Do you write Stiles/Cora? Maybe for “I’ve never talked to you before but the teacher just used us as an example for a scenario where we are married.” with some of the Hale family making an appearance. Thx.
A/N I haven’t written het romance in so long I actually forgot how. So this doesn’t quite follow the prompt but this was as close as I could get. Also homecoming? What even is that? In the UK, you get maybe one school disco and in secondary school one prom. None of this homecoming stuff.
Stiles presses the doorbell. The ring isloud and ominous and Stiles starts to pray that he’s not going to sweat throughhis shirt. That would be awkward and unpleasant for all. His fingers aretapping a rhythm out on his thigh, a repeated pattern of index, middle, pinky,index, ring. The door swings open, creaking on old hinges. Thankfully Cora isthe one who has answered the door so Stiles isn’t verbally tripping overhimself to explain why he’s here.
“Hi,” Stiles says, running a hand throughhis hair. Cora gives him the once over and her expression is hard to determine.She might be impressed but she also might punch him. It’s an endless conundrum.
“Are you wearing cologne?” Cora asks, hernose wrinkling slightly.
“Lydia,” Stiles supplies in way of anexplanation. “Are you wearing a dress?”
Cora cringes, looking down at the midnightand petrol blue gown.
“Peter,” She says in a bitter and vengefultone.
“You look nice,” Stiles says which herealizes makes him sounds like those idiots from teen high school romancemovies when the previously unattractive girl walks down in her dress and thehot jock finally sees her beauty or whatever. He wants to punch himself.
“Well,” A voice says from inside, “Don’tlet the boy stand on ceremony Cora, invite him in.”
The force with which Cora grips the woodendoor makes Stiles fear it might shatter but after a few minutes she lets go andallows Stiles to enter. Stiles is happy to note that the inside of the house isnot littered with the bones of previous dates nor are there any sharpimplements and/or guns lying around to threaten him with. Cora leads him intothe living room where some of the other Hales are sitting, all looking at himwith varying levels of scrutiny.
“This is Stiles,” Cora says, folding herarms and taking a stance that implies she will fight anyone who tries to messwith Stiles. It’s endearing. It’s partly why Stiles likes her. He always beenattracted to women who could crush a man’s skull with their bare hands.
“Hi,” Stiles says and waves. Only Talia andher husband, Mark, wave back. Peter sort of leers, Laura seems to be trying herhardest not to giggle and Derek just looks bored.
“So Stiles,” Peter purrs and wow is thatcreepy, “What are your intentions towards my little niece?”
“Peter,” Talia says sharply. Peter shrugswhile Laura bites her lip to keep her giggles under wraps.
“Err… dancing,” Stiles replies, “Also Irecognize that Cora is a rational human being, capable of making her owndecisions and therefore has an equal say in tonight’s activities. Furthermorethe overprotective uncle thing is kind of sexist as it implies that Cora isproperty of the family. Did I say kind of? I meant really sexist. For shamedude.”
Laura bursts with laughter, cacklingmanically at Peter’s mildly shocked expression. The corners of Derek’s lipstwitch into a sort of half smile, which Stiles is counting as a win.
“Where did you find this one Cora?” Lauraasks, wiping away tears from her eyes.
“Funny story,” Cora says, smirking as shetakes Stiles hand.
“Economically speaking,” Finstock barks,“two incomes are better than one. Unless you’re a multi-millionaire or somerich kid loving off Daddy’s trust fund like the leech you are.”
Stiles catches Jackson’s eye and raises aneyebrow. Jackson glares and mouths fuck you when Finstock’s back is turned. Stilesis so bored. He’s run out of space to doodle on his worksheet and Scott is toobusy writing out what he’s going to say to Allison to get her to go to Homecomingwith him so Stiles can’t talk to him. Stiles doesn’t particularly care aboutHomecoming but if he doesn’t get a move on then he’s going to be datelesswithin his group, which would suck major balls. Jackson is of course going withLydia. Erica, Boyd and Isaac have got some kind of threesome arrangement goingon and after today Scott and Allison will probably be going together. Stileshas no qualms about going stag but it’s still a little bit depressing.
“So I’m going to partner you up and you’regoing to be married to your partner,” Finstock barks. He always barks, Stilesis convinced that he doesn’t have the ability to say anything at a reasonablelevel. “Complete the worksheet by the end of class. Stilinski, you partner withHale.”
Stiles looks across the classroom to CoraHale. He’s never spoken to her in his life. Well beyond an acknowledging hello.She’s on the track team and he’s on lacrosse and socially speaking theyrun in the same circles. Attend the sameparties and whatnot. And Stiles vaguely knows the Hale family through Isaacsince they adopted him after the whole debacle with his dickwad of a father soyeah, Stiles knows Cora but they’ve never had a proper conversation. Cora’snatural expression is resting bitch face, something that is both terrifying andawe-inspiring to behold.
“So,” Stiles says, sliding into the seatopposite Cora, “We’re married. I’ll be the first to admit, it seems a bit fast.I mean we barely know each other. I don’t even know whether you like Star Warsand that’s crucial to this whole marriage working if I’m honest.”
“I like Star Wars,” Cora says. Her voice isneutral but the tiny glimmer could be interpreted as amusement.
“That’s good, now we won’t have to file fordivorce. How are we going to raise the children? I mean, I am technicallyJewish even if I haven’t been to a synagogue in like forever but I canunderstand if you would prefer not to raise the children in a religioushousehold.”
Cora snorts.
“In this hypothetical marriage, am Iexpected to be a housewife?”
“Of course not, you’re probably somethingimpressive like a doctor or a lawyer or successful business woman.”
“I want to be an Olympic runner.”
“Fine, I will sacrifice my promising careeras Sheriff of Beacon Hills to look after Luke and Leia,” Stiles saysdramatically, as if this is the greatest hardship of his young life.
“Our children are not going to be calledLuke and Leia,” Cora says, folding her arms and leaning back in her chair.
“Is our love of Star Wars not the onlything keeping this marriage afloat?”
“Love is fleeting, but spite,” Corareplies. She looks like she’s trying to keep from laughing.
“Ah I see,” Stiles says, “I can’t leave youbecause that would make you happy and vise versa.”
“I thought we were staying together becauseof the children?” Cora enquires. She’s smirking now and Stiles will admit, he’sa little bit in love.
“What about when they’ve left for college?”
“Oh then, we’re staying together because ofspite,” Cora replies. They dissolve into giggles.
“Hale, Stilinski, do your damn work!”Finstock shouts across the classroom.
“Our marriage is falling apart Coach,”Stiles replies, wiping away a pretend tear.
“Yeah, we might have to file for divorceand I’m curious to see if alimony is better than two incomes, economicallyspeaking,” Cora says, winking at Stiles.
“The fact that we haven’t had a properconversation before now is a crying shame,” Stiles says, ignoring Finstock’sgrumbles about problem students and drop kicking someone. Cora grins and whilstit has an unusually sharp edge to it like a wolf, Stiles grins in return.
“Do you have a date to homecoming?” Coraasks. Stiles shakes his head.
“Pick me up on Friday at 7,” Corainstructs, “And if you wear a plaid shirt I think my Uncle Peter might kill youso try to look acceptable.”
“Well,” Stiles says, “We have to fix thissham of a marriage somehow, homecoming isn’t a bad start.”
“Oh no, we’re still filing for divorce,” Corareplies, amusement dancing in her tone, “this is just for appearances sake. I’ma famous Olympic runner after all.”
Yeah, Stiles is definitely a little bit in love.
