Stiles calls Derek himbo one time during a pack meeting and Derek is so taken aback that he can’t come up with anything to reply with. And he has to watch that asshole smirk stretch across Stiles’ lips.
It’s not like any of the other times they have bickered. Usually Derek rolls his eyes, finds a bitchy comeback and that’s it. This one sticks with him throughout the week.
He’s not a himbo, dammit. He reads books. A lot of them. He got good grades in high school. He didn’t really finish high school, but that’s not a testament to his intelligence. And it certainly doesn’t mean that he’s behind anyone intellectually. Right?
“Himbo,” he grumbles during his workouts. “I’m not stupid,” he mumbles while making himself dinner. It’s such a dumb thing to get hung up on, but it’s just—
Stiles is the smart one. Sometimes it feels like Stiles is miles ahead, even when he takes detours and digresses to the point where it’s just ridiculous. Somehow he still solves things—things make sense. Derek can mostly catch up, but sometimes his brain just spaces out with so many people around. He gets overstimulated, overwhelmed. Starts picking on his clothes instead, traces something with his eyes over and over again. That had been the case when Stiles had called him…that word.
It’s a week later, and they're having another pack meeting, when Derek pulls Stiles aside.
“What did you mean by that?” he asks, feeling annoyed, but mostly kind of anxious.
Stiles blinks at him. “Mean by what?”
He has to breathe slowly through his nose before he can say the word that’s been bothering him all week.
“You called me a himbo.” He raises his eyebrows when Stiles only stares at him. “Which means you think I’m stupid. But I’m not stupid.”
Stiles furrows his brow. “Yeah, I know you’re not stupid, Derek.” His eyes narrow. “Wait a second. Have you been thinking about this all week?”
“No,” Derek says defensively. “Why would I do that?”
Stiles doesn’t look convinced. Then there it is again—that fucking smirk. Derek can feel something start to boil inside him.
“You know what. Just forget it,” he mumbles and moves to stand as far away as possible from him during the meeting. He notices Stiles glancing in his direction fairly often, and it annoys him even more.
He doesn’t say good night to anyone when the meeting is over, just stalks over to his bed and tucks himself in with his book. He pretends not to notice Stiles lingering while the others clear out. His pulse picks up when Stiles walks over to him hesitantly, fidgeting with his hands.
“Derek. I never meant to call you stupid. Or maybe I did, but—I’m sorry I hurt your feelings.”
“You didn’t hurt my feelings,” Derek says, too fast and too stiff.
Stiles quirks an eyebrow at him. “Uh-huh. Well, I didn’t mean it. I don’t think you’re stupid.”
Derek still can’t bring himself to look up. It feels intimidating somehow.
The bed creaks when Stiles sits down by Derek’s feet.
Derek swallows. He feels like a child. It’s embarrassing. He wants to gag a little at himself.
"East of Eden," he mutters, after what feels like a long while.
"Is it good?" Stiles asks encouragingly. Derek sighs when Stiles kicks off his shoes and crawls up the bed to sit next to him.
"What are you doing," he says, finally able to look Stiles in the eye.
"I'm trying to apologize for being an asshole," Stiles says. "And I'm trying to see if we can be friends again." He smiles sheepishly.
Derek swallows. "Friends?" he says quietly.
"Yeah? Aren't we? You're my friend, at least. My hot and smart friend who I might have a little bit of a crush on and holy shit, why am I still talking. I am so so—"
Derek doesn't know what's come over him when he leans in. It's only a touch of lips, soft and tentative. Derek pulls back when he realizes what he's done.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have—"
He's cut off when Stiles pulls him back in, pressing their mouths together a little more insistently. His pupils are blown wide when they part.
"Although," Stiles says. "I wouldn't mind being more than friends. Just so you know."
"Don't call me himbo again."
Derek kisses him properly this time.
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