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Derek leaned back against the headboard, one arm over his head and the other wrapped around the young man sleeping next to him. Glancing down, he watched Stiles’ eyes moving behind the lids. His lips moved as well, whispering words that even Derek couldn’t hear unless he really tried. The one time he had, the words had been a bunch of nonsense, so he hadn’t made an effort again.
Five years ago, he could only have imagined holding Stiles like this, the teenager at the time smelling of equal parts distrust and fear for so long. Now, the things he’d only dreamed about, the things he never told anyone except those buried in the Beacon Hills Cemetery, were coming true, and he had a hard time believing it.
He continued to watch Stiles sleep, smiling to himself when Stiles’ hand started twitching in his sleep. Reaching out, Derek stilled it by pressing it against his chest, holding it tightly. He imagined Stiles could feel his heart beating even in slumber. He thought back to the many times they’d saved each other’s lives and how often Derek had wanted to tell him that he believed that Stiles was his mate.
It had taken a long time for Derek to even work up the nerve to ask Stiles out, and the first few times, Stiles had thought they were just hanging out as friends. It wasn’t until the night of the full moon when they’d been running with the Pack, and Derek had taken a chance. He’d pressed Stiles up against a tree, like he had so many times before, and pressed their lips together.
It had taken Stiles a few minutes to catch on, but when he had and kissed Derek back, everything around Derek glowed brighter. Life felt less like existing and more like living. He’d never realized just how empty his world had been until that moment, and yet he still couldn’t tell Stiles that he was his mate.
Even with all of the time they spent together, Derek wasn’t sure of Stiles’ feelings. He still feared that he had preyed on Stiles, that he’d been like Kate, even if he didn’t have any ulterior motive as she had. As he listened to Stiles’ even breaths, Derek closed his eyes and pictured the flame burning in his heart for Stiles, wondering if it would burn forever or if what was happening between them was, indeed, real.
“Go back to sleep,” Stiles murmured, his fingers tapping against Derek’s chest. “I love you, too.”
Derek’s eyes snapped open, and he found Stiles staring back at him. His eyes hazy with sleep, and his smile crooked as he rubbed his nose against Derek’s chest. “You were humming Eternal Flame by the Bangles,” he said by way of explanation. “You aren’t only dreaming. This is real, and I do feel the same.”
Derek chuckled and shook his head before pressing a kiss to the top of Stiles’ head. He listened to Stiles’ breathing even out again as everything in Derek’s body settled in a way he’d only heard about from his parents. If he’d had any doubts, he knew for sure that the man in his arms was always and forever his mate.
Close your eyes, give me your hand, darlin'.
Do you feel my heart beating?
Do you understand?
Do you feel the same?
Am I only dreaming?
Is this burning an eternal flame?