Work Text:
It was just your usual relaxed afternoon. The sun outside, no pressing chores or work to get done. So, Stiles was scrolling through his social media, as any person would. Normally, he’d bug Derek or see if he could hang out with one of the others, but the pack was busy training out in the woods. For the next couple of hours, he was all by himself.
Now, usually, Stiles cherished this time alone. He could get so much done without having or being distracted by his sourwolf and his betas. But Stiles was bored. And a bored Stiles is a grumpy Stiles.
Until he saw something while scrolling around online. He’d have to ask Derek about it, when they came back.
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Derek entered the house through the backyard entrance, his betas trailing behind him several yards away (he might’ve gone a bit hard on the training today). Though instead of greeting his boyfriend with a kiss and heading upstairs to take a shower, Stiles grabbed his arm to keep him from going and confronted him.
“Hey, Der?”
“Yeah?”, the wolf in question asked with a raised eyebrow, hoping the mage would get to the point quick.
“So, I was scrolling through the ‘gram, when I saw a post from that celeb who’s in that show we binged recently. Guess where they were.”
“Stiles, I have no idea who you’re talking about. Just show me the post so that we can finish this conversation and I can take a shower. Which you’re welcome to join me in, if you get to the point.” Derek replied.
Rolling his eyes, Stiles pulled out his phone and found the post. “Here, they were at a pride march! Which got me thinking, why haven’t we ever gone to a pride parade/march?”
Shrugging, Derek informed him “There’s a pride parade not too far from here in a week, we could go if you’d like. I bet the betas would love to go too.”
“Wait, you keep up with events like that? Why didn’t you tell me? Especially if it’s something you’re interested in and want to do, you know I’d never say no!” Stiles asked, confused.
“It’s queer or lgbtqia+ events not ‘events like that’, Stiles. And second of all, I might keep track of events happening nearby, but my being a wolf makes me a bit cautious about going to a loud and crowded parade/march, all the noise and smell and masses of people near the pack and you could be very overwhelming.” Derek tried to downplay his interest and desire to participate.
“Oh, babe. You should’ve come to me with this earlier. I bet, I’ll find a solution, just you wait.”
“Can I now go shower, or is there more you want to ask me about?” Pulling off his shirt, hoping it would incentivize Stiles to shut up and join him upstairs, Derek slowly backed away from the couch.
“Uh, wha-, uhm, yeah sure. Shower, let’s uhm go shower right away.” Stiles stumbled over his words upon seeing Derek shirtless and very sweaty. No matter how many times he had seen it, it always managed to fluster him. Grabbing his wolf by the hand he hurried them both towards their bathroom with their spacious shower.
Derek laughed in delight at his boyfriends’ reaction, Stiles stumbling over his words and being partially speechless was always a joy to witness.
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After figuring out how to make going to a parade not stressful and overwhelming for a werewolves’ senses, Stiles sent out some very last-minute invites to the pack, informing them about the event.
In the end, Danny, Erica, Boyd, Isaac, Cora, Kira and Jackson were the only ones who had time and were in the area. Which, while not being the entire pack, was still going to be quite a large group.
He told them all to show up a few days before at the pack house, so that he could show them what he’d come up with to make the experience more enjoyable for their enhanced senses.
Finally, everyone had arrived. “So, Derek told me a bit about why he as a wolf and supernatural doesn’t like going to parades and marches. I did some researching and I think I found a way to make it tolerable for you.” Stiles started explaining. He turned around for a second to reach for the bag he’d dropped near the table earlier. Facing the group again, he now held some items in his hands.
“Ears or sound is the easiest. Classic earplugs or headphones should work fine. You pick which you’d like to wear, and I can enchant them a bit to strengthen their sound blocking.” He placed the earplugs on the table in front of the couch where the others were sitting.
“Now, onto smell and protective wolf urges, I think I got them both with one stone – no, Jackson, not literally a stone.” Holding out his other hand, he showed them a turtleneck sweater and a scarf.
“So, I’m thinking that we cover either a turtleneck sweater or a scarf in the scent of a pack member you find calming, I use my magic to make it longer lasting and you wear it during the parade. Just pull it over your noses. Not only can you focus your senses on the scent, but in case we get separated, hopefully the scent can help you keep the wolf in check and not panic immediately.” Having presented his idea, Stiles waited for the reaction of the pack.
“I think it sounds like a plan, Mr. Magic”, Erica agreed to his plan, Boyd nodding along. Isaac unraveled the scarf he’d been wearing and placed it on the table “We’re going to have to go shopping to get some scarfs or turtlenecks on theme or color. Luckily, it’s not summer right now or we’d for sure suffocate in the heat.”
“Oh please, as if they don’t make them in various fabrics. There’s plenty made for spring or summer weather in thin fabric that lets air through it. Though a scarf is the superior choice in this case. You can wear a long a wide scarf that could have a flag printed on it-“ Jackson replied to Isaac before getting more and more into the topic before being cut off by Stiles.
“Ok, you can figure that out on your own time, just let me know when you’re ready and which scent.” Turning towards the only human and fox-shifter he waited for their reaction.
“Well, while I don’t have the same strong senses the wolves have, I think it’d be comforting to join in.” Kira said and Danny agreed with her, “Yeah, we’re a pack so why not all do it together.”
“Well, that is perfect and I’m so happy you’re all on board. Ok, so you know what you need to do, let me know when you’re ready.” With that, the gathering was over, and he went to join his boyfriend who was sitting in one of the cushioned chairs.
Climbing into his lap, Stiles slung his arms around Derek’s neck and grinned at him. “What do you think?”
“I think I need to thank you big time and prepare my outfit so I can decide if I want to wear a scarf or sweater.”
Pecking the wolf on the lips, and ignoring the pack’s cheering and oooh’s, he replied “While the ‘thank you’ is appreciated, you being happy and smiling is all I was aiming for, Der.”
“I love you.” The wolf sighed against Stiles’ lips. “I love you too, schnookums.” Stiles snickered at the petname.
“I love you both too!” Erica declared before jumping on top of the two men, toppling them out of the chair and over onto the floor. Isaac and Cora were next, creating a little pack pile (“It’s not a puppy pile, Stiles! We’re not dogs.” “But you’re just as cute as dogs!). Boyd, Jackson, Kira and Danny calmly made their way over and layed down next to the others, opting out of jumping on them but still getting into the pile by slinging limbs over limbs and snuggling up.
Derek grunted under the weight of Stiles, Cora and Isaac but Stiles saw him trying and failing to hide his pleased smile.