[Fic] ever a different road (Teen Wolf)
- Fandom: Teen Wolf (TV)
- Pairing: Peter Hale/Stiles Stilinski
- Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence
- Word-Count: 1107
- Status: Complete
- First Published: 2024-12-11
- Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Wolf and make no profit from this—it is solely a hobby for fun, with no financial compensation.
Summary:
"I'm just fine, darling," Peter says, and leans against the floor-to-ceiling window. It's just them left; everybody else left, scattering in a thousand different directions because they're not a pack, not really. No matter how much Deacon repeats the term True alpha, it doesn't suddenly make a collection of ratty, disgruntled teenagers friends, much less pack.
Notes:
written for whumpcember 2024 - Day 11: Manipulation
Work Text:
In a blatant display of manipulation, Stiles says, "You alright there, big guy?" and Peter starts, turning his head Stiles' way. He's obviously not alright; the latest battle has left Peter with far too many wounds, scores in his flesh and bruises littering his skin, and Stiles is certain that he's very much not alight. But he smirks at Stiles, like he always does, so Stiles takes that as permission to get closer, sidling up to him and joining him by the window. The half-moon is pretty in the pitch black night sky, and Stiles tilts his head back. "Seriously," he says, "Are you alright? You took a couple of rough hits, dude."
"I'm just fine, darling," Peter says, and leans against the floor-to-ceiling window. It's just them left; everybody else left, scattering in a thousand different directions because they're not a pack, not really. No matter how much Deacon repeats the term True alpha, it doesn't suddenly make a collection of ratty, disgruntled teenagers friends, much less pack.
And anyway Scott doesn't want a pack.
He likes the power, sure Likes that people listen to hi,, that he suddenly matters. Likes being popular. But he resents his status as a werewolf, is still not over the damage it supposed did to his relationship with Allison, even years after her death. He still clings to old human sensibilities and laws and traditions, and won't bent for any animal barbarianism. He doesn't want a pack and he doesn't want to be anybody's alpha; he just wants ot be Important.
He's not Peter's alpha. Stiles, really, doesn't understand why Peter's still hanging around Beacon Hill, doesn't understand why he hasn't just packed up in the night and left. It's not like anybody but Stiles and Lydia would even notice, really, everybody else a chip off Scott'' block, too preoccupied with the fairy-tale he's weaving around them to justify his viewpoint to look around and see what's actually happening outside their direct line of sight.
So Peter could leave, and Scott probably wouldn't even realize he was gone for weeks.
Peter could leave, and yet he hasn't.
...Stiles is kind of selfishly glad about that, even if only for the company on those long, long nights of research. Lydia doesn't much like Peter, of course, but then she's usually in her own world when they're researching; earphones in and blasting music loud enough that Peter occasionally winces. Stiles thinks that's that probably the point, and he doesn't bother trying to make Lydia stop.
Because the thing is that Stiles likes Peter, and Lydia blasts her music Peter turns away from her and huddles in the corners with Stiles. And Stiles is selfish, and possibly cruel; he doesn't really care, not when they're standing so close they almost touch, bending over a book together. Not when Peter gives him a glass of water---just because Stiles is a puny human, of course---and not when Peter is tired, and exhausted, and he forgets to smirk at Stiles, and simply smiles instead.
He's selfish. Mean.
But he wants Peter with him.
Still, he thinks. Peters being run ragged without any relief, and it's not right. It's going to burn him out, and that's intolerable, Stiles think. He doesn't want a Peter that doesn't have any fire left in him whatsoever, and he doesn't Peter to die on the hill of Scott's pride and arrogance and shortsightedness. He doesn't want Peter to be just another sacrifice on Scott's road to power.
Doesn't want Peter to be lost.
So he says, "Do you ever want to leave?" and Peter looks at him, bruises under his eyes and breath ragged from the punches to his torso. Stiles wonders if his ribs are broken. Wonders if Peter even cares anymore, if he's grown so used to throwing himself in headfirst, the plans they come up with discarded again and again because Scott always has to try things his way first.
And his way never works.
"I've been thinking," Stiles says, then in the silence. "About college. You know. I's getting to be about time for me to go, I think. And I thought that maybe..." And Stiles can't say it or a moment. it's a betrayal, he knows. A betrayal of Scott and their decades long friendship, for Stiles to just leave. To go. And an even bigger betrayal to take a weapon so useful as Peter Hale with him. "Maybe you could come with me."
Peter smirks, "Why Stiles, are you offering to elope with him?"
"I could," Stiles says instantly, because Peter just hits all the right buttons and the image of elopement is in his head now. "We could stop by at Vegas on the way, get a shotgun wedding."
"Is that so," Peter says, but his gaze grows heavier upon Stiles's face. IT is so, Stiles thinks, and holds his ground, stares right back. He would elope with Peter, if Peter asked. It's not a thought thta's occured to him before, but now that it's in his head it's almost overpowering. He would elope with him. Mae an honest man out of him. Shackle Peter to his side, and stay with him forever.
If Peter only asked.
"Come on," says Stiles, then; "You're not alright. You're barely getting time to recover. Nobody is. I'm going. Come with me."
And Peter says, "Alright. darling. Ill go with you."
Stiles stomach clenches,and his heart flutters, and he grins. "Sweet," he says, just barely resisting the urge to toss his arms about Peter and squeeze him to death. But he says, "I'll go pack," and ca't help the way he bounces on his toes, clapping his hands together. The sound is loud, coinciding with a last of thunder that comes out of nowhere, and then a bolt of lightning strikes harsh over the sky.
Peter winces, and Stiles says, "Sorry," even though the lightning's not his fault. His phone rings not long after; the lightning was green, which Stiles thinks is probably not normal. And he thinks he knows why Scott's calling.
There's only ever one reason, these days.
"Let's go," Stiles says, ignoring his phone and motioning for Peter to follow. The man does, and Stiles grins quietly to himself, speeding up unitl he's nearly running to his beloved Jeep. Peter gets into the passengers seat, staring at Stiles, and Stiles grins at him, too. He can't think of anything to say that won't reveal far too much, so he turns on the radio and sings along to the pop song as he drives over to his house, and Peter huffs a laugh.
Notes:
the amount of typos i had to fix for this one...
Series this work belongs to:
- ← Previous Work Part 11 of Whumpcember 2024