Fandom: Teen Wolf.
Pairing: Sterek.
Rating: General.
Author: Phlossie
Tags: Fluff, Airhostess!Stiles, BookShop!Derek, Established Relationship,
Words: 968
Part of the Overgrown Series
Summary: Stiles arrives in an airport, Derek drives a car, they have a cat. Domesticity is involved.
A fic i wrote for Poedameron back in december! sorry, i didnt realise it was stuck in my drafts!! :/
11:58pm <Unknown>
-Come pick me up
-The App says 10 golf course dr.
-There’s a turn-in on a bend.
-Bring a shirt.
It’s the last one that really gets him interested.
What could someone possibly be doing out in Tildern at 12am that left them shirtless and rideless?
“You aren’t seriously gonna go…” Scott hasn’t got up from the couch yet so he can’t be that concerned.
“Why not Scotty? Mysterious stranger sends me a text in the middle of the night? Who wouldn't answer that call.”
“What if they mug you.”
It’s a fair point, it’s happened before.
“I’ll taze them, like any good, law abiding, citizen.”
“No really Stiles.”
“You could come with?”
“I have to be up for Mariah's tute session at 8, sorry bro.”
Stiles waves his hand flippantly. “Eh, don’t worry, I’ll just scream like a girl and hope there’s a vigilante waiting to save me in the bushes, what could possibly go wrong?”
“Don’t make me call your Dad.”
“Okay! Okay, I’ll take my phone, theres obviously reception out there and I’ve got 911 on speed dial after the Jackson incident anyway. It’ll be fine, I can handle myself.”
“You better.” Stiles loves that his bro knows not to argue.
At first Stiles thinks the person isn't there, sighs as he realizes it was probably one of Jackson’s douchebag mates pranking him, and is about to drive away when he sees a dark shadow that could be a human sitting against the park’s notice board.
He pulls in to a parking bay and gets out.
“Hey, I got your texts.”
“What.”
The guy’s voice is deep, grumbly and Stiles blood certainly does not rush south on hearing it. Not at all.
“Uhhh, You texted me? Something about… Uh, I have a shirt?” He reaches through the passenger side window and grabs the T-Shirt. When he turns around the guy -tall dark and handsome, he inwardly sniggers- is standing, looking defensive, grumpy and confused.
“I texted Cora.”
“Ehm- Well, you got me? Yay?” TDH’s eyebrows draw down. “Here’s your shirt?” He stretches out his arm, top bundled at the end, although a part of him wants to throw it into the bushes and make him ride home as he is, unfortunately it might pose a health risk to other commuters. Stiles has to think of the greater good, namely not crashing his jeep into a lamp post.
The guy takes the Tee like it might have some infectious disease.
“So let me get this straight:” Stiles had always been able to tell when he was in trouble as a kid... “You receive a text from an unknown number, in which you are asked to go to a fairly shady turn-in, by a park, to pick up some semi nude individual you have never met. Who, I might add, could have been accompanied by other individuals; after you have had violent threats explicitly made to you by undisclosed parties, and you decide to ‘go check it out’.” …because the interrogation voice and air quotes would come out in full force, even over the phone… Even as a child he’d ignored it.
“Yeah, pretty much. It was fine, the dude expressed his surprise at being picked up by a random stranger, I gave him a shirt, he glared at it like it was toxic waste, refused to put it on, and I gave him a ride home. I don't know what his problem was, it passed the sniff test when I tried!”
“St-iles.”
“-a-and” Cora gasps for breath. “You refused to put it on?”
“Yeah, why is this such a big deal?”
“Oh, I don't know little bro,” Laura pats him on the head and he swats at her. “It’s not every day you so spectacularly fall form grace” She grins evilly “I mean really, getting caught out by a human is one thing, but actually directing them to you? That takes considerable effort.”
Cora cackles and thwappes the side of the armchair. “Wait till Mom and Dad hear about this!”
“Don’t. You. Dare.”
“Oh Der, too bad your Murder Brows don't work on me.”
8:15am <Not Cora>
-So um, hope you got into your apartment okay?
“Derek put your phone away at the dinner table.”
“Yes Mom.” He glares at his sister sardonically, very deliberately lifts the phone up in front of his face, and keeps typing.
“Derek I swear to god I will confiscate it if I have to. You can text your boyfriend once we’ve eaten.”
He looks at the two words he’s managed so far, sighs, locks his phone and slides it into his pocket. “What were you telling us about your delightful coworkers?”
11:23pm <TDH>
-Thank you.
no problem dude anytime! :) -
“Has he texted you since-?”
“No.” Stiles glares morosely at the wall and flips his phone between his fingers.
“Not even accidentall-”
“No.” He sniffs.
“Uh… Okay, thats it. I’m ordering Pizza, we’re gonna blow up some zombies.”
Stiles’ head slides off his hand, almost hitting the laminate desk top.
History of economics is so boring.
He yawns and slips his phone out of his pocket.
<No new messages>
He glances up at his professor, who is explaining a horrific looking graph, and opens a new message.
11:33am <TDH>
I’m kinda lamenting that you didn't turn out to be an ax murderer…-
-What.
If you’d murdered me I wouldn’t be slowly dying of boredom in econ today.-
-Pay attention to your class. Text me after.
Stiles grins stupidly at his screen.
alright sourpatch-
“He texted you.” Scott doesn’t even bother with a greeting.
Stiles looks up from his phone. “Yeah.” He breathes, smile stretching across his face.
“Thats great man!” Scott matches him, Watt for Watt.
7:15pm <Grumpy McGrumpypants>
no more classes happy now?-
-Study?
It’s a /Friday/!-
-What are you doing?
re-watching GOT because Scott cant follow a plot line to save his life-
-Have you read the books?
of course im not a total cretin-
-Your lack of punctuation suggests otherwise.
I’m sorry if my liberality offended you sir, I shall endeavor to right my erroneous ways.-
-How kind.
-Who is Scott?
My roommate and bestest bro in the whole wide world-
Sorry, I forgot you dont know him.-
D’you live with anyone?-
-My sisters.
-Laura and Cora.
Oh! The cora who was supposed to pick you up?-
-Yeah, that Cora.
Well I cant say im sorry…-
“Derek… Der…” Cora waves her hand between his face and the screen. “Bro!”
“What.” He snaps, still trying to work out what Stiles meant by his last text, trying not to feel too optimistic.
“Nothing” She sniffs. “I just thought you’d like to know that I saw a blue jeep parked outside campus today.”
His head whips up. “What.”
“Your boyfriend was at UC this morning.” She gives him a knowing look.
“It might not-
“Oh come on Der.”
7:34 <Grumpnerd McSasspants>
-Do you go to UC?
Yeah why?-
-Cora thought she saw your car the other day.
Oh cool-
It probably was-
Roscoe is an acquired taste-
not many people could handle the awesome-
“Hey dude, Pasta’s ready.” Scott plops the bowl down on the coffee table next to Stiles’ crossed ankles. “Feet off the table.”
“Thanks man” he rearranges himself to get at the food and his phone pings where he’s dropped it on the couch.
7:47 <Grumpnerd McSasspants>
-What are you studying?
Criminology.-
Derek blinks at the concise reply.
“Were you going to eat that Der bear?” Laura snags the slice of pizza cooling on his plate.
“huh? Oh, umm, you have it.”
He misses his sisters’ significant looks.
“So um, I was thinking I might stay here for thanksgiving?”
“What!?” Scott stares at him incredulously. “You never miss thanksgiving.”
“I dunno, I just, I have a lot to do to get ready for mid years and-
“Is this about Derek?”
“What? No! I just-
“Cos if you skip Thanksgiving in the hope that he will be free and you’ll just happen to bond over mutual loneliness I will unfriend you Stiles, d’you here me? I will move out and you will never see me again.”
“I’ll come to Thanksgiving, geez.”
“You better, It’s our family tradition.” He shakes his head. “You’ll probably text him the whole time anyway… It’s not like it’ll matter what part of the state you’re in.”
“You spent all of thanksgiving pining over Allison in our sophomore year…” he mutters irritably to the toaster.
“I was Seventeen!” Scott exclaims, heading for the bathroom. “You’re Twenty-One!”
“I’m not pining!” he shouts to the empty room.
“You’re coming to Christmas Stiles.” Scott has broken out his ‘I’m so done with your shit’ tone, and Stiles realizes, once again, that he has lost this battle. “I don't care what you say. Your Dad will kill you. And then he’ll kill me for letting you. I don’t care if Derek might get hit by a truck and have no one to sit at his bedside. You’re coming. Okay?”
“O-kay. Geez.”
5:14 <Derek ;)>
I think I’m gonna die of second hand embarrassment.-
-???
Dad bought Melissa heart shaped chocolates.-
-Melissa?
Scotts Mom.-
Who he’s been working up to dating for the past five years.-
-What’s wrong with heart shaped chocolates?
are you kidding me? theyre only the most clichéd romantic gift known to man!-
-You can put an acute accent in clichéd, but you cant put an apostrophe in they’re? Really Stiles?
Auto correct man-
I cant help that it hates me-
Oh shit-
Help-
family charades-
-We’re playing monopoly.
What are the stakes?-
-Nicknames.
Ooooooh-
Do tell-
-No.
:’( -
“Cora! What-” his sister wrenches the phone from his grasp. ‘HEY! Give that back!”
“He was texting Stiles.” She announces to Laura, checking the phone and completely ignoring her brother.
Derek jumps up to wrestle it from her, but Laura puts her hand out for it and he stills, she takes the phone, staring Derek down, daring him to argue. He doesn’t.
5:33 <Derek ;)>
-Hi Stiles, Laura here. Derek is taking a break from txting you so he can play his turn.
-The nicknames are Lo-dog, Twinkies and Der-bear.
-No points for guessing which is whose.
Der-Bear!??-
like Dare Bear??-
For Derek???-
Hi by the way-
Laura?-
-I’m back.
Hi there Der...-
...Bear-
-Oh god.
-She didn't.
She did.-
-…
“Who’s Stiles texting?” John asks as his son manages to lose them their second round of charades by distractedly guessing ‘The Pink Panther’ for Goldfinger.
“Derek.” Scott sighs long sufferingly.
His dad pulls him aside as he and Scott are leaving.
“So, Derek…”
Stiles eyes go wide. “We are not having this conversation.”
“He a good guy?”
“Dad!”
“What’s his last name?”
“Dad!”
“I’d like to meet him sometime.”
“BYE!”
2:49pm <Der Bear>
Kill me now.-
Ms Callighan has not stopped talking for 43 minutes.-
Seriously Derek.-
Unleash ur inner serial killer.-
“Who’re you texting?”
Stiles jumps about a mile in the air and turns to face the girl behind him, exclaiming “No one!” in a chronic and horribly incriminating knee-jerk reaction.
She gives him a look, and he has a flash back to picking up Derek at Tildern, almost four months ago now.
“Really…”
Stiles is about to open his mouth to snap ‘why do you care?’ or ‘its none of your business’, but Ms Callighan cuts him off calling for a volunteer.
When he checks his phone again he has a new message.
2:58pm <Der Bear>
-Pay attention to your class Stiles.
A few days later the nosy chick from theories of punishment accosts him in the college parking lot.
“Is that your jeep?”
“Uhhh, yeah?”
A mischievous smile spreads across her face.
“Can I help you?” his voice squeaks a bit and he winces, her smile only widens.
“I’m Cora.” She offers her hand, still grinning like the cheshire cat.
“Hi… Do I… Know you?”
If possible the grin gets yet wider. “I’m Derek’s little sister.”
Ohhhhhh. “Ohhhh” suddenly everything makes sense. “You’re the one who was meant to pick him up”
“Yeah, thats me.” She winks. “but between you and I, Derek’s definitely happier he got you.”
Stiles eyes go wide. “Uh…”
“Don’t worry, we’ll only kill you if you hurt him.”
“We...?”
She starts walking away backwards. “You should come over some time, meet Laura, we’d love to get to know you, and Derek’s horrible at initiating things.” She turns around. “See you later Stiles!”
5:19pm <Der Bear>
Cora is scary-
He slumps into the drivers seat, skimming his hands over the worn rubber of the steering wheel and wondering what it means. Trying to tamp down on the flurry of anxiety and hope tangling up his gut.
“What did you say to him?” He catches his sister the moment she comes through the front door.
“Nice to see you too Der. What did I say to who?” She pushes past him to dump her things on the couch.
“What did you say to Stiles.”
“Oh him, I invited him over.”
“What!? When!?”
She watches him, a bemused twinkle in her eye, if Derek were a wiser man he would have run long ago. “We didn't really discuss the deets… I guess you should text him and find out.”
“Cora...” He stares at her, dumbfounded. Despite their regular conversations, Stiles has always seemed far off, untouchable, safe. The idea that something simple as a text, the very medium by which the communicate, could collapse the distance between them so easily, is terrifying, and, the more he thinks about it, exhilarating.
“Well big bro, I gotta get cleaned up, and I think you’re on dinner duty tonight? Chop chop.”
7:08 <Derek>
-Would you like to come over?
“Dude, you okay?” Scott helps him get back up into his chair.
Stiles clears his throat. “Mm, yeah Immok…” Scott raises an eyebrow. “He just- He just asked if id like to come over? And I don't know… I don't know if its a date, or if he’s just being nice? Cos his sister, Cora, aske- told me to come over sometime earlier today, and he might just be asking because she told him to… and I don't know Scott, he doesn't give much away, and I don't want to say yes if he’s just asking to be polite? But I don't wanna say no in case he really does want me to come over, and oh my god I’m gonna meet his family! What if they don't like me? I mean, Cora seemed to like me… but we didn't really talk, what if I knock something over? Or break something. Oh god, what if I insult them and they never want to speak to me again!? I’ll have to see Derek in secret, like Romeo and Juliet. We’re gonna die Scott, we’re gonna die because our families hate each other and we can never be together. Oh my god, Scott, this is terrible, theres no nice way to say ‘I’d love to come over but I can’t because I might make your family hate me and then we’d have to kill ourselves to be together!’ What am I gonna do?”
Scott nods thoughtfully, after a moment he asks: “Do you like him?”
“I- Yes.”
“Do you want to go to his place?”
“...Yes.”
Scott shrugs. “Then the rest of it doesn’t really matter.”
7:20 <Stiles>
When and where?-
“Whoa. Bro. That pan cost money you know.” Laura looks meaningfully at the massive, hand shaped dent he’s made in the handle, and he drops it like a hot potato, splattering tomato all over the hotplate.
“Shit, sorry.” He guiltily slips his phone back into his pocket and reaches for the paper towel.
Laura goes back to reading their junk mail as Derek quietly cleans up his mess and bends the handle back into a semi usable shape.
When he’s done he clears his throat. “So” Laura looks up. “I may have… would it be alright if… can- um...” she raises an eyebrow. “is it okay if Stiles comes to dinner?”
“Tonight?” her other eyebrow joins the first.
“Uh, no? But sometime... Maybe, um, soon?” He tries to keep the blatant hope out of his inflection.
“Well... I don't see why not, how about next Saturday? Cora’s going out to the movies, and I can organize to be elsewhere. Would that suit you Der?” she smiles softly, encouraging.
“Yeah, yes. That would be great.”
“I can’t do this.” Stiles pulls at the collar of his shirt.
“Yes you can.” Scott barely looks up from his diagram.
“What if he doesn't like me?”
“He likes you.”
“What if I say something awful?”
“You probably will.”
“Scott!”
“Look.” His friend eyeballs him sternly over the cover of his biology text book. “he’s been talking to you for four and a half months-”
“A hundred and fourty-two days” Stiles whispers, Scott ignores him.
“- if you haven't said anything he hasn’t liked yet, you probably aren't going to, and besides, he’s been talking to you for four and a half months. He wouldn't have done that if he didn't really like you.” He gets up and starts subtly steering Stiles towards the door as he speaks. “He’s inviting you over to his place to get to know you better.” he placates with the confidence of a man who has made this argument a million times before. “it’s a first date, not a wedding.”
They’re at the door, but Stiles stops, fingers on the handle. “What if I stuff it up?”
“You wont, If he doesn't like you for you, then he’s the one who’s stuffed up.” Scott gives him a little shove. “There’s always plan b.”
“Ha ha” Stiles throws him a glare. “I am not marrying Greenburg.”
Scott laughs. “Get outta here, you’re gonna be late.”
Derek has just put the vegetables into the steamer when he hears Stiles on the staircase, he lowers the lid and starts towards the door, only to stop, abruptly, when his phone pings on the table, he reaches over to check it.
6:27 <Stiles>
-I’m here.
He dithers, unsure what to do, and suddenly reluctant to come across as over eager by busting out onto the landing before Stiles even gets there, he waits.
The next minute ticks by half time to the pounding of his heart.
He hears Stiles arrive on the landing, just barely picks up his whispered count of the room numbers, and waits for one more strike of the second hand, before taking a deep breath and rushing for the door.
Stiles knuckles have barely grazed the surface of the wood when it’s wrenched open. Derek is standing on the other side looking mildly crazed.
“Hi” it feels inadequate.
“Hi” Derek blows it out like he’s been holding his breath for too long.
“How are-
“Why don't you-”
They both start at the same time, and then laugh.
“You go.” Stiles cheeks feel hot with embarrassment, but his face splits into a natural grin. It just feels so good to finally be here, after months of texting back and forth, to finally have this conversation in person. Even if it is a bit of a disaster.
“Come in”
Derek is smiling too, and he looks just as gorgeous as he did last time Stiles saw him. He’s wearing a v-neck and a sweater that Stiles highly doubts he chose himself, but somehow doesn't look unattractive, despite it’s patent grandpa origins.
It makes him feel less bad about his awkward attempt to pull off the prep boy, shirt, tie and vest combo. Scott had told him it was a good idea and he’d been to anxious to argue at the time.
“So, personal training huh?” There’s a twinkle in his eye as he says it, when Derek first told him he’d almost fallen off his chair laughing so hard, Derek hadn't texted to him for three days he’d teased him so much.
“Yeah. It’s only part time though…”
They’re sitting in the main living area, dinner plates abandoned on the table.
“Oh?”
“Mm, I’m post grad architecture.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I’m doing a part time internship with a small firm. It’s not too bad really, so many people complain about it, but I actually really like it. I mean, I don't get to design stuff yet, but I still get to learn about the process. Sure, a lot of the time I’m just pushing papers and fetching coffees, but sometimes I learn something useful, something that will take me further, you know?”
“Yeah” Stiles smiles a little wistfully. “It sounds pretty cool when you put it like that.” He had a long way to go before he could espouse the joys of an internship.
Theres a beat of silence in which he registers the way Derek’s toes just barely nudge his under the coffee table.
“Oh, I almost forgot...” Derek holds up his hand, reaching for something by the side of his chair. He brings it back to his lap and Stiles realizes its a parcel, wrapped in vaguely garish Christmas paper. Derek holds it out to him “Seeing as I didn't get to give you anything for Christmas.” He smiles this cute, disarmingly honest, little smile.
“Oh!” Stiles takes the gift “You didn't have to...”
Derek just smiles again. “Open it before you thank me.”
“Okay…” he pulls the green ribbon and peels the sticky tape back from the side, siding the present from the wrapping like a tray from a box of matches. Glancing back to Derek who smiles encouragingly, eagerly even, if a little nervously.
He flips the box over and a grin creeps across his cheeks. “You didn't…”
“I did.”
“You’re ridiculous... You remembered?”
“I thought I should make my entirely clichéd, romantic intentions clear.” Derek needs to be more careful with that smile of his, if he keeps this up too long Stiles is gonna be a giant pool of goo on his couch. “It has been mentioned to me that I’m a bit… obtuse sometimes.”
“Oh my God, I love you.” Stiles promptly claps his hand over his mouth, he hadn't meant for that to come out.
Derek’s eyes are very round.
“Oh my god I'm so sorry, that was way too soon.” He cringes into the cushions, hoping they will magically engulf him and end his mortification. “I’m so sorry. I’ll- I’ll just go-” he gets up, trying to remember where he’s put his things.
“NO!”
He freezes.
“I mean, um, please don't- I…” Derek takes a breath, Stiles tries not to stare at him too hopefully. “I just didn't expect- I feel the same. I know its soon, but-” He stands up, moving into Stiles space to grasp his hand. “I-I feel the same. You’re this wonderful, vibrant, intelligent person, and I can’t imagine being with anyone else.”
“Really?”
“I really- I love you Stiles. You’re ridiculous, but I love you.” Derek grins and he’s so close it makes Stiles skin tingle.
“You love me...”
Derek smiles again, cute little bunny teeth catching his bottom lip. “Mmm, Thats what I said.”
“I- I love you too.” He knows he is repeating himself but he’s having a little trouble with his higher thinking this close to perfection.
“I know.”
“You really-”
Derek pulls him close and gently presses their lips together.
“Yes.” He reaffirms when he leans pack, breath puffing over Stiles cheeks. “I really love you.”
“Good.” Stiles breathes, cupping Derek’s face and kissing him firmly.
For Sterek Week 2015 by phlossie. Sorry its a bit late!
Stiles might be reconsidering the wisdom of choosing Charlie Brown for halloween. He’d thought it was funny to begin with, like really funny. Cos you know, Scott was a Werewolf… and Stiles was pretty much his human; and who didn't find vague werewolf puns using fifty year old comics amusing? Now though, now that he can see all the ridiculously attractive, hot models in their designer crafted costumes, he is feeling a little bit… underdressed.
Even Scott looks cool in his last-minute-holyshitineedacostumestileswherecanigetacostume?-costume, which he’d picked up from the party shop at the end of their street and was covered in dubious-might-be-actual-blood-stains. In fact he seemed to have picked up a very pretty Katniss or maybe genderbend hawkeye, Stiles couldn’t tell between all the writhing bodies and strobe lighting.
So, yeah, Stiles was beginning to regret the scull cap and yellow top combo that sorta made him look like a psychedelic Dr.Evil. Which he wasn’t against per se, it just wasn't what he was going for when he started out.
That was: cultured, intelligent and funny, not just, that-one-weird-kid-who-always-manages-to-make-things-awkward, which, he had a feeling, was what he was.
He sidled over to the bar hoping to drown his troubles in ridiculously overpriced, but if he’s lucky paid for by the hosts, beverages, they were probably all going to taste like horrifyingly inaccurate children’s sweets, but at this point, he was beyond caring.
Unfortunately the bar was occupied by a very glowery do-not-approach-on-pain-of-death Lumberjack.
Who, on closer inspection, happened to be Derek Hale, the much older roommate of Scott’s friend Isaac, who had, for his part, ignored Stiles for the last three months he’d known him. Which was fine, because Stiles had a lot of practice at admiring from afar, a Lot of practice. Capital L.
At this moment in time though, with gyrating attractive people who were not even remotely interested in gyrating in his vicinity also pretending he didn't exist, Stiles felt that maybe the several month long moratorium should come to an end. At least that way they could be miserable together.
“Hi!”
Derek’s eyebrows did a Mexican wave of confusion.
“This seat taken? No? Cool, I’ll just…” He perched on the barstool. “Yeah. So, uh, how’s it going? Enjoying the party?-”
Derek scowled in a way that Stiles felt could be interpreted as ‘no, I’m not enjoying the party’ rather than ‘stop talking to me you weirdo.’ so he took it as a sign to continue.
“-Or well, not. I totally understand dude, I suck at this kind of thing, totally not my style, always come off looking like a douchebag. I think it might be a medical condition, you heard of foot in mouth disease? Not like, foot and mouth disease. I’m pretty sure I’d be in a quarantine if I had that, Ha.-”
A very small quirk turned up the corners of his mouth.
“-No like, the minute I open my mouth, the worst possible thing I could say comes out of it. It’s a curse! I cant imagine having conversation like a normal person. But you seem to have that whole caper down pat… Or well, you’ve got the not-foot-in-mouth thing working for you at least…”
The eyebrows said ‘oh?’
“I’m not sure not-saying-anything would work all that well for me…” he grinned deprecatingly and got a very tentative smile in return.
“I’m Stiles by the way, I think we’ve met, but I don't know if I actually introduced myself…” He extended his hand, which Derek took after a moments hesitation.
“Derek”
“Yeah man! You’re Isaac’s roomie right?-”
There was a brief flash of surprise, and a minute nod.
“-I popped by the other day with Scott before the game, crazy you know, I would not have expected the Mets to lose to those guys. Completely unforeseen, I even lost fifty to Scott, and that never happens! I feel like I’ve been cheated-”
The bartender plonked a glass of garish pink liquid in front of him and he grabbed it mid flow, nodding his assent, although he had no idea where it had come from.
“-Thanks -like the gods conspired against me or something. It’s like that essay I had to write for post modern lit-”
Derek’s left eyebrow was slowly climbing its way up his forehead.
“- Sorry, I’m rambling! Feel free to cut me off man, any time. God knows I can talk for hours if you let me go.” Stiles pulled a face and Derek’s other eyebrow joined the first.
There was an awkward pause.
‘So, Wolverine huh? That’s cool, Wouldn't have picked you as a DC man! But I like the subtlety. It’s nice to see you in something other than black and dark grey.-” Oh dear god, why did I say that? Now he probably thinks I’ve been stalking him! “- Not that it doesn't suit you, it’s just... nice?... to see variety!” You are a complete social failure.
Derek had this cute little incredulous smirk. “I’m not sure Yellow is your color…” he said and his eyes flicked down, then up Stiles’ body.
Stiles couldn't tell if it was the alcohol or the stuffy room, but he suddenly felt hot all over. “Oh. Uhh… yeah, it was- Scott was gonna come as Snoopy, but someone stole the head and used it to make a were-rights art installation on the Quad. So, I’m flying solo.”
Derek got this constipated look on his face again and his eyes flicked up to focus on something over Stiles shoulder.
“Uh” Stiles turned. Speaking of the devil. “Oh hey Scotty! Sup?” Scott had his arm draped over Hawkeye’s shoulder and was smiling goofily at her as they walked over to Derek and Stiles at the bar.
“Hey Stiles! Derek.” The killer glare he received barely even dented his perennially cheery attitude. “This is Allison, she just moved over from Jackson with her dad. Ally this is Stiles” he waved. “And this is Derek.”
Derek growled and flashed his eyes and was suddenly all up in Scott’s personal space. “What the hell do you think you’re doing.” It was really more of a growl, and Scott barred his teeth instinctively.
“Woah man.” Stiles tripped off the stool and tried to pull Derek back a little, the contact seemed to make it worse though, because Derek actively growled at Scott and they both wolfed out a little. “Okay… O-kay” He took a step back, they were starting to draw attention. “Scott, let it go man, Whatever it is, walk away, just walk away.” It was too late though, the wolves already stuck in their primal power struggle.
“What do you think you’re doing, rubbing it in like that?” Derek enunciated each word like a punch.
All Stiles could think was: Thank god they’re still verbal.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Scott snapped around his fangs.
It was the wrong thing to say and Derek snarled and lunged forward, but came up against the suddenly very real bow and arrow Allison had been using as a prop.
“Hold it right there.”
Derek was growling still, a continuos rumble that shook through their rib cages even over the thumping bass from the party, but he didn't move.
A bouncer was making his way determinedly over to them.
Stiles tentatively touched Derek’s elbow. “Derek, come on man, let it go.”
The wolf wheeled on him, and Stiles flinched, trapped in his furious red tinged stare. “Let it GO? He’s practically cheating on you right in front of your face and you want me to let it go?”
“WHAT!?” Stiles took a step back and the barstool pressed into his back.
Derek barreled on. “You expect me to just stand aside while he disrespects you like that?”
“What.” Stiles mind was reeling.
“You deserve better than that Stiles. Not some asshole who clearly doesn't give a shit about how you feel. If I was dating you I’d-”
He was cut off by the Bouncer who grabbed him firmly by the shoulders. “Sorry son, but I need you to come with me.” Derek’s entire body froze, then sagged in defeat as the bouncer walked him away. His eyes bored into Stiles’ all the way out the door.
“Well.” Stiles stressed the ‘L’s as he turned to slump over the bar. Scott perched next to him.
“Are you okay?” Allison patted him gently on the shoulder.
“Yeah… m fine.” he smiled softly. “What was that all about.” Scott jerked his head over his shoulder to indicate Derek as he waved three fingers at the bartender.
Three shots of vodka appeared in front of them as Stiles answered. “I have absolutely no idea.” Derek’s final, unfinished sentence was still percolating its way into his head. It’d all been so weird. “If I were dating you I’d”- but that would mean- No way. No way. He looked up at the door. “I gotta go.”
“What? Why? Stiles!” Scott tried to catch his arm, but he was already halfway across the room. Fighting his way through the dance floor with surprising speed.
Stiles burst out the door into the crisp autumnal air in time to hear: “Go on home now.”
“But-”
“No son, go home, get some rest, cool off. You can see him again in the morning.” There was a gusty sigh. “Do you need someone to call a cab?”
“No. Thank you.”
“Alright.” The bouncer walked up the steps, past a couple of kids smoking while they hung off the hand rail like costumed carpet pythons, and towards Stiles. He raised his eyebrows when he saw him frozen on the landing. “Okay son?”
“Y-yeah.” He reflexively wiped his sweaty hands on his shirt.
“Hooo boy.” The bouncer shook his head. “I aint touching this with a ten foot pole… Have a nice night kid!” He stepped up to the door and went in. Leaving Stiles alone on the landing.
He took the steps slowly.
“Derek?” He asked, reaching the bottom and looking around.
He was about ten yards away form the stairs, lurking by a lamp post with his arms folded and a scowl. “What do you want.” He glared at the tarmac.
“I, um, I’m sorry about’ He gestured vaguely at the street.
Derek just shrugged. “Why are you here Stiles?”
“I just- Whatever you think is going on between me and Scott, you’re wrong.” Derek huffed and rolled his eyes. “No, listen, we aren't together, we- I- Scotts like my brother. I’d never-” he took a breath, Derek was watching him and he knew he had his full attention now. “It was really, um, something, what you did in there and I- um, want to thank you, even if you were misguided, because no one has ever done anything like that for me before, and I came out here because I thought you should know that, and because I thought I should tell you that if you’ve been avoiding me because you think I’m dating Scott, then don’t. I’m not, and I don't want you to.”
Derek had stepped forward as he spoke, leaning into Stiles space a little. “You really aren't together?” his voice was soft, and thick with something Stiles shied away from categorizing.
“We really aren’t.” His heart felt like it was going to leap out of his body and he had the bizarre urge to clutch at it. Derek’s hand was hovering by his elbow, the proximity sending reactive tingles through his skin.
“Good.” Derek leant in further, inches away from Stiles and his breath fanned over his cheeks as he spoke. “Because I’d like to date you.”
A bright flush fled across Stiles’ skin, and he was under no misapprehensions why this time as Derek’s lips slid over his, fingers smoothing up his arm to curl against his neck. Tilting his head for a better angle and ever so slightly parting his lips. Stiles gasped softly, and Derek used the opportunity to skate his tongue over his bottom lip, following with a gentle nip. He pulled back so Stiles could drag in a ragged breath.
“Yes, Please.” Stiles breathed into space between them when he regained his breath, leaning in to kiss him again, grabbing a handful of his shirt to pull him closer.
Razzmatazz is the color of Stiles hoodie when he walks to meet Derek in the woods. So close to red it almost passes. Derek can see the differences though, in the color and the boy. The new slope to his shoulders, the cautious distance in his whiskey eyes. He doesn't overbalance the way he used to at the slightest push.
The color makes his eyes hurt and he scowls by wrote. Falling into an attitude so familiar its like a second skin. Stiles gives him that cocky smile, mostly unchanged by the years, and it all settles back into place the way he knew it would. Derek breathes in for the first time since he left.
Stiles takes him to see the house, returned to its grandeur, but, like his old pack, fundamentally differing from memory. The walls are a soft green grey that makes a hidden part of him shiver, Stiles slyly comments that its Timberwolf. Derek wonders what on earth possessed anyone to let him choose the paint. It’s almost a perfect match to the color of his Henley.
They have dinner with whoever turns up. The pack is spread across the state, Derek can feel the tight threads holding them together like a spot at the corner of his vision, not quite focused, annoyingly uncatchable. Stiles keeps their legs pressed together at the knee under the table and he can smell the loneliness on his skin, see it in the way he keeps a measured distance form the others, hear it in the careful way they address him.
He wants to reach out, to fix this unfathomable brokenness, but it is not his to fix.
They scrub the dishes in mutual silence. Derek choked on insecurity and Stiles isolated by choice.
Scott puts the game on and the others all settle onto the couch, lazing around each other with the easy, unselfconscious, camaraderie a pack should. Stiles stands back, against the wall and Derek with him, not sure if he fits in this newly made family, even in his childhood home.
Stiles watches them for a while, then silently takes Derek by the hand. Leading him out of the building and into the forest.
The crescent moon smiles down on them, brushing stripes across their faces between the trees.
Stiles runs his fingers through the underbrush and sets off a flurry of tiny phosphorescent bugs, the sunglow in their abdomens softening the contrast of shadow under the boughs.
They watch the winking yellow lights create constellations of their own design and Stiles fingers become forever tangled in Derek’s heart.
They wake late, the shadow of the trees keeping the bright sun from their faces. Derek watches Stiles’ umber eyes come open, watches the dappled light reflect off his iris and wonders what the warmth in his chest means, the fuzzy wuzzy feeling, if its just from the sunspot, or if it’s generated there, in the depths of his being.
Stiles retakes his hand, but doesn't lead him, simply stands and waits, ready to go where ever Derek does. A part of him isn’t ready to go back, even though he is back, and knows he will be again eventually. It has a lot to do with the cracks in the tight web of connections between Stiles and his family and a lot to do with not coming back soon enough the first time.
They find a stream. Derek knows it runs into a lake, and they splash through its chilly water, following it’s flow into the open. Derek strips off his shirt and collapses into the polished surface, Stiles watches the ripples rush towards the shoreline before joining him. Letting the crispness cleanse the hollow part in his chest, enjoying the vastness of the blue sky, the feeling of infinity, suspended in the water. He realizes this is his absolute zero, his point of genesis.
Terror flooded his senses making him trip and tear through the dense trees. His lungs and throat ache with the fridgid air.
He can hear their boots behind him, crunching on leaves, they aren’t trying to be quiet. Make no pretense of stealth: want him to be afraid, to run like a frightened rabbit.
Derek’s hand is rough in his. Pulling him along with a vice like grip, half shifted, even more panicked than he is.
It feels like they’d been running for hours, and the hunters always sound like they’re just meters behind.
There is a sharp crack; a gunshot he thinks, and Derek takes a sharp turn, for a moment icy fear grips Stiles thinking that he’s been hit, but they kept running and Derek doesn’t falter.
Stiles legs give out soon afterwards though, and he falls face first onto the mouldering leaves. Derek heaves him upright by his hold on his hand and Stiles’ shoulder screams under the pressure. The wolf hoists him onto his back and continues running.
He can still hear the hunters behind them, and see the shafts of light their torches split through the trees. They seem to be everywhere.
Stiles wonders where on earth they had gone so horribly wrong, it was supposed to be easy, just a couple of looney hunters, nothing they hadn't dealt with before. Their resources and numbers so insignificant he’d been surprised Isaac hadn't rescued himself already.
That should have been the first warning sign.
Hours later, Derek collapses against a tree, slinging Stiles onto the dirt, doubling over to drag in ragged gulps of air, choking around sobs.
Something crunches in their immediate vicinity and they both startle, Stiles grabs Derek by his wrist and drags him into a small hollow between the tree roots. Clinging to him in abject terror.
“Derek” he whispers, for no particular reason other than to assure himself that the other was there, brain so choked with fear it needs to be doubly sure.
Derek doesn’t say anything, simply curls himself more tightly around Stiles.
Both their bodies shake as the adrenalin wears off, Stiles hardly notices as his shoulder gets progressively wetter with Derek’s tears.
When the glaze finally leaves his eyes and he recovers his wits he asks what is wrong.
“They’re gone” Derek replies. “I still cant feel them- Not even Scott”
“Oh” It’s all he can manage through the adrenalin and fear, his emotions clogged by cracking twigs and crunching boots.
-
This is a SHAMELESS plug for my series ‘Together We stand’ You should really go read it.
It’s not really a surprise, working out that Hale is a Werewolf. It’s not an easy thing to hide. Between the ‘mystery illnesses’ every full moon and the tendency towards reclusively and growling. Which, honestly, was just sloppy. No, the surprise came when he worked out that Derek liked him.
It was confusing at first, and scary. Stiles never thought he would be in the same league as a guy like Derek Hale, after a while though, once he got used to the idea, it was fun. Even though some people thought they were freaks, wizards weren’t known for being progressive, and more than a few Slytherins chose Stiles as a hexing bag, they quickly learnt he was not to be meddled with and their friends stuck by them. They were good, life was good.
And then Stiles found out Derek’s family was going to die.
And things went down hill from there.
“Don’t” He shuffles down the bench, putting space between them. They used to sit so close Stiles could feel the warmth in his bones.
“Derek” it’s almost a sob. He’s so strung out, tired from the visions, tired from pushing himself to find something else, something more, anything. Anything at all to save Derek from this.
“Please” It’s a whisper but Stiles still hears it. Hears the desperation. He knows Derek doesn't mean to push him away, knows he doesn't really blame Stiles, is just so, so very lost. He knows that what he’s really saying is “tell me it isn't true” Stiles desperately wishes it was an ill conceived joke, wishes for the first time in his life that he is wrong, that it isn't true, the universe got it wrong.
He gets up to leave, every fibre in his body feels like it will split in two; and something shakes loose in him as he walks away, settles into the hollow of his chest with steady determination.
If Derek had known it would be the last time he saw Stiles he would have said something, wouldn't have said what he did. He spends days in his chambers. Neither the students nor the teachers disturb him, they seem to understand that his grief cannot be consoled.
He’s losing his family, and now he’s lost Stiles too.
The pain is physical, a cut so deep it cannot heal.
Professor McGonagall comes to make sure he takes his potion the day of the full moon. She is the first person to interact with him since Stiles left, she knocks smartly on the door and plonks the draught down on his bedside table.
“Mr Hale” She addresses him. “I understand your circumstances, but it does you no good to let it fester into such interminable solitude.” At the door frame she turns. “Perhaps, if you cannot conceive to come out for your own sake, you will do it for your friends’.”
That is what it takes to shake Derek from his dogged punishment.
Erica hugs him tightly, tears running onto his robes. Even Scott firmly clasps his shoulder, and Derek realizes he has been a fool; a selfish fool.
Life gets a little better after that. The date Stiles gave drawing ever nearer, but nobody knows where he is. It’s like he walked away form Derek at the bench and disappeared.
Derek thinks its more likely he Disapperated. Wouldn't be in the least surprised to find he did, school rules never really seemed to apply to Stiles.
He wishes he were here though, wishes he hadn't pushed so hard, wishes he had tried to understand instead of lashing out.
His family has requested that he stay at the school. He understands why but its a terrible burden to know the future and be unable to do anything about it. They send him letters every day, telling him nothing and everything. Trying to say all the things they need to say. He spends hours composing replies. His mother tells him about his family heritage, gives him what she can to help him once she’s gone. Derek desperately tries to learn it all without thinking on why. Little Cora sends him a drawing of their house though, and he almost breaks down in the great hall. Boyd hugs him hard when he finds him in the third floor bathrooms.
Professor Longbottom gives him the day off. Derek spends it curled on the floor of his room, trying to forget, wishing he could forget.
He falls asleep there, in a pool of tears.
“Derek... Derek.”
Stiles shakes his shoulder gently. The crescent moon is setting over the horizon, flooding the room with silver and cutting sharp lines across his face.
He stares blearily up at him. “Stiles? Am I dreaming?”
“No, no… I- I did it Derek, I fixed it. They’re alive.” his face twists anxiously.
“wh-what?” He’s starting to wake up now, Stiles can see his brain processing.
“I didn't know if I could, but I did, I stopped it all from happening... They’re alive!”
Derek recoils slightly and Stiles’ face falls, shock he thinks, its just shock.
He clears his throat, eyes glazed. “They’re… okay…”
It’s not really a question but Stiles nods.
Derek looks up at him. “Stiles” He breathes it out like a dedication and Stiles holds on tight.
Stiles continued to advance, wriggling his sticky fingers in mock menace.
“I knew baking with you was a bad idea…” Derek edged around the bench to get away.
Stiles reached across it, but his arms weren't long enough and he settled for obscenely licking the frosting off each finger instead. “But you promised you’d help me not burn the house down.”
Derek was beginning to question his sanity… who was he kidding, he was always questioning his sanity. He was dating Stiles, they shared an apartment, Stiles sung in the shower and collected scented, woodland animal shaped, soaps. At this particular moment though, he had no idea how it had gone this far, because Stiles was obscenely licking lime green frosting that Derek had expressly banned him from using because it ‘looks like Shrek’s earwax’ off his fingers, and he liked it.
Stiles cocked an eyebrow at him. “What?”
Derek sighed “Nothing”
“You’ve got that constipated look that means you’re desperately trying to deny something, Der. What is it?”
Derek tried to abort the situation by adding cachous over the frosting on the array of grotesquely colored cupcakes.
“Derek” Stiles poked him in the side then ducked under his arm so he stood between him and the bench.
“You’re such a pest.” He continued sprinkling the little silver balls onto the snot-icing over the top of Stiles head.
“But you love me.”
Derek froze. Stiles grinned shamelessly into his face. What was Stiles trying to do? What was he trying to get Derek to do? They didn't say things like that.
He coughed, at a loss, and nodded.
Stiles smiled radiantly, apparently unaware of Derek’s confusion, and pecked him on the lips.
“Love you too” he said over his shoulder as he went to start the cleaning, then continued talking like nothing out of the ordinary had just happened “So I was thinking, it’s gonna be Dad’s birthday next week, and he doesn't really like making a big deal out of it, but would you maybe like to come with? It’s nothing fancy, just dinner at our place and drinks after…” A pause “Der?” Stiles turned to look at him only to find Derek frozen in the middle of the kitchen, eyes as round as saucers. “Ummmm… Are you okay?”
No response.
“Derek.”
“Hm, umm, yeah, no, that would be great. Love to come.” He was in so deep, so fucking deep, when did this even happen. Stiles was taking him to a family gathering.
“Are you sure you’re okay? You’re just, looking a bit freaked out...”
Derek took a deep breath, this was- how had he not realized this yet, was he mentally deficient? Had Laura failed to mention that he was dropped on his head as a baby?
“Der? Whats going on?”
He was in love with Stiles; and Stiles loved him back.
“Derek!” Stiles was frowning, scrubbing brush discarded.
His chest felt like it was going to bust open if he didn't do something right now.
“I love you, Stiles” he swept his boyfriend up and kissed him deeply.
“Mm-” Stiles tried to pull back a little, to express his surprise, but Derek slid his fingers into his hair and tugged gently “MMMmmmm.”
-
The icing was a little dry by the time they got back to it, Stiles said he loved it anyway. Derek found the crunch helped him feel less like he was eating Ogre snot.