Leaving Lydia crying in the car had been a hard decision since he wanted to check on her and find out what was actually happening with her—most likely supernatural related since when is it not—but there were more pressing matters at hand, because they needed to find this damn bestiary. What he didn’t expect was for Erica to corner him in Gerard’s office and drag him to the pool area where Derek was waiting.
He really hadn’t meant to see anything at that garage. Stiles tried his best to help the guy from getting crushed by calling 911 but he had been paralyzed! There was nothing more he could’ve done, which sucks. He couldn’t erase the image of the guy dying from his mind either, knowing that will be haunting his nightmares for a while. Although, Stiles couldn’t figure out why his mechanic was a target, or why the creature’s eyes seemed to recognize him. And why did Derek have to drag him into the school pool area to interrogate him about it? He knew his information as a witness was valuable but did he really trust Derek to know all of it too?
Well. Who was he kidding, of course he trusted Derek. Derek knew more about any of this than either him, Scott or Allison.
Even though Scott was actively trying to figure out more if they managed to find the bestiary, Derek’s family probably raised him with knowledge of the supernatural world, and knew more than Scott could even try to find out. Which is why Stiles didn’t hold back the information he had this time.
Frankly, he thought the posturing Derek was doing as a bit unnecessary, and Erica pushing him around wasn’t appreciated.
“Stiles.” Derek walked up with a basketball in his hands.
“Derek,” Stiles said, rubbing the back of his neck where Erica had pinched him.
“What did you see at the mechanic’s garage?” Derek asked bluntly.
Even though he was going to tell him about the creature, he couldn’t let a sarcastic comment escape his mouth for good measure. Derek had to work for it a little more. “Uh…several large EPA violations I’m seriously considering reporting.”
Apparently Derek didn’t take his joking around that lightly, and punctured the basketball with his claws, letting all the air out.
“Holy god.” Stiles muttered.
Derek brought his piercing green eyes back up to Stiles. “Let’s try that again.”
Stiles sighed, “Alright, the thing was pretty slick looking. Skin was dark, kind of patterned. Um, I think I actually saw scales. Is that enough? Okay? ‘Cause I have someone I really need to talk to.”
He knew he needed to talk to Lydia, something was going on with her that he was almost sure had to do with the supernatural, and she was crying about it in the school parking lot! She was pretty when she cried but Stiles didn’t want to have to see it when he could help calm her down. And maybe she would have the answers to what this creature was or at least a lead to get them closer.
Derek gave him a look that Stiles interpreted as keep talking so he tried to remember and run down all of the features he saw. Hopefully Derek would know exactly what he was talking about and they would all have answers.
“Alright, eyes. Eyes are yellowish and slitted. It has a lot of teeth. Oh! And it’s got a tail, too,” He listed. “Are we good?”
The expression on Derek and Erica’s face changed. Derek’s eyebrows furrowed, his face becoming shaded. They were both looking above him with an air of recognition. Hope surged through Stiles that he could finally get answers!
“Wait, have you seen it? You have this look on your faces that you know exactly what I’m talking about!” Stiles exclaimed.
Neither of them answered so he turned around and leapt when he caught sight of the creature right behind him up on the wall. He moved closer to Derek since at least Derek had claws. Which was at least better than his nothing. All he had was his loud sarcastic mouth.
The creature crashed down in front of them, swinging his tail into Erica, flinging her into a wall and knocking her out. Derek growled at the monster and pushed at Stiles’ chest behind him telling him, “Run!” when the creature took the opportunity to swipe at the back of Derek’s neck. Stiles knew immediately the toxin was about to set in and from experience knew this wasn’t going to be fun for Derek. Now he was officially scared for his life if he was going to have to carry himself and Derek out to safety.
“Derek, your neck,” Stiles pointed out.
Derek was already starting to lose his footing so Stiles jumped into action, bringing Derek’s arm over his shoulders and hugging him tightly to his side so they could walk easier. “Alright, c’mon.”
“Where is it? Can you see it?” Trying not to let the panic brew of not being able to see the monster and getting them both out of this situation, Stiles had to ask to be sure it wasn’t close.
“No,” Derek assured. “Just hurry. Call Scott.”
Stiles reached for his phone in his front pocket while trying to keep control of Derek’s body with his. Except he dropped his phone and when he course corrected to grab it, Derek slipped over top of him straight into the pool.
“Stiles, son of a bi-!” Derek exclaimed, splashing into the water.
Stiles flailed for a second trying to think if he should chance calling Scott right now before getting Derek out of the water but ultimately decided that was the worst idea if Derek couldn’t breathe so he dived in to get him.
They both resurfaced gasping for air.
“Where did it go?” Stiles kept his head on a swivel, wanting to see where the creature was hiding. “Did you see it?”
“No.”
“Okay, maybe it took off?” Feeling a sliver of hope that maybe one problem was solved for the night and he could just focus on getting him and Derek out of the water, until they heard a loud bang with a hiss the creature had let out.
“Maybe not,” Derek deadpanned. “Will you get me out of here before I drown?”
Stiles gaped, “You’re worried about drowning? Did you notice the thing out there with multiple rows of razor sharp teeth?”
Derek growled, “Did you notice that I’m paralyzed from the neck down in eight feet of water?”
“Okay.” Stiles conceded, knowing Derek wasn’t thrilled to have his body not respond to what he wanted—which Stiles could relate to! But there were more pressing matters of where the monster actually was. “I don’t see it.”
He paddled them closer to the edge of the pool, hoping he could at least grab his phone to call Scott for help when Derek shouted.
“Wait wait wait. Stop stop.” Derek’s warning made Stiles look around one more time and he saw the creature stalking towards them. It was lingering on the edge, not daring to come any closer but not leaving them out of his sight.
“What’s it waiting for?” Stiles couldn’t help but ask.
The creature crawled closer to the pool where it put its entire hand–claw? into the water before scurrying away.
“Wait, did you see that? I don’t think it can swim!” Stiles exclaimed.
With one problem solved, Stiles resigned himself to keeping both of them afloat. If that thing couldn’t get into the water then he for sure wasn’t going to willingly get out of it.
“So, do you know what it is? Why it can’t come into the water?” Stiles asked.
“No, Stiles. I don’t know why it’s avoiding the water,” Derek groused.
“Come on, big guy. You have to know something. Didn’t you grow up learning about different creatures?” Stiles coaxed.
“No, that was Laura’s job.” Derek gritted out. “Look, maybe it just can’t swim.”
Since Derek was plastered to the front of his chest, Stiles couldn’t tell what Derek’s expression was, but guilt pushed through him that Derek had to bring up Laura. Stiles still felt bad about digging her grave up and giving her body to the police when Derek was trying to give her peaceful rest. He didn’t want to press further about her and Derek’s family if he could avoid it. Besides, he had no idea how long they were going to be in this situation and best not to get Derek more growly and irritated than usual.
“Yeah, maybe.”
Time passed with Stiles holding Derek against his chest, trying to lift them up by floating in the water, but Derek was too heavy and the best Stiles could do was tread water. His muscles were starting to strain, and he tried not to think about how long it had been. To take his mind off his aching limbs, he started talking.
“You know, my mom taught me how to cook. I didn’t know a thing before then. Granted I was like 7, but I still burned everything I tried to make, including grilled cheese sandwiches. My dad always watched her try to teach me, how she corrected my ingredients, and fixed my timings. I thought he was just doing it to be around us, but he memorized the recipes and how she used to make them. The little things she would add in. He payed attention, he retained them even when it wasn’t his job. I know you were younger then, but maybe you remember an offhand comment about what we’re dealing with?”
Derek sighed. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I don’t know how to beat it, and I’m still paralyzed. I’ll be able to fight it off with my pack.”
“Right, because that worked so well for Erica this time.” The sarcasm seeped through his voice.
“She’s not prepared. It takes time getting used to being a werewolf after being bitten. We’ll be better next time,” Derek affirmed.
“Maybe we can all work together next time?” Stiles requested.
“Stiles.”
“I’m just saying. The odds of actually beating this thing seem better with more people going against it. If we all work together instead of keeping secrets from each other then we might have a shot,” Stiles pointed out.
Even though Stiles had hope that Scott knew what he was doing, he couldn’t deny that if Scott conceded to being in Derek’s pack, they could all fight this together instead of only having half the story majority of the time. Whether Scott liked it or not, Derek had the numbers and probably family resources too like Alison’s family. He knew Scott didn’t like Derek turning teenagers for his pack, but they had honestly seemed better off, and Stiles didn’t see as much of a problem with it. Besides, he trusted Derek and his pack more than the Argent’s.
“Keeping secrets? Like how you didn’t tell us Lydia might be immune?” Derek challenged.
“Whoa hey, we don’t know that yet. Nothing’s confirmed, it’s just a theory. There could be lots of different reasons the bite didn’t work. Reasons I could be exploring right now if you hadn’t asked Erica to grab me.” Stiles retorted.
“Yeah well if your dumbass hadn’t reached for your phone that fell, we wouldn’t be stuck in this pool,” Derek snapped.
“No, but we might be dead! Dude, have some respect for the dumbass that’s been holding you up for the past hour. This shit hasn’t been easy,” Stiles protested.
“It’s better than having your body be paralyzed. And don’t call me dude.”
“Noted. But seriously, I’m getting really tired of holding your body up. You might not realize, but I’m still human and holding two people up in the pool is pretty tiring for me. If I can’t take my mind off it, I’ll probably give out a lot sooner.”
“What takes your mind off it then?” Derek questioned. He sounded done with the conversation, but Stiles tried not to let it get to him. He knew they were both tired of being in the pool with no way out.
“Talking.”
“Then talk.”
So Stiles talked. He talked about school, how coach was as crazy as always. How his grades were going down because of all the werewolf stuff, how his dad started worrying about him since he was barely home anymore. He told Derek how worried he was for his jeep since the mechanic was killed in front of him and he didn’t know where else to get it fixed. There was only one mechanic shop in Beacon Hills, where else could he possibly go? He told him how it was his mom’s jeep, and he was scared of it dying. Derek told him the camaro was Laura’s and he was scared of the same thing.
Stiles kept talking about anything that popped into his head. At some point he barely knew what he was saying, his mind going a million miles a minute, and his mouth just spewing whatever was coherent. Derek seemed content just to listen. He responded every now and then but mostly just listened to whatever nonsense was floating out of Stiles’ mouth. He hoped his rambling was helping Derek take his mind off their situation too.
The creature was still crawling along the perimeter of the pool but it had been hours and Stiles was getting bone tired. He was winded from all the talking, and his muscles were weak from non stop treading for what had felt like years at this point. Derek was not a light weight and he had been treading water to keep them both up as long as he could. But he had limits since he was only a puny human and didn’t have the stamina all the wolves around him had. They needed another plan and they needed one fast.
He scanned the edge when his gaze landed on his phone. He had to risk it if they were both going to get out of here alive.
Derek sensed his movements pause and followed his gaze. “No, no, no! Don’t even think about it.” The words were laced with worry, but Stiles was hoping after all they’ve been through Derek would at least know Stiles would do anything to keep him alive.
“Could you just trust me this once?” Stiles was exhausted, his muscles were strained, his bones shaking. He could feel himself getting weaker with every passing moment but he was trying his best! Why couldn’t Derek know he was trying and thinking of everything he could to get them out of this?
Derek didn’t even hesitate before shouting out, “No!”
Stiles couldn’t help the pang of hurt shooting through him that Derek still didn’t trust him. After all they’ve been through, and after all he just revealed to Derek, that rejection hurt more. He trusted Derek at least!
“I’m the one keeping you alive, okay? Have you noticed that?” Trying to convince him that he was at least a little trustworthy by holding him up and not letting him drown seemed like a good argument if any.
“Yeah, and when the paralysis wears off, who’s gonna be able to fight that thing, you or me?”
“That’s why I’ve been holding you up for the past two hours?” Or what Stiles guesstimated to be two hours, honestly he wasn’t sure.
“Yeah. You don’t trust me. I don’t trust you. But you need me to survive which is why you’re not letting me go.”
Stiles let go.
He swam like his life depended on it since it kinda did. He saw the creature perk up in his peripheral, making him pump his arms and legs harder to beat it to his phone. He surged forward, grabbing his phone, and pushing off the edge into the safety of deeper water.
He pressed Scott’s call button and prayed for an answer. He needed to get Derek!
After a couple moments Scott finally answered. “Scott!” Stiles yelled.
“Sorry, can’t talk right now.” Is all the response Stiles got before Scott hung up on him. Stiles gaped at his phone in disbelief. All of that trouble for what?
Stiles dropped his phone in the water, diving under to grab Derek.
Derek’s eyes were closed, his body unnaturally still sitting at the bottom of the pool. Stiles swam up to him, patting his cheek to make sure he’s alive but Derek wasn’t opening his eyes.
Stiles had air that he was holding but Derek’s mouth was starting to open, bubbles of air slipping out. Stiles made the split second decision to kiss Derek, pulling him in by grabbing his shirt. Breathing into his mouth and hoping that Derek’s lungs were filling with enough air to make it to the surface.
He gathered Derek in his arms and pushed off the bottom of the pool, bursting at the top. He took mouthfuls of air, his gaze turning to Derek, who was looking right back at him breathing hard. Stiles could feel Derek’s chest rising and falling under his hand, the pounding of his heartbeat becoming more prominent the longer they stared at each other.
It was criminal how sinful Derek looked being this close to death.
“Tell me you got him.” Derek’s voice came out raspy and a little hopeful. Stiles just groaned, not wanting to crush his hopes.
They were out of options. Stiles could feel himself sinking and with him came Derek. If they went under, he would give the last of his air to Derek, but he knew that wouldn’t last long for either of them.
“I can’t stay up any longer, I need something to hold onto,” Stiles grunted.
He searched their surroundings again, wishing for something useful to stick out. Stiles zeroed in on the diving board. That should work!
Using the last of his strength, Stiles swam towards the edge of the pool, pulling Derek with him. Stiles was gasping, trying to get as many lungfuls of air before they both inevitably went under. He reached up with his hand to grasp the handle under the board but slipped and they both fell under the water. He saw Derek drift towards the bottom, Stiles not far after. He kept his grip on Derek’s arm, not wanting to be apart. If Derek was the last thing he saw before he died, he’s not too disappointed about it. Derek was nice to look at, even when he was dying. Derek’s eyes were open this time, unwavering from Stiles. Stiles didn’t want to look away either, trying to convey in his expression how sorry he was that he couldn’t save them in time.
The edges of his vision began to blur, Derek becoming more and more of a shadow before his eyes slipped closed. The grip he had on Derek loosened until he felt himself floating untethered in the vastness of water. His chest was beginning to burn, begging for his mouth to open and welcome sweet death. At least he would get to see his mom again.
He felt hands on his face but he didn’t have the energy to open his eyes. He barely had the energy to do anything but open his mouth to let the water rush in. As soon as he opened his mouth a sliver, he felt lips cover his own, and his lungs fill with air once more. His eyes flew open and he saw Derek pulling away, giving him one last squeeze on Stiles’ arm before closing his eyes. Stiles started to panic, he didn’t want Derek to die! He didn’t want to die either! But what could he do? He tried to save them and failed. And Derek just used the last of his breath to save Stiles. But they were both going to die anyway. Hopefully Derek was going to be reunited with his family and Stiles would be reunited with his mom. That was the only solace he could offer himself to not think about how hard his dad would take this.
Out of nowhere, he felt someone grabbing the back of his jacket, pulling him and Derek out of the water to solid ground.
Stiles sputtered, coughing and breathing deep. He looked over to Derek on the floor, unmoving. “Derek.” Stiles uttered. He crawled toward him, pushing himself up on his chest, and trying to start cpr.
He quickly realized he did not have the energy for that, and tried to push down as hard as he could on Derek’s chest, hoping that was enough. Derek woke with a start, coughing up water and taking rasping deep breaths. Stiles exhaled in relief before collapsing on the ground, officially having used all of his strength.
Stiles heard Scott’s roar, and him fighting the creature more than saw it. When Stiles heard the fighting pause, he tried to look over to see what was happening, but his limbs were still jelly and not cooperating.
Apparently, Derek’s paralysis had finally weakened, and he was able to lift the top of his body up, bringing Stiles with him so they both watched as the monster paused, seemingly confused by the glass in Scott’s hand. Stiles didn’t understand what was going on, his brain not fully functioning after his taxing experience in the pool. The creature jumped out of the window, breaking more glass while Scott looked over at the sight Stiles and Derek must have made leaning against each other at the edge of the pool.
Scott came over to help them up. Stiles was wobbling from his muscles giving out so Derek wrapped an arm around him, supporting him in the same way Stiles just spent hours doing.
“If you guys want to dry off, I’ll wait for you outside. I want to start looking through the bestiary we found from Gerard’s keys,” Scott stated.
“Sure Scotty, I’ll meet you out there,” Stiles affirmed.
Derek led them to the locker room, sat Stiles down on a bench and immediately started stripping.
Stiles flailed, covering his eyes and looking away. “Woah dude, take me to dinner first or something.”
Derek raised an eyebrow before his gaze landed pointedly towards the mini dryers for swimsuits. Right. That makes a lot more sense.
Stiles took his jacket off, but decided to wait for Derek to be done before stripping the rest of his clothes. Not wanting Derek to see all of his skinny, pale, undefined body.
“You should take your clothes off. You’re freezing and still wet. It’ll help,” Derek said.
“Um, I think I’ll just wait for you to be done.”
Derek shrugged, “You can go first if you want. I’ll get us some towels.”
Derek left the locker room presumably to find some towels so Stiles started to strip, plopping his wet clothes in the mini dryer, and pushing down on the lid, well, more like laying over it since he really didn’t have the energy to do more than that.
Derek came back in and paused gazing at Stiles, his eyes moving up and down his body. The thrust a towel towards Stiles. “Here. You should use this.”
“Thanks, sourwolf.”
After patting his body dry, he rustled his hair in the towel and put the towel down still waiting for his clothes to be done. Derek shuffled his feet, looking uneasy but still so attractive. Seriously, it was unfair how he always looked so good. Even after a near death experience, he looked godly with his flushed cheeks, dark eyebrows, green eyes lighting up Stiles’ insides, chiseled jaw, toned chest, muscles that made Stiles feel things, and soft hair Stiles wanted to run his fingers through. God, what was Derek doing to him? Last he checked he hated the guy, and was still half in love with Lydia. Maybe having a near death experience himself with Derek changed things.
“I’m sorry I kissed you.”
The expression on Stiles’ face must have revealed how baffled he felt because Derek continued, clarifying, “Under the water, to get you some more air. You did it to me so I assumed it was okay, but I don’t want to assume so I’m sorry, if it wasn’t.”
“That was a lot of words, big guy. You sure you’re okay? I don’t mind you did it. If anything, I’m glad you did since I would’ve definitely passed out. I’m sorry I did that too. I just wanted to make sure you were still alive and had enough air to make it since I left you under there for so long. I’m sorry I dropped you and left you down there for nothing.” The longer Stiles talked, the more his shoulders sagged, feeling the weight of his guilt push him down for doing that to Derek. He should’ve come up with a better plan for both of them.
“It’s okay Stiles. You did what you had to do for both of us to make it. I’m grateful for that. We wouldn’t have made it if not for you.” Derek reached out to squeeze his shoulder, the warmth of Derek’s hand causing him to shudder. Stiles couldn’t look away from the trap Derek’s eyes pulled him into. He jumped when the buzzer from the dryer suddenly rang out.
He stepped away from Derek to retrieve his clothes, already missing the bit of warmth from Derek that the clothes couldn’t replicate. He pulled his clothes on regardless, sighing with relief at finally being dry. His fingertips were still pruny but Stiles thought it would take a while before they were back to normal.
Derek had finished putting his clothes into the mini dryer when Stiles gave him a salute, “I’ll see you out there sourwolf. Check on Erica for me please, big guy.”
Joining Scott outside, they scrolled through the bestiary not getting very far when they noticed everything was written in Latin and made no sense to them.
Frustration bleeding through, Scott grumbled. “How’re we supposed to figure out what this thing is?”
“It’s called the Kanima.” Derek strolled up with Erica in tow. Stiles was relieved to see Erica up and walking, seemingly fine, but contempt leaked through to hear Derek knew exactly what the creature was called.
“You knew the whole time?” Stiles accused.
“No. Only when it was confused by its own reflection,” Derek explained. Alright, that made sense, but Derek could’ve at least mentioned it in the locker room when they were together. He guessed he wasn’t as important to know as Scott. That would explain why Derek was barely looking at him and only addressing Scott about the “Kanima” too.
“It doesn’t know what it is,” Scott replied.
“Or who,” Derek said.
“What else do you know?” Stiles tried not to let his disappointment show that Derek hadn’t revealed any of this to him by covering it with sarcasm but he doesn’t think he did a very good job.
“Just stories. Rumors.” Derek shifted his eyes away from Stiles’, dropping his head.
So Stiles was right in that he must’ve heard things from his family about different creatures, and apparently this was one of them.
“But it’s like us?” Scott questioned.
“A shapeshifter yes, but it’s not right. It’s like a…” Derek seemed to be searching for the right word.
“An abomination,” Stiles declared.
Derek stared at him with eyes open and tender. Stiles wasn’t sure what to make of the expression, but he knew he definitely wanted to see it more, Derek looked so honest and hopeful, and had never looked more beautiful to Stiles. Derek nodded to confirm with Stiles that’s exactly what this Kanima was.
Derek turned his gaze away, about to leave with Erica when Scott shouted.
“Derek! We need to work together on this. Maybe even tell the Argents.”
Stiles thought Scott had a point since he told Derek the exact same thing—that they needed to work together too—but he didn’t think they should tell the Argents. When Scott mentioned them, Stiles knew the chances of all working together were dwindling the more Scott continued to defend the hunter family.
“You trust them?” Derek challenged.
“Nobody trusts anyone. That’s the problem! While we’re here arguing about who’s on what side, there’s something scarier, stronger, and faster than any of us, and it’s killing people! And we still don’t know anything about it!” Scott ranted. His voice growing louder the more his frustration rang out.
“I know one thing. When I find it, I’m going to kill it,” Derek countered walking away from them with Erica trailing behind.
Stiles sighed, not able to shake the feeling that unraveling this Kanima mystery was about to get a lot more complicated if Derek and Scott couldn’t work together. Though watching Derek walk away from him made his chest hurt a little more with each step he took.
**
I took some liberties with the pool scene from season 2, and added a few of my own dialogue and scenes and I hope they blended well with the og scene haha
I also extended how long Stiles and Derek were left underwater before Scott was able to save them so Derek could return the favor of saving Stiles and make it more of a near death situation, I hope it turned out okay!
okay listen I think there’s a crucial part of what’s going on for Eddie that we aren’t talking about:
his best friend, the guy he’s been codependently raising a child with for years, HIS GUY, came out as bisexual. BUT NOT FOR EDDIE. For a totally different guy! The implication being that Buck could have always found Eddie attractive. But … he didn’t. Buck did not and does not want to fuck Eddie. Which is actually devastating for him to think about.
Eddie has therefore been walking around for two seasons getting more and more depressed that Buck clearly doesn’t want to have sex with him, even though he likes having sex with men. He even picks up random guys at bars! But he won’t pick up Eddie! So, obviously, the problem is that Eddie isn’t sexy enough.
As we have moved through seasons 8 and 9 we have seen Eddie dressing more and more slutty, removing more and more of his clothes around Buck, doing his goddamn best to look Very Sexy, and yet somehow! somehow! he is Still Not Hot Enough for Buck.
MEANWHILE BUCK is in fucking TORMENTS because his straight friend is looking SO HOT, but because he’s straight he’s off limits for sex. I cannot wait until Buck realizes that Eddie IS queer, thus meaning that he could always have been having sex with Buck, and concludes that this means Eddie doesn’t want to fuck him.
They’re both going to be moping around in season 10 so so so sadly because they aren’t sexy for their hot sexy bestboyfriend, even though he is queer and single and available in every way, and I. CANNOT. WAIT.
So I have this theory that when Stiles was a baby, Hales used to babysit him. Because the Hales were clearly some of the very influential families in Beacon Hills, and the sheriff being an officer, they must clearly know each other (at least in my head they are)
Of course, Stiles doesn't remember it because he was like one year old. But Derek remembers, so does Peter. But neither of them ever mentions anything because of the whole drama that is happening in the town.
But finally, things have calmed down. Everyone has graduated, and Hale House has been renovated. Peter is sane and forgiven, and everyone is having a pack night, and somehow the conversation is about how much of troublemakers they were as kids, and suddenly everyone wants to know what kind of a baby Derek was. Of course, Derek refuses and threatens everyone with his eyebrows and then leaves the room, so they turn to Peter. And Peter is like, 'Oh, he was such a big crybaby and mama's boy.' and everyone is like 'NO WAYYYY.' Then Peter proceeds to tell stories of baby Derek, who would cry while watching Bambi and wouldn't let anyone change the channel. Everyone laughs at that, and then Peter looks at Stiles and says, 'That was why he used to call you his Bambi and carry you around all the time, never letting anyone else hold you.' The room fell silent after that, everyone confused and surprised, wondering what the hell Peter was talking about. "Oh, you probably don't remember, but we used to babysit you," and everyone is like 'No, you're just trying to pull our leg' and boos him. But Peter is like, 'No, we really did, Talia was close with your mother, so she dropped you here sometimes.' when stiles still denied it Peter went and came back with an album saying he has proof.
And among the very few photos they managed to save was a photo of eight-year-old Derek sitting on a couch holding baby stiles. Derek had this full-tooth smile, and Stiles was in this adorable brown onesie, nibbling on a wolf plushie's ear as they both looked at the camera.
Everyone is so surprised to see the photo, especially Stiles, who has no recollection of it. But he remembers that plushie, which he still has. Peter went on to say that Stiles liked Derek the most and would only calm down when in Derek's arms. How Derek will fight with Laura whenever Laura says it's her turn to watch over Stiles, and how that plushie was Derek's favorite and he only shared it with Stiles, and how he didn't even let Cora, his own baby sister, touch it.
Then Derek walks into the room, and everyone bombards him with questions and the photo. Derek chases Peter around the house for telling them all this. But Stiles is a bit silent, trying to digest what he heard. When he goes back home, he digs out that plushie. Then he asks his dad about whether they knew Hales, and Dad tells him how close they were and how much they supported Stillinski's when Claudia fell sick, and how devastated he was when they died.
This kind of changes how Stiles used to look at Derek. He brings the plushie to Derek and asks whether he wants it back. But Derek is like no, he gave it to Stiles because he wanted him to have it. And upon Stiles' prodding, share some of the childhood memories.
In my head, this will bring them closer, and it is one of the reasons Derek always had such a high tolerance for Stiles' antics and protected him all the time.
A young woman, Natasha, he thinks, she's fairly new to the scene and tends not to get called on because she isn't pushy like the others, raises her hand. When Eddie jerks his chin at her, she sits forward, "Mister Diaz. Eddie. That was unlike any fight, I think, any of us has ever seen. Do you have any comments about the way it turned out?"
"I think the decision was made by the referees, at the end," Eddie shrugs with faux carelessness. "Who am I to argue with that?"
Natasha purses her lips. "That's not what I meant," she calls out, loudly.
With a bland glance in her direction, Eddie says, almost mockingly, "then what did you mean?"
Her glaze flicks around the room, there's a tension between the ten or twelve of them, and Natasha flicks her blonde hair over her shoulder. "I mean, Mister Diaz," Natasha's voice hardens as she leans even further forward, putting her cleavage on display, "did you throw the match?"
Being called out like this, immediately after the fight has Eddie's face falling, he clenches his jaw.
***
Buck and Eddie are MMA fighters who broke up and still meet for the Championship bout.
Just sitting here thinking about Buck trying to get Theo into sports or something so that he can find an outlet for his endless energy. So Buck shows him a bunch of different pamphlets for sports at the rec department: soccer, tee ball, basketball, etc. To no one’s surprise, Theo seems fascinated by basketball.
Of course, it’s basketball. Buck hates basketball, but if Theo wants to try it then he’ll do whatever that kid wants. When he goes to sign Theo up for the sport, they say they’ll have to add him to a waiting list. The reason? They don’t currently have enough parent volunteers to coach another 4-5 basketball team.
Buck knows nothing about basketball. Literally nothing - not that this seriously matters because it’s 4-5 year olds - but he can’t just let them not have a team that Theo and can play on. So what does he do? He tells the rec he’s got a perfect volunteer to coach and signs Eddie up.
After doing so, Buck is a little worried that Eddie is going to be mad that he signed him up for this without asking so he makes a big dinner, gets his truck washed, buys his favorite beer at the store, and goes across down for Eddie’s favorite desert. But it turns out he didn’t need to do all that because Eddie’s not even remotely mad. He’s thrilled, telling Buck, “Theo wants to play basketball? Are you kidding? This is perfect! Finally there’s a Buckley that wants to play basketball with me!”
He shows up to their next shift with a pair of basketball court shoes and a tiny LA Lakers jersey for Theo. As well as a dry-erase clipboard with the basketball court outlined on it and markers because he’s planning on making practice plans during their down time. The rest of the 118 are so confused as to why Eddie is the one coaching this team and not Buck, and keep sharing so many funny looks. But Buck can’t stop smiling because Eddie is just so excited.
When the first practice rolls around Eddie picks up Theo to take him to the gym while Buck goes to pick up Chris from some after school thing and bring the post-practice snacks for the kids because Eddie might be the coach, but Buck is the official snack dad. When Chris and Buck show up at the gym they stake seat on the bleachers with the other parents waiting for practice to end and watch. It’s a little chaotic because they’re 4 year old boys, but Eddie is so good with kids that they’re latching on to every word he says. Are the kids any good? Not in the slightest, but they’re trying their best and Eddie is beaming the whole time.
One of the mom’s comes and sits next to them, introduces herself and asks, “Which one is yours?” When he points out Theo, she says, “Oh, Theo? That means you must be Coach Eddie’s husband. God, you really know how to pick him. That man’s a miracle worker. You’re so lucky.” Buck nearly chokes, but before he can correct her, Chris pipes up beside him with a smirk replying loud enough for her to hear, “Yeah, Buck. We’re so lucky you’ve got a husband like dad.” Buck glares at him because now all the team parents are going to think he and Eddie are actually married, but Chris just gives him a shit-earring grin before going back to scrolling on his phone.
When they take turns practicing shooting at the end the only one to make a basket is Theo and everyone is so excited. The other kids cheer for him, but the first thing he does is go rushing over to Eddie who scoops him up in a big hug as Theo giggles with excitement over his basket, talking a mile a minute by giving him a replay of the shot as if Eddie hadn’t just witnessed it. Eddie just listens intently, nodding along grinning widely as he reacts to Theo’s retelling. Buck physically can’t stop the way his chest cracks in half at seeing the two of them together. Beside him Chris sighs and says, “Those heart eyes you’re wearing right now? That’s why people think you’re married.”
Buck scoffs, “I do not look at your dad with heart eyes.”
“Buck, you’ve looked at my dad with heart eyes every single day since I was seven. I know what it looks like. It’s seared into my brain.”
Buck doesn’t have time to think about Chris’s comment because Eddie calls for practice to end. After a quick chat and a team chant, Eddie directs the kids over to Buck and Chris to get snacks. In the chaos of Buck and Chris handing out snacks he doesn’t realize at first that Theo hasn’t joined them. Not until he’s got two extra snack baggie and juice boxes (one labeled with Spider-Man and the other Coach Eddie). When he looks up he sees Theo still running around on the court giggling wildly, carrying the basketball as Eddie chases him around. Eventually Eddie scoops up the 4-year-old and lifts him up to basket and lets Theo dunk. With a cheer, Theo kicks his legs for Eddie to let him down to he can get the ball and they can do it again.
That feeling comes back as he watches them this time, only for Chris to elbow him and tease, “You’re doing it again.”
Buck thinks in that moment… okay, yeah. Maybe I am… and maybe… maybe Maddie was right. It wouldn’t be so crazy…
when buddie have their first kiss and then mid makeout buck has a freaking out moment and his eyes fly open like holy shit I'm kissing eddie and eddie is kissing me back but eddie just keeps on kissing him and, eyes still closed, murmurs "you're freaking out stop freaking out" against his lips while his hand is in buck's curls and he's pulling him closer and it's eddie it's always been eddie so, really, what is there to freak out about
Stiles and Derek get in a (non serious and completely petty) fight and Derek walks away, and Stiles is like “hang on a minute!” And for a second Derek thinks he might get a concession or an apology or something, but Stiles is just like “can you walk away slower? I’m trying to enjoy the view” and gestures vaguely at his ass
Au where everything is the same but, pre-canon, during one of his trips, Buck finds a saint Christopher necklace in a flea market and, learning what it means, buys it.
It brings a weird comfort, that necklace.
Patron saint of travelers
Of children leaving home.
Someone looking out for him. That knowledge makes him feel less alone.
And then, years later, he meets Eddie Diaz. Who bears the same necklace.
He meets Christopher.
-
Fan fact: Saint Christopher is also the patron of surfers (which buck was), and protects against bad weather, storms, accidents, and sudden death.
mainly watching for buddie but fell in love with all the characters ep 1
episode 1
Buck and Eddie are ALREADY SO INSANE ABOUT EACH OTHER?! what do you mean Eddie’s intro is to “what a man🎶” !! Buck hating Eddie for exactly one shift is so hilarious to me, he folded IMMEDIATELY, love all the characters rn
episode 2/3
crazy plot lines but I love already, not too big a fan of all the cop storylines but love Angela Basset so I’m not too mad about it. also Buck reassuring Eddie about Chris is so sweet, and Buck witnessing their reunion! literally family since day one
episode 4
ahhh Eddie and Chris to ‘milagros’, my HEART! what a perfect intro. Buck being the only one to go with Eddie to the hospital when he thought it was about Chris…👀 bringing Chris to the station, that whole montage was amazing! Buck really going the extra mile for Eddie by reaching out to Carla and getting him and Christopher help, like okay stepdad 🫡 and Maddie did I hear you say “boy crush”?!?!!!! reading Buck for filth, I love it
episode 6
might be bad to say but I wish we saw more of their high on LSD and I kinda wish they would do it again 🫣
episode 8
I’m living for the Maddie and Chimney storyline, I love them
episode 9
so glad to have gotten Hen’s background, her and Chimney (the actual platonic soulmates) are so nice to watch, but omg I hate Gerard with a PASSION! why did they decide to bring this guy back, wtf?! in love with Hen standing her ground, that’s my girl fr
episode 10
why do I have a feeling Eddie bringing Shannon back into their lives is gonna go poorly…I mean it already is if Eddie had to hide his son’s mother from him. Buck just accepting the “you guy’s have an adorable son”, likeee I’m convinced Buck is in love at this point and only dating around again bc Eddie got back with his wife, so he indulges in the fantasy a little bit
episode 11
I just kept getting more and more scared for Maddie, loved that she finally asked Chimney out but couldn’t really enjoy it
episode 12
OMG, Chimney being stabbed and Maddie getting kidnapped is crazy, I’m so glad I didn’t watch this when it was coming out bc I would have fully thought they were killing Chimney off after giving us his backstory in this context. I knew Kevin was going to die since we never saw him before but it hit so hard. I hate Tommy and I’m not sorry, glad the paramedic guy gave him a chance but why do we still not know why he’s called Chimney instead of Howie??
episode 13
what. an. episode. holy shit, they hit the ground running and kept going. thank god Doug is dead and I’m so sorry for but so proud of Maddie. at Buck and Maddie reunion I was sobbing
episode 14
I did not appreciate Michael talking to Bobby like that tbh. like I get being upset by what Harry said, but taking it out on Bobby is a choice, glad he apologized tho. making me wait for Maddie and Chimney is the worst
episode 15
not them suspending Bobby!!
episode 16/17
I love the Eddie centric eps, I felt so sad for him after Shannon, poor baby couldn’t even cry until he was alone on the beach, my heart was breakingg, also love Hen and Chimney’s friendship so much
episode 18
loved the whole thing! crazy plot with the son of arson being a bomber, and Buck being trapped under the fire truck. kinda weird Eddie wasn’t grieving at all but love him becoming a firefighter!and Bobby and Athena wedding!! in love with them
***
seriously how was s2 SO good!! all I really have to say about s1 is that I didn’t like Abby at all and didn’t like how she went after Buck since she’s older and was the one to initiate it all, and that everyone was okay with it! just felt weird but the rest of s1 was pretty good, I enjoyed all of the other character arcs (except for Hen cheating bc wtf was that!!)
I will die on the hill that the first time Derek and Stiles kissed, Derek only did it to shut Stiles up.
They were doing research for whatever crazy thing was happening around town that week and Stiles had been ranting and rehashing the same points for at least two hours straight at that point and Derek couldn’t take it anymore.
So he did the only thing he could think of that he hasn’t tried already. Derek just didn’t expect Stiles to kiss him back so enthusiastically. It was only supposed to be a quick press of lips but there’s no going back now.
Stiles feels too good press against him and his scent has taken on that warm spicy smell that’s Derek’s only smelled through Stiles window late at night. Now that he’s gotten a taste of it up close, he doesn’t know if he can live without it.
can someone agree with me that is is entirely Derek hiding in some back room of a wedding because it’s boring, getting high with his friends cause there’s shit else to do.
all his friends leaving him to go hunt for appetizers or hors d’oeuvres. getting caught by Stiles who sheepishly admits he’s also bored, pointing at the blunt between derek’s fingers and asking if he plans to finish it alone.
without comment, Derek raises it up to Stiles for him to take, watching this beautiful guy take a long pull before slumping against a chair across from him and passing the blunt back.
just strangers smoking in somewhat comfortable silence but it of course leads to them making out until Talia busts through, tsking them both and dragging them both back out to the party happening in the courtyard. 
the two of them giggling over cornish hens and stuffed bites, eyes barely open as someone gives a speech about soul mates, sneaking back around a garden to finish making out until they get caught again by another relative that scoffs and rolls their eyes.
"You'd make it all about you. The trials and tribulations of Evan Buckley. A tragedy in 97 acts" so that sentence definitely keeps Eddie up at night especially after Buck not coming to him about struggling with withdraw and addiction (we know he tried to but does Eddie?) Eddie knows he said that because of grief but do we think he watched Buck struggle and wished he'd never said it prayed over the idea that he could go back in time and maybe Buck would've come to him sooner before it got this bad maybe stopped it all together. Does he think of all the ways it could've gone differently a world where Buck didn't tell anyone in fear of making it about him again and ended up overdosing alone in his house. Maybe that's why Eddie was so insistent on Buck going to therapy in the first place because he can't stop thinking about Buck not getting help because he's afraid of bothering others.
Danny and Jackson are the only ones in the pack who immediately clock that Derek Hale isn’t straight. Everyone else sees this testosterone bomb of a manly man, while they see a guy who wears extremely tight-fitting jeans, buys expensive hair gel, and waxes.
Stiles is moping because he thinks he’s crushing on the straightest guy on the planet, and when Danny and Jackson find out, they're like, “Stilinski, are you blind? And also deaf? Because Derek just spent the past fifteen minutes talking about his favorite gay club in New York.”
Stiles still doesn’t believe them, he’s like “Yeah, but what if he just hung out there? As like...an ally?”
Danny and Jackson decide that Stiles is an idiot, and then decide to just ask Derek.
“So, Derek," Danny says. "You’re not straight, right?”
Derek snorts. “Me? No. I thought that was pretty obvious.”
Stiles comes crashing in from another room like “Wait, you’re not??”
Derek actually looks a little offended. "What?"
Stiles shrugs, and half jokingly says “So, that means that technically, hypothetically, if I hit on you, you wouldn’t be disgusted?”
Which of course—because Derek is Derek—earns him a smirk. “I said I’m not straight. I didn’t say I don’t have standards.”
“Oh, that’s dangerous territory for you, buddy. Are you sure you wanna go there?” Stiles says, eyes narrowing.
Derek visibly cringes. Yeah. No. He doesn’t.
“What, are you gonna hit on me?” he asks instead.
“I would,” Stiles says. “But apparently you have standards now. I mean, I think I'm a step up from an evil, dark druid, but who knows.”
Danny rolls his eyes, because this is getting painful to watch. “How about you actually try flirting with him, Stiles? Say something nice for once instead of being a dick.”
“He was being a dick first!”
“Okay, well. Go and be dicks together then. Or ride each other’s. I don’t care.”
Jackson finds that hilarious, but Stiles ignores them. He looks at Derek, who, thankfully, doesn't look like he's going to murder him, despite the fact that Stiles totally just went there. He actually looks kind of amused. Aiming for casual, but feeling weirdly vulnerable, Stiles tries his luck. “Um, so…do you maybe want—I mean. We could—would you like…dinner?” he stutters.
There’s a small smile on Derek’s lips, and he still looks like he wants to say something kind of mean, the bastard. Instead he steps closer. Stiles feels his heart start to race as Derek leans in, hot breath against Stiles' ear, making him shudder.
“Sure.”
Stiles flushes hard as Derek pulls back, looking smug as all hell. And also very hot. Goddammit.
Behind them, Danny and Jackson are losing it.
Stiles grabs Derek's hand and starts dragging him away, flipping them off with the other. “See ya, dickbags. I have a date with a hot guy who has terrible taste and no standards whatsoever. I win. You lose. Buh-bye.”
Later, both Danny and Jackson might feel a little bit of regret for not hitting on Derek first, when Stiles comes back, bragging about how Derek isn’t just into guys—he’s also got a lot of experience with them.
“Like, you guys should have seen what he did with his tongue, it was awesome. I didn’t even know that was a thing—”
“Okay, Stilinski. We get it,” Danny cuts in. “You hit the jackpot. Jesus.”
