Sterek Library (a03 Edition)

Taboo

By; rileywrites on a03

The storefront is small, innocuous, almost generic in beige and brown and cream. There is no name on the building, just a large coffee cup graphic on the window and shop hours on the door. 

Derek pushes the door open and walks in, shoulders tight despite the comfortable atmosphere of the coffee shop. There are few customers- two witches at the table by the window, a magic-user of some kind who may or may not be entirely human in an armchair by the fireplace, and a pair of fae folk in the corner booth.

He walks to the counter, and a woman with brown hair and a warm smile comes out of the kitchen within moments.

"Welcome to Nemeton Coffee. What can I get you today?"

"A large Americano and a consultation with the owner, please. For here." Derek hands her Lydia's card, and the woman looks it over.

The woman enters the order for his coffee and hands him a tablet. Derek glances at her name tag - Allison, with little flowers around it.

"Sign in for your consultation so you'll be on the books. He has a client at the moment, so it'll be at least twenty minutes." Allison smiles. "It's not busy today, so you're next in line."

"I can wait."

Derek signs in, pays for the coffee, and picks a seat near the back with his back against the wall. Sure enough, twenty minutes later, a woman walks out of the back with a large bag, positively glowing. She walks outside and into the flow of foot traffic.

"Sir?" Allison waits for him to look up. "He's ready for you. Go on back."

It feels like the fucking doctor's office, despite the coffee shop facade. Why this wizard put this obviously magical building in the heart of mundane San Francisco is beyond him.

Derek pushes open the door to the back shop, immediately hit by a wave of smells and sensations that tend to follow powerful magic.

The owner is sitting on a stool behind the counter, long, capable fingers shredding some kind of herb into a bowl.

(Derek flunked Herbology twice. He's not good with potions and shit.)

He's fucking beautiful, but it’s no surprise. All of Lydia's friends are beautiful.

"Mr. Hale, come in. Allison said you requested a consultation. How can I help you today?" He doesn't look up from his work until Derek is within three feet of the counter. "Well?"

Derek sits, fidgeting with his sleeves for want of something else to do with his hands.

"I need help removing a taboo- or something like it, I'm not sure. I made the mistake of dating a jealous psychopath who cursed me to reject all physical affection by causing physical pain, and I can't... I can't talk about-"

Sex catches in his throat, painful and rough.

"I can't say anything to do with-" Nope, not this time either. He huffs. "Upper level physical affection."

It's the only loophole he's managed to find, and it makes him sound like the world's most awkward health teacher.

"Sex. You can't mention sex, and you're touch-averse." Whiskey brown eyes roam over him. "Probably doesn't help the prickly vibe, huh?"

"I can't hug my sister without intense physical pain, and it's killing me. I can't unravel this bullshit, my healer couldn't unravel this bullshit, and the most talented witch I know couldn't unravel this bullshit. Lydia recommended you." Derek crosses his arms. "Can you help me or not?"