Payment (revised)

Chapter 37

He was dressed in a three piece suit that wrapped around his figure like sin. His hair was slicked back to unveil his captivating, coal rimmed, whiskey eyes. The look was completed by a raven tailed boa that settled around his shoulders. Derek knew it to be Lydia and Erica's special touch.

"I've been waiting for ages," Derek replied, "The flies would have been better company."

A ridiculous cackle burst from between Stiles's lips. It reminded Derek that as wonderful as the boy looked tonight, underneath it all he was still the ridiculous idiot Derek had fallen in love with in the beginning of it all.

"In that case you can go home with them tonight, seems I dressed up for nothing. The girls will be awfully disappointed their hard work went to waste."

Derek's face split into a warm smile.

When their eyes met, even Stiles lost his barrier of sarcasm at the pure happiness that was shared between the two. They had made it. They were here together, and the war was over, and they had the rest of their lives to love each other.

The younger man twinkled under city lights; a star taking center stage.

Derek offered his arm, the way his father had shown him to do when he was just a boy.

Stiles's face glowed when he took notice, and eagerly accepted the offer.

"Everyone is staring at us," Stiles murmured as Derek led him inside.

The Alpha turned to see the limo drive off, and a crowd of people had gathered behind the two elites as they made their way into the restaurant.

Out of habit, Derek traced the outline of the gun that lay hidden in his holster before realizing what he was doing. His hand dropped, no one was after them, not tonight.

"Good," Derek said, turning his head so he was staring down at Stiles who was entranced with the decadence they had just stepped into, "let them watch you, and know that you will never be theirs."

"Talk like that, and I might not even be yours," Stiles shot back, though his cheeks were flamed a soft red. Nothing like the dark, thickened blood that had once marred his features.

Derek shut it down. He replied to Stiles before his thoughts could travel a dark road.

"That's not what you said last night," Derek replied casually.

Stiles knocked their shoulders, but before the boy could hone in on ripping Derek a new one, the waiter approached.

Stiles shook his head at Derek though his eyes were alight with laughter.

Derek sent a roguish wink his way and decided that this night was just about perfect.

~~~~~~~~~~

Derek and Stiles were drenched when they finally stumbled into the Hale building at one in the morning, clutching onto each other for support as their stomachs clenched with laughter.

They had stayed at the restaurant long into the night, and long after the restaurant had officially closed. Being the owner had its perks.

Wine and food sloshed happily in their full bellies by the time they left. Derek's employees had given them exasperated smiles as they went.

It was as Derek was about to flag down a cab to bring them home that Stiles pulled on his arm petulantly.

The boy had given him pleading eyes that Derek was still way too grateful to see to turn down.

Stiles's request? To walk home together in the moonlight.

Who was Derek to deny him?

The Alpha had a suspicious feeling Stiles had caught onto Derek's newfound weak spot and was exploiting it, but he couldn't find it in him to care.