the promise of more (2422 words) by Winchesterek Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski Characters: Derek Hale, Stiles Stilinski, Laura Hale, Lydia Martin Additional Tags: New Year's Eve, First Kiss, First Meetings, Meet-Cute, Alternate Universe - Different First Meeting, Everyone Is Alive, Lydia Martin & Stiles Stilinski Friendship, New Year's Kiss For Events: @sterekfests 'kiss me at midnight', @sterekbingo fuzzy socks (Christmas), @sterekweekly reindeer
Summary: “You should save some for the others.” Stiles turned to see a handsome guy standing there and thankfully he was holding his second cookie or it might just have fallen out of his mouth as he stared at him. His tone was light and teasing, so Stiles knew that he didn't mean it. “I, uh—sorry?” Stiles replied, looking at the table filled with treats and then back at the man. “Did you bring any? I’ll make sure not to eat those.” The guy laughed, it reaching his eyes which had Stiles almost melting right on the spot.
Stiles thought Lydia was crazy, and not her normal crazy, but like weird crazy because she had invited him to a fuzzy sock holiday party at her place, which meant that everyone who came would have to wear fuzzy socks. Not only was it a party, but it was also a slumber party. Stiles couldn't remember the last time he’d been to a slumber party. Probably before he was ten and it was likely with Scott for his birthday party.
So going to an adult slumber party, with alcohol, fuzzy socks, and probably the possibility of hooking up was something completely new to Stiles. It wasn't like he was into public sex or any type of orgy situation. He was a very private kinda guy when it came to that. Voyeurism was not his thing, which meant he’d need four walls and a door at least to hook up at this party.
Then again, the lakehouse had plenty of space and rooms, so maybe he would find someone. It wasn't too far out of the ballpark.
Stiles sighed and checked his phone, looking at the GPS, trying to figure out the easiest way to get to the lakehouse without having to go through too much ice and snow along the way. His Jeep was a little on the old side, and he needed new tires, so it wasn't the safest thing to drive in this weather. It did its job though and he loved his Jeep, especially because it was his mom's.
He reached out to turn the knob on the heater and blasted it because the Jeep was drafty and started his route to the lakehouse. If the lake was frozen over and Lydia wanted to ice skate, Stiles was going to have to tell her no, since drowning was one of his biggest fears. He tried not to think about that as he drove, thumping his fingers on the steering wheel, and humming along to Christmas songs playing from his phone.
By the time he made it to the lakehouse, there were cars parked everywhere, more than Stiles realized there would be. So this was a larger party than he’d originally thought. That only made him more nervous. He sighed and parked his Jeep in a place that looked like it wouldn't get trapped if he decided to bail on this party, and killed the engine.
Stiles ran his hands over his face, took a deep break, and pulled his sweater hood over his head before hopping out of the Jeep. The door clanged behind him as he closed it and Stiles shoved his hands into his pockets, starting up the walk. Thankfully, he didn't slip and fall on his face.
It was a miracle.
Stiles reached the door, knocked, then waited. He could hear music on the other side and muffled voices. When the door opened, a tall brunette greeted him with an excited, “Hi! Oh. Come in, come in. Lydia is doing what Lydia does. Entertaining the best of us.”
Her tone was sarcastic and Stiles thought he could really get to know this girl. “I’m Laura,” she added with a grin, her lips as red as sin. “You are?”
“Uh—I’m Stiles.” He smiled and offered her his hand, which she shook awkwardly. Okay, so maybe he was the one that was being awkward.
“I have my fuzzy socks,” he added, lifting the leg of his sweats to show her his entrance fee. They were covered in penguins because Stiles secretly loved penguins. And frogs. Not that he’d ever tell anyone something like that.
“Great!” Laura nodded and shut the door behind Stiles, then motioned with her head toward a table at the far end of the room. “Eggnog is over there, along with a few cookies and sweets that people pitched in.” She frowned. “Don't eat the brownies. I think those are spiked… you know, with—” She made a face, but then again, it was illegal in most places still.
The last thing he needed to do was to test hot if his dad decided to check him. “Got it. No brownies.” He gave her a thumbs up and she walked off, leaving him standing there awkwardly with a bunch of people chatting around him in groups. They’d paired off and gathered up, Christmas music playing in the background, and Stiles didn't know where to start. So, he headed over to the eggnog table.
Stiles grabbed a cup and served himself, sipped it, and winced. Whoever made it had gone hard with the liquor. He had to pace himself, otherwise he’d be so drunk that he’d never remember the night. And that would be a bad thing. He hadn't done that since he was in high school.
He fished a few reindeer cookies from the table and shoved one into his mouth when a voice from behind him said, “You should save some for the others.”
Stiles turned to see a handsome guy standing there and thankfully he was holding his second cookie or it might just have fallen out of his mouth as he stared at him. His tone was light and teasing, so Stiles knew that he didn't mean it.
“I, uh—sorry?” Stiles replied, looking at the table filled with treats and then back at the man. “Did you bring any? I’ll make sure not to eat those.”
The guy laughed, it reaching his eyes which had Stiles almost melting right on the spot. “No, I didn't. My sister brought some of that brittle stuff, but we came for the fuzzy sock party. I wasn't exactly expecting this to be an actual party.”
“Oh, yeah—same. I thought it was going to be a small get-together, not an actual Lydia party.” Stiles chewed his cookie and smiled, meeting the guy's eyes. “I’m Stiles.” He offered his hand.
“Right. Right. I’m Derek,” he replied, taking Stiles’ hand and shaking it. Stiles held on for a little too long and Derek’s gaze dropped to Stiles’ hand before Stiles released it.
“Sorry. Well, it’s nice to meet you, Derek. I’m assuming you’re not from around here.” Because Stiles would've recognized him around town. Beacon Hills wasn't that big.
Derek chuckled. “I’m from Beacon County, but yeah, we don't live in Beacon Hills. We’re actually here because my other sister was invited by one of Lydia’s friends. So we’re a plus two, technically.”
Stiles glanced around the room, wondering who Derek’s sisters were. When his gaze returned to Derek, he frowned. “Oh, the girl from the door. Laura? Is that one of your sisters?”
“Yeah, she’s my twin.” Derek grinned. “She’s fifteen minutes older than me, which she’ll never let me forget.”
Stiles laughed, a belly of a laugh. “Ah, nice. I don't have any siblings, so that must be fun.” He laughed again, his eyes roaming over Derek. “I can tell that she’s fun.”
“More like a pain,” Derek replied with his own chuckle. “But we make it work. I know I couldn't live without her, even if she gets on my nerves the only way a fifteen-minute older sister can do.”
Stiles finished his second cookie and wiped his hand on his pants, then reached up to touch his neck, which he noticed Derek tracked his fingers. It gave him a shiver that tingled all the way down to his toes.
“Um, are you single?” Stiles ventured, darlingly. He didn't usually ask questions like that, but Derek was hot and Stiles was interested. And if he said no then he never had to see him again, right?
Derek looked confused and curious at the same time. “Yes,” he finally answered with a nod. “I am single. I don't have a boyfriend or a girlfriend. I, uh—I’ve been mostly focused on school, so dating hasn't really been on my mind. I haven't had a girlfriend since high school, and that was what you’d expect of being in love in high school.”
“Short-lived?” Stiles asked, laughing nervously.
“Pretty much.” Derek sipped his eggnog and then disposed of the cup in a trashcan near the table. “So, Stiles. Are you single?”
Stiles felt his stomach twist with nerves and his breath catch. Derek was asking him if he was single. He wasn't sure why it made him feel this nervous, because the obvious answer was hell yes he was single. Maybe it was because it looked like Derek’s gaze held a promise that Stiles could only hope for.
“I—uh, I—yeah, 100% single.” Stiles’ stomach only twisted more and his heart thundered in his chest. “But I’m into guys and girls, I’m just not as slick as you dropping it in there that you didn't have a boyfriend or a girlfriend.”
“So you caught that,” Derek smirked. “What can I say? I think you’re attractive and I’d like to get to know you more. Plus, we’ve got a while until it’s midnight and we’re watching the ball drop on TV in New York’s Time Square, right?”
“I’m pretty perceptive.” Stiles grinned and finished off his eggnog, tossing his cup into the trash with Derek’s. “So, should we find somewhere to sit and talk a little more?”
“Yeah, I think we can make that happen.” Derek looked around and Stiles followed his gaze.
Stiles saw Lydia across the room and she must have felt him watching her because she turned and waved at him, then gave him a thumbs-up. Her eyebrows arched and she gave Stiles one of those knowing smirks, like she knew that he’d find Derek and hit it off with him. Like she’d set up the whole thing. He wouldn't be surprised if she somehow masterminded it with Derek’s little sister.
He really needed to thank her later if they hit it off.
“What about over there?” Stiles asked and pointed to a small couch by the window. No one was likely sitting there because it was cold by the window with this weather.
“Looks like a great place,” Derek agreed and motioned with his hand for Stiles to walk in front of him. Stiles smiled and nodded, leading Derek over to the loveseat. Once they were there, Stiles plopped down ungracefully and shivered. He could feel the chill from outside through the window.
“Here,” Derek said, handing Stiles a blanket. He must’ve grabbed it on the way over, because he didn't remember the throw blanket on the couch when they got there. He tried not to think about how thoughtful that was and it was even a little romantic.
“Thanks.” Stiles took the blanket and laid it over himself as Derek sat down next to him, not too far from Stiles, within inches.
“So, tell me all about you. I want to know everything.” Derek sounded sincere as his gaze stayed locked with Stiles’, his smile soft and genuine, giving Stiles all of his attention.
It made Stiles nervous and excited at the same time. So he took a deep breath and started at the beginning. They talked about their childhood, both serious and funny memories. There were even a few embarrassing ones in there that Stiles was surprised they shared.
Talking to Derek seemed like the most natural thing in the world. Stiles had never felt this way with anyone and he could tell that Derek was there with him. There was an instant connection that neither of them could seem to pull away from.
Stiles wanted more. Needed more. And from what he could tell, Derek felt the same.
Suddenly the lights dimmed around them and Stiles looked up to see a disco ball shine in the center of the room. Of course Lydia would.
“Uh, well, I guess I didn't realize how much time had passed while we were talking,” Stiles started, looking back to Derek where the light from the disco ball shimmered around him.
Derek chuckled and scooted toward Stiles, closing the little space that was between them. “Well I don't want to seem presumptuous, but I was hoping for a midnight kiss.”
Stiles blushed and he knew that his skin would be blotchy red all over. He was thankful Derek wouldn't be able to see it in the dark, but he smiled and it made his chest flutter. “Me too,” he replied as people started counting down around them.
There was cheering and hoots and chatter, presumable for whatever the guests were watching for the countdown, which was taking forever. It was the longest ten seconds of Stiles’ life, but then there was confetti popping around them and people cheering and kissing.
Stiles licked his lips and his gaze locked with Derek’s. Derek didn't say anything. He reached forward, cupping Stiles’ cheek gently in one hand and smoothing his thumb against his skin. Stiles’ breath caught in his chest and then Derek was leaning forward and their lips were pressing together, tentative yet sure.
Derek’s lips were soft as Stiles returned the kiss, exploring as their tongues tangled together. He breathed deeply, Derek’s scent warming him all over as he felt Derek’s hand slide to the back of his neck and gripped him. Stiles was practically in Derek’s lap when they stopped, both of them breathing heavily in the scat space between their lips.
“Wow,” Stiles said with a smile that hurt his cheeks, resting his forehead against Derek’s.
Derek chuckled in a way that was too smug but also did things to Stiles. He wanted to kiss that smirk right off of Derek’s lips.
“I’m right there with you,” Derek replied, his voice quiet in the noise around them, almost like they were sharing secrets.
“Kiss me again?” Stiles asked, his nerves turning to exhilaration at the promise of more. Derek pressed in, brushing his nose against Stiles’, and kissed him again, deeper this time. And Stiles was lost to it, letting it take him over and fill all the places he needed Derek to be. It was like Derek soothed his soul and grounded him in a way that Stiles couldn't explain, but he knew that he never wanted to let this go.
When they paused, trying to catch their breaths, Derek said, “Can I get your number?”
Stiles barked a happy laugh and gave Derek a quick kiss. “Absolutely. We’re doing this again but on a date. And yes that is me officially asking you out.”
Derek beamed, the light reaching his eyes in the darkness. “Whatever you want, whenever you want. I’ll be there.”
Stiles knew that was a promise Derek would keep.
