Chapter Text
Derek was happy with his little life. He was the number one storyteller at the library, a librarian second. He had his own apartment, a small furball named Melon, and a couple plants he hasn’t managed to kill. So yes, Derek was happy, dare he say comfortable, which is why the moving truck parked out front was causing him so much grief.
He knew the Jordan from across the hall was moving out, but he didn’t know the unit was already filled. He vaguely recalled a mailroom conversation where Jordan mentioned he had a friend lined up in-between sonnets about his fiancé Lydia.
Derek rubbed a hand over his face with a groan. Derek’s life would be perfect if he had another perfect neighbor. He sipped his coffee as he watched two young men stumble from the truck both talking animatedly with their hands.
He turned from the window before he really turned into a grump to finish getting ready for work. It was Friday and that means it’s story time day for the younger kids. Fridays also called for something more casual as deemed by Erica the young grad student interning (she already has the position in Derek’s opinion).
It was late fall, the air turning crisp enough in California that Derek could break his extensive sweater collection. He slipped on some jeans and a dark red sweater before brushing his teeth and rushing towards the door. His grumbling at the new neighbors had cut into his morning routine which made him dislike the guy/girl/person even more.
A voice that sounded a lot like Laura reminded him to stop being so ‘judgy’ of people before he even said hello. He tells that tiny voice to bite him and that ‘judgey’ isn’t a word.
He took the stairs two at a time, his bag smacking into his hip. At the bottom of the stairs, he was almost bowled over by a box coming around the corner. Said box was in the arms of one of the guys from out front. He was tall and had a spattering of moles across every bit of skin Derek could see.
His eyes were also an almost startling whiskey shade and if Derek hadn’t already decided he didn’t like the guy he would be a bit starstruck. As it was, he just grumbled and ducked through the space the startled man left leaving him gaping.
The walk to work was usually peaceful but now Derek’s brain was in a whirlwind. Was that his new neighbor? Is it the other guy? Is it both of them? It’s a one bedroom and the thought made Derek’s stomach turn with what he would deny was jealousy.
Derek was going to blame the romance novel obsession that not only Laura had but also Erica that they’ve been forcing upon him. He’s been single for over a year now his last girlfriend turning out to be nuts and trying to sacrifice people kind of turned him off of dating.
The bright purple doors of the library felt like a beacon, and he jogged towards the door using his key to get in. Erica was already there, her blonde hair pulled into a bun that he could spot over the stacks. “Morning, Erica.”
She peaked around the stack with her signature red lipstick firmly in place, “Good morning, Derbear.”
He groaned at the nickname which made her laugh as they both went through their opening routines. It was second nature opening the building and by nine exactly they had the doors open to the public.
Storytime wasn’t until eleven, so Derek settled behind the desk to do some paperwork. His moment of peace last exactly six minutes before Erica sat on the desk next his elbow draping herself over the raised counter attached to the desk, “Did you read the book yet?”
Erica had given him one of her cheesy romance novels over a week ago the only difference this time was that it was LGBT. She wiggled her eyebrows and Derek resisted the urge to push her off the desk. “You know there are actual good books out there. Like Bradbury, Shakespeare, Dickens who wrote actual classic masterpieces.”
Erica rolled her eyes picking up her coffee cup she had left, “Sure there are Derek, but none of them write porn for women.”
He was just glad that the library was still empty as he scoffed, “All the more reason I, a man who likes other men, is not interested in romance novels.”
“Well, that’s all the more reason to read the one I just loaned you. Not a vagina in sight.”
Derek rubbed a hand over his no doubt red face, “Please go to your job.”
Erica cackled and ruffled his hair before leaving him in peace. Well leaving him alone, his peace was already ruined far before Erica bothered him today.
–
Scott placed the last box on the counter with an over exaggerated groan, “That’s the last of it, bro.”
Stiles placed his hands on his hips taking in his new apartment. It was an absolute mess of boxes, but he could already envision how it would look all put away. The windows alone would’ve sold him, but it was less than five minutes from work and ten from the bar the band played at the most.
It was perfect…except for the neighbor. Or who he assumes is one of his neighbors…he hopes is. Stiles has never seen a more beautiful man in his life even with the downright murder eyebrows. Tall, dark, and handsome just seemed to fall flat when describing the grumpy Adonis in his building.
“Thanks, Scotty,” he slapped him on the back, “I think this place is going to be perfect.”
Both men dug into boxes spreading out various items in search of their new homes. Stiles was on the floor trying to plug his amp in behind the couch when Scott’s phone rang. The annoying voice of Taylor Swift singing about paper rings filled the air and Stiles mimicked along with Scott as he answered the phone, “Hello, I love you Kira.”
Stiles gagged at the lovesick tone of his best friend as he hoisted himself off the ground dusting imaginary dust off his pants. Scott’s face and tone became more and more worried, and Stiles knew it was going to be something borderline silly that’s freaking out the other man.
“I’ll be there soon, don’t move. I love you, bye,” Scott hung up the phone his puppy dog eyes out in full force, “Kira is at her mom’s, and she needs a ride home.”
“Is she okay?” Stiles’s anxiety spiked thinking about the heavily pregnant Kira being in any kind of danger.
Scott turned slightly pink, “Don’t tell her I told you, but she can’t reach the Kia’s steering wheel around her belly.”
Stiles laughed so hard he snorted, and Scott tossed one of the throw pillows he had unpacked making Stiles laugh even harder. “Think you can manage without me?”
“Forever? Never, but tonight for sure,” he pulled Scott into a quick hug before pushing him towards the door, “Now go get the mama and you better pick her up some In-N-Out for being late.”
Scott quickly nodded, some of his color leaving his face at Stiles’s heckling. As Scott hustled down the stairs another person shuffled through. It was his hot grumpy neighbor (he needed a shorter nickname) who he assumes is coming back from work.
Now that he wasn’t carrying a box or being run away from, he could fully admire the man. His dark hair was slightly windswept giving him a rugged edge except for the fact that the red sweater he was wearing had elbow patches. Stiles thinks he may be in love.
Stiles waited for the other to get closer before introducing himself, “Hello, I’m-“
The other man looked up as if Stiles was a ghost that appeared instead of his new neighbor, “What?”
“Hello?” Stiles was faltering at the murderous expression on the other person's face, “I’m your new neighbor?”
He nodded and without another word let himself into his own apartment leaving a gaping Stiles (for the second time in one day) stood in the hallway. Well that went well a voice in his head that sounded a lot like Lydia responded in his head.
He rubbed a hand across the back of his neck before turning back into his own box fort filled apartment. He had more important things to worry about then some grumpy REALLY hot guy…like finding any clothes for his shift in the morning.