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“I don’t get why you read those books, aren’t they boring?” Lydia questioned as she idly inspected her nails, her lunch long since finished.
“I enjoy them. Plus, there’s way less of those weird, toxic male love interests. Men used to know how to date someone properly. Getting permission, courting, no kissing or getting naked until you’re established.” You defended, your latest regency era bodice ripper novel clutched to your chest. You were just waiting for the day that a female teacher realised what you were prone to reading and attempted to take your book away, but while it lasted you were happy to just enjoy your novels.
“And they wore pants with saggy crotches and top hats.” Allison remarked with a raised brow and a small smirk.
“Yeah well, I don’t have to look at them, they’re words on the page.” You said, though all three of you laughed at the image Allison had managed to bring to mind. Liam sat at another table with Mason and Corey, who were having their own conversation and mostly ignoring him. That was what you liked? Well, he could do that, maybe that would make you more likely to agree to going on a date with him.
Liam didn’t act immediately, instead spent a few days gathering his thoughts and creating a plan of action. You were Derek’s sister, and far closer to him than to Peter, but Peter was the eldest. Peter was also less scary than Derek, somehow - which, maybe said more about Liam than Peter or Derek but he wasn’t going to think about it too deeply.
It was a random Wednesday when Liam arrived at Peter’s door and knocked softly. Peter looked both exhausted and resigned when he answered the door.
“Stiles?” The older man asked.
“Stiles.” Liam agreed with a small shrug.
“Yes right, well, what do you want?” Peter asked then, and Liam took a deep breath to get his courage up.
“I uh, I overheard.. Your niece talking about how she likes men who do dating properly, like asking family for permission, and I wanna ask her out so. I’m. Here.” Liam explained, rambling slightly as he did, wringing his hands in a habit he’d picked up from Stiles. Peter stared at him blankly for a moment before dissolving into loud laughter.
“Oh I like you, kid. She doesn’t care what I think, but sure. If it helps. You’ve got permission. Just don’t forget to ask Derek - that’s what’ll impress her.” Peter replied, shaking his head almost fondly. Well, at least this was a success.
“I know. That was just.. Scarier than asking you.” Liam admitted, making Peter frown.
“Derek is not scarier than me.”
“Generally no. In relation to his sister? Yes.”
“I suppose I can concede that point. Well, good luck to you. I hope she appreciates it.” Rather than saying goodbye, Peter brushed Liam away with his hand until he could close the door, and did, just barely missing Liam’s nose.
Not the most pleasant interaction he’d ever had, but he was alive, and Peter had said yes. That was a success as far as Liam was concerned.
Next, he knew he needed to ask Derek. To procrastinate on that, he decided to plan the date. He paid attention to you, to what you liked, to what you told other pack members and slowly constructed what he hoped would be a perfect and respectful first date. A picnic, in a small green clearing of the preserve, near Derek’s loft so if something went wrong they weren’t far from a safe place.
“What are you doing?” Scott asked Liam, peering over his shoulder at his darkened phone screen.
“Nothing!” Liam yelled as he startled so hard he almost launched his phone across the hallway. Scott raised his eyebrows in amused confusion, and waited for Liam to speak again. “It’s nothing.”
“Sure.. nothing to do with you asking Peter for permission to court his niece?” Scott probed and Liam flushed darkly.
“He told you?”
“He loves gossip. Just about everyone knows, except her and Derek.” Scott replied with a small shrug, only slightly empathetic.
“What do you think?”
“I think I should be on that permission list as the Alpha,” he teased, clearly joking, “but honestly I think this is a nice gesture. She’ll appreciate it, even if nothing else happens. I’d like to say it’s going to be perfect and you’ll be together forever but you know, I can’t guarantee that.” Liam nodded slowly.
“You.. do approve right? I should’ve thought about you being the Alpha to ask you for permission..” He trailed off, mumbling to himself.
“Yes, Liam. I approve. You’d be a sweet couple.” Scott assured, gently clapping Liam on the back. The younger man nodded slightly, still lost in thought when Stiles passed by and swiftly wrapped an arm around Scott’s shoulders to forcibly guide him away - not that the human could take him anywhere he didn’t want to go, but he certainly got no explanation.
Finally, there was nothing more that Liam could do to procrastinate talking to Derek. Thankfully, Scott seemed to have tipped the older man off that Liam wanted to talk to him about something because when he arrived at the loft unannounced, Derek opened the door before he could even knock.
“You best come in.” Derek said, ominous as ever, and it took a great amount of effort for Liam to stop his hands from trembling, even if he knew that Derek would still be able to hear his thundering heartbeat.
They moved in silence as they walked through to the small sitting area, Derek sitting on the edge of the coffee table, and Liam in the arm chair opposite, feeling rather like he was about to be interrogated. He did not like this. His palms were sweaty, sticking to the leather beneath him, and he couldn’t help darting his eyes around to identify escape points.
“Well?” Derek prompted, a single thick eyebrow raised, hands clasped in his lap.
“I uh- I already spoke to Peter and Scott so you’re the last one and uh. I wanted to- well, I’m here to ask you. I just. I want to date your sister and she said to Lydia and Allison that she likes in her books that guys do that for the girls they want so I thought it would be a nice gesture to do the same and would mean that if I asked her out she might say yes and would enjoy the date more if we went.” Liam rambled, staring pointedly down at his feet rather than daring to meet Derek’s eyes. Definitely more scary than Peter.
Though you were more than capable of defending yourself, Derek had always been prone to acting as your scary guard dog. You were only nine months younger than Cora, making you the baby of the family despite your closeness in age, and given you were the only family member in Beacon Hills that Derek still got along with, it made your bond ever stronger. Whenever someone so much as looked at you wrong, Derek could be trusted to know, without being told, almost as if he were psychic, and turn up to solve the issue, however minor it was. This included, but was not limited to, kicking the asses of men who disrespected you. Liam did not want to be one of those men.
“Do I need to threaten you?” Derek asked, and Liam shook his head quickly.
“No- no you don’t.” He mumbled nervously.
“Good. I was hoping I wouldn’t. But just remember, I can rip out your throat, with my teeth. Anger issues boosting you or not, I’m a born wolf, and I’ll always be more experienced and more dangerous than you.” He followed with, though he said it as if he was describing the weather rather than threatening Liam’s life. Quickly, Liam nodded, and Derek smiled.
“Good man. You can leave now.” And with his freedom given so easily, Liam didn’t complain, just stood up and retreated. Though his nerves still persisted, making his heart stutter in his chest, he was also excited. He’d asked everyone. It was time to ask you. Which, after facing Derek, didn’t seem so intimidating.
Still, he waited a few days, mostly because he was busy with lacrosse practice and the last thing he wanted to do was end up cancelling on you because of it when he’d been the one to ask you. When he was sure his weekend was free, and yours was too, he approached you.
“Uh, hey.” He said, giving you a small awkward wave, and you beamed at him.
“Hey, what’s going on?” You asked kindly, and Liam felt his nerves easing away with each moment he was able to see your warm smile. He couldn’t be worried when he was talking to you, you were just too.. Bright, and gentle, and kind.
“Oh, nothing much. Just wanted to ask you a question.”
“Oh? Well, shoot.” You encouraged, nodding slightly.
“I’ve already spoken to Peter, Scott and Derek before speaking to you, after I heard you talking to Lydia and Allison last week and they all agreed, so I wanted to ask if you’d like to.. Go on a date? I was thinking a picnic?” He asked, his nerves slowly returning in drips the longer he spoke. You started at him wide eyed for a long moment, then your face lit up.
“You.. asked Derek?”
“Yeah. He’s fucking scary.” Liam muttered, and hearing your laugh was worth every second of his suffering.
“That’s so sweet, Liam. I’d love to go out on a date with you. We could-”
“I’ve got everything planned. You just need to.. be dressed on time.” He said, and you nodded.
“Okay.”
“Okay.” Liam agreed, then after a moment, made his excuses and dashed away.
Later, when you reported to Lydia and Allison, you had to dramatically collapse back onto Lydia’s bed to accurately demonstrate your swooning while they laughed at your antics. You couldn’t be any more excited about this date. You’d always thought Liam was cute, and you’d have said yes to him even if he hadn’t asked Derek - though, it was definitely a nice touch.