An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Teen Wolf (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski
Characters: Derek Hale, Stiles Stilinski, Erica Reyes, Laura Hale
Additional Tags: Deaf Derek Hale, Barista Stiles Stilinski, Meet-Cute, Alternate Universe - Coffee Shops & Cafés, Cora Hale (mentioned) - Freeform, Werewolf Derek, American Sign Language, tropevember 2022
Summary:
'So, could I get you something?' Stiles signs as he speaks, his movements stiff and self-conscious. It's obvious he hasn't done this in a while. 'Did you wanna make out?'
Derek's brows shoot up in surprise, heat rising in his cheeks. That couldn't have been right. 'I'm sorry. I think I misunderstood. Could you repeat that?'
Stiles tries again, and this time there's no mistaking it as he crosses his wrists and bobs his hands up and down as if they were two people making out. But it's a good thing that Derek can read lips because he's clearly saying, "Would you like a coffee?"
This is one my favorite Sterek stories I've written so far and I decided to share a sneak peek with you all. You can read the full one here:
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
"Next up!" A loud voice sounded on the mic, making the group jump and turn toward the stage. "We've got Derek singing 'Simple Man'!"
The girls - thankfully - took their seats as an acoustic sounded. Stiles cocked his head to the side as a man, Derek, walked up to the front of the stage and moved the microphone aside. He saw his friends glance at each other out of the corner of his eye, but his focus quickly moved back to Derek.
Derek stared straight ahead as the music played, his eyebrows low and his jaw clenched. Stiles thought for a brief second that perhaps he'd gotten stage fright when he didn't move, but then the man lifted his hands and started signing at a certain beat. His expression changed from being completely unreadable to soft and full of fondness, jaw unclenching almost instantly. His hands were moving fluidly and gracefully, nearly hypnotic.
The normally spastic and restless boy sat completely still for the first time in years, eyes glued to the intriguing performance on stage. He moved between watching the beautiful movement of the man's hands to watching his face when he signed a long gesture. As he watched, he felt as though the world was fading away and all he could see was this man and hear the acoustic playing in the background.
The man's lips were moving slightly, as though he was mouthing words, but he never spoke. His biceps flexed as he moved his hands and arms, eyes closed. He seemed so sure, so confident, Stiles forgot that this man was deaf. He was even swaying to the music somehow!
Stiles couldn't look away. It was beautiful.
But all too soon, the music ended and some clapping was heard throughout the room, Derek's hands dropping to his sides. Stiles blinked and watched the man's face turn to stone as he hurried off the stage. He tried to follow his movements, but lost him in the crowd as people stood and started to mingle.
could you maybe write something with deaf Derek? like maybe he is used to people trying to communicate by writing on paper or texting but then Stiles comes along and learns sign language so he can ask Derek out!!!!! and like he learns enough to converse and Derek is just !!!!!!!! I just need pining Stiles and soft Derek <3
Thank you for the prompt, I hope you like this little fic! (On AO3)
Stiles takes a deep breath. He’s been working on this for weeks, he’s got this.
He walks up to Derek’s table and stands in front of him,hoping to catch his attention. Derek’s already done eating, and has juststarted looking through his class notes, so Stiles doesn’t feel too bad aboutdisturbing him.
When Derek glances up, Stiles points to the chair acrossfrom him questioningly. Derek gives him a little smile, nodding.
He takes the seat, then signs Hi, I’m Stiles, making sure to mouth the letters as he spells outhis name.
Derek says Stiles?back, not in a judgmental way, but more in a ‘did I get it right?’ way.
Stiles nods eagerly, and Derek’s smile gets bigger.
You’re in my historyclass, right? Derek says, his eyebrows practically asking the question forhim.
Derek sits at the very front of the class, while Stiles sitstoward the back, so he hadn’t thought Derek had noticed him at all. Nor did herealize how expressive Derek’s face can be.
When he’d pulled aside a couple of Derek’s friends, Ericaand Boyd, and asked them if they’d teach him a few signs, they’d beensuspicious. Derek gets highly detailed notes from their professor after everylecture, and people were always trying to by friendly with him in hopes of gettinga copy.
But Stiles had made his intentions very clear—he just wantedto be able to talk to Derek. And, admittedly, to be able to ask him out. Butthe communication was the most important part.
Yeah, same class,Stiles says. I’ve been enjoying it so far.
Me too, Dereksays, and looks so pleased to be having this conversation with him, Stilescan’t help feeling a thrill of happiness. Haveyou known ASL all along?
Stiles shakes his head. No,I just started. And that’s probably obvious, because he’s already out ofthings to say.
Derek blinks in surprise, then signs something that Stilesdoesn’t understand. Catching his confused look, Derek carefully says You’re doing really well, Stiles. We shouldtalk again sometime.
*
They have to pick partners for a history essay, and Stilesis a little surprised when Derek promptly turns around and signs, You want to?
There was probably a lot more to that sentence, but that’sall that Stiles managed to catch. He understands what Derek’s asking, though,so he nods and gives Derek a thumbs up. Derek laughs, shaking his head, butStiles can’t say he minds.
He’s waiting for Stiles after class, and begins to sign tohim so rapidly that Stiles’ brain can’t figure out anything. Sure, he’s been meeting up with Erica and Boyd to learnmore, but he hasn’t made that muchprogress.
Derek seems to realize that Stiles is lost, and he slowsdown, his expression radiating ‘oops, sorry.’
It’s okay, Stilessays, because he appreciates Derek’s enthusiasm.
I’m just excited aboutour topic, Derek says, and Stiles tries to keep his smile in check. Hedoesn’t want Derek to think he’s making fun of him. Do you want to go to the library with me?
Stiles agrees. He doesn’t have another class today, and theymight as well get a jump start on this project. He follows Derek across campus,keeping close because the quad is crowded. His stomach swoops a little whentheir hands brush, and he rolls his eyes at himself. It doesn’t mean anything.
Derek takes him around the library, showing Stiles thesection of historical references, then leads him to his favorite study nook.It’s luckily unoccupied, so they claim it with their bags and go grab books.
Here, in the quiet of the library, Derek’s silence doesn’tseem out of place, and Stiles grins when he realizes they can talk withoutdisturbing anyone else. They work for a while, discussing their plan for theessay and taking down notes. They have a good framework laid out by the timeDerek glances at his watch, frowning.
He scribbles something on a piece of paper and hands it toStiles. It’s an email address, with Derek’s full name written neatly above it.
We can talk that wayuntil we meet up again, he says, and Stiles nods agreeably, writing out hisown email for Derek.
He’s never been this excited to work on a history paper.
*
After three days of emailing back and forth, Stiles knowshe’s doomed. Derek is clever and funny, and so wonderfully passionate abouthistory, that Stiles’ little crush is spiraling out of control.
And he reallywants to figure out how to be witty in sign language, so he can make Dereklaugh all the time.
He’s been getting better at ASL—both through his continuedlessons with Boyd and Erica, and having conversations with Derek himself. It’sa gradual improvement, but it’s there, and Stiles really pleased by that.
He’s practiced how to ask Derek out numerous times, watchinghis reflection in the mirror to make sure he’s getting it right. But he figuresit’s best to wait until they’re done with the history project. Because if Derekturned him down, it would be super awkward to try and finish their essaytogether.
So Stiles contents himself with reading over their latestdraft, and doing his best to at least be witty via email.
*
They meet up again the day before it’s due, because Derekwants to go through it and make sure they’ve covered all the relevant pointsadequately. It’s even harder to be subtle about his pining when he’s aroundDerek now, when he knows what his sense of humor is like, when he knows whatDerek cares about, and is passionate about.
Some of our emailswere getting pretty off-topic, Derek says, and Stiles winces, because it’strue.
They’d been talking about their experiences in high school,their favorite bands, and little stories about things they’d seen in college,with only occasional post scripts actually related to the essay. Stiles hadbeen enjoying it a lot, and had only encouraged it.
My bad, he says.
Derek smiles. I didn’tmind, he says. We just need to getthis finished before we get back to your issues with team sports.
Stiles snorts out a laugh, and pulls out his own copy of theessay, eager to finalize it.
*
He and Derek keep talking via email after they turn in theirpaper, because they only see each other on campus a couple of times a week,when their class schedules overlap. And Stiles knows he absolutely cannot ask Derek out by email, so hespends a lot of time thinking (and overthinking) how to do it in person.
In the end he decides not to make a spectacle of himself,and just asks Derek to meet him at one of the picnic tables behind the library.
By the time Stiles arrives, Derek is there already there,reading a book as he idly scratches at his stubble. It’s a little mesmerizing.
Stiles sits down in across from him, back straight and bodytense, and says I want to ask yousomething. He’s not sure he got the signs quite right, thanks to hisnerves, but he’s pretty sure Derek understands anyway.
He nods encouragingly, eyebrows raised.
Stiles’ rambling doesn’t work so well in sign language, sohe takes a deep breath, trying to ground himself before saying, Would you go on a date with me?
Derek blushes then, and his face is soft and open when hesays, Why did you learn ASL?
Stiles licks his lips nervously. He’s not sure why Derek isasking, but he answers as honestly as possible. I wanted to be able to ask you out properly.
You learned far morethan you needed just to ask me out, Derek says, smiling a little.
Well, yes, Stilessays with a shrug. I wanted to be able totalk to you. Get to know you.
Derek grins, still blushing. And that’s why I’m saying yes, he says, and Stiles feels hisstomach swoop pleasantly.
He beams at Derek, and decides he needs to buy Erica and Boyda gift basket.
(Right after he takes Derek on a date, of course.)
Bones Straining Under the Weight (15645 words) by weathervaanes
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Teen Wolf (TV)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski
Characters: Derek Hale, Stiles Stilinski, Scott McCall (Teen Wolf), Erica Reyes, Isaac Lahey, Vernon Boyd, Laura Hale, Peter Hale
Additional Tags: deaf!derek, Food Blogger!Derek, Alternate Universe - Human, Alternate Universe
Summary:
One of Stiles' favorite things about life is Derek Hale's food blog. He never expects to meet the man in person.
~
“Derek,” he says again, and the name feels very strange on his tongue. “You don’t mean Derek Hale.”
His professor’s eyebrows reach up, eyes widening. “You read his blog?”
"Uh. Worship. Would be a better more descriptive word. That is Derek Hale?"
Jimmy chuckles. "Good-looking guy, huh?"
"You mean to tell me the Food Network hasn't snatched him up to dethrone everyone else from daytime TV."
Jimmy smiles a small private smile. "I don't think TV is his medium."
Stiles raises an eyebrow. "Shy?"
The man laughs heartily at that. "No, I wouldn't say that. He just has particular forms of expression, like eyebrows and chili powder."
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
“Derek,” he says again, and the name feels very strange on his tongue. “You don’t mean Derek Hale.”
His professor’s eyebrows reach up, eyes widening. “You read his blog?”
"Uh. Worship. Would be a better more descriptive word. That is Derek Hale?"
Jimmy chuckles. "Good-looking guy, huh?"
"You mean to tell me the Food Network hasn't snatched him up to dethrone everyone else from daytime TV."
Jimmy smiles a small private smile. "I don't think TV is his medium."
Stiles raises an eyebrow. "Shy?"
The man laughs heartily at that. "No, I wouldn't say that. He just has particular forms of expression, like eyebrows and chili powder."
One of Stiles' favorite things about life is Derek Hale's food blog. He never expects to meet the man in person. ~ “Derek,” he says again, and the name feels very strange on his tongue. “You don’t mean Derek Hale.” His professor’s eyebrows reach up, eyes widening. “You read his blog?” "Uh. Worship. Would be a better more descriptive word. That is Derek Hale?" Jimmy chuckles. "Good-looking guy, huh?" "You mean to tell me the Food Network hasn't snatched him up to dethrone everyone else from daytime TV." Jimmy smiles a small private smile. "I don't think TV is his medium." Stiles raises an eyebrow. "Shy?" The man laughs heartily at that. "No, I wouldn't say that. He just has particular forms of expression, like eyebrows and chili powder."
