Work Text:
There were a lot of things to appreciate about Derek Hale. The muscles, the beard, hell, even his gruffness was something Stiles could appreciate. However, the thing Stiles loved the most about his boyfriend was the fact that they were cuddled together on his bed watching some lame movie on his laptop. He didn’t pretend to know why Derek was here, he knew his father had called him when he had a nightmare and his dad couldn’t calm him down. It was only when Derek curled up around him in his wolf form was Stiles finally able to calm down. That was something else Stiles appreciated. Derek knew how to calm him down. Once he calmed down, Derek pulled over his laptop and told him to pick a movie.
“You want to talk about it?” Derek asked once the movie was over.
Stiles looked up at him, “Do I have to?”
“No,” Derek shrugged. “But it might help. It was a really bad one, Stiles.”
Stiles looked away and grabbed his phone and pretended to look for something. Derek let out a sigh and reaching over, took the phone from his boyfriend’s hands. He didn’t speak, just took the phone and placed it on the nightstand on top of Stiles’ laptop and just waited. Thing was he didn’t even need to speak. Stiles could tell what he was trying to say just by his expressions.
“What do you want me to say, Derek?” Stiles sighed. “It's nothing new. Nothing you haven’t heard before and I’m pretty sure you’re sick of me talking about it already. Everyone else is.”
Derek cupped Stiles’ face and kissed him softly, “I’m not everyone. I don’t mind listening to you.”
“You have to be that way because you’re my boyfriend.”
Derek chuckled, “Stiles, even before we got together, even when you thought I hated you, I didn’t mind listening to you ramble and talk about the same things over and over again.”
“I never knew that. You always looked like it annoyed you or pained you to listen to me talk. I swear one time I thought you were going to take up on your promise and rip my throat out with your teeth.”
“Oh my god. Stiles, I would never do that. I had just been shot and I was in pain. It’s my default threat, as Laura used to call it.”
Stiles chuckled, “Well I’m glad you didn’t. Attacking the sheriff’s son wouldn’t go over too well.”
“Probably not. Besides, we wouldn’t be here right now,” Derek gave him a small nudge. “What was it this time?”
“The massacre I caused at the hospital.”
“Stiles, that wasn’t you.”
“You sure about that? Everyone keeps blaming me. Do you know that whenever I go anywhere now, everyone gives me dirty looks?”
“Stiles, it wasn’t you. No matter what anyone says. You were possessed by a very powerful fox spirit.”
Stiles shook his head, “That’s not what they saw. They saw Stiles, son of the sheriff commit mass murder. I’m the reason so many people are dead. It's my fault Allison is dead.”
“Stiles, that’s not true and you know it.”
“But is it, Derek? I may not have been the one to stab her but those Oni were being controlled by me.”
Derek said nothing. He didn’t know what to do to convince Stiles that none of what happened was his fault.
“I was weak. That’s why the nogitsune targeted me. Because I’m the weakest of the bunch. I can’t do the things you guys could do. I’m not a werewolf or a banshee, or…or a hunter. I’m just a lowly human.”
“You’re more than just a lowly human, Stiles. You’re extremely smart and brave. You never shy away from a fight even if you are a ‘lowly human’. And honestly, from seeing the way you and Scott have been, Scott wouldn’t have survived this long without you. Honestly, I don’t think any of us would. You’re the one coming up with plans and strategizing. You truly don’t give yourself enough credit.”
Stiles looked up at Derek, his eyes shining with tears that he refused to let fall. Derek leaned over and kissed him again. Stiles sighed into the kiss and wrapped his arms around Derek. Derek lifted Stiles onto his lap.
“You’re an amazing person, Stiles Stilinski. No matter what happened to you. You know how I know this?”
“How?”
“Because, after what the nogitsune did to you, you’re still standing. You’re still here fighting.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too baby. And I’ll always be here for you.”
“I know. I appreciate it.”