If you're going through hell, Keep going.

‘bestiary?’ Scott types out laboriously, trying not to smirk even if Stiles can’t see it. It just feels disrespectful. 'dont you mean bestiality?’

He was about forty percent sure bestiary wasn’t even a word.

He frowns softly, looking at Stiles’ face and then the computer’s display before slowly typing out, 'i dont think i even know what a poltergeist is but if youre asking if im dangerous i dont think i am. i try not to be.’

Stiles stares at the word on his laptop, the cursor blinking at the end of the sentence and he just. Stares, for a moment longer before snorting a laugh. "No, no I definitely don't mean bestiality buddy. It's a book, keeps track of supernatural creatures and stuff."

He's proud of the fact that he manages to keep a fairly straight face despite the question, even if it caught him off guard.

His expression goes a bit more serious, eyebrows pinching in a furrow and Stiles hums, mildly. "It's like. A spirit that causes a ruckus usually, y'know. Throwing stuff around, making a lot of loud noises. They're usually pretty mischievous bastards."

Stiles stares at the word on his laptop, the cursor blinking at the end of the sentence and he just. Stares, for a moment longer before snorting a laugh. "No, no I definitely don't mean bestiality buddy. It's a book, keeps track of supernatural creatures and stuff."

He's proud of the fact that he manages to keep a fairly straight face despite the question, even if it caught him off guard.

His expression goes a bit more serious, eyebrows pinching in a furrow and Stiles hums, mildly. "It's like. A spirit that causes a ruckus usually, y'know. Throwing stuff around, making a lot of loud noises. They're usually pretty mischievous bastards."

Scott has never once been ignorant of Stiles’ tension, his anxiety, his worries. He doesn’t miss them now, either, but of course now, Scott has new tools in his toolbox for how to deal with this.

Which is why he swings around the front of the truck and immediately sticks a hand out, offering it to Stiles for holding. "C'mon. I can stay back a little if you want, I don’t want to overwhelm your pups with all the Alpha stuff too early, y'know?”

Scott's brilliant and attentive and Stiles has choice words for anyone that doesn't realize Scott's alpha abilities were just a natural extension of his compassion. Though he also knows that they're uniquely attuned to each other over literally anyone else, save for maybe their parents.

Scott offers his hand out and Stiles pauses; only a moment - before reaching out to take it; because he can do that now. And it has the same calming effect as it always did when they were kids, before they weren't allowed to hold hands without people looking at them like it was weird. "Maybe just for a sec. They're good dogs but you're a stranger...and an Alpha, and I don't know how they're gonna react."

Scott's brilliant and attentive and Stiles has choice words for anyone that doesn't realize Scott's alpha abilities were just a natural extension of his compassion. Though he also knows that they're uniquely attuned to each other over literally anyone else, save for maybe their parents.

Scott offers his hand out and Stiles pauses; only a moment - before reaching out to take it; because he can do that now. And it has the same calming effect as it always did when they were kids, before they weren't allowed to hold hands without people looking at them like it was weird. "Maybe just for a sec. They're good dogs but you're a stranger...and an Alpha, and I don't know how they're gonna react."

This man is ridiculous, Scott decides as he watches Stiles justify why Scott ‘lives’ anywhere when he’s been dead for far longer than he was ever alive. That thought makes him a little sad; he hadn’t really thought about his situation like that before, at least not actively. He purses his mouth a little, watching Stiles and then watching the computer and wishing this wasn’t quite so difficult.

At least it’s possible at all.

'i wonder if ill be able to pet it. interacting with things can be tricky.’

Stiles is at least a little bit ridiculous, but his mom always impressed on him that everything had a place and a sense of being, even Scott. Who's dead. He exists here, this is his space too and Stiles will be damned if he's gonna be rude about it.

He can't help but find himself wondering if Deaton has anything on ghosts, his mother's bestiary is thorough and informative but not as thorough on certain things. But the local druid was cryptic at best. Wrinkling his nose, Stiles hums mildly before waving a hand, mostly to himself, as if shooing his thoughts elsewhere.

"Well, you're getting the computer. So that's a pretty impressive start. I'll have to see if I can find anything on ghosts, specters? You're definitely not a poltergeist-. Anyway. Because my bestiary isn't as thorough as I'd like yet."

Stiles is at least a little bit ridiculous, but his mom always impressed on him that everything had a place and a sense of being, even Scott. Who's dead. He exists here, this is his space too and Stiles will be damned if he's gonna be rude about it.

He can't help but find himself wondering if Deaton has anything on ghosts, his mother's bestiary is thorough and informative but not as thorough on certain things. But the local druid was cryptic at best. Wrinkling his nose, Stiles hums mildly before waving a hand, mostly to himself, as if shooing his thoughts elsewhere.

"Well, you're getting the computer. So that's a pretty impressive start. I'll have to see if I can find anything on ghosts, specters? You're definitely not a poltergeist-. Anyway. Because my bestiary isn't as thorough as I'd like yet."

”Yeah you are, “ Scott laughs quietly, feeling more free than he has in years just from the events of his afternoon. "Who knows what that even says about me, but once I figure out what it is, don’t worry, I’ll be saying it with my whole chest.”

He’s never once wanted Stiles to feel like Scott is ashamed of him, after all.

This is about the time they pull up to park near the place Stiles was going to stay, and Scott turns to look more fully at his best friend. “You ready to do this?”

"Well obviously it says that you're a man of incredible taste who has peak choice in significant others and best friends. I'm clearly the best of both worlds." Stiles can't pretend that the knowledge that Scott is proud of him makes him feel lighter than air, like he could float into the sky if he wasn't currently in the truck. "Same goes for me man. Y'know? Never stopped being proud of you. That you're mine in any form. Ever."

He needed time to himself, that was true, but he never stopped thinking about Scott, he always called him his best friend, even when he was distant.

Stiles' chest feels tight as they pull up, and he exhales slowly, nodding when Scott speaks. "Yeah, yeah I'm ready." He can do this, all of this. Because he's got Scott.

"Well obviously it says that you're a man of incredible taste who has peak choice in significant others and best friends. I'm clearly the best of both worlds." Stiles can't pretend that the knowledge that Scott is proud of him makes him feel lighter than air, like he could float into the sky if he wasn't currently in the truck. "Same goes for me man. Y'know? Never stopped being proud of you. That you're mine in any form. Ever."

He needed time to himself, that was true, but he never stopped thinking about Scott, he always called him his best friend, even when he was distant.

Stiles' chest feels tight as they pull up, and he exhales slowly, nodding when Scott speaks. "Yeah, yeah I'm ready." He can do this, all of this. Because he's got Scott.

Derek's  cheeks  hurt  from  smiling  the  whole  day  but  it  had  been  impossible  to  wipe  the  grin  from  his  face  while  the  pair  had  explored  the  zoo  together.  As  expected,  Stiles  served  as  fantastic  entertainment  throughout  their  adventures;  always  full  of  fun  facts  and  excitable  reactions  to  every  creature  they  encountered  on  their  long  and  winding  path  through  the  various  enclosures.  There  was  absolutely  zero  chance  to  be  bored  with  the  younger  man  by  his  side  and  he  was  so  incredibly  grateful  that  he  lucked  out  by  bumping  into  Stiles  that  morning  or  his  day  would  have  been  utterly  different.

Sadly  their  day  was  nearing  its  inevitable  end  as  they  had  done  a  full  lap  of  the  compound,  evening  neared,  and  he  had  plans  to  have  dinner  with  his  family.  It  was  incredibly  tempting  to  cancel  on  dinner  as  he  would  much  rather  spend  more  time  with  Stiles  but  he  assumed  the  other  man  probably  had  his  own  plans  for  the  evening  and  Derek  didn't  want  things  to  be  awkward  by  overstaying  his  welcome.  It  had  been  an  innocent  invitation  requesting  company  for  a  day  at  the  zoo.  Nothing  more.  It  was  nice  enough  that  Stiles  had  even  asked  him  along  in  the  first  place.

“Let's  stop  by  the  gift  shop  before  we  head  home,"  Derek  suggested  as  they  approached  the  building  filled  with  souvenirs  by  the  entrance.  Maybe  it  was  also  a  ploy  to  make  their  day  stretch  out  a  little  bit  longer,  but  Stiles  didn't  have  to  know  that.

Stiles was a font of useless and random knowledge, filled out with years of random deep wiki dives and just voracious devouring of books and stuff whenever the mood struck him. It left him with some weird knowledge and the occasional really bad grade until he got it sorted out, but it was tempered a bit by getting on Adderall; at least the wiki dives being done when they weren't supposed to be was. This had been the best way he could have spent his day, bumping into Derek had been great, his dry jokes making him snort laugh on more than one occasion.

But all good things have to end and all that, and Stiles exhaled slowly, stretching as they finished the circle of the zoo, having stopped to look at all the animals, Stiles rambling on occasionally when the moment struck. The sky shifting to the early warmer tones of dusk, and man Stiles didn't want to go home to his empty apartment and eat ramen or something equally miserable because he hadn't gone grocery shopping yet. It was Scott's date night with Kira so he wasn't disappointed when Derek suggested the gift shop.

"Oh yeah man, we can absolutely look!" He was maybe still a little too broke for a souvenir but hey, any excuse to spend a bit more time with Derek was something he was going to take whole heartedly. This hadn't been a date, obviously it was just Derek humoring him by spending the afternoon as friends, but it didn't mean Stiles wasn't going to let himself play a little bit of dreaming that maybe it was more than that. Imagining a moment where it actually was a date.

Stiles was a font of useless and random knowledge, filled out with years of random deep wiki dives and just voracious devouring of books and stuff whenever the mood struck him. It left him with some weird knowledge and the occasional really bad grade until he got it sorted out, but it was tempered a bit by getting on Adderall; at least the wiki dives being done when they weren't supposed to be was. This had been the best way he could have spent his day, bumping into Derek had been great, his dry jokes making him snort laugh on more than one occasion.

But all good things have to end and all that, and Stiles exhaled slowly, stretching as they finished the circle of the zoo, having stopped to look at all the animals, Stiles rambling on occasionally when the moment struck. The sky shifting to the early warmer tones of dusk, and man Stiles didn't want to go home to his empty apartment and eat ramen or something equally miserable because he hadn't gone grocery shopping yet. It was Scott's date night with Kira so he wasn't disappointed when Derek suggested the gift shop.

"Oh yeah man, we can absolutely look!" He was maybe still a little too broke for a souvenir but hey, any excuse to spend a bit more time with Derek was something he was going to take whole heartedly. This hadn't been a date, obviously it was just Derek humoring him by spending the afternoon as friends, but it didn't mean Stiles wasn't going to let himself play a little bit of dreaming that maybe it was more than that. Imagining a moment where it actually was a date.

‘i’m a ghost, stiles.’ Somehow, Scott makes even pure text sound very wry and slightly exhausted with Stiles’ shenanigans. In a good way, but exhausted all the same. “i don’t live anywhere. that’s kind of the defining feature of ghosts.’

Still, he’s touched that Stiles is trying to take his feelings into account. It’s been so long since anyone’s even acknowledged his existence, such as it is, so the whole exchange has him feeling just a little giddy. 'just if you get a cat put a bell on it. for the sake of the birds.’

"Yeah, a ghost that lives here." Stiles sighs dramatically at the exhaustion in the way Scott types. Which is impressive considering the fact that he's, y'know. Typing? But it makes him laugh a little. "You still haunt here then, whatever you want to call it. This is still your home too."

It's important to have Scott's thoughts put into account here, because he lives in this house too, whether he's dead and doesn't really technically live here. Stiles hums, thoughtfully before nodding, tapping his fingers lightly against the counter. "Yeah I'll put a bell on their collar."

"Yeah, a ghost that lives here." Stiles sighs dramatically at the exhaustion in the way Scott types. Which is impressive considering the fact that he's, y'know. Typing? But it makes him laugh a little. "You still haunt here then, whatever you want to call it. This is still your home too."

It's important to have Scott's thoughts put into account here, because he lives in this house too, whether he's dead and doesn't really technically live here. Stiles hums, thoughtfully before nodding, tapping his fingers lightly against the counter. "Yeah I'll put a bell on their collar."

"You are an enormous nerd, I just need you to know that.” Scott informs Stiles with a faux sense of seriousness that does nothing to hide his obvious amusement. “Clearly you haven’t grown out of that. Wearing socks to bed sounds like some kind of cardinal sin, I’m sure I can compensate. I’m basically a living space heater, after all.”

"Yeah, an enormous nerd that you love, that you wanna date." Stiles sing-songed, grinning at him smugly across the cab of the truck. Scott sounds amused despite the faux sense of seriousness that makes Stiles grin a little more. "Yeah, wearing socks to bed does sound pretty criminal." He agreed, a bemused expression tugging at his lips. "I'm gonna steal all your warmth."

"Yeah, an enormous nerd that you love, that you wanna date." Stiles sing-songed, grinning at him smugly across the cab of the truck. Scott sounds amused despite the faux sense of seriousness that makes Stiles grin a little more. "Yeah, wearing socks to bed does sound pretty criminal." He agreed, a bemused expression tugging at his lips. "I'm gonna steal all your warmth."

‘you aren’t worried that a cat might like you but not like a ghost? what do you tell the people you get the cat from if we have to give it back?’ The ghost seems very concerned about the comfort and well-being of a hypothetical cat they don’t even have, yet.

there’s a brief pause, and then more typing, 'i wonder why cats can sense ghosts but people can’t?’

"You live here too!" Stiles sounded offended by the mere suggestion he wouldn't take Scott's feelings into account about getting a pet to exist in the same space with him. "I'll just tell them it wasn't a good fit for my house. Sometimes that happens unfortunately."

Stiles considers the next question, wrinkling his nose a little bit. "I dunno. Maybe it's an energy thing? Or the way they see colors?"

"You live here too!" Stiles sounded offended by the mere suggestion he wouldn't take Scott's feelings into account about getting a pet to exist in the same space with him. "I'll just tell them it wasn't a good fit for my house. Sometimes that happens unfortunately."

Stiles considers the next question, wrinkling his nose a little bit. "I dunno. Maybe it's an energy thing? Or the way they see colors?"

"I guess it’s good, then, that we’re back in the same place, so I can see you the way you are, and you can see me.” Scott sounds amused more than anything, matching Stiles’ grin with his own. “I think I can probably survive your cold feet these days. I’ve grown as a person, y'know?”

"I see you, Jake Sulley." Stiles snickers a little at his own joke, but he smiles, easily, lazily at Scott. It'll be good for them, to be here together again where they could help recenter each other. Fitting themselves into each other's lives again with ease. "We'll see, my feet are still pretty cold so you might decide I have to wear socks."

"I see you, Jake Sulley." Stiles snickers a little at his own joke, but he smiles, easily, lazily at Scott. It'll be good for them, to be here together again where they could help recenter each other. Fitting themselves into each other's lives again with ease. "We'll see, my feet are still pretty cold so you might decide I have to wear socks."

The look that Stiles receives from Scott, as Scott settles in to drive them to pick up the dogs, is downright baleful. He even gives a disbelieving snort to underline how ridiculous he thinks what Stiles has just said is. “…dude. Other than maybe your Dad, I think I’m the one person on the planet most qualified to know whether or not I’m "willing” to “put up” with you. Honestly, after all this time I’ve more or less given up on you thinking of yourself in the same way I think of you, but that’s okay. You just have to believe that is how I think of you.“

Stiles lifts his shoulders in a shrug, sinking into the seat with the same undignified slump as he did as a teenager, only shifting when his leg lists a little too much and it pulls at his hip. wrinkling his nose a little, Stiles straightens up and snorts softly. "Something we're both still bad at. Seeing ourselves the way we see each other." He looks over at Scott and flashes a lazy grin. "I feel like I remember being kicked out of bed when we were teenagers because my feet were always cold and wearing socks to bed feels like a crime. Especially when you have a super warm werewolf best friend to leech heat off of."

Stiles lifts his shoulders in a shrug, sinking into the seat with the same undignified slump as he did as a teenager, only shifting when his leg lists a little too much and it pulls at his hip. wrinkling his nose a little, Stiles straightens up and snorts softly. "Something we're both still bad at. Seeing ourselves the way we see each other." He looks over at Scott and flashes a lazy grin. "I feel like I remember being kicked out of bed when we were teenagers because my feet were always cold and wearing socks to bed feels like a crime. Especially when you have a super warm werewolf best friend to leech heat off of."

‘i’m a ghost, stiles, i don’t think it counts as me living here.’ Scott says slowly via the laptop, his mouth a little pinched while he’s caught between amusement and sadness, not that Stiles can see that. 'but i always loved animals so i think your friend lydia is right just because everyone could be happier with a pet.’

Stiles tsked softly, a disappointed click of his tongue and he huffed, throwing his arms into the air. "Ah don't. Hh, you live here, you don't have to be living to exist here and call this your house too." He grumbled a little, shaking his head. He couldn't see Scott, but he wanted to make sure that he knew that this was his house too. "Well then we can look at the shelter, most of them have sites. And if not...well I'll go in and see if I can find one that likes me?"

Stiles tsked softly, a disappointed click of his tongue and he huffed, throwing his arms into the air. "Ah don't. Hh, you live here, you don't have to be living to exist here and call this your house too." He grumbled a little, shaking his head. He couldn't see Scott, but he wanted to make sure that he knew that this was his house too. "Well then we can look at the shelter, most of them have sites. And if not...well I'll go in and see if I can find one that likes me?"

‘i would love a cat but you should only do it if you actually want one because it’ll have to move with you if you ever move.’ Scott types diligently, trying not to frown too much. It seems like such an unwanted reality check, thinking so soon after learning how to communicate with Stiles about how one day Stiles will be gone, one way or another, but Scott will remain. 'what about you don’t you need to use this thing too?’

He’s honestly kind of proud of himself for figuring out how to make a question mark.

"I've been thinking about a cat anyway, Lydia says it'd probably do wonders for my mental health. So I don't go stir crazy living alone, which. Rude. But also, probably a good idea. But I don't live alone, because you live here too so-" Stiles did little jazz hands before shrugging. He rest his chin in his palm and shook his head. "Nah, I have my phone, or my tablet. Besides, it gives you something to do while I'm at work." Stiles didn't plan on moving any time soon, but life was weird and threw things at you when you least expected it, so who could really know.

"I've been thinking about a cat anyway, Lydia says it'd probably do wonders for my mental health. So I don't go stir crazy living alone, which. Rude. But also, probably a good idea. But I don't live alone, because you live here too so-" Stiles did little jazz hands before shrugging. He rest his chin in his palm and shook his head. "Nah, I have my phone, or my tablet. Besides, it gives you something to do while I'm at work." Stiles didn't plan on moving any time soon, but life was weird and threw things at you when you least expected it, so who could really know.

“Can you imagine having two service dogs that don’t get along? That sounds like a nightmare.” Scott laughs quietly, reaching to open Stiles’ door for him before he swings around to climb into the driver’s seat. He’ll even offer his hand to help Stiles get into the truck if his leg demands the help.

It isn’t until they’re both secure in the vehicle that he grins back to Stiles, clearly just pleased that his best friend is back. “We can figure out how to arrange a doggy door or something for them in the future. If you want, I mean.”

"Ugh, that would be an actual nightmare." Stiles wrinkled his nose, grimacing in an almost comedic fashion. "I'm just gonna count myself lucky that they get along and not think about the miserable other prospect." Stiles bites back a playful tease about Scott being a gentleman when he opens the door, but he does appreciate it, swinging up into the truck with more ease than usual. Scott taking the pain away has made a marked improvement in his mobility and god Stiles forgot how nice it was to move with such ease.

Stiles flashes Scott a grin once he's in and buckled. "If you're willing to put up with me that long, I'm not going anywhere again. We can get them a doggy door, since you've got a backyard and everything."

"Ugh, that would be an actual nightmare." Stiles wrinkled his nose, grimacing in an almost comedic fashion. "I'm just gonna count myself lucky that they get along and not think about the miserable other prospect." Stiles bites back a playful tease about Scott being a gentleman when he opens the door, but he does appreciate it, swinging up into the truck with more ease than usual. Scott taking the pain away has made a marked improvement in his mobility and god Stiles forgot how nice it was to move with such ease.

Stiles flashes Scott a grin once he's in and buckled. "If you're willing to put up with me that long, I'm not going anywhere again. We can get them a doggy door, since you've got a backyard and everything."

Derek  found  himself  staring  at  Stiles  instead  of  keeping  his  eyes  on  the  map  as  the  younger  man  rambled  about  Scott’s  girlfriend  being  adorable.  He  was  constantly  amazed  that  Stiles  seemed  completely  oblivious  to  his  own  charms.  In  Derek’s  eyes,  Stiles  was  the  one  who  was  ‘insanely  adorable’.  No  competition.  He  hadn’t  even  met  this  Kira  but  he  already  knew  for  certain  she  wouldn’t  surpass  the  younger  man.  His  mind  strayed  to  thoughts  of  wondering  what  animal  would  best  represent  Stiles  before  he  was  snapped  back  to  the  present  by  Stiles’  shoulder  lightly  pressing  into  his  chest  for  a  brief  moment  as  he  adjusted  the  map  to  point  at  the  foxes.

“I  always  told  my  parents  I  wanted  a  fox  as  a  pet  growing  up  after  seeing  videos  online  and  I  said  that  I  was  going  to  get  one  when  I  was  old  enough  to  buy  my  own  stuff.  Though  my  opinion  on  that  drastically  changed  when  I  found  out  how  badly  foxes  smell!”  he  admitted  with  a  grin.  “Apparently  their  musk  gets  absolutely  everywhere.”  He  was  pleased  at  Stiles’  seemingly  unintentional  praise  and  the  fact  that  he  had  recognised  traits  in  Derek  that  were  important  to  him.  “I’ll  totally  take  being  compared  to  wolves.  They  would  definitely  be  my  spirit  animal.”

He  whipped  his  phone  out  to  quickly  check  the  time  and  realised  that  the  morning  was  starting  to  get  away  from  them  and  there  was  plenty  to  see.  “Should  we  get  going?  Red  pandas  first,  right?”  Derek  confirmed,  and  then  pointed  toward  a  path  after  consulting  the  map.  “Looks  like  they  should  be  down  that  way.”

Stiles was oblivious to Derek's attention, the way he was looking at him because he didn't really expect anyone to look that closely at him either. But also because he was engrossed in his story, his rambling as he was wont to do. Derek was warm where his shoulder pressed against his chest, soaking through the thick material of his flannel and Stiles let himself get a little distracted by the feeling for a half second. Clearing his throat a little, Stiles grinned at Derek and tipped his head.

"Foxes are pretty great, they're a combination of a cat and a dog personality wise. But I don't think they're really good inside pets. Like ferrets. Ferrets are cute but dude. If you don't get them sorted out right away? They stink." Stiles wrinkled his nose a little at the thought, looking at Derek with a bemused smile. "That's why they're outside animals unfortunately. As cool as they are." Stiles sighed wistfully before he shifted, pulling away just a little bit from Derek finally. "Wolves are great, they're so much bigger than anyone thinks they are either. It's great seeing people realize how big wolves actually are."

Stiles properly straightened up and clapped his hands together, pleased. "Yeah! Red pandas first, then we'll head towards the foxes and the wolves." He agreed, twisting and heading off the direction that Derek pointed out. "C'mon Derek, let's go." he grinned, bright and excited at the other man.

Stiles was oblivious to Derek's attention, the way he was looking at him because he didn't really expect anyone to look that closely at him either. But also because he was engrossed in his story, his rambling as he was wont to do. Derek was warm where his shoulder pressed against his chest, soaking through the thick material of his flannel and Stiles let himself get a little distracted by the feeling for a half second. Clearing his throat a little, Stiles grinned at Derek and tipped his head.

"Foxes are pretty great, they're a combination of a cat and a dog personality wise. But I don't think they're really good inside pets. Like ferrets. Ferrets are cute but dude. If you don't get them sorted out right away? They stink." Stiles wrinkled his nose a little at the thought, looking at Derek with a bemused smile. "That's why they're outside animals unfortunately. As cool as they are." Stiles sighed wistfully before he shifted, pulling away just a little bit from Derek finally. "Wolves are great, they're so much bigger than anyone thinks they are either. It's great seeing people realize how big wolves actually are."

Stiles properly straightened up and clapped his hands together, pleased. "Yeah! Red pandas first, then we'll head towards the foxes and the wolves." He agreed, twisting and heading off the direction that Derek pointed out. "C'mon Derek, let's go." he grinned, bright and excited at the other man.