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lenny-thequeen1 · 2 years ago

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Unexpected Joy Married!LeonX F!Reader

Author: I hope you guys enjoy this! Truly<3

You and Leon had just gotten back from your honeymoon and you have a pleasant surprise

FLUFF! talk of pregnancy and birth. 8.8K words

You had been back in Raccoon City for a few days, and the weight of reality was slowly settling in after the blissful escape of your honeymoon. The buzzing of city life was a stark contrast to the tranquil seclusion of the island you and Leon had just left behind. But amidst the hustle and bustle, something felt different within you.

As you settled into your new home with your husband, you couldn't shake the strange sensation in your stomach. It wasn't unpleasant, but it was persistent, like a fluttering of butterflies that refused to settle. At first, you attributed it to the excitement of your recent nuptials and the transition back to everyday life. But as the days passed, the sensation only grew stronger.

You tried to brush it off as just an odd feeling, but as you lay in bed one morning, you realized that the sensation was accompanied by waves of nausea and dizziness. You sat up in bed and rubbed your temples, trying to shake off the feeling. Maybe it was just a mild flu or something you ate.

One evening, as you and Leon were sitting on the couch watching TV, he noticed the pensive look on your face and asked, "What's wrong, babe?"

You turned to him, hesitating for a moment before confessing, "I don't know. Something just feels different within me. I can't quite put my finger on it."

Leon's expression softened, and he took your hand in his, "Do you want to talk about it?"

You nodded, feeling relieved to have someone to confide in. As you explained the strange sensation in your stomach, Leon listened intently, his brow furrowed with concern.

After a few moments of silence, he spoke softly, "Have you taken a pregnancy test?"

You froze for a moment, your mind racing. You hadn't even considered the possibility. But as you thought back to the symptoms you had been experiencing, it suddenly made sense. "No, I haven't yet." You let your voice get soft and barely heard.

Leon's eyes searched yours, filled with concern and a glimmer of hope. "Do you want to take one now?" he asked, his hand gently resting on your knee.

You nodded, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement. You and Leon had talked about starting a family, but you didn't expect it to happen so soon after your honeymoon.

Leon stood up from the couch and offered you a hand, helping you up as well. You gently take his hand and smile at him to try and hide your growing anxiety.

"Let's go get a test," he said with a reassuring smile, his eyes full of love for you. "we'll figure it out together."

His words brought you a sense of comfort and relief, knowing that you weren't alone in this. It wrapped around you like a warm fuzzy blanket. You nodded and followed him out the door, still feeling the fluttering sensation in your stomach.

As you walked to the store, you couldn't help but think about the potential changes that could be coming your way. Being a parent was a huge responsibility, and the thought of it made your heart race with excitement and nervousness. You both knew Raccoon City would make it more of a challenge to raise a child in but you knew you'd have Leon there.

Once at the store, you and Leon quickly found the pregnancy test aisle, and he picked out a few different tests for you to try. You felt your nerves getting the best of you as you headed to the checkout, hoping that nobody would notice the items in your basket.

As you were about to pay, you heard a familiar voice call out your name. "Hey, (Y/N), is that you?"

You turned around to see Chris Redfield walking towards you, a surprised look on his face. "Chris!" you exclaimed, happy to see your friend but also nervous about him noticing the pregnancy tests in your basket.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Chris asked, walking up to you and giving you a friendly hug.

"We were just getting some things," you replied, trying to sound casual. "you know? The usual."

Leon stepped forward and extended his hand. "Hey, Chris. We just got back from our honeymoon and needed to restock on some essentials."

Chris shook Leon's hand, his eyes flickering over to the items in your basket. "Oh, I see," he said with a small smile. "glad to see you guys back here!"

You felt yourself blushing, knowing that Chris had likely noticed the pregnancy tests. "Well, it was great seeing you Chris!" you said quickly, hoping to move on from the awkward moment.

But Chris wasn't ready to let you go just yet. "Hey, why don't you guys come over to my place later? I was going to grill up some burgers and catch up on old times."

You looked over at Leon, who gave you a small nod. "Sure, that sounds great," you replied.

"Awesome, I'll text you my address," Chris said, grinning. "See you later!"

As you left the store and started to walk home, you felt relieved that the awkward encounter with Chris was over. But at the same time, you couldn't shake the feeling that he had noticed the pregnancy tests and that the news of your potential pregnancy would soon spread beyond just you and Leon.

You and Leon continued to walk back home, and as you entered your house, you couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The thought of having to face Chris later and possibly having to reveal your pregnancy made you anxious.

Leon sensed your unease and wrapped his arms around you. "Don't worry about Chris. He's just excited to catch up with us. And if he does find out about the pregnancy, it's not a big deal. We were going to tell people eventually anyway."

You nodded, grateful for Leon's reassurance. You knew he was right, but you still couldn't help feeling nervous about the prospect of telling others. "I guess I should take these huh?" You awkwardly laugh as you dig out the pregnancy tests from your bags.

Leon chuckled softly and kissed your forehead. "Yeah, I think that would be a good idea. It'll put your mind at ease." He pulls you into a tighter hug and rubs your back before continuing. "I'll be right outside the door waiting for you baby, I promise."

You nodded and headed to the bathroom to take the tests, with Leon following close behind. You turned into the door and flicked on the light, a small click sound can be heard. The warm light revealed that the bathroom was a cozy space, painted in soft shades of blue and white, with a large frosted window letting in natural light. The tiled floor was cool underfoot, and the white porcelain sink and toilet gleamed in the light. A small wooden cabinet hung on the wall, stocked with various toiletries and essentials. A framed painting of a serene beach scene hung above the toilet, providing a calming presence in the space. The bathroom was small but functional, and you felt comfortable and at ease as you prepared to take the pregnancy tests. You turn to close the door and notice Leon sitting right in front of the door on the opposite wall, giving you a smile of reassurance.

As you took the pregnancy tests out of the bag, you felt a surge of nerves wash over you again. You had been trying to conceive, but the reality of potentially being pregnant was hitting you hard. You opened one of the test boxes and read the instructions carefully, trying to follow them to the letter.

As you worked on taking the test, you could hear the sound of water running from the kitchen sink as Leon washed his hands. His presence gave you a sense of comfort, and you appreciated that he was giving you space while still being there for you. You finished taking the test and set it aside to wait for the results, feeling a mix of anticipation and anxiety and a slight pang of excitement.

Looking around the bathroom, you couldn't help but feel grateful for the peaceful space. The serene beach painting and soft blue tones of the walls helped to calm your nerves, and you found yourself taking deep breaths to center yourself. The bathroom felt like a safe haven, a space where you could process your emotions and thoughts.

As you waited for the test results, you couldn't help but think about the changes that could be coming. A baby would mean a whole new chapter of your life, with its own joys and challenges. But you knew that whatever the test revealed, you and Leon would face it together.

As the tests processed, you found yourself lost in thought. But soon enough, the results appeared, and your heart raced as you looked at the small screens. Positive. Positive. Positive.

You gasped, feeling a mix of shock and excitement. You sat on the floor for a few minutes, staring at the tests. Your thoughts get interrupted by a soft knock on the door. "Baby?" Leon's voice calls through the door to you. "My beautiful lady? Is everything okay in there?"

You quickly composed yourself and stood up, tucking the tests into your pocket. "Yeah, everything's fine," you called back, trying to keep your voice steady. "I'll be out in a minute."

You took a deep breath and opened the door to find Leon standing there, looking at you with concern etched on his face. "What happened? Did something go wrong?" he asked, taking your hand in his and gently kissing the top of it.

You smiled at him, feeling overwhelmed with emotion. "No, everything's okay," you said, holding up the tests. "I'm pregnant, Leon. We're going to have a baby."

As you looked into Leon's warm blue eyes, you felt your anxiety start to melt away. He always had a way of making you feel safe and loved, no matter what was going on in your life. You could practically see the gears turning in his head as he looked at you. It felt like a dream to you both and you weren't sure if its true.

"I'm pregnant," you whispered, showing him the positive pregnancy tests once more. Leon's eyes widened in surprise, but then a huge grin spread across his face. This snapped you both back into reality, it wasn't a dream. It was true.

"We're going to have a baby!" he exclaimed, pulling you into a tight embrace.

You couldn't help but smile at his excitement, feeling your own joy and anticipation grow. You and Leon had talked about starting a family before, but the reality of it all was still sinking in around you both. "What if Chris DID see the tests earlier?"

"Of course, we'll tell Chris when we're ready," Leon continued, giving your hand a gentle squeeze. "And until then, let's just focus on us and our little miracle. We have so much to be grateful for, and I can't wait to start this journey with you."

You looked up at him, feeling a rush of love and gratitude for the man in front of you. "I love you," you said, your voice filled with emotion as he rubbed your back.

As you hugged him back, you felt a sense of peace and contentment wash over you. No matter what challenges lay ahead, you knew that you and Leon would face them together, as a team.

"I love you," you whispered again, feeling tears of happiness starting to form in your eyes. "I love yo so much!"

"I love you too, my beautiful lady," Leon replied, kissing the top of your head. "Let's go celebrate our new little miracle."

Just as soon as he finished his sentence your phone pinged with a message from Chris, containing his address details.

You felt a small pang of nerves at the thought of facing Chris, but the excitement of the news soon overpowered it. You grabbed your bag and headed out of the bathroom with Leon, feeling his hand warm and reassuring in yours.

As you made your way to Chris's house, you couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation building up inside you. You were excited to share the news with your friend, and you knew that he would be over the moon for you both. You both park the car right in front of Chris's house and begin to walk up to the door, hand in hand.

Chris opened the door before you even had a chance to knock, a wide grin spreading across his face as he pulled you both into a tight embrace. "Welcome back, you two!" he exclaimed, giving you both a quick hug before stepping back to take a good look at you.

"Something's different," he said, his eyes scanning over you both. "Did you get a new haircut or something?"

You couldn't help but laugh at his remark, feeling your nerves start to dissipate. "Actually, Chris," Leon said, a smile spreading across his face. "We have some big news to share with you."

Chris's eyes widened with excitement as he gestured for you both to come inside. "Well, don't leave me hanging, guys! What's the big news?"

You exchanged a quick glance with Leon before taking a deep breath. "We're expecting," you said, your voice filled with emotion. "Actually just found out today."

Chris's face broke out into a wide grin as he pulled you both into another hug. "Congratulations, you guys! I'm so happy for you!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine joy.

You both step into his cozy living room, taking in the familiar surroundings. The couch is adorned with fluffy pillows, and the walls are lined with bookshelves filled with books of all genres. Chris offers you both seats, and you sit down next to each other on the couch. As you all sat down in the living room, Chris couldn't stop asking questions about the baby - when it was due, if you knew the gender yet, what names you were thinking of.

"Hey hey woah, slow down cowboy." Leon chuckles and holds your hand, gently rubbing circles on the top of it with his thumb. "We haven't found all of that out yet."

"I can't wait to meet the little one," Chris says, grinning from ear to ear. "I know you two just found out but we need to plan the baby shower!"

You couldn't help but feel grateful for his excitement and support, and as you looked over at Leon, you knew that this was only the beginning of a long and beautiful journey together.

You smile at Chris's enthusiasm, but couldn't help feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the questions. "We just found out, Chris," you say, trying to keep your tone light. "We haven't even thought about those things yet."

Chris nods understandingly, but you can see that he's still bursting with excitement. "I can't help it, I'm just so happy for you guys," he says, leaning back on the armchair across from you. "I've known you both for so long and I've seen how much you love each other. This baby is going to be so lucky to have you as parents."

You feel your eyes starting to tear up at Chris's words, and Leon squeezes your hand again. "Thank you, Chris," he says, his voice filled with emotion. "We're so grateful to have you as a friend."

Chris smiles, his eyes sparkling with warmth. "I'm always here for you guys, you know that," he says. "Now, let's celebrate! I've got some snacks and drinks in the kitchen, and we can start planning the baby shower while we're at it. I don't care if I'm grilling. I want to help you guys!"

You laugh at his excitement and look over at Leon, who's eyes are sparkling with as much joy as Chris. You feel a surge of gratitude for Chris, how excited he was for the both of you all over again since the time he found out you two were engaged. You stand up from the couch, feeling Leon's rough but gentle hand in yours, and follow Chris to the kitchen. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and warm cinnamon rolls fills the air, and you can't help but feel comforted by the homely aroma.

As Chris starts pulling out plates and cups, he turns to you both and asks, "So have you thought about any names yet? Boy or girl?"

You and Leon look at each other, smiling at the thought of naming your future child. "We've talked about a few names," you say, feeling a sense of warmth spreading throughout your body. "But we want to wait until we find out the gender first."

Chris nods, taking a sip of his coffee. "Well, let's brainstorm then. We'll come up with the perfect name together."

As you all sit around the kitchen table, snacking on the delicious treats and brainstorming baby names, you couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the love and support of your closest friends. This journey may have just begun, but with Leon and Chris by your side, you knew that everything would be alright. "Okay, what if you have the girl be Lillie, or Laila?" Chris says as he slowly takes a drink of his tea.

Leon looks at you, a soft smile on his face as he says, "I like those names, but what about Emilia or Isabella?"

You nod in agreement, feeling a sense of excitement building up inside you. "I also really like the name Ava," you suggest.

Chris nods, "Ava's a beautiful name. And for a boy, what about Ethan or Samuel?"

Leon chimes in, "I also like the name Aiden or James."

You smile and chime in. "Well I was thinking maybe if its a girl her name would be Kaieda or even Kinsley and if its a boy I was thinking maybe something along the lines of Darian or Maverick."

Chris looks thoughtful for a moment and then nods. "I like those names, they're unique but not too out there. And they all have a nice ring to them." He takes another sip of his tea and looks over at Leon. "What do you think, man?"

Leon smiles and squeezes your hand. "I love them. Especially Kaieda and Darian. They're beautiful names."

As you all continue to chat and snack, the topic of the baby shower comes up again. Chris pulls out a notepad and pen and starts jotting down ideas. "Okay, so we need a venue, a theme, decorations, food, and games. And of course, we need to make sure it's perfect for our little miracle!"

Leon laughs and looks at Chris. "Already deciding the little one will call you uncle now?"

Chris chuckles and shrugs. "I mean, I'm just putting it out there," he says, grinning. "But seriously, I'm so excited for you guys. Being a parent is the best thing in the world, and I know you two will be amazing at it."

You smile at Chris's words, feeling a warm sense of pride and joy. "Thanks, Chris," you say, giving him a grateful smile. "It means a lot to have your support."

Leon nods in agreement. "Yeah, we really appreciate it," he says. "And we couldn't do this without you guys. You're like family to us."

Chris smiles, looking genuinely touched. "You guys are like family to me too," he says, his voice filled with warmth. "And I can't wait to watch your family grow."

Leon grins and nods. "We're definitely going to need all the help we can get," he says, giving your hand a squeeze.

Chris nods in agreement. "Anything you guys need, just let me know. I'm happy to help with anything, from planning the baby shower to babysitting once the little one arrives."

You feel your heart swell with gratitude as you look around at your two closest friends. They were both so excited for this new chapter in your lives, and you knew that their love and support would be invaluable.

As you continue to snack and chat, the conversation turns to more practical matters, like decorating the nursery and finding the right pediatrician. You take notes on Chris's suggestions for baby-proofing the house, while Leon talks about his research on strollers and car seats.

As the evening wears on, you all start to feel a little tired, but the excitement and happiness of the evening makes it hard to leave. Finally, you all exchange hugs and promises to keep in touch, and you and Leon make your way back home, feeling grateful for the support of your closest friends. You both unlock the front door to your home and are greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere. The living room is spacious and cozy, with soft lighting and comfortable furniture that invites you to sit down and relax. The walls are adorned with beautiful paintings and photographs of you and Leon on countless trips and a lot of wedding photos, each one holding a special memory or meaning.

The kitchen is modern and sleek, with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods fills the air, making you feel right at home. The dining area is just off the kitchen, with a large wooden table and matching chairs that can comfortably seat your family and guests.

As you make your way upstairs, you'll see the bedrooms. Each one is unique, with its own style and personality. Your bedroom is peaceful and calming, with soft colors and comfortable bedding that invite you to snuggle up and unwind. The spare bedroom is full of boxes that hold more memories, but soon it will be the nursery for the baby.

Leon takes your hand and leads you to the spare bedroom. "We have some work to do," he says with a grin. "We need to start clearing out this room and making it a nursery. But we can start tomorrow, we've had a long and exciting day today." He pulls you in from behind and holds you, planting soft kisses on your head and neck as you both take in the final look of the spare room now.

You lean back into Leon's embrace, feeling safe and loved. "Tomorrow we can start planning and designing the nursery," you say, turning around to face him. "But tonight, I just want to be with you."

Leon nods, his eyes sparkling with understanding. "Of course, my love," he says, pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead. "What do you want to do tonight?"

You think for a moment, enjoying the warmth of his embrace. "Maybe we could watch a movie or just talk," you suggest. "Just something low-key and relaxing."

"Sounds perfect," Leon says, giving you a soft smile. He leads you to the living room, where Chris is sitting on the couch with a glass of wine in his hand. You and Leon look at each other, surprised since you both just managed to settle back in for the night.

"Hey lovebirds," Chris says with a chuckle as he notices your entrance. "What's the plan for the rest of the night?"

"Just a low-key night in," Leon replies, sitting down next to Chris. "Maybe watch a movie or something to unwind before sleeping. I didn't know you came by to check on us."

Chris nods, taking a sip of his wine. "Sounds good to me and I thought maybe i could stay over tonight and be able to help you guys tomorrow," he says with a grin. "What are we watching?"

You and Leon exchange a look, both grateful for Chris's presence and his willingness to help. "We were thinking of watching something light and funny, maybe a romantic comedy," you suggest, settling into a cozy armchair. "Its been a wild day."

Chris nods in agreement. "Sounds perfect to me. Let me go grab my bag from the car and I'll be right back."

As he leaves, Leon takes your hand and gives it a gentle squeeze as he brings it up to his lips before kissing the top of your hand. "I'm so glad Chris is here," he says softly. "I feel like we're not alone in this journey."

You nod, feeling the same way. With your home, your friends, and each other, you knew that you could handle anything that came your way. As Chris returns and the movie starts, you all settle in for a relaxing night in, filled with laughter, love, and the comfort of knowing that you had each other. You sat across Leon's lap as he gently rubbed your shoulders, occasionally leaning down to kiss your head and back. Chris smiles and laughs at the corniness of the movie.

The room is cozy, illuminated by the soft glow of the TV and the warm ambiance of the lamps around the room. The sound of the movie fills the air, occasionally interrupted by laughter and playful banter between the three of you. You feel grateful for these moments, these simple moments that bring you so much joy and contentment.

As the movie nears its end, Chris yawns and stretches his arms. "Well, I think it's time for me to hit the hay," he says with a smile. "But I'll be up bright and early to help with the nursery."

"Here let me get you some spare blankets and pillows." You smile and slowly get up before you go into the downstairs hallway closet and open it up. Soft blankets and pillows were stored in there and you carefully pulled out two pillows and a thin blanket to give Chris.

You and Leon thank him and bid him goodnight as he heads off to the guest room. Leon turns off the TV and takes your hand, pulling you into a warm embrace. "Let's head to bed, love," he says, his eyes shining with tenderness. "I need you well rested."

You nod, feeling the exhaustion of the day catch up to you. You follow Leon upstairs to your bedroom, where he helps you change into your pajamas before joining you in bed. He kneels before you and gently kiss your belly. "Hi my little one, its daddy. I'm sure you cant hear me just yet, but I am so ready to meet you. Uncle Chris is already helping us prepare for you." He softly whispers against your stomach and gently rubs it. "And between you and me. Your mom will always be the most beautiful mom. No matter what. Now don't give her too much trouble as you grow inside of her okay?" He gets up and kisses you softly and lovingly.

As you snuggle up together, you can't help but feel grateful for the love and support of your partner and friends, and the cozy sanctuary of your home. You drift off to sleep with a smile on your face, ready to take on whatever comes your way with your loved ones by your side.

The morning sun filters through the windows, casting a warm glow over the room. You stretch and yawn, feeling well-rested and refreshed. As you sit up, you take a moment to look around the room. The soft colors and comfortable bedding make you feel at ease, and the sunlight streaming through the windows fills the room with a peaceful energy. You slowly wiggle your way out of Leon's sleeping grasp and gently place a kiss on his temple before opening your bedroom door. You step out into the hallway, feeling the plush carpeting under your bare feet as you make your way to the spare room.

You notice the spare bedroom door slightly ajar, and you remember the work that you and Leon had planned to do. You find Chris already hard at work, moving boxes and furniture around. The room looks vastly different from the night before - the boxes have been cleared away and the space is now a blank canvas, ready for you to transform it into a nursery. You look at the light beige walls that welcome the room.

"Good morning," Chris greets you with a smile as he wipes the sweat from his forehead. "I assume Leon's still sleeping so I figured I'd get a head start on this."

"Thank you Chris, I couldn't have asked for a better friend. " You smile and start to pick up the lighter boxes and take them next to the attic drop down stairs.

Chris nods and continues moving the larger furniture pieces. "No problem, happy to help out. You two have done so much for me over the years, it's the least I can do."

As you work together to clear out the last of the boxes and clean up the room, you start to discuss ideas for the nursery. You both agree that you want it to feel warm and welcoming, with a touch of whimsy. You discuss colors, themes, and furniture options, bouncing ideas off of each other until you come up with a plan that you're both excited about.

As the morning turns to afternoon, Leon finally wakes up and joins you in the nursery. He looks around with a smile, impressed by the progress you and Chris have made. "Wow, you guys have been busy," he says with a grin as he walks over to you and kisses you all over your face then your stomach. "It's starting to really look like a nursery now."

You fill him in on the plans for the space and he nods in agreement, happy with the direction it's heading. As the three of you work together to bring your vision to life, you can't help but feel grateful for the support of your loved ones and the excitement of starting this new chapter of your lives together. You excuse yourself to go sit down for a few minutes and take some deep breaths, hoping to calm your stomach.

Chris notices your distress and comes over to check on you.

As you take a few deep breaths, you notice Chris bringing over a glass of water and a pack of crackers. "Thanks, Chris," you say, gratefully taking the offering. You nibble on the crackers and sip the water, feeling the nausea slowly subside. Leon comes over and sits next to you, rubbing your back gently.

"Are you feeling better, sweetheart?" he asks with a concerned expression as he gently tucks a stray (h/c) strand away from your face.

You nod, feeling the support of both of them lifting you up. "Yeah, it's passing. Thanks for being here for me."

Chris smiles warmly. "Of course, that's what friends are for. And we'll be here for you every step of the way."

As the three of you continue to work on the nursery, you feel a sense of joy and excitement build up inside you. This is not just about preparing a room for a baby, but also about building a future as a family. As you decorate the room with cute baby furniture and toys, you can already imagine your little one growing up and playing in this space. You can't help but smile at the thought.

"Hey, do you guys want to take a break and grab some lunch?" Chris suggests, breaking your train of thought.

"Sounds good to me," Leon agrees, standing up and stretching.

You nod in agreement, feeling a little hungry now that the nausea has passed. You pack up the tools and supplies and head out to a nearby café, laughing and chatting all the way there. This is exactly what you need - the support and love of your friends and partner as you embark on this exciting new journey together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A couple months pass and your belly has started to show just a little bit. Leon has taken a liking to gently holding it and walking in front of you if you guys walked any where together.

As your pregnancy progresses, Leon becomes even more attentive and loving. He's always there to help you with anything you need, from rubbing your feet after a long day to bringing you a glass of water in the middle of the night. He even takes up cooking, experimenting with new recipes that he thinks will be good for you and the baby. Constantly making sure your prenatal vitamins are all stocked up and making sure you eat healthy.

One day, as the two of you are out for a walk in the park, Leon takes your hand and places it on your belly after you two sat down since your feet where hurting and he had finished rubbing your stomach. "Do you feel that?" he asks excitedly. "That's our little one, kicking."

You smile, feeling a flutter in your stomach. "Wow," you say, feeling overwhelmed with emotion. "This is really happening."

Leon leans down and kisses your forehead. "Yes, it is," he says. "And we're going to be amazing parents."

You smile and look down, seeing the little kicks roll over your stomach. You looked at it with awe and pure bliss.

As the months go by, your belly grows and your baby becomes more active. Leon takes a liking to holding your belly and walking in front of you whenever you're out together, as if he's protecting both you and the baby from the outside world.

Chris, too, is excited to be an uncle and is always eager to help out in any way he can. He even comes with you to some of your doctor's appointments when Leon is away at work on missions, taking notes and asking questions so he can better understand what you and the baby need.

Together, the three of you prepare for the arrival of your little one, painting the nursery a soft, calming blue and filling it with everything your baby could possibly need. As the due date approaches, you feel a mixture of excitement and nervousness, but knowing that you have the love and support of Leon and Chris makes everything feel a little less scary.

You also attend prenatal classes together, learning about everything from childbirth techniques to newborn care. Leon is a bit apprehensive about the process, but with Chris, he jumps in with enthusiasm, eager to learn as much as he can to support you and the baby when you guys go over the lessons with him.

As your due date gets closer, Leon takes on more tasks around the house, making sure everything is clean and organized. Chris brings over meals and helps with any last-minute preparations, all while making you laugh with his jokes and stories. Leon lets you do light cleaning but whenever you try and do more than that he gently takes your hand and sits you on the couch with your current cravings and puts on your favorite show, even giving you your favorite blanket to cover up with. "You have to take it easy my love. You can pop any day now and I don't want you to run the risk of getting hurt." He looks at you with loving eyes.

You'd only sit for one episode before you got right back up and started to clean again.

As you clean up, Leon suddenly stops and turns to you with a mischievous smile. "Hey, love, we never did our gender reveal. Should we do it now?"

Your heart skips a beat as you realize he's right. You had both decided to wait until the baby shower to find out the gender, and with all the excitement of the day, you had completely forgotten.

Without hesitation, you both rush to the nursery and grab the large box that's been sitting in the corner for weeks. You call Chris over to help you set up for a gender reveal party and baby shower the next day for the next day.

You spend the rest of the evening decorating the nursery with blue and pink balloons and streamers, trying to keep the gender reveal a secret until the big moment. Chris suggests making cupcakes with blue or pink filling inside, and you all eagerly get to work in the kitchen.

As the cupcakes bake, you start to feel a mix of excitement and nerves. What if you don't like the gender? What if you're not ready for a boy or a girl? Leon senses your worries and pulls you into a tight embrace, whispering sweet nothings in your ear until you start to feel calm and reassured.

As the due date draws closer, the baby shower had begun by inviting all of your closest friends and family to celebrate the upcoming arrival of your little one. The living room is decorated with balloons, streamers, and a banner that reads "Welcome Baby!".

Your heart swells with happiness as you see everyone gathered together, excitedly discussing the baby's gender and making guesses about what he or she will look like. You feel so blessed to have such a wonderful support system around you, and you can't wait to share this new chapter of your life with them.

The gifts start pouring in, ranging from practical items like diapers and onesies to sentimental gifts like hand-knitted blankets and handmade toys. You feel overwhelmed with love and gratitude as you open each one, knowing that your baby will be surrounded by so much love and care.

you all gather around the table, holding your breath as you take your first bites. Chris takes a bite of his cupcake first, and a few moments later, he lets out a whoop of excitement. "It's a boy!"

Everyone erupts into loud cheers and clapping, mixes of congratulations and

Tears of joy flood your eyes as you look over at Leon, who's grinning from ear to ear. He scoops you up in his arms and spins you around happily, laughing with delight and his face lit up like the morning sun on a summer morning that shines bright and early. "We're having a boy, my love! I can't wait to meet our little man."

Chris joins in on the celebration, hugging you both tightly. "Congratulations, you two! This is going to be one loved and spoiled little boy."

You all spend the rest of the evening in the nursery, imagining what your little one will look like and what kind of person he will grow up to be. As the night winds down and everyone heads home, you feel a sense of excitement and anticipation for the next chapter of your life with Leon and your baby boy. Leon comes into the nursery and sits on the floor in front of you before kissing your hand.

"I can't believe we're going to be parents soon," he says, his eyes filled with love and wonder. "I can't wait to meet our little guy and watch him grow up."

You smile, feeling a wave of emotion wash over you. "Me too," you say softly, reaching out to stroke his hair. "I'm so lucky to have you by my side through all of this."

Leon leans in and kisses you deeply, his arms wrapping around you in a warm embrace. "I love you," he whispers.

"I love you too," you reply, feeling grateful for this moment of intimacy and connection.

Chris walks in and sees the two of you embracing. "Hey lovebirds, save some of that love for the baby," he jokes, grinning from ear to ear. "I'm sure he's wanting some attention right now."

You both laugh and Leon pulls Chris into the hug, the three of you sharing a moment of joy and anticipation for the arrival of your little one. Chris kneels and holds your stomach gently. "Hey little bug. Its Uncle Chris here, your mommy and daddy are so excited to meet you, even I am. But don't you come too early now, take your time but hurry up okay?" He chuckles.

You smile at Chris's sweet words and feel your heart swell with love for your little family. "Thank you, Chris. We can't wait for him to meet you too," you reply, placing your hand on top of his as he holds your belly.

"Well, I'll be going home. You know what to do if anything happens. Call me. " Chris smiles and gives you guys one final hug.

Leon leans in and kisses your forehead before standing up. "Alright, it's getting late. We should probably get some rest," he says, glancing down at your belly. "We don't want to exhaust you, my love."

You nod in agreement and the three of you make your way out of the nursery, turning off the light and closing the door behind you. Leon softly places a hand on your back as you guys head downstairs to go lock up for the night. He sits you down on the couch and kisses your lips lovingly, leaving the sweet light feeling against your lips as he walks to the front door and locks it, a small confirming click behind him before he comes back over to the couch and wraps his arm around your shoulder and places another soft kiss on your forehead. "So how does Darian Isaiah Kennedy sound for his name?" Leon whispers into your ear.

You look up at Leon, feeling a surge of warmth in your chest. "I love it," you reply, placing a hand on your stomach. "Darian Isaiah Kennedy. It's perfect."

Leon smiles, his eyes shining with pride and love. "I'm so excited to meet him," he says, rubbing your shoulder gently. "We're going to be great parents, you know that?"

You lean your head against his shoulder, feeling content and happy. "I know," you say, feeling a sense of calm wash over you. "We're going to be the best parents."

Leon wraps his arms around you tighter, holding you close. "I can't wait to start this new chapter of our lives together," he says, pressing a kiss to your forehead. "I love you so much."

"I love you too," you reply, feeling grateful for this moment of intimacy and closeness. You close your eyes, savoring the feeling of being in his arms, knowing that no matter what comes your way, you'll always have each other. "I'm excited for us and I am so grateful to have such an amazing and loving husband."

You two share soft kisses between one another with the occasional kisses to your belly from Leon to the little one. You couldn't help but laugh when one of the times the baby kicked his nose.

Leon chuckles as he feels the baby's movements against his face. "Looks like he's got some strong kicks already," he says, rubbing your belly gently.

You both sit in silence for a few moments, enjoying each other's company and the anticipation of your little one's arrival. You couldn't have asked for a better partner to go through this journey with than Leon.

As the night wears on, Leon helps you up from the couch and leads you to the bedroom, tucking you in and making sure you're comfortable before lying down beside you. As you lay in bed that night, feeling the little kicks and movements of your baby, you feel a sense of peace and contentment. You know that no matter what challenges lie ahead, you have the love and support of Leon and Chris by your side. Leon wraps his arms around you and holds you close, his warmth and presence comforting you as you drift off to sleep.

In the middle of the night, you wake up to a sharp pain in your abdomen, causing you to gasp and grab onto Leon's arm. "Leon, something's happening," you say, your voice strained with pain as you try to fight off a cry of agony. "The bed, I think my water broke."

Leon immediately springs into action out of a deep sleep, helping you out of bed and guiding you to the car. You both drive to the hospital, your heart racing with fear and excitement as you realize that the moment you've been waiting for has finally arrived.

Leon's hands are shaking as he helps you out of the car and into the hospital, the adrenaline pumping through his veins as he rushes you to the labor and delivery ward. You're both greeted by a team of nurses and doctors, who quickly assess your condition and begin preparing for the delivery.

As the contractions intensify, Leon never leaves your side, holding your hand tightly and whispering words of encouragement in your ear. His love and support give you the strength you need to push through the pain and focus on bringing your little one into the world. You cried at the pain and kept on pushing.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, you hear the sound of your baby's cries filling the room. Tears stream down your face as the doctor places your little one in your arms, and Leon's eyes well up with emotion as he gazes at the newest addition to your family.

"Welcome to the world, Darian Isaiah Kennedy," Leon says softly, his voice choked with emotion. "We love you so much." You both share a tender moment as a family, basking in the joy and wonder of the miracle you've just experienced.

You gently look over the baby in your arms and admire him. How his face is all scrunched up and his hand gripping your finger as he's fast asleep in your arms as you hold a blanket over you and Darian for skin to skin contact. Leon had stepped out of the room to call Chris to tell him the big news.

As you sit there with your newborn son, you can't help but feel overwhelmed with emotion. You're exhausted, but the adrenaline and love coursing through your veins are keeping you alert and energized. You feel a sudden urge to cry, and tears start streaming down your face as you look at Leon, who has just walked back into the room.

"Everything okay?" he asks, concern etched on his face.

You nod, unable to speak as you hand him Darian. Leon takes the baby in his arms and sits down next to you on the bed, tears of his own streaming down his face. The three of you sit there for what feels like hours, just staring at each other and marveling at the new life you've brought into the world.

As the sun begins to rise outside the window, a nurse comes in to check on you and the baby. She congratulates you both and informs you that everything looks good with Darian's health.

Leon leans over and kisses your forehead as he is gently rocking your son in his arms. "You did amazing, my love. I'm so proud of you."

You smile weakly at him, feeling a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment that you've never felt before. You know that this is only the beginning of a long and challenging journey, but you feel ready to take it on with Leon. You slowly drifted off to sleep as Leon put your newborn son in the bassinet.

As you wake up from your nap, you see Leon sitting next to you, watching over Darian who is still sleeping soundly in the bassinet. You lean over and kiss your baby's forehead, feeling the warmth and softness of his skin against your lips. Leon looks at you with a smile on his face and takes your hand in his.

"Are you feeling okay?" he asks, concern etched on his face.

You nod your head and smile back at him. "Yeah, just a little tired," you reply. "and sore. The ring of fire is no joke." You laugh softly.

He stands up and walks over to you, helping you sit up and adjusting the pillows behind your back. He then hands you a glass of water and a snack to keep you energized. "You need to rest, my love. I'll take care of everything," he says, placing a gentle kiss on your forehead. "I'll wake you when he needs fed though okay?"

You lean back and close your eyes, feeling grateful for his love and support. The hum of the machines around you lull you back to sleep. After an hour or so, you woke to the sound of your son crying.

You opened your eyes and saw Leon already holding Darian in his arms, gently rocking him and cooing softly to him. "Hey there, little guy," Leon said, smiling down at the newborn. "It's okay, Daddy's here."

You watched as Leon expertly soothed your son, his confidence and tenderness filling you with warmth and admiration. As Darian's cries subsided, Leon carefully placed him back in the bassinet and turned to you, his face beaming with pride and love.

"He's perfect," Leon said, leaning in to kiss you on the forehead. "And you're doing great, too. You're a natural."

You smiled at him, feeling your heart fill with joy and contentment. As you watched your newborn son sleeping peacefully, you knew that this was only the beginning of a lifetime of love and adventure with Leon and your growing family. You couldn't think of anyone else in the world who you'd want more than to be the father of your child. You hear a soft knock on the door and it slowly opens to reveal Chris who had brought Darian a big dog plushie and you some food and flowers as a push present. "I hope I didn't disrupt, I wanted to come see the little bug." He smiles and looks at how messy you look and over at how tired Leon's eyes were.

Chris walks over to the bassinet, looking down at the sleeping newborn with wonder and awe. He reaches out a hand to gently stroke the baby's cheek, a smile spreading across his face.

"He's beautiful," Chris whispers, turning to you and Leon. "Congratulations, you guys. You did it."

"He defiantly has his fathers features." You smile and look over tiredly, before going to take off your breast pumps.

"Yeah, but I'm sure he will have his mothers eyes and smile." Leon softly laughs and looks at his son.

You and Leon both smile back at him, grateful for his presence and kind words. Chris then hands you the flowers and the bag of food, carefully placing the plushie in the bassinet next to Darian.

"I brought you some food and flowers as a push present," Chris says, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "And of course, the little guy had to have a big dog plushie to keep him company."

You thank him with a warm smile and take the bag of food, feeling your stomach growl with hunger. Leon leans over to give Chris a fist bump, thanking him for coming.

"It's the least I could do," Chris says, his expression turning serious. "You guys have been there for me through thick and thin, so I'm happy to be here for you now. Anything you need, just let me know."

You and Leon both feel touched by his words, knowing that you have a true friend in Chris. As you settle back into your comfortable position with your newborn, you feel grateful for the love and support of your chosen family. You open the bag of food to find that Chris had cooked you a steak and some fries, and even had packaged some fruit for you to eat. He even made extra for Leon to have too.

You thank Chris for the delicious meal and he sits down next to you on the bed, careful not to disturb the sleeping baby. "So, have you guys thought about what's next?" he asks, looking at both you and Leon.

You and Leon share a glance, knowing that there are so many things to think about now that you're parents. "Honestly, we haven't had much time to think beyond the hospital stay," Leon replies, his voice still hoarse from the emotion of the last few hours. "I just know that we need to make sure the baby monitor is working properly."

Chris nods in understanding. "Well, I'm sure you guys will figure it out. And don't forget, I'm always here to help with whatever you need," he says, giving your shoulder a gentle squeeze.

You feel a wave of gratitude wash over you, knowing that you have two amazing men in your life who will always have your back. As you sit there with your family, enjoying the warmth and comfort of their presence, you feel confident that you can handle whatever comes your way.

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halevetica · 13 days ago

Text

Pushing Up Daisies

*AN* So there are two sides to this fic. One perspective and then the other perspective. It's a sort of mirror fic. So don't be confused when you see the other half further down. I promise it's worth reading both!

This is for the Sterek week day 2 prompts Love is murder/Domestic bliss.

(Love is Murder)

A distant thump snapped Derek's eyes open. The darkness of sleep faded into a muted gray room, the bare walls came into focus. The sun was still hiding behind the horizon. What time was it? Had he dreamt the sound? Another thump had him sitting up, his eyes scanning the mostly empty room. There was nothing but the dresser and a pile of still unpacked boxes stacked by the closet door. Had the sound come from downstairs? No. He was being paranoid. They'd barely owned the house for a week, nobody was out to get him. Yet.

Derek's eyes fell to the still-sleeping figure beside him. Soft snores escaped Stiles' full lips, his hair tousled by his pillow. He was beautiful, even like this.

Thump

That was definitely coming from downstairs. Throwing back the covers, his bare feet hit the cool wood floors.

He silently slipped on the jogging outfit he'd laid out on the top of a box labeled 'Stiles' PJs' the night before.

It was probably raccoons getting in the trash. The non-existent trash. Because they'd not even filled a single trash bag because they'd only been sleeping here for three days. He took in a breath and let it out slowly. He was being paranoid. Not everything was scary and dramatic. He had removed himself from that life. Chose not to go down that path. He chose a normal life. A quiet life. With Stiles.

Derek reached the bottom of the steps and froze. A shadow passed across the back door. Too large to be a raccoon.

Maybe it was a bear. Their property backed up to woods. It wasn't impossible. Despite his mind trying desperately to rationalize it, Derek couldn't push the fear away. What if it was hunters? What if they caught wind of him?

With a gentle click, he unlocked the back door. His heart hammering in his chest. Every muscle in his body froze as a cool breeze wafted over him, carrying with it the scent of a wolf. All apprehension melted from Derek's mind. This was no raccoon or bear, this was a threat. In his home. In his and Stiles' home.

Instinct flooded his veins. Fangs extended into his bottom lip. His fingernails lengthened into sharp claws. He would not let his old life threaten Stiles. They were happy and nothing was going to jeopardize that.

He followed the scent around the side of the house, where a figure was yanking on a closed window.

A low growl rumbled in his throat. The intruder paused, turning to face him.

Derek lunged.

A tangle of teeth and claws. This werewolf was no alpha, but he was strong. But Derek was stronger. He hooked an arm around the man's front. A sharp pain tore across Derek's forearm forcing him to release the intruder. The wolf took advantage of his freedom and bolted across the backyard. Derek gave chase. Close on his heels, he followed him to the dilapidated building at the back of their yard. With another lunge, Derek plowed into the man's back, sending them both rolling through the floor of fallen leaves.

The werewolf jumped to his feet and leapt at him. Derek grabbed an old nearby shovel that was propped against the paint-peeled wall of the shed. He swung, slamming the rusted spade into the side of the wolf's head.

A soft ping rang out into the early morning. The wolf's body hit the ground with a soft thump along with the shovel head, which was now no longer attached to the handle still in Derek's hand.

He panted, his breath fogging in short bursts. The wolf lay unmoving. His head cocked at an odd angle. The threat was gone. But now he had a body to deal with. The wound on his arm was already healing, but his blood had started to dry on his skin. He lifted the handle of the broken shovel. He couldn't bury the body with that.

Letting out a cloudy sigh, he tossed the broken handle aside. The sun peered through the treeline as it rose from its slumber. Birds greeted it in song. He had an hour or two max before Stiles would be awake.

He dragged the body around the back of the shed, out of sight. He'd have to make a run to town and get a new shovel. Following his footsteps back the way he came, a trail of his blood painted the fallen leaves. It lead to the side of the house, where a spattering of red decorated the side. He'd grab a rake too. He wiped at the blood and groaned when it smeared across the off-white, wood planks. And some paint.

Derek scanned for any other sounds or movement before heading inside to grab his keys. He paused in the kitchen. He'd wanted to finally have a real meal with Stiles. One that didn't involve cold cuts and drinks from a can. He was going to make Stiles breakfast. He'd have to settle on coffee. It was the first thing to get unpacked. He snatched a pack of sticky notes from a box labeled 'office' that hadn't made it into the other room yet.

He stared at the pad of paper. He felt bad lying to Stiles. But it was for his safety. Knowing about this world was dangerous. He scribbled a short note and turned the coffee maker on.

He turned on the sink and scrubbed away the dirt and blood from his arm. He made a list in his head of things he would need. A shovel, a rake, paint, a paintbrush, a sponge, a bucket. And peroxide. It was good for getting blood out.

He listened for any movement from upstairs. Nothing. He glanced back at the gurgling coffee maker where the note was stuck. He buried the guilt before heading out.

Derek pushed his cart full of supplies to the checkout. He scanned each item, mentally checking them off. Shovel, rake, paint, paintbrush—

"Derek!"

His head snapped up, his eyes meeting his husband's. His heart skipped. "Stiles...hey, what are you doing here?" he stepped around the cart, hoping to hide the basket of supplies to avoid any questions.

"Oh you know wanted to fill up the house, get some groceries for my husband. Even though he did leave me in an empty bed. There's a monster in our house that eats peanut butter-like breathing."

Derek's heart dropped. "A monster in our..." he shook his head. "Oh right." He gave a nervous laugh. Paranoid much? He thought to himself. There was no monster, Stiles was just being funny. "Sorry about that. I just wanted to get an early start. I made sure the coffee was ready though."

He stepped forward, pressing a kiss to Stiles' full lips.

"Yeah, thank you, that was really nice honey bun," Stiles said, holding his hands up in a finger guns motion.

Derek rolled his eyes fondly. They caught on a large glass candle. He plucked it from the pile of groceries in Stiles' cart. He sneered at the name. 'Sweet vanilla chai kisses'. "Really?" he shook his head, setting it back down.

"Hey, say what you want, white girls got nothing on my fall game. I got the healthy cardboard cereal you pretend to enjoy as a compromise." Stiles winked.

An affectionate smile tugged at Derek's lips. "You take such good care of me." He brushed a thumb gently along Stiles' chin. It was true, and Derek was thankful for Stiles every day.

"I'm great at this marriage thing. Hey, what are you doing here?" He glanced around Derek and into his cart. "Did you sign us up for a HGTV show I don't know about? A rake and paint? What happened to you by the way? I thought I was the one with godlike grace and agility."

Derek slid a hand into the cart, pushing the large sponge to cover the peroxide bottle, that one would be harder to explain. "I was just trying to fix up that old building for you, I know you were excited about it. And the yard could use some TLC." Derek shoved the guilt aside once again. He hated lying to Stiles, but how would he tell him he had a dead werewolf in the backyard?

Stiles moved forward, bumping the cart gently into Derek's hip. "Look at you, not so bad at this yourself, handsome. I will fight you for the Husband of the Year title, though. I was thinking of making butternut squash soup and salad for lunch, how does that sound?"

"A home-cooked meal? You win automatically. I'm headed out actually, so I'll see you at home?" Derek wanted to get rid of the body before Stiles got there.

"Okay, yeah. Before you head out, you need me to get anything for you from the store?" Stiles teased with a laugh.

Derek's eyes softened. He was so smitten. Stiles could ask him to murder everyone in the store and Derek wouldn't hesitate. "Maybe a less poisonous candle? Or are you gunning for my life insurance already?" he smirked, leaning forward to press a kiss to Stiles' forehead. "Be safe."

"You have unscented ones. And I don't need money nearly as much as I need someone to make me coffee in the morning," Stiles called over his shoulder as he turned to continue his shopping.

Derek pushed his own cart toward the counter to check out. "Oh, maybe some of that creamer with the picture of the dog dressed as a pumpkin. You know the one." Of course Stiles knew the one. Stiles knew everything about him. A nauseating tug at his stomach reminded him that he didn't know everything.

Hoisting the rake over one shoulder and the shovel over the other, Derek made his way toward the back of the building. He hoped the body hadn't magically disappeared in the time it took to fetch a proper shovel. He didn't know if someone would come looking for him. He didn't know anything about this guy. Why was he trying to break in? What was he after? Who sent him? These would have been good questions to ask, but Derek's mind was on one track that morning. Eliminate the threat. Now the threat was eliminated but he had no clue if more would be coming.

Stepping around the building, the body was still where he'd left it. He patted the body down, searching for some clue as to who this man was and what he wanted. There was nothing. With a grunt, Derek grabbed the ankles and drug him into the woods. The last thing he needed was a dead body buried directly on his property. His father-in-law was the sheriff after all.

It took far longer than Derek thought it would to dig the hole. He chucked the body into it and wiped at the gathering sweat on his brow. Despite the crisp autumn air, he was now drenched.

He shoveled the dirt over the body as the soft hum of Stiles' voice reached his ears. He smiled to himself. He must be cooking. His stomach rumbled in anticipation of lunch. He hadn't eaten yet. But he still had work to do. There was blood staining the side of the house. He'd need to clean that before Stiles noticed.

Swiping underbrush over the freshly turned ground, Derek listened to Stiles' humming. He followed the sound back toward the house and gathered the other supplies.

The sponge sloshed peroxide and water onto the side of the house. It only managed to smear the stain further. He would need direct peroxide. He poured it onto the sponge and scrubbed. Most of the blood wiped away but the once off-white paint was still tinted pink.

Painting over the stain was easy enough and didn't take nearly as long as burying a body. The last thing he needed to do was rake up the blood-soaked leaves.

He drug the rake over the ground, catching something black in the teeth. It was a wallet. He opened it to see his earlier attacker's face. 'Ansel Williams'. Well, now he had a name. Though not much else. Glancing up he saw Stiles in the window. He quickly dropped the wallet and drug a pile of leaves over it. He gave an awkward wave. Stiles waved back with a smile. Derek glanced down at the bloody leaves at his feet. He should throw the wallet away, but what if someone came looking for him? What if Sheriff Stilinski came by?

Derek ran a hand through his hair. He was being paranoid again. The Sheriff would have no reason to come here looking for Ansel. Raking the wallet into his pile of leaves he decided to just bury the wallet in the woods near the body. Nobody shy of a lucky coyote would find it there. He finished raking the leaves and hiding the wallet just in time to hear a voice from the house. Not a voice he recognized. Listening closely, his stomach dropped.

"You must be Stiles."

"Hi, and who are you? Do you know my husband? Do I know you?"

Derek dropped the paint can he was putting away and sprinted toward the house.

"No, not yet. But I'm hoping to be good friends with you," The man's voice said. Was that an underlying threat?

He shoved open the back door a little too hard. It knocked into a pile of unpacked boxes before slamming shut.

"You and your husband. Of course. I just wanted to meet the new neighbors."

Derek came up behind Stiles just as he responded. "Oh, do you live nearby?"

A lupine scent hit his nose, making his hackles rise.

Stepping in front of Stiles, Derek narrowed his eyes. "This is private property, what do you want?"

The man's dark brown eyes went wide. His nostrils flared. "Uh, sorry, I was just..." he took a couple steps back, his foot faltering on the top step. "It was nice meeting you."

Stiles thrust a hand out in greeting. "Oh, don't go. No, I'm sorry. This caveman with no manners is my husband." Stiles shot him a sharp glare. "Please don't mind him. We'd love to have your company. I just finished making lunch."

Derek snapped his head toward Stiles. He didn't know who this person was. He was inviting a threat in to eat with them. "I'm sure he can't stay." It was lousy as far as excuses went, but he didn't know how else to get rid of him without Stiles fussing at him for his lack of manners.

The man shook his head. "Oh, no, I—"

Stiles grabbed Derek's arm, giving it a hard squeeze. "I insist." Derek knew what that meant. He was gonna get fussed at for his lack of manners anyway.

An awkward silence hung in the air. How did he get rid of this man without telling Stiles that he was dangerous?

"Come in. What was your name?" Stiles stepped back to allow the threat inside. He made a shooing motion at Derek. Clenching his jaw, he obliged. His eyes watched the man's every move. If he was stupid enough to pull something, Derek would be ready.

"Ansel Williams," He answered, eyeing the pair carefully as he stepped inside.

Derek froze. His heart jolted. Shit. This man was looking for the dead wolf in the back.

"But you can call me Andy. I can see that your husband recognizes the name. It's very unique I know. It's odd that you don't th—"

"My name's Derek, nice to see you again." he stuck a hand out, pulling Andy's attention from Stiles. He gave a hard squeeze. "Stiles made soup. I hope you're hungry."

Andy gave him a curious look and smiled. "Famished." He followed Stiles with a newfound confidence.

The tension at the table was palpable as Stiles grabbed the plate of rolls and handed them to Andy. "So what kind of special assets does your company acquire?" he asked.

Andy took another roll, dipping it in the remains of his soup. "Well, it depends. Though we really go after the more coveted and unique people."

"Oh, so you're a headhunter?" Stiles sounded interested. It wasn't his fault he didn't know about the threat this man posed, but Derek hated how friendly he was.

Andy swallowed his bite of bread and smirked. "Something like that."

Derek continued to glare. He'd been glaring at this man through all of lunch. Everything out of this man's mouth was a lie. Other than the part about going after coveted and unique people. That was true. But what was it about Derek that was so coveted or unique? Nothing that he knew of. Unless it was because of his bloodline. The name Hale was well known, but to warrant a multi-attack? It didn't make sense.

"What do you guys do?" Andy asked, gesturing between the pair with his half-eaten roll.

"Well, I'm an online web designer so I work from home," Stiles answered.

Derek didn't respond. Why did he want to know what they did?

"And my wonderful husband is a basketball coach at the high school. The kids absolutely love him. He's so good with them. So much better than he is with adults sometimes." Stiles gave him a pointed look, patting his hand sternly. Derek could hear the reprimands that would come later.

"How very domestic." Andy smirked. His eyes were on Derek. He was taunting him. Derek wanted to rip this guy's throat out. But first, he wanted him out of his damn house and away from Stiles.

"It's a very rewarding job," he grumbled, hoping his response would appease Stiles enough.

"He's really very good. He took the kids to state last year. Honey, you should go show him the photo in the garage and your trophies. I have to go get dessert ready anyway." Stiles pushed away from the table. He leaned in, pressing a kiss to Derek's temple. "Be nice and make friends," he muttered.

Derek gave a forced smile as Stiles squeezed his shoulder firmly. "Dessert will be just five minutes."

Derek waited for Stiles to leave the dining room before narrowing his eyes and gesturing toward the garage door. "Follow me."

Andy silently did as he was told. Despite his confident posture, he smelled nervous. Good.

Derek shoved Andy through the garage door almost sending him into a pile of unpacked boxes labeled basketball trophies. With a hushed whisper, he demanded, "What do you want?"

Andy whirled, squaring up with a false sense of confidence. "I want to know where Ansel is."

"Not here."

"But he was."

Derek took a menacing step forward. "What. Do. You. Want?"

Andy gave a smug smirk. "Ya know, that husband of yours sure is something."

Derek's arm snapped out and grabbed him by the throat, claws extending into his flesh, making Andy wince. His eyes flared red.

All color drained from Andy's face. "You're an alpha."

Derek's brows furrowed. He didn't know he was an alpha? Then what did he want?

The moment of hesitation was enough for Andy to throw his elbow into the crook of Derek's arm, making his grip falter just enough for him to yank away.

He slammed his hand into the garage door opener.

Derek lunged but Andy was already rolling under the opening door.

"Damn it," he swore. He started after him, but the door to the house opened, halting him in place.

Stiles stood in the doorway, a confused look on his face. "The pie is ready. Where'd Andy go?" He craned his neck as if to spot their guest. "You didn't murder him did you?" he joked.

Derek walked over to him, stepping in his line of sight. He huffed a laugh. "He had to go, wife called," he lied, hoping Stiles believed him.

As he got closer he saw a smudge of red on his lower lip. He reached out, swiping his thumb across it. He licked at the sticky substance and hummed, "Mmm, cherry?"

"Yeah... It is..." Stiles answered, but his tone was hesitant, like he was trying to put the pieces of something together. Something he would never be able to piece together because he was missing vital parts of the puzzle. Once again a twist of guilt wrenched Derek's stomach, churning his lunch.

He reached past Stiles, sending the large garage door rattling back down and forcing Stiles to step back into the house. Giving a sweet smile he gestured inside,"Shall we?"

The pile of boxes in the living room was less scary when he needed them as a distraction to avoid the questions from his husband. Stiles was obviously upset about Derek's behavior at lunch, but he didn't have a good answer. What could he say? The man was a werewolf come to kill him? He didn't even know if that was true. Andy had been less than willing to explain what he wanted.

He yanked open a box, digging through cords and surge protectors. How was he supposed to enjoy watching a movie when a threat was looming in the distance? Surely Andy would be back. He hadn't gotten what he wanted. Had he? What if what he wanted was information? Stiles had been more than willing to tell him all about them.

Pushing the box away, he yanked open another one, tearing it in his frustration. He plucked the DVDs, setting them neatly in the new entertainment center he and Stiles had picked out last week. It gave him pause. It was new. The house was new. How had they found him here? They'd barely lived there three days.

Derek replayed the brief conversation he had with Andy in the garage. He had been surprised when he saw Derek's eyes. He hadn't expected him to be an alpha. But that wasn't new. He'd been an alpha for years. Well before he met Stiles.

He could hear the hostile clank of dishes in the sink. It rang through his ears like an alarm. He was in trouble. He needed a lie. One that Stiles would believe.

Derek was knelt in front of the entertainment center, dvd's in either hand when Stiles stormed into the living room. "We're going to talk about how lunch went, and how you know Andy. Also, don't try to make me think it isn't a big deal. You don't normally act like that. And don't you dare try and tell me it's nothing or that you're okay. I know you Derek Hale-Stilinski and that lunch was not you and you shutting me out and not talking to me definitely isn't you..." Stiles sucked in a breath and waited a moment before gesturing to Derek. "Okay, I'm done now you can speak."

Derek sighed, setting the DVD's in his hands on the entertainment center. He pushed to his feet. Lying to Stiles when he was already suspicious wouldn't help matters. So maybe he could just be vague. "I had an unpleasant run-in with his brother." Not technically a lie.

Squinting at Derek, with his hands on his hips, Stiles asked, "How unpleasant? Do I need to go over there with the rest of the pie laced with laxatives, or poison?"

Derek couldn't help the smile that tugged at his lips. He huffed a laugh, wrapping his arms around Stiles' waist to pull him in. "No, I was being an ass. I shouldn't have acted like that. I'm sorry. I promise to behave in the future."

Stiles melted into him and sighed in relief. "I like when you misbehave. I don't like when I feel far from you. Next time just slam the door in his face and tell me why we don't like them now." He nuzzled into Derek's chest.

Closing his eyes in a wince, Derek pushed away the guilt. How easy it was for Stiles to take him at his word. It made his chest clench. "Deal," he said, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. "I found the DVDs. Pick one while I shower."

Derek was tucked under Stiles' arm, his thumb rubbing absentmindedly along his knee. Captain America played on the TV across from them. It was one of Derek's favorite places to be. Curled up with Stiles. He only wished he could fully relax. Despite his comfortable state, his mind was anywhere but the scene on the screen in front of him. His ears were perked like a dog waiting on an intruder. Is that what he was reducing himself to? Stiles' guard dog? That wasn't what he wanted. He wanted a quiet life with his husband.

A gentle clunk made his heart leap. Was that upstairs? It couldn't have been the movie. This scene was too calm. Another softer thud had him sitting up suddenly. Stiles gave him a sleepy, confused look.

"We should make popcorn. I think the box with the popcorn maker got put upstairs. I'll grab it. You don't have to pause it." He said giving Stiles' knee a gentle squeeze before standing.

"I was just about to fall asleep, that's perfect. Popcorn will keep me awake. Do you want help?" Stiles offered, though Derek knew it was an empty offer, he always made the popcorn. Stiles got too comfortable and hated moving once the movie was going. Sure enough, he tucked himself further under the sherpa blanket as Derek rounded the couch. His keen hearing honed in on the obvious shuffling upstairs.

"No, I've got it. Keep the couch warm for me," he called over from the bottom of the stairs. Derek's patience for today was waning. He was going to rip apart whoever was stupid enough to break into his house. He hoped it was Andy.

The steps whined under his bare feet as he stalked to the top. His nostrils flared, searching for a foreign scent. He paused when a shadow crossed the floor of his bedroom. His claws extended. He expected the familiar smell of Andy to reach his nose, but it was someone new. Another wolf. A low growl escaped his throat. He was tired of people trying to break into his house. What did they want?

Derek stepped into the room to see a man by his, once locked, bedroom window. He stood tall, with dark hair, and olive skin. His arms were crossed over his chest.

"Took you long enough," The man said. His husky tone was almost bored as he leaned against the wall. He looked too comfortable.

"Let me guess, friend of Ansel?" Derek growled back.

"You know, I was disappointed when he didn't return. He was a good one. I'm guessing he's dead?"

"He wouldn't have been if he hadn't tried to break into my house." Derek glanced at the broken lock of the window.

"Right, about that. It was nothing personal, just business." The man smirked.

Derek's fangs dropped. "Nothing personal?" he scoffed. "What do you want?" he was going to get his answers before he killed this one, and he wasn't letting him get away.

"Well, not you." The man waved a disinterested hand as he pushed off the wall.

Derek's eyes narrowed.

"Surely you didn't think you were of interest? Frankly, I didn't even know he was married, much less to a werewolf."

Derek's blood ran cold. They were after Stiles. Before he could even register what he was doing, he had crossed the room. His eyes bled red as he closed the distance between them.

A brief expression of fear flitted across the man's face before his own eyes flared a dark crimson. So this was the alpha. Derek would be damned if he let anyone hurt Stiles.

Derek's claws dug into soft flesh. The lamp on their dresser shattered into pieces as the alpha's face smashed into it. Derek held his head against the top of the dresser, blood seeping onto the dark wood.

"If you even so much as think about hurting him—" Derek's words were cut off by a pair of claws raking across his gut. He stumbled back. Before he could regain himself, he was being tackled. He and the alpha tumbled into a pile of boxes, crushing them under their weight. Hastily folded clothes and blankets spilled out around them. Derek rolled to his feet and sank his claws into the man's ribcage, who snarled in pain. He was about to go in for a blow to the throat when he heard a cry of anguish from downstairs. Stiles.

Panic spiked through him. No. No. No. No. He should have known this was a distraction. Why else would they break in upstairs? He spun away from the alpha, his only goal now, to get to Stiles. A heavy thump had Derek scrambling down the steps in record timing. He almost didn't want to see what was waiting for him. Stiles' dead body? He couldn't bear it. He hopped the banister, not bothering with the last few steps. He needed to get to him. He landed in the foyer that opened to the living room, his claws and fangs still out on full display.

He barely got three steps forward before Stiles was skidding to a halt in front of him, his eyes wide.

"You're a werewolf?!" he exclaimed.

Relief and dread washed over Derek. Relief because Stiles was alive. Dread because Stiles now saw a side of him that he'd never wanted him to see.

A thud and snarl behind him had him spinning on his heels. There was still a threat. The alpha. He had to protect Stiles. Before he could strike, though, the small table that housed their one and only plant tipped. The vines of the Pothos Lydia had gifted them, whipped out and curled around the alpha's arms and legs. They climbed him, winding around his throat like a choke collar on a Doberman.

Blood poured from his ears and eyes as the vines punctured them. He let out a pained cry. It was choked off by green spilling from his open mouth. His face stretched like an Edvard Munch painting.

Derek took a stumbled step back as if he were afraid the vines would come for him next. The alpha dropped to his knees and crumpled to the floor. The green of the plant drained, leaving darkened vines and shriveled leaves draped over the now-dead alpha.

Derek's claws and fangs retracted as he spun back to Stiles, whose eyes faded from a vibrant glowing green. His hand was outstretched like Darth Vader. He lowered it, a panicked look on his face.

Derek blinked at his husband. His magical husband. "You have Magic?!" how had he not known? Before he could press further, his eyes fell to the spreading stain on Stiles' shredded blue shirt. The sharp smell of copper hit his nose. His stomach sank.

"You're hurt." He reached out, desperate to see how bad the injury was. But the look on Stiles' face made him unsure. God how he hated being unsure with Stiles. Was he afraid of him? Disgusted by him? He paused his outstretched hand.

Stiles looked down at himself as if inspecting the wound. "I'll be fine, really. It's actually helpful that you're a werewolf," he gave a weak laugh. His expression remained unsure, his eyes almost timid. "Can I touch you?"

Derek's heart cracked. Stiles never hesitated to reach out. Were things really so different now? Did this change how he felt about him? Fear crushed him. He wasn't ready to lose Stiles.

"Please," he whispered desperately. He needed to feel his husband.

Stiles gave a small smile, his eyes filling with tears. Despite the permission, he still acted as though he were afraid of Derek, slowly extending his hands and gently clasping his forearms.

"This shouldn't hurt at all. I'm just borrowing your ability to heal."

Derek didn't care if it killed him so long as Stiles was okay. Relief wafted from Stiles as golden light climbed through Derek's arms and to Stiles'.

"Take what you need." His eyes glanced passed Stiles toward the living room, where Stiles had been coming from before. What had happened? Someone had hurt Stiles. The scent of Ozone painted the air.

Stiles' grip on his arms loosened. Derek pushed past him, his eyes scanning for the other threat. "Who hurt you?" There was no evidence that anything had happened at all. Did they run away? Were they hiding? Waiting to pounce again?

He followed the scent into the living room. Stiles blew past him and yanked the blanket from the couch to cover a body. But it was too late. Derek saw the body lying three or four feet from the kitchen door. There was no way to tell who this figure was by the way the body was shriveled and fried. It resembled the plant that lay dead in their foyer. But the smell in the air gave away his identity. Andy.

Derek gaped at the blanket. He knew what magic could do, but this was beyond anything he'd ever seen. "You did this?" he asked, almost not believing that his sweet, adorable, spastic, husband was capable of such power.

"I-I um, yeah," Stiles answered sheepishly. "He came up behind me and I-I just reacted." He chewed on his bottom lip. "I had to get to you."

Pride swelled in Derek. His eyes didn't leave the blanket-covered body. "Oh. Wow," he breathed. Stiles was incredible. He'd always known it but this... this was unbelievable.

"I'm sorry." Stiles' quiet tone made Derek whirl around to where Stiles had retreated toward the door. His arms crossed over his chest in an anxious, protective manner.

"No, don't apologize. I just... all day I've been trying to keep you safe but... you never needed me." It was a painful realization just as much as it was a proud one.

A tear slipped from Stiles' eyes. "I always need you."

The sight of tears erased any reservation Derek had about touching Stiles. He crossed the room and wrapped him in a hug. Relief flooded him when Stiles didn't shy away, but instead nuzzled into him. He didn't think he could handle if he was afraid of him. It felt so good to hold him.

"I think we have a lot to talk about," he said.

"Just give me a moment. I just need to hold you to know you're okay. I thought—" The words caught in his throat. "I thought they'd kill you because of me."

Had Stiles known them? He pet the top of his head, hoping to comfort him. "Who were they?"

Stiles shrugged into the hug. "I don't know. From what Andy said it seemed like they wanted me for my magic."

"How long have you..." Derek pulled back to meet Stiles' eyes. Surely this wasn't a new thing. He was too powerful for it to be new.

"Been a glowy, magical, young, hot, Gandalf?" he teased. "Technically since birth, but I didn't get any of the cool magic till after my mom died."

"So the whole time." Derek nodded and huffed a laugh.

"How long have you been... craving Scooby snacks?"

Derek gave an affectionate eye roll. "Also since birth."

"So the whole time," Stiles laughed.

How much stress and guilt could have been avoided if they'd just been honest from the beginning?

"Damn, I missed an opportunity to give you a squeaky toy as a wedding gift." Stiles teased again. "So you're an alpha? Where's your pack?" he asked.

Derek's eyes softened. He pinched Stiles' chin gently between his thumb and index finger. "Right here."

Stiles reached up, swiping a thumb at the corner of Derek's mouth. "I doubt this would taste like cherry." There was a smear of blood. He wiped it on his already-stained shirt.

Derek smiled and surged forward. Their lips crashed together. Not ten minutes ago, he feared he'd never get to experience this feeling again.

When they pulled back, they pressed their foreheads together. Derek breathed in Stiles' scent. It was a comforting one. One that now that he knew, was layered with a certain arcane spice. How had he not noticed before? Perhaps, it was true what they said, ignorance was bliss.

The space between them doubled as Stiles pulled back. His eyes searched Derek's. "But no really, where's your pack? You can't be an alpha with just one puny human that didn't even know you were a werewolf."

Derek tried not to wince. He had wondered when Stiles would press about his werewolf status. It was a conversation he wasn't looking forward to. "My alpha status wasn't planned. Wrong place, wrong time. I never wanted this." He gestured to the dead body under the blanket. They would not be putting that back on the couch. Too bad, it was a nice blanket.

"How long have you been an alpha?" Stiles' tone shifted from curious to mocking. "Since birth?"

Derek huffed a laugh. "Five or so years. I haven't really kept up with it. I never took a pack." He'd considered it briefly. But the idea of not being part of his mother's pack had been too hard. He'd rejected the idea completely. It felt too much like a betrayal. A desperate attempt to save a young girl had turned into a police investigation and red eyes in the mirror.

Stiles' brows pinched into a sympathetic frown. He placed a hand on Derek's chest, like he was trying to guard his heart. "Derek that- that's awful. Being an alpha without a pack is a terrible way to live. You have nothing to draw from, nothing to hold you down. It would be like if I didn't have my magic. Pack is a part of being a werewolf as much as magic is a part of who I am."

Derek sighed. He had never imagined having this conversation with Stiles. He had hoped to never have to. But it seemed like this was the trajectory of his life. His mother had warned him that he couldn't escape it. He had thought he proved her wrong.

"Becoming an alpha was... the worst thing that could happen to me. It took me from my family. They were my pack. I never wanted another one. But a pack can't have two alphas. It disrupts the balance." He stared into Stiles' honey-colored eyes. "Then I met you. And I knew I'd never need anyone else."

"You're all I need too, but Derek I don't want you to deny a part of who you are to be with me."

Derek would deny any part of him if it let him be with Stiles. But he knew well enough not to say as much. Instead, he asked. "What about you? Where's your coven? Am I gonna find a broomstick in one of these boxes?" he gave a teasing smirk.

Stiles' mouth dropped open. "Do you think I'm a witch?!" he stepped back like Derek had struck him.

"Well, I don't know what you are." He gestured to the covered body again. "You're something."

"If you ever call me a witch again, I'm buying you a doghouse for out back. I'm a druid."

Those words struck Derek like a knife to the heart. A druid? No. He couldn't be. The room shifted around him. Or maybe it was just his entire life. His balance faltered, forcing him to take a stumbled step back. "Do-do you have an alpha?" Surely not. He would have smelled him. Unless he used his magic to hide him. The thought of smelling another alpha on Stiles was almost enough to make his wolf surface.

"Why would I? I already have one lug trying to tell me what to do." Stiles' tone was still light, teasing. But Derek's stomach was in knots as he listened for a lie. An emissary protected their alpha with their life. Stiles would be fully in his right to keep it from Derek. But he hoped he wouldn't. He hoped there was more respect and trust between them.

"You're an emissary though." His eyes continued to search Stiles' expression for any clue. If he had an alpha that would be almost as bad as finding out he had another husband.

Stiles squinted at him. A tell tale sign that he was being an idiot. "I'm a druid... I didn't specifically say I was an emissary. Derek, do you think all druids are emissaries? Because that's racist. I'm offended." He sneered in mock offense.

Derek blinked. "All the druids I've ever met are emissaries." Maybe Stiles didn't have an alpha after all. "Only alphas really deal with them. Why aren't you an emissary?" he tried to keep the hopefulness out of his tone.

The worry and fear drained from Derek. There was no one else. He almost felt guilty for being relieved. Poor Stiles had never known the love and safety of a pack. The alpha in him wanted to give that to Stiles more than anything. A sinking feeling dug into the pit of his stomach. "I hope I didn't keep you from finding that. You're incredibly strong. You'd make an amazing emissary."

"I gave all of that up when I met you. I had an opportunity out in New York. I almost left with a friend I had helped. He's a dryad and they had just lost their druid emissary. I realized what I had with you made me happier than that ever would. Sometimes I do miss it. Magic will always be a part of me." Stiles glanced down at his left hand and blue swirls of magic twisted between his fingers like a magician rolling a coin. "But Derek, don't think for one second that I'm missing out on what's meant for me."

"That's why he wanted you." Derek looked over at the dead alpha still in their hall. "You know, if you-if you wanted to be an emissary..." he trailed off. It was a scary thing to even consider, but he'd do anything for Stiles, even embracing this life. He stepped in, closing some of the distance between them, and threaded their fingers together. It was like sticking his hand into a frozen lake. Ice cold to the point it was almost painful. Almost. The blue swirled around their hands for just a moment before dispersing.

Stiles laughed. "Oh man, two seconds ago you thought all druids were emissaries. Absolutely not." Stiles squeezed his fingers.

Derek tried not to wince. It was hard not to take that rejection hard. But he understood. It wasn't something you did on a whim.

"I won't say yes to that until you fully know what it means. If you get sick of me you can't just divorce an emissary. Parting from an emissary is like ripping half of your soul away."

Derek fought to not scoff at Stiles' words. "I'd never get sick of you. Parting from you would already be like having half of my soul ripped away."

"Well, it's good you're stuck with me then." Stiles let go of Derek's right hand and threaded their left hands together before leaning in and pressing a kiss to where their wedding rings touched. "We can work towards it, but I have a feeling your emissary didn't tell you as much as they told your alp- Oh my god, Derek! Oh my god!" Stiles slapped at Derek's chest like he just realized something major. "Your mom is an alpha isn't she?!"

Derek was still reeling from his emotional whiplash of being rejected, before being told they'd work towards it to now being assaulted with questions about his mom. "Yes?" he frowned.

"Oh my god! At Christmas? At Christmas, they were all wolves?! How did I not know? This is insane! Your mom makes such a good green bean casserole and she's an alpha!"

Derek couldn't help the laugh that bubbled up in him. God, Stiles was so endearing. "You'll have lots to talk about next year."

"Next year? I'm getting brunch with her next week. I'm not waiting for Christmas. This is huge!"

Panic briefly gripped Derek as it always did whenever Stiles interacted with his family. But it didn't have time to settle. There was nothing to fear any longer. No huge, life-altering secret to scare Stiles off. It was out in the open now. Stiles could have brunch with his mother every day— wait. "You're having brunch with my mom?" why had he not been invited? Why didn't he even know about it?

"Yes, yes, they have bottomless mimosas downtown. We're going to go once a month. Not the point. Holy shit I can't believe it! Wait, when Cora broke her leg in South America and your mom went to get her was that werewolf shenanigans, or did she really fall down a mountain hiking? Oh my god, I have got to call your mother! Actually, do you think she's still up? We could go visit."

Derek put his hands on Stiles' shoulders. He loved that he was so eager to talk to his mother. It had always warmed his heart how much they loved him and how much he seemed to love them. But right now wasn't the time. "Stiles, we have two bodies we need to deal with. Let's surprise visit my mother tomorrow, yeah?" he couldn't help the fond look in his eyes as he met Stiles'.

"Oh, yeah, totally. What do you think we should do with them?" Stiles' eyes darted between the two dead wolves.

Derek glanced over his shoulder toward the back door. "I actually have a spot already."

"What for bodies?" Stiles snorted, like the notion was an absurd one. Never mind the fact that they had two dead bodies to contend with.

"Well, I had to do something with the one from this morning."

Stiles' smile dropped and his arms flung out before settling on his hips. "What do you mean the one from this morning?!"

"Remember the brother I mentioned?" He nodded toward Andy's body.

"You killed him!?"

Derek's brows rose. The shock on his face was just as much insulting as it was endearing. He stepped forward, sliding his arms through Stiles', and pulled him in so they were chest to chest. He had no idea the lengths Derek would go to to protect him. There was no one more important to him. He met Stiles' eyes. They danced like ice in a glass of whiskey. He smiled, "Isn't it obvious? I'd kill anyone for you."

~~~

(Domestic Bliss)

By @lifebeginsbyleaving

Stiles rolled over with a grumpy sigh. Without opening his eyes to the early morning light he reached over to feel an empty space and frowned. His head lifted topped with violent sleep tousled hair as he squinted trying to find his husband. "Derek?" Stiles yanked his foot back up from the cold wood floors and then slid into Derek's slippers. Stiles might've complained one too many times about how cold the floors were until Derek rolled his eyes and looked in boxes till he found his own slippers. He didn't know if he'd ever get sick of Derek's face with that cute fond look even as he tried to be upset with him.

He yawned gently and looked around the still bare room. There was nothing except their furniture and boxes waiting to be unpacked. In the three days previous they hadn't gotten to the bedroom much yet, but he still smiled when he walked past the box labelled Stiles' PJs. It was filled with all of Derek's old t-shirts and basketball shorts. He had filled the box and labelled it as Derek's, but Derek came over and crossed it out and rewrote it while teasing about how they were no longer his own as Stiles wore them more than he did now. Stiles felt a lightness in his chest as he reflected on how much of a dream moving into their new house had been. They were still in the idyllic honeymoon phase where every night was the best one yet. The happiest day of his life had happened, they went on their honeymoon, and now just a couple months later he was moving into his dream home with a man better than his wildest imagination. His life was perfect. He had his dad, their wonderful home, and Derek.

Stiles reached for his toothbrush right next to Derek's and there was that overwhelming sense of love and happiness again. No matter how much they bickered or even fought, being with Derek was like the moment you figure out that everything will actually be okay in the end. It was that sigh at the end of a hard day and the first smile after being so sad you think you can't breathe. Derek meant safety, love, and home and Stiles finally understood what his parents had. He always appreciated that they were amazing together and that's what made losing her so hard. It was such a privilege to find someone that you didn't have to tolerate living with, someone that instead you had to survive living in the moments without them.

He rinsed his mouth out and spit into the white sink. Looking up at the mirror he tried to tame his hair while calling out again, "What do you want for breakfast?"

His brow furrowed as he received no response. He made his way down the creaky steps with soft padding slippered feet. He called out to the house as he entered the empty kitchen, "Oh husband mine? It's rude to not give me morning snuggles and kisses." Stiles pulled some coffee grounds out of an otherwise barren cabinet. He saw a note on the coffee machine and plucked it off with a quick snatch.

"'Morning sweetheart, went for an early run. Hope you slept well. Coffee should be hot (just like you) See you shortly. -D' Hmm. I'd rather have a sleepy husband, but I will take coffee." Stiles rubbed over the corner of the note where there was a dirty brown finger print on the paper. He must've had to clean up some coffee grounds. Stiles smiled down at his husband's rushed sloppy writing.

He used the last two slices of bread to make toast and decided he'd run to the store quick so they could have a proper lunch. He was getting sick of quick sandwiches, they needed some real food in the house. He could probably get back right after Derek showered and as he was making a protein shake if he hurried.

He grabbed the notes Derek had left on the counter and scrawled a quick note back to him for when he got back from his run.

Stiles balanced a piece of toast on top of his mug of coffee and stuffed the one he was eating in his mouth so he could open his bedroom door to get ready.

*** Stiles always somehow got the cart with the psychotic wheel and it was driving him crazy. He'd already bumped into two other carts because his possessed one took turns like they were an option instead of the only unoccupied path in a crowded aisle. He tried kicking the wheel to no avail and then sighed in defeat. He almost grabbed a box of cocoa pebbles, but instead grabbed Derek's middle aged woman cereal. He urged the wire monster towards the peanut butter while thinking wistfully of his abandoned chocolatey goodness.

He had tried to stick to the list, but he had gotten carried away with all of the things he thought they could fill the pantry with. He had gotten two cans of condensed milk despite not having a recipe for it. It was just something always in the back of the cabinet growing up. Somehow placing them in the basket had made those little flutters in his chest tickle again as if they somehow made their house a home with their uselessness. He had also gotten a couple autumn themed candles. Derek would hate them. Stiles smiled even at the thought of Derek sneering at a sweet vanilla chai kisses candle.

Stiles looked up from his overflowing cart to look directly at Derek. "Derek!" His grin completely took over his face.

"Stiles...hey, what are you doing here?" Derek sounded confused and his whole body froze. Stiles hardly ever spooked Derek or caught him off guard like that, but he supposed it was probably pretty strange for them both to be there.

"Oh you know, I wanted to fill up the house. Get some groceries for my husband, even though he did leave me in an empty bed. There's a monster in our house that eats peanut butter like breathing." Stiles deadpanned.

"A monster in our... oh right," Derek chuckled sheepishly. "Sorry about that, I just wanted to get an early start. I made sure the coffee was ready though." Derek came around his cart and stood in front of Stiles to give him a quick kiss.

"Yeah thank you, that was really nice honey bun." Stiles shot out finger guns as he called him the overly sweet name.

Derek rolled his eyes fondly and then reached for the candle Stiles knew he would dislike the most. "Really?" He practically sneered at the name before putting it back into the cart.

"Hey say what you want, white girls got nothing on my fall game. I got the healthy cardboard cereal you pretend to enjoy as a compromise." Stiles sent him a saucy wink.

Derek's smile was small, but Stiles knew he loved the little things that showed how much they appreciated each other the most. "You take such good care of me." Derek praised and reached out to brush an appreciative thumb across Stiles' chin.

"I'm great at this marriage thing." Stiles mused. He finally looked away from his handsome husband's face to take in the state of his muddy joggers. "Hey, what are you doing here?" He peered around Derek's wide chest into his cart. "Did you sign us up for a HGTV show I don't know about? A rake and paint? What happened to you by the way? I thought I was the one with godlike grace and agility?" Stiles snarked self deprecatingly.

Derek turned his back to move some of the supplies around to show Stiles. "I was just trying to fix up that old building for you. I know you were excited about it, and the yard could use some tlc."

Stiles moved his cart to gently bump Derek's hip. "Look at you, not so bad at this yourself handsome. I will fight you for the husband of the year title though. I was thinking of making butternut squash soup and salad for lunch, how does that sound?" Stiles looked down at his cart to see if he forgot any ingredients.

"A home cooked meal? You win automatically. I'm headed out actually, so I'll see you at home?" Derek said briskly.

"Okay yeah. Before you head out you need me to get anything for you from the store?" Stiles joked.

"Maybe a less poisonous candle? Or are you gunning for my life insurance already?" Derek smirked before pressing a kiss to Stiles' forehead. "Be safe." He added.

"You have unscented ones. And I don't need the money nearly as much as I need someone to make me coffee in the morning." Stiles confessed over his shoulder as he walked away from him.

Derek headed to the counter to check out. "Oh, maybe some of that creamer with the picture of the dog dressed as a pumpkin? You know the one." He called back.

Stiles looked in his cart at the cat curled up in the pumpkin on the creamer bottle already in his cart. Damn did he love his husband.

***

The plastic bag rustled as Stiles pulled out the thyme and garlic. He was somewhat glad Derek was out in the yard raking the leaves still. He adored spending time with his husband, but Derek and him both had verydifferent ideas of what a kitchen should look like while cooking. Derek cleaned dishes as he used them. Stiles was happy if the oven wasn't on fire. He still had grocery bags that needed to be unpacked, all of the soup ingredients were piled near the paper towels, and he had a half chopped onion near the pot he'd need to use for the soup. He arranged the daisies he had picked up for Derek in a green vase with meticulous care. He knew how much Derek liked plants in the house and secretly loved the romantic gesture of receiving flowers. He smiled at the finished bouquet and then returned to the onion while humming "I'll make a man out of you."

Stiles continued unpacking groceries and prepping the vegetables while working his way through the Mulan soundtrack. It drove him crazy while cooking if he had a song stuck in his head.

Stiles brought the squash to his cutting board and pushed aside the bowl . He moved to the sink to wash off the bits of onion skin that clung to his fingertips and looked out the window. He saw Derek frenetically raking leaves. Just the sight of him made Stiles pause while the warm water cascaded down his hands to rapidly circle the drain. He must've felt the eyes on him because he looked up almost immediately and gave him a subtle wave. Stiles' lips pulled into a grin and he waved back.

Stiles turned back to the squash with that warm feeling still inside of him. He placed the wobbly vegetable on its side and attempted to chop it in half. His still damp hands slipped and in a split second the knife sliced through the air and was flung straight towards his bare foot.

Stiles' eyes widened and in a fraction of a moment he flung his hand towards the knife too late to catch it, but with a flash of his eyes the knife halted midair. He quickly gripped it before letting the glow leave his eyes. The same eyes that then frantically searched to see if Derek had somehow appeared in the kitchen to see him or was peering inside the kitchen through the window. After verifying Derek was still in the yard he let out a relieved sigh.

Two years ago Stiles had pictured his future life completely different. He was about to give up on small town life and forget about ever being able to settle down before he met Derek. Having magic was never easy on him. People brought him all sorts of issues to solve like he had all the answers. It made dating and keeping people close really difficult. He never knew what to say to people. 'Oh, sorry I had to leave our date early. Someone I've never met before needed my help killing kelpies that were drowning people!' Some how he thought that wouldn't be the best second date opener. He kept being dragged into mystical hijinks as he was the only druid anywhere near their town. It was almost as if he had a magical beacon on himself saying I'm magical and I will help you.

It all became too much. His dad was the only one close to him that knew who he really was, what he could do. It was tiring always lying to people. Then, one day he had helped a dryad from New York. He was so grateful to Stiles he had invited him to move to the city. Stiles had told him how lonely the small town supernatural life was. How it felt like you were always lying and there was no way out, no one to share it with. He had even tried to stay out of the supernatural world, but it kept dragging him back in. The man then told him how different the city was. There were entire communities he could join and Stiles finally had hope. As loathe as he was to leave his dad, he had decided to go.

The month before he would've left he met Derek. Suddenly it wasn't about what drug him back to the life, it was about what kept him in the one he wanted. So many times he had wanted to tell Derek, wanted to not be lying. He knew it was better this way, he would give up anything for Derek and their perfect life. He wanted to be normal for Derek. He gave up magic and turned away anyone who asked him for help. He'd never forgive himself if something happened to Derek because of him. He had his regular life now, and it was perfect. Derek was perfect. He was gorgeous and dorky, even if sometimes he could be a bit boring with his need to be obsessively domestic. Stiles loved it. He loved his boring normal life. He didn't care what he gave up for it or how much he had to lie about himself.

Stiles hadn't realized how long he'd been lost in thought. He looked down to the now soup filled pot he had made on autopilot. He would have to call Derek in soon now that lunch was ready, but he needed a few moments to collect himself. Derek always knew when he was feeling deeply, but he didn't want to sour the day.

He was about to go out the back door when he heard a knock at the front. Stiles hurried to the door, maybe it was his dad popping in.

It was a man with a charming smile and a smooth voice, "You must be Stiles."

Stiles was caught off guard. "Hi, and who are you? Do you know my husband? Do I know you?"

The man chuckled, "No, not yet. But I'm hoping to be good friends with you."

Stiles heard the back door crash open and slam shut. The harsh sound was on Derek's honey do list to fix.

"You and your husband. Of course. I just wanted to meet the new neighbors." Right on cue as he spoke Stiles heard Derek's heavy shoes clunking towards them.

There was something about this man's eyes Stiles didn't quite trust, but he wanted to be inviting. "Oh, do you live nearby?"

Derek shouldered in front of him pushing open the door even further. "This is private property, what do you want?"

Stiles' jaw was dropped about as wide as the man's shocked eyes. The man stammered out, "Uh, sorry, I was just..." He took a quick step back while his eyes never left Derek. "It was nice meeting you."

Stiles thrust a hand out after him, as he beckoned him back. "Oh don't go! No, I'm sorry. This caveman with no manners is my husband." Stiles shot Derek a withering glare. "Please don't mind him. We'd love your company. I just finished making lunch."

Derek snapped his head to look at Stiles and rudely replied, "I'm sure he can't stay."

The man started to decline, "Oh, no, I-"

Stiles gripped Derek's arm and dug his fingertips in. "I insist!"

The man and Derek stood in some sort of awkward stalemate. Stiles could not believe his husband. Derek was never like this he was so friendly and charming whenever they met new people normally. Sure he'd trash talk them and let him know later if he didn't really like them, but this is the first time Stiles had ever seen him so hostile and rude.

Stiles pointedly said, "Come in. What was your name?" Derek didn't budge till Stiles started to shoo him back into the house.

Stiles had no idea what had gotten into Derek his jaw was clenched, but he backed up.

"Ansel Williams." Ansel looked at them with a strangely intense gaze. "But you can call me Andy. I can see that your husband recognizes the name. It's very unique. It's odd that you don't th-"

Stiles looked at Derek completely lost. It made sense why Derek was acting hostile if he didn't get along with Ansel, but Stiles didn't know why then Ansel was acting like he wanted to be friends. He felt like he was missing something.

He just was about to say maybe they should have lunch some other time wanting to trust his husband when Derek interrupted the man. "My name is Derek, nice to see you again," Derek stuck out his hand which Ansel took hesitantly. "Stiles made soup. I hope you're hungry."

"Famished." The man regained some of his earlier confidence as he followed them into the dining area.

***

Stiles passed around the freshly baked rolls again hoping to cut the tension that had accumulated over the meal. "So what kind of special assets does your company acquire?"

Andy replied with his mouth full, "Well it depends though we really go after the more coveted and unique people."

"Oh, so you're a headhunter?" Stiles said interested, hoping to steer the conversation in a direction that wouldn't have his husband glaring and quiet.

"Something like that." The man smirked and Stiles wondered if he was being modest about what he actually did. "What do you guys do?" Andy asked while gesturing between them holding a half eaten roll.

"Well, I'm an online web designer so I work from home." Stiles looked at a completely silent Derek, who seemed like he was sitting on tacks, before turning back. "And my wonderful husband is a basketball coach at the high school. The kids absolutely love him. He's so good with them. So much better than he is with adults sometimes." Stiles gushed proudly.

He gave Derek a pointed look and gave his hand a few rough pats hoping to coax him into the conversation. Stiles didn't want their very first introduction to the neighborhood to be so stilted.

"How very domestic." Andy commented.

"It's a very rewarding job." Derek pushed out without an ounce of the pride and happiness Stiles knew his job brought him.

"He's really very good. He took the kids to state last year. Honey you should go show him the photo in the garage and your trophies! I have to go get dessert ready anyway." Stiles stood up to go to the kitchen. Before he left he pressed a kiss to Derek's temple and whispered into his ear, "Be nice and make friends." Stiles dug his fingers into Derek's shoulder firmly to try and convey how rude Derek was being.

He smiled at Andy and said, "Dessert will be just five minutes."

When he looked back at Derek he wore the same smile he gave Stiles whenever asked to take out the trash. It was begrudging and appeasing, but also he could never help the tiniest bit of adoration from sneaking in there whenever he smiled at Stiles. No matter how snarky.

Stiles pulled the pie he had warmed up out of the oven and placed the ice cream on the counter to thaw a bit.

As Stiles sliced the pie he thought about how rude Derek had been. It was so out of character for him. Sure Derek could be a bit gruff, but that was downright hostile at moments. Stiles was glad Andy hadn't stormed out or that he didn't take offense at any point. Stiles wanted this move to go well. He wanted to be settled and get along with the neighbors. He wanted the dream life for Derek and him. He didn't know how a grumpy Derek would fit in with his image of summer block barbeques and borrowing cups of sugar. Sure Stiles knew neither of them were the overly friendly or social type, but he just wanted them to have the white picket life. Stiles cleaned up the plates where the viscous cherry red pie filling had smeared while he thought deeply.

Maybe Derek didn't want that. Maybe he wanted it to be just the two of them, which Stiles certainly wouldn't object to. He was just so confused because up to this point Derek had been so kind to any friends Stiles introduced to him and meeting new people he always flashed his pearly bunny smile that melted him every time. Stiles licked the pie server clean before tossing it in the sink. He scooped the hard ice cream with great effort while sticking out his tongue in concentration so he didn't fling it across the kitchen.

Stiles wanted to immediately ask how they knew each other, but Derek had acted so coldly he figured it was not a good time. If they had bonded in the garage Stiles would mention it over dessert. The whole thing was so puzzling to Stiles.

The three forks clinked against the plates as he placed them. Just as he was about to bring the plates to the table he heard the garage door opening. That was strange. Stiles made his way to the garage to investigate the noise forgetting the pie for a moment.

He opened the garage door to see Derek standing under the big rolling door. He turned to Stiles and began to close the distance.

Stiles spoke as he moved, "The pie is ready. Where'd Andy go?" Stiles started to lean around Derek to look out the garage door. "You didn't murder him did you?" Stiles joked.

Derek let out a small laugh. "He had to go, wife called."

Derek swiped a thumb across Stiles' lower lip and licked it off. "Mmm, cherry?"

"Yeah. It is." Stiles replied with a question hidden in his tone. Stiles squinted at Derek puzzled, but for the moment willing to let it go.

Derek crowded into Stiles' space close enough he could smell his aftershave and forced him to take a step back as he reached past Stiles to close the garage door. "Shall we?" Derek straightened up and gestured to the door grandly with a sweet as pie smile.

Fuck the neighborhood, as long as he had that smile in his house he didn't care how many people Derek chased off.

***

Stiles let the plates clatter loudly after he scrubbed the water away much harsher than needed. If he kept it up the china nor their kitchen towels would survive their first year. He didn't like how evasive Derek had been while they ate pie. Stiles had always loved how honest they were in their relationship together.

Well, except for the one thing he'd always kept. In marrying Derek he made a lifelong commitment to leaving the supernatural world behind. It burned at something deep inside of him. This space and what seemed like secrets between them, they ignited all of his worry and fear. He left his past behind to find a future with his husband, but why did it seem like Derek was hiding in their present? When he thought about it Derek had been strange all day.

Usually he would wake him up before going for a run to let him know and give him a kiss. Usually, Derek wasn't as cold and rushed as he was when Stiles bumped into him at the store. Usually, he preferred to get into Stiles' way in the kitchen because of how much he loved to see Stiles move around the house. Usually, he asked Stiles to keep him company while they did yard work. Usually, he'd be right next to him putting away lunch or doing the dishes. Usually, Derek didn't make it seem like he had things to hide from Stiles.

Stiles pulled himself out of his pity party as he dried a spoon. His husband loved him. This could just be a misunderstanding or a bad day. He could've just been cranky at Andy for interrupting their lunch. Maybe they had history. The thought of maybe they were already growing apart popped just as fast as it appeared. It was laughable to the point Stiles couldn't even believe it had come from his own admittedly over active brain. They were so madly in love with each other it was frankly disgusting. Was he irritated with Derek? Absolutely. However, they were not the type of relationship to let one bad day ruin even the rest of their week. Unfortunately for Derek, Stiles was definitely not the type of husband to let this go though.

Stiles stormed into the unpacked living room. He stopped right where Derek was kneeling in front of the TV to unpack a ripped box of DVDs. "We're going to talk about how lunch went, and how you know Andy. Also, don't try to make me think it isn't a big deal. You don't normally act like that. And don't you dare try and tell me it's nothing or that you're okay. I know you Derek Hale- Stilinski and that lunch was not you and you shutting me out and not talking to me definitely isn't you...." Stiles drug a breath in desperately while waiting a second for Derek to reply. "Okay I'm done now you can speak." Stiles rested his hands that had been gesturing wildly onto his hips.

Derek sighed like he knew what was coming and put the DVDs on the shelf before facing Stiles. "I had an unpleasant run in with his brother."

Stiles squinted at Derek's genuine face. "How unpleasant? Do I need to go over there with the rest of the pie laced with laxatives, or poison?"

Derek huffed a laugh and then wrapped a coaxing arm around his waist. "No, I was being an ass, I shouldn't have acted like that. I'm sorry. I promise to behave in the future."

Stiles melted into him and sighed in relief. "I like when you misbehave. I don't like when I feel far from you. Next time just slam the door in his face and tell me why we don't like him now." Stiles snuggled into his chest.

"Deal." Derek sweetly kissed the top of his head. "I found the DVDs. Pick one while I shower."

*** Stiles was fighting to keep his eyes awake. No matter how much he loved seeing Bucky Barnes in uniform, the feeling of Derek's warmth radiating into his side where he was gently leaning on him was like no other. If that wasn't enough Derek was slowly dragging his thumb along his knee lulling him deeper. Stiles was so content he could live on this edge between his dreams and the dream forever.

Derek jolted and pulled him out of his fulfilled state. Stiles cocked his head to the side in question.

Derek replied, "We should make popcorn. I think the box with the popcorn maker got put upstairs. I'll grab it. You don't have to pause it." Derek stood and a cool rush of air met his side.

"I was just about to fall asleep, that's perfect. Popcorn will keep me awake. Do you want help?" Stiles offered noncommittally as he tucked himself into the blanket.

"No, I've got it. Keep the couch warm for me." Derek spoke already at the base of the stairs.

Stiles yawned, but he sat up to try and stay awake. He absentmindedly checked his phone for a couple moments before he heard the front door jingle.

That was odd. He hadn't heard Derek come down, nor did he know why he'd need to go outside. Stiles pulled the blanket off himself and stood up with a curious gaze towards the dark hallway. As he moved closer he slowly adjusted to the light and right as he wound around the corner a shape suddenly moved towards him out of the darkness. Stiles stumbled backwards in shock back into the living room. As the shape followed him the light spilled from the TV and lamp to illuminate his face and Stiles stopped in the middle of the room out of confusion.

"Andy?" Stiles asked.

"Stiles, hey sorry it's so late. I wa-" Andy wore a charming smile that Stiles didn't fall for one bit this time.

"The front door was locked. Why are you in my home?" Stiles demanded. He hoped Derek stayed upstairs long enough for him to deal with this. Whatever this was. Stiles crossed his arms and continued on, "Is this about your brother? If so, I doubt an argument is worth breaking into the sheriff's sons' home."

Andy took small leisurely steps closer. "This has nothing to do with Ansel. He was just an unfortunate loss along the way thanks to your dear husband."

Stiles tried to figure out what that meant while looking around the room for weapons. His options were limited to whipping DVDs at him like a knock off Gambit or running to the kitchen for knives. "What do you want with my husband?"

Andy laughed. "We don't want him. He is just in our way. You're quite special Stiles."

Stiles had heard enough. He looked to where the door was left ajar like Andy planned on it getting used again soon. Almost as if someone else would be coming in soon. He didn't know what was going on he just knew he had to deal with this fast especially if there were more coming.

"We just want to talk. We just want you to come with u-"

Stiles cut him off with a sudden uppercut and then immediately dashed for the kitchen. The punch hadn't had quite the effect he hoped because Andy was hot on his heels enraged. Stiles heard his steps too close. He wouldn't make it to the knife block.

Stiles went full speed into the stack of boxes on the other side of the kitchen and kicked out a leg behind himself blindly hoping to keep just enough distance between them. Thankfully he found what he was looking for as Andy gripped his calf tightly trying to wrench it to the side so he could grab Stiles. Stiles spun around and violently smashed the heavy wok into the side of Andy's skull. He used the second of dazed confusion to push against Andy's chest.

Stiles' eyes widened as Andy grew claws and fangs in front of him. The man before him growled as his eyes flashed blue.

"Oh fuck." Stiles swore.

"We just need you to come with us you little bastard. If you come easy we won't hurt your husband, but you're coming either way."

Stiles saw red at that threat, but he pushed it down. There was that "we" again. Stiles felt his stomach drop as he realized his mistake. The door was open so Andy could take him back through it, but if someone was going to follow they would've already. They didn't need to come in through the door because they were already inside.

It didn't take that long to get a popcorn maker.

With that realization Stiles heard a crash of glass shattering upstairs.

Stiles felt everything at once rage, despair, hopelessness, and finally determination. He held up his palms as they flashed with a blinding painful light. It was as if he had lit up their kitchen with a flash bang that could harness the sun itself.

As Andy groaned in pain and clutched at his face disoriented, Stiles pushed past him to sprint upstairs.

He must've been too loud because despite being temporarily blinded, Andy was able to grab onto his torso and sink his claws in before he had even made it through the living room. Stiles shouted in pain from the digits that dug deep into his flesh.

He needed to get to Derek. Andy was in his way.

Stiles gripped both of the werewolf's wrists and attempted something he knew would drop him instantly. Lightning crackled around Stiles' white knuckles that were now covered in his own blood from where they gripped Andy's splattered arms. Stiles could feel the man shaking behind him, but if anything it just drove his claws in deeper. Werewolves had a high tolerance for electrocution. However, it did make them susceptible to other forms of magic. Stiles' eyes started to glow pure white as all of the moisture from the man started to pull out of his eyes, his ears, and finally his mouth. First it was just little trickling strands and then pouring streams that mixed with the electricity as the moisture started to explode out of his skin like a wrung out sponge.

With a heavy thunk the dried out crisp husk of a man fell to the floor.

Stiles started towards the stairs again, but for the second time in less than a minute was dumbstruck with the fangs and claws in front of him. "You're a werewolf!?" Stiles shouted the question at his newlywed husband with wide eyes as he nearly ran into him.

Derek looked relieved, well as much as Stiles could tell through the sideburns his husband never had before.

The floor where Derek had just dropped down groaned in protest as another heavy snarling body thumped down right behind him.

Stiles saw the man's red eyes trained on his husband and reacted instinctively as Derek whipped around to face the threat.

Stiles' hand raised to their cherished house plant sitting on the table up against the stairs while a vibrant green glow emanated from his fingertips and eyes. The pothos had been with them since their first apartment. Lydia gave it to them as a housewarming present. Derek would be upset with how much care he had put into keeping it alive, but he couldn't think about that right now.

The thin vines whipped out and grew in both number and size. In the blink of an eye they wrapped around the alpha's arms and legs just as he was about to swipe his claws at Derek. The green ropes held him taut as even more sprouted thorns and wound around his neck. The alpha began to scream as the thorned vines pushed into his eyes and ears causing blood to gush out. His scream was choked off as vines burst out of his mouth. He fell lifeless to his knees and then finally slumped to the ground as the vines atrophied and turned brown.

Stiles breathed in and out to calm himself from the carnage that had happened in their previously peaceful house in but a few moments.

He lowered his hand slowly and the glow left his eyes, eyes that now met Derek's after they left the now non-existent threat.

He took in his husband's shocked face and didn't even know how to start the conversation, hell the multiple conversations, they now had to have. Like what was he supposed to say, 'Hey honey, why yes I've always been able to do this. Dear, how long have you been a werewolf? Love of my life, would you like to burn the bodies or should I start to look up pig farms?' Stiles felt a pit well in his stomach, for once he did not want to talk to his husband. He didn't want to ruin what they had. Maybe he could wipe Derek's memory. He was spiraling he knew, but he couldn't give up their perfect life. He never wanted to bring Derek into the supernatural life, but here they were.

"You have magic?!" Derek exclaimed.

Derek's eyes fell to Stiles' blood soaked torso. "You're hurt." Derek slowly reached out then paused, almost like he was expecting Stiles to lash out with a dandelion from the yard.

Stiles looked down at his stomach almost noticing the wounds finally through the shock of what had all happened. "I'll be fine really." Stiles looked at Derek's paused hand on his way to reach out. "It's actually helpful that you're a werewolf." Stiles chuckled weakly. "Can I touch you?" Stiles sounded so very unsure about it even he was surprised that he was talking to his husband. The one person that never made Stiles feel unsure.

Derek let out a desperate whispered, "Please."

Stiles' eyes started to water at the tender feelings and warring worries welling inside of him. He wouldn't have known what to do if Derek turned him away. He smiled as he reached out to grab Derek's arm. "This shouldn't hurt at all, I'm just borrowing your ability to heal." Stiles hesitantly gripped Derek's forearms and focused. Golden glowing veins spidered from Derek's arms to Stiles' waiting palms. His wounds gently glowed the same golden color as they closed.

"Take what you need." Out of the corner of his eye he could see Derek's head swiveling back and forth.

After his flesh had finished fusing back together Stiles released his arm somewhat regretfully, he liked the contact.

"Who hurt you?" Derek spoke with purpose as he pushed past Stiles toward the living room.

Stiles felt his body flush with panic again. He rushed past Derek and pulled the blanket from the couch with a gust of magic to quickly cover the Kentucky fried crispy man, but he was too late.

Derek was stock still looking at the blanket. "You did this?" He asked quietly.

A million explanations and excuses flooded through Stiles, but nothing more powerful than the shame. Would Derek think of him differently? He hadn't just killed this man, he had given him an agonizing death. Stiles didn't think about the consequences, he didn't think about the man's pain, and he certainly didn't think about mercy. All he thought about was the fastest way to get to Derek no matter how brutal.

"I-I um, yeah. He came up behind me and I- I just reacted." Stiles' voice was small and he started chewing his lip. Maybe he could wipe his memory of the last half hour. No popcorn, they just finished the movie. "I had to get to you." Stiles didn't like how pleading his voice sounded to his own ears and he definitely didn't know what he was asking of Derek. Please don't look at the body. Please don't be freaked out by how much I love you. Please don't be concerned with the lengths I'd go to for you. Please. Please just don't think I'm a monster.

And if he was really honest and let the most pitiful of them all have a voice, please don't love me any less for the dark things I'd do just to keep you safe.

"Oh." Derek sounded absent minded in a way he had hardly ever heard him.

His eyes were still on the blanket covered body.

"Wow." Derek spoke pushing out each letter of such a simple word in a way that made Stiles taste bile on his tongue. There were many ways in which Stiles wanted to amaze his husband, this was not one of them.

Stiles took several steps back towards the door creating space between them in case Derek didn't know how to tell him he didn't want him near anymore. "I'm sorry." Stiles held his arms against his torso knowing the warmth he'd leeched while holding onto Derek was still on his palms, and yet he felt only a chill up his spine.

Derek finally snapped back to the moment and turned to face him. "No, don't apologize. I just... all day I've been trying to keep you safe but... you never needed me." Derek sounded impressed.

The tears finally fell from Stiles' eyes. "I always need you." He confessed.

Derek stalked over and pulled him into a hug. Stiles buried himself into Derek's chest and let out a breath of relief.

"I think we have a lot to talk about." Derek said.

"Just give me a moment. I just need to hold you to know you're okay. I thought-" Stiles' words caught in his throat. "I thought they'd kill you because of me." Stiles still felt the guilt pulsing inside, but the waves lessened as he felt the warm body against him.

Derek gently carded his hands through his husband's hair to soothe him. "Who were they?"

Stiles shrugged while wrapped in Derek's arms. "I don't know. From what Andy said it seemed like they wanted me for my magic."

"How long have you..." Derek unwrapped their limbs to look into Stiles' eyes.

"Been a glowy magical young hot Gandalf? Technically since birth, but I didn't get any of the cool magic till after my mom died."

"So the whole time" Derek nodded with a huffed laugh.

"How long have you been... Craving Scooby snacks?" He cursed internally hoping this wasn't a sore subject for Derek.

Stiles loved the soft affection that leaked out of Derek whenever he tried to roll his eyes at his snark. Derek replied, "Also since birth."

"So the whole time." Stiles laughed. "Damn I missed an opportunity to give you a squeaky toy as a wedding gift. So you're an alpha? Where's your pack?" Stiles asked.

Derek gently pinched Stiles' chin and looked lovingly into his eyes. "Right here."

Stiles looked at Derek's fond smile ready to kiss it when he noticed a smear of blood just to the left of his mouth. He swiped it with a thumb. "I doubt this would taste like cherry." He wiped it off on his ruined shirt.

Derek's lips fully upturned into a grin before he crashed their lips together. He pulled back and rested his forehead against Stiles'.

Stiles pulled his head back to speak to him. "But no really, where's your pack? You can't be an alpha with just one puny human that didn't even know you were a werewolf."

"My alpha status wasn't planned. Wrong place, wrong time. I never wanted this." Derek gestured to the crispy dead body with an air of begrudging acceptance.

"How long have you been an alpha?" Stiles' tone turned mocking, "Since birth?"

Derek laughed. "Five or so years. I haven't really kept up with it. I never took a pack."

Stiles felt his stomach drop. There had been alphas that went insane without a pack in a matter of months. While Stiles would never experience it the thought made him shudder. To be so very alone only wanting someone to connect you to your life and your purpose had to have been torture. Actually, now that he thought about it maybe their experiences weren't all that different. Having power was nothing without someone to protect. Stiles rested his hand on Derek's chest above his heart. "Derek that's- that's awful. Being an alpha without a pack is a terrible way to live. You have nothing to draw from, nothing to hold you down. It would be like if I didn't have my magic. Pack is a part of being a werewolf as much as magic is a part of who I am."

Derek sighed, "Becoming an alpha was... the worst thing that could've happened to me. It took me from my family. They were my pack. I never wanted another one. But a pack can't have two alphas. It disrupts the balance." Derek spoke with such sadness.

"Then I met you. And I knew I'd never need anyone else." Derek had that look, the one that told Stiles he was genuinely happy and it made his heart flutter at the sweet words.

"You're all I need too, but Derek I don't want you to deny a part of who you are to be with me." Stiles hated that for the entire time he knew him, Derek had to hide from him. He didn't want that to be the future.

"What about you? Where's your coven?" A teasing smirk lit up Derek's face. "Am I gonna find a broomstick in one of these boxes?"

Stiles' mouth dropped open in a baldly offended look. "Do you think I'm a witch?!" Stiles pulled back from their embrace mildly upset. Druids and witches were very different things.

"Well, I don't know what you are." Derek once again gestured to Mr. McCrispy. "You're something."

Stiles had already decided to forgive him and only hold it against him occasionally. "If you ever call me a witch again I'm buying you a doghouse for out back. I'm a druid."

Derek’s expression dropped as he pulled from Stiles taking a stumbled step back. "Do-do you have an alpha?" Derek asked fear and horror blatant in his voice.

"Why would I? I already have one lug trying to tell me what to do." Stiles joked confused.

"You're an emissary though." Derek intently stared into his eyes and at his face like he was expecting a lie.

Stiles squinted at him. He had no idea what confused Derek so much. "I'm a druid... I didn't specifically say I was an emissary. Derek do you think all druids are emissaries? Because that's racist. I'm offended." This time his offended face was an act.

"All the druids I've ever met are emissaries. Only alphas really deal with them. Why aren't you an emissary?" Derek asked.

"Because it's rare for a druid not born into or raised alongside a pack to become an emissary. To be an emissary is to be trusted with the pack's lives at the highest level, most of the time equal to an alpha. It's a huge responsibility, but an even bigger trust is needed. My mom left her pack back in Poland when she came here. I know it was something that she missed and always wanted for me, but I knew it would be too difficult to find." Stiles got a bit sad anytime his mother was mentioned, but nothing made that hollow spot in his heart echo like remembering her last days when she barely remembered their names. If he was honest a bit of that echo was his magic calling out to him.

"I hope I didn't keep you from finding that. You're incredibly strong. You'd make an amazing emissary." Derek looked guilty.

"I gave all of that up when I met you. I had an opportunity out in New York. I almost left with a friend I had helped out. He's a dryad and they had just lost their druid emissary. I realized what I had with you made me happier than that ever would. Sometimes I do miss it, magic will always be a part of me-" Stiles looks down as little blue wisps whirled around his waving fingers. "But Derek, don't think for one second that I'm missing out on what's meant for me." Stiles looked at his husband and he knew every word he spoke was absolutely honest. The love he felt for Derek was like nothing else in the world to him.

"That's why he wanted you." Derek looked at the dead alpha in the hall. "You know, if you- if you wanted to be an emissary..." Derek threaded their fingers together and little blue strings began to swirl around both of their fingers.

Derek seemed nervous and it made Stiles wonder if it was from what he said or the magic still moving between them. He wondered if the chill was getting to Derek's bones yet, a normal human would've had to let go by now.

Stiles let the magic go once again and laughed. "Oh man, two seconds ago you thought all druids were emissaries. Absolutely not." Stiles squeezed his fingers hoping their warmth had returned. To his pleasure his husband's hands were as warm as they always were. How he had never realized Derek's ability to instantly warm a cold bed was supernatural Stiles would never know. "I won't say yes to that until you fully know what it means. If you get sick of me you can't just divorce an emissary. Parting from an emissary is like ripping half of your soul away."

Stiles felt that fading echo in his chest again. This time instead of thinking of the end he thought about the beginning, when the pain was loudest.

He thought about how he had gripped his bed sheets when his parents sat him down to tell him his mom was sick. Then he thought about a little bit later when she told him what he was, what they were. Memories started to resonate inside of his head. How scared she had looked when talking about her pack. How he had always wondered what they had done, done to her, and worst of all forced her to do to make her so very scared. He remembered their happy days and their sad days. He remembered overhearing her telling his dad she felt like they were being ripped from him, that her very soul was torn in two. He would never do that to Derek. He could never. She had fought off her own magic rebelling against leaving the pack as long as she could, but eventually it killed every part of her life in her that she loved. She had left her pack even though she knew what it would mean.

Just the thought of Derek leaving him and then losing himself because of it churned his stomach. He willed away the echo and banished the pain. He would always keep the memories though.

"I'd never get sick of you. Parting from you would already be like having half of my soul ripped away." Derek confessed.

"Well it's good you're stuck with me then." Stiles let go of Derek's right hand to thread their left hands together to kiss their wedding rings. "We can work towards it, but I have a feeling your emissary didn't tell you as much as they told your alp- Oh my god Derek! Oh my god!" Stiles spastically slapped Derek's chest. "Your mom is an alpha isn't she?!"

Derek looked startled. "Yes?"

"Oh my god! At Christmas? At Christmas they were all wolves?! How did I not know? This is insane! Your mom makes such a good green bean casserole and she's an alpha!"

Derek laughed. "You'll have lots to talk about next year."

"Next year? I'm getting brunch with her next week. I'm not waiting for Christmas. This is huge!"

"You're having brunch with my mom?" Derek looked offended at not being invited.

"Yes yes, they have bottomless mimosas downtown, we're going to go once a month. Not the point. Holy shit, I can't believe it! Wait, when Cora broke her leg in South America and your mom went to get her, was that werewolf shenanigans or did she really fall down a mountain hiking? Oh my god, I have got to call your mother! Actually, do you think she's still up? We could go visit."

Derek put his hands on his shoulders to ground him. "Stiles, we have two bodies we need to deal with. Let's surprise visit my mother tomorrow, yeah?" Derek spoke with a fond look.

"Oh yeah, totally. What do you think we should do with them?" Stiles looked between the bodies.

Derek looked over his shoulder towards the backdoor. "I actually have a spot already."

"What for bodies?" Stiles snorted.

"Well, I had to do something with the one from this morning." Derek replied seriously.

Stiles smile dropped and he flung out his arms only to rest them on his hips."What do you mean the one from this morning?!" Stiles couldn't believe this.

"Remember the brother I mentioned?" Derek nodded to Andy's body.

"You killed him?!" Stiles was replaying the day and all the moments he thought his husband had acted strange. Suddenly, Derek hadn't acted strange enough with that new context.

Derek slid his arms through Stiles' while he pulled him in. "Isn't it obvious? I'd kill anyone for you."

His heart shouldn't have melted at that. Stiles was blown away with the love he felt for his husband and how their relationship changed so much and yet not at all over the course of one day. They were going to be okay. They were still going to fall asleep in each other's arms. They were still going to watch movies on the couch. They were still going to always figure things out together. They would now hide bodies together. They would now talk about the supernatural. They would now have very different Christmases. They were still going to be okay, even if they would need to start buying a suspicious amount of bleach.

After all, what was a bit of occasional murder in the shadow of domestic bliss?

#sterekweek2024 #sw24moon #sw24sun #sw24loveismurder #sw24domesticbliss #co-written #sterek #sterek fic #stiles stilinski #derek hale

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fawnsflowerbed · 2 years ago

Note

could i request for a one-shot with post-RE6/vendetta leon falling in love with his next-door neighbor, the reader? as much as i love young RE2 and RE4 leon, there’s something about him all grown up in the later installments that’s so 🫣

let’s face it, he’s been through a LOT. leon probably isn’t sure if his life has stayed the same (fighting bioterrorism day in and day out, his situationship with ada never becoming anything substantial even after so many years), or if it keeps changing too quickly and rapidly for him to handle (the enemies he deals with getting more and more formidable, and maybe the abrupt end of his situationship 💔). so when the reader comes into his life when they move in next door, they’re like a breath of fresh air to him.

they bake him cookies, don’t treat him any differently when they find out who he is and what he does for a living, and everything else they do just… makes him feel normal. he’s scared to admit his feelings (because he’s an emotionally constipated old fart boo 👎 /J), but when he and the reader start dating, for the first time, he feels like he has a home. it’s not his or the reader’s actual adjacent residences, but it’s the reader. they’re his home.

I adored this req so much I just HAD to make it a series!!

Series Masterlist here!!

Home is More Than Four Walls

Leon's life has been nothing short of hell. He thought he deserved nothing more than that after every mistake he'd made. Until someone new moved in.

Warnings/content: Fem reader, 2nd person (you/yours), Vendetta Leon, references to alcoholism, depression, addiction, and potential suicidal undertones so please read with care.

Word count: 2,225

════════ ∘◦❀◦∘ ════════

Leon had gotten far too comfortable with change.

He’d found a melancholy bliss that left him always prepared for shit to go wrong. He’d been stuck like that ever since Tatchi, ever since he felt the immense weight of his actions and their consequences. The weight of a thousand lives lost thanks to his negligence. And it only worsened after he lost his unit a year ago, only to then kill them off once they turned. People he’d bonded with that he then had to murder. He could still feel the blood on his hands no matter how hard he scrubbed. There was a reason Chris had originally found him drinking himself to death. Then there was New York, the whole ordeal having him wonder one thing.

When would this end? It had gotten to the point where it was bordering on insanity. If he kept going like this he’d likely end up getting shipped off to rehab. Sleepless nights filled with lifeless eyes staring dead into him, moments of quiet solemness as he mourned lives and relationships lost. Mourned his younger self, the rookie with no clue of what awaited him in Raccoon City. But not in a respectful way with a mental funeral, laying the young man down in a cleaned coffin and lowering him into a bed of lillies. It was more like tossing a corpse to the side and moving on. The years of constant fighting only for nothing to change had turned him cold. That boy with a sense of hope and pride, that boy who became a police officer to repay the service that had saved him when he was a child - that boy was gone. It had been replaced by the shell of a man with a gun forced into his hand. Before he’d even known it he was born and bred to be the DSO’s soulless weapon. Like a brainless zombie, they lined his gun up with the target and yelled at him to shoot.

So he did. Time after time. Year after year. No time for personal affairs, no time for hobbies or outside activities. No time for what made him human.

Maybe that was why Ada had left him.

Ada, the woman on the run who’d appeared out of nowhere only to disappear once more. The one he’d been chasing after for too many years to count, who he defended during Tall Oaks and risked his life for. The one who was no longer keeping score on how many times they’d saved each other.

The one who’d called it quits on him.

He remembered it so clearly. That miniscule glint of pain behind her professional gaze like a spinel hidden among the rocks, that of a mercenary staring down the sight of a crossbow with perfect aim. The way she stuck out her hand to shake as if it had all been some type of business partnership. Nothing more than looking out for someone to gain something. A lead, a life saved, a death quickened. It was all a ploy to her.

Leon wasn’t one to beg, he hadn’t been for quite some time. He was persistent, sure, but not to the point where he felt like he was grovelling.

He was ready to drop to his knees when Ada told him they couldn’t keep going the way they were. That they were only putting each other in danger. After a constant sprint towards her, it all came to a harsh halt. It was like his heart had been stomped on repeatedly, a sharp high heel straight through his ribcage. He would’ve rather she’d shot him. It would’ve hurt less.

But luckily he was good at masking it. So when she broke the news to him, he just gave her a stiff nod and shook her hand. As she made her exit, he had to hold back everything telling him to bolt into the nearest building to sob to himself for the first time in years. To blame himself for the fourth time that day. He wasn’t usually an emotional person, not when it came to crying. Leon Kennedy never cried, and he prided himself on that. But Ada brought out the worst in him. The worst and the best.

The months blended together after that moment. A bland concoction of aimless meetings chased down with long droning lectures on his behaviour. He was erratic, he was impulsive and most importantly he was too distracted to focus on anything other than that grey spot seeped into his brain. No one could blame him though, those who’d heard of their situationship ending seemed to pity him. He didn’t want their pity. Not for that or for his countless failures.

Routine health check results had forced him to move away from his work at the DSO for a few months. His heartbeat was too quick, his stress levels unhealthy and his jumpy reactions to so much as thunder had him listed as a person of concern. A person who had to be forced to take a break, to leave and get out of town.

So that’s exactly what he did.

But Leon knew nothing of his life without some sort of mission, some kind of drive for a success or cure for some terrorising sickness that plagued his conscience the same way it did the human body. He was built on trauma, on the need to do something with his life for the greater good. But all of that had been stripped away from him, leaving behind a scared 20 year old stuck in a grizzled, battered body.

He’d packed up his stuff and moved out of town to a small area just outside of the city, where no one asked questions and rarely even spoke to one another. He was away from it all, yet still felt so close. He was incredibly on edge as if at any time the bored looking man across the street by the name of Mr. Danvers would burst into a pale skinned, veiny creature that he’d have to kill off. Or maybe Miss Lampkin had secretly followed him from the DSO to assassinate him, forcing him to eliminate her in self defence. Another person shipped off in a body bag courtesy of Leon Scott Kennedy.

But the question still stood clear as day in his mind amongst the hustle and bustle of dread. Was he willing to fight it back anymore?

He didn’t feel good about himself if it weren’t all that obvious. If he wasn’t drowning every issue in a bottle of bourbon, he was sinking into his own self loathing. Avoiding any issue he could, dodging any problem that couldn’t be easily solved. He closed his heart off with walls stacked tall made from reinforced steel.

That’s why he fit in so perfectly where he was. Another husk in a greyed community, just like everyone else.

Until you came along.

“Thanks guys!”

The sound of someone so cheerful, so welcoming in his community drenched in monotone shades that it genuinely stunned him. It stopped him in his tracks on his way to the front door, just as he went to check the mail. Leon cursed his own curiosity as he felt his eyes drifting instinctively to the window facing the commotion. The outcome of this was completely unknown, for all he knew he was about to face just another grump masking their snarl with a soft smile. A form of customer service, if anything. Scolding his timing, he knew he’d otherwise forget to collect his mail for the next few days in case another blur hit him. So he slipped on a pair of older shoes, buried his pride for looking like an absolute mess and made his way out into the sun.

As soon as the chirpy voice broke through the silence of the street, Leon was turning to see where it came from. It seemed impossible for someone so cheerful to live in such close proximity.

“Oh let me help you with that. I’ll take it.”

Surely it was his imagination. He must have been slipping into some type of manic state of auditory hallucinations, because no one had ever sounded that happy to be there.

Yet there you stood, a bright welcoming smile that put the sun to shame as you helped the movers bring your stuff into the house with a grateful nod. With softened eyes and a sparkling personality he could see from a mile away. Freshly cleaned sneakers - as if trying to make a good impression with your new neighbours -sensible yet comfortable jeans, a shirt a size too big for you as you took whatever you could to try and make their lives easier despite that being their job.

Leon let out a quick exhale of amusement, closing up his mailbox to walk back down the cement of his walkway. He genuinely found it funny for someone like you to move in.

You were a drastic difference to the rest of the neighbourhood, most of which were grumps or quiet assholes who refused to interact within the community. Those who chose to drink with themselves as comfort in complete silence. Which would explain why Leon was there after everything he’d been through.

You were far too bright to be in a place like this. A yellow daisy growing through a crack in the concrete.

He was just waiting for the reality of the situation to settle into you. For you to realise you’d just signed your life away for a world of misery. Unfortunately he knew it was likely. This part of the city was going to break your spirit at some point, he could feel it in his bones.

In some sad way he could already see that younger version of himself like you. Someone grown and watered with pride and meaning, a fate sealed for something better than a normal life.

He was waiting for your own Raccoon City incident to happen, and he could practically feel it impending. He could already hear the thundering footsteps of a Tyrant.

But he chose not to dwell on it, instead closing the door behind him to slip his shoes off and go back to his usual routine. Check over files, throw a meal into the microwave, send through overdue reports, and try to avoid the calls he could hear coming from that specific part of his fridge. Calls from chilled alcohol. Calls from the crate he had sitting at the bottom of the pantry.

Leon had been trying his best to kick the harmful habit of drinking whenever things got too tough to handle. When the buzzing in his head grew to an excruciating screech. When he could hear the echoing cries of the people he left behind. Heard the crack of bones under his hands. He wasn’t a good person, some miniscule part of him knew that, and one day he’d have to wake up and realise that voice is right.

Or at least that’s what he thought.

Before he knew it, it was nighttime. Deep into nighttime, to the point where he should’ve had dinner hours ago but still had yet to touch the microwaved lunch he’d tossed in. Despite his wealth, Leon found it humbling to live in a small suburbia like this one, it kept him sane. No long empty hallways. No ghosts sitting in the dining room.

He never wanted to flaunt that part of his life, there was no need to. It would only earn him unwanted attention and that was the last thing he needed at a time like this one. He was already sabotaging himself, he didn’t need to drag others down with him as well.

That blur was hitting him again, and no amount of garbage bags and boxes being moved out onto the curb could snap him out of it. Shit, how did he end up out here? Sky full of faded stars, light from the old streetlamp’s light casting the street in a softened orange tone. How long had he been on autopilot, a walking corpse of programmed answers and tasks? Was he nothing more than a machine?

Was this what his life was destined to be? Pacing back and forth across his overgrown front lawn and the deck he hadn’t bothered to varnish until he was accepted back into the DSO, the place that helped to rob him of a regular adulthood? What if they didn’t take him back? What if he was here forever, trapped in a suburban purgatory?

He needed to come back, to take control of his feet with each pad across the walkway back to his house as if he were taking control of his life once more. He couldn’t feel his fingers despite moving them. Everything seemed fuzzy. It was like he was stuck in a state of paralysis, all of his nerves firing off as if he’d been scorched with hot coals every time a muscle moved. He became far too aware of his breathing, every hoarse huff from months of ashed abuse with a heart pumping far too loud. He could hear it beating through his ears, feel it in the back of his eyes. He was drowning.

Until he heard a frustrated huff followed by something hitting the ground.

#leon x reader #leon s kennedy x reader #leon kennedy x reader #leon s kennedy #leon kennedy #leon kennedy thirst hours #leon s. kennedy #leon scott kennedy #resident evil leon #works ✎₊˚⊹

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