He’s really only going to stay out for a few minutes, but the weather is so nice outside, much cooler than the stuffy ballroom filled with aristocrats schmoozing for land or titles. He can’t stand going to these things, but his sisters need an escort and dragged him a long. He also had his personal reasons for going: he was hoping to see a certain person again. Maybe ask his identity behind the mask, steal another kiss…
Having masquerades was getting overdone to be quite honest, but every Lordship and Lady thought they could put on a grander one than the last, so they kept happening. Some were better than others, and this one was proving to be more lavish, taking place in some borrowed castle.
Many of the same people got invited to all of them, and some would have a new and different extravagant mask and outfit than the last. Derek though kept his simple, a blue overcoat that, he’d been told on multiple occasions, brings out his eyes, and a matching blue wolf’s mask. Sometimes he would change it up with a different patterned cravat, darker paints, but the coat and mask remained.
He wasn’t the only one that wore staple pieces every masquerade, of course. His mysterious red fox always wore a long red overcoat and an intricate fox mask. He’d met him at one of the first masquerades; Derek had stepped out for some fresh air and had literally bumped into him in his rush to escape the room.
The man had laughed as Derek had apologized and made a joke about how he understood Derek’s hurry. They had spent only a few minutes together outside exchanging pleasantries, before the red fox took his leave. But the rest of the night, all Derek could think about was that laugh, his bright smile, the long lashes visible beneath his mask, the smooth brown eyes. The vision haunted him and he knew he had to meet the man again.
And he had. The red fox had been at every masquerade that Derek was at, and every time they met, their conversations grew longer, though the red fox never removed his mask and never revealed who he was beneath it (though Red Fox knew Derek and his face after the second masquerade). It made Derek long to know his full visage even more. And though Derek could catch glimpses of the red fox throughout the night in the ballroom, the red fox only ever approached Derek when Derek was outside alone.
Derek hoped the pattern would continue while he stepped out on to the terrace and looked out at the garden.
Tag: haleinski
Hale&Stilinski
Sterek AU: Summer Vacation
Stiles had survived high school. And then he’d even survived college and all the unrestricted access to alcohol and young adult freedom that came with it, not to mention the rogue succubus in his second year. He and Derek had finally gotten their act together and admitted they should be together after Derek turned up at Stiles’ dorm in his first year and wolfed out at the scent of other people in the room. Stiles had never slept with them; they were never broad enough in the shoulder, never had clear enough eyes, never the same gentle soul that he was quietly waiting for.
One successful graduation ceremony later, and a wild pack-and-family only party at the new Hale pack house in the preserve, Derek sat with a sleepy headed Stiles on the deck looking out into the forest. He handed over the envelop with the tickets in it wordlessly, just sipping his coffee as Stiles opened it up and comprehended what he was seeing. The exultant outburst that resulted in birds bursting out of the trees, squawking and flying away from the sudden noise, brought a rare grin to Derek’s face.
Stiles had never been out of the country, so Derek took him to Australia. He thought twice about it on the flight, but arriving there and experiencing everything there for the first time with Stiles was one of the best experiences of his life.
The cosy beach bungalow they rented became their little home, their surf lessons stopped being a comedy of errors and became a competition between the two of them, their relationship became indulgent and intimate again after Stiles’ absence at college. No pack responsibilities and no outside obligations meant they could just bask in each others company; in bed, on the beach, across a bowl of perfect tropical fruit, as they watch the full moon sink below the horizon and Derek hides his glowing eyes by nuzzling Stiles’ neck. They don’t stop smiling for the entire month.
Derek books their next trip before they even leave.
Sterek AU: Mountain Man Derek
Derek had left Beacon Hills years ago, keeping his eyes on the road ahead until the town had faded from his rearview mirror. He had ended up finding a new reserve, more thickly wooded and lush than the old Hale lands, but still green, rich with the scent of growth, and full of wildlife.
He settled into a slow pace of life, occasionally taking trips out to the local town or further afield to see Cora in San Paulo or Erica and Boyd in New York. He ended up building himself what he calls a cabin, but Cora calls his ‘Mountain Man Den’. He gets a dog, a beautiful chocolate brown lab he calls Bean (he was drinking coffee and it came to him) and he spends his days wandering with her before heading home for home cooked meals and writing at his cramped desk.
It is all calm and quiet in Derek’s life until one morning walk when he catches a scent that he never thought he would encounter again, but that he would recognise anywhere. His excitement is betrayed by Bean sensing his emotional state and yipping happily. Stiles had come for him.
Stiles was here.
Sterek AU: Mountain Man Derek
Derek had left Beacon Hills years ago, keeping his eyes on the road ahead until the town had faded from his rearview mirror. He had ended up finding a new reserve, more thickly wooded and lush than the old Hale lands, but still green, rich with the scent of growth, and full of wildlife.
He settled into a slow pace of life, occasionally taking trips out to the local town or further afield to see Cora in San Paulo or Erica and Boyd in New York. He ended up building himself what he calls a cabin, but Cora calls his ‘Mountain Man Den’. He gets a dog, a beautiful chocolate brown lab he calls Bean (he was drinking coffee and it came to him) and he spends his days wandering with her before heading home for home cooked meals and writing at his cramped desk.
It is all calm and quiet in Derek’s life until one morning walk when he catches a scent that he never thought he would encounter again, but that he would recognise anywhere. His excitement is betrayed by Bean sensing his emotional state and yipping happily. Stiles had come for him.
Stiles was here.
Sterek Fic Recs: The Bed Sharing Edition.
Because we all know what sharing a bed leads to…
The Sloth To My Tree by decideophobia
Derek doesn’t admit that everything about Stiles doesn’t just makes him weak in the knees, but melts all of his bones, and makes his heart lurch, and his head spin; doesn’t admit that Stiles makes him feel a lot of things he was sure he’d not feel again for a long, long time.
So this has the whole pack alive and happy (because they are all alive and happy okay?) and on a holiday together – with the necessary bed sharing with a fun twist – rock, paper, scissors anyone? You have sunshine, the most glorious snark and banter, pack bonds and friendship that will warm your soul and a fantastic Derek POV. Sweet, sweet, sweet.
Nothing To Fear But Fear Itself by @yodas-yo-yo
Derek get’s hit with some wolfsbane which makes him afraid of stuff. Stiles tries to help out as best he can…
Alpha!Derek? Check. Freaky Wolfsbane poisoning? Check. Enforced Stiles and Derek sleepover time? Check. Combine this with perfectly done Stiles POV, classic baddie of the week, and Stiles and Derek with their idiotic version of misunderstandings and you have this lovely little fic.
It Was All An Accident by entanglednow
He’s sure that some complicated law of physics is in danger of being broken here. Something about two things being incapable of occupying the same space at the same time.
Oooh this is a lovely little fic – perfectly encapsulating Derek in his unreconstructed man-angst state, and Stiles in his young but brutally upfront (with himself as well as with others) personality. Cold weather = enforced body heat sharing. Body heat sharing guys! *excited giggle*
Scent Marking For Dummies by @goddammitstacey
Stiles is almost used to being chased around the school by werewolves at this point. Having to share a bed with Derek freaking Hale, on the other hand, is just needlessly complicating his life.
“Stiles catches the jacket with his face. That wouldn’t be so bad really, only it’s leather and is heavy enough to be made of the whole cow.” Okay so that’s the opening two lines of this fic and it if that’s not enough to get you reading it then I don’t know what to do with you. This fic makes me laugh, makes me squirm with the awkwardness, makes me tense with anticipation, and makes me blush with just fluffy happiness. This is a fic with it all – go read and enjoy!
He’s here alright. They’re both here. In this bed. After everything has gone to shit yet again.
This is a beautiful bit of hurt/comfort with a perfectly hopeful ending. This is the sort of night I can imagine happening if canon had been written better. It’s short, and aching, but lovely.
Griffins Dont Care About Mutual Feelings by @mysecretashes
It isn’t Stiles’ fault they end up in a cold, crappy motel room chasing down an unknown creature.
A short, sweet fic with baddie of the week, enforced bed sharing with a side of sharing body warmth. This is a perfect little pick me up fic,
pillow your head on my heart (an expedition in sleeping arrangements) by spiekiel
There are two kings, a queen pullout, plus two twins downstairs, which should fit eight people comfortably enough, but somehow –
Stiles wakes up with a faceful of Derek’s hair and strong arms around his torso, crammed into one of the twins, seriously hungover and feeling like he would very much like to never venture forth from the safety of the warm duvet –
Alrighty then – we have happy and ALIVE pack, spring break, drinking games, and multiple sharing of beds. Seriously. Stiles is like Goldilocks here going from bed to bed. This is summery, fun, and totally sweet. The interactions between the whole pack are just perfect and Derek is just…*sighs*…content and relaxed and thats my happy place?
It may be the wrong fairytale to fit their odd world, but Derek was most definitely Goldilocks, and somehow, Stiles’ bed was juuuuuust right.
Speaking of Goldilocks! This is fantastic, laugh out loud and full of the funniest character interactions. Bed sharing galore right here – everybody has a go! Featuring the funniest Stiles/Derek argument I think I’ve ever read (you’ll know it when you see it) and a sideline of sweet tenderness. And Stiles’ quite frankly fantastic internal monologue.
The Bark and the Bite by @yourunwiththewolves
“This is my wolf,” Scott says flatly, pointing at the animal.
I LIVE for these fics where the werewolves’ wolves become corporeal. It is just as awkward as it should be and I love the way the author has described the different wolves and their relationships with their human counterparts. Derek is perfectly written and so is Stiles, the way they interact is so rude and insulting and just so them okay? Lovely.
With the Wild Wolves Around You by @allyasavedtheday
Derek is trapped in the Hale house when it’s set on fire for the second time. This is the story of how everything falls apart and is inevitably put back together again.
Okay so this sounds like its going to be super angsty, and honestly it does have its fair share. But its oddly healthy angst and its just heartachingly happy making to see Derek being taken care of. It satisfies me deeply. The Derek/Stiles interactions are really well written, and so are the Scott/Stiles interactions – I love it when Scott is a good friend and a good pack mate and a good person. I could have happily continued reading 100k of this but frankly it’s perfectly formed, and neatly captures all of the potential of Stiles and Derek becoming StilesandDerek. Melancholy but totally hopeful.
Stiles and Derek are sent to San Francisco to meet with a couple of people to get information on the latest supernatural threat in Beacon Hills. Along the way, there is pining, demon karaoke, a dash of jealousy, an old motel, and the movement from friends to lovers that they’ve both wanted for a long time.
Okay so I finally get to rec my babe Inell. I had the pleasure of pre-reading this fic for her and was in bed with it in my emails and literally grinning from ear to ear. Stiles and Derek and forced bed sharing and THE most fabulous cameo I’ve yet to see in a sterek fic. I love the way that Braedon is referenced and respected and loved in this fic. And Stiles and Derek are so perfectly characterised in this. And when they get to the motel? Unf.
Travel
Not Made of Marble
Sterek, pure fluff and love okay?
It had been nearly
eight years since Beacon Hills had returned to its previous state of peaceful
small town quietude in the wake of the death and destruction started by Kate
Argent and her massacre of the Hale family. Stiles had graduated high school,
and then college, and then his post graduate degree too. During that period the Beacon Hills
pack had come to an understanding with Deaton, and had been informed that the
murder of Derek’s family was the act that had created the darkness in the Nemeton.
The sheer force of
Kate’s all too human hatred had disrupted the balance. So Beacon Hills had
filled with chaos and strife, the magic and life of the land itself thrown out
of balance and aeons old peace. Once they understood that it had been a remarkably
simple, if remarkably hard, task to re-set that balance. If hate was the thing
that had created this malign imbalance, then love was the only thing to heal
their town. Stiles, Scott and Allison’s sacrifices for their parents was a
beginning. Lydia saving Jackson was another step. Over the months and years the
whole pack went through therapy, they developed a strict practice of honesty
and once everyone followed that it all…fell into place.
Stiles and Scott
nurtured their brotherhood and their love for each other was as strong as it
always had been. But Stiles also learnt to open up a little more, bring Isaac
and Erica and Boyd into his close-knit circle of ‘People Who I Would Kill And
Die For’. Derek finally relaxed into his role as an Alpha, co-leading the pack
with Scott and finding his own brotherhood with him. He found the trust and
hope he had always thought would elude him, and shared his memories and
knowledge of werewolf lore and his family history with his new pack. When the
Sheriff was brought into the know, the whole pack relaxed knowing that there
was always going to be someone to the interface between the supernatural world
and the human one. Derek and Erica seemed to benefit even more than Stiles from
this new addition to the pack; both of them blossoming under the gruff but
paternal support that John had a seemingly endless supply of now that he
understood his son’s life fully.
Relationships between
the pack ebbed and flowed. Scott and Allison continued their make-up-break-up
tendencies until college when Allison went travelling and Scott went to the
local community college to study towards his veterinary degree. They opened up
their relationship and when Allison returned, full of new experiences and
languages and fighting techniques, Isaac had been brought into their life by
Scott. The multiplication of their loving glances and absolute mutual adoration
by three was almost overwhelming, but the pack settled even further. John and
Melissa got married two years into the pack’s college years. Having quietly
courted and dated, they had a simple ceremony followed by a party in the garden
and forest surrounding the house that Derek built on the old Hale property.
Stiles ended up
staying at Derek’s more often than not on his breaks from college, John and
Melissa having moved into their own new home as a couple. He and Derek were the
only members of the pack still single, but happy to spend their time together
in this hard won relaxation and friendship. Every week they had a pack dinner
at one of their homes and the favourite host ended up being Stiles, to
everyone’s surprise except John, Melissa and Scott. They had been the ones to
see Stiles learn to cook in the wake of his mother’s death, and eventually find
his way to her cookbooks. He revelled in being able to cook for his pack, his
newly enlarged family, and his love for them and for Claudia was poured into
every pot. It was after one of his nights to cook, held at Derek’s house, that
Stiles and Derek finally crossed that tantalising boundary they had been
dancing along for almost a decade. Laughing and teasing over the washing up and
drying Derek had suddenly stilled, his attention entirely focused on Stiles.
“Is there something on
my face man?” Stiles said, secure enough in their friendship that he didn’t
feel any embarrassment – just the potential for more laughter. But Derek just
shook his head and reached out, touching Stiles’ cheek with the barest hint of
fingertips.
“No,” Derek murmured,
“no. It just. It just struck me that I’ve never told you how beautiful you are
when you laugh.” His fingers trailed down the side of Stiles’ face and his hand
fell to his side. No awkwardness, just patience. Derek knew to wait when Stiles
was computing new information, not to take the gaping mouth and lack of
response personally.
“I-“ Stiles reached
out to grab the dishtowel to dry his soapy hands, not breaking eye contact with
a still smiling Derek, “I think you’re beautiful when you laugh too. You’re
getting laugh lines. Seeing them, it makes me feel like all of this was worth
it.”
After that the whole
pack felt the ripple effect of their happiness at finally finding each other,
ready and willing for a future together. Now at pack dinners Stiles didn’t just
cook the food his mother used to make. Derek had found one of his grandfather’s
cookbooks and had given it to Stiles, who had practiced until he could almost perfectly recreate the tastes of
Derek’s childhood. Slow roasted meats and treacle sweet desserts filled the
tables along with home baked bread and fresh salads from the garden Derek had
planted.
The pack still ran on
full moon nights, and maintained their awareness of the town’s safety, but
without imminent threat all of them slowed down and enjoyed the little things
in life. Scott adopted three dogs before Isaac and Allison stopped him, Melissa
and John took vacations, and Derek stopped his manic runs and workouts. It had
never been about how it made his body look, rather it was a way of punishing
himself and trying to exhaust the endless chasm of guilt inside of his heart.
Now that he had realised his family’s deaths were not his fault and that he
didn’t have to fight for his life every day, Derek enjoyed a slower pace of
life. He watched baseball with Stiles and John, and had movie nights with Lydia
and Erica (of course The Notebook featured heavily). He still ran in the
forest, but for the pleasure of the scents of the land and the sights of the
changing seasons. And he always returned to a warm home that smelled of
whatever delicious breakfast Stiles had conjured up.
The first time he
really noticed the change in his body was when he was getting ready to go to a
party Lydia had arranged and his usual ‘smart’ jeans were a bit tight around
his middle. He didn’t pay it much notice and put up with the slight
discomfort. He only thought of it
again that night when Stiles stripped him in their living room and frowned at
the marks left where the tight material had cut into his soft skin, before
kissing the tender redness as the marks slowly disappeared and carrying on
their lovemaking.
It began to be
something that preoccupied him though, the fact that he couldn’t see his abs as
clearly as he used to be able to. His tops weren’t as loose around his middle
as they had used to be, and he had to buy new jeans because his old ones were
too uncomfortably tight. Chubby, that’s the word he would have used for
himself. He was still muscled, he reasoned, as he flexed in the bathroom
mirror. It was just that it was sort of hidden now. But the stray thought had crossed his mind that maybe Stiles
would notice this different body and not appreciate it as much as he had
(loudly and repeatedly) enjoyed the ripped abs and sleek waist that Derek used
to have. So it was back to sit ups and an exercise regimen, because he loved
Stiles and didn’t want to let him down by letting this change become permanent.
That evening Stiles
got home from picking up some groceries and Derek got caught in the living room,
shirtless and mid sit-up. Stiles’ wide eyed stare threw Derek, and he felt like
he had somehow done something wrong when Stiles closed his mouth and carefully
put the grocery bags onto a side table keeping silent the whole time. Stiles
made his way over to Derek and slowly knelt between his bent legs and took
Derek’s face in his hands, one palm on each softly bearded cheek and every so
gently shook him.
“Derek Hale, I swear
to God if you’re doing this because you put on a few pounds and you think I
don’t like it I am going to withhold sex for a week.” Stiles looked around the
room nervously before continuing. “I mean, I still want kisses and cuddles
okay, I’m only human, but no mutual orgasms. Not until you let this particular
nonsense go.”
Derek rolled his eyes
and shrugged, feeling slightly uncomfortable and exposed now that he knows for
sure that Stiles had noticed the
change in his body. Maybe he was right, he did need to work out. Stiles
deserved the man he had originally fallen in love with.
Stiles’ warm amber
eyes locked upon his again, and his mobile face went serious. “I love you
regardless of your jean size, you’re the best man I know. If you want to work
out because it’s making you happy then I will gleefully sit back and watch you
work up a sweat. But if you think I find you any less sexy and goddamn
beautiful than I ever have, then I’ve been letting you down and I’m sorry.”
Derek brought his
hands up to wrap his fingers around Stiles’ wrists, holding his hands to his
face as he leaned forward to drop a gentle kiss onto Stiles’ mouth. How did
this man know him so well? He had only just come to the conclusion that he
needed to lose weight that morning, and here Stiles was, cutting through any
self-consciousness or fears with his own particular brand of sarcasm and utter
sincerity.
“You don’t have
anything to be sorry for Stiles, I got a bit into my own head.” Derek murmured
into the short space between their mouths, “You’re sure though?”
Stiles leaned forward
and kissed Derek again, more thoroughly this time, and kept pushing forward
until Derek had no choice but to lie back on his exercise mat with Stiles
stretched out on top of him. He loved this, the warmth and weight of Stiles on
him, grounding him even as he built him up.
Stiles propped himself
up on his elbows, his gaze darting around Derek’s face, and he leered down at
him. “You want me to show you how sure I am?”
With that he ground
down and Derek groaned as he felt the unmistakable line of heat in Stiles’
pants, his own dick twitching at the friction between them. Stiles kissed him
again, full and deep, his tongue mapping out Derek’s mouth like it was their
first kiss all over again. Derek’s hands fell to Stiles’ undulating hips, able
to do nothing more than cling on as Stiles took control and moved against him
with purpose. Stiles trailed his kisses from Derek’s mouth to his neck, which
he lavished with attention and sucking kisses and gentle nips that made Derek
cry out and arch his back into the sensation. From there Stiles just moved his
mouth further south and latched on to Derek’s nipples, one at a time, licking
and sucking and biting until they were puffy and pink, and Derek was writhing
underneath him.
“I love your body
Derek, I loved it when you worked out all the time and you were like some kind
of marble statue.” Another kiss, another grinding thrust. “But I love your body
now even more, because you’re not a statue, you’re a man and you’re safe and
you’re loved and this is the body you live and love in.” Stiles’ voice was
sex-deep and rough as he let out his own moan, his body shuddering against
Derek’s as their movements became more frenzied. Derek dragged Stiles back down
to him, and held him close as he took his mouth in a rough kiss and thrust up
against Stiles until he felt him tense up and then relax in a rush as his
orgasm hit. Derek followed him over the edge, whining into the kiss, as he
smelled both of their come and the surge of contentment and happiness that
rolled off Stiles.
“Stiles,” Derek half
whispered into the crook of Stiles’ neck, scenting him in this moment of
intimacy. “Stiles, I can’t believe we just came in our pants like teenagers.”
Stiles just sniggered
in response as he rose to his feet, grimacing slightly as the movement made him
aware of the rapidly cooling mess in his underwear, and he held out his hand to
held Derek up. Once he was standing, Stiles wrapped his arms around Derek’s
waist and sweetly kissed him on the lips.
“What can I say
lover-wolf, you just get to me when you lounge around all shirtless and
gorgeous.” He grinned and waggled his eyebrows before continuing. “What say you
to a shower before the pack comes over for dinner – see if we can fit in round
two?”
Derek groaned, but
didn’t hesitate to heft a shrieking Stiles up and carry him to the bathroom
wrapped koala style around his waist. It might be a little wider and softer than
it used to be, but as long as Stiles was content then so was Derek.
“Oh my God you guys!” Scott wailed. “I thought
we talked about sex smells on dinner nights?!”
Stiles just smirked
and gave Derek the biggest slice of roast beef while the rest of the pack
heckled and laughed, the room full of the scents of delicious food, love, and
happiness.
For @demisexualhale who flailed with me about chubby!derek and how Stiles would still ADORE him and then this happened – I hope you enjoy it my lovely. As I said, this turned into unadulterated fluff and I’M NOT SORRY!!
😎
I am inside the wolf
My house, my rules! And I believe in the power “to ask”))))
Secondhand Soulmate
Sterek Summer Spectacle – Week 3: Inspired By
Team: What What in the Butt
Your favorite team?Rating: T
WC: 25066Not always, not even most of the time, but sometimes – 24% of the time, statistically speaking – people meet their soulmates and live happily ever after.
THIS isn’t that story.
This is the story of Stiles Stilinski, whose soulmate died before he was born. This is the story of all the sorrows and heartache Stiles experienced, all the bullying and oppression from those who should know better but didn’t. This is also the story of the friendships Stiles made along the way, of the battles he fought – and won – and the love that endured through it all.
shealwaysreads 