Sterek Week '23 // Day 5, Sacrifice / @sterekweek-2023
It's Happening Again
Stiles always knew there was a chance the fox would return to consume him one day, to finish the job. As the years went on he quietly made preparations just in case something bad happened, but when the fox finally returned, no one was prepared for the sheer destruction it wrought... least of all Derek.
The fox used Stiles to summon a rift into the void, tearing through Beacon Hills and devouring everything in its path. The only way to stop it was to stop the fox, to stop Stiles. That was something Derek was never prepared to do until he found Stiles' carefully prepared instructions. If Stiles wasn't able to sacrifice himself in order to stop the fox, then the instructions were clear: it was up to Derek to sacrifice the love of his life in order to save Beacon Hills and everyone in it.
"Here's to the best and most unconventional decision ever made in Vegas."
written for-
@sterekweek-2023 day one prompt: “only just begun”
@sterekweekly word: ring
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski
Characters: Stiles Stilinski, Derek Hale
Additional Tags: POV Stiles Stilinski, Canon Compliant, Future Fic, Woke Up Married
Summary:
The last thing Stiles expected when he woke up was to be in bed with Derek. Actually, scratch that. The last thing Stiles expected when he woke up was to be married.
Stiles squinted at the sunlight that came in through the windows of his Vegas hotel. He must have forgotten to close the blinds last night, which sucked because it made the pounding in his head that much worse. He tried to roll away from the offensive intrusion and winced; fuck, he was sore.
His eyes popped open. Something…something was off. His head was fuzzy, the previous day a blur of gathering evidence for a case and talking to the other agents involved. He remembered coming back to his room and deciding to hit the hotel bar and then—
Oh.
Stiles sat up quickly, the sheet pooling around his bare hips.
Bits and pieces of the night flooded back, disjointed and unclear, except for two very distinct memories: the strongest orgasm Stiles had ever had and…Elvis?
He lifted his left hand, blinking at the silver band on his ring finger.
Stiles was…married?
A low chuckle caught his attention. He snapped his head to the side, meeting the amused gaze of his bedmate—a man he'd been in love with since he was sixteen but never had the guts to admit it to.
Derek Hale, whom he hadn't seen in far too long. Their lives had drifted apart after Derek had taken off with Braeden. After Stiles graduated and left for Virginia to join the FBI training academy. Sure, they’d seen each other randomly over the years, but they were always at different points in their lives. Bumping into each other at the hotel bar had been pure coincidence.
Well, more like fate. What else could he call Derek showing up in Vegas while Stiles was working a case there?
"Good morning, husband," Derek said. The words snuck past his devilish smirk, his voice rough with sleep. It was real. Stiles was married, and to Derek, no less.
Stiles took a deep breath, taking in the sight of him. Derek was still so handsome, especially with his dark hair mussed from sleep and the sunlight highlighting the sprinkling of grey in the stubble along his jawline. Unable to look away, Stiles gulped, his heart racing as Derek's fingers slid over his skin, sending ripples of pleasure through him, making him instinctively press himself into Derek's warm body. His touch ignited a familiar spark along his skin. He glanced down at the band on his finger again. How was this real?
More memories flooded back, their laughter filling the bar, the surprising flirtation taking an unexpected turn, whispered confessions in the tone of drunken honesty, and the twinkle in Derek's eyes as he teased, 'We're in Vegas. Let's get married.'
Swallowing hard, Stiles turned to face Derek, realizing that all the years of hiding his feelings had led to this spontaneous union. His emotions were all over the place, fear and happiness intertwining in the pit of his stomach.
"I guess we did something quite...unconventional last night," Stiles finally managed to croak out.
Derek simply smiled back at him, a comforting warmth in his eyes that Stiles had never seen before. It was this look that finally helped him relax a bit.
"Yes, we did," Derek agreed. His voice held a quiet amusement that stirred a strange sense of peace within Stiles. He paused for a moment, letting the early morning silence stretch between them as he contemplated the man before him.
"It's a hell of a way to break through that friendship barrier, I'll give you that," Stiles responded, humor creeping into his voice. Derek laughed, the sound rumbling through the quiet room and causing a fluttering sensation in Stiles's chest.
There was still so much to figure out, questions to ask, explanations to give—or rather seek. But for now, as he studied his new husband with a contentment that came as much as a surprise as the ring on his finger, Stiles decided to take in the moment. In the soft morning sun, a now welcome presence, he wrestled with the unexpected reality of their impromptu marriage. Stiles ran his thumb over the simple silver wedding ring, feeling determined.
"Yeah," Derek said, reaching out to touch Stiles's hand, his fingers playing over the band, and giving him an honest, genuine smile. "It may not be conventional, but sometimes, the best things in life aren't."
Stiles looked into Derek's eyes, seeing how they twinkled just like they had at the bar last night. Suddenly, he felt a surge of anticipation for what lay ahead—a future filled with potential, adventures, and a decade-long love finally allowed to bloom. The reality of the situation was surreal—overwhelming—and yet, it also felt...right.
There would be complications—the puzzling situation of explaining this whirlwind wedding to their friends and family, the merging of lives that had drifted apart over the years. But at that moment, looking into Derek's warm eyes, holding his strong hand, all those worries seemed strangely manageable.
Just as the sunrise welcomed a new day, it also welcomed a new chapter in their lives. Unconventional, yes. But Stiles decided that he was willing, more than willing, to explore this path that they had chosen on a whim.
"Well then," he said, returning Derek's grin. "Here's to the best and most unconventional decision ever made in Vegas."
And with that, he leaned over, eyes twinkling with mischief and an undercurrent of quiet happiness, placing a feather-light kiss on Derek's lips—a first amongst many more that symbolized their unanticipated but promising journey together.
written for @sterekweek-2023 day one prompt of "only just begun"
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski
Characters: Derek Hale, Stiles Stilinski
Additional Tags: POV Derek Hale, Alternate Universe - Different First Meeting, Alternate Universe - Werewolves Are Known, Pack Alpha Derek Hale, Meet-Cute
Summary:
…the one where Derek met his mate.
The bell above the bakery door rang and Derek instinctively looked up from his table. The cool fall breeze came in with the guy who entered. He was attractive, definitely Derek’s type. Even with baggy khakis and an oversized flannel, Derek could tell the guy was slim but not skinny, lean but not lanky. He had a cute, upturned nose and messy chestnut hair that looked like he ran his fingers through it one too many times.
As much as Derek wanted to keep checking the guy out—to memorize the beauty marks that were scattered over his cheeks—he had work to finish. But as soon as his eyes dropped to the tablet in his hands, he was hit with the most enticing scent. It was deliciously sweet, like cinnamon, caramel, and vanilla. There was also an underlying hint of grease, like from a car—definitely an odd combination but alluring all the same.
Especially because of what it meant to have such a strong reaction to a scent.
Mate.
Derek urged himself to stand, his tablet landing on the table probably too hard to be good, but he couldn't bring himself to care. Not when he needed to get to the man in the flannel shirt. His apparent mate.
He stumbled forward, almost tripping over one of the chairs at the table but couldn't bother to be embarrassed about his newfound lack of coordination. Not when he was compelled forward.
The guy glanced at him, a curious expression on his face as he watched Derek come closer. His scent went a little spicy, as if he liked what he saw. Something Derek was used to. He knew what he looked like, that people found him attractive. Usually, he didn't care though, but with this guy…
Derek preened. He stood a little taller, smiled—like really smiled in a way he hadn't done in years—and puffed out his chest.
God, if Laura were alive, she would make so much fun of him.
His mate's gaze dropped to Derek's lips, then his chest, and Derek got a heady kick out of the minute widening of his beautiful, amber eyes. Derek swore that the earth and all its glory were reflected there, making his heart rate quicken.
Before he could say anything, could introduce himself, the guy thrust his hand out in apparent introduction.
"Hi. Stiles. Me. I'm Stiles," he sputtered.
Looking at him—Stiles—Derek stood rooted in place. Not even an earthquake could budge him, except to reach out and take his hand. And fuck. Touching Stiles was nothing short of an experience. There was a jolt of electricity at the brief contact, and it was quiet for a moment, both of them locked in a gaze that ran far deeper than mere first impressions. It was as if they were memorizing the moment. Or, at least, Derek was.
"Hi", he finally replied, his heart pounding in his chest as he shook Stiles's offered hand, cherishing the warm skin-on-skin contact. He drew in a deep, calming breath, filling his lungs with that intoxicating scent that grounded him in a way he hadn't experienced in years, even as his canines elongated slightly—a physical response to being so close to his mate.
He wanted to mark, mate, and claim him, but Derek managed to reign himself in. To control the impulse.
"I'm Derek. Derek Hale," he continued, trying his best to appear normal when all he wanted was to shove his face into the crook of Stiles's neck and breathe him in. God, this was ridiculous. Derek had mastered control over his instincts as a teen, but apparently, that was moot when face-to-face with his mate.
"Even your name is perfect," Stiles muttered, then his breath hitched, a blush creeping up and staining his cheeks. "Shit, I said that out loud, didn't I?"
Derek couldn't hold back his grin. Stiles was gorgeous, but the fact that he apparently lacked a brain-to-mouth filter made him adorable. It was going to be Derek's weakness, he could tell. "Yes, you did. But…I think you're kind of perfect, too."
Stiles was silent for the longest time, making Derek worry that he'd said the wrong thing, but then Stiles shook his head and muttered an apology. "Sorry, sorry. I just…I didn't think it would ever happen to me." He touched his chest as he spoke, rubbing directly over his heart. "I never thought I'd feel that pull."
The amusement faded from Derek's face, replaced instead with a soft, understanding look.
"Neither did I." His words were a whispered confession, and one day he'd have to tell Stiles about the shitshow of his life, but not right now. Not in this perfect moment where he found his mate.
They stood in silence, a comfortable stillness settling between them. Derek understood that words were unnecessary because their connection said everything.
A soft smile made its way onto Stiles's face, and it was a balm to a part of Derek's soul he hadn't even realized had been aching.
"I've got a good feeling about us, Derek," Stiles said, making something in Derek's chest flutter.
Yes, Derek decided, he had a good feeling about them, too.
