Work in Progress!
Chemistry
This is it so far, might be about 10k words?
Sterek, humans AU, post-college Stiles
Falling in love is formulaic. Just interest, proximity, and intent. Staying in love isn’t much different. It’s forethought, commitment, and work. Most people aren’t really interested in the second part. Most people think that love is a feeling, not a choice. Most people fail at love.
Unlike most people, Derek was wholly interested in both falling in love and staying in love. He knew love was a choice. However, he was very much like most people in that he failed at love, again and again. And he knew it was because of one, simple, inescapable truth.
Derek Hale was an irredeemable asshole.
He was educated, handsome, successful, and generous. But he would not, could not, handle sarcasm. Sure, he could recognize it well enough, and on rare occasions professionals used it successfully in writing or performances. But in real life, in day-to-day interactions? No. Absolutely not. Whenever he heard sarcasm, it sounded like someone trying to pull off a poorly executed insult or downright lie, then wave it off as a joke.
Not appreciating sarcasm did not make him an asshole per se, but calling it out every time he heard it absolutely made him an asshole. He had a near compulsive need to tell people that they were acting like bad liars, that they were not remotely funny, and, most importantly, that sarcasm was the most low-effort and immature form of verbal humor to ever exist. It was one step below fart jokes, which wasn't even a fair comparison, because fart jokes could actually be funny.
Naturally, Derek was not fun at parties.
Being educated, handsome, successful, and generous meant that he never lacked company if he wanted it. Most people were more than willing to tolerate him, up to a certain point. He had a long list of hookups and short-term partners, a few men but mostly women, since his romantic relationships never seemed to last more than a few months. But he wanted more, he wanted connection. Why was it so hard to find people that weren't sarcastic idiots?
Despite his failures, Derek still had hope. He was only 27, after all. He figured that he would find the right woman in his early 30s, someone more mature than the women who threw themselves at him now, only caring about his looks and his family's money. Until then, he tried his best to avoid idiots at all costs.
Sometimes, idiots were unavoidable, especially when family obligations were involved. It was a BBQ this time, to celebrate his youngest sister Cora's college graduation. There were at least 30 of her school friends, most of whom Derek didn't recognize. The few he did recognize sent sly looks and giggles his way, reminding him of the insufferable sleepovers from high school where Cora's friends would dare each other to bother him. Derek sighed, taking another sip of his beer and reminding himself that he promised his mother he would be polite. Which, relatively speaking, wasn't all that polite.
“You must be the famous Ice Prince all the sorority sisters are gushing about,” a voice said to his left, giving Derek a light nudge with his elbow. “And a few of the frat bros, too."
He turned to see one of Cora's friends standing next to him. He was close to Derek's height, with shaggy brown hair and golden-honey eyes. Derek noticed he had a small, dark mole on his left cheek.
“Excuse me?” Derek replied.
“Oh shit, did you not know they all call you that? Well, I'm honored to be the one to break the news,” the man said with a smile.
Derek scowled at the stranger, already feeling the vein in his temple bulge with the effort to be polite.
“I see,” he bit out.
The nickname didn't bother him. He had been called far worse. It was the stranger's complete lack of grace, tact, and situational awareness that bothered him. Who started a conversation with an insult? Derek cracked his brain thinking of a way he could politely get out of this conversation.
“I'm Stiles, by the way. The Sheriff's kid. I'm telling you now because if you shit-talk my dad, I'm legally obligated to tell on you."
The vein in his temple bulged larger.
“Understood,” Derek replied coldly.
This was hell. Next time his family threw a party, Derek was going to say he was sick. He would even take time off work to sell the story.
“Wow, they weren't kidding with the whole ice prince thing. Then again, I guess it was a pretty shitty opener.
“I agree,” Derek clenched.
