Like it or Not

Prove

Stiles yawned from behind the screen of his phone. He'd not been getting as much sleep this past week. Meeting with Derek for breakfast every morning forced him to be up earlier than he liked to be.

He was catching up on texts he'd been too busy to answer yesterday when the chair opposite from him drug across the floor with a sharp whine.

"Morning," Stiles said, not looking up from where he was finishing up a text.

"Morning," Derek answered.

Stiles pressed send and looked up to see Derek with tired eyes and a solemn expression.

"What's wrong?" Stiles asked, setting his phone down to give Derek his full attention.

"Nothing."

"That's a lie. Come on, what's up?" Stiles pressed. He glanced to the counter in hopes of seeing their order being made. He really needed that coffee.

Derek frowned at Stiles.

"You look exhausted, and your posture is off. Something's wrong," Stiles said, not looking away from the counter where he was sure he saw his order.

Derek cleared his throat. Stiles was getting really good at reading him. He loved and hated it. He'd always hated that Elijah was oblivious to his feelings or if not oblivious, ignored them.

"Just been a long two weeks."

"Is dating me so bad?" Stiles turned a teasing grin to Derek.

Derek gave a small smile before dropping his head. "You're not the problem."

That was only a partial lie. Stiles hadn't been a problem. In fact, dating him was getting easier and easier. However, Derek's feelings for Stiles were the problem. And the fact that Elijah was being...nice. He hadn't asked Derek to dinner again and he'd been cooperative at work. It made Derek nervous. Elijah wasn't cooperative even when they'd been at their best.

"I'm guessing it's the fact that you have meetings with Elijah all day," Stiles gave an appreciative nod to the waitress who set their coffee's down in front of them.

Derek couldn't help but smile at the way Stiles eagerly grabbed for his coffee. He'd learned that Stiles was a much less grumpy person with caffeine.

"I know you're worried because he's been so..." Stiles waved a hand. "Nice. But you're stressing too much."

"Yeah, maybe," Derek agreed. He wrapped his hands around his coffee letting the warmth soothe him.

"What else is bothering you?" Stiles pressed gently.

Derek shook his head. "That's it really."

He couldn't tell Stiles that he was afraid of how close they were getting.

Stiles was about to push when Derek's phone buzzed loudly next to his coffee.

Stiles caught the name of the caller before Derek pressed the reject button.

"I do believe that's the third time I've seen you reject a call from Alaric. You're not avoiding him, are you?"

Derek took a long scalding sip of his coffee. "No, I'm just busy."

That was absolutely a lie. He had been avoiding Alaric since he'd gotten himself into this mess. Mostly because he knew what would happen and he wasn't in the mood to fight with his best friend.

"Okay. Well, shall we?" Stiles glanced at the large clock above the door to the café.

"I guess." Derek pushed away from the table.

Stiles was used to this routine. He'd been doing it for several days at this point. He liked seeing Derek outside of work. It let him see the real Derek. One who wasn't so guarded. He imagined that actually dating Derek would be nice. Derek was different. Stiles could tell when Derek forgot he was supposed to be playing an uncaring asshole. When his walls would drop, and he would laugh at one of Stiles' stupid jokes. Or when he would reach for Stiles before quickly pulling away. Stiles felt bad for him. Whatever had happened between him and Elijah, it really changed Derek. He could see that without even having known him before.

Stiles slipped his arm into Derek's as they reached the front doors of the office building. Once again used to the routine. They would walk in together. Take the elevator up where Stiles would kiss Derek before they would separate and walk into the office. However today was different. For one they didn't usually ride the elevator with Elijah.

"Stiles. Derek." Elijah gave a large grin as he stepped into the elevator.

"You're early," Stiles said. He noted the way Derek tensed next to him.

"Well, our day is full of meetings, and I wanted to go over a few things with Derek beforehand."

Stiles subtly slipped his hand into Derek's and gave a gentle squeeze.

"That's fine, but I have a call to make so it has to be brief," Derek answered, already slipping into work mode.

Stiles rubbed his thumb along the back of Derek's hand. It was strange how much he'd grown to care for Derek in the short time they'd been 'together'. He actually felt protective of Derek when Elijah was around.

Derek didn't release Stiles' hand as they stepped out of the elevator. He hated the knots in his stomach. He didn't even know why they were there. He was certain that he was over Elijah and yet when he was around, he still felt...like he had to prove himself in some way. Prove he was over him. Prove he genuinely cared for Stiles. Prove that Elijah was missing out. Something.

"You can wait for me in my office," Derek said to Elijah as he pulled Stiles to him. He released his hand, instead wrapping his arm around Stiles' back.

Derek didn't miss the clench of Elijah's jaw.

Stiles was caught off guard by Derek's mouth on his. Derek had never initiated a kiss. His lips pressed hard against Stiles'. The scent of Derek's aftershave was strong but pleasant. Sandalwood and pachouli mingled between them. The taste of vanilla coffee was fresh on Derek's tongue.

Stiles found himself leaning into it, wanting more. His free hand clutching Derek's suit jacket to keep him close.

When Derek pulled away, it was abrupt. One second he was kissing Stiles like he'd never get to do it again and the next, he was two feet away, wiping his hand over his mouth.

Stiles stood breathless and a bit dazed.

"Sorry, that was..." Derek trailed off.

"No, it's fine." Stiles waved a dismissive hand, still trying to collect himself.

Derek went to step by Stiles, but he caught his arm.

"Don't let him get to you." He couldn't help but glance at Derek's lips. He hated how much he loved kissing Derek.

Derek's mouth pulled into a tiny smile. "I won't."

Stiles released him, watching as he walked inside.

His heart was racing, and his chest was fluttering. He'd been denying that he was starting to feel something for Derek for the past week, but it was getting harder and harder to deny. 

*AN*
Next chapter should be fun. 😊