Chapter Text
So Scott had been bitten by a werewolf. That meant werewolves were real. That meant that there was a werewolf running around Beacon Hills turning more people into werewolves and it was likely feral or stupid... or both.
Stiles could deal with this, he could. All he had to do was a little research and he'd be golden. It was fine. Everything was fine.
...
.......
..............
Everything was not fine! All he could find were scraps! What the hell was he supposed to do with this! He glares at his computer for a minute then turns it off and goes downstairs to make dinner. This how he spends the first week of Scott's new life on top of nagging Derek for information (which was like pulling fucking teeth! And Stiles can't even be mad because Derek is mourning his recently murdered sister. It's really not his fault that he's not invested.) and figuring out how to keep Scott calm by trial and error. So much error OMG, he's not actually sure why he's still breathing at this point.
So he's been barely sleeping, watching his words harder than he's ever done before and is sore from all of the times he's been thrown into things. Not only that but he still can't find anything online!
It's time for drastic measures. Which is how Stiles finds himself creating a website. Harder than it looks but Stiles has lack of sleep and extreme determination on his side. First is coding, he wants this to be a safe space. A place where people can come to both ask for and give help. A place where people understand. (Later, when Stiles' knows that he's a spark, he'll look at the code and realise that in his sleep like state he wrote the code into the shape of runic knots for protection, universal translation and hidden identity.) When he's done with that he designs the background to be calm and inviting.
Then, because he's tired and a little shit, he names it 'Little Red's Hide Out'.
He sits back and rubs his eyes. It's one in the morning and all he wants to do is sleep but he's so close! He can't leave the site without anything on it, he'd be a laughing stock in the supernatural community... was there a supernatural community? There had to be right? Otherwise people would know about them... Food for thought.
He sighs and returns his fingers to the keys on his keyboard. He creates a tab for werewolves then dumps all of the things he's learned, from calming a werewolf to accidentally angering one. Little tidbits he's managed to get out of Derek and things Scott has described. He gets three pages worth of writing down before he runs out of steam then clicks back onto the main page.
He has many things he could do with this but he's tired so he decides to just make it a message board. He messes with the options until everything is up and running then launches the site... Nothing happens and he closes his eyes, he doesn't know why he expected a immediate response but he's a tad disappointed. He pushes himself back to get up the pauses, it looks so... empty. He bites his lip then decides to write the first message. It can't hurt.
---
To: Everyone
From: Little Red
Subject: Hello
Hello.
I don't really know what to write here to be honest. My friend was bitten by an alpha werewolf who didn't stick around and is likely feral? Maybe. I, as a human who didn't even know werewolves existed, was trying to look up how to help but couldn't find anything. Like at all! So I've spent the last week trying to figure it out myself. I've dumped my findings into the werewolf tab, some do's and do not's but if any werewolves out there would like to give me some actual tips that would be great. I have a born werewolf in town with me but his sister just died so I don't want to bug him to much.
That being said this isn't a site only about werewolves. If other supernaturals need help or want to leave tips of their own to help new members of their factions(?) then please do so. I want this to a place people can come to if they need help.
Thank you for listening to my random ramblings.
- Little Red -
---
He quickly posts it then shuts off his computer and goes to sleep.
He's actually surprised to wake up the next morning (Saturday, thank god) and find out that he's gotten a reply.
---
To: Little Red
From: Good Witch of the North
Subject: Hello
Hello Little Red,
I'm quite impressed with how you've put your little hide out together. If you were okay with it I thought I would share some tips I wish I knew when I started out as a white witch. I know your message said I could but it's always polite to double check.
I'd also like to express my condolences to your friend. I myself understand the feeling of loosing a sibling even if it was a long time ago now for myself, I lost my older brother to war. I have found that home made rose tea helps calm me when lost to memories.
Here's my recipe;
1 tbsp dried rose petals
1 tbsp dried hibiscus petals
1 cup hot water
1 tbsp coconut butter
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp honey
⅛ tsp cardamom
Steep the dried rose petals and hibiscus flowers in the hot water for about 10 minutes, covering with a tea towel. Strain and blend with the remaining ingredients.
- Good Witch of the North -
---
Holy Shit! A witch! That meant MAGIC! His fingers are flying over the keys before his brain catches up.
---
To: Good Witch of the North
From: Little Red
Subject: Hello
Yes, of course you can! 100% yes! Who in their right mind would say no to magic?
Also I'm so sorry to hear about your brother. Also, also, thank you for the recipe! I'll get the ingredients together and make him some today!
Here, let me set up a tab for you so that people don't have to look through the messages for your tips.
- Little Red. -
---
As soon as he posts his response he gets to work on making a tab for white witches. Because those exist. This is crazy! What else exists that he thought fiction? Vampires? Fairies? This is the best day of his life!
He practically floats down the stairs to make his dad breakfast and the sting at finding the note from his dad saying that he was called into work was so much less than usual. Instead of making breakfast he bakes up a storm then packs it all up and goes searching for The Good Witches ingredients. He really hopes that this helps because he genuinely cares about Derek and it hurts to see him sad.
He got it all! It was a miracle but now he has a new problem.
"What do you mean you don't have a working kitchen?!" He cries as he watches Derek munch on a cinnamon swirl. "Please tell me you at least have working water!" Derek looks at him blandly then takes another bite. "No." He snaps, shocking Derek. "I'm not having this. I refuse." He snatches the basket filled with his baked good out of Derek's arms, Derek shrinks and closes off which also isn't allowed. "Get up sourwolf and grab your shit. You're moving into the Stilinski household."
"What?" Derek asks after a second. If Stiles wasn't so mad at himself for not noticing that his friend was fucking homeless he would have laughed at the dumbstruck look on the mans face, that or hug the shit out of him.
"You." Stiles says as he drags (he's under no illusions that if Derek was more aware he wouldn't have been able to make the man budge) Derek to his jeep. "Are moving in with me. Non negotiable." He opens the side door and tries to shove Derek in but he stays planted in his spot.
"Why?" Derek asks with steel in his voice making Stiles sigh.
"You called Scott your brother Derek. That means that you're also my brother and I'm not going to let my brother be homeless. By choice or not. You deserve a working kitchen. You deserve working water. You deserve to wake up with a stable roof over your head and soft sheets under you. I don't know why you think you don't but I'm not going to stand for it now get in the jeep and eat the treats I made for you while I figure out how to tell dad he has a new son." Derek blinks at his verbal onslaught then takes the basket from Stiles and puts it in the back seat. He opens his mouth to complain but is cut off by Derek hugging him.
They stay like that for a while since Stiles refuses to be the first to let go but eventually Derek pulls back and gets into the jeep. Stiles gets the basket out of the back and drops it onto Derek's lap then goes around to the drivers seat. He wasn't kidding when he said that he wanted Derek to eat them on the way, he's hoping that the goodness of his baking will convince Derek to stay.
The drive back is silent which is fine, not bugging him at all. Not one bit. At. All.
He practically rips his door off when he parks, his dad is home which is unfortunate because he was hoping to have this conversation over the phone where Derek wouldn't get the brunt of his fathers disapprove but this is fine. Stiles isn't at all worried about a potential werewolf vs sherif fight at all.
"Daddio! Meet Derek! He's now your son so your not allowed to be mean, he's moving into the spare room." Stiles says quickly as he ushers Derek towards the stairs. "Could you boil some water? Thanks! Love you!" His dad sits at the table with a burger half way to his mouth in shock. Stiles makes it half way up the stairs before he realises then he's storming back down. "DAD! What do you think you're doing! You know you're not allowed greasy food!"
"Me?! You're the one who's invited a stranger to live in our house!"
"He's not a stranger! He's Derek and he's staying now give me that!"
"You are not the parent here Stiles! Get your hands off my burger!"
"... Should I leave?" Derek asks hesitantly.
"Don't you dare!" Stiles snaps as he tries to swipe the burger.
"Not one step out that door Mr!" His dad snaps as well, holding his burger as high up as he can.
"... okay then." Derek mutters.
"Enough Stiles. Tell me what the hell is going on and I'll think about handing over the burger." Stiles glares at his dad and his dad glares back.
"... Fine." He snaps finally, taking a step back from his dad. "Scott was bitten by a werewolf, the same werewolf that killed Derek's sister. Scott is now a werewolf and I needed help so I went looking in the forest and found Derek, who is also a werewolf. He agreed and called Scott his brother so he's mine too. Today I found out that he's been living in his burnt down family home." His dad stares at him then looks sceptically at Derek only to jerk back, Stiles turns in time to see an annoyed Derek retracting his claws.
"Werewolves are real?!" His dad chokes out.
"Yes, and this one has been living in a burnt down house with no working water." Stiles explains. "He's my brother meaning that's not allowed so he's now living here."
His dad blinks, looks between them then slaps his burger into Stiles' hand and goes for the stairs, Derek moves out of the way. "Yeah, okay." He says faintly. "I'm going to lie down and process. See you tomorrow." He pauses and points at Derek. "Both of you."
Stiles beams as Derek blinks in shock. "I... okay."
"Night boys."
"Night Daddio! Come on Derek, I'll start the tea then show you to your room." Derek follows him like a lost puppy. Stiles can understand, at least a little. He and his father have a thing about adopting people, every one of his dad's deputies where once troubled kids or people in a tough spot his dad refused to give up on. Hell, dad had met mom because he'd seen her struggling to get by with the little English she'd known at the time and dedicated his Sunday's to helping her learn. "There." He announces. "We leave these to soak for ten minutes then we can finish it up."
"Why are you doing this?" Derek asks, he's not looking at Stiles and his shoulders are trembling.
"I already told you why Derek." He says softly, slowly approaching. "My reasons haven't changed nor are they going to. You are my brother and you deserve to live around nice things."
"I don't." Derek whispers.
"Yes. You do." Stiles says, gently taking the now empty basket from the wolf.
"I DON'T!" He explodes. "THIS IS ALL MY FAULT! I... I..." He tries to take a step back but Stiles grabs him and aggressively cuddles him. "You don't know... you don't know what I did..." He whimpers into Stiles' chest. A chest that's getting very wet.
"Then tell me. It's okay." Stiles says, he meets his dads eyes from where he stands at the bottom of the stairs. His dad looks at them then taps his side in question, Stiles shakes his head once and his dad nods then goes back upstairs.
Derek lets out a shaky breath then tells Stiles all about Paige and Kate and the fire and moving with his sister. As he speaks Stiles leads them to the kitchen island where he finishes the Good Witch's tea, it's a tad hard because Derek is still clinging to him but he makes due. When Derek is finally silent Stiles gently puts a cup into his hands.
"I want you to know something Derek okay?" Stiles says as he looks Derek in the eyes. "This isn't your fault. None of this is your fault. If anyones to blame then it's the fault of the bitch who raped you and it was rape. You were underage and she was in a position of power over you. She was clearly grooming you. It's. Not. Your. Fault." Derek is visibly crying now. "Now drink your tea so I can show you your room big brother."
Later, when Derek is passed out in his new room, Stiles goes into his 'Hide Out' with a mission. There are four new messages waiting for him. The first is a reply from the Good Witch, then one from 'Death to Twilight', 'That Fang Life' and 'Big Bad' respectfully. The white magic tab he made is also filled with herb care and spell pronunciation tips which is cool.
---
To: Little Red
From: Good Witch of the North
Subject: Hello
Thank you for your care. I hope that the tea helps your friend and do tell them that if they every need to talk to someone who understands I would be happy to lend them an ear.
I was very happy to learn that you made a section of your site just for me, I hope that my words can help those in need. I shall have to ask others from my coven to pitch in with their own tips.
I want to again say how proud I am of you doing this. I'm sure you'll end up helping loads of people.
- Good Witch of the North. -
---
---
To: Little Red
From: Death to Twilight
Subject: Hello
Hey Little Red!
This idea is like super cool and shit even if it doesn't have anything we need yet.
On that note could I totally request some vampire help if any see this? I and my twin got bit like two weeks ago and it's been literal hell trying to figure this out.
Twilight lied to us!
We don't glitter!
We burn!
We do have some things we found out that could like totally help others in our position that we'd like to share because it was a bitch to learn. Could you make us a tab as well?
Thanks babe.
- Death to Twilight. -
---
---
To: Little Red
From: That Fang Life
Subject: Hello
Little Red,
Like, cool website babe. Really cool. My sis posted the backstory stuff but I wanted to say hi or whatever.
Also good job.
Also, also, sorry about your friends sister and stuff. Must be hard.
- That Fang Life. -
---
---
To: Little Red
From: Big Bad
Subject: Hello
Well hello there Little Red.
I would be more than happy to help you learn about werewolves to help both your friends. I'm a born wolf myself. I would like to also say that I like your little hide out, a sentiment I'm sure you're going to get a lot of.
I am also very impressed with what you've managed to figure out by yourself, some of that must have been painful for you. Do try and stay alive sweetheart, you sound like the kind of person I'd like to keep alive and let me tell you, that is a small number indeed.
I've updated your werewolf tab for you, your welcome.
- Big Bad. -
---
Stiles blinks then enters the werewolf tab and holy shit, there is so much there! From packs to how to ask permission to enter territories to not accidentally starting pack wars. It takes everything in Stiles to close out so he can reply to the messages.
---
To: Good Witch of the North
From: Little Red
Subject: Hello
I saw the tab! Thanks for sharing. I can't wait to read through it, I know I'm not a white witch (I think) but it's still very interesting.
And thank you for the tea! It was very good and I think it really helped my friend after he had a small breakdown. Do you have any others you'd like to share? I'll trade you for my super gooey browning recipe.
- Little Red. -
---
---
To: Death to Twilight
From: Little Red
Subject: Hello
Hey!
You can definitely share any tips you and your twin have learnt. I'll set up a tab for you.
Are you okay though? You said that you got burnt right? Is it bad? Do you need medical attention? Please drop me a message telling me you're okay or I'll worry myself into a puddle!
Also I don't think you should take any vampire advice from Twilight, just saying.
- Little Red. -
---
---
To: That Fang Life
From: Little Red
Subject: Hello
Hey!
I'm glad to hear from you even if it's only to say hi. And thanks for caring about my new brothers feelings. (I have adopted him. He's stuck with me forever now.)
I will be wishing this into the eyes of older vampires for you. Hopefully it works.
- Little Red. -
---
---
To: Big Bad
From: Little Red
Subject: Hello
Oh My God Big Bad!
I think I might be a tad in love with you right now. I only skimmed what you added because I needed to reply but it all looks so detailed! Don't be put out if I don't reply for a few hours while I lose myself in all the beautiful knowledge you have gifted me.
And yes, learning most of that had my back hitting so many walls that I'm surprised I don't have permanent indents.
Thank you again.
- Little Red. -
---
Stiles sits back and debates about the next post he's about to make while he makes the vampire tab. Is it to much to ask for? So far his tabs only have tips in them. Would asking this push boundaries? He doesn't want to upset people but he also wants Derek to be safe... Fuck it, nothing ventured nothing gained.
---
To: Everyone
From: Little Red
Subject: Protection
Hello everyone.
I don't want to seem like I'm crossing any boundaries and if I am you can tell me and I'll take this post down but I just learnt that someone really hurt my new brother (the friend who lost his sister). Like really hurt him. Is there a way I can protect him from that person? Preferably one that will hurt the bitch.
I'm sorry if this upsets anyone.
- Little Red. -
---
He clicks enter and then dives into the werewolf tab so he doesn't have to see their reactions. Then he gets lost in it. Big Bad is very thorough in his information and he learns so much. The biggest thing that sticks though is that he needs to convince Derek to go see his uncle, to open their bond back up because if what he's read is right then Peter Hale might be aware while in his coma and that must be fucking awful.
Just as he finishes he gets a knock at his door. He closes down his computer and goes over. It's Derek and he looks like a mess. With his new information Stiles opens his arms and exposes his throat. Derek's eyes widen for a second then Stiles has an armful of crying werewolf.
"If you tell anyone about this.."
"Never."