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The first time Lip meets Stiles Stilinski was during his stint in college the other boy is in a few of his classes and soon Lip considers him one of his friends. The other boy never pushes about why Lip always has a family emergency or why Lip is “throwing his life away” he just stays the same funny kind of guy.
When Lip has to dropout, he and Stiles still text and chat occasionally, but with Lip in AA their friendship falls onto the back burner.
Until Lip, a few months into working for the shop shots the other boy a text to meet up. Lip, really wants to drink, and thinks maybe getting some pie with a friend wouldn’t be so bad. Better than smoking three packs at least or drinking himself stupid.
So here they are a few months later still having pie every Thursday at 5:30 pm down at the dinner. And Lip doesn’t know if this man is his best friend or someone he knows in passing because as much as Stiles talks he doesn’t really say much about himself. And sure Lip has heard the rumours that Stiles was in a gang, is now banned from California, and has a darker side, but Lip doesn’t see it.
Stiles on the other hand knows just what kind of man Lip is. He has never pressed for details, but he just knows. Stiles also knows what others say about him and they are kind of right. He isn’t welcome back in California Scott made that perfectly clear, he was in a pack which can kind of be like a gang (with the bodies and stuff), and something changed in Stiles after Void, he needed that little bit of chaos to live. When they spilt Stiles was left with just a little more fox than the pack would have hoped.
Still the two remained friends, Stiles warned Lip away from Tami (her chaos wasn’t a good kind) and it wasn’t even about how he felt about his best friend. Because when Stiles fell fuck did he fall.
Things change after that Lip starts bring Stiles around his family; he trusts him so dearly even if Stiles doesn’t know about Mandy, Karen, Amanda, Helene, and Sierra or the type of childhood Lip had. So one night when they leave the Alibi and Stiles presses Lip against the wall laying a hot and heavy kiss to his lips, well Lip knows he’s fucked.
He doesn’t know anything about kissing a man, but Stiles doesn’t seem to mind. And when he finally pulls back Lip realizes he had been kissing back and maybe there wasn’t that much of a difference in kissing boys than with girls. He also knows they are both sober. Stiles only drank root beer waving away alcohol mumbling something about his father while Lip was still on the path of recovery.
So a few minutes later when they are stumbling into Stiles apartment pressing hotter and heavier kisses with each step Lip can’t even think to panic.
Stiles falls to his knees, once they are in the bedroom, and has Lips pants down to his knees before Lip can do more than nod. Looking down Lip can’t help, but think that Stiles whiskey coloured eyes might be a better fix than the drink ever was. So he laces his fingers through Stiles hair and gets lost.
Later holding each other close he pressed more kisses to the other man’s body than he ever did any of his girlfriends. Stiles with an amused smile snuggles close voice husky asks, “We doing this?”
Lip doesn’t even have to really think about it before whispering, “Yeah.”
***
They had been together for almost a year when someone from Stiles questionable past comes forward; he knows about the scars, the lost friendships, and the hurt, but never the full story. Stiles gets lost before he can finish a faraway look in his eyes so Lip never presses.
Stiles comes home looking even more lost and when Lip wraps him in his arms the man lets out a cry. He holds him for a long time.
Later they go to the bar maybe a celebration of the man’s life maybe just to get away from the inclosing ways of Stiles apartment.
Lip smiles faintly when they meet Carl and Ian there. While Stiles takes a single knuckle of whiskey holding it tightly in his hand. He never says a word just lets the others fill the silence. Lip can’t help, but worry. Lip can’t hold him though because he is too scared to tell his family that Stiles is more than his best friend; his partner.
Finally as if breaking the spell, a man, out of place with his fine clothes walks in, he comes straight to their table. Stiles without even looking up from his glass; one he hasn’t taken a single drink out of snarks, “Creeper.”
The man has fond smile when he replies, “Stiles, always a pleasure.”
Stiles swirled the small amount of amber liquid, “Thought you were dead?”
The man snorts, “I’m harder to kill than that.”
Stiles shakes his head, “Harder to keep dead more like it.” Lip saw the darkness other saw in that moment Stiles eyes went dark a more deep caramel to their normal light whiskey.
Peter raised an eyebrow, “May I take a seat.”
Stiles waved his hand to the empty seat beside him and turned to the table, “Peter these are my friends Carl, Ian, and Lip. They are here to celebrate with me.”
The wolf took his seat smoothly, “Yes I see. Better than the disappointment at least.”
Stiles snorted a small smile on his face, “Well the fucking disappointment wouldn’t let me in town to put my fucking father in the dirt.” His angry grew as he finished the statement.
Lip gripped Stiles hand under the table silently offering his support. Peter nodded, “So I have heard. I came to offer my assistance in the matter. I will pay for the fine sheriff a proper burial for one small favour.”
Stiles cocked his head to the side as Carl sputtered, “Sheriff?”
Stiles nodded, “Yeah my dad was a sheriff and a damn good one.”
Peter huffed out a laugh, “Didn’t keep you from roaming the woods looking for half a body now did it?”
Stiles raised an eyebrow an actual smile on his face as he bantered with an old friend, “I’m what you call a hellion.”
Lip smiled softly at his lover glad that his rather dark mood had pasted even if it meant a questionable man coming to visit.
Peter nodded taking the glass from Stiles hand, “To the good sheriff, his troublemaking son, and to new beginnings.”
The table grinned and cheered to that. They stay for a while longer Stiles sharing stories of his father, Peter throwing in a few, before the group broke apart. Stiles once they reached his apartment pulled Lip in for a soft kiss and whispered, “Thank you.”
***
Time passes oh so fast and oh so slowly, soon it became their apartment and Ian and Mickey were getting married. Stiles was his plus one and somehow no one questioned a thing.
Lip panicking, “Do you think they know?”
Stiles pulled him in for a small kiss, “If they do who gives a fuck.”
Lip sighed, “But I was always the straight brother.”
Stiles rolled his eyes playfully, “You have two other brothers who can be the straight brother. You can be the bi brother okay? Everything is going to be fine.”
Lip smiled pressing his forehead against Stiles, “Okay I believe you.”
They go to the wedding and no one says a thing when they sit together or when they leave together either.
***
The fight like ever couple does, but Lio even sees the dark look pass over Stiles eyes; they always remain whiskey.
Stiles one night whispers all of his secrets into the other man’s ear as they lay side by side. Lip can only nod as all the pieces of the abstract painting that is his boyfriend’s past becomes a portrait to the man he is today.
Later they are leaving the bar when someone tried to jump them from behind; it’s Stiles that grabs the man before a single blow can be landed. Stiles voice halfway between a growl and a threat, “What the fuck to do think you are doing?”
Lip is shocked and maybe a little scared. Stiles seems in his element though light dancing in his eyes. The man let’s out a whine, “I just need money man!”
Stiles throws him against the wall with concerning strength, “You fucked with the wrong people.”
The man falls against a trash can almost crying, “I didn’t mean it promise.”
Stiles rolls his dark eyes hand darting forward against the man’s throat, “Listen good, you are going to run joke and kiss your daughter goodnight and if you know what is good for you then you’ll clean up your fucking act. No more hero now whatever shit your on.” Stiles let’s go of the man and raised up, “Now get out of my fucking sight.”
Lip kicks Stiles boot after the man had scrambled away, “Remind me not to get on your bad side.”
Stiles smirked his eyes light again, “You never I love you too much to ever hurt you.”
And Lip knew it was true and he also knew it was time to tell his family about the man he loved.
***
The family was all gathered together for a block party when Lip sat down with his nonalcoholic beer in one hand and waved them close.
The other gathered with sense of unease and Lip watched as the amusement danced in his partners eyes. He cleared his throat, “I wanted to tell you all that I have been in a relationship with Stiles for almost two years now.”
Mickey rolled his eyes chuckling about chick flick moments as Ian’s gleamed. Carl snorted, “We know.”
Lip turned to him confused, “How?”
Mickey rolled his eyes again, “Roommates my ass.”
Stiles snorted with laughter before teasing, “Told you.”
Lip flipped him off before roaming his eyes over his family. He then carefully took one knee pulling out a small box, “Well just in case it wasn’t clear would you marry me?”
Stiles eyes were wide, they had lightly talked about it sure, but never had he thought. He froze slightly mind racing before pulling the other man close and letting out a startled shout, “Yes!”
The Gallagher clan shouted and drank to the couple. The party went on all night, but before light hit Stiles and Lip were already in their bed smiling and kissing.
Stiles didn’t need a pack he found something better in the Gallaghers; a family.
And Lip didn’t need alcohol; he had found his whiskey eyed boy. The only drug he ever need and they knew that things would never be perfect, but they would be together.