When Stiles stumbles upon Lydia crying in a car, she tells him to go away because she doesn’t want Stiles to see her crying. Stiles tells Lydia that he thinks she’s really beautiful when she cries.
It’s another honest admission from Stiles, but it serves an important lesson for Lydia. Lydia often hides who she truly is because she doesn’t believe her friends will accept her. Stiles is one of the few people who truly sees the real Lydia Martin. Not only does he accept her, he loves her unconditionally. Lydia needs to do the same.
Stiles protects Lydia every chance he gets. There are countless moments to choose from. The scene where the flock of birds bursts through their classroom window is one of my favorites. It’s absolute chaos in the scene, but if you watch closely you can see Stiles using the desks to crawl to Lydia. Once he reaches her, Stiles shields Lydia with his body. Swoon.
Lydia isn’t always the damsel in distress. She protects Stiles as much as he protects her.
After Stiles talks Scott out of committing suicide, his flare accidentally ignites. Lydia knocks Stiles to the ground and shields him from the blast. Love is often instinctual. When it comes to Stiles, Lydia doesn’t think. She acts.
Initially, Lydia volunteers to be Allison’s tether, but Deaton insists her attachment is with Stiles. See? Even Deaton ships them. Stiles and Lydia are certainly a slow burn, but every so often Teen Wolf cranks up the heat. No matter what happens between them, Lydia will always be the person who brought Stiles back from the dead.
Stiles pined for Lydia all Season 1 (and Season 2 and Season 3…) but enough was enough. Fed up with the cold shoulder, Stiles is bolstered by a sudden surge of confidence (probably to mask his mind numbing fear) and demands Lydia dance with him.
But he doesn’t stop there. Stiles simulatenously calls Lydia out for being an ice queen, while declaring all the things he loves most about her – primarily her intelligence. It is classic Stiles.
It’s also a speech no girl, not even Lydia Martin, can say no to. Stiles’ overjoyed reaction to Lydia’s yes and the immediate coziness of their dance are simply the icing on the cake.
In Teen Wolf Season 2, Lydia’s ex-boyfriend Jackson becomes a murdering kanima. She is determined to help him, but Stiles fears she’ll be killed. Frustrated and upset over her lack of concern for her safety, Stiles delivers an unbelievable speech on the realities of death and those left behind.
“I’ll be devastated and if you die I will literally go out of my freaking mind. You see, death doesn’t happen to you Lydia. It happens to everyone around you. Okay? (It happens) to all the people left standing around at your funeral trying to figure out how they’re going to live the rest of their lives now without you in it.”
Losing his mother makes Stiles’ accutely aware of what being left behind is like. There are a million ways to say I love you, but this is probably Stiles’ most heart breaking speech to Lydia. She’s not just a crush to Stiles. He’s deeply and madly in love with Lydia Martin. So much so that a life without her is unfathomable.
Fans waited three years for these two characters to lock lips. The wait was worth it.
Lydia kisses Stiles to stop his panic attack. Apparently, holding your breath stops a panic attack. However, both of their emotional reactions to the kiss reveal it meant so much more to both of them.
Stiles is slightly stunned and overwhelmed that the kiss he’s been dreaming of since the third grade finally happened. We’re right there with ya buddy. Stiles remarks Lydia’s plan was “really smart”, once again revealing it’s her intelligence he loves most.
The real surprise though is Lydia. She keeps her eyes closed long after the kiss ends as if to hold onto whatever she’s feeling. As she explains why she kissed Stiles, tears are shining in her eyes. It’s apparent Lydia’s plan had some unexpected emotional results.
