A Drop Of Ink In Water

Summuary: Stiles works as a manager in a male escort club. Becoming an escort himself never has crossed his mind. He doesn't think he's suited for the job and doesn't want to be. He likes his life simple. However, circumstances aren't in his favor: Derek Hale comes into his life and Derek can be very persuasive.

I & II

Stiles likes simple things. He likes visiting his dad on Sundays, endless video games and hanging out with his best friend Scott. Everything is average in his life. He's a single twenty-two years old, living in a small city apartment with his goldfish Iron Man. His life is simple and he likes it that way. Okay, maybe he's lonely some days and he would enjoy a little company. Someone to talk to, to laugh with, to fight with and, on calm cold nights, someone to cuddle on the couch and watch old science fiction movies with. But really, who doesn't want that?

His job is probably the only odd part of his life. Some people might call it dubious or immoral but it really isn't. He manages eight workers, handles their schedules, takes a few phone calls and sometimes welcomes clients. Nothing weird or shady. He isn't selling his body or anything, he's just making it easier for the employees to do so. His job at the Moon Agency is the best job he ever had. The pay is good, the job not too tiresome and he gets to hang with hot people all day! How could he refuse that? For this matter he has Scott to thank, he is the one who recommended him to the boss when the previous manager resigned. At the time he was confused, without money and had no idea what he wanted to do. The offer had been a golden opportunity to make something out of his life.

"Greenberg, don't forget. Mr. Finstock didn't pay for any under-the-belt action. So if he tries something, tell him to up his zipper or we cut his little man. If he insists, give me a call and I will check if we can make a deduction on his bank account but I highly doubt his teacher salary will permit it. Now go, you don't want to be late and give him something to complain about, do you?"

The boy nods and Stiles watches his lanky figure disappear in the street. Greenberg is the mystery of this agency, he isn't handsome like Jackson is, and he doesn't have any special talent or skills like Scott. He is just Greenberg and the clients seem to like him anyway. His charm may reside in the fact that he has the ability to make anyone feel extraordinary. He would look at you with his big, innocent, blue eyes and you'd think you're one of the seven wonders.

Stiles smiles and closes the door, locking himself inside as he always does when he's working in his office. The Moon has three floors: the ground floor which is the place where they receive clients, the second floor where are offices and bedrooms and the basement where the night bar is located.

Stiles takes the stairs and goes straight to his office. He wants work to be done before the bar opens. Jackson is very busy this week. He has to organize the asshole schedule or they will be in big trouble. Especially since Hale reserved him most of that time.

As Lydia Martin enters the bar, Stiles feels his legs go weak. Her strawberry blond hair float around her like velvet and the red dress she's wearing fit perfectly around her goddess's curves. Her lips are pouty as she ignores the "welcome" she is greeted with. Eyes scanning the room she's barely paying attention to the young boy who takes off her coat. She's perfect in every way and Stiles can't stop his heart from waver.

When she sees him her eyebrows frown and she lifts an index in his direction, signing him to come see her. Stiles hurries at her sides tripping several times on the way.

"Hi, miss Martin. What can I do for you? Would you like a drink? I can give you anything you want. Well not everything but I –"

"Where is Jackson?" she asks interrupting his babbling. And really he thinks that it might be for the best.

"Jackson is not here at the moment" he starts and then he quickly adds seeing the way she's looking at him, "he's going to be there soon. Real soon. Do you want a cocktail? Danny makes the best margaritas in town. Danny please, give Miss Martin a margarita." Danny makes a face, clearly not pleased to be ordered around by Stiles but doesn't argue and starts making the cocktail.

Lydia's face softens. Her eyes aren't cold anymore and she looks less like she's going rip his tongue out of his mouth. The corners of her mouth are just twitched is disdain. She walks past him and goes to her usual sit in the corner of the room next to the heater. At this moment Stiles notices the brunette who accompanies her. She has cute dimples and seems nervous. It's the first time he sees her there. He gives her a comforting smile that grows larger when she smiles back. Stiles decides he likes her.

The music is soft and sensual and alcohol is drunk like water. Jackson and Lydia are making out in a corner, Scott and the new girl – Allison – are flirting like lovebird and basically every person in this bar sweats lust and debauchery. Usual night at the Moon. Stiles would complain about his undying sexual frustration if he wasn't so used to the scene. Instead he sits at the bar, nibbles at his coke and chats with Danny.

It's not like he ever had an active romantic life anyway. He had two girlfriends in his life and both of those relationships didn't end well. His first was when he was 18, he had had a huge crush for a month before daring talking to her and to his astonishment she accepted when he asked her out. They didn't last long, barely two weeks. He learnt after that she was just using him to rebound after her boyfriend dumped her. She didn't even think twice when that same boyfriend offered to take her back.

Joe the second one was better. She was smart, had soft brown curls, light green eyes and a strong but warm personality. He thinks that he might have loved Joe. But he isn't so sure about her feelings back then. The girl wanted to make a difference and decided to fly to Africa to help people in need. They parted at the airport sad and angry, Joe because he didn't fully support her and Stiles because he was left aside. Again. She was the one he lost his virginity with, so she still had a place in his heart even though he hadn't talked to her in years. Since Joe he didn't have any serious relationship. His love life is made of futureless crushes like the one he currently has on Lydia Martin.

His thoughts are interrupted when Peter Hale enters the bar accompanied by a guy who apparently shops at the same stores as he does. Peter, as always, is all long leather coat and honeyed. Hale gives him a bright smile as he comes closer and Stiles feels cold sweat run on his skin. The guy had always given him the creep. Not only because he was a werewolf – like Scott – and could make a puzzle of his fragile human bones, but because of the strange vibe he had around him. Like he ate babies for breakfast and was plotting the death of humanity. If he had to give a face to the Antichrist, Stiles would choose Hale's with no hesitation. Plus, the man probably senses his fear and seems to have fun playing with his emotions. Dick.

"Good evening, Mister Hale. You didn't inform us that you would join us tonight," Stiles greets with a fake smile. "What a joy." He's sure his heart jumped at the last part but he doesn't care. To his annoyance and disgust Hale doesn't look offended at all and winks at him.

"I wanted to show the place to my nephew, Derek. You know Derek, right?"

At the name, Stiles snaps his head to look at the man. He stutters a "hello", thoughts going too fast for his mouth to follow the rhythm. Of course he knows Derek Hale. Every werewolf of the area knows him – not that Stiles is a werewolf but his best friend is one so he has to know, too - Derek is their fucking alpha! Stiles glances at Scott and sees that his friend stopped flirting to look intensely at Derek, claws sharp on his thigh ready to fight. He looks back at Derek and notices the man is way closer than he was before. They're only inches apart, so close that he has to lift his head to meet Derek's eyes and can feel his hot breath on his face.

"What's your name?" Derek asks in a raspy voice.

He looks dazed. Inhaling and exhaling the air profoundly, seeming to look for every fragrance. Stiles takes a step back when his eyes flash red and fangs and claws come out. He grows even worrier when the wolf follows his movement and steps forward.

Their eyes are locked. The wolf stares at him like he's a strange and highly confusing little thing. Derek tilts his head and lets out a low snarl. A strange thing he wouldn't mind tasting, realizes Stiles. His heart starts racing at the sudden understanding. I don't want to die, he thinks as he tries another retreat but Derek is faster and grabs his arm. Stiles feels the spiky nails deepen into his skin, piercing through the fabric of his shirt. He grimaces in pain sending Scott a frightened look. His friend is already up, difficultly trying not to shift in front of everyone. Stiles doesn't want his friend to be in trouble because of him and even though he desperately wants to be saved at the moment, he's also tired to rely on Scott. He wants to be able to protect himself.

He doesn't understand the sudden blood thirst of the younger Hale. He didn't say a thing to the man! For once he had done nothing for someone to be angry at him. It seemed that his only existence had pissed Derek Hale. Or maybe was he a little too protective of his uncle and didn't appreciate the joke? Still, it wasn't a reason to wolf out in a club full of humans and murder a fragile, easily breakable and innocent man, for Christ Sake! What was he going to do with all the witnesses? Kill them, too?

"Mister Hale?" Stiles tries tentatively. "Derek?"

Finally, the alpha seems to regain his senses and surprise paints on his face. He shakes his head, shuts his eyes and when he re-opens them they're green again. His nails shorten and his grip isn't as powerful as it was, but he doesn't let go of Stiles arm.

Peter, who Stiles had completely forgotten, takes a step in their direction and put a hand on his nephew's arm. He's smiling.

"Come on, let the poor man go. If you keep frightening him like that, I'm afraid he's going to faint on us." He says, chuckling. Stiles glowers at him.

Derek gives his uncle a quick glance but doesn't obey.

"What's your name?" he repeats.

His eyes are so intense that Stiles loses his words for a moment. He considers for a moment not answering to him. The man had tried to kill him only seconds ago, what right did he have to make requests? Stiles ends up conceding that not answering a murderous, irritable alpha is a little suicidal.

"My-," he clears his throat because his voice sounds way too high-pitched. Then takes a little breath of courage "I'm Stiles."

Derek slowly nods, eyebrows slightly frown. Stiles wonders if it's because he's surprised by the name or if the fact that he told the truth. He stops being curious when the wolf let go of his arm and the sudden freedom bringing a sense a relief. He hastily backs off and presses his back against the counter of the bar, trying to get as far from the wolf as possible. Derek eventually just glance at him and goes sitting on a chair away from the crowd, now totally ignoring him.

"What a weirdo." Stiles whispers and Derek shoots him a threatening look from his sit. He forgot the super-earing. "Sorry?" He says tentatively and that seems to satisfy the wolf because he just growls and looks away.

Stiles lets out a long sigh that causes Danny to eye him curiously.

Stiles remarks that beside Scott everyone else seems to have been oblivious to the situation. He could have died and nobody in that bunch of lusty, ungrateful morons would have left a finger to help him. Nice.

He ears someone laughing quietly next to him and sees Peter who still hadn't moved.

"You are very entertaining, Stiles," the man mouths and then to Danny, "Two whiskies."

The rest of the night is less weird. Alpha Hale, stays quiet in a corner and beside sometime answering his uncle and sipping his drink, he basically acts like statue. Sometimes, Stiles also feels him stare at the back of his neck but he's too afraid to look back. But somehow it's hard not to look. Not only because Derek Hale is mysterious and dangerous and Stiles has a thing for secrets – and he really starts to think, for masochism –, but because the man looks stupidly good. Not good "it'd be great if we dated and have sex" good but "Oh gorgeous entity let me be your slave" good. And that is truly unfair. Stiles is not gay - well, he doesn't think he is - but he can recognize a handsome man when sees one and Derek Hale is a damn fine one.

Peter, contrary to his nephew, prefers not to spend the evening alone. Jackson is snuggled at his side and they whisper soft words to each other as Peter's hand runs dangerously high on Jackson's thigh. Stiles looks away. Jackson may be an utter jerk but that doesn't mean he wants him to get that close to someone as creepy as Peter Hale. There is a serious difference level of asshole between them.

Peter Hale and – he has no doubt – Derek are part of some doubtful business because even though none of them have jobs they do have money. A lot of money. Jackson is certainly drawn by it. That's why he accepts every single appointment Peter makes even If they mean not going home for a week and do whatever strange things they did together in Peter's dark donjon. Stiles wouldn't want Jackson to be found one day in dark alley and body separated from the head because Peter hadn't been able to repress his bloody impulses during a full moon. Stiles is okay with werewolves even though he only knows three: Scott, Peter and know Derek. And he knows too well that they can become uncontrollable sometimes, Scott his best friend since forever had after all tried to kill him!

Not far from them Lydia is boiling with rage, humiliated after Jackson left her without a second thought to join Peter. Stiles will have to say a word or two to Jackson about that. He wasn't supposed to leave a client like that. Never. Even for a big wealthy fish like Hale.

Stiles turns his gaze back on Derek who wears a conflicted expression. He seems oblivious to everything around him, too absorbed by his own thoughts. Stiles wonders a second time what happened earlier. Why did the man react like he did when he saw him? Did he not like his face or did he just not have his dose of slaughtering for the month?

Derek suddenly stands up apparently deciding he had enough for the night and leaves the place without a word.

Peter watches him with a strange look.

"My alpha wants to go home," he tells Jackson. "I'll see you later."

He addresses Stiles a nod and follows the other wolf.

Only a few minutes after they left Derek is back.

He stops next to Stiles.

"I will come back," he says looking at his feet

And he's gone.

Stiles gapes at the closed door.

TBC.