Archive of Our Own ^beta

Something about Stiles Stilinski had Derek’s heart fluttering.

Stiles was an obnoxious, weird looking kid in elementary school. The kind of kid that never shut up unless threatened to be sent to the principal’s office. That threat helped for a whole five minutes until he was going off again. Middle school came and went. Derek didn’t share any classes with Stiles until their last year at Beacon Middle, that class being gym. Stiles was that person everyone knew, had some sort of opinion on, but never really talked to. He was the awkward kid who was friends with the other awkward kid, Scott McCall. They weren’t… weirdos, so to speak, but they didn’t quite fit in anywhere besides with each other. They were there and that was that. Derek didn’t pay much mind to them other than the few times the whole class had to wait for Stiles and Scott to finish their laps. Patience wasn’t one of Derek’s strong points.

High school was different. More like, something was different with Stiles. He was a nice guy, still a chatterbox when someone got him going, but awkward as hell when he didn’t catch some social queues. Derek couldn’t judge, hell, despite being pretty popular himself he often found himself floundering in conversations.
The first day of senior year though, Derek would never forget. He trekked into his new homeroom for the year, glancing around to find where Jackson was, since they had shared their schedules the day prior and found they shared the same homeroom. He didn’t find Jackson, but rather got an eyeful of Stiles. Stiles, whose hair had gained a few inches, who smiled to himself as he tapped away at his phone, who licked his lips unaware of his surroundings.
Stiles who grew into himself over the summer.
Stiles Stilinski, the weird, awkward kid Derek had always known him as was now hot as fuck.

English was the perfect class for Derek. It was easy, nothing he has to focus entirely too hard on. The teacher also loved to walk through the room, and in order to accommodate her constant pacing she had half the desks facing the center of the room, the other half on the opposite side facing towards them, leaving a pathway in the middle for the teacher to pace down as she speaks.
Luckily for Derek, Stiles shared the same class as him. The fact he sat across the room, in an angle just right for Derek to let his gaze fall to without making himself too obvious, was very fortunate.
It seemed as if fate was shoving Stiles into Derek’s space. As if it was trying to prove that he’s been missing out on the boy for too long and it’s now or never. This is their senior year after all.
And fate kept playing it’s cards, having Stiles also share science, lunch, and history with him. He was grateful that fate was giving him as much Stiles as it was, but he couldn’t help but to greedily wish they could be in the same gym class together again. Maybe it was a bit creepy wanting to catch a glance at Stiles changing, but he couldn’t help daydreaming of the things they could do in the locker room.

Derek never planned to do anything about his sudden, new crush on Stilinski. They haven’t spoken since god knows when, so there was no real reason to approach him that didn’t seem odd or suspicious. Especially since he’s friends with Jackson and Jackson seemed not too thrilled with Stiles. Something about Stiles professing his undying love to Jackson’s ex when they dated back in middle school and freshman year. While they have long broken up, Jackson apparently never got over that little grudge. On the other hand, it seems Stiles got over being enamored with Lydia, or at least Derek is hoping so based on the fact he hasn’t seen Stiles try to approach her since Derek took notice of him.

But that’s all beside the point, because Derek didn’t plan to do anything. He wanted to sit back, relax, get a nice view of Stiles on the daily and graduate in peace.
He should’ve known better though. He should’ve known himself better.
It was only, what? A month, a month and a half-ish, since school started? And Derek gave in to an impulse.

He didn’t even think about it. He just wanted Stiles to look at him. To pay attention to him. All this time Derek was out right staring him down in class and even inching closer as they passed in the halls, yet Stiles never once spared him a glance.
And maybe that’s why Derek got a bit frustrated. Why he reached out as he passed Stiles’ desk as he went to turn in his homework he couldn’t find at the beginning of class when everyone else was passing theirs to the front row for the teacher to collect.

It wasn’t much. Just the lightest knuckle tap on the corner of Stiles’ desk. It barely made a sound.
He didn’t even see his reaction, as he continued to walk to the front. Suddenly, he was self conscious. Did Stiles even notice? Was he watching him now?
He silently slid the paper on the stack of homework and turned, his eyes instantly going to Stiles. He expected to meet those beautiful brown eyes. Yet nothing.

Instead, Stiles was flipping through the history book as if Derek never intruded into his space at all.
While it was unintentional before, Derek fully planned to catch his eyes now.
As casually as he could, he tapped two fingers on Stiles’ desk as he passed, keeping his eyes on the boy the whole time. This time Derek got what he wanted. Stiles’ head lifted with a puzzled expression, just in time for their eyes to meet. Stiles didn’t get the chance to see the victorious smirk that played on Derek’s lips as he sat back down into his seat.

It became a silent routine. Derek would get up to ask the teacher questions throughout class when they had to do worksheets. He didn’t need the help. He knew what the questions were asking or the answers to them, but he wasn’t able to use the bathroom excuse constantly. History was easy since Stiles was in the row next to his, further up towards the front of the room. Science, on the other hand, was only good for when he ‘needed’ to use the bathroom, since Stiles sat front row near the door. The teacher's desk was set closer to the windows on the opposite side which was highly inconvenient for Derek’s teasing.

Lunch was the ultimate perfect place for his little game with Stiles. Not only did Stiles sit near the lunch line and garbage cans, but also near enough to Derek’s table that he can pass it without seeming misplaced when coming and going from his table. He had a good view of Stiles from his seat too. Not to mention, Stiles sat alone. Scott seemed to have a different lunch than them so Derek didn’t have to worry about Scott witnessing Derek’s antics and questioning it.

It wasn’t until the day before Thanksgiving break was to begin that Stiles spoke to Derek. Well, not spoke, so to say, but had some sort of communication with him. Derek gave a little knock to Stiles’ desk as he made his way to the front of the room to the sharpener, after he had “accidentally” put too much pressure on his pencil and broke the tip. On his way back though, Stiles was waiting. His eyes lingering on Derek the whole time, his body tense as if ready to jump at any moment. Derek noticed the way his mouth formed a thin line in his concentration.
As Derek approached, Stiles’ swiftly moved, shoving a folded piece of paper to Derek before his fingers could reach the surface of the desk. Instinctively he took the note, crumpling it into his palm until he was securely at his own seat.

Derek has to bite his lower lip to stop himself from visibly laughing, using his free hand to hide the smile he can’t fight. He rereads the short note, the handwriting atrocious but an excellent match to the fireball of a person that is Stiles Stilinski.

The fuck is your problem?

What is his problem? He’s never felt this way before. He was truly in trouble.

Derek quietly gathered his papers and books, not bothering to fit them into his bag. He was ready with his response and he wanted to catch Stiles before he left the room.

The teacher finished up right as the bell rang and he shot out of his seat, maneuvering around the standing students. He slapped down his own torn notebook paper onto Stiles’ books that were still sitting atop his desk.
Derek made sure to hesitate long enough to make eye contact before shuffling away and out of the room. His response wasn’t much, but he hoped it was enough.
He had given Stiles his phone number.

Derek didn’t really expect a text, he truly didn’t. He knew it was a long shot giving his number with no other explanation, but what else was he supposed to do? Profess his love for the beautiful boy with a poem? It would have been a nice, romantic gesture, sure, but he wasn’t that creative.

It was almost midnight when a new message from an unknown number popped up across the screen of his phone. His heart instantly gave out, knowing the likelihood of it being anyone else was zero to none.

You gave me this so do you plan to tell me tf your issue is

Derek bit his tongue as he typed out a simple Stiles?

A message came back not a minute later, who else?

Oh this was going to be fun.

Derek easily redirected the topic asking how Stiles got his number. He had to tease him, and a frustrated Stiles was always a funny one he had learned over the course of watching him. They shot messages back and forth until the subject became completely off topic- Stiles arguing how Star Wars is more realistic than Star Trek. Derek disagrees by making up random shit. He couldn’t remember much of either movies in all honesty, it had been forever since he even thought of them. He figured he’d give them a watch over break, just to refresh himself if these kinds of conversations were going to continue appearing in their future texts.
When Stiles eventually caught on that Derek didn’t know what he was talking about he finished the conversation with the sweetest message Derek had ever received, you’re an ass don’t bother me anymore.
This made Derek frown, wondering if he had pushed Stiles too far too soon. He knew this was going to eat him alive all night, that is until his phone chimes once more.
Get back to me once you know your shit.
A warm feeling spread across his chest. He planned to watch the movies anyway, but he had more motivation to do so now.

Derek started with Star Wars since Stiles obviously favored that over Star Trek. Each time he had a chance to chug through a movie he’d send small snippets of his opinions, or more so critiques, about the movies. Stiles never outright spelled it out, but it seemed he was pleased someone was taking the time to not only watch his favorite movie saga, but give him constant updates on every passing thought Derek had about them.
Derek couldn’t wait until break was over.

Not much changed from before. They didn’t talk in person and Derek kept up his routine. Only difference was Stiles smiled up at him rather than give him confused, dirty looks.
They’d text every day after school, and on the rare occasion they’d even text in classes.

Derek’s friends were beginning to catch on that he was texting someone more often, but refused to tell them it was Stiles. Not that he was embarrassed about talking to Stiles or even having a crush on him, but he honestly didn’t want to get teased about something that would never happen. Not like he’d have to admit he is interested in Stiles in that way, but he didn’t feel like coming up with lies as to how they suddenly became friendly. And realistically their relationship was fragile, a handful of daily texts wasn’t enough to reaffirm that Stiles wouldn’t ghost him one day. He wouldn’t need salt to the wound if that were to happen. So he let them assume it was some girl he was texting, whatever got them off his tail so they wouldn’t notice that he was head over heels for Stiles.

Time rolled on quietly, and before Derek knew it it was already Christmas break. He felt it was unfair he wouldn’t be able to see Stiles for the two week holiday break they had, but he was too chicken to ask if Stiles wanted to hang out. So instead he found any and all reason to message Stiles, including finding a movie Stiles had yet to see; Galaxy Quest. A parody of sci-fi movies much like Star Trek. Stiles set it up for them to watch it together on the computer. Hearing Stiles' voice flow through his headset, directly into his ears, did things to Derek. He was grateful they were only using voice chat.

The new semester of school meant some teachers thought it would be a great idea to mix it up and switch everyone’s seats.
While that usually annoyed Derek, he felt fate was playing with him once more when his science teacher moved Stiles directly behind Derek.

Maybe it was something new Stiles did, or maybe Derek never noticed it before. But Stiles often stretched his legs to rest under the chair in front of him. He began to notice this after he bumped his shoes against Stiles’ the first day of the new assigned seats.
Not long after the new semester begins, Derek unconsciously adjusts himself in the seat, tucking his legs under his chair. His shoe accidentally knocking against Stiles’.
Stiles scoots his feet over, but only by inches. Derek realizes this with much glee and nudges his shoe against Stiles’ once more and the process repeats. By the third time it seems Stiles catches on, tapping back at Derek with curiosity. Derek grins into the hand he was leaning his cheek on as he pushes back against Stiles, but this time keeps his shoe against his. Stiles puts pressure against him, but doesn’t move away either.
Derek isn’t sure what topic the teacher went over, while he took notes he didn’t comprehend a damn thing, his sole focus was on Stiles and how they played footsies the entire time.

Neither of them bring it, but that too becomes part of their daily routine.

It’s all the little things that make Derek’s heart swell with so much emotion for Stiles. He finds himself grinning at nothing and feels his cheeks become warm when he thinks of him.
Sometimes he even catches Stiles looking at him from across the room in English, they share a smile and go back to taking their notes.
Derek doesn’t know what to make of it all, but he loves every second of it.

Valentine’s Day fell on a Friday, the same Friday that was an at home game for the basketball team. Derek shot a text to Stiles midway through school that day, mentioning that if he wasn’t hanging with Scott he should come to the game tonight. He claims he needs a cheer squad tonight for being lonely on Valentine’s Day. Stiles had messaged back saying it was rude that Derek didn’t automatically assume that Stiles had a hot date that night. Derek was excited to hear that Stiles, in fact, did not have a hot date, since he was mostly trying to put the energy out there with the text that Stiles would be without a Valentine’s. Yet he was a bit disappointed how Stiles didn’t confirm if he'd be coming or not.

Derek scanned the crowd for Stiles before the game with no luck. Stiles didn’t show up and he tried his best not to feel crushed. Maybe someone ended up approaching him? What if he was on a date right now? What if he actually preferred to spend his Friday with Scott over coming to Derek’s game? That’s how little Derek actually meant to Stiles. Not like he’d have meant much anyways, but friends go to friends' sports events all the time.
Derek took one deep breath, pushing aside all his feelings to fixate his attention on the coach’s pep talk.

Midway through the game he stole the ball from their rival team, racing across the court. It was then that, despite the rush of players around him and his sheer focus on searching for a clearing to pass or dodge, that he heard that oh-so familiar voice, shouting loudest in the crowd.
He barely glanced up, he didn’t have time to properly look, yet he was still able to spot Stiles standing amongst the crowd. He felt his already pounding heart skip a beat. He thinks maybe he shouldn’t have looked up. Shouldn’t have gotten distracted by that charming voice. Because next thing Derek knew he was sprawled on the ground, the ball bouncing (luckily) to his teammate who snatched it up.
He didn’t want to let what happened settle in. Not only did everyone see him trip, but Stiles in particular just witnessed how much of a fuck up that was.
One of his teammates quickly helped him up, and as they ran to catch up to the rest of their team Derek burned with embarrassment.

Once the game wrapped up, with Beacon Hills gaining another victory in the record books, Derek ducked his head into the locker room. He didn’t want to see Stiles. How uncool was it to have the ball and trip on your face? Fuck.
Not to mention all his friends were going to make jokes about it for at least the next week, and if Cora was at the game, he’ll never hear the end of it.

None of his teammates brought up Derek’s tragedy. Yet, anyways. Rather they were in talks about celebrating their win at Lydia Martin’s house since she was throwing a Valentine’s themed party after the game. Derek didn’t feel like celebrating though, not after that mess.

He was the first to slip out of the mass of boys, ignoring his friends in favor of a quick escape. He made his way into the dimmed hallway leading to the back parking lot. It wasn’t unusual for someone to be waiting for one of the players, but none usually for Derek. Yet there Stiles was, eyes lighting up as he caught sight of Derek.

“What are you doing here?” Derek surely thought Stiles would have left by now.

“I wanted to say congratulations, you looked good out there.”

Derek’s mind became a flurry of thoughts, all fighting tooth and claw to be the one he spoke. ‘Thanks’ or ‘I didn’t do much though.’ Or even a ‘I’m glad you made it here tonight.’ All those would have been sufficient.
But no, his stupid brain chose, “you look good too.”
Can he dig himself any deeper of a hole? Might as well make it his grave, because he was absolutely sure he’ll be dying of embarrassment any moment now.

Stiles smiled softly, eyes sparkling in the yellow light, his eyebrows lifting in question as a chuckle escaped through his lips.
He did look good. Really, he looked gorgeous. Derek wasn’t lying.

“I’m wearing what I always do.”

Exactly.

Come on Derek, move it on with the conversation before it gets awkward. Well anymore than it already is.

His brain jumped back to what Stiles had originally said, so he went with that.

“I made an ass out of myself.” Very eloquent.

Stiles face scrunched, “when? When you fell?” He made a small pssh sound while waving a hand. “Have you seen me? I trip on air. That was nothing.”
Stiles is a bit clumsy but not that much. Derek let Stiles attempt at a confidence boost pass with a smile. He wasn’t going to fight it, especially if Stiles was trying to brush it under the rug for him.

“I guess that’s true. Did you come with Scott? Or…” anyone I should be worried about, he thought.

“I did, but he left with Allison. He wasn’t originally going to come, but the restaurant they wanted to go to was fully booked. They’re heading to Lydia’s now. For her party. But I’m sure you knew about that already. I was going to head over there too, but wanted to stop by. Are you going?”

“Yea, I planned to.” He really didn’t. But for Stiles, even if it’s to see him for a minute more, he’ll go.

“Cool, cool. I’ll see you there, big guy.” Stiles smiled once more, slapping Derek on his arm before heading back towards the gym for god knows what.

Derek found Stiles, alone, not long after he arrived at Lydia’s. He’d stopped back at his house to shower and change before heading over and he was glad he did since it seemed he’d be able to spend time with Stiles here.

Seeing Stiles sitting there on the couch corner, tapping away at his phone pulled at Derek’s heart.

He sat next to the boy and they instantly became absorbed in each other, neither paying mind to anyone else. They talked until the morning light seeped into the room.

After that, Derek got bolder in his messages. He’d compliment Stiles almost daily. Whether it was to say his shirt looked good, or his hair seemed nice and if he got a haircut (Derek knew he didn’t.) He even ventured one day to say Stiles had the most expressive eyes he’d ever seen. Large, full of life. Bambi like. He wasn’t sure if he was crossing a line, but Stiles took it all in stride, often complimenting Derek back in some form.

While it wasn’t much Derek was proud he made it this far with Stiles.

The rest of February came and went and March began.

Stiles and Derek partnered together in science for a two person, in class lab. Between them fooling around and Derek gaining the courage to call Stiles cute, even if he managed it in a joking fashion, they were the last to finish minutes after the bell rang to signal it was time to change classes. Their teacher kindly gave them late passes as the final bell rang through the halls, the new students already settling in for class.

Their shoulders brushed as they each followed each other to their lockers. Both shuffling their feet to slow the pace as they found that both their classes were downstairs. Stiles heading towards computer science while Derek had to make his way to Spanish.
Stiles stepped ahead to turn his back to the door that led to the stairwell, walking backwards into it to push it open, bemoaning how boring computer science was solely because of the teacher making it incredibly tedious when it could be much more fun if he taught it differently.

Derek’s heart ached as he listened to the other boy ramble on. They didn’t know each other long, but he felt like he already knew Stiles as if he’d been in his life the whole time.

He couldn’t fight the urge. That seemed to always be the case when it involved Stiles. He lost himself, lost all preservation in that voice, those eyes, that blinding smile.
They were alone and it just felt right. Like the perfect setting, because Stiles can leave if he doesn't want it. Hell, Derek didn’t even know if Stiles liked guys.
But his heart told him this was it.
This was the time and place.

“Hey, wait.” He uttered, unsure if Stiles heard.

It seemed he did, stopping in place to turn to look up at Derek, who was frozen a step above him.

“I…”

Fuck it.

He gently grabbed ahold of Stiles’ sleeve, making sure he knew to stay in place as Derek leaned in.
Their lips met, just the barest before Derek pulled back.

Stiles’ eyes were wide and searching.

Derek hesitated, waiting for a sign to back off but none came. Both their heavy breaths sound deafening in the silent stairwell.
He leaned in again, hoping it was the right move.

What he didn’t expect was Stiles to surge forward. Derek’s mouth opening as Stiles pushed his tongue between his lips, his hands grabbing to pull Derek closer.
His heart was totally caught off guard, he was sure it had stopped beating altogether from the fact that this was actually happening.
Stiles Stilinski was kissing him back. Not only kissing him but making the fuck out with him.
Stiles pulled back after what felt like years, gasping in a deep breath through his parted, red lips.

Derek wasn’t better off either.

“Forget to breathe?”

Stiles nodded with a small smile, “I think so.” He retracted his hands, brushing them against his flannel. “I think… we need to get to class?”

He didn’t sound like he wanted to and Derek was fully on board for skipping if Stiles suggested it.
Nerves finally hit him as they descended the rest of the steps side by side. Neither of them spoke until they whispered goodbyes as they parted ways.

It was midway through Spanish that he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. When he got the chance to check the message he wasn't overly surprised that it was from Stiles.

Sorry I know I was bad it was my first time

His first time? Christ. Derek felt a heat roll over him, knowing he stole Stiles' first kiss.
It did explain the sudden tongue action, but he wasn’t complaining. Really, he loved it.

No, it was good.

It was bad

Maybe I was the bad one?

Deff not

Maybe we’ll have to try again, just to see.

He knew he was really shooting his shot with that one.

“Maybe” sounds an awful lot like “we should meet after school” ;)

Derek wanted to squeal. The feeling blossoming in his chest warmed him from head to toe. Tingles of anticipation ached in his joints. He was ready to leave now.
He really didn’t want to get his hopes up. He really didn’t. Yet it sounded undeniable that Stiles was just as into this as he was. Maybe he actually had a chance? Because this, this whole thing right now, was more than he ever would have imagined between the two of them.

The bell rang and he couldn’t wait to finish his final class of the day. It was going to go agonizingly slow, he knew it would, only because it was the only thing keeping him from Stiles.

It started in the front seat. Both of them fidgeting awkwardly once Derek parked his car in the car park furthest from the preserve’s trail entrance. He didn’t know where else to go, but figured with the winter days darkening the sky early, they’d get coverage from wandering eyes soon enough.
Neither quite made the first move. Rather it was both of them shifting closer and closer, heads tilting as they spoke softly as if nothing unusual was happening. Derek at least was trying to hide the sound of his heart rapidly pounding in his chest. But his words were mumbled as their lips brushed and from there it was all a flurry of hands groping and tugging as they fought to close the gap between them over the center console.