The notices kept coming in from Eichen and Stiles couldn't fend off the guilt anymore. His dad tried assuring him that everything would be okay, it was just going to take some time for them to get caught up. But Stiles was struggling to go about his day to day life, sitting in class, trying to study, making it to lacrosse practice all just seemed a bit pointless while he knew his father was working. His father was trying to handle the stress of being Sheriff, wrapping his mind around all the supernatural turmoil surrounding their town while trying to pay off all of the medical bills that they had surmounted.
Stilinski had been a bit hesitant when Stiles had approached him about taking on a part-time job. Between school, sports, and pack stuff he feared it would be too much for him. Especially, considering everything he had been through recently. But if Scott could handle being a True Alpha, school and work and everything in-between, Stiles could handle a job.
A local diner was hiring for a dishwasher and Busboy position. It wouldn't interfere with school or practice and it would put some extra money in Stiles' pocket. Stilinski knew he would never take money from his son but if working helped Stiles move past this guilt and helped him save for things like Jeep repairs then he didn't see the harm.
His first week at work, Stiles adjusted to the longer days and the time work took out of studying. Good thing he had Lydia's notes. He didn't necessarily like the work and the tips weren't always that great considering the diner was usually slow, but it was better than nothing.
Stiles wiped his hands on the apron tied around his waist as he went to slide another batch of dishes through the sanitizer.
"Hey, Stiles," Neil, the guy who owned the diner, poked his head around the corner from the kitchen. He was a middle-aged man and was a decent enough boss. He seemed to like Stiles alright, he got a little frustrated when the teenager couldn't seem to focus or he caught him staring into space. But overall he was a nice enough kid and he showed up for work, it was hard to find kids nowadays that didn't mind working, especially unglamorous jobs such as this one.
"There is a guy out front, can you go check on him while I finish up some prep back here?" Neil continued.
"Yeah, sure." Stiles said with a nod as he headed towards the main floor. He quickly swiped up a glass and a leftover plate from the front counter and placed them in a bin before heading towards the table by the windows where a man sat. Stiles wiped a few stray soap suds from the back of his hand as he absent-mindedly walked to the table.
"Hello, what can I-" Stiles trailed off as he looked up and came face to face with Derek. He stared with the same stoic face he always wore and waited for Stiles to finish.
"What are you doing here?" Stiles said as his arms dropped to his sides.
"Scott told me you got a job here." Stiles didn't know why it upset him so much for Derek, or anyone else he knew for that matter, to know he worked here. But he hadn't told Scott not to tell anyone so he couldn't really be mad either.
"What can I get you?" Stiles asked.
"Coffee, black." Derek answered, his expression still cold and cool.
Stiles pivoted on his heel and headed back behind the counter. As he poured the coffee he couldn't help but wonder what Derek was up to. Was there trouble and he was just trying to find a way to tell him? He grabbed a menu as he approached the table again. He handed Derek the coffee and placed the menu in front of him.
"Anything else?" Stiles asked as he absently tapped his right fist against his left palm. He hated sitting still too long.
"What do you recommend?" Derek said as he flicked his eyes back and forth between the menu and Stiles. Stiles sighed,
"The apple pie is pretty decent."
"Not really a sweets guy." Derek dropped the menu to the table. "What are you doing here, Stiles?" He said folding his hands in front of him and leaning into the table.
"Not all of us can be born into a wealthy family, like the Hales." Stiles said with shrug. "Some of us have to work crappy minimum wage jobs sometimes."
Derek looked away and sunk back into his seat. He didn't look at Stiles again but turned his gaze towards the window.
"Let me know if you need anything else." Stiles whispered before heading back to take another load of dishes to the sink.
The front door chimed indicating someone else had come in.
"Stiles?" Neil called.
"Got it." Stiles shouted back. But when he got out front no one was there, not even Derek. He must have left. Stiles headed to his table and grabbed the coffee cup. It was still full, untouched actually. Derek must have just stopped by to see if Stiles really did have a shitty diner job. Dick. Under the coffee cup was some money.
Stiles almost dropped the still hot coffee everywhere when he saw that it was a hundred dollar bill. He set the cup back down with shaking hands as a feeling of rage came across him. He strode towards the door and headed out towards the parking lot. Derek couldn't have gotten far.
"What the hell is this?" Stiles asked as he held up the bill. Derek sighed and slammed his car door closed as he turned around to face Stiles.
"Payment. For the very satisfying cup of coffee."
"The coffee is only a dollar twenty-five." Stiles said with a glare.
"Consider it a tip." Derek said with a tight smile.
"I don't need your pity or your handouts." Stiles grabbed Derek's hand and slapped the hundred dollars into it before turning around to go back to work.
In a blur, Stiles felt his body jerked backwards by his narrow shoulders and a pain in his lower back as he was shoved against something hard. Derek's car.
As his eyes refocused, he realized that Derek had him pinned against the front fender of the car and Derek's face was just inches from his.
Derek held the money up,
"Just take the money, Stiles."
"You can't just bully me into doing whatever you tell me to!" Stiles shouted.
Derek's eyes wavered over Stiles face.
"We both know that coffee wasn't worth a hundred bucks." Stiles said more quietly and calmly. "I don't need you to just throw money at me because you can. I have more pride than that."
Derek grabbed Stiles by his face and pressed his lips against Stiles' unexpecting ones. Stiles froze but for a moment. Derek smelled like the woods. Like earth and rain. It was almost dizzying. He felt his tongue slide past Derek's as his hand moved from Stiles face to his jaw and then his throat. Derek was rough and demanding he pulled back just enough to work his way down to Stiles' neck. He kissed and bit playfully before sending Stiles' stomach flipping as he ran his tongue up his neck and to his ear.
Derek pulled back and Stiles could now see the drunken look in his glowing eyes. He was still clutching Stiles' throat with his right hand.
"Now that," Derek grinned. "was worth a hundred dollars." He shoved the money into Stiles trembling hand and moved away from the human.
"Take care of yourself, kid." Derek lightly slapped Stiles' cheek and turned to his car door. "See ya again tomorrow night." He said as he opened the door and climbed inside. He pulled out of the parking lot leaving a stunned Stiles behind. He could feel the cold prickle on his neck of where Derek's saliva mixed with the cool night air and sent goosebumps through his whole body. He looked down at the money and glanced about the parking lot.
"Well, now I just feel dirty."