I Like You The Way You Are
Original Request: thanks @maisygd
Title: I like you the way you are
Fandom: Teen Wolf
Pairing: Young!Derek HalexArgent!Reader
Other characters: Peter Hale (Because he's a little shit and I love him) Paige (can't remember her last name), mention of Kate Argent
Category: Romance, can I put Flashback as a category?, REQUESTED
Warnings: Emm, none.. this is very fluffy, it's almost a slice of life
Author's note: Reader is the same age as Derek so that must be like… 15? Also, this came out really late because I didn't like the result and re-wrote it like...5 times, but finally, here it is.
• • •
Paige pulled for you to follow her, you had a loud growl of laziness but didn't offer any resistance. She giggled and took the hall to the gym.
— Paige, come on! Give me a break! — your words were the only resistance you gave — last night I was awake till three in the morning! —
— doing what? — she asked while pushing the door of the gym, where there was a bunch of boys playing basketball.
— homework — you said, following her to the bench.
— we don't have homework — she said, making you regret your answer.
— we... Don't have Advanced chemistry together, it's chemistry homework — you tried to fix your mistake.
— oh, right. I'm going to tell you that I believe you... But I don't — she said giggling and you both sat down.
— like me when you say Derek's not your boyfriend! — you muttered and Paige turned in your direction.
— he is not my boyfriend — she said in a whisper —
— then why did you bring me here? — you asked, pointing to the whole gym, Paige laughed.
— Derek is my friend and I would like my best girl friend to get along with my best bo-male friend — Paige said, avoiding saying the word boy near to friend.
— He plays basketball — you point at the players, then at you — I play lacrosse, we can't get along! It's in the rules! — you said in a shout whisper, making Paige huff.
— just be nice — she pleaded and you rolled your eyes.
— Great! Now I have to pretend to be someone I'm not! — you sighed and Paige looked at you with sad eyes — I don't promise anything — your made her smile a bit. It made you feel guilty.
You had met her in music class. She played the Cello and you the violin. You were far from each other, actually in the two ends of the room and you started making faces at her since she was so concentrated in playing her part. She was too serious. It had been unavoidable. Paige had tried to ignore you, but you got her attention and she started making mistakes. It was the beginning of a great friendship.
— So... This is Y/n — the sudden appearance of Derek took you by surprise. The basketball game had ended, everyone was leaving.
— Y/n, yeah, that's me — you said, suddenly feeling extremely nervous, Derek Hale was a popular boy in your school, everybody loved him. He was a star of basketball and the crush of way too many girls but not yours, of course not.
— hey I-um... I'm Derek Hale — you wondered why he stuttered, he smiled and you managed to give back a smile.
— cool, nice to meet you— you said not knowing what else to say. Paige snorted and chuckled, then stood up.
— ok, let's go — she said, leading the way out of the gym, Derek and you followed her while giving each other side glances.
After a couple of weeks you did warm up to the basketball player that Paige had decided to befriend.
— what's so funny about Basketball anyway? — you asked holding the ball in your hands, Derek looked at you offended — you can throw the ball from everywhere —
— yeah, but that doesn't mean you are not going to fail — he said, rolling his eyes at you. — what about lacrosse? —
— here we go again! — Paige muttered for herself as her two best friends started another fight about sports. It amused her, but she knew how things were going to end, with one of them asking for her support.
— really? Again? — a tired voice took the three of you by surprise.
— Peter, what are you doing here? — Derek asked, a bit annoyed, you looked at the boy in front of you and smiled.
— your mom's looking for you but if I can give my opinion, I'm on Y/n side — he commented and you smiled victorious.
— ha! Told you! — you said to Derek taking the ball from him — wait, how do you know my name? — you asked, suddenly stopping from celebrate.
— Y/n Argent, you made a great pass in the last game — his words made you blush and both of your friends noticed it. Paige giggled at it, Derek on the other hand seemed annoyed.
— well, thank you — you answered still smiling, Derek took his backpack and walked straight to Peter, pushing him to leave the gym
— you know him? — you asked Paige, going for your bag, she shook her head.
— Derek mentioned him before — she said and you tilted your head — his name is Peter —
Peter recognized the distinct smell of rampant hormones in his nephew. He was in love. His annoyance and silent treatment gave him away. It also gave him an idea.
— She is pretty — he teased him when they were closer to the Hale House.
Derek jumped over him, throwing him to the ground, fangs out and teeth bared to intimidate his uncle. — sensitive topic uh? — he added nonchalantly despite his position.
— Derek! — the scolding voice of Talia stopped the younger wolf, he retracted his fangs and stood up.
— stay away from her — he threatened harshly.
It had been months since that incident, life was boring, monotone. School, homework, lacrosse, home, bed. A simple cycle.
— you ok? — Derek asked, taking you by surprise, you jumped in your place and looked at him a bit panicked.
— Gezz, Der you startle me, I thought the coach had found me — you said and sighed with relief.
— Yeah, well don't worry, it's just me — he sat down by your side. You lied back down in your little hideout under the stairs of the gym
— you are skipping class too? — you asked, looking at the back of the stairs.
— yeah, I was worried about you — he admitted and you laughed.
— why are you worried? — you asked turning to look at him
— for starters you are skipping ED class, that's weird — he said frowning — second, you had been avoiding Paige today — he pointed out and you smiled with sadness — and last, you usually call me "Hale" —
— I'm just tired — you said with sadness
— you could have stayed the day in your house — you made a face, Derek looked at you still frowning — something wrong? —
— I don't want to be with my family — you said making a sound like a growl, Derek laughed. — Don't laugh, they are horrible — you added but Derek looked at you with an expression that said by itself "seriously?"
— what did they do? — he asked and you bite your tongue, you weren't supposed to tell anyone about your family. They were hunters.
— have you met Kate? — you asked and he muttered a yes. — well, she is my cousin,and she is barely at the top of the Iceberg... —
— I thought you were sisters — Derek said bemused by your words.
— oh no! God no! — you laughed — we are cousins, my parents died a couple of years ago, that's why I live with my aunt and uncle— Derek's eyes widened and became speechless.
— I'm sorry — he said finally — I mean, It must be hard —
— It's ok, Death is something that happens — Derek smelled the sadness in you and turned in your direction to hug you.
— it's fine to miss them — he said and you closed your eyes. Pressed against his chest you felt safe, something you hadn't felt in a long time. The tears started falling by themselves.
— I don't want to be like them — you muttered between sobs, he caressed your back giving you the comfort you needed. He didn't ask anything, he just held you. It was nice to let go.
It was an hour later when you spoke again.
— my uncle want me to learn the family business — you said pulling away to sit. Derek looked at you perplexed.
— you don't have to — Derek shrugged and you looked at him with sadness — you just have to be you — he said as an answer, he made it seem so easy.
— Yeah, right — you giggled even if it was sarcasm.
— what? — he asked, taken aback — I like you the way you are, he has no right to change you — he sounded a bit annoyed. His casual confession left you speechless.
— what? — you asked surprised for those words, in that specific order: "I like you the way you are" — Careful, Der, I don't wanna break you apart from Paige — you joked, he laughed with you
— I mean it, I like you — he said and in the shadows under the stairs your blood swirled to your cheeks in embarrassment.
— shut up, you're gonna make me believe you like-like me— you said in a teasing tone.
— I do — he admitted leaving you speechless — I like you — he repeated and you blink surprised, his hand caressed your cheek and you leaned into the touch. He gets closer and you can only look between his eyes and his lips.
You breathe softly, slowly. Exhalations mixing as you grow closer until there's no more space between you two. Lips sealed in each other. Your answer was obvious.
— I like you too — you answered after tasting the lips of the boy who had catch your attention a long time ago.
— good, cause I asked Paige to present me to you — he admitted and you kissed him again, that time you wrapped your arms in his neck. Taking another try of his taste, and he was willing to give it to you.
