canon au } { post-611, of surprise girlfriends and figuring things out

[impetere]

Stiles: [and he's gotten so much better at things like surveillance and stuff that he's looking at his phone as he gives her the answer] I have a weird feeling my girlfriend is in town.

Angie: [sitting across the booth from him with Aaron] Why?

Stiles: Because she's supposed to be in Scotland, but she's asking me questions about the hotel we're all staying at this weekend. And they're like that specific enough that I think she's there.

Angie: Does she have a reason to be here?

Stiles: I would be the only reason. But we're taking a break and she didn't say anything about coming here.

Angie: Would you mind if she were?

Stiles: [and he has to think on that a moment, because he's not sure] I don't know. I mean, I miss her and all... but I dunno, ya know?

Angie: [she nods, pausing to take a sip of her drink but her eyes are focusing past Stiles' shoulder tipping her head to the side curiously] How do you feel about short hair?

Stiles: ... What? That is like the oddest segway... [blinks, because his brain moves that fast and he's going to turn around in his seat]

Cora: [and there she is. it's too hot for her usual leather jacket, and her hair is shorter than the last time he saw her, but she is lingering by the bar, eyes scanning the faces nervously, almost as though she's partially realizing that this might have been a bad idea, after she's already done it]

Stiles: [he sees her and when she's looking at him she will get a little smirk. One that she would get when she surprised him and he didn't know if he should complain or be happy. Either way, he's going to get up] Think you two can handle the rest of the night without my company?

Angie: What, we don't get to meet her?

Aaron: [rolls his eyes] We'll be fine. Go.

Stiles: Let me see what her plans are, and then if she's comfortable swinging by. [smiles at Angie and leaves money for them to get another round on him] Don't do anything I wouldn't do.

Cora: [the two idiots are totally just going to lean out of the booth and watch them like creepers, but Cora will smile when he comes closer] Hey.

Stiles: Hey. You didn't tell me you were coming to town.

Cora: Yeah. It was ... kind of an impulsive thing? And I wanted to surprise you, but I realized in the Uber over here that considering how things were left that might not have been the greatest idea and I should have asked.

Stiles: No, it's fine. I'm happy to see you. Really happy. You're just lucky I'm on furlough this weekend.

Cora: Benefit of a private Slayer plane.

Stiles: True. By the way, they're going to keep staring at us until we leave or I introduce you.

Cora: [she glances over to who he means and she nods] Which would you rather do?

Stiles: It would save me a lot of questions later if I could introduce you. It's not like I don't talk about you to them.

Cora: [she nods] Okay.

Stiles: Come on. [he will hold his hand out to her, and then walk her over to meet Aaron and Angie] Aaron, Angie, this is Cora. Cora, this is my roommate Aaron, and Angie lives across the hall from me.

Cora: [keeps one hand in his and holds up the other to wave] Hi.

Angie: [smiles around her straw] Hi there.

Aaron: Ignore her.

Stiles: These two are responsible for me making the final cut. I don't know whether to thank them yet. [grins]

Cora: I'm just glad he had friends looking out for him.

Aaron: He made it easy and he learned fast.

Stiles: I'm hoping McCall had money against me so that he lost big in this. [smirks]

Cora: [she laughs] How is Scott's dad?

Stiles: Same as always. [motions for the two of them to scoot over so they can sit down] Playing my parole officer and giving me great ammunition.

Cora: [Angie and Aaron were on the same side of the table, so Cora just slides into the booth after Stiles] At least some things never change.

Angie: So what do you do, Cora?

Cora: I teach self-defense classes for teenage girls.

Aaron: [eyebrows up] Kind of a niche market?

Cora: They're niche kinds of girls.

Stiles: With the shit we've read about sexual predators and kidnapping, I think that should be a mandatory course in high school at this point

Cora: You would think. But it's not.

Stiles: And trust me, she's really good at it. She's the reason that I was good at that part of training.

Angie: Thank you for making our lives easier.

Cora: You're welcome.

Stiles: [laughs and nods at Aaron] And Aaron is the reason I didn't shoot my eye out. Or like anyone in the class.

Cora: And thank you for making sure he was unmaimed.

Aaron: It was safer for everyone that way.

Stiles: So I guess I'm probably going to bow out for plans tonight and show Cora around town. [and before Angie gets to ask questions]

Aaron: I think it's probably for the best. But don't worry, we'll survive without you.

Stiles: I promise I won't be too loud in the next room over.

Angie: [singsongy] Then you're doing it wrong.

Aaron: I think we need to get her some coffee. [and he'll try to usher Angie out of the booth] See you later man.

Cora: [totally trying not to blush because she gets those implications]

Stiles: [rolls his eyes] Later guys.

Cora: [and they will shuffle off leaving the two of them alone. Cora will be quiet for a moment before glancing back up to him] So ...

Stiles: [shifts to face her] You want to go take a walk?

Cora: [she nods] Sure. That'd be good.

Stiles: [and so they leave, and it's still light out because it's summer in the northern hemisphere and they can take a walk along the Potomac]

Cora: [and she'll keep her hand in his if he'll let her, just listening to him talk about the area]

Stiles; [he will, and after a bit] So you just decided to come surprise me out of the blue?

Cora: [she gives a small shrug as she turned to face him more] I missed you. A lot. And I don't know if I want to go all the way back to Beacon Hills yet, but you weren't in Beacon Hills, so it felt like a good compromise.

Stiles: Yeah, I get it. And I missed you too. [he squeezed her hand] I just... I wasn't expecting it.

Cora: [she nods] I didn't mean to crash your plans or anything. You don't have to completely ditch them to hang out with me.

Stiles: No, we were just going to be bums on the beach before we have to be back on base Sunday night.

Cora: [there's a pause] I also don't have to stay with you, if that's too weird.

Stiles: [and he bites his lower lip] I'm trying to figure out what I'm feeling on that right now still. Because no, I want to be with you while you're here... but at the same time I don't think I'm at the point yet where I'm ready for certain things. So I don't know. [he looked at her] What about you?

Cora: No, that's fine. I wasn't ... expecting anything, in that respect. [she gives a small shrug] I just wanted to see you.

Stiles: Well, you have me to look at for the next.... um, 36 hours. And lucky for you, my room has two beds so no pressure. You can stay with me.

Cora: [she smiles] Okay. [while she wouldn't mind just sleeping in his arms, he's the one setting the terms, so she'll respect them]

Stiles: [and he will squeeze her hand] I just don't want you to think I don't want you. Because I do. You're still my girl. I just... I'm not there yet.

Cora: I'm not really sure I'm there either. Just ... I'm still not really used to sleeping alone.

Stiles: You snuggling someone in Scotland on the side? [teasing]

Cora: [she laughs] Yeah. His name is Goober, and he's got four legs and a tail.

Stiles: [laughs] You got a dog? That's awesome.

Cora: Technically he's a communal Slayer dog, but yeah. He stays with me most nights.

Stiles: He knows who gives good cuddles then.

Cora: Yes, he does.

Stiles: It took awhile to get used to it. But you know me, I can sleep anywhere.

Cora: Lucky you.

Stiles: Yeah, except when it's the jeep. My back was not happy with me on those nights.

Cora: [she wrinkles her nose] No, I can't imagine that was fun. Goober was good for some nights, and on the other nights I'd talk to you. Or try to.

Stiles: [nods, looking down at his feet] I was angry for awhile and just... I didn't want to make you feel bad while you were trying to figure yourself out. It wouldn't have helped either of us.

Cora: [she nods] You had a right to be angry. I did ... up and leave.

Stiles: But I'm passed it now.

Cora: [she looks up at him for a moment, before reaching up to tuck her hair behind her ear as she nods] Good. You seem like you're doing really well, Stiles. I'm really happy for you.

Stiles: Yeah, well, I think my dad was right that law enforcement was a good thing for me. The physical stuff sucks, but the other stuff I'm really good at.

Cora: I knew you would be. I just didn't expect you to go full FBI.

Stiles: My dad jokes I'm never allowed at his office again

Cora: [she laughs] I'm sure he'll make an exception eventually.

Stiles: I'm sure. Especially if I get stationed in LA.

Cora: Do you think you will?

Stiles: Probably. I mean, McCall is supposed to be in Beacon Hills to figure out what the hell is going on there for the non-supernaturally inclined. I think he's trying to get me to do that so it'd be less hostile environment.

Cora: Well, I guess we'll see what happens.

Stiles: I do want to be close to home. I mean, if that's where my dad and Jody are... if that's where your siblings are... that’s where I want to be. I just hope one day you're back there with me.

Cora: [she nods once linking her fingers in his] I want to be back there too. I miss Derek and Laura, and your dad. I'm just ... nervous, you know?

Stiles: Yeah, I know. And I get it now, a lot more than before when you left.

Cora: [she nods] But if that's where you're going to be, then that's where I want to be too.

Stiles: [smiles] Good. Then I can wait for you to be ready to come home to me.

Cora: [she smiles in return, and it comes so much easier since the last time he saw her] I will, Stiles. I promise.

Stiles: [and seein
g that smile makes him grin more, and they can go back to walking] So how are things going otherwise?

Cora: Good. Everybody's happy and healthy. Vampires in Europe keeping us busy.

Stiles: [nods, and then looks at her] You know what a paladin is by chance?

Cora: [her brow furrows for a moment, before squinting] Sort of? I've never actually met one. But they're these low level magic users who can bind more powerful magic users or creatures. There's a rumor that about ten years ago a paladin bound the Leviathan down in Miami. They also theorize that Judas Iscariot was a paladin.

Stiles: [ooo, Miami. He'll have to ask Aaron about that later] Well, you've met one, just so you know.

Cora: [whips her head around to look at him, surprised] What?

Stiles: Yeah. I'm rooming with him. He noticed my funky aura and asked me about it.

Cora: Oh. Cool. I can't see auras, but Willow can. She's mentioned it in the past.

Stiles: Yeah, she told me about that when we were talking on the phone.

Cora: [she nods] Werewolves don't really need to deal with paladins much unless we're hurting people, and even then hunters usually get to us first. Paladins deal more with the big stuff. Dragons and immortals, and all that.

Stiles: I'm surprised we didn't have one come out with the whole nogitsune.

Cora: There aren't a lot of them. It's likely by the time they heard what was happening and got out there, we had already taken care of it.

Stiles: Thank god. Because otherwise they would have been too late.

Cora: [she nods a bit] Yeah, probably.

Stiles: And then you probably would have tried to kill them, and it just wouldn't have been good juju.

Cora: That would depend on what their solution was.

Stiles: [everyone knows what Stiles' position was on what to do, but no one listened to him. Thankfully.] True.

Cora: [she gives a small shrug] But we're past that now. Thankfully it all worked out.

Stiles: Yup, and any remnants I left behind in Mystic Falls.

Cora: [frowns] What do you mean?

Stiles: Oh. Yeah, so Um... I met a witch in Mystic Falls who helped me mind walk a bit to figure out some of my issues I have with anger and stuff. I mean, you know how ever since that incident my emotions sometimes were roller coastery?

Cora: [she nods] It went well, then?

Stiles: Yeah. It was rough. I think I slept for like, two days straight after it, but since then it's been good. I also learned to meditate, and Angie taught me yoga so I do that in the morning. Hell, I can run a mile now in around seven minutes and not feel like I'm going to die when it's over.

Cora: [she laughs] Look at all that progress.

Stiles: Yeah, I know. [he's still working on the magic control so he's not going to show that off just yet] Dad's probably not going to recognize me when I go home for the wedding.

Cora: [she nods] I actually got an invitation for that.

Stiles: Not surprised. Dad pretty much is set on all the Hales being his family.

Cora: [she nods] I ... haven't responded yet.

Stiles: I'm sure Dad will figure out a last minute decision. I'm kinda required to be there since I'm the best man and all.

Cora: [she nods] I just wanted to make sure we were okay first.

Stiles: We're okay. Like I said, I was angry, but now I understand more why you needed it, since it turns out I kinda needed it too. And when you come home, we'll see where we're at, what we both want moving forward, and how we can get there together.

Cora: Okay. I also didn't really want the first time you saw me to be at the wedding. That seemed like ... too much awkward.

Stiles: Yeah, probably would be. And we can just feel our way through the wedding if you want. Since we can't see into the future and know where we'll be at then.

Cora: [she nods] It's far enough away that hopefully I'll be home by then.

Stiles: I should hopefully have my first assignment by then, so I'll know if I'm in LA or somewhere else by then and can plan accordingly.

Cora: [she nods] So we'll see.

Stiles: Yes, we will. [and he will look at his watch] Have you eaten yet?

Cora: [she shakes her head] Not since lunch.

Stiles: Alright, well let's get you some dinner and then we can go back and hang out at the hotel? I had just finished dinner when you showed up at the bar.

Cora: Sure. Or we can even get a pizza or something to take back so that we don't have to have you sitting there eating nothing.

Stiles: Maybe some cheesy bread type things.

Cora: Sounds good.

Stiles: [and off they go to get the food and head back to the hotel]

Cora: [and she will devour that pizza, indicating that in a lot of ways her appetite is back and she's smiling and laughing - she's definitely better than she was the last time he saw her, and a lot more like herself]

Stiles: [and he is casually just nibbling on his food, still an empty pit but not as empty anymore]

Cora: [and once the food is gone and the talking is worn out, she'll just pause as she goes to throw the pizza box away] So.

Stiles: Well, I'm going to grab a shower before bed. You can take whichever you want, I'll grab the other.

Cora: Okay. [and she'll pick the one by the door out of habit, and change into something comfy while he's in the shower]

Stiles: [and he will shower and will remember his sleep pants but he's gotten used to sleeping shirtless so he's going to just forget that shirt and realize it when he's coming out of the shower and crap, does he walk through the room half naked to get a shirt....]

Cora: [doot doot doo, just hanging out in her sleep shorts and tshirt, answering any text messages she might have gotten while she was with Stiles]

Stiles: [no, fuck it. he's going to be comfortable and not make it a thing. Oh well. Sorry, Cora, but enjoy the view of the newly sculpted abs and arms your boyfriend is now sporting as he goes to find his sleep shirt]

Cora: [oh, yep, her sex drive is back. good to know. but she doesn't say anything and just swallows hard before looking down at her phone again and trying to ignore it]

Stiles: [okay, he finds one that will work for him, but it's going to be tight to the body and not really hide anything anyway. probably not helping at all, and he's going to flop down on the bed] If you want, we could go into DC tomorrow and play around in the museums.

Cora: [glances over and nope, definitely doesn't help] Yeah, that sounds good. I've never been to any of them before.

Stiles: Cool. It'll be fun, and we can just enjoy ourselves. Pretend to be kids and run around making dinosaur noises.

Cora: [she laughs] Sure. It'll be nice.

Stiles: I'll try not to wake you up when I get up for yoga and going downstairs to the fitness center.

Cora: [she shakes her head] I think the door opening would wake me up more than you doing whatever you're doing.

Stiles: Well I was going to go out on the balcony to do the yoga... so I'll be real quiet with the doors.

Cora: Okay. [if she does wake up, she won't let him know]

Stiles: Sleep well. [and he's going to shift in bed before closing his eyes and curlling up on his side to go to sleep]

Cora: [and she'll shift down to curl up herself, watching him for a moment from a distance and actually feeling it, before she takes a deep breath, shifting to roll onto her other side and closing her eyes]

Stiles: [yeah, if he had known she was coming, he might be more available physical wise, but it's a shock after so long apart he isn't sure how to handle it. So when he wakes up and sees her there, he's still unsure what he's supposed to do here, and he'll just go grab his mat and iPod and go out onto the balcony to try and ground himself and get focus]

Cora: [no, she didn't think this through. but when she hears the sliding door she opens her eyes for only a moment to make sure it was him before she rolls over and goes back to sleep again]

Stiles: [and he's going to look at the balconies on either side of him, wondering if Angie is going to be sober enough to join him before he gets to work. But it's hot and he's going to end up taking that shirt off after a bit]

Angie: [noooooooope but she will stumble out towards the end with coffee just to get some fresh air. she has sunglasses on and just leans on the balcony] Morning.

Stiles: [and he will pop one earbud out and smile over at her] Morning. You look like you had a good night.

Angie: There was lots of dancing and lots of drinking, and eventually the lights got all swirly.

Stiles: So not a lot of water in that drinking, huh?

Angie: Not at first. But I didn't pass out.

Stiles: That's good. Aaron got you back safe too, it seems.

Angie: He did. He's getting pancakes.

Stiles: Mmm, pancakes. I should order some for us.

Angie: [she nods before she smirks] How was your evening?

Stiles: It was alright. We took a walk, got pizza. She's sleeping right now.

Angie: You haven't seen your girlfriend in six months and you go for a walk?

Stiles: It's complicated.

Angie: Life is too short for complicated. What do you want?

Stiles: That's the thing that's the complicated

Angie: [sighs as she turns to face him] So explain it to me.

Stiles: [shakes his head] Not right now. Right now I just want to enjoy the day and think about all that stuff.

Angie: [she sighs] But if you're worried about things being complicated are you really going to enjoy it, or are you going to be turning things over and over all day?

Stiles: We're at a good place right now. It's good.

Angie: Is it, or are you just telling yourself that because you're worried what will happen if you try for better?

Stiles: [he thinks on it a moment, then just shrugs as he reaches down to roll up his mat] Guess I'll figure that out along the way.

Angie: [she sighs] Well, you have fun. I'm going to eat pancakes.

Stiles: You guys have fun. Maybe we can all grab dinner together?

Angie: Sounds good.

Stiles: [and he will nod and go to head inside as quietly as he can]

Cora: [and she's still lying on her side, facing away from the door, but she definitely heard a lot of that]

Stiles: [and while he may suspect that she's awake, he's going to change quickly into his gym clothes to head to the fitness center]

Cora: [and once he's gone, she'll get up and take a shower and try to take a moment to breathe and figure out how to do this. even if she thought it would be hard, she didn't think it would be this hard. but by the time he gets back she's changed and ready to go out]

Stiles: [and he will smile as he comes back] Lemma grab a shower. What would you like for breakfast? [as he grabs a change of clothes]

Cora: [she shrugs] Is there a diner we can hit up?

Stiles: Yeah, probably. I'll google it.

Cora: I can do it. You get cleaned up.

Stiles: Alright. It'll take me just five minutes.

Cora: [she nods] Okay. [and she'll grab her phone to do some searching]

Stiles: [and he'll come out in jeans and a t-shirt] You got the directions?

Cora: [holds up her phone] Yep. It's not that far.

Stiles: Awesome. Let's go. I'm feeling like pancakes.

Cora: Okay. [and off they go to the diner, where they load up on food for the day]

Stiles: [yup. and he's going to wolf them down since he's been working out and hungry]

Cora: [and she'll wolf them down because wolf]

Stiles: [and then they can go play in the museums]

Cora: [yep, which is all kinds of fun.]

Stiles: [and it's a good day. Just them, no expectations, just being with each other and having fun]

Cora: [yep. and eventually they'll settle on the edge of the park for ice cream or something]

Stiles: [yup, relaxing on the mall grass with their cones]

Cora: Did you ever think about just staying here?

Stiles: Not really. Why?

Cora: [she shrugs] It's a nice town.

Stiles: It is, but it's not home.

Cora: I guess not.

Stiles: [licks his lips] You really don't want to go back to Beacon Hills, do you?

Cora: [she shrugs, looking down at her ice cream] You're home. I'll go where you go. But aside from you, you can't exactly make an argument about it being great for my mental health.

Stiles: I don't think it's a good place for any kind of health. I mean, look at the last few years alone. [sighs] But it's home for me. My dad's there. Scott... [Joy] I can't see myself living somewhere that I can't get back to them within an hour or two at the most.

Cora: I can live with that. I mean, my family's there too.

Stiles: And LA is an hour away.

Cora: Sounds perfect, then.

Stiles: [and he will nod, being quiet]

Cora: [she glances over to him, as she finishes off the rest of her ice cream and crumples the napkin] Penny for your thoughts?

Stiles: No, Just thinking that I really don't get to pick my first assignment, so I could really just end up anywhere in a few weeks.

Cora: Would that be a bad thing?

Stiles: Alaska.

Cora: That would be a bad thing.

Stiles: Iowa.

Cora: Iowa's nice.

Stiles: There is nothing in Iowa.

Cora: There's wide open spaces.

Stiles: And i would go crazy in 5 minutes.

Cora: Okay, fair enough.

Stiles: Or I could end up in downtown Chicago where it may or may not be worse than Beacon Hills.

Cora: And that wouldn't be good either.

Stiles: So yeah, could be worse.

Cora: Well, do you think you're going to wind up in Iowa?

Stiles: I have no idea. It's where they need me.

Cora: Then don't worry about it too much. It's not something you can control and you can always transfer out if another spot opens up.

Stiles: Which could take years to happen.

Cora: [she pauses for a moment, before moving to sit in front of him so she can look in his eyes] Well, if it happens, and you go to Iowa, I'll go with you. It doesn't have to be like that, I could just be your neighbor down the hall or something. But at least you wouldn't be alone.

Stiles: I don't want you to do it to keep me company, Cora. If you need more time in Scotland kicking vampire ass, don't just leave it to move to the middle of nowhere to live down the hall from me.

Cora: I don't need more time in Scotland. I'm just not sure if I'm ready to spend that time in Beacon Hills. [she inches forward moving so that she's straddling one of his legs and letting her hand rest against his shoulder] If I have the option of spending time with you in Iowa, then I'd do it. I'll get a farm and some cows and overalls, and you will get sick of me smelling like fertilizer. It'll be great.

Stiles: Cora, the cows will know you're a werewolf and will freak out. [but he's smiling a bit at the image]

Cora: [and that makes her smile too] I have a way with animals, I think I can make it work.

Stiles: You know I will forever make all the jokes about you milking them.

Cora: And they'll be dumb jokes, but I'll laugh at them anyway. [her fingers play with his shirt a bit] I've missed your jokes.

Stiles: You're probably the only one.

Cora: I can live with that. Means I'm more likely to stay your girl.

Stiles: You'll always be my girl, Cora. That won't change.

Cora: I know. [her hand against his shoulder drops and her eyes go with it] Just want to make sure you know I still want the job.

Stiles: [he sighs and goes to take one of her hands in both of his] I know you do. And I'm not saying no. Far from it, actually.

Cora: I know. And I'm not trying to be ... pushy. I'm just ... it feels like I'm making things harder for you.

Stiles: [he bites his lip, then takes a deep breath] Right now... all of this has been on your time table. You left on yours, and you surprise me now and while I'm really happy to see you, and I'm glad we got to spend some time together... I feel like I'm having to focus on things I'm not ready to focus on. I'm still working on figuring me out. The whole piece on wanting you as my girl, yeah I know that piece... but I just am not at that point where I'm ready for that piece to come back yet. I don't have the right place in this puzzle yet to put it.

Cora: [she nods, because she gets that] I'm sorry I didn't call.

Stiles: [nods] I just... [and he's frustrated now] I just feel like I'm a bad boyfriend right now.

Cora: [she shakes her head, one hand coming up to brush against the side of his face] You're not. You're telling me what you need, and there's nothing wrong with that. I'm just glad you didn't tell me to go home the moment you saw me.

Stiles: I wouldn't do that. [and he's going to reach up and just rub at his eye a moment] I mean, I do miss you a lot.

Cora: [she nods, letting her hand rest against the back of his neck] I could stay for a while, if you want. Just ... in town. You can call me, or you don't - but if you decide you do want to see me, I'm there.

Stiles: That's up to you. But like I said, I'm going to get my assignment soon and I doubt they will keep me in DC.

Cora: Then I'll go where you go. I meant what I said. You're home, Stiles.

Stiles: [and he smiles] Alright. But if you come, none of this down the hall crap. We can afford a two bedroom apartment.

Cora: Only if you're sure. I don't want to be in your face or anything.

Stiles; I'm sure. We can still have our own rooms to retreat into if we need to. And we can take our time and figure it out together.

Cora: Okay. So we'll do that. Just let me know where they're sending you.

Stiles: You'll be the second to know. Since I’ll be the first.

Cora: Good. I think this'll be good.

Stiles: Me too.

Cora: [and she wants to kiss him, but she'll hold herself back and start to pull away slowly] So. Where to next?

Stiles: Um.... [looks around] We have the American Indiana, or the Botanical.

Cora: [she considers both and nods] Botanical first.

Stiles: Alright. [and he will push himself up and then hold a hand out for her] Let's go.

Cora: [and she will take his hand and let him lead the way]