STILES AND SIERRA SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN OUT LATE.
With school in the morning and exhaustion already so present, the two should've driven home and went to straight to sleep. There wasn't a reason for the them to be out.
But Sierra wanted to talk to Stiles.
Without Scott and Liam listening from the car or Noah and Jemma accidentally barging in at home. She simply desired to hold a conversation where he could be completely open and honest with her. And if that required them to stay at the preserve and drive to their special spot, then so be it.
The radio filled the silence during the short trip and neither teenager spoke even as they arrived. Sierra sat on top of the Jeep's hood, her back leaning against the windshield. Stiles started off hesitant to join her but the smile she offered assured him he was okay. So he climbed up beside her and laid in a way so his head was in her lap.
Her fingers immediately found his hair, brushing through the dark strands in a calming motion. Her other arm rested right beside his neck, letting him slowly intertwine his hand with hers. Stiles rested his eyes then, finding the action soothing while Sierra stared out onto the city.
He knew she wanted to say something, but felt grateful when she stayed quiet at first. She was aware of his previous frustration and wanted to make sure he was truly alright before bringing up the person that caused the disagreement between Scott and Stiles.
Theo.
Scott had informed her about their talk with him in the locker room, but she never got a chance to hear Stiles's thoughts on the matter. Sierra also wanted to figure out if there was another reason Stiles distrusted Theo, besides the signed forms.
"Is your hand feeling better?" she asked him, barely above the whisper. Yet it still pierced through the night air.
"Yes, thanks to you," Stiles expressed, squeezing her hand. "How was the rest of your day after I left the library? I didn't get to see you."
"It was okay," Sierra answered with a mere shrug. "Scott and I got to study a lot for our placement test tomorrow so I know that's a good thing. Lydia had Parrish check out Tracy's house while I stayed at school."
"Tracy, as in your track mate, Tracy?" Stiles clarified, opening his eyes. He tilted his head back so he could see her face. "Is she alright?"
"Well, she suffers from night terrors, so not really," Sierra answered honestly. "She looked pretty shaken so we had Parrish go by her house to make sure everything was secure. Lydia texted me a few hours ago that Parrish sealed the upper hatch so nothing could get into her room, but you won't believe what he found on the roof."
"What?"
"Dead ravens," Sierra exclaimed with a stressful sigh. "Add that to how she threw up black goo with feathers and you have a freaking weird situation."
Stiles crinkled his nose. "Parrish found dead ravens? That just reminds me of—"
"The first day last year?" Sierra suggested and he nodded. "Yeah, I thought about that too. I'm just hoping that it doesn't mean we have another crazy Darach to worry about."
"Even if there was, we'd figure it out," Stiles assured her. "And considering we haven't heard of any three-fold deaths on the news, I think we're safe."
Sierra hummed in agreement and went back to playing with his hair. Silence fell over the two again, Stiles almost falling asleep until he heard her voice. "So, are you going to tell me what's really going on with you?"
Stiles tensed, even though he knew she was bound to question him. Sierra noticed and added quietly, "You don't have to if you're not comfortable with talking to me. I just want to make sure you're okay."
Stiles sighed at her words. He slowly sat up, adjusting his body so he sat beside her on the hood with his ankles crossed. "I am okay," he stated, but all Sierra did was frown. "And you know out of everyone in the world, you're my favorite person to talk to."
Sierra's lips flipped upwards, threatening to slip into a smile. However, she didn't truly believe the first part of what he claimed. "Are you sure you're okay? Ever since Theo came back, you've been on edge," she acknowledged his behavior. "And since I haven't talked to Theo yet and Scott already told me his opinion...I just want to hear where you're at, I guess."
"Well, I think I've made it pretty clear I'm not fond of the guy," Stiles remarked, wanting to get a chuckle out of her. But Sierra didn't react. "String bean," he sighed. "It's nothing you need to worry about."
"If it concerns you, I'm going to worry about it," she told him seriously.
Stiles replied, "It doesn't concern me—" He noticed her discreetly roll her eyes. "It doesn't! It....I can't believe I'm actually telling you this....it's about you."
"Me?" Sierra echoed in disbelief.
Stiles nodded, breathing out, "Yeah."
Sierra's lips parted in surprise but she quickly snapped them shut and swallowed. "What, I-uh, what about me?"
"What do you remember about Theo from the fourth grade?" Stiles questioned instead. He brought his knees closer to his chest and rested his elbows on them.
"Considering it was so long ago, not much," Sierra revealed truthfully. "But I always thought he was an oddball, you know? Kind of kept to himself and everything. Though if you consider how we acted as kids, we were all oddballs."
"I think you mean he kept to himself unless you were around," Stiles corrected her. "He had a massive crush on you, babe."
"What? No, he didn't," Sierra disagreed with a shake of her head.
"Yes, he did," Stiles persisted. "And even though he never said it, he hated me because I was your best friend. I ate lunch right beside you with Scott while he was forced to another table. We'd ride home together and hang out in the police station until Jemma picked you up. I was with you all of the time, and Theo could not stand it."
Sierra asked, "What does this have to do with anything?"
"Because earlier tonight, Theo reminded me we were in Little League together," Stiles recalled, staring straight forward so he didn't have to see her reaction at his next words. "But he forgot that the two of us used to get in fights during practice. We'd fight...over you."
"All it took was me saying your name," Stiles stated, Sierra listening to everything with a heavy heart. "And then he'd make snide comment. I'd snap back and before I knew it, Scott or a coach would have to break us apart. But then one day—"
Stiles paused as his voice cracked, cursing inwardly at himself from his eyes starting to glisten. He released a deep, shaky breath and continued. "We were at school during recess. I don't know why he came up to me but I remember he was so angry about something. He acted so much darker than he had been in the past. I remember I heard your scream when he threw the first punch. And by the time I hit the ground you were by my side."
Sierra chewed on her bottom lip to keep herself together, but felt a tear roll down her cheek.
"I fought him back obviously," Stiles said next. "I wanted him to get away from you. Scott and you begged for us to stop, and you even went as far as to try and break us apart. But the second you touched Theo's shoulder and he whirled around...I swear Sierra, I thought your skull cracked from how hard he hit you in the head."
His bottom lip trembled and he sniffled. "You fell instantly, and the other kids who had gathered around screamed for a teacher. You weren't moving, and Scott couldn't get you to open your eyes."
"Why don't—why can't I remember any of this?" Sierra dared to ask him, and Stiles wiped his eyes before he explained.
"You were unconscious until Mr. Rick— our old gym teacher? He carried you to the nurse's office and then you woke up," Stiles told her. "You couldn't remember the fight and wondered why there was such a huge bruise on your head. By the time they rung Jemma and I finished talking with the principal, I didn't get to tell you."
"I know it seems petty but I never forgave Theo," Stiles said, shaking his head. "You ended up only having a concussion but it could've been worse. Much worse. I don't know why but that day and ever since then, I knew he wasn't the same kid. I don't know how to describe it besides like a darker presence loomed over him, I guess."
"Wasn't that the year his sister died?" Sierra inquired.
"Yeah, but the fight happened before she went missing," Stiles replied, thinking back to the winter afternoon.
Sierra took a minute to process the story, and even though Stiles understood her shock he couldn't stop his hands from anxiously trembling.
That is, until Sierra rested her own over is. A deep sigh fell from her lips and she finally tore her gaze away from the cliffs. "I'm, uh, not gonna lie to you. When I wanted to find out why you disliked him...I wasn't expecting that."
Stiles tightened his grip on her hand but didn't say anything because he knew she had more to say.
Sierra paused, almost scared to speak her next words. "Stiles...I know how he hurt you—"
"It wasn't that," Stiles interjected, turning his head so he could look her directly. "I couldn't care less about the times he hurt me. I care because he hurt you."
He swallowed hard at how her face softened but went on. "Even back then, you were the one person in my life who was there for everything," he recalled. "When my mom's condition got worse and I didn't know how to cope—you, even though you had literally just lost your parents two years before, helped me through it. Every panic attack, you were there. And Theo....Sierra, he almost took you away from me."
"But he didn't," Sierra reminded him, moving her free hand to gently cup his cheek. "I'm right here."
She leaned forward, capturing his lips in a sweet kiss. Her thumb brushed across his skin once he responded delicately. It was slow and soft, an action that brought nothing but comfort. This kiss wasn't like the others they shared.
Though brief, it showed Stiles's fear to lose the girl in front of him.
And when she kissed him, he felt a reassuring and loving warmth spread throughout his body.
Their foreheads leaned against one another when they reluctantly pulled apart, Stiles choosing to keep his eyes shut—afraid that if he opened them, Sierra would no longer be beside him.
He felt her tenderly kiss his forehead and hold both of his cheeks in her hands. "I'm not asking you to forgive Theo for what he did, because that's a decision you need to decide for yourself," Sierra spoke quietly. "You don't trust him and I understand why. I trust your opinion, the question is do you trust mine?"
"Of course I do."
"Then trust me to talk to him on my own," she stated seriously, but didn't pull away from him. "He might've convinced Scott but he hasn't convinced me. Not yet."
"You don't have to," Stiles whispered back, her hair tangled around his fingers as he held the back of her head close. "I don't want him to hurt you."
"I think you forget sometimes that I can seismic blast anyone that comes too close," Sierra teased, bumping their noses together.
His lips quirked up into a small grin. "Oh, yeah," he chuckled under his breath. "I forgot about that."
"Are you going to be okay?" she asked him, still worried.
"Only because you're beside me."
*^*^*^*^*
When Stiles pulled into his driveway, he parked the Jeep and kissed Sierra goodnight. She smiled before heading towards her own home, him promising to sneak through her window after he changed into some sweats.
But when he entered his room, he couldn't help but let his eyes flicker to his crime board. There hadn't been much written on it since the dead pool ended, except for the little information that regarded the Desert Wolf.
Before he knew it, Stiles had picked up his pen and was writing a name. The conversation between Scott flitted through his brain as he spelled Theo's name in a caps, and he scoffed under his breath.
"You know, usually we wait until they do something wrong before we declare them guilty," his father spoke up from where he was standing in the doorway, making Stiles lift his head.
He didn't hesitate to reply, "Well, he's guilty of something."
"Accusations require proof," Noah reminded him seriously. "And proof always trumps instinct. It has to."
Stiles nodded, a small sigh escaping through his lips. "I know, Dad."
"Let it go," Noah warned, "and get some sleep." He went to leave the room but turned back around when Stiles called his name.
"Dad?"
"Mmm-hmm?"
Stiles walked around his crime board, moving so he could stand directly in front of his father. "I got it," he said simply, confusing Noah. "There's something different. I know what it is."
Noah squinted his eyes, remembering the conversation they held at the station. He slowly replied, "Okay?"
"You're not wearing your wedding ring anymore."
Noah's lips parted in surprise, his ears recognizing the hurt in his son's voice. He glanced at his bare left hand for a moment before asking Stiles, "You sure this kid's guilty?"
"Absolutely," Stiles confirmed with a small nod.
"Then all you gotta do is wait," Noah advised. "If they're really guilty, eventually, they'll make a mistake. They always make a mistake."
Processing his father's words, he glanced back to his crime board--more specifically Theo's name. However, the question Stiles held on the tip of his tongue was, what mistake would Theo make? And how bad would it have to get before his friends believe that Stiles had been right all along?
"I should, um, get ready for bed," Stiles said instead. "It's been...It's been a long day." He couldn't help but look out his window to see Sierra's light still on. She was probably waiting for him.
Noah noticed and asked, "Is everything okay? Between you and Sierra, I mean?"
Stiles snapped his head to his dad, answering quickly, "Yeah, of course." He faced his bed, stripping his sweatshirt off and leaving on his white T-shirt. "Why, why do you ask?"
"You know how I love her like a daughter," Noah started off, aware of the ring Stiles constantly wore on his neck, "but do you ever think...I don't know, that you're moving too fast?"
The boy froze, his back facing Noah while he held his sweatshirt in his hands. He furrowed his eyebrows as he slowly turned around. "What do you mean?"
"You're not even eighteen yet, Stiles," Noah pointed out the facts, making Stiles groan. "Your life has barely begun. Normal kids your age right now are thinking about college and finding out their dream job."
"I am thinking about college, Dad," Stiles replied sharply. "And in case you forgot, I might be human but my life isn't exactly normal. You said it yourself this morning. My best friend is a werewolf and I'm dating a mind reader."
"But you're not going to live in Beacon Hills forever," his dad reminded.
"Don't you think I know that?" Stiles snapped. "Why do you think I'm holding onto Sierra so tightly right now? Even before graduation, Dad, you know that at any moment I could lose her."
"Stiles," Noah sighed, hearing his son's voice crack. He didn't mean to make him upset.
"No," Stiles cut him off, shaking his head. "There's something I want to know before you say anything else."
"What?"
"When did you meet Mom?"
The words hung in the air.
Noah's expression softened and he exhaled deeply before responding. "When I was seventeen."
"And when did you know that you wanted to spend the rest of your life with her?" Stiles pushed the subject further.
Noah couldn't lie to his son. Not when it came to Claudia. "The moment I saw her," he answered honestly and Stiles nodded his head in agreement.
"Exactly," he exclaimed and then steadied his tone so Noah understood the sincerity of his next words. "I met Sierra when I was four years-old in a sandbox. Then because she wanted to wrestle with me over the last cookie when we first met her parents, she became my best friend."
Nothing could erase the wide grin that spread across his lips as Stiles thought about his journey with the girl next door.
"And since then, she's mocked me, punched my shoulder and sassed me any time I got out of line," Stiles listed off with a laugh, causing his father to smile. "To be honest, Sierra has driven me nuts--but I wouldn't change any moment with her for the world. She's made me a better person and I fell in love with her way before we started dating. Just like you and mom."
"And yes, I want to marry her," Stiles expressed the truth. "That's why I gave her a promise ring. But Dad, you've gotta trust that we know what we're doing. Both of us want to go to college and make careers before we settle down. We're not going to just run off after we graduate and get married. You, Mom, Jemma and Sierra's parents raised us better than that."
"We did, didn't we?" Noah asked him, his grin widening and Stiles chuckled.
"Yes, yes you did," he agreed, nodding his head. "And because of the lives we live, Sierra and I are taking it one day at a time. Together."
Noah looked at his son proudly. "You really love her?"
"Yeah," Stiles breathed out, the smile on his face only present due to the thought of Sierra. "I really do."
"Then I trust you," Noah promised, resting a hand on his shoulder. "And I couldn't be happier for you both." He then pulled his son into a tight hug, patting him on the back. "Just know though, if you hurt her, I won't be on your side. That girl is like my second child."
Stiles chuckled, hugging him back, "Understood." When he stepped back, he asked, "What about Scott?"
"He can be the third child."
"And Malia? And Lydia?"
"Stiles, I'm only one man. I can't adopt them all."
*^*^*^*^*
The next two days came and went without any strange incidents. Well, until that night anyways.
Scott, Sierra and Stiles all waited in the sheriff's office, watching Noah fret over his clothing. The man had informed them he was going on a date--his first since his wife passed away. He didn't want to screw it up.
Noah held up a small mirror to his face, wincing from how unruly his hair looked.
"Ugh," he muttered, brushing his fingers through it. "I should've gotten a haircut."
"Well you know, someone your age should be happy you still have hair to cut," Stiles wittily remarked, smirking as he moved to stand in front his dad.
Noah glared at him while Sierra elbowed her boyfriend in the side. "Ow!"
"Don't listen to anything he says," Sierra rolled her eyes. "I think you look great."
"I agree," Scott piped up from her other side.
Noah smiled at the two, "Well thank you, kids I should've had."
Stiles dropped his jaw, offended, as his best friends looked at each other in amusement.
He didn't miss the discreet fist bump between them either.
Noah, on the other hand, started to let his mind wander. "Oh, what am I doing!?" he exclaimed, yanking his tie loose from his neck. "This is a terrible idea--"
"What, Dad," Stiles grabbed his shoulders to stop him. "Dad, it's one date, okay?"
When his dad first proposed the thought of dating again, Stiles didn't want to hear anything about it. But Sierra reminded him that his father deserved to be happy and Stiles realized how silly he had been acting.
He adjusted Noah's tie. "The town of Beacon Hills won't implode while you're out with one woman," Stiles stated and then raised his eyebrows suggestively.
"Or man." He wouldn't judge his dad if he wanted to explore other options.
"It's a woman, Stiles," Noah assured him, a smile on his lips.
Stiles returned the grin; whatever made his dad happy. "Okay."
"A very beautiful woman," Noah corrected himself, causing Scott and Stiles to exchange curious glances.
"Yeah, what beautiful woman by the way?" Stiles asked, puzzled. His father never shared exactly who he was taking out to dinner.
Noah replied smartly, "None of your business." His eyes drifted over to Scott. "Either one of you."
Stiles scoffed, and looked back at his best friend, who merely shrugged.
"I wanna know," Stiles declared, folding his arms over his chest. He caught Noah nervously glancing at his girlfriend and widened his eyes, a thought dawning on him. "You told Sierra, but you won't tell me?"
"Okay," Sierra held her hands up in defense. "He didn't tell me anything. I found out accidentally."
And that was the truth. She couldn't deny her surprise when Lydia let it slip about her mom going out with the sheriff, but overall, she was happy for the two adults. They deserved to love again.
"And you didn't tell us?" Scott pouted while Noah sighed. "Why not?"
"It's none of my business," Sierra replied, stealing the older man's words and shrugging. "If he wants to tell you, he'll tell you."
Noah reiterated, "And I don't, so you boys can pipe down."
"To think we trusted you," Stiles dramatized, Sierra rolling her eyes as he took a step away and pulled Scott with him.
Scott agreed, playfully glaring at the girl. "Yeah, how dare you."
"I swear, you two are worse than--" Sierra cut herself off from an aggravated shout filling the air.
"STILINSKI!"
Everyone turned their heads towards the noise, Noah furrowing his brows together.
"Stilinski!"
Stiles grabbed Sierra's hand, holding it tightly as his father opened his office door and stepped out. Stiles followed, pulling Sierra behind him with Scott right on their heels.
An angry teenager greeted them, his hands cuffed together while Parrish and Deputy Clarke held his arms down. "I'm gonna kill you!" he snapped as soon as his eyes landed on the sheriff.
Another man holding a briefcase, who Sierra recognized as Tracy's father--Mr. Stewart-- and a respected lawyer, shook his head. His client was only worsening the situation.
"Donovan," Noah greeted the boy with a disappointed sigh, "if you think that shocks me, remember it was well-documented in your Anger Expression Inventory." He shifted his gaze to Valarie and Parrish. "Deputies, escort the prisoner out."
He had already let Donovan Donati off the hook too many times in the past, for breaking and entering as well as unlawful possession of a weapon. Noah warned the kid the next incident he would serve jail time, and Donovan didn't listen. He brought the charges upon himself.
Once Noah said his name, Sierra recognized him. Donovan had graduated only a few years earlier from Beacon Hills High School, when she and the boys were freshmen.
"I'm not angry like I'm gonna throw a brick through your window," Donovan spat, narrowing his eyes at the sheriff.
His voice was sharp as a rock, unwavering to let everyone know he meant every word. "I'm angry, like I'm gonna find you. I'm gonna get a knife and stab you with it until you're dead."
Mr. Stewart winced and rubbed the side of his head. There was no way a judge would give him less than three to five years now. Not after he threatened the sheriff in front of the entire department and his son, plus his son's friends.
But Donovan wasn't finished yet.
"And when you look at me, and ask me why," Donovan continued seething, "Remember right now. 'Cause this is why."
Scott and Sierra exchanged nervous glances with one another as the words pierced the air, the room falling completely still.
"Wow," Stiles broke the silence and forced a chuckle to fall from his mouth. "That was awesome." Noah looked at him like he was insane and Sierra widened her eyes, yet Stiles went on. His sarcasm seeped into every phrase. "That was awesome. That was great. Wanna do one more? Give us another one, maybe like Christopher Walken this time, you know."
Donovan glared at Stiles, who took his silence as a way to conclude, "Okay, you know what? It's fine. You'll have plenty of time to work on it while you're in your tiny, little cell, you know. Just stuck there, forever."
Donovan stifled a laugh, nodding his head and turning away as if he was going to let the deputies escort him out. But then he spazzed. He jumped towards the sheriff and Stiles with his eyes blazing angrily.
Parrish and Valerie wrestled to keep him back, Mr. Stewart holding out his arm as well. Scott and Sierra protectively stepped in front of Stiles and Noah, who yelled, "Get him out of here!"
Sierra watched Donovan be forced out of the room, his rage twisting her stomach uneasily. She didn't even have to use her powers to tell how dangerous the young adult acted. He meant every threat and he truly wanted to make Noah suffer.
"What the hell's an Anger Expression Inventory?" Scott demanded once Donovan was gone, Sierra rejoining her boyfriend's side.
"It's a test you take," Stiles answered as Sierra wrapped her arms around him in a side hug and rested her head on his shoulder, "when you're applying to become a deputy."
Scott stared at him in disbelief. "That guy wanted to be a cop?"
"Yeah," Stiles exhaled, rubbing Sierra's back to help himself calm down. "At least now he's getting the full law enforcement experience."
"Are you kids alright?" Noah turned to face the teenagers after exchanging a few words with a deputy.
"We should be asking you that," Sierra told him worriedly. "He threatened you."
Noah sighed and rubbed one of his eyes tiredly, "Unfortunately, this wasn't the first time. I never wanted Donovan to go to jail, I mean, he's my former partner's son. But I can't bend the rules for him anymore. He broke the law and now he has to face the consequences." He caught sight of the time and withheld a groan. "Maybe I should cancel dinner; I'm gonna be late if I leave now."
"No," Stiles shook his head firmly. "You are going to go out and have a nice evening. You deserve it more than anyone and I won't let Donovan stop you from enjoying yourself."
"Just explain you got caught up at work," Sierra assured him next. "I know Natalie will understand." She quickly realized what she slipped out and closed her eyes. "Dang it."
"Natalie?" Stiles echoed, raising his eyebrows at his dad. "Natalie Martin? As in, Lydia's mom?"
"Awe, I'm sorry," Sierra apologized but Noah just smiled at her.
"It's fine, Sierra. He was bound to find out sooner or later." He looked back at his son, who couldn't wipe the smirk off his face. "I'll be home in a little bit."
"You can stay out as long as you want," Stiles held up his free hand and Scott bit back a laugh.
Sierra rolled her eyes while Noah sighed exasperatedly. "My god."
He double-checked he had everything he needed and bid the kids goodnight before taking off. The trio didn't stay at the station long, walking out soon after he left and talked about their plans.
"Kira said they're still out driving with Malia," Scott read a text off his phone, referring to Lydia as well. He lifted his head towards them. "You guys wanna go watch a movie at my house until they get done?"
Stiles shrugged, "Sounds good to me."
Sierra nodded in agreement, "I'm in too; but I feel kind of bad because I was supposed to teach Mal."
"I'm sure she's doing just fine without you."