I just want to take a moment to remind people of other things which are actual canon.
It is actual canon that Derek was able to slam Stiles up against the above door because Derek chose, of all POSSIBLE places, to go to Stiles’ BEDROOM to hide from the cops that were hunting him. It is actual canon that Derek believed Stiles would not give him away to even his own father, the sheriff- and actual canon that Stiles did not, despite that it might have been easier if he had.
It is actual canon that Stiles spends literal hours protecting Derek by driving him around in his precious Jeep despite that he “is starting to smell … like death”
It is actual canon that Stiles was willing to suffer a lifetime of nightmares by sawing off the arm of this guy he just spent hours protecting, to save his life. (Good thing Scott happened to arrive)
It is actual canon that Stiles offered Derek his injured hand to help him to his feet, and that Derek preferentially accepted Stiles’ hand - both of them KNOWING that Stiles couldn’t actually help him up, because he’d hurt his hand punching him. Scott could have actually helped him up, but he took Stiles’ hand.
It is actual canon that Derek turned his back on a deadly enemy at the pool to ensure that Stiles was moving for safety. It is actual canon that Stiles chose not to save his own skin, but to help Derek move, and to dive in after Derek when he fell.
It is actual canon that Stiles literally keeps treading water trying to keep Derek alive until he is so exhausted that he, himself, would have drowned with Derek rather than leave him to save himself. (Good thing Scott happened to arrive)
It is actual canon that when Derek is trying to come up with a word for how the kanima differs from werewolves, Stiles offers that it is an abomination, implying that (for the first time in Derek’s life perhaps) not all humans think werewolves are abominations. There is a look involved with this moment that it is difficult to believe is actual canon.
It is actual canon that Derek puts himself between Stiles and his fresh beta, Isaac, and snarls Isaac into submission to protect Stiles. It is also actual canon the “be impressed by me” look Derek flashes to Stiles after doing so. It is also also canon the impressed look Stiles concedes to him in response.
It is actual canon that Stiles misses his chance to play in his first lacrosse game in order to go helping Derek with his problems.
It is actual canon that Derek crawls across broken glass on his belly, despite there being no injury to his legs and no reason for him to do so, in order to draw Peter away from Stiles.
It is actual canon that when both Stiles and Derek are paralyzed on the floor of the police station and Scott comes to fetch them, Derek insists (loudly, actually) that Scott take Stiles to safety first; even though clearly Scott is already doing that, would have done that anyway.
It is actual canon that Derek goes to protect Stiles’ father from Matt, the kanima, and the hunters after ensuring that Stiles is safely away with Scott.
It is actual canon that no matter how angry Derek gets, no matter how hurt he is, he does not let his wolf side snap at Stiles. He never flashes his eyes red. He never snarls or growls or bares his wolf fangs at Stiles. He is human when he deals with Stiles. Even when he’s pissed. Even when he’s upset. Even when he’s hurt.
And someday, I truly believe, it will be actual canon when they kiss. It will be actual canon that they love one another openly.
