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After Stiles and Jackson leave, Kane finds Derek in his office at his desk, looking at his laptop.
Kane rests his body against the frame of the door, crossing his arms without saying anything at first.
“Whatever you’re going to say, you can save it,” Derek says without taking his eyes from the screen.
“I hate it when you do that.”
“I just told you to save it.” Derek insists.
“And you know I’m not gonna do that.”
Derek snorts. “Unfortunately.”
“Look, I can see how maybe your wolf needs the pack to follow your lead... or you just need to feel in control all the time... I mean, I still don’t know for sure what the deal is exactly… being an alpha and all that...” Kane admits.
“Yes, and that’s my fault for marrying a human.”
“You didn’t just say that?” Kane frowns, offended.
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
“No? How else did you mean it? Because it sounded like you wished I was a wolf…”
“I meant…” Derek waves his right arm as he tries to find a way to come out of this mess he just created. “I meant that this is one of those things you’d understand if you were a wolf. And yeah, maybe in moments like this I wish you were one but it doesn’t mean I don’t like it that you’re human, okay? That’s not what I meant. And besides, I’m upset… so just... please, leave me alone. I don’t want to say anything else that I’ll regret.”
“No way. I’m not gonna drop it because you’ll also regret it if you don’t come tonight. You might not see it now but I know you will.”
“I said I’m not going.”
“Shit! You’re being ridiculous. So what if he didn’t tell you right away. Who cares? For god’s sake!”
“Obviously, you don’t understand anything.” Derek shakes his head.
“Then help me understand it because I’m really trying here.”
Derek sighs. “It’s just…”
“What?” Kane frowns.
“It’s what he does. Actually, both of them. It’s what they always do. They do whatever it is that they want to do and later... later, they tell me about it. It’s always been in that order. And that’s not how it’s supposed to be.”
“Yeah, ‘cause you’re the alpha?”
“Damn right I am… Even if they constantly forget about it.”
“I admit I haven’t known them for as long as you have--”
“No, you haven’t.” Derek interrupts him.
“But I’ve known Jackson for many years now and he’s not the sharing type of guy. He’s proud and very insecure, and you have to admit that it must have been very hard for him to even tell Stiles back then. So, yeah, I get why he didn’t tell anybody else… including you, Mr alpha.”
“You don’t have to remind me how he is. As you said, I’ve known him longer than you and I know him perfectly… but he’s grown up. He is… they are supposed to know what I’m here for. But I swear, sometimes… sometimes it’s like they don’t give a shit about me and tonight… well, tonight it just reminded me of that… of those times, you know?”
“Okay, yeah. I agree that they’ve not always done things the best way and that they should have asked you first... I’ll give you that. But this is not one of those times, it isn’t. You have to understand that there are things that they can’t share with you and I’m sorry, but it makes sense that Jackson hid this from you until now. If they’ve decided to have a kid now… well, it’s their life… and it’s none of our business.”
“Yeah, sure. It’s their fucking life but he should have trusted me.” Derek insists.
Kane knows what Derek means and a part of him totally understands him. The other part understands Jackson, so it feels like he’s stuck in the middle and it sucks.
“Fine. He should have trusted you. I’m not saying he shouldn’t have.” Kane takes a couple of steps until he’s in front of the desk.
“You’re not winning anything by staying here, by being upset with them. They’re having a baby…” Kane snorts and smiles. “I mean, there’s gonna be somebody in this world who is gonna have both Whittemore and Stilinski genes, can you even imagine that? I mean, that kid is gonna be something else… and hell, I know you’re happy for them, and you’re happy for the pack too. So, yes, Jackson is not the kind of beta you wish he was but what else is new?” Kane waves both arms. “The truth is that he cares about you, both of them do. And you’ll be ruining their dinner if you don’t go tonight. Do you really wanna do that? Because I don’t think so.”
“I’m not sure they need me there.” Derek admits.
“What do you mean? Of course, they do. They want everybody there. Everybody, especially you. And besides, I don’t want to go without you.”
“You’re only saying that to convince me,” Derek says, closing the laptop.
Kane shakes his head. He doesn’t know what else to say, and he’s said exactly what he thinks. He doesn’t really want to go alone and he’s convinced that Jackson will be really disappointed if Derek doesn’t go. He hates how stubborn his husband can be sometimes.
“But fine.” Derek waves his right arm with resignation. “You can stop now because I’m going with you. It doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten everything… but this baby is going to be part of my pack and it wouldn’t be okay for me not to acknowledge that.” Besides, those two are never going to change, so getting upset once more isn’t going to fix anything. He didn’t need Kane to know that but still, it’s good that he’s there to remind him of that.
Kane smiles. He knows that’s the closest thing he’s going to get to I also want to be there and he couldn’t be happier.
“That’s a wise decision.” Kane grins. “I’m going to find another shirt, this one doesn’t feel like a special dinner dress code,” Kane adds before leaving towards their bedroom.
Derek smiles and frowns a second later. “Wait. Now I have to get dressed up for this thing?”