Totally can't believe I'm saying this, but. [A soft smile slides onto his face and he rubs his thumb idly against the curve of Derek's finger, a calmer sort of nervous movement.] I really hope you're right.
[Exhaling a little, he goes to shift away from him, but pauses, lifting his head off his shoulder to look at him, really look at him. He's immeasurably thankful for...most of the things Derek's been able to provide since Scott's death, and it's hard to put it into words. For now, he settles for a soft mumble of gratitude, meeting his gaze.]
[ Rather than pulling away with the touch, Derek looks down to where their hands are joined, almost thoughtfully. It's such a surreal thing to see, to do, but he doesn't dislike it, exactly. He just doesn't want to attach any words to it.
So instead, he squeezes Stiles' hand again lightly, lifting his head as he does so that he can meet his gaze. His expression is quiet, as it has been these past two months, but there's something lighter to it.
Tipping his head forward, he briefly taps their foreheads together. ]
[When Derek comes closer, there's a weird thought that he's going to go in for--more than he actually does. It flits across Stiles' subconscious and he raises his eyebrows at him when Derek presses their foreheads together, finally deciding to close his eyes and exhale, side of his mouth curling up into a small, soft smile. ]
Good. It's kind of hurting my pride.
[His tone is teasing, obviously, and the smile on his face turns up a little more as he pulls himself a couple centimeters away.]
[ Snorting at the comment, and not at all focusing on how close he is to Stiles right then, Derek lets his eyes fall half-shut as he looks at him. There's a lot of thoughts that want to come to the forefront of his mind, but he simply pushes them back. There's something more pressing, more serious, to attend to than whatever they are, now. ]
I'm sure it'll recover.
[ Something small and quiet pulls at the corner of his mouth in response to Stiles' own smile, teasing in turn. He doesn't move back, though, simply regarding him. ]
[For just a second, his eyes flick down to Derek's mouth, in a near mirror of their first meeting. Stiles lets out a low snort at Derek's comment, but doesn't respond immediately, turning his gaze back up slowly.
The decision he makes is a snap one. Derek's right about his pride; it'll recover quickly. The worst that could happen is a couple awkward days of silence. It's not like Derek'll take his head off.
It lasts for barely a second; Stiles pushes his weight forward and presses a fleeting, barely there kiss to his mouth before he jerks back.]
[ You would have to be blind to miss the way that Stiles eyes drop down to his mouth-- even without Derek's familiarity with it. But he can remember the first time it happened, the first time that he'd been in Stiles' room. Except he can also remember the multiple times it's happened elsewhere, afterwards. Nevermind that he's been guilty of watching the way Stiles' lips move when he talks, grins, frowns.
It's incredibly distracting.
But this time, he simply watches Stiles, waiting to see what he does. It doesn't surprise him when he surges forward quickly to him and back again, before it can really register. The only problem he has, he realizes with quiet horror, is that it's too little.
He's in too deep, but he can't find it in himself to care.
So he reaches up, fingers curling at the side of Stiles' neck, and leans in after him to press an actual kiss to his lips. ]
[His first instinct was to flee, it's not his fault--honestly, Erica's told him enough times about "that one time she made out with Derek" and how well that ended. But then Derek completely surprises him (again), and he makes a little noise that dies into a squawk; whatever protest he's about to say fades the instant he realizes that Derek isn't going to chide him for it.
In fact, after the initial surprise, he comes back like a springboard, kissing him back and giving the other hand, still wrapped around his, a tight squeeze. So it wasn't exactly what he was planning on doing today but hey. Stiles was definitely not complaining.
It's kind of a slow realization; maybe he wanted it so bad that he had pushed it away with the practice of eighteen years of self deprecation.]
[ To be fair, "that one time Erica made out with Derek," he hadn't been anywhere interested in her. And she'd been trying for a distraction technique during training-- or at least that had been the excuse at the time-- so he hadn't been particularly impressed. Now, they joke about it every now and then, but it's... different, here.
Everything with Stiles is different. It's never what he expects it to be, even if it's just a subtle shift from the norm. Because Stiles is simultaneously transparent and unpredictable, almost like fire-- and god, he should know better than to play with fire now.
But at the same time, it's a different kind of fire. The one that isn't all danger and pain and ash, and instead light and heat and life.
Derek kisses him slow and easy, despite the way his fingers curl tight before relaxing as he pulls back. As he does, though, he rests their foreheads together again, noses bumping briefly as he does. ]
DAD I KISSED SOMEBODY i mean he's a 22 yo exonerated criminal but LOOK!!!
[Hey, well, she didn't pass that information on. As far as Stiles knew it wouldn't be surprising. Erica was kind of ridiculously hot and hot people flock together. See also, Lydia and Jackson. (Damn it.)
As Derek pulls away from him, it takes Stiles a few seconds to catch up; he blinks once, twice, long lashes settling over his cheeks before everything sputters back to life. That just happened. From his position with his forehead still pressed against Derek's, he finally pulls away with a rapid shake of his head, then pushes forward.]
Noooo, oh my God, get back here, I'm going to kiss you until I pass out.
[And then, he grabs Derek's cheek with his free hand and tugs him back in for another kiss. It's distracting and perfect and one little bright light, in a couple of months of guilt and sorrow.]
[Correction; you're going to stop kissing him as soon as your father walks in.]
Stiles, are you up here with- oh Jesus Christ.
[Yeah nevermind. Not closing the door, the Sheriff turns his gaze away. Normally he'd walk away, but this is not teenage Lydia Martin or anyone else or even teenage Scott McCall or Danny Mahaleani. This is 22-year-old exonerated criminal/generally tormented-in-life Derek Hale.
(admittedly, the 'not even Scott McCall' thought sends a cold pain through his heart. He ignores it, focusing on the boy who's still living; his own son.)]
[ Derek can't help the quiet sort of smile that spreads across his face as Stiles sits there, dazed. It's hard to resist, just watching the information settle on him as everything catches up. But then he's laughing quietly as he starts talking, letting himself be pulled forward to kiss him again. His thumb sweeps along the curve of his cheek, all of his focus on him--
-- to the point that he misses the sheriff coming upstairs. His hearing should've picked it up, but he was so absorbed in Stiles that he completely missed his foot steps climbing up the stairs, to the door.
He doesn't startle, but he does go tense just before pulling back from the man's son (probably should have remembered that they were aiming to talk just before the sheriff got home). But while he drops his hand from cupping the side of Stiles' face, he doesn't release his hand.
Lifting and turning his head away from Stiles, he looks to the doorway.
[Stiles, however, jumps. Like about a foot and a half. Derek wasn't the only one completely lost in the moment, and considering Stiles' already completely human senses, he's not expecting anyone to come upstairs. Especially seeing as how the Sheriff wasn't supposed to be home for another hour.]
Dad. [Shit. Well, this is cliche as all hell. At least his dad's not brandishing a gun or anything, which, really, is kind of an improvement over the scenario his mind originally chose to show him. His cheeks flush scarlet red and Stiles looks from Derek to his father, grinning a little sheepishly.]
.....sooo, had something I wanted to talk to you about?
If you're doing anything with him, I really don't want to hear about it unless either one of you does something illegal and I'm praying it's not going to be you.
[ Derek actually brings his hand up to cover his face for a moment at that, sighing heavily and shaking his head. He doesn't even feel a need to comment on the illegal comment, because...
Well, it's a little too late for that. ]
This was a new development. [ It's a little muffled but he's trying to get past the fact that he was just caught kissing an underaged boy in his bedroom. By his father. Who is a police officer.
Nothing ever goes right for him, does it? ] Something else, sheriff.
I thought you were going on a date! And you came home straight to me afterwards, you gentleman, you, weren't you not supposed to be home until eight?
[Nothing ever seems to go right for Stiles, either, seeing as how he just had his first semi-decent kiss since like. Seventh grade. And his dad walked in on it. He's still holding Derek's hand though, and he grins a little sheepishly, then deflates.]
Well, I mean, "illegal" has a very loose definition, depending on your lawyers...
[It shows in his face, too- the lines of his age are becoming apparent far too soon with all the stress that has come over the past years since his wife's death.]
Don't get me wrong boys, I'm not here to ruin anyone's fun, but I'm going to have to ask you to stop dodging and tell me what's wrong.
[ Dropping his hand from his face, Derek looks at him for a moment before up to the sheriff. He didn't expect for the conversation to start off this way, but now here they are. He does look tired, despite the fact the date had to have went well. He'd spoken to Melissa about them on occasion, and she enjoyed spending time with Jona-- it helped them both, she said, even if the sheriff didn't openly say as much.
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Yes those too. eue
[Exhaling a little, he goes to shift away from him, but pauses, lifting his head off his shoulder to look at him, really look at him. He's immeasurably thankful for...most of the things Derek's been able to provide since Scott's death, and it's hard to put it into words. For now, he settles for a soft mumble of gratitude, meeting his gaze.]
...thanks.
uvu
So instead, he squeezes Stiles' hand again lightly, lifting his head as he does so that he can meet his gaze. His expression is quiet, as it has been these past two months, but there's something lighter to it.
Tipping his head forward, he briefly taps their foreheads together. ]
You don't need to thank me, Stiles.
should we bring the sheriff in soonish?
Good. It's kind of hurting my pride.
[His tone is teasing, obviously, and the smile on his face turns up a little more as he pulls himself a couple centimeters away.]
Soonish y.
I'm sure it'll recover.
[ Something small and quiet pulls at the corner of his mouth in response to Stiles' own smile, teasing in turn. He doesn't move back, though, simply regarding him. ]
smooches first eue
[For just a second, his eyes flick down to Derek's mouth, in a near mirror of their first meeting. Stiles lets out a low snort at Derek's comment, but doesn't respond immediately, turning his gaze back up slowly.
The decision he makes is a snap one. Derek's right about his pride; it'll recover quickly. The worst that could happen is a couple awkward days of silence. It's not like Derek'll take his head off.
It lasts for barely a second; Stiles pushes his weight forward and presses a fleeting, barely there kiss to his mouth before he jerks back.]
Lots of smooches.
It's incredibly distracting.
But this time, he simply watches Stiles, waiting to see what he does. It doesn't surprise him when he surges forward quickly to him and back again, before it can really register. The only problem he has, he realizes with quiet horror, is that it's too little.
He's in too deep, but he can't find it in himself to care.
So he reaches up, fingers curling at the side of Stiles' neck, and leans in after him to press an actual kiss to his lips. ]
and then the sheriff shows up whoops
In fact, after the initial surprise, he comes back like a springboard, kissing him back and giving the other hand, still wrapped around his, a tight squeeze. So it wasn't exactly what he was planning on doing today but hey. Stiles was definitely not complaining.
It's kind of a slow realization; maybe he wanted it so bad that he had pushed it away with the practice of eighteen years of self deprecation.]
IT'S ... definitely what it looks like.
Everything with Stiles is different. It's never what he expects it to be, even if it's just a subtle shift from the norm. Because Stiles is simultaneously transparent and unpredictable, almost like fire-- and god, he should know better than to play with fire now.
But at the same time, it's a different kind of fire. The one that isn't all danger and pain and ash, and instead light and heat and life.
Derek kisses him slow and easy, despite the way his fingers curl tight before relaxing as he pulls back. As he does, though, he rests their foreheads together again, noses bumping briefly as he does. ]
DAD I KISSED SOMEBODY i mean he's a 22 yo exonerated criminal but LOOK!!!
As Derek pulls away from him, it takes Stiles a few seconds to catch up; he blinks once, twice, long lashes settling over his cheeks before everything sputters back to life. That just happened. From his position with his forehead still pressed against Derek's, he finally pulls away with a rapid shake of his head, then pushes forward.]
Noooo, oh my God, get back here, I'm going to kiss you until I pass out.
[And then, he grabs Derek's cheek with his free hand and tugs him back in for another kiss. It's distracting and perfect and one little bright light, in a couple of months of guilt and sorrow.]
no subject
Stiles, are you up here with- oh Jesus Christ.
[Yeah nevermind. Not closing the door, the Sheriff turns his gaze away. Normally he'd walk away, but this is not teenage Lydia Martin or anyone else or even teenage Scott McCall or Danny Mahaleani. This is 22-year-old exonerated criminal/generally tormented-in-life Derek Hale.
(admittedly, the 'not even Scott McCall' thought sends a cold pain through his heart. He ignores it, focusing on the boy who's still living; his own son.)]
Stiles.
no subject
-- to the point that he misses the sheriff coming upstairs. His hearing should've picked it up, but he was so absorbed in Stiles that he completely missed his foot steps climbing up the stairs, to the door.
He doesn't startle, but he does go tense just before pulling back from the man's son (probably should have remembered that they were aiming to talk just before the sheriff got home). But while he drops his hand from cupping the side of Stiles' face, he doesn't release his hand.
Lifting and turning his head away from Stiles, he looks to the doorway.
Ah. ]
no subject
Dad. [Shit. Well, this is cliche as all hell. At least his dad's not brandishing a gun or anything, which, really, is kind of an improvement over the scenario his mind originally chose to show him. His cheeks flush scarlet red and Stiles looks from Derek to his father, grinning a little sheepishly.]
.....sooo, had something I wanted to talk to you about?
no subject
[He walks over, patting Stiles's shoulder.]
If you're doing anything with him, I really don't want to hear about it unless either one of you does something illegal and I'm praying it's not going to be you.
no subject
Well, it's a little too late for that. ]
This was a new development. [ It's a little muffled but he's trying to get past the fact that he was just caught kissing an underaged boy in his bedroom. By his father. Who is a police officer.
Nothing ever goes right for him, does it? ] Something else, sheriff.
no subject
[Nothing ever seems to go right for Stiles, either, seeing as how he just had his first semi-decent kiss since like. Seventh grade. And his dad walked in on it. He's still holding Derek's hand though, and he grins a little sheepishly, then deflates.]
Well, I mean, "illegal" has a very loose definition, depending on your lawyers...
no subject
[It shows in his face, too- the lines of his age are becoming apparent far too soon with all the stress that has come over the past years since his wife's death.]
Don't get me wrong boys, I'm not here to ruin anyone's fun, but I'm going to have to ask you to stop dodging and tell me what's wrong.
no subject
[ Dropping his hand from his face, Derek looks at him for a moment before up to the sheriff. He didn't expect for the conversation to start off this way, but now here they are. He does look tired, despite the fact the date had to have went well. He'd spoken to Melissa about them on occasion, and she enjoyed spending time with Jona-- it helped them both, she said, even if the sheriff didn't openly say as much.
He sighs, squeezing Stiles' hand subtly. ]
You should sit down.