Chapter 7
"Hey, what's wrong?"
Stiles glanced up as he felt the warmth of a hand on his shoulder. His legs shivered as a breeze hit them from where they were hanging out the window. Derek's dark brown eyes peered up at him as he turned around. A small smile graced his face, Peter nowhere to be seen.
The shower was on with steam rolling out from under the door. So that's where he went.
"Hey. Are you okay?"
"Huh. Oh sorry, I was just thinking." Stiles turned back around to face the blackened sky and the crescent moon that lit up the clouds. "I've lived in Beacon Hills my whole life, gone through so many painful moments. Yet now its as if that doesn't exist. Everything I could say I've done and been there for is erased."
"Then why did you come back? Change what has already happened and lose everything you've gained?" Derek jumped up beside Stiles and watched the street as a red car drove by. "You didn't have to."
Stiles hummed in thought before responding, "Well sometimes change is better. In this case, it's definitely for the best." Stiles sighed as he moved to turn back. "And technically I haven't lost anything. It's still there waiting for me." Stiles smiled at Derek as jumped down from the window ledge.
Stiles walked away towards one of Peter's spare bedrooms leaving Derek to wonder. What would happen when Stiles' mission was complete? Would he stay or would he disappear into thin air? Maybe he knew and just wasn't telling or maybe he didn't. Maybe he was afraid under his cheerful smile and sly words. Maybe he was afraid of what's to come. Maybe... but Derek would never be able to understand what he had. Whether or not he liked it, he'd never know how important Stiles was to his other self and he realized that. What wonderful thoughts to settle down to sleep with.
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"Morning sunshine." Light streamed in through the window hitting Derek's face uncomfortably. He rolled over to try hide from the powerful rays but accidentally rolled off the bed. The hard floor and a shoe to the face are what greeted him at his destination. He groaned at the smell and slight pain in his nose.
Sitting up with a harsh glare Derek found Stiles obnoxiously smiling at him. Except he was smiling what seemed to be the best smile he had seen from him since he got here.
Derek smiled back at him and hoped up from the floor with a giddy smile. Pain and annoyance already forgot. “Morning Stiles.” He stretched his back making it pop before walking out the door towards the kitchen. “Breakfast?” Stiles skipped him to where they could see Peter already cooking. “Whatcha making?” Derek leaned over the counter to see the pan on the stove.
Peter looked up at them with a dead expression. “Bacon, you twit. Can you not smell it?” Peter rolled his eyes and went back to making the rest of the food. After they all ate the food, Peter stood and began placing the dishes away in the dishwasher.
Stiles looked at both of them nervously before clearing his throat. He waited until Peter came back from the kitchen to speak. “Do you have a plan?” Stiles gestured with cut off motions as he spoke to them. Nervously he looked back and forth between the two with an expectant look across his face. “You know, to confront Talia?”
Peter sighed at this topic and sat in front of Stiles. “Do you have a plan to recommend to us?” Stiles shrugged his shoulders with a thoughtful look before gesturing to Peter. “I do have a plan. Ever since you told me the truth my mind has been rapidly putting a plan together. I would need just a little more time because it is still sloppy.” Peter stood up from the table after his declaration and made his way towards his study. “For now find something to occupy yourselves.”
Stiles and Derek watched as Peter made his way towards his study in silence. After he disappeared past the old oak doors they turned to look at each other in unison. Then they both smiled and giggled at Peter’s actions. “He’s always been a lone wolf. He must not know how to react to your helping hand,” Derek commented as he pushed back the chair he was sitting on and made his way to the couch in the living room. Stiles turned back in the kitchen to make himself a glass of water before following after Derek to the couch. Derek had pulled up a movie to help pass the time as they waited for Peter to finish his scheming.
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Hours later Peter emerged from his study with a disheveled appearance. His hair stood up in a few places and he looked in desperate need of a shower. He threw a small file at Stiles to look over as he headed to his room. Derek scooted closer with a curious expression on his face. He inched until he could see what Stiles was reading. On the paper in Stiles left hand was an elaborate drawn-out sketch of the Hale’s mainland with a key attached identifying what the marks represented. In his right hand was the walkthrough of the plan with expectations of the pack's reaction. As well as thought out surprises that could occur and a counter plan for each setting. Stiles nodded his head at a few things as well as taking a pen to write comments on the expectations of what he thought would happen and a plan to set that scene.
The plan was rather simple, to be honest. Corner Talia tonight at the Pack meeting when the full moon was high. Try and get her to confess to what she did. See if she will step down willingly. If that doesn't work challenge her. Peter expected a few to back him up, but he had a plan if he was wrong. It was rather simple except for the thought out back up plan that adheres to the movements of the rest of the pack. It should work.
Peter returned from his room minutes later dressed to the nines and his hair slightly damp. He wore his signature v neck and dark skinny jeans that were faded at the knees. He looked annoyed as his gaze landed on the papers. “I don’t have enough time to work out a better and more elaborate plan. There are some variables I won't be able to account for. Yet if I wait any longer there will be even more circumstances. I need to do this now when not only is the knowledge fresh and unsuspecting, but also on the full moon.”
Stiles nodded his head in agreement to Peter’s words before passing the papers back for Peter to view the changes he had made. “It looks as good as you can get in the time frame we’re in.” Stiles sighed in annoyance as he leaned back into the couch. “I guess we gotta now I guess.”
Derek sighed in annoyance too before standing up to run off the spare room to get dressed. “Just give me a minute. I need to get dressed.” Derek sped off leaving Stiles to stare at Peter with a resigned expression. Peter looked as if nothing that was occurring fazed him. They waited patiently for Derek to return. When he did they loaded up in Peter’s car as night had already fallen. Peter drove the speed limit the entire way and slowed as they approached Hale territory. He was most definitely late. The sky was lit up with a huge bonfire. The pack surrounding it mingling and the children playing. Talia was nowhere in sight, but the moment Peter pulled up everyone stopped moving. They stared for a second before moving to the bonfire. Meaning Peter was most definitely the last to arrive. Talia stepped out from the back door and Peter stared at her for only a slight second before stepping out of the car to face her. Derek raced to exit right behind him. It was time for the True Alpha to step up onto his throne.