new york wolves } { of moving forward and pineapple pizza

[beanchaointe]

Lydia: [picks up her ringing phone and after glancing at the caller ID she answers] I take it you're feeling better?

Stiles: Yeah, you can say that. [rubs his fuzzy head]

Lydia: No permanent damage done?

Stiles: Not physically.

Lydia: [she pauses before shifting back on her bed] How about mentally?

Stiles: Pretty sure Laura's debating about putting me in a bubble wrap lined hampster ball.

Lydia: [she laughs] Can't really blame her there.

Stiles: Are you... are you working today?

Lydia: No. I don't have class either, why?

Stiles: Cora left back for school this morning and I'm on sick leave still. I could use company.

Lydia: I could bring some pizza?

Stiles: You would be my personal hero.

Lydia: I'll be over in an hour.

Stiles: See you then.

Lydia: [and she will go out and grab them a pizza before making her way over to the Hale penthouse and knock on the door]

Stiles: [and he will go answer it, wearing a beanie hiding his head] Hey Lydia. Come on in.

Lydia: [smiles as she makes her way inside] Hey. You're looking a lot better.

Stiles: It's amazing how better you feel when you don't have wolfsbane pumping through your veins.

Lydia: I can imagine. [and she flips open the pizza box] I got your favorite. [or at least half his favorite. She even endured the dirty looks the pizza place gave her for even daring to ask for half-Hawaiian]

Stiles: [that earns a small smile] Want to believe that it's becoming something I eat less and less of the longer I live here? [But he's not going to turn it down]

Lydia: I know that the Hales tend to conspire against you, but I thought you might like a change.

Stiles: I appreciate it. Come on, we can go up to my room so we don't wake Tommy up from his nap.

Lydia: [nods and follows his head back upstairs]

Stiles: [and in the room he has his computer set up, and Bucky is sleeping in his dog bed. He smells pizza though and lifts his head, wagging his tail HI LYDIA!]

Lydia: [lets Stiles take the pizza before making her way over to sit next to Bucky so that he doesn't decide to jump up on her] You know, if I ever find a building that allows pets, you and Prada should have a play date.

Stiles: I'm sure I can arrange that.

Lydia: Finding me a pet friendly building?

Stiles: Yeah, I got nothing else to do this week.

Lydia: [she laughs] I have to be able to afford it. I don't exactly make a lot. [that, and it'll probably be to move in with Sam and she doesn't know how Sam feels about tiny fluffy dogs]

Stiles: [speaking of] What about Sam's building?

Lydia: I don't know. I haven't really asked.

Stiles: Maybe you should. I mean... now that he isn't trying to frame you for murder, he's a pretty good guy.

Lydia: We'll see. I don't know if we're ... there yet.

Stiles: Well, just go with what you feel. [and he will put the pizza on the bed and take a slice]

Lydia: [nods as she pets his head] He's also got a lot going on at work right now. Trying to figure out living together would probably only make things harder. [never mind that she sleeps there most nights anyway]

Stiles: Well, you can try the whole closet test.

Lydia: Closet test?

Stiles: Yeah. Next time you go there, look in his closet and see how much room your stuff takes up of his closet.

Lydia: Oh. I already know the answer to this. None, because his closet is a matchbox.

Stiles: [laughs] Well, that would do it. What about dresser?

Lydia: [she wrinkles her nose a bit] Bathroom sink?

Stiles: Lydia Martin, keeping her clothes in a bathroom sink? [smirks]

Lydia: No. But toothbrush, make up, shampoo, conditioner, cleanser ... [insert more of her beauty routine here]

Stiles: So you put a Sephora into the bathroom?

Lydia: I'm not that high maintenance. But I don't do walks of shame.

Stiles: Oh, I remember. [laughs a bit]

Lydia: [she sighs] His apartment is really small. I don't really think he has room for another person anyway.

Stiles: Then you find a place together that you can both afford, allows pets, and gives you both free space as well as together space.

Lydia: [nods as she strokes the top of Bucky's head] Maybe. [they are coming up on a year together. not that she has been thinking about it. much.]

Stiles: You could always talk to him about it.

Lydia: [she nods] That's true.

Stiles: How long have you two been together anyway?

Lydia: [she takes a breath] Technically? A year at Thanksgiving. [as that is when they first slept together]

Stiles: That's a good chunk of time.

Lydia: [she nods] It is. [but that doesn't mean she really knows what to do with it]

Stiles: Just talk to him.

Lydia: I will. [later. after she's mulled it over some more]

Stiles: So can you keep a secret?

Lydia: Of course.

Stiles: [puts his pizza down and takes a deep breath, and then shows her his red eyes]

Lydia: [she squints for a moment because she doesn't quite understand the distinction] Your eyes were doing that when Valek was trying to drill into my head.

Stiles: But this isn't my normal color. My eyes were yellow.

Lydia: Oh. So ... what's the big deal? [she still doesn't know enough about werewolves to get what eye color means]

Stiles: It means I'm an alpha now.

Lydia: Oh. [another beat] Is that bad?

Stiles: It means if I can't find a way to not be an alpha anymore, I may have to leave. You can't have two alphas in a pack.

Lydia: Wasn't there an entire pack of alphas that you had to save your girlfriend from a couple years ago?

Stiles: Yeah, and they were psychotic power hungry jerks who were obsessed with power.

Lydia: Still. It's been done. Maybe you and Laura could do it well.

Stiles: I don't know. I mean, I don't really want to go out and have a pack of my own to be an alpha over, and alphas need a pack.

Lydia: But you have a pack. What you just said doesn't indicate that you have to be the one in charge of them.

Stiles: [shrugs] I don't know how it works, but I don't think Laura is comfortable having two alphas.

Lydia: Ah. That makes sense.

Stiles; And honestly, I don't really want to be one. They think... [sighs] They think that you, Scott and Allison are my pack and that I rose to it to be able to save you.

Lydia: [frowns at that] Hey. I did the saving here. [she's clearly teasing though, getting up from Bucky and making her way closer to him] Well, I summoned the hellhound who did the saving.

Stiles: Yeah, but I'm the reason you don't have another hole in your head. You're welcome for that, by the way. [smirks and goes to get another slice]

Lydia: [she sighs] Personally? I don't think we make a very good pack. Maybe it's something that'll ... wear off if you don't accept it, or something?

Stiles: Who knows. I just hope it does.

Lydia: Me too.

Stiles: So... you've started summoning hellhounds?

Lydia: [sighs as she shifts to sit next to him] Apparently banshees and hellhounds are connected. He can hear me even when no one else can.

Stiles: ..... Can he hear us now?

Lydia: [gives him a look at that] No. When I scream.

Stiles: Oh. So like, he's linked to your supersonic frequency.

Lydia: Something like that. Sheila said it was like hearing the echoes.

Stiles: Huh. So why hasn't he shown up until now?

Lydia: Because he's supposed to protect the secret. He only shows up when he's needed.

Stiles: Does he know that?

Lydia: Sort of. Sheila's been working him through it. It's ... a lot to deal with.

Stiles: Yeah, I'm sure. Adjusting to being a creature is never easy.

Lydia: Yeah, and his is ... rougher than most.

Stiles: So what makes a hellhound a hellhound anyway?

Lydia: [there's a pause] You have to die by fire. And then, I guess ... it's kind of like you're possessed by it. And you're connected to the nemeton - this huge supernatural tree.

Stiles: So when did this hellhound die?

Lydia: In Afghanistan. He was trying to disable an IED and ... [boom]

Stiles: Afghanistan. Huh. So some military guy.

Lydia: Yeah. And after that he left the army and ... became a deputy in a small town. One with a history of supernatural issues.

Stiles: [give him a second] Oh my god are you talking about Parrish?

Lydia: [grimaces before nodding]

Stiles: That's just.... odd.

Lydia: What do you mean?

Stiles: He came here because of my Dad. Or at least that's what he believes. Kinda hard to think that it was a tree that called him.

Lydia: Stiles, he was the one stealing the bodies.

Stiles: ... I take it he's going to lose his job now, huh?

Lydia: I don't think so. He didn't really have a choice in it.

Stiles: Still kinda a conflict of interest.

Lydia: I don't know. That's for him and Captain Flack to talk about. He might not even stay on the force after all of this - I know he was having a hard time with it.

Stiles: If he's tied to you, would he even be able to leave?

Lydia: I don't know. I don't know how it all works. It's ... weird.

Stiles: But... well at least you now have your own personal guard dog. [smirks]

Lydia: [she rolls her eyes] I don't need one.

Stiles: Uh huh.

Lydia: I don't! I'm not some fragile damsel in distress.

Stiles: No, you're not. But you also have fugue states where you don't know what you're doing until you're screaming over a dead body.

Lydia: [huffs] Sam's teaching me how to fight. I'd rather know how to protect myself than rely on something else to protect me because of some ... supernatural bond.

Stiles: Well, I'll admit I'm glad to know you have people looking after you.

Lydia: That it's not just you anymore?

Stiles: Well, yeah, but more that I know you'll be okay.

Lydia: I was always going to be okay. You worry about me too much.

Stiles: Yeah, well you're still my friend. I'll always worry about you. Like I worry about Scott and Allison. I just have to worry about you on a supernatural level

Lydia: [she makes a face at that] Believe me. I would turn it off if I could.

Stiles: I know, and I wish sometimes I could take it away for you.

Lydia: I'm figuring it out, though.

Stiles: I'm glad.

Lydia: Me too.

Stiles: So what kind of training is Sam giving you?

Lydia: Hand to hand mostly. He's going to teach me to shoot but I don't have a permit so I can't carry it anyway.

Stiles: Well, it's good to know. And I'm sure between him and my dad, we can get you one.

Lydia: I'm not sure if I want one yet.

Stiles: But knowing how to shoot it will be good in case it's the only weapon you have.

Lydia: Exactly what I'm thinking.

Stiles: Good.

Lydia: But with that, plus class, plus TA-ing, there's not a whole lot of room for me time, unfortunately.

Stiles: Well, you should schedule it still

Lydia: I know. [she pouts slightly] Sam used to be my me time.

Stiles: And now he's furniture?

Lydia: Now he's a drill sergeant.

Stiles: He’s just being a concerned boyfriend.

Lydia: I know. And it's not like he's doing anything I haven't asked him for. But sometimes I miss when he was an escape.

Stiles: Yeah, I remember how that felt.

Lydia: I'll figure it out.

Stiles: You can always escape here.

Lydia: How's your fiancée going to feel about that?

Stiles: She gets jealous around you, but she knows that we're friends. Just like how I deal with Tyler.

Lydia: Mmmm-hmm. So the fact that you independently took a level in werewolf trying to help me doesn't bother her at all.

Stiles: [he's just going to suck on his lips at that]

Lydia: Yeah. That's what I thought.

Stiles: If it had been Scott, I would have fought just as hard.

Lydia: I know that. And she knows that. But we've had this talk about how my relationship with you is a little different than your relationship with Scott or her relationship with Tyler.

Stiles: Yeah, I know.

Lydia: It's always going to be complicated. And that's okay. But you need to put her feelings first before you worry about me.

Stiles: Trust me, I do.

Lydia: Good.

Stiles: [and he's going to reach for another slice silently]

Lydia: [nods as she reaches for a slice as well, before shifting to sit next to him more] I appreciate the offer, though.

Stiles: Do you think it would be better that we don't hang out anymore except with Scott and Allison are in town?

Lydia: No. I don't think us hanging out is really the issue. But try to avoid taking another level in werewolf just because you're trying to help me. At least while she's stuck in Boston and isn't as able to easily reassure herself that you’re hers.

Stiles: So I should wait for Cora to be home before I let myself get kidnapped again?

Lydia: That would be a start.

Stiles: I'll do my best. [sarcasm]

Lydia: [she laughs] I'm sure you will.

Stiles: [lays back on the bed] You ever sometimes look at your life and wonder how the hell you got there?

Lydia: Pretty much every day I was in Eichen House.

Stiles: As much as I love Cora and everything... sometimes I look at where I am and it's nowhere near what I had wanted before I was diagnosed.

Lydia: What did you want then?

Stiles: Being in California. Probably working for Beacon Hills Sheriff's department as a cybercrime tech or else working at Google. Married with a kid...

Lydia: And instead you're in New York, working as a tech expert for the NYPD, engaged to be married.

Stiles: Yeah.

Lydia: Not too far off from the original plan.

Stiles: No, not really. Just the whole werewolf part.

Lydia: And in a way that's good. It means your brain isn't eating itself alive.

Stiles: You know I'd be dead by now, right?

Lydia: Either way. You've got a good life here, Stiles. Not better or worse than what you could have had. But good.

Stiles: I know. And like I said, I don't regret it, it's just not what I was thinking I would be doing.

Lydia: I get that. This isn't what I thought I'd be doing either. [a beat] Well, graduate school yes. Piles of dead bodies, no.

Stiles: Sometimes it makes me want to hate Scott and Allison.

Lydia: Why? Because they got everything exactly how they expected it to?

Stiles: Yeah.

Lydia: I love them, but ... I'm glad I didn't get everything exactly how I wanted it in high school. This means more.

Stiles: [nods] Yeah.

Lydia: [she gives his shoulder a small squeeze] Besides. It's not as though you don't already have a kid. [looks over at Bucky]

Stiles: [laughs] Two. Cora has a dog as well.

Lydia: There you go. You're ahead of the game.

Stiles: [laughs]

Lydia: Besides, if you had gotten exactly what you wanted in high school it probably would have been the two of us married, and think about how well that would have gone.

Stiles: Who said I wanted to marry you? [smirks]

Lydia: You being obsessed with me between the ages of eight and eighteen does.

Stiles: Yeah, there was that. But Heather was also up on the whole idea of marriage

Lydia: Heather who banged you and ditched you?

Stiles: Hey, she wanted to live life before she decided to settle down. She obviously trusted me enough to bang me.

Lydia: Uh-huh.

Stiles: What about Jackson, huh?

Lydia: [makes a face] I was never going to marry Jackson.

Stiles: You guys were pretty serious.

Lydia: He was a good high school boyfriend, but if he hadn't dumped me first, I would have at graduation.

Stiles: Like you did me.

Lydia: [she takes a deep breath] Not quite like you. We never ... cared about each other like you and I did. With me and Jackson it was all about status.

Stiles: Something I never cared about. [shrugs] still don't, really.

Lydia: I don't as much as I used to. And after he dumped me, it didn't really matter as much. [there's a beat] We were fifteen. He was ... all of my firsts. I didn't get it then.

Stiles: Now you do?

Lydia: Yeah. My priorities are different.

Sam: [calling Lydia]

Lydia: [glances down at her phone and sighs] Gimme a sec?

Stiles: Sure. I'll take the trash down to the kitchen. Want a refill on your water?

Lydia: [she shakes her head, waiting for him to leave before answering the phone] Hey.

Sam: Hey, what are you doing?

Lydia: Hanging out with Stiles for a bit. Why?

Sam: Well, I was just wondering if you were busy tonight? I'm actually getting out of work early.

Lydia: Did hell freeze over? [yeah, still not fond of Louis, in case you haven't guessed]

Sam: Apparently Louis can be bribed with opera tickets.

Lydia: Duly noted. But back to your original question, I happen to be perfectly free tonight.

Sam: Would you like to go out to dinner and something that isn't takeout?

Lydia: Actually out? With people? Hell must be freezing over. [teasing]

Sam: You may want to wear a sweater then.

Lydia: I'll keep that in mind. And yeah, that sounds good. I'll just have to go back to my place to clean up.

Sam: I can pick you up there say, five thirty?

Lydia: [glances down at her watch and cringes] Make it six?

Sam: Six it is.

Lydia: Okay. See you then.

Sam: See you.

Stiles: [knocking on the door]

Lydia: Bye. [and she hangs up] I'm done.

Stiles: [and he will come in] Everything ok?

Lydia: Yeah. Sam's just getting off work early, so he wanted to see if I wanted to go out to dinner.

Stiles: Well, you go have fun. I have a skype date when Cora hits Boston.

Lydia: I figured. [she gives him a small smile as she gets up and presses a kiss to his cheek] You'll figure it out, Stiles.

Stiles: [smiles a bit, sliding his hands into his pockets as he goes to see her out] Yeah, I know. I'm just not the patient waiting type.

Lydia: Oh, I'm aware. But you will.

Stiles: [when they get to the door] You know, for the record... I kinda like what we have now better too.

Lydia: [nods with a small smile] Me too.

Stiles: [smiles back] You may have been the girl I was in love with since I was eight... but you were never the girl I was truly in love with. You just showed me how to find what I really needed.

Lydia: [she squeezes his hand gently before nodding] I'll see you later, Stiles.

Stiles: Have fun with Sam. [squeezes back, and lets her go and closes his door before turning back to the apartment and wondering just who heard that last bit]

Laura: [if they did, they're not going to make any color commentary, at least not on my end]

Peter: [nope, not a word said. Though he really wished Cora could have heard that]

Laura: [her jealousy is not really a rational thing guys. She knows Stiles' is hers, she gets awkward sometimes]

Peter: [still, it could give her comfort in those irrational times]

Laura: [that's not really the thing that works, but it's a nice thought]

Stiles: [SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHS]

Cora: [honestly, it'll be easier when she finishes school. because part of it is Stiles going true alpha to protect Lydia but also that she wasn't present to protect him.]

Stiles: [he will be a lot happier when you finish school]

Cora: [she will too]

Stiles: [bot for now he's going to just check his phone, and go back upstairs to lay on the bed until she calls]

Cora: [and she will after she gets back to Boston and collects Sadie from her neighbor who is VERY VERY happy to see her and will be squirming all over her lap when Stiles answers the phone]

Stiles: [holding it up in the air, laying on the bed still] Hey beautiful.

Cora: Hey. [she smiles softly] Sorry, I'm getting puppy-smothered over here.

Stiles: No, it's fine. Hi Sadie baby.

Cora: [Sadie turns at the sound of her name and whines, because she can't really tell where it's coming from] Look, he's over there. [turns and points the dog to the computer which is a mistake because now Sadie's going to go and investigate which means sniffing at the laptop and blocking the camera]

Stiles: [laughs] Yes, I miss you too, girl. I'm sorry I took Mommy away for so long.

Cora: [eventually manages to pull the dog back and calms her down with pets and just generally being there] Anything crazy go down while I was on the train?

Stiles: Just me making out with a pizza on our bed.

Cora: How scandalous.

Stiles: I may have gotten some pineapple on your side.

Cora: Pineapple pizza. [she looks mock offended] I don't know if I can live with this information.

Stiles: It was just too tempting, and before I knew it, I just dove in.

Cora: It's just ... it's not like you're the person I thought you were anymore.

Stiles. I blame the hole in my head.

Cora: Uh-huh.

Stiles: I promise I will wash the sheets before you get back so they won't smell of the offending citrus.

Cora: You better.

Stiles: [grins] I love you.

Cora: I love you too. And I miss you already.

Stiles: Same here. Hopefully that sweatshirt is extra smelly.

Cora: It is. Sadie hasn't had a chance to roll all over it yet.

Stiles: Good. Sadly, Bucky slept on your pillow already.

Cora: Oh well. I guess he misses me too.

Bucky: [barks from his spot on the floor]

Stiles: I think that's a yes.

Cora: [Sadie barks in response before whining again] I think that feeling is mutual on this end.

Stiles: Good to know.

Cora: [she sighs softly] Do you think Laura will let you come up here in a couple weeks?

Stiles: I'm still working on convincing her to let me out the door again.

Cora: At least you weren't missing for three months?

Stiles: Yeah, but the alpha part still is upsetting.

Cora: We'll figure out a way out of that.

Stiles: Yeah, hopefully a way that isn't someone killing me for it.

Cora: It can be done without you dying.

Stiles: Good, because I'm totally not fine with dying.

Cora: As am I. In fact, I would be very upset if you were dead.

Stiles: Then the whole dying plan is right out.

Cora: Good.

Stiles: Maybe I could give it to Tyler and he doesn't have to worry about inheriting his dad's.

Cora: That I don't think you can do.

Stiles: Too bad.

Cora: [she pauses for a moment] I don't think it's inheriting his father's power that he's worried about. It's actually being an alpha.

Stiles: Oh.

Cora: His father wasn't really the best example. But he's going to be better at it than he thinks.

Stiles: I'm sure. Not that I've met him.

Cora: Let's hope we never have to. But I have a feeling he's going to want a sit down with my sister if Malia keeps going to Mystic Falls.

Stiles: [winces] Yeah.

Cora: So we'll see what happens.

Stiles: So what are you doing tonight?

Cora: Mostly getting in some puppy time. I should probably get some sleep before class tomorrow.

Stiles: Sleep is for the weak.

Cora: You should be sleeping too. You're still healing.

Stiles: I know, but I miss you. The bed is too empty.

Cora: I know. Maybe you should let Bucky sleep with you.

Stiles: Well, he does love your pillow.

Cora: He can keep it warm for me.

Stiles: He'll also give me kisses in the morning.

Cora: There you go. Problem solved.

Stiles: Still not the same.

Cora: I know. But it'll at least hold you over until I can be there.

Stiles: How many more weeks until your next break?

Cora: [makes a face] Probably not until Thanksgiving. [and it's probably about September/October]

Stiles: [sighs] Toooo long.

Cora: I know.

Stiles: I will have to muster up my best puppy eyes at your sister.

Cora: Let me know how that goes.

Stiles: Maybe you can hit her up on your end with texts about being lonely and sad.

Cora: I will do my best.

Stiles: We can totally double team this and get me a weekend pass.

Cora: Sounds like a plan.

Stiles: I love you.

Cora: I love you too.

Stiles: [he's going to just curl on his side, head on the pillow and try to prop his phone on hers]

Cora: [smiles softly before dragging the laptop a bit closer] I know this is rough now, but I only have about a year and a half left. It'll be better soon.

Stiles: I know. I just wish I had stolen a few more kisses from you before you left.

Cora: You were healing.

Stiles: I know, but still.

Cora: You will see me soon and we can make up for it then.

Stiles: Oh, I plan on being back in action to more than make up for that.

Cora: Good.

Stiles: And then, in like, two years, I'm going to marry you and whisk you away for a while.

Cora: That sounds even better.

Stiles: [sinks into the pillow a bit more] Until then, we will just have to do naughty things to each other via skype.

Cora: [she laughs] I guess we'll just have to settle for that.

Stiles: So whatcha wearing?

Cora: [looks mock scandalized] There are children present. [meaning Sadie still in her lap]

Stiles: [sighs] Darn children.

Cora: Maybe another time.

Stiles: Yeah, I'd probably fall asleep on you anyway.

Cora: So maybe you should stop talking to me and get some rest.

Stiles: Um, no?

Cora: If you're falling asleep, you should sleep.

Stiles: Will you call to wake me up so I can see your face?

Cora: Sure.

Stiles: Okay, then I will go to sleep only because it means I'll see you when I wake up.

Cora: [she smiles] Good. I'll see you in the morning, okay?

Stiles: See you in the morning.

Cora: [and with that she is going to hang up to get ready for bed]

Stiles: [and he is going to as well, patting the bed for Bucky to join him, and he's going to just drift off to bed]