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The second time Stiles discovered fandom culture, it was not accidental.
It was strategic.
“I need everyone to understand,” Stiles said, standing in the middle of Scott’s living room like he was about to deliver a thesis defense, “that the internet has opinions about us. Very specific opinions.
And I think—no, I know—we need to confront them as a group.”
“No,” Derek said immediately.
“Yes,” Stiles said just as fast.
Scott sighed the way he only did when he knew he was already losing. “Stiles…”
“It’s educational,” Stiles insisted. “It’s cultural immersion.”
“It’s psychological warfare,” Lydia corrected from the couch without looking up.
Peter, already seated, looked delighted. “Finally, something interesting.”
That should’ve been the warning sign.
Thirty minutes later, they were all gathered around Stiles’ laptop like it was a cursed artifact.
Malia had claimed the floor. Liam was pacing. Theo looked too amused. Derek looked like he was mentally calculating how far he could throw the laptop without killing someone.
Corey had disappeared again, but Stiles suspected he was still in the room.
“Okay,” Stiles said solemnly. “We’re starting with AO3.”
Scott frowned. “Is that a code?”
“It’s worse,” Liam muttered.
Stiles clicked.
The title loaded first.
“The Alpha, The Beta, and The Disaster Friend (who keeps getting kidnapped)”
Silence.
Then:
“That’s insulting,” Derek said immediately.
Stiles squinted. “Which part?”
“Take your pick.”
Theo leaned forward slightly. “I’m curious about the kidnapping part.”
“You would be,” Liam muttered.
Stiles began reading aloud.
It was, unfortunately, extremely accurate.
Scott did, in fact, get kidnapped frequently.
Stiles did, in fact, make it everyone’s problem.
Derek did, in fact, brood in the woods as a coping mechanism.
“This is just our lives,” Scott said slowly.
“Except with more kissing,” Lydia added.
That got a pause.
Malia tilted her head. “There’s kissing?”
“No,” Derek said sharply.
“Yes,” Stiles said at the same time.
Derek’s head snapped toward him. “Stiles.”
“I didn’t write it!”
“You read it.”
“I’m a victim of literacy.”
Peter looked offended on behalf of the internet. “You’re skipping the emotional nuance.”
“There is no emotional nuance,” Derek snapped.
Stiles clicked another fic.
This one loaded immediately with tags so long they nearly scrolled off the screen.
slow burn | enemies to lovers | found family | canon divergence | derek hale needs therapy |
Derek closed his eyes.
“I hate this place,” he muttered.
“You mean Beacon Hills?” Scott asked.
“No,” Derek said. “The internet.”
Theo was already reading over Stiles’ shoulder. “Oh this one’s about me.”
Liam immediately leaned in. “No it’s not.”
Theo pointed. “It literally says ‘Theo Raeken redemption arc.’”
Liam blinked. “...What?”
Stiles grinned. “Oh this is a good one.”
He started reading.
Theo Raeken, apparently, had been “misunderstood, morally gray, and devastatingly attractive.”
Liam made a strangled noise.
“That’s fake,” he said immediately.
“It’s fanfiction,” Stiles corrected. “It’s all fake.”
“Not the attractive part,” Peter added helpfully.
Theo looked vaguely pleased with himself. “Continue.”
Liam looked like he might combust.
Stiles clicked another fic.
“Sterek AU: coffee shop where Derek is a barista who hates everyone except the annoying customer who won’t stop talking”
Derek stood up.
“No.”
“Sit down,” Lydia said calmly.
“I refuse.”
“You’ve already been written as a barista,” Stiles said, trying not to laugh.
“I have never worked in a coffee shop in my life.”
“That’s why it’s fiction,” Malia said matter-of-factly.
Peter nodded. “It suits you. Quiet rage. Espresso-based trauma.”
Derek slowly sat back down like he had lost a fight with reality itself.
Stiles scrolled again.
And then—
“Oh no,” Liam said instantly.
“What?” Scott asked nervously.
Stiles read the title out loud.
“Thiam Week Day 3: ‘I hate you’ but make it romantic”
The room went silent.
Theo turned his head slowly toward Liam.
Liam turned his head slowly toward Theo.
“…No,” Liam said.
Theo smiled slightly. “This is interesting.”
Liam stood up. “I’m leaving the planet.”
“You can’t escape canon divergence,” Stiles said quickly.
“There is no canon!” Liam snapped.
“Tell that to AO3,” Peter said cheerfully.
Stiles clicked play on a fic reading audio.
A soft voice began narrating:
“Liam didn’t realize he was in love with
Theo until it was too late.”
Liam made a noise like a dying animal.
Theo, unfortunately, looked like he was enjoying himself.
“This is inaccurate,” Liam said firmly.
“Is it?” Theo asked mildly.
“Yes.”
A beat.
Then Theo tilted his head slightly. “So you don’t stare at me during fights?”
Liam froze.
The room erupted.
“Oh my GOD,” Stiles yelled, falling off the couch laughing.
Scott was wheezing.
Malia looked delighted.
Lydia looked like she was taking notes.
Peter looked like he was cataloging psychological damage.
Derek muttered, “I miss when we fought actual monsters.”
Stiles, still laughing, clicked one more fic out of pure spite.
The title loaded.
“Pack as roommates AU: everyone is emotionally unavailable except Stiles who is somehow holding everything together”
There was a long silence.
Scott slowly pointed at himself. “That one’s accurate.”
Stiles nodded. “Unfortunately.”
Liam sank back onto the couch. “I hate the internet.”
Theo leaned back, looking far too entertained. “I think I understand it.”
“Of course you do,” Liam muttered.
Stiles closed the laptop with a grin.
“Okay,” he said. “Next week: TikTok comment section reading.”
Derek immediately stood up again.
“No.”
But nobody was listening anymore.