this Derek with this Stiles
I'm thinking frazzled single dad Derek that edits videos for a living. Influencener Stiles that hires him as his new editor. Derek's kid(s) are a fan of Stiles and very excited by their dad's new job. Ofc hijinks and falling in love ensue.
So my brain did a thing and here, have a ficlet for this headcanon from @nothingbutsterek 😁
(no idea of the word count but it's rated T and it's fluff, though there are some references to canonical character deaths, and sorrynotsorry that it isn't under a read more cut, I'm on mobile and I couldn't figure it out.) - edit, thanks to @fanfics-fix and @all-or-nothing-baby the read more cut is now working!
Happy reading! And if anyone wants to throw me a "Yay! You finally managed to finish a fic!" and maybe throw a party because it has been literal months since I've written anything, then yeah, please do!
-
Derek is not entirely convinced Stiles is a good role model for his kids. He has dyed hair, lots of tattoos and he has a stupid nickname.
"It's his name, Dad," Erica complains. "Stiles Stilinski. No one knows his real name but Stiles is short for Stilinski. Everyone knows that."
Derek rolls his eyes. Erica is 13 and has picked up all of her attitude from her aunt Cora. But still, he's relieved that Stiles is an actual name and he isn't just misspelling Styles in an attempt to be edgy. And look, he isn't judging about the hair colour and tattoos, he really isn't, he just isn't sure he wants his kids obsessed with getting a tattoo just yet. Erica's asked twice already but fortunately Isaac has decided to 'wait until he's older'. Seeing as he's only 9, that could mean he'll forget about it, or it could mean he'll decide he wants one next week.
Anyway, tattoos are big decisions and if Erica wants to dye her hair, fine, it'll wash or grow out eventually, he isn't too concerned about that. But tattoos are permanent and she shouldn't make that decision until she's at least 21.
(He, of course, conveniently forgets the triskelion he had inked onto his back on his 18th birthday. That's different.)
Once it becomes clear that neither Erica nor Isaac are going to get over their obsession with Stiles any time soon, Derek sits down and watches some of his videos, just so he knows what sort of messages they're absorbing.
A week later (it takes him a week because he works freelance and the kids have lacrosse practice and little league and Erica has drama class and Isaac has music class and somehow the house still needs to be cleaned and dinner needs to be cooked and cooking really isn't Derek's forte but he has to do it because there is no one else and -), he's worked his way through all of Stiles' videos and he's pleasantly surprised.
Despite how he looks (Derek is reminded of a guy he once scored some weed from, back in college), Stiles is articulate. He swears a little too often and rambles off on a hundred tangents before he gets to the point he was trying to make, but the overall message is that humanity needs to do better. He talks about the climate crisis, about Black Lives Matter. He admits his dad is a cop so he can't agree that all cops are bastards, but he acknowledges that defunding the police and putting that money into improving people's lives (education, housing, healthcare) would reduce crime.
He also says "eat the rich" which both Erica and Isaac pick up on and repeat at the dinner table. And the breakfast table. And in the car. It makes Derek pinch the bridge of his nose so hard it hurts.
"We are rich," he snaps eventually, after almost an hour of the kids repeating every line from Stiles' latest video, word for word.
"But not rich, Dad," Erica whines. "Not, like, several mansions and matching yachts and billions in the bank rich."
Derek grits his teeth. She has a point. But still. His family's wealth has never really sat well with him. He donates to causes, usually anonymously. He doesn't want the recognition for it. And sometimes he'll spend an hour going through Go Fund Me and topping up donations so the recipient meets their original target.
It never feels like enough, though.
So he works. He doesn't want to be a rich asshole who sits around doing nothing. He edits videos for a living, he picks his own hours so he can be a good (or at least passable) dad to his kids, and he's mostly fuelled by coffee.
*
It's 3am when the email comes in. Derek is still working. He's just finished editing a corporate video and is about to turn off his computer when his email pings.
Sender: Stiles Stilinski
Subject: Looking for a new editor
Dude, your kid left me a comment with your website. Need a new editor and your stuff looks great. Help a buddy out? I'm doing it myself at the moment and I have no f'ing clue. LMK if you can help and your rates and stuff. K, thx, bye.
Derek inwardly curses whichever one of the kids left that comment. He has more than enough work at the moment. But still, it will win him bonus Dad Points so he replies.
Sender: Derek Hale
Subject: Re. Looking for a new editor
Dear Mr Stilinski
I would be happy to assist you with your video editing needs. Please find attached a breakdown of my rates and some forms to fill in with your contact details and requirements.
I look forward to hearing back from you.
Regards,
Derek Hale
Hale Editing Services
He hits send and closes his computer. Everything else can wait until tomorrow. For now, he needs sleep.
*
They exchange some emails before they meet in person. Technically, it isn't necessary, Derek's work can be done remotely and he has international clients who he's never even spoken to on the phone because time zones are a pain in the ass, but they both live in Beacon Hills and Derek prefers to work face to face when he can. Apart from anything else, it gets him out of the house and allows him to have a conversation that doesn't revolve around homework and gym kit reminders and tidy your room type nagging.
So they meet at the coffee shop. The WiFi there is good and the coffee is both good and necessary considering Derek's sleep pattern is currently down to grabbing a few hours as and when he can. He's tired and frazzled when he arrives and in a moment that eschews manners, orders his coffee before he greets Stiles.
Stiles is different in person. He's chewing his nails and jiggling his leg and he jumps up as soon as Derek approaches the table he's sitting at.
"Hi, Derek. Wait, you are Derek, right? I mean, you must be, it's not that busy in here and you're the only one who's in business dress and ordered a coffee to drink here instead of to go so I'm guessing and I think I'm probably right but if you say no, I'm gonna be so embarrassed and I'm just gonna stop talking now, ok?"
Derek can't help the soft laugh that falls from his lips. "I'm Derek. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Stilinski."
"Stiles, please. Mr. Stilinski is my father and he's great but - actually, technically, he's Sheriff Stilinski and - anyway, I'm Stiles. Just Stiles."
Derek smiles, more warmly than he has in a long time, at least to anyone who isn't family, and sits down. "Very well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Just Stiles."
Stiles huffs out a breath that might be amusement or might be relief and sits down too. "Yeah, uh, like- likewise. It's good to meet you. In person."
"So let's have a look at this latest video."
Two hours later, Derek knows he's going to be earning his money. The 8 minute videos Stiles posts on YouTube, and the 3 minute short versions he posts on TikTok, actually start out as completely unedited hour long rambles where Stiles talks about anything and everything, gets distracted by his phone, falls down a Wikipedia rabbit hole, and narrates his every single move and thought. Finding break points will be tricky because he barely pauses for breath, and stringing all of his thoughts together into a coherent stream will take all of Derek's analysis skills.
Dad Points, he reminds himself. Though it's more than that. He's actually quite intrigued by everything Stiles is saying. And by the difference between Stiles-in-person and Stiles-on-video. More intrigued than perhaps he should be, given that it's a professional relationship.
"- like, do you know how difficult it is to make money from this shit?"
Derek shakes his head. He was so lost in his thoughts that he's tuned out most of what Stiles said. "Sorry, missed that. What were you saying?"
"I was saying that making money from YouTube and TikTok is really fucking hard but trying to do that, which is fun, don't get me wrong, but it's like, a lot, and holding down a full time job, is - it's not easy."
"So this stuff isn't your main source of income?"
"Nope. No. I have a day job too."
"Which is?"
Stiles chews his thumb nail again. "Shrink. I'm a shrink. Go on, laugh, everyone else does."
Derek won't admit it but he's slightly taken aback. He doesn't laugh, though. "Why would I laugh?"
"Because of how I look. It isn't exactly a professional image, is it? But I work with troubled kids, take referrals from the guidance counsellors at the schools, from the cops, the hospital. As well as private patients, obvs. Anyway, the way I look helps with building a rapport. I don't look like the parents idea of someone they want their kids to associate with - if they even have parents who give a shit - but it helps me connect with them. The kids I see, they look at me and they see someone different. Not someone who's gonna yell at them about their grades, or someone they're gonna be in trouble with. And I look younger than I actually am too, which helps, a lot of them see me as, like, an older brother or a cousin or something. So yeah, the parents might hate me a bit but the kids don't and that's all that matters."
Derek thinks he probably has hearts in his eyes. He wasn't expecting that. It's a lesson for him to not judge by appearances alone. "How old are you, anyway?" It isn't the best response but he's flailing for an appropriate one that doesn't give away the fact that he might have just fallen a little bit in love.
"30. Almost, anyway. You?"
"34. Almost, anyway."
Stiles grins, clearly pleased that Derek echoed his words. "Cool. How old are your kids?"
"Erica is 13, growing up to fast. Isaac is 9 and easily led by his sister. Both have spent too much time with their aunts, Laura and Cora, and have way too much attitude."
Stiles laughs softly. "And what attitude do you have when you remove the proverbial stick from your ass?"
Derek glowers at him.
"No, seriously, you're all stick up the ass professional but your - they are your sisters, right, not your wife's? Or partner's? Sorry, I shouldn't assume. But if attitude is a family trait, then I was just - never mind."
"I'm single," Derek blurts out. "No wife. No partner. My sisters help out with the kids when they can. And I don't have a stick up my ass."
"You kinda do," Stiles argues, but he's smirking. He can't help it. There's a really hot, nice, single guy in front of him. Smirking is the only appropriate response.
"Fine," Derek grits out. "But only for work. I mostly deal with big corporations, professional videos. Never the fun stuff."
"So I'm fun stuff?"
That sounds like it could have a double meaning but Derek nods anyway. "Influencer stuff, music videos, the occasional short film. That's all fun stuff."
Stiles smirks again and adds a wink. "Good to know."
Flustered at being flirted with (if it is indeed flirting, he isn't exactly an expert at these things), Derek blushes and clears his throat and starts wrapping up the meeting.
If Stiles is disappointed, he doesn't show it, though he does pointedly say that Derek has his number if he needs anything further which Derek assumes is an invitation to call.
He won't. He doesn't have time in his life to devote to dating. Or fun. Stiles deserves better than that. If he was actually flirting. Which he might not have been.
By the time he's gotten home, done some work, and spent an hour listening to Erica, he has other things to worry about.
"Boyd said -" she says, then launches into a long and involved explanation about what Boyd said, for the third time since they sat down to dinner.
From what Derek can gather, Boyd is the new boy at school and Erica has a crush that might or might not be reciprocated. He'd hoped to get another few years before he had to worry about this stuff but no, he's worrying about it now.
Of course, he could always call Stiles - child psychologist Stiles as opposed to social media influencer Stiles - and ask his advice.
Maybe he'll do that.
*
He doesn't, in the end. He has another job come in, then Boyd breaks Erica's heart. (How? Derek thinks. How in the space of 3 days is he holding his teenage daughter and stroking her hair as she cries her heart out over a boy she barely knows?)
Once the immediate crisis is over, Derek gets to work on editing Stiles' video. It takes forever, as he'd expected, but he gets it done exactly the way Stiles had asked - polished but not too polished, not too professional, so it still seems like an average home video.
Stiles confirms he's happy with it - or at least that's what Erica translates Stiles' email to mean. As far as Derek's concerned, it looks like a cat walked across the keyboard and managed to press send, but he's reliably informed that it is, in fact, a keyboard smash and is used to mean enthusiasm.
Anyway, Stiles posts the video so it must have been right, and Derek sends him an invoice which gets paid straight away.
It seems like a good business relationship.
*
They communicate by email for the next few videos. Derek removes the stick from his ass and drops some of the professional act, to mirror Stiles' demeanour via email. Stiles finds that more comfortable, though he's struggling with the impersonal nature of remote working.
So, after they complete another video, he gets into his ancient jeep, stops at the grocery store for a six pack of beer, and drives over to Derek's house.
He sits there for a moment, staring at the house. It isn't as grand as he was expecting, given the amount of money the Hale family have. He thought it might be a mansion but it's a standard four bedroom suburban home.
The porch light flicks on so they must know he's here. He braces himself for the onslaught of kids who think they know him because they've watched his videos, gets out of the Jeep and goes to knock on the door.
"Stiles," Derek greets him flatly. "How did you -"
"Your address is on your business stationery," Stiles says quickly. "Sorry to turn up unannounced, I can - I can go, I just wanted -"
"No, it's fine. Come in." Derek steps away from the door so Stiles can come in, and goes through to the kitchen.
Stiles follows behind him. "Nice place. Very...quiet?"
Derek laughs softly. "They're at a sleepover at Laura and Jennifer's, having fun with their cousins."
Some of the tension seeps out of Stiles' shoulders. "So you're here all alone, then. Hope you're not scared of the dark," he teases.
Derek rolls his eyes and glances at the six pack of beer. "Did you bring that to drink or look at?"
"Oh, drink, definitely. I mostly brought it for you, though, to say thanks for all your hard work."
"You've paid me for my work."
"Yeah but this is a more personal thanks."
Derek nods. "Appreciate it, thank you."
"No problemo," Stiles says and immediately kicks himself. Even the kids he worked with would have laughed themselves stupid at that.
Derek doesn't laugh. He just smiles and takes the six pack. He probably shouldn't do this, but -
But he has a night off. A weekend off, in fact. The kids aren't due back til Sunday night, it's currently Friday evening. He's allowed to kick back and enjoying some beers and some company seem like a good way of doing that. And at least he already knows Stiles won't judge him for his lack of people skills. There is, after all, a reason he works alone with computers.
So fuck it. He's gonna do it.
He tears off a can of beer, then another and puts the rest in the fridge. "Here," he says, holding out a can to Stiles.
"I, uh - thanks, y'know, I - it'd be - I have to drive home so unless you want me crashing on your couch for the night, I probably shouldn't."
"There's a pullout couch in the family room."
Stiles hesitates and takes the beer. "Thanks. As long as you're sure."
"I'm sure."
They talk while they drink. Mostly Stiles talks, with big, open gestures. It doesn't matter what he's talking about, he's passionate about it. But he listens, too. He sits attentively and quietly when Derek speaks and doesn't try to dominate the conversation.
The six pack turns into a six pack and a bottle of wine, and then they open a bottle of whiskey to go along with it. The conversation turns a little maudlin. Derek talks about the family he lost in the fire. About the injured uncle who he visits regularly. Stiles talks about losing his mom when he was a kid and how that drove him along his career path.
"I was having issues. ADHD, anxiety, PTSD, anger management problems. And I ended up seeing this great therapist. She really helped me and I knew I wanted to be that person for other kids. So here I am."
Derek smiles and nods. He's impressed by Stiles' ability to take something so negative, so traumatic, and turn it into a force for good.
"That's how I ended up making videos," Stiles goes on. "It was an extension of my work. I wanted to reach more kids. Not necessarily to let them know things would turn out ok, that sort of messaging...it can do a lot of damage. But to engage with them, as young people. To get them to engage with the wider world and help them gain some perspective."
"That's pretty awesome," Derek says. "Your videos, they aren't just aimed at kids, you don't talk down to them."
"Nope. No, I don't. It's the mistake so many people make. Kids are just young adults, it's important to engage with them on that basis and not just...a lot of kids get dismissed, ignored, spoken over, and that - that's half of the problem when they start acting out. They usually feel like they aren't being heard so I try to give them a space - well, at work I do give them a space but it's harder on the internet, but I try to give them a space where they matter. Where their thoughts and opinions and feelings matter. It's why I don't do the usual don't take drugs, do practice safe sex type lectures. There's tons of that stuff out there, they don't need anymore of it."
"No surprise the kids love you."
"Well, most of them anyway."
"My kids do."
Stiles nods. "They're good kids. They comment on every video, engage with some of the others. I guess you monitor their internet usage to an extent?"
"Yeah. Not too much. I feel like if I control them too much, they'll rebel against it. So Erica has free rein, really. Actually, Cora supervises her a lot, keeps an eye on her social media accounts to make sure there's nothing untoward going on. Isaac, I check his browsing history every day, which he knows, and he isn't allowed to message anyone I haven't personally met - or met their parents. His laptop has a lot of parental controls on it so I'm not too worried."
Stiles smiles warmly. "That's great. One of the complaints I hear most at work is kids don't feel they have any privacy. Sounds like you're doing a great job with them."
Derek lights up. "You think?"
"Yeah, absolutely. You're a single dad, right? Managing work and two kids. And they're turning out great from what I can tell."
"Thank you," Derek says quietly, then excuses himself for a moment.
He has to excuse himself because otherwise he's going to kiss Stiles and that would be unprofessional and probably fuck up what looks like it might be a perfectly good friendship and he has no idea if Stiles is even into guys and -
Derek isn't prone to anxiety but he does sometimes get thought spirals, has done ever since the fire that claimed the lives of his family when he was barely more than a kid. He gets trapped into a negative spiral, loses all sense of logic and then needs ten minutes of staring at a wall to calm himself down.
It probably isn't as bad as he thinks.
He knows it isn't as bad as he thinks.
Stiles has no idea what Derek was thinking when he left the room so everything's fine, it's fi-
"Derek?"
Derek practically jumps out of his skin. "Yes?" he barks out.
"I have a question."
Derek swallows hard and turns around to find Stiles leaning against the doorframe, one leg crossed in front of the other, arms folded across his chest, and a big smirk on his face. He doesn't look defensive, as his body language might suggest, he looks cocky. Confident. And it's doing things to Derek.
"Sure," Derek says. "What?"
"Do you like men?"
"What? Why are you asking that?"
Stiles shrugs, still looking cocky and confident. "Because I felt like maybe we were having a moment and then you stood up and ran away. Were we having a moment or did I imagine it?"
"We-" Derek swallows hard again and takes a step closer. "We were having a moment."
Stiles' smirk only grows. "Ok, good. I was enjoying the moment. But if we're no longer having that particular moment, maybe we can move on to a different moment."
"What?"
Stiles laughs softly and ducks his head. When he looks back up, his lips are moist. Parted. Ready. "Shut up and kiss me, Derek."
Derek does.
And then he does it again.
Stiles doesn't sleep on the pullout couch.
(Neither of them sleep much at all.)
*
"Dad!" Erica shrieks when Derek tells her he's dating Stiles. "Oh my god! When can we meet him? Can we meet him soon?"
"Can we? Please please please please please?" Isaac says, his little hands clasped together as though in prayer.
Derek rolls his eyes. He hadn't planned to tell them about any future relationships quite so soon but they know (of) Stiles. It wouldn't be fair not to tell them. So after some discussion with Stiles, they'd agreed that Derek should tell the kids now, but that meeting should wait until they've at least had their first official date.
"Soon," he says. "In a couple of weeks, probably."
Erica lets out an excited little "yay!", then bounces off to her room, yelling that she has to tell Boyd that her dad is dating the cool YouTuber.
Derek wonders when her heartbreak over Boyd had healed but he has no idea and Isaac isn't much help, he just wants to tell Derek all about the dinosaur he'd just learned about. Apparently it was a Pegomastax which Isaac had to spell out because he couldn't quite say it properly. Derek's never even heard of it which prompts Isaac to drag him over to the computer and show him at least a hundred different websites, all about dinosaurs.
Which Derek accepts in good humour. He loves listening to his kids being passionate about one of their interests. Admittedly his mind starts to wander after an hour or so, but it only wanders as far as Stiles and where they might go on their first date. And then it wanders to how Stiles meeting the kids will go. And then it wanders to fretting about how on earth he's going to devote the time he needs to Stiles without neglecting Erica and Isaac, and work.
He's sure he can manage it, though. Laura and Cora will just have to help. After all, they've been on his case for years, trying to get him to start dating again.
They can't complain now that he finally is.
