a few more kisses, but nothing over the top. Even though they did know each other pretty well, this was still only their first kind-of date, so taking things slow was a good idea.

“Yeah?”

“Want to come over tomorrow?” Stiles asked.

“Shouldn’t you be studying with Lydia?”

“We can take a break,” Stiles shrugged off.

“I really think you should study,” Isaac insisted. Stiles was about to argue, but Isaac cut him off. “This is important to you, so it’s important to me. I don’t want what we have to delay your progress.”

“But our whole argument started because I was spending too much time with her,” Stiles reminded him.

“No, it was because I was jealous,” Isaac admitted.

“So, I was right,” Stiles teased.

“Shut up,” Isaac scoffed, shaking his head. “The point is, I know I don’t have anything to be jealous of anymore. So, you spend the day working on your Latin-”

“But-”

“And then we can meet up for dinner.” Stiles smiled, liking the sound of that idea. It gave him something to look forward to.

“It’s a deal,” Stiles agreed.

“Great. But this time, if you forget about me, I’ll really be pissed,” Isaac warned, softening the threat with a goodbye kiss. It was just like in the movies, leaning across the seat of the car and coming together in a sweet moment. Isaac pulled away after a few seconds, grinning like he hadn’t a care in the world before giving Winnie a farewell scratch and climbing out of the jeep. He gave one last little wave before jogging into the loft, leaving Stiles with his head in the clouds and his heart thumping like crazy. The night had been perfect and Stiles was so excited for what was to come.

“You finally figured out your crap.”

“Holy shit!” Stiles yelped, jerking his head toward his window and finding a smirking Derek standing right outside. “Don’t do that!” Winnie hissed from her spot in the backseat, crouching down prepared for a fight.

“Who’d you turn into a cat?” Derek deadpanned, squinting at him in annoyance.

“That’s a real cat,” Stiles grumbled, rolling his eyes at the mention of his flub. Derek needed to get over that already. “And what crap did I figure out?”

“You and Isaac.”

“How did you-”

“Come on,” Derek scoffed, raising an eyebrow at him. Apparently everyone else knew before they did.

“Okay, so we did. What about it?”

“Seeing as how Isaac is my only Beta at the moment, it would be good for everyone if you didn’t mess things up and drive him away.” Stiles was about to point out that it was mostly Derek’s lack of leadership skills that had him losing Betas left and right, but then the underlying meaning of the words struck him.

“Oh my- is this an overprotective dad speech?” Stiles choked out, staring at him in shock. “Are you warning me not to hurt him?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“It totally is,” Stiles laughed. It was actually pretty nice knowing that Derek cared about Isaac on some level, since he didn’t like to show that he was a person with feelings. Especially since Isaac had been worried about Derek’s reaction. “You should let Isaac know you’re okay with this.”

“Why?” Derek asked in suspicion. Stiles wasn’t going to blab Isaac’s fears, but it would take an idiot not to be able to figure out his need for approval from the closest thing he had to an authority figure.

“Just a suggestion,” Stiles shrugged.

“Whatever,” Derek scoffed, pointing a threatening finger at him. “Remember what I said.”

“Hurting Isaac is the last thing I’d ever want to do,” Stiles promised, taking all the joking out of his voice.

“And I’ll be watching you,” Derek warned, then stalked off toward his loft. Stiles thought he would escape the family drama, since Isaac was an orphan, but he was pleasantly surprised by this. The more people cared about him, the better. And now Stiles had something to tease Isaac with when their future talk with his dad went a lot better than this.

Chapter Text

Stiles could barely keep the smile off his face the next day while he was working on his Latin with Lydia. She’d kept up the smug, uncaring act for about two seconds before she asked for all the details, smiling softly at hearing how happy they both were. He thanked her profusely for knocking sense into him and pointing out what he hadn’t let himself see before. Even if he wasn’t in love with her anymore, Lydia Martin was a goddess.

After a productive day of Latin, Stiles and Isaac started texting about where to go for dinner. They couldn’t do anything too public and risk someone they knew seeing them and telling his dad, so a traditional restaurant was out of the question. And Isaac was worried if they had dinner at the Stilinski house that his dad would come home and they would give out the wrong vibes and be found out. Stiles didn’t think that would happen, but he wanted to respect Isaac’s boundaries and not push, so he accepted that.

They ended up doing pretty much the same thing as they had the night before, choosing a different movie this time. The Craft fit with the theme of witchy things, so Stiles loaded everything up and headed toward the loft to pick up his date. He decided to leave Winnie at home this time, since he kind of felt like she was judging them every time they kissed.

Isaac was standing on the curb when he got there, his face splitting into one of those wide smiles Stiles was becoming addicted to. He climbed in as soon as the jeep came to a full stop, leaning over and kissing him quickly on the lips. It felt like they’d always been like this, yet still had all the butterflies.

They stopped at a grocery store to get real food instead of snacks, going with sandwiches and drinks. Isaac paid for it all, blushing when he admitted that Derek had slipped him some money and told him to have fun and not to do anything stupid. Classic Derek, showing he cared, but also being kind of a dick.

Stiles set everything up like he had before at the old building, while Isaac got the jeep ready. There was no gradual scooting closer this time, both of them happily sitting pressed up against each other from the beginning. They dug into their dinners, swapping their preferred fillings with each other. Isaac loved tomatoes and Stiles couldn’t get enough pickles. It ended up working out pretty well.

When Stiles got a little chilly, Isaac put his arm around him to share some of his werewolf body heat. He also wound his ridiculous scarf around Stiles’ neck, teasing him that it wasn’t such an odd choice after all. Stiles conceded to that point, relishing in the feel and smell of Isaac that was surrounding him. It might’ve been a thrown together sort of date, but he couldn’t have asked for anything better.

*

Things were starting to get steamy in the back of the jeep in the best way. The plan had been to head to a gas station nearby to get an ice cream nightcap after their movie, but one thing had led to another and one kiss had turned into more, which turned into a full blown make out session in the backseat. Stiles was really appreciative of the fact he left Winnie at home.

Between frantic kisses they’d agreed to keeping everything on top of the clothes only, since neither of them thought losing their virginities like this was the best idea. Stiles thought they deserved something more romantic and special, and the threat of discovery and scratchy jeep upholstery didn’t fit the bill. But if Isaac didn’t slow down, Stiles might forget that earlier point. He was currently straddling Stiles’ body, doing obscenely pleasurable things to his neck. If Stiles didn’t know that Isaac was a terrible liar when it came to him, he would’ve been convinced that he’d done stuff like this with someone else before. He was just about to recapture that talented mouth when his cell started vibrating in his pocket.

“Is that your phone or are you really, really enjoying this?” Isaac asked, whispering the words against the shell of his ear. Stiles shivered at the sensation, tempted to ignore the call.

“Both,” Stiles groaned, reluctantly fishing the annoying technology from his pants. Things in this town were too crazy to purposefully ignore calls without making sure everything was okay. He brought it up to his ear without checking the caller ID. “Yeah?”

“Stiles! Where are you?” Scott’s voice rang out on the other end, sounding slightly stressed.

“Uh, busy. What’s up?” Stiles mumbled, pushing Isaac back from where he was teasing him with light kisses along his jaw.

“Derek found something weird out in the preserve and called me. He thinks it’s from the Alpha pack,” Scott rushed out. Isaac immediately turned serious after hearing that. He’d filled in Stiles on all that stuff after they’d started hanging out, and he’d in turn told Scott. Derek hadn’t been too happy about it, but secrets rarely helped anyone. And with Peter disappearing frequently, they couldn’t count on him to help with things. “Derek told me not to call you, but Latin can wait. Is Isaac with you?”

“Yeah, he’s here,” Stiles sighed, trying to adjust his uncomfortably tight pants.

“Good, bring him. Meet us at the old Hale house,” Scott requested, hanging up without waiting for an answer.

“Raincheck on the ice cream, I guess,” Stiles grumbled, straightening up his shirt. “You better not have given me a hickey.”

“Nothing that is visible in polite company,” Isaac grinned, reaching out to wipe away a bit of spit from his lower lip. “You look absolutely wrecked.”

“Jeez, a couple make out sessions under your belt and you’re a whole new man,” Stiles scoffed, resisting the urge to pull Isaac’s thumb into his mouth. “And while I really enjoy this confident, dominating, and distractingly sexy Isaac, you need to put him away for a little bit. We’ve got business to take care of.” Isaac rolled his eyes, but backed away, climbing out of the car so he could situate himself in the open space. Stiles gave himself a few seconds to watch the show before reluctantly doing the same. He loved him, but Scott had the absolute worst timing.

Stiles and Isaac climbed back into the front seat, giving each other a final once over before beginning the drive over. Stiles fixed Isaac’s rumpled hair and Isaac took back his scarf, winding it back into place around his neck. They didn’t talk on the drive, both of them gearing up for what they might encounter. Stiles hadn’t really thought about the Alpha pack, since they hadn’t done anything besides leave their mark on the Hale house door. It felt kind of juvenile actually, like someone tagging the side of a building and running off. But it would be foolish not to treat this seriously, if they really were back. He wished he was further along in his magic, but hopefully he wouldn’t need it tonight.

They leaned in for one last kiss before Stiles turned into the preserve, since they wouldn’t have the chance again once they met up with the others. Telling Scott hadn’t come up since the night before and Stiles didn’t think they were going to keep it a true secret from anyone but his dad for now, but this didn’t seem like the right time for the news. Maybe in a more relaxed, less stressful situation. And without Derek there, watching with his judgy eyebrows.

“Well, at least they aren’t fighting,” Isaac snorted as they finally got eyes on the other pair. Derek was scowling, of course, but Scott just looked worried. So nothing out of the ordinary.

“They got along well as puppies,” Stiles laughed, making sure he said that loud enough for all the werewolves to hear.

“Oh good, the bait has arrived,” Derek sneered, glaring over at him. He sniffed the air as he and Isaac walked closer, eyeing his puffy mouth. Damn werewolves and their accelerated healing. Isaac looked as fresh as a daisy while he looked like he’d been thoroughly worked over.

“No one is going to be bait,” Scott sighed, shaking his head in disappointment at Derek. “We’re just gonna see if there’s anything weird out here, then figure it out from there. And I have school and work tomorrow, so let’s try not to stumble onto too much trouble.”

“Aw, come on, Scotty. Where’s the fun in that?” Stiles chuckled. “So, what is it you think they left?”

“They didn’t exactly leave anything, but I can smell something that doesn’t belong. And I can tell someone has been here,” Derek grunted, shifting his glance around the space in suspicion.

“I’m sure a lot of people have been around here. People walk through the woods all the time,” Stiles pointed out.

“This smells like wolf,” Derek growled. “And even if it’s not the Alpha pack, if there is a new pack in town, it’s better to know as soon as possible. Remember that Omega who came into town?”

“The liver eater? How could I forget?” Isaac scoffed.

“And while that guy had been harmless, we don’t exactly have Gerard Argent around to cut someone in half if they turn out to be dangerous.”

“Not that anyone is complaining about that. The less crazy Argents around, the better,” Isaac snarked, shrugging over at Scott. “Sorry Scott.”

“Allison isn’t always like that,” Scott defended. Neither Isaac, nor Derek looked convinced, but they didn’t say anything. “Whatever, we should get started. If we split up things will go faster. Come on, Stiles.” Stiles froze, because he knew going with Scott would be the normal thing to do. But he also wanted to stay with Isaac. He felt sort of guilty having those thoughts, since it had been him and Scott for so long, but sometimes things changed. And Scott was always abandoning him for Allison when they were together.

“Uh…” Stiles mumbled, sneaking a glance over at Isaac. Somehow, he looked cool as a cucumber. Since when did Isaac learn how to be evasive?

“What’s the problem?” Scott asked, looking to the others for a clue.

“Nothing?” Stiles said, but it really came out as more of a question.

“Okay, so let’s go,” Scott sighed, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

“Go ahead and go on the B squad. Isaac and I will be fine on the A squad,” Derek smirked, throwing his arm around Isaac’s shoulder. Isaac rolled his eyes, but gave him the barest hint of a nod. Splitting up for an hour to walk through the woods wasn’t the end of the world, right?

“Fine, fine,” Stiles mumbled, walking over to stand with Scott.

“Wait!” Isaac called after him, trotting over before he could get too far. He bit his lip a little before unwinding the scarf from around his neck and wrapping it around Stiles’. “So you don’t get cold.” Stiles could feel himself blush as he looked up at him in appreciation. Isaac rolled his eyes fondly and jogged back to Derek, shoving him along as he stood there smirking.

Stiles turned around to find Scott staring at him in shock. Well, the secret was out.

*

“Dude.”

“What?”

“Dude!”

“What!”

“You and Isaac? Seriously?” Scott laughed. Stiles just shrugged. “How?”

“It just happened. Is that a problem?” Stiles asked.

“It just happened? You gotta give me more than that!” Scott whined.

“What details are you needing, Scott? Would you like to know if Isaac is a good kisser?” Stiles teased.

“Gah, no!” Scott exclaimed, before tipping his head to the side in contemplation. “Is he?”

“Best I’ve ever had.”

“How many people have you had?”

“Not the point.”

“But really though, you gotta give me something. I feel like you guys were mortal enemies a few weeks ago,” Scott pointed out.

“I don’t know. I got to know him and one thing led to another. I can’t really explain it,” Stiles shrugged. He wasn’t sure when Isaac had shifted from friend to something more in his eyes, but now that he had, the difference was staggeringly obvious.

“How long has this been going on? And why didn’t you tell me?”

“Since yesterday.”

“Oh,” Scott said, looking contemplative. “So, you’re welcome.”

“Oh my God,” Stiles scoffed.

“Uh, who was the one who was trying so hard to get you guys to be friends? I’m pretty sure it was me,” Scott bragged. “I’m gonna put that in my best man speech.”

“Slow it down there, Scott. We’ve been on like two dates, the second of which you interrupted tonight,” Stiles chuckled.

“What were you doing?”

“Well, we kind of were, um-”

“I meant for the date!” Scott interrupted, slugging him on the shoulder.

“Oh. I got a movie projector and we sat on the jeep and watched it.”

“Damn, that sounds really nice. You mind if I borrow that when Allison gets back?”

“Planning on trying to win her back?”

“Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?”

“Well, I started off the summer thinking I was still in love with Lydia and obviously that changed. But maybe it’ll be different for you,” Stiles said, giving him a supportive pat on the shoulder.

“So, according to what happened between you and Isaac, the person I’ve been spending the most time with is the person I’m going to fall for? I don’t see that happening with Dr. Deaton and me,” Scott laughed.

“Well, never say never, Scott,” Stiles cackled, looking around at the trees. “Do you smell anything?”

“Not really, but you kind of always smell like Isaac lately,” Scott shrugged.

“Not on me! I’m talking about the reason we’re out here,” Stiles groaned. “Do you smell anything wolfy?”

“Uh, no, not really. I’m not good at that sort of thing, you know that,” Scott mumbled.

“Then what are we doing out here? Why didn’t we stick with Derek?”

“He’s always a jerk,” Scott grumbled.

“Oh my gosh, if I can stand to be around him after the puppy thing, I don’t think it would be too big of a deal for you to be around him for a couple of hours. We’re basically wasting our time,” Stiles sighed.

“Well, not completely. It gave us a chance to talk, right?”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. Although, hanging out at one of our houses would’ve been a lot more fun. Not that traipsing through the woods at night isn’t a classic Scott and Stiles thing to do-”

“Wait a second,” Scott whispered, holding up his hand for Stiles to stop.

“What is it? Do you smell something? Why didn’t I bring my bat?” Stiles hissed, smacking himself on the forehead.

“No,” Scott mumbled, tilting his head to the side. “It’s Isaac.”

Chapter Text

“What happened!” Stiles panted, trailing after Scott as they sprinted through the woods. As soon as Scott said the noise he heard was Isaac, he’d taken off in that direction. Stiles could barely keep up, even with Scott not using the full potential of his werewolf speed. He knew it had to be something bad, because this was a panicked reaction.

“I don’t know,” Scott replied, ripping down branches that were impeding their way. They never should’ve split up. They probably shouldn’t be out here at all, especially with how dark it was. The others might have pretty good senses in the dark, but he was flying blind, literally.

Every second it took to get to them was another second that Stiles felt like pulling his hair out. Once again he was useless in a dangerous situation and everyone around him was suffering for it. If he’d properly honed his powers by now, none of this would’ve happened.

“We’re close,” Scott said, pointing toward where they were going.

“Are you sure?” Stiles asked, gripping his chest as he felt like his lungs were about to explode. When Scott didn’t answer, the dread got stronger. “How can you tell?”

“I smell blood,” Scott sighed, and Stiles found the fortitude to pump his legs even faster. The fatigue was gone and all he could think of was getting to Isaac. And once he did, he wasn’t going to let him out of his sight again.

They finally made it to a small clearing and found their wayward duo. It was worse than Stiles had been expecting.

“Oh my God!” Stiles gasped, rushing over to where Isaac was resting on the ground against a tree. Derek was crouched next to him, but Stiles paid no attention to him.

“It’s okay. It’s not as bad as it looks,” Isaac said weakly, pawing at Stiles’ hands that were fluttering around him in panic.

“Isaac, you are full of arrows!” Stiles cried, dropping to his knees by his side. There were four arrows sticking out of various spots in his chest and stomach.

“Could be worse. I don’t think any of them are fatal,” Isaac said, coughing out a small trickle of blood. Okay, that was bad, but he’d seen Derek come back from worse. Like when he was practically gutted by Peter.

“What happened?” Stiles demanded, turning his ire toward Derek. “So much for Isaac being fine with you on the A squad.”

“It wasn’t his fault,” Isaac mumbled, squirming in pain. “It was mine.”

“Why aren’t you taking his pain from him? He’s obviously in pain!”

“I can’t,” Derek ground out, shifting to the side so Stiles could see the two arrows sticking out of his back.

“What happened?” Scott asked, much more calmly than Stiles did. He put his hand on Isaac’s and Stiles watched as the black veins crept up his arm. The pain obviously wouldn’t go away completely, since the arrows were still in Isaac’s body, but his eyes weren’t as tight as they had been. Scott turned and did the same for Derek, but after a few seconds he pushed him away and presented his back to him.

“Pull them out.”

“Are you sure? Maybe we should go to Deaton’s?”

“Do it!” Derek growled. Scott didn’t hesitate, bracing one hand on Derek’s shoulder and pulling out both arrows in short order. To Derek’s credit, the only reaction he showed was a flash of red eyes. Then he was snatching the scarf from around Stiles’ neck and pressing it to Isaac’s stomach.

“Hey, I liked that scarf,” Isaac moaned, trying to shift away from the new source of pain.

“I’ll buy you a new one,” Derek mumbled.

“He needs new shoes also. And better school supplies. And probably a ton of other things you haven’t been providing him,” Stiles snapped.

“Not the time, dude,” Scott muttered.

“Who did this? Were they hunters?” Stiles asked.

“No, it was the Alpha pack,” Derek replied, grinding his teeth.

“What? Did you see them? Where are they?” Scott stammered, glancing around at the darkened trees surrounding them.

“Why would werewolves use arrows when they have claws? Are you sure?” Stiles questioned. Derek snatched one of the arrows off the ground and swiped his finger across the bloody head. Stiles pulled out his phone and turned on the flashlight, since he could barely see anything out here. Etched into the metal was a little symbol.

“I’m sure,” Derek confirmed. “That’s their mark.”

“How did you know that was there?”

“These weren’t the only arrows I had in me, just the ones I couldn’t reach.”

“Then what happened?” Stiles asked, setting his phone down so it illuminated the space a bit. The good thing was that Stiles could see Isaac’s face a little better now, but the bad thing was the realization that he was terribly pale and a bit bloody.

“It was a trap,” Isaac whispered.

“It was a test,” Derek sneered.

“And I failed.”

“I should’ve stopped you. You’re my responsibility.”

“You tried. You’ve got the holes to prove it.”

“It wasn’t enough.”

“What kind of trap was it?” Scott questioned.

“They laid down a scent trail,” Derek sighed.

“What was it?”

“It was Boyd. I smelled Boyd,” Isaac whimpered, closing his eyes in despair. “They have him. And probably Erica too. This whole time.”

“We don’t know that for sure. They may not have had them for long.”

“It doesn’t matter because they have them now,” Isaac insisted, grabbing Derek’s wrist in agitation. “We have to find them.”

“We can’t do anything tonight. Right now, we need to get you patched up,” Stiles said, cupping Isaac’s cheek.

“But-”

“Isaac, I am hanging on by a thread right now seeing you like this. Please, please, don’t fight me on this,” Stiles implored. He couldn’t believe that the lips he was kissing earlier were now spotted with blood.

“Okay,” Isaac agreed softly, leaning into Stiles’ hand.

“How do we want to do this? Should we carry you back to the car? Take you to Deaton’s?” Scott suggested.

“Pull them out,” Isaac mumbled.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Scott winced.

“Derek did it. I can do it,” Isaac said with determination.

“Isaac-”

“I can’t heal while they’re in me. The sooner they are out, the sooner I get better.” Scott and Derek had a silent conversation, but Stiles ignored their looks and gestures. He focused on Isaac. The boy who had stolen his heart.

“The night started off so well. What happened?” Stiles murmured, tipping his head to rest on top of Isaac’s.

“You didn’t put your phone on silent,” Isaac joked.

“Believe me, I learned my lesson.”

“Okay Isaac, you ready?” Scott asked, grabbing his hand again. Isaac nodded, and Stiles pulled his face toward his, to give him something to focus on. Scott’s face was tight with pain as the black threads steadily crawled up his veins. Derek didn’t give any warnings, pulling out the arrows as quickly as possible. Isaac cried out before forcibly clenching his jaw, trembling from the effort of trying to stay still.

“Hey, I owe you ice cream, right? What kind do you want? And forget about crappy gas station ice cream bars that have probably been there for years and are freezer burned within an inch of their lives. I’m taking you to one of those fancy shops where you can get every topping imaginable. I don’t care how big the cup ends up being. If you want mint chocolate chip with gummy bears and bubblegum, it’s yours,” Stiles babbled, trying to talk over all the sounds Isaac was making. It couldn’t have taken more than 30 seconds total, but it felt like a lifetime before Derek said he was finished. Scott slumped back in exhaustion, the effort of absorbing Isaac’s pain taking so much energy.

“You good?” Derek asked, wiping his hands off on his shirt.

“Yeah,” Isaac breathed out.

“Scott?” Stiles asked.

“Just give me a minute,” Scott mumbled, rubbing his temples.

“We need to get out of here. There’s no telling what all this blood is going to attract,” Derek said, collecting all of the discarded arrows.

“Help me up,” Isaac grunted, holding his arms out.

“Maybe we should wait a few more minutes. I mean, you’re still bleeding,” Stiles suggested.

“I need to get out of these woods, please,” Isaac sighed. After everything Isaac had been through, Stiles didn’t have the heart to deny him. He and Derek each took an arm, pulling Isaac carefully up to his feet. He swayed a bit once he was upright, but Stiles ducked under his shoulder to support him.

“I got you,” Stiles said, holding his cell light out in front of them.

“Thank you. For everything,” Isaac mumbled into his ear.

“Anything for you.”

“If you two are finished fawning over each other, we still have to get back to the cars,” Derek grumbled, stomping off in the direction of his old house.

“I’m gonna sleep for a week,” Scott groaned, slowly standing up and stretching his body.

“Scott, thank you for what you did,” Isaac said sincerely.

“Anything for my best friend’s boyfriend. Even though I’m pretty much the reason you two are together,” Scott grinned.

“Told you,” Stiles snorted. “We’ll get you your matchmaker bonus when we’re back in civilization and Isaac isn’t bleeding all over the place.”

“It’s not that bad,” Isaac scoffed, before immediately tripping over his feet. Scott swooped in to support his other side, since neither of them wanted Isaac’s pride to slow them down from getting home. The three of them hobbled along the path, with Isaac’s steps getting steadier as they went on. Werewolf healing truly was something else. By the time they reached Derek and the jeep, only Stiles needed to help Isaac. Maybe not even as much as he was, but Stiles wouldn’t budge from his side.

“Come on, Isaac,” Derek said, standing next to his car.

“If you think I’m letting Isaac out of my sight tonight, you’re insane,” Stiles barked, gripping Isaac’s arm tighter. “He’s staying with me.”

“And how are you going to explain this to your dad?” Derek shot back.

“He’s got a point,” Isaac winced.

“I’ll figure something out.”

“You guys can stay at my house if you want,” Scott offered. “That way, my mom can check Isaac over to make sure he’s healing right.”

“That’s perfect!” Stiles exclaimed.

“I don’t know. I don’t want to bother her,” Isaac mumbled.

“Dude, she’s a nurse. She lives for blood and guts,” Stiles snorted, urging Scott on for more support.

“I’m not going to help you make my mom sound like a crazy person,” Scott scoffed. “Really though, it’ll be fine. She knows about all this werewolf stuff and I think it’ll be helpful for her to see someone that isn’t scary like Jackson was.”

“And seeing me after I had arrows shot into me by another pack of werewolves isn’t scary?” Isaac asked.

“Maybe we should come up with a cover story,” Stiles suggested.

“Well, I’m done with this little meeting, so if you’re coming with me, get in so we can go,” Derek commanded, climbing into the driver’s seat of his car. Isaac looked a little torn, but ended up staying where he was.

“I think I’m going to stay with Stiles and Scott tonight.”

“Suit yourself,” Derek scoffed, turning over his engine. Before he drove away he looked over, this time with a softer look on his face. “If you need anything, call me.” Isaac nodded as Derek took off.

“Is it just me, or does Derek seem a bit nicer these days?” Stiles wondered. “I mean, not like he’s about to be hosting children’s TV shows or anything, but he was barely mean this whole time. Maybe his time as a puppy helped tame him.”

“You’re going to ruin it if you keep bringing that up,” Isaac scoffed, rubbing his chest with a grimace.

“How about we discuss all that after we get to my house?” Scott suggested, nudging them toward the jeep. They helped Isaac stretch out into a semi comfortable position on the back bench, then climbed in the front to get going. It wasn’t the way Stiles wanted to see Isaac sprawled out back there, but as long as they were alive and relatively safe, he’d take what he could get.

Chapter Text

Stiles sped back to his house to let his dad know he’d be staying with Scott and to set Winnie up for the night, then raced back to the car. He knew that Isaac was healing fine and Scott was with him the whole time, but he still didn’t want him out of his sight. This was too close of a call and Stiles didn’t know what he’d do if Isaac hadn’t made it.

Isaac was fine when he got back to the car, of course, but Stiles knew that Isaac would probably downplay any hurt he was actually feeling. He remembered seeing the aftermath of the Argent/kanima fight on the werewolf trio, but they all waved off their wounds like they didn’t exist. Stiles figured Isaac had gotten good at that after years with his shitty dad and it pained him to think about that. If Isaac needed the opportunity to not be okay for a while, Stiles would make sure he got it.

“I’m gonna go inside and let my mom know what’s up,” Scott said, hopping out of the jeep as soon as Stiles parked in front of his house. Stiles took a moment to rest his head on the steering wheel, trying to release the last of his anxiety. This wouldn’t be the last time any of them would get hurt, but didn’t they deserve a break? Couldn’t they get through summer without another crisis?

“Want to climb back here and finish what we started?” Isaac asked suggestively.

“Oh my God,” Stiles scoffed, twisting his head to stare at Isaac incredulously. “That’s what you’re thinking about? At a time like this?”

“Better than driving myself crazy wondering what could be happening to Erica and Boyd,” Isaac mumbled.

“I’m sorry,” Stiles sighed, climbing over the back of the seat to join Isaac on his. Isaac slid his legs over to give him a bit of room. “Had you guys gotten close? I feel like we weren’t really on the same side until after they left.”

“Not really. Erica and I kind of were at first, but then she started hanging out with Boyd more and I ended up feeling like a third wheel,” Isaac shrugged. “I was gonna go with them that day. Probably would’ve ended up full of arrows, instead of just the one plus the knives.”

“We’re gonna have to keep you away from pointy things.”

“I’d been hoping that they got away. It was easier that way, instead of wondering if me going with them would’ve made things better,” Isaac admitted, closing his eyes in resignation.

“I feel guilty too. Maybe I didn’t try hard enough to get them out of the Argent’s basement. Or to convince them to stay.”

“It wasn’t your fault. You were literally kidnapped by that asshole from the lacrosse field,” Isaac growled. “I wish I’d been able to shove that stupid sword down Gerard’s throat.”

“We can’t change anything about it now. I haven’t come across a time travel spell, as far as I know,” Stiles joked, leaning forward to wipe a smudge of blood off Isaac’s chin. “But what I do know is that I am going to go through all of those books to find a way to track those wayward Betas. No more traipsing through the woods in the dark and getting shot by arrows.”

“It wasn’t all bad, was it?”

“You getting hurt sort of soured the experience for me, I’ll admit,” Stiles chuckled, resting his forehead against Isaac’s. “I was supposed to be the bait, remember?”

“Not while I’m around,” Isaac murmured.

“You’re gonna protect me?” Stiles asked, nipping at Isaac’s bottom lip.

“Yeah.”

“Well, I’m gonna protect you too. So what do you say to that?”

“I think I like the sound of that,” Isaac whispered.

“And I would like it if the two of you would get out of the jeep and into the house,” Scott groaned from beside the car. Stiles jumped in surprise, glaring at Isaac a little.

“Why didn’t you warn me that he was coming?” Stiles grumbled, moving back from where he’d practically crawled into Isaac’s lap.

“I was a little distracted,” Isaac said defensively, slowly climbing out of the car with a hand braced against his chest.

“Be careful!” Stiles chastised, scrambling out after him in case he needed help walking.

“I’m fine. The arrows didn’t go in that deep.”

“Says the guy who was coughing up blood earlier. I think I’ll wait to hear what Melissa says,” Stiles snorted, wrapping his arm around Isaac’s back.

“We really shouldn’t be bothering her with this. She’s probably busy and doesn’t want to deal with this sort of stuff,” Isaac mumbled.

“Nah, she’s just relieved it isn’t me who’s hurt,” Scott chuckled.

“Nice,” Stiles scoffed, leading Isaac into the house.

“In the kitchen!” Melissa called out. Isaac reluctantly followed the sound of her voice, pausing in the doorway before entering the room. She had a whole spread of medical supplies laid out on the table.

“Jeez mom, it’s not like you’re gonna be performing surgery,” Scott laughed, looking over everything she’d grabbed.

“I didn’t want to take any chances. I’m still getting used to all this and have no idea what to expect,” she defended, pointing a finger in Scott’s direction. “If this becomes anything like what happened with Jackson, I’m tapping out. I still see that goo in my nightmares.”

“Definitely nothing like that. Just good, old fashioned puncture wounds,” Scott assured her.

“Well, lucky me,” she chuckled, pulling out one of the chairs. “You can take a seat right here and take off your shirt.” Isaac still wasn’t moving, so Stiles had to coax him over to the table.

“Do you need help?” Stiles offered, lightly brushing his fingers along the hem of Isaac’s shirt.

“I think I can handle it,” Isaac huffed, gently pushing his hands away. Stiles quickly glanced over at Melissa and saw she was pointedly looking down at the table. He wasn’t sure if it was because she noticed that little display of affection or was trying to give Isaac some semblance of privacy as he disrobed. Either way, they had to be careful with what they did in front of people. Stiles knew Melissa could keep a secret, since she stayed mum about the werewolf thing, but his relationship status was a bit easier to bring up in conversation.

Stiles stepped back as Isaac carefully peeled off his shirt. It had been pretty much saturated in blood, but the dark color had masked most of the gore. Isaac’s pale skin did nothing of the sort, displaying all the dried blood covering his torso in all its glory. At least the bulk of it looked dried, with only the hints of fresh blood left over.

“Oh boy, you’re gonna need to get cleaned up before I can check you over,” Melissa said, walking over to the sink and wetting a towel. She handed it over to Isaac and he started dabbing at his chest. He was doing a terrible job at it and Stiles could only take it for so long before he got frustrated and snatched the towel from his hands. He knelt down in front of him and started wiping him down, ignoring the blush that immediately colored his cheeks.

“Hey mom, can I talk to you about something in another room?” Scott asked, grabbing his mom’s wrist and pulling her out of the room without protest.

“Very smooth,” Stiles muttered.

“He must’ve learned his discretion from you,” Isaac said, looking at him worriedly. “There’s no way she hasn’t figured it out by this point.”

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t help it. I can’t just pretend I don’t care about you,” Stiles sighed.

“But don’t you see that I’m not going to be able to be around your dad now? It’s way too soon for him to find out about us, but he definitely will if he sees us together. I’m not ready for that,” Isaac whispered.

“That’s a problem for a different day, okay? Right now we’re focusing on making sure you’re good,” Stiles said, finishing up his wipe down. “And I’ll talk to Melissa and make sure she doesn’t say anything to anyone.”

“Okay,” Isaac murmured, staring down at Stiles’ fingers as they fluttered along his chest. He was going to have to take Isaac’s shirt off in better circumstances later. “How do I look?”

“Hot,” Stiles breathed out, gnawing on his bottom lip.

“I meant the wounds. Unless you’re trying to tell me I have a fever,” Isaac snickered.

“Oh,” Stiles chuckled bashfully, drawing his hands back while he still had the ability. “I think all the holes are closed, but you’re still a little red. Are you ready for Melissa to come back?”

“Might as well get this over with,” Isaac sighed.

“Does that mean it’s safe to come back?” Scott called from the other room. Evidently they had an audience this whole time.

“Yeah,” Stiles grunted back, rolling his eyes as he moved away from Isaac to give Melissa space to work. They walked back into the room, a knowing grin on Scott’s face. Stiles was pretty sure he didn’t heckle Scott this much when he started dating Allison, but he would if they got back together.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this werewolf healing thing,” Melissa said, shaking her head in amazement. “You’re telling me there were four arrows in you not too long ago? And that you just pulled them back out?”

“Yeah,” Isaac confirmed.

“Well, Derek did the pulling, so if anything looks bad, blame him,” Stiles added.

“Right,” Melissa murmured, pressing her fingertips lightly against Isaac’s chest next to one of the healing puncture wounds. He jumped a little, then looked away in embarrassment. “Sorry, did that hurt?”

“No,” Isaac mumbled, keeping his eyes directed toward the floor.

“Forgive me if my hands are a bit cold.”

“It’s not that. Just bad memories is all,” Isaac admitted. Stiles couldn’t stand hanging back any longer, no matter how obvious it would look. If Isaac was revealing something was hard for him, it was serious. He didn’t give out information like that freely. Stiles walked over to stand behind him, setting his hands on his shoulders in support. Melissa raised her eyebrows a bit, but didn’t say anything. And Stiles wasn’t sure, but he thought he saw the hint of a smile flash across her face.

“I promise I’ll go as fast as possible,” Melissa assured him, talking through the rest of her movements as she went along. There really wasn’t much for her to do, since the wounds had already closed up, but Stiles hadn’t wanted to leave it to chance. He felt a tiny bit guilty that he hadn’t insisted on Derek getting checked over as well, but the older man probably would’ve refused anyways.

“What’s the prognosis?” Scott asked as soon as his mom finished and moved to the sink to wash up.

“I didn’t see anything that worried me too much, besides the fact that you all were in a situation where you could be shot with arrows in the first place. I’m still figuring out how all this works, but I didn’t see anything that makes me think that your natural healing abilities won’t be able to take care of these injuries,” Melissa determined.

“Thank you,” Isaac said sincerely, fiddling with the ruined shirt in his lap. “I guess I can go back to the loft and get out of your hair.”

“What? No,” Stiles argued. “We can stay in the guest room, right?”

“Scott, why don’t you take Isaac upstairs and show him where the shower is? And grab him some clean clothes to change into,” Melissa suggested.

“Come on, dude. That’s my mom’s way of saying she wants to talk to Stiles,” Scott chuckled, pulling Isaac from his seat before he could protest. Isaac shot Stiles a worried look before he disappeared around the corner.

“Well, now we know for sure where Scott got his subtlety from,” Stiles joked, using humor to cover up his anxiety about this conversation.

“Anything you’d like to tell me?” Melissa asked, putting away her supplies.

“I’ll add in my thanks as well,” Stiles smiled. Melissa gave him a pointed look and he knew his evasiveness wasn’t going to work. “It’s complicated.”

“It always is,” Melissa chuckled. “Is that why you haven’t been around as much?”

“Actually, no. I’ve been dealing with something else recently. Isaac and I are kind of a new development,” Stiles said, scraping his fingernail along the side of the kitchen chair he was standing behind. “Is that okay?”

“It might affect the sleeping arrangements for tonight, but other than that, of course it is,” Melissa assured him. Stiles felt a weight he hadn’t realized was there lift off his chest. Maybe if Isaac saw more people who didn’t have a problem with their relationship, he’d warm up to the idea of telling his dad soon.

“That really isn’t something you need to worry about yet, but we’ll respect your rules. We only just had our second date tonight.”

“And it ended in arrows? I know you haven’t really dated anyone before, but that’s not normal,” Melissa laughed.

“Nothing about us is normal, but that happened after the date,” Stiles snorted, relaxing now that she wasn’t pressing.

“Is that something I need to worry about? I don’t like seeing any of you come home hurt.”

“Nothing we can’t handle,” Stiles promised. He wasn’t ready to tell others about his magic yet, but he was determined to use it to make everything better.

“I hope you’re right.”

“Can you not say anything to my dad about this? I’m trying to figure out the right time to tell him.”

“Of course I won’t say anything. But knowing your dad, I’m confident he won’t have any objections. All he cares about is that you’re happy.”

“Thank you.”

“Well, I’m going to head up to bed. I have an early shift in the morning,” Melissa said, hefting her medical kit over her shoulder. “I’m going to trust you all to figure out where you’re going to sleep tonight. Don’t make me regret that decision.”

“A guest bedroom with Scott down the hall isn’t really the ideal spot to do anything, so you can rest easy,” Stiles replied, waving as she said goodnight and walked away. He took a few moments to appreciate how well this night had ended, with so many moments where it could’ve taken a turn for the worse. He’d taken for granted how quiet things had been recently, but he was going to cherish every moment he could with the people he cared about while he had the chance.

Stiles walked the familiar path up to Scott’s room, smiling when he saw Isaac toweling his wet hair on the end of the bed. He was obviously wearing some of Scott’s clothes, due to their slightly off fit. Isaac was pretty slim, but still had the broad shoulders and height that filled him out. It was pretty distracting now that Stiles had taken notice.

“Is everything okay?” Isaac asked, standing up to meet him at the door.

“Of course. Melissa said we can take the guest room,” Stiles replied, seeing some of the tension leave Isaac’s shoulders.

“Good, because I’m tired and need to get some sleep before school,” Scott yelled from the bathroom.

“Come on, I’ll show you where it is. I think we both could use some rest as well,” Stiles said, snagging Isaac by the front of his shirt and pulling him down the hall. The guest room bed wasn’t very big and it would be a tight squeeze, but honestly nothing sounded better at the moment. He pushed Isaac down onto the bed and started taking off his own layers.

“You gonna take a shower?” Isaac asked, crawling under the blankets with a pleased sigh.

“I’m too exhausted to bother,” Stiles mumbled, getting down to his undershirt and boxers. Isaac’s eyes were flitting to his body and away, like he wasn’t sure if he should be looking. Stiles climbed into the bed next to him, laying on his side so they were facing each other. “I promised Melissa we would be good.”

“I’m always good,” Isaac argued, proving himself a liar when the tips of his fingers ghosted along Stiles’ stomach.

“I don’t doubt that,” Stiles smirked, scooting closer and resting his cheek against Isaac’s chest. Isaac wrapped his long arms around him and sighed in contentment, both of them happy to be in each other’s embrace. The sound of Isaac’s beating heart was just the comfort Stiles needed after this chaos. Everything else could wait.

“Goodnight Stiles,” Isaac breathed out, tucking the top of Stiles’ head under his chin.

“Goodnight Isaac.”

Chapter Text

“This is impossible!” Stiles moaned, pushing away his book in frustration.

“Is throwing a tantrum going to help anything?” Lydia asked, rolling her eyes as she leaned back in her chair and checked her nails.

“Maybe. I haven’t tried yet,” Stiles grumbled back, running a hand through his hair. At least it was starting to grow out a bit more and he had something he could pull when he was feeling annoyed.

It had been two days since the night in the preserve and Stiles was determined to try to actually perform some sort of spell. It was the first time trying since the puppy thing, but he felt that sense of urgency every time he thought back to the sight of Isaac full of arrows. There was no more time to play around. But it just wasn’t working.

Lydia had gotten him to a point that he could pretty much read the words in the books. He didn’t know what everything meant, but he could sound things out phonetically. And his pronunciation wasn’t too egregious, at least according to Winnie’s tail flicks. But still, nothing happened. He wasn’t even trying to do anything major yet, just changing the color of a piece of paper, but it stayed just as white as always. Stiles wanted to give up.

“Maybe you should take a break,” Lydia suggested.

“I can’t. Getting good at this is too important,” Stiles sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “If you’d seen Isaac…”

“I feel like I did, with how many times you’ve described it to me,” Lydia scoffed. “What do you think you could’ve done to prevent that?”

“I don’t know. But not realizing my potential is driving me nuts,” Stiles admitted, smiling sheepishly as he noticed Lydia agreeing with that sentiment. “And driving everyone around me nuts. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay to struggle. While I don’t have much personal experience in that regard, I know it’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Lydia said, smirking at his snort of amusement. “Don’t worry, I think I’ve got just what you need to figure this out.”

“And what’s that?” Stiles wondered.

“Surprise!” Isaac said, peeking his head around the doorway into the bedroom. Stiles immediately felt his whole mood brighten. It wasn’t like they hadn’t seen each other everyday. Or that they didn’t have plans to see each other later that night. Any time he saw Isaac now just made everything better. Stiles knew it was corny and people would probably roll their eyes if they could see into his brain, but he hoped they never lost these butterflies.

“What are you doing here?” Stiles asked, standing up to greet him.

“Moral support,” Isaac replied.

“And you came in without having to knock.”

“You are so easy to please,” Isaac chuckled, stepping fully in the doorway and presenting a bouquet of yellow roses.

“You got me flowers?” Stiles asked, feeling a little embarrassed. “What if my dad sees them?”

“I got Lydia flowers,” Isaac grinned, walking over and handing them to the surprised girl. “A thank you for giving us the kick in the pants we needed to figure out our crap.”

“Should I be jealous?” Stiles wondered, glaring at the bouquet. He kind of wanted flowers now too.

“Yellow means friendship, so you definitely wouldn’t want to receive these from someone you’re dating,” Lydia informed him, standing up and patting Isaac on the shoulder. “I’m going to go put these in water. I guess they are sort of nice.”

“That’s practically a glowing review,” Stiles laughed as Lydia walked out of the room. “You really didn’t get me anything?”

“Well, I never said that,” Isaac grinned, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out a tiny toy bow and arrow.

“Wow, I can’t even describe how much I hate this,” Stiles groaned.

“Just trying to help you get past your bad feelings when it comes to arrows.”

“It’s not working.”

“If I can walk past the appliance section of the hardware store without screaming, I think you can work through your arrow problem,” Isaac snorted, pulling the bow back and letting the little arrow fly in his direction.

“You do look a bit like cupid at the moment, with those cherubic curls,” Stiles giggled, grabbing the toy and setting it on his nightstand.

“I’m gonna shave,” Isaac pouted, fingering the hair above his ear.

“Don’t you dare,” Stiles warned, pulling him down to sit with him on the bed.

“Then tell me I don’t look like a creepy little cherub.”

“You don’t look like a creepy little cherub,” Stiles sighed, snagging the front of Isaac’s shirt and pulling him closer. “You look very masculine and handsome.”

“Not as handsome as you,” Isaac murmured, leaning in for a kiss.

“What can I say other than ‘get a room,’ seeing as you’re already in your bedroom?” Lydia asked, gliding in and setting the flowers on his desk. Stiles groaned, putting space between him and Isaac. Why were they always getting interrupted these days?

“You don’t have to say anything. Your presence alone has ruined the mood,” Stiles grumbled.

“Oh really? And here I was thinking about asking if I could join in for a bit of fun,” Lydia said, twirling the end of her hair around her finger.

“What!” Stiles squeaked.

“Just kidding. I know a pair of vanilla virgins when I see them,” Lydia grinned, lounging back in her chair with a suggestive wink. “Don’t be afraid to call me when you get a bit more experience though.”

“What were we working on?” Isaac asked, trying to change the subject as his face turned red.

“Oh, just how terrible I am at all things magic,” Stiles replied, glaring down at the book he had been working out of. It was just sitting there mocking him, full of possibilities.

“You’re not terrible,” Isaac insisted, bumping him gently with his shoulder. “You can’t expect to be perfect at this from the get go.”

“But I’ve been working at this for weeks,” Stiles whined. He knew he sounded juvenile, but he couldn’t help it. Patience had never been his thing.

“A few weeks trying to learn a whole new language and do stuff that barely anyone else on earth can do? I think you should give yourself a little grace,” Isaac pointed out.

“Grace doesn’t get results.”

“And neither does complaining, but that’s not stopping you,” Lydia added. “Why don’t you get back to work?”

“I have such a supportive and helpful teacher,” Stiles muttered, snatching up the stupid piece of paper and setting it down in front of him again.

“What’s that for?” Isaac asked, reaching out to touch it before pulling back, as if he was worried it would bite.

“I’m trying to make this thing a different color, but it’s not working,” Stiles explained, tapping his fingers on the page with the spell. “I don’t understand why it’s so hard. I changed two people into puppies without even trying and now I can’t do something this simple.”

“Maybe the stress is getting to you. You’re putting so much pressure on yourself and that can’t be good. Maybe it’s blocking the flow of magic?” Isaac suggested.

“That’s when I do my best work though. When there are five seconds on the clock and my back is against the wall,” Stiles argued. He was the guy who came in clutch.

“Well, maybe you should try another method,” Isaac said, giving him a supportive nod.

“Alright,” Stiles murmured, taking a deep breath before focusing on his task. He was just going to recite the spell and hope for the best. If it didn’t work, it wasn’t the end of the world. There was no crisis currently and Isaac was safely by his side. That was most important in the grand scheme of things.

Stiles read the Latin as clearly as he could, making sure the flow was even and pronunciation was exact. Winnie was off somewhere doing her own thing, so her judgy tail wasn’t here to tell him if he was doing well. But he didn’t hear any noises of displeasure coming from Lydia, so he figured he wasn’t doing that badly.

He closed his eyes for the last two words, lightly touching the paper that he was trying to conquer. Maybe if he believed that the paper wouldn’t be white when he saw it again, it would nudge it in the right direction. But when he finished the spell and opened his eyes again, nothing had changed.

“Dammit,” Stiles muttered, resisting the urge to rip the paper to shreds. Maybe if he could make it the paper’s fault, it would make him feel better.

“Don’t get discouraged,” Isaac sighed, throwing an arm around his back. “I know you’re gonna figure this out soon.”

“Maybe you already have,” Lydia said, a bit of awe coloring her words. Stiles looked up and gasped when he saw what she was staring at. The bouquet of pale yellow roses that Isaac had brought were now bright red.

“Oh my God,” Isaac murmured, staring at them in shock.

“I did it,” Stiles whispered, sliding off the bed to take a closer look. The flowers looked completely natural up close, as if they’d been this color all along. “I did it!”

“You did it!” Isaac exclaimed, bouncing off the bed and wrapping him in an excited hug. Stiles impulsively pulled Isaac’s head down and kissed him. He was too ecstatic to worry about the fact that they had an audience right now. He had made something happen.

“Congratulations, but I think that’s my cue to go,” Lydia said, standing up and grabbing her purse.

“Sorry, we’ll keep our distance from now on,” Stiles mumbled, releasing Isaac and taking a step back.

“Oh no, that’s not it. I’m not risking you magically changing anything about me. This is my natural hair color and I’m not willing to let you ruin it,” Lydia scoffed, winking at them before making her way out of the room.

“Wait, you’re forgetting your flowers,” Stiles said, pointing to the now red bouquet.

“Those obviously aren’t meant for me anymore. Not that color,” Lydia grinned, leaving with a little wave.

“Girls are weird,” Stiles grunted, turning his attention back to Isaac. “Should we keep going?”

“I don’t know. What time is your dad getting home?” Isaac asked with a sly grin.

“I meant working on magic,” Stiles snorted. Isaac shrugged and inched a little closer.

“We can create our own magic, can’t we?” Isaac murmured, ghosting his fingers along the hem of his shirt.

“You’re bad,” Stiles admonished, not pulling away in the slightest.

“Relaxing helped, didn’t it?” Isaac pointed out smugly.

“Surprisingly, this isn’t helping me relax. In fact, I have noticed a significant uptick in my heart rate. And my breathing has gotten a little irregular.”

“Do you need me to perform mouth to mouth?” Isaac whispered, tipping his chin up with one of his long fingers.

“Please,” Stiles breathed out.

“Stiles, you home?” his dad’s voice called suddenly from downstairs. Isaac practically jumped a foot in the air in shock, quickly putting space between them. They really needed to get out of this house.

“Yeah!” Stiles replied, motioning for Isaac to stay where he was while he went down to meet his dad. Isaac reluctantly sat down on the bed, but luckily Winnie trotted over and plopped on his lap to help distract him. “I’ll be right back.” Stiles trotted down the stairs, making sure his shirt was back in place from where Isaac had messed with it. At least they hadn’t gotten the chance to make out, since his dad would’ve been able to see the evidence all over his face.

“What’s up?” Stiles asked when he found his dad rummaging around in the fridge.

“Do I need a reason to see my son when I get home from work? Seems like you’re barely around these days,” his dad wondered, shooting him a grin. “Have you eaten yet? Do I get to have real food for dinner or some of your light and healthy nonsense?”

“It isn’t nonsense,” Stiles defended, shaking his head in exasperation. He wasn’t going to comment on always being out, since he was usually with Isaac. “And I might let you talk me into ordering out, as long as Isaac can stay for dinner.”

“Isaac’s here?” he asked, perking up from where he was crouching looking for snacks. “Where is he?”

“He’s upstairs playing with Winnie. You know he can’t resist being away from that cat for too long,” Stiles replied. That was always a good excuse for why they tried to spend every moment possible together.

“Of course he can stay,” his dad confirmed, tapping his chin in contemplation. “That means I’ll have to order more food.”

“Don’t go overboard,” Stiles warned, pointing a threatening finger at him. He didn’t really care what his dad ate tonight though, since Isaac staying was the most important part. He’d crack down on his dad’s meals for the rest of the week. Now he just had to convince Isaac that it wasn’t a terrible idea.

*

The rest of the night went as well as Stiles could’ve hoped. After a quick argument with Isaac, he’d agreed to stay. They made sure to keep their distance from each other and kept Winnie as a buffer, which seemed to help. He was planning on keeping their time spent all together at a minimum, but then his dad suggested a movie after dinner and he didn’t have the heart to refuse. Stiles kind of missed his dad these days, since they were always off doing their own things. He ended up sharing the couch with his dad while Isaac and Winnie took the chair. That made things a lot easier and he and his dad both laughed when Isaac fell asleep halfway through. It felt nice and simple, like he figured it would even after they told his dad the truth. But Stiles still wasn’t going to push.

His dad excused himself to bed after the movie ended, leaving Stiles to wake Isaac. He was embarrassed when he realized what happened, but Stiles waved it off and gave him a quick kiss on the forehead. Stiles offered to let him stay, but Isaac decided to walk home instead. They gave each other a quick goodbye kiss and Stiles watched as Isaac walked off toward Derek’s.

Later that night, Stiles was rolling back and forth in his bed. His mind couldn’t settle from everything that happened. He was so pumped after being successful in his spell attempt and he wanted to do more. Maybe that one thing would be the catalyst to bigger and more powerful things. With Isaac by his side, he felt like he could do anything.

Speaking of Isaac, he was suddenly startled by a quiet tap on his window. He turned to see a sheepish looking Isaac hovering outside of his house. Stiles rushed over to the window, ushering Isaac inside.

“I hope I didn’t wake you,” Isaac mumbled, wringing his hands anxiously.

“You didn’t, but I wouldn’t care if you had,” Stiles assured him, grabbing his restless hands and threading their fingers together. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Isaac sighed, shaking his head in embarrassment. “I shouldn’t have come.”

“Stop it. You know you can always come over, no matter the time or reason,” Stiles insisted, pulling him over to lay down on the bed. He waited until they were both settled on their sides and facing each other before he pressed further. “What happened?”

“Peter came back,” Isaac murmured, and Stiles sucked in a sharp breath. Peter wasn’t really his favorite person to be around, after everything that happened. And even if he was kind of one of the good guys now, that didn’t erase the past.

“Did he do something? Do we need to talk to Derek?” Stiles asked. No matter what Derek said, he was very protective over his pack. If Peter was doing something to hurt Isaac, he wouldn’t stand for it.

“No, nothing like that. He doesn’t really talk to me at all,” Isaac replied. Stiles rubbed his thumb over the back of Isaac’s hand, urging him to go on.

“So, what is it?”

“Ever since he found out about what happened in the preserve, he and Derek have been arguing about what to do. Derek wants to find Erica and Boyd and Peter thinks we should forget about them and focus on fighting the Alpha pack if they decide to show up,” Isaac explained, closing his eyes. “It wasn’t so bad at first, but the sound of them yelling at each other just brings back old memories and I couldn’t take it anymore.”

“Oh Isaac, I’m sorry,” Stiles murmured, using his free hand to run his fingers through Isaac’s hair. He knew how hard it was for Isaac to admit when he was struggling, especially when it was something relating to his father. Stiles felt honored that he was the one Isaac trusted enough to open up to.

“Do you think I could stay here tonight?” Isaac asked. “I can move to the floor if you think that would be better.”

“Don’t you dare,” Stiles warned, pulling the blankets over them and tucking Isaac firmly underneath. “We controlled ourselves at Scott’s house, I think we can do the same here.”

“Kay,” Isaac whispered, already half asleep. Stiles couldn’t resist leaning in for one last kiss, pressing their lips softly together as Isaac sighed contentedly. Little spells that changed colors were done now. He had to focus on bigger things, like finding Boyd and Erica. It wasn’t just about saving them anymore, it was about making things better for Isaac too. And with that added incentive, Stiles knew that was just the push he needed to make this work.

Chapter Text

Stiles groaned as he rolled onto his back, glaring up at the ceiling in annoyance. He hated when his body woke him up early for no reason, especially during the summer when he could sleep in as long as he wanted. His mind was always running a mile a minute when he was awake, so he cherished the hours he could just shut down and not think about anything. The only other time his brain calmed down was when he was with Isaac, but then it was distracted by more enjoyable topics.

The boy in question was still laying beside him, completely out. Stiles had taken to listening to Isaac occasionally when he couldn’t sleep, learning the different sounds Isaac made while he was asleep. He could tell that Isaac was deeply asleep from how relaxed his body was. He was laying on his stomach with one arm draped over the edge of the bed. Another clue that Isaac was fully out of it was Winnie perched on his back, doing that kneading thing cats loved to do. It looked like even the werewolf in him was taking a break.

Stiles was pleased that he could be a safe haven for Isaac, when things in life got to be too stressful. Isaac wasn’t the type to ask for help or be forthcoming about how he was feeling, at least with most people. Stiles was unendingly grateful that he was the person Isaac felt close enough to do that with.

And because he cared so much, he wasn’t just going to sit back and support Isaac through whatever he was dealing with. He was also going to come up with solutions. Peter could gear up for a war all he wanted, but Stiles was going to find Boyd and Erica.

He jumped a little at the knock on his door, but schooled his features by the time his father poked his head inside the room. Stiles wasn’t going to let himself look guilty, since he hadn’t done anything wrong.

“Hey Dad,” Stiles greeted casually, keeping his voice low so he wouldn’t wake Isaac. He shifted a little, but stilled again. Winnie glanced back at his dad, then resumed her work. “What’s up?”

“Just wanted to check in before I left for work,” he said, chuckling at the sight of Winnie and Isaac.

“Okay, cool. Have a good day and stay safe,” Stiles replied, propping himself up on his elbows.

“You too,” his dad said, nodding his goodbye before pausing as he turned back. “What’s with the flowers?”

“They’re Lydia’s. She said the colors suited me better and left them here,” Stiles said quickly. That wasn’t a complete lie. “Something about the red clashing with her hair? I don’t know, I don’t speak girl.”

“Yeah Stiles, I know,” he snorted, giving him a smirk before closing the door. His dad leaving for the day meant they had ample time for working on magic. And for doing other things. Things they kept getting interrupted in the middle of recently.

Stiles waited until he heard the sound of his dad driving away before springing into action. He carefully scooted Winnie off the bed, much to her dismay. She glared at him a little, but he glared back and she flicked her tail and sauntered off to the bathroom. He would conjure her up some catnip later to make up for it.

Stiles slid over so his body was flush with Isaac’s, rubbing his sides as he gently urged him awake. Isaac would deny it, but Stiles swore he heard him make a deep purring noise as his brain caught up to what was happening to his body.

“Morning,” Stiles murmured against his neck, grinning at the slight shiver in response. Isaac replied with a hum, twisting around so he was facing him. “Much better way to wake up than usual, right?”

“No complaints here,” Isaac agreed, pulling Stiles down for a tender kiss. Stiles returned it with vigor, swinging his leg over to straddle Isaac’s hips. “What about your dad?”

“He’s already left for the day,” Stiles panted, peppering kisses along his jaw. “We have the house all to ourselves.”

“No Lydia?” Isaac asked, gasping when Stiles reached a sensitive spot behind his ear.

“Nope. Unless you really want to add her to the mix,” Stiles chuckled, squealing as Isaac used his werewolf strength to flip them over so he was on top.

“I don’t like to share,” Isaac grinned, hovering over him. Stiles groaned as Isaac stayed so far away, missing the friction of their bodies pressed together.

“What are you doing up there?” Stiles whined, sticking out his lower lip in a pout.

“Just admiring the view,” Isaac murmured, letting his eyes roam over Stiles’ squirming body.

“Why look when you can touch?” Stiles said, goading Isaac into action. He ducked down, teasing Stiles to give him a taste of his own medicine. Stiles moaned, feeling the urge to take this further, but also being hesitant to. It still felt like it was too soon for both of them. And that all the chaos they were dealing with would take away from the specialness of the moment. Maybe he would have to ask Scott about how he decided it was the right time to go all the way with Allison.

“Where did you go?” Isaac asked, pausing his assault on his neck to look at him in question.

“Just thinking about how much you drive me crazy,” Stiles sighed.

“In a good way, I hope?”

“In too good of a way,” Stiles admitted. Isaac gave him a knowing look and kissed him on the nose before rolling off and onto his side.

“Are you pancaking me?” Isaac asked, linking their fingers together.

“Not fully. Like half a pancake, tops,” Stiles insisted.

“I can work with that,” Isaac agreed, grabbing Stiles by the front of his shirt and pulling him closer. Isaac waited, letting Stiles take the lead again.

“Just more of this?” Stiles suggested, rubbing his nose against Isaac’s chin.

“More of this is perfect,” Isaac whispered, capturing Stiles’ lips in another kiss. Stiles let himself get lost in it, trusting himself and Isaac that they wouldn’t let things go too far. He felt like he could do this for the rest of his life and he would be happy.

“Stiles, I almost forgot,” his dad said suddenly, opening the door to his room and freezing at the sight in front of him. Stiles and Isaac froze as well, completely shocked by the surprise guest. “Oh.”

“Oh my God,” Stiles mumbled, darting his eyes between his dad and Isaac. His dad looked surprised and a bit embarrassed. Isaac on the other hand was as white as a ghost.

“I’m gonna…” his dad trailed off, jerking a thumb toward the door and walking away without another word.

“Where was your werewolf hearing for that one?” Stiles joked.

“Oh no,” Isaac gasped, and Stiles immediately abandoned his thoughts of trying to be playful. Isaac wasn’t okay. “Oh God.”

“Hey, it’s okay,” Stiles said quickly, reaching up to cradle Isaac’s face. Before he could make contact, Isaac sprang out of the bed, backing toward the window.

“It’s over now, isn’t it?” Isaac whispered, hugging himself around his stomach.

“Wait, nothing’s over,” Stiles denied, rushing over to try to stop Isaac from running away. They had to deal with this. “It’s gonna be okay.”

“I’m gonna lose you, aren’t I?” Isaac choked out, squeezing his eyes closed as a tear broke free and rolled down his cheek. Stiles felt sick about the fact that Isaac could face down hunters and arrows without breaking stride, but judgment from a parent could reduce him to tears. Parents were supposed to be safe, not something to fear. If Stiles wasn’t so afraid of falling into the darker side of magic, he’d try to find a spell to make sure Isaac’s dad’s soul would never be at rest. He took solace in the fact that whatever sort of hell existed for bad people, that man had surely earned himself an express ticket.

“Hey, look at me,” Stiles said, using his thumb to wipe the wetness from Isaac’s face. He could feel Isaac trembling a little and he wanted nothing more than to scoop him up in his arms and take him off somewhere where they’d never have to worry about anything again. “I’m not going anywhere. This is going to be fine.”

“I didn’t want him to find out because I didn’t want to risk not being able to be together. I just wanted to be happy for a little while,” Isaac murmured, sucking in a sharp breath as he tried to keep it together.

“Nothing stops me from getting what I want,” Stiles insisted, waiting until Isaac made reluctant eye contact with him before continuing. “As long as you want me, I will not leave your side. Do you trust me?”

“Of course,” Isaac whispered.

“So trust me when I say I know this is going to work out okay. I know my dad and he would never be cruel. I have done so many things in my life to deserve being disowned, but this relationship isn’t one of them,” Stiles said confidently. “What do you say we go deal with this head on? We can get through anything, as long as we stick together, right?” Isaac leaned down and pulled him into a desperate kiss, pouring all of his emotions into it. Stiles could barely do more than go along for the ride, burying his hand into Isaac’s hair. When they finally broke apart, they stayed close, taking a moment to recover.

“I had to do that, just in case it was the last time,” Isaac murmured, sighing as Stiles scratched his scalp.

“I promise it won’t be. Are you ready?” Stiles asked, grabbing Isaac’s hand and giving it a little squeeze.

“No,” Isaac sighed, but nodded his consent to be pulled from the room and down the stairs. Stiles kind of felt like he was dragging Isaac to his execution, but he knew it wouldn’t be as bad as he feared. And the faster they got this over with, the sooner Isaac would be able to breathe again.

His dad was standing in the middle of the living room waiting for them. As soon as Isaac saw him, he snatched his hand and made sure no parts of them were touching. A bit late for that move, but Stiles wasn’t going to push him.

“Dad-”

“Mr. Stilinski, I am so sorry,” Isaac blurted out, his voice on the verge of cracking. “If you want me to leave and never come back, I understand.” His dad held up a hand to stop him from going further and Isaac jerked back as if he thought he was going to be hit. If he knew that it wouldn’t completely freak Isaac out right now, Stiles would hug him.

“Isaac, do you care about my son?” he asked in an even voice.

“More than anything,” Isaac said quietly, glancing briefly over at him. Now Stiles wanted to cry.

“And do you plan on hurting him?”

“I would rather die than hurt your son,” Isaac insisted.

“Well, okay then,” he replied, patting Isaac on the shoulder despite his twitch. “So, are you staying for dinner?”

“That’s it?” Isaac choked out in bewilderment.

“Is there supposed to be anything else?” he asked, tipping his head to the side fondly. “I liked you as my son’s friend and I like you as his boyfriend.” Now Stiles really was crying. He knew deep down that his dad was a good person and wouldn’t have any issues with his relationship, but there was always that little bit of fear there. And the fact that this had been a surprise to Stiles as well, and he hadn’t had time to really figure out what this meant about his sexual orientation, made everything feel more fraught with unnecessary tension. But that simple, matter-of-fact acceptance from his dad calmed a part inside of him that he hadn’t realized needed it.

“Thank you,” Isaac whispered, biting his bottom lip to try to keep it from shaking.

“Get over here, son,” his dad said, spreading open the arm that wasn’t still on Isaac’s shoulder. Stiles didn’t need to be told twice, rushing over and grabbing both of them in a hug. He shifted his body so it was more in between his dad and Isaac, so Isaac wouldn’t get too overwhelmed and uncomfortable. They stayed that way until Isaac’s breaths evened out and Stiles stopped sniffling. His dad moved his hand onto his shoulder too, keeping everyone close still.

“So, you really weren’t joking that night when you said you were gay?”

“Well, yeah, I was,” Stiles admitted.

“So, you aren’t gay?”

“I don’t really know. I think I just fell for Isaac. The rest of the stuff doesn’t really matter,” Stiles shrugged. Stiles saw Isaac’s cheeks turning pink from the corner of his eye.

“Okay, I can accept that,” he nodded, giving them both a squeeze before letting them go and walking back toward the front door. “Now I really need to be getting to work.”

“Wait, what was it you came back to tell me?” Stiles asked.

“I don’t remember actually. But if it comes back to me, I’ll text you,” his dad chuckled, shaking his head as he left. Stiles snorted, wondering if his dad had a feeling about what was going on and set the whole thing up. It sounded like something he would do, but Stiles wouldn’t bother questioning him. He couldn’t have asked for a better outcome to his impromptu coming out.

“I told you it would be fine,” Stiles bragged, turning back to face Isaac. Isaac wrapped him up in another crushing hug, letting out a few more of the tears he’d held back in the presence of Stiles’ dad. “We’re okay, we’re okay.”

“He called me your boyfriend,” Isaac whispered into his neck.

“Yeah, was that okay? I know we haven’t really labeled ourselves yet.”

“Stiles,” Isaac started, pulling back to show the blinding smile plastered across his face, “I would love nothing more than to be your boyfriend.”

“Yeah?” Stiles murmured, burying his hand into Isaac’s hair again. It was beginning to be his favorite spot. “Only if I can be your boyfriend too.”

“I think I can agree to that,” Isaac confirmed, scratching his fingers up and down Stiles’ stomach.

“Does this mean I can take you out somewhere? On a real, public date?” Stiles asked, his mind already running wild with possibilities.

“Only if I can take you out too,” Isaac grinned.

“I think I can agree to that,” Stiles smirked, repeating what Isaac said as well. “But first, I think we owe my dad a nice steak dinner.”

“I agree.”

“That means we’re gonna have to go to the store,” Stiles sighed, before smiling slyly again. “Although, we have hours before we need to do that. However will we pass the time?”

“I’ve got a few ideas,” Isaac replied, his voice going a little husky.

“Want to show me?” Isaac grinned, grabbing his hand and pulling him back up the stairs. They could have a little bit of fun before they got serious again. And being relaxed seemed to make Stiles’ magic work better anyways. Being a little self-indulgent would help everyone in the end.

Chapter Text

“This feels weird.”

“I know.”

“Are you sure we should do it here? Like this?”

“We’ve got to start somewhere, right?”

“It’s kind of exposed though.”

“No one will know what we’re doing. And if they find us, I’ll come up with something.”

“We really couldn’t do this at your house?”

“And risk my dad finding us?”

“Good point,” Isaac sighed, eyeing the scarf Stiles had bunched up in his hands. “Where do you want me?”

“The whole point of this is me not knowing where you are, remember?”

“I know, but do you want me to stay within a specific range at first? Until you get the hang of it?”

“Inside the building,” Stiles agreed. “And don’t go somewhere obvious, like the locker room.”

“I can’t believe I’m hanging out in the school during summer break, playing a glorified version of hide and seek,” Isaac grumbled, glancing around the empty halls.

“I’ve got to see if this spell works, right?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Isaac mumbled, rolling his eyes as he slowly backed away. “No cheating though. I already silenced my cell phone.”

“I’m offended you would even feel the need to say that to me,” Stiles gasped, making a shooing motion with his hands as he turned around and closed his eyes. He had finally found a tracking spell in one of his books and was eager to test it out. It was exactly what he needed to find Erica and Boyd, but he wanted to be perfect at it.

They were at the school to give Isaac more places to hide, since there weren’t that many options at his house. And Stiles wasn’t insensitive enough to ask his abused boyfriend to stuff himself into a closet for the sake of testing out this spell. The school felt like a perfect option, since they both knew their way around it and no one would really care if they were hanging around. With all the crazy things that went on there, a simple game of hide and seek would actually be refreshing.

Stiles waited a few minutes for Isaac to get settled into whatever spot he found, then got to work. He held Isaac’s scarf tightly in his hands, focusing on it and the words of Latin that would hopefully give him a sign of where to go. Stiles wasn’t sure what it was supposed to feel like, since he hadn’t done it before, but he hoped he would just instinctively know.

He finished the spell then looked around, trying to see if he was pulled in any particular direction. Everything looked and felt the same. Stiles groaned, glancing at his cheat sheet of Latin that he had shoved in his pocket. He was pretty sure he said everything right. Maybe he should’ve brought Lydia along to make sure. Or the spell wasn’t as straightforward as he interpreted.

“Now what?” Stiles grumbled, spinning slowly in the center of the hallway. Should he start walking in one direction and see if he stumbled upon Isaac? That wouldn’t help him when it came to Erica and Boyd. There was no way he could walk around and get lucky enough to find them without trying. Maybe if he had werewolf senses and a starting off point, but not as boring, human Stiles. Magical Stiles was needed here.

“Should I read it again?” Stiles mumbled, twisting the scarf in his hands. “Is talking to myself helping?” He knew it wasn’t an issue with the item he was using to track Isaac. His boyfriend wore this thing all the time, no matter the weather. Even during the recent heat wave he had it more often than not. If Stiles couldn’t succeed with this item that was dripping in Isaac, how was he supposed to with something that hadn’t been touched by its owner for months?

“Winnie would know what to do, which is crazy to say since she’s a cat,” Stiles whispered, scratching his chin. Maybe he was trying too hard. His magic always flowed better when he was relaxed. But Isaac was usually the one to relax him and it wasn’t like Stiles could call him to help right now. Would thinking about him be enough?

Stiles took a deep breath and closed his eyes, clearing his mind to think of nothing else besides Isaac. He thought of the night his dad found out about them. They’d gone to the grocery store together to get food for dinner and held hands without worry. Isaac didn’t seem to have any hesitation now that the father hurdle had been overcome and Stiles had never been one to be shy, so they went about like any other couple and it felt amazing.

They cooked dinner side by side, feeding each other bites like they’d been performing the routine for years. And when his dad came home, they ate a nice dinner together. It wasn’t like Isaac had suddenly become the life of the party, but there was no more looking like he was two seconds from bolting whenever his dad spoke to him. It was promising progress.

Then they watched another movie, sharing the couch this time. Stiles rested his head on Isaac’s shoulder and Isaac of course fell asleep before they could make it halfway through, but it was comfortable. It was everything Stiles could’ve asked for and he couldn’t wait to do it again.

“Hey, you found me!” Isaac exclaimed. Stiles snapped back into focus, opening his eyes to find he’d made it to the band room without even realizing it. Isaac had tucked himself behind the drum set.

“Holy crap,” Stiles mumbled, trying to recall any moment of his journey here. It was all blank, but that didn’t matter. The important thing was that he’d found Isaac. He’d performed a spell successfully. “Holy crap!”

“Amazing,” Isaac murmured, walking over and giving him a congratulatory peck on the lips. “I’m so proud of you.”

“You’re making me blush,” Stiles huffed, gently pushing Isaac away. “You know what this means, right? I’m gonna be able to find Boyd and Erica.”

“Shouldn’t we keep practicing? Maybe with a bigger search area?” Isaac suggested.

“Nah, I’m pretty sure I got it. I figured out the key to focusing my abilities.”

“Which is?”

“You, of course,” Stiles grinned, poking Isaac in the stomach playfully.

“Right,” Isaac scoffed.

“Come on, you’ve got some of Boyd and Erica’s things at the loft, right? Let’s go grab it and do this,” Stiles said excitedly, pulling Isaac out of the classroom.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?”

“Yes,” Stiles insisted, kissing the back of Isaac’s hand that he was gripping in his own. “I can feel it.”

“Alright, let’s do this.”

“What are we doing?” Scott asked, stepping out from a classroom that was just letting out for the day. “And why are you here?”

“Look Scott, I found Isaac,” Stiles said proudly.

“Was he lost?” Scott asked in confusion, looking between the two of them.

“Not important,” Stiles waved off, pulling Scott closer so the other students milling about couldn’t hear their conversation. “I found a way to find our missing friends. You want in on this?”

“What? How?”

“I’ll explain on the way. I hope you’ve got your fighting pants on, because this could get messy.”

*

Stiles filled Scott in on everything as he drove them over to the loft. Isaac sent Derek a heads-up text, so their arrival wouldn’t be too big of a surprise. This would make him forget all about the puppy thing. Once Derek had his Betas back, Stiles would be in his good graces for life.

“Are you sure about this?” Scott asked as they rode the elevator up to Derek’s floor.

“Does no one have faith in my abilities?” Stiles grumbled.

“I’m not talking about that. I’m worried about what will happen if this works,” Scott sighed. “This is dangerous. We saw what they were capable of in the woods and they weren’t even there. What are they like in person?”

“Scott may be right. What kind of fight can we put up with the three of us, plus Derek? We don’t even know how many people are in the Alpha pack,” Isaac pointed out.

“We can’t do nothing. The longer they have Erica and Boyd, the less chance we find them okay. Can you live with yourself if anything happens to them and we did nothing to try to save them?” Stiles asked. The elevator doors opened and Scott stepped off, but Isaac grabbed Stiles’ arm before he could as well.

“I know I won’t be able to live with myself if something happens to you because we went in there unprepared,” Isaac said softly. Stiles sighed, pulling Isaac down a little so they could press their foreheads together.

“I seem to recall you were the one hurt the last time we did something werewolf related.”

“And we had been unprepared, remember? I don’t care about me, as long as you are okay.”

“I feel the same way about you. So how about we stick together this time? We can protect each other,” Stiles suggested. Isaac groaned, but Stiles knew that he knew he was beat. There was no way that Stiles wasn’t doing this, so Isaac had no choice but to get on board.

“You’re too stubborn,” Isaac grumbled.

“You know you like it,” Stiles grinned.

“Ah, young love,” Peter murmured dramatically, stepping out from whatever corner he had been lurking in. “I remember my first.”

“What happened to her? Did you kill her?” Stiles asked, smirking unhappily in his direction. Peter was his least favorite werewolf by far.

“Funny.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Can’t a man visit his nephew?”

“Oh, forgive me. I forgot I was talking to uncle of the year here,” Stiles scoffed.

“Let’s go inside,” Isaac mumbled, keeping himself between the verbally sparring duo. Now Stiles could understand why Isaac had so much trouble sleeping at the loft when Peter was around. Even without the shouting, he just gave off bad vibes. That was an understatement though, since Peter was also an actual murderer. They walked into the loft side by side, finding Derek standing in front of the windows with a familiar scowl.

“Hey pal, how’s it wagging?” Stiles smirked.

“Stiles,” Isaac groaned, shaking his head in disappointment.

“I meant hanging.”

“Sure you did.”

“Tell me what your plan is or get out,” Derek demanded, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Nothing too complicated. Just tracking down your missing Betas and saving the day,” Stiles shrugged.

“And how do you plan on accomplishing such a feat?” Peter asked, leaning against one of the pillars.

“I’m a man of many talents,” Stiles answered evasively. He wasn’t comfortable with the idea of Peter knowing about his magical abilities. Peter was the type to try to take advantage of it or sell him out to someone else for a gain.

“I’ve heard,” Peter snickered, raising his eyebrows in Isaac’s direction.

“Can we get on with this?” Derek snapped. “Do you know where they are?”

“Not yet, but as soon as you give me something of theirs, I will,” Stiles said confidently.

“One second,” Isaac mumbled, sprinting up the stairs and into his room. He came back down a few moments later holding a jacket and a pair of shoes.

“Why do you have those?” Derek asked.

“They left them at the depot when they took off. I figured I’d hang onto them in case they came back,” Isaac shrugged.

“Good thing you did, since it’s just what I need,” Stiles praised, taking the jacket. It was obviously Erica’s and he tried to see if he got a vibe off of it as he held it in his hands.

“So where are they?” Derek prodded.

“Oh my gosh, give me a minute. It’s not that easy,” Stiles sighed, tuning out his unhelpful audience. He repeated the spell just as he had earlier, picturing Erica in his mind. She wasn’t as clear as Isaac had been, but it didn’t need to be perfect. As long as he had a direction to go in, he could figure it out from there. “Let’s go.”

“Go where?” Scott whispered, but Stiles didn’t wait. He rushed out of the loft with Isaac hot on his heels. He heard Derek muttering complaints behind him, but as long as he followed, Stiles didn’t care. When they got to the jeep, Stiles tossed his keys to Isaac, climbing into the passenger's seat. He wouldn’t be able to drive while he was focused on the trail.

Stiles mumbled directions as they came to him and Isaac diligently listened. Derek and Peter were in the car behind them, staying close. Stiles couldn’t even find it in himself to be nervous about what they were about to encounter, since he was so proud of being successful in his magic. Once they got Boyd and Erica back, they were going to have to celebrate. In addition to a private one for just him and Isaac.

“Stop!” Stiles called out suddenly and Isaac gently slammed on the brakes. He wasn’t sure how that was possible, but Isaac was always very careful with his jeep. “This one.” Stiles pointed to an old building across from where they were stopped.

“Are you sure?” Scott asked, leaning forward from the back seat.

“I appreciate the vote of confidence,” Stiles snorted.

“You better be right about this,” Derek growled, lurking next to his window.

“The support is overwhelming.”

“I believe in you,” Isaac said, reaching over to squeeze his shoulder. At least he had him.

“We stick together and I go in first, got it?” Derek directed, cracking his neck in anticipation. Stiles nodded, feeling his heart rate pick up speed a bit. This was the moment he’d been working toward. They were gonna get Erica and Boyd back.

*

“Is this Erica? No, it’s a broom,” Peter said, shooting him a satisfied grin.

“I don’t know where I went wrong,” Stiles mumbled, looking around the empty space. There was no one here and it didn’t look like there had been anyone here for a long time.

“I know where we did. Listening to you,” Peter smirked.

“Maybe they were here at one point,” Isaac offered, trying to find a way to make this into something that wasn’t a complete failure.

“That doesn’t really help anything, does it? Don’t worry, Stiles, your participation trophy will be delivered soon.”

“Back off,” Isaac growled, causing Peter to raise his eyebrows in amused surprise.

“How adorable.”

“Stop it,” Derek snapped, stomping across the room to rejoin the group. He’d gone off on his own to sniff around, just in case there was a lingering scent. Judging by his eyebrows, there was nothing to be found. “Next time you think you can help with something, don’t call me.”

“I won’t,” Stiles shot back, staring at the floor as Derek and Peter left. He felt like such an idiot. He’d been so sure that he was right.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Isaac soothed. “If you keep practicing-”

“I don’t want to practice, I want to be good at this already!” Stiles shouted. Isaac flinched a little, but didn’t move away. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be yelling at you.”

“I know you’re just frustrated,” Isaac sighed, wrapping him up into a hug. Stiles let himself be held, trying to figure out where he’d messed up. Did being in a car screw with his abilities? Would he need to walk next time? He had been so sure.

“Do you think you can drop me at Deaton’s? I have a shift soon,” Scott requested.

“Yeah, sure,” Stiles mumbled. He grabbed his keys back from Isaac, needing to do something to distract himself from his failure. They drove the whole way in silence, since Stiles didn’t feel like being the conversation starter he usually was. Maybe he’d just gotten turned around or something. There could be a good explanation why he’d led them to the wrong spot.

“I’ll call you later,” Scott said, hopping out of the car.

“Do you want to go back to your house?” Isaac asked, reaching over to squeeze the hand that was clenched around the steering wheel. “If your dad’s not home, we can keep practicing.”

“I’ve got a better idea,” Stiles replied, whipping the car around in a tight u turn and going back the way they came.

“What are you doing?”

“We’re going back.”

“Alone? Stiles-”

“Hey, we’re not alone. We’ve got each other, right?” Stiles pointed out. “That’s all we need.”

“Against an Alpha pack? No. We need a lot more. We probably didn’t have enough before,” Isaac argued.

“I need to see if I was right, but just a little bit off. It’ll drive me crazy if I don’t make sure.”

“And what happens if we find them?”

“We’ll leave and get the others.”

“Stiles,” Isaac said seriously, waiting until they were at a stop sign and could make eye contact, “promise me you won’t do anything dangerous. Promise that if I say we need to leave, we’ll leave.”

“Of course,” Stiles agreed. Isaac was putting a lot of trust in him to do this, so Stiles would give him the same courtesy. He parked where he had before, grabbing the discarded jacket and shoes.

“How did you focus enough to find me?” Isaac asked.

“I thought about you,” Stiles murmured, flashing him a bashful smile. “The night we cooked dinner and spent time together.”

“Well, maybe Peter and Derek’s influence negatively affected your magic,” Isaac said, scooting closer into Stiles’ space. “Maybe I can help you clear your mind?”

“I guess I’m willing to try anything,” Stiles replied, pretending it was a hardship. They let themselves indulge in a very brief makeout session. Heaven forbid they actually did find something and Stiles had the evidence of their activities written across his face.

Once they finally peeled themselves away from each other, they got out of the jeep to walk down the street. Stiles was clutching the items, letting Isaac keep him safe as he walked along the sidewalk with his eyes closed. He thought about the times he’d seen the trio of Betas together, even though it hadn’t been too often. And maybe not the best memories. But since thinking of Erica and Boyd individually hadn’t worked before, maybe adding Isaac to the mix would do the trick.

“Wait,” Isaac whispered, stopping Stiles with a hand on his chest. “I think I smell something.” Stiles looked around, finding they were a couple streets down from the first building they’d tried.

“What is it?” Stiles asked.

“Werewolves.” Isaac grabbed his hand and pulled him into the cover of an alley.

“How many?”

“I don’t know, but more than we can handle. We need to go, now.”

“Okay, okay.”

“Aw, you’re leaving?” A silky voice purred from behind them. Isaac immediately shifted, shoving Stiles toward the wall and putting his body between him and the newcomers. “But you just got here.” There was a woman standing there, flanked by a set of twins. They all had their fangs bared, looking ready to strike at any moment.

“Crap,” Stiles muttered, fisting his hands in the back of Isaac’s shirt. This was bad.

Chapter Text

Stiles sluggishly blinked his eyes open, trying to figure out why his head was pounding. His chin was resting against his chest and it had been like that for a while, if the soreness of his neck told him anything. Where the hell was he and what was going on? It was hard to think past the throbbing, but staying in the dark was unacceptable.

He slowly lifted his head from its slumped position, squinting as he tried to figure out his surroundings in the poor light. Stiles couldn’t see much, but it didn’t seem like the walls were too far away from where he was sitting. It kind of looked like a glorified closet. Isaac would hate it. Isaac.

All of his memories snapped back into focus at the thought of his boyfriend. They’d been tracking Erica and Boyd when they’d been accosted in the alley, by who he assumed were members of the Alpha pack. Isaac had tried his best to fight them off, but a three on one ambush had been too hard to overcome and they were separated. The last thing Stiles remembered was being flung backwards into a building and his head cracking against the wall.

Stiles tried to stand, but his arms and legs were bound to a chair. He tried wriggling around, testing the strength, but he felt no give at all. If these were the people who’d been keeping Boyd and Erica prisoner for months, of course they would have no problem securing him. This was bad and it was only made worse by the fact that he didn’t know where Isaac was.

“Isaac?” Stiles whispered, hoping for any sort of sign that his boyfriend was here with him. As long as they were together, he knew they would be able to figure this out. “Isaac.”

“How cute,” a woman’s voice sounded from somewhere in front of him, before a door opened and bathed the room in light. Stiles turned his head away as the brightness assaulted his sensitive eyes. Once they finally adjusted, he turned back to glare at the woman. It was the same one from the alley, except this time she was alone.

“Who are you? Where am I? And where’s my friend?” Stiles demanded, figuring he would get all the important questions out there right off the bat. Maybe he would get lucky and she would answer at least one of them.

“Do you really think you’re in a position to be asking questions?” the woman laughed, sauntering into the room and standing in front of him. She had a menacing look to her, which wasn’t helped by the fact that she was barefoot and presenting her clawed toes proudly.

“Why are you doing this? I don’t understand,” Stiles mumbled, hoping a bit of submission would help, if the aggression was getting him nowhere. “Please, let me go.”

“Nice try, but I can smell wolf all over you,” the woman scoffed, slowly circling him like a predator. She wrapped her hands around the top of his chair, leaning over his shoulder to whisper in his ear. “But that’s not the only thing we smell on you.”

“Kali, what have I told you about playing with your food?” a disappointed male voice said from the doorway. Stiles flicked his eyes to the new arrival, finding a man with a white cane. “Don’t worry, I won’t let her eat you. We have much bigger plans for you.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Stiles insisted, and this time it was sort of true. Why would these werewolves care about him? To the people who didn’t know him, he was just a kid who ran with wolves, right?

“Don’t act stupid, it does you no favors,” the man sighed, making his way into the room and stopping in front of him.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Stiles repeated firmly. The man grabbed Stiles’ chin with thankfully unclawed fingers, pressing to the point of pain.

“I can sense the magic in you,” the man murmured, tilting his head to the side.

“What- I don’t-”

“And even if we couldn’t tell, the scrap of Latin in your pocket gave you away,” the woman smirked.

“You’re new at it, but you’ve got potential. I could use someone like you,” he mused.

“Not interested,” Stiles hissed. He sucked in a sharp breath when the woman behind him extended her claws and pressed the tips into his shoulders.

“And why is that? Because of some misguided loyalty to the children you run with?” the man wondered, patting Stiles’ cheek patronizingly before backing away a bit. “I regret to inform you that there may not be much of a pack to go back to in the near future.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Stiles demanded. He hated that they seemed to know a lot about him, but he knew nothing about them.

“Well, we already have two of your little friends. That’s who you were here for, isn’t it?” the man asked, tapping his cane against the ground. “And let’s not forget the one you came with tonight.” Stiles’ blood ran cold at the mention of Isaac. He’d of course been a constant on his mind since he woke up, but hearing the man acknowledge him just made him even more terrified.

“Where is he?” Stiles snapped, trying to tamp down on his growing panic. Maybe they just put him wherever they’d been holding Boyd and Erica this whole time. Not an ideal scenario, but Isaac was smart and could figure a way out of it.

“You’ll have to ask my friends,” the man responded, stepping to the side to reveal the twins from earlier standing in the doorway. They were grinning, staring at him with an evil look on their faces.

“What-” Stiles’ words were caught in his throat when a third man stepped into the doorway. He was massive and had an air of violence about him. But that wasn’t what made Stiles want to scream. It was the way he was casually wiping his bloody hands off on a rag. “What did you do?”

“We delivered a message,” the man next to him replied. “And what better way to do that than with a body?”

*

“After you finish restocking the supply shelf, you can go,” Deaton said, making a few notes in a file.

“Thanks,” Scott replied, immediately beginning his task. He was eager to get home and work on a paper he had due soon for school. He’d been planning on getting an earlier start on it, but Stiles had pulled him into his quest and he couldn’t say no.

Scott still wasn’t quite sure how he felt about this whole magic thing. He was happy that Stiles had found something to be passionate about, but Scott wished it was something a bit less dangerous. Nothing they did anymore was particularly safe, and adding more seemed unnecessarily foolish.

But there was at least one good thing to come from all this, and it was Stiles’ relationship with Isaac. Scott had been thrilled when they became friends, because a new friend was always better to have than an enemy. And when they became something more, Scott had been so happy for them. They seemed to genuinely care about each other and it was nice to see someone reciprocating Stiles’ feelings, instead of him pining after someone unattainable.

And things would be perfect, if only they could go on dates that didn’t end bloody. So that one wasn’t really their fault, but Scott didn’t want to see it become a trend. His relationship with Allison hadn’t been the most typical and he didn’t want to see Stiles following the same path. His eyes were open to this world though, so maybe he would have better luck.

Scott was just stacking the last of the puppy pads on the shelf when he heard a thump against the back door. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for strays to show up scratching back there. He figured they smelled the food or something. Scott walked over to the door and opened it carefully, hoping he wouldn’t scare away whatever it was. But what he found made his blood run cold.

“Isaac!” Scott shouted in horror. Isaac had been resting against the door and slumped bonelessly to the ground now that the support was gone. He was covered in blood, from his matted hair to the bottoms of his bare feet. Scott barely glanced around to see if there was any threat before he grabbed Isaac under the armpits and dragged him further into the room, slamming the door behind him.

“Oh my God,” Deaton gasped, rushing into the room to see what all the commotion was about. He helped Scott get Isaac laid out fully, then grabbed the closest towels he could reach, pressing them to various wounds on his body. Scott could barely tell where the blood was coming from, since there didn’t seem to be a clean patch of skin visible. But he focused on the most worrying one he saw: the slash across his throat.

“Isaac,” Scott choked out, blinking away the tears that were blurring his vision. He didn’t even have the capacity to check to see if Isaac was still alive. If there was still a heartbeat, he couldn’t hear it over his own that was thudding in his chest. “Oh no.”

“Scott, he’s alive. But he won’t be for long unless we do something,” Deaton said, the earlier bit of panic gone from his voice, leaving the unflappable man Scott knew well. “Keep the pressure on his wounds as best as you can while I round up some supplies.”

“Okay, okay,” Scott whispered, trying to look at this as clinically as possible. Falling apart wouldn’t help Isaac right now and that was the most important thing. He had to treat this like any other trauma case that came in.

“Do you have any idea what could’ve happened to him?” Deaton asked, dumping another armful of towels next to Isaac’s body.

“We were looking for Boyd and Erica earlier, but we didn’t find them. I thought they were going home after they dropped me off,” Scott explained, shaking his head in disappointment at himself. He should’ve made them promise not to go off on their own. “Stiles and Isaac must’ve found them. Or the Alphas found them.”

“Are you saying you think an Alpha made these wounds?”

“I’m not sure, but it’s possible. Why?”

“I’m gonna need something I don’t have here. I’m calling Derek,” Deaton said, rushing back out of the room. Scott felt so alone dealing with all of this. He wasn’t used to dealing with a crisis without Stiles by his side. But that was the other thing that was about to make him break down.

“Where are you, Stiles?” Scott murmured. Isaac’s eyes shot open as soon as Scott uttered the name of his best friend and he reared back in shock. Isaac wheezed in a painful sounding breath before coughing out a spray of blood.

“Sss-”

“Isaac, can you hear me?” Scott exclaimed, trying to tip Isaac onto his side to let some of the blood out of his mouth. He couldn’t worry about the other damage he might be doing to him. “Deaton, he’s awake!”

“Sss-” Isaac gurgled out again, shaking from the effort.

“Hold on, okay? Deaton is gonna patch you up and you’re gonna be alright. Just please, hold on,” Scott pleaded. Isaac reached up and gripped the wrist of the hand Scott had pressed against his throat with surprising strength.

“S-save St-stiles,” Isaac rasped, holding desperate eye contact with him for a few moments before they slipped back out of focus.

“No, stay with me!” Scott begged, sobbing when Isaac’s hand fell back to his side and his body went fully limp. He wasn’t even struggling to breathe anymore. “Deaton, he’s not breathing!” Deaton rushed back into the room with a bowl full of gauze and tape.

“Scott, I’m gonna need you to stay calm and start CPR. I’m going to wrap these wounds as best I can so he doesn’t bleed out,” Deaton instructed, shifting Scott’s hands from Isaac’s wounds and to the proper position. “Can you do that?”

“Yeah,” Scott nodded, sniffling as he tried to reign in his emotions. His mom had taught him all the steps from a young age, but he’d never had to do this on a real person, much less someone he actually knew.

Scott got on his knees and started doing chest compressions, counting in his head as he went along. He could see the blood pumping out of Isaac’s wounds with each press, but Deaton was doing his best to slow it down. Scott couldn’t help feeling like he was helping to kill Isaac himself.

He tipped Isaac’s chin back and pinched his nose closed, not caring about the blood on his lips as he tried to breathe air into his lungs. Scott watched Isaac’s chest closely for any movements, but didn’t see anything.

“It’s not working,” Scott moaned, trying again with still no luck.

“There must be too much blood blocking the air,” Deaton sighed, ripping a piece of tape that he was using to close up a long gash on Isaac’s side. Scott wasn’t positive, but he was sure he saw a flash of white bone before it was covered with a bandage. “Go back to chest compressions.”

“Okay,” Scott replied, pressing on Isaac’s ribs again and again in an attempt to keep him alive. He needed Derek to get here soon with the solution so he could go off on his own for a minute and scream and cry. There was a sudden snapping noise under his hands and Scott felt the urge to throw up. “Oh God, I’m hurting him.”

“You have to keep going. A few broken ribs don’t matter,” Deaton directed, and so he did. Scott kept going, ignoring any cracking noises he heard and the way some of the bones gave a little under his hands. He could apologize if Isaac lived.

“Come on, Isaac. I need you to tell me where Stiles is. And once I find him, he’ll never forgive me if I let anything happen to you. So you gotta fight, okay? You’ve made it through everything else and you can make it through this,” Scott implored, giving up on counting. He was going to do this for as long as it took.

Scott wasn’t sure how much time passed before Derek banged into the clinic. He saw the typically controlled man’s steps falter slightly when he caught sight of his Beta, but he quickly pulled himself together and dropped down to the floor by Deaton’s side.

“Did you bring it?” Deaton asked, already holding his hand out for whatever it was.

“Yeah,” Derek mumbled, handing over a small bundle.

“What is that?” Scott asked, shaking his head as a bead of sweat rolled down his temple.

“If these are wounds made by an Alpha, they won’t heal like other wounds. This will help heal him on the inside,” Derek explained, taking a moment to squeeze Isaac’s arm before getting to work. There was a flurry of activity that Scott could barely keep up with, so he just focused on his part.

“Scott, I need you to go into the other room and get the jar on the top shelf labeled ephedra,” Deaton instructed.

“But what about CPR?” Scott questioned, not wanting to move from his spot. It felt like if he stopped, that would be the end of Isaac.

“Derek will take over,” Deaton assured him, nudging Derek to take Scott’s spot. Scott reluctantly moved aside, sparing one last glance at Isaac’s face before he sprinted out of the room.

“I’ll be right back!” Scott called behind him, scouring the shelves for what Deaton asked for. He couldn’t remember ever seeing it, but he didn’t usually deal with the medicine side of the job. Scott started to panic when he didn’t find it after a few minutes. What if this was the thing that Isaac needed to survive and his failure was killing him?

“I can’t find it!” Scott panted, raking a hand through his hair so he wouldn’t destroy everything in sight. He was about to start a new search when a shout of pain from the next room caught his attention. Was that Isaac? “Isaac!” Scott raced back toward the room, only to be stopped at the door by Derek.

“Scott, wait,” Derek directed, blocking him as he tried to push past.

“What’s happening? Did I hear Isaac?”

“You don’t want to see this part,” Derek insisted, grabbing Scott’s wrists as he attempted to fight his way through. “Let Deaton work.”

“We should’ve been there with them. This is our fault!” Scott shouted, breathing heavily as he lost control. “Isaac is dying and Stiles is missing and I can’t do anything about it! We should've been there.”

“We’ll fix this,” Derek said firmly, holding him up as his legs buckled under the weight of his emotions. Scott didn’t know if he believed him. They were both distracted by a low moan coming from the other room and Scott used it to break free and rush back in.

“Isaac!” Scott gasped, falling to his knees by his side again at the sight of his friend with his eyes open. He was still in and out a bit, turning his head from side to side restlessly. “Is he okay?”

“Given time, he should be,” Deaton replied, gathering up his supplies. “These wounds will take a bit more time to heal.” Scott sagged in relief, but there was still a pressing matter to be dealt with.

“Isaac, you need to tell us where Stiles is,” Scott said, trying to catch Isaac’s eye again as they roamed around the room.

“Stiles,” Isaac murmured, his eyes fluttering closed. Scott grabbed his cheeks, turning Isaac’s head to the side to try to help him focus on his face.

“Come on, you’ve got to tell us,” Scott pleaded.

“Oh no,” Derek sighed, pointing to the back of Isaac’s neck. Scott looked, finding a set of puncture wounds. They were nothing compared to the others on his body, so why did Derek look sick at the sight of them?

“What about it?”

“It’s a way for werewolves to share memories,” Derek mumbled, closing his eyes in resignation. “But it’s also a way to steal them.” Scott’s blood turned to ice at the implication of Derek’s words.

“Isaac, where is Stiles?” Scott begged, feeling nausea creep up his throat at the blank look in Isaac’s eyes.

“I don’t know.”

Chapter Text

“You’re lying!” Stiles spat, renewing his fight to escape his bonds. They couldn’t be telling the truth. He would’ve felt something, right? He would’ve been able to tell if Isaac was gone.

“Afraid not,” the man sighed, shaking his head in disappointment. “Ennis has never been the best when it comes to showing restraint.”

“Why hold back when you’re having fun?” the woman purred.

“Kali, quit teasing the boy. As you can see, he’s having a hard enough time already,” the man scolded. Stiles hadn’t realized that angry tears were spilling down his face.

“Screw you!” Stiles hissed. “You’re not gonna get away with this. No matter how long it takes.”

“Aw, do you hear that, Duke? I bet you’re trembling over there,” Kali laughed.

“I know I am,” one of the twins snarked.

“Me too,” the other one added.

“Boys, don’t you have anything better to do?” Duke chastised, waving his hands in the direction of the door to dismiss them. They left without argument, shoving each other on the way out. The big guy, Ennis, just stood there staring, twisting the saturated towel in his beefy hands. “It’s so hard to control a pack of Alphas. Everyone wants to be the leader.”

“What do you expect? It’s in our nature,” Kali growled, raking a claw along his temple. Stiles gasped as he felt the skin split slightly, and a little trickle of blood rolled down his cheek.

“Now,” Duke said, stepping closer, “heal that.”

“What?” Stiles sputtered, trying to jerk his head back. Kali gripped him by the hair, keeping him in place. Maybe growing his hair out hadn’t been a good idea. “I don’t- I can’t!”

“I think we’re wasting our time here, Deucalion. Any warlock worth his salt can do a simple healing spell,” Kali scoffed, sniffing deeply next to his weeping wound. “And look how pretty he is when he bleeds.”

“Sometimes I wonder where I’ve gone wrong,” Deucalion sighed. “That just means it will be easier to mould him into what we want him to be. He’ll be our perfect little weapon.”

“I’ll never be your anything,” Stiles growled. He’d die before he let himself get turned into a monster like them.

“How adorable,” Deucalion grinned, patting him on the head like a dog. “You say that as if you have a choice.”

*

“Isaac, calm down,” Scott urged, pushing him down from where he was trying to pull himself back up to his feet. But Isaac wouldn’t be stopped. He pushed Scott away with a strength that surprised even himself, rolling painfully onto his hands and knees. Isaac spat up another mouthful of blood, feeling lightheaded as he watched it add to the puddle he’d been laying in.

“Take it easy,” Derek commanded, standing off to the side a bit. “You’ll just set back your healing.”

“I don’t care!” Isaac snapped, holding back a whimper as he felt something tear inside his chest. He couldn’t recall how he’d gotten most of his injuries and that terrified him, but that paled in comparison to the fact that he had no idea where Stiles was. Scott finally took pity on him and helped him up to his feet, instead of trying to keep him down. Isaac leaned heavily on the counter behind him, knowing he wouldn’t be able to support his own weight for a while.

“Killing yourself isn’t going to help us find Stiles, is it?” Derek bit out. Normally that voice would’ve had Isaac cowering in submission, but right now pack hierarchy meant nothing to him. “Take a minute.”

“Every minute I take is another minute Stiles is stuck with them! That might be okay with you, but it isn’t with me!” Isaac exclaimed, shaking from pain and fear. “And if they’ve had Erica and Boyd all this time, what could even be left of them?”

“Isaac, you need to calm down,” Scott said again, gripping him around his shoulders.

“I can’t!” Isaac shouted, feeling himself start to hyperventilate. “I was supposed to protect him, but I failed. What if he’s not okay?”

“Stiles wouldn’t want you to torture yourself,” Scott insisted. But torture was probably what Stiles was being put through, and that thought stole all the air from Isaac’s lungs. There were black spots invading his vision and Isaac felt like he was going to pass out.

“Scott,” Isaac choked out, feeling himself fall, but unable to stop it.

*

Stiles had to start thinking with his head, instead of letting his broken heart lead the way. He had to set aside the pain of what was waiting for him out there and figure out how to stay alive. It was easier said than done, but he had to try. He had to get out of here so he could warn his friends.

“If I agree to staying with you, you have to let my friends go. And promise to never hurt any of them again,” Stiles demanded.

“What makes you think you can dictate any part of this? We already have you,” Deucalion scoffed.

“You may have my body, but you’ll never get me to do any magic. Unless you agree to my terms and I have proof that they are all safe,” Stiles shot back.

“Ah, that youthful persistence,” Deucalion murmured, running a finger along Stiles’ cheek. “I’m sure Kali will enjoy beating that out of you.”

“I can taste it already,” Kali moaned.

“Doesn’t matter what you do. You’ll never convince me to help you until I know my friends are safe,” Stiles ground out.

“And what would you say if I brought one of your dear friends in here and peeled off their skin, inch by inch, right in front of you?” Deucalion asked, his voice completely calm. Stiles could feel his stomach trying to fly out of his throat.

“Don’t.”

“Perhaps you’d like to hear exactly what happened to the friend that you came with tonight?” Deucalion offered. Stiles was sure one of his teeth just cracked from how hard he was clenching his jaw. “He fought so hard to get back to you. It was touching, really.”

“Stop it.”

“No matter how many times the twins sunk their claws into his flesh, despite every broken bone, he never stopped trying. It was quite commendable.”

“Stop.”

“Even when Ennis finally slit his throat, your name is what he used his last breath on.”

“Isaac!” Stiles screamed, thrashing around in his seat. He couldn’t stop screaming, letting out all of his anguish. They had to be lying, but the pain of the possibility that they weren’t was overwhelming. He wouldn’t survive losing Isaac.

*

Isaac sluggishly blinked his eyes open, feeling a distinct lack of pain. It didn’t make sense when he remembered the agony he was in before, but he wasn’t going to complain about it. He was so tired of hurting.

“Don’t do that to me again,” Scott chastised from above him.

“What?” Isaac mumbled, shifting slightly. Was his head in Scott’s lap? “What happened?”

“You passed out,” Derek growled from beside him. Isaac’s eyes shifted lower, finding their hands clasped and Derek pulling the pain from his body.

“I-I thought…” Scott trailed off, staring at him with haunted eyes.

“I’m fine.”

“You died, Isaac!” Scott shouted, sucking in a troubled breath. “You stopped breathing and your heart stopped beating and you were dead! I had to do CPR on you and I didn’t think you were going to make it. You almost didn’t.”

“I’m sorry,” Isaac whispered.

“You don’t have to apologize, just please let yourself heal a little bit while we figure this out,” Scott implored, blinking rapidly as he went on. “We can’t lose anyone else right now.”

“Stiles,” Isaac moaned, feeling a tear roll into his hair before he could stop it. “Why can’t I remember?”

“Werewolves have a way of going into a person’s memories and taking them away,” Derek explained.

“Can you undo it?”

“There are ways, but it’s too dangerous.”

“I don’t care.”

“It could kill you.”

“I don’t care!” Isaac shouted.

“Isaac,” Scott sighed.

“It’s for Stiles!”

“And what if it doesn’t work and also kills you? We’re in even worse shape than when we started,” Scott argued.

“So we do nothing and hope Stiles finds his way out on his own?” Isaac snapped. Scott was supposed to be Stiles’ best friend. He should be willing to move heaven and earth to save him. “If Boyd and Erica haven’t been able to get away, Stiles has no chance.”

“He’s not saying we do nothing, he’s just saying we need to come up with a plan. Going in half-cocked is what got you into this situation in the first place!” Derek exclaimed. Isaac gasped out a sob, pushing them both away as he rolled to his feet. He leaned over the counter, taking deep breaths as he tried not to break down.

“You’re right, this is my fault,” Isaac admitted, turning to face them as soon as he had the ability to. “That’s why I’m willing to do whatever it takes to bring him back.”

*

Stiles picked his head up from where it was resting against his chest. He didn’t recall passing out, but he must’ve after his last freak out. A part of him wished he hadn’t woken at all. Isaac was dead and it was all his fault.

It was Stiles’ magic that led them here. It was his idea to keep looking on their own. Isaac thought it was a bad idea. Isaac wanted them to have backup. But Stiles had been too cocky and it cost Isaac his life.

Stiles let the tears fall from his eyes without trying to stop them. He was alone in the room for now, but he had no idea how long his reprieve would last. Now was his chance to grieve, but once the Alphas came back, he would have to put his game face back on.

They hadn’t had enough time together. Stiles had been stupid enough to believe that they were young and had all the time in the world. They didn’t even get a chance. He wanted to take Isaac to a nice restaurant and a real movie and bowling and putt putt and everything in between. He wanted to walk down the halls at school, holding hands. He wanted to recreate every stupid rom-com moment that he always laughed at. But it was too late.

Even if Stiles made it out of this alive, he couldn’t stay in Beacon Hills. No matter what it took, he was going to convince his dad to move as far away as possible. He couldn’t stay in the town that systematically took everything away from him. He couldn’t be reminded of everything he lost, everywhere he looked.

How was he going to face everyone after this? Scott would be devastated, but disgustingly understanding. None of the blame Stiles deserved would be placed on his shoulders and that was unacceptable. He needed everyone to hate him as much as he hated himself. Stiles would probably get some of the anger he craved from Derek, seeing as how he took away his last Beta. At times, it felt like Derek was just waiting for an excuse to rip him to shreds and Stiles had just given it to him on a silver platter. And Stiles wouldn’t even try to defend himself.

This magic was supposed to lead to good things. Stiles was going to be strong and important to the pack. But now he was worse off than he’d ever been. His mom had given up magic to protect her family, but Stiles had been too selfish. This whole situation was like spitting on her memory. Stiles was alone now, with only failure as his company.

*

“What do you remember?” Scott asked, pacing next to the exam table Isaac was currently perched on. He’d been strong-armed into letting Deaton check over his wounds and see how they were healing. “Start from the beginning.”

“I remember going with everyone to the empty building and not finding anything. Then we were driving you here,” Isaac replied, wincing as Deaton pulled a bandage off his side, revealing a deep gouge. It wasn’t bleeding, but the skin hadn’t finished closing.

“That’s it until you woke up here?” Scott questioned, sounding a bit more discouraged. Isaac hated knowing he was letting everyone down, especially Stiles. How could memories be taken like that? It was such a violation that he swore he would never even try doing it to someone else. There were a multitude of memories he wished he could get rid of, but he never wanted to lose a second with Stiles.

“I think so,” Isaac sighed, running a hand through his hair. “How long was that?”

“My shift was four hours,” Scott sighed. Four hours unaccounted for. It didn’t mean that they’d fallen into the clutches of the Alpha pack immediately after leaving here, but Isaac didn’t know for sure.

“Isaac, could you lift your head, please?” Deaton requested. Isaac complied, biting his lip as Deaton unwound the gauze from around his neck. Every time he’d seen someone get their throats cut in the movies, it had always looked so gruesome. And it almost always was a death sentence. How had Isaac been able to survive long enough to get help? Isaac touched the edge of the wound, feeling a flash of something skitter across his mind.

“Wait,” Isaac murmured, closing his eyes in concentration. He remembered something. “There was a car.”

“Stiles’ jeep?” Scott asked, a spark of hope coloring his voice.

“No, a van. I was in the back of a van,” Isaac muttered, grimacing as his head pounded from the simple act of trying to recall his memories. “There was arguing, but I couldn’t understand all of it. Something about finishing it and not playing games.”

“Did you recognize them? Was Stiles there?”

“I didn’t see Stiles. And I’d never seen the guys arguing before.”

“What else?” Scott encouraged.

“Someone was holding me and I couldn’t move. He whispered something in my ear, then a different guy slit my throat,” Isaac replied, unconsciously gripping his neck. “Then they pushed me out the back and took off. I must’ve crawled to the door, but I don’t remember.”

“What did he say to you?”

“This was a warning,” Isaac breathed out, turning shocked eyes around the group. “This is what would happen if we tried to find our witch.”

*

Stiles’ face was blank when the Alphas finally came back. It was only Deucalion this time, but Stiles wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing. Kali seemed to be the more aggressive of the two, but he could tell that Deucalion wasn’t afraid to resort to violence when necessary.

“Did you have a nice nap?” Deucalion smirked, stopping a few feet in front of Stiles’ chair. He wished he could kick out and do some sort of damage, but his bindings were still holding strong. “Cat got your tongue?” Stiles wasn’t going to say anything. Reasoning wouldn’t help, begging wouldn’t help, threats wouldn’t help. What was the point of engaging at all?

“Are you really giving a blind man the silent treatment?” he scoffed, putting his hand on his chest in mock offense. “So rude.” Deucalion slowly started circling him, the tapping of his cane sounding obscenely loud in this otherwise quiet room. Even though the man couldn’t see him, Stiles didn’t give him the satisfaction of following his circuit around the room.

“You know, I can make you talk, if I really wanted to,” Deucalion whispered in his ear. Stiles didn’t react. The werewolf chuckled, fiddling with the end of his cane as he walked back to stand in front of Stiles. He picked it up, pointing the end in Stiles’ face. But instead of the normal bottom, now there was a blade. “Feel like talking yet?”

Stiles fought to keep his breathing under control now that he was staring down the end of a knife. This was to be expected, right? There was no way he was going to come out of this unscathed. And as long as it was him being hurt and not any of his friends, he would deal with it. No matter how bad it got.

*

“Stiles is alive!” Isaac exclaimed, feeling unbelievable relief crash down on him. If they were serious enough about sending a message for them to stay away, they knew Stiles was too important to kill. This was still a rescue mission, not recovery.

“That still doesn’t tell us where they are keeping him,” Derek pointed out.

“Why would they take your memories away, just to turn around and try to kill you right after?” Scott wondered.

“Maybe they wanted me to live long enough to send the message, but not be able to give you any useful information.”

“From the sounds of the arguing you heard, there might have been a change in plans,” Deaton added in.

“None of that matters anymore. We need to find Stiles,” Isaac said, patting his pockets. “Where’s my phone?”

“I already tried calling Stiles’ phone. There was no answer,” Scott sighed.

“That’s not what I want it for. Can I borrow yours?” Isaac asked. Scott handed his phone over without question and Isaac scrolled through the gallery until he found what he was looking for. It was just a normal, candid shot of Stiles sitting in his jeep. His eyes were sparkling the way they always did and he was obviously in the middle of some wild story, with the way one hand was waving above his head. Isaac ached with a need to see him again.

“What are you doing?” Scott asked quietly.

“Something Stiles said earlier. When he was looking for me in the school, he said he focused on memories of me and he just knew where to go,” Isaac murmured, running his finger along the edge of the photo. “I was hoping I’d be able to do the same.”

“That was magic though. What makes you think it would work the other way as well?” Derek asked.

“I think Stiles was right about your negative influence,” Isaac muttered, cutting his eyes over at him. That had been the excuse Stiles used for why the spell didn’t work the first time. But when did they have that conversation? “Oh my God.”

“What?” Scott asked, but Isaac was lost in the memories that were starting to piece back together in his mind. Stiles deciding to drive back. Isaac not wanting to go alone. Agreeing to look around only. Getting ambushed.

“I remember,” Isaac whispered, grabbing Scott by the wrist. “I know where Stiles is.”

*

“Stop!” Stiles shouted, shaking as his breaths came out in short pants. He’d held strong for the first few punctures, but the one in his right shoulder that ended with a twist was too much and he couldn’t stop himself from crying out. Deucalion had a smug expression on his face as he put the cap back on the end of his cane, not even bothering to wipe off the blood first.

“I hope you aren’t always this stubborn. It will make your training much more difficult,” Deucalion scolded.

“Screw your training,” Stiles moaned, letting his head tip back and rest against the back of the chair.

“You say that now, but just wait until you get a taste of what you’ll be able to do. You won’t want to stop until you become the most powerful of your kind.”

“And what’s to stop me from killing you once I reach that point?” Stiles spat. That would never stop being his goal, no matter how long it took or how dark he had to go.

“You will learn to obey your Alpha. I will systematically destroy any sense of free will you have. And at the end of the day, you will kneel at my feet if I so much as gesture to the floor!” Deucalion bragged. Stiles stared at him with wild eyes, feeling the last of his self preservation leaving him in a rush.

“The second I get the opportunity, you are dead. There is no world that exists where I will ever be on your side. You will be creating your own murder weapon and I will relish in turning what you’ve done against you. In the end, you’ll beg me to put you out of your misery,” Stiles growled, promise clear in his voice. Deucalion laughed, sending another flare of anger through Stiles. He may not believe him, but as long as Stiles had even a spark of magic in him, he would fight.

“Maybe I’ll bite you?” Deucalion considered, flashing him an evil grin. “Werewolves can’t perform magic.”

*

Isaac hopped off the exam table, gearing himself up as he got ready for the fight of his life. He didn’t care what he had to do, who he had to kill, or even if he had to sacrifice his own life, Isaac was going to save Stiles.

“Maybe you should stay behind,” Derek suggested, and Isaac whirled around so fast that he almost lost his footing and went down.

“Excuse me?” Isaac ground out, trying to keep his composure.

“You are too close to this. It’s too personal and you’re gonna end up getting yourself killed.”

“Derek-”

“You can barely stand as it is. You being there will hurt the mission more than help it.” Isaac wasn’t sure what came over him, but suddenly he was leaping, Scott was shouting, Deaton was holding him back, and Derek was on the ground. His whole body was shaking as he regained focus again, his claws poking out of mostly broken fingers. Derek was staring up at him, a look of what could’ve been grudging respect on his face.

“There is no way that I’m getting left behind. You can either help me or stay here, but I’m done wasting time,” Isaac said carefully, standing up to his full height and showing no pain. He was not the abused kid cowering in the corner. He was not the guy who tried to go through life without being noticed. Isaac was going to be whoever he needed to be to save his boyfriend.

“Then let’s go,” Derek agreed, hopping back up to his feet. Scott gave him a nod of determination, ready to go as well.

“Hold on, Stiles,” Isaac whispered, striding toward the door, “we’re coming.”

Chapter Text

Isaac led them to the building purely on instinct. He still wasn’t sure how he remembered and most of the details were still fuzzy, but it didn’t matter anymore. There was a thrum of nervous energy in his gut when he saw Stiles’ jeep parked down the road, feeling a bit more hope after seeing the vehicle his boyfriend loved so much. Isaac had begun to love it too, aching to have another opportunity to spend time with Stiles in it.

They were hunkered down in an alley that smelled faintly of Isaac’s blood, coming up with a plan. Isaac wanted to burst in and find Stiles, but he knew that wasn’t the best idea. They needed to come up with some sort of idea of what everyone was going to do, so they didn’t waste time or get anyone killed.

“This feels like deja vu,” Peter chuckled, sauntering around the corner as if they weren’t about to charge into battle. He gave Isaac a curious once over, quirking an eyebrow. “You look awful.”

“Leave him alone. He was dead not too long ago,” Scott said, in his defense. Isaac wished he’d stop saying that. He felt out of sorts enough as it was.

“How nice, now we have something in common,” Peter smirked.

“Can we focus?” Derek demanded. “They probably already know we’re here.”

“I’m going for Stiles,” Isaac declared, knowing he wouldn’t be swayed.

“Maybe we should stick together. It’ll be safer that way,” Scott suggested.

“I’m not going to risk them killing Stiles while we’re off somewhere else. If he’s being kept with Boyd and Erica, great. But if he isn’t, I need to find him.”

“No use arguing, Scott. Can’t get in the way of young love,” Peter smirked. The older man made Isaac’s skin crawl, but he could admit that he was a good person to have on their side for this. He wasn’t the bravest or best fighter, proven by his actions when dealing with Gerard and Jackson, but he also wasn’t afraid to kill.

“Be careful in there. Don’t get yourself killed,” Derek said, looking at him with a bit more emotion than Isaac was used to. If this whole thing went sideways, Derek could end up losing his entire pack tonight.

“You too,” Isaac nodded, taking a few deep breaths. His body was still trying to heal back to normal, but he couldn’t focus on that. It was time to get Stiles back.

They crept in through the nearest door, Isaac taking the lead because there was no way he wasn’t. It was unlocked, which wasn’t a very good sign. The Alpha pack were probably expecting a rescue attempt, even though they had warned against it. But there was no way they would ever think of leaving Stiles behind. That same sentiment went for Erica and Boyd as well.

The inside of the building looked like an old bank and the idea of it made Isaac shiver. Banks had vaults, which meant the possibility of getting locked somewhere. Was Stiles locked up, scared and alone? Not for much longer, if Isaac had anything to say about it.

They all paused when they got to a fork, trying to decide which way to go. Derek’s head perked up and he tipped it to one side, mouthing the word “Boyd.” Isaac was about to go in that direction, lacking a good reason not to, but stopped. Something was telling him to go the other way. Listening to his instincts had gotten them this far and he couldn’t stop following them now. He backed up, nodding for the others to go the opposite way. Isaac could tell that Scott wanted to follow him, but he waved him off. For some reason, he felt like he needed to do this on his own.

Before Scott could stop him, Isaac quickly took off in the direction that his gut was telling him to go. The others could deal with getting Erica and Boyd out. Isaac quietly walked down the halls of the building, keeping to where the old offices used to be. Something in him just knew that he was close, even though he didn’t hear anything.

He stepped past a closed door, then froze when another feeling hit him. Isaac closed his eyes, letting the rest of his senses take over. He wasn’t anywhere near as proficient in using his werewolf abilities as Derek, but he was an expert in Stiles. Isaac carefully wrapped his fingers around the knob of the door, praying it was unlocked. It was, so Isaac pushed the door open, holding his breath until he could see what was on the other side.

If he hadn’t still been holding onto the door, Isaac would’ve hit the floor. The relief flooding through him was threatening to punch his legs out from under him. There was the problem of the Alpha standing in the room with a clawed hand ready to strike, but none of that mattered in this moment. Isaac had found him.

“Stiles.”

*

“Isaac!” Stiles gasped, not quite believing his eyes. Deucalion had been taunting him relentlessly before he suddenly went silent, smirking about the fact that they had company. Stiles wanted to yell out, but a threatening hand against his throat stopped him. He’d been expecting Scott and Derek, maybe even Peter, but when Isaac opened the door, Stiles felt like weeping with joy. His boyfriend was alive. Definitely worse for wear, but still alive.

“Well, it looks like a few boys I know have some explaining to do,” Deucalion sighed, setting his hand on Stiles’ shoulder. “You are a lot more alive than you are supposed to be.”

“Sorry to disappoint,” Isaac growled, glaring at the Alpha. “Let us go and we can forget about what happened.”

“Oh my, you honestly didn’t think that would work, did you?” Deucalion laughed, shaking his head patronizingly. “What would I gain from giving up everything?”

“Then let Stiles go and fight me instead,” Isaac challenged.

“Isaac, no!” Stiles exclaimed. Isaac was a complete wreck and it wouldn’t surprise him if Stiles could beat him in a fight right now. He couldn’t see Isaac get killed for him, not when he’d just gotten him back.

“It’s a fair fight. Werewolf versus werewolf. Unless you’re scared?” Isaac goaded.

“You silly boy. Never in your wildest imagination could you ever be my equal. I am an Alpha, the likes you’ve never seen before. What makes you think you even stand a chance against me?” Deucalion demanded, his voice rising to just below a shout.

“Because I’m fighting for my pack!” Isaac spat, flicking out his claws. Stiles wasn’t even sure he had the ability to reach a full shift, in the condition he was in at the moment.

“Isaac,” Stiles pleaded, begging in his mind for Isaac to run and save himself.

“Well, it looks like you’ll get to witness your friend’s death this time, instead of just hearing about it.” Stiles watched in horror as Deucalion shifted into something he’d never seen before. The kanima had been scary, but this looked like a demon straight out of hell.

Faster than Stiles could even comprehend, Deucalion sprang forward, batting Isaac to the side without much effort. Isaac flew into the wall, falling heavily onto his hands and knees. He was slow to get up, holding himself around his stomach as he stood. Deucalion backhanded him, then tossed him into the same wall. Stiles winced when he saw the wound that had been opened up across Isaac’s cheek.

“Is this the best you’ve got?” Deucalion taunted, crouching down in front of a dazed Isaac.

“Please stop!” Stiles begged, renewing his efforts to get free from the chair he was tied to. He couldn’t sit back and watch this.

“I’m just getting started,” Deucalion sneered, raining down blows on Isaac indiscriminately. He wasn’t even using his claws at this point, dragging out the punishment just because he could. It was torture, plain and simple, and Stiles felt like he was going to be sick.

“Isaac!” Stiles cried, watching in terror as a limp Isaac spit out a mouthful of blood. “You sick bastard! You aren’t going to get away with this!” Deucalion whirled around to face him, a pleased smirk plastered across his inhuman face.

“And what do you think your weak little pack will be able to do about it? I haven’t even broken a sweat,” Deucalion bragged, giving him another challenging look before turning back to Isaac. In a move that surprised all of them, Isaac had taken that brief reprieve to gather up a bit of strength. As soon as Deucalion was facing him again, Isaac lashed out, raking his claws across the Alpha’s neck. Deucalion stumbled backwards a little in surprise and Isaac went in for another hit. The luck had run out though, and Deucalion caught him by the wrist and snapped Isaac’s arm like it was nothing. Stiles and Isaac cried out in unison, the sound almost drowned out by Deucalion’s laughing.

“Stop it! Isaac, no!” Stiles choked out, crying as Deucalion kept a punishing grip on Isaac’s wrist, using that to move him into a kneeling position in front of him. Isaac’s breaths were coming out in weak gasps and he turned tear filled eyes to meet Stiles’.

“Time to say goodbye,” Deucalion grinned, resting his claws against Isaac’s throat.

“Stiles, I’m sorry,” Isaac whispered, closing his eyes in defeat. It couldn’t end this way.

Stiles wasn’t sure if it was instinct or something he’d read in one of his magic books that hadn’t quite registered, but seeing Deucalion standing over Isaac with his claws ready to strike had the Latin spilling from his lips without a second thought. The words flowed from him as naturally as his mother tongue, making him tingle with a power that he didn’t quite understand, but felt innate. When he finished, nothing happened. At least, not at first. Deucalion had a curious look on his face, before he made a little noise of disappointment. And then he screamed.

Isaac slumped to the floor as Deucalion screamed, digging his claws into his own scalp. Stiles watched in detached horror as the Alpha fell back, writhing on the floor in agony. He’d done that. His magic had done that.

“Stiles,” Isaac gasped, dragging himself over to where Stiles sat trapped. Isaac was shaking as he used his left hand to cut through Stiles’ bonds. As soon as he was free, Stiles sprang out of the chair, wrapping Isaac up in his arms. They were both trembling in shock and pain, but Stiles could’ve stayed like this for the rest of his life.

“They told me you were dead. I thought you were dead,” Stiles sobbed, pressing his face against Isaac’s neck. He didn’t care that they were bleeding all over each other.

“Had to come back for you,” Isaac whispered, shuddering as Deucalion’s shrieks finally quieted down to whimpers, then stopped altogether.

“Don’t ever try to sacrifice yourself for me.”

“I’ll never promise that.”

“Are you okay? You looked terrible before the fight even started,” Stiles asked, running his hand along Isaac’s blood stained shirt.

“I’m fine, but what about you?” Isaac questioned, leaning back to look over Stiles’ body. He bit his lip when he saw the little puncture wounds left by Deucalion’s cane. “I don’t think I can take your pain right now.”

“You don’t need to. Nothing hurts now that we are together,” Stiles replied, getting a small smile from Isaac. He hadn’t been sure if he’d ever see one of those again.

“I’d kiss you right now, if I wasn’t currently coughing up blood,” Isaac murmured, pressing their foreheads together.

“Raincheck then. I suppose this isn’t the best place for romance,” Stiles sighed, flicking his eyes toward where Deucalion’s prone body was. “Is he dead? Did I kill him?”

“No, I can hear him breathing.”

“What do we do now?” Stiles was sort of relieved that his magic hadn’t killed anyone, especially since he wasn’t even sure what he’d done. But that still left them with a murderous Alpha to deal with.

“Don’t worry boys, I’ll take care of the rest,” Peter smirked, gliding into the room as if he was on a casual stroll.

“Where were you? You couldn’t have come in to help a little sooner?” Stiles demanded. Leave it to Peter to come in when the threat was gone.

“I had my hands full,” Peter mumbled, moving over to stand above Deucalion’s body. He tipped his head to the side in contemplation for a moment before bending down and raking his claws through Deucalion’s throat. He didn’t stop there, doing it over and over until Stiles couldn’t watch anymore, tucking his face back against Isaac’s shoulder as he tried to block out the squelching sound of tearing flesh.

“Oh my God, Stiles!” Scott shouted, running into the room and joining their huddle on the floor.

“Are you okay?” Stiles asked, shifting a little so Scott could be added to their embrace. He only looked slightly battered, which filled Stiles with relief.

“Yeah. Are you two?” Scott asked, taking in the sight of all the blood.

“We’re good,” Stiles confirmed.

“Peter, that’s enough!” Scott snapped, glaring back at the man who was still taking great joy in clawing the downed Alpha. Stiles gagged when he saw that Deucalion was more or less decapitated at this point.

“Take it from someone who recently came back from the dead. You want to make sure the job is done,” Peter shrugged, stopping to admire his handiwork. He nodded in approval, wiping his hands off on Deucalion’s shirt.

“Where’s Derek? Did you find Erica and Boyd?” Isaac asked.

“Um, yeah. We did,” Scott mumbled, glancing away from everyone.

“Oh no,” Isaac gasped, evidently coming to the same conclusion that Stiles had.

“No, no, they’re okay. They’re alive,” Scott added quickly. “It’s just complicated.”

“Oh Scott, don’t leave out the best part,” Peter smirked, leaning casually against the wall. “It turns out our Alpha friends here had been keeping your fellow Betas locked up this whole time, unable to shift. When that sort of thing builds up, the results can be very interesting.”

“What happened?” Isaac whispered.

“There were these twins…” Scott trailed off.

“‘Were’ being the key word here,” Peter snickered. “They are in pieces now.”

“Oh my God,” Stiles muttered.

“There was this really big guy too.”

“Ennis,” Stiles spat, his lips curling into a snarl. “He was the one who-”

“Slit my throat,” Isaac finished for him, rubbing at his neck.

“Well, we fought. It took all of us actually,” Scott mumbled.

“Don’t worry your innocent little head. That kill goes to me as well,” Peter said, grinning evilly.

“What about Kali?” Stiles asked.

“Who?”

“The woman with the clawed feet.”

“We didn’t see anyone else here.”

“Shit!” Stiles moaned. That was a dangerous loose end. “Where’s Derek?”

“Boyd and Erica were kind of losing it, so Derek knocked them out and we took them to his car so he could take them to Deaton. I stayed behind to find you.”

“We need to get out of here. Stiles needs a doctor,” Isaac insisted.

“What about all this?” Stiles asked, gesturing to Deucalion’s body. There was a bit of a mess left behind, not including the other gore he hadn’t even seen.

“I’ll take care of the bodies. It will be my pleasure,” Peter said, poking Deucalion’s leg with his toe.

“Come on, let’s go to my house so my mom can check us over,” Scott declared, helping Stiles up to his feet. Isaac slowly followed, cradling his broken arm to his chest. He wobbled when he was fully upright, so Scott and Stiles stuck to his sides, reminiscent of the night in the preserve after the arrows. They were lucky enough to be coming away with a win again, but this was too close of a call.

The walk to the jeep was slow, but luckily this part of town wasn’t busy at this time of night. The last thing they needed was for someone to notice the condition they were in and call the police. Stiles already didn’t know how he was going to explain his injuries to his dad.

Scott grabbed the extra car key hidden above the back tire and Stiles and Isaac climbed into the back seat of the jeep. They sat curled up against each other, relishing in the fact that they were both alive and safe. The mission had proved to be successful in the end, but it didn’t really feel like a win yet. This was going to be something that took a while to get past, but Stiles was determined that they would get through it. Their pack was whole again.

Chapter Text

Stiles looked down to watch his sleeping boyfriend, who was curled up in bed by his side. It had been a week since the situation with the Alpha pack. Stiles was mostly healed, at least physically. A couple of the puncture wounds had needed a stitch, but it was hardly an issue. The concussion was more of a bother, but it wasn’t like he was in constant agony. Any time he so much as squinted in discomfort, Isaac was there, taking his pain away. Stiles could tell that Isaac felt guilty about being able to heal quickly, unlike him.

When they’d gotten back to Scott’s house for his mom to check them over, Isaac passed out. One minute he’d been standing there, insisting that Melissa check Stiles over first, and the next he was down and out cold. Stiles had gotten so worked up over it that he’d fallen into a full panic attack, almost passing out as well as his body forgot how to breathe. Scott eventually calmed him down, assuring him that Isaac was fine and they were all going to be okay. He was right and Isaac woke up soon after, but they were all still a bit worse for wear.

Isaac was running himself ragged, splitting his time between Derek’s loft and Stiles’ house. Boyd and Erica were struggling with their newfound freedom, lashing out at anyone who came near them without warning. Anyone who wasn’t officially pack had been banned from the loft, since Derek deemed it too dangerous. Something about their wolves recognizing each other at a base level and anyone else would be seen as a threat. It didn’t stop Isaac from limping out to meet Stiles with more wounds than he’d had going in though. They seemed to be slowly getting better, but Stiles and Isaac were dealing with a new issue.

Stiles had woken up screaming his first night back at home, after having spent the night of the attack at Scott’s. The three of them had smushed into Scott’s bed, with Stiles trapped in the center. His dad had slammed into his room with his gun drawn, searching the area for a threat. Luckily Isaac hadn’t been with him that night, because that wouldn’t have gone well for any of them. Stiles made up some excuse about watching a scary movie, but that explanation had been pretty thin. He’d already had to lie about the scratch on his face, luckily the only mark visible from the Alpha attack. Stiles had placed the blame on Winnie, but he was sure she understood.

Isaac wasn’t faring much better. He’d crawled into Stiles’ bedroom in the middle of the night three days after the attack, shaky and exhausted. Nightmares had woken him up the few times he’d tried to sleep, which kept triggering Boyd and Erica. He’d given up on trying to sleep at all, but that made him too sluggish and he couldn’t protect himself properly during the other Betas rages. So Derek had sent him off to Stiles and Stiles happily welcomed him into his room. He got the okay from his dad as soon as Stiles put on his begging face, plus the massive eye bags Isaac had been sporting were a strong factor in him agreeing.

There wasn’t anything to worry about though, since they hadn’t done anything since their ordeal. The furthest they’d gone had been a peck on the cheek occasionally, but nothing more. Neither of them had felt very romantic recently, but now that Stiles was sitting awake again, that was all he could think about. He wasn’t afraid that they were going to break up, since they still cared about each other just as much, there was now this thing sitting between them that was throwing them off. Isaac almost seemed afraid to touch him, as if the slightest amount of pressure would break him. And even though he was trying hard to suppress it, an unexpected touch caused Isaac to startle, to varying degrees. There had been the time that Stiles had brushed a hand across Isaac’s knee and he jumped almost a foot in the air. The worst one had been when Stiles’ dad gave Isaac a pat on the back and he almost wolfed out in front of him. Stiles had to distract his dad by pretending to trip and fall, which wasn’t a very good choice, since Isaac thought he was really hurt. Life right now was a mess.

And another thing that was keeping Stiles up at night was his magic. He hadn’t touched a book or said a word of Latin since the spell that took down Deucalion. The fact that he’d done that without conscious thought freaked him out. And some of his nightmares were centered around the possibility that Isaac could’ve been harmed in that moment as well. The sound of Isaac screaming in pain because of him made him wake up covered in sweat more often than he liked to think about. He was currently awake due to that particular dream.

Isaac was faring better than him at the moment, so Stiles didn’t dare move from his spot next to him on the bed. They both needed the rest, so he was happy to see Isaac was getting some. Stiles knew it probably wouldn’t last until morning, but anything was better than nothing. Sure enough, a few minutes later Isaac woke with a gasp, reaching out and grabbing for Stiles before he was fully cognizant.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Stiles murmured, running his hands through Isaac’s hair.

“Did I wake you up?” Isaac asked quietly, rubbing his eyes as he regained his bearings.

“No, I’ve been awake for a while,” Stiles admitted, shifting so they were facing each other as they laid on their sides.

“You should’ve woken me up,” Isaac sighed.

“You need sleep too,” Stiles defended, grabbing Isaac’s hand and kissing the back of it. “What was it this time?” He’d been trying to get Isaac to open up more about the things troubling him, hoping that would help them both work through things. It didn’t seem to be working much yet.

“I was at your funeral and your dad was screaming at me for getting you killed,” Isaac whispered, sniffling as a tear rolled into his hair. “I even had to dig your grave myself. And my dad was there too, chirping over my shoulder about how I deserved this.”

“Oh Isaac,” Stiles mumbled, wiping under his eyes.

“I don’t know why I’m being so weak right now. You were the one who was held captive for hours,” Isaac muttered in frustration. “I need to be strong for you, but once again I’m letting you down.”

“Hey, this isn’t some trauma competition,” Stiles argued. “We both went through something terrible and taking time to deal with it is nothing to be ashamed of. Besides, it would make me feel worse if you were ignoring your own feelings to focus on mine. I can’t be happy if you aren’t okay.”

“I’m just tired of this. I want to be over it by now, but it feels like that time will never come. I’ve been through so much other crap, I don’t know why I can’t do what I’ve always done and get past it.”

“Isaac, you died,” Stiles said, his voice cracking a bit. “That isn’t really something that’s easy to brush aside.”

“You almost did too.”

“They weren’t going to kill me, they were going to use me,” Stiles reminded him. He’d told Isaac and Scott everything that happened that first night as they were lying in bed. Scott had gotten angrier than Stiles could remember seeing him in a long time, while Isaac had stayed silent, shaking with quiet rage.

“That might be worse than outright killing you. I know how you feel about the idea of someone forcing you to use your magic against your will,” Isaac said, sending Stiles a knowing look. “And I know you’ve been avoiding magic ever since.”

“Why do I have to have such an attentive boyfriend?” Stiles grumbled good naturedly. “I just need a break to get settled again. We saw what happened when I did magic under stressful circumstances and I’m scared of what could happen if I try something else while I’m still feeling this way.”

“I would hate for magic to be ruined for you because of this. I know how much you care about it.”

“Nowhere near as much as I care about you,” Stiles murmured, leaning in for a kiss. Isaac pulled his head back before they could make contact.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“Nothing is wrong with you.”

“I want to, I do, it’s just-”

“Scott gave you mouth to mouth, right? Maybe you’ve decided you like him better?” Stiles joked, easing a small smile from the other boy.

“Not likely,” Isaac scoffed.

“Look, I’m not going to force you to do anything you don’t want to do. We’ve always respected each other’s boundaries and that’s not going to change. And I’m not taking this as a slight against me either, so I don’t want you to worry about that,” Stiles insisted, scooting his head back to give Isaac some space. “Don’t be afraid to tell me what you are and aren’t comfortable with.”

“I don’t know how to explain it. It’s like I’m disconnected from my body or something.”

“That’s understandable.”

“I don’t want to be like this though. I want to go back to how we were,” Isaac sighed.

“And we will, but I think this is just one of those things we can’t rush,” Stiles shrugged. “Maybe we should do something completely normal today. Do you have anything planned?”

“No, Derek told me yesterday that it might be a good idea for me to stay away from the loft for a while. He thinks Erica and Boyd can sense I’m off and it’s making them even more unbalanced.”

“That settles it then. You and I are going to spend the day together, doing completely typical things,” Stiles determined.

“And what’s that?” Isaac asked dubiously.

“I’m not sure anymore, but we’ll figure it out as we go along,” Stiles said, rolling out of bed. “First stop is obviously breakfast.”

“The sun isn’t even up yet,” Isaac pointed out, sitting up to rest on his elbows.

“It will be soon, so it’s the perfect time to beat the morning rush. I for one could go for a nice omelet, maybe a waffle or two.”

“Not pancakes?” Isaac teased, showing a bit of the natural spark Stiles hadn’t seen in a while. He was already convinced that this was a good idea.

“Share a stack with me?” Stiles offered.

“How can I say no to that?” Isaac agreed.

“How about you take first shower while I set Winnie up for the day?” Stiles suggested.

“Are you sure about this?” Isaac asked, reluctantly rolling out of the bed.

“It’s going to be great, you’ll see,” Stiles confidently replied. Isaac nodded, scratching the back of his neck as he padded over to the bathroom. Before he passed, he left a feather light kiss on Stiles’ forehead, smiling softly at Stiles’ beaming grin. This was definitely the right decision. They both needed a carefree day to reconnect with themselves and each other.

Operation: Perfect Date was underway.

Chapter Text

The sun was just starting to peak over the horizon when Stiles pulled into the parking lot of the local diner. He decided to forgo one of the chains in favor of a small mom and pop establishment. The food was always better and the atmosphere was more cozy. Isaac was fiddling with the scarf wrapped around his neck, but it was comfortable. They both needed this and Stiles was excited to take a good step toward normal.

“I hope you brought your appetite,” Stiles grinned, parking the car up front.

“I hope you brought cash,” Isaac shot back. Stiles’ eyes widened in slight panic, thinking of the contents of his wallet. He might have to adjust some plans. “Don’t worry, I’ve got it.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a credit card that Stiles hadn’t seen before.

“Where’d you get this?”

“Derek gave it to me. I think you shamed him into it when you brought up my lack of shoes,” Isaac chuckled.

“I was supposed to be treating you today,” Stiles sighed. He felt kind of lame having to rely on Derek’s money to treat his boyfriend, even though all of his own money came from his dad. “I’m paying for the ice cream later. No arguments.”

“Deal,” Isaac agreed, grabbing his hand and giving it a kiss before climbing out of the jeep. Stiles followed him, letting his fluttering heart propel him forward. They were seated in a booth in the front of the restaurant, next to a big window. Stiles impulsively slid onto the bench beside Isaac, smiling when he didn’t protest and held his hand under the table. They flipped through the same menu, ordering one of almost every breakfast option they had available, agreeing to share.

“So, what’s next on the agenda, Mr. Romance?” Isaac asked, taking a sip of milk. Stiles smirked at the mustache left behind, running his thumb along Isaac’s lip before sticking the digit in his own mouth. Isaac’s face turned bright red in response, but it was with a pleased kind of embarrassment.

“Well, now that we’ve got Derek’s plastic, I’m gonna help you pick out some things your closet is desperately lacking,” Stiles grinned.

“Shopping doesn’t sound very fun,” Isaac grumbled, sticking his bottom lip out in a pout. Stiles wanted to lean forward and bite it.

“But I need you to help me pick out a scarf,” Stiles laughed, hooking his ankle around Isaac’s. “Come on, it’ll be fun. We can walk around the mall, grab lunch, maybe see a movie later? Typical teenage date activities.”

“Don’t forget the ice cream,” Isaac reminded him, nodding in agreement to his plan.

“Definitely not.” The food came a few minutes later and they dug in with gusto. Neither of their appetites had been quite normal since their ordeal, but all of that seemed to be forgotten now. Isaac threw together a crazy looking concoction of sausage, bacon, eggs, and hashbrowns, drizzling it all with maple syrup before slapping it between two slices of toast.

“What?” Isaac asked around his mouthful.

“Are you pregnant?” Stiles asked, giggling at the affronted look on Isaac’s face.

“How about you try it before you judge me?” Isaac shot back, shoving the overflowing sandwich in his face. Stiles took a reluctant bite, chewing in silent consideration.

“You’re right,” Stiles conceded, licking his lips as syrup rolled down his chin. Copying his move from earlier, Isaac swiped up the liquid and lapped it up with a grin. The things that sight was doing to him were indecent.

“Wanna share it?” Isaac offered.

“Sure,” Stiles agreed, smiling softly when Isaac cut the sandwich down the middle and gave him the slightly bigger piece. He switched them around as soon as Isaac wasn’t looking.

They ate the rest of their feast without talking about anything particularly important, but that was the point. Just hearing Isaac laugh again in a way that wasn’t forced was all Stiles wanted, and he followed right along with his own. All the other crap would still be waiting for them, but all they had to worry about at the moment was this stack of pancakes.

*

“I’ve never spent so much money on clothes in my entire life,” Isaac chuckled as they walked back into the mall. Even for a werewolf, that was too many bags to carry.

“All staples, so it’s fine,” Stiles assured him.

“Including the Doc Martins?”

“They looked too good on you to pass up!” Stiles argued, giving Isaac a playful shove. He still wasn’t sure how comfortable Isaac was with PDA, besides those few instances in the relative privacy of the diner booth. Stiles didn’t want to push him too fast, given all the circumstances. But he would be lying if he didn’t have the urge to hold Isaac’s hand and never let it go.

“Your new scarf looked good too,” Isaac said quietly, tilting his head to the side. It was a dark green and Isaac insisted that the color brought out the honey flecks in his eyes, whatever the hell that meant. His eyes were boring, unlike the ocean blue of Isaac’s. He could probably get lost in them forever.

“What should we get for lunch?” Stiles wondered, lustfully eyeing the pretzel stand nearby.

“How are you hungry again?” Isaac scoffed, dragging him away before he gave into temptation. Stiles took the opportunity to link arms, but left them loose in case Isaac wanted space. To Stiles’ utter delight and relief, Isaac pulled him closer, trailing his hand down his arm until they intertwined their fingers.

“I’m a growing boy. And how can you resist when there are so many options?” Stiles laughed. He wasn’t going to geek out about the hand holding and make things weird. “Just a little something so we aren’t tempted by overpriced movie snacks.”

“I still want an ICEE though. And popcorn with extra butter.”

“And you’ll get them,” Stiles cooed teasingly. Isaac rolled his eyes, finally relenting and walking toward the food court. It wasn’t terribly busy, with short lines and multiple tables to choose from. “What looks good?”

“Stiles?” a familiar voice called out from behind them. Stiles turned, finding the beaming face of his best friend. Except, he wasn’t alone.

“Allison? You’re back?” Stiles asked in surprise. Obviously it was Allison. He didn’t know why he said it like that. Besides a haircut, she looked exactly the same.

“Yeah, hey,” Allison replied, giving them both a friendly smile. “I got into town last night and Scott and I decided to catch up today.”

“Great, that’s great,” Stiles said, very aware that he was still holding hands with Isaac. Had Scott filled her in on that development? She didn’t look particularly surprised.

“Scott told me about what happened the other night. Are you guys okay?” Allison asked in concern. Isaac’s grip immediately got tighter at the reminder of what happened and Stiles could feel the carefree atmosphere they’d built up slipping away. Scott must’ve noticed Isaac’s reaction as well, because he quickly stepped up to try to diffuse the situation.

“They’re fine, see. Everyone is fine. No need to bring it up,” Scott said quickly, throwing his arm around Allison’s shoulders. “You should tell them how France was. Tons of pasta, right?”

“That’s Italy,” Isaac mumbled, giving Stiles a little nudge to let him know he was okay.

“Oh, that’s right. Europe is so confusing,” Scott chuckled.

“Well, it was good seeing you guys, but we’ll let you get back to what you were doing,” Stiles said, trying to make a clean getaway.

“Were you guys about to eat? Why don’t you join us?” Allison suggested, nodding excitedly. “I’m sure we’re going to be seeing a lot of each other, especially when school starts up again.”

“Don’t remind me,” Scott groaned. “I still haven’t finished summer school.”

“Not yet, but almost. And then you’ll have at least a few weeks of freedom,” Allison reminded him. “Maybe we can all take a road trip or something?”

“A couple days at the beach does sound amazing,” Scott agreed.

“Come on, let’s get a table,” Allison cajoled, tipping her head toward the seats. Stiles looked up at Isaac, trying to figure out how he felt about the idea. He wasn’t opposed per se, but he also wasn’t clambering to make their date a double.

“Sure,” Isaac shrugged, surprising them all.

“Um, yeah, why not? I mean, of course,” Stiles stammered, pointing at a table toward the edge of the seating area. “That one is perfect.” He pulled Isaac along, settling in on the side that was an extended bench that stretched across a few tables. Allison and Scott took the chairs on the other side, glancing around at all of the options.

“One of us should stay behind so we don’t lose the table,” Scott suggested, looking over to see if there were any volunteers.

“How about you and Isaac grab the food? You’re the strong ones, right?” Stiles proposed, nudging Isaac back to his feet.

“Yeah, that works. Allison, what do you want me to get you?” Scott asked.

“I’ll take a slice of pizza, thanks,” she replied, smiling up at him.

“And I’ll have-”

“Whatever I bring you,” Isaac smirked. Stiles stuck his tongue out at him as he turned and walked away with Scott.

“I have to admit, I didn’t really see this relationship coming,” Allison said, as soon as the werewolves were out of earshot. “How long have you two been together?”

“Only a few weeks officially, but I like to think of all the fighting before as kind of a leadup to it,” Stiles chuckled, tapping his fingers on the top of the table. He and Allison had never been ones to hang out and chat without the Scott buffer, so it felt sort of awkward. And there was the issue of what happened before Allison left town, which was gnawing at him.

“I can tell you really care about each other.”

“You’re right, we do. And part of caring about someone is protecting them, wouldn’t you agree?” Stiles asked, flicking his eyes up to meet Allison’s squarely. “Isaac’s been hurt too many times in his life and I’ll do anything to prevent it from happening again. No matter who it is.”

“And did you have this same conversation with Isaac about Lydia? I seem to recall him being pretty intent on killing her not too long ago.”

“He apologized to her on his own. And no blood was spilled in that instance,” Stiles shot back, leaning a bit closer so he could lower his voice. “I don’t know if Scott told you, but I’m not quite the same Stiles you used to know. I’m not the helpless sidekick I used to be.”

“No, you’re not,” Allison agreed, looking at him with a bit of respect. “For what it’s worth, I do feel bad about what happened. I owe a few people apologies and luckily I still have a chance to deliver them. And I can assure you, I’m not planning on hurting anyone. My dad and I agreed to step away from the supernatural.”

“I’ll admit, it does sound nice to not have to worry about the Argents anymore. We have enough to deal with as it is,” Stiles said darkly, leaning back in his seat.

“I’m sorry for bringing up, you know, earlier. From what Scott told me, it was pretty bad.”

“A bit of an understatement, but yeah,” Stiles sighed, staring off into space. “It’s been hard getting past it, but we’re working on it. Today has been pretty good so far and I’ll do anything to keep it going.”

“It’s nice that you have each other to lean on. Maybe if I’d let myself rely on Scott, I wouldn’t have gone off the deep end like I did,” Allison admitted. “Nothing I can do about it now except try to learn from my mistakes.”

“Does that mean you and Scott are going to give your relationship another go?” Stiles asked. He wanted to see his best friend happy again, but it would also help him feel less guilty for spending so much time with Isaac, if he was doing the same with Allison.

“Nothing is set in stone yet, but we’re thinking about it. It would be nice not having to sneak around anymore.”

“Believe me, I can understand that. Not quite the same thing you had to deal with, but stressful all the same,” Stiles said, wincing as he realized he compared possible parental disapproval to actual threats of murder.

“Does that mean you’re out?” Allison questioned.

“Our relationship isn’t a secret, if that’s what you mean. There was no big official coming out or anything either. Just two guys figuring things out as they go along,” Stiles shrugged.

“I just don’t understand why she doesn’t like me,” Scott whined as he and Isaac approached the table again.

“Just give her time. She doesn’t know you,” Isaac sighed, setting his tray down and sliding close enough to Stiles that their legs were pressed against each other.

“Who are we talking about?” Allison asked, a little bit of jealousy coloring her tone.

“Winnie,” Scott grumbled, setting Allison’s slice of pizza in front of her.

“Who?”

“My cat,” Stiles snorted, rolling his eyes. “She can smell your desperation.”

“The animals at the clinic love me,” Scott pouted.

“What did you get me?” Stiles asked, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. Isaac flipped open the lids on the containers and Stiles’ mouth immediately started to water. “Combo chow mein and potstickers? You’re the best.”

“I know,” Isaac grinned, passing over a set of chopsticks. They dug into their lunches, Isaac and Stiles sharing since he’d ordered a big portion. Allison filled the silence by regaling them with stories of her time in France, keeping the subject matter firmly away from anything involving violence. Stiles appreciated it, since he didn’t really want to hear about her becoming more proficient in archery or knives. It was too soon to know if she would keep her word about not losing it on one of them again.

“So, what were you guys planning on doing after this?” Scott asked, popping a chunk of pineapple that had fallen off of his pizza into his mouth.

“We were gonna see a movie,” Stiles replied, snagging the last potsticker just as Isaac was making a move for it, eliciting a pout from his boyfriend. Stiles took pity on him, biting off half before feeding Isaac the rest on the end of his chopsticks.

“Do you mind if we join you?” Scott asked, smirking at their little display. “Unless you’re planning on seeing some chick flick.”

“I don’t even know what’s playing, but I definitely wouldn’t pick out something like a rom-com,” Stiles scoffed.

“Dude, you just fed Isaac a bite of food. I feel like I’m witnessing one in person!” Scott laughed.

“You two are pretty adorable,” Allison agreed.

“We are not!” Stiles squawked in denial. They were just a typical, everyday couple. Besides the fact that Isaac was devilishly handsome and made Stiles’ brain turn to jelly when he saw the bashful smile that was currently on his face. Dammit, they were adorable. “Whatever, let’s go see what our options are.”

Stiles gathered up the trays and dumped the garbage, jogging to catch up to where the others were waiting for him by the escalators. They discussed what was available on the short ride up, judging by the posters they could see hanging by the entrance to the theater.

“Let’s get our tickets from the machines. So much easier,” Scott suggested, walking to where they sat.

“You go ahead, I’ll wait over here,” Isaac said, pushing Stiles along as he stood over to the side.

“I’ll wait too,” Allison said, sliding over to stand next to Isaac. Stiles hesitated, before going to the machine closest to them. It wasn’t like he thought she was gonna go crazy and attack Isaac, but he wanted to stay close, just in case.

“Um-”

“I wanted to apologize for what I did before I left,” Allison rushed out. Stiles stopped himself from reacting to her words, so he wouldn’t give away that he was listening. He was sure Scott could hear them as well.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to,” Isaac waved off.

“No, I do. I was taking my anger out on people who didn’t deserve it and that’s not fair. We should’ve been on the same side and I hurt you badly. That’s unacceptable,” Allison insisted.

“It wasn’t that bad. I lived, didn’t I?”

“That’s hardly the point. Just because you survived it, doesn’t mean it should’ve happened. I just wanted to let you know that I’ll never do anything like that again.”

“Well, I accept. I think I owe you one as well. Sort of a blanket apology for being a dick after I was bitten. I’m a work in progress though,” Isaac chuckled.

“Is Stiles helping with that?” Allison teased.

“Is Stiles helping with what?” Stiles asked, bouncing back over with the tickets in hand.

“What did you decide on?” Allison wondered, peeking at the small print.

“Some zombie flick that Scott claimed he’d been eager to see. Sound alright?” Stiles replied, checking to see if either of them had any protests. Allison shrugged, walking over to where Scott was waiting. Isaac was a bit more hesitant. “Isaac?”

“It’s fine. I’m just not the biggest fan of zombies.”

“We can see something else. I don’t mind,” Stiles offered. He didn’t care if he was watching My Little Pony or something, as long as he was with Isaac.

“It’s fine, really,” Isaac assured him, linking arms and pulling him toward the concession stand.

“We should really check with Derek and make sure zombies aren’t a real thing. Although he’d been pretty surprised by the kanima, so he probably isn’t the best source for all things supernatural,” Stiles chuckled. Isaac shuddered at the idea, giving him a disgusted look.

Stiles got Isaac his popcorn and drinks, grabbing an extra box of candy as well, then they all made their way to the proper theater. There were only a few couples sprinkled around, so they took a spot in the middle and settled in to watch the previews. There was some sort of new Robin Hood coming soon, and Scott took the chance to tease Allison a little about her archery skills.

“I’m pretty sure she’s got the Prince of Thieves beat,” Isaac joked, leaning forward to peek over at her while rubbing the right side of his chest.

“You should’ve ducked. I ducked,” Scott scoffed.

“How about we stop talking about making new holes in my boyfriend?” Stiles grumbled, shoving a handful of popcorn in his mouth. Isaac grabbed his hand and kissed the back of it, helping to soothe some of the rankled feelings. It was good that Isaac had seemingly forgiven Allison for what she did, but it didn’t mean Stiles wanted to be reminded of it. The fact that he hadn’t witnessed it all was worse, since his imagination could cook up some pretty traumatic things. He still felt a moment of panic whenever Isaac unwound a scarf from around his neck, expecting to see a slash ruining the usually smooth skin.

The movie started a few minutes later and it was typical horror schlock. But while it was obvious they didn’t put much effort into the casting, they practically threw money in for the gory effects. Even Stiles had to cringe when the top of a person’s skull was ripped off and their brain was eaten. Isaac seemed to be doing fine with it, at least until about halfway in.

There were a group of survivors hunkered down in some sort of storage unit, trying to figure out their next moves. It was actually a pretty chill scene, with no violence or jump scares. But Stiles noticed a slight hitch in Isaac’s breathing. And the hand he was holding seemed to be trembling a bit.

“Hey, are you okay?” Stiles whispered, reaching over to touch Isaac’s shoulder. The contact gave him a jolt and Isaac jumped up and ran out of the theater without a word.

“What’s going on?” Scott whispered, ready to get up and follow.

“Stay here, I’ve got him,” Stiles said, sprinting after his boyfriend without worrying about their snacks. Isaac was leaning against a wall in the hallway, holding his chest as he sucked in panicked breaths. “Isaac, what happened?”

“I’m sorry!” Isaac gasped, ducking his head in shame. “You can go back, I’m fine.”

“No, come here,” Stiles murmured, pulling Isaac down into a hug. He tucked Isaac’s face against his neck, feeling a bit of dampness seeping into his collar. “You can tell me, whenever you’re ready.” Isaac spent a few more minutes taking shuddering breaths before he finally turned his head, unblocking his face so he could speak, but still not moving out of his embrace.

“I was fine until they were in that room. It just- it reminded me-” Isaac whispered, sniffling a little. “Being trapped. Me by my dad and you by the Alpha pack.”

“Oh God, I’m such an idiot,” Stiles groaned, mentally slapping himself on the forehead. Of course Isaac’s claustrophobia would be triggered by something like this. How could he be so dense? “I’m so sorry, I didn’t even think.”

“It’s okay, we can go back in. I’ll be fine,” Isaac insisted, but Stiles was having none of it.

“No way,” Stiles refused.

“I didn’t mean to ruin our date,” Isaac sighed.

“Hey, look at me,” Stiles said, cupping Isaac’s face in his hands. He thumbed away the tear streaks that were still on his cheeks. “What’s ruined? I’m still spending time with exactly who I want to be with. How could it not be perfect?”

“Are you sure?”

“That movie was lame and Scott kept taking my arm rest. I was about to leave myself,” Stiles scoffed, needling a small smile out of his boyfriend. “We can find something much more fun to do.”

“Okay,” Isaac agreed. Stiles looked around, trying to come up with something when a flashing light caught his eye.

“Come on,” Stiles said, pulling Isaac by the hand toward the room just off to the side of the theater.

“An arcade? I haven’t been to one in years,” Isaac laughed softly, poking at a button on one of the machines.

“Well then, prepare to be schooled. I happen to be a Street Fighter champion,” Stiles bragged, pulling a crisp twenty out of his pocket and sliding it into the coin dispenser. They spent the rest of the run time of the movie playing games like little kids. Stiles was right about the fighting games, but Isaac bested him in driving. He was going to have to apologize to his jeep. Isaac was also scarily good at air hockey, but Stiles excused that as being a perk of being a werewolf.

“You gotta get that one. It looks like Winnie,” Isaac insisted, pointing at the stuffed animal stuck in the corner of the claw game.

“Let the master do his thing,” Stiles muttered, concentrating on moving the apparatus just right. These things were mostly a scam, but he was determined to win a prize for his boyfriend. Even if he had to liquidate all the paper money in his wallet to do it.

It only took about five dollars worth of tries before he secured the cat around its neck, dragging it up and over to the prize slot. Isaac jumped a little in delight before he realized what he was doing and blushed like crazy. Stiles laughed, grabbing the toy and presenting it to his boyfriend.

“No one has ever won me a stuffed animal before,” Isaac said bashfully, running his fingers lightly over the soft toy. “What should I name it?”

“Cat, obviously,” Stiles smirked.

“Perfect,” Isaac agreed.

“Hey, you guys alright?” Scott asked, walking up with Allison as everyone left the theater they’d been in.

“Of course. We decided the arcade was more fun than a movie,” Stiles shrugged. He wasn’t going to go into detail about what really happened, since it was no one else’s business.

“The ending was pretty predictable,” Scott agreed, smiling at the stuffed animal Isaac was holding. “You think that cat will like me more than yours?”

“I wouldn’t take any chances,” Stiles chuckled, pressing the last of his quarters into Scott’s palm. “How about you try to win the lady something? Isaac and I are going to take off.”

“Step aside,” Allison scoffed, grabbing a few quarters and squaring up to the machine.

“See you guys,” Scott waved, moving over to the machine. “I want the turtle!” Stiles shook his head in amusement at his best friend as he and Isaac made their way back to the main part of the mall.

“What sounds good for dinner?” Stiles wondered.

“Oh my gosh, you’re a bottomless pit!” Isaac groaned.

“How about we skip dinner and go straight to dessert?” Stiles offered.

“I’m telling your dad,” Isaac snickered, letting himself be led to the little ice cream shop in the mall. Even though he’d thrown up a token protest about the food, Isaac ended up ordering a huge, complicated ice cream sundae that felt like it was geared more toward a crowd than a couple. But it was perfect. It was the ice cream that always seemed to get interrupted or put off, but not this time. They sat in a little booth and tackled it together, going to war with their spoons over the little cherries on top. Isaac flung a dollop of whipped cream onto Stiles’ nose and Stiles responded with a swipe of chocolate syrup on Isaac’s cheek. It was everything Stiles dreamed it would be.

“That was great,” Isaac sighed as they walked toward the exit of the mall. They’d done pretty much everything they could here, so it was time to find something else.

“Wanna go back to my house and watch a movie we might actually enjoy?” Stiles suggested. He wasn’t ready for the day to be over.

“Sounds great,” Isaac agreed. Before they could leave, Isaac suddenly veered off course, walking over to a photo booth against the wall. “Want to take a picture?”

“Sure,” Stiles grinned, moving aside the curtain and climbing in. He let Isaac sit closer to the opening, just in case he started to feel a little cramped. “What background do you want?”

“Your choice,” Isaac shrugged. Stiles started flipping through all the selections, unable to resist the cheesy one with colorful heart bubbles all around.

“Ready?” Stiles asked, holding his finger above the button that would start the session.

“Stiles, I want to thank you for today. It was beyond anything I could’ve dreamed of,” Isaac said softly, grabbing onto his free hand.

“It really wasn’t the day of romance I had planned,” Stiles admitted. All the movies showed candlelight dinners and walks along the beach, not hanging out in a mall for hours.

“That’s what made it perfect. I don’t need grand gestures and over the top activities. If this is what I can expect, there is nothing more I could ever ask for. This might’ve been the best day I’ve ever had in my life,” Isaac said sincerely.

“Me too,” Stiles whispered, feeling himself start to choke up. Isaac leaned forward, pressing their lips together without reluctance. Stiles had missed this so much. He pressed the start button, burying his hands in Isaac’s hair as the camera flashed.

Best date ever.

Chapter Text

“You’re sure you don’t know what this is about?” Stiles asked as he pulled the jeep up in front of Derek’s loft.

“Derek’s not really the type to open up about anything,” Isaac scoffed, unbuckling his seatbelt. It had only been a few days since their date and they were both riding the high from it. They spent every day together since, slowly healing from their ordeal. Sleep was getting easier and while they weren’t back to ferocious makeout sessions like before, a few soft kisses here and there were welcome again. Stiles really didn’t want this to be something that would set back their progress.

“You’ve got to learn how to interpret the eyebrows,” Stiles laughed, trying to mimic Derek’s stern face.

“Doesn’t quite work without the beard,” Isaac chuckled, squeezing Stiles’ smooth cheek.

“You know, he didn’t have a beard when I first met him. He’s kind of got a baby face without it. Added with the little bunny teeth thing he’s got going, he’s got some innocent vibes without the facial hair.”

“I’m totally telling him you said that,” Isaac snorted, hopping out of the jeep before Stiles could respond.

“Don’t you dare!” Stiles squeaked, scrambling out and rushing over to meet his giggling boyfriend. They walked hand in hand the rest of the way up to the loft, getting a bit more serious as they approached the door. Stiles hadn’t seen Erica and Boyd at all since they’d been found, so he wasn’t really sure what to expect. It must not be too bad though, since Derek had specifically named him in this invitation.

“It’s gonna be fine,” Isaac whispered, pressing a kiss into his hair. He slid open the door of the loft and Stiles cringed as the metal squeaked in protest. Derek really needed to oil that. Boyd and Erica were sitting together in front of the big windows across the room. Isaac mentioned before that they stuck very close together all the time now, which wasn’t very surprising. Being held captive with only each other as company was bound to cause some codependency issues.

“Hey guys, it’s good to see you again,” Stiles said softly as they walked into the loft. He felt like he had when he’d talked to Winnie when she was hiding from him under the car in that alley. Except Boyd and Erica could actually rip him apart if they decided to.

“I hear you’re the one to thank for getting us out of there,” Erica said, staring over at him with hard eyes. “Couldn’t have done it sooner?” Isaac shifted slightly, so he was standing in front of Stiles, just in case. Stiles hadn’t been expecting anger pointed toward him, but he wasn’t going to take it personally. They’d gone through a lot and if they needed to lash out, he could handle it. As long as it was verbal only.

“Watch it,” Derek growled, cowing Erica with a sharp look. He strode out from the kitchen area, handing Boyd and Erica a couple bottles.

“How are things going?” Isaac murmured, biting his lip as Erica bristled in response to the question.

“Really great, actually. I’ve been splitting my time between having crippling flashbacks of torture and figuring out what to tell my parents when they see I’m not dead,” Erica quipped. Stiles and Isaac both twitched a little at hearing the word torture, thinking back to their own experiences. Stiles couldn’t imagine it happening for as long as it did to Erica and Boyd.

“Just stop talking to them and wait until everyone gets here. I’m not planning on saying this more than once,” Derek sighed, pointing at the Beta duo until they started drinking.

“Everyone?” Stiles questioned, perking up in interest. “Is this the first official pack meeting?”

“My pack is already here and it doesn’t include you,” Derek grunted.

“Rude.”

“Regardless of that, we all need to discuss a few things, so we’re on the same page.”

“Dude, I don’t think we’re even in the same book.”

“Glad to see things haven’t changed too much,” Erica scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Except for the fact that Isaac defected to the other team.”

“He’s still in your pack,” Stiles pointed out.

“That’s not what I was talking about,” Erica smirked. Isaac blushed and Stiles shot Erica an annoyed look. She was traumatized, so he could let it go. The second she was back to normal he was totally going to bitch her out though.

“Hey, why’d you want us all to come?” Scott asked, walking through the front door with Lydia and Allison in tow. Thank goodness for the timing of his best friend.

“Hey Alli, got any arrows you’d like to shoot into us?” Erica asked with a fake bubbly voice. Derek pinched the bridge of his nose as everyone else stood there, not knowing how to react. Stiles had the urge to joke, but that probably wasn’t the best idea.

“We’re not here for that. Deal with your own crap on your own time,” Derek ordered.

“So then what are we here for?” Scott asked again.

“We’re leaving.”

“Who’s we? And going where?” Stiles questioned.

“I’m taking Boyd and Erica out of town for a while to work on things. They can’t do what they need to in the loft or so close to where there’s people.” Stiles glanced over at Isaac to get his reaction, but he just looked surprised.

“For how long?”

“As long as it takes.”

“That’s vague,” Stiles snorted.

“There isn’t really a guidebook for this sort of thing,” Derek growled.

“Why did you call all of us over here for that?” Scott asked.

“Because if any of you decide to pull any idiot stunts, I’m not going to be here to help you,” Derek said, looking pointedly at Stiles. That was a bit uncalled for. “Plus, Kali is still unaccounted for.” At the mention of her name, Boyd let out a deep growl, the first sound Stiles heard him make.

“I’m not planning on looking for her, if that’s what you’re implying,” Stiles sighed. He was going to focus on defense instead of offense for a while. He needed a break from actively seeking out danger.

“That doesn’t mean she isn’t planning on coming back on her own terms. You all need to watch your backs. I’m not going to be close enough to save your lives.” Stiles caught the slight look of regret in Derek’s eyes as Isaac’s face shuttered. Classic Derek, saying whatever he wanted without thinking about other people’s feelings. Stiles knew there was a softer side to him, he just never liked to show it in front of everyone, as if it would take away his Alphaness.

“Well, if she knows what happened to her pack, she knows we aren’t ones to be messed with,” Stiles said confidently. In all honesty, he never wanted to see the woman again. But he’d do what he had to to protect his friends.

“Do you want me to come?” Isaac asked, and Stiles had to resist grabbing his arm and yelling that he couldn’t. Isaac leaving for an undetermined amount of time sounded like a nightmare, especially when things were finally getting better. If that’s what he really wanted to do, Stiles wouldn’t fight him, but he hated the idea.

“Probably best if you didn’t,” Derek replied. Now Stiles was angry on Isaac’s behalf, even though he was happy to hear Derek’s answer. He knew Isaac wanted to help and the pack was important to him, so being the only one left out was bound to hurt him on some level. Stiles was going to have to see about getting him to switch to the McCall pack.

“Okay.”

“I don’t think you should stay in the loft while I’m gone.” Stiles could strangle Derek, he really could.

“You’re kicking me out?” Isaac whispered. It was moments like this that Stiles wished a bit more of the cocky Isaac from after the bite would show up again. He knew now that it had been him not knowing what to do with his newfound power, but this vulnerable version of Isaac hurt him. Stiles knew that Isaac was tough as nails when he needed to be, but he was so quick to take things to heart when it came to people whose opinion he cared about. And while Derek probably wasn’t trying to be a dick, he still didn’t know how to talk to Isaac.

“I don’t want you to be here by yourself,” Derek clarified. Isaac’s shoulders slumped a little less after hearing that, but Stiles knew he was still unsure about how to feel about being left behind.

“I don’t mind staying with the boy,” Peter said as he slid into the loft, walking up to Isaac and putting a hand on his shoulder. Isaac couldn’t hide his cringe. “It’ll give me a chance to bond with my nephew’s ward. We’re practically family, right?”

“He’s staying with me!” Stiles blurted out. Isaac gave him a look that was equal parts grateful and surprised. “I mean, you’re already at my house practically every night, what’s another month?” He’d hide Isaac under his bed if that meant keeping him away from Peter.

“Are you sure? What about your dad?” Isaac muttered.

“We’ll figure it out. It’ll be fine,” Stiles insisted.

“Well, unless you have anything else to say, I think I’ll be leaving now,” Lydia said tightly, flashing her eyes in Peter’s direction. No one liked Peter and Stiles honestly wasn’t sure why Derek kept him around. Derek waved a hand toward the door, effectively dismissing them all. Scott gave him a shrug, then followed after the girls. Stiles and Isaac were about to leave too, when Derek’s voice stopped them.

“Isaac,” Derek called after them, tipping his head toward the side of the room. Isaac reluctantly went to where Derek beckoned and Stiles crept closer too, wanting to be able to hear what was being said. All the other people in the room had werewolf hearing, so it was only fair that Stiles was in the loop as well.

“Yeah?”

“You gonna be good here while I’m gone? If you really want to come I can figure something out,” Derek offered. Maybe Derek wasn’t as clueless as Stiles thought.

“No, you should focus on Boyd and Erica. I’ll be fine,” Isaac replied.

“If anything happens, you call me. I’ll get back here as quick as I can.”

“But you said-”

“I said that to them, but now I’m talking to you,” Derek cut in. Isaac nodded in understanding and Stiles could feel Derek winning him over bit by bit. “And if you need anything, feel free to use the credit card. I know you know how to use it.”

“I’m sorry, I’ll pay it back,” Isaac murmured.

“That’s unnecessary. Just don’t go crazy and try to buy a car or something.”

“I won’t,” Isaac chuckled softly, relaxing a little at Derek’s joke. He set his hand on the back of Isaac’s neck, giving him one last pointed, yet affectionate look.

“Take care of yourself, okay?”

“I will.”

“Good. I’ll check in.”

“Okay.”

“Gag me,” Erica spat, tilting her head mockingly. “Oh wait, I just was for months.”

“And that’s our cue to leave,” Stiles said, stepping forward to grab Isaac and drag him toward the door. “We’ll get the rest of your stuff later.” Stiles didn’t let anything else prevent them from leaving, scooting Isaac out of the loft. They didn’t talk until they were back in the jeep, thanks to sensitive ears.

“Well, that wasn’t what I expected. Probably could’ve been said over text,” Stiles scoffed.

“Are you sure about this?” Isaac said quickly, wringing his hands in his lap. “This is kind of a big ask.”

“Dude, it’s fine. You’ve already been sleeping at my house more often than not,” Stiles reminded him.

“But a few days here and there is different than 24/7 for possibly a month,” Isaac sighed. “That’s a huge burden on your dad.”

“Hey,” Stiles said soothingly, grabbing Isaac’s hand and cradling it in front of his chest. “You’ve never been a burden in your life.”

“But-”

“No buts. I won’t hear any arguments in that regard, so don’t even start,” Stiles said firmly, waiting until Isaac nodded his acceptance. “And there is no harm in asking my dad. He probably likes you more than me at this point.”

“That’s not true,” Isaac chuckled softly.

“Either way, we’ll figure this out. I’m just really glad you aren’t going with Derek,” Stiles admitted. “Did you want to?”

“Not really. I mean, a part of me did, because I want to help my pack. But the bigger part of me wanted to stay with you,” Isaac said quietly, scooting across the seat. “I’m happiest when I’m with you and I’m not ready to give that up.”

“Me neither,” Stiles murmured, leaning forward to press a light kiss to the side of Isaac’s jaw. He worked slowly down Isaac’s neck, feeling a few prickles of stubble against his lips.

“Your dad’s not gonna say yes if it looks like we just made out when we ask him,” Isaac panted, even as he tilted his head back to give Stiles more access. Stiles didn’t care, wanting to soothe away more of Isaac’s bad memories. He was grabbing at his neck less often now, but Stiles still noticed the fear in Isaac’s eyes when he recalled the sharp point splitting his skin. Stiles lapped at the vein that was thrumming with excitement, feeling his own blood pumping in response. He was so ready, and while he would respect however long Isaac needed, it was getting harder, for lack of a better term. Isaac staying at his house was not going to help in that regard. Taking care of business himself would be a lot more difficult to get away with.

“You’re so hard to resist,” Stiles murmured against Isaac’s bobbing Adam’s apple. He gave it a little nip before reluctantly leaning back, brushing his nose against Isaac’s chin before situating himself properly in his seat. “Let’s get out of here before Uncle Creep makes an appearance.” Isaac grimaced at the idea, before carefully adjusting the front of his pants. It was nice to see that Isaac was just as affected as he was. Now they both had to cool off before their talk with his dad.

*

“This is just like the discussion about Winnie,” Stiles said, bumping Isaac with his elbow as they walked up to the front of the house.

“A pet is a lot easier to accept than a person,” Isaac reminded him, pointing a stern finger at him before he could open his mouth. “And don’t make any dog jokes.”

“I would never!” Stiles gasped. Okay, he would. “It’s gonna be fine. We’ll ply him with some pasta or something and he’ll agree to anything when he’s in a carb coma.”

“I’m not sure about you always influencing your dad with food.”

“I’ll give him quinoa tomorrow. It’s fine,” Stiles assured him, guiding him through the front door.

“Hey boys,” his dad greeted from the living room, sipping a cup of coffee. “Where’d you get off to so early?”

“Is this early? You and your generation, always sleeping in. Lazy, the whole lot of you,” Stiles joked, trying to ease the tension in Isaac’s shoulders. “We’ve already tended to the farm.”

“Funny,” his dad deadpanned. “So, what is it this time?”

“What makes you think there is something?”

“Isaac always gets this look about him when you’re scheming,” his dad chuckled, shooting Isaac a smile. “No offense, but you don’t have much of a poker face.”

“Not scheming, just a question,” Stiles defended, squeezing Isaac’s arm lightly. “Would it be okay if Isaac stayed here on a semi-permanent, yet possibly open-ended basis?”

“Stiles, did you just ask me if your boyfriend could move in?” he asked, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“No! Well, yes. Kind of,” Stiles stammered. “The person he’s staying with is going to be out of town for a while and he didn’t want Isaac to be by himself.”

“And who is this person? I probably should’ve asked sooner and I apologize for that.”

“It’s um, it’s Derek Hale,” Stiles replied with a wince.

“Suspected murderer Derek Hale?”

“Suspected, not convicted.”

“Stiles!”

“He didn’t do it!” Stiles wasn’t going to point out that Isaac had been accused of murder as well, once upon a time. That probably wouldn’t help things.

“Are you being serious right now?” his dad asked.

“Yes sir, he is,” Isaac confirmed quietly.

“I have so many questions,” he muttered, rubbing a hand down his face. “Why is he leaving you by yourself? That doesn’t make him sound like a very good guardian. Do you need me to make a few calls?”

“No, it’s fine! It’s nothing bad, really,” Stiles insisted. If Derek came back into town with CPS or something asking questions, Stiles would be dead.

“Isaac, would you like to tell me what’s going on?” his dad asked calmly, giving Stiles a look that told him not to interrupt. Isaac shifted his weight, shoving his hands deep in his pockets.

“Derek took me in after my dad died. He was there for me when no one else was,” Isaac said softly, keeping his eyes downcast. “He knew what it was like to lose everyone.” That reason was a lot cleaner than the werewolf one, Stiles could admit.

“And why is he leaving?”

“A couple of our classmates need help right now, so he’s taking them to go get it,” Isaac replied vaguely. He was kind of making Derek sound like some sort of youth counselor and that idea was hilarious. “I completely understand if you don’t want me here. It’s a really big ask and I won’t blame you if you say no.”

“It is a bit unorthodox,” his dad sighed, standing up from his seat on the couch. Stiles put his hand on the small of Isaac’s back, stopping him from trying to run off like he probably wanted. “Where would you go if you didn’t stay here?” Isaac looked away, squirming a little under the scrutiny.

“I’d be fine.” Everyone could hear the deflection for what it was. Isaac didn’t have anywhere else to go. He could probably crash with Scott for a few nights, but that wasn’t a long term solution. And Isaac would probably take off on his own somewhere, so he wouldn’t feel like he was putting anyone out. Stiles wouldn’t be able to rest knowing Isaac was out there alone.

“Well, since you’ve gone from classmate, to friend, to boyfriend in such a short timespan, it makes sense that you’d upgrade to houseguest as well,” his dad chuckled.

“Really?” Stiles exclaimed, hoping this didn’t turn out to be a joke.

“Are you sure?”

“There might need to be a few more ground rules to discuss, but I can’t in good conscience turn away a kid who needs a place to stay.”

“Thank you, thank you so much. Um, I can do chores and pitch in on groceries or whatever you’d like. I really, really appreciate it,” Isaac stammered.

“It’s fine, really. You’re a good kid,” his dad said with a kind smile. Isaac blushed, biting the inside of his cheek at the compliment.

“I think I hear Winnie meowing for us, so we’re gonna go check on her,” Stiles said quickly, dragging Isaac up the stairs before he got too overwhelmed. His dad chuckled, waving his hand at them as they went. He closed the bedroom door behind them as they walked in, pushing Isaac up against it. “I told you he’d say yes.”

“I forgot that you’re always right,” Isaac snorted, tilting his head down to capture Stiles’ lips in a short kiss. “Thank you for this.”

“More for me than it is for you,” Stiles shrugged off, walking his fingers along Isaac’s side.

“Maybe on your dad’s next shift I can show you my appreciation?” Isaac offered, running his hands down his back. Stiles hummed in delight, diving back in to attack Isaac’s neck once again. “I’m pretty sure he’s still here.”

“I’m pretty sure I don’t care,” Stiles moaned. Isaac suddenly pressed a hand over his mouth and Stiles was about to lick it in protest when he heard footsteps walking down the hall.

“Are you boys hungry? I was about to make some sandwiches for lunch,” his dad asked through the door. Isaac peeled his hand off of his face and Stiles cleared his throat, trying to get the lust out of his voice.

“Sounds good, we’ll be down in a minute,” Stiles replied, holding his breath until Isaac signalled that the coast was clear again.

“You need to learn how to control yourself, Stilinski!” Isaac hissed, wiping off his neck. Stiles giggled, blowing him a kiss. This was going to be interesting.

Chapter Text

One surprising, yet welcome development that came with Isaac staying over was spending more time with his dad. While they usually passed each other like ships in the night, only occasionally sharing a meal here and there, now they saw each other more consistently. And Stiles was finding himself enjoying it a lot.

When Isaac had first asked him to find out his dad’s schedule, he thought it was so they could be more aware of when they’d be able to have some alone time. And while that was probably partially the reason, Isaac also used this information in another way. Every morning, without fail, Isaac was up before everyone, making breakfast. The first few days Stiles had blearily stumbled after him, afraid that Isaac had been spooked awake by another nightmare, but after a week he figured out that this was his routine. The Stilinskis got to wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee and whatever goodies Isaac decided to cook up.

Isaac had a knack for making things that were delicious and satisfying, yet also healthy. He’d even gotten his dad to admit that the vegan bacon wasn’t so bad, which was practically a glowing review coming from him. They all sat down to breakfast together, talking and getting to know each other better. Isaac was slowly getting more comfortable and Stiles was bonding with his dad in a way that he hadn’t realized had been lacking. Derek leaving town was turning out to be one of the best things that had happened in a while and Stiles wouldn’t mind if he took his time coming back.

Dinners became more of a team effort, with Isaac and Stiles working together. His dad even joined in if he was home in time to help. Stiles couldn’t even describe the feeling in his stomach when he saw Isaac and his dad laughing together as they snapped the ends off of green beans. Well, he might have a word for it, but he didn’t think either of them were ready to say it out loud.

And in between all that, Stiles and Isaac just enjoyed each other’s company. They went on drives, watched movies, hung out with the others, and everything else that a normal teenage couple would do. Winnie was loving all the extra attention, sleeping snuggled in between them every night. It was perfect, except for one little thing that Stiles was still avoiding.

“Hey Stiles, what do you want to do now?” Isaac asked as he drew lazy circles across Stiles’ chest. It had been declared a cheat day when it came to breakfast and Isaac had whipped up a batch of homemade cinnamon rolls that should’ve been considered illegal in most states. His dad had gone to work and they’d gone back to bed to digest.

“I didn’t have anything planned. Maybe we could go walk around a park or something,” Stiles suggested. “Did you have something in mind?”

“Kind of,” Isaac murmured, looking up at him through his eyelashes. “I thought maybe we could grab a few things from the basement?” Stiles tensed up at the mention of the thing he’d been studiously not thinking of. The magic he’d been so excited about now filled him with dread.

“I don’t know,” Stiles sighed, tipping his head back to stare at the ceiling.

“I don’t want to push you, but you know you can talk to me about anything, right? No matter what it is,” Isaac said quietly, reaching over to hold his hand.

“I know,” Stiles mumbled, leaning down to press a kiss to the top of Isaac’s head. “I really appreciate it too. It’s just hard.”

“I get it. There are still some things I can’t talk about, no matter how much time has passed,” Isaac admitted, sliding up so they were facing each other on the bed. “But I’ll be here when you’re ready.” Isaac was looking at him with so much understanding and affection that it made him want to cry. How had he gotten so lucky?

“I’m scared,” Stiles confessed, feeling a vice loosen from around his chest. Isaac didn’t say anything, rubbing his arm in support as he waited for Stiles to continue. “Back in that warehouse, when I did that spell to hurt Deucalion, I didn’t even know what I was saying. What if- what if I’d hurt you instead?”

“Hey, but you didn’t,” Isaac said quickly, sitting up to cup Stiles’ cheeks in his hands.

“I could’ve,” Stiles choked out, feeling the tears he’d been holding back falling from his eyes. Isaac thumbed them away, cradling his face as he broke down. “What happens if I keep working on my magic and I mess up and you get hurt?”

“Stiles, you would never hurt me. I trust you.”

“Never on purpose, but you can’t be sure.”

“But I can,” Isaac insisted, looking deep into his eyes. “You didn’t know what you were doing in that warehouse, and yet you still didn’t hurt me. You saved me. The more you work on your magic, the better you’ll be. Don’t let worry over me stop you from something you were so passionate about.”

“I don’t know,” Stiles mumbled. Isaac did have a point, but there was still so much that could go wrong. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if Isaac suffered because of it. Stiles promised himself that he would never be one of the people in Isaac’s life who caused him harm.

“I do,” Isaac said firmly. “I can’t be the reason you give up on this.”

“It wouldn’t be because of you. It would be me. Never blame yourself for any of my decisions,” Stiles murmured, sniffling away the last of his emotions. Crying wasn’t going to solve anything. “You’d tell me though, right? If you got uncomfortable with my magic?”

“Stiles, do I look like Darrin to you?”

“Who the hell is Darrin?” Stiles asked in bewilderment.

“From Bewitched.”

“Oh my God,” Stiles snorted.

“That guy was a dick to try and tell Samantha what she could and couldn’t do. That’s not me,” Isaac insisted.

“You’re ridiculous,” Stiles sighed fondly.

“I’m in this with you, no matter what. Even if you turn me into a puppy, I’ll just pee on your leg and stay by your side.” Stiles huffed out a laugh, pulling Isaac in for a kiss. While he was terrified to get back into magic, he also missed it. Stiles should’ve known that he could talk to Isaac about his fears, instead of bottling them up.

“Why are you so good to me?” Stiles asked, cupping the side of Isaac’s neck.

“Because you deserve it,” Isaac grinned.

They went to the basement to get a few of the books Stiles was most comfortable with, going back to their old set up with the pillows on the floor. It felt like it had the beginning of summer, with them sitting for hours as they tried to figure out the language. Thankfully Stiles had a better grasp on it now though.

“What should I try first?” Stiles wondered, flipping through one of the books.

“Is there something simple that you can do to ease yourself back into it?” Isaac suggested. Stiles bit his cheek, reading one of the pages. One mispronunciation had the potential to change a levitation spell into a vanishing one. He’d known the potential for violence was there from the beginning with this, but his encounter with Deucalion made it so much more real.

“Maybe I should try the color changing trick again,” Stiles mumbled, tapping his finger along the edge of the book. Winnie chose that moment to walk over, pawing at his hand. “Hey girl, want to play?”

“I think she’s trying to tell you something,” Isaac said, pointing down at the cat. She was messing with the book and Stiles had the urge to move her, in fear that she would damage something, but he held back. Winnie flipped a few pages, pressing her paw on one particular spot and meowing.

“Well, let’s see what she came up with,” Stiles shrugged. It wouldn’t be the weirdest thing they did these days. Stiles scanned the words, frowning when one in particular stood out to him instantly. “Fire.”

“Way to ease him into things, Win,” Isaac snorted. “Got a fire extinguisher nearby?”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Stiles scoffed.

“Obviously I expect you to be able to conjure up the fire, which is what the spell is, right? Sounds like confidence to me,” Isaac defended.

“There’s one in the hall closet,” Stiles grumbled, pouting as Isaac kissed his cheek before darting out of the room. “You couldn’t have picked something easier, huh? I should figure out a way to magic off all your fur.” Winnie was unimpressed by his threats, flicking her tail as she hopped up on the bed behind his head. She probably wanted to get out of the line of fire, literally.

“Got it,” Isaac said a few moments later, holding up the extinguisher in triumph. “I found this too.” He pulled out a candle from behind his back, setting it a safe distance in front of him on the floor.

“Are you sure about this?” Stiles asked nervously, wringing his hands in his lap.

“I have faith in you,” Isaac replied confidently. Stiles nodded, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. Warm hands probably wouldn’t make a difference, but he wanted to give himself the best possible chance.

“Here we go,” Stiles mumbled, closing his eyes as he prepared to get started.

“Wait!” Isaac said suddenly, startling him out of his focus.

“What?”

“Maybe you should keep your eyes open for this one? Actually look at what you’re trying to set on fire?”

“Good point,” Stiles agreed, shaking off the aborted attempt. He could do this. Stiles stared at the wick of the candle as he murmured the Latin, feeling the familiar tingle of magic flowing through his body. It was a sensation he couldn’t quite describe, but he knew he liked it. He wasn’t sure if anything else could compare, although he’d never had sex, so maybe that would change.

Stiles finished the spell, holding his breath as he waited for something to happen. The stupid wick was just as white as ever, sitting there taunting him. Stiles looked around the room, making sure nothing else was smoldering, but everything else was as it had been.

“That’s okay. You can try again,” Isaac said supportively.

“Why didn’t it work?” Stiles whined, throwing his head back in exasperation. “What if I just set the neighbor’s house on fire or something?”

“I don’t smell smoke, so I’m sure you didn’t,” Isaac said soothingly, setting a comforting hand on his shoulder.

“Maybe I lost my abilities because I went dark side,” Stiles muttered, grinding his teeth. He wanted to be able to use his magic to protect his friends, but he didn’t want that to be the only thing he could do. He didn’t want to be a weapon.

“Hey, don’t think like that. You just need to relax.”

“I can’t relax! Nothing will get me to relax! I don’t-”

Isaac cut his rambling off with a soft kiss, waiting for Stiles’ permission before deepening it. As soon as Stiles opened his mouth in acceptance, it was on. Stiles shifted from his spot, swinging his leg around Isaac’s hips and straddling him. Isaac responded by wrapping one arm around his waist, pulling him in close.

Their first few kissing sessions had been good, but they were really great now. They’d found a good rhythm, with both of them switching off who would take the lead. Isaac liked long, slow kisses, while Stiles’ were more quick and frantic. Both ways made their toes curl in delight and the variety kept things fresh and exciting.

Stiles had control at the moment, letting out all of his nervous energy in a productive way. He buried his hands in Isaac’s curls, twisting his head this way and that, while Isaac happily let him. Not bad for a couple of virgins.

“Is it working?” Isaac panted as soon as Stiles gave them a moment to breathe. Stiles hummed in agreement, moving down to Isaac’s neck to suck at a spot right below his jaw that drove him crazy. He kissed the spot as the werewolf healing took the mark away as soon as it appeared.

“Maybe a bit too much. Now it’s too hard for me to concentrate,” Stiles chuckled, rolling his hips to show Isaac how true that statement was. Isaac growled in response, moving them so Stiles was flat on his back and Isaac was hovering over him. Stiles moaned at the look Isaac was giving him. There was a hunger there that was equal parts exciting and intimidating. Stiles never thought anyone would look at him like he was everything they wanted.

“I could help you relieve some tension,” Isaac offered, trailing one hand slowly down his chest. Stiles’ breaths were sawing in and out of him at this point and he wanted nothing more than to say yes. But there was still something that made him hold back. Did he really want this to happen on his bedroom floor, surrounded by his mom’s old books? Did he need to get rid of his ridiculous expectations of storybook romance? Maybe getting the first time over with, no matter how it happened, was the best option. “Hey, we can stop.”

“I’m sorry,” Stiles mumbled, feeling his cheeks heat up in embarrassment.

“None of that,” Isaac lightly chastised, placing both hands back around Stiles’ head as he dipped down to kiss his cheeks. “You didn’t push me before and I’m not gonna do it now. Although we probably should stop before I need to change these pants.”

“I want to, I do,” Stiles insisted, letting himself come down slowly from his high. “I just want to wait for the right moment.”

“I like that you want it to be special,” Isaac smiled, rolling away from him to give them both some breathing room. “You’re such a romantic.”

“No I’m not,” Stiles grumbled.

“You are definitely the sweeter one in this relationship,” Isaac teased.

“Am not!” Stiles exclaimed in indignation.

“You’re warm, and caring, and gentle, and understanding,” Isaac listed, kissing the back of Stiles’ hand for every point he made. Stiles rolled his eyes, but still melted on the inside. Isaac was definitely the soft one. “Which is how I know that you’ll be able to figure out all this magic stuff.”

“Smooth,” Stiles snorted.

“Wanna see if my tactics worked?”

“I guess,” Stiles sighed, cutting his eyes back toward the candle. Isaac kept a supportive grip on his hand, giving it a squeeze of encouragement. He found Erica and Boyd. He could do this. Stiles cleared his mind, thinking of nothing but the spell and the grounding presence at his side. The Latin felt natural, instead of strained like it had before. There was no need to put extra pressure on himself.

When nothing happened again, Stiles felt discouraged. But before he could mope, there was the tiniest little flicker. Isaac gasped as the wick sparked, coming to life with a small flame.

“You did it!” Isaac exclaimed, tackling him onto his side in excitement. Stiles laughed in relief as Isaac peppered him with kisses. He wasn’t just a weapon after all.

They kept at it for a few more hours, trying out a few new spells. Stiles had successfully opened and closed his bedroom door without touching it, changed the color of Isaac’s shoelaces, and made his desk hover an inch above the floor for about two seconds. It wasn’t much, but he felt invigorated. Isaac was by his side the whole time, providing encouragement and distraction whenever he needed it.

“You’re amazing,” Isaac sighed, wrapping him up in a soft hug.

“You’re not so bad yourself,” Stiles chuckled, tucking his head against Isaac’s neck and kissing him. Isaac purred at the touch, then stiffened up suddenly. “What’s wrong?”

“I think I just heard your dad’s car in the driveway,” Isaac whispered, leaning back.

“He’s not due back for another hour though.” Isaac closed his eyes, holding up a hand for Stiles to be quiet.

“Stiles, Isaac, you guys here?”

“Shit!” Stiles hissed, looking around at all the evidence that was surrounding them. “We’ll be down in a sec!”

“No need, I’ll come up,” his dad called back. He and Isaac exchanged panicked looks before carefully shoving the books under the bed. Being caught in the middle of a makeout session would’ve been better at this point. Isaac grabbed Winnie and Stiles was just moving the blanket to cover the bed when his dad showed up.

“Hey, what’s up?” Stiles asked, trying to sound casual. Isaac was scratching under Winnie’s chin like he hadn’t a care in the world.

“I was able to sneak out of the station early. What’ve you boys been up to today?” his dad asked, smirking at Stiles’ obvious nerves.

“Just hanging out with Winnie,” Stiles shrugged. “Didn’t feel like going anywhere.”

“I see,” he nodded, raking his eyes around the room. Since when was his dad a detective? Stiles forced himself not to react to his dad’s intrusion, knowing that acting guilty would only make him more suspicious. He hadn’t done anything wrong.

“We still doing fajitas for dinner tonight?” Stiles asked, going back to the food distraction ploy he knew and loved.

“I can’t wait,” his dad said excitedly, rubbing his hands together.

“Isaac whipped up a marinade for the flank steak.” Isaac flashed his eyes over at him, hating when Stiles brought the focus onto him.

“That reminds me of the reason I came up here,” his dad said, rifling around in one of his pockets. He pulled something out, holding it on his palm for Isaac to take. “I know you guys are pretty much attached at the hip at this point, but this is just in case you aren’t one day.”

“I can’t accept this,” Isaac whispered, looking at Stiles for help. Stiles’ mouth was gaping open a little as he stared at the house key in his dad’s hand. That was unexpected.

“Doesn’t have to mean anything big. I just don’t want you to be stuck outside waiting for one of us to let you in,” his dad shrugged. Bless his dad for being a genuinely good guy and not even realizing all the daddy-issue buttons he was soothing in Isaac right now.

“I don’t know what to say,” Isaac murmured.

“Now, this doesn’t mean this gives you free reign to throw a big party or anything,” his dad joked, trying to add some levity to the situation. Isaac huffed out a small laugh, quickly swiping at the corner of his eye.

“Thank you for this. And I promise I’ll give it back as soon as I leave,” Isaac insisted. He hesitantly held his hand out, letting Stiles’ dad drop the key into it.

“We’ll talk about it when the time comes,” he nodded, tapping his knuckles on the desk as he turned to leave. Stiles froze when he saw his dad notice what was resting on top. He’d forgotten to put one of the books away.

“Dad-”

“Where’d you get this?” he whispered, running his fingers along the edge of the book. It was the one he’d found in the attic all those weeks ago that had started this whole saga.

“Do you know what that is?” Stiles asked hesitantly.

“It was your mom’s,” his dad murmured. If his dad knew about the journal, did that mean he knew about the letter in the back? Did he know about magic?

“Do you know what’s inside?” He could see Isaac watching them, his own feelings about what happened with the key pushed aside.

“She told me it was a journal and that I should give it to you on your 18th birthday. I left it with her other stuff in the attic, so it wouldn’t get lost beforehand,” he explained, running a hand down his face. “I figured I shouldn’t read it before you had a chance to.”

“Oh,” Stiles mumbled. He wasn’t sure if he was relieved or disappointed that his dad didn’t know about the magic. The letter in the back had long since been tucked away in the safety of the basement, but his dad probably wouldn’t have been able to see the writing on it anyway.

“Do you mind if I take a look?” he asked, smiling sadly at the item that used to belong to his beloved wife.

“Of course not. Take it for as long as you want,” Stiles insisted. His dad nodded in appreciation before reverently picking up the book and walking out of the room with it. Stiles let out the breath he’d been holding, slumping back against his bed. Isaac slid over, pulling him to rest against his chest.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Stiles sighed, setting his head on Isaac’s shoulder. “I thought for a second that he knew.”

“How did that make you feel?”

“I don’t know. Part of me is terrified for him to find out, but I also hate keeping this from him. I have to hide so much.”

“I’m sorry,” Isaac murmured, resting his cheek on top of his head. “If you ever decide to tell him, I’ll support you completely.”

“Really?” Stiles asked, sitting up to face him. “Even if that means he finds out about you?”

“If that’s what you need, yes,” Isaac agreed. Stiles leaned forward, pressing their foreheads together.

“How did I get so lucky with you?” Stiles sighed, interlocking their fingers.

“I don’t know, but you’re not getting rid of me now,” Isaac grinned. “I’ve got a key.”

Chapter Text

“Are you sure you’re okay with this? I know it’s a big ask,” Stiles mumbled, biting his nails in anxiety.

“Stiles, I know you’re nervous. I’m nervous too. But this was always going to happen sometime,” Isaac soothed, rubbing his shoulders. “It’s gonna be fine.”

“I’m watching your cat for a couple days,” Lydia scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic.”

“But she’s my baby,” Stiles whined, staring down at Winnie who was comfortably sitting in Lydia’s arms. He felt like he was dropping off his kid on the first day of school. Was it too much to ask for Winnie to pretend she cared at all?

“Come on. Scott and Allison are waiting for us to pick them up,” Isaac coaxed, pulling him toward the door. Stiles moaned a little, but relented, letting Isaac guide him out of the house.

“Call me if you need anything. I can be back in a couple hours. And text me picture updates,” Stiles rushed out, trying to turn to go back for more instructions. Isaac chuckled, picking him up and throwing him over his shoulder to carry him out. “And don’t let her steal all your food, because she will try!”

“Have fun!” Lydia called after them, closing the door.

“Traitor,” Stiles grumbled, playfully beating on Isaac’s back. Isaac snorted, pinching Stiles’ butt and forcing a squeak out of him. “How dare you!”

“There’ll be more where that came from this weekend,” Isaac teased, setting him down when they got back to the jeep. Stiles felt his throat go dry in anticipation. They’d had a few talks about this maybe being the right time to take their relationship to the next level. They both reserved the right to change their minds, but Stiles had a bag of supplies tucked in the back of the jeep, just in case.

“We better hit the road then,” Stiles said, pulling Isaac down for a scorching kiss. He broke it just as Isaac was switching gears from quick kisses to full makeout session, grinning at the little bit of revenge he got.

“You’re so bad,” Isaac groaned, trotting around the jeep to climb in on his side. Stiles slid into the driver’s seat, feeling his excitement build up. They’d decided to go with Scott and Allison’s idea of a road trip to the beach. Stiles knew they had to go when Isaac admitted he hadn’t been to the ocean since he was a little kid and barely remembered it. It was almost a crime for someone who lived in California all their life to not have some memories of the ocean. And Stiles was going to make sure he had some good ones.

“You know I burn easily, right? I’m gonna need someone to help me apply sunscreen on my back,” Stiles said, wagging his eyebrows.

“I think I can be talked into it,” Isaac replied huskily. Oh, it was definitely going to be on this weekend.

*

“How much longer?” Scott grumbled from the back seat of the jeep.

“Less than an hour, so quit pouting,” Stiles scoffed, rolling his eyes. Scott was used to riding in the front, but times had changed. And Isaac’s legs were longer anyway.

“I’m not pouting,” Scott huffed, slumping back with his arms crossed.

“Oh, come on. It’s not so bad back here,” Allison giggled, shifting so her legs were draped over Scott’s lap. He happily began petting them, distracted from his earlier complaints. They’d decided to officially give things another go. Surprisingly enough, they’d also gotten Chris Argent’s blessing. It seemed as though watching how crazy Gerard was flipped some sort of switch in his brain. Stiles knew that didn’t change how lethal the man could be, but at least he wasn’t on an opposing side anymore.

“Hey, who’re you texting?” Stiles asked, glancing over at Isaac as he typed away on his phone.

“Just letting Derek know where we’re going. He said Erica and Boyd are doing well and he thinks they’ll be back in time for the start of the school year,” Isaac said, smiling in relief. Isaac didn’t talk about it much, but Stiles knew how much he was eager for them to come back. He longed for that pack bond that had gotten weaker over their months apart.

“That’s great,” Stiles replied, reaching over to squeeze Isaac’s knee. Stiles would miss Isaac staying over every night, because they’d gotten ridiculously domestic, but they’d get used to it. He noticed Isaac’s face pinch a little in confusion. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Isaac mumbled, staring at his phone as if the language changed. “Derek said he’d be sending me an email later.”

“Derek knows how to email? How come he’s never sent me an email?” Stiles wondered.

“What would he email you about?” Isaac asked.

“I don’t know. General werewolf news?”

“Oh yeah, I can see it now. And in Comic Sans font,” Isaac snorted.

“I honestly think I would pass out if I saw that,” Stiles laughed.

“What are we gonna do when we get there?” Scott asked, leaning forward over the back of the front seat.

“I for one am going to relax on the beach. A nice ocean breeze and bright sun are exactly what I need right now,” Allison said dreamily.

“And I’m starving,” Stiles replied.

“Of course you are,” Isaac chuckled.

“Some people sightsee. I eat,” Stiles shrugged.

“Well, someone needs to go shopping with me. I promised my mom that I’d bring her back a souvenir.”

“We should probably get Lydia something too, to thank her for watching Winnie. And your dad,” Isaac added.

“Why not get something for everyone? I’ll find Derek a shirt that says ‘I went to the ocean and all I got were crabs.’”

“Yeah, that would go over well. Derek is known for his sense of humor,” Isaac scoffed.

“Hey, I’m sure I’ve seen him smile at least once. It might’ve been after he caused bodily harm to someone, but that still counts.”

“Well, dark humor is one thing, but his is pitch black,” Isaac smirked.

“Are you quoting me from the night we started our relationship?” Stiles gasped.

“That was not when we started our relationship.”

“But that was the night that kicked everything off,” Stiles pointed out.

“It was a good night.”

“We were assholes to each other, you stormed out, then I cried myself to sleep. You call that a good night?”

“I call it passion,” Isaac grinned, kissing the back of his hand. “Chemistry. Sexual tension.”

“Do you think they remember we’re here?” Scott whispered to Allison.

“Unfortunately, yes,” Stiles sighed, rolling his eyes at his best friend in the rearview mirror. “But we’re used to you ruining the moment for us.”

“What! I don’t do that,” Scott denied, sounding offended.

“Afraid so. We were having a good time right where you are sitting when you called us out to the woods.”

“And then I ended up full of arrows,” Isaac added, turning to smirk at Allison. “Not yours this time.”

“Um, I only shot you with one arrow. Don’t exaggerate,” Allison scoffed. “And you could’ve ducked like Scott did.”

“Not everyone can have my catlike reflexes,” Scott bragged. “Or wolf-like, I guess.”

“Never change, Scott,” Stiles laughed. He wasn’t sure when they’d gotten to the point where they could joke about that little scuffle, but Stiles wasn’t going to argue with them about it. Humor was always better than complete avoidance.

They kept chatting as they drove the rest of the way, finally getting off of the freeway and onto the roads that would take them to the small coastal town they were spending the next two nights. It was a good mix of touristy shops and local restaurants, but without the crowds of more popular beaches. It was exactly the place to relax before the chaos of the school year started.

“Finally!” Scott groaned as soon as Stiles put the jeep into park, throwing himself outside. The rest of them followed a bit more sedately, taking in the incredible view. No matter how many times Stiles saw the ocean, it still took his breath away. And it seemed even more magnificent sharing the moment with Isaac.

“Come on,” Stiles said, pulling Isaac toward the beach. He went willingly, linking their fingers together as they rushed toward the water. Scott grabbed Allison, throwing her over his shoulder as she squealed in amusement. They pulled off their shoes and socks when they got to the waves, letting the water splash up to their ankles.

“Wow,” Isaac breathed out, staring over the water. Everyone else was looking at the ocean, but Stiles couldn’t keep his eyes off of Isaac. From the way the light reflected off his eyes, to the open smile on his face. Stiles didn’t think he’d ever seen anything so beautiful. He’d officially fallen head over heels for this boy.

Chapter Text

They decided to start the trip off with a lay on the beach, before the sun got to its peak and became unbearable. Stiles wasn’t exaggerating about being sensitive to the harsh rays. But he wasn’t opposed to getting a little bit of color.

Scott and Isaac procured them some supplies while he and Allison found the perfect spot to settle for the next little while. Things had gotten better between them since their chat at the mall and he saw that she and Isaac were getting along well. He’d always be on permanent standby in case that changed, but it was chill now.

The boys came back a few minutes later with chairs, an umbrella, and lunch. Stiles rubbed his hands together in excitement as Isaac handed out corndogs and lemonade, sitting down next to him on the long chair. The condiments were perfect on his, because of course Isaac would make sure of that.

“Did we really come all this way to eat something that we could get anywhere?” Allison laughed as she took a bite of her lunch.

“We passed a restaurant that serves fresh seafood that looked pretty good. Might be an option for dinner?” Isaac suggested.

“Fresh oysters sound amazing,” Allison agreed dreamily.

“Aren’t those supposed to be an aphrodisiac?” Stiles asked, elbowing Isaac’s side. He rolled his eyes, taking another bite of his corndog.

“Hey, that almost has Isaac’s name in it,” Scott pointed out. Isaac choked on his mouthful, his face turning red as Stiles patted his back through his coughing.

“Try not to kill my boyfriend with your terrible puns,” Stiles warned. And to think that was the guy he’d gone to for sex advice.

“I thought it was clever,” Scott pouted. Allison ruffled his hair and they all went back to eating. After that tiny hiccup, they settled into their first activity of the mini getaway. Allison laid out on her stomach on a towel, trying to get some color. Scott was too excited to sit still, so he was trying to skip rocks in the water.

“Get my back?” Stiles asked, waving a bottle of sunscreen at Isaac. He happily obliged, climbing on the chair behind him and bracketing him between his long legs. Stiles tipped his head forward as Isaac’s strong fingers worked the cream into his skin. If he never had to move from this position, he would die happy.

“You gonna go swim?” Isaac asked, massaging his shoulders.

“With the sharks? I don’t think so,” Stiles chuckled, closing his eyes in bliss as Isaac worked his thumbs into a sore muscle. He had good hands.

“I’ll protect you,” Isaac whispered in his ear, letting his lips brush against the delicate skin.

“You always do,” Stiles replied, struggling to swallow past his suddenly dry throat. “Have they made a movie about that yet? Werewolf versus shark?”

“Who do you think would win?”

“Well, I’d never bet against you.”

“Thank you. But I hope we’ll never have to find out,” Isaac chuckled, rubbing the last of the sunscreen down Stiles’ chest. He’d obviously have no issue reaching that area, but he wasn’t going to stop him. Although, if Stiles wasn’t careful, he was going to embarrass himself in front of everyone in these swim trunks. “I’m gonna go take a dip.”

“Have fun!” Stiles squeaked, setting one of their towels on his lap as he watched Isaac trot off down the sand.

“You two are good together,” Allison commented, grinning up at him.

“You think?”

“Granted, I didn’t know Isaac very well before, but he seems a lot more relaxed with you. And happy. Both of you do.”

“I really am,” Stiles agreed, smiling bashfully. “Even with all the chaos of our lives, being with Isaac is easy. It just makes sense.”

“That’s how it felt with Scott. At least some of the time,” Allison admitted, flipping onto her back. “I’m hoping we’ll get more of that since we aren’t doing the whole star-crossed lovers routine.”

“I’m pretty excited to be starting the school year more united than we ended the last one. This time last year it was pretty much just me and Scott versus the world and now we have this whole group. It’s nice.”

“What are the odds that we’ll have a quiet year?” Allison wondered.

“Slim to none, but we’ll get through it,” Stiles shrugged, staring back toward the water. “Hopefully we’ll-” Stiles’ words cut off as soon as his eyes caught sight of something that made his mouth go dry again. Isaac was walking out of the water and it was like one of those slow motion perfume commercials. He shook his head, sending droplets of water from his hair. Even from their distance, Stiles watched a bead of water roll down Isaac’s neck, all the way to the waistband of his shorts. Had he always looked like that? It had Stiles wondering how he hadn’t questioned his sexuality a long time ago.

“You’re drooling,” Allison giggled. Stiles snapped his mouth shut from where his jaw had hung open, adjusting the towel on his lap again. Isaac shot him a wide smile as he walked back to his chair, spinning in a slow circle.

“No bite marks,” Isaac bragged.

“Not yet,” Stiles muttered, staring at the dips next to Isaac’s abs.

“Move over,” Isaac said, nudging him to the side of the chair.

“Get your own. You’re all wet!” Stiles grumbled, even as he made space for him.

“But I’m cold,” Isaac whined, stretching out on his side and snuggling up against him. Stiles rolled his eyes, grabbing a towel to try to dry Isaac’s curls. He purred as Stiles massaged his scalp, closing his eyes in pleasure.

“Such a puppy,” Stiles said fondly, unable to resist pressing a kiss to Isaac’s temple. Isaac hummed contentedly, burrowing closer and letting his body relax fully. “Are you falling asleep on me?”

“Maybe,” Isaac yawned, throwing an arm over Stiles’ waist. “It’s vacation.”

“You’ve been falling asleep around me since before we even got together,” Stiles pointed out, thinking back to all those times that Isaac had flopped onto his bed and been out like a light. “Do I bore you that much?”

“You make me feel safe,” Isaac murmured in that voice that Stiles recognized only came out right before Isaac dropped off. It was good that he was, since Stiles felt like he was about to cry after hearing what Isaac said. To hear that someone who’d spent so many years of his life in a bad situation say that Stiles could make a difference like that meant everything. He would never take it for granted.

*

“Which one do you think she’d like better?” Scott asked, holding up two very similar looking snow globes. Stiles rolled his eyes, going back to perusing the magnets. Allison wasn’t even trying to hide her frustration anymore, pointedly looking at the jewelry display and not at Scott.

He’d picked up practically every souvenir he’d passed, asking their opinions on it for his mom. Stiles knew Melissa really wouldn’t care, but Scott was acting like getting something in the wrong shade of blue would break his mom’s heart. Isaac was the only one who was still humoring him, having just enough of an opinion to keep Scott happy.

“The water looks nice in that one,” Isaac said, pointing to the one in Scott’s left hand. Scott smiled in appreciation, before swiftly changing his mind and putting them both back on the shelf.

“Oh my God,” Stiles muttered, shaking his head in annoyance.

“Sorry, but I want to make sure I get something good. What do moms like?” Scott asked in exasperation.

“Wrong group to ask, pal,” Stiles snorted. Scott looked mortified after Stiles reminded him that he was the only one who still had a living mom.

“Oh no, I didn’t even think!” Scott gasped, smacking himself on the forehead.

“It’s fine,” Allison assured him, giving him a pat on the chest. She was the one who had the freshest loss, so Stiles figured she should have final word on the subject. He’d never gotten the story of what happened to Isaac’s mom, but Lahey family history was a subject they tended to avoid. “How about we make a decision on what to get your mom? She’s the last one we need to get something for and we’ve been at this for hours.”

“And we still have to get our hotel rooms,” Stiles reminded him. There were a few along the beach for them to choose from that had availability and it was almost the time they started accepting check-ins. Stiles hoped he and Isaac could get something with a view of the water, but he knew those would cost extra if they requested it.

“Yeah, yeah,” Scott grumbled, letting Allison drag him over to another display.

“What do you think of this?” Isaac grinned, wrapping a scarf around his neck. It had a rubber duck print and looked like it was geared more toward little kids, but Stiles loved it because it made Isaac smile.

“Only you could find a scarf in a place like this,” Stiles laughed.

“Well, maybe our next trip can be to somewhere with snow?” Isaac suggested, tossing the scarf around the back of Stiles’ neck to pull him closer. “You laid out on a bearskin rug in front of a fireplace?”

“Will you make the rug yourself?”

“What’s your obsession with me fighting wildlife?”

“You have your fantasies, I have mine.”

“I might have to pancake you on that one.”

“Are you going to pancake me later tonight?” Stiles asked, running his fingers along Isaac’s jaw.

“Are you guys already talking about breakfast?” Scott asked, interrupting them once again. He had to be doing it on purpose at this point.

“I finally got Scott to pick something out-”

“Finally?”

“So let’s check out before he changes his mind,” Allison said, leading them toward the cashier. They followed willingly, since checking out here meant checking in to the hotel sooner, which meant a little privacy.

“Are you all here for the carnival?” the cashier asked as she was ringing up their items.

“What carnival?” Scott asked.

“About a mile down the coast they have this big, end of summer fair. It’s no Disneyland, but it’s fun,” the cashier explained, handing over their bags.

“We should go!” Scott said excitedly as they walked back to the jeep. “It’s not like we have a ton of options on things we can do after dark.”

“Let’s get the hotel figured out, then we can plan the rest of the day,” Stiles said, climbing into the jeep. Isaac paused before he got in, looking at his phone curiously. “What’s up?”

“I just got Derek’s email. It’s a hotel reservation confirmation,” Isaac mumbled, looking around at all of them. “Strange timing.”

“He’s probably got us in the creepiest rooms he could find,” Stiles scoffed, waving them into the car. “I bet the hotel is haunted.”

“He wouldn’t do that,” Isaac laughed, but he did look a little unsure.

“Let’s check it out,” Stiles shrugged, driving them in the direction of the hotel. They passed a few beach themed places that looked a bit run down and was surprised that none of them matched the name on the email. That was what they’d been expecting to stay at, since none of them were planning on shelling out a bunch of money just to sleep. Stiles was sure he’d gone to the wrong place when he followed the signs to a giant hotel. It was easily the nicest one in the entire town. “This can’t be right.”

“The name matches,” Isaac confirmed, looking up in awe.

“This is like, Argent level luxury,” Stiles murmured, parking in one of the designated spots. His jeep looked so out of place here. “If this is a prank, I’m going to be so embarrassed.”

“Derek wouldn’t do that to me. You maybe, but not while we’re together.”

“Comforting,” Stiles snorted.

“Come on, let’s go in. Maybe leave our stuff in the jeep, just in case,” Isaac said, tipping his head toward the door as he climbed out. The rest of them followed, taking in all the fancy decor. There was a giant lobby with fancy sitting areas and a restaurant off to one side. Stiles thought a Comfort Inn was the lap of luxury, but this was something else entirely.

“I feel very underdressed,” Stiles muttered.

“Hi, we’re here to check in. We have a reservation,” Isaac said, showing his phone to the woman at the front desk. Stiles could tell when her forced customer service smile changed to a more genuine one, once she saw they weren’t a bunch of dumb kids wasting her time.

“Of course! Mr. Hale called earlier and told us to expect you,” the woman said brightly, reaching into her desk to grab some key cards. “I’ve got you down for two rooms. One under the name Lahey and the other under McCall.”

“Lahey,” Isaac said, accepting his room keys in their protective sleeve. Scott took his as well.

“There is a tab open for both of your rooms, so anything you purchase while here will be charged to that. We have extensive room service options, open 24/7,” she explained. “If you have any other questions, we’ll be happy to help. Enjoy your stay.” They all thanked her before walking to the elevators.

“This place is insane!” Stiles exclaimed, barely able to contain his excitement.

“What room are you in?” Scott asked as they climbed into the elevator. “We’re 207.”

“501,” Isaac replied. “Maybe they didn’t have anything next to each other?”

“How about we check out our rooms, then meet up a little later?” Stiles suggested. Scott and Allison got off on the second floor, while he and Isaac rode the elevator all the way to the top. His breath caught when he realized they weren’t on a regular floor, but were at the penthouse. Their room was the only one on the floor. Isaac excitedly unlocked the door, opening it up to reveal the spacious room that awaited them.

“Wow,” Isaac breathed out, blinking in awe at what looked like more of a fancy apartment than a hotel room. There was a whole living room area with the biggest TV Stiles had ever seen outside of an electronics store. A set of double doors led them to a bedroom with a king sized bed covered in soft pillows.

But the best part was the view. The wall facing the ocean was all windows, with a door that opened to a private balcony. They stepped out onto it, finding a table and chairs along with a jacuzzi. It was more than Stiles could’ve ever dreamed of and he was getting to share it with Isaac.

Chapter Text

“What the hell? Your room is so much nicer than ours,” Scott scoffed, taking in the spacious area after they decided to meet up again.

“It was free, so appreciate what we got,” Allison reminded him, rubbing his shoulders.

“Perks of being in the Hale pack,” Stiles bragged, shooting Scott a cheeky grin.

“Since when are you in the Hale pack?” Scott wondered.

“Well, Isaac is. And since I’m with Isaac, that makes me an honorary member. Those are the rules.”

“Since when are those the rules?”

“Since now.”

“It’s not bad though, is it?” Isaac asked, rummaging around in his bag for a new shirt. “This hotel doesn’t seem like it would have any bad rooms.”

“No, it’s just not a palace like this one,” Scott admitted glumly.

“How about you guys come up and hang out in the hot tub after we get back from whatever we’re doing tonight?” Isaac suggested.

“Sounds good to me. Those jets,” Allison agreed dreamily.

“Down girl, save that for your own room,” Stiles snorted. Allison flipped him off, dragging Scott back to the door.

“Let’s go so I can change into something better for the carnival.”

“We can text when we’re all ready and meet in the lobby,” Scott proposed, waving as they left the room.

“Alone at last,” Stiles said, leering over at Isaac who was pulling off his shirt. He was facing away and Stiles took a moment to appreciate the smooth lines of his back. He bit his lip, thinking about what the night possibly had in store for them. If Isaac decided he wasn’t ready, Stiles would of course wait, but he wasn’t going to be the one putting on the brakes this time.

“Are you staring at me again?” Isaac asked huskily, turning around slowly to face him.

“Again?” Stiles questioned, letting his eyes roam across Isaac’s chest.

“I saw you watching me as I came out of the water,” Isaac said, stepping closer. “Did you like what you saw?”

“Maybe,” Stiles murmured, letting out a shaky breath. Isaac grinned, moving until he was in Stiles’ space. He hooked a finger under his chin, tipping Stiles’ head up until they made eye contact.

“Want to see more?” Stiles felt desire pool in his belly as Isaac leaned down and pressed a light kiss to his lips. Stiles nodded frantically as Isaac’s kisses moved along his jaw and down his neck. He’d never thought much about size differences, since he figured he’d probably be taller than any girl he ended up with, but he found himself loving the feel of Isaac towering over him and holding him in his long arms. Isaac made him feel safe too.

“I want it all,” Stiles sighed, shivering as Isaac’s fingertips slid under his shirt and up his stomach. If Isaac was driving him this crazy already, there was no way he was going to last long when they got to the main event.

“And you’ll get it,” Isaac whispered against his ear. “Just maybe not before we have to go meet Scott and Allison. You know how Scott’s timing is.”

“I guess it’s a good thing that our rooms are so far apart.”

“Mhm. Especially since I’m planning on making you scream tonight.” Stiles felt his knees go weak and Isaac’s strong arm caught him before he could fall to the floor.

“Holy shit,” Stiles mumbled, looking up at Isaac in surprise. “Who are you and what have you done with my Isaac?”

“Do you prefer this version?”

“I like every version.” Isaac hummed, scooping Stiles off his feet and tossing him onto the bed. Stiles bounced once before settling on his back, propping himself onto his elbows as he watched Isaac crawl on top of him. Isaac kissed him from his stomach to his chest, spending a little extra time around his neck.

“Can I?” Isaac asked, nipping at his collarbone.

“Yes!” Stiles replied, even though he wasn’t sure what he was agreeing to. He wasn’t going to stop Isaac from doing anything right now. If Isaac decided to punch him in the face, he’d probably thank him. Isaac chuckled, choosing a spot on his neck and biting down. Stiles’ toes curled at the flash of pain, followed by Isaac licking and sucking at the spot. His eyes were rolling around in his head, unable to focus on anything but the pleasure coursing through him. Stiles’ shirt had ridden up a little and the spots where their skin was touching felt like they were burning. He didn’t care if Scott strolled into the room right now. Stiles wasn’t stopping for anything.

“Ready to go?” Isaac murmured against his skin.

“More than I ever have been,” Stiles moaned.

“Great!” Isaac said brightly, sliding off his body and bouncing to his feet. Stiles watched in bewilderment as Isaac threw a shirt back on and bent down to grab his shoes.

“What the fuck?” Stiles groaned, throwing an arm over his eyes as he tried to calm back down. “You suck!”

“Maybe later,” Isaac grinned, wagging his eyebrows. Stiles immediately filled his mind with gross things, like dead puppies and Mr. Harris’ class. Anything to keep himself from making a mess in his pants.

“I’m gonna need you to stop being so hot so I can make it through the rest of the night,” Stiles said, shaking his head in exasperation.

“No one’s ever considered me hot before,” Isaac chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “I think that’s a you problem.”

“Are you kidding me?” Stiles spluttered, scooting to the edge of the bed. “You’re the most gorgeous person I’ve ever met in my life.”

“Stop it,” Isaac scoffed, shifting uncomfortably from the attention. Stiles hopped off the bed, grabbing Isaac by the cheeks and pulling them face to face again.

“I will never stop telling you how beautiful you are, so you better get used to it,” Stiles said simply, smiling at the way Isaac’s face turned red in embarrassment.

“Not as beautiful as you,” Isaac murmured.

“I feel like that is an argument that neither of us are going to win, even though I’d be right,” Stiles smirked, tapping Isaac on the nose. “How about we table that for another time and go meet Scott and Allison before you give me another boner?”

“How about I give you another one while we’re at the carnival? Think they got a ferris wheel?”

“You’re so bad!” Stiles groaned, pulling Isaac out of the room. His boyfriend was going to be the death of him.

*

“This is awesome!” Scott said excitedly, looking around at all the lights and decorations. The carnival was only a short walk from the hotel, so they left the jeep instead of having to deal with parking. It was kind of busy, but not enough to ruin the fun. The lines weren’t too long for anything, which Stiles was glad about. He was eyeing some of the nearby food booths.

“What should we do first?” Allison asked, laughing as they walked through a bubble machine.

“Turkey legs!” Stiles exclaimed, pointing to grills and stacks of meat. If he started eating early, he’d have more room for food later.

“I’m not going on rides with you on a full stomach,” Isaac snorted.

“Yeah, good point,” Stiles conceded. Throwing up might ruin sexy time later.

“How about rides first, then food and games? I don’t want to have to carry all the prizes you’re going to win me,” Isaac smirked.

“Who says I’m going to win you anything?” Stiles scoffed.

“Cat needs siblings.”

“Oh my God! You’re ridiculous,” Stiles laughed, but in his head he planned on winning every toy Isaac even glanced at.

“Let’s go to the roller coaster while the line isn’t super long,” Scott suggested, pointing a little ways down. They all walked over, settling in for the short wait. Isaac jumped in surprise at the sound of one of the terrified shrieks from the riders. Stiles pressed himself against Isaac’s back, wrapping his arms around his waist.

“You good?” Stiles asked, lifting himself onto his toes so he could rest his chin on Isaac’s shoulder.

“I’m great,” Isaac replied, kissing him on the temple. They ended up getting seats in the front and Scott was the one who screamed like a little kid. They went on most of the rides together, although Isaac skipped some of the really aggressive spinning ones, after he turned a bit green on a ride similar to the teacups. Stiles was really glad they’d held off on the food.

The ferris wheel was last and they were kissing pretty much as soon as they left the ground. Stiles didn’t have time to worry about how high they were when Isaac was practically in his lap, licking the inside of his mouth. Thank goodness they were alone on the ride or it would’ve been very awkward.

“What game should we play next?” Isaac asked, shoving another gob of cotton candy in his mouth. They’d gotten booted from the fish bowl game after Isaac discovered a knack for it and ended up winning ten goldfish. Stiles thought it was impossible, but he’d fallen for Isaac even more as he watched him give away the fish to little kids they passed by, with parental permission of course.

“Ring toss? Shooting water into a clown’s mouth?” Stiles suggested, taking a bite of his sno-cone.

“I know,” Scott grinned, leading them over to a booth to the side.

“Too bad. I really thought you had it that time,” the man behind the counter laughed as a kid stomped off without a prize. That was kind of a dick move.

“Can we try?” Scott asked, setting down a few dollars.

“I don’t know. Think you can handle it?” the man joked, handing over three darts. Stiles shook his head in annoyance at him, wondering how this guy even had a job with his attitude. It was just popping balloons with a dart.

“Maybe, maybe not. But she can,” Scott smirked, handing his darts to Allison. The man rolled his eyes and waved his hand at the board. Stiles and Isaac moved into a better position to watch the show. Allison spun one of the darts between her fingers with a timid smile, before flinging it at the board faster than Stiles could even see. The balloon popped easily with a resounding snap.

“Beginner’s luck,” the man shrugged off, rolling his eyes.

“Really?” Allison asked, tipping her head to the side innocently.

“That balloon had been up for a long time. A gust of wind could’ve popped it.”

“How about you tell me which one to aim for?” Allison suggested, cocking an eyebrow.

“Sure,” he snickered, pointing to a balloon that was high up and to the side. Allison yawned, keeping direct eye contact with the man as she hurled the dart and hit her target. The man was starting to look pissed and Stiles barely kept himself from bursting out laughing.

“She has good aim. I know that fact very well,” Isaac chuckled.

“What do I win if I pop a third balloon?” Allison asked, looking around at all the different prizes.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” the man grunted. “You have to hit that one to get anything.” He pointed at a balloon that looked half-filled and thicker than the rest.

“Which one?”

“That one,” the man sighed, moving closer to it.

“The green one?” Allison asked, squinting like she was confused.

“The yellow one!” the man exclaimed, moving so his finger was touching it. That was when Allison made her move, launching her last dart. But instead of popping the balloon, it pierced the man’s sleeve, pinning him to the board. His eyes were the size of saucers as he stared at his trapped arm.

“Oops. I guess I missed that one.”

“Time to go!” Scott said quickly, ushering Allison away from the booth before the man regained the ability to say anything. Isaac followed after them, but Stiles lagged a bit behind, snagging a few of the prizes when no one was looking. They deserved them.

“That was amazing. And nice to not be on the receiving end of it this time,” Isaac laughed, bumping Allison with his elbow.

“We should probably get out of here. I think people are staring at us,” Scott said, glancing around at the people they passed.

“Sounds like hot tub time to me,” Stiles grinned, tossing each of them their new stuffed animals. Scott got a puppy, because it made Stiles laugh. Allison got a snake, since she was lethal and could strike at any moment.

“You got me another cat?” Isaac smiled, squeezing the toy to his chest.

“I hope that’s not what you’re naming this one too,” Stiles snorted, linking arms with Isaac.

“Of course not. This one will be Kitty.”

“My boyfriend is so creative.”

“What did you get yourself?”

“Some sort of lizard. I just grabbed what was there.”

“So you aren’t planning on using it in one of your spells? Eye of newt?”

“That’s actually just mustard seed, but I like the way your mind works,” Stiles laughed.

“Good to know. I’m glad it won’t turn into another one of your man versus nature fantasies where you have me pluck the eyes out of small animals.”

“Don’t rule it out quite yet. I haven’t read through all the books.”

“I need to stop hanging out with you guys,” Scott sighed, pushing Allison to walk faster.

“Really good thing our rooms are far apart,” Stiles grinned.

*

They stopped by Scott and Allison’s room when they got back to the hotel so they could grab their supplies for the hot tub. The room was nice enough, but Stiles had to admit that it paled in comparison to what Derek got for Isaac. Maybe when everyone was back in Beacon Hills he could convince Derek to move to a real house with bedrooms. That might be too domestic for him though.

“Allison, you can change in the bathroom while we change out here,” Stiles offered, letting her have some privacy. The three of them had shared a locker room for so long that it was old news to change in front of each other. Although Stiles had to work really hard to keep his eyes away from Isaac. That had to wait until they were alone again, then he’d be able to look and touch.

“Dude,” Scott snickered, pointing at him as soon as he was shirtless and in his swim trunks.

“What?” Stiles grumbled. He might be a little scrawny, but he didn’t have werewolf mojo on his side.

“Your neck.” Stiles walked over to a wall that had a mirror hanging on it, his cheeks turning red when he finally saw what Scott had been pointing at.

“Isaac!” Stiles hissed, whirling around to look at his boyfriend. The bastard looked so smug.

“I asked and you said yes,” Isaac reminded him.

“I didn’t know that meant you were giving me a giant hickey!”

“It’s not giant. And you can’t even see it when you’re wearing a shirt.” Stiles groaned, looking again at the mark that was just to the side of where the collar of his shirt laid. “Besides, you give me hickeys all the time.”

“But yours disappear.”

“Again, that sounds like a you problem,” Isaac laughed. “And I like having proof on you to show people that you’re mine.”

“Oh yeah?” Stiles murmured, tipping his head down so he could look up at Isaac through his lashes.

“I can be very territorial,” Isaac growled.

“Allison, please hurry up so I’m not left alone with these two anymore,” Scott whined, covering his face with his hands.

“We’re not that bad,” Stiles scoffed.

“You kind of are,” Allison said, walking out of the bathroom wrapped up in a robe. “But I think it’s cute.”

“You want me to give you a hickey?” Scott asked.

“My dad would kill you,” Allison laughed, patting Scott’s cheek.

“Yeah, I think we deserve a break from hunters,” Isaac agreed, taking a sip from a bottle of overpriced water.

“If you put it on her inner thigh, Chris won’t see it,” Stiles suggested. Isaac choked on his drink, spluttering out wet coughs as he swallowed wrong. Stiles grinned evilly. Just a little bit of revenge.

“How about we get in?” Scott proposed, leading Allison over to the hot tub. The water was bubbling and there was steam rising above it. The whole scene looked amazing on this cool summer night. The light breeze from the water helped keep the heat from being too stifling. Scott helped Allison climb in, before climbing in himself. They settled in on one side, sitting pressed against each other in bliss.

“Need a hand?” Isaac asked, holding out his arm for Stiles to steady himself on as he climbed in the tub. He moaned as soon as his skin touched the water, feeling some of his built up tension leave his body. Not the sexual tension, since that was still alive and well in him, but all the other life stuff that never fully went away. He was going to have to see if his dad would be willing to invest in one of these for their house.

“This is nice,” Isaac sighed, sinking down next to him. He draped his legs over Stiles’ lap and rested his head on his shoulder. Stiles suddenly ached for this to be their normal life. No Beacon Hills, no drama, just them together and happy. It didn’t matter if they were in the nicest hotel or the shabbiest shack, as long as they were safe.

The four of them chatted for a while about nothing in particular, before Isaac got quiet and tucked his face further into Stiles’ neck. It felt like he was falling asleep and Stiles felt a tiny pang of disappointment settle into his stomach. If Isaac was too tired to do anything tonight, he wouldn’t be upset, but he’d built this night up so much in his head.

“We should probably get going back to our own room,” Scott said, tipping his head in Isaac’s direction.

“Let’s meet up for breakfast in the morning. We passed a diner that looked good,” Allison suggested.

“Sounds like a plan,” Stiles agreed, waving goodbye to them as they bundled up into their robes and grabbed their clothes. He ran his fingers through Isaac’s curls as he heard the door close behind them, trying to coax Isaac back up. “Want to head to bed?”

“Are you propositioning me?” Isaac murmured against his neck, pressing light kisses to his jaw.

“I thought you were asleep,” Stiles chuckled. Isaac shifted around, straddling Stiles’ lap and bracketing him with his strong arms.

“I was pretending to get them to leave,” Isaac grinned, grinding his hips down into Stiles’. Stiles felt a rush of desire flow through him.

“You’re so bad,” Stiles moaned, pulling him down for a kiss. Their kiss quickly went from languid to frenzied, with hands wandering and water splashing over the sides of the tub. People might not have been able to see them where they were, but the sounds they were making were becoming a bit obscene. Stiles broke their kiss, letting Isaac attack his neck as he tried to catch his breath. “Bedroom?”

“Yeah,” Isaac panted, leaning back and staring at him with lust-blown eyes. There were definitely not going to be any pancakes tonight. Isaac climbed out of the tub gingerly, doing an awkward move with his hips before he turned to help Stiles out. Stiles was having the same problem now that he was standing. They dried each other off with the towels, letting their hands wander as they went along. Stiles was so ready, but he had one last thing he needed to do first.

“Do you mind going into the bathroom for a minute?” Stiles asked awkwardly. Isaac tilted his head to the side in confusion, slowly pulling his hands away.

“Did you want to stop?”

“No! Not at all!” Stiles insisted, surging forward to give Isaac a few more kisses. “Just go in there and don’t come out until I say so.”

“Alright,” Isaac mumbled, gathering up their used towels and walking toward the bathroom. He shot Stiles one more suspicious look before closing the door. Stiles immediately got to work, grabbing the bag of supplies he brought with him. He quickly put everything in place, not wanting to waste a second longer than necessary. When he was finished he knocked on the bathroom door, signaling that he was done.

“Ta-da!” Stiles said, holding his hands out as Isaac stepped back into the room. Isaac looked around in confusion, searching for what was different.

“What…” Isaac mumbled, finally spotting a small tea light on the nightstand. “Oh, did you want me to help light these? I don’t have a lighter.”

“No need,” Stiles smirked, mumbling a few words of Latin under his breath. The dark room was suddenly glowing with dozens of small flames. Isaac looked around in awe. “You like it?”

“I love it,” Isaac said softly, sniffling as he wiped the corner of his eye. “You’re too good to me.”

“You deserve everything,” Stiles murmured, closing the distance between them and pulling Isaac down for another kiss. He backed up, letting himself fall onto the bed with Isaac on top of him. They were still in their swim trunks, so their upper bodies were finally pressed together in the best way. Isaac was so warm, chasing away the goosebumps that rose from the gentle breeze that was flowing into the room.

“May I?” Isaac asked, running his fingers along his waistband.

“Please,” Stiles breathed out, lifting his hips slightly as Isaac pulled his last bit of clothing off. Stiles thought he might feel embarrassed about being naked in front of another person, but the look of complete adoration in Isaac’s eyes put him at ease. He was glad that they waited this long, so they would have this trust.

“So beautiful,” Isaac whispered, kissing down his body. Stiles closed his eyes, letting himself get lost in the sensations. As Isaac touched him in ways he’d never been touched before, he couldn’t help thinking something he hadn’t found the right time to say. This wasn’t it, since it was such a cliche, but he knew he felt it without a doubt. He was in love with Isaac Lahey.

Chapter Text

“Do we have to?” Stiles whined, pouting with his pants in his lap. If he didn’t put pants on, he couldn’t leave the house. Then he’d just have to stay in bed forever and not go back to the real world, with the people and the danger. And the homework.

“Until you find a spell that will plug all the knowledge in our brains and give us valid degrees for our futures, yes,” Isaac sighed, perching behind him on the bed and kissing across his neck.

“Since when do you care about school?” Stiles grumbled, tipping his head to the side so Isaac would have better access. Ever since they got back from their weekend getaway, they’d barely been able to keep their hands off each other. Once they got their first time out of the way, all the hesitation had gone away. That was another reason Stiles didn’t want to go back to school. None of the touching he’d grown accustomed to.

“Since I found someone who I want to have a future with,” Isaac murmured against his neck. Stiles melted at his words, thinking in amazement about how far they’d come together. The old Isaac had accepted the possibility of death like it wasn’t a big deal, but now he wanted more. And Stiles was lucky enough to be the one he wanted it with.

“Let me put my pants on,” Stiles sighed in resignation, scooting toward the edge of the bed.

“I’ll help,” Isaac grinned, snatching the pants out of his hands and squatting down in front of him on the floor. He held the pants open, guiding Stiles’ legs in. He felt ridiculous until he felt Isaac’s lips press against the inside of his knee. Stiles threw his head back and moaned as Isaac kissed up his legs just ahead of the pants he was pulling on.

Stiles hadn’t been surprised at all that Isaac was an attentive lover. He was heartbreakingly gentle with every move he made, constantly asking Stiles if he was okay and wanted to keep going. Isaac could get a little bitey when they were just making out, but when it was the main event, he was tender to a fault. Stiles wouldn’t mind something a little more rough, but that could wait. It felt like it was important for Isaac to be able to take his time and do things softly for a while.

“If you keep going like that, they aren’t going to fit,” Stiles panted, grabbing his comforter in desperation.

“Switch to athletic shorts?” Isaac suggested cheekily, resting his face on Stiles’ thigh as he looked up at him.

“Walking around school with a boner is so seventh grade,” Stiles snorted, gently tugging on Isaac’s hair to urge him up. “How about we skip cross country and make out in the woods behind the school?”

“Coach would kill us,” Isaac chuckled, nipping at his jaw.

“You could take him,” Stiles shrugged.

“How about we behave at school and afterward, I’ll give you a prize?” Isaac suggested, letting his hands linger as he tugged the pants up the rest of the way.

“Does holding hands in the hallway count as misbehaving?” Stiles asked, trying to sound casual. Isaac had no problem showing him affection in public, but he knew that school was a completely different beast. If Isaac wanted to keep his space for a while, Stiles would deal.

“You’d be misbehaving if you didn’t,” Isaac murmured, reaching up to cup his cheek. “I can’t wait to see how jealous everyone is of me, knowing that I got you.”

“You’re ridiculous,” Stiles scoffed, feeling his face heat up in embarrassment. No one had ever considered him anything special before, but Isaac looked at him like he was the most precious thing in the world. He hoped this feeling never went away.

Stiles had been thinking of a way to tell Isaac he loved him since they got back, but it never felt like the right time. He wanted it to be special, just like their first time, but he was terrified to mess it up. What if it was too lame and Isaac didn’t believe him? Or too over the top? He was just waiting for a sign that hadn’t come yet.

“Come on. I can hear your dad moving around downstairs,” Isaac sighed, giving him one last kiss before he reluctantly moved away. “Winnie, are you going to be fine without us home all day?”

“You think I can get her officially registered as an emotional support animal and bring her to school with me? She could sit on my shoulder and hiss at anyone who looked at me wrong,” Stiles wondered, daydreaming about it a little.

“I thought that was my job?” Isaac smirked, flicking out his claws.

“I doubt you’d fit on my shoulder,” Stiles grinned, leaning closer as he lowered his voice. “Although you do fit other places really, really well.”

“Oh my God,” Isaac choked out, covering his face as he left the room in a rush. Well, at least Stiles thought it was funny.

*

“You know, I could get used to this being driven to school thing,” Isaac sighed contentedly as they pulled into the school parking lot.

“You’re crazy if you think I’m going to be picking you up every morning once you move back to Derek’s,” Stiles snorted, grabbing his backpack from where it was sitting at Isaac’s feet. “Crazy and correct.”

“Is there a spell you can do to influence Derek into buying me a car?”

“I’ll work on that later. First I’m gonna focus on a way to turn Harris into a frog.”

“Wait until it’s time to dissect them.”

“Are you really sure that we need school? I’m pretty sure we know everything there is to know. And I’m going to miss you too much. I’ve gotten used to seeing you every second of every day,” Stiles pouted, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Stiles, we share three classes and lunch. I think we’ll survive.”

“But I don’t want to survive.”

“And I thought I was the clingy one,” Isaac chuckled fondly, leaning over for one last kiss in the relative privacy of the jeep. “How about you walk your boyfriend to his locker?”

“Fine, fine,” Stiles grumbled, reluctantly climbing out of the jeep. They met up in the front, immediately linking their hands without a care for what anyone else thought. Stiles caught a couple of surprised looks as they walked into the school, but he had grown his hair out, so it was probably that.

“I’m over here,” Isaac said, dragging him over to the side of the hallway.

“Mine’s so far. Can we share?”

“Don’t think that means you can take up all my room,” Isaac warned.

“I’ve shared my bed with you and you’re giving me stipulations on your locker? I’m offended!”

“You’re so dramatic,” Isaac scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Just shove it in there.”

“Aw, that’s what you said to me last weekend,” Stiles smirked.

“What the hell did we just hear?”

“Erica! Boyd! You guys are back?” Isaac gasped, staring at his packmates.

“Looks like,” Erica grunted, glaring around at the other students. She wasn’t as aggressively done up like she’d been after the bite, but she hadn’t gone back to how she looked before. There was a confidence about her that didn’t stray too far into cockiness. Boyd looked the same as he always did, except maybe a bit happier. It might’ve had something to do with how he and Erica were holding hands.

“Um, can- can I-” Isaac mumbled, holding his arms open hesitantly. Erica rolled her eyes and smiled, while Boyd gave a short nod. Isaac didn’t waste a second, wrapping his long arms around them both and holding them close. “I missed you guys.”

“This is new,” Erica giggled, patting him on the back.

“Things have changed, and for the better I think. The pack isn’t like it was before.”

“Derek did seem a bit different over the last few weeks. Less Dereky.”

“I think almost losing everything again made him realize that he should relax and appreciate what he has,” Isaac said, sniffling a little. “We all should.”

“Well, you sure aren’t the emotionally repressed boy we used to know,” Erica snorted, glancing over at Stiles. “I take it you are mostly to thank for that?”

“And that’s my cue to go,” Stiles chuckled. He didn’t want to get into a discussion with Erica about their relationship, especially while she had that teasing glint in her eyes. “I’m gonna go shove the rest of this stuff in my locker.” Stiles jiggled the extra notebooks in his arms as he walked away.

“I’ll meet you in first period,” Isaac called after him. “And you better save me a seat, even if Scott’s in the class too.”

“Yes dear,” Stiles smirked, waving as he walked away. Scott would understand. He glanced back before he turned the corner, feeling his heart flutter at the happy look on Isaac’s face. This might mean that he was moving back with Derek, but it was worth it to have Isaac’s pack together again.

He turned to look where he was going again, but just a moment too late. All of his books fell to the floor as he walked right into someone, like the twitchy dweeb he claimed to not be. Stiles ducked down, scrambling to pick up everything that had fallen as the students around him snickered.

“I’m so sorry!” Stiles gasped, completely mortified. The first day of school and he already looked like an idiot.

“Is this how you greet all of your new teachers?”

“Oh God,” Stiles groaned, looking up to see that he had in fact run into a teacher. At least she was young, so he probably didn’t hurt her. He didn’t even want to think about if this had been Harris. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

“That’s alright,” she laughed softly, picking up her fallen papers. “I’m Ms. Blake, the new English teacher.”

“Oh, I think I have you later. I hope this doesn’t negatively affect my grade,” Stiles joked, hoping she would take pity on him.

“Not if you give me back my pen,” Ms. Blake replied, nodding her head down at the highlighter in his hand.

“Of course!” Stiles said quickly, holding out the pen for her to take. She reached out to grab it and when their fingers briefly touched, he felt something like he never had before. It was as if all the warmth had been suddenly sucked out of his body. There was a thrum of anxiety that swept through his veins and his lungs constricted to a point that taking a breath felt impossible.

“I look forward to seeing you in class,” Ms. Blake said, standing up to go into her classroom. Stiles was barely able to force himself to nod in response, almost completely frozen where he was crouched down. What was happening to him?

“Out of the way, Stilinski!”

The feel of someone nudging him with their foot snapped Stiles out of his stupor. He shakily grabbed up the rest of his stuff and stood up, still feeling out of sorts. He wandered mindlessly down the hall, forgetting what he’d even been planning to do. His legs were just moving on their own.

“Stiles. Stiles? Stiles!” Suddenly Isaac was there and it felt like he could breathe again. Isaac was cradling his face in the middle of the hallway and the warmth of his hands were bleeding life back into him. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t- I don’t know,” Stiles murmured, feeling dizzy with relief. Isaac was here, so it was going to be okay.

“You walked past me like you didn’t even see me. Are you okay?” Isaac asked, dragging him to a quieter area.

“I don’t think we should talk about it here,” Stiles whispered, glancing around nervously. You never could be sure who was listening in this town. “We should meet up after practice at Deaton’s. All of us.”

“Stiles, you’re scaring me,” Isaac said quietly, pressing their foreheads together.

“I swear I’m okay. Just bear with me for a while, okay? You’ll understand later,” Stiles assured him, groaning as the warning bell for their first class rang. At least they were going to be together for a bit before they had to separate again.

Their classes seemed to drag on so slowly. It was mostly going over the syllabus and class expectations, with a few painful getting to know you activities. Stiles felt like they were in elementary school instead of high school. He got to sit next to Isaac in every class they shared, which was the highlight of his day. Stiles ached to pass him a note about what happened, but the risk of it being seen was too high. He didn’t think a teacher confiscating a note that said his witch senses were running amok would go over well.

Stiles didn’t have Ms. Blake’s class with Isaac, but he did with Scott. She greeted him as he walked into the room and he gave her a polite nod, while keeping his distance. She was one of those teachers who liked to walk up and down the rows of desks and Stiles cringed every time she came near him. He thought he was hiding it well, but Scott was giving him a look that told him he wasn’t.

Stiles was a bit subdued at lunch, but sitting pressed up against Isaac made things better. He didn’t push Stiles to talk, which he appreciated, just stayed solid and supportive. They spread the word to the others about the meeting, purposefully making it sound more casual than it was. Scott texted Deaton to make sure it was okay and Isaac texted Derek, who immediately replied with a threat to stay safe. He wasn’t completely reformed afterall.

“I still think we should skip cross country,” Stiles grumbled as he stood with Scott and Isaac in the locker room. There could be a new threat in town, so why not jog around in circles for a while? It seemed like a waste of time.

“You look like you need to let out some energy,” Scott pointed out, unbuttoning his shirt.

“Shit, I forgot something in my locker,” Isaac muttered, pushing his stuff closer to Stiles’ on the bench. “I’ll be right back.”

“Be careful,” Stiles warned, although for what, he still wasn’t sure. Just a blanket don’t get hurt. He pulled his shirt off, shoving it harder than necessary in his bag.

“Damn, Stilinski, what happened to you?” a cackling voice said from behind him. He turned to put a face to the voice, finding a couple seniors he didn’t really know pointing at him and laughing. Stiles looked down at his chest, blushing when he remembered all of the marks Isaac had left on him. Isaac, the hickey king, had marked his territory all over his chest and back and Stiles had to admit that he didn’t mind it at all. He loved that Isaac wanted to leave evidence of their relationship on his body, he just hadn’t thought of moments like these.

“He probably gave them to himself with a vacuum cleaner,” the other one snickered. Stiles was about to say something witty to defend himself when Isaac burst back into the locker room, heading straight toward the other boys. Before anyone could react, Isaac had them by the front of their shirts, slamming them back against the lockers.

“I put them there. And I’m pretty proud of my artwork,” Isaac said calmly, looming over both of them. It was easy to forget how tall Isaac actually was, since he tended to carry himself like someone smaller. But now he was using every inch to his advantage. “Are we going to have a problem?”

“No,” one of the boys muttered, while the other shook his head. Isaac smiled, before releasing them both with a sharp shove. Stiles had to concentrate very hard on not letting everyone see how turned on he’d been by that display. Isaac defending him was so hot.

“Dude,” Scott mumbled, turning away so he could finish changing.

“Put a shirt on,” Isaac chuckled, poking him in the stomach.

“Welcome to the club,” Danny said, leaning back on the bench he was sitting on. This had been a good way to get his mind off the mystery of Ms. Blake.

*

The three of them stuck together for the most part during practice. Stiles could tell that Scott and Isaac were holding back so they didn’t leave him behind, which he did appreciate. He was going to have to look into giving himself some sort of magic boosters, so he could keep up with the werewolves.

“I bet I can beat you to the top of this hill,” Scott challenged, elbowing Isaac in the side.

“Probably,” Isaac shrugged, but he had a gleam in his eye that said he wanted to prove him wrong.

“Go on. I’ll be fine with the rest of the group for a while,” Stiles panted, waving them off.

“Are you sure?”

“I think I can be left to my own devices for a few minutes.”

“You’re gonna lose anyway,” Scott laughed, taking off without a warning. Isaac growled under his breath, but still pressed a kiss to Stiles’ sweaty forehead before following after him. A few of the others around him laughed a little, but it wasn’t mean spirited like it had been in the locker room. They probably knew better at this point.

Stiles let himself zone out as he jogged along the path. He hated running and found it dumb that this was a requirement to play lacrosse. And he couldn’t even remember why he and Scott had started playing lacrosse in the first place. Probably to look better on college applications, even though he wasn’t good enough for it to matter. Making a couple shots in one game didn’t mean much in the long run. But he wasn’t going to quit, as long as Isaac would be there too.

Stiles glanced around lazily, finding that everyone else had passed him and he was alone. That was fine by him. Now he could go at his own pace until Isaac and Scott came back, if they did. He just hoped Isaac had enough energy to fool around later. That was probably something he didn’t have to worry about, with werewolf stamina on his side. It had been kind of intimidating in bed at first, but he was learning to enjoy the ride.

“Stiles, what the hell?” Isaac exclaimed, darting in front of him to cut him off.

“Hey babe, who won the race?” Stiles asked, linking his fingers behind his head as he caught his breath.

“Stiles, what are you doing?”

“Running?” Stiles replied in confusion, looking around. “What the hell?” Instead of being on the running path like he thought, he was surrounded by trees. He could see where he was supposed to be behind them in the distance.

“Where were you going?”

“I thought I was on the path. I don’t know how I got here,” Stiles mumbled, feeling his heartbeat kick up in slight panic.

“Hey, come here,” Isaac murmured, pulling him into a tight hug. They were both sweaty and gross, but there was nowhere Stiles would rather be at the moment. “I think it’s time to get to Deaton’s.”

“What about the rest of practice?”

“Screw practice. If Finstock has a problem with us leaving early, I’ll deal with him,” Isaac grunted.

“Like you did with those seniors? That was so hot,” Stiles chuckled, feeling his nerves settle the longer he was held.

“No one messes with my boyfriend.”

“Well then, let’s go figure out what’s wrong with your boyfriend,” Stiles sighed, tucking himself firmly under Isaac’s arm as they walked back toward the school. He hoped Deaton or even Derek had some answers about what was happening to him. He didn’t want to admit how unsettled he’d felt since his moment with Ms. Blake, but he had faith that they’d be able to figure it out. And hopefully no one would get hurt in the process.

Chapter Text

Something was wrong with Stiles. Under normal circumstances, Isaac would insist that his boyfriend was perfect. He knew that sounded corny and gross, but he didn’t care. He was learning to appreciate what he had and in Isaac’s opinion, he had the best. Which is why he knew there was something strange going on.

Stiles could be twitchy and scatterbrained occasionally, which was fine. It came with the territory. But what Isaac saw today went beyond that. Stiles was usually hyper aware of Isaac’s presence and the same could be said the other way around. Especially after having lived together for weeks. But Stiles walking past him and wandering off without realizing set off all the alarm bells.

“What’s going on?” Isaac asked as soon as they were in the relative safety of Stiles’ jeep. Scott agreed to run interference with Finstock while they made their escape and would meet at Deaton’s as soon as he could.

“I promise I’ll give you the whole story once we get there. I just don’t want to have to talk about it more than once,” Stiles sighed, pulling the jeep out of the parking lot and driving toward the vet’s office.

“Stiles, you’re scaring me,” Isaac admitted quietly, keeping his eyes firmly locked on his profile. It was going to take a lot for him to be willing to let Stiles out of his sight anytime soon. Even if the plan was for him to go back to Derek’s now that they were back and better. Pack stuff could hold off for a while longer.

“Hey, I’m fine. I swear,” Stiles assured him, pressing a kiss to the back of his hand. His heart didn’t say that he was lying, but the beat might’ve been too calm in Isaac’s opinion. “I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.”

“But I am worried and I want to hear everything,” Isaac insisted.

“It’s probably just nerves from being back in school. I mean, junior year is pretty important in the grand scheme of things, like deciding on if you’re going to apply for college or if taking a gap year makes sense. You think we should do that? Take a year after high school to explore the world together? I know we’ll still be a couple, so I’m not concerned about that part,” Stiles babbled, fiddling with the knobs of the old stereo in the jeep. “Do I even want to go to college? I always figured I would, but that was before everything involving werewolves and witches and kanimas and hunters and stuff we probably haven’t even seen yet.”

“Stiles?”

“What do you think we’ll encounter next? Vampires? That would be pretty cool. Although, the werewolves usually lose against vampires in the end, so maybe we should scrap that idea. And Jacob imprinting on a baby was so creepy.”

“Stiles, where are you-”

“I don’t want zombies, in deference to your slight phobia. And that can go apocalyptic really fast, which we don’t need. Do you think I can convince my dad to build a fallout shelter in the backyard? You can never be too prepared in the event of a disaster. And of course you are invited to hunker down with us if necess-”

“Stiles!” Isaac shouted, jerking the steering wheel to the side. That seemed to snap Stiles out of his rambling and he slammed on the brakes, stopping the car before it could run over a mailbox.

“Dude! What the hell?” Stiles exclaimed, looking over at him like he was crazy.

“Stiles, you were about to drive into oncoming traffic. And we aren’t even going toward Deaton’s anymore,” Isaac replied, snatching the keys out of the ignition as soon as Stiles put the jeep into park.

“Hey.”

“Where were you going? Tell me, please.” Isaac knew he sounded pathetic, but he was about two seconds from freaking out completely. If he hadn’t been in the car or paying attention, this could’ve been a tragedy.

“I thought I was still driving toward Deaton’s, honestly. I didn’t even realize,” Stiles whispered, dropping his head to rest on Isaac’s shoulder. Isaac ran his hand through the short hair above Stiles’ neck, taking in as much comfort as he was giving.

“Why don’t you let me drive the rest of the way?” Isaac suggested, nudging Stiles to switch spots with him. He went willingly, which was another sign that something was wrong. The last time anyone else was allowed to drive the jeep was when he and Stiles were bloody in the backseat. Only one day of school and they couldn’t even make it through without a crisis.

*

“What’s taking so long? And why do we have to wait for Peter anyway?” Stiles grumbled, leaning back against Isaac’s chest. They were all in Deaton’s exam room, waiting for the last member of their crazy group to show up.

Isaac had immediately forced Stiles to drink a few glasses of water when they arrived, hoping that would do something to help. If something weird was going on, it wasn’t going to be because Stiles was dehydrated. Then he tried pulling his pain, freaking out a little when there were indeed some black veins crawling up his arm in response. But Stiles assured him that it was just a little bit of a headache and nothing serious. Isaac would keep an eye on it though.

“Peter’s been around long enough that he might’ve dealt with something like this before,” Derek grunted, crossing his arms. Isaac knew he didn’t really want to be here, but came because of him. He really was trying harder to be a better Alpha.

“Or caused some of the problems himself,” Lydia scoffed.

“I’m flattered you think so highly of me,” Peter said in delight, popping up behind Lydia suddenly. She flinched, going rigid in his presence. Isaac reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her over to his other side, away from Peter.

“Will you stop doing that? It’s not funny!” Isaac snapped, glaring at the older man. Peter smirked, raising his eyebrows in response.

“Isaac’s a little on edge right now, so I’d be careful if I were you,” Stiles chuckled, reaching back to rub his shoulder soothingly.

“How about you tell us what’s going on so we can figure out how screwed we are this time?” Derek suggested, moving so he was standing between Peter and everyone else.

“Well, it’s kind of hard to explain, since I’m not even really sure what happened,” Stiles started, wrapping his arms around his stomach. Isaac laid his arms over his, offering support. “I ran into a new teacher today and when I touched her, it felt wrong.”

“Yes Stiles, we already know you’re gay,” Peter chuckled.

“Probably not the best time for jokes,” Erica commented, pointing in Isaac’s direction. “Someone is a few seconds from wolfing out.” Isaac closed his eyes when he realized they’d shifted from blue to gold. He needed to stay calm, but it was very hard at the moment.

“Felt wrong how?” Deaton asked.

“The second our fingers touched, I felt cold and panicked. Like all the life had suddenly been sucked out of me,” Stiles murmured. Isaac held him a little tighter, as if giving him warmth now would fix something. “The touch only lasted for a second, but even after, I felt off. Like my brain wasn’t working properly.” Peter opened his mouth to make what Isaac assumed was another joke, but Derek elbowed him in the side before anything could come out.

“He walked by me after it happened like he was in a daze. He didn’t even hear me calling his name,” Isaac added.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t explain at the time. I was too worried that Ms. Blake would hear.”

“Ms. Blake? The new English teacher?” Lydia asked. “She seemed normal to me. A bit of a try-hard, but normal.”

“No one in this room is normal,” Allison pointed out. “Most people wouldn’t know that though.”

“So what do you think this means?” Scott asked Deaton.

“I can’t exactly be sure, but I’d assume that this has to do with Stiles’ magic. It makes him more in tune with the world around him and helps him see people’s true nature,” Deaton explained. “Sort of like an empath would, just stronger.”

“So does this mean Ms. Blake is like a murderer or something? Because I really didn’t like the vibes I got from her,” Stiles wondered, leaning more into Isaac’s embrace.

“Perhaps. Or she could have a darkness surrounding her. I don’t think you’ll be able to pinpoint the answer exactly this early in your journey into magic. Until you get a better handle on your power, it will take more than just a touch.”

“Great. While I was focused on lighting candles and changing colors, I should’ve been working on uncovering secrets,” Stiles sighed.

“Getting better in one area will only help you get better in others. Some things have to come naturally.”

“But I don’t want it to come naturally, I want it to be fast and easy,” Stiles whined.

“What about the other thing? Stiles wandering off?” Isaac asked quietly. That was what he was currently worried about the most. If they had to fight someone, fine, but they needed to keep Stiles safe from himself.

“Well, you know how Stiles can get distracted sometimes. Maybe he just didn’t hear you?” Allison offered.

“It’s happened three times and the last time he almost ran us off the road. I think that’s a bit more than a simple distraction.”

“That is a bit unusual and I’m sorry that I don’t have an answer,” Deaton sighed. “Perhaps telling us about what happened will help your mind become more settled and that issue will sort itself out?” Isaac wanted to scream that hoping for the best wasn’t a plan, but it wasn’t Deaton’s fault that he didn’t know what to do.

“I’m sure my nephew has some chains you can borrow to keep the boy from wandering off,” Peter smirked. The next thing Isaac knew, Derek was pushing Peter out the door and Scott and Boyd were holding him back.

“Isaac, calm down,” Stiles soothed, rubbing his fingers over his face until it shifted back to the human version. “He’s gone now, you can relax.”

“He just pisses me off sometimes. Not everything is a joke,” Isaac growled, nodding at Boyd and Scott once he was back in control again.

“Welcome to the club,” Lydia scoffed, setting her hand on his arm. “Thanks for sticking up for me, even though I didn’t need it.”

“Of course not,” Isaac chuckled, feeling a bit of weight fall off his shoulders. Even though nothing had really been solved, he felt better knowing that everyone was clued in on the situation and Stiles would have more backup besides him.

“I think the best thing we can do for now is go on like nothing’s changed. We don’t want Ms. Blake finding out anything is wrong,” Scott said, looking around the group for any input. There was one thing no one had vocalized yet, but it needed to be said.

“How do we know that Ms. Blake didn’t feel something when she and Stiles touched? What if she knows he’s different?”

“It didn’t seem like she reacted off, but I can’t be sure,” Stiles admitted.

“So we stick together tomorrow and until we figure this out. Like the buddy system, with emphasis on Stiles,” Scott proposed.

“I think we can make that work,” Allison agreed.

“Don’t I get a say in this?” Stiles grumbled. Everyone responded with a resounding no.

“Come on, let’s get back to your house so I can keep an eye on you,” Isaac said, dragging Stiles toward the door. He needed to get them alone so they could breathe again.

“I’ll meet you in front of the school tomorrow!” Scott called after them.

“I can drive, you know,” Stiles said, holding his hands out for his keys.

“No,” Isaac grunted, leading him to the passenger’s side again. They weren’t going to take any unnecessary chances. “Let me take care of you, please?”

“Alright,” Stiles relented, giving him a quick peck on the lips before climbing in. Isaac took a few deep breaths as he rounded the car, hoping the night would go by smoothly. He should’ve known better.

Chapter Text

“This is getting kind of ridiculous,” Stiles laughed. He was sitting at his desk finishing up some homework, while Isaac was sitting on the edge of his bed. Isaac was lucky enough to escape the first day without any assignments, so nothing was stopping him from what he really wanted to do, which was watch Stiles like a hawk.

He hadn’t let Stiles out of his sight for a second, except for when they’d used the bathroom. But they’d talked through the open door, so Isaac figured that was good enough in a pinch. Stiles hadn’t shown any signs of eloping, but he wasn’t going to let his guard down. He’d sleep completely on top of him if necessary, although neither would complain about that scenario.

“I’m keeping you safe,” Isaac reminded him.

“And you’re doing such a good job,” Stiles praised, wiggling his fingers at him. “See, not a single papercut. My hero.”

“I’m glad to see you’re taking this seriously,” Isaac grumbled. He couldn’t relax and hope things weren’t as bad as he feared when it was Stiles on the line. Tying him up with chains was out of the question, but wrapping him in bubble wrap wasn’t.

“I am taking this seriously, I’m just sick of worrying all the time. All my hair is going to fall out from the stress, just as it’s getting to a length I like,” Stiles joked.

“Our lives are nothing but worry,” Isaac sighed, slumping forward to rest his chin on his fists. “I wish we were back at the ocean.”

“Oh yeah, when you did that thing with your mouth,” Stiles said dreamily.

“You’re ridiculous,” Isaac grunted, feeling his face heat up.

“Ridiculously crazy about you,” Stiles smirked, closing up his notebook and slinking over to him. Isaac leaned back and rested on his outstretched arms as Stiles climbed onto his lap. “Can you think of anything we can do to get our minds off of everything?”

“I can think of a few things,” Isaac murmured, thrusting his hips up a little.

“You’re so smart,” Stiles moaned as he slid his fingers under Isaac’s shirt. His stomach clenched in anticipation as Stiles’ talented hands moved around, teasing him. “There’s only one problem.”

“What?”

“You stink.”

“No I don’t,” Isaac whined.

“You never showered after cross-country.”

“I’ve been busy.”

“I told you to get in the shower with me.”

“But your dad was home at the time.”

“How about you take a quick one while I stay in bed and warm up a little?” Stiles said suggestively, wagging his eyebrows.

“I don’t know,” Isaac mumbled. “Will you come with me?”

“I think I’ll be fine for a few minutes by myself,” Stiles scoffed, climbing off of him and pulling Isaac to his feet. “I got through the whole school day just fine.”

“And then ran off during cross-country the second my back was turned. Forgive me if I don’t want a repeat performance.”

“Winnie will keep me in line.” They both turned to look at the cat who was perched on her post in the corner, ignoring them.

“So reassuring.”

“I’ll make it worth your while.”

“Do you really think sex is more important than your safety?”

“Yes.”

“Stiles.”

“Isaac.”

“Fine!” Isaac huffed, throwing his hands up in annoyance. “But you stay in bed the whole time. And if I call out to you, you better answer.”

“Yes dear,” Stiles smirked, crawling onto the bed and under the covers. He rested his hand on his lap, biting his lip as he looked up at him. “I’m not sure how long I can wait.”

“Five minutes,” Isaac said, backing up toward the bathroom so he could give Stiles one last stern look of warning. How much trouble could he get into while Isaac was a room away?

Isaac turned on the shower and stripped off his clothes, hopping under the spray before it even had time to heat up. Quick showers weren’t out of the ordinary for him, from school locker rooms, to the paltry excuse for running water in the train depot, to his dad bitching him out for using even a drop of the hot water. He only had to deal with one of those now, but it was a skill that came in handy. Who knew when you would have to deal with your boyfriend trying to pull a runner?

“Stiles, do you know where your dad got this showerhead? I want to convince Derek to get the same kind,” Isaac called out. He tipped his head away from the water to listen for a response, but none came. “Stiles?” Isaac waited a few more seconds, hoping for Stiles to pop out and laugh about how he got him. But there was nothing.

Isaac shut off the faucet, not bothering to rinse the soap covering his body as he jumped out of the tub and grabbed a towel on his way back to the bedroom. The empty bedroom. Winnie was unbothered, facing the ominously open window.

“Shit!” Isaac hissed, grabbing the first articles of clothing he could find and throwing them on as he rushed toward the window. Stiles couldn’t have gotten far, unless he took the jeep, which would be a nightmare. Isaac might not be able to follow his scent and Stiles could crash. He had to find him before anything bad happened.

Isaac sucked in a deep breath as he rounded the house, sagging in relief when he saw the jeep was still parked in the driveway. If Stiles was on foot, this may not be the crisis he imagined. He wasn’t sure where to start, since Stiles’ scent was everywhere. And it didn’t help much when he realized that he’d put on Stiles’ clothes in his haste. No wonder the shirt was too tight and the pants ended above his ankles.

Isaac moved further away from the house, sniffing again. If he chose the wrong direction, that would waste too much time. But then he thought about the other times Stiles had dazedly wandered away. Each time he’d been pointed the same way. That’s where he’d start.

Stiles liked to pretend he wasn’t a very good athlete, especially in front of Finstock. It was a strange act, since he also wanted to get put into games. But when it was time for training, Stiles whined like he was too delicate for it all. In reality, Stiles wasn’t all that bad when it came to physical stuff. Which is why Isaac wasn’t too surprised at how far Stiles had gotten when he finally found him. He was too busy being relieved as well.

“Stiles!” Isaac called out, rushing forward and blocking his path like he had earlier. This time, he didn’t snap out of it, bumping into Isaac’s shoulder like he was trying to walk through him. “What the hell?” Isaac wrapped Stiles up from behind, but the other boy immediately started fighting to be released.

“I have to go. I have to go!” Isaac let him go, watching how he resumed his journey as soon as he was able. He walked a few steps behind Stiles, fighting the urge to scream or cry or howl.

“Stiles, please.”

“I have to,” Stiles mumbled, sounding completely unlike himself. Isaac whined in the back of his throat, wishing there was someone else here to help him. The last time he and Stiles went out on their own like this, it didn’t end well. But in his rush to get to Stiles, he hadn’t stopped to grab his cell phone. And they weren’t near anyone’s house. In fact, they were just about to breach the edge of the preserve. Isaac had no choice but to follow and hope he was enough to keep Stiles safe.

They walked for a while in silence, Stiles moving forward in a trance. He barely maneuvered around any obstacles that laid ahead of him, trudging through them like they were nothing. Isaac wasn’t sure where they were, even though he’d spent quite a bit of time running around the place with the pack after he’d been turned. But the preserve was ridiculously big, especially for a town as small as Beacon Hills.

Stiles finally started slowing down and Isaac could see his hands shaking. He wished it was from the cold, but the night still had that end of summer warmth. Isaac mentally prepared himself for whatever was about to happen. If he needed to fight, he would. There were no smells around that signaled danger that he could tell, but he wasn’t going to let his guard down.

“What the hell?” Isaac mumbled as soon as he saw it. There was a giant tree trunk in the middle of a clearing. Normally, he wouldn’t look twice at such a thing, but there seemed to be some sort of energy pulsing from it. And it felt wrong. Isaac doubled over, clutching his stomach as he resisted the urge to throw up. Getting even a step closer to it felt impossible, but Stiles was having no such issues.

Isaac couldn’t do more than watch helplessly as Stiles walked right up to the stump. He tried to force himself closer, but his knees buckled and he fell to the ground. His throat closed around his attempts to call out for Stiles, unable to do anything but watch as Stiles knelt down next to the wood and hovered his hand over the flattened top. Isaac heard the quiet wisps of Latin floating into the air from Stiles lips. As soon as he was finished he set his hand down, and the stump seemed to come to life. The last thing Isaac saw was a pulse of energy shooting out all around them and Stiles falling backward.

*

“Stiles!”

It couldn’t be time to get up for school already. He felt like he’d gotten absolutely no sleep.

“Stiles!”

And this didn’t feel like his bed. It reminded him of the one time he and Isaac hadn’t even made it off the floor after one of their more active sessions. That was fun, but killer on his back.

“Stiles, please!”

“Five more minutes,” Stiles grumbled, patting at the hands that were shaking his shoulders.

“Oh, thank God!” Stiles felt himself being pulled fully upright and his face was smushed against a broad chest. He’d know this chest anywhere.

“Isaac, what’s the matter?” Stiles mumbled. Isaac’s breath was hitching in that way that told Stiles he was really trying to hold it together, which confused Stiles even more. “What happened?”

“You told me you were going to stay in bed, you asshole,” Isaac said, but there was no heat behind the words.

“I didn’t?” Isaac pushed him back a little and reached down to cradle Stiles’ face and pull it up level with his.

“What’s it look like?” Isaac asked, and Stiles finally looked at his surroundings. A bit more dirt than his bedroom, he had to admit.

“What the hell?”

“You don’t remember any of it?”

“The last thing I remember is getting in the bed while you were in the shower. And this sort of uneasy feeling in my stomach. Like I had to do something, but wasn’t sure what.”

“Do you still feel it? Had you felt it before?”

“I felt something like it the night I almost hit Winnie. Like I had to find her. And when I did, it went away. Just like now,” Stiles explained. “So, where is here?”

“I was hoping you could tell me,” Isaac sighed, biting his lip nervously. “And that you could explain this.” Isaac shifted to the side, letting Stiles see what was behind him. There was a giant tree trunk, but that wasn’t what caught Stiles’ attention.

“Is that- is that a dead body?” Stiles gasped, clutching his chest in panic. “Did I kill someone?”

“No, let me explain,” Isaac said quickly, rubbing his thumb along Stiles’ jaw to soothe him. “You touched the tree and said some Latin, then this surge of energy shot out. When I woke back up, there was a body lying on top and you were unconscious.”

“I hurt you?” Stiles whispered, the thought of that making him feel worse than the idea of a dead body.

“No, I’m fine. I’m amazing now that you recognize me again. It’s like you were gone,” Isaac said, sniffling a bit at the end.

“Hey, come here,” Stiles murmured, pulling Isaac into a firm hug. He remembered what it was like in the early days of Scott’s transition when it felt like he didn’t know his best friend anymore and it was awful. This wasn’t the same, but it was still hard. “I’m sorry. I never would’ve done that on purpose.”

“I know,” Isaac nodded against his shoulder. “Shit, I was so scared.”

“How about I make it up to you after we try to figure out what’s going on?” Stiles suggested, leaning back. Isaac made a noise in agreement, helping Stiles back up to his feet. “Are those my clothes?”

“I was in a rush,” Isaac grumbled, latching onto Stiles’ hand securely. “We also don’t have our phones, so we’re stuck with just each other until we get out of here.”

“Well, that’s all we need,” Stiles stated confidently, squeezing his hand. “Did you- have you checked the body?”

“I was a little distracted.”

“We need to see who it is. What if we know them?” Stiles whispered, hoping that wasn’t the case. There wasn’t really a good option, since this was still someone dead, but he selfishly needed it to not be a personal loss for them.

They held each other close as they walked around the tree, trying to get a closer look at the body. There were a few slivers of moonlight shining through the clouds, but it was still dark. Stiles could see the outline of what seemed like a female shape, and long, dark hair draped over their face, obscuring it from view. He cringed at the idea of having to move it to uncover their features, but he was saved from having to do that when his eyes shifted further down.

“Holy shit,” Stiles gasped, staring in shock as he figured out who it was.

“What?”

“It’s Kali.”

“Alpha pack Kali?” Isaac choked out. His memory of that night was still fuzzy, so it made sense that Isaac wouldn’t recognize her. But Stiles wouldn’t ever forget those clawed toes.

“What the hell?” Now that Stiles was looking for more than identifying features, he noticed how she was absolutely covered in slash and puncture marks. She had been murdered painfully and he didn’t really have it in him to feel sympathy for her. He was too busy wondering what was capable of doing something like this.

“These don’t look like they came from werewolf claws,” Isaac mumbled.

“That’s what worries me,” Stiles agreed. This could be something they hadn’t encountered before.

“Wait,” Isaac whispered, tilting his head to the side. Stiles was about to ask what was wrong when Isaac spun, wrapping one arm around Stiles’ middle and clasping the other hand over his mouth, before lifting him up and outright sprinting toward the cover of the trees nearby. Stiles couldn’t do more than go along for the ride, holding his breath as Isaac stopped behind a tree, curling his body protectively around him. Isaac carefully peeled his hand away from Stiles’ mouth and he blew out the quietest breath he could.

Stiles wanted to ask what Isaac heard, but he knew better than to make any unnecessary sounds. Instead, he leaned his head around the tree as far as he dared, trying to get a look at what was out there. His body involuntarily tensed up when he saw it.

There was a figure circling the stump, but he couldn’t tell who or what it was. They seemed agitated by the way they were moving around. It probably had something to do with the body that Stiles had unknowingly uncovered.

Suddenly it let out an ear splitting shriek and that seemed to be the signal Isaac needed. He scooped Stiles up in his arms and bolted. Stiles wrapped his arms around Isaac’s neck and held on for dear life as Isaac reached a speed that rivaled his jeep. He kept his eyes peeled, looking for any signs that they were being followed. There were no signs of anyone and Isaac’s footfalls were blessedly silent, but Stiles wouldn’t relax until they were out of the woods. If that even existed for them anymore.

Chapter Text

Isaac didn’t stop running when they finally made it back to town. Stiles wasn’t even sure where they were heading until they were already halfway there. And Isaac showed no signs of being willing to set Stiles down. All he could do at the moment was let Isaac carry him and think about what happened.

It was like a fog he hadn’t realized had fallen over him had been lifted. Stiles had been aware of what was going on most of the time, besides the moments he wandered, but there had been a sort of blurriness about the other times that he hadn’t noticed before. And now that it was gone, it was so obvious looking back. Also pretty scary.

Stiles’ brain was his strength and having that messed with was not okay. It reminded him too much of his mom near the end, which wasn’t something he wanted to have in common with her. They needed to figure out what was going on before things got worse.

Isaac finally slowed down when they made it to Derek’s building. Stiles really hoped no one noticed the super speed blur of them racing across town, but that was a problem to worry about another time. He wiggled a little to signal that Isaac could let him down, but he was having none of it. Isaac took the stairs two at a time, only stopping when they were right outside the loft door. Derek must’ve sensed them coming, because he wrenched the door open as soon as they were there, looking them over with red eyes.

“Hey Derek,” Stiles greeted lightly, even though they were quite a sight. Isaac was still holding him like a baby, while wearing ill-fitting clothes.

“What happened?” Derek demanded, grabbing Isaac by the shoulder and hauling them both in. He shot a quick glance in the hall behind them, before slamming the door closed. The noise seemed to snap Isaac out of his objective-driven stupor, because he sucked in a painful sounding breath and his arms went a little slack. Stiles’ feet were finally on the ground again, but he didn’t move far.

“Isaac, we’re good. You got us out,” Stiles soothed, cupping his face as he panted.

“Got you out of what?” Derek asked, standing off to the side and staring at them intensely.

“I kind of did one of my wandering things, but this time Isaac followed me. We ended up at this big tree trunk in the preserve,” Stiles explained. Derek stiffened at that, but let Stiles continue. “I don’t remember much of this part, but Isaac said that I said something in Latin and it did something to the tree. That was when we found the body.”

“Whose body?” Stiles flicked his eyes over to where Erica and Boyd were hovering. They’d shown up a few seconds earlier in response to the commotion. Stiles really hoped he wasn’t about to cause them to backslide.

“It was Kali. The last member of the Alpha pack,” Stiles replied quietly.

“She’s dead?” Boyd mumbled, gripping Erica’s hand like a lifeline.

“Yeah,” Stiles confirmed.

“Well, we should send whoever did it a fruit basket,” Erica smirked.

“No, we shouldn’t,” Isaac whispered, speaking for the first time since they left the woods. He sounded utterly terrified.

“We saw the thing that did it. At least, we think we did. It would be a strange coincidence if something unrelated happened to show up.”

“What was it?” Derek asked, resigned to the new drama in town. They never should’ve come back.

“Honestly, I have no idea,” Stiles admitted. He recounted the blurry figure he saw and the scream, but besides that, he had no details.

“Do you have any idea what this is, Derek?” Erica asked.

“I’m not an encyclopedia for all things supernatural, you know that, right?” Derek grunted. “My life wasn’t always this insane.”

“Back to Deaton’s we go, I guess,” Stiles sighed. “Maybe this new information will help him figure out what’s going on.” Thank goodness the man didn’t charge them for his expertise. They’d never be able to afford it.

“Not- not tonight. I can’t deal with anything else tonight,” Isaac murmured, pulling Stiles closer to his chest. Stiles nodded his acceptance, not wanting to push Isaac further than he was comfortable.

“It is pretty late, so it can wait until tomorrow,” Stiles agreed, rubbing his back. “Want to head back to my house?”

“Actually, do you think we could stay here for the night?” Isaac asked, turning his head toward Derek. “Stiles’ dad is working tonight and all I can think about is the last time we dealt with anything involving the Alpha pack. When we were alone.”

“Your bed is where you left it,” Derek shrugged. That was probably the closest they would get to a warm welcome, but it would do. Isaac dragged him upstairs to his room, shutting the door securely behind them.

“If you wanted to get me into bed you-” Stiles’ joke was cut off by Isaac pulling him into a crushing hug. He could feel Isaac trembling a little, probably from more than just an adrenaline crash. “Hey, it’s okay.”

“What if I hadn’t followed you? You would’ve been alone with that thing,” Isaac choked out, burying his face in Stiles’ neck.

“But you were there to protect me, like always. My hero,” Stiles murmured, pressing a kiss to the side of his head. “And man, Finstock would be so impressed if he watched how fast you ran tonight. He’d probably name his firstborn after you.”

“Shut up,” Isaac sniffled, huffing out a small laugh.

“You’re right. The idea of Coach having kids is not a good one,” Stiles joked, glad he could lighten the mood a bit. He didn’t want Isaac spiraling like after the Alpha attack. “Want to try to get some sleep?”

“You can sleep. I’m going to sit and watch you.”

“All night?”

“Yep.”

“Won’t you get tired?”

“Nope.”

“Isaac,” Stiles sighed, grabbing his wrist and pulling him over to the bed. “I’m okay. No urges to go anywhere. Just me, you, and the sandman.”

“As if we need another supernatural creature to deal with,” Isaac snorted.

“You could take him.”

“Once again overestimating my fighting prowess. If you recall, I just ran away in terror from something earlier.”

“Which means you’re smart, as well as strong. The whole package actually.”

“Right,” Isaac scoffed.

“And right now, I need you to lay down with me. I don’t have my favorite pillow and I need to use you instead,” Stiles cajoled, toeing off his shoes.

“Fine,” Isaac sighed, climbing into the bed behind him. Stiles shifted so his back was flush against Isaac’s front, moaning in relief at feeling comfortable and safe. Isaac had his cheek pressed to the top of his head, the even breaths against his skin settling him further.

Stiles closed his eyes, willing himself to drift off. It wasn’t as easy as he was trying to convince Isaac it would be, but he knew that Isaac wouldn’t sleep until he did. He had to admit that he was just as rattled by everything as Isaac was.

“This is impossible,” Stiles grumbled, flipping over to face his boyfriend.

“Not as good as your pillow?”

“I didn’t say that. Just can’t seem to get my mind to settle.”

“Shocker.”

“You know what usually distracts me though?” Stiles purred, crawling his fingers up Isaac’s chest.

“In a loft full of werewolves? Not gonna happen,” Isaac scoffed.

“Right. Don’t want to make them jealous.”

“Oh my God,” Isaac groaned.

“If you two are done with your pillow talk, how about you come downstairs?” Erica called through the bedroom door.

“What?” Stiles yelled back. Erica cracked the door open, keeping a hand clasped over her eyes. “What are you doing?”

“Wasn’t sure if you’d be fully clothed or not,” Erica smirked.

“As if you wouldn’t peek,” Stiles snorted.

“True,” Erica agreed, dropping her hand and cocking it on her hip. “Now get up and come downstairs.”

“Why? We’re trying to sleep,” Stiles grumbled, flopping his head back down on Isaac’s pillow.

“And it obviously isn’t going well,” Erica pointed out. “So how about you listen to me?”

“Is this a trap? It feels like a trap,” Stiles muttered, looking to Isaac to get his opinion.

“We might as well see what’s going on,” Isaac sighed, rolling out of bed and pulling Stiles up with him.

“Bring your blankets,” Erica said, before turning and walking away. Stiles shrugged, tossing Isaac’s pillows to him before gathering the blankets. They made their way back down the spiral staircase, finding a couple mattresses pushed together in the middle of the room.

“What’s this?” Stiles asked in suspicion.

“During some of the harder nights, we slept better if we slept together,” Boyd explained, taking the pillows from Isaac and setting them down in the middle spots.

“You kinky bastards,” Stiles chuckled, shooting Derek a look from where he was standing to the side with a scowl.

“Very funny,” Derek grumbled, rolling his eyes. “This is a bad idea.”

“It was your idea, remember?” Erica scoffed.

“That was without Stiles’ version of humor.”

“Well, as long as he and Isaac are together, you’re gonna have to get used to it. They are a package deal.”

“You hear that, Isaac? We’re a package,” Stiles bragged, elbowing him in the side.

“If you make a package joke, I’m going to rip my hair out,” Derek warned.

“Well, I wasn’t, but now I kind of want to. I wonder what you would look like bald.”

“Stiles, you should probably stop,” Isaac muttered, nudging him to climb onto their bed for the night. The joking was helping distract him from how awkward this was going to be, but if this would help Isaac, he would go along with it. He immediately turned onto his side to face Isaac, figuring it would be more comfortable to have the others at his back. Derek burrowed in behind Isaac, but Stiles refrained from saying anything. He wondered who would be sleeping next to him, but that question was answered a few seconds later when Boyd’s firm back was pressed against his.

“You know, this is kind of nice,” Stiles murmured, letting the werewolf heat that was surrounding him lull him into a relaxed state. Isaac hummed in agreement, finally letting his guard down a bit now that they had more protection. Maybe this pack thing had its advantages?

*

Stiles was the first one to wake up the next morning. He was grateful for his internal clock, since he wasn’t sure if anyone had an alarm set. They had school and if the whole lot of them didn’t show up, Scott would surely freak out, especially since neither Stiles nor Isaac had their phones on them.

Speaking of his boyfriend, Isaac was currently using Stiles’ chest as a pillow, breathing deeply in sleep. Stiles took a minute to appreciate the sight of him not being dragged down by their current predicament. He was going to have to suggest another getaway soon, so they could have a break from the chaos. Just as soon as they solved their newest problem.

Stiles tipped his head up, checking on the others. Boyd and Erica were tangled up with each other, Erica laying more on Boyd than the mattress. He had to stifle a laugh when he saw Derek. The Alpha was latched onto Isaac’s back, using one of his long arms to hold him securely. Actually, it was so long that the hand that Stiles assumed was Isaac’s clutching his side was really Derek’s. He knew the older man didn’t just tolerate him.

Stiles probably could’ve stayed like this forever, if not for the need to go to school. And the fact that his bladder was uncomfortably full. His invitation to the werewolf pile would be revoked for life if he peed in it.

“Go back to sleep, Stiles,” Derek rumbled deep in his chest. Stiles twitched in surprise, but Derek poked him in the side to keep him still.

“But school?”

“School is stupid.”

“And I have to use the bathroom.” Derek let loose a few quiet expletives, before moving his hand away. Stiles carefully peeled himself from the center of the pile, shifting Isaac as little as necessary. It wouldn’t be good for him to wake up and not see Stiles right next to him. Derek tucked himself more firmly against Isaac’s back, settling him again when he started to stir. This version of the Alpha wasn’t so bad.

Stiles quickly did his business in the bathroom, but instead of going back to bed, he stopped off in the kitchen. They really were going to have to get up soon if they were going to make it to school, especially since Derek probably wasn’t going to give them a ride. He checked the fridge, raising an eyebrow in surprise to find there was actual food inside. Not a lot, but there was enough to make everyone a decent omelet.

He got to work, moving around as quietly as possible. Derek actually had a few nice pans, the sneakily domestic bastard. He was going to have to have a chat with him about putting in more effort with Isaac instead of just throwing money at him occasionally. As much as Stiles didn’t want to think of things like this, their lives were getting more and more dangerous. If Stiles didn’t make it one of these times, he wanted to know that Isaac would be taken care of. Scott would of course do all he could to help Isaac through it, but the support of an Alpha was different.

Stiles shook off those thoughts, plating up the food and stacking everything on a tray to take back out to the sleeping wolves. Everyone was just as he’d left them, except Isaac was clutching the pillow Stiles had been using to his chest. He set the tray down, kneeling next to Isaac so he could wake him gently. Stiles ran his fingers through Isaac’s hair, watching as his eyes fluttered open and immediately found his.

“Morning,” Stiles whispered, giving him a soft smile.

“You okay?” Isaac murmured, frowning when he realized that he wasn’t still lying next to him. “Did you get up?”

“I didn’t leave the loft, don’t worry,” Stiles assured him. Isaac grumbled a little about him leaving his sight, but there was no real heat to the words. As long as Stiles was okay, Isaac would get over it. “I made you breakfast.”

“Did I say you could touch my food?” Derek grunted, rolling off of Isaac’s back.

“Package deal, remember? What’s yours is Isaac’s and what’s Isaac’s is mine,” Stiles smirked, shoving a plate at him. “Now shut up and eat your omelet.”

“Did someone say food?” Erica asked, popping her head up from Boyd’s shoulder.

“Get it while it’s hot,” Stiles grinned, sliding two plates over to them.

“You didn’t have to do this,” Isaac said softly, accepting his own plate with a smile and a quick kiss.

“I wanted to. How often do I get the opportunity to give four werewolves breakfast in bed?”

“Well, thank you. We really appreciate it,” Isaac replied, giving him another kiss.

“Get a room,” Erica scoffed, pretending to gag at their display.

“Says the girl who was practically laying on top of Boyd all night. I couldn’t tell where one of you ended and the other began,” Stiles shot back, smirking at Erica’s glare.

“This is really good,” Boyd complimented, shoveling bites into his mouth.

“Thank you.”

“Stiles is a really good cook. He’ll have to come over here more often to show you,” Isaac grinned, poking him in the stomach.

“I go where you go,” Stiles agreed. “And we need to get going soon. We gotta go back to my house so we can change and get our school stuff.”

“Derek can take you,” Erica volunteered, smirking at Derek’s glare. “Boyd and I can hoof it from here.”

“Derek chauffeuring us around town? Yes please,” Stiles laughed.

“Don’t count on it,” Derek growled.

“It’s fine, I can just run us back,” Isaac shrugged, gathering up everyone’s empty plates. “I’ll get these washed as quick as I can, but we’ll probably be late.”

“Leave the dishes and get in the car,” Derek grumbled, rolling his eyes. As soon as his back was turned, Isaac winked at him and Stiles had to stifle a laugh. Puppy Isaac worked every time.

The drive to Stiles’ house was mostly silent, but not too painful. Derek seemed to be breaking every traffic law on purpose, but it was fine. He let them out down the street, just in case his dad was home, then sped away without a word. They quickly jogged to the house, skipping the shower and changing into clothes that actually fit. And if Isaac sucked a couple new marks onto his chest, they didn’t need to talk about it.

They met up with everyone in front of the school. Stiles could tell that Erica and Boyd filled the others in on what happened by the way Scott’s lips were pursed. The plan hadn’t changed from the night before though, so Stiles had an escort at all times. There was only one class that he didn’t have with anybody else, but Isaac went with him to that one anyway. When the teacher gave him a look he shrugged and blamed it on second day confusion.

The real stress came when it was time for Ms. Blake’s class. He and Scott walked in together, taking seats in the back. She seemed normal as she taught, but Stiles was keeping a very close eye on her. Even if she wasn’t the thing he saw in the woods, she had something to do with it. There was no way he was going to let his guard down. The bell to end the class finally rang and Stiles quickly threw all of his things in his bag. A clean getaway was so close.

“Mr. Stilinski, could I talk to you for a moment?” Stiles froze at the sound of Ms. Blake’s voice, shooting a panicked look over at Scott. The other kids trailed out of the room and Stiles thought about pretending he didn’t hear her and sneaking out amongst them, but her eyes were firmly locked onto him. Stiles slowly made his way up to the front, with Scott by his side, stopping as far away from her desk as he could make it look natural.

“I really shouldn’t be late to my next class.”

“I’ll write you a note,” Ms. Blake smiled, glancing over at Scott. “You can go ahead, Mr. McCall.”

“Um, I- okay,” Scott stammered, sending Stiles a helpless look before reluctantly walking away. So much for not leaving Stiles alone.

“What’s up?” Stiles asked casually, wondering if he could get away with whispering some Latin and starting a fire nearby.

“I wanted to talk to you about-”

“Stiles?”

“Isaac?” His boyfriend was standing in the doorway of the classroom, looking a bit frazzled.

“Could you wait outside for a moment? We’re trying to have a discussion,” Ms. Blake said, keeping up her polite teacher persona.

“Stiles, can you help me to the nurse’s office?” Isaac asked, ignoring her completely.

“What-” Stiles’s words cut off when Isaac moved his hand from where it was clasped around his arm, revealing a cut dripping blood. “What happened?”

“I accidently broke a glass in chemistry,” Isaac panted, leaning against the wall to play up the injury.

“Sorry Ms. Blake, but I gotta go with him,” Stiles said over his shoulder as he darted over to Isaac. He didn’t wait for her response, figuring this was a plausible excuse to blow her off. Stiles tucked his shoulder under Isaac’s armpit and made a show of supporting Isaac’s weight as he helped him out of the classroom. As soon as they were far enough away, Isaac started walking normally, looking down at his arm in distaste.

“That was fun,” Isaac grumbled, snorting out an annoyed breath. “Do you think she’ll check to make sure we actually went to the nurse?”

“What the hell was that?” Stiles hissed, dragging Isaac over to a corner next to some lockers.

“I saw Scott without you and I panicked, so I gave myself an excuse to get you out of there,” Isaac shrugged.

“You’re crazy,” Stiles mumbled, watching as the cut closed up on its own.

“Probably,” Isaac agreed. “What did she want?”

“I don’t know. You came in before she could say anything.”

“I couldn’t help myself.”

“I know. And it’s okay. I love that you’re so overprotective.”

“I’m just as protective as I need to be.”

“Well, how about you protect me to my next class? Lydia is probably about to send out a search party,” Stiles chuckled. They got through the rest of the day without any issues, even suffering through all of cross-country. Even the people who weren’t on the team stuck around for the practice, since they were all going to the same place. Boyd and Erica climbed into the back of the Jeep and they headed off to Deaton’s once again.

Once the vet was given the new information, they all started poring over the books he had tucked away in his private office. Deaton still had to go out and work his public job occasionally, with Scott’s assistance, but it was nice having almost everyone there to help. Derek had opted out of coming, instead going into the preserve to investigate on his own. Isaac looked nervous at the sound of that idea, but Derek was too stubborn to worry about having backup. They just had to hope that he’d be fine.

Day quickly turned to night and they were showing no signs of stopping. Stiles was learning a lot more than he expected, even though nothing was really helping them with their current issue. Once things calmed down, he was going to have to start hanging out with Deaton more and picking his brain.

“Hey, look at this,” Isaac said, holding a book open for Stiles to see. “Doesn’t this picture look like-”

“The one in my book with the red spine. The one that talked a lot about-”

“Trees. And since you were drawn to a tree trunk-”

“That book might give us a clue about what we’re dealing with. You’re so smart,” Stiles cooed, pecking Isaac on the lips. “I should swing by my house and get it.”

“No, you keep working. I can get it,” Isaac said, passing him his book.

“But you don’t know where it is. It’s in my-”

“Your hiding spot? The one behind the-”

“Hey, how do you know about that?” Stiles pouted.

“Stiles.”

“Do you know about all of them?”

“Of course.” Stiles groaned. “I know all your passwords too.”

“No way!” Stiles gasped. “I’m changing all of them.”

“That’s cute that you think it’ll matter,” Isaac smirked.

“Whatever,” Stiles grumbled, tossing Isaac the keys to the jeep. “You scratch my car and I’ll scratch your ass.”

“Kinky,” Isaac chuckled, bending down to press a kiss to the top of his head before trotting out the back door.

“Dude,” Scott muttered, shaking his head in shock.

“What? I’ve seen you and Allison make out a ton.”

“I’m not talking about that. You never let me take the jeep without you.”

“Oh. Well, Isaac’s a better driver than you,” Stiles brushed off, burying his nose in his book to avoid any further conversation. He didn’t want to get into the fact that he trusted Isaac in every way, with no hesitation. He did with Scott too, just in a different way. Stiles would probably let Scott take the jeep in an emergency, if it really came down to no other options, but Isaac could take the jeep joyriding if he felt so inclined. That’s just what you did when you were in love.

*

Noah sighed as he parked the car in front of his house. After an overnight shift that had been extended into the next morning and afternoon, all he wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep. He hadn’t even been tempted to stop off at a drive thru on the way home, even though he would’ve been able to get away with it, seeing as Stiles’ jeep wasn’t in the driveway. Food could wait until after he got his eight hours.

Noah forced himself out of the car and into the house, knowing that the faster he went, the sooner he’d be in dreamland. He briefly wondered where Stiles was, but figured he was off with Isaac somewhere. And that thought eased his mind a bit. Scott was a great kid and he loved him, but he was too easily convinced to go along with Stiles schemes. Isaac was more careful, which seemed to be influencing Stiles to be the same way. They were a good match.

He probably knew they were a couple before they did. Noah could see the signs of something more than friendship from the moment they brought that cat home. He’d seen Stiles with other friends and he’d never had that slight nervousness he seemed to have around Isaac.

Noah gave them their time to figure things out, before happening upon them in a less than desirable situation. It wasn’t anything he wanted to see, but it was the easiest way for the truth to come out. And he wanted to assure Isaac that he was just as welcome as he had been before. After the awkwardness was taken care of, they settled into a pretty nice routine.

Isaac staying with them had been great. He felt like there was more to the story of his home life than he was hearing, but he didn’t want to push. As long as he wasn’t being hurt, Noah would leave it alone. And he knew that Stiles wouldn’t accept Isaac being hurt.

Noah kicked off his shoes next to the front door and hung up his coat on the hook. He wasn’t even going to bother with a shower, that’s how tired he was. And he would blame his exhaustion on why he didn’t notice the figure in the room until it was too late.

There was a loud shriek in his ear and then he was falling. He landed roughly on his left knee, but training had him pulling out his gun without much thought. The assailant knocked it out of his hand before he could do anything with it, sending it skittering across the floor and out of reach. Noah looked up in shock at what was hovering over him.

There was a bald head covered in old slashes. The eyes were wide and unearthly. And the mouth was devoid of lips, exposing an aggressive set of teeth. Noah had no idea what he was looking at, but he knew it wasn’t anything good. He sent up a quick prayer of thanks that Stiles wasn’t around to see what was about to happen. Noah couldn’t see this ending well for him.

Chapter Text

Isaac carefully pulled Stiles’ jeep into the driveway next to the Sheriff’s car. He didn’t know why he hadn’t considered the older man might be home when he got there. Isaac couldn’t recall a time that he’d been in the Stilinski house without Stiles. Even though he’d been staying over for weeks, Isaac had never felt like he had free reign of the place. And now he was going to have to go inside and sneak something out without Mr. Stilinski seeing. He was going to screw this up.

Isaac debated leaving and telling Stiles he hadn’t found what he was looking for. Stiles wouldn’t be mad at him, but the other werewolves would be able to hear the lie as clear as day. And he couldn’t count on all of them to keep their mouths shut. Especially not Erica.

But this was about helping Stiles. And figuring out the newest danger in their lives. It wasn’t the time for him to be a coward about something as simple as coexisting with his boyfriend’s dad. And he had to admit, he really liked Mr. Stilinski. Isaac respected the man so much. He was a great father and an all around good person. He was the kind of father people wished they had, himself included.

Isaac reluctantly climbed out of the car and walked toward the front door. The keys felt heavy in his hands, since this was the first time he would be unlocking the door without Stiles right next to him. It felt like an important step. The key sliding into the lock sounded obscenely loud, but all thoughts of that flew out the window once he opened the door and took in the scene inside.

Sheriff Stilinski was sitting on the floor, staring up in shock at the thing standing above him. He’d barely gotten a glimpse of it the night before, but Isaac knew it was the thing they’d seen in the preserve. The same feeling of fear and dread pooled in his stomach at the proximity to it. He hadn’t told Stiles about what he felt, since it was so chaotic and he didn’t want to add to that, but he felt tendrils of the same cold he’d described when he touched Ms. Blake. Mr. Stilinski’s eyes flicked over to him in panic.

“Run!” Mr. Stilinski shouted. And Isaac did. Just not in the direction Mr. Stilinski meant. Isaac darted forward, barreling into the mystery creature and sending it back a few steps. He situated himself firmly in between the thing and the sheriff, doing all he could to prevent the older man from getting hurt.

“Who the hell are you?” Isaac spat, holding desperately onto the human side of himself. The thing was snarling at him, if you could call it that. The gnashing teeth were unsettling, but Isaac had a set of his own that could compete. He really didn’t want to show them though.

The monster didn’t answer with words, but by raising its hands in the air. Isaac was bracing himself for the attack, but he hadn’t been expecting a lamp to fly across the room straight at his face. He got his hand up at the last second and the ceramic shattered against his palm. Was this thing magic? The body on the tree stump had been obscured somehow, but he hadn’t given it much thought. But this new development changed things. Isaac was woefully outmatched. But that didn’t mean he was going to give up. He’d made it through the Alpha pack situation for Stiles and he would make it through this for his dad.

Isaac blocked another lamp and he cringed at the damage this was causing, as if that mattered at the moment. Furniture and knick knacks could be replaced, but people couldn’t. An array of books were next, with most of them headed straight for the sheriff. Those forced practices in the goalie position during lacrosse were paying off as he stretched and lunged to bat down the projectiles. But his hyperfocus on protecting Mr. Stilinski made Isaac vulnerable.

The television slamming into his chest caught him by surprise. They weren’t made like they used to be, but it didn’t mean it didn’t hurt when they hurtled into your ribcage. Isaac was sure he heard something snap from the assault. He staggered back, resting a hand on his chest to brace himself.

“Isaac!” Mr. Stilinski shouted in panic. Isaac risked a glance down at him. His worry for Isaac’s well-being was stronger than his fear for himself. That was a true father. And that’s why Isaac had to risk everything to make sure Stiles got to keep him around. No matter the repercussions for himself.

Isaac faced the monster once again, bracing himself for another onslaught. He didn’t really know what to do here. If this thing could move objects with their mind, why hadn’t they already been killed? Was it just toying with them? How was he supposed to fight someone that could fling something at him at any moment?

A chair was next and it clipped Isaac hard on his hip. He stooped down to pick up one of the broken wood pieces and hurled it back at the creature’s face. It was easily stopped with a wave of its hand, but Isaac didn’t have that same luxury. The giant splinter sunk a few inches into the meat of Isaac’s shoulder and he was pretty sure Mr. Stilinski gasped even louder than he did.

He shakily pulled it out, throwing the bloody stick to the side. That plan hadn’t worked and Isaac was running out of ideas. Stiles was the one who figured out a way out of these situations. He didn’t want Stiles to be in danger with him, but some guidance would be helpful.

“What do you want?” Isaac snapped, feeling his eyes flash gold. He kept his eyes pointed away from the sheriff, but that just meant the monster had a full view of what he was. If it hadn’t already known before. Isaac was really getting sick of fighting things he didn’t know existed. The kanima was bad enough.

“Wolf,” the thing growled. Well, shit. The whole bookshelf was flying at him now and he barely had time to turn before it impacted against his back. He caught himself on his hands, only just stopping himself from landing on top of the sheriff. Isaac hoisted the weight off his back, bouncing up to wait for the next move. He hadn’t been expecting to see what looked like every knife in the house pointed at his face. This was gonna suck.

The loud bang caught Isaac off guard and he flinched as the monster jerked back. All of the knives dropped to the floor at his feet as the creature let out a shriek like it had the previous night, before they slammed out of the front door. The relief of not being dead hit him full force and he sagged as he turned to check on the sheriff. But his relief was short-lived. Instead of knives, now there was a gun pointed at his face.

“Mr. Stilinski?” Isaac whispered, raising his hands in surrender. And that’s when he noticed his claws. Shit.

“What are you?”

*

Noah felt sick when he saw Isaac walk into the house. Just as he’d been relieved that Stiles wasn’t around to witness this or get hurt, the same went for Isaac as well. He didn’t want to see the boy caught up in whatever this was. So he’d yelled for Isaac to run. Imagine his surprise when Isaac did the exact opposite.

Noah had always seen Isaac as a sensitive boy. From the first time he’d met him in the cemetery, and even when he’d been a suspect in his father’s murder. There was a part of him that couldn’t believe he was capable of violence. And that first impression had only been solidified as Noah got to know him.

Isaac was heartbreakingly careful with everything he did. And also one of the most timid people he’d ever met. It took a lot for him to get comfortable in their house and Noah was kind of proud at every bit of progress they made together. He was happy that his son had found someone so gentle.

But Isaac was anything but that right now. The tackle hadn’t done much, but it showed this thing that it had another person to deal with. Although, it might not have mattered in the long run.
He wasn’t quite sure what to think when he saw things start to fly through the air without actually being thrown. Insanity crossed his mind, as well as this being a very intense dream. This couldn’t be real. And the fact that Isaac wasn’t reacting like this was totally out of the realm of possibility was concerning too.

But he was distracted from his confusion by the rough hits Isaac was taking. The TV had been a bad one and when Isaac looked back at him in response to him calling his name, Noah wasn’t really sure how to describe what he saw. It was like Isaac was accepting being a human shield. The kid was risking his life for him.

And when that chunk of wood went into Isaac’s body, he knew he had to do something. He frantically looked around the room, trying to find where his gun had ended up. It wasn’t as far as he first feared, so he carefully dragged himself toward it, trying hard not to call attention to himself in the process.

His momentum was stopped by Isaac falling over him and for the briefest second, he thought he saw something strange. The light in the room had made Isaac’s eyes flash yellow instead of blue. Noah didn’t have time to look closer before Isaac was back on his feet again. He lunged for the gun just as he saw the knives, forgetting about staying unseen.

The shot clipped the thing in the shoulder, but it got the job done. It ran out of the house and Noah let out the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. They’d made it. But now he needed to check on Isaac. What he saw wasn’t at all what he was expecting though. That wasn’t the same Isaac he knew.

Noah pointed his gun at his son’s boyfriend, staring in shock at what was now standing above him. The creature had hissed a word earlier, but he’d been so distracted by everything going on that he hadn’t paid much attention to it, but now that word was screaming inside his head as he took in the claws at the end of Isaac’s fingers.

“Mr. Stilinski?”

“What are you?” Noah demanded, keeping the gun steady as he tried to pull himself back up to his feet. His knee protested and he fell back down the inches that he’d been able to lift up.

“Are you hurt?” Isaac gasped, moving like he was going to help him.

“Don’t!” Noah snapped, and he swore he saw something break in Isaac’s eyes.

“I’m sorry!” Isaac choked out, wrapping his arms around his stomach. He looked so much like he had the day that his relationship with Stiles had been brought into the open that Noah felt the urge to comfort him, but he stamped down on that feeling. The thought of Stiles helped distract him as well.

“Where is Stiles? What have you done with my son?” Noah snapped.

“I didn’t- I would never- he’s fine!” Isaac cried, folding in on himself where he stood. Noah didn’t think he was lying, but he’d seen other things tonight that he couldn’t quite believe as well. He wasn’t prepared to take anyone’s word. Noah needed to see his son. He pulled his phone out and sent a quick text to Stiles, telling him to come home immediately. There was a reply back after a few moments that he’d be there soon, then Isaac’s phone rang in his pocket.

Isaac lifted his arms to protect his face, making no moves to try to answer the call. Was this really the same boy who had faced down a monster without hesitation a few minutes prior? Was Noah really scarier than that? Was he being too aggressive at the moment? It felt very justified to begin with, but now he was feeling like garbage.

“Answer it,” Noah prodded, setting the gun down so it wasn’t aimed at Isaac anymore. It was still within grabbing distance, since he wasn’t an idiot, but the constant threat didn’t seem like it was helping anything. Isaac slowly slid his hand into his pocket, moving as if he expected one wrong twitch to end in a gunshot. “On speaker.”

“Hello?” Isaac mumbled.

“Hey, my dad just texted me to come home. Is everything alright?” Stiles asked, and Noah felt his stomach unclench at the sound of his son’s voice. He sounded completely unharmed. “I know you’re not driving, since you answered the phone, but are you still at the house? Do you know what’s up?”

“Stiles,” Isaac whispered, before choking back sobs.

“Isaac! What happened? Are you okay?” Stiles exclaimed, setting Isaac off. He was a blubbering mess now. “Scott, I need a ride!”

“I’m so sorry,” Isaac moaned, crumpling to the floor and wrapping his arms around his knees. He looked so small and nonthreatening, but Noah couldn’t forget the claws that were waiting under the surface.

“Babe, it’s okay. We’re gonna be okay,” Stiles soothed. Noah could hear him running around and the sound of other voices whispering in confusion. “I can’t keep talking to you while I’m on the back of Scott’s bike, but I promise I’ll be there in a few minutes, okay? Can you hold on?”

“Yeah,” Isaac breathed out, wiping his hand under his eyes. A new wave of tears poured out when the call disconnected and Isaac stared down at the phone like his only lifeline was gone for good. Noah really hoped Stiles was as close as he said he was, because sitting with Isaac like this was very awkward. Every bone in his body ached to comfort the boy he’d come to care about over the summer, but he needed answers before he did anything. And he was terrified to find out what those answers actually were.

Chapter Text

Of all the things Stiles expected to see when he walked into his house, it wasn’t the living room completely destroyed, Isaac bloody and crying in a ball, and his dad on the floor with a gun at his side. His dad texting him to come home had been a little strange, but not too out of the ordinary. But his call to Isaac made him completely panic.

The ride to his house on the back of Scott’s bike was awful. Stiles missed the security of the jeep and the control he had while driving. But at least Scott knew better than to keep to the speed limit. He took crazy turns and even cut through a few lawns to get to the house as fast as possible. The others followed behind in Lydia’s car, just in case they needed backup. But there didn’t seem to be any active danger in the house, besides the possibility of Isaac breaking down completely.

“What happened?” Stiles asked, motioning for Scott to wait outside for a second. Both sets of eyes snapped to him, but while his dad’s gaze was full of relief, Isaac’s was only despair. “Are you okay?”

“Stiles, come over to me,” his dad said, beckoning him over with a wave of his hand. Seeing no reason not to, and wanting to make sure his dad was okay, he started picking his way across the room. He was about to take a small detour to give Isaac a supportive pat, but his dad called out again before he could. “Careful!”

“Is someone else here?” Stiles whispered, looking around for someone to jump out and attack. But his dad just looked pointedly at Isaac, then back up at Stiles. “Why do you want me to be careful of Isaac?”

“He’s not who you think he is,” he said accusingly, causing Isaac to suck in a sharp breath. Stiles looked down at him, feeling the dread pool in his stomach. What had his dad seen? He could pretty much guess, but he had to be certain before he accidentally said too much.

“So, who is he?” Stiles asked.

“More like what is he.”

“I’m sorry,” Isaac murmured, holding his head in his hands. “He-he saw.” This was not the ideal scenario for the truth to come out. Stiles hadn’t really planned how it would happen, but whatever this situation was, it obviously wasn’t a good one. He knew that Isaac hadn’t randomly wolfed out and destroyed his house, but something violent went down.

“Did you shoot him?” Stiles questioned, staring at the bloody spot on Isaac’s shoulder.

“No!” his dad denied. Stiles stooped down next to Isaac, despite his protests. His boyfriend was injured and nothing was going to stop Stiles from checking on him.

“Hey babe, what happened?” Stiles murmured, running his fingers through Isaac’s hair. He relaxed just the tiniest amount, but Stiles considered it a win.

“It was here, attacking your dad,” Isaac whispered, and Stiles sucked in a sharp breath. He hadn’t considered his dad getting caught up in the danger of all this. “I didn’t mean to, but he saw me shift.”

“Okay, that’s okay,” Stiles soothed, moving Isaac’s collar back to check his shoulder. There was still the remnant of a wound there, but he wasn’t bleeding anymore. Isaac would be fine physically at least. “I’ll deal with this.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Hey, don’t apologize,” Stiles insisted, cupping Isaac’s cheek. “Thank you for saving my dad, no matter the cost. How about you go with Scott so my dad and I can talk?” Stiles helped Isaac back up to his feet, giving him a reassuring look.

“Stiles, it’s too dangerous,” his dad objected. “Do you have any idea-”

“That Isaac is a werewolf? Yes,” Stiles sighed, shrugging his shoulders. His dad was gaping at him in shock. Might as well push him fully off the cliff. “And I’m a witch.”

“Um, should I keep waiting outside?” Scott asked, poking his head through the door.

“Stiles, what are you talking about?” his dad exclaimed, finally pulling himself to his feet. He was favoring his left leg, but he looked fine other than that.

“I swear I will explain everything, just sit down and wait a second,” Stiles commanded, pointing to the couch that had the least amount of junk on it. His dad’s eyebrows raised in surprise, but he complied. “Scott, will you take Isaac back to your house or the loft for the night? But don’t leave him alone, no matter what he says.”

“Stiles, I don’t-”

“Sure,” Scott agreed, finally coming into the house and walking over to stand with them. If there was anyone he could trust to make sure Isaac was okay until they could be together again, it was Scott.

“Do you want to take Winnie with you?” Stiles offered, knowing how much Isaac loved the cat.

“But what about-”

As if on cue, Winnie sauntered around the corner, bristling at the sight of Scott. She hadn’t been around any other werewolves besides Isaac and it seemed like she still didn’t like them. But Stiles didn’t have patience for it right now.

“Winifred Stilinski, get over yourself! You’re spending the night with Isaac,” Stiles snapped. He wasn’t sure if cats actually had eyebrows, but she seemed to raise hers at his tone and she flicked her tail in annoyance. But she still did what he asked, giving Scott one last look before jumping into Isaac’s arms. He hugged her tightly to his chest, accepting her comforting nuzzles.

“Are you sure you want to do this alone? I can… you know?” Scott offered.

“No, just take care of Isaac,” Stiles replied, nudging them toward the door. He could tell how out of sorts Isaac still was by his lack of protest at the idea of being taken care of.

“Please be careful. If that thing comes back,” Isaac whispered, tipping his head low toward Stiles.

“We’ll be okay. Everything will be okay,” Stiles promised, cupping Isaac’s cheek one last time before sending him on his way. Isaac pointedly kept his eyes away from his dad as he left the house, which broke Stiles’ heart. Their relationship had gotten so much better over the summer, but now it was the worst it had ever been. Even in the beginning, when Isaac was so timid, there wasn’t this level of fear.

“Stiles, start talking,” his dad demanded.

“I’m not sure where to start,” Stiles sighed, righting the coffee table so he could sit down on it.

“From the beginning?”

“Well, it all started when you met mom.”

“I’m not in the mood for games!” he snapped, balling up his fists in his lap. “I came home to find some thing in my house, which then tried to kill me with floating objects. Then the boy I opened my home to and accepted as my son’s boyfriend grew claws out of his fingertips. And to top it all off, you come in and don’t seem surprised about it at all. In fact, you tell me you’re a witch. So forgive me if I’m not willing to sit through one of your spiels!”

“I swear it’s relevant, but I guess I’ll skip ahead a bit,” Stiles mumbled. He considered their relationship solid, but this might just be the thing that pushed him too far. Stiles had put him through so much over the years, and more recently. Would this be too much? It was kind of a lot. “There is a whole world you don’t know anything about. I didn’t either, until a few months ago.”

“A whole world?”

“The supernatural.”

“The supernatural? Stiles.”

“Explain what you saw. Tell me how this makes sense without you accepting that there are things out there that you don’t understand,” Stiles said, waving around at the mess that surrounded them.

“There has to be some other explanation, because this can’t be real. Maybe I hit my head or this is just a really strange dream? This is- this-”

“Is real,” Stiles confirmed, mumbling some Latin and changing the color of their couch to a bright pink. “And it’s okay.” His dad was staring at the fabric in shock, running his hands along the material as if he expected the color to wipe off.

“Stiles.”

“I can change it back, don’t worry,” Stiles chuckled, running a hand over his head. “And that’s not all I can do. I’m still learning, but Dad, it’s amazing. There are so many things out there that you don’t know about, but I can show you.”

“Stiles.”

“I wanted to tell you for so long, but I didn’t know how. I hated keeping this from you, but I thought there would naturally be a good time to talk about it. I didn’t expect anything like this, but-”

“Stiles!” his dad shouted, cutting off his rambling. Stiles snapped his mouth shut, giving his dad a few moments to absorb everything that was said. He was staring at him like they were strangers and it was breaking Stiles’ heart. It reminded him too much of his mom toward the end, when she didn’t recognize him. But the distrust in his dad’s eyes was all earned.

“I’m sorry. I just- I don’t know.”

“How did this happen? How did you get caught up in this?”

“Well, it all started with that body in the woods.”

“The Hale girl? That- Derek’s sister? Is he?” he stammered, shaking his head in shock.

“Dad, you have to promise me that anything you hear tonight stays between us. I mean it,” Stiles said firmly. He couldn’t put everyone he knew and cared about in danger. “If word about this gets out to the wrong people, awful things could happen.”

“Who would believe me? I don’t even believe this and I’ve seen it with my own eyes!” his dad scoffed.

“There are people out there who will take this very seriously. And who won’t hesitate to hurt anyone who they consider a threat.”

“Is that what happened to the girl in the woods?”

“Not exactly, but that isn’t outside of the realm of possibility.”

“Are you talking about the thing that was in the house tonight?”

“I’m still not exactly sure what that was. I don’t have all the answers either.”

“Great,” his dad grumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You’re making me feel a lot better about this.”

“Well, I can tell you that not everything is bad. Just because we’re different, doesn’t make us dangerous,” Stiles said, looking pointedly at his dad for this next part. “It doesn’t make Isaac dangerous.”

“And Isaac is a werewolf. The kid who could barely look me in the eye a few months ago?”

“He is,” Stiles confirmed. “He’s been a werewolf the whole time you’ve known him and you’ve seen that he’s never been violent. Now that you know the truth, it shouldn’t change anything.”

“But it does. No matter how much you wish it didn’t, it does,” his dad argued. “How am I supposed to trust him around you now?”

“Because he would never hurt me! He’s saved my life on multiple occasions and it looks like he just saved yours tonight too. He put everything on the line to make sure you were okay. Doesn’t that earn him something?”

“When did your life need saving? Stiles, what the hell has he gotten you into?” he demanded.

“I was in it before I met him! Isaac just makes it bearable. Nothing that has happened has been Isaac’s fault at all. He isn’t the one who introduced me to werewolves and he isn’t the one who showed me magic.”

“So, who did?”

“Mom,” Stiles whispered. His dad reared back in shock, staring at him with a look of denial on his face.

“Stiles, what are you saying?” his dad murmured, rubbing at the finger that wore their symbol of love for so many years. Was Stiles about to blow up his dad’s memory of his mom forever? Would she understand why he had to come clean about everything? She’d chosen to keep everything hidden for her whole life, but Stiles couldn’t anymore. The truth had to come out.

“Mom was a witch.”

Chapter Text

Stiles’ dad stared at him in silence for a few minutes. Stiles gave him the time, knowing that this wasn’t something that was easy to accept. He’d struggled at first too, even though he’d seen the evidence immediately and knew it was true. His dad had seen a lot so far tonight, but he probably had no idea that his late wife would somehow be involved.

He wished his mom was here for this talk. Of course Stiles wished she was here all the time, but it would have been extra helpful right now. If she’d opened up to her husband about who she really was, Stiles was sure that his dad would’ve accepted it. And he had faith that he would now as well. The alternative was too heartbreaking to imagine.

“What do you- why would you say that about your mother?” he finally asked.

“She told me. It’s the truth.”

“When? Stiles, you know when she got sick that she started saying things that didn’t make much sense.”

“No, I didn’t find out until after,” Stiles sighed, running a hand down his face. “You remember that journal of hers that you found in my room? The one you said you were going to give me when I turned 18?”

“Yeah, what about it? I read through it and there was nothing in there about witchcraft. I know she liked to make up stories, but that’s all it was. Make believe,” his dad insisted.

“There was a letter in the back for me. It told me that she could do magic but she slowed down when she met you. And she stopped when she had me,” Stiles explained. His dad didn’t need to know that her reason was because she thought it would be too dangerous. There was already enough to worry about.

“I want to see it.”

“You can’t. The paper looks blank for everyone else but me,” Stiles replied, wincing at how that sounded like bullshit.

“No. I would’ve known. She was my wife and I knew everything about her. We didn’t keep things from each other, especially big things.”

“I had no idea either. How could we have if she didn’t say anything? It’s not something we ever would’ve guessed.”

“And obviously I didn’t even see what was going on with my own son,” he spat, huffing out a frustrated breath.

“I’m a good liar, I guess,” Stiles mumbled, shrugging his shoulders. “And I’ve already put you through so much in my life that it makes sense that you would figure this is just more of the same.”

“A thing that can throw knives with their mind isn’t more of the same, Stiles!” he shouted. “This is too much. It’s too dangerous.”

“There isn’t anything I can do about it now.”

“Yes, there is. You can stop with the magic stuff.”

“Dad!”

“I’m serious! Is the risk worth it just so you can change the color of a couch?”

“That’s not all I can do! Dad, I can help people. Protect them,” Stiles argued.

“You’re a kid! You shouldn’t be worrying about things like that. You’re supposed to go to school and focus on your future, not risk not even making it to adulthood.”

“As much as I wish that were the case, it’s not anymore. I’m in this world for good.”

“Not if we leave,” his dad said simply. “We can leave this town and never look back.”

“Dad, you can’t be serious!” Stiles gasped. While he’d dreamed about something similar before, he knew it wasn’t realistic. No matter what he said, he couldn’t leave his friends. And there was no way he was going anywhere without Isaac.

“We can leave everything behind and go somewhere where no one knows us.”

“That’s not going to work,” Stiles argued.

“It has to! I’m not just going to stand back and do nothing and let my son get killed!” he shouted, forcing himself to his feet regardless of the pain in his leg.

“Dad, I-”

“Go to your room.”

“What?” Stiles asked in bewilderment.

“I’m keeping you safe and that starts with knowing where you are at all times. I want you to go to your room and stay there until I can figure out what to do next.”

“But Dad-”

“And give me your phone. I don’t want you calling anyone right now,” he demanded, holding out his hand. Stiles passed his cell over, in a little bit of shock. He’d expected some anger, but not a full lockdown. The anger alone would’ve been easier to deal with, but the fear was controlling his dad’s actions even more.

“Okay. And, I’m sorry,” Stiles whispered, turning around and slumping up the stairs to his room. He closed the door behind him as soon as he got inside, then slid down to sit against it on the floor.

Stiles felt so alone. He didn’t even have Winnie here to keep him company. And the thought of being ripped away from Isaac was too much to bear. He raked an angry hand across his face to wipe away the tears that were falling. He’d almost lost his dad tonight and now it was looking like he was going to lose everything else. If only he’d been able to find out what the new threat in town was before it had gotten to this point. If he’d been better, all of this could’ve been avoided. But once again, he failed. Stiles was the weak link of the pack and now he was going to lose them.

*

Noah stood in the middle of the living room, trying to figure out how his life had turned into such a mess. And the messy chaos surrounding him was the easiest part to deal with. The most important people in his life keeping secrets from him was a bit less easy.

How on earth was he supposed to come to terms with all this? He’d walked into his house earlier thinking he had a nice, simple life, and now he didn’t know anything. His son was a witch, his son’s boyfriend was a werewolf, and evidently almost getting killed was a common occurrence. And Noah had been walking alongside it all like an idiot.

He was so mad. But the person he was mad at was himself. Noah should’ve seen something. There were clues all around that he’d been too ignorant to see before. From the cuts that Stiles had blamed on the cat, to the nightmares. Noah had excused them all. It wasn’t like he should’ve immediately assumed it was a supernatural issue, but he should’ve pressed. He should’ve asked questions until Stiles told him the truth. But Noah had stuck his head in the sand and lived in blissful ignorance. That was over now. Now he was going to be the parent he should’ve been and protect his son, no matter what it took. No matter how much Stiles fought against it.

There was a quiet knock on the door and Noah immediately pulled his gun. That was going to be a hard habit to break. He’d worked in law enforcement for years without becoming jumpy, but look at him now. And Stiles had been dealing with all this so casually?

Noah hobbled over to the door, standing to the side of it. If someone burst in suddenly, he didn’t want to get hit with the door. He wasn’t going to be caught off-guard again.

“Who’s there?” Noah demanded, putting full authority into his voice. He was not one to be trifled with.

“Noah? It’s Melissa.” Noah frowned in confusion, but tucked his gun away. It was still within reach, just in case this was a trick, but if this was really Melissa, she didn’t need to be confronted with a gun in her face. He opened the door, finding his old friend standing on his front step with a bag in his hands and an understanding smile on her face.

“What’s going on? Is Scott okay?” Noah asked. If Scott had gotten hurt because he let him go off alone with Isaac, he’d never forgive himself.

“He’s fine,” Melissa assured him. “He’s the one who sent me over here actually.”

“What? Why?”

“To take a look at you and make sure you’re okay,” Melissa replied, nodding down at his leg. “And to talk to you about the other stuff.”

“The other stuff? You- you know?” Noah choked out, shaking his head in shock.

“I do,” Melissa confirmed. Noah didn’t even know what to think about that. “How about we sit down and figure this all out?” Noah numbly shuffled back to the still pink couch and perched on the edge. Melissa was glancing around at the mess that surrounded them, but didn’t say anything about it.

“How long have you known? Stiles told you about this and not me?” Noah asked. He couldn’t help but be hurt by that possibility, even though his reaction pretty much justified that decision.

“It was the night of the incident at the station. When that boy… well, you remember,” Melissa mumbled, kneeling down in front of him and rummaging through her bag. Noah didn’t like to think about that night. They’d almost lost their sons. Who knew that was just another Tuesday night for them? “You were unconscious when it happened, but I saw some impossible things. And someone we know was right in the middle of it.”

“Stiles,” Noah sighed.

“No. Scott,” Melissa replied, staring up at him. “Scott is a werewolf.” Noah felt like the air had been punched out of his lungs. The sweet boy he’d watched grow up almost all his life was a monster?

“Melissa. How? I- I don’t even understand,” Noah mumbled.

“The hows and whys don’t really matter. It doesn’t change anything,” she said simply. “And I may sound cavalier about it now, but it threw me for a loop at the beginning. I went from seeing my son get shot right in front of me to him turning into something I’d never even considered was real.”

“How did you deal with it?” Noah wondered. How did she keep going like nothing had changed? Why was everyone in this town so good at keeping secrets?

“I was scared at first. Scared of what this meant for Scott and scared of Scott,” Melissa admitted, setting a supportive hand on his uninjured knee. “But then I realized that it was still Scott. He was still the boy I raised and loved. And nothing could change that.”

“So you’re saying I should just accept all this and keep going like nothing’s different? I don’t know if I can,” Noah sighed. He still loved Stiles, of course. But this was all too much. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”

“It wasn’t my secret to tell. Stiles needed to be able to tell you on his own time.”

“I think a bit of a head’s up was warranted. I think I deserve to know that my son is different.”

“Wait. Was Stiles turned?” Melissa asked, covering her heart with her hand.

“Not into a werewolf. He told me he’s a witch,” Noah muttered, pointing to his altered couch.

“Oh. That I didn’t know. But I’m sure there are a lot of things I’m not aware of.”

“How can you say that so casually?” Noah exclaimed. He’d known there were certain stresses that went along with becoming a parent, but this wasn’t something he’d been prepared for.

“I could drive myself crazy with all the possibilities of what might happen. And I’ve fantasized about locking Scott away somewhere safe where no one could touch him. But it’s unrealistic. So instead of fighting against him, I’m supporting him. I’m there for whatever he needs. And while sometimes I’m patching him up after some dangerous encounter I don’t like to think about, most of the time I’m just telling him to clean up after himself and do his homework. He’s still Scott and Stiles is still Stiles, just a little extra.”

Noah felt a wave of guilt crash over him. He’d been so unwilling to listen during his discussion with Stiles. It had to have been so hard for him to be honest about who he was and what was going on, but Noah had shut him down and sent him to his room. It came from a place of fear and caring, but it didn’t mean it was right. He’d always wanted to be the kind of parent whose kid could confide in him. He was proud when Stiles told him about his relationship with Isaac, but now Noah was letting his son down.

“How do I fix this?” Noah sighed.

“Give him a chance,” Melissa replied as she rolled up his left pant leg to expose his knee. It was a bit swollen and still ached like crazy, but it didn’t look like there was serious damage. “And maybe give someone else a chance too.”

“Would this someone else happen to be named Isaac?” Noah questioned, raising an eyebrow at her. He didn’t know if he could deal with much more than Stiles at the moment.

“From what I’ve seen of him, he is a very nice boy. And he cares a lot about Stiles.”

“You heard what happened here tonight?”

“Scott told me what he heard. Isaac didn’t say much when the boys showed up at the house, but that isn’t out of the ordinary for him.”

“He saved my life tonight and I pointed a gun at him,” Noah mumbled, scrubbing a hand down his face.

“Ouch,” Melissa winced. “Not ideal, but probably not insurmountable. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

“Maybe,” Noah muttered. That was a problem for another day though. First, he needed to talk to his son.

“Well, I don’t think this knee warrants a trip to the hospital, but I’d rest it as much as possible for a few days. And if the pain gets worse, make an appointment with your doctor,” Melissa determined, putting her things away and standing up.

“Thank you. For everything,” Noah said sincerely. It was nice to get some advice from someone who could relate to what he was going through. And he’d always respected Melissa’s opinion.

“Anytime. And if you need someone to talk to, you know where to find me,” Melissa smiled, patting him on the shoulder. “Try to stay out of trouble.”

“Easier said than done,” Noah grumbled, waving goodbye as Melissa left the house. The mess in this room could wait a while longer. Right now, he needed to go up and talk to Stiles.

Noah pulled himself off the couch, testing putting pressure on his left leg. Melissa had wound some bandages around his knee to help support it and it was making a world of difference. He wasn’t about to take a run through the woods, but walking wasn’t as painful as it had been a few minutes earlier. He still hadn’t tackled the stairs though.

Noah carefully made his way up, hopping more than walking. That counted as rest. And he saw this talk with Stiles lasting a while, so he could relax it then as well. Working things out with his son was more important than his knee at the moment.

“Stiles, can we talk?” Noah asked through the door as he knocked softly. There was no response or even the sound of movement in the room. It was way too early for Stiles to have fallen asleep though. He pushed open the door, glancing toward the bed. But Stiles wasn’t there. Stiles wasn’t anywhere. All that was left was an open window.

Chapter Text

Isaac kicked a rock as he walked along the sidewalk. He wasn’t exactly sure where he was, but anywhere was better than Scott’s house. Scott had gently shoved him on the back of his bike, before driving him back home. They didn’t know if Derek was at the loft yet, but he mumbled something about needing a place more homey.

But that only made things worse. Scott’s home was so warm and inviting and it just made him think about the Stilinski house. About how Isaac had finally felt like he had a place he could be happy. But now that was gone and it hurt more than he even imagined it could.

It wasn’t even the sheriff pointing a gun at him that was the worst part. Isaac had been threatened with weapons before and the way his life was, it would happen again. It was the look of distrust in the man’s eyes. It was knowing that he would never accept him being with Stiles again.

Isaac hadn’t realized just how amazing things had been. He knew that it was better than anything he’d ever known, but it had developed so gradually that it began to feel natural. It wasn’t like Mr. Stilinski had sat him down one day and said he’d finally earned his place, but now that it was gone, he was empty.

Scott’s mom had been so understanding when they walked into the house and Scott explained what happened. She’d pulled him into a gentle hug and he’d almost broken right then. Isaac couldn’t deal with their comfort and affection. And he didn’t deserve it. If he’d been able to keep himself under control, everything would be fine.

Lydia had driven everyone else home as Scott took his mom to another room to talk to her privately, so Isaac set Winnie down on the couch and made his escape. It was kind of a dick move to take off without saying anything, but he wanted to avoid any arguments. He just needed some time alone to accept what his life was going to look like now. And to figure out his next moves.

No matter what Stiles was going to say, Isaac knew their relationship was over. Isaac knew how important Stiles’ dad was to him and he wasn’t going to force him to sneak around or go against his dad’s wishes. He loved him too much to put him in that position. It was going to hurt them both, but it was probably the best decision in the long run.

Isaac’s presence had done nothing to protect Stiles from danger. In fact, it had only brought him more. And Isaac wasn’t even good enough to save Mr. Stilinski from the threat they’d faced today. Isaac was moments away from death before the sheriff had gotten a shot off. They would all be better off without him. Derek had Boyd and Erica and Stiles had everyone else. Isaac could do the right thing and leave before he made everything worse.

His phone suddenly beeped in his pocket and Isaac’s eyes filled with tears. It was Stiles’ notification sound. He thought about ignoring it, because talking wouldn’t do any good right now, but he couldn’t. They at least needed some sort of closure.

It was a simple text asking him to meet. Could he handle seeing Stiles again and still be strong in his resolve to leave? Or would he break and try to talk himself out of it? Isaac owed it to him to apologize and say goodbye to his face. He told him the location of a nearby park that was out of the way and sat down on a bench to wait. There weren’t many people out at this time of night, but they didn’t need an audience for what was about to happen.

Isaac closed his eyes to listen for the sound of Stiles’ jeep. Ever since those first dates, he would wait in anticipation for the sound of that engine to get louder, knowing his favorite person was on his way to see him. Just one more thing he was about to lose.

But after a few minutes, he still didn’t hear it. There should’ve been a sign of it by now, since Stiles’ house wasn’t that far away. Isaac really hoped that Stiles wasn’t out walking alone this late. It was one thing for him to be doing the same, but Stiles had people who cared about him. He needed to stay safe.

Isaac was temporarily distracted from his thoughts of Stiles' safety when a car pulled up in front of where he was sitting. Now all he could think about was his own. Was this where it was going to happen? Would being the sheriff make it easier to get away with murdering a teenager in the middle of the street? If this was the end, he wasn’t going to fight it. Running had never helped when it came to his father and he wasn’t going to bother trying now. If Mr. Stilinski thought this is what he had to do to protect his son, Isaac wasn’t going to try and stop him.

“Isaac, you can put your hands down,” Sheriff Stilinski sighed as he approached. Isaac hadn’t even realized he’d stood up and raised his hands above his head. That was what you did when you surrendered though, right? Isaac stayed how he was.

“It’s okay. I understand,” Isaac whispered, sniffling as he prepared for the pain. “Can you tell Stiles I’m sorry?”

“Isaac, I’m not going to kill you.” He’d heard things like that all the time from his dad. That he wouldn’t hurt him anymore. There was usually something about Isaac learning from his mistakes and not repeating the thing that angered his dad tacked on, but it wasn’t like he could promise that he wouldn’t be a werewolf anymore. This was permanent.

“I get it, I do. You have to do what you think is best for Stiles.”

“So if I decided to take my gun out and shoot you right now, you wouldn’t fight back?” Mr. Stilinski asked in bewilderment.

“No.”

“And if I told you to leave town and never contact my son again, you would?”

“Yes,” Isaac replied, ignoring the tear that was rolling down his cheek.

“Why?”

“Because I love him,” Isaac admitted, saying it out loud for the first time. He loved Stiles more than anything else in the entire world and he didn’t think he’d ever love anything more. The idea of being killed sounded easier than living the rest of his life without him.

“You are a very confusing kid, Isaac,” Mr. Stilinski sighed, running his hand down his face. “It’s hard to understand how you could go from what I saw in my living room to this. In reality, you could kill me right now without much effort.”

“What? No!” Isaac gasped, startled enough by that statement to finally lower his arms.

“I mean more in a physical sense. But what if you knew that killing me would make it so you and Stiles could still be together? Wouldn’t you do it?” Mr. Stilinski challenged.

“Of course not!”

“Why not?”

“Because what I want is not more important than Stiles’ happiness. I would never put myself above that.”

“You know, you’re giving me all the right answers, but this is still so much to wrap my head around. A few hours ago I thought I was living a normal life and now it’s like I don’t know anything,” Mr. Stilinski scoffed.

“It’s a lot to take in,” Isaac mumbled in agreement. At least his introduction to all of this had been spread out a bit. The sheriff was getting smacked in the face by all of this at once.

“How did this happen to you? Can you help me understand?” Isaac was surprised that the sheriff wanted to have a conversation with him. He was still pretty shocked that he was even still breathing at all. What would it hurt to be honest?

“It was offered to me and I said yes,” Isaac said simply. It was the first decision he’d made for himself and no one else. And while there were times that this life didn’t work out so well for him, he’d make the same choice. It had brought him at least a few months of happiness and that made everything else worth it.

“Why? Why would you choose this?” Isaac sat back down on the edge of the bench. He wasn’t sure if this was a talk he could stand through.

“I didn’t want to be afraid anymore,” Isaac admitted, running a hand through his hair. The sheriff walked over and sat on the other end of the bench, but Isaac tried not to react. If he was going to shoot him, he would probably do it from further away so the blood wouldn’t splatter back on him. “I wanted to be able to protect myself.”

“From your father?” Mr. Stilinski asked knowingly. Isaac nodded, since there was no use pretending that wasn’t the truth anymore. “Did it work?”

“Not really,” Isaac breathed out.

“Did you kill him?”

“I couldn’t even fight back,” Isaac choked out, raking a hand across his face. “I had all this power and I still cowered and ran. It didn’t matter what I could do because I was still too scared to do anything.”

“Did you want to kill him?”

“Part of me did,” Isaac confessed, staring down at his hands clasped between his knees. “But a bigger part of me just wanted my old dad back. The one who used to smile and care about me. Even after everything, I still held out hope for that. It sounds so pathetic.”

“No, it doesn’t. You sound like a kid. A normal kid who I’ve gotten to know pretty well,” Mr. Stilinski sighed.

“I just wanted to belong somewhere. To have people who cared about me. And it didn’t start out the best, but it finally started to get better. Now I’m losing it again.”

“Isaac-”

“I’m not blaming you. I get it, really. Your family is more important than some kid who is putting your son in danger. I just need you to know before I leave that I never hurt your son and never would. It’s okay if you don’t believe me, but I needed to say the words,” Isaac stammered, feeling his time in Beacon Hills quickly coming to a close. He hoped Derek would understand. Maybe he and Scott could finally work out their issues and try to get along for once. And Stiles would forget about him soon enough.

“Isaac, breathe,” Mr. Stilinski instructed, resting his hand on his shoulder. Isaac jolted in surprise and sucked in a strangled breath. He hadn’t realized he’d stopped breathing during his spiel, but now his lungs were burning from a lack of oxygen.

“I’m sorry,” Isaac gasped, forcing himself to inhale as normally as possible.

“It’s okay. And I don’t want you to leave.”

“What? I don’t understand,” Isaac spluttered, looking over at him in confusion.

“I’m not saying that I’m completely fine with everything I’ve learned tonight, but I figure I should at least try to learn how to live with it. You’ve been like this the whole time I’ve known you and you’ve been nothing but polite and kind. I doubt that now that your secret is out you’re going to turn into a monster,” Mr. Stilinski said, raising his eyebrows toward the end of his speech.

“No.”

“Good. So how about you tell me where Stiles would’ve gone so we can all go home and talk about this some more?” Mr. Stilinski suggested.

“What? What do you mean? I thought Stiles was at home?”

“He took off after we talked for a while. He was upset, so I figured he would go to find you, but when you answered the text from his phone, I knew he wasn’t with you,” he explained as Isaac’s panic started to rise. “But I thought you might have an idea of where he would have gone.”

“Oh no,” Isaac mumbled, feeling his stomach clench in fear. Stiles being out there all alone and upset was not a good combination. Especially with this threat still looming over them. It would be way too easy for him to find trouble tonight. Isaac couldn’t let that happen. “We have to find him.”

*

Stiles strode through the preserve in determination. He’d been sitting on his bedroom floor when he felt the pull again. Only this time, he was fully aware of what was going on. Stiles was being called out to, and he was going to listen and finish this.

He left his jeep behind, knowing that that would signal to his dad that he was leaving. His dad made it clear that he didn’t want to be involved in anything having to do with the supernatural, so he was going to leave him out of it. And this was the best way to keep him safe. As long as this thing was focused on Stiles, everyone else would be okay.

This was personal, in a way that the issue with the Alpha pack hadn’t been. Stiles and Isaac had known what they were getting into when they went out searching for their missing friends. They accepted the danger and the consequences. But his dad had nothing to do with this. And involving him crossed a line that couldn’t be ignored.

Before all this happened, Stiles was pretty set on trying to reason with whatever this thing was they were dealing with. Murder wasn’t always the first answer, no matter what Peter and Derek might say. Stiles was going to try to come to some sort of agreement. Kali had been killed, but for all he knew, it was justified. But all that went out the window when his dad had been attacked. Now he was going to do what he had to do to make sure that never happened again.

Stiles finally broke into the clearing he’d been led to before. The giant tree trunk was still there, but Kali’s body was gone. He didn’t know if that was because of a spell or if it had been removed, but he didn’t care at the moment. He had more important things to worry about.

“I’m here! Why don’t you come out and show yourself?” Stiles shouted, spinning around in a slow circle with his arms spread. There was no use hiding or playing games. He was here for a confrontation.

“Well, this is long overdue,” a voice purred from the trees across from him. Stiles set his feet and stood with as much confidence as he could. He was not going to be intimidated. He was not going to back down.

“So, it was you,” Stiles said evenly, gritting his teeth as she finally revealed herself. His school really needed to perform better background checks on their staff.

“Yeah,” Ms. Blake smirked, stepping up to stand on the other side of the trunk from him, “it’s me.”

Chapter Text

All thoughts of being worried about what Mr. Stilinski felt about him were gone the instant Isaac heard that Stiles was missing. He could fret over his boyfriend’s father’s reaction after he made sure that he still had a boyfriend. Isaac pulled his phone out of his pocket, flicking through the contacts until he landed on the one he needed.

“Dude! Where the hell did you go?” Scott exclaimed. Isaac could picture him throwing up his hands in exasperation. “Stiles is going to kill me when he finds out you left.”

“Have you talked to him?” Isaac demanded. He cared about Scott, he really did. Scott was the first person outside of the pack who gave him a chance, even after all the fighting. But he did not have time for any conversation besides something useful about Stiles.

“Since we left his house together? No,” Scott denied. “Why? What’s going on?”

“He’s gone,” Isaac murmured, clenching his jaw as his heart stuttered in his chest. Now was not the time to break.

“Maybe his dad knows where he is?” Scott wondered.

“Sheriff Stilinski is with me right now,” Isaac sighed, flicking his eyes to the other man. He didn’t look as worried as Isaac felt, but he also didn’t know what had been going on. “He doesn’t have his phone and he didn’t take the jeep.”

“Do you know where he would’ve gone?”

“I have a pretty good idea, but I really hope I’m wrong.”

“The preserve. Where he wandered to the other night.”

“Yes.”

“Isaac-”

“I have to go.”

“It’s too dangerous. You don’t even know if that’s where he went.”

“That’s why you’re going to look for him too. You’ve known him longer, so check all the places he might’ve gone to be alone.”

“Isaac, I don’t like this,” Scott groaned. He didn’t like it either, but there was no other choice. Isaac wasn’t going to sit around and hope Stiles came home in one piece. And if it turned out that Stiles had just gone for a walk to clear his head, Isaac would hug him and kiss him before screaming at him for scaring him to death. Then maybe handcuff their wrists together so he could keep him in sight at all times.

“Will you let everyone else know what’s going on? And if you don’t hear from one of us by morning…” Isaac trailed off, not wanting to finish that sentence. He didn’t want to consider that possibility.

“Isaac, be careful,” Scott implored.

“I’ll be fine on my own,” Isaac mumbled, hanging up the phone after they exchanged subdued goodbyes.

“You’re not going on your own,” Sheriff Stilinski declared. “I’m coming with you.”

“I can’t let you do that. It’s too dangerous,” Isaac argued, shaking his head stiffly. He couldn’t put Stiles’ dad in any more danger than he’d already been exposed to.

“First of all, you wouldn’t be letting me do anything,” Sheriff Stilinski scoffed, raising his eyebrows. “And second, if you think my son is in danger, there is no way I’m going to stay behind when I could be out there doing something.”

“This isn’t like what you deal with as the sheriff. This isn’t someone you can arrest,” Isaac said seriously.

“Are you talking about murder?” Sheriff Stilinski asked, cocking his head to the side. “Have you killed someone before?”

“No, but if that’s what I have to do to save Stiles, I will,” Isaac replied simply. He would kill for him and he would die for him, without question.

“And would my son say the same?”

“You’ll have to ask him.”

“Well then, let’s go find him,” Mr. Stilinski said, wincing a little as he turned to walk back toward his car.

“Wait,” Isaac sighed, trotting in front of him and holding his hands up.

“Isaac, I’m not-”

“Just, let me,” Isaac murmured, grabbing his hand and pulling the pain from the man’s body. He’d wanted to do this at the house, but then there was a gun pointed at him and things got a little blurry.

“What did you do?” Sheriff Stilinski asked, standing a bit more relaxed now that the ache in his body wasn’t so intense.

“I can take your pain. Not all of it, but it helps,” Isaac explained quietly, taking his hand back as soon as he was finished. “If anything gets too uncomfortable, let me know. We can’t afford to go into this injured.”

“What do you think we’re dealing with? The thing from earlier?” Sheriff Stilinski asked, shifting his weight from side to side to test his leg.

“Yeah.”

“Well, we got the upperhand earlier, right? I’m sure we could do it again.”

“Unless it was toying with us. You can’t underestimate the threat in these situations. That’s how you end up ambushed and your throat slit,” Isaac muttered, rubbing his neck at the memory.

“There’s still a lot I don’t know, isn’t there?”

“Hopefully we’ll live long enough for you to get the whole story.”

*

“I’m going to assume you’re also the thing we saw here the other night and not just the spokesperson for it,” Stiles smirked, cocking his head to the side. “I can’t decide which version of you is worse.”

“Is that any way to speak to your teacher? I’m tempted to give you detention for that,” Ms. Blake scoffed.

“I have a feeling you’re about to be out of a job. I heard they cracked down on letting murderers on staff.”

“But it’s okay for students?” she shot back, raising an eyebrow.

“I’ve never killed anyone. I’m just a normal kid,” Stiles shrugged. At least part of that was true.

“How about we skip that song and dance? I knew what you were the second we touched,” Ms. Blake bragged, slowly moving to her left. Stiles moved to the right, wanting to keep the trunk of the tree firmly between them. “I guess it wasn’t so easy to figure me out.”

“Oh, you’re firmly in the Evil Bitch category. That’s all I need to know,” Stiles spat.

“But aren’t you curious? Don’t you want to know what I am and where we are?” Ms. Blake asked, gesturing to the space around them.

“I’m more interested in why you’re doing this and what it’ll take for you to leave the people I care about alone,” Stiles snarled. He was usually interested in all the details and the complicated backstory, but right now he was just pissed and wanted this to be over. This woman had most likely ruined his entire life.

“Well, too bad. I call the shots,” she smirked, continuing her slow circuit around the tree. Stiles had to keep flicking his eyes to the ground and back up again to make sure he wasn’t about to trip over something and it was making him feel off balance. He was at a grave disadvantage here.

“Go on with it then. I haven’t got all day and I’m getting kind of bored,” Stiles said, tacking on a fake yawn for good measure. His mouth was always his biggest weapon, just now it was in a bit of a different way. There was no harm in going back to one of his tried and true methods though.

“You know, it doesn’t have to be this way. In fact, I was hoping we could work together.”

“I’ve gotten an offer like that before and my answer is the same. Go screw yourself.”

“And did that offer happen to come from a pack of Alphas?” Ms. Blake asked knowingly. Stiles’ steps stuttered a little and he barely stopped himself from falling. “Imagine my surprise when I came to town and found them all dead. With one exception of course.”

“And you think I killed them? Were they your friends?” Stiles asked. If this was a revenge plot, he had half a mind to steer her toward Peter. He was technically the one who killed Deucalion. And he still didn’t trust the man at all. Derek might get annoyed, but he’d get over it.

“On the contrary. I was planning on killing them myself,” Ms. Blake snarled. Stiles wasn’t sure, but he thought he might’ve seen her image flicker into something more sinister for a moment, before settling back. “But at least I got to kill Kali.”

“So if you got what you came for, why are you still here? And why do you care about me?” Stiles demanded. Beacon Hills wasn’t some town that people fell in love with and never wanted to leave. He was sick of evil people finding it so enticing.

“I’m here because of this,” Ms. Blake murmured, kneeling down and pressing her palm to the top of the trunk.

“A dead tree? And you couldn’t find one of these somewhere else?”

“The fact that you don’t understand the significance of this makes me a bit angry, but I’ll try not to hold it against you,” she ground out, running her fingers soothingly across the wood. If she was about to admit to being in love with the thing, he was going to scream. He wasn’t one to kink shame, but he didn’t want to be involved. “This is a nemeton.”

“A what?”

“It’s a sacred and powerful place. It saved my life,” Ms. Blake murmured, closing her eyes. Stiles thought about taking the opportunity to attack, but decided against it. He had to wait for the right moment.

“And you stuck a dead body on it? I gotta say, that’s a bit rude.”

“It was an offering. A way to build our connection,” she snapped, flicking her eyes back up to him. “And then you ruined it.”

“It’s not my fault that it likes me more than you,” Stiles bragged, shrugging his shoulders.

“It is your fault! Your magic’s fault!” she hissed, springing back up to her feet. “All the work I did ruined by a few words that you probably had no idea what they meant.”

“And what kind of work was that?” Stiles asked hesitantly. He rarely got answers he liked and this time was no different.

“Great power requires great sacrifice.”

“You mean murder,” Stiles pointed out. No need to try to pretty up the truth. “It’s funny that the people so desperate for power are never willing to sacrifice themselves.”

“You have no idea what happened to me! I’m just trying to get back what I lost!” Ms. Blake shouted.

“I’m sure the people you murdered take solace in the fact that they are giving their life to your cause.”

“I’m giving them more purpose than anything they could’ve gotten on their own in their pathetic lives. They aren’t like us. They don’t matter.”

“Don’t you dare put us in the same category. We aren’t anything alike!” Stiles argued.

“But we could be. If we worked together, we would be untouchable.”

“I think I’ll pass.”

“You think you can trust that pack of wolves? I thought the same and I almost died because of that mistake.”

“And I’m supposed to trust you? You tried to kill my dad!”

“A lot more people will die if you don’t do what I say and it will be all your fault. If you don’t fix what you did to the nemeton, I’ll have to start over. And I promise I’ll start with your little pack,” Ms. Blake cackled, widening her eyes maniacally. “I’ll leave you for last, making sure you watch everyone you care about fall, one by one.”

“And what happens if I do what you ask? Will you stop hurting people?” Stiles demanded.

“Oh, you are so naive! What does it matter? Does a lion worry about stepping on an ant?”

“Maybe it should. Maybe that’s the problem. Everyone is only looking out for themselves and not considering how it affects anyone else.”

“That’s the way the world works, kid. It would’ve done you a lot of good to learn that,” Ms. Blake said, shaking her head in disappointment. She raised one of her hands, bringing up a sharp branch that hovered just above her shoulder. Stiles’ breath caught as he stared at the sharp point that was aimed at his face. Did he have a spell for this? Or would he have to rely on some of his lacrosse skills? Would it even matter?

Stiles braced himself for the hit, but it never came. Instead, the branch changed direction, hurtling into the trees and out of sight. He frowned in confusion, staring at Ms. Blake with a curious look.

“Need more practice?” Stiles asked, feeling a dread build up in his stomach at the smirk on her face.

“Not at all. Just getting started on what I promised earlier,” Ms. Blake grinned. “Looks like your pack might be down a member.”

Chapter Text

Isaac was really beginning to hate the preserve. He hadn’t considered it much when he was still human, because it was just there. Most of his time was spent at the cemetery, school, or home. After he was turned, he would go there with his pack for training occasionally, when Derek didn’t keep them cooped up in the depot. But now, all it reminded him of was fear and pain.

He knew it was just his mind playing tricks on him as he led Sheriff Stilinski along, but he swore he could smell some of his blood still lingering in the air. The arrows from the Alpha pack had become a distant memory, especially after the more traumatic moments from that ordeal, but he could feel the phantom pain in his chest.

Isaac ached for the open space of the beach. He was so sick of dark corners for people to hide in. If they made it out of this, they deserved another break. Screw school and other responsibilities.

“We’re getting close,” Isaac whispered as he stepped over a rotten log. He’d given Mr. Stilinski a brief rundown of where they were going during the drive, but left out a few of the details. He didn’t need to know about the body they discovered or their previous encounter with her. That was a conversation for another time.

“Are you sure? Everything looks the same,” Sheriff Stilinski whispered back. He probably wouldn’t have been able to find this thing again if he hadn’t been so hyper-focused on where Stiles was being led to the other night. There was nothing that felt special about the place until you actually got there and Isaac still didn’t understand what was so important about a cut down tree. It felt kind of dumb for everything to be centered around that.

“I’m sure,” Isaac confirmed, pausing to focus on his senses. He really needed to ask Derek to train him more. Relying on his connection to Stiles wasn’t always feasible. Right now, it was like he could feel Stiles everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

“Then why are you stopping?” Mr. Stilinski asked, stopping a few feet in front of him and turning around to face him.

“I thought I heard something,” Isaac murmured, squinting his eyes in concentration. It was a familiar sort of sound that he didn’t hear often, but it still gave him a sense of unease. Like it always came just before something bad happened.

It couldn’t have lasted for longer than a second, but that was all the time Isaac needed. He darted forward, grabbing Stiles’ dad by the shoulders and spinning him around at the last moment.

“Oh my God,” Sheriff Stilinski gasped, looking down between them in horror. Isaac followed his gaze, staring blankly at the end of the branch sticking out of the front of his chest. All of his experience getting shot with arrows had come in handy. Isaac felt his knees buckle as the pain finally caught up to him, but the sheriff supported his weight, lowering him gently to the ground to rest on his side.

“Ow,” Isaac choked out, along with a spray of blood. The sheriff was near panic, pressing against the wound as best he could. But nothing he could do would make a difference. Isaac couldn’t be helped.

“I have to call an ambulance,” he murmured, looking around the woods frantically. No one would make it in time for it to matter. Isaac shook his head, gesturing for the man to come closer. Sheriff Stilinski bent his head down toward Isaac’s, sniffling once. This was Isaac’s last chance to tell him something important that could change the outcome of this night.

“Save Stiles.”

*

“What did you do?” Stiles whispered, flicking his eyes back and forth between Ms. Blake and where the branch had gone.

“I tried to warn you. This is what happens when you don’t listen,” Ms. Blake smirked. Stiles could hardly breathe as he waited for a sign of anything. He didn’t know what he was waiting for, but he knew something was coming. Stiles blocked out Ms. Blake’s menacing laugh as he finally saw movement in the trees.

“Dad?” Stiles choked out as soon as the figure was visible. His dad was walking slowly into the clearing with his hands clenched at his sides. He wouldn’t have known to come here on his own, so why was he alone now? “No.”

“Stiles, I’m sorry,” his dad murmured, opening his palms and holding them in front of him. There was only a little bit of moonlight shining through the top of the trees, but it was enough for Stiles to see the red on his hands.

“No. Dad, no,” Stiles cried, shaking his head in denial. This couldn’t be happening. Not again. Isaac was safe at Scott’s with Winnie. Stiles was going to take care of all this alone to make sure everyone was safe. But he’d failed.

Stiles felt himself starting to hyperventilate, but he couldn’t do anything to stop it. He knew he had to stay strong to finish this, but the rational part of him wasn’t in control. He didn’t even know what needed to be done under ideal circumstances. Ms. Blake was something he’d never encountered before and he was in way over his head.

“Oh, how sad,” Ms. Blake cackled.

“Shut your mouth or I’ll flatten you like a pancake,” his dad snapped, pointing an angry finger in her direction. Stiles' ears perked up at that and his panic cleared for a moment. That wasn’t something his dad would normally say, was it? Did that mean what he thought it did?

Stiles shot his dad a desperate look, hoping that he would see some kind of confirmation that what he was hoping for was right. His dad gave him the barest of nods and Stiles felt like his world started spinning again. Even if he was wrong in his assumption, he clung to it, knowing it was the only chance he had to make it through this.

“So you said this thing is powerful and I took away your connection to it, right?” Stiles wondered aloud, wiping a hand across his face to dry it. “Does that mean I have a connection to it now?”

“Don’t you dare,” Ms. Blake warned, holding up her hands in a clear threat. His dad pulled out his gun and aimed it at her, moving closer to stand at his side. “I have no problem killing you and starting over. In fact, killing you may be the boost I need.”

“Or it angers this even more,” Stiles shot back, trying to block as much as he could out so he could feel the energy of this place. He was still half bluffing, but there may have been a slight buzz in the air if he concentrated hard enough.

“Then maybe I’ll just kill you for fun!” she screeched, raising up another handful of branches. Stiles stooped down, dragging his dad down with him as he placed his free hand on top of the nemeton. This was his last shot to save them and he had no idea what he was doing.

A cell phone started beeping from where his dad had walked out of the woods and everyone except Stiles turned their heads in that direction. He couldn’t be distracted, taking advantage of the diversion for what it was. Stiles started murmuring Latin under his breath, feeling a tingle rise up through his body. Ms. Blake flung the branches into the trees toward the sound, but Stiles couldn’t worry about that at the moment. The power was starting to become overwhelming. He was beginning to understand how people could become hungry for it after getting a little taste. But Stiles wasn’t going to let himself get lost in it. There were more important things to worry about right now.

“I’m done playing games!” Ms. Blake hissed. Stiles’ dad let off a few rounds in her direction, but she blocked them with whatever power she still possessed. “This is over!”

“Yeah, it is.”

Stiles felt a tear break free from his eye as Isaac burst out of the trees, making a beeline straight for Ms. Blake. Before she had time to react, he tackled her to the ground, much like he’d done that night on the lacrosse field when they were dealing with Jackson. She recovered quickly, pushing him back with force, but Isaac didn’t falter. His wolf was fully out and he was standing confidently between her and Stiles. Always ready to do what it took to protect him.

“Big mistake. You should’ve run off when you had the chance,” Ms. Blake sneered.

“I could say the same for you,” Isaac growled.

“It’s too late now,” Stiles whispered, feeling the surge of power crackling under his skin. It was begging to be let loose. Ms. Blake screamed, thrusting another branch in Stiles’ direction, but Isaac easily caught it and tossed it away. She tried again, but the stick barely left the ground before dropping.

“What did you do?” Ms. Blake choked out, staring down at her hands in horror. They were shifting from youthful to curled and scarred. And the rest of her was slowly morphing into something broken.

“I severed your connection to the nemeton,” Stiles replied, finally standing back up. “And undid everything you gained from it.”

“You can’t do that!” Ms. Blake groaned as she slowly crumpled to the ground. Stiles could only stare at her with pity. She could’ve used this power for good and given herself a chance at a happy, normal life, but she’d let it destroy her. He was reminded of Deaton’s warning from back in the beginning, but this solidified the fact that Stiles wouldn’t go down a dark path. The consequences were laid out clearly in front of him. And also the rewards for staying good.

“It’s already done.”

“You should just kill me,” Ms. Blake spat, curling forward into the dirt.

“I’m not a murderer,” Stiles said simply. He watched blankly as she started dragging herself toward the cover of the trees. Was he really sparing her by letting her live, or was it punishment? He was taking the final decision out of his hands.

“Should we really let her go like that?” his dad asked, holstering his weapon.

“She can’t hurt anyone anymore,” Stiles shrugged, before his dad pulled him into a crushing hug. Stiles closed his eyes and rested his face against his dad’s neck. He was so close to never experiencing this again.

“Don’t ever scare me like that again,” his dad said, letting out a wet chuckle.

“No promises,” Stiles mumbled, staying in that position until his dad finally let him go. There was one more reunion Stiles was desperate for. He glanced up, finding Isaac hovering uncertainly a few yards away.

“Go on,” his dad said, nodding his approval. That was all they needed, both of them rushing forward and meeting in the middle in a relieved embrace.

“If you ever do that to me again, I’ll kill you myself,” Stiles warned half-heartedly through a renewed wave of tears.

“I’m sorry. I thought it was the best way to catch her off guard,” Isaac murmured, resting his cheek against the top of Stiles’ head.

“Maybe so, but I don’t think my heart can take it,” Stiles scoffed, pulling back to look him in the eye. “Pancake? Really?”

“It worked, didn’t it?” Isaac shrugged.

“We’re gonna have to come up with a new safe word now.”

“How about we worry about that later?” Isaac suggested, wincing a little and rubbing his chest.

“Oh God, you’re hurt and I’m just babbling on about nonsense,” Stiles moaned, trying to get a better look at the damage.

“No, I’m okay. I’m still healing, but I’m okay,” Isaac insisted, grabbing Stiles’ hands and squeezing them gently.

“We need to take you back to Melissa so she can check you over,” Stiles said, shoving his shoulder under Isaac’s armpit to help support him.

“I can walk. If you can recall, I just ran a few minutes ago,” Isaac chuckled, but didn’t move away.

“Humor me,” Stiles replied, leading him in the direction his dad came from. Isaac grabbed his phone as they passed by where it was stashed, recounting how their plan came to be. Stiles wasn’t pleased to hear that Isaac pulled a giant branch out of his own chest while his dad walked into danger alone, but there was nothing he could do about it now.

“Not bad, right?” Isaac asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Not what I would’ve preferred, but at least you two were able to work together,” Stiles said, shooting his dad a grateful look.

“We still need to have a few talks, but I’m willing to listen,” his dad said, reaching over and squeezing his shoulder. That was all Stiles could ask for. The night had started off so poorly and there were times that he thought that it would end in tragedy. But when they put their differences aside and finally started working as a team, they were able to accomplish anything. This felt like it was truly the start of something great.

Chapter Text

A few days later the whole group was in Stiles’ living room, celebrating another threat come and gone without any casualties. The school had made an announcement about Ms. Blake finding a new position in a school out of town and that was the end of it. They’d had so many murders and disappearances that no one really gave it much thought. Derek went into the preserve the morning after everything to track her and he said her scent led out of town, so if she knew what was best for her, she would never come back. Stiles still felt a little unsure about letting her go like that, but he also didn’t feel like killing, so that was something he would have to come to terms with. If she decided to try anything else, he would be ready for her.

He and his dad had a few long talks, which went much better than the first. Stiles took him into the basement and being around something that had belonged to his wife had made him a bit emotional, so a bit of crying happened as well. But his dad was slowly coming to terms with everything.

Isaac was back at Derek’s, which had been the plan all along, but it was hard to adjust to, after all that time they’d spent together. Although there was an excitement every morning now when they finally saw each other again after being apart. It almost balanced out the sadness when they had to leave each other every night. But Stiles could see that Isaac was happy to be back with his pack again. And the fact that his dad had given him a hug and told him to keep the extra key helped too.

Now they were all lounging around the newly remodeled living room, after everyone pitched in to fix it up. There was new furniture, carpet, and wall paint, the color made by Stiles’ magic, to everyone’s amazement. You’d never be able to tell what had gone on there a few days prior.

“We should do this at Derek’s. The all gray is definitely a vibe, but I think we could liven things up a bit,” Erica chuckled, leaning back into Boyd’s arms. Stiles wasn’t sure if they were an official couple yet, but they sure acted like it. He didn’t really care what they were, as long as they stayed happy and didn’t fall back to how they were after the Alpha pack.

“Perhaps a dusty pink around his bed?” Stiles suggested, before cackling at the idea. “Derek would kill me.”

“I should probably meet him again, this time under better circumstances,” his dad said, giving him a pointed look. “Make sure he isn’t actually planning on killing my son.”

“Derek’s really not that bad. And I’m not just saying that because he’s lurking around outside,” Isaac smirked, jerking his chin toward the backyard.

“Are you serious?” Stiles snorted, looking in that direction, as if he’d be able to see him through the walls.

“He’s been a bit reluctant to let us out of his sight for too long,” Boyd explained.

“The old man’s gotten soft,” Erica teased, knowing that Derek would be able to hear what they were saying.

“I think it’s nice knowing that there is someone out there watching our backs. I for one am a bit tired of almost being killed on a semi regular basis,” Isaac sighed, leaning over to rest his head on Stiles’ shoulder. Stiles was also ready to never see Isaac hurt again. When they walked out of the preserve and he saw the bloody branch Isaac had pulled out of his own body, it had made him almost throw up. Stiles loved every part of Isaac, but his blood was definitely his least favorite.

“I think we’re all sick of it too,” Scott agreed, glaring at him half-heartedly. Scott hadn’t been pleased when they all showed up at his house. He lectured Isaac about running off without a plan as Melissa picked little pieces of bark out of his skin. Even Winnie sympathized with Scott’s arguments, perching on his shoulder and meowing at Isaac in what sounded like a disappointed tone. At least the two of them had finally bonded.

“My dad said that Beacon Hills is quiet at the moment, so hopefully it stays that way,” Allison added. Stiles wasn’t going to point out that Chris Argent hadn’t seen Ms. Blake coming and hadn’t helped with the Alpha pack, since that wouldn’t accomplish anything. They were in a good place since their ocean trip and he didn’t want to ruin it. And besides, she couldn’t control her dad either way. As long as he was on their side, that’s all Stiles could ask for.

“All the chaos is getting pretty ridiculous,” Lydia huffed, flicking her hair over her shoulder as she pet Winnie. The cat had really taken a liking to her ever since she babysat and Stiles was pretty sure Lydia ranked just under Isaac on Winnie’s love chart.

“How would you know? You’re never even there for the dangerous parts,” Stiles pointed out. Isaac pinched his side, shaking his head at him.

“And maybe you all should learn from me,” Lydia smirked, reaching for her purse. “In fact, I should probably go. Being here for so long is probably pushing my luck.”

“I should go too. My mom wants us to have dinner together tonight, since she’s off early,” Scott said, standing up and pulling Allison up with him.

“And I’m his ride. We really need to talk about you getting a car instead of dealing with your unreliable bike,” Allison sighed.

“It’s not unreliable, it just has character,” Scott defended, arguing with Allison as they walked out of the house with Lydia.

“We might as well save Derek from his hiding spot in the bushes,” Erica giggled, bouncing up from her spot on Boyd.

“Tell him I’ll bring Isaac back home later, safe and sound,” Stiles said, turning his head toward where he assumed Derek was lurking. He was going to have to officially invite him into the house, even though this whole thing he was doing was sort of funny.

“He trusts you with Isaac,” Boyd said quietly, although Stiles wasn’t sure if it was quiet enough.

“I knew it,” Stiles bragged, elbowing Isaac in the side a little.

“Don’t push it,” Isaac warned, waving goodbye to his packmates.

“And I’m going to sit and enjoy my new living room, if you two wouldn’t mind,” his dad said, sinking down into the new chair they’d gotten him and gesturing for them to leave.

“You want me to go to my bedroom with my boyfriend? Don’t mind if I do,” Stiles grinned, pulling Isaac up the stairs behind him as he groaned in embarrassment. They obviously weren’t going to do anything with his dad downstairs, but a little teasing never hurt anyone. At least not permanently.

“You’re the worst,” Isaac grumbled, flopping down on Stiles’ bed.

“This is true,” Stiles agreed, jumping up onto the bed and straddling Isaac’s lap.

“Stiles,” Isaac whined, biting his lip as he forced himself not to jerk his hips up in response.

“I have a present for you.”

“Is it in your pants?”

“Yes, actually. But not in the way you’re thinking,” Stiles snorted, using humor to cover up his nerves. This had been burning a hole in his pocket all day, but he knew he couldn’t do it with everyone else around. He was a little worried about Isaac’s reaction though. This was a big step.

“Is everything okay?” Isaac asked, seeing through his facade, like always. He loved and hated that about him.

“Yeah, everything is great. Perfect even. Like, couldn’t come up with a better scenario than the one we’re in right now,” Stiles babbled, tapping a beat with his fingers against his thigh. Isaac grabbed his hand, leaning forward to give it a kiss.

“Okay, so what is it?” Isaac asked in his most calming voice. Stiles wordlessly stuck his hand and his pocket and pulled out a ring. It was almost comical how wide Isaac’s eyes got when he saw it. “What?”

“Let me explain,” Stiles said quickly, before this fully went off the rails. “Some of the scariest moments of my entire life have been when you’re in danger and I don’t know where you are. I feel like you could say the same as well, when it comes to me. So I came across this spell in one of my books a while back, but I sort of brushed it off at the time, since I didn’t have what I needed to complete it. It always stayed in the back of my mind though, so when I learned more about the nemeton, I knew I’d found what I needed.”

“Which was?” Isaac asked, swallowing thickly.

“Well, I won’t bore you with all the details right now, but simply put, it’s magic. Powerful magic that I can pull from,” Stiles explained. “I’m not talking Ms. Blake levels, but there is a sort of a connection there.”

“What does that mean?”

“That means I was able to make this. And I have a matching one in my pocket. As long as we are both wearing them, we’ll be able to find each other.” Isaac was looking up at him with an unreadable expression. Usually Stiles was just as proficient in decoding Isaac’s feelings, but right now, he was completely in the dark. “It’s okay if you don’t want to though. I know I just kind of sprung this on you. We can forget about all this if you-”

Isaac surged up, pressing a passionate kiss to Stiles’ lips. He didn’t want to speak too soon, but that seemed like a pretty solid answer. Stiles hooked his hand behind Isaac’s head, holding him up so they could deepen the kiss. It was saying everything they hadn’t yet.

“So, does that mean you’ll wear it?” Stiles panted as soon as they broke apart for air.

“Pretty much,” Isaac laughed, pressing another kiss to the corner of his mouth. Stiles couldn’t wait any longer, grabbing Isaac’s hand and sliding the ring onto his middle finger. Isaac stared at it, crinkling his eyes in realization. “Is this-”

“Wood from the nemeton. You wouldn’t believe the amount of sanding I had to do to make that thing smooth. But it was all worth it.”

“It’s beautiful. Thank you,” Isaac said softly, admiring his new item. Stiles dug his own out now, sliding it onto his finger. They were almost identical, with only the slight variations in color noticeable if you were looking closely. “You know, I was scared you were about to propose to me.”

“You wish,” Stiles scoffed.

“I would’ve said no.”

“No, you wouldn’t have. Besides, you think I would really ask you to marry me before I even told you that I love you? I do of course, but I should probably at least say the words out loud instead of in my head everytime I think about you,” Stiles laughed.

“You do? You love me?” Isaac choked out, tearing up almost immediately.

“Isaac, how is that even a question? I’m so in love with you that I don’t even know how to deal with it half the time.”

“Really?”

“I think I was telling myself I was waiting for the perfect time to say it, but now that it’s out there, I don’t think I’ll ever stop,” Stiles said, running his thumb under Isaac’s eye to dry his cheeks. “You don’t have to say it back if you’re not ready.”

“I am. I actually told your dad first,” Isaac admitted, finally smiling through his tears.

“I knew you guys were getting along, but that’s a little much, don’t you think?”

“I love you too,” Isaac whispered, staring deep into his eyes. There was no joking or messing around anymore. This was the two of them professing their love to each other. It felt terrifying and wonderful and overwhelming and absolutely perfect. It was everything and Stiles knew that whatever life threw at them, they would handle it. Amongst all the craziness of werewolves, witches, magical trees, and anything else they would face in the future, they had each other. And at the end of the day, that was all they needed.