of principal visits and soft nights
rated t | 3.5k | ao3
for @sterekbingo, prompt: mistaken for a couple
**
The phone wouldn’t stop ringing. The sound pierced his ears with a shrill. Couldn’t he have one moment of peace? Damn. Stiles groaned, the sound already giving him a headache while searching for his phone in the pile of blankets. He blinked blearily at the screen, saw ‘Derek’ flash across it, and promptly shot straight up in bed.
He answered quickly. “Derek? What’s going on?”
He heard a sigh on the other end of the phone, and Stiles couldn’t tell whether it was agitated or worried. “Eli’s in the principle’s office. Some kid was making fun of his clothes, and he retaliated. I’m tied up at work, and they won’t let me leave, even though this should qualify as an emergency.” Derek lifted the volume of his voice pointedly, like he was trying to get his boss to hear. He lowered it when acknowledging Stiles. “Can you do me a favor and get him? I can try to come later, but if someone could be with him while he talks to the principal talking to the principal, I would really appreciate it.”
Derek sounded tense. Stiles didn’t even have to think before agreeing. “Of course, Derek. I would do anything for that kid, you know that.” He didn’t mention the and for you too floating around in his head.
“Thanks, Stiles.” He heard Derek exhale, relief coating his voice. “I’ll come as soon as they let me.”
“Don’t worry about it. I got it covered,” Stiles promised.
As soon as the call ended, Stiles threw on some clothes and raced to the school. While Eli hadn’t shown signs of shifting yet, the stress of this incident was sure to affect him. Stiles hoped it didn’t make him shift in any way accidentally for the first time.
After parking a little too hazardously for a school parking lot, he pressed the intercom button at the front door, hearing the locks click open before pushing into the lobby.
He approached the lady at the front desk. “Hi, I’m here to talk to the principal about Eli Hale. I heard he got into some trouble with another student. I’m Stiles Stilinski.”
“Yes, Mr. Stilinski. He’s in the principal’s office,” she gestured to the door, “The other student and his parents are already there. I will let you in.”
She opened the door for him, ushering him into the office. He tried not to be annoyed with the fact that Eli was stuck in the office with the principal and the other student’s parents without an adult to defend him. But he was here now, and he would defend Eli with all he had.
After laying eyes on Eli who still had very human features, thank god, he leaned over, brushing his hand across the back of his neck to scent him, and gripped Eli’s shoulder when sitting down next to him. He could see some of the tension ease out of the boy, and he felt comforted himself after seeing Eli physically okay.
He turned to the principal, not acknowledging the other student or his parent’s yet. “What happened?”
She regarded him for a second. “Well, Mr. Hale, Chad and Eli had a bit of a scuffle. As I understand it, Chad was making fun of Eli’s choice of clothes. His flannels specifically. I believe the phrase, ‘You look like a sissy’ was said. And then Eli tackled Chad, and they had to be separated. We are discussing potential consequences now.”
A familiar flash of anger arose in Stiles at that phrase. He wanted to express his disgust and disapproval by shooting Chad’s parents a dirty look, but he reluctantly kept his composure, restraining himself from breaking eye contact with the principal.
“Well, I personally don’t think Eli did anything wrong since he defended himself against being called that. And it’s Mr. Stilinski, Mr. Hale called me to come get Eli.”
Chad’s dad scoffed, sneering, “He deserves some kind of punishment for hurting my boy. Chad didn’t physically hurt Eli, but Eli came after him.”
“Yeah, after what your son said. Words matter and what your son said wasn’t okay. And I rather take offense to it since I’m wearing a flannel too.” Stiles smiled sharply at the man.
The principal chimed in again. “My apologies, Mr. Stilinski. I just assumed. Now, while both boys were in the wrong, I think what was said should be deemed the primary offense since the boys are physically fine.”
“Unbelievable.” Chad’s dad uttered, probably meant to be said under his breath, but was still heard by everyone.
The principal adjusted towards Chad and his parents, poised and in a professional tone, she stated, “Mr. and Mrs. Raider, we do have a no bullying policy at this school, and your son would be best to remember it. This is not the first incident we’ve had with harmful language, so your son will be sent to detention this week and to in-school suspension this Friday. As for Eli, this is only the first time he’s been sent here, but he was physical first so he will have detention with another teacher tomorrow. Both of you will be sent home for the rest of the day, today. Any questions?”
Stiles had to hand it to this principal, he thought it was fair. She really had a no nonsense essence about her, and Stiles could respect it. Just then, the door opened and Derek came striding in.
“I’m sorry I’m late, work held me up, what happened?”
Stiles smiled at Derek comfortingly above Eli’s head. Derek dropped into the seat on the other side of Eli, immediately scenting him like Stiles did, and putting his arm around Eli. Stiles laid a comforting hand on Derek’s upper arm, squeezing reassuringly.
Chad’s dad rolled his eyes. “Can we go now?”
“Yes, you are dismissed. I’ll catch Mr. Hale up.”
Each of the raiders left until it was just Stiles, Eli, Derek and the principal. She looked to Derek, filling him in on the consequences they decided on.
Derek tutted at Eli. “Eli, why did you tackle Chad?” Derek asked softly.
Sometimes Stiles had a hard time believing that this Derek was the same one that used to push him into walls so many years ago. This Derek was so soft with Eli, it felt hard to watch sometimes. Like he was seeing a side to Derek he maybe shouldn’t be allowed to.
“He was making fun of my flannel! And I love my flannel because Stiles wears flannel too. It looks cool, and Chad was being mean.” Eli pouted, crossing his arms.
“Aw, I appreciate the acknowledgment with the flannel, because you’re right they totally look cool.” Stiles winked at the young boy. “But one person stooping as low as making fun of you, it doesn’t mean you should resort to violence. Only if the other person starts it and you need to protect yourself. Especially when you’re still growing and don’t know your strength yet.” Stiles stated.
“Stiles is right, Eli.”
Did he hear that right? Did Derek just say he was right? In front of his son? Past Derek could never!
“We don’t want to cause more trouble than we need to. I’m sorry he was making fun of your shirt though, and that he called you a mean word. It was wrong of him, too,” Derek said.
Stiles leaned over toward Eli, stage whispering, “Why don’t we go get some ice cream? Take the edge off this stressful day.”
Eli giggled next to him, yelping, “Yes!”
They all stood up, Derek holding Eli’s hand in his, making their way out of the office. Stiles lingered, making sure he grabbed Eli’s backpack and that they had everything they came with.
The principal cleared her throat, and smiled softly at him, “You guys have an adorable son. I know it’s hard being a step parent, especially in the beginning, but you’re doing great. He really likes you.”
She said it so earnestly, how could Stiles burst her bubble? And his if he was being honest with himself.
“Oh, thanks.” And yeah, he wished her words were true. That he really was with Derek, that Derek let him in enough to help take care of his son, who means everything to him. And that he really was doing a good job helping, that Eli maybe saw him as a dad since he’d started to see Eli as a son. He already knew he would do anything for that kid. He would dive headfirst into any supernatural disaster just to make sure he was safe. He knew he would do the same for Derek too. They were the two most important people in his life, not counting his dad—that was a given—but he didn’t want to let either of them go anytime soon.
Exiting the office, Derek was already halfway down the hall, carrying Eli in his arms. Eli’s head propped up on his dad’s shoulder, and once laying eyes on Stiles—who was still barely a couple steps from the office—gave him a small wave with a grin on his face. The sight tore him apart. His heart pounding, Derek looked back at him, and he just knew that Derek heard the principal’s comment and how Stiles didn’t deny it. How he didn’t really want to, and maybe Derek knew. Knew how he felt about him and Eli. It would be hard not to with his super sniffer and everything.
“Hey, Stiles,” Eli said, his words muffled where he was pressed up against Derek’s shoulder.
“Hey, buddy, how’re you feeling? Ready to have the rest of the day off?”
“Yeah. I’m sorry for worrying you guys, and making you come all the way here.” Eli snuggled deeper into his father’s neck.
Derek cupped the back of Eli’s head, threading his fingers through his hair in a comforting gesture. “Eli, I’ll always come for you. Always. And you weren’t the one in the wrong. You handled your control really well, but still showed him saying that to you wasn’t okay. I’m proud of you.”
“It was definitely wrong of him, not you. Don’t feel too bad about it, son.” Stiles reached out, ruffling Eli’s hair, freezing when he registered just what came out of his mouth. He called Eli son. It had just slipped out—he didn’t mean to, but it had felt so right in his bones.
Eli didn’t seem to mind, giving Stiles a toothy smile, but he noticed Derek stumbled. Derek never stumbled. He knew—he knew it was the first time Stiles had called Eli son. Was he about to be mad with him? Derek was the best dad, okay? The best! Stiles knew that, and he didn’t want him to be mad that Stiles called Eli son, like he was encroaching on his territory, because he wasn’t! He didn’t want Eli to think of Stiles as more of his dad than Derek because that simply wouldn’t do! Unless they were coparenting or together, but Stiles needed to shut that line of thinking down immediately since it was never going to happen. Not that he didn’t want it to… but if Derek had felt that way about Stiles, they would’ve been together a long time ago, considering how Stiles couldn’t hide his emotions for shit and Derek was a werewolf. Complete disadvantage for Stiles here.
“Hey, after ice cream, why don’t you come over?” Derek asked, shrugging a shoulder not so casually.
“Uh, yeah. That would be great! You know I love spending the day with you guys.”
“We know.” Derek smirked over at him.
**
The rest of the day was spent going to Eli’s favorite ice cream shop, watching him giggle over the dollops of ice cream appearing on Stiles’ nose—which he tried to reach with his tongue just to see Eli giggle more—and tried not to let his mind wander over the way Derek was licking his ice cream, and how he imagined it was his di-
Nope, not thinking about it.
He let out a nervous laugh as Derek’s dark eyes swept over him. A knowing glint in his eye.
His palms started sweating—he couldn’t imagine what chemosignals he was letting off right now, trying to keep it in check because, oh my god, Eli could smell this!
Stiles was just going to die of embarrassment.
He went back to licking his ice cream, swirling his tongue to get as much flavor in his mouth as he could. He glanced up to see Derek staring at him, their eyes connected in a heated moment until Derek’s eyes dropped to his mouth. His breath hitched in his chest, studying the soft features of Derek’s face. His lines no longer hard and drawn tight with anger. Instead, there were crinkles by his eyes from smiling; his face now was open, inviting and warm. And still staring at his lips.
Blood rushed to Stiles’ face when he noticed how long Derek has been looking at his mouth. Stiles licked his lips subconsciously, tearing his eyes away from Derek and toward Eli, who was mindlessly eating his ice cream and trying to lick every little bit that melted onto his hands.
Stiles snorted as he grabbed some napkins, a fond look on his face as he handed them to Eli.
Eli finally looked up at them, barely patting his hands on the napkins before crinkling his nose and saying, “You guys smell weird.”
Stiles widened his eyes and looked at Derek’s flushing face. He shifted in his seat, wondering if Eli could smell his love for Derek, or his arousal or—horrifyingly—both. Oh god, this was so embarrassing.
He might not be able to look at Derek ever again, knowing Derek probably knew his exact feelings right now.
“What?” Stiles drew out. “I probably just smell weird since I haven’t showered since yesterday,” he stage whispered.
Eli giggled, “That’s not it. You guys smell sweet.”
Derek cleared his throat, “Eli. Chemosignals are private. If you smell something keep it to yourself unless the other person wants to know, okay?”
Eli huffed out, “Okay,” in a whine.
Stiles changed the subject by asking Eli, “So buddy, how’s school been other than today?” This led to Eli rambling on about the friends he made in his class and his teacher, who was super nice.
Stiles, who was too engaged in his conversation with Eli, didn’t even notice Derek looking at them with a warm smile.
**
They eventually made it back to Derek’s house after a long day of outings, and Eli ended up tucked gently into Derek’s shoulder, his eyes blinking blearily, struggling to stay awake.
“Do you want to come in?” Derek asked softly.
“If I’m still welcome to,” Stiles replied.
“You’re always welcome, Stiles,” Derek stated, his eyebrows up, a little grin playing on the edge of his mouth.
Stiles tried to tamp down the fluttery feeling he was getting in his chest. If not for himself, then for the werewolves he was standing right next to that could almost certainly pick up on it.
Walking into Derek’s home, Stiles felt the warmth rush over him. Even with a growing boy taking up so much space in the house, it was always neat. Toys scattered around the rug were the only things out of place. The coffee table had a few books lying on top, a mix of children’s and whatever Derek liked to read in his spare time. Stiles could almost imagine Derek slouched into the couch, the cushions forming a spot around him with his feet propped up on the coffee table, a book in his hands, reading glasses perched on the end of his nose, and a blanket across his lap that was now strewn along the couch. The image Stiles concocted in his head was so domestic, he couldn’t help but want to see that every day.
His fantasy continued floating through his head of the two of them putting Eli to bed together. Them reading him stories with the different voices he knew always impressed Eli. He thought of helping tuck Eli in and sneaking downstairs with Derek as to not wake him up. He thought of them snuggling on the couch before him, sinking into each other, their heartbeats slowing, overlapping, and echoing in Derek’s head as they fell asleep.
Snapping out of his daydream, Derek turning to him saying, “I’m going to take Eli up to bed, you can make yourself at home. I’ll just be a minute.”
Eli, pretty much fast asleep, had his mouth wide open against Derek’s shoulder, letting out tiny snores.
“Of course, do you need any help?” Stiles asked.
Derek paused, something flickering in his eyes that Stiles couldn’t identify before he blinked it away.
“No, it’s okay. He’s already sleeping. I’m just going to lay him down and I’ll be right back.” Derek smiled that soft smile at him before going up the stairs.
Stiles took a deep breath and looked around. Might as well help tidy up, he mused. He picked up the toys Eli had lying around and put them in the toy box that was tucked in the corner, organized some books Eli must’ve knocked off the coffee table, and folded the blanket on top of the couch. He sunk into the couch when he was done, waiting for Derek. His mind wouldn’t stop wandering to what the principal said and how today went. Sometimes he himself had a hard time explaining there wasn’t anything more between him and Derek.
Stiles loved Eli like he was his own. He wanted to look after him, to be there for him, to be someone Eli could lean on, and he wanted to be that for Derek too. Someone Derek could ask to take Eli to school, to make his lunch, to come to his games or shows or whatever Eli decided to pursue. But isn’t that what Derek already did though? He called Stiles this morning to help with the situation at school, to be a support for Eli. He didn’t blame the principal for thinking him and Derek were together since he basically showed up as a guardian for Eli. Did Derek think of him as that too or was he just asking a favor?
They weren’t dating, but Stiles wanted nothing more than for that to be the case. He wanted lazy mornings with his boys, cooking pancakes and exchanging syrupy kisses with Derek; to go out for ice cream when the sun was too hot, licking dollops off their noses; to pick up Eli from school, occupying their time by going to the library or the park while waiting for Derek to get home and greet him with a kiss. He wanted so much he wasn’t sure he was allowed to have.
It was impossible to stop his mind from spiraling into what could be and wondering if Derek even felt the same.
Soon enough, Derek came down the stairs and when Stiles looked at him, he felt like Derek knew exactly what he had been thinking and feeling, and he probably did.
“We need to talk,” Stiles said.
“Yes,” Derek agreed.
“Okay, I just need to tell you-“
“I love you, Stiles.” Derek held his gaze, staring into his eyes as Stiles felt his heart beat faster, thrumming through his chest.
Stiles paused, not quite believing that Derek had said it, “Come again?”
“I love you, and I want people to think we’re together. That you’re mine and that you’re Eli’s. I want this family with you. No one else, and I’ve wanted that for a while. I just didn’t know how to say it, but I love you.”
After all this time of waiting to hear Derek say this, Stiles couldn’t help his eyes becoming misty. His heart tightened in his chest over the fact that he got to have this. Everything he’d ever wanted finally was becoming his. “I want that too. I love you and Eli so much, and I was terrible at hiding it,” he wetly laughed.
Derek approached him, bringing his hands up to wipe gently under his eyes. “It was killing me not to do anything about it. I wasn’t sure if you wanted to take on the responsibility of Eli and me, and I didn’t want to put that on you, but after today I knew. I knew you would always look out for him, and I can’t thank you enough for that and for being patient with me.”
Stiles traced his fingers up the back of Derek’s neck, sliding his fingers into his dark hair. “You don’t have to thank me for that Derek, you have me, and I’m always going to love you and want to take care of my boys.”
Derek pulled Stiles tightly against him, pressing into his mouth. Stiles wrapped his arms around Derek’s neck, kissing him deeply until he couldn’t breathe, trying to show just how much he loved Derek.
Derek had moved his hands to around Stiles’ waist. They were hot like brands leaving their mark as his thumbs stroked beneath his shirt.
Derek kissed him so passionately that Stiles was practically gripping onto his shirt for dear life. His other hand pulled on the hair at the back of Derek’s neck, separating their mouths just enough to whisper, “Can I stay tonight?”
Derek barely uttered, “Always,” before Stiles was pressing his mouth firmly on his.
**
thank you so much to my beta reader kelpseeds for looking over everything and helping this flow!
I was really stuck on this fic for a while so any kudos and comments are appreciated! <3
