A Poison I Drink Often(Sterek)

October fifteenth

Derek rushed into the cold air to see Stiles making his way towards a jeep that wasn't the old faded blue one Derek had known Stiles to drive. Instead a sleek black one sat awaiting the human.

"Stiles, wait," Derek reached Stiles just as he was about to open the driver's side door.

Stiles ignored Derek as he fumbled with his keys.

"Stiles," Derek grabbed his arm, forcing him to face the alpha.

"What?" Stiles snapped, his tone harsher than Derek had expected.

Derek didn't know what to say to that. He wasn't sure what kind of reaction he expected from Stiles, but this wasn't it.

"You're not real, you're not here, I'm hallucinating," Stiles spoke as if he truly believed it.

"Stiles, I am real, I am here, you're not hallucinating," Derek's grip loosened on Stiles' arm.

Stiles looked ready to run away, but instead he whispered, "Why are you here?"

Again, not the reaction Derek had expected. It stung.

"I just moved into town," Derek released Stiles' arm.

Stiles tired expression somehow grew more exhausted just by hearing that.

"I can't escape it," Stiles shook his head as he backed away.

"Stiles, are you okay?" Derek took a concerned step forward.

At that moment Stiles' phone rang.

"Of course Scott is calling," Stiles gripped his phone harshly.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Derek reached out, but hesitated when Stiles took another step back.

"What's wrong? What's wrong? It's October. In fact, it's October fifteenth. And instead of being buried in work, like I normally am on this day, I got forced time off because I got shot three days ago. And Lydia is sending me texts about it. My dad called this morning. Scott's currently calling, and now you're here, you want to know what's wrong? Everything!" Stiles shouted, throwing his fist into the side of his jeep.

"Stiles," Derek reached out, and gently grabbed the hand he'd just hurt.

Stiles didn't pull away as Derek drained his pain.

"I didn't realize what today was," Derek spoke in a soft voice.

"Why are you here, Derek?" Stiles asked, his tone weak and broken.

Derek released Stiles' hand, "I told you I-"

"No, why are you here, right now, with me?" Stiles gestured between them.

"I caught you scent and saw you at the bar," Derek answered honestly.

"And you chose to say hi?" Stiles sneered at the alpha.

"I wasn't going to, but..." Derek didn't know how to tell Stiles that after all these years he was still drawn to the human.

"But it's October fifteenth," Stiles answered for him.

"You shouldn't blame yourself," Derek spoke up when Stiles pulled his keys back out.

"That's rich, coming from you," Stiles sneered once again.

Derek flinched, but didn't respond. Stiles had a point.

Stiles swore as he dropped his keys trying to unlock the jeep.

"You've had a lot to drink, let me drive you home," Derek said swiping the keys from the human's hand.

"No, I'd rather you didn't," Stiles went to reach for the keys, but Derek kept them out of reach.