Isaac is the first one to show up at the loft. Derek can’t say that he’s surprised; Isaac was faster than the other betas at figuring out how to use his senses, and has always been more sensitive to them. It makes sense that he would be the first to feel From inside the loft, Derek can smell his unease, and smiles. A bitten wolf wouldn’t understand what’s happening. But Derek knows, has experienced it before, and is already prepared. He’s been feeling the effects of the upcoming event for last three days. He’s been planning for it for even longer. Erica and Boyd show up together a few hours after Isaac, which isn’t a surprise either. Since graduating high school, the pair have been practically one unit. For Derek, seeing how healthy and strong their relationship is makes something warm and content curl in his belly. They've all grown so much, and watching Erica and Boyd grow together reminds Derek of his parents; Erica has his mother’s fierceness, and Boyd his father’s calm.
As he watches them curl together on the couch, content with what’s to come, Derek thinks that will be the end of it. After all, Jackson followed Lydia out of state to go to college, Scott can still be leary of him even though he’s accepted Derek as his alpha, and the others won’t be able to feel the pull in the same way. It doesn’t bother Derek, not really. He knows that they all have their own lives that they have to live. And it’s not like he asked them all to come together anyway. Heck, he never even really mentioned what was happening and why it should be celebrated. That’s why he’s surprised when Stiles barges into the loft, a pillow clutched under his arm, smile wide as he takes in Derek’s confused expression. Before he can say anything though, Erica is calling out at Stiles for cuddles, and he falls into the pile on the couch with a content sigh. Of course Stiles would know about the event. Of course he would show up for it. Derek doesn’t really know why he was surprised at all. Stiles is always there. Right before dinner, Scott shows up with Allison, looking blissed out and happy to be around everyone. He let’s Derek rub a hand against his neck to scent mark him without complaining, and doesn’t bat an eye when Derek does the same to Allison. Boyd giggles at how content he looks, laughing even harder when Scott tugs him into a hug. Derek is happy that he showed up. The last of the pack make their unexpected appearance right before everyone goes to sleep, turning in early so that they’ll be ready for what’s to come the next day. It’s almost startling, how relaxed Jackson looks, how pleased he is to see everyone piled together in the living room with pillows and sleeping bags. Sure, he has come a long way since joining the pack, but he can still be a little shit sometimes, so the completely content expression on his face is more than a little surreal. Lydia watches him flop down onto the floor with a fond expression, before claiming the couch for herself, jostling Stiles out of his place without batting an eye. Danny and Kira share a laugh at the display before accepting their places on the floor with gratitude, just happy to have a place to rest after their flights back to Beacon Hills.
Derek watches everyone in his pack relax together, waiting until he hears the last heartbeat slow down with sleep before heading out to make the final preparations. Now that the pack is reunited, he wants everything to be perfect. The first time should leave an impression. ----------- “This is impressive, Sourwolf,” Stiles compliments, whistling low at the sight. Along the lake’s edge, chairs are grouped together, coolers are filled. Derek made sure to dig out the fire pit and stock it with wood for when night falls, and together it all makes for a pretty relaxing sight. Knowing that Stiles approves though makes Derek preen, and it’s harder to hide now with the effects of the moon. He shuffles in the sand, suddenly feeling like he's eleven again with his first crush. “I just wanted it to be special for them,” he admits, probably too honest. Stiles cocks his head to one side, studies him closely, then grins. “I should start calling you Sweetwolf instead,” is all he says, stepping out of Derek’s reach with a laugh. “Come on Sweetwolf, we should get everyone ready for the viewing. It’s almost time, right?” Derek closes his eyes and turns his face up towards the sky. The sun remains a hot pressure on his skin, but the pull of the moon drawing ever closer is a steady thrum. He opens his eyes again, and smiles at Stiles. “Yeah. It’s almost time.” When he takes a step to join the rest of the pack though, Stiles remains frozen. “It’s kind of weird,” he admits finally, “seeing all of you like this. I mean, I understand that the solar eclipse is like a major power boost for all of you, but I didn’t expect everyone to be so-.” Stiles trails off, hunting for a word strong enough to encompass the peace exuding from the werewolves. “Soft.” “You don’t get it,” Derek says in response, not in a harsh way. He tries to explain, thinking about what his mother told him so many years ago. “It’s not that we are stronger during the eclipse. We’re just more settled. Our wolves are closer to us, our senses easier to read. Here, imagine pressing your hand against a glass window and having someone press theirs back on the other side; you aren’t really touching them, but you still feel the sensation of their warmth. You don’t even think about what you’re not feeling. In a sense, that’s how we feel on a normal day. The wolf is there, the same as our human selves are, but they are more distinct, separated by a window of sorts.”
Derek looks out over the pack when staring into Stiles’ eyes becomes too much to handle. “During a lunar eclipse, it’s not that we lose power, but more like we’re suddenly trapped alone in a cement room, trying to feel though that. We still have our power, but whereas it’s always felt natural for us, now it feels foreign and impossible to access. During the solar eclipse though, the window it gone.” He gives into the urge to reach out and take Stiles’ hand, watching in fascination as their fingers curl together. “It’s actually feeling complete warmth and contentment without having to work for it. It’s feeling whole and settled and so relaxed. Kind of like how you feel when you get high, so utterly yourself that nothing can get in the way.” Stiles squeezes Derek’s fingers tight, and Derek smiles at him and tugs him forward. They settle into the chairs left for them side by side without letting go of one another, and Derek thinks that holding onto him feels natural too. Later, he’ll admit that to Stiles, still feeling the rush of the eclipse and the warmth of his presence. He’ll share with him how his mother used to plan trips for them nearly every year so that they could experience the solar eclipse, how his pack would travel together all over and join up with other packs doing to same. He’ll listen as Stiles states that planning something like that with their new pack would be a great idea, how he’s always wanted to travel and how it seems like a great way for everyone to bond more. And later, Derek’ll nuzzle his face into Stiles’ neck, agree that they should do it, press a kiss softly into Stiles’ skin and say that they should do it together. But for now, surrounded by a pack full of warmth and love and enough jagged edges to make an interesting puzzle, Derek doesn’t worry about later. Instead, he just tilts his head back, holds onto Stiles a little tighter, and waits for the eclipse.
*****
This was for @sterekwritingroom's flash event in celebration of the solar eclipse
