Searching For You (TW/TMR Fusion)

Chapter 1

Stiles was by no means, a coward.

If anything, he was stupidly brave. Always the first to throw himself headlong into danger, putting himself in danger if it means saving others. Even though, the others happen to be werewolves who aren't as breakable as him.

But now, standing in his room and looking at his packed bags, the thought that whispered coward niggled at him. He crushed it unrepentantly.

He deserved better, he told himself firmly.

Just thinking about what had tipped him off the edge, made his blood boil.

It started with Derek. 'Doesn't everything?'

They had defeated the latest monster attacking Beacon Hills. The pack was mostly unharmed. They had all went to rest after a pack meeting. Stiles had gone home, but was jittery and still pumped with adrenaline. He had been planning on doing something, anything, to tire himself out.

All of a sudden, Derek was there, crowding into his space and offering a much more pleasant way of working off the excess energy. Make no mistake, both were willing participants. It also helped that Stiles had had a massive crush on the constantly frowning wolf.

Stiles thought maybe something had changed between them, that maybe there'll be less slamming him against walls or hitting his head on the steering wheel.

But when they next saw each other, Derek didn't acknowledge him at all. Apparently, Stiles had become invisible all of a sudden to Derek. So, Stiles had told himself it was a one time deal and not to fuss about it.

It was working till there was another life threatening situation in which Stiles found himself. He escaped by the skin of his teeth. And that night, he was once again visited by Derek. Again, being the utter idiot he was, Stiles gave everything to him. Again, he was ignored.

This happened over and over again, because Stiles couldn't say no, because he had to go and fall in love with someone who wouldn't love him back. It was as though his mind hadn't learnt anything from his unrequited love for Lydia.

So he was silent about it, welcoming Derek into his arms even though his heart broke a little every time. It astonished him that no one in the pack had caught on to it. Not even Scott, who was supposed to be his best friend.

'Some friend,' he thought, bitterly.

Scott couldn't see two feet away from Allison. He certainly didn't see his supposed best friend falling into depression.

What clinched the whole deal was the pack taking a unanimous vote to exclude Stiles (read, cut him out), from the pack to keep him safe because, after all he had done, he was just a fragile human.

"We are doing this to keep you safe, Stiles."

"Please, you know that you always get hurt."

He had tried his best to make them see reason, that he was actually safer with them. But no, they hadn't budged. He had even appealed to Derek, but he had only clenched his jaw and turned away.

So, he had been shunned by the pack whom he had considered to be friends, family, and continued to fall even more into depression.

This continued till one day he was snapped out of his despair by his father.

He had been mechanically washing the dishes, when the Sheriff came up to him.

"Stiles, I know that you will not tell me what's wrong. I don't know how you've got into your head that you will burden me with your problems. But here's the truth kid, I am your dad. It's my job to worry about you. And not talking about what ever is wrong is only making me worry more."

Stiles looked into his father's eyes and saw how sad and tired he looked. He also saw the overwhelming concern. He couldn't take it anymore, and so, he talked.

They sat at the table and Stiles told him everything, including Derek and the pack's latest decision. When he finally finished, he felt so weary and yet so free. He didn't realise how much it was weighing on him to lie to his dad.

The Sheriff, before speaking, got up and pulled him into a tight hug, which left Stiles shuddering as he tried his level best to hug him back.

He then placed his hands on his shoulders and looked him firmly in the eye and said, "You are my son. You deserve so much better than them. If they can't see your value, it's them who are unworthy. Do you understand me? No one can dictate your life, Stiles. Just think about what you want, for once in your life."

And Stiles had thought about what he wanted.

He decided to take a month off school. He was already ahead in all classes (when there wasn't any research to be done, he had so much spare time which he put into school work), so there wasn't any problem in getting the leave.

Then, he told his dad that he was going on a road trip, and that he'll visit a distant aunt of his.

His dad knew that he had to do this. This was something he wanted to do, for himself. He didn't stop him. He just told him to keep him updated.

The Sheriff had looked very self-satisfied when he came home that day. When asked, he just said, "It was a good day at work." and dropped the subject. Stiles just smiled, amused. He didn't know that the Sheriff had had a very long, satisfying talk with Derek Hale which might have involved death threats and threats of bodily harm.

So, with a cheerful smile, Stiles waved goodbye to his dad and left Beacon Hills on his trusty Jeep.

In that month, he would enjoy himself, let go of his resentment (he may forgive but he most definitely won't forget), make the decision that Derek hasn't done anything to deserve his love and Stiles most certainly would not be hung up on him anymore, meet some guys and girls, have fun, visit his aunt who would be overjoyed to see him and finally, at the end of the month, he will make his way back home.

But the thing is, he will never reach Beacon Hills. His Jeep will be found in the parking lot of a motel, his room will look as though a hurricane had hit it, but there'll be no sign of him.

The Sheriff will pursue the investigation with single minded determination. The pack, including Derek, realizing what a mistake they had made, will do their best to find him. But even they won't succeed.

Where was Stiles?

***
Reviews are appreciated.

And also, if Derek seems like a tosser, that's exactly what I was aiming for.

Stiles getting kicked out of the pack is one of my favorite themes. But I got sick of reading how his bleeding heart forgives every one of his betrayers and he just joins them again. I love happy endings, but I hate when Stiles never cares about himself, in the fics I've read.

Hence, this is the result in which I'll be addresing every one of my grievances. :D