it’d actually be kind of interesting in an age gap situation where people just assume Derek holds so much weighted power over Stiles, that their relationship must be abusive and toxic, poor little Stiles being groomed and taken advantage of…
but in actuality, it’s Stiles who pursued Derek. Stiles who’s calling the shots. Stiles, who equal parts turns Derek on and intimidates him just a little. Stiles who rolls his eyes at people who have so much to say about his and Derek’s relationship but truly don’t know jack shit. they think the worst of Derek and Stiles tells them, “you couldn’t be any further from the truth.”
if Stiles ever feels comfortable or safe enough, he doesn’t mind telling people where or how him and Derek met. unfortunately, a lot of the times Stiles ends up telling them it’s none of their business because he knows people aren’t genuinely curious, this is just scandal and gossip for them. he knows these very people would turn around and scoff with their friends about what a cliche it is for an older gay man to bed some barely legal twink, sugar baby accusations, making off comparisons of them to the characters of ‘call me by your name’. so Stiles shuts it down, doesn’t even give them the chance or enjoyment of beating down or questioning his relationship to Derek.
and Derek doesn’t pull the “he’s mature for his age/has an old soul” or “he makes me feel young,” thing (and he’s not trying to make himself seem or look younger either). there simply was an attraction or instantaneous click between them before Derek even knew how old Stiles was. maybe there was even some hesitation on Derek’s part because he knew what it would look like on the outside world, knew what kind of comments he’d get from his sisters, his mom, his friends. the looks and murmurs he’d receive when he had Stiles on his arm at events. but because Stiles didn’t seem to care what others thought, Derek would try his best to do the same. not let his social anxiety and the judgement of others decide how he should love Stiles.
there may have been some awkwardness when Stiles introduced Derek to his dad. john not at all expecting an older gentleman with obvious years of experience over Stiles. it’d become clear to him that it didn’t matter; Stiles was head over heels for Derek and vice versa. john would quietly pull Stiles aside and maybe admit that he doesn’t fully understand but he supports him, “so long as you two are being safe and kind to one another.” he still pulls the old dad trick of threatening to shoot Derek with a shotgun if he hears of anything bad happening to Stiles.
Stiles would laugh, patting his dad on the shoulder and promising that Derek is sweet and gentle with him, “trust me! he looks all mean and gruff, dad, but he’s such a teddy bear. it’s him you should be protecting from me, if anything!”
both Stiles and Derek get that it’s an odd sight for most people to see. they knew they’d possibly be the talk of the town. and Stiles knew Derek would have some reservations about them being together, but that’s why he’d take Derek face in his hands, and with a gentle voice tell him that outside voices do no matter as long as they know they’d love each other.
