A Denny's On the Mainland | Thursday Evening

[robinonadderall]

It'd been awhile since he and Derek had been on a Denny's trip. Especially one that had no trauma attached to it. Sure, it had the risk of being slightly awkward if anybody misconstrued this as a date but it was a risk Stiles was willing to take. He was even willing to pay for his own meal just to further prove that this wasn't a date.

"Oh god there's a peanut butter cup pancake breakfast."

[For Derek! And I want that breakfast]

Comments

[robinonadderall]

"You can have turkey bacon." It was pretty much the same thing, right?

[justlurkinghere]

It was an abomination!

"...I'm getting ham," Derek seethed. At least it was pork based.

[robinonadderall]

Stiles ducked his head down a little but there was no hiding he was smiling. "Ham is fine. In moderation."

[justlurkinghere]

Derek rolled his eyes in something that could be fond exasperation if you squinted. And knew him well enough.

Mostly squinted.

"How are you sleeping?"

Completely normal conversation to have between friends.

[robinonadderall]

"It's been okay for the last few days," Stiles said, focusing on his menu even though he already knew he was ordering the peanut butter cup thing. "I had a really bad one when I was home so maybe the nemeton is cutting me a break."

[justlurkinghere]

"Good." Normal conversations. Noooormal.

[robinonadderall]

"It's not gonna last," he said. "I mean I'm enjoying the reprieve but I'm not dumb enough to think it's over."

[justlurkinghere]

"But better is good."

[robinonadderall]

"Yeah, it is." Derek, why did you bring this up?

[justlurkinghere]

Because it's not like he was great at conversations!

"Good." Also, he was so socially awkward.

[robinonadderall]

"Yep. Good." This was less awkward when they had more traumatic things to talk about. "Okay, I'm going to the bathroom, you order for me."

Maybe he'd think of something else to say by the time he got back.

[justlurkinghere]

They were the worst ever. It was true. Just look at them being awkward.

"Sure." And maybe Derek will have a conversation planned that doesn't involve: 'So, therapy is evil and makes me think about my terrible life' or 'Hey, we're totally not dating, right?'

[robinonadderall]

They were totally dating. They were just in denial. Hence the awkward.

Stiles did manage to think of a conversation topic by the time he got back. "I got a job. Not in the bathroom. In Fandom."

[justlurkinghere]

"...that's better than a job in the bathroom," Derek admitted slowly.

[robinonadderall]

"No kidding. The only job I think you can get in the bathroom would be as a hooker," he said. "I don't think anybody would recruit me for that."

[justlurkinghere]

Derek was just going to stare for a moment. "Yeah. Don't do that."

[robinonadderall]

"It's not going to be a problem," he assured him. "But it's the trooper station. My new job, I mean."

You know. Like you suggested, Derek.

[justlurkinghere]

"Really?" Look at him being all happy about that.

[robinonadderall]

"Yeah," Stiles said. "It was a good idea."

[justlurkinghere]

And that would be Derek smiling. Maybe.

"When?" So that Derek could stalk from afar.

[robinonadderall]

"I can start whenever so I guess I'll be there whenever I have time," he said. "I'm mostly going to be pushing coffee at people I think."

[justlurkinghere]

"Probably safer that way." Because there was so much police related danger in Fandom.

[robinonadderall]

"A lot safer than my dad's office, it's true," Stiles said. "Almost died in there before."

[justlurkinghere]

"Is this the honesty thing again?" Just to clarify things.

[robinonadderall]

"Uh, the honesty thing never stopped," Stiles said. "Unless you want it to, I mean."