Whatever I Read

A catalogue of Sterek fics I've read, including personal favs and the ways I would tag them. Updated periodically.

[sterekficroundup]

light returning

light returning by lilysaid on AO3

33k | E | Stiles is Derek’s Anchor as They Both Pine and Heal Slow Burn

Author Summary: Derek skips town just after the Nogitsune. When he realizes his mistake, he sets off to find Stiles, make amends, and keep his feelings for Stiles hidden. Two out of three isn’t bad.

Pining, bed sharing, highly-suspect platonic touching, and shameless adoration of Derek’s beard.

My Notes: Derek Hale healing, Derek Hale finding a safe haven and family and home, and Derek Hale trying and failing to hide how much he wants Stiles Stilinski for stupid self-sacrificing Nobel and shame-filled reasons are three of my favorite tropes of all time and they are all here in full force. I lost count of how many times I screamed in silent joy while reading this fic.

It’s well-written, overflowing with UST (that is later and very eventfully resolved) and happy pack feelings. There’s enough angst in the form of personal trauma, pining, and the occasional existential threat to keep things interesting. Clearly this fic was a well-considered labor of love and as a result it’s a delight to read and a welcome addition to my all-time favorites list.

[evanesdust]

Fandom Trumps Hate

Hey guys! 

This year, I’m participating in Fandom Trumps Hate and offering fanfic (Sterek, of course!) in exchange for your donation. 

Browsing week for this event has begun and my page can be found here. But there are so many wonderful authors out there, and not just for Sterek. Feel free to visit the Teen Wolf tag for a list of all contributors for the fandom. 

And if you want more offerings, check out the general list with all available fandoms. 

For more information on FTH, please visit their FAQ for answers to any questions you may have. Bidding begins Feb 24 and I’d be over the moon for support towards any of the available charities.  Thanks guys! 😊💕

[evanesdust]

Bidding starts tomorrow! Be sure to check out all the authors (such as @isthatbloodonhisshirt, @dearericbittle, @whateverrrrwhatever, and many more!) and the fanworks they’re offering!

[sterekficroundup]

light returning

light returning by lilysaid on AO3

33k | E | Stiles is Derek’s Anchor as They Both Pine and Heal Slow Burn

Author Summary: Derek skips town just after the Nogitsune. When he realizes his mistake, he sets off to find Stiles, make amends, and keep his feelings for Stiles hidden. Two out of three isn't bad.

Pining, bed sharing, highly-suspect platonic touching, and shameless adoration of Derek's beard.

My Notes: Derek Hale healing, Derek Hale finding a safe haven and family and home, and Derek Hale trying and failing to hide how much he wants Stiles Stilinski for stupid self-sacrificing noble and shame-filled reasons are three of my favorite tropes of all time and they are all here in full force. I lost count of how many times I screamed in silent joy while reading this fic.

It’s well-written, overflowing with UST (that is later and very eventfully resolved) and happy pack feelings. There's enough angst in the form of personal trauma, pining, and the occasional existential threat to keep things interesting. Clearly this fic was a well-considered labor of love and as a result it’s a delight to read and a welcome addition to my all-time favorites list.

[rachelscoops]

Don’t even email me if you aren’t Archive of Our Own

[post--grad]

me, rereading my own goddamn writing, which was written by yours truly (me): oh, this is….. incomprehensible

[sterekficroundup]

All Honor’s Mimic, All Wealth Alchemy

All Honor’s Mimic, All Wealth Alchemy by consciousness_streaming on AO3

62.6k | E | Zack and Miri Make A Porno AU and So Much More

Author Summary: Stiles lives with Derek and Scott in off-campus housing and they are POOR. Stiles is tired of selling blood, working two jobs, and going to school full time. And still he only has $4 to his name. What’s a guy to do when all he has is a video camera and a hot friend?

“Porn,” he says, the word popping out of his mouth the moment the thought crosses his mind and he knows. He knows this is the idea. This is the solution and it’s been staring him in the face, it’s been lurking in his browsing history like yes, I am the answer. And Stiles, like a fool, almost missed it.

My Notes: This is what it says on the tin, and one of my all-time favorite fic types: a completely bananas premise backed up by emotional weight, compelling writing, and a whole lot of smut. Delightful, mildly angsty (in the “unrequited” love, comphet vein), very funny and porny – all as you’d expect, with the welcome surprise of family feels fluff.

I loved the author’s unique voice and hilarious one-liners. A favorite that will stick with me, probably forever: “Stiles’ dad didn’t raise a quitter or a spitter.” The fic overall isn’t as polished as others of its quality and length, but it’s so compelling, sweet, and funny, you’ll forget you care. Recommended for fans of No Homo, especially if you (like me) didn’t love the ending.

[alexxmichael]

you know when someone writes a fic and it’s just SO GOOD and you’re wondering how they came up with the idea because it literally ignites your soul and is everything you wanted in a fic aND MORE and you just sigh to yourself because people are fucking fantastic ok

[sterekficroundup]

All Honor’s Mimic, All Wealth Alchemy

All Honor's Mimic, All Wealth Alchemy by consciousness_streaming on AO3

62.6k | E | Zack and Miri Make A Porno AU and So Much More

Author Summary: Stiles lives with Derek and Scott in off-campus housing and they are POOR. Stiles is tired of selling blood, working two jobs, and going to school full time. And still he only has $4 to his name. What's a guy to do when all he has is a video camera and a hot friend?

“Porn,” he says, the word popping out of his mouth the moment the thought crosses his mind and he knows. He knows this is the idea. This is the solution and it’s been staring him in the face, it’s been lurking in his browsing history like yes, I am the answer. And Stiles, like a fool, almost missed it.

My Notes: This is what it says on the tin, and one of my all-time favorite fic types: a completely bananas premise backed up by emotional weight, compelling writing, and a whole lot of smut. Delightful, mildly angsty (in the "unrequited" love, comphet vein), very funny and porny -- all as you'd expect, with the welcome surprise of family feels fluff.

I loved the author's unique voice and hilarious one-liners. A favorite that will stick with me, probably forever: "Stiles’ dad didn’t raise a quitter or a spitter." The fic overall isn't as polished as others of its quality and length, but it's so compelling, sweet, and funny, you'll forget you care. Recommended for fans of No Homo, especially if you (like me) didn't love the ending.

[sterekficroundup]

The Scientific Method

The Scientific Method by uraneia on AO3

6k | T | Stiles Experiments with Werewolf Contraception

Author Summary: Stiles’s life was so much easier before his BFF got super powers. “But, so, werewolves have super strength, right? And super speed. And better vision, and better muscle control, and healing powers, and stuff. And some of that’s probably, like, genetic, if you can be born a werewolf. Right?”

“Yeah,” Scott says. From the perplexed look on his face, he doesn’t yet know where Stiles is going with this. “So?”

“So what if you have condom-defeating supersperm?”

Stiles has a lot of research to do. He decides Derek's kitchen is the place to do it. Derek probably regrets giving him a key.

My Notes: This is a hilarious little foray into exploring what happens when Stiles gets fixated on something besides an investigation. Concerned for the sexually active members of the pack, Stiles and Lydia conduct some small n trials to determine if human birth control methods are sufficient to protect werewolves from unplanned pregnancy. This one's clever, short, with lots of good one-liners and a satisfying romantic payoff. Shockingly, rated T, with very little sexual content given the subject matter.

[jesswrites95]

2020 is the year we support each other and leave kudos and comments on each others fics because creativity is a beautiful thing and we need more of it

[sterekficroundup]

Boys Like You

Boys Like You by reillyblack on AO3

43k | E | Good Guy Alpha Derek Woos Omega Stiles Stilinski and Everyone Learns About Boundaries

Author Summary: Derek can't quite believe he's in a reproductive clinic signing up for a cycling partner, but life is strange and Cora is persuasive.

My Notes: This was delightful. Derek walks into a heat clinic reluctantly in search of a partner for his rut and ends up spending the night with the receptionist there, one Stiles Stilinski. Surprise, surprise: one night is not enough for Derek, but he has to get past Stiles's hang-ups about alphas and his conviction that no one would want a male omega like him to get to his happy ending.

There's wooing and pining aplenty here if that's your thing (it's definitely mine) and good use of ABO tropes to drive the sex and the story. Dramatic enough to be a little bit of a guilty pleasure, without being irritating or over-the-top. Recommend for fans of standinginanicedress -- it's thematically similar to some of her stories but more reserved and more polished.

[sterekficroundup]

I Know That You Love Me, Even When I Lose My Head

I know that you love me, even when I lose my head by LunaCanisLupus_22 on AO3

135k | E | Amnesiac Alpha Derek Can't Protect the Pack, Badass Omega Mate Stiles Saves the Day

Author Summary: “We’re not mates, Cora,” he insists. “I mean look at him-“

“Ouch,” the kid says, no longer pushing that shit eating grin.

“He’s- he’s,” Derek tries, at a loss of how to explain why this can’t be possible. Why it shouldn’t be possible.

Or the one where Derek gets attacked by hunters, ends up with amnesia and forgets Stiles is his mate.

My Notes: Derek loses his memory and reverts back to "college Derek" - a bro, kind of a dick, and blinded by internalized homophobia. Stiles, his Omega mate and long-time partner is forced to lead the pack alone in the face of a visiting hostile pack. Despite being a gigantic bonehead, Derek finds himself attracted to and in awe of Stiles, which is extra awkward, because they have to pretend everything's normal for the visiting pack -- including sharing a bed -- even as their bond is fading. Stiles outmaneuvers everybody by playing to omega stereotypes and baiting asshole werewolves, and there's a sweet happy ending.

The 13k+ kudos on this fic tell me it's not exactly underrated. That said, for me, it doesn't get much better than this. An all-time favorite of mine, and always worth the inevitable 1AM re-read. It has every trope and then some: ABO, mates, werewolf politics, giant found family pack, BAMF Stiles, pining, getting together vibes, and more.

[sterekficroundup]

Dog with a Bone

Dog with a Bone by clottedcreamfudge on AO3

14k | M | Derek Hale, Dog Whisperer Meet Cute

Author Summary: “You,” Derek says, slowly and deliberately, “are beautiful and frustrating, and this isn’t a private enough place for me to tell you all things I’d like to do with your mouth, but I’d really like to show you some time.” Stiles swallows, and Derek’s eyes flicker down to watch the movement of his throat.

“That was pretty convincing,” Stiles manages to say after a moment, though it comes out a little more breathless than he’d intended. A small, slightly predatory smile starts to spread across Derek’s face and Stiles is definitely getting a hard-on in a parking lot, oh god. “How soon can we do that dinner exactly?”

“I can do tonight?”

“Any sooner than that?” Derek huffs out a laugh.

“I’ll pick you up at 7.”

Derek is the dog-trainer that Stiles desperately needs. It turns out he might be something else Stiles desperately needs as well.

My Notes: Super fluffy and fun steamy meet cute. Stiles is getting his masters (his thesis sounds fascinating) and is the accidental owner of a misbehaving basset hound. Enter Derek Hale, canine behavioral specialist, who brings the dog back after she runs away, and offers Stiles a free training session with ulterior motives. (Hint: it's because Stiles is hot and probably his mate.) Predictably, things escalate from there.

There were a few more Britishisms than I prefer, but overall well-written, well-characterized, hot, and funny. Bonus points for an amusing title.

[sterekficroundup]

Don’t Know What I’m Supposed to Do (Haunted by the Ghost of You)

don’t know what i’m supposed to do (haunted by the ghost of you) by crazyassmurdererwall (smartalli) on AO3

30k | T | Stiles is the Ghost Whisperer

Author Summary: Stiles sees dead people. Yep. Seriously.

(He’s got this. He’s totally got this. So what if one of them is Derek’s mom?)

My Notes: After Erica knocks Stiles out, he starts seeing ghosts and helping them on to the other side. It's a secret that's getting harder to keep, but becomes impossible once Talia Hale shows up. Well written, great plot, and even had me crying at one point (a rarity). In short: Stiles learns he doesn't have to go it alone, and that Derek trusts and loves him. Good stuff.

[sterekficroundup]

Punitive Acts

Punitive Acts by subnivean on AO3 (login required)

4k | E | ABO annoyance to lovers

Author Summary: Two idiots, both alike in indignity, or something, whatever.

My Notes: A fun brief ABO fic featuring a teenage Stiles irritating Derek with his romantic puns until they become friends, then as adults, lovers. Hot and sweet, with a Stiles who clearly can't believe he gets to be with Derek. Also: that summary.

[sterekficroundup]

Don’t Worry Baby

Don’t Worry Baby by kalpurna on AO3

20k | E | Rentboy AU

Author Summary: "You know you're allowed to ask for vanilla sex, right?" he says, afterwards. "We can do whatever you want. That's kind of the point."

Derek doesn't respond.

My Notes: A perennial, all-time favorite. Stiles is a werewolf hooker and it's working just fine for him, until it's not anymore. He agrees to a long-term live-in arrangement with his weirdo favorite client determined to apply the campsite principle and be on his way. Instead, they fall in love. Wild premise, excellent execution, great writing.