Chapter Text
Stiles takes a deep breath and winces at the pull in his side. He’s going to need to stay shifted for a little longer, let himself heal up some more. That mountain lion was not fucking around.
He eyes the man walking around the the cabin, the one who found him hiding in the tree stump, the one who cleaned and bandaged his wounds. He’s not sure what the guy is doing out here, other than puttering around the little kitchen and frying up what smells like bacon.
Stiles really loves bacon.
The guy half-turns toward him and Stiles immediately closes his eyes. He’s pretty sure the guy doesn’t realize he’s something other than a regular fox, and Stiles wants to keep it that way. No sense in upsetting this poor mountain man’s way of life.
Although the guy is pretty hot. Like, stunningly so. Stiles is going to have to find his way back out here as a human and see if he can strike up a conversation, even though there is absolutely no way this guy would every go out with someone like him. Tall, gangly, nerdy, were!fox? Too many strikes against him.
Still, it would be nice to flirt.
The guy pulls some bacon off the frying pan and sets it on the towel where Stiles is curled up. “I know you’re not asleep,” the guy says. “But let that cool off a bit before you eat it.”
Stiles opens one eye. How did this guy know he wasn’t actually asleep?
But the guy’s already back over at the stove, humming to himself while he cooks.
Tentatively, Stiles nips at the bacon. It’s still too hot to eat, but his stomach is growling enough that he’s seriously considering dealing with a burned mouth just to have some food.
“I know you’re healing and you’re hungry, but just be patient. It’ll cool off in another thirty seconds,” the guy says.
Stiles lifts his head to look at him. Does this guy always talk to animals like this?
The guy turns off the stove and leans his hip on the counter, turning to face Stiles. “My name’s Derek,” he says. “And I’m guessing you can understand every word I say.”
Shit. Shit shit shit. What if this guy’s a hunter? Stiles’s eyes dart around the cabin, seeking an exit. He’s still injured, but maybe he’s healed enough–
The guy strides over and holds out his hand, like he wants Stiles to sniff it. “I’m a friend,” he says gently. “I’m not a hunter. You can listen to my heart and tell if I’m lying, can’t you?”
Stiles holds back, tense. He still doesn’t know anything about this guy–except that his name is Derek and he cooks bacon and he is pretty good at this animal first aid thing–so he’s not quite willing to make any friendly overtures.
However, Derek’s heartbeat hasn’t changed at all. And he looks so earnest and…okay, Stiles really wants to trust him. He knows he shouldn’t. But he does.
“I’m a shifter as well,” Derek says. “Not a fox, though. I’m a werewolf. And you’re safe here.”
Stiles gapes at him. It’s more of a human expression than a fox one but he can’t help it. He gapes. What in the world is a werewolf doing alone in a cabin in the middle of the woods?
Derek picks up a piece of bacon and breaks it in half. “Here, eat. I could hear your stomach growling from across the room.”
Tentatively, Stiles takes the bacon, which has cooled off enough to eat. It’s delicious, and he mows through the rest.
Midway through his second piece, Derek starts scratching behind his ears, and the pain in his side and his leg fades. Stiles relaxes bit by bit, until he’s practically a puddle in his towels. Never mind, Derek is clearly awesome. Anyone who gives out bacon and ear scratches is a god amongst mortals.
“You should get some sleep,” Derek says. “You’ve had a long day. But if you’re up for it, I hope you’ll shift back tomorrow. I’d like to have a two-sided conversation, if we can.”
Stiles snorts and whacks his tail against Derek’s wrist.
Derek smiles. It’s…astoundingly beautiful. “I’ll take that as a yes, then.”
Stiles whacks him with his tail again, and Derek laughs softly.
Tomorrow, he’ll suck it up and shift back and find out what Derek’s doing out here, why he’s not with his pack. But for now, Stiles falls asleep with the warmth of Derek’s fingers scratching behind his ears and taking his pain.