laography | this congress does not move forward--it dances

[ When Stiles breaks the kiss, finally, it's literally because he has so many questions his brain is going to explode. There are about a thousand why's on the back of his tongue, and while most of him is just telling him he should keep kissing Derek forever (and ever, and ever) maybe he should actually stop and try to figure out what's going on, rearrange his extremely discombobulated brain.

He ends up staring at him for a second, tasting the leftover of Derek and cocoa on his mouth, lips tingling, and what comes out of his mouth is not a question but-- ] I frickin' knew I made it right.

[ #idiot ]

[ Derek promptly laughs, having to duck his head a little as he drops his hand down from Stiles' cheek to the base of his neck, bypassing his pulse because otherwise he's going to regret it and they will get absolutely nowhere for the rest of the night. ] You actually perfected it, I think.

[ He doesn't lift his head again, but he does look up at Stiles from underneath his brow, eyebrows twitching upwards the slightest bit. Because he can read Stiles like a book most days, and he can tell that he's got a million questions, practically congested in his head. ]

You're the second person she's ever taught that to that wasn't born into the Hale family.

[ Something in his chest stutters at Derek ducking his head like that--it makes a smile crack on his face and his questions pretty much dribble out of his ears. He caused that. God only knows how, but he did. And when he glances at him like that too, Stiles reaches forward and catches his scarf in his hands, burying his fingers in the warm material and using it to tug him a little closer again. ]

The powers of annoyance know no bounds. [ He grins a little, and if he scooches in forward a little more, totally elated, totally happy, well, then he's allowed to, because Derek kissed him and whatever sort of taboo that's there is officially gone. ] How do you think I got here in the first place?

[ Letting himself be drawn closer, watching as Stiles steps in towards him further the slightest bit, Derek scans his face and takes in his expression. If the hot chocolate warmed him, nostalgia and comfort and something a little intimate in the way that Stiles made it, learned it from his grandmother, then his smile pushes past that and warms him at his core.

He breathes out another laugh into the cold air, dipping his head in towards Stiles a little more as his eyes crinkle in amusement. A very big part of him wants to just lean in to kiss him again, but instead he raises his other hand, curls his fingers so that they dip into Stiles' coat pocket. ] Through your wonderful ability to be an irritant to everyone in a five foot radius.

[ There's no bite to his voice, though. ]

Bingo. [ He smiles and leans in for another kiss, because he can, and that's kind of the greatest feeling ever. Derek loves him--or at least, god, has a thing for him, and it's so surreal he feels like if he lets go, it's going to disappear in the wind.

If Stiles thinks about it? It probably makes sense. They've been arguing since the day they met, that turned from kind of irritated with each other to bickering like a married couple, to Stiles being allowed to sleep in his personal chamber--and even if that was on the futon currently, he had a feeling that it was about to change--and maybe this little crush he might have been sowing hadn't been completely unfounded.

That's just awesome, and if he mutters "awesome" out loud, well, everything's kind of great right now. He'll just be over here kissing the alpha's son, no big deal. ]

[ Though he rolls his eyes at him, he still meets him in the kiss, fingers curling where they rest near his neck and even moreso at his coat. That warmth in his chest sparks again, and Derek will not deny that the flavor of cocoa is only an added bonus to this entire moment. Stiles tastes like his own spices, and it's more than a little addicting; if he can actually stop at two kisses, he will be amazed with himself.

But the moment won't last forever, and it's not even that dull hum of loss that always follows him around that brings the realization on him. As he kisses Stiles, thinks about how far they've come since their first meeting, he thinks to tell his mother thank you for actually listening to Peter for once-- a thought he will not admit to having-- and then remembers.

For as far as they've come, they have a ways to go. He'd laugh at Stiles muttering, but he pulls back a little from the kiss and pinches his eyes closed with a soft groan that peters into a laugh. ] We're so late to dinner.

[ He's eager to chase the kiss once Derek comes to him--Stiles kisses like he's having a conversation, another form of communication he can try and push his way through, and it's easy for him to get lost in it, lift his arms up and wrap them around his shoulders--

And that's where Derek pulls away. He blinks once, stares at him, then laughs too, dropping his head between them and lifting it up again, only to raise his eyebrows at him, teasing. ] Sooo, are you gonna get in trouble for that one, too? Despite it being my fault.

[ Reluctantly, he untangles himself from his scarf and bends down to pick up the cup where he'd dropped it. Oops. ]

[ If he wouldn't face the retribution of Talia Hale for being any later than they already are, Derek would just wrap his arms around Stiles and hold him there, follow their dialogue from bickering to kissing just as seamlessly. But as it is, he's just as reluctant to separate from Stiles, even as he keeps contact with him by touching his gloved fingers to the curve of his spine for a moment. ]

Maybe. I don't know, it depends on how merciful she'll be. [ When he straightens, his hand slides up to the back of Stiles' neck and he leans in to kiss him again. They really do need to leave, and make their way to the estate, but he just wants to keep touching Stiles while he still can.

Because the moment they get back home, he's going to have to share Stiles with everyone else. Tuck away this moment for later, when they're free from pretense and responsibilities. ]

Mmmph. [ He was going to speak up again, but Derek muffles it in a kiss again, and Stiles pauses and lets his thoughts dribble out of his ears, returning it a little longer than he probably should. Eventually--and it really is an eventually, coupled with two shorter kisses, he pulls himself back up into the sled and sits down, flashing him a warm, affectionate smile and settling with the burner near his feet again.

He pulls the furs up around his shoulders but holds them open for Derek, too, mouth turning into a lopsided grin as he taps the spot beside him gently. ] For the record, you dragged me into this.

[ Talia's mantra repeats in his head again--keep my son happy. Stiles is pretty sure they'll be fine. ]

[ Smile quirking a little more in response to Stiles' forced silence in the face of the kiss, Derek chases each of the shorter kisses, before he lets the human pull away from him. He really, really doesn't want to, but they do need to leave and at the very least he'd like to bundle Stiles up again against the cold. Looking up at him from where he stands outside the sled, something fond crosses his expression, but it's a farcry from the fond exasperation he usually shoots his way.

He pulls himself up into the sleigh with him, shifting into the furs right next to him with a soft chuff of a laugh. ] Yes, blame it all on me.

[ Still, he raises an arm to open up space for Stiles to fill, as he reaches for the reins again, oblivious. ]

I always do, your highness. [ He shoots him a mischievous smile in response, but perks up noticeably the minute Derek clambers in beside him, until their thighs are touching. Stiles lifts up the furs to make room and curls into the space immediately, dropping his cheek on his chest and getting comfortable.

Too bad Derek has to drive. ]

If we end up later because of any unplanned stops again then I'll definitely blame those on you too. [ He taps his chest once in confirmation. Yep. ]

[ Letting Stiles get comfortable, he squeezes his arm around his shoulders as he gives him a dry look in response to his words. Normally he can just pass off people calling him by his titles, but when it's Stiles, Derek can't help but be put off by it. Even when he's just being a brat about it, Stiles is different. ]

Of course you will. [ He adjusts the furs around them both, ensuring that his supernatural body heat and the burner will keep his poor human warm. ] You're making me out to be the Hale problem child.

[ Still, he bows his head and kisses the top of his head as he urges the horses forward again. ]

I tend to have that effect on people. [ That comes out wryly, because it's absolutely true--Stiles does often have that effect on people. See: his best friend, Scott back home. His smile's nothing but affectionate thought, as he finds the cage of warmth in the furs and with Derek at his side, feels the kiss to his head. It's kinda nice.

They're in huge trouble, but this was completely, absolutely worth it. ] Besides, let's be real here, your mom loves me. I'm the favorite.

As I've begun to notice. [ Lifting his head up to rest his chin on the top of Stiles' head, Derek lets a faint rumble roll through his barrel chest as he carefully urges the horses to speed up a little. They need to get back to the estate before his mother sends someone out to find them, and they really don't want that to happen. Because his mother wouldn't be in the least bit merciful if she was forced into that situation. Still, he wouldn't let Stiles get in trouble for it.

Laughing something soft, he rubs his chin a little in wolfish affection against Stiles' hair. ] You are. Maybe you can talk her into being easy on me.

[ okay, scratch kind of nice. this is perfect. if stiles ignores peter breathing down his neck, he could pretend everything was just right. but this whole fantasy of humans and werewolves was delusional, and the realist part of him knew it was, knew it had to be.

(still, he's pretty content to live in delusion a little while longer.) stiles winks, holding up a finger and speaking very matter of factly. ] Delinquency is a gift, you know. We're the ones who know how to cause the most trouble and get in the least.

[ of course, then the cold hits again and he buries his hands back in the furs; in doing so, he ends up just dropping one to rest comfortably on derek's ridiculously warm thigh instead, still curled up against him like a little human burr. ] Done. I'll just let her know it's your fault, but I guided you to the light.

Except you're constantly getting into trouble. Just not with my mother, or at least not in a way that she finds problematic. [ Which just says something about Talia Hale, he thinks, and her stance on people important to her children. At least the ones that mean no harm, though Derek tries not to let that bitter thought linger with him for long. Not when Stiles is a warm burr attached to him.

The hand on his thigh hardly bothers him, and he just tilts his head a little against the top of Stiles', letting out a soft hum in response. How he got so stupidly charmed by Stiles, he's never going to figure out, but it happened and here they are. ]

Thanks, I appreciate it. [ Tone dry, he keeps his face angled so that his smile doesn't show. ]

this congress does not move forward--it dances

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