Two of a Kind

Fair

"Derek," Stiles pulled away from Derek slowly.

"Don't," Derek begged, his eyes still mostly closed. He knew what Stiles was going to say.

"I can't," Stiles continued to pull away.

Derek let out a heavy sigh as he hands fell away from the twin.

"What if we talked to him?" Derek looked at Stiles' pink swollen lips as he spoke.

"That's not fair, he likes you too," Stiles shook his head stepping back away from Derek.

"But I chose you," Derek took a step forward, not wanting anymore space between them.

Stiles bit down on his lower lip, "He's my brother and my best friend," He shook his head, putting another foot of space between them.

"So what, we just pretend we don't have feelings for each other?" Derek frowned. The idea hurt.

Stiles only nodded.

"I don't know if I can do that," Derek wanted to reach out and touch Stiles' cheek but he refrained.

"Please, Derek. I can't do this to him. I'd be devastated if he did it to me," Stiles looked at Derek with pleading eyes.

"Okay," Derek agreed quietly, despite everything in him not wanting to, "But you have to promise you won't avoid me." He wouldn't be able to handle that.

"I promise," Stiles nodded.

"Thank you," Derek's voice was barely above a whisper. He was hurting and if the look on Stiles' face was any indication, he was too.

"Aren't you supposed to meet Erica for lunch?" Stiles asked glancing at the door.

"I wanted to talk to you," Derek answered.

"It's still early, you can go," Stiles urged gently.

"You just don't want to be alone with me," Derek gave a sad smile.

"It's not that I don't want to..." Stiles licked at his bottom lip, "I just don't trust myself alone with you."

Derek nodded. He understood that. He was struggling himself.

"Why don't we get lunch together? We'll be less inclined to do something stupid in public," Derek offered.

"If Erica finds out you blew her off to go to lunch with me, I fear she'll kill me," Stiles joked lightly, "Or grow suspicious," He added.

"Fair enough, I'll have her meet us," Derek pulled out his phone to call the blonde.

-

Erica beamed up at Stiles and Derek as they approached. "I'm glad you called," She grinned.

"Stiles suggested it," Derek said shooing the blonde over so he could sit next to her at the booth. He would normally have sat next to Stiles, but he thought it best that he keep his distance.

"Is everything okay?" Erica asked looking at Stiles.

"Yeah, why?" Stiles tried not to act like he was being internally tortured, but knowing Derek had feelings for him and not being able to be together was killing him.

"You seem upset," Erica noted the frown set in his usually relaxed features.

"Just tired. I drank way too much and had to be up way too early," Stiles gave a small smile.

"Yeah, you ran out pretty quick last night. The way you two were flirting I figured you'd have taken him home," Erica winked at Stiles.

Derek choked on the water he had just sipped.

"We weren't flirting," Stiles frowned. He could feel the heat rise in his face.

"Oh you so were," Erica scoffed, "You two just need to screw and get it over with."

"Erica," Derek jabbed her side with his elbow.

"Spencer has feelings for Derek," Stiles blurted then. He immediately regretted saying it.

Erica rose her brows at the twin, "Spencer?"

Stiles swallowed hard.

"Okay well then maybe you should screw Spencer," Erica teased Derek lightly.

"I don't like him that way," Derek responded not looking away from Stiles.

Erica glanced between the two questioningly, "Okay what happened?"

"I accidentally told Derek about Spencer's feelings for him," Stiles lied. She couldn't know about them kissing.

"I told him I wasn't interested," Derek added.

"But I don't believe him," Stiles lied once again.

"Why don't you believe him?" Erica frowned at Stiles.

"Cause everyone prefers Spencer," Stiles dropped his eyes to his menu then.

"What if he's not interested in Spencer cause he's interested in someone else?" Erica asked with a small smile playing on her lips.

"Erica," Derek growled. He knew what she was doing.

Stiles looked up, his eyes meeting Derek's.

"What? I didn't say who," She smiled innocently.

Stiles didn't respond. If she was talking about Stiles, then that wouldn't help his case any.

"Aren't you curious about who he likes?" Erica grinned at Stiles.

"Erica, please," Derek growled at his best friend.

"That's his business," Stiles answered quietly, his eyes falling back to his menu.

"You already know, don't you?" Erica asked looking between the pair.

Neither one said anything.

"Oh my god, you two totally hooked up," Erica laughed.

"No we didn't," Derek snapped. He should have known she would figure it out.

"Oh come on, something happened," Erica crossed her arms, leaning back in her seat.

"Spencer likes Derek remember?" Stiles reminded the blonde.

"So what?" Erica scoffed. She could see the frustration on Derek's face.

"So we agreed Derek's off limits," Stiles huffed closing his menu.

"Seriously?" Erica whined, "Look how hot he is," She gestured to her best friend.

"I'm well aware," Stiles mumbled, his eyes falling to his lap.

"So you two are just gonna ignore the obvious sexual tension forever?" Erica looked at Derek and then to Stiles.

"Feelings fade," Stiles shrugged.

"Yeah, maybe, but only after you screw each other," Erica waved a hand between the pair.

"Erica, please," Derek's tone was pleading.

Erica seemed to understand that tone and let out a defeated sigh.

Stiles was glad the waiter took that moment to walk up. He wanted to be done with this conversation. Dating Derek just wasn't an option. It wasn't fair to Spencer and Stiles didn't want to do anything to hurt his brother, ever. However, he could see the pain in Derek's eyes. It wasn't fair to push Derek away just because he and Spencer agreed he was off limits.

The rest of lunch was thankfully easy conversation, with Erica doing most of the talking. Stiles did his best to ignore the way Derek's tongue would flick across his lips after taking a bite or the way he would smile at something funny Erica said. He hated to admit it, but Stiles had fallen hard for the guy.

*AN*
Enjoy!