A Show Of Trust - Steter

a show of trust - steter

for @detektywpikachu who asked for steter plus stiles gets a haircut from peter                            

–

The first time it happens it’s a case of a necessary evil. Not even a “cut a lock of hair for a spell” scenario though. Oh no. It’s more of a “cut all the hair off before the gunk sinks into Stiles’ skin and melts his brain” kind of situation.

Either way, Stiles doesn’t give a fuck about how or who or what with. He’d do it himself if he had eyes on the back of his head to make sure he doesn’t miss a spot.

He rocked a buzzcut for years and although he’ll miss the “artful bed-head” - as his dad started to call it, - it’s a small price to pay for his continued ability to live.

So he glares at where Lydia and Erica are fighting over the scissors and comb, then ends their squabbling with one sentence.

“Peter,” he calls, addressing the man who’s been observing the situation from his usual perch on the stairs,“ will you do the honors?”

Peter smiles at him, pleased and triumphant in the face of Lydia’s and Erica’s protests, and follows Stiles to the bathroom.

Somehow, when Peter’s done, and Stiles’ hair is cropped short again he looks better than he ever did sporting a buzzcut.

–

The next time it happens Stiles’ life isn’t under threat any more than on any other regular old Tuesday and it’s Peter who offers.

Granted, the main reason for it could be the fact that Stiles sprained his right wrist in a fight two weeks ago and his hair was getting out of hand.

He could go to a barber. He had every intention to do it, too. But.

He’s sprawled on Peter’s couch in the man’s apartment, taking advantage of Peter’s Disney+ subscription. They are friends, these days, and binge-watching the Mandalorian and hanging out is one of the things they do.

And so is snuggling, which they both attribute to Peter’s pack instincts while ignoring the elephant in the room that is the thing growing between them.  

As it is, Stiles must have shoved his hair one time too many into Peter’s face because Stiles finds himself being playfully pushed away by the application of hand to face until he finds himself half sprawled in Peter’s lap.

Before Stiles can question the sudden change in position, all done in a way that somehow avoided him landing on his injured writs, Peter tugs at his hair gently.

“I’m sorry to say this, sweetheart, but this birdnest on your head you call hair needs to be trimmed down into something more suitable for your pretty face.” Before Stiles could protest, squawk, or even agree, Peter continued, “I can do it for you right now, if you want?”

Which is how Stiles finds himself in Peter’s bathroom, perched on one of the stools from Peter’s kitchen, the brush of the comb and snipping of scissors making for the ambiance.

It’s… strangely intimate, more intimate than hugging or cuddling somehow and Stiles can’t explain why.

He’s been nose to chest with Peter before, they’ve been friends for years now, packmates. They train, they roughhouse, they sprawl over each other as they watched TV the same way Stiles does with Scott, Derek, Kira, Boyd and everyone else. Though he and Jackson don’t snuggle. Ever. There’s no proof.

But here and now, with Peter standing between Stiles’ legs as he cuts the hair at the front of Stiles’ head, his movements sure and precise because it’s just another thing he’s ridiculously good at–

There’s tension building up, and Stiles can’t be sure if Peter feels it too, how strange, how edge-teetering it is for them, suspended in limbo as they are between friendship and more and how to bridge the gap.

But maybe Peter feels it just as keenly in the silence that has befallen. Maybe he knows just as well as Stiles does that this could be the moment because he doesn’t protest when Stiles’ hands settle on his hips, holding him, squeezing gently. He doesn’t admonish Stiles to be careful when Stiles lifts his head to look at Peter, the scissors and comb having already been put away so Peter’s hands are free to cradle Stiles jaw.

Peter’s smile is soft, barely-there and so much more real for it and somehow it’s the easiest thing in the world for Stiles to tip his head a little higher and meet Peter halfway.

–

“Did you plan it?”

“I hoped.”

–

pls reblog