alpha!stiles } { of learning the ropes and feeling free

[impetere]

Cora: [and after she finishes feeding the dogs, they will go home, have dinner with her mom and Cora will curl up in her room again, and presuming Stiles was stalking her through some of that he probably heard at least some of that conversation with her dad?]

Stiles: [yup. He's totally becoming the Derek creeper of this verse]

Cora: [well, she's alone now if he wants to try and talk to her again]

Stiles: [no, he's giving her distance to absorb all of it. BUT he is going to be hanging out in her tree because he also is making sure whoever bit her doesn't come calling to try and make her do things she doesn't want to do]

Cora: [not that she's even worried about that yet. She will eventually go to sleep and the next day will get up to go to school, even if she isn't sure how she's going to handle it if something goes wrong]

Stiles: [and he is going to be half asleep at his desk, a can of red bull in front of him because he was guarding her house ALL NIGHT LONG]

Cora: [and she'll quietly ask Scott if they can switch seats for science class so she can talk to Stiles - it's not a lab so Lydia probably won't kill her for abandoning her]

Scott: Um, you sure? [because he does feel intimidated by Lydia]

Cora: Yeah. Just for today, I promise. [and she'll flash Lydia a small smile and Lydia ... will eye Scott for a moment, before turning back around with a small huff]

Scott: Oh-kay. [and he will pack up his stuff and look at Stiles, who'll just nod sleepily before reaching for his drink.]

Cora: [slides into Scott's seat and sets up her space so that it's neat and ready to take notes] Hi.

Stiles: Hey. Wassup? [his book is open and there's a highlighter on the desk. Yup, he's prepared]

Cora: So were you outside my house last night?

Stiles: Mostly.

Cora: Why?

Stiles: Protection. I still don't know who bit you so I'm not going to leave you defenseless.

Cora: If he bit me, why would he want to hurt me?

Stiles: Depends on the alpha, and maybe not hurt you so much as force you to do things. [he's keeping his voice low so that Cora is really only able to hear him with her werewolf hearing] Alphas can force you to do things sometimes. If they aren't the nice alphas like me. [smiles brightly at that]

Cora: Is there a way that he can't make me do stuff like that? To ... stop him somehow?

Stiles: Well, part of it is choosing a new alpha. But some... not really. And if it's a certain set of alphas... [reaches for his drink] Let's just hope it's not them.

Cora: Why not?

Stiles: [looks up at the teacher to pretend he's paying attention] Probably not something we should talk about here.

Cora: [huffs slightly] Fine. Then where should we talk about it?

Stiles: Lunch out on the bleachers? [somewhere she has space and not people who will look at her when she makes angry or scared noises at him]

Cora: Okay. [and with that she will go back to taking notes but it's really more like doing the homework that was assigned, because it keeps her busy and learning but not having to listen to Harris]

Stiles: [that's fin

e. Harris hates Stiles on principle because he and his dad have a thing. But he is doing his best to just not fall asleep]

Cora: [will nudge him awake occasionally if she catches him]

Stiles: [and he will mutter his thanks and will reach into his bag for a monster this time because omg he hates not having caffeine work on him like a normal person]

Cora: [of course he does. and eventually the bell will ring, and there'll be a few more classes, and eventually lunch will happen and Cora will be sitting on the bleachers, as promised]

Stiles: [and he will have his in his backpack, but he has managed to get a jumbo soda from somewhere. He's waking up more but still not his normal hyper self. The sugar will eventually catch up to him] Hey.

Cora: Hey. [she's got her normal sandwich and fruit, not really deviating from her routine because it keeps her feeling normal. and, so that she can have another thing that keeps her feeling normal:] So ... can I tell Lydia? About me?

Stiles: That's up to you. It's your secret. [hops up to sit next to her] Scott knows about me but I don't really tell anyone else. Mostly because they wouldn't believe me.

Cora: Okay. [she nods once] I told my dad.

Stiles: [licks his lips and looks down at his hands because yeaaaaah] I'm sure he was supportive.

Cora: [her eyes narrow a bit as she looks at him] You were there listening, weren't you?

Stiles: I tried not to. I mean, I was really there just making sure no one came to start shit with you. I wasn't spying in on you. I'm not a perv.

Cora: [S I G H] Still. We're going to need some ground rules. Because while I appreciate that, I still need my privacy.

Stiles: I know. But I also want to make sure you're safe. I'm your friend. And whoever your alpha is, they should be the one offering to help and train you before the full moon gets here, and they aren't.

Cora: I get that? Kind of. But I - [deep breath] - if you keep lurking around my house, and you get caught by my mom or my brother when he gets home in a few weeks, it's not going to end well.

Stiles: [rubs his neck] IF they see me, it really means I'm slipping.

Cora: That's not the point. Just because the odds are slim doesn't mean it couldn't still happen.

Stiles: [technically he can hide from her too and she wouldn't even know he was stalking, but he just nods] Alright. But can you trust that at least until after your first full moon, I can at least keep watch on your window to make sure no one comes to try and mess with you? Just because of the odds. [tossing her argument back at her]

Cora: Fine. [she can agree to that because she has no idea what could happen and she doesn't want to hurt anyone]

Stiles: Also... um, you may want to sleep over at my house that night. Though we won't be sleeping or really at my house.

Cora: ... Okay. Then I definitely need to tell Lydia. [because her mom will not let her sleep over at a boy's house]

Stiles: Like I said, your secret, you tell who you want. [he takes a deep breath] And only tell her about me if you think you need to, but she's smart so she'll probably figure it out anyway.

Cora: [she nods] She's good at keeping secrets though. As much as she is Lydia, when it's important you can trust her.

Stiles: Good to know. I feel the same way about Scott, but I haven't told him about you yet. That's for you to do.

Cora: [she nods, her eyes wandering off over the fields] So who are those alphas you mentioned earlier?

Stiles: [deep breath, eating his sandwich quickly] Okay, so there are these three alphas who, a long time ago were friends with my mom. They have packs in other areas of California. Or had, really. [licks his lips] They killed them.

Cora: [shifts back a bit, straightening in surprise] All of them?

Stiles: [nods] Yeah. Apparently, an alpha can gain power from killing their betas. It's fucked up, frankly. But they did. Tried to convince my mom to join them but she told them to go screw themselves.

Cora: Good. [because otherwise Stiles wouldn't be here to help her]

Stiles: [one of the main reasons his mom told Deuc to screw himself, actually] But yeah, if it's one of them trying to get a stake hold in Beacon Hills again... that's why I'm worried and keeping watch.

Cora: [there's a pause] You could let my dad know? He seems to know a lot about this stuff.

Stiles: [sucks on his lips] Did he tell you why he knows?

Cora: He said he spent a lot of time with the local werewolves, and he's known most of his adult life. But my mom doesn't know.

Stiles: [laughs] Oh... well he's not wrong. He did spend a lot of time with us. He... he kinda took care of us when we had the kind of injuries a human doctor wouldn't know how to handle.

Cora: ... So you knew he knew?

Stiles: [nods] I don't tell other people's secrets.

Cora: So why didn't you tell him about the alpha so he could talk to me?

Stiles: Because I'm the local alpha. It's my responsibility. To have your dad do that - it wouldn't be fair. And I also didn't want to be like "hey your daughter got bit by a possibly murderous alpha can you tell her that for me thanks?"

Cora: [rolls her eyes] Okay, so you didn't have to put it all on him, but ... it might have made it easier for me to believe and not be freaking out on you.

Stiles: I know. But honestly... none of this is going to be easy and if he didn't know, I'd still have to do it.

Cora: [she nods] This is just ... a lot.

Stiles: Yeah, I know. wasn't any easier when I learned it when I was eight, and I had a family of werewolves.

Cora: So you've always been this way?

Stiles: Yup. Just like my mother, and her mother before her.

Cora: And your dad?

Stiles: Straight up human.

Cora: But he knows.

Stiles: As he once told me "if I didn't know before we were married, I would have figured it out while she was pregnant and literally growled at me"

Cora: [smirks a bit] Got it. So I don't have to keep it a secret from him.

Stiles: No. But you can decide if I tell him or you do.

Cora: [she takes a deep breath and nods] You can tell him. That way it's not weird that I'm suddenly hanging around again.

Stiles: Yeah, otherwise he'd probably think we're dating or something.

Cora: Which is not the case.

Stiles: Nope. Not at all. I mean, unless you want to but pretty sure that's not something we just go so hey we're dating now like we did back when we were five.

Cora: Yeah, and I think we have bigger things to worry about at the moment. Plus being my alpha is anything like it seems like it is, that is a power dynamic we should not complicate.

Stiles: [blinks] Wait, did you just say I'm your alpha?

Cora: [there's a beat] Well ... you're going to help me, right?

Stiles: Yeah, but that's a given.

Cora: [she shrugs, awkwardly looking at her hands] If you don't want to be then that's fine. I didn't mean to assume, I just thought ... I don't want it to be the person who bit me.

Stiles: No, no I want to be I just... I've never had a beta before. I've been an alpha since I was ten, but not in this way. I'm probably going to screw a few things up.

Cora: [and there's a bit of relief there, which draws her back to her original point] All the more reason why we shouldn't date.

Stiles: We keep it just strict werewolf business.

Cora: Good.

Stiles: [and the outside bell will go off and Stiles winced because that stupid bell hurts all the damn time] Guess lunch is over

Cora: [yep, and she's wincing too] Yeah. [a beat] Can I come over after school? I'd say my house but my mom will be home and she won't let us be somewhere she can't hear.

Stiles: Sure. I mean, my dad will be at work still but he always swings back around to check up on me at some point. Usually bringing dinner with.

Cora: Okay. And we can figure out ... this.

Stiles: [nods as he gathers his trash, and hers too] Awesome. We'll start with the easy stuff.

Cora: Great. I'll ... see you then.

Stiles: See you then.

Cora: [and off she will go back to class]

Stiles: [same, though he is more awake now and when school is done he will head out to the jeep to toss his bag in and wait for Scott to drive his best friend home.]

Cora: [and she will meet up with Lydia and she promises to explain why she's being weird later]

Stiles: [and Scott will not be clued into anything either even when Stiles is all going home and not hanging out afterward]

Cora: [but after talking to her mom, she'll wander over to his house and knocks on the door to the Stilinski house]

Stiles: [and there will be the sound of him tripping over something because Stiles may be a werewolf, but he’s still clumsy] One second. What the hell why did he put that there someone could break their neck.... [and then the door opens and he's slightly disheveled but yeah]

Cora: ... You okay?

Stiles: Yeah, I'm good. Dad left a box of files on the floor and I didn't jump over it high enough.

Cora: Ah. Okay. [she swallows again] Can I ...? [come in?]

Stiles: Oh yeah, no come in. You want something to eat? I make a mean bacon sandwich.

Cora: Sure. Sounds good. [food isn't filling her as much as it used to, so she'll take it where she can get it]

Stiles: [and he will lead her into the kitchen where he will open a pantry that is literally just filled with pre-cooked microwave bacon. Sheriff is prepared and has a Costco membership] How many do you want? [and he will pull down two boxes]

Cora: Strips or sandwiches?

Stiles: Sandwiches. [and a loaf of bread will join the table and then he will open the fridge] and do you want rabbit food on it?

Cora: Yes to lettuce, and just one is fine.

Stiles: Okay. [he will toss the letteuce over his shoulder onto the table, followed by the packet of american cheese and finally ketchup and mayo.] Drink?

Cora: Water's fine.

Stiles: [and he will grab a water bottle and turn, tossing it to her] Catch.

Cora: [her eyes widen a bit because SHE IS GENERALLY BAD AT THAT, but her hand is grabbing the bottle before she even knows what she's doing and she blinks] Oh.

Stiles: [smirks] Good job. [and he will grab his soda and shut the fridge] Alright. I'll microwave, you assemble your sandwich. [and he will rip open one whole pack and go to microwave all twelve strips]

Cora: [nods as she goes and picks through the things she likes - mostly lettuce and mayo]

Stiles: [and that bacon smells so good when it comes out. He will put it on the table between them, then go to grab the cheese and ketchup for his sandwiches. Three of them.]

Cora: [her eyebrows raise at that, but she just quietly takes her bacon to make her sandwich]

Stiles: [yeah, Stiles is a teenage boy and a werewolf. If bottemless pits had bottomless pits inside of them, that would be Stiles' stomach]

Cora: [while Cora, on the other hand, is getting used to having an appetite at all]

Stiles: So, tell me about what weird things you've noticed so far. [while he wolfs down his food]

Cora: [shrugs] My senses are ... more intense?

Stiles: Yeah, that's part of the standard package. You'll find that once you're used to it, you can tune them out like you normally do.

Cora: [she nods] And my allergies aren't bothering me anymore.

Stiles: [nods] You know how we got all those booster shots as kids? It's an intense booster shot. You're immune to almost everything now except for mistletoe. That's the big poison you need to be aware of. And wolfsbane, the other one. They can kill you in small doses.

Cora: Okay.

Stiles: Have you tried running or jumping yet?

Cora: No?

Stiles: Well, after we eat we can go test those on the preserve. That's gong to be one of the things we need to work on so you don't hurt yourself and can control it. The other is going to be controlling our heartrate. That helps you control yoursel from shifting when you don't want to.

Cora: So you want me to do activities that will increase my heart rate, but also control my heart rate at the same time?

Stiles: Pretty much. And your emotional state on top of all of that. [grins] This is why we need time before the full moon.

Cora: [exhales slowly] Great.

Stiles: You can do it, I promise. It's just like learning how to play a sport. You need to learn a skill set, perfect your control, and keep yourself from wanting to kick the soccer ball into the head of the opposing team. [grins]

Cora: I'm not that good at that last one. That's why I'm usually on the bench.

Stiles: On purpose or the control to not do that anyway?

Cora: A little of both, depending on the player.

Stiles: Well, you're going to have to work on that. At least I can take a soccer ball to the head.

Cora: [sighs deeply] Okay.

Stiles: [leans over and puts his hand on hers gently] I have faith in you.

Cora: I know I'll get it eventually. It just seems like a lot right now.

Stiles: It is. And it's going to take a lot of practice. But here's the thing - you don't need to master it right away. It takes time, and if you're not feeling ready by the full moon, we can fall back on plan B.

Cora: What's plan B?

Stiles: The doghouse. [wincing smile] That's what my cousin called it. It's out on the preserve.

Cora: [recoils just slightly] What's it for?

Stiles: So on the full moon, everything in you spikes - senses and emotions mostly. If you aren’t able to control it, you'll shift and if you really can't control it - you kinda run on wolf like instincts and can't control your actions. Those instincts being to hunt, kill, eat. And well [rubs neck] Sometimes if your libido is acting up, other things too.

Cora: [recoils even more at that last bit because N O P E] And the doghouse is meant to stop it?

Stiles: No. The doghouse is pretty much a series of cages to lock packmates in for the night so that they can't hurt anyone, or themselves. Remember how in middle school there was always one day a month I didn't come into class?

Cora: Yeah?

Stiles: Those are usually the days after I was in the doghouse for the night.

Cora: Oh.

Stiles: Yeah, after mom died and I became an alpha, I lost all the control I had because the power level is different. Dad's not a werewolf so he couldn't help me, so I just made him lock me up and then come get me in the morning.

Cora: [her face softens a bit because that doesn't sound fun] You didn't have anyone to help you?

Stiles: Not right away. With what happened, all the local packs steered clear of the town for months, not wanting to get caught by any lingering hunters. [he picked at his last sandwich a moment, pulling it apart and just nibbling on the bacon] I felt way more like an omega than an alpha.

Cora: That's awful.

Stiles: It was a hard time for me. Which could be some of the reason we stopped hanging out, since I just was such a joy to be around back then [sarcasm is his friend]

Cora: You weren't that bad. I just ... thought you didn't want to be friends anymore.

Stiles: I did. I mean, I wanted to be friends. i just didn't want to hurt people.

Cora: Well, you were bad at conveying that. [gives a small shrug] Not that it matters now.

Stiles: But hey, you'll get to learn from all my mistakes?

Cora: I guess.

Stiles: So you want to go take a run?

Cora: [nods as she looks down at her empty plate] Sure.

Stiles: Great. [and he will toss the trash in the garbage and wipe his hands on his sweats] So we can hit the preserve from my backyard, and then I just want you to run as fast as you can. Keep your ears open and steer clear of anywhere you hear people, ok?

Cora: [she nods] Okay. [and she'll follow his lead and just try to run as fast as she can. prior to this, she was in shape but she wasn't [that] in shape. when she takes off and feels like she has engines attached to her feet, it takes her by surprise]

Stiles: [and he will grin and take off after her, pacing her easily and knowing he can overtake her if he has to]

Cora: [and with a 16, she does well on keeping herself together, trying to remember to breath and manage her heart rate like she does when she's playing soccer]

Stiles: [and with a 19, it just shows that when he's in ww form, he's loving the feeling of running and the wind in his hair]

Cora: [she starts to falter after a moment, meeting the edges of her endurance and her heartbeat starts to pick up. Her vision goes red and she has to stop one had bracing against the tree and closing her eyes as she tries to talk herself down, but with an 8 it's a struggle]

Stiles: [and he will jog to a stop next to her] Breathe.

Cora: [keeps her eyes closed and tries to take a deep breath, but it's almost as though something is pushing at the edges of her skin, and when she opens them, her eyes are still gold] I don't think I can ...

Stiles: You can. [his voice is firmer now, trying to be both a reassuring and a supportive one] Close your eyes and just in through your nose, out the mouth.

Cora: [she does as she's told, taking deep breaths in and out, and it takes longer than it probably should, mostly because she's scared. In fact, it gets worse before it gets better, claws starting to extend out from the ends of her fingers but eventually her heartbeat starts to even out and she pulls herself back in again]

Stiles: [and he's watching, keeping close and offering her encouragement] There you go.... that's better.

Cora: That sucks.

Stiles: For now. You'll get better at it. [smiles] But wasn't it good for a while, running that fast and free?

Cora: [she nods a bit, still deep breathing] Yeah, it was.

Stiles: So that's the super speed part.

Cora: Okay. What's the next part?

Stiles: Super strength. [looks around and points at a very large rock] Why don't you try and pick that rock up?

Cora: [looks at it and her eyes widen] You're kidding, right?

Stiles: [smirks, shaking his head]

Cora: [she sighs, before taking a deep breath and making her way over, trying to see how she could even get a good grip on it. it's one thing to be strong, it's another to have long enough arms]

Stiles: [lucky for her, one end is not as wide as the other so it's more V shaped than round]

Cora: [Well, that works. She shakes out her arms for a moment before crouching a bit, scooping up the rock and trying to lift it as high as she can which ... she still only gets to just below chest height but it's way easier than she thought it would be] Whoa.

Stiles: I know, right? Makes it a lot easier for my dad to change flat tires, let me tell you

Cora: [she gently places the rock back down again]

Stiles: And then we get to one of my more favorite ones. [and he's going to look up at the tree he's under, select a branch, and then jump straight up 40 feet to land feet first on it. He wobbles a bit until he gets his balance, then smiles] Tadah!

Cora: And when I fall and break my arm?

Stiles: Excruciating pain for 30 seconds, and in three minutes it'll be healed.

Cora: [and there's another deep breath, trying to work herself up to it, before crouching down and pushing up to meet him on the branch, but a crit fail means she overshoots, misses the branch and falls hard and fast to land on the ground with the sickening snap of her femur]

Stiles: Shit. [and he is going to jump back down and quickly take her hand] It's okay, it'll heal. [and he will pull her pain away]

Cora: [she relaxes a bit as the pain fades, and then watches as the bones slide back into place and then her leg looks good as new] ... Okay that's freaky.

Stiles: [and when she is no longer in pain he will let go and rub at his hand a bit] Yeah, but it's still cool.

Cora: Yeah, I guess.

Stiles: Try again?

Cora: [nods as she holds up her hands to help her up]

Stiles: [which he does easily]

Cora: [and she rolls her shoulders a bit and this time she does better, landing easily on the branch and waving her arms a bit before her balance settles and she throws them up in the air] I did it!

Stiles: [fist pumps] Great job!

Cora: [and then she looks down and her hand goes back to the tree] This is really high.

Stiles: And just think, you're a science nerd. You can start to figure out strength and distance and resistance and can learn how to control your powers in cool ways.

Cora: [she laughs as she veeeeeeeery slowly shifts so that she's sitting on the branch] Right now, I'd just settle for not killing anyone accidentally.

Stiles: These are the exercises that you use to get there.

Cora: Okay.

Stiles: But some of the exercises are going to be pressing you to keep from getting angry. [he'll hop up branches until he's sitting next to her]

Cora: Like?

Stiles: Trying to provoke you. Make you fight me so you can find that line where you can be angry and fight but not pull out the claws, fangs, or the super strength.

Cora: ... I don't know if I'd be good at that.

Stiles: Getting angry or holding back?

Cora: Holding back. [she makes a face] My mom says I'm a stewer, like Derek.

Stiles: Well, it's something you'll need to work on. Self-control is very hard to learn, but probably the most important part. You just need to find something to pull you back. My mom called it an anchor.

Cora: Yeah, I guess so. I just know that I tend to bottle everything until I can't anymore.

Stiles: And then you just explode?

Cora: Pretty much. Usually about something stupid.

Stiles: So talking out your feelings isn't an option?

Cora: [she shrugs] Most of the time it doesn't feel like people actually want to hear them.

Stiles: Well, if you do want me to be your alpha? My job is to take care for you, and listen to you. So you have someone now.

Cora: [she glances over to him, watching him for a moment before nodding] Okay.

Stiles: Okay. [smiles] So, all of these powers? There's a challenge for you in it.

Cora: What kind of challenge?

Stiles: Come on, I'll show you.

Cora: Lead the way. [though she assumes it means getting down from the tree]

Stiles: [yup, it does, and he will take her to the gorge in the preserve.] You're going to work on your control and figure out how to jump across this.

Cora: [and her eyes widen a bit] Are you serious?

Stiles: Yup. It's the closest you're going to get to feeling like you're flying.

Cora: You don't think this is a little much for Day One?

Stiles: Oh no, you're not doing this tonight. You're going to work up to it. When you've got control on the running, jumping and strength - that's when we fly.

Cora: [and then she sags in relief] Oh. Okay.

Stiles: But you will get there.

Cora: I hope so.

Stiles: You will.

Cora: [sighs] Anything left for Day One things?

Stiles: Yeah. You're going to be hungry. Very hungry.

Cora: [she wrinkles her nose] Are there things that are better for me to eat than others?

Stiles: Yup. Meat. You're body is burning way more calories now just with the healing factor and all the upgrades. That's why dad has a cabinet of bacon.

Cora: [she makes a bigger face] I wasn't a huge red meat eater.

Stiles: Chicken and turkey work too. And fish. The less processed, the better.

Cora: Okay. I'll keep that in mind.

Stiles: Protein is the main thing

Cora: I can do protein.

Stiles: Awesome. I also have extra protein bars in my backpack if you need one.

Cora: [she shakes her head] My mom's probably making something for dinner.

Stiles: No, I meant at school moving forward

Cora: Oh! Okay.

Stiles: So how are you feeling now? About all this?

Cora: A little better. It's still ... really weird and I don't know what I'm going to tell my mom or Derek or Laura but ... it's a start?

Stiles: [nods] Your dad can probably help you with telling your family when you're ready. From what I remember your brother was pretty open minded.

Cora: Yeah, but there's open minded and then there's werewolves.

Stiles: You can at least provide evidence that we exist.

Cora: Yeah, but that doesn't mean he'll take it well.

Stiles: Give him a chance. He listens to your dad.

Cora: [she nods] We'll see. I'm not telling him anything until after graduation.

Stiles: Good plan.

Cora: [she glances down at her watch and sighs] I should get home soon.

Stiles: [and he looks up at the sky] Yeah, it's getting late. Tell your folks I said hi.

Cora: I will. [she starts to head back to his house to grab her stuff, before glancing back to him again] And thanks, Stiles. For helping me.

Stiles: [has his hands in his pockets and shrugs] Hey, if things were reversed, you'd do it for me, right?

Cora: Yeah, of course. [and with another small smile she goes back to the house to collect her back pack and head home, all the while texting to make plans with Lydia later to try and explain some of this to her]

Stiles: [and he will wait for his dad to come home, and he will tell him what's going on and there will be male bonding and advice giving over burgers and fries]

Lydia: [and Cora will go to hang out at Lydia's after dinner and fill her in on everything and while she doesn't out Stiles in any significant way, Lydia is not stupid. So the next day, after lacrosse practice, one redhead is there waiting for Stiles, approaching him when he comes out of the locker room before Jackson can see them] Can I talk to you? Privately? [that really doesn't sound like a request]

Stiles: [looks at the doors to the parking lot, then back at her] I guess?

Lydia: It won't take long.

Stiles: [and he will hike his bag up on his shoulder and motion to the parking lot] Walk me to my jeep?

Lydia: [she nods and turns to follow him, waiting until they're halfway to the parking lot before turning to face him slightly] So you're the alpha helping Cora, right?

Stiles: [and he will smirk a bit] So she's told you already?

Lydia: She told me last night. Not about you, but considering she was spontaneously hanging out with you again yesterday, it wasn't hard to put two and two together.

Stiles: You know I've never bought the whole dumb act you pull for Jackson's ego. You're smarter than you let them know.

Lydia: I had a little help. My grandmother told me about you mom.

Stiles: What did she say about her? [because he was always worried about how people saw his mother]

Lydia: Nothing bad. [she's quick to throw that out there] But you're not the only one in this town who's ... something.

Stiles: [and he will give her a curious look] Well, we've always been big on how these kinds of secrets are personal, so I don't really know a lot of who is what in town. My mom didn't really live long enough to teach me about that.

Lydia: I'm a banshee. Or ... an inactive one. Barring an intervening alpha, it won't turn on until I'm eighteen.

Stiles: [eyebrow raised] You're not wanting me to intervene I hope?

Lydia: Absolutely not.

Stiles: Thank god. [and he's going to open the trunk, tossing the bag in] No offense. I just, I don't think I can handle a beta and a banshee at the same time.

Lydia: Trust me, I don't want to be one. But I don't really have much of a choice.

Stiles: Maybe it won't take?

Lydia: It's not the kind of thing that doesn't take. All the women in my grandmother's bloodline have been banshees. All of them.

Stiles: I'm sorry. But hey, at least I'll know you aren't crazy when it starts to kick in?

Lydia: Yeah. Grams was good about that, at least.

Stiles: Is she still around to help you?

Lydia: [she shakes her head] But she gave me the number of someone to call when I finally ... presented.

Stiles: That's good. But if you need someone else to talk to who you can be open with, you can come to me.

Lydia: I appreciate that. But I'm not here about me. I just want to make sure Cora's going to be okay.

Stiles: [licks his lips and shuts the trunk of the jeep before leaning against the back of it] That's going to depend on a few factors. Her learning how to handle all of this? Yeah, she's going to be okay. It may take us some time to get her learning how to control her emotions during the full moon, but I have complete faith that she will in time.

Lydia: [she nods a bit] Do you know who bit her?

Stiles: [shakes his head] That's one of the not so good factors. I'm working on it, but there's not a lot I can do but sit and wait for them to show their head.

Lydia: That's comforting. [only not]

Stiles: Yeah, tell me about it. I haven't slept more than a few hours an afternoon since she was bit to make sure no one tries anything with her

Lydia: She can sleep over at my house this weekend. My house has mountain ash doors and windows.

Stiles: She won't be able to get in.

Lydia: She can't force her way in. But I can let her in. And someone won't be able to force their way in or lure her out.

Stiles: [bites his lip, already very protective of his beta] Would you be okay if I test them, just to make sure there's no weak spots?

Lydia: Sure. My mom has conferences tonight so if we go now she shouldn't be home.

Stiles: But don't you need to wait for Jackson?

Lydia: No. He and Danny are working on a project.

Stiles: Alright. Hop on in.

Lydia: [climbs in to the passenger's seat and just watches as they drive]

Stiles: [and he looks over at Lydia, not sure what to say right away as he drives]

Lydia: [its cool, they don't have to talk, it's not like her house is far]

Stiles: [and then they will be there] Alright. So I'm assuming the window frames are all mountain ash. Where's the doorway that isn't she would walk in at?

Lydia: [she shakes her head] They're all mountain ash. But I can open the front door - [which she will go to do with her key] - and it breaks the seal that will allow her to enter. She just can't open the door herself.

Stiles: [looks at the door] Okay, but if the door is mountain ash and not the frame, they would just need to open the door to get in, right?

Lydia: No, it's the frame too. [she stepped across it, the closes the door behind her] Try to open the door.

Stiles: [and he will sigh and go to open it, not understanding how they can cross an ash frame]

Lydia: [and even though it's not locked, the door won't budge for him]

Stiles: Alright, so how does the seal break when you open the door?

Lydia: [she opens the door, and taps the metal bar at the threshold] Everything is mountain as except that.

Stiles: So what will stop them from using a crowbar to open the door to get in?

Lydia: [and that makes her shrug] Alan Deaton has the same trick on the entryways at his clinic. All I know is that it works, and trust me, I've tried to figure it out.

Stiles: Can I suggest an upgrade? He can give you ground mountain ash you can lay along the doorway up in your bedroom. Backup plan just in case they do get inside since you if you're on the second floor, there's not way she can escape out a window.

Lydia: Sure. I'll see what he says.

Stiles: Because if it's the door, they just need to break it and then she's trapped.

Lydia: I get it, Stiles.

Stiles: [he would point out it's for her safety too, but he just nods.]

Lydia: [she understands that, but right now it's about making sure Cora is safe and Stiles can sleep.]

Stiles: Just make sure if anything weird happens, call me first. [like before the cops call me]

Lydia: I will. You'll probably hear me scream.

Stiles: Not if I'm playing warcraft. I have noise cancelling headphones.

Lydia: Then fine. I'll call.

Stiles: Thank you

Lydia: Anything else you need to know?

Stiles: Are you good with being our alibi for full moon nights?

Lydia: Of course. Just remind me.

Stiles: Sure thing.

Lydia: Just ... take care of her, okay?

Stiles: I will.

Lydia: Good. [a beat] And don't date her.

Stiles: And that just came out of nowhere.

Lydia: You're going to be spending a lot of time together, and she's going to be relying on you and trusting you to guide her and feelings on her end may develop without her intending to. Feelings that would be easy to take advantage of. [she doesn't think that you would intentionally, Stiles, but you're a teenage boy and Cora is a pretty girl] You're going to have to be the one to say no.

Stiles: I'm not going to take advantage of her. I'm her alpha, and that's not the kind of alpha I am.

Lydia: Good. Keep it that way.

Stiles: Plan on it. [however, he will point out that he is not the one to police Cora's relationship choices. But he knows he can't be in a relationship with a beta. That's why his mom never turned their dad - it allowed them to be free of that role]

Lydia: [yeah, and it's not that she doesn't want Cora to be happy, but it's just better for her to think Stiles isn't interested. it takes two to tango] Anyway. Is there anything else?

Stiles: [looks up at the roof] Is your chimney for show or functional?

Lydia: For show. My mom sealed it up when we kept getting squirrels in the house.

Stiles: Did Deaton also make a frame of mountain ash up in it?

Lydia: I have no idea.

Stiles: Alright, hold on a sec. [and he is going to see if anyone is looking, and then he will parkour from the tree to the roof and then easily start to walk up it]

Lydia: [takes a deep breath as she watches him]

Stiles: [and he will examine it and shake his head] It looks like it's only grated here, but still open all the way down to the fireplace. You're going to need to have him seal it where the fireplace flue and the roof meet. [all said as he's casually walking back down the roof]

Lydia: Sure. I'll get on that.

Stiles: [and he will hop straight down off the roof to the ground next to her like he was hoping off a stair] Good.

Lydia: Anything else?

Stiles: No. I mean beyond me trying to break into every window, it looks fine. It's similar to my place, actually, but we're not sealed up tight like this. All the bottom parts of the frame have sliding mountain ash frames inside the main frame. That way I can open my window and walk out of the house like a normal person, but if we feel threatened, I can even pull the string to seal myself in. Dad has to open the frame though to reopen the seal or I'm trapped inside. Can't tell you how many times I trapped myself in my own house as a kid in order to get out of school.

Lydia: I'm sure you thought you were clever.

Stiles: Yup. Since otherwise I would never have a reason to take a sick day

Lydia: You know some of us healthy humans manage to make it through school never taking a sick day.

Stiles: Why? You're entitled to them

Lydia: ... No, not exactly.

Stiles: Thhhey give you so many without taking points, so yeah.

Lydia: It still doesn't look good.

Stiles: To who?

Lydia: To colleges? They look at your attendance record.

Stiles: I have yet to see someone get denied college based off a sick day.

Lydia: Whatever you say.

Stiles: Look it up. Pretty sure that's actually discrimination to not accept someone based on their health.

Lydia: Not their health. Their attendance. There's a difference. I'm sure if they could justify the absences with doctor's notes and medical records it would be fine, but if you were just out for no reason ...

Stiles: And being that you get so many unexcused days without having to provide evidence because they consider it part of life...

Lydia: [she shrugs] I still don't think it looks good.

Stiles: You can keep your perfect attendance award, Lydia. I'd rather have a life, or what I can of one.

Lydia: [rolls her eyes] My mom will be home soon. You should probably go.

Stiles: Alright. Well, see you Monday. Have a good night. [ and he will go to the jeep to head home

Lydia: [and she will wave him off before heading back into her house]