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“Stiles,” John called from the front door.
He let out a loud groan.
“Aw, hell, kid.”
Stiles looked up from his blanket bundle and pouted.
“You’re going to need to go to the cabin,” he motioned around, “the snow is spreading.”
Stiles blinked a few times and looked around, “oh, yeah, that’s not good.”
“Okay, you pack your stuff, I’ll head to the store. Be ready to leave when I get back, okay?”
Stiles nodded and peeled off the blanket, frost forming under his feet as he walked. He hadn’t lost control of his powers like this in years. He was blaming Cora. She came back from middle earth and made all the wolves sick, and now he got a cold that messed with his powers, too.
When his dad got back, Stiles was packed and ready to go. He knew that he’d only be able to drive some of the way, even with the Jeep. His mom had made the cabin far up in the mountains to explain their snow and frost.
He made a strong tea to dampen himself and shuddered as the fuzzy feeling sank into his body.
“You ready?”
Stiles made a face and nodded.
John pulled him into a hug, “you be safe, kiddo, call every day or I’m coming up there.”
“Don’t you dare,” Stiles huffed, “you’ve had too many cheat meals to make it in a storm.”
“Then you better call me every day and answer if I call.”
Stiles tightened his hold, “I’ll be fine, dad. I’m an adult, college degree and all!”
“I’ll worry every time,” John pat his back and pulled back, keeping a hand on his shoulder, “you look so much like your mother when you do that.”
Stiles ducked his head.
“Let’s get you out of here before people notice the frost.”
Stiles nodded and grabbed his bag, “I’ll see you soon.”
“And you’ll be okay?”
“If I need anything, I’ll call and meet you at the end of the trail.”
“And you’ve checked —”
“Dad,” Stiles cut in, “I’ll call.”
John sighed.
“It’ll be okay, it's only been a few months since we winterized the cabin.”
“You remember how to turn everything back on?”
Stiles raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah, yeah, you’ll call if there’s an issue.”
Stiles nodded, “it shouldn’t be too long, the pack only felt awful for a few days.”
“But you aren’t a wolf.”
Stiles shrugged, “I’ll let you know if it’ll be too long.”
“And the pack?”
“Think I’m visiting Uncle Bobby in Sioux Falls.”
“And none of them caught that?” He made a face.
Stiles laughed, “the born wolves refuse to watch that pitiful excuse of werewolf lore, and others just don’t see a point when we fight so many ourselves.”
“Okay, okay, keep —”
“You updated,” Stiles cut in, “and remember to watch for hunters.”
John nodded, “I just worry kiddo.”
“I know. No cheating on your diet, I’ll know if you do.”
“I’ll figure out who rats me out eventually.”
Stiles shook his head, “you won’t.”
The cabin was a two-mile walk up the mountain and Stiles was exhausted. He had two more trips before everything was settled, and he was considering taking a nap before trudging back up. The path was already a snowy mess and he wished he had drank more tea.
“Sioux Falls is a lot closer than I remember.”
“What are you doing here?”
Theo shrugged from where he was leaning on the Jeep.
“Is that my hoodie?”
Theo looked down and smiled, “I found it in the car, and its —”
“Not a car,” Stiles grumbled.
“Very cold out here.”
“I’ve noticed.”
Theo looked him up and down, “have you? Because you look really underdressed for the weather.”
Stiles bit his lip, “the hike warms me up.”
“Clever,” Theo pushed off the Jeep and walked closer, “you didn’t lie, but you avoided the truth still.”
“Useful when your dad’s the sheriff.”
Theo smiled, “Then what's the full truth?”
“Nope,” Stiles walked to the Jeep and grabbed bags, “nothing to tell you.”
Theo trapped him against the Jeep, grabbing the rest of the bags and taking two from Stiles.
“Theo, put those back.”
He shook his head, “no, see, I am coming with. Told the pack my uncle’s friend Rufus needed someone to fix some fences.”
Stiles flared his nose and squinted at Theo over his shoulder, “congrats, you’ve watched the same show as me. That means nothing.”
“Either I come with or I tell the pack.”
“You wouldn’t waste a good opportunity to blackmail like that.”
Theo stepped back, “Scott is all mad that I didn’t join the casserole train when everyone was sick.”
Stiles rolled his eyes.
“Now come on, let's get up to your fortress of solitude before dark.”
Stiles deflated, “help me cover the Jeep first.”
Theo put down the bags and followed Stiles.
“I will find a way to hide your body that will leave archeologists very confused in the future if you tell anyone about any of this.”
“Sexy.”
Stiles scowled, “you’re so gross.”
Theo didn’t argue, just helped Stiles cover the jeep with the camouflaged tarp. “It doesn’t smell, how does that work?”
Stiles raised an eyebrow and smirked, “magic.”
“So, lead the way,” Theo motioned.
“I should make you carry everything.”
Theo shrugged, “I could, and probably also give you a piggyback ride.”
“Don’t tempt me.”
Theo turned around and crouched a bit. It showed off the large 24 on his back, the Stilinski covered up by the hood.
“You’re serious.”
“It’ll be easier if you hold the bags and I hold onto you,” Theo looked over his shoulder, “but why would I joke about having you pressed against me?”
Stiles rolled his eyes.
“One day I’ll convince you to go out with me.”
“Mercy me,” Stiles put a hand on his heart and fanned his face with the other hand, “such a charming man with his refusal to accept no! I am such a lucky man, I simply must acquiesce to his persistence.”
“You’ve never actually said no, Stiles,” Theo smiled, “you just make jokes.” He stood and turned around, “if you’re serious, I’ll just help you get your stuff up there and leave.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, “I didn’t think you were bothered by it.”
“Fine, I’ll be more clear,” Stiles crossed his arms, “I barely know you. There’s a lot about me that is…” he sighed, “People tend to be assholes after they find out some of it.”
“Like why the bitter cold doesn’t bother you?”
“No, that… no one but my dad knows.”
Theo took a slow breath. “So you’re worried I’ll find something out and decide to,” he tilted his head and paused, “then I’ll just have to wait until you can tell me.”
Stiles rubbed his upper arm and shuffled on his feet, “that seems okay.”
Theo’s smile was blinding, “hop on, spider monkey.”
“No,” Stiles pointed, “I am not Bella.”
Theo handed him the bags with a wink, “I believe you, I think in the end you’ll pick the wolf.”
“Am I staying or —”
Stiles looked at the growing storm, “if you leave, you won’t make it back to the car.”
Theo pulled out his phone, “the forecast says I’ll be fine.”
“It’s wrong,” Stiles sighed, “even with your speed, you won’t make it.”
“Stiles, I don’t want to force —”
“Listen, the storm is only going to get worse. If you manage to not end up frozen, then you’ll get to enjoy the disorientation of snow in the dark. Which I personally think is only less annoying than snow blindness because you don’t burn your eyes,” Stiles shook his head, “and there’s no scent trail.”
“But the app says no storm,” Theo scrolled on his phone, “this is probably just a mountain thing.”
“Just get in the damn cabin, I don’t want to have to find you in an hour because you’re too damn stubborn to listen.”
Theo thought for a minute then walked inside. He took off his shoes and went to strip out of Stiles’ hoodie when Stiles stopped him.
“You’ll need that, probably your hat, too.”
Theo made a face.
“I’ll get you some blankets, too.”
“Stiles?”
“So, that storm. It’s my fault.”
Theo squinted and crossed his arms.
“I might not be all human,” Stiles admitted, “and Cora’s damn wolf pox is making my powers fuck up.”
“It’s not called that.”
“I really do not care at all,” Stiles huffed, “they got all itchy bumpy and it didn’t affect anyone but wolves.”
“And you.”
“And me,” Stiles nodded.
“So whatever it was made them itchy and you are, what, Elsa?”
Stiles tilted his head and hand in a so-so motion, “I’m pretty sure she’s based off of us. They got waaaay closer than Rudolf did, but Rudolf used the right name.”
Theo made his way to the couch and sat down.
“I’m an abominable snowman.”
Theo laughed.
Stiles hunched over and turned away.
“Wait, you’re serious? That’s a real thing? But Derek and Peter said —”
“Talia hid us,” Stiles walked to the window and looked out, “when a hunter came to find us, she helped us out and destroyed the books on us, then convinced the hunters they were really just tracking bears.”
“Oh.”
“There weren’t many that believed we exist,” Stiles touched the window, and frost spread, “and with them finding the bear…”
Theo shifted a bit.
“If no one knows I’m real, no one can come for me.”
“But now I know.”
Stiles turned around and his eyes flashed oddly, there and gone too fast for Theo to see what it really looked like. “If you get me killed, I will find a way to destroy you from the grave.”
“I wouldn’t.”
“I’ll let Peter know you’re high on my list of suspects,” Stiles grinned, “and I’m sure he’ll be happy to deal with it all.”
“But you said only your dad knows.”
Stiles shrugged, “Peter knows I have some amount of magic. I tell him that you know too and, well, I’m sure he’ll do the research to see if it’s your fault.”
“He wouldn’t bother,” Theo shook his head, “if there’s even a chance I’m at fault, he’ll kill me.”
Stiles shook his head, “Nah, he wouldn’t want to deal with the look of disappointment.”
“Scott wouldn’t care if it’s you.”
“Oh please, he hates Peter, he’ll take any excuse, but I meant my dad.”
Theo’s eyebrows drew together, “your dad?”
“They’re dating but they won’t admit it. Or they don’t realize it. Honestly, I haven’t fully figured that out yet.”
Theo nodded.
“So yeah, I’m an abominable snowman. And Cora got me sick, so I gotta hide and confuse all the meteorologists.”
“Can I see your eyes again?”
Stiles huffed, “I will freeze your balls if you make fun of this.”
Theo squeezed his thighs together slightly with a cringe, “understood.”
He moved and sat next to Theo, closing his eyes and taking a few deep breaths to focus. When he opened them up, Theo’s flashed in response.
“Fuck, Stiles, they’re Snowflakes,” he reached forward but stopped short of touching Stiles’ cheek.
Stiles pressed into the contact and nodded.
“Do you change more?”
“I can, but not right now,” He pulled back, “I can’t control my powers and I don’t want to freeze the whole county.”
“I can wait,” Theo smiled.
Stiles gave a small, sad smile and blinked away the shift.
“Thanks for telling me.”
He shook his head, “don’t thank me.”
“But —”
“It’s a dangerous secret.”
Theo grabbed Stiles’ hand, “So is a lot of our lives.”
Stiles went to talk but got cut off by a yawn.
“Come on, sleep for you now,” Theo stood up and tugged Stiles with him, “uh, where is your room?”
“Nu-uh,” Stiles teased, “not gonna get in my bed that easy.”
“Even if you’re super cold and need my higher body temperature?”
“Not Bella.”
Theo laughed.
“I’m in there, you’re in there. No sneaking in.”
“Not Edward.”
Stiles woke up to something he hadn’t smelled in a while. His dad had tried to make it a few times but it was never quite right. It would end up as hash browns instead of little pillows of potatoes.
Theo was at the stove, still bundled in Stiles’ hoodie, poking at the skillet randomly.
“What are you doing?” Stiles leaned against the door frame.
“Uh, I found the recipe in the drawer when I was trying to find this,” he held up the spatula, “and it sounded better than scrambled eggs.”
Stiles walked closer and looked into the pan, “they didn’t fall apart.”
“No? It was pretty easy.”
Stiles closed his eyes and took a deep breath, “dad never leaves them be so they fall apart.”
“It says do not touch until you flip.”
He shrugged.
“Is it okay? I can make eggs instead…”
“It was weird waking up to smell my mom’s potato pancakes, but it’s amazing.”
“The way to a snowman’s heart is through his stomach, huh?”
Stiles tensed a bit.
“Sorry,” Theo stepped back, “I —”
He held up a hand, “no, it’s fine, it’s just…”
Theo waited.
“I guess now would be a good time to tell you anyway, before you do more,” he motioned to the stove, “that.”
“I don’t mind this,” Theo smiled, “cooking new things is fun.”
Stiles sat in one of the chairs and leaned forward, elbows braced on his thighs, hands clasped.
“Really, I do this all the time with the pack.”
“I know everyone is aware I’m pan,” Stiles looked down at his hands, “but, well, I’m not just pan.”
“Are you,” Theo cut off, “uh, sorry.”
“I’m demi-pan.”
“You only like others sometimes?”
Stiles laughed, “oh my god.”
“Sorry?”
“No, no, you’re not wrong,” Stiles shook his head, “it’s just, that’s me in everything, not just dating and sex. And it just hit me that I’m basically demi-social, too.”
“O-kay?” Theo flipped the food.
Stiles rubbed over his face and cringed when he noticed he could see his breath. “Sorry about the cold.”
Theo waved him off with the spatula.
“So yeah, casual anything is, I just can’t.”
“I can wait.”
Stiles wrapped his arms around himself, “but why?”
“You might not know me that well, but I know you, Stiles.”
He shook his head.
“I’ve had my eye on you for years,” Theo placed a plate in front of Stiles, “and I’m observant.”
“Oh.”
“You are worth the wait,” Theo grabbed his own plate and sat down, “and for you, I’m happy to be an open book.”
“For me, huh?”
Theo smiled, “for you.”
They were startled by a loud banging on the door a few hours later. Theo made a face, “it’s Jordan.”
Stiles walked to the door and opened it. Jordan pointed at Stiles, “answer your damn phone or I’m buying him a triple bacon burger.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“I had to melt my way through the freak winter storm that snowed you in, with only vague directions from your father. Try me.”
Stiles hunched over a little.
“Listen, he’s just worried, and he said you were sick, but it looks like,” Jordan narrowed his eyes at Theo, “I’ll report back that you seem fine now.”
“Jordan,” Stiles sighed, “Please don’t tell anyone else.”
Jordan crossed his arms and shifted his glare to Stiles.
“I’ll talk to dad, but please.”
“He didn’t have much choice,” Theo piped in, “I kind of forced his hand.”
Jordan started to glow, and Stiles hissed at the heat.
“Not like that. I just saw him heading up, followed, and by the time we got here, I couldn’t make it back.”
Theo moved between them and Stiles relaxed.
“I’ll make sure we check in,” Theo promised.
Jordan didn’t move.
Stiles sighed, “do you want to come in for a snack?”
“Not until he cools off,” Theo snarled.
Jordan reached over and melted through the snow bank until the red faded to black and then sank back into his skin. He didn’t stop glaring at Theo the entire time, ridiculous as he looked.
“May I enter now, your highness?”
Theo shrugged, “now that you won’t light the wood on fire sure.” He turned to Stiles, “any other things you like eating while you’re sick?”
Stiles knew the emphasis was for Jordan.
“Uh, I think dad sent with some soup?”
Theo nodded and disappeared into the kitchen. When Stiles looked back at Jordan, he was standing there looking like a disappointed brother.
“I promise, it was a simple mistake,” Stiles looked over his shoulder, “and I am kinda glad he’s here.”
“Just because things turned out okay —”
“Relax,” Stiles pulled a bag from his pocket with a wink, “I know his weakness.”
Jordan sighed.
“Come on, hellhound or not, I’m sure you could use some warming up.”
Jordan stopped by a few days later with more food, and warned them that Peter would be stopping by because he overheard a conversation. The blush on Jordan’s cheeks had Stiles tempted to ask, but he decided not to.
Peter’s visit was awkward. Stiles ended up storming out, and the resulting storm clued Peter into this being on Stiles’ magic. He promised to explain once Peter stopped being dumb and finally asked his dad out.
Stiles felt better before Peter’s visit, but he hid it from Theo. It was nice not having to run after the monsters for once, and Jordan was keeping him updated on if they needed his or Theo’s help. It wasn’t just the lack of danger, though. He was enjoying time with Theo.
“So, I know your favorite song,” Stiles started.
“No, you don’t.”
“Since your birthday, you secretly listen to 22 on repeat. You want the pack to think it's Back in the USA — except Liam. Liam, you're trying to convince it’s Thunder.”
“Creepy.”
“Dude,” he held up his phone, “the pack has a shared subscription. It’s under my name. I know what everyone listens to.”
“But Liam?”
“Complains non-stop about your shit taste in music. Now, what is your favorite holiday song?”
“Hmmm, probably Valentine.”
“Vague.”
Theo leaned into his space, “it don’t matter be combative or be sweet cherry pie.”
“Ah,” Stiles nodded. “What about wintery ones?”
“I’d think that one would be more obvious.”
“Humor me.”
“I really can’t stay,” Theo crooned.
Stiles laughed, “baby, I made it cold outside.”
Theo’s smile took over his whole face.
“What actually scares you?”
Theo clenched his jaw, “that the doctors will return.”
Stiles pulled him into a hug.
“Do you remember what you wanted to grow up to be when we were little?”
Theo thought about it, “uhhh, I think I wanted to be a dentist.”
Stiles nodded, “I came back one time crying, and you decided you’d become one so I wouldn’t be afraid.”
“And here we are, sixteen years later and I still want to make sure you aren’t afraid.”
“Uphill battle,” he sighed.
“I’ve carried you uphill once already,” Theo pointed out.
“What’s the weirdest thing you ever wished for your future?”
“Right after Tara died, I wanted to be an ice cream truck driver.”
Stiles paused and looked over, “yeah, she used to make us buy the spongebob from hell ice creams.”
Theo chuckled, “that bubblegum always tasted the best to her. Even though everyone knows the best was on Sonic.”
“Liar, the ninja turtles are by far the best.”
“So, I do have a question for you,” Theo looked nervous.
Stiles motioned for him to continue.
“How did you figure out the whole demi thing?”
Stiles shrugged, “same way I figured out I was pan. Someone else pointed out there was a word for what I felt.”
Theo blinked a few times. “I honestly don’t know what else I was expecting.”
Stiles was surprised to find how easy it was to feel connected to Theo once his secrets were out there. He spent time at night to really think things over. He could hear Theo settling in bed and sometimes was still awake when he would start to mumble in his sleep.
“Hey Theo, let's go for a walk,” Stiles shuffled near the door, “I am feeling up to showing off a bit.”
Theo’s face lit up and he jumped over the couch to join Stiles.
“Bundle up.”
Theo raised an eyebrow at Stiles’ clothes.
“I do better with my powers not bundled up,” Stiles shrugged, “I just keep warm to avoid my marks flaring.”
“Marks?”
“You get furry, I get pretty.”
Theo tugged on Stiles’ lacrosse hoodie again and rolled his eyes when Stiles pulled out a plaid santa hat with black fur.
“Now you’re pretty, too.”
They walked down the road, about halfway back to the Jeep before Stiles stopped them and stepped a bit away from Theo.
“Okay, don’t touch me when I have my marking out, we’re not sure if it hurts other supernaturals. But dad got frostbite once from mom.”
“We can try,” Theo offered, “I don’t mind.”
Stiles closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He focused on drawing in the heat from around him. He could feel the marks coming out, looking like the shards of shattered ice floating on a lake. He could remember the way he’d hold up his arm next to his mom’s and pretend the cracks could line up.
“Wow.” Theo whispered, “I can see why you’d need to hide those. I wish you didn’t have to, though.”
Stiles looked down and pushed up his sleeves. Theo reached forward but didn’t touch.
“Do they go all over?”
Stiles nodded, “the more power I use the more it spreads. I can feel it slowly forming as it does.”
“What does it feel like?”
“You know the crunch of snow in the morning? When it makes that crust and it crunches?”
Theo nodded.
“It feels like that,” Stiles closed his eyes, “like I’m pushing and it's crackling, and it's amazing.”
He felt a finger on his skin and Theo took in a sharp breath. Before Stiles could ask if he was okay, he noticed the storm swirling around them.
“This is incredible. And your hair!”
Stiles relaxed and concentrated on trying to make a snowflake land on Theo’s nose. When he succeeded, Theo’s smile was amazing. He stepped back and smirked a little.
Theo held out his hand and tried to catch some snowflakes, but they melted too fast.
“So, I’m thinking maybe for a first date, I can freeze over our pond and we can skate around?”
“Date?” Theo’s smile grew.
“Yeah,” Stiles held out his hand for Theo.
When they touched, the storm ramped up, “It feels like we’re in a snow globe.”
Stiles leaned in and kissed Theo’s nose. Theo wrapped his arms around Stiles and laughed.