Chapter Text
Stiles and Derek were pretty much polar opposites. At least that's how it seemed to everyone, even themselves. In all honesty, they didn't know one another that well. Derek barely knew anything about Stiles other than the fact that he was a hyperactive spaz and Scott's best friend. Stiles barely knew anything about Derek except that he was emotionally constipated around others and had a tragic past.
"I'm sooo hungry," Stiles groaned as Derek drove down the highway.
Some old family friend of the Hales had gotten in touch with Derek. She knew he was alive, but couldn't find Derek or Laura for several years. Apparently she had some things that she wanted to give him. Hale family relics that were some how in her possession and photo albums.
Everyone had set aside their difference to come together and find Erica and Boyd. They succeeded thanks to Isaac who accidentally ran across the alphas' hideout, which was the old abandoned bank. The search took up half of the summer but it bought everyone closer together. The alphas were suspiciously absent during the rescue and when Scott and Derek went back with Chris Argent the following day, all traces of them had vanished.
It was a debate. Most of them couldn't go because of their parents. Scott and Isaac had to work (yes, Isaac had gotten a part time job). Allison obviously wouldn't go and her dad wouldn't have allowed it anyway. That only left Stiles. Sheriff Stilinski was at a law enforcement convention in Sacramento for a few days.
That meant the trip of a life time for Derek. Erica had said that sarcastically. The thing was, Derek didn't mind being around Stiles. He was annoying as hell sometimes, but he was good company.
The trip took almost a day's drive north. Derek was thrilled to meet with someone his mother had looked up to. As for Stiles, the whole visit was kind of awkward. They stayed for a whole day and spent two nights. Derek and Stiles had to share a room and it was only a little awkward. At least there was a cot. (Derek tried to be decent and take the cot but Stiles shot him down and said he was the alpha, he deserved the bed.)
They ended up getting a late start on the journey home on their last day there. It was well past dinner time that Stiles started complaining about being hungry.
Derek didn't even bother responding. He pulled into a Burger King drive thru and barked at Stiles to make his decision, fast. Stiles went for a heart attack on a bun, which went by the official name 'Triple Whopper with Cheese,' a large order of fries, and a large coke. Derek got the same to keep it simple.
Knowing they wouldn't make it back to Beacon Hills until some time well after midnight, Derek turned into a motel parking lot.
"What are you doing?" Stiles asked.
Derek rolled his eyes. "Unless you want to die in a car crash because I'm drowzy, by all means, I'll keep driving."
"Did you just make a joke?" Stiles looked shocked and Derek didn't say anything. "You know.. I could always drive." Derek's look turned into a glare. "Kidding."
"Wait here, I'll go in and get us a room," Derek told him. Stiles nodded and went to reach into the bag for food. "And no eating anything but fries in my car. I don't want ketchup and mustard everywhere."
He slammed the door and headed for the motel office. He heard Stiles muttering as he walked away.
Inside the office, Derek found two, if he were going to be completely honest with himself, terrifying women. They had to be in their forties but looked ten to fifteen years older due to a life of smoking and drug use. A small part of him wanted to turn around and find another motel, but he was tired.
"Hey there, doll face," one of them rasped. (Derek shuddered. Yes, call the press, Derek Hale shuddered uncomfortably.) The woman's voice sounded slightly manly due to the fact that she probably smoked two packs of cigarettes a day for thirty years. And what made it worse what the fact that she was flirting.
"Hello," Derek said politely, pulling out his wallet. "I need a double for one night, please."
He briefly considered getting two rooms, but if he and Stiles could survive two nights in the same room, they could survive another.
"Sorry, hun," the other lady said. "We're doing some renovating and only have singles available."
Derek swallowed slowly. That was going to be a little weird. But he still didn't want to pay for two rooms.
"That's fine," he found himself saying.
"Have a nice stay," the lady told him as she handed him the key.
He thanked her and left. Once he was outside he heard the other one say, "that was the most gorgeous man I've ever seen." He shuddered again.
Derek didn't even speak to Stiles as he got in the car and pulled it around to the room. Stiles was slowly eating his fries, trying to savor them.
Stiles carried the food to the door while Derek grabbed their bags.
"Um, Derek? There's only one bed," Stiles said after Derek unlocked the door and let him inside.
"I can count, Stiles. This was all they had so we'll have to make do. We shared a room for two nights, we can share a bed for one. Its kind of big and it won't kill us."
Stiles blinked. "Dude, I think that was the most I've ever heard you say in one go."
Derek scoffed quietly. "Just shut up and eat."
They ended up on opposite sides of the room. Stiles sat in the floor at the foot of the bed watching something on tv while he ate. The tv was old because the color was off and the screen was snowy. Derek sat at the table in the corner and ate.
After practically inhaling his food like a vacuum cleaner, Stiles stood up and announced that he was going to take a quick shower. Derek figured he'd just take one in the morning before they left. He started gathering up their trash while Stiles grabbed his pajamas from his backpack.
When the shower started, Stiles screamed like a little girl. Cheap motels always had terrible showers. Derek changed his clothes and was already on his side of the bed reading when Stiles got out.
"If you plan on taking a shower, watch out. The water is cold as crap," Stiles warned.
"I'll keep that in mind," Derek replied.
Stiles laid down on his side and remained as close to the edge as he could be without ending up in the floor. He flipped through the half a dozen channels on the tv before finally giving up and glancing over at Derek.
"Are you seriously reading The Hunger Games?"
Derek shrugged. "Isaac recommended it. Its pretty good."
"It is, I just never thought it would be something you'd read."
The two of them got into a discussion about books that lasted for almost an hour. Stiles found out that, in addition to all of the usual classics, Derek also enjoyed things like Harry Potter. Derek was surprised to find out Stiles liked the classics.
When Stiles started yawning, Derek turned the light off and rolled over on their sides facing away from one another. Both of them fell asleep fairly quick.
Around four in the morning, a slight shaking of the bed woke Stiles up. When he hear a sniffle, he rolled over realized what it was.
"Derek? Are you crying?" he whispered not wanting to piss Derek off.
"Laura?" a voice that was definitely not Derek's asked.
Stiles sat up quickly. So did Derek.. Well, it wasn't actually Derek. They both took one look at one another and screamed and fell of the bed at the same time.
"Keep it down in there, you hooligans," a muffled voice yelled through the wall.
"Oh God, did I sleepwalk into a different room?" Stiles asked. He'd only had a sleepwalking incident once when he was little.
"Who are you?" the other guy asked.
Stiles reached up and turned the lamp on. The other guy was about the same age with dark hair and greenish multi-colored eyes. Then he glanced around. He saw his bag laying on the floor. That meant he was still in the same room. But where was Derek? Did he leave Stiles and this kid just sneaked in?
"Uh, I'm Stiles... Who are you?"
"Derek.. Derek Hale," the guy said.