Deafening Silence

Ch. 36

FIFTEEN YEARS LATER

Liam's thumbs jammed against the buttons on the controller as he used what energy his little body could muster up to give the current level his all. The eight year old was ruthless, in the moment it didn't matter that he was up against his father he was going to beat him for the fourth time in a row, and even gloat about it. In a moment of weakness Stiles started slapping at the kids' controller and when that failed his hand flew up and over Liam's eyes. He wishes he could say he was letting him win, Stiles honestly went into the game with that intention, but his son didn't need him to be nice. No matter how hard Stiles tried Liam beat him, every single time.

Stiles' character lie dead on the screen as his son danced in victory. He was gearing up to ask his dad for another match when his father came marching through the front door. Stiles' eyes flew up, and the grin on his face was replaced with worry as he took in Derek's disheveled look.

"Papa! You're home, will you play with me? Pleeaasseee! Dad sucks"

"Hey! Way to soften the blow buddy, we wait for people to leave the room before bad mouthing them" Stiles joked with an accompanied laugh.

Derek, try as he may, was less than enthusiastic when he spoke "Later buddy" he tossed his briefcase onto the sofa. A quick finger came up and pointed to the back door where their new dog sat. Derek spoke roughly as he moved, on his way to the kitchen "Spot wants to go out Liam. I told you no more accidents in the house"

"Sorry!" he yipped before taking the dog that was the same size as him to the back yard.

No more words were exchanged once the boy was out of the house. Derek just continued right past his husband, silent and morose. Stiles discarded his controller looking around the house trying to distract himself from jumping down Derek's throat with questions. He managed to detangle the mess of cords he and his son had made and straighten up the heap of homework Liam had strewn across the coffee table before he gave in.

"You're home early" Stiles stated once he found Derek in the kitchen. He was standing over the the still steaming casserole on the counter.

"Yeah, didn't want to miss dinner. Where's Adeline?"

"Napping. Don't you know it's hard work being three" he joked, leaning against the same counter with his hip.

"Liam got his Xbox back?"

"He got three stars at the end of class today. And Mrs. Maybelle said he stayed behind during recess to help clean the classroom. He's learned to kiss up early"

"Mmhm. Definitely you're kid" Stiles didn't have time to be playfully offended, a shaky sigh slipped past Derek's lips as he braved himself against the sink. Stiles waited with anticipation as his husbands eyes darted to everything in the kitchen, everything but Stiles' eyes. He figured he needed a moment, that he was gearing up to say something else, something big, so Stiles wasn't going to push "And Kay? Where is she?"

"In her room. She came home from volunteering and hasn't come down since. Don't worry I've checked on her and forced her to eat" This didn't seem to ease his mind, if anything he tensed up even more.

Stiles took one last glance at Liam in the yard before walking all the way into the kitchen. The man ran his arms along the length of his husbands back and shoulders. Gently he massaged the kinks as he pressed himself into his back, if for anything just to let him know he was there. Derek let out a deep breath in attempts to remove any tension. A delicate whisper finally came as Stiles kissed at Derek's button up clad back "What's going on?"

"Nothing" the response was quick, and easily foiled by Stiles.

"Der, I know you, don't try to lie to me" willing to push a little more he turned the larger man in his arms so that they were finally face to face. It was then he had the full affect of the stress wreaking havoc on the man. Stiles ran a hand over the lines of his face, pressing them flat in hopes of making them disappear "Talk to me"