puppy love } { of switching days and testing lines

[impetere]

Cora: [and once Ben is off to school one morning she will text him to call her when he has a free moment]

Stiles: [and he is on his way to work and he will answer the phone] Hey Cora.

Cora: Hey. So I have a question for you.

Stiles: Shoot.

Cora: So my brother is going to be going out of town for a while ... a long while ... and I need someone to handle babysitting on his night.

Stiles: Derek's leaving?

Cora: He's taking a sabbatical and is going to travel a bit.

Stiles: Okay. [nods. Yeah, he'll be checking in with Allison] But I'm totally up for spending time with Ben. You think he's ready?

Cora: He seemed really excited about it. If you think it would be easier, you could just hang out at my place rather than taking him to yours at first.

Stiles: Yeah. I mean I've talked to the roommate about eventually having him there and they are okay with it but we can work up to it.

Cora: Okay. Great! Derek's night was Thursdays, and I know you can't get him right from school, but Malia can do that and you can relieve her when you get out?

Stiles: Sure, and I'll talk to switch my Tuesday day off to Thursday so that I won't be at work that day and can do it in a week or two.

Cora: Perfect! That'll be great. And if things get crazy, I'll just be downstairs you can call me to come up.

Stiles: Wonderful. And then when you're done, you can bring me up a drink for surviving. [laughs]

Cora: [she laughs] Sure. I'll bring you a whole bottle.

Stiles: Now you're bribing me. [shifts to hold the phone with his shoulder as he goes to buy a breakfast street burrito] Do you have Derek this Thursday at least or should I come over then?

Cora: No, I think he's leaving either today or tomorrow, so if you want to start this Thursday, that'd be great.

Stiles: I don't think I can get both Tuesday and Thursday, but I will see what I can do. I'll text you later.

Cora: Okay. If not, Malia can pick up Thursday, but she'll just be cranky about it.

Stiles: Any reason for Derek's sudden bailing?

Cora: I think it's been a long time coming, just some recent stuff tipped the scales. He didn't really ... recover well after we left Beacon Hills.

Stiles: Oh. [now he knows what it is] I'm sorry to hear that.

Cora: [she's quiet for a moment] Part of it is my fault. I was pregnant and let him just focus on me instead of dealing with what was going on with him.

Stiles: He's your twin, Cora. He would have anyway. I'm actually curious if he had any phantom pregnancy issues because you two are twins, now that I think about it.

Cora: [and her eyes roll up] As I've told you many times before, being twins doesn't work that way.

Stiles: Oh come on, you can tell me if he ended up sharing your food cravings.

Cora: He did not. In fact, he made faces at a lot of them.

Stiles: Well I probably would have too while getting it for you.

Cora: You would have complained a lot more.

Stiles: And I would have stolen your pickles.

Cora: Oh, pickles made me nauseous. I would have let you have them.

Stiles: No pickles and ice cream?

Cora: No. Lemonade with barbecue sauce.

Stiles: As a drink?

Cora: Yep. I would mix it and then drink it.

Stiles: [gags] I think i just threw up in my mouth.

Cora: It was actually not bad.

Stiles: Nope. Nope still nauseous.

Cora: I don't drink it anymore.

Stiles: Good because I don't want to come across that in the fridge.

Cora: Don't worry. You're safe there.

Stiles: And just, like, never get pregnant again.

Cora: You don't get a say in that. You're not sleeping with me anymore.

Stiles: True. I'll just keep Ben on my days far from your kitchen.

Cora: That is a better plan.

Stiles: Well, I need to catch my train. I'll text you after I talk to my team about days off again.

Cora: Sounds good. Talk to you then.

Stiles: [and he will take a deep breath and head into the metro, getting to work quickly and going to find his team]

Allison: [is ... suspiciously not at work. but then again he didn't see her this morning so it's possible that she just never left and stayed quiet in her room]

Stiles: [and he is worried about that, because that means Matt is going to be bored and forced to be with them all day]

Hayley: [NOPE BECAUSE HAYLEY IS GIVING HIM THE DAY OFF PLEASE GOD DON'T STICK AROUND AND BE JUDGY]

MATT [THANK FUCKEN GOD HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE WITH YOU TWO ANYWAY]

Hayley: Yes, please, go home.

Matt: Fine. See you two later. [light speed out of there]

Hayley: [exhales as she turns back to her desk] And we just dodged a fifty caliber.

Stiles: Thank god because otherwise I would have to sleep dart him and find a few rolls of duct tape.

Hayley: [A beat] Oh, shit. That might have actually been fun.

Stiles: We'll save it for next time.

Hayley: Good plan. [and she'll go back to the stack of files in front of her, cases that a werewolf in the DOJ had tossed her that were going nowhere.]

Stiles: So, um, i was going to ask all of you about revisiting that days off conversation... i hate to be a pain about this.

Hayley: [her eyebrows raise] Did you forget the fact that I am also a single parent?

Stiles: No, I know. I just worry it'll mess up your schedule too.

Hayley: If I tell Hope it's for you, she'll forgive me. What do you need?

Stiles: Thursday afternoon. Leaving here by two so I can get to pick up Ben after school.

Hayley: Make up the hours on other days, and you got it.

Stiles: I can actually come back on Tuesdays again.

Hayley: Perfect.

Stiles: Seems Derek Hale is leaving town.

Hayley: Is that a good or bad thing?

Stiles: Not sure, but I'm pretty sure it's a thing connected to Allison not being here thing.

Hayley: Ahh. Wanna go check on her?

Stiles: I do, but I don't want to act like I'm hovering.

Hayley: So want to help me with these cases then? I'm not really sure what I'm looking for, but my buddy thinks they might be more your kind of werewolf than mine.

Stiles: Yeah I can take a look at them. [and he will take half the files and go sit at his desk to start reading]

Hayley: [and they will read those over until their eyes start swimming and Hayley will push away from her desk] Okay. I need to go do ... something else.

Stiles: [rubs at his eyes, leaning back to look at the clock] Did we even take a lunch break? What day is it?

Hayley: [snorts as she looks over at the hoagies that had been delivered that they hadn't eaten] I think we might have skipped it.

Stiles: Then I say we get to go home early and count that as our lunch break.

Hayley: I like the way you think.

Stiles: And it's not like Matt is here to rat us out.

Hayley: He already got a day off.

Stiles: Exactly. Let's get out of here.

Hayley: [nods and they both head home for the evening!]

Stiles: [yup, with him shooting off a quick text to Cora that he's good for changing his day from Tuesday to Thursday and will be there this Thursday to meet Malia to pick Ben up. Oh, and what does the school need from him to be able to become able to pick Ben up on his own and like three other things he rambles on about]

Cora: [blah blah paperwork, blah blah she'll leave them a note and he can sign it when he's there, Malia will help smooth things over the end!]

Stiles: [great. And by the time that's over he will be home and hey he's home early before Scott and Lydia get back and he still has his hoagie he hasn't eaten]

Allison: [yep, the only person home is Allison who is in her room, watching Netflix and ... not moping exactly, because Allison Argent is not a moper, but she's not feeling very Allison Argent-like at the moment]

Stiles: [and once he has his stuff away, he will be knocking on her door] Allison?

Allison: [deep breath. she knew this was coming] Yeah?

Stiles: [and he will open the door and poke his head in] Just wanted to check up on you, see if you were feeling better.

Allison: [nods with a small smile] Yeah, I'm fine. I just ... needed a break.

Stiles: Want to talk about it?

Allison: Not really a lot to talk about. Derek asked me to choose and I didn't choose him.

Stiles: [nods] I didn't know that, but I figured you two had talked.

Allison: [nods] You heard from Cora?

Stiles: More that Cora asked me if I would change my weekday with Ben to Thursday because Derek is taking a sabbatical from school and leaving town for a while.

Allison: [swallows and nods again] Probably for the best.

Stiles: Probably. Make it easier for you at least not having to worry about him popping his head up out of nowhere.

Allison: [she nods] And me for him.

Stiles: So everyone wins and Derek gets to take a vacation that he probably needs anyway.

Allison: Yep. Everything works out.

Stiles: [and there's a small smile, but he knows this isn't going to make her feel much better] Well, if you need me, I'll be in my room on the computer. I'm going to actually take a few hours for myself and play Warcraft.

Allison: [she nods, but as much as she probably should talk to someone, she mostly wants to be left alone] Have fun.

Stiles: [nods, and he will leave her, because he knows when she is ready, she'll come talk to him or Lydia. And this isn't a topic they push each other on too much]

Allison: [yep, and she'll make it through a few more episodes of whatever mindless reality show she's been binging before she gets up and wanders into his room, knocking lightly on the doorframe]

Stiles: Yeah, come in. [and he will be at his desk, headphones on and typing furiously.] Give me one minute to kill this troll...

Allison: [smirks] Take your time. [and she'll go and sit on his bed, waiting for him to finish]

Stiles: [wait for it... wait for it... YES two fists up in the air as he watches the troll fall and gets all the glorious xp. He will tell his group that he has to step away a moment and then he'll take the headphones off and spin around to face her] Wassup?

Allison: [deep breath] When you and Cora started talking again did you get the feeling that she was ... waiting for you?

Stiles: Oh, I know she was. That's why I told her from the start that when it came to us, I only wanted to be friends.

Allison: How did she take it?

Stiles: Typical Hale manner. Closed off reaction with a neutral face. But we have a kid too, so we have to do this for him. And it's been working so far. For the most part.

Allison: For the most part?

Stiles: Just every now and then there's a comment that irks me.

Allison: [she wants to ask "like what?" to delay the conversation further or maybe see if there's something that might line up with what happened between her and Derek, but she knows she's only delaying the inevitable. there's a pause for a moment, as she tries to figure out how to phrase this] This might get slightly TMI, so I'm sorry in advance, but it's ... it makes sense to me, that she would wait for you for that closure. Cora is ... Cora. She's not Lydia, where she liked to flirt or went a lot of dates. She was basically with you, and that was it, and then she was pregnant and had a kid so ... there wasn't really a lot of room for her to ... explore, I guess. But Derek ... I don't want the responsibility of being the only person he's ever been with. I get that sometimes people know what they want and that's fine, I guess. But with our families the way they are and the problems they've caused, him coming to me and telling me that he thinks I'm his mate and that he hasn't really been with anyone else, when he didn't really have a lot of experience before me to begin with just feels really ... unbalanced. And uncomfortable.

Stiles: I get that. Cora was really my first girlfriend too. But I mean, you and I really didn't do a lot of dating around either after they left. I know you tried, at least. And I've got my reasons why I don't want a relationship. But no, i agree with you - it's not fair to put that on you.

Allison: Not a lot, but Derek wasn't my first, either. [but that isn't really the point] This isn't like when we were kids, and we didn't really understand what things meant, or thought we could change them. He made promises to his family, and being willing to break them over me ... actually isn't really all that attractive. And he said that he would wait for me to figure things out if I needed more time, but ... that's not fair to him again. I don't want him wasting his entire life waiting on me. That's why I said no.

Stiles: And now he's gone. Or going. Cora wasn't sure when he was leaving but it will be today or tomorrow.

Allison: [she nods] Maybe that's for the best. Now that he has closure maybe he'll really be able to move on.

Stiles: [nods] And you can too.

Allison: I hope so. [but enough about her and she'll go back to the question she wanted to ask before] What does Cora say that irks you?

Stiles: [shrugs] It's just comments here or there. Like I was joking about her weird pregnancy cravings she was telling me about the other day and joked that in order to save mine and Derek's sensibilities, she could avoid getting pregnant ever again. We were laughing, it was a joke, but suddenly she just told me I didn't have a say in that anymore, completely breaking that moment. And while yeah, if I was being serious I agree I have no right to say that. But I was joking. It's little things like that where it feels like she throws my choice back in my face. All it does is remind me that I made the right choice in keeping my distance emotionally. And I know she isn't doing it to lash out at me but still... [shrugs]

Allison: Cora isn't really the type to do passive aggressive. Maybe she was joking too and it didn't come out right?

Stiles: Either way, the fact she said it points out to me that to her, I'm not allowed to have an opinion on her life anymore. Which I get, and she's right. Same with her on mine.

Allison: Does she try to force her opinion on you?

Stiles: No, but I also don't offer up much of anything about my personal life to her.

Allison: [she nods slowly] Okay, two things: first of all, pregnancy jokes don't really land well ever. And second of all, if something she's doing is upsetting you then you need to tell her before it turns into a thing. Because I seem to remember that the last time you tried to get her to notice something without actually telling her, she got upset with you and you wound up punching Derek in the face.

Stiles: Yeah, well I'm not going to bring up anything that risks me losing access to Ben until I have enough of a legal standing to be able to obtain a court order for visitation. I'm not going to lose access to my son over a misunderstanding between us.

Allison: Oh my God, really? [and no that's not a "I'm so interested in your legal plans, please tell me more." That's a "you're being dumb and blowing this out of proportion] She's not going to take Ben away from you if you go to her and say "Hey, when you do this, it kind of makes me uncomfortable. I would really appreciate it if you would keep that in mind."

Stiles: I also didn't think she would be the one to never ask her sister when it would be a good and safe time to maybe send notice to the Beacon Hills Sheriff's Department via my dad to tell me about my child. [and for a moment, Allison can get a nice hard look at how deep Stiles' emotional scars go behind that neutral face he's developed for the CIA] I'm not taking anything for granted with the Hale family anymore.

Allison: [there's a long pause before] My grandfather had people in the sheriff's department, Stiles. He still had them there long after the Hales were gone.

Stiles: Yeah, I know. I'm the one who sent my father the dossier with their names for him to fire them.

Allison: Yeah, well - they were never going to be able to be a hundred percent sure. The Alpha Pack didn't infiltrate the police, but they could have had betas and spies on your house who could listen in. I don't like that I agree with her on this, but the only way she could be one hundred percent sure that Ben would be safe after she told you is the way she did it - telling you to your face. [swallows] They wouldn't just come after her and leave it at that. Kate burned children in that house too. Also ... maybe she did ask Laura. Have you ever asked her that, or just why she didn't tell you?

Stiles: She didn't. She had to ask Laura when I showed up in town and I ended up in her bar before she even told me about Ben. If she knew it was safe then, she wouldn't have had to ask then.

Allison: Stiles, you were drunk in her bar. Maybe she didn't want to tell you when you weren't sober. [just ... pointing that out.] Look, if you can't handle interpersonal issues without feeling like you need a court order then you're only going to hurt her in the long run. And maybe that's what you want, because she hurt you, but if that's true? Then maybe you should think about taking a step back and taking a break. Because if you hurt his mom just by keeping the truth from her until you're the one lashing out, just because she missed the cue, how is that going to look to Ben? You two may be getting along pretty well, but she's been his mom for a lot longer - which isn't Ben's fault, but ... don't make your son not want to see you because you can't handle things with his mom like an adult. Because then all the court paperwork in the world won't mean anything. [a beat] You're so worried about her taking him away from you physically, but don't let that cost you him.

Stiles: I'm protecting myself in case something happens and they disappear into the night again taking my SON with them this time. [his voice rose as he stood up, angry] I'm not filing anything unless it becomes something i need to do. Give me some credit that I'm not that big of an asshole. What I'm saying though is that it's been seven years. We don't know what they've gone through in the last seven years. We don't know them beyond the teen versions we loved. You were the one worried that your presence may have an effect on Cora letting me see Ben. [a fear she got from him probably] When I'm with Cora, I'm fine. Everything's fine between us as far as I'm concerned. But I'm not going to believe it can't change at a moment's notice because Cora doesn't always call the shot - Laura does. And if Laura thinks I'm a liability - because of their safety or when they find out what I do for a living - you can be damn sure she will make Cora take away my access to Ben no matter how much she doesn't want to.

Allison: Then why are you overreacting about telling Cora that something makes you uncomfortable? If Cora is being accommodating then you have nothing to worry about. And if you're that concerned, maybe you should address this with Laura without Cora there.

Stiles: I'm not overreacting! I've been doing this since I decided that I was going to start seeing Ben. My conversations with Cora have nothing to do with my choices in protecting my parental rights with my son. And the less I see of Laura Hale in my life, the better.

Allison: [holds up her hands before shaking her head] You're the one who correlated the two first, not me. And fine. Don't see Laura. But Stiles ... I'm not saying you're wrong in making sure that you have ways of protecting yourself, but keeping the Hales out of the loop isn't going to help make sure you don't need them. [takes a deep breath as she starts to get up] But what do I know.

Stiles: I appreciate your concern, but this is the choice I've made in how I'm going to handle it. Maybe it'll backfire on me, but then it's my own mess to clean up. Now if you don't need to talk about your Hale issues anymore, I'd like to get back to my game. [his not so polite way of ending the conversation]

Allison: [she nods] Yeah. I'm good. [and she'll get up to leave]

Stiles: [and he will wait until she's out of his room, take a few deep breaths, and then there will be the sound of a crash in his room before he storms out, heading straight for the door with his jacket and slamming the front door shut behind him. Inside there is a lacrosse ball that is normally on his desk on the floor, and a picture frame on the floor with broken glass around it. The picture is one of him, Cora and Ben that he had recently had taken and they all look happy]

Allison: [and she'll ... sigh, before going back to her reality TV, giving him a chance to cool off]

Stiles: [yeah, he's going to end up driving out to the farm and going to do some off hours target practice and maybe beat up on a few of the new recruits doing hand to hand training.]

Allison: [poor new recruits]

Stiles: [yeah. But it's obvious he needs to blow off steam so his old handlers will give him ample opportunity]

Allison: [Well, as long as he's having fun. Ish. Or at least will be cooling off]

Stiles: [and if any of the girls there hit on him... well what happens after hours...]

Allison: [really driving this home, are we?]

Stiles: [king of bad life choices, ok?]

Allison: [uh-huh. he just better never judge Cora in front of Malia or he'll get a whole unloading of everything she went through with Laura]

Stiles: [we'll see if it ever happens. But he will probably end up doing a walk of shame to work the next morning and showering at CONTROL]

Allison: [and she is back at work and back on task, like she was never gone. and back home, she'll have left a new frame on his bed in case he wants to replace it now that he's calmed down]

Stiles: [which he will, and he won't bring it up at all unless she does. Just back to work and focusing on it]

Allison: [yep, that's fine. She'll just come over and with the stack of files] Catch me up on this case?

Stiles: [looks over at the files] Yeah, that's the crazy set of cases we're thinking is a hunter killer ring, isn't it?

Hayley: Yep. There are a few big names in there.

Allison: [well that's not good] How widespread are they? Do I need to call my dad?

Stiles: It's pretty much just the East coast and states connecting to the DC area.

Allison: Okay. [that's a relief] What’s their MO?

Stiles: Right now, all known hunters of the supernatural. I'm waiting on reports on their last "hunt" to see what they were hunting and the history of the offender.

Allison: [nods slowly, before reaching for her phone] I have to call Ronnie, he was on his way into town today. [who Stiles probably remembers as being one of Allison's casual flings in college]

Stiles: Oooo, Rooonie. [makes a smirky face with kissy noises]

Allison: [rolls her eyes as she walks away] He's not here for that. [but ... it might wind up happening because Ronnie is charming and Allison is lonely which is always a dangerous combination]

Stiles: [snorts and goes back to checking for his reports]

Hayley: Who is Ronnie? Other than someone Allison likes to smooch?

Stiles: Spanish booty call. Nice guy, but he will flirt with anything female with a heartbeat. Also a hunter.

Hayley: So potential target.

Stiles: Yeah.

Hayley: Maybe Allison will be able to talk him out of staying.

Stiles: [leans back looking over where Allison is talking] That or we can use him.

Hayley: What, like bait?

Stiles: He's a Calavera.

Hayley: Of the Mexico Calaveras?

Stiles: Si.

Hayley: That could do it. [she leans back against her seat] He'd have to be willing bait.

Stiles: To catch hunter killers, I could see him wanting to help. But we'd need to be able to protect him.

Hayley: I think we definitely have enough cases to build a pretty convincing trap.

Stiles: And Argent and a Calavera in the same area... might be the cherry on the sundae.

Hayley: Works for me. [stands up and gestures for Allison to come closer] Your friend still on the phone?

Allison: [nods] Yeah. [and she'll hit a button before placing the phone down in front of them] Ronnie, you're on speaker.

Ronnie: What up, g-men and/or ladies?

Stiles: Didn't realize you were coming to town, hombre.

Ronnie: Is that Stilinski? Yo, man, it was a last minute thing. I didn't know you stuck around DC.

Stiles: Yeah, got offered a job in town and thought I'd enjoy the capital for a bit.

Ronnie: Nice. Look, Allison filled me in on your little dead hunters problem, and while I would love to give her less to worry about, I got an appointment I kinda have to keep. But I'll try and be in and out to keep my ass in one piece.

Hayley: Actually, we were wondering if you might be able to help us in that department.

Ronnie: Well, hello, Miss Sexy Voice, I don't think we're acquainted.

Matt: [wandering over] Careful, she bites.

Hayley: [a look] My name's Hayley Marshall. I'm their boss. And Matt is right, I do bite, and probably a little harder than you like.

Ronnie: Hayley Marshall. [there's a moment of silence before] Like ... Crescent Werewolf Queen Hayley Marshall? Klaus Mikaelson's baby mama Hayley Marshall?

Stiles: And currently federal agent Marshall.

Hayley: That a problem for you?

Ronnie: Only if you try and eat me. And not in the fun way.

Hayley: Don't worry. I usually only eat from the tap if you're trying to kill me or my daughter.

Ronnie: Don't worry. Rosemary and baby are definitely not on my "to hunt" list.

Stiles: Good because you'd have at least two people trying to stop you. [because they all know Matt is not going to help stop him]

Ronnie: See, I have this thing called "survival instinct." Messing with the Mikaelson family has never ended well for anyone. Also, you know, she's a child.

Hayley: Why can't all of my ex-one night stand's enemies be as sane as you?

Ronnie: I'm just one of a kind, baby.

Stiles: [snorts] That's for sure.

Ronnie: So how can I be of service?

Hayley: We need to know more about the hunting activities of our current victims to try and figure out motive. Allison is in the world, but you're in deeper. You might be able to make connections faster.

Stiles: It'll help us figure out a profile on the person doing this and maybe even a motivation we can exploit

Ronnie: Hey, man, anything I can do to help. Where do you want me to meet you?

Allison: I'll text you the details once I have them. Thanks Ronnie.

Ronnie: Anytime, Ally. I'm heading into my thing now, but until I hear from you, I'll lay low.

Stiles: [looks at his phone after they hang up] Well, I've got to get going if I'm going to get paperwork into Ben's school before i pick him up today.

Allison: We'll meet up with Ronnie and get him up to speed. I'll fill you in tomorrow.

Stiles: Good. I can take the sniper role if you need one.

Allison: We'll keep that in mind. But we need to know what their motive is first.

Stiles: Hopefully my reports will come in today. I'll forward them to you if I see them hit my inbox.

Hayley: Perfect. Have fun with Ben.

Stiles: Thanks. [and off he will go to go home, change, and then go meet Malia outside of Ben's school]

Malia: [is leaning against the bike rack, as usual, texting Landon while she waits]

Stiles: Hey Malia.

Malia: Hey. [straightens a bit] The office is this way.

Stiles: I think I have all the paperwork filled out.

Malia: Good. [and she'll lead him in and chat with the secretaries before they'll head off to file the paperwork. while she's gone and they have a quiet moment, Malia will lean closer to Stiles so she can get a better whiff of his scent] Oh. You're number 24.

Stiles: [confused] Number 24?

Malia: This sweatshirt Cora used to wear. It didn't smell like her, it smelled like you.

Stiles: ... That explains where that went. I gave up looking for that thing.

Malia: [she shrugs] I think she still has it, but it doesn't smell like you anymore.

Stiles: I'm not surprised. Eventually she would have to wash it.

Malia: It made her feel better, at least. She smelled less sad.

Stiles: [and he is going to just take a deep breath, keep his feelings pushed down, and look to see if the woman with the paperwork was coming back yet]

Malia: [and she does. but when she does that Malia just going to watch Stiles because while he can school his face he can't really control his scent.]

Stiles: [nope. His face, yes. His heart, sure. But the moment of sadness and anger before he focused on the woman and paperwork, nope]

Malia: [sighs. People are frustrating. But once all the paperwork is done, they'll return to the bike rack to wait for Ben to get let out of class]

Stiles: [and since this is the first time he's been with Malia alone] for the record, is nice to see you doing well, considering what i remember about you as a kid.

Malia: [she shrugs] I've worked really hard at it. Some of it's been easier than others, but I still don't really get people.

Stiles: Makes you feel better - most people don't even get people.

Malia: Yeah, but most people don't spend their formative years as a coyote.

Stiles: True.

Malia: Landon helped me a lot though.

Stiles: He seems like a good friend.

Malia: He's my best friend.

Stiles: So you met him after you guys moved here?

Malia: [she nods] He was in school with me.

Stiles: So you two just hit it off?

Malia: Yep. He didn't mind being patient with me, or correcting me when I needed it. He was probably the only person there who didn't think I was a giant weirdo. [probably because he's one himself]

Stiles: Then he's definitely a good friend. [looks towards the school] Does Ben have any friends like that?

Malia: A few. I don't know if he has a best friend yet, but he's pretty comfortable with the other kids.

Stiles: That's good. I can't imagine him being the shy kid in the corner.

Malia: Oh, he's not. "Shy" is not a word I'd use to describe him.

Stiles: [smiles a bit, proud] I guess he gets that from me. Cora was a shy one.

Malia: Probably.

Stiles: Though Derek was pretty obnoxious too.

Malia: Not anymore.

Stiles: So I've heard.

Malia: [and she looks down because she misses her cousin and doesn't like that he feels like he got run out of town]

Stiles: [sees that and sighs] Him going out of town may be a good thing for him.

Malia: I know. But I miss him.

Stiles: I'm sure he misses you too.

Malia: And I don't like that these girls on campus are talking shit about him while he's gone. [a sorority girl may have taken a tumble into a patch of mud "on accident" when she heard them saying things about Derek she didn't like]

Stiles: Things like what?

Malia: [she rolls her eyes] He had these girls in his apartment, and he asked me to kick them out, and now they're just talking shit. And while yeah, that's not exactly a charming move on his part, but if you wake up and your hook up is gone, why would you stay there in the first place?

Stiles: I'm curious why he left strangers in his place to begin with but yeah they shouldn't have stayed unless they thought he was coming back for more.

Malia: He was probably freaking out. He's not like me, he doesn't really sleep around.

Stiles: Yeah, he never was like that. Even when he was the obnoxious asshole, he was always very loyal to his girlfriend.

Malia: And he hasn't had one since.

Stiles: Well, he's not the only one.

Malia: Do you mean his girlfriend or Cora?

Stiles: Actually, all four of us.

Malia: Cora has a date.

Stiles: Oh?

Malia: The doughnut guy has been trying to get her to go out with him since she moved in. She actually said yes last week.

Stiles: Well, good for her. She deserves to go out and have fun with people our age.

Malia: Yeah. He's a nice guy.

Stiles: That's good.

Malia: Yep. She seems excited about it.

Stiles: [he nods, and yeah, he's being casual and relaxed about it, but there is a hint of jealousy in his scent. Because it's Cora]

Malia: [and she'll squint at him] You said you didn't want her.

Stiles: .... I said that I wanted to be friends.

Malia: But you didn't want to be with her.

Stiles: ... As anything more than friends, yes? Why?

Malia: Because you're jealous.

Stiles: [he's about to refute that, but he knows that werewolves have that freaky ability and he just sighs] Are you smelling me?

Malia: Chemosignals are incredibly distracting. [she makes a face] But I learned to deal with them in high school, so I know what jealousy smells like.

Stiles: Just because I don't want to date Cora anymore doesn't mean that I don't feel things. And yes, maybe I feel a bit jealous, but she was the first woman I fell in love with. I'll always still feel things for her. I'm sure if she knew I was going out on a date, she would feel the same way.

Malia: [she rolls her eyes] Whatever. Just don't jerk her around.

Stiles: And how do you define jerking her around, just so we can be transparent?

Malia: Frustrating her enough to upset her. She's already done enough of that about you.

Stiles: You do realize she and I will eventually fight. We fought all the time when we were together. It's what happens when you put two stubborn people together.

Malia: That's not what I mean. There's a difference between her being angry with you and being upset with you. Don't make her cry. [it's the most literal way she can explain it because there's something about Cora being that upset that bothers Malia more than anything else. probably because in some ways, they look at the world the same way]

Stiles: I can't promise that, I'm sorry. But... I will do my best not to intentionally make her cry. Because I don't want to make her cry, but again, we fight. And tears usually happen after it.

Malia: [yeah, that doesn't make her happy] It happened all the time with Laura and it sucked.

Stiles: [and at just the mention of Laura, there is a nice spike of anger as he stiffens a bit, looking towards the school doors] Not surprised. What time do they let the kids out again?

Malia: [glances down at her watch] Should be soon.

Stiles: [and his fingers are going to just tap along the top of the bike rack as he waits, no longer talking]

Malia: [which is fine by her, and eventually the bell rings and she straightens to adjust her bag]

Ben: [and the kids will burst out of the front door, and within a few minutes Ben is running out with a backpack as big as he is strapped to his back and he sees Stiles and comes running over and leaps at his father] Dad you came!

Malia: Did you think he wouldn't?

Ben: Well he didn't come on Tuesday and I thought I wasn't going to see him until Saturday.

Stiles: [who managed to catch him and is still holding him] Well, when your mom asked me to take Thursday while your Uncle Derek is on vacation, I figured I could make up this Tuesday with you.

Ben: [bright grin]

Malia: [smiles a bit because she likes seeing Ben happy, and she adjusts the strap on her bag] Well, my work here is done. I gotta go meet Landon, but I'll see you on Sunday, okay kiddo?

Ben: [and he will lean over to hug Malia] See you Sunday!

Malia: [big dramatic kiss on his temple before she heads back in the direction of campus]

Stiles: [and omg he's alone with his son. What are they supposed to do?!] So, want to get milkshakes while we do your homework?

Ben: Obviously!

Stiles: [and off they go to Johnny Rockets for shakes and fries and homework working. Then to the park to play for a bit before grabbing dinner and heading to Cora's for dinner and movies and both of them passed out on the couch after a long day]

Cora: [and she will come back up at the end of the night and see them with a small smile. there's definitely a pang there, as she wanted them to have this far sooner than this, but they have it now, and that's what matters. then she'll gently go to scoop up Ben and move him to his bed, hoping that Stiles at least got him to brush his teeth if he's not in his pajamas already]

Stiles: [...... you assume wrong, Cora. These are boys. However the second she goes to move him Stiles' eyes snap open and his hands almost shift to his hip before he sees Cora. He nods silently, relaxing back]

Cora: [that's a ... weird reaction, but it's fine. she'll just take Ben to bed and slip him into his pjs, before tucking him in and pressing a kiss to the top of his head] Night, kiddo.

Ben: [and he will curl into his big ass teddy from Six Flags and mutter an “I love you mom” as he passes back out]

Cora: [and she'll head back into the living room and give Stiles a small smile] How'd it go?

Stiles: Good. Though I just kinda took a play from my dad's playbook and we did homework over milkshakes, then went to the park to burn off the sugar.

Cora: Sounds like fun.

Stiles: It was. How was work?

Cora: The usual. Drunk guys are assholes and terrible tippers but that's never going to change.

Stiles: Well, you can always look for a better job? Or think about going back to school... something you'd be happier doing during the day while Ben's at school. I can help?

Cora: [she shrugs] I like the job otherwise. And I'm trying to get my shifts switched to days when the clientele has fewer douchebags and I can spend more time with Ben.

Stiles: That's good. Could also give you more availability to have dates with the donut guy.

Cora: [and that startles her] How do you know about that?

Stiles: Malia.

Cora: [sighs] She always did have a big mouth.

Stiles; [chuckles] Well, if you need me to take the kiddo for a night so you can date, just let me know. Like I said, Scott's waiting to get the chance to destroy my image.

Cora: We're doing lunch dates for now but sure. I'll let you know.

Stiles: [nods, and then he rubs the back of his neck] Though I should probably tell you that it's not just Scott I live with. We share a four bedroom loft with Lydia and Allison.

Cora: I know. Lydia told me.

Stiles: With everything going on with Derek, I didn't want you to not know.

Cora: Well, I'm aware. No worries.

Stiles: [nods, and then yawns behind his hand] I should probably head home.

Cora: [she nods] Yeah, probably. It's late.

Stiles: [and he pulls out his phone to use the Uber app to get himself a lift] So I'll call you tomorrow at lunch and we can figure out Saturday?

Cora: Sounds good. Tomorrow's my dad's day so we can do something out there or I can go pick him up and meet you somewhere here.

Stiles: Why don't we meet somewhere?

Cora: Okay. Pick a few places and we can talk it out tomorrow.

Stiles: Will do. Night. [and he will go to pull on his sneakers, and then head out]

Cora: Night. [and she will change and shower before crashing into bed]