Chapter Text
Stiles was lonely. For years it had been Scott and Stiles against the world, and now it was Scott, and Alison, and the pack, and maybe Stiles, if he invited himself along. Eventually inviting himself along was just irritating, so he stopped and other than a few rude questions about the lack of pizza on pack nights nobody seemed to care that he was gone.
He saw them at school and then the year ended and he decided he wasn't going to sit around and be ignored any longer. He started researching people with sparks. The only thing tying him to Beacon Hills now was his dad and his dad could do without him for a few months.
He found a mage running a school in Los Angeles named Myra. It sounded a lot like Hogwarts, and basically amounted to a small training facility for mages.
"Dad I've been looking into my magic and there's a woman named Myra in Los Angeles who can help me train with my spark. I was wondering if I could head down for the summer." He blurts barely stopping to take a breath.
"What about your friends?" John asks. Stiles shrugs to cover up a flinch.
"I haven't talked to them in two weeks and they haven't really noticed. They probably won't even realize I'm gone." The truth of it hurts.
"Okay fine but you call me every single night got it?" There's sympathy in his voice and Stiles is so relieved to be free of everything.
"Yes sir." Stiles salutes playfully.
"And you better Skype me at least twice a week." His dad says.
"Deal." Stiles wraps his arms around him. "Try to stick with your diet." He hugs back.
"Do I have to?" John whines.
"Yeah. I don't wanna lose you." They step apart, sharing a small smile, and Stiles goes to pack his bags.
"I'll try." John calls after him and Stiles knows it's the best he's gonna get.
"Thanks dad." He yells over his shoulder as he runs upstairs. "You're the best."
"I know!" His dad calls after him. He throws a shit ton of plaid and jeans into a bag and gets ready to leave. By noon he had the car packed said goodbye to his dad and left. His red hoodie lay on the bed at home, abandoned.
He'd only bought it because it was ironic, the little red who ran with wolves. On the drive to LA Stiles put on obnoxious pop tunes and drummed on the steering wheel the highway flying by beneath him. He felt free, but a strange sense of loneliness hovered over him.
...
It takes a week and a half for anyone to notice he's gone. Scott calls and he sounds at least a little concerned.
"Dude where are you?" Scott demands. Stiles rolls his eyes.
"Don't worry about it." Stiles flops back onto the bed. Scott makes a weird spluttering noise. "Its not your problem just go chill with your pack."
"What do you mean my pack? Stiles, where are you?" Scott threw in a threatening growl with his demand.
"Don't growl at me Scott. I've been out of town for a week and a half Mr. Best-friend-o'-mine." Amy walks in as he speaks and hearing his seething tone decides to cheer him up in her own way.
First it's by juggling small orbs of water and fire and then by casting small spells that set part of his clothing on fire but. It wouldn't burn human skin, but if allowed to spread you could wind up naked. Stiles chooses not to say anything.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Scott asks. Stiles rolls his eyes gesturing to Amy in a 'can you believe him' way. She snorts as his shoe laces burn.
"Figure it out Scott I'll see you in three months." He was about to hang up.
"Wait!" /Finally an apology/ "the pack needs you to do research." Scott states. He doesn't throw his phone, its a close thing but he doesn't, he hangs up instead and turns it off.
Problem is he underestimates his magic and when he sets the phone down it's more than a little water logged.
"Hello Amy." He looked up at her. She smiles at him but her eyes say she knows. She has beautiful fiery red hair that she keeps in a bun at all times and sharp blue eyes that are currently dissecting him.
"Heya magic man." He rolls his eyes. "How's the rune going?" She means the one he's choosing for the tattoo. He has to pick the right substances to infuse into his skin. Wolfsbane was obvious it would make him less fragile around the wolves. He also wanted to be stronger and faster and the herbs he picked could help with that.
"I need to do more research before I decide." He decides. Amy smiles sweetly at him.
"Of course Stiles. Practice the protection runes while you're at it maybe you can get more than one. Maybe you can join a coven. I've always wanted to join a coven." She smiles at him and then glances toward his phone. "If you ever need a place to stay you'll always be welcome here." She offers. Myra wouldn't mind, they both know that.
"Thanks Amy. I'll be okay." He fibs. She doesn't believe him, and he doesn't blame her.