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"Hi, Der. What're you up to?" Stiles asked, seeing his boyfriend sitting at the kitchen counter with his computer.
Derek looked up from his computer screen and smiled at him.
"Well, a while ago, when you started having episodes with your PTSD and your ADHD started to act up more, I remember you saying you didn't really have anyone to support you besides your dad. So, I decided that I'd be that person. I want to discuss with you personally as well, as I know every person and their experiences are different. However, I thought I'd also do some online research on ways to be more supportive to you and others that may need it."
Stiles smiled and walked over to press a kiss on Derek’s cheek.
“Thank you. I love you so much,” He said, leaning his forehead against his cheek.
“I love you too, I would do anything to keep you happy and healthy,” Derek replied, turning his head to press a kiss to Stiles’ forehead.
They had multiple hour-long conversations about the things Derek could do to help him and the things, little gestures, that were important to Stiles when he was struggling, whether that was to leave the room or stay with him.
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“Look at- no, look at me. What you did back there- we could have gotten caught immediately! And your ass could have been dead! I can’t believe you did that. Are you dumb?” Derek said, glaring at his mate as he sat on their bed.
“Yes,” Stiles responded, looking back down at Shadow, who was pawing at his chest.
“Then why did- sorry? You agree?” Derek dropped his arms and let his jaw drop at Stiles’ answer.
“I said yes, didn’t I?” Stiles looked up and stared at Derek.
“I- I wasn’t. You know that was rhetorical. I didn’t actually mean-”
“So you think I’m smart?”
“I think you’re an irrational, hotheaded, self-centered piece of shit with a savior complex, and you don’t have a shred of self-preservation in your body.”
“You think I’m smart.”
“That’s what you got out of it?” Stiles sat in silence, waiting for Derek to say something else. He started making faces at him when the silence went on for too long. “Oh, don’t give me that look- yes, you’re smart.”
“Der, I love you and I know that you are saying all of this because you are worried and I know that I scared you. But, you have to trust that I know what I’m doing when I rush into things,” Stiles said, standing and walking over to his boyfriend.
“I love you too. That’s why I worry when you do things like that. What if the sirens had been after people like us? They could have hurt you and I don’t know…”
Stiles reached up and cupped Derek’s face.
“I’m sorry for scaring you. Now, will you come and cuddle with me and Shadow?”
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Scott came over to the loft for a conversation with Derek, Liam in tow. He was very surprised at what he found when he opened the door to the loft. Stiles is on his back on the couch, with Isaac lying across his chest and they were both sleeping lightly. All the lights in the main living area were off and there still happened to be a quiet show playing in the background from when they were watching it. Stiles’ hand had come to rest on the back of Isaac’s head after massaging him as they both rest cozily. Isaac’s face was buried comfortably against Stiles’ shoulder, all whilst a blanket is draped over them to ensure that they were both warm.
“What are they doing?” Liam whispered.
“Kitchen,” Derek said softly, knowing they could hear him.
They went into the kitchen, trying to be as quiet as they could be as they walked past the couch. Derek was leaning against the counter, looking at some papers.
“Why is Stiles cuddling with Isaac?” Scott asked.
“Isaac is having a hard time. Stiles’ scent comforts him, so they fell asleep. Shadow tried, but he went to find Peter instead. Now, what do you need to talk about Scott?”
While they had their discussion, Liam watched Stiles and Isaac. He got along with Isaac, so he didn’t understand what brought the older boy to cuddling with his Alpha’s mate. He was still staring at them, not realizing that Scott and Derek were finished.
“Liam?” Scott said softly, making him jump.
“I’m sorry, I was…”
“You’re curious. Stiles has taken on the role of Pack Mom, which not all Alpha mates do. Isaac, especially, is comforted by Stiles, and will seek comfort from him before he goes looking anywhere else,” Derek explained, smiling as he looked at his mate.
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“Come here," Stiles said to Erica. He motioned for her to sit in front of him and turn around, so he could fix her tangled and damp hair. "What are we feeling today?"
"As long as it's out of my face, I don't care what you do to it."
"Tilt your head back."
After brushing his fingers through her hair a few times to clear the tangles, he parted the front into three sections and began braiding it. He gradually added in more and more hair, until it was all neatly braided and tied off with a bright blue sparkling tie. He had learned to braid from Erica so that he had something to occupy his hands when he was on edge.
He suddenly found Boyd squeezing between the two of them to lace flowers into Erica's braid. Instead of making his job harder by poking Erica, he leaned back into Derek with a yawn. He started to let his eyes slip shut to sleep, only to open them again when he felt a weight against his leg. Isaac tiredly smiled up at him, then snuggled close enough that, the only way he could get closer, was to be inside of Stiles’ skin. At the sight of Isaac giving in to his exhaustion, he quickly followed suit. The closeness of the pack made his Spark rumble with happiness, so he settled back against Derek’s chest and let Shadow nuzzle into his side as he drifted off with a smile on his face.