Chapter Text
when avery wakes up the next morning, the bed next to him is empty, but still warm. he blinks his eyes open groggily, yawning as he sits up. he thinks for a second before realising why the spot next to him in the bed was warm.
because derek was laying there.
well, he wasn’t right now, and that won’t do.
avery climbs out of bed, slipping on his ugg boots and making his way down the small hallway.
the smell of bacon hits him in the face as he sees derek over the stove, frying pan in hand, hair messy from sleep.
“derek?” avery says, now next to the other.
“morning, avery,” he hums in return, smile on his face. “i hope you don’t mind me using your stuff,”
he knows avery doesn’t mind.
“no, that’s okay! i don’t mind. what are you making?”
“egg and bacon rolls.”
“they’re my favourite!” avery beams, bouncing on the balls of his feet. “i never make them because i— as i said, i really can’t cook,” he admits awkwardly.
“that’s okay. i can help teach you.” derek offers with a smile. avery nods excitedly.
derek plates up their food, avery’s roll having significantly more bacon, which he thanks him for. they eat in silence, though mainly because avery can’t talk through how quickly he’s eating.
derek snorts, “i’ll take it that it’s good?”
avery’s eyes are practically sparkling. “good? it’s great, derek! i didn’t know you were like, a professional chef!”
“far from it, but i’m glad you like it.”
a few more minutes of quiet pass as they finish their food, before avery speaks up again.
“did you sleep okay?” the brunette asks, resting his cheek on his hand as he takes the last bite of bacon.
“yeah, actually, i think it was the best i’ve slept in.. well, a couple weeks now. your bed is really comfortable,” he hums in return. his arms are comfortable too.
“yay! that’s good! i, uh, i hope i didn’t disturb you at all. i can roll around in my sleep sometimes…” avery murmurs. truthfully, he does roll around in his sleep almost every night, and the only time he doesn’t is when he’s holding something, like a big pillow, or plush…
“you didn’t, don’t worry,” the dark haired man soothes.
once all the dishes are in the dishwasher, avery meets derek in the bathroom to brush his teeth. derek is rubbing something on his face, avery isn’t sure what.
“what’s that?” the brunette asks as he wets his toothbrush.
“it’s cleanser. for my acne.” he says. derek has had acne since he was a young teenager, and it had never really been.. fully under control. the fact that he mindlessly picks at his face when zoning out doesn’t help.
avery furrows his brows, watching as the dark haired man grumbles in annoyance, trying to get his hair out of the way as well as rub in the cleanser at the same time.
“do you want some help?” avery asks, muffled around the toothbrush in his mouth, but derek understood.
“oh, sure, i’d appreciate that actually.” he responds, chuckling softly as avery quickly washes out his mouth and puts his toothbrush back.
in a matter of moments, avery is putting a fluffy green headband on derek’s head, pushing his hair away from his face. the black haired man’s eyes widen slightly, not quite expecting that.
“hand me the cleanser,” avery says, and derek does. he squeezes a little into his hand, reaching up to gently rub it into derek’s skin in a circular motion.
the way the brunette’s tongue pokes out of his lips as he concentrates, the way he lit up when derek accepted his help, his freckles… god, avery is so cute.
derek bites his tongue, trying to will down the blush threatening to rise to his cheeks, and it must work, because avery doesn’t comment.
once he finishes, he draws his hands back, “did i miss any spots?”
derek shakes his head, “no, you got it all. it’s mainly on my forehead anyway. thanks, aves.” he hums.
aves? oh god… that makes avery’s heart race and head spin. maybe a little dramatic for a simple nickname, but……. whatever!
“y-yeah- no worries! it’s all good! hah, anytime. anytime.” he nods rapidly, fiddling with his fingers.
a few moments of silence.
“i, uh, i like that nickname. by the way,” avery admits softly.
“i’ll keep using it then, aves.” derek smiles.
over the next week, derek and avery continue to get closer. they don’t really leave the dorm much, aside from avery’s classes, derek is still not quite ready to face the outside world yet.
avery doesn’t mind. when he’s home, they’re almost always hanging out. watching a movie, playing a game, or even sitting in silence while avery studies.
when he isn’t home, he sends derek frequent texts throughout the day to check up on him. how he’s doing, if he needs anything, or just to say hi.
they continue to share avery’s bed, and the brunette cuddles him every night when he thinks derek has fallen asleep. derek never comments, he thinks it’s sweet.
exactly seven days after derek started living in avery’s dorm, it was a freezing cold night and the two of them were on the couch, under three separate blankets watching a movie. some new mystery that had released recently, in all honesty, avery had been zoned out for most of it.
a loud noise plays from the TV that startles him, his eyes shooting open, taking a moment to process— then he realises he’s completely resting against derek. well, he was, until he practically jumped a foot up in the air.
derek laughs, “come on, that jumpscare was so predictable,” he teases.
“shut up! i wasn’t paying attention,” avery pouts and whines, crossing his arms and melting back down against derek.
“i know. if i asked you anything about this movie, you’d have no idea, huh?” derek says. avery takes that as a challenge.
“hey! i would so! infact, ask me something right now!”
“sure. what’s the main antagonists name?”
avery is quiet, eyebrows furrowing, “uhhhhhh, pen.. penny?”
“nope. it’s pearl. see!” derek snorts.
the brunette rolls his eyes and pouts harder, on the verge of hurting his muscles.
derek smiles and shakes his head fondly, adjusting one of blankets so it’s not fall off avery. “what’s got you so distracted, aves? are you alright?”
god, the pure sincerity and concern laced in his tone makes avery’s heart flutter. he doesn’t respond immediately, for once.
and derek has a hunch on why. the image that had flashed in his mind just before of avery wrapped in his arms, fast asleep while derek ran his hand through his hair was a pretty good hint. but this will be on avery’s terms, if anything even happens.
“uhh, yeah. i’m.. fine, just… oh who i’m i freaking kidding,” avery groans and rubs his hands over his face, “i’m not fine. i can’t stop thinking about you, derek! ever since i talked to you in minecraft!” he starts to ramble, hands flying around as he does.
“you’re all that’s on my mind! you’re so sweet, handsome, so freakin smart, you make me feel so cared for. i know we barely know eachother and i shouldn’t be saying any of this but ive already started, so… i can’t take it back now. i really like you, derek.” he ends the sentence with a somewhat shaky exhale, sitting up and looking down to avoid derek’s gaze.
“avery,” derek murmurs, reaching out a cautious hand to rest on avery’s knee. he looks up at him.
“i’m sorry, derek-“
“don’t be,” he replies easily, readjusting himself to have an easier time gently cupping avery’s cheek in his hand and leaning forward. they’re practically sharing breaths now, avery’s pupils widening.
“you don’t have to be sorry, aves,” derek says again, “i like you too. you’re adorable, funny, you made me smile when nothing else could. when i got all the knowledge of the universe, the first thing i saw was you. i don’t have it anymore, but i still remember my first thought was you.”
avery blinks, lips slightly parted in his surprise as he listens, melting into the touch on his face.
“for real?”
derek snorts softly, “yes, aves, for real.”
and what else could avery possibly do than lean in and kiss him? derek smiles against his lips and responds next to instantly, pulling avery a little closer as he tilts his head.
it’s magical.
derek’s lips are chapped, a slight scrape against his own lips as they kiss, but avery finds he doesn’t mind. though he does make a mental note to get him some chapstick.
he wouldn’t describe it as fireworks. no, he couldn’t.
he’d describe it as… that feeling you get when you finally return home after being away for a long time. that soft, comforting warmth that you get when you see your favourite person after months apart.
avery clambers closer, clumsily pushing himself forward, one hand bracing himself next to derek’s shoulder, the other lifting to rest on his face, a mirror of the hand on his own.
derek hums softly into the contact, free hand moving to avery’s back to hold him close.
they have to pull apart eventually, both panting for air. avery can’t help but break into giggles soon after, derek smiling softly at him as he laughs.
“oh my god,” the brunette laughs through deep inhales, smile bright.
“you’re so cute,” derek says, his hand rubbing gentle circles on avery’s back.
“shut up-!” avery stammers, pressing his hand over derek’s face. he giggles, pulling avery down to lay against him.
despite his playful protesting, avery quickly melts into him, wrapping his arms around his shoulders. avery pecks his lips a few times, sharing smiles and breathy giggles in between.
“was that okay?” derek checks in.
“was it okay?? derek that was the best thing to ever happen to me,” avery says, entirely serious, snuggling closer.
they fell asleep cuddled together on the couch that night, wrapped in eachothers arms.